The Amused Curmudgeon

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Lonzo Ball has proven to be a quick decision maker on the court, and now off of it.

Just a few days after being sent home from a road trip in Memphis with knee soreness, Ball and his camp made the decision on Thursday to go ahead and have surgery to repair a small tear in the left meniscus, sidelining the Bulls starter for six to eight weeks, according to the team.

On that timeline, Ball should be able to return at some point in March, having time to get his rhythm back and be ready for the playoffs in mid-April.

The knee started acting up on Ball last week, and he was sent home early on the road trip to meet with doctors and start a rehab program. According to coach Billy Donovan, that path was not working, so the medical staff was going to go in a different direction.

Donovan didn’t rule surgery out on Wednesday when discussing it, but didn’t feel like they were there yet in the process.

That changed by Thursday.

“That’s why there was a reason to get him back as soon as possible from Memphis because you just don’t want to waste days for any player,” Donovan said. “You want to make sure they’re able to see the doctors and the doctors are able to look at images.”

Ball had a similar procedure done on his knee back in 2018 while playing for the Lakers, and made it back for the start of the season.

With Ball out of the picture for a while and Zach LaVine also nursing a sore left knee that will keep him sidelined at least three more games, look for rookie Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White to continue working as the starting backcourt.

Donovan will have to make a decision on a point guard, however, when LaVine returns, either going with White or Dosunmu, or doing it by committee and having DeMar DeRozan, LaVine and Alex Caruso play the role of lead facilitator.

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I’ve heard colleagues refer to the sports department as the toy department. Anyone who would take offense to that would be taking themselves too seriously. Sports are fun and games. They provide an escape from the real-world issues and heart-breaking stories produced by other departments.

But sometimes those stories cross into sports. Those in Chicago sports media have been reeling after the deaths of ESPN 1000’s Jeff Dickerson on Dec. 28 and 670 The Score’s Les Grobstein on Sunday. Both surely would’ve had much to report and opine during the Bears’ search for a new general manager and coach. But they’re missed for much more than anything they’d say on the radio.

While mourning their loss, we’ve turned to their colleagues for consoling and eulogizing. Both of their stations devoted more than a full day of programming to them, and listeners kept the phone lines busy, wanting and perhaps needing to join the conversation.

It wasn’t about sports, but it was the essence of sports radio and sports media.

In that spirit, I present the Sun-Times’ second annual Chicago sports broadcast media power rankings. With the help of a crack support staff – cue “The Simpsons” scene with the monkey who typed “It was the blurst of times” – these rankings are even more precise than last year’s.

The categories for consideration are the same: appeal, quality, longevity and personal preference, though some weigh more heavily depending on the individual. For instance, Jon “Boog” Sciambi has called the Cubs for only a year, but he has been in the business so long, he’s granted longevity.

Roughly 100 names were considered. The top 20 are below, with last year’s rank in parentheses.

1. Jason Benetti (5): Listen to Benetti call any game, whether it’s his regular White Sox TV gig or a MAC college football game on ESPNU, and you would think he’d been calling those teams forever. He has gained national appeal with ESPN for his work on college football and basketball and MLB Statcasts. He added the Olympics to his resume when he called baseball in the Tokyo Games. And NBC Sports Chicago can’t do any better than him as a fill-in on Bulls games.

2. Adam Amin (NR): Amin wasn’t ranked last year because he had just started calling Bulls games. But he has skyrocketed on the strength of his work for NBCSCH and Fox, for whom he calls the NFL and MLB. The Bears’ preseason TV voice finally called a regular-season Bears game, earning him “The Brick” (in honor of Jack Brickhouse) for calling the Bears, Bulls, Cubs and Sox in the same year. Kevin Burkhardt might be in line for Joe Buck’s seat as the voice of Fox, but Amin is not far behind.

3. Pat Hughes (3): He will be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s just a matter of when. One of the best days of the year is when he makes his spring-training debut on The Score. His voice is a sound of summer, and it makes that March day feel warmer.

4. Jon Sciambi (NR): “Boog” had the unfortunate timing of arriving at Marquee Sports Network during a pandemic. But he and analyst Jim Deshaies hit it off from the start and made for a wonderful broadcast. Sciambi maintains a national profile with ESPN, calling MLB on the radio and college hoops on TV.

5. Jason Goff (12): Don’t call it a comeback because Goff has been here for years. He’s just recreated as the host for Bulls pre- and postgame shows and the podcast “The Full Go with Jason Goff” on Bill Simmons’ platform, The Ringer. Not a bad guy to have in your corner.

6. Danny Parkins (18): It’s no coincidence that Hub Arkush’s comments about Aaron Rodgers and Olin Kreutz’s blasting of George McCaskey happened on Parkins’ show on The Score, which he co-hosts with Matt Spiegel. Stuff happens on that show, and that’s what programmers want in afternoon drive.

