Links Hall and Chicago Shakespeare host two virtual interactive shows on isolation and connection.
Even before the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week, the desire to get away from this current hellscape was strong in many of us. Cooped up, fed up, scared, confused, and angry, I’ve been veering between doomscrolling and fantasizing about a Yeatsian bucolic escape.…Read More
On Thursday afternoon, Chicago Bears owner George McCaskey appeared on the Waddle and Silvy Show and discussed a variety of topics. Fo the most part, George doubled-down on the ridiculous message that was put out at yesterday’s press conference. George’s attempt at damage control may have actually caused more of it. However, he did reveal […]
Chicago Bears: Anthony Miller’s job in jeopardy? – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More
City officials were investigating possible COVID-19 violations after a fire at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse forced patrons to evacuate the famed Gold Coast restaurant Wednesday night.
The fire started about 9 p.m. in a second-floor fireplace and was quickly extinguished, leaving damage only to the walls and ceiling, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
A tweet from the fire department said no one was injured and that patrons were evacuated safely.
Spokesmen for the police and fire departments would not clarify whether the Gold Coast restaurant was seating outdoor or indoor diners. Statewide Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions and the local stay-at-home order — recently extended to Jan. 22 — ban indoor seating.
The Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is investigating any possible coronavirus restriction violations, according to agency spokesman Isaac Reichman.
However, the agency had already investigated Gibson’s less than a week before the fire and found them in compliance with COVID-19 regulations, Reichman said in an email.
He noted that, while indoor dining is prohibited, indoor tables are allowed if they were within 8 feet of a wall that is 50% open to the outdoors.
Gibson’s spokesperson Liz Lombardo Stark said the restaurant is “fully compliant with current seating regulations” and that they’ve passed several routine city inspections over the course of the pandemic.
“We are confident that any further inspection will produce the same results,” Lombardo Stark said.
Chicago sports fans have a connection with their teams’ announcers that’s built on a kindred spirit of “We’re in this together.”
But over the years, our local announcers have become national voices. With Marquee Sports Network hiring Jon Sciambi last week, the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks all have a TV announcer working for a national network, too. (The Bears only have local preseason broadcasts because of the NFL’s TV deals.)
Sciambi will continue to call the MLB playoffs and college basketball for ESPN, in addition to some regular-season baseball games. Sox voice Jason Benetti calls college basketball and football for ESPN. New Bulls play-by-play voice Adam Amin calls MLB, NFL and college basketball for Fox. Blackhawks analyst Eddie Olczyk is a longtime hockey – and horse racing – voice for NBC.
They aren’t just our guys; they’re everyone’s guys.
What’s the significance? Only that Chicago is in a new golden age of sports broadcasting.
That isn’t to say national announcers are better announcers. But working for ESPN or Fox does come with a certain cachet, and our announcers aren’t exactly buried on their network’s depth chart.
Olczyk is NBC’s top hockey analyst, and his Blackhawks partner, Pat Foley, would tell you he’s the best sports analyst of them all. Benetti will call any game ESPN gives him, and they give him plenty. Amin just completed his first season on Fox’s No. 3 NFL crew. Sciambi has been the voice of “Sunday Night Baseball” on ESPN Radio.
It’s hard to argue with the networks’ thinking. Olczyk, 54, is the gold standard of analysts, providing quick, concise, in-depth analysis that only the trained eye can provide. He can explain the genesis of a goal before the team is done celebrating, no easy task in a game that fast. He also has a great sense of humor, and it’s evident he and Foley enjoy each other’s company on the broadcast.
Benetti, 37, is great in the Sox’ booth, but baseball might not even be his best sport to call. He’s fantastic on basketball, and when Amin had a couple of conflicts recently with his Bulls schedule, Benetti filled in and the broadcast didn’t miss a beat. It feels like he could fill in for anyone and do well. After all, it takes someone special to navigate a broadcast with Bill Walton beside you.
