Chicago Sports

The Chicago Bears have won more NFL games than any other team but still have a solitary Super Bowl to their name. That famous victory came in 1985 when they won Super Bowl XX. 

Can they make it to the playoffs this season and start dreaming of another Super Bowl win?

How Did Last Season Go?

As one of the last two remaining founding members of the NFL, the Bears took part in their 102nd season in the league last year. It turned out to be another disappointment for their fans, though, as they ended with a 6-11 record. This was slightly worse than the 8-8 from the previous season, and it wasn’t enough to see them reach the playoffs.

This led to head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace being fired at the start of 2022. Some mistakes in offering contracts to the wrong players left the team with an uphill battle in the 2021 season, and they started poorly, racking up 3-6 in their first few games. This essentially put them out of the running for the playoffs long before the regular season reached the end.

They were left regretting the players they let go, and regretting the ones that they moved heaven and earth to sign on big contracts. It all added up to an unbalanced roster and a team that struggled to put together any sort of winning run. The season ended with a 17-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and it was time to look ahead. Looking at the point spreads NFL odds, the Bears are outsiders on most games in the early part of the season but has anything changed?

The Changes to Their Roster

Among the first big moves the Bears made was adding Matt Eberflus as the new head coach, only the 17th in the history of the Chicago franchise. Eberflus was previously the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts and he’s expected to move the Bears’ defense to a 4-3 basis this season. Also recruited to the franchise, Ryan Poles moved from the Kansas City Chiefs to become the new general manager.

The 2022 draft gave the team the chance to freshen up the roster, and they made their first moves in the second round. This was where Kyler Gordon joined the Bears, as the 39th overall pick. The cornerback puts his impressive balance and jumping ability down to dancing ballet at a young age, and he joined the Bears after his college years at the University of Washington.

Next to be picked was Jaquan Brisker, who also came in the second round, this time as pick number 48. The safety played his college years at Lackawanna and Penn State. The Bears actually got this pick by trading Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers, so fans will be eager to see if Chicago’s decision-making has got better this year.

   As the draft continued into the later rounds, the Bears picked up Velus Jones Jr. The wide receiver is also a return specialist and his college experience came at both USD and the Tennessee Volunteers. Also joining up at the draft were the likes of Braxton Jones, Dominique Robinson, and Zachary Thomas.

In terms of undrafted free agents, Chicago took on quite a few, such as Jon Alexander, Christian Albright, Chase Allen, and Jean Delance. Most of the contracts of this type don’t work out, but the management team will be hoping to find at least one or two good players in there to join the roster. Otherwise, there are a lot of veterans on 1 or 2-year deals, which appears to be a risky strategy but could work out well. With no real game-changers among the new faces, established players finding better form and staying clear of injury is vital.

A Look Ahead to The New Season

Bears fans will be hoping to see quarterback Justin Fields start to fulfill his potential this season too. 

The 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Fields struggled to impress last season and suffered 36 sacks but his second year in the NFL could see him take the next steps in his career. Naturally, he needs to have more protection and a strong offensive line to help him perform well, and that’s where some of the new players need to play their part.

Bearing all of the previous points in mind, everything seems to point towards it being another difficult season for the Chicago Bears. Luke Getsy is in charge of offense for the first time and will be looking to play to Fields’ strengths. 

They’re capable of doing better than last season but it looks like the rebuilding process for the Bears will be a long one, and it would be something of a surprise to see them reach the playoffs this time around.

 

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The Chicago Bears need more weapons at skilled positions

Cole Kmet is a lock as a starter for the Chicago Bears at the tight end position. There isn’t much competition in that part of the offense. Ryan Griffin, James O’Shaughnessy, and Chase Allen are the Bears’ current backups at tight end. Not a lot of compelling names there.

The Bears receiving unit as a whole is lacking playmakers. The wide receiver’s room also lacks quality depth with injuries hitting the Bears in the preseason. General manager Ryan Poles should be looking for ways to elevate the offense.

