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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Darvin Ham was introduced as the Los Angeles Lakers‘ new coach Monday, with point guard Russell Westbrook standing off to the side in a public show of support for the hiring.

And Ham reciprocated that support right back to Westbrook, after a tumultuous first season in Los Angeles for the former league MVP.

“Don’t get it messed up, Russell Westbrook is one of the best players our league has ever seen and there’s still a ton left in the tank,” Ham said. “I don’t know why people tend to try to write him off.”

After trading for Westbrook on the day of the 2021 NBA draft, Los Angeles experienced one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. The Lakers went from being a preseason favorite to win the championship based on Las Vegas betting odds to missing the playoffs completely, finishing No. 11 in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record.

Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka joined Ham for the occasion and expressed optimism in the 48-year-old Ham becoming the 28th head coach in the team’s existence.

“This is an incredibly bright and promising day in Laker history,” Pelinka said.

After an eight-year NBA playing career and a stint coaching and working in the front office in the NBA’s developmental league, Ham got his NBA coaching start in Los Angeles as an assistant on Mike Brown’s staff in 2012-13.

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“The fact that I got my start as a coach here, this place will always be special for me,” Ham said. “It’s like a homecoming for me, in all seriousness.”

After Los Angeles, Ham spent nearly a decade on Mike Budenholzer‘s staff with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, winning a championship in 2021.

“As sad as it is for me to be leaving Coach Bud, sometimes you got to walk that walk on your own,” Ham said, getting choked up as he spoke about his former boss. “We went from colleagues, to friends, to brothers while all the while making history.”

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a minor league contract with former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, according to multiple reports.

The veteran left-hander was recently released by the Chicago White Sox after having a 2-5 record with a 7.88 ERA through eight starts. He was in the final season of a $55 million, three-year deal.

The 34-year-old Keuchel won the American League Cy Young Award with the Houston Astros in 2015 and is also a two-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner. He’ll try to recapture his old form by reuniting with pitching coach Brent Strom, who was with the Astros in 2015 and joined the Diamondbacks during the offseason.

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The Diamondbacks are looking for more options in their starting rotation after right-hander Humberto Castellanos went to the injured list with an elbow injury.

If Keuchel is added to the 40-man roster, Arizona would be responsible for only a prorated share of the $700,000 major league minimum, and the White Sox would remain responsible for the rest of his $18 million salary this year. Chicago also owes a $1.5 million buyout of a 2023 option.

Keuchel, 101-87 with a 3.86 ERA in 262 career games with 251 starts, last appeared for Chicago on May 26, when he lasted just two innings, allowing seven hits and six runs in a 16-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

News of the transaction was first reported by The Athletic.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Darvin Ham was introduced as the Los Angeles Lakers‘ new coach Monday with point guard Russell Westbrook standing off to the side in a public show of support for the hiring.

And Ham reciprocated that support right back to Westbrook, after a tumultuous first season in Los Angeles for the former league MVP.

“Don’t get it messed up, Russell Westbrook is one of the best players our league has ever seen and there’s still a ton left in the tank,” Ham said. “I don’t know why people tend to try to write him off.”

After trading for Westbrook on the day of the NBA Draft last summer, Los Angeles experienced one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. The Lakers went from being a preseason favorite to win the championship based on Las Vegas betting odds to missing the playoffs completely, finishing No. 11 in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record.

Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka joined Ham for the occasion and expressed optimism in the 48-year-old Ham becoming the 28th head coach in the team’s existence.

“This is an incredibly bright and promising day in Laker history,” Pelinka said.

After an eight-year playing NBA playing career and a stint coaching and working in the front office in the NBA developmental league, Ham got his NBA coaching start in Los Angeles as an assistant on Mike Brown’s staff in 2012-13.

2 Related

“The fact that I got my start as a coach here, this place will always be special for me,” Ham said. “It’s like a homecoming for me, in all seriousness.”

After Los Angeles, Ham spent nearly a decade on Mike Budenholzer‘s staff with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, winning a championship in 2021.

“As sad as it is for me to be leaving Coach Bud, sometimes you got to walk that walk on your own,” Ham said, getting choked up as he spoke about his former boss. “We went from colleagues, to friends, to brothers while all the while making history.”

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As we kick off summer around Chicago, we also get to celebrate Pride 2022! The awesome, conversation-starter pride parades near Chicago are finally back and bigger than ever. Being the first summer of actual normalcy since 2020, we’re ready to take the streets, enjoy shows, music, gatherings, and celebrate Pride the best way possible: parades! Picture lining the streets, being entertained by awesome performers, and participating in a celebration that means so much to so many people. We truly can’t wait. This June, spend your time checking out all the biggest and most fun parades around the city and suburbs, you won’t regret it! 

Image Credit: Blockclub Chicago

Montrose & Broadway, Uptown, Chicago, IL 60640

WHEN: Sunday, June 26, 12:00 PM

After two full years of cancellations due to Covid, the biggest, loudest,and most extravagant padade is back: the Chicago Pride Parade! This parade takes the North Side by storm, kicking off at Montrose and Broadway and through the streets to Diversey and Sheridan in Lincoln Park. To honor the Stonewall Riots, the Chicago Pride Parade traditionally takes place during the last weekend of June, with a celebration happening all weekend long leading up to the parade on Sunday at noon. 

This year, a major theme of the parade will be focusing on remember Richard Pfeiffer, a prominent and long-serving activist for gay rights in Chicago. He served the Chicago Pride Parade since the second annual parade in 1971, and remains a pivotal member to the LGBTQIA+ community in our neighborhoods. 

Benton and S. Broadway St, Aurora, IL 60505

WHEN: Sunday, June 12

As the second-largest city in Illinois, Aurora is also well-known for their Pride parade. What started in 2018 has grown to a party in this Western suburb, and will return again on June 12 for their annual parade. This one-hour parade spans three of the city’s major roadways, where you can expect non-stop entertainment and excitement. After the parade, you can head to one of the many restaurants hosting after-parties while you soak in all the fun and amusement from the parade!

Image Credit: Time Out Chicago

1200 S Linn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

WHEN: Saturday, June 18

What’s better than a Pride parade? A Pride parade on WATER. That’s right. This year, the Pride Flotilla returns to 12th Street beach, where you can see the boats you’ve dreamed about setting sail on dressed up in their best and brightest pride colors sailing across Lake Michigan. If you don’t have a boat to venture on for the Flotilla, there are plenty of spots to watch like Queen’s Landing, Navy Pier, or along the Lakefront! Pride Flotilla is hosted by Rainbow Races Inc., whose mission has been to connect the LGBTQIA+ community and its love of sailing. 

Halsted and Grace, Lakeview, Chicago, IL 60613

WHEN: Sunday, June 19

If you’re looking for a fun way to involve your furry friend in the Pride celebrations this June, check out the Proud Pet Parade on Halsted and Clark. Hosted by prominent Pride personality Miss Foozie, the pet parade allows owners to show their own Pride by going all out and dressing up their pooch in all the colors of Pride! Once all the participants are dressed and ready, the parade will begin around noon, Miss Foozie will lead the pets and owners around to show off the amazing outfits, then judge the most glamorous looks with prizes for all winners!

121 W Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098

WHEN: Sunday, June 12, 11:00 AM

Woodstock Pride Fest is back! Hosted at the historic Woodstock Square district, Woodstock Pride once again hosts the festivities, an organization focused on promoting and celebrating an all-inclusive environment. The group also works closely with the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce to be able to serve members of the LGBTQIA+ community in their town. After switching the full-scale parade to a smaller celebration in 2021, Woodstock Pride Parade is back and better than ever this year. Starting at 11 AM, leading right up to the fests opening ceremony, you’ll be sure to start your day with a colorful extravaganza marching through the streets.

Featured Image Credit: Woodstock Pride

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Well, guys, we have good news. Now through Sunday, October 23, the Roscoe Street-ery invites Chicagoans to come out early and stay late as they “Shop & Dine” in Roscoe Village, supporting over 40 local retailers and restaurants. So, if you’re already in love with Roscoe Village, this is the perfect event for you to experience everything you enjoy down there in a compact way, plus discover a ton of cool pop-up performances and shops. Meanwhile, if you’re not quite familiar with the area, take this as an opportunity to discover all the best things Roscoe Village has to offer in one place! We promise you’ll have a blast.

Image Credit: Roscoe Street-ery

About the Roscoe Street-ery

As part of the City of Chicago’s Expanded Outdoor Dining Program, the 2000 block of Roscoe Street from Damen to Seeley will be closed to offer safe, open-air dining on the street that is both dog and family-friendly. The Roscoe Street-ery will be held Fridays at 4 p.m. through Sundays at 4 p.m. on the second and fourth weekends of every month from June 10 through October 23.

Guests will enjoy food and drinks from Commonwealth Tavern, Kitsch’n, Same Same and Volo Restaurant Wine Bar with rotating Street-ery food and drink specials. Participating restaurants will accept reservations and try to accommodate requests for Street-ery dining.

The Street-ery will also feature a “Shop Local Happy Hour” running the entirety of Street-ery weekends. Participating restaurants will offer rotating specials when guests dine and present a receipt from a participating Roscoe Street retailer (store purchase must be made that weekend). The most current list of specials is available at www.roscoestreetery.com.

There is free on-street parking on Roscoe Street east of Hoyne with easy access to the shops and boutiques from Western, Hoyne and Leavitt.

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This is the summer of the Chicago Bulls‘ back court. Once the NBA Finals are over and the 2022 NBA Draft takes place, all eyes will be on Zach LaVine.

LaVine’s impending free agency tour is the main stress on many Bulls fans’ minds as of late, and will continue to be until he makes a decision on whether or not to stay in Chicago.

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