But the Sox are his priority, and his pairing with Steve Stone, still one of the best analysts on TV, has drawn national acclaim. Fangraphs recently released the results of its fan voting for MLB TV booths, and Benetti-Stone ranked No. 2, behind the Mets’ crew of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez. (For the record, the Cubs’ now-defunct Len Kasper-Jim Deshaies booth ranked fourth.)
Amin, 34, is new to the scene but not the town. He grew up in the western suburbs and has been a lifelong Bulls fan. He has hit the ground running with a strong, exciting call, and he has meshed well with Stacey King, a fine analyst in his own right. A competitive team certainly has helped the broadcast, but Amin has been doing this long enough that he’ll be prepared for the inevitable stinker.
In the minds of viewers, Amin, Benetti and Olczyk are helped by their local ties. Benetti grew up in Homewood and went to Homewood-Flossmoor. Olczyk is a Chicago native, went to Brother Rice and was the Hawks’ first-round pick in the 1984 draft. Like Amin, they were fans of their teams before becoming their broadcasters.
But Chicago fans should know that fandom isn’t a prerequisite for a good broadcaster. Sciambi, 50, will remind them. Even though he’s from New York, he has called enough Cubs games and knows enough Cubs alumni to understand the culture. He’s entertaining and smart, and viewers should have a smooth transition to him from Kasper. Sciambi will form a fine partnership with the popular Deshaies.
The last time Chicago sports TV had this strong of a cast was in the 1990s. Harry Caray and Stone called the Cubs; “Hawk” and “Wimpy” (Ken Harrelson and Tom Paciorek) called the Sox; Wayne Larrivee, Tom Dore and Johnny “Red” Kerr called the Bulls (Larrivee on WGN, Dore on cable); and Foley and Dale Tallon called the Hawks.
Chicago doesn’t have many celebrities, so we look to our athletes and announcers. Those guys might as well have been the Rat Pack. They overflowed with personality, and they could call a great game, too. It didn’t hurt that the Sox were competitive in the ’90s, that the Bulls owned the decade in the NBA and that the Hawks regularly made the playoffs. The Cubs regularly lost, but that didn’t seem to hurt them on superstation WGN.
Now we have a new group of stars. Obviously, Foley and Olczyk have been at this awhile. They came together in 2008. But Benetti joined Stone in 2016, Amin is in his first season with King and Sciambi hasn’t even called a game yet.
It’s the beginning of a new era in Chicago sports broadcasting, and it’s going to be a good one.
When tragedies happen in our world, students need an outlet to talk about them, to process the events. More importantly, they need learning experiences that move them beyond talking into creating something to help them grow academically and emotionally.
Moments after last’s week’s insurrection, my colleague who also teaches the same junior English class texted me:
“Biden’s speech tomorrow?”
“Of course!” I replied.
We immediately recognized the teachable moment. We interrupted our regularly scheduled lesson so students could analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of Biden’s and Trump’s speeches after the Capitol insurrections.
This quarter, we’re exploring the question, “Whom do we admire?” by examining profiles of Joe Rogan, Ivanka Trump, AOC, Ivy Queen, Bad Bunny, Stacy Abrams. So our departure wasn’t far off.
Some years ago, I wrote this blog post about teaching controversial moments. We must always—always—ground our students in a text and the context.
For this learning experience, students would analyze and evaluate the speeches Biden and Trump delivered the day of the Capitol insurrection.
BACKGROUND
We recalled how we reached the insurrection:
We saw USA Today’s headline:
We saw the Fox News headline:
And just so they wouldn’t accuse me of being unfairly biased by leaning to the left, (even though my politics are easy to see), we looked at the Pew Research Center’s continuum of news outlets to see where USA Today and FOX News fall:
THE CONTEXT
As students entered class remotely, I asked them to type and answer to the question—but not to hit enter so as not to influence other students. This helped them understand the context, the expectations our nation has for a speech during this time.
In the United States of America, when situations turn violent, what is a president’s speech supposed to do?
