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Chicago Public Schools student overcomes social anxiety by playing guitaron April 26, 2021 at 2:09 pm

The White Rhino: A Blog about Education and Latino Issues

Chicago Public Schools student overcomes social anxiety by playing guitar

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Chicago Public Schools student overcomes social anxiety by playing guitaron April 26, 2021 at 2:09 pm Read More »

The caring example of my cousin Bobon April 26, 2021 at 1:48 pm

Retired in Chicago

The caring example of my cousin Bob

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The caring example of my cousin Bobon April 26, 2021 at 1:48 pm Read More »

Blackhawks’ Andrew Shaw announces retirementon April 26, 2021 at 2:41 pm

The Blackhawks’ Andrew Shaw announced his retirement Monday morning after doctors recommended he leave the game after suffering several concussions.

“There comes a time when every athlete needs to realize when their health is a priority and a future with their family is what is most important,” Shaw said in a statement. “That point for me is now. After several concussions, doctors have strongly recommended I stop playing the game that I love. For once in my life, I am going to listen.”

Shaw suffered his latest concussion on Feb. 9 in a game against the Dallas Stars. Stars defenseman Joel Hanley’s elbow caught his face during the second period. Shaw was put on injured reserve at the time.

“Andrew suffered another concussion on Feb.9 against the Dallas Stars,” Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement. “Though he has recovered, given the potential long-term consequences of repetitive concussions, we have advised him to discontinue his career as a professional hockey player.”

“I am extremely proud of what I accomplished in my career, and I want to make it clear; I would not change anything about it,” Shaw said. “I won two Stanley Cups, made lifelong friends — and some enemies, too — and will cherish those memories for the rest of my life.”

“Throughout his 10-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, Andrew was always willing to lay his body on the line and put his teammates before himself,” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said. “He epitomized energy, determination, grit, and toughness and was a player his teammates loved to play with, but his opponents hated to play against. …

“Though it is unfortunate Andrew’s playing career is over, I admire him for making this difficult decision and putting his family and his well-being first.”

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Blackhawks’ Andrew Shaw announces retirementon April 26, 2021 at 2:41 pm Read More »

Up Your Sandwich Game with Bread from Four New Local Makerson April 26, 2021 at 2:10 pm

Loaf Lounge

The players Ben Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel-Lustbader. The chefs left their restaurant gigs (she was the pastry chef at Sepia and Proxi, he was a chef at Giant and Chef’s Special) to go all in on bread and pastries.
The bread Country-style sourdough loaves embellished with gourmet twists like roasted ramps or caramelized onions and Gruyère. Start off with the giardiniera bread, which is rolled in sesame seeds and fennel, or the whole wheat bread with polenta and two types of olives.
How to get it A permanent location is in the works; for now, place orders ($5 for small loaves; $10 for large) on Tock or Toast and pick up at Superkhana International (3059 W. Diversey Ave., Logan Square), or order on DoorDash for delivery.

Lyman Ave. Bread

The player Tim Giuffi. A chefturned-stay-at-home-dad, the sourdough savant bakes around 75 loaves a week in a makeshift bakery in his Oak Park basement.
The bread Crusty country-style sourdough loaves made with heritage grains, such as Turkey Red, emmer, and einkorn wheats. This bread is so good, he’s got a waitlist.
How to get it Move to Oak Park, or tap a friend who lives there. Giuffi delivers his loaves in a 20-square-block area on a bicycle outfitted with a breadbox. He also offers pick up at his home. A loaf-a-week subscription is $90 for 12 weeks, or $33 for four weeks. Order on Instagram at @lymanavebread.

The Black Bread Company

The players Charles Alexander, Mark Edmond, and Jamel Lewis. Following George Floyd’s death last summer, Edmond pledged to buy from more Black-owned businesses but couldn’t find a Black-owned sliced-bread company. So in February he and his pals from high school launched their own by contracting out of a Midwest bakery.
The bread Old-school sandwich bread, available in white and honey wheat. Both are perfect for a PB&J or grilled cheese.
How to get it The loaves ($4.99) are available at many small area markets, including food co-op Dill Pickle (2746 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square). You can also order at blackbreadco.com.

BreadBX

The player Ian Savas. The former management consultant launched a company to connect subscribers to better bread during the pandemic and teamed up with a local bakery.
The bread Quintessential sourdough, with a chewy crust and tender crumb, baked in an oblong shape that falls somewhere between a country-style loaf and a batard.
How to get it Deliveries are available within Chicago city limits every Saturday: $12.99 a loaf for weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscriptions, or $13.99 for a one-time single-loaf order. Order at breadbx.com.

