chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Bears Q&A: Will a commitment to Mitch Trubisky hurt the search for quality backup QB? Is Eric Ebron

Bears Q&A: Will a commitment to Mitch Trubisky hurt the search for quality backup QB? Is Eric Ebron a potential tight end target? What is the 2020 draft strategy?

I suspect Cohen will seek a contract extension this offseason , and the situation will be worth watching .
He had a disappointing season and it had to be frustrating to everyone involved that such a talented matchup piece could not be more effective in the offense .
Cohen had a career-high 79 receptions ( eight more than he had in 2018 ) but gained only 456 receiving yards , 269 fewer than the year before .
He averaged only 5.77 yards per reception , less a reflection on Cohen ’ s skills than the broken offense .
He remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the offense and quarterback Mitch Trubisky simply struggled to get him the ball in space .
Cohen was also less productive as a running back , averaging only 3.3 yards per carry , down from 4.5 in 2018 , and the offensive line struggles surely contributed to that .
If Cohen had repeated his 2018 production , the Bears definitely would have wanted to extend his contract .
But maybe not after his 2019 season .
It ’ s possible the team views Cohen ’ s 2019 struggles as a symptom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a decline in talent .
So perhaps the Bears will consider trying to work something out , but finding an agreement on what his value is will take some work .
The Bears certainly have greater offseason priorities .
As far as a tight end threat helping Cohen , sure .
A viable tight end would make everyone on the offense better .

