Chicago Sports

The Chicago Bears have been owned by Aaron Rodgers.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback has a 24-5 career record versus the Bears in the NFL’s oldest rivalry. You would have to go back to December of 2018 to find the last time the Chicago Bears defeated the four-time NFL MVP.

During Rodgers’ tenure as the Packers starting quarterback, the Packers have flipped the series record in their favor. Green Bay has also overtaken the Chicago Bears for most wins as a franchise. The rivalry has become so one-sided that the Bears have only won three games versus the Packers in the last ten years.

It has come down to a combination of the Chicago Bears being bad and Aaron Rodgers playing so well against the Bears. It just feels like the moment that No. 12 steps on the field against the Bears, the score is automatically 24-0. That all could be coming to end soon.

This could finally be the offseason that the Packers and Aaron Rodgers are no longer together.

This is not the first the offseason where it has been reported Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay are parting ways.

Rodgers reportedly demanded a trade during the 2021 offseason. He was unhappy with Green Bay’s front office and wanted out. General manager Brian Gutekunst and Rodgers were able to mend fences and the Packers went onto the win the NFC North.

Last offseason there was a small chance Rodgers wanted to retire but he worked out a contract extension with the Packers.

This will be the third consecutive offseason Green Bay will have to sweat out what Rodgers wants to do. He may retire. He might be open to a trade if he does decide to suit up for the 2023 season.

The report has the Packers not even worried from moving on from the future Hall of Famer and turning to Jordan Love. Love will be entering his fourth season and Gutekunst traded up to select the quarterback in the first round.

Rodgers’ performance declined last season as he threw 26 touchdowns and 12 touchdowns. So it the Packers wanting to move on does make some sense. Although, part of Rodgers’ decline can be attributed to Rodgers playing the majority of the season with a broken thumb. He played well enough to beat the Chicago Bears twice in 2022.

Brett Favre started the trend of things going the Packers way in this rivalry. Rodgers took the torch and burned the Bears like no other Packers quarterback has.

That is why the last two offseasons Bears fans clung to hope that it was finally the offseason that Aaron Rodgers was no longer with the Packers. Green Bay has had signal caller greatness since 1992. The Bears have rolled out quarterbacks like Cade McNown, Chad Hutchinson, Craig Krenzel, Rex Grossman, and Mike Glennon during that period.

Seeing Rodgers leave town might finally signal that the Packers could be wandering the quarterback wilderness. There is a generation of Packers fans who have known nothing but Hall of Fame quarterback play. Bears fans in that same time span have seen their team trade up one spot to select Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes.

Proceed with caution on how hopeful you get that this is the year the Packers are done with Rodgers.

We have had two prior offseasons with the same drama and it yielded Rodgers still wearing the green and gold and beating the Bears. Although, this year does feel like the finality of the Rodgers era is coming. With the Packers missing the playoffs and Jordan Love’s fifth-year option decision coming up, the Packers could be motivated to pull the trigger on moving on from Rodgers.

Although, if Rodgers does not retire, it does not mean his Bears unofficial ownership is over. It just means he will not own the Bears living in Green Bay.

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The NBA is an exciting, competitive league where the best of the best battle it out for a chance to be crowned champions. But some teams stand above all others and are often remembered for their domination over their competition. These perennial contenders grace us with golden memories and legendary moments guiding them toward championship glory.

In this article, we will look what nba teams have the most championships in NBA history – those that have won the most championships and established themselves as true dynasties within basketball lore.

Here are 6 teams with the most championships

Boston Celtics – 17 Championships

The Boston Celtics are legendary. Since their debut in 1946, they have made NBA history by taking top spots in the league for 17 championships, 21 conference titles, and 22 division titles – no other NBA team comes close to their record. Additionally, they won eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966—a feat still unmatched today. The Celtics are amongst basketball’s most renowned dynasties, boasting iconic players such as Larry Bird and Bill Russell. 

With dedication from its passionate, loyal fanbase, a run of successful drafts with fresh talent over the years, and exceptional coaching leadership guiding them to top scores year after year, the Celtics’ legacy continues to be affectionately known as one of the most formidable teams in the sport’s history.

