chicagosuntimes--2020-02-28--Luis Robert is being watched: ‘I’m going to guide him the right way’ Jose Abreu says

GLENDALE , Ariz. — Jose Abreu ’ s locker at Camelback Ranch is the first on the left as you enter the room .
Luis Robert ’ s is the second on the left , right where Abreu , 33 , can keep a close eye on Robert the 22-year-old fellow Cuban .
“ Always , ” he said through translator Billy Russo .
“ Just to be on time in the morning .
When we go to the cages , when we hit , when we go to the field or the gym .
He has taken me and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to be with him.
” Robert , who signed a $ 50 million , six-year contract in January without having played a major league game , is the Sox ’ youngest prized , expensive commodity .
He will be their Opening Day center fielder .
He has a lot of talent and a lot to learn about being a big leaguer .
Eloy Jimenez is from the Dominican Republic but he speaks Robert ’ s language , plays alongside him in the outfield and can best relate to what Robert is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , Jimenez was the 22-year-old with the big , new contract , the young star at Sox camp with massive minor league numbers and major league expectations to match .
“ They ’ ve both taken me under their wings , ” Robert said .
“ Coaching me , guiding me .
It ’ s an exciting thing to go through .
Eloy is young but he has experience .
Pito is a veteran and everybody follows him.
” Step out of line and there are consequences , Robert said .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late or miss something , I have to pay Eloy and Pito [ Abreu ] , ” Robert said .
“ If Eloy gets here late he has to pay me and Abreu.
” Robert wouldn ’ t be the first young , budding star to act like he owns the room .
He knows his reputation as the next big thing precedes him .
“ Yes , of course , ” he said .
“ But I ’ m new here .
And as much talent as you have , that doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right way .
I lean on them because they have experience and following them will be better for me .
You can always learn from someone with more experience .
That ’ s what I ’ m paid to do here.
” Abreu , who signed a $ 50 million deal for three more years with the Sox this offseason , earns his pay not just with his play but for his role as a clubhouse leader and mentor , and not just to Robert .
He says Robert , the kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his age .
But he still treats him more like a father than big brother .
“ I am going to guide him to do things the right way , ” Abreu said Friday .
“ He doesn ’ t need [ special treatment ] because he ’ s very mature , but everyone needs the help of a veteran.
” Robert is off to a nice start this spring .
He has a triple , a double off the wall , a walk and one strikeout in seven plate appearances .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ outfield , looks comfortable in center and has made a couple of nice running catches .
He knows he is a top candidate for Rookie of the Year , an honor he hopes to pocket .
“ Yes of course , ” he said .
“ That is what I work for , to have a great season and help the team win games .
You have to keep working hard every day , and you will have success .
If Rookie of the Year is there , I ’ ll be glad @ @ @ @ @

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jose Abreu’s locker at Camelback Ranch is the first on the left as you enter the room.
Luis Robert’s is the second on the left, right where Abreu, 33, can keep a close eye on his fellow Cuban.
Robert knows he’s being watched.
“Always,” he said through a translator. “Just to be on time in the morning. When we go to the cages, when we hit, when we go to the field or the gym. He has taken me and won’t leave me behind. I have to be with him.”
Robert, 22, who signed a six-year, $50 million contract in January without having played a major-league game, is the Sox’ youngest prized commodity. He will be their Opening Day center fielder. He has a lot of talent and a lot to learn about being a big leaguer.
Eloy Jimenez is from the Dominican Republic but he speaks Robert’s language, plays alongside him in the outfield and can best relate to what Robert is going through right now. A year ago, Jimenez was the 22-year-old with the big, new contract, the young star at Sox camp with massive minor-league numbers and major-league expectations.
“They’ve both taken me under their wings,” Robert said. “Coaching me, guiding me. It’s an exciting thing to go through. Eloy is young but he has experience. Pito [Abreu] is a veteran and everybody follows him.”
Step out of line and there are consequences, Robert said. Like fines.
“If I get here late or miss something, I have to pay Eloy and Pito,” Robert said. “If Eloy gets here late, he has to pay me and Abreu.”
Robert wouldn’t be the first young, budding star to act like he owns the room. He knows his reputation as the next big thing precedes him.
“Yes, of course,” he said. “But I’m new here. And as much talent as you have, that doesn’t preclude you from doing things the right way. I lean on them because they have experience and following them will be better for me. You can always learn from someone with more experience. That’s what I’m paid to do here.”
Abreu, who signed a three-year $50 million deal with the Sox this offseason, earns his pay not only with his play but also for his role as a clubhouse leader and mentor, and not just to Robert. He said Robert, joke-cracking aside, is mature for his age. But Robert still treats him more like a father than a big brother.
“I am going to guide him to do things the right way,” Abreu said Friday.
“He doesn’t need [special treatment] because he’s very mature, but everyone needs the help of a veteran.”
Robert is off to a nice start this spring. He has a home run, triple, a double off the wall, a stolen base, walk and one strikeout in 10 plate appearances. He has made good reads in the outfield, looks comfortable in center and has made a couple of nice running catches.
He knows he is a top candidate for rookie of the year, an award he hopes to win.
“Yes of course,” he said. “That is what I work for, to have a great season and help the team win games. You have to keep working hard every day, and you will have success. If rookie of the year is there, I’ll be glad to have it.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-28--Feud network? Former rivals Lightfoot and Preckwinkle join forces for Foxx

Former adversaries Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle teamed up Friday , burying the hatchet to stump for embattled Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx 18 days before the March primary .
The three elected officials joined labor leaders and others for a get-out-the-vote rally at a West Loop union headquarters .
But the political pep rally suggested the two former mayoral rivals are not yet BFFs .
When Preckwinkle took to the podium , she took a moment to name all the elected officials in the room — even asking any she missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park Democrat made no mention of Lightfoot , who clobbered Preckwinkle in last year ’ s mayor race .
Such hiccups aside , the two focused on painting Foxx as the only candidate to reform the county ’ s criminal justice system .
Preckwinkle described her protégé as a “ forceful leader ” on the county ’ s criminal justice reform efforts .
The County Board president touted the first-term prosecutor ’ s focus on violent crime , on “ the shooters and the killers because that ’ s where our resources ought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errors of the past ” through exonerating wrongful convictions .
“ And those who want to go backward , who are not happy that there are fewer black and brown people in our jail , have attacked her from the right , ” Preckwinkle said .
“ Every single candidate who opposes her is opposing her from the right .
We have to understand that.
” Lightfoot made the case for Foxx , lauding her as a prosecutor who has stuck a balance between going after those “ causing the harm ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice system who may not need to be there .
“ What ’ s important in the system , and what we have right now in Kim Foxx , is a prosecutor who understands the lived experience of people , a prosecutor who has heart , ” Lightfoot said .
“ Kim Foxx is exactly the kind of leader we need in this county , at this time in our history and the work is not done.
” Those attending the rally also included labor leaders from the Chicago Teachers Union and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has an ownership stake in Sun-Times Media .
The Friday rally at Painters District Council # 14 headquarters offered Foxx a chance to try to set the record straight .
“ There has been a lot of rhetoric in the last several months about who I am and what I stand for , ” Foxx said .
“ I stand unapologetically as a child of Cabrini … I don ’ t mention that for any sense of bravery for myself , there are too many children living in neighborhoods today in which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and yet our criminal justice system has not been focused on them.
” That “ rhetoric ” has largely stemmed from Foxx ’ s handling of the case of “ Empire ” actor Jussie Smollett .
Smollett was accused of making a false report to Chicago police and was indicted in March on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying about being attacked in a hate crime .
Weeks later , the state ’ s attorney ’ s office abruptly dropped the charges , sparking outrage as well as confusion .
Special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , accusing him of faking the 2019 hate crime attack .
Foxx faces former prosecutor Bill Conway , former Ald .
Bob Fioretti and former prosecutor , and 2016 state ’ s attorney candidate , Donna More in the Democratic primary on March 17 .
Two Republicans — former judge Pat O ’ Brien and Christopher , a former assistant state ’ s attorney who lost to Foxx in 2016 — are also vying for the chance to unseat Foxx in November .
A poll released Monday by the Conway campaign shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent ahead of Conway , who was at 26 % in the poll .
The challengers have all made the race a referendum on Foxx ’ s handling of the Smollett case , casting it as a blow to the integrity of the office .
Foxx said her time in the office has been about public safety — creating a “ first of its kind ” gun crime strategies unit and shifting resources from crimes such as shoplifting to violent crimes , leading to a reduction in violent crime .
She said “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , we ’ ll talk about this case and talk about this case , ” alluding to the Smollett case , and saying her office is much more than that .
Foxx pitched herself as appealing to people “ who have been touched by this justice system who have been touched by loss in our community , who know that as a city we have much work to do and would love for us , and all of us , to work collectively to make sure we ’ re keeping our community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distracted by that which is shiny today but getting to the dirty and the gritty and the grimy which is crime and violence in our communities and making sure that we ’ ve got all hands on deck to do that .
”

