The Utah Jazz have the best record in the Western Conference, and that is only one of many surprises that have percolated throughout the first month of the 2022 NBA season.
The ascending 8-2 Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance at a 9-1 start and a share of first place in the Eastern Conference before blowing a 13-point lead to the LA Clippers. The Clippers are starting to find their own groove after a rough return for a now-sidelined Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. They could soon be an early favorite in the wide-open West, especially when Leonard returns.
The Atlanta Hawks made an early statement by handing the previously undefeated Milwaukee Bucks their first loss, and they pulled it off without star point guard Trae Young. Once Young is back on the court, the Hawks could be good enough to challenge Milwaukee or Cleveland in the East.
Luka Doncic is looking like an early-season front-runner for MVP with a historic stat line for any player over the first nine games. The Dallas Mavericks haven’t faced any of the other expected contenders in the West but, with Doncic playing at his current level, they could prove to be trouble for any team.
Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.
One of the few silver linings of the pandemic shutting down the entire concert industry for a prolonged stretch was that it occasionally prompted longtime musician friends to collaborate in projects they might not have had time for otherwise. Sometimes the results sound so natural—as they do in local rock powerhouse Black Cross Hotel—that it feels like they should’ve been playing together all along. Formed by synth player Andrew Ragin of the Atlas Moth and guitarist Marcus Eliopulos of Stabbing Westward, who bonded over their shared love for Killing Joke and classic 80s horror movies, this supergroup of sorts also includes Atlas Moth drummer Mike Miczek, Whipped vocalist Dee DeEmme, and bassist and producer Sanford Parker.
Black Cross Hotel’s brand-new LP, Hex, is a shivery delight that’s perfect for drawing out creepy and spooky vibes. Each track is a deep dive into the metaphorical underpinnings and outsider perspective baked into the horror genre, and DeEmme (who’s nonbinary) explores cult classics such as The Thing, The Fog, and Halloween II from a queer perspective—a very rich field of inquiry (see also the Queer for Fear documentary series by Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller on Shudder). On the album’s grinding first single, “Windows,” the monster of The Thing becomes a sympathetic presence amid chiming guitars and pulsing synths. But sympathy for the hunter turns into empathy with the hunted in “The Fugitive,” with its provocative, chilling buildups, surging hard-rock momentum, and needling, desperate synths. Black Cross Hotel flex their full fury with “138,” a swaggering stadium-size cover of the Misfits’ “We Are 138,” while erie synth waves cradle and support the crunchy metal riffs of “Hitchhiker.”
It’d be a shame if a debut this self-assured were a one-off, and I was glad to hear this won’t be the last we hear from Black Cross Hotel—the band have said they’ve already written another album’s worth of songs. But for now, we get to celebrate Hex at this record-release party, which features a solid bill of local acts: noise-rock trio Salvation, melodic hardcore quartet Canadian Rifle, and postpunk band Pink Frost, who released an album of their own, Until the Summer Comes, in September.
Black Cross Hotel Salvation, Pink Frost, and Canadian Rifle open. Mon 11/14, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, free, 21+
Chicago’s Black Cross Hotel hex us with their postpunk- and horror-inspired debut Read More »
One of the few silver linings of the pandemic shutting down the entire concert industry for a prolonged stretch was that it occasionally prompted longtime musician friends to collaborate in projects they might not have had time for otherwise. Sometimes the results sound so natural—as they do in local rock powerhouse Black Cross Hotel—that it feels like they should’ve been playing together all along. Formed by synth player Andrew Ragin of the Atlas Moth and guitarist Marcus Eliopulos of Stabbing Westward, who bonded over their shared love for Killing Joke and classic 80s horror movies, this supergroup of sorts also includes Atlas Moth drummer Mike Miczek, Whipped vocalist Dee DeEmme, and bassist and producer Sanford Parker.
Black Cross Hotel’s brand-new LP, Hex, is a shivery delight that’s perfect for drawing out creepy and spooky vibes. Each track is a deep dive into the metaphorical underpinnings and outsider perspective baked into the horror genre, and DeEmme (who’s nonbinary) explores cult classics such as The Thing, The Fog, and Halloween II from a queer perspective—a very rich field of inquiry (see also the Queer for Fear documentary series by Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller on Shudder). On the album’s grinding first single, “Windows,” the monster of The Thing becomes a sympathetic presence amid chiming guitars and pulsing synths. But sympathy for the hunter turns into empathy with the hunted in “The Fugitive,” with its provocative, chilling buildups, surging hard-rock momentum, and needling, desperate synths. Black Cross Hotel flex their full fury with “138,” a swaggering stadium-size cover of the Misfits’ “We Are 138,” while erie synth waves cradle and support the crunchy metal riffs of “Hitchhiker.”
It’d be a shame if a debut this self-assured were a one-off, and I was glad to hear this won’t be the last we hear from Black Cross Hotel—the band have said they’ve already written another album’s worth of songs. But for now, we get to celebrate Hex at this record-release party, which features a solid bill of local acts: noise-rock trio Salvation, melodic hardcore quartet Canadian Rifle, and postpunk band Pink Frost, who released an album of their own, Until the Summer Comes, in September.