Los Angeles Lakers – 16 Championships

The Los Angeles Lakers are another team that has had great success over the years. From 1949 to 2020, Known for their immense talent and legendary players, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a long history of success in the NBA. As a part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, they’ve been to 32 Finals and won 16 championships with 4 three-peats since the team was formed in 1947. 

Their impressive record showcases their talent, as many players have become some of the most renowned athletes in history. Whether it’s Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, or Kobe Bryant, it will be a while until another team can match their accomplishments.

Chicago Bulls – 6 Championships

The Chicago Bulls are a name that is synonymous with excellence in basketball. Since its formation in 1966, the team has delivered many thrilling and captivating moments to fans every time they took the court. They have rightfully earned their place as one of the NBA’s most successful franchises, winning six championships between 1991 and 1998. During these years, their star-studded profile boasted Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman – leading the team to unprecedented dominance in professional sports under head coach Phil Jackson. With such aural perfection on top of the powerful defense and incredible offense, it’s not hard to see why they were so successful during this era.

During this period, Michael Jordan became arguably the greatest player ever and helped cement his legacy with several memorable performances, including his famous “Last Shot” against Utah Jazz in 1998, which clinched them their sixth title victory.

San Antonio Spurs – 5 Championships

The San Antonio Spurs have a remarkable basketball legacy that began in 1967. Under the discerning eye of coach Popovich, the team was able to draft Tim Duncan in 1999, who went on to be an integral part of the Spurs’ five championship-winning teams over his 15-year tenure with the club. His work ethic, combined with his impeccable talent, led him to success individually and team-wide, where he continues to be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 

For Spurs fans everywhere, Tim Duncan will always have a place in their hearts for bringing so many years of glory and triumph to their beloved team. Other key members of this championship dynasty include Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who were integral to creating “Spurs culture” during their time with the franchise.

Detroit Pistons – 3 Championships

Despite having yet to achieve the same level of success as some other teams, the Detroit Pistons have had a fascinating history over the years. They are most well known for their 1989 and 1990 championship wins which came back-to-back under head coach Chuck Daly’s leadership. This is a remarkable feat considering they were up against formidable opponents then. It showed the potential of this team in terms of performance and highlighted Daly’s excellent coaching skills, which enabled them to make history in such a short timeframe. 

The Detroit Pistons remained competitive as the years passed, but their championship titles remained those two. A testament to their legacy regardless of their struggle for ultimate success in recent years.

This team also featured notable stars such as Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, which contributed significantly towards the franchise winning two consecutive titles during the 80s era.

Golden State Warriors – 3 Championships

The Golden State Warriors have come a long way since joining the NBA as an expansion team in 1951. Despite a few sparkles of championship wins throughout their era, 2015 marked an impressive start to the Warriors’ run of dominance in the league when they nabbed their first title in 40 years. This ignited an impressive streak of success as they went on to win two more back-to-back championships within the next four-year span, establishing their place among the most successful teams in the history of the NBA. This run was inspiring given how competitive Western Conference is, which the team had to contend with to even reach the Finals each year during this stretch.

Conclusion:

Winning an NBA championship is no small feat; it requires dedication and hard work from an entire organization—from ownership to coaching staff and players alike! While many teams can claim to have won at least one championship throughout the history of the NBA, these six teams stand out from the crowd for having achieved sustained success over multiple seasons or decades! Even though it can be hard to accept when your favorite team isn’t competing for the title year after year, it’s worth celebrating greatness when you see it. Whether it be through drafting future superstars or signing veteran free agents capable of making a significant contribution right away, these franchises all found unique ways to reach the top to become true dynasties league’s long, illustrious history. Be sure to keep up with these franchises for more exciting history-making moments.!

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The Chicago Bears have a new outlook for cap space

The Chicago Bears went through a lean year in 2022. They lead the league in dead cap, which aided the Bears in gaining the number one draft pick this spring. Now they head into the offseason with the most money to spend in free agency by a wide margin. The Bears will have even more money in their coffers from a salary cap increase in 2023.

