chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Face masks selling out and Lunar New Year events canceled as Chicago’s Chinese community reacts to c

Face masks selling out and Lunar New Year events canceled as Chicago’s Chinese community reacts to coronavirus spread

Wearing a black disposable face mask , Hai Xia , 25 , who lives in Prairie Shores , came to @ @ @ @ @ of finding the 3M N95 masks .
His friend had told him via WeChat that @ @ @ @ @ sold out , so he was hoping he ’ d get lucky by venturing to @ @ @ @ @ up empty-handed once again .
It was his second try for the day , and @ @ @ @ @ was ready to try his luck online , but he said he couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ for .

A Walgreens sales clerk rings up a purchase of face masks in Chicago's Chinatown as people take protective measures against the spread of the coronavirus Jan. 24. A person infected with the coronavirus is being treated in a Chicago hospital after traveling to Wuhan, China. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
On the eve of Lunar New Year, a time meant for celebration with family and arguably the most important Chinese holiday, many Chinatown residents found themselves instead standing in line to buy bright blue boxes of face masks, seeking to protect themselves from the coronavirus after the first case was confirmed in Chicago.
By early afternoon Friday, the lone Walgreens in Chinatown was sold out. Meanwhile, some events celebrating Lunar New Year were canceled, and restaurant owners in the community complained of waning business.
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Lunar New Year, celebrated from Friday to Feb. 4, marks one of the busiest travel seasons among Chinese, as it’s part of the cultural tradition to return to one’s hometown and reunite with family. But this year, many plans have come to a halt because of the coronavirus outbreak in China that has begun to spread to the U.S.
On Saturday, tourists and area residents walked mostly mask-free, and businesses were open like any typical day in January. Despite some festive decorations, activity in the area was light due to poor weather and coronavirus concerns.
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Paulynette Acosta walked in and out of stores while shopping along South Wentworth Avenue, holding a fruit smoothie in one hand and wearing a medical face mask with a decorative design that covered her mouth.
“I just want to be cautious,” Acosta said, referring to news reports of the virus having been detected in a Chicago resident who returned from Wuhan on Jan. 13. “It’s like there’s something new every year.”
From restaurant reservation cancellations to travelers eschewing trips to the homeland, many Chinese Chicagoans have taken a cautious approach to this year’s festivities, opting to stay home and avoid crowds to limit opportunities for exposure. The identification of Illinois’ first coronavirus case Friday underscored the risk for some.
The Chicago woman had returned from caring for her sick father in China earlier this month, and was diagnosed with the respiratory coronavirus, which has sickened more than 1,200 in China and killed at least 41 there, officials said Saturday. The woman’s condition had been stabilized, and she was “clinically doing well," officials said.
In Chicago’s Chinatown on Friday morning, it seemed like the only indications that it was Lunar New Year’s Eve were the red lanterns, wet from the unrelenting drizzle, swaying between trees on Cermak Road.
A couple in Chinatown wear masks as a precaution in Chinatown on Jan. 25, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
The usually bustling neighborhood seemed concentrated at the sole Walgreens in the area, on Cermak near Archer Avenue. Boxes of surgical-grade face masks sat on the counter near the cash register, and people lined up, buying them as quickly as the employees could stock them. But the real prize, 3M N95 masks, which customers favor for protection against viruses, had been sold out within two hours that morning. All 400 of them.
[ China’s president calls accelerating coronavirus a ‘grave situation’ as some streets appear abandoned on Lunar New Year holiday ]
A woman who worked at the Walgreens said Friday that another shipment of 600 masks was due to arrive later that day, hopefully in time for Lunar New Year celebrations. But before 2 p.m. the store was sold out of all face masks, all types. There were no signs alerting customers of the next shipment, nor were any signs posted at other businesses that referenced the virus.
Wearing a black disposable face mask, Hai Xia, 25, who lives in Prairie Shores, came to the Chinatown Walgreens in hopes of finding the 3M N95 masks. His friend had told him via WeChat that Costco and Target were already sold out, so he was hoping he’d get lucky by venturing to Chinatown. But he came up empty-handed once again. It was his second try for the day, and at that point, he was ready to try his luck online, but he said he couldn’t find what he was looking for.
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“We just want to protect our life,” he said in Mandarin.
Hai Xia, right, leaves the Walgreens in Chinatown empty-handed on Jan. 24 after hoping to purchase a box of a specific brand of surgical face masks to protect himself and others from the coronavirus. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
With their hoods up and umbrellas extended, patrons of Park To Shop in Chinatown hurried from their car to the store for last-minute groceries Friday. Many of them, including small children bundled up in puffy winter jackets, wore face masks as they browsed the aisles of produce and red Lunar New Year boxes full of traditional cookies and candies.
“I don’t want to go back (to China),” Qinan Zhao, who was wearing a face mask while loading some green onions into the basket on her bicycle, said in Mandarin. “It’s very scary. But I’m sure the Chinese will find a cure very quickly.”
Huan Wang, vice president of the Association of Chinese-American Scientists and Engineers and a restaurateur, said he’s seen a decrease in the number of people dining out in his establishments. The health scare combined with the weather has made business difficult.
Many patrons have opted to order delivery online instead of dining in, a service that takes a cut out of Wang’s overall profits, he said.
Still, Wang was not oblivious to people’s concerns about health risks. To help protect his staff and patrons, his restaurants are also taking extra precautions to sanitize tables and utensils, using extra-strong disinfectants for cleaning, he said. Also, they are posting notices in the restaurants encouraging people to be considerate of other diners by covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
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Wang said some of his friends who own restaurants in Chinatown have seen cancellations for reservations booked for Lunar New Year, including a group of 80 people who canceled on Thursday. The reservations are hard to fill so close to the holiday, he said. Because festivities typically begin around dinnertime, the cancellations have dealt a heavy blow to the small businesses.
[ Northwestern University professor leading research team trying to stop coronavirus: ‘We are here specifically for this.’ ]
Among the events canceled Friday was the Festival of Spring, a huge show hosted by the Chinese American Association of Greater Chicago featuring music and dance performances to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Still, another large celebration, the Chinatown Chinese Lunar New Year Parade, is on for Feb. 2, said Mabel Moy, president of the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.
She said many people who were from Southern China seemed to be less worried than their Northern Chinese counterparts, and her Cantonese friends are still making dinner reservations.
Yang Jiong, of the Zhejiang Opera Theatre, performs at the Chicago Cultural Center in downtown Chicago on Jan. 24, 2020, in celebration of the Chinese New Year. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Videos of how to cover your mouth when you cough and how to take preventive measures against the virus are sweeping across WeChat groups, both locally and internationally. Wang said his family, many of whom work in the medical field, have been extra diligent about sharing tips with family, friends and online groups that they’re a part of.
“I think people really underestimate the potential impact of coughing,” he said. “They think they’re healthy so they don’t think they need to do anything different.”
Many online groups are also putting together packages of supplies to send to Wuhan, the city where the outbreak is concentrated in China, Wang said. And various community organizations have held informational seminars to help educate people on how to protect themselves and how to help.
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[ What is coronavirus and what precautions should people in the Chicago area be taking? ]
While preventive measures are necessary, Wang said there’s no need for panic. And there’s certainly no need for people to be afraid to visit the Chinatown neighborhood in Chicago.
“Many of us haven’t been back to China in years,” he said with a laugh.
Paulynette Acosta wears a medical face mask while shopping on South Wentworth Avenue in Chinatown on Jan. 25, 2020. "I just want to be cautious," Acosta said, referring to a coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China, which has spread to other countries. "It's like there's something new every year." (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The Tribune’s John Kim contributed
gwong@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--DePaul falls to 1-6 in Big East play with a 79-66 home loss to St. John’s

DePaul ( 13-7 , 1-6 ) lost its second straight game and sixth in its last seven games .
Jalen @ @ @ @ @ the Demons , who were tied 34-34 at halftime and trailed only 58-55 with six @ @ @ @ @ John ’ s ended the game with a 21-11 run .

Charlie Moore had 20 points and seven rebounds, and Paul Reed added 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, but it was not enough for DePaul to avoid another Big East loss.
St. John’s completed a regular-season sweep of the Blue Demons with a 79-66 win Saturday afternoon at Wintrust Arena. LJ Figueroa scored a career-high 28 points for the Red Storm, which ended a four-game road losing streak.
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DePaul (13-7, 1-6) lost its second straight game and sixth in its last seven games. Jalen Coleman-Lands scored 15 points for the Demons, who were tied 34-34 at halftime and trailed only 58-55 with six minutes to play before St. John’s ended the game with a 21-11 run.
The Demons shot 20-for-65 (30.8%) from the field and 4 of 25 (16%) on 3-point attempts.
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Mustapha Heron scored 20 points for the Red Storm (13-8, 2-6), and Julian Champagnie added 11 rebounds and four blocks.
St. John’s defeated DePaul 74-67 on Jan. 11. The Blue Demons travel to New Jersey to play Seton Hall on Wednesday.


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Chicago area faces winter weather advisory, but so far ‘the snow is pretty and not much of an inconv

Chicago area faces winter weather advisory, but so far ‘the snow is pretty and not much of an inconvenience’

During the day , we may see snowfall that could transition to freezing drizzle toward Saturday evening , with total @ @ @ @ @ an inch possible , officials said .

