chicagosun-times--2020-09-11--Nico Hoerner thriving in utility role as unique rookie season concludes

MILWAUKEE — If there ’ s anything second baseman Nico Hoerner has learned during his rookie season , it ’ s that time flies in the big leagues .
The Cubs ’ rookie second baseman is approaching the end of his first “ full ” season in the majors and has played a lot of roles for manager David Ross , ranging from occasional leadoff hitter and pinch runner to utilityman and late-game defensive replacement .
But Hoerner also has had to learn what comes with different roles , including the adjustment of playing time .
He began the season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparingly down the stretch for the first time in his baseball career .
“ It ’ s definitely an interesting thing to learn to handle , obviously , ” Hoerner said .
“ I ’ ve never had an extended period of not playing before in my career , but definitely something almost everyone goes through.
” While many expected Hoerner to be cemented into the second-base job , he has played five positions as Ross has used him in a utility role .
Hoerner ’ s versatility has made him a seemingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team has gotten contributions from Jason Kipnis and David Bote at second , as well .
“ He ’ s been that Swiss Army Knife type of player that I ’ ve used all over the field , ” Ross said .
“ He comes in with a great attitude .
He ’ s very professional .
I feel like he continues to grow .
He ’ s trying to get his game as well rounded as possible , and that ’ s a great thing .
He ’ s a joy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings energy every day to this group , but it ’ s fun to watch him continue to work daily.
” Hoerner has a .239/.317/.273 slash line with 13 RBI and three stolen bases in 36 games .
He went through a slump but has come on strong recently , hitting .333 ( 6-for-18 ) over his last seven games .
“ It ’ s important to understand how to handle that , and I feel like we ’ ve got a lot of great veterans here who have helped me with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to figure out what ’ s productive , because going and trying to rework everything at this point of the year isn ’ t going to do a whole lot for you , ” Hoerner said .
“ But you also do need to make adjustments .
There ’ s some trial and error involved , but having a great staff and good veterans on the team has made everything a lot easier.
” Cubs veterans haven ’ t taken Hoerner ’ s work and willingness to get better during his rookie season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attention of one of their newest additions .
“ The biggest thing I enjoy about Nico thus far is that he ’ s , he ’ s very inquisitive , ” outfielder Cameron Maybin said .
“ Just before I got in the shower , we were talking baseball .
He was asking questions , and that ’ s what ’ s going to make him special .
He plays the game the right way .
He plays it with a lot of respect , and he ’ s got a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to continue to learn to get better , the sky ’ s the limit for him .
”

MILWAUKEE — If there’s anything second baseman Nico Hoerner has learned during his rookie season, it’s that time flies in the big leagues.
The Cubs’ rookie second baseman is approaching the end of his first “full” season in the majors and has played a lot of roles for manager David Ross, ranging from occasional leadoff hitter and pinch runner to utilityman and late-game defensive replacement.
But Hoerner also has had to learn what comes with different roles, including the adjustment of playing time. He began the season playing nearly every day but has played sparingly down the stretch for the first time in his baseball career.
“It’s definitely an interesting thing to learn to handle, obviously,” Hoerner said. “I’ve never had an extended period of not playing before in my career, but definitely something almost everyone goes through.”
While many expected Hoerner to be cemented into the second-base job, he has played five positions as Ross has used him in a utility role. Hoerner’s versatility has made him a seemingly perfect fit for the role, as the team has gotten contributions from Jason Kipnis and David Bote at second, as well.
“He’s been that Swiss Army Knife type of player that I’ve used all over the field,” Ross said. “He comes in with a great attitude. He’s very professional. I feel like he continues to grow. He’s trying to get his game as well rounded as possible, and that’s a great thing. He’s a joy to have on the team and he brings energy every day to this group, but it’s fun to watch him continue to work daily.”
Hoerner has a .239/.317/.273 slash line with 13 RBI and three stolen bases in 36 games. He went through a slump but has come on strong recently, hitting .333 (6-for-18) over his last seven games.
“It’s important to understand how to handle that, and I feel like we’ve got a lot of great veterans here who have helped me with that [adjustment] as well as trying to figure out what’s productive, because going and trying to rework everything at this point of the year isn’t going to do a whole lot for you,” Hoerner said. “But you also do need to make adjustments. There’s some trial and error involved, but having a great staff and good veterans on the team has made everything a lot easier.”
Cubs veterans haven’t taken Hoerner’s work and willingness to get better during his rookie season lightly, either. He has caught the attention of one of their newest additions.
“The biggest thing I enjoy about Nico thus far is that he’s, he’s very inquisitive,” outfielder Cameron Maybin said. “Just before I got in the shower, we were talking baseball. He was asking questions, and that’s what’s going to make him special. He plays the game the right way. He plays it with a lot of respect, and he’s got a lot of tools. As long as he wants to continue to learn to get better, the sky’s the limit for him.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-11--Horoscope for Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020

Horoscope for Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions .
The moon is in Cancer .
This is a feel-good day at home or with family .
Alternatively , you might want to cocoon at home and hide .
Either way , there is a feeling of contentment in your world .
However , why not give yourself a tiny list of things to do ?
Tiny is better than nothing .
You are eager to share your views , which is why you want to talk to someone .
Fortunately , because you feel upbeat , your conversations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sports , playful activities with kids and romance will interest you .
You have money on your mind today .
Not only cash flow and assets , but you might also be thinking about a purchase ?
If so , be careful about going overboard because it ’ s easy to do this today .
Just in case , keep your receipts — and the box .
The moon is in your sign , which gives you a strong urge to relate to others .
You will be emotionally giving , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be stronger — and likewise , you might be luckier !
( Ask the universe for a favor . )
With Venus in your sign now , you feel friendly and sociable to everyone .
However , today the moon is hiding in your chart , which means that you might want to cocoon at home or hide somewhere .
You need a little down time to catch your breath .
A conversation with a female friend might be important .
Perhaps you will discuss your hopes and dreams for the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them become a reality ?
Remember , most of what you see around you began with a thought in someone ’ s head .
Be aware that some of the most intimate details of your life might be public for some reason .
People seem to know more about you today , or perhaps they are talking about you ?
Meanwhile , you might want to help someone through your job or through any influence that you have .
( This is an excellent motivation . )
Today you have an urge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do something different .
Ideally , you want to travel and see new places and meet new faces .
If you can ’ t do this , you can travel mentally through film , books or the internet .
Take a mental journey !
Today your feelings about practically everything are more intense than usual .
Ironically , you might also attract intense or powerful people to you .
( Yes , it ’ s that kinda day . )
Don ’ t be surprised if you want something that someone else has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moon is opposite your sign , which draws your attention to your most personal relationships .
Today these people are more important to you than usual .
However , if you have conflicts with any of them , the tension will be more emotional as well !
Chill out .
There is an aspect of self-denial that you might feel today .
For example , you might have to put the emotional considerations of someone else before your own .
You might have to work for others or do a service for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points in life ’ s big roulette wheel .
Today you are more relaxed and willing to express who you really are when talking to others .
This is why romance will feel emotionally deeper and more intense .
You also feel more protective and nurturing to others .
It ’ s a pleasant day !
If Your Birthday Is Today Actress Emmy Rossum ( 1986 ) shares your birthday .
You are a jovial , relaxed optimist who is caring and generous .
This year you will learn something that sets you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be crucial for your success next year .
It ’ s a time of learning and perhaps teaching as well .
Explore meditation , yoga or any discipline that helps you get a better understanding of who you are .
Invest in your future self .

Moon Alert
There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Cancer.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is a feel-good day at home or with family. Alternatively, you might want to cocoon at home and hide. Either way, there is a feeling of contentment in your world. However, why not give yourself a tiny list of things to do? Tiny is better than nothing.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
You are eager to share your views, which is why you want to talk to someone. Fortunately, because you feel upbeat, your conversations with others will be positive and optimistic. Sports, playful activities with kids and romance will interest you.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You have money on your mind today. Not only cash flow and assets, but you might also be thinking about a purchase? If so, be careful about going overboard because it’s easy to do this today. Just in case, keep your receipts — and the box.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
The moon is in your sign, which gives you a strong urge to relate to others. You will be emotionally giving, and you might be emotionally demanding. Your feelings will be stronger — and likewise, you might be luckier! (Ask the universe for a favor.)
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
With Venus in your sign now, you feel friendly and sociable to everyone. However, today the moon is hiding in your chart, which means that you might want to cocoon at home or hide somewhere. You need a little down time to catch your breath.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
A conversation with a female friend might be important. Perhaps you will discuss your hopes and dreams for the future, and how to make one of them become a reality? Remember, most of what you see around you began with a thought in someone’s head.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Be aware that some of the most intimate details of your life might be public for some reason. People seem to know more about you today, or perhaps they are talking about you? Meanwhile, you might want to help someone through your job or through any influence that you have. (This is an excellent motivation.)
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today you have an urge to break free from your daily routine and do something different. Ideally, you want to travel and see new places and meet new faces. If you can’t do this, you can travel mentally through film, books or the internet. Take a mental journey!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today your feelings about practically everything are more intense than usual. Ironically, you might also attract intense or powerful people to you. (Yes, it’s that kinda day.) Don’t be surprised if you want something that someone else has. “My precious!”
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
The moon is opposite your sign, which draws your attention to your most personal relationships. Today these people are more important to you than usual. However, if you have conflicts with any of them, the tension will be more emotional as well! Chill out.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
There is an aspect of self-denial that you might feel today. For example, you might have to put the emotional considerations of someone else before your own. You might have to work for others or do a service for them. Think of this as getting brownie points in life’s big roulette wheel.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today you are more relaxed and willing to express who you really are when talking to others. This is why romance will feel emotionally deeper and more intense. You also feel more protective and nurturing to others. It’s a pleasant day!
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actress Emmy Rossum (1986) shares your birthday. You are a jovial, relaxed optimist who is caring and generous. This year you will learn something that sets you in a new direction, which could be crucial for your success next year. It’s a time of learning and perhaps teaching as well. Explore meditation, yoga or any discipline that helps you get a better understanding of who you are. Invest in your future self.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--Man shot dead in Waukegan motel; second murder there in a month

A man in his 20s was fatally shot in a Waukegan motel early Tuesday — the second fatal shooting at @ @ @ @ @ , according to police .
Waukegan police released few details about the shooting , which @ @ @ @ @ the Motel 6 at 31 N. Green Bay Rd .
Officers were later called to @ @ @ @ @ gunshot victims , one of whom later died .
He was later identified by the @ @ @ @ @ office as 28-year-old John Cannon , of Waukegan .
The wounded man , who was @ @ @ @ @ in his 20s and from North Chicago .
Police did not offer a possible motive @ @ @ @ @ ago , another man was shot to death in the same motel .
Officers responded @ @ @ @ @ 4:30 a.m. Aug. 26 and found a Chicago man in his 30s who was shot @ @ @ @ @ arrests have been made .

