Due to coronavirus, the NBA has suspended its 2019-20 season.

NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight’s Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW

— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020

The Chicago Bulls have 17 regular-season games remaining. If and when those games will be played is unclear.

Some thing to note during this week:

This is the actual week of St. Patrick’s Day. While most of the events were scheduled for the previous weekend, some may have been put off with the many cancellations in civic observances. I am trying to keep track of any cancellation or postponement, so some events scheduled for the previous weekend may re-appear here.

So far, I’m seeing, in the wake of the COVID-19 virus emergency, most venues have been posting that they are increasing their diligence in cleaning and sanitizing their premises, and offering more chances for patrons to clean up as well.

Monday, March 16

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17

Wednesday, March 18

Thursday, March 19

Chicago, known as the city that works; however, in the winter of 1981, the city was paralyzed by a record January storm. This caused Michael Bilandic to lose his position as mayor against Jane Byrne in the primary election due to his inept handling of one of Chicago’s worst blizzards. Jane Byrne won the Democratic nomination, becoming the first woman mayor of Chicago. However, Byrne inherited a multitude of problems in her first year in office. She battled strikes by transit workers, schoolteachers, and firefighters.

When Byrne demands an answer to how the police are combating crime in Cabrini Green, the answer was simple, “They keep it contained.” They don’t fight it, and they don’t try to prevent it. It is within these realms that we see the bigger context and the works of mobsters and politicians getting a percentage off of the drug sales and Byrnes interferences of their racketeering was not welcome in Cabrini Green. After hearing this, Byrne decided to move in the Cabrini-Green housing project in an attempt to repress the violence.

Lookingglass Theatre presents the world premiere of ‘Her Honor: Jane Byrne’ written by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks.’ It tells the story about Byrne moving into Cabrini Green in March 1981. The play is filled with political drama and focuses on the stigma of African-Americans living in public housing.

To draw attention to the gang violence and the neglect which created deplorable living conditions at Cabrini Green, Jane Byrne decided to move into an apartment, hoping that her presence would diminish crime; while boosting her political career. Although her slogan stated, “As Long as It Takes,” Byrne left the apartment within 20 days.

Although her intentions to combat crime may have been sincere, others thought it was a publicity stunt. The hasty decision to have an Easter celebration, brought about an uproar from protesters of Cabrini-Green, led by lifelong activist and resident Marion Stamps. Byrne angered that her event of posing with children and Easter baskets for the cameras was ruined, she had them arrested, making it one of the most infamous stunts in the city’s history.

Christine Mary Dunford (who plays Jane Byrne) resemblance of Byrne is uncanny. She does an extraordinary job embodying Jane Byrnes’s mannerism down to the hand that shook when she was nervous or uncomfortable.

Thomas J. Cox was very entertaining as the corrupt public official, Alderman Fred Roti of the 1st Ward, who sparred with Mayor Byrne. Cox’s display of loyalty to the “Democratic Machine” (which was established by Mayor Richard J. Daley) set the tone for the many battles Byrne had to endure.

Taron Patton gave a superb performance as longtime resident Marion Stamps, who went toe to toe with Byrne. Frank Nall, who took on two roles, one as Byrnes husband Jay McMullen and the other as police commander. While he played the loving husband well, his role as the police commander was unsettling, as he believed that the cop’s only responsibility was to patrol the area.

Other notable characters that gave stellar performances were Willie “Mudlife Roc” as Kid, the grandson of Mabel, who was trying to find solace in the world in which he lived. Nicole Michelle Haskins makes her Lookingglass Theatre debut as Tiger, the heroic young girl, who took the bull by the horns and temporarily bonded with Mayor Jane Byrne. Robert Cornelius also made his debut at Lookingglass Theatre as the bookseller Black Che. Che, a statesman with the laid back demeanor that knew “What’s Happening,” garnered the respect of the Cabrini Green residents. 

J. Nicole Brooks captured the distressing lucidity of African-Americans living in the projects. A heart-rending moment was when an elderly resident Mabel Foley (Renee Lockett), talks to the reporter (Tracy Walsh) and tells her about all of the places she never visited. She mentions London, Paris, and includes downtown Chicago, which is only a few miles away from Mabel’s home. It provides a searing reminder of how the privilege is oblivious in understanding the lives of those stricken from the simple pleasures of life. And how people can become moronic to the plight of those imprisoned in a world of violence and fear. 

For a story that took place nearly 40 years ago, “Her Honor: Jane Byrne,” is a mixture of grit and the unflinching truth that Byrne faced during her time in office as mayor. It provides touching moments of raw realism covered with laughter regarding the life of Chicago politics and its segregated communities. 

Let’s Play recommend “Her Honor: Jane Byrne” at Lookingglass Theatre.

Lookingglass Theatre
Her Honor: Jane Byrne
Written and Directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks
February 26 – April 12, 2020

Michael,

You have nailed it. One of your life goals, something you told us many years ago when you were childless and single was that at age 35 you wanted to be coaching your son or daughter in baseball. And now at exactly 35 you have been approved to coach H’s local rec league team. It will be some T-ball, some coach-pitch, and should be all fun. Your mother and I congratulate you and guarantee you that coronavirus and weather permitting, our spring will be filled with sunshine, sidelines, and sandlots.

I have one request. Be a good coach. Not necessarily a winning coach–at this level no one should be keeping score. Not a hard-ass coach–many of these kids are having their first experience in organized sports and they should learn that this is friendly competition for the fun of playing the game. Not a biased coach–H should learn immediately that Daddy is the coach for all the kids. And it goes without saying there should be no gender bias.

So what does being a good coach mean to me? Focus on the basic skills you can guide the kids in. Running, throwing, catching, and the idea that physical activity is fun and healthy. Let the kids know that athletics can be a good release from stress, not something that will add to whatever stress they will feel through adolescence and teen years. Let them know that getting a hit is great, but so is cheering a teammate (or a competitor) on a (Willie) Maysian throw or an (Andruw) Jonesian catch.

Emulate the coaches who had a positive impact on you as a youth. Remember also the ones who had you and your teammates in tears. Don’t be one of those coaches. And that youth-basketball coach we witnessed last month? The one who endlessly berated the teen-aged official and disrupted the game? Swear to yourself you will never be that guy.

Prepare yourself. Does the rec league offer training? Take in what they have to offer and filter it through your own sensibilities. Talk to any friends who have already coached and think about what they have to say. Find a good book or website that can guide you as you guide the youngest all-stars.

With no one counting runs, with no stats, and with no victories or losses, how will you know if you are a success? Take a mental snapshot of each kid at the beginning of the season. When the schedule winds down, ask yourself how many players have improved their basic skills since those first days. Ask yourself if you can identify one memorable moment from each child’s season. And be sure that you have shared those highlights, have shared them with everyone.

One more measure of your accomplishment: Next spring check the league rosters to see how many of this year’s players have registered for another season of the old hardball. If you have led them right, making sure each felt their 2020 season was fun and positive, they will all return for 2021.

And Mom and I will be there too. We’ll always have your back. Hit this one out of the park, son!

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