chicagotribune--2020-02-12--Bears Q&A: Does pursuing Vic Beasley make sense? Was the Khalil Mack trade worth it? Is Taysom Hill

Bears Q&A: Does pursuing Vic Beasley make sense? Was the Khalil Mack trade worth it? Is Taysom Hill an option at QB?

I ’ m not sure how one can review 2019 and look back on it any differently .
The Bears had one of the worst offenses in the NFL just about any way you slice it , and the quarterback was at the core of nearly all of that .
It ’ s also hard to say Trubisky was anything more than a middle-of-the-road quarterback in 2018 .
Trubisky has ample playing experience , and the Bears have at least floated the idea that different players develop at different rates .
That ’ s fair , but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gone from being below average through three seasons as a starter to elite performers .
That ’ s a really short list , and there ’ s a long list of guys teams have hung on to for far too long with the idea that they might turn the corner .
Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy were definitive at the end of the season that Trubisky would be the club ’ s starter at the beginning of the 2020 season .
I ’ ve taken the approach that actions will speak louder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good idea of how they evaluated his performance and how they view his career trajectory when we see how they construct the quarterback depth chart after the new league year kicks off March 18 .
The Bears should get the best option that fits what Nagy wants to do at the position .
Who is realistic to fill that role ?
That ’ s a big question .
Would they be better served trading for a player ?
Would they tell free agents that Trubisky will indeed be the starter when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variables are in place .
It ’ s a difficult spot for the Bears , because when a franchise swings and misses on the No .
2 pick in the draft , it can take some time to rebound .
When that whiff comes on a quarterback , it can take longer .
Keep in mind , most of the options people are throwing out there are short-term fixes , at best .

The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Would it make sense — depending on the cap situation and available money — for the Bears to go after Vic Beasley and make what is a strength into a super strength? — @fasteddy85
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The Bears won’t make any significant signings at outside linebacker if they have Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd on the roster. As their contracts are currently structured, they will count nearly $40 million against the 2020 salary cap. That accounts for roughly 20% of the team’s cap space. Beasley, whom the Bears bypassed in the 2015 draft when they selected wide receiver Kevin White with the seventh overall pick, went No. 8 to the Falcons. He had a breakout season in 2016 when he finished with 15½ sacks for a team that reached the Super Bowl. Beasley totaled 18 sacks in the last three seasons with eight in 2019, with half of those eight in the final four games. Beasley, who will turn 28 in July, will find a team that is willing to bet on his 2016 production and pay him good money. He might not be an elite edge rusher, but he’s good and certainly has been more productive than Floyd in terms of sack production. The Bears simply can’t justify devoting much more cap space to the position. With an elite player such as Mack, they shouldn’t have to either. Yes, there are some defensive questions that must be answered this offseason, but that won’t take the focus off a woefully underperforming offense in 2019. That’s where the Bears need to commit the bulk of their resources.
The Falcons' Vic Beasley plays against the Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
Now that the new coaching staff has been selected, what’s the biggest storyline for the Bears? — @ckindra_23
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Quarterback. Quarterback. Quarterback. While the kicking situation created plenty of headlines at this time a year ago, the improvement of Mitch Trubisky loomed as a far more important element to the team’s prospects in 2019. Unfortunately, Trubisky regressed. The offense was a mess from the start of the season and never really got going. Look no further than the uninspiring performance in the season finale against the Vikings, who were resting their frontline players for the playoffs. Trubisky’s development — or his challenger or his replacement — will be the focal point of the offseason and regular season. Can the Bears make significant offensive gains to become a contender again? The answer is going to hinge, in large part, on whether they get improved quarterback play. Simply put, there isn’t a storyline that comes close to this in terms of magnitude. The actions of general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy are going to speak much louder than any words we’ve already heard from them or will in the coming months. Let’s see how their plan unfolds.
Ryan Pace has stressed his "greatest player available" philosophy for the draft during his entire tenure as general manager. Will that be the blueprint with plenty of depth at running back, wide receiver, etc., this year? Or do you think the Bears might reach for where they need help? — @zberg034
I’ll start by telling you that you’re going to have to look long and hard to find a general manager who doesn’t talk about keeping the focus on draft grades and the best player available. This isn’t some revolutionary approach that Pace talked about. The Bears said this many, many times before Pace arrived. You hear it from every other team. I believe the Bears need to take advantage of an extremely talented class of wide receivers in the draft. They need upgrades at that position. They have a critical lack of playmakers on offense. They’ve got Allen Robinson and that’s about it when it comes to players who can consistently be counted on. Anthony Miller has flashed, but he has durability questions and struggled during the first half of the season. Tarik Cohen is coming off a season-long slump. David Montgomery showed a few flashes. They need playmakers, period. Pick a position. Nothing wrong with adding talent at wide receiver.
Was the trade for Khalil Mack really worth it? It seems to have painted the Bears into a corner in a number of ways, and to my eyes Mack hasn’t been a bona fide game wrecker since the first half of the 2018 season. Given that guys like J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald and the Bosa brothers haven’t been enough to lift their teams to Super Bowl titles, have the Bears oversold the value of high-profile sack artists? — David D., Rogers Park
Mack sure looked like he was worth it in the first month of 2019 when he had 4½ sacks and four forced fumbles through four games. The problem is there were only four more sacks and one forced fumble the remainder of the season, and that led to some frustration from the fan base as the defense was good but lacked the big-play ability that made it so special in 2018. It’s probably a little premature to say whether the deal was a good one for the Bears. What you do know is the organization traded unknown commodities — draft picks — for a known commodity, one it then had to invest in heavily. The contract Mack signed in September 2018 remains the largest deal for a defensive player in the league. The Bears swung for Mack because they believed the window to compete for a championship was open, and they liked the idea of building around a quarterback on a cost-controlled rookie contract. Keep in mind that Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa play for teams that have reached the Super Bowl the last two seasons. They’re dominant players, and no one is going to have a top-tier defense without premier players in the front seven. The Bears have an excellent defense with Mack. I’m not sure it would be that without him.
Khalil Mack heads to the locker room after a 24-20 win over the Lions on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019 at Ford Field in Detroit. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
With the Bears needing to fill substantial needs this offseason, could they look to trade Khalil Mack and recoup the kind of draft pick haul they gave up to acquire him? Those picks could be used to improve the team in many areas. — Russ M., Darien
There were a couple questions this week about the possibility of the Bears shopping Mack. You learn to never say never when it comes to the NFL, but I have a hard time envisioning that happening. Yes, the Bears have needs to fill on the roster, but trade away Mack and there’s another giant hole on the roster. A proven edge rusher would immediately become the second-greatest need after solving the quarterback issue and would really stress the front seven and secondary. Two more years into the prime of his career since being acquired, Mack would probably not bring as much in return as the Raiders got for him in September 2018. The Bears have a strength right now with their defense. Trading Mack would probably make their defense middle of the road. While his production didn’t match the contract this past season, the amount of attention he commanded on a weekly basis from opponents certainly did, and that is unlikely to change in 2020. From a salary cap standpoint, trading Mack simply isn’t feasible. Moving him would create $48 million in dead cap space and that would be crippling to the team in 2020.
I was shocked at how bad the offense was as a whole this past year. To me, it seems like the offensive line would be the biggest place of concern (besides quarterback) heading into next season. Was the lack of production in the run game related more to the O-line’s personnel issues or coaching? The fact that they fired the offensive coordinator, who was in charge of the run game, and the O-line coach, it would almost seem that it was a coaching issue. But then there’s the fact they switched Cody Whitehair and James Daniels halfway through the season along with Kyle Long being injured … that make it seem like it was an O-line issue. — Petrie P., Whiting, Ind.
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I don’t disagree with much of what you’re saying, but keep in mind that when you say something is the No. 2 concern behind the quarterback, it’s a secondary concern behind what is the single most important position in the game. Until the Bears can resolve their very long-running issue at quarterback, everything else is a secondary concern. A better quarterback last season would have made an offensive line that didn’t play particularly well look better. I thought the pass blocking was decent. Could it have been better? Sure. Did it create insurmountable obstacles for the quarterback? Absolutely not. It’s all interconnected, and the running game issues were a combination of line play, scheme, coaching and the running backs. There were games the Bears really didn’t even try to run the ball. The opener against the Packers and the Saints game are perfect examples. The Bears need to be more productive when they run the ball, and that’s no secret. We’ll see whether coaching changes and a potential new right guard can iron out some things. The Bears sure hope so.
Is there a viable scenario in which the Bears become contenders in 2020, or are there too many pieces of the puzzle missing? From the top of my head, they need major upgrades (personnel or performance-wise) at offensive line, quarterback, tight end, defensive back, wide receiver, defensive line ... need I go on? — @gongimenez
Sure, the Bears can contend in 2020. They’ve got the core of the team that won the NFC North in 2018 still in place, and they need to bounce back from an 8-8 season, not 4-12. They need to be much more productive offensively, and the defense will have to be more opportunistic. Yes, they’ve got some roster needs, but as I’ve laid out already, the Bears certainly are tight in terms of salary cap space. I’d list the quarterback position as the greatest need for, using your term, a major upgrade. Tight end and wide receiver need help too, and you’re right, they need to have a better season on the offensive line. I’m not as concerned about the defensive backfield or the defensive line. Sure, they have to determine what they are going to do with cornerback Prince Amukamara and find some depth — hopefully young talent — to supplement the position. Good teams always are working to cultivate talent on the defensive line, but the Bears have been good there. If they make the right moves and have some players poised for bounce-back seasons, there is no reason to think they can’t compete in the division, at least from the start of the season. They’re absolutely going to require much better and more consistent quarterback play.
What do you think of Taysom Hill as a potential backup/competition option at quarterback for the Bears? What would pursuing him as a restricted free agent look like? — @james23white
Saints quarterback Taysom Hill plays in a preseason game against the Chargers on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019 in Carson, Calif. (Kelvin Kuo/AP)
The Saints would love to keep Hill, who has been a multidimensional weapon for them, but he’s a restricted free agent. That means the Bears, or another team, will have to place a value on him that is higher than the Saints are willing to pay him. I’d imagine the Saints place a first- or second-round tender on Hill as an RFA. That means a team signing him to an offer sheet has to fork over the corresponding draft pick if the Saints choose not to match the deal. The Bears don’t have a first-round pick, so they won’t be able to consider him as an option if the Saints go that route. Would the Bears consider signing Hill to the kind of contract he wants and shipping a second-round pick to New Orleans for him? I suppose that’s a possibility, but only if they view him as a guy to build around. Hill will turn 30 this summer and he’s got a limited body of work in the NFL as a passer — 13 attempts total in his career. Seems like a stretch to me that general manager Ryan Pace would want to invest heavily to acquire Hill. I think the Bears will be more focused on adding a quarterback with significant experience. There’s no doubt Hill has value, though, and he’s exciting to watch.
Are there real signs that the Bears will bring back Jordan Howard? — @tyberieus82
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If Howard wasn’t deemed a fit for the offense in 2018, how has that changed? He had a couple of solid games for the Eagles last season, but he missed six games, and durability is a concern for a guy who had high mileage coming out of college and was used extensively by the Bears through his first three seasons. The Bears could use another running back in the mix as competition, but they’re committed to David Montgomery and hoping he has a better second season. They signed Mike Davis for $3 million last season, and it turned out they had positively no use for him, so he was cut in order to get a compensatory draft pick in April. Considering how teams can plug running backs into a system and get quality production, why turn to a player coming off an injury-plagued season who wasn’t deemed a fit when he was in the system? I’m not trying to knock Howard. He was a solid back for the Bears and a terrific fifth-round draft pick by GM Ryan Pace. You can find running backs that can fill roles and produce, though, and the Bears ought to be able to get one they deem to be a better fit.
The Bears need offensive line help. Where’s it coming from? — @illini8208
The Bears need to find a starting right guard. The sense I get is that while Rashaad Coward may have an opportunity to compete for a spot, the club is going to seek an upgrade. Otherwise, I’m pretty certain you will see four familiar faces in the starting lineup. The Bears have committed money to three of those starters, and with former second-round pick James Daniels going into this third season, they still believe he can be a good player. Daniels improved in the second half of the season after he moved to left guard. Left tackle Charles Leno isn’t going anywhere. Cutting him would create a cap savings of only $2.9 million at a position where the Bears would have to pay top dollar to get a frontline starter — if one were available. The Bears paid right tackle Bobby Massie last offseason, so he’s not going anywhere. They also paid center Cody Whitehair before last season. You can question some of the moves that have been made, but the contracts are going to keep these players in place at least for the 2020 season. So when you talk about help, I think you need to focus on right guard and the idea that they could add some developmental players via the draft, grooming them for roles in 2021 or beyond.
Does the Chiefs’ Super Bowl afford Matt Nagy some goodwill by association? Does the Bears’ brass feel justified that their decision to hire an Andy Reid disciple puts them on the right path? — @ramsin_t
Matt Nagy grabs the face mask of Mitch Trubisky as the Bears play the Lions on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019 at Ford Field in Detroit. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Nagy is a long way removed from Kansas City at this point. What makes the Bears confident in him is the fact that he did a terrific job in 2018, leading a quick turnaround and winning Coach of the Year honors along the way. Nagy was able to keep the locker room in the right place last year when the team struggled as well. What’s going on in Kansas City and what’s transpired for the Chiefs the past two years shouldn’t have any bearing on how the Bears feel about their coach.
At the end of the season you were pretty down on Mitch Trubisky. Have you reconsidered at all? If not, who would you bring in if you were the Bears GM? — @tmacnam
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I’m not sure how one can review 2019 and look back on it any differently. The Bears had one of the worst offenses in the NFL just about any way you slice it, and the quarterback was at the core of nearly all of that. It’s also hard to say Trubisky was anything more than a middle-of-the-road quarterback in 2018. Trubisky has ample playing experience, and the Bears have at least floated the idea that different players develop at different rates. That’s fair, but it’s also fair to question how many quarterbacks have gone from being below average through three seasons as a starter to elite performers. That’s a really short list, and there’s a long list of guys teams have hung on to for far too long with the idea that they might turn the corner. Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy were definitive at the end of the season that Trubisky would be the club’s starter at the beginning of the 2020 season. I’ve taken the approach that actions will speak louder than words. We’ll get a good idea of how they evaluated his performance and how they view his career trajectory when we see how they construct the quarterback depth chart after the new league year kicks off March 18. The Bears should get the best option that fits what Nagy wants to do at the position. Who is realistic to fill that role? That’s a big question. Would they be better served trading for a player? Would they tell free agents that Trubisky will indeed be the starter when the season rolls along? A ton of variables are in place. It’s a difficult spot for the Bears, because when a franchise swings and misses on the No. 2 pick in the draft, it can take some time to rebound. When that whiff comes on a quarterback, it can take longer. Keep in mind, most of the options people are throwing out there are short-term fixes, at best.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--HQ Trivia live game app shuts down

