Former WIU safety Fitzpatrick tackles unique new role with creativityon January 2, 2021 at 2:48 pm

Prairie State Pigskin

Former WIU safety Fitzpatrick tackles unique new role with creativity

Former WIU safety Fitzpatrick tackles unique new role with creativityon January 2, 2021 at 2:48 pm Read More »

Professional sports bettor Noah Parker on his days as a tout: Call ’em up, then just reel ’em inon January 2, 2021 at 1:30 pm

LAS VEGAS — The elderly wife of the elderly man yanked the telephone receiver from her husband’s paw.

”I told you guys to stop calling!” she yelled. ”And I told him to stop answering!”

”Ma’am,” Vegas sports tout Noah Parker said, ”I’m just trying to make you guys some money.”

”Don’t ever call again!”

Click.

Parker, though, had learned never to take no for an answer. The next day, he called the number. The man answered. The woman wasn’t home.

”Sorry,” he told Parker. ”She saw the credit-card bill.”

Parker shifted into his spiel.

”Understandable, sir,” Parker said. ”Let’s just get some winners tonight.”

Parker had sensed — accurately — that they had established a rapport. The man read a credit-card number.

That was years ago, but the sports-tout song remains the same. Seeking some ”professional” advice about the Packers-Bears battle Sunday or the Illinois-Northwestern hoops game Thursday?

Internet, magazine and radio tout ads abound, often with a Vegas sheen to convey legitimacy. Ring that number, and someone like Parker will answer or call back soon, courtesy of a recording-service trap.

”It’s never gonna go away because sports gambling is never going away,” Parker said. ”I know firsthand it’s all just words, just air. But it’s worked for years. A never-ending cycle of hustle, but we’re just throwing darts at a board.”

TWO PACINOS and A LITTLE LIOTTA

Such touts prey on the desperate, the greenhorns and the gullible. To the rational, the lines are comical. Sports betting, however, grinds without mercy its many irrational mugs into mincemeat.

A nationally syndicated radio spot airs Saturday mornings.

”Turn a grand into $8,000, $10,000 into $80,000, with our three plays. . . . I’m red-hot, hittin’ 85%. . . . Absolutely free. Today is your day. Just call 1-888 . . . ”

Clever characters like Parker lie in wait at that number.

He’s two versions of Al Pacino, whose aggressive Walter Abrams runs a tout hotline in ”Two For The Money” and whose slick Ricky Roma peddles Florida real estate in ”Glengarry Glen Ross,” with a keen Ray Liotta “Goodfellas” voice-over.

”You’re manipulating them: ‘We’re in Vegas, and you’re in Wisconsin. What do you know?’ ” Parker said. ”Any excuse, you have a response ready. As long as they don’t hang up, you’re still reeling them in.”

The monthly package is $2,499, but for you we’ll reduce it to $1,499. Having a bad run, sir? My boss, Parker coos, has OK’d $999.

”Yeah? Cool. We’ll run the card.”

Running that card is the whole game. He would keep 50% of the money he’d generate, get a check every Friday. Two grand was common. He once made $5,000. Some competitors offered 60% or 75% commission rates.

A cubicle-mate once tapped a dowager for a year of selections — at $4,999 — mere weeks after she already had paid that price for that service. The double-dip worked.

Parker made it seem as though he had inside information.

”Football is probably the easiest sport to fix,” he said. ”A ref can throw that flag whenever. In the pros, though, everyone is watching, so I’d stick to unranked college teams — not mid-majors, but not Clemson-Alabama.

”I never said ‘fix.’ I would say, ‘We’re involved.’ I wanted them to think I had influence on the game, so they’d want to buy, even pay more.”

Having provided a winner, he’d ring clients without a play.

”Made it sound as if I knew what I’m doing,” Parker said. ” ‘We’re taking the day off, but tomorrow will be huge!’ They’d be so fired up, just waiting for your call.”

