The ChicagoBears ownership continues to be fooled by Ryan Pace.
There are times as a Chicago Bears fan when I want to show up at Halas Hall “Say Anything” style and hoist a boombox over my head like Lloyd Dobler. Though instead of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” it would be blasting out The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” as a warning to the McCaskey family.
You see, the McCaskeys appear to be on the verge of doing what they do best — getting bamboozled by someone within their own organization. For years it was (and to a large extent continues to be) Ted Phillips. However, a new contender has entered the ring standing ready to wrestle the title of organization’s top saboteur away from the incumbent.
Of course, I am talking about general manager Ryan Pace, who according to a recent report from NFL insider Michael Lombardi, appears to have the full support of ownership.
Speaking on 670 The Score on Friday, Lombardi said “the word around the league is that he’s endeared himself to the family. I don’t think there’s any doubt that he would be back.”
If true, it would be as disappointing as it would be surprising. While Pace has done some terrific work on the defensive side of the ball, as well as modernizing a lot of the facilities around Halas Hall, his performance with the offense — and specifically the quarterback position — has been atrocious.
Remember there was a time when Pace legitimately thought Mike Glennon was not only a viable NFL quarterback but one worth a 3 year/$45 million contract ($18.5 million guaranteed). Then, he inexplicably trade up to No. 2 to select Mitch Trubisky in 2017, in a move that should have been a referendum on his tenure in Chicago.
Looking back, it is clear that Glennon had no business on a football field, much less as a starting quarterback, and Trubisky has been an utter failure whose fledgling career will always be judged against the two quarterbacks Pace passed on — Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.
As if those two catastrophic blunders weren’t enough to seal Pace’s fate, he is also the one responsible for giving up a fourth-round pick for Nick Foles and ignoring the quarterback position in the NFL Draft, despite insisting on drafting a quarterback every year upon his arrival to Chicago. However, those words, like much of his performance as general manager, was a farce.
Now, inexplicably, the McCaskeys have looked past all that and throw their support behind the man who has set their franchise back years with his inability to evaluate the most important position in sports? It’s mind-boggling.
There is plenty to watch for as ChicagoBears fans this week even though it is a bye.
The Chicago Bears are a pathetic football franchise. Yet, we sit there every Sunday (or Monday/Thursday) hoping that one day they are going to finally turn it around. They are a long way away from that right now but maybe someday. They have lost five games in a row after starting the season 5-1. People dubbed them the worst 5-1 team of all time and now it all makes sense. Their offense is as bad as it has ever been which leaves their great defense out to dry.
With all of that in mind, the Bears still have a chance (whether you like it or not) to be a playoff team. They are right in the mix with the rest of the mediocre teams in the NFC. For those who are interested in that possibility, there are a few games that you need to keep an eye on this weekend.
In Chicago’s division, the NFC North, it seems like there is no chance that they win it over the Green Bay Packers at this point. Green Bay plays a good Indianapolis Colts team this Sunday but they will probably win the division no matter what the outcome of the game is. The Minnesota Vikings are surging up the standings. They play a bad Dallas Cowboys team on Sunday and if they take care of business there, they will be 5-5 just like the Bears. Even the Detroit Lions are threatening to tie the Bears in the Division and will if they defeat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
None of the teams in the NFC East have any impact on the Bears at all. One of those horrible teams is going to win the division by default and the rest of them will have top-ten picks in the draft. Whoever wins the division, in all likelihood, will be worse off for it.
In the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks look like they are going to win the division. The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals are both looking to be Wild Card teams from that division. Seattle just defeated the Cardinals on Thursday night football so that game is over. As for the Rams, they play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
The NFC South is a two-headed monster. One of the Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints will win the division and the other will be a higher-seeded Wild Card team. As mentioned before, Tampa Bay has the Rams in a huge matchup of great teams. As for the Saints, they are without Drew Brees as Jameis Winston will lead them against the Atlanta Falcons.
As you can see, the NFC is crowded with mediocre teams and then a couple of elite teams right now. The Bears are hoping to be one of the mediocre teams that sneak in but a lot needs to go their way. For the bye week, we just have to hope that they get a little healthier and develop a good plan for the Green Bay Packers in week 12. It is a tall and somewhat unrealistic task, but you just never know.
Actress and beauty pageant star Adrienne Dore, 1930s.
I’m posting the Thanksgiving week schedules a little earlier to give people a chance to find Black Wednesday and Black Friday stuff; not to mention any locations that have announced they will be open for Thanksgiving outdoor service or carryout.
