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A Day of Triumph! Apollo 11 Splashdown Coverage in the Chicago Tribuneon July 26, 2021 at 4:29 am

Cosmic Chicago

A Day of Triumph! Apollo 11 Splashdown Coverage in the Chicago Tribune

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A Day of Triumph! Apollo 11 Splashdown Coverage in the Chicago Tribuneon July 26, 2021 at 4:29 am Read More »

Man fatally shot in drive-by in Humboldt Park: policeSun-Times Wireon July 26, 2021 at 1:00 am

A man was fatally shot Sunday in a drive-by in Humboldt Park on the Northwest Side.

About 5:50 p.m., the 35-year-old man was sitting inside his vehicle in the 800 block of North Homan Avenue, when someone in a passing gray sedan fired shots at him, Chicago police said.

He was struck multiple times and rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. He has not yet been identified.

Area Four detectives are investigating.

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Man fatally shot in drive-by in Humboldt Park: policeSun-Times Wireon July 26, 2021 at 1:00 am Read More »

Man crashes after being fatally shot in shoot-out in East Side neighborhood: policeJermaine Nolenon July 26, 2021 at 12:45 am

A 26-year-old man crashed his vehicle and died after being shot multiple times in a shoot-out in the East Side neighborhood, according to Chicago police.

About 5:45 p.m., he was driving a vehicle southbound on Avenue L, along with three other male passengers, when they began shooting at a group of males sitting on the porch of a home in the 9700 block of South Avenue L, police said. The group of males returned fire, striking the 26-year-old multiple times.

He continued to drive the vehicle, but later crashed into a parked car, police said. The 26-year-old was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He has not yet been identified.

A 16-year-old boy was taken to Trinity Hospital for treatment for a laceration, Chicago fire officials said. It is not known if he was on the porch or inside the vehicle.

Area Two detectives are currently questioning a person of interest.

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Man crashes after being fatally shot in shoot-out in East Side neighborhood: policeJermaine Nolenon July 26, 2021 at 12:45 am Read More »

Cubs’ Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo with a double kiss goodbye — emphasis on ‘goodbye’Steve Greenbergon July 25, 2021 at 9:51 pm

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo will always have their back-to-back homers on a sun-splashed Sunday at Wrigley Field against the most God-awful team in the major leagues.

OK, so it probably doesn’t rank all that high on their career highlight lists. But it beats a stick in the eye.

A “Bryzzo” back-to-back in the first inning of a 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks felt rather like a double kiss goodbye — emphasis on the “goodbye” — heading into the July 30 trade deadline. By this time next week, one Cubs star, the other or both could be long gone. The same can be said of a bunch of their teammates.

Something tells us this isn’t the first time you’re hearing about the Cubs and the trade deadline.

But now? It’s that week. It has all come to a head. Tick-tock, you dig? Keep an ear to the ground, people. Sleep with one eye open.

The Cubs came into the season intending to rise above the massive distraction of having their best-known players all potentially on the way out. It just hasn’t happened. And that was all too predictable.

“I think we would be naive to say it hasn’t affected [things],” manager David Ross said. “Looking up on the board at the numbers of these guys, it’s very uncharacteristic of who they’ve been. So that has to be a factor.”

Not for one last back-to-back, it wasn’t. If the crowd could do it over again, a curtain call or two probably would be in order. Oh, well. Maybe next year.

Here’s what’s happening:

MON 26

Olympic gymnastics: men’s team final (5 a.m., Peacock, 7 p.m., Ch. 5)

The Japanese, Chinese and Russians are in a three-way tug-of-war for gold, or so the world assumes. Brody Malone, Sam Mikulak and the Americans sit quietly in the fourth qualifying spot — medaling in any position would be a giant coup.

Reds at Cubs (7:05 p.m., Marquee)

Wade Miley opposes Kyle Hendricks in an outstanding pitching matchup that could overshadow rampant trade speculation for, like, maybe five minutes?

Royals at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Give us a “D”! Give us an “H”! What’s that spell? Eloy Jimenez’s long-awaited return to the lineup, one hopes.

Swimming - Olympics: Day 2
Who’s better than Ledecky? Nobody, that’s who.
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

TUE 27

Olympic gymnastics: women’s team final (5 a.m., Peacock, 7 p.m., Ch. 5)

Not even Simone Biles was fully on point in qualifying, but let’s see if the U.S. team puts some surprising sloppiness in the rearview. Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Grace McCallum are still massive favorites to win gold.

Olympic swimming: men’s, women’s finals (7 p.m, Ch. 5)

Freestyle master Katie Ledecky — the successor to Michael Phelps as the face of U.S. swimming — goes for glory in the 200 and the 1500. How is she only 24?

