MUNICH — Greenpeace has apologized and Munich police are investigating after a protester parachuted into the stadium and injured two people before Germany’s game against France at the European Championship.
The protester used a powered paraglider with a motor attached to his back but lost control and hit overhead camera wires attached to the stadium roof, careening over spectators’ heads before he landed on the field ahead of Tuesday’s game. Debris fell on the field and main grandstand, narrowly missing France coach Didier Deschamps.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman on Wednesday slammed the Greenpeace stunt and said those behind it should reflect on what had happened.
“This was an irresponsible action that put people in great danger,” Steffen Seibert said, adding that it was a relief nothing more serious had happened.
Greenpeace spokesperson Benjamin Stephan apologized for the botched protest and the injuries caused.
“The paraglider didn’t want to go into the stadium yesterday. The pilot wanted to fly over the stadium while maintaining the necessary safety distance and only let a balloon float into the stadium with a message to Volkswagen, a main sponsor, with the demand that they get out of the production of climate-damaging diesel and gasoline engines quicker,” Stephan said.
“And there was a technical problem during the flight over — the hand throttle of the electric para motor failed, and because there was no more thrust, the glider suddenly lost height.”
Stephan said the pilot had no option but to make an emergency landing on the field after striking the steel cables attached to the stadium’s roof.
“We are in the process of clarifying this and are working with everyone and of course we take responsibility and would like to emphasize again that we’re very sorry, and that we apologize to the two people who were harmed,” Stephan said.
Seibert called on the organizers to “critically reflect on the purpose of such actions, which are about maximum spectacle for maximum PR-effect. This leads to such situations which potentially endanger the public.”
Local police had earlier blasted “such irresponsible actions in which a considerable risk to human life is accepted.”
Police spokesman Andreas Franken said the two men who were hurt both sustained light head injuries and have since been discharged from the hospital. They had been working at the game.
The 38-year-old pilot, who has an address in the southwestern state of Baden Wurttemberg, was unharmed. He was released late Tuesday but remains under investigation for a string of charges, including interfering with air traffic and bodily harm, as well as breaching the peace, Franken said.
Franken said security measures will be toughened for Saturday’s match between Germany and Portugal, but declined to give further details.
“Of course this will lead to us looking at our measures again and if necessary adapting them,” Franken said. “This must disturb and alarm us, and lead to us reviewing our concept.”
The protester’s parachute had the slogan “KICK OUT OIL!” and “Greenpeace” written on it.
The parachutist managed to land on the field and Germany players Antonio Rudiger and Robin Gosens were the first to approach him. He was then led away by security stewards.
UEFA called the action “reckless and dangerous” and said “law authorities will take the necessary action.”
The German soccer federation also condemned the action.
“It could probably have turned out much worse,” Germany team spokesman Jens Grittner said.
UEFA and one of its top-tier tournament sponsors, Russian state energy firm Gazprom, have previously been targeted by Greenpeace protests.
In 2013, a Champions League game in Basel was disrupted when Greenpeace activists abseiled from the roof of the stadium to unfurl a banner protesting Russian oil and Gazprom, which sponsored the visiting team, German club Schalke.
Greenpeace later donated money to a charity supported by Basel, which was fined by UEFA for the security lapse.
UEFA defended its environmental credentials in a statement on Tuesday after the incident.
“UEFA and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament,” UEFA said, “and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions.”
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Ciaran Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP
Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Hermosillo delivers again in Iowa win; Morel homers; An 8-run inning propels South Bend to win; Pinango records another multi-hit game
Starter Joe Biagini, who has been battling injuries, got through one inning unscathed. He was followed by sidearmer Scott Effross who delivered three shutout innings to earn the win as Iowa managed to triumph on a bullpen day.
The insanely hot hitting Michael Hermosillo continued to carry the offense. A double and another home run raised his average to .394 and slugging percentage to .758. By reaching just twice, his OBP did drop (to .524). He must be slipping. He’s reached base 22 times in 10 games. The veteran missed the first five weeks of the season, but has hit everything hard since his return.
Top Performers
Scott Effross: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 5 K (W, 2-1, 6.35)
Jake Jewell: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (4.34)
Kyle Ryan: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K (S, 1, 2.04)
Michael Hermosillo: 2-4, 2B, HR (3), R, 2 RBI (.394)
Tony Wolters: 1-2, 2 BB, CS (1) (.200)
Ian Miller: 0-2, 2 BB, SB (4) (.236)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
The Cubs announced Robert Stock will be called up to make today’s start against Jacob de Grom and the New York Mets.
Starting Pitcher Kohl Stewart was sent back to Iowa.
Trent Giambrone has returned from the temporary inactive list and should make his Iowa debut soon. The veteran utility man has been on personal leave since the season began. Iowa could sure use his versatility and power/speed combo in the lineup right now.
