Baseball season is back! There’s nothing better than stadium seating but if you’re looking for something outside the stadium, consider catching the game at one of these top Wrigley Bars on game day.. Get the full Cubs experience without the aggressive crowds or hassle with one of these 10 game day hot spots. 

1. Murphy’s Bleachers

For almost 80 years, Murphy’s has been a neighborhood fixture. However, it became the legend it is today when Chicago Police Detective, Jim Murphy, took over. Mr. Murphy understood the magic of historic Wrigley Field and the allure of icy beer on gameday. And now it’s one of America’s premiere sports bars. 

2. The Dugout

Looking for the best view of the skyline and Wrigleyville? Then head over to this down-to-earth location. The Dugout opens 4 hours before the action begins so you can relax while waiting for the game to start. Plus, they’re the only rooftop in Wrigley that lets you stay after the game and serves hard drinks. Um, yes please!

3. Rizzo’s Bar & Inn

Directly across from Wrigley Field, one of Wrigley’s more recent additions is Rizzo’s Bar & Inn. Boasting three different bars, a hybrid indoor/outdoor entertainment area, and a ridiculously good menu of food and drink Rizzo’s is the perfect game day drinking spot. And before you ask, no, they are not linked to the Anthony Rizzo. 

4. Sluggers

Since 1985, Sluggers World Class Sports Bar and Grill has been the go-to spot for Chicago locals. With over 30 giant HDTV’s, you’ll never miss a winning moment! And if you’re hoping to dial up the fun, Sluggers has a full indoor sports complex with batting cages, skee-ball, arcade games, and more. When it comes to Wrigley Bars on game day, we’re here for it.

5. Output Lounge

Sports fans, cheer on the Cubs at this friendly neighborhood joint! Come witness ALL the action on one of their 16 TV’s, broadcasting every Chicago team. While you’re at it, dig into the Output’s famous wings, grab some other delicious eats, and knock back a drink (or several) from their full service bar. 

6. Lucky Dorr

Named after an popular Wrigley groundskeeper, Lucky Dorr serves up an impressive collection of one-off collab brews from local breweries including Begyle, Noon Whistle, Moody Tongue, Maplewood, Lo Rez, Lake Effect, Cruz Blanca, 18th Street, Haymarket, Old Irving Brewing, Illuminated Brew Works, Blue Nose, Alarmist, Crystal Lake Brewing, and Right Bee Cider. Yum.

7. Cubby Bear

Here it is folks, ~thee~ destination for Wrigleyville’s best live music and sports entertainment! The Cubby Bear has celebrated some of the most iconic Cubs victories and incredible shows. The venue was even recognized by the Chicago Music Awards as the Best Rock Club and Maxim magazine named them the number one Neighborhood Bar in Chicago. 

8. Casey Moran’s

Skip the peanuts and Cracker Jacks and hang out at this Wrigleyville staple instead. Here’s why: Casey Moran’s boasts a beer garden with a retractable roof, 6 fully-stocked bars, a VIP lounge and Ivy Lounge Rooftop. Plus, with 30 big screen HDTVs, there’s not a bad seat in the house.

9. Nisei Lounge

Root, root, root for the home team at Wrigleyville’s oldest bar! After 60+ years, Nisei Lounge has largely remained unchanged since Nixon was President and the Cubs only had one World Series ring. Enjoy a strong cocktail, cold brewski, or shot of Malort while you view the game on one of their six flatscreen televisions. 

10. Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern

The best seats aren’t behind home plate. They’re at this popular bar! Named after legendary Chicago Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern offers refined dining and new twists on tavern-style eats. You’ll love their two outdoor terraces, four large bars, and unbeatable views of the Chicago skyline and Wrigley Field. 

Featured Image Credit: Murphy’s Bleachers on Facebook

The post 10 Best Wrigley Bars on Game Day, Ranked appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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William “Billy” Evans, 41, was killed Friday when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the Capitol. The driver, Noah Green, 25, came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police, officials said.

WASHINGTON — The 18-year U.S. Capitol Police veteran killed in the line of duty is being remembered as a man with a sense of humor who loved baseball and golf and was most proud of one particular title: Dad.

