Cubs target big arms and a big bat on Day 2 of MLB DraftMichael Ernston June 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm

Cubs Den

Cubs target big arms and a big bat on Day 2 of MLB Draft

Cubs target big arms and a big bat on Day 2 of MLB DraftMichael Ernston June 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm Read More »

Singing While The World BurnsLeaGroveron June 12, 2020 at 5:22 pm

Becoming SuperMommy

Singing While The World Burns

Singing While The World BurnsLeaGroveron June 12, 2020 at 5:22 pm Read More »

What will we call this when we look back?Margaret H. Laingon June 12, 2020 at 5:57 pm

Margaret Serious

What will we call this when we look back?

What will we call this when we look back?Margaret H. Laingon June 12, 2020 at 5:57 pm Read More »

Navy Pier Just Reopened Restaurants & Outdoor Spaces This WeekNishat Ahmedon June 11, 2020 at 8:09 pm

As of yesterday, Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier reopened some of its attractions, patios, and outdoor spaces back to the public. Since the onset of COVID-19, Navy Pier hasn’t been open since March 16th. With the cancelation of so many other Chicago summer staples, the return of this Chicago classic is a welcome one.

Chicago Parks — Photo Credit: Maggie Daley Park

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navy pier open — Photo Credit: Navy Pier

Parallel to the way that Illinois has been moving through different phases of operation as coronavirus plays out, Navy Pier is entering the first phase of its reopening plan. According to Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier, this is one of the longest closures the Pier has seen in recent history.

To ensure the safety of all guests, employees will be wearing masks or coverings in public spaces and prior to their shifts, their temperature will be checked. In accordance with state laws, gatherings of 10 or more people will not be allowed on patio spaces. On the Pier property and within the parking garages, more than 75 hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed for guests.

Across the area, signs will demarcate the appropriate spacing for groups of guests to keep between each other. All guests over the age of two are required to wear face masks that cover both the nose and mouth. Don’t worry if you forget yours at home; Navy Pier will have masks available for purchase for guests that have forgotten their masks at home or misplaced them. Navy Pier has made it clear that anyone violating these rules and putting the safety of employees and/or others “will be subject to removal from the premises.”

rooftop bars — Photo Credit: Offshore via Heron Agency

Areas available and open to the public are the Navy Pier parking garages, East End Plaza, tour boats, Polk Bros Park, Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion, Pier Park, North and South Dock, select outdoor restaurant spaces such as Tiny Tavern, Margaritaville Chicago, Billy Goat Tavern, and Offshore Rooftop & Bar. Other select free programs will also be available. Bottle filling stations will be operating, but no public drinking fountains will be available for us.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel Opening — Photo Credit: Navy Pier

It should be noted that no Navy Pier rides will be in operation at this time, but the Pier has laid out some protocol guidelines for when the rides do resume ‘normal’ activity. Included in these guidelines are timetables to consistently and frequently sanitize all digital ticketing screens at kiosks, putting Centennial Wheel riders in gondolas with guests only in their party, and utilizing only three of the six teacups at a time to ensure physical distancing and limited exposure time per teacup at a time. Expect the Centennial Wheel to halt operations for fifteen minutes every two hours for a complete sanitary wipedown.

Operations for Navy Pier as a whole will run from 10 am to 8 pm, while hours may vary from restaurant to restaurant. Interior spaces like the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Chicago Children’s Museum are to remain closed for Phase 1.

All of the guidelines, safe practices, and more, can be found in full detail on Navy Pier’s website. Even though this is only Phase 1 of their reopening, there’s plenty available to guests to allow for an enjoyable visit with friends and family. What do you want to see open in Phase 2? Let us know in the comments below!

