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Chicago native and famous comedian Greene still has a passion for horse racing at 95.

LAS VEGAS — A year into creating a comedy career that would become legendary, Shecky Greene sat at a blackjack table at the Riviera when a publicist darted up to him one day in 1954.

Mr. Greene, you’re due at the track! Nearly noon, he had forgotten. A big handicap race was being staged at Las Vegas Park, the ill-fated thoroughbred venture that hosted only a few weeks of racing in 1953 and 1954.

The 95-year-old Chicago native said he still might have been ill from a late night.

“They introduce the presenter of the second race. Me! And I roll from

the grandstand onto the track, to the infield, through horses—t and everything else.

“[Jockey] George Taniguchi wins the race. I go behind the judge and, in my drunken stupor, I kiss the horse’s ass. George jumps off and runs away. They didn’t see him for a week! One of the last times I drank.”

SHECKY, THE HORSE

Kentucky Derby day summons special memories for Greene, the inveterate horse-playing son of a degenerate — his word —shoe-salesman horseplayer.

Carl Greenfield took the youngest of his three boys to watch the ponies when he was 6, hooking Fred Sheldon Greenfield (he’d -legalize his stage name in 2004) for life. They would frequent six Chicago-area tracks, the most in any metropolitan region.

That Arlington Park for a few decades staged a Shecky Greene Handicap might have matched, in honorifics, his March 2020 induction into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in Florida.

Employing a walker and usually donning a beige flat cap, Greene is a sportsbook regular at Green Valley Ranch, a casino tucked into the Henderson foothills. He typically bets a buck or two on races all over the country.

People greet him, nod in respect, whisper tributes. He sits among friends. He bemoans the recent passing of pal Eddie. With a sly bill cupped behind fingers, he’ll tip those who provide him with a winner.

He delivers impromptu Italian arias, as if he’s at La Scala. But it’s a concocted, -nonsensical dialect. He caps French gibberish with ‘‘Dipinto Di Blu.’’ Crooning was part of a Vegas lounge act that brought him six-figure weekly checks in the 1970s.

For today’s Derby, Greene likes the price on O Besos, a Greg Foley-trained colt who was 35-to-1 at Circa Sports this week, 40-1 at William Hill.

For Derby drama, though, nothing touches 1973. Owner and friend Joe Kellman named a fast bay Shecky Greene, a sliver of which the comedian bought. But he objected to the sprinter being run in the demanding 1¼-mile Derby.

A son of famous Aussie chestnut stallion Noholme, Shecky Greene, a 6-1 choice, set a blistering pace out of the Louisville gate but, as predicted by the comedian, flamed out, finishing sixth. He’d win the Eclipse speed award that year.

“My horse didn’t belong there,” Greene said.

Secretariat relished the rabbit, covering each quarter of the race faster than the -previous one to set a Derby record of 1 minute, 59.4 seconds that stands today. He would clinch the Triple Crown in a record 31-length triumph at the Belmont.

Greene’s largest hit was a $12,000 win at Del Mar. Vince Edwards, star of the hit TV series “Ben Casey,” who had a crippling gambling addiction, begged for a loan at the -window.

A nearby racetrack during the day, the show at night — Greene’s road routine.

“It’s just the way my life went,” he said. “I think as long as the horses are running, I’ll still be living.”

SHECKY, THE MAN

Manic depression, a bipolar condition, agoraphobia and anxiety and panic attacks all have consumed Greene. It’s in the genes, he said, that also have provided him with such durability.

Clips of him from TV shows in 1959 and 1963, featuring Ed Sullivan and Groucho Marx, are magnificent. Audiences howl at his quick and clever wit, shifting gears, singing, rhyming on the fly. Confident, in total command.

“Anything but,” he said. A façade. “Doing what I did in show business, it’s really a shock to me.”

Six or seven therapists prescribed everything from Ativan to lithium to Zoloft. He has taken no medication for five years. He said he didn’t enjoy his career or stardom.

