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Chicago Blackhawks: It is already time to fire the head coachVincent Pariseon October 17, 2021 at 11:00 am

The Chicago Blackhawks are just three games in so far and it is already bad. They are 0-2-1 after a very bad weekend. We knew the Colorado Avalanche would be really tough but the games against the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins were not good. Against New Jersey, they showed some fight in the […] Chicago Blackhawks: It is already time to fire the head coach – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

Chicago Blackhawks: It is already time to fire the head coachVincent Pariseon October 17, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

17-year-old among 2 shot in Back of the YardsSun-Times Wireon October 17, 2021 at 6:46 am

A teen and a woman were wounded in a shooting Saturday night on the South Side. | Sun-Times file photo

Two females, 17 and 19, were driving about 11:55 p.m. in the 4600 block of South Paulina Street when they were struck by gunfire, police said.

A 17-year-old girl was among two people shot Saturday night in Back of the Yards on the South Side.

The teen and a 19-year-old woman were driving about 11:55 p.m. in the 4600 block of South Paulina Street when they were struck by gunfire, Chicago police said.

The 17-year-old was shot in her hands, and the woman was shot in the back, police said.

The teen was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was in good condition, police said.

The 19-year-old was also taken to the University of Chicago, where she was in serious condition, police said.

No one was in custody.

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17-year-old among 2 shot in Back of the YardsSun-Times Wireon October 17, 2021 at 6:46 am Read More »

Chicago Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan limited openings. Free live streaming Séance coming Friday, October 29th, 2021. Phone and Zoom readings with Spirit Communications.on October 17, 2021 at 5:50 am

Chicago Paranormal and Spiritual

Chicago Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan limited openings. Free live streaming Séance coming Friday, October 29th, 2021. Phone and Zoom readings with Spirit Communications.

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Chicago Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan limited openings. Free live streaming Séance coming Friday, October 29th, 2021. Phone and Zoom readings with Spirit Communications.on October 17, 2021 at 5:50 am Read More »

Chicago’s Week in Beer, October 18-21on October 17, 2021 at 4:38 am

The Beeronaut

Chicago’s Week in Beer, October 18-21

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Chicago’s Week in Beer, October 18-21on October 17, 2021 at 4:38 am Read More »

Tie eliminates Fire from playoff pictureSun-Times wireson October 17, 2021 at 3:31 am

Fire forward Stanislav Ivanov blows by Revolution defender DeJuan Jones on Saturday night in Foxborough, Mass. | Chicago Fire FC

The Fire fell out of postseason contention despite their 2-2 tie against the MLS-leading New England Revolution on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Alvaro Medran and Ignacio Aliseda each scored a goal, but the Fire fell out of postseason contention despite their 2-2 tie against the MLS-leading New England Revolution on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

The 21-year-old Aliseda scored his first goal in nearly three months with a side-netter to cap the scoring in the 88th minute for the Fire (7-16-7), who had to win to keep their slim playoff chances alive.

“I’m extremely proud of the guys, and we just have to now enjoy this great point on the road and regroup and continue to finish every game with the same mentality and attitude,” Fire interim coach Frank Klopas said. ”That’s all I ask for, and I think that’s all the fans and everyone in the city of Chicago wants from this team, just to leave everything on the field.”

After a scoreless first half during which the Fire outshot the Revs 10-6, the second half got off to a very quick start as both teams scored in the first four minutes. New England struck first when midfielder Wilfrid Kaptoum scored past the outstretched arms of Gabriel Slonina in the 47th minute.

The Fire responded two minutes later when midfielder Medran slotted away a well-placed cross from defender Jhon Espinoza for his second goal of the season.

“I think it was a great team effort,” Fire defender Johan Kappelhof said. ”Everybody gave their all. We worked for each other, and we [fought] until the very end.”

Gustavo Bou chipped in his team-leading 14th goal to give the Revolution (20-4-6) a 2-1 lead in the 76th minute.

The Revolution have 66 points, the most through 30 games by any team in MLS history.

