Bulls guard Zach LaVine is out of quarantine and makes courtside visit

It would have been nice if the Bulls had LaVine back in uniform for the game against the short-handed Bucks, but the hope is he will be back sooner than later. The problem is will it even matter for the Bulls, who are now three games back of the Wizards for the final play-in spot.

There hasn’t been a lot for this Bulls team to be excited about lately.

That changed somewhat on Friday, just before eventually losing to a Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee team 108-98 at the United Center.

A masked man was spotted near the bench area for the home team, giving socially-distanced fist bumps to personnel in the area.

Who said Zach LaVine didn’t know how to make an entrance?

Sure, the struggling Bulls (26-37) would have much rather have had LaVine in uniform against the short-handed Bucks, but the fact that he was out of quarantine was huge news for an organization needing some sort of positivity, especially with Washington now holding a three-game lead for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.

The All-Star guard had been away from the team since an April 14 loss to Orlando, when it was announced a day later that LaVine was put into the NBA’s health and safety protocol.

The Sun-Times reported that LaVine had tested positive for the coronavirus, despite the team unable to divulge that information until given permission by the player.

And while coach Billy Donovan said on Wednesday that it could be another week for LaVine before he can return, he wasn’t necessarily wrong.

Just because LaVine was able to rejoin the team, it doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods yet. Part of the return policy after consecutive negative tests for the virus includes passing consecutive cardio testing. If all that goes well, they’ll try and get LaVine some on-the-court work, and then hopefully have him game ready.

LaVine’s teammates have stayed in contact with him throughout the process, and the few that have also been in the protocol already knew exactly what LaVine was going through.

“I talked to him and I know how difficult it is,’’ guard Tomas Satoransky, who was in the protocol twice this season, said. “You want to be out [on the court], especially Zach. He’s a high energy guy who gets bored very easily. I definitely know that he wants to be out here working out and getting better and helping the team.

“I think he didn’t have really nothing in terms of symptoms from what I’ve heard from him. I hope the transition from being in isolation and going back to practice is going to be smooth for him because that’s what cost me the most. But I had a little more, let’s say serious symptoms in terms of being fatigued, loss of smell and taste. I don’t think he had any of that. So hopefully, it’s going to be as quick as we hope for.’’

Because it’s obvious how much they need him.

The latest evidence of that came in the first quarter against Milwaukee (39-24), as the Bulls offense again lacked any serious punch, scoring just 16 points in that first stanza.

Going back to the loss in New York, it was now three of the last five quarters in which the Bulls scored less than 20 points.

That should change significantly if, and when, LaVine can return, after he’s missed the last nine games while the Bulls have been creeping toward being locked out of even making a play-in game.

Then again, when a Nikola Vucevic has a shooting night in which he goes 7-for-27, including 1-for-9 from three-point range, it’s usually not going to end well.

Then factor in that Lauri Markkanen – along with Cristiano Felicio – was a late scratch due to an illness (non-coronavirus related), and the Bulls were really up against it even with LaVine courtside.

“That’s going to be definitely the boost,’’ Satoransky said of a LaVine return. “Hopefully he will be here as soon as possible and we’re going to definitely use him. You could see the games where sometimes we rely on Zach, especially when things get tough. He’s the guy who can get you the basket when no one really has it going. He’s an All-Star.’’

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White Sox end encouraging April with 5-3 loss to Cleveland

Jose Abreu breaks his bat during Friday’s game. | Getty

The Sox hold a 14-11 record entering May and despite the defeat Friday, have been looking something like the team that had so much hype entering the year. 

April was the month of Yermin Mercedes.

It was also a pretty decent 30 days for the White Sox.

Friday night’s 5-3 loss to Cleveland marked the end of the first month of the season. The Sox hold a 14-11 record entering May and despite the defeat, have been looking something like the team that had so much hype entering the year.

“It’s a good first step for a six-month season,” manager Tony La Russa said before the game.

Though a hiccup or two has occurred, there have been positive steps on both offense and the mound . Despite losing Eloy Jimenez for maybe the entire season and a slow start for reigning AL MVP Jose Abreu, the Sox offense has lived up to its preseason billing.

Before facing Bieber, the Sox led the AL in runs per game (5.17), on-base plus slugging (.759) and batting average (.267), while compiling a league-best plus-31 run differential. After the game, the Sox chose to focus on the three runs they got against Bieber.

“Scoring three against one of the league’s best pitchers certainly doesn’t count in my mind as an offense that wasn’t taking good at-bats and making things happen,” La Russa said.

In general, the Sox made things happen in April. Rookie outfielder Andrew Vaughn said it’s a “special group” and has never been around a team like these Sox.

“Guys top to bottom, everybody here has the same mindset,” Vaughn said. “We want to win and winning is the most important thing. Going out there and picking up your teammates. If you have a bad at-bat, you know the next guy behind you has got you. It’s a really good feeling.”

Nobody has given the Sox, or their fans, more good feelings than Mercedes, who started the night hitting .423 and was attempting to become the fifth rookie in history to lead baseball in average entering the month of May. One of the most pleasant surprises in baseball, Mercedes has quickly become a fan favorite, as evidenced by the ovation he received after his second-inning single off Bieber.

Beyond becoming a cult hero, Mercedes has added a dynamic bat to a deep lineup and had one of the most memorable debut months of any player in Sox history.

“It’s incredibly impressive to watch,” Vaughn said. “He goes up there and he’s going to do damage every single pitch he sees. So, it’s pretty cool and it’s helping the team win. Everybody is trying to follow suit and get in there and take good [at-bats] and do some damage.”

The offense has been supplemented by a rotation that’s more than held up its end of the bargain.

Prior to Dallas Keuchel’s six-inning, four-run outing Friday, Sox starting pitchers led the AL with a 2.97 ERA. Carlos Rodon’s renaissance has been a highlight for a productive group of starters.

“It’s shaping out that we have a pretty good one through five,” pitcher Dylan Cease said.

On Friday, Keuchel was pretty good in five of his six innings. It was the four-run Cleveland third he’d like to have back, when he walked two and gave up three hits before regaining his feel for the rest of the night.

“I was very fortunate to go through six,” Keuchel said, “but very frustrated at the same time.”

As a team, there have been some frustrations to go with the generally good start.

The bullpen was expected to be one of the best in baseball but got off to a slower than anticipated start. Back in the dugout for the first time in a decade, La Russa, a controversial choice when he was hired, has had his decision-making and handling of pitchers questioned.

Obviously, drawing any conclusions after one month is foolish. There will be regressions and other peaks, but the Sox at least had a decent April that won’t make it harder for them to reach their October goals.

Shortstop Tim Anderson said the Sox are in a “great spot” despite missing Jimenez and Adam Engel. They can also improve.

“The first month was a good one,” Anderson said. “Hopefully we continue to build off this and learn from our mistakes this first month. Hopefully next month will be a lot cleaner and hopefully be better.”

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Halas Intrigue Episode 161: Ryan Pace traded up again!

Offensive lineman Teven Jenkins #73 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks at the Boise State Broncos defensive line at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. | Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images

The Bears’ draft has came together well, first with Justin Fields on Day 1 then the move to land Teven Jenkins on Day 2. Our beat writers discuss it.

The Sun-Times’ Bears beat writers break down Ryan Pace’s second trade in as many days — and what’s shaping up to be a killer draft.

New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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Catcher Willson Contreras leaves game with mild right thigh tightness

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Contreras was removed in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 8-6 loss. He was 2-for-3 in the game.

CINCINNATI – Catcher Willson Contreras was removed in the fifth inning of Friday’s game against the Reds with mild right thigh tightness.

Contreras singled to lead off the top of the fifth and jogged to first base, but immediately called for the training staff and was quickly taken out of the game. Catcher Tony Wolters finished the game behind the plate for the Cubs.

“He’s getting checked by the trainers,” manager David Ross said. “He felt a little tightness coming out of the box there [in the fifth inning]. We’ll have to see how it presents tomorrow. But as of right now, just a precaution taking him out of the game.”

