CLEVELAND — San Antonio Spurs legend and four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili and WNBA legends Swin Cash and Lindsay Whalen headlined the 11 finalists from the North American and Women’s Committees for the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

The other eight finalists were: former Los Angeles Laker Michael Cooper; former Milwaukee Bucks forward Marques Johnson; longtime NBA referee Hugh Evans; longtime college coach Bob Huggins; longtime NBA coach George Karl; women’s college and WNBA coach Marianne Stanley; five-time All-Star Tim Hardaway; and Texas girls’ high school basketball coach Leta Andrews.

Ginobili – one of two people, along with Hall of Famer Bill Bradley, to win a Euroleague title, NBA title and a gold medal – became one of the faces of the Spurs dynasty, alongside Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and future Hall of Famer Tony Parker, and won the gold medal with Argentina in 2004, and a bronze medal in 2008. His willingness to come off the bench for the majority of his career helped turn San Antonio’s second units into devastating weapons.

Cash won three NBA championships, two NCAA championships and two Olympic gold medals on her way to being named one of the 20 best WNBA players of all-time in 2016. She also was a two-time All-Star Game MVP, and a four-time All-Star. Whalen, like Cash, also was a three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, making five All-Star teams and three WNBA First Teams during her 15-year career with the Connecticut Sun.

Cooper was one of the defensive anchors of the great Lakers teams of the 1980s, winning five NBA championships while earning five All-Defensive Team nods and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 1987. Johnson made five All-Star teams with the Bucks, and won a national championship during his collegiate career at UCLA, while Evans was an NBA referee for 28 years, a run that saw him officiate 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star Games.

Hardaway was a five-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist whose signature crossover devastated opponents throughout his 13 NBA seasons, primarily with the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. Karl has the sixth-most wins of any NBA coach, 1,175, and made the NBA Finals with the Seattle Supersonics in 1996 – one of six stops during his 27 seasons as an NBA coach. Huggins has been the coach at Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia, is one of six Division I coaches to win at least 900 games, and made the Final Four in 1992 and 2010.

Stanley, currently the coach of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, won a college national championship at Old Dominion in 1985, and later coached at Penn, USC, Stanford and Cal. And Andrews spent 51 years coaching Texas high school girls’ teams, amassing 1416 wins – the most of any high school coach, male or female, of all-time.

The class of 2022 will officially be unveiled on April 2 in New Orleans during the Final Four, and will be enshrined in the Hall on Sept. 10 in Springfield, Mass.

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TORONTO — Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment said Friday it will discontinue the proof of vaccination requirement for fans entering its venues, beginning March 1.

MLSE owns the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

The move follows an announcement from the Ontario government this week that it planned to slightly accelerate plans to ease attendance limits at indoor sports events.

Initially permitted capacity was going to rise to 50% on Monday and 100% on March 14. But on Monday, the Ontario government announced, starting Thursday, 50% of seating capacity would be allowed in large sporting and live music venues and increase to full capacity March 1.

MLSE said in a statement the only exception will be “in cases of league rules that require proof of vaccination for fans and personnel in close proximity to playing surfaces.” However, masking requirements will remain in effect across the province and in MLSE’s venues as well.

MLSE owns and operates Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Ford Performance Centre, BMO Training Ground and the OVO Athletic Centre.

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CLEVELAND — Manu Ginobili, a four-time NBA champion who spent his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs, headlines this year’s group of finalists for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ginobili was one of 11 finalists announced at a news conference Friday as part of All-Star Weekend events.

Former All-Star players Michael Cooper, Tim Hardaway and Marques Johnson will also be voted on for possible induction along with NBA coach George Karl and WNBA stars Swin Cash and Lindsay Whalen.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins also is up for induction along with Old Dominion and WNBA coach Marianne Staley, longtime NBA referee Hugh Evans and Texas high school coach Leta Andrews.

The finalists will be voted on by a panel to determine this year’s class of inductees.

The 44-year-old Ginobili retired from the league following the 2017-18 season. Along with fellow Hall of Fame forward Tim Duncan and guard Tony Parker, the Argentine forward was a key member of the Spurs teams that won titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

He also helped Argentina win an Olympic gold medal in 2004.

The Hall of Fame also announced New York Knicks Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, ESPN writer Mechelle Voepel and NBC executive Dick Ebersol are the 2022 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients.

The Hall of Fame’s class of 2022 will be announced at the men’s Final Four on April 2 in New Orleans. The enshrinement is scheduled for Sept. 10 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Celebrate the tradition and legacy of theatre in Chicago from February 17-27 at Chicago Theatre Week 2022. With over 40 shows to see, Chicago Theatre Week offers discounted tickets ranging from $15-$30 to some of the best productions across Chicago. Hosted by Choose Chicago, you can browse their website by performance type and date to see all that is offered this week. To help you out, we’ve rounded up a few of the most anticipated shows below!

