With thanks to Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune, whose column for Sunday, April 11, listed parts of nine of her favorite poems, I’m joining in her celebration of National Poetry Month by listing at least part of ten of mine. (Catch up with the original column here.) I’ll include every word of the shorter poems.
“Epistle to a Young Friend,” by Robert Burns. Here’s a verse that helps keep me on the straight and narrow path, even as I remember that the poem ends with Burns’ hope that the young man he wrote to would follow the advice better than the advisor did:
The fear o’ hell’s a hangman’s whip, To haud the wretch in order; But where ye feel your honour grip, Let that aye be your border; Its slightest touches, instant pause- Debar a; side-pretences; And resolutely keep its laws, Uncaring consequences.
“Address to a Haggis,” by Robert Burns. Some people talk to their food, but Burns wrote to his, in this case — and I’m with him, well is it worthy of a grace as long’s my arm. It’s firmly in the Scots dialect, but easy Anglicized versions came up with an Internet search. It’s one of the funnier poems I’ve ever heard, and my dad could get every laugh out of it every year. (I did my best in his honor in 2020.)
“My Shadow,” by Robert Louis Stevenson. I got started on poetry early, thanks to Stevenson’s “A Child’s Garden of Verses.” “My Shadow” is as familiar as its subject to generations of readers who may not even remember its author, but they remember its first verse:
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
“The Swing,” by Robert Louis Stevenson. No matter your age or how long it’s been since you tried one, I challenge you to sit on a playground swing and not think of this:
How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!
“If,” by Rudyard Kipling. If you can keep your head when all about you/Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, chances are you learned it from this Kipling treasure.
“Recessional,” by Rudyard Kipling. If around Veterans Day or Memorial Day you see something marked “Lest We Forget,” it isn’t properly used if all it’s calling for is remembering soldiers, sailors and marines who have died. Kipling’s “Recessional,” written in 1897, brings forward the warning in Deuteronomy 6:12, a call to beware forgetting God’s care. Each stanza of “Recessional” ends with “Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet/Lest we forget — lest we forget!” — each stanza, that is, until the last:
For frantic boast and foolish word— Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
“In Flanders Fields,” by Lt. Col. John McCrae. I’ve written elsewhere about this powerful poem. I recited it at a concert honoring the centennial of the end of World War I in November 2018, and I won’t soon forget practicing here at home and glimpsing a portrait of my great-grandparents, my grandmother, and her sisters and brothers. My two great-uncles died in World War I, and at the concert, I recited as if speaking to them:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
“The Daffodils,” by William Wordsworth. It’s not just a poem about the beauty of a a field of daffodils — it’s also about the wonder and joy of a good memory. It’s taken me until this masked spring to really enjoy being around daffodils, thanks to my pollen allergy, but I recognized the part about beautiful memories many nostalgic years ago:
For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.
“Comment,” by Dorothy Parker. Don’t worry, not everything on my list is going to be Serious (even though it IS my list). Sometimes I like a little fun (or I hope it’s fun!), like this whole poem by Dorothy Parker:
Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song, A medley of extemporanea; And love is a thing that can never go wrong; And I am Marie of Roumania.
“Celery,” by Ogden Nash, is a another short treat. I love Nash’s funny poetry in general, but so many of my favorites are for different times of year than this. Here’s his little dietary advice:
Celery, raw Develops the jaw, But celery, stewed, Is more quietly chewed.
There’s my list! Additions are welcome in the comments.
I moved to Chicago from the south suburbs in 1986. I have diverse interests, but I love writing about what I’m interested in. Whether it’s a personal interest or part of my career, the correct words to get the idea across are important to me. I love words and languages — French and Scottish words enrich my American English. My career has included years as a journalist and years working in museums, and the two phases were united by telling stories. I’m serious about words and stories. So here I am, ready to tell stories about words and their languages.
The featured photo accompanying this article will no doubt stir up some strong feelings but hang in there. Even the Lord sometimes used broken tools. Israelis view guns as a necessity while millions of Americans see them as a right. There is a sense in Israel that if people didn’t feel they needed those guns they wouldn’t carry them. In The U.S. millions of people feel entitled to carry and possess a gun. The fact of the matter is that Israel has had only one mass shooting since 2013 and their murder rate is minuscule compared to say the City of Chicago.
