2021 Lexus IS revealed [PHOTOS]Jill Ciminilloon June 16, 2020 at 12:38 am

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2021 Lexus IS revealed [PHOTOS]

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2021 Lexus IS revealed [PHOTOS]Jill Ciminilloon June 16, 2020 at 12:38 am Read More »

Billy — Petraits RescueChicagoNow Staffon June 16, 2020 at 1:12 pm

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Billy — Petraits Rescue

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With ‘copaganda’ TV under fire, NBC’s ‘One Chicago’ actors — past and present — take a stand for social justiceEvan F. Mooreon June 15, 2020 at 10:42 pm

The recent police killing of George Floyd has propelled some of the actors — past and present — of NBC’s “One Chicago” series (“P.D.,” “Fire,” “Med”) to take to social media to encourage their followers to educate themselves on social justice issues.

Actor Nick Gehlfuss, who plays Dr. Will Halstead on “Chicago Med,” posted the #GeorgeFloyd hashtag while quoting actor Will Smith saying, “Racism is Not Getting Worse, It’s Getting Filmed.”

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Two alumnae, Sophia Bush (Erin Lindsay) of “Chicago P.D.” and Monica Raymund (Gabriela Dawson) of “Chicago Fire,” posted their support for #BlackLivesMatter — specifically, Breonna Taylor, a Louisville, Kentucky, first responder killed by police who executed a no-knock warrant, and encouraged their followers to vote in the aftermath of protests over police killings.

“Chicago P.D.” cast member LaRoyce Hawkins (Kevin Atwater), a Harvey native, is also urging his followers to vote and support #BlackLivesMatter.

“Chicago Fire” cast member Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Kidd) tweeted the hashtags #DefundThePolice, #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd and #BlackLivesMatter, among others.

But while the actors are promoting justice, some viewers believe the fictional world they live in does not.

LaRoyce Hawkins of “Chicago P.D.” has urged his Instagram followers to vote and support #BlackLivesMatter.”

Earlier this year, Color of Change, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization, and USC’s journalism school authored “Normalizing Injustice,” a study detailing how television plays a major role in how police and systemic issues are viewed by consumers.

“Chicago P.D.” was cited among the series in which “wrongful actions were presented as ultimately good and forgivable actions on the part of ‘good guys’ in noble pursuit of the ‘bad guys’ and any limitations or accountability for those actions would only impede the pursuit of justice and the ability of [people in criminal justice] to keep good people safe.”

Amid the international protests by concerned citizens outraged by Floyd’s death, TV series depicting police are being scrutinized for a tendency to depict the officers solely as heroes — a practice critics dubbed “copaganda.” Two series tagged with that label — A&E’s “Live PD” and the Paramount Network’s “Cops” — already have been pulled from the air.

“One of the reasons we’re seeing so many cop shows under observation now and then shows like ‘Cops’ being canceled and other kinds of dialogue about the advocacy of cop shows is that the social reality we live in doesn’t match the media texts that we watch,” said DePaul University media professor Paul Booth. “Very few cop shows deal significantly with issues of racial disparity and policing.

“Very few of them [TV series] deal with police brutality, and if they do, it’s either like a very special episode, or the cops are the protagonists and we still uphold them and we still trust them — something like ‘The Shield.’ ”

The “One Chicago” actors could not be reached for comment, but “Chicago P.D.” actress Marina Squerciati has discussed a 2016 episode where her character, Officer Kim Burgess, shot a Black teenage suspect in the back.

“We’re a Chicago show, and to not touch the third rail [police brutality and race] would be kind of ludicrous,” Squerciati told TV Guide in 2016. “We’re at the epicenter of what’s going on between, unfortunately, ‘Blue vs. Black,’ which is a phrase that we use in the show. … It’s very important to sort of figure out how the two can come together and how they can work together, and what’s gone wrong.”

Like many of her “One Chicago” colleagues, Squerciati also has used her platform to speak to social justice issues.

Clarke Peters and Wendell Pierce on “The Wire.”

Wendell Pierce, a cast member of the critically acclaimed 2002-08 HBO series “The Wire,” tweeted a response to a The Hollywood Reporter article that focuses on TV’s struggle with an accurate depiction of police brutality; “The Wire” was the main subject.

