chicagotribune--2020-02-18--Restaurant Week bring deals to Niles and Morton Grove, Feb. 19-29

The Morton Grove promotion does not feature special deals , but instead a chance to win gift cards .
Diners @ @ @ @ @ in the village during February and either submit photos of their experience to www.mortongroveil.org or @ @ @ @ @ to village hall by March 4 to enter a contest for a non-specific $ 25 @ @ @

Wildwood Tavern is participating in Niles' Restaurant Month promotion, "Flavor of Niles." In this file photo, Mark Freedman and his wife Ellie Freedman are pictured at the restaurant. (Natalie Hayes / Pioneer Press)
February marks National Restaurant Month, so both Niles and Morton Grove are putting together programs – independent of each other – that showcase their respective communities’ local eateries.
Niles Restaurant Week
The Niles Chamber of Commerce is running the Flavor of Niles promotion between Feb. 19 and 29. Diners can choose from 12 participating area restaurants offering prix fixe menus and special deals. Diners can also take a photo of their restaurant experience and post to social media using #flavorofniles for a chance to win gift cards at local eateries.
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“All of these businesses support the Niles chamber, which in return supports the community,” noted Chase Conner, the chamber’s associate director. He noted the promotion represented a first-time undertaking in Niles.
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Deals range from $20.20 for a three-course meal at Graziano’s to half off tacos at Los Comales to 25 percent off the entire check at Nancy’s Pizza to $57.95 for a three-course filet mignon meal at Stefani Prime in Lincolnwood.
Wildwood Tavern is offering a three-course meal including wine for $25, and Mykonos Greek Restaurant is offering a $24 lunch or $36 dinner with entrees such as lamb and sea bass.
All of the restaurants, menus and deals are detailed at https://www.nileschamber.com/flavorofniles/.
Morton Grove Restaurant Month
The Morton Grove promotion does not feature special deals, but instead a chance to win gift cards. Diners can eat at any restaurant in the village during February and either submit photos of their experience to www.mortongroveil.org or bring a February 2020 receipt to village hall by March 4 to enter a contest for a non-specific $25 gift card.
Each group of receipts or an individual receipt amounting to $25 will be entered into a contest, and 10 winners will receive the gift card at the March 9 village board meeting, according to Village Manager Ralph Czerwinski.
“We want to bring some understanding to the community of the diverse type of restaurants in Morton Grove,” Czerwinski said. “There are many types of restaurants people may not be aware of and we gave some incentive to dine locally.”
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Morton Grove offers American restaurants, Latin-inspired restaurantes such as El Sol and Las Fuentes, pizza mainstays such as Giordano’s, Burt’s Place, Pequod’s and Moretti’s, sushi restaurants, Asian restaurants such as Lai Thai, Chinatown, China Chef, Sri Siam and Rosded Too, favorites such as Kappy’s, plus many more. There is also a Mongolian restaurant, Mazalae.
For a full list of eligible restaurants, including Super Cup, Dunkin Donuts, Culver’s and more, visit https://webapps.mortongroveil.org/dinemg/.


chicagotribune--2020-02-18--Boy Scouts’ bankruptcy filing seen as bid to limit 'exposure to abuse claims.’ Local groups say they

Boy Scouts’ bankruptcy filing seen as bid to limit 'exposure to abuse claims.’ Local groups say they won’t be impacted, but lawyers could be eyeing assets.

“ The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their @ @ @ @ @ are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to @ @ @ @ @ Roger Mosby , president and chief executive officer , said in the statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered , we believe the Chapter 11 process — @ @ @ @ @ — will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA ’ s important @ @ @

Danny Crnokrak, 13, left, and Ayden Parker, 10, place flags near a veteran's grave on Thursday, May 24, 2018, as Boy Scout Troop 45 of Crown Point volunteers at the Historic Maplewood Cemetery. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post Tribune)
The clock is ticking for men seeking damages from the Boy Scouts of America over claims of sexual abuse, Chicago attorneys say, now that the national organization has filed for bankruptcy.
After facing hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in what lawyers are calling an effort to limit growing victim compensation claims.
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Hundreds of lawyers across the country are seeking settlement on behalf of thousands of men who say they were molested as scouts by leaders over decades.
“The danger for victims is that now, there will be a clock set by the bankruptcy court where victims will have a certain window of time to bring a claim, or their claims would be barred,” attorney Mark McKenna said.
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Local Boy Scouts councils stated that they are legally separate from the national organization, did not file for bankruptcy, and will be unaffected by the court case, but victims’ attorneys say they will fight over that issue. In order to be freed from liability, attorney Evan Smola said, local councils may have to give up some of their assets, the most valuable of which include large campgrounds such as Camp Lakota near Woodstock and Camp Napowan in Wisconsin.
Citing recent changes to make states’ statute-of-limitations laws more flexible, more victims of abuse have greater means to seek justice, said Michael Mertz, a Chicago lawyer who has resolved several child abuse cases. The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, will be an atypical bankruptcy case, he said.
“This isn’t a bankruptcy in the traditional sense; it’s an effort to limit future exposure to abuse claims," Mertz said.
Mertz, McKenna and Smola work at the same firm, Hurley McKenna & Mertz, which has handled hundreds of sex abuse claims against the scouts.
The Boy Scouts have assets that exceed their liabilities, Mertz added. Companies file for bankruptcy when they have debts greater than their assets or ability to generate assets. According to a statement released by the Boy Scouts, scouting programs will continue throughout the bankruptcy process.
“The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children,” Roger Mosby, president and chief executive officer, said in the statement. “While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered, we believe the Chapter 11 process — with the proposed Trust structure — will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA’s important mission.”
By going through bankruptcy, the Boy Scouts will reorganize to rid itself of debts, including lawsuits, Mertz said. Mertz estimates the bankruptcy window will close within several months, extinguishing the organization’s future liability for abuse cases, and allowing it to continue to operate.
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Hurley McKenna & Mertz have been involved in more than 300 legal actions involving scout abuse, and have seven pending cases in Illinois. Last year, according to court records and the Jury Verdict Reporter, the Boy Scouts paid $89 million to resolve the firm’s 16 cases involving Thomas Hacker, who admitted molesting hundreds of boys over decades before he died in prison in 2018.
Victims with current claims, however, may see their cases resolved at a faster speed. In Illinois, the statute-of-limitation requires case-by-case decisions. Illinois also has favorable statutes for abuse victims, Mertz said.
"It’s well known that abuse victims require decades before they’re able to come forward. There are people who have been abused in the last several years who are not able to speak about their abuse. Those people will be without any legal remedy,” he said.
Similar previous cases have shown how such cases can work. Facing numerous claims of sex abuse, both the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee filed for bankruptcy and paid millions of dollars to settle hundreds of claims of abuse.
In both cases, McKenna said, the judge set a time frame for victims to submit a claim. The court also determined compensation for victims based on factors such as the age of the victim, the length and severity of the abuse, and the extent to which the organization knew about the abuse.
The Pathway to Adventure Council, which is based in Chicago and oversees scouting activities in much of the area, issued a statement on its website Tuesday emphasizing that the council has not filed for bankruptcy.
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“Our Council is legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization,” council CEO Jeff Isaac wrote. “In short, we expect no changes to the local Scouting experience in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area."
He also called scouting “safer than ever before.”
Nick Roberts, CEO of the Northeast Illinois Council, which covers Chicago’s north suburbs, issued a similar statement stressing that the local councils, which provide programs, money and facilities to local scouts, should be unaffected by the bankruptcy.
“Meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects are taking place as usual,” Roberts wrote. “In short, there should be no change to the local Scouting experience.”
jvillagomez@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter @JessicaVillag
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chicagotribune--2020-02-18--Column: Lucas Giolito credits a change in mechanics and a mental makeover for his breakout 2019 — ‘Y

Column: Lucas Giolito credits a change in mechanics and a mental makeover for his breakout 2019 — ‘You have to step out of your comfort zone’

“ I just needed to find the right way to get that , ” he said .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ good sport to compare to life in general .
You have to step out of @ @ @ @ @ you keep doing the same thing over and over that ’ s not working , @ @ @ @ @ to see better results .
And when you find that thing that seems like it @ @ @ @ @ it .