“People really didn’t know me. Matter of fact, I didn’t know me. My psychiatrists didn’t know me . . . when I look back, I don’t like 90% of the things I did and the way I was.”

Like the Las Vegas Park incident, or drunkenly steering his rig into the fountains at Caesars Palace.

“It’s been a curse living to 95.”

The blessing has been Marie Musso, Greene’s third wife, whose jazz-saxophonist father, Vito, roomed with Frank Sinatra in Tommy Dorsey’s band.

Musso told the Los Angeles Times that Greene would cry and shake in bed. The 1980s were a wash. Getting him to walk took effort. She’s his rock.

“But we never lost our sense of humor,” Musso said.

He might not prefer 90% of it, but Greene does believe that frank details of his past could help someone else’s future.

“Not giving up on yourself is the most important thing,” he said. “Surround yourself with people who like you, who understand you. Anybody who has an adverse effect on you, get rid of them. Look for people who are gentle and kind. There are a lot of those.”

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Notre Dame offensive coordinator vows to keep searching for ways to score points after key departures.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame’s offense might not be as flashy or as productive in 2021, but Tommy Rees isn’t about to concede that now.

As he prepares for Saturday and his first Blue-Gold Game as offensive coordinator, spring ball having ended abruptly last year because of the pandemic, the Lake Forest High School grad vows to keep searching for new ways to keep the Irish prolific.

“Look, I don’t have a family,” Rees, three weeks from turning 29, said recently. “I don’t have many obligations besides this job. So I’m fortunate I’m able to pour a lot of time into studying football. I’ve been around the game my entire life. It’s something I’m extremely passionate about, something I love to do.”

Bill Rees, his father, remains on staff as director of scouting, and the familiarity and trust that come with having played quarterback for coach Brian Kelly a decade ago work in the younger Rees’ favor, as well.

But there’s no denying this will be his greatest challenge.

Record-setting Ian Book, 30-5 in his three years as Notre Dame’s quarterback, is gone. Wisconsin grad transfer Jack Coan is the leading candidate to replace him.

Four multiyear starters off one of the nation’s top offensive lines have departed.

Tight end Tommy Tremble, a beastly blocker, was a surprise early applicant to the NFL Draft, and the combined 71 catches and eight touchdowns of last year’s wide receiver tandem of Javon McKinley and Ben Skowronek must be replaced.

Even with a one-year crack at a full ACC schedule, Rees’ first outfit as coordinator dropped 17 spots in the national scoring rankings. Thirteenth nationally at 36.8 points per game in Chip Long’s final season, Notre Dame dipped to 30th and 33.4 points per game in Rees’ debut season.

No one must explain this to the fertile young mind at the controls.

“This year it’s a new team — completely new team,” Rees said. “We understand wholeheartedly we do not have the offensive line that we had last year. We’re going to have to create opportunities to be efficient but also create explosive [plays].”

Troubles in the red zone in 2020 are being addressed. Rees is reminding his new crop of quarterbacks, including five-star freshman Tyler Buchner, that there’s nothing wrong with completing a pass short of the goal line.

Losing Tremble hurts, but Rees already is scheming to get as many single-coverage looks as possible for rising sophomore tight end Michael Mayer, a matchup nightmare who quickly earned the nickname Baby Gronk.

Rees didn’t hesitate when asked if a tight end could be the focal point of his reconfigured offense.

“It was in 2012, I can tell you that,” he said, referencing Tyler Eifert and the 50-catch season that helped Notre Dame reach the BCS title game. “I don’t see why it should be any different in terms of being able to feature someone. Last year was only a brief glimpse of how good this kid can be.”

Kyren Williams is coming off an 1,125-yard rushing season, but his skills as a receiver (35 catches) will be highlighted even more. Look for Williams and/or Mayer to line up in the slot frequently as Rees seeks to stretch the field horizontally as much as vertically.

Coan isn’t nearly as mobile as Book, but he does stand in the pocket better, so look for more short drops and quick-release plays that should take some pressure off that youthful group up front.

