What’s New

Love it or (more likely) hate it, Lollapalooza is back! After a hiatus year, the four-day fest is happening in Grant Park, July 29 to August 1. Gates open at 11 a.m. daily, and the music ends around 10 p.m. It’ll be held at full capacity — expect about 400,000 attendees and 170 musical performances.

The COVID of it all

Lolla 2021 attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous 24 hours. Event reps declined to comment on how exactly they’ll verify the vaccinated, but Northwestern epidemiologist Mercedes Carnethon says it ultimately doesn’t matter because there’s no way to ensure the coronavirus won’t be spread. Centers for Disease Control vaccination cards can be forged, forehead thermometers aren’t reliable in the heat, and “Do Not Enter If You Have the Following Symptoms” signs are easy to ignore — besides, young people are less likely to be symptomatic. Carnethon says not to be surprised if cases bump up here in mid-August.

Music worth the sunstroke

■ New(ish) acts you’ll fall in love with Omar Apollo; Flo Milli; Slowthai; Rico Nasty; Boy Pablo
■ Artists who will get you in your feelings Brittany Howard; Orville Peck; JPEGMafia; LP; Whitney; Hinds
■ Can’t-miss showstoppers Megan Thee Stallion; Tyler, the Creator; Miley Cyrus; Kim Petras; Kaytranada; Young Thug
■ Bands that make you say “Oh yeah, them” Foo Fighters; Limp Bizkit; Jimmy Eat World; Modest Mouse; Band of Horses
■ Gen Z-palooza Post Malone; Brockhampton; Playboi Carti; Lauv; Jack Harlow; Gus Dapperton
■ Your chance to scream-sing to “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” live Journey

What else you should know

■ Lines to enter Lollapalooza are always brutal, but with COVID-era verifications at the gates, expect extra-long queues this year. Arrive early so you don’t miss your favorite act (it’s Limp Bizkit, obviously).
■ Early attendance means longer days means more time in the sun. Stay hydrated! Lollapalooza permits attendees to bring in unopened plastic or aluminum water bottles and empty reusable ones for the free filling stations.
■ Per the event’s website, by attending the fest, “you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.” Translation: Good God, please get vaccinated.

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Chicago Cubs Rumors: Anthony Rizzo preparing for farewell by Jordan Campbell

Before we get started, we should address the elephant in the room. Nikita Zadorov’s departure adds another layer to the worst trade in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. They traded an MVP caliber player in Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets to get Brandon Saad back. After a few years, they traded Saad to the Colorado Avalanche for Nikita Zadorov. Earlier in Saad’s career, they traded him away to the Blue Jackets for an awful return as well.

That means they have lost a trade involving Brandon Saad three times. It is a horrible chain of events for this team. Now, they traded Nikita Zadorov to the Calgary Flames for a 2022 third-round pick. The pick originally belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is a good individual trade for the Hawks as Zadorov made them a worse team for the most part but when you link it back to Panarin, it is sad.

Now, the Hawks have to move forward with the defense that they have. It is going to be wildly improved with Seth Jones and Caleb Jones joining the mix. Connor Murphy, Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, and Riley Stillman will all try to make an impact as well. We know that Calvin de Haan is there as well but nobody should be surprised if he is traded sometime soon.

Zadorov will go to Calgary and play under the contract that he just signed with the Blackhawks. That team is interesting as far as their future because it is hard to understand what they are doing. They clearly believe in Zadorov’s potential but then again, they only gave up a 3rd round pick to get him. The Hawks took it because they would rather play the previously mentioned defensemen on the roster instead.

OFFICIAL: We acquired a 2022 third-round pick (Toronto’s pick) from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Nikita Zadorov. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/qcoae98y2C

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 28, 2021

The Nikita Zadorov trade is another in a long list of Chicago Blackhawks moves.

This has been a very busy offseason so far for the Blackhawks. Landing a third-round pick for Zadorov is really nice. Trading Brent Seabrook’s eventual LTIR contract to take on Tyler Johnson’s bad contract and get a draft pick was a bad idea. However, the trades for the Jones brothers and Marc-Andre Fleury were really good in a lot of ways.

They clearly want to improve their defense. They also made moves to help them with the issue they have of giving up high danger chances at a high volume. All of their new defensemen are an upgrade and letting Zadorov go is a big key in that. He may find success in Calgary but things clearly didn’t click for him in Chicago.

