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Trump may soon face an adversary more formidable than either McGregor or Poirieron July 10, 2021 at 2:18 pm

The Quark In The Road

Trump may soon face an adversary more formidable than either McGregor or Poirier

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Trump may soon face an adversary more formidable than either McGregor or Poirieron July 10, 2021 at 2:18 pm Read More »

Away from home, Fire’s Ignacio Aliseda a reminder of MLS challengesBrian Sandalowon July 10, 2021 at 1:00 pm

After his two-goal performance Saturday night to help beat Atlanta United, Fire forward Ignacio Aliseda was asked how it felt to score twice. His answer wasn’t just about soccer.

“This year has been a little bit difficult as was last year not having my family here in Chicago with me,” Aliseda said through a translator. “They gave me strength from far away from where they are. Last night, I fell asleep knowing that I would have the strength and confidence today to go out there and I know they are with me wherever I am.”

Aliseda’s words are another reminder of the unique challenges of MLS. Many young players like the Argentinan Aliseda, 21, hail from faraway places, and getting them acclimated and comfortable is key.

That was made even harder by COVID-19, which effectively stopped players from getting to know their new homes and squelched most international travel. When he talked about the topic in late May, Aliseda discussed how his mother, Lorena, hasn’t been able to see him play in Chicago due to travel restrictions.

Signed as a designated player during the 2019-20 offseason, Aliseda hopes his mom will be able to visit the city by the end of this year or by 2022. In late May, Aliseda was open about how he misses his family.

Then after his finest night with the Fire –one that earned him MLS player of the week honors — Aliseda said he has been preparing and working hard to push forward, and he again mentioned his loved ones.

“I’m alone at home, but I always try to be close to my family,” Aliseda said. “We have phone calls, I talk to them, we’re always together. I always feel them close [by] and it was my mom who told me to forget about everything and just go out and do what I like to do best, which is play football.

“So I feel their support and I’ve been working harder than I’ve ever worked before, harder than normal. I always feel the support from my family, which is the most important thing.”

Asked about Aliseda in June, Fire coach Raphael Wicky said the team has been there for the players when they arrive, helping them get used to their new home as much as possible. The Fire also have numerous Spanish-speaking players, which also helps. Loosening of pandemic-related restrictions is another benefit, allowing Aliseda and others in a similar situation to become more familiar with Chicago.

Wicky, who experienced something like Aliseda as a young player when he left Switzerland for Germany, said it’s important for players to keep in touch with their families.

But, at the same time, that isn’t a substitute for the real thing.

Wicky said he feels for Aliseda.

“It’s just as a footballer or as an athlete in general, you often have a lot of time after training and between training,” Wicky said, “and if then you cannot have your family and friends there, that sometimes hurts a lot.”

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Away from home, Fire’s Ignacio Aliseda a reminder of MLS challengesBrian Sandalowon July 10, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

After rookie season in bubble, the Sky’s Ruthy Hebard glad to play on home courtAnnie Costabileon July 10, 2021 at 1:30 pm

Ruthy Hebard’s second season in the WNBA has been an adjustment.

The Sky’s 2020 first-round draft pick arrived in Chicago after playing in Turkey and didn’t know where Wintrust Arena was. Her understanding of the city and even some of the standard happenings in the league are more in line with a player in her rookie season. It’s the result of her first year in the league being played in the WNBA bubble in Florida.

This year, Hebard has checked off certain experiences, such as playing in front of the home crowd for the first time.

“Being able to finally play in front of a home crowd, the energy in [Wintrust Arena] was so fun,” Hebard said.

In the Sky’s home opener May 23, Hebard recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in her second start of the season.

During the 2020 season, Hebard started six games. In the Sky’s 19 games this season, she already has reached that same mark, filling in for Candace Parker when she was out with an ankle injury.

Hebard posted three double-doubles and scored in double figures in all but two of the eight games without Parker.

“Those games definitely helped establish my confidence,” Hebard said.

Parker has been another voice in Hebard’s ear coaching her up, especially during the eight-game stretch Parker was sidelined. Good or bad, Hebard said Parker is sharing valuable lessons, and that hasn’t stopped since she has returned to her starting role.