Former adversaries Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle teamed up Friday, burying the hatchet to stump for embattled Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx 18 days before the March primary.
The three elected officials joined labor leaders and others for a get-out-the-vote rally at a West Loop union headquarters.
But the political pep rally suggested the two former mayoral rivals are not yet BFFs.
When Preckwinkle took to the podium, she took a moment to name all the elected officials in the room — even asking any she missed to raise their hands.
The Hyde Park Democrat made no mention of Lightfoot, who clobbered Preckwinkle in last year’s mayor race.
Such hiccups aside, the two focused on painting Foxx as the only candidate to reform the county’s criminal justice system. Preckwinkle described her protégé as a “forceful leader” on the county’s criminal justice reform efforts.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks at a get-out-the-vote rally for Kim Foxx on Friday. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The County Board president touted the first-term prosecutor’s focus on violent crime, on “the shooters and the killers because that’s where our resources ought to go” while acknowledging the “errors of the past” through exonerating wrongful convictions.
“And those who want to go backward, who are not happy that there are fewer black and brown people in our jail, have attacked her from the right,” Preckwinkle said. “Every single candidate who opposes her is opposing her from the right. We have to understand that.”
Lightfoot made the case for Foxx, lauding her as a prosecutor who has struck a balance between going after those “causing the harm” and those who get caught up in the criminal justice system who may not need to be there.
“What’s important in the system, and what we have right now in Kim Foxx, is a prosecutor who understands the lived experience of people, a prosecutor who has heart,” Lightfoot said. “Kim Foxx is exactly the kind of leader we need in this county, at this time in our history and the work is not done.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at a get-out-the-vote rally for Kim Foxx on Friday. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Those attending the rally also included labor leaders from the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union, which has an ownership stake in Sun-Times Media.
The Friday rally at Painters District Council #14 headquarters offered Foxx a chance to try to set the record straight.
“There has been a lot of rhetoric in the last several months about who I am and what I stand for,” Foxx said. “I stand unapologetically as a child of Cabrini … I don’t mention that for any sense of bravery for myself, there are too many children living in neighborhoods today in which they are seeking shelter in bath tubs … and yet our criminal justice system has not been focused on them.”
That “rhetoric” has largely stemmed from Foxx’s handling of the case of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx speaks at a get-out-the-vote rally for her re-election on Friday. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times file.
Smollett was accused of making a false report to Chicago police and was indicted in March on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying about being attacked in a hate crime. Weeks later, the state’s attorney’s office abruptly dropped the charges, sparking outrage as well as confusion.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb indicted Smollett earlier this month, accusing him of faking the 2019 hate crime attack.
Foxx faces former prosecutor Bill Conway, former Ald. Bob Fioretti and former prosecutor, and 2016 state’s attorney candidate, Donna More in the Democratic primary on March 17. Two Republicans — former judge Pat O’Brien and Christopher, a former assistant state’s attorney who lost to Foxx in 2016 — are also vying for the chance to unseat Foxx in November.
A poll released Monday by the Conway campaign shows Foxx at 28%, just two percent ahead of Conway, who was at 26% in the poll.
Top row, left-right: Democrats Kim Foxx; Bill Conway and Donna More. Bottom row, left-right: Republicans Pat O’Brien and Christopher Pfannkuche and Democrat Bob Fioretti. File Photos. Ashlee Rezin Garcia and Rich Hein/Chicago Sun-Times files
The challengers have all made the race a referendum on Foxx’s handling of the Smollett case, casting it as a blow to the integrity of the office.
Foxx said her time in the office has been about public safety — creating a “first of its kind” gun crime strategies unit and shifting resources from crimes such as shoplifting to violent crimes, leading to a reduction in violent crime.
She said “we have focused our attention on one case, we’ll talk about this case and talk about this case,” alluding to the Smollett case, and saying her office is much more than that.
Foxx pitched herself as appealing to people “who have been touched by this justice system who have been touched by loss in our community, who know that as a city we have much work to do and would love for us, and all of us, to work collectively to make sure we’re keeping our community safe and that we’re not distracted by that which is shiny today but getting to the dirty and the gritty and the grimy which is crime and violence in our communities and making sure that we’ve got all hands on deck to do that.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-28--Man shot by police at CTA’s Red Line Grand station

A man was shot by Chicago police Friday afternoon at the Grand Red Line station on the Near North Side @ @ @ @ @ p.m. to the station for a person shot , Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt @ @ @ @ @ taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound in critical condition , he said @ @ @ @ @ person was a woman .
Two police officers taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good @ @ @ @ @ Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern said officers fired shots and struck one person .
Trains @ @ @ @ @ , according the Chicago Transit Authority .
Additional details were not immediately available .
The @ @ @ @ @ plans to bolster patrols in response to an outbreak of mass transit violence .
The @ @ @ @ @ will grow from 200 officers to 250 .

A Chicago police officer followed a man off a CTA subway train after he was seen walking between train cars, and then shot the man twice during a struggle inside a busy downtown Red Line station during the Friday afternoon rush hour, according to police.
Two officers were taken off the street pending an investigation of the encounter, part of which was captured on video that Mayor Lori Lightfoot called “extremely disturbing” and which police officials suggested could be part of a criminal probe.
It all happened just hours after interim Chicago Police Supt. Charlie Beck joined Lightfoot and CTA president Dorval Carter to announce a new security plan for the mass transit system, which has seen a rash of shootings in recent weeks.
Lightfoot said in a Friday evening tweet that “with the strong caveat that one perspective does not depict the entirety of the incident, the video is extremely disturbing and the actions by these officers are deeply concerning.”
The sequence started shortly after 4 p.m., when two officers assigned to CPD’s Mass Transit Unit saw a man “jumping from train to train,” police said. They followed him off the train and approached him in the station, still underground, Deputy Supt. Barbara West said.
Both officers used stun guns as they tried to arrest him, then “at some point during the incident, one of the officers discharged a weapon, striking the subject twice,” West said.
Shortly after the shooting, a two-minute cellphone video began circulating on social media, showing both officers on top of the man, struggling with him on the ground near an escalator as they try to handcuff him.
At one point in the video, an officer appears to use pepper spray near the man’s face, and a deployed stun gun rests on the ground nearby.
One of the officers yells, “Give me your hands! Give me your hands!” before shouting, “Stop resisting!” seven times in a row.
The man eventually gets to his feet, stumbling backward, and the same officer can be heard yelling “shoot him” to the other officer.
The second officer draws her weapon and, with the man just feet away, a gunshot is heard.
The man runs up the escalator, and the officers follow. A second gunshot is heard off screen.
Another video of the minutes leading up to the gunfire shows the officers wrestling the man to the ground and using their stun gun on him multiple times. Dozens of commuters walk past directly past the chaos before heading up the escalator.
This is the two minutes leading up to the previous video. (Twitter won't let me upload it all at once.) pic.twitter.com/rkWrIfSkpE — Michael G. McDunnah (@FreeRangeCritic) February 28, 2020
West, speaking outside the Grand Red Line station at Grand Avenue and State Street, said she had been in touch with Beck, “and at this point we’re both extremely concerned and have significant questions about this incident.”
The man who was shot made it through surgery Thursday evening at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and though he remained critical, his condition was stabilized, West said.
Chicago Police Deputy Supt. Barbara West speaks to reporters Friday night. Nader Issa/Sun-Times
Lightfoot said she supported Beck’s decision to consult the Cook County state’s attorney’s office on the matter, which West told reporters at the scene Friday night was “due to the potential criminal nature of this incident.”
The mayor, who served two terms on the Chicago Police Board under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, vowed “full transparency and accountability ... to ensure the public gains a complete picture of what happened.”
West noted that moving between train cars is “in violation of a city ordinance.” She said she was unsure if the officers’ body cameras were activated.
Asked if a weapon was recovered from the man, a police spokesman said he didn’t know.
Investigators from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability were at the scene Friday night. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the agency at (312) 746-3609.
The officers, per department policy, were taken off patrol and given paid administrative duties while the investigation unfolds.
At street level outside the station Friday evening, police taped off one block in each direction, making for an eerily quiet few blocks in the usually bustling area.
Chicago police stand outside the CTA’s Grand Red Line station Friday evening. Sam Charles/Sun-Times
Hours earlier, Lightfoot and Beck had appeared at the Roosevelt CTA station announcing a bolstered police presence on the CTA in response to a series of violent incidents on trains and platforms over the last month. The new plan includes adding 50 officers to the Mass Transit Unit, assigning four detectives exclusively to CTA crimes and building a strategic deployment center.
The third tragedy in a month struck the transit system when a man was shot to death and two other people were wounded early Monday in the tunnel connecting the downtown Jackson Red and Blue lines.
Earlier this month, a musician was stabbed on the busy Jackson Red Line platform. The next day, a man was shot while exiting a Blue Line train at the UIC-Halsted station. Suspects were taken into custody in both incidents.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-28--To Team Madigan, Mike could do no wrong

To Team Madigan, Mike could do no wrong

Chicago public radio station WBEZ recently published a story about emails between Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan ’ s former consigliere , Mike McClain , and top staffers in Madigan ’ s office .
Federal investigators raided the former ComEd lobbyist ’ s home last year .
The WBEZ reporters culled pretty much all the really good stuff , including discussions about how Madigan was McClain ’ s “ number one client , ” getting former Madigan staffers jobs with ComEd and muscling a pro-ComEd resolution through a committee by replacing some Democratic members so that the vote was unanimous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the emails myself to see what else might be there .
The determination to jam that resolution through with a unanimous vote is unusual because it was an “ agreed ” resolution .
ComEd parent company Exelon was pushing legislation in 2014 to bail out their nuclear power plants , but the four legislative leaders decided to just pass a resolution urging various other entities to help Exelon .
Speaker Madigan was the chief sponsor and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin was the chief co-sponsor .
An Exelon lobbyist emailed McClain on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to report that he had nine “ Yes ” votes out of 16 committee members , with an “ outside chance ” of flipping one of the “ No ” votes to his side .
McClain forwarded the email to Madigan ’ s then-chief of staff Tim Mapes and Madigan ’ s then-Issues Staff director Will Cousineau , among others .
And then three hours after the original email was sent , Cousineau replied with what he said would be the final roll call .
Five House Democrats on the committee who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replaced with five supportive Democrats and a sixth had been flipped to Exelon .
“ The opponents won ’ t have contemplated all the subs we ’ re lining up since I don ’ t like to rely on Republicans , ” Cousineau announced , even though there wasn ’ t much of any formal opposition .
Mapes replied to say he ’ d bet McClain ’ s lobbyist friends hadn ’ t given this replacement tactic any thought , and asked if McClain was in charge of Exelon ’ s lobbying efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ but we ’ re going to have a little bit of a discussion after session about the quality of their lobby.
” McClain called Exelon ’ s Statehouse operation “ 101 level.
” That the House Democratic staff and the ComEd lobbyist McClain would expend so much effort to make sure that Madigan ’ s word was gold to a giant energy company tells you much of what you need to know about how that operation worked at the time .
And the internal mindset was further summed up months later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McClain .
“ We love the guy , ” McClain wrote , “ but his requests are totally consuming and because we love him we do not want to fail even on the simplest of items .
It is what it is .
We would not change it but it is what it is.
” There were numerous mentions of jobs and other favors in the email exchanges .
Raymond Nice , for instance , is a longtime Madigan precinct worker who also lobbied for ComEd after he retired from Cook County .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nice once had a contract , was recently hit with a federal subpoena .
The subpoena also demanded all communications between the village and Madigan , McClain , Mapes and Madigan ’ s alderman Marty Quinn and Quinn ’ s brother Kevin .
Kevin Quinn was the beneficiary of a fundraising effort by McClain after he was forced out of his job with Madigan when Alaina Hampton complained about sexual harassment .
I ’ d heard that Madigan only asked Gov .
Bruce Rauner to hire a few people and Nice was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McClain and Mapes exchanged emails about who Madigan had placed on state boards and commissions .
McClain led off his list with “ Ray Nice ... .you already know about him , of course.
” The emails reveal just how involved the lobbyist McClain was in House Democratic operations .
Numerous emails were exchanged , for example , after a reform group offered to host a meeting with Gov .
Rauner and the four leaders to try and break the budget impasse .
McClain was involved in crafting the House Democratic response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto of legislator salaries as punishment for not reforming pensions .
And Mapes summoned McClain to an exclusive upper-echelon meeting with Madigan to discuss what to do about the upcoming spring session with incoming Gov .
Rauner .
The emails make crystal clear that McClain was closer to Madigan ’ s operation than anyone but Mapes .
McClain is now gone and so is Mapes after his own sexual harassment scandal .
Only Madigan is left .