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Up Your Sandwich Game with Bread from Four New Local Makerson April 26, 2021 at 2:10 pm Read More »

7 Best Comedy Clubs in Chicago to Visit for a Weekend Dateon April 22, 2021 at 7:51 pm

What better way to keep things light-hearted and low-pressure than going to a comedy show? Live, in-person entertainment is becoming more widely available, and these great comedy clubs in the Chicago area have the laughs you’re looking for.

With a combination of livestreamed and in-person events, Las Locas Comedy “highlights Latina/Latinx comedic talent and honorary ‘locas’ per show.” The showcase was recommended early on by Red Eye and the Chicago Reader.

162 E Superior St, Chicago IL 60611

Located downtown, The Comedy Bar opened about 10 years ago, and “aims to be the safest place for comedy.” With a main stage and a rooftop patio, there is ample opportunity and room for laughter at this comedy club in Chicago.

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1616 N Wells St, Chicago IL 60614

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The legendary theater and training center reopens for in-person shows in early May! Get your tickets now— it’s been a long year-plus without live entertainment. The shows hosted by this comedy club will not take long to sell out.

601 N Martingale Rd, Streets of Woodfield, Schaumburg IL 60173

The Chicago location of Laugh Out Loud is still closed, but you can take a drive out to Schaumburg to catch a show and have some laughs. Remember what it’s like to literally laugh out loud in a room of other (socially-distanced) people? This place should refresh your memory.

1548 N Wells St, Chicago IL 60610

5437 Park Pl, Rosemont IL 60018

Another giant of the Chicago comedy scene, Zanies is doing its part to keep things fun and safe. This comedy club features locations in the city and Rosement. You have a large number of options when seeking out top-notch comedy talent in the area.

2040 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60647

Home of “the nation’s longest-running independent comedy showcase,” The Lincoln Lodge has plenty of shows on its calendar right now. Come out to see sets based on news headlines, unbelievable stories with music accompaniment, and more.

3175 N Broadway, Chicago IL 60657

This comedy club in Chicago offers stand-up comedy, competitive comedy, and other types of entertainment. The talent coming through Laugh Factory is cranking out high-quality jokes faster than you can say “social distancing.”

Comedy Clubs Chicago Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

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7 Best Comedy Clubs in Chicago to Visit for a Weekend Dateon April 22, 2021 at 7:51 pm Read More »

Do the Chicago Bears have a shot at Justin Fields in the NFL Draft?on April 26, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears could finally find an ounce of hope for the upcoming season if they are able to sneak out of the draft with one of the best quarterbacks in the draft class in Justin Fields.

The Chicago Bears landing a top quarterback prospect would be really cool.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network the San Francisco 49ers, who own the third pick in the draft after acquiring it from the Miami Dolphins, seem to be down to two prospects and they are Trey Lance and Mac Jones.

This could leave the first three picks looking like the Jacksonville Jaguars getting Trevor Lawrence, the New York Jets getting Zach Wilson, and the San Francisco 49ers getting one of Tre Lance or Mac Jones.

The kicker of it all is that the Atlanta Falcons, who have the fourth selection in the draft, being open to hearing trade offers for their selection. Seeing as this draft will be quarterback dominant in the early portion of the first round, the Falcons don’t need to be in the mix.

The problem for the Bears is that their pick might be too far down in the draft. Mock drafts have the Falcons selecting tight end Kyle Pitts who is arguably one of the best athletes in the draft and a bonafide prospect to be good right away.

The #20 selection in the draft might be too far down for the Falcons to have faith that their guy will still be there. There’s no question that Fields is worth trading all the way up to the fourth pick. He’s athletic and has a cannonball arm with hardly any developmental needs. The only question remains, how could the Bears finagle their way into getting him?

That question lies in the hands of general manager Ryan Pace. That is assuming that Pace would be interested in making such a trade. The only likely solution to get all the way up to the Falcons’ fourth pick in the draft is to take a step-ladder type approach.

The Bears could try to trade up to the #8 or #10 picks, held by the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys, respectively. Both of these teams are out of the running for a quarterback and are looking to gain assets by trading down in the draft.

Giving either of these teams the #20 pick plus some day-two picks for the future or in this draft should do the job. Then, the next step becomes trying to convince the Falcons to come down to the eighth or tenth position in the draft.

After the fourth pick, the next teams in order before the eighth pick are the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions. None of these teams should be interested in Pitts besides possibly the Dolphins. Either way, it’s worth a shot even to get into the top ten for a quarterback.