William “Billy” Evans, 41, was killed Friday when a vehicle rammed into Evans and another officer at a barricade just 100 yards from the Capitol. The driver, Noah Green, 25, came out of the car with a knife and was shot to death by police, officials said. Investigators believe Green had been delusional and increasingly having suicidal thoughts. Capitol Police released few personal details about Evans, saying his family had requested privacy.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that Evans will lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda on April 13, a tribute reserved for the nation’s most eminent private citizens.

Evans, a father of two, grew up in North Adams, Massachusetts, a close-knit town of about 13,000 in the northwest part of the state.

Jason LaForest knew Evans for more than 30 years. He was a close friend of Evans’ older sister, Julie, and recalled Evans as a prankster who made sure the subjects of his jokes laughed as well.

“As a young kid, Billy, of course, was the annoying little brother of one of my best friends, a title which he held on to for most of his life,” said LaForest, a North Adams city councilman. “But it was a joy to watch him grow up and become a talented athlete and a dedicated police officer, and, of course, the role in life that he loved the most, which was a dad.”

Sports, particularly baseball, was another important part of Evans’ life.

“He came from a long line of family members that loved baseball and especially the Boston Red Sox,” LaForest said. “He excelled in baseball and enjoyed playing baseball most of his life. It’s a passion that he instilled in his children.”

Evans’ father, Howard, died about seven years ago. His mother, Janice, still lives in Massachusetts.

He attended Western New England University, graduating in 2002 as a criminal justice major. He joined the Capitol Police the next year.

Robert E. Johnson, the university’s president, said in a statement that Evans was a member of the school’s baseball and bowling teams and the campus activities board. He said that Evans’ friends at the university described him as “extremely welcoming and friendly, humble, and always willing to help others.”

John Claffey, a professor of criminal justice, said that when news of Evans’ death first aired, he had the sense that he knew that smile. “I immediately said that’s a face I recognize,” Claffey said.

He recalled Evans as a student who knew what he wanted to do — a “very focused kid.”

Over the weekend, Claffey received four calls from former students who just wanted to talk to him about Evans.

“This has shaken a lot of people’s worlds,” he said. “A lot of people from Western New England, who haven’t been here in 18 years, it’s still having an impact on them.”

The death of Evans came nearly three months after the Jan. 6 rioting at the Capitol that left five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. He died a day after the insurrection.

Lawmakers issued a wave of statements offering their condolences and gratitude to Evans after the attack. Capitol Hill aides and members of the press corps that cover Capitol Hill also weighed in, recalling him as friendly and professional.

In a joint statement released Tuesday, Schumer and Pelosi said they hoped next week’s tribute in the Capitol Rotunda would provide comfort to Evans’ family and express the nation’s gratitude to members of the U.S. Capitol Police.

“In giving his life to protect our Capitol and our Country, Officer Evans became a martyr for our democracy. On behalf of the entire Congress, we are profoundly grateful,” Schumer and Pelosi said.

LaForest said Evans never wanted to be known as a hero.

“He wanted to serve his country as a Capitol police officer and looked forward to seeing lawmakers and visitors who came to the Capitol every day, many of whom became friends of Billy’s in large part because of his good-natured sense of humor,” LaForest said. “And, unfortunately, Billy paid the ultimate price defending his country.”

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Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose the costly American Jobs Plan, saddling the Democrats with ownership of the sweeping proposal and the corporate tax hike President Joe Biden says is needed to pay for it.

WASHINGTON — With an appeal to think big, President Joe Biden is promoting his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan directly to Americans, summoning public support to push past the Republicans lining up against the massive effort they sum up as big taxes, big spending and big government.

Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose the costly American Jobs Plan, saddling the Democrats with ownership of the sweeping proposal and the corporate tax hike Biden says is needed to pay for it. He wants the investments in roads, schools, broadband and clean energy approved by summer.

On Monday, Biden received a boost from an unexpected source. The Senate parliamentarian greenlighted a strategy that would allow Democrats in the evenly split 50-50 chamber to rely on a 51-vote threshold to advance some bills, rather than the typical 60 votes typically needed. The so-called budget reconciliation rules can now be used more often than expected — giving Democrats a fresh new path around the GOP blockade.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s spokesman welcomed the parliamentarian’s opinion as “an important step forward.” Spokesman Justin Goodman said no decisions have been made on the process ahead, but “this key pathway is available to Democrats if needed.”

The prospects for a massive infrastructure investment, once a bipartisan source of unity on Capitol Hill, have cracked and groaned under the weight of political polarization. Where Biden sees an urgency in going big, Republicans want a narrow plan that focuses on roads and bridges, and warn that any corporate tax increase would crush economic growth.