THE ASSIGNMENT
Your task: Listen to, read, and evaluate the rhetoric (the language, the impact) of the president-elect’s and president’s speeches after the attack on the capitol building.
This is NOT about the following:
Guiding Question: When situations turn violent in our country, what is a president’s speech supposed to do?
This IS about the speeches:
Rhetorical context refers to the situation surrounding an act of speaking or writing.
STUDENTS’ RESPONSES
One student response:
In the beginning of Biden’s speech, he talks about the violent and vicious attacks that happened at the Capitol and how these “scenes of chaos” don’t reflect America but simply show the small amount of lawlessness created by “extremists.” He goes on to urge President Trump to speak out on national television to “fulfill his oath.” This part of Biden’s speech introduces the problem while also stating that the government cares about the violent crimes and should speak out on the issues whenever it’s needed. By bringing up this important matter, Biden is living up to his own future role in becoming the next President. He’s reaching out to his people and trying to connect with them by giving them reassurance.
Another student’s:
The middle of Biden’s speech further addresses the issue as he begins to condemn the actions of the people. He follows it up with giving the people hope and providing peace of mind by letting them know “we will prevail again.” He then transitions into speaking about our country’s values to reaffirm people that they have stayed the same and just need to be fixed, and he plans to do that himself. Once again, Biden’s speech does what it’s supposed to and brings a peace of mind to the people and lets them know that he will not stand for this injustice. He reminds us that in times of hardship, he is there to stand for us. Biden’s moves in his speech fit perfectly with who he is trying to be: a change for the country in a time of despair. As the country is in an ongoing global pandemic, they look at him in hopes of saving them from the situation that they have been in for months.
Another student’s:
Biden calls upon Trump: “step up,” he demanded. This was a wise tactic to add to ensure Trump would take accountability and advise his supporters to stand down. It also makes Biden look like he has the power and right to give an order; it displays more credibility to his soon-to-be presidential image. In addition, it reassures that peace will be achievable as the chaos will be better managed, creating the vision and sense that America is still stable. He also makes a direct reference to former successful, beloved president Abraham Lincoln who held office during the Civil War. A battle between states, the civil war was a time where America was divided. Biden quotes Lincoln specifically because the tension is nearly the same as it was leading up to the civil war: confederate vs. union. By doing so, he rebuilds confidence and greatly reduces panic within the country as Lincoln once did.
And the closing of another student’s:
To say that Donald Trump’s speech is underwhelming is an understatement. His speech only works to facilitate polarization by ostracizing and villainizing his opposition and more than half the country that doesn’t fall victim to his perception of reality. The president claims that he knows the pain and the hurt of those in the Capitol, while reinforcing that “it was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side.” Trump’s attempt at being empathetic falls on deaf ears as he offers no real reassurance to the country nor his base. His speech continues spiraling onward about the injustice committed to him but not any mention or prospect to move forward with peace. Nothing is conceded to bring peace. Stubbornly, Trump asks for it while only unifying his base with compliments and the vast usage of “we” only in reference to himself and his supporters. The intent is clear and hopeless.
NEXT STEPS
Some students struggled developing their ideas or assessing the rhetorical context accurately. This student mis-identified Biden’s primary audience.
Joe Biden opened his speech by clarifying with his audience that they too are aware of everything that is going on. Biden tries to separate those that had assaulted the capitol, from the rest of Americans. Biden tries to call off the crowd; but, when the crowd is against him, nothing can be done. In efforts to calm the situation, Biden calls for Trump to speak up. As in this situation, Trump was the only one capable of calming the crowd. Biden went on to say in his speech, “at their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.”. To answer exactly what a speech from a president does. When the crowd is acknowledged by whom they stand for, it can enlighten or worsen the situation. Joe Biden not being whom the people need to hear from, nor sworn into office yet, will not change a thing. The audience being those participating in the violent actions in the country, the ones that need to hear from the president in efforts to slow down any other violence.
