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Mitch Trubisky Makes His Pick in the LeBron vs. Jordan Debate

By
Erik Lambert
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lebron vs. jordan

Mitch Trubisky may have just opened up a Pandora’s box that he won’t know how to shut. If there’s one lesson to learn in this city of Chicago, it’s this. Do not take the name of Michael Jordan in vain. He is the equivalent of a sports deity in the town, the man they will forever argue was the greatest basketball player ever. So when Mitch was asked to weigh in on the LeBron vs. Jordan debate, Mitch should’ve taken a second to think what he was do.

“LeBron,” he said without hesitation. “Oh, wait can I say that?”

It’s a free country. He can say whatever he wants. Of course that doesn’t mean it’s going to make everybody happy. Trubisky had a ton of good will going for him the past few months. He declared his favorite NFL player ever was Walter Payton. He paid homage to Jim McMahon when he secretly met the Bears before the draft.

This slip-up may cost him a few brownie points, even though it was an honest statement. Trubisky had good reason too and tried to explain himself on 670 The Score.

Mitch Trubisky stance in LeBron vs. Jordan all about location

“It’s kind of bias. I grew up watching LeBron,” Trubisky said. “I didn’t get to see Jordan in person. did go to the same school as him so that’s kind of where we get wishy-washy there.”

Trubisky added that he is a “big fan of greatness,” and that he does not like to compare the two. But the damage had already been done.

“That’s definitely going to be out there somewhere,” Trubisky said. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Remember that Trubisky was born in Mentor, Ohio. That’s a short drive out of Cleveland proper. He was four years old when MJ won his sixth and final championship. It was a foregone conclusion that he was going to become a LeBron James fan. His impressionable years came around the time LBJ was becoming a superstar.

Don’t him for taking sides out of actual belief and research. It’s a simple fact that Mitch, poor poor Mitch, never got to see the greatest ever play. Maybe somebody down at Halas Hall can set up the film to watch Bulls games from the 1990s. That should set everything straight.

All jokes aside the fans certainly will let him hear about this one from time to time. They may be able to forgive. They never forget.

Akiem Hicks Described His Practice Methods By Trolling Allen Iverson

By
Erik Lambert
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bears 2018 playoff

The Akiem Hicks practice passion is real. As is the devotion to Chicago itself. He’s not just another athlete declaring he wants to stay because it’s where he works. He has family here. That changes things. Hicks knows the landscape, the attractions and above all the rabid sports enthusiasm among its citizens. So there can be no down he is aware of the Allen Iverson situation.

For those who aren’t familiar, here’s a quick recap. In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Iverson became one of the next great attractions in NBA basketball. A freakish athlete with incredible athletic skills that produced highlights for days. Perhaps his greatest ever came when he played against Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

During an offensive sequence he managed to elude Jordan with a vicious crossover and drained the bucket for two. It made news outlets across the country. Immediately several kids of the young generation started saying the words:  Iverson is better than Jordan. One can imagine how much that infuriated Chicago fans.

Seems they haven’t forgotten about it either. Twenty years after that moment, another Chicago fan decided take a playful shot at AI during a recent training camp press conference.

Akiem Hicks practice speech references Iverson

It started when Hicks got the question on whether he liked camp or felt it was too much or necessary. Most players would say it’s tough and they wish it would be easier. A standard answer. Hicks threw that out the window and wen the opposite direction. Not only did he embrace camp and what it’s done for him, but he used Iverson as an example of who he isn’t.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad training camp,” the 6-foot-5, 332-pound Hicks said. “I feel like I’m not (former NBA star) Allen Iverson. I’ve got to practice.

“When I practice, I feel like, man, I’ve got to go full speed in order to know what it feels like when I step on the field in a real, live-bullet game.

“So my foot is always on the gas as far as training camp goes because I know it’s going to carry over to me having a productive season. So for me that’s always going to be my goal, to kick butt in training camp.”

