With everything going on lately, fans may get an earlier look at ESPN’s ChicagoBulls docu-series.
What a rough week it has been, not just in the world of sports, but the world in general. It’s rare we talk about anything outside of the Chicago Bulls, or Chicago sports as a whole, but the globe has been hit hard with the COVID-19 virus and everyone has been impacted in some way.
It is times like these which should make us come together as a nation. Sports fans and non-sports fans alike should be banding together in order to help their fellow human beings out in such a time of crisis.
Already, we have seen so many acts of kindness and benevolence over the last few days. For starters, employees who work at many stadiums and arenas are receiving enormous acts of grace. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is one of many people who have pledged to help ensure these employees receive full salary over the course of the next month.
One particular act which would excite sports fans everywhere might just be coming to fruition. ESPN has been advertising for their upcoming docu-series on the Chicago Bulls of the 1990’s since late last year, and recently, their ads have changed in a minor way.
Instead of ending the trailer with “Coming in June,” the text now reads “Coming Soon.” It could be something. It could be nothing.
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What makes a lot of folks eager to know for sure, though, is the fact that Disney owns the majority of rights to ESPN and, just two days ago, “Frozen II” was released months early on the streaming service Disney+. It was quite the gesture to allow kids to stream the movie earlier than planned, especially with so many of them home from school for a while.
Could ESPN be planning to make a similar release with their series “The Last Dance?”
One could only hope.
The series is a 10-part documentary that follows Michael Jordan and the Bulls’ dynasty, with much of the footage never before seen. Since the day the original trailer was released, fans have tried to wait patiently for its airing in June. Now, a glimmer of hope has been offered and we might just be graced with this series earlier than we anticipated.
Between NFL Free Agency and now potentially an early release of what may be the most anticipated sports documentary in the last decade, fans should have a little more to get them through the next few weeks.
ChicagoBears (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
As the Chicago Bears get ready for 2020 NFL Free Agency, what are some free agents the team could add from the AFC East?
With NFL Free Agency officially starting this week, the Chicago Bears are expected to be active and will look to add free agents that can help plug up some roster holes. Currently, the Bears have holes at positions such as defensive end and right guard.
Then there are positions such as wide receiver and cornerback, where the Bears don’t have a glaring need but they could still benefit from adding talent to the position in an effort to create competition or bring in someone to upgrade the position.
The key thing to keep in mind is this: Even with the NFL agreeing to a new CBA and the Bears seeing a jump in their cap space, the Bears still only have so much money. That means the team will need to get creative when it comes to adding talent this offseason.
However, despite having limited salary cap space, if General Manager Ryan Pace plays his cards right, he could see the Bears add talent at certain positions that would be underrated additions or merely upgrades over the players at those respective positions from either 2018 or 2019.
If there is one thing that free agency can allow the Bears to do, it’s adding depth to the roster. The AFC East has a plethora of names such as Shaq Lawson, Brian Poole, and Evan Boehm that the Bears could consider adding.
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With NFL Free Agency officially here, what are some names that the Bears could explore adding on the open market that played in the AFC East last year? Additionally, for each of the names listed, what are potential contracts each could sign? Let’s break it all down.
Chicago is one of the best sports towns in the world. So which Chicago Sports moments are the greatest since the year 1990?
When you think of great sports towns in the United States of America, Chicago has to be right up there. They have five professional sports men’s teams that play the four major sports of baseball, hockey, football, and basketball. The Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Cubs are the five Chicago Sports teams that make up this great landscape.
Only the Bears have not won their league’s championship since the year 1990. Every other team has combined for a total of 11 championships which is a remarkable 30 year stretch for the city. None of those eleven championships came in the same year either, which is sort of remarkable in its own right. There have been some great moments throughout Chicago history, and the sports landscape is no different.
Chicago has had some downright awful moments as well. It is a part of sports to win some and lose some. There was a long time where it seemed like nobody would ever win again but that really all changed quickly. To go with some of those awesome winning seasons, have been some great players and managers. Things might seem like they are on the downright now with most of the teams, but there is plenty of ways to turn that all around.