The reason Fields is worth the trouble is because he is by far one of the most talented quarterbacks in the draft. Last year, the Ohio State Buckeyes only played eight games but Fields threw for 2,100 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions for a passer rating of 175.6 on the year. That comes down to about 262.5 yards, 2.75 touchdowns, and 0.75 interceptions per game.

There are two main reasons why Justin Fields is a good fit for the Bears. First, Fields is easily one of the closest quarterbacks to full development and ready to be good in the NFL right away. This is important for the Bears because they need help now and the Bears don’t have the personnel to develop rookie quarterbacks.

Hot: The Chicago Bears should take the best available player in the first round

Second, it’s a quarterback league. You will hear this phrase a bunch come Thursday night for the NFL draft but also in this generation of NFL football. Quarterbacks are important. That’s a no-brainer. The Bears have never had an all-time great quarterback. It’s time that they get one.

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Do the Chicago Bears have a shot at Justin Fields in the NFL Draft?on April 26, 2021 at 2:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Stars aligning for the Bears to draft Justin Fieldson April 26, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Chicago Bears (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

With the 2021 NFL Draft set to take place this week, the talk has been about quarterbacks, especially when it comes to the Chicago Bears. We know that the first two players off the board will be Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson. This leaves Mac Jones, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance as first-round prospects the Bears will have to choose from.

Stars are aligning for the Chicago Bears to draft Justin Fields in the first round.

Let’s be honest, plans in the NFL rarely go as planned. The Chicago Bears have seen this play out too many times, especially in the NFL Draft. To counter this, General Manager Ryan Pace has always opted to be aggressive, trading up in order to secure the draft prospect he covets.

When the 2021 NFL Draft commences on Thursday night, all eyes will be on the third overall pick. Who the San Francisco 49ers select will have an impact on the Bears’ draft plans. That’s why a report from NFL Network raises the question: Are the stars aligning for the Bears to nab Fields?

If the 49ers are indeed choosing between Jones and Lance, it gives the Bears an opportunity to trade up for Fields who by many is considered to be the third-best quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft.

The big catch here simply comes down to Chicago being willing to trade up for Fields. The Ohio State prospect won’t make it outside the top-10 so for the Bears to draft him, Chicago would have to sacrifice the 20th overall pick in 2021, along with a 2022 and potentially even 2023 first-round pick.

The Bears know what Fields brings to the table which is a lethal dual-threat quarterback who can hit any throw on the field or hurt opposing defenses with his legs. To further at Fields case as the future of the Bears, look no further than Fields performances against Alabama and Clemson in the College Football Playoffs last season. He was easily the best player on the field, overcoming a gruesome hip injury against Clemson to win.

Next: Chicago Bears: Best available players in round one

The Bears still lack a long-term solution at quarterback and while the thought of acquiring Fields is certainly exciting, it shouldn’t be considered a surefire move unless the Bears do indeed trade up and grab Fields, something that appears to be in the makings.

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Chicago Bears: Stars aligning for the Bears to draft Justin Fieldson April 26, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

La Grange teen accuses hockey team of disability discriminationon April 26, 2021 at 11:53 am

Morgan Urso tried many sports as a young child and didn’t like any of them. Everything changed at age 10 when she went to hockey practice with her brother.

“I ended up loving the game,” Morgan said. “The feeling of the fresh air hitting my face every shift is a feeling that I’d take any day.”

Now a high school sophomore, Morgan’s zeal for the game took a hit when her club hockey team unexpectedly banned her from practice, games and team activities.

The Urso family recently sued Team Illinois Hockey and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois for disability discrimination, claiming Morgan was suspended after she told a coach about her mental illness.

During her freshman year in 2019, Morgan experienced a severe depressive episode, resulting in her going to an outpatient program and being given new medication.

Morgan said her coach, Team Illinois Hockey Director Larry Pedrie, was initially supportive. “He said if I needed to be an assistant coach on the bench with him or if I wanted to go out and skate or miss, I could do whatever I needed to,” Morgan said.

Morgan’s mother, Kelly Urso, said she received a call the next day and was informed that Pedrie had spoken with Mike Mullally, USA hockey director at the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, and they had decided to bar Morgan from all Team Illinois practices, games and other activities.

“I remember saying, ‘What?’ a lot, like, how did he decide this,” Urso said. “He just kept saying, ‘I have [Team Illinois’] full board support, this is what AHAI has advised us to do.’ I ended up hanging up on him because I got so emotional.”

Morgan stands in front of a goal in her backyard with hockey stick in hand.
Morgan and her family filed a lawsuit against Team Illinois Hockey and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, claiming the organizations discriminated on the basis of disability.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Urso said a few hours later she heard from other parents on the team that Pedrie told them and their children not to communicate with Morgan until she was able to provide a doctor’s note clearing her to participate in 100% of team activities.