One potential option might be Mike Gesicki. Reports came out Wednesday that the Miami Dolphins are looking to trade the fifth-year veteran tight end. Gesicki is currently franchised-tagged by the Dolphins.

Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus broke the report about the potential trade:

The Dolphins, of course, would not cut Gesicki, who’s playing on a fully guaranteed franchise tag this season, but a trade isn’t out of the question. In fact, the Dolphins have “brought up” Gesicki’s name to other teams, a league source told PFF. That doesn’t mean anything will transpire, but Miami has been willing to engage in conversations.

On top of that, Gesicki is set to make $10.931 million in 2022, and he played the entire first half of Saturday’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, staying in the game long after other offensive starters, such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, tight end Durham Smythe and others, had departed.

And that’s because Gesicki has admitted he’s learning a new position this season. He previously was a big receiver. Now he’s a tight end, and in new head coach Mike McDaniel’s offense, he’ll be expected to block.

Gesicki could help the Chicago Bears’ offense

Gesicki is an intriguing option for the Chicago Bears. He’s excellent as a flexible skill player. The Dolphins used Gesicki as both a tight end and wide receiver.

Gesicki has produced decent numbers throughout his career with the Dolphins. He recorded 73 receptions for 780 yards and two touchdowns last season.  Remember that he’s had to suffer through multiple mediocre quarterbacks before the Dolphins settled on the ultimate prototype for the lackluster NFL quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.

Poles should pull the trigger on the trade If the Chicago Bears can get Gesicki for the right price. Gesicki is the perfect addition for a roster that needs help at both the tight end and wide receiver positions.

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The White Sox and Major League Baseball today announced the club’s 2023 regular-season schedule, and this one looks like none other before it.

The Sox open the season at Houston on March 30, kicking off a schedule in which all 30 teams will each other for the first time.

The Sox’ home opener is against the Giants on April 3.

The Crosstown Series against the Cubs includes a pair of two-game matchups, July 25-26 at Guaranteed Rate Field (a Tuesday and Wednesday) and August 15-16 at Wrigley Field, also a Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here is the schedule for next season:

Schedule features for the Sox include 52 games against American League Central teams Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City and Minnesota, 31 games vs. AL East opponents including seven vs. Tampa Bay, and six each vs. Baltimore, Boston, the Yankees and Toronto, and 33 games against AL West teams with seven each vs. Houston, the Angels and Oakland, and six each against Seattle and Texas.

The Sox have 46 interleague games.

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Criss Henderson is stepping down as executive director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater at the end of the year, it was announced Wednesday.

Henderson was among the leadership team that steered the theater from its earliest days in 1990 to its stature today as a Tony Award-winning, internationally acclaimed company.

The move follows the announcement earlier this year that founder and artistic director Barbara Gaines will depart the company in mid-2023.

“After more than three decades of extraordinary experiences and a lot of recent reflection, I have decided there are new creative chapters and artistic projects that I want to bring to fruition outside of the day-to-day operations of running a theater. As Chicago Shakespeare passes its 36th year, I feel the theater is ready for an infusion of fresh perspectives and next-generation vision,” Henderson said via statement.

The theater’s move to its Navy Pier home and the opening of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare are two of the milestones of Henderson’s tenure with the company.

“Interim leadership” will be in place before his departure while the board of directors conducts an international search for a new team to replace Henderson and Gaines, Tuesday’s announcement said. Henderson will serve as a consultant with the company through 2023 “to support a smooth leadership transition.”

“It has been a great honor to help build this company from, literally, ‘two planks and a passion’ into the leading and essential arts organization it is today,” Henderson said.

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A fan was thrown down three rows of bleachers during a Cubs game at Wrigley Field

As the MLB season comes to a close, fans are starting to get frustrated with their teams, knowing that the chances of making the postseason at this point are slim. This was the case with the Chicago Cubs during their game last night against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs have been having a rough 2022 season, going 53-70 so far. Last night was no different, when they lost 13-3 against the Cardinals.