All of this should help students understand that the words a leader or an average person uses matter.
To subscribe to the White Rhino Blog, scroll down on your phone or go to the right side of this page on your computer.
You get one email when I post. This subscription is spam free and you can opt out any time.
Filed under:
Uncategorized
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
About the Blogger
Since 1995, Ray has been an English teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.
In 2017, thanks to a former student, Ray received a Distinguished Secondary Teacher Award from Northwestern University.
In March 2013, The White Rhino tied for second place in the Best Blog category of the Education Writers Association’s national writing contest.
Ray earned an M.A. in Writing, with distinction, and a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from DePaul University. He’s been a National Board Certified Teacher for over ten years.
He graduated from a neighborhood Chicago public high school.
His writing aired on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio many times. His editorials appeared in the Chicago Tribune and on CNN’s Schools of Thought blog, as well as on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ Web site. He’s also written articles for NPR’s Latino USA, Latino Rebels, and NewsTaco.
Ray is also a powerlifter and an aspiring guitarist.
For thirty years, Ray lived in Chicago’s 26th Street neighborhood. Today, he lives a little more south and a little more west in the city with his wife, son, and daughter.
Photo credit: Rocky Jara @RockyJPhotography on Instagram
The Blog’s Title
Like The White Rhino
Recent posts
Monthly Archives
Latest on ChicagoNow
Posts from related blogs
Most recent post: Chicago 2021: State of the Real Estate Market
Most recent post: Welcome January
Most recent post: I was born on either December 25 or 26. Who cares? Social Security, Comcast and my mom, for starters
More from News: City Life
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
City officials were investigating possible COVID-19 violations after a fire at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse forced patrons to evacuate the famed Gold Coast restaurant Wednesday night.
The fire started about 9 p.m. in a second-floor fireplace and was quickly extinguished, leaving damage only to the walls and ceiling, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
A tweet from the fire department said no one was injured and that patrons were evacuated safely.
Spokesmen for the police and fire departments would not clarify whether the Gold Coast restaurant was seating outdoor or indoor diners. Statewide Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions and the local stay-at-home order — recently extended to Jan. 22 — ban indoor seating.
The Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is investigating any possible coronavirus restriction violations, according to agency spokesman Isaac Reichman.
However, the agency had already investigated Gibson’s less than a week before the fire and found them in compliance with COVID-19 regulations, Reichman said in an email.
He noted that, while indoor dining is prohibited, indoor tables are allowed if they were within 8 feet of a wall that is 50% open to the outdoors.
A Gibson’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.
If pot pie is the cozy sweater of meals, then the version at Spinning J in Humboldt Park delivers comfort with style. Chef Dinah Grossman fills a buttery pie crust with saag paneer, the classic Indian mixture of spinach, spices, and cubes of paneer, a mild, creamy Indian-style cheese that miraculously holds its shape and texture when baked. You can find it fresh or frozen at Metro Spice Mart or Cermak Fresh Market. See the full recipe here.
How to Make Spinning J’s Saag Paneer Pot Pieon January 14, 2021 at 4:56 pm Read More »
■ Being bullied as a child made me shy and withdrawn, a little bit timid — all words which no longer describe me, but that shyness remained well into adulthood. It wasn’t just the bullying; it was feeling different anytime anybody asked, “Where were you born?” In my early years, nobody had ever heard of Iran. And during the summers, we would travel for my father’s medical work. You return to school and people ask, “What did you do on your summer vacation?” “Well, I went to Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Iran.” That doesn’t fit. I just wanted to go to camp like everybody else.
■ My parents wanted me to see the world. And not from luxury hotels. One lesson I learned from them was that when you’re in somebody else’s home, you play by their rules. I remember going to Damascus, Syria, when I graduated from high school and making sure we were well covered when we went into the mosque. There’s a certain level of respect for other cultures they taught me that not every American has.
