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‘Field of Dreams’ game wasn’t just for baseball fanson August 13, 2021 at 5:04 pm

Candid Candace

‘Field of Dreams’ game wasn’t just for baseball fans

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Taliban sweep across Afghanistan’s south; take 4 more citiesAssociated Presson August 13, 2021 at 3:57 pm

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban completed their sweep of the country’s south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that brought them closer to Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war.

In just the last 24 hours, the country’s second- and third-largest cities — Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south — have fallen to the insurgents as has the capital of the southern province of Helmand, where American, British and NATO forces fought some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

The blitz through the Taliban’s southern heartland means the insurgents now hold half of Afghanistan’s 34 provincial capitals and control more than two-thirds of the country — weeks before the U.S. plans to withdraw its last troops. The Western-backed government in the capital, Kabul, still holds a smattering of provinces in the center and east, as well as the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

While Kabul isn’t directly under threat yet, the resurgent Taliban were battling government forces in Logar province, some 50 miles from the capital. The U.S. military has estimated that Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could overrun the rest of the country within a few months. They have already taken over much of the north and west of the country.

In the south, the insurgents swept through three provincial capitals on Friday.

Attaullah Afghan, the head of the provincial council in Helmand, said that the Taliban captured Lashkar Gah following weeks of heavy fighting and raised their white flag over governmental buildings. He said that three national army bases outside of the city remain under control of the government.

Atta Jan Haqbayan, the provincial council chief in Zabul province, said the local capital of Qalat fell and that officials were in a nearby army camp preparing to leave.

Bismillah Jan Mohammad and Qudratullah Rahimi, lawmakers from Uruzgan province, said local officials surrendered Tirin Kot. Taliban fighters paraded through a main square there, driving a Humvee and a pickup seized from Afghan security forces.

In the country’s west, meanwhile, Fazil Haq Ehsan, head of the provincial council in Ghor province, said its capital, Feroz Koh, also fell to the insurgents.

With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Britain and Canada are also sending forces to aid their evacuations. Denmark said it will temporarily close its embassy in Kabul, while Germany is reducing its embassy staff to the “absolute minimum.”

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will return the country to the sort of brutal, repressive rule it imposed when it was last in power at the turn of the millennium. At that time, the group all but eliminated women’s rights and conducted public executions as it imposed an unsparing version of Islamic law. An early sign of such tactics came in Herat, where insurgents paraded two alleged looters through the streets on Friday with black makeup smeared on their faces.

There are also concerns that the fighting could plunge the country into civil war, which is what happened after the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

“We are worried. There is fighting everywhere in Afghanistan, the provinces are falling day by day,” said Ahmad Sakhi, a resident of Kabul. “The government should do something, the people are facing lots of problems.”

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 250,000 Afghans have been forced to flee their homes since the end of May, and that 80% of those displaced are women and children. It says some 400,000 civilians have been displaced since the beginning of the year, joining millions who have fled previous rounds of fighting in recent decades.

Peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the government remain stalled, though diplomats are still meeting, as the U.S., European and Asian nations warned that battlefield gains would not lead to political recognition.

“We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state,” said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy to the talks.

But the Taliban advance continued.

Hasibullah Stanikzai, the head of the Logar provincial council, said fighting was still underway inside Puli-e Alim, with government forces holding the police headquarters and other security facilities. He spoke by phone from his office, and gunfire could be heard in the background. The Taliban, however, said they had captured the police headquarters and a nearby prison.

The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces after the United States spent nearly two decades and $830 billion trying to establish a functioning state. U.S. forces toppled the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which al-Qaida planned and executed while being sheltered by the Taliban government. The fighters now advancing across the country ride on American-made Humvees and carry M-16s pilfered from Afghan forces.

Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Afghan army has rotted from within due to corruption and mismanagement, leaving troops in the field poorly equipped and with little motivation to fight. The Taliban, meanwhile, have spent a decade taking control of large swaths of the countryside.

That allowed them to rapidly seize key infrastructure and urban areas once President Joe Biden announced the timeline for the U.S. withdrawal, saying he was determined to end America’s longest war.

“Whatever forces are left or remaining that are in the Kabul area and the provinces around them, they’re going to be used for the defense of Kabul,” Roggio said. “Unless something dramatically changes, and I don’t see how that’s possible, these provinces (that have fallen) will remain under Taliban control.”

