Former ChicagoBears coach thinks the competition is Trubisky’s to lose.
The Chicago Bears just recently wrapped up their first week of practice. They’ll hit the field again at Halas Hall on Tuesday to begin week two after taking Monday off. The off-day helped fans take a breath and try to catch up on all of the buzz that has been coming out of training camp.
Unfortunately, the visual evidence has been severely limited as the Bears have restricted what fans can see and hear from the media. Without fans at practice, fans are left with drips and drabs and have thoroughly dissected the quarterback competition, apparently arriving at conclusions based on the limited evidence.
However, it is not just fans who are reaching conclusions about who will win the quarterback competition between incumbent Mitchell Trubisky and challenger Nick Foles.
In fact, a former Bears head coach has weighed in and sounded fairly confident in his assertion.
Tuesday morning, Dave Wannstedt appeared as a guest on the Mully and Haugh Show on 670 The Score. He did not mince words in predicting Mitch would be the starter when it is all said and done.
Said Wannstedt: “Mitch (Trubisky) is the guy right now. I don’t know how (Nick) Foles can do anything to unseat him going into opening week. It’s a good situation right now.”
Not only did he sound confident that Mitch would win the job, but he was equally confident that there is little Foles could do the rest of the way to change the outcome. Specifically, Wannstedt said, “I don’t know how Foles can do anything to unseat him going into opening week.”
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That’s a pretty bold comment to make after just one week of practice, most of which was not in pads and consisted of 7 on 7 drills. Without either quarterback being more stringently tested in simulated game situations against a variety of defenses coverages, it seems premature to make any declaration at this stage.
Yet, Wanny appears ready to do so despite the majority of reporters stating Trubisky has a slight edge but recognizing this competition is far from over.
So we fans can return to our Twitter machines awaiting the next round of updates, frothing at the mouth for any information. As it comes in we will see whether it supports Wannstedt’s claim. If Mitch takes command and wins the competition, fans can all agree that’s the best-case scenario for the team. But it still feels like this one has a long way to go.
Watch Berkowitz w/IL 14th CD R Candidate Jim Oberweis in one of hottest U. S. House races in the Country.
The show airs tonight at 8:30 pm (to 9 pm) and midnight in Chicago on Cable Ch. 21 (CAN TV) and will be re-run tomorrow night at 9:01 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
Sen. Oberweis is trying to lead Republicans to turn the U. S. House red by defeating Rep. Lauren Underwood, rated by the impartial UCLA institute as the 2nd most liberal freshman Cong. in House, even more so than the so called “Radical squad.” The IL 14th CD is generally recognized to favor Republicans by at least six or seven points.
The show covers in some detail what many view as the most important issues in this race and the Presidential race, including re-opening the economy & schools, handling of Covid19 and the Economy- past and future, and crime, looting and protests.
We also covered in some detail many other important issues: taxes (including the Trump tax cuts and their impact on keeping Corporate HQ and operations in the U.S), what Oberweis calls the “Pritzker-Madigan tax increase,” on the ballot in November, healthcare, law and order, BLM, grass roots assistance provided by Corey Brooks to Chicago’s South side; George Floyd and police misconduct; China, tariffs, IP and Trade.
Also covered are Speaker Madigan’s scandals & what Oberweis says is Madigan’s significant financial help to Lauren Underwood; Antifa and the riots, voting by mail, Oberweis’ view that state & local bailouts would not be helpful to IL or the country, unemployment insurance federal supplements and Jim Oberweis’ contention that Cong. Underwood has failed to respond to inquiries about her positions on key issues.
The Tigers are not a good team, but the Cubs needed this win to get back on track. The Cubs managed to hang on yesterday to avoid the sweep, but today saw the Cubs looking like the team that rolled out to their best start since 1907. These games frequently can be traced back to one moment and that moment might have been the bottom of the third inning. The Cubs rallied with two outs to score two runs in the top of the second, and Alec Mills delivered a shut down inning in the bottom. However, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the third with former Cub Jeimer Candelairo at the plate. Candelairo bounced into a fielder’s choice that allowed a run to score, but defused the rally with a foul pop up keeping the Tigers down one run. The Cubs then cruised to their easiest win in a while.