“They know we need it,” Biden said of the Republicans as he returned to Washington on Monday. “Everybody around the world is investing billions and billions of dollars in infrastructure, and we’re going to do it here.”

The standoff almost ensures a months-long slog as Congress hunkers down to begin drafting legislation and the White House keeps the door open to working across the aisle with Republicans, hoping that continued public attention will drum up support.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declared plainly on Monday that Biden’s plan is “something we’re not going to do.”

Speaking to reporters in Kentucky, McConnell said Republicans could support a “much more modest” approach, and one that doesn’t rely on corporate tax hikes to pay for it.

A core dividing line is Biden’s effort to pay for infrastructure by undoing Donald Trump’s tax break for corporations, a signature achievement of the Trump White House and its partners in Congress.

The 2017 GOP tax bill, which all the Republicans voted for, slashed the corporate rate from 35% to 21%. It was supposed to usher in a new era of American investment and job creation, yet growth never came close to the promised levels and the economy fell into a recession because of the pandemic.

Biden proposes raising the rate to 28% and instituting a global minimum rate to dissuade companies from relocating in lower-tax havens. Democratic senators led by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, unveiled their own framework for an international taxation overhaul Monday that could provide an opening to Biden’s approach.

“We desperately need reform,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., one of those involved in the effort.

Shepherding Biden’s proposal through Congress remains a work in progress, particularly in the evenly-divided 50-50 Senate, where Democrats have the majority because the vice president from their party, Kamala Harris, can cast a tie-breaking vote.

But a single senator can break ranks to influence the size and shape of the package. On Monday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., indicated he would prefer a corporate tax rate at 25%, lower than what Biden is proposing.

Seizing on Democratic divisions, Republicans have signaled zero interest in undoing the tax cuts they approved with Trump, and instead prefer a smaller infrastructure package paid for by user fees on drivers or other public-private partnerships that share the costs.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of Senate GOP leadership, said Sunday a smaller infrastructure package of about $615 billion, or 30% of what Biden is proposing, could draw bipartisan support.

Administration officials have encouraged Republicans to talk more fully about what they dislike and would do instead, under the opinion that a battle of ideas will only help Biden gain support with voters.

The president has already met twice with bipartisan groups of lawmakers in the Oval Office, and members of Biden’s Cabinet leading the charge on infrastructure have also have placed dozens of calls to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Yet the White House has a fundamental disagreement with Republicans on the definition of infrastructure, such that any outreach is unlikely to yield an agreement.

“Infrastructure is not just the roads we get a horse and buggy across,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a Monday briefing. “Infrastructure is about broadband. It’s about replacing lead pipes so people have water. It’s about rebuilding our schools.”

That leaves Biden and congressional Republicans on a collision course, the outcome of which could define the parties and his presidency.

The GOP strategy is reminiscent of its Obama-era stance more than a decade ago, when the Republicans opposed the 2009 rescue after the economic crisis, framing it as government overreach that piled on debt — an argument they used in 2010 to win back control of Congress.

But it’s not at all certain the GOP playbook that worked more than a decade ago will produce the same political gains this time. Biden is banking on polling that suggests his infrastructure package is popular among voters of both parties, making it easier to bypass any GOP blockade on Capitol Hill.

Touring a water treatment plant Monday in California, Harris said access to clean water was about a broader issue of fairness.

With the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, Harris noted that families in Iowa and parts of the Midwest needed federal help to upgrade the wells on their properties, while parts of California needed reliable access to fight wildfires.

“We must understand the equities and inequities of distribution and access to clean water, especially clean drinking water,” Harris said.

___

Associated Press writer Alexandra Jaffe contributed to this report.

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The new City Connect look will debut in a series against the White Sox on April 17 and 18. The White Sox and Cubs will reveal their versions of the new Nike line in June.

The Red Sox and Nike are giving Cubs and White Sox fans an idea of what to expect in June.

The Red Sox unveiled their yellow and sky blue City Connect series uniforms to honor Patriots’ Day and the Boston Marathon, which represent a drastic departure from the team’s iconic standard jerseys.

There will be no red coloration on the special uniforms and the color scheme is meant to represent the Patriots’ Day weekend.