A day earlier, in Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city — a structure that dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great — and seized government buildings.

Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city’s defensive lines.

The insurgents circulated photos and a video showing Khan in their captivity as well as video footage that appeared to show captured military helicopters.

In Kandahar, insurgents seized the governor’s office and other buildings, witnesses said, adding that the governor and other officials fled the onslaught. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the defeat has yet to be acknowledged by the government, which has not commented on the latest advances.

The Taliban had earlier attacked a prison in Kandahar and freed inmates inside, officials said.

On Thursday, Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said civilians likely had been wounded and killed in airstrikes. U.S. Central Command has acknowledged carrying out several strikes in recent days, without providing details or commenting on the concerns over civilian casualties.

Pakistan, meanwhile, opened its Chaman border crossing for people who had been stranded in recent weeks. Juma Khan, the Pakistan border town’s deputy commissioner, said the crossing was reopened following talks with the Taliban.

___

Faiez reported from Istanbul and Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Jan Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

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Taliban sweep across Afghanistan’s south; take 4 more citiesAssociated Presson August 13, 2021 at 3:57 pm Read More »

Ex-Cub Ben Zobrist drops lawsuit against former pastor: reportSun-Times staffon August 13, 2021 at 4:13 pm

Former Cubs player Ben Zobrist has dropped a lawsuit against his former pastor, according to a report.

Zobrist had been seeking $6 million in damages from Byron Yawn, alleging that Yawn defrauded his charity and claiming that Yawn had been engaged in an extramarital affair with Zobrist’s estranged wife Julianna.

The Chicago Tribune first reported Zobrist’s decision to drop the lawsuit. No reason was given for Zobrist’s decision to end the litigation, but he apparently is free to refile the lawsuit at a later date.

The Zobrists’ divorce trial began this week in Tennessee.

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Ex-Cub Ben Zobrist drops lawsuit against former pastor: reportSun-Times staffon August 13, 2021 at 4:13 pm Read More »

No masking the truth: Jake Arrieta went out — his Cubs legacy be damned — in flamesSteve Greenbergon August 13, 2021 at 4:14 pm

The way I see it, the real problem with Jake Arrieta in 2021 wasn’t that he was anti-mask. It was that Cubs fans didn’t wear masks when he pitched. No, not on their mouths and noses. They needed masks to cover their poor eyes.

But I kid.

Baseball-wise, the real problem was that Arrieta — who signed for one year and $6 million for another Cubs go-round — wasn’t as good as the no-names who populate the team’s current roster. Wasn’t as good as a team bereft of talent that on Thursday completed an 0-7 homestand. Was arguably the very worst player on a team that was outscored by the White Sox and Brewers over those seven games by an almost unimaginable 40 runs.

Arrieta, 35, started the season with a 3-2 record and 2.57 ERA but was 2-9 with an 8.28 ERA after that. Wednesday, in his last start before being released, he gave up seven runs and eight hits in the opening inning of a 10-0 loss to the first-place Brewers. Sorry, did I say worst player on the Cubs? I think I meant worst player in the major leagues.

“Would I have liked to pitch better? Would I have liked to have pitched better throughout the season? Of course,” Arrieta said after the debacle — not his first — against the Brewers. “But now, the job description includes a lot more than just that.”

Now, there is no job description. Not mentoring young teammates. Certainly not taking the ball from manager/friend David Ross every fifth or sixth day. Arrieta the 2015 Cy Young winner, the 2016 World Series champion, the anti-vaxxer, the Trumper in a city largely unfriendly to that disposition has been fungoed into the abyss. He was booed at Wrigley Field more than once lately. He was kicked in the pants on his way out the door by lots of Cubs fans on social media.

This feels like a good time to point out something I’ve pointed out before, which is that much of the romance is gone from Cubdom. Fans who were certain they’d die happy if the team ever won a World Series turned out to be no different than fans from anyplace else. A championship doesn’t smooth the edges; it hardens them. Crappy play is met with anger and bitterness, not “Lovable Losers” and “wait ’til next year.”

