It has been a tough run for the Edmonton Oilers. They don’t win very often once they reach the playoffs and it has the be infuriating for them and their fans. You might remember the COVID-19 bubble where the Chicago Blackhawks took them out despite being a worse team in the standings by a lot. […]

Chicago Blackhawks: 3 Edmonton Oilers free agents to consider – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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The fire started in a sixth-floor apartment. The injured were both listed in good condition.

By

Sun-Times Wire

May 25, 2021, 10:54am CDT

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JERUSALEM — Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Tuesday that the U.S. would reopen its Consulate General in Jerusalem — a move that restores ties with Palestinians that had been downgraded by the Trump administration.

The consulate long served as an autonomous office in charge of diplomatic relations with the Palestinians. But former U.S. President Donald Trump downgraded its operations and placed them under the authority of his ambassador to Israel when he moved the embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump’s move infuriated the Palestinians, who view east Jerusalem as occupied territory and the capital of their future state.

Blinken did not give a precise date for reopening the consulate.

Blinken announced the step after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

“As I told the president, I’m here to underscore the commitment of the United States to rebuilding the relationship with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, a relationship built on mutual respect and also a shared conviction that Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve equal measures of security, freedom opportunity and dignity,” he said.

Blinken is in the region to help shore up the cease-fire last week that ended a devastating war 11-day war between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers that killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused widespread destruction in the impoverished coastal territory.

He promised to “rally international support” to help Gaza in the wake of the war. He later announced nearly $40 million in aid to the Palestinians, including $5.5 million in emergency assistance for Gaza. That brings total U.S. assistance to the Palestinians under the Biden administration to over $360 million after the Trump administration had cut off nearly all assistance to them.

Blinken has promised that any assistance will be kept out of the hands of Hamas, which does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and which Israel and the U.S. consider a terrorist organization.

The U.S. is trying to bolster Abbas, who was sidelined by recent events, in his rivalry with Hamas and on the international stage. Abbas heads the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank but whose forces were driven from Gaza when Hamas seized power there in 2007.

Abbas is seen by many Palestinians as having lost all legitimacy. But he is still seen internationally as the representative of the Palestinian people and a key partner in the long-defunct peace process.

The truce that ended the Gaza war on Friday has so far held, but it did not address any of the underlying issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, something Blinken acknowledged after meeting earlier in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We know that to prevent a return to violence, we have to use the space created to address a larger set of underlying issues and challenges. And that begins with tackling the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and starting to rebuild,” he said.

The top U.S. diplomat faces the same obstacles that have stifled a wider peace process for more than a decade, including a hawkish Israeli leadership, Palestinian divisions and deeply rooted tensions surrounding Jerusalem and its holy sites. The Biden administration had initially hoped to avoid being drawn into the intractable conflict and focus on other foreign policy priorities before the violence broke out.

The war was triggered by weeks of clashes in Jerusalem between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site revered by Jews and Muslims that has seen several outbreaks of Israeli-Palestinian violence over the years. The protests were directed at Israel’s policing of the area during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers.

The truce remains tenuous since tensions are still high in Jerusalem and the fate of the Palestinian families is not yet resolved.

The evictions were put on hold just before the Gaza fighting erupted, but the legal process is set to resume in the coming weeks. Police briefly clashed with protesters at Al-Aqsa on Friday, hours after the cease-fire came into effect.

Adding to the tensions, an Israeli soldier and a civilian were stabbed and wounded in east Jerusalem on Monday before police shot and killed the assailant in what they described as a terrorist attack.

Then, early Tuesday, a Palestinian man was shot and killed by undercover Israeli forces near the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to the Wafa news agency. Pictures circulating online appeared to show the man bloodied and lying in the street. The Israeli army referred questions to the Border Police, which did not respond to requests for comment.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, is fighting for his political life after a fourth inconclusive election in two years. He faces mounting criticism from Israelis who say he ended the offensive prematurely, without forcibly halting rocket attacks or dealing a heavier blow to Hamas.

Netanyahu hardly mentioned the Palestinians in his remarks after his meeting with Blinken, warning of a “very powerful” response if Hamas breaks the cease-fire.

Netanyahu spoke of “building economic growth” in the occupied West Bank, but said there will be no peace until the Palestinians recognize Israel as a “Jewish state.” The Palestinians have long objected to that language, saying it undermines the rights of Israel’s own Palestinian minority.

Blinken will also visit neighboring Egypt and Jordan, which have acted as mediators in the conflict. Egypt succeeded in brokering the Gaza truce after the Biden administration pressed Israel to wind down its offensive.

The administration had been roundly criticized for its perceived hands-off initial response to the deadly violence, including from Democratic allies in Congress who demanded it take a tougher line on Israel. Biden repeatedly affirmed what he said was Israel’s right to defend itself from rocket attacks from Gaza.

The administration has defended its response by saying it engaged in intense, but quiet, high-level diplomacy to support a cease-fire.