However, I’m posting this on the day that Tier 3 COVID mitigations go into effect across the state (Tribune). We’ve already faced bans on indoor dining and bar service, but there are further restrictions on other businesses, and gathering.
Because of the uncertainty of these times, I am trying to keep up and post new events—or cancellations—as I learn about them. Hoping that Black Friday events will be set once they’re scheduled.
But as always, be sure to check with your favorite places, or with any events you want to check out.
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Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
By 8 a.m. Friday, I debated shucking my bibs and considered hunting the afternoon in sneakers. Opening day for Illinois’ first firearm deer season came in almost too nice. But today and Sunday will be different with rain (maybe snow spits) and cooler temperatures.
By noon Friday, hunters had reported 6,669 deer, said Dan Skinner, forest wildlife program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
“Last year through Friday noon, we were at 5,377,” he texted. “Had a lot of standing corn in Illinois last year to start firearm season.”
This year was different.
“We had pretty good conditions across the state, though some hunters might think it is too warm,” he said.
The warmth was notable.
Curt Pazdro messaged a photo of a big 11-point buck shot out of the stand of his son, All-American bass angler Wyatt, who was in class at McKendree.
Gary Bloom messaged a photo of Erin Henne with a 12-point buck shot early Friday in Edwards County. Bloom, the great all-around outdoorsman in Chicago, missed the season with a mild case of COVID.
The pandemic brought the biggest change. The IDNR closed deer-check stations in CWD counties. But biologists stressed that hunters should still have deer tested for CWD and must report their harvest before 10 p.m.
“I want to take a moment and emphasize the NEED to still collect CWD samples!” hunter heritage biologist Nicky Strahl emailed. “We still do not recommend consuming CWD positive meat, and the only way to know if it is CWD positive is to get it tested. We have our biologists able to do that, several barrels, and of course our fantastic vendors that are working with us in sample collection.”
It seems crazy to me that the new Love Goes is only Sam Smith’s third album. The UK singer-songwriter made their debut in 2014 with the international breakout In the Lonely Hour, but it feels like they’ve been a go-to modern torch singer for much longer. Perhaps that’s partly due to the strange passage of time during quarantine, where a month can simultaneously feel like a decade and like five minutes. Love Goes doesn’t make it much easier to tell how long it’s been, since on first listen it’s not a clear leap forward from Smith’s previous records; its moods and sounds are similar to those on The Lonely Hour, and its lyrics feel like reexaminations of relationships introduced there. But closer attention reveals that Smith’s perspective on the tangled web of love has evolved over the past six years–the themes haven’t changed, but the takes have matured. Their lush voice commands attention, even through the forest of dance-pop production on “Diamonds,” which Smith created with Swedish songwriter-producers Shellback and Oscar Gorres, aka OzGo (separately and together, the two of them have made music for the likes of Britney Spears and Pink). “Diamonds” isn’t an outlier here: every song inhabits that familiar contemporary pop space where mournful heartbreak mixes with gentle dance beats. The guest artists on Love Goes also help center the album in 2020: Nigerian singer Burna Boy brings welcome flavors of reggaeton and R&B to the otherwise straightforward pop of “My Oasis,” and UK singer-songwriter Labrinth enhances the title track’s majesty with vocal harmonies and symphonic production. Smith skillfully evokes the defensiveness and sadness of the devastated on the album’s minimalist but anthemic opener, “Young”: “I’ve done nothing wrong / I’m young,” they sing, their voice shadowed by synth harmonies that match the exact rhythm of their syllables. And on “Another One,” Smith begins with pointed mockery of an ex (“Oh congratulations / You found the one”) and continues with a raw piece of passive-aggressive advice (“I don’t want him to hurt like me / Just please treat him like he’s someone”). You can’t be so irredeemably cynical that Smith’s heartbreaks won’t resonate at least a little with your own experiences–and whether it’s 2014, 2020, or 2022, you better believe a bunch of us will be out here listening through the tears. v
French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura expresses an effortless but firm candor in her lyrics (she sings in French) that’s cleanly mirrored in her music. Her breakout single, 2018’s “Djadja,” was a relentless kiss-off; its unwavering dancehall beat and bubbling synth percussion provided the perfect backdrop to Nakamura’s exhausted yet ferocious vocals. This synchronicity permeates her third LP, Aya (Warner). On opener “Plus Jamais” she sings, “I gave you my heart, I’ll never do it again,” then follows that confession with a spacious arrangement of pitch-shifted vocals, a soft synth wail, and a tumbling beat. On the forthright “Doudou” she calls out a lover while expressing a desire for more affection and honesty, and the song creates a fitting musical middle ground for exploring such mixed feelings: despite its shimmering steel-pan melodies and occasional burst of horn, it’s never quite boisterous. Fewer than half of the 15 tracks on Aya break the three-minute mark, and this brevity is crucial–it allows Nakamura’s emotions to come across undiluted, so that every song arrives like a pure shot of whatever feeling she’s eager to announce. Among the most potent is “Sentiments Grandissants,” where Nakamura sings amid gleefully fluttering arpeggiated percussion about the giddiness of having a crush. “Nirvana” is similarly sweet but more sensual; her voice drips with conviction and passion as the song’s nocturnal instrumental underlines her gratitude for her lover. Her previous album was titled Nakamura, and her choice of Aya here is fitting: it’s still all about her, but this more intimate portrait helps you feel like you’re on a first-name basis. v
It’s November 20th, and we are still witnessing 60-degree temps, what a glorious thing. As I write this, the sun is out, the door is open and the streets of Chicago are busy with walkers and runners.
