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Luis Robert to join White Sox, face Twins in Minnesota on MondayDaryl Van Schouwenon August 8, 2021 at 9:03 pm

Luis Robert’s rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte is complete. The center fielder will join the White Sox in Minneapolis and is expected to start in center field Monday when the Sox open a three-game series against the Twins.

Robert, 23, suffered a Grade 3 strain of his right hip flexor running to first base on May 2 and has been out since. He began his rehab assignment July 21 at High-A Winston-Salem.

“It was official this morning,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said as the team prepared to complete a three-game series against the Cubs Sunday night at Wrigley Field.

“The guys are fired up, we’re all fired up.”

The runnerup for the American League Rookie of the Year in 2020 and the Gold Glove winner among AL center fielders, Robert was hitting .316/.359/.463 with one home run, one triple, nine doubles and eight RBI in 25 games when he got hurt.

Eloy Jimenez returned from a torn pectoral muscle suffered in spring training and has played in nine games since returning July 26. The Sox, with a 10 1/2 game lead in the AL Central, are getting their full team together for the final two months of the season and the expected postseason.

“To have them both on there at the same time and getting [catcher Yasmani Grandal] back one of these days, that’s something we look forward to,” La Russa said.

Grandal, coming back from knee surgery, has been working out with the team and could be going on a rehab assignment soon, perhaps in a week or two.

“He’s very impatient and pushing it but the training staff is monitoring it, holding him back, but he’s making a lot of progress,” La Russa said. “Knock on wood he’ll be back sooner that we expected.

“We expect him to play tomorrow and once you’re in person, I don’t know he couldn’t play back to back. But no matter how much you work out, when you play in the major leagues with the stress level there and the determination to dig a little deeper, you want to make sure we don’t have a little setback like we did with Eloy.”

Jimenez missed five days after experiencing groin soreness in his third game back.

“Communication, and go day to day,” La Russa said.

“It’s going to be fun,” Jimenez said. “He’s one of the best players we have.”

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Luis Robert to join White Sox, face Twins in Minnesota on MondayDaryl Van Schouwenon August 8, 2021 at 9:03 pm Read More »

Summer League will be a welcomed distraction for Bulls front officeJoe Cowleyon August 8, 2021 at 9:49 pm

For a few hours on Monday afternoon, the Bulls front office can simply focus on a basketball game.

A much welcomed break from all the drama that’s been swirling around the team for the last 72 hours.

Within a three-day period the Bulls organization has watched the face of the franchise in Zach LaVine capture Olympic gold with Team USA, been involved in an investigation by the NBA for tampering in the sign-and-trade they pulled off for Lonzo Ball, heard more rumblings of Lauri Markkanen wanting to be elsewhere, and then on Sunday had to read an emotional goodbye from Thad Young, who was traded to the Spurs in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade.

Taking to his Instagram account, Young thanked the Bulls and the fans for the two years, writing, “This is the part of the business that’s always tough. I gained a lot of new family in you all. In this journey, I learned a lot about myself and trusting the process. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to fulfill that mission with you. Just know that I gave you all 110% every night.

“It was a pleasure and a honor to wear the Chicago Bulls across my chest!”

Young’s stay with the Bulls was a short one, but the hope is a powerful one, considering how much he was a mentor for LaVine. But as that chapter was ending, the franchise was hoping a new one was just starting, specifically with some of the talent they were bringing to Las Vegas for a later-than-usual Summer League.

The Bulls will take on the Pelicans Monday, and then play again a day later, playing the Spurs.

At least those are the first two games on the schedule.

The NBA was still dealing with the health and safety protocol issues in the wake of the coronavirus numbers spiking, and already had to postpone a game on Sunday.

The Wizards-Pacers game had to be cancelled because Wizards players were put in the protocol through contact tracing, leaving them with too many missing bodies to fill out the roster.

A scenario the Bulls would love to avoid.

Not that the team’s Summer League roster is full of high draft-pick talent that needs to get minutes, as Patrick Williams is by far the most talented player on the team. But just because there aren’t a lot of questions it doesn’t mean the front office would like some answers on a few players, starting with Marko Simonovic.

Selected as a draft-and-stash in the second round in last year’s draft, the 6-foot-11 Simonovic had been in Chicago the last month, getting workouts in at the Advocate Center, and according to a source, looking impressive.

Then again, it’s easy to look impressive in controlled workouts with developmental coaches and select players offering up the only resistance.

