AUGUSTA, Ga. — The applause started when Lee Elder’s golf cart began moving toward the first tee. It only got louder when he arrived and slowly made his way to his seat.

And moments later, Masters Chairman Fred Ridley said words 46 years in the making.

“Lee, it is my privilege to say, you have the honors,” Ridley said.

That prompted the first roar of the 2021 Masters Tournament.

Elder — the first Black man to play the Masters — rose from his chair, hoisted his driver skyward for a moment, then nodded, smiled and waved in appreciation of the hundreds of people who crowded around the first tee to see history happen. He joined Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as an honorary starter for the Masters on Thursday morning, the first time he had been part of the ceremony.

“For me and my family, I think it was one of the most emotional experiences that I have ever witnessed or been involved in,” Elder said.

Player and Nicklaus each took a swing, as is tradition, knocking drives onto the first fairway. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Player’s first Masters win, the first by an international player, and the 35th anniversary of Nicklaus’ sixth and final victory.

Elder did not tee off, though just as was the case in 1975, his presence simply was the much bigger story. He became the 10th past player to be part of the honorary starter ceremony, and fittingly, the first Black man to join that list.

“I think that having Lee there was the right thing to do, a nice thing to do,” Nicklaus said.

Augusta National — mindful of the ongoing national conversation about racial injustice — announced last year that it would honor Elder with two scholarships in his name at Paine College, a historically Black institution. The scholarships will go to one men’s player and one women’s player. Augusta National’s move led to the creation of a women’s golf team at the school, with the club footing the bill for those startup costs.

Player has long been familiar with Elder’s story and, at times, his struggles. He invited Elder to play in South Africa, Player’s homeland, in 1969.

“It’s quite sad to think that in those days, with the segregation policy that South Africa had, that I had to go to my President and get permission for Lee Elder to come and play in our PGA,” Player said. “Quite sad.”

They made it happen, and Elder’s story kept evolving from there. He became the first Black man to play for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup in 1979, and doors slowly — very slowly — kept opening within the game. Augusta National made Ron Townsend its first Black member in 1990, seven years before a skinny kid named Tiger Woods won the first of his five Masters titles.

Elder — who grew up in Dallas and got into the game as a caddie, not a player, since that essentially was the only avenue Black people had into the game at that time — blazed the trail. He was back at Augusta National for Woods’ first win in 1997. The first Black man to play the Masters was simply not going to miss seeing the first Black man winning the tournament.

“It always amazed me that presidents of the United States would be giving these different awards to athletes for their athletic prowess, and here was a man that changed the lives and changed and put a spoke in the wheel of segregation in South Africa and was never given the awards that he actually duly deserved,” Player said.

The Masters sought to fix one of those award omissions this year, bringing Elder back for the honorary start. Past Masters champions Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson, both in their green jackets, made sure that they were there for the ceremony, standing on the back of the tee box. So was Cameron Champ, one of four players of Black heritage on the PGA Tour.

“It’s a great honor, and I cherish it very much, and I will always cherish it,” Elder said.

Added Nicklaus: “It was long overdue.”

Elder knew Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier. He was close with Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats throughout his career, particularly as he approached what was Babe Ruth’s home run record. Aaron broke that record April 8, 1974; 12 days later, Elder won what was then called the Monsanto Open to qualify for the following year’s Masters.

Elder sat in Aaron’s office with the Home Run King a few months ago, shortly before Aaron’s death, sharing memories.

“We talked about several things … our sports, our particular sport, and the involvement that we felt that we could help other young Blacks that was coming up behind us,” Elder said. “And I certainly hope that the things that I have done have inspired a lot of young Black players and they will continue on with it.”

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The WNBA unveiled new uniforms for the upcoming 25th season, and fans on social media immediately began discussing how they would style the eye grabbing jerseys.

The WNBA’s three uniform editions, Heroine Edition, Explorer Edition and Rebel Edition, for each of the 12 teams in the league feature numbers on the front of the jersey, smaller ads and fresh new designs, of course.

The league released a video of Sky guard Diamond DeShields unveiling Chicago’s new threads.

“These are going to look crazy on the court,” DeShields said.

Each edition of the jersey has its own unique story behind the design and style. The Sky’s Rebel Edition, which plays into the team’s signature sky blue color, signifies women of Chicago breaking through glass ceilings and pushing beyond boundaries. It’s meant to send a message to Chicagoans, specifically women, that nothing can stop a team of women from this city.

Nike has partnered with the WNBA on uniforms since 2018, but there was a need for more to be done, the company said in a statement.

“The basketball uniform is an important representation of the brand of WNBA players and teams and a point of pride for fans,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “In partnership with Nike, unveiling new and exciting adaptations of the WNBA uniforms is a dynamic way to build on the foundation of the league’s first 25 years.”

Each game jersey is numbered 1/144 to honor the 144 athletes in the league. There were also changes made to the shorts, providing more room in the thighs and glutes. The game jerseys were also adjusted slightly to add more room across the chest and three necklines: a round-neck, a V-neck and the wishbone neckline exclusive to the WNBA.