Some folks who are not involved in such things might find it interesting that in 2020 the Chicago Police Department confiscated over 10,000 guns resulting in over 6,600 gun-related arrests. Of those 6,600 arrests, only 2% of those offenders were given jail time or faced any accountability whatsoever. The rest were either sent home on home confinement, (in Chicago it’s not exactly rare that a person is victimized by an individual wearing an ankle bracelet) or released without charge. Repeat gun offenders in Cook County and most especially Chicago has bigger alumni than probably most of the Big Ten colleges combined.
I think it’s logical to think that a political party so intent on Gun Control and limiting the availability of guns in America would take a step back and look at the laws that are already in place and are for all practical purposes being ignored. Look no further than the Criminal Justice system in Cook County and especially Chicago. Will we have more laws both Federal and Local to be ignored? It’s estimated that there are some 375 million guns in the U.S. Each year in the past 10 years more and more guns are being sold. Last year over 23 million guns were sold across the U.S. a 65% increase over 2019. So far in 2021, an even great number have been sold over the same period last year. One of the hardest things gun enthusiasts are having a hard time buying is ammunition, there has been an acute shortage.
Common sense would dictate that if a country’s leadership really wants to make an effort to limit the number of guns and the availability of those who abuse them or possess them they would start with those who have already been arrested for criminal acts with guns. Keeping guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens has zero effect on criminals who flout the already-in-place gun laws on the books. Sensible background checks for future gun purchases are not abhorrent to most gun owners, age limits and who can legally purchase a gun are already in place. The big elephant in the room is the already 376 million guns that are available. By not punishing criminals and holding people accountable for crimes committed while armed all the GUN CONTROL in the world will continue to be fruitless. CRIMINALS DO NOT NOT CARE OR FOLLOW LAWS OF A DECENCY SOCIETY–
The following quote is from a very wise man in American history Thomas Paine–it stands today and it should resonate with politicians who are half-cocked when it comes to dealing with gun violence—Decent people will understand the common thug will not–TO ARGUE WITH A PERSON WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE AUTHORITY OF REASON, AND WHOSE PHILOSOPHY CONSISTS IN HOLDING HUMANITY IN CONTEMPT, IS LIKE ADMINISTERING MEDICINE TO THE DEAD OR ENDEAVORING TO CONVERT AN ATHEIST BY SCRIPTURE”. DROPPING CHARGES, HOME CONFINEMENT, AND NOT HOLDING CRIMINALS RESPONSIBLE OR ACCOUNTABLE FOR CRIMES COMMITTED WHILE ARMED IS LIKEN TO A DOG CHASING HIS TAIL.
Bob Angone is a Marine VETERAN and a retired Chicago Police Lieutenant. He worked his entire Career covering the streets of Chicago as a Tactical Officer, Tactical Sergeant, and Tactical Lieutenant. His last assignments were in special Functions, he was the C/O of the CPD Swat teams his last five years and was an HBT (Hostage Barricade Terrorist) Sergeant for 10 years.
The appearance of our hair is largely determined by genetics. We inherit our hair type from our ancestors. My father had thick hair, so I have thick hair. Although genetics play a major role in the appearance of our hair. It is not the only thing that plays a factor. There are other components that influence its appearance. Our age, hormones, nutrient deficiencies, health, and diet can impact our hair.
Yes, genetics is the foundation for the appearance of our hair; however, we can take steps to maximize its condition. Do not let haircare manufacturers convince you to spend a lot of money on their products. I have brands I like; however, I realize there is not a product that will combat unhealthy lifestyle choices. The best way to take care of your hair is to make your health a priority.
There are nutrients that benefit the hair. These nutrients include vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, B vitamins, biotin, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Practicing good nutrition is important for healthy hair. There are foods you can eat that will benefit your hair. Healthy food for the hair includes sardines, walnuts, eggs, shrimp, berries, salmon, and sweet potatoes. Sardines and Salmon have omega-3 fatty acids. Sweet potatoes and spinach contain vitamin A and eggs contain protein and biotin.
There are foods you want to avoid or consume in minimum amounts. Reduce the consumption of sugar and processed foods including white bread, cakes, pastries, and white pasta. There is a belief that high sugar levels have a negative impact on hair growth. Avoid eating fish like Swordfish and Mackerel because they are high in mercury which can cause hair loss.
Stress can cause hair loss. Do your best to take steps to reduce it. Excessive alcohol drinking can also cause hair loss because it impacts the nutrients in your body. Smoking can cause premature graying and make hair dull and brittle. There are medical conditions that can cause hair loss. If you have hair loss, talk to your doctor to make sure there are not any underlying health conditions.
