Thursday, April 9, 2026
✶ Untold Chicago Stories ✶ Amazon Music
Home Blog Page 3068

Bulls Teammate Fully Expects Dwyane Wade To Return Next Season

By
Matt Peck
-
thanks everything nothing dwyane wade bulls

There’s still no official word regarding Dwyane Wade’s future with the Bulls. He has until June 27th to decide whether he’s opting into the second year of his current contract or exercising his player option to become a free agent. But earlier today, one of his unnamed Bulls teammates offered up his estimation of Wade’s decision. No surprise here, he thinks the Chicago native is sticking around next season.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times included this quote from a Bulls player in his column this morning:

“He definitely sounds like a guy that’s coming back. I just feel like when you’re talking about recruiting [potential free agents] and what you hope your [teammates] are working on [this summer], you’re in.’’ – Anonymous Bulls player

It’s been widely assumed both in Chicago and around the league that Wade will opt in and play a second season for the Bulls. It’s unlikely that Dwyane – who will turn 36 midway through next season – will find any offers matching the $23.8 million the Bulls owe him if he opts in. There’s also the factor of his family, which appears to have happily settled back in Wade’s hometown. Uprooting his kids from their school and friends again would be a difficult side effect of leaving.

Dwyane also stated very clearly in his initial exit interview following the Bulls’ playoff loss to Boston that he feels no need to go “ring chasing” – another piece of evidence to suggest he’s willing to stay with a team that realistically won’t contend for a title next year.

The only hypothetical scenario that could trigger Wade to walk is if the Bulls trade All Star Jimmy Butler before Wade’s June 27 decision deadline. While contending for a title isn’t a necessity, Dwyane also made it known that he has little interest in playing for a team that’s entering the first stage of a full-on rebuild.

Blackhawks Given 12-1 Odds To Win Stanley Cup In 2018

By
Matt Barbato
-
Joel Quenneville

The Chicago Blackhawks are still among the top contenders to win the Stanley Cup in 2018, but their odds aren’t quite as strong as in years past.

The Blackhawks were given 12-1 odds to win the Cup next season by the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. The Pittsburgh Penguins are favored to make it a three-peat and were listed with 8-1 odds to win it all again.

Chicago was given the third-highest odds to hoist the cup in 2018, but there were four teams listed ahead of them. Behind Pittsburgh were the Capitals, Lightning and Oilers with 10-1 odds.

The Western Conference champion Nashville Predators were right behind the Hawks with 14-1 odds to win it all, along with the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Rangers, Wild, Ducks and Stars.

Bovada agrees with the Westgate, but seems to give the Blackhawks a better shot. Bovada listed the Hawks with identical 12-1 odds, but that was tied for the second-best odds with Edmonton, Tampa Bay and Washington. Pittsburgh was also Bovada’s favorite at 9-1 odds.

Those odds could take a hit in the coming weeks, however. The Blackhawks are expected to make at least one move to shake up the roster and get compliant with the salary cap. The problem is any potential move will likely hurt the Blackhawks in the short-term.

The Most Important Chicago Bears Contract Situations To Know About

By
Erik Lambert
-
cameron meredith

There are a number of Chicago Bears contract situations going into 2018. As things stand, 43 players on the current roster have a deal that will expire next year. That’s almost half the entire depth chart. Granted some of those players will be cut before this season even begins but it will still be a huge number. More than ever it’s clear the front office will not hand out long-term deals to players who don’t earn it.

That being said it could be argued that they should really think about getting a head start on a number of names who may leave next year. Names who appear, at least on the surface, like they might play a big role in the Bears’ future. Of course not all contracts are created equal. Here is a rundown of the biggest names to watch looking towards January.

Cameron Meredith (24-years old)

Recent thumb injury aside, the general consensus among most Bears fans and media is that wide receiver Cameron Meredith is the best at that position the team has. Everybody else including Kevin White, Markus Wheaton and Victor Cruz have serious health concerns in their background. Meredith had over 800 yards last season and appears to be trending up. Hopes are high that he’s an emerging stud for the team. His undrafted rookie contract will be up after this season. No doubt he’s hoping for a substantial pay raise. The only way he gets it from Pace though is if he stays on the field and performs.

