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Chicago Week in Beer, October 11-14on October 10, 2021 at 4:43 am

The Beeronaut

Chicago Week in Beer, October 11-14

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Chicago Week in Beer, October 11-14on October 10, 2021 at 4:43 am Read More »

3 shot in Lawndale, including teen boy and girlSun-Times Wireon October 10, 2021 at 2:20 am

Three people were shot October 9, 2021 in Lawndale. | Sun-Times file

They were standing on the street about 7:50 p.m. in the 3500 block of West 12th Place when a dark vehicle pulled up and someone from inside fired shots.

A man and two teenagers were hurt in a drive-by shooting Saturday night in Lawndale on the West Side.

They were standing on the street about 7:50 p.m. in the 3500 block of West 12th Place when a dark vehicle pulled up and someone from inside fired shots, Chicago police said.

A 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said. A teen girl, also 16, was struck in the buttocks and was transported to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

A man, 20, was shot in the hand was also taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said.

Area Three detectives are investigating.

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3 shot in Lawndale, including teen boy and girlSun-Times Wireon October 10, 2021 at 2:20 am Read More »

Undefeated Clark uses deep, dependable running attack to beat RabyMike Clarkon October 10, 2021 at 1:48 am

Clark’s Yafae Cotton (4) finds running room against Rabi at Lane. | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

The Eagles rarely pass, preferring to control the clock with a ground game featuring a variety of backs running behind a big, talented line.

There isn’t much razzle dazzle or mystery about Clark.

The Eagles rarely pass, preferring to control the clock with a ground game featuring a variety of backs running behind a big, talented line.

The formula comes in handy when there are unexpected hurdles along the way. On Saturday, the Eagles were without leading rusher Quadrell Hill, who hurt an ankle playing basketball earlier in the week. One of his backups, four-year starter Yafae Cotton, suffered a dislocated elbow on the first play from scrimmage of the second half.

But Clark kept plugging away and rolled to a 44-8 Illini Prairie State win over Raby at Lane to remain unbeaten.

Willie Taylor ran 15 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles (7-0, 4-0), who can win the conference title outright when they meet Payton (5-2, 3-1) on Thursday.

But Clark has bigger goals than conference this season. The Eagles are 0-5 all-time in the IHSA playoffs, but believe they can make some noise in Class 3A — much like Raby did in a run to the 4A semifinals four years ago.

“I wish they would have sustained that, because we need that on the West Side,” Clark coach Kevin Simmons said.

“I would love to make it past the first round. I think we have a good chance to host first round and I think we have a good chance to make it out of the first round.”

If they do, it’ll be behind that ground game. That starts up front with a line anchored by Elijah Edwards, the unit’s oldest member

“Since I’m the only senior on the line, they look up to me,” Edwards said. “So I’ve got to work hard for them to work hard. If I do bad, then they do bad. So I’ve got to work my hardest.”

That helps open holes for Taylor and Keondre Pitts, who ran 14 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. They kept the ground game rolling even without Hill, who ran for 740 yards in the first six weeks.

“We practiced hard knowing he was going to be out,” Taylor said. “We built a system to be ready for the game.”

Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times
Raby’s Kierre Turner (1) is brought down by Clark’s Jassani Freeman (11).

Clark also had a 35-yard punt return for a score by Lamar Phillips and backup quarterback Dontrell Starks’ 17-yard TD pass to Kejuan Fountain.

Raby (4-3, 2-2) had a 54-yard TD pass from Jalen Monroe to Marshaun McKinney.

Taylor said Cotton’s injury, which led to a lengthy delay while he was attended to, was tough to get through.

“It was real emotional,” he said. “I love all my guys. To see him go out like that, I just felt I had to do it for him,” Taylor said.

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Undefeated Clark uses deep, dependable running attack to beat RabyMike Clarkon October 10, 2021 at 1:48 am Read More »

Playing the game well? ‘Must be an Astros thing,’ says White Sox manager Tony La RussaSteve Greenbergon October 10, 2021 at 1:15 am

Yordan Alvarez slides home safely in Game 2. | Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Houston is taking everything from the Sox — their momentum, their mojo, their lunch money — and will be all too happy to sweep them.

There he was, clad in Astros gear and chugging a can of beer on the Minute Maid Park video board like he owned the place. And whipping Houston fans into a frenzy as he did it.

Hey, look, everybody! It’s Geoff Blum! You know, the White Sox hero who hit the winning home run in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series — against the Astros — and, oh, by the way, is immortalized with a bronze statue right outside Guaranteed Rate Field!