Ensconced in a strip mall, the office had maybe 10 cubicles. A white dry-erase board at the front, names in order of daily money earned. At the end of the week, the top name got a $50 bonus. Parker never got it.

”A guy next to me, Johnny, maybe 5-2 and 145 pounds soaking wet, knew nothing about sports,” Parker said. ”He’d say, ‘The Atlanta team.’ Didn’t even know they were the Falcons, but he could [expletive] sell. His name always topped that board. He’d say, ‘I know howda sell, howda talk these guys into buyin’ packages.’ That’s all that mattered.”

A GOOD HUSTLE

Born in New York, Parker moved to Vegas with his family. After graduating high school in the wake of 9/11, he entered the Marines to settle scores. Not yet 18, a parent had to co-sign his enlistment papers. He settled many scores in the Middle East.

He returned to Vegas and drifted between menial gigs. A friend recommended he turn his sports passion and knowledge into a living.

Twenty-three when he started, he was handed a list of leads — people who either had made that call or, even better, had a purchasing record — and a sheet of introductory lines.

Nothing more. No five-star selections or a featured triple-platinum play of the day. The boss laughed, telling Parker, ”We just give you the leads, and you go to work.”

Parker shook his head.

”Nobody knew [expletive],” he said.

After two penniless weeks, he started concocting counters to excuses and developed fictitious company names, such as G and L (Good and Lucky), Vegas Sports and Vegas’s Finest.

He got lazy, relying on repeat clientele instead of chumming for new business. The shenanigans became boring. Today Parker, 36, supports himself and two young children as a professional sports bettor.

He addressed guilt before I broached the subject.

”I did start feeling like I was almost stealing,” he said. ”I’d think, ‘Man, I might be screwing up this guy’s life.’ But I got a winner tonight, and I want you to play it! I was just trying to pay the rent.

”Others were making so much more money than me, you throw all that conscience [expletive] out. It’s a good hustle. It works.”

Anyone pondering making that call for the Surefire Viva Las Vegas Special should heed Parker’s sage counsel.

”Eventually, you’ll want to change your phone number,” he said. ”Everybody will have it. Don’t get involved. You’ll save yourself time, money and hassle.”

Professional sports bettor Noah Parker on his days as a tout: Call ’em up, then just reel ’em inon January 2, 2021 at 1:30 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Sunday will define Mitch Trubisky’s tenure in Chicagoon January 2, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Why Sunday’s week 17 matchup against the Green Bay Packers will define Mitch Trubisky’s tenure with the Chicago Bears.

There are a number of words that could be used to describe the current state of the Chicago Bears franchise depending on who you’re talking to. Some use optimism because the Bears have a shot at the playoffs after losing six straight games in 2020. Others would say they’re pessimistic, citing the fact that General Manager Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy, and starring quarterback Mitchell Trubisky could be returning in 2021 if the Bears somehow manage to sneak into the playoffs.

Over the last few weeks, Trubisky’s future has been a major point of conversation. Some say that despite how the 2020 season ends for the Bears, the franchise needs to move on. Others are in favor of bringing him back, using the reasoning that the Bears have finally figured out how to operate the offense and make Trubisky look good.

Now with the Packers coming to town on Sunday, Trubisky’s tenure in Chicago will be defined by this one game. Will the former second-overall pick be the reason that the Bears sneak into the playoffs? Or will he be the reason that the Bears miss the playoffs for the second time in three years and the third time in four seasons since he was drafted?

Since arriving in Chicago just four short years ago, Trubisky has managed to win just one game against the Packers, which was back in 2018 with Chicago knocking off the Green Bay at Soldier Field to capture the Bears’ second division title of the 2010s.

We all know what Trubisky’s tenure with the Bears has been like. It’s been filled with bright moments like a six-touchdown performance in the fourth game of the Matt Nagy era but also with down moments that have seen him toss multiple interceptions in nationally televised games.