Alex Katz made an emergency start for Tennessee, and pitched pretty well for the first two innings, but was then tagged for four runs in the 3rd.j A two-run Christopher Morel home run in the bottom of the 3rd, and then a solo shot by Nelson Maldonado in the 5th brought Tennessee back within reach, but the Chattanooga pen shut the door with three innings of no-hit ball to stymy the comeback.
Top Performers
Christopher Morel: 1-4, HR (5), R, 2 RBI (.184)
Nelson Maldonado: 1-3, HR (1), R, RBI (.220)
Carlos Sepulveda: 2-4, 2 2B (.235)
Luis Lugo: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K (9.15)
Wyatt Short: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (7.31)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
We are beginning to see some positive development at the plate for Christopher Morel, despite his still sub-.200 batting average. He is not only drawing walks for the first time since rookie ball, but he is also putting the ball in play. His infectious energy and multi-positional defensive value (he’s started at 5 positions this year, including SS and CF) have long been known. We’ve also seen the pop in his bat, but the plate discipline was always lacking. His recent improvements bode well for him to take a more substantial offensive jump in the near future. Morel is likely two years away from the Majors, but his talent and versatility could allow him to make it sooner if things fall into place for him.
South Bend broke the game open in the top of the 3rd. They amassed eight runs on a pair of walks and seven hits. Tyler Durna, who singled home a run in that 3rd inning barrage, hit a solo shot the following inning to expand the lead.
Starter Brad Deppermann is still getting stretched out after opening the year in EXST and then moving to the pen in South Bend. The 25-year old was the Cubs 7th rounder in 2019, and has flashed a good breaking ball in his 28 career innings, but he is now showing a bit more velocity on his heater, hitting 95+ while pitching effectively up in the zone. He’s also getting good downward plane when working the lower half, thanks to his overhand delivery, and is generating plenty of grounders this year. I’m not sure he can stick as a starter, but he gives the Cubs another interesting power arm to keep an eye on as a future reliever.
Top Performers
Tyler Durna: 2-5, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI (.233)
Jake Slaughter: 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB (3) (.219)
Bradlee Beesley: 2-4, R, RBI (.259)
Bradd Deppermann: 4 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 6 K (3.86)
Jose Albertos: 2.1 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 4 K (W, 2-0, 5.63)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Considered one of the top undrafted free agents Baseball America last year, Bradlee Beesley is an undersized but speedy outfielder who has run into some plate discipline issues in his first 14 career games, but has also flashed some good bat control and even a bit of pop. The results have not been impressive as yet, but there are some tools to work with there. He strikes me as more of a future org player, but potentially one who can help out in the upper levels in the near future.
Chalk this one up as a rough outing by Manuel Espinoza. The starter has an advanced feel for his age (20), and hit has translated into a handful of good outings this year (), but there is a ceiling on his stuff. He needs to have command to be effective, and in this one he just seemed to catch too much plate, and the RiverDogs hammered him for seven runs on seven hits in less than four innings.
The Myrtle Beach offense continues to flash sings of life however. Ryan Reynolds hit another homer, power hitting 1B Matt Mervis is beginning to heat up, and Yohendrick Pinango recorded another multi-hit game.
Top Performers
Ryan Reynolds: 1-2, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, BB (.262)
Pablo Aliendo: 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI (.298)
Yohendrick Pinango: 2-4, R (.282)
Ezequiel Pagan: 1-3, R, HBP (.333)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Nineteen year old Yohendrick Pinango (.282/.343/.405) continues to impress this season. After putting up a 145 wRC+ as a 17-year old in the DSL in 2019 there was a decent amount of excitement to see him stateside this year, and he hasn’t disappointed. The youngest player on the team, Pinango offers an old school opposite fields approach to hitting, but he also isn’t against turning on one and lining it into right field. He’s hit his first two career homers this year and as he gains more experience, he should learn how to drive a few more pitches into the gaps and over the wall. Few, if any hitters in the system, have as good of a feel for the barrel as Pinango. He is top 20 prospect in the system right now.
Pinango has smacked multiple hits in 4 of his last 5, and 6 of his last 9 games (slashing .429/.487/.629).
Matt Mervis (.206/.320.324) extended his hitting streak to 6 games. He’s been bit some by the BABIP dragon this year, but Mervis offers a powerful left-handed bat, and pretty good athleticism too for a 1B. He isn’t a top prospect, but he is another UDFA from last year who should eventually make it to the upper levels, and may even have MLB upside.
It hasn’t been an easy year for any dance company, but for Chicago’s Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, COVID-19 hit with particularly cruel timing. When the lockdown went into effect last year, it was barely 13 months after the death of Dame Libby Komaiko, the revered, founding artistic director of the thriving, 45-year-old troupe dedicated to the art of flamenco dance.
But the ensemble’s inarguable perseverance the in the face of seismic change is evident in the upcoming Zafiro Flamenco 45th Anniversary Festival this weekend. The company will perform in person on an outdoor stage in the parking lot of Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.
