Chicago Sports

The Chicago Bears are searching for defensive coaching help

The Chicago Bears’ defense was bad last season. A new report has come out that the Bears are looking to hire outside coaching to help for next season. The Bears’ defense gave up the 29th most yards (378) in the regular season. They gave up the most points per game (27.2). It was a rough year for first-year defensive coordinator Alan Williams.

We’ll see if Williams gets a second.

According to a report by NFL Insider Jonathan Jones, the Bears have asked for permission from the Green Bay Packers to interview Jerry Gray. He’s the Green Bay Packers’ defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. It’s unclear what position the Bears are interviewing Gray for.

The Bears have requested permission to interview Packers defensive pass game coordinator/DBs coach Jerry Gray for an as-yet-undefined defensive coaching position.
 
Gray is also interviewing this week in Atlanta for the vacant defensive coordinator position.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 20, 2023

Of interest in this report, Gray is set to interview for the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator position. Gray has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL before. He served as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator from the 2001-05 seasons.

Gray wants to be a defensive coordinator

It’s an interesting request for the Bears to make after it became public knowledge Gray was seeking a promotion to defensive coordinator. One wouldn’t expect Gray to take a backward-lateral move to Chicago for anything less than a defensive coordinator job. Hopefully, we’ll find out what job the Bears would like him to interview for.

Williams’ defense was bad all over the field this year. In his defense, his entire roster was a joke to work with, even before the Bears traded Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith midseason. So far, the Bears have retained both coordinators and head coach Matt Eberflus after finishing with the league’s worst record. But there could be a change coming to the staff shortly.

 

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Phillips senior Jaheim Savage had already scored 35 points. But if a few more seconds ticked off the clock, that impressive total would just be a line at the end of a story. The job wasn’t done. The Wildcats trailed Perspectives-Leadership by one point.

“I felt like I had to go get the ball and win the game for my team,” Savage said. “I didn’t do that when we played Hyde Park. It’s my responsibility to win the games.”

Savage drove into the lane and scored against heavy pressure. The Warriors had a chance to retake the lead but turned the ball over, securing a 74-73 for Phillips on Thursday.

“This game was very personal because they beat us twice last year,” Savage said. “It came from my heart.”

Savage, a 6-4 guard, scored 23 in the first half, 37 in the game and finished with 10 rebounds.

“I’ve been telling everyone he is the best player in the state,” Wildcats coach Paris Martin said. “He can score at three levels and he’s a great person. He’s special.”

Mykel Lindsey, a 6-6 senior, added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Phillips (13-6, 4-3 Red-South Central). Mario DeSilva contributed seven points and four rebounds and Gregory Melton finished with four points and six rebounds.

The Wildcats trailed by 12 after JK Woods’ dunk late in the third quarter. The key sequence in the comeback was a series of missed free throws. Phillips combined missed free throws and rebound baskets to pull off a seven-point possession at the 3:38 mark.

Woods led Perspectives-Leadership (14-9, 3-4) with 19 points. Leo transfer Jakeem Cole added 12 points and five rebounds and junior guard Gianni Cobb scored 13.

The Warriors are still figuring themselves out. Coach Mike Smith has assembled one of the most talented teams in the city, but all the new faces are still jelling. Perspectives-Leadership had several impressive moments in the game, stylish passes and takes to the basket from Cobb and even an alley-oop dunk off the backboard by Woods.

“We just haven’t been consistent at all,” Smith said. “Everything has been up and down. We must be much better when we have a lead. With how we keep our poise and stay together.”

Both teams are in the Class 2A Julian Sectional and could wind up as the top two seeds.

There was a big crowd of students in attendance at Phillips’ sparkling new gym. The facility has eight rows of bleachers on each side and even a training room for the athletes.

“This is a blessing,” Lindsey said. “It’s hard to describe what it’s like to play in a place this nice.”

Martin is in his first year as Phillips’ head coach.

“This new gym a special treat,” Martin said. “My coaches and I are just enjoying everything about this place and about getting to play in the Red-South/Central. We want to be here for a while.”