Sunday’s matchup at Soldier Field is just another opportunity for Trubisky to show that he can play the quarterback position in the NFL and that a team can win with him, not necessarily because of him.

Next: Chicago Bears: Most important players against the Packers

Whatever Trubisky puts on tape come Sunday will have lasting implications for his NFL career and his time with the Bears. If he does well enough, he’s either back with the Bears or likely starting for another team in 2021. As much as many don’t want to admit, the future is uncertain for the Bears and Trubisky heading into Sunday’s game.

Chicago Bears: Sunday will define Mitch Trubisky’s tenure in Chicagoon January 2, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Legendary musicians who died in 2020on January 2, 2021 at 12:00 pm

I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes

Legendary musicians who died in 2020

Legendary musicians who died in 2020on January 2, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »

A wish for 2021: that we can care more about sports without caring less for one anotheron January 2, 2021 at 1:57 am

This is a column about idiots.

You, and me.

But mostly me, because I write about sports for a living and, even more idiotic than that, have done so throughout a pandemic that just keeps killing people. But then again also you, because you’ve watched sports and read about them throughout this very same pandemic and its very same unflinching cruelty.

Unless, that is, you haven’t watched at all but merely like to find people who write about sports and call them idiots (the more publicly, the better) because they’re so clueless and insensitive that they continue doing their work rather than wrestling with pain, anger and fright 24/7. In that case, you’re an idiot for failing to realize that a person can do more than one thing at a time: in this case, both work and wrestle.

So it turns out we’re all idiots in one way or another, and I’m certain of this because I’ve also spent nearly 10 months of a pandemic witnessing absolutely everybody both insulting others and being insulted themselves. About politics, masks, freedom, empathy, hate, love, sports — you name it. Whatever we’re insulting one another about, it all sounds the same because we say the same things.

“You’re an idiot,” we all say.

God, 2020 was hard.

Maybe 2021 can be easier? One way it could be is if we stop calling one another idiots all the time, though that might be too much to hope for. Short of that, here’s my own plan: I’m going to watch and write about sports and try to do those things without feeling like such a, well, you know. An idiot. Believe me, I’ve struggled with that — on a regular basis — since March.

So let me start afresh with this: I’m excited. Still wrestling with all sorts of feelings on the pandemic front, sure, but no longer where sports is concerned. I have a job to do, after all, and part of it is to be excited or at least try to be. Pretending to be was a move out of the 2020 playbook, no good to me now.

I’m excited to watch the Bears attempt to beat the Packers, which probably won’t happen, and get into the playoffs, which might happen, and then go from there, when “anything could happen,” as they say, even though these are the Bears and I’m pretty sure only something catastrophic would happen.

Excited to see what the Bears do with quarterback Mitch Trubisky, coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace.

And what the Bulls do with a chance to grow under a new coach, Billy Donovan, and with new direction coming from VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas.

And for Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews to come back healthy and strong and resume his wonderful career, even if that might mean skating for a last-place team.

I’m excited to watch Illinois — a Final Four-caliber team — chase the dreams it couldn’t last March. Northwestern has an interesting team, too, with every bit as much going for it at this point in the season as the NCAA Tournament squad of 2016-17 had.

Excited to have the chance to do better at following the Sky, the Red Stars, the Fire and other teams that know all too well about fighting for oxygen in the media, and to tell some of their stories.

Excited for baseball, of course, and the storylines galore that the season will bring. If this version of Tony La Russa is anything like the previous versions of La Russa, the White Sox just might blow the doors off the American League. It could be they do that even if this version of La Russa is a clunker. Which brings us to the Cubs, who should have a chance to win a rather terrible division even if a stripped-down version of themselves does a good bit of clunking.

What’s even more exciting than any of the above? The possibility that 2021 will bring us all back together, literally, in person. That we’ll share a ballpark, a stadium, an arena. We don’t have to say hello if you’d rather not. We don’t have to smile and smile back. Hell, you can call me an idiot if you’d like.