And don’t be surprised if Buchner, an “elite athlete” in Rees’ estimation, forces his way onto the field as the season moves along.

“Everybody has their core beliefs and [says] this is what we’re going to do,” Rees said. “But as you study different people and what they’re doing, the creativity and the ideas start to flow. What can fit our personnel? How can we apply that to the system that’s in place?”

Rees, a football junkie with nothing but time, vows to keep searching.

“That,” he said, “is going to be never-ending for me.”

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Minoso isn’t credited enough for his play with the Sox, his impact on Chicago and being the first Black Latino major-leaguer.

For Minnie Minoso to be known as “Mr. White Sox,” he would have to be the face of the consistently good “Go-Go Sox” teams of the 1950s and ’60s.

Which he was.

Minoso also would have to be one of the franchise’s greatest and most exciting players, at the forefront of an abrupt turnaround into its greatest era.

And he was that, too. They called Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso the “Cuban Comet,” a trailblazer with speed and power and defensive skill who, without question, built a career worthy of the Hall of Fame.

And, oh, Minoso would have to be traded to the Sox first. The Indians took care of that on a huge day in Sox history 70 years ago Friday.

Sox general manager Frank “Trader” Lane, who would make 241 trades in seven years — including deals that brought Nellie Fox, Billy Pierce, Sherm Lollar and Jim Rivera to the South Side — had his eye on Minoso for a while. Lane landed the 25-year-old in a complicated three-team swap in which the Sox sent Gus Zernial and Dave Philley to the Athletics and got Minoso from the Indians.

“The Sox got a good man in Minoso,” Indians and St. Louis Browns legend Satchel Paige said when the trade was made. “I rate him No. 1. I’ve been around baseball some 23 years, and if there’s one thing I know, that’s a baseball player when I see one.

“He’s the fastest. That man’s fast as lightning.”

On the day after the trade, May 1, Minoso wasted no time reporting to Comiskey Park. He batted third in manager Paul Richards’ lineup against the Yankees, played third base and hit a home run in the first inning with his first swing against 21-game winner Vic Raschi. It traveled an estimated 425 feet into the center-field bullpen.

On a day when a 19-year-old kid named Mickey Mantle would hit his first major-league home run for the hated Yanks, Minoso’s Sox debut was more momentous. Minoso not only became the first Black White Sox player four years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947, but the first Black Latino to play in the major leagues.

It’s remarkable to many that the latter fact often gets overlooked.

“The one thing he really should get credit for and doesn’t is he’s a Black Latino pioneer,” baseball historian, statistician and author Don Zminda said. “He was the first Black Latin player in major-league baseball, and he doesn’t get credit for that.”

“He was our Jackie Robinson,” Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda famously said.

And like Robinson, Minoso was a fabulous, exciting player.

“As a pioneer, he should be recognized,” Zminda said, “but he was a tremendous player.”

To wit: From 1951 to ’60, Minoso was second among American League players in Baseball Reference wins above replacement behind Mantle and ahead of Ted Williams, Nellie Fox and Yogi Berra. Only Mantle scored more runs, only Fox had more hits, only Mantle and Berra had more RBI and only Luis Aparicio had more stolen bases during that period.

“That’s a great player,” Zminda said.

Minoso already was showing that in the Pacific Coast League. He needed an open door.

“The trade liberated Minoso,” said Adrian Burgos, a professor of history at the University of Illinois. “He had the terrific misfortune of going to the most diverse organization in the American League when his contract was sold from the New York Cubans to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians were signing African American, Black Latino players and Mexican players, so he arrived to a team that was loaded with Black talent. Minnie was a major-league-ready player. That trade, and his debut, were about finally getting a chance to prove he was that superstar-caliber player.”

Minoso not only played well — he batted .326/.422/.500 with 10 homers, a major-league-high 14 triples, AL-best 32 stolen bases and 74 RBI that season — but he blazed a trail in Chicago two years before Gene Baker and Ernie Banks would become the first African Americans to play for the Cubs.

The outgoing Minoso opened grocery stores in the city, hawked milk and bread in Chicago newspaper ads and quickly became a popular star.