A person walks through Millennium Park as fog passes through the area, Jan. 24, 2020 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
National Weather Service officials have issued a winter weather advisory in effect until midnight Sunday, but unlike the prior two weekends, conditions appear to be rather steady with limited snowfall expected to start around 2 p.m., officials said.
The advisory, for Grundy, Kendall, Will, Cook and DuPage counties, mentions 1 to 3 inches that may cover roadways, making slick traveling conditions, but minor snowfall was being reported in areas so far, officials said.
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During the day, we may see snowfall that could transition to freezing drizzle toward Saturday evening, with total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible, officials said.
As of 12:30 p.m., temperatures at Midway Airport registered at 35 degrees, and only light snowfall was reported in most areas. Snow was slightly heavier in the western suburbs.
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Snowfall totals overnight into Saturday morning include:
.2 inches at Midway
.3 inches at O’Hare
.7 inches at Romeoville
4.2 inches at Rockford
National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Lenning said, “The snow is pretty and not much of an inconvenience."
But some travelers were inconvenienced at O’Hare International Airport which reported at least 269 delays Saturday, and slightly more than 10 cancellations.
The afternoon temperatures were expected to hover around 35 degrees with the wind blowing at 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph.
Stay connected Saturday while we monitor the weather to bring the most current conditions.


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Ayo Dosunmu’s clutch shot puts Illinois alone in 1st place: 3 takeaways from the Illini’s 64-62 vict

Ayo Dosunmu’s clutch shot puts Illinois alone in 1st place: 3 takeaways from the Illini’s 64-62 victory over Michigan

“ We just chose to let him go , ” coach Brad Underwood told reporters after the game .
“ @ @ @ @ @ that shot a million times .
He stops on a dime .
He got to @ @ @ @ @ was well-guarded , but he knocked it down . ''

Introducing your first-place Illini.
Sounds strange, right? But Illinois, which has been teetering between abysmal and mediocre the last several years, is atop the Big Ten — only the most rugged league in the nation.
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After Michigan State’s loss to Indiana on Thursday and Illinois’ 64-62 victory at Michigan on Saturday, the No. 21 Illini (15-5, 7-2) are in sole possession of the top spot and on a six-game tear. It’s Illinois’ longest conference winning streak since the Final Four season of 2004-05.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s victory:
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1. Ayo Dosunmu continues to make clutch shots.
With Illinois needing a shot to win, everyone knew the ball would be in sophomore Ayo Dosunmu’s hands at the end of the game. He still made the jumper with Zavier Simpson guarding him tightly and only 0.5 seconds left on the clock.
😱😤 @AyoDos_11 CALLED GAME
He drains it to hand @IlliniMBB the win on the road vs Michigan 💪 pic.twitter.com/c7q0jNuxtW — FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 25, 2020
“We just chose to let him go,” coach Brad Underwood told reporters after the game. “I've seen him practice that shot a million times. He stops on a dime. He got to 15 feet, and it was well-guarded, but he knocked it down."
Dosunmu scored a career-high 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting with seven rebounds to carry an otherwise struggling lineup.
In the last five games, Dosunmu has averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists while shooting 53.7% from the field.
His late-game heroics helped Illinois hold off Wisconsin, Rutgers and Northwestern and he was brilliant down the stretch against Purdue.
Dosunmu’s shot against Michigan (11-8, 2-6) will be most memorable.
There were nine ties and 12 lead changes Saturday before Dosunmu’s game winner. He scored six of the Illini’s final eight points.
2. Being a road warrior in the Big Ten should pay dividends.
The conference has become notorious for its tough road environments. Few wins this season have come for teams outside of their home arenas.
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Illinois is 4-3 as a visitor in the Big Ten, calling the wins “roadkill.” Only Wisconsin and Iowa have as many as three road wins.
The Illini have looked composed outside of Champaign with wins at Wisconsin and Purdue to make it three straight on the road. They had not won in Ann Arbor, Mich., since 2010.
The eventual conference champion in this beat-up-on-each-other league will have to have collected at least a few road wins — and Illinois is proving it can do so.
Michigan State can move back into a first-place tie with Illinois with a road win Sunday at Minnesota.
3. Illinois can overcome weak spots.
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The Illini found itself in foul trouble with Kofi Cockburn fouling out and Giorgi Bezhanishvili (three) and Trent Frazier (four) also struggling.
Cockburn finished with a season-low five points on 2-of-9 shooting and second-to-lowest rebound total with three. He picked up his fifth foul seemingly out of frustration.
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But Illinois picked up the slack with its defense.
The Illini held Michigan to 39% shooting, including 23.5% (4 of 17) on 3-pointers. In their two games against Illinois, the Wolverines have shot only 7 of 35 on 3-pointers.
Michigan managed only five assists.
Trent Frazier was strong on defense against Simpson for much of the game.
And while Dosunmu carried the offense, Andres Feliz added 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go with seven rebounds off the bench.


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--‘I never knew him to have anything against anybody.’ Mother at a loss after retired state trooper ki

‘I never knew him to have anything against anybody.’ Mother at a loss after retired state trooper killed in Lisle shooting that wounded another retired trooper and an off-duty trooper.

Rieves ' mother said she does not know McMullan or why she would have shot her son .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ on the news .
I have no idea what happened , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ to have anything against anybody .

The parking lot of Humidor cigar lounge in Lisle, where a shooting on Jan. 24, 2020, left several current and former Illinois State Police troopers dead or wounded. The shooter, a 51-year-old woman, died by suicide at the lounge, according to police. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Gregory Rieves wanted to become an Illinois State Police trooper since he was a boy.
“I don’t know why,” his mother, Hattie Rieves, said Saturday. “He always wanted to be a state trooper. ... He loved his job, he was always happy.”
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Retired Illinois State Police Trooper Gregory Rieves was killed in a shooting at a Lisle cigar lounge on Jan. 24, 2020. ( Illinois State Police)
Rieves retired last year after a 22-year career with the Illinois State Police. Friday night, he was in a cigar lounge in Lisle with another retired trooper and an off-duty trooper when a woman behind them stood up and started firing, according to police.
Rieves, 51, was shot dead. The two men with him were seriously wounded: retired Trooper Lloyd Graham, 55, and off-duty Trooper Kaiton Bullock, 48.
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The shooter, Lisa V. McMullan, 51, turned the gun on herself and died at the scene, police said.
“We have no idea why this happened,” Lisle’s acting police chief, Ron Wilke, told reporters outside the Humidor, at 1600 Ogden Ave., hours after the shooting. “I believe they know each other.”
McMullan, of Hyde Park, has no known criminal history, according to the Lisle Police Department. She had a valid firearm owner’s identification card and concealed carry license through the Illinois State Police.
McMullan and Rieves went to Proviso East High School in Maywood together in the 1980s. Police still have not determined if they were ever more than just acquaintances, but they also both have been known to frequent the Humidor of Lisle at the same time, according to officials.
Brendan Kelly, director of Illinois State Police, right, confirms the death of retired Trooper Gregory Rieves, who was shot and killed by a woman Friday night at a cigar lounge in Lisle. Kelly spoke at a news conference at the DuPage County coroner's office in Wheaton on Jan. 25, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Surveillance video shows McMullan sitting behind the three men in a “media room,” watching a big-screen television. Around 10:10 p.m., she stands up, draws a handgun and fires shots at the three “without apparent provocation,” according to the Lisle Police Department.
McMullan shot one of the men in the back of the head and then fired several rounds at the two others before shooting herself.
Seven bullets, including one she used on herself, were fired by McMullan during the incident, police said.
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Lisa V. McMullan, 51, has been identified as the suspect in a shooting that killed retired Illinois State Police trooper Gregory Rieves and wounded another retired trooper and an off-duty trooper in Lisle Friday night. (Lisle Police Department)
Rieves was pronounced dead at a hospital. Graham and Bullock were taken to Edward Hospital and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in serious condition. State police Director Brendan F. Kelly said Saturday that they were recovering and were “surrounded by loved ones."
He said Rieves was “well-loved by all those who worked with him." Rieves was the father of a 23-year-old son.
Rieves' mother said she does not know McMullan or why she would have shot her son. "I only know what I saw on the news. I have no idea what happened," she said. "I never knew him to have anything against anybody.
“He had a tough job, I was very concerned about it,” she added. “But he didn’t worry.”
Rieves said she last saw her son three weeks ago. “The last time I saw him was on my birthday when he brought me a bouquet.”
She said his friends have been calling the family home all day Saturday. “He was a very, very good guy,” said Rieves, 81.
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Her son had another passion in life: baseball. “When he was little, I would take him to games.” Rieves continued to play on teams after finishing school.
“He did have a good life,” she said. “A life that he loved.”
Chicago Tribune’s Paige Fry contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Column: Michael Kopech ditched social media, got hitched, cut his hair and is living in the moment.

Column: Michael Kopech ditched social media, got hitched, cut his hair and is living in the moment. He’s a new man, which bodes well for the White Sox.

“ I ’ ve dealt with anxiety before , kind of my whole life , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ of just seeking for more .
The revelation I can ’ t seek for more @ @ @ @ @ life was the blessing of being called up to the big leagues .
I got @ @ @ @ @ live it , but what ’ s more at that point ?
I stopped looking @ @ @ @ @ allowed me to not look too far ahead , not dwell on what I ’ @ @ @ @ @ be myself and live through the moment .

