3 people killed, 14 wounded by gunfire in Chicago over Christmas weekend
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Chicago Blackhawks News: Canada falters in World Junior openerVincent Pariseon December 27, 2022 at 12:00 pm
EDMONTON, AB – AUGUST 19: Connor Bedard #16 of Canada warms up prior to the game against Czechia in the IIHF World Junior Championship on August 19, 2022 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Photo by Andy Devlin/ Getty Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks are a rebuilding organization. They have big decisions to make before the trade deadline for some obvious players but the plan is to keep the youth movement going.
There are a lot of great young players in their system right now. Some of them are playing in the 2022-23 World Junior Championships for different countries.
Every team in the NHL wants to see their guys dominate in this tournament and the Hawks are no different. It is always a ton of fun to watch but it is even better when you are rebuilding.
The Hawks have five players representing them in the tournament. One of them is Victor Stjernborg who was a part of a dominating win for Team Sweden. They defeated Austria by a final score of 11-0 which is absolute domination.
The other four all play for Team Canada. Three of them are defensemen (Nolan Allan, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro) and one of them is a forward (Colton Dach). Of course, this Canadian team is expected to be a favorite each year.
The Chicago Blackhawks have some major influence on Team Canada at the WJC.
With guys like Connor Bedard, Shane Wright, and Adam Fantilli leading the way up front, you’d expect some big things from these guys who are either already drafted really high or expected to be at the 2023 NHL Draft.
Shockingly, however, Canada lost to the Czech by a final score of 5-2 in a stunner. It was a dominating performance for Team Czech as they pulled off the upset by executing their game plan. They also didn’t show any fear just because they were playing Canada.
Shane Wright scored on a beautiful redirection to give Canada a 1-0 lead but the Czech responded by scoring three straight goals. Connor Bedard scored a little bit after the Czech took that 3-1 lead to bring Canada back into the game.
Again, instead of crawling into a shell, the Czech team went out and scored two more and took the big opening win.
Of course, it would surprise nobody if they won out and took home the Gold. It just isn’t a good start to their tournament but there is time to turn it around. This roster is too talented to fold from here.
Next up for Canada is a Wednesday matchup against Team Germany as they continue Group A play.
They already lost to Czech and Sweden earned the aforementioned 11-0 victory so Canada is definitely behind the eight ball but they have overcome things like this as a hockey country before and are capable of doing it again.
Practical Theatre Company comes back to Evanston, where the laughs began
When three seasoned comedians endure a pandemic together, write a musical sketch comedy show about their experience, then schedule a performance in Evanston in 2021 only for that show to then be canceled due to said pandemic, all they can do is try again.
“Vic & Paul & Dana’s Post-Pandemic Revue,” opening Thursday at Evanston’s Studio 5, benefits from a boosted process this go-round. Practical Theatre Company co-founder Paul Barrosse and cast member Victoria Zielinski, now married, moved to Evanston from Los Angeles last summer, affording them proximity to family (Zielinski is from Beverly) and to Dana Olsen, their creative collaborator rounding out the trio.
Rehearsals are now in-person and they’ve been able to polish the show well in advance — though some elements remain unchanged.
“There’s probably a reason why people of our age don’t go every night on the stage and do these revues, because it’s exhausting,” Zielinski says.
Its members are betraying the age of the Practical Theatre Company, an unsung group of Northwestern University performing arts graduates who briefly gave Second City a run for its money in the 1980s and, in the process, afforded Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” “Seinfeld”) her big break.
Other productions have featured Richard Kind (“Spin City,” “Mad About You”), Lewis Black (“Inside Out,” “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart”), Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”), Laura Innes (“ER”) and even improv guru Del Close.
Evanston is where all these collaborations began. While attending Northwestern in the late 1970s, Barrosse joined his roommates Brad Hall and Robert Mendel and their friend Angela Murphy and founded The Practical Theatre Company, which dedicated itself to physical, active sketch and improv comedy.