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One of my all-time favorite bands surprisingly ended up in my Release Radar this week. I knew the Trashcan Sinatras were working on new music, but I hadn’t seen a release date. Well, today is as good as any other. “Ways” is typical Trashcan fare, with great lyrics and easy, breezy pop arrangements, with their original stamp.
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“Take What You Need” is a killer little ditty from JR JR, who just released a double album in 2019, and are already back at it in 2020. At times it reminds me of Vampire Weekend, with a hint of My Morning Jacket. If you’re not familiar with either of these two bands, now is a perfect time.
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Radiator Hospital has a sound similar to the Local Natives, but that doesn’t stop them from carving out their own niche on this EP from 2020, New Depression.
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This song by Marina has some really powerful lyrics, including the chorus, “I don’t want to live in a man’s world anymore.” There’s a lot to ponder as you listen to all the reasons why a “Man’s World” is holding many people back. It took me a few listens to decipher all of her points, but it’s something we all should consider.
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Another female voice I’m liking this week is Gretchen Parlato and her song “Wonderful.” There is some magic going on here for sure, in her creamy delivery and the funky instrumental behind her.
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Bleachers are back collaborating with the boss. No, not Tony Danza, the other Boss, Bruce Springsteen. It’s a very cool, retro-sounding performance that will definitely make some playlists.
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Another Jazz Cut Of The Week with Jack Jezzro? Why not? He just released “A Marshmallow World” and when I heard it this morning I had to smile. I do like Christmas music, especially new songs, they make the holiday that much better, and give us a much-needed break from all those classics if you will.
The way Cook County property taxes are calculated that Covid adjustment won’t save much
Maybe a week or so ago I received a notice in the mail from the Cook County Assessor’s office explaining that they had lowered my home’s assessed tax value in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. I got about a 9% reduction.
My first question was “Why are they doing this?” because I’ve seen no evidence that property value are going down by that amount – unless maybe you are in a condo in “downtown” Chicago. My second question was “Why are they doing this?” because if everyone’s assessed value goes down then, on average, nobody really benefits – just those whose values go down more than the average. And I’m not sure I’d expect one part of the county, or one home, to have a significantly larger impact from Covid-19.
Let me explain that last point and refer you back to my annual summary of the Cook County property tax rate calculation. The city/ county are going to collect whatever property taxes they need to cover their budget. They spread that amount over all the property values in the county and that’s how they get the tax rate. If the aggregate property values go down then the tax rate just goes up to compensate for that. The only way to win at the tax assessment game is to get a bigger reduction in value than everyone else.
So the assessor’s office actually produced a nice summary by township of the median reduction and the 10th and 90th percentile reduction. I’ve graphed them below, first for the Chicago townships and then for the suburban ones.
Across the city 80% of the Covid property tax assessment adjustments fell between -8 and -11.5%
As you can see in the graph most of the adjustments fell between -8% – -11.5%. What’s odd is that North Chicago got one of the lowest adjustments despite including an area (the Near North Side) that is seeing a lot of condo selling this year. Anyway, the takeaway for me is that my 9% reduction is actually on the low side so I might actually see an increase in property taxes for 2020. That’s on top of whatever increase is coming to cover our budget disaster.
Here are the Cook County suburban township results graphed. Because there are so many I had to turn the graph sideways. But the ranges of the adjustments are similar to what we have for Chicago – maybe even a bit more – despite the fact that the suburbs are believed to be on fire right now. Property taxes don’t make much sense.
Suburban Covid property tax assessed value adjustments were similar, if not a bit more, than for Chicago.
I won’t fault Fritz Kaegi too much for these anomalies. He’s doing a much better job than Joe Berrios ever did. Fritz’ value estimates were mostly based on employment data for the various areas and this process was kicked off a while ago. How was he supposed to know that the suburbs would undergo an unprecedented resurgence as a result of the pandemic and social unrest?
#PropertyTaxes #Covid19 #Coronavirus
Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.
After 20 years in the corporate world and running an Internet company, Gary started Lucid Realty with his partner, Sari. The company provides full service, while discounting commissions for sellers and giving buyers rebates.
Atlanta Pre-Teen Says “Kindness Has Not Been Canceled:” CJ Matthews Moves Forward with Annual Giving Event to Reach Giving Tuesday Goal, COVID-19 Style
Since 2017, thirteen-year-old CJ Matthews, founder of Blankies 4 My Buddies, LLC, has hosted his annual, charitable flag football game, The Giving Bowl, where kids play a game they love while helping others. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Giving Bowl will look different. There will be no game, but CJ’s passion for helping others is still there. “A lot of things have been canceled this year but being kind can’t stop. Kindness has not been canceled, and neither has The Giving Bowl,” says CJ.
The 2020 Giving Bowl drive-thru blanket drive and food giveaway will take place on Saturday, November 28, 2020, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Burdette Gym (2945 Burdett Rd. South Fulton, GA 30349). Attendees are asked to drop off new children’s-themed blankets, pick up a package of non-perishable food items, and register to vote if needed. Masks will be required for all, and social distancing measures will be practiced.
“I love sports, but I also enjoy doing my part to empower my community and kids around the world,” says CJ. To keep the spirit of the game alive at the event, he asks staff, volunteers, and even attendees, if they want, to wear a jersey representing their favorite team from any sport.
“The Giving Bowl has always been more about the giving than the football,” says CJ.
CJ has played and loved football since he was 3 years old. He did not play this season but is currently in his 4thseason with Atlanta Youth Rugby (AYR) as a member or their Middle School A team. AYR and professional player, Harry Higgins from Atlanta’s pro team, Rugby ATL will be volunteering at the Giving Bowl and sharing information with the community about the Tri-Cities team now forming.
Just like he and his family and partners have for the past three years, CJ wants to feed families and comfort kids who need an extra dose of comfort this holiday season. As a Giving Tuesday Spark ambassador for a second year, CJ is participating in Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving, on December 1. His goal for the season is to give 1,000 blankets, 500 of which he hopes to have in time for Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday Sparks is all about encouraging young people to take action around the causes they care about most on Giving Tuesday and every day. To learn more about Giving Tuesday Spark and how your kids can get involved, check out the organization’s website at www.givingtuesdayspark.org. To support CJ’s Giving Tuesday project, please visit https://www.georgiagives.org/story/Comfort4atlkids.
Each year, CJ teams up with H2H, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation for The Giving Bowl and other projects. For the past three years, H2H, Inc. has almost independently taken on the food giveaway’s responsibility. This year, Feeding GA Families will provide 200 produce boxes, which will include fruit and vegetables, dairy products and meat. This year, CJ is also proud to welcome to the team, City of South Fulton’s District 5 Councilman Corey A. Reeves, who makes youth empowerment a priority. Councilman Reeves fell in love with the concept when he attended the 2019 Giving Bowl and committed to helping to build the event in District 5, where CJ currently resides. “I was inspired to see a young man in his early youth who saw a need and filled it while doing something he loved as simple as playing football,” says Councilman Reeves.
“I encourage all young people to get involved in their communities,” he says. “It starts with you. Find what your passion is, something you’d do for free, and just do it!” exclaims Councilman Reeves.
Other sponsors include WellCare, Macaroni Kid College Park * East Point * Morrow, Atlanta Youth Rugby, C-Matt Sports Performance Training, I’m A Father F1rst, Forever ATL, Community Teen Coalition, Inc., and South Fulton Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, who has sponsored the venue for the event since its inception in 2017. There will be a special guest appearance by Freddie Falcon from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Blankies 4 My Buddies distributes blankets to sick, displaced, or otherwise traumatized children. To learn more about CJ and Blankies 4 My Buddies, visit Blankies 4 My Buddies.
Eraina Davis is a writer and entrepreneur. She has written for “Healthy Living” magazine as well as several academic publications. She opened one of the first pop-up shops in downtown New Haven, Connecticut called The Good Life, where she gave advice to entrepreneurs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, an M.Ed in Education and an MAR in Religion from Yale.
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