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Sources: Bulls’ Ball doubtful for start of seasonon September 2, 2022 at 10:48 pm

5:40 PM ET

CHICAGO — Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is expected to miss training camp and is doubtful for the start of the regular season due to lingering pain and discomfort following meniscus surgery on his left knee in January, sources told ESPN on Friday.

While a source reiterated Ball’s knee is structurally sound after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 28, he continued to experience pain while attempting basketball activities as he spent the summer rehabbing in Los Angeles.

Ball will arrive in Chicago next week to undergo further evaluation by the team, but he is unlikely to participate when the Bulls begin training camp at the end of this month, sources said.

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Throughout the summer, the Bulls have remained vague about a potential timeline for Ball’s recovery while he has seen multiple knee specialists to determine the cause and treatments for the lingering pain and discomfort, sources said.

“He’s getting better, probably not at the speed that we would like,” Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said in July during a broadcast for one of the team’s Summer League games. “But he’s getting better.”

When Ball suffered the initial injury in January, the Bulls announced an initial recovery timeline of six to eight weeks. However, Ball’s knee never responded to several attempts by the team to ramp up his activity for a return to the court at the end of last season.

Ball was eventually ruled out for the rest of the season at the beginning of April, limited to a career-low 35 games. At his exit interview at the end of that month, Ball acknowledged that his knee recovery was “at a standstill.”

Prior to the injury, Ball had been one of the sparks of Bulls’ fast start, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Chicago owned a record of 27-13 when Ball appeared in his last game on Jan. 14 before finishing 19-23 down the stretch without him and losing their first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.

Ball, who will turn 25 in October, had a procedure to repair a meniscus tear in the same knee in 2018 while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he returned for the start of training camp then.

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Sources: Bulls’ Ball doubtful for start of seasonon September 2, 2022 at 10:48 pm Read More »

College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams by 2026

The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday to expand from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that the presidents would like to have the new format in place as soon as the 2024 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement was still forthcoming.

A process that started 141/2 months ago with an optimistic rollout of an ambitious plan, and then was derailed as conference leaders haggled over details and questioned each other’s motivations, is now finally moving forward.

There are still issues to be hammered out by conference commissioners who comprise the CFP management committee, which is scheduled to meet next week. Most notably whether the logistical hurdles can be cleared in time for a new playoff to be up and running by 2024.

Last month, the CFP locked in sites for the championship games to be played after the 2024 and 2025 seasons. But the 11 presidents who make up the Board of Managers ultimately decide what happens with the playoff, and they took matters into their own hands to push the ball forward.

College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams by 2026 Read More »

Bears’ O-line working to protect a speedy Justin Fields

Braxton Jones had to recalibrate the clock in his head.

The Bears’ rookie left tackle typically has a good sense of when a quarterback will throw the ball. With Justin Fields, though, he needs to be doubly sure. A few times during training camp, he expected coaches to blow a play dead — only for Fields to keep it alive with his legs.

“Then, two seconds later,” he said, “my guy’s reacting to the play.”

The Bears’ offensive line has more question marks entering the season than any other position group. Last year, the Bears allowed Fields to get sacked on 11.8 percent of his dropbacks, the highest percentage in the league. Bears general manager Ryan Poles overhauled the line — but filled holes with players who have question marks. Three of the five projected starters have a combined 10 NFL starts among them.

Fields’ mobility will save the line — “He has a phenomenal ability to extend plays,” center Sam Mustipher said — but it also presents a challenge for his blockers.

“I got more used to it,” Jones said. “You just don’t stop. Can’t really stop. You just keep on going.

“That’s why I say you live and die by it. I’d say I live by it more times than not.”

The Bears think they’re better-equipped this season to block for a scrambling quarterback. Shortly after Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus were hired, they decided their linemen needed to lose weight and add speed to block in the Bears’ outside zone run scheme. That helps when Fields runs, too.

“You gotta finish your block a little bit longer,” guard Cody Whitehair said. “Because he is so mobile, he gets out of tackles easily.”