Zafiro Flamenco 45th Anniversary Festival
When: 7:30 p.m. June 18 – 20
Where: Parking lot, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie
Note: An online livestream of the 7 p.m. June 19 concert only will be available June 19-27. Tickets, $20, for the virtual presentation are available here.
The dancers have been rehearsing and learning their choreography via Zoom for months. They’re primed for the moment when they can dance on stage, backed by live musicians. Defined by sultry, percussive movements and unabashed sensuality, flamenco relies on chemistry as well as technique. Capturing the former on Zoom can be tough.
“The process has been a hard one. It can be frustrating. We’ve done so much Zooming. It’s exhausting and I know I’m not alone in feeling that,” said Irma Suarez-Ruiz, who became Ensemble Espanol’s artistic director after Komaiko’s passing.
“But we push through because we’re warriors and because this is what we live for, the love of the art. It’s explosive. It’s passionate. It’s sensual and emotional and exciting,” she said of flamenco. “I remember when I saw Ensemble Espanol for the very first time. Watching it, it felt like a trance,” she said.
Ruiz’ ensemble is smaller than usual as it prepares to dance the world premiere of “Tangos de Granada,” choreographed by Wendy Clinard, founder and artistic director of her Chicago-based namesake, Clinard Dance. Usually, Ensemble Espanol has 18 dancers in its adult company.
Contemporary flamenco choreographer and Grammy Award winner Nino de los Reyes (center) has four works scheduled at the Zafiro Flamenco Festival this weekend.Photo courtesy of the artist
“I have nine right now, and the musicians,” Ruiz said. Among the latter that will be performing with the dance ensemble: Singer/guitarist Paco Fonta; dancer, singer, percussionist and guitarist Jose Mareno; singer Patricia Ortega and guitarist David Chiriboga.
Rehearsing virtually — in isolated rooms, everyone reduced to a square on a screen — has indeed been challenging, said choreographer Nino de los Reyes, who worked virtually with the dancers in Chicago from his home in Mexico until he flew in for a week of in-person rehearsals before the opening. De los Reyes became the only dancer to win a 2020 Grammy Award for dancing, his footwork a creating a percussive, rhythmic current driving Chick Corea’s album “Antidote. ” He has four works on the flamenco festival program: “Farruca,'” “Martinete,” “Jaleos,” and “Solea.”
“We had just won that Grammy — and had all these expectations of touring — before everything shut down,” de los Reyes recalled. “I have a studio at home here in Mexico, so I tried to practice a lot, learn new technology and make the best of it. I’ve been able to teach people from Japan, China, the U.S., South America — so that’s been very cool,” he said.
Over lockdown, Clinard set to researching the history and endless forms flamenco can take.
Ensemble Espanol are pictured performing “No Me Olvides (Do Not Forget Me) Romeros.”Dean Paul
“There are over 100 forms of flamenco, each one kind of embodies a certain human experience. There’s this beautiful division at the waistline — you’re rooted deep in the ground below it, reaching for the heavens above it,” Clinard said. “You go back and look at traditions, the history and the geography and you can find out where each gesture came from, how they talked with their bodies. Now flamenco is a national treasure for Spain, but it started as the dance of the outcast,” she said.
Clinard described her piece for the festival as “very positive, very joyful.”
“I really hope a vibe of community and togetherness comes through. Like a party,” she said.
In Mexico, de los Reyes echoed that sentiment.
“My goal is for the audience to feel what I’m feeling, the same joy and love for the art. If I can express that, I’ll be happy,” he said.
Editor’s note: According to Jorge Perez, the company’s executive and associate artistic director, who was asked about the wearing of masks in an email following the lifting of statewide COVID restrictions by Gov. Pritzker, the dancers and musicians “were given the choice of wearing masks or not. At this time it appears all performers will not be wearing masks when performing but will don them when they are off stage.
“As for the audience: with the governor’s reopening as of last Friday, audience members will not be required to wear masks when viewing the performance. However if they need to enter the North Shore Center building for any reason, a mask will be required.”
Twenty-six people were hit by gunfire in Chicago Tuesday, one of the most violent days of the year with eight shot in a house in Englewood and five wounded on the street in West Garfield Park.
A total of eight people were killed, the most homicides in a single day this year, according to Sun-Times data.
The day also saw the city’s third mass shooting in little more than a week. Around 5:40 a.m., four people were shot and killed and four others were seriously wounded when an argument apparently broke out inside a home in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street, according to Chicago police.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, three women and a man who lived there. The four others were taken to hospitals, at least two of them in critical condition. A 2-year-old girl was taken from the home and brought to Comer Children’s Hospital for observation, but did not appear injured, police said.
Tuesday night, five people were wounded in West Garfield Park. The group was outside in the 3800 block of West Monroe Street when they were shot, possibly by more than one gunman, about 9:20 p.m., according to police.
