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Apartment developer aims to please — and disrupton May 24, 2021 at 10:30 am

Jonathan Holtzman is a developer who seldom is wowed by what his competitors do. He can look across a Chicago skyline embellished by apartment towers of recent vintage and find a certain sameness.

“Developers in Chicago seem to be obsessed with building concrete high-rises with floor-to-ceiling glass with small bathrooms,” he said. Holtzman also mentioned competitors’ small closets — “Chicago has four seasons,” said the Detroiter — and few nooks for a home office– “People have always worked from home.”

Holtzman takes issue with apartment builders who flip their projects to an investor once the units are leased. The CEO of City Club MDA Apartments is a long-term owner of what he builds, with past projects including a Gold Coast building and renovations of the landmarks Randolph Tower and Fisher Building downtown. He believes his approach leads to a different product. His marketing pitch is an “apartment hotel” strategy, with higher-end amenities and finishes.

“We don’t build to sell. When you build to sell, your customer is the buyer of your apartment community. When you build to keep, your customer is your renter,” Holtzman said.

“We’ve always felt that the hospitality industry treated their customers better than do the owners of apartment buildings. We never understood why.” He doesn’t mind being called a “disrupter” in his field. “That’s pretty much my reputation,” he said.

Holtzman’s attitude is on display at 63 E. Lake St., the southeast corner of Lake and Wabash Avenue, where he has opened an expansion of an apartment project he completed in 2006. It’s a seven-story “modern” structure alongside the original 23-floor building on the corner. The original is a 1927 design of Daniel Burnham Jr. that Holtzman converted from offices to apartments. The addition has frontage on Wabash but still uses the Lake Street address.

The City Club MDA Apartments at 63 E. Lake St., with a seven-story addition connected to the taller 1927 building on the left.
The City Club MDA Apartments at 63 E. Lake St., with a seven-story addition connected to the taller 1927 building on the left.
Provided

The “modern” wing offers 81 units, studios to penthouses, in different layouts, adding to the 190 units in the original building. Tenants have access to indoor and outdoor theaters, a heated outdoor pool and wraparound sun loungers. Holtzman said the complex doesn’t have a doorperson. Instead, it has a 24/7 concierge available to help with any of life’s problems.

He also touts roomier closets and “sexy bathrooms.” Traditionalists on the marketing team might prefer a term like “luxurious,” with oversized tubs meant for soaking and rain-style showerheads. Some units are for short-term rentals, even for the night, but these aren’t Airbnb units. They would be for corporate stays.

Rents range from about $1,400 to more than $3,000 per month, he said.

Holtzman was in town last week to officially open the modern wing and to host some tours. He said 75% of the units in the new building have tenants and that occupancy in the original building is 95%. Leasing inquiries have increased as society slowly gets the upper hand on the pandemic. Holtzman sees it as a sign that renters, especially millennials, are ready to get back to big-city living, with the attractions and the — well, other millennials — that they miss.

“The traffic that leads to rentals has doubled and tripled since March,” Holtzman said. He sees the Loop as being an underserved market with plenty of condos but a paucity of rentals.

It’s an optimistic outlook that he’s bringing to the Lake View community as well, where Holtzman wants to build on what may be the last vacant site overlooking North Lake Shore Drive. The site is nearly two acres at Waveland Avenue that for years has slithered out of developers’ grasps.

Details may change, but Holtzman has proposed a two-section building with 19 and six stories, containing 333 units. In April, the East Lake View Neighbors gave the project a key letter of support. It also has the backing of condo associations for buildings at 3600 and 3660 N. Lake Shore Drive. The latter is a high-rise called the New York. Despite the address, the building is set back from the Drive. Holtzman’s building would go up east of it and block some views, but its alignment has proven satisfactory to the condo association.

Holtzman hopes to start the 18-month construction late this year. The site is in the 46th Ward of Ald. James Cappleman, who said the project still needs to go through his zoning advisory committee. The developer already has modified the design, addressing traffic access and other concerns, after meetings with neighbors, Cappleman said. “This one looks really, really good,” he said of the proposal.