GLENDALE, Ariz. —
Can Chicago become a White Sox town again, or is that wishful thinking?
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Sox ace Lucas Giolito didn’t hesitate when answering the question, though he admitted it would take an extended run of success to make it happen.
“Yeah, it’s possible,” he said. “There’s a lot of history there, a lot more history than I know about. But the way things are going, if we play real good baseball and we do it for an extended period of time, playoff appearance after playoff appearance, World Series championships, then absolutely it’s possible.
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“It’s got to start now. That’s the vibe around the room. That’s what we’re talking about. It begins now. We’re turning the page right now. There is no more developmental years. It’s all about coming together and making things happen now.”
Despite general manager Rick Hahn’s free-agent spending binge, great expectations for rookie center fielder Luis Robert and huge leaps forward from Giolito, Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson in 2019, the Sox have significant ground to make up to compete with the Twins. They finished 28½ games ahead of the Sox en route to winning the American League Central, then added slugger Josh Donaldson to an already scary lineup.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 78 White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease warms up in right field before a game against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Feb. 23, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Filling the gap in only one season won’t be easy, but Giolito insisted it can be done.
“I believe so,” Giolito said. “We have a stronger core group now than the past couple years. ... It was almost, to a certain extent, like midseason tryouts (last season) — guys getting called up and having some time, then getting sent down.
“Now we have that better core and we all have a pretty good idea of which guys will be called up from the minor leagues this year. More players hopefully will surprise and take some big steps forward, and that will just add to the winning culture we’re trying to build.”
Giolito, 25, took the biggest step forward last year after ending 2018 as the worst starter in the majors, statistically speaking, with a 6.13 ERA and a 5.56 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching). He rebounded in 2019, finishing 19th in ERA (3.41) and 13th in FIP (3.43) while earning an All-Star nod.
He serves as a fitting example for any young athlete having a difficult time figuring things out at the start of his or her professional career. Yes, you can go from being one of the worst to one of the best — if you put your mind to it and do the right things.
For Giolito, it was a change in mechanics — a more compact delivery — and neurofeedback training in the offseason to help his mental approach.
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“If you have enough talent to make it to Double A or Triple A, you’ve got enough talent to make it to the big leagues,” he said. “The separators, most of the time, are between the ears. How consistent are you? What kind of routine do you have? What are you doing on a daily basis to make yourself a better player.
“It took years of struggle for me to really take a step back and look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘Is what I am doing conducive to being successful?’ The answer was no, so I made those changes and committed to them.”
Giolito realized he was like most players making the transition to the big leagues. Other than a few — superstars such as Mike Trout — there is generally an adjustment period. It just took Giolito a little longer to figure things out. But he never lost his confidence to “take that next step.”
“I just needed to find the right way to get that,” he said. “This is why baseball is such a good sport to compare to life in general. You have to step out of your comfort zone. If you keep doing the same thing over and over that’s not working, you’re not going to see better results. And when you find that thing that seems like it may work, commit to it.
“For me, it was shortening my arm path, fixing my lower-half mechanics. I have tools now to do that. Years before, it was: ‘What am I trying to adjust? I want to do this, but it’s hard.’ Getting rid of those doubts and questions and committing to change on a daily basis, that’s the key to making adjustments you know will benefit you.”
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 It's another morning for Cubs baseball at Sloan Park on Feb. 17, 2020. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
I asked Giolito if he remembered the start of Greg Maddux’s career, which also was shaky, to say the least. Giolito quickly reminded me he was “a little too young.” In fact Giolito hadn’t been born in 1987, when Maddux went 6-14 with a 5.61 ERA in his first full season with the Cubs. He went on to win 355 games in a 23-year Hall of Fame career.
“He threw super hard originally, right?” Giolito said. “You look at a lot of guys — Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer — they didn’t set the league on fire when they got up here. Usually it’s a hitter that can do that because it’s the pitchers that have to adjust to the hitters’ approach.”
The Sox kept Giolito in the rotation throughout 2018 despite his struggles, just as they did last season with Reynaldo Lopez, who finished with the second-worst ERA (5.38) and second-worst FIP (5.04) in MLB. Lopez spent the offseason training at the Mamba Academy in Los Angeles, where Giolito, Noah Syndergaard and others worked out.
“I was struggling almost every five days in ’18, and I was learning from each and every one,” Giolito said. “It was very valuable information for me going into that next offseason when I did make all those changes. I’m very thankful to the White Sox organization for allowing me that opportunity.
“And Reynaldo, in my opinion, looks the best I’ve ever seen him right now. He came down to L.A., saw him there a bunch. He took the bull by the horns, and I could see he kind of flipped the switch mentally to where he was committed to making changes that he knows will put him in a better place.”
Listening to Giolito, you get the impression he never lost faith in his abilities. But it’s impossible to go through what he did in 2018 and not wonder how he was going to escape the prolonged slump. Sox fans love him now, but they weren’t always so kind. Giolito said his wife, Ariana, saved some of the nasty comments posted on his Instagram account in 2018 to remind him of how far he has come.
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“I got some good ones,” he said with a laugh. “When you’re going through something like that, you turn the DMs off.”
The journey isn’t over, and he still might have obstacles to overcome.
But for Giolito, the path is much clearer, and that’s all you can really ask.


chicagotribune--2020-02-18--What drove Greg Gabriel, the former Bears college scouting director, from his home to an apartment w

What drove Greg Gabriel, the former Bears college scouting director, from his home to an apartment with roommates? A job with the XFL’s DC Defenders — and his love for football.

An inventive kickoff rule has caught the attention of the safety-minded NFL .
The kicker puts the ball in play @ @ @ @ @ must kick the ball in the air and in play between the opponent ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
The coverage team lines up across the return team ’ s 35 , and @ @ @ @ @ the exception of the returner , lines up on the 30 .
Neither side can @ @ @ @ @ caught , reducing high-speed collisions .