According to Tim Pelissero with the NFL Network, the league is raising the salary cap from $208.2 million in 2022 to $224.8 million in 2023. That’s a $16.6 million increase or a 7.97 percent increase over 2022.

The NFL informed teams today that the 2023 salary cap will be a record $224.8 million per club, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

That’s up from $208.2 million in 2022, $182.5M in 2021 (COVID adjustment), 198.2M in 2020 and $188.2M in 2019.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2023

The Bears lead the league in cap space

According to Spotrac, the Bears will have $98 million in cap space this offseason.

Estimated 2023 Cap Space

1. #Bears, $98M
2. #Falcons, $56M
3. #Bengals, $44.5M*
4. #Giants, $44.4M
5. #Patriots, $38M
…
30. #Jaguars, -$32M
31. #Buccaneers, -$55M
32. #Saints, -$57M

*reserve/future contracts not yet includedhttps://t.co/lSUFgEJ1Xu

— Spotrac (@spotrac) January 30, 2023

The team with the second most cap space is the Atlanta Falcons, who have $56 million for 2023. That’s $42 million less than the Bears, which is around the number of total cap space the third-place Cincinnati Bengals will have.

The Bears have an embarrassment of riches in cap space for next season. This is good because the Bears were an embarrassment of a franchise on the field in 2022 with their skeleton roster. The Bears should be able to sign some flashy free-agent names or make trades where they can pay for a hefty salary.

The Bears should look to help the offense by signing a running back like Saquan Barkley. They could improve the defense by fortifying the defensive line. Daron Payne would be at the top of my list for the Bears to pick up in free agency on defense.

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It was a rough week for Ohio State, which lost all three of its games and tumbled down the AP Top 25 as a result.

The previously unbeaten Buckeyes fell from second to 10th in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll released Monday after losing to Iowa and Indiana, two top 10 teams, as well as Purdue. Ohio State fell two games back in the Big Ten Conference standings.

South Carolina remained No. 1 for the 32nd consecutive week. The Gamecocks, who were again a unanimous choice from the 28-member national media panel, have the fourth-longest streak ever atop the poll. Only UConn (51 and 34 weeks) and Louisiana Tech (36) have had longer runs at No. 1.

Stanford moved back up to No. 2 in the poll and the Cardinal were followed by LSU, Indiana and UConn in the top five. LSU is the only other undefeated team in women’s basketball besides South Carolina, which visits UConn for a top-five showdown on Sunday.

Iowa jumped out four spots to sixth with Utah, Maryland and Notre Dame coming in ahead of Ohio State. The Hawkeyes started the season No. 4 in the poll.

The Fighting Irish split a pair of games last week against ranked opponents, routing Florida State before falling to N.C. State.

“There’s a lot of parity right now, which is great, great for the game,” Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said. “The game is growing, which is what you want. But yeah, I mean, every night, especially the ACC, the ACC is the strongest league and, you know, we have just a tough stretch every night.”

One week after falling out of the rankings, Texas re-entered the poll at No. 24. The Longhorns routed then-No. 14 Oklahoma and Oklahoma State last week. South Florida also came in at No. 25. Colorado and Illinois fell out of the poll.

RISING BULLS

No. 25 South Florida continued its streak of being ranked for at least one week every season since the Bulls entered the poll for the first time in 2015.

“For us not being in a so-called football five conference, that’s a huge accomplishment,” South Florida coach Jose Fernandez said. His team has won 10 consecutive games and has 20 victories this season. The team’s four losses have all come against ranked opponents (Michigan, Villanova, Ohio State and N.C. State).

“This group has been fun to coach. We always play a great non=conference schedule,” Fernandez said. “We won on the road at Texas, beat Alabama, beat Arkansas. We challenged ourselves in November and December.”

RECORD PERFORMANCES

Cameron Brink carried Stanford to a win over Oregon with a triple-double that included 10 blocks. It was the first triple-double in NCAA Division I women’s basketball featuring double-digit blocks since Tamari Key did it for Tennessee in an overtime win against Texas on Nov. 21, 2021.