A lot has contributed to Hebard’s growth over the last year. She’s averaging 8.4 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes per game, up from her 2020 stat line of 5.7 points and four rebounds in 14.5 minutes.

The guidance from Parker can’t be overstated. But more significant than that was Hebard’s season in Turkey, which began two weeks after her rookie year concluded.

Hebard led Nesibe Aydin to a 23-10 record, posting team highs of 18.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. Her touches overseas allowed Hebard to improve her footwork and solidify her shot in the paint. Both are aspects of her game that have contributed to the Sky being third in the league in percentage of points scored in the paint. Hebard is scoring 6.3 of her 8.4 points per game inside.

“There are certain players that have a knack for the ball,” teammate Allie Quigley said. “She’s one of the fastest rollers in the league. She goes for rebounds, can defend guards and post players and she’s just been a sponge the last two years.”

The Sky (10-9) are second in the Eastern Conference with one game left before the Olympic break. They host the Washington Mystics at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Quigley is the unquestioned leader of the team’s bench, which has helped propel the Sky to an 8-2 record and the second-best offensive rating in the league over the last 10 games. In that stretch, the bench has averaged 34.1 of the team’s 87.5 points per game, second-best in the league.

Hebard was one of seven Sky players among the WNBA’s top 36 vote-getters for the 2021 All-Star Game.

“We know we’re a really good bench,” -Hebard said. “If we can defend Candace and Sloot [Courtney Vandersloot], we’re going to be able to defend anybody we go up against.”

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After rookie season in bubble, the Sky’s Ruthy Hebard glad to play on home courtAnnie Costabileon July 10, 2021 at 1:30 pm Read More »

Football players should be able to cash in at high-profile Notre DameMike Berardinoon July 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The mind reels with the possibilities.

In 134 years of football, Notre Dame has produced 104 consensus All-Americans and seven Heisman Trophy winners. What if these newly unleashed name, image and likeness branding opportunities had existed for all of them?

Who would have been the most marketable, assuming a level playing field and social-

media accounts available to all?

It’s hard to conjure a more dashing spokesman-athlete than Paul Hornung. If the Golden Boy could win the Heisman on a 2-8 team in 1956, just imagine the crowd he could have drawn for an appearance at the local Studebaker showroom.

Four decades earlier, George Gipp might not have had to spend so much time in South Bend pool halls had he been able to cash in on his fame. Instead of having to claim that he was “the finest freelance gambler ever to attend Notre Dame,” his smiling visage could have graced billboards for DraftKings.

Joe Montana was years from morphing into Super Joe, but his rise from seventh-string afterthought as a freshman from Monongahela, Pennsylvania, to the unlikely leader of a national championship outfit in 1977 might have brought him out of his shell to do some shilling for a fledgling pizza joint called Barnaby’s.

Clearly, there’s no shortage of marketable personalities who have passed through campus. All would be justified in wondering if they were born ahead of their time, at least in terms of the marketing machine that whirred to life on July 1.

Thirteen states now have laws on the books that lay out at least some sort of NIL guidelines, and five more will by New Year’s Day 2022.

There will be no NCAA clearinghouse for NIL opportunities. In states without formal legislation, it will be left up to the individual schools and their student-athletes to determine what is appropriate.

Which Golden Domer would have had the most earning potential? For Jonathan A. Jensen, a Notre Dame graduate and assistant professor of sport marketing at North Carolina, the answer is clear.

It’s Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, who starred for the Irish from 1988-90 and was a 2019 inductee to the College Football Hall of Fame.

“‘Rocket’ hit the scene immediately,” Jensen said. “He caught a touchdown pass in the national title game as a freshman, won a national title as a freshman and then — bam! — right out of the gate, sophomore year, No. 1 vs. No. 2, at Michigan, returns two kickoffs for touchdowns.”

His speed was captivating enough. Add in all the other attributes, including a powerhouse program under Lou Holtz that went 33-4 with Ismail on the roster, and it’s hard to think of any company that wouldn’t have wanted to be associated with Ismail.

“He had built up enough equity in his first (13) games that I think the sky would have been the limit for him in 1990,” Jensen said. “Notre Dame contended for the national title in all three of his years.

”Then he had the nickname, he had the performances, he was very outgoing. He had a big personality.”