A 29-year-old woman was struck in the back, a 39-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and leg, and a 40-year-old man was struck in the shoulder. They were all taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where they are all in good condition. A 38-year-old man and a 33-year-old man were both shot in the legs and taken to Stroger Hospital, where the older man is in critical condition and the younger man is in good condition.
Other shootings
About 10:15 p.m., officers found a 26-year-old man on the sidewalk in the 3800 block of West Flournoy Street with gunshot wounds to his head and abdomen, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Minutes earlier, a 16-year-old boy was killed and a man was wounded in a shooting in Gage Park on the Southwest Side. The teen and the 20-year-old man were walking in the 5200 block of South Artesian Avenue when someone approached and opened fire about 10:10 p.m., police said. The boy was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He has not yet been identified. The man suffered three gunshot wounds to the back and was taken to the same hospital, where he was in critical condition. Police said the attacker was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
A woman was fatally shot in Bronzeville on the South Side. About 6:15 a.m., the 21-year-old was found in an alley with one gunshot wound to the head in the 4500 block of South Wabash, police said. A witness told police they heard a gunshot and found the woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman has not yet been identified.
A man was found shot to death, and another seriously wounded, in a car that crashed into a light pole on Lake Shore Drive in Gold Coast. The silver Nissan Sentra was in the northbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive when it crashed in the 1100 block of North Lake Shore Drive around 12:45 a.m., police said. Two of the three people inside had been shot. A 32-year-old man was struck twice in the torso and was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He has not yet been identified. A 20-year-old man was struck twice in the arm and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition was stabilized. The third person, a 25-year-old man, had minor injuries from the crash and was in good condition.
A 19-year-old boy was shot and wounded while waiting for a bus on the border of Gresham and Grand Crossing on the South Side. The teen was standing in the 1000 block of East 79th Street when two gunmen came up and started shooting around 9:10 a.m., police said. Struck in both legs, paramedics took him to the University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment.
Seven others were wounded in shootings across the city.
Three people were killed, and 18 others wounded in shootings Monday in Chicago.
Still scrambling to find that special gift for Father’s Day in 2021? Don’t worry. We have you covered! After all, this isn’t our first rodeo of guides for things to do this Father’s Day. But instead of breweries, this one will focus on Chicagosports. So if you’ve got a sporty old man, husband, grandfather, or any other father figure in your life that still needs a Father’s Day gift for 2021 then you’re in the right place!
Any guy out there could probably use a wardrobe upgrade, and dad’s are no exception. Help him ditch the New Balances and tattered Urlacher jersey with some fresh Chicago gear.
If shoes are what you’re in for, then look no further than the Chicago-inspired Nike Air Force 1s. While these kicks earn their style from Chicago barbershops, the Air Force 1 shoe is originally designed for the basketball court. Your pops should have no problem tearing up the adult rec league in these, and you’ll find it easiest to snag a pair on StockX.
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Shoes aren’t the only wardrobe item we had in mind. If you haven’t seen the City Connect edition jerseys for the Chicago Cubs, or the ones for the Chicago White Sox, you’re missing out. Unfortunately, southside fans can’t quite purchase the jerseys yet, just the t-shirts. Cubs fans have it easier and can purchase one for a cool $474.99. Nothing would show your appreciation more than a jersey that costs half a grand. If you’re lucky, you might be able to combo it as a birthday and Christmas gift all in one.
Who doesn’t like beer? Especially when you’re drinking it out of some Chicago sports themed pint glasses. These pint glasses and beer mugs are so cool you’ll definitely want to take them with you to the Chicago Craft Beer Festival this weekend. The first set we recommended is from Etsy seller, CraftyDraftDesigns, who makes sets of 4 pint glasses with the logos of Chicago professional sports. The first Chicago inspired set features the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox. The other set design includes the same first three teams, and swaps out the Sox for the Cubs. You can also take the beer mug route, and we found options for both frosted and glass mugs. This frosted beer mug seller on Etsy has designs that represent the four major teams with swapping out the Cubs and Sox again. And for glass mugs, Tabletop Bean Bag Games has you covered with individual mugs for each team. Pro tip: store any of these glasses or mugs in the freezer for an upgraded drinking experience!
We’d have to guess that about 90% of father’s in this country will be sitting down to watch the U.S. Open over the weekend. And by the time Sunday rolls around for their big day, they might be motivated to play a round. There’s plenty of golf courses to book a tee time at in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. If you’re aiming for a speedy round to catch the last part of the U.S. Open, check out the Sydney R. Marovitz golf course in Lincoln Park. There’s only 9-holes to play there and it’s one of Chicago’s most historic courses that opened in 1932. You can’t go wrong with a round of golf.