All eyes will be on Simonovic and on how he deals with NBA opponents – albeit Summer League ones – especially with the Bulls looking very thin in the frontcourt after their flurry of moves with free agency starting last week.

With several teams reportedly interested in Markkanen, the Bulls would be able to handle his exit much easier if Simonovic shows that he can pick up some minutes off the bench and be a contributor. Like Markkanen, Simonovic can play the stretch game for a forward/center, but is supposed to have more physicality to his game.

He’s also supposed to be a willing passer for his size, so there is some buzz around his skillset.

And for the Bulls front office, any distraction from the drama will be an appreciated distraction.

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Summer League will be a welcomed distraction for Bulls front officeJoe Cowleyon August 8, 2021 at 9:49 pm Read More »

Chicago Now’s best posts for July 2021on August 8, 2021 at 9:48 pm

Margaret Serious

Chicago Now’s best posts for July 2021

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Chicago Now’s best posts for July 2021on August 8, 2021 at 9:48 pm Read More »

Bears CB Desmond Trufant motivated to prove he’s still got itMark Potashon August 8, 2021 at 8:06 pm

At a career crossroads for the second consecutive season as he turns 31, former Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant seems to be in a better spot this year.

A year ago, following an injury shortened season with the Falcons, Trufant signed with the Lions — who were ranked 31st in yards and 26th in points the previous season. He never really got started. Trufant battled a hamstring injury from the opening week of the season against the Bears, aggravated it on Thanksgiving against the Texans and was put on injured reserve having played just six games.

This season, Trufant found a pretty enviable spot for a 30-something cornerback with durability issues after missing 17 games over the previous two seasons — a Bears defense loaded with talent in front him, determined to regain its top-10 status under first-year coordinator Sean Desai.

“It’s been cool,” Trufant said Sunday after practice. “I really like what we’re doing. I like how [Desai] presents everything and breaks everything down. I’m definitely happy to be here. It’s a great energy. We have fun. We compete. We have a lot of work to do, but overall I like what I see. We got a lot of dogs on defense — it’s definitely exciting.”

Trufant, who signed a one-year, $1.075 million contract, is a cost-efficient roll of the dice for Bears general manager Ryan Pace after two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Kyle Fuller signed a one-year, $9.5 million contract with the Broncos in free agency. If Trufant can stay healthy, he could be a playmaker behind a productive front-seven that includes Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith and Eddie Goldman.

If not, Vildor figures to get a shot at building on his promising 2020 performance. It’s early, but it appears to be a close competition at this point, with Trufant’s edge in experience evident.

“[He’s a] true veteran. You can see why he’s played at a high level for so long,” Bears secondary coach Deshea Townsend said of Trufant. “He just adds another piece to the puzzle that makes it hard on us as coaches. He asks great questions. He understands ball. You can have good football conversations with him just because of his experience and him playing so much. It’s just good to have him.”

Trufant, who missed the final seven games of the 2019 season with the Falcons because of a broken arm, first has to prove he can stay healthy. He missed Friday’s practice with a groin injury but returned on a limited basis Saturday.

“We’ve studied him a lot over the years from Atlanta [2013-19] to Detroit [2020],” Pace said at the beginning of training camp. “Unfortunately last year there was some soft-tissue stuff that came up with hamstrings, so we’re getting ahead of that right now with our staff, trying to stay ahead of the curve.

“But Trufant we still feel has the stickiness to play man coverage — the suddenness, all those things. It’ll be good to see it all play out. There will be good competition there.”

Trufant is five years removed from his lone Pro Bowl season. He is three years from his last 16-game season. He turns 31 on Sept. 10 — two days before the season opener against the Rams. Besides staying healthy, he has to prove he can still play cornerback at a high level. The Bears like Vildor too much to take too many chances with a veteran who is past his prime.

“I just compete with myself,” Trufant said when asked about his motivation heading into this season. “When I wake up, I want to be the best me at the end of the day. I know I’ve still got a lot out there. I’ve still got a lot of plays to make, things to accomplish. I’m looking in that mirror every day and trying to accomplish everything I haven’t, everything in front of me. And I’m still looking towards that.”

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Bears CB Desmond Trufant motivated to prove he’s still got itMark Potashon August 8, 2021 at 8:06 pm Read More »

Five questions for Chicago Park District in the wake of lifeguard sexual abuse scandalCST Editorial Boardon August 8, 2021 at 8:29 pm

Is it too much to ask what’s going on?

Apparently so when it comes to the Chicago Park District and misbehaving lifeguards.