HQ Trivia live game app shuts down

Intermedia Labs was co-founded by Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll , two of the creators of Vine , which Twitter @ @ @ @ @ shut down four years later .
In December 2018 , Kroll was found dead in @ @ @ @ @ of an apparent drug overdose .
The company had been led by Yusupov .

After a two and a half years, HQ Trivia — the live game-show app that gave away cash prizes to winners — is shutting down.
HQ Trivia's shutdown was first reported by CNN. The company is laying off its 25 full-time staffers, according to the report. Reps for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The app was launched by parent company Intermedia Labs in August 2017. At its peak HQ Trivia — which spawned a rash of copycats — had attracted some 2.3 million live viewers, each looking to earn a piece of a steadily growing pool of prize money for answering 12 trivia questions correctly. At one point HQ Trivia’s total prize pot hit $250,000 in a game sponsored by Warner Bros. “Ready Player One.”
HQ managed about 15 million all-time installs, peaking at 2 million in February 2018, according to research firm Sensor Tower. In January 2020, the app had just 67,000 installs. The company also launched offshoot apps, including HQ Words and HQX, a live photo competition in which players voted on the best submissions in different categories.
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Intermedia Labs was co-founded by Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll, two of the creators of Vine, which Twitter acquired in 2012 and then shut down four years later. In December 2018, Kroll was found dead in his New York City apartment of an apparent drug overdose. The company had been led by Yusupov.
In 2018, Intermedia raised $15 million in funding led by venture-capital firm Founders Fund, with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, which previously invested seed money in the startup.
HQ Trivia had inked ad deals with several entertainment companies, including Fox, Warner Bros., NBC and Universal Pictures, as well as Google, Nike, Target, JPMorgan Chase, and MillerCoors.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Cook County political operative Patrick Doherty indicted in federal red-light camera probe

“ When you look at the impact ( red-light cameras ) have on safety in the village , there is @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a slight benefit when you look at the public almost feeling abused by @ @ @ @ @ re triggered so often that people look at it as a cash cow kind of @ @ @ @ @ at a November board meeting .
“ There ’ s other ways we could be @ @ @

A Cook County political operative has been indicted on federal charges alleging he conspired to pay bribes to a relative of an Oak Lawn trustee in 2017 to get lucrative red-light cameras installed there.
Patrick Doherty, 64, of Palos Heights, was charged in a three-count indictment made public Friday with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. An arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
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Doherty, who serves as chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, also worked as a sales agent for a red-light camera company that has had a contract to operate cameras in Oak Lawn since 2014, according to the charges.
The seven-page indictment does not identify the company, but details in the charges show it is SafeSpeed Inc.
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The indictment alleged Doherty conspired with a co-owner of SafeSpeed as well as another sales agent for the company to pay $4,000 in bribes in exchange for the official support of an Oak Lawn trustee to add cameras at additional intersections.
The trustee was referred to in the indictment only as “Trustee 1.”
[ Chicago aldermen move to try to tighten up rules on outside employment for city officials ]
In a recorded telephone call in May 2017, Doherty told the other SafeSpeed agent he’d pay the trustee’s close relative the money “if it’s going to get us the job,” according to the charges.
“I’ll just pay it,” Doherty allegedly said on the call. “Just make sure we get the, make sure we get the f----- thing, the contract.”
The payments were going to be doled out to the relative in $500 installments over a period of eight weeks, according to the indictment. To hide the purpose of the bribes, the money would come from a company where Doherty was a manager.
On June 13, 2017, Doherty was recorded on a cellphone call by the FBI telling the trustee’s relative, “It’s not like I need ya,” but that he’d pay the money anyway, according to the charges.
Two days later, Doherty cut the relative a $500 check for the first installment, the indictment alleged. The charges do not state whether the rest of the money was ever paid.
Neither Doherty nor his attorney, Michael Monaco, could be reached for comment.
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Doherty is the second person to be charged as part of a sprawling political corruption investigation that has orbited a who’s who of state power players, including elected officials; magnates in the construction, asphalt and casino industries; lobbyists; transportation officials; and Commonwealth Edison executives.
[ Guilty plea lays bare ex-state Sen. Martin Sandoval’s greed in red-light camera bribery scheme. ‘So why don’t I get that offer?’ ]
State Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty last month to bribery and tax charges. He admitted to taking $20,000 in campaign contributions — and later $70,000 cash from a SafeSpeed co-owner secretly working with agents — to act as SafeSpeed’s “protector” in the Illinois Senate.
The Tribune has reported that the cooperating SafeSpeed representative is Omar Maani, a Burr Ridge businessman who is one of SafeSpeed’s founders and biggest rainmakers.
SafeSpeed and owner Nikki Zollar have denied wrongdoing, saying they had no idea bribes were being paid.
The company released a statement Friday saying Doherty was not a SafeSpeed employee, but an “independent contractor” recruited by Maani to consult on sales.
“Mr. Doherty had no authority to take actions to bind the company, let alone engage in criminal behavior,” the statement read. “SafeSpeed never authorized Mr. Doherty or anyone else to engage in the alleged criminal behavior described in the indictment.”
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[ Mayor Lightfoot says Chicago will audit red-light cameras, won’t rip them all out following Sandoval bribery scandal ]
[ Illinois House committee advances red-light camera ban in wake of ex-Sen. Martin Sandoval pleading guilty to taking bribes from the industry ]
The Tribune has reported on how SafeSpeed has hired as consultants several suburban officials including Doherty, Worth Township Supervisor John O’Sullivan and former Justice police Chief Robert Gedville. Gedville was fired in 2012 after the newspaper reported on his relationship with the company.
Records obtained by the Tribune show that Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury first signed a deal with SafeSpeed in 2014, calling for a goal of putting 10 cameras at five intersections.
Only three cameras were ever put into operation, however: one at the intersection of 95th Street and Pulaski Road and two more at 111th Street and Cicero Avenue, the records show.
While the Doherty indictment alleges there was a push to add more Oak Lawn cameras in 2017, it doesn’t appear any were ever installed, according to records reviewed by the Daily Southtown.
At the time the bribes allegedly were paid, Oak Lawn was raking in about $680,000 a year in total ticket collections, with about $340,000 annually going to SafeSpeed, an analysis of records provided at the time showed.
Meanwhile, the Daily Southtown reported last month that Oak Lawn had severed its relationship with SafeSpeed in the midst of the ongoing corruption probe.
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Bury said the village decided not to renew its contract for a number of reasons — some of them long-standing — but that the ongoing federal investigation had not helped matters.
“When you look at the impact (red-light cameras) have on safety in the village, there is a benefit, but it’s a slight benefit when you look at the public almost feeling abused by these things where they’re triggered so often that people look at it as a cash cow kind of thing,” she said at a November board meeting. “There’s other ways we could be safer.”
Former Oak Lawn police Chief Michael Murray had also grown frustrated with the company’s representatives after they exerted pressure on the department to approve more red-light violations than he was comfortable with, Bury said.
“At one time, Chief Murray was basically told: ‘You’re not writing enough tickets,’” she said. The mayor said Murray and former village manager Larry Deetjen pushed back on the company.
Despite the souring relationship, however, the village board with Bury at the helm unanimously renewed SafeSpeed’s contract in June 2018 with no discussion, records show.
Bury could not be reached Friday for comment.
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One Oak Lawn trustee, Thomas Phelan, told the Tribune he didn’t recall any talk of expanding the number of SafeSpeed cameras after he rejoined the board in May 2017, which is around the time the bribery scheme allegedly was unfolding.
Phelan said he’s not the council member referenced in the indictment and doesn’t know who is.
“I talked to the village attorney, police chief — the mayor’s texting me — we’re all asking the same questions,” he said.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
jmahr@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--4 takeaways from Cubs spring training Friday, including Yu Darvish and other veterans operating on t