There’s nothing quite like a summertime baseball game in Chitown. With the stadium atmospheres, Chicago-style hotdogs, and endless amounts of beer snakes, it can’t be beat. By the way, the beer snake that formed at Wrigley last Sunday is estimated to have cost almost $30,000 to make. Fortunately, our Father’s Day 2021 sport-themed gifts shouldn’t break the bank like that.
Our final idea is to go out to a baseball game. The Cubs play at home every day starting this Friday, June 18 all the way through Tuesday, June 22. They’ll play against the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Sox won’t play at home over Father’s Day weekend, so if celebrating a week late doesn’t bother you, their next home stint starts Friday, June 25 against the Seattle Mariners.
The Cubs and White Sox aren’t your only baseball options either. If you don’t mind celebrating early, the Kane County Cougars, Joliet Slammers, Windy City Thunderbolts, Schaumburg Boomers, and the Chicago Dogs all have home games on June 16 and 17. Most of them actually play against each other. Over the weekend, the Schaumburg Boomers and the Chicago Dogs have home games on their schedules as well.
Whatever you go with, we hope you all enjoy your Father’s Day this year!
Jan 21, 2021; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan’s Kent Johnson (13) fakes out Notre Dame’s Dylan St. Cyr (1) during the Michigan at Notre Dame NCAA hockey game Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 at the Compton Family Ice arena in South Bend. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-USA TODAY Sports
The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery awarded the Chicago Blackhawks the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. It isn’t necessarily the pick you want but it is what they have so they need to make the best of it and have a good offseason. 2020-21 was as unique of a season as there has been in the history of the sport which makes it even more possible to hit a home run with this pick. The scouting and development have been a bit different lately and the Hawks could take advantage.
The ChicagoBlackhawks would be wise to consider drafting Kent Johnson.
One player that sticks out as a “best-case scenario” type of player is Kent Johnson out of Michigan. He already has one year under his belt playing for the Wolverines and there could be more to come from him as he looks to make his NHL dream come true.
He is going to have some big-time talent around him yet again at Michigan in 2021-22. He has already spent time with Owen Power and Matt Beniers who are both going to be top-five picks in this year’s draft. Luke Hughes, who is also going to be a top-five pick, will be attending in the fall as well. If Power and Beniers play another year in the NCAA, they will be a very good team.
Kent Johnson, if he falls to 11, has to be in consideration for Stan Bowman and his staff. He is a Canada-born kid that is playing NCAA which is always nice to see if you are a fan of college hockey. He is a left-shot centerman that stands at 6’1? and 165 lbs. He has some height and will certainly put on more muscle as he gets a little bit older.
He has shown already in college that he has the skills to play with other skilled players which might make him valuable once he reaches pro hockey. If the Hawks select this kid, he might reward them but putting them in a good spot with their centerman.
With Kirby Dach already in the fold, Johnson might be able to join him to form a really good two-headed monster down the middle. Of course, development is key once these players are drafted into NHL organizations.
In 26 games playing for Michigan this year, he had nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points. Being over a point per game player in college hockey is not easy, especially for a freshman. Another year of development there and we could see some really big numbers. If the Hawks end up with a new prospect like this, they will have done well in the first round.
As the official start of summer draws ever closer, the Chicago Cubs are already starting to set their sights on fall baseball.
The Cubs were just two games behind the San Francisco Giants for the best record in the National League on Sunday after sweeping the hated St. Louis Cardinals.
They’ve now dropped the last two contests to the New York Mets and are tied with the Mets for third place in the NL, just four games behind the Giants. They’re also tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central.
It’s quite reassuring that the Cubs find themselves in first place in mid-June, seeing as though the club has battled injuries all season.
Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, David Bote, Nico Hoerner, Matt Duffy and Ian Happ have all missed time this season, and team-MVP Kris Bryant is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch in Tuesday’s game.
But despite a first-place record and a 65.7% chance to reach the playoffs according to Baseball-Reference, it’s still been a roller-coaster year for the Cubs and their fans.
The Chicago Cubs face off against the hated St. Louis Cardinals for four games in late July, and the outcome of that series could have resounding effects on the team’s long-term future.
The team started out the season with a disappointing 11-15 record in April before surging to first place in May with a 19-8 showing.
The boys have also struggled to find their groove on the road, as they’re five games below .500 and have lost six of their last nine away from the Friendly Confines.
It seemed in April that the Cubs would be sellers at the trade deadline, and that the remaining core from the 2016 World Series championship would be launched away in a fire sale.
Now it seems as if the team can add some starting pitching and a some small pieces to the offense and could realistically contend for a World Series with the right additions.
But a lot can happen between now and July 31, and it’s hard to have much confidence on a front office that has cried poor, neglected to make many major additions in four years and traded away Cy Young runner-up Yu Darvish without hardly batting an eye.
In a 162-game season that spans half the year, it’s hard to imagine four games playing a huge role in determining the outcome of not only the season, but numerous careers. But the Cubs may just find themselves in that situation.