But it’ll be so damn good to see you.

A wish for 2021: that we can care more about sports without caring less for one anotheron January 2, 2021 at 1:57 am Read More »

Notre Dame Football: Season ends because Alabama is just too goodon January 2, 2021 at 1:20 am

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Defensive back Ronald Williams Jr. #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stiff arm linebacker Drew White #40 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the third quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) — ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Defensive back Ronald Williams Jr. #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stiff arm linebacker Drew White #40 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the third quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a really good season but Alabama was just too good.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football team had a great season. It was a strange year for college football because of COVID-19. The Irish were forced to join the ACC and be a part of their conference this year and play a full ACC schedule. It was a bit weird at first but they handled it very well. In fact, a regular-season win over the Clemson Tigers was the highlight of the year and they finished off the regular season undefeated.

In the ACC Championship game, they were beaten badly by Clemson in the rematch. It wasn’t a true representation of Notre Dame Football but it was just a bad game. Because of how good they were all season long, however, the committee decided to rank them as the fourth seed in the 2020-21 College Football Playoff.

They were matched up against the Alamaba Crimson Tide, much to everyone’s dismay. The Tide are so good and went into the game as heavy favorites. Of course, they won and are on their way to the 2021 National Championship. They pretty much had control of the game from the start and it wasn’t ever really in doubt.

Notre Dame had a good mindset for the game and wasn’t awful in the game but Alabama is just too good. They certainly had a better game here than they did against the Clemson Tigers in the ACC title game but it wasn’t enough. The Notre Dame offense had a pretty good day but they couldn’t out-duel the Alabama offense who has stars all over the place.

Mac Jones had a very good game for the tide. He went 25/30 for 297 yards and had four touchdowns and no interceptions. Najee Harris had a very good day on the ground as he had 125 yards on five carries to help the Tide move the ball. Another player worth mentioning is Devonta Smith. He had 17 receptions for 130 yards and three touchdowns. That is an average of 18.6 yards per reception which is just remarkable. He is a Heisman Trophy finalist for a reason and he may even win.

Notre Dame’s very good season now comes to an end. Some good players are going to head off to NFL Training Camps but some are going to come back. We don’t know what their conference situation will be next year but we do know that they should be a top team once again. All offseason, there are going to be people begging for them to stop making the playoff but that doesn’t seem fair. They were a very good team this year but Alabama is on a whole new level.

Notre Dame Football: Season ends because Alabama is just too goodon January 2, 2021 at 1:20 am Read More »

4th arrest made in murder of retired firefighter in Morgan Park carjackingon January 1, 2021 at 10:34 pm

The fourth and final suspect has been arrested in the murder of retired firefighter Dwain Williams, who was killed in a Far South Side botched carjacking in early December.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown announced Friday the suspect was arrested by the FBI in Pennsylvania on a separate warrant.

He was identified as Jaylen Saulsberry by the City of New Castle Police Department. The 19-year-old was being held at the Lawrence County Jail, according to a social media post from New Castle police.

“Great work by CPD detectives and federal law enforcement,” Brown said on Twitter.

He was held on a $2 million murder warrant, Brown said. Officials were seeking his extradition to Chicago.

Two teenagers and a 20-year-old man were already charged in the deadly Dec. 3 shooting outside the Let’s Get Poppin’ popcorn store at 11758 S. Western Ave. in Morgan Park.

Prosecutors have said the last suspect sought by police was the second gunman.

The defendants were part of a “carjacking crew” believed to be responsible for other crimes in the area, police have said.

Williams, a 65-year-old concealed-carry holder, was shot in the abdomen after he exchanged gunfire with his alleged attackers.

Williams retired from the fire department two years ago, officials said. He was about to return to work as a civilian employee at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

4th arrest made in murder of retired firefighter in Morgan Park carjackingon January 1, 2021 at 10:34 pm Read More »