WASHINGTON — “For the love of football” is the slogan the XFL is pushing as the developmental league tries to find a niche to carry the interest of fans from the Super Bowl to the NFL draft.
Passion for the game is the only way to explain why Greg Gabriel, the former Bears college scouting director, would leave his north suburban home for more than a third of the year to live in a five-bedroom apartment in College Park, Md., with five other men and work as personnel director of the DC Defenders.
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While the league that debuted two weeks ago is selling players on an opportunity to get noticed by the NFL, the 68-year-old Gabriel — married with 10 grandchildren — isn’t looking for his next gig. He worked in the NFL for 30 years, including nine seasons with the Bears during which he helped construct the 2006 Super Bowl XLI team.
For Pep Hamilton, 45, signing up to be the Defenders head coach and general manager required more of a leap of faith. He left his job as Michigan offensive coordinator to join the fledgling league, wooed by Commissioner Oliver Luck, whom Hamilton knew well from coaching Luck’s son Andrew at Stanford and with the Colts.
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“It’s not just about wanting to be a head coach necessarily; it was more so about having an opportunity to do something and be impactful,” said Hamilton, the Bears quarterbacks coach from 2007 to 2009. “This opportunity allows me to really have my fingerprints on the whole operation. Those opportunities are hard to come by on any level.”
***
No one knows if Vince McMahon’s reboot of the XFL — which lasted only one season in 2001, when the league was selling violent action and sex, with a focus on cheerleaders — will have staying power this time.
DC Defenders personnel director Greg Gabriel stands on the field before an XFL game against the New York Guardians at Audi Field in Washington on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. Gabriel is the former Bears college scouting director. (Brad Biggs / Chicago Tribune)
Ten months ago, the start-up Alliance of American Football (AAF) went belly up before its first season ended. It’s anyone’s best guess if the XFL will make it to the April 26 championship game, to Year 2 or perhaps beyond with the necessary financial backing to make it a viable minor-league operation.
Television ratings for the eight-team league have been encouraging. In Week 2, the St. Louis BattleHawks nearly doubled the ratings for the Stanley Cup champion Blues in the same time slot in the St. Louis market.
Attendance at Audi Field — home of D.C. United of Major League Soccer — on a sunny and crisp Saturday in Washington was down slightly to 15,031 as the Defenders shut out the New York Guardians 27-0 to improve to 2-0.
What kind of fan interest will the league have once the NCAA Tournament tips off in March and NFL free agency is rolling? With NASCAR starting and the Major League Baseball season around the corner, there will be more competition for viewers. The Seattle Dragons had 29,172 fans at their home opener Saturday, and the BattleHawks have sold out the lower bowl at the Edward Jones Dome for their Week 3 home opener. Will cheap tickets make that sustainable?
An inventive kickoff rule has caught the attention of the safety-minded NFL. The kicker puts the ball in play from his 30-yard line and must kick the ball in the air and in play between the opponent’s 20 and the goal line. The coverage team lines up across the return team’s 35, and the return team, with the exception of the returner, lines up on the 30. Neither side can move until the ball is caught, reducing high-speed collisions.
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The XFL has promoted the idea of “less stall and more ball,” but rule tweaks to promote offense haven’t produced more points yet, perhaps because players still are learning systems and developing chemistry.
Television partners ESPN and Fox have almost everyone mic’d up during games, so viewers get the play call at the same time as the quarterback. There are cameras in the locker room at halftime and in-game sideline interviews with players and coaches that produced a word you should not hear on network television from Dragons offensive lineman Dillon Day in Week 1.
“We need to change the whole entire game plan at halftime,” Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin told ESPN sideline reporter Dianna Russini after a miserable first half Saturday. “There’s a lot of stuff going on behind closed doors. We need to clean that up.
“Communication is especially one, and it showed today. At no point in time did I think we were comfortable out there. At no point in time did I think we were in a position to try to be successful. I think it was pretty easy to see.”
Who wouldn’t sign up for that kind of content during an NFL game?
***
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Outside of Audi Field, two blocks from Nationals Park in a booming area where residential and commercial properties are going up, kids lined up to design their own shields. There was a line to get into the Defenders retail store.
Inside the stadium, Gabriel carried a pregame itinerary. He’s in charge of keeping the team on schedule for warm-ups. It’s a smaller-budget operation, so everyone has multiple tasks.
Gabriel has spent two nights at home since leaving Gurnee for training camp Jan. 2, also leaving behind his job writing Pro Football Weekly’s annual draft guide and part-time work as an analyst for WSCR-670 AM. Both side gigs allowed him to stay involved with the game, but neither provided the juice of being in the action.
The XFL wasn’t on his radar when agent Paul Sheehy, who represents Guardians coach Kevin Gilbride, called to gauge his interest in a personnel job.
“The first words out of my mouth — this is literally two weeks after the AAF folded — ‘Yeah, I’m interested, but am I going to get paid?’ ” Gabriel said.
Gabriel started doing his homework on the league and connected with Hamilton. They met in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Defenders hired Gabriel, teaming him with Gerald Dixon, the operations manager and a former assistant pro scouting director for the Bills, and Matt Cooper, previously a Bills scouting assistant. Former Bears head athletic trainer Tim Bream was hired in the same capacity.
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They dived in on a scouting process that included a tour of NFL training camps and began preparing a board for the October draft. The 10-game season is shorter than the NFL’s, but in season, it’s not part-time work.
Gabriel talked about the flurry of activity at 10 p.m. on the night of final cuts, assembling a list of waiver claims that landed the Defenders wide receiver Simmie Cobbs, an Oak Park-River Forest graduate, and linebacker Jonathan Massaquoi.
“This is fun,” Gabriel said over lunch at a barbecue joint down the road from the University of Maryland campus. “Look, I had my career. I did the thing, scouting 200 nights a year on the road. This is going to be fun to start something from scratch.
“Six months ago we had nothing. To do something from scratch and be successful with it … I am telling you right now, there’s not a doubt in my mind we’re going to win the whole damn thing. Cocky? Yeah. I just think we’ve got a really good team.”
***
XFL players earn a base salary and receive a bonus for being on the active game-day roster. The winning team splits $100,000 after each game. A player who is active for all 10 games on a 5-5 team would earn about $55,000. Players, who also have two meals provided per day, earn more in the playoffs.
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The league is paying some quarterbacks more money, which it had to do to lure players such as the Defenders’ Cardale Jones and the Los Angeles Wildcats’ Landry Jones away from the NFL.
The Defenders used their first two draft picks in the pool of front-seven defenders (the draft is broken down by position) on outside linebacker James Vaughters and defensive end Chuck Harris. Vaughters chose to stay with the Bears on a reserve/futures contract, and the Defenders could not lure Harris, formerly with the Bears, away from the Jaguars.
The XFL offers a chance to get reps for players who have barely seen action in the NFL preseason. With the season ending in April, those who play well would be free agents near the start of NFL teams’ offseason programs.
Linebacker Jameer Thurman, who intercepted McGloin in the third quarter Saturday and returned it for a touchdown, was part of the Bears’ final cuts last year. He weighed returning to the CFL, where he played well previously, with joining the XFL.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” said Thurman, a Proviso West graduate who attended elementary school with Cobbs in Bellwood. “So after that with the Bears, I thought I had a pretty good camp, so I was going to wait it out as long as I could to hopefully get picked up somewhere else. I was just waiting, staying ready.
“I know the CFL. I’ve already had success up there, so it wouldn’t be a problem going back. But to get back to the NFL, I felt like this was the best route for me.”
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Former Bears tight end Khari Lee was out of the NFL last season after spending the previous two years with the Bills. While playing, he earned his real estate license in Maryland, but he continued training, hoping for a chance that came when the Defenders drafted him.
“I didn’t know what to expect here, but it was an opportunity to play football,” Lee said. “I came to give it a shot. My hope is to get back in (the NFL). Plan A is still to play football.
“This is definitely different. It’s an adjustment from the NFL, but I think we’re putting out a good product.”
***
The NFL hasn’t had a minor-league operation since its European league ceased in 2007. While the XFL isn’t affiliated with the NFL, if it can sustain, it surely would become a welcome training ground, especially for linemen and quarterbacks.
“I want to say this the right way: If you talk to Oliver Luck, he is going to say that Mr. McMahon doesn’t care if there is a tie-in with the NFL,” Gabriel said. “He wants to build his own identity and his own league and go from there.
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“But we all know what we are and what we’re selling to the kids — it’s an opportunity to get tape to get back to the NFL. We can develop you. With the practice rules the way they are, young guys don’t get developed unless they’re playing in the NFL. Practice squad guys, yeah, they’re going through the motions and they’re practicing. OK, DBs and wide receivers, yes, they can get quality reps in practice. Can linemen? No. Can quarterbacks? No.
“In the NFL, the No. 1 (quarterback) is the only guy getting reps unless you are the scout team guy, but still that is all scripted. From that standpoint, we’re good, but because the AAF failed, it is imperative that we get to Year 2. When we get to Year 2, then that will show players who hesitated to come here this year that we’re a viable option.”
After the shutout of the Guardians made the Defenders one of two 2-0 teams in the league, Gabriel was ensuring that players knew about the buses back to team headquarters. The Defenders were abuzz, enjoying beers in the locker room with the celebration promoted on social media.
A shutout by the defense deserves a shotgunning party afterwards 😆🍻
(via @XFLdefenders) pic.twitter.com/rDI2lz69w4 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 15, 2020
Still, the offense left too many points on the field, and there was plenty to clean up. Gabriel needed to get going. He had to do more work that night on the advance report for the Week 3 game against the Wildcats.
“This is the best,” he said.
That’s what winning feels like when you love the game.


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--A freak head injury — hitting a brick wall hard while laughing at a joke — forces an Olympic gold me

A freak head injury — hitting a brick wall hard while laughing at a joke — forces an Olympic gold medalist to retire at 34

A key player for Britain when the team won Olympic gold in 2016 , she was on holiday in Kenya @ @ @ @ @ , when she threw her head back to laugh at his joke and hit her @ @ @ @ @ .

Britain's Alex Danson celebrates after she scored her goal against New Zealand during a women's field hockey semifinal match at 2016 Summer Olympics on Aug. 17, 2016. (Hussein Malla/AP)
LONDON — A field hockey player who helped Britain win a gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics announced her retirement on Thursday after failing to recover from head trauma caused by hitting a brick wall hard while laughing at a joke.
Alex Danson-Bennett said her head injury had been life-changing "in terms of my perspective and things that have happened within my family."
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"It's difficult because this has been my life," the 34-year-old Danson-Bennett said.
A key player for Britain when the team won Olympic gold in 2016, she was on holiday in Kenya with her now-husband, Alex, when she threw her head back to laugh at his joke and hit her head against a brick wall.
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She suffered a mild traumatic brain injury, and said she had to spend 24 hours a day in bed for a few months and struggled to walk to the bathroom.
"I couldn't bear light, sound, touch, anything," she told the BBC in an interview. "It was almost like my sensory dials had been whacked up. Even holding a conversation, I'd have to talk very slowly."
Danson-Bennett was told she would make a full recovery, and made changes in her personal life in an attempt to get back playing for Britain.
"Hockey has always been my priority, but I've come to that stage where I can't do that and it wouldn't be fair to the team," she said.
Danson-Bennett said she will be Britain’s “No. 1 supporter” when the team tries to retain the Olympic title in Tokyo this year.


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--Victoria’s Secret being sold: 55% of former lingerie leader fetches $525 million

At its peak , the underwear and lingerie brand was known for its catalog filled with supermodels and a glitzy @ @ @ @ @ fashion , models and music .
Amidst its struggles , Victoria 's Secret sales have @ @ @ @ @ show has been pulled from network television and its stock - which traded at close @ @ @ @ @ - now trades at around $ 24 .