Black Cross Hotel Salvation, Pink Frost, and Canadian Rifle open. Mon 11/14, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, free, 21+
LAS VEGAS — Weekend passes for the Cubs Convention will go on sale Thursday as the team gears up for its return after a two-year hiatus.
Passes will be available to the general public starting at noon Thursday, the Cubs announced, with a presale for season-ticket holders opening at 10 a.m. Hotel-room packages for the 36th convention — which will be held Friday,
Jan. 13, to Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago — are already available and come with discounted weekend passes.
”The initial presale for the hotel-room packages went really well, and it’s showing us that there is very much an appetite for the convention to come back and that there’s fan enthusiasm for it,” said Jen Martindale, the Cubs’ senior vice president of marketing ”So we’re just hard at work now on giving them a great experience.”
All-access weekend passes will cost $120, plus convenience fees, with a limit of six per household. The presale passes for season-ticket holders will be discounted at $105, plus fees.
The Cubs canceled the event in 2021 and 2022 because of COVID-19 health-and-safety concerns. The convention was the first fan event of its kind in baseball when it started in 1986.
”The one thing that I think having the two-year break did do for us,” Martindale said, ”is it allowed us to really take a step back and evaluate what are the parts of the convention that are really important that we carry forward and also where are the places where we can enhance the fan experience and freshen it for them.”
The Cubs plan to bring back opening ceremonies with players and alumni on Jan. 13, followed by ”Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster.” Cubs bingo is scheduled for Jan. 14.
As for new programming, the Cubs will have dedicated spaces for pieces from the archive collection that have not been publicly viewed before, including jerseys, baseballs, trophies and awards.
The team also plans to introduce a youth baseball camp Jan. 15, where kids can learn fundamentals from Cubs players, alumni, coaches and possibly some outside experts. For the adult crowd, there will be late-night ”Harry Carayoke” on Jan. 13-14 at the hotel bar.
”Just on the informal side, we know that one of the things Cubs fans love most about the convention is the opportunity to connect with each other,” Martindale said. ”And that means giving them casual things that they can do after the official programming ends.”
The Cubs have yet to finalize the full schedule, but when asked whether fans would have the chance to question ownership and executives, Martindale said it’s one of the team’s goals to ”give as many fans as possible the opportunity to interact with leadership.”
”We’re really interrogating how it’s been done in the past and just thinking, ‘Are there places that we can improve it, so that more fans have that moment of interaction than we have been able to provide in the past?’ ” she said.
This will be Martindale’s first Cubs Convention. The Cubs hired her this past summer from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, where she served as their vice president of brand strategy.
”It’s a big responsibility to steward this event,” she said, ”but I have heard how much fun it is. I have heard to prepare myself to get very little sleep. And I have heard that I need to show up with an ice chest — preferably branded with a Cubs logo — possibly some cozy Cubs pajamas to settle in for a late night at the hotel and just experience all of it.”
2023 Cubs Convention weekend passes go on sale Thursday Read More »
The top recruting classes in the country.
1. Duke
Jon Scheyer is on fire in recruiting. He landed the top class last year after being named Coach K’s successor, and he backed it up with another No. 1 class this year. This group has a ridiculous amount of five-star prospects: 6-8 Mackenzie Mgbako, a top five player in the country, 6-8 Sean Stewart, guards Caleb Foster and Jared McCain, and 6-10 T.J. Power.
2. Kentucky
A mega-class with a trio of top 10 players in the country — and a combined four five-stars — includes point guard Robert Dillingham, 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw and 6-7 wing Justin Edwards, the No. 2 player in the class. Could the Wildcats add uncommitted superstar DJ Wagner, 247Sports’ top-ranked prospect?
3. Michigan State
Tom Izzo plucked Xavier Booker, Rivals.com’s No. 1 ranked player in the country, out of Indianapolis. The 6-11 Booker headlines a class with four top 100 recruits, including Joliet West point guard Jeremy Fears, Jr.
4. Connecticut
In this day and age of the transfer portal, UConn will bring in an old school class with five high school prospects. The best of the bunch is 6-6 combo guard Stephon Castle out of Georgia, a consensus top 25 talent.
5. Oregon
The combination of Kwame Evans, a 6-9 five-star recruit, and top 20 talent Mookie Cook gives the Ducks the best class in the Pac-12. Oregon prep star and top 50 talent Jackson Shelstad stayed home and is the point guard of the future.
6. Iowa State
Cyclones put together a class full of size, length and star talent. But Omaha Biliew, a power-packed 6-8 top 20 player in the country out of Waukee, Iowa, is clearly the centerpiece.
7. Ohio State
The Buckeyes secured three top 100 players in the country, led by 6-6 wing Scotty Middleton. Combo guard Taison Chatman and two local Ohio prep products, 6-7 forward Devin Royal and 6-9 big Austin Park round out the class.