Chicago public radio station WBEZ recently published a story about emails between Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s former consigliere, Mike McClain, and top staffers in Madigan’s office. Federal investigators raided the former ComEd lobbyist’s home last year.
The WBEZ reporters culled pretty much all the really good stuff, including discussions about how Madigan was McClain’s “number one client,” getting former Madigan staffers jobs with ComEd and muscling a pro-ComEd resolution through a committee by replacing some Democratic members so that the vote was unanimous.
I decided to take a look at the emails myself to see what else might be there.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
The determination to jam that resolution through with a unanimous vote is unusual because it was an “agreed” resolution. ComEd parent company Exelon was pushing legislation in 2014 to bail out their nuclear power plants, but the four legislative leaders decided to just pass a resolution urging various other entities to help Exelon. Speaker Madigan was the chief sponsor and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin was the chief co-sponsor.
An Exelon lobbyist emailed McClain on the afternoon of May 27, 2014 to report that he had nine “Yes” votes out of 16 committee members, with an “outside chance” of flipping one of the “No” votes to his side. McClain forwarded the email to Madigan’s then-chief of staff Tim Mapes and Madigan’s then-Issues Staff director Will Cousineau, among others. And then three hours after the original email was sent, Cousineau replied with what he said would be the final roll call. Five House Democrats on the committee who had been identified as opponents were to be replaced with five supportive Democrats and a sixth had been flipped to Exelon.
“The opponents won’t have contemplated all the subs we’re lining up since I don’t like to rely on Republicans,” Cousineau announced, even though there wasn’t much of any formal opposition.
“I love you,” McClain replied.
Mapes replied to say he’d bet McClain’s lobbyist friends hadn’t given this replacement tactic any thought, and asked if McClain was in charge of Exelon’s lobbying efforts.
“No,” McClain wrote, “but we’re going to have a little bit of a discussion after session about the quality of their lobby.” McClain called Exelon’s Statehouse operation “101 level.”
That the House Democratic staff and the ComEd lobbyist McClain would expend so much effort to make sure that Madigan’s word was gold to a giant energy company tells you much of what you need to know about how that operation worked at the time.
And the internal mindset was further summed up months later when Mapes complained about his workload to McClain.
“We love the guy,” McClain wrote, “but his requests are totally consuming and because we love him we do not want to fail even on the simplest of items. It is what it is. We would not change it but it is what it is.”
That’s Team Madigan in a nutshell.
There were numerous mentions of jobs and other favors in the email exchanges.
Raymond Nice, for instance, is a longtime Madigan precinct worker who also lobbied for ComEd after he retired from Cook County. The town of Merrionette Park, where Nice once had a contract, was recently hit with a federal subpoena. The subpoena also demanded all communications between the village and Madigan, McClain, Mapes and Madigan’s alderman Marty Quinn and Quinn’s brother Kevin.
Kevin Quinn was the beneficiary of a fundraising effort by McClain after he was forced out of his job with Madigan when Alaina Hampton complained about sexual harassment.
I’d heard that Madigan only asked Gov. Bruce Rauner to hire a few people and Nice was one. Just before Rauner was inaugurated, McClain and Mapes exchanged emails about who Madigan had placed on state boards and commissions. McClain led off his list with “Ray Nice....you already know about him, of course.”
The emails reveal just how involved the lobbyist McClain was in House Democratic operations.
Numerous emails were exchanged, for example, after a reform group offered to host a meeting with Gov. Rauner and the four leaders to try and break the budget impasse. McClain was involved in crafting the House Democratic response to Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget veto of legislator salaries as punishment for not reforming pensions. And Mapes summoned McClain to an exclusive upper-echelon meeting with Madigan to discuss what to do about the upcoming spring session with incoming Gov. Rauner.
The emails make crystal clear that McClain was closer to Madigan’s operation than anyone but Mapes. McClain is now gone and so is Mapes after his own sexual harassment scandal. Only Madigan is left.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Send letters to: letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-28--Yermin Mercedes, Andrew Vaughn homer in White Sox Cactus League win over Indians

Class AAA catcher Yermin Mercedes belted a grand slam , a 400-foot plus shot to go with his even longer blast against the Dodgers Monday , to erase a 3-0 deficit .
Mercedes connected against non-roster invitee Jared Robinson .
While he hasn ’ t distinguished himself defensively , Mercedes is 5-for-9 in five games .
He is pushing for a roster spot as a third catcher .
No .
3 overall draft pick Andrew Vaughn homered to left .
Vaughn is also having a good start to the spring with a double , homer and two walks in eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madrigal went 0-for-3 .
He ’ s 2-for-12 with no strikeouts .
Dane Dunning , a former first-round pick acquired from the Nationals along with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in the Adam Eaton trade , threw his first live batting practice session as he recovers from Tommy John surgery .
Dunning faced Yoan Moncada and some minor leaguers .
“ That was full go .
I was getting after it , ” Dunning said .
“ It was a controlled hard , but yes , everything was full go .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over .
It ’ s exciting for me because I know games are coming soon.
” On a day when Michael Kopech — who is ahead of Dunning in his return from TJ surgery — had another encouraging day off the mound moments before Dunning threw , pitching coach Don Cooper felt encouraged about what lies ahead .
“ Michael and Dunning are throwing the ball well , ” Cooper said .
“ Had you not known right this second they were in injured , you wouldn ’ t know.
” The Sox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and non-roster invitee pitchers .
Right-hander Brady Lail struck out three over two scoreless innings .
Zack Burdi pitched a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout .
Sox at Texas , Surprise , 2:05 p.m. Saturday , Drew Anderson vs. Jonathan Hernandez .
After lefty prospect Bernardo Flores Sunday , regular starters will get starts .
Dallas Keuchel Monday vs. Padres , Reynaldo Lopez Tuesday vs. A ’ s , Dylan Cease Wednesday at Brewers .

SOX 8, INDIANS 3
Driving, a Mercedes
Class AAA catcher Yermin Mercedes belted a grand slam, a 400-foot-plus shot to go with his even longer blast against the Dodgers on Monday, to erase a 3-0 deficit. Mercedes connected against non-roster invitee Jared Robinson. While he hasn’t distinguished himself defensively, Mercedes is 5-for-9 in five games. He’s pushing for a roster spot as a third catcher.
No. 3 overall draft pick Andrew Vaughn homered to left. Vaughn is also having a good start to the spring with a double, homer and two walks in eight plate appearances. Fellow first-rounder Nick Madrigal went 0-for-3. He’s 2-for-12 with no strikeouts.
Dunning’s first live BP
Dane Dunning, acquired from the Nationals along with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in the Adam Eaton trade, threw his first live batting-practice session as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Dunning faced Yoan Moncada and some minor-leaguers.
“That was full-go; I was getting after it,” Dunning said. “It was a controlled hard, but, yes, everything was full-go. It’s like that hump I just got over. It’s exciting for me because I know games are coming soon.”
On a day when Michael Kopech — who is ahead of Dunning in his return from TJ surgery — had another encouraging showing moments before Dunning threw, pitching coach Don Cooper felt great about what lies ahead.
“Michael and Dunning are throwing the ball well,” Cooper said. “Had you not known right this second they were injured, you wouldn’t know.”
On the mound
The Sox (4-2-1) used all minor-league and non-roster-invitee pitchers. Right-hander Brady Lail struck out three over two scoreless innings. Zack Burdi pitched a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout.
On deck
Sox at Rangers, Surprise, 2:05 p.m. Saturday, Drew Anderson vs. Jonathan Hernandez. After lefty prospect Bernardo Flores on Sunday, regulars will get starts. Dallas Keuchel on Monday vs. the Padres, Reynaldo Lopez on Tuesday vs. the A’s and Dylan Cease on Wednesday at the Brewers.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-28--Hit hard on the personal front, Cubs’ David Ross keeps managing with a positive outlook