“He was the face of Chicago, sporting Chicago, for that year and years to come,” Burgos said. “I don’t think people understand what Minnie breaking through and being a superstar did for Chicago. This was a big city, with lots of neighborhoods, and not everyone was on board when integration started.”

And yet, sadly, for all he accomplished on the field and beyond, Minoso, who died in 2015, has not been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Minoso’s career didn’t start with the Indians until 1949 when he was 25 — and there are many who believe he was actually 28 — preventing case-building numbers from going on his résumé. And coming out of retirement to play briefly in 1976 at age 50 and in 1980 probably didn’t endear him to some Hall of Fame voters. At owner Bill Veeck’s urging, Minoso did so to become the first player to play in five decades.

“He’s kind of known for these stunts he was involved in with Bill Veeck and for being a character,” Zminda said. “What gets lost is what a tremendous player he was, particularly from 1951 to ’60.”

Credit Lane for that being shown first in Sox pinstripes. Stacked with outfielders in 1951, the Indians were open to a trade because they didn’t have a spot for Minoso, who would lead the Sox (81-73) to a third-place finish. That season kicked off a golden age of White Sox baseball, a stretch of 17 consecutive winning seasons through 1967.

“An immediate turnaround from a team that was an also-ran for decades,” Zminda said.

Minoso got snubbed by Rookie of the Year voters, finishing a close second to Yankees infielder Gil McDougal (Minoso settled for the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award), a slight that always troubled him. Lane was upset, too, saying Minoso was deserving of MVP honors. He was fourth in MVP voting.

Minoso was traded back to the Indians after the 1957 season in a deal that brought right-hander Early Wynn and outfielder Al Smith to the Sox and helped them win the 1959 AL pennant. When the Sox reacquired Minoso after that season, Veeck gave him a championship ring, citing Minoso’s role in building a winning culture and for delivering Wynn, the AL Cy Young winner in 1959, in the trade.

Back on the South Side in 1960, Minoso would have his best season, batting .311/.374/.481 with 20 homers, 32 doubles and 105 RBI and winning his third Gold Glove (an award first given in 1957) as an outfielder. He was fourth in MVP voting for the fourth time in his career.

As Burgos said, how Minoso and others like him performed under unique, trying circumstances shouldn’t be overlooked. But it often is.

“The story of Minnie Minoso adds the element of a man who leaves his home country, is experiencing the reality of being a Black foreigner, to become beloved in a city like Chicago,” Burgos said. “And on top of all that, he was becoming a hero in Black Chicago.”

Robinson set the standard and made it clear Minoso could be a major-league star.

“But Minnie’s debut — and his performance — just reverberated because now as a Black Latino star, he was not only the toast of Chicago, but of the Caribbean and Cuba. ‘This is what we can do. We can follow in his footsteps.’

“His performance, persona and charisma attracted folks to what the promise of integration could be, and that starts with the 1951 season.”

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Chicago Bears: What should main goal on day three be? by Usayd Koshul

Between quarterback Justin Fields and offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, the Chicago Bears continue to add offensive talent to the roster. As the franchise continues to move on from the Mitchell Trubisky era, Chicago is clearly turning the page, investing in the offensive, becoming a modern NFL franchise.

The Chicago Bears are quietly winning the 2021 NFL Draft.

Despite making just two selections, the Bears have shown that in 2021, they’re willing to emphasize quality over quantity. Heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, Chicago was projected to have eight total picks. Now, as the Bears enter day three, the expectation is that Chicago has just six new rookies on the roster, barring any day three trades.

Simply put, Chicago is winning the NFL Draft. By drafting Fields and Jenkins, the Bears are adding two players that many expected to go in round one. While the Bears did give up additional draft capital for Jenkins, they did so knowing that selecting Jenkins would mean investing in Fields.

Over the last few years, Bears general manager Ryan Pace has developed a reputation for being aggressive, proving that when it comes to the NFL Draft, moving up will always be an option, even if it comes at the expense of future first-round picks.