A Victoria's Secret store is seen March 1, 2019, in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It was announced Feb. 20, 2020, that the onetime lingerie leader is being sold, with private-equity firm Sycamore Brands buying 55% for about $525 million, while current owner L Brands will keep the remaining 45% stake. (Drew Angerer/Getty)
New York — Victoria's Secret, which once defined sexy with its leggy supermodels prancing around in their bras and oversized angel wings, is being sold, its fortunes diminished as women increasingly look for styles that more realistically fit their body types.
The company's owner, L Brands, said that the private-equity firm Sycamore Partners will buy 55% of Victoria's Secret for about $525 million. The Columbus, Ohio, company will keep the remaining 45% stake. After the sale, L Brands will be left with its Bath & Body Works chain and Victoria's Secret will become a private company.
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Les Wexner, who founded the company in 1963, will step down as chairman and CEO after the transaction is completed and become chairman emeritus. Wexner has been grappling with his own troubles, including questions over his ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was indicted on sex-trafficking charges.
The selling price for Victoria's Secret signifies a marked decline for a brand with hundreds of stores that booked about $7 billion in revenue last year. Shares of L Brands fell 88 cents, or 3.6% to close Thursday at $23.42.
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“We believe the separation of Victoria’s Secret Lingerie, Victoria’s Secret Beauty and PINK into a privately held company provides the best path to restoring these businesses to their historic levels of profitability and growth,” Wexner said in a prepared statement. "Sycamore, which has deep experience in the retail industry and a superior track record of success, will bring a fresh perspective and greater focus to the business.''
Sycamore faces big challenges to turn around the Victoria's Secret brand, which has struggled to keep up with competition. It has also failed to respond to changing tastes among women who are demanding more comfortable styles and don't want to be dictated to.
Rivals like Adore Me and ThirdLove, which have sprouted up online and marketed themselves heavily on social media platforms like Instagram, have focused on fit and comfort while offering more options for different body types. Meanwhile, American Eagle's Aerie lingerie chain, which partners with women activists like Manuela Baron, has also lured customers away from Victoria's Secret.
Many experts say the executives running the company were in a sense designing for men, not for women.
"It was always about men feeling good," said Neil Saunders, managing director at retail consultancy GlobalData Retail. "It should be about making women feel good about themselves."
Stacey Widlitz, president of SW Retail Advisors, a retail consulting firm, said that Victoria's Secret designs in the last few years were going in the opposite direction of what women wanted, ever sexier and of poorer quality.
“They were going down a rabbit hole,” she said.
And while last year Victoria's Secret started featuring more diverse models, including its first openly transgender model, the moves fell short.
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Victoria's Secret suffered a 12% drop in same-store sales during the most recent holiday season, and L Brands said Thursday the decline during the fourth quarter was 10%. Bath & Body Works, which had been a bright spot, is now mostly a candle business, says Randal J. Konik, an analyst at Jefferies.
“The (Victoria's Secret) brand has lost its way, while the lingerie market is not large or high growth, and has become commoditized," Konik wrote Thursday. "Furthermore, with athleisure taking over, the need for regular bras continues to wane.”
Victoria's Secret lit up runways and clogged up the internet with its supermodels and an annual television special that mixed fashion, beauty and music. That glamour has faded and so have sales. The show was canceled last year and shares of Victoria's Secret have gone from triple digits less than five years ago to a quarter of that today.
The company has been beset by allegations of a toxic work environment and its founder recently apologized for his ties to Epstein, who was found hanged in his jail cell after his indictment. L Brands' chief marketing officer Ed Razek resigned last August after making controversial comments about why transsexuals shouldn't be models at its annual fashion show.
Epstein started managing Wexner’s money in the late 1980s and helped straighten out the finances for a real estate development backed by Wexner in a wealthy suburb of Columbus. Wexner has said he completely severed ties with Epstein nearly 12 years ago and accused him of misappropriating “vast sums” of his fortune.
Wexner offered an apology at the opening address of L Brands' annual investor day last fall, saying he was "embarrassed" by his former ties with Epstein.
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Wexner is the longest-serving CEO of an S&P 500 company. He founded what would eventually become L Brands in 1963 with The Limited retail store, according to the company's website. Wexner owns about 17% of L Brands, according to FactSet.
Sycamore has about $10 billion in assets under management. The firm's investment portfolio includes retailers such as Belk, Coldwater Creek, Hot Topic and Talbots.
“The separation of Victoria’s Secret into a private entity will enable L Brands to reduce debt and focus on its strong core business of Bath & Body Works, which represents over 80% of its operating income,” said Moody’s vice president Christina Boni.
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chicagotribune--2020-02-20--‘The Masked Singer’ reveals the identity of Elephant: Here’s the star under the mask

Voice-over : “ In all my wildest dreams I never imagined I ’ d be here .
Where I feel @ @ @ @ @ and the wonderful .
It ’ s almost like this show is made for me @ @ @ @ @ heaven where I can wipe the slate clean as the purest snow .
Sometimes it @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think of me as the person I ’ ve become , but the @ @ @ @ @ But now under these lights , among the cream of the crop , I get @ @ @ @ @ And just like a kitty , will always find a way to nuzzle into your @ @ @ @ @ my big debut , I ’ m going for high drama .
As I show @ @ @ @ @ the pick of the litter .
”

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 3, episode 4 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Feb. 19 on Fox.
That’s a wipe out for Tony Hawk. The skateboarding legend became the first celebrity in “Group B” to be unmasked on Season 3 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired on Wednesday night.
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Hawk, who was disguised as the Elephant, performed The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love," and the judges said he shredded. ("It's a deep connection between my wife and I," he said of the song pick.) But it wasn't enough to survive elimination.
"Coming from a non-singing background, I'll give myself a 'B,'" Hawk told Variety. "I think that I felt like I was in tune for the most part, and I remembered the lyrics, which is a frightening prospect. It's very easy to mix up verses. I went with it the way I sing it in the car."
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Host Nick Cannon and Tony Hawk in the “A Brand New Six Pack: Group B Kickoff!” episode of "The Masked Singer" airing Wednesday, Feb 19 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (Greg Gayne/FOX / HANDOUT)
None of the "Masked Singer" panel guessed Hawk, although a few came close: Robin Thicke thought it was another extreme sports star, motorsports champ Travis Pastrana, while Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg picked cycling veteran Lance Armstrong. But Hawk was pleased that several of the panelists thought it was an actual musician.
"That gave me a boost of confidence," he said. "I was a little disappointed because I had one other song I was rehearsing ('Born to be Wild') that I thought I would do OK. But I honestly didn't want to go past that because then it would be far too much pressure."
Hawk said he also didn't feel as bad about his elimination after seeing huge music stars like Lil Wayne and Chaka Khan eliminated. As host Nick Cannon noted, those two have 46 Grammy nominations and 25 wins between them -- and they were still quickly voted off the show.
"I have a history of musicians in my family so that gave me maybe a false sense of confidence that I could actually do it myself," he said.
Hawk chose the elephant costume over the taco and said it wasn’t much of a challenge to sing in disguise -- except, “what I didn’t anticipate was I was going to struggle with the microphone when I moved around. I didn’t rehearse enough times with the mask on and my movements, and that was my mistake. During the performance the mic got stuck between the mask and my helmet.”
Among the other guesses, Ken Jeong thought it was former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, while Nicole Scherzinger thought it might be Steve Aoki.
"Here's the story about how I became the biggest animal in the kingdom," Hawk said, voice disguised, in the show's pre-taped package introducing Robot. "I was a calf when I found my calling. And with hard work turned my passion into a one-man show. I went from canvasing park benches to leading the charge of a massive movement, even parading through white houses. And now I'm ramping up to a new calling. To sum it up, go risk it all for what you love and what everyone else says is ear-relevant."
The "Masked Singer" competition moved to Group B this week with Banana, Frog, Taco, Elephant, Mouse and Kitty. Here's a recap of the other contestants and their performances:
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Frog
Song: "U Can't Touch This," by MC Hammer
Strength: “Legs for Days”
Weakness: “Warts”
Voice-over: “News flash! My metamorphosis has been anything but typical. I lept to stardom as fast as a lightning bolt. Never had a chance to evolve my image and do things my way. I was slithering with the big frogs, from jump jump. Just had to fit in and survive. But now, I can write my own masterpiece. Showing this new side gives me butterflies in my stomach. But I’m ready to drop the hammer and sing my face off.”
Panel guesses: Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Ray J
Kitty
Song: "Dangerous Woman," by Ariana Grande
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Strength: “Nine lives”
Weakness: “Hairballs”
Voice-over: “In all my wildest dreams I never imagined I’d be here. Where I feel at home among the weird and the wonderful. It’s almost like this show is made for me. A little bit of heaven where I can wipe the slate clean as the purest snow. Sometimes it feels lonely because people don’t think of me as the person I’ve become, but the person I once was. But now under these lights, among the cream of the crop, I get to start from scratch. And just like a kitty, will always find a way to nuzzle into your heart. Tonight, for my big debut, I’m going for high drama. As I show you why I’m the pick of the litter.”
Panel guesses: Julianne Hough, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie
Taco
Song: "Fly Me to the Moon," by Frank Sinatra
Strength: “Beefy”
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Weakness: “Can cause indigestion”
Voice-over: ""Like the comfort food that I am, I’ve been a comforting part of your lives for decades. I’ve got plenty of seasoning and I’m in a good place. But my routine can get a bit mild. So I’m here to bust a buffet and spice things up. To enchiladas and beyond, here I go as fast as I can! I want to be a last mask standing. I just hope I don’t fall apart out there. Time for taco Wednesday."
Panel guesses: Regis Philbin, Martin Short, Bob Saget
Mouse
Song: "Get Here," by Oleta Adams
Strength: “Mighty”
Weakness: “Cheese”
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Voice-over: “Just like a mouse, I’m small and cute. Don’t let my size fool you. Because my presence is larger than life. I’ve always been a leader in my field, really. I wrote the playbook. But as much as I love calling the shots and showing everyone who’s the boss, I also love having a walk-on role to play. They say don’t sweat the small stuff, but now that I’m putting myself in, you should. Because I never accept anything less than gold. So to all my competitors, you cheddar watch out!”
Panel guesses: Darlene Love, Dionne Warwick, Maya Rudolph
Banana
Song: “A Little Less Conversation,” by Elvis Presley
Strength: “Splits”
Weakness: “Brown spots”
Voice-over: “Where am I? I’m late for the stage! I can’t believe I overdid it last night. You’d think this was my first rodeo. I’m the banana because I’m tough on the outside but a total smoothie on the inside. And a hoot to have at parties. Am I right, ladies? I can’t wait to peel back my layers and show what I can use my voice in any environment. I just want to see you smile.”
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Panel guesses: Bill Engvall, Ed Helms, Darius Rucker


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--Among the children wounded at a Valentine’s Day slumber party was the sister of 9-year-girl killed a