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Tie eliminates Fire from playoff pictureSun-Times wireson October 17, 2021 at 3:31 am Read More »

Kahleah Copper’s methodical rise has Sky on the cusp of their first WNBA titleAnnie Costabileon October 17, 2021 at 2:19 am

Kahleah Copper celebrates after making a 3-point shot during the first half of Game 3 of the basketball team’s WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Chicago. | AP

Through the Sky’s captivating WNBA Finals run, Kahleah Copper is averaging 18.6 points on 53.5% shooting, 5.7 rebounds and two assists.

The morning after leading the Sky to a historic WNBA Finals victory Friday against the Mercury by scoring a game-high 22 points, Kahleah Copper woke up early to make breakfast.

Her morning routine is pretty typical: breakfast, treatment, practice.

On game days, Copper squeezes in a nap between treatment and her arrival at Wintrust Arena or wherever the Sky are playing on the road.

There was nothing typical about this Saturday morning, however — and not because the Sky are one victory away from their first WNBA championship.

No, this Saturday morning was special because Copper woke up early to make breakfast for 15 of her closest friends and family from North Philadelphia.

”I let them stay at my place, and I’m at the hotel [with the team],” Copper said.

Copper might be a breakout star to some, but to the group in town and countless others back home in North Philly, she’s just ”Kah” — the one who brings everyone together for quality time.

Off the court, Copper laughs a lot, like a big kid. She’s thoughtful, always doing the most for teammates on their birthdays, and never misses an opportunity to hype them up.

On the court, she’s lethal. Copper — who says the person she is on the court is her alter ego — consistently has picked apart opponents’ defenses all season, but she has steamrolled teams in the playoffs, averaging 18.6 points on 53.5% shooting to go with 5.7 rebounds and two assists.

Her quick first step and ability to contort her body going to the rim makes her a difficult matchup. The Mercury had no answer for her in the Sky’s 86-50 victory in Game 3, with guard Skylar Diggins-Smith noting after the game that nobody has had an easy time defending Copper this season.

But while many are quick to frame it as a meteoric rise, Copper has been chipping away at this for years.

“We used to see [this competitiveness every day,]” Sky coach/general manager James Wade said. “Even when she wasn’t playing as much. So, it’s no surprise to us. We know what we have in her. Now, she’s letting the world know.”

The work she was putting in took center stage last season, when Copper moved into the Sky’s starting lineup. Until then, she had started 15 games in four seasons and was averaging 15 minutes a game.

Copper didn’t have to get ready for the WNBA’s ”bubble” season because she had stayed ready. Her minutes doubled and her scoring average jumped from 6.7 to 14.9 points in one season.

Before this season, Copper started working directly with Sky assistant Olaf Lange, the husband of Mercury coach Sandy Brondello. Lange’s coaching career includes EuroLeague titles and stops with the German men’s and women’s national teams.

Lange’s first WNBA coaching opportunity came in 2007, when he was hired as an assistant with the Stars. Becky Hammon was the player he was assigned to work with, and the two spent a lot of time on finishing drills.

When Hammon was in Phoenix for Game 1 of the Finals, she caught up with Lange and had some thoughts about Copper’s game.

”Becky was impressed with her speed,” Lange said. ”She said, ‘Copper’s ability to finish at the rim at the speed she’s going is outstanding.’ ”

To be recognized like that by one of the best finishing guards in WNBA history is one indication among many of how Copper’s stock continues to rise. Lange has used the same drills with Copper in the last year, and her improved ability to attack and finish at the rim is the result.

In the Finals, the Mercury have thrown a few defensive looks at Copper. Diana Taurasi, Diggins-Smith and Sophie Cunningham all have given it their best shot, but Copper has exploited every one of them.

In Game 4 on Sunday, Copper once again will be the fuel the Sky will rely on to reach their goal of winning a WNBA championship.

The physicality and defensive pressure Copper undoubtedly will have to withstand are what drive her.

”It’s reassurance that I am what they think I am,” Copper said.

A potential WNBA Finals most valuable player? We’ll see.