Olympic men’s basketball: U.S. vs. Iran (11:40 p.m., Peacock, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Ch. 5)

Against all odds, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine and company will take on the mighty Iranian squad and try to do what they couldn’t against France: care.

WED 28

Olympic swimming: men’s, women’s finals (7 p.m., Ch. 5)

The men’s 800 free, 100 free and 200 breast are featured along with the women’s 200 fly and 4×200 free relay. Might as well just keep your nose clip and earplugs right next to the TV remote at this point.

Royals at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

You know what Lucas Giolito could really use? A nice, dominant “W.” And then a few more after that.

Gymnastics - Artistic - Olympics: Day 2
The gymnastics world belongs to Biles.
Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

THU 29

Olympic gymnastics: women’s all-around (5 a.m., Peacock, 7 p.m., Ch. 5)

All eyes will be on Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time and maybe, just maybe, the best dang athlete on the planet. No pressure, though.

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

Only 24 hours until the trade deadline. Oh, to have an advance peek at Ross’ lineup card.

Olympic men’s volleyball: U.S. vs. Brazil (7 p.m., CNBC)

The Brazilians are ranked No. 1 in the world. The No. 5-ranked Americans will try to wax the floor with them anyway.

FRI 30

Cubs at Nationals (6:05 p.m., Marquee)

Not to tell big cheese Jed Hoyer how to do his job, but he’d better not wait until tonight to check out a couple of prospects in the Nats’ system by the names of Lester and Schwarber.

SAT 31

Olympic swimming: men’s, women’s finals (7 p.m., Ch. 5)

The most exciting 50 meters in sports? Definitely those one-lap freestyle sprints for Olympic gold. Is it Caeleb Dressel’s time? Simone Manuel’s? Could be a big night for Team USA.

SUN 1

Olympic track and field: men’s, women’s finals (3 a.m., Peacock, 8:30 p.m., Ch. 5)

The most exciting 100 meters in sports? Oh, baby. It’s fastest-man-in-the-world time, and no one not named Usain Bolt — who isn’t in the field — has held that title since before the 2008 Games.

Indians at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Now that Jimenez has gotten back into the whole big-league-baseball, World Series-or-bust business, would it kill Luis Robert to join him?

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Cubs’ Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo with a double kiss goodbye — emphasis on ‘goodbye’Steve Greenbergon July 25, 2021 at 9:51 pm Read More »

Eloy Jimenez returning to White Sox lineup MondayDaryl Van Schouwenon July 25, 2021 at 8:57 pm

MILWAUKEE — Eloy Jimenez is ready to return.

The White Sox slugging left fielder has completed his injury rehab stint at Triple-A Charlotte and will be in the lineup Monday when the Sox play the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

“He’s flying in tonight and I’ll write him in the lineup tomorrow,” manager Tony La Russa said.

“As soon as he walks in the clubhouse, he’s going to light it up with his personality.”

And potentially give the Sox lineup a needed spark. Jimenez, 24, won his first Silver Slugger award last season after ranking second behind AL Most Valuable Player Jose Abreu on the Sox in home runs (14), doubles (14) and RBI (41) and slugging percentage (.559) in 2021.

Jimenez tore his left pectoral muscle leaping over the wall during a Cactus League game in spring training and had surgery to repair the muscle. His recovery has been quicker than expected.

“[Triple-A manager] Wes Helms reports that Eloy is moving well in the outfield so we have the freedom to see what’s best,” La Russa said. “He’ll play as the DH or left fielder, I’m not sure. I understand both [options] are available. I also understand it will be steaming hot in Kansas City all four days so we’ll factor that in.”

Andrew Vaughn has stepped in nicely in left field, learning a new position on the job. La Russa will have the option of using Vaughn or Jimenez in left field and designated hitter. Vaughn is a natural first baseman.

“I don’t think Eloy being here will take at-bats away from Andrew,” La Russa said.

The Sox are 59-40 and leading the AL Central by nine games without Jimenez, center fielder Luis Robert, second baseman Nick Madrigal and catcher Yasmani Grandal. There have been numerous other injuries as well.

“In my career it’s one of the best performances by a team that loses key guys, starting with [Jimenez],” La Russa said. He’s an RBI machine and here we are where we are.”

The Sox, who have lost three straight games, play the Brewers Sunday night looking to salvage the third game of a series after losing 7-1 and 6-1 in the first two games.

“Everybody’s fired up,” La Russa said of Jimenez’s impending return.

“He’s playing the outfield with good movement, he’s throwing, he’s reaching balls defensively, at the plate he’s swinging free and easy,” La Russa said. “It’s going to be more about timing. We’ll know more when we see him ourselves but it’s full speed ahead.”