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The Chicago Bulls will be closely watched ahead of the NBA trade deadline

The Chicago Bulls currently sit in a play-in position at 10th in the East 3 weeks from the NBA trade deadline. With a losing record of 21-24, the Bulls will be one of the most closely monitored teams ahead of the deadline. They sit in an interesting position. They have a solid nucleus of players and are not totally healthy and the Bulls are only 3 1/2 games out of the 6th seed in the east. With a solid run and a few additions, the Bulls very well could be in the thick of the playoff hunt come April. Here are 3 players the team could potentially acquire if they choose to go for it.

Eric Gordon SG, SF

You have to feel for the former 6th man of the year. Eric Gordon is in a horrible situation in Houston in what is a complete rebuild. Gordon will be one of the more closely watched names ahead of the trade deadline as the Rockets would be silly not to get something for Gordon in a rebuilding season.

How Gordon fits in Chicago

At first glance, the Chicago Bulls do not have an immediate need in their backcourt. However, the 34-year-old would bring more defensive resistance than Goran Dragic and more consistency than Colby White and Dalen Terry. He is a solid 3-ball shooter and would bring more veteran experience that could potentially help the team gel more down the stretch. The Bulls would also not have to give up much to acquire Gordon if they feel they want to hold onto their more valuable trade assets.

Kyle Kuzma PF, SF

If the Bulls really wanted to go for it, adding Kuzma to the fold, whom is having a career year, would go a long way. The former Laker is averaging 21.7 points per game on a 45% clip which are both career highs. The Chicago Bulls only have 3 double digit scorers on their roster at the moment (DeRozan, Lavine, Vucevic) and adding Kuzma would only improve the NBA’s 20th best offense, possibly giving the Bulls a top 10 offense in the league.

How Kuzma Fits in Chicago

The 6’9″ swingman can slide between 3 and 4 spots, or even serve as a small-ball center for stretches with certain lineups. He can create his own shots or find them off the ball as a spot-up shooter or cutter. Defensively, he keeps making strides as a lanky, versatile stopper.

-Via Bleacher Report

Russell Westbrook PG

This likely will not be a popular option among Chicago Bulls fans. Nonetheless Westbrook would purely be a pawn in this hypothetical trade. If the Bulls were to acquire Westbrook it would likely mean that they are blowing things up for a rebuild. The real gem of this trade would be the Lakers 1st round picks in 2027 & 2029. These picks won’t mean anything for awhile however the Bulls could deal them in a major trade before they even are able to use them which could potentially accelerate a hypothetical rebuild.

How Westbrook fits in Chicago

Westbrook would merely be a cog in this hypothetical trade and potential rebuild, not so much a fit. With Westbrook bouncing around the league the past few years he is proving that he does not really fit anywhere and is somewhat of a headache. However putting up with Westbrook may be worth it if it means something bigger in the near future for the Chicago Bulls.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame’s winningest men’s basketball coach, Mike Brey, has decided to step down at the end of his school-record 23rd season, school officials announced Thursday.

The 63-year-old Brey arrived in July 2000, taking over a stagnant program and guiding it back to national prominence and title contention in two different conferences.

Brey’s 481 victories at Notre Dame rank sixth among active coaches at their current schools and his 580 career wins rank 50th in Division I history. Before joining the Irish, he coached Delaware for five seasons and earned NCAA tourney bids twice in his last three years with the Blue Hens.

Notre Dame’s program fell on hard times after Digger Phelps retired in 1991. The Irish did not make an NCAA Tournament appearance from 1990 until Brey’s first season in 2000-01 and only made three NIT appearances during that span.

Brey changed everything, taking Notre Dame to the NCAA tourney 13 times and winning 15 games, tied for the most in school history. And the Irish were the only Division I school to make consecutive Elite Eight runs in the 2015 and 2016 season.