Sometimes you feel like it’s time for a reboot, and sometimes the reboot is forced upon you.
Whatever the reason, the goal is getting a fresh start, a chance to rewrite the script with a happier ending. No matter what your lot in life, change can be the fuel to a new beginning.
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After missing the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, White Sox pitched Michael Kopech did what he needed to do.
He got married to his girlfriend, actress Vanessa Morgan. He dropped off social media, bidding adieu to his Instagram followers with a philosophical farewell post. And he cut off his shoulder-length hair, adopting a buzz cut for his 2020 rebirth.
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Kopech 2.0 made his debut this weekend at SoxFest, and in a couple of weeks he’ll make his long-awaited return to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., to begin his comeback. The success or failure of that comeback could determine whether the rebuilding Sox can pull off an October surprise.
Living in the moment is the biggest change Kopech has been seeking after spending a good part of his adult life looking for something off in the distance. It led to the feelings of anxiety and depression that weren’t obvious to outsiders and affected the way he thought about himself and others.
It’s hard for some to understand what a highly touted baseball player with Kopech’s talent, good looks and personality could possibly be anxious or depressed about. His dream of making it to the majors had come true, he’d found the love of his life and his future looks exceedingly bright. Kopech said it’s not a problem that just suddenly appeared.
“I’ve dealt with anxiety before, kind of my whole life,” he said. “It was just the idea of just seeking for more. The revelation I can’t seek for more for the rest of my life was the blessing of being called up to the big leagues. I got there and I got to live it, but what’s more at that point? I stopped looking for more, and it allowed me to not look too far ahead, not dwell on what I’d done wrong, just be myself and live through the moment.
“I look forward to embracing that opportunity when the season comes and just being myself on the mound.”
White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech at SoxFest on Jan. 24, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Kopech’s new year started with his Jan. 4 marriage to Morgan, an actress on the TV show “Riverdale,” whom he met on social media. According to E! News, she saw Kopech on her Instagram page, then began to follow him on Twitter. Kopech followed Morgan back and eventually sent a DM. They soon met in person and began dating, ultimately leading to marriage.
“If it wasn’t for social media, we would have never known each other,” Morgan told E! News. “Thank you IG and Twitter for my husband.”
Ironically, Kopech already had decided to get off Instagram and Twitter last October, writing a farewell post that mentioned his bouts of anxiety and depression. He wrote that quitting social media was “laying down my weapons and embracing all my fears,” then thanked his fans for following him and told them to look inward.
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“If you are also looking for peace in the world, seek inward and be that peace,” he wrote. “It’s beautiful in there. ‘Into the wilderness I go, to lose my mind & find my soul.’ Now... fire away.”
Kopech told me Friday the decision had everything to do with his own feelings about social media’s image-making issues and nothing to do with the online trolls who target celebrities on Twitter.
“I wasn’t necessarily bothered by anybody or anything they had to say,” he said. “I’ve never really been affected too much by that. It’s just the lives that are portrayed on social media aren’t necessarily genuine and authentic.
"It’s all an idea of what we want people to view us as. I think I put too much value on that, and I don’t necessarily care, at the risk of sounding ungrateful, how people view me.
“How I view myself is ultimately what’s going to make me the person I want to be. I think social media kind of took away from that, so the thing about deleting it, I was able to then focus on myself without the idea of how others view me.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 54 Yoan Moncada cuts a ribbon to open SoxFest. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Whether the change has helped Kopech find inner peace might be difficult to determine considering he also has taken the life-altering step of getting married.
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“I’ve had a few changes, I guess,” he said, laughing. “But, yeah, absolutely, I have noticed. I’ve been much more aware of my surroundings. I’ve been able to interact with people genuinely and not based on what I know about them or how I view them or how they view me. I think that’s how interactions are meant to be.
“And on top of that, I think it’s going to make me a better baseball player because it’s going to take those pressures off me that I put on myself.”The final part of the reboot occurred last week when Kopech had his first haircut in more than two years, getting almost 12-inches lopped off, raising $20,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities and White Sox Charities.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Here's the before picture of White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech as he waits to get his hair cut at Ronald McDonald House in Chicago on Jan. 22, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
He looked like a whole new person, going from Woodstock wanderer to Wall Street banker in no time. Kopech insisted he wouldn’t miss his signature look.
“I got rid of it for a better reason,” he said.
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The new season is almost here, but Kopech doesn’t know if he’ll be with the Sox on opening day. He made only four major-league starts after his much-hyped debut in 2018 before the shocking announcement of the season-ending elbow injury.
Chances are the Sox will go the conservative route with their top pitching prospect, limiting his spring innings and starting him at Triple-A Charlotte. Maybe not, but Kopech said he’s ready for that possibility and knows it’s out of his control.
“I’m going there this spring, I’m going to compete and I’m going to give myself a chance,” he said. “And if it’s not in the stars, I’ll figure it out along the way.”
Figuring it out along the way is usually the best path.


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--‘Everybody’s excited to see what kind of player he can be.’ Top White Sox prospect Luis Robert is aw

‘Everybody’s excited to see what kind of player he can be.’ Top White Sox prospect Luis Robert is aware of the hype but isn’t letting it get to him.

“ I try to not pay attention to what happens with other guys , ” Robert said through an interpreter @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m going to do my best every single day and try to get @ @ @ @ @ for whatever reason I don ’ t get the results that I ’ m hoping @ @ @ @ @ t be for lack of effort .
”

Baseball America recently listed Luis Robert as the No. 2 prospect in baseball.
MLB Pipeline ranked the White Sox center fielder as the top outfield prospect in the sport and the No. 3 prospect overall.
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Robert isn’t letting the hype get to him.
“I try to not pay attention to what happens with other guys,” Robert said through an interpreter Friday at SoxFest. "I’m going to do my best every single day and try to get good results, and if for whatever reason I don’t get the results that I’m hoping it, it won’t be for lack of effort.”
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Robert, 22, had a terrific 2019 as he made his way through the minor-league system, excelling at Class A Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. In 122 games at the three minor-league levels, he hit .328 with 32 home runs and 92 RBIs. He also stole 36 bases.
He’s looking to do damage at the big-league level in 2020.
“Last year was very important,” Robert said. “Even though I had short stints at every single level in the minors, I think that experience was good for me. I had a chance to taste what it was like growing up in the minors.
"When I got to Triple A, it really challenged me because I knew that the level there was high compared to the other levels. But I feel that experience made me better. It prepared me for what is coming in the big leagues.”
White Sox outfielder Luis Robert is announced on opening day of SoxFest at McCormick Place West in Chicago on Friday, January 24, 2020. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The stage is set for Robert to be the opening-day center fielder after he and the Sox agreed to a six-year, $50 million deal Jan. 2. The contract includes two club options that could extend the deal through the 2027 season.
“We haven’t had any conversations about (starting the season with the Sox), but I’m very ready and open to whatever the team wants me to do,” Robert said. "I want to prove in spring training that I’m able to do a good job in the majors.”
Robert appreciated having the new deal in place for many reasons.
“That means a lot because that shows that the team trusts me and trusts my abilities," Robert said. “I think I’m ready to show and to prove that I’m worth that confidence that they have put in me.”
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His teammates are ready to watch and help in any way.
“Everybody’s excited to see what kind of player he can be,” Sox first baseman Jose Abreu said through an interpreter. “I think the stats, the numbers are going to be there.”
Manager Rick Renteria is still contemplating where he’ll slot Robert in the batting order. Robert said he’s comfortable at the top of the lineup.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been first in the order,” Robert said. “I think hitting leadoff, I have the ability to do a good job. I still think I need to improve on my bunts, that’s probably the area that I need to improve a little bit more. But I feel comfortable leading off the lineup.”
General manager Rick Hahn expects opposing pitchers to go after Robert like they did left fielder Eloy Jimenez during his rookie season in 2019.
“They treated (Jimenez) like a seasoned vet in terms of setting him up and trying to exploit some weaknesses off the plate with some breaking balls,” Hahn said Thursday. "I think you’re going to see Luis get that same treatment. I don’t think you’re going to see too many guys challenging him early with fastballs because they’re going to know the report.
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“He’s not a finished product at age 22. Obviously, a guy who’s played pro ball for a little over two full seasons, basically. But that acclimation period, I think could well come together fairly quickly. We’ll find out together. But we’re certainly very excited to see that development.”
The development continues this spring. Robert said he’ll lean on veterans like Abreu.
“During this offseason, I’ve been working with Abreu and I think he’s going to be the guy who will let me know what to improve in spring training," Robert said. “He’s going to be in my ear the whole time and he’s going to let me know when I’m doing things wrong or when there’s something specifically that I need to improve.
"I’m confident in him. I trust him. I just need to work hard every day.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--From suburban bubble to urban bustle: McDonald’s employees say HQ move to Fulton Market has made the

From suburban bubble to urban bustle: McDonald’s employees say HQ move to Fulton Market has made the company faster, younger. And applications are way up.

Conagra lost 10 % of its 250 suburban employees when it closed its Naperville office as part of its headquarters @ @ @ @ @ , Neb.
, and just a third of those in Nebraska who were offered to @ @ @ @ @ Chief Human Resources Officer Charisse Brock .
But the company , which has 550 employees @ @ @ @ @ the Merchandise Mart plus some 1,200 employees in Omaha , was able to fill 90 @ @ @ @ @ six months and has a more “ vibrant ” energy now .
Colleagues connect more @ @ @ @ @ and it has been able to hire people with more diverse points of view , @ @ @