No. 20 Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson set the all-time NCAA women’s career record for 3-pointers when she hit her 498th in a loss to Iowa State on Saturday. Robertson has 503 entering this week. The all-time NCAA record, men or women, is held by Antoine Davis of Detroit Mercy, who has 534 and counting.

THE TOP 25

1. South Carolina (28 first-place votes) 21-0

2. Stanford 21-2

3. LSU 20-0

4. Indiana 20-1

5. UConn 20-2

6. Iowa 17-4

7. Utah 18-2

8. Maryland 17-4

9. Notre Dame 17-3

10. Ohio St. 19-3

11. North Carolina 16-5

12. Iowa St. 15-4

13. Virginia Tech 17-4

14. UCLA 17-5

15. NC State 16-5

16. Duke 18-3

17. Gonzaga 21-2

18. Michigan 17-5

19. Villanova 18-4

20. Oklahoma 16-4

21. Middle Tennessee 18-2

22. Arizona 16-5

23. Florida St. 19-5

24. Texas 16-6

25. South Florida 20-4

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Purdue became this season’s first unanimous No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll Monday after wins over Michigan and Michigan State last week as chaos ensued behind the Boilermakers among other ranked teams.

More than half of Top 25 teams lost, including second-ranked Alabama, which was routed by Oklahoma in the Big 12-SEC Challenge. That allowed Purdue to grab the remaining No. 1 votes and tighten its grip atop the poll, while Tennessee jumped two spots to second and Houston held onto third in voting by 62 national media members.

The Boilermakers (21-1) have won eight straight since a one-point loss to Rutgers on Jan. 2.

“We’re the No. 1 team in the country because of how unselfish we are as a team,” Purdue guard David Jenkins Jr. said. “We had a lot of people doubting us in the beginning because, you know, we may not be the most talented team or whatever, but we’re close on the court and off the court and it’s really translating to how we’re winning.”

The Volunteers climbed to their highest perch since reaching No. 1 for four weeks during the 2018-19 season. They routed Georgia before becoming one of three SEC teams to beat Big 12 opponents on Saturday, knocking off No. 10 Texas 82-71 for their fifth consecutive win over a top-10 team.

Perhaps this is the year Rick Barnes finally gets the Vols through the Sweet 16 for the first time as their coach.

“We have a chance to be as good as we want to be,” he said. “It’s up to one thing: Are we tough enough to embrace the daily grind? And not worry about going to the Final Four or worry about going to the NCAA Tournament, but can we build a team that can be successful that time of year? It starts with truly embracing the grind.”

The Crimson Tide dropped to fourth after the blowout loss to the Sooners, when Alabama fell behind by 17 at halftime in an eventual 93-69 defeat. The Tide edged fifth-ranked Arizona by just two points in this week’s poll.

“It doesn’t have any effect on SEC standings, which is the only good thing to come out of this,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said of the lopsided loss. “Hopefully we’ll recover from a loss out of conference, but you know, it’s not good.”

Virginia was sixth and Kansas State, which rebounded from a narrow loss at No. 13 Iowa State by pummeling Florida on Saturday, fell two spots to seventh; the Wildcats face eighth-ranked Kansas in a top-10 showdown Tuesday night.

UCLA dropped to ninth after losing to Southern California and Texas rounded out the top 10.

Baylor continued its climb from unranked to No. 11 following wins over the Jayhawks and Arkansas. The Bears were followed by Gonzaga, Iowa State, Marquette and league rival TCU — the sixth Big 12 team in the top 15.

Xavier, Providence, Saint Mary’s, Florida Atlantic and Clemson completed the top 20, while poll returners Indiana and San Diego State joined Miami, UConn and Auburn in rounding out the Top 25.

RISING AND FALLING

The No. 11 Bears and No. 17 Providence made the biggest leaps, each climbing six spots from last week.

“I think our defense is better. Our turnovers are better. When you don’t give people easy transition baskets, now its five-on-five in the half court,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew, whose team had a date with the Longhorns on Monday night.