Lately, though, it’s been more of a challenge. The Irish ended a five-year tourney drought last season when they went 24-11, but have struggled to a 9-8 mark this season, going 1-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

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Thursday, January 19, 2023

METRO SUBURBAN – BLUE

Riverside-Brookfield at Aurora Christian, 7:30

MID-SUBURBAN – EAST

Elk Grove at Wheeling, 7:30

Hersey at Buffalo Grove, 7:30

Rolling Meadows at Prospect, 7:30

MID-SUBURBAN – WEST

Conant at Barrington, 7:30

Hoffman Estates at Palatine, 7:30

Schaumburg at Fremd, 7:30

NOBLE LEAGUE – BLUE

Mansueto at Pritzker, 7:00

NOBLE LEAGUE – GOLD

Bulls Prep at Johnson, 7:00

ITW-Speer at Noble Academy, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED-SOUTH / CENTRAL

Curie at Longwood, 6:30

Kenwood at Hyde Park, 6:30

Morgan Park at Brooks, 5:00

Perspectives-Lead at Phillips, 5:00

Simeon at Lindblom, 6:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-CENTRAL

Bogan at Catalyst-Maria, 5:00

Dunbar at Richards (Chgo), 5:00

DuSable at King, 5:00

Hubbard at Kennedy, 5:00

Urban Prep-Englewood at Englewood STEM, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Corliss at ACE Amandla, 5:00

Fenger at Harlan, 5:00

UC-Woodlawn at Dyett, 5:00

Urban Prep-Bronzeville at South Shore, 5:00

Vocational at Agricultural Science, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-CENTRAL

ACERO-Garcia at Excel-Englewood, 5:00

ACERO-Soto at Hancock, 5:00

Back of the Yards at Solorio, 5:00

Gage Park at Horizon-Southwest, 5:00

Tilden at Kelly, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-SOUTH

Air Force at Goode, 6:30

Carver at Excel-South Shore, 5:00

Chicago Military at Washington, 5:00

EPIC at Bowen, 5:00

Hirsch at Julian, 5:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – RED

Reavis at Argo, 7:00

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN – RED

Andrew at Stagg, 6:00

UPSTATE EIGHT

Bartlett at Fenton, 7:00

Elgin at East Aurora, 6:30

Glenbard East at Streamwood, 7:00

Glenbard South at West Chicago, 7:00

Larkin at South Elgin, 7:00

WEST SUBURBAN – GOLD

Morton at Hinsdale South, 7:30

NON CONFERENCE

Chesterton-HF at Islamic Foundation, 5:30

CPSA at Shepard, 5:00

Golder at Westinghouse, 6:00

Hinckley-Big Rock at Harvest Christian, 7:00

Milford at Beecher, 7:00

Parkview Christian at Newark, 7:00

Phoenix at Eisenhower, 6:30

Waldorf at Cristo Rey-St. Martin, 5:30

Westminster Christian at Christian Liberty, 7:30

SALEM

East St. Louis vs. Salem, 6:30

Thornton Fr. North vs. Effingham, 8:00

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PARIS — The streets of Paris were in a frenzy all day on Thursday, as transportation workers throughout the country were protesting the government’s changing of the pension plan.

Entire neighborhoods near the Bastille were in gridlock, police were in full riot gear, and historic monuments were spray-painted.

But the night in Paris? That belonged to the NBA and the Bulls.

Thanks to a game-high 30 points from Zach LaVine, the Bulls handled the Pistons 126-108 in the Paris Game 2023 in front of a sellout crowd at the Accor Arena.

And while it may have counted as a regular-season game, it didn’t feel anything like it for the players involved.

It isn’t often that the Bulls and Pistons play in mid-January, while former Bull Joakim Noah sits on one side of the court dressed like a Sherpa with Crocs on, and across the way sits Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

Tickets sold out immediately when the game was announced months ago, and getting tickets on the streets was next to impossible in the NBA-starved city.

The Pistons may have been the home team, but that was in white jersey color only, as the fans were 85% in the corner of the visiting Bulls.

They played like it from the opening tip.

Nikola Vucevic set the tone early, scoring the opening four points of the game, and then assisting on a Patrick Williams three-pointer, only to move aside and allow DeMar DeRozan to get the arena on its feet with a thunderous one-handed dunk.

Not bad for a veteran who was sidelined for three games with an injured right quad, but returned just in time for the showcase event.