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NFL Uniform Reviews: The Close & The GoodBaconon June 11, 2020 at 7:29 pm

Some Chicago Improvisor

NFL Uniform Reviews: The Close & The Good

NFL Uniform Reviews: The Close & The GoodBaconon June 11, 2020 at 7:29 pm Read More »

Sammy Sosa is making Chicago Cubs look awful with his wordsVincent Pariseon June 11, 2020 at 11:00 am

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs speaks at a press conference at Wrigley Field in Chicago 19 November after he was named National League Most Valuable Player. Sosa received 30 of 32 first place votes. AFP PHOTO/JOHN ZICH (Photo credit should read JOHN ZICH/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs refusal to allow Sammy Sosa back continues to make the organization look bad.

The Chicago Cubs had something special in Sammy Sosa. They acquired him in a trade with the Chicago White Sox and that turned him into one of the greatest athletes in Chicago sports history. With “Long Gone Summer” set to air on Sunday night, Sammy is in the news a lot right now and he is making his rounds on the media side to go with it.

He went on David Kaplan‘s show on ESPN 1000 to discuss things about his career, current life, and the documentary. David Kaplan is a friend of the program here and he has made it clear to me that he is a die-hard Cubs fan. In interviewing Sammy Sosa on Tuesday morning, it was clear that everyone on the show including Sosa wanted him to come back to Chicago and be honored in some way.

Sammy Sosa hit 609 home runs in the Major Leagues and is one of only nine players to reach the 600 home run plateaux. A lot of people speculate that Sosa was a PED user which is likely going to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. He never failed a drug test so the debate will go forever because nobody truly knows.

Regardless of what your stance is on the Hall of Fame, he is still one of the team’s all-time great players. The Cubs refused to honor him, even 22 years later, which is a joke. He sold a lot of tickets for them and put people in the seats for many years. He was the only captivating player on the Cubs in an era that the team was brutal. When Sammy was at the plate, especially in 1998, it was must-see TV.

You can even argue that without Sammy, all of the things that have been put up in Wrigleyville would not be there. He made the Cubs a lot of money and helped them grow into a nationwide brand. You can argue that Frank Thomas was a better hitter, but he didn’t have the global reach that Sosa had yet the Cubs refuse to let him do anything at Wrigley Field.

Sosa was good for the Cubs pretty much exclusively. He had a 60 career war but a 61 war with the Cubs. That means he had elite numbers with the Cubs but was a negative value player to the other teams he was with. A majority of his MLB damage came on the North Side and they are not even a little bit grateful.

The Cubs should absolutely retire his number but they won’t even let him throw out the first pitch or sing the seventh-inning stretch at a home game. It is honestly a disgrace to one of the greatest players to ever put on that uniform.

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Sammy Sosa is making Chicago Cubs look awful with his wordsVincent Pariseon June 11, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Cubs MLB Draft: Biggest needs on Day 2Ryan Sikeson June 11, 2020 at 1:02 pm

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(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs took Ed Howard on day one of the MLB Draft. As they look ahead to day two, here’s what they should target.

As day one of the 2020 MLB Draft came to a close, the Chicago Cubs will be prepping for the remaining four rounds on Thursday. As a quick recap, the north siders selected Ed Howard with the 16th overall pick. He’s a local kid, a shortstop from Mount Caramel High School, so it’s a cool story that he gets to stay home. Howard also played for the Jackie Robinson West Little League team, which makes his story all that much cooler.

The more I’ve had a chance to think about it, I really like this pick. I still have some feelings that the Cubs should have gone with Garrett Mitchell. But after Christian Hernandez, who the Cubs are expected to sign as an international free agent next month, is added to the farm system, the Cubs are loaded at middle infield help.

They also boast one of the best catching groups in baseball with Willson Contreras at the big league level with Miguel Amaya, Ethan Hearn, and Ronnier Quintero behind him on the depth chart. The Cubs may also be interested in adding some to potentially take over third base, in the event that Kris Bryant signs elsewhere after next season. But I don’t consider that to be an immediate need.

So I guess leading into day two of the MLB Draft, here are my thoughts on the Cubs’ approach and several players that they should target.

Next: An obvious need

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Chicago Cubs MLB Draft: Biggest needs on Day 2Ryan Sikeson June 11, 2020 at 1:02 pm Read More »