LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 18: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears runs a drill during training camp at Halas Hall on August 18, 2020 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Nam Y. Huh-Pool/Getty Images)
The ChicagoBears need a little bit more from their defensive star, Khalil Mack.
The Chicago Bears are well known for having a good defense. For the past two seasons, they have been one of the better groups in the entire National Football League. Well, the best player on the unit and the team, in general, is Khalil Mack. For his services, he is the highest-paid player on the entire roster. He deserves to be the highest-paid player because he is the most talented and most productive player but he needs to be better than he was in week one.
He was almost invisible in their first game this past Sunday. He only had two tackles and two assists and wasn’t a part of any turnovers. He does have an apparent injury as he was questionable leading up to the game but if he is good enough to play the Bears need him to make an impact.
In the past, we have seen what he can do for the Bears when he is at his best. There aren’t many game-breakers on defense quite like him. Robert Quinn was inactive against the Detroit Lions but might be ready to go for week two. If he is, Mack should be able to take advantage of having another very good player on the side opposite him.
Week two is a date with the New York Football Giants. They are not the best football team on planet earth but they have an elite running back. Saquon Barkley is one of the best in the business and the Bears are going to need Mack to help stop him. 35-year-old Adrian Peterson was able to have a day against their defense so if they play like that against Barkley it is going to be a bad time.
If Mack is able to come out this week and play well, it should be just what the doctor ordered for this defense. We know what they are capable of doing if everyone is healthy and we hope that they are able to put it together. Starting 2-0 would be huge for this football team and Mack needs to be a big part of all of it.
The ChicagoBears need to be more stout up the middle.
On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Bears snuck out of Detroit with an improbable victory against the Lions. For most of the game, things did not go well for the Bears. This is particularly true in the run game, which must improve dramatically before this weekend’s game against Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants.
The team seemed to do a decent job against the run in the first half, but the Lions really wore them down as the game went on. Detroit finished the game with a total of 138 yards on 29 carries. They seemed to struggle the most trying to stop veteran Adrian Peterson who signed with the Lions just before the start of the season.
Peterson accounted for 93 of those yards on just 14 carries good for 6.6 yards per carry. Ironically, despite having a big lead, head coach Matt Patricia chose not to feed the ball to Peterson, or the damage would have likely been much greater.
Against the Giants, they likely won’t be so lucky. New head coach Joe Judge and second-year quarterback Daniel Jones will lean heavily on Barkley, their uber-talented running back out of Penn State. The. Bears contained Barkley well last year, limiting him to 17 carries for 59 yards. However, last season, he rumbled for 125 yards on 24 carries.
It will be a tough task for the Bears who clearly missed the presence of Eddie Goldman, who has chosen to sit out the season due to concerns over COVID-19. Bilal Nichols and John Jenkins attempted to fill the void and did their best, but they were no substitute for Goldman who is clearly an invaluable and underrated piece of that defensive front.
It is also unlikely they bring in Damon “Snacks” Harrison who many fans have been calling for, but even if they do, it almost certainly won’t be before this Sunday. So the Bears will have to roll with what they have and figure out a way to stop the bleeding with what they have.
They have a legitimate shot of starting the season 2-0, but if they can’t slow down Saquon, that will be a tall order.
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 13: Allen Robinson #12 of the Chicago Bears looks on during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 13, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
ChicagoBears wide receiver Allen Robinson’s activity on Instagram would seem to indicate that he is at odds with the team.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson has said all the right things in public when it comes to speculation over a possible contract extension, however, Robinson’s activity on social media would seem to indicate that the wide receiver is not happy over his current status with the team.
Robinson was a leading candidate to receive a contract extension this off-season but as the days of summer passed by, it was beginning to look clear that the Bears’ primary wide receiver would not be reaching a new deal with the team before the 2020 NFL Regular Season began.
That was indeed the case as Robinson started for the Bears in their season-opening game against the Lions this past Sunday without a new contact with the team. In that game, Robinson was targeted 9 times while hailing in 5 receptions for a total of 74 yards.