This was driven home — rather crudely — after Wednesday’s game by ESPN 1000 host and NBC Sports Chicago personality David Kaplan, who makes no secret of his love for the Cubs. Speaking directly to Arrieta in an online video, Kaplan went full blast.

“Come on, Jake, you’ve got to be a prideful guy,” he said. “You were a great pitcher back in the day. Literally, you could not pitch in my 60-and-over league. That’s how awful you looked tonight. You are embarrassing your legacy. You are done.”

Literally, Arrieta could twist Kaplan and every other player in some dimestore league into a pretzel at the plate. That’s hardly relevant. Kaplan went on to call Arrieta a “civic embarrassment” in a video that included a good bit of profanity and had about as much to do with journalism as a tire iron has to do with macrame.

The “legacy” part made me shake my head. I’ve never bought into the idea that athletes owe a thing where their legacies are concerned to anyone but themselves. If they want to tarnish their legacies — whatever that even means — so what? Athletes hang on for too long for the exact reasons that made them as great as they were in the first place. Competitiveness. Ego. The love to play. The need to play. The absence of a clear picture of what no longer playing will be like.

“Six Great Athletes Who Tried to Kill Their Own Legacies.”

“Ten Athletes That Totally Ruined Their Legacy.”

Two of a bushel of stupid headlines above stupid stories I read before writing this.

Michael Jordan played for the Wizards. NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith for the Cardinals. Quarterbacks Joe Namath for the Rams, Johnny Unitas for the Chargers and Brett Favre for the Vikings. Best wide receiver ever Jerry Rice for the Seahawks. NBA stars Patrick Ewing for the Sonics and Magic, Hakeem Olajuwon for the Raptors and Shaquille O’Neal for the Cavaliers and Celtics. There are so many other examples.

Why did they do it? Because it was ingrained in who they were. They were always going to be the last ones to know — to accept — that they were done. That self-belief was why we admired them in the first place.

Same for Arrieta.

“If it was easy,” Arrieta said, presumably before learning of his release, “everybody would do it.”

Everybody can’t do it. Arrieta can’t anymore. Crap happens, and then you get old.

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No masking the truth: Jake Arrieta went out — his Cubs legacy be damned — in flamesSteve Greenbergon August 13, 2021 at 4:14 pm Read More »

New stadium for Buffalo Bills could cost $1.4 billionJohn Wawrow | Associated Presson August 13, 2021 at 4:30 pm

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The cost of the Bills’ proposed new stadium is $1.4 billion, and is to be built across the street from their existing facility in suburban Buffalo, a person with direct knowledge of discussions told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to The AP Thursday on the condition of anonymity because the details of the proposal haven’t been made public.

The Bills’ proposal has been presented to New York state and Erie County officials as part of discussions, which began two months ago, to determine the future of the NFL team’s home. The Bills are proposing a new facility to replace the newly renamed Highmark Stadium, which opened in 1973.

Locally, the Bears have floated the idea of leaving Soldier Field and building a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

Talks are happening as the Bills’ lease expires in July 2023, and after the state and county committed $227 million toward extensive renovations and annual capital and game-day expenses in 2013.

Further structural repairs and modern-day upgrades are necessary, all of which in 2014 were estimated to cost $540 million and involve renovating the entire third deck of the stadium. That cost is projected to be much higher in today’s dollars.

“Renovation is simply not an option,” the person said.

The proposed new stadium would be built on a Bills-controlled parking lot located directly across the street from their facility. This would allow the team to continue playing home games in Orchard Park, New York, until the new stadium is completed.

Up for discussion is how much state and local taxpayer money would have to be committed to construction.

Last week, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz warned that the state and county won’t be writing what he called “a blank check.”

“We will get a deal done,” Poloncarz said. “It’s just got to be a fair deal for all.”

The Bills are owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, who purchased the team for a then NFL-record $1.4 billion from the estate of late Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson in 2014. The Pegulas also own the NHL Sabres.

New York state will now be represented in discussions by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is from Buffalo. Hochul is replacing Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who announced Tuesday that he would resign rather than face a likely impeachment trial after Attorney General Letitia James released a report concluding he sexually harassed 11 women and describing a toxic work environment in his administration.