7. Laurence Holmes (8): If you’re looking for someone to break down a news event and give it depth and context, Holmes is your guy. Fortunately, his musings are available beyond his two-hour show on The Score, on his network of podcasts and social-media platforms.

8. Marc Silverman (10): No one is more real than Silvy, whose emotions come through the microphone as clear as his voice. He and ESPN 1000 co-host Tom Waddle form the longest-tenured radio duo in town, and their banter hasn’t grown old in the least.

9. David Kaplan (1): Dropping eight spots doesn’t look good, but when people move up, others have to move down. Kap is still one of the few in town on radio (ESPN 1000 morning show) and TV (NBCSCH). He also serves as an analyst on college basketball broadcasts.

10. Leila Rahimi (15): It was quite a year for Rahimi, who became the first woman to co-host a regular weekday show at The Score and returned to TV as a sports anchor at NBC 5.

11. Dan Bernstein (11): He’s different in many ways from his time with Terry Boers – and they’re all for the better.

12. Stacey King (20): He’s a great analyst, but I love his enthusiasm and his catchphrases. All of them.

13. Tom Waddle (NR): It’s enjoyable to listen to him talk football and share stories from his personal life.

14. Pat Foley (7): His visibility has been significantly limited in his last season behind the mic. This isn’t how I thought this would go down.

15. Eddie Olczyk (4): Edzo is still the best hockey analyst on TV. I’d just like to hear more from him.

16. Steve Stone (6): Stoney is still one of the best baseball analysts around. I can’t imagine Chicago baseball without him.

17. Len Kasper (2): He’s an excellent broadcaster, but it’s hard to follow up leaving Cubs TV for Sox radio.

18. Ozzie Guillen (13): The Sox pre/postgame analyst also has a show with his sons, “Being Guillen.”

19. Olin Kreutz (19): He talks about the Bears with such authority and passion it’s a wonder they don’t employ him. Oh, wait, George doesn’t like him.

20. Dionne Miller (NR): She added ESPN 1000’s Bears pregame show with Jeff Meller to her fine anchoring and reporting at ABC 7.

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The Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan continues to hold his lead in the fan voting for Eastern Conference All-Star Game guards.

DeRozan is sixth in the overall voting, behind LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

Fan voting, which closes on Saturday, accounts for 50% of the vote to determine the All-Star Game starters. Current layers and a media panel will account for 25% each.

Head coaches will select the reserves.

TNT will reveal the 2022 NBA All-Star Game starters, including the two team captains, on Thursday, Jan. 27 during TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax.

Eastern Conference

Guards

1. DeMar DeRozan (CHI) – 4,121,034

2. Trae Young (ATL) – 2,147,111

3. Zach LaVine (CHI) – 1,988,452

4. James Harden (BKN) – 1,962,928

5. LaMelo Ball (CHA) – 958,717

6. Kyrie Irving (BKN) – 844,398

7. Fred VanVleet (TOR) – 577,540

8. Derrick Rose (NYK) – 490,655

9. Darius Garland (CLE) – 343,551

10. Jaylen Brown (BOS) – 330,409

Frontcourt

1. Kevin Durant (BKN) – 5,496,513

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) – 5,124,925

3. Joel Embiid (PHI) – 3,305,229

4. Jayson Tatum (BOS) – 1,580,022

5. Jimmy Butler (MIA) – 1,384,267

6. Jarrett Allen (CLE) – 507,074

7. Pascal Siakam (TOR) – 424,135

8. Bam Adebayo (MIA) – 417,661

9. Miles Bridges (CHA) – 330,372

10. LaMarcus Aldridge (BKN) – 318,655

Western Conference

Guards

1. Stephen Curry (GSW) – 6,019,418

2. Ja Morant (MEM) – 2,623,359

3. Luka Don?i? (DAL) – 1,923,187

4. Klay Thompson (GSW) – 1,240,781

5. Devin Booker (PHX) – 867,222

6. Russell Westbrook (LAL) – 855,990

7. Chris Paul (PHX) – 758,336

8. Donovan Mitchell (UTA) – 612,350

9. Damian Lillard (POR) – 458,858

10. Anthony Edwards (MIN) – 304,343

Frontcourt

1. LeBron James (LAL) – 6,827,449

2. Nikola Joki? (DEN) – 4,132,522

3. Andrew Wiggins (GSW) – 2,644,571

4. Paul George (LAC) – 2,312,248

5. Anthony Davis (LAL) – 2,071,920

6. Draymond Green (GSW) – 1,861,562

7. Carmelo Anthony (LAL) – 1,449,475

8. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) – 1,195,004

9. Rudy Gobert (UTA) – 583,976

10. Deandre Ayton (PHX) – 472,402

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Joliet is no stranger to the fast lane. Home to the Chicagoland Speedway, Route 66 Raceway, and the Autobahn Country Club, the city is every speed demon’s dream, but that’s not all Joliet has to offer. It also has casinos, historic sites like the Old Joliet Prison, parks, and more. If you’re in the area for any of these fun activities, we’ve got you covered when you get hungry––here are eight of the best restaurants in Joliet!