The Cubs are limited with catching depth with catcher Austin Romine currently on the 10-day injured list with a severe left wrist sprain. The only other catcher currently on the team’s 40-man roster is prospect Miguel Amaya, who is unlikely to be called up if Contreras is forced to miss any time.

Catcher PJ Higgins is the other internal option and is slated to begin the season at Triple-A Iowa next week.

Arrieta allows three homers in first hiccup of 2021

Jake Arrieta has been everything the Cubs have wanted and more in his first season back with the club and in April, he was the team’s best starting pitcher. But the month ended on a sour note as the 34-year-old right-hander, who lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his final start of April.

After the Cubs took an early 2-0 lead, things took a turn in the third inning as Arrieta allowed an RBI-groundout to cut the lead in half before first baseman Joey Votto unloaded on a two-run homer to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Arrieta would surrender two more home runs to Eugenio Suarez and Nick Senzel in the Reds’ four-run fourth inning, leading to an early exit for the veteran right-hander. It was the first time this season Arrieta allowed more than three runs this season.

He allowed seven runs on seven hits in his outing, walking one batter and striking out two. It was also the first time Arrieta didn’t make it through five innings this season.

Cubs place Megill on the 10-day injured list

The Cubs placed right-hander Trevor Megill on the 10-day injured list before Friday’s game with a right forearm strain and recalled lefty Kyle Ryan off the team’s taxi squad. Megill had two scoreless appearances with two strikeouts. Ryan has pitched two scoreless innings this season with two strikeouts.

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2 robberies reported in Humboldt Park

Two people have been robbed since April 22, 2021 in Humboldt Park.

The first robbery happened April 22 in the 1000 block of North Washtenaw Avenue.

Police are searching for a person who robbed two people last week in Humboldt Park.

In each incident, the male suspect approached a food delivery driver and used force to steal money from them, Chicago police said.

The robberies happened:

• April 22 in the 1000 block of North Washtenaw Avenue; and
• April 27 in the 2600 block of West Thomas Street.

The suspect is between 17 and 20 years old and about 5-foot-11 to 6-feet, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263.

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Little Village activists protest at police training center, FOP headquarters

Garciela Garcia offers a police officer a stuffed animal outside the Chicago Police Department’s training facility on Friday. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Activist presented the “Adam Toledo Peace Book,” — a list of demands to move funding from the police to social services in Little Village.

Graciela Garcia held a stuffed animal as she faced a row of police officers who stood behind their bikes, protecting the Chicago Police Department’s training facility.

“Is there any police officer, that has that love in them to show, that they do have that solidarity to accept this gift,” Garcia said, holding out the stuffed animal in front of her.

Garcia stood next to her 6-year-old daughter and more than a dozen activists in front of the police academy, 1300 W. Jackson, to protest two recent fatal shootings by Chicago police: 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez.

“Thank you, we appreciate the gesture, we can’t accept gifts though but we really appreciate the gesture,” the supervising officer replied.

Garcia and the other protesters then began placing stuffed animals at the wheels of the officer’s bikes.

She and the other protesters wanted to make some sort of a peace offering to show they don’t wish the police any harm, but they also want to weed out what they consider “bad cops.”

“We are standing here in solidarity with my brothers and sisters to demonstrate to these recruits, before they hit our streets, that we have a heart, that we have a soul, that we have loved ones at home,” said Kristian Armendariz, a youth organizer in Little Village. “To have some compassion. To show some respect to a human life before drawing their guns and pulling the trigger.”

Armendariz wants the officers who shot Adam and Alvarez both charged with murder. He also presented a group of proposals that organizers call the “Adam Toledo Peace Book.”

“We want community control over the police department,” Armendariz said. They also want money shifted from CPD’s budget to fund social programs, such as early childhood education or creating a pipeline to trade schools.

“Adam Toledo is a victim of the lack of resources in my community,” Armendariz said.

The protesters then marched to the police union’s headquarters, taking a less-than-direct route — east on Jackson, north on Halsted, back west on Washington.

As they marched, they called for justice for Adam, Alvarez and other victims of police violence as diners in restaurants gawked.

Once in front of Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police, 1412 W. Washington Blvd., they called on FOP president John Catanzara to step down. After video of Adam’s shooting was released, Catanza had said the cop was justified — “100% right” — in his actions.

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Teven Jenkins gives Bears an edge at right tackle

Oklahoma State 6-5, 317-pound offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, the Bears’ second-round draft pick, was projected by some analysts to go to the Bears at No. 20. They got him at No. 39. | Sue Ogrocki/AP

The Bears traded up from 52nd to 39th in the second round for the Oklahoma State lineman known for a mean streak. “My edge to me is about being able to finish anybody in the dirt,” he said.

If Teven Jenkins is as good as his quote about his mean streak, the Bears have themselves a right tackle.

“My edge to me is about being able to finish anybody in the dirt,” said Jenkins, a 6-5, 317-pound offensive tackle from Oklahoma State and the Bears’ second-round (39th overall) draft pick. “I don’t care who you are lining up against me. I don’t care what you earn. I don’t care who you are, I’m going to attack you.

“I want to impose my will against another man and use that force against him until he gets worn out and tired. And I don’t care how long it takes. I’m going to do that 24/7 and I’m going to do that all game.”

The NFL has a way of dousing that youthful exuberance in a hurry, but until proven otherwise, Jenkins’ enthusiasm will carry him right into Halas Hall with high hopes of filling the Bears’ glaring opening at right tackle. While Jenkins also prides himself on his versatility — working on a left-handed stance last season and even taking snaps at center — it’s more likely the Topeka, Kan. native will be plugged into right tackle the first day he steps on the field and stay there.

That’s how big the hole is there after Bobby Massie was cut in the offseason. Veteran Germain Ifedi filled in after Massie suffered a knee injury in Week 8 against the Saints. But general manager Ryan Pace’s aggressive move to jump from 52nd to 39th in the second round of the draft Friday night to get Jenkins signaled the urgency of the matter. Jenkins was drafted to start as a rookie.

And Jenkins sounded eager for the opportunity and the challenge. Jenkins was rated the fourth-best tackle in this year’s draft by many scouts and many mock drafts had the Bears taking him at No. 20.

“One thing I’m definitely going to do is keep putting out the effort on and off the field,” Jenkins said. “[Being] more of a presence around the field, in the weight room on the practice [field] — everything I can do to get on the field as soon as I can. And … bring the attitude like I did at Oklahoma State and make sure I can prove a lot of people wrong and [prove] the Chicago Bears made the right choice with me.”

Jenkins, 23, was a three-year starter at Oklahoma State and did not allow a sack in the last two years. His NFL role model is the Titans’ three-time Pro Bowl tackle Taylor Lewan, “his nastiness, his athleticism and his consistency,” he said.

Jenkins said he met with coach Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo, so he probably has a good idea of what is expected of him.

“I really have a great relationship with him,” Jenkins said. “I met with the scouting department and the head coach [Matt Nagy] and I feel like our relationship has grown a lot. I feel like he has a lot of trust in me and I want to make sure I prove him right.”

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Earning locker room’s respect is ‘first’ on Justin Fields’ mind

Justin Fields and Ohio State coach Ryan Day talk after beating Clemson in the national semifinal on Jan. 1. | Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Fields has a quiet confidence that commands respect, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

Not long after checking into Halas Hall for the first time Friday, rookie quarterback Justin Fields bumped into a rehabbing Tarik Cohen. Someday soon — exactly when will depend on whether Bears veterans truly skip voluntary workouts — the rookie will get his chance, in person, to make a first impression on the rest of his new teammates.

Fields is confident it will go well. He did something similar two years ago after transferring from Georgia to Ohio State.

“I didn’t have personal relationships with my teammates [at Ohio State],” he said Friday. “So what I pretty much did there was show them how much I wanted to win and how much I wanted to be there. I did that by working hard in workouts and weight training and coming in first in sprint drills and stuff like that.

“As time went along I just started building personal relationships from guys who were freshmen, guys who were seniors and guys who were walk-ons. I think it’s very important to get to know your teammates and kind of build those personal relationships with them — so, that way, you can connect on the highest level.”

