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CHICAGO — When White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and new second baseman Josh Harrison take the field together on Jackie Robinson Day on Friday, they will be the only Black double-play combination in baseball.

“You don’t see that every day,” Anderson said recently. “There’s a lot of young kids that look up to us on the South Side. I think it’s only right to live our story through baseball and play the way that we do.”

Just 7.2% of the players on MLB Opening Day rosters this season were Black, down from the 7.6% in 2021. That percentage has fallen consistently since MLB’s all-time high of 18.7% in 1981, according to the Society of American Baseball Research.

So on Chicago’s South Side, where the White Sox stadium is located, Anderson and Harrison have a goal: Show kids that baseball can be cool.

“I’m very aware of what comes with the things I do,” Anderson said. “There’s a lot of kids watching. I want to make sure I leave the right message for them, also lead them in the right direction.”

Anderson is known for the passion he plays with on the field and was an early advocate for bat flips. Harrison, who joined the White Sox after spending 2021 with the Nationals and A’s, has a motor that goes all the time. In back-to-back at-bats on opening weekend in Detroit, he hit a triple and then a double in spacious Comerica Park. He popped up off the bag with excitement each time.

Both players view such outward emotion as a way to connect with young fans on a White Sox team aiming to defend its 2021 AL Central crown after winning 93 games with one of the sport’s most dynamic rosters a season ago.

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“When more people are tuning into games and seeing people that represent them playing with a flair and energy, it has a heavy influence,” said Ken Williams, the White Sox executive vice president and one of just four people of color currently running a major league team.

Representation for Anderson comes in seeing players doing the kind of things that brought him to baseball after growing up focusing on basketball in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Harrison’s roots in the game run deep. His uncle, John Shelby, played a decade in the majors while his brother, Vince, did the same in the minors.

“It makes a difference,” Harrison said. “Having someone you recognize that’s lived it.”

Not everyone has a family of professional baseball players to look up to, but both Harrison and Anderson pointed to the importance of days like Friday, when every MLB player will wear the No. 42 on the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking the sport’s color barrier. Celebrations such as this one provide an opportunity for young fans to both learn about the history of the game and to envision themselves as a part of its future — especially important to both players when it comes to underrepresented communities.

“Jackie Robinson Day is something I don’t take lightly,” Harrison said. “All of us should be thanking him.”

Who is the greatest baseball player ever? We ranked the 100 best to ever take the diamond.

Top 25 >> | 26-50 >> | 51-100 >> | Snubs >>
Who is too high, too low? >> | Full list >>
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Which current stars are next up? (ESPN+) >>

For Anderson, it’s long been about more than this one day. During his seven seasons with the White Sox, he has focused on teaching a new generation about the contributions of Black baseball stars and creating new opportunities for young fans in Chicago.

He started a charitable foundation called Anderson’s League of Leaders with a mission to build leadership characteristics in youth who are affected by violence. In 2018, during a series against the Royals, Anderson took a group of young Chicagoans to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City; the next year, he did the same at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. In 2020, Anderson posted photos from Chicago to his Instagram while attending protests following George Floyd’s death.

“I’ve been tapping into the community since I came up,” he said of his early career decision to get involved in Chicago’s South Side.

There’s synergy between the two infielders and the team whose uniform they both now wear. Fostering diversity in baseball is also a priority for the White Sox franchise.

In 2007, it established a program called Amateur City Elite, which has provided over 230 scholarships since its inception. Its stated goals are to reverse the declining interest in baseball among Black players, gain exposure for young ballplayers in underserved communities among college recruiters and scouts and create a program that prepares each participant to succeed in life beyond the diamond.

“There’s no question in our ACE program, they see themselves in Tim Anderson,” Williams said. “And will see themselves in Josh, especially in how fun both make the game. They can point to one of them and say ‘I can be one of those guys.'”

Being a Black father is why I can’t and won’t be an MLB manager right now. Doug Glanville >>

When the White Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night, it will not be just another baseball game. And when a ground ball lands in the hands of either of Chicago’s middle infielders with a quick flip to the other and a chance to turn two, it will not be just another double play.