Blinken has said the time is not right for an immediate resumption in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, but that steps could be taken to repair the damage from Israeli airstrikes, which destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged infrastructure in Gaza.

The narrow coastal territory, home to more than 2 million Palestinians, has been under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized power. Israel says the blockade is needed to keep Hamas from importing arms, while the Palestinians and human rights groups view it as a form of collective punishment.

___

Associated Press writers Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report.

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After a wildly successful first tryout last week, Chicago House AC, Chicago’s newest professional soccer team, announced a second round of Open Tryouts from 11:00am-3:00pm on Saturday June 5th and from 9:00am-1:00pm on Sunday June 6th. This Open Tryout will once again be held at Chicago House AC’s training facility at ComEd Recreation Center, located at 1434 S. Loomis Street in Chicago.

Registration for this additional Open Tryout is required, and prospective players can now register by visiting www.chicagohouseac.com/open-tryouts. There is a $100 registration fee to participate in this tryout. When registering, players are asked to fill out all the required information completely. Prospective players who took part in the first Open Tryout on May 22nd and May 23rd should not participate in the June 5th and 6th tryout.

This two-day tryout is limited to the first 60 players that register online, and players must be present for both days in order to be eligible for consideration on Chicago House AC’s inaugural team.

For the 2021 season, Chicago House AC plans on rostering 24 players, consisting of 21 field players and 3 goalkeepers. There are also plans to have a group of alternates or training players. Only players with valid U.S. Passports or valid Green Cards are eligible for the tryout and for consideration for a roster spot.

In an effort to create the most safe and healthy environment possible, Chicago House AC has implemented the following COVID-19 Protocols for the Open Tryouts at ComEd Recreation Center:

1. All participants are encouraged to be fully vaccinated prior to taking part in Open Tryouts (information on how to find a vaccination site near you can be found HERE.
2. Upon arrival each participant should check in at the registration table which will be located next to the field. Chicago AC staff will be present to provide instructions.
3. Each participant will be asked to complete any pending registration documents/waivers.
4. Each participant will have their temperature checked (anyone with a temperature 100.4 or above will not be allowed to participate in the tryout session. If you refuse to have your temperature taken you will not be allowed to participate in the tryout session.
5. Face coverings will be mandatory for ALL participants, friends, staff, and team personnel when not on the field participating in the tryouts. Anyone else not participating on the field MUST wear a face covering at all times.
6. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions each player should bring their own water/isotonic beverage. We will not be providing this on-site.

Photo Credit via Chicago House AC

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The Dingers Crew breaks down the big series win against the Cardinals and the dominance of the Cubs bullpen so far this season.

The post Dingers: A Chicago Cubs Podcast – Episode 42 – Dead Birds and Bullpen Dominance first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

Just over two weeks after his first high school football game Tysean Griffin had his first Division I scholarship offer — and it was an emotional moment.

Tysean Griffin played his first high school football game on March 27,

Just over two weeks later the Morgan Park freshman had his first Division I scholarship offer — and it was an emotional moment.

“It was kind of a surprise,” Griffin said. “I was in my gym class working out and got a text from my coach out of nowhere, I got my first scholarship (offer) from Temple. I almost cried.”

That was just the start. Since then, he’s added offers from Central Michigan, Syracuse, Iowa State and Illinois.

Morgan Park coach Chris James expects many more.

“We told a few (college) coaches about him, ‘This is a guy who could be special, who guys should get in on early,’” James said.

James said Griffin’s rare blend of speed and physicality make him a prospect who will get recruited on both sides of the ball.

The 5-11, 165-pounder has yet to turn 15 but started at defensive back and slot receiver in the abbreviated pandemic season.

“It was kind of tough because I didn’t think I’d have my freshman season,” Griffin said. “After months of waiting, I was just so ready to play football.”

James wanted to be careful with his budding star.

“Him being young, we tried to limit the amount of plays he played,” he said. “Next (season), we don’t know what he’ll play. He’s pretty good at both (offense and defense).”

Griffin started playing football when he was 6. “I had seen my big brother (Tyrone Griffin) play in high school (for Hillcrest). He made me want to play football and I liked it.”

Now colleges like what they see in him, and so does James.

“He’s better than we thought he was,” James said.

And the Morgan Park coaches thought he’d be pretty good.

Brother Rice coach Brian Badke steps down

After 24 years, Brother Rice’s Brian Badke is ready for a break from coaching.

Badke 46, will lead the Crusaders this fall before stepping away to spend more time with his family.

“To do it the right way, it’s a 24-hour, seven-day-a week job,” Badke said.

The Crusaders are 63-38 over nine seasons under Badke with six IHSA playoff berths, a Class 8A runner-up finish in 2018 and two more trips to the quarterfinals.

His son Mick, the oldest of Badke’s four children, played for Rice and graduated on Thursday. He plans to continue his football career at Division III John Carroll.

Being able to schedule his life around his kids’ games is something Badke is looking forward to.

“I like to be a fan,” he said.

But, he added, “I like coaching” and left open the door to returning to the sidelines sometime down the road.