For the past several months, reporters for the Sun-Times and WBEZ have asked park district officials to discuss, as best a personnel matters legally allow, accusations of sexual abuse that have been leveled against lifeguards, a possible culture of tolerance for such abuse, and exactly what is being done about it.

In response, park district officials have offered up only partial and sketchy responses and failed to make the district’s top executive, Supt. Mike Kelly, available for interviews.

It all might suggest that this public agency would rather not come clean with the public.

Here then, for the record, are a few of the many questions to which reporters continue to wait for full and complete responses:

Early last year, a female park district lifeguard complained of physical abuse, sexual harassment and drug and alcohol use by lifeguards at Oak Street Beach. Supt. Kelly wrote to the young woman in an email on Feb. 7, 2020 that he would forward her report to the district’s inspector general for “an independent investigation.” He thanked her for her “courage.”

But, as Fran Spielman and Lauren FitzPatrick of the Sun-Times reported this past week, Kelly then waited six weeks before forwarding the complaint to the IG — on March 19, 2020 — and he did so then only after the mayor’s office had forwarded to the park district a second woman’s more graphic complaint.

Question: Why the six-week delay? The park district, in a June 23 letter posted on the district’s website, says Kelly took “immediate action” when notified of allegations of misconduct, but why was the inspector general not notified for so long? And what other “immediate action,” if any, was there?

A report released by Park District Inspector General Elaine Little in July concluded that six female lifeguards had, in fact, been sexually harassed and assaulted by male co-workers, and this included an attempted rape. All three accused male lifeguards no longer work for the park district. Two resigned during the inspector general’s investigation to avoid being fired. A third resigned earlier this year.

Question: Did the park district ever contact law enforcement? If not, why not? Did the district hope that the male guards’ resignations might make this all go away? Just how involved were park district officials in obtaining those resignations?

The alleged attacks occurred between 2016 and 2019 at three locations — Welles Park, Jefferson Park and North Avenue Beach. Much of the alleged abused, such as lewdly inappropriate remarks to female lifeguards, took place in front of children. One lifeguard allegedly brazenly drank and smoked pot while on duty.

In addition, WBEZ reports that “nearly a dozen” women who formerly worked as Chicago lifeguards have since come forward to reporters to say that none of this is shocking and new — that this sort of abuse and nonsense stretches back decades.

Question: Who else knew these women had come forward?

Question: Is this scandal about more than the three lifeguards who resigned? Is there a wider culture of tolerance within the lifeguard ranks, or elsewhere within the park district, for sexual harassment and abuse? If so, what is the district doing to change the culture?

One of the accused lifeguards had previously worked for the Chicago Public Schools, where he was fired for making “inappropriate and uncomfortable advances” toward two female high school students. CPS placed him on a “do not hire” list.

Question: Why did the park district apparently learn only after hiring the lifeguard that he was on the CPS “do not hire” list? What is being done so that this does not happen again?

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Five questions for Chicago Park District in the wake of lifeguard sexual abuse scandalCST Editorial Boardon August 8, 2021 at 8:29 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lauri Markkanen’s trade interest from Pelicans beneficialRyan Tayloron August 8, 2021 at 8:09 pm

Chicago Bulls (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Lauri Markkanen does not want to be a Chicago Bull anymore.

The 7-footer out of Arizona made it clear he wants a “fresh start” to his career and wants a new team. He recently unfollowed all of the Bulls’ social media pages.

The big man is finding it increasingly difficult to find a new home in the free agency market after missing the fire sale of the first couple days of free agency. Many NBA teams have found themselves in the red for cap space, nearly a week into free agency, according to Spotrac.

However, one team, in particular, the New Orleans Pelicans, has found interest in Markkanen by the use of their $17 million trade exception, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

This would be great for the Bulls because sign-and-trades are usually an anomaly of the NBA offseason. Markkanen already wants to leave, so the Bulls, unfortunately, have no upper hand in any trade market for him because a team can make him an offer sheet without giving up assets.

Since the Pelicans can only acquire Markkanen through their trade exception, this would mean the Bulls would definitely get back assets for Markkanen if he were to end up in a Pelicans jersey.

That being said, the Bulls have expressed interest in acquiring a first-round draft pick back from the Pelicans for Markkanen in a trade, according to Stein in the same tweet.

This would be very helpful for Arturas Karnisovas & Co., considering they have traded away three first-rounders and two second-round picks in the past five months for Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, and Lonzo Ball.