The McDonald's headquarters building in the West Loop on Feb,. 27, 2020. The building has sold for more than $412 million, in the highest-price property sale ever in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
When Nubia Murray moved to Chicago from Manhattan three years ago to take a corporate job at McDonald’s in Oak Brook, she didn’t realize what a culture shock it would be to go “from subway fights to Pleasantville.”
The sprawling corporate campus, lush with fountains and greenery, was lovely but felt “stuck in time,” said the 35-year-old global marketing manager. Spread out over four buildings in an 88-acre suburban idyll, employees would often drive or take a shuttle to meet with colleagues from other business units.
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The energy shift has been palpable since the fast-food giant moved its global headquarters to Chicago’s booming Fulton Market neighborhood in June 2018, putting it in the heart of the city’s restaurant scene and a stone’s throw from Google and other envelope-pushing companies, Murray said.
McDonald's employees Nubia Murray and Tim Litterio walk by Hamburger University at the company's global headquarters Dec. 19, 2019, in Chicago's Fulton Market district. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)
With all 2,000 employees under one roof, decisions happen faster, collaborating is easier, and, McDonald’s reports, a lot more people seem to want to work at the world’s largest burger chain.
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Applications for corporate jobs have increased 20% since the move, totaling 250,000, and tech hires have doubled as the company invests in self-service kiosks, voice-ordering technology and mobile apps. The company has beefed up its campus recruiting and last year launched a two-year program to prepare recent college grads for technology roles; this summer it will debut its first formal technology internship.
“We have aged ourselves backwards,” Murray, who lives in the South Loop, said as she sat with several colleagues referred by the company to discuss life at the new headquarters. “We have been transformed into such a younger and faster-moving organization.”
McDonald’s is among a parade of suburban companies that over the past decade have moved their headquarters downtown or opened satellite city offices, mainly to attract and retain talent but also to freshen their brand image and keep closer tabs on what consumers want.
Employees stand Dec. 19, 2019, outside the entrance to Hamburger University at the McDonald's global headquarters in Chicago's Fulton Market district. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Employees have had to adjust to new commutes and dramatic changes in office space design — no cubicle walls, lots of social and meeting spaces, quiet rooms designated for focused work and, in the case of McDonald’s, no assigned desks.
But companies from McDonald’s to Beam Suntory to Conagra to Ferrara Candy say, enthusiastically, that the investments have been worth it.
“It’s been so good for our culture and people,” said Paula Erickson, chief human resources officer at spirits maker Beam Suntory, which moved to the Merchandise Mart from Deerfield three years ago. “It breathes new life into our company.”
‘This was the right decision’
Over the past five years, 17 companies have relocated their headquarters to Chicago from somewhere in the nine-county region, and another 21 have moved in from outside the region, according to World Business Chicago.
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Corporate suburb-to-city moves slowed significantly last year, not because the city has become less popular but because many of the companies that would move have already done so, said Paul Reaumond, a vice chairman at real estate brokerage CBRE who specializes in directing corporate relocations around Chicago.
The trend shows no sign of reversing, even as the millennials who inspired companies to move downtown now move to the suburbs to raise families, Reaumond said. Millennials still prefer to work in the city for the amenities, and ride-share companies have made it easier to commute, he said.
The expensive decision to move downtown always starts with a discussion about labor, as large employers compete with the likes of Google and Facebook not only for tech talent but also finance and marketing candidates, Reaumond said. While downtown rents can be double those in the suburbs, the cost is offset by hiring the right people and reducing turnover, he said.
About 8.5 million square feet of office space has been relocated from the Chicago suburbs to the city since 2007, including full headquarters and satellite offices. Reaumond expects most future city moves will be for satellite offices, which companies often use to target Chicago’s rich pool of marketing talent.
Over half of relocations went to River North and the West Loop, which is attractive because of its proximity to Metra stations used by suburban employees, he said. The West Loop’s Fulton Market district is emerging as the choice destination as developers churn out office buildings in the former meatpacking hub.
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Companies that move to the city risk losing suburban employees inconvenienced by the commute, and have to assess whether “the gain is worth the pain,” said Steve Patscot, who leads the human resources practice for executive search firm Spencer Stuart. It takes a decade to see whether a move brings the benefits a company hopes to achieve, he said.
Conagra lost 10% of its 250 suburban employees when it closed its Naperville office as part of its headquarters move to Chicago from Omaha, Neb., and just a third of those in Nebraska who were offered to move did so, said Chief Human Resources Officer Charisse Brock. But the company, which has 550 employees on a single floor in the Merchandise Mart plus some 1,200 employees in Omaha, was able to fill 90% of its jobs in six months and has a more “vibrant” energy now. Colleagues connect more easily, decisions come faster and it has been able to hire people with more diverse points of view, Brock said.
Oreo-maker Mondelez International, which in April plans to move its headquarters and 400 employees from Deerfield to Fulton Market, is offering a one-time relocation bonus to senior-level employees and will roll out a commuter benefits program to defray train and parking expenses, said spokesman Tom Armitage.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 The reception area of Ferrara Candy headquarters in the newly refurbished Old Post Office building. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
Ferrara Candy, which in November was one of the first tenants to move into the freshly renovated Old Post Office, was warned that it could lose up to a quarter of its workforce when it left Oakbrook Terrace, said Chief Human Resources Officer Mike Goldwasser. But few of its nearly 400 corporate employees jumped ship, and 2019 ended up having the lowest attrition since Goldwasser joined the company four years ago.
Ferrara offered several new benefits to help people adjust to the changes, including a commuter stipend, a cellphone stipend now that no one has a landline, and permission to work from home one day a week.
There have been jarring moments as some suburbanites jet out early to catch a train, and managers have had to trust that people are working even when they are hunkered out of sight in one of the building’s many loungelike nooks.
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But “we intuitively know that this was the right decision for us,” Goldwasser said. “We think it is going to pay significant dividends in the years to come.”
The interior of the newly refurbished Old Post Office building is decorated with the stylized image of an eagle, which represents the building's history. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
The Old Post Office’s grand marble lobby and urban-industrial aesthetic offer a different vibe than the four floors the Lemonheads and Trolli maker had occupied in a traditional Oakbrook Terrace office tower since 2012. The building’s amenities include a 28,000-square-foot gym, which prominently features a boxing ring, and a chic bar with a bocce ball court, which Ferrara will share with incoming tenants including Deerfield-based Walgreens, which is opening a satellite office there for 1,800 employees.
Ferrara’s office, which will exceed 110,000 square feet on a single floor once it’s fully developed, exudes contemporary sophistication rather than Candyland cheer. Collaborative spaces abound, including a bustling cafe with a Nespresso machine and free beer, wine, kombucha and cold brew on tap, where the hope is that spontaneous encounters between co-workers can stimulate new ideas.
Already, the quality and quantity of applicants has increased, Goldwasser said. It’s taking a week less to make hires now than it did when the company was in the suburbs, he said.
While the city location was important for appealing to job candidates who might not be willing to commute to the western suburbs — especially young city dwellers without cars — just as critical was designing an impressive space to reflect the candy-maker’s ambitions, Goldwasser said.
“We are one of the fastest-growing confections companies in the U.S., and we think we can challenge the biggest confection companies that are out there,” said Goldwasser, who hired 250 new corporate employees last year and expects to hire another 100 to 125 this year. “This shows our employees that we believe that we can. There’s a sense of self-confidence, a sense of optimism about the future that the space has helped to create.”
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Changing the office culture
McDonald’s move to Fulton Market, spearheaded by former CEO Steve Easterbrook, came as the chain set out to modernize its restaurants and embrace technology as it fights for convenience-hungry customers who have more plentiful dining options and a growing preference for fresher, healthier food. Easterbrook was fired in December for having a consensual relationship with an employee in violation of company policy, and was succeeded by Chris Kempczinski, who had been president of McDonald’s USA.
McDonald’s 500,000-square-foot complex, a $250 million project on the former site of Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios, spans nine floors, including a top-floor gym and bar featuring Thursday night happy hours. A rooftop garden, with three beehives, produces teas and honey offered in the office cafes. There are four outdoor spaces, outfitted with Wi-Fi, for working or socializing.
Two levels of parking below the building are open to anyone, but they’re barely used. McDonald’s operates a shuttle, conspicuously branded, from the Metra stations.
“We were very concerned about parking if a lot of suburban employees would want to drive, but we learned that people definitely prefer public transportation,” said Sheri Malec, senior director of workplace solutions for McDonald’s.
Though the company expected some attrition with the move, it said it did not see a spike in turnover that year.
The conference center at McDonald's global headquarters in Chicago's Fulton Market district. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
The building, which McDonald’s rents from developer Sterling Bay, features various nods to the history of the 65-year-old company. An original neon Speedee sign from an early restaurant greets people heading to the bar, and an old menu board advertising 10-cent fries decorates the two-story Work Cafe. A wall of hundreds of Happy Meal toys through the years is curated by McDonald’s archivist Mike Bullington, whose office full of memorabilia is also in the building so employees can drop by if they need to tap his vast knowledge of the brand.
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But the company’s focus is toward the future, which it wanted reflected in the cutting-edge design of its office. Glass conference rooms can be reserved with digital control panels on the doors, and every room is video conference-enabled so remote workers can participate. Speakers pump out white noise to deaden the voices of loud phone talkers. The ceiling also contains noise-reducing materials made of recycled Coke bottles.
There are no assigned desks, aside from some exceptions for health reasons plus seven offices for executives — and that has drastically cut printing and paper usage because there’s nowhere to put it. Murray, the marketing manager, says the change has forced her to work faster, responding to requests in real time and producing concise bullet points rather than wordy documents.
“We have been on a journey to change our culture for the past five years to be more collaborative, nimble, agile, technology-focused, and certainly the move here has helped accelerate that, just by the physical workspace that people are in,” said Jez Langhorn, vice president of Global People at McDonald’s. “It supports being collaborative.”
The move also came with the introduction of flexible working hours, which emerged as an employee priority during focus groups.
The policy requires employees to be in the office during core hours of 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but they can decide when to work the rest of their 7.5-hour workday to accommodate personal responsibilities like school pickups. Managers are also now required to let employees work from home one day a week.
At Beam Suntory, perks helped ease the transition. The spirits company relaxed its dress code and instituted a one-day-a-week remote work policy. It allows employees to expense Ubers and cabs if they worry about safety on public transportation or need to speed home for a sick child or other emergency.
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Beam, which moved in part to be closer to the bars where mixology trends were taking shape, also gave Chicago employees an extra $250 in annual “ambassador dollars” to spend on its brands at bars and restaurants, on top of the $500 U.S. employees receive.
“We wanted employees to proactively be going out to bars in the city, to understand what consumers are ordering, understand what the trends are so we can be better at what we’re doing from a business perspective,” Erickson said.
Beam Suntory’s offices, which house 500 employees in 110,000 square feet on a single floor, have a “buzz” about them now, she said. The company lost just five employees as a result of the move, and has seen a 25% increase in applications, she said. That bigger applicant pool has helped reduce the time it takes to fill a position to 65 days from 85. The number of multicultural hires has tripled.
While talent was part of the motivation for the move, Beam said being downtown also has improved business. Since 2017, Beam Suntory’s bar and restaurant business has grown 40% faster in Chicago than its U.S. average, in part because of sponsorships of the Chicago Cubs and Bears and other community events in the city that feature its products, the company said. Sales teams also can better foster relationships with customers and get more menu placements, Erickson said.
For Tim Litterio, corporate finance manager at McDonald’s, escaping the company’s “suburban bubble” has given the company better insight into how and what people are eating. On Randolph Street, which is littered with restaurants, “you can see how fast-paced the consumer is” as people grab a pre-ordered lunch from a pick-up shelf and leave, he said.
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“We didn’t see that in Oak Brook because we were hidden behind this great landscape of trees,” said Litterio, 27, who commutes on the train from Lisle.
A greater sense of community has spurred a renaissance for employee groups, which report increased participation and engagement. In August they collaborated for their first joint volunteer day, sending employees to charity projects at 10 sites throughout the city.
Litterio, who heads the Young Professional Network at the company, said participation has doubled since the move, in part because of the new hires.
Litterio makes it a point to ask new hires if they would have applied for the job if it were in Oak Brook.
“It’s always the same answer,” he said. “No.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Blackhawks Q&A: What’s wrong with Alex DeBrincat? What’s the future at goalie? And why isn’t Doug Wi