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Eloy Jimenez returning to White Sox lineup MondayDaryl Van Schouwenon July 25, 2021 at 8:57 pm Read More »

Ken Harrelson accepts Ford C. Frick AwardDaryl Van Schouwenon July 25, 2021 at 8:02 pm

MILWAUKEE — Ken Harrelson entered the broadcast wing of the Hall of Fame with a colorful speech — of course it was — extolling the virtues of the game that was his life for parts of eight decades and expressing thanks to the people who mean the most to him, none more than his family.

“I’ve had a great career and I’ve been blessed,” Harrelson said. “I was a great athlete and I had some great help in the booth.”

Harrelson, the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually to a broadcaster for “major contributions to baseball,” broadcast games for 42 years, 33 for the Sox, after a nine-year playing career.

“Baseball is a game of memories and heroes,” he said.

“The beauty of the game is the game itself. It’s the most beautiful game we have ever seen. Not played against a clock and the defensive team controls the ball. Somebody wrote that Vin Scully was a play-by-play guy who told stories and wrote that Hawk Harrelson was a story teller who did play-by-play.”

Harrelson hailed Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who was in attendance, as the best owner in sports. He asked his wife Aris, one of 23 family members including his children and grandchildren who accompanied him to Cooperstown, to stand up.

“Want to tell you about my heroes and there is one right there, my beautiful wife Aris,” Harrelson said.

Harrelson concluded with his favorite toast.

“I gave this at Arnold Palmer’s 80th birthday,” Harrelson said. “He said, ‘thank you, Hawk.’

“When you take a man’s money, you take a man’s money. But when you take a man’s time, you take a part of his life. And I want to thank you all for all of parts of eight decades for your time. Thank you very much.”

Harrelson was the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner. Also honored Saturday, in a TV-only event staged at an opera theater about 15 minutes from the Hall of Fame that was aired Sunday: 2021 winner Al Michaels, Baseball Writers Association Career Excellence winners Dick Kaegel and Nick Cafardo and 2020 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner David Montgomery.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring the 2020 class of Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker is Sept. 8 in Cooperstown.

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Ken Harrelson accepts Ford C. Frick AwardDaryl Van Schouwenon July 25, 2021 at 8:02 pm Read More »

3 hurt in East Garfield Park shootingSun-Times Wireon July 25, 2021 at 7:58 pm

Three men were wounded in a shooting Sunday afternoon in East Garfield Park.

The men were near a sidewalk in the 3200 block of West Lake Street about 12:45 p.m. when a vehicle approached and someone inside fired shots, Chicago police said.

A 30-year-old man was struck in the leg and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Another man, 21, was also struck in the leg and a third man, 23, suffered a graze wound to the forearm. Both were taken to the same hospital in good condition, police said.

Earlier Sunday, a man was fatally shot about a block away in the 3200 block of West Maypole, according to police.

No one is in custody in either shooting.

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3 hurt in East Garfield Park shootingSun-Times Wireon July 25, 2021 at 7:58 pm Read More »

Man killed in East Garfield Park shootingSun-Times Wireon July 25, 2021 at 7:32 pm

A 23-year-old man was fatally shot inside a building Sunday in East Garfield Park.

Just after 6 a.m., a male fired shots into a building in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue striking the 23-year-old multiple times, Chicago police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:58 a.m., according to police. He has not yet been identified.

The shooter fled the scene, police said.

There is no one in custody as Area One detectives investigate.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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Man killed in East Garfield Park shootingSun-Times Wireon July 25, 2021 at 7:32 pm Read More »

Come on, man! Come on, Man in the Moon! Biden’s Town Hall. Would you do this to your senile father? #4-07/25/21on July 25, 2021 at 7:32 pm

Life is a TV Dinner

Come on, man! Come on, Man in the Moon! Biden’s Town Hall. Would you do this to your senile father? #4-07/25/21

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Come on, man! Come on, Man in the Moon! Biden’s Town Hall. Would you do this to your senile father? #4-07/25/21on July 25, 2021 at 7:32 pm Read More »

France ends US men’s basketball’s Olympic winning streakTim Reynolds | Associated Presson July 25, 2021 at 6:23 pm

SAITAMA, Japan — The final buzzer sounded and France barely celebrated.

To them, beating the United States again wasn’t really a surprise. And that might be the biggest indicator yet that the Americans — even after three consecutive Olympic gold medals — are no longer feared by other top international teams.

A 25-game Olympic winning streak for the U.S. is over, ending Sunday when France closed the game on a 16-2 run to beat the Americans 83-76 in the Tokyo Games. Evan Fournier’s 3-pointer off a broken play with just under a minute left put France ahead for good, as the Americans simply fell apart in the final minutes.

“They are better individually,” Fournier said of the Americans, “but they can be beaten as a team.”

That’s been proven with alarming regularity in the last two years. Starting with France’s win over the U.S. in the Basketball World Cup quarterfinals at China two years ago, the Americans are merely 3-5 in their last eight games with NBA players in the lineup.