The Cubs went quietly in the first inning, but the Tigers threatened in the bottom half of the frame. Jonathan Schoop and Miguel Cabrera hit back to back singles. Mills punched out Candelairo and Niko Goodrum to end the frame.
Willson Contreras reached with a one out base hit to start the Cubs offense. Heyward had a productive out to move Contreras into scoring position. Casey Mize plunked Victor Caratini to extend the inning. David Bote and Nico Hoerner’s back to back singles plated two runs to put the Cubs ahead. Ian Happ walked to load the bases but Anthony Rizzo popped the first pitch up to end the inning.
Tbe Tigers made it a 2-1 game with their third inning rally. The Cubs then put the game away with Bote hitting a solo shot to start the frame. Nico Hoerner reached on an error and advanced to second on a stolen base. Happ flew out deep enough for Hoerner to reach third with one out. Rizzo then made amends with a clean single to drive in Hoerner. Javier Baez then hit a bomb to extend the Cubs lead to 6-1.
Alec Mills settled in to retire nine Tigers in a row to cruise through a quality start. The Cubs put a rally together in the fifth inning but in a familiar turn of events left the bases loaded. The Cubs offense cooled off until the ninth inning, but it was enough for the Cubs staff.
Mills ran into a little trouble in the seventh inning yielding a two run blast to Christian Stewart to start the inning, but he completed the inning for the quality start. Ryan Tepera and Colin Rea closed it out, but first the Cubs bats played screw the closer in the top of the ninth. Baez hit a solo shot and David Bote delivered a bases loaded knock to extend the Cubs lead to 9-3.
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In the arcade classic NBA Jam if you made three consecutive baskets with the same player then he would become on fire. MLB baseball doesn’t exactly work the same way but it certainly feels like this team is heating back up. The Cubs have feasted on interleague play for a while now, and the offense got its mojo back in a big way. Javier Baez hit a bomb and then he did it again. There are a lot of things to feel good about as the team won two in a row for the first time in a week while evening their last 10 record to .500.
My coverage of the Black Is Beautiful beer collaboration project continues, with the version made by Marz Community Brewing of Chicago’s South Side. They are directing proceeds to the Chicago Community Bond Fund, whose goal is to end pretrial detention for people who cannot afford bail in Cook County.
Marz describes their variation:
We took the base recipe for this robust imperial from Weathered Souls Brewing and put our Marz spin on it by infusing it with coconut and vanilla for a sweet and smooth finish.
Our buds at Omega Yeast generously donated their special strains to help make our Black is Beautiful beer.
I picked this beer up in a 4-pack of 12 oz. cans from Binny’s Willowbrook.
It pours a not quite solid black, with half a finger of brown foam that sticks around like those Jell-o parfaits. I don’t get much nose out of this; could be my summer allergies. But after I start drinking it, I can pick out some coconut amidst a snootful of malt roastiness.
The taste is nice and smooth at first. Then the malt roast comes around to bully the palate. This finishes a lot better than the initial nose would suggest. It trades smoothness for some aggressive malt roast and alcohol. I think this is exactly what the brewer wanted to do, so a kudo for reaching that goal.
I have two more of these in my fridge for future reviews. I’m finding that a lot of these are going up as draft only. I’d love to hit them all, but I need to stay close to home for the heath of my family in these contagious times. Also, some of the brewers are putting the beers into barrels for aging, which means they could come out continuously over the coming months.
But once again, I acknowledge that my contribution to these proceeds is relatively small, but at least I’m putting my own money out for them. And I have a reason to drink imperial stouts in the hottest days of summer!
By the way, I realized I’m in my tenth year of posting beer reviews to YouTube under the “One-Take Beer Review” playlist. This is my 75th review, and my fifth of the “Black Is Beautiful” series. And frankly, the more I work with the iMovie software to put these videos online, the easier it becomes.
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Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
The diverse executives and entrepreneurs self-dubbed the “Southside” group, returned for their second episode on the popular unscripted series BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN Charter 5. The “Southside” group made up of married couples Sean and Crystal Foote, Richard and Karen Bramwell, Corey and Barbara Graham, and Chris and My Lowe, join the mega yacht’s crew, to bring an unparalleled episode highlighting black love, interracial marriage, cultural diversity, unity and positivity as they journey together to exotic luxury destinations aboard The Wellington, which aired Monday, August 3, 2020, on Bravo.