Predictably, Experts Got Bears’ Biggest Mistake of Past Decade Wrong

By
Erik Lambert
-
bears offense and defense
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Jay Cutler #6 and Greg Olsen #82 of the Chicago Bears celebrate after a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Seahawks 35-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

It took more than one Chicago Bears blunder to go from one of the best teams in the NFL to one of the worst over the past 10 years. It seems oddly fitting that they went 13-3 in 2006 and bottomed out at 3-13 in 2016. There is an eerie sense of going full circle with that. What people would like in such situations is to blame it all on one gigantic mistake made during the interim time.

Bleacher Report columnist Sean Tomlinson believes he found it recently. In breaking down his biggest mistakes by every team in the past 10 years, his choice for Chicago is almost certain to rile up fans. It is the team trading tight end Greg Olsen in 2011 to the Carolina Panthers for a third round draft pick.

“Greg Olsen’s career, meanwhile, was instead delayed in a sense by the Bears. He wasn’t properly utilized on a defense- and run-oriented team, and therefore he didn’t get the chance to blossom into the dominant tight end at the top of his position we know he is now.

But Olsen still produced even with a lid on his usage, and even with the likes of Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton and Brian Griese as his quarterbacks in 2007 and 2008. He averaged a solid 495.3 receiving yards per season over four years with the Bears, and he scored 20 times.

Yet despite his steady development, the Bears still decided to send away a player who was worth their first-round pick in 2007, and get a third-rounder from the Carolina Panthers in return. Olsen has since logged five 800-plus-yard seasons and been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the past three years.”

Biggest Chicago Bears blunder was firing Lovie Smith for Marc Trestman

Now there is no denying this was an all-time gaffe by former GM Jerry Angelo. The best excuse he could come up with for trading a playmaking tight end was he didn’t fit the offensive scheme well. Schemes aren’t supposed to be that rigid. They should be able to absorb good football players. Olsen landed softly Carolina and has since reached three Pro Bowls. Chicago did use that draft pick as part of their trade for Brandon Marshall, but it doesn’t make up for it. Not nearly enough.

Amazing as it sounds though, the Olsen trade isn’t the biggest mistake this organization made in the previous decade. That was reserved for two years later when they fired longtime head coach Lovie Smith in favor of Marc Trestman. The logic behind the decision was sound. Former GM Phil Emery wanted an offensive head coach who could get more out of Jay Cutler at quarterback. That wasn’t the problem. The man he hired was.

Trestman was known as a quarterback guru, but that had been almost a decade before. He hadn’t been on an NFL sideline since 2004. The game can evolve a lot in nine years. During that time he’d had brief stints in college before heading up to Canada. Some were afraid the Bears were getting too cute with the hire. That they should’ve gone with a more proven NFL commodity.

They were right.

Things got off to a well enough start. Over time though it became apparent that Trestman had serious problems establishing his authority over the locker room. Once some of the more outspoken players realized this, things went downhill fast. After a crushing loss to the Packers at the end of 2013, it got a lot worse in 2014. There were reports of infighting between the players and even the coaching staff.

It got so bad at one point that the Bears gave up 50 points in back-to-back games against the Packers and Patriots. That combined with a controversial rift between his coaching staff and Cutler only made things worse. Chicago went from a 10-6 team in 2012 to a 5-11 dumpster fire two years later. That falls at the feet of the head coach.

With all due respect, having Greg Olsen at that point would’ve changed nothing. Don’t forget that Martellus Bennett went to the Pro Bowl that same year. Proof positive that hiring Marc Trestman was the single, biggest faux pas this organization committed in the past decade.

End of story.

Addison Russell And Kyle Schwarber Hit Back-to-Back Home Runs

By
Aldo Soto
-

After a crappy fifth inning that saw the Colorado Rockies tie the Chicago Cubs with four runs, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber got the lead back by hitting back-to-back home runs in the sixth.

With two outs, Russell lined a solo shot to left and then Kyle Schwarber launched his 11th home run of the season way back to the right field bleachers.

The Cubs are trying to break their four-game losing streak.