Notre Dame’s status as a national program figures to boost the earning potential of its modern generation of student-athletes. This week Mission BBQ became the official sponsor of the Notre Dame offensive line, all 17 of the big hungries.

The reputation of the Mendoza College of Business, where student entrepreneurship dovetails nicely with the sudden need to boost individual profiles throughout the region, should only strengthen a multiyear recruiting resurgence under Brian Kelly.

Group licensing is the “low-hanging fruit,” Jensen said, for all Power Five programs that seek to spread the wealth already flowing freely from video games, apparel sales and the game-worn memorabilia market.

In time we’ll find out which modern Irish stars might transcend a crowded NIL marketplace, but it’s hard to imagine another ”Rocket” launching anytime soon.

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Football players should be able to cash in at high-profile Notre DameMike Berardinoon July 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »

3 killed, 10 wounded, in Chicago since Friday nightSun-Times Wireon July 10, 2021 at 12:01 pm

Thirteen people have been shot, three fatally, in citywide gun violence since Friday night.

Three men were shot to death in as many hours on the South Side. A man was killed and another wounded in a shooting Friday in West Pullman on the Far South Side.

They were inside of a residence about 5:20 p.m. in the 11800 block of South State Street when someone opened fire, striking them both, Chicago police said.

Shawn Young, 47, was shot in the head, buttocks and was pronounced dead at the scene, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The other man, 34, was struck in the hand and shoulder. He was in critical condition at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

An hour later, a man was killed in a shooting in Roseland on the South Side.

He was on the sidewalk about 6:20 p.m. in the 11000 block of South Vernon Avenue when a light-colored vehicle pulled up and someone inside unleashed gunfire, police said.

The 39-year-old was struck in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name hasn’t been released.

Another man was fatally shot Friday in Gresham on the South Side.

He was on the sidewalk about 7:30 p.m. in the 600 block of West 80th Street when someone approached him and opened fire, striking him in the head and neck, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not been identified.

In nonfatal shootings, a man was wounded in a shooting Friday in West Englewood on the South Side.

He was in a parked vehicle about 6:12 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Wolcott Avenue when someone opened fire, police said. The 26-year-old suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized.

A 59-year-old man was wounded in a shooting late Friday in the University Village neighborhood.

The was walking about 10:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Blue Island Avenue when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He was suffered a gunshot wound to the body and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was in fair condition.

The suspects were walking nearby but he wasn’t able to give officers a description, according to police.

On Saturday, two men were seriously hurt in a shooting in West Garfield Park.

They were standing with a group of people about 1 a.m. in the 4100 block of West Adams Street when someone opened fire, police said.

A 32-year-old was shot twice in the chest and self-transported to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was serious, police said. The other, 48, was struck in the back, chest and arm and self-transported to Mt. Sinai hospital, also in serious condition.

There were no cooperating witnesses, according to police said.

At least five other people were wounded in shootings since 5 p.m. Friday.

Last weekend in Chicago, 104 people were shot, 19 fatally, making it the deadliest and most violent this year.

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

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3 killed, 10 wounded, in Chicago since Friday nightSun-Times Wireon July 10, 2021 at 12:01 pm Read More »

Chicago Blackhawks: 3 TB Lightning players to steal in free agencyVincent Pariseon July 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 07: Kevin Lankinen #32 of the Chicago Blackhawks stops a shot by Blake Coleman #20 of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center on March 07, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 07: Kevin Lankinen #32 of the Chicago Blackhawks stops a shot by Blake Coleman #20 of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center on March 07, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Chicago Blackhawks, Steven Stamkos

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

They actually did it! The Tampa Bay Lightning are the Stanley Cup champions for the third time in franchise history and second year in a row. They have overcome a lot over the last half-decade or so to win this thing and now they are on top of the hockey world again. Chicago Blackhawks fans might remember how tough they were when the Hawks beat them in 2015. It is a very strong organization that might look a little bit different next year.

Of course, the elite players will remain. You can expect Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy to all be wearing blue and white next season. However, it was Tampa Bay’s incredible depth that allowed those stars to shine the brightest in the playoffs. That is the part of their roster that is going to take a big hit in 2021-22.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, to the dismay of a lot of people, was well over the salary cap during the playoffs. Nikita Kucherov missed the entire regular season due to injury but was able to return for game one of the playoffs. That allowed the Lightning to have better depth players taking up the cap space that was supposed to be taken by Kucherov if he wasn’t hurt. The Lighting manipulated the cap within the rules and it paid off for them, like it or not.