The hit Broadway show Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of people coming together during the events of 9/11. When hundreds of planes were re-routed from New York City, a small town in Newfoundland welcomed over 7,000 stranded passengers. With dancing, singing, and a cast of only 12 actors, Come From Away masterfully reveals the best in humanity. 

Women of Soul is a tribute to the female powerhouses of soul music and the struggles they endured to reach success. The show spotlights women such as Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, and Janis Joplin and features historic songs like “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Respect.”

Image Credit: Broadway in Chicago

In a hilarious twist on a classic murder mystery, The Play that Goes Wrong is full of mishap and mania as actors stumble over lines…and dead bodies! Deemed a hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, this performance is perfect for the whole family.

Image Credit: PrideArts

When There Are Nine reimagines Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s last day alive, as she recounts her achievements towards advancing equality and reflects on the work remaining. Capturing her grit, humor, and deep concern for others, this fictional retelling honors the life of RBG while spurring on viewers to join her in creating lasting change.

Relentless follows the lives of two sisters, who arrive in Philadelphia in 1919 to settle their late mother’s estate. Once an enslaved woman, their mother kept a trunk full of diaries that the sisters discover one day. As they begin to unwrap their family’s long-buried secrets, the sisters will reckon with whether they truly knew her at all.

Based on true events, Evita tells the rags-to-riches story of a young woman’s ascent to political power in Argentina through her embrace of the working class. With moving songs and prolific writing, the celebrated drama has won several Tony awards and was adapted into a film.

Drunk Shakespeare

182 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

In Drunk Shakespeare, a professional actor takes five shots of whiskey and attempts to perform a Shakespearian play. Tucked away in a speakeasy library, you can enjoy craft cocktails as you take in this riotous rendition of a classic show.

West Side Story

An instant classic since its first run on Broadway, West Side Story captures the triumph and tension of young, forbidden love. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the show explores the rivalry between two New York City gangs and the two lovers caught in the midst of it.

Set in the late 1930s on Chicago’s south side, Blues in the Night considers the monumental significance of blues in the city. Told primarily through iconic songs, the show interweaves the experiences of three women who are wronged by the same man.

Based on the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon, SpongeBob the Musical is a show that the whole family will love. When disaster strikes SpongeBob’s home of Bikini Bottom, chaos erupts and unlikely heroes emerge, revealing the power of friendship and optimism to save the day.

Featured Image Credit: Drury Lane Theater

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No, we don’t have any exciting updates to share about the ongoing MLB lockout or a new CBA deal. In fact, the latest news from yesterday’s meeting between the player’s association and the league tells us that things are moving a little slower than we would hope. According to the reports, yesterday’s included the MLBPA countering the league’s offer, and it only lasted about 15 minutes.

Now, if you’re a guy like DeMar DeRozan, 15 minutes is plenty of game time to ruin a team’s hopes in the second half. But, when it comes to a meeting between a professional sports league and it’s player’s association, that’s not a lot of time.

Despite the stalemate, we still have some interesting baseball news to share! Last week, Rob Manfred announced that the universal designated hitter position will be established for National League teams starting next season. For us Chicago baseball fans, this change only impacts one of our teams: the Cubs. What does it mean for them and who could we see fill the spot? Let’s find out!

A Friendly Face

Up first for players who could fill the MLB’s designated hitter role for the Cubs is one familiar face: Anthony Rizzo. Rumors about a potential pursuit of Rizzo by the Chicago Cub circulated the MLB headlines a few weeks back, and if there’s any truth to them, it’s one of our favorite options. Nothing can happen while the lockout continues, but as a free-agent who’s a bit older in the league, he could be a promising and less expensive choice for the club. Heck, he’s only been gone for less than half a season so it’s not like he’s missed much. Any team who signs Anthony Rizzo this offseason is going to improve their club, and if it happens to be the Cubs, well, we won’t complain. Bring him home!

A Current Player

Next on our list for guys who could fill the designated hitter role is current Chicago Cub, Frank Schwindel. Schwindel joined the roster last season, and with the way his year went, making him the designated DH could be an interesting option. During his 56 games with the Cubs he achieved a .342 BA, 13 homeruns, and a 165 OPS+. At that rate, those stats are pretty unsustainable for any MLB player. Especially the batting average. Not to say that Schwindel could get on a streak like that again, because he clearly did it before, but it’s pretty safe to expect some regression. Regardless of how the Cubs choose to work with Schwindel, it’s clear they should consider him for the universal designated hitter position.