8. Alabama
The resurgent Crimson Tide basketball program keeps it rolling with a second straight top 10 recruiting class. This year’s four-man class includes three top 100 players. The best of the bunch is 6-7 Mouhamed Dioubate and 6-8 Sam Walters.
9. Kansas
A trio of top 100 guards will bolster the perimeter attack as point guard Elmarko Jackson, shooter Jamari McDowell and combo guard Chris Johnson are all headed to Lawrence.
10. Tennessee
The tandem of 6-5 guard Freddie Dilione and 6-11 J.P. Estrella, both ranked among the top 50 players in the country, have star potential.
Signing Day: The top 10 college basketball recruiting classes Read More »
When looking back 12 or 18 months ago, no one would have forecasted seven high-major players in the class, especially after top 100 national talent JJ Taylor left Kenwood for California following his sophomore year.
Also, no one would have predicted the number of Division I players would rise to 30-plus in the class. This week the state will have 29 players sign with another handful with either Division I offers or on the bubble of emerging as Division I prospects.
Here is the complete list of area players expected to sign with Division I schools during the early signing period, which runs from Nov. 9 to Nov. 16.
Player, High School, College
Darrin Ames, Kenwood, Kansas State
Darrion Baker, Hillcrest, Akron
Richard Barron, St. Ignatius, George Mason
Troy Cicero, Romeoville, Loyola Maryland
Cameron Christie, Rolling Meadows, Minnesota
Mekhi Cooper, Bolingbrook, Miami Ohio
DeAndre Craig, Mount Carmel, Denver
Dalen Davis, Young, Yale
Jeremy Fears Jr., Joliet West, Michigan State
Jake Fiegen, New Trier, Cornell
Ahmad Henderson, Brother Rice, Niagra
Quentin Jones, Marian Catholic, Cal Poly
Jackson Kotecki, St. Ignatius, Miami Ohio
Sam Lewis, Simeon, Toledo
Mekhi Lowery, Oswego East, Towson
Matthew Moore, Joliet West, UNC-Wilmington
Marcus Pigram, Young, The Citadel
Nik Polonowski, Lyons, Pennsylvania
Miles Rubin, Simeon, Loyola
Wesley Rubin, Simeon, Northern Iowa
Drew Scharnowski, Burlington Central, Belmont
Kaiden Space, Simeon, Stony Brook
Asa Thomas, Lake Forest, Clemson
Signing Day: Local basketball recruits Read More »
Outfielder AJ Pollock has declined his 2023 player option with the White Sox and is now a free agent.
According to Buster Olney, Pollock has declined his $13M player option for 2023 and will take a $5M buyout.
The White Sox acquired Pollock from the Dodgers in March in the Craig Kimbrel trade. The 34-year-old hit .245/.292/.389 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs in 138 games.
A.J. Pollock is declining his $13m option for ’23 with the White Sox. He receives a $5 million buyout instead, and now becomes a free agent.
He played all three outfield spots and brought a track record of success against left-handed pitching with him to the South Side. Pollock posted a .935 OPS against southpaws.
Pollock began his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and spent seven seasons with the franchise, earning his only All-Star selection in 2015 after slashing .315/.367/.498 with 20 home runs, 76 RBI and 39 stolen bases in 157 games. He also earned a Gold Glove that year.
The Pollock decision frees up an additional $8 million for general manager Rick Hahn as he looks to tweak the roster following a disappointing 2022 season.
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AJ Pollock Enters Free Agency; Declines White Sox Contract Option Read More »
While Justin Fields and the Bears offense did everything they could and were even close to tying the game or winning in regulation the Dolphins hung on to take the win. The non pass interference call has caused plenty of pain with Bears fans but could the defense have done better on Sunday? Some Bears fans think so…
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears went heavy defense in the draft. These boys need help.
If only the Bears had a defense to match their stellar offense
A lot of people are acting surprised the #Bears defense looks like this.
They shouldn’t be.
There is zero star power in that front 7 and too much youth in the secondary.
Many were obviously displeased with the defense yesterday but it is fair to see that trading their veteran pass rusher and their best defensive player there would be a slip in defensive production. Other fans are looking on the bright side with the effort on Sunday as well as new draft capital and cap space from these moves.
This #Bears defense may be undermanned, but there is no quit in them!
This rebuild is going beautifully. Our QB is improving every single game. Our offense is dynamic and fun to watch. Our defense is struggling big time but hopefully that gets addressed in the offseason.
And the Bears draft position keeps on improving.
It is interesting to see only halfway through the season this team go from a struggling offense with a stout defense now into a struggling defense with an effective offense. Time will tell if Chicago’s defense can figure out how to manage games to allow the offense to dominate going forward. There are plenty of games left to go but like some of the above tweets the draft capital and cap space could be a saving grace for the defense in the future.
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Bears fans react to the poor defense in loss to Dolphins Read More »
