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Movie Review: Pieces of a Womanon January 10, 2021 at 6:12 pm

Hammervision

Movie Review: Pieces of a Woman

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Affirm Your Way to the Life You Wanton January 10, 2021 at 6:18 pm

Spiritual and Physical Wellness

Affirm Your Way to the Life You Want

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The winningest high school basketball programs of the decade: No. 24 Aurora Christianon January 10, 2021 at 5:18 pm

When high school basketball fans think back to the 1980s, programs like Quincy, Providence St. Mel, East St. Louis Lincoln and the arrival of city powers King and Simeon are easy to think back on.

The 1990s brought us memorable basketball giants in Peoria Manual and Thornton, a few steamrolling Proviso East teams and the continued dominance of King.

The first 10 years of the 2000s included Glenbrook North, Peoria High and the beginning of a Simeon juggernaut.

Earlier this year we broke down the decade’s best teams and best players. Now, with every season of the past decade complete, it’s time to look at the Chicago area programs who won the most.

This list is comprised of the 50 winningest programs over the past 10 years, starting with the 2010-11 season and concluding with the 2019-20 season. Every team in every class throughout the Chicago area will be broken down in a variety of ways. But total wins, with winning percentage used as tie-breaker, determined the rankings.

We present No. 24 Aurora Christian today and will add one program a day going forward.

24. AURORA CHRISTIAN: 210-84

Decade’s biggest storyline: This past season Aurora Christian made it to the State Finals for the first time since finishing second in the state in Class A in 1995. Behind the play of guards Taaj Davis, Danny New and Daniel Walker, the Eagles beat Hope Academy to win the sectional championship and walloped No. 1 ranked Indian Creek in the super-sectional.

The Eagles were 25-6 and set to play Madison in the Class 1A state semifinals when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted and put a halt to the season.

Underrated highlight: The weekend Taaj Davis put together last season was one of the most eye-opening individual performances of the decade. Davis scored 112 points in two games on back-to-back nights — a school record 58 points in a win over Bishop McNamara on Friday night and 54 points in a double overtime win over Chicago Christian on Saturday night. The 58-point performance came in just three quarters of action.

Player of the Decade: Jake Wolfe (2018)

All-Decade Team: Jake Wolfe (2018), Taaj Davis (2020), Jonathan Harrell (2014), Dean Danos (2012) and Jaeshon Thomas (2021)

Other decade highlights:

-The decade produced seven regional championships and three sectional titles.

-The Eagles capped off the decade with six straight 20-plus win seasons.

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Chicago Bears: How to shock the Saints in Wild Card gameon January 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears need to do one thing to shock the Saints on Wild Card Sunday.

The Chicago Bears made the playoffs to the surprise of many. It wouldn’t have been a surprise when they started 5-1 but they went on to lose six in a row following that. It was tough but they won three of their last four to sneak in as the seventh seed at 8-8. They are lucky that the league expanded the playoffs during the COVID-19 season but they are in.

The New Orleans Saints are the opponent that drew the Bears as they go into the dance as the second seed. Saints fans probably aren’t as confident as they should be as their team has had a few recent playoffs collapses. In 2019 esspecially, the Saints lost in the first round to the Minnesota Vikings who were big underdogs. It does feel a little bit different this year but it is still proof that the game has to be played on the field.

One of the turning points of the season for the Bears was their game in week eight matchup against the Saints. They were 5-2 and the Saints were 4-2. There was a clear even playing field going into the game but the Saints won the game by a final score of 26-23. They lost by a Field Goal to a team with a very similar record. If they manage to win this game by snagging one more touchdown or a field goal to tie it and give themselves a chance, the whole season could have gone differently.

Drew Brees isn’t what he once was but he can still use his brain to win football games. He has shown, however, that the Bears defense is capable of beating him. They aren’t going to have Roquan Smith which is an issue but they need guys like Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Jackson, and Kyle Fuller amongst others to step up.

They can’t win this game if they let Brees roll in and do better than he did in week eight when he went 31/41 for 280 years, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. It isn’t a magnificent game in terms of yards but it shows that he can just win. Alvin Kamara is going to play in the game following a COVID-19 diagnosis because the game is on Sunday instead of saturday. This is one of the best running backs in the NFL so he has to be a part of the game plan as well.

