Chicago Sports

An elderly man was hospitalized Monday morning after a fire inside a Lawndale house on the West Side.

Someone smelled smoke from inside of the home in the 1800 block of South Hamlin Avenue about 1:30 a.m., Chicago police said.

Everyone inside made it out of the home and a man, 73, was taken to an area hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation, police said. He was listed in fair condition, officials said.

No other injuries were reported.

Fire officials were investigating.

Read More

A 3-year-old girl was among four hurt in a fire Monday morning in East Garfield Park on the West Side, according to Chicago fire officials.

Crew were still working on the blaze in the 500 block of North Central Park Avenue about 1:15 a.m., officials said.

The girl was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was in “grave” condition, according to officials.

Two men were taken to West Suburban Hospital, where one of them was also in “grave” condition, officials said. The other man’s condition was stabilized.

An elderly woman was taken to Loyola University Medical Center, where she was in serious condition, officials said.

Further details weren’t immediately available.

This is a developing story, check back for details.

Read More

The Blackhawks cannot figure out second periods.

Another disastrous middle frame stood out Sunday in a 3-2 overtime loss against the lowly Coyotes, the Hawks’ fifth straight defeat.

“We just stop thinking, shut our brains off and let them get back in the game,” interim coach Derek King said.

With 15 seconds left in overtime, Shayne Gostisbehere’s power-play shot deflected unluckily off the skate of Jonathan Toews –who was honored pregame for playing his 1,000th career game on the preceding road trip –and past a helpless Kevin Lankinen.

But it was the second period that truly cost the Hawks, who were the clear better team otherwise. Scoring chances favored the Coyotes 14-9 in the second, during which they scored twice to flip a 1-0 deficit into a temporary 2-1 lead, but favored the Hawks 21-14 during the other 40 minutes of regulation.

It’s difficult to determine what exactly it is about second periods that so consistently fluster the Hawks –the long change, the only actual difference, doesn’t seem like a sufficient explanation –but something does. They’ve been out-scored 81-56 in them this season.

“We try to make them change at certain times –at the right time,” King said. “Hopefully you can hem the other team in and get some cycles going, get some fresh bodies out, especially when you have them tired. But they did it to us. We were tired in our end. They hemmed us in and they got some changes. So it’s stuff we just have to keep working on.”

Toews sparks reunion

Marian Hossa, Brent Seabrook, Andrew Shaw and Patrick Sharp –along with Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat –made surprise appearances at Toews’ ceremony. Toews was less surprised personally, though, because Shaw “can’t keep a secret.”

“I owe so much to those guys,” Toews said. “I feel embarrassedor even stupid being recognized like that. Because we were all in it together, and it has been a special ride and I’m just so thankful to be able to have shared it with guys like that.”

Corey Crawford was shown in the suite with them later in the game, making one of his first public appearances since his abrupt retirement from Devils training camp in January 2021. Toews said he and Crawford have been in touch.

“[We] went to dinner once or twice the past summer and this year, as well,” he said. “When guys aren’t in the locker room, they move on with their lives and kids and families and all that stuff. Everyone is busy. It’s hard to see each other as much.”

Kyle vs. Kyle

Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas’ post-trade deadline spat with Davidson was one of the weirder GM interactions seen around the NHL in recent years.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported shortly before the deadline — but after the Hagel trade to the Lightning — the Hawks and Leafs had discussed a massive trade involving Hagel, Marc-Andre Fleury, Leafs goalie Petr Mrazek, top Leafs prospect Matthew Knies and a first-round pick that didn’t come to fruition.

On deadline day, Dubas insisted the leak had originated from the Hawks’ front office, not his, and told Toronto reporters he was “disappointed” that “specifics like that have been made public.”

But at the GM meetings last week in Florida, the league’s youngest and second-youngest GMs got together and smoothed things over.

“We had a conversation even prior to the deadline, and then again at the meetings,” Davidson said Friday. “It was a simple conversation. We just both said where we’re working from… Both 30-something Northern Ontario [native] Kyles left as friends.”

Read More

MESA, Ariz. — When Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman was on the mound Sunday, left-hander Justin Steele was watching carefully.

Steele is interested in eventually mixing a hesitation move into his motion to throw off hitters’ timing. The pause Stroman sometimes adds to his stride was a perfect example.