The Chicago Blackhawks could jump on some free agents over the summer.

With that in mind, you can be certain that it won’t happen again because a highly paid player like Nikita Kucherov or Steven Stamkos isn’t missing the entire season next year. They are going to be a different-looking team as others get paid elsewhere. These are three Tampa Bay free agents for the Blackhawks to consider:

Next: Player One

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Chicago Blackhawks: 3 TB Lightning players to steal in free agencyVincent Pariseon July 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »

For serious bettors, Kenny White’s college football evaluations are essential readingRob Miechon July 10, 2021 at 11:30 am

LAS VEGAS — The exceptional value of Kenny White’s College Football Power Ratings magazine is evident in the very first game of the season, when Nebraska kicks off at Illinois on Aug. 28.

Two Vegas sportbooks opened the Cornhuskers -9 1/2 points. However, White’s formulas peg the true line at Nebraska – 1/2 .

Therefore, taking the Illini and new coach Bret Bielema plus 9 1/2 points represents nine points of expected value (EV), a gold mine to seasoned gamblers who savor three- or four-point advantages.

“Illinois will be a hard-nosed, power-run football team that will control the line of scrimmage,” says White, a second-generation oddsmaker. “That game will be a battle. [Ex-coach] Lovie Smith brought in players, so Bielema is walking into a good situation.”

As do all who obtain White’s magazine. South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews ensured his property occupied the inside-cover advertising sweet spot.

Player ratings, which determine team figures used to spot invaluable line discrepancies, are vital to professional bettors. The daunting process can require years to perfect, demanding time, money and patience.

The magazine reveals all in 356 glorious pages.

“I would echo those same sentiments,” Andrews says. “The process is daunting. Kenny has laid it out very efficiently.”

THE WIZARD

I reached White in New Orleans on Sunday as he, his girlfriend, her three daughters and a niece all trekked back to Vegas, wrapping up a 2 1/2 -week RV holiday to Florida.

A kayak cruise down the Weeki Wachee River, near Tampa, rated high. Under canopies of maples, palms, gums and cypresses, they saw nine manatees but, thankfully, no gators or snakes.

“So clear, with a white-sand bottom,” says White, 58. “So relaxing.”

He had earned a leisurely float down a lazy river. He had just put the third edition of his magazine (cost: $12.99) to bed. If it isn’t in a local bookstore, visit KennyWhiteSports.com.

White was 9 when he first helped his father, Pete, at the ping-pong table, collating pages into three-ring binders that would become College Sports Today.

In 1977, White typed its entire fourth and final run, in which Pete tapped Notre Dame to win the national championship. The Irish beat Texas for the crown in the Cotton Bowl.

“I typed that in May, and in January the Irish did it,” White says. “That’s how I got hooked on sports betting. He predicted it that far out. I thought, ‘Man, that’s what I want to do.’ “

White would win the prestigious Stardust Football Invitational contest twice and hold executive posts at two premier odds-setting companies. He’s known as The Wizard of Odds.

95 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

White rates more than 9,000 players in experience, size, speed, strength, statistics and other intangibles. The average rating is a 0. Additional adjustments for quarterbacks make QB three times as important as any other position.

North Carolina’s Sam Howell (12.5), Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler (10.5) and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral (10) top that chart this year.

Team figures and home-field advantages establish spreads, totals and final scores of every game. At 80, Pete White still computes player ratings, which Kenny uses for confirmation.

“[It’s] to ensure I don’t have an All-America as an average player,” Kenny says. “That way, I know we’re pretty close in our ratings. Sometimes I’ll have a guy a 2, he’ll have him a 1. Great — I make him a 1 1/2 .”

That’s 95 combined years of betting experience. During the season, Kenny will update all figures weekly at ThePowerRatings.com.

Of the three Illinois FBS programs and Notre Dame, the Irish check in at 119.5, with a projected 12-0 regular-season record this year. Illinois (106, 5-7), Northwestern (101.5, 3-9) and Northern Illinois (92.5, 3-9) round out the quartet.