The jerseys feature “Boston” across the chest in a stencil font in blue letters that pay tribute to the finish of the marathon at Boylston Street. The shirts are in bright yellow and on the left sleeve, there is a patch that mimics a marathon bib with the number “617,” the area code for Boston and Fenway Park.

The caps still feature the iconic “B” but are in sky blue.

“We viewed the City Connect collaboration with Nike as an opportunity to celebrate the spirit of a weekend that is uniquely Boston,” Red Sox executive vice president and chief marketing officer Adam Grossman said Tuesday in a press release. “The departure from our traditional style pays homage to that iconic weekend, and recognizes Boston’s boldness, culture and creativity.”

The Red Sox will wear these uniforms April 17 and 18 when they play the White Sox. To come up with the design, the organization worked with several creative people and firms in the Boston area.

But not everyone is a fan of the new look.

Broadcaster Keith Olbermann said the alternate uniforms “are ugly and cheap looking, somewhere between the attire of the very unfortunate wait staff at an overpriced sports bar that’ll close next month, and Chico’s Bail Bonds unis.”

The Red Sox are one of seven teams that will debut their respective City Connect uniforms.

The other six teams debuting City Connect alternates will be the Marlins (May 21), White Sox (June 5), Cubs (June 12), Diamondbacks (June 18), Giants (July 9) and Dodgers (late August).

Read more at usatoday.com

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This week the Dinger’s crew breaks down the series win vs the Buccos and takes a look at the Degens from Upcountry. Also the guys ask: who is Matt Duffy and can we get KB for MVP trending?

The post Dingers: A Chicago Cubs Podcast. Episode 34 – Ain’t No Thang but a Chicken Wing first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

There were some new digs for NY2LA’s annual Swish N’ Dish this past weekend. But so much remained the same.

There were some new digs for NY2LA’s annual Swish N’ Dish this past weekend. But so much remained the same.

For starters –– and this certainly needs to be mentioned during these covid/protocol times –– the event continues to be a well-run operation. When you compare NY2LA events to so many others, well, it’s simply hard to make comparisons when it comes to organization. These events are run so crisp and clean.

While the format was different, what also remained the same was the talent. This has always been the kickoff to the club basketball spring season.

Meanstreets 17U is the best club team in Illinois

There is no question what team is the deepest, most talented club team in Illinois: Meanstreets.

They impressed this past weekend, even with two of their top players not in action. Oak Forest’s 6-8 Robbie Avila and 6-7 Ty Rodgers out of Michigan, a top 100 talent nationally, did not play. But the talent still shined.

Meanstreets boasts the impressive and coveted 1-2 punch of Jalen Washington, a 6-8 forward out of Gary, Ind., and Young’s 6-8 A.J. Casey. Both are two of the top 30 players in the country in the Class of 2022 with high-major offers.

Casey looks the part with his body, dimensions and physical attributes. He’s clearly put in some time to improve his body as his frame is stariting to really fill out. Plus, he has that natural, effortless talent at his size with a nice shooting touch and mechanics. He’s obviously a high-major talent and best prospect in the Class of 2022 in Illinois.

Casey was one of three in-state Meanstreets prospects who stood out, along with Buffalo Grove’s Kam Craft and Glenbrook South’s Nick Martinelli.

Craft, a known commodity in the Chicago area with his shooting prowess and scoring capabilities, remains a shot-making perimeter threat. But he was also competitive and showed some more pop athletically off the floor. When you add those two attributes to his shot-making ability, Craft is that mid-major plus prospect who will attract a lot of eyes during live evaluation time. He was very impressive over the course of the weekend.

Martinelli is a player who simply finds a way. The 6-7 forward will not wow you, but he’s crafty, productive and has an uncanny ability to make plays. If he can continue to show that he can face up and knock perimeter shots down, Martinelli’s stock will rise.

Other Swish N’ Dish thoughts and observations ….

➤ The Meanstreets 16U team looks the part with its size and length. But it struggled at times taking care of the ball and knocking down shots from the perimeter.

The group of 6-8 Donaven Younger, 6-8 Wes Rubin, 6-8 Miles Rubin, 6-6 Prince Adams, 6-5 Daniel Johnson and 6-4 Sam Lewis is a tantalizing one with size, length, tools and raw skills. They are all bonafide Division I prospects. But it’s going to take some time for this collective group to truly make its presence felt.