“You kind of see it with a lot of teams on the road where you just have that electric atmosphere,” DeRozan said. “You just go out there and compete a little bit more. You’ve got that extra step, extra juice in you.

“Definitely a privilege to be playing in Paris, and you want to leave a lasting impression for sure.”

DeRozan wasn’t alone in that, as the second half became an in-game dunk contest between LaVine and Derrick Jones Jr. On volume alone, Jones was the clear winner.

Bigger picture, the Bulls (21-24) were sharing the basketball and running an unselfish offense for the second consecutive game. They were finally playing like a group that understood where they were in the season and what’s at stake as the Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches.

Seven different players in double figures was evident of that.

Meanwhile, the Pistons had their own French connection going. The worst team in the Eastern Conference remained right where they wanted to be — sitting at 12-36 and still a real contender to try and win the draft lottery and nab French sensation Victor Wembanyama.

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The Music Box Theatre has quietly pulled a screening of a controversial indie film following tweets that accused the film of “transphobia” and “fascism.”

The Lakeview theater, well-known for hosting arthouse, midnight movies and repertory oddities, had scheduled a special showing of “Actors” on Feb. 2, accompanied in-person by its two New York-based stars and creators: real-life siblings Betsey Brown and Peter Vack. Self-described as a “hybrid docu-fiction satire,” it features Vack as a twisted meta version of himself, an actor and indie filmmaker who decides to re-identify as a woman to gain attention in the art and entertainment world.

But on the night of Jan. 12, independent filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun tweeted that hosting the film was a “bad look” for the Music Box.

“This movie is transphobic and reeks of violence. I pulled my film from fests that were playing it,” said Schoenbrun, who is transgender and goes by they/them pronouns. Within 24 hours, “Actors” disappeared from the Music Box’s website without a peep, and the schedule for Feb. 2 is currently blank.

The Music Box has offered no explanation — multiple attempts to reach various theater management over email and phone went unanswered — so it’s unknown whether Schoenbrun’s tweet directly prompted the show cancellation, but actress/podcaster Dasha Nekrasova believes so.

“Ridiculous and disappointing that @musicboxtheatre would pull their screening of “Actors” citing baseless accusations of ‘transphobia’ and ‘fascism’ — shameful lack of integrity and respect for filmmakers,” tweeted Nekrasova, who appears in the HBO drama “Succession” and was also cast in Brown and Vack’s upcoming sci-fi drama “www.RachelOrmont.com.”

Before they shot a single second of their film, the brother-sister team appeared ready to deflect such criticisms. They crowdfunded the film via $40,000 raised on Kickstarter, with a project description that reads: “This is NOT a film about the trans experience. This is about white cis male fragility and the lengths some will go to keep their seat at the table.”

That’s not the way Schoenbrun sees it. The director of the 2021 coming-of-age/horror drama “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” told the Sun-Times that institutions like the Music Box shouldn’t be platforming a work that “I and many in the trans film community believe to be a clear transphobic dog whistle.” They declined to explain the accusation further, citing “virulent and scary harassment” following Nekrasova’s Jan. 13 tweet calling Schoenbrun “a psycho.”

In his negative review of “Actors,” New York City blogger Mike Crumplar panned it as “a minstrel show caricature” of trans people. The film is “basically ‘Tootsie’ — if ‘Tootsie’ was about how the most mentally ill and shameful thing for a cis person to do is to think it’s better to be a trans person,” he wrote.

Cancellations of movie screenings due to controversial content are rare in Chicago.

In August 1988, approximately 675 people loudly picketed screenings of Martin Scorsese’s ”The Last Temptation of Christ” in front of the iconic Biograph Theater — contending that the movie’s portrayal of Jesus was blasphemous. Still, the theater carried on with the showings.

More recently, Brenden Frasier’s comeback film “The Whale” has been labeled by activists as “fat-phobic.” After a recent fight over the documentary “Jihad Rehab” at Sundance, Variety suggested that film festivals and the indie film world were becoming timid because they’re “desperate to avoid controversy and the wrath of any identity-focused Twitter mob.”

Rebecca Fons, director of programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center, declined to address the Music Box’s decision to nix “Actors” but noted that “there is no hard and fast rule about the decision to cancel a presentation.