Blackhawks Q&A: What’s wrong with Alex DeBrincat? What’s the future at goalie? And why isn’t Doug Wilson’s number retired?

Colliton on the Hawks playing a simpler game to improve their home record , Jan. 3 : “ Hopefully we @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t work .
We haven ’ t been good , we haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ need .
If we had a better home record , we ’ d be in @ @ @ @ @ just lay it out there for them .
There ’ s buy-in , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ — I think they want to do it , and we will .
”

Terrific questions this week. I guess not everybody needed an All-Star break.
Let’s get to the answers — but first, join our vocal and growing Blackhawks fans Facebook group.
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Are the Blackhawks a legit wild-card team or just on a hot run that’s soon to fizzle out? — @mitchellwatts88
I’d say both. A team that’s three points out of a wild-card spot with 31 games remaining is absolutely a legitimate playoff contender. Even more important, the Hawks are the first team out of playoff position at the moment.
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It’s a wild situation in the Pacific Division, where four teams have 57 points: The Oilers and Flames are currently in as divisional qualifiers and the Coyotes and Golden Knights as the two wild cards.
That will change on a near-daily basis, so don’t get too caught up in which team is in the final playoff spot (technically the Golden Knights right now). Just focus on the Hawks staying ahead of the teams they’re now ahead of — the Jets, Wild and Predators — and picking up as many points as they can.
Which leads me to the second part of your question: Are the Hawks on a hot run that’s soon to fizzle out? Yeah, probably.
A five-game winning streak is nothing to sneeze at, but three of those wins came against the lottery-bound Ducks, Senators and Canadiens, and the final two came against the slumping Maple Leafs and Jets, who have a combined two wins in their last 13 games.
Seven of the Hawks’ first eight games after the All-Star break are on the road, all against playoff contenders. If they don’t fizzle out after that stretch, it’s time to get excited.
Reading that Robin Lehner is a trade target, yet the Hawks seem in need of a long-term goalie with Corey Crawford up in years (he’s 35) and an unrestricted free agent. What’s your take on the goalie position for the future? — Keith W.
Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner blocks a shot by Ducks left wing Rickard Rakell during a game at the United Center on Jan. 11. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Teams might ask about Lehner, but as long as the Hawks are within spitting distance of a playoff spot, he won’t go anywhere. Contending teams don’t trade their No. 1 goalie, and that’s who Lehner is to the Hawks right now.
As for the future, it’s very uncertain with Lehner and Crawford scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this summer. The only thing that’s certain is the Hawks can’t afford to bring both of them back.
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Lehner will get a raise from his $5 million salary-cap hit, and if Crawford plays again next season, he’ll have a cap hit considerably lower than his current $6 million. Collectively, they could make close to $11 million again next season, and there’s no way the Hawks can afford that with Alex DeBrincat’s new contract kicking in and Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik due for sizable bumps.
If general manager Stan Bowman feels he can afford Lehner at the $6 million to $7 million he’ll likely command as a UFA, there’s no reason he shouldn’t do it. Bowman would have three months once the season ends — if the Hawks don’t make the playoffs — to figure out the landscape and get Lehner signed before free agency starts July 1.
If Lehner signs with another team, who knows what will happen. Bowman could re-sign Crawford, bring in another free agent or turn to Rockford goalies Kevin Lankinen or Collin Delia, although the latter option seems unlikely.
With the Hawks’ recent success, there have been a few mentions of “buy-in” for the “new system.” Does this validate Jeremy Colliton? — Charles S.
Astute observation, Charles. That term has been used multiple times by different people over the last few weeks. Cases in point:
Colliton on the Hawks playing a simpler game to improve their home record, Jan. 3: “Hopefully we see what works and what doesn’t work. We haven’t been good, we haven’t gotten the points we need. If we had a better home record, we’d be in much better shape, so just lay it out there for them. There’s buy-in, I’m not concerned about that — I think they want to do it, and we will.”
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Stan Bowman on team depth, Jan. 7: “When there’s a player who goes down or multiple guys get injured, you have to have guys step up, and I think we’ve seen that over the past couple weeks. Now we need that to continue ... because the team’s looking to build on something, and right now we’ve found a nice mixture of guys buying into their roles. When that happens, your team has a good chance to win.”
Jonathan Toews on if the Hawks can make the playoffs, Jan. 21: “Been playing good hockey and I think everyone is buying in, playing for each other, and it’s a lot more fun to come to the rink when we’re doing those things. The wins come when you’re playing right and playing for each other.”
The best validation that the players believe in Colliton is that the Hawks are continuing to play hard and have a shot at the playoffs after dealing with so many injuries and languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference most of the season.
Patrick Kane has spoken more than once about Colliton having a great hockey mind, and if you have Kane and Toews buying in, you’re in good shape.
Do you feel the Blackhawks have been pretty successful in winning faceoffs? What is their ranking in faceoff wins? Does the NHL have a ranking in faceoff percentage when taking it in the offensive or defensive zone? Neutral-zone faceoffs aren’t as important, I feel. — George D.
They’ve been decidedly average. Here are the Hawks percentages in each of those situations:
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Overall faceoffs: 49.8% win percentage (17th in the league)
Offensive-zone faceoffs: 50.5% win percentage (22nd)
Defensive-zone faceoffs: 50.4% win percentage (10th)
Neutral-zone faceoffs: 48.1% win percentage (24th)
You’re right that neutral-zone faceoffs aren’t as important as those in which a faceoff can quickly turn into a goal.
Jonathan Toews and David Kampf are the Hawks’ best faceoff men and have taken nearly 52% of the faceoffs this season, though I don’t have numbers for how many have been in each zone. Both are well over 50% with Toews at 56.6% and Kampf at 53.3%.
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I can’t say I had any special sense of how well the Hawks have been doing at winning faceoffs, which I suppose fits with them being in the middle of the pack.
Any updates on the recovery progress of those with long-term injuries: Brent Seabrook, Calvin de Haan and, most importantly, Andrew Shaw? — Mark M.
There’s no indication Shaw is nearing a return after he suffered a concussion nearly two months ago.
Seabrook and de Haan have been at the United Center recently spending time with teammates and watching games. There’s no update on their status, but that’s not unusual for players ruled out for the season.
What’s the reason for Alex DeBrincat to be on pace to score half as many goals as last year? Which season is the exception and indicator of his future: a 40-goal scorer or a 20-goal scorer? — Mark M.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 72 Blackhawks left wing Alex DeBrincat scores on Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger in the first period May 10, 2021, at the United Center. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
I can’t tell you what the reason is, but DeBrincat is having a heck of a time scoring at even strength. He has four even-strength goals through 51 games after scoring 22 as a rookie and 28 last season.
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What should give you hope that this season is the aberration is that he’s on pace to have more shots on goal than in either of his first two seasons, when he finished with 28 and 41 goals.
What’s different is his shooting percentage is abnormally low at 8.4%. There’s no stat for pucks bouncing over sticks or sticks breaking while attempting a one-timer, but it sure seems like DeBrincat has had a lot of those.
It may be that DeBrincat never hits 40 goals in a season again, but I think he’s a perennial 30-goal scorer and that this season is the aberration.
I know the Blackhawks were looking to get the All-Star Game in the next couple of years. Have you heard any update on that? — Teddy G.
The last time I discussed the All-Star Game with Hawks President John McDonough was in November 2018, and he seemed agnostic on the subject.
“We have not talked that much about that,” McDonough said then. “We will still have internal discussions about that. (The United Center is) a two-tenant building, and that takes up a number of dates during the week, but sometime I’m sure we’ll have a conversation about it.”
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Does Dylan Sikura have a future with the Hawks, specifically, or in the NHL, period? Would another team be willing to take a chance on him? — Joe K.
My guess is if the Hawks make a deal before the trade deadline, Sikura is in it. The Hawks have very few assets they would want to deal to improve for the stretch run, and I can’t imagine Stan Bowman feeling the need to hang on to a supposedly offensive-minded forward who has one goal in 47 career games.
That said, players who have “offensive upside” usually can find another team to give them a chance before they either become resigned to a career in the AHL or head overseas.
Sikura is inexpensive with a $750,000 cap hit and isn’t a restricted free agent until 2021-22, so there’s no harm in keeping him around as forward depth.
What has Doug Wilson done to the organization to be so disrespected? Jersey not retired. No final skate. Nothing. One of the greatest Blackhawks. Norris Trophy winner. Had 39 goals in one season as a defenseman. The excitement he generated in the Old Barn each time he wound up to take a slap shot is unprecedented. Not to mention he ranks among the all-time great Blackhawks in goals, assists and points. No. 24 should hang in the rafters. What gives? — Pat D.
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I have a personal Doug Wilson story for you. When I was a little kid, my dad’s best friend would call my house pretending to be Bobby Hull. And being a little kid, I believed him.
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A few years later, when I was probably 17 or 18, I got a phone call from a guy claiming to be Doug Wilson. Of course, this time I didn’t believe it.
Only this time, it was Doug Wilson. My dad’s friend somehow knew Wilson and got him to give me a call. We talked hockey for probably 15 to 20 minutes. Still one of my favorite childhood memories.
Anyway, back to your question. I think Wilson has been hurt by whatever syndrome has stopped the Hawks from retiring Steve Larmer’s No. 28. Both are all-time great Hawks who never won a Stanley Cup with the team (Larmer won one with the Rangers in 1994) but also never played on a Hawks team that missed the playoffs.
Keep in mind the Hawks didn’t retire any number until Stan Mikita’s No. 21 went up in the rafters in 1980. Bobby Hull (9) followed in 1983, Tony Esposito (35) and Glenn Hall (1) in 1988, Denis Savard (18) in 1998 and Keith Magnuson (3) and Pierre Pilote (3) in 2008.
Maybe Wilson got lost along the way, or maybe the Hawks just decided he wasn’t deserving of the honor. He was a pretty beloved player when I was growing up in Chicago. If there was bad blood somewhere along the line, I’m not aware of it.
I’m in favor of the Hawks retiring Wilson’s No. 24, and not just because he gave me a call all those years ago.