The North Siders face off against the Cardinals in a four-game set July 19-23, and just over a week before the July 31 trade deadline. Given that the club has struggled on the road, series loss or (gulp) sweep could very well be the nail in the coffin on the 2021 season.
That’s not to mention any potential nails in the coffins of core members’ Cubs careers, either.
The Cubs could essentially be playing for their season and future roster spots that series, and it’s not hard to envision management deciding to sell if the Cubs plummet in the standings during that crucial four-game set.
The Brewers, by the way, are off for two of those games and face off against the unimpressive Kansas City Royals for a two-game set at AmFam Field.
Given how unpredictable the front office has been the past few years, it’s hard to say what they team will do come July 31. But it’s not unreasonable to suggest that a poor showing in those four games could have resounding effects on both the current season as well as the future of the team.
We’ll have a better idea once we get to the All-Star Break, but for now let’s enjoy some first place Cubs baseball with most of the 2016 core intact.
We are now in the thick of the Chicago Bears offseason, and we know it because the quarterback conversation is red-hot.
This week, head coach Matt Nagy talked to the media about his Week 1 starter and made it pretty clear he is sticking with Andy Dalton. Still, he did say that many things can happen between now and then.
Though fans may want to see Justin Fields win the job in camp, it doesn’t sound as though Nagy sees this as a true competition. It’s Dalton’s job.
Whether we are talking about Fields and Dalton, or other players on the Bears roster, Nagy did get one thing absolutely correct in his media session: anything can happen between now and Week 1.
If Nagy is truly all about the process, we could see some dark horse candidates make the final Chicago Bears roster.
Nagy reiterated that everyone simply needs to “trust the process,” when referring to Fields. If he’s being fair to the rest of the team, though, that process could end up seeing many things happen.
Not only could Fields shock the coaching staff in training camp, but some of the lesser-known players might do the same.
The Bears have a lot of young players that will be fighting for a roster spot this summer. Many of them are undrafted and some have been fighting to prove they belong for a couple of years now. Regardless, these players are talented indeed.
A few players, in particular, might end up coming out of nowhere to have a strong camp and push for a roster spot. Their chances are slim, but these guys will be fighting to impress.
The groggy watchman lumbered up the steps to the top of the castle tower. He heard another thud and a roar of laughter down below.
The watchman saw hundreds of kayaks crossing the Chicago River. A dozen of these plastic boats were now harbored onshore, safely past the moat. He looked down to the right and saw a small army with a giant battering ram. It looked like the trunk of a Redwood tree attached to four monster truck wheels. The army pushed the device backwards then rallied their momentum forward, forcefully crashing into the castle wall.
Thud!
The watchman rushed down the steps. He sprinted to the king and queen’s bedroom at the opposite end of the castle.
“The extroverts are coming! The extroverts are coming!” he shouted as he ran through the courtyard. “Archers, man the battlements. The extroverts are raiding the castle!”
“What’s he barking about?” a woman wearing sweatpants and a Cubs t-shirt said to her husband. She sipped her K-cup coffee and looked out the window.
All the introverts were now sprinting through the courtyard. Men, women, children. The husband, also in sweatpants, opened the window. He put on his mask and called out to the crowd.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“The extroverts. They’re storming the castle!”
“Well, it’s about time,” the woman said. “Ooh, what should I wear? What should I wear!”
The watchman barged into the royal bedroom. The queen jumped up, pulled the sheets up to her shoulders.
“What’s the meaning of this, lad?” the king asked.
“We’re under attack,” the watchman said. He tried to catch his breath.
The king and queen looked at each other.
“Guard, bring me the royal iPad.”
“Yes, your highness.”
“Baker, bring me some sourdough toast.”
“Yes, your highness.”
The guard came back with the iPad. The king held it up to his mouth.
“Siri, show me the royal moat cam,” the king looked at the screen with a slight eyebrow raise. “Yuck. Look at them all gathered together with no social distance. It’s barbaric.”
“Your highness, if I may,” the watchman said. “We need to get the archers ready immediately.”
“We need or you need?
“Please, we don’t have much time.”
“Fair enough, fair enough,” the King said. He began stroking his beard. “Will you ask their leader to join me on Slack?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me. Run along now.”
The watchman reluctantly left the bedroom. He sprinted through the courtyard. Back to the tower. Up the steps. He took a few breaths, then cleared his throat.
“Excuse me, um, yes, hi,” the watchman called out. “Our King has requested you join him on Slack for a quick conversation.”
A roar of laughter came from the army below.
“Listen to the little introverts and their ‘Slack messaging,’” the general called out. The army roared in laughter. “Well, why don’t you tell your king he can come shake my hand and talk to me face to face.”
“Yeah, well, I think he really wants this Slack thing.”
“You heard me,” the extrovert leader replied. “Run along now.”