If there’s a hangup, Cappleman said it’s in the city’s planning department. He said the agency raised questions about the building’s mix of materials that might not hold up to Chicago winters. A department spokesman said only that the building’s design is under review.

Allowing for winter shouldn’t be too much for a guy from Detroit who knows renters need space for out-of-season duds.

A rendering of Jonathan Holtzman's proposed building at 3636 N. Lake Shore Drive.
A rendering of Jonathan Holtzman’s proposed building at 3636 N. Lake Shore Drive.
BKV Group

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Apartment developer aims to please — and disrupton May 24, 2021 at 10:30 am Read More »

Horoscope for Monday, May 24, 2021Georgia Nicolson May 24, 2021 at 5:01 am


Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Scorpio.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

No doubt, you’re already feeling Mercury retrograde affecting your sign even though it does not technically go retrograde until May 28. (Symbolically, it’s been slowing down since May 16.) Be proactive about your cars and trucks because transportation delays are classic. Get ahead of the game.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Checks in the mail will be late and financial matters will experience delays because of Mercury retrograde. This influence has started and will intensify in the next month. The good news is you can swiftly wrap up old details and old business during this time.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Many of you are in contact with ex-partners and friends from your past because Mercury retrograde will be taking place in your sign. Technically, this occurs from May 28 to June 22; but in reality, its influence is May 16 to July 8. (This longer span covers when it slows and has to catch up again.) Good luck!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Mercury retrograde is generally something like the hounds from hell for most of us. “What? Not that again?” However, this particular Mercury retrograde will actually benefit you because it will help you to do research and study the past. You can use this to your advantage! (Each Mercury retrograde is different because it’s in a different sign.)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

You are already probably hearing from old friends as well as members of groups to which you might have belonged before because of the influence of Mercury retrograde. You can use this influence in the next few weeks to rethink goals. You might even resurrect an old goal?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

This month, Mercury retrograde is taking place at the top of your chart. In fact, its influence has already begun, which means you might be hearing from parents, bosses and authority types you haven’t seen for a while. This could be an opportunity for you? A helpful reconnection?

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You are one of the signs that can actually benefit from the frustrating impact of Mercury retrograde because this particular Mercury retrograde will help you to study the past, especially history, and it will also help you finish important papers or manuscripts. Yes!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Although Mercury retrograde will create delays in business negotiations, especially with banks or about shared property, it can also smoothly expedite old business from the past — like insurance issues that might be dragging on. This could be helpful!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

If it has not happened already, you will soon hear from ex-partners and old friends from the past due to the influence of Mercury retrograde. Sometimes this is an unnerving experience. Nevertheless, it could be an opportunity for closure?

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You will feel the brunt of Mercury retrograde at work or in any task that you set for yourself. Expect delays, mixed-up communications, lost paperwork, missed appointments and shortages. Cope as best you can because what choice do you have?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Many of you will be thinking about, dreaming about, or in contact with old flames — now or later this month because of the influence of Mercury retrograde. Some of you will deal with old business related to kids and sports as well.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Stock the fridge because relatives might be camped on your doorstep. This is because Mercury retrograde will put you in touch with family members you haven’t seen for a while. However, Mercury retrograde will also help you to work on home repairs you’ve been avoiding.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Alfred Molina (1953) shares your birthday. You are witty, talkative and compassionate. You have a fine analytical mind and yet, you are also intuitive. Because of your imagination, you excel in the arts and music. As this year shifts, you will overcome obstacles and make strides toward the realization of your goals, especially those that involve learning or further study. Some of you will teach as well.

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Horoscope for Monday, May 24, 2021Georgia Nicolson May 24, 2021 at 5:01 am Read More »

‘Remember who you are’: Cubs’ hitters turning it on as David Ross’ message starts to hit homeRussell Dorseyon May 24, 2021 at 5:32 am

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Cubs have had success throughout their lineup in May and an adjustment in the team’s approach has helped generate more consistent offense.