The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Did the Bears give any consideration to the caliber of veteran QB they would attract given their endorsement of Mitch Trubisky as starter? Given the high stakes in 2020, it seems reckless to settle for a journeyman type when Mitch has yet to play a full 16-game season, let alone perform at a high level. — David D., Rogers Park
Advertisement
Actions on and after free agency begins March 18 will tell us a lot more than words at a January media availability for general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy. My sense was that Pace and Nagy were being genuine in their assessment of Trubisky and they fully plan for him to be the starting quarterback when the 2020 season begins in September. Otherwise, Trubisky has no reason to believe anything they say publicly moving forward. I get what you’re saying about the Bears hurting themselves when it comes to attracting the best, most experienced free-agent quarterbacks. However, money ultimately is king in free agency and will always be king. Plus, it’s possible that available options could view the landscape and consider the Bears a better destination because they might feel Trubisky is an easier candidate to unseat for playing time than starters elsewhere. Keep in mind free agency isn’t the only avenue for creating a more competitive depth chart behind the starter. The Bears could also explore trade possibilities and the draft.
It sounds like the Bears are going to be in the market for a backup QB this offseason. Based on Ryan Pace’s record for evaluating and selecting QBs (Mitch Trubisky, Mike Glennon and Chase Daniel), is there any chance he lets Matt Nagy select the QB instead? I would have more confidence in Nagy being able to evaluate and find a free-agent QB that could step in and salvage the Bears’ next season if Trubisky continues on the current path. — Jorge S., LaGrange
Advertisement
Who do you think was the guiding force in adding Daniel as a backup two years ago? That was a signing dictated largely by Nagy because Daniel could come in and be up to speed with the offense, the playbook and the teaching elements almost immediately. That being said, Nagy absolutely will have a ton of sway in the decisions the team makes at quarterback. Pace is going to want to add quarterbacks, plural, for Nagy to work with that the coach likes. There’s no question in my mind this will be a collaborative effort. Whether they get Nagy’s No. 1 choice or Pace’s No. 1 choice or neither remains to be seen.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 181 Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky heads to the locker room after a 21-9 loss to the Saints in a playoff game Jan. 10, 2021, in New Orleans. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Do the Bears plan on hiring an offensive coordinator or are they changing to an in-game run coordinator and pass game coordinator similar to what the Rams run? — @bbtwice1080
The Bears announced Sunday that Juan Castillo was hired as the offensive line coach. I wondered before that if Matt Nagy might pass on hiring someone with the title of offensive coordinator and hire a run game coordinator, perhaps a secondary offensive line coach and then fill the other remaining spots on the staff. We’ll have to see what titles are handed out as he finishes making moves. It’s semantics really, though, as Nagy is the real offensive coordinator (even if someone else has the title) because he designs the playbook, has ultimate authority over the game plan and calls plays during the game. Let’s see how this unfolds.
Cordarrelle Patterson seems to make things happen every time he gets the ball. Could he beef up during the offseason and move to tight end next season? He would have to be an upgrade over what they have. — @pkmcnulty
No. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received this question in the last few months, one that I have answered previously. This isn’t a Madden video game where you can change a player’s position. If Patterson bulked up, it’s possible he would not be as effective as a returner and special teams ace. He never has excelled as a receiver and he has been under multiple coaching staffs, including the Patriots. The Bears could work to get the ball in his hands more often on offense next season, but he’s basically a gadget player. He’s not going to suddenly become a skilled route runner in his eighth season and be able to handle the multiple roles and nuances of the tight end position.
Do you think Kevin Toliver is ready to take over CB No. 2? I see a lot of mentions about Prince Amukamara being a cap casualty, but I haven’t seen enough of Toliver to be comfortable with that. — @matt22880192
Trusting Toliver as the starter moving into the 2020 season would require a leap of faith. Plenty of folks have wondered about Amukamara’s future, but the Bears felt he had a pretty good season before he suffered a hamstring injury at the end of the Thanksgiving Day victory in Detroit. The other thing most of these people aren’t considering is how much a quality starting cornerback costs on the open market. Amukamara is set to earn $9 million in base salary in 2020, and while the team might be able to find a cheaper option, they won’t find a bargain with experience who has knowledge of the defense and can be plugged in right away. Toliver is still raw. He got 175 snaps this season, all but three coming in the final four games, after playing 135 snaps as a rookie in 2018. I’m not sure he’s ready to be a starter and Toliver might be best suited as a backup again in 2020.
The Bears’ experiment at safety this year with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Eddie Jackson splitting time out of position produced mixed results. I was reading that Malcolm Jenkins doesn’t want to play on his current deal for the Eagles. Would he make sense as an option or is the strong safety need too low to justify it? — @adalpini
Advertisement
Jenkins is still a very effective player at 32, but the Bears can’t pay premium money to two safeties when you consider their needs elsewhere on the roster. A team is far better off putting a big investment into two cornerbacks than two safeties. The Bears need a true box safety to replace Clinton-Dix, and they might want to draft one to get a player on a rookie contract next to Jackson.
Do you think David Montgomery has shown Ryan Pace and staff enough to be trusted as the lead horse going into 2020? I know O-line play was poor and Montgomery has a lot of admirable traits, but I didn’t see him do much outside of fight after contact all season. There is a lot of talent in this draft. — @zberg034
Montgomery is a good back. He’s probably never going to be a great back because he doesn’t have that top gear to run away from defenders, but he fits the scheme and he definitely improved as the season went along. Montgomery can deliver in the passing game, assuming he gets more opportunities. He caught 25 passes for 185 yards (7.4 average). He can definitely do more with more than 35 targets. If the Bears see a dynamic running back who can clearly upgrade the position, that would make sense in the draft, but they’ve got some greater needs on offense. I don’t think it’s a problem if Montgomery is the unquestioned starter going into 2020, and I’d be surprised if Pace prioritizes replacing him this offseason.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 65 Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan tackles Bears running back David Montgomery in the third quarter of a playoff game Jan. 10, 2021, in New Orleans. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
The local gambling show on ESPN Las Vegas just had guests opining that Josh Allen is better longer-term answer/leader over Mitch Trubisky. Is that a fair to say? — @chgotolv
My hunch is there are few young starting quarterbacks analysts would choose Trubisky over right now. I had a conversation with a veteran defensive coach in November and he told me that the only NFC quarterback he’d take Trubisky over at the time was the Panthers’ Kyle Allen. Trubisky didn’t plateau this season, he regressed and the Bears struggled mightily to score. What the future holds for Josh Allen in Buffalo remains to be seen. He has less experience than Trubisky with 27 regular-season starts. He did improve this season, raising his completion percentage from 52.8 to 58.8. He struggles with touch passes, and accuracy remains an issue. Can Allen be better in 2020? I don’t know. But he made strides this season while Trubisky did not.
Why did it take Riley Ridley so long to see the field this year? Does he have enough talent to project as a starter or a third wideout next year? — @mike__chicago
Advertisement
It’s going to be a big spring and summer for Ridley, who will be given opportunities to find playing time as a fourth-round draft pick. The Bears were training Ridley at all three positions during the season, and I think it’s fair to say he struggled picking up everything, which delayed his development. He didn’t get on the field until Week 13 in Detroit and then totaled only 108 offensive snaps for the season. Ridley has talent and he’s a big target, but I expect the Bears to upgrade the position and the team cannot afford to wait for him to develop. He’s going to have to be better beginning in the spring. It’s not uncommon for receivers to take a little time to figure things out in the NFL, so it’s not like Ridley is far behind the curve.
What do you see the Bears doing with Tarik Cohen coming off a disappointing season while wanting a new deal? How can they better utilize him and could he be more effective with a threat at tight end on the field? — @jtbcubs
I suspect Cohen will seek a contract extension this offseason, and the situation will be worth watching. He had a disappointing season and it had to be frustrating to everyone involved that such a talented matchup piece could not be more effective in the offense. Cohen had a career-high 79 receptions (eight more than he had in 2018) but gained only 456 receiving yards, 269 fewer than the year before. He averaged only 5.77 yards per reception, less a reflection on Cohen’s skills than the broken offense. He remains a dangerous player in the open field, but the offense and quarterback Mitch Trubisky simply struggled to get him the ball in space. Cohen was also less productive as a running back, averaging only 3.3 yards per carry, down from 4.5 in 2018, and the offensive line struggles surely contributed to that. If Cohen had repeated his 2018 production, the Bears definitely would have wanted to extend his contract. But maybe not after his 2019 season. It’s possible the team views Cohen’s 2019 struggles as a symptom of the offense as a whole and not a decline in talent. So perhaps the Bears will consider trying to work something out, but finding an agreement on what his value is will take some work. The Bears certainly have greater offseason priorities. As far as a tight end threat helping Cohen, sure. A viable tight end would make everyone on the offense better.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 116 Bears running back Tarik Cohen warms up for a game against the Giants on Sept. 20, 2020, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Are O-line and linebacker the big areas the Bears should be looking to improve this offseason? — @mmarc9
The Bears need to address what they’re going to do at inside linebacker next to Roquan Smith as Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkowski and Kevin Pierre-Louis are all set to be unrestricted free agents. But I wouldn’t put that near the top of the team’s offseason to-do list. Look at the offense and the vast struggles it had and start there. The offensive line, specifically right guard, wide receiver, tight end and — last but certainly not least — quarterback are all positions that need to be addressed. The defense did well and, as I’ve said many times, the Bears need to avoid making a major investment in someone to play alongside Smith. The Bears have a hefty investment in Smith and it doesn’t make sense to double up at that position. Inside linebackers don’t stop touchdowns and they don’t score touchdowns.
What are your thoughts on playing Cody Whitehair and James Daniels at the guard spots next year and drafting or signing a true center? — @darbran
Advertisement
That’s certainly a possibility, but I don’t know that it’s the leading possibility. Daniels was definitely better when he was switched to left guard, but he will need to be better in 2020. With so much focus on quarterback Mitch Trubisky and how he needs to steady his performance, I don’t know that the Bears want to have him start working with a new center. They might choose to keep Whitehair there and seek an upgrade or competition at right guard. I wouldn’t dismiss your suggestion, but it’s more likely Daniels and Whitehair begin the 2020 season where they ended 2019.
How do you grade the 2019 draft class? — @rpescador
It’s a little early to do that. Most say it’s best to wait three seasons to give a fair grade to a draft class. The only Bears draft pick who got significant playing time was running back David Montgomery, and he was OK. He got better as the season went along and will be better in 2020 with an improved offensive line. He can also add more to the passing game. The Bears have to hope wide receiver Riley Ridley can become a contributor on offense. The future of cornerback Duke Shelley remains unknown. I doubt he unseats nickel cornerback Buster Skrine next season. There’s not a lot to the draft class as the Bears were thin on draft picks.
Is Eric Ebron worth a look at tight end? Had a real good year two years ago and fell off this year. One-year prove-it deal maybe? — @danjnolte
The Bears need to consider every option at tight end via free agency and the draft. Ebron exploded in 2018 when caught 66 passes for 750 yards with 13 touchdowns while playing barely more than half of the snaps for the Colts. He wasn’t nearly as productive this season without Andrew Luck at quarterback and elected to have ankle surgery late in the season, something that strained an already iffy situation between him and the team. Ebron was a first-round pick of the Lions in 2014 and while he never panned out in Detroit, he’s still only 26. Someone will buy on the chance that Ebron can repeat his 2018 production. I suspect there will be enough interest for him to command a multiyear deal. If Trey Burton can sign a four-year, $32 million deal after playing very little on offense with the Eagles, why can’t Ebron get something similar?
Colts tight end Eric Ebron scores a touchdown against the Raiders on Sept. 29, 2019. (Doug McSchooler/AP)
What does Kyle Long’s retirement do for the Bears cap-wise this coming season? — @tameone23
Advertisement
By stepping away from the Bears, Long’s departure frees up $8.1 million in cap space for the Bears. That’s the amount he would have earned in 2020. We know there’s no way the Bears would have paid him that money, so if the situation dragged out, the Bears eventually would have announced they were not picking up the 2020 option in the contract. He will count $1.5 million in dead space against the cap.
Do you think there’s any chance the Bears go after guard Brandon Scherff this offseason? — @ethan18174260
No. There is a chance that the Redskins secure Scherff this offseason with the franchise tag. He reportedly was offered an extension over the summer worth $13 million or more per season. The Bears don’t have that kind of money to sink into an offensive lineman, particularly an interior lineman. They’ve gone down that road before.
Where did the pick the Bears get for Jordan Howard end up? Didn’t it have a chance to move up a round? — @roninarc
The Bears will receive a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft from the Eagles in exchange for Howard. There was a chance the pick would improve to a fifth-rounder, but Howard didn’t play well enough for that to happen.
I like Taylor Gabriel. But between his contract and his injury history, I’m worried that he will be a salary-cap casualty. Do you think he will be on this team next season? — @tombofnapolean
Advertisement
The guaranteed money in Gabriel’s contract has all been paid out, and he’s signed through 2021 with a base salary of $5.5 million in 2020 and a base salary of $6.5 million in 2021. I tend to think the Bears will seek to replace him with a bigger and more durable option on the outside. He has some skills, but his size makes him limited and he’s not an ideal downfield threat. If the Bears release Gabriel, he will count $2 million against the cap this season, so cutting him would create $4.5 million in cap space. Keep in mind that with nearly every player the Bears cut, it’s creating a void that needs to be filled by someone and at some cost.
Bears wide receiver Taylor Gabriel celebrates a touchdown against the Redskins on Sept. 23, 2019. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Would the Bears be better served not signing a veteran quarterback in the offseason and instead selecting one in Round 2 as competition for Mitch Trubisky? They would have a potential starter on a rookie contract and could use the money to hold the defense together. — @garcia4cjie
The Bears should use the majority of their resources this offseason to improve what was one of the NFL’s worst offenses. The defense was solid and will be good again next year, and holes on that side of the ball can be filled with some modest transactions. There’s nothing wrong with your suggestion, but we don’t know what kind of quarterbacks will be available in the middle of Round 2. Quarterback is the most overdrafted position in the game, meaning they’re almost always drafted higher than they should be. Drafting a quarterback in Round 2 might not help Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy win in 2020, and they’re driven to get this team back in the postseason. They should closely look at quarterbacks in the draft, but they might want to address some other positions first, especially if there’s not a prospect they really are excited about.
What is Ryan Pace’s draft strategy with two picks in the second round, one in the fifth round, two in the sixth round and one in the seventh round (and maybe one in the fourth for Adrian Amos’ compensatory pick)? Slim pickings. — @stevemco
The Bears are expected to receive a compensatory pick at the end of the fourth round for Amos, which will certainly help. The biggest issue with the Bears’ 2020 draft is they have only two picks in the top 100 — the two second-round picks. I asked Pace about that last week.
“We feel good about it,” he said. “Just the quantity of draft picks we have in this draft is much better for us. It will give us ability to move around in the draft if necessary. Having the two second-round picks is huge for us — especially we can already feel the depth in this draft. That’s something we hadn’t had in recent years, so to have that quantity is important for us.”
Advertisement
Whether the Bears use that inventory of picks to move around remains to be seen. I do not believe they will be in a position to package multiple picks to move into Round 1. That would cut into the depth that Pace is talking about. Hopefully, they can hit on the second-round picks and add some nice role players with upside on the back end.
When are Bears going to extend Allen Robinson? — @eddienonose
That’s a good question. Robinson is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn $10.9 million in base salary in 2020 with a $2 million roster bonus due March 20 and a $100,000 offseason workout bonus, totaling $13 million for the season. Robinson has to be an absolute priority for the Bears and he’s in a position of power. There is no guaranteed money remaining in the deal, and the Bears will have to give him a raise on the $14 million annual average he had when the contract was signed in 2018. They can do so and potentially lower his cap hit for this season of $15 million slightly. It will be interesting to see what Robinson does if he doesn’t have a new deal before the start of the offseason program. There have been players with less leverage that have declined to show up without a new deal. Extending the contract of Robinson has to be one of the top orders of business for general manager Ryan Pace.
Do you think the Bears will have trouble signing any free-agent weapons on offense this offseason? — @danthoney83
Only if they’re limited by salary-cap space. Cash dictates the market in free agency.
Why don’t the Bears trade their two second-round picks to move up and draft Tua Tagovailoa? — @Mblitenthal
Advertisement
The Bears own the 43rd and 50th overall picks in Round 2. If the Bears package both of those picks, I doubt they will be able to get high enough in Round 1 to be able to select Tagovailoa. If you look at some of the common draft pick value charts, those picks combined are worth roughly what the 19th or 20th overall pick would command in trade. Provided Tagovailoa’s hip injury doesn’t scare teams away, he could be off the board before then.