4 takeaways from Cubs spring training Friday, including Yu Darvish and other veterans operating on their own schedule

“ Kris has been dealing with a lot throughout his career and expectations and the spotlight being on him since @ @ @ @ @ met him , ” Ross said .
“ I don ’ t know how he @ @ @ @ @ this point .
I don ’ t know how to handle all this stuff that @ @ @ @ @ with .
He is rock solid and has been handling things great from my perspective @ @

MESA, Ariz. — Here are four takeaways from Cubs spring training Friday.
1. Yu Darvish and other veteran pitchers are on their own training schedule.
First-year Cubs manager David Ross said some players are ahead of others in their preparation, adding that some purposely train at a deliberate pace as they “listen to their bodies.”
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That apparently is the case with pitcher Yu Darvish, who didn’t participate in long toss with the rest of his group one day after throwing a bullpen session.
ABC-7 cameraman Dwight Payne videotaped Darvish pointing to the area around his right elbow to a teammate, but Darvish remained on the field with his teammates.
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A reporter asked Ross if Darvish was “fully healthy, 100 percent.”
“Yes, sir,” Ross replied.
Darvish missed a start in early September because of elbow discomfort but responded with 21 strikeouts and no runs allowed in his next two starts covering 11 innings. Darvish struck out 46 in his final four starts.
Ross delegates the pitching schedules to pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and the training staff. Ross reiterated that veteran closer Craig Kimbrel is allowed to progress on his own schedule.
“There’s no sense in putting someone on our schedule,” Ross said. “If you need an extra day, just tell me.”
Reliever Brandon Morrow played catch Friday, but his next bullpen session hasn’t been set because of illness.
2. David Ross has no worries about Kris Bryant.
Ross doesn’t anticipate any special maneuvering once Bryant arrives amid trade speculation this winter. In fact, he marveled at Bryant’s concentration and levelheadedness while winning National League Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his first two seasons.
“Kris has been dealing with a lot throughout his career and expectations and the spotlight being on him since the time I’ve met him,” Ross said. “I don’t know how he’s done it to this point. I don’t know how to handle all this stuff that he’s already dealt with. He is rock solid and has been handling things great from my perspective.”
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The Cubs’ first full-squad workout is scheduled for Monday.
3. Cubs pitchers are mixing and mentoring during bullpen sessions.
Ross has seen the early benefits of mixing the bullpen sessions with veterans and youngsters, as opposed to past seasons when projected starters and relievers threw in separate groups.
“(Jon) Lester stayed around for two pens (Thursday) and sat on the backside,” Ross said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Jon do something like that. Kimbrel stayed and watched the last set of bullpens, just to be out there.”
4. Justin Steele is ready to impress.
Steele, one of the top left-handers in the organization, looks forward to pitching in spring training games for the first time after a series of injuries last spring and during the regular season at Double-A Tennessee.
“I’d say that’s a good year moving forward for me,” said Steele, who was limited to 11 starts and didn’t pitch after June 21 because of a torn oblique.
Steele has thrown only 320 innings in six minor-league seasons and underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in August 2017. But he has a 95 mph fastball and is willing to switch to a relief role if it helps the Cubs’ long-range fortunes.
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“It’s not my decision,” Steele said. “I‘ll do whatever I’ve got to do to help the Cubs.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Singer R. Kelly hit with new indictment in Chicago federal court

The new allegations are the latest in a string of legal woes for the onetime R & B superstar , @ @ @ @ @ four jurisdictions related to the sexual abuse of girls and young women going back decades @

A courtroom sketch shows defense attorneys Ashley Cohen, from left, and Jennifer Bonjean with singer R. Kelly at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Sept. 14, 2022. (Cheryl Cook / Chicago Tribune)
Embattled singer R. Kelly has been hit with new federal charges in Chicago adding allegations that he sexually abused another minor victim for four years starting in 1997.
A superseding indictment made public Friday alleged Kelly sexually abused a girl identified in the charges only as “Minor 6.”
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Minor 6 appears to replace another victim in the earlier indictment, an underage girl previously identified as Minor 2.
In addition, the charges seek for the first time forfeiture of all assets of Kelly’s production company, Bass Productions Ltd., as well as a company owned by his longtime business manager and co-defendant, Derrel McDavid.
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The new allegations are the latest in a string of legal woes for the onetime R&B superstar, who is facing charges in four jurisdictions related to the sexual abuse of girls and young women going back decades.
Kelly’s lead attorney Steven Greenberg acknowledged the new indictment on Twitter, writing “We continue to fight for him and look forward to the day he is free.”
Kelly could be arraigned on the new charges at his next scheduled hearing in the case on March 5.
[ Feds allege R. Kelly still a threat to intimidate witnesses from a federal jail in downtown Chicago ]
Kelly, 53, was originally charged in a 13-count federal indictment last July with conspiring with two former employees to rig his 2008 child pornography trial in Cook County by paying off witnesses and victims to change their stories.
The indictment also alleged Kelly, former manager McDavid and onetime employee Milton “June” Brown paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to recover child sex tapes before they fell into the hands of prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber had set a trial date on those charges for April 27 but it’s likely that will be delayed given the new indictment announced Friday.
The additional charges allege that Kelly met Minor 6 circa 1997, when she was about 14 or 15. He sexually abused her until about December 2000, the charges allege.
While Minor 2 is no longer listed as a victim in the new charges, the superseding indictment identifies the same person as Individual D - indicating that she may still be cooperating with authorities.
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Kelly allegedly paid Individual D hundreds of thousands of dollars to return videotapes that showed Kelly having sexual contact with her and another underage girl.
That accusation is just part of what prosecutors have painted as a wide-ranging scheme to cover up Kelly’s sexual abuse of underage girls, including repeated bribes to victims and witnesses as well as coordinated effort to conceal video evidence of the abuse.
[ Judge declines to make prosecutors reveal the names of two R. Kelly accusers to his lawyers ]
Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces a separate racketeering conspiracy indictment in U.S. District Court in New York alleging he identified underage girls attending his concerts and groomed them for later sexual abuse.
The singer is also charged in four separate indictments in Cook County alleging he sexually assaulted or abused four women, three of whom were underage at the time. Additional charges are also pending in Minnesota, alleging Kelly solicited a teenager who asked for his autograph in 2001.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He’s been held without bond at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago since his July 2019 arrest.
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jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--NBA All-Star Weekend: Dikembe Mutombo, Toni Kukoc and Cheyenne Parker play in the NBA Cares Special

NBA All-Star Weekend: Dikembe Mutombo, Toni Kukoc and Cheyenne Parker play in the NBA Cares Special Olympics game

“ Honestly , I didn ’ t envision that back in Simeon , this aspect of it , ” said @ @ @ @ @ coming off his third straight Eastern Conference Player of the Month award .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ , but ( this ) in depth , All-Star Weekend , it ’ s something @ @ @ @ @ when I was in high school .
But I started to visualize that maybe the @ @ @ @ @ I would be able to participate .
”