The outcome caused two  fans seated in the bleachers to brawl it out. It is unclear what exactly started the fight, but the footage shows one fan get thrown down three rows of bleachers. Fans tried to separate them before multiple security guards raced to the scene to restore order. The man who fell down the bleachers got up seemingly uninjured, but footage shows another man who was involved was bleeding from his eye area. Meanwhile, other fans looked on with confusion and concern, and one poor disappointed guy can be seen clinging onto what appeared to be an attempt to start a beer snake.

Check out the video below:

The fight quickly de-escalated once security arrived on the scene, and it still remains unknown whether any arrests have been made. Needless to say, the bleachers are Wrigley Field are always filled with excitement.

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The area’s top 50 players, listed in alphabetical order.

Player, School, Year, Position, Height, Weight

Brooks Bahr, Loyola, Sr., DL, 6-6, 280

Austin Barrett, St. Charles East, Sr., OL, 6-7, 275

Christian Betancur, Marian Central, Jr., TE, 6-5, 240

Lynel Billups-Williams, Crete-Monee, Sr., WR, 5-11, 160

Anthony Birsa, Joliet Catholic, Sr., OL, 6-4, 285

Frank Covey IV, Prospect, Sr., WR, 6-2, 185

Kiwaun Davis, Kenwood, Sr., DB, 6-3, 165

Jailen Duffie, Warren, Sr., DB, 6-1, 170

Darrion Dupree, Mount Carmel, Jr., RB, 5-10, 177

Malik Elzy, Simeon, Sr., WR, 6-3, 195

Pat Farrell, St. Rita, Sr., DL, 6-5, 235

Joshua Franklin, Crete-Monee, Sr., QB, 5-10, 175

Aidan Gray, Naperville North, Sr., QB, 6-3, 185

Nathan Greetham, Prairie Ridge, Sr., RB, 5-8, 175

Tysean Griffin, Morgan Park, Jr., RB, 5-11 165

Brandon Hansen, Mundelein, Jr., OL, 6-6, 290

Jyaire Hill, Kankakee, Sr., DB, 6-1, 170

Jamel Howard, Marist, Sr., DL, 6-2, 320

Tyler Jansey, Batavia, Sr., LB, 6-1, 225

Michael Jimmar, Plainfield East, Sr., OL, 6-5, 280

Tre Jones, Oswego East, Sr., QB, 6-2, 175

Andrew Laurich, Yorkville, Sr., DL, 6-5, 250

Marquise Lightfoot, Kenwood, Jr., 6-5, 215

Christian McKinney, Homewood-Flossmoor, Sr., LB, 6-1, 222

TJ McMillen, St. Francis, Sr., OL, 6-3, 270

Ethan Middleton, St. Rita, Jr., RB, 5-11, 180

John Nestor, Marist, Sr., DB, 6-1, 190

KJ Parker, IC Catholic, Jr., WR/DB, 6-0, 175

Tony Phillips, Kankakee, Jr., RB, 5-6, 170

Roderick Pierce III, Brother Rice, DL, 6-3, 265

Vinny Rugai, St. Ignatius, Sr., RB, 5-11, 190

Jack Sadowsky, Batavia, Sr., LB, 6-2, 215

Justin Scott, St. Ignatius, Jr., DL, 6-5, 315

Jake Stearney, Loyola, Sr., QB, 6-3, 180

Grant Stec, Jacobs, Jr., TE, 6-6, 220

I’Marion Stewart, Bolingbrook, Jr., WR, 6-1, 180

Christopher Terek, Glenbard West, Sr., OL, 6-6, 295

Kyle Thomas, Marian Catholic, Sr., QB, 6-3, 150

K’Vion Thunderbird, Kenwood, Sr., LB, 6-1, 205

Kahlil Tate, Kenwood, Sr., DB, 6-1, 185

Justin Taylor, Nazareth, Sr., WR, 6-1, 185

Eddie Tuerk, Lyons, Jr., DL, 6-4, 255

Asher Tomaszewski, Mount Carmel, Sr., DL, 6-4, 275

Deakon Tonielli, Oswego, Sr., TE, 6-5, 215

Trenton VanBoening, Libertyville, Sr., OL, 6-6, 295

Pierce Walsh, Benet, Sr., TE, 6-4, 212

Damon Walters, Bolingbrook, Sr., DB, 6-1, 175

Jacob Welch, Johnsburg, Sr., OL, 6-6, 290

Cam Williams, Glenbard South, Jr., WR, 6-2, 185

Luke Williams, Naperville North, Jr., WR, 6-0, 175

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Two people were killed and eight others — including three teenage boys — were wounded in shootings across Chicago Tuesday.