The watchman ran back down the steps, through the courtyard. He passed the married couple from earlier. The wife was now in a black dress and a pair of high heels.
“The bars. The Cubs games. Concerts. Ooh! I wonder who’s at Lolla this year. Oh! We can start traveling again! It’ll be so good to be out of this stinkin’ castle. This will be incredible, honey.”
“The El. The bus. Airport security. This is gonna be horrible.”
“Oh, lighten up.”
The watchman barged back into the royal bedroom.
“The extroverts have requested a face-to-face conversation.”
“Of course they have,” the King replied.
The King started to write on a piece of paper. He rolled it up then placed it in the talons of a very large carrier pigeon. He looked back at the watchman.
“We can talk face-to-face over Zoom. Here is my Zoom link. It also has a dial-in option.”
“You want me to carry your pigeon? Couldn’t you just–”
“Run along now.”
Out of the bedroom. Through the courtyard. Past the married sweatpants couple.
“But don’t you remember being stuck at a party?” the husband said. “And you had to awkwardly say goodbye to everyone. Then wait for an Uber. And the Uber driver’s all like, ‘Jason?’ Why do they have to ask my name? Of course it’s me. Like who’s out there stealing Uber rides? ‘Nice night, huh? How bout them Cubbies?’ No. No Rizzo. I just want to sit in the backseat. Quietly. Is that too much to ask? Now, all I have to do, close the laptop. Done. I’m already home.”
“You know I haven’t hugged anyone, besides you, in 15 months?”
“Everything’s about touching with these extroverts! The hugs. The handshakes. The making out. What’s wrong with a simple elbow bump?”
“The elbow bump’s not gonna be a thing.”
“A nice head nod. A wink. A tip of the cap. We have so many better options.”
“Well, I think it’s gonna be great having them back. Variety is the spice of life.”
“My spice rack was doing just fine,” he said as he put away the garlic powder.
The watchman looked down from the castle tower. Cleared his throat again. He held the large pigeon in his hands and tossed it up in the air. The large bird came crashing down like a bowling ball. The general caught the bird, unwrapped the note. The pigeon waddled away like a bloated penguin.
“A Zoom link?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you can tell your king,” the general paused for a second. “We are a Cisco WebX company.”
“Oh, come on! Let’s be reasonable here! How about a Google Hangout?”
“I’ve got Microsoft Teams,” one of the soldiers called out.
“I’ve got Facetime,” another soldier said.
“I’ve got Glip by RingCentral.”
“Glip?”
“Yeah. You guys never done a chip-n-dip over Glip?”
“The hell are you talkin’ about?”
“It’s simple. You order your drinks, take a sip. Get out the chips, get out the dip. Turn on Glip. I’ve got a friend who goes on there, shakes his hips, he strips for like a hundred dollar tips.”
“Sounds like a bit of a gyp.”
“Enough!” the general barked. “No Zoom. No Glip. You don’t have to deliver any more messages, pigeon boy. We’re gonna tell your king ourselves.”
The battering ram crushed through the door. The army let out a loud battle cry then stormed through the opening.
“Excuse me,” the wife called out. She was now standing outside. “Yoo-hoo! Where’s the party at tonight?”
“We’re pregaming til 11, then seeing where the night takes us,” one of the soldiers replied.
“Right on!”
“I was so happy,” the husband said as he packed his sourdough kit back into storage.
The general kicked the royal bedroom door wide open.
“Tell your people it’s time to get back to work,” the general said. “There’s a new sheriff in town.”
“They have been working,” the king replied. “There’s actually never been a more productive year. We were quite literally in the Middle Ages 15 months ago.”
“If it doesn’t happen in an office, it’s not work.”
“Says who!”
“Says everyone. You need the water cooler. You need the team lunches. You need the camaraderie.”
“No. You need it.
“That’s what I’m saying, you need it.”
“No. You need it. We don’t.”
“You want to feed your family, you go to the office. You want to put bread on the table, you work a 9 to 5.”
“Yes, your highness?” the baker said as he carried in the sourdough toast.
“This is Hugh, he puts bread on the table,” the king said. “Did you have a question for Hugh?”
“You need bread, right?” the general asked.
“I knead the dough, yes,” the baker replied.
“Right. You need the dough so you go to the office and make bread.”
“Well,” the baker said. “I knead the dough, then I bake the bread.”
“Right. Cuz you need the dough.”
“Hugh kneads dough,” the king said. “But he doesn’t need dough. It’s kind of a royal unpaid internship.”
“Enough!” the extrovert general shouted. “We’re going back to the office. Five days a week. And that’s final.”
“How ’bout a hybrid model, 2 days in office, 3 work from home.”
“No.”
“Three days in office, two work from home?”
“No.”
“Four days in office, but the fifth is just one big happy hour?”
“Deal.”
The general, the king, and the queen called the extroverts and introverts together in the courtyard.