Clemson (134, 12-0), Alabama (133.5, 12-0), Oklahoma (132.5, 12-0), North Carolina (125, 10-2) and Washington (121, 12-0) comprise White’s penthouse. New Mexico State (79) and Bowling Green and Massachusetts (both 80) reside in the basement.

He has Southern Illinois (94) among the top 10 FCS programs. Illinois State is an 89, Western Illinois 81 and Eastern Illinois 69.

TAKE KENNY’S LEAD

The magazine reveals other advantage plays over the first two college football weeks. White especially likes Clemson -3 against Georgia in Charlotte on Sept. 4, since his components make it Clemson -14 1/2 .

Those fond of seeking additional value can tease that to Clemson +3, covering 1- and 2-point final spreads, either way, to guard against a tight battle — an extraordinary 17 1/2 points of EV.

Of course, teasing requires a parlay to another game, with a reduced payout. Professionals shun such action. As a recreational punter, though, I seek maximum safety, minimal sweat and cash in return for this small slip of paper.

Northwestern opened -7 1/2 at home against Michigan State on Sept. 3, but White has the Spartans -4 1/2 . Tease MSU +7 1/2 an additional six points, to +13 1/2 , and there’s 18 points of EV.

White also has Utah State -1 1/2 at Washington State on Sept. 4. The line is Cougars -13. Pumping that +13 to +19 points for Utah State creates immense value for the team White pegs as the slim favorite.

Which brings Andrews back to Nebraska-Illinois.

“If you’re a follower of Kenny’s, I would tell you to be betting on the dog,” he says. “Following Kenny is one of the better ideas out there. Take a lead with Kenny’s evaluations and, yeah, I’d say you’ll probably wind up OK.”

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For serious bettors, Kenny White’s college football evaluations are essential readingRob Miechon July 10, 2021 at 11:30 am Read More »

This Chicago baseball quiz has some star powerBill Chuckon July 10, 2021 at 11:00 am

Welcome back to another edition of the Sun-Times’ Chicago Baseball Quiz. I am your quizmaster, Bill Chuck. Other than stats, there will be no math involved. Are you ready for the All-Star Game on Tuesday? It was moved to Denver for several reasons, including Rockies fans’ deserving to see some really good players.

So cue up Smash Mouth, and let’s play Chicago All-Star baseball.

Let’s get the show on with the Chicago nine.

1. Who is the most recent Cub to homer in an All-Star Game?

a. Andre Dawson

b. Billy Williams

c. Anthony Rizzo

d. Willson Contreras

2. Name the two White Sox who have homered in an All-Star Game.

a. Frank Thomas

b. Paul Konerko

c. Jose Abreu

d. Magglio Ordonez

3. Which of these Sox pitchers did not win an All-Star Game?

a. Chris Sale

b. Mark Buehrle

c. Jack McDowell

d. Early Wynn

4. Which of these Cubs pitchers lost two All-Star Games?

a. Wade Davis

b. Johnny Schmitz

c. Claude Passeau

d. Bill Lee

5. Which of these Cubs has not stolen a base in an All-Star Game?

a. Javy Baez

b. Starlin Castro

c. Derrek Lee

d. Ryne Sandberg

6. Which White Sox pitcher has recorded the most strikeouts against NL All-Star competition?

a. Chris Sale

b. Billy Pierce

c. Mark Buehrle

d. Wilbur Wood

7. Who is the youngest Chicago player to appear in an All-Star Game?

a. Carlos May

b. Starlin Castro

c. Nellie Fox

d. Addison Russell

8. Who is the only Chicago player to win the All-Star Game’s MVP award?

a. Ernie Banks

b. Bill Madlock

c. Frank Thomas

d. Alfonso Soriano

9. In which ballpark was the first All-Star Game held in 1933?

a. Polo Grounds, New York

b. Wrigley Field, Chicago

c. Griffith Stadium, Washington

d. Comiskey Park, Chicago

ANSWERS

1. In 2018, Willson Contreras went deep.

2. Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez.

