The Chicago Cubs are in a fair amount of trouble with their current core. Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant are all on expiring contracts. They are all in trade rumors as a result which is only fair. There are rumors out there that they will try to extend Baez and Rizzo one more time before they take trade offers and Bryant is as good as gone. With the way the team has been playing, it seems smart to trade them all for prospects.
One player that might seem impossible to imagine in another uniform is Anthony Rizzo. He had other uniforms before coming to the Cubs but this guy is a legend on the North Side now. Unfortunately, the business side of things might force that to happen. There is one team that is familiar with him and would be a perfect fit should the Cubs be forced to trade him.
That team is the Boston Red Sox. Rizzo once was with the Red Sox organization before he became the household name that he is today. They have players that can play first base well but Anthony Rizzo would be a major upgrade. They don’t have many other positions to upgrade as they make their push for the playoffs so they might actually look for someone to play that position.
The Chicago Cubs might really consider trading Anthony Rizzo to the Boston Red Sox.
Bobby Dalbec has done a good job there but they could use Rizzo in so many different ways. He has multiple Gold Gloves on his shelf for a reason. He is also a very experienced player which could help them a lot. It would be interesting to see him go there and put that jersey on after all he has accomplished since leaving.
Unfortunately, the Cubs aren’t going to get as much for Rizzo (or Baez/Bryant) as people think. He is an aging first baseman with a back issue that might not be going away for good anytime soon. Anything they can get for him would be worth it in the end. A team like the Red Sox who could really use a player like him might offer the most to the Cubs.
Without Rizzo, the Cubs would look completely different as an organization. He knows it and they know it. Without him, they might not have ended the 108-year curse that hovered over the organization for over a century. At this point, however, it is time to move on and the Boston Red Sox would be a great fit.
Roger Lipe recently wrapped up 27 seasons as the chaplain for Southern Illinois Salukis football.
Over the years, Lipe has befriended and counseled countless numbers of individuals from all walks of life. He’s performed weddings and “sadly, a couple of funerals.”
Never one to fully pull back the reins, Lipe continues to walk the spiritual path in a variety of ways, including spending time with his wife (and former SIU football secretary) Sharon, their son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
Get to know Roger Lipe in our Prairie State Pigskin Moving the Chains Q&A.
How did you first get started as SIU football chaplain?
I started in 1994 with (head coach) Shawn Watson. I’ve been with five head coaches, a whole bunch of assistants. I’d have to say that’s close to a hundred coaches that I’ve worked with there. Thousands of players.
For me, it’s been an immense privilege to have served this program for so many years. In every case, I’m a visitor. I don’t have any rights. I don’t have any right to be there. The coaches have been kind to have opened the door to me and let me come in. I’ve never felt like it was my birthright. They don’t owe me anything. They opened the door so I could have an avenue of service. It’s a remarkable thing to have had favor with five coaching staffs in a row in that kind of way is just unspeakable in its value.
I always started with each coach by saying, “If you’ll allow me I’ll do as much or as little as you want me to.” You could just seem them relax. I’m not a guy with a big agenda of 25 things that I want to do.
“I’m here to serve you” and they’d relax and respond, “What do you have in mind?” and then I’d offer specific things.
They’d usually say, “I like that and let’s do it.”
It wins favor because it projects the proper attitude.
What made it so rewarding that you stuck around for 27 seasons?
A couple of things. I get bored in about 10 minutes. A reporter asked me one time, “Why do you still do this?” That’s a good question because I get bored easily. But the nature of collegiate sport is that it’s very, very dynamic. Things change all the time. A quarter of the roster turns over every year. There’s changes in coaches and you get a new opponent every week. So since it’s a very dynamic thing, it’s hard to get bored. There are new challenges and new situations that come up all the time. That keeps me engaged along the process.
The other part of it is that it’s intentionally relational. That’s what makes me go. Those relations that are formed through practices and bus rides and pregame meals and game days. The relational dynamic is incredibly rewarding.
With that said, why have you chosen to step away from football at this time?
I just turned 65 last month. While many of my colleagues and contemporaries are retiring, I have way too much energy for that. I still have a sense of vision and calling. But, I thought it is probably time to make some adjustments this last lap or two, however many years that is. At this age, there is no comfortable position on a bus. It’s harder and harder for me year to year to recover from a football road trip. I walk about seven miles on the sideline on a given day. And then I’d get home and try to recover and do my regular work.