Anthony Davis of Team LeBron is fouled by Kyle Lowry of Team Giannis in the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star Game. Davis made one of two free throws to win the game. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Team LeBron topped Team Giannis in a nail-biter in the All-Star Game at the United Center on Sunday, 157-155, earning $400,000 for Chicago Scholars.
The game capped off a busy weekend around Chicago, that included the Celebrity Game, Risings Stars game, charity events by Bulls players, Slam Dunk Contest and too many celebrity sightings to count on one hand.
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And we tracked it all.
Winners and losers from NBA All-Star Weekend, including that scene-setting Chicago video, Common’s rhymes, cold weather complaints and of course, GarPax
10 takeaways from the NBA All-Star Game, including Anthony Davis’ poetic ending and Kobe Bryant’s presence
Friday, Feb. 14
In weather news, it was cold in Chicago. And celebrities who came to town weren’t happy about it. But Chance the Rapper made an appearance at Dance Studio in River North, while Tiffani Thiessen and her 9-year-old daughter, Harper, kicked off the Rookie USA fashion show at Morgan Manufacturing in West Town.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 43 Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West watch the first quarter of the NBA All-Star Game at the United Center on Feb. 16, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Meanwhile, Charles Barkley had a few free minutes to talk before the TNT pregame show from the House of Blues. And he has some thoughts about all things Bulls.
True to form when “First Take” goes on the road, the ESPN morning show lines up local guests, and Friday at Navy Pier was no exception, with Dwyane Wade, Zach LaVine, Diamond DeShields and Common among the guests with Chicago ties.
Here are some highlights:
Co-host Stephen A. Smith asked Wade what role he played in recruiting former Bulls teammate Jimmy Butler to the Heat. Wade said, “I talked to (Heat president) Pat (Riley) yesterday about this, I said, ‘Listen, I did my part. You did your part,’ that’s all I’m going to say. I’m not going to say I delivered Jimmy, I’m going to say I did my part as one of the faces of this franchise, and you did your part of the president of this franchise to bring in a player that fit the culture, that fit the cloth.”
Smith asked LaVine whether he’s interested in recruiting players to Chicago, where “it’s freezing.” LaVine replied, “We’ve got to have a certain style of player and a culture to where they want to come and play with us. I think, me personally, it starts with hard work and us having an understanding of where we want to build this thing and where it wants to go. “I’m always in the mood to bring good players and talent in here. Obviously, the elements ain’t going to help that a lot. It’s not L.A., but we’re going to do what we can do, and I’m going to definitely do my part.”
And on his All-Star Game snub: “Am I mad about it? I’m upset because I feel like I played at an All-Star level. But I understand what goes into as well. The way it’s going now you have to be in the playoff hunt and things like that.”
Smith asked DeShields, who enters her third WNBA season this year, how she stacks up against elite players. She said, matter-of-factly, “Honestly, Stephen A., I don’t think there’s anybody in the league that can do what I do. When it comes to comparatively, as far as talent and skill level, I think that I’m the best guard in the league. Co-host Max Kellerman asked her to elaborate, to which she said, “If you watch me play I think that there’s a certain level of speed and athleticism that I have that I don’t think that anybody else has, and so that’s what kind of allows me to have an edge.”
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the Rising Stars’ NBA Cares event at Wintrust Arena.
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President Obama joined the Rising Stars player’s at Wintrust Arena for an NBA Cares event. pic.twitter.com/8MjEBUbZUo — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 14, 2020
Obama worked the room and dropped stats and sports references, bonding with players, coaches and children on hand for the event.
Wendell Carter Jr., Zion Williamson and Trae Young were on hand. For all three players, the only thing more shocking than meeting Obama was hearing his basketball knowledge.
“He knew what college I went to, knew that I played for the Bulls and was wishing that I’d get healthy soon,” said Carter, who hopes to return to the court for the Bulls after the All-Star break. “It shows how big of a basketball head he is. It was pretty neat.”
My best video of President Obama from the Rising Stars event. It was amazing to watch him work that room. He shook every hand and knew small details about every player. pic.twitter.com/4m8gI2nSsu — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 14, 2020
Trae Young, who was eye-to-eye with President Obama, talked about how exciting it was to meet No. 44 at the Rising Stars’ NBA Cares event. pic.twitter.com/AugjqFR6V6 — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 14, 2020
Zion Williamson was stationed with President Barack Obama at the Rising Stars’ NBA Cares event. He said he was shocked Obama knew so much about his game. pic.twitter.com/zCM9qjauUN — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 14, 2020
The NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game was held at Wintrust Arena before tonight’s Celebrity Game. On hand were Dikembe Mutombo, Muggsy Bogues, the Sky’s Cheyenne Parker, former Bulls player Toni Kukoc and many others.
Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo, center left, stands with teammates during the national anthem before participating in the NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game at Wintrust Arena. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Sky player Cheyenne Parker is introduced for the NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game at Wintrust Arena on Feb. 14, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Former Bulls player Toni Kukoc is introduced for the NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game at Wintrust Arena on Feb. 14, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night at Wintrust Arena was filled with actors and rappers who hail from Chicago. It also featured trash-talking, showboating — and some unintentional laughs.
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ESPN commentators Michael Wilbon and Stephen A. Smith went head-to-head as coaches, with Wilbon’s team winning 62-47.
Rapper Common, a South Side native, won MVP honors after scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
“I think about how important basketball has been to Chicago,” Common said. “Me coming up as a young man, I really wanted to be a ballplayer.”Gamer link: Common link:
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 47 Quavo reaches for a loose ball as Common defends. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced its finalists for the 2020 class. The list of eight finalists is so strong — leading with Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett — that the Hall will limit the size of the class.
In addition to Bryant, Duncan and Garnett, the finalists are Tamika Catchings, a 10-time WNBA All-Star; Rudy Tomjanovich, who coached the Rockets to NBA titles in 1994 and 1995 and was a five-time All-Star as a Rockets player; Eddie Sutton, the first coach to lead four schools to the NCAA Tournament; Baylor coach Kim Mulkey, the first woman to win NCAA championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach; and Barbara Stevens, a five-time Division II national coach of the year.
The Rising Stars game served as the official tip-off to NBA’s All-Star Weekend with a game filled with highlight reel moments between the best first- and second-year players, both domestic and international.
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The best moments started at halftime, however, when Hornets guard Miles Bridges sent out a tweet from the locker room, with a man sitting up in his seat at attention with two words “alright bet.” Bridges then proceeded to put on a show during a 13-point third quarter, which included an emphatic ally-oop dunk to himself off the backboard, to help lead Team USA to a 151-131 victory over Team World. Bridges was named MVP of the game after scoring 20 points with five rebounds and five assists.
The clock was winding down toward halftime of the NBA Rising Stars game on Friday night, when Luka Doncic began dribbling the ball slowly up the court. He paused just before crossing half court, collected his dribble and pulled up from the logo, knocking down a 3-pointer off the backboard, much to the disbelief of Hawks guard Trae Young, who finished with 18 points himself.
The end of the game belonged to Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson. He attempted a pair of 360 dunks, bringing the crowd to their feet in anticipation although he could not finish either. Still, Williamson’s misses were one of the highlights of the night.
Williamson, who entered the game as an injury replacement for Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr., finished with 14 points and a few rim-rattling dunks of his own, an introductory showcase for a player who figures to be apart of All-Star Weekend often in the future.
Zion with one of the best misses you’ll see to close Rising Stars. pic.twitter.com/pL6dVd73wF — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 15, 2020
Zion Williamson was in awe after meeting with former President Barack Obama, particularly because Obama mentioned Williamson’s 32-point effort Thursday against the Thunder.
“I was like, you probably have one of the most busy schedules in the world," Williamson said, "and you’re able to keep up with a rookie, like superstars, college people, even high-school people, and tell them their stats and like what they’ve been doing good, what they can work on.”
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Williamson, in turn, impressed Trae Young by dunking so hard in the second quarter that he bent the backboard.
“Yeah, I didn’t even realize that” at first, Young said. “That isn’t the first rim he’s probably bent throughout his career. I’m surprised I didn’t see it, but, yeah, that’s crazy.”
Simeon’s own Kendrick Nunn took a measure of pride when it was brought up that the undrafted Heat rookie was part of a U.S. team starting five that included four top-five picks.
“That’s big, man,” Nunn said. “Straight up, that says a lot about just the hard work that I put in. My success has been a tremendous story, my story has been a long, hard journey, (and) I have been patient. I’m having success and it’s a lot of fun out there.”
Kendrick Nunn on the realization that he started on #RisingStars USA squad with four high first-rounders even though he went undrafted. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/xjkrWLNVgF — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 15, 2020
Who could have foreseen that the stars would align and rookie Heat guard Kendrick Nunn would be playing in the Rising Stars game in his hometown of Chicago?
@nunnbetter_ Kendrick Nunn talks about being back in hometown Chicago for All-Star Weekend and reconnecting with fellow Simeon alums @JabariParker and @drose. pic.twitter.com/nTDfgAsAnZ — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 14, 2020
“Honestly, I didn’t envision that back in Simeon, this aspect of it,” said Nunn, who’s coming off his third straight Eastern Conference Player of the Month award. “I envisioned being in the NBA, but (this) in depth, All-Star Weekend, it’s something I hadn’t visualized when I was in high school. But I started to visualize that maybe the beginning of this year that I would be able to participate.”
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Recognizing the city in which he’s playing, Bridges touched on a couple of Chicago themes. He was asked was was the words “Chicago basketball” meant to his experience growing up: “I would say tough, gritty, played great defense. I mean, I grew up watching, I’d say, the Derrick Rose era, but Joakim Noah and all those guys. They hustled for everything that they had. Even now when we play Chicago, they’re a good defensive team, and that’s what I think of when I think Chicago.”
Bridges also was mindful of the fact he was playing in the house his boss — Hornets owner Michael Jordan — built.
“I didn’t have any extra motivation really, I wouldn’t say that, but MJ putting Chicago on the map, it definitely plays a big part, though,” Bridges said.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 38 Miles Bridges poses with the MVP trophy after scoring 20 points in the Rising Stars game. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Saturday, Feb. 15
Almost immediately upon arriving at the House of Hoops highlight camp Saturday afternoon, Bulls guard Coby White became a kid again.
He sat on the base line with a basketball and began talking to one of the kids attending the camp. He challenged another kid to see if he could score a basket on him and when he was successful, the rest of the camp, about 100 10-13 year-olds from the city, worked themselves into a frenzy.