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--From South Side kindergartner to inventing ‘Tiny Titans’: Cartoonist Art Baltazar is back with ‘Drew

From South Side kindergartner to inventing ‘Tiny Titans’: Cartoonist Art Baltazar is back with ‘Drew and Jot’

The story-within-a-story element to “ Drew and Jot ” enables Baltazar to play with his art style .
To illustrate @ @ @ @ @ kids , he scanned ruled notebook paper to use as the background of the boys @ @ @ @ @ drew some elements in crayon and scanned that too .
It ’ s an idea @ @ @ @ @ the works for about 15 years , since his son was a baby .
“ @ @ @ @ @ I could whip up a comic while my son was still napping , so I @ @ @ @ @ crayons and challenged myself .
I drew it real fast , in like an hour @ @ @ @ @

"Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles" by Art Baltazar -- best known for Tiny Titans -- follows two middle-school boys who create their own comic book. (Art Baltazar / HANDOUT)
Award-winning artist. Comic-book publisher. Co-owner of his own small chain of shops, one each in three states. He doesn’t run around in a cape nor sport a mask, but Art Baltazar wears many professional hats.
For his literal sartorial choices, Baltazar tends toward fedoras and flat hats, like newsboy caps. “I think I have 63 hats. I counted them recently,” he says. “I just love dressing up. When I do school visits, I like to dress up. I don’t want to look like everyone’s dad or neighbor. When I go out with my wife, I dress up too, even if we’re just going to Buffalo Wild Wings.”
Advertisement
As the new year begins, the Streamwood resident adds another feather to his creator’s cap: A brand-new solo project, “Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles,” was just published. Within its 200 or so pages, writer-artist Baltazar takes his utterly delightful cartooning to new dimensions, crafting a tale within a tale when two middle-school boys create their own comic book — a project complicated by a kid sister who starts scribbling in their notepads.
"Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles" by Art Baltazar follows two middle-school boys who create their own comic book. (Art Baltazar / HANDOUT)
Baltazar had just seen an advance copy before he chatted with the Tribune by phone in late December, a few days before his 51st birthday. “To see it in hardcover was pretty cool,” the writer-artist says. He was especially excited by the reception the book got at home from his two adolescents, ages 12 and 16: “My kids are fighting over who gets to read it first.”
Advertisement
Although Baltazar has been creating original characters in DIY comics since he was a youth himself, his most celebrated comic books so far involve beloved superheroes that everyone knows. Which makes sense, because Baltazar’s own origin story is closely tied to those characters.
A South Side native, he grew up near Sox Park, which he still calls “Comiskey.” His dad worked the graveyard shift at Sears, which meant they spent time together during the day before little Art started kindergarten. “He’d draw with me — Ernie and Bert, Batman and Robin. I loved those drawings. But then he started working day shifts, so I had to draw things myself. I thank Sears for giving me my comic career.”
Eventually he started acquiring comic books, from Justice League of America to Richie Rich — but it wasn’t enough for the burgeoning artist to merely read them. He customized them too: “I remember on ‘Spider-Man,’ some artist wouldn’t draw enough webs on his face, so I’d put in new webs with pen or pencil. And I re-stapled them when they fell apart.”
Baltazar is now patriarch to his own close-knit family: his wife Rose, their two teenagers and a grown stepson. All five regularly spend time together; when we spoke, a few days before Christmas, Baltazar expressed enthusiasm that they were going together to see “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Of course, Baltazar has turned his passion for geek culture into a career.
A rising star in 2003 when he first got published in Disney Adventures, Baltazar’s first huge hit came in 2008, when he and partner Franco Aureliani (who goes by just “Franco”) reinterpreted DC Comics’ Teen Titans from angsty action heroes into Tiny Titans, fun young kids attending Sidekick Elementary. The award-winning comic series captures the same sort of multiple-level magic that makes the Muppets and Pixar so successful: exuberant art for children that also cleverly entertains grown-ups.
Cartoonist Art Baltazar -- a South Side native best known for his Eisner-winning Tiny Titans -- who's back with a new graphic novel for kids, "Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles." (HANDOUT)
In 2012, Baltazar added “proprietor” to his list of professional achievements. That spring, the first Aw Yeah Comics opened, brightening up downtown Skokie with its primary-colored walls bursting with white stars — and Action Cat, a character Baltazar created, painted onto the door as greeter. Two years later, the Aw Yeah brand of whimsy extended throughout the Oakton shopping district when Baltazar and another artist painted 15 hydrants, with the village’s encouragement, to represent various superheroes (plus a droid or two tossed in for good measure).
Because many comics shops had long catered to a narrower but richer customer base of adult collectors, Aw Yeah Comics felt like a burst of fresh air. “We wanted our store to be the place where a kid gets their first comic,” Baltazar says. “When you walk in our store, you’re part of our world. And you’re encouraged to loiter.” The not-so-secret headquarters for comics fans was so successful it expanded into two other states: If you ever take a road trip heading east from Skokie, you could stop into an Aw Yeah Comics in Muncie, Indiana, and another in Harrison, New York.
The locations aren’t centered in big cities, but they’re connected to the store owners’ roots in the comics business. Baltazar and Franco both dreamed of having their own comics shop, but they were busy writing and drawing — winning two Eisners, the industry’s Pulitzers, for Tiny Titans and a third for Itty Bitty Hellboy, another early reader comic book. Their collaborations happen despite long distance: Baltazar lives in northwest suburban Streamwood, while Franco lives in Harrison, about an hour northeast of Manhattan. (The glue holding the shops together is the stores’ third partner, Marc Hammond, who focuses exclusively on the business.)
Advertisement
In addition to expanding one shop into a tiny national chain, the team also self-published its own line of comics. Deciding to spin Action Cat and his anthropomorphic buddies into their own limited series, they launched a Kickstarter campaign in February 2013. “We asked for $15,00 to publish six issues, and we got funded in less than eight hours,” Baltazar says. They ended up extending the goal and raised more than $47,000 from 1,100 backers. Many of the funny-book adventures are set in Skokie and involve the comics shop.
The success doesn’t surprise Heidi MacDonald, onetime editor at both DC Comics and Publishers Weekly who now covers the comics biz on her own site, The Beat. She remembers first meeting Baltazar and Franco in Chicago, during a comics/pop-culture convention. “I had dinner with them,” she recalls, “and found them as completely hilarious in person as their work suggested.
“Kids still like print comics,” MacDonald continues. “Anecdotal, yes, but the kids I know who are always fiddling on tablets still like physical books and comics. And it is hard to overestimate the success of kids’ comics in bookstores in recent years. ... The comics shops that have survived almost all have very well curated kids’ sections.”
One sea change in comics for kids — a trend Baltazar had predicted — is the shift away from monthly comics to thicker volumes. “Publishers want the 100-page volume, the graphic novel,” he says — volumes such as “Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles,” the first part of a three-book series with Boom Studios.
The story-within-a-story element to “Drew and Jot” enables Baltazar to play with his art style. To illustrate the pages drawn by the kids, he scanned ruled notebook paper to use as the background of the boys’ sketchbooks, then he drew some elements in crayon and scanned that too. It’s an idea that’s been in the works for about 15 years, since his son was a baby. “I wanted to see if I could whip up a comic while my son was still napping, so I got notebooks and markers and crayons and challenged myself. I drew it real fast, in like an hour and a half.”
Later in 2020, DC Comics will release "ArkhaManiacs," a new the latest from Art Baltazar and Franco. (HANDOUT)
He takes special pride in creating his own original work, which includes another series of graphic novels about Gilbert, the little merman. But Baltazar hasn’t stopped playing in other publishers’ toyboxes: Later in 2020, DC Comics will release “ArkhaManiacs,” another playful, G-rated take from Baltazar and Franco on famous characters — this time, specifically the ones in the Batman universe.
Advertisement
As he currently works on “Drew and Jot,” volume two, he admits to a bit of professional pride. “I think ‘Drew and Jot’ is the best book I’ve ever done,” he says. “It’s so unique-looking. I love it so much, mostly because they’re my own characters.” Most of all, he’s excited for 2020 to unfold and his new creations to appear in the world: “I can’t wait for all these projects to be over, so I can read the books.”
Web Behrens is a freelance reporter.
"Drew and Jot" author Art Baltazar will appear at 7 p.m., Jan. 23, at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave, Naperville. (KaBOOM / HANDOUT)
‘Drew and Jot’
By Art Baltazar, KaBOOM, 208 pages, $14.99
Baltazar will appear at 7 p.m., Jan. 23, at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave, Naperville.