chicagotribune--2020-01-24--Makiyah Williams still learning, gaining confidence at Trinity

“ Makiyah ’ s really put in the work , ” said Davis , who is still her AAU coach @ @ @ @ @ a beginner , had probably played in gyms around her house when she came to @ @ @ @ @ to play , but she didn ’ t shoot it or dribble much .
She @ @ @ @ @ right away .
”

Trinity's Makiyah Williams (23) puts up a shot during the first quarter of the game against Homewood-Flossmoor on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)
Makiyah Williams made a memorable first impression on Jerald Davis.
Five years ago, Davis, the program director of Chicago Hoops Express, first met Williams during a tryout when she was in sixth grade.
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“When Makiyah came to us, she was physically a long and gangly kid who was a good athlete,” Davis said. “But I also remember she didn’t have shoestrings in her shoes. She was a cheerleader and a tumbler.”
Williams, now a high-scoring junior forward at Trinity, also recalled her first encounter with Davis.
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“My shoes had a strap on it,” Williams said with a laugh. “I pulled my shoestrings out. They were dirty. I played well, so I ended up not putting them on the rest of the summer.”
Williams has come a long way from her first meeting with Davis. She’s become a go-to scorer for the Blazers and has lit up opponents all season long with a team-leading 22 points per game.
“Makiyah’s really put in the work,” said Davis, who is still her AAU coach. “She was basically a beginner, had probably played in gyms around her house when she came to us. She knew how to play, but she didn’t shoot it or dribble much. She was a very good defender right away.”
Williams, a natural left-handed player, worked on improving her use of her right hand during the offseason to add another element to her game. The 6-foot Williams quickly established herself as a top player in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference during her first two seasons in River Forest.
But she showed she could be one of the best players in the state when she torched St. Charles East for 44 points in the season-opener.
“I was excited going into the game because we watched film on the other team and we were talking about how good they were,” Williams said. “I wanted to guard the best player, dominate the game and do well.”
Williams' multi-dimensional game recently caught the eye of several colleges, with Marquette, DePaul and Kansas State expanding her list of offers to 13 schools. Trinity coach Kim Coleman said Williams is on track to score 2,000 career points.
Williams, like most high-profile players, must endure constant attention from defenders. She often battles double- and triple-teams most games.
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“Offensively, she’s having a phenomenal season,” Coleman said. “She’s very hard to stop, especially in the open court and on the fast break. We worked hard to get her jumper going. She sometimes didn’t shoot much last year.
“She’s shooting a lot more 3s this season. You could tell she wasn’t as confident as a shooter last year.”
At this stage of her recruiting, Williams said she wants to carve her own path rather than join an established college program.
“I still have another year to play, so I’m working on my skills development,” she said. “I want to play right away (in college), go to a place where I can make a change.”
The Blazers (12-11) have endured some rocky times due to injuries. Junior captain Maddie Miller remains sidelined due to a concussion.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of staying positive through all the injuries,” Coleman said. “We’ve only played three games with a full roster.
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“We’ve had some ups and downs, a roller coaster filled with highs and lows, not very consistent," Williams added. "We have to be consistent.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press


chicagotribune--2020-01-24--University Park man is found guilty in murder of Hinsdale mom in her home in 2017. DuPage jury deliv

University Park man is found guilty in murder of Hinsdale mom in her home in 2017. DuPage jury delivers verdict after deliberating about 4 hours.

During closing arguments , First Assistant State ’ s Attorney Bernie Murray urged the jury to focus on the three @ @ @ @ @ case : videos that placed Sanders in the area on the day of the murder @ @ @ @ @ he stole and then sold a wedding ring set from the Urban residence , and @ @ @ @ @ shoe that testing showed was an all but certain match for Urban .

Family members of Andrea Urban hugged and stifled sobs Friday in a DuPage County courtroom when a jury found a University Park man guilty of murdering the woman at her Hinsdale home in 2017.
After deliberating about four hours, the jury returned its verdict against Dominic Sanders, 32, for first-degree murder. He also was found guilty of home invasion and residential burglary. The verdicts came after a trial that began Jan. 15.
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In addition, the jury made a finding that the murder of the 51-year-old mother of two was exceptionally brutal and heinous and indicative of wanton cruelty, which makes Sanders eligible for a life sentence.
Sanders did not visibly react as the verdicts were read, and briefly glanced back at the courtroom gallery before he was led back to jail.
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Following the verdict, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said his office would seek the maximum penalty when Sanders is sentenced. Urban’s son, Sasha Kuznetsov, 20, gave a brief statement following the verdict.
“Basically, we just want to say we are very grateful for the wonderful work police officers and prosecutors did on this case to finally achieve this verdict,” he said as his sister, Daria, 14, and other family members looked on.
Kuznetsov was one of the first trial witnesses, describing coming home from high school on May 4, 2017, and finding his mother’s body on the kitchen floor. She had been beaten so badly that Kuznetsov said he did not initially recognize her.
Dominic Sanders has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal beating and stabbing of a Hinsdale woman, Andrea Urban, in 2017. (DuPage County sheriff's office)
Berlin said he was grateful for the verdict and credited the police investigation that led to Sanders’ arrest.
“They really gave our office a great deal of evidence to work with,” Berlin said. “We thought it was a very strong case.”
It was so strong, Berlin said, that his office never made a plea offer and was committed to obtaining the maximum sentence against Sanders.
During closing arguments, First Assistant State’s Attorney Bernie Murray urged the jury to focus on the three major legs of the prosecution case: videos that placed Sanders in the area on the day of the murder, Sanders’ admission that he stole and then sold a wedding ring set from the Urban residence, and blood collected from Sanders’ shoe that testing showed was an all but certain match for Urban.
“The shoe with Andrea Urban’s blood on it puts an end to all the defendant’s lies,” Murray told jurors.
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In her closing, Assistant Public Defender Teresa Rioux said the scientific evidence was less compelling than prosecutors said, and that their timeline of the crime was not ironclad.
“The state is trying really hard to make their evidence fit their story,” she told jurors.
Sanders was arrested about three weeks after the homicide after police pieced together security camera footage from around Urban’s home in the 700 block of Town Place and noticed a man in a utility vest. Eventually police made a connection between the man and a silver Dodge Challenger seen parked in downtown Hinsdale, and they later linked it to Sanders via the license plate.
From there, police searched a pawnshop database and found records and video of Sanders selling two rings for $440 about 12:30 p.m. the same day Urban’s body was found. The victim’s children identified them as a family heirloom wedding ring set that was routinely kept in a master bedroom armoire.
Investigators said they found the armoire door open and contents spilled out onto the floor. There was also a jewelry case with Urban’s blood and DNA that was a general match for Sanders, authorities said.
In a police interview video played for jurors, Sanders initially denied having made any pawns in almost a decade. But when confronted with the record of the sale, Sanders said the rings belonged to his sister. Eventually, he admitted stealing the rings from Urban’s residence, saying he found her door ajar and saw the rings on a foyer ledge. He denied, though, killing Urban.
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Judge Brian Telander set a March 16 date for sentencing.
Cliff Ward is a freelance reporter.
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chicagotribune--2020-01-24--Taxi company loses permission to do business in Park Ridge

Dinev earlier this month acknowledged his driver ’ s license was suspended , but said he is not currently picking @ @ @ @ @ in the vehicle when he was stopped by police .
He also said he was @ @ @ @ @ ’ s certificate of operation because he has an outstanding debt to the city for @ @ @ @ @ train station where Park Ridge Dispatch ’ s office used to be .