Compared to their NFC North counterparts, Chicago got one of the top quarterbacks and a top-tier offensive tackle, both of whom will become long-term fixtures on the Bears offensive line for years to come.

Heading into day three, with a scheduled four selections, Chicago will look to continue adding depth to the roster. Over the last few years, some of Pace’s notable day three selections have included: Darnell Mooney, Bilal Nichols, Eddie Jackson, Tarik Cohen, and Jordan Howard.

Of the names listed above, only Howard is no longer on the Bears roster, with the other four names becoming a part of the Bears’ core players. As Chicago’s roster, particularly on defense continues to get older, a goal on day three should be to add depth to positions like cornerback, linebacker, and wide receiver.

Next: Chicago Bears: Trade for Jenkins proves Fields is the guy

Overall, despite having just two selections, the Bears have added foundational pieces in Fields and Jenkins that would be long-term building blocks for any NFL franchise. As Chicago gets ready for day three of the NFL Draft, it’s clear that the Bears are quietly winning through the first two days.

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Chicago Bears Draft: Second round trade a smart move by Pace by John-Mark Mallory

As the Chicago Bears get ready to enter day three of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bears are slated to pick on four different occasions. With one fifth-round pick and three sixth-round picks, Chicago needs to maximize the return on each draft pick.

The Chicago Bears should have one goal heading into day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.

So far, the Bears have done more than enough to justify being considered winners in the 2021 NFL Draft. Adding Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields in round one and Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins in round two, the Bears continue to overhaul the offensive side of the ball.

Now, as the Bears enter day three, the goal should be adding depth to the roster. When looking at the Bears roster, Chicago could use some depth at key positions like a tight end, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, and offensive line.

Luckily for the Bears, the expectation is that there are a number of players available at each of the positional groups mentioned above that should be available. The Bears did trade away future draft capital but if the opportunity to trade up presents itself, General Manager Ryan Pace will likely consider a deal.

While the Bears did invest in a tight end in 2020 with second-round pick Cole Kmet, veteran Jimmy Graham continues to get older. An intriguing name like Miami’s Brevin Jordan could be the perfect complement to Kmet’s skill set, especially as a receiving tight end.

Despite going into 2021 with Jaylon Johnson and Desmond Trufant as the Bears starting cornerback tandem, there are names to keep an eye on including Zach McPhearson (Texas Tech) and Tre Brown (Oklahoma).

The wide receiver position also has some intriguing talents that could fit what the Bears are trying to build on offense. Three names that could make sense include Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State), Amon-Ra St.Brown (USC), and Cade Johnson (South Dakota State). Keep an eye on UAB’s Austin Watkins Jr., whose combination of size and speed could be worth of fifth-round pick.

If Chicago decides to create additional competition at offensive tackle, two names to watch include D’Ante Smith (East Carolina) and Jaylon Moore (Western Michigan). While both come from smaller programs at the college level, they have enough starting experience and upside to warrant being future starters down the road.

Next: Chicago Bears: No need to rush Justin Fields in 2021

Overall, the goal for the Bears heading into day three should be adding more depth to the roster with the hopes of finding a future starter down the road. There is plenty of talent available for the Bears to make this happen.

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Chicago Bears: Here’s how Ryan Pace can keep the ball rolling in the NFL Draft by Ryan Taylor

It wasn’t exactly a secret that the jobs of Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy were on the line going into this NFL season.

On the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bears GM proved once again that he’s not holding back in what could be his final shot.

The Bears made a trade with the Carolina Panthers for the 39th overall pick and selected tackle Teven Jenkins out of Oklahoma State. This was the second day in a row the Bears traded up after they nabbed the 11th pick on Thursday and selected quarterback Justin Fields.

What did it cost the Bears to move up? A lot. But it quickly proved to be worth the picks they gave up.

The Bears traded their second-round pick, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick to Carolina for the Panthers’ second-round pick and their fifth-round pick all in this year’s draft. Again, it’s a lot for the Bears to give up, but they got a guy many projected to go in the first round.

