Read More

The Chicago Blackhawks had a decent season based on the expectations that are put on them. They were not one of the worst teams in the league. Even after their 0-3-1 start, you can’t say that the entire first month of the season was anything less than a success. In fact, they looked like a […]

Chicago Blackhawks: Thinking 2021-22 is a compete year is a mistake – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

Read More

Read More

Ten years ago, Heccra collided emo, metalcore, and electronics—and today his music is finding a legacy.

The emerging fifth-wave emo scene has given me a great excuse to stay glued to social media.…Read More

Like doesn’t necessarily breed like—just ask all the friends for whom I’ve tried (and failed) to play cupid. But similarity is bliss for underground labels Deathbomb Arc and Hausu Mountain, which collaborated to release the compilation Arc Mountain on May 7.…Read More

COVID relief grants are taking their time arriving, but the compilation Situation Chicago 2 benefits CIVL’s SAVE Emergency Relief Fund right now.

Next to its emerald-green door, the Hideout has hung a somber sign that reads, “Sorry . . .…Read More

Chicago Bears: Top 5 quotes from Justin Fields’ rookie minicamp by Ryan Heckman

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Chicago Cubs avoided a disappointing series in the Motor City, taking two-of-three from the Tigers. The Cubs, 19-20, received brilliant efforts from Jake Arrieta, Kris Bryant, and Craig Kimbrel in Friday’s game.

Saturday was a back-and-forth-affair, one that saw the Tigers win in extra innings. And Sunday, the Cubs cruised to a 5-1 victory. Here were three players whose efforts stood out from the rest.

1. Keegan Thompson

How about the job Keegan Thompson did on Saturday? The 26-year-old came into a high-pressure situation, taking the eighth and ninth innings, and proceeded to strike out five of the seven batters he faced. Thompson struck out the side in the eighth inning and the first batter in the ninth before allowing a single to Akil Baddoo. The next batter flew out to centerfield before Thompson proceeded to strike out Nike Goodrum on a beautiful cutter that the Tigers utility man swung over the top.

“I don’t know if anybody can see while I’m out there, but I take three or four deep breaths between each pitch if I need to,” Thompson said on what helps him stay calm. “I feel like I try to have poise on the mound. Whether it’s a bad situation or a good situation, I try to keep the same emotion and stay level-headed. Definitely, the deep breaths help me get there.”

2. Ian Happ

Happ had a rough return from the injured list on Saturday, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. He redeemed himself on Sunday, going 3-for-4, and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle. The former ninth overall pick is hitting a measly .183 on the season, including Sunday’s efforts, but hopefully, he’s close to finding some consistency.

355-foot oppo-? from @ihapp_1! pic.twitter.com/8zI6O0BlFJ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 16, 2021

Obviously, missing a couple of weeks after colliding with Nico Hoerner didn’t help that cause, but Sunday was certainly a step in the right direction. Another positive, both of Happ’s RBI’s came in two-out situations.

3. Kyle Hendricks

“The Professor” has gotten off to a difficult start this season, but he’s shown signs of turning the corner in the season month of the season. For reference, Hendricks posted a 7.54 ERA in April. Including Sunday’s start, he has a 2.70 ERA, aided by an eight-plus inning effort on Sunday. It was a day of eights for Hendricks, 8.0 IP, 8 H, 8 K’s, and Sunday was his eighth start of the season.

“I’m still trying to do just a little too much from the start,” Hendricks said, following the Cubs’ 5-1 on Sunday. “Just gotta trust it now, especially since the last few days I really felt more like myself. Finally feeling it out front, seeing the ball better. I just need to try and not do too much, just make my pitches and get through it.”

Next: The Adbert Alzolay breakout is finally happening

The Chicago Cubs return home to host Jon Lester, Kyle Schwarber, and the Washington Nationals in a four-game series this week.

Read More

The shooting happened in the 6300 block of South Campbell Avenue, Chicago police said.

A 24-year-old man was fatally shot early Sunday morning in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side.

The man was outside with a group of people about 12:40 a.m. in the 6300 block of South Campbell Avenue when someone, possibly inside of a silver sedan, fired shots at him, Chicago police said.

He was struck in the upper chest and transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he later died, police said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet identified the man.

There was no description of the shooter and no one in custody, according to police.

Area One detectives are investigating.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

Read More

Moon Alert

Avoid shopping or major decisions from 1 to 8 a.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Cancer into Leo.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

There are two areas to focus on today: The first is to explore new sources of income. Look for opportunities to find out where and how can you earn money. Your second consideration is this: Can you see a new use for something you already own?

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today is the perfect day to ask yourself what parts of your life need to be transformed. How can you make changes for the better — especially with your appearance? The impression you create on others? Your style? Hmmm?