A man in his 20s was fatally shot in a Waukegan motel early Tuesday — the second fatal shooting at the motel in a month, according to police.
Waukegan police released few details about the shooting, which happened before 1 a.m. at the Motel 6 at 31 N. Green Bay Rd.
Officers were later called to a nearby hospital for two gunshot victims, one of whom later died. He was later identified by the Lake County coroner’s office as 28-year-old John Cannon, of Waukegan.
The wounded man, who was in serious condition, was in his 20s and from North Chicago.
Police did not offer a possible motive.
Less than two weeks ago, another man was shot to death in the same motel. Officers responded to calls of gunfire at 4:30 a.m. Aug. 26 and found a Chicago man in his 30s who was shot, police said.
No arrests have been made.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--Illinois logs second straight day of 2,000 or more COVID-19 cases (LIVE UPDATES)

Public health officials on Saturday announced another 2,121 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Illinois , the second straight day the state logged 2,000 or more cases .
But they were confirmed among 56,594 tests , lowering the statewide testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.7 % .
That ’ s the number experts focus on to gauge how rapidly the virus is spreading .
The Illinois Department of Public Health also announced 22 more COVID-19 patients have died , raising the state ’ s pandemic death toll to 8,295 .
The latest victims included a Cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his 40s .
Of nearly 4.7 million COVID-19 tests administered statewide over the last six months , 259,909 people have tested positive .
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here .
Big Ten university presidents will meet Sunday to hear a presentation about playing a fall football season after all — maybe as soon as late October — amid pressure from parents , players , coaches and even the president to kick off .
A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the Big Ten ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The medical subcommittee , comprised of athletic directors , doctors and athletic training staffers , made a presentation to a subgroup of presidents and chancellors .
The presentation included improvements in the availability of rapid , daily COVID-19 testing .
6 p.m. Dakotas lead US in coronavirus growth as both reject mask rules Coronavirus infections in the Dakotas are growing faster than anywhere else in the nation , fueling impassioned debates over masks and personal freedom after months in which the two states avoided the worst of the pandemic .
The argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , South Dakota , as the city council considered requiring face coverings in businesses .
The city was forced to move its meeting to a local arena to accommodate intense interest , with many citizens speaking against it , before the mask requirement ultimately passed .
Amid the brute force of the pandemic , health experts warn that the infections must be contained before care systems are overwhelmed .
North Dakota and South Dakota lead the country in new cases per capita over the last two weeks , ranking first and second respectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In times of crisis — wars , hurricanes , pandemics — effective leaders strike a balance between inspirational rhetoric and leveling with the public about the tough times ahead .
Facing the coronavirus , Trump chose a different path , acknowledging that from early on he was intentionally “ playing down ” the threat from an outbreak that has gone on to kill more than 190,000 Americans .
His rosy assessment of the peril confronting the nation spotlights the struggles he has faced in trying to steer the United States through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DuPage County gets coronavirus ‘ warning ’ as Illinois logs 2,145 new cases : ‘ We need to take this seriously ’ A broad swath of Chicago ’ s western suburbs hit a COVID-19 warning level Friday as public health officials announced 2,145 more people have tested positive for the deadly virus statewide .
The latest daily caseload was slightly above Illinois ’ two-week average of about 2,022 new cases per day , and they were confirmed among 56,661 tests to raise the state ’ s rolling testing positivity rate to 3.9 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also announced the virus killed 32 more people , the most in a single day since the beginning of the month .
The state has averaged about 20 COVID-19 deaths per day over the last two weeks .
It was an increase in COVID-19 deaths that helped land DuPage County on the state ’ s updated list of counties considered to be at a viral “ warning level.
” Six deaths were reported in the west suburban county last week , up from four the previous week .
Read the full story from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday it was resuming a trial for a coronavirus vaccine it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca , a move that comes days after the study was suspended following a reported side-effect in a U.K. patient .
In a statement , the university confirmed the restart across all of its U.K. clinical trial sites after regulators gave the go-ahead following the pause on Sunday .
“ The independent review process has concluded and following the recommendations of both the independent safety review committee and the U.K. regulator , the MHRA , the trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .
11:25 a.m. Red Stars are back in action , though there are risks The Red Stars return to game action Saturday , but the safety provided while playing in the NWSL Challenge Cup bubble is gone .
The team opens the NWSL Fall Series on the road against the Washington Spirit , which meant two commercial flights and a one-night hotel stay .
While players had flown in and out of their team ’ s cities at the beginning of the season and again after the Challenge Cup , travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rory Dames .
“ I ’ m not sure the logic of ‘ well , players are already flying on commercial flights , so it ’ s OK to do ’ carries a lot of weight with me , ” Dames said .
“ But I do understand the reality of the situation we ’ re in , and what teams can and can not afford to do is real.
” Dames went on to say across the league no one is being forced to play in the four-game Fall Series .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dames , who has asthma , feels the organization would support him if he chose to opt out of traveling .
But that ’ s not something he ’ s considering .
“ As a coach , even if one of your players is going , you feel obligated to go , ” Dames said .
Read the full story from Annie Costabile here .
10:08 a.m. Nurses launch seven-day strike at University of Illinois Hospital University of Illinois at Chicago nurses followed through with a planned strike Saturday morning , demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each nurse ’ s care and better personal protection equipment .
More than 800 nurses walked off the job at 7 a.m. , after the previous three-year contract between the Illinois Nurses Association members and the University of Illinois Hospital expired on Monday .
Downpour rain didn ’ t stop about 300 nurses from gathering outside the Near West Side hospital , where the medical professionals — all wearing blue T-shirts under rain ponchos and jackets — lined the sidewalks near the hospital ’ s emergency room entrance at 1740 W. Taylor St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safety in Numbers ” and “ Protect our Patients.
” Motorists — including several CTA train conductors — laid on their horns in a show of support for the striking nurses , who are planning to gather for seven consecutive days , or until their demands are met .
Read more from Madeline Kenney and Jermaine Nolen here .
8:47 a.m. 16-inch softball carries on in suburbs as pandemic shuts down park district leagues In a city that proudly clutches to the staples of its culture , it ’ s going to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 16-inch softball season .
The slow-pitch , gloveless game is synonymous with Chicago — up there in the cultural pantheon with house music , Malört and arguments over which Harold ’ s is best .
And while the coronavirus forced the Chicago Park District to cancel the majority of their leagues , the top teams play on in nearby suburbs .
“ It ’ s difficult , I ’ m not going to lie , but the people who love the game , we ’ re figuring it out little by little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifelong softball player who helps run the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame .
“ If we have to play all the way to November or December when it ’ s snowing , we ’ re going to do it because we have to make up for lost time.
” The softball leagues operating in suburbs like Forest Park , Schaumburg , Cicero and Melrose Park are looking to the state for guidance as to whether it ’ s safe to play , Bliss said .
Once Illinois entered Phase 4 of its coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 50 people or fewer , it was game on .
Read the full story from Sam Kelly here .
7:44 a.m. CPS students log on at much higher rates than the spring , but attendance down from previous years About four of every five Chicago Public Schools students logged on for the first week of school , a markedly higher rate than in the spring despite first-day attendance still dipping from previous years in a sign of the continued challenges of remote learning , figures released Friday by the district show .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ start for a school system in which barely half of students attended online classes three or more days per week after the coronavirus pandemic forced buildings to close in the spring .
Yet the first week was a mixed bag , with dozens of schools drawing better attendance than previous years ’ district-wide average , while a handful of schools still had less than half their students log on .
The results reflect a varying degree of success in bridging a stubborn technology gap and creating an online learning plan that is achievable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes with parents ’ jobs .
Read the full story from Nader Issa here .
• Public health officials announced on Friday that 2,145 more people have tested positive for the deadly virus statewide .
• Carolyn Capizzi and her husband Jerry Capizzi , who was one of the world ’ s best-known collectors of Ford automobiles , have died within three days of each other of complications from the coronavirus .
• Tom Seaver , the Hall of Fame pitcher who was the heart of the Miracle Mets team , has died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
7:47 a.m. No Big Ten ?
That ’ s just one of the big 10 storylines as college football gets cooking For a little while longer , anyway .
Someday , we ’ ll look back and laugh at the self-righteous fuss that was made — from Lincoln , Nebraska , to the Deep South ; from Columbus , Ohio , to the White House — over the Big Ten ’ s “ break ” from college football during a pandemic .
Or we ’ ll look back and cry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Big 12 won ’ t have waited for the Big Ten and Pac-12 to arrive at the table before digging into the 2020 season .
Indeed , the fractured state of college football is storyline No .
1 this season .
Meanwhile , first-year commissioner Kevin Warren is under heavy fire as presidents and chancellors around the Big Ten prepare to vote on a new proposed plan for when games could start .
Ohio State coach Ryan Day complained that communication from the league has been “ disappointing and often unclear.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren ’ s leadership .
So much — for now — for the league ’ s preseason rankings in the AP Top 25 : Ohio State 2 , Penn State 7 , Wisconsin 12 , Michigan 16 , Minnesota 19 and Iowa 24 .
But the show goes on without the Big Ten .
And as national storylines go , here ’ s the rest of the big 10 ( where 10 actually means 10 ) :