.@TevenJenkins is *insert super aggressive adjective*.#BearsDraft | ?? pic.twitter.com/ulhRy1Q4o5

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 1, 2021

Pace was proven right almost instantly as the second round of the draft progressed on Friday night. There was a run of offensive lineman picked after the Bears traded up, and it made the aggressive move by the GM look even smarter.

The Bears were originally slated to pick 52nd overall in the second round. From the Atlanta Falcons’ 40th pick to the Cleveland Browns picking 52nd, there were five offensive linemen selected including four tackles. Pace struck at exactly the right time.

There was a familiar trend that the Bears followed on Friday. Four of the five teams that traded up in the first round of the draft to select a quarterback then selected an offensive lineman in either the first or second round.

It was an important move to shore up protection for a potential franchise quarterback. And many teams realized that as well. Jenkins is a steal of a pick at 39th overall, and he could significantly improve an offensive line that was shaky last season.

Offensive line was a top need for the Bears even before they traded up to select Fields to be their next quarterback. Some mock drafts even had the Bears selecting Jenkins at 20th overall, their original first-round spot.

Related Story: Fields pick will save Ryan Pace’s job

For this front office and coach, their backs were against the wall in terms of needing to succeed this coming season. They are certainly making the bold moves required to make that success possible. Pace and Nagy will have saved their jobs if they can pull this off.

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A 17-year-old boy was critically hurt in a shooting Friday in Lawndale on the West Side.

Eight people have been wounded in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend, including a 17-year-old boy critically hurt in an attack in Lawndale.

The teen was standing in front of a home about 7:35 p.m. in the 1900 block of South Drake Avenue when someone approached him and fired shots, Chicago police said.

He suffered gunshot wounds to both legs and was transported to Mount Sinai in critical condition, police said.

Early Saturday, a 25-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting in Englewood.

About 12:45 a.m., he was standing outside on a sidewalk on the 6300 block of South Honore Street when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said.

Two people were hurt, one critically, in a shooting late Friday in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.

A man and a woman, both 27, were sitting in a parked car about 11:50 p.m. in the 3900 block of South Kedzie Avenue when a male got out of a black sedan and fired shots at them, police said.

The man suffered gunshot wounds to the torso and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said. The woman was struck in the left arm and right shoulder, police said. She was taken to Stroger Hospital in fair condition, according to police.

A man was dropped off at a South Side hospital Friday night after being shot, but would not tell police anything about the attack.

The 46-year-old man was dropped off at Jackson Park Hospital about 11:45 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the left leg and right foot, police said. He was listed in critical condition and transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.

Earlier Friday night, two people were shot in Washington Park on the South Side.

They were standing in an alley about 9:05 p.m. in the 5200 block of South Michigan Avenue when a male suspect approached them and fired shots, police said.

A 21-year-old man was struck in the leg and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition, police said.

A woman, 51, was also struck by gunfire and was taken to the same hospital, where she was listed in fair condition, police said. She was shot in both legs and sustained a graze wound to the chest.

About 7:35 p.m., a 20-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Gage Park on the Southwest Side.

The man was sitting in a parked vehicle in the 5200 block of South Maplewood Avenue when someone fired shots from the sidewalk, Chicago police said.

He was shot in the leg and was transported to Mount Sinai in fair condition, police said.

Last weekend four people were killed and 21 others wounded in shootings across Chicago.

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Connolly enjoyed the best three years of his otherwise tumultuous NHL tenure in Washington, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Might the Blackhawks provide Connolly a comparable comfort zone?

Before arriving in Washington, Brett Connolly was considered a first-round bust. Since leaving Washington, Connolly’s reputation has become marred by his albatross contract.

But for three blissful years with the Capitals, Connolly — in the right environment, with the right expectations, filling the right role — demonstrated how much he can contribute to a winning NHL team. He has a Stanley Cup ring from 2018 to prove it.