Robinson was the most-targeted wide receiver for the Bears on Sunday and that should not be a surprise as that was the case for 2019 season as well. In the 2019 season, Robinson was targeted 154 times while compiling 98 receptions for a total of 1,147 yards and 7 touchdowns. Robinson was, in large part, the only effective and consistent offensive playmaker that the Bears had during the 2019 season.
Now at the age of 27, Robinson is set to become a free agent after this season. Bears fans have been pleading for the Bears to extend Robinson and on Monday, Robinson’s teammate Cordarrelle Patterson joined the chorus after Robinson posted a cryptic tweet.
Robinson’s tweet was lyric to a song titled “Gods Plan” by Drake. Regardless of the intent of Robinson’s tweet, the message was received by Patterson as he went on social media and tweeted directly at the Bears to extend his teammate.
While Robinson may want to move calm and keep it peaceful, his activity on Instagram on Monday tells a different story. As of Tuesday morning, Robinson had removed any reference to the Chicago Bears from his Instagram account.
While Robinson may say all the right things in public regarding a potential contact extension with the Bears, his activity on social media makes it clear that there may be some tension between the two sides.
Though, if history is an indicator, this could be a sign that a contract extension is imminent. Los Angeles Rams’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey removed all Rams’ pictures from his Instagram prior to signing a mega-contact extension with the Rams last week.
It goes without saying that the Bears need to extend Robinson. Not only is Robinson the Bears’ primary wide receiver but he has become a safety blanket for starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. On the rarity that Robinson is not Trubisky’s first read, the quarterback often looks back towards Robinson during times when the play breaks down. That has often lead to Robinson bailing out the Bears’ quarterback time and time again.
The Bears have often refrained from contract negotiations during the season under General Manager Ryan Pace. But, Pace may want to make an exception for Robinson. Otherwise, if the season plays out and Robinson does not receive a new contract, it may be more likely that the wide receiver leaves via free agency as opposed to returning to the Chicago Bears in 2021.
Bullwinkle is a bouncy, energetic, muscular, and playful, nine-year-old, 65-pound, brindle and white, male Am Staff Terrier looking for a loving guardian.
Someone cropped Bullwinkle’s ears to make him look tough, but he is a happy-go-lucky guy who loves to have his belly rubbed. He is a strong and solid dog who loves to play ball. He is full of tail wags for everyone he meets.
He knows the commands sit and down. He rides well in the car; he just curls up in the passenger seat. He’s great on leashed walks as well.
He is housebroken and crate-trained. Bullwinkle is de-wormed, neutered, up-to-date on vaccines, micro-chipped, heartworm-tested and on monthly preventative. His adoption fee of $200 benefits the rescued dogs of Lucky Dog Rescue.
I first photographed this guy back in January of 2013 and he has been kenneled waiting for a loving home for over seven years! Isn’t it time someone took a chance on him?
To meet and possibly adopt him, please contact Melia at [email protected] or 708-224-1900.
He is currently being kenneled in Union, Illinois.
32 Aburdour Court, North Barrington: $895,000 | Listed Aug. 20, 2020 (Jason Adrian)
This North Barrington mansion has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, two half-bathrooms and vaulted ceilings. As part of the gated Wynstone Community, it offers views out to a pond set on the Wynstone golf course. Panoramic windows on the home’s screened-in porch offer a pleasant outlook, while outdoor spaces include a second-floor patio and a gazebo equipped with a television and framed by recessed lighting. Inside, a stately foyer gives way to 7,015 square feet of living space, from a two-story great room capped by a spiral staircase, to a family room with a wood-burning fireplace. The kitchen is equipped with quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances and a breakfast bar. A first-floor private apartment with its own deck and kitchen joins a primary bedroom suite touting a whirlpool tub. Each of the six bedrooms has its own en-suite bathroom. An office, a wet bar, a basement with a fitness area, and a four-car garage complete the home. A one-year Wynstone social/dining membership is included.
Agent: Connie Antoniou of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 847-508-7775
Trust yourself. Believe in your goals and go after them even if it’s never been achieved before. Be the first! Blaze the trail and set the new standard. People (regardless of their good intent) who live in fear will try to talk you out of pursuing destiny, but your future shouldn’t be negotiated by someone who’s not going where you’re going.