”Timing messes with every hitter,” Stroman said. ”So I think it does nothing but help if you can get to a point where you feel comfortable enough in your mechanics. I don’t believe in compromising your mechanics ever. So that’s the biggest thing,: If you can feel comfortable enough, strong enough, stable enough to mess with variations and timing, I’m all for it.”

For Stroman, who in his previous outing said he still was finding his rhythm, his hesitation moves in a simulated game Sunday were good signs.

”I wouldn’t do that if I wasn’t feeling good,” he said. ” . . . When I feel good, all the variations start to come out.”

Stroman threw about 85 pitches in five innings. Steele started for the other side of the intrasquad scrimmage. Jason Heyward, Seiya Suzuki, Frank Schwindel and Jonathan Villar were among the big-league hitters who took live at-bats. Nick Madrigal, who returned from tightness in his glute, also played second base.

Throwing to batters Sunday lines Stroman up to start the second game of the Cubs’ season-opening series against the Brewers at Wrigley Field. Manager David Ross said Saturday that right-hander Kyle Hendricks would be the Opening Day starter.

Coming out of a condensed spring training, having Hendricks and Stroman built up enough to pitch up to six innings in their first starts is crucial for the Cubs.

”When you look at the length of some of the relievers and the guys we signed late . . . and how many outings they’ve been able to have [in camp], there’s not a whole lot of back-to-backs for bullpen guys,” Ross said. ”It’s going to be important that we have a little bit of length in our starting rotation in areas.”

Veteran left-hander Wade Miley is expected to start the season on the injured list, shortening the Cubs’ pitching depth even further.

”I enjoy any tasks that can be thrown on me,” Stroman said. ”It makes us want to have a little bit more confidence to go out there and go deeper into games. . . . That’s going to be something that we take pride in.”

Setting the tone for the rotation is up to Hendricks and Stroman, and that means more than just pitching deep into games.

”This year, I just want to definitely come in and be aggressive,” Hendricks said. ”Attack, get after it, see what happens.”

Stroman can be counted on to feed off the energy at Wrigley Field. And when he’s feeling good, expect a hesitation move.

”That’s really hard to do,” Ross said. ”I told him that would mess me up even as a catcher. That’s pretty good body control. This guy’s an unbelievable athlete. The way he can manipulate his body to get in the right position and feel with his core during his windup, that’s pretty impressive to me and really hard for hitters.”

And for young pitchers on the team, such as Steele, it’s something to learn from.

”I was watching every single pitch,” Steele said, ”just taking notes.”

Read More

LAS VEGAS — Jon Batiste took home his first Grammy Award–and then three more–in what was shaping up to be a big night for this year’s leading nominee.

During the show’s pre-telecast ceremony Sunday, Batiste won for best American roots performance, American roots song and best music video, and he tied with Carlos Rafael Rivera for best song written for visual media. His song “Freedom” in the music video category beat out several other tough competitors, including Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish.

“I am so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and the ability to share that for the love of humankind,” Batiste said. “We just wanted everyone to see it. Any depression, any bondage or any darkness that was over your life is completely removed by just the love and the joy of the video.”

Batiste–not present for his first three awards–also won for his music for the movie “Soul” alongside Rivera for his composing efforts on “The Queen’s Gambit.”

It’s the first tie since 2019 when Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake tied with Anderson .Paak to win best rap performance.

Batiste–who lost in four other categories–entered the Grammys as the leading nominee with 11 nominations.

Foo Fighters won three awards, but were not in attendance to pick up their trophies following the recent death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. The rock band extended its record for most best rock album wins to five for “Medicine at Midnight.” The group’s song “Making a Fire” won best rock performance, and “Waiting on a War” bested other nominees for best rock song.

The best rap song Grammy went to Ye, the Chicago rapper formerly known as Kanye West, for his track “Jail,” featuring Jay-Z. He has said that was set to perform during the ceremony, but his act was pulled from the show.

TJ Osborne, who came out as gay last year, fought back tears as he and his brother accepted a Grammy for their song “Younger Me.” He noted the song was inspired by his coming out.

“I never thought that I would be able to do music professionally because of my sexuality. And I certainly never thought I would be here on the stage accepting a Grammy after having done something I felt like was going to be life changing and potentially in a very negative way,” Osborne said.

“And here I am tonight, not only accepting this Grammy Award with my brother, which I love so much, but I’m here with a man that I love and he loves me back. … I don’t know what I did be so lucky.”

Osborne performs with his brother John as the Brothers Osborne.