There are some hurdles the Bulls have to jump to meet this ideal situation for Markkanen

First off, the Bulls would have to convince the Pelicans to give up a future first-round pick for Markkanen. As Bulls fans know all too well, Markkanen has struggled quite a bit through his rookie contract with the Bulls.

This past season was the first season he was able to eclipse over 45 percent shooting from the field. Both that and his three-point percentage improved. However, he averaged just 13.6 points per game, a career-low for him in that category. The 7-footer is also a pacifist when it comes to driving the ball and getting his hands dirty in the paint.

Markkanen also struggles profoundly on the defensive side of the ball. He carries a well below-average defensive box plus/minus with a career -1.2 and last year was the first season he held a positive net rating on the floor.

Markkanen has potential, but he hasn’t shown NBA maturity four years into his career.

The Bulls are under investigation with the New Orleans Pelicans for their sign-and-trade with Lonzo Ball.

The Bulls and the Pelicans are currently under investigation for tampering with the sign-and-trade they agreed upon for Ball.

Seconds into the free agency gates opening, the two teams had agreed on a trade to swap Ball for Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, and a future second-round pick.

According to league rules, teams are not allowed to communicate with players before free agency opens. Both teams could be docked $10 million, draft capital, or executive suspensions.

The two teams most likely have to check this box from their to-do list before even talking about a trade for Markkanen.

Next: Chicago Bulls: New wrinkle in Lonzo Ball trade may spell trouble

What’s the bottom line?

The breakdown of this potential move for Markkanen is that it would be extremely helpful for the Bulls to get him off the books.

Markkanen has no interest in playing for Chicago, and neither does the organization.

Markkanen’s qualifying offer would set the Bulls back in cap space and would send the team deep into the depths of luxury tax. His qualifying offer holds a $20 million cap hit for next season.

It is imperative that the Bulls set Markkanen free, but a bonus for the front office if they can retain some assets in return for the big man. A first-round pick seems a bit greedy but would be extremely helpful if they were able to pull that off.

Karnisovas has completed three sign-and-trades this offseason, which is unheard of in one NBA offseason. Why not go for another?

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Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lauri Markkanen’s trade interest from Pelicans beneficialRyan Tayloron August 8, 2021 at 8:09 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen sends message on social mediaRyan Heckmanon August 8, 2021 at 8:39 pm

Chicago Bulls (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

When the NBA free agency period began, it was pretty much assumed that forward Lauri Markkanen would not return to the Chicago Bulls.

From the get-go, it seemed as though the most likely scenario would end up being a sign-and-trade which sent Markkanen out of Chicago. Over the first week of free agency, not much has happened with Markkanen, though.

Over the last 48 hours, Markkanen has seemed to make it clear that his desire is in fact to leave Chicago. The restricted free agent was given his tender by the Bulls, but at this stage, he will probably find a new home sooner or later.

Just two days ago, Markkanen told a Finnish media outlet that he wanted a fresh start with a new team. That all but stamped his ticket out of the Windy City.

The Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls free agency saga just took another step towards a divorce.

While the Bulls were likely open to Markkanen returning as one of their primary backups, he doesn’t seem to like that idea. Chicago will move forward with second-year pro and last year’s no. 4 overall pick, Patrick Williams, as their starter at the power forward position.

Markkanen’s displeasure for the Bulls is now on full display as he has unfollowed the team across his social media platforms (Twitter and Instagram). He has also removed anything Chicago-related in his bios.

If that doesn’t send a clear message, nothing will. He has made it very apparent he would like to be dealt — and that’s the most likely scenario to happen.

Most recently, it was reported that the New Orleans Pelicans were interested in Markkanen.

The Pelicans make sense due to the fact that they have a fairly large trade exception (upwards of $17 million) they could use on Markkanen.

The fact Markkanen has serious interest from the Pelicans is a positive for the Bulls. Markkanen told that previously-mentioned news outlet that he has had some teams show interest, and now that one of them is out there, things could move rather quickly.

If Chicago can get a deal done, ideally they would net a first-round pick. If there are multiple bidders for a sign-and-trade, the Bulls very well could end up with a first rounder. That would be ideal, since the Bulls have given up three in the next few drafts.

Speaking of sign-and-trades, the Bulls are also currently under investigation for tampering during their pursuit of Lonzo Ball, ironically of the New a Orleans Pelicans as well.

Going forward, the Bulls and Pelicans could see plenty of news and action between their respective franchises. Hopefully, for the Bulls’ sake, it ends with Ball officially in Chicago and Markkanen on his way out.