If Rule No. 1 is to never stop blocking — “Play through the echo of the whistle,” Mustipher said –then No. 2 is not to hold. Because blockers have their back to Fields, they’re the last to know when he starts scrambling. Pass-rushers see it first, and often jerk themselves away from the blocker to chase Fields down.That can lead to holding calls — at a spot on the field where officials can easily see the penalty.

“You don’t wanna get a hold,” right tackle Larry Borom said. “You’ve got to have that awareness and let go.”

This preseason, the Bears offensive line has been called for only one holding penalty. That’s a good sign for a unit with a lot of questions.

The Bears’ willingness to mix-and-match linemen while trying to find the right combination is a noble one. They need to find the best five players — both for this year and whenever their next good team will take the field. But that shuffling has come at the expense of chemistry.

It will continue throughout the season. Wednesday, the Bears claimed former Raiders first-round pick Alex Leatherwood, who took backup snaps at right tackle in practice. Thursday, they worked out former Pro Bowl guard Kelechi Osemele, who’s played in only eight games the last three years. Friday, they added their own former draft pick, Zachary Thomas, back to the practice squad.

The Bears figure to churn their line all season long, until they find what they want.

“It does matter to be out there and play with your teammates and gel,” said assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who, like Poles, is a former offensive lineman. “I do think the room matters, too, and the depth matters. So, versatility on the back end …

“You can never have too many offensive linemen. And then being in that room, bonding together, out on the practice field, we have a great group. All of that matters.”

Especially when Fields has the ball in his hand.

“Just try to protect him in any way possible,” Mustipher said.

Bears’ O-line working to protect a speedy Justin Fields Read More »

Notre Dame Football could get a boost with new 12-team CFB PlayoffVincent Pariseon September 2, 2022 at 8:27 pm

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

As Notre Dame Football prepares (as the number five ranked team in the country) to take on Ohio State (the number two ranked team in the country), there was a huge bit of news announced in regards to college football.

It came out that they were going to expand to a 12-team playoff in the next few years. There are going to be the six highest-ranked conference champions along with the six at-large teams in the country.

This is outstanding news for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program. The fact that they are not in a conference has hindered them ever since the College Football Playoff was implemented and it doesn’t have to anymore.

You would think that based on their track record, they would be one of the six at-large teams almost annually.

Notre Dame’s Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick is going to meet next week with the 10 FBS commissioners to figure out details.

The Notre Dame Football team will benefit from the new CFB Playoff rules.

Notre Dame is still at a disadvantage by not being in a conference because they all can be a champion or at-large while they can only be at-large. However, they are still in a much better spot than they are in the four-team format.

The Irish pretty much have to go undefeated in order to make it into the four-team version of the College Football Playoff because the committee will almost certainly choose a one-loss conference champion over a one-loss Notre Dame team that was idle during championship week.

For that reason alone, this expansion is great news for them as they try to continue their amazing football program. 2022 is going to be the new year with Marcus Freeman in charge as the head coach which means that things are already changing for the school’s football program.

Hopefully, they are able to continue playing well each year so that they can take advantage of this new style once it is implemented. They are pushing for it to be done sooner rather than later but it will be done no later than the 2026 season which is amazing news.

All college football fans can rejoice on this day. It is amazing news for the FBS and everyone’s season will have just got a lot more exciting when it is implemented. We can only hope that it helps Notre Dame as much as it appears that it does.

Notre Dame Football could get a boost with new 12-team CFB PlayoffVincent Pariseon September 2, 2022 at 8:27 pm Read More »

Raptors’ Masai Ujiri: BAL can produce NBA-level talenton September 2, 2022 at 8:59 am

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Christian Koloko’s NBA draft profile (0:21)Check out the highlights from former Arizona player Christian Koloko. (0:21)

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Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri told ESPN that the Basketball Africa League (BAL) will grow into a league capable of producing players that can play in the NBA regular season, but urged patience with its development efforts.

Ujiri, who has been influential in the NBA’s work in Africa, signed Zamalek star Anas Mahmoud to the Raptors’ Summer League roster last year, making the Egyptian international the first player to jump to the NBA from the BAL.