Related Story: Tyler Johnson trade makes no sense for Chicago

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JOHANNESBURG — Former U.S. President Barack Obama has acquired a stake in the NBA’s Africa business through his foundation, the NBA said Tuesday.

Obama will have a minority equity stake in NBA Africa, a new entity set up this year to run all the league’s business on the continent.

The NBA said Obama would use his stake to fund the Obama Foundation’s youth and leadership programs in Africa.

Obama has been linked to the NBA’s Africa operations since 2019, although it wasn’t clear until Tuesday exactly what his involvement would be. The NBA didn’t disclose any financials.

NBA Africa and world body FIBA combined to set up a pro basketball league in Africa. The Basketball Africa League held its inaugural season in May after being delayed for a year by the coronavirus pandemic. It featured the top teams from 12 African countries.

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Former federal prosecutor Lawrence Oliver was appointed Wednesday to investigate the Cook County state’s attorney’s office and a former employee who allegedly lied on the witness stand during the third trial of Jackie Wilson, who was eventually cleared of murdering two Chicago police officers.

Oliver, who was named special prosecutor by Judge Alfredo Maldonado, will investigate perjury allegations against former Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Trutenko and whether other current and former members of State’s Attorney’s Kim Foxx’s office may have tried to cover for him.

Trutenko was fired in October on the same day he admitted during Wilson’s third trial that he had an ongoing personal relationship with William Coleman, a jailhouse informant who helped convict Wilson of the 1982 murders of Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien at his second trial.

Oliver will have authority to convene a special grand jury to investigate and potentially bring criminal charges against Trutenko, as well as probe the operations of Foxx’s office for evidence of a coverup.

“Whatever investigation happens, happens,” Maldonado said during the brief on-line hearing Wednesday. “Now that this investigation is ongoing, this investigation goes wherever it goes.”

Wilson’s lawyer, Elliott Slosar, seemed satisfied with Oliver being named special prosecutor.

“We are pleased the court has undergone such a thorough search and found a well-qualified special prosecutor,” Slosar said. “We know that what we’ve uncovered is only the tip of the iceberg. We know that the special prosecutor will find out whatever was going on behind the scenes in the state’s attorney’s office.”

In an emailed statement, a Foxx spokesperson said the office would cooperate with the special prosecutor.

“The State’s Attorney is committed to transparency and accountability in this and all matters, and the office will fully cooperate with the review of this case,” the statement said.

Oliver’s appointment marks the second time the state’s attorney’s office has been investigated under Foxx’s leadership. In 2019, special prosecutor Dan Webb was appointed to investigate the office’s decision to drop charges against former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett who is accused of staging a hate crime near his Streeterville apartment.

Webb did not find evidence to support criminal charges against any prosecutors, including Foxx, though he reported uncovering “substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures.”

Webb’s report remains under seal and has not been made public.

Oliver spent four years as a federal prosecutor before joining Perkins Coie law firm, where he headed up the firm’s white-collar criminal practice. He was appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate alleged beatings by guards at the Cook County Jail in 2003, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Oliver was also appointed to the Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois in the wake of an admissions scandal in 2009.

Oliver spent 16 years as chief counsel-investigations for Boeing, although it was not clear if he still works for the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer. He did not immediately respond to a call from the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday.

Maldonado ordered the special prosecutor investigation in June, after Wilson’s lawyers petitioned the court to investigate Trutenko for perjury and to probe the how the state’s attorney’s office handled Wilson’s case.

Trutenko was lead prosecutor in Wilson’s second trial. Wilson won a third trial in 2018, after Judge William Hooks ruled Wilson had been tortured into giving a confession by detectives working under the command of former CPD Cmdr. Jon Burge.

During the third trial, special prosecutors said Coleman could not be found and likely was dead, therefore, they said, they intended to use Coleman’s testimony from the second trial as evidence against Wilson.

But when Trutenko was called to the stand midway through the last trial, he admitted to a long-running friendship with Coleman and said he had recently communicated with Coleman by email. Trutenko said he had not been asked about his ties to Coleman by the the special prosecutor, a claim the special prosecutors said was false.

Wilson walked free when all charges against him were dropped shortly after Trutenko’s revelation. Wilson’s brother, Andrew Wilson, was who was twice convicted of gunning down the two officers, died in prison in 2007.