A man was killed and two other people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at their cars Tuesday afternoon in Washington Heights on the South Side. The attack happened around 2:40 p.m. when someone in another car fired shots in the 9200 block of South Halsted Street, Chicago police said. A man, 31, was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Another man, 29, and a woman, 38, were hospitalized in fair condition, each with a gunshot wound to the leg, police said. The man was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center and the woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center.Hours later, a man was killed in a shooting in Chatham on the South Side. Khalil White, 18, was in an alley in the 8700 block of South Wabash Avenue when someone shot him multiple times about 4:50 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.A 15-year-old boy was wounded in South Shore on the South Side. The teen was shot around 6:20 a.m. in the 1800 block of East 71st Street, police said. He was struck in the right leg and left arm and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition, police said.A 16-year-old boy was grazed by gunfire Tuesday near an alley in North Austin on the Northwest Side. About 1:10 p.m., the teen was near an alley in the 5100 block of West Division Street when he was hit in the foot by a bullet, police said. He was taken to the Rush University Medical Center and listed in good condition. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the chest in Woodlawn on the South Side. The boy was found about 9:40 p.m. in a vestibule of a building in the 6000 block of South Vernon Avenue after officers responded to a report of gunshots, police said. He was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition.

At least three others were shot in Chicago Tuesday.

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One man was killed and two other people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at their cars Tuesday afternoon in Washington Heights on the South Side.

The attack happened around 2:40 p.m. when someone in another car fired shots in the 9200 block of South Halsted Street, Chicago police said.

A man, 31, was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center, police said.

Another man, 29, and a woman, 38, were hospitalized in fair condition, each with a gunshot wound to the leg, police said. The man was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center and the woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

No arrests were reported.

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BALTIMORE, Md. — Eloy Jimenez hit a home run in the first inning.

Yes, a home run! It was worth the exclamation point, it being the Sox’ second homer since Yoan Moncada’s meaningless blast when the Astros routed the Sox by 16 runs last Thursday.

But then the Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle topped Jimenez’ two-run shot to right-center field by hitting a three-run homer to center field in the first against Dylan Cease, who hadn’t given up a multi-run homer since May.

After that, Cease resorted to his usual Cy Young contending form in a 5-3 Sox loss, facing the minimum 14 batters in a row into the sixth, when a leadoff walk in the sixth to Cedric Mullins, an errant pickoff attempt by Cease and a soft RBI single by Anthony Santander made it 4-2.

And the Sox resorted to their usual maddening form of late, leaving 13 runners on base and going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the first eight innings.

Jimenez would exit the game after taking a 102-mph fastball from closer Felix Bautista off his left elbow bad, which loaded the bases for Jose Abreu. Bautista, going for a five-out save, struck out Abreu with a full count on a 100-mph fastball above the strike zone.

Of course he did. It was that kind of night of futility for the Sox, who out-hit the Orioles 11-5 but lost for the fifth time in six games.

Entering the game, the Sox’ .277 average was second in the majors. They were eighth with runners in scoring position (.264).

The resulte momentarily dropped the Sox to 3 1/2 games behind the AL Central leading Guardians, who played the Padres in a late game in San Diego.

The Sox had the leadoff hitter on base against Orioles righty Austin Voth in the second, fourth and fifth innings and had two on with one out in the third and did not score. Luis Robert, who had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, led off the fifth and seventh with doubles and finally scored on Andrew Vaughn’s two-out pinch single in the seventh.