Mahmoud was followed into the Summer League a year later by the Central African Republic’s Evans Ganapamo (Milwaukee Bucks), but neither BAL star was able to earn a regular season NBA roster spot.

Ujiri, who was in Cairo for the Basketball Without Borders camp, told ESPN: “I think it (the BAL producing NBA players) is going to come.

“Right now, we have the league in a couple of phases before the finals, so it’s going to have to become a regular league in some kind of way and I know Amadou [Gallo Fall, the BAL president] is working strongly on that. We have the right ingredients.

“The truth is: leagues take a while to build. The NBA took a while to build. The [English] Premiership took a while to build. These things take a long time — the WNBA has taken a while to build. It just doesn’t happen overnight. We’re talking about the third season [of the BAL in 2023].

“Later, the talent is really going to maybe marinate a little bit on the continent and the goal is to build the continent [to a point] where players are interested in playing in the league here, but obviously, the NBA is the biggest basketball league in the world and the biggest talent is going to go there for now.”

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, who is of Nigerian heritage, has been in charge of Basketball without Borders Africa since 2003. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Ujiri was co-directing this year’s Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp, with Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey, LA Clippers scout Lance Blanks, and World Association of Basketball Coaches president Patrick Hunt joining him.

Ujiri has been a director of BWB since 2003, when the youth development camp — organised by the NBA and FIBA — first arrived in Africa. He has not missed an edition on the continent since then, although the previous two before this year were cancelled due to COVID-19.

The 52-year-old, who was born in Bournemouth, England, to a Nigerian family, had a modest playing career but subsequently developed into a highly successful scout and later executive.

One challenge he faces with BWB is to ensure that youngsters who, like him, are not good enough to play in the NBA but can serve the game in other capacities, are not lost to the system.

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Ujiri explained: “I think you have to maximise basketball and when you maximise basketball, basketball gives you the ability to open other doors. We teach these kids to take their talent to the furthest and best that they can get it when they play.

“Through that, you’re going to get a scholarship here, you’re going to get an opportunity to go places, you’re going to get opportunities to network, opportunities to compete and win and you’re going to get opportunities to have some adversity. This creates us as people.

“Sometimes, our talent is not good enough. I was the same way. I wasn’t good enough to even play at a higher level in Europe. Then, I started to develop coaching and started to have a feeling that maybe coaching was something I wanted to do. That’s how scouting came about and these kids can do so many things these days in sports.

“You can be a sports administrator, a sports doctor, a sports lawyer. You can be an agent, you can be a coach, you can work in the medical field, you can be in sports entertainment.

“These kids have to realise that after they’ve really, really pushed their talent and their opportunity as much as they can, this could be a scholarship to a university in your town, in Australia, in the US – you can go play college basketball. There are so many players who have developed to become something else in their careers.”

Egypt international Anas Mahmoud played in the NBA Summer League for the Toronto Raptors in 2021, but was later sidelined by a shoulder injury. David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Reflecting on the progress BWB has made in producing NBA-level talent, Ujiri said: “The talent has come a long way. There are many more opportunities now.

“You think about the camps – BWB, the FIBA camps, Giants of Africa camps, the SEED [Academy] camps. All these players are doing basketball camps. Al-Farouq Aminu just had one, Pascal Siakam just had one, Luc Mbah a Moute has his, Luol Deng has his. There are so many of them going on [across] the continent… Bismack Biyombo just had his in the Congo, Serge Ibaka – all these guys are coming and giving back.

“Also, kids are now seeing that these kids can make it. Just on my team, Precious Achiuwa came from Giants of Africa, Pascal Siakam came from BWB, Christian Koloko — who we have just drafted — came from BWB. Kids see this – that there is opportunity – they are getting coached. Look at the standard of coaches that even come here.”

Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers), Willie Green (New Orleans Pelicans), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Wes Unseld Jr. (Washington Wizards) were the current NBA head coaches present at the camp in Cairo this past week.

“We are proud. There is plenty of work to be done. We are so proud that this camp has this level of prospects and this level of talent,” Ujiri said.

“They continue to grow – the coaches continue to grow and the game continues to grow on the continent.”