“Defining art as ‘controversial’ can even be controversial,” Fons said. “The process of cancellation, in my experience, is taken with great care and involves artists, audiences, and administrators. Regardless of the situation or the outcome, the process begins with listening and learning.”

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PARIS — Bulls president and chief executive officer Michael Reinsdorf knows what his brand stands for globally.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t nice to get a reminder of that every so often.

Paris checked that box for Reinsdorf.

“You know, we’re walking up to the arena and seeing everybody wearing Bulls jerseys, and how excited the fans of France and Paris are coming to the game, it’s pretty incredible,” Reinsdorf said on Thursday. “It seems like just the other day I was here in 1997 with my wife for those preseason games, and it’s just an exciting time to be a part of this organization.”

The difference was ’97 was preseason games. The Paris Game 2023 counted, and considering how quickly tickets sold out when the game was first announced to be played at the Accor Arena, it wasn’t because the Detroit Pistons were on the fight card.

The crowd was 80-90% pro Bulls, despite Detroit being the home team, and it sounded like it from the moment the two teams were introduced, throughout the game.

“The league asks teams who wants to play overseas?” Reinsdorf explained how this all went down. “Traditionally we haven’t been that excited to do that, but I talked to [executive vice president of basketball operations] Arturas [Karnisovas] and [general manager] Marc [Eversley] and [coach] Billy [Donovan], and they were all excited to have this opportunity.

“They felt it was a great bonding experience for the players. The season is a long season, this kind of breaks it up. They actually get a few extra days off and then played [Thursday], and then we’re back at it again Monday in Chicago, so I think it’s a great experience for the entire organization.”

And fitting that it came against the Pistons.

The last time the Bulls played in Paris, Bulls-Pistons were at the end of their heated rivalry thanks to Michael Jordan slaying the “Bad Boys,” but the very mention of those two teams back then still carried juice.

That’s long gone, but it wasn’t lost on Reinsdorf.

“We’re proud of [the 90s dynasty], but we don’t want to rest on what happened in the 90s,” Reinsdorf said. “We want to win again. That obviously is our goal, but we can’t shy away from the fact that back in the 90s we won six championships in eight years and we were one of the first global teams in sports. We have to embrace it, but we’d like to get back to the top of the mountain for sure.”

Gold finger

Zach LaVine couldn’t avoid the Olympic talk even if he wanted to. There’s posters and the Olympic rings throughout the city, with the Summer Olympics scheduled for Paris in 2024.

LaVine and Team USA captured gold in Tokyo in 2021, and so of course the two-time All-Star was asked if there would be a second chase for a gold medal in his future.

“I mean, it would be great whenever you have an opportunity to play for your country,” LaVine said. “Last time, I was successful. We were able to bring back gold from over in Tokyo. It’s a great experience. I’ll never forget that. If I have another shot at doing that, I’d love to.”

LaVine did warn, however, that he would have to see how his body felt when it’s time to start going through the workouts leading up to them selecting the team. Those workouts would start this upcoming offseason with invites sent out for the player pool selected.

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PHILADELPHIA — The first half of Colin Blackwell’s first Blackhawks season did not go as planned. Throughout the fall, he did little to remind anyone he was even on the team.

In January, though, the 29-year-old forward has looked more like an NHL player. Thursday against the Flyers marked his 10th consecutive game in the lineup, and the puck has been landing on his stick — or getting dislodged from opponents’ sticks due to his defensive actions — more often.

He also finally scored his first Hawks goal (in his 33rd game) on Jan. 8 against the Flames, although doing so just made him angrier.

“I was a little embarrassed,” Blackwell said. “It took me 30-something games. That’s unacceptable in my mind. It relieves a little bit of stress because finally it happened, but from that standpoint, I have a heck of a lot more to give.”

Of the Hawks’ various stopgap free-agent signings last summer, Blackwell was the lone player to receive a two-year contract, which rewarded him for his fantastic defensive analytics and respectable production (42 points in 105 games) around the NHL the past two seasons.