“I don’t think us as NBA players sometimes realize how much of an impact we have on kids,” White said at the Robert Clemente Academy where he served as camp host. “I probably made some of these kids year just by seeing me and me being just who I am. I’m in the league, but I still act like a kid, I am a kid. I still like to have fun, so I’m out here clowning and jumping around playing with them.”
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Coby White works with campers at the House of Highlights basketball camp on Feb. 15, 2020, at Roberto Clemente Community Academy. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Although the Bulls were largely absent from the NBA’s premier events during All-Star weekend, aside from Zach LaVine’s participation in the 3-point shootout, several players still stuck around for the weekend to host events around the city, including White, who called his Saturday morning the most fun he’s had all weekend.
“I wanted to give the kids something, something I didn’t have growing up,” he said. “When they first see you, they’re shy and kind of star struck. But once they realize, you’re like them, but just a little but older, I think they all just open up.”
White, 19, also admitted he was disappointed to miss out of Friday’s Rising Stars challenge. The Bulls rookie is averaging 11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 55 games as a reserve this season.
“I was disappointed because I’m competitive,” White said. “And I want to be good. But like I always say, just use it as motivation. Next year I’ll be playing in it.”
Don’t include Jimmy Butler among those crushing #GarPax.
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Asked at media day whether he’s surprised the Bulls rebuild is taking so long, Butler replied: “I don’t know, is that the goal or point of a rebuild? I would think so.
“You know what? I have faith in management here. I think they have to know what they’re doing. I think their decision (to trade me) was right for them. I’ll continue to wish them the best. I think they have some really great young talent. They’ll figure it out. They’ve got nothing but time.”
The Bulls drafted Butler with the 30th pick in 2011, and he rewarded them with three All-Star seasons.
Jimmy Butler might not be a Bull anymore, but he’s happy the city of Chicago is hosting the 2020 All-Star Weekend. https://t.co/Wp23HJA9QK pic.twitter.com/15g7StA99Y — Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) February 15, 2020
They traded him to the Timberwolves in 2017 for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen. Butler is now thriving with the Heat (35-19), while the Bulls (19-36) have lost six straight, and some fans are calling for the firing of executives John Paxson and Gar Forman.
Asked if he’d ever like to come back and play for the Bulls, Butler replied: “Yeah, of course. Like, c’mon, this is Chicago. This was home for me for a long time and still is home for me now. It’s a definite possibility, maybe toward the end of my career. Who knows? We’ll find out when that time gets here.”
Anthony Davis appealed to Dwight Howard to get himself and fellow Lakers teammate LeBron James involved in tonight’s Slam Dunk Contest.
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“I told him he should dunk from the free throw line over me and ‘Bron and he for sure would get a 50 (score), but he said, ‘No,’” Davis said. “I think he’s got some dunks with him that a lot of people haven’t seen. I’m not going to tell ya’ll what it is."
Anthony Davis on Dwight Howard: “I told him he should dunk from the free throw line over me and ‘Bron and for sure would get a 50, but he said, ‘No.’” pic.twitter.com/cUp4YGkv6K — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 15, 2020
Davis teased that Howard had something special planned.
“He ain’t show me, he told me. If he does the dunk that he said, he should win. He should win for sure.”
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell reveled at the thought of playing as an All-Star in the same arena as Michael Jordan and the ‘90s-era Bulls, who he considers to be “rock stars.”
“Honestly I think the biggest thing was looking at Michael Jordan. I still have the VCR tape of the ‘Unforgettabulls.’ I have ‘Michael Jordan’s Playground.’ I have all of those on VCR. I grew up watching that so to be able to be here where all that has happened is truly special, it’s truly inspiring. You just want to go out there and continue to work, continue to get better.”
Donovan Mitchell talks about the VHS tapes he watched of Michael Jordan and the Bulls. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/1aoANMSHGN — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 15, 2020
Zach LaVine had plenty to say during his interview with ESPN’s First Take, but it was the fans who stole the day. During that visit fans screamed “Fire GarPax” in reference to team management, GM Gar Foreman and Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson.
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LaVine was asked about that experience at NBA All-Star Media day and reaffirmed his stance that he’s committed to the team and management.
Zach LaVine said at NBA Media Day that he wasn’t affected by the “Fire GarPax” chants that started during his interview with ESPN’s “First Take.” pic.twitter.com/Z2Bv7fZSRJ — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 15, 2020
Zach LaVine on the “fire garpax” chants from fans during his First Take interview: “I don’t speak for the fans, I think some fans in Chicago been frustrated”
Added that some Chicago fans get rowdy, but it is what it is. — Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) February 15, 2020
All too briefly, Spencer Dinwiddie was a member of the Bulls. He appeared in five preseason games in 2016 and then averaged 19.4 points for the D-League (now G-League) Windy City Bulls.
The Nets snapped him up and he has blossomed into a player worthy of his three-year, $34 million contract.
The 6-6 Dinwiddie will compete in the Skills Challenge tonight. He won it in 2018.
Asked if he wishes it had worked out with the Bulls, Dinwiddie replied: “Of course. You never want any stop on your journey to not work out. In a sense I wish Detroit worked and I wish Chicago worked. I love the city here, but everything happens for a reason. I don’t have any hard feelings for the Bulls.”
Has he run into fans who say: We wish you were still here?
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“All the time,” Dinwiddie replied. “Which I appreciate obviously. We’ll see what happens.”
Kobe Bryant owned All-Star Weekend throughout his 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, first as a brash 18-year-old winning the 1997 Slam Dunk contest and later as a grizzled veteran reasserting his dominion over the league.
The renamed NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award is on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver tonight at the United Center. pic.twitter.com/OFBIgauIJv — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) February 16, 2020
The numbers support that claim. Bryant played in 18 All-Star Games and won the game’s MVP award four times — both records. In his media availability that many consider basketball’s state of the union, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the All-Star Game trophy has now officially been named the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award in honor of Bryant, who died at 41 years old in a helicopter in January.
It wasn’t a good start to the Skills Challenge for players with Chicago ties.
Clippers guard Patrick Beverley — a Chicago native — and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie — a former Bull — both missed their passes through the ring Saturday night in the opening competition of All-Star Saturday Night at the United Center.
Beverley actually missed two of them. Then he “accidentally” drifted into Pascal Siakam’s path while both were trying to make layups — probably no surprise to anyone familiar with Beverley’s tenacity.
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If it was an attempt to slow down Siakam, it didn’t work. Siakam completed his layup and then got back to the other end of the court to sink his 3-pointer to move on to the second round.
The Heat’s Bam Adebayo took the trophy, beating the Pacers’ Domanta Sabonis in a what came down to a 3-point contest at the end. Adebayo eliminated Dinwiddie in the first round and Siakam in the semifinals; Sabonis knocked off defending champion Jayson Tatum in the opening round and the Bucks’ Khris Middleton in the semis.
Zach LaVine’s All-Star Saturday Night came to an early end in the 3-Point Contest.
The Bulls guard fell short with 23 points, placing fourth in the first round behind Devin Booker (27), Buddy Hield (27) and Davis Bertans (26).
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Bulls guard Zach LaVine participates in the 3-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend at the United Center on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
LaVine missed several shots from his money rack, which he set at the top of the circle, and whiffed on both 3-point balls.
He came into the contest as a long shot, according to oddsmakers.
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Zach LaVine talks about the differences between the 3-point and dunk contests and explains why he chose to place the money rack at the top of the key. #Bulls #NBAAllStar #NBAAllStar2020 pic.twitter.com/buWXHWnnc6 — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 16, 2020
Hield jumped around like a kid on Christmas morning after hitting the final shot to win the contest, edging Booker 27-26. Hield made five in a row on his second rack and 4 of 5 on his money rack, including his last shot.
Bertans finished third with 22.
“There’s more moving parts, there are more competitors on the floor,” LaVine said. “You’re doing more things, you’re doing more moving parts in the 3-Point Contest than the dunk contest. But still, (it’s) bright lights, man, you’ve got to push on.”
He got plenty of encouragement from Bulls teammates.
“Everybody texted me," LaVine said. “They expected me to bring the trophy home. I’m upset with myself, but it’s all fun.”
We have controversy, folks, courtesy of the Slam Dunk contest.
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Derrick Jones Jr. and Aaron Gordon were so good they needed extra innings. Both players received perfect scores of 50 on their two second-round dunks, placing judges in a tough spot at the end of the night.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 17 Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. cradles the dunk contest trophy after his victory. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Jones received a third 50 to start the dunk-off, and it was on Gordon to deliver and keep it going. Gordon did just that with a between-the-legs dunk over Chance the Rapper.
The judges tightened it up on the next dunk, with Jones earning a 48 on a windmill from the free-throw line.
Gordon then pointed to Dwight Howard, who then pointed to 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall. Gordon hopped over him and finished the dunk ... and the crowd was stunned — after he earned a 47 to lose.
The crowd believed Gordon was short-changed the dunk, reacting with guttural boos.
Aaron Gordon robbed (again?) in the dunk contest. Boos are raining down in the United Center. Judges go three 9s and two 10s on the dunk in which he clipped Tacko Fall's head. — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 16, 2020
Sunday, Feb. 16
Chicago native Chance the Rapper gave a spirited performance of his hits and a soulful tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant during halftime of Sunday’s All-Star Game at the United Center.
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The 13-minute set featured appearances by DJ Khaled, Migos rapper Quavo and Lil Wayne plus fireworks and a marching band — but the highlight was Chance’s performance of “I Was a Rock” as footage of Bryant played in the background.
The NBA paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and David Stern before the All-Star Game on Sunday.
The basketball community still is reeling from the deaths last month of the two iconic figures, so the game was an opportunity for the league to celebrate and honor their legacies of the legendary star and former commissioner, respectively.
The lights in the United Center were dimmed with shades of purple and gold as Magic Johnson began the pregame ceremony by asking the crowd to stand and hold hands during an 8-second moment of silence.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 18 Jennifer Hudson sings a tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, before the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago on Feb. 16, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
“We all are hurting,” Johnson said. “This is a tough time for the whole NBA family.”
Chicago native Jennifer Hudson then sang a tribute to Bryant, and Chicago rapper Common then dedicated his performance to him.
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As for the game, Chicago native Anthony Davis made the final free throw in the untimed fourth quarter to put Team LeBron over the top.
Team Giannis won $100,000 for After School Matters by winning the second quarter.
And Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists to capture the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Column: White Sox slugger Jose Abreu has many skills, but negotiating — ‘I don’t care about the mone