Raptors’ Masai Ujiri: BAL can produce NBA-level talenton September 2, 2022 at 8:59 am Read More »

Concerts in Chicago this fall — our guide to the season’s music

Summer may be wrapping up, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Attend a few more outdoor concerts before you move the party indoors for these fall shows in and around Chicago.

Death Cab for Cutie performs at the Salt Shed on Sept. 24.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

September

Florence and the Machine, Sept. 7. Huntington Bank Pavilion, Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Dr. $135-$1,994; livenation.com.

Reggae Gold, Sept. 8-Jan. 26. Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave. $10; subt.net.

Lyric Opera of Chicago, “Ernani,” Sept. 9-Oct. 1. Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr. $40-$330; lyricopera.org.

The Selena Tribute Concert with Jennifer Pe?a, Grupo Met?l, Karla Perez, Mariachi Perla de Mexico and more, Sept. 9. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan and Randolph. Free; nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Luke Bryan, Riley Green & Mitchell Tenpenny, Sept. 10. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. $49+; livenation.com.

Erykah Badu with Ravyn Lenae and KAINA, Sept. 11. Ravinia Pavilion, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. $44-$155; ravinia.org.

The Doobie Brothers, Sept. 14. The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. $69.50+; tickemaster.com.

Norwood Park Fall Fest with The Breakfast Club, Second Hand Soul Band, 7th Heaven and more, Sept. 16-17. Norwood Park Train Station, 6088 W. Northwest Hwy. $5 suggested donation; npfallfest.org.

Riot Fest with My Chemical Romance, The Original Misfits, Nine Inch Nails, Bleachers, Yungblud, Ice Cube and more, Sept. 16-18. Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr. $99.98+; riotfest.org.

Punk rock, alternative rock and hip-hop fans enjoy Riot Fest in Douglass Park. This year’s festival runs Sept. 16-18.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Handel’s “Jephtha,” Music of the Baroque Chorus & Orchestra, Sept. 18-19. North Shore Center, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie and Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr. $35-$100; baroque.org.

Ben Platt with Aly & AJ., Sept. 23. Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Rd. $32.50+; wintrustarena.com.

Death Cab for Cutie, Sept. 24. The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave. $49.50-$129.50; saltshedchicago.com

Gordon Lightfoot, Sept. 26. Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet. $49-$89; ticketmaster.com.

The Paper Kites, Sept. 26. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. $30; lh-st.com

Singer Brian McKnight will play alongside five other R&B artists at the Chicago R&B Music Experience at Wintrust Arena on Oct. 8.

October

The Head and the Heart with Shakey Graves, Oct. 1. Huntington Bank Pavilion, Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Dr. $60-$360; livenation.com

Violent Femmes, Oct. 4-5. Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. $39.50-$59.50; thaliahallchicago.com

Chicago R&B Music Experience with Monica, Tevin Campbell, Brian McKnight, Tamar Braxton, Silk and Raheem DeVaughn, Oct. 8. Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Rd. $65+; wintrustarena.com.

Muse, Oct. 11. Riviera Theatre, 4746 N Racine Ave., $270-$750; jamusa.com.

’80s Night Out, Oct. 12. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $35; metropolisarts.com.

Celebrating David Bowie with Todd Rundgren, Royston Langdon, Angelo Moore and more, Oct. 14. Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. $35-$150; copernicuscenter.org.

Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Oct. 15. Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave, Evanston. $30-$50; musicinst.org.

Southern Nights: Michael Ingersoll Sings Glen Campbell, Oct. 17-18. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. $55; mariotttheatre.com.

Marcus King, Oct. 21. Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W Lawrence Ave. $69-$322; livenation.com

Halloween Spooktakular with the New Philharmonic Orchestra, Oct. 22-23. McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $53; atthemac.org

Noah Cyrus, Oct. 27. House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn St. $29.50-$125; houseofblues.com/chicago

Echosmith with Phoebe Ryan and Band of Silver, Oct. 28. Bottom Lounge,1375 W. Lake St. $25-$79; bottomlounge.com

Noah Cyrus headlines House of Blues on Oct. 27.

Getty Images

November

Carly Rae Jepsen, Nov. 5. Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. $75-$283; livenation.com

The Smashing Pumpkins with Jane’s Addiction and Poppy, Nov. 5. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. $39+; ticketmaster.com.

Bazzi, Nov. 6. Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., $39.50+; jamusa.com

Paramore, Nov. 9. The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. $333+; chicagotheatre.com

Arcade Fire with Beck, Nov. 12. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. $79.50+; ticketmaster.com.

Black Lips, Nov. 16-17. The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave. $25; emptybottle.com

Hotel California — A Salute to the Eagles, Nov. 19. Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines. $29; desplainestheatre.com

Windborne’s The Music of Queen withThe Chicago Philharmonic, Nov. 25. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. $33.50-$153.25; auditoriumtheatre.org

Demi Lovato headlines the Rosemont Theatre on Oct. 5.

AFP via Getty Images

Stevie Nicks, Sept. 8-10. Ravinia Pavilion, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. $85-$280; ravinia.org.

The Killers, Sept. 21. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. $45+; ticketmaster.com.

Deadmau5, Sept. 23. Huntington Bank Pavilion, Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Dr. $87-$434; livenation.com.

Keith Urban, Sept. 24. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. $35-$3,300; livenation.com.

Demi Lovato, Oct. 5. Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd., $52+; ticketmaster.com.

The Who, with Steven Page. Oct. 12. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. $41+; ticketmaster.com.

Lizzo with Latto, Oct. 16. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. $109.50+; ticketmaster.com.

Concerts in Chicago this fall — our guide to the season’s music Read More »

College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams by 2026

The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday to expand from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season.

College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams by 2026 Read More »

Bears’ president Ted Phillips is retiring. The McCaskeys aren’t.

Bears fans were celebrating Ted Phillips’ retirement announcement Friday, until it dawned on them that team chairman George McCaskey would hire Phillips’ replacement. Then they went back to their worldview that all hope is lost.

They know from experience that you don’t want a McCaskey, any McCaskey, taking the measure of a prospective employee, in the same way you didn’t want Phillips involved in the hiring of a coach or a general manager. It always ends in something that is not a Super Bowl title.

There are two disparate views of Phillips, who will be retiring in six months. There’s the view of him from ownership, which thinks he’s the consummate professional, if not a member of the family. And there’s the view of him from Bears fans, who think he’s an interfering paper pusher who, if asked to tell the difference between a football and a foot fetish, would request more time.

There is no in-between here, no nuance. It’s one or the other: great businessman or an embodiment of all that is wrong with the Bears.

His legacy will be that of a person willing to do whatever the McCaskeys asked of him, even when it was clear to others that zigging at the family’s direction was reason to zag immediately. He was their point person on construction projects, from Soldier Field renovations to a new practice facility to a proposed stadium in Arlington Heights. He helped the McCaskeys make a lot of money.

He took the brunt of the abuse for the renovated Soldier Field, which critics said was ugly and too small. Those shortcomings are why the Bears are now looking to build in the suburbs.

Phillips’ poor public image wasn’t all his doing, at least at the start. Whenever the Bears called a press conference to talk about another failed season or to introduce a new coach or general manager to replace the latest failed coach or general manager, he was front and center. He often had the look of a man who had accidentally swallowed a Swiss army knife, one that had just opened in his large intestine. His presence at these events was at the behest of George McCaskey, who knew he didn’t know anything and wanted to spread the ignorance around. So there was Phillips, a bookkeeper by trade, talking about the elements of winning football to the masses.

I don’t think Phillips was born this way. He’s what happens after prolonged exposure to the McCaskeys. He never should have been one of the faces of the franchises, and he should have begged to stay far away from microphones. Instead, he answered questions, and despite his insistence that he wasn’t involved in the football operation, it became obvious after a while that he certainly was. The Bears had gone through so many coaches and GMs that what you saw was what you got: McCaskey and Phillips by themselves with no one to rely on other than a consultant or two who had time traveled from the 1950s.

Phillips didn’t know football, but he was thrust into a position in which he was expected to help hire coaches and GMs. Then he started to think he did know football. That’s the Bears right there.

Who to replace him? Despite the public gushing over the job new general manager Ryan Poles is doing – which sounds a lot like the public gushing that once washed over his predecessor, Ryan Pace – I’d like to see a football man as team president. Not an accountant. Not someone with an MBA. Someone to oversee the football department, which is the only department that should matter to a football team.

The problem, of course, is that George McCaskey will make the decision on Phillips’ successor. He’ll surely rely on the opinions of confidantes, but if you question McCaskey’s judgment on hires, then you have to question his judgment on confidantes, too.

If you haven’t liked any of his and Phillips’ other big decisions – Marc Trestman, Phil Emery, Matt Nagy, etc – why would you like who’s coming next?

Phillips was with the team since 1984, and maybe that’s a clue to what the Bears will look for when deciding on his replacement. The McCaskeys want people owner Virginia McCaskey is comfortable with. It’s how they seem to end up with the same kind of people at Halas Hall year after year, decade after decade — people who think and act like the family does.

The last, true football bigfoot the Bears had was Jim Finks. He was phenomenal. He was also hired by George Halas, not a McCaskey.

Bears’ president Ted Phillips is retiring. The McCaskeys aren’t. Read More »

Notre Dame can change the entire CFB landscape this weekendVincent Pariseon September 2, 2022 at 7:23 pm

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It is always interesting when Notre Dame Fighting Irish plays on a big stage like the one they are going to be playing on this weekend. On Saturday night, they will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in one of the biggest matchups of the entire college football season.

This matchup is one of three ranked matches this weekend as number five Notre Dame will take on number two Ohio State. The winner of this game will feel very good about their chances at the College Football Playoff late in the year.

The biggest storyline of this game going in for Notre Dame is the fact that it is the (regular season) head coaching debut of Marcus Freeman who replaced Brian Kelly (who left Notre Dame for LSU) ahead of their bowl game earlier this year.

Marcus Freeman is getting the luxury of opening this season as their full-time head coach against his alma mater, Ohio State University. He played there for a few seasons before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2009.

He waived before that 2009 season and then spent a few summers/practice squad sessions with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. In 2010, he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with Ohio State.

From there he had stints as different types of coaches with Kent State, Purdue, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame before getting the head coaching job when Kelly left for LSU. This is a great opportunity for him to make a statement.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a big test ahead of them this weekend.

Tyler Buchner is going to be the quarterback of Notre Dame for the first time this season. He is a dynamic player that has a chance to be a difference maker. He earned the spot as the starting quarterback and should be very good for them this season.

Very few people are going to give Notre Dame a chance. Ohio State is one of the legit powers in the college football world even though they had a somewhat down year (by their standards) in 2021. Notre Dame is a very good team in its own right and should be able to compete here.

It is very hard to go on the road and win in these types of games but that is what Notre Dame needs to do. There are a lot of people that would be making a big statement with a win here. A victory for Notre Dame would flip the 2022 season upside down.

Notre Dame can change the entire CFB landscape this weekendVincent Pariseon September 2, 2022 at 7:23 pm Read More »

La Esquina, Creepshow, Miss Continental, and Miss Holmes

At the corners of Cullerton and Carpenter sits La Esquina, a community center that opened this spring to provide free art classes and provide safer space for neighborhood youth to explore their creativity. Tonight, La Esquina hosts their first annual expo and fundraiser at Thalia Hall (1807 S. Allport). From 5-9 PM, this event is open to all ages and free (though a $5 donation is suggested). The expo will feature photos, murals, and music by local artists. There will also be a “fashion experience” by Estefania Galvan, and you can snag a complimentary ticket to the after hours party. When 9 PM rolls around, things go strictly 17+ with a multi-level B-boy battle soundtracked by Tony Touch of the Rock Steady Crew, Avantist, and Dave Parley, who was the electronic duo Prayers’s original synth player. If you don’t snag one of those complimentary tickets earlier in the evening, it’s $20 to attend the evening portion–but for that level of community and entertainment? I’m surprised it doesn’t cost more. (MC)