This is a younger man’s game. So I said let’s see if there’s somebody I can give this role to. And what I was thrilled to find was a guy here in Carbondale who is a young associate pastor at church who gets the athletic mindset. He himself was a collegiate athlete. So, I thought I can train this guy. I know him and I trust him. We talked about it, and shoot, he’s ready to go.
You’ve been around the SIU region and culture for many years. What makes it so unique?
“I grew up here my whole life. Carbondale is an odd mix of upstate people as well as all over the world and then you have my family that has been here since the 1700s. We’re very much from here, kind of an extension from Appalachia. We’re a very Southern culture. Loyal, probably to a fault. But we also hold grudges for a long time and are distrustful of outsiders. So there’s all that clannish mentality of people who really protect their own.
Well, a lot of that shows up in how we do sports. We really care about people and we hold tightly to those we know. So you get that mix of cultures built into one place. That happens a lot in the sporting world. Take my wife, for example. She spent 19 years as football office secretary. It hurt her when a staff would leave because she built really tight relationships. It was like family. She was really good at her job, but that was also part of the pain of being in that spot of eventually our friends are going to leave us and it hurts. That’s been the same for me.
You’ve known SIU head coach Nick Hill for years. How have you seen him grow? How have you seen his faith impact him?
I knew Nick when he was a high school kid. I remember standing on the practice field with his high school coach, Coach Martin. I’m watching Nick throw the ball and at DuQuoin for years it was run it, run it and then run it some more. I said, “Coach, you going to throw the ball a little more this year?” He said, “Yeah, I think we might . . . ” Nick was special throwing the ball. Then he came to SIU and played and I watched him grow through that.
(After his time in professional football training camps and the Arena League), Nick came back here as a high school coach. We talked and then all of the sudden he had the opportunity to coach at SIU. We sat there and weighed the pros and cons of coaching high school or taking a chance joining the staff as quarterbacks coach. Back and forth it went, but obviously you see what he chose to do. Then he transitioned into the head coaching job and all that goes with it.
Like a lot of guys you come in with a very idealistic view of things. Well, things are not perfect. Rather than become cynical, I’ve seen Nick more practical in the way he approaches things. He’s not always expecting the best case scenario, but he’s looking for the best way to make something good happen in a less-than-great situation that can arise.
There’s a greater wisdom than there was even five years ago. I see him trying to work with players with a greater sense of maturity than he did early on. I see him growing in all those things. How he’s leading this staff, making time for family instead of just grinding out hours and hours at the office . . . he’s developing well.
You can see Nick nearly every day if you want, but any idea of how many former players you keep in touch with?
Social media lets me keep up with more than I would have been able to 25 years ago. I can’t really put a number on it, but there are a number of guys I will hear from every once in awhile. There’s some guys from way back in ’94 that I’ll bet we talk four or five times a year. Mark Gagliano was a punter for us. He was an academic All-American and an All-American on the field. Now he’s flying jets for Fed-Ex. we’ve stayed in touch over the years. He’s in his 40s now and has a beautiful family. Watching all that growth is incredibly rewarding.
As you said, you’re not a guy who can sit around. What will you do as you pass the baton to the next football chaplain?
I’m going to remain directly engaged with men’s and women’s basketball at SIU and possibly with baseball too. The way collegiate sports are these days, I’m doing meetings with coaches and players now here in the summer because they’re trying to develop those programs around the clock and calendar. I continue to work to develop character coaches or sports chaplains in men’s college basketball in the U.S. Everything from JUCO ball all the way through this year to Baylor at the top of the heap. There’s 1,093 men’s college basketball programs. We’re looking to help those coaches who want (a character coach or chaplain) and place and train a good one to serve their teams. And that’s what I’m directly doing.
Blog co-authors Barry Bottino and Dan Verdun bring years of experience covering collegiate athletics. Barry has covered college athletes for more than two decades in his “On Campus” column, which is published weekly by Shaw Media. Dan has written four books about the state’s football programs–“NIU Huskies Football” (released in 2013), “EIU Panthers Football (2014), “ISU Redbirds” (2016) and “SIU Salukis Football” (2017).
Every time I hear the hook, “Did you realize, that you were a champion in their eyes?” it brings back memories of my childhood. Riding to the store with my parents, delivering porta-potties, with Bobby, or walking into Lance’s house as it was played in the background. Mr. West took an old song and gave it new life. Also proving that Woody Herman and Kanye West are only separated by six degrees.
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Imagine my surprise when, again, I was reminded of that incredible sample (and song) when I sat down to listen to a record that was gifted to me by a friend, and there it was being played by a big band?