This blog is not to make anyone feel bad about their hair. I believe that people should be comfortable with themselves. Appreciate your hair type. Do not compare yourself to others, just make the best of what you have been given.
I have been interested in preventive medicine since my childhood. In the 70s, my aunt would take me with her to meet with a doctor who emphasized preventive medicine. A lot of the things that doctor discussed then has become standard today.
Cubs fans like to razz Brewers fans with this nickname for American Family Field, formerly Miller Park. It used to be pretty perfect not only because of all the Cubs jerseys in the stands, but also because the visitors routinely lit up the scoreboard.
In 2015 — when they really took off — the Cubs were 8-2 in Milwaukee, including a pair of series sweeps. In 2017, they were 7-3 in Milwaukee. In 2018, they won four of their first five games there — but the tables were about to turn.
The Cubs won the opener of a June series at Miller Park, giving them a 4-1 season record there and an utterly dominant 8-1 season record against the Brewers. But the Cubs were shut out in the last two games of the series and went 2-8 head-to-head the rest of the way, a final, embarrassing, offensively fruitless 3-1 loss coming in the Game 163 division tiebreaker at the actual Wrigley Field.
The Cubs were 3-7 in Milwaukee in 2019 and have lost 12 of their last 18 games there. Wrigley North? More like the House of Horrors. And that’s where the Cubs and their sleepy bats will be for three games beginning Monday.
This “American Family Field” thing is going to take some getting used to, but the name is the name. The nickname is another story. These days, it just plain misses the mark.
The Hawks are 3-0 in Columbus this season, with Patrick Kane piling up six points in those games. He’ll have a great chance to add to that total now that the Jackets are focusing their entire defensive game plan on stopping Wyatt Kalynuk.
This Vucevic guy looks like a keeper.Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
OK, so it’s not quite Kareem vs. Wilt, but Nikola Vucevic vs. Jonas Valanciunas is a sneaky-good center matchup. Don’t be afraid to pronounce those names correctly, folks.
TUE 13
Cubs at Brewers (6:40 p.m., Marquee)
The Cubs can’t hit, but Kyle Hendricks sure can pitch. So can the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff. When these two squared off last week at Wrigley Field, they combined to throw 13 scoreless innings. Who cracks first?
Indians at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)
Whoa — talk about a pitching matchup. Cleveland’s Shane Bieber is coming off a Cy Young season. All Lucas Giolito has allowed these division rivals the last two seasons is four earned runs in 33 2/3 innings. As a wise man once asked: Who cracks first?
WED 14
Cubs at Brewers (12:40 p.m., Marquee)
Question: Who, in his first two outings of the season, became the first pitcher in modern history to make consecutive starts of six-plus innings with no walks and no more than one hit allowed? Answer: Corbin Burnes, son. He takes the bump for the hosts today.
Magic at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
It won’t be easy, but we’re going to have to take a look at Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter in Magic uniforms, shed a few tears over what might have been and then just try to move on with our lives.
Who’s having more fun than Mercedes?Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
THU 15
Indians at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)
We don’t know what’s better about Yermin Mercedes, his hit-machine ways or the fact he looks like he should be on a 16-inch softball field at Calumet Park. Actually, we do and it’s the latter.
WNBA Draft (6 p.m., ESPN)
All the mock drafts say the Sky need a point guard. Louisville’s Dana Evans? Stanford’s Kiana Williams? Whoever it is will own the headlines until the next time Candace Parker sneezes.
Red Stars vs. Portland (6:30 p.m., Paramount+)
The Red Stars outshot Houston 11-3 in their Challenge Cup opener, yet all it added up to was a scoreless tie. Can somebody find the back of the net, please?
FRI 16
White Sox at Red Sox (6:10 p.m., NBCSCH)
It’s still hard to believe sometimes that the Red Sox — the only team with four World Series titles this century — are doing the rebuilding thing. Who do they think they are, the White Sox and Cubs?
SAT 17
Braves at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)
Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting everything that moves, but reigning MVP Freddie Freeman is below the Mendoza Line. See? It can happen to anybody.
Blackhawks at Red Wings (6 p.m., NBCSCH, NHLN)
The Hawks have beaten the daylights out of the Wings this season, outscoring them 25-12. Not to tell Jeremy Colliton how to do his job, but he might want to stick with the game plan.
Cavaliers at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
In their first and only meeting of the season, Collin Sexton didn’t play and the Cavs made the Bulls look pretty pathetic anyway. So there’s nowhere to go but up.