ST. LOUIS — Coming off a down year for his offense, manager David Ross had a simple message for his lineup of MVPs, All-Stars and 2016 World Series champions during spring training:

“Remember who you are.”

That message has gotten through to his club, and after a slow start, the Cubs’ offense has become one of the best in baseball in the last month.

Javy Baez, one of the players who got off to a slow start, came through in the 10th inning with a two-run home run in the Cubs’ 2-1 victory Sunday against the Cardinals.

“It’s been good,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “We obviously got off to a terrible start as a unit, and everyone has started to settle in big-time now and kind of find their own groove and their ins and outs with the ebbs and flows of the season.”

A few members of the team’s core moved on in the offseason, but much of the team’s lineup has stayed the same.

One big reason behind the offensive resurgence has been the MVP-level play of Kris Bryant. Bryant has been healthy and is back to being one of the best players in the majors. He leads the Cubs in nearly every offensive category, slashing .312/.406/.604 with 10 home runs, and 28 RBI. Bryant ranks second in the National League in extra-base hits.

“Confidence is very important in our game and remembering how good of a baseball player you are,” Ross said. “I think KB has said it. . . . I can’t speak for players, but last year I felt there was such an anxiety to get going.

“I really feel like this season just continues to go and we’re in May and we’re like, ‘Wow, we still have a long way to go.’ This feels a little more normal to those guys, and they settled and stopped putting so much pressure on themselves to do this or that, and they understand, ‘I’ve got four or five at-bats every day.’ ”

The knock against the Cubs’ lineup the last several years has been its reliance on home runs. But what has made this run of success stand out has been the uptick in run production without the long ball. The Cubs are averaging 5.5 runs per game in May.

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch us hit,” Cubs president Jed Hoyer said. “I also think that one of the things that has been really fun to see is that we’ve been putting the ball in play more. That’s been a challenge for us historically, striking out and relying too much on homers to score. Homers are great, but you have to have more than one club in your bag as far as scoring runs.”

“We’re going to hit home runs as a unit, that’s for sure,” Rizzo said. “But when we’re not hitting ’em, [we’re] going to [have] do it in different ways and put the ball in play to get the next guy up there.”

Some of the Cubs’ offseason additions have been a major part of the change in offensive profile. Matt Duffy, Eric Sogard and Nico Hoerner have had strong starts, and their ability to contribute regularly with a contact approach has clearly had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the lineup.

After ranking near the bottom of most NL offensive statistics, the Cubs rank third in the league in hitting (.263) and OPS (.756) this month.

The Cubs have seen how an all-or-nothing approach can be a frustrating way to score runs, but the current version of the offense, with some of the various adjustments in approach, has a much higher chance of being sustainable over a season.

“They’re always picking each other’s brains,” hitting coach Anthony Iapoce said. ‘‘It’s kind of nice to hear from other guys who haven’t been Cubs [like Sogard and Duffy] on how they go about their routine or what they think about the opposing pitcher and [also having] experienced guys who aren’t afraid to speak up.

“It’s all contagious. Everybody’s feeling good and getting hits.’’

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‘Remember who you are’: Cubs’ hitters turning it on as David Ross’ message starts to hit homeRussell Dorseyon May 24, 2021 at 5:32 am Read More »

‘The Chi’ recap: Emmett is shook, Jake is booked on season four premiereEvan F. Mooreon May 24, 2021 at 2:00 am

Kevin (Alex Hibbert) and his mother, Nina, played by Tyla Abercrumbie. | Showtime

Before his marriage to Tiff (Hannaha Hall), Emmett (Jacob Latimore) had a brief “entanglement” with his business partner, and he’s worried about his bride finding out.

SPOILER ALERT: This recap contains explicit plot details.

The season four premiere of Showtime’s “The Chi” kicks off with what appears to be dream sequence foreshadowing what we may see during the season.

Dressed in a tuxedo, teenage Kevin (Alex Hibbert) frantically searches for an exit — an image fans should keep their eye on.