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Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen sends message on social mediaRyan Heckmanon August 8, 2021 at 8:39 pm Read More »

A SHAMEFUL CITY/ A COPS DEATH/A MOTHER AND A BABY THAT WILL NEVER KNOW EACH OTHER/THE BEAT GOES ON/ MORE SHOCKING VIOLENCE/Chicago’s Cops are Listening to Bob Dylanon August 8, 2021 at 7:02 pm

JUST SAYIN

A SHAMEFUL CITY/ A COPS DEATH/A MOTHER AND A BABY THAT WILL NEVER KNOW EACH OTHER/THE BEAT GOES ON/ MORE SHOCKING VIOLENCE/Chicago’s Cops are Listening to Bob Dylan

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A SHAMEFUL CITY/ A COPS DEATH/A MOTHER AND A BABY THAT WILL NEVER KNOW EACH OTHER/THE BEAT GOES ON/ MORE SHOCKING VIOLENCE/Chicago’s Cops are Listening to Bob Dylanon August 8, 2021 at 7:02 pm Read More »

Bears QB Justin Fields facing first big week as a proPatrick Finleyon August 8, 2021 at 5:57 pm

Welcome to the first week of the rest of Justin Fields’ life.

The Bears’ rookie quarterback will face someone other than his own team for the first time starting Wednesday, when the Dolphins post up at Halas Hall for the first of two joint practices. On Saturday, the teams will meet at Soldier Field for their first preseason game.

All three days present a bigger challenge than anything the Bears’ rookie quarterback has seen during the structure of training camp. By now, he knows the coverages and fronts thrown at him by his own defense, and the strengths and weaknesses of the defensive backs and linebackers covering his receivers. That won’t be the case this week, when the Dolphins bring all-world cornerback Xavien Howard — who re-negotiated his contract Sunday — and defensive-minded head coach Brian Flores to practice.

And then there’s the game, which features the disturbing possibility Fields will play behind third-line blockers as a result of the Bears’ offensive line injuries.

But Fields is ready for his first closeup.

“I think there’s always gonna be things I’m gonna have to work on, but at the end of the day, football is football,” Fields said earlier in training camp. “If we had a preseason game tomorrow, then we’d be ready. We’ve been practicing for a good amount of time. The coaches have done a great job training us, training us to know the playbook.

“These preseason games are preseason games for a reason. They’re there to make mistakes and they’re there to learn. I’m ready to play football. I think everybody on our team is.”.

The anticipation for those two practices — which will be closed to the public — hasn’t been seen around Halas Hall in, well, maybe ever. The Bears traveled to joint practices in 2015, 2016 and 2018 — but not in 2017, when quarter Mitch Trubisky was a rookie.

If Fields struggles, it’s somewhat to be expected — despite his arm strength and athleticism, he remains behind starter Andy Dalton on the depth chart.

If Fields stars, though, then at least one other team will know about it. If he does it Saturday, it will be in front of a stadium full of people and on television.

“I know what he’s gonna do,” receiver Dazz Newsome, a fellow rookie, said Sunday. “I know he’s a baller.”

The easiest part of the transition to the NFL has been the pass concepts, which are similar to what Fields used at Ohio State. A challenge that Fields is improving upon remains calling the play in the huddle; the Buckeyes would send signals to their offensive players from the sideline.

“He’s able to make every throw on the field,” receiver Allen Robinson said. “I think it’s something we see each and every day and it’s fun seeing him learn and getting better each and every day, with just the things that we do in our offense, how he’s picking it up and things like that.

“I mean, it’s been fun watching him.”

Fields’ arm strength — and ability to maneuver around defenders with different angles — has jumped out through the first week-and-a-half of training camp. Head coach Matt Nagy was impressed when, on Saturday, Fields was backed up against his own goal line and made throws without stepping forward — and onto the ankles of oncoming defenders.

“I think that his poise is one of his strengths,” Nagy said. “He’s extremely calm. The players feel that when you’re that way.”

Now let’s see him do it against another team.

“We’re practicing hard, but you know at the end of the day you’ve got to get that experience, that game-day experience,” said cornerback Desmond Trufant, who is entering his ninth season. “That only comes with playing in games. So I know he’s going to do his part, do his thing. And he’s going to step up to the challenge.”

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Bears QB Justin Fields facing first big week as a proPatrick Finleyon August 8, 2021 at 5:57 pm Read More »