“We execute at a pretty high rate,” Drew said. “It really comes down to taking care of the ball, making sure we get shots up and when you don’t make them, you’ve got to get rebounds. And our guys are buying into that.”

Auburn took the biggest hit of those still in the poll, dropping 10 places after losses to unranked Texas A&M and West Virginia.

IN AND OUT

The Hoosiers returned to the poll at No. 22 and the Aztecs rejoined it right behind them. They took the place of Charleston, which fell out from No. 18 after losing to Hofstra, and New Mexico, which lost to Nevada in double overtime last week.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Big 12’s dominance of the SEC in the final year of their head-to-head challenge was rewarded in the poll, where the league led the way with six ranked teams and all of them in the top 15. The Big East has four teams in the poll but none higher than No. 14 Marquette, while the SEC and ACC have three teams apiece.

THE TOP 25

1. Purdue (62 first-place votes) 21-1

2. Tennessee 18-3

3. Houston 20-2

4. Alabama 18-3

5. Arizona 19-3

6. Virginia 16-3

7. Kansas St. 18-3

8. Kansas 17-4

9. UCLA 17-4

10. Texas 17-4

11. Baylor 16-5

12. Gonzaga 18-4

13. Iowa St. 15-5

14. Marquette 17-5

15. TCU 16-5

16. Xavier 17-5

17. Providence 17-5

18. Saint Mary’s 19-4

19. FAU 21-1

20. Clemson 18-4

21. Indiana 15-6

22. San Diego St. 17-4

23. Miami 16-5

24. UConn 16-6

25. Auburn 16-5

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Bobby Hull, the former Blackhawks star nicknamed the “Golden Jet” with a legacy tarnished by off-ice transgressions, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Monday.

He was 84.

Hull remains the Hawks’ all-time leading goal-scorer with 604 goals, accumulated over a 15-year tenure with the team from 1957 to 1972.

His death comes less than a year, however, after the Hawks parted ways with him as a team ambassador.

A native of Point Anne, Ontario, Hull emerged as a star in his third season of 1959-60, tallying 39 goals and 81 points, and never looked back. He broke the 30-goal plateau in 13 consecutive seasons and eclipsed the 50-goal mark five times, including a career-best 58 goals and 107 points in 1968-69.

He played a major role in the Hawks’ 1961 Stanley Cup title, finishing second on the team in scoring in both the regular season and playoffs. He was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP in both 1965 and 1966.

His jump from the NHL to the World Hockey Association in 1972, signing with the Winnipeg Jets, provided the WHA its first moment of legitimacy. He enjoyed seven productive seasons with the Jets, then came with them back to the NHL in 1979 for a brief final season before retirement.

But Hull’s history of inappropriate off-ice conduct — marked by rampant allegations of domestic abuse and racism — has long overshadowed his on-ice achievements.

Hull was convicted in 1987 of assaulting a police officer who intervened in an argument between Hull and then-wife Deborah. A mini-documentary by ESPN in 2002 included his previous wife, Joanne, recounting a fight in which Hull beat her in the head with a steel-heeled shoe, then held her off a balcony in Hawaii.

Hull’s daughter, Michelle, who became a defense lawyer for female abuse victims, also detailed Hull’s history of alcoholism in that documentary.

In 1997, a Russian publication quoted Hull praising Hitler for “good ideas,” claiming the Black population was growing too fast and expressing support for genetic breeding. Hull denied the comments and sued the publication at the time.

Hull was nonetheless chosen in 2008 to become a Hawks team ambassador alongside Chris Chelios, Denis Savard and the late Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito.

Hull held that role until last season, when he and the Hawks “jointly agreed” he would “retire from any official team role,” the team said in a February 2022 statement.

Hull’s son, Brett Hull, enjoyed an extremely successful NHL career of his own from 1987 to 2006. He’s the Blues’ all-time leading goal-scorer and currently their executive vice president.