151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432

After a bout of gambling at Harrah’s, take your winnings to The Reserve for a celebratory meal right inside the casino. The Reserve is a white-tablecloth steakhouse with an upscale-casual vibe serving New American fare. 

Start with an app like the Lobster Bisque, then dive into your main course––perhaps the Blackened Salmon or a New York strip. Remember to save room for dessert! Try the signature Classic Cheesecake, a traditional vanilla and lemon cheesecake with a graham cracker crust.

22 W Clinton St, Joliet, IL 60432

Travel back in time and enjoy classic comfort food in this no-frills, old school American diner. Aptly named, the diner is filled with vintage automobile and Route 66-themed decor.  The family-friendly gem has served the downtown Joliet area since 1984––it’s the perfect stop for breakfast, brunch, and lunch with a nod to simpler times. The menu has all your fave diner eats from sandwiches and skillets to pancakes and eggs every which way.

205 N Chicago St, Joliet, IL 60432

Indulge in classic Italian comfort food and American fare at Juliet’s Tavern in downtown Joliet. Ingredients are sourced fresh from local farmers’ markets so you get the best of the season any time of the year. Big mac and cheese fan? Juliet’s Baked Lobster Mac & Cheese is rich and cheesy with that extra bit of starpower thanks to the lobster.

The tavern also has a full bar with a quality selection of craft beers, wines by the glass, and specialty cocktails to accompany your meal.

1990 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60435

If the classic signage didn’t give it away, Al’s Steak House is one of the oldest upscale dining establishments in Joliet. First opened in 1959, Al’s started out as a cocktail lounge before converting to a steakhouse and banquet hall. The American restaurant specializes in steak and seafood dishes and is popular for its charbroiled steaks. Another specialty to try is Al’s Grecian-style steaks served with a double baked potato.

2721 W Jefferson St #120, Joliet, IL 60435

Sushi Ya is a sushi bar and Japanese restaurant with all your classics and faves. The menu is vast with everything from traditional sashimi, nigiri, and maki rolls to hibachi, teriyaki, udon, and soba. If you’re stopping by for lunch, Sushi Ya has lunch specials Monday-Saturday, including bento boxes, sushi, hibachi, donburi, and noodles. There’s also an AYCE menu if you’re feeling extra hungry.

75 N Chicago St, Joliet, IL 60432

Chicago Street Pub is a Joliet hotspot for drinking, dining, and live music and entertainment, including trivia nights! Chow down on your fave bar foods like sandwiches and fish ‘n’ chips plus salads if you want some balance. There are seasonal specials, like Pepperoni Pizza Soup and Caesar Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.

There’s also traditional Irish fare, daily lunch specials, and a large selection of beer, liquor, and wine. Considered Joliet’s first craft beer bar, Chicago Street Pub has 21 beers on tap!

2019 Essington Rd, Joliet, IL 60435

Metro Grill is a restaurant and bar serving contemporary American cuisine with a Mediterranean flair. Ingredients are sourced sustainably and locally whenever possible, like local produce, naturally raised meats, and sustainable seafood. 

You can relax after a long day here with a hearty meal and tasty cocktail. Try the signature burger, the Drunken Western. Two buns house beer-battered onion rings, American cheese, applewood bacon, and a juicy burger with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. Feeling lucky? You can also play some slots while you wait!

2022 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL 60435

Nothing says old-fashioned like a diner. Old Fashioned Pancake House encapsulates that beloved retro feel with old school booth and counter seating in a casual atmosphere. 

Established in 1988, the diner has served breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Joliet for over 30 years. Treat yourself to a variety of American comfort food like burgers, steak and eggs, sandwiches, savory crepes, pancakes, and more.

Featured Image Credit: Juliet’s Tavern

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The Chicago Bears are nearing the completion of their second week of interviews as they search for a new general manager and head coach of their football team. The pace of the Bears interview process has been criticized as the team isn’t completed with their reported first round of interviews but several clues have emerged this week that would seem that they further along in their search than what they are leading on.

The first clue was the report that the Bears will be conducting a second interview with Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus next week. Eberflus’ initial interview with the Bears occurred on January 17. Eberflus, who also has a second interview scheduled with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is considered to be among the top head coaching candidates in this year’s cycle. Eberflus wasn’t originally considered to be a strong candidate for the Bears’ head coaching vacancy considering his defensive background but a second interview would seem to suggest that there is legitimate interest between the two sides.