Episodes with “The Southside” group brought a rise in TV ratings offering fans a peek into the lives of these four fabulous married couples who travel the world together, all while remotely managing professional careers and driving their businesses to new heights. The “Southside” guests bring their “work hard and play harder” ways to the reality series unlike any group before as they live out the fruits of their labors and lifelong relationships starting back when Sean Foote, Rich Bramwell, Karen Bramwell, and Corey Graham met at private elementary school and overcame the adversity and challenges of growing up in Southside Jamaica Queens, NY in the late 80s.
The “SOUTHSIDE” group boards BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN, Season 5 bringing with them a cultural spectrum and life experience unlike any other charter guests today. Each couple takes with them a strong set of values along with a rich sense for Fun, Family, Fashion and Food, as we get a sneak peek into how they navigate adversity and life’s challenges in this inspiring venture.
The BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN Season 5 “Southside” episode (Charter 5) airs on Bravo or you can stream live on the Bravo Now app. Follow the “Southside” group’s Instagram @Southside_POV_TV.
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Nekia Nichelle
Nekia Nichelle is a digital and broadcast journalist covering entertainment, lifestyle, beauty and pinch of fashion.
She has interviewed celebrities such as John Legend, Halle Berry, Jenny McCarthy, Brandy, Queen Latifah, Katie Couric and more.
When she’s not blogging, she can be heard on 107.5 WGCI, V103 and WLIT 93.9FM, as well as other stations, keeping you informed on all the traffic snafus during your morning commute.
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The R&B Princess of Chicago levels up with a new video, Jessie Reyez cover song Imported. Following up from major features in TheSource.com and Singers Room Laje’ is not slowing down and is prepping to release a series of music. Recently named “Artist Of The Month” from iHeart radio’s WGCI in Chicago, Laje’ is industry ready and has been consistent this entire year with new music.
The songstress takes a sexy approach in her new video cover Imported displaying she’s up next with a remix that fits her voice like a glove. Singing within the meadows of the concrete shows an edgy yet soft angle of not only her grind but her style of artistry. Adding her twist to the current single, Laje’ gives original singer Jessie Reyez a run for her money with her vocal play and runs. The two-part scene video sums up that visually keeping it simple and finding beauty in the most extraordinary places is key. Laje’s new videos exude simplicity with a splash of creativity on the R&B tip.
For more information about Laje’, you can follow her at @LajeOfficial
Get Updates on Celebrity Interviews, trendy Beauty & Fashion Tips, and coverage of Live Events
Meet The Blogger
Nekia Nichelle
Nekia Nichelle is a digital and broadcast journalist covering entertainment, lifestyle, beauty and pinch of fashion.
She has interviewed celebrities such as John Legend, Halle Berry, Jenny McCarthy, Brandy, Queen Latifah, Katie Couric and more.
When she’s not blogging, she can be heard on 107.5 WGCI, V103 and WLIT 93.9FM, as well as other stations, keeping you informed on all the traffic snafus during your morning commute.
Stay social with her on:
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat: @NekiaNichelle
Facebook Fan Page: @IamNekiaNichelle
3420 Adams Road, Oak Brook: $2,099,000 | Listed July 30, 2020 (Pineapple Labs)
This 9,702-square-foot Oak Brook mansion has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The home sits on a wooded lot with a front garden, a fountain and a tree house. The two-story foyer features a grand staircase, arched entryways and marble flooring. The great room is equipped with a vintage chandelier, French door leading to a private balcony, and a 14-foot-tall cast-stone fireplace, which is double-sided and also faces into the kitchen. Remodeled in 2019, the kitchen touts white Macaubas quartzite stone countertops and backsplash, Viking Professional Series appliances and an island with seating. The first-floor office also has French doors leading to the spacious terrace looking out to the wooded backyard.