Among the children wounded at a Valentine’s Day slumber party was the sister of 9-year-girl killed a decade ago. ‘I can’t take no more’

There ’ s still a long road ahead for La ’ Shone Sigle , 15 , who was struck seven @ @ @ @ @ foot when the gunman sprayed an apartment after unsuccessfully trying to crash the girl ’ @ @ @ @ @ danced and did each other ’ s hair .
Two other girls , 14 and @ @ @ @ @ last Friday night , along with a 23-year-old woman and two men , 18 and @ @

Police Cmdr. Eve Quarterman speaks to community members at the Parkway Gardens Christian Church on Feb. 18, 2020, for an emergency meeting after a number of shootings in the area on Valentine's Day. (Vincent D. Johnson/for the Chicago Tribune)
While Parkway Gardens residents met with police this week about deteriorating conditions at their violence-scarred complex, where a gunman wounded six young people at a slumber party, Lakeisha Edwards stayed at her wounded daughter’s side, thankful she hadn’t lost another child.
La'Shone Sigle, 15, was shot seven times on Feb. 14, 2020. (Family photo)
There’s still a long road ahead for La’Shone Sigle, 15, who was struck seven times in the leg and foot when the gunman sprayed an apartment after unsuccessfully trying to crash the girls-only party, where they danced and did each other’s hair. Two other girls, 14 and 15, were also wounded last Friday night, along with a 23-year-old woman and two men, 18 and 20.
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“They were partying and some people that came in just opened fire,” Edwards said. “My daughter said (she and her friends) were just dancing, then she heard gunshots and then she fell and said her legs started burning." The bullets broke bones and tore tendons, requiring additional surgery and threatening La’Shone’s dreams of becoming a professional dancer, Edwards said.
This isn’t the first time tragedy has touched her family. “I lost my older daughter to gun violence,” Edwards said in a telephone interview Tuesday night.
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La’Shone’s older sister, Chastity Turner, was 9 when she was shot and killed while washing her dog outside her father’s home in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood in 2009. Her slaying by two gang members who were targeting her father shocked the city and devastated her family.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 3 Chastity Turner was shot and killed in the 7400 block of South Stewart in Chicago on June 24, 2009 at the age of nine. (Family photo)
“This right here is just another tragedy for me,” Edwards said, adding that she wants out of the crime-plagued Parkway Gardens for the sake of her children.
“I’m just trying to get out of that community because I have three other young kids,” she said. “And we are at her grandmother’s house right now because my kids don’t want to go to Parkway at all. They’re scared that they might get shot.
“And I’m afraid of losing another child to gun violence,” she said. “I’m just thankful that it wasn’t deadly. … I can’t take no more, it’s just too much.”
As Edwards stayed with her daughter, her neighbors gathered with police and other officials in a wood-paneled meeting room at the Parkway Gardens Christian Church, where they voiced their anger or intense sadness over the recent shooting.
In a large circle of tan folding chairs occupied by police officers, violence interrupters, school officials and clergy, participants had a frank three-hour conversation during which officers and residents spoke directly, though respectfully, of their experiences while addressing long-standing problems.
Some residents like 31-year-old Shaquita Wells sobbed as they spoke of the shootings that are so common, they hardly ever allow their children to play outside the cramped asphalt property with urine-stained hallways and seemingly porous security.
Many spoke of feeling like they live in a war zone that often claims the lives of children they’d known growing up. Others were angry with the deteriorating conditions at the 35-building, 694-unit complex but were resigned to the belief that nothing would change.
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“I’ve never seen anything like it ever in my life," said Janice Harrison, a longtime resident and mother of a teenage son who said she wants out of the complex and is tired of hearing excuses. “If you’re just here to talk, I don’t wanna hear it. Because talking, that ain’t gonna do nothing.”
Others spoke of indifference from white police officers, or even complicity with complex security. One woman complained of seeing security guards buying marijuana from young men they are supposed to keep off the property.
Parkway Gardens resident Maudessie Jointer voices her feelings about the recent and historical violence at Parkway Gardens apartments during a community meeting on Feb. 18, 2020. (Vincent D. Johnson/for the Chicago Tribune)
Conversely, some officers spoke of the disrespect they receive from some residents who are mistrustful of police when they arrest trespassers. Some residents, they said, shun their help, not wanting to be viewed as cooperating with police.
Freshman Ald. Jeanette Taylor asked for residents’ help, saying her main goal is keeping them within a quickly gentrifying Woodlawn that awaits the arrival of the Obama Presidential Center.
Built in the 1950s, the complex was conceived as a destination for middle-class black families and was once the home of Michelle Obama before the future first lady’s family moved to South Shore. But by the 2010s, the gated housing development — owned by a New York-based developer — had become a stronghold of a faction of the Black Disciples gang and young men devoted to drill rap, which made rapper Keith “Chief Keef” Cozart a household name.
The area became the infamous O Block, named after a slain gang member in 2014. The area is one of the most dangerous in the city, where conflicts with rivals are believed to be responsible for dozens of deaths, most gang-related but some claiming innocent bystanders.
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Milik Clay, an 18-year-old Air Force Academy senior and one of the few youth present at the meeting, said more black officers patrolling the complex and the addition of male mentors could drastically improve the mood of the area. But he also pointed out that adults must court the area’s young people.
“Everything trickles down to the teenagers and nobody ever talks to the teenagers,” said Clay, who serves on the Parkway Gardens youth council. “How are the adults going to tell you what’s going on with teenagers?”
Toward the end of the meeting, officers from the Grand Crossing police district and Cmdr. Eve Quarterman and school officials made arrangements for more regular meetings and interactions. They pledged to meet again next month.
While Edwards didn’t attend Tuesday’s meeting, she was on the residents’ minds. Her employer, Jennifer Maddox — a Chicago police officer who runs an after-school program at Parkway Gardens — gave the group a status report.
“I run the community center at Parkway, where four of my staff members are parents and one of them is at the hospital with her daughter,” Maddox told the group to sad sighs. “She called me today to tell me, ‘Please don’t let me lose my job because I need to be by my baby’s side.'"
“Mama, please,” Maddox said. “You ain’t even got to worry about your job. You should be worrying about your baby.”
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wlee@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @MidNoirCowboy


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--How Uncle Nearest Whiskey came to honor the black distiller who taught Jack Daniel his stuff

Of course , the gulf between the formation of an idea and the execution of said idea is often vast @ @ @ @ @ when it came to Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey given that the person with the idea @ @ @ @ @ the “ Happy Wives Club : One Woman ’ s Worldwide Search for the Secrets @ @ @ @ @ ) and real estate investor rather than a spirits industry insider .
The challenge was @ @ @ @ @ she was seeking to gain traction in an environment in which hundreds of distilleries open @ @ @ @ @ was seeking to launch the brand in about one-quarter of the time it takes most @ @ @ @ @ their first products .

1856 was the first release by Uncle Nearest Whiskey, a brand founded to bring attention to and honor the legacy of master distiller Nearest Green. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
The idea behind Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey was simple: to honor Nathan “Nearest” Green, the relatively unknown enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey.
Of course, the gulf between the formation of an idea and the execution of said idea is often vast. That was particularly true when it came to Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey given that the person with the idea was an author (of the “Happy Wives Club: One Woman’s Worldwide Search for the Secrets of a Great Marriage”) and real estate investor rather than a spirits industry insider. The challenge was all the greater given that she was seeking to gain traction in an environment in which hundreds of distilleries open every year and that she was seeking to launch the brand in about one-quarter of the time it takes most spirits brands to roll out their first products.
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But that didn’t stop Fawn Weaver, who discovered Green’s story in 2016 while on vacation in Singapore. Learning Green’s story was “jarring,” she says, given that it meant an enslaved person’s labor and technique were crucial ingredients behind one of the world’s most iconic spirits brands.
Fawn Weaver set out to tell the story of master distiller Nearest Green. "We were singularly focused on a mission to cement Nearest’s legacy,” says Weaver. (Terry Allen)
Earlier that year Brown-Forman Corp. made the high-profile decision to adjust the story they told about Jack Daniel to a story about Nearest (who is sometimes referred to as Nearis, in error) Green, rather than about Dan Call, a preacher, grocer and distiller, who had previously been credited with teaching Daniel to run a whiskey still. Green had been loaned to Call. Even so, Weaver believed there was more to Green’s story. And she aimed to be the one to tell it; within months of her discovery, she was renting a house in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and working with a number of researchers to produce a book and documentary.
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“We were singularly focused on a mission to cement Nearest’s legacy,” Weaver says. “We were driven by passion rather than profit.”
She collected thousands of documents and interviewed dozens of Green’s descendants. That work enabled her to assemble a more well-rounded understanding of Green.
Born in Maryland, Green somehow ended up in Tennessee where he came to operate Call’s still. And, even after Call turned over his distillery to Daniel, and after the Civil War when Green was a free man, he continued in that role until 1884. Weaver claims Green was the first black master distiller on record in the United States and that he helped perfect the so-called Lincoln County Process, a technique in which bourbon is filtered through (or steeps in) charcoal chips before going into casks for aging.
It was in the midst of an interview with one of Green’s descendants that the idea for the whiskey brand came about.
“I asked, ‘How would you like to see (Nearest Green) honored?’” she says. “The answer was: with his name on his own bottle.”
Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Whiskey, worked with Nearest Green's descendants in developing a whiskey to honor the master distiller. (Marc Pagani)
But that’s easier said than done — especially since Weaver and Green’s ancestors sought to produce a unique, high-end whiskey that would appropriately honor Green.
After all, Tennessee whiskey requires time to age. Time that Weaver believed could be better spent building a brand. And so she sought to launch the brand with sourced whiskey and then, after the brand was getting established, it would begin producing its own.
There were only a couple distilleries that had Tennessee whiskey stock that fit her needs. And because she wanted whiskey in line with her research that suggested that Green’s whiskey was 110 proof, she narrowed her options to one distiller who had several mash bills and barrel chars to choose from.
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“We had to define what flavor profile Uncle Nearest would find acceptable,” she says. The sweet spot, she says, was between 8 and 9 years old. After settling on a blend, Weaver released 1856, a caramel-colored whiskey with notes of cinnamon and caramel corn with a hint of apple cider and toffee.
She followed that release with 1884 Small Batch, which features a delicate nose of cherries, bananas and licorice. The whiskey has notes of marshmallows, tobacco and cherries and a slight pepper spice.
“Even though we’re sourcing our whiskey, we make it a point to ensure that our whiskey doesn’t taste like anyone else’s whiskey,” Weaver says.
That’s particularly true of 1820, its single-barrel distillery-only releases that have won countless plaudits from Whiskey Advocate, which over the summer declared Barrel No. US-2 is “mature whiskey at its most refined.”
While Uncle Nearest took an unusual path to being, it has quickly cemented its place within the whiskey ecosystem. In 2 ½ years it expanded into all 50 states and 12 countries. And the fourth quarter of 2019 was the fifth straight quarter in which the brand generated at least 100 percent year-over-year growth and the eighth straight in which its quarter-over-quarter growth exceeded 35 percent.
That’s a tribute to Weaver’s vision.
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Zak Stambor is a freelance writer.