On Saturday, the caseload marked the 13th time Illinois has logged 2,000 or more cases in a single day since Aug. 7, following a two-month stretch without topping that mark. But the state has also seen a dramatic increase in testing capacity.
Here’s what happened today in the fight against the coronavirus in Chicago, the state and the nation.
News
9 p.m. Illinois tallies 2,121 more coronavirus cases, but testing positivity rate drops
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Public health officials on Saturday announced another 2,121 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Illinois, the second straight day the state logged 2,000 or more cases.
But they were confirmed among 56,594 tests, lowering the statewide testing positivity rate over the last week to 3.7%. That’s the number experts focus on to gauge how rapidly the virus is spreading.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also announced 22 more COVID-19 patients have died, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to 8,295. The latest victims included a Cook County man in his 30s and another in his 40s.
Of nearly 4.7 million COVID-19 tests administered statewide over the last six months, 259,909 people have tested positive.
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.
8:30 p.m. Harshmallow: Coronavirus prompts pause for Peeps holiday treats
Peeps treats are going on hiatus for several months — another consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.
Just Born Quality Confections said it won’t be producing the popular marshmallow sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter, PennLive.com reports.
Production of the holiday-shaped candies was suspended in the spring as the coronavirus spread across the state. Limited production resumed in mid-May with protocols in place to protect employees, Just Born said.
Read the full story here.
7:15 p.m. Big Ten presidents to discuss starting football during pandemic: source
Big Ten university presidents will meet Sunday to hear a presentation about playing a fall football season after all — maybe as soon as late October — amid pressure from parents, players, coaches and even the president to kick off.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the Big Ten’s Return to Competition Task Force met Saturday. The medical subcommittee, comprised of athletic directors, doctors and athletic training staffers, made a presentation to a subgroup of presidents and chancellors. The presentation included improvements in the availability of rapid, daily COVID-19 testing.
Read the full story here.
6 p.m. Dakotas lead US in coronavirus growth as both reject mask rules
Coronavirus infections in the Dakotas are growing faster than anywhere else in the nation, fueling impassioned debates over masks and personal freedom after months in which the two states avoided the worst of the pandemic.
The argument over masks raged this week in Brookings, South Dakota, as the city council considered requiring face coverings in businesses. The city was forced to move its meeting to a local arena to accommodate intense interest, with many citizens speaking against it, before the mask requirement ultimately passed.
Amid the brute force of the pandemic, health experts warn that the infections must be contained before care systems are overwhelmed. North Dakota and South Dakota lead the country in new cases per capita over the last two weeks, ranking first and second respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.
Read the full story here.
3:15 p.m. Trump’s coronavirus debate: Project strength or level with public
In times of crisis — wars, hurricanes, pandemics — effective leaders strike a balance between inspirational rhetoric and leveling with the public about the tough times ahead.
Facing the coronavirus, Trump chose a different path, acknowledging that from early on he was intentionally “playing down” the threat from an outbreak that has gone on to kill more than 190,000 Americans. His rosy assessment of the peril confronting the nation spotlights the struggles he has faced in trying to steer the United States through the challenge of a pandemic.
Read the full story here.
2:15 p.m. DuPage County gets coronavirus ‘warning’ as Illinois logs 2,145 new cases: ‘We need to take this seriously’
A broad swath of Chicago’s western suburbs hit a COVID-19 warning level Friday as public health officials announced 2,145 more people have tested positive for the deadly virus statewide.
The latest daily caseload was slightly above Illinois’ two-week average of about 2,022 new cases per day, and they were confirmed among 56,661 tests to raise the state’s rolling testing positivity rate to 3.9%.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also announced the virus killed 32 more people, the most in a single day since the beginning of the month. The state has averaged about 20 COVID-19 deaths per day over the last two weeks.
It was an increase in COVID-19 deaths that helped land DuPage County on the state’s updated list of counties considered to be at a viral “warning level.” Six deaths were reported in the west suburban county last week, up from four the previous week.
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.
1:40 p.m. Oxford, AstraZeneca resumes coronavirus vaccine trial
Oxford University announced Saturday it was resuming a trial for a coronavirus vaccine it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, a move that comes days after the study was suspended following a reported side-effect in a U.K. patient.
In a statement, the university confirmed the restart across all of its U.K. clinical trial sites after regulators gave the go-ahead following the pause on Sunday.
“The independent review process has concluded and following the recommendations of both the independent safety review committee and the U.K. regulator, the MHRA, the trials will recommence in the U.K.,” it said.
Read the full story here.
11:25 a.m. Red Stars are back in action, though there are risks
The Red Stars return to game action Saturday, but the safety provided while playing in the NWSL Challenge Cup bubble is gone.
The team opens the NWSL Fall Series on the road against the Washington Spirit, which meant two commercial flights and a one-night hotel stay.
While players had flown in and out of their team’s cities at the beginning of the season and again after the Challenge Cup, travel is a concern for players and coach Rory Dames.
“I’m not sure the logic of ‘well, players are already flying on commercial flights, so it’s OK to do’ carries a lot of weight with me,” Dames said. “But I do understand the reality of the situation we’re in, and what teams can and cannot afford to do is real.”
Dames went on to say across the league no one is being forced to play in the four-game Fall Series. As someone who falls into the high-risk category, Dames, who has asthma, feels the organization would support him if he chose to opt out of traveling. But that’s not something he’s considering.
“As a coach, even if one of your players is going, you feel obligated to go,” Dames said.
Read the full story from Annie Costabile here.
10:08 a.m. Nurses launch seven-day strike at University of Illinois Hospital
University of Illinois at Chicago nurses followed through with a planned strike Saturday morning, demanding limits on the number of patients under each nurse’s care and better personal protection equipment.
More than 800 nurses walked off the job at 7 a.m., after the previous three-year contract between the Illinois Nurses Association members and the University of Illinois Hospital expired on Monday.
Downpour rain didn’t stop about 300 nurses from gathering outside the Near West Side hospital, where the medical professionals — all wearing blue T-shirts under rain ponchos and jackets — lined the sidewalks near the hospital’s emergency room entrance at 1740 W. Taylor St. Some carried signs that read “Safety in Numbers” and “Protect our Patients.”
Motorists — including several CTA train conductors — laid on their horns in a show of support for the striking nurses, who are planning to gather for seven consecutive days, or until their demands are met.
Read more from Madeline Kenney and Jermaine Nolen here.
8:47 a.m. 16-inch softball carries on in suburbs as pandemic shuts down park district leagues
In a city that proudly clutches to the staples of its culture, it’s going to take more than a global pandemic to cancel a 16-inch softball season.
The slow-pitch, gloveless game is synonymous with Chicago — up there in the cultural pantheon with house music, Malört and arguments over which Harold’s is best. And while the coronavirus forced the Chicago Park District to cancel the majority of their leagues, the top teams play on in nearby suburbs.
“It’s difficult, I’m not going to lie, but the people who love the game, we’re figuring it out little by little,” said George Bliss, a lifelong softball player who helps run the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame. “If we have to play all the way to November or December when it’s snowing, we’re going to do it because we have to make up for lost time.”
The softball leagues operating in suburbs like Forest Park, Schaumburg, Cicero and Melrose Park are looking to the state for guidance as to whether it’s safe to play, Bliss said. Once Illinois entered Phase 4 of its coronavirus reopening plan, which allows for gatherings of 50 people or fewer, it was game on.
Read the full story from Sam Kelly here.
7:44 a.m. CPS students log on at much higher rates than the spring, but attendance down from previous years
About four of every five Chicago Public Schools students logged on for the first week of school, a markedly higher rate than in the spring despite first-day attendance still dipping from previous years in a sign of the continued challenges of remote learning, figures released Friday by the district show.
The early engagement levels are a promising start for a school system in which barely half of students attended online classes three or more days per week after the coronavirus pandemic forced buildings to close in the spring.
Yet the first week was a mixed bag, with dozens of schools drawing better attendance than previous years’ district-wide average, while a handful of schools still had less than half their students log on.
The results reflect a varying degree of success in bridging a stubborn technology gap and creating an online learning plan that is achievable for working-families who are juggling students’ classes with parents’ jobs.
Read the full story from Nader Issa here.
New Cases
Public health officials announced on Friday that 2,145 more people have tested positive for the deadly virus statewide.
Carolyn Capizzi and her husband Jerry Capizzi, who was one of the world’s best-known collectors of Ford automobiles, have died within three days of each other of complications from the coronavirus.
Tom Seaver, the Hall of Fame pitcher who was the heart of the Miracle Mets team, has died at 75 of lewy body dementia and COVID-19.
Analysis & Commentary
7:47 a.m. No Big Ten? That’s just one of the big 10 storylines as college football gets cooking
Big Ten football is dead.
For a little while longer, anyway.
Someday, we’ll look back and laugh at the self-righteous fuss that was made — from Lincoln, Nebraska, to the Deep South; from Columbus, Ohio, to the White House — over the Big Ten’s “break” from college football during a pandemic. Or we’ll look back and cry. Either way, the SEC, ACC and Big 12 won’t have waited for the Big Ten and Pac-12 to arrive at the table before digging into the 2020 season.
Indeed, the fractured state of college football is storyline No. 1 this season.
Meanwhile, first-year commissioner Kevin Warren is under heavy fire as presidents and chancellors around the Big Ten prepare to vote on a new proposed plan for when games could start. Ohio State coach Ryan Day complained that communication from the league has been “disappointing and often unclear.” Penn State coach James Franklin publicly questioned Warren’s leadership.
So much — for now — for the league’s preseason rankings in the AP Top 25: Ohio State 2, Penn State 7, Wisconsin 12, Michigan 16, Minnesota 19 and Iowa 24.
But the show goes on without the Big Ten. And as national storylines go, here’s the rest of the big 10 (where 10 actually means 10):
Read Steve Greenberg’s top 10 college football storylines here.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--Ravens’ Mark Ingram, Saints’ Michael Thomas among best bets to score