A Free-Agent

This next player is also a current free-agent that the Chicago Cubs could target, but he hasn’t donned their uniforms before. His name is Daniel Vogelbach, and he’s a former member of the Milwaukee Brewers. Now, if the Cubs are looking to stick it to their NL Central rivals and add a strong bat to their lineup, Vogelbach could be the guy. For his career, he has a high OBP of .336, and he offers plenty of power to get things going offensively. Plus, it could be an awesome signing for Vogelbach, because even though he never played for the Cubs, we actually drafted him in the second round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. Maybe it’s about time he got his shot!

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The NBA’s midseason showcase is here. The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off Friday in Cleveland, and we have all of the information you need to know about the players, skills competitions, the game and more.

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets) are the captains of the two teams in this year’s All-Star Game set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Both players earned the honors by finishing with more fan votes than anyone in their respective conferences.

Chris Paul and Devin Booker, the starting backcourt of the Phoenix Suns, headline the roster of 14 reserves.

James and Durant picked their respective teams, a format the league first instituted in 2018, and the draft was packed with memorable quotes and a peculiar player selection. They also chose which charities they’d play for, with James choosing his I Promise School and Durant choosing the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Continue to follow this page as we present the latest from Cleveland.

MORE: Pick the winners! Play ESPN’s All-Star Challenge

Following the conclusion of Thursday’s trade deadline, James and Durant sat down to draft their All-Star teams. Giannis Antetokounmpo went first overall to Team LeBron. Since James got the first pick, the last two starters, Trae Young and Andrew Wiggins, went to Team Durant.

The final remaining reserve, James Harden, went to Team LeBron after Durant chose to draft Rudy Gobert over his former teammate. The rosters for each team are below, in the order they were drafted.

TEAM KD

Coach: Erik Spoelstra and staff, Miami Heat

Starters

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics*

Trae Young, G, Atlanta Hawks

Andrew Wiggins, F, Golden State Warriors

* Tatum will take Durant’s place as a starter for the game

Reserves

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Dejounte Murray*, San Antonio Spurs

Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

LaMelo Ball*, Charlotte Hornets

Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

*Commissioner Adam Silver named Ball and Murray as injury replacements for Durant and Draymond Green.

TEAM LEBRON

Coach: Monty Williams and staff, Phoenix Suns

Starters

LeBron James, C, Los Angeles Lakers

Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks

Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors

DeMar DeRozan, G, Chicago Bulls

Nikola Jokic, F, Denver Nuggets

Reserves

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz

Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors

James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers*

* Cleveland Cavaliers‘ Jarrett Allen will serve in place of the injured Harden.

Brooklyn Nets

The league’s midseason showcase will see some of the biggest stars meeting in Cleveland to play for bragging rights and to benefit multiple charities.

But before captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant picked their squads, several All-Stars were supported by social media campaigns to help ensure their spot on the roster (Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker received a loving endorsement from Kendall Jenner). These posts targeted fans, who accounted for 50% of the final All-Star vote that determined the starters.

A host of teams and superstars looked to improve their favorite players’ shot at making the roster. Check out some of the memorable efforts.

Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports

The NBA announced the participants for the three events that will take place on Saturday of All-Star Weekend in Cleveland: the 3-point contest, the slam dunk contest and a revamped skills challenge that will feature three teams of three players.

The new skills challenge format will allow Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to team up with his brothers, Alex and Thanasis, to compete together in a four-round competition that tests shooting, passing and dribbling.

Which player having a historic season got snubbed? Who might end up being selected last by James or Durant? Our NBA Insiders break down the All-Star storylines and surprise picks, as well as look ahead to next week’s draft.

This year’s list of almost NBA All-Stars: Undefeated’s All-Snub team

The Rising Stars Challenge will feature the presence of G League Ignite players for the first time. Four top prospects playing for the Ignite join 12 players from both the 2020 and 2021 NBA draft classes in making up the 28 players who will participate in the annual showcase for its stars of tomorrow as part of All-Star Weekend. The four teams will be coached by Hall of Famers Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy.

Team Barry

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Dyson Daniels

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets

Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

Team Isiah

Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors

Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies

Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings

Jaden Hardy

Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

Make your picks for FREE and compete for a chance to win $5,000! Make Your Picks

Team Payton

LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers

Scoot Henderson

Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings

Team Worthy

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic

MarJon Beauchamp

Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder

Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic

ESPN’s Kevin Pelton stops by to talk with Zach Lowe about the NBA’s All-Star rosters for this year’s game in Cleveland.

We asked our ESPN experts to break down the races for starting guards, plus three other big All-Star questions, including whether the All-Star lineups should include centers on the All-Star ballot.

How do I watch?

NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

When: 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 18

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN App

NBA Rising Stars Challenge

When: 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 18

TV: TNT

NBA All-Star Saturday Night

When: 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 19

TV: TNT

NBA All-Star G League Next Gem Game

When: 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 20

TV: NBA TV

NBA All-Star Game

When: 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 20

TV: TNT

2022 All-Star news and analysis

Rookie Power Rankings: Best-case All-Star comps for 2021-22 freshmen class

KD avoids selecting Harden in ASG draft, happy Nets ‘got guys who want to be part of this’ in trade

Giannis teams up with family for revamped skills challenge on Saturday

LaMelo Ball, Dejounte Murray named to ASG as injury replacements

Inaugural NBA HBCU Classic to air on ESPN, TNT as part of ASG weekend

Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra to coach Team Durant in ASG

Insiders debate: Who is the biggest All-Star snub?

Darius Garland, Fred VanVleet to make first All-Star appearance

Newly redesigned Kobe Bryant Trophy revealed for ASG MVP

Draymond Green says he’ll miss ASG, aims to return in 3-4 weeks

NBA includes players from G League Ignite for Rising Stars Challenge

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra to coach Team Durant in ASG

Suns coach Monty Williams tabbed to lead Team LeBron James

NBA announces new format for Rising Stars Challenge game

LeBron James surges past Stephen Curry in All-Star voting

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When you need something that just gets you body and soul, there’s one place to turn to––soul food. Chicago is no doubt home to many revered restaurants in all types of cuisines, soul food included. So while we can’t really recommend just one place, we’ve gathered a few of Chicago’s soul food staples you can turn to when you’ve got a hankering for it. Think delicious smothered meats, fried fish, cornbread, collard greens, and all that flavorful goodness. Here’s your guide to the king of comfort foods:

6257 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

There’s a lot of history at Daley’s Restaurant. Since 1892, the historic diner has served a variety of homestyle classics and soul food faves in the Woodlawn area. Homemade peach cobbler and chicken and waffles are some of their most popular items. With over 120 years in the business, it’s no wonder Daley’s has left a lasting impression on the city and community. 

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Daley’s has a great menu selection with specialties like the Catfish Filet, served with two eggs, homemade hashbrowns, rice or grits, and homemade biscuits.

203 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619

You may not think vegetarian or vegan when it comes to soul food, but Soul Veg City proves that it’s just as satisfying as the comfort food you’d expect, but healthier. Without sacrificing flavor, Soul Veg City has served a 100% plant-based, animal-free, and chemical-free menu in the Chatham area for 40 years. The menu also uses no refined sugars, flours, or rice, so it’s a more health-conscious approach to soul food.

Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike can appreciate what Soul Veg City has to offer, like their famous ​​Garvey Burger, made with TVP (textured vegetable protein) and served on a whole wheat bun accented with grilled onions, mushrooms, mustard, and homemade BBQ sauce.

3901 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653

Pearl’s Place is a Bronzeville staple dishing out home-style cooking, including a soul food buffet on weekdays and weekends. The restaurant has a long and successful history serving the city for more than 30 years. Desserts are made fresh from scratch in house daily, including apple cobbler, sweet potato pie, bread pudding, banana pudding, and more. Try their famous Shrimp and Cheesy Grits app, Shrimp Po’Boy, or Smothered Short Ribs.

1931 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Soulé is a boutique Creole-infused soul food restaurant in Chicago’s West Town. Since 2017, the restaurant has brought delicious and flavorful home-cooked meals to the city. With a vision to celebrate culture and community, Soulé has all the soul food classics like Fried Green Tomatoes, Shrimp and Grits, Fried Chicken, Fried Catfish, and Banana Pudding (in three flavors!). They’re classics, but Soulé brings a modern twist to their home-style cooking. See for yourself!

5412 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60644

MacArthur’s is a casual cafeteria-style restaurant dishing out all your fave homestyle classics like fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, meatloaf, and more. It’s a tried and true staple in the Austin area for hearty Southern comfort food. The daily rotating menu is updated on their website with all dinners including two sides. Some entrees include Baked Chicken, Meatloaf, BBQ Turkey Legs, Fried Catfish, Liver & Onions, and Oxtails.

4609 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Luella’s brings traditional Southern favorites to a casual storefront spot in Lincoln Square. Named after chef and owner Darnell Reed’s grandmother Luella, the counter-service restaurant is small, relaxed, and BYOB. Chow down on mouth-watering dishes like the salmon croquettes with fried corn maque choux. Or go with fluffy and flaky biscuits with fried chicken and andouille sausage gravy. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!

33 E 83rd St, Chicago, IL 60619

As exciting as the restaurant name, Oooh Wee It Is brings soul food with a twist to Chatham. This isn’t the first rodeo for owners Mark and Shae Walker — Oooh Wee’s first location is in Burnham. The restaurant has classic dishes like Smothered Shrimp N Rice, Catfish, Oxtails, and Shrimp N Grits. The Pot Roast Cupcakes — a sweet corn muffin with a layer of mashed potatoes, tender pot roast with gravy, shredded cheese, and green onions – are also a huge success.

Featured Image Credit: 

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