As for the Bears offense, it will look completely different from what we saw in the week eight matchup. Nick Foles went 28/41 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It isn’t fair to say that Mitchell Trubisky will do any better but at least he is a different style of player. The Saints haven’t played against him this year. The Bears can take what worked and what didn’t from the previous matchup and learn from it.

In addition to Roquan Smith being out, Darnell Mooney is going to miss the game as well with an injury. It is tough because those two have been so good for Chicago in 2020 and will be big parts of the future. It does, however, make it harder to win this particular game. There isn’t any reason to feel completely hopeless.

Hot: The Chicago Bears should consider a Deshaun Watson trade

There is a good chance that New Orleans wins because they are the better team but stranger things have happened in the history of the NFL. The key is everything falling into place as mentioned before. The defense needs to step up to control that New Orleans offense that they have already faced and the Bears offense needs to step it up with Trubisky this time. Learning from that week eight matchup needs to be the biggest thing.

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Chicago Bears: Khalil Mack has to take over Sunday vs. Saintson January 10, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears will need a special performance from from their best defensive player if they want to have a chance.

The 8-8 Chicago Bears roll into the Mercedes Benz Super Dome this Sunday to face the New Orleans Saints. The Bears are big underdogs and it’s understandable why they are. The Saints are one the best teams in the league and are one of the true threats to the Green Bay Packers that hold the number one seed. They also will have Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara back.

On the flip side, the Bears are likely to be without star LB Roquan Smith. They also could be without WR Darnell Mooney, who has been a valuable weapon on offense. Factor in that cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Buster Skrine could be missing from the game also. This has the makings of a blood bath and fans calling for firings all Sunday afternoon.

The Bears spent a lot of money on the defensive side of the ball but if it’s one player on that side that can change the complexion of a the game it’s #52. For the Bears to have any chance at a playoff victory they need Khalil Mack to wreck the game.

With hypothetical fan trade proposals for Deshaun Watson this past week. Some have even thrown Mack into theirs, with some fans thinking it’s insane to include Mack in any trade. This is one of those games where Mack can prove that part of the fan base right.

The Bears are going to need more help if they want to upset the Saints. Eddie Jackson needs to show why Ryan Pace made him the highest-paid safety in the the game last year. Robert Quinn has to show why the team was confident swapping Leonard Floyd out for him. Akiem Hicks have to show why he’s the consider the most important person on that defense.

At the end of the day, this game will come down to if the high price defensive players are going to perform up to their potential. That all starts with Mack having a dominant performance.

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Man dies in River Grove fireon January 10, 2021 at 12:06 pm

A man was found dead Friday in a River Grove apartment fire that displaced more than two dozen people in the western suburb.

Firefighters were called at 11 p.m. to 3045 Paris Ave. and found a heavy blaze coming from the third floor, River Grove Fire Chief Sean Flynn said in a statement.

The man was found dead on the third floor, where the fire was blowing out the window, Flynn said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released details on the death.

Twenty-six tenants were displaced, and 15 other fire departments assisted, Flynn said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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The 5 Best Comic Book Shops in Chicagoon January 10, 2021 at 8:24 am

Do you look for a steady supply of comic books to pass the time these days? Are you a graphic novel novice who’s wondering where to start? Luckily, there are plenty of spots in Chicago that offer wide and varied selections of comic books, graphic novels, and related products. Check out one of these local shops to dive into new worlds of entertainment.

Chicago Comics

3244 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60657

Founded in 1991, Chicago Comics not only carries famous favorites (like superheroes), but actually specializes in “small press and hard to find indie comics titles.” In addition to the selection you’ll see on display at the store, Chicago Comics also has plenty of additional stock not on display, which may include a difficult-to-locate item you’re seeking.

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First Aid Comics

1617 E 55th St, Chicago IL 60615

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1142 W Taylor St, Chicago IL 60607

This Hyde Park comic book shop not only sells comics from all eras and for all ages, but they also carry plenty of games and other memorabilia related to comic books. The shop even has a second location in Little Italy.

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Challengers Comics + Conversation

1845 N Western Ave, Chicago IL 60647

Voted Best Comics Shop for Chicago Reader’s Best of Chicago 2010, Challengers opened in Bucktown in 2008, and has since established a subscription service, sold books by local artists on consignment, and stocked all sorts of comics for every kind of comic book enthusiast.