But the Astros are taking everything from the Sox so far in an American League Division Series that will end in a sweep if the Sox don’t dig deep Sunday in Game 3 and find a way to stay alive.

The Astros have taken away the Sox’ extra-base-hit power. They’ve taken away any pitching edge the Sox might have thought they had. They’ve taken the Sox’ momentum, their mojo, their lunch money — and even their Blum.

OK, so Blum didn’t even play a full season with the Sox. OK, so he did two stints in Houston as a player and happens to be the Astros’ TV color analyst. OK, so most Sox fans wouldn’t recognize Blum if knocked on their front door. Yes, without a mask on.

But, man, do the Astros have no shame? Is there no bottom to their greed? Is there anything at all the Sox have that the Astros don’t?

Blum chug-a-lugged in the stands during Game 1. He threw out the ceremonial pitch before Game 2 to his play-by-play man, Todd Kalas, son of the late, great Harry. By the time the Astros had beaten the daylights out of the Sox for the second game in a row, I was wondering what might have happened if Game 3 were in Houston instead of Chicago.

Would Frank Thomas have led the crowd in a stirring rendition of “Deep in the Heart of Texas”? Would A.J. Pierzynski have dyed his hair orange and blue? Would Barack Obama have agreed to serve as Dusty Baker’s honorary bench coach?

Speaking of Baker, the Astros manager was asked Saturday on the South Side, before his team got in an off-day, on-field workout, about the criticism of counterpart Tony La Russa that was bouncing around after Game 2. The criticism was mainly about La Russa’s use of his bullpen as a 4-2 Sox lead turned into a 9-4 deficit.

Baker and La Russa have had their share of beefs between them, of course, but this wasn’t the time to pile on.

“Well, I don’t pay much attention to rhetoric anymore,” Baker said. “You know, No. 2, I’ve gotten blamed myself sometimes. … Some of it you might earn, and some of it was out of your control, you know? But you have to stand together as a unit and not pass any judgment or pass any blame because there’s enough to go around.”

Baker mentioned La Russa’s predecessor, Rick Renteria, later in his comment, remembering the heat Renteria took for his decisions in the Sox’ series loss in Oakland last postseason. At least Renteria won a playoff game before he was fired. La Russa is one bad Sunday from being dump-trucked out of the playoffs like he wasn’t even there.

Are we sure Dylan Cease is the right choice to start Game 3 for the Sox?

“He’s the right choice,” La Russa said matter-of-factly. “I’m fired up to watch him. We all are.”

Are we sure Craig Kimbrel should get into another game? Are we sure it was best to leave Michael Kopech unused in Houston? Are we sure Carlos Rodon doesn’t need to be warming up, like, this very second?

Yes, we are. Well, La Russa is. On all of it. That’s how the man rolls.

For the second day in a row, La Russa raved about the Sox “effort” in Game 2.

“It was special,” he said. “[The Astros] made some plays that gave them the edge, but there wasn’t anything wrong with the way we competed. A lot of the stuff that we made happen or almost made happen is the way we’re supposed to go about it. …

“If we play just as hard as we did [Friday], we’ll have a great chance [in Game 3].”

Isn’t effort supposed to be a given in October? Especially for a team led by a Hall of Famer who claims to manage each spring training game like it’s the last game of his life?

There are no such questions about the Astros, who are, according to La Russa, “exactly” like a team he used to battle often when he was managing the Cardinals. A team with a heck of a core: Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, Carlos Beltran. A few of those guys were on the field in Houston to watch Blum’s Game 3 homer go over the wall.

“Professional hitters, good hitters down the lineup,” La Russa said. “They run the bases well. They play good defense.

“Must be an Astros thing.”

Must be nice.

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Playing the game well? ‘Must be an Astros thing,’ says White Sox manager Tony La RussaSteve Greenbergon October 10, 2021 at 1:15 am Read More »

2 teenagers shot in Chicago Lawn drive-bySun-Times Wireon October 10, 2021 at 12:42 am

Two teenagers were shot October 9, 2021 in Chicago Lawn. | Adobe Stock Photo

The were on the street about 5:50 p.m. in the 2500 block of West 70th Street when a dark SUV drove by and someone from inside opened fire.

Two teenagers were wounded, one critically, in a shooting Saturday afternoon in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side.

The were on the street about 5:50 p.m. in the 2500 block of West 70th Street when a dark SUV drove by and someone from inside opened fire, Chicago police said.