Well, well, a season opener at Soldier Field. Not to get completely sidetracked, but Andy Dalton really does have soccer hair, doesn’t he?
SUN 18
White Sox at Red Sox (12:10 p.m., NBCSCH)
The White Sox have had only two winning decades at Fenway Park, the 1980s (31-29) and the 2010s (18-17). Might as well get a jump on the 2020s if they can.
Jazz at Lakers (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Utah has the best record in the league, but is it the best team? Sandbaggers LaBron James and Anthony Davis surely have their doubts.
Braves at Cubs (6:08 p.m., ESPN)
We know what you’re thinking and, no, It’s never too early to begin griping about Alex Rodriguez’s shoddy analysis.
After more than a decade of almost constantly pressing up against the salary cap, the Blackhawks now find themselves the envy of the NHL in terms of cap space.
Even better for the Hawks, this newfound flexibility comes at a time where cap space is more valuable than ever before.
The moves around the league ahead of Monday’s 2 p.m. CT trade deadline should reflect that changing dynamic and make clearer cap space’s true value in this new reality.
The flattened cap, which reportedly might remain flat for several more seasons beyond this one, took many general managers — who planned for the future assuming the cap would continue rising by at least $3 million annually — by surprise.
As a result, 15 teams had less than $5 million cap space — even including long-term injured reserve savings — as of Sunday afternoon, per CapFriendly. Conversely, only four teams (the lowly Devils, Kings, Red Wings and Senators) had more cap space than the Hawks’ roughly $20.2 million.
That imbalanced financial dynamic has significantly changed trades this year.
Talented but overpriced players, like the Sabres’ Taylor Hall and his $8 million cap hit or the Blues’ Mike Hoffman and his $4 million cap hit, have been more difficult than usual to move.
Even moderately-priced depth players have fetched much lower-than-usual returns. For example, the Red Wings received only a fourth-round pick from the Avalanche for Patrik Nemeth, even after retaining 50% of his $3 million cap hit.
For the Hawks, that means someone like Calvin de Haan — who will likely be exposed in the expansion draft and who probably isn’t part of the Hawks’ long-term plans, but would normally interest a contender hoping to add a reliable second- or third-pairing defenseman rental — isn’t worth moving. His slightly excessive $4.5 million cap hit negates almost all of his value.
On the other hand, taking on a cap hit to free up cap space for another team has become a lucrative business.
The Hawks on Thursday got Henrik Borgstrom almost solely by taking Brett Connolly’s $3.5 million cap hit off the Panthers’ hands. Arguably the three best players in the five-player deal all went the same direction — to Chicago — in the exchange.
And two three-way trades over the weekend provided intriguingly specific demonstrations of the cap space-to-asset translation.
To help the Lightning fit in ex-Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard, the Wings received a fourth-round draft pick solely by absorbing 25% (about $1.1 million) of Savard’s cap hit. To help the Maple Leafs fit in ex-Jackets forward Nick Foligno, the Sharks also received a fourth-round pick for absorbing 25% (about $1.4 million) of Foligno’s cap hit.
Monday’s possible frenzy of trades will create a larger sample size with which to assess how much each million, each draft pick and each tier of NHL player is worth in the confusing flat-cap world.
But that new Wings/Sharks precedent seems to be great news for the Hawks.
Even after taking on Connolly, Hawks GM Stan Bowman still has plenty of space to absorb another bad contract or two. Considering how killing just $1-$1.5 million of cap space seems to now equate to a mid-round pick, Bowman might be able to demand a first-round pick or acclaimed prospect if he assumes a legitimately awful contract like the Canucks’ Loui Eriksson ($6 million cap hit) or Islanders’ Andrew Ladd ($5.5 million) on Monday or this summer.
“For where we are right now, it’s exciting to be on this side,” Bowman said last week. “If we have another couple assets to add to [our current] mix, then we’d be a team in the coming years that would have more things at our disposal to help us, whether it’s help us on the ice or help us [trade for new players].”
PITTSBURGH – The Pirates may go on to lose 90-plus games this season, but they played like a playoff team against the Cubs and it wasn exactly close.
It was strong starting pitching that helped carry the Cubs during the first week of the season, but after Jake Arrieta’s start on Thursday, the Cubs didn’t have that same success in Pittsburgh. Combine the inconsistent offense for the third consecutive series with shaky starting pitching, and you have the makings for a rough weekend.
Sunday’s 7-1 loss to the Pirates highlighted some of the Cubs’ early-season concerns as they dropped their second series in a row ahead of another National League Central matchup.