Fields has a quiet confidence that commands respect, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

“You can hear it, you can see it,” he said. “And I think when you get on the field, the guys believe in him because he can do so much. …

“Everyone has their own leadership style. He can get after you if need be, but he can also put his arm around you and connect with you that way, kind of pull guys with you. He’ll do the same thing there. It doesn’t just happen overnight. You have to get the respect of the locker room first. And that’s first on his mind.”

Fields, who took a 6 a.m. flight out of Georgia, already knows one teammate. He met Andy Dalton, who the Bears still call their starting quarterback, this offseason in California.

Low on picks

General manager Ryan Pace’s decision to trade up in the draft for the second day in a row has left the Bears with four picks Saturday — but none until Round 5.

The Bears own the Panthers’ fifth-round pick after sending Carolina their second-rounder, third-rounder and sixth-rounder to move up and take Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins on Friday.

The Bears don’t have a fourth-round pick Saturday because they traded it to the Vikings to take outside linebacker Trevis Gipson last year.

They have three sixth-round picks — the 24th, 37th and 44th of the round — and no seventh-round selection.

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2021 NFL Draft: Ryan Pace hits jackpot with QB Justin Fields, OT Teven Jenkins

This looks like the best draft class of Pace’s career. | AP Photos

With his job on the line, Pace delivered a quarterback and offensive lineman who could turn the franchise around, and that’ll be enough to save it

With minimal draft capital and hardly anyone believing he could pull it off, Bears general manager Ryan Pace aced the draft in a way that could save his career and turbocharge a franchise that sputtered to a .500 record over the last two seasons.

There was a steep cost, but Pace landed a guy who many believed was the second-best quarterback in the draft by trading up to get Justin Fields at No. 11 on Thursday and followed it by swooping in for Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins in the second round at No. 39 overall. Jenkins was widely projected to be a first-rounder, and when Pace saw him slip well into the second, he couldn’t resist.

The payoff might not be immediate, but the Bears believe — with good cause — that they have a star quarterback and someone to protect him for years to come. It’s been a long time since the excitement over a draft was so palpable and the hope so legitimate.

“I think me and him are going to be great things for this city and great things for this team,” Jenkins said of Fields.

He continued, “I definitely feel like both of us will grow old on this team. I have a very strong feeling about this.”

If Jenkins is right, no one’s going to care what Pace gave up to make this happen.

After trading away a 2021 fifth-round pick and the Bears’ first- and fourth-rounders in ’22 to the Giants to jump from No. 20 to 11 for Fields, it looked like Pace was totally out of ammunition for another big swing.

Instead, with Jenkins drifting, he made a deal with the Panthers to swap spots in the second round, moving the Bears up from No. 52 to 39. It cost Pace his third-round pick (No. 83) and a sixth-rounder (No. 204). He also picked up the Panthers’ fifth-round pick (No. 151).

That 2022 first-rounder is the only one of those outgoing assets that truly stings, but everyone will get over that quickly if Fields and Jenkins catapult the Bears back to relevance.

Put simply, Pace prioritized quality over quantity. He went into the first two days of the draft with Nos. 20, 52 and 83 and walked out with two elite prospects, and the price to jump up and get Fields was pretty reasonable thanks to so many quarterback-starved teams inexplicably bypassing him.

“We feel really fortunate to be able to get Justin [where] we were able to select him,” Pace said. “The excitement throughout our whole building, you could feel it... what he’s gonna do for the future of our organization.”

It’s very likely Fields and Jenkins will be the only long-term contributors that come from this draft class. And that’s fine.

The Bears’ most obvious, debilitating deficiency in the big picture is their lack of a franchise quarterback. Their most glaring problem in the immediacy is that they’re not sure if they have one viable starting offensive tackle, let alone two. Pace solved both of those problems, and he’ll just have to find a way to cobble together answers at cornerback and wide receiver between his late-round picks and the existing depth chart.

It’s worth it. Those are easier issues to resolve than having a net-negative at quarterback and a shaky offensive line making everything worse.

Fields gives the Bears something they’ve never had. He was infinitely more impressive than Mitch Trubisky as a college quarterback. His ceiling is infinitely higher than Pace’s mismatched collection of castoff quarterbacks like Andy Dalton, Nick Foles and Mike Glennon. And most of all, Fields is infinitely more thrilling than anyone who has played quarterback for the Bears in recent memory —maybe ever.

Now that they have Jenkins, they might be able to protect him, too. He played left and right tackle in his 35 starts at Oklahoma State, and Pro Football Focus’ charting had him at two sacks allowed in 1,129 pass-blocking snaps.

Even with him being a rookie, that sounds like a better solution at right tackle next season than Germain Ifedi. If Jenkins is as good as the consensus believes, he could replace Charles Leno at left tackle after that.

If Pace supplies the Bears with fixtures at quarterback and left tackle, he deserves to stay. With his job on the line, he delivered the best draft of his career.

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Teenage boy critically hurt in Lawndale shooting

A 17-year-old boy was shot April 30, 2021 in Lawndale. | Adobe Stock Photo

The 17-year-old was shot Friday in the 1900 block of South Drake Avenue.

A 17-year-old boy was critically hurt in a shooting Friday in Lawndale on the West Side.

The teen was standing in front of a home about 7:35 p.m. in the 1900 block of South Drake Avenue when someone approached him and fired shots, Chicago police said.

He suffered gunshot wounds to both legs and was transported to Mount Sinai in critical condition, police said.

No one is in custody as are detectives investigate.

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Joliet Police Seek Fired Teacher Charged With Traveling to Meet a Child

Police in Joliet were searching for a teacher who was accused of misconduct with a child after investigators say he showed up at a McDonald’s to meet an individual he thought was a 15-year-old boy.

Jeremy Hylka, 44, was charged with traveling to meet a child and grooming. According to police, Hylka had been communicating online with a man posing as teenage boy when the two agreed to meet in person for sex Tuesday night.

The founder of the group “Save Our Siblings,” who would only identify himself with his first name, Shane, said he was behind the encounter, and he managed to set up a meeting with the teacher in less than 24 hours.

“People say it’s stupid, what I’m doing,” he said. “They think its very dangerous, but no battle has been won from running from gunfire.”

Hylka taught science and religion at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Lockport up until Thursday when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet fired him upon learning of the charges. Last year, Hylka resigned from a job at Joliet Catholic Academy after the school said it was aware of online allegations against him.

Details on those allegations weren’t available Friday night.

Police, meanwhile, fear there could be other victims.

“There could possibly be,” said Detective Sean Filipiak with the Joliet Police Department. “That’s why as the Joliet Police Department, we take these allegations very seriously. I encourage people to come forward. We want to hear your story.”

Anyone with information on Hylka’s whereabouts or other potential victims is urged to call police at 815-724-3100.

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2nd man held without bond in fatal shooting of Chicago girl

A second man has been ordered held without bond in the shooting death of a 7-year-old girl who was sitting in a car with her father outside a Chicago McDonald’s

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Bulls failure this season could lead to an interesting offseason

Veteran guard Tomas Satoransky doesn’t want to dwell on his future with the Bulls or more changes that could be made to the roster this offseason, but it could all come into play if the regular season ends without a meaningful play-in opportunity.

It’s not a scenario that Tomas Satoransky is choosing to reside in.

Not with nine games still left in a regular season filled with so much uncertainty from night to night.

But it could soon be a reality for the Bulls guard and his teammates.

When the Mar. 25 trade deadline brought in five new players, it was expected to yield wins. A 7-12 record through the first 19 games was never the goal.

If executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas had no problem ridding the organization of the likes of Otto Porter Jr., Daniel Gafford and Wendell Garter Jr. back then, what’s to say he won’t further clean house if this reload fails to at least play a meaningful game in the month of May?

There’s no doubt that Satoransky and a Thad Young could be attractive assets, especially with contracts that expire after next season.

So is there even more pressure riding on this final push the next two-plus weeks?