Jalen Griffith was one Meanstreets 16U player who showed an advanced game. The Simeon point guard is on the small side, but he’s a jitterbug who can make opponents uncomfortable with his wiggle, pull-up and dribble penetration.

➤ Kenwood’s JJ Taylor is an individual highlight reel. The state’s top-ranked sophomore continued to dazzle at times while playing Mac Irvin Fire over the weekend. He finishes acrobatically at the rim with his wiry length and emphatically with loud dunks.

Taylor remains a streaky shooter but improved shot selection will curtail a little of that. The 6-7 wing is a high-major talent.

The Mac Irvin Fire backcourt has a chance to be pretty darn good with former Fenwick star guard Trey Pettigrew and Simeon guard Jaylen Drane.

➤ Three-point shooting has never been more important in the college game than it is today. That’s why Lake Forest’s Asa Thomas will attract college coaches in droves going forward. Now it’s a matter of what level those Division I coaches will be.

The 6-6 Thomas, who plays with the Illinois Wolves, has an effortless stroke from the three-point line. He’s an elite shooter off the catch as a spot-up shooter and can get his shot off with a rather quick release. The next step is successfully attacking closeouts and getting where he needs to get with the basketball. Adding weight and strength as he naturally fills out and matures physically will help with that.

➤ With Max Christie, his Michigan State-bound brother watching both days, Cameron Christie again had his moments in showing why he’s among the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top prospects in the Class of 2023.

Christie, who helped Rolling Meadows to a perfect 15-0 record this past year, played with both the Illinois Wolves 16U and 17U teams. The 6-5 guard showed again how comfortable he is with his mid-range game, pulling up from mid-range off a couple of dribbles and sticking shots in that 15-18 foot range.

The upside with Christie is easy to see with his body dimensions and shot-making ability. Now the small sample size of success off the dribble will need to be bigger.

➤ Mid-Pro Academy, which features mostly central Illinois players, has an intriguing roster across the board at all ages. And one player who put together a nice weekend was Ethan Kizer of Metamora.

The 6-6 sophomore is one of the better prospects in Illinois in the Class of 2023. Kizer has a mid-major upside due to his ability to shoot the basketball and compete with his athleticism. I like the way he goes about his business on the floor.

➤ Watching Macaleab Rich of East St. Louis made me think back roughly 20 years to Paul McPherson, an athletic freak who went to South Shore and later played at DePaul.

The physical profile between Rich and McPherson is similar, their games resemble one another and their off-the-charts explosiveness opens eyes. Rich is a big-bodied 6-4 wing in the sophomore class who will emerge as soon as he is able to solidify a true position.

➤ The young Illinois Wolves team has a pair of gifted shooters in freshmen Kelton McEwen of Bartlett and Cole Certa of Bloomington Central Catholic.

McEwen impressed all season long for Bartlett as a 5-11 freshman. He averaged 12.5 points and 2.5 assists a game while shooting a sizzling 40 percent from the three-point line. He’s an energizer who can shoot it and score with shot-creating abilities on the perimeter, even at his size.

➤ Yosef Oliff is a fun player to watch. The 6-0 guard from Niles North is smooth and natural when talking about his skill level at the point guard position. He handles it and sees the floor so well. In fact, he’s one of the better natural passing lead guards you will find.

Oliff impressed while playing with his Fundamental U team and has a chance to be a scholarship player at the next level with a big spring and summer.

➤ While it’s not a focus of mine when attending events, I am able to get a glimpse of top out-of-state prospects at events. No one stood out to me more over the two days than Nick Smith of Bradley Beal Elite. The 6-4 guard out of Arkansas is a highly-rated player with endless high-major offers, so the talent and the athletic burst he plays with is undeniable.

But what always opens eyes is when a top talent like that plays as hard as he does and competes at a level that others are trying to reach. With that length, explosiveness and ease he plays with when the ball is in his hands, the competitiveness takes Smith to another level. His winning mentality, along with how he carries himself, stood out.

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Sgt. Ker Yang, the Minneapolis police official in charge of training officers on handling crises, became the latest member of the department to take the stand as prosecutors try to prove that Chauvin failed to follow his training when he put his knee on Floyd’s neck.

MINNEAPOLIS — Four years before George Floyd’s death, Officer Derek Chauvin took a 40-hour course on crisis intervention that included training on how to recognize people in crisis and how to use de-escalation techniques to calm them down, the jury at Chauvin’s murder trial was told Tuesday.