It has taken him half a year to rediscover any semblance of that rhythm, however, and he entered Thursday still having tallied only five points in 36 games. He attributes that to following “too much of a pass-first mentality” earlier on.

“For a long portion of the year, the way we were playing, it was a lot to the outside, not to the inside,” he said. “You don’t really generate much out there, at least the way I play. … Now, I’ve been…trying to take more pucks to the net, trying to be more dirty around the crease.”

Outside the offensive zone, he’s also focusing more on “little things” that make positive impacts, such as placing dump-ins in areas where they’re harder for opposing defensemen to cleanly retrieve.

“The season…hasn’t necessarily gone the way I would’ve liked, but I’m not going away from the things that make me successful,” he added. “I’m just sticking with it.”

Murphy used to insecurity

It became clear to Hawks defenseman Connor Murphy last summer, as he watched teammates previously considered integral players traded away left and right, that he could no longer take for granted his own long-term future in Chicago.

Even with three years left on his contract beyond this season and a modified no-trade clause (which blocks trades to 10 predetermined teams) in place, he had to accept the reality. And accept it he has.

“With everyone getting traded, no one felt safe,” Murphy said. “That’s just the way it is. We’re used to it by now, knowing that anything is possible and it’s really out of your control. You try to just stick with your game.”

If Murphy outlasts Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on the Hawks’ roster, which currently looks more likely than not to happen, he’ll become the team’s longest-tenured player. Chicago has long since become home for him. He figures it would feel like a “shock” to suddenly move to another city and organization.

But as the March 3 trade deadline grows closer — with a possibly trade-laden draft a few months later, and another year of this cycle beyond that — he wouldn’t be shocked to eventually feel that shock.

“You just enjoy each day with the team and try to grow with your teammates,” he said. “Because you hope it’ll last for a while, but you never know how long.”

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If you follow Jason Benetti on Twitter, you’re seen his posts with a picture of a stadium floor and a request to share the first person you think of.

Let’s play that game but change the picture. Instead, imagine a Chicago sports broadcaster and what that person brings to mind.

That’s what I did for my third annual Chicago sports-media rankings, which examine the market’s TV and radio sports broadcasters based on appeal, quality, longevity and, of course, personal preference. With the help of a crack support staff, these rankings are even more precise than last year’s.

More than 100 names were considered. The top 20 follow, with last year’s rank in parentheses. And, new this year, I included the bottom five. Hey, it’s a tough business.

1. Adam Amin (2): He was up for Fox’s No. 2 NFL team – which is an achievement in itself – but unfortunately the network chose Joe Davis. Amin is better than him on football and did an outstanding job on the No. 3 crew. He also called an exciting Dodgers-Padres playoff series for Fox. He’s in his third season calling the Bulls with analyst Stacey King, and they have become the most entertaining tandem in town. Amin has a strong voice and is prepared beyond reproach. There isn’t anything he couldn’t call.

2. Jason Benetti (1): It was a big year for Benetti, who was the voice of Peacock’s package of Sunday MLB games, then left ESPN for Fox, where he called his first NFL game on TV. His primary work there is college football and basketball, and Fox is giving him higher-profile football games than ESPN did. He and White Sox analyst Steve Stone form one of the most popular booths in baseball.

3. Pat Hughes (3): Making the Cubs Hall of Fame was nice, but making the Baseball Hall of Fame was incredible. He’s sure to give a wonderful induction speech in July. The Cubs’ radio voice since 1996 has added some TV to his resume on Marquee Sports Network, and he shows no sign of slowing down.

4. Laurence Holmes (7): He went from his own two-hour show on The Score to a four-hour extravaganza with Dan Bernstein that’s the highest-rated sports radio show in town. He also returned to hosting the “Football Aftershow” on NBC Sports Chicago. Add in his podcast work, and Holmes has a media empire.

5. Danny Parkins (6): Parkins is a throwback in sports radio. He has engaged in stunts and antics that conjure memories of radio days gone by. Allowing listeners to see them on The Score’s Twitch stream adds to the fun. He also isn’t afraid to push the envelope or stir the pot. It can make for great radio.