Now this may seem a bit confusing. Why would a practice reference elicit such laughter? Well some younger sports fans should know that Iverson wasn’t just famous for his highlights off the court. He had more than a few off it as well. Easily the most iconic was his press conference rant following the 2001-2002 playoffs. Philadelphia reporters asked him about his dedication to practice, a constant gripe of then-head coach Larry Brown.

Iverson, rumored to be a bit drunk and clearly upset, fired back with this.

It remains one of the greatest sporting rants of all-time. One that separated for good who Jordan was and who Iverson was. One was all about the work and other felt he didn’t need the work. Hicks uses this as his reminder that the only way to achieve your full potential is through……wait for it…….practice.

Bears Media Convinced of One Thing: Adam Shaheen Will Be A Star

By
Erik Lambert
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bears media

Anybody who knows the landscape of Chicago Bears media understands that it is a “difficult” group to impress. After 32 years without a championship and limited playoff runs of late, they’ve become conditioned to be skeptical of everything this organization does. So whenever they sign or draft a new player and say he’s got the potential to be great they nod along. All the while rolling their eyes. It’s the same song and dance they’ve heard before. Thing is though. It’s totally different when they, the pessimistic media can’t help but gush over a player.

When the Bears finished the 2017 NFL draft, they had five players total. It’s hard to get excited about that. People were expecting a significant influx of young bodies. Especially after the team went 3-13 the year before. How can five rookies help change that? Well it appears that GM Ryan Pace was focused less on quantity and more on quality.

The buzz around the class is quite strong, and in a positive way. Mitch Trubisky, Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen have each drawn praise for their talent and rapid progress in practice. However, none has had the Bears community mouths agape in awe more often than second round pick Adam Shaheen.

Bears media can’t find anything wrong with Shaheen

Most people shrugged off his selection in the draft. Him? Impossible to think he could be good. He’s nothing more than a former basketball player. From a Division II program no less. Maybe he might have some success down the road, but not for a long time. Except that’s not the case. Day after day and practice after practice the search continues for flaws in the rookies’ game.

Thus far that search has come up empty. Sure like most tight ends Shaheen could use some polish on his blocking but even that is further along than expected. Go around the Bears media pool and the praise has been universal. Not to mention optimistic.

Dan Durkin of the The Athletic, who has a history of negative barbs towards the Bears, couldn’t help but marvel at Shaheen.

“Adam Shaheen stood out not only physically, but also for his vacuum-like catching ability. The rookie tight end showed sticky hands, snagging everything thrown in his direction. What was particularly impressive was his concentration in traffic. Even with defenders draped all over him, he created separation both with his frame and feet.”

Kyle Long comparison clinches it

The most startling admission though was reserved for Adam Hoge of WGN. Understand that these men and women are conditioned to avoid big statements whenever possible. They stick to the results and leave their opinions out of it. Hopefully this will make clear how shocking it was when Hoge admitted something about Shaheen.

“Pace used his first two second round picks on “plug-and-play” starters in Eddie Goldman and Cody Whitehair, and he may have hit the trifecta with tight end Adam Shaheen. I’m big on first impressions once the pads go on in training camp — typically when a high draft pick immediately looks like he belongs, it means he belongs.

So far, Shaheen has looked every bit the part. He’s huge, he can run, and he catches everything. Everything. In fact, I can only recall one drop in all the practices reporters have been permitted to watch since rookie minicamp back in May…

…This is my seventh Bears training camp and, without going too far overboard, I’m honestly struggling to think of another rookie who has been this impressive two weeks into camp. Kyle Long is pretty much the only one who comes to mind, as it was easy to peg him as a starter early in Bourbonnais. Shaheen looks like the real deal.”

Indeed my own initial impressions reflect the same. Amazing as it sounds this Division II prospect who used to be a basketball player may be the most pro-ready of the Bears draft class. He looked like he belonged from the first snap of minicamps. Nothing has changed that opinion since then. Shaheen is a matchup nightmare every time he steps on the field. He’s too big for defensive backs and too fast for linebackers.