Magellan and the University of Chicago Medicine are still the Sky’s jersey sponsors. Their logos can be seen on the jersey’s top right shoulder and beneath the player’s number.

On April 14, all fans can purchase all 12 teams’ Rebel Edition and Explorer Edition jerseys on Nike.com and at select team stores, Fanatics and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

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Located in the heart of West Loop, Grapes and Grains takes you back to old school Chicago with exposed brick, vintage chandeliers, chesterfield couches, and intimate lighting. This local gem was built by hand and features a custom-built wine wall cabinet and bar. It’s home to a vintage baby grand piano located in the center of the room and guests can expect live music on select evenings and themed events throughout the weekdays. And if you’re looking to showcase your singing talents, join Grapes and Grains TODAY for an Open Mic Night, or if you’re just looking for another great date night idea in Chicago

858 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

On Thursday, April 8th, Grapes and Grains is encouraging all local singers to showcase their talents with an open mic night. To continue the joy of performing live again, singers are encouraged to invite their friends and family. Diners can also indulge in bites such as Beef Carpaccio, Charcuterie and Cheese Boards, Saganaki, and more. Grapes and Grains also offers a variety of house crafted cocktails including the “PS I Love You” which includes brown butter cognac, pumpkin spice syrup, citrus, topped with egg white. 

The Open Mic night will take place Thursday, April 8 from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm. IF YOU ARE A SINGER and if you share your music selections in advance, Grapes and Grains will provide a piano player. All inquiries will require a short audition video. After being approved, singers can book a 30-minute time-slot and have their time to shine. Additionally, Grapes and Grains is happy to offer reserved seating for up to 6 members of the performers’ friends and family.

To apply, send an introduction email and short audition video to [email protected] for the team to review.  

Featured Image Credit: G&G Facebook

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Jaquan Scullark is due in bond court Thursday.

A 29-year-old man has been charged in connection with a shooting March 22 in Altgeld Gardens on the Far South Side.

Police charged Jaquan Scullark, of Roseland, was charged with a felony count of attempted first-degree murder and a felony count of aggravated battery with a firearm, Chicago police said.

Scullark was arrested about 2:55 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of East 87th Street, after he was identified as the person who allegedly fired shots injuring a 32-year-old woman March 22, in the 13100 block of South Corliss Avenue, police said.

He is due in bond court Thursday.

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Jushawn Brown, of Englewood, is due in bond court Thursday.

A Englewood man faces a felony gun charge in connection with a road rage shooting on Lake Shore Drive Tuesday that left a toddler critically wounded, according to Chicago police.

Jushawn Brown, 43, was in the car with the 1-year-old and pulled out a gun, firing shots at another vehicle, police said. He was arrested in the 200 block of East Huron Street, where Northwestern Memorial Hospital is located.

Police have not announced an arrest of the person who shot the toddler.

The shooting apparently followed a dispute over one car not letting another car into a lane of traffic about 11 a.m. Tuesday on northbound Lake Shore Drive just south of Soldier Field, police have said.

Both cars continued north and shooting began on Lake Shore Drive just west of the Shedd Aquarium. Bullet casings were recovered over a two-block stretch as the cars proceeded north, police said.

Kayden Swann, a 21-month-old boy who was in Brown’s vehicle as shots were fired, was struck in the temple and suffered a severe brain injury, said Dr. Marcelo Malakooti, medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Lurie Children’s Hospital. The boy was placed in a medically induced coma to protect his brain and is on a ventilator.

Brown is due in bond court Thursday on a felony count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

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The Chicago White Sox just won a road series this season against the Seattle Mariners, 2-1. They won the first two games on Monday and Tuesday by a margin of six runs in each game. On Wednesday afternoon, they lost their first and only game of the series by a final score of 8-4. The […]

Chicago White Sox: What can they learn from the Mariners series? – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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The Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan changed the starting lineup to bench Coby White and Lauri Markkanen after the all-star break. Both of these former starters are vital pieces to the Bulls’ chances of making the playoffs this season because of their ability to score. Lauri Markkanen and Coby White are big keys to the Chicago […]

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Time is running out for the Chicago Bears to ensure their quarterback room is as good as it can possibly be. While other teams are making trades to better themselves at the most important position in football this offseason, the Bears have continued to do what they’ve done best: chug along on the path of […]

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Jushawn Brown, of Englewood, is due in bond court Thursday.

A 43-year-old man is facing a felony gun charge in connection with a road rage shooting on Lake Shore Drive Tuesday that left a toddler critically wounded, according to Chicago police.

Jushawn Brown, of Englewood, has been charged with a felony count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, police said.

A dispute over one car not letting another car into a lane of traffic about 11 a.m. Tuesday on northbound Lake Shore Drive just south of Soldier Field apparently led to the shooting, Chicago Police Cmdr. Jake Alderden said at a news conference Tuesday.