Facts You May Not Know About Michael Jordan’s Iconic “Flu Game”

By
Erik Lambert
-
flu game

It was food poisoning, not the flu

Like many great myths in sports, the exact facts tend to paint a different picture than the mainstream are led to believe. Why is it called the “Flu Game”? Probably because the “Food Poisoning” game doesn’t sound nearly as good. However, one of the accepted pieces of information revealed about what transpired comes from former Bulls trainer Tim Grover. He was with MJ the night before Game 5. Jordan was hungry so they decided to order pizza. Here’s what happened next.

“So we order a pizza, they come to deliver it, five guys come to deliver this pizza. And I’m just … I take the pizza, and I tell them, I said, ‘I got a bad feeling about this.’ I said, ‘I just got a bad feeling about this.’ Out of everybody in the room, he was the only one that ate. Nobody else … then 2 o’clock in the morning, I get a call to my room. I come to the room, he’s curled up, he’s curled up in the fetal position. We’re looking at him. We’re finding the team physician at that time. And immediately I said, ‘It’s food poisoning.’ Guaranteed. Not the flu.”

So in this case the conspiracy theory is that it was intentional poisoning. Perhaps by some nasty Jazz fans trying to derail the one man who could stop their team from becoming NBA champs. It’s impossible to prove, but it’s also fair to say that Jordan suffered from food poisoning. Doctors later confirmed the symptoms matched up.

Here’s a New Reason To Believe Leonard Floyd Will Dominate 2017

By
Erik Lambert
-
leonard floyd

The Vic Fangio reputation by this point has spread across the entire NFL. Most believe him to be one of the 3-4 best defensive coordinators in professional football. A disciplined mad scientist with great attention to detail who just understands how to instruct his players. New Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara even said recently that other coaches he knew told him to go to Chicago so he could play for Fangio.

The guy has been coaching defense since 1979. He broke into the pros in 1984 for the now defunct United States Football League. Two years later he was linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints. He was just 28-years old at the time. A bright young mind who was about to show the world what he could do. Suffice to say it didn’t take long for him to impress.

Most people are focused on the secondary this season. The Bears made a ton of additions this year in hopes of improving that group after a difficult 2016. Though that’s important, the one player that people need to watch is Leonard Floyd. Especially when it comes to Fangio.

Vic Fangio reputation with pass rushers runs deep

It was stated earlier this year that Fangio would be putting more of his personal time into coaching the linebackers in 2017. This is great news for the Bears. For those who don’t know, this is a job that the man knows well. His first NFL assistant position was linebackers coach in New Orleans. In fact it was there that he began a trend that continues to hold true to this day.

That trend involves the rapid improvement of his pass rushers. Go back to each and every team he’s coached on. It won’t take long to find one young rusher who made a massive jump in productivity from his first year to his second under Fangio.

New Orleans Saints

  • Pat Swilling (1986) – 4 sacks
  • Pat Swilling (1987) – 10.5 sacks

Carolina Panthers

  • Lamar Lathon (1995) – 8 sacks
  • Lamar Lathon (1996) – 13.5 sacks

Indianapolis Colts

  • Marcus Washington (2000) – 2 sacks
  • Marcus Washington (2001) – 8 sacks

Houston Texans

  • Kailee Wong (2003) – 3 sacks
  • Kailee Wong (2004) – 5.5 sacks

San Francisco 49ers

  • Aldon Smith (2011) – 14 sacks
  • Aldon Smith (2012) – 19.5 sacks

That’s pretty consistent work by Fangio. It’s also great news for Floyd. Expectations are high for the young outside linebacker. Despite missing four games with injury in 2016, he still produced seven sacks including 6.5 over a five-game span. There is no denying his immense athletic potential. It’s about whether he can find the technical prowess to match it. That’s where Fangio comes in.

Given his track record to date, there is every reason in the world to expect a big year from Floyd. If the numbers are averaged out from each of his stops, fans can expect somewhere in the vicinity of a 5.2 sack increase to Floyd’s season total. That means he will hit the 12-sack mark this year. It’s hard not to get excited about that.

If he does that and the secondary improves, then the Bears defense will be in business for the first time in years. That should get the fans revved up again.