Pierce, tweeted in part, “How can anyone watch “The Wire” and the dysfunction of the police & the war on drugs and say that we were depicted as heroic. We demonstrated moral ambiguities and the pathology that leads to the abuses. Maybe you were reacting to how good people can be corrupted to do bad things [.] … The critique here is that television seems to follow behind the current events of the day. I would ask that you consider that maybe ‘The Wire’ was a precursor to the discussion that is mandatory now. It was an indicator, a warning light, of the implosion we are feeling today.”

With ‘copaganda’ TV under fire, NBC’s ‘One Chicago’ actors — past and present — take a stand for social justiceEvan F. Mooreon June 15, 2020 at 10:42 pm Read More »

10 Chicago Restaurants That Have Permanently Closed Their Doors This YearAlicia Likenon June 15, 2020 at 2:43 pm

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The coronavirus has taken a toll on many businesses over the past few months. And unfortunately, some restaurants weren’t able to stay afloat. From neighborhood joints to large popular chains, here’s a quick roundup of closed Chicago restaurants that will no longer be dishing up delicious eats.

restaurants that closed near chicago — Photo Credit: Trattoria No. 10 Instagram

Trattoria No. 10

10 N Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60602

This Italian favorite has shut their doors for good after a whopping 30 years in business. With its proximity to various theaters, Trattoria was ideal for an elegant dinner and a show. According to a GoFundMe, supporters have raised over $17,000 to assist former employees.

Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery

Various Locations

Slightly shocking: as of May 19, this top-rated breakfast and lunch spot has closed all 55+ locations. Their website simply states, “Current market conditions attributed to COVID-19 and shelter-in-place policies have decimated company revenue.”

Links Taproom

1559 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Pour one out for our homies at this neighborhood favorite. On April 23, the owners said on their Facebook page, “Unfortunately, with the current situation, we cannot say for certain when or where we will see you again, but, rest assured, we WILL see you all again.”

restaurants that closed chicago — Photo Credit: Toast Instagram

Toast

2046 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Restaurant owner Jeanne Roeser announced on Facebook that Toast would cease operations at their two Chicago locations. For 24 years, the popular brunch spot was bustling with folks every weekend. However, COVID changed that forever.

The Windsor

4530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

Located in Streeterville, the American bar & grill announced on Facebook that they would be permanently shutting down: “Today, we raise a glass to our amazing team, guests, and vendors for making us a part of your community for the last 5 years. Today, we also close our doors for good due to the challenges we have faced from coronavirus.”

Monty’s Tap

600 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

River North folks will have to find a new watering hole — Monty’s Tap is officially closed. The hospitality group that operated Monty’s (Four Corners) even took down their website. It’s unclear if COVID caused the closure or if they shut down for other reasons.

Taqueria Sabor y Sazon

2018 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Owners Jesus Quiroz and Mercedes Cruz were forced to close their Pilsen-based taqueria after seven years in business. The couple stated that rent and bills were part of the reason for closing but also event cancelations and school closures made it difficult to operate. The community has raised over $4,000 on GoFundMe for the husband-and-wife team.

House of ‘Za

1939 W Byron St, Chicago, IL 60613

Chicago’s one and only Vegan pizza joint will officially shut down on June 20 after just one year in business. The owners shared on Instagram that, “With the current pandemic, as well as the enormous cost of operating a business in Chicago we are unable to stay open for business any longer.”

Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market

1258 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Lakeview residents will have to get their seafood fix somewhere else. Owner Glenn Falhstrom wrote on their company website, “The new restaurant model is asking owners to put employees in harm’s way so that their business can possibly survive. That is an ‘acceptable risk’ I cannot take. The restaurant business as I know it is gone and will not return for years. It was hard enough when the playing field was supposedly level, now it is tilted beyond recognition.”

Congas

7021 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 60656

After serving up Latin American cuisine for five years, Congas is calling it quits. The owner penned a Facebook post explaining, “COVID-19 made me realize the most important things in life. Having this time off from the restaurant made me appreciate my time with my family.”

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10 Chicago Restaurants That Have Permanently Closed Their Doors This YearAlicia Likenon June 15, 2020 at 2:43 pm Read More »

15 Black-Owned Hair Salons & Stylists Open in Chicago Right NowAudrey Snyderon June 15, 2020 at 2:22 pm

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Looking for someone in Chicago to do a great job on braids? Or someone who can do amazing work with wigs and weaves? These Chicago-based hair stylists and salons are ready to get their hands on your beautiful hair and create the perfect style for your day-to-day life.

Conay Control

Courtney “Conay” Elzy specializes in braids and protective styling, and is currently scheduling and taking appointments at her home salon while practicing COVID-19 safety protocols.

Terrilashae Studios

2320 W 95th St Suite 10, Chicago, IL 60643

Working in the Beverly neighborhood, Terrilashae McBride provides services for natural hair care and braiding.

KeyStylist Salon

1530 W 99th St, Chicago, IL 60643

KeyStylist is owned by celebrity stylist and industry leader Kesha Levy and staffed by five additional experts in different areas of cosmetology. Among other safety measures the salon is taking, only one client at a time can currently receive service.

Braids by Nikki

A stylist in the Auburn Gresham area, Nikki Thigpen has over 20 years of experience working with a variety of hair types. Her Instagram profile is full of photos of happy clients!

Huetiful Salon

Located inside Sola Studios @ 1614 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Huetiful operates with a focus on “women with natural or processed hair, wavy, curly, or kinky-curly type and textures,” according to their website. It was established in 2010 by Procter & Gamble’s Beauty Care Division’s former brand manager, Ken Burkeen.

Nandi Cierra

11614 S Western Ave

Nandi Cierra takes clients by appointment only, Tuesday-Saturday. She provides a number of services including lace closure, sewins, and more.

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Wand curls on curly hair extensions ➰➰➰ #Akute #chicagohair #chicagohairstylist #chicagosewins #chicagowigs #wandcurls

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Asia specializes in extensions and silk-presses, and she wants to get you started on a healthy hair regimen as soon as possible!

Pure Jaunty

Licensed cosmetologist PJ excels in braiding and providing quality haircare overall— she strives to provide her clients with a wide variety of options for their hairstyling. The phrase “pure jaunty” is described on her website as being “untainted self-confidence,” which is her ultimate goal with every client.

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How cute is this?! 😍✨ • • • • • • #comececeme #chicago #chicagoland #chicagohairstylist #chicagohairsalon #chicagohair #chicagohairstylists #hairchicago #chicagohairweave #chicagohairstyles #chicagohairextensions #chicagofrontalponytail #chicagoponytail #ponytailschicago #chicagoponytailkiller #ponytailextensionschicago #chicagoextendedponytail #chicagomiddlepartponytail #chicagogenieponytail #healthyhair #selfcare #chicagonaturals #frontalponytail #chicagonatural #chicagonaturalhairstylists #chicagonaturalhaircommunity #chicagonaturalhairsalon #chicagonaturalhairstylist

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ComeCeCeMe

8100 S Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617

Cece is a cosmetologist who, in addition to offering wig installs, coloring, and cuts, also provides a number of services meant to maintain healthier scalp and hair.

black hair salons — Photo Credit: EssenceVIP

EssenceVIP

2551 N Clark St (ground floor), Chicago, IL 60614

Specializing in the care and maintenance of multi-texture hair, EssenceVIP (headed by lead stylist Teresa “Terez” Zeigler) evaluates the condition of clients’ hair and works hard to provide styling that works best for them.

BraidsfromTheGO

Davia, the brains behind BraidsfromTheGO, conducts business in the Beverly area, where she focuses on braiding and protective styling services.

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Barbie Pony👸🏾 Super neat 🤍#barbiepony #neatponytail #sleek #swoopponytail #ponytail #extendedponytail #chicagohairstylist

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SlayByLexi

527 E 71st St, Chicago, IL 60619

The self-described “PonyTail Slayyer” specializes in a truly impressive array of ponytail styles, as well as quickweaves, all available for booking now.

Young Queens by Ally

Experience “The Ally Effect” and book an appointment for a quickweave, sewin, or other high-quality service experience.

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Serving SCALP but it’s a lace 🤫🤫🥰 #frontal #frontalwig #frontalinstall #lacefrontal #lacefrontalwigs #chicagofrontal #chicago #chicagoweave #chicagohair #weave #boldholdglue #boldholdactive #crimps #protectivestyles #babyhair #whatlace #linkinbio #tagafriend #explorepage

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DolledbyDest

At an appointment with Destiny, you can get styling, installation, and maintenance of wigs, as well as plenty of services for natural hair.

L.Michelle Hair

1447 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608

Working out of Conceited Collection Hair Salon, LaShawnda Michelle Linnear specializes in maintaining healthy hair, styling braids, and extensions; you can book these services with her right now!

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15 Black-Owned Hair Salons & Stylists Open in Chicago Right NowAudrey Snyderon June 15, 2020 at 2:22 pm Read More »

What Could the Future of Chicago Workplace Safety Look Like?Nishat Ahmedon June 15, 2020 at 5:52 pm

As we continue the slog through a COVID-19 world, and with businesses and office spaces opening up, it’s imperative to think about the ways in which we navigate and update indoor spaces to better accommodate our new normal until a vaccine is introduced. Thankfully, we don’t have to imagine this future from scratch: Fulton East, Chicago’s Fulton Market District’s newest commercial office building, hopes to lay the groundwork for what Chicago workplace safety in a post-COVID-19 world looks like with the launch of their building in late summer of this year.

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chicago workplace safety — Photo Credit: Fulton East

Bob Wislow, chairman and CEO of Parkside Realty, Inc., and his team developing Fulton East took in the concerns of the future tenants of the building in real-time from mid-March at the height of the pandemic, putting an emphasis on wellness, health, and Chicago workplace safety as the highest priority. While this pushed back the opening date from July to August, this extra time allowed the team to implement key safety measures at every point and turn in the building.

In terms of innovation at Fulton East, Parkside Realty, Inc. seeks to put the pedal to the floor. Fulton East is among the first multi-story buildings to implement airPHX technology, a resource currently used in dental clinics and hospitals to aid in reducing cross-contamination risks in both the air and on surfaces. To achieve this, airPHX (“air fix”) uses non-thermal, plasma technology to reduce viruses, bacteria, and mold in the building’s environment.

MAD Elevator Inc., a Canada-based elevator company, is the choice Parkside went with for floor-to-floor travel, utilizing their Toe-To-Go (T2G) elevator system. Instead of getting our hands dirty, T2G uses foot-activated call buttons, reducing the spread of germs by eliminating the need for exposed skin to touch shared surfaces.

Other modifications to accompany Fulton East’s design strategy to tackle a post-COVID-19 world include mobile phone touch-free key fob access and security (provided by Rosslare), touch-free thermal scanning at the entrance security desk for temperature-monitoring, Paint Shield® from Sherwin-Wiliams (a microbicidal paint that can kill more than 99.9 percent of aerogenes, such as Staph and E. coli, within two hours of exposure on all painted surfaces) on washroom walls, touch-free solar-powered faucets, flush valves, and soap dispensers from Sloan, and a slew of other features designed to keep the safety and health of all tenants and visitors at the forefront. The emphasis is certainly on reducing how much cross-contamination occurs in the building space, and the measures of having touch-free available as often as possible reduce not only the risk of the coronavirus being transmitted but also decreases the risk of other pathogens such as the flu and other colds.

Even the floorplan of Fulton East is conscious of social distancing and tenant health. Each floor only has three columns, which provides optimal and flexible spacing to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Of those three columns, two of them are ‘wet,’ meaning they can be used for kitchens and cafes. Floor-to-ceiling vision glass provides plenty of light and air for employees and the well-being of their mental health, showing Fulton’s East commitment to complete tenant-wellness. For a comprehensive list of all Fulton East’s features, visit their website.

Fulton East had the difficulty and luxury of adapting their design strategy during construction, and the example they have set is indicative of a more health-conscious future for Chicago workplace safety, regardless of COVID-19. Will these safety measures be the future of Chicago workplaces? What precautions have your offices taken in light of the pandemic? Are they enough? Let us know in the comments below.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Fulton East

Chicago Blackhawks Fans Rejoice as NHL Returns to Complete 2019-20 SeasonDrew Krieson June 15, 2020 at 5:34 pm

Last week, the NBA announced that it plans to resume play next month, and with the PGA and LPGA events over the weekend, things are beginning to look up for sports! If hoops and fairways weren’t good enough, the NHL also plans on returning soon. And their return can only mean one thing: Chicago Blackhawks hockey is back! There’s plenty of details to iron out after the league shut down on March 12. We’ve got you covered with everything to expect when the NHL returns and how your favorite Windy City team is doing.

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Welcome back 🙂

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How the NHL Return Will Work

While the NHL plans to return sometime this year, there is still no official date set for the comeback. The reason for this is because the league and the players’ association need to agree on details, such as a training camp, length of season, and all the different safety protocols.

