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One particular draft rumor is picking up steam regarding the Chicago Bulls and LaMelo Ball. With just seven days to go before the 2020 NBA Draft, trade talk and rumors are heating up. The Chicago Bulls, believe it or not, are one team to watch going into next Wednesday night. You might just see Arturas […]

Chicago Bulls Rumors: Potential trade packages to move up for LaMelo Ball – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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Hillcrest’s Julius Rollins (0) controls the ball as Oak Forest’s Juan Avila defends. Rollins is expected to sign with Kent State this week. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Local players expected to sign with Division I schools during the early signing period, which runs from Nov. 11 to Nov. 18.

It’s been a recruiting cycle unlike any other for the Class of 2021,.

The recruiting process has slowed to a crawl for many reasons. The biggest being that, due to Covid-19 and all in-person evaluations being shut down, many of the players in the class simply haven’t been seen or evaluated enough for some college coaches to pull the trigger.

Thus far there have been 15 players in Illinois commit to Division I schools. That is a minuscule number in comparison to past years.

The class wasn’t exactly loaded or super appealing before the pandemic. But there are more scholarship players in the class than the small number of Division I and Division II commitments we currently have.

The number will grow — eventually. But college coaches are also toiling with the idea of possibly rolling over scholarships more than they have in the past. Division II coaches are awaiting word on a season and if seniors will be granted another year of eligibility, while everyone at every level continues to be enamored with adding spring transfers.

Here is the complete list of area players expected to sign with Division I schools during the early signing period, which runs from Nov. 11 to Nov. 18.

Player, High School, College

Isaiah Barnes, Simeon, Michigan

Ahamad Bynum, Simeon, DePaul

Max Christie, Rolling Meadows, Michigan State

Troy D’Amico, Notre Dame, SIU

Scottie Ebube, Mundelein, SIU

Conor Enright, Mundelein, Drake

Chris Hodges, Schaumburg, Wisconsin

Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick, Kentucky

TY Johnson, DePaul Prep, Loyola

Louis Lesmond, Notre Dame, Harvard

Brian Mathews, DePaul, Massachusetts

Blake Peters, Evanston, Princeton

John Poulakidas, Neuqua Valley, Yale

Julius Rollins, Hillcrest, Kent State

Ben Schwieger, Waubonsie Valley, Loyola

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White Sox: Tony LaRussa already hurting chances with free agents by Patrick Sheldon

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears have lost three in a row and look to be falling apart.

Another week, another pathetic offensive showing from these Chicago Bears and head coach Matt Nagy is undoubtedly on the hot seat. The Tennessee Titans posed almost zero threat defensively to the Bears, yet for about 90 percent of the game, Nick Foles and company had no fight in them.

There was a point in the game where Ryan Tannehill had completed just five passes, while Derrick Henry was averaging under three yards per carry. At that stage, the game was well into the third quarter and Chicago still had zero points on the board. It was a classic embarrassment, which Bears fans have grown accustomed to as of late.

At one point, the Bears were 5-1. While any one of their wins could have turned the other way, five victories through six games was a great feeling. However, much of the national and local media had reason to doubt. Heck, fans had reason to doubt.

Players and coaches continued to preach the fact that a 5-1 record spoke for itself. Then, after a loss to Rams in prime time, it became, “We’re 5-2. We feel good about that,” according to Nagy.

Almost as quick as an avalanche picks up steam, the Bears’ record fell to 5-4 this past week and it appears they are headed for a disastrous ending to their once-promising season.

The Bears have far too many problems to address before the end of this season. It starts with coaching; play-calling, particularly. But, the offensive line is a disaster. Quarterback play is worst than ever, and it doesn’t matter who is under center.

Many fans now pose the question: Is it time to cash in on the season and look towards the 2021 NFL Draft? It’s a worthy question, and a question which some are leaning in favor of agreeing with.