“We have reached an agreement for a return to work,” the king said. “We call it, ‘Work Hard, Play Hard.’ Four days in the office. Then one off-site day at the Old Town Ale House.”
“Excuse me, how will we know if our co-workers have been vaccinated?” the husband called out from the crowd.
“It’ll be an honor system. Just like going to the movie theater.”
“What’s a movie theater?” someone wearing 14th-century rags asked from the back of the crowd.
“Do we still have to wear masks?”
“Honor system.”
“Will people leave my turkey sandwich alone in the fridge?”
“Honor system.”
“Well, I’m not comfortable with that,” the husband said.
“Jason,” his wife whispered. She elbowed him in the ribs.
“I think that’s the elbow bump,” one of the extrovert soldiers whispered to another.
“What would you like to propose instead?” the extrovert general shouted back.
“Hear me out,” the husband (Jason) said. “How about anyone who is unvaccinated, or anyone uncomfortable with the honor system, can remain working from home.”
“Yeah, I like that,” another introvert said quietly in the crowd.
“Same.”
The rest of the introverts raised their right hands in the air while looking at the ground.
“What are they doing?” the general asked.
“They’re saying yes,” Jason said. “They just don’t like speaking in front of a crowd.”
“Okay, fine, whatever,” the general said. “They can work from home. But the rest of us are going into the office. And that’s final.”
“Works for me,” Jason said.
“Thoughts on making it five days a week at the Ale House?” one of the extrovert soldiers called out.
“No!”
“Eh, worth a shot.”
“Sorry, one more thing,” Jason called out.
“Jason, seriously,” his wife replied with another elbow to the ribs.
“I’d like to propose that anyone in the working-from-home camp shall receive a relocation stipend from the extroverts to help us all move to Montana.”
“Ha!”
“You can even take our condos here inside the castle.”
“You’re being serious? Well, that’s fine by me!”
Gradually, the extroverts moved into the castle and the introverts moved out. The extroverts immediately opened the offices and all the bars and restaurants. The introverts moved into giant houses with massive yards, each one at least 6 miles of social distance apart in a small Montana town.
“I can go bike riding. Hiking. Kayaking,” Jason said. “Oh! We can go skiing in the winter. Ah, it’s so good to be out of that stinkin’ castle. This will be incredible, honey.”
“I was so happy,” the wife said as she packed her black dress and high heels back in storage.
Thanks for stopping by the blog and going on this bizarre return-to-work-told-in-a-castle journey. To subscribe to Medium Rare via email, just enter your email address in the box below. And to keep up with my books or books in progress, check out Long Overdue Books.
I was born and raised in Midland, Michigan and moved here to Chicago a couple years ago after graduating from Hope College. I live in the city with my beautiful wife Ashley.
A little bit about me – I go to bed early, I enjoy greasy food and would wear sweatpants everyday if I were allowed to. I just signed up for a year-long Divvy membership, but could very well be the slowest bicyclist in Chicago.
I write the Medium Rare blog and will have a new post up every Monday.
The last 48 hours have been a complete whirlwind after my wife lost the diamond to her wedding ring.
I have crawled on the ground at Home Depot, searching the discarded dirt and dead petals of the garden center. We have emptied bags of moldy trash and tore through dozens of flower pots. I have sifted through endless amounts of dustpans to no avail. At one point I found a piece of windshield glass and was convinced I found the ice! A man who was helping me look for it delivered the bad news saying, “That is NOT the diamond, sorry friend!”
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Where was the gem? My mind reeled, and desperation set in. It could have been stuck in a car tire on the way to Wisconsin for all I know?
My wife figured she had lost it during a Thursday afternoon window, from Noon to 5 pm, that included a trip to Home Depot to buy flowers for our condo. She wasn’t sure if it fell into one of the pots, or on the ground, at the store? Also, there was that walk from the car to the back patio, through the alley, ugh! With so many variables it seemed like an impossible mission.
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After retracing her steps at every point, I decided to give up for the night. The next morning, as a last-gasp effort, I decided to wipe all the counters down and vacuum. My thought process was, “I’ll wipe every surface off, and then vacuum the whole house. Then I’ll empty the canister in the alley to see if this nearly fifteen-year-old rock turns up?
While wiping underneath our Keurig K-Cup holder I felt something scrape against the counter. I lifted the wet paper towel, and there, amongst breadcrumbs and the tie from a plastic bread bag, lie the motherlode.
I wasn’t sure if this stone was another fake out like the windshield glass, so I brought it to my wife, who was taking a shower. She pulled open the curtain, took one look, and said, “Oh my god, that’s it! You’re my hero!” We both felt like a HUGE weight was lifted.
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I paced slowly out of the bathroom to find a plastic bag where the diamond would reside until we could get the setting fixed. Since it’s our fifteenth anniversary this fall, I’m thinking this might be the perfect time to upgrade?
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