MESA , Ariz. — David Ross tried to look on the bright side .
What else was there to do ?
Positive thinking is baked into the rookie manager ’ s bones .
He was home with the flu , and that meant missing what should ’ ve been his first game as Cubs skipper .
And his second .
And his third .
It was only spring training , but still .
What kind of twisted feel-good narrative was this ?
Again , though : the bright side .
There was one .
There always is .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with anybody , ” he said .
“ Literally , it was just me and my dog .
The more I ’ m doing this job , you ’ re having a lot of conversations with different people , whether it ’ s small talk or being interviewed or talking to players or front office or training staff .
You ’ re just always having conversations .
Some quiet time was really nice.
” Quiet time often surrounds Ross when he ’ s at home .
It ’ s just a 42-year-old man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bernedoodle Ross bought in August .
That ’ s a Bernese mountain dog and poodle mix , in case you were wondering .
Ross sometimes wonders what the heck he was thinking .
“ You can ’ t travel with a dog [ in ] baseball , ” he said .
“ When is there a good time to get a dog ?
It ’ s really never.
” But then he always remembers .
There was a reason , a mighty good one .
“ My kids wanted a dog my entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I promised them they ’ d get one when I was done playing.
” The ex-Cubs catcher spoke often in 2016 , his final season as a player , about winding things way down and spending more time with his family in retirement .
But he has stayed quite busy — “ Dancing with the Stars , ” an ESPN gig , now managing — as many people , and perhaps he , too , simply are wired to do .
Time goes by .
Things change .
No , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having a dog .
Ross ’ marriage is over , his divorce from Hyla Ross , the high school sweetheart whom he married in 2005 , finalized .
Landri , Cole and Harper Ross continue to live in Tallahassee , Florida , their parents ’ hometown , with their mom .
Underneath his endearing smile , his warm demeanor and his determination to remain successful in the big leagues , Ross has been wearing the pain of this .
He hasn ’ t discussed it publicly until now .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my baseball career had , ” said Ross , who was carried off the field in Cleveland after Game 7 of the World Series .
“ It ’ s definitely tough to swallow .
Your ego takes a hit , your pride takes a hit and who you are — your plans , your dreams , all the things that you thought you had set up and were working for — [ takes ] the biggest hit .
“ But I also have a faith base where I feel like God has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger picture for me that sometimes I don ’ t understand .
My biggest failures in life , or the biggest trials I ’ ve overcome , have lifted me up on other platforms that I wasn ’ t expecting .
So that ’ s the way I ’ m looking at it.
” There it is : at least the hint of a bright side .
“ I try to learn from every experience , ” he said .
“ I could definitely be a better person , a better dad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s a lot of room to improve and just another lesson for me in some areas , some hard lessons that I ’ ve got to learn from .
“ I don ’ t know if I could ’ ve [ taken ] this job without some of the things that happened in my life.
” At the top of his list of concerns is , naturally , his children ’ s happiness .
As long as they know Mom and Dad love them , the center should hold .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ long Presidents Day weekend .
They ’ ll be back for spring break , and there are stipulations in Ross ’ contract with the Cubs related to seeing them during the season .
Ross FaceTimes with the kids every night , hears about Landri ’ s travel volleyball , Cole ’ s baseball games and everything else from serious to silly .
He makes sure Maya gets to say hello , too .
“ I got the dog , ” he said .
“ Now they ’ ve got to come see me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ?
” Ross easily could play the “ no respect ” card with the 2020 Cubs .
He could drill into their collective psyche the fact that a whole lot of people expect them to be run-of-the-mill , nothing-to-see-here , yesterday ’ s news .
“ But that wouldn ’ t be me , ” he said .
“ I ’ m just not a negative person .
This is a negative game , but my heart is to try to find the positive in a negative situation.
” Ross ’ eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 , his last of three seasons playing for the Reds .
Frustrated about his playing time , he walked into manager Dusty Baker ’ s office in early August and “ said some things that I shouldn ’ t have said.
” He was put on waivers and released .
-After the Red Sox picked him up for the final month of the season , general manager Theo Epstein hit Ross right between the eyes .
“ Your reputation is that you ’ re a bad teammate and you only care about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I don ’ t think that was my intention , but surely it was true , ” Ross said .
“ I was consumed with my career and still learning how to be a big-leaguer .
When you ’ re sitting at home on waivers , you ’ re like , ‘ It ’ s pretty good to be in the big leagues , I don ’ t care what your role is.
’ ” A month in Boston helped Ross learn to value winning above all else .
The ensuing four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped mold him into a positive thinker .
There was the night Ross took the golden sombrero — four strikeouts — from the great Roy Halladay .
As Ross dragged his bat back to the dugout , certain he wouldn ’ t get to play for a while , Cox patted him on the butt and said , “ Man , that guy looks nasty today.
” “ I thought to myself , ‘ Yeah , maybe I don ’ t stink so bad , ’ ” Ross recalled .
When Ross beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on by a batter for a homer , Cox sat with him and asked if maybe the pitcher had simply failed to execute it .
“ It really changed my outlook on just figuring out what the mistake was and learning from it , ” Ross said .
“ Find the positive.
” Ross was the backup to Brian McCann — one of the game ’ s most respected leaders — and gleaned little things from fellow teammates Chipper Jones , Eric Hinske and others that were all about word choices and subtle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Why am I not doing that to people ?
’ ” Ross said .
When Jason Heyward arrived in 2010 , Ross took him under his wing .
Six years later , Heyward repaid Ross by upgrading his hotel rooms to suites every night the 2016 Cubs were on the road to make it easier for Ross ’ family to enjoy his final lap around the league .
The affect Ross ’ personality and leadership had on the curse-busting Cubs was real .
To know that , one must simply remember Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Grant Park .
Getting carried off the field after Game 7 — but we ’ ve mentioned that already , haven ’ t we ?
— kind of says it all , too .
But let ’ s recall one turn of events in the World Series against the Indians , anyway .
After the Cubs lost Games 3 and 4 at Wrigley Field to fall behind 3-1 in the series , Ross — Jon Lester ’ s personal catcher — knew at least that Game 1 hadn ’ t been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d be strapping on the gear for Game 5 , and he was jacked sky-high about it .
When a pissed-off teammate threw his glove in the clubhouse after Game 4 , Ross ’ voice took over the room .
“ No , no , no !
No , no , no !
Daddy ’ s playing tomorrow !
Don ’ t you rain on my parade !
” he boomed .
“ Do you know how many dudes would give their right legs to play in a World Series game at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warmed up Lester in the bullpen the next night , Jason Aldean ’ s “ Gon na Know We Were Here ” roared through the stadium .
Ross was so amped up , he screamed the lyrics right there in his squat .
Then he took the field and steered Lester through another clutch postseason outing , drove home the winning run with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly and nailed Francisco Lindor — the potential tying run — on a steal attempt to end the critical sixth .
No chance the Cubs fly that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t managed a regular-season game , but the rave reviews are already in .
“ He knows exactly how to push some buttons and get the most out of people , too , ” Kyle Schwarber said .
“ He ’ s exactly what we needed , ” Yu Darvish said .
“ He ’ s perfect for the job , ” Kris Bryant said .
All the Cubs ’ star players have Ross stories .
Take Schwarber , who has a penchant for obsessing over batting practice when he ’ s struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re a really good hitter , ” Ross has encouraged him .
“ Try to remember that and relax a little.
” When Ross was still playing , Javy Baez — just beginning to assert himself as a full-fledged member of the Cubs ’ core — peppered Ross with questions .
Not that Ross minded dispensing advice , but finally he advised the young , ultratalented infielder , “ Don ’ t ask too much .
Let the experience teach you.
” “ He makes us relax , ” Baez said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , step by step.
” Ross ’ big bet on Bryant — batting him leadoff — could be just what the doctor ordered for a superstar whose own positive nature has sagged at times over the last two seasons .
Maddon was unable to figure out what to do at the top of the order after the organization cut ties with Dexter Fowler .
A large part of the problem was , of course , what Epstein and company gave Maddon to work with .
But Maddon never went all-in on Bryant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know about you guys , but I ’ m super excited about it , ” Ross said .
“ I would hate to be on the other side and look at that big boy step in the box to lead things off .
This is one of the best players in baseball .
[ Him ] at the top of the order and how he goes about his business , I want that representing our team night in and night out.
” After one conversation about it with his new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glaring spotlight , his future with the Cubs in doubt — bought in .
“ He has a way of communicating , a way of going about his business that really gets the best out of you , the most out of you , ” Bryant said .
“ And he ’ s just a really positive person.
” Also , there is the unique and potentially delicate case of longtime workhorse Lester .
It might simply be that the lefty ’ s best days are behind him , and not because his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chest protector .
Time waits for no man , not even the starting pitcher who rolled the dice on the Cubs as a prized free agent in 2015 .
“ Don ’ t take any of this for granted , ” Ross has told him .
“ When you ’ re done , these guys won ’ t talk about your numbers .
They ’ ll talk about what kind of teammate you were and how you affected them .
Think about the weight you carry when you walk into this locker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and matters .
It matters a ton .
”