Column: White Sox slugger Jose Abreu has many skills, but negotiating — ‘I don’t care about the money’ — isn’t one of them

“ Look , Sox fans have certainly paid their dues over the last three years , ” general manager Rick @ @ @ @ @ count the dues-paying years from the Robin Ventura era .
“ We forced them to @ @ @ @ @ their wounds over that first period of the rebuild .
I certainly would never tell @ @ @ @ @ excited or how to consume White Sox baseball .
If ( Sox fans ) want @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s coming , that ’ s awesome .

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Memo to all future major-league free agents:
Don’t use the Jose Abreu strategy to negotiate your next contract.
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The veteran White Sox first baseman is a great hitter, a better teammate and a solid citizen, the kind of player you’d want to build a franchise around.
But when it comes to the age-old game of playing one team off another to get the largest payday possible, Abreu has it all backward. If there’s a Mendoza Line for bargaining, he was well below it.
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He went into his contract season in 2019 saying he would stay with the Sox, and even in July he said, “If I was the owner, I’d sign myself.”
So Abreu didn’t have much leverage when he hit the market in November, and he signed a three-year, $50 million deal to stay on the South Side after receiving a qualifying offer.
Sitting on a bench at Camelback Ranch on a sunny Friday afternoon, Abreu admitted he didn’t care to seek offers elsewhere to force the Sox to pony up.
“My agent and I were focused on the White Sox,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “That was our focus throughout the whole process. As I told you guys before, my mom taught me to be grateful, and I’m very grateful and thankful to be with the White Sox.
“Yes, we had conversations with a team — with the White Sox.”
But free agency is all about the money, right?
“I don't care about the money,” he replied in English.
White Sox players Luis Robert (left) and Jose Abreu share a laugh on opening day of SoxFest at McCormick Place West on Jan. 24, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Reverting to his native Spanish, Abreu elaborated on his feelings.
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"It’s not all about the money,” he said. “I mean, my family is good in Chicago. They love Chicago. They are really grateful and good and happy with the White Sox organization, just the way that the organization has treated them. And the fans, all the support …
“We feel comfortable in Chicago. For us, it didn't make sense to look around to other places.”
Abreu, 33, relied on the Sox to pay him what they felt he was worth, and that’s what they did. An average annual value of almost $17 million certainly is enough to live on, and he probably wasn’t going to get a long-term deal at his age. The qualifying offer also reduced his potential market.
Still, Abreu finished second in the majors last year with 123 RBIs, second to Anthony Rendon’s 126 with the Nationals. Rendon, 29, signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels, almost five times the size of Abreu’s deal.
Money aside, it’s all blue skies and open highways for Abreu. The additions of Yasmani Grandal and Edwin Encarnacion should alleviate some of the pressure in the middle of the lineup as well as provide added protection. Those two free agents, along with Abreu, Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez, give the Sox five hitters capable of hitting 30 or more home runs. If rookie Luis Robert lives up to his hype, it could be six.
The franchise record of 242 home runs, set in 2004, could be in serious jeopardy. At the very least this lineup looks like the reincarnation of the “South Side Hit Men” of 1977, a team that hit for the fences and made no apologies. That kind of power potential, plus an improved rotation with Dallas Keuchel and the return of Michael Kopech, has created a South Side buzz even a polar vortex couldn’t kill.
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“Look, Sox fans have certainly paid their dues over the last three years,” general manager Rick Hahn said, neglecting to count the dues-paying years from the Robin Ventura era. “We forced them to pay their dues and take their wounds over that first period of the rebuild. I certainly would never tell any fan not to be excited or how to consume White Sox baseball. If (Sox fans) want to be fired up about what’s coming, that’s awesome.
“The only thing I would caution or suggest is let’s keep in mind this is a multiyear thing, it’s a long-term thing.”
Nice try, Rick. You can’t unbuzz this buzz.
No matter what his true value is, Abreu is exactly where he wants to be, and Sox fans can be grateful for that. Not many players would endure the kind of losing Abreu has over his six seasons with the Sox and desperately want to stay.
He never has been on a team that finished with a winning record or even sniffed the playoffs. He was a willing mentor to Moncada and Jimenez during the rebuild and never seemed to lose his smile through all of those tough times.
Now he hopes his patience is rewarded with a team that should contend for a wild-card spot, if not the American League Central title.
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“It’s that time for us to start winning games and start to be relevant,” Abreu said. “The team that the front office put together, we’re going to be able to do it. We have to be united. We need to be strong in good times and bad times if we want to be successful this season.
“With the guys that we have right now, that’s something that’s doable. That’s our goal. I think expectations are high because we all know that this is the time for us to win.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Northbrook woman charged in hit-and-run crash that critically injured Deerfield boy with autism

Chase ’ s father , Thad Thompson , also publicly declared that he would offer a $ 10,000 reward for @ @ @ @ @ the conviction of the driver .
He also urged the driver to come forward , @ @ @ @ @ the family by surrendering to police .

Stacy A. Shapiro, 46, of Northbrook, was arrested and charged Feb. 14 with leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury related to a hit-and-run crash in Deerfield last week. - Original Credit: (Deerfield Police Department / HANDOUT)
A 46-year-old Northbrook woman was charged Friday in the hit-and-run crash last week that seriously injured a 12-year-old Deerfield boy with autism, police said.
Stacy A. Shapiro was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury — a Class 2 felony. She turned herself in to authorities after a warrant for her arrest was issued, according to Deerfield police.
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Police said investigators determined that Shapiro struck 12-year-old Chase Thompson, who is autistic and non-verbal, with a car near Deerfield Road and Beverly Place during the evening Feb. 7 after the boy managed to leave his family’s house without the family’s knowledge and without a coat or shoes.
At the time of the hit-and-run crash, police urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and help authorities identify the driver.
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Chase’s father, Thad Thompson, also publicly declared that he would offer a $10,000 reward for any information that led to the conviction of the driver. He also urged the driver to come forward, saying the driver would help the family by surrendering to police.
By Wednesday, Deerfield police received a tip that led them to the car that was suspected of being involved in the crash and a person of interest, who was questioned by investigators and released sometime before Thursday afternoon.
Tom Keane, deputy police chief for Deerfield, said Friday the person of interest who was questioned by authorities was Shapiro.
After she was questioned and released, Lake County prosecutors started considering whether to file charges in the case, leading them to approve an arrest warrant for Shapiro, police said.
Chase Thompson - Original Credit: News-Sun (Courtesy Of The Thompson Family / Handout)
Thad Thompson told Pioneer Press on Monday his son continues to improve and no longer requires a respirator to breathe while he receives treatment at Lurie Children’s Hospital. The family doesn’t know when Chase will be released from the hospital, he said.
“He’s stable and improving,” Thompson said. "He wants to come home, but he’s recovering from very serious injuries.”
Thompson also clarified that he wasn’t sure if his reward offer had any influence on the arrest in the case.
Shapiro was released from police custody Friday after posting the 10% cash portion of her $250,000 bond, police said. Shapiro is set to make an initial appearance in court Feb. 18 in Waukegan, police said.
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Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--A new fitness routine has Kyle Hendricks hoping it can lead to more success with the Cubs: ‘I notice

A new fitness routine has Kyle Hendricks hoping it can lead to more success with the Cubs: ‘I noticed there was a deficiency and I needed to address it’

“ Everybody is on their own plan and how they handle all that , ” Hendricks said .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ get away from the love and joy of the game in a way .
And @ @ @ @ @ it completely .
But after signing the deal , I ’ ve noticed it has @ @ @ @ @ playing for the competition .
...
It was probably the best decision I could have @ @

MESA, Ariz. — Having more job security than some of his more heralded Cubs teammates didn’t satisfy pitcher Kyle Hendricks this winter.
After dealing with leg fatigue and a bout of right shoulder tendinitis last season, the fitness-minded Hendricks changed trainers and embarked on a strengthening program.
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“I noticed there was a deficiency and I needed to address it,” Hendricks said Thursday.
Hendricks is essential to the success of a franchise that could overturn its roster within two seasons. Starting pitchers Jon Lester, Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood — the leader for the fifth spot in the rotation — could become free agents after this season.
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Hendricks, 30, could have joined them but agreed last March to a four-year, $55.5 million extension that starts this season and includes a vesting option for $16 million in 2024.
The contract put Hendricks’ mind at ease while the futures of Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber — who are eligible for free agency after 2021 — are uncertain to varying degrees.
“Everybody is on their own plan and how they handle all that,” Hendricks said. “For me, it started to get away from the love and joy of the game in a way. And I didn’t mind it completely. But after signing the deal, I’ve noticed it has brought me back into just playing for the competition. ... It was probably the best decision I could have made.
“I can’t say I’m working harder, but my focus is way different. You see what’s going on. You feel for your teammates, and you want everything to work out for the best. But for me, it worked out great, and I can focus on the pure competition, the love of the game and just playing baseball.”
Changing his preparation has heightened Hendricks’ focus. Even in an era of specialization, Hendricks now believes he has the strength to start 32 games and pitch 200 innings — the latter feat achieved by only five National League pitchers last season.
“I didn’t like the trend I was going in (the last) two years,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks worked out during the winter under the supervision of Eric Cressey, who oversees the Yankees training department and came with endorsements from former Cubs relievers Steve Cishek and Brandon Kintzler.
Hendricks said he remains a devotee of yoga. But he felt more mechanical than athletic last season, and he allowed nine runs on 14 hits in his last two starts.
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At the end of the season, coaches Tommy Hottovy and Mike Borzello and the training staff examined videos of Hendricks before he flew to Florida to work under Cressey, who has trained Max Scherzer, Noah Syndergaard and Corey Kluber, among others.
“Lots of new-school stuff,” Hendricks said of his routine. “A lot more movement stuff and becoming more athletic. So not just stuff in the weight room to let me go pitch. I feel better moving on the mound. My whole mechanics flow better and (don’t) get so pushy with it.”
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Hendricks made 30 starts but threw only 177 innings — 22 shy of his career high in 2018.
Hendricks, like several of his teammates, is looking to make a deep run in the playoffs after watching from home last season.
“You learn a lot by going through the adversities,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of that. Every year you go through something, but the last couple years definitely have been tough, especially coming down to the end.
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“Things are changing. That’s good. You need to change the way you’ve been doing things if you want the results to change.”
About three hours after Thursday’s workout ended, Cubs manager David Ross embarked on a personal workout when he noticed Hendricks enter the batting cage with a bat.
“He’s a guy you don’t have to worry about,” Ross said. “He’s going to get his work in. It fits right in with most of the guys.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Palatine-based high school district settles transgender discrimination lawsuit, ending four-year bat