How do you stop that? As Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham have shown in the past, you don’t. All a defense can hope for is if that player makes his own mistakes. That is the ceiling we’re talking about with Shaheen and, apparently, are no longer afraid to.

Chicago Bears Roster Battle Winners Nobody Will See Coming

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears roster battle

The Chicago Bears roster battle template is set for the 2017 preseason. One can safely say it’s pretty stacked this year. That shouldn’t be a surprise. GM Ryan Pace overturned a number of position groups during the offseason in an effort to ensure their 3-13 mark from last year won’t happen again. Admittedly injuries had a ton to do with that but he’d be the first to say that’s no excuse.

He and the coaches know the situation. They must put together the absolute best 53-man depth chart possible. This means almost nobody is off-limits. If a player doesn’t cut the mustard in camp or preseason, they have to go. It’s prime time for lesser-known players to take advantage of an opportunity. That’s why fans can expect a number of surprise winners in the roster derby this year.

Here are a few to take careful note of.

Tanner Gentry over Kendall Wright

Everybody in their right mind thought that Kendall Wright was a lock for the roster when training camp started. He’s a former first round pick who has a history with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. The two have had success together. Problem is Wright is logjammed at a position with two others in Victor Cruz and Markus Wheaton who can do the same things he can and are performing better in camp.

Meanwhile Tanner Gentry has become a darling of the fans in practice, making a litany of highlight reel plays to show off his pass catching prowess. He’s also got the advantage of being able to play outside thanks to his 6’2″ frame. Throw in the fact he’s younger and on a cheaper contract? It’s not hard to see the writing on the wall here. Wright is between a rock and a hard place. Nothing other than a stellar preseason will save him.

Daniel Brown over Zach Miller

This should be explained. This isn’t about playing time. The actual man, or men in this case who push Zach Miller down the depth chart are Dion Sims and Adam Shaheen. Daniel Brown is simply the one who will convince the team that it’s okay to part ways with the longtime veteran. Sims and Shaheen will handle the production issues while Brown can fill a reserve role just fine. He proved that much last year.

Could the Bears do that with Miller? Sure but that wouldn’t be fair to him. He deserves a chance to keep playing elsewhere. The reason he can’t anymore in Chicago is they don’t have to rely on him anymore, to say nothing of the health and age issues. He’s 32-years old and missed the majority of two of the last three seasons. As good a teammate and player as he can be, he’s not reliable enough.

Jonathan Bullard over Mitch Unrein and Jaye Howard

Bears fans were elated when the team made a late play to sign veteran defensive end Jaye Howard. He brought a track record of success with him from Kansas City and hasn’t turned 30 yet. If his body is right after a shaky 2016, he could be one of the steals of this year. Along with veteran Mitch Unrein it would give the defense a serviceable twosome to play across from Akiem Hicks on the defensive line.

The thing is it won’t matter. More and more buzz out of camp is that former third round pick Jonathan Bullard is emerging in a big way. He’s generating a ton of movement both as a run defender and pass rusher. Coaches insist he’s bigger than last year and showing more advancement in his techniques. If that’s the case then they will want him on the field alongside Eddie Goldman. That will make for one dynamic front.

Kyle Fuller over Marcus Cooper

This will probably be the one that shocks a lot of people. Marcus Cooper signed a three-year contract with the Bears in the assumption he becomes one of their starters. It’s no doubt at this point Prince Amukamara will occupy one of those slots. He’s been having a tremendous camp. Cooper got off to a late start thanks to a hamstring injury. In the interim Fuller showcased that he’s still got plenty of the talent that made him a first round pick.

This battle is going to be the closest. One that the preseason will decide. Why will Fuller ultimately prevail? Sheer, unadulterated desperation. He knows he has to make plays and show the coaches he belongs on the field. Otherwise his football tenure in Chicago will end. If not this year then definitely in 2018. At the same time the slow start Cooper got off to should hinder his progress just enough to give Fuller that opening.