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Attorney: Toddler’s brain injury from foul ball in Houston off the bat of the Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr

Attorney: Toddler’s brain injury from foul ball in Houston off the bat of the Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. is permanent

Mithoff said doctors have described the effects of the injury to her central nervous system as similar to those of @ @ @ @ @ of the brain affected include those in which injuries can lead to seizures , loss @ @ @ @ @ spatial awareness , he said .
Other potential effects include periods of unresponsiveness and staring @ @ @ @ @ night terrors , he said .

Albert Almora Jr. of the Cubs leaves the game after checking on a young child who was hit by a foul ball off his bat in the fourth inning against the Astros on May 29, 2019, in Houston. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON — A 2-year-old girl struck by a foul ball during an Astros game at Minute Maid Park continues to receive anti-seizure medication seven months after suffering a brain injury that could leave her at risk of seizures for life, an attorney for her family said.
In a report posted Tuesday, Richard Mithoff told the Houston Chronicle that the child's brain injury is permanent.
Advertisement
“She remains subject to seizures and is on medication and will be, perhaps, for the rest of her life. That may or may not be resolved,” he said.
Mithoff said doctors have described the effects of the injury to her central nervous system as similar to those of a stroke. The areas of the brain affected include those in which injuries can lead to seizures, loss of sensation and loss of spatial awareness, he said. Other potential effects include periods of unresponsiveness and staring spells, frequent headaches and night terrors, he said.
Advertisement
Doctors so far have not been able to determine if the child has cognitive deficits because of the skull fracture and brain injury resulting from the May 29 line drive to the back of her head off the bat of Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr.
“She is able to continue with much of her routine as a girl her age would do, but her parents have to be particularly vigilant — as they are,” Mithoff said.
Almora was visibly distraught when the girl was injured.
“It’s opened my eyes to other things,” he said a few days after the incident. “I never want it to happen again.”
No legal action has been started, and Mithoff declined to comment on any conversations he may have had with Astros officials. However, he has advised them that he represents the family of the child, whose identity has not been released. The Astros have declined comment, citing concerns for the family's privacy.
Major League Baseball has announced that for the 2020 season all 30 teams will extend the netting that protects infield grandstands.


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--French-inspired dishes in South Loop, Rick Bayless opening Tortazo Jan. 15, plus more Chicago restau

French-inspired dishes in South Loop, Rick Bayless opening Tortazo Jan. 15, plus more Chicago restaurant news

“ The Grail Cafe is a place where goodness can be found , meaning that when you come in , @ @ @ @ @ a good experience , ” Holmes said .
“ When you leave , you have @ @ @ @ @ little goodness from good food and good service and good conversation and when you walk @ @ @ @ @ can spread a little of that goodness throughout your day .
”

The Grail Cafe is open in South Loop, serving up light dishes, coffee and pastries. (Steven Cook)
After years of working and living in the South Loop, Sheldrick Holmes and Steven Cook have opened The Grail Cafe, a restaurant where the dishes are light, coffee is fresh and pastries are plentiful.
“I’ve always had a love for food,” Holmes said. “I’m humbled and honored to serve people food. It’s one of the greatest gifts and responsibilities to do that: giving something that someone puts in their body to live and nurture them.”
Advertisement
Holmes spent the past four years in culinary school, at the Four Seasons hotel, and at Dietz & Watson, where he helped with menu development and culinary training. He and Cook had often talked about opening their own cafe one day.
The menu is “uncomplicated with a little bit of surprise,” Holmes said. He’s generously utilizing herbs and you’ll find many ingredients showing up in more than one dish. For breakfast, there’s a farro risotto with Greek yogurt, granola, apple-apricot chutney, honeycomb and mint served with a ginger biscotti, and number of toasts from 3D Baking served with jam and butter. Grab a pastry from PHlour to pair with coffee from Hexe Coffee Co. or indulge in your nostalgic side with the grilled peanut and jam sandwich on challah for lunch.
Advertisement
The Grail Cafe is serving up toasts like this rustic orchard toast topped with marscarpone cheese, apple thyme and cranberry compote. (Steven Cook)
Although the chickpea chicken couscous salad has been really popular among guests, Holmes’ favorite salad is the The Golden Halo, made with kale, golden lentils, quinoa, golden raisins, red pepper, Persian cucumber and pepitas, and dressed with a fennel vinaigrette. He also recommends the rosemary ham and Emmental sandwich, with a fig-apple spread, arugula and a dill dressing on ciabatta.
For dinner, choose from one of three papillotes — vegetables and proteins cooked in parchment paper that’s opened up tableside — or go for something smaller, like a crudite or cheese board, to pair with a glass of French wine or local beer.
“The Grail Cafe is a place where goodness can be found, meaning that when you come in, we hope that you get a good experience,” Holmes said. “When you leave, you have been filled up with a little goodness from good food and good service and good conversation and when you walk out those doors, you can spread a little of that goodness throughout your day.”
715 S. Dearborn St., 312-756-8977, thegrailcafe.com
Openings
THE LOOP — Tortazo will open Jan. 15 in Willis Tower adding to Rick Bayless’ roster of restaurants. The menu will include griddle-crisped tortas, like a crispy chicken milanesa, soups and salads, a chicken chilaquiles bowl and fresh churros. 233 S. Wacker Drive, 312-962-7700, tortazo.com
LINCOLN PARK — Takito Street, by the owners of Bar Takito and Takito Kitchen, will open Jan. 9. The restaurant will serve tacos al pastor and fresh fruit margaritas in a colorful environment, plus crunchy flautas and skirt steak with chimichurri relish, avocado puree and served with a flour tortilla. 2423 N. Lincoln St., takitostreet.com
LINCOLN SQUARE — Menya Goku, from the owners of Ramen Wasabi and Ramen Takeya, has opened, bringing shoyu ramen, pork belly buns, shumai and tantanmen to the north side. 2207 W. Montrose Ave., instagram.com/menyagoku
LOGAN SQUARE — Jibaritos y Mas has opened a dine-in spot next to its corner location, serving the same menu but in a bigger space. 3404 W. Fullerton Ave., facebook.com/jibaritosymas
Advertisement
Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
NEAR NORTH — RPM Seafood will open this month as the final piece of the RPM Waterfront Project. The restaurant will serve fish, seafood, steak and wine with panoramic views of the Chicago River. It is a two-story space with two private terraces and a main floor patio. 317 N. Clark St., rpmrestaurants.com/rpm-seafood
UPTOWN — In-On Thai Uptown is open, serving up dishes like stir-fired crispy fish fillet with curry sauce, pad see-ew and tom yum soup. 4641 N. Broadway, 773-944-0114
WILMETTE — Sophia, a neighborhood steakhouse, is slated to open this spring by Glenn Keefer (Keefer’s Restaurant) and Ryan O’Donnell (Ballyhoo Hospitality). Look out for petite filet, hangar, New York strip or Delmonico rib-eye steaks, plus a number of fish and seafood dishes, including shrimp cocktail and trout from Wisconsin. There will also be a cheeseburger and a number of salads and sandwiches, plus weekly specials. 1146 Wilmette Ave.
ICYMI
GOLD COAST — Restaurant review: WoodWind aims for creative, fun food but is it enough to overcome the 18th floor location? Read Phil Vettel’s two-star review.
WRIGLEYVILLE — 3 months after Cubs fired Joe Maddon, Wrigleyville restaurant named after him closes
Advertisement
gwong@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Maybe the debris found on the lakefront could be art — a Chicago photographer opens ‘On the Beach’

He also writes , as he did for the Tribune a decade ago .
Though those stories — many about @ @ @ @ @ grown , son and daughter from a marriage that ended in divorce — were quite @ @ @ @ @ at his lyrical way with words .
Here is an example , part of a @ @ @ @ @ memorial service : “ An old friend pointed out that we all pick up marks @ @ @ @ @ , and they decorate us until we pass from this life .
This I now @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re also marked , indelibly , by the deep connections we make with @ @ @ @ @