It ’ s Week 1 of the fantasy football season , and these are our top five best bets to score in the opening week at the running back and wide receiver positions : Ingram may eventually lose his starting job to rookie J.K. Dobbins , but he has his veteran status and an unusual preseason working in his favor to start the season .
Baltimore has the fourth-best matchup for RBs versus the Browns , according to the RosterWatch Matchup Tool , and the Ravens ran the ball more than any other team in 2019 — with great efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ingram is a strong bet to score in Week 1 .
Similar to Ingram , Mack has a talented rookie on the roster in Jonathan Taylor , but Mack is slated to start Week 1 against the Jaguars , our best matchup for RBs to start the season .
Only one team allowed more points to RBs in 2019 than Jacksonville .
The Colts also happen to have our top-ranked offensive line in 2020 .
Use Mack wisely , it could be the only week you can play him over Taylor confidently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 as the Raiders main running back , but that had more to do with the Raiders throwing the ball a third of the time in the red zone — mostly to TE Darren Waller .
In his Week 1 matchup with the Panthers though , Jacobs gets an excellent matchup for RBs in the entire league as Carolina gave up 27 TDs to RBs in 2019 .
Just for reference , the next-closest teams gave up 18 .
The Panthers actually cover TEs better than they cover RBs and WRs , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end zone .
It ’ s a crowded backfield in San Francisco with Mostert , Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon all vying for significant snaps , but Mostert has been the starter in camp and should continue to do so in the season opener against the Cardinals .
Coleman and McKinnon are more passing game assets than goal-line backs , while Mostert scored on 6 of his 14 red zone carries in 2019 , making him a considerable TD threat .
The Cardinals are also the fifth-best matchup for RBs going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really come as a surprise to anyone , but Thomas is more than likely to score in his Week 1 matchup with the Buccaneers .
He was the best red zone WR in the NFL in 2019 , leading in targets ( 24 ) , yards ( 179 ) and tied for TDs ( eight ) .
The Buccaneers are just the 18th-best matchup for WRs going into Week 1 , but they gave up the most fantasy points and the third-most TDs to WRs in 2019 .
The fact that the Saints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rankings can ’ t hurt Thomas ’ chances either .
Jackson is as fast as ever coming off core muscle surgery last season , according to those around the team , and that ’ s a good thing because he ’ s entering Week 1 as the Eagles ’ No.1 WR option .
Rookie Jalen Reagor is out until Week 2 at the earliest , and Alshon Jeffery is probably gone until Week 6 , leaving Jackson and some youngsters to man the WR group for Week 1 .
In his favor is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is our third-best unit .
They should give QB Carson Wentz more than enough time to open up the field with Jackson , who will have little trouble getting open against the Washington Football Team , our fourth-best matchup for WRs in Week 1 .
Smith-Schuster has been the only Steelers receiver to impress thus far at camp , where he ’ s been showing the kind of pop that made him a top 8 fantasy receiver in 2018 .
2019 was a lost year , plagued by injuries and the loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2020 is a shot at fantasy redemption .
Big Ben is back under center and the Steelers face our third-best matchup for WRs in the Giants .
They gave up 22 TDs to WRs in 2019 .
The Steelers also have the fourth-best offensive line according to our rankings , so Roethlisberger will have ample time to throw .
Lockett may find the end zone in Week 1 against the Falcons , our fifth-best matchup for opposing WRs in Week 1 .
Lockett scored 8 TDs in 2019 , and 7 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , only Mark Andrews , Michael Thomas and Marvin Jones had more red zone TDs ( 8 ) than Lockett last year .

It’s Week 1 of the fantasy football season, and these are our top five best bets to score in the opening week at the running back and wide receiver positions:
Running Backs
MARK INGRAM, Ravens
Ingram may eventually lose his starting job to rookie J.K. Dobbins, but he has his veteran status and an unusual preseason working in his favor to start the season. Baltimore has the fourth-best matchup for RBs versus the Browns, according to the RosterWatch Matchup Tool, and the Ravens ran the ball more than any other team in 2019 — with great efficacy. Fourth in total TDs last year, Ingram is a strong bet to score in Week 1.
MARLON MACK, Colts
Similar to Ingram, Mack has a talented rookie on the roster in Jonathan Taylor, but Mack is slated to start Week 1 against the Jaguars, our best matchup for RBs to start the season.
Only one team allowed more points to RBs in 2019 than Jacksonville. The Colts also happen to have our top-ranked offensive line in 2020. Use Mack wisely, it could be the only week you can play him over Taylor confidently.
JOSH JACOBS, Raiders
Jacobs only scored seven TDs in 2019 as the Raiders main running back, but that had more to do with the Raiders throwing the ball a third of the time in the red zone — mostly to TE Darren Waller. In his Week 1 matchup with the Panthers though, Jacobs gets an excellent matchup for RBs in the entire league as Carolina gave up 27 TDs to RBs in 2019. Just for reference, the next-closest teams gave up 18. The Panthers actually cover TEs better than they cover RBs and WRs, so that just bolsters Jacobs chances of reaching the end zone.
RAHEEM MOSTERT, 49ers
It’s a crowded backfield in San Francisco with Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon all vying for significant snaps, but Mostert has been the starter in camp and should continue to do so in the season opener against the Cardinals. Coleman and McKinnon are more passing game assets than goal-line backs, while Mostert scored on 6 of his 14 red zone carries in 2019, making him a considerable TD threat. The Cardinals are also the fifth-best matchup for RBs going into the season.
Wide Receivers
MICHAEL THOMAS, Saints
This shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone, but Thomas is more than likely to score in his Week 1 matchup with the Buccaneers. He was the best red zone WR in the NFL in 2019, leading in targets (24), yards (179) and tied for TDs (eight). The Buccaneers are just the 18th-best matchup for WRs going into Week 1, but they gave up the most fantasy points and the third-most TDs to WRs in 2019. The fact that the Saints have the sixth-best offensive line in our rankings can’t hurt Thomas’ chances either.
DESEAN JACKSON, Eagles
Jackson is as fast as ever coming off core muscle surgery last season, according to those around the team, and that’s a good thing because he’s entering Week 1 as the Eagles’ No.1 WR option. Rookie Jalen Reagor is out until Week 2 at the earliest, and Alshon Jeffery is probably gone until Week 6, leaving Jackson and some youngsters to man the WR group for Week 1. In his favor is the Eagles’ offensive line, which is our third-best unit. They should give QB Carson Wentz more than enough time to open up the field with Jackson, who will have little trouble getting open against the Washington Football Team, our fourth-best matchup for WRs in Week 1.
JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER, Steelers
Smith-Schuster has been the only Steelers receiver to impress thus far at camp, where he’s been showing the kind of pop that made him a top 8 fantasy receiver in 2018. 2019 was a lost year, plagued by injuries and the loss of QB Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2, and 2020 is a shot at fantasy redemption. Big Ben is back under center and the Steelers face our third-best matchup for WRs in the Giants. They gave up 22 TDs to WRs in 2019. The Steelers also have the fourth-best offensive line according to our rankings, so Roethlisberger will have ample time to throw.
TYLER LOCKETT/DK METCALF, Seahawks
Lockett may find the end zone in Week 1 against the Falcons, our fifth-best matchup for opposing WRs in Week 1. Lockett scored 8 TDs in 2019, and 7 of them were inside the red zone. In fact, only Mark Andrews,Michael Thomas and Marvin Jones had more red zone TDs (8) than Lockett last year.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--Yoan Moncada’s contribution to White Sox ‘testament to inner strength and fortitude’

White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada was back in the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday , the day after an off day .
Ordinarily this is no time for two-day rests , not with first place in the American League Central to be defended and only 16 games left in the season .
But this is no ordinary season , and not just because the Sox are leading the division .
The coronavirus pandemic shortened it to 60 games and necessitated restrictions , changes and challenges too numerous to list .
“ We ’ re talking about human beings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , ” general manager Rick Hahn said Friday .
“ One of the things that is great about having sports back is that it returns some level of normalcy to people ’ s lives .
And part of being a fan is getting worked up when a guy ’ s not meeting your expectations on the field .
And that ’ s just normal behavior , that ’ s a fan ’ s right .
However , this year it ’ s really , really different .
There ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these guys out on the field that makes it a lot harder to actually meet those expectations.
” Moncada was arguably the Sox ’ best all-around player in 2019 , and expectations for him in 2020 included MVP chatter .
It speaks to the Sox ’ lineup depth that they led the AL in average ( .268 ) , runs ( 234 ) , home runs ( 75 ) , slugging percentage ( .470 ) , OPS ( .801 ) and run differential ( +60 ) with Moncada taking a .248/.337/.404 hitting line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Sox are third in on-base percentage ( .331 ) and are attempting to become the first team since the 1995 Indians to lead the AL in the aforementioned categories .
Moncada tested positive for the coronavirus during the team ’ s intake ( he was asymptomatic ) but quickly worked his way back to the field and looked to be in midseason form when he returned .
He homered and went 3-for-5 on Opening Day and hit .351/.442/.595 his first nine games , then tailed off and revealed he was not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
The effects of the coronavirus seem to be at play .
“ You ’ re talking about a 25-year-old world-class athlete , MVP-caliber talent who got the best medical care that you could ’ ve had and he ’ s still feeling the effects of this disease , ” Hahn said .
“ It is no joke .
This needs to be taken seriously and the fact that he ’ s able to provide what he has provided is remarkable and a testament to his inner strength and fortitude .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” The average exit velocity on Moncada ’ s batted balls is down a couple of mph this year , perhaps a sign of fatigue .
Yet there he was making a remarkable barehand play charging a ground ball and making an off-balance throw for an out against the Pirates Wednesday .
He went 2-for-5 in both games at Pittsburgh , and had a single in his first two at-bats against the Tigers Saturday .
As Hahn said , we ’ re watching the world ’ s best athletes in action but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on in players ’ lives right now .
Sometimes it doesn ’ t even show .
“ It ’ s nice being able to get worked up over player performance again , it ’ s nice to get worked up over bullpen decisions or lineup decisions or the kind of things that are every sports fan ’ s birth right , ” Hahn said .
“ But what these guys are dealing with deserves a great deal of respect .
”