“I would say we have to play a little bit cleaner brand of baseball,” manager David Ross said. “I know that [all] the mistakes didn’t show up on the board, but we had some lead off some of their leadoff hitters they got on base on plays that I thought our guys usually make.”
Pitching back in Pittsburgh, where he pitched for five seasons, right-hander Trevor Williams didn’t have a homecoming he was hoping for. Williams got hit hard in Sunday’s series finale, allowing five runs on 10 hits against his former team and forcing Ross to turn to his bullpen to cover a lot of outs for the second day in a row.
The Cubs were only able to get five innings from Williams and Zach Davies on Saturday and Sunday, forcing the bullpen to pitch 11 innings in relief. Extra usage like that has lasting effects on a bullpen and with another three-game series starting Monday against the Brewers, it has the potential to impact the rest of the Cubs’ week.
“It’s a game of inches and we executed the pitches that we wanted to, we went with the game plan that we wanted to execute,” Williams said. “We wanted to attack and it worked in a sense, but they did a good job putting the ball in play and singling me to death and then once they got the big hit where they needed to after singling me to death.”
The Cubs’ offense may still be in Mesa as they’ve struggled to score runs in the team’s first three series. The bats once again went quiet once again after an 11-hit outing on Thursday, scoring just three runs over the series’s final two games.
“I think as a group, we’re not having the right approach the first three series,” catcher Willson Contreras said. “That’s something that I talk to the guys [about]. We have to take care of that. We have to come up as a group and have an approach as a group. I think that’s something that we need to really work on.”
The offense went 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position over the three-game set and left 19 runners on base. Regardless of the Cubs’ pitching, it’s hard to win without having run support on a nightly basis, especially for a team depending on offense to help carry them in 2021.
“We got some chances today to get a little bit closer in this ballgame and we just weren’t able to capitalize on some opportunities with runners in scoring position,” Ross said. “First series so far that we haven’t done a really good job of that, in my opinion. [There were] some free runs that felt like they were out there at times that we didn’t quite take advantage of, but that’s baseball. They made some pitches when they had to.”
“It looks like we’re trying to hit the fastball and we’re not getting the fastball,” Contreras said. “So that’s where we make our adjustment. If you’re not getting the fastball, try to look for something else and then give up one pitch. We can’t go to home plate trying to hit two pitches at one time, so it’s one or the other. That’s why I say our approach needs to get better.”
Cary-Grove’s Jameson Sheehan (17) cuts back a run to score against Prairie Ridge. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times
Two new teams join and there is a shakeup in the top ten.
New additions to the Super 25
Prospect: So, the Knights have probably been overlooked for too long now. They enter a little higher than most new teams to try and make up for that. They are unbeaten and smashed Rolling Meadows this weekend.
Wheaton Warrenville South: Last week I speculated that the Tigers were likely to reappear in the rankings eventually. I didn’t think it would be this quick. The big win over Batavia gets them right back.
Dropping out
Oswego (3-1): As if losing for the first time to your crosstown rival (Oswego East) wasn’t bad enough, it also knocks the Panthers out.
DeKalb (2-1): The loss to Naperville Central at home was just too heavy to keep DeKalb in the rankings.
Fremd’s Ryan Saxe (1) is chased by Barrington’s Matt Kolder (91). | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
Appreciating the MSL and Wilmington vs. Coal City, another Metro Suburban star and more streak breakers.
The Mid-Suburban League is not one of the state’s glorified football conferences. The last state title the MSL captured was all the way back in 2005-06, when Prospect beat Mount Carmel 20-14 in the Class 7A championship game.
That leads to lower overall rankings for the teams and less attention from the media. State championships don’t have anything to do with entertainment value and watchability though.
MSL football is just a joy to watch. There’s some high-level talent in the league, excellent coaches and old, high-intensity rivalries. But crucially, the game is wide open and fun and most of the teams are evenly matched.
Ask any high school sports reporter and you’ll hear complaints about chronicling blowouts. Just look at the scores with games involving ranked teams every week. That’s generally not what you get in the MSL, which is so refreshing.
Rivalry fun
I was originally scheduled to cover Morgan Park vs. Simeon at Gately on Friday night. That game ended up being canceled, so I had to make a quick decision on where to head. I came close to heading to Wilmington. I’ve never seen the Wildcats vs. Coal City, despite growing up relatively close to both towns.