Pedrie’s email to parents of players expressed a desire to keep kids from “carrying the burden of a teammate’s personal struggle.”

“We were mad, disappointed and hurt,” Urso said. “We had come from programs where hockey was your family, and to have this be the reaction, we were just confused.”

Morgan, who missed a month of ice time, was allowed to finish the season after the Ursos hired lawyer Charlie Wysong, a partner at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym Ltd. However, Morgan said she was “super uncomfortable” being around her coach and constantly felt nervous back on the team.

In spring 2020, the Urso family filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The department investigated but declined to pursue a case against the team or the hockey association.

Despite being able to rejoin the team, Morgan said from then on she was “super uncomfortable” being alone with her coach and other players’ parents.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

On April 20, Morgan and her parents filed a lawsuit in DuPage County Circuit Court against Team Illinois Hockey and AHAI for discriminating against her on the basis of disability.

“We’re not allowed to banish people who are depressed or anxious or have suicidal thoughts,” Wysong said. “That’s not OK.”

The Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois and its lawyer declined to comment on the lawsuit. Pedrie did not respond to several requests for comment.

Urso said the family sued to prevent other families from undergoing a similar situation. She said there should be policies and procedures in place to support children experiencing mental health issues in youth sports and proper training for coaches.

“We hope that it will help youth sports recognize that this is a major issue, especially after COVID-19, that kids are dealing with a lot of mental health issues,” Wysong said.

Morgan Urso (right) and her siblings in their “Team Morgan,” shirts. The family formed “Team Morgan” to raise funds and awareness about mental illness.
Courtesy/Kelly Urso

Morgan, a center, returned to the ice for the 2020-21 season with a former hockey team. This year, Morgan plans to try out for a St. Louis AAA Blues hockey team.

She has also started working with the #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement, which aims to raise awareness about and provide resources for those dealing with mental illness.

In forming “Team Morgan,” the Urso family raised and donated more than $50,000 to #SameHere for mental health treatment.

“Anyone out there struggling is never alone,” Morgan said. “There’s always someone to talk to, whether it’s me, or a friend or a parent. And don’t be afraid to go to your coach.”

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La Grange teen accuses hockey team of disability discriminationon April 26, 2021 at 11:53 am Read More »

Chicago Bears: Three teams to trade down with in round oneon April 26, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)
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Chicago Bears, NFL Draft

Chicago Bears (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Let’s call the Chicago Bears first-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft one word: Unpredictable. The Bears are indeed one of the toughest teams to project in round one. Chicago could trade up for a quarterback, stand pat at 20th overall, or simply even trade down.

For General Manager Ryan Pace, he’s only ever done two of the three scenarios mentioned above. Pace’s draft history in round one is full of trade-ups (Mitchell Trubisky and Leonard Floyd). He also opted to stand pat in 2015 and 2018, drafting wide receiver Kevin White and linebacker Roquan Smith.

Chicago did not have first-round draft selections in 2019 and 2020, as both picks were shipped off to the Las Vegas Raiders in the blockbuster deal that landed the Bears Khalil Mack ahead of the 2018 regular-season opener.

Who are three teams that the Chicago Bears could trade down within round one?

Trading down in round one has never really been an option for Pace. The aggressive yet much lambasted general manager has always opted to trade up, citing reasons as being aggressive when it comes to roster building.

This year, trading down should be a serious option for the Bears. Despite having first, second, and third-round draft choices, the Bears simply have too many needs but too few resources. Trading down allows the Bears to acquire extra draft capital in rounds two, three, and four, setting the stage for extra draft picks that will mean more youth on an aging roster.

The first-round draft order means the Bears’ options will still be limited when it comes to trading down. Three teams could make the most sense: New York Jets (23rd overall), Cleveland Browns (26th overall), and Baltimore Ravens (27th and 31st overall).

As Chicago continues to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, let’s break down why the three teams mentioned above could make sense if the Bears decide to trade down.

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Chicago Bears: Three teams to trade down with in round oneon April 26, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »

A barely documented 1989 Chicago rap record gets a surprise reissueLeor Galilon April 26, 2021 at 11:00 am


Original copies of Me & E’s Rap have sold for hundreds of dollars, but Canadian archival label Mixed Signals is about to burst that bubble.

A few years ago I picked up the second edition of Freddy Fresh’s The Rap Records, a meaty tome documenting hip-hop vinyl released by independent labels around the world between 1979 and 1994.…Read More

A barely documented 1989 Chicago rap record gets a surprise reissueLeor Galilon April 26, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »