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NBA Twitter reacts to Lakers hiring Darvin Ham as head coachon May 28, 2022 at 3:12 am

9:08 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers secured their new head coach with the hire of Darvin Ham, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Prior to joining the Lakers, he served as an assistant for the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks. He has worked under Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer since 2013, when the pair were with the Atlanta Hawks.

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This isn’t Ham’s first time working for Los Angeles. He was an assistant with the Lakers from 2011-2013. He takes over a squad that fell short of expectations last season, as Los Angeles finished 33-49 and missed the postseason. He replaces Frank Vogel, who was fired by the team in April.

Lakers superstar LeBron James was among the first players to welcome his new coach to the team.

Trae Young, who has history with Ham from his time in Atlanta, also congratulated him on the role.

“This major..Congrats D Ham ! !”
Trae Young

The first-time head coach played eight NBA seasons for six teams and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

During Ham’s stint in Detroit he played four games against James, who was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson expressed his excitement for the new addition.

“I’m excited that the Lakers just hired Darvin Ham as the coach. Congratulations!!”
Earvin Magic Johnson

Some of Ham’s former players like Bobby Portis and Thon Maker were among those to weigh in on Twitter.

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NBA Twitter reacts to Lakers hiring Darvin Ham as head coachon May 28, 2022 at 3:12 am Read More »

Crosstown: Cubs’ Codi Heuer could become White Sox’ one who got away

Cubs reliever Codi Heuer thought the soreness in the back of his arm late last season came from his triceps. Imaging months later revealed something else entirely.

“My ligament was torn off the bone, so I had a big gap in there,” said Heuer, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March. “So, I was actually feeling the bone on bone.”

It will be a while before Heuer, 25, will climb a big-league mound again. He expects a 15- to 16-month recovery, which puts his return at around June or July of next year. But the diagnosis at least provided answers and clear next steps.

“There’s no telling just how impacted he was by the injury,” Cubs vice president of pitching Craig Breslow said. “But I think there’s reason to be really optimistic about what he’s capable of doing when he returns. We’d identified him as a target and in that trade [with the White Sox last summer] very, very intentionally and seen some development opportunities. Unfortunately, we just didn’t really get a chance to realize those.”

Including Heuer, none of the players involved in the most recent trade between the Cubs and White Sox will appear in the second installment of the 2022 Crosstown Cup. Guaranteed Rate Field hosts the two-game series this weekend.

Second baseman Nick Madrigal, the other young talent the White Sox gave up for closer Craig Kimbrel, is scheduled to start a rehab assignment (low back strain) in Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. And Kimbrel, who the Sox traded for AJ Pollock this spring, is closing games for the Dodgers.

Initial reviews of last summer’s crosstown trade came back overwhelmingly positive, as both teams filled their diverging needs. But between the failed setup man experiment with Kimbrel on the South Side, and the surgery rehab waiting game on the North Side – first with Madrigal and now Heuer – retrospective trade grades are still on hold.

Heuer has the chance to topple the scales. If the Cubs’ post-op optimism holds true, Heuer could develop into a vital piece in their next contending team – and the one that got away in White Sox lore.

“We started to see potentially the divergence of two distinct fastball shapes, some opportunity to improve the breaking ball, obviously he had a great change,” Breslow said. “And so I think when he comes back at full strength, we’ll see a pretty exciting version of him.”

Heuer’s velocity gradually dropped over the course of last season. His fastball went from averaging 98.6 mph in his season debut with the White Sox, to 95.6 mph in his first game with the Cubs, to 93.5 mph in his last outing.

“I was a little in my head last year figuring out what’s wrong with my mechanics or whatever,” Heuer said.

Some ulnar collateral ligament injuries the player feels in the moment, as the UCL tears on one fateful pitch. Heuer’s wasn’t like that, to the point where he’s not sure when the injury occurred. And while most UCL tears present as pain on the inner side of the elbow, Hoerner’s soreness radiated from the back. So, it didn’t sound any Tommy-John-surgery alarm bells late last season.

When Heuer started ramping back up this winter, during the lockout, his recovery was slower than usual. When physical therapy didn’t eliminate the discomfort, he went in for imaging.

“I don’t know if relief is the right word,” Breslow said of his initial reaction when he heard Heuer’s diagnosis, “but it kind of explained what was going on, why was the velocity starting to trend in the wrong direction.”

Heuer underwent full UCL reconstruction and had an internal brace put in his elbow.

“I’ve still got a bunch of confidence knowing that I can go out there and get outs when I’m not feeling 100 percent. So, I’m going to carry that into whenever I’m ready to go, and build from there and keep going.”

First step: months of tedious rehab.

“I won’t be picking up a ball until September,” Heuer said.

In the meantime, as Heuer put it, he’s “doing a lot of leg days.” Last week, he declared with a smile that he’d already regained full range of motion in his elbow. That, and working out scar tissue, are the main goals in the early days of Tommy John rehab.

“But honestly, it feels pretty good,” Heuer said. “Champing at the bit to get back.”

On Deck

CUBS AT WHITE SOX

Saturday:Keegan Thompson (4-0, 1.54 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto (0-0, 0.00), 6:15 p.m., FOX, 670-AM

Sunday:TBD vs. Dylan Cease (4-2, 4.24), 1:10 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM

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Crosstown: Cubs’ Codi Heuer could become White Sox’ one who got away Read More »

A skateboarding symposium, drag performances, and art talks

Happy days are here again with these upcoming events and things to do in the week ahead!

FRI 5/27

This weekend the Martin (2500 W. Chicago) is hosting an exhibition by Tigray Art Collective titled “Wa’ela Exhibition.” The Tigray Art Collective is made up of artists from Tigray, a northern state in Ethiopia, making work responding to the region’s ongoing civil war and genocide. The exhibition opens at 6 PM tonight with a reception. Saturday the gallery is open for viewers from 10 AM-4 PM, followed by a film screening and community gathering starting at 6:30 PM. On Sunday, there will be a closing reception from 4-7 PM. Proceeds from the artwork provide support for Tigray residents weathering this humanitarian crisis. Proof of vaccination is required for attending any portion of this event. All events are free to attend but reservations at Eventbrite are encouraged. (MC)

Winifred Haun & Dancers and Banks Performance Project present a shared dance concert of new works, Carry Us Forward, tonight at 7 PM and tomorrow at 3 PM at Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72nd. Company founder Haun presents an excerpt of her piece When day comes, part 2, featuring music by composers Olivia Block and Michael Wall, performed by several members of the company. WH&D associate artistic director Summer Smith unveils a new untitled solo work for company dancer Myles Harris, and assistant choreographer Mandy Miller also presents a new piece. Banks Performance Project will present two new works, including one by company founder Elysia C. Banks. BPP is the resident dance company at Hamilton Park, and their mission is “to translate the value of concert dance through performance and access across communities to connect all of us.” Tickets for this dance concert are $20 general admission (four for $60), $15 children 6-18, and free for 5 and under; tickets available through the WH&D website. (KR)

It’s a stacked lineup tonight at Chop Shop (2033 W. North). At 10 PM, pop-infused indie postpunkers Avantist are dropping a new music video and performing. The evening starts at 7:45 PM with openers Lollygagger warming up the stage, followed by Crystal Killers and the Tomblands. Later, revel in the afterglow of it all with a post-show celebration soundtracked by the techno party crews Legion of Doom and End of Days. Starting at 10:45 PM, they’re bringing Niiigggggaaaaa, Avantist (again!), Ommen (of Pixel Grip fame), and Ppppppupppppp to the DJ decks. For $15 ($13 in advance), this dance floor is open to those 18 and over. Don’t forget your vax card. (MC)

Lots of recommended music events tonight from our music writers. Reader contributor Hannah Edgar wrote a preview this month about Chicago jazz musician Makaya McCraven’s performances at 9 PM tonight and tomorrow at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln). Tickets are still available for both 18+ shows. Hardcore fans should check out contributor Monica Kendrick’s preview for tonight’s Racetraitor show at Cobra Lounge (235 N. Ashland); it starts at 8 PM and tickets are available to those 17+. Contributor Bill Meyer recommends the experimentation of the band Pelt, who you can catch twice this weekend: tonight as part of WNUR’s Transference Fest (7:30 PM at SPACE, 1245 Chicago, Evanston, all-ages) and tomorrow at the Hideout (9:30 PM at 1354 W. Wabansia, 21+). And contributor Luca Cimarusti wrote about the California band Deftones, who you can see tonight at Huntington Bank Pavilion along with Gojira (7 PM, all-ages, tickets here). (SCJ)  

SAT 5/28

Catching shows at the Driehaus Museum (40 E. Erie) can be tricky since it’s only open on weekends, but it’s worth making time for “Theodora Allen: Saturnine” before it closes on Sun 7/10. LA-based contemporary artist Allen makes paintings like Greek myths unfolding into the Whole Earth Catalog, fusing an archetypical sort of melancholy with the acid-stained, ephemeral “return to nature” aesthetic of 60s California. It’s just the right amount of sadness that resists cynicism while reflecting on human definitions of “natural.” The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM-5 PM and Sundays from noon-5 PM. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for students with identification, and free for Driehaus Museum members, active military personnel with identification, and children under 12. (MC)

Once a month the Chicago Tool Library (CTL) hosts a free repair fair, and today’s is happening from 1-4 PM at the Chicago Bee branch location of the Chicago Public Library (3647 S. State). During CTL repair fairs, volunteers across disciplines perform free repairs for community members, so bring out anything in need of some minor work: bikes, appliances, clothes, and more. Wanna know about the next one? Follow the Chicago Tool Library on Instagram or check out their website. (MC)

Attention all cuties with curves: the Thick Mall is back at Sleeping Village (3734 W. Belmont). From 1-5 PM, local vendors specializing in vintage and vintage-inspired plus-size garments (including Luvsick, Thick Chick Vintage, and Baby Girl Retro) will be opening their collections to those looking for size “L” and larger. Not only is it free to browse, but there’s an instant photobooth by Marisa KM and treats from Saltorsomething. You must be 21 or older to attend. (MC)

2022 is the Year of Chicago Dance, so if you haven’t taken in anything terpsichorean so far, June is busting out all over with possibilities, courtesy of Chicago Dance Month. You can get a free sneak peek today at Navy Pier with performances from Najwa Dance Corps (dedicated to preserving dance styles and techniques from different eras reflecting the African American diaspora); Chicago Repertory Ballet, which focuses on giving fresh twists to the classic canon; Raks Inferno, a company of “firespinners, bellydancers, and object manipulators”; hip-hop and performance collective Movement Revolution Dance Crew; Chicago Tap Theatre; and contemporary company Visceral Dance. The performances kick off at 3 PM, and while limited lawn chairs are available, it’s suggested that you bring your own blanket. Chicago Dance Month, now in its tenth year,  is a project of See Chicago Dance; you can check out the website and register to find out about everything that’s happening around the city, including many performances or classes that are free or discounted. (KR)

SUN 5/29

We’re at the beginning of the prime season for outdoor street festivals, a time-honored city tradition giving us all the joy of eating food on a stick while wandering around a neighborhood and hearing bands doing their thing on a stage at the end of the block. This weekend’s Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival will honor your cravings for tribute bands and eating outdoors. It started Saturday and continues today from 11 AM-10 PM on Sheffield between Belmont and Roscoe, and entertainment tonight includes Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press on the main stage at 8 PM, and a diverse lineup of drag, cabaret, and reggae (Gizzae, singer Meghan Murphy, and a group of drag performers including Lucy Stoole, Thair, and Zolita) starting at 5:30 PM on the Belmont stage. A full schedule of performances and set times is available at the festival website. (SCJ)

The Chicago BIPOC Birders Network is a group of bird-identification enthusiasts that centers Black and Indigenous people of color. Today from 2-4 PM, the network hosts a free meet-up at North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N. Pulaski). Expect a leisurely and lighthearted stroll through a small portion of the preserve’s 46 acres. At the end, there will be a free catered taco buffet with both meat and vegetarian options. Space is limited, so organizers are requesting advanced reservations from people who know they will show up. If you need binoculars, note that when registering. People of color to the front on this one, please! (MC)

Experimental Sound Studio kicks off the 2022 edition of its long-running Option series today, a “music salon” dedicated to musicians exploring improvisation and experimentation with their compositions and practice. This year ESS is shifting to a format that includes monthly Option performances at various venues in Chicagoland from now until November. Many of the performances will be sited outdoors, and all will be documented with video and available for viewing after the performance at ESS’s YouTube page. This afternoon at 2 PM, you can catch sound artist, instrument maker, and experimental musician Victoria Shen as she performs under the Evicshen moniker; the show will take place in the garden at ESS’s headquarters (5925 N. Ravenswood). It’s free and open to all ages, and advance reservations are requested through Eventbrite. (SCJ)

At 7 PM, Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles (a longtime Chicago-based LGBTQ+ music organization) welcomes Pride Bands Alliance members from its family of 38 affiliates across the U.S., Australia, the UK, and Canada to perform with Lakeside Pride as part of Sweet Home Chicago. The evening features two symphonic bands, world premieres of new work by composers Christen Taylor Holmes and Evan Williams, and a performance by the evening’s emcees—RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Angeria Paris VanMicheals and Denali. General admission is $30 ($25 in advance) with the option to upgrade to a meet-and-greet package offered before the show with opportunities to take photos with Denali and Angeria. This evening is open to all ages and happens at the Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells). (MC)

MON 5/30

Rolling Stone just celebrated the innovative tech used in the latest music video of local postpunk darlings Ganser. In “People Watching,” which was publicly released this week, Ganser used an LED backdrop to create a convincingly immersive video environment on a low budget. At 8:30 PM tonight, Ganser will open for A Place to Bury Strangers and Glove as part of a two-night stint at the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western). Get tickets ($22) ASAP; night two is already sold out. You must be 21 or older with proof of vaccination. (MC)

TUE 5/31

Cinema/Chicago kicks off their free and weekly Summer Screenings program tonight at 6:30 PM at Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark) with a showing of A Girl Returned (L’Arminuta), a 2021 Italian mystery directed by Giuseppe Bonito. It’s free to attend but advance tickets through the festival website are recommended; limited seating might be available day-of. (SCJ) 

WED 6/1

“Only mystery allows us to live, only mystery,” said the great Andalusian poet and playwright Federico García Lorca. Murdered by the fascist Nationalist forces in Spain in 1936 and dumped into a mass grave (his remains have never been found), Lorca has been an avatar for many intersecting identities: Latine, gay, left-wing, and an advocate for emerging 20th-century avant-garde movements in Europe, including surrealism, symbolism, and futurism. Water People Theater celebrates his legacy with LORCA, Living the Experience, conceived and directed by artistic director Iraida Tapias. Combining the female protagonists of Lorca plays such as Yerma, Blood Wedding, and The House of Bernarda Alba with live music and multimedia (including a video mapping element involving flamenco), the piece reflects on the deeper meaning of the mystery of life and freedom that Lorca sought to embody. It runs tonight at 7 PM at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio; tickets are $25-$35 through Eventbrite. (KR)

Is it too obvious to kick off Pride month at Berlin (954 W. Belmont)? If so, who cares—because it’s Legends of Drag night. At 7 PM, authors Devin Antheus and Harry James Hanson will celebrate the release of their new photo book, Legends of Drag, which profiles 81 performers across 16 cities. Then at 9 PM, Berlin programmer and absolute icon Lucy Stoole emcees for a lineup of Chicago all-stars featuring JoJo Baby, Maya Douglas, Honey West, and Sheri Payne. Chicago’s own legendary Chilli Pepper and Capucine Deveroux will tap in as hostesses followed by a massive dance party. Tickets are $15, and this event is only open to those 21 and over with proof of vaccination. (MC)

Once uPUN a time . . . no, sorry, I don’t want to PUNder to you, dear reader. Let’s save the PUNsibility until tonight at 8 PM (doors open at 7) when the Chicago Puntathlon makes its triumph-punt return, giving audience members free reign to dazzle each other and a panel of judges with their arsenal of dad and mom jokes. The competition will be hosted by local performer and teaching artist The Ricky Harris, and feature clown performance by Nikki Hartung and a special magic and pun-filled segment by Johnathan Koller. Rules and details for those who want to prepare (should I say PUN-pare? No, I should not) for competing are available at the event’s Facebook page; those who can take the heat but want to stay out of the kitchen are welcome to watch with a $15 entrance fee (advance tickets are available at Eventbrite). It’s hosted at the Call (1547 W. Bryn Mawr), and the evening is open to those 21 and up. (SCJ)

Crooner Andrew Sa has been in residency at Golden Dagger (2447 N. Halsted) in the last weeks, and tonight’s Lonesome Andrew’s Queer Revue is a fitting way to cap off the series and start out Pride month. Sa and his band will back up an array of guest vocalists covering songs from the pop and country canons as well as his own original music. Sa has asked performers Alex Grelle, Connie, Sophie Sputnik (Waltzer), Hawk Colman, and a few surprise guests to join him for this 8 PM show. It’s $15 and open to those 21+; advance tickets are available. (SCJ)

THU 6/2

It’s all about skateboarding today at the Gray Center (929 E. 60th). From morning to evening, they’ll be hosting different events—skate sessions, panel discussions, and refuel moments—that honor skating as a social and embodied art form, under the title The Useless Tool (Skate Sessions). Expect cameos from professional skateboarder and designer Alexis Sablone, author Kyle Beachy, and performance theorist Tina Post as well as representatives from organizations FroSkate and Natty Bwoy, Timothy Johnson, Sonnenzimmer (Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi), Maxwell Neely-Cohen, Kristin Ebeling, and Every house has a door (Matthew Goulish and Lin Hixson). Everyone is encouraged to bring their boards to the event, but anyone skating must sign an Acceptance of Risk Waiver on arrival. This is free and open to all ages, and food is provided at no charge throughout the day. Check out the Gray Center’s website for the complete programming schedule. (MC)

Artist Michael Rakowitz’s new exhibition “The Monument, the Monster, and the Maquette” includes new sculpture exploring relationships between monuments and statues in American public space and public discourse and struggle; with a look toward the centuries of white supremacy and settler colonialism that have informed our collective conversation about such markers of history (especially when the tellers of that history have been subjective and unreliable). You can hear more about Rakowitz’s work and research this evening as he talks with art historian Dr. Erin L. Thompson about the hidden histories of American monuments at Rhona Hoffman gallery (1711 W. Chicago). It’s free to attend and starts at 5 PM; reservations are recommended and can be made at Tock. (SCJ)

Fans of either Shang-Chi or Kim’s Convenience are in for a treat tonight as Chinese-Canadian actor and Marvel Cinematic Universe superstar Simu Liu has a public conversation with writer Joanne Lee Molinaro tonight about acting, battling stereotypes, and writing his new memoir, We Were Dreamers. The event starts at 7:30 PM at Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport) and is hosted by the Chicago Humanities Festival; tickets are sold out as of this writing but you can add your name to the waitlist to be notified if a seat becomes available. (SCJ)

Life is a cabaret, and sometimes your only option is to Carry On! Chicago singer Cindy Firing and NYC-based Josephine Sanges created this show out of their friendship, cultivated while “navigating distance, disease, and duets.” Firing has won acclaim for her tribute to the late  and legendary Barbara Cook, You & I, while Sanges’s 2020 album, Finding Beauty, honored the very-much-alive (but also legendary) Ann Hampton Callaway. The two women perform 8 PM tonight and Friday at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee; tickets are $25 with a two-drink minimum; 21+. Reservations at davenportspianobar.com. (KR)

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A skateboarding symposium, drag performances, and art talks Read More »

A skateboarding symposium, drag performances, and art talksKerry Reid, Micco Caporale and Salem Collo-Julinon May 27, 2022 at 8:13 pm

Happy days are here again with these upcoming events and things to do in the week ahead!

FRI 5/27

This weekend the Martin (2500 W. Chicago) is hosting an exhibition by Tigray Art Collective titled “Wa’ela Exhibition.” The Tigray Art Collective is made up of artists from Tigray, a northern state in Ethiopia, making work responding to the region’s ongoing civil war and genocide. The exhibition opens at 6 PM tonight with a reception. Saturday the gallery is open for viewers from 10 AM-4 PM, followed by a film screening and community gathering starting at 6:30 PM. On Sunday, there will be a closing reception from 4-7 PM. Proceeds from the artwork provide support for Tigray residents weathering this humanitarian crisis. Proof of vaccination is required for attending any portion of this event. All events are free to attend but reservations at Eventbrite are encouraged. (MC)

Winifred Haun & Dancers and Banks Performance Project present a shared dance concert of new works, Carry Us Forward, tonight at 7 PM and tomorrow at 3 PM at Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72nd. Company founder Haun presents an excerpt of her piece When day comes, part 2, featuring music by composers Olivia Block and Michael Wall, performed by several members of the company. WH&D associate artistic director Summer Smith unveils a new untitled solo work for company dancer Myles Harris, and assistant choreographer Mandy Miller also presents a new piece. Banks Performance Project will present two new works, including one by company founder Elysia C. Banks. BPP is the resident dance company at Hamilton Park, and their mission is “to translate the value of concert dance through performance and access across communities to connect all of us.” Tickets for this dance concert are $20 general admission (four for $60), $15 children 6-18, and free for 5 and under; tickets available through the WH&D website. (KR)

It’s a stacked lineup tonight at Chop Shop (2033 W. North). At 10 PM, pop-infused indie postpunkers Avantist are dropping a new music video and performing. The evening starts at 7:45 PM with openers Lollygagger warming up the stage, followed by Crystal Killers and the Tomblands. Later, revel in the afterglow of it all with a post-show celebration soundtracked by the techno party crews Legion of Doom and End of Days. Starting at 10:45 PM, they’re bringing Niiigggggaaaaa, Avantist (again!), Ommen (of Pixel Grip fame), and Ppppppupppppp to the DJ decks. For $15 ($13 in advance), this dance floor is open to those 18 and over. Don’t forget your vax card. (MC)

Lots of recommended music events tonight from our music writers. Reader contributor Hannah Edgar wrote a preview this month about Chicago jazz musician Makaya McCraven’s performances at 9 PM tonight and tomorrow at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln). Tickets are still available for both 18+ shows. Hardcore fans should check out contributor Monica Kendrick’s preview for tonight’s Racetraitor show at Cobra Lounge (235 N. Ashland); it starts at 8 PM and tickets are available to those 17+. Contributor Bill Meyer recommends the experimentation of the band Pelt, who you can catch twice this weekend: tonight as part of WNUR’s Transference Fest (7:30 PM at SPACE, 1245 Chicago, Evanston, all-ages) and tomorrow at the Hideout (9:30 PM at 1354 W. Wabansia, 21+). And contributor Luca Cimarusti wrote about the California band Deftones, who you can see tonight at Huntington Bank Pavilion along with Gojira (7 PM, all-ages, tickets here). (SCJ)  

SAT 5/28

Catching shows at the Driehaus Museum (40 E. Erie) can be tricky since it’s only open on weekends, but it’s worth making time for “Theodora Allen: Saturnine” before it closes on Sun 7/10. LA-based contemporary artist Allen makes paintings like Greek myths unfolding into the Whole Earth Catalog, fusing an archetypical sort of melancholy with the acid-stained, ephemeral “return to nature” aesthetic of 60s California. It’s just the right amount of sadness that resists cynicism while reflecting on human definitions of “natural.” The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM-5 PM and Sundays from noon-5 PM. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for students with identification, and free for Driehaus Museum members, active military personnel with identification, and children under 12. (MC)

Once a month the Chicago Tool Library (CTL) hosts a free repair fair, and today’s is happening from 1-4 PM at the Chicago Bee branch location of the Chicago Public Library (3647 S. State). During CTL repair fairs, volunteers across disciplines perform free repairs for community members, so bring out anything in need of some minor work: bikes, appliances, clothes, and more. Wanna know about the next one? Follow the Chicago Tool Library on Instagram or check out their website. (MC)

Attention all cuties with curves: the Thick Mall is back at Sleeping Village (3734 W. Belmont). From 1-5 PM, local vendors specializing in vintage and vintage-inspired plus-size garments (including Luvsick, Thick Chick Vintage, and Baby Girl Retro) will be opening their collections to those looking for size “L” and larger. Not only is it free to browse, but there’s an instant photobooth by Marisa KM and treats from Saltorsomething. You must be 21 or older to attend. (MC)

2022 is the Year of Chicago Dance, so if you haven’t taken in anything terpsichorean so far, June is busting out all over with possibilities, courtesy of Chicago Dance Month. You can get a free sneak peek today at Navy Pier with performances from Najwa Dance Corps (dedicated to preserving dance styles and techniques from different eras reflecting the African American diaspora); Chicago Repertory Ballet, which focuses on giving fresh twists to the classic canon; Raks Inferno, a company of “firespinners, bellydancers, and object manipulators”; hip-hop and performance collective Movement Revolution Dance Crew; Chicago Tap Theatre; and contemporary company Visceral Dance. The performances kick off at 3 PM, and while limited lawn chairs are available, it’s suggested that you bring your own blanket. Chicago Dance Month, now in its tenth year,  is a project of See Chicago Dance; you can check out the website and register to find out about everything that’s happening around the city, including many performances or classes that are free or discounted. (KR)

SUN 5/29

We’re at the beginning of the prime season for outdoor street festivals, a time-honored city tradition giving us all the joy of eating food on a stick while wandering around a neighborhood and hearing bands doing their thing on a stage at the end of the block. This weekend’s Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival will honor your cravings for tribute bands and eating outdoors. It started Saturday and continues today from 11 AM-10 PM on Sheffield between Belmont and Roscoe, and entertainment tonight includes Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press on the main stage at 8 PM, and a diverse lineup of drag, cabaret, and reggae (Gizzae, singer Meghan Murphy, and a group of drag performers including Lucy Stoole, Thair, and Zolita) starting at 5:30 PM on the Belmont stage. A full schedule of performances and set times is available at the festival website. (SCJ)

The Chicago BIPOC Birders Network is a group of bird-identification enthusiasts that centers Black and Indigenous people of color. Today from 2-4 PM, the network hosts a free meet-up at North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N. Pulaski). Expect a leisurely and lighthearted stroll through a small portion of the preserve’s 46 acres. At the end, there will be a free catered taco buffet with both meat and vegetarian options. Space is limited, so organizers are requesting advanced reservations from people who know they will show up. If you need binoculars, note that when registering. People of color to the front on this one, please! (MC)

Experimental Sound Studio kicks off the 2022 edition of its long-running Option series today, a “music salon” dedicated to musicians exploring improvisation and experimentation with their compositions and practice. This year ESS is shifting to a format that includes monthly Option performances at various venues in Chicagoland from now until November. Many of the performances will be sited outdoors, and all will be documented with video and available for viewing after the performance at ESS’s YouTube page. This afternoon at 2 PM, you can catch sound artist, instrument maker, and experimental musician Victoria Shen as she performs under the Evicshen moniker; the show will take place in the garden at ESS’s headquarters (5925 N. Ravenswood). It’s free and open to all ages, and advance reservations are requested through Eventbrite. (SCJ)

At 7 PM, Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles (a longtime Chicago-based LGBTQ+ music organization) welcomes Pride Bands Alliance members from its family of 38 affiliates across the U.S., Australia, the UK, and Canada to perform with Lakeside Pride as part of Sweet Home Chicago. The evening features two symphonic bands, world premieres of new work by composers Christen Taylor Holmes and Evan Williams, and a performance by the evening’s emcees—RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Angeria Paris VanMicheals and Denali. General admission is $30 ($25 in advance) with the option to upgrade to a meet-and-greet package offered before the show with opportunities to take photos with Denali and Angeria. This evening is open to all ages and happens at the Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells). (MC)

MON 5/30

Rolling Stone just celebrated the innovative tech used in the latest music video of local postpunk darlings Ganser. In “People Watching,” which was publicly released this week, Ganser used an LED backdrop to create a convincingly immersive video environment on a low budget. At 8:30 PM tonight, Ganser will open for A Place to Bury Strangers and Glove as part of a two-night stint at the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western). Get tickets ($22) ASAP; night two is already sold out. You must be 21 or older with proof of vaccination. (MC)

TUE 5/31

Cinema/Chicago kicks off their free and weekly Summer Screenings program tonight at 6:30 PM at Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark) with a showing of A Girl Returned (L’Arminuta), a 2021 Italian mystery directed by Giuseppe Bonito. It’s free to attend but advance tickets through the festival website are recommended; limited seating might be available day-of. (SCJ) 

WED 6/1

“Only mystery allows us to live, only mystery,” said the great Andalusian poet and playwright Federico García Lorca. Murdered by the fascist Nationalist forces in Spain in 1936 and dumped into a mass grave (his remains have never been found), Lorca has been an avatar for many intersecting identities: Latine, gay, left-wing, and an advocate for emerging 20th-century avant-garde movements in Europe, including surrealism, symbolism, and futurism. Water People Theater celebrates his legacy with LORCA, Living the Experience, conceived and directed by artistic director Iraida Tapias. Combining the female protagonists of Lorca plays such as Yerma, Blood Wedding, and The House of Bernarda Alba with live music and multimedia (including a video mapping element involving flamenco), the piece reflects on the deeper meaning of the mystery of life and freedom that Lorca sought to embody. It runs tonight at 7 PM at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio; tickets are $25-$35 through Eventbrite. (KR)

Is it too obvious to kick off Pride month at Berlin (954 W. Belmont)? If so, who cares—because it’s Legends of Drag night. At 7 PM, authors Devin Antheus and Harry James Hanson will celebrate the release of their new photo book, Legends of Drag, which profiles 81 performers across 16 cities. Then at 9 PM, Berlin programmer and absolute icon Lucy Stoole emcees for a lineup of Chicago all-stars featuring JoJo Baby, Maya Douglas, Honey West, and Sheri Payne. Chicago’s own legendary Chilli Pepper and Capucine Deveroux will tap in as hostesses followed by a massive dance party. Tickets are $15, and this event is only open to those 21 and over with proof of vaccination. (MC)

Once uPUN a time . . . no, sorry, I don’t want to PUNder to you, dear reader. Let’s save the PUNsibility until tonight at 8 PM (doors open at 7) when the Chicago Puntathlon makes its triumph-punt return, giving audience members free reign to dazzle each other and a panel of judges with their arsenal of dad and mom jokes. The competition will be hosted by local performer and teaching artist The Ricky Harris, and feature clown performance by Nikki Hartung and a special magic and pun-filled segment by Johnathan Koller. Rules and details for those who want to prepare (should I say PUN-pare? No, I should not) for competing are available at the event’s Facebook page; those who can take the heat but want to stay out of the kitchen are welcome to watch with a $15 entrance fee (advance tickets are available at Eventbrite). It’s hosted at the Call (1547 W. Bryn Mawr), and the evening is open to those 21 and up. (SCJ)

Crooner Andrew Sa has been in residency at Golden Dagger (2447 N. Halsted) in the last weeks, and tonight’s Lonesome Andrew’s Queer Revue is a fitting way to cap off the series and start out Pride month. Sa and his band will back up an array of guest vocalists covering songs from the pop and country canons as well as his own original music. Sa has asked performers Alex Grelle, Connie, Sophie Sputnik (Waltzer), Hawk Colman, and a few surprise guests to join him for this 8 PM show. It’s $15 and open to those 21+; advance tickets are available. (SCJ)

THU 6/2

It’s all about skateboarding today at the Gray Center (929 E. 60th). From morning to evening, they’ll be hosting different events—skate sessions, panel discussions, and refuel moments—that honor skating as a social and embodied art form, under the title The Useless Tool (Skate Sessions). Expect cameos from professional skateboarder and designer Alexis Sablone, author Kyle Beachy, and performance theorist Tina Post as well as representatives from organizations FroSkate and Natty Bwoy, Timothy Johnson, Sonnenzimmer (Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi), Maxwell Neely-Cohen, Kristin Ebeling, and Every house has a door (Matthew Goulish and Lin Hixson). Everyone is encouraged to bring their boards to the event, but anyone skating must sign an Acceptance of Risk Waiver on arrival. This is free and open to all ages, and food is provided at no charge throughout the day. Check out the Gray Center’s website for the complete programming schedule. (MC)

Artist Michael Rakowitz’s new exhibition “The Monument, the Monster, and the Maquette” includes new sculpture exploring relationships between monuments and statues in American public space and public discourse and struggle; with a look toward the centuries of white supremacy and settler colonialism that have informed our collective conversation about such markers of history (especially when the tellers of that history have been subjective and unreliable). You can hear more about Rakowitz’s work and research this evening as he talks with art historian Dr. Erin L. Thompson about the hidden histories of American monuments at Rhona Hoffman gallery (1711 W. Chicago). It’s free to attend and starts at 5 PM; reservations are recommended and can be made at Tock. (SCJ)

Fans of either Shang-Chi or Kim’s Convenience are in for a treat tonight as Chinese-Canadian actor and Marvel Cinematic Universe superstar Simu Liu has a public conversation with writer Joanne Lee Molinaro tonight about acting, battling stereotypes, and writing his new memoir, We Were Dreamers. The event starts at 7:30 PM at Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport) and is hosted by the Chicago Humanities Festival; tickets are sold out as of this writing but you can add your name to the waitlist to be notified if a seat becomes available. (SCJ)

Life is a cabaret, and sometimes your only option is to Carry On! Chicago singer Cindy Firing and NYC-based Josephine Sanges created this show out of their friendship, cultivated while “navigating distance, disease, and duets.” Firing has won acclaim for her tribute to the late  and legendary Barbara Cook, You & I, while Sanges’s 2020 album, Finding Beauty, honored the very-much-alive (but also legendary) Ann Hampton Callaway. The two women perform 8 PM tonight and Friday at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee; tickets are $25 with a two-drink minimum; 21+. Reservations at davenportspianobar.com. (KR)

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A skateboarding symposium, drag performances, and art talksKerry Reid, Micco Caporale and Salem Collo-Julinon May 27, 2022 at 8:13 pm Read More »

It is time for the Chicago White Sox to move on from Dallas KeuchelTodd Welteron May 27, 2022 at 8:48 pm

Apr 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) reacts after giving up a grand slam in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago White Sox pitcher Dallas Keuchel believes he will bounce back after a second-straight start where he put his team in an early hole.

Keuchel can bounce back with another team then.

You never want to see someone lose their job. Since Keuchel is guaranteed the remaining $18 million on his deal and has a 7.88 ERA, he can be designated for assignment the moment Lance Lynn comes off the injured list.

Keuchel has had three starts this season where he has given up six or more earned runs. This is on top of the three he had last season. He had three more games last season where six or more runs were scored off of him but a couple of them were unearned because of poor defense.

Needless to say, he has not been an effective starter for a while now.

To be fair, Keuchel has had starts where the defense has failed him. Keuchel has no problem throwing the infield under the bus.

Asked about the atrocious defensive support, Keuchel said, “just when you’ve seen it all, you really haven’t” and he left it at that.

— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) April 20, 2022

In the few times he has resembled the pitcher that won a Cy Young with the Houston Astros, Keuchel has still found something to complain about. He ended up getting a terse response from manager Tony La Russa regarding Keuchel’s complaints about innings.

Keuchel had a really good 2020 with a 6-2 record, a 1.99 ERA, and a 3.08 FIP. He had an amazing June last season when he posted a 2.70 ERA.

Since July 3, 2021, it has been all downhill for Keuchel.

He gave up nine home runs and posted a 6.26 ERA that month. In August, he was even worse when he walked 12 and gave up 19 earned runs. He surrendered 28 hits in 23 innings pitched. He also had a 7.43 ERA. September was not much better for Keuchel.

The Chicago White Sox front office and Keuchel were hoping 2022 would be a bounce-back season. It has yet to happen.

Opposing hitters are batting .343 with an on-base percentage of .421 and a slugging percentage of .524. His win probability added is -0.9. Right now he is a -0.4 wins above replacement player.

The Chicago White Sox offense is scuffling right now and the last thing this team needs is a pitcher that is very likely to put the Sox in an early hole.

Keuchel is a high-risk pitcher right now. Sure, he has had some decent outings but he did not exactly look dominant out there either.

The Chicago White Sox has ace Lance Lynn returning from the injured list soon. They also have Johnny Cueto pitching ten times better than Keuchel to be the fifth starter once Lynn comes back.

If the Chicago White Sox need starting pitching depth, they still have Vince Velasquez on the roster. They also have Davis Martin and Jimmy Lambert in Triple-A.

The poor numbers and the other options available mean it is time for Keuchel to be designated for assignment. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf might not like paying the remaining balance on Keuchel’s hefty deal but Keuchel does not provide a lot of bullpen value either.

Also, Keuchel could benefit from a change of scenery. He was very valuable in 2020 but now his value to the Chicago White Sox is probably playing somewhere else.

Related Story: It has been mostly frustrating to watch the Chicago White Sox

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It is time for the Chicago White Sox to move on from Dallas KeuchelTodd Welteron May 27, 2022 at 8:48 pm Read More »

Calendar: early June

Calendar: early June

By Barbara Revsine,
today at 3:03 pm

Available Tuesdays-Saturdays from 4:30-6pm, the new Happy Hour menu at Le Sud Mediterranean Kitchen in Roscoe Village features small plates, wines by the glass and cocktails, all priced at $6. Inaugural options include grilled asparagus with speck and aioli; Yukon potato chips with herbs and mustard; a choice of red, white or sparkling wine; and a Hibiscus Mule made with vodka, lime, hibiscus simple syrup, and ginger beer.

An antipasti of wood-grilled spicy shrimp and octopus, along with a pasta made with baked ziti and a traditional Bolognese sauce and an entree focused on a fire-roasted, 18-ounce bone-in ribeye are all featured on the Father’s Day (Friday, June 17-Sunday, June 19) specials at Bar Roma on north Clark Street. Homemade German chocolate cake with a toasted coconut pecan frosting is featured for dessert. The restaurant’s regular menu is also available.

El Che Steakhouse & Bar, the Argentinian-influenced steakhouse in the West Loop will be serving top tier South American wines from Brazos Imports at a five-course dinner ($125 per person) on June 16 at 6:30 pm. Brian Ravitsky, the owner and operator of Brazos Imports, will be on hand to provide commentary and tasting notes. Contact the restaurant for information and reservations.

The PorchFest Lakeview, an annual event sponsored by AARP Chicago in cooperation with the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Lakeview in June and August in Roscoe Village. Contact Eventbrite for dates, locations and event information.

Relax with a Bottomless Mimosa (1 1/2-hour limit) at lunch Wednesdays-Fridays 11 am-2 pm, and brunch Saturdays and Sundays 10am-1:45 pm at Bistronomic on north Wabash on the Gold Coast. Check out all of the restaurant’s special events, including a Bastille Day celebration (July 14th) on the restaurant’s website (bistronomic.net)

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Cubs are rebuilding for 2nd time in 10 years. Don’t ask them about it.

The bad Cubs lost 20-5 to the pitiful Reds on Thursday. The score might have been an anomaly. The loss wasn’t.

The Cubs lose at home (7-15), they lose in one-run games (4-11) and they lose interleague games (1-4).

They strike out a lot, and they give up a lot of home runs.

They have some players I’ve never heard of, which isn’t a problem. That their parents haven’t heard of them is.

If you’re Cubs management (and I’m sorry if you are), what’s worse: To say you’re rebuilding or to say you’re awful at your job? Me, I’d much prefer the pain of rebuilding to the shame of being awful at my job.

But not the Cubs. They refuse to use the “R” word. Marquee Sports Network, the team’s state-run propaganda arm, has a show called “The Reporters,” featuring a host and media members. During a recent taping, The Score’s David Haugh criticized team president Jed Hoyer for not being more transparent about the franchise’s long-term roster plan. The show’s producer immediately stopped the segment to say they were having technical difficulties. A camera problem? Audio issues? A wardrobe malfunction? Nobody seemed to know, but when the producer gave the order to recommence, it came with a stipulation: No more talk of Hoyer’s lack of transparency.

Marquee didn’t want to put words in guests’ mouths. It only sought to take one word out: rebuild.

When news of the suppression got out, the Cubs quickly issued an assurance that, going forward, no topic would be off the table for discussion. Too late, in terms of credibility.

Maybe the club was taking a page from the playbook that’s all the rage now, the one in which everybody gets to create their own truth. Why do the Cubs care so much about that bad word? Because they think it’s bad business. They’ve already put fans through one rebuild, which led to a World Series title in 2016. But that was different. There were new owners, the Ricketts family, and a new team president, Theo Epstein, who had a history of winning. What do we have to lose except a lot of games, amenable Cubs fans seemed to say to themselves at the time.

This rebuild is another story, and the people at the top — chairman Tom Ricketts and president of price tags Crane Kenney — know it. The team traded fan favorites Javy Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo last season not because it didn’t have the money but because it wanted to save money. All while still charging $110.17 for a general-admission ticket, parking, two hot dogs and a beer, the highest average in baseball in 2021. All while charging fans to watch Cubs games on Marquee, which was supposed to generate gobs of cash for signing elite players.

How’s that gobs-of-cash thing going for you fans?

The Cubs don’t want to admit they’re rebuilding because they understand, somewhere in their shrunken souls, that putting the fan base through two rebuilds in 10 years is wrong. It’s especially wrong because they took money made off paying customers and put it into team-owned business projects and team-owned pockets instead of into quality players.

The Cubs think they’re being sneaky: It’s not a rebuild if we don’t use the word. If we call it something else — a transition phase, a reset, a pina colada, anything — people will start to believe it.

They say “enhanced interrogation techniques.” I say “torture.”

When I asked Hoyer about the Cubs’ rebuilding project on Opening Day, he said he didn’t recognize the term.

“I don’t know what that means,” he said. “Every team ends up in different cycles, whether it’s payroll cycles, whether it’s competitive cycles.”

Here’s the “cycle” the Cubs are in: Their player payroll has gone from third highest in the league ($221.6 million in 2019) to 14th ($147.6 million this season). They’re an alleged major-market team.

An alleged major-market team that isn’t rebuilding.

OK, got it.

As I’ve written before, it’s stunning how quickly the Cubs have lost all the goodwill they’d built up after the 2016 title. And they don’t seem to care about that loss.

The Cubs aren’t big fans of my work, so I wasn’t surprised I wasn’t invited to be on “The Reporters.” When my phone didn’t ring, it must have been Marquee not calling. But now that the Sun-Times has decreed that none of its writers can appear on the show because of the recent ethical issue, it looks like I have no shot whatsoever.

Sigh.

Do the Bears have a show?

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Cubs are rebuilding for 2nd time in 10 years. Don’t ask them about it. Read More »

6 Essential Spots for the Creamiest Soft Serve Ice Cream in ChicagoAmanda Schellingon May 27, 2022 at 4:59 pm

There’s something iconic about soft serve ice cream. It’s the sweet treat of summer that makes cold Chicago winters worth it. It’s the cap to a long day at the beach and the perfect dessert to round out savory summer BBQs. Simply put, buttery smooth and rich, soft serve ice cream is the perfect dessert to enjoy after a long day in the warm, summer sun and in Chicago there are a ton of incredible places serving up some of the best soft serve money can buy. 

Sure Ben & Jerry’s is fire, but put away the pint, don’t even bother dealing with McDonald’s ice cream machine and head to one of these 6 spots around Chicago for the best possible soft serve to round out your warm summer day.

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3472 W Devon Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712

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A staple on the Northwest side of Chicago, there is no soft serve quite like Dairy Star. The shop’s founders converted what was previously a Dairy Queen into the place we know and love today. For 37 years, Dairy Star has been serving some of the best soft serve in three iconic flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. While these might seem typical, the amount of toppings and mix-in to choose from is what really separates Dairy Star from the rest. Get your cone rolled in Reese’s pieces, dipped in butterscotch, or indulge in a loaded “Star” split. Any choice you make at Dairy Star is going to be a good one. 

2815 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Char-grilled burgers, chili fries, and a hand-spun milkshake; this is the meal we’ve been waiting for. At The Freeze in Logan Square, creamy, decadent soft serve has been dished out since 1950, and the community keeps coming back for more! Besides the classic cone, you can also order sundaes, parfaits, malts, and floats. Here, you won’t only find a variety of soft serve flavors and concoctions, but also your favorite grilled items. Chicken, hot dogs, and ribeye steaks make up the food menu, but we’re sure that you won’t forget to grab dessert when you stop at The Freeze. 

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1159 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

1632 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

When you’re looking for a twist on a classic dessert, check out Kurimu. With two locations, Wicker Park and UIC, a trip to Kurimu is closer than you think. The flavors on the menu here are always rotating, which makes the trip even more exciting. Some past flavors include pineapple, banana, cereal milk, and thai iced tea. Kurimu has also partnered with another Chicago favorite, Aya Pastry, to bring patrons exciting desserts and styles of soft serve. Kurimu is not only a must-visit on your summer bucket list, but definitely one to watch. We fully expect we’ll be seeing new locations pop up all over Chicagoland! 

2009 N Bissell St, Chicago, IL 60614

If you know anything about Annette’s, it’s probably about their mouthwatering, homemade Italian Ice. But, did you know they also offer soft serve? Whether it’s in a cup or a cone, you have endless options of toppings to add to your dish.  From waffle cone chips to crushed Oreos to fresh strawberries, at Annette’s you’re able to take your dessert to the next level. When you want to mix desserts, you can also add a few swirls of soft serve to your favorite Italian Ice flavors for creamier take on a classic Italian treat. 

1436 W Blackhawk St, Chicago, IL 60642

Everyone should be able to enjoy soft serve ice cream, and at Vaca’s Vegan Creamery, that’s just what you get. While traditional ice cream recipes call for full-fat milk, cream, and dry milk powder, Vaca’s Creamery’s ice creams are made with oat milk. Oat milk, a non-dairy, vegan-friendly alternative to cow’s milk is known for its creamy and savory flavors, making it the perfect substitution for regular milk. At Vaca’s, you’ll find the soft serve in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla. To add some excitement to your visit, try out one of their signature sundaes, available in chocolate-y s’mores or Cosmic Cake. 

1047 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

At Cone Gourmet Ice Cream in the West Loop, the options for how you style your soft serve are endless. Being the only ice cream shop in Chicago with “an Irish flair”, you can be sure that anything you sink your teeth into will be unique and delicious. Looking for something a little different? Try the Cone O’Flakes, tasty vanilla soft serve served with a decadent, crumbly Irish chocolate Flake bar. For  a fun take on everyone’s favorite cereal, try the Shamrock. Soft serve ice cream smothered in Lucky Charms, you truly cannot go wrong.

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6 Essential Spots for the Creamiest Soft Serve Ice Cream in ChicagoAmanda Schellingon May 27, 2022 at 4:59 pm Read More »

White Sox’ Tim Anderson keeps climbing through most challenging times

What a week it’s been for White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.

That whole Josh Donaldson thing. The enormity of a controversy. The questions and answers that followed for days.

And the baseball.

Anderson’s first response to it was a game-clinching home run Sunday, on national television, from New York City.

And while Donaldson was sheltered by a stay on the COVID-19 list, Anderson kept playing superb baseball. Starting with a two-hit game game in New York Saturday, when Donaldson called him “Jackie,” Anderson went on a 10-for-21 tear and played clean, sometimes flashy defense at shortstop.

“He rises to big moments,” Sox third base and infielders coach Joe McEwing told the Sun-Times.

“I would never doubt that man.”

McEwing, who has been by Anderson’s side since his rookie season in 2016, has hit thousands and thousands of ground balls to Anderson and had who knows how many conversations with him about baseball and life.

“Nobody understands the journey and path the man has been through to prepare him for these occasions,” McEwing said.

McEwing watched Anderson this week and was not surprised.

“It’s over, it’s behind us and we move forward,” McEwing said. “He handled it extremely well. He’s grown so much as an individual, each day. As he continues to grow as a person he grows on the field as well. I’m extremely proud of the way he has handled it and moved on.

“There are situations where people thrive in, and they’re special talents. He always rises up. Look at how he rises up in the playoffs. He wants those moments.”

Somewhat lost in all of the Donaldson hullabaloo is the way Anderson’s defense has found its footing after rashes of errors. He made nine in his first 24 games, leading the major leagues, and answered questions with humility.

“I’m like the worst right now,” he said before a game on May 10. “All I can do is get better. I’ve got to keep working.”

McEwing knew he would. And that he would rally. And Anderson has, playing errorless ball in 14 games since then. Of his last 25 games, 24 have come without an error.

“If you look at his history, there always will be two or three days where there are three or four errors,” McEwing said. “I know it’s coming at some point and I’m glad it came early because he’s been magnificent since. Usually happens once in spring training for a day or two and we slow things down. And it happens once in the season, usually at a time when he’s played a lot of games in a row and he’s tired.

“Right now, I think he’s in the best place he’s ever been.”

The Cubs come to the South Side for games Saturday and Sunday and Anderson, a .485 hitter in the postseason and owner of a walkoff homer against the Yankees in last year’s Field of Dreams game says the glare of center-stage games doesn’t affect him.

Saturday’s game is part of Fox’s “Baseball Night in America” package.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an ESPN game or Fox,” Anderson told the Sun-Times. “It’s cool to play on ESPN, don’t get me wrong. At the end of the day it’s my career so I play hard whether it’s on TV, on YouTube, on Apple TV or [local] NBC [Sports Chicago]. I’m going to play my same game.”

That game this season has produced a .363/.401/.516 hitting line with five homers, nine doubles, 19 RBI and seven stolen bases. Seeking his second batting title in four years, Anderson is third in the majors in batting average. He has batted .335, .322, .309 and .363 in his last four seasons.

Anderson leads major league shortstops in 2022 in hits, average, on-base percentage, total bases, OPS+ and batting wins above replacement.

Since 2019, he leads AL shortstops in average (. 328) and multihit games (137), and is fourth or higher in six other categories.

“Everyone doubted it, saying what he was doing was not sustainable and he keeps doing it,” McEwing said. “Is that sustainable? There are facts. Everyone probably said that about Tony Gwynn.

“It’s amazing how talented and gifted he is.”

CUBS AT SOX

Saturday: Keegan Thompson (4-0, 1.54 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto (0-0, 0.00), 6:15 p.m., FOX, 1000-AM.

Sunday: Marcus Stroman (2-4, 4.71) vs. Dylan Cease (4-2, 4.24), 1:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM

Read More

White Sox’ Tim Anderson keeps climbing through most challenging times Read More »

Cubs are rebuilding for 2nd time in 10 years. Don’t ask them about it.

The bad Cubs lost 20-5 to the pitiful Reds on Thursday. The score might have been an anomaly. The loss wasn’t.

The Cubs lose at home (7-15), they lose in one-run games (4-11) and they lose interleague games (1-4).

They strike out a lot, and they give up a lot of home runs.

They have some players I’ve never heard of, which isn’t a problem. That their parents haven’t heard of them is.

If you’re Cubs management (and I’m sorry if you are), what’s worse: To say you’re rebuilding or to say you’re awful at your job? Me, I’d much prefer the pain of rebuilding to the shame of being awful at my job.

But not the Cubs. They refuse to use the “R” word. Marquee Sports Network, the team’s state-run propaganda arm, has a show called “The Reporters,” featuring a host and media members. During a recent taping, The Score’s David Haugh criticized general manager Jed Hoyer for not being more transparent about the franchise’s long-term roster plan. The show’s producer immediately stopped the segment to say they were having technical difficulties. A camera problem? Audio issues? A wardrobe malfunction? Nobody seemed to know, but when the producer gave the order to recommence, it came with a stipulation: No more talk of Hoyer’s lack of transparency.

Marquee didn’t want to put words in guests’ mouths. It only sought to take one word out: rebuild.

When news of the suppression got out, the Cubs quickly issued an assurance that, going forward, no topic would be off the table for discussion. Too late, in terms of credibility.

Maybe the club was taking a page from the playbook that’s all the rage now, the one in which everybody gets to create their own truth. Why do the Cubs care so much about that bad word? Because they think it’s bad business. They’ve already put fans through one rebuild, which led to a World Series title in 2016. But that was different. There were new owners, the Ricketts family, and a new team president, Theo Epstein, who had a history of winning. What do we have to lose except a lot of games, amenable Cubs fans seemed to say to themselves at the time.

This rebuild is another story, and the people at the top – chairman Tom Ricketts and president of price tags Crane Kenney – know it. The team traded fan favorites Javy Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo last season not because it didn’t have the money but because it wanted to save money. All while still charging $110.17 for a general-admission ticket, parking, two hot dogs and a beer, the highest average in baseball in 2021. All while charging fans to watch Cubs games on Marquee, which was supposed to generate gobs of cash for signing elite players.

How’s that gobs-of-cash thing going for you fans?

The Cubs don’t want to admit they’re rebuilding because they understand, somewhere in their shrunken souls, that putting the fan base through two rebuilds in 10 years is wrong. It’s especially wrong because they took money made off paying customers and put it into team-owned business projects and team-owned pockets instead of into quality players.

The Cubs think they’re being sneaky: It’s not a rebuild if we don’t use the word. If we call it something else – a transition phase, a reset, a pina colada, anything – people will start to believe it.

They say “enhanced interrogation techniques.” I say “torture.”

When I asked Hoyer about the Cubs’ rebuilding project on Opening Day, he said he didn’t recognize the term.

“I don’t know what that means,” he said. “Every team ends up in different cycles, whether it’s payroll cycles, whether it’s competitive cycles.”

Here’s the “cycle” the Cubs are in: Their player payroll has gone from third highest in the league ($221.6 million in 2019) to 14th ($147.6 million this season). They’re an alleged major-market team.

An alleged major-market team that isn’t rebuilding.

OK, got it.

As I’ve written before, it’s stunning how quickly the Cubs have lost all the goodwill they’d built up after the 2016 title. And they don’t seem to care about that loss.

The Cubs aren’t big fans of my work, so I wasn’t surprised I wasn’t invited to be on “The Reporters.” When my phone didn’t ring, it must have been Marquee not calling. But now that the Sun-Times has decreed that none of its writers can appear on the show because of the recent ethical issue, it looks like I have no shot whatsoever.

Sigh.

Do the Bears have a show?

Read More

Cubs are rebuilding for 2nd time in 10 years. Don’t ask them about it. Read More »