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

It’s Monday and it’s also the perfect day for some self-inquiry. Take a moment to look inside yourself to find out what makes you tick? What’s important to you? If you had to name four things you really should focus on in your life, what are they?

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

In discussions with friends or groups, you will express yourself forcefully and create a strong impression. (Believe me when I say that you will be memorable!) In part, this is because you want to get things done and you’re ready for it.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

It’s Monday and you want to know where you are headed. In fact, this is the perfect day to look within yourself to find out what motivates you? What are you seeking in life, and what changes should you make to go in the direction you want to go? Ideas?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

“Inquiring minds want to know.” Today you want to explore big ideas, and, in particular, the subtext of big ideas. What are the questions behind the big questions? This is great day to study. It’s also a good day to explore different belief systems and religions.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You will be productive because the Sun is in one of your Money Houses dancing with Pluto, which means you want to get to the bottom of something, especially about inheritances, insurance matters or shared property. “What’s really going on?”

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today you might attract someone powerful to you. (“Hi Darth.”) This is why your exchanges with others will be memorable. However, in turn, you also will be forceful, so there will either be a standoff, or a mutually agreed upon cooperation.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Lady Luck is smiling on you because this is the perfect way to begin your week! You want to be productive in whatever you do, even to the point of tearing something right back to the basics so that you can build it up again in a better fashion. Yes, this applies to your health as well.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

If you work on creative projects, you might see how to put a new spin on something because you want to get down to the nitty-gritty, and then pull back and see the big picture. This is also a great day to practice and hone a technique in sports or the arts. It’s a good day to teach kids.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is the day to make improvements where you live that might involve plumbing, recycling, garbage areas or bathrooms. You might want to redesign how things are done because you see a better, more efficient way to get the results you want.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Conversations with others will be forceful and direct today because you are so convincing! Likewise, you might also attract persuasive people to you. This is why all your exchanges with others today be like PowerPoint on steroids.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Bill Paxton (1955-2017) shares your birthday. You are a caring person who is charming and thoughtful. You are helpful to others but you’re also independent. You have focus, self-discipline and strong opinions. At this stage in your life, you see that you have to let go of things that are no longer useful or meaningful. Look around you. Time to downsize!

Read More

Saturday and Sunday were uncharted waters for Bulls coach Billy Donovan.

Since leaving Florida for the NBA and the Thunder in 2015, he didn’t know what it was like not to be in the coaching chair for postseason basketball.

The Bulls now have given him a crash course.

”It’s definitely the first time I’ve gone through it,” Donovan said before the Bulls’ 118-112 victory Sunday against the Bucks in their season finale at the United Center. ”I’ve been in some situations in college where you probably knew you were not going to make the NCAA Tournament, and it came down to your conference tournament. A lot of times in those situations, it was having to win four games in four days, which was really challenging. But, listen, it’s hard. I’m happy we didn’t have to play 15 games like this. Two is enough for me. It comes with the territory. I think we still have a job to do.”

And a big one at that.

While it’s Donovan’s first time missing the playoffs as an NBA coach, it has become commonplace around the United Center. The Bulls have missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, testing the patience of a fan base that has been as loyal as they come.

And while executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley brought sweeping changes to the coaching offices and developmental staff, the results are the results.

Even with their victory against the Bucks — a game in which both teams sat much of their major personnel — the Bulls’ 31-41 finish was underwhelming, especially in the wake of a trade-deadline deal in March that brought over a second All-Star in center Nikola Vucevic, who was supposed to be the perfect partner for guard Zach LaVine.

But there were growing pains because of a lack of practice time and a positive coronavirus test for LaVine. And after 11 games without him, the Bulls were in too deep a hole to claw out of in pursuit of a play-in spot in the East.

”There’s clearly a lot of things that we have to do better,” Donovan said. ”I look at it more from that perspective. Is that to say that we didn’t do anything well? No, I wouldn’t agree with that. But we certainly didn’t do enough well.”

That’s especially true defensively. While the numbers improved from the start of the season, the Bulls still fouled too much and lacked physicality too often. There were just far too many nights in which opponents were allowed to get shots wherever they wanted on the floor.

That has to change, in Donovan’s mind. And it likely will because the roster is going to change.

Center Cristiano Felicio comes off the books, and key rotation players such as guard Garrett Temple and forward Daniel Theis will be free agents. Then there’s forward Lauri Markkanen, who will be a restricted free agent. The Bulls can match any offer he gets, but they also might go the sign-and-trade route.

Whomever Donovan has to coach after the Bulls get through the draft and free agency, he wants to make sure the group can establish an identity more easily than this group did. He liked the chemistry on the roster, but now it needs some more toughness.

”Defense is something that . . . you’ve got to be able to do it a lot more than we were able to do it this year to develop that kind of chemistry and habits, fundamentals,” Donovan said. ”That was something that was lacking. I do think guys made some strides there.”

Read More