A Park Ridge taxi service has lost its permit to legally do business in the city.
Aldermen on Jan. 21 voted 7-0 to revoke Park Ridge Dispatch’s certificate of operation after city staff noted several alleged infractions involving the company.
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Police Chief Frank Kaminski said the revocation will allow officers to ticket Park Ridge Dispatch drivers who are seen doing business in Park Ridge. As of Friday morning, police had not written any citations, but had spoken to “several” drivers who “did not know about the revocation,” Kaminski said.
“We will write the ticket for whomever is maintaining the car at the time,” the police chief told the council on Jan. 21. “The fines will have to go to adjudication.”
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Aldermen were asked to revoke Park Ridge Dispatch’s permission to operate in part because the company failed to pay a $500 annual fee to the city and because owner Ivelin Dinev was cited by police in December for driving a company taxi with a suspended license and expired registration, Kaminski said. Dinev did not have a current chauffeur license with the city either, Kaminski added.
Additionally, the Illinois Secretary of State’s database of corporations listed Park Ridge Dispatch as having been involuntarily dissolved on Jan. 10.
The city of Park Ridge requires taxi companies to have valid certificates of operation in order to pick up passengers within city limits and use an existing taxi stand near the Uptown train station. Ride share companies are exempt from this requirement.
Dinev earlier this month acknowledged his driver’s license was suspended, but said he is not currently picking up fares and was alone in the vehicle when he was stopped by police. He also said he was unable to renew his company’s certificate of operation because he has an outstanding debt to the city for unpaid rent at the Uptown train station where Park Ridge Dispatch’s office used to be.
A local ordinance prohibits taxi companies from holding a certificate of operation from the city if they owe the city money.
No representatives from Park Ridge Dispatch were present for the City Council’s vote.
The company had previously been known as Park Ridge Taxi, but the City Council was told in 2017 that another company had obtained the rights to the name.
Park Ridge Dispatch previously had its certificate of operation revoked for about four months in 2017 after the company was reportedly unable to provide proper proof of insurance to the city.
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jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-01-24--Pastor will continue feeding community after church burned down: ‘We have to continue doing what we’

Pastor will continue feeding community after church burned down: ‘We have to continue doing what we’re doing’

Although there was nothing Powell could do as a fire ravaged the two-story church building in the Roseland neighborhood , @ @ @ @ @ families that needed the church ’ s help .
Whatever fear he had was quickly @ @ @ @ @ the people who needed the church most .

Bishop Jerome Powell of Beacon Light Ministries sits Jan. 24 amid the demolished rubble where his church used to stand in the 11000 block of Chicago's South Michigan Avenue. A fire destroyed the building on Jan. 20. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
As Bishop Jerome Powell watched his South Side church burn to the ground Monday afternoon, he couldn’t wrap his mind around what was happening.
“It was just — I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” said Powell, who was still struggling to put what he felt into words three days later.
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Although there was nothing Powell could do as a fire ravaged the two-story church building in the Roseland neighborhood, he knew there were still families that needed the church’s help. Whatever fear he had was quickly displaced by his concern for the people who needed the church most.
For two decades, Beacon Light Ministries has provided meals and clothes for dozens of families every Sunday.
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“Families expect and look to us for something to eat,” Powell said. “So, we keep pushing to do this work because if we don’t help them, where are they going to get it from?”
Bishop Jerome Powell of Beacon Light Ministries displays on Jan. 24 a chunk of brick and wood from the rubble where his Chicago church used to stand. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Powell and some of his church members were on their way Monday morning to the Shedd Aquarium for a church field trip when he received a call that the church on the 11000 block of South Michigan Avenue was ablaze.
No significant injuries were reported, but a firefighter was taken to an area hospital for a minor cut, according to Chicago Fire Department officials.
The structure’s roof collapsed before the flames nearly destroyed the rest of the building.
“We lost everything,” Powell said. “The food, clothes, school supplies … everything is gone.”
After word spread of the fire, Powell received several calls from other ministers offering assistance. He’s now received help from local stores and businesses, district police and even the Rev. Jesse Jackson, he said.
Despite the setback, the church will continue providing food and clothes to the community every Sunday, Powell said. And Roseland Christian Ministries, a nearby church, will allow Beacon Light to hold their Sunday morning church services at their church.
“The support from the community has been awesome,” Powell said.
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Now the church will take steps toward rebuilding, including setting up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the church. But in the meantime, they will continue serving the community.
“We have to continue doing what we’re doing,” Powell said. “It’s a setback, but it won’t stop us from doing ministry.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Ask Amy: Tired senior needs a little self-care

Dear Torn : You two seem very practical regarding your futures , but I do n't think it is particularly @ @ @ @ @ table to your current situation .
Right now , this is not primarily about where @ @ @ @ @ about how you will live .
Your wife is not making a rational choice about @ @ @ @ @ has n't explored the available options .

Dear Amy: My husband and I (both retired seniors) belong to a service club. He joined well before I did.
After a few years of membership, I realized I would have been happier to just stay on the sidelines, but I hung in there because it was important to my husband for us to do things together.
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I served in various capacities in our club and spent years in executive positions. I have now been doing this for 10 years. The last few meetings I attended were (to me) especially unpleasant and stressful.
I told my husband I am thinking of resigning as a member. He was initially understanding, but then he got upset and threatened to also resign if I did -- his reasoning being: "We don't do enough things together."
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In reality we never do much of anything separately, and it is sometimes stifling.
Before we retired, he was a member of this service club by himself. We are also members of one other club, which we both enjoy and would not think of leaving. We also travel together.
At this point in my old age, I just want to reduce stress and unpleasantness as much as I can. My health is not the best, I have serious family obligations, and want to look after myself.
Am I really being selfish? Where do I draw the line?
— Stressed Out
Dear Stressed: This reminds me of the old joke: A couple is asked how often they have sex. The husband says, "Almost never -- like once a week!," while the wife says, "All the time -- like once a week!" You two have different perceptions of "togetherness."
Your husband seems to be adept at getting his needs met. You? Not so much.
"Self-care" has become a buzzy phrase. It can be challenging to understand what it really means to take care of yourself.
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Many women who have given so much to spouses and children face the challenge of how to cope (and how others will cope) when they decide to stop giving it all away.
Your reserves are depleted, and you want (and need) to save something for yourself.
No, you are not being selfish. You should draw the line wherever you want to, and your husband, bless him, will have to adjust. You are not responsible for his feelings, or his behavior.
Carving out a few afternoons on your own at the library, the gym, or sitting by yourself quietly will revive you, be good for your health, and will likely be good for your relationship.
Dear Amy: My wife and I are in our late 70s and want to move into a senior housing facility.
We both are healthy enough to live into our 90s (both our mothers lived past 100), but we agree that she will probably live longer than I.
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She wants to move into a senior facility we became acquainted with through older friends who lived (and died) there.
I don't want to move there, but she thinks that since she will live in the facility the longest, her choice gets priority.
She doesn't even want to check out other facilities to find a better or compromise solution.
What should we do?
— Torn
Dear Torn: You two seem very practical regarding your futures, but I don't think it is particularly useful to apply an actuarial table to your current situation. Right now, this is not primarily about where you will die, but about how you will live. Your wife is not making a rational choice about her future housing if she hasn't explored the available options.
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You don't mention why you don't want to move into the facility she prefers, but both of your interests and needs should have equal weight.
For the sake of your relationship, you should both work hard to have an open mind regarding options. You two should meet with administrators, take photos, and make pro and con lists. Ask her to leave her comfort zone and to look at four places with you, including the place she prefers.
Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Dear Amy: In your response to questions about workplace issues, you often advise people to "go to HR."
I don't know about your experiences with HR, but for many people Human Resources represents the interests of the company, and only the company.
— Experienced
Dear Experienced: I agree that it is important to be aware that HR reps work for the same company the complainant works for. It is vital to document every meeting and encounter, even with HR.
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
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chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Zach LaVine scores 44 points and just misses his first career triple-double in the Bulls’ 118-106 vi

Zach LaVine scores 44 points and just misses his first career triple-double in the Bulls’ 118-106 victory over the Cavaliers

Huge scoring performances are nothing new for LaVine , who scored 40 or more points for the fourth time this @ @ @ @ @ third-most such games in the NBA .
But he aspires to be a more complete @ @ @ @ @ breakout scoring season that has made a compelling case for LaVine to be named an @ @ @ @ @ next week .
His first triple-double was nearly in his grasp , a thought LaVine @ @ @ @ @ in the game .