Eddie Jackson over Adrian Amos

This might be one people already see coming. Why? The simple fact that nothing has changed for Adrian Amos since he got into the league. It’s been more of the same stuff. He’s a solid tackler and decent run defender but he’s positively worthless in coverage. The guy tends to get beat and makes zero plays on the ball. It is the exact reason the Bears drafted Eddie Jackson in the first place.

He’s showing why in practice. Jackson is living up to his billing as an instinct, rangy ballhawk. Quarterbacks have felt his wrath a number of times already. Coaches are impressed with his knowledge of the game and ability to command the back end. Normally starting a rookie is something they try to avoid. Then again they did so with Amos and also have veteran Quintin Demps around to help him. Jackson is ready if he can stay healthy.

UPDATE: Tinley Park Woman Receives Box Of Free Cubs Stuff To Further Piss Off Her Neighbors

By
Gus
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Last week, I wrote about a 33-year-old Tinley Park woman named Cassie McDonald who found herself in quite the predicament. Being the faithful Cubs fan that she is, she found it appropriate to fly a ‘W’ flag over her front porch railing to show everyone in the neighborhood where her baseball loyalties lie.

Unfortunately, her cranky ass neighbors didn’t care.

Someone in the neighborhood wrote Cassie and her fiance, Jeff, an anonymous letter telling them they need to fly their flag on a flag pole because apparently a flag over the front porch makes the house look like a “frat house.”

Clearly when you look at the picture of Cassie and Jeff’s house it looks nothing like any frat house that I’ve seen (I mean, what frat do you know that has such immaculate landscaping?)

You would think the story would have ended with the couple telling their neighbors to go play in traffic but earlier today, there was an added twist (and more comedy) coming out of the story.

A gentlemen by the name of Daniel Schack, who works for Rico Industries, decided to pay Cassie a visit. If you’re unaware, Rico Industries is a company that makes officially licensed memorabilia for a variety of sports and after Daniel read the original article about Cassie’s no-fun neighbors, he decided to drop off a little “Cubs fun kit” to have a little fun with the neighborhood.

The picture had the following caption:

“Thank you Daniel from Rico Industries- the “W” icon manufacturer- for the box full of goodies!! The company caught wind of the whole flag fiasco and gifted us with alllllll of the W love!”

The box included flags, tattoos, beads, license plate holders, stickers, and of course — flags. I’ve never wanted anything more in life than to see an updated picture of the front of Cassie and Jeff’s house with every single last piece of Cubs merchandise pasted on the front of their house.

Better yet, I’d go door-to-door with the box of Cubs stuff offering free flags as a peace offering to help bury the hatchet.

Keep us posted Cassie!

Reynaldo Lopez Officially Gets Call To White Sox, Will Start Friday Night

By
Emmet McClain
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Rumors have been swirling around for the past few days that Reynaldo Lopez would finally make his White Sox debut by the end of this week.

Maybe Buy Tickets for friday night” -Rick Hahn

This quote from Hahn earlier this week unofficially confirmed those rumors, and today, the White Sox made it official in a team statement.

Reynaldo has proven that he is more than ready for the White Sox the past month. His last start didn’t go as planned (5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 HR, 9 SO) but in his seven starts prior, he had given up 2 runs or less each time. Unanimously picked as the most MLB ready pitcher the White Sox had at the start of the season, Lopez has done a fine job of developing, especially his command and control. His pure stuff was already great, but now he is consistently hitting his spots each time he takes the mound. While he will probably never be an ace, he has the ceiling of a no. 2 and the floor of a very good no. 4.

If he can give the White Sox performances like this every now and then, fans are going to love him.

Rick Hahn has said that once the young prospects are called up, he expects them to stay. Without further ado, Hahn presents us with his next present, Reynaldo Lopez.

See everyone Friday night at Guaranteed Rate.

Blackhawks Announce Eddie Olczyk Diagnosed With Colon Cancer

By
Matt Barbato
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Former Chicago Blackhawks forward and current color commentator Eddie Olczyk announced some horrible news Tuesday when he revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of colon cancer.