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--An inconsistent 2019 fueled Reynaldo Lopez to change up his offseason routine — both physically and

An inconsistent 2019 fueled Reynaldo Lopez to change up his offseason routine — both physically and mentally: ‘It’s going to be a good year’

“ All the downs from last year were related to on-the-field stuff , '' Lopez said .
`` Sometimes I @ @ @ @ @ then I couldn ’ t get rid of it .
That thought in my mind @ @ @ @ @ a bad outing that I couldn ’ t get rid of for the next outing @ @ @ @ @ — when something bad happened , bad thoughts kept on my mind .

GLENDALE, Ariz. —
Reynaldo Lopez is scheduled to pitch for the White Sox on Saturday in their Cactus League opener against the Angels.
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It will be an opportunity for Lopez to display some of what he learned after an inconsistent 2019.
“Last year was a year of too many ups and downs,” Lopez said through an interpreter. “But I learned to take the positive things from last year and it put me in a better position for this year and I’m pretty confident that this is going to be a better year.
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“I worked a lot during the offseason (in Los Angeles). ... I’m in a much better place mentally and physically, and it’s going to be a good year.”
The right-hander hopes to rebound after finishing 2019 with a 5.38 ERA, the second-worst in the majors. He went 10-15 with 169 strikeouts and 65 walks in 184 innings and surrendered 35 home runs, the fourth-most in MLB.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 78 White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease warms up in right field before a game against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Feb. 23, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Lopez had several strong outings, including a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts against the Indians on Sept. 5 at Progressive Field. But he also had outings like the one against the Royals on Sept. 11 at Guaranteed Rate Field, when he allowed six runs on nine hits — including four home runs — in 4⅔ innings.
“All the downs from last year were related to on-the-field stuff," Lopez said. "Sometimes I made a bad pitch and then I couldn’t get rid of it. That thought in my mind was always there, or a bad outing that I couldn’t get rid of for the next outing. It was always something — when something bad happened, bad thoughts kept on my mind.
"That was the reason why I struggled last year and wasn’t able to be consistent. But this year it’s going to be different. I learned from that and I know what I need to do in order to keep my consistency.”
Lopez faced some hitters in a batting-practice setting Tuesday. And Sox manager Rick Renteria said overall, the coaching staff came away impressed.
“There were some pitches that he made that were truly outstanding,” Renteria said. "I know that (pitching coach Don) Cooper has seen him, talked about him staying behind the ball a lot better than he had last year. He had some things over the winter to try to correct.
“Saw some good pitches, saw a nice changeup and saw a well-located fastball. He’s still a little rusty, it seems to me, with the batters in there. But he looks pretty good.”
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 It's another morning for Cubs baseball at Sloan Park on Feb. 17, 2020. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
While in Los Angeles in the offseason, Lopez went to the Mamba Academy, where he worked with teammate Lucas Giolito and Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, among others.
“The (pitching) repertoire is going to be the same (as last season),” Lopez said. "I don’t want to add or get rid of anything. Physically I made some changes, workouts. About my stuff, I don’t have any major changes.
"I worked on my fastball spin rate ... but that was it. It was more about getting my body in that better shape.”
The work wasn’t just physical.
“Everyone knows this game is more mental than physical," Lopez said. "I used to work on my body more than my mindset, but ... I made some changes to get my mind right for the season.
“My goal is just to stay healthy and keep my focus throughout the whole season and try to grind. It’s going to be a very good year for me and for the team.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--Man charged with sexually assaulting 3-year-old girl in River North restaurant

Puente was charged with felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 years old following his arrest Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ the 500 block of North Dearborn Street , police said .
He had refused to @ @ @ @ @ identified by responding officers as the suspect pictured in the community alert of the sexual @ @

A child sexual assault suspect locked a 3-year-old girl into a stall in the men’s washroom at a McDonald’s, where her father was nearby with her brother, prosecutors said Thursday during a bond hearing for the man, who was held without bail.
The father, who was in the next stall, pulled the child from underneath the locked stall door after hearing her cries, prosecutors said at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
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The incident happened about 8:20 a.m. Monday at the restaurant, in the 600 block of North Clark Street in the city’s River North neighborhood, police said.
Christopher Puente (Chicago Police Department)
The girl’s father was helping her brother inside another stall when Christopher Puente, 34, motioned for her to come into his stall, said Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy. During the assault, the girl whimpered, prompting Puente to put his hand over her mouth to silence her, Murphy added.
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After the girl was pulled from the stall, she was taken from the bathroom. Puente fled, authorities said. Police took a photo from the surveillance video and put it in a community alert.
During his bond hearing Thursday afternoon, prosecutors said Puente, who is deaf and was aided in court by a sign language interpreter, admitted calling the victim into a bathroom stall and assaulting her.
Puente, who was charged with felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 years old, admitted to being high on drugs when he touched the girl, saying “it wasn’t right,” Murphy said in court.
After hearing he would be held with no bail, Puente’s arms tensed behind him as he interrupted through his interpreter.
“I don’t understand. This is my first time,” the interpreter said.
Judge Susana Ortiz agreed with prosecutors that Puente posed a threat to the public and ordered him held without bail. The judge also approved a request barring him from contacting the family or anyone younger than 18.
Puente was arrested Wednesday morning at a business in the 500 block of North Dearborn Street, police said. He had refused to leave the establishment and was identified by responding officers as the suspect pictured in the community alert. Puente also faces a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land, police said.
Puente, of the 100 block of East Chestnut Street, has nine Illinois felonies and five misdemeanor convictions. He was also recently charged with a misdemeanor for inappropriately touching a woman’s legs downtown, Murphy said.
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He returns to court next month.
wlee@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--Former Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson due a monthly pension of nearly $16,000 despite e

Former Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson due a monthly pension of nearly $16,000 despite early dismissal

Johnson , 59 , was fired by Mayor Lori Lightfoot , who said her then-police superintendent had lied to her @ @ @ @ @ last fall when he was found asleep in his city-issued SUV near his South Side @ @ @ @ @ the dismissal meant he was not allowed to leave on his own schedule , Johnson @ @ @ @ @ him to a six-figure income each year for the rest of his life , city @ @ @