Palatine-based high school district settles transgender discrimination lawsuit, ending four-year battle over locker room access

“ It was very painful to be treated differently because I am transgender , and to have my identity as @ @ @ @ @ district , ” Maday said in written statement .
“ Being forced to dress in @ @ @ @ @ isolating and drew attention to me that I didn ’ t want — that no @ @ @ @ @ And even when I was offered the use of the locker room , I was @ @ @ @ @ segregated behind a changing curtain .
That felt terrible .
”

Nova Maday prepares to talk to the media after leaving the Illinois Appellate Court hearings in her case against the Palatine-based District 211 in June 2018. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
After more than four years of high-profile battles over transgender student locker room access, a northwest suburban school district has approved a settlement in its last remaining lawsuit involving gender identity.
Palatine-based Township High School District 211 on Thursday agreed to pay $150,000 to former student Nova Maday of Palatine to settle her 2017 discrimination lawsuit, according to Maday’s attorneys.
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“With this settlement agreement, there are no remaining court cases or lawsuits involving District 211,” district spokesman Tom Petersen said in an email.
Maday had told the Tribune several years ago that she wanted to change in the girls locker room, and that being forced to dress in a different space had heightened her anxiety and gender dysphoria. It also singled her out from other students and made her late to class, affecting her grade.
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“It was very painful to be treated differently because I am transgender, and to have my identity as a girl challenged by the district,” Maday said in written statement. “Being forced to dress in a separate locker room was isolating and drew attention to me that I didn’t want — that no high school student wants. And even when I was offered the use of the locker room, I was told that I would be segregated behind a changing curtain. That felt terrible.”
Former Palatine High School student Nova Maday, center left, holds hands with a friend during a District 211 Board of Education meeting at Fremd High School on Nov. 14, 2019, in Palatine. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
After years of heated debate, the district’s board of education in November voted in favor of a policy allowing transgender students unrestricted locker room access. The rules state in part that students “shall be treated and supported in a manner consistent with their gender identity, which shall include students having access to restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.”
Hundreds of parents, students and community members filled the crowd at that meeting, speaking out passionately for and against the new policy.
One student, a junior on the girls swim team, begged the board not to pass it.
“For me, the idea of this proposal scares me,” she said during the public comment session. “When I get out of practice from a long, tiring workout, I do not want to see a transgender student naked in the locker rooms. I do not want my privacy invaded against my will.”
Another student supported the change, saying it was an extension of the lessons of respect and understanding she had been taught in the classroom.
“Having someone who is transgender in the locker room or restroom does not make these spaces any more uncomfortable," she told the crowd.
The new policy was implemented in January “without any incident or disruption,” the district said in a written statement regarding the settlement.
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The district made national headlines several years ago when a transgender teen who was identified publicly as “Student A” filed a complaint with federal authorities over locker room access. The case set precedent as the first time a school district was found to have violated Title IX based on gender identity.
The district allowed Student A to use the girls locker room in alignment with her gender identity, and also installed privacy stalls. A group of parents and students in 2016 filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, arguing transgender locker room access violated the privacy rights of other students. That lawsuit was dropped in April.
Then in 2017 Maday filed her lawsuit claiming the district restricted her to an “unspecified private changing area within the locker room” that other girls were not required to use.
“The district felt that greater understanding of transgender identity had advanced for the better within our immediate communities and in society, and that it was time,” said the district’s statement, which touched on the recent policy change as well as the settlement. “Total legal costs for the combination of complaints fall slightly below $500,000. To spare further expense and use of resources, and since both parties endorse the policy that provides for the access sought in the original complaint, the district agreed to settle and resolve this legal dispute.”
Maday’s attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois said he hopes the end of the lawsuit — as well as the district’s recent policy change — will “bring a new day at District 211 for other students who are transgender.”
“All students deserve fair treatment and are protected under state and federal law,” said John Knight, director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ advocacy project.
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eleventis@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @angie_leventis


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa and other celebrity sightings during NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago

“ I came to the airport , and you know what I said ?
‘ This all you got Chicago @ @ @ @ @ ?
I heard about your reputation for freezing people , freezing eyelids , freezing eyes @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t blink no more .
’ ”

