We picked the names (with your help-thanks for that!), now you get to vote. RedEye needs your help choosing the 2014 Chicago Sports Stud and Dud of the Year. Here are the nominees.
STUD
Jackie Robinson West Little League team: These South Side kids always seemed to be smiling as they won the U.S. championship before falling in the international title game. What a ride.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Jimmy Butler, Bulls: He plays virtually every minute of every game and just keeps getting better. Already a solid defender, he's leading the Bulls in scoring (20.9 points per game) this season.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Matt Forte, Bears: If it weren't for him and his terrific all-around play (932 rushing yards, 745 receiving yards), well, no one wants to know where they'd be without him.
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Jose Abreu, White Sox: What else can we say that hasn't been said about the AL Rookie of the Year? Here are his monster numbers again: .317 average, 36 home runs, 107 RBIs.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune
Chris Sale, White Sox: If he had received a little more run support, he might have won the Cy Young. He went 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA and 208 strikeouts.
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune
Aja Evans, bobsledding: The Chicagoan won a bronze medal at the Sochi Olympics. Not bad for someone who's been competing in the sport only a few years.
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Duncan Keith, Blackhawks: The 2013-14 Norris Trophy winner shows no signs of slowing down. He's third in the NHL in ice time this season, in part because he plays on the penalty kill and the power play in addition to even strength.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Joakim Noah, Bulls: Bulls fans have supported him for years, and in 2013-14 he got his due as NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged a double-double last season (12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds) and is close to that this year (8,9, 9.6).
Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS
Allie Quigley, Sky: Yes, the team has big stars, but Quigley was terrific all season and was named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year after averaging 11.2 points per game.
Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images
DUD
Jay Cutler, Bears: One can argue Cutler's passing yards (3,640 through 14 games) are respectable. Yet leading the NFL in turnovers (18 interceptions, six fumbles lost) are not.
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune
Lamarr Houston, Bears: He might always be known as "the guy who tore his ACL celebrating a meaningless sack." Maybe next year will bear better results.
Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune
Edwin Jackson, Cubs: He wasn't the only pitcher who had a rough year in Chicago, but he was probably the worst: 6-15 with a 6.33 ERA. He was taken out of the starting rotation ultimately. That's rough.
Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Bears defense: This unit could be nominated solely on the fact it gave up 106 points in two games. The rest of the season hasn't been up to its storied standards, either.
EPA/TANNEN MAURY
White Sox bullpen: Sox relievers were third-worst in the American League with a 4.38 ERA in 2014, and the bullpen accounted for an MLB-high 32 of the team's 89 losses. Hence all the rebuilding the Sox have done.
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune
HOW TO VOTE
Visit redeyechicago.com/studsdudsvoting and click away! You have until 5 p.m. Friday.