Eddie Johnson was unceremoniously fired in December before his planned retirement from his post as Chicago’s top cop, but he still stands to bring in a hefty pension, records show.
Johnson, 59, was fired by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said her then-police superintendent had lied to her after a late weeknight out last fall when he was found asleep in his city-issued SUV near his South Side home. But even though the dismissal meant he was not allowed to leave on his own schedule, Johnson’s pension will entitle him to a six-figure income each year for the rest of his life, city records show.
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The Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago awarded Johnson a monthly pension of more than $15,800, or an annual gross payment of nearly $190,000, according to records obtained by the Tribune through a request under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
[ Mayor Lightfoot fires Chicago’s police superintendent weeks before his retirement: ‘Eddie Johnson intentionally lied to me’ ]
That annual figure represents 75% of his average salary of just over $253,000 a year during his final four years with the department.
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In the end, Johnson’s career turbulence and early exit did cost him.
Since he did not stay on as superintendent until the spring, which would have been his four-year mark as the city’s top cop, he missed out on annual payments of just over $5,200, according to the records. Johnson was introduced by then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the end of March 2016 and was confirmed by the City Council the next month.
[ Eddie Johnson apologizes for ‘lapse in judgment’ but denies lying to mayor or public ]
Johnson fell under pressure in October of last year, when he was found asleep in his running city vehicle near a stop sign close to his home in the Bridgeport neighborhood. While city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson’s office began to investigate the case, Johnson announced in November he would be retiring at the end of the year, short of his fourth anniversary as the department’s leader.
Then weeks before that planned retirement, Lightfoot abruptly fired him on Dec. 2 after she learned that Ferguson’s office uncovered evidence that Johnson had lied about what happened in the October incident.
[ Shortlist emerges for next Chicago police superintendent ]
Pensions for Chicago police command staffers are generally calculated by looking at their highest average salary over their peak four-year period with the department. Those with CPD for at least 29 years, plus one day, are entitled to 75% of that peak salary.
At the time of Johnson’s firing, he was a 31-year veteran of the department, so he had hit the 75% threshold. But since he had served as superintendent for less than a full four years, he missed out on a higher pension.
[ ‘Two or three drinks at Ceres will get anyone in trouble’ — Chicago police superintendent’s problems allegedly began at legendary downtown bar ]
Johnson’s highest four-year salary period wound up including months he spent as CPD’s chief of patrol, two ranks below the top job.
Still, Johnson received an initial payment of $13,772 at the end of December, records show, and will be collecting $15,812 each month this year.
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Then on Jan. 1, 2021, he will be eligible to receive a post-retirement, cost-of-living increase of more than $5,600 for that year, according to the records reviewed by the newspaper. That adjustment would essentially cover the gap created by Johnson’s early departure, though he still will be bringing in less than he would have had he left in the spring.
[ Woman allegedly out drinking with Eddie Johnson accused of removing evidence from cellphone ]
Johnson did not return messages seeking comment.
Sources have told the Chicago Tribune that Ferguson’s office obtained video footage showing Johnson drinking for a few hours on the evening of Oct. 16 with a woman who was on his security detail. The two spent time at the Ceres Cafe, a popular restaurant and bar at the Chicago Board of Trade building.
Johnson, who is married to another woman, was seen on security footage kissing the woman on the detail who is also a Chicago cop, one of the sources said.
Later that night, when officers responded to a 911 call near Johnson’s home, he rolled down the window on his police vehicle partway, flashed his identification and drove off, the sources said.
Ferguson’s office is still investigating the incident, including the conduct of other officers involved in the police response to the call.
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After Johnson’s firing, former Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck took over to be Lightfoot’s interim police superintendent. And the Chicago Police Board has been tasked with reviewing applications from 25 candidates from across the country vying to be Johnson’s permanent replacement.
[ Jussie Smollett seeking dirt on Chicago’s ex-top cop Eddie Johnson in legal fight with city ]
Sources familiar with the applicants told the Tribune last week that the board’s roster of candidates has been whittled down to a handful of names, among them Sean Malinowski, a former LAPD official who has been a top consultant for the Chicago Police Department for the past few years; Ernest Cato, a CPD deputy chief; Kristen Ziman, chief of police in west suburban Aurora; and David Brown, a former Dallas police chief.
In 2016, then-Mayor Emanuel bypassed the Chicago Police Board’s three finalists and had the City Council pass a special ordinance to allow him to hire Johnson as his superintendent, though he didn’t apply for the job. Lightfoot, who was Police Board president at that time, has pledged to make her selection from among the board’s finalists, which could be announced soon.


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--Remembering Charles Portis: ‘True Grit’ is just the entry point for this master of American fiction

An author ’ s death seems to always be a great spur to their book sales , and I anticipate @ @ @ @ @ of “ True Grit ” for the next few weeks .
While “ True Grit @ @ @ @ @ American novel , I ’ m here to tell you that , as fine as @ @ @ @ @ not even Charles Portis ’ best book .

Author Charles Portis, who died recently at 86, should be known for more than "True Grit." (HANDOUT)
Author Charles Portis died recently at 86. Whether his name means anything to you is proof one way or another as to whether Portis really was America’s “greatest unknown novelist,” as he was so often called.
If I say Charles Portis, author of “True Grit,” the needle of recognition moves. Published in 1968 and turned into two very fine movies — one starring John Wayne, the other directed by the Coen brothers — “True Grit” belongs on any list of great American novels.
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“True Grit” is the story of genuine eccentrics, the dissolute U.S Marshal Rooster Cogburn (played by Wayne), obviously, but also the novel’s narrator, Mattie Ross, an old woman looking back on her adventures as a 14-year-old determined to avenge the death of her father at the hands of an outlaw. They are simultaneously ridiculous and admirable, caricatures who are also somehow recognizable as real.
The result of these tensions is a deadpan humor that many critics liken to Mark Twain, but I’ve always looked at Portis as an American version of England’s P.F. Wodehouse, a writer who knows his culture well enough to mock it in such a way as to engender genuine affection for it.
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Portis was partial to con men. The avoidance of a conventional life was a sign of virtue, and Portis’ own life was largely removed from wider society. Following a brief career as a successful reporter for the New York Herald Tribune, Portis retreated to his native Arkansas and started writing, publishing “Norwood” in 1966, and finishing with his fifth and final novel, “Gringos,” in 1991.
Portis was press shy, despite or perhaps because of his status as a former member of the press. His last substantive interview in 2012 was not published until the occasion of his New York Times obituary following his death. The author of the obituary, Roy Reed, died in 2017. It’s like something out of a Charles Portis novel.
An author’s death seems to always be a great spur to their book sales, and I anticipate people will track down copies of “True Grit” for the next few weeks. While “True Grit” may be a classic American novel, I’m here to tell you that, as fine as it is, it is not even Charles Portis’ best book.
For my money, the most enjoyable Portis offering is “The Dog of the South” (1979). Narrated by Ray Midge, the novel opens with some of Portis’ very best deadpan:
“My wife Norma had run off with Guy Dupree and I was waiting around for the credit card billings to come in so I could see where they had gone. I was biding my time. This was October.”
The remainder of the novel is a quixotic tale of Midge’s pursuit of his wife through Central America, a series of adventures featuring various Portis eccentrics. There is no real plot and yet the novel is stuffed with story. You’ll read it with a little, knowing smile on your face.
A Portis book is always great company, which is why I’ve given away at least a half-dozen copies of “The Dog of the South” over the years. I see my current copy, which I must’ve picked up as a replacement after the last giveaway, looks to be unread. I will be remedying this soon.
I don’t traffic in superlatives like “best unknown writer” or “most underrated novelist.” What I do know is that when readers encounter “True Grit” or “The Dog of the South” or “Masters of Atlantis” (1985), they are in for some time well spent.
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John Warner is the author of “Why They Can’t Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.”
Twitter @biblioracle
Book recommendations from the Biblioracle
John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you’ve read.
1. “Why the Ramones Matter” by Donna Gaines
2. “Factotum” by Charles Bukowski
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3. “Lou Reed: A Life” by Anthony DeCurtis
4. “Towards the End of the Morning” by Michael Frayn
5. “Let’s Go (So We Can Go Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording With Wilco, Etc.” by Jeff Tweedy
— Mark M., Wheaton
I think Mark needs to try Don DeLillo’s great rock 'n’ roll novel, “Great Jones Street.”
1. “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi
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2. “What Rose Forgot” by Nevada Barr
3. “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
4. “My Life as a Rat” by Joyce Carol Oates
5. “Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help, and Acceptance in Our Fight Against Alzheimer’s” by B. Smith and Dan Gasby with Michael Shnayerson
— Christine D., Chicago
“Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano wormed its way into my consciousness bit by bit, until I started thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading it. If that sounds like fun to Christine, I think she should check it out.
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1. “The Bone and Sinew of the Land: America’s Forgotten Black Pioneers and the Struggle for Equality” by Anna-Lisa Cox
2. “The Unwinding: The Inner History of the New America” by George Packer
3. “Unsheltered” by Barbara Kingsolver
4. “Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time” by Mark Adams
5. “Calypso” by David Sedaris
— Stephen F., Marshall, Mich.
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I am not a huge reader of current events books, but I found Ezra Klein’s “Why We’re Polarized” genuinely insightful.
Get a reading from the Biblioracle
Send a list of the last five books you’ve read to books@chicagotribune.com.