Sgt. Ker Yang, the Minneapolis police official in charge of training officers on handling crises, became the latest member of the department to take the stand as prosecutors try to prove that Chauvin failed to follow his training when he put his knee on Floyd’s neck.

Yang said on Day Seven of Chauvin’s trial that officers are taught to make critical decisions in dealing with people in crisis, including those suffering mental problems or the effects of drug use, and then defuse the situation. Prosecutor Steve Schleicher said records show that Chauvin attended a course on the method in 2016.

“When we talk about fast-evolving situations … a lot of the time we have the time to slow things down and reevaluate and reassess and go through this model,” Yang said.

Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death May 25. The 46-year-old Black man was pinned to the pavement outside a neighborhood market after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes.

Floyd’s treatment by the white officer was captured on widely seen bystander video that sparked protests around the U.S. that descended into violence in some cases.

Floyd, who had taken drugs, frantically struggled with officers who tried to put him in their squad car, saying he was claustrophobic. Prosecutors said Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds, after he was handcuffed behind his back and lying on his stomach, even though Floyd said 27 times that he could not breathe.

Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, has argued that Chauvin “did exactly what he had been trained to do over his 19-year career” and that it was Floyd’s use of illegal drugs and his underlying health conditions — not the officer’s knee — that killed him.

Nelson has further argued that police at the scene were distracted by what they perceived as a growing and increasingly hostile crowd of onlookers.

Instead of protecting a fellow officer in what is sometimes called the “blue wall of silence,” some of the most experienced members of the Minneapolis force – including the police chief and the head of the homicide division — have taken the stand to openly condemn Chauvin’s treatment of Floyd.

On Monday, Police Chief Medaria Arrondondo, who called Floyd’s death “murder” soon after it happened, testified that Chauvin had clearly violated department policy on a number of counts and used excessive force.

Arrondondo said continuing to kneel on Floyd’s neck once he was handcuffed behind his back and lying on his belly was “in no way, shape or form” part of department policy or training, “and it is certainly not part of our ethics or our values.”

Arradondo, the city’s first Black chief, fired Chauvin and three other officers the day after Floyd’s death.

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When we say Raoul Peck’s four-part HBO hybrid documentary/drama series “Exterminate All the Brutes” is all over the place, we mean that on so many levels, and mostly in a good way — though there are a few times when the shift in tone and approach is so swift and radical it’s more jolting than resonant.

In the first episode alone, Peck tells us, “There are three words that summarize the whole history of humanity: civilization, colonization, extermination”; delivers relatively brief but visually stunning and enlightening lessons derived from the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the “discovery” of America and the Vietnam War; introduces Josh Hartnett, who will portray various imperialist characters throughout the series; shows modern-day footage of white supremacist groups gathering and marching in a number of nations, including the United States; features clips from films ranging from “Apocalypse Now” to “Shoah” to “The Legend of Tarzan,” and closes with a series of graphic-novel images of African men terrorizing and assaulting white women while “Machine Gun” by the Commodores blasts on the soundtrack, for no easily discernible reason.

There’s a LOT of material packed into each one-hour episode. More often than not, Peck (director of “I Am Not Your Negro”) does a remarkably effective job of weaving all these disparate parts into a narrative about the blood-soaked history of Western nations and peoples invading countries and territories and wiping out civilizations in the belief they were the superior race and were taking their rightful place in the world.

Early on, Peck introduces to a Seminole Nation woman who looks into the camera as he says, “Her story goes deep into the history of this continent.” We then flash-frame to an image of the woman being scalped, as Peck continues, “Her story reminds me of my mother.” Next thing we know, we see the woman on location with a film crew who are wearing masks and practicing social distancing, and Peck tells us the Seminole woman is being “played by Caisa Ankarsparre, a Swedish actress of both Colombian and Native American ancestry.” Moments later, we’re in a movie-within-the movie. Josh Hartnett as an American soldier approaches the woman and a group of Seminoles and slaves and says, “I do not want to spill Seminole blood, kill Seminole children. … Give us back the American property you stole … and I’ll let you move to the Indian territory the U.S. government has provided for your people.”

“What kind of species are you?” she asks.

“This kind,” he says, as he draws his gun and kills her.