“It was just such an amazing ride,” the Canadian forward said this week, reminiscing. “It was amazing to be on a team like that where everybody seemed to enjoy each other’s company. [It was] just such a close team, which is something I’ll never forget. We obviously grew closer with the championship. I’m just very fortunate to be part of that.”

Much of Connolly’s now-10-year NHL career has not gone as anyone, especially he, hoped.

The Lightning, expecting immediate domination from their 2010 sixth overall pick, rushed him to the NHL, then banished him to the AHL when the immediate domination didn’t happen. The Bruins didn’t give him much time to get settled, either.

More recently, the Panthers phased him out of their rotation when he hit a “cold streak” earlier this season, then jettisoned him as a negative-value asset to the Blackhawks in an April 8 trade.

With the Caps, however, Connolly thrived. He scored at least 15 goals in each of his three regular seasons there, topping out at an impressive 22 goals and 24 assists in 2018-19.

“My role was defined on the team,” he said. “There wasn’t a ton of pressure to score every night. I signed there to just play a third-line role and got really comfortable with the group. I was playing with a lot of confidence. They gave me an opportunity to just go out there and play and not think too much, and it worked out.”

Connolly added six goals and three assists during the 2018 championship run, but earned more attention for his kindness than for his solid secondary production.

A video of him tossing 6-year-old Caps fan Keelan Moxley three pucks during warmups — until she finally caught one — went viral and started a conversation over gender and age equality in hockey fandom.

“Anytime we can put a smile on young kids’ faces, that’s what it’s all about,” he later told reporters.

Another video of him chugging a Bud Light in seven seconds on stage at the Caps’ victory parade was perhaps less kid-friendly but equally exemplified Connolly’s down-to-earth personality.

Ask a Hawks fan which Cup winners are currently playing for the Hawks, and most will correctly name Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. But Connolly, who turns 29 on Sunday, has actually upped the total to three, and it turns out the trio has already talked about it.

“Theirs was three in five years, so that’s a little different, and both guys won Conn Smythe [Trophies],” Connolly said. “But it’s definitely cool to hear little stories about their runs and the differences and similarities to [mine]. It’s been great to get to know those guys.”

Coach Jeremy Colliton has also appreciated learning about Connolly’s journey while integrating him into the team.

“I try to spend extra time early on to get him prepared to play,” Colliton said. “It’s always nice to pick his brain, [hear] how they were doing it in Washington.”

AP Photos

Connolly’s best skill is his finishing. His career 14.0% shooting percentage ranks 10th among all active players with 500-plus appearances.

But he’s never been a major puck-mover or playmaker, so he fell out of Joel Quenneville’s favor in Florida earlier this season when his accuracy dropped off (his on-goal shooting percentage went from 56.6% to 44.4%), his possession numbers slumped (46.9% on-ice scoring chance ratio) and his production lagged (two goals, two assists in 21 games).

“You go through stretches where you don’t score, and you press a little harder, press a little harder, and sometimes that isn’t the best way to go about it,” Connolly said. “Once that happens and there’s lots of options for ‘Q,’ something that was pretty quickly in their minds was that they were going to try and move me.

“It’s the business side of it, and you’ve got to move on.”

But the same contract that tanked Connolly’s value in Florida — he has two years left on a four-year deal with a $3.5 million cap hit — now may actually give him more stability with the Hawks.

He still could be moved or bought out this summer, but his hefty cap hit makes that relatively unlikely compared to other players. General manager Stan Bowman, the day he acquired Connolly, Riley Stillman and the rights to Henrik Borgstrom, spoke about Connolly like he’ll be sticking around.

“We think he’s someone who can fit in with this group,” Bowman said. “[I] wasn’t too concerned about his contract. It was really the combination of what we saw in Connolly plus the other pieces that was attractive to us.”

And that stability is exactly what Connolly needs.

“It’s a couple years for me to prove myself and [prove] I want to be part of the process going forward with this organization,” he said “I’m looking to finish this year strong. But whatever happens at the end of this year, [I will] hit the reset button and focusing on having a good next two years of my career here.”

Connolly scored in his first game with the Hawks, immediately checking off that sometimes anxiety-inducing box.