White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada was back in the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday, the day after an off day.
Ordinarily, this is no time for two-day rests, not with first place in the American League Central to be defended and 16 games left in the season.
But this is no ordinary season, and not just because the Sox are leading the division. The coronavirus pandemic shortened it to 60 games and necessitated restrictions, changes and challenges too numerous to list.
“We’re talking about human beings trying to play through an unchecked pandemic,” general manager Rick Hahn said Friday. “One of the things that is great about having sports back is that it returns some level of normalcy to people’s lives. And part of being a fan is getting worked up when a guy’s not meeting your expectations on the field. That’s just normal behavior, that’s a fan’s right. However, this year it’s really, really different. There’s a lot going on in terms of keeping these guys out on the field that makes it a lot harder to meet those expectations.”
Moncada was arguably the Sox’ best all-around player in 2019, and expectations for him in 2020 included MVP conversations. It speaks to the Sox’ lineup depth that they led the AL in average (.268), runs (234), home runs (75), slugging percentage (.470), OPS (.801) and run differential (+60), with Moncada taking a .248/.337/.404 hitting line with five home runs into Saturday.
The Sox are third in on-base percentage (.331) and are attempting to become the first team since the 1995 Indians to lead the AL in the aforementioned categories.
Moncada tested positive for COVID-19 during the team’s intake (he was asymptomatic) but quickly worked his way back to the field and looked to be in midseason form when he returned. He homered and went 3-for-5 on Opening Day and hit .351/.442/.595 in his first nine games, then tailed off and revealed he was not only dealing with sore legs but fatigue, as well.
The effects of the virus seem to be at play.
“You’re talking about a 25-year-old world-class athlete, MVP-caliber talent who got the best medical care that you could’ve had, and he’s still feeling the effects of this disease,” Hahn said. “It is no joke. This needs to be taken seriously, and the fact that he’s able to provide what he has provided is remarkable and a testament to his inner strength and fortitude. It’s easy to lose sight of that.”
The exit velocity on Moncada’s batted balls is down a couple of mph this year, perhaps a sign of fatigue. Yet there he was making a remarkable barehanded play charging a grounder and making an off-balance throw for an out against the Pirates on Wednesday. He went 2-for-5 in both games in Pittsburgh.
As Hahn said, we’re watching the world’s best athletes in action, but we might not know all of the things going on in players’ lives right now.
“It’s nice being able to get worked up over player performance again; it’s nice to get worked up over bullpen decisions or lineup decisions or the kind of things that are every sports fan’s birthright,” Hahn said. “But what these guys are dealing with deserves a great deal of respect.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--FANTASY FOOTBALL: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 1

The 2020 NFL regular season began Thursday , a welcome sight for fantasy players who put together teams without the benefit of a preseason schedule because of the pandemic .
The experience of watching a game in person will be altered , yet the mere presence of deciding who to start and sit will — at least for a few hours — give fantasy players a sense of normality .
START : Carson Wentz , QB , Eagles : Injuries to Alshon Jeffery and first-round pick Jalen Reagor leave Wentz with the same uncertain group at wide receiver .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 15 career touchdown passes in seven career games against a Washington Football Team , which allowed 35 touchdown tosses in 2019 , the third-highest total in the league .
SIT : Josh Allen , QB , Bills : The trendy breakout candidate could walk his fantasy owners into heartache as he takes on a Jets defense that was seventh overall in fewest average depth of target .
The Jets love to blitz , which doesn ’ t bode well for Allen , who was pressured 23.2 % of the time last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Josh Jacobs , RB , Raiders : Jacobs is in line to put up big numbers against a Panthers defense that allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs last season .
His fantasy owners can also count on him adding extra yardage after contact : Jacobs was sixth among running backs with 2.8 yards per carry after the first defender put pads on him .
SIT : Leonard Fournette , RB , Buccaneers : This isn ’ t to say he won ’ t get a few touches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronald Jones will get the bulk of the snaps against a Saints defense that was sixth best in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing runners in 2019 .
Only three other teams allowed fewer rushing yards last season than New Orleans , so unless the options are thin , it ’ s best to keep Fournette sidelined .
START : Emmanuel Sanders , WR , Saints : With the Bucs putting their focus on WR Michael Thomas and RB Alvin Kamara , Sanders should thrive in his New Orleans debut .
Tampa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average against opposing wide receivers in 2019 while also allowing the most targets per game to opposing wideouts .
Translation : Sanders belongs in your lineup .
SIT : DeVante Parker , WR , Dolphins : It ’ s a given that Parker will be shadowed by Pats All-Pro corner Stephon Gilmore , who allowed a paltry 44.3 QB rating when thrown at last season .
Parker averaged 17.1 yards per catch against New England in 2019 , yet will be hard-pressed to duplicate that total against a defender who allowed just 11.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ START : Tyler Higbee , TE , Rams : After closing the regular season as a favorite target of QB Jared Goff , Higbee opens the season with a solid matchup against a Cowboys defense that allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends last season .
Higbee averaged just over 11 targets per game over the last five matchups of 2019 , and even with the wealth of talent Goff has at receiver , expect Higbee to get the bulk of the looks on Sunday night .
START : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s a strong play in PPR formats , having caught all eight of his targets in two games against the Lions last season .
He should be good for double-digit targets in the opener , especially since Detroit gave up the third-most receiving yards per game to opposing running backs .
SIT : Aaron Rodgers , QB , Packers : Rodgers had the fourth-most poor throws among starting QBs with 114 and his 31 throwaways were second only to Tom Brady .
With essentially the same receiving group returning , starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a Vikings defense that ranked third in fewest yards after the catch and adds more thump to the pass rush with the addition of DE Yannick Ngakoue .
START : Allen Robinson II , WR , Bears : He and the aforementioned Tarik Cohen will thrive , but it ’ s Robinson who could really reward his fantasy users .
The Lions were last in the league in passing yards allowed ( 3,042 ) and the 189.8 yards per game allowed to opposing receivers were second worst .
This will be one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing game could pay off .
SIT : Kenyan Drake , RB , Cardinals : Considered a potential breakout back , Drake may have to wait a week or two before living up to those expectations .
He opens the season against a stingy 49ers run defense that was third in fewest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing running backs .
Even in PPR formats , Drake is a risky play as only the Panthers ( 24.5 ) allowed fewer receiving yards to opposing running backs than the 49ers ( 25 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Raiders : A strong close to 2019 should carry into the new season for Carr , who averaged 300.2 yards per game in his last four games .
He also did not throw an interception in the same span , and with the new addition of rookie Henry Ruggs III at receiver , everything points toward Carr being solid under the radar play .
SIT : T.Y .
Hilton , WR , Colts : A combination of things go against Hilton .
The Jaguars gave up the 11th-fewest points to opposing receivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new quarterback ( Philip Rivers ) and the presence of young wideouts Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman will lead to fewer targets for Hilton .
It ’ s best to sit him and lay back to see how Rivers distributes to his receivers instead of starting Hilton .