HBO

At times Peck employs more traditional documentary narratives, with maps and time-lapse graphics and news footage, home movies and animation — but even those segments are intercut with the likes of references to Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” a clip from Leni Reifenstahl’s “Triumph of the Will,” a scene from “Jurassic Park 3,” even the “Prehistoric Man” musical number from 1949’s “On the Town.” (The series doesn’t feature any talking-head interviews, and as much as I admire and appreciate the legions of experts who appear in most documentaries, it’s a welcome and refreshing break to see this wide-ranging, centuries-spanning story told without this particular device.) The animated graphics are particularly stunning and effective, e.g., when a time-lapse shows the steady move westward of tribes disappearing from America, or the number of captives sent from Africa to the Americas, with the tally reaching the thousands and eventually 12 million.

Peck also takes us through his personal journey, including his childhood in Haiti through his time as a student in Germany, and introduces us to collaborators including Sven Lindqvist (who died in 2019), author of the 1992 book with the same title as this documentary. The juxtaposition of historical re-creations set in a myriad of locales throughout history with incongruous pop songs, e.g., Joe Cocker’s “Cry Me a River,” can be dizzying and borderline wearying; there are moments when we yearn for Peck to stick to a particular narrative a while longer and not be so fast with the edit button.

But there’s no denying the power of Peck’s storytelling abilities, as he consistently ties the distant past to the recent past to the very recent past and has us wondering if the world will ever truly change. As we see photos of certain current and former world leaders, Peck laments, “The absence of any trace of empathy and genuine humanity is unbearable. The nightmare is buried deep in our consciousness. So deep that we do not recognize it at first. … In times of despair, fear and insecurity, people are looking for saviors. Any kind will do … but a complex world calls for complex responses.” The approach Peck takes in “Exterminate All the Brutes” is a thought-provoking and worthwhile and, yes, complex response.

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Loyola promoted assistant Drew Valentine to head coach on Monday, hoping he can build on the success the Ramblers experienced under Porter Moser.

The 29-year-old Valentine helped Loyola make two deep NCAA Tournament runs in four seasons as an assistant. He gets his first head coaching job with Moser taking over at Oklahoma after a 10-year run that included a Final Four in 2018 and a Sweet 16 appearance this year.

In a statement, Valentine called the promotion “an absolute honor” and called Moser “one of the biggest mentors and role models in my life.”

“The impact that he has made on this entire university will not forgotten,” Valentine said. “We will continue to do things the right way, with character and passion! The vision and standard that Coach Moser established will forever remain a part of the culture.”

Valentine played a big role in Loyola’s rise. The Ramblers went 99-36 overall and 56-16 in the Missouri Valley Conference the past four years, winning three regular-season league championships.

He was Loyola’s de facto defensive coordinator the past two years. That group ranked among the best in the country this season.

“Over the course of his career as both a player and as a coach, Drew had proven that he’s a winner who does things the right way,” athletic director Steve Watson said in a statement. “We are extremely proud of the recent success of our program and Drew has played a key role in those accomplishments. He is the perfect person to lead us as we continue to build upon that success as we begin the next chapter of Loyola basketball.”

Before arriving at Loyola, Valentine played at Oakland and was a graduate manager at Michigan State under Tom Izzo. He then returned to his alma mater as an assistant from 2015 to 2017. Valentine is the older brother of Bulls guard and former Spartans star Denzel Valentine, and his father, Carlton, starred for the Spartans in the 1980s and became a successful high school coach.

Moser, who takes over for the retired Lon Kruger at Oklahoma, was 188-141 in 10 years at Loyola. He has a 293-242 record in 17 seasons as a college head coach, with stops at Arkansas Little Rock (2000-03) and Illinois State (2003-07).

The Ramblers went 26-5 in their fourth straight year with 20 or more wins and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their stunning Final Four appearance.

They went 32-6 that season and charmed the nation in an unexpected run buoyed by one last-second shot after another. Along the way, their team chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, became a celebrity, with bobbleheads and athletic apparel and national TV interviews.

Loyola, with the nation’s stingiest scoring defense, made another run this year. The Ramblers earned their first AP Top 25 ranking since March 1985 and won the MVC Tournament for the second time in four years.

Sister Jean, 101 years old and fully vaccinated against COVID-19, was on hand for the NCAA Tournament. She watched in Indianapolis as the Ramblers beat Georgia Tech and dominated top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Illinois in the second round before falling to Oregon State.

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