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--Cubs want to improve their pitch framing, but not all pitchers and catchers understand — or care — h

Cubs want to improve their pitch framing, but not all pitchers and catchers understand — or care — how the skill is measured

“ ( Pitch framing ) is an area he can improve , but he does so many things that help @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re pretty happy with the guy we have , and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ one of , if not , the best catcher in baseball with him .
”

MESA, Ariz. — Jon Lester appreciates the overall skills of Willson Contreras, and the veteran pitcher has no use for the pitch-framing statistics that have downgraded the Cubs’ two-time All-Star catcher.
“I still don’t understand that stat when the most important thing is the umpire, and he’s not in that equation,” Lester said. “I still haven’t quite figured out that one yet. Now you just have anybody out there with a frying pan trying to catch balls.”
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Non-roster invitee Josh Phegley, however, found out the hard way how teams place a premium on catching metrics.
Despite driving in 62 runs in 106 games for an Athletics team that qualified for the American League wild-card game, Phegley didn’t sign with a team until mid-January and didn’t get a major-league contract.
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“It got exposed very quickly that my defensive metrics from last year weren’t very good, and it was just bad timing to have a bad metric year behind the plate,” Phegley said. “The game is shifting toward the pitch-framing numbers like that. It was a little surprising, I guess, the way it shook down.”
Phegley received a minus-5.6 mark in pitch framing that led to a minus-14 in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.
“It’s such a subjective stat,” said Phegley, noting that some catchers have risen from the bottom to the top and vice versa in pitch-framing grades year by year.
“There’s so many pitches in a season. You’re counting on the umpires to call (borderline pitches), counting on your pitchers to hit their spots and there’s just a bunch of things that can happen that can affect your numbers.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Kris Bryant waits for his pitch at Cubs spring training on Feb. 18, 2020. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
The Cubs, however, were intent on upgrading the defensive skills of their catchers by hiring Craig Driver, who supervised the improvement of All-Star J.T. Realmuto last season with the Phillies. According to Fangraphs, Realmuto improved from minus-7 defensive runs saved with the Marlins in 2018 to plus-11 in 2019 with his new team.
“At the end of the day, their ability to run the game and work with their pitchers is going to be the most important portion of the equation,” said Driver, who was the Phillies catching coach for two seasons after serving as an assistant at Yale.
“But in terms of what we can measure, framing has the largest value, so that’s where we tend to spend our time — especially with somebody who has traditionally struggled with framing and blocking. You might feel you’re giving something up to get more framing, but in reality with (Phegley), he’s a guy who can get better at both those things through changing some of his approach.”
Driver believes Contreras, who received a minus-8.9 grade in pitch framing, has made positive strides in spring training workouts.
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“That’s the reason (Contreras) is a two-time All-Star,” Driver said. “He does so many things that help impact our team and win games.
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“(Pitch framing) is an area he can improve, but he does so many things that help us win in other ways. We’re pretty happy with the guy we have, and we’re very confident we’ve got one of the best catchers in baseball.”
Phegley caught 17 of the 28 appearances in 2019 by A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt, who said he “loved” throwing to Phegley despite his low pitch-framing marks.
“Let’s say an umpire missed a strike down the middle or whatever it may be,” Bassitt said. “I don’t know how that’s on the catcher. They do get knocked for that. So the metrics that are used (are) kind of hard to use.
“(Phegley) put the work in to call a good game. He has a great arm, so I would throw to him every day. I know from the grading aspect, he was one of the worst in the league in framing. I was wondering how was that possible. I don’t understand the numbers.”
A catcher’s overall skills can compensate for low pitch-framing grades. Six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez of the Royals received a plus-1 mark in defensive runs saved despite a minus-11.9 mark for pitch framing.
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Braves catcher Tyler Flowers was charged with 16 passed balls but was credited with four defensive runs saved largely based on his plus-13.2 mark in pitch framing.
“Go ask a pitcher: Do you like throwing to this guy?” Bassitt said. “If the answer is yes, then they’re a good catcher.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-20--What’s next for Rod Blagojevich? Can he practice law? Run for office? Become a poet?

The former U.S. congressman still could run for federal office , including the presidency , because he meets the age @ @ @ @ @ .
That doesn ’ t mean he ’ d automatically take a seat if elected @ @ @ @ @ U.S. House of Representatives and Senate can vote to expel any members who they think @ @ @ @ @ .

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, with his wife Patti at his side, speaks to supporters and the media in front of their Ravenswood Manor home on Feb. 19, 2020. (Jose Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Rod Blagojevich and his family have spent the past eight years fighting for his freedom. Now that President Donald Trump has granted their wish by commuting Blagojevich’s sentence and sending him back to Chicago about four years early, the 63-year-old disgraced ex-governor’s future is here.
So, what now?
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Here’s what we know about Blagojevich’s potential next steps:
Can he run for office again?
Yes and no.
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He can’t run in Illinois, a rule imposed by the state Senate when it removed him from the governor’s office in 2009. In a unanimous vote, senators barred Blagojevich from holding any future state elected office.
The former U.S. congressman still could run for federal office, including the presidency, because he meets the age, citizenship and residency requirements. That doesn’t mean he’d automatically take a seat if elected, though. Both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate can vote to expel any members who they think are unfit for the position.
[ Calling himself a ‘freed political prisoner,’ Rod Blagojevich thanks Trump and remains unbowed ]
What will he do for a job?
Good question. He’ll need one, per the terms of his supervised release — the federal equivalent of parole.
Trump’s order specifically noted the president was not commuting the two-year period of supervised release imposed by U.S. Judge James Zagel. Under the conditions, Blagojevich has to meet with probation regularly, cannot leave the jurisdiction without permission and must seek employment.
If he has trouble finding a job, Blagojevich must do at least 20 hours a week of community service until he finds one, with a maximum 200 hours served.
Oh, and Blagojevich cannot be a government informant. So don’t count on him wearing a wire for the feds anytime soon.
[ Rod Blagojevich’s rise and fall and presidential commutation, a Chicago story ]
So what can he do?
Well, he probably won’t be a lawyer, despite his law degree.
The Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission is slated to hold a hearing Tuesday on the fate of Blagojevich’s law license. After appeals in his criminal case were exhausted, the commission filed a formal complaint seeking to disbar him for good, citing Blagojevich’s conviction on an array of federal corruption charges. The complaint states that the ex-governor’s crimes “adversely reflect on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.”
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This is likely no great disappointment to Blagojevich, who often joked about his lackluster career as a Cook County prosecutor.
The ex-governor shared no definitive career plans with reporters during a 20-minute speech outside his home Wednesday, but he did express a keen interest in criminal justice reform. Given his fiery rhetoric and the way supporters there responded, he could join the fight to dismantle the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the landmark legislation that is largely blamed for mass incarceration and prison overcrowding.
Blagojevich called the bill “racist” and noted Democrats had passed the legislation before he was elected to Congress.
"I hope that as I move forward, I can take some of that experience that I’ve had and try to do what I can to try to prove what is a broken, and I believe in many cases, a corrupt criminal justice system,” he said.
[ How Patti Blagojevich helped earn her husband’s release ]
Can he write a book?
He already has — but it could be slightly tougher for him to do it again.
Blagojevich’s memoir, “The Governor,” was published in 2009 and gave his take on his downfall, including questionable comparisons to boxer Jake LaMotta, Theodore Roosevelt, Martha Stewart and George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
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After Blagojevich signed his book deal, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation that prohibited officials convicted of public corruption from profiting directly or indirectly from their crimes. In theory, that would include any future books about Blagojevich’s incarceration, but the law’s constitutionality has not been tested and some legal scholars doubt it would withstand judicial scrutiny.
[ Rod Blagojevich saga timeline: From arrest to Trump's commutation ]
Does he have a pension to tide him over until he gets a job?
Not much of one.
Blagojevich’s $65,000-a-year state pension was taken away in 2011 after then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued an opinion laying out how the corruption counts he was convicted of directly related to his official duties as governor.
“He repeatedly traded on his position as a public servant for his own, unlawful ends, violating the public’s trust,” the opinion stated.
The General Assembly Retirement System later went along with Madigan’s recommendation and denied Blagojevich his pension. He is still eligible for a refund of the personal contributions made to his retirement fund during four years as a state legislator and six years as governor, but it’s not a full one, according to Jeff Houch, a spokesman for the State Employees’ Retirement System.
In March 2012, a week before Blagojevich reported to prison, federal prosecutors announced they were garnishing about $21,000 of the $129,000 in pension contributions he’d paid into the system. After taking out taxes, public records show he’s still entitled to $101,917, but he had not applied for it as of Wednesday.
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Blagojevich wasn’t totally shut out of a government pension, however. Because his crimes were committed well after his six-year stint in the U.S. House of Representatives, Blagojevich was allowed to keep his approximately $15,000 a year congressional pension, which the Tribune has reported he was eligible to begin receiving when he turned 62.
[ Autographs and no apologies as Rod Blagojevich returns home: 'I didn’t do the things they said I did. They lied on me.’ ]
Can he vote for President Trump like he promised?
Nothing is stopping him.
Blagojevich is free to vote in any upcoming election now that he’s been released from prison, according to Matt Dietrich, a spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections.
“People with felony records can vote as long as they are no longer incarcerated and as long as they re-register,” Dietrich said.
Blagojevich will get his first chance to back his benefactor during the Illinois primary on March 17.
“I’m a Trumpocrat,” Blagojevich said Wednesday to cheers from onlookers. “If I have the ability to vote, I’m gonna vote for him.”
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[ Editorial: The flamboyant return of Rod Blagojevich. Did you expect anything different? ]
What poem is Blagojevich quoting these days?
If you thought the answer was Rudyard Kipling’s “If,” you made an extremely educated, but ultimately incorrect, guess.
During his 20-minute speech on his front lawn, Blagojevich recited a verse from “The Gate of the Year” by British poet Minnie Louise Haskins. The poem was also quoted by King George VI during his Christmas broadcast in 1939.
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God," Blagojevich recited. "That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
How this translates to Rod getting a job remains to be seen.
Maybe there’s an opening for a bard somewhere?
sstclair@chicagotribune.com
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jmeisner@chicagotribune.com