MESA, Ariz. — David Ross tried to look on the bright side. What else was there to do? Positive thinking is baked into the rookie manager’s bones.
He was home with the flu, and that meant missing what should’ve been his first game as Cubs skipper. And his second. And his third. It was only spring training, but still. What kind of twisted feel-good narrative was this?
Again, though: the bright side. There was one. There always is.
“I didn’t have to talk baseball with anybody,” he said. “Literally, it was just me and my dog. The more I’m doing this job, you’re having a lot of conversations with different people, whether it’s small talk or being interviewed or talking to players or front office or training staff. You’re just always having conversations. Some quiet time was really nice.”
Quiet time often surrounds Ross when he’s at home. It’s just a 42-year-old man and his puppy, Maya, a bernedoodle Ross bought in August. That’s a Bernese mountain dog and poodle mix, in case you were wondering. Ross sometimes wonders what the heck he was thinking.
“You can’t travel with a dog [in] baseball,” he said. “When is there a good time to get a dog? It’s really never.”
But then he always remembers. There was a reason, a mighty good one.
“My kids wanted a dog my entire career,” he said. “And I promised them they’d get one when I was done playing.”
The ex-Cubs catcher spoke often in 2016, his final season as a player, about winding things way down and spending more time with his family in retirement. But he has stayed quite busy — “Dancing with the Stars,” an ESPN gig, now managing — as many people, and perhaps he, too, simply are wired to do.
Time goes by. Things change. No, we’re not talking about having or not having a dog.
Ross’ marriage is over, his divorce from Hyla Ross, the high school sweetheart whom he married in 2005, finalized. Landri, Cole and Harper Ross continue to live in Tallahassee, Florida, their parents’ hometown, with their mom.
Underneath his endearing smile, his warm demeanor and his determination to remain successful in the big leagues, Ross has been wearing the pain of this. He hasn’t discussed it publicly until now.
“It’s not really the storybook ending I think my baseball career had,” said Ross, who was carried off the field in Cleveland after Game 7 of the World Series. “It’s definitely tough to swallow. Your ego takes a hit, your pride takes a hit and who you are — your plans, your dreams, all the things that you thought you had set up and were working for — [takes] the biggest hit.
“But I also have a faith base where I feel like God has a big plan for me and has a bigger picture for me that sometimes I don’t understand. My biggest failures in life, or the biggest trials I’ve overcome, have lifted me up on other platforms that I wasn’t expecting. So that’s the way I’m looking at it.”
There it is: at least the hint of a bright side.
“I try to learn from every experience,” he said. “I could definitely be a better person, a better dad, a better husband, a better brother. There’s a lot of room to improve and just another lesson for me in some areas, some hard lessons that I’ve got to learn from.
“I don’t know if I could’ve [taken] this job without some of the things that happened in my life.”
At the top of his list of concerns is, naturally, his children’s happiness. As long as they know Mom and Dad love them, the center should hold. They all came to Mesa for the long Presidents Day weekend. They’ll be back for spring break, and there are stipulations in Ross’ contract with the Cubs related to seeing them during the season.
Ross FaceTimes with the kids every night, hears about Landri’s travel volleyball, Cole’s baseball games and everything else from serious to silly. He makes sure Maya gets to say hello, too.
“I got the dog,” he said. “Now they’ve got to come see me to see the dog. Collateral, right?”
• • •
Ross easily could play the “no respect” card with the 2020 Cubs. He could drill into their collective psyche the fact that a whole lot of people expect them to be run-of-the-mill, nothing-to-see-here, yesterday’s news.
“But that wouldn’t be me,” he said. “I’m just not a negative person. This is a negative game, but my heart is to try to find the positive in a negative situation.”
Ross’ eyes were opened in a fateful manner in 2008, his last of three seasons playing for the Reds. Frustrated about his playing time, he walked into manager Dusty Baker’s office in early August and “said some things that I shouldn’t have said.”
He was put on waivers and released. -After the Red Sox picked him up for the final month of the season, general manager Theo Epstein hit Ross right between the eyes.
“Your reputation is that you’re a bad teammate and you only care about yourself,” -Epstein told him.
Hello, dark side.
“I don’t think that was my intention, but surely it was true,” Ross said. “I was consumed with my career and still learning how to be a big-leaguer. When you’re sitting at home on waivers, you’re like, ‘It’s pretty good to be in the big leagues, I don’t care what your role is.’ ”
A month in Boston helped Ross learn to value winning above all else. The ensuing four years with manager Bobby Cox in Atlanta helped mold him into a positive thinker.
There was the night Ross took the golden sombrero — four strikeouts — from the great Roy Halladay. As Ross dragged his bat back to the dugout, certain he wouldn’t get to play for a while, Cox patted him on the butt and said, “Man, that guy looks nasty today.”
“I thought to myself, ‘Yeah, maybe I don’t stink so bad,’ ” Ross recalled.
When Ross beat himself up for calling a pitch turned on by a batter for a homer, Cox sat with him and asked if maybe the pitcher had simply failed to execute it.
“It really changed my outlook on just figuring out what the mistake was and learning from it,” Ross said. “Find the positive.”
Ross was the backup to Brian McCann — one of the game’s most respected leaders — and gleaned little things from fellow teammates Chipper Jones, Eric Hinske and others that were all about word choices and subtle interactions.
“I was like, ‘Why am I not doing that to people?’ ” Ross said.
When Jason Heyward arrived in 2010, Ross took him under his wing. Six years later, Heyward repaid Ross by upgrading his hotel rooms to suites every night the 2016 Cubs were on the road to make it easier for Ross’ family to enjoy his final lap around the league.
The affect Ross’ personality and leadership had on the curse-busting Cubs was real. To know that, one must simply remember Anthony Rizzo’s tears from the podium in Grant Park. Getting carried off the field after Game 7 — but we’ve mentioned that already, haven’t we? — kind of says it all, too.
Teammates carried Ross off the field after Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
But let’s recall one turn of events in the World Series against the Indians, anyway. After the Cubs lost Games 3 and 4 at Wrigley Field to fall behind 3-1 in the series, Ross — Jon Lester’s personal catcher — knew at least that Game 1 hadn’t been the final start of his career. He’d be strapping on the gear for Game 5, and he was jacked sky-high about it. When a pissed-off teammate threw his glove in the clubhouse after Game 4, Ross’ voice took over the room.
“No, no, no! No, no, no! Daddy’s playing tomorrow! Don’t you rain on my parade!” he boomed. “Do you know how many dudes would give their right legs to play in a World Series game at Wrigley Field tomorrow?”
As Ross warmed up Lester in the bullpen the next night, Jason Aldean’s “Gonna Know We Were Here” roared through the stadium. Ross was so amped up, he screamed the lyrics right there in his squat. Then he took the field and steered Lester through another clutch postseason outing, drove home the winning run with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly and nailed Francisco Lindor — the potential tying run — on a steal attempt to end the critical sixth.
“Talk about a positive mindset,” Ross said.
No chance the Cubs fly that banner without him.
• • •
Ross hasn’t managed a regular-season game, but the rave reviews are already in.
“He knows exactly how to push some buttons and get the most out of people, too,” Kyle Schwarber said.
“He’s exactly what we needed,” Yu Darvish said.
“He’s perfect for the job,” Kris Bryant said.
All the Cubs’ star players have Ross stories. Take Schwarber, who has a penchant for obsessing over batting practice when he’s struggling at the plate.
“Dude, you’re a really good hitter,” Ross has encouraged him. “Try to remember that and relax a little.”
When Ross was still playing, Javy Baez — just beginning to assert himself as a full-fledged member of the Cubs’ core — peppered Ross with questions. Not that Ross minded dispensing advice, but finally he advised the young, ultratalented infielder, “Don’t ask too much. Let the experience teach you.”
“He makes us relax,” Baez said. “He teaches us how everything is, step by step.”
Ross’ big bet on Bryant — batting him leadoff — could be just what the doctor ordered for a superstar whose own positive nature has sagged at times over the last two seasons. Maddon was unable to figure out what to do at the top of the order after the organization cut ties with Dexter Fowler. A large part of the problem was, of course, what Epstein and company gave Maddon to work with. But Maddon never went all-in on Bryant as a possible solution.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m super excited about it,” Ross said. “I would hate to be on the other side and look at that big boy step in the box to lead things off. This is one of the best players in baseball. [Him] at the top of the order and how he goes about his business, I want that representing our team night in and night out.”
Ross intends to have Kris Bryant in the leadoff spot this season. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
After one conversation about it with his new manager, Bryant — already under a glaring spotlight, his future with the Cubs in doubt — bought in.
“He has a way of communicating, a way of going about his business that really gets the best out of you, the most out of you,” Bryant said. “And he’s just a really positive person.”
Also, there is the unique and potentially delicate case of longtime workhorse Lester. It might simply be that the lefty’s best days are behind him, and not because his former personal catcher hung up the mask and chest protector. Time waits for no man, not even the starting pitcher who rolled the dice on the Cubs as a prized free agent in 2015.
“Don’t take any of this for granted,” Ross has told him. “When you’re done, these guys won’t talk about your numbers. They’ll talk about what kind of teammate you were and how you affected them. Think about the weight you carry when you walk into this locker room, how much your voice means and matters. It matters a ton.”
That’s one hell of a bright side.


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Friends to Columbus, but not to truth

Friends to Columbus, but not to truth

Share All sharing options for : Friends to Columbus , but not to truth Alds .
Nick Sposato and Anthony Napolitano belong to a people notorious for their theatrical emotion and looseness with fact .
I ’ m referring , of course , to the Chicago City Council .
Those qualities vibrated off the page in the Sun-Times Friday , in Fran Spielman and Nader Issa ’ s story detailing aldermanic outrage at the Chicago Public School ’ s decision to drop Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous People ’ s Day .
” He found America , ” Sposato @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” on the CPS over its disinclination to honor the Italian explorer .
” It ’ s absolutely ridiculous , ” added Napolitano , inflating elimination of the holiday into a general slur “ that Italian Americans haven ’ t contributed to the United States.
” Let me begin by saying I have sympathy for the underlying issue here : the importance of the Italian-American community , their invaluable culture and vital contribution to Chicago .
I could not have spent as many hours as I did sitting at Gene & Georgetti , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all things Italian , the late Dominic Di Frisco , hearing him expound on this very issue , and not be sympathetic .
A huge deal , Columbus was .
In the 19th century .
From Columbus Ohio , founded in 1812 , to the 1893 Columbian Fair .
But guess what ?
We ’ re in the 21st century now , and the political climate has shifted .
Columbus Day , while a chance for some Italians to display their pride — something which , judging from these two alderman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pawing its hooves in the air — has turned into open season on Italy ’ s famous son .
Were I to create a holiday specifically designed to generate ill will toward Italians , I would call it “ Columbus Day ” and encourage students to work themselves into a lather revisiting his atrocities , which are real no matter what Nick Sposato imagines .
” You think he could do the things they ’ re claiming he did with 90 people ?
” he said .
Columbus sure thought so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not some slur cooked up the anti-Italian legions infecting this pair of aldermanic brains .
Read Columbus ’ journal : ” They do not bear arms , and do not know them , ” Columbus wrote of those he encountered .
“ They have no iron .
Their spears are made of cane ... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.
” Sposato returned my call .
I read him that entry .
” A guy acting like a badass , ” he conjectured .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is war.
’ I didn ’ t mean ‘ war.
’ A figurative war.
” A figurative war then .
Against the Chicago Public Schools .
For declining to honor his hero .
Why be stuck with Columbus ?
Two words of advice : Dante Day .
Make it Good Friday , when Inferno occurs .
Celebrate Italian literature .
Change Balboa Drive to Enrico Fermi Drive .
He actually lived here .
Columbus is a lost cause .
“ He found America ” is also wrong .
Millions of native Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Columbus didn ’ t find it , not in the usual sense of the word .
And Columbus didn ’ t believe he discovered America ; he went to his grave insisting he had reached the East Indies .
Speaking of Dante .
Turning my head , I see the bust of Dante the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans kindly gave me in 2010 .
Engraved there is a line from Paradiso , the third book of Dante ’ s Commedia : “ Never be a timid friend to truth.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ ... except when truth wounds your pride.
” The quote is another error .
The actual text — as Dante so often does — speaks directly to our situation .
Wandering heaven , Dante runs into Cacciaguida , his great-great grandfather , and wonders if he dare reveal all he has seen below .
” Down through the world of endless bitterness ... ” he says , neatly summarizing identity politics .
“ I have learned things that , should I retell them , would discomfort many with their bitter taste.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsehood/revealing all that you have seen/and then let him who itches scratch.
” Lots of scratching going on .
These two aldermen scrape away , oblivious to how bad they look .
They claim to speak for all Italians everywhere in their demand that Columbus remain glorified forever .
I would bet that for every one who agrees , five sadly shake their heads , wishing they would just shut up .
This is a lost battle .
Sorry to be the one to tell you .