Mitch Trubisky Projected To Overtake Mike Glennon After This Many Games

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears stat projections

It’s important to never get too lost in the raw numbers when it comes to predicting how an NFL season will go. At the same time, math might be one of the most important parts of professional sports. If nothing else they can reveal a lot that people might not see. So see the Chicago Bears stat projections for 2017 from ESPN was more than a little revealing.

Their expert Mike Clay, who also hosts a radio show on SiriusXM, did a full comprehensive breakdown of the Bears’s season. Not just the likely numbers their players will put up too. He did win total as well. There were more than few revealing tidbits from it, which can be see below. Suffice to say there is some to like and some to dislike.

Chicago Bears stat projections

Jordan Howard dominates

Perhaps the most predictable note from this list is the fact that running back Jordan Howard continues his ascent to the top of the NFL. Expectations are for him to post 1,274 yards rushing with another 232 through the air and nine total touchdowns. That’s solid work given he’ll almost certainly be the focus of opposing defenses.

Disappointing record 

Normally it should be a good thing when a team doubles their win total from the year before. It rings kind of hollow though when it involves going from 3-13 to 6-10. This would mark the fourth-straight losing season for the Bears. It would also result in just 14 total wins for head coach John Fox across three years. Almost a certain result that will get him fired.

Improved secondary

As a team the Bears secondary had just eight interceptions total in 2016. That’s bad. Really bad. It’s a big reason why they invested so heavily in the unit this offseason. Expectations are for things to get better in 2017. Clay sees the starters posting nine interceptions with an additional two from linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan.

Glennon survives 12 games before Trubisky switch

By far the most interesting projection on the chart though stood at quarterback. Not so much the gross yardage or touchdown totals either. It’s how long starter Mike Glennon lasts before rookie Mitch Trubisky replaces him. The Bears have been quite adamant that they intend for Glennon to play the full season. Anyone with common sense knows though that the team will make the switch when the time is right.

Glennon is expected to make it 12 games, having posted just 15 touchdown passes to nine interceptions by that point. Given the expected Bears record, it’s not hard to see why the switch would take place. Based on the layout it would come in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field. Seems reasonable enough. Debut the kid at home against another rebuilding team.

That will give him a solid month of playing time towards the end of the year on a relatively lighter schedule. A great way to get him some experience and confidence going into 2018. Whether all of this comes true won’t be known until they play the actual games. Bears fans can only hope some of it does and some of it doesn’t.

Former Coach Explains Why Mitch Trubisky Will Be an NFL Success

By
Erik Lambert
-
mitch trubisky starting job

Keith Heckendorf may be young by coaching standards, but the guys knows what good quarterbacks look like. He should. The current North Carolina quarterbacks coach played the position in college himself. It’s really been his job since he was a teenager. Every waking moment since that time has been devoted to understanding the makeup of the position. So if anybody knows if Mitch Trubisky success in Chicago is possible, it’s him.

He sat down to continue a recent interview with The Draft Wire to continue talking about his former pupil. Certain topics were brought up such as Mitch’s comparison to other recent top five draft picks like Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. Or whether his having a strong arm or not was important at the pro level.

The most interesting segment though came when Heckendorf talked about the overall makeup  of Trubisky. Specifically the traits that he possesses that give him the best possible chance to excel against the best in the business.

Mitch Trubisky success hinges on work ethic and decision-making

Heckendorf began by describing what separates the top quarterbacks in the NFL from the rest of the pack. Why is it teams fear those guys but not so much others? It can’t be physical talent. There are plenty of QBs more gifted than Tom Brady. Yet he has five rings and a bust waiting in Canton. So what’s the deal?

“When you start looking at how guys transition to the next level, there has to be a hunger about them. They have to be able to walk themselves into their new building and go get it. They have to have an attitude about them, especially at the quarterback position, and Mitch possesses that.”

Trubisky has made it clear from the start his priorities are centered on the team. Every time people have brought up other subjects like his hobbies or his contract, the 22-year old shrugged them off like snowflakes. Over and over again he made it clear his attention was on immersing himself in the offense. Nothing else matters. That’s the sort of laser focus people expect from the quarterback position.

Did Jay Cutler have it? Maybe, but it never really seemed that way. Regardless, Heckendorf is confident Mitch has the drive. So what about the tools?

The Big Three

There are plenty of traits great quarterbacks must have to make it in the NFL. Then again, most experts today agree that there are three core elements. If they are missing just one of them, the chances of success drop significantly. The coach laid them out in detail.

“Competitiveness is the first one. I need to have a guy who’s the ultimate competitor because he should be the one who influences everybody else around your football team. I think the quarterback has to be a guy that understands football; he has to have the ability to process information at a high level and in order to do that, you have to love the game because you have to spend a lot of time studying in the off-season, even when you’re away from the field.

Finally, he needs to have the ability to place the ball where you want it. You have to be accurate. Those windows open and close really fast in that league [NFL] and you’ve got to be able to put it where you want it on time. The ability to do that on a consistent basis is key.”

Look at the top quarterbacks in the NFL these days and those qualities stand out in a big way. In fact there might even be a way to measure them out with statistics. For competitiveness it could be their late-game heroics and fourth quarter comebacks. The football processor how fast they unload the ball. Lastly is turnover ratio for accuracy.

Tom Brady

  • 4th quarter comebacks (career):  39 
  • Average time to throw:  2.57 seconds
  • TD to INT ratio:  28 to 2

Drew Brees

  • 4th quarter comebacks (career):  28
  • Average time to throw:  2.42 seconds
  • TD to INT ratio:  37 to 15

Aaron Rodgers

  • 4th quarter comebacks (career):  10
  • Average time to throw:  2.87 seconds
  • TD to INT ratio:  40 to 7

Derek Carr

  • 4th quarter comebacks (career):  12
  • Average time to throw:  2.49 seconds
  • TD to INT ratio:  28 to 6

Matt Ryan

  • 4th quarter comebacks (career):  25
  • Average time to throw:  2.64 seconds
  • TD to INT ratio:  38 to 7

So how does Mitch Trubisky measure up to those big names, at least in terms of his brief college run?  Well he had two fourth quarter comebacks in 13 games. He threw 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions. His exact time average time to throw is unknown since college stats don’t cover that but most agree he’s got the necessary quick release.

There is still a ton of proving to do and the Bears have must do their part to help him thrive. That means getting as many good blockers and receivers as they can possibly muster. If everything goes according to plan, this could be the best investment the team has made in decades.

White Sox Call Up Prospect Alen Hansen

By
Emmet McClain
-
Feb 21, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Alen Hanson (63) poses for a photo at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Just days after Rick Hahn snagged Alen Hansen off of waivers from the Pittsburg Pirates, he will make his White Sox debut. Because he was picked up just days ago, Hansen is probably more of an unknown to most White Sox fans than not. Here, we dive into what he can be for a White Sox team that is starting to lose ground fast in the American League.

Tools

Hansen plays SS/2B mainly, but also saw some time at 3B and OF with the Pirates. His best tool is his elite speed, which grades out at 60 on the 20-80 scale. He is a guy that can get on base through bunts, and soft infield singles. When he does get the barrel on the ball, he has the ability to stretch a single into a double if outfielders sleep on him. While his power and arm tools are both slightly below average, his hit and field tools both grade out at 50, which is considered average.

Role

Hansen is by no means a top prospect, but he does have the ability to help the team in a variety of ways. Right now, he is probably going to be used in a super-utility type role. Renteria could plug him in anywhere he wants in the infield (except 1B obviously). He should get the green light to swipe bags more often than not once he gets on base, and can also be used as a very effective pinch runner for late-game situations.

Final Thoughts

Alen Hansen should be an overall solid addition to the White Sox. One thing to look out for is his maturity, as he had some attitude issues while in Pittsburg. His flexibility and speed tool should help Renteria modify lineups and defensive schemes as he sees fit. He should hit anywhere from the leadoff spot, to the eight or nine hole. Rick Hahn picked up a speedy player who has the ability to play all over the diamond. If Hansen can consistently start to hit more, he could end up being a steal.

1...3,0673,0683,069...3,199Page 3,068 of 3,199

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026