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Kahleah Copper’s methodical rise has Sky on the cusp of their first WNBA titleAnnie Costabileon October 17, 2021 at 2:19 am Read More »

North Lawndale dominates ProsserMike Clarkon October 17, 2021 at 1:50 am

North Lawndale’s Michael Duckins (6) stiff arms a Prosser defender. | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

Michael Duckins ran for a pair of touchdowns and helped spearhead another lockdown defensive effort in a 38-0 Illini Heartland win over Prosser Saturday at Lane Stadium.

When Michael Duckins transferred from Clark to North Lawndale after his sophomore year, he took note of the Phoenix’s 1-8 record the year before he arrived.

He told North Lawndale coach Samuel Willeford that wasn’t going to happen again.

“When I got here it was all business,” Duckins said.

Now, with Duckins starting at running back and linebacker as a senior, the Phoenix is gearing up for the third IHSA playoff appearance in program history and the first since 2014.

Duckins ran for a pair of touchdowns and helped spearhead another lockdown defensive effort in a 38-0 Illini Heartland win over Prosser Saturday at Lane Stadium.

North Lawndale (6-2, 5-0) had five shutouts in conference play and is looking to make some noise in Class 2A when the state playoffs start in two weeks.

The Phoenix have the ingredients for postseason success some Public League teams lack: reasonable depth for a small school with more than 30 players, an offense capable of moving the ball on the ground or through the air, and that aggressive defense.

The offense mixes some of Duckins’ running with an effective dose of passing by sophomore quarterback Earnest Rice.

With Prosser (2-6, 0-5) geared up to stop the run game, Rice was able to find some wide-open receivers for touchdown passes. He threw a 49-yarder to Elijah Phipps, a 15-yarder to Cortez Roach and a 22-yarder to Tyquan Sanders, finishing 6 for 8 for 140 yards.

It’s been something of a transition for Rice.

“Coming from eighth grade, we just ran the ball,” he said. “We never threw the ball.

“But I always knew I could throw and my team just believed in me.”

It helps to have Duckins — who had nine carries for 63 yards — to soften up defenses.

“Michael is our muscle,” Willeford said. “He’s the leader of the team, he’s the heart and soul of the team.”

“Once we give the ball to Michael, everybody just runs to him,” Rice said. “That just opened up my receivers.”

Willeford likes Rice’s progress during the pandemic-shortened spring season and the current year.

“He’s a great kid, a great athlete and he wants to learn, that’s the best thing about it,” Willeford said. “He’s going to be something to watch in the upcoming years.”

Winning conference is significant not just on the field but off it as well for the Phoenix, according to Willeford.

“It means a lot to us and to the community,” he said. “Just a little sign of hope from the football team for the people that watch us is great right now for the community of Lawndale.”

The Phoenix’s rise is a tribute to the players’ perseverance, Willeford added.

“Some of these boys have been here for three years. We had some tough outings in the first few years [during] COVID and the teachers’ strike.

“But now we’re here, conference champs, and ready to take on state [playoffs].”

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North Lawndale dominates ProsserMike Clarkon October 17, 2021 at 1:50 am Read More »

3 things we learned: No. 4 SIU notches win over North Dakotaon October 17, 2021 at 1:08 am

Prairie State Pigskin

3 things we learned: No. 4 SIU notches win over North Dakota

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3 things we learned: No. 4 SIU notches win over North Dakotaon October 17, 2021 at 1:08 am Read More »

Quarterback Ryan Hilinski leads Northwestern past RutgersSun-Times wireson October 17, 2021 at 12:01 am

Northwestern quarterback Ryan Hilinski threw a touchdown pass in the first quarter and another in the second Saturday against Rutgers.

He threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 21-7 victory Saturday at Ryan Field.

Ryan Hilinski threw for 267 yards and two touchdown passes on Saturday afternoon to boost Northwestern to a 21-7 victory over Rutgers at Ryan Field.

Hilinski, making his third start since transferring from South Carolina, opened the scoring for the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) by capping off a 98-yard drive in the first quarter, hitting Malik Washington for a 64-yard touchdown pass. The completion — Hilinski’s longest as a Wildcat — helped his team secure its first conference win of the season.