CCL/ESCC realignment

The Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference has released its realigned divisions for the 2021 fall and 2022 seasons, and there is plenty of movement.

The powerhouse Blue lineup of Brother Rice, Loyola, Marist and Mount Carmel is unchanged, but eight schools are changing divisions. There’s also an open spot in the Red with St. Joseph closing at the end of this school year.

The new lineups with former divisions in parentheses for teams changing alignments:

Green — Benet (Orange), Nazareth (Orange), Notre Dame, St. Rita.

Orange — Joliet Catholic (White), Montini (Green), Providence (Green), St. Laurence.

White — De La Salle (Orange), Fenwick, Mamion, St. Ignatius.

Purple — Carmel, Marian Catholic (Red), St. Patrick, St. Viator.

Red — DePaul Prep, Leo, Marian Central (Purple).

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“Nero: The Man Behind the Myth” explores the true story of Rome’s fifth emperor informed by new research and archaeological evidence from the time.

LONDON — The British Museum’s new exhibition on the Roman Emperor Nero opens with a piece of fake news from the ancient world.

Visitors are greeted with an image of Peter Ustinov as Nero in the movie “Quo Vadis” strumming a lyre — a famous image of the cruel tyrant who notoriously fiddled while Rome burned.

But, the exhibition says, that tale is a myth. As such, it’s a fitting introduction to an emperor whose story was largely written by enemies after his death, creating what curator Francesca Bologna calls “the Nero we love to hate.”

“Our goal here is to show that this, however popular, image is actually based on very, very biased accounts and therefore we should challenge it,” she said during a preview of the exhibition Monday.

“The Nero story is about how we should approach information, how we should always approach our sources critically. This is relevant for Nero, it’s relevant for historians, archaeologists, it is relevant for everyday people living their everyday lives.”

AP

“Nero: The Man Behind the Myth” opens to the public on Thursday, six months later than originally planned as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The show, which runs until Oct. 24, arrives the week after U.K. lockdown restrictions were lifted and London’s museums were allowed to reopen at limited capacity.

The exhibition draws on the British Museum’s vast trove of Roman artifacts, as well as items from collections in Italy, France, Germany and other countries, loaned despite pandemic-related restrictions.

“Everyone throughout Europe and the U.K. came to our rescue,” Bologna said. “They were really understanding. They helped us throughout the process. Even colleagues that were in lockdown themselves and working from home, they were incredible.”

Through more than 200 artifacts including statues, helmets, weapons, jewelry and ancient graffiti, it depicts a young ruler with rock-solid imperial lineage; Nero was the great-great-grandson of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. In A.D. 54, at the age of 16, he became emperor of a Rome that was unrivalled in power but beset by problems, including war with the Iran-based Parthian empire in the east and an uprising led by Celtic queen Boudica in newly conquered Britain to the west.

One vivid section deals with the harsh reality of life in Roman Britain: there are lead ingots mined in Wales, along with thick chains that bound slaves who did the hard work. There’s also a bronze head of Nero, found in an English river after his statue was toppled during the uprising, and a family’s hoard of coins and jewelry, hidden for safekeeping during the violence and discovered in 2014 under the floor of a store in the east England town of Colchester.

Evidence suggests Nero was popular during his reign. He oversaw grand public projects, strengthening links between the city and its harbor to secure the food supply, building a public market and a spectacular set of public baths. He sponsored lavish public entertainments with gladiators, lion-wrestling and chariot races. He even competed in the races at Rome’s Circus Maximus, and was the first emperor to perform onstage.

The youthful emperor was also a style leader, popularizing a boyband-style haircut that the exhibition calls “dashing yet refined.”

He didn’t start the fire that leveled parts of Rome in A.D. 64, and neither did he fiddle as it burned. He wasn’t even there at the time.

Afterwards, Nero rebuilt the city, brought in tougher building codes — and also built himself a lavish palace, the Domus Aurea, or Golden House. Little of it remains, but the exhibition gives a taste of its opulence.

Beset by conspirators, Nero killed himself at the age of 30. His death sparked a period of civil war and then a new ruling dynasty. Like politicians down the ages, the new rulers blamed Rome’s problems on their predecessor.

Almost 2,000 years later, Nero remains a metaphor for bad government. As classicist Mary Beard wrote recently in the Daily Telegraph, “there is hardly a political cartoonist who doesn’t occasionally dress up a modern leader with a toga, laurel wreath and lyre, against the background of smoking ruins, to make the point that he is not taking some contemporary crisis seriously.”

Nero’s rule was undeniably brutal: He had his mother killed, along with one and possibly two of his wives. But was he more violent than other Roman rulers?

“Not really,” Bologna said. “Each and every emperor had people condemned and put to death. Even Augustus, who is the epitome of the good emperor, came to power in a really bloody way.”

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Homebuyers are rethinking their priorities. Proximity to a downtown office? Not so important. Proximity to fresh air and nature? Top of the list. With that in mind, we identified 20 neighborhoods and suburbs that offer exceptional access to green spaces and recreation.Read More