Don’t settle for “good enough,” when greater is obtainable. Leave your ideas on the table. Be confident, take the risk and own it! You’ll find you have support from the right people in the right places who will help you along the way. It’s not going to kill you. In fact, you won’t live in peace, if you don’t try! Go for it!
Mm, but she blinded me with science She blinded me with science And failed me in biology, yeh yeh
Donald Trump has an issue with science. Even after he is shown all the data, he doesn’t accept or believe in climate change. Like everything else in his world, he thinks he knows better than than the scientific experts. And as always, this makes life worse for everyone on the planet.
I can smell the chemicals Blinding me with science, science Science…Science
The west coast is burning up. Fires are out of control in in California, Oregon and Washington. It’s not that unusual. It seems to happen at this same time every year. Donald Trump has his own theory on how to combat this. Forest management! Last year it was as simple as raking up all the leaves and the branches. Yesterday, he went to California and after getting off Air Force 1, he gave us this theory:
“When trees fall down after a short period of time they become very dry – really like a matchstick … and they can explode.”
Then, he doubled down later during a briefing with California Governor Gavin Newsom and other climate experts. Newsom told Trump, “Climate change is real, and that is exacerbating this. Please respect, and I know you do, the difference of opinion out here as it relates to this fundamental issue … of climate change.”
When another expert, Wade Crowfoot, the California Secretary for Natural Resources said that climate change was the primary source of the fires, Trump counted with, “It’ll start getting cooler – you just watch.” When Crowfoot responded with “I wish science would agree with you.”, Don countered with this classic,
“I don’t think science knows, actually.”
How does anyone come back from a line like that? How do you combat that ignorance? How can you expect to teach someone when they believe that? How can you expect someone to understand the problem when they don’t believe the scientific proof?!
She blinded me with science She blinded me with science And failed me in geometry
Look, I admit I wasn’t very good at science. I barely passed biology, chemistry and botany. I squeaked by all three and got out of there as fast as possible. But, just because I didn’t understand it didn’t mean I didn’t respect it or think the findings were a lie. But, that’s what we’re dealing with here in 2020. If it’s not climate change, it’s the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Donald Trump, it’s all a hoax or it’s politically driven to end his presidency.
There’s less than two months until the election. Is it possible to re-elect a man who actually said, “I don’t think science knows, actually”? Donald Trump really is blinded by the science.
She blinded me with science She blinded me with science And hit me with technology
Song lyrics written by Thomas Dolby/ Jonathan Kerr, “She Blinded me With Science”
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My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.
Premiere Digitally Nationwide Friday September 18th
Bush+Renz Film
QC Entertaiment
Lionsgate
Starring: Janelle Monae (Eden/Veronica), Eric Lange (Owner), Jack Huston (Captain Jasper), Jena Malone (Elizabeth), Gabourey Sidibe with Lily Cowles, Tongayi Chirisa and Kiersey Clemons, Marque Richardson
Rating: 4.5 out 5 Popcorns Buckets
“….if you suddenly woke up in a parallel universe… One that is familiar but only in a folklore of past down generational stories. It reveals the true wickedness that your ancestors endured. Your mind is the year 2020 but your body is trapped in a reality of Louisiana 1863. With your freedoms, liberties and happiness cultivated for today at stake……it truly makes you question, what the hell would you do….”
Antebellum is a true psycho twisted thriller from the producers of “Get Out” and “Us” with directing duo Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz on the forefront. With the given success of previous stated features (from the genius of Jordan Peele), Antebellum tried to duplicate said formula with a terrifying twist on delusions of living in modern times of Black Lives Matter and Make America Great Again.
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Our initial glimpse of Monae occurs when she refuses to acknowledge her given name and owner (Lange) brands his property. When you push past the “beauty” of Southern Belles, manicured lawns with pristine flowers, the introduction of 3/5 of humans hits immediately. Within the first 15 minutes, the viewer realizes that death is a necessary consequence for those seeking escape or freedom. A brutal execution by overseer Capt Jasper (Huston) establishes the real tone on this reformer plantation. Speaking without permission and failing to respond (when summoned) are followed with drastic beatings and/or death.