John Soss shows off art and materials in his Chicago home. A show of his photographs, titled "On the Beach," opens Friday at The Dime gallery. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
A beach can be a lonely place, particularly in winter. John Soss wanders beaches in every season but does so less frequently when the cold comes, and the snow and the ice bury what he is seeking.
What he is seeking are remnants of this world, specifically things that have been lost or tossed or otherwise found their way into the waters of Lake Michigan. Thousands of these things eventually wash up along the shore and Soss grabs some, looks them over and takes a few home, there to arrange together in patterns and take a photo.
Advertisement
His neat and orderly North Side house is filled with things he has rescued from beaches. They sit on tables and in jars. They fill part of his garage. You name it, he’s probably found it: bird feathers, shotgun shells, knives, silverware, sunglasses, keys, light bulbs, squirt guns, Legos, cigarette lighters, driftwood, toys, dolls, fireworks, bones, golf balls, pieces of glass, bones, balloons, wallets, credit cards, nuts, and on and on and on and on. He finds many, many pieces of glass. He sometimes finds, as one might expect, money on the beach.
“But I don’t keep any of that,” he says. “I gather up all the coins and bills at the end of each year and send it to my sister.”
Advertisement
It’s a fitting annual tribute because his sister is the person who sparked his beachcombing passion on an early 1980s family trip to Southwestern Michigan.
“My sister showed me a piece of glass and explained how beaches were filled with things dumped into the lake,” he says. “We took a long walk and found all kinds of things.”
Decades later this memory resurfaced when a friend showed him some pieces of glass that she had found on Chicago beaches and he realized, “It wasn’t just empty beaches in Michigan or beaches in places like the Bahamas that held these things. They were here in the city.”
So, seven years ago he began to hit the beaches with regularity and purpose.
Wood, plastic and lots of glass pieces, including bottle necks, are among the materials John Soss collects on Lake Michigan beaches and uses to make his photographs. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune)
This photograph of bird feathers printed in aluminum is among the prints that John Soss is displaying at The Dime gallery. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Divorced with two grown children, Soss is an early riser and ardent bicyclist, habits that lend themselves nicely to beachcombing. The items he found he brought home, arranged in some pattern on top of a table, took a photo with his iPhone and sent it to his sister with this caption: “Like finding money on the street.”
For two years, he shared photos only with his sister. But as his photography and design skills matured, she urged him to begin posting the photos on Facebook and Instagram. There are now more than a thousand of them, compelling, mysterious, some beautiful and all provocative. What other people might consider junk, Soss finds art, a philosophy captured in a note he found on the beach. It was from a Chinese fortune cookie: “Finding exotic uses for what others ignore will make your special fortune."
Once a photo is taken and posted, he dismantles the arrangement, stores what he considers its good pieces, tosses a bunch of others and recycles the rest.
“The items do make my mind wander, concocting fictional stories about where they came from, who may have owned them, how did they get in the lake,” he says. “It is not so much that they represent a puzzle. It’s really as if these things are waiting for me to put them together.”
Advertisement
This relatively private pursuit goes public with the art exhibit “On the Beach,” opening Friday at The Dime, a gallery at 1513 N. Western Ave. It was more than two years ago that gallery owner Tony Fitzpatrick suggested this show. Soss scoffed, thinking the idea to be “ridiculous. I was never doing this for appreciation or recognition.” But Fitzpatrick, a longtime Soss friend and a fan of his internet postings, is an energetically persuasive man and now Soss feels excited about the show, which will include some 40 of his photos mounted handsomely on pieces of aluminum in 16 inches by 16 inches, 12 by 12 and 8 by 8. These photos are modestly priced (at $300 to $500) and the show will run through Feb. 1.
Soss does not consider himself an artist. He works as the vice president of marketing and advertising for Jam Productions, the venerable (almost 50 years old) concert and special events producer. Except for a short interlude, Soss has worked at Jam since starting as a college intern while earning his B.A. from Columbia College.
“For John music has always been about much more than commerce,” says my colleague Greg Kot, Tribune’s popular music critic. “He was always deeply invested in art and music, a connoisseur of everything from maverick country artist Jimmie Dale Gilmore to handmade Christmas cards, and the beauty they embrace, the empathy they inspire. He may work in the music industry, but he’s not an ‘industry’ guy.”
Soss has many friends and interests. A personable and contemplative man, he has collaborated on writing songs. He collects Christmas music and was for some years a Friday night regular patron of the Green Mill. He loves to visit flea markets. Travel is another frequent activity and one room in his house is covered with maps of the places he has been.
He also writes, as he did for the Tribune a decade ago. Though those stories — many about his then young, now grown, son and daughter from a marriage that ended in divorce — were quite good, they barely hinted at his lyrical way with words. Here is an example, part of a speech he gave at a memorial service: “An old friend pointed out that we all pick up marks throughout our life, scars, and they decorate us until we pass from this life. This I now know to be true. We’re also marked, indelibly, by the deep connections we make with our fellow travelers.”
Colored acrylic nails and lots of glass pieces are among the variety of materials that Chicago artist John Soss has collected on Lake Michigan beaches. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
After John Soss uses his beach finds, such as glass and plastic toys, to make a photograph, he keeps a few special items and the rest he tosses or recycles. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
He travels to the beach with a shoulder bag to store his finds. Some days it bulges.
Advertisement
“I don’t go out every single day but when I go out there has not been one day that I didn’t find a number of things to bring home and photograph,’ he says. “Each beach has its own personality.”
He has his favorites, but he is understandably proprietary, refusing to give precise names or locations lest “I start to attract people curious about what I’m doing and following me around.” He has wandered other shorelines, from Milwaukee in Wisconsin to South Haven in Michigan, but his feet most often walk the beaches in Chicago.
For the last two years, many of his walks were in the company of his girlfriend, a Chicago public school special education teacher who died in August.
Two months after her death, Soss discovered a note that she had written to him but never delivered: “I’ve seen you work your way along the shoreline, choosing some pieces and discarding others. You keep the ones that have been frosted and smoothed and toss the shiny ones back. The more they’ve been tumbled and churned and buffeted against the beach, the more beautiful and interesting they become. They take on new and unexpected forms as they’re shaped by raging storms and polished by gentle waves. I learned this from you, and what is true for beach glass is true for people too.”
rkogan@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-09--R. Kelly’s girlfriends clash at Trump Tower, sending one to a hospital while other is charged with d

R. Kelly’s girlfriends clash at Trump Tower, sending one to a hospital while other is charged with domestic battery

When officers got there , they spoke with a 22-year-old woman who told them she and Savage were embroiled in @ @ @ @ @ when the older woman hit the other one in the face .

R. Kelly's girlfriends Azriel Clary, left, and Joycelyn Savage leave following a hearing for Kelly at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Sept. 17, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Her hands shackled behind her, a public defender at her side, a girlfriend of jailed singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that she hit another girlfriend with a cellphone while yelling, “I can’t stand you. I hate you.”
During a brief hearing in domestic violence court, prosecutors said Joycelyn Savage, 24, “became irate” Wednesday afternoon after entering Kelly’s condo in Trump Tower that she has shared with the other girlfriend, Azriel Clary, 22. Savage allegedly began kicking and hitting Clary, who was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for injuries to her face.
Advertisement
Assistant State’s Attorney Collin Willman said the attack apparently was caught on Instagram Live, and he asked that the video be preserved as evidence. The video shows the inside of Kelly’s condo, where an apparent Grammy could be seen, as well as balloons and a “Welcome Home” sign.
An assistant public defender representing Savage asked that she be released on a recognizance bond. She said Savage doesn’t work and lives off an inheritance.
Advertisement
Judge Erika Orr agreed with the request, telling Savage she would have to forfeit $2,000 if she doesn’t appear at her next court date in two weeks. Her family was waiting at the courthouse. Savage had spent the night in a police lockup after being charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.
[ Prosecutors seek to keep identities of two alleged R. Kelly victims secret even from the singer, cite concerns of intimidation ]
Last year, both women disputed allegations that the 53-year-old singer has been holding them against their will and brainwashing them. Kelly is facing more than a dozen sex-crime charges filed in two federal courts and two state courts.
The confrontation between the two women began shortly after 2 p.m. at the Trump Tower in the 400 block of North Wabash Avenue, where Kelly still keeps a condo.
In one video purporting to show the attack, Clary can be seen inside the condo surrounded by boxes, apparently packing up to move. She appears to be yelling at Savage, who stands outside the doorway.
“The skeletons is coming out, period,” Clary says. “You know what? Rob has been lying to all of y’all, and that’s the sad part about it. ... And he had people like me lying for him.”
[ R. Kelly pleads not guilty to bribing Illinois official to wed 15-year-old Aaliyah in 1994 ]
Savage began striking Clary, according to police and prosecutors, and then fled. The younger woman was taken to Northwestern in good condition.
Clary’s name came up last month in Brooklyn when prosecutors asked for any Cook County marriage records. The case involved a new indictment brought in New York that alleged Kelly bribed an Illinois official to get a fake ID for 15-year-old singer Aaliyah a day before he married her in 1994.
Kelly is in federal custody awaiting trial on the New York charges as well as a separate indictment brought by federal prosecutors in Chicago alleging the singer conspired with two former employees to rig his 2008 child pornography trial in Cook County by paying off witnesses and victims to change their stories.
Advertisement
[ Feds charge R. Kelly with bribing official in Illinois to marry 15-year-old singer Aaliyah in 1994 ]
In addition, Kelly, who turned 53 Wednesday, was charged in Cook County criminal court in February 2019 with four separate indictments accusing him of sexual misconduct over more than a decade. Three of those alleged victims were underage at the time.
If convicted in all jurisdictions, the embattled singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, could face the rest of his life in prison.
mabuckley@chicagotribune.com
rsobol@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-09--Wild fluctuations in water levels mean trouble for Lake Huron, its massive shoreline and its 30,000