Jazz giant Chick Corea, who died in February 2021, won two posthumous awards Sunday, for best improvised jazz solo and best Latin jazz album with Eliane Elias and Chucho Valdes. Other posthumous Grammys were possible for Chris Cornell, who died five years ago and is nominated for best rock performance. And the Foo Fighters, who lost their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, are up for three Grammys.

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson won his sixth Grammy for best music film through “Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised.”) His documentary also won an Oscar for best documentary feature last weekend.

Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow won the first Grammy presented Sunday, best musical theater, for “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.”

They gleefully accepted the award, noting the project began a year ago by asking what “Bridgerton” would be like if it was a musical.

Trevor Noah returns for a second time as Grammys host. The ceremony shifted from Los Angeles to Las Vegas because of rising COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant in January, with organizers citing “too many risks” to hosting the performance-filled show at the time. It airs live beginning at 7 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+.

Read More

GLENDALE — Chicago White Sox starter Lance Lynn will undergo a 30 minute procedure on his right knee on Tuesday after an MRI revealed a slight tear in a tendon, general manager Rick Hahn announced on Sunday.

Lynn, 34, will be off the mound for four weeks, which means he’s likely to miss closer to 6-8 weeks of the regular season.

“It’s part of the game,” Hahn said Sunday afternoon. “I know we have a very deep and talented roster. Like every club, we’re going to face some adversity over the next seven months.”

Lynn had some minor knee issues last season that the Sox believe are probably the root cause of his current ailment. “A surgical procedure wasn’t called for until this [the tear] happened,” Hahn said.

Lynn was stellar in 2021, compiling a 2.69 ERA. The team re-signed him for two more years last July even as he missed a couple of starts due to the knee issue. Now he’ll miss up to two months.

“Once this issue is addressed and resolved, it should be behind us going forward,” Hahn said. “It’s unfortunate we have to spend the first several weeks without Lance. It provides an opportunity for some of the other arms.”

Those arms include right-handers Reynaldo Lopez and Vince Velasquez, though Hahn didn’t rule out going outside the organization for more help.

The injury comes on the heels of lefty reliever Garrett Crochet needing Tommy John surgery and the trade of Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s left the Sox a little thin on the mound. It also leaves no doubt on who will be the Opening Day starter. Lucas Giolito completed his spring on Sunday and is line to pitch the team’s first game Friday against the Detroit Tigers.

Both Giolito and Lynn will have a new catcher to throw to. The White Sox and Blue Jays swapped backups as Zack Collins was sent to Toronto for Reese McGuire.

“We view him as a very strong defensive backstop,” Hahn said of McGuire. “Solid on framing and lateral movement as well as catching and throwing and handling a game plan and managing a pitching staff.”

Read More

MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs’ latest round of cuts Sunday, which reduced the spring-training roster from 43 players to 36, included them optioning right-hander Manuel Rodriguez to Triple-A Iowa.

The bulk of the players cut were pitchers, filling out Iowa’s pitching staff. The Cubs signed nine pitchers this spring, mostly veteran relievers, leaving fewer spots for non-roster invitees to compete for.

The Cubs assigned six non-roster invitees to Triple-A, including right-handers Adrian Sampson, Mark Leiter Jr., Eric Yardley and Cayne Ueckert. They also assigned catchers John Hicks and P.J. Higgins to Iowa.

Leiter and Sampson might build up to starters’ innings at Triple-A to give the Cubs options to call up in case of injury. Leiter started the Cubs’ Cactus League game Saturday against the Angels, allowing two unearned runs in three innings.

Similarly, Rodriguez — who made his major-league debut last season and showed potential to develop into a closer — can rack up more innings in high-leverage situations in Triple-A.

The Cubs’ 40-man roster is at 40 players, with the last opening going to right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez, whom they signed this spring to a minor-league deal with an invitation to camp. The Cubs would need to make a corresponding roster move to add any non-roster player to the Opening Day roster.

Buns of Steele

Cubs left-hander Justin Steele saw firsthand the kind of pop right fielder Seiya Suzuki can generate up the middle. He felt it, too.

”I haven’t seen the exit velo yet,” Steele said. ”I need to go look at it. I want to know how hard it was hit because it stung, for sure.”

In a simulated game, Suzuki hit a line drive off Steele’s left glute. Steele picked up the ball and threw it to first base.

”Sometimes you’ve just got to wear it for an out, I guess,” Steele said afterward.