Kevin wakes up next to Jemma (Judae’a Brown) confirming the two are in the “sleepover” stage of their relationship, making the all-too-familiar mistake of waking up in his girlfriend’s bedroom.

Kevin’s plan to jump out of Jemma’s window, put on the rest of his clothes and knock on the front door acting like he just showed up seems to work — on the surface, at least — until we see Jemma’s father reviewing home security footage of Kevin.

Rumors

In the aftermath of the election of Mayor Otis “Douda” Perry, allegations surface regarding his role with the 63rd Street Mob. And viewers even get a slick nod to the series’ biggest question heading into season three: what happened to Brandon (played by Jason Mitchell, who was booted from the cast after misconduct allegations surfaced).

While watching a news report, customers at Smokie’s say Brandon might have been done in by Douda — or entered witness protection.

The next scene shows Jemma’s dad telling Kevin that he looks like a group of teens who’ve committed arson on several businesses across the city. The father encourages positive images of Black people in a practice widely known as “Respectability Politics,” or conforming to the dominant culture in order to keep Black people out of trouble.

‘Soul Food’ flashback

Emmett, played by Jacob Latimore, is shook.

Before his marriage to Tiff (Hannaha Hall), he had a brief “entanglement” with his business partner, Dom (La La Anthony), and he’s worried about Tiff finding out. Now Emmett’s dad, Darnell, played by Rolando Boyce, is dating Dom.

Dom, doing the smart thing, clears the air by informing Darnell about her previous relationship with Emmett.

Not only is the episode, named “Soul Food,” an ode to the 1997 film Darnell, Emmett, Tiff and Dom are watching together, it’s also harks back to the iconic line shouted by Vanessa Williams’ character in the film: “The family f- – -ed my husband,” an explosive revelation similar to what Emmett desperately aims to avoid.


Showtime
Emmett (Jacob Latimore, far right, with Rolando Boyce, La La Anthony and Hannaha Hall) deals with the fallout of keeping his infidelities secret.

Philanthropy and flirting?

Douda and his wife, Roselyn (Kandi Burruss), meet with Tracy (Tai Davis), who is making a name for herself as an activist advocating for mothers who’ve lost children to gun violence and missing Black women and girls.

While Douda seems to want to help Tracy’s organization, it appears there’s a mutual attraction between the two.

‘I would’ve walked away, too.’

While Jake and Kevin are on their way to a basketball game, they bump into a kid who chastises Kevin for his school uniform.

Two police officers see the altercation and one of them asks the boys for their identification. Jake ignores the officer by walking past him. The officer promptly slams Jake to the ground, beats him up, and arrests him. As Kevin watches Jake get beat up, he reaches for his bookbag to retrieve his ID when one of the officers aims his gun at him.

Meanwhile, one of the kids films the entire episode on a phone.

Douda and Trig, Jake’s brother (Luke James), discover Jake is handcuffed to his hospital bed like Jacob Blake, a Kenosha, Wisconsin, man who was paralyzed from the waist down due to a police shooting.

Later, Kevin visits Jake, who says: “Maybe if I had my uniform on, I would’ve walked away, too,” which goes back to what Jemma’s dad said about portraying a certain image in order to avoid trouble.

And Trig, who wants immediate revenge, appears to find — and beat up — the police officer who assaulted Jake.


Showtime
Kevin (played by Alex Hibbert) deals with the aftermath of a violent encounter with police officers.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’

After deciding against getting an abortion, Kiesha (Birgundi Baker) aims to give her unborn child up for adoption. But she has one stipulation for prospective parents: Her unborn child has to be raised in a two-parent household.

During an interview with a married couple, Kiesha realizes there’s internal strife between the two — a hunch confirmed when the wife later confides in her that a divorce is pending.

Storylines to think about:

  • Will Emmett crack under the pressure of his transgressions?
  • How will Jemma’s dad handle the fact that he’s all but confirmed that she’s sexually active with Kevin?
  • What’s true nature of Douda’s interest in Tracy? How does Roselyn factor in? How will he respond to Jake’s beating?