Alds. Nick Sposato and Anthony Napolitano belong to a people notorious for their theatrical emotion and looseness with fact. I’m referring, of course, to the Chicago City Council. Those qualities vibrated off the page in the Sun-Times Friday, in Fran Spielman and Nader Issa’s story detailing aldermanic outrage at the Chicago Public Schools’ decision to drop Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous People’s Day.
“He found America,” Sposato said of Columbus, declaring “war” on the CPS over its disinclination to honor the Italian explorer.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” added Napolitano, inflating elimination of the holiday into a general slur “that Italian Americans haven’t contributed to the United States.”
Sigh.
Opinion bug Opinion
Let me begin by saying I have sympathy for the underlying issue here: the importance of the Italian-American community, their invaluable culture and vital contribution to Chicago. I could not have spent as many hours as I did sitting at Gene & Georgetti, across a table from that charming booster of all things Italian, the late Dominic DiFrisco, hearing him expound on this very issue, and not be sympathetic.
A huge deal, Columbus was. In the 19th century. From Columbus, Ohio, founded in 1812, to the 1893 Columbian Fair.
But guess what? We’re in the 21st century now, and the political climate has shifted. Columbus Day, while a chance for some Italians to display their pride — something which, judging from these two aldermen, needs no special holiday to rear snorting and pawing its hooves in the air — has turned into open season on Italy’s famous son.
Were I to create a holiday specifically designed to generate ill will toward Italians, I would call it “Columbus Day” and encourage students to work themselves into a lather revisiting his atrocities, which are real no matter what Nick Sposato imagines.
”You think he could do the things they’re claiming he did with 90 people?” he said.
Columbus sure thought so. The crimes lain at his feet are not some slur cooked up by the anti-Italian legions infecting this pair of aldermanic brains. Read Columbus’ journal:
“They do not bear arms, and do not know them,” Columbus wrote of those he encountered. “They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane ... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”
Sposato returned my call. I read him that entry.
”A guy acting like a badass,” he conjectured. “Just like me saying, ‘This is war.’ I didn’t mean ‘war.’ A figurative war.”
A figurative war then. Against the Chicago Public Schools. For declining to honor his hero. Why be stuck with Columbus? Two words of advice: Dante Day. Make it Good Friday, when Inferno occurs. Celebrate Italian literature. Change Balbo Drive to Enrico Fermi Drive. He actually lived here.
Columbus is a lost cause. “He found America” is also wrong. Millions of native Americans already knew where they were. Plus, Columbus didn’t find it, not in the usual sense of the word. And Columbus didn’t believe he discovered America; he went to his grave insisting he had reached the East Indies.
Speaking of Dante. Turning my head, I see the bust of Dante the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans kindly gave me in 2010. Engraved there is a line from Paradiso, the third book of Dante’s Commedia: “Never be a timid friend to truth.”
Maybe there wasn’t room for “ ... except when truth wounds your pride.”
The quote is another error. The actual text — as Dante so often does — speaks directly to our situation. Wandering heaven, Dante runs into Cacciaguida, his great-great grandfather, and wonders if he dare reveal all he has seen below.
“Down through the world of endless bitterness ...” he says, neatly summarizing identity politics. “I have learned things that, should I retell them, would discomfort many with their bitter taste.”
“Should I be a timid friend” — a timido amico — “to truth?” Dante wonders.
Cacciaguida urges him to “foreswear all falsehood/revealing all that you have seen/and then let him who itches scratch.”
Lots of scratching going on. These two aldermen scrape away, oblivious to how bad they look. They claim to speak for all Italians everywhere in their demand that Columbus remain glorified forever. I would bet that for every one who agrees, five sadly shake their heads. It’s a free country; you can adore the lowest beast. But you can’t force others to do the same.


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Some judicial candidates hoping St. Patrick’s Day will be Independents’ Day

Becoming a judge in Cook County has traditionally had as much to do with a good ballot name , winning key endorsements and knowing the political ropes as it did law books , legal opinions and judicial temperament .
But now a growing number of independent candidates are borrowing from the Cook County Democratic Party ’ s playbook , banding together and using those same political tactics to try to win seats on the bench .
After losing her first run for a judgeship in 2018 , Lorraine Mary Murphy has become more focused on the political calculus it takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time , I got the first spot on the ballot , and I ’ ve got the Irish name , ” Murphy said .
“ There are stats that say you get some extra votes.
” “ Every little bit that can get you a bit of an edge , you try to do.
” Conventional political wisdom holds that Irish names and women candidates can provide that edge in contests farther down the ballot , such as judicial races .
Murphy joined forces with eight others — including African American , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to circulate petitions together to make it easier to get on the March 17 ballot .
Of course , March 17 is St. Patrick ’ s Day .
County Democrats say they ’ re not worried that that coincidence could prove the independents ’ lucky charm .
But the surge of independent candidates running against those chosen and slated by the Cook County Democratic Party has not gone unnoticed by party leaders .
“ We ’ re always nervous when candidates run against the slated candidates , ” said Jacob Kaplan , executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As for whether or not the primary being on St. Patrick ’ s Day could give those running an extra boost , Kaplan laughed .
“ I don ’ t think so , ” Kaplan said .
“ I don ’ t think that really matters , but it ’ s funny to think about.
” Murphy is taking on the party ’ s slated candidate , Araceli Reyes De La Cruz .
The independent group Murphy banded together is part of a growing trend of independent slates of candidates running against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Democratic Party .
Some independent slates include Irish women , in the hopes of edging out the competition .
Kaplan said the number of independent slates with female Irish candidates has grown over the past few election cycles , but this current cycle has seen the most .
Kaplan couldn ’ t quantify that , but there are at least 11 women running in circuit court judicial vacancy races have last names that could be Irish .
Kaplan says the party is doing what it always does — sending out mailers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating a “ robust ” digital program — but they ’ re kicking that into a higher gear now .
Mary Kay Dawson , who ’ s been involved in judicial races since 1992 and works for Mack Communications , said there ’ s “ a great myth that having an Irish name guarantees victory.
” But studies have shown that female Irish names do have an advantage in county judicial races .
One 2011 study by Albert Klumpp , named in part “ Fear the Irish Women , ” found that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 14.7 % and 10.5 % , respectively .
Being slated by the party gives a candidate a 10.4 % advantage , that study found .
“ A single candidate who can monopolize either or both of these advantages in a contest can more than overcome the disadvantage of not being slated , ” Klumpp wrote .
Elizabeth Ryan teamed up with a group of three women who are all basically neighbors .
Party sources have given them the nickname “ The Sauganash Four , ” though Ryan said only two live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re all running in their own races , but did circulate petitions together .
Ryan and her team are working with Chi-Town Printing owner Tom Stapka , whom Ryan said advised them to run .
Kaplan said he worries that these independent slates may lead to unvetted candidates ascending to the bench .
“ We go through a long vetting process , where we go through all the credentials and all the commiteemen get to explore that , and I think voters can feel confident when voting that they ’ ve been vetted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kaplan said .
“ When voting for someone else , you may not have that same confidence.
” Both Murphy and Ryan say they ’ re the most qualified candidates in their races .
Murphy touts her experience as an assistant state ’ s attorney , trying over 70 felony trials and working in the county ’ s various courthouses as well as her community service work as reasons why she should win .
Ryan points to her time doing a judicial clerkship , which helped her learn “ first hand how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” She also said she was vetted by the Chicago Bar Association and , being from the South Side of Chicago but now living on the North West Side gives her a good base of support in the city .
She agreed that relying on bar association evaluations is important and even independent candidates should go through them and stressed the need for independent candidates .
“ I think it ’ s important that we do have some candidates who are independent , who aren ’ t running because they ’ re selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The reason they were selected may not be because they have the best temperament and are very qualified , there could be other reasons .
Independent candidates should be considered .
Just because I didn ’ t pay $ 40,000 to the party doesn ’ t mean I ’ m less qualified than my opponent .
”