The U.S. missed its final nine shots, five of them coming in a 21-second span in the final minute shortly after Fournier — who led all scorers with 28 points — made the go-ahead 3-pointer. Rudy Gobert wildly missed a layup on that play, but Guerschon Yabusele chased down the bouncing rebound and just before he dove into the U.S. bench he made a desperation swipe at the ball in an effort to knock it into Fournier’s direction.

Fournier turned Yabusele’s dive into a dagger, and just like that the Americans are in Olympic trouble.

“I think that’s a little bit of hubris if you think the Americans are supposed to just roll out the balls and win,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’ve got to work for it just like everybody else. And for those 40 minutes, they played better than we did.”

The Americans lost for only the sixth time in 144 games at the Olympics all-time, and fell to 53-4 in the Olympics with NBA players on the roster. The 2004 team at the Athens Games lost the other three, and won bronze. Every other U.S. team in the era that started with the “Dream Team” in 1992 won the gold and this one still can — but it’s far from a certainty.

“When you lose a game, you’re not surprised,” Popovich said. “You’re disappointed.”

Fournier had 28 points for France, while Rudy Gobert scored 14 and Nando de Colo had 13. Jrue Holiday had 18 points for the U.S., Bam Adebayo had 12, Damian Lillard 11 and Kevin Durant had 10 for the Americans — who are just 2-3 in their games this summer, the first four of them exhibitions in Las Vegas that weren’t supposed to mean much.

The Olympics, they were supposed to be different.

They weren’t. They lost, again.

“I mean, it’s great,” Gobert said. “But until we have what we want to have around our neck it doesn’t really matter.”

The idea of anyone else leaving an Olympics with gold hasn’t been all that realistic in recent years. Now, it’s very real.

A 10-point U.S. lead in the third quarter was wasted, and so was a 12-point barrage from Holiday in the opening 4 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter as the Americans went from six points down to start the period to six points up with 5:23 remaining.

The U.S. lead was seven with 3:30 left. France outscored the U.S. 16-2 from there, and the Americans missed all nine of their shots — five of them in a 21-second span on the same trip down the floor in the final minute, three of those from 3-point range.

“Evan was amazing,” France coach Vincent Collet said. “I don’t want to use big, big, big words, but he made some very big shots.”

The loss doesn’t knock the U.S. out of medal contention, but it essentially eliminates the margin for error. The Americans play Iran on Wednesday and then the Czech Republic on Saturday in its final two Group A games; win both of those, and the U.S. will be in the quarterfinals. Lose another one, and the Americans might not even finish in the top eight of this 12-team tournament.

The Americans scored three points in a seven-minute span of the third, Durant picked up his fourth foul — the FIBA limit is five with 16:45 left in the game, and that once-comfortable lead was soon gone. De Colo’s 3-pointer with 2:42 remaining in the third put France up 55-54, its first lead since the game’s first four minutes.

France led 62-56 going to the final quarter. Holiday — who arrived in Tokyo on Saturday, less than a week removed from helping Milwaukee win the NBA title — did all he could to will the U.S. to a win in the fourth, but simply didn’t get enough help.

“He was outstanding,” Popovich said.

It was the first time the U.S. and France played since the quarterfinals of the Basketball World Cup two years ago, a game that the Americans lost on the way to a seventh-place finish — the worst ever by a USA Basketball team with NBA players.

The U.S. got outscored 22-5 in the final 7 1/2 minutes of that game, losing 89-79. This time, the final run was 16-2 in the final 3:17 to lose by seven.

That loss in China ended World Cup medal hopes. This one doesn’t end the Americans’ Olympic chances — but another loss almost certainly will.

“We have to defend better down the stretch,” U.S. forward Draymond Green said. “And close the games out.”

TIP-INS

France: Frank Ntilikina missed the game, with the French federation saying he continues to deal with “slight muscle discomfort.” … France took the game’s first nine free throws. The U.S. didn’t shoot one until JaVale McGee went to the line with 8:27 left in the second quarter. … Yabusele left the game briefly with 1:30 left in the half after going knee-to-knee with Holiday.

USA: Durant had three fouls in the first half, something that’s happened only 10 times in his last 544 NBA appearances. … The U.S. used 11 of its players in the first half, with Jerami Grant the only one who didn’t get into the game.

MOVING UP

Durant moved into outright possession of the No. 4 spot on the U.S. men’s all-time Olympic appearances list. He’s now played in 17 games, behind only Carmelo Anthony (31), LeBron James (24) and David Robinson (24). There are 15 players with 16 Olympic appearances.

UP NEXT

France: Face the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

USA: Face Iran on Wednesday.

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France ends US men’s basketball’s Olympic winning streakTim Reynolds | Associated Presson July 25, 2021 at 6:23 pm Read More »