AlleyCat Comics

5304 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60640

Andersonville-based AlleyCat offers a wide comic selection and a friendly atmosphere for both hardcore fans and casual perusers alike. The shop’s website even includes a blog pertaining to new releases, trends, and more.

Dark Tower Comics

4835 N Western Ave, Chicago IL 60625

Catering to the steady comic book consumer, Dark Tower keeps visitors to its website updated on new releases each week and offers a pullsheet that allows discounts at certain purchase levels.

Graham Crackers Comics

See website for locations

At its three Chicago locations (in addition to many more beyond the city limits), Graham Crackers sells comics and all sorts of related games and memorabilia, along with a subscription service that includes discounts.

Image by Emilie Farris from Pixabay

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Chicago Short beer Week, January 11-14on January 10, 2021 at 5:47 am

The Beeronaut

Chicago Short beer Week, January 11-14

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Person shot by police during exchange of gunfire in Lawndaleon January 9, 2021 at 11:01 pm

A person was shot by police Saturday in Lawndale on the West Side.

Officers with the Community Safety Team were investigating a vehicle that was illegally parked in a tow zone about 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Karlov when a female inside the car “began exhibiting characteristics of an armed person,” Chicago police said.

An “armed confrontation” broke out shortly after between the officers and the female, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

Fire officials said the woman, believed to be in her 20s, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

Two other people who were also in the car were taken into custody and are being questioned by detectives, police said.

Fire officials said a 29-year-old man was taken to Rush University Medical Center in connection with the incident, but details of his injuries were not immediately known. His condition had stabilized.

Joao Carranza, who lives around the corner from where the shooting took place, said his brother-in-law ran downstairs and said he heard 10 gun shots.

“[I told him] to stop playing … but we saw the cops and that’s when we [got] worried,” Carranza said, who added it’s not the first time his family has heard gunshots in the area.

“It’s normal here to hear gunshots but it’s scary because we have our whole family and we get scared,” he said. “We always lock down our house, [we’re] trying to buy cameras because you never know.”

“The violence has to stop here because we have kids… You never know what’s going to happen,” he said.

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Corey Crawford retires as one of the best in Chicago Blackhawks historyon January 9, 2021 at 6:31 pm

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 15: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 15: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Corey Crawford is one of the best players in Chicago Blackhawks history.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been lucky to draft and develop some all-time great players during the 21st century. They have had studly skaters like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook but Corey Crawford was just as important in goal. He wasn’t the goaltender for the core’s first cup in 2010 but he was a huge part of it in 2013 and 2015. They were also a wildly successful team during those years in between but fell just short. Without elite goaltending, it is impossible to have sustained success.

On Saturday morning, Corey Crawford retired from the National Hockey League. During the offseason, he signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils after the Blackhawks let him go. He never played a game with New Jersey and only participated in a few practices. He had missed the last few practices leading up to his retirement due to personal reasons. Hopefully, everything is okay with him and his family.

Crawford is one of the best players in the history of the Blackhawks. He was never the number one best goalie in the league but he was the most consistent elite goalie. He won the Stanley Cup twice and the Jennings Trophy twice. He has also had three top-ten finishes for the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the league.

He finishes his career with 488 regular-season games and 96 playoff games over 13 seasons with Chicago. His final regular-season numbers are very nice as he had a 2.45 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. He was 260-162-53 in his career as a starter. There is no doubt that it was a great career and the Hawks were lucky to have him.

All good things come to an end and that was the case with his Blackhawks tenure. The Hawks weirdly wanted to see what they have in the younger guys and Crawford left. It would have been nice to see him play for the Devils where his hero, Martin Brodeur, played but it just isn’t going to be the case.

Related Story: Goaltending is going to be a nightmare for the 2021 Blackhawks

It will be interesting to see if he ever gets consideration for the Hall of Fame but the Blackhawks need to honor him in every way possible. They need to retire his number, give him one last skate, and all of the things teams do for their all-time greats. He was as important to their success as any player over a long period of time. He deserves respect from everyone in the Chicago sports fandom because he helped bring hockey to the forefront in a city that was starving for a winner.

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