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Bobby Hull, the former Blackhawks star nicknamed the “Golden Jet” with a legacy tarnished by off-ice transgressions, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Monday.

He was 84.

Hull remains the Hawks’ all-time leading goal-scorer with 604 goals, accumulated over a 15-year tenure with the team from 1957 to 1972.

His death comes less than a year, however, after the Hawks parted ways with him as a team ambassador.

A native of Point Anne, Ontario, Hull emerged as a star in his third season of 1959-60, tallying 39 goals and 81 points, and never looked back. He broke the 30-goal plateau in 13 consecutive seasons and eclipsed the 50-goal mark five times, including a career-best 58 goals and 107 points in 1968-69.

He played a major role in the Hawks’ 1961 Stanley Cup title, finishing second on the team in scoring in both the regular season and playoffs. He was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP in both 1965 and 1966.

His jump from the NHL to the World Hockey Association in 1972, signing with the Winnipeg Jets, provided the WHA its first moment of legitimacy. He enjoyed seven productive seasons with the Jets, then came with them back to the NHL in 1979 for a brief final season before retirement.

But Hull’s history of inappropriate off-ice conduct — marked by rampant allegations of domestic abuse and racism — has long overshadowed his on-ice achievements.

Hull was convicted in 1987 of assaulting a police officer who intervened in an argument between Hull and then-wife Deborah. A mini-documentary by ESPN in 2002 included his previous wife, Joanne, recounting a fight in which Hull beat her in the head with a steel-heeled shoe, then held her off a balcony in Hawaii.

Hull’s daughter, Michelle, who became a defense lawyer for female abuse victims, also detailed Hull’s history of alcoholism in that documentary.

In 1997, a Russian publication quoted Hull praising Hitler for “good ideas,” claiming the Black population was growing too fast and expressing support for genetic breeding. Hull denied the comments and sued the publication at the time.

Hull was nonetheless chosen in 2008 to become a Hawks team ambassador alongside Chris Chelios, Denis Savard and the late Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito.

Hull held that role until last season, when he and the Hawks “jointly agreed” he would “retire from any official team role,” the team said in a February 2022 statement.

Hull’s son, Brett Hull, enjoyed an extremely successful NHL career of his own from 1987 to 2006. He’s the Blues’ all-time leading goal-scorer and currently their executive vice president.

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The Cincinnati Bengals finished one step short of the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in a close AFC Championship Game. As they enter their offseason, they face a couple of key questions, and one of those questions could end up benefiting the Chicago Bears.

One of the biggest questions for Cincinnati is this: do they try and trade wide receiver Tee Higgins while his value is sky high?

If you’re wondering why they’d trade Higgins, it’s pretty simple. They cannot afford to pay both Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase maximum money, while also paying Joe Burrow on an extension as well. For that reason, the Bengals might end up having to part with Higgins and try to get a haul in return.

One team that’s Super Bowl bound, the Philadelphia Eagles, made a big trade to get their franchise quarterback a true alpha wide receiver in A.J. Brown. Look at how that worked out for Jalen Hurts this year.

If the Bears wanted to go out and make a splash, getting Justin Fields a legitimate WR1, then they should be all over an opportunity to get Higgins.

What would a Tee Higgins trade look like for the Chicago Bears?

If you think back to the Stefon Diggs trade, where he left Minnesota for Buffalo, the Bears could try something similar where they package a bunch of picks together and avoid having to give up a first-round selection.

Obviously, the Bears hold the no. 1 overall pick this year, so they aren’t going to include that in a deal for Higgins. But, sending something like the above package could make it happen.

We saw on Sunday afternoon that Higgins is more than capable of being the number one guy on a team, with him making big plays just like he has all season. Higgins is a 6-foot-4 monster of a man who can make all of the catches and line up wherever needed.

In three seasons with the Bengals, Higgins has caught 215 passes for 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Remember, those numbers are including while being a number two to Chase in two of those three seasons.

Should the Bears want to go out and make a big move to get Fields his alpha wideout, there’s no better move this offseason than a trade for Higgins. This would change everything for Fields and the Bears offense, and who knows, we might see him take a similar leap to Hurts next season.