The living room is outfitted with a marble fireplace, while a sunroom features floor-to-ceiling windows and travertine tiles. The primary bedroom suite is made up of a bathroom, a spacious walk-in closet and a sitting room with 270-degree views of foliage. The walk-out lower level has 9-foot-high ceilings, a fully equipped kitchen, a look-through stone fireplace and access to a flag stone private patio. The lower level’s theater features a built-in home entertainment system with a projector, a drop-down screen and surround sound. Two separate heated garages have space for four cars.
Agent: Ellyn Collins of Coldwell Banker Realty, 708-310-5926
Do you enjoy the crispy, fresh crunch of lettuce? How about the mouth-watering umami of chicken or beef? What is a lettuce wrap if not the combination of these two disparate elements, along with perhaps an earthy peanut sauce and a squeeze of lime? If you like (or even prefer— no judgment) your leafy greens to serve as a vehicle for your protein, or just want to have a snack with your bubble tea, check out these Chicago spots that offer the beloved and often-riffed-on lettuce wrap.
Photo Credit: Shine Facebook Page
756 W Webster Ave, Chicago IL 60614
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At Shine in Lincoln Park, you can find just the right mix of light summer flavors with darker savory undertones in the Crisp Lettuce Wraps, which combine chicken, crispy vegetables, egg, crushed roasted almonds, and a plum sauce.
Photo Credit: Pingpong Facebook Page
3322 N Broadway St, Chicago IL 60657
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This Pan-Asian restaurant in Lakeview, whose first night of business was apparently sustained chiefly by “two bags of groceries, a secondhand hotplate and a memorized list of recipes,” offers Lettuce Cups— the fresh lettuce being a vehicle for chicken, toasted shallots, lime zest, peanuts, and ginger.
Photo Credit: Sushi San Yelp Page
63 W Grand Ave, Chicago IL 60654
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Though this Japanese restaurant’s focus is largely sushi (deliveries from a fish market in Japan arrive regularly), Sushi-San offers an array of other tasty treats— including BBQ Beef Lettuce Wraps, which are topped with a miso sambal dressing.
Photo Credit: Polygon Yelp Page
5204 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60640
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For some spicy, crunchy goodness, head over to Andersonville for a Thai-style lettuce wrap. With spicy chicken, scallions, red onions, rice, and ground chili presented in fresh lettuce, the Larb Chicken Lettuce Wrap is sure to go well with a Thai Ice Coffee.
Photo Credit: Niu Sushi Fusion Yelp Page
332 E Illinois St, Chicago IL 60611
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Though this downtown Japanese fusion lounge doesn’t call it a lettuce wrap, the Vegetarian Rice Paper Spring Roll embodies similar qualities of such a wrap, just without any meat. Avocado, asparagus, bean sprouts, cucumber, and beets are wrapped in both lettuce and rice paper and served with plum sauce.
Photo Credit: Joy Yee Yelp Page
Multiple Locations
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Since opening its first two locations in Evanston and Chinatown in the 90s, Joy Yee’s Noodles has been pioneering bubble teas and smoothies, as well as offering a wide variety of Pan-Asian cuisine. Among these delicious menu items is the Thai Style Lettuce Wrap, which comes with shrimp or a combination of shrimp and pork.
Photo Credit: Opart Thai House Facebook Page
1906 S State St, Chicago IL 60616
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1371 W Chicago Ave, Chicago IL 60642
Among the hefty list of appetizers on Opart Thai House’s menu is Miang Sa-Wan, which is a mixture of dried pork, peanuts, lime, ginger, onions, and Thai hot peppers, which are served alongside some green lettuce leaves to create your wraps.
Listed among the “Club Favorites” on the menu of this North Avenue Beach spot, you’ll find Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps which, while they are technically cups, thankfully deliver the expected goodness of Thai chicken, peanut sauce, tropical slaw, and cilantro.
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From energetic karaoke bars to stellar new restaurants, there’s no shortage of fun in Chinatown! Whether you’re visiting a friend or just looking for something different, check out these must-see locations to grab a drink. Or two. Or seven (just kidding, please drink responsibly).
Looking for wine, beer, and cocktails? Dolo is one of the only restaurants in Chinatown to offer a full-service bar. Grab a seat on their outdoor patio—it’s an adorable location to kick back and enjoy gourmet Dim Sum, dumplings, and drinks.