The 2020 NFL regular season began Thursday, a welcome sight for fantasy players who put together teams without the benefit of a preseason schedule because of the pandemic.
The experience of watching a game in person will be altered, yet the mere presence of deciding who to start and sit will — at least for a few hours — give fantasy players a sense of normality.
START: Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles: Injuries to Alshon Jeffery and first-round pick Jalen Reagor leave Wentz with the same uncertain group at wide receiver. No worries, considering Wentz averages 279 yards with 15 career touchdown passes in seven career games against a Washington Football Team, which allowed 35 touchdown tosses in 2019, the third-highest total in the league.
SIT: Josh Allen, QB, Bills: The trendy breakout candidate could walk his fantasy owners into heartache as he takes on a Jets defense that was seventh overall in fewest average depth of target. The Jets love to blitz, which doesn’t bode well for Allen, who was pressured 23.2% of the time last year, 12th highest among quarterbacks.
START: Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders: Jacobs is in line to put up big numbers against a Panthers defense that allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs last season. His fantasy owners can also count on him adding extra yardage after contact: Jacobs was sixth among running backs with 2.8 yards per carry after the first defender put pads on him.
SIT: Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers: This isn’t to say he won’t get a few touches in his Tampa Bay debut, but Ronald Jones will get the bulk of the snaps against a Saints defense that was sixth best in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing runners in 2019. Only three other teams allowed fewer rushing yards last season than New Orleans, so unless the options are thin, it’s best to keep Fournette sidelined.
START: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Saints: With the Bucs putting their focus on WR Michael Thomas and RB Alvin Kamara, Sanders should thrive in his New Orleans debut. Tampa Bay had the worst points per game average against opposing wide receivers in 2019 while also allowing the most targets per game to opposing wideouts. Translation: Sanders belongs in your lineup.
SIT: DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins: It’s a given that Parker will be shadowed by Pats All-Pro corner Stephon Gilmore, who allowed a paltry 44.3 QB rating when thrown at last season. Parker averaged 17.1 yards per catch against New England in 2019, yet will be hard-pressed to duplicate that total against a defender who allowed just 11.7 yards per reception against him last year
START: Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams: After closing the regular season as a favorite target of QB Jared Goff, Higbee opens the season with a solid matchup against a Cowboys defense that allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends last season. Higbee averaged just over 11 targets per game over the last five matchups of 2019, and even with the wealth of talent Goff has at receiver, expect Higbee to get the bulk of the looks on Sunday night.
START: Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears: He’s a strong play in PPR formats, having caught all eight of his targets in two games against the Lions last season. He should be good for double-digit targets in the opener, especially since Detroit gave up the third-most receiving yards per game to opposing running backs.
SIT: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers: Rodgers had the fourth-most poor throws among starting QBs with 114 and his 31 throwaways were second only to Tom Brady. With essentially the same receiving group returning, starting Rodgers isn’t a smart play against a Vikings defense that ranked third in fewest yards after the catch and adds more thump to the pass rush with the addition of DE Yannick Ngakoue.
START: Allen Robinson II, WR, Bears: He and the aforementioned Tarik Cohen will thrive, but it’s Robinson who could really reward his fantasy users. The Lions were last in the league in passing yards allowed (3,042) and the 189.8 yards per game allowed to opposing receivers were second worst. This will be one of the rare times the Bears’ passing game could pay off.
SIT: Kenyan Drake, RB, Cardinals: Considered a potential breakout back, Drake may have to wait a week or two before living up to those expectations. He opens the season against a stingy 49ers run defense that was third in fewest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing running backs. Even in PPR formats, Drake is a risky play as only the Panthers (24.5) allowed fewer receiving yards to opposing running backs than the 49ers (25).
START: Derek Carr, QB, Raiders: A strong close to 2019 should carry into the new season for Carr, who averaged 300.2 yards per game in his last four games. He also did not throw an interception in the same span, and with the new addition of rookie Henry Ruggs III at receiver, everything points toward Carr being solid under the radar play.
SIT: T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts: A combination of things go against Hilton. The Jaguars gave up the 11th-fewest points to opposing receivers last season, plus the addition of a new quarterback (Philip Rivers) and the presence of young wideouts Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman will lead to fewer targets for Hilton. It’s best to sit him and lay back to see how Rivers distributes to his receivers instead of starting Hilton.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--Big Ten presidents to discuss starting football: source

Big Ten university presidents will meet Sunday to hear a presentation about playing a fall football season after all — maybe as soon as late October — amid pressure from parents , players , coaches and even the president to kick off .
A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the Big Ten ’ s Return to Competition Task Force met Saturday .
The medical subcommittee , comprised of athletic directors , doctors and athletic training staffers , made a presentation to a subgroup of presidents and chancellors .
The presentation included improvements in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The person , speaking on condition of anonymity because the Big Ten was not planning to make any announcements about its efforts to return to play , said it was a “ positive meeting ” that led to the scheduling of a presentation to the full group of presidents and chancellors Sunday .
The presentation with include , medical , television and scheduling for football , the person said .
A vote to start a season is not guaranteed to be conducted Sunday but could happen in the coming days .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sports The Big Ten postponed its fall season Aug. 11 because of concerns about playing through the COVID-19 pandemic , with presidents and chancellors voting 11-3 in favor .
Ohio State , Iowa and Nebraska voted against postponement .
The conference and first-year Commissioner Kevin Warren has faced push back from inside and out ever since .
Parents of demonstrated on campuses and in front of the Big Ten offices outside Chicago .
A group of Nebraska players have filed a lawsuit against the conference to overturn the decision not to play .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Thursday asking the conference to provide more clarity about its decision to postpone and Penn State coach James Franklin made similar statements in a radio interview .
Day ’ s Buckeyes were No .
2 in the AP preseason Top 25 .
Franklin ’ s Nittany Lions were No .
7 .
On the first Saturday of the football season that included Power Five teams playing , Big Ten teams were idle while athletic directors and university leaders were working on ways to possibly salvage a fall football season .
If things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start a season in about a month , and maybe still compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff .
While some Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference teams began their seasons Saturday , and more will next week , the Southeastern Conference is not scheduled to kick off until Sept. 26 .

Big Ten university presidents will meet Sunday to hear a presentation about playing a fall football season after all — maybe as soon as late October — amid pressure from parents, players, coaches and even the president to kick off.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the Big Ten’s Return to Competition Task Force met Saturday. The medical subcommittee, comprised of athletic directors, doctors and athletic training staffers, made a presentation to a subgroup of presidents and chancellors. The presentation included improvements in the availability of rapid, daily COVID-19 testing.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Big Ten was not planning to make any announcements about its efforts to return to play, said it was a “positive meeting” that led to the scheduling of a presentation to the full group of presidents and chancellors Sunday.
The presentation with include, medical, television and scheduling for football, the person said. A vote to start a season is not guaranteed to be conducted Sunday but could happen in the coming days.
The news was first reported by Yahoo! Sports
The Big Ten postponed its fall season Aug. 11 because of concerns about playing through the COVID-19 pandemic, with presidents and chancellors voting 11-3 in favor. Ohio State, Iowa and Nebraska voted against postponement.
The conference and first-year Commissioner Kevin Warren has faced push back from inside and out ever since. Parents of demonstrated on campuses and in front of the Big Ten offices outside Chicago. A group of Nebraska players have filed a lawsuit against the conference to overturn the decision not to play.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day released a statement Thursday asking the conference to provide more clarity about its decision to postpone and Penn State coach James Franklin made similar statements in a radio interview.
Day’s Buckeyes were No. 2 in the AP preseason Top 25. Franklin’s Nittany Lions were No. 7.
On the first Saturday of the football season that included Power Five teams playing, Big Ten teams were idle while athletic directors and university leaders were working on ways to possibly salvage a fall football season.
If things move quickly, the Big Ten could start a season in about a month, and maybe still compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff. While some Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference teams began their seasons Saturday, and more will next week, the Southeastern Conference is not scheduled to kick off until Sept. 26.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--Red Stars fall to Spirit in stoppage time in NWSL Fall Series opener

LEESBURG , Va. — Jessie Scarpa scored her first pro goal in stoppage time to give the Washington Spirit a 2-1 victory over the Red Stars in a National Women ’ s Soccer League Fall Series game Saturday .
Sarah Luebbert took a cross from Kealia Watt and put it in the bottom right corner to put the Red Stars ahead in the 26th minute .
It was Luebbert ’ s first NWSL goal .
Luebbert picked up where she left off during her collegiate days .
The former Missouri Tiger scored 29 career goals , making her one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals in their career at the program .
Bayley Feist pulled the Spirit even with a goal from near the penalty spot in the 71st minute before Scarpa ’ s goal three minutes into stoppage time .
The Red Stars played with 10 players after Savannah McCaskill was shown a red card after a second yellow in the 41st minute and was sent off .
Zoe Morse and Zoey Goralski led the way defensively for the Red Stars , preventing the Spirit from scoring for most of the match .
Goralski led all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also had a clearance and an interception .
Morse had the second-highest amount of clearances in the game with seven while leading the game in interceptions ( five ) and winning all four of her duels .
With their second-half substitutions , Red Stars Aerial Chavarin , Dani Rhodes and Camryn Biegalski earned their first professional minutes .
Chavarin ( 35th overall ) and Biegalski ( 16th overall ) were selected during the 2020 NWSL College Draft .
Rhodes signed a short-term deal with the Red Stars before the Fall Series .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to Sky Blue .
The Red Stars were playing their first Fall Series match .
They played in the title game of the recent Challenge Cup tournament in Utah but fell 2-0 to the Houston Dash .
The Red Stars were playing without Yuki Nagasato , who was loaned this week to an amateur men ’ s team in Japan , and U.S. national team defender Julie Ertz , who opted out of the tournament .
The Red Stars return home to Seatgeek Stadium for the first time in 2020 when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next Sunday .

LEESBURG, Va. — Jessie Scarpa scored her first pro goal in stoppage time to give the Washington Spirit a 2-1 victory over the Red Stars in a National Women’s Soccer League Fall Series game Saturday.
Sarah Luebbert took a cross from Kealia Watt and put it in the bottom right corner to put the Red Stars ahead in the 26th minute. It was Luebbert’s first NWSL goal.
Luebbert picked up where she left off during her collegiate days. The former Missouri Tiger scored 29 career goals, making her one of nine players to score at least 21 goals in their career at the program.
Bayley Feist pulled the Spirit even with a goal from near the penalty spot in the 71st minute before Scarpa’s goal three minutes into stoppage time.
The Red Stars played with 10 players after Savannah McCaskill was shown a red card after a second yellow in the 41st minute and was sent off.
Zoe Morse and Zoey Goralski led the way defensively for the Red Stars, preventing the Spirit from scoring for most of the match. Goralski led all players in tackles with six. She also had a clearance and an interception. Morse had the second-highest amount of clearances in the game with seven while leading the game in interceptions (five) and winning all four of her duels.
With their second-half substitutions, Red Stars Aerial Chavarin, Dani Rhodes and Camryn Biegalski earned their first professional minutes. Chavarin (35th overall) and Biegalski (16th overall) were selected during the 2020 NWSL College Draft. Rhodes signed a short-term deal with the Red Stars before the Fall Series.
The Spirit opened the series with a 2-1 loss to Sky Blue.
The Red Stars were playing their first Fall Series match. They played in the title game of the recent Challenge Cup tournament in Utah but fell 2-0 to the Houston Dash.
The Red Stars were playing without Yuki Nagasato, who was loaned this week to an amateur men’s team in Japan, and U.S. national team defender Julie Ertz, who opted out of the tournament.
The Red Stars return home to Seatgeek Stadium for the first time in 2020 when they face Sky Blue FC at 1 p.m. next Sunday.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--No. 10 Notre Dame beats Duke in ACC debut