This piece of cinema will make one look at the current climate of our country’s agenda: Highlighted video police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, with the never ending plight of equality (within a racist society) certain scenes will strike accord. (Interesting fact is that Bush+Renz made a conscious effort not to use the N-word at all.)
In the first half of the film we witness Eden (Monae) cultivate her exit strategy by manipulating her door henges, careful floorboard footing and whispering with Eli (Chirisa) and newbie Julia (Clemons). Then with a sound of ringtone, the audience is whisked in the present day of Best Selling Author/Respected Academic Dr Veronica Henley. Her no nonsense approach is displayed with an excellent upstaging of a conservative pundit during a television segment. After that, Easter Eggs of hunting music scores and a weird video interaction with Elizabeth (Malone) sets the tone for whats to come.
Could Antebellum be a movie that creates a real dialogue about white supremacy?
Antebellum really does reach into the realm of America’s racist psyche while continuing with conspiracy layers. This is evident in a restaurant scene (which is a brilliant scene with Gabourey Sidibe’s character leading the charge). Antebellum gives real life to the systemic undertones of racism, classism and unequality thru out the generations. Antebellum will definitely piss you off as it should: but so should the fact the BLM and the continue silence refuses to die.
This movie really does cause one to ask themselves “what are you going to do about it?”
Six Brown Chicks’ Cabryl Breotti is the creator/host of the kickass podcast Cabryl Chats.
I am standing at the service line, watching as my partner ranges to his right to go after a passing shot that has whizzed past my feebly outstretched racket. It is the first night of my tennis league, my indoor tennis league, and Month 6 of Life During COVID. And I am wondering what the heck I am doing here.
We have been pretty careful since March. Yes, we shop in grocery stores, and not just during the hours restricted to us AARP’ers. But everyone in the stores is wearing masks and we do a lot of sanitizing.
Yes, we have had friends and family to our house, but always on the back deck, well-spaced, and again with plenty of sanitation. (One exception–when it got too dark outside and friends came into our sunroom to finish a game of Password. I still regret that–and not just because my team lost.)
Yes, we have eaten at restaurants, but 3 times in 6 months isn’t too excessive. And 2/3 of those meals were outside dining.
So no, we are not perfect, but we have been trying to stay safe and healthy.
And now my tennis league has begun. Sure, the club has regulations. Masks are required in all areas except the courts. Locker rooms are closed, water fountains turned off, after-match beers while watching the 4th quarter of Monday Night Football are a no-no. And we must follow a circuitous pathway through the lobby to keep the incoming players from the outgoing players–something about as effective as the one-way arrows in the grocery store aisles in preventing close encounters of the virus kind.
And here I am, unmasked, in a cavernous room with stagnant air, where 11 other men are running, jumping, yelling, laughing, and expelling our respiratory contents as we circle each other. tapping rackets with our partners. In my head, I see images of coronaviruses, each as big as the Wilson 4’s we are playing with, floating in space.
Yes, I know this isn’t a packed political rally. It’s not a motorcycle festival. It’s not a frat party or a drink at a crowded bar. But with my nearly Medicare status, and with my diabetes, my risk factors stand out in this group of highly athletic 30 and 40-year-olds.
So I begin to get afraid. And I ask myself, when is the fun worth the fear?
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Hi! I am Les, a practicing pathologist living in the North Suburbs and commuting every day to the Western ones. I have lived my entire life in the Chicago area, and have a pretty good feel for the place, its attractions, culture, restaurants and teams. My wife and I are empty-nesters with two adult children and a grandchild. We recently decided to downsize, but just a bit! I will be telling the story of the construction of our new home, but also writing about whatever gets me going on a particular day. Be sure to check out the “About” page to learn more about where we plan to go with this blog!
I’m Jerry Partacz, happily married to my wife Julie for over 40 years. I have four children and eleven grandchildren. I’m enjoying retirement after 38 years of teaching. I now have an opportunity to share my thoughts on many things. I’m an incurable optimist. I also love to solve crossword puzzles and to write light verse. I love to read, to garden, to play the piano, to collect stamps and coins, and to watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
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