“I think African American people will really appreciate it,” Anderson said. “What are the chances of that happening? Two Black guys being the everyday up the middle combo.

“It’s definitely dope and definitely cool for younger kids to see that.”

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As the NBA’s 2021-22 regular season draws to a conclusion Sunday, teams near the middle of the standings are battling for postseason seeding with a special focus on the league’s play-in tournament.

Held before the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, the play-in tournament adds an exciting wrinkle to the end of the regular season. Teams were already less incentivized to tank games down the stretch because of the flattened lottery odds instituted in 2019. Now that the top 10 teams in the standings will finish the regular season with at least a chance to make the playoffs, more franchises will stay in the mix for longer.

The play-in tournament will be held Tuesday to Friday.

Here’s everything you need to know about the setup this season, including the matchups for the play-in games in the Eastern and Western Conference.

2021-22 NBA play-in tournament

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Game 1: No. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 7 Brooklyn Nets | Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET on TNT | Odds: Nets -8, o/u 230

Game 2: No. 10 Charlotte Hornets at No. 9 Atlanta Hawks | Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN | Odds: Hawks -4.5, o/u 239

Game 3: Winner Game 2 at Loser Game 1 | Friday on ESPN

The winner of Game 1 will be the East’s 7-seed and face the Boston Celtics in the first round. The winner of Game 3 will be the 8-seed and face the Miami Heat in the first round.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The play-in tournament in the Western Conference is set.

Game 1: No. 8 LA Clippers at No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves | Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. on TNT | Odds: Wolves -2.5, o/u 231

Game 2: No. 10 San Antonio Spurs at No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans | Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN | Odds: Pelicans -5, o/u 230.5

Game 3: Winner Game 2 at Loser Game 1 | Friday on TNT

The winner of Game 1 will be the West’s 7-seed and face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. The winner of Game 3 will be the 8-seed and face the Phoenix Suns in the first round.

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

How does the NBA play-in tournament work?

There will be six total games involving eight teams as part of the play-in tournament, split up between the two conferences.

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The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots, while team Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the play-in. Any team that finishes worse than No. 10 will be in the lottery.

Here’s how the games will work:

Game 1: The No. 7 team in the standings by winning percentage will host the No. 8 team, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losing team gets another chance in Game 3.

Game 2: The No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team, with the winner moving on to Game 3. The loser is eliminated and enters the NBA draft lottery.

Game 3: The loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup will host the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup, with the victor grabbing the No. 8 seed in the postseason. The loser of Game 3 also enters the lottery.

This means that the teams with the seventh-highest and eighth-highest winning percentages will have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the teams with the ninth-highest and 10th-highest winning percentages need to win two straight games to advance.

What’s next after the play-in?

Once the play-in winners, seeded No. 7 and No. 8 from each conference, advance, the 2022 NBA playoffs will begin Saturday. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is June 2.

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For over 100 years, the Maxwell Street Market has been the perfect symbol of tradition and authenticity in commerce in the city of Chicago. Its eclectic array of live music, street merchants, and food vendors gather together every weekend in a free open-aired market on the Near West Side to showcase everything from trinkets, clothing, cuisine, and more.

It was fully cancelled in 2020, as was most of the city. In 2021 it came back in a smaller, limited-capacity form. But now, it’s back fully. Beginning last Sunday, and every Sunday from 9am to 3pm, the Maxwell Street Market will be open to Chicagoans at 800 S Des Plaines St just south of Harrison.

The first ever Maxwell Street Market, centered at Maxwell and Halsted Streets and stretching from Roosevelt Road to 16th Street, was an impromptu market that debuted in 1912…or, the same year the Titanic sank. It was a multicultural phenomenon for the era and was dubbed by some as “The Ellis Island of the Midwest.” Today, shoppers can expect small novelty items and ornaments, incredible street food from a variety of different cultures, handmade crafts and toys.