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Tonight kicks off The Creepshow, a three-day Stephen King film festival at the Music Box (3733 N. Southport) hosted by The Losers’ Club, a weekly podcast that discusses King’s work and influence (from his books to his tweets). The festival’s lineup includes screenings of The Shining, Pet Sematary II, Doctor Sleep, Creepshow, 1408, Creepshow 2, Christine, Misery, and Stand By Me, and concludes on Sunday with a live stage show by the Losers where they articulate a self-described “sprawling and deranged vision of the Stephen King cinematic universe.” Each show is individually priced $8-$12 ($6-$9 for members), but a festival pass costs $60 ($50 for members)–handy if you, like me, are torn between any handful of titles. For instance, The Shining (screening tonight at 7 PM) is an entirely different movie when you experience Stanley Kubrick’s lush cinematography on the expanse of the big screen while Wendy Carlos’s dramatic original score washes over you in surround sound. And who knew–there is a Shining sequel (Doctor Sleep) with Ewan McGregor(!) as Danny Torrence(!!) that sounds totally bizarre(!!!). Creepshow delivers maximum camp and will leave you satisfyingly disgusted by its practical effects blown up that big. And who doesn’t want to experience John Carpenter’s Christine soundtrack as the acclaimed director and synth lord originally envisioned it (in the theater)? Check out the Music Box’s website for showtimes and ticket information. (MC)

For most, this is Labor Day weekend, a welcome three-day respite to kick back and end the summer on a high note, but for anyone involved in the world of drag pageantry, tonight is the start of the event-filled Continental Weekend. The Miss Continental pageant has been hosted in Chicago since its inception in 1980 (all hail the legendary Chilli Pepper; the first Miss Continental and a Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame inductee), and has been a marker of excellence for the international drag pageantry community since Jim Flint (founder of the 53-year-old venue Baton Show Lounge) planted the seeds for what ultimately became an international network of pageant systems featuring some of the best in drag performance. The weekend’s main events are four pageants hosted at Park West (322 W. Armitage) and the Riviera Theater (4746 N. Racine). Tonight’s Miss Continental Elite pageant (7 PM at Park West) features contestants that are strictly 40 years old or older, which means that the talent portion of the evening is usually out of this world as the audience gets to enjoy watching performers with decades of experience commanding a stage. The rest of the holiday weekend boasts a different pageant each night (Mr. Continental at the Park West on Saturday night, and the Riviera hosts the Miss Continental Plus pageant Sunday night and wraps it up with the main Miss Continental pageant on Monday evening). Tickets are available for purchase starting two hours before each pageant in person at the venue’s box offices. For more information about the pageants and scheduled after parties at the Baton Show Lounge’s Uptown location (4713 N. Broadway), go to the Baton’s website or call (312) 527-9338. (SCJ)

RuPaul’s Drag Race alumna Trinity K. Bonet performing her winning number for the talent portion of the MIss Continental 2019 pageant competition.

The name is Holmes—MISS Sherlock Holmes! Lifeline Theatre first introduced us to Christopher M. Walsh’s female version of the famous Baker Street detective in 2016 with Miss Holmes, which went on to subsequent productions at theaters around the U.S. Now they’re producing the sequel, which—logically enough—is entitled Miss Holmes Returns. Also returning are company members Katie McLean Hainsworth in the title role and Mandy Walsh as her sidekick, Dr. Dorothy Watson. The two investigate a murder in which a young immigrant woman is implicated, but they have their doubts that things are as clear-cut as Scotland Yard makes them seem. Elise Kauzlaric directs the show, which continues in previews tonight at 7:30 PM and tomorrow at 2:30 and 7:30 PM (tickets $25) before the press opening Sunday at 2:30. Performances run through 10/16 at Lifeline (6912 N. Glenwood); tickets for the regular run are $45 ($35 seniors and active/retired military personnel with ID, $15 students with ID). Call 773-761-4477 or visit lifelinetheatre.com for reservations. (KR)

La Esquina, Creepshow, Miss Continental, and Miss Holmes Read More »