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Shaedon Sharpe, who was ESPN’s No. 1 prospect in the 2022 high school class before he joined the Kentucky Wildcats in early January, can apply for the 2022 NBA draft as an early-entry candidate, a source told ESPN on Thursday.

Sharpe started the current school year at Dream City Christian in Phoenix, but he had sufficient credits to graduate from high school before the start of the NBA season in October. He committed to Kentucky in September and then decided to arrive in Lexington early and enroll at the beginning of January.

He is currently practicing with the Wildcats and is eligible to play, but he has not yet participated in any games, something that might change in the coming weeks depending on the inclination of the coaching staff, led by John Calipari.

Sharpe turns 19 on May 30 and thus meets the age requirement for the NBA draft, along with being one NBA season removed from high school graduation.

A little-known prospect unranked by recruiting services at the beginning of the 2020-21 high school season, Sharpe led the prestigious Nike EYBL in scoring this past July, making a dramatic rise to the No. 1 spot in the ESPN 100 before signing with Kentucky.

Sharpe is considered a potential top-five pick in the 2022 NBA draft thanks to his combination of prototypical frame with dynamic shot-making and explosive finishing ability, regularly coming up with highlight-reel-caliber dunks, blocks and putbacks.

Although slated as the No. 6 prospect in the ESPN Top 100 for the 2022 NBA draft, Sharpe has not yet made his intentions known regarding his plans for the upcoming draft, which likely will depend at least partially on whether he plays this season. He could ultimately elect to wait until the 2023 NBA draft, especially if he does not suit up for Kentucky this season.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.

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Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has opted to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, the team announced Thursday.

Ball is expected to travel to California in the coming days to have the arthroscopic procedure to repair a meniscus tear, a source told ESPN.

The Bulls and Ball’s agent — Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — had discussed options with doctors, but the procedure was deemed necessary after a recent change in nonsurgical treatment didn’t allow Ball to play through what’s described as a slight meniscus tear, sources said.

Ball has missed the past three games with what the Bulls initially deemed was a bone bruise. The team had already ruled him out for its upcoming three-game road trip because his knee was not recovering well from the initial treatment.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan on Wednesday night said Ball had changed treatments on the knee, and that doctors were waiting to see how Ball responded to the new treatment.

Ball had a procedure for a meniscus tear on the same knee in July 2018 and returned for the start of training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He is averaging 13 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 35 games in his first season in Chicago.

ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has surged past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and into the lead among all NBA players in All-Star voting ahead of polls closing Saturday night at midnight ET.

James, who trailed Curry in the first two rounds of voting, had 6.8 million votes in the third round of voting, which was released Thursday afternoon. Curry, meanwhile, was second among all players with just over 6 million votes.

By passing Curry, James is in line to be a captain for one of the two All-Star teams for a fifth straight year, dating back to the 2018 introduction of the new system that has the top vote-getter in each conference become a captain. For the second year in a row, he is likely to be joined in that role by Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, who holds about a 380,000 vote lead over Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the top spot among Eastern Conference players.

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While the fan vote is the only thing that determines who will be the captain of each team, the rest of the starters are determined based off a formula that includes the fan vote, which accounts for 50% of the total, as well as media and player voting, which each count for 25%.

Alongside James in the frontcourt is Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, and Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, who hasn’t made an All-Star Game before. Wiggins is followed by LA Clippers forward Paul George, Lakers forward Anthony Davis and Warriors forward Draymond Green.

Among Western Conference backcourt players, Curry is trailed by Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who has opened up a sizable lead over Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic for the second backcourt spot.

In the East, Durant, Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid are virtual locks for the three starting spots in the frontcourt, while Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan has a massive lead for the top spot in the backcourt. He is followed by Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Bulls guard Zach LaVine and Nets guard James Harden.

The All-Star Game will be Feb. 19 in Cleveland. The starters, as well as the two captains, will be announced next Thursday night on TNT, while the reserves — who are selected by voting among coaches in both conferences — will be announced in early February.

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Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has opted to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, the team announced Thursday.

Ball is expected to travel to California in the coming days to have the arthroscopic procedure to repair a meniscus tear, a source told ESPN.

The Bulls and Ball’s agent — Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — had discussed options with doctors, but the procedure was deemed necessary after a recent change in nonsurgical treatment didn’t allow Ball to play through what’s described as a slight meniscus tear, sources said.

Ball has missed the past three games with what the Bulls initially deemed was a bone bruise. The team had already ruled him out for its upcoming three-game road trip because his knee was not recovering well from the initial treatment.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan on Wednesday night said Ball had changed treatments on the knee, and that doctors were waiting to see how Ball responded to the new treatment.

Ball had a procedure for a meniscus tear on the same knee in July 2018 and returned for the start of training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He is averaging 13 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 35 games in his first season in Chicago.

ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.

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