Olczyk, 50, said in a statement through the team that he is currently undergoing treatment for the disease. Blackhawks team physician Michael Terry said in a separate statement that Olczyk underwent surgery to remove a tumor and will undergo treatments, including chemotherapy.

Olczyk’s lengthy NHL career was book-ended by two stints with the Blackhawks. He began his career with the Hawks for three seasons from 1984-87 before concluding his career in Chicago from 1998-2000. He tallied 209 total points and scored 77 goals during his five-year Hawks career.

Currently, Olczyk serves as the team’s primary color commentator opposite the great Pat Foley and also calls NBC’s national telecasts alongside Doc Emrick. He is originally from Chicago and attended Brother Rice High School.

According To Sports Illustrated Guaranteed Rate Field Has Rat Shit Everywhere

By
Aldo Soto
-

It turns out the giant rats that ex-Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he saw hanging out at Wrigley Field are actually busy taking shits all over Guaranteed Rate Field. According to Sports Illustrated the home of the White Sox ranked 18th in the 2017 MLB Ballpark Food Safety Rankings.

Before we get into the gross details, here’s how SI determined its rankings.

Sports Illustrated used data from 28 local health departments to compile a comprehensive ranking of ballpark food safety across the league based on the most recent inspection of the stadium. Public records requests to Cleveland’s Progressive Field and Detroit’s Comerica Park went unfulfilled, leaving them off this list.

Violations: Observed practices that break a municipality’s food code. For example, broken equipment or evidence of rodents. The median number of violations across the league was 58.

Critical violations: Citations linked to the spread of foodborne illnesses or, if an inspector had not been there to correct the violation, could have led to these risk factors. Health departments determine violation severity and mark that on inspection reports. Some divide violations into three categories, using terminology similar to “Priority,” “Priority foundation” and “Basic.” The first two are critical in our report. The median number of critical violations across the league was 24.

So, out of the 28 MLB ballparks in this list, Guaranteed Rate Field ranked 18th and here’s why.

Cold food held up to 30 degrees above regulated temperature? Dozens of mice droppings in multiple locations? Flies under prep tables? The mid-June inspection at Guaranteed Rate Field revealed a plethora of violations—many critical—in Chicago. Other critical problems related to poor hygienic practices, like missing or inaccessible hand sinks or employees not washing hands before putting on new gloves. The stadium also failed its first inspection last year, before improving in follow-ups.

There were 48 total violations and 28 critical violations at the Rate(?) Is that the nickname? Anyway, no stadium is perfect even though Safeco Field in Seattle only had 5 total violations and only one critical violation, but at least White Sox fans don’t have to attend game in Tampa Bay because holy fuck that place is a real dump.

Total violations: 241 | Critical violations: 105

With a staggering 105 critical violations in 2017, Tropicana Field brings up the rear in our rankings. Two food entities (the catering kitchen and the stand outside Section 303) tallied over 20 violations each. Violations ranged from the observed presence of live insects to black mold accumulating inside an ice bin. An employee was observed handling hot dogs and cash without washing hands in between. An ESPN report from seven years ago found that every inspected stand at Tropicana had at least one critical violation. That number has dropped from 100% to about 50%, but the Tampa Bay stadium still leads the way in eye-popping food safety numbers.

By the way, Wrigley Field had the third fewest violations and ranked 8th.

While Wrigley registered the third-fewest critical violations, the iconic ballpark missed out on a top-five finish because it only had 43 inspected stands. The critical issues involved either foods at improper temperatures (tomatoes and lettuce 55° , potato salad 50° , Italian beef 115°  and beef sandwiches 105° ) or improper rodent- and insect-proofing measures on kitchen doors. No rodent activity was observed. Inspectors did ultimately dispose of 25 pounds of food. Over half of the inspected entities, though, registered no violations.

But at the end of the day who really cares, right? I mean, we eat hot dogs after all.

Joe Maddon’s Hometown Of Hazleton Hates Him Right Now

By
Aldo Soto
-

A couple weeks ago Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon was featured on NBC’s “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly” interviewed by Harry Smith and now residents of Hazleton, Pa., are demanding an apology after a comment made about the Pennsylvania town where Maddon grew up in.