After an on-campus debut season and a second at nearby Noyes Cultural Arts Center, the group attempted the impractical and leased a 42-seat storefront theater space on Howard Street, at the Chicago border.
It was at this time, during the third season, that the group began attracting the attention of the Joseph Jefferson Awards committee.
One judge, the late Second City and Steppenwolf director Sheldon Patinkin, was particularly smitten by Practical Theatre’s comedy revue “Scubba Hey.” Its cast included Barrosse, Hall and two fellow Mee-Ow Show alums: Rush Pearson and, when Zielinski wasn’t available due to law school commitments, a young Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose days of “Seinfeld,” yada, yada, yada, were still to come.
“I knew she was funny; she could be physical, she could mug and she was smart,” Barrosse says.
The Practical Theatre Company’s Brad Hall (from left), Gary Kroeger, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Paul Barrosse in 1983.
Sun-Times file
Patinkin mentioned the group to Bernie Sahlins, co-founder of Second City, who offered them the chance to open a 150-seat theater in the Piper’s Alley space next to his theater’s home on North and Wells.
The first Piper’s Alley show, the cheekily named “The Golden 50th Anniversary Jubilee,” loosely resembled a Second City revue in how it was structured. The show included all-cast musical numbers, jabs at our fair city (“Chicago! Water Tower Place! Wind! Huge rats! The world championship Chicago Cubs!”), quick blackouts, longer character sketches and Louis-Dreyfus flamenco dancing and shrieking at a high pitch.
“Jubilee” was a hit, and Chicago comedy luminary Tim Kazurinsky (“Police Academy,” “Saturday Night Live”), whom Barrosse had met earlier, mentioned the show to “SNL” producers Dick Ebersol and Bob Tischler. Eschewing the tradition of casting off the stage next door, in 1982 “SNL” hired the cast of “Jubilee,” which included Barrosse, Hall, Louis-Dreyfuss and Northwestern alum Gary Kroeger, only a few weeks into its run.
Practical Theatre did one more Piper’s Alley show before leaving in 1984 for the Goodman Theatre, the Vic Theater and The Apollo Theatre, respectively. The group left the stage entirely in 1988. Barrosse and Zielinski got married and moved to Los Angeles, and it wasn’t until their two daughters were of high school and college age, around 2010, that the comedy spark reignited.
“I looked at Paul and said, ‘Either we’re soccer parents, or we’re comedians. Let’s write a show,’ ” Zielinski says.
At the time, Olsen, a friend of the couple’s from Northwestern, was slated to perform his own variety show at the Wilmette Theater. He invited the couple to join, and the trio celebrated their artistic union by adopting the Practical Theatre Company moniker in 2013, producing annual holiday revues in Evanston until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Zielinski is looking forward to the moments of connection she and the other Practical Theatre folks have been missing. “[Our show] can get goofy. It can get vaudeville and slapstick,” she says. “But it can also have very high content that expresses frustration with things that everybody identifies with.”
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BREAKING: Bears rule out offensive weapon, another doubtful before Bills game
Bears lose offensive weapon before Bills game
On Christmas Eve, the Chicago Bears will be without several starters against the Buffalo Bills. The Bears, who currently would have the second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft base on their 3-11 record, should be able to take the next step in securing the position Saturday. The Bears had bad news Wednesday for their wide receiver corps. It didn’t get more promising Thursday afternoon.
According to the Bears’ Week 16 injury report, Equanimeous St. Brown, who sustained a brain injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, has been ruled out against the Bills. Chase Claypool, who missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice, is doubtful to play the team Saturday that is tied for the best record in the AFC. The Bears could be missing starting offensive linemen, Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair.
#Bears Thursday Injury Report: https://t.co/lDQzNOQBTt
Bears Doubtful for Saturday
WR Chase Claypool, kneeOL Teven Jenkins, neckOL Cody Whitehair, knee
Bears ruled out for Saturday
WR Equanimeous St. Brown, concussionTE Trevon Wesco, calfDB Kindle Vildor, ankle
Bears questionable for Saturday
CB Jaylon Johnson, finger/ribs
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Cubs to sign catcher Tucker Barnhart
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly signing catcher Tucker Barnhart to a deal.