6. Marc Silverman (8): Every “Silvy” rant comes from decades of Chicago sports fandom. Listeners can feel it. He’s patient and polite with callers, and his banter with colleagues shows how tight the ESPN 1000 crew is. He and Tom Waddle are the longest-tenured radio partners in the city.

7. Dan Bernstein (11): When Leila Rahimi left her regular gig on The Score, I was in favor of Bernstein working alone. But he and Holmes (with weekly appearances by Rahimi) have doused that thought. It’s wild to think back to how angry he used to sound. Now he’s more, dare we say, pleasant.

8. Jon Sciambi (4): Speaking of pleasant, that’s exactly how to describe listening to “Boog” call a Cubs game with Jim Deshaies on Marquee. Sciambi also calls plum college basketball games for ESPN, but his big assignment this year will be, at long last, calling the World Series for ESPN Radio.

9. Leila Rahimi (10): The daily gig at The Score ended when she was promoted to lead sports anchor at NBC 5. She also returned to NBC Sports Chicago, filling in for Jason Goff on Bulls pre- and postgame shows. It was like she never left (not that she wanted to).

10. Jason Goff (5): Speaking of Goff, he’s still doing great work hosting the Bulls shows, the best shoulder programming in town. Goff, Kendall Gill and Will Perdue are so at ease on the set, it’s like the cameras aren’t there. After games, you feel like you need to hear what they think.

11. Stacey King (12): You always hear what King thinks, often with his unique flair. He’s great at breaking down plays.

12. Steve Stone (16): Stoney isn’t shy, either, about sharing his thoughts. He’s still one of the best analysts in the game.

13. Ozzie Guillen (18): The Mouth of the South Side is a must-watch for Sox fans after games, particularly tough losses.

14. David Kaplan (9): He’s off TV now, but you still can watch him on YouTube and listen to him on ESPN 1000.

15. Dionne Miller (20): She added to her ESPN 1000 work, hosting a Saturday show with Peggy Kusinski. The ABC 7 anchor tied Guillen as the biggest risers on the list.

16. Len Kasper (17): Put him on Sox radio or TV, and you’ll get a great broadcast every time.

17. Tom Waddle (13): He’s at his best talking about football – not so much the overly personal things he shares.

18. Matt Spiegel (NR): Next month, he’ll celebrate two years in the same time slot with the same partner. That’s perseverance paying off.

19. Chuck Swirsky (NR): He still calls a great game, and his kindness and positivity are unmatched.

20. Zach Zaidman (NR): It’s nice that he’s calling more Cubs games with Hughes moving to TV on occasion, but his DePaul basketball broadcasts are outstanding.

Dropped out: Pat Foley (14), Eddie Olczyk (15), Olin Kreutz (19).

BOTTOM FIVE

(listed alphabetically)

Colby Cohen: He’s at his best providing analysis between the benches. That has helped a new TV team that’s working out the kinks. But of all the studio analysts in town, Cohen is the only one not connected to the home team, and that matters to viewers. Plus, he didn’t have an NHL career that inspires awe.

Dave Corzine: It’s great that DePaul reached into its storied past for a radio analyst. It’s not great that he sounds like he swallowed a handful of thumbtacks. Corzine’s voice is so raspy, it’s hard to understand sometimes. He’s still tight with the Blue Demons, so don’t expect a change. But one is overdue.

“Mully & Haugh”: Which voice does Mike Mulligan speak with more: The one that growls and guffaws or the one that’s gravelly with a tinge of Bert from “Sesame Street”? David Haugh used to write long for the Tribune. Now he talks long for The Score. His personality doesn’t befit a morning show.

Jim Rose: He has been at ABC 7 for 40 years – and it’s a wonder how. It’s easy to question his preparation from watching his sportscasts. He has mispronounced names, and his voice-overs might not sync with the highlights. Rose’s contract is up in September. The situation bears watching.

Cole Wright: He should take a cue from “Hamilton”: Talk less. Wright is a walking run-on sentence who belongs on “SportsCenter” circa 1995. He calls the Brewers the “beer makers” and has renamed Wrigley Field “the federal landmark.” Please, stop. And stop pointing your notecard at the viewers. It’s rude.

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