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West watch the first quarter of the NBA All-Star Game at the United Center on Feb. 16, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Here’s a look at where the stars dined and partied during All-Star Weekend.
Sunday’s sightings
After headlining the All-Star Game halftime show, Chance the Rapper performed at the North Side clubs Dance Studio and LiqrBox. Entertainment reporter Terrence J accompanied him.
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Chance the Rapper, center, watches the NBA All-Star Game at the United Center on Feb. 16, 2020. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Chance dined earlier at RPM Steak, which also hosted rappers J. Cole, Fabolous and G. Herbo; the singer Bad Bunny; former Suns star and Waukegan native Shawn Marion; former DePaul and Young star Quentin Richardson; and former Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Rapper G-Eazy hit up Ramen-san Deluxe and Tao Chicago and performed a surprise set at LiqrBox. Also at Tao: Migos rapper Quavo, who sang with Chance during the halftime show, Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, who visited RPM Steak three nights in a row during All-Star Weekend, and Rockets guard Russell Westbrook.
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Actor/activist Common, who gave a moving tribute to Chicago to help kick off the All-Star Game, closed down Tavern on Rush with a large group that included actress Tiffany Haddish. The two have sparked romance rumors.
Saturday’s sightings
Retired NBA star Dwyane Wade’s spades game at the City Hall event space in the West Loop drew several big names, including his wife, actress Gabrielle Union; Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes; Russell Westbrook; Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell; Celtics center Tacko Fall; popular Fortnite streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins; Queen Latifah; Common; Tiffany Haddish; NBA-star-turned-broadcaster Reggie Miller; and Sky players Stefanie Dolson, Cheyenne Parker and Diamond DeShields.
LeBron James attends the Klutch Sports Group All-Star Dinner presented by PATR"N Tequila at Swift & Sons on Feb. 15, 2020. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for PATR"N Tequila)
NBA superstar LeBron James, meanwhile, shut down Swift & Sons steakhouse in Fulton Market for his Klutch Sports Group dinner. 76ers guard Ben Simmons and Terrence J were among those in attendance.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion celebrated her 25th birthday in Tao’s private skybox the night before her pre-game concert at Navy Pier. She wore a blue shimmery outfit and dined with a group of friends, including rapper Tory Lanez. She had not one but three birthday cakes. A slew of basketball and football players watched G-Eazy’s set at Tao, and Food Network host Guy Fieri even joined the rapper on stage.
Hip-hop couple Cardi B and Offset were at Bounce Sporting Club for Offset’s performance. Quavo and Haddish were there too. People magazine reported Offset flew in Valentine’s Day dinner from one of Cardi’s favorite New York restaurants. Offset hosted a party Sunday at Ocean Gentlemen’s Club in suburban Bedford Park.
Shaquille O’Neal — using the stage name Diesel — kicked off his Dance Studio set by encouraging the crowd to put up their hands for his former teammate Kobe Bryant, who died last month in a helicopter crash.
Someone also handed him a beaded necklace that featured a replica of Bryant’s No. 24 Lakers jersey. Alshon Jeffery and “New Girl” cast member Lamorne Morris were in attendance.
Shaquille O’Neal performs in celebration of All-Star Weekend at Dance Studio on Feb. 15, 2020. (Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Before his set at Joy District Chicago, DJ Khaled showed off his dance moves at Sunda New Asian restaurant, met fans at the Snipes shoe store in Evergreen Park and dined with a group of friends at RPM Italian.
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LiqrBox performers 50 Cent and Ludacris dined separately at RPM Steak, which also hosted “Alexa & Katie” star Tiffani Thiessen. “Chicago P.D.” star LaRoyce Hawkins, who played in Friday’s All-Star Celebrity Game, ate at Tavern on Rush. ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon, who coached the team that defeated Hawkins’ team in the celebrity game, also ate at the Gold Coast steakhouse.
Friday’s sightings
Michael Jordan celebrated his upcoming 57th birthday at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios’ Little Village complex. Attendees didn’t know the location of Friday’s party until Thursday, and security was very tight.
The singer Miguel performed. Russell Westbrook, Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony, Celtics guard Kemba Walker, Lakers forward Anthony Davis, rapper Fat Joe, comedian Chris Tucker, Chicago native Vic Mensa and “Family Matters” star Jaleel White were among the 250 to 300 people in attendance.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House catered the event, and Moet & Chandon provided a champagne display and vending machine. There was a large Kobe Bryant jersey made of flowers to honor the late NBA legend and a large Jordan sneaker floral display.
This was the first event at Cinespace’s Little Village location — at 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue — which used to be a steel plant. The AMC network show “61st Street” moves into that space in March.
“Grocery Store Joe” Amabile, fresh off his split from “Bachelor in Paradise” castmate Kendall Long; Kelley Flanagan, who was sent home by pilot Peter Weber on a recent episode of “The Bachelor”; and Dustin Kendrick, who competed on Hannah Brown’s season of “The Bachelorette” last year, took in DJ Khaled’s set at Tao. “Bachelor in Paradise” alumnus Chris Bukowski and “Bachelor” alumna Katrina Badowski, who dined together at Bandit in the West Loop, were spotted at Tao too.
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Dustin Kendrick (from left), who competed on "The Bachelorette" in 2019; Kelley Flanagan, a contestant on "The Bachelor" in 2020; and Joe Amabile, a 2018 "Bachelorette" contestant, party at Tao Chicago on Feb. 15, 2020. (Hilary Higgins / Chicago Tribune)
Also at Tao on Friday: Carmelo Anthony (who dined at RPM Seafood); Ben Simmons (who visited Tao the night before); Anthony Davis; Donovan Mitchell (who dined at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse); former NBA star Allen Iverson; former Bear Devin Hester; and rappers Rick Ross, Tory Lanez, Pusha T, Nas and 2 Chainz.
Former President Barack Obama dined with a small group at RPM Steak and chatted with Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, a Chicago native. Also at RPM Steak: Quavo, with his rapper girlfriend Saweetie; country music singer Kane Brown; Clippers forward Paul George; and Marcus Jordan, the youngest son of Michael Jordan.
President Obama, in Chicago for NBA All-Star Weekend, dined at RPM Steak on Feb. 14, 2020. He is pictured with two RPM Steak servers. (RPM Steak photo)
Former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his wife, jewelry designer Kristin Cavallari, dined at Siena Tavern, which is where they filmed a storyline for “Very Cavallari” in the fall. They were in town to meet fans at Cavallari’s Uncommon James store in the West Loop. Attendees paid $200 to watch Cavallari and Cutler — who wore loafers without socks on Chicago’s coldest day of the year — answer questions from the audience while sitting on a swing in the store.
RPM Seafood hosted rapper Lil Jon before his Dance Studio set; Grammy winner Anderson .Paak; and Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. Bears coach Matt Nagy and his family dined at Bar Cargo. Former Bulls center Pau Gasol ate at Tavern on Rush.
Tiffani Thiessen and her children visited the Shedd Aquarium, dined at Sushi-san and Gino’s East and had hot chocolate at BomboBar. Rapper O.T. Genasis dined at S2 Express Grill before performing at Joy District.
Patrick Mahomes and his girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, dined at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. The Chiefs quarterback pre-ordered five dozen roses for his corner booth to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
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“Saturday Night Live” cast member Alex Moffat, who played in the All-Star Celebrity Game; and Jeff Ross, who participated in a roast of the “Inside the NBA” studio team, also ate at Chicago Cut.
Thursday’s sightings
Chance the Rapper — who has a packed schedule of All-Star Game duties and charity events — was spotted at the Bacardi Rum Room pop-up at Dance Studio on Thursday with fellow Chicago native Vic Mensa and “Power” star Omari Hardwick.
Former Bull Carlos Boozer, meanwhile, has been eating around town. He was at RPM Seafood on Thursday, and he also dined at Tavern on Rush and the Licking.
Also at RPM Seafood on Thursday were Miguel, and his model-singer wife, Nazanin Mandi; Anthony Davis, a Chicago native who dined in a private room with 20 people; and “Shameless” alumna Joan Cusack. RPM Steak, meanwhile, hosted Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard; Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma; and Magic forward Aaron Gordon. Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals were at Three Dots and a Dash, a day before dining at RPM Italian.
A foot injury didn’t stop Heat rookie Tyler Herro from partying at Joy District and Tao. Also spotted at Tao: Comedian Michael Blackson; Jazz center Rudy Gobert; Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis; Bucks forward Khris Middleton; and Celtics legend Paul Pierce.
Tiffani Thiessen and her two children visited the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier and Velvet Taco on Thursday before Thiessen and her 9-year-old daughter, Harper, kicked off the Rookie USA fashion show at Morgan Manufacturing in West Town.
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Tiffani Amber Thiessen and her daughter, Harper, @RookieUSA fashion show in the West Loop as part of #NBAAllStar festivities. pic.twitter.com/lunoMEyp1e — tracyswartz (@tracyswartz) February 14, 2020
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” star JB Smoove accompanied his nephew down the Rookie USA runway. He told the Tribune that the cold in Chicago doesn’t bother him because his wife, Shahidah Omar, is from the South Side.
JB Smoove of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame @RookieUSA fashion show in West Loop as part of #NBAAllStar festivities.
He said he is calling the runway O’Hare because he’s going to land on it. pic.twitter.com/WLhhB0TEVq — tracyswartz (@tracyswartz) February 14, 2020
“I came to the airport, and you know what I said? ‘This all you got Chicago? This all you got? I heard about your reputation for freezing people, freezing eyelids, freezing eyes wide open, and you can’t blink no more.’ ”
Thursday’s fashion show benefited the James R. Jordan Foundation, which is devoted to empowering youth to reach their full potential.
Wednesday’s sightings
The National Basketball Retired Players Association had its tipoff party at Tao. Among those in attendance: Shawn Marion; Chicago native and Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas; Hall of Famer and former Loyola coach Sheryl Swoopes.
LaRoyce Hawkins dined with his “Chicago P.D.” colleagues Eriq LaSalle, Jason Beghe and Jesse Lee Soffer at RPM Seafood.
NBA legend Charles Barkley joined “Waddle & Silvy” on WMVP-AM 1000 from Chicago Cut.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Man who alleged torture by Burge detectives has conviction and life sentence reinstated

It was one in a litany of cases in which Burge and his “ midnight crew ” of detectives who @ @ @ @ @ accused of torturing or abusing dozens of mostly African American men into confessing to killings @ @ @ @ @ 80s .
The scandal has stained the city ’ s reputation and cost taxpayers tens @ @ @ @ @ settlements , legal fees and other compensation to victims .

Gerald Reed has been serving a life sentence for the 1990 slayings of Pamela Powers and Willie Williams on the South Side. (Cook County sheriff's office)
Gerald Reed’s shot at freedom came just before Christmas 2018, when a Cook County judge threw out his murder convictions amid accusations he was tortured into a false confession by detectives under notorious ex-Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge.
On Friday, those hopes were dashed.
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In a stunning reversal, a different judge on Friday reinstated Reed’s convictions and his life sentence for a gruesome, decades-old double homicide. After decades in state prison, Reed was being held at Cook County Jail as he hoped another jury would hear his case and end his incarceration for good.
Instead, Judge Thomas Hennelly ruled that all the proceedings leading up to Reed’s exoneration actually centered around an oral statement that was never used at trial — not his separate written confession. Reed, 56, alleged that Burge detectives tortured him into that statement.
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But Reed’s oral statement, in which he denies witnessing any murder, was never used against him, so his rights were never violated — and thus he is not entitled to the new trial after all, Hennelly found.
Gerald Reed has been serving a life sentence for the 1990 slayings of Pamela Powers and Willie Williams on the South Side. (Illinois Department of Corrections)
The ruling halts preparations for Reed’s retrial. His attorneys instead are exploring an appeal of Hennelly’s decision.
Elliot Zinger, one of Reed’s attorneys, said Friday’s events were shocking, and questioned Hennelly’s authority to reverse a fellow judge’s decision completely on his own.
“I don’t think it’s proper at all,” Zinger said. “I don’t think there’s any basis to do any of this.”
The decision came after Hennelly in October first observed from the bench that the previous judge, Thomas Gainer Jr,. had thrown out only Reed’s oral statement, not the separate written confession.
Gainer had tossed Reed’s conviction in December 2018 after years of legal wrangling over allegations that two detectives under Burge beat him into confessing to the fatal shootings of Pamela Powers and Willie Williams on the South Side.
Gainer retired shortly after making the ruling, and the case was assigned to Hennelly for the retrial.
But Gainer never would have thrown out the case if he thought the court proceedings only applied to Reed’s verbal statement, Zinger told the Tribune.
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“It doesn’t make any sense that Judge Gainer would vacate two murder convictions because some statement that was not even (a confession) was wrongfully included,” he said.
Reed alleged that Detective Victor Breska kicked him so hard that he broke a rod that had been placed in Reed’s leg to aid in his healing from an earlier gunshot wound. Breska’s partner, Detective Michael Kill, who was repeatedly accused of abuse before his death in 2018, never reported the beating.
Reed was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
It was one in a litany of cases in which Burge and his “midnight crew” of detectives who worked under him have been accused of torturing or abusing dozens of mostly African American men into confessing to killings in the 1970s and ’80s. The scandal has stained the city’s reputation and cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in settlements, legal fees and other compensation to victims.
A team of special prosecutors led by Robert Milan maintained they could prove Reed guilty in the double slaying even without any confession.
“Too often in our criminal justice system, the victims and their families are overlooked,” Milan wrote in a news release Friday. “We hope that today’s ruling provides some relief to the families of Pamela Powers and Willie Williams.”
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Two witnesses told authorities that they saw Reed and co-defendant David Turner one night in October 1990 with a terrified Powers “in their control,” barefoot and without her coat, prosecutors said in a court filing.
Reed threatened Powers, asking her where the money was, while Turner ominously warned he would “drop this b---- behind Kennedy King,” prosecutors alleged.
Early the next morning, Powers was found under a viaduct near Kennedy-King College in the Englewood neighborhood, shot in the head and naked from the waist down. The same day, police found Williams shot to death in Powers’ ransacked apartment.
Prosecutors allege that the murder weapon was a Gangster Disciples “community gun” that one of the same witnesses — a woman — saw Reed and Turner carry on several occasions. Once, the witness said, she and Turner were handling the gun in the hallway, and it accidentally fired, lodging a bullet in the wall that later analysis showed was fired by the same weapon that killed Powers and Williams.
Turner, who never alleged he was beaten by police, is also serving a life sentence for the double murders.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com