Chicago’s historic @MaxwellMkt returns Sunday April 3 9a-3p!
From clothes and toys to some of the city’s best street food, you never know what deals you’re gonna find so be sure to join us for the opening of the Market’s 110th season!
Visit https://t.co/ctQgVXbgUK for more info. pic.twitter.com/ziyJjcq1Ha

— Chicago DCASE (@ChicagoDCASE) March 28, 2022

It’s the perfect place for any occasion. Bring the family after Sunday morning service? Perfect. Newly dating and looking for a weekend activity different than the usual? Perfect for that too. Maybe you just want to go solo and interact with the vendors for a nice stroll. It’s completely the atmosphere for that too. Simply put, it’s one of the best free things you can do in the city when the weather is nice out.

For more information and the in-depth history on the Maxwell Street Market you can visit the city’s website. Its full triumphant return is certainly something Chicagoans have looked forward to for two years now. It opened on April 3rd for the year and will run though December 18th.

Featured Image Credit: Enjoy Illinois

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CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed right-handed starter Lucas Giolito (abdominal strain) and outfielder AJ Pollock (right hamstring strain) on the injured list Tuesday while recalling pitchers Jimmy Lambert and Anderson Severino from Triple-A Charlotte.

Giolito is expected to miss only a couple of starts after leaving Opening Day after four innings on Friday.

“I’ve been feeling significantly better with each day,” he said Tuesday morning. “I’ve been able to keep my arm moving, which was super important for me in this process.”

Giolito was scheduled to throw in the outfield before the White Sox’s game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. If all goes well, he’ll be back on the mound soon.

“It’s a nice ramp-up, then get back out there,” Giolito said.

Lambert will take Giolito’s place in the rotation. He’ll start Thursday against the Mariners after throwing three innings in Triple-A last week. He was a fifth-round pick in 2016, starting three major league games in his career.

Pollock is on paternity leave anyway, so the White Sox said it would be better to just put him on injured reserve so they can assess his hamstring injury when he returns later in the week.

Severino, 27, has appeared in two games with Charlotte this season, allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings pitched.

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NEW YORK — Kevin Durant believes that Joel Embiid should be the 2021-22 NBA MVP.

Durant, who won the award during the 2013-14 season, said that while there were plenty of deserving candidates, he felt Embiid’s season was a cut above the rest.

“If I had to choose, I would go Joel Embiid,” the Brooklyn Nets star forward said after Tuesday’s walkthrough. “He led the league in scoring, double-doubles, his team won 50 games this year. Numbers were incredible. It’s a great year.

“But you can just close your eyes and just pick any one of the guys out of the top six or seven, and you can have a good MVP this year. That shows how great our league is right now and how talented our league is from top to bottom, but I would go with Embiid if I had to choose.”

Embiid has expressed disappointment with the way he is viewed by some voters — a theory that Durant backed up while discussing how narrative plays into the MVP voting.

“It’s unfortunate,” Durant said. “There’s a lot of players that have been controlled by their narrative. Some of it has been because of the player, some of it just has been because of the perception of other people about that player. In Joel’s case, more people just like Giannis and Jokic. It’s as simple as that. They just prefer them more than Embiid’s personality or his story, I guess.”

Durant said that from a basketball standpoint, Embiid’s numbers stand up against everyone else’s — even those of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, the player who many in the league believe will win his second straight MVP after the season.

“As a basketball player, people that look at just the game and what happens on the floor, narratives and who you are and your personality, that stuff really doesn’t matter,” Durant said. “It shouldn’t matter when it comes down to awards like that. But [with] Joel, [voters] probably just like those other guys better that you personally. That’s not fair at all, but that’s just usually how it goes sometimes. But if I had a vote, I would choose Joel.”

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In Durant’s mind, if a player wins a second straight MVP award, they have to do something even more extraordinary than what they did before.

“I feel like if you’re going to win back-to-back MVPs — like look at Steph Curry,” Durant said of the Golden State Warriors‘ star guard who won back-to-back MVPs in 2015 and 2016. “He averaged what his first MVP, like 23 points, seven rebounds, but his next one he stepped up such another level — if you’re going to get two in a row, you can’t duplicate the same thing you did before, in my opinion. That’s just how I feel. I’m not saying this is the holy grail. I’m saying this is how I feel.