Cooper scored three long touchdowns and totaled more than 250 yards rushing. Cooper scored on a 74-yard run and a 66-yard run. Wilmington took the lead for good on an 11-yard touchdown run by Matt Sanchez. Coal City drove down to inside the Wildcats’ 30 but botched a handoff to give Wilmington the win.
The Coal City-Wilmington game is usually surrounded by a bit of pomp and circumstance, so maybe it will be a better spectacle to take in when all the fans can attend. But Friday night sure looked like a fun one.
More streak breakers
One of the major upsets on Friday included Oswego East’s 14-7 win against ranked, unbeaten Oswego. It was the first time the Wolves had beaten their crosstown rivals in the school’s 16-year history.
Prospect beat Rolling Meadows for the first time since 2015. The Knights dominated with a 48-14 win and are now a perfect 4-0 on the season and will face Buffalo Grove (4-0) in a battle for first place in the Mid-Suburban League East and place in the league’s Week 6 title game.
NIU recruit Luke Zardin had 11 carries for 152 yards and three touchdowns for Prospect.
Metro Suburban star
St. Francis quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, an ISU recruit, threw six touchdown passes in his team’s 57-7 win on the road against Riverside-Brookfield. The senior has been red hot all season. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for one against Aurora Christian in Week 3 and opened plenty of eyes by leading the Spartans to a 28-0 win against perennial powerhouse IC Catholic and Kyle Franklin in Week 1.
Rittenhouse had 232 yards passing and three touchdowns against IC Catholic.
Following Thursday’s home opener, most of the White Sox received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. | Getty
Sox general manager Rick Hahn said over 90% of the traveling party was vaccinated after Thursday’s home opener.
Thursday was a pretty good day for the White Sox. Playing in front of home fans for the first time since 2019, Lance Lynn threw a complete-game shutout and Yermin Mercedes continued his journey to becoming a cult hero by blasting a 485-foot home run.
But those aren’t the only reasons the Sox will view that date so fondly.
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Royals, the team announced that “virtually the entire White Sox traveling party” received a COVID-19 vaccine following Thursday’s home opener. The optional vaccines were the one-time Johnson & Johnson version and administered at the ballpark by Rush University Medical Center personnel.
Sox general manager Rick Hahn said over 90% of the traveling party was vaccinated. At this point, the Sox have not reached the 85% threshold because the team has not been able to offer vaccines to all of the players and staff at the Schaumburg alternate site. The 85% mark is important because when a team reaches it, MLB will relax safety protocols for that club, though Hahn anticipates surpassing that level when they get more access to vaccines.
“We are thrilled with where we are at,” Hahn said.
Hahn and manager Tony La Russa sounded especially happy with how much the team bought in to getting vaccinated. While acknowledging the obvious individual benefits, Hahn said it goes beyond that. He said it sends a great message to the community and a great message about being a good teammate.
La Russa, who received a vaccine before the start of spring training, echoed what Hahn said. He didn’t go player to player talking about the vaccines, leaving it to medical professionals to inform the team.
“It’s an independent decision times 26 or 40, but I do know that they got a lot of information,” La Russa said. “It’s a big issue. It’s not something that you decide on lightly. But there’s a lot of community in what the final outcome was, which is good for us.”
Infielder Danny Mendick said he’s one of the Sox players who was vaccinated. He did it for the team, his family and everybody around him.
Mendick admitted he felt “a little crummy” Friday after getting inoculated, but that seemed like a small price to pay for peace of mind. The Sox scheduled the vaccinations around Friday’s off-day, and had another day to recover when Saturday’s game was postponed four hours before the scheduled first pitch.
“I think it’s pretty cool to see that all the guys pretty much went in there and got the vaccine for everybody else. You know what I mean?” Mendick said. “It helps for families, for road trips and different things like that. It shows that everyone has bought in. We got a 162-game season so it’s great to get it started like this.”
Sunday’s news doesn’t mean the Sox are completely free of COVID-19 concerns. The pandemic is still a part of everybody’s lives and requires precautions to be taken, regardless of whether they’re part of a major-league baseball team that had access to numerous vaccines.
Thursday’s inoculations, however, will lower Hahn’s worries about the coronavirus infiltrating the Sox clubhouse.
“Quite frankly, one of the strong benefits of the participation, the vaccination program is that when my phone rings and it’s (athletic trainer) James Kruk on the other end it’s more likely to be an actual baseball injury than it is something COVID-related,” Hahn said. “Having dealt with all of last summer and spring this year with that risk, I would say that there’s actually a little bit of comfort spending our time talking about hamstrings instead of a pandemic.”
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