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I’ve written before that a good friend, and bandmate, James always brings me surprise stacks of vinyl with everything from jazz to metal. Recently he gave me a copy of The Woody Herman Band‘s, Chick, Donald, Walter, and Woodrow (CenturyRecords, 1978). At that time I didn’t realize what the title had meant, which was actually just all the names of the artists Woody and his band were covering on this project. But once I got into the second side of the vinyl, and heard their version of “Kid Charlemagne,” I had to take a look at the cover again, and then it hit me. “Donald, Walter, and Woodrow” were the names of the Steely Dan members and this side of the album were all Steely Dan covers.
I had to call James to thank him for the records and to tell him of my discovery. He shed a little more light on the project and we shared a couple of laughs.
Kanye West, Steely Dan, and The Woody Herman Band, who would’ve thought?
Fly me to the moon, I want to join that great space race, And since I’m not a billionaire I’ll do it all with grace. In other words, shoot me high. In other words, let me fly.
Branson has the early lead Jeff Bezos comes on strong Where are Cook and Zuckerberg? I guess it won’t be long. In other words, it’s July. In other words, earth good-bye.
Who cares what it costs It’s only money after all, Those guys have a ton of it. Enough for the long haul. In other words, satisfy. In other words, don’t justify.
Soaring through the air It really seems like so much fun. Who cares what we leave behind We’re heading for the sun. In other words, I’m the guy. In other words, let me try.
Fly me to the moon, I think there’s just one hitch I get really motion sick. And altitudes a bitch. In other words, with a sigh. In other words, I won’t try.
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Hi! I am Les, a practicing pathologist living in the North Suburbs and commuting every day to the Western ones. I have lived my entire life in the Chicago area, and have a pretty good feel for the place, its attractions, culture, restaurants and teams. My wife and I are empty-nesters with two adult children and a grandchild. We recently decided to downsize, but just a bit! I will be telling the story of the construction of our new home, but also writing about whatever gets me going on a particular day. Be sure to check out the “About” page to learn more about where we plan to go with this blog!
An 18-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting July 13 that wounded a 2-year-old boy in Humboldt Park on the Northwest Side.
Miguel Avelar was charged with two felony counts of attempted murder, according to Chicago police.
About 7:25 p.m. July 13, the boy and a 32-year-old man were standing outside a home in the 1500 block of North Tripp Avenue when a dark-colored car pulled up and someone got out and began firing about 7:25 p.m., police said.
The man was struck in the face and the boy was struck in the leg, police said. Both went to Saint Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center and were transferred to Stroger in critical condition.
Avelar was arrested about 6:25 p.m. Monday in the 1600 block of North Parkside Avenue, after being identified by police as the person who allegedly fired the shots, police said.
Wynonna Judd’s voice is like chugging diet pop. Her raw, forceful alto sometimes burns a little going down, but the addictive sweetness keeps you coming back for more. Judd has been performing since she was a teenager in the Bay Area in the late 70s, singing occasional backup vocals with her mother, Naomi Judd, for a local country band called the Cowpokes. In 1979, Wynonna and Naomi moved to Nashville and immersed themselves in the music scene, and after signing to RCA as the Judds in 1983 they found international fame. The duo toured constantly for years, and by the end of the decade they’d become one of the most popular singing groups in country music. The Judds retired their act in 1991 so Naomi could concentrate on some ongoing health concerns, and the following year Wynonna launched a solo career with a broader stylistic range and began crossing over to pop audiences. She’s long been a fan of doing covers–her latest EP, 2020’s Recollections (Anti-), features renditions of songs by the likes of Nina Simone, John Prine, and Slim Harpo–and the set lists for these shows will feature plenty of her favorite blues-rock and country-rock classics. Wynonna and her husband and bandmate, Cactus Moser (they met in the 80s, when his band Highway 101 shared a bill with the Judds on tour), will also play original material they composed while locked down together during the pandemic. These shows are the closest most of us can get to hanging out with these two musicians at home, listening in as they swap leads and share stories. v
The Chicago Blackhawks have been a badly ran organization for a while now. That applies to on and off the ice. On the ice, the decisions made by Stan Bowman since winning the Stanley Cup in 2015 have been disastrous. The biggest stain on his resume is the fact that he traded Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Brandon Saad. It is as bad of a trade as the franchise has ever made.
Saad is a good player but Panarin is a top-ten NHL forward right now. It was always a bad idea to trade Panarin for two extra years of Saad with the exact same cap hit. Getting him resigned could have been a problem for another day. As bad as the trade was at the time, it continues to look even worse. It isn’t just because Panarin is now a Hart Trophy candidate each year either.