Wild fluctuations in water levels mean trouble for Lake Huron, its massive shoreline and its 30,000 islands

“ They know what ’ s going on , but are they really going to come back year after year @ @ @ @ @ know if they ’ ll have a place to tie their boat ?
Not knowing @ @ @ @ @ out , not knowing if you can take a walk down here and keep your @ @ @ @ @ does have an effect on our business .
”

CEDARVILLE, Michigan — On a frigid morning in late fall, resort owner Mark Engle studied the mangled planks and dock posts scattered along an ice-glazed channel that feeds into Lake Huron.
Les Cheneaux Landing Resort, tucked behind an archipelago of 36 islands off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, once had a 175-foot dock with slips for a dozen boats, a boathouse and a bait shop.
Advertisement
In the past two years, Lake Huron rose through the floorboards of both buildings and overtopped the adjoining dock. Now, the weather-beaten boathouse sits stoically marooned, beset on all sides by crystal clear water.
All that Engle has left to carry him through the next tourist season is a small makeshift dock.
Advertisement
“Man can’t seem to make anything big enough, strong enough to maintain an advantage over the lake,” Engle said. “I’ve been dealing with Lake Huron since 1982. And I’m afraid the lake is winning the battle.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Mark Engle, owner of the Les Cheneaux Landing resort in Snows Channel at Les Cheneaux Islands, recently elevated and rebuilt his boat docks because of rising waters. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Near-record high lake levels have astonished residents and business owners in the tiny hamlet of Cedarville, an unincorporated waterfront community built around boating. The consternation isn’t solely from the high water — in 1986, lake levels were slightly higher — it’s also from the pace of the rise. Less than seven years earlier, many docks and boathouses were sitting on dry land.
In 2013, Lake Huron bottomed out, hitting its lowest mark in more than a century, as did Lake Michigan, which shares the same water levels, according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Around that time, the lake withdrew so far from the shore around Engle’s resort — then a collection of 12 rustic cabins and three docks — that mud was all that remained beneath his boathouse.
In just 3 ½ years, levels rose more than 4 feet and last summer peaked at nearly 6 feet above the record low.
“We’re living in a time period of extremes,” Engle said, looking out at a waterfront that has morphed into a graveyard of flotsam. “If you look at what’s happened in the last five or six years, it’s kind of scary. Very scary. And it’s out of our control.”
In a special report on climate change, the Tribune is visiting each Great Lake to discover how communities are evolving.
[ This series received financial support from the Pulitzer Center’s Connected Coastlines initiative. ]
Nowhere is coastal volatility more evident than Lake Huron, home to 30,000 of the Great Lakes’ 35,000 islands and its longest shoreline. Commerce, ecology and recreation all suffer the consequences of the erratic highs and lows of the lake.
Lake levels are governed by precipitation, runoff and evaporation, an equation that’s extremely difficult to forecast over six months, let alone over several decades, according to scientists. But foremost researchers on Great Lakes hydrology say they believe climate change is contributing to these steep swings between lows and highs, and could become more pronounced in the future.
Advertisement
“There’s no way we can heat the Earth, change the moisture budget and not expect it to have an impact on the lake levels,” said Richard B. Rood, a professor in University of Michigan’s Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering.
A dock of an old boathouse at Snows Channel at Les Cheneaux Islands has been dismantled or washed away. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Climate change is amplifying variability in lakes that are naturally predisposed to fluctuation. Unlike lakes Ontario and Superior, which are regulated by dams and binational regulatory boards, lakes Michigan and Huron, measured as one body of water because they are connected at the Straits of Mackinac, have no such controls and consequently have experienced the greatest variation from record low to high in the Great Lakes.
“I think it’s reasonable to expect in the next 10 to 30 years, perhaps longer, one of the main outcomes of climate change might be more variability, higher highs and lower lows,” Rood said.
Scientists say human activity is changing the planet’s climate faster than at any point in modern civilization, heralding costly and, in some cases, life-threatening consequences in every region of the country, according to NOAA’s comprehensive 2018 report on global warming.
As the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases has spiked over the past century, the Earth’s warmer atmosphere is capable of holding additional moisture, which scientists say is resulting in more frequent and severe storms. Across the Great Lakes region, precipitation has increased 14%, and the frequency of heavy storms has risen 35% since 1951, contributing to widespread flooding. In the past two years, the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio each have endured a string of 12 consecutive months that have been the wettest in 124 years.
Boathouses are being separated from docks in the rising waters in Snows Channel at Les Cheneaux Islands on Nov. 20, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Water has filled the Great Lakes to the brim, affecting the entire region, from the most famous island in the Great Lakes — Mackinac Island, where parts of its 8-mile bike path and walking trail have been closed due to powerful waves — to the lesser known but just as picturesque Les Cheneaux Islands (pronounced lay-shen-no and meaning “the channels” in French).
Advertisement
Twenty miles east of the Straits of Mackinac, the rugged and heavily wooded shorelines of Les Cheneaux Islands serve as a major migratory pathway for birds. They are home to some of the most pristine wetlands in the Great Lakes, serving as a vitally important fish habitat. Myriad wildlife traverse the rugged terrain, including black bears, gray wolves, beavers, muskrats and minks. And, tourism is the bedrock of many communities. The full-time population of around 2,000 people triples in the summer.
Here, it’s just as common, if not more so, for visitors to arrive by boat rather than by car. For locals, it is a rite of passage for children as young as 10 to learn to captain a boat. The area is known for its collection of antique wooden boats, specifically the sleek, mahogany Chris-Crafts of the early 20th century.
But the area is beholden to water.
An economic rise and fall
On a misty weekday morning, the serpentine waterways of Les Cheneaux Islands were covered by a veil of ice. Chad Cortes and his crew threw on heavy-duty canvas coveralls over multiple hoodies and cast off into the solitary waters.
Cortes, owner of North Shore Docking, keeps a full calendar. He constructs docks over the summer and chops timber in the winter. On this day, he was clearing a passage through the ice.
Shane Sutter breaks ice from a barge on Snows Channel at Les Cheneaux Islands on Nov. 20, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
A pontoon boat attached to a steel barge became a makeshift ice breaker. The water was still, save for the hum of the boat motor and the crackling of ice as they wended through Snows Channel. The signs of devastation were all around them.
Advertisement
The water lapped precariously close to the exclusive Les Cheneaux Club, established in 1888 as the meeting place of the area’s pioneering families, on Marquette Island. Alligator Island was virtually submerged, with only treetops sprouting above water.
Pointing to a home where water encroached the backyard, Cortes said the owner had considered installing stone barriers for protection. However, those plans have been dashed. Once land is covered with water, according to state and federal law, it’s no longer private property — it’s a public thoroughfare.
“Right now, he’s in the process of trying to apply for permits to protect his yard, but the Corps of Engineers and the (state of Michigan) say that’s no longer his yard,” Cortes said. “For 30 years, it was his yard, and it’s not his property anymore.”
Most docks in the Les Cheneaux area are crib docks, sturdy structures built on top of wood-framed boxes filled with large stones. When lake levels fluctuate, these docks may need to be raised or extended.
James Keighley, center, owner of Patrick's Landing, talks to Mark Engle, right, owner of the nearby Les Cheneaux Landing resort, and Chad Cortes, of North Shore Docks, on Nov. 20, 2019. Cortes and his workers are rebuilding docks at Patrick's Landing. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
In recent years, many property owners have transitioned to the more expensive and less durable floating docks. These hybrid structures are solidly anchored to the shoreline like crib docks, but the majority of the structure rests atop a buoyant platform that rises and falls with the water.
Regardless of the choice of dock, property owners are often left waiting. Obtaining required permits from the Army Corps could take several months. And even when plans are rubber-stamped, the handful of local dock companies are booked for more than a year.
Advertisement
This year alone, Cortes’ four-man team installed around 35 temporary stake docks and 10 crib docks.
“It’s definitely made for the busiest year of my life,” he said. “We’ve seen every company in town, whether its construction or docking, just swamped with work.”
Though Lake Huron’s levels peaked for the year in July, dock builders like Cortes are expecting a lot more work in 2020 as the water has remained uncharacteristically high into the winter months.
[ 5 things you might not know about Lake Huron, the ‘forgotten’ Great Lake ]
Lake levels are expected to top monthly records in January and February, when ice cover in the Great Lakes is generally at its highest. The combination of high water and ice, Cortes said, is a recipe for shoreline damage.
When water freezes and turns into ice, it expands and drives into the shoreline. Sturdy dock posts and cribs can typically withstand these forces. But when water levels creep up to the walls of boathouses or the planks of docks, the ice can push and pry them from their mooring.
This was the very process that formed the Great Lakes as glaciers gouged rock and soil during the last ice age, which began about 2 million years ago and culminated in melting snow and ice filling these pockets with water.
Advertisement
Rhythm of the water
By this summer, Engle only had one permanent dock left where guests could tie up their boats, and it barely stood above water. Built in the early 1900s, the storied, wooden dock had welcomed steamboats carrying visitors from Mackinaw City at a time when most could only arrive to the cloistered lakefront community of Cedarville by boat.
The stalwart landing had withstood decades of capricious lake levels, storms, drought and harsh Michigan winters. An October storm destroyed it.
Now Engle fears it’s only a matter of time before vacationers go elsewhere.
“They know what’s going on, but are they really going to come back year after year if they don’t know if they’ll have a place to tie their boat? Not knowing if the beach is washed out, not knowing if you can take a walk down here and keep your feet dry. It really does have an effect on our business.”