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A man wanted for murder in Chicago was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon after allegedly pulling a gun on police trying to arrest him at a restaurant in Calumet City.

Two Chicago police officers were part of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force that attempted to arrest the man around 4 p.m. in the 1600 block of Sibley Boulevard, Chicago police said.

The man took out a firearm and the task force opened fire, striking him, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.

The man was wanted for murder in Chicago, attempted murder in Calumet City and home invasion by the Cook County sheriff’s office, according to the statement.

He was a 55-year-old man from Calumet City, according to public data from the Cook County medical examiner’s office. His name hasn’t been released.

An officer on the task force was taken to a hospital for treatment of an unspecified injury, authorities said.

Shortly after the shooting, police taped off the Roc and Ro BBQ, where the shooting appeared to take place.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability will conduct a use of force investigation. The Illinois State Police and U.S. Marshals Service will also conduct their own investigations.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

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Arturas Karnisovas knows a little bit about hitting value with second-round draft picks.

The Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations was in the Denver Nuggets front office as an assistant general manager when they grabbed a Serbian big man with the 41^st pick of the 2014 draft named Nikola Jokic.

That turned out OK.

Heck, even on his own current coaching staff there’s reminders of second-round gold, as look no further than Mo Cheeks, who was drafted 36^th overall and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

That’s why when Karnisovas was discussing the offseason to-do list a few months back, he boldly declared “we still have a second round pick.”

While some organizations treat second-round picks as a blind fold and a dartboard, life outside the first round for Karnisovas is opportunity.

Opportunity to not only showcase his scouting chops, but also a chance to show off the development staff he’s put in place for prospects once they enter the practice facility.

Considering the Bulls don’t have a first-round pick in Thursday’s 2021 NBA Draft thanks to the Nikola Vucevic deal with Orlando, it’s a good time for what Karnisovas has built after one season to again be tested.

In Karnisovas’ first draft with the organization last season, Patrick Williams was the No. 4 overall pick, but in Round 2, he grabbed a then-raw big man from Montenegro with the 44^th overall pick, turning Marko Simonovic into a one-year draft-and-stash.

The stash is now over, as Simonovic has been working out at the Advocate Center the last month, and is expected to officially join the roster in August, with the start of the 2021-22 fiscal year.

The early reports on the versatile center are good, and the hope is he can become a rotation player in Year 1, especially with the Bulls possibly thinning out in the frontcourt with Daniel Theis and Cristiano Felicio both unrestricted free agents, and Lauri Markkanen a restricted free agent.

So what could Karnisovas have up his sleeve with the 38^th overall pick in Thursday’s draft? The good news is it’s a deep pool to pick from.

Second-round prospects to keep an eye on:

JT Thor – PF – Auburn – The offense is sushi raw, but if Thor slides out of the late first round – a big if, his ridiculous 7-foot-3 1/4 wingspan and his willingness to develop on both sides of the floor would be hard to pass up.

Ayo Dosunmu – SG/PG – Illinois – The Bulls were linked to the Illini product throughout the predraft camp process, as the combo guard is creative in the scoring department and an above average ball-handler. If the Bulls have plans to move on from Tomas Satoransky, a versatile backcourt player like Dosunmu could be a solid get.

Charles Bassey – C – Western Kentucky – The Bulls were inconsistent with physicality and shot-blocking throughout the season, and the big would quickly change that off the bench. Offensively, he has that rim-running ability that Daniel Gafford showed, but he’s also not afraid to launch a few threes if left open.

Juhann Begarin – SG/SF – Paris Basketball – If the Bulls want to play the draft-and-stash game once again, Begarin is the perfect candidate. He’s one of the younger prospects in the class at 18, and has a lot of developing to do on both sides of the ball.

Kessler Edwards – SF – Pepperdine – The defense is NBA ready, while the offense and perimeter game are coming. Edwards’ game could become what Chandler Hutchison was supposed to be when the Bulls selected him in the first round of the 2018 draft.

Josh Christopher – SG – Arizona State – The scorer could sneak late into the first round, but if he slips the Bulls definitely have to kick the tires on him because of his shot-making ability he could add off the bench.

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SAITAMA, Japan — It wasn’t just that the U.S. had been losing. It was that the level of play was practically un-American.