It is worse because they sent Saad to the Colorado Avalanche for Nikita Zadorov. The sentiment of getting a younger defenseman for him makes sense but it is the wrong choice of young defenseman. Zadorov is not very good outside of being a solid physical presence. The fact that Zadorov was a terrible fit in Chicago isn’t even the worst of it.
The Chicago Blackhawks left Nikita Zadorov unprotected for the Seattle Kraken to take in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He is an RFA that is likely going to be selected so he can go play in the Pacific Northwest. Don’t at all be surprised if he fits like glove there either. It isn’t Zadorov’s fault that he is a part of this trade tree but he is. It continues to look worse and worse every day.
Looking back at the Artemi Panarin trade tree is ugly for the Chicago Blackhawks.
The fact that the Blackhawks are likely to end up with nothing out of Panarin is a disgrace. Stan Bowman has been bad at his job for pretty much his entire career but this takes the cake as the worst move he has made. It makes sense to leave Zadorov unprotected in favor of Caleb Jones, Riley Stillman, and Connor Murphy but the fact that it all links back to Panarin is the part that is upsetting.
Hopefully, regardless of what happens in the Expansion Draft, the Hawks are able to make the necessary changes to the organization. They haven’t done much winning in a while and it looks like it will only get worse before it gets better.
We’re about 35 minutes into the uneven drama “Joe Bell” when there’s a moment intended to be a major reveal — but it’s based on something that was widely covered in the news in 2013 so it’s hardly a surprise, and worse, it’s handled in a clumsy, unnecessarily blunt way that has us feeling terrible for a minor character who is in just this one scene.
Roadside Attractions presents a film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry. Rated R (for language including offensive slurs, some disturbing material, and teen partying). Running time: 93 minutes. Opens Thursday at local theaters.
This is indicative of the overall pattern of Reinaldo Marcus Green’s well-intentioned and well-filmed but underwhelming drama, which is based on a true story and features a screenplay from the wonderful team of Diana Ossana and the late great Larry McMurtry, the duo that won Oscar for “Brokeback Mountain” some 16 years ago.
We have great empathy for Mark Wahlberg’s title character, a father who has vowed to walk from his small hometown of LaGrange, Oregon, to New York City to raise awareness after his 15-year-old son Jadin was bullied for being openly gay, and eventually took his own life. When we see ignorant jocks tormenting Jadin, when a tone-deaf counselor suggests Jadin switch schools as if he’s the problem, when Joe stands onstage in a packed auditorium to deliver his message, we’re rooting for Jadin and for Joe every step of the way, but it’s a shame so many of these scenes are so heavy-handed and predictable. “Joe Bell” never quite packs the dramatic punch the real-life story deserves.
Reid Miller (center) plays Jadin, whose participation in the cheerleading squad does not impress his father.Roadside Attractions
Looking scruffy and slightly out of shape (at least for him), Wahlberg gives one of his more grounded performances as Joe, a working-class husband and father in a tightly knit and not particularly progressive community. Joe loves his wife Lola (an underused Connie Britton) and his kids, but he has anger issues and he’s hardly sympathetic when Jadin comes out to him. He says this might just be a phase, advises Jadin not to share this information with anyone else — and when Jadin and a friend (Morgan Lily) practice their cheerleading routines on the front lawn, Joe is mortified and commands them to do that stuff in the backyard where no one can see them.
Reid Miller is a revelation as Jadin, who knows exactly who he is and isn’t about to change or even pretend to change just to make others less uncomfortable. He’s a bright, beautiful, sweet and creative boy, who wants only to leave this backward town and go to school in New York City. But Jadin has also been beaten down by the cruelty and the bigotry and the hatred — and while his mother supports him, his father is in denial and has checked out, e.g., Joe leaves a football game in embarrassment rather than defend his son when jerks start throwing things at Jadin.
Joe’s epic walk is about encouraging tolerance, but it’s as much about his own redemption as his Facebook campaign, which has attracted national media attention. Lola wonders if Joe himself has really changed, even after all the family has been through, and it’s a valid point. Late in the film, Gary Sinise appears as a state trooper who lends a sympathetic ear to Joe, leading to the film’s best scene, when these two middle-aged, macho guys share their stories. If only the rest of the film had struck a similarly authentic, more subtle tone, “Joe Bell” could have been something special.
One person was killed, and thirteen others were shot Monday in Chicago, including a man who was fatally shot in the West Town neighborhood.