The Chicago Tribune picked up the story on Tuesday, as The Times Leader newspaper in Wilkes Barre, Pa., ran an editorial that expressed displeasure in Maddon’s comments about the growing Hispanic population in Hazleton.

This is what Maddon said in the NBC interview that has angered residents of his hometown.

Via The Times Leader:

It was actually a positive piece by correspondent Harry Smith for Megyn Kelly’s new Sunday night show. The theme was how Joe’s work through his Hazleton Integration Project, or HIP, has helped the city’s sizable immigrant population — specifically Hispanics — assimilate into the community and change perceptions.

But then Joe slipped up big time.

“They’re going to save our town,” Maddon said of the newcomers to Hazleton. “You have two options right here. Either you get on board and help us as we’re moving this thing along or you’re going to die. And when you die and go away, then you’re going to get out of the way. You’re not going to be part of the problem anymore. So, it’s either help or die.”

This is how the editorial starts, calling out Maddon for his remarks.

“He’s full of himself,” said one senior citizen and lifelong Hazleton resident.

Another noted: “That was terrible. I hate him. I hope he doesn’t win one game.”

The editorial ends with one demand, an apology from Maddon.

He needs to apologize for insulting the hardworking and fair-minded people of Hazleton — they are many in number, contrary to what the national reports seem to imply. And we want to hear an apology straight from Maddon, not through a spokesperson or a family member. If he has the time to talk to NBC and other outlets, surely he can interrupt this baseball season for a mea culpa to his hometown.

We’re waiting, Joe.

I think the fair-minded people of Hazleton agree with Maddon and it’s the people who don’t like what’s going on there that Maddon was talking about.

Here’s the Maddon interview on NBC.

Will Maddon address the issue? We’ll find out as he meets with the media before Tuesday night’s Cubs game against the San Francisco Giants.

Solution to the Bears Offensive Line Troubles Is Still Available

By
Erik Lambert
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bears offensive line
Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers offensive guard Orlando Franklin (74) blocks Denver Broncos defensive end Jared Crick (93) during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears offensive line is in a bit of a gut check at the moment. Though they still have considerable depth to lean on, injuries have begun to take their toll. Kyle Long isn’t fully back from his gruesome ankle injury last season. Now the news hit that primary backup Eric Kush, who played well in his absence, has a torn hamstring. He’ll miss the rest of the season. This puts the team in a quandary.

Not only is the starting lineup affected by Long’s issues, but now their depth takes a serious hit as well. Kush was an excellent reserve in 2016, doing well whenever he was elevated to the starting job. Hence why the Bears signed him to a new deal this offseason. Given the team is breaking in three new quarterbacks, quality blocking is more vital than ever.

Though they did sign rookie Brandon Greene to round out the roster, it’s possible the team may have to get more aggressive to plug the hole. There is one name still on the market who could be perfect for them.

Bears offensive line would benefit from addition of Orlando Franklin

Orlando Franklin made the news recently having been signed and released by the New Orleans Saints in the space of a few days. It was cited to be over health issues. It’s unclear if he’s had more time to recover since then. What is clear is that the 29-year old guard is the best one left on the free agent market.

Admittedly his tenure in San Diego with the Chargers did not end well. His first year saw him miss six games with injury. Yet he played all 16 last year and wasn’t terrible. Besides that he has a productive track record, not to mention a history with head coach John Fox. The two were together for four season in Denver from 2011 to 2014.

Franklin is a big guy with plenty of power who is also mobile for his size. He has logged time at both guard and tackle. That sort of versatility would be most valuable to the Bears. Even though their interior depth took a hit with Kush, it’s still better than their depth on the edges. Adding Franklin could solve both problems.

Even better, after his unfortunate turnabout with the Saints his price almost certainly will have dropped. So the Bears could get an experienced starter as a primary reserve on the cheap. That’s football business 101.

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