A 17-year-old boy was struck in the arm and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition, police said. The other, 18, was shot in the chest and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

Area One detectives are investigating.

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2 teenagers shot in Chicago Lawn drive-bySun-Times Wireon October 10, 2021 at 12:42 am Read More »

As Jelani Day remembered at service, mourners pray for healing, answersJohn W. Fountainon October 10, 2021 at 12:27 am

A wreath encloses a photograph of Jelani Day near his casket at services held Saturday at Danville High School in Danville. | John Fountain/Sun-Times

“The journey does not stop here,” his mother Carmen Bolden Day said. “I’m only getting ready to lay Jelani to rest. But I can’t rest because I don’t know what happened to him.”

Jelani Day returned home Saturday a radiant, good and honorable native son.

His remains lay in a closed mahogany-colored casket, highlighted in bronze and topped with a spray of white flowers that was flanked by a multicolored assortment of dozens of roses and other floral arrangements that shone as vibrantly as the life that friends and family say he lived — before it was unjustly cut short.

But it was unquestionably a celebration of the life of the 25-year-old Illinois State University graduate student, whose body was found Sept. 4, floating in the Illinois River in Peru, despite the mystery and questions surrounding his disappearance and death.

The more than three-and-a-half-hour afternoon service, which began at noon and was held at downstate Danville High School, flowed with tears and with music, with prayers and praise. There were also messages of faith and hope.

John Fountain/Sun-Times
Mourners gather outside Danville High School Saturday as Jelani Day’s casket is led to waiting pallbearers in Danville.

Perhaps no message rang more loudly than the declaration that it ain’t over. Not his legacy or light. Not the demand for justice for Jelani Day.

“The journey does not stop here,” his mother Carmen Bolden Day told mourners. “I’m only getting ready to lay Jelani to rest. But I can’t rest because I don’t know what happened to him.

“Whoever you are, I want you to know, your time will come,” the mother continued as the crowd rang out in support. “Jelani did not deserve this.”

Throughout the service, there were expressions of love and of gratitude for having been touched by a light called Jelani. Among them was childhood friend Paul DeArmond, 26, who spoke of their ties since kindergarten, of their fondness and love for each other and of how Jelani’s desire to become a speech pathologist was birthed by his desire to help him.

The service began as a preacher declared from the podium, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”

The choir, dressed in black, some holding red roses, sang “Praise Him, Praise, Him… Jesus, blessed savior, is worthy to be praised.” The drummer beat slowly, the melodic keys of a piano drifting toward heaven, filling this high school auditorium turned sanctuary.

Jelani’s family filed in, walking down the center aisle as hundreds of mourners stood, the crowd stretching even to the balcony, some wiping away tears, others trying to fight them back.

Soon, the song, “Jesus Loves Me,” spilled from the auditorium’s speakers as young people lined up to present red roses, one by one, to Jelani’s mother and the immediate family.

The choir sang: “The best is yet to come,” their joyful noise seeking to lift the spirits of those who gathered here and who grappled with a sense of not only sorrow, but disbelief and horror over Jelani’s death.

“We’re praying for their strength,” the program moderator said. “We’re praying for their strength.”

There were prayers for healing. Prayers for strength. Prayers for answers. Prayers for justice.

And there were reassurances that, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

John Fountain/Sun-Times
Paul DeArmond, 26, Jelani Day’s childhood friend, speaks at his service Saturday at Danville High School in Danville.

There were hands. Hands lifted in praise. Hands outstretched for divine strength. Hands for tissues to wipe away a flood of tears. And hands rested upon shoulders in comfort for this abrupt farewell amid the echoing question: “What happened to Jelani Day?”

There was also wailing — the unbearable audible release of sorrow too heavy to hold — that rose intermittently amid this grief-stricken assembly.

And yet, there was also celebration. In the old-time church way. The evoking of “Hallelujahs” and “Glorys” that have long soothed the souls of Black folk, even amid the endurance of unspeakable horrors, and which stirred the crowd, even if momentarily.

And there were remembrances: Of Jelani as a church boy, singing in the choir. Of his laughter. Of growing up.

And on today, there was the blessed assurance, one speaker told mourners, that Jelani “now has exchanged his white coat for a white robe.”

And there was a promise, a vow, to seek answers and justice for Jelani Day.