Both cars continued north and shooting began on Lake Shore Drive just west of the Shedd Aquarium. Bullet casings were recovered over a two-block stretch as the cars proceeded north, Alderden said.

Kayden Swann, a 21-month-old boy who was in Brown’s vehicle as shots were fired, was struck in the temple and suffered a severe brain injury, said Dr. Marcelo Malakooti, medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Lurie Children’s Hospital. The boy has been placed in a medically induced coma to protect his brain and is on a ventilator.

Brown was identified by police as the person who allegedly pulled out a gun and fired shots at another vehicle during the road-rage incident, police said. He was taken into custody in the 200 block of East Huron Street.

Brown is due in bond court Thursday.

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Bowman is considering three types of trades: recouping assets for an upcoming free agent, receiving assets for taking on another team’s bad contract or acquiring a young player with contract term and long-term value.

With mere days left until the NHL trade deadline on Monday at 2 p.m. CT, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has been talking “regularly” with other GMs around the league about trade possibilities.

“I’ve touched base with nearly everybody, just getting an idea of what they’re trying to do and understanding what their needs might be,” Bowman said earlier this week.

He’s considering three types of trades.

But there’s one type he’s explicitly not considering: bringing in a pending unrestricted free agent as a rental. Although the Hawks are in the playoff race, their focus remains squarely on the future, and they’re not going to swap any future-oriented assets for present-oriented assets.

“We will not be in the market to trade away draft picks or young players to acquire a veteran UFA,” he said bluntly.

Last week’s trade for Vinnie Hinostroza, who will be a UFA, was an exception because the Hawks only had to give up a player (minor-leaguer Brad Morrison) who “really wasn’t in the plans for us in Chicago,” Bowman said.

But Bowman will consider playing the opposite role, dealing away one of the Hawks’ own UFAs — of which they really have just two, forwards Mattias Janmark and Carl Soderberg — in exchange for a pick or prospect. That’s the simplest type of trade he’s open to.

“Right now, they’re part of our team and…there’s a scenario where they would remain with us,” he said. “[But] when we’re in a position like we are and they’re not signed beyond this season, sometimes in those cases teams are actively pursuing those guys. There’s been no definitive decisions made on them.”

Janmark’s analytics are poor but his counting stats are decent, having scored 19 points in 40 games. He’s only 28 years old, so a GM could look to acquire him as a rental then re-sign him this summer. He could be worth a second- or third-round pick or B-grade prospect.

Soderberg (14 points in 33 games) is less appealing as a 35-year-old who has been scratched twice lately, but center depth is valuable enough that he could fetch a late-round pick.

The second type of trade Bowman is considering would entail taking on another team’s overpriced contract and receiving supplementary assets for doing so.

With the Hawks possessing more than $22 million in cap space this year (per CapFriendly) due to their many players on long-term injured reserve — and on track for lots of cap space again next season — at a time when so many other teams find themselves pressed up against the cap, this kind of move makes perfect sense.

“People are throwing out concepts, but at this point nobody is that interested in paying a price that I think would be necessary,” Bowman said. “We do have the ability to take on a player, but it’s got to be [with] something that we deem worthwhile, whether it’s a draft pick or young player.”

A trade like this will only happen once a contender tight on cap space decides to acquire a player and needs to free up more space to fit them in. Bowman described it as a “chicken and egg” situation.

So the dominoes around the league need to start falling to initiate the process. The Islanders finally jumpstarted that Wednesday, acquiring Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the Devils, but Anders Lee’s recent LTIR designation and the Devils retaining 50% of Palmieri and Zajac’s cap hits allowed the Isles to fit them in without having to jettison an albatross contract like Andrew Ladd or Leo Komarov.

Ideally for the Hawks, another team looking to make a splash before Monday afternoon will actually need to discard someone. Conceivable possibilities include the Oilers and James Neal, the Hurricanes and Jake Gardiner or the Capitals and Richard Panik.

“For them, it’s like a two-step process,” Bowman said. “‘I’m going to unload this player and pay a price to do it, and then I’m going to pay a price to get this other player. Do I want to do all that? And in what order?’ Those conversations are in the early stages but I have had them with some teams.”

The third type of trade under consideration — and the type that would be most exciting for Hawks fans — would bring in a young player with contract term who fits into the Hawks’ long-term plans.

Bowman realizes the Hawks, despite their youth and potential, remain far from returning to the top of the mountain. Outside help could accelerate that climb.

“Our team is not where we want it to be, meaning we’re not a finished product here and we need [help in] areas up and down the roster,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we’re targeting one position, but there’s areas at forward and defense where we need to improve.”

Conversations with various teams about all three types of trades have been steadily ongoing for 10-14 days now, Bowman said, but are expected to strongly increase in intensity and urgency over the weekend.

Many have speculated that this season’s flat salary cap, COVID-19 quarantine rules, all-divisional playoff format and reduced revenues could create a quieter-than-usual trade deadline around the league, but Bowman said his conversation frequency has been “pretty consistent with past years.”

The coming days will determine if those conversations lead to actual trades for the Hawks.

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