“If you were to say Steph come back the next year when they won 73 games and average 23 points again, it just wouldn’t hit that well. [To] get two in a row, you got to go up and do something way bigger and better than you did before, in my opinion. If you’re going to get it. If you’re going to do the same thing you did before, you might as well go ahead and have another winner. So I think back-to-back MVPs are special and the season that you have to have team-wise, individual-wise, all has to come together in order for you to win back-to-back [MVPs] in my opinion. So I feel like Jokic has an incredible season, but Joel’s season was just as good, if not better. So I think he deserves MVP in my opinion.”

For his part, Durant said he played well enough to be in consideration for the award this season, but he understands that an MCL injury, which cost him 1 1/2 months of the season while he recovered from mid-January to February, is the reason why he isn’t getting more of a push for the award. He understands that “there’s a lot of what-ifs” throughout the course of a season.

“I see why I’m not in that conversation,” Durant said. “But I’m sure there’s a lot of guys in the league that play MVP-caliber basketball for their clubs. That help their clubs reach heights that they probably reach this year [without them], but when it comes to the whole league, there’s just so many great players playing right now, it’s hard to choose. But I can really say, it’s 10 or 12 of us maybe that can be in that conversation. That’s pretty cool to see that in our league.”

Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, who won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 as a member of the Phoenix Suns, agreed with Durant’s assessment.

“Kevin would be my MVP for sure,” Nash said. “I don’t know how many games someone has to play to be it, but obviously I just think Kevin’s incredible, what he does, and what he’s able to do to affect the game in so many different ways.”

To Durant’s point about winning back-to-back awards, Nash said that his 2006-2007 season was actually his best season — a season he didn’t win the award for.

“A lot of it is circumstantial,” Nash said. “Is the time, the year, the story, the narrative. My best year was the third year [in 2007] and Dirk got MVP. Every year there’s always a case for someone else so it’s just not a linear thing where the best player gets it every single year. It’s always kind of more, how does the season go? How many games did they miss? Who else had an exceptional year? What’s the narrative? So it’s one of those things that’s not linear.”

In Durant’s mind, the biggest key to winning the award is the “narrative” push that each player gets throughout the season. It’s a sentiment shared by many throughout the league.

“I had this conversation last night with a couple friends,” Durant said. “I’m not huge into narratives and I feel like that’s the main factor in winning MVP. Because when you look at all of these guys’ numbers, and their team records, it’s all pretty incredible — that three or four guys on that list are averaging 26, 27 a game. Rebounds and assists numbers are up. Their team numbers are 15 to 20 games over .500.

“When you’ve got four or five guys like that it’s tough to choose an MVP. So it’s always probably going to be about a preference about who you want personally, individually, what story fits the best for you as a voter. Because when you break down all the factors, it’s way bigger than basketball at this point.” Durant was quick with answer when asked if the league should just vote on who the best player is every year.

“But who defines the best player?” he said. “What do you look at as your best player? What’s the criteria for you as a best player? Everybody’s is different. People view the game different. They consume the game different. It makes them feel a certain way. Certain stories hit them a little different than other stories. It’s mainly, like, who are these guys picking? Who are making these decisions? That should be the question.”

Durant believes that there should be a mixture of players, media and executives voting on the award — and while he wasn’t sure what the right solution was right now, he felt like some tweaks to the voting system are in order.

“Obviously a lot of people don’t like the criteria right now,” Durant said. “So something should change, right? We’ll see. It’s a good conversation to have for basketball fans.”

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Do you find yourself simply going through the motions at work, waiting for the clock to hit 5 pm so you can jet out? We all do from time to time, but do you find yourself going to work every day dreading the motions? If your answer is yes, and emphatically yes again to the second question, then, you need to be at The Franchise Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on April 23rd and 24th.

Could you imagine if Peter Gibbons had the opportunity to attend The Franchise Show while wasting away at Initech? First, major kudos to anyone who got that reference. He could have kicked down his cubicle wall, flipped his desk, and headed straight there to connect with any one of the Franchise Show exhibitors who would have told him that making the leap and becoming their own boss was the best move they ever made.