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As Jelani Day remembered at service, mourners pray for healing, answersJohn W. Fountainon October 10, 2021 at 12:27 am Read More »

3 things we learned: SIU comeback nets thrilling road victory over 2nd-ranked South Dakotaon October 10, 2021 at 12:20 am

Prairie State Pigskin

3 things we learned: SIU comeback nets thrilling road victory over 2nd-ranked South Dakota

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3 things we learned: SIU comeback nets thrilling road victory over 2nd-ranked South Dakotaon October 10, 2021 at 12:20 am Read More »

Dynamic Aaron Warren leads Morgan Park to its first win against Simeon in 12 yearsMichael O’Brienon October 9, 2021 at 11:25 pm

Morgan Park’s Aaron Warren (0) runs the ball for a touchdown against Simeon. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Morgan Park quarterback Aaron Warren is one of the city’s must-see football talents this season. He’s 6-2 and fast with an absolute cannon of an arm.

Morgan Park quarterback Aaron Warren is one of the city’s must-see football talents this season. He’s 6-2 and fast with an absolute cannon of an arm.

He’s also fun, especially for the neural observer. Pretty much anything can happen after Warren grabs the snap, from an 80-yard touchdown pass (he didn’t have one of those on Saturday) to a 74-yard touchdown run in which he nearly touches both sidelines. That did happen.

But all of that fun stuff probably isn’t in the game plan.

“He’s a kid that…I’m going to go bald because of Aaron Warren,” Mustangs coach Chris James said. “He’ll make a crazy play and then he’ll make a play like that. He’s a special kid. He just has to put it all together.”

Warren had 14 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns and was 2-for-6 passing for 45 yards and a touchdown in Morgan Park’s 27-21 win against Simeon on Saturday at Gately Stadium.

That offense wasn’t enough for the Mustangs to earn their first win against Simeon since 2009 however. The Wolverines had the ball at the end with a chance to win it.

Morgan Park senior Jonas Lee stepped into the spotlight at that moment, leaping in the middle of the field to grab an interception and seal the win in the final seconds.

“It was an out of body experience,” Lee said. “I made the play. We’ve been through hell the last few weeks. To get this win gives us a lot of hope. We didn’t beat them for 12 years and to do it my senior year? That feels real good.”

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
Morgan Park’s Jonas Lee (5) intercepts a pass intended for Simeon’s Malik Elzy (8) in the final minute of the game.

The Mustangs (4-3, 3-1 Illini Red Bird) led 21-0 early in the second quarter and it looked like the Battle of Vincennes was going to be a blowout.

Kiwaun Davis grabbed Simeon quarterback Korey Flowers’ first pass of the game and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. It was exactly the lift Morgan Park needed after losing its last two games.

“That was beautiful,” Warren said. “It gave the offense energy. It gave the fans energy and we all bought in as one.”

Aaron Warren punches it in with a nice second effort. Morgan Park leads Simeon 14-0 in the 1Q. pic.twitter.com/mcdgPFXHGi

— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) October 9, 2021

The Wolverines (3-4, 3-1) trailed 27-8 at halftime but showed plenty of backbone in the second half. They held the Mustangs scoreless and made things close with a five-yard touchdown run from Andre Crews in the third quarter and a one-yard touchdown run by Flowers with 9:13 left to play.

“We are not good enough to shoot ourselves in the foot and still win,” Simeon coach Dante Culbreath said. “There were just too many mistakes to win a football game.”

Flowers was 4-for-19 passing for 92 yards. He threw five interceptions. Crews had 21 carries for 135 yards.

The win keeps Morgan Park’s state playoff hopes alive. The Mustangs finish the regular season next week against Hubbard. The Public League playoffs begin in Week 9.

“That game was stressful,” James said. “We toughed it out. I’m just excited for the guys. That’s our rival. It’s like Michigan vs. Ohio State. That’s a big one and will give us the momentum we needed hopefully. But we have to play better.”

Simeon plays undefeated Kenwood next week and will likely have to win its last two games to make the state playoffs. However, according to current projections some four-win teams will qualify this season.

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Dynamic Aaron Warren leads Morgan Park to its first win against Simeon in 12 yearsMichael O’Brienon October 9, 2021 at 11:25 pm Read More »

They came for me, now will they come for thee?on October 9, 2021 at 11:20 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

They came for me, now will they come for thee?

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They came for me, now will they come for thee?on October 9, 2021 at 11:20 pm Read More »

3 things we learned: Same old story for WIU as slow start, big plays lead to defeaton October 9, 2021 at 10:55 pm

Prairie State Pigskin

3 things we learned: Same old story for WIU as slow start, big plays lead to defeat

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3 things we learned: Same old story for WIU as slow start, big plays lead to defeaton October 9, 2021 at 10:55 pm Read More »