He stayed in the game and said he came away with only a bruise.

”[Suzuki] came up to me immediately and was apologizing,” Steele recounted. ”I was like, ‘No, that’s what you’re supposed to do.’ ”

Steele originally was scheduled to pitch in the Cubs’ night game against the Indians, but the team decided a more controlled environment would be better for his last outing of the spring. Steele is expected to break camp in the Cubs’ rotation.

”It is exciting,” Steele said. ”It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Just a kid living in a dream out here.”

On deck

Left-hander Drew Smyly is scheduled to take the mound for the Cubs on Monday against the White Sox at Sloan Park in the second-to-last spring-training game for both teams. The Sox are set to start right-hander Vince Velazquez.

Read More

Chris Vosters’ voice will echo through many Chicago households in years to come.

Vosters was officially named Sunday the Blackhawks’ new play-by-play broadcaster on NBC Sports Chicago, having prevailed in an unofficial season-long competition of people auditioning to replace Pat Foley.

“It’s the honor of a lifetime to be named the next voice of the Chicago Blackhawks and succeed the great Pat Foley,” Vosters said in a statement. “This is more than just a job: it’s the opportunity to work for one of the NHL’s flagship franchises in a world-class city with the best fans in hockey.

“I’ve had so much fun getting to know the team, its staff and its fans this season. I want to thank Rocky and Danny Wirtz along with Jaime Faulkner for believing in me, and I’m so excited to be a part of the Blackhawks’ family for years to come.”

Vosters emerged this spring as the leading candidate in a pool of candidates that also included Jason Ross Jr., Stephen Nelson and Mike Monaco, as the Sun-Times first reported March 3, so Sunday’s announcement wasn’t exactly a surprise.

But in a year of great transition for Hawks broadcasts, prompting plenty of discontent within the fan base, the announcement does bring some much-needed stability and clarity.

Foley will call three more games –Apr. 10 against the Stars alongside former Hawks general manager Dale Tallon, and Apr. 12 and 14 against the Kings and Sharks alongside longtime color commentator Eddie Olczyk –in his career. He’ll be honored with a retirement ceremony at that Sharks game.

Vosters will then call the Hawks’ final seven games on NBC Sports Chicago, ushering in the new era that’ll continue in more vigor next season. He’ll do so alongside Olczyk in five of those seven, indicating Olczyk — even though his contract, like Foley’s, was also set to expire this summer –isn’t going anywhere.

“It [has] been an honor to have sat next to Pat all these years — he’s one of the best,” Olczyk said in a statement. “Not only is he my partner in the booth, but he is one of my best friends. I’m excited for his retirement and I know he will enjoy plenty of days on the golf course. We have made so many great memories in our time together.

“I’m excited for the future of Blackhawks broadcasts working alongside Chris Vosters. Chris is a great addition to this broadcast team and will lead us to the next generation of Blackhawks hockey.”

This story will be updated.

Read More

Here’s how it should have gone for North Carolina in the 1991 Final Four: Take care of underdog Kansas in the semis, then clobber Duke — again — in the final. Something often lost in the story of Mike Krzyzewski’s first national championship is that his Blue Devils had been blown out 96-74 by the higher-ranked Tar Heels in the ACC tournament.

Oh, well. The Kansas part never happened. The Jayhawks upset UNC 79-73 on the way to a runner-up finish in Indianapolis. The Tar Heels went home crushed despite a 25-point night for sweet-shooting guard Hubert Davis.

“That was the toughest loss that I’ve ever experienced in my entire life,” said Davis, now UNC’s coach, on Sunday.

It’s not as dramatic a storyline as the end of Coach K’s career hanging in the balance, but it’s something you can think about as you watch the Tar Heels and Jayhawks clash Monday night for the national title in New Orleans.

How many times will the camera land on Davis’ predecessor, Roy Williams, clad in Carolina blue in the stands? Before he won 485 games at his alma mater, he won 418 as coach at Kansas. That’s not to be confused with the work of the late, great Dean Smith, the greatest Tar Heels coach of them all. We’ll give you one guess where Smith went to school. Yep, Kansas. He won a national title there as a player and everything.

This stuff pretty much writes itself, you know?

And here’s what’s happening:

MON 4

White Sox at Cubs (3:05 p.m., Marquee)

Twenty-nine days before the teams meet for real at Wrigley Field, they spend a few hours together in the wind-down of spring training at Sloan Park. Soak up that sun while you can, fellas.