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‘The Chi’ recap: Emmett is shook, Jake is booked on season four premiereEvan F. Mooreon May 24, 2021 at 2:00 am Read More »

2 shot, 1 fatally, in drive-by in Homan Square: policeJermaine Nolenon May 24, 2021 at 2:33 am

A man died days after being shot May 7, 2021, in Bridgeport.
Two men were shot, one fatally, in a drive-by May 23, 2021, in the 3700 block of West Flournoy Street. | Sun-Times file

About 7:10 p.m., they were riding in a vehicle when someone fired shots at them from the street in the 3700 block of West Flournoy Street.

Two men were shot, one fatally, in a drive by Sunday in Homan Square on the West Side.

About 7:10 p.m., they were riding in a vehicle in the 3700 block of West Flournoy Street, when someone fired shots at them from the street in the Chicago police said.

A 25-year-old man was struck in the abdomen and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. A 31-year-old man was grazed by a bullet on his right shoulder and taken to the same hospital in good condition.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet identified the 25-year-old man.

Area Four detectives are investigating.

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2 shot, 1 fatally, in drive-by in Homan Square: policeJermaine Nolenon May 24, 2021 at 2:33 am Read More »

Billboard Music Awards: The Weeknd the top winner; Pink, Drake share joy with their kidsMesfin Fekadu | AP Music Writeron May 24, 2021 at 3:47 am

Pink performs with her 9-year-old daughter, Willow Sage Hart, at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. | Chris Pizzello/AP

Multiple awards go to Bad Bunny, BTS, Gabby Barrett and the late Pop Smoke.

NEW YORK — It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards: Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her daughter, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor alongside his 3-year-old son.

Drake, who extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show to 29 wins Sunday, was surrounded by family and friends who presented him with the award. He walked onstage outside the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with his son Adonis holding his hand.

“I wanna dedicate this award to my friends, to my longtime collaborators … to my beautiful family, and to you,” he said, looking to Adonis and picking him up to kiss him.

Drake placed his first song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009, and since has logged the most songs ever on the chart, with 232 entrees. He’s also logged a record 45 Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and a record 22 No. 1’s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart.

He was also named top streaming songs artist Sunday.

Pink received the Icon Award and was joined onstage by her 9-year-old daughter — showing off their powerful gymnastic skills as they spun in the air in a jaw-dropping performance. Known for her signature aerial and acrobatic moves, Pink was matched by Willow Sage Hart as “Cover Me In Sunshine” played in the background, Pink’s song featuring vocals from her daughter.

“Willow, you nailed it,” Pink said after the performance. “I love what I do and I love the people that I get to do it with, and we’re pretty good at what we do, but it wouldn’t matter if no one came to see us and play with us. So all you guys out there … thank you for coming out!”

Pink’s performance was one of several pre-taped moments at the awards show, which aired on NBC and was hosted by Nick Jonas. Live performances were held outdoors, in front of audience members wearing masks.

The Weeknd was on hand to accept the most wins of the night: 10. He walked into the show with 16 nominations, winning honors including top artist, top male artist, top Hot 100 song for “Blinding Lights” and top R&B album for “After Hours.”

“I wanna take this opportunity to thank you, my parents,” he said. “I am the man I am today because of you. And thank you to my fans, of course. I do not take this for granted.”

The late rapper Pop Smoke was also a big winner: He posthumously earned five honors, including top new artist and top rap artist, while his debut — “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” — won top rap album and top Billboard 200 album, which his mother accepted onstage.

“Thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he was still here in flesh,” Audrey Jackson said.

Another late rapper was also honored during the show. Before presenting top rap song to DaBaby, Swizz Beatz dedicated a moment to those who have recently died in hip-hop, including his close friend and collaborator DMX. And Houston rapper and activist Trae Tha Truth, who earned the Change Maker Award, ended his speech with a powerful sentence: “We still gon’ need justice for Breonna Taylor.”

Other winners Sunday included Bad Bunny and BTS, who both won four awards and also performed. Breakthrough country singer Gabby Barrett won three awards, including top female country artist and top country song for the hit “I Hope.” The song’s remix featuring Charlie Puth won top collaboration.