Should the Bears start looking towards next year, they have to consider some of the top names in the upper portion of the 2021 draft class. These players would drastically change the outlook for Chicago in 2021.

Next: Penei Sewell

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A woman was critically injured in a fire Nov. 11, 2020, in Englewood. | Sun-Times file

No other injuries were reported, but a family of five was displaced from their home as a result of the blaze.

A woman was critically injured in a fire Wednesday in Englewood on the South Side.

The fire was reported about 12:55 a.m. at an apartment building in the 500 block of West 72nd Street, Chicago police said.

A 32-year-old woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center for smoke inhalation, and was listed in critical condition, police said. No other injuries were reported, but a family of five was displaced from their home as a result of the blaze.

The Chicago Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

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Forest Whitaker plays a toymaker whose notebook of invention was stolen in “Jingle Jangle.” | Netflix

The steampunk fantasy on Netflix comes complete with a joyful spirit, superb dance numbers and the singing talents of Forest Whitaker.

Magical.

“Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” has the power to fill your spirit with joy and make you want to burst into applause — not once, not twice, but at least three times, thanks to rousing, infectious, exquisitely choreographed production numbers worthy of a hit Broadway musical. And in fact, writer-director David E. Talbert originally conceived this work as a stage production, but it works beautifully as a colorful, creative, groundbreaking musical film with the principally Black cast turning in outstanding work in what will surely become perennial holiday viewing.

This is an impressively staged steampunk fantasy with elements of “The Princess Bride,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “A Christmas Carol” and even “Wall-E,” but it has its own signature look and sound, with memorably catchy musical numbers composed by Phillip Lawrence, Davy Nathan and Michael Diskint, plus one number from John Legend. Though it’s occasionally stuffed with too many trimmings and bells and whistles, like that one house in your neighborhood that goes over the top with the decorations every year, this is the kind of film that will have your kids saying, “Let’s watch it AGAIN” as soon as the end credits commence. And you’ll be OK with that, because you loved it too.

The framing device for “Jingle Jangle” has a kindly grandmother (Phylicia Rashad) reading a special Christmas story to her two young grandchildren. Off we go to the postcard-perfect village of Cobbleton (“played” by Norwich in the UK), where the brilliant and eccentric inventor and toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Justin Cornwell) has perfected an animatronic miniature named Don Juan (voiced by Ricky Martin), a loquacious and vain bullfighter. It’s a time for celebration — but things quickly take a turn for the worse, first when Jeronicus’ apprentice steals his notebook of inventions and then, tragically, when Jeronicus’ beloved wife passes away.

Cut to some 30 years later. Jeronicus (now played by Forest Whitaker, and who knew Forest Whitaker had such a fine singing voice!) has become a muttering, distracted, downtrodden old man who has turned his once-wondrous emporium into a pawn and repair shop. He hasn’t talked to his estranged daughter Jessica (Aniki Noni Rose) in years, and he hardly knows his 10-year-old granddaughter Journey (Madalen Mills) when she shows up on his doorstep for a holiday visit. Meanwhile, the hiss-worthy villain Gustafason (Keegan-Michael Key in a scene-stealing performance) has used the stolen book of inventions to become the most popular and successful toymaker in all the land. What a bounder!

Netflix

Oh, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the banker Mr. Delacroix (Hugh Bonneville from “Downton Abbey”), who has a great fondness for Jeronicus but periodically comes calling to remind him of the impending Christmas Day deadline for Jeronicus to make good on his debts. And there’s even time for a potential romance for the widowed Jeronicus, as the mail carrier Ms. Johnston (Lisa Davina Phillip) has an obvious crush on him.

So much movie packed into one story, but the universally appealing performances and the show-stopping musical numbers carry the day. The color-coordinated, elaborately constructed costumes by Michael Wilkinson are Oscar caliber, as is the production design by Gavin Bocquet. “Jingle Jangle” is the early Christmas gift that keeps on giving, a holiday film to be treasured.

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