Kansas vs. North Carolina (8:20 p.m., TBS)

No big deal, just a championship matchup of the schools with the most (KU) and third-most (UNC) wins in college basketball history. Drink every time an announcer says “blue bloods” and you might make it to halftime.

TUE 5

Bucks at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH, ESPN)

OK, so the Bulls are 0-3 against Milwaukee and 0-17 against the top three contenders in each conference. But it’s only April, right?

WED 6

Celtics at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)

A first-round playoff preview? Boston — not counted among the previously mentioned top contenders, though maybe it should be — is the league’s hottest team over the last two-plus months.

THU 7

Brewers at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)

Opening Day! Now this is exciting. By the way, Draft Kings has set the over/under on how many innings it’ll take fans in the right-field bleachers to fall in love with newcomer Seiya Suzuki at 4 1/2 .

The Masters, first round (2 p.m., ESPN)

More than a year since he was badly injured in a car crash, Tiger Woods is a “gametime decision” to kick off his comeback at Augusta. Sure would be nice to see him out there.

Celtics at Bucks (6:30 p.m., TNT)

Yet another game with huge implications as far as whom the Bulls will lose to in the opening round. Sorry, did we say “lose to”? That should’ve read “possibly not dominate.”

Kraken at Blackhawks (7:30 p.m., NBCSCH)

We’ve all been waiting for it, and — amen! — the rubber match between the Hawks and Kraken, who split their first two meetings, is finally here. Try to contain yourselves.

Lakers at Warriors (9 p.m., TNT)

LeBron James and his mates are hanging on to postseason hopes by the spindliest of threads. And to think some have the nerve to compare this guy to the real GOAT — Bulls legend Stacey King.

FRI 8

White Sox at Tigers (12:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Opening Day! Man, it’s always nice to have a Chicago baseball team favored to win its division. And you have to be excited about newcomer AJ Pollock, easily the Sox’ best “AJ P.” since a certain World Series-winning catcher.

Brewers at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)

Fans of the North Siders sure are pumped up to watch Marcus Stroman make his first Cubs start. What do you call 1-0? Stro far, Stro good.

Hornets at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)

After a brutal February, the Hornets have turned things around and gotten on an encouraging late-season roll. Lucky for them, they’ll never know if they could’ve done it without a Ball brother in the lineup.

SAT 9

Fire at Orlando (noon, Univision, TUDN)

How is Xherdan Shaqiri’s achy calf coming along? The Fire probably need him out there if they’re going to continue pulling off this strange, delicate maneuver referred to in soccer circles as “not losing.”

NCAA Frozen Four, men’s final (7 p.m., ESPN2)

Will it be Denver, Michigan, Minnesota or Minnesota State that cuts down the nets? Come to think of it, they don’t do that in hockey, but you get the gist.

SUN 10

White Sox at Tigers (12:10 p.m., TBD)

It’s never too early to talk about winning a game on get-away day. Next up after this one: baseball at The Rate.

The Masters, final round (1 p.m., Ch. 2)

Jordan Spieth? Justin Thomas? Dustin Johnson? Collin Morikawa? One American or another is bound to win the green jacket.

Bulls at Timberwolves (TBD, NBCSCH+)

Here it is, folks: Game No. 82, the end of the regular-season line. All told, it really wasn’t such a bad ride, was it?

Read More

A man was shot and killed by Chicago police Sunday afternoon after allegedly firing at officers and critically wounding two people during a chaotic hostage situation near the Ford City Mall on the Southwest Side.

About 1:15 p.m., officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 4200 block of West Ford City Drive and found a 48-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck, police spokesman Tom Ahern said.

Officers attempted to make contact with the suspected shooter when he barricaded himself inside an apartment, Ahern said. The man then fired at the officers, who weren’t struck and didn’t immediately fire back.

After a SWAT team first tried to negotiate with the man and de-escalate the situation, officers ultimately shot him, Ahern said. No officers were wounded.

The man was taken into custody and brought to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, Ahern said. He hasn’t been identified.

A 78-year-old man taken hostage suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder, Ahern said. He and the wounded woman were both taken to Christ Medical Center in critical condition.

A revolver was recovered at the scene, according to Ahern, who posted a photograph of the gun on Twitter. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the city agency that probes officer shootings, is investigating.

The officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative duties for at least 30 days, per departmental policy.

Read More