3. Jack McDowell.

4. They each lost one except for Claude Passeau, who lost in 1941 and 1946.

5. Javy Baez hasn’t lost track of outs, and he hasn’t stolen a base in an All-Star Game.

6. In four appearances in the All-Star Game, Billy Pierce struck out a dozen.

7. The White Sox’ Carlos May was 21 years and 69 days old when he played in the 1969 All-Star Game.

8. In 1975, Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock shared the award with the Mets’ Jon Matlack.

9. On July 6, 1933, Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game took place at Comiskey Park. It was the brainchild of the sports editor Arch Ward, who died on the same day as the 1955 All-Star Game.

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This Chicago baseball quiz has some star powerBill Chuckon July 10, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

Dominik Kubalik’s Blackhawks success forming a pipeline from his Czech hometownBen Popeon July 10, 2021 at 11:30 am

As a teenage prospect in the HC Plzen system, Czech forward Jakub Pour always knew of Dominik Kubalik but never played alongside him.

Pour, nearly four years younger than Kubalik, still was being groomed on the under-16, under-18 and under-20 teams while Kubalik starred for the big-league team in the Czech Extraliga. And right before Pour broke into the Extraliga in the fall of 2017, Kubalik left HC Plzen for Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland.

Despite their lack of on-ice connection, however, Pour followed and watched Kubalik as he exploded in the Swiss league, had his rights acquired by the Blackhawks, finished as a Calder Trophy finalist as a Hawks rookie in 2019-20 and continued his NHL success this past season.

So when Pour — now a 6-3 forward who turned 22 in April — received NHL interest this offseason, it was an easy decision to choose the Hawks. He signed a two-year entry-level contract June 15.

”Ever since Dominik Kubalik started playing for the Blackhawks, I have been following the club in great detail,” Pour said in a statement at the time. ”The whole organization seems very nice to me: great players, [great] traditions, great triumphs.”

Pour expressed a similar sentiment in an interview through a translator this week.

”I’m really excited to sign with the Blackhawks,” he said. ”It’s an honor for me to join this organization. I’m looking forward to show my best and help the team.”

As it turns out, Kubalik is just as excited. He has followed Pour’s career, too, partially by keeping in touch with HC Plzen management and partially through a mutual connection. The mother of one of Kubalik’s best friends is Pour’s mother’s sister. And Kubalik has high hopes for Pour in North America, even if he likely will start the coming season in the American Hockey League.

”He’s a big kid, that’s for sure,” Kubalik said this week. ”His shot is pretty good. He can use his body. He can play physical. He can go to the net. He’s not scared.

”I’m pretty sure the North American style is going to be really good for him. He’s not like a typical European player who’s going to do more skills stuff. He’s a more up-and-down, to-the-net guy. I’m very excited for him.”

Pour joins Kubalik and Matej Chalupa, who signed with the Hawks in May 2020 and scored seven points in 27 AHL games this past season, as HC Plzen products in the Hawks’ organization.

Americans primarily know Plzen, the Czech Republic’s fourth-largest city, as the birthplace and namesake of pilsner beer. Its hockey roots are also strong, however. Longtime NHL players Petr Sykora and Jaroslav Spacek developed there in the 1990s, and Tuukka Rask spent a half-season there during the 2012 NHL lockout.

Plzen is the Czech Republic’s fourth-largest city but has a rich hockey history.
Google Maps

In more recent years, the club has focused its resources on developing young talent and helping players progress to North America or larger European clubs.

”They’re not the richest team in the [Czech] league, so they’ve got to be working with the money they have,” Kubalik explained. ”Then they need to use those young guys, which is pretty good for [the young guys because] they can play big minutes on the top line.”

Defensemen Vojtech Mozik and Jakub Jerabek and goalies Marek Mazanec and Matej Machovsky parlayed time with Plzen into NHL contracts between 2013 and 2017. All eventually played a few NHL games; Jerabek led the pack with 37.

Forward Dominik Simon had been Plzen’s biggest recent success story, having left after only one season to sign with the Penguins in 2015. Now 26, he has put up 64 points in 184 games for the Penguins and Flames and remains in the NHL.

But Kubalik has taken things to a different level. The 25-year-old sharpshooter quickly has proved himself to be a dangerous top-six NHL forward, ranking third on the Hawks in scoring each of the last two seasons and signing a two-year, $7.4 million contract last summer.

Kubalik has notched 47 goals and 84 points in 124 NHL games. He might not already be a household name in Illinois, but he is around Plzen.