Once the players do take the ice again, the league handles the health and safety of everyone is something to watch. Last month, the NHL stated it planned to test players on a daily basis. Most speculate that in the NHL’s return, teams are going to be confined to two different host cities. In these cities, the league will create a ‘quarantine bubble’ similar to what the NBA is doing. Players, their families, and staff who live in the bubble are expected to follow rules and protocols to mitigate spread of the virus.

As of late, the NHL and NHLPA agreed on the format of games for the rest of the season. First, there will be a qualifying round of the playoffs that’ll feature 16 teams in eight different best-of-five series. The remaining eight teams will play in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding in the playoffs. And we know what you’re thinking, Blackhawk fans: with 24 teams qualifying to play, hockey is coming back to the city this year!

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Like they never left!

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Can The Chicago Blackhawks Contend?

When the NHL season continues, the Chicago Blackhawks will take control of the 12-seed spot in the Western Conference. This means they will face the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-five series to make the playoffs. Our team hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2017, but hopefully, their experience helps them make a strong push. Some key things to keep an eye out for the remainder of the season will be player health and Alex DeBrincat’s play. The forward scored 45 points after 70 games this season, a lot lower than his 76 points last year. In order for our team to have a shot, we’ll need to see some life in Alex DeBrincats game for this final stretch of play.

Team health is another area of concern for the rest of the season. On the defensive side of things, while the team expects Calvin de Haan to return to play, Brent Seabrook doesn’t expect to see the ice until September. The return of Andrew Shaw is also unknown, which is unfortunate as he participated in the last two of the teams Stanley Cups. Hopefully, the long period of rest will help their recovery so they can contribute to the team’s success when the NHL returns later this year.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Chicago Blackhawks Instagram

Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa rose above Ken Griffey Jr.Vincent Pariseon June 15, 2020 at 11:00 am

19 Aug 1998: First-baseman Mark McGwire #25 of the St.Louis Cardinals stands and talks to Sammy Sosa #21 of the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago,Illinois. The Cardinals defeated the Cubs 8-6.

Chicago Cubs fans got to see Sammy Sosa dethrone Ken Griffey Jr for one season.

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals were both featured in the ESPN 30 For 30 documentary called “Long Gone Summer” on Sunday night. It was a film that showcased the single-season home run chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire in 1998. It was a season that the two both broke the single-season record and chased each other for the new one. McGwire ended up with 70 and Sosa with 66.

The movie did seem to favor McGwire much more than Sosa. That might annoy some Cubs fans but one thing that was apparent was the story of Ken Griffey Jr.‘s 1998 season. It was thought that Jr. would go toe to toe with McGwire for that spot atop the single-season home run chase, but Sosa had other ideas. He had a 20 home run month in June of 98 and that inserted him into the conversation with Griffey and McGwire. Roger Marris’ single-season record was in jeopardy at the end of June.

Well, Griffey Jr. fell off just a little bit which really allowed it to become a three-horse race between Sosa and McGwire. The race reignited a lot of people’s love for baseball after the 1994 strike made a lot of people hate baseball. Well, Jr. wasn’t a big part of it that year but everybody knows that out of the three he was the best player and it wasn’t really close.

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Jr. wasn’t a part of the big home run chase in 1998, but he did end that season with 56 home runs which led the American League. He was ten behind Sosa but he wasn’t much of a steroid guy like they were. He also was a first-ballot Hall of Famer and is considered one of the best players to ever play baseball.

Griffey Jr. had a higher career WAR than them and his 630 career home runs rank higher all-time than both McGwire and Sosa. It was a fun race between the two and Griffey was taken out of it because of Sosa. In the end, all three were great baseball players and regardless of how you feel about them, they all had great statistics. With that said, Griffey Jr. would probably take his total career without the 1998 chase over either McGwire or Sosa’s career.

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Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa rose above Ken Griffey Jr.Vincent Pariseon June 15, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears Rumors: Kyle Long has strong words about coaching staffPatrick Sheldonon June 15, 2020 at 4:18 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

Kyle Long has some strong words about the Chicago Bears’ current coaching staff.

Recently there were rumors of former Chicago Bears‘ guard Kyle Long returning to the NFL, possibly with the New York Jets. At the time, it was almost impossible to understand how Long could ever consider playing for another team.

He has repeatedly said, and tweeted that he considers himself a “Bear for life.” So when reports emerged that he might potentially return to another team, it was hard for Bears fans to wrap their heads around.