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New stadium for Buffalo Bills could cost $1.4 billionJohn Wawrow | Associated Presson August 13, 2021 at 4:30 pm Read More »

Back of the Yards Coffeehouse receives grant, plans to expand despite pandemicCheyanne M. Danielson August 13, 2021 at 4:41 pm

It was a Tuesday afternoon in March, and Jesse Iniguez was trying to relax at his daughter’s soccer game.

But work was on his mind. He was worried about making payroll at Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, which he and Mayra Hernandez opened in 2017.

His phone buzzed. He had an email. He’d just gotten a $20,000 grant from DoorDash’s Main Street Strong Accelerator Program. He was shocked, excited — and relieved.

“It came at a moment when I was down and frustrated, trying to figure out how we’re going to continue to operate the business without the amount of revenue that we need coming in,” Iniguez said.

Like many small businesses during the pandemic, Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, 2059 W. 47th St., was struggling. When the pandemic hit, it quickly began losing revenue. The business was hit hardest in April and May last year, losing nearly $30,000, or 75% of revenue, compared to those same two months in 2019.

“It was scary,” Iniguez admitted.

Iniguez and his team applied for as many grants as possible. But while they received more than $100,000 in grants and two PPP loans, most grant money came in slowly — $1,000, maybe $5,000, at a time.

DoorDash’s program was designed specifically to help Black-, Latino- and women-owned businesses during the pandemic.

“We wanted to create a program that provided grant funding and specialized education programming to restaurants most impacted by the pandemic,” said Tasia Hawkins, social impact program manager for the food delivery company.

Iniguez was awarded half the DoorDash grant upfront in April to cover pandemic costs. Then, over eight weeks in April and May, he attended classes on marketing, menu creation and personalized business planning.

Since then, Iniguez has taken steps to expand Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, proposing a multibusiness building with Black, Brown, women and LGBTQ entrepreneurs from his neighborhood and seek funding for it through the city’s Invest South/West initiative.

The building would house Back of the Yards Coffeehouse’s production and roasting operations, a bakery, a brewery and a souvenir shop.

But the biggest piece of the development would be a workforce development center, where the business owners would train youth from Back of the Yards in food and beverage production and provide them jobs after their training.

“What you hear in the news oftentimes (about Back of the Yards) is shootings and gang violence,” Iniguez said. “But we feel that the youth unemployment rate and youth violence kind of go hand in hand.”

Despite the loans and grants keeping the coffeehouse alive during the pandemic, Iniguez said its projected loss for those two years is still close to $150,000. But he remains hopeful the business can rebound.

Once a month, members of the Chicago Sinfonietta play on the coffeehouse’s back patio. Prior to the pandemic, there were poetry slams and children’s book readings.

Sheila, left, and Dale West, right, listen to Janice MacDonald, center left, and Dileep Gangolli, center right, of the Chicago Sinfonietta play outside at the Back of the Yards Coffeehouse at 2059 W 47th St in Back of the Yards, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
Sheila (left) and Dale West listen to Janice MacDonald and Dileep Gangolli of the Chicago Sinfonietta play at Back of the Yards Coffeehouse, 2059 W. 47th St.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“We’re hoping when the Delta variant surge goes down, we can do those things again,” Iniguez said.

Sheila and Dale West, both 35, traveled half an hour last week to try Iniguez’s Cafe de Olla and cold brew. They were pleasantly surprised to see the musicians playing on the patio. It gave the place “a breezy vibe,” Dale West said. The couple looks forward to seeing what new things Iniguez will bring to the coffeehouse with the remaining grant money.

Cheyanne M. Daniels is a staff reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times via Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster the paper’s coverage of communities on the South and West sides.

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Back of the Yards Coffeehouse receives grant, plans to expand despite pandemicCheyanne M. Danielson August 13, 2021 at 4:41 pm Read More »

Stay Body Positive With These 4 Tips!on August 13, 2021 at 4:07 pm

Just N

Stay Body Positive With These 4 Tips!

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Stay Body Positive With These 4 Tips!on August 13, 2021 at 4:07 pm Read More »

Detectives questioning person of interest about baby found in Northwest Side alleySun-Times Wireon August 13, 2021 at 3:22 pm

A person of interest was being questioned Friday about a newborn found abandoned in a dresser drawer in a Northwest Side alley earlier this week.