Becoming a judge in Cook County has traditionally had as much to do with a good ballot name, winning key endorsements and knowing the political ropes as it did law books, legal opinions and judicial temperament.
But now a growing number of independent candidates are borrowing from the Cook County Democratic Party’s playbook, banding together and using those same political tactics to try to win seats on the bench.
After losing her first run for a judgeship in 2018, Lorraine Mary Murphy has become more focused on the political calculus it takes to win.
“I got labor this time, I got the first spot on the ballot, and I’ve got the Irish name,” Murphy said. “There are stats that say you get some extra votes.”
“Every little bit that can get you a bit of an edge, you try to do.”
Conventional political wisdom holds that Irish names and women candidates can provide that edge in contests farther down the ballot, such as judicial races.
Murphy joined forces with eight others — including African American, Asian, Latino and white candidates — to circulate petitions together to make it easier to get on the March 17 ballot.
Of course, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day.
County Democrats say they’re not worried that coincidence could prove the independents’ lucky charm.
But the surge of independent candidates running against those chosen and slated by the Cook County Democratic Party has not gone unnoticed by party leaders.
“We’re always nervous when candidates run against the slated candidates,” said Jacob Kaplan, executive director of the Cook County Democratic Party.
As for whether the primary being on St. Patrick’s Day could give those running an extra boost, Kaplan laughed.
“I don’t think so,” Kaplan said. “I don’t think that really matters, but it’s funny to think about.”
Murphy is taking on the party’s slated candidate, Araceli Reyes De La Cruz, and James Patrick Crawley, an independent Irish-American candidate.
Araceli Reyes De La Cruz, left; James Patrick Crawley, right. From www.delacruz4judge.com; https://www.crawleyforjudge.com
The independent group Murphy banded together is part of a growing trend of independent slates of candidates running against those chosen and slated by the Cook County Democratic Party. Some independent slates include Irish women, in the hopes of edging out the competition.
Kaplan said the number of independent slates with female Irish candidates has grown over the past few election cycles, but this current cycle has seen the most.
Kaplan couldn’t quantify that, but there are at least 11 women running in circuit court judicial vacancy races have last names that could be Irish.
Kaplan says the party is doing what it always does — sending out mailers, putting candidate literature on the streets, creating a “robust” digital program — but they’re kicking that into a higher gear now.
Mary Kay Dawson, who’s been involved in judicial races since 1992 and works for Mack Communications, said there’s “a great myth that having an Irish name guarantees victory.”
But studies have shown those with female Irish names do have an advantage in county judicial races. One 2011 study by Albert Klumpp, named in part “Fear the Irish Women,” found a female and Irish name offers an advantage of 14.7% and 10.5%, respectively.
Being slated by the party gives a candidate a 10.4% advantage, that study found.
Judicial candidate Elizabeth Ryan. From ryanforjudge.com
“A single candidate who can monopolize either or both of these advantages in a contest can more than overcome the disadvantage of not being slated,” Klumpp wrote.
Elizabeth Ryan teamed up with a group of three women who are all basically neighbors. Party sources have given them the nickname “The Sauganash Four,” though Ryan said only two live in that Northwest Side neighborhood. They’re all running in their own races but did circulate petitions together.
Ryan and her team are working with Chi-Town Printing owner Tom Stapka, whom Ryan said advised them to run.
Kaplan said he worries these independent slates may lead to unvetted candidates ascending to the bench.
“We go through a long vetting process, where we go through all the credentials and all the committeemen get to explore that, and I think voters can feel confident when voting that they’ve been vetted and gone through a rigorous process,” Kaplan said. “When voting for someone else, you may not have that same confidence.”
Both Murphy and Ryan say they’re the most qualified candidates in their races. Murphy touts her experience as an assistant state’s attorney, trying over 70 felony trials and working in the county’s various courthouses as well as her community service work as reasons why she should win.
Judicial candidate Lorraine Mary Murphy. From https://electlorrainemarymurphy.com
Ryan points to her time doing a judicial clerkship, which helped her learn “first hand how a court room should be run efficiently.” She also said she was vetted by the Chicago Bar Association and, being from the South Side of Chicago but now living on the Northwest Side gives her a good base of support in the city.
She agreed that relying on bar association evaluations is important and even independent candidates should go through that process, and she stressed the need for independent candidates.
“I think it’s important that we do have some candidates who are independent, who aren’t running because they’re selected by the party,” Ryan said. “The reason they were selected may not be because they have the best temperament and are very qualified; there could be other reasons. Independent candidates should be considered. Just because I didn’t pay $40,000 to the party doesn’t mean I’m less qualified than my opponent.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated since original publication to include James Patrick Crawley, an independent Irish-American candidate, who is also competing with Lorraine Mary Murphy and Araceli Reyes De La Cruz for a Circuit Court seat in the “Roti Vacancy” race.


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Jeep hits Roseland home after chase from Matteson; 2 in custody

A police chase that started in south suburban Matteson ended Sunday in Roseland on the South Side .
The chase @ @ @ @ @ a stolen vehicle wanted in connection with an armed robbery northbound on I-57 near Vollmer @ @ @ @ @ statement from Illinois State Police .
They lost sight of it , but a state @ @ @ @ @ 2:42 a.m. speeding north on the expressway near 159th Street , authorities said .
Police @ @ @ @ @ Jeep as it exited I-57 at 111th Street , according to state and Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ fence and home about 2:50 a.m. in the 300 block of West 107th Street .
@ @ @ @ @ and two males are in state police custody , authorities said .
The crash ruptured @ @ @ @ @ the Chicago Fire Department and Peoples Gas representatives to respond to the scene , according @ @ @ @ @ officials said no hazardous materials response was required .
Read more on crime , and @ @ @ @ @ homicides .

A police chase that started in south suburban Matteson ended Sunday in Roseland on the South Side.
The chase started with Matteson police pursuing a stolen vehicle wanted in connection with an armed robbery northbound on I-57 near Vollmer Road, according to a statement from Illinois State Police.
They lost sight of it, but a state trooper later spotted it about 2:42 a.m. speeding north on the expressway near 159th Street, authorities said.
Police continued to pursue the red Jeep as it exited I-57 at 111th Street, according to state and Chicago police. It crashed into a fence and home about 2:50 a.m. in the 300 block of West 107th Street.
No one was injured, and two males are in state police custody, authorities said.
The crash ruptured a gas main and prompted the Chicago Fire Department and Peoples Gas representatives to respond to the scene, according to state police. Fire officials said no hazardous materials response was required.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Dear Abby: Because we’re too busy to visit often, father-in-law thinks we hate him

DEAR ABBY : My father-in-law is his own worst enemy .
While my husband and I were dating , we visited his father regularly .
Since our marriage , our visits have become less frequent .
This is because my husband and I both have demanding jobs , and I am in school .
We are BUSY trying to secure a stable life together .
My FIL has taken offense to this .
He insists that the real reason we don ’ t visit is because we are angry with him and hate him .
We have tried explaining that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he refuses to believe us .
He ’ s convinced that he has somehow deeply offended us , and we are refusing to talk about it .
Unfortunately , he obsesses over this every time we DO visit and makes it awkward by guilt-tripping me and my husband , begging us to tell him what he did wrong .
He also tries to prevent us from leaving when it ’ s time to go by distracting us with conversation , refusing to see us out the door , and sometimes physically sitting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t drive off .
Neither my husband nor I look forward to visits anymore because they have become such a chore .
My FIL has issues with mental illness ( which contribute to his behavior ) , but he refuses to get help .
Worse , he has an elementary school-age child who believes everything he says .
The child is convinced we hate and have abandoned them because of hearing my FIL talk .
I am frustrated and sad for the child , but my words to my FIL fall on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice ?
— DAUGHTER-IN-LAW IN THE SOUTH DEAR D.I.L .
: Frankly , I am surprised your FIL is not focusing his entire attention on the child who is living at home rather than obsessing about his adult son and you .
The man appears to be not only disturbed but also irrational .
Because your husband has dealt with his father his entire life , take your cues from him .
If your father-in-law is currently married ( I assume he must be because he has a young child living with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
She may be able to help counteract the damage that is being created with the child .
DEAR ABBY : My son is welcoming his first child at the age of 39 , and I will be hosting a baby shower for him and his girlfriend .
The problem is , I asked him for a list of attendees , and at the top of the list is someone my son and daughter were friends with since middle school .
However , a few years ago , she interfered with my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of heartache , so my daughter cut all ties with her .
My son travels a lot .
He is not home often and doesn ’ t know the extent of what happened between my daughter and their mutual friend .
I ’ m not sure how to handle this .
Should I not invite her , or should I tell my son what happened and suggest he not invite her out of respect for his sister ?
Or do I tell my daughter this is about her brother , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to respect her brother ’ s wishes ?
I ’ m in the middle and not sure what to do .
At one time I was close with this girl , but after what she did to my daughter , I haven ’ t spoken to her either .
— GETTING ALONG IN THE EAST DEAR GETTING ALONG : Your son may travel a lot , but he has a phone .
Call him , fill him in and ask how he and his girlfriend want this handled .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Miss Troublemaker ” off the list .
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 .
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “ The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.
” To order , send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dear Abby , Anger Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My father-in-law is his own worst enemy. While my husband and I were dating, we visited his father regularly. Since our marriage, our visits have become less frequent. This is because my husband and I both have demanding jobs, and I am in school. We are BUSY trying to secure a stable life together.
My FIL has taken offense to this. He insists that the real reason we don’t visit is because we are angry with him and hate him. We have tried explaining that it isn’t so, but he refuses to believe us. He’s convinced that he has somehow deeply offended us, and we are refusing to talk about it.
Unfortunately, he obsesses over this every time we DO visit and makes it awkward by guilt-tripping me and my husband, begging us to tell him what he did wrong. He also tries to prevent us from leaving when it’s time to go by distracting us with conversation, refusing to see us out the door, and sometimes physically sitting in front of the car so we can’t drive off. Neither my husband nor I look forward to visits anymore because they have become such a chore.
My FIL has issues with mental illness (which contribute to his behavior), but he refuses to get help. Worse, he has an elementary school-age child who believes everything he says. The child is convinced we hate and have abandoned them because of hearing my FIL talk. I am frustrated and sad for the child, but my words to my FIL fall on deaf ears. Do you have any advice? — DAUGHTER-IN-LAW IN THE SOUTH
DEAR D.I.L.: Frankly, I am surprised your FIL is not focusing his entire attention on the child who is living at home rather than obsessing about his adult son and you. The man appears to be not only disturbed but also irrational.
Because your husband has dealt with his father his entire life, take your cues from him. If your father-in-law is currently married (I assume he must be because he has a young child living with him), talking to his wife might help. She may be able to help counteract the damage that is being created with the child.
DEAR ABBY: My son is welcoming his first child at the age of 39, and I will be hosting a baby shower for him and his girlfriend. The problem is, I asked him for a list of attendees, and at the top of the list is someone my son and daughter were friends with since middle school. However, a few years ago, she interfered with my daughter’s marriage and caused a lot of heartache, so my daughter cut all ties with her.
My son travels a lot. He is not home often and doesn’t know the extent of what happened between my daughter and their mutual friend. I’m not sure how to handle this. Should I not invite her, or should I tell my son what happened and suggest he not invite her out of respect for his sister? Or do I tell my daughter this is about her brother, it’s only one get-together, and she needs to respect her brother’s wishes?
I’m in the middle and not sure what to do. At one time I was close with this girl, but after what she did to my daughter, I haven’t spoken to her either. — GETTING ALONG IN THE EAST
DEAR GETTING ALONG: Your son may travel a lot, but he has a phone. Call him, fill him in and ask how he and his girlfriend want this handled. I’m betting he will tell you to scratch “Miss Troublemaker” off the list.
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.
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Girl, 14, missing from West Rogers Park found safe