■ I joined local government right after Harold Washington was reelected as mayor. I found my voice there. I also learned that public service is 24/7. People come up to you in the grocery store or at the dry cleaner’s. People would lobby my daughter when she was a little kid. You learn to listen, regardless of the decibel level.
■ Harold Washington had this delicious personality that made everybody feel like they had his undivided attention. I was a very junior person in the city’s law department, so I did not have meetings with him with any frequency. But one lesson he taught me by example was how to disagree without being disagreeable. I watched him during his first term, when he didn’t have control of the City Council, and the aldermen — the Vrdolyak 29 — were horrible to him, just dreadful. But he would joke with them behind the council chambers. He always had good humor and recognized that it wasn’t personal.
■ When Barack Obama offered me the job, I said, “Well, I’m kind of used to being the boss of you.” And he said, “Yeah, but I’m going to be president and leader of the free world.” And I was like, “I guess that’s a good point.” I joined his administration knowing that my close relationship with both him and Mrs. Obama was going to be threatening to some people. I’ve known them for almost 30 years. There’s something about the White House that often brings out people’s insecurities. But I felt that if I could earn the trust of my colleagues, they would appreciate that I wasn’t going to use my relationship with the president to their detriment.
■ The Obamas are very grounded people who don’t have the patience for sycophants. They just want someone who will be clear and true.
■ I became a better friend to Barack Obama by being his senior adviser and was a better senior adviser for being his friend. When we were at work, we compartmentalized with ease. I called him Mr. President, and I was extraordinarily judicious with using his time. But when he and I were watching a movie, I would talk his ear off.
■ The rigor and discipline that he applied to that job was extraordinary. I marveled at the fact that I never walked into a meeting with him when he was unprepared. He took it really seriously. And this is a guy who in law school would open the book the night before the final exam and still get in an A.
■ I miss the Truman Balcony. It’s one of my most favorite places on earth. You’re looking out over the South Lawn at the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. It’s a magnificent view. I also miss driving through the gates and walking along the colonnade. The day you’re not in awe of working in the White House is the day you should walk out the door.
Valerie Jarretton January 14, 2021 at 7:20 pm Read More »
Professional golfer Jeff Sluman and his wife, Linda, paid $880,000 for a three-bedroom duplex condominium in Lincoln Park. (VHT Studios)
Filed under:
Uncategorized
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
Latest on ChicagoNow
Posts from related blogs
Most recent post: To the Tribune and Sun-Times: Publish editorials now demanding the president concede and resign
More from News: Media
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team
This just in
CHICAGO – Broadway In Chicago announced today that the upcoming pre-Broadway World Premiere of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, originally scheduled to run July 13 – August 15, 2021, at the CIBC Theatre, will now run July 19, 2022 – August 21, 2022, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. Current ticket holders will be moved into the new performance weeks automatically.
Patrons with additional questions can contact their point of purchase.
The safety and health of our patrons, staff and theatrical companies is our top priority. In response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus), the schedule for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and all future productions will be under review as further guidance and recommendations are provided by the CDC and Chicago Department of Public Health. Please check BroadwayInChicago.com for additional updates.
Subscribe to Show Me Chicago by email
If you would like to keep in touch with what’s happening in Chicago, like us on Facebook or subscribe to Show Me Chicago by email. To subscribe, type your email address in the box below and click the “create subscription” button. Our list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.
Filed under:
Theater in Chicago
Type your email address in the box and click the button above.
Follow me on Instagram
Meet The Blogger
Arts, entertainment and dining journalist..
Follow me on Twitter.
Recent posts
Monthly Archives
Categories
Blogroll
Google Analytics Stats
Latest on ChicagoNow
Posts from related blogs
Most recent post: Playboy cancels its Playmate of the Month feature! Say what?
Most recent post: Chicago New Year 2021 A compilation of four years past Fireworks on The River Walk
Most recent post: 2020 Team Gregula Pandemic Year In Review
More from Entertainment: Art & Culture
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team
The Devil Wears Prada announces Chicago run dateson January 14, 2021 at 5:51 pm Read More »