“Oh my gosh. Thank y’all so much. This means so much to me,” Barrett said as she broke into tears. “I’ve been performing for 10 years really hard. …We’ve worked so hard to get here.”

Another country star also won big Sunday, though he wasn’t allowed to participate in the show.

Morgan Wallen, who was caught on camera using a racial slur earlier this year, won three honors, including top country artist and top country album for “Dangerous: The Double Album,” which has had major success on the pop and country music charts despite his fallen moment.

Wallen was nominated for six awards, and Billboard Awards producer dick clark productions said it couldn’t prevent Wallen from earning nominations, or winning, because finalists are based on album and digital sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement. The producers did ban Wallen from performing or attending the show.

The Billboard Awards kicked off with a collaborative performance by DJ Khaled, H.E.R. and Migos, who brought the concert vibe back to life a year after live shows were in the dark because of the pandemic. Doja Cat and SZA — accompanied by futuristically dressed background dancers — sang their big hit “Kiss Me More” inside the venue, where the seats were empty. Alicia Keys, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut “songs in A minor,” sang songs from the album including the hit “Fallen.” The performance was introduced by former first lady Michelle Obama.

Other performers included Karol G, twenty one pilots, Duran Duran, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jonas Brothers and Glass Animals.

Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kanye West won honors at the show though they didn’t attend. Machine Gun Kelly, who started in rap but has had recent success on the rock charts, won top rock artist and top rock album.

“I released my first mixtape 15 years ago and this is the first big stage I’ve ever been invited to accept an award on,” he said, kissing his actor-girlfriend Megan Fox before walking to the stage.

“To the box that society keeps trying to put me, you need stronger material because you can’t keep me in it,” he proclaimed.

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Billboard Music Awards: The Weeknd the top winner; Pink, Drake share joy with their kidsMesfin Fekadu | AP Music Writeron May 24, 2021 at 3:47 am Read More »

Movies That I Loveon May 24, 2021 at 12:07 am

Spiritual and Physical Wellness

Movies That I Love

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Movies That I Loveon May 24, 2021 at 12:07 am Read More »

Phil Mickelson wins PGA Championship, becoming oldest player to win a majoron May 23, 2021 at 11:13 pm

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Phil Mickelson has delivered so many thrills and spills over 30 years of pure theater that no one ever knows what he will do next.

His latest act was a real stunner: A major champion at age 50.

Mickelson captured his sixth major and by far the most surprising Sunday at the PGA Championship. He made two early birdies with that magical wedge game and let a cast of contenders fall too far behind to catch him in the shifting wind of Kiawah Island.

He closed with a 1-over 73, building a five-shot lead on the back nine and not making any critical mistakes that kept him from his place in history.

Julius Boros for 53 years held the distinction of golf’s oldest major champion. He was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship in San Antonio.

Pure chaos broke out along the 18th hole after Mickelson hit 9-iron safely to just outside 15 feet that all but secured a most improbable victory. Thousands of fans engulfed him down the fairway — a scene typically seen only at the British Open — until Mickelson emerged into view with a thumbs-up.

Chants of “Lefty! Lefty! Lefty!” chased him onto the green and into the scoring tent, his final duty of a week he won’t soon forget.

Three months after 43-year-old Tom Brady won a seventh Super Bowl, Mickelson added to this year of ageless wonders. Mickelson became the first player in PGA Tour history to win tournaments 30 years apart. The first of his 45 titles was in 1991 when he was still a junior at Arizona State.

Mickelson became the 10th player to win majors in three decades, an elite list that starts with Harry Vardon and was most recently achieved by Tiger Woods.

“He’s been on tour as long as I’ve been alive,” Jon Rahm said. “For him to keep that willingness to play and compete and practice, it’s truly admirable.”

Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen had their chances, but only briefly. Koepka was 4 over on the par 5s when the game was still on and closed with a 74. Oosthuizen hit into the water as he was trying to make a final run and shot 73.