It has been known for a while star catcher Willson Contreras would not be back in a Cubs uniform. That was made official a few weeks ago when he signed with the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Many wondered where the Cubs would turn to provide some depth behind the plate alongside catcher Yan Gomes.
Sources: Cubs closing in on a deal with veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart. Looks like Cubs have their guy to pair with Yan Gomes.
Well just a few days before Christmas and we have our answer. According to Jon Heyman, Sahadev Sharma, and Ken Rosenthal the Cubs have agreed to sign catcher Tucker Barnhart. According to Heyman, it is a 2-year deal worth $6.5 million guaranteed for the veteran in Barnhart.
Barnhart Cubs deal. 2 yr deal. 2024 is a PLAYER option. total guarantee $6.5M, with the total PB’s and escalators the deal has potential to get to $9.5M. Pending physical.
The Cubs will now go into the 2023 season with veteran Yan Gomes as the opening day starter, but needed a backup catcher as you cannot expect Yan Gomes to be the main guy behind the dish day in and day out on the north side of Chicago. Barnhart helps fill this role as not only the backup, but a left handed option for manager David Ross as well.
Barnhart is coming off a rough season in 2022 with the Detroit Tigers where he only hit for an average of .221, and a .287 OBP. Wrigley Field is definitely more hitter friendly compared to Comerica Park, so hopefully those numbers can increase this upcoming season. The Cubs are also hoping that getting Barnhart back to the National League Central Division can help bring some of his success he had with the Cincinnati Reds where he won two Gold Gloves in 2017 and 2020.
Cubs fans were starting to get reckless as it seemed like every catching option whether it be through free agency or with trades was coming off the board and going somewhere else. This is not the flashiest pickup, but with the options left on the table for catching help it seems to make the most sense for the Cubs moving forward. Hopefully Jed Hoyer and the rest of the Cubs front office still has plans to improve this roster more going into the 2023 season.
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MLB analyst pitches insane White Sox Yankees trade
Would the White Sox pull the trigger on this abomination of a trade?
With the Chicago White Sox being relatively quiet on the hot stove this offseason former Rockies GM and current MLB analyst Dan O’Dowd created an absurd trade proposal between the White Sox and Yankees. With White Sox GM Rick Hahn expressing that he would entertain trade offers for all-star closer Liam Hendricks (though recent reports suggest the Sox would rather hold onto Hendricks) Dan O’Dowd chalked up a trade proposal between the White Sox and Yankees that left Sox fans scratching their heads.
Here’s the segment on MLB Network now can you White Sox fan accounts stop harassing us and claiming we came up with his trade idea? pic.twitter.com/5YjT2t7BQX
— Bronx Bomber Ball (@BronxBomberBall) December 16, 2022
As you can see this trade does not really make sense for the White Sox. If the trade was just Liam Hendricks for Gleyber Torres straight up then maybe. Even then I bet the Sox could find greater value with a different trade partner if they choose to deal Hendricks.
To include Garrett Grochet in this hypothetical trade is absolutely ludicrous. Yes Crochet is coming off of Tommy John Surgery and pitchers usually struggle in their first year back but Crochet is absolutely vital to the White Sox. Crochet has been absolutely dominant when healthy and is still under team control until 2026. That is 4 more years of an elite level arm at a team friendly price.
Gleyber Torres is viewed as one of the top second baseman in all of baseball. However, like I said above I believe that the White Sox can find better value for Hendricks elsewhere. Torres is great it’s just his numbers have been down the past couple of years compared to when he first burst onto the scene back in 2018 when he was an all star. Torres followed up his all star rookie year with an even better second season. Torres hit 38 bombs and hit 90 RBI’s. Since then Torres has been unable to produce the same numbers though last season was a step in the right direction for him.