“I think one of the biggest things is that we’re continuing to have fun,” Hilinski said. “This is a game we played when we were 5 years old. I personally play best when I’m having fun and just recognizing that this is a game we’ve been playing our whole lives.”

Washington plowed through a downfield defender on his touchdown grab and finished with 84 receiving yards on five catches. Fellow wideout Stephon Robinson Jr. had 115 yards, taking pressure off a Wildcats rushing attack that struggled to get going throughout the day. Often a key to Northwestern’s offensive approach, the ground game combined for just 135 yards on 48 attempts.

“Really proud of the squad,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “The way they bounced back this game and these last couple weeks. I thought they put a ton of work in to get better fundamentally. We were able to carry our preparation over into the game.”

Northwestern appeared to be a favorable matchup for the Scarlet Knights (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten), who were coming off three consecutive games against opponents currently ranked in the top 10. But with five of its first six drives ending in punts, Rutgers couldn’t muster enough offense to avoid opening conference play with four straight losses. Though quarterback Noah Vedral hit all four of his passes on Rutgers’ only scoring drive of the game, he put together an altogether inconsistent day, going 18 of 30 for 152 yards.

“It’s very disappointing,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “We certainly have to assess where we are and why we’re here, and see what we can do to fix it. Some of it is personnel, some of it is execution. We’re trying to find an answer.”

Marshall Lang added a 2-yard touchdown reception in the second and Andrew Clair’s fourth-quarter TD run padded the lead for Northwestern, which led 14-7 at halftime.

The Scarlet Knights came up short on an opportunity to tighten the game in the third, as Valentino Ambrosio missed a 33-yard field goal after a delay of game penalty forced the team to scrap an attempt to go for it on fourth down.

THE TAKEAWAY

Rutgers: After losing four straight, the Scarlet Knights’ 3-0 start to the season is drifting further into the rear-view. Ending this skid will require improved play from a defense which has allowed a combined 1,531 yards over its last three games. Another shaky performance from Vedral means coach Schiano likely won’t be dodging questions about a QB swap anytime soon. Rutgers will get a chance to regroup with a bye this coming week, followed by a visit to Illinois.

Northwestern: The Wildcats needed a win to salvage their season after being blown out by Nebraska on Oct. 2. They got one Saturday, thanks to Hilinski and improved play from a Wildcats defense that allowed just 222 total yards. While one strong showing against an average Rutgers offense won’t solve all of Northwestern’s defensive concerns, the performance can certainly serve as a building block. The Wildcats will need to maintain as much momentum from the victory as possible, as their next three weeks include games against two top-10 opponents in Michigan and Iowa.

QB1

Hilinski opened the year at third string for the Wildcats, but has seen his weekly pass yardage climb with each start. Northwestern cycled through three quarterbacks within its first three games, and will need stability at that position if it wants to recover from a shaky start to the season. With yet another productive performance, Hilinski may just be able to provide that for the Wildcats.

PROPS TO THE PUNTER

Fresh off winning the Ray Guy Punter of the Week award for the third time this season, Rutgers punter Adam Korsak put forth another solid effort on Saturday. He logged 403 yards on nine punts, four of which landed inside the 20-yard line.

FLAGS GALORE

Rutgers entered the game tied with the second-fewest penalties in the Big Ten this season, but was flagged frequently Saturday. The Scarlet Knights were hit with 11 penalties for 91 yards, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for sideline interference that helped Northwestern keep a fourth-quarter scoring drive alive.

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Quarterback Ryan Hilinski leads Northwestern past RutgersSun-Times wireson October 17, 2021 at 12:01 am Read More »

3 things we learned: Nationally ranked UT-Martin pulls away from EIU in second halfon October 17, 2021 at 12:21 am

Prairie State Pigskin

3 things we learned: Nationally ranked UT-Martin pulls away from EIU in second half

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3 things we learned: Nationally ranked UT-Martin pulls away from EIU in second halfon October 17, 2021 at 12:21 am Read More »