CLEVELAND — Even during what has been a breakout scoring season for Bulls guard Zach LaVine, including elevating his game to earn legitimate All-Star consideration, one of the personal goals he has continued to emphasize is his desire to contribute in many ways.
LaVine just missed his first career triple-double in Saturday’s 118-106 win over the Cavaliers. But the Bulls will happily take his monster performance: 44 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
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“I try to address the game the way they’re playing me,” LaVine said. “But still keep my aggressiveness scoring the ball because I know that breaks down defenses.”
Considering the state of the Bulls’ lackluster offense, it’s possible they will have to lean on LaVine even more to stay afloat for the next few weeks before some of their most important players get healthy.
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Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s win against the Cavs.
1. Zach LaVine does it again.
This is the fourth time this season Zach LaVine has scored at least 40 points, and he’s doing it at a frequency usually reserved for the league’s most prolific scorers.
He’s also doing it because the Bulls need it.
The previous night, during a 98-81 loss at the United Center, he was crowded and frustrated by Kings defenders with few other offensive threats to worry about. The Cavaliers proved they couldn’t guard LaVine the last time the two teams played in Chicago, when LaVine’s 42 points led a double-digit, second-half comeback.
Zach LaVine smiles during a stop in play against the Cavaliers in the second half. (Ron Schwane/AP)
“He’s so impressive” Cavs forward Kevin Love said. “He’s an All-Star. He’s on his way to being a superstar in this league, playing with a lot of confidence.”
There is something to be said about a player with the ability to score even when the entire arena knows the ball is going to be in his hands, and LaVine continues to prove that he is up to task of carrying this Bulls offense. So just how high is his ceiling?
“It helps our team win,” Bulls coach Jim Boylen said. “It’s something he’s talked about and worked on. He gets his lifts in. He trains his body. He takes care of himself and he just wants to be a great, great player. I’ll go back to the response from (Friday), that’s important. Says a lot about his character.”
2. The Bulls blitzed the Cavs in the third quarter.
The Bulls’ numerous struggles coming out of halftime have been well-documented, but they have been one of the worst five teams in the NBA in point differential and net rating in the third quarter.
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Coming out of the break Saturday, however, they put together one of their best stretches in a while. They blitzed the Cavs after halftime to outscore them 40-19 in the period, taking command of the game.
Zach LaVine turned it on as a passer, finding Luke Kornet and Thaddeus Young for some easy dunks and creating shots for players like Kris Dunn, who was all over the place on defense. The Bulls shot 76.2% and knocked down three of their five 3-pointers in the period with 10 assists on 16 field goals.
“Just playing the game the way it should be,” LaVine said. “Third quarter they switched up their defense. I feel like I had to be a little more of a facilitator. There was a lot of attention and just worked on it like that.”
3. Tomas Satoransky provides a solid second scoring option.
Not that Zach LaVine needed much help, but Tomas Satoransky came through with a solid performance to help the Bulls win. He finished with 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting with six rebounds, six assists and three steals in an impressive all-around performance.
Finding a consistent second scorer behind LaVine has been an issue all season, one especially pressing with the forward Lauri Markkanen sidelined with a pelvic injury.
The Bulls are going to have to get creative most nights to fill that void, perhaps even playing faster, as Jim Boylen implored them. But it was simple on Saturday when they got that kind of production from Satoransky. It’ll be worth watching in the next few games who, if anyone, can step up and give them the scoring they need.
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Here’s more coverage from Saturday’s game:
There were about two minutes remaining before the second half began Saturday when Zach LaVine walked toward the sideline and sat atop the scorer’s table.
He had finished warming up at halftime, putting up shots mostly at the free throw line, but while players from both teams kept shooting, he took a chance to stop and catch his breath. It was a moment for LaVine to sit and watch, before he continued to take over the game with one of his best all-around performances of this breakout season.
LaVine scored 44 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded eight assists, just missing his first-career triple-double, while leading the Bulls to a 118-106 victory against the Cavaliers.
“He was just unbelievable,” Bulls coach Jim Boylen said. “Driving it, shooting it, creating. He got backdoor cuts, he got it in all different ways.”
Zach LaVine (44 pts, 10 reb) is the first Bull with a 40-point double-double since Jimmy Butler on January 7, 2017. — Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) January 26, 2020
Huge scoring performances are nothing new for LaVine, who scored 40 or more points for the fourth time this season, tied for the third-most such games in the NBA. But he aspires to be a more complete player, even during this breakout scoring season that has made a compelling case for LaVine to be named an All-Star for the first time next week. His first triple-double was nearly in his grasp, a thought LaVine acknowledged entered his mind late in the game.
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“I ain’t had one before,” LaVine said. “Literally with like two minutes to go I was like all right, maybe I should get a couple assists, but the game got out of hand. I’ll get one eventually.”
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The Bulls arrived in Cleveland still frustrated by their performance during a 98-81 loss to the Kings on Friday at the United Center, and LaVine especially so. Every time he drove the ball toward the paint he was met with double and triple teams, a potential preview of how crowded his life on the basketball court was about to become without injured forward Lauri Markkanen.
LaVine is no stranger to carrying this Bulls offense, a challenge he seems to thrive on, and he wanted to come out much more aggressive Saturday night, racing out to 27 points in the first half. Then, he played the entire third quarter and led the Bulls’ charge as they outscored the Cavs 40-19 to take control.
“He wants to be great,” Boylen said. “He was frustrated after last night, and our team was frustrated. I thought he responded, I think that’s what good players do. They take it to heart; it bothers him. I thought he just was focused. And he was very physical tonight getting to the rim."
Tomas Satoransky provided a solid second scoring option with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Bulls. Kevin Love led the Cavs with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
But once again the Cavs — who blew a 19-point lead and gave up 42 points to LaVine one week ago at the United Center — had no answer for LaVine. He shot 16-for-30 from the field and 5 of 12 on 3-pointers.
“When you get a team on your heels, that’s when you can start picking up the pressure and everything like that,” he said. “So just a different mentality, the whole team. We were upset about the loss and I took it upon myself to just go out there and be aggressive.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-25--Fans don’t want Yoan Moncada or Lucas Giolito to get away: 4 takeaways from SoxFest

`` It certainly is a priority for this organization to keep this group together as long as possible and make @ @ @ @ @ as long as we can .
When we presented the blueprint for the rebuild a @ @ @ @ @ Chairman ) Jerry ( Reinsdorf ) , one element of it was our economic strategy @ @ @ @ @ continuing to be aggressive trying to sign young players , perhaps being even more aggressive @ @ @ @ @ you saw with Eloy and Luis , signing them before they had a big-league AB @

SoxFest concluded Saturday at McCormick Place West. Here are four takeaways from the various seminars.
1. What’s the possibility of contract extensions for young stars Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito?
Left fielder Eloy Jimenez and the Sox agreed to a five-year, $43 million deal before the start of the 2019 season. In January, the Sox agreed to terms on a six-year, $50 million deal with center fielder Luis Robert.
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On Saturday a fan asked about possibility of extensions for third baseman Yoan Moncada and pitcher Lucas Giolito, and Sox general manager Rick Hahn initially joked, “I can’t hear you.”
Hahn then discussed the process of trying to sign players to extensions.
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“We’ve had a decent amount of success for the past couple of decades in terms of extending young guys, going back to (Mark) Buehrle and (Paul) Konerko, back when they were arbitration-eligible or pre-arbitration-eligible, going through (Chris) Sale, (Jose) Quintana and (Adam) Eaton and now Tim Anderson and Robert and Eloy,” Hahn said.
"It certainly is a priority for this organization to keep this group together as long as possible and make all the pieces fit for as long as we can. When we presented the blueprint for the rebuild a few years back to (Chairman) Jerry (Reinsdorf), one element of it was our economic strategy and that included not only continuing to be aggressive trying to sign young players, perhaps being even more aggressive than we have before as you saw with Eloy and Luis, signing them before they had a big-league AB.
“The only thing I’ll say is that it continues to be a priority for us, but it does take two to tango. Sometimes players prefer to go year-to-year and maintain their own flexibility to hit free agency as soon as possible. We’re not going to convert on everyone, but we’re going to go down swinging on the ones we really want.”
There’s still time. Moncada and Giolito, who both had breakout seasons in 2019, are set to become free agents after the 2023 season.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 54 Yoan Moncada cuts a ribbon to open SoxFest. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
2. Want another prospect to keep tabs on? Chris Getz suggests pitcher Jonathan Stiever.
A lot of attention has gone to top prospects Luis Robert, pitcher Michael Kopech, first baseman Andrew Vaughn and second baseman Nick Madrigal. And rightfully so.
When asked by a fan for another young player to watch, Sox director of player development Chris Getz pointed to pitcher Jonathan Stiever as a prospect who fared well at a lower level.
Stiever went 10-10 with a 3.48 ERA, 154 strikeouts and 27 walks at Class A Kannapolis and Winston-Salem in 2019.
“He’s been talked about here and recently,” Getz said. “A fifth-rounder (in 2018) out of Indiana, who really took a big step forward last year for us. He’s a guy that’s caught a lot of attention. We feel like he has the chance to be part of a rotation here in Chicago hopefully in the near future.”
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Stiever is the No. 6 prospect in the organization. He earned a spot as a non-roster invitee to Sox spring training camp.
3. Pitching coach Don Cooper envisions Dallas Keuchel helping the staff in a variety of ways.
Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said one reason a team acquires a free-agent pitcher is the numbers on the back of the baseball card.
The Sox liked the numbers — and more — when they added Dallas Keuchel.
White Sox players Yoan Moncada, left, and Dallas Keuchel have a laugh on opening day of SoxFest at McCormick Place West on Jan. 24, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
“We expect and hope that Dallas Keuchel will take the ball 32 times for us, pitch somewhere between 180 and 210 innings,” Cooper said, "because that would mean he’s taking the bulk of the game, six, seven, eight and sometimes nine innings.
“But also a big asset for the younger kids, they have a guy who has been through it and has done it for many years. (There’s) not much that Dallas hasn’t seen or been through during that time and he can help the younger guys with stuff that might be going on in their world, as a veteran should do. A lot of talk about being good in the clubhouse. I like that. But I first want them to be good on the field.”
4. The pursuit of Yasmani Grandal included a rare feature.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal was the first major addition of the offseason for the Sox.
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General manager Rick Hahn walked fans through part of the process of attaining the catcher on Saturday, with details that included a face-to-face with Sox management during the GM meetings in November.
“That’s not too rare, that tends to happen, guys like to hear presentations about where you’re at and how they fit,” Hahn said. “What was a little bit rare was after that meeting, within 48 hours, Yasmani was coming back to us with more detailed questions about our advanced scouting, what analytics we use, he wanted video on a number of pitchers within our organization.”
The momentum picked up from there with conversations with Grandal’s agent, and the four-year, $73 million deal was announced Nov. 21.