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BREAKING: Bears Lose Two Starters To Injured Reserve
Bears lose two starters to injured reserve before Bills game
The Chicago Bears had several starters on their Week 16 injury report. On Thursday, the Bears ruled three players out against the Buffalo Bills. Three are doubtful for Saturday. Two starters were added to the injured reserve Friday.
On Friday afternoon, the Bears announced cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor were going on IR. They will miss the rest of the season.
We have placed Jaylon Johnson & Kindle Vildor on IR & activated Khalil Herbert off IR
@Hyundai #DaBears
https://t.co/OtkBw5q9fd
The Bears will be without their two best secondary players for the rest of the season. Safety Eddie Jackson is on IR as well. The Bears will face a challenge on Christmas Eve against Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs without their best defenders. (Linebacker Jack Sanborn is on IR after his injury last week.)
The move to injured reserve should be of interest to Bears fans who are interested in the team tanking the next three games. The Bears currently hold the number two draft pick for 2023. This should help them hold on to it.
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2023 NFL Free Agency: Two offensive line options off the board for Chicago Bears
Two potential OL targets for the Chicago Bears in free agency are now off the board
With the Chicago Bears out of the playoff race here in late December, the focus of the franchise and fans has shifted to the offseason.
The Bears will a Top 2 pick if they lose out and at least a Top 7 pick if they win one more game. Plus, they will have over $120M to spend in free agency. Those are two reasons why the fans should be excited about this offseason in a key year for the rebuild.
But while that might be the case, the Bears have several key positions to fill. And that includes likely a minimum of three on the offensive line. On Friday, two big targets that many believed would be free agents now won’t hit the open market and instead have re-signed with their current teams.
Elgton Jenkins agreed to a long-term extension with the Green Bay Packers, as the franchise locked up the versatile lineman who has played well the past few years. And minutes later, the Cleveland Browns locked up tackle Jack Conklin to a four-year deal.
The news is disappointing for Chicago Bears fans as both were thought of a pieces to spend money on and improve the offensive line. Instead, it takes two big targets off the board for Ryan Poles and his staff.
Always a long-shot for reliable OL to hit free agency. Between Elgton Jenkins and Jack Conklin, options thinning out for Poles & #Bears.
Just saw that Jack Conklin re-signed with the Browns too…
There are still plenty of talented OL slates to hit free agency for the #Bears to choose from. But I’d be lying if I said losing Conklin and Elgton Jenkins on the same day doesn’t sting.
There will be other options available for the Chicago Bears including potentially Orlando Brown or Dalton Risner, but it still hurts not being able to land two guys like this to help protect Justin Fields next season.
This will be a very interesting offseason for Poles and it’s starting to feel like one where he almost has to bat .750 to really turn things around. And lets hope he can do just that in a few months.
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Chicago Bears: Best WR, OL inactive against Buffalo Bills
The Chicago Bears reveal Chase Claypool’s status against Bills
The Chicago Bears, who designated Chase Claypool as doubtful Thursday, will be severely shorthanded against the Buffalo Bills on Christmas Eve. The Bears, who already had some of their best playmakers on injured reserve before practice started this week, added two more starters to the injured reserve Friday. The inactive list for Saturday includes two starting wide receivers and two offensive linemen.
According to the inactive list released by the Bears Saturday morning, wide receivers Chase Claypool and Equanimeous St. Brown will be out against the Bills. With Darnell Mooney lost for the season to injured reserve, the Bears will be without their top three options at wide receiver. Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair are out as well, so the Bears will be without three of their starting offensive lineman. (Lucas Patrick is on injured reserve.)
Inactives for #BUFvsCHI: https://t.co/JnTA79WyxB
Bears inactives for Week 16
WR Chase ClaypoolWR Equanimeous St. BrownOL Teven JenkinsOL Cody WhitehairDL Angelo BlacksonQB Tim BoyleTE Trevon Wesco
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