He hasn’t recorded a point in seven games since — mainly in a fourth-line role — but has generated strong underlying numbers, including 55.6% shot-attempt and 50.9% scoring-chance ratios.

And there’s something in the Chicago air bringing back the sense of optimism and opportunity he felt in Washington. Both Connolly and the Hawks’ organization are far from those Capitals-in-2018 heights currently, but he smells potential on both fronts.

“You drive around the city and you see all the Blackhawks bars and logos and people wearing hats and jerseys,” he said. “You drive around and envision yourself winning here and being part of a good team here, and that definitely excites you. It’d be a lot of fun to be a part of that.”

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Chicago Bears: Trade up for Teven Jenkins proves it’s all about Justin Fields by Ryan Heckman

The Chicago Bears have had some exciting players all over the field throughout their history. They can’t really be that proud of their quarterback history, however. Jim McMahon wasn’t that good and he is their only Super Bowl-winning quarterback ever. Jay Cutler is statistically the greatest in franchise history and some older folks would probably pick Sid Luckman. Now, things might actually change forever thanks to the selection of Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Justin Fields is going to change everything about the Chicago Bears franchise forever.

Fields was an elite college quarterback. He somehow lost the starting job to Jake Fromm at Georgia so he transferred to Ohio State where he bloomed. He was so good in almost every game he played in throughout his collegiate career. He even made some big plays against Clemson to lead his team to the College Football National Championship. They were defeated by Alabama but you were still able to tell that this guy is just a winner.

Bears fans aren’t used to having a winner. That is why it came to everyone as a complete shock when they traded up from pick 20 to 11 to take him. Mac Jones of Alabama was on the board too and many feared he would be the pick. Jones is a good player but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy the Bears would work well with.

Justin Fields brings a level of excitement that not many can. He is athletic, can move out of the pocket, and has a cannon of an arm. He is also tough as nails with incredible leadership qualities. With all of that in mind, he is pretty much a perfect guy to bring in to try and do this for the Bears. If he performs well on the field, he will be given the keys to the city.

Another thing that this does for the Bears is it makes them not have to use Andy Dalton if Fields is ready. Dalton may start in week one depending on how things go but Fields is their guy long-term. The hope is that ten years from now, he is amongst the top starters in the league. This is a franchise-altering decision and the hope is that it finally works out in their favor.

Related Story: Grading all NFC North first-round picks

You know that a move is big for the Bears when every single person pretty much loves it. This fanbase was starting to feel bloated but now it seems like they are rejuvenated and excited. That is a good sign for things to come. Now that everybody is all excited for 2021 and beyond, we can’t wait to get there with Fields.

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Chicago Bears: Justin Fields changes everything forever by Vincent Parise

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears kept the ball rolling in the second round of the NFL draft, trading up to acquire offensive tackle Teven Jenkins out of Oklahoma State University.

The Bears traded their 52nd overall pick, their 83rd pick, and one of their four sixth-round picks for the Carolina Panthers’ 39th and 151st pick in the draft.

General manager Ryan Pace hit another home run with the selection of Jenkins. The Bears were screaming for help on the neglected offensive line, and Jenkins is a perfect fit for left or right tackle.

Jenkins was a projected top-20 overall pick, and one of the best offensive linemen in this draft. That alone made Pace’s second trade-up and drafting another great move.

Carolina trades 39 and 151 to Chicago for 52, 83 and 204. https://t.co/7KLce9FmqI

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2021

Now that Pace has traded away more picks, the Bears are left with very little in this draft. They have the Panthers’ fifth-round pick and three, sixth-round picks.

Pace and the Bears still have a lot of gaps left to fill. They could use help at cornerback, linebacker, and even wide receiver. They could even double dip with the offensive line.

The problem is that the Bears do not have the draft selections to help these positions. Last offseason, the Bears drafted Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons in the seventh round to help the offensive line, and they never panned out.

Now, the Bears need to think of another way to place themselves back into the draft to fill the voids of the roster.

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