A limestone quarry is the largest employer. A casino in the neighboring community supports a fair number of jobs. There’s also work in timbering and selling lumber in the densely forested outpost (how Cedarville earned its name). But the vitality of the community depends on tourism, according to Elliot Nelson, an educator with the Michigan Sea Grant.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of the community,” Nelson said. “So water levels like this impact everything up here. It’s not just ‘I can’t get to my summer home.’ It’s, ‘My whole resort that I make a living off of is flooding, and there’s not as many people coming.’ And less people come up during the summer, and the grocery stores are suffering.”
Advertisement
Boats are constructed at the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville, Michigan, on Nov. 21, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Because much of the shoreline is sheltered, the Les Cheneaux waterways are known for their remarkably placid waters. Even when storms stir up waves on the outer banks of the islands, the channels remain mostly calm.
However, the community has always moved with the rhythm of the water. And both past and present residents have described the mysterious way the water swiftly rises and falls, not only seasonally or over the years but in a matter of hours.
Claude Dablon, a Jesuit missionary who lived in Cedarville in the mid-17th century, brooded over the phenomenal oscillation in historical records.
“Inconvenience arises from the tides, concerning which no fixed rules can be given. … We have at times noted such irregularity — in this action, and again such precision, that we cannot yet pronounce upon the principle of these movements, so regular and again so irregular."
Today the water still behaves irregularly.
One November morning, less than a mile downstream from Engle’s resort, a surreal sight greeted passersby: a boathouse drifting in the tranquil waters. The night before, an unexpected rise buoyed water levels roughly a foot, contorting an 80-foot pier and unmooring the building.
Advertisement
A floating boathouse during a storm in Snows Channel on Nov. 21, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Still, mainlanders, like Engle, have reason to be grateful.
Peering out at Dollar Island, a tiny spit of land in the middle of Snows Channel where water has sidled up to the frame of a house, Engle wondered about his neighbor. For Kenneth Kloster Sr., there is no inland retreat.
“He’s in real trouble,” Engle said.
But Kloster was unperturbed as he recalled how he lucked into his unique home.
While vacationing at a colleague’s home on nearby Marquette Island in the summer of 1981, Kloster noticed a man nailing a sign to the Dollar Island boathouse. He hopped into his powerboat and cruised over.
“And lo and behold, there it was: a for sale sign,” Kloster recalled. “Three days later, I owned it. That was meant to be. It was a million-to-one chance that would happen.”
Advertisement
A number of tales surround how the island got its name, but according to records, the federal government sold the island in the 1800s for a dollar. Kloster insists it was named for a fur trader who lost the island in a wager that was settled for a dollar.
Kenneth "Captain Ken" Kloster Sr. pilots his boat to his home on Dollar Island in Les Cheneaux Islands on Nov. 23, 2019. He bought the island in 1981 right before the record-setting high water levels of 1986. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
For nearly four decades, the island has been Kloster’s slice of paradise. He treasures the sights and sounds of boats passing by between Cedarville and the neighboring town of Hessel, and the remarkable stargazing.
But the lawn with the firepit is underwater. “The cave,” an outdoor domelike structure where Kloster once told his children scary stories, has been flooded. And the gazebo attached to the house by a walkway has been weighted down with large stones to keep it from drifting away.
Despite the circumstances, Kloster is an ardent optimist. He’s living in the home and renovating it over the winter.
“We made it through ‘86 water, and we will make it through this situation,” Kloster said.
Hard to pin down
Gauging lake levels — the balance of water flowing in and leaving — sounds simple. But it’s a complicated equation for scientists to project.
Advertisement
Annually, the lakes start to rise in the spring as melting snow and rain pour into the Great Lakes and the many tributaries that feed into them. As the year progresses, warmer temperatures also cause lake water to expand, and levels generally reach their peak over the summer. The Great Lakes begin their seasonal decline in late fall and early winter when cold air rests over warm water, a time when high rates of evaporation can be seen as fog steams above the surface.
While these seasonal processes are routine, the degree of rise and fall hinges on which factors — precipitation, evaporation and runoff — dominate.
With climate change, precipitation patterns are expected to remain wildly unpredictable.
For every degree of temperature rise, the atmosphere can hold 4% more moisture, meaning there’s a potential for greater precipitation. Scientists are confident this has contributed to heavier bursts of rainfall and runoff in the Great Lakes region, perhaps heralding a wetter future.
Because they exchange water at the Straits of Mackinac, lakes Michigan and Huron share the same water level, and, together, scientists recognize them as the world’s largest lake by surface area. This sprawling lake surface — larger than the state of Pennsylvania — gives lakes Michigan and Huron an enormous area to catch the boosted rainfall the region has experienced over the past century.
“Precipitation anywhere in that surface area is going to add to that lake volume,” said Eric Anderson, a scientist with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. “And if you have a drought, you’re opening up the whole surface for evaporation.”
Advertisement
In addition, Huron, by itself, has the largest drainage basin — the area of land containing creeks, streams and rivers that flow into the lake. This makes it especially susceptible to abnormally wet conditions.
The Lake Michigan-Huron basin, in particular, has been seeing extensive storm patterns, University of Michigan professor Rood said.
“This has been magnified over historic times of wetness and flood, because heating due to climate change has provided more moisture for those storms,” he said. “It has to do with their locations, but ultimately it has a lot to do with the availability of water that would have a direct influence over the basin.”
But more intense storms don’t necessarily equate to overall higher long-term precipitation. In fact, research suggests these erratic downpours could be interspersed with prolonged drought, which supports the theory that lake levels may undergo more dramatic swings.
From the late 1990s to the early 2010s, when a strong El Nino weather pattern left the Midwest in the throes of crippling drought and heat waves, low lake levels were the prevailing narrative.
A warmer climate favors lower lake levels because higher temperatures increase evaporation. And, once that moisture rises into the atmosphere, it’s anyone’s guess where it will fall as precipitation. This is why water availability is among the hardest trends to predict.
Advertisement
Lately, evaporation has also been hard to pin down because of highly variable ice cover.
In the past decade, the polar vortex phenomenon has visited the Great Lakes at least three times, essentially flash freezing the lakes and preventing evaporation. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as anywhere on the planet, and some scientists believe that warmer global temperatures are causing the polar vortex, the whirlpool of bitterly cold air perched atop the North Pole, to destabilize and spill into the Midwest and Northeast more frequently.
From 1973 to 2010, Great Lakes ice cover declined an average of 71%, but back-to-back polar vortex winters between 2013 and 2015 were the catalyst for resurgent water levels in lakes Huron and Michigan.
In March 2014, ice covered 92% of the Great Lakes, the most in 40 years. Because ice reflects sunlight, it keeps water temperatures low and, by blanketing the surface, prevents evaporation.
But that pool of cold air resting over the Arctic is dwindling. Though it may provide sporadic episodes of bone-chilling weather, it could eventually vanish, Rood said.
Once it does, Rood said that could pave the way for a long-term decline in lake levels.
Advertisement
Polar opposites
While many millions of dollars have been spent in big cities like Chicago to protect and repair stretches of lakefront, small towns like Cedarville don’t have that luxury. In the Upper Peninsula, the small population gets less attention, and state and federal assistance is scarce.
It’s also a region where residents pride themselves on self-reliance.
During Lake Huron’s record highs and flooding in 1986, Mark Clymer, supervisor of Clark Township that includes Cedarville, recalls state aid was limited to the distribution of sand bags — without sand.
While devastation from the lake was considerable then, the extreme lows and highs of the past decade came at an especially vulnerable time on the heels of the Great Recession.
Many places in the Upper Peninsula, including Cedarville, had a longer road to recovery than most of the country. Clymer said financial woes prevented some residents from raising their docks and performing other work that would’ve insulated them from rising lake levels.
By the time real estate prices began to rebound and the economy started to perk up, residents were gobsmacked by a meteoric lake level rise that wrought widespread damage, complicating rebuilding efforts.
Advertisement
Clymer’s township was one of five northern Michigan communities given a grant to brainstorm how to cope with lake level extremes and increasing storm intensity, among other climate change challenges.
In recent months, public officials and residents have laid out a number of pressing concerns, including erosion, water quality and infrastructure. Perhaps the greatest challenge is identifying who’s responsible for the damages.
“It’s more so about, who’s going to pay for the improvements,” Clymer said. “The insurance companies, the government or the people that own the property? There isn’t an easy answer. It’s only in a time of crisis like this that people open the hood and say, ‘Oh jeez. Maybe I should’ve changed the oil after 5,000 miles.’”
Robert Smith, president of Les Cheneaux Watershed Council, at his home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Nov. 20, 2019. "You're living on the lake, on the lake's terms," he said. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Forecasts by the Army Corps and NOAA anticipate Lake Huron will remain at near-record highs again this summer.
This raises the question: How does a community dependent on the lake persevere when it has to deal with extreme lows and extreme highs?
Clymer isn’t sure there is an answer.
Advertisement
“One of the buzzwords out there is ‘adaptive management,’” Clymer said. “To me, those are polar opposites. You are either adapting to something or managing it. When you smush them together, it’s a train wreck.
“Management is about control,” Clymer continued. “Adaptability is about letting go of control and allowing things to unfold.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-09--5 things you might not know about Lake Huron, the ‘forgotten’ Great Lake