The Franchise Show gives you the chance to see incredibly successful franchise operations around the country first-hand. When most people think of franchise businesses in America, they immediately think about fast food restaurants. But… While fast-food restaurants are some of the most popular franchise businesses they’re not the only ones.

At this year’s show, you will find everything from automotive companies, schools, restaurants of all kinds, to fitness and media brands, many of which are right here in Chicago! For now, confirmed participants (just a handful of many) include Chicago Stalwart Rosati’s Pizza, Ziebart, Minuteman Press, Bin There Dump That, Advance Auto Parts, Celebree School, and Crazy King Burrito. And more information are coming your way!

Full length shot of personal trainer guiding woman doing barbell squats at gym

Some of the greatest stories of Franchise Show past include those same people who came out for a weekend, found their match, invested, believed and grew something spectacular. Don’t believe me?

“So many people are looking for new opportunities right now,” says Fred Cox, president, National Event Management, who produces the Franchise Expo. “Franchising gives people the opportunity to start a business without feeling overwhelmed and alone. Because franchise owners have the support system of a company behind them with training, marketing and in most cases a proven brand, the chances of them staying in business past the 5-year mark are higher than an independent start-up”.

Or, how about straight from the mouth of someone who utilized The Franchise Show to change their life?

“I had considered the idea of owning a pub, restaurant or sport bar for many years, but felt that I had to wait for my children to be done with school before making the leap to business ownership. I attended the Franchise Expo in San Diego even though I wasn’t quite ready to leave the security of my full-time job. At the Expo I met Tim from Rosati’s Pizza. I had never heard of Rosati’s Pizza before attending the Franchise Expo. Having the opportunity for a face-to-face conversation with the Head of Development was perfect for me. I was able to get all my questions answered without having to search online for hours. After the show I drove to Temecula to a Rosati’s Pizza location for dinner. I met with the Franchisee of the store and he told me his story and experience with Rosati’s. That was it – I was sold! I called my wife and said “we have to do this!” Nine months later we opened the doors to our very own Rosati’s Pub.

Life is very different now. After a year of hard work we now have the operation running smoothly to the degree that my wife and I are able to come and go and enjoy more family time.

When I was working my corporate job I found myself missing significant events in my children’s lives. Now, I am able to arrange my work day to watch soccer games and spend time as a family.”

There you have it. Perhaps more so than any self-help conference, paying an asinine amount of money to listen to Tony Robbins tells you how to better your life by trademarking common practices in a loud voice. The Franchise Show is a real conference, with real companies, and real people.

So, why else should you be interested? Well, the conference also includes all the free advice you can possibly seek. No attendee is required to make an investment. Perhaps you just want more information for a future move, that’s available in bunches for you. It’s a one-stop place to talk to reps from the entire pool of franchises. And there are free seminars and workshops available to give you all of the knowledge and info you need to make the right decision for you.

And the best is yet to come: it doesn’t take much to move closer to your future success at The Franchise Show. After all, this event is your opportunity to meet face to face with representatives from top franchise concepts who want to expand or develop in your area. Attend the free seminars, get free legal, financing and business planning advice. Gather all the information you need to find the franchise that matches your skills and budget. Save hours of research time, compare opportunities and source valuable information in an informal, no pressure atmosphere. 

Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Hall D | 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018

When: April 23rd and 24th

Times: Saturday 11am to 5pm | Sunday 11am to 4pm

Tickets: For more information two-for-one ticket purchasing (don’t worry, even those are incredibly inexpensive) on The Franchise Show, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Linkedin for up-to-date news on the weekend’s festivities.

We’ll be there. Will you?

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Tim Anderson is one of the best players on the Chicago White Sox who are one of the best teams in Major League Baseball. He is also the face of the franchise and could be considered one of the faces of Chicago sports in general. When he talks, everyone listens.

There used to be a debate about who was the better shortstop in Chicago between Tim Anderson and former Chicago Cubs star Javier Baez. The answer looked like Javy at first but Tim Anderson proved to be way better in the end and now Baez is in Detroit.

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