This is a town that is loaded with passionate sports fans. It shows at regular season and playoff games along with large attendance for championship parades. Everyone is looking for a positive in their life so it is good to reflect on some of those good times. These are the five greatest moments from Chicago sports from the year 1990-2020.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 29: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons rushes during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
As NFL Free Agency begins, should the ChicagoBears consider adding running back Devonta Freeman?
Looking at the state of the Chicago Bears running back position right now, one thing is very clear: David Montgomery is the future of the position. Then there’s Tarik Cohen, who’s supposed to be the ultimate gadget weapon for the Bears but regressed in 2019. After that, it’s preseason star Ryan Nall who’s never played a significant number of snaps during any regular season games.
Montgomery and Cohen are solid pieces but if the Bears want to make things really interesting, they should look into adding the recently releasedDevonta Freeman. Coming off his sixth season with the Atlanta Falcons, Freeman has accumulated 3972 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, and 257 receptions.
It’s clear that Freeman’s been a workhorse. However, he’s not the player he used to be. But the Bears should still consider him for a number of reasons. First, Freeman would cost next to nothing in today’s NFL. He’s the perfect kind of low-risk, high-reward type of player the Bears should take a chance on.
Second, all Freeman may need is a change of scenery. He missed 14 games in 2018 due to injuries and then missed just two games in 2019. While some will point to this as a red flag, when healthy, he’s proven that he can be a solid player capable of being a playmaker.
Third, as mentioned above, the Bears running back room is essentially Cohen and Montgomery. Nall cannot be relied upon and will likely be a candidate to be cut when the team finalizes its 53-man roster ahead of the 2020 season.
That’s why bringing in a guy like Freeman is something the Bears need to consider. Not only would he be an upgrade over Nall but he’d also give the Bears a veteran presence that could help mentor Montgomery.
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When looking at a potential price tag for Freeman, a reasonable price for the Bears would be about four million dollars a year with no guaranteed money. This would mean that Freeman would have a chance to show that he can still play in today’s NFL by signing a one-year prove-it deal. For the Bears, if things don’t work out, they can cut Freeman and have no dead money leftover.
Overall, while some may not entertain the idea of bringing on a guy like Freeman, general manager Ryan Pace has consistently stated that if there’s an opportunity for the Bears to make the roster better, they’ll consider it. This is a prime opportunity for Pace to live up to his words.
As 2020 NFL Free Agency begins, the ChicagoBears are talking to Teddy Bridgewater.
With the Chicago Bears looking to bring in competition for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, they are rumored to be in discussions with free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. This is something that’s been speculated leading up to free agency as well.
Many thought that the Bears would be going after guys like Derek Carr or Andy Dalton, however, with chatter regarding the Bears and Bridgewater surfacing, it appears as if the Bears have found their guy to compete with Trubisky.
At just 27 years old, Bridgewater is more than just competiton for Trubisky. He’s going to come in and will likely be the starter, meaning that Trubisky will be the backup. This also give general manager Ryan Pace a chance to save his career with the Bears because he’s been on the hot seat after the Bears finished 2019 with just eight wins.
After starting five games in 2019, Bridgewater has nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He led the New Orleans Saints to five straight wins. He’s proven that he can step up and be the quarterback that the Bears lacked in 2019.
While nothing is official until Wednesday, signing Bridgewater would mean that the Bears have a legitimate chance to win the NFC North in 2020. Head coach Matt Nagy would also be the main driving force behind Bridgewater being one of the NFL’s ascending quarterbacks again.
In terms of financial compensation, Bridgwater is expected to receive nearly $21 million dollars a year. While most may not be a fan of this, in the NFL, if you want a franchise quarterback, you’ve got to be willing to pay a high price.
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Another major thing to understand when it comes to signing Bridgewater is that Trubisky is likely out of the picture. The Bears will likely decline his fifth-year option which would mean that he’s a free agent in 2021.
A former first-round pick in 2014, Bridgewater is familiar with the Bears because he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and started before a knee injury derailed his career. After that, he bounced around the NFL, with stops in both New Orleans and with the New York Jets.
If Pace is serious about getting the quarterback position right, then this is his biggest chance to show that he’s ready to all-in and ensure the Bears win a Super Bowl. Adding Bridgewater means that he’s ready to do what’s in the best interest of the franchise.
The Chicago Bears might need to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with Mitchell Trubisky for the 2020 starting job.
The Chicago Bears were 8-8 in 2019. It honestly felt like it was a 4-12 season because of the fact that they were expected to be a Super Bowl contender. It was painful to watch all year long as their defense was still awesome. As good as their defense was, their offense couldn’t score enough points to take advantage of their awesome defense. They have a few weapons on offense but one thing was clear about the reason they were so bad.
The quarterback is the most important position in sports. Pitchers in baseball and goaltenders in hockey have a good argument but no team can get it done with a bad quarterback. When you look at all of the recent Super Bowl winners, most of them, if not all of them have a quarterback that was able to be above average or better. There is, in all likelihood, not a Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady available to them this year but that is not what they need with this roster.
They need a guy who will come in and help lead them just enough for the defense to take over. The defense was on the field way too much in 2019 and it made them regress just a little bit. Their turnover rate was down but they were still very good at keeping the opposition from scoring a lot of points. There are a few options for this Bears team to go after this offseason that might be able to help. Mitchell Trubisky is still there, but they need someone to come in and push him and be there to take over if necessary.
They do not have a first-round pick so trading up to get Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa is not an option. They could draft a guy like Jalen Hurts or Jake Fromm in the second round but it seems that free agency might be the route. This is a ranking of the top three free-agent quarterbacks the Bears should go after:
With the rumors of the ChicagoBears looking to add competition to the quarterback position, Derek Carr would be their best option.
The Chicago Bears need to be smart and make the right move this offseason when it comes to the quarterback position. Yes, they have concerns at tight end and on the offensive line, but it seems that a solid quarterback like Derek Carr wouldn’t need every little thing to be perfect.
That isn’t a dig at Mitchell Trubisky at all, I love Trubisky. I would prefer that Trubisky remains the Bears’ quarterback, but successfully. There is a better option for the Bears right now with Carr. The rumors of the Raiders signing Tom Brady as soon as Wednesday pushes Carr to the curb.
If the Raiders are actively looking to trade Carr away, the Bears could get him for a good price. The Bears could get him with their 43rd draft pick and maybe add a pick later in the draft. Adding Carr to the team pushes Trubisky to the max.
If Trubisky is going to be an elite NFL quarterback, he’ll need to get passed, Carr. Let’s say Trubisky blows Carr out of the water in the offseason and during the preseason, they could trade Carr to a quarterback struggling team for a need.
If it goes the other way around and Carr beats out Trubisky, you now have a better quarterback. You also know what you have with your backup quarterback in Trubisky.
Trubisky has won with this team before. He has a 23-18 record as a starter with Chicago. If Carr were to get hurt or play poorly, they have a quarterback who has won before. Also, quarterback competition brings the best out of both quarterbacks.
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It’s a win-win for Chicago. If the Bears were planning on drafting a quarterback with the 43rd pick anyway, trading that to the Raiders wouldn’t change much. Instead of drafting a project, you get a solid veteran in the prime of his career.
In 2018, I wasn’t sure about J.B. Pritzker. I thought he was just another rich dude trying to buy an office. Just another billionaire.
This photo is a selfie I took with him about a week before the 2018 election. I went to a rally in Chicago to hear him speak. At the time I wasn’t sure he was qualified to run the state of Illinois. What had this guy ever done except being born into money? This was his opportunity to change my mind. He didn’t do it.
Yeah, I voted for J.B. Yeah, he was the best of two evils. Yeah, he was much better than Bruce Rauner, but really, that’s not saying anything at all. So I voted for him while holding my nose. I was hoping against hope for the best.
We’re about a year into his administration. I haven’t thought much about J.B. Pritzker in that time. That’s not a bad thing in Illinois. For a state that has many of its governors going to prison, having one that lays low and out of the daily spotlight is a good thing. It’s refreshing. Besides, me and my people are more focused on the daily hijinx of Donald Trump to pay much attention to what is occurring with Pritzker.
But now we’re in the middle of a worldwide crisis. At a time where the federal government has reaffirmed that they are incompetent clowns, our state government has stepped up its game in dealing with the coronovirus pandemic.
J.B. Pritzker has taken decisive action to keep the people of Illinois safe.
When school districts and Chicago’s mayor were waffling on what to do with our schools, J.B. stepped and decided to close every school in the state. When fools decided to gather in bars to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, J.B. called out their recklessness with strong words. When that didn’t make an impact, he doubled down and decided to close bars and restaurants starting on Tuesday. When he saw the hours long wait to get through customs at O’Hare and the other major airports in America, he called out Trump and the feds in a series of Tweets. Trump instructed a staffer to make a late night call to our Governor and yell at him. J.B. sure knew the right way to get to the Donald.
It’s been a weekend of triumph for Governor J.B. Pritzker. He has showed the competency and leadership that I, and so many others, didn’t think he had.
Admitting you are wrong isn’t an easy thing to do. J.B. sure has shown me. Maybe he isn’t just a rich dude. Keep it up and I’ll be happy to give you my vote in 2022, without holding my nose. As of today, I’m a proud resident of Illinois. As of today, I’m proud to have my picture taken with you.
My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.
“Coping” sounds a little dramatic to me, because I have it better than most. I’m used to my kids being at home, and my husband will now join us- AND keep earning a salary. We live in a house with a yard, so we can escape each other. No one is on any medications or has allergies. We’re not in the stage in our lives where we’ll be missing out on high school or college memories, weddings, or big travel. I feel very grateful.
But, I’m me, so I also feel much more sane and safe with a PLAN. God bless the moms and teachers out there who are creating and sharing content for our kids. We will all adapt and overcome with this e-learning in place. There are so many good ideas out there, so this post will contain a structure for implementation, plus a few creative ways to connect with people without physically being around them.
Weekday Schedule (explanations at bottom; outside time based on hourly weather)
OUTSIDE: We’ll play, go on nature scavenger hunts, create obstacle courses, do chalk, bubbles, messy crafts, etc
MINI-PRESCHOOL: If weather permits, we’ll start gross motor play outside. Then, we’ll come in for the letter of the day, plus a corresponding story and song. Our fine motor work will be to create a picture that fits our theme. We’ll mail this to a friend or family member. Other activities may include baking, painting, Play-Doh, and age-appropriate projects. Hopefully, this fills two hours…
ALONE: My oldest will complete schoolwork, play Legos, and read in his room. My middle will get the whole playroom to himself. My options include going for a walk, mindlessly scrolling through social media, calling a friend, taking a nap, and/or all of the above.
MOVIE: I checked out 20+ DVDs from the library. We have Netflix, but I’m a control freak and want to monitor what my kids are watching.
This is my PLAN. I’m also planning on it not going right, and on losing my shit once (okay, several) times. You know what I’m looking forward to? In one year, when my Facebook reminds me, “On this day one year ago,” and we all say, “Whoa. Remember that?”
“Your life will never be the same after a kid!” Um, duh. I’m a French teacher turned stay-at-home mom who strives to maintain her social life with and without her kid. By day, a French speaking, cloth diaper changing, baker extraordinaire in both real and pretend kitchens. By night, a cabaret performer, below average triathlete, and club hopper. (Book club, that is.) Email at: [email protected].
What can you do if you cannot attend Mass during the Coronavirus pandemic?
It was announced on Friday, March 13 that the churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago are closed for Mass starting March 14 and will be indefinitely. It broke my heart. When there is a crisis, gathering together to pray is something Catholics have done since the beginning of the Church.
This is Lent and suddenly giving up chocolate or meat on Fridays is inconsequential.
So what can you do if you cannot attend Mass during the Coronavirus pandemic? I have a few suggestions:
What it all comes down to, is prayer. Please pray that this is over soon.
“Pray, Hope and don’t Worry.” ~Padre Pio
May your Lent be fruitful, your health outstanding and all your prayers answered!
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