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
— Kyren Williams ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns in his first start , grad quarterback Ian Book threw for 263 yards and No .
10 Notre Dame beat Duke 27-13 on Saturday at rainy Notre Dame Stadium in the season and Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams .
The speedy Williams , who saw limited action last season as a freshman , had 19 carries and also was Notre Dame ’ s leading receiver with two receptions for 93 yards , one a 75-yarder in the first half .
The victory was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and the first for the Fighting Irish in a conference after 132 years as an independent .
Because of COVID-19 , the Irish are playing this season as a member of the ACC .
The school announced a crowd of 10,097 , 90 % of them students , attended the game in the 77,622-seat stadium where fans were wearing masks and socially distanced because of the pandemic .
The triumph also came on a day when the school announced a four-year contract extension for coach Brian Kelly , who is now 9-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdueled Duke grad quarterback Chase Brice , who threw for 259 yards on 20-of-37 passing and rushed for a touchdown in his debut for coach David Cutcliffe after transferring in from Clemson .
Book , who rushed for 139 yards and passed for 181 yards and four touchdowns last season in Notre Dame ’ s 38-7 victory at Duke , completed 19 of 31 passes , one a 17-yard TD pass to Avery Davis early in the fourth quarter that increased the Irish lead to 24-13 .
He rushed for just 12 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were outgained 151-13 in the first quarter as the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead on the first of Charlie Ham ’ s two field goals , took a 10-6 halftime lead when Jonathan Doerer nailed a 48-yard field goal , his first of two successful field goals , as time expired .
Notre Dame finished with a 439-334 edge in total offense , including a 176-75 advantage on the ground .
Williams , who had 75 of Book ’ s 185 passing yards in the first half , scored his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second quarter .
His second TD came on a fourth-and-inches play from the Duke 26 when he took a handoff from Book , cut left outside of the blocks of tackle Liam Eichenberg and guard Aaron Banks and burst into the end zone for a 17-6 Irish lead in the third quarter .
Duke : Despite two field goals in the first half by Chaarlie Ham , the Blue Devils looked impressive moving the ball behind Brice , who was a backup to Trevor Lawrence on Clemson ’ s last championship team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 25 for 195 yards as Duke ’ s no-huddle offense outgained Notre Dame 246-228 in the first 30 minutes .
Notre Dame : The Fighting Irish , who returned all five offensive linemen who started last season , struggled to move the football in the first half .
They were outgained 151-13 by Duke in the first quarter and had just 44 rushing yards on 17 carries , an average of 2.6 yards per carry , in the first half .
But after adjustments at halftime , Williams exploded for 79 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Notre Dame : No .
10 Fighting Irish should move up with victory starting with Sunday ’ s poll as No .
2 Ohio State , No .
7 Penn State , No .
9 Oregon and other teams from Big Ten , Pacific-12 , Mountain West and Mid-American conferences will not be included because those leagues are not playing in 2020 .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kyren Williams ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns in his first start, grad quarterback Ian Book threw for 263 yards and No. 10 Notre Dame beat Duke 27-13 on Saturday at rainy Notre Dame Stadium in the season and Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
The speedy Williams, who saw limited action last season as a freshman, had 19 carries and also was Notre Dame’s leading receiver with two receptions for 93 yards, one a 75-yarder in the first half.
The victory was Notre Dame’s 19th straight at home and the first for the Fighting Irish in a conference after 132 years as an independent. Because of COVID-19, the Irish are playing this season as a member of the ACC. The school announced a crowd of 10,097, 90% of them students, attended the game in the 77,622-seat stadium where fans were wearing masks and socially distanced because of the pandemic.
The triumph also came on a day when the school announced a four-year contract extension for coach Brian Kelly, who is now 9-2 in openers at Notre Dame.
Book outdueled Duke grad quarterback Chase Brice, who threw for 259 yards on 20-of-37 passing and rushed for a touchdown in his debut for coach David Cutcliffe after transferring in from Clemson.
Book, who rushed for 139 yards and passed for 181 yards and four touchdowns last season in Notre Dame’s 38-7 victory at Duke, completed 19 of 31 passes, one a 17-yard TD pass to Avery Davis early in the fourth quarter that increased the Irish lead to 24-13. He rushed for just 12 yards on nine carries.
The Irish, who were outgained 151-13 in the first quarter as the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead on the first of Charlie Ham’s two field goals, took a 10-6 halftime lead when Jonathan Doerer nailed a 48-yard field goal, his first of two successful field goals, as time expired.
Notre Dame finished with a 439-334 edge in total offense, including a 176-75 advantage on the ground.
Williams, who had 75 of Book’s 185 passing yards in the first half, scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter. His second TD came on a fourth-and-inches play from the Duke 26 when he took a handoff from Book, cut left outside of the blocks of tackle Liam Eichenberg and guard Aaron Banks and burst into the end zone for a 17-6 Irish lead in the third quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Duke: Despite two field goals in the first half by Chaarlie Ham, the Blue Devils looked impressive moving the ball behind Brice, who was a backup to Trevor Lawrence on Clemson’s last championship team two seasons ago. Brice completed 13 of 25 for 195 yards as Duke’s no-huddle offense outgained Notre Dame 246-228 in the first 30 minutes.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish, who returned all five offensive linemen who started last season, struggled to move the football in the first half. They were outgained 151-13 by Duke in the first quarter and had just 44 rushing yards on 17 carries, an average of 2.6 yards per carry, in the first half. But after adjustments at halftime, Williams exploded for 79 of his yards in the second half.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Notre Dame: No. 10 Fighting Irish should move up with victory starting with Sunday’s poll as No. 2 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State, No. 9 Oregon and other teams from Big Ten, Pacific-12, Mountain West and Mid-American conferences will not be included because those leagues are not playing in 2020.
UP NEXT
Duke: Saturday vs. ACC foe Boston College.
Notre Dame: Saturday vs. South Florida in a nonconference game.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-12--This You Gotta See: From Brady to Burrow, NFL gets going with QB storylines galore

What , you thought Mitch Trubisky was the only quarterback playing on Sunday ?
While we obsess over the fourth-year pro ’ s every move , Bears-Lions will be just a rumor to the rest of the country as the No .
4 game on FOX in the noon time slot .
The 91 % of viewers who get Packers-Vikings , Eagles-Redskins or Seahawks-Falcons won ’ t know what they ’ re missing .
Bigger picture : As the NFL plows into Week 1 , it ’ s surrounded by questions about how players will stay safe in a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preseason games and how fan-free football will come across on TV .
But there ’ s another storyline of considerable scale that presents itself , and this one is all about quarterbacks .
Over the week to come , it ’ ll be screaming right in our faces .
Tom Brady , 43 , will make his Buccaneers debut against Drew Brees , 41 , and the Saints .
That game immediately follows Bears-Lions , in case you ’ re so inclined .
How could you not be ?
The Cowboys ’ Dak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rams .
Prescott recently opened up about the depression he felt even before his brother ’ s suicide in April .
Somewhere , FS1 ’ s Skip Bayless — after hitting a new low by criticizing Prescott on his clownish show — will be watching and , if he ’ s capable , feeling ashamed .
Monday , the Steelers ’ Ben Roethlisberger will play after missing nearly all last season with an elbow injury .
Thursday , No .
1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow will make his debut for the Bengals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trubisky guy .
We could go on .
We will .
If Trubisky can ’ t beat stinkin ’ Detroit ?
Matt Nagy ’ s QB competition was a joke , the season ’ s a disaster , all hope is lost , the sky is falling — whoa .
Perhaps we got a tad ahead of ourselves there .
Austria ’ s Dominic Thiem or Germany ’ s Alexander Zverev will become the first new Grand Slam singles champion in the men ’ s game in six years .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football during commercials , isn ’ t it ?
Brees and Brady rank 1 and 2 all-time in passing yards and touchdowns .
Somehow , that seems like underselling them .
No fans ?
Probably not how they drew it up when $ 5 billion SoFi Stadium was planned .
Still , it ’ ll be cool to see the Rams ’ ( and Chargers ’ ) new digs .
Speaking of Roethlisberger , he has a nice new target in Notre Dame rookie Chase Claypool .
Joe Judge makes his coaching debut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lehner shutout streak in the rearview , the top-seeded Knights just want to survive this grueling defensive series by any means necessary .
Forget the action on the field .
How will it sound in the booth with new “ MNF ” team Steve Levy , Brain Griese and Louis Riddick ?
It ’ s single-elimination time .
Win or go home .
Now or never .
Do or die .
OK , you get the idea .
Too soon for Conn Smythe talk ?
Because Tampa ’ s Brayden Point and Nikita @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heiskanen .
That ’ s right , you heard it here first .
Will Yu Darvish — coming off only his second loss of the season — get back on the Cy Young track ?
Will any of his teammates help the cause by actually hitting the ball ?
Lucas Giolito lines up to oppose Kenta Maeda , who has been the Twins ’ best pitcher .
If this were a movie , it would be time for the young protagonist to pop a bully right in the nose .
Brooks Koepka has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years , but Dustin Johnson goes off as the betting favorite at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck , N.Y .
Which reminds us : What ’ s worse , having a winged foot or a mamaroneck ?
This is it , the 10th and final game between these teams this season — until the playoffs , that is .
You know they ’ re not done with each other yet .
If form holds , LSU ’ s Burrow will still be the only rookie starting QB in the league as Week 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joke somewhere about how well the Browns would fare in the SEC , but we ’ re not quite seeing it .
After four high-stakes games at Guaranteed Rate Field , the Twins hit Wrigley for a weekend series and run straight into Kyle Hendricks ?
Class is in session .
Brain Kelly ’ s fake-punt call in the opener against Duke got the sluggish Irish going .
It shouldn ’ t take a fake anything to hammer USF .
Boston ’ s Jayson Tatum has such polish to his young game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That and some brass knuckles will give him a chance against Jimmy Butler and locked-in Miami .