Cease, pitching on six days rest and possibly showing rust from the long layoff caused by Sunday’s rainout in Cleveland and the decision to keep Michael Kopech in rotation Monday, threw 27 pitches in the first, and only 13 were strikes. His fastball command wasn’t sharp, and he hung a slider to Mountcastle.

After that, Cease (2.27 ERA) was fine, but he logged just 5 1/3 innings on 93 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Cease entered with an 8-3 record and 0.93 ERA in his last 15 starts.

The Sox fell to 14-26 in the first game of a series.

This and that

The Sunday postponed game against the Guardians in Cleveland has been rescheduled for Sept. 15 at 12:10 p.m. Chicago time.

*Leury Garcia, on the injured list with back and hip soreness, is working at full speed, he said, and expects to be activated when he’s eligible Saturday.

*Yasmani Grandal (knee) is walking around at a brisk pace and doing some baseball activities and “should be ready” when is eligible to come off the IL next Wednesday, La Russa said.

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Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols stood in center field surrounded by a trio of younger Cubs players: Christopher Morel, Nelson Velazquez and Franmil Reyes.

”He’s one of the best guys in the Dominican [Republic],” Morel, a fellow Dominican ballplayer, told the Sun-Times of their pregame conversation this week. ”Having the time to say hi, for me, is super-special.”

Pujols’ farewell tour and quest for 700 career home runs converged this week at Wrigley Field during a five-game series between the Cubs and Cardinals. He logged homer No. 693 in the series opener Monday.

In the midst of the home-run countdown and Pujols’ final trip to Wrigley as a player, his influence over the course of a 22-year career was also on display. Take his warm greeting of the Cubs’ Zach McKinstry, a short-time teammate with the Dodgers, on second base Tuesday as another example.

Said Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega, who overlapped with Pujols on the Angels in 2016: ”When you said ‘Pujols’ to me, it’s unbelievable. His career, as a person, as a player, everything, Pujols has been an example for all the Latin players.”

Outfielder Ian Happ witnessed Pujols’ gravitational pull firsthand as he held court during the Home Run Derby this year — Happ was serving as Kyle Schwarber’s ”towel guy” in the event — and in a pregame talk before the All-Star Game the next day.

”It was awesome to see how much fun he was having,” Happ said. ”And for a guy who has accomplished so much in the game and been around so much, played with so many guys, it seemed like he was really humbled by . . . experiencing that. It felt like he was enjoying every second.”

It didn’t seem to matter that Pujols, an 11-time All-Star, had soaked in plenty of such moments before.

”I think that’s the most important thing I learned from him: how he loved the game,” Ortega said. ”Because it’s a hard game, and you’re going to have some bad times. But to have [success], you have to love what you do. And if you love what you do, your bad times are going to be fewer than your happiest.”

As the last season of his career winds down, Pujols is playing as well as anyone — literally. He won co-National League Player of the Week honors last week for going 8-for-13 with three homers and seven RBI.

Then he came to Wigley and delivered the only run of the game Monday. The pitch he hit was a sinker at about eye level, seemingly safely out of the strike zone.

”It’s exactly where I was trying to throw it, maybe a little more in to jam him a bit more,” left-hander Drew Smyly said after the game. ”I was thinking, ‘Just change his eye level and don’t let him hit it.’ ”

Morel was impressed.

”It’s unbelievable,” he said. ”This pitch, off a lefty guy, and he made good contact to left field and homered? That’s why his nickname is ‘The Machine.’ ”

Pujols’ homer Monday was his first against Smyly. With it, he tied Barry Bonds’ record with homers against 449 pitchers.

”He’s Albert Pujols,” Smyly said. ”He’s the GOAT. He’s one of the greatest of all time. And he finally got me.”

Now, with two games left in the series and about six weeks left in the regular season, Pujols is seven homers away from 700. Morel told Pujols on Monday that he hoped he would reach the milestone before retiring.

Happ, who reached 100 career homers Sunday, took a few moments to ponder what that would mean.

”That’s a tough number to fathom,” he said. ”Seven hundred? Whew.”

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