What wasn’t a surprise was that a former NFL player got an itch to return to the game. As we have seen so many times, it’s difficult for a player to walk away from a sport they love, which has been such a major part of their lives for many years. It’s even more difficult to walk away from a locker room and the camaraderie of it all.

It’s even less surprising to hear of Long’s desire to return when you learn that he never really wanted to leave in the first place — or at least not in the way he left the Bears.

Long took to Twitter apparently after consuming a large amount of truth serum this morning and disclosed that his departure from the Bears was not entirely on his own terms. He raised some eyebrows on Twitter with a simple tweet that read “Be you.” That’s obviously one of Matt Nagy’s mantras, so naturally social media began to dissect its meaning.

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It didn’t take long for us to learn exactly what he meant when a fan mentioned to Kyle that the Bears are still in need of a right guard, to which Long stated he would “wait for a new staff.”

I would wait for a new staff https://t.co/sWbjeCobTQ

— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) June 15, 2020

At first, it appears to be a direct shot at the head coach, Matt Nagy. However, Long went on to explain that he was effectively benched at halftime of the Las Vegas Raiders game in London, meaning that if he had any desire to return to the NFL it would have to be for a new team since the Bears believe he is done.

Next: Potential Bears cap casualties in 2021

There was always some mystery around the circumstances under which Long left the Bears. After his recent tweets, it’s starting to become a little clearer. Long may want to be a “Bear for life” but according to him, the feeling doesn’t appear to be mutual.

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Chicago Bears Rumors: Kyle Long has strong words about coaching staffPatrick Sheldonon June 15, 2020 at 4:18 pm Read More »

Did Chicago Cubs leave the door open for Sosa to return?Patrick Sheldonon June 15, 2020 at 3:00 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Are the Chicago Cubs leaving open the possibility of a Sammy Sosa return?

After last night’s premiere of Long Gone Summer, the conversation about Sammy Sosa returning to the Chicago Cubs is back in the spotlight. Perhaps it was the nostalgia of reliving that magical summer of 1998 in which Sosa and close friend Mark McGwire battled for the single-season home run record in a chase that captivated fans and even saved baseball.

However, it seems to go deeper than that, as Cubs’ fans seemed to have wanted Sosa back for many years, despite the organizations reticence.

The Cubs have had no trouble putting fans in the seats at Wrigley Field recently, but it’s easy to forget that prior to Sosa’s arrival, it wasn’t that way. But Sosa’s charismatic presence, his spectacular play and that magical 1998 season, were primarily responsible for bringing the fans back.

In short, Sosa’s impact on the Cubs’ organization is almost immeasurable, and yet, the Cubs have been steadfast in refusing to entertain the thought of bringing him back into the fold. It seems as though the organization is looking for Sosa to admit he used steroids and apologize for those transgressions.

Setting aside for the moment the fact that he has never tested positive, it seems disingenuous for the Cubs to make such a demand considering they benefitted tremendously from this era in which all teams turned a blind eye to the obvious.

’98 Sammy. pic.twitter.com/wMpUVOBEx6

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 14, 2020

Despite enriching themselves deeply from Sosa’s time with the organization, they have seemingly gone out of their way to distance themselves from Sammy.

However, just before the premiere of the documentary, the Cubs tweeted out a highlight reel of Sosa’s home runs in 1998 simply with the message “’98 Sammy.”

[embedded content]

While it may seem like a very small, or insignificant gesture, the fact that they acknowledged Sammy publicly in this manner is somewhat of a big deal for the Cubs. Yes, it still falls far short of the mark, and the reality is they should be actively working on Sosa’s return, but if nothing else, it may be a sign that the Cubs are softening on the idea of bringing him back.

Next: Sammy Sosa disrespected again by Cubs

Sosa wants to be back, and the fans overwhelmingly want him back. It’s time for the Cubs to give the people what they want.

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Did Chicago Cubs leave the door open for Sosa to return?Patrick Sheldonon June 15, 2020 at 3:00 pm Read More »

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Trattoria No. 10

Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery

Links Taproom

Toast

The Windsor

Monty’s Tap

Taqueria Sabor y Sazon

House of ‘Za

Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market

Conay Control

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Huetiful Salon

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ComeCeCeMe

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Young Queens by Ally

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View the Best Pizza Restaurants in Chicago, Ranked

How the NHL Return Will Work

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Chicago Cubs fans got to see Sammy Sosa dethrone Ken Griffey Jr for one season.

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