What, you thought Mitch Trubisky was the only quarterback playing on Sunday?
While we obsess over the fourth-year pro’s every move, Bears-Lions will be just a rumor to the rest of the country as the No. 4 game on FOX in the noon time slot. The 91% of viewers who get Packers-Vikings, Eagles-Washington or Seahawks-Falcons won’t know what they’re missing.
Bigger picture: As the NFL plows into Week 1, it’s surrounded by questions about how players will stay safe in a pandemic, how teams will look after no preseason games and how fan-free football will come across on TV.
But there’s another storyline of considerable scale that presents itself, and this one is all about quarterbacks. Over the week to come, it’ll be screaming right in our faces.
Tom Brady, 43, will make his Buccaneers debut against Drew Brees, 41, and the Saints. That game immediately follows Bears-Lions, in case you’re so inclined. How could you not be?
The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott has a Sunday-night date with the Rams. Prescott recently opened up about the depression he felt even before his brother’s suicide in April. Somewhere, FS1’s Skip Bayless — after hitting a new low by criticizing Prescott on his clownish show — will be watching and, if he’s capable, feeling ashamed.
On Monday, the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger will play after missing nearly all of last season with an elbow injury. On Thursday, No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow will make his prime-time debut for the Bengals. And don’t forget about that Trubisky guy.
We could go on. We will.
Here’s what’s happening:
SUN 13
Bears at Lions (noon, Fox-32)
If Trubisky can’t beat stinkin’ Detroit? Matt Nagy’s QB competition was a joke, the season’s a disaster, all hope is lost, the sky is falling — whoa. Perhaps we got a tad ahead of ourselves there.
U.S. Open tennis, men’s final (3 p.m., ESPN)
Austria’s Dominic Thiem or Germany’s Alexander Zverev will become the first new Grand Slam singles champion in the men’s game in six years. That’s worth at least a flip-over from football during commercials, isn’t it?
Buccaneers at Saints (3:25 p.m., Fox-32)
Brees and Brady rank 1 and 2 all-time in passing yards and touchdowns. Somehow, that seems like underselling them.
Cowboys at Rams (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)
No fans? Probably not how they drew it up when $5 billion SoFi Stadium was planned. Still, it’ll be cool to see the Rams’ (and Chargers’) new digs.
MON 14
Steelers at Giants (6:15 p.m., ESPN)
Speaking of Roethlisberger, he has a nice new target in Notre Dame rookie Chase Claypool. Joe Judge makes his coaching debut for the G-Men.
Stars at Golden Knights, Game 5 (7 p.m., NBCSN)
A lengthy Robin Lehner shutout streak in the rearview, the top-seeded Knights just want to survive this grueling defensive series by any means necessary.
Titans at Broncos (9:10 p.m., ESPN)
Forget the action on the field. How will it sound in the booth with new “MNF” team Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick?
TUE 15
Sky vs. Sun (6 p.m., ESPN2)
It’s single-elimination time. Win or go home. Now or never. Do or die. OK, you get the idea.
Islanders at Lightning, Game 5 (7 p.m., NBCSN)
Too soon for Conn Smythe talk? Because Tampa’s Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov are neck-and-neck with Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen. That’s right, you heard it here first.
Indians at Cubs (7:15 p.m., MSN)
Will Yu Darvish — coming off only his second loss of the season — get back on the Cy Young track? Will any of his teammates help the cause by actually hitting the ball?
WED 16
Twins at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)
Lucas Giolito lines up to oppose Kenta Maeda, who has been the Twins’ best pitcher. If this were a movie, it would be time for the young protagonist to pop a bully right in the nose.
THU 17
U.S. Open golf, first round (1 p.m., Ch. 5)
Brooks Koepka has won this event twice in the last three years, but Dustin Johnson goes off as the betting favorite at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Which reminds us: What’s worse, having a winged foot or a mamaroneck?
Twins at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)
This is it, the 10th and final game between these teams this season — until the playoffs, that is. You know they’re not done with each other yet.
Bengals at Browns (7:20 p.m., NFL)
If form holds, LSU’s Burrow will still be the only rookie starting QB in the league as Week 2 gets underway. There’s a joke somewhere about how well the Browns would fare in the SEC, but we’re not quite seeing it.
FRI 18
Twins at Cubs (7:15 p.m., MSN)
After four high-stakes games at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Twins hit Wrigley for a weekend series and run straight into Kyle Hendricks? Class is in session.
SAT 19
South Florida at Notre Dame (1:30 p.m., USA)
Brian Kelly’s fake-punt call in the opener against Duke got the sluggish Irish going. It shouldn’t take a fake anything to hammer USF.
Celtics at Heat, Game 3 (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Boston’s Jayson Tatum has such polish to his young game, it’s almost hard to believe. That and some brass knuckles will give him a chance against Jimmy Butler and locked-in Miami.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-13--Dear Abby: Side effects of wife’s drug doom marriage after 40 years

DEAR ABBY : My wife and I have been married for 40 years .
We were opposites who were attracted to each other and enjoyed a lot of the same things .
For the last 20 years , my wife has been taking an antidepressant ( prescribed by her primary care physician , not a psychiatrist ) , and she has every side effect of the drug .
For years I have tried without success to get her to seek help .
Although we still live in the same house , we have been going our own ways for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though my wife is a good person , I do not want to spend the rest of my life living with someone who is incapable of having a decent conversation , let alone being able to or having a need to be intimate .
I am going to move out .
My question is , do I tell our children we are separating because their mom is addicted to a drug , or should I just be the bad guy and take the blame ?
— ENTANGLED IN NEW JERSEY DEAR ENTANGLED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antidepressant , and you shouldn ’ t say that to your children .
The medication was prescribed for her by a well-meaning physician who obviously didn ’ t explain that there are alternative drugs with fewer side effects .
Your wife needs to consult a psychopharmacologist , a doctor with expertise in brain chemistry .
Before moving out , please offer her the option of talking to one .
Her doctor or insurance company should be able to give a referral .
Or , your wife may be able to find someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a medical school .
I am hoping she will , because it could change both of your lives for the better .
DEAR ABBY : My husband and I moved to a new neighborhood right before COVID hit .
One of our neighbors is frequently out inspecting our lawn and has even trespassed through our gate into our back yard to offer his “ reminder ” about lawn maintenance .
We mow our yard every few weeks because the grass doesn ’ t grow terribly fast .
We don ’ t feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawn mower until things improve in our state .
We also both work with people who are affected by the pandemic so , frankly , we have bigger concerns .
How do we handle this diplomatically ?
— GRASS ISN ’ T GREENER DEAR GRASS : “ Diplomatically ” tell your neighbor you are maintaining your lawn as best you can , and from now on , you want him to stay off your property and in his own yard .
Said with a smile , the message may be more easily accepted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ please understand that being direct is the only way to get through to this nosy , presumptuous person .
DEAR ABBY : How can I let someone know about my good fortune without appearing to be bragging ?
The intent is to hopefully form a business alliance , but I do not want to be misconstrued , misinterpreted or perceived as a braggart .
— GOOD FORTUNE IN THE WEST DEAR GOOD FORTUNE : Preface your announcement by explaining why you are sharing the news .
Example : “ John , I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing it because it may present an opportunity for you .
I just won $ 1 million in the lottery , and I ’ m thinking of starting a new business .
Are you interested ?
” Approach this way and you will come across as generous , not braggadocious .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for 40 years. We were opposites who were attracted to each other and enjoyed a lot of the same things.
For the last 20 years, my wife has been taking an antidepressant (prescribed by her primary care physician, not a psychiatrist), and she has every side effect of the drug. For years I have tried without success to get her to seek help.
Although we still live in the same house, we have been going our own ways for the last year and a half. Even though my wife is a good person, I do not want to spend the rest of my life living with someone who is incapable of having a decent conversation, let alone being able to or having a need to be intimate.
I am going to move out. My question is, do I tell our children we are separating because their mom is addicted to a drug, or should I just be the bad guy and take the blame? — ENTANGLED IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR ENTANGLED: Your wife is not addicted to her antidepressant, and you shouldn’t say that to your children. The medication was prescribed for her by a well-meaning physician who obviously didn’t explain that there are alternative drugs with fewer side effects.
Your wife needs to consult a psychopharmacologist, a doctor with expertise in brain chemistry. Before moving out, please offer her the option of talking to one. Her doctor or insurance company should be able to give a referral. Or, your wife may be able to find someone who can guide her by contacting a university with a medical school. I am hoping she will, because it could change both of your lives for the better.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I moved to a new neighborhood right before COVID hit. One of our neighbors is frequently out inspecting our lawn and has even trespassed through our gate into our back yard to offer his “reminder” about lawn maintenance.
We mow our yard every few weeks because the grass doesn’t grow terribly fast. We don’t feel comfortable going out to buy a better lawn mower until things improve in our state. We also both work with people who are affected by the pandemic so, frankly, we have bigger concerns. How do we handle this diplomatically? — GRASS ISN’T GREENER
DEAR GRASS: “Diplomatically” tell your neighbor you are maintaining your lawn as best you can, and from now on, you want him to stay off your property and in his own yard. Said with a smile, the message may be more easily accepted. If it isn’t, please understand that being direct is the only way to get through to this nosy, presumptuous person.
DEAR ABBY: How can I let someone know about my good fortune without appearing to be bragging? The intent is to hopefully form a business alliance, but I do not want to be misconstrued, misinterpreted or perceived as a braggart. — GOOD FORTUNE IN THE WEST
DEAR GOOD FORTUNE: Preface your announcement by explaining why you are sharing the news. Example: “John, I have some important news. I’m sharing it because it may present an opportunity for you. I just won $1 million in the lottery, and I’m thinking of starting a new business. Are you interested?” Approach this way and you will come across as generous, not braggadocious.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.