Playing passively and passing up open shots isn’t the way its players became basketball’s best. And when it resulted in them dropping their Olympic opener, the Americans decided to do something about it.

“After that loss we came together,” guard Damian Lillard said. “It was a lot of communication between then and now where it’s like, ‘All right. It’s time to start looking like Team USA.'”

Lillard scored 21 points and the Americans got back to winning — and winning easily — with their first victory of these Olympics, romping past Iran 120-66 on Wednesday.

Devin Booker scored 16 points and Jayson Tatum had 14 for the Americans, who had their 25-game Olympic winning streak snapped with an 83-76 loss to France on Sunday.

The U.S. not only bounced back but did it in a Dream Team-type performance against an overmatched opponent, racing out for transition dunks and stepping back to knock down 3-pointers.

“We came out with more freedom as individuals and took the shots that we normally take,” said Kevin Durant. “And they went in tonight and we guarded up, so it was a good step.”

The U.S. plays the Czech Republic on Saturday to close pool play, with a victory guaranteeing the Americans a spot in the single-elimination quarterfinals.

The Americans are probably through already thanks to what will be an enormous point differential as a result of this rout.

The U.S. probably doesn’t care what type of team the performance came against. The Americans just needed to look good against somebody.

They came into the game just 2-3 this summer after splitting their exhibition games in Las Vegas before the loss to France. They had rarely looked sharp while navigating roster changes, a game cancelation for coronavirus safety concerns and the absence of Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Booker until the eve of their opener because those three had played in the NBA Finals.

Holiday, who was the best American player in the opener, and Booker moved into the starting lineup Wednesday.

In their second game, the Americans made the shots they normally take. The U.S. knocked down 19 3-pointers and 23 of its 37 shots (62%) inside the arc.

“Now that they’re complete and the whole group is here, they’re having fun doing what you saw,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Each time we get out on the court, they do it more and more and better and better because they get confidence in the group and how we want to play.”

It was a loud statement that might quiet some of the criticisms the team has heard right from the start of its summer, when it dropped its first two exhibition games.

Those came against a different caliber opponent. The Americans had played some of basketball’s best, with games against Spain, Australia and Argentina — the Nos. 2-4 teams in the men’s rankings — before facing the seventh-ranked French.

But Iran presented none of the problems of those contenders, a team that only earned its spot in the field in Tokyo by being the highest-finishing Asian team at the 2019 Basketball World Cup. The Iranians are ranked 23rd, ahead of only host Japan — which qualified for the Games automatically as the host country — in this 12-team field.

Lillard struggled and then stumbled in his Olympic debut, going 3 for 10 from the field before a costly fall and foul with 17 seconds left.

But he came out aggressively looking for his shot, a player known for his deep 3-pointers in the NBA having it easy while shooting behind the closer international line.

He had six of the Americans’ 13 3-pointers in the first half. All 11 U.S. players who played in the first half scored — late roster addition Keldon Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs didn’t play until the second half.

Former NBA center Hamed Haddadi scored 15 points for Iran (0-2).

The U.S. and Iran are longtime rival nations in the political arena but have little history in the basketball one. They had played only once before, a U.S. victory in the 2010 world basketball championship in Istanbul.

Players on both teams then — Durant was one of them — said it was just a regular game despite the history of tension between their nations and this game looked the same. Players exchanged cordial fist bumps and some pats on the arm before tipoff.

The Iranians wouldn’t be anywhere near the Americans much longer.

The U.S. led 28-12 after one and pushed the lead to 30 on its 10th 3-pointer in 17 attempts to begin the game, making it 47-17 when Zach LaVine made his second in a row.

TIP-INS

U.S. Durant is up to 331 points in his three Olympics. Carmelo Anthony set the U.S. record with 336 in his four appearances. He posed for a photo after the game with an Iranian player, a familiar site during the Dream Team days. … LaVine scored 13 points.

Iran: Iran fell to 2-10 in the Olympics. This is its third appearance in men’s basketball, having dropped all five games in Beijing in 2008 and both here. It also competed in 1948.

UP NEXT

U.S.: Plays Czech Republic on Saturday.

Iran: Plays France on Saturday.

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A South Shore man has been charged with a shooting in the Loop that critically wounded a man earlier this month.