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Two workers for a restoration company have been charged with stealing cash and jewelry from an apartment of a Kenwood high-rise that was damaged in a deadly fire last week.

Jose Gamboa, 26, and Anger Uzcategui Pacheco, 20, were each charged with burglary after a resident turned over video showing them stealing from an apartment, according to Chicago police.

Gamboa and Pacheco were temporary workers for A-Emergency Services & Restoration, which was hired to work in the building after a 4-11 alarm fire climbed the outside walls of nine floors of the building in the 4800 block of South Lake Park Avenue last Wednesday. A woman was killed and eight other residents were injured.

The owner of the company told police that his workers were told not to enter any of the apartments. But video from an apartment on the fifth floor showed both inside, according to a police report.

The fire started in a 15th floor apartment of the complex and quickly spread up nine floors. The cause was “careless use of smoking materials” in a bedroom,” fire officials said. The apartment’s smoke alarm was not working at the time, the Chicago Fire Department said in a statement.

The building has failed seven inspections since Oct. 27, 2021, according to city records.

On Nov. 7 last year, it was cited for having cracked masonry on exterior walls, not having fire tags on certain doors and for failing to have a required examination report of the building, according to records from the city Department of Buildings.

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After the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, Chicago White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn had a clear message for owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

If the White Sox wanted to win a World Series, they needed to tear it all down. Trade away their superstars. Sign international prospects. Tank for draft picks. Save money now, then spend it when the youth was ready to contend.

Gone were the days of signing a core of free agents for $200 million (unless you’re the Los Angeles Dodgers, of course). It worked.

After years of trying to win with the 2005 World Series core and continually falling short of the playoffs, the Sox needed a change in philosophy and approach.

The seasons between the 2005 World Series and the 2016 World Series had been the same thing. Sign an All-Star bat past or late in their prime and convince the fans that an AL Central title or Wild Card spot was attainable. The truth is, it never was.

That all changed after the Cubs won it all. They shipped off the core for a plethora of young prospects and just like that, the Chicago White Sox were on a clear path to being a playoff contender.

Don’t let the rebuild fool you, the Chicago White Sox never actually tried to contend.

Fast forward to 2020 when the prospects had finally arrived on the South Side. It was time to start getting excited for October baseball at 35th and Shields. There was one thing that was missing though and that was a veteran core.

For the Cubs on the other side of town, everything truly came together in the 2015 offseason. The club signed postseason ace Jon Lester and poached former All-Star OF Jason Heyward from the hated St. Louis Cardinals. Finally, they were true World Series contenders.

It wasn’t just a young core that brought the title to the North Side in 2016. It was a mix of talented youth combined with postseason and veteran experience. That’s one thing that the Chicago White Sox are missing. And it seems as if they don’t care.

It’s become quite clear that the White Sox never actually wanted to take the steps to win a World Series. And yet here we are, the 2022 offseason in the rearview mirror and the Sox front office refuses to make any significant changes to the roster.

They’ve been open about not wanting to make a splash in free agency. Let’s call it how we see it here. This White Sox front office has not changed since 2006. They’re still stuck in the same mentality that they had coming off of the 2005 World Series championship.

This team will continue to rot in purgatory until there’s a true regime change. They’ve never changed from the Kenny Williams school of one more $20 million contract.

This is the same organization whose largest contract in TEAM HISTORY is a $75 million deal for an outfielder who had hit .274 in his career prior to a bounceback year in 2022.

Whether or not it was clear to Rick Hahn at the time, Reinsdorf and Kenny never actually planned on spending money. They saw an opportunity to tank, save money and continue to refuse to spend.

At this point, the championship window is inching ever so closer to being shut. All-Star and franchise leader Jose Abreu is gone, the club continues to refuse to spend, and the prospects aren’t getting any younger.

If it’s not too late already, now is the time for Reinsdorf to open up the checkbook and make a splash in free agency. Build up a seasoned, veteran rotation to help out the young starters, add another bat or two, and run for October.

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