Mickelson finished at 6-under 282

The victory came one week after Mickelson accepted a special exemption into the U.S. Open because at No. 115 in the world and winless the last two years, he no longer was exempt from qualifying. He had not finished in the top 20 in his last 17 tournaments over nearly nine months. He worried that he was no longer able to keep his focus over 18 holes.

And then he beat the strongest field of the year — 99 of the top 100 players — and made it look easy.

The PGA Championship had the largest and loudest crowd since the return from the COVID-19 pandemic — the PGA of America said it limited tickets to 10,000, and it seemed like twice that many — and it clear what they wanted to see.

The opening hour made it seem as though the final day could belong to anyone. The wind finished its switch to the opposite direction from the opening rounds, and while there was low scoring early, Mickelson and Koepka traded brilliance and blunder.

Koepka flew the green with a wedge on the par-5 second hole, could only chip it about 6 feet to get out of an impossible lie and made double bogey, a three-shot swing when Mickelson hit a deft pitch from thick grass behind the green.

Mickelson holed a sand shot from short of the green on the par-5 third, only for Koepka to tie for the lead with a two-shot swing on the sixth hole when he made birdie and Lefty missed the green well to the right.

Kevin Streelman briefly had a share of the lead. Louis Oosthuizen was lurking, even though it took him seven holes to make a birdie.

And then the potential for any drama was sucked out to sea.

Oosthuizen, coming off a birdie to get within three, had to lay up out of the thick grass on the 13th and then sent his third shot right of the flag and into the water, making triple bogey.

Just like that, Mickelson was up by five and headed toward the inward holes, the wind at his back on the way home with what seemed like the entire state of South Carolina at his side.

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Phil Mickelson wins PGA Championship, becoming oldest player to win a majoron May 23, 2021 at 11:13 pm Read More »

Multi-inning relief role getting Cubs’ young relievers some early experienceon May 23, 2021 at 11:26 pm

ST. LOUIS – The Cubs have started to find something in their bullpen over the last month, and after the success of the veteran relievers like Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Chafin, and Ryan Tepera, it’s been the young arms that have come up and made the biggest impact.

Left-hander Justin Steele and right-handers Keegan Thompson and Tommy Nance have come up and not only had success, but have been thrown right into the fire. Manager David Ross hasn’t been afraid to pull the trigger and put one of his rookie relievers in a high-leverage situation.

Thompson is 2-1 with a 0.00 ERA in seven games (one start) this season. Before going on the IL, Steele was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA before going on the IL earlier this week, and Nance has thrown 2 2/3 scoreless innings since being called up on May 16.

“I’ve seen a lot of baseball,” manager David Ross said. “I’ve caught a lot of pitchers, a lot of good pitchers, and there’s a lot of traits that the young guys have, whether it’s stuff, swing and miss, strike-throwing, poise handling the moment. This is the big leagues, and you have to perform when your number gets called, these guys have done that.”

Both Thompson and Steele have been starters throughout their time in the minors and because of that, Ross has been able to lean on them for multiple innings out of the bullpen. The flexibility is an added luxury with the league’s three-batter minimum rule.

“It’s more a product right now of us understanding the landscape of where pitching is right now,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. “Having the shortened season last year and trying to figure out ways to control workload, you’re seeing more of these two- and three-inning relievers. And usually, what makes really good two- and three-inning relievers are my minor-league starters.

“I think it’s a great way to get guys a chance to get one time through the order to get their feet wet. It’s kind of like, you’re gonna come in, you’re gonna face a lineup one time and take us through, get two or three innings and then kind of see where you’re at.”

Duffy dealing with lower back tightness

Infielder Matt Duffy has been a big part of the Cubs bouncing back on offense over the last month, but he was out of the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals with lower back tightness. Duffy was removed during the seventh inning of Saturday’s game. He’s hitting .278/.377/.356 with a homer and 12 RBIs this season.

“Wanted to get him out of there and not push it,” Ross said. “It’s something he’s just kind of been dealing with a little bit.”

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