Just after 1 a.m., the 38-year-old was standing on the sidewalk in the 100 block of North Morgan Street when someone in a silver sedan fired shots, Chicago police said. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
In non-fatal shootings, four men who were wounded in a shooting in Homan Square on the West Side. They were outside about 9:15 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Flournoy Street when someone unleashed gunfire, Chicago police said. A 47-year-old man was struck multiple times, while another man, 22, was shot in the face. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where the older man was in critical condition and the younger man was in good condition. The third man, 43, was shot in the thigh and was also in good condition at St. Anthony Hospital. A 46-year-old man who was also shot in the thigh was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
A 15-year-old boy was shot in Lawndale on the West Side. He was standing outside about 9:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of South Lawndale Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the back and arm, police said. The teen was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
About two hours earlier, another 15-year-old was shot blocks away in Homan Square. The girl was in Boler Park about 7:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of West Arthington Street when a male approached and unleashed gunfire, police said. The teen was shot in the back and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
A 17-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting Monday in Rogers Park on the North Side. About 5:35 p.m., he was in the 6700 block of North Greenview Avenue when he was shot in the buttocks, police said. The teen was taken to a hospital in good condition. Police did not release more details on the circumstances of the shooting.
A man was in critical condition after being shot in East Garfield Park. He was standing outside about 4 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Fulton Street when someone pulled up in a light-colored vehicle and opened fire, police said. The 22-year-old was struck in the neck and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
ST. LOUIS — Coming off a series in Phoenix in which the Cubs won two of three games against the Diamondbacks and hoped to turn their season around, they had an inning to forget in their 8-3 loss in the series opener Monday against the Cardinals.
Right-hander Alec Mills seemed to be rolling along, but his night came to a screeching halt when his defense didn’t help him out in the fourth inning.
Mills started the inning by striking out Matt Carpenter, but things quickly got out of control. He did what he wanted to do to the next batter, Dylan Carlson, getting him to roll over and hit a ground ball. But normally sure-handed third baseman Patrick Wisdom threw the ball high, pulling first baseman Anthony Rizzo off the bag and allowing Carlson to reach on the error.
”It’s super-frustrating,” Wisdom said. ”It kind of started with me. I’ve gotta make a better throw. It just kind of snowballed from there. We just didn’t make the plays when we needed to.”
Mills allowed the next two batters to reach — on a base hit by Yadier Molina and a walk to Tommy Edman — to load the bases before Paul DeJong chopped a grounder in front of shortstop Javy Baez. The ball kicked off the heel of Baez’s glove as he was attempting to make a do-or-die play, leading to a run that made it 2-0 and keeping the bases loaded.
The ball found Baez again on another grounder on the next play, this one by Harrison Bader. Baez fielded the ball and fired to the plate in an effort to get the force. But the throw sailed over the head of catcher Willson Contreras, allowing another run to score and giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
”I hadn’t seen a game like that in a while,” manager David Ross said. ”I know how Javy started off a little bit slow at short, but I feel like he’s been really making some spectacular plays of late.
”I don’t feel like we’ve done that a lot lately. I feel like those [errors] were really uncharacteristic of this group as of late, for sure.”
Mills was finally able to get the second out by striking out pitcher Jake Woodford, but he then walked Carlson to force in another run.
The Cubs’ last faux pas of the inning came on a slow grounder by Paul Goldschmidt between Mills and Rizzo. After initially hesitating on the play, Mills couldn’t get to first base in time to get the out. The Cardinals scored another run on the play to make it 5-0.
”Defense has been great for me all year,” Mills said. ”Just bad luck that it happened two or three times in the same inning.”
The Cardinals hit only one ball out of the infield in the inning and scored four runs. It was the last inning Mills would pitch. He was charged with five runs (one earned) and five hits, with six strikeouts and two walks.
”I’m proud of the way [Mills] pitched, to be honest with you,” Ross said. ”I thought he was throwing the ball phenomenally. A lot of soft contact, the ball is finding holes, weird things happening, mistakes happening behind him. He kept his poise and continued to make pitches. I thought he was exceptional tonight.”
The rest of the night was almost as bad, with the Cardinals getting home runs from Carlson and Goldschmidt against right-hander Keegan Thompson in the sixth to open an 8-1 lead.
”I feel like we’ve been pretty good out there in terms of defense,” said Wisdom, who provided the Cubs’ only real offensive highlight of the game with a homer in the seventh. ”That one just kind of got away from us.”
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