”It’s pretty cool, you know?” Kubalik said. ”I can say that I showed the other guys that it’s possible. Some guys were in the middle, [saying], like: ‘Should I try [going to the NHL]? Maybe I have a chance, or I don’t.’ They were struggling a little bit.

”It’s pretty good for the team, for Plzen. . . . I didn’t even expect, when I went to Switzerland, that there were going to be more guys coming [to the NHL], especially to Chicago. It’s pretty good because we know each other, so it’s easier for me and easier for them, too.”

The seven-hour time difference between the cities makes it hard for those in Plzen to watch Kubalik and the Hawks play live, but sometimes the lack of sleep was worth it to Pour.

”The games out here are during the night . . . [but] I watched a couple of games,” Pour said. ”But I mostly watched the highlights and saw all of Kubalik’s goals.”

Kubalik and Pour haven’t yet talked this summer because Kubalik has been busy. He played for the Czech national team in the world championships, where he finished with six points in seven games but was disappointed by a quarterfinal exit. More recently, preparations for his wedding this weekend have taken over.

”Right now I’m a little bit stressed, but that’s probably part of it,” he said, chuckling.

But once things calm down, Kubalik and Pour will be around Plzen, skating and training together. Martin Straka, another of HC Plzen’s notable NHL alumni and now its general manager, gave Kubalik permission to skate and practice with the team this offseason.

Kubalik plans to spend two more weeks working out off the ice, then take Straka up on his offer. Pour already has been on the ice for five or six weeks. Come September, they and Chalupa will travel the Plzen-to-Chicago pipeline to Hawks training camp.

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Dominik Kubalik’s Blackhawks success forming a pipeline from his Czech hometownBen Popeon July 10, 2021 at 11:30 am Read More »

Chicago Cubs: Cristian Hernandez and Brennen Davis are the futureAdam Rosenon July 10, 2021 at 11:00 am

Chicago Cubs (Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
Chicago Cubs (Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)

After a very solid May and a decent start to June, fans were buying into the idea that the Chicago Cubs were contenders this season and that they should buy at the deadline, despite a majority of their core players being in their walk year. After the Cubs combined no-hitter of the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24th, it really seemed that way.

What immediately followed was an 11-game losing streak where the Cubs’ pitching blew up. The offense had its moments but every time they did, the pitching blew it. Then on July 8th, team president Jed Hoyer alluded to the idea that they’ll be looking to sell at the deadline.

Even though this golden era of Chicago Cubs baseball might be coming to an end, there are two superstar prospects in the farm system to be excited about. Albeit it will be a little while before one of these two prospects gets the call to the majors.

Cristian Hernandez was one of the top prospects from this past year’s international signing class and the Cubs, who had been linked to him for plenty of time, were able to sign him. At 17 years old, he is already 6? 2? and he has drawn comparisons to Carlos Correa with his power. If that comparison doesn’t excite fans, then his nickname might, “Baby A-Rod”. He has drawn comparisons to Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado.

Just watch his tape from Baseball America:

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From MLB.com, his grades as a prospect (scale of 20-80) are:
Hit – 55
Power -55
Run – 60
Arm – 55
Field – 55
Overall – 55

Moving on to another Cubs prospect who looks to be a star when he makes his debut, which will be much sooner than Hernandez, is Brennen Davis. Davis is an outfielder that the team drafted with the 62nd overall pick in the 2018 MLB amateur draft.

His size projects well for an outfielder his size at 6? 4?/210. He has upside that some say could make him a 30-30 guy in the majors if he pans out. He has added plenty of muscle and he is estimated to be in the majors in 2022. In his career in the minors, he has slashed .295/.389/.878 with 14 home runs. In four different stages of the minors (rookie, low A, high A, and AA), he has a wRC+ of 132, 160, 171, and 138, respectively.

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Related Story: Kris Bryant’s injury impacts trade talks

Cubs fans will likely have a hard time seeing guys like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez in different jerseys after they helped bring a World Series back to the north side of Chicago. But there still is plenty of excitement coming out of the Cubs minor league system and fans should be excited for those players.

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Chicago Cubs: Cristian Hernandez and Brennen Davis are the futureAdam Rosenon July 10, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »