chicagosun-times--2020-06-29--‘Force of Nature’ is like ‘Die Hard’ with a tempest

After the mega-success of “ Die Hard ” in 1988 , the basic formula — good guy trapped in a confined space faces off against maniacal villain and his henchmen — was lifted for one action film after another in the 1990s .
A generation later , we ’ re STILL seeing the concept at play , in films such as “ White House Down ” ( 2013 ) and “ Skyscraper ” ( 2018 ) .
Now comes the violent and lurid and politically incorrect “ Force of Nature , ” which is “ Die Hard ” in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( aka with less originality ) than most , from the claustrophobic setting ; to the displaced New York cop who speaks via a walkie-talkie type device to the narcissistic villain ; to scenes where our anti-hero crashes through windows , keeps going despite suffering multiple wounds and finds himself in a precarious situation with another character dangling from the side of a building .
If that sounds exhausting , director Michael Polish ( “ Twin Falls , Idaho , ” “ The Astronaut Farmer ” ) indeed keeps the pedal to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour , 31 minute running time , pausing only occasionally for clichéd “ back story ” scenes such as the moment when the protagonist sustains a pretty serious wound , winces as he ’ s patched up and shares an intimate anecdote from his personal life which explains why he is where he is today .
“ Force of Nature ” actually has an early scene straight out of the first “ Lethal Weapon , ” as Emile Hirsch ’ s troubled cop , Cardillo , contemplates suicide and even puts his gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife .
It ’ s a long time before we learn what happened in New York City to turn Cardillo into such a cynical , reckless , dangerous mess .
All we know for now is he ’ s a desk-jockey cop in San Juan , Puerto Rico , who is sent into the field with a green and enthusiastic new partner named Jess ( Stephanie Cayo ) to search for residents who are refusing to leave their homes even as a Category 5 hurricane bears down on the city .
A ridiculous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Catlett ) buying 100 lbs .
of meat to feed his pet big cat ( it seems to be a panther ) results in Cardillo and Jess escorting Griffin back to his apartment , moments before a ruthless criminal mastermind who calls himself John the Baptist and at least a half-dozen heavily armed gunmen storm the complex in search of a hidden treasure tucked away by one Bergkamp ( Jorge Luis Ramos ) , an old man from Germany with a deep and shameful family secret , and I ’ ll bet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be .
With overwrought action-thriller music pounding on the soundtrack and director Polish having fun by turning the rain machines to 11 and saturating the apartment building hallways in splashy , nightclub-worthy colors of pink and green and blue , Cardillo winds up partnering with a doctor named Troy ( Kate Bosworth ) while Jess teams up with Troy ’ s father , an old-school , civil-rights-be-damned , mean cuss of an ex-cop named Ray , who is played by Mel Gibson , and we ’ ve come full circle with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an effective performance by Gibson — he still has the ability to command the screen — but It ’ s impossible to completely put aside Gibson ’ s racist and anti-Semitic and allegedly abusive past , especially in a movie featuring white good guys and villains of color ( not to mention a Nazi storyline ) .
There ’ s also a startling moment when Griffin , who is Black , tells a story about receiving a large settlement after he was severely beaten by white cops , and saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t earn it .
What ?
At least Stephanie Cayo ’ s Jess and Kate Bosworth ’ s Troy save Ray and/or Cardillo as often as the tough guys bail them out .
Not that it ultimately matters , as the predictable plot gets mired in one predictable shootout sequence after another , leading up to a supposed big twist in the climactic battle we can see coming two scenes in advance .
“ Force of Nature ” is more of a nasty little rainstorm than a Category 5 anything @

After the mega-success of “Die Hard” in 1988, the basic formula — good guy trapped in a confined space faces off against maniacal villain and his henchmen — was lifted for one action film after another in the 1990s .
• “Under Siege” (1992) “Die Hard” on a ship.
• “Cliffhanger” (1993) was “Die Hard” on a mountain.
• “Speed” (1994) was “Die Hard” on a bus.
‘Force of Nature’
Untitled Lionsgate presents a film directed by Michael Polish and written by Cory Miller. Rated R (for violence and pervasive language). Running time: 91 minutes. Available Tuesday on demand.
• “Air Force One” (1997) was “Die Hard” on a plane.
(Not to mention certain “Die Hard” sequels, such as “Die Hard 2,” which was “Die Hard” in an airport.)
A generation later, we’re STILL seeing the concept at play, in films such as “White House Down” (2013) and “Skyscraper” (2018). Now comes the violent and lurid and politically incorrect “Force of Nature,” which is “Die Hard” in a hurricane and replicates the framework more faithfully (aka with less originality) than most, from the claustrophobic setting; to the displaced New York cop who speaks via a walkie-talkie type device to the narcissistic villain; to multiple shootouts involving gun-toting henchmen; to a sociopathic geek breaking into an “unbreakable” safe; to scenes where our anti-hero crashes through windows, keeps going despite suffering multiple wounds and finds himself in a precarious situation with another character dangling from the side of a building.
If that sounds exhausting, director Michael Polish (“Twin Falls, Idaho,” “The Astronaut Farmer”) indeed keeps the pedal to the heavy metal through most of the 1 hour, 31 minute running time, pausing only occasionally for clichéd “back story” scenes such as the moment when the protagonist sustains a pretty serious wound, winces as he’s patched up and shares an intimate anecdote from his personal life which explains why he is where he is today. (At least this time, the individual doing the ad-libbed stitching job in a dark hideaway is an actual doctor.)
“Force of Nature” actually has an early scene straight out of the first “Lethal Weapon,” as Emile Hirsch’s troubled cop, Cardillo, contemplates suicide and even puts his gun in his mouth while remembering his dead wife. It’s a long time before we learn what happened in New York City to turn Cardillo into such a cynical, reckless, dangerous mess. All we know for now is he’s a desk-jockey cop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who is sent into the field with a green and enthusiastic new partner named Jess (Stephanie Cayo) to search for residents who are refusing to leave their homes even as a Category 5 hurricane bears down on the city.
A ridiculous incident involving a man named Griffin (William Catlett) buying 100 lbs. of meat to feed his pet big cat (it seems to be a panther) results in Cardillo and Jess escorting Griffin back to his apartment, moments before a ruthless criminal mastermind who calls himself John the Baptist and at least a half-dozen heavily armed gunmen storm the complex in search of a hidden treasure tucked away by one Bergkamp (Jorge Luis Ramos), an old man from Germany with a deep and shameful family secret, and I’ll bet you can figure out what the secret might be.
With overwrought action-thriller music pounding on the soundtrack and director Polish having fun by turning the rain machines to 11 and saturating the apartment building hallways in splashy, nightclub-worthy colors of pink and green and blue, Cardillo winds up partnering with a doctor named Troy (Kate Bosworth) while Jess teams up with Troy’s father, an old-school, civil-rights-be-damned, mean cuss of an ex-cop named Ray, who is played by Mel Gibson, and we’ve come full circle with the “Lethal Weapon” nods.
Mel Gibson plays a mean cuss of an ex-cop who steps up to help the good guys. Lionsgate
It’s an effective performance by Gibson — he still has the ability to command the screen — but It’s impossible to completely put aside Gibson’s racist and anti-Semitic and allegedly abusive past, especially in a movie featuring white good guys and villains of color (not to mention a Nazi storyline). There’s also a startling moment when Griffin, who is Black, tells a story about receiving a large settlement after he was severely beaten by white cops, and saying he feels guilty about taking the money because he didn’t earn it. What? We also get some truly ludicrous dialogue, e.g., when John the Baptist (David Zayas, who played the good-guy supervisor cop Angel on “Dexter”) reveals he knows about Cardillo’s past in New York, and Cardillo says, “How do you know about that?” and the villain replies, “I know everything. I’m John the Baptist.” That’s not an answer!
At least Stephanie Cayo’s Jess and Kate Bosworth’s Troy save Ray and/or Cardillo as often as the tough guys bail them out. Not that it ultimately matters, as the predictable plot gets mired in one predictable shootout sequence after another, leading up to a supposed big twist in the climactic battle we can see coming two scenes in advance. “Force of Nature” is more of a nasty little rainstorm than a Category 5 anything.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-29--Woman, 67, missing from Back of the Yards

Police are looking for a 67-year-old woman last seen in Back of the Yards on the South Side .
Rebecca @ @ @ @ @ the 4700 block of South Marshfield Avenue wearing a green sweater and blue pants , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s known to frequent the areas of 67th Street and Stony Island in Grand @ @ @ @ @ in Back of the Yards .
Spencer is 6-foot-1 , 150 pounds and has brown @ @ @ @ @ police said .
She may need medical attention .
Anyone with information about her is @ @ @ @ @ 312-747-8380 .

Police are looking for a 67-year-old woman last seen in Back of the Yards on the South Side.
Rebecca Spencer was last seen near the 4700 block of South Marshfield Avenue wearing a green sweater and blue pants, Chicago police said. She’s known to frequent the areas of 67th Street and Stony Island in Grand Crossing and 44th and Ashland in Back of the Yards.
Spencer is 6-foot-1, 150 pounds and has brown eyes and gray hair, police said. She may need medical attention.
Anyone with information about her is asked to call detectives at 312-747-8380.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-29--Understanding Antifa: What do antifascists in Chicago want?

While the nation reeled from a wave of rioting and violence sparked during protests over the police killing of George Floyd last month in Minneapolis , President Donald Trump laid the blame on a bogeyman he ’ s frequently targeted : Antifa .
Members of the nebulous group are terrorists , he insisted .
But local anti-fascists said that label couldn ’ t be further from the truth .
Rather than taking part in looting or acting as “ outside agitators ” during recent protests , self-identified anti-fascists told the Chicago Sun-Times their work overwhelmingly revolves around identifying and exposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are potentially taking part in violence .
They worry the president ’ s rhetoric may now put them in danger .
In fact , one anti-fascist activist from Chicago — an information security professional in his 30s who works for a Fortune 1000 company — contended he and other anarchists are actually advocating for “ less violence , not more.
” Anarchism is “ really not about chaos and destruction , even though in colloquial use that ’ s basically how it ’ s defined .
It ’ s about building a society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Bernard , who did not use his last name for fear of being targeted by police or political opponents .
Antifa is characterized by a broad leftist ideology and individual efforts aimed largely at identifying and fighting perceived neo-fascist threats .
What ’ s more , adherents said there ’ s no overarching organizational structure or known leadership in Chicago or elsewhere .
And because there ’ s no official federal designation for domestic terror organizations , Trump has no authority to label the group as such .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president “ tweet out a video of an individual at a protest with the caption , ‘ Anarchists we see you !
’ ” “ That is very alarming to be seeing from the top leadership of our country , and I don ’ t know necessarily if he needs a legal structure to make that a real threat to us , ” he said .
“ Any time that someone says , ‘ We ’ re going to treat you like a terrorist , ’ of course that would concern people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Freddy Martinez , a hacker and journalist who works with anti-fascist sources and has leaked communications between individuals on the far right , including members of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa .
In the past , Antifa activists have drawn criticism for allegedly smashing windows and lobbing Molotov cocktails during demonstrations and violently confronting white nationalists and others on the far-right .
But a recent analysis published by the Washington Post found no cases in which someone with an avowed affiliation with Antifa led any violence at the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were , however , charged earlier this month with looting a Target store in Austin , Texas .
“ We do more trying to build the type of world we want to live in than tear down the type of world that ’ s being built around us , ” said Ralph , a refugee from the former Soviet Union who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and doesn ’ t want to be identified .
Nevertheless , he decried recent instances of police violence and said he believes “ any proportionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is morally justified.
” Ralph was compelled to get involved with a loose collection of anti-fascists after watching what unfolded at the Unite the Right rally in 2017 in Charlottesville , Virginia , where a neo-Nazi protesting the removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee rammed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters , killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring 28 others .
In the wake of the violence , Ralph made connections with other anti-fascists through an event posted on social media and eventually started joining “ black bloc ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all black , cover their faces and sometimes destroy property .
Among other demonstrations , he joined a counter-protest of the second Unite the Right rally in 2018 in Washington , D.C. Now , both Ralph and Bernard said the bulk of their work happens online and revolves around ad hoc efforts to research perceived threats and doxx , or publicly identify , individuals involved with right-wing extremist organizations .
Bernard claimed he was among the activists responsible for the massive leak of information from Iron March , a neo-Nazi forum linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobody was guiding that or coordinating it or anything , ” he said .
“ There was an anonymous shared document where everyone from across the country was just dropping whatever clues they could find.
” Doxxing those involved with groups tied to the white nationalist movement , like the Proud Boys and Identity Evropa , has become a central aspect of anti-fascist action in Chicago .
When unrest gripped the city after a downtown protest May 30 devolved into chaos , social media platforms were flooded with warnings that members of extremist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ultimately , though , the anti-fascists said most of those tips proved unfounded .
“ I would say I ’ ve seen more panic about that than actual threats , ” Ralph said .
But elsewhere , federal charges related to the recent protests were lodged against four men tied to the emergent “ boogaloo ” movement , a loosely connected far right group whose adherents don Hawaiian shirts and are allegedly pushing to incite a second civil war .
The offenses ranged from murder to gun and explosives charges .
Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement and the rise of armed separatism in the late-80 ’ s and early-90 ’ s that led to the siege of Ruby Ridge in Idaho and the Oklahoma City bombing .
“ I don ’ t know if the government ’ s taking it as seriously as it maybe should , ” he said earlier this month .
Then on Friday , U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced a new task force targeting domestic extremist groups and issued a memo conflating the recent actions of the “ boogaloo bois ” and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the challenges to the rule of law that we have seen in recent weeks are fleeting , others are persistent , ” Barr wrote .
“ We have evidence that anti-government violent extremists — including those who support the ‘ Boogaloo , ’ those who self-identify as Antifa , and others — will pose continuing threats of lawlessness .
”

While the nation reeled from a wave of rioting and violence sparked during protests over the police killing of George Floyd last month in Minneapolis, President Donald Trump laid the blame on a bogeyman he’s frequently targeted: Antifa.
Members of the nebulous group are terrorists, he insisted.
But local anti-fascists said that label couldn’t be further from the truth.
Rather than taking part in looting or acting as “outside agitators” during recent protests, self-identified anti-fascists told the Chicago Sun-Times their work overwhelmingly revolves around identifying and exposing far-right extremists, neo-Nazis and racists who are potentially taking part in violence. They worry the president’s rhetoric may now put them in danger.
In fact, one anti-fascist activist from Chicago — an information security professional in his 30s who works for a Fortune 1000 company — contended he and other anarchists are actually advocating for “less violence, not more.”
Anarchism is “really not about chaos and destruction, even though in colloquial use that’s basically how it’s defined. It’s about building a society that’s free of oppressive hierarchies,” said Bernard, who did not use his last name for fear of being targeted by police or political opponents.
Antifa is characterized by a broad leftist ideology and individual efforts aimed largely at identifying and fighting perceived neo-fascist threats. What’s more, adherents said there’s no overarching organizational structure or known leadership in Chicago or elsewhere.
And because there’s no official federal designation for domestic terror organizations, Trump has no authority to label the group as such. Still, Bernard said he was concerned to see the president “tweet out a video of an individual at a protest with the caption, ‘Anarchists we see you!’”
“That is very alarming to be seeing from the top leadership of our country, and I don’t know necessarily if he needs a legal structure to make that a real threat to us,” he said.
“Any time that someone says, ‘We’re going to treat you like a terrorist,’ of course that would concern people on a personal, mental health level,” said Freddy Martinez, a hacker and journalist who works with anti-fascist sources and has leaked communications between individuals on the far right, including members of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa.
Analysis: Antifa not involved in recent violence
In the past, Antifa activists have drawn criticism for allegedly smashing windows and lobbing Molotov cocktails during demonstrations and violently confronting white nationalists and others on the far-right.
But a recent analysis published by the Washington Post found no cases in which someone with an avowed affiliation with Antifa led any violence at the recent nationwide protests. Three alleged Antifa affiliates were, however, charged earlier this month with looting a Target store in Austin, Texas.
“We do more trying to build the type of world we want to live in than tear down the type of world that’s being built around us,” said Ralph, a refugee from the former Soviet Union who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and doesn’t want to be identified.
Nevertheless, he decried recent instances of police violence and said he believes “any proportionate use of force in response to that is morally justified.”
Ralph was compelled to get involved with a loose collection of anti-fascists after watching what unfolded at the Unite the Right rally in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a neo-Nazi protesting the removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee rammed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring 28 others.
In the wake of the violence, Ralph made connections with other anti-fascists through an event posted on social media and eventually started joining “black bloc” protests, in which participants dress in all black, cover their faces and sometimes destroy property. Among other demonstrations, he joined a counter-protest of the second Unite the Right rally in 2018 in Washington, D.C.
Now, both Ralph and Bernard said the bulk of their work happens online and revolves around ad hoc efforts to research perceived threats and doxx, or publicly identify, individuals involved with right-wing extremist organizations. Bernard claimed he was among the activists responsible for the massive leak of information from Iron March, a neo-Nazi forum linked to acts of violence and terrorism.
“Nobody was guiding that or coordinating it or anything,” he said. “There was an anonymous shared document where everyone from across the country was just dropping whatever clues they could find.”
An emergent threat
A member of the far-right militia, Boogaloo Bois, walks next to protesters demonstrating outside Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Metro Division 2 just outside of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 29, 2020. The protest was sparked by protests in Minneapolis, over the death of George Floyd. Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images
Doxxing those involved with groups tied to the white nationalist movement, like the Proud Boys and Identity Evropa, has become a central aspect of anti-fascist action in Chicago.
When unrest gripped the city after a downtown protest May 30 devolved into chaos, social media platforms were flooded with warnings that members of extremist groups were showing up at ensuing demonstrations. Ultimately, though, the anti-fascists said most of those tips proved unfounded.
“I would say I’ve seen more panic about that than actual threats,” Ralph said.
But elsewhere, federal charges related to the recent protests were lodged against four men tied to the emergent “boogaloo” movement, a loosely connected far right group whose adherents don Hawaiian shirts and are allegedly pushing to incite a second civil war. The offenses ranged from murder to gun and explosives charges.
Martinez drew parallels between the “boogaloo” movement and the rise of armed separatism in the late-80’s and early-90’s that led to the siege of Ruby Ridge in Idaho and the Oklahoma City bombing.
“I don’t know if the government’s taking it as seriously as it maybe should,” he said earlier this month.
Then on Friday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced a new task force targeting domestic extremist groups and issued a memo conflating the recent actions of the “boogaloo bois” and those linked to Antifa.
“While some of the challenges to the rule of law that we have seen in recent weeks are fleeting, others are persistent,” Barr wrote. “We have evidence that anti-government violent extremists — including those who support the ‘Boogaloo,’ those who self-identify as Antifa, and others — will pose continuing threats of lawlessness.”


chicagosun-times--2020-06-29--18 dead, 47 wounded in Chicago weekend shootings

Four children were among 65 people shot across Chicago this weekend , 18 of them fatally .
Three of the children were killed .
The weekend gun violence brought Chicago past 300 homicides so far this year , the benchmark that Supt .
David Brown challenged the police department to stay under in April .
Last year , the city didn ’ t break 300 homicides until early August , according to Sun-Times data .
A 10-year-old girl was fatally shot Saturday night when a stray bullet hit her inside a Logan Square home on the Northwest Side .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 3500 block of West Dickens Avenue when the bullet came through a window and struck her in the head , Chicago police said .
Lina Nunez was taken to Stroger Hospital , where she was pronounced dead hours later , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
Neighbors said they heard gunfire but believed it was fireworks .
Police said the shots may have come from a group of males who began firing at another group in the block .
Earlier that afternoon , a 1-year-old boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Englewood on the South Side .
The woman and her child were driving home from a laundromat just after 2 p.m. when a gunman pulled up alongside them in another vehicle and opened fire near 60th and Halsted streets , according to police .
The child was struck once in the chest , while his mother , 22 , was grazed on the head .
She drove them to St. Bernard Hospital , where the child died .
The mother was later taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical examiner ’ s office identified the boy as Sincere A. Gaston .
He lived in South Chicago .
Earlier that morning , a teenage boy was shot to death in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
Antiwon Douglas , 17 , was in a large crowd at 11:25 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Monticello Avenue when he got into an altercation and someone from the group pulled out a gun and fired shots , authorities said .
Douglas , who lived in Humboldt Park , was struck on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Stroger Hospital , where he died .
The most recent fatal shooting happened early Monday in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side .
A 21-year-old man was walking about 2:22 a.m. in the 4400 block of South Whipple Street when a male suspect approached him and shot him in the face and leg , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
Nearly two hours before that , a man was found shot to death in Humboldt Park .
The 22-year-old was discovered inside a home with gunshot wounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. in the 900 block of North Central Park Avenue , according to police .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
On Sunday night , a man was shot and killed in Garfield Park on the West Side .
The 23-year-old was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds to the hip about 11:04 p.m. in the 4500 block of West Maypole Avenue , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
Earlier Sunday night , another man was killed in West Pullman on the Far South Side .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12100 block of South Michigan Avenue when someone in a black vehicle shot him in the head , back and shoulder , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
Three people were killed in separate shootings within 90 minutes Sunday morning .
The latest of those attacks left a 38-year-old man dead in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
He was walking in an alley about 8:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of South Troy Street when someone got out of an SUV , walked up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple times , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
Just over an hour earlier , an 18-year-old man was shot to death in South Chicago .
Andrew Richmond was shot multiple times in the torso about 7:20 a.m. in the 8200 block of South Escanaba Avenue , officials said .
He was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
About 20 minutes before that , another man was fatally shot in Rogers Park on the North Side .
The 19-year-old was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block of West Lunt Avenue when someone walked up to him and shot him in the back of the head , police said .
The shooter then ran to a black SUV that sped off west on Lunt toward Clark Street .
The man was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston , where he was pronounced dead .
Earlier that morning , a man was shot and killed in Austin on the West Side .
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire at 3:54 a.m. found the 28-year-old man lying unresponsive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of North Mayfield Avenue , according to police .
He had been shot in the back and face and was pronounced dead at the scene .
Another man was killed and three others were wounded late Saturday night in Douglas on the South Side .
The men were at a large gathering about 11:35 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Rhodes Avenue when they were struck by bullets , police said .
They were all taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center .
A 24-year-old man who was struck in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men were shot in the leg .
One is in good condition , and the other is in fair condition .
A 22-year-old man was shot in the head and is in critical condition .
Detectives took two people into custody for questioning .
Earlier that afternoon , two people were killed in separate shootings in Brighton Park and South Shore .
In Brighton Park , officers responding to a ShotSpotter call about 3:50 p.m. found 31-year-old David Santoyo unresponsive in the 4400 block of South Kedzie Avenue with a gunshot wound to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lived in Chicago Lawn , was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead .
Meanwhile , a man was shot to death in South Shore about the same time .
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert found the man , 28 , unresponsive in the 7600 block of South Phillips Avenue , police said .
He had been shot in the chest , neck and arm .
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he later died .
Hours before that , a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the West Side .
About 10:25 a.m. , he was walking in the 1300 block of South Springfield Avenue when someone in a passing silver-colored vehicle opened fire , according to police .
The man , identified by the medical examiner ’ s office as 28-year-old Deron Collins , was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he died .
Nearly four hours earlier , a man was shot to death in Englewood .
He was sitting in a Chevrolet Tahoe about 6:50 a.m. in the first block of West 57th Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
The man , thought to be about 30 , was hit in the head and pronounced dead at the scene .
Witnesses told investigators they saw a 2003 Nissan speeding away from the area after the shots were fired .
About half an hour before that , another man was killed in Burnside on the South Side .
Dangelo Byrd , 33 , was shot multiple times in the shoulder during a domestic dispute about 6:20 a.m. in the 9300 block of South Lyon Avenue , officials said .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , where he was pronounced dead .
A man was killed in the weekend ’ s first shooting Friday evening in Austin .
The 42-year-old was on the sidewalk about 5:42 p.m. in the 200 block of North Leclaire Avenue when someone emerged from an alleyway and opened fire , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
In nonfatal shootings , an 8-year-old girl was grazed by a stray bullet Saturday night inside a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couch at 11:18 p.m. inside the home on Wood Street when the stray bullet came through the window and grazed her on her head , according to police .
She was taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital in fair condition .
A woman was critically injured in a shooting Sunday morning in Rogers Park on the North Side .
The 31-year-old was riding in a vehicle at 5:42 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Juneway Terrace when someone fired shots , police said .
A bullet came through the rear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left side of her head .
She went to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition .
Just over an hour before that , three people were shot in Austin .
They were outside with a group of other people at 4:26 a.m. in the 500 block of North Menard Avenue when someone fired at them from a passing vehicle , police said .
A 31-year-old man was shot in the chest and foot .
Someone drove him to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park in serious condition .
A 35-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fair condition with a gunshot wound to her foot , police said .
A 37-year-old woman was shot in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition .
At least 38 other people have been injured by gunfire throughout the city between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday .
Last weekend ’ s gun violence reached a peak this year with 104 shot , 15 fatally .
Five children were among those killed .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Four children were among 65 people shot across Chicago this weekend, 18 of them fatally. Three of the children were killed.
The weekend gun violence brought Chicago past 300 homicides so far this year, the benchmark that Supt. David Brown challenged the police department to stay under in April. Last year, the city didn’t break 300 homicides until early August, according to Sun-Times data.
Three children killed
A 10-year-old girl was fatally shot Saturday night when a stray bullet hit her inside a Logan Square home on the Northwest Side.
She was inside the apartment about 9:40 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Dickens Avenue when the bullet came through a window and struck her in the head, Chicago police said.
Lena Nunez was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Neighbors said they heard gunfire but believed it was fireworks. Police said the shots may have come from a group of males who began firing at another group in the block.
Earlier that afternoon, a 1-year-old boy was killed and his mother was wounded in Englewood on the South Side.
The woman and her child were driving home from a laundromat just after 2 p.m. when a gunman pulled up alongside them in another vehicle and opened fire near 60th and Halsted streets, according to police. The child was struck once in the chest, while his mother, 22, was grazed on the head. She drove them to St. Bernard Hospital, where the child died. The mother was later taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment and her condition was stabilized.
The medical examiner’s office identified the boy as Sincere A. Gaston. He lived in South Chicago.
Earlier that morning, a teenage boy was shot to death in Humboldt Park on the West Side.
Antiwon Douglas, 17, was in a large crowd at 11:25 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Monticello Avenue when he got into an altercation and someone from the group pulled out a gun and fired shots, authorities said. Douglas, who lived in Humboldt Park, was struck on the left side of his chest and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died.
Monday morning
The most recent fatal shooting happened early Monday in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.
A 21-year-old man was walking about 2:22 a.m. in the 4400 block of South Whipple Street when a male suspect approached him and shot him in the face and leg, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nearly two hours before that, a man was found shot to death in Humboldt Park.
Joseph Gisc, 22, was discovered inside a home with gunshot wounds to his chin and face at 12:39 a.m. in the 900 block of North Central Park Avenue, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sunday
Sunday night, 23-year-old Rayshaon Williams died of gunshot wounds after crashing his car and then collapsing outside in Garfield Park.
He was found unresponsive in the 4500 block of West Fulton Avenue with a gunshot wounds to his hip and pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. He appeared to have exited the car and collapsed on the ground after crashing into two parked cars in the 4500 block of West Maypole Avenue.
Earlier Sunday night, another man was killed in West Pullman on the Far South Side.
Terron S. Tate, 24, was walking about 8:40 p.m. in the 12100 block of South Michigan Avenue when someone in a black vehicle shot him in the head, back and shoulder, authorities said. Tate, who lived in West Pullman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three people were killed in separate shootings within 90 minutes Sunday morning.
The latest of those attacks left a 38-year-old man dead in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
He was walking in an alley about 8:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of South Troy Street when someone got out of an SUV, walked up to him and fired shots, striking him multiple times, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just over an hour earlier, an 18-year-old man was shot to death in South Chicago.
Andrew Richmond was shot multiple times in the torso about 7:20 a.m. in the 8200 block of South Escanaba Avenue, officials said. He was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
About 20 minutes before that, another man was fatally shot in Rogers Park on the North Side.
Angelo D. Pullum, 36, was walking about 7 a.m. in the 1400 block of West Lunt Avenue when someone walked up to him and shot him in the back of the head, authorities said. The shooter then ran to a black SUV that sped off west on Lunt toward Clark Street. Pullum, who lives in Rogers Park, was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead.
Earlier that morning, a man was shot and killed in Austin on the West Side.
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire at 3:54 a.m. found 28-year-old Demil D. Spears lying unresponsive on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of North Mayfield Avenue, authorities said. Spears, who lived in Lawndale, had been shot in the back and face and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Saturday
Another man was killed and three others were wounded late Saturday night in Douglas on the South Side.
The men were at a large gathering about 11:35 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Rhodes Avenue when they were struck by bullets, police said. They were all taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. A 24-year-old man who was struck in the groin was pronounced dead. Two 21-year-old men were shot in the leg. One is in good condition, and the other is in fair condition. A 22-year-old man was shot in the head and is in critical condition. Detectives took two people into custody for questioning.
Earlier that afternoon, two people were killed in separate shootings in Brighton Park and South Shore.
In Brighton Park, officers responding to a ShotSpotter call about 3:50 p.m. found 31-year-old David Santoyo unresponsive in the 4400 block of South Kedzie Avenue with a gunshot wound to his head, authorities said. Santoyo, who lived in Chicago Lawn, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, a man was shot to death in South Shore about the same time.
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert found the man, 28, unresponsive in the 7600 block of South Phillips Avenue, police said. He had been shot in the chest, neck and arm. The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died.
Hours before that, a man was killed in a drive-by in Lawndale on the West Side.
About 10:25 a.m., he was walking in the 1300 block of South Springfield Avenue when someone in a passing silver-colored vehicle opened fire, according to police. The man, identified by the medical examiner’s office as 28-year-old Deron Collins, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died.
Nearly four hours earlier, a man was shot to death in Englewood.
He was sitting in a Chevrolet Tahoe about 6:50 a.m. in the first block of West 57th Street when someone fired shots, according to police. The man, thought to be about 30, was hit in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told investigators they saw a 2003 Nissan speeding away from the area after the shots were fired.
About half an hour before that, another man was killed in Burnside on the South Side.
Dangelo Byrd, 33, was shot multiple times in the shoulder during a domestic dispute about 6:20 a.m. in the 9300 block of South Lyon Avenue, officials said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Friday
A man was killed in the weekend’s first shooting Friday evening in Austin.
The 42-year-old was on the sidewalk about 5:42 p.m. in the 200 block of North Leclaire Avenue when someone emerged from an alleyway and opened fire, Chicago police said. The man was struck in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Nonfatal attacks
In nonfatal shootings, an 8-year-old girl was grazed by a stray bullet Saturday night inside a home in Englewood.
She was sitting on a couch at 11:18 p.m. inside the home on Wood Street when the stray bullet came through the window and grazed her on her head, according to police. She was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in fair condition.
A woman was critically injured in a shooting Sunday morning in Rogers Park on the North Side.
The 31-year-old was riding in a vehicle at 5:42 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Juneway Terrace when someone fired shots, police said. A bullet came through the rear window and grazed the woman on the left side of her head. She went to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition.
Just over an hour before that, three people were shot in Austin.
They were outside with a group of other people at 4:26 a.m. in the 500 block of North Menard Avenue when someone fired at them from a passing vehicle, police said. A 31-year-old man was shot in the chest and foot. Someone drove him to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park in serious condition.
A 35-year-old woman was taken to the same hospital in fair condition with a gunshot wound to her foot, police said. A 37-year-old woman was shot in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
At least 38 other people have been injured by gunfire throughout the city between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend’s gun violence reached a peak this year with 104 shot, 15 fatally. Five children were among those killed.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-28--Man killed in crash on I-80 in Lansing

Man killed in crash on I-80 in Lansing

A 23-year-old man was killed in a crash Sunday on Interstate 80 in south suburban Lansing .
The man was @ @ @ @ @ about 1:46 a.m. on the I-80 exit to Torrence Avenue , according to Illinois State @ @ @ @ @ of the vehicle and struck a light pole on the ramp .
His passenger , @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized with life-threatening injuries , state police said .
The man driving was pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ police identified the man as Andres Hernandez of Northlake .
Autopsy results found he died @ @ @ @ @ ruled his death an accident , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s @ @ @ @ @ to Torrence Avenue from I-80 eastbound was closed for about three hours as authorities cleaned @ @ @ @ @

A 23-year-old man was killed in a crash Sunday on Interstate 80 in south suburban Lansing.
The man was driving a 2005 black Cadillac about 1:46 a.m. on the I-80 exit to Torrence Avenue, according to Illinois State police. He lost control of the vehicle and struck a light pole on the ramp.
His passenger, a 23-year-old man, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, state police said. The man driving was pronounced dead on the scene.
State police identified the man as Andres Hernandez of Northlake.
Autopsy results found he died of blunt force injuries and ruled his death an accident, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The exit ramp to Torrence Avenue from I-80 eastbound was closed for about three hours as authorities cleaned up debris and investigated.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-28--Horoscope for Monday, June 29, 2020

Horoscope for Monday, June 29, 2020

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Chicago time .
After that , the moon moves from Libra into Scorpio .
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert , especially on the east coast where they will exist all day !
Caution dealing with partners , close friends and members of the general public .
In the morning , things are easy , late in the day — not so much .
Patience .
Your efficiency at work will be affected by the moon alert .
Expect shortages and delays .
Obviously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions or spending money on anything other than food and gas .
Make the best of this day .
This is a creative day for you because during a moon alert , you can think outside of the box .
Therefore , go ahead and do research and dream up ideas , but agree to nothing until tomorrow .
Increased responsibilities with kids might occur late today .
This is the perfect day to cocoon at home .
Can you give yourself a long weekend ?
Most of this day is a moon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite upbeat .
By evening , you might be at odds with someone .
Take it easy .
Be careful because your thinking is scattered because of the moon alert .
Therefore , write down your clever ideas but wait until tomorrow to act .
This morning you feel optimistic , by evening , this might change .
Everything is illusion .
Do be careful because today the Moon is in one of your money houses and yet , it is a moon alert .
This is a poor day to shop for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you have some creative , money-making ideas , wait until tomorrow to see if they still fly .
The moon is in your sign : however , there is a moon alert for most of this day .
( Especially on the east coast . )
Therefore , go with the flow .
Make no important decisions .
Today will have its ups and downs , which means you have to go along to get along .
You will prefer to keep a low profile today as this week begins .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hide at home .
This is because today is a moon alert , in addition to which , the moon today is “ hiding ” in your chart .
This could challenge your productivity and efficiency .
( Oh yeah . )
You ’ ll enjoy schmoozing with a friend today , some fun-loving and social interaction with a female .
You might have clever ideas about potential goals for yourself .
Whatever the case , keep to spit-balling and make your decision tomorrow .
Not today .
You might be involved with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , which is a bit touch and go because this is a poor day for decisions .
Definitely , do not volunteer for anything during the moon alert .
Handle your interactions with bosses very delicately .
Today you want to do something different .
You want to “ get away from all this.
” If you can take a short trip , a drive in the country , this might please you .
Nevertheless , during a moon alert ( like today ) silly , goofy mistakes happen along with shortages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because today the moon is in your house of other people ’ s money , which means you might be tempted to make decisions about shared property , inheritances and such .
However , this is a poor day to make important decisions .
Take note .
If Your Birthday Is Today Actress Lily Rabe ( 1982 ) shares your birthday .
Because you are sensitive and intuitive , you have the rare ability to put yourself in someone else ’ s shoes .
It ’ s time for a fun-loving year !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy warm friendships .
You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you .
This year is the time for an important choice .
Choose wisely .

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Libra into Scorpio.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert, especially on the east coast where they will exist all day! Caution dealing with partners, close friends and members of the general public. In the morning, things are easy, late in the day — not so much. Patience.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Your efficiency at work will be affected by the moon alert. Expect shortages and delays. Obviously, this is a poor day for important decisions or spending money on anything other than food and gas. Make the best of this day.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
This is a creative day for you because during a moon alert, you can think outside of the box. Therefore, go ahead and do research and dream up ideas, but agree to nothing until tomorrow. Increased responsibilities with kids might occur late today.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This is the perfect day to cocoon at home. Can you give yourself a long weekend? Most of this day is a moon alert. Fortunately, the morning is quite upbeat. By evening, you might be at odds with someone. Take it easy.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Be careful because your thinking is scattered because of the moon alert. Therefore, write down your clever ideas but wait until tomorrow to act. This morning you feel optimistic, by evening, this might change. Everything is illusion.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Do be careful because today the Moon is in one of your money houses and yet, it is a moon alert. This is a poor day to shop for anything other than food and gas. If you have some creative, money-making ideas, wait until tomorrow to see if they still fly.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
The moon is in your sign: however, there is a moon alert for most of this day. (Especially on the east coast.) Therefore, go with the flow. Make no important decisions. Today will have its ups and downs, which means you have to go along to get along.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You will prefer to keep a low profile today as this week begins. You might even want to play hooky and hide at home. This is because today is a moon alert, in addition to which, the moon today is “hiding” in your chart. This could challenge your productivity and efficiency. (Oh yeah.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You’ll enjoy schmoozing with a friend today, some fun-loving and social interaction with a female. You might have clever ideas about potential goals for yourself. Whatever the case, keep to spit-balling and make your decision tomorrow. Not today.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
You might be involved with parents, bosses, teachers and VIPs today, which is a bit touch and go because this is a poor day for decisions. Definitely, do not volunteer for anything during the moon alert. Handle your interactions with bosses very delicately.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today you want to do something different. You want to “get away from all this.” If you can take a short trip, a drive in the country, this might please you. Nevertheless, during a moon alert (like today) silly, goofy mistakes happen along with shortages. Forewarned is forearmed.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Be careful because today the moon is in your house of other people’s money, which means you might be tempted to make decisions about shared property, inheritances and such. However, this is a poor day to make important decisions. Take note.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actress Lily Rabe (1982) shares your birthday. Because you are sensitive and intuitive, you have the rare ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. It’s time for a fun-loving year! You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships. You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you. This year is the time for an important choice. Choose wisely.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--Commentary: Minor League Baseball’s canceled 2020 season is yet another cruel blow

For all the sacrifices and deferred dreams the novel coronavirus forced upon the sports world , many are paired with some solace , knowing that there will be a next year .
One sector , from top to bottom , doesn ’ t have that luxury .
The long-anticipated announcement Tuesday that Minor League Baseball ’ s 2020 season will be canceled is a blow to thousands of minor leaguers who just saw the thankless , debt-inducing , harrowing road to the majors sidetracked , perhaps permanently .
It is a gut punch to the staffers still remaining at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on through furloughs and pay cuts and added even more creative duties to their usual titles in the name of keeping their jobs .
With an entire calendar year of virtually no revenue , many more will lose their jobs .
And — because what ’ s a pandemic in our country without a little opportunism ?
— it may represent a death knell for dozens of franchises that Major League Baseball placed on a chopping block in the service of shaving a few nickels and creating more efficiency , long-term growth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pro Baseball Agreement between Major and Minor League Baseball set to expire this year , MLB last autumn identified a group of affiliated clubs that could be targeted for contraction , in the name of making the player-development process more uniform .
Fewer teams , better facilities , fewer ballplayers .
And also a lot less baseball .
It is a page from what we ’ ll call the Creeping Astros-ization of the game , where the once-trailblazing and now ethically dubious franchise ’ s innovations have no end .
Player development is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thus fringe prospects are more quickly disposed of , and then there ’ s far fewer players who will receive that prized $ 400 weekly paycheck .
It ’ s not hard to imagine the nods of approval among MLB ’ s 30 owners , and thus commissioner Rob Manfred ’ s initial forays to negotiate a new PBA reportedly included up to 40 teams possibly contracted , some with historical ties as significant as Jackie Robinson and others with stadium renovations so new that their towns are still paying them off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough .
And then the coronavirus arrived .
Suddenly , MLB ’ s dirty work might instead be done for it , with the big league season postponed — and still in significant doubt — and no infrastructure to safely stage a minor-league season .
The damage will be immediate for the aforementioned franchises — “ We are in dire straits , ” Minor League Baseball CEO Pat O ’ Conner said on a Tuesday conference call — and long-lasting for those that survive .
And from a player ’ s perspective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the damage done by a lost year of development ?
Hundreds of players have already been released , many that probably would have been released after spring training , anyway .
Others will get a reprieve in the form of a 2020 draft shortened to five rounds , which will create a backlog of talent in the amateur levels as almost every elite high schooler will opt for college rather than a diminished signing bonus .
But that stay of execution is partially cancelled out by the likelihood there are fewer affiliated teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 .
Certainly , the greatest prospects will retain their skills , and as Mets special assistant Omar Minaya noted Tuesday , “ Good players , they figure it out.
” Fair enough .
And in this era of wearable technology and Trackman and Rapsodo and Edgertronic devices , players have and will continue to get their work in .
But the 2020 That Never Was will certainly haunt hundreds of players .
Sure , many of them never would have made the big leagues anyway .
Since this game was invented , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always wonder what they might have done better to get there .
Springsteen might have written a song or two about this .
This group , though , will have the added burden of the unknowable .
What if ?
Every player who makes the majors has that year they figured it out , be it high draft picks with every chance to fail , or marginal prospects who must produce or greet the real world sooner than they like .
An app or a machine or video review can only go so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tested and peer-reviewed over 100-plus games by pitchers trying to strike you out , or hitters ready to feast on your most vulnerable offering .
In 2020 , the lab never opened , a particularly cruel twist for the hundreds of players who greet every day with the firm conviction that This Will Be My Year .
These nearly four months in semi-quarantine have been a paradox : Seemingly never-ending , yet with constant reminders that the things we hold dearest are finite .
It ’ s particularly painful for athletes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those traveling the longest road to glory in North American sports – up to six levels of the minor leagues , with lots of good fortune necessary to see it through to those stadiums with multiple decks and bright lights .
There was precious little good fortune in 2020 , a year that will end the baseball livelihoods of so many , even if some may not know it yet .
There is dignity in failing , but a unique cruelty to never having the chance to do so .

For all the sacrifices and deferred dreams the novel coronavirus forced upon the sports world, many are paired with some solace, knowing that there will be a next year.
One sector, from top to bottom, doesn’t have that luxury.
The long-anticipated announcement Tuesday that Minor League Baseball’s 2020 season will be canceled is a blow to thousands of minor leaguers who just saw the thankless, debt-inducing, harrowing road to the majors sidetracked, perhaps permanently.
It is a gut punch to the staffers still remaining at the 160 affiliated minor-league clubs who have held on through furloughs and pay cuts and added even more creative duties to their usual titles in the name of keeping their jobs. With an entire calendar year of virtually no revenue, many more will lose their jobs.
And — because what’s a pandemic in our country without a little opportunism? — it may represent a death knell for dozens of franchises that Major League Baseball placed on a chopping block in the service of shaving a few nickels and creating more efficiency, long-term growth of the game be damned.
With the Pro Baseball Agreement between Major and Minor League Baseball set to expire this year, MLB last autumn identified a group of affiliated clubs that could be targeted for contraction, in the name of making the player-development process more uniform.
Fewer teams, better facilities, fewer ballplayers. And also a lot less baseball.
It is a page from what we’ll call the Creeping Astros-ization of the game, where the once-trailblazing and now ethically dubious franchise’s innovations have no end. Player development is more refined, the theory goes, and thus fringe prospects are more quickly disposed of, and then there’s far fewer players who will receive that prized $400 weekly paycheck.
It’s not hard to imagine the nods of approval among MLB’s 30 owners, and thus commissioner Rob Manfred’s initial forays to negotiate a new PBA reportedly included up to 40 teams possibly contracted, some with historical ties as significant as Jackie Robinson and others with stadium renovations so new that their towns are still paying them off.
It was already grim and cynical enough. And then the coronavirus arrived.
Suddenly, MLB’s dirty work might instead be done for it, with the big league season postponed — and still in significant doubt — and no infrastructure to safely stage a minor-league season.
Related Local independent baseball teams will play home games this season
The damage will be immediate for the aforementioned franchises — “We are in dire straits,” Minor League Baseball CEO Pat O’Conner said on a Tuesday conference call — and long-lasting for those that survive. And from a player’s perspective, how, exactly, does one quantify the damage done by a lost year of development?
You can’t.
Hundreds of players have already been released, many that probably would have been released after spring training, anyway. Others will get a reprieve in the form of a 2020 draft shortened to five rounds, which will create a backlog of talent in the amateur levels as almost every elite high schooler will opt for college rather than a diminished signing bonus.
But that stay of execution is partially cancelled out by the likelihood there are fewer affiliated teams and, thus, fewer jobs in 2021.
Certainly, the greatest prospects will retain their skills, and as Mets special assistant Omar Minaya noted Tuesday, “Good players, they figure it out.”
Fair enough. And in this era of wearable technology and Trackman and Rapsodo and Edgertronic devices, players have and will continue to get their work in.
But the 2020 That Never Was will certainly haunt hundreds of players. Sure, many of them never would have made the big leagues anyway. Since this game was invented, those that never make The Show will always wonder what they might have done better to get there. Springsteen might have written a song or two about this.
This group, though, will have the added burden of the unknowable. What if?
Every player who makes the majors has that year they figured it out, be it high draft picks with every chance to fail, or marginal prospects who must produce or greet the real world sooner than they like. An app or a machine or video review can only go so far; eventually, those experiments must be tested and peer-reviewed over 100-plus games by pitchers trying to strike you out, or hitters ready to feast on your most vulnerable offering.
In 2020, the lab never opened, a particularly cruel twist for the hundreds of players who greet every day with the firm conviction that This Will Be My Year.
These nearly four months in semi-quarantine have been a paradox: Seemingly never-ending, yet with constant reminders that the things we hold dearest are finite. It’s particularly painful for athletes of all ages. Perhaps no moreso than for those traveling the longest road to glory in North American sports – up to six levels of the minor leagues, with lots of good fortune necessary to see it through to those stadiums with multiple decks and bright lights.
There was precious little good fortune in 2020, a year that will end the baseball livelihoods of so many, even if some may not know it yet. There is dignity in failing, but a unique cruelty to never having the chance to do so.
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--Missing Lawndale teen found safe

Missing Lawndale teen found safe

As the number of killings over June ’ s first 28 days was up 83 % over the same period @ @ @ @ @ of arrests , traffic stops and other police activity plummeted .
The FOP blames low @ @ @ @ @ mayor .

Pvt. Travis King entered the North while on a civilian tour of a Korean border village July 18, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--Woman missing from Bronzeville may need medication

A 23-year-old woman reported missing from Bronzeville on the South Side may need medication , according to police .
Makayla @ @ @ @ @ last seen June 25 in the area near 25th Street and Michigan Avenue , Chicago @ @ @ @ @ wearing a black shirt and gray shorts .
Anyone with information is asked to call @ @ @ @ @ .


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--‘Second wave’ could stunt national economic rebound (LIVE UPDATES)

A resurgence of confirmed COVID cases across the South and West — and the suspension or reversal of re-openings of bars , hotels , restaurants and other businesses — is endangering hopes for an economic rebound in the region and perhaps nationally .
At stake are the jobs of millions of people who have clung to hopes that their layoffs from widespread business shutdowns this spring would prove short-lived .
On Thursday , the government is expected to issue another robust monthly jobs report .
Economists have forecast that employers added 3 million jobs in June , on top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back a portion of the record-high 21 million that vanished in April at the height of the viral shutdowns .
Yet any such news might already be outdated : The jobs report won ’ t fully capture the impact of the COVID upsurge in the South and West and the desperate steps being pursued to try to control it .
The re-closings of restaurants and bars , and resulting job cuts , mark an about-face from what appear to have been premature efforts to restart the economy before the pandemic had been contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very deep hole , ’ ’ said Diane Swonk , chief economist at the firm Grant Thornton .
“ This makes the June employment report backward-looking instead of forward-looking.
’ ’ 8:24 a.m. Illinois ends June with about half the daily COVID-19 deaths and new cases as in peak month of May As coronavirus cases flare to record highs in other states that reopened earlier , Illinois closed out the month of June with another round of low daily numbers Tuesday , indicating the state ’ s pandemic curve is still arcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Public Health announced 23 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 724 newly confirmed cases of the virus .
That raises the state ’ s death toll to 6,923 among the 143,185 people who have tested positive for the virus since late January .
The state averaged about half as many new cases and deaths each day in June compared to May , when Illinois hit its apparent coronavirus peak .
The state suffered almost half its overall caseload and death toll in May , with about 67,300 positive diagnoses and 3,076 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an average of about 99 deaths and 2,172 new cases per day .
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here .
• DeAndre Jordan says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and won ’ t be joining the Brooklyn Nets in Florida when the NBA season resumes .
• The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 23 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 724 newly confirmed cases of the virus on Tuesday .
• Illinois reported 14 COVID-19 deaths Monday , its lowest daily total in three months for the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s reopening is underway .
That brings the state ’ s total death toll to 6,902 .
• The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association say 16 players tested positive for coronavirus in the first wave of mandatory tests done in preparation for the restart of the season .
7:51 a.m. Fantasizing about what to do after the pandemic is over I ’ ve started to think of it as The After .
I mean that time when it will be safe for me and the rest of the world to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do before COVID-19 showed up and ruined the party .
The After is the time after we ’ ve lived through this pandemic , those of us who do live through it .
I suspect that everyone , like me , is fantasizing about what to do in The After .
What restaurant to go to .
What theme park to visit .
What ballet to see .
What singer to hear .
What park to barbeque in .
Basketball is something that I really miss , but most of the guys I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the age of 60 or , like me , over the age of 70 .
We aren ’ t going to be playing again until this COVID thing is really over .
It ’ s just too dangerous for us to bang bodies under the board and huff and puff around the court .
I ’ m sure everyone — all over the world — has one or maybe many lists of what to do in The After .
Read the full guest column from Patrick Reardon here .

Several states continue to see a surge in coronavirus cases ahead of a holiday weekend. Nearby, Indiana halted plans to move to a new phase of their reopening. The governor of Michigan closed down indoor seating in bars as new outbreaks were reported.
Health officials in Illinois said another 30 people have died from COVID-19 — with the state nearing a grim milestone of 7,000 people lost to the pandemic. And the state continued with its gradual reopenings with casinos making adjustments and schools are making plans for a different looking academic year.
Here’s what happened in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago, the state and the nation.
News
8:45 p.m. New normal for reopened Chicago, suburban schools come fall likely to be very different
Students put their coats in their lockers on the first day back to class at Roswell B. Mason Elementary School on the Southwest Side after a Chicago Teachers Union strike closed schools for 11 days, Friday morning, Nov. 1, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Goodbye, field trips and perfect attendance awards. Hello, one-way hallways, daily temperature checks and quarantine rooms.
That’s some of what we can look ahead to now that Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave his approval last week for schools in Illinois to reopen for in-class instruction this fall, encouraging schools to welcome back kids and staff under detailed state guidelines aimed at keeping them safe.
In Chicago’s new normal, there will be face masks on everyone over 2, bans on handshakes and any other touching, tons of hand-washing and six-feet social distancing requirements in classrooms, on playgrounds and everywhere else at school. Everyone who enters school buildings will get temperature checks, too.
But how that all will work and what the rest of school is going to look like are among the things still to be decided by school districts in the city, suburbs and statewide as schools face the realities of welcoming back to classrooms kids who are likely to be behind academically after learning from home all spring.
Read the full story by Lauren FitzPatrick here.
8:05 p.m. Trump says he looks like Lone Ranger in a mask and likes it
WASHINGTON — After long resisting wearing a mask in public, President Donald Trump said Wednesday he thinks it makes him look like the Lone Ranger — and he likes it.
“I’m all for masks. I think masks are good,” Trump told Fox Business in an interview. “People have seen me wearing one.”
Trump’s comments came a day after Republican lawmakers suggested that the president wear a mask in public to set a good example for Americans.
“If I were in a tight situation with people, I would absolutely,” Trump said in the interview.
Trump has long resisted being photographed in a mask. In early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures were difficult to maintain.
Read the full story by The Associated Press here.
7:25 p.m. More help on way for COVID-slammed businesses as Congress send relief bill to president
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday easily passed a temporary extension of a subsidy program for small businesses slammed by the coronavirus, speeding the measure to President Donald Trump.
Approval by voice vote without debate came after Democrats pushed the legislation through the GOP-controlled Senate late Tuesday as spikes in coronavirus cases in many states led to renewed shutdowns of bars and other businesses.
Trump was expected to sign the measure.
The legislation extends the June 30 deadline for applying for the program to Aug. 8. Lawmakers created the program in March and have modified it twice since, adding money on one occasion and more recently permitting more flexible use of the funding despite some grumbling among GOP conservatives.
Read the full story here.
6:40 p.m. Illinois casinos angling to clean up now that coronavirus closing is over
Imagine Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra sitting down for a hand of blackjack, with their trademark banter muffled by surgical masks — not to mention a plexi-glass partition separating all three.
Pass on the Rat Pack star power, take a hit of hand sanitizer, and you’ve got an idea of what a COVID-19 casino looks like.
Illinois gamblers got their first glimpse of that Wednesday as the state’s 10 casinos reopened after three months of an unprecedented statewide shutdown.
Hundreds of clear partitions separated slot machines, cash counters and card dealers sprawled across the gaming floor of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, where some bettors were so eager to get back to the action in the age of COVID-19 that they lined up before it opened around 11 a.m.
The state’s most lucrative casino hadn’t taken in a chip since March 16, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office shuttered the state’s 10 gambling houses as well as the 36,000 slot machines scattered across more than 7,000 bars, restaurants and other establishments.
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
5:45 p.m. Michigan governor closes indoor bars, allows to-go cocktails
LANSING, Mich — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that she was closing indoor seating in bars in parts of the state, including a college town where one brewpub has been linked to about 140 infections.
Whitmer also signed a bill allowing bars and restaurants to sell to-go cocktails in an effort to help those businesses.
Bars won’t have to close down completely under Whitmer’s new executive order, and taverns in the Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan are not subject to the mandate due to low numbers of reported COVID-19 virus cases in those areas. All bars may still keep open their outdoor patios. The order takes effect at 11 p.m. Wednesday.
“Following recent outbreaks tied to bars, I am taking this action today to slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said in a news release. “If we want to be in a strong position to reopen schools for in-person classroom instruction this fall, then we need to take aggressive action right now to ensure we don’t wipe out all the progress we have made.”
Read the full story here.
3:45 p.m. 30 more die from COVID-19 as neighboring states limit bar and restaurant space amid surges
As several states continue to see a surge in coronavirus cases ahead of a holiday weekend, health officials in Illinois said another 30 people have died from COVID-19 — with the state nearing a grim milestone of 7,000 people lost to the pandemic.
In total, 6,951 people have died in Illinois from COVID-19. On Wednesday, officials also said there were 828 newly confirmed cases.
Within the past 24 hours, state laboratories took in 33,090 test results. More than 1.6 million tests have performed in Illinois, officials said.
Illinois reported 828 new cases, maintaining its streak of seeing fewer than 1,000 new confirmed cases daily since June 3, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But Gov. J.B. Pritzker and health administrators are watching health metrics in the state to determine whether a Phase 4 opening last Friday will play any role in upticks in cases, as many states have seen. Phase 4 allowed for indoor restaurants and bars to reopen with capacity limits, as well as museums, zoos and gyms, among other businesses.
Read the full story by Tina Sfondeles here.
2:35 p.m. Indiana delays lifting capacity limits on restaurants, bars
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will keep capacity limits in place for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues because of worries about a possible increase in coronavirus cases across the state, Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday.
The state’s reopening plan had called for those restrictions to be lifted this weekend, but Holcomb said he would keep them in place until at least July 18. The state will also continue its current 250-person limit on social gatherings.
Holcomb said he was concerned about recent increases in hospitalizations across Indiana involving COVID-19 cases and other states that have seen fresh outbreaks after lifting restrictions on bars and other businesses.
Since June 12, restaurants have been allowed 75% capacity in their dining rooms, while bars, nightclubs, bowling alleys, museums and amusement parks have been open at half capacity.
Read the full story by The Associated Press here.
1:11 p.m. Some speculated Chicago protests would spread coronavirus; Experts say they didn’t
There is little evidence that the protests that erupted after George Floyd’s death caused a significant increase in U.S. coronavirus infections, according to public health experts.
If the protests had driven an explosion in cases, experts say, the jumps would have started to become apparent within two weeks — and perhaps as early as five days. But that didn’t happen in many cities with the largest protests, including New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C.
In what’s considered the first systematic look at the question, a team of economists determined that only one of 13 cities involved in the earliest wave of protests after Memorial Day had an increase that would fit the pattern.
In many cities, the protests actually seemed to lead to a net increase in social distancing, as more people who did not protest decided to stay off the streets, said that study’s lead author, Dhaval Dave of Bentley University.
“The large-scale protests can impact both the behavior of the protesters and the behavior of the non-protesters,” said Dave. The paper was released last week by the National Bureau of Economic Research, but has not been published by a peer-reviewed journal.
Drawing from data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, The Associated Press reviewed trends in daily reported cases in 22 U.S. cities with protests. It found post-protest increases in several cities — including Houston and Madison, Wisconsin — where experts say other factors were more likely the main drivers.
Read the full report here.
12:04 p.m. Dart, other county sheriffs demand state prisons start accepting inmates again
With little room to spare at Cook County Jail, Sheriff Tom Dart is seeking a court order to compel the state to take custody of inmates who had been housed at the jail since the coronavirus outbreak.
The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, which Dart is a member of, filed the motion Thursday in downstate Logan County asking a circuit court judge to approve a preliminary injunction that would order the state to accept inmates who are housed in county jails, but should be in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
These inmates — unlike detainees at the jail who are awaiting trial — have been convicted and sentenced.
Some of these inmates served their sentences but need to to be transferred to IDOC custody before their release.
Since the outbreak IDOC officials told sheriffs said they needed time to prepare new intake procedures at state facilities to contain the virus, but have continued to decline to accept transfers from county jail for months.
Read the full story from Matthew Hendrickson here.
10:01 a.m. Republicans, with exception of Trump, now push mask-wearing to fight coronavirus
In Republican circles — with the notable exception of the man who leads the party — the debate about masks is over: It’s time to put one on.
As a surge of infections hammers the South and West, GOP officials are pushing back against the notion that masks are about politics, as President Donald Trump suggests, and telling Americans they can help save lives.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, on Tuesday bluntly called on Trump to start wearing a mask, at least some of the time, to set a good example.
“Unfortunately, this simple, lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says: If you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask. If you’re against Trump, you do,” Alexander said.
It’s a rare break for Republicans from Trump, who earlier this month told the Wall Street Journal that some people wear masks simply to show that they disapprove of him. And the Republican nudges for the public — and the president — to embrace mask-wearing are coming from all corners of Trump’s party and even from friendly conservative media.
Read the full story here.
9:03 a.m. ‘Second wave’ could stunt national economic rebound
A resurgence of confirmed COVID cases across the South and West — and the suspension or reversal of re-openings of bars, hotels, restaurants and other businesses — is endangering hopes for an economic rebound in the region and perhaps nationally. At stake are the jobs of millions of people who have clung to hopes that their layoffs from widespread business shutdowns this spring would prove short-lived.
On Thursday, the government is expected to issue another robust monthly jobs report. Economists have forecast that employers added 3 million jobs in June, on top of 2.5 million added in May, clawing back a portion of the record-high 21 million that vanished in April at the height of the viral shutdowns.
Yet any such news might already be outdated: The jobs report won’t fully capture the impact of the COVID upsurge in the South and West and the desperate steps being pursued to try to control it. The re-closings of restaurants and bars, and resulting job cuts, mark an about-face from what appear to have been premature efforts to restart the economy before the pandemic had been contained.
“We’re still in a very deep hole,’’ said Diane Swonk, chief economist at the firm Grant Thornton. “This makes the June employment report backward-looking instead of forward-looking.’’
Read the full report here.
8:24 a.m. Illinois ends June with about half the daily COVID-19 deaths and new cases as in peak month of May
As coronavirus cases flare to record highs in other states that reopened earlier, Illinois closed out the month of June with another round of low daily numbers Tuesday, indicating the state’s pandemic curve is still arcing downward — for now.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 23 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 724 newly confirmed cases of the virus. That raises the state’s death toll to 6,923 among the 143,185 people who have tested positive for the virus since late January.
The state averaged about half as many new cases and deaths each day in June compared to May, when Illinois hit its apparent coronavirus peak.
The state suffered almost half its overall caseload and death toll in May, with about 67,300 positive diagnoses and 3,076 lives lost. That means officials announced an average of about 99 deaths and 2,172 new cases per day.
Read the full story by Mitchell Armentrout here.
New cases
DeAndre Jordan says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and won’t be joining the Brooklyn Nets in Florida when the NBA season resumes.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 23 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 724 newly confirmed cases of the virus on Tuesday.
Illinois reported 14 COVID-19 deaths Monday, its lowest daily total in three months for the second day in a row as the state’s reopening is underway. That brings the state’s total death toll to 6,902.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association say 16 players tested positive for coronavirus in the first wave of mandatory tests done in preparation for the restart of the season.
Analysis & Commentary
12:07 p.m. Minor League Baseball’s canceled 2020 season is yet another cruel blow
For all the sacrifices and deferred dreams the novel coronavirus forced upon the sports world, many are paired with some solace, knowing that there will be a next year.
One sector, from top to bottom, doesn’t have that luxury.
The long-anticipated announcement Tuesday that Minor League Baseball’s 2020 season will be canceled is a blow to thousands of minor leaguers who just saw the thankless, debt-inducing, harrowing road to the majors sidetracked, perhaps permanently.
It is a gut punch to the staffers still remaining at the 160 affiliated minor-league clubs who have held on through furloughs and pay cuts and added even more creative duties to their usual titles in the name of keeping their jobs. With an entire calendar year of virtually no revenue, many more will lose their jobs.
And — because what’s a pandemic in our country without a little opportunism? — it may represent a death knell for dozens of franchises that Major League Baseball placed on a chopping block in the service of shaving a few nickels and creating more efficiency, long-term growth of the game be damned.
Read the full guest column from Gabe Lacques in USA Today here.
7:51 a.m. Fantasizing about what to do after the pandemic is over
I’ve started to think of it as The After. I mean that time when it will be safe for me and the rest of the world to do all the stuff we used to do before COVID-19 showed up and ruined the party.
The After is the time after we’ve lived through this pandemic, those of us who do live through it.
I suspect that everyone, like me, is fantasizing about what to do in The After. What restaurant to go to. What theme park to visit. What ballet to see. What singer to hear. What park to barbeque in.
Basketball is something that I really miss, but most of the guys I’m playing with and against are over the age of 60 or, like me, over the age of 70. We aren’t going to be playing again until this COVID thing is really over. It’s just too dangerous for us to bang bodies under the board and huff and puff around the court.
I’m sure everyone — all over the world — has one or maybe many lists of what to do in The After.
Read the full guest column from Patrick Reardon here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--Slim possibility of No. 1 pick won’t affect Blackhawks’ playoff ambitions

The placeholder ’ s ‘ ‘ victory ’ ’ in the NHL Draft Lottery on Friday — opening the door for one of the eight qualifying-round losers to land the No .
1 overall pick — has incited a lot of talk about tanking .
But there ’ s an important clarification to make .
Fans — and reporters , admittedly — constantly think about tanking .
General managers and other executives sometimes think about tanking .
Coaches and players never think about tanking .
Especially not in the playoffs , no matter how bloated those playoffs might be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a guarantee as any in this sport .
The Hawks ’ veterans would scoff at the thought of intentionally losing in any scenario , no matter how beneficial the long-term gain would be .
So would the Hawks ’ young players , even those just a year or two removed from being first-round picks themselves .
So would coach Jeremy Colliton .
Any reporter who asks an NHL player about his struggling team potentially getting a high draft pick might as well ask about an alien invasion : The player never will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even behind closed doors , the same is generally true .
Well-traveled NHL executive Brian Burke put it aptly in his appearance on an NBC Sports Chicago podcast this week : “ If Jeremy Colliton went in and told Jonathan Toews , ‘ By the way , we ’ re going to tank and see if we can get this [ Alexis ] Lafreniere kid , ’ Jonathan Toews would punch him.
’ ’ So it ’ s well-established that no one in the Hawks ’ organization would support or encourage tossing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is whether the Hawks hypothetically would be better off tossing the series to pursue Lafreniere .
A vocal portion of the fan base thinks so .
The replies to my tweet about the Hawks ’ opportunity after the lottery included “ Tank for Alexis !
” “ Go , Oilers !
” and one that suggested scoring own goals against Corey Crawford .
That cynical contingent ’ s logic is roughly as follows : The Hawks ’ road to a Stanley Cup is long and improbable .
It would take five series victories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oilers , to capture the title .
Even if the Hawks had a 50 % chance of winning each series ( they actually would be significant underdogs in all five ) , their Cup odds would be only 3.1 % .
Far more plausible is the first overall selection , which the Hawks would have a 12.5 % chance of obtaining if they lose to the Oilers .
With it would come Lafreniere , clearly the best prospect in the class .
But the comparison is not nearly as simple as that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cup and landing Lafreniere are far from equivalent accomplishments , even when looking through the most long-distance lens .
Even making the conference final might be more significant than landing Lafreniere .
After all , the last three No .
1 overall picks — Nico Hischier ( Devils , 2017 ) , Rasmus Dahlin ( Sabres , 2018 ) and Jack Hughes ( Devils , 2019 ) — have not been franchise-altering so far .
Both those teams were back among the lottery contestants this season for a reason .
A 12.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , either .
By comparison , the Senators and Red Wings put their respective 25 % and 18.5 % odds to the test last week , and it didn ’ t work out .
And if the Hawks ’ Ping-Pong ball wasn ’ t the lucky one , they ’ d be picking no higher than ninth .
The theoretical to-tank-or-not-to-tank debate likely will rage on for weeks — if not months , depending on how long it takes the NHL to start the playoffs .
But it ’ s only that : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that principle .
If they lose to the Oilers and slip into the Lafreniere lottery , it ’ ll be because they lost , not because they tanked .

The placeholder’s ‘‘victory’’ in the NHL Draft Lottery on Friday — opening the door for one of the eight qualifying-round losers to land the No. 1 overall pick — has incited a lot of talk about tanking.
But there’s an important clarification to make. Fans — and reporters, admittedly — constantly think about tanking. General managers and other executives sometimes think about tanking. Coaches and players never think about tanking.
Especially not in the playoffs, no matter how bloated those playoffs might be.
That’s as hard and true of a guarantee as any in this sport. The Hawks’ veterans would scoff at the thought of intentionally losing in any scenario, no matter how beneficial the long-term gain would be. So would the Hawks’ young players, even those just a year or two removed from being first-round picks themselves. So would coach Jeremy Colliton.
Any reporter who asks an NHL player about his struggling team potentially getting a high draft pick might as well ask about an alien invasion: The player never will acknowledge the possibility in the slightest.
Even behind closed doors, the same is generally true.
Well-traveled NHL executive Brian Burke put it aptly in his appearance on an NBC Sports Chicago podcast this week: “If Jeremy Colliton went in and told Jonathan Toews, ‘By the way, we’re going to tank and see if we can get this [Alexis] Lafreniere kid,’ Jonathan Toews would punch him.’’
So it’s well-established that no one in the Hawks’ organization would support or encourage tossing the series to pursue Lafreniere.
More intriguing is whether the Hawks hypothetically would be better off tossing the series to pursue Lafreniere.
A vocal portion of the fan base thinks so. The replies to my tweet about the Hawks’ opportunity after the lottery included “Tank for Alexis!” “Go, Oilers!” and one that suggested scoring own goals against Corey Crawford.
That cynical contingent’s logic is roughly as follows:
The Hawks’ road to a Stanley Cup is long and improbable. It would take five series victories, starting with the best-of-five matchup against the Oilers, to capture the title. Even if the Hawks had a 50% chance of winning each series (they actually would be significant underdogs in all five), their Cup odds would be only 3.1%.
Far more plausible is the first overall selection, which the Hawks would have a 12.5% chance of obtaining if they lose to the Oilers. With it would come Lafreniere, clearly the best prospect in the class.
But the comparison is not nearly as simple as that implies.
For one thing, winning the Cup and landing Lafreniere are far from equivalent accomplishments, even when looking through the most long-distance lens. Even making the conference final might be more significant than landing Lafreniere.
After all, the last three No. 1 overall picks — Nico Hischier (Devils, 2017), Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres, 2018) and Jack Hughes (Devils, 2019) — have not been franchise-altering so far. Both those teams were back among the lottery contestants this season for a reason.
A 12.5% chance isn’t that high, either. By comparison, the Senators and Red Wings put their respective 25% and 18.5% odds to the test last week, and it didn’t work out. And if the Hawks’ Ping-Pong ball wasn’t the lucky one, they’d be picking no higher than ninth.
The theoretical to-tank-or-not-to-tank debate likely will rage on for weeks — if not months, depending on how long it takes the NHL to start the playoffs.
But it’s only that: theoretical. The Hawks never will act on that principle. If they lose to the Oilers and slip into the Lafreniere lottery, it’ll be because they lost, not because they tanked.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--Police seeking man wanted in connection with armed robbery in Bronzeville

Chicago police are seeking a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery in June in Bronzeville on the South @ @ @ @ @ June 1 , an armed man walked into a restaurant in the 800 block of @ @ @ @ @ money , according to a community alert from Chicago police .
The man may be @ @ @ @ @ the same weapon , police said .
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area @ @ @ @ @ Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Chicago police are seeking a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery in June in Bronzeville on the South Side.
About 9:30 p.m. June 1, an armed man walked into a restaurant in the 800 block of East 47th Street and demanded money, according to a community alert from Chicago police.
The man may be involved in other crimes involving the same weapon, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area One detectives at 312-747-8380.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-01--Fish of a Lifetime: Story of a Lifetime  goes with the flathead catfish from the Fox River

Ryan Wooten was fishing for smallmouth bass or , “ maybe some walleye , ” last week with a “ little 3-inch black twistertail ” with 4-pound line on spinning gear .
“ Then the adventure started , ” he said .
Let ’ s pick up with Jackson Kennedy , who walked down to the spillway on the Fox River in North Aurora to make a few casts as the adventure was beginning .
At first , Kennedy thought Wooten was snagged , then called over and found it was a fish on .
“ He had been fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I had approached him , ” Jackson posted in Illinois Fishing Bandits on Facebook .
( Thanks to Ed Schmitt for tagging me on this epic tale . )
“ I decided there was only one option to successfully land this giant , so I jumped in the river and helped him secure a fish of a lifetime .
We walked up and down the tailwater of the Fox for about 30 minutes .
I live down the road , so I called my brother [ Josh ] to bring down a net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 31 3/4-pounc ] flathead .
This a memory I will never forget and I ’ m grateful I could be there to assist him !
” “ I would probably still be there fighting the fish without Jackson and his brother , ” he said .
At the beginning , Wooten thought he was snagged , too .
“ He must have picked it up , ” he said .
“ The fight was like fighting a log .
It was definitely an adventure .
I am probably never going to experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the light line .
“ I had an 8-pound test rod in my car , but I didn ’ t have it with me , ” Wooten said .
“ If I had hooked into him on 8-pound , it would have been easier , but I don ’ t think I would have him mounted .
It was definitely the fish of a lifetime .
I know they get much bigger on the Fox , but it was the [ uniqueness of catching it on ] 4-pound test.
” Wooten plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Taxidermy in Plainfield , where his dad , Les , had some big crappie mounted .
“ My grandpa , Al , loved to fish , then passed it down to my dad , ” Wooten said .
Truly family fishing .
Wooten first appeared in the Sun-Times when his cousin Elijah Wooten earned Fish of the Week in 2009 for his first sauger while they were fishing with Elijah ’ s dad Brad .
I reached Jim Bondi , bass fishing coach for Hinsdale South , where Wooten was on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also an honor-roll student and a soccer player .
“ I truly appreciated how much fishing and the outdoors was in his blood , ” Bondi emailed .
“ He clearly had a lifelong passion to spend hours on the water that was fostered at a young age by his Dad and other members of his family .
In terms of fishing he had the patience and skill to finesse fish and coax fish to bite while many others struggled .
While I may have taught him a couple things , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underspin and blade bait among other things I ’ m sure.
” That love of the outdoors translated to college .
Wooten will be a senior at Upper Iowa University with a biology major .
Last year , he had a cool internship surveying native brook trout in northeast Iowa .
“ It was an amazing experience , ” Wooten said .
“ I might do my masters in wildlife or marine biology .
That is my passion.
” A U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service team banded Monty and Rose ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montrose beach , Chicago Park District volunteer site steward Leslie Borns emailed .
.
.
.
John Vukmirovich has been picking mulberries for more than a week .
I picked my first raspberries on Thursday .
Tom Brady keeps proving he ’ s the same as a bighead carp .

Ryan Wooten was fishing for smallmouth bass or, “maybe some walleye,” last week with a “little 3-inch black twistertail” with 4-pound line on spinning gear.
“Then the adventure started,” he said.
Let’s pick up with Jackson Kennedy, who walked down to the spillway on the Fox River in North Aurora to make a few casts as the adventure was beginning. At first, Kennedy thought Wooten was snagged, then called over and found it was a fish on.
“He had been fighting the fish for over an hour when I had approached him,” Jackson posted in Illinois Fishing Bandits on Facebook. (Thanks to Ed Schmitt for tagging me on this epic tale.)
“I decided there was only one option to successfully land this giant, so I jumped in the river and helped him secure a fish of a lifetime. We walked up and down the tailwater of the Fox for about 30 minutes. I live down the road, so I called my brother [Josh] to bring down a net and we pulled in a [42-inch, 31 3/4-pound] flathead. This a memory I will never forget and I’m grateful I could be there to assist him!”
Wooten nailed the moment.
“I would probably still be there fighting the fish without Jackson and his brother,” he said.
At the beginning, Wooten thought he was snagged, too.
“He must have picked it up,” he said. “The fight was like fighting a log. It was definitely an adventure. I am probably never going to experience anything like that again.”
The uniqueness was the light line.
“I had an 8-pound test rod in my car, but I didn’t have it with me,” Wooten said. “If I had hooked into him on 8-pound, it would have been easier, but I don’t think I would have him mounted. It was definitely the fish of a lifetime. I know they get much bigger on the Fox, but it was the [uniqueness of catching it on] 4-pound test.”
Wooten plans to have it mounted at Cliff’s Taxidermy in Plainfield, where his dad, Les, had some big crappie mounted.
“My grandpa, Al, loved to fish, then passed it down to my dad,” Wooten said.
Truly family fishing. Wooten first appeared in the Sun-Times when his cousin Elijah Wooten earned Fish of the Week in 2009 for his first sauger while they were fishing with Elijah’s dad Brad.
I reached Jim Bondi, bass fishing coach for Hinsdale South, where Wooten was on the bass-fishing team for all four years and was also an honor-roll student and a soccer player.
“I truly appreciated how much fishing and the outdoors was in his blood,” Bondi emailed. “He clearly had a lifelong passion to spend hours on the water that was fostered at a young age by his Dad and other members of his family. In terms of fishing he had the patience and skill to finesse fish and coax fish to bite while many others struggled. While I may have taught him a couple things, he was the first to show me an underspin and blade bait among other things I’m sure.”
That love of the outdoors translated to college. Wooten will be a senior at Upper Iowa University with a biology major. Last year, he had a cool internship surveying native brook trout in northeast Iowa.
“It was an amazing experience,” Wooten said. “I might do my masters in wildlife or marine biology. That is my passion.”
Ryan Wooten caught his fish of a lifetime last week with some help on the Fox River. Provided by Jackson Kennedy
WILD THINGS
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team banded Monty and Rose’s three surviving piping plover chicks Monday at Montrose beach, Chicago Park District volunteer site steward Leslie Borns emailed. . . . John Vukmirovich has been picking mulberries for more than a week. I picked my first raspberries on Thursday.
STRAY CAST
Tom Brady keeps proving he’s the same as a bighead carp.