Jeaun Tapley, 30, opened fire while arguing with a group of people around 2 a.m. July 17 in the 100 block of West Adams Street, according to Chicago police.

A man, 25, was struck in the chest and arm and hospitalized in critical condition, police said.

Police initially described the suspect as a 5-foot-8 woman with dreadlocks.

Tapley was arrested Tuesday in South Shore, police said. He was expected in court later Wednesday.

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Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been named U.S. men’s hockey coach for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Sullivan will be behind the bench if the NHL participates, which is still a question. There is not a deal currently in place to send NHL players to the Olympics, and negotiations are ongoing.

“I’m going to operate on the premise that the NHL and the (International) Olympic Committee are going to work towards an agreement and we’re going to participate,” Sullivan said on a video call with reporters Wednesday. “That’s the approach that we have to take and, we’re just entrusting that the powers that be are going to work out an agreement and hopefully that will be sooner than later.”

Sullivan coached the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017. USA Hockey expects to name his assistants later this summer.

If the league and Players’ Association get an Olympic agreement done with the IOC and International Ice Hockey Federation, Sullivan would be the second Penguins coach in as many Games with NHL participation. Dan Bylsma coached the U.S. team in Sochi in 2014.

“It’s hard to articulate in words what this means to me to have the opportunity to be the head coach for our Olympic team in Beijing,” Sullivan said. “I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.”

Sullivan was 12 years old for the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 and cited it as an inspiration for him. He was a U.S. assistant at the 2006 Olympics in Turin and said he has learned about the importance of pulling a team together quickly for a short tournament.

USA Hockey made the announcement Wednesday morning, tabbing Sullivan and along with Joel Johnson for its women’s team and David Hoff for the Paralympic sled hockey team.

“We’re thrilled with the head coaches that will guide our teams at the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics,” USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said. “We’ve said all along that our objective is to bring home three gold medals, and with the experience and leadership possessed by Mike, Joel and David, we know our teams are in good hands.”

Chicago Blackhawks Stan Bowman remains general manager for the U.S. men’s hockey team as an investigation is ongoing about two players alleging a then-assistant coach sexually assaulted them in 2010. Bowman, who has been Chicago’s GM since 2009, has pledged to cooperate with the investigation being run by a former federal prosecutor.

Asked about the possibility of Bowman recusing himself from the Olympic team given his reported role in the situation, Kelleher said USA Hockey has been in contact with the Blackhawks and the NHL and would monitor the investigation and let it progress.

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Lollapalooza is back in town this weekend, and many Chicago restaurants and bars are getting ready. Though there is plenty to eat at the Lollapalooza 2021 festival, we have created a list of the best restaurants in the city for festival-goers to hit up outside the venue.

205 N Peoria St Chicago, IL 

This modern West Loop restaurant is known for three things: Pizza, Beer, and Jukebox. If you are looking for popular restaurants to visit near the Lollapalooza festival, this establishment is open late and has an amazing atmosphere and a variety of specialties. What more could any festival-goer want?

135 W Madison St, Chicago, IL

If you’re looking for an upscale cocktail bar, look no further than Roanoke, located in The Loop. This elevated dining and drinking experience is sure to leave guests in awe. We recommend the Landmark Old Fashioned. 

832 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL

Brunch is an absolute must for those traveling to the Lollapalooza 2021 festival. Bar Siena is the place to go! With a variety of tasty food options, mimosas and juices, we recommend visiting this restaurant and bar in Chicago to fuel yourself for a long day of festivities. 

180 N Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL

This Bohemian spot offers funky dishes that are sure to send your taste buds on an exotic journey. Located in The Loop, the atmosphere of this place is not like anything else around. And, you can reserve some riverfront seating to really elevate your dining experience. 

203 N Wabash Ave (26th Floor), Chicago, IL

Located on top of the Virgin Hotel in downtown Chicago, Cerise Rooftop is the place to be for a night out on the town. If you’re searching for a place to order lunch near the Lollapalooza 2021 festival, this restaurant features a cozy environment for you to kick back and relax. The panoramic views of the city can’t be beat. 

108 E Superior St, Chicago, IL

Looking for more music? Z Bar is having a DJ Saturday, July 31st. Check out Karsten Sollors, with no cover charge, and continue the festival groove into the night! Make sure to grab a cocktail while you’re there. We recommend The Z.

Featured Image Credit: Lollapalooza

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