The baby boy, less than a week old, was discovered about 8:15 a.m. in the 2300 block of North Oak Park Avenue in Montclare, according to Chicago police.

Police would only say they were questioning someone.

The boy had no visible injuries when he was found, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. He was taken in good condition to Lurie Children’s Hospital.

In Illinois, parents who can’t care for a newborn may anonymously surrender a baby up to 30 days old at hospitals, emergency medical care facilities, police and fire stations.

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Detectives questioning person of interest about baby found in Northwest Side alleySun-Times Wireon August 13, 2021 at 3:22 pm Read More »

8 Best Sports Shoes Stores in ChicagoOlessa Hanzlikon August 13, 2021 at 2:55 pm

I know how hard it is to find the right fit or comfort level when it comes to athletic shoes. Whether you’re looking for a running shoe or hiking, or just walking, it’s important to find one that will last you awhile and that will be comfortable. There are probably hundreds of sport shoe stores in Chicago, so I’ve narrowed it down to 8 of the best ones. There are some obvious ones like Nike and Famous Footwear but also some community driven ones that have an impressive selection. 

1706 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614

At Fleet Feet, you will find a welcoming environment where runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts of all abilities receive unparalleled service and support. Fleet Feet’s mission is to help you find the right ”FIT” in every facet of your active lifestyle. Whether you walk, run, or simply need a good fitting pair of shoes, the educators at Fleet Feet will work with you to evaluate your foot’s gait and natural biomechanics to help you select a shoe that offers the best fit and function for you.

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669 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

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I don’t think I really need to go into detail about Nike. We all know and love this brand and it’s clear that they dominate the athletic shoe market. You can literally find any kind of shoe for any sporting occasion. So whether you’re a runner, walker, cyclist, or just want a trendy pair of high tops, Nike is the place to go. 

10328 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643

Running Excels serves the south side of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. It is a specialty running store that features high quality athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. They also can share their knowledge of running, through education on injury prevention and recovery, proper training, nutrition, etc.

1730 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Famous Footwear, like Nike, is another shoe store that has dominated the market. They have shoes for any occasion, not just sports. They carry brands like Adidas, Nike, Converse, Crocs, Birkenstock, Vans, etc. So if you’re looking for a place where you can shop for athletic shoes but also everyday shoes, this is the place. 

1631 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Commonwealth isn’t exactly in Chicago, but if you live in or around the city, you’ll know Evanston. Commonwealth Running Company is a community-first running company that will take what local running stores do best and utilize technology to enhance that experience by offering everything a runner needs in a seamless and comprehensive way. Founded by a distance runner from Chicago, this grassroots running company will look to outfit and supply runners with gear that enhances their running experience, and in doing so, will look to grow the sport and expand a market.

513 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60201

Just like the previous store, this one is in Evanston. I’m not too familiar with this store but it has a ton of great reviews on Yelp. They seem to carry a lot of running shoes as well and brands like Asics, New Balance and Mizuno. 

1435 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642

At Road Runner Sports you can try, touch, feel and test out a huge selection of running, cross training, trail and gym gear. They’ve got 116 brands and countless colors and sizes of running shoes, electronics, and fitness apparel. You can choose from brands like Adidas, Altra, ASICS, Brooks, HOKA ONE ONE, Merell, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, OluKai, On, Reebok, Salomon, Saucony, and Under Armour. They also stock some newer brands like Hyperrice, Goodr Sunglasses, On, and R-Gear. They’ve got everything you need for running, training, everyday activity, trail, hiking, and even kid’s shoes. 

5321 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Alamo Shoes has been a family-owned shoe store providing family-focused superior service since 1973. In those years, Alamo Shoes has thrived on providing personalized service for Northsiders, Southsiders, suburbanites, people from across the country and the globe. It is a staple of Chicago’s north side Andersonville neighborhood. They carry all the popular brands and even ones that are just starting to gain popularity. 

Featured Image Credit: Pexels.com 

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8 Best Sports Shoes Stores in ChicagoOlessa Hanzlikon August 13, 2021 at 2:55 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins: 5 Bears need to make an impactRyan Heckmanon August 13, 2021 at 3:45 pm

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Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins: 5 Bears need to make an impactRyan Heckmanon August 13, 2021 at 3:45 pm Read More »