“I don’t know how others felt, but I felt like we got better after the trade deadline, and I feel like from my standpoint I have a lot of expectations from this group,’’ Satoransky said of that possibility. “That’s why it’s even more frustrating that we haven’t been able to get a better record with this group. It’s never easy, everybody talks about it, there’s no excuses, but let’s be honest, we changed the group when we had nine out of 10 games on the road, and we were constantly playing, and had no time to practice.

“I don’t think it’s a good approach to think [about more trades this offseason]. We just have to focus on getting better and trying to get better with the opportunity we have, whether it’s a film session, a shootaround, because with lack of practices you really don’t have the time or space to do something else.’’

And unfortunately for Satoransky and his teammates, that’s not changing much down the stretch, with a two-day break after the Philadelphia game on Monday, but then a game every other day to close the season out.

Then it could get real interesting for this front office.

The expected historic 2021 free agent class dried up at the top pretty quickly when so many big-name players re-signed with their current franchises, meaning the trade route might be the best path for Karnisovas to explore.

The Bulls likely at least got a feel of how the rest of their roster is viewed by the market back in March, and there were multiple reports that teams were coveting Young.

Could falling short of at least a play-in game change minds of how this roster is currently constructed? Very likely. Just don’t try and discuss that with Satoransky. At least not yet.

Baby steps

Admittedly, Coby White slow starts earlier this season would usually end up as disappointing second halves for the point guard.

That hasn’t been the case lately, however, as White has had several games where he did very little in the scoring department, only to become a factor in the final two quarters.

“I would say it comes with maturity,’’ White said of the development in that aspect of his game. “Early this year, if I started like that, I feel like it would be difficult to move on. But I think it being later in the year, I think I’ve matured a lot more. Move on to the next play. I’m not getting any of the turnovers back, so you just got to keep playing.’’

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FBI searching for man who robbed Skokie bank

A man robbed a TCF bank April 30, 2021 in Skokie. | FBI

Officers responded to a call of robbery Friday at a TCF bank at 9449 Skokie Blvd.

The FBI is searching for a man in connection to a bank robbery Friday in suburban Skokie.

About 2:30 p.m., officers responded to a call of robbery at a TCF bank at 9449 Skokie Blvd., the FBI said.

The suspect entered the bank with a handgun and demanded money before leaving the scene, the FBI said. It wasn’t immediately known how much money he took, according to the FBI.

He was seen wearing a blue and black windbreaker with a half-zip, a blue or black American flag gaiter, dark pants and shoes and a Chicago Cubs baseball hat, according to the FBI.

The man was between 30 to 40 years old and about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8, the FBI said.

Anyone with infomation is asked to call 312-421-6700.

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Illinois Won't Require COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Passports,' Pritzker Says

After New York’s rollout of an app that allows residents to prove their vaccination status, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed Friday the state won’t create a program for residents to prove they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pritzker said, however, Illinois may “look for some way to have an electronic measure available” to residents who want a system to show vaccination status.

“That’s just something, again, if the users desire, you know, if they want to use something like that,” the governor explained. “We want to make that available, but otherwise, it’s not something that we would require.”

New York’s “Excelsior Pass,” a government-sponsored vaccine passport, and the first of its kind of the nation, shows whether someone has been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19.

New York hopes to use the pass to fast-track the reopening of stadiums, theaters and businesses in accordance with state health guidelines until vaccinations reach critical mass, for which the governor put the low threshold around 75 percent.

States like Arizona, Florida and Texas have joined several others that have pushed back against vaccination certification, arguing that it violates privacy and civil rights. The Biden administration has said it won’t build a national vaccination app, but private companies are racing to create digital “passports” that show proof of immunization.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last week, “Development of a vaccine passport, or whatever you want to call it, will be driven by the private sector.” She said the administration does plan to provide recommendations for digital vaccination certificates so there are applicable standards nationwide.

Such “passports,” which have been under consideration by the private sector for months, could be scannable QR codes that people could pull up on their phones or simpler green check marks or red X’s.

In Chicago, city officials have floated the idea of a “Vax Pass,” which would provide vaccinated people with special perks and discounts.

Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, emphasized the “Vax Pass” shouldn’t be confused with a vaccine passport. Such a passport, the doctor said, won’t be required in Chicago.

Although she said non-vaccinated people will still be eligible to attend concerts this summer, those with the “Vax Pass” could receive limited access, along with other “incentives.”

The city’s new “Vax and Relax” campaign could also extend to barber shops and salons, giving people the chance to get a free haircut or discount on treatments, according to Arwady. She said vaccinated people could also be allowed to get a closer spot in lines at area driving facilities, grocery stores and laundromats.

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FBI Searching for Man Who Robbed Skokie Bank

The FBI is searching for a man in connection to a bank robbery Friday in suburban Skokie.

About 2:30 p.m., officers responded to a call of robbery at a TCF bank at 9449 Skokie Blvd., the FBI said.

The suspect entered the bank with a handgun and demanded money before leaving the scene, the FBI said. It wasn’t immediately known how much money he took, according to the FBI.

He was seen wearing a blue and black windbreaker with a half-zip, a blue or black American flag gaiter, dark pants and shoes and a Chicago Cubs baseball hat, according to the FBI.

The man was between 30 to 40 years old and about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8, the FBI said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 312-421-6700.

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Report: Aaron Rodgers Considers Retiring Over Playing for Packers

Report: Rodgers considers retiring over returning to Packers originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Ever since the Bears traded up in the first round to draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, much of the attention in Chicago has been spent on the team’s new face of the franchise, and deservedly so. But another story, regarding the face of a different franchise is worth checking in on too.

I’m talking, of course, about the drama unfolding between the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

Adam Schefter sent shockwaves through the NFL just hours before the first round of the draft kicked off on Thursday by tweeting that relations had deteriorated so poorly between Rodgers and the front office, that Rodgers told some within the organization that he doesn’t want to return to Green Bay in 2021.

In the 24 hours since that initial bombshell, things have apparently not gotten any better. On Friday, Schefter followed up by saying Rodgers has begun telling some of his Packers’ teammates that as of now, he doesn’t plan on playing for Green Bay this season.

But the biggest head-turner came in the form of an Ian Rapoport tweet, sent just a few hours later:

If Aaron Rodgers retires (to host Jeopardy or just retire), he would have to repay the team $11.5M this year and $11.5M if he remains retired next year — all from his signing bonus. Unless the situation is repaired to his liking, this is a serious consideration, I’m told. https://t.co/kEQwpexqX0

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 30, 2021

Imagine it: Rodgers so unhappy in Green Bay that he’d forfeit $23 million just to get out of town. According to Spotrac, Rodgers has earned over $240 million over his 16-year career, so $23 million clearly doesn’t mean as much to him as it would the average Green Bay resident, but still, that’s a hefty chunk of change to consider giving up.

If he truly does walk away from the Packers, or forces his way out via trade, it would have huge implications in the NFC North as well. For decades the Packers have reigned over the rest of the division at the QB position. For much of that time the Bears were the quarterback basement dwellers, and by drafting Justin Fields on Thursday the Bears took a step towards closing that gap. But if Rodgers’ days in green and gold are truly numbered, then the Pack may take the Bears’ spot at the bottom of the quarterback conversation soon.

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TSA Extends Mask Requirement for Planes, Buses and Trains Through Mid-September

• The TSA on Friday extended a federal requirement that travelers on buses, trains, commercial flights and at airports wear face masks.
• The order took effect in February in an effort to limit the spread of Covid-19 and was set to expire on May 11.
• Travelers over the age of 2 will have to comply though there are exemptions for those with certain disabilities.

Traveling this summer? Don’t forget your mask.

The Transportation Security Administration on Friday extended a federal requirement that travelers on buses, trains, commercial flights and at airports wear face masks. The requirement was set to expire on May 11 and will now be in effect through Sept. 13.

The agency started requiring that people over the age of 2 wear masks during flights, on buses, trains and public transportation in February following an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are exemptions for some disabilities, the TSA said. Fines for refusing to follow the rules start at $250 and go up to $1,500 for repeated violations.

Airlines have required passengers wear masks for much of the past year as Covid-19 continued to spread but labor unions have pushed the Biden administration for a federal mask mandate to back up cabin crews tasked with enforcing the rules. Carriers have banned more than 2,000 passengers for failing to follow mask requirements.

Airlines for America, an industry group that represents most large U.S. carriers, applauded the extension of the mask requirement and said that the “federal face covering mandate has significantly strengthened our flight crews’ ability to enforce these requirements onboard.”

The Federal Aviation Administration in January unveiled a “zero tolerance” policy for unruly travelers after a spike in incidents, many of them involving in travelers who refused to wear masks.

“Mask compliance is key to confidence in air travel as we climb towards recovery, which includes international travel,” Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the labor union that represents cabin crews at United, Spirit and more than a dozen airlines, said in a statement after the decision.

“We also have a responsibility to make sure aviation isn’t contributing to the spread of the virus or any variants. We applaud Administrator Pekoske and the Biden Administration for taking action that ensures we can build back better,” Nelson said.

About half of U.S. adults are at least partially vaccinated, according to federal data. Airline executives have reported higher bookings since vaccines have rolled out and more tourist attractions reopen.

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Andrew Vaughn beginning to emerge for White Sox

Andrew Vaughn gestures after doubling Thursday night. | Getty

Playing on the “big stage” of the majors was an adjustment for Vaughn, who said he’s tried to take a step back and slow things down.

Andrew Vaughn’s talent is showing through for the White Sox.

The third overall pick in the 2019 draft, Vaughn’s rookie season got off to a slow start. Pressed into service in left field because of the long-term injury to Eloy Jimenez, Vaughn struggled at the plate and didn’t get his batting average back above .200 until April 23.

Over the past week, Vaughn has begun to emerge and show why he was such a highly regarded prospect.

Though his power has been absent - he entered Friday’s game with a .386 slugging percentage - Vaughn has steadily gotten on base (.385 on-base percentage). He lifted his average to .273 with three hits in the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader and has looked more like the hitter the Sox want and perhaps need him to be.

Playing on the “big stage” of the majors was an adjustment for Vaughn, who said he’s tried to take a step back and slow things down.

“I definitely was pressing a little hard,” Vaughn said. “Trying to create a result instead of just going out and having fun and playing the game that I love and have been playing since I was a little kid.”

Hitting has been just part of Vaughn’s acclimation, as Friday was Vaughn’s 15th start in left field.

Last year at Schaumburg, Vaughn took some reps in the outfield and he was able to observe how the ball flies and spins off the bat, and figure out how to get good jumps. He’s carried those lessons over to the majors this year, where he’s played a credible left field despite being a first baseman by trade.

“It’s been a smooth transition for me,” Vaughn said. “The infield part definitely helps with the reaction. You are ready for every single pitch. Bringing that to the outfield is definitely beneficial.”

A turning point?
Dylan Cease had perhaps the best start of his career Thursday, throwing a seven-inning complete-game shutout in the Sox’ 11-0 win over the Tigers. The shutout was the third of the season for Sox starters, and Cease got Detroit to swing and miss 16 times.

On Thursday, Cease threw strikes on 66 of 91 pitches, striking out nine while walking none. The start was a far cry from the beginning of the season for Cease, who had struggled to harness his top-shelf stuff. In his previous start on April 23 against the Rangers, Cease needed 80 pitches to record 10 outs.

“For me personally, the stuff has always been there but it’s about how to utilize it,” Cease said. “I’m not going to get too high or low from this one. There’s a lot more starts to go, but that’s what we are looking for.”

Briefly…
- The Sox, manager Tony La Russa said, are still waiting on the tally from the Schaumburg alternate site before knowing whether they’ve hit the 85% plateau of COVID-19 vaccinations. Once a team reaches that mark, certain safety protocols such as requirements for mask use in bullpens and dugouts will be lifted.

- La Russa confirmed that Lance Lynn (strained right trapezius) will come off the injured list to start Saturday, and will be followed Sunday by Lucas Giolito.

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State Senate President Harmon wants an elected Chicago school board – but only partly for now

State Senator and Senate President Don Harmon speaks during a news conference at Oak Park and River Forest High School last year. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file

Senate President Don Harmon vowed Friday to pass a bill creating an elected school board this year, favoring a “hybrid model” of elected and appointed members. Mayor Lori Lightfoot backs that approach, while a fully elected board is supported by state House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and other House Democrats.

SPRINGFIELD — Calling for a shift to “a new era of leadership at Chicago Public Schools,” state Senate President Don Harmon vowed Friday to pass a bill creating an elected school board in Chicago this year, but preferably not the one the House sent to his chamber earlier this month setting up a fully elected board.

Instead, the Oak Park Democrat said he favors a “hybrid model” of elected and appointed members, which he says will “ensure a reasonable and orderly transition to a fully elected school board.”

That hybrid approach is backed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, while the fully elected board is supported by state House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and other House Democrats.

In his statement, Harmon said he has asked sponsors of the competing proposals to “sit down and come up with a plan” to guide the transition. But in an interview with WBEZ on Friday, Harmon added that “if the only option were the [fully elected] proposal or nothing, the Senate might very well pass it.”

He also noted that advocates for each proposal were “very committed to their positions.”

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file

Mayor Lori Lightfoot at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School earlier this month with Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson.

Two weeks ago, the House passed a proposal creating a Chicago school board with 21 members to be elected in Chicago’s 2023 and 2027 municipal elections. They would replace the seven-member board that is currently appointed by the Chicago mayor.

During debate on that bill, its sponsor, state Rep. Delia Ramirez, called an appointed school board “the antithesis of democratic representation.” The Near Northwest Side Democrat said her bill would allow Chicago to have “the same democracy” as the rest of Illinois.

But Lightfoot later called the House bill “unwieldy.” The proposal the mayor backs in the state Senate would create an 11-person board with three members elected and eight appointed by the mayor. The school board would also return to full mayoral control by 2032 unless the Legislature takes further action.

Lightfoot did not immediately respond to Harmon’s calls for negotiation.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has said he generally supports an elected school board but has so far declined to endorse a specific proposal.

In a statement released following passage of the House bill, Welch praised the fully elected plan, saying it would make the board “more equitable” and that “parents and community members deserve to have a seat at the table when it comes to their school district.”

Justin L. Fowler /The State Journal-Register, distributed by the Associated Press

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch speaks at the Bank of Springfield Center in January.

But following Harmon’s calls for compromise, Welch spokesperson Jaclyn Driscoll told the Sun-Times that the House speaker is “open to negotiations as the proposal goes forward in the Senate.”

“We knew when this passed this was going to be something that was going to be negotiated and we just need to get everybody to the table,” said Driscoll.

Even though they had supported an elected Chicago school board in the past, Republicans in the House shot down the fully elected board on the basis there was no compromise.

House Republican leader Jim Durkin said the debate stemmed from a “personality conflict” between Lightfoot and other Democrats rather than a policy disagreement.

Democratic state Rep. La Shawn Ford joined in on these complaints even though he eventually voted for the bill.

“It’s very important that the mayor has a say in this process, whether she’s late to the game or not,” the West Side Democrat said.

In his statement Friday, Harmon said he is sure “everyone involved in this issue has the best interests of the students, families, teachers and taxpayers at heart” and that the legislators are “close to a resolution.”

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DuPage County Sets Goal of Vaccinating 80% of Residents by May 1

DuPage County has set an ambitious goal of vaccinating 80% of its residents by July 1.

The challenge was announced on Friday at a press conference with county health officials and “champions” who are using their community platform to spread the word.

DuPage already has a head start as it was leading the entire state of Illinois in vaccinations as of Friday evening.

More than 35% of residents in DuPage County have been vaccinated. Cook County and the city of Chicago follow.

Karen Ayala, executive director of DuPage County Health, credits collaboration across the county in getting residents vaccinated.

She highlighted how school districts are working with the county to get students vaccinated. Ayala also says fire departments have been working to deliver in-home vaccinations for those who are homebound.

But not everyone is on board.

Dr. Jamie Aten, professor of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College says he filed a police report after receiving backlash for spotlighting a Pew Research Study that showed 45% of white evangelicals would not get a vaccine.

“One person even sending me a message on how it was punishable by death the fact that I was advocating for COVID-19 vaccines,” Aten said. “This is an issue broader than one particular faith community, but within evangelicalism, it’s a very diverse group.”

DuPage County’s vaccination program aims to break down hesitancy and boost confidence using community figures, like the president of the DuPage chapter of the NAACP.

DuPage County leaders add that they’ve recently received their largest vaccine allocation to date.

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Bears' Justin Fields Chooses Side in Cubs-White Sox Fandom

Justin Fields chooses side(s) in Cubs-Sox fandom originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Justin Fields is the talk of Chicago sports these days after the Bears traded up to select the Ohio State product 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

But as conversations swirl around whether Fields will become the franchise quarterback Chicagoans greatly desire, there’s one important question to get out of the way first.

Cubs or White Sox?

“Ooh,” Fields said Friday on ESPN 1000’s “Waddle & Silvy. “I’m going to go with White Cubs. I’m definitely half and half right now.”

Pro move by the rookie, who was a touted high school shortstop himself.

For what it’s worth, the Georgia native attended Monday’s Cubs-Braves game down in Atlanta, so maybe the North Side has a leg up on the South Side.

Justin Fields at a Cubs game two days before the draft huh? #Bears pic.twitter.com/Y6FxjiVWaq

— Te-Way (@DolphinLoaf) April 27, 2021

Then again, White Sox fans’ reactions during Thursday’s game against Detroit to the Bears drafting Fields were amazing.

Fans on the South Side are HYPED about the Justin Fields pick pic.twitter.com/i2GCgoT4jI

— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) April 30, 2021

Whether it’s Cubs, Sox or some combination of the two, both sides of town certainly will unite in hopes of Fields being the long-term QB answer to bring the Bears another Super Bowl.

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Bears Consulted Pat Fitzgerald Before Drafting Justin Fields

Bears consulted Pat Fitzgerald before drafting Fields originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

As Pat Fitzgerald and Kurt Anderson sat with Rashawn Slater and his family at the NFL Draft in Cleveland Thursday night, they couldn’t help but notice Justin Fields falling out of the top 10.

“Kurt and I were talking on the way over about how it’s going to be really interesting to see what happens with the quarterbacks because Kurt’s from Glenview, I’m from Orland, there’s no more die hard Bear fans than the two of us,” Fitzgerald told NBC Sports Chicago Friday.

The Northwestern head coach and his offensive line coach were in Cleveland to celebrate Slater’s eventual selection at No. 13 to the Los Angeles Chargers, but they were also keeping an eye on the Bears. Slater ending up in Chicago would have been great, but Fitzgerald was well aware of the Bears’ interest in Fields. As soon as he saw the Bears trade up to No. 11, he knew what was happening.

“I will tell you there were a number of NFL head coaches and GMs that reached out to me about Justin Fields this year and I’m not surprised that he went to the Bears,” Fitzgerald said. “There were a couple other teams I thought might jump up to take him but I think the Bears did what they had to do to go get the quarterback they wanted.”

Fitzgerald has developed a close relationship with Bears head coach Matt Nagy, so it’s not surprising that Nagy and Bears general manager Ryan Pace picked Fitzgerald’s brain on Fields when they attended Northwestern’s pro day in March. One of the most scrutinized games Fields had in college was the Big Ten Championship Game last December when the Wildcats held the Ohio State quarterback to just 114 passing yards and a 44.4 percent completion rate. But Fitzgerald also saw the other side of Fields in 2019 when the quarterback threw for four touchdowns in a 52-3 rout in Evanston. Pace was in attendance that night.

Fitzgerald also has a relationship with Fields that goes back to when he recruited him in high school. Northwestern was the first school to offer Fields a scholarship.

“We thought we’d take a hard swing and we thought we built a great relationship and then everyone else I think watched the same tape we did and we kind of got back to the back of the line,” Fitzgerald said back in December before the Big Ten Championship Game.

Those comments in December were notable. It’s common for opposing coaches to hype up a star player on the other side of the field (Bill Belichick does it every week) but it was obvious that Fitzgerald meant it.

“I remember our recruiting office showing me his tape and I call him a three-play guy. You pop on three plays and you go, ‘Yeah he can play for us,’” Fitzgerald said. “And then you start to dive in a little more and you’re like, this guy is unbelievable. Then you find out the background of his family and you find out who he was as a student, just all those things — this is potentially a program-changing type player at the QB position.”

Fitzgerald has kept his relationship with Fields going, even texting him a congratulatory message on his way back to the airport Thursday night. And he’s ready to go to bat for him too, pointing out that the quarterback suffered a thumb injury in the first half of the Big Ten Championship Game.

“He got dinged up early in the game, hurt his hand,” Fitzgerald said. “We thought he was hurt on the play on our discussion on the headsets and then as we came out in the second half, we’re like obviously something is not right, but I think he gets a bad rap for that game, maybe because of yards and all that stuff, but I think we got a pretty salty defense too and I thought we played really well in the back half in that game. And then you couple that with the way he responded against Clemson, I think it really speaks to who Justin Fields is and what a response he had in that game.”

He bounced back to throw for 385 yards and six touchdowns against Clemson – a legendary performance considering he took a brutal shot to his ribs and played through it. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Friday that Fields barely practiced before the National Championship Game against Alabama, but still showed up and operated the offense well in the loss.

“He could barely get out of bed because of the shot he took in the Clemson game, but he still found a way to play in that game and play OK without really practicing,” Day said.

Maybe there’s a coach out there with something bad to say about Justin Fields, but that coach is hard to find.

Back in December, Fitzgerald said: “I’m a huge fan in every game but when we play. You’re cheering for him except for when you need to compete against him.”

That is no longer an issue now that Fields is on the Bears. The quarterback that used to beat him now plays for Fitz’s favorite NFL team.

“Sometimes the opportunity is exactly what it should be and it just seems to me that the quarterback opportunity here in Chicago is exactly what he should be,” Fitzgerald said.

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2021 NFL Draft: Best available players for Bears in second, third round

Jenkins was projected to go in the middle or late in the first round, but slipped to Day 2. | AP Photos

A look at the best available talent on Day 2 as the Bears eye offensive tackles, cornerbacks and wide receivers.

The Bears disregarded their most pressing needs for the upcoming season to trade up and take Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at No. 11 overall Thursday. It’s a thrilling pick, but there’s more work ahead.

At the top of the to-do list: Find an offensive tackle.

The Bears are currently heading into the season with Charles Leno at left tackle and Germain Ifedi at right. Had they stayed at No. 20, they likely would’ve addressed that need. Instead, they can try again Friday in the second round (No. 52 overall) or third (No. 83).

It will be nearly impossible for them to trade up more than a few spots, so it’s unlikely they can get Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins — a popular first-round projection who slipped to Day 2. They will probably be eying Stanford’s Walker Little or Texas’ Samuel Cosmi instead.

The best cornerbacks in their range are Washington’s Elijah Molden, Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph.

One of the top wide receivers, Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore, slipped out of the first round, but probably won’t fall far enough for the Bears. The top receivers they could potentially reach at No. 52 are LSU’s Terrace Marshall, Purdue’s Rondale Moore and Western Michigan’s D’Wayen Eskridge.

After their third-round pick, the Bears aren’t up again until the sixth round at No. 204 overall. They also pick at Nos 208, 221 and 228 in the sixth.

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Bears GM Ryan Pace says QB Andy Dalton is starter despite drafting Justin Fields

Dalton signed a one-year deal last month. | Getty

The Bears envision Fields as their long-term answer but still plan on Dalton opening the season as their starter.

They’ve said this before.

Hours after trading up to draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at No. 11, general manager Ryan Pace said free agent signee Andy Dalton remains the Bears’ starter — just like they said of Mike Glennon when they drafted Mitch Trubisky in 2017.

To be fair, Glennon did open that season as the starter, but played his way out of the job after four games.

“Matt [Nagy] has spoken to Andy Dalton tonight; that communication and clarity for us is really important,” Pace said. “Andy is our starter, and we’re gonna have a really good plan in place to develop Justin and do what’s best for our organization and win games.”

The Bears signed Dalton for one year, $10 million and assured him he’d be their starter. It was a crucial part of their recruiting pitch because Dalton had a strong offer from the 49ers.

Pace cracked the door open slightly for Fields to beat out Dalton, but still indicated the plan is to start Dalton and have Fields learn behind him.

“We just have to let it play out,” Pace said. “One of the best feelings in the world would be, ‘Hey, we’re rolling, we’re playing really good football, we’re winning and we’re looking over there and we’re seeing this guy and we all know — everyone in the building knows — hey, we’ve got a guy.

“As these guys come into this, even all the experiences they have at the college level, growing and watching tape, reading defenses, working in the huddle… It’s just so new for these guys, but it’ll be a daily process, a daily evaluation. But we’re excited to let that play out.”

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15-year-old boy charged in CTA train stabbing, robberies

A 15-year-old boy was arrested for armed robberies April 29, 2021. | Adobe Stock Photo

The teen boy allegedly stabbed a man Monday at the Adams/Wabash Station.

A 15-year-old boy is facing charges after stabbing a man and assaulting two others Monday and Tuesday on a CTA train.

The teenager allegedly approached a 23-year-old man who was sitting on a Purple Line train Monday at the Adams/Wabash station at 201 S. Wabash Ave. and demanded his cellphone, Chicago police said.

After the man handed over his cellphone, the teenager demanded the passcode and stabbed the man in the back with a knife, police said.

The man was transported in good condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police said

The next day, the teen was armed with a knife and robbed a 29-year-old woman who was sitting on a Purple Line train in the 300 block of North Wells Street, police said.

He then attacked a 51-year-old man and demanded he didn’t interfere, according to police.

The teen boy was arrested Thursday in Fuller Park and was charged two felony counts of armed robbery, a count of aggravated battery to a transit employee and a misdemeanor aggravated assault to a transit employee, Chicago police said.

He is expected to appear in juvenile court Friday.

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Hotel billionaire willing to plunk down more of his own cash in bid for Tribune Publishing

The chairman of Maryland-based Choice Hotels International, Stewart Bainum Jr. has been searching for investors for an ownership group that can rival Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund that currently owns roughly 32% of Tribune Publishing and has submitted a $635 million offer to buy it outright.  | AP file photo

Stewart Bainum Jr.’s latest move comes weeks after his short-lived partnership with a Swiss billionaire ended abruptly after the pair made a $680 million play for Tribune Publishing, which owns the Chicago Tribune,

A hotel executive looking to purchase Tribune Publishing is offering to put up more of his own cash as he seeks other investors for the deal, a source said Thursday.

Stewart Bainum Jr. is now willing to use up to $200 million of his own money and tap another $100 million in debt financing, according to the source, who said Bainum has told a Tribune special committee about the new plan.

The chairman of Maryland-based Choice Hotels International, Bainum has been searching for investors for an ownership group that can rival Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund that currently owns roughly 32% of Tribune Publishing and has submitted a $635 million offer to buy it outright. Alden has bought up financially troubled newspapers around the country and has faced sharp criticism for slashing news coverage.

Bloomberg first reported that Bainum is willing to up his ante in the bid for Tribune Publishing.

Tribune Publishing didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Alden couldn’t immediately be reached.

Bainum’s latest move comes just weeks after his short-lived partnership with Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss ended abruptly after the pair made a $680 million play for Tribune Publishing, which owns the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun and other newspapers. Bainum previously had an agreement with the hedge fund to acquire the Baltimore Sun for a nonprofit, but it was scrapped amid disagreement over details.

Wyss, who put up roughly $500 million in the ill-fated deal, sought to help Bainum keep Tribune Publishing out of Alden’s hands and to break up the company, selling its papers to investors wanting local titles. But Wyss, the founder of medical device maker Synthes, pulled out after deciding he’d have to spend too much to elevate the Chicago Tribune to a national role, sources said at the time.

Under the gun, Bainum has continued to seek deep-pocketed, civic-minded partners to prevent Alden’s takeover.

Contributing: David Roeder

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White Sox’ Dylan Cease hurls 7-inning shutout vs. Tigers

Getty

Yoan Moncada, Yermin Mercedes homer as White Sox complete doubleheader sweep.

Dylan Cease completed five innings. And then some.

In grand fashion.

The White Sox’ talented right-hander, who hadn’t pitched more than 4 ²⁄₃ innings in his first four starts of the season, pitched a seven-inning complete game shutout, helping the Sox complete a doubleheader sweep of the Tigers with an 11-0 victory Thursday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Cease struck out nine, walked none and allowed three hits. It was the first shutout of his career. He threw 91 pitches, 66 for strikes.

“The stuff has always been there but it’s about how to utilize it,” Cease said. “I’m not going to get too high or low from this one. There’s a lot more starts to go, but that’s what we are looking for.”

The Sox improved to 19-1 against left-handed starters since the start of the 2020 season. Cease improved to 6-0 during his career against Detroit (8-18).

Cease matched his career high by going seven innings.

“He said after the last time he pitched he was getting too distracted, too many thoughts in his head,” La Russa said. “He was going to get his work done and get to the mound, see a target and throw it. Keep it simple. That’s what he said, that’s what he did. It’s a great way to pitch.”

Yoan Moncada hit a three-run homer and Yermin Mercedes hit a 449-shot into the shrubbery beyond the center field wall for his fifth homer as the Sox (14-10) blew the game wide open in a seven-run fifth.

Jose Abreu singled in two runs against Michael Fulmer after Leury Garcia and Nick Madrigal each drove in runs with singles in a four-run third. Fulmer replaced left-hander Matthew Boyd, who left the game in the second inning with knee tendinitis.

Garcia knocked in three runs, stole a base and made a running catch in right field after driving in the go-ahead runs in the Sox’ 3-1 victory in Game 1.

Andrew Vaughn was 3-for-4 including two doubles and two runs scored in the nightcap, raising his average to .273. Madrigal had three hits, and the bottom third of the lineup — Vaughn, Garcia and Madrigal — combined for six of the Sox’ 15 hits.

The Sox, who took two of three from the Tigers, have won six of their last seven games. They open a three-game home series against the Indians Friday.

In the opener, Carlos Rodon pitched six innings of one-run ball with a career high 12 strikeouts.

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Adbert Alzolay coming into his own at the right time for the Cubs

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Alzolay allowed two runs over a career-high six innings and earned his first quality start of his career in the Cubs’ 9-3 win over the Braves

ATLANTA — The Cubs have given starter Adbert Alzolay a chance to grow at the major-league level, and after a rocky season debut, Alzolay has started to come into his own. He entered Thursday’s game in an attempt to play stopper and end the Cubs’ five-game losing streak.

While that would be a lot to ask of many young starters, Alzolay looked up for the task against a Braves team that averaged eight runs per game over the first three games of the series.

The Cubs’ right-hander continued to show his steady development in Thursday’s 9-3 win and is beginning to look like the starter the Cubs always envisioned him being.

“I think his stuff, I’ll put it up there with anybody in baseball,” said Matt Duffy, who was 2-for-4 on Thursday. “Just the way it moves. I faced him in live BP right before the season started and was thoroughly impressed with the pure stuff.”

Alzolay got into very little trouble against Atlanta and was aggressive in the strike zone with his sinker, slider and four-seam fastball. Braves hitters didn’t look very comfortable against Alzolay over his career-high six innings of work.

“I think he’s just getting a little more consistent with what he wants to do the hitters and the trust that he has in his stuff,” manager David Ross said. “I’m really seeing the same pitcher, I think there’s just a little bit more leeway from my end and the ability to watch and continue to build confidence in him that he has and I have and our group has letting him go a little bit deeper today.

“He continues to build that confidence and has established himself as one of our really good starters.”

The six innings of work was a major accomplishment for Alzolay. He struck out six batters and walked just one, throwing a career-high 94 pitches in the process. It was the first quality start of his career.

“When you can command and control a pitch on both sides of the plate, it will open so many doors for you,” Alzolay said. “Because you have the hitter just now looking at one spot, but you got the hitter wondering, ‘Oh, this guy can go to the other side of the plate with the same pitch. They start thinking at the plate. So for me, it’s just keep getting better at commanding the pitch and just keep attacking the hitters.”

The Cubs needed an outing like this from one of their starters. With with the exception of Trevor Williams on Tuesday, no other starter had a quality outing in Atlanta.

Cubs starting pitchers allowed 16 earned runs against the hot-hitting Braves during the four-game series. All but four of those runs came in starts by right-handers Zach Davies and Kyle Hendricks, who have left a lot to be desired in April.

Davies and Hendricks were supposed to be the two consistent pieces of the rotation, but so far this season, they’ve been not only bad but two of the worst starters in baseball, allowing a combined 39 earned runs.

The lack of quality starts takes a toll after a while, and Cubs’ relievers have been warming up far too often in the fourth and fifth innings. The rotation will have to start going longer before the struggles begin to leak into the bullpen.

“I mean, it was huge for me that I was able to throw my first quality start in the big leagues today,” Alzolay said. “As a team, I feel like we needed it. We haven’t been as good as everyone was expecting as starting pitchers, but tonight, I felt it was good as a team and for the starters that I went out and gave the team six innings.”

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Fresh start: Justin Fields is Matt Nagy’s baby

Bears first-round draft pick Justin Fields (throwing during Ohio State’s pro day on March 30) said he already feels he’s built a relationship with Bears coach Matt Nagy during the draft process. “I think I fit perfectly” in Nagy’s offense, he said. | Paul Vernon/AP Photos

After struggling to develop a quarterback he inherited in Mitch Trubisky, the Bears’ coach has a player he scouted from the start of the process, with a better vision of what his offense needs. It’s all up to Nagy now.

Matt Nagy has his quarterback.

HIS quarterback.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace’s bold trade to acquire Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields — jumping from 20th to 11th in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night to get him — will give Nagy his best chance to prove he is a true disciple of Chiefs coach Andy Reid and can parlay the development of a talented young quarterback into a offense that can win the Super Bowl.

That development is something we did not see in Nagy’s three seasons with Mitch Trubisky. The 2017 No. 2 overall draft pick was inconsistent at best with the Bears under Nagy and mostly at his best against inferior defenses. By 2020, it was clear that developing Trubisky into the offense Nagy envisioned when he was hired in 2018 was a struggle. He did his best, but even Nagy and the Bears acknowledged it didn’t work.

The difference is that Nagy inherited Trubisky when he arrived from Kansas City — part of the coaching staff that rated Patrick Mahomes higher, in fact. Justin Fields is Nagy’s baby — a quarterback he scouted from the beginning of the draft process, and with three seasons more knowledge of what his own offense is supposed to be all about.

The timing is key as well. When Nagy was hired, he was a rookie coach designing an offense in his vision for the first time. He made mistakes that might have hindered Trubisky’s development as well. And Pace still was finding out what pieces Nagy needed to make his offense work.

We still don’t know that, but Fields will enter a Nagy offense that is a little further along. Not only has Nagy presumably learned from his rookie mistakes, but the Bears — while hardly a finished product — arguably are a little better set on offense now than when Nagy arrived.

The offensive line is a bit of an x-factor, but with tight end Cole Kmet and wide receiver Darnell Mooney expected to blossom in Year 2, with running back David Montgomery in Year 3 and with Tarik Cohen back after missing most of last season with a knee injury, Nagy can’t complain about the hand he’s been dealt. The quarterback might not be the final piece of the puzzle, but it’s the biggest one. With Fields, it’s the one that puts all the other pieces into focus.

Fittingly, Fields got the call from Nagy when the Bears made their decision. “Coach Nagy called me up and asked me if I was ready to be a Chicago Bear and I told him, ‘Of course,’” Fields said.

Their relationship is the key to the Bears’ hopes of heading upward instead of downward after an 8-8 season. “Coach Nagy’s a great coach. He’s a great person,” Fields said. “I got to sort of build a relationship with him these past couple of months.”

Hopefully, that’s just the start. The draft process is a little sketchy these days with the limitations of coronavirus protocols. It’s a little tougher to tell what’s inside a player on a Zoom call — Does he learn well? Can he be motivated? What kind of leader will he be. The trust is that Nagy knows what he’s looking for in a quarterback after slipping and sliding for three seasons with Trubisky, Chase Daniel and Nick Foles.

“I think I fit perfectly,” Fields said. “I think [if] he didn’t think I fit well, he wouldn’t have traded up. Just talking to him, getting to know how he communicates with his quarterbacks and his learning style, that’s gonna make me a better quarterback, a better play and he’s gonna teach me a lot. I’m excited to get up there and learn.”

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Blackhawks fall to Panthers in overtime despite Alex DeBrincat’s late equalizer

The Panthers beat the Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime Thursday. | AP Photos

The two teams combined to blow three leads in regulation, but Florida’s Sam Bennett dealt the Hawks a loss late in overtime.

In a typical season against a typical opponent, the Blackhawks having three players who spent much of the year on the Panthers would’ve provided a significant advantage in the two teams’ matchup Thursday.

But this is 2021. The Hawks and Panthers had already met six times. And the Panthers are coached by Joel Quenneville, with whom familiarity is a given both ways.

So it actually mattered little that ex-Panthers Vinnie Hinostroza, Brett Connolly and Riley Stillman all played Thursday for the Hawks, who lost 4-3 in overtime.

“There’s always little details that you find out [from them],” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “But when you play a team six times, there’s not much left to find out. It’s probably more effective when you get someone from the other conference, and you’ve only seen them one time, and that helps to make the video be a little clearer as far as what you’re seeing.”

Alex DeBrincat dramatically tied the game with 17.6 seconds left, finding open space on the back door and roofing a Patrick Kane pass to force an unexpected overtime. But after numerous Hawks chances to win barely missed, Sam Bennett beat Kevin Lankinen upstairs with 51.1 seconds left in overtime.

Hinostroza did enjoy some personal revenge against the team that cast him aside, scoring off a pass from so-called “Bash Bros” partner Brandon Hagel to put the Hawks temporarily ahead 2-1. Adam Gaudette had earlier scored his first goal as a Hawk.

But ex-Hawks forward Anthony Duclair, despite being much further removed from his Chicago tenure, tied the game later in the second period.

Brandon Montour’s strike with 10:51 left then seemed to have given the Panthers a regulation win before DeBrincat’s late heroics.

The Panthers dominated the Hawks, who have lost four of their last five games with just six remaining in the season, for much of the second and third periods. Shots on goal and scoring chances both heavily favored the visitors — 29-15 and 22-13, respectively — over the final 40 minutes of regulation.

Hardman won’t forget debut

Mike Hardman’s NHL debut Tuesday was even more special than expected because his mom, dad and two grandparents were in attendance in a United Center suite.

“I didn’t really know if they were going to be able to come because of all the COVID stuff, but they were able to make it out,” Hardman said Wednesday. “All four of them have been there every step of the way for me, so it was really important for them to be able to see my first game. It was a night I’ll never forget.”

Hardman impressed in limited playing time, which Colliton later regretted wasn’t higher, and stayed in the lineup for his second game Thursday.

“He was physical, he made some plays, he skated well,” Colliton said. “Very good debut for him, so that was positive.”

No AHL playoffs

The AHL announced Thursday it won’t hold league playoffs this season, which means the Rockford IceHogs’ season will end May 15.

With a 9-15-1 record, the Hawks affiliate wasn’t exactly deserving of a playoff berth anyway. This year has been more about prospect development than winning. Dylan McLaughlin and Cody Franson, two players on AHL-only contracts, share the team scoring lead with 17 points each; Evan Barratt is the top-scoring Hawks prospect with 12 points.

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