The patient has been `` hospitalized in isolation '' and health officials are currently in the process of tracking down @ @ @ @ @ into contact with the patient .

Chicagoans are brutal critics when our city is on the screen. One wrong intersection or misplaced neighborhood, and we turn up our noses. ‘The Fugitive,’ now celebrating its 30th anniversary, gets it right.


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Man arrested after randomly punching women in the face near Harold Washington Library: police

A 44-year-old man has been charged punching four women in the face Friday , seemingly at random , near Harold Washington Library in the Loop .
Lawrence Reed , 44 , is charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery , according to Chicago police .
Paramedics were called about 8:26 a.m. to State Street and Ida B .
Wells Drive , according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford .
Four women were taken in good condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital , Langford said .
“ We started at the library and picked up the patients from there , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women at “ random , ” and may have struck between five and 10 of them , police said .
They had bloody noses and other facial injuries , Langford said .
Reed , who lives on the Near West Side , was taken into custody in the 400 block of South State Street , according to police .
He was arrested for a similar incident in which he allegedly slapped a 42-year-old man in the face at the Halsted CTA Blue Line platform Feb. 21 , police said .
He was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that case .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A 44-year-old man has been charged punching four women in the face Friday, seemingly at random, near Harold Washington Library in the Loop.
Lawrence Reed, 44, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery, according to Chicago police.
Paramedics were called about 8:26 a.m. to State Street and Ida B. Wells Drive, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Four women were taken in good condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Langford said.
“We started at the library and picked up the patients from there,” Langford said.
Reed was punching the women at “random,” and may have struck between five and 10 of them, police said.
They had bloody noses and other facial injuries, Langford said.
Reed, who lives on the Near West Side, was taken into custody in the 400 block of South State Street, according to police.
He was arrested for a similar incident in which he allegedly slapped a 42-year-old man in the face at the Halsted CTA Blue Line platform Feb. 21, police said. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of battery in that case.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-03-01--Analyzing the IHSA’s new basketball state finals format

While we wait for the Illinois High School Association to announce the future home of the boys state basketball finals –– both Peoria and Champaign put in bids to host with an announcement set for April –– the new state series format and schedule , set to debut next season , has been set .
▪ The Class 1A , 2A , 3A and 4A boys state basketball finals will be held together over a three-day weekend , beginning next year on Thursday , Mar .
11 and concluding Saturday , Mar .
13 .
▪ All four state championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played on the same day .
▪ Regional play will begin on a Saturday with regional quarterfinal games and the higher seeded team hosting .
▪ All regional semifinal games will be played on the Wednesday following the Saturday quarterfinal games .
▪ Sectional week will remain the same with sectional semifinal games on Tuesday and Wednesday , and the sectional championship on Friday .
▪ All super-sectional games will be played on Monday instead of the traditional Tuesday .
▪ The boys and girls formats , held on back-to-back weekends , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the IHSA State Finals , for both genders , will be identical .
The tentative schedule the IHSA has released will look like this : The IHSA needed to make a change .
The buzz and interest surrounding the State Finals has been declining for years .
Combining all four classes will surely bring more fans together over one three-day weekend .
But will one single State Finals weekend generate more interest and attract more casual basketball fans ?
Championship Saturday : The fresh idea of four state championship games on one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of the high school basketball season should draw a considerable amount of fans with the four biggest games of the year all being played on one day and at one site .
Since the advent of four-class basketball in the 2005-2006 season , one of the drawbacks has been the fact championship Saturday hasn ’ t been all that appealing to the fan .
There have been championship games played at 1 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. , but there are hours between the games and a couple of uninteresting third-place games played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
The potential of increased media attention : While the IHSA could certainly improve its marketing of its premier event , the media coverage could increase with this new format .
With that comes more access and information for the fans .
With this schedule the semifinal games , both on Thursday and Friday , will be played and finished in plenty of time for media members to highlight the results of the day and preview and promote the championships games .
With semifinal games at 2:30 p.m. and roughly 4:30 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little earlier in preparation for championship Saturday .
The inconvenienced 1A and 2A fan : With this schedule there is no way around the fact the Class 1A and Class 2A fans , both the traditionalists who attend every year and fans of the participating schools , will feel some disruption and inconvenience in their weekend .
With the semifinals on Thursday and the championship games on Saturday , do Class 1A and 2A fans stay through the weekend ?
Do they travel back and forth from their hometowns ?
Do those fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one-day break ?
Semifinal games at 10 a.m. : No one wants to play what at that point would be the biggest game of their season just after breakfast .
Save that for AAU basketball .
The energy a semifinal game naturally creates will be zapped a little with the 10 a.m. start time .
The only alternative would have been to play the consolation games in the morning –– Class 1A and 2A third-place games on Friday morning and Class 3A and 4A third-place games on Saturday morning .
That would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 3A and 4A semifinals on Friday and the four championship games on Saturday .

While we wait for the Illinois High School Association to announce the future home of the boys state basketball finals –– both Peoria and Champaign put in bids to host with an announcement set for April –– the new state series format and schedule, set to debut next season, has been set.
Among the highlights:
▪ The Class 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A boys state basketball finals will be held together over a three-day weekend, beginning next year on Thursday, Mar. 11 and concluding Saturday, Mar. 13.
▪ All four state championship games in all four classes will be played on the same day.
▪ Regional play will begin on a Saturday with regional quarterfinal games and the higher seeded team hosting.
▪ All regional semifinal games will be played on the Wednesday following the Saturday quarterfinal games.
▪ Sectional week will remain the same with sectional semifinal games on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the sectional championship on Friday.
▪ All super-sectional games will be played on Monday instead of the traditional Tuesday.
▪ The boys and girls formats, held on back-to-back weekends, will be exactly the same.
The schedule for the IHSA State Finals, for both genders, will be identical. The tentative schedule the IHSA has released will look like this:
Thursday
Class 1A semifinal game, 10 a.m.
Class 1A semifinal game, 20 minutes after
Class 2A semifinal game, 2:30 p.m.
Class 2A semifinal game, 20 minutes after
Class 1A third-place game, 7 p.m.
Class 2A third-place game, 20 minutes after
Friday
Class 3A semifinal game, 10 a.m.
Class 3A semifinal game, 20 minutes after
Class 4A semifinal game, 2:30 p.m
Class 4A semifinal game, 20 minutes after
Class 3A third-place game, 7 p.m.
Class 4A third-place game, 20 minutes after
Saturday
Class 1A state championship game, 11 a.m.
Class 2A state championship game, 20 minutes after
Class 3A state championship game, 5:30 p.m.
Class 4A state championship game, 20 minutes after
2021 BK State Series Structure.pdf
The IHSA needed to make a change. The buzz and interest surrounding the State Finals has been declining for years. Combining all four classes will surely bring more fans together over one three-day weekend. But will one single State Finals weekend generate more interest and attract more casual basketball fans?
The good
Championship Saturday: The fresh idea of four state championship games on one day is clearly attractive.
The final day of the high school basketball season should draw a considerable amount of fans with the four biggest games of the year all being played on one day and at one site.
Since the advent of four-class basketball in the 2005-2006 season, one of the drawbacks has been the fact championship Saturday hasn’t been all that appealing to the fan. There have been championship games played at 1 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., but there are hours between the games and a couple of uninteresting third-place games played in front of sparse crowds littering the day.
The potential of increased media attention: While the IHSA could certainly improve its marketing of its premier event, the media coverage could increase with this new format. With that comes more access and information for the fans.
With this schedule the semifinal games, both on Thursday and Friday, will be played and finished in plenty of time for media members to highlight the results of the day and preview and promote the championships games. With semifinal games at 2:30 p.m. and roughly 4:30 p.m., the hype can be built a little earlier in preparation for championship Saturday.
The bad
The inconvenienced 1A and 2A fan:With this schedule there is no way around the fact the Class 1A and Class 2A fans, both the traditionalists who attend every year and fans of the participating schools, will feel some disruption and inconvenience in their weekend.
With the semifinals on Thursday and the championship games on Saturday, do Class 1A and 2A fans stay through the weekend? Do they travel back and forth from their hometowns? Do those fans lose a little of the experience with the one-day break?
Semifinal games at 10 a.m.:No one wants to play what at that point would be the biggest game of their season just after breakfast. Save that for AAU basketball. The energy a semifinal game naturally creates will be zapped a little with the 10 a.m. start time.
The only alternative would have been to play the consolation games in the morning –– Class 1A and 2A third-place games on Friday morning and Class 3A and 4A third-place games on Saturday morning. That would then push back the starting times of the 3A and 4A semifinals on Friday and the four championship games on Saturday.