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Photo Credit: Sakura Instagram Page
234 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
A night out in Chinatown isn’t complete unless you hit up a karaoke bar. Sakura is one of the best-known karaoke places in Chicagoland with a recently remodeled and expanded bar, a dance floor with LED lighting system, and private VIP suites. Sip a few martinis here and you’ll be ready to take the stage!
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Photo Credit: Zero Bar Instagram Page
453 W 24th St, Chicago, IL 60616
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Keep the party going at this chill karaoke bar. Head to the second floor for some moody lighting, leather chairs, and modern-looking space. The bar area has a $15 minimum per person so feel free to quench your thirst with some bucket o’ beers or cocktails.
Photo Credit: Pop KTV Groupon
2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
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Another Karaoke bar that welcomes everyone from amateur singers to American Idol wannabes. Pop KTV offers a wide range of music from F.Cuz to Evanescence, unique drink specialties like rainbow shots, casual bar fares like lamb and beef skewers and fried chicken wings, and all-around good times for large groups.
Photo Credit: Ahjoomah’s Apron Instagram
218 W Cermak Rd, Chicago IL 60616
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If you’re wanting something a little different, check out the first and only Korean restaurant in Chinatown. Order up a round or three of Korea’s national alcohol, Soju, a clear beverage with an alcohol by volume between 16% and 25%.
Photo Credit: Reggie’s Instagram Page
2109 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616
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Located just outside of Chinatown, Reggies is a great spot to enjoy drinks and live music. They’re open Sunday through Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm but you’ll want to get here early since they don’t accept reservations and tables are first-come, first-serve. Knockback a few cold ones and rock out!
Photo Credit: Sage Room Instagram Page
67 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
Just a stone’s throw away from Chinatown is this classy joint with exceptional drinks. Experience the Sage Room’s playful twist on classic cocktails, curated by in-house mixologists. Their seasonal cocktail menu features flavor profiles that start at refreshing and light, maturing to more robust. Great for happy hour, Wine Wednesdays, and DJ sets on the weekend.
Photo Credit: Bar 22 Instagram Page
2244 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Another “hidden gem” in Chicago’s South Loop is this modern, upscale bar. Former home to some of the first automobile rows, Bar 22 represents the evolution of the Motor Row District into a hub for music and entertainment. Check out their live music on Fridays or fifty-cent wings on Saturday.
Located 22 stories high, VU Skyward boasts three bars and two patios allowing for casual drinking, eating, and lounging experience. Enjoy a locally-driven beverage program with top-notch eats and stunning views of the lake and downtown area.
At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.
Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!
The ChicagoBulls coaching search just took an interesting turn.
It has only been approximately 10 days since the Chicago Bulls parted ways with their head coach when they officially fired Jim Boylen on August 14th. Since then, there has been wild speculation over who would be the Bulls’ next coach.
Many postured that Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas and General Manager Marc Eversley have their eyes on a particular candidate but are waiting until that candidate’s team is eliminated from the NBA’s playoff bubble before they can make their move.
One such candidate who fits that profile is Philadelphia 76ers assistant Ime Udoka. In fact, Udoka had previously been rumored as the early favorite to land the job. Well, if in fact, Udoka is at the top of the list, the Bulls may want to move expeditiously.
That’s because of what has transpired over the last 24 hours. On Sunday night, the 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics who completed a four-game sweep. As a result, the team is rumored to be parting ways with their head coach, Brett Brown, after seven seasons. While no announcement has been made yet, it could come at any time.
So how does that impact the Bulls? Well, perhaps Udoka, a current 76er assistant, is on the team’s shortlist to replace Brown, who failed to get the team to the promised land after their massive rebuild. Udoka is largely seen as an up-and-coming star in the coaching ranks and his familiarity with the players and the organization might give him the advantage.
In fact, one might even speculate that the 76ers made such a quick decision to fire Brown to try to prevent another team — like the Bulls – from swooping in and poaching Udoka. Multiple media outlets are already reporting Udoka as one of the candidates to replace Brown should the team make it official.
The Bulls were smart to wait for their guy and not rush to hire a coaching candidate just for the sake of doing so. When you identify your candidate, there is nothing wrong with being patient until he’s available. With that said, if Udoka is the guy, the Bulls need to strike soon or risk losing him for good.
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