Lake Huron is often overlooked compared with the other four Great Lakes .
Superior has a reputation as the coldest @ @ @ @ @ Lake Erie , the warmest and shallowest Great Lake , is a world-renowned fishing ground @ @ @ @ @ the Niagara Falls and St. Lawrence Seaway , is the gateway to the ocean .
@ @ @ @ @ , tourists flock to Chicago for its remarkable skyline along the shore .

This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. By remaining on this website, you indicate your consent.


chicagotribune--2020-01-09--Man reports coyote bit him in the buttocks on Gold Coast sidewalk; 2nd attack within a day

He told officers that on Wednesday evening a coyote attacked him from behind and bit him in the buttocks while @ @ @ @ @ in the 700 block of North Fairbanks Court , police said .

An animal control van turns turns from E. Huron Street in the Gold Coast area of Chicago where police and animal control were searching for a coyote spotted walking with a limp that may have bitten a child in the the Lincoln Park area and a man outside Northwestern Memorial Hospital. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Another coyote attack was reported Wednesday night when a man walked into a hospital with a wound on his buttocks that he says came from a coyote.
The 32-year-old man showed up at Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a scratch on his behind, according to Chicago police.
Advertisement
He told officers that on Wednesday evening a coyote attacked him from behind and bit him in the buttocks while he walked on a sidewalk in the 700 block of North Fairbanks Court, police said.
The 32-year-old was listed in good condition and will be released, police said.
Advertisement
Earlier that afternoon, a 6-year-old boy was bitten in the head by a coyote outside a nature museum in Lincoln Park. Earlier, police said the boy was 5.
The boy was “bitten about the head” and was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital, said a police spokesman.
The coyote in both incidents remained at large as of Thursday morning.
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Ask Amy: Prospective dad should consider being a 'big'

Dear Prospective : You seem to have put a lot of thought into this , but you do n't seem @ @ @ @ @ about adoption ( other than writing to me ) .
Becoming a parent ( especially @ @ @ @ @ a heavy lift .
It is emotionally , physically , and financially taxing .
It @ @ @ @ @ most important thing you will ever do .

Dear Amy: I'm a man in my 30s. Ever since I was a young-adult, I've wanted to have a family of my own.
I grew up an only child. When I got older, I decided that whether I got married or not I would adopt a child.
Advertisement
The only problem with this plan was that I was young and was still getting my career going.
I'm now in my mid-30s. My ex-girlfriend and I had talked about possibly adopting a child, but unfortunately that relationship broke up.
Advertisement
However, I still want to adopt. The only problem is, I don't know if I should try to adopt now -- or wait.
I have a job, but that job only pays me when I am needed (which is rare). I have my own home and own my own vehicle, etc.
I don't know how to bring this up to my family. I wonder what their reactions will be. I'm sort of afraid to say anything to them about it.
My dad was adopted, and I saw the problems he faced, and I just don't know what to do.
— Prospective Dad
Dear Prospective: You seem to have put a lot of thought into this, but you don't seem to have done any research about adoption (other than writing to me). Becoming a parent (especially a single parent) is a heavy lift. It is emotionally, physically, and financially taxing. It is also the greatest and most important thing you will ever do.
I applaud the fact that parenthood is calling to you, and hope you will answer the call.
Start right now -- by researching your options. Your local office of Family and Children's Services would be a good first stop. Make an appointment to talk to a social worker. Ask any and all questions and take careful notes.
Advertisement
You might be a good candidate for fostering a child. Becoming a foster parent would give you the opportunity to see if full-time parenting is something you can tackle. You will be interviewed and educated about what is required, and you would be supported through your efforts.
Many prospective parents enter the parenting journey through the foster-to-adopt program. This effort requires both fearlessness and faith.
I hope you will also consider becoming a "Big Brother." The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program (bbbs.org) is a wonderful way for adults to connect with kids who are looking for a positive adult role model in their lives. Do you have what it takes to be a "big?" Check their website.
Dear Amy: After 13 years of marriage, I recently learned through a good friend that my husband, "Charlie," dated my daughter's longtime travel soccer coach for three years, prior to he and I getting married.
I was told the relationship was so serious that they had discussed marriage!
I couldn't understand why my husband would keep that information from me all this time.
Advertisement
Charlie confirmed that this was true, but said he didn't feel it was necessary to tell me.
I feel I have been lied to and have lost all trust in him.
Should I be upset?
— Upset?
Dear Upset?: If you are upset and questioning or wanting permission to feel your own honest emotions, then you have some work to do,
You have the right to your feelings. And yes, if I were you, I would be bewildered and upset.
Advertisement
I'm going to assume that your daughter might be older -- and that you are not encountering this coach regularly, and so there is no personal overlap between the three of you. This might account for how this news took so long to get to you.
A three-year serious relationship is a major life-event not to disclose, but I don't think it is necessarily a total trust-breaker.
You should ask your husband what other minor details he neglected to share with you, pre-marriage. Does he have children you don't know about? Was he in the military, the seminary, a boy band?
Stay calm. It's time to talk.
Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Dear Amy: If the man who signed his letter "Love Story" truly wants to leave his wife for his lost love, but wants to leave "gracefully," why doesn't he let his wife and children stay in their home?
He should accept his responsibility for his children's well-being and leave the house to his wife and kids, if he must move on to chase happiness.
Advertisement
— Disheartened
Dear Disheartened: I agree. This man's "Love Story" spelled heartbreak for others.
Get the latest no-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning with our Ask Amy newsletter. Sign up here.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Another 3rd-quarter disaster leads to the Bulls’ 5th consecutive loss, 123-108 to the Pelicans

The Bulls have struggled to start the second half for much of the season .
This time they led by @ @ @ @ @ run that put the Pelicans in front for good as the Bulls suffered their fifth @ @ @

The Bulls didn’t have the firepower to run with the Pelicans, who led by as many as 21 late in the fourth quarter of their 123-108 win on Wednesday.
Along the way, the Bulls had their share of mystifying moments while losing their season-high fifth straight.
Advertisement
Take, for example, the first half. The Bulls had a prime opportunity to capitalize on the Pelicans’ first-half shooting slump — they kept chucking 3-pointers despite missing 21 of 28 of them. They also had 11 first-half turnovers.
“I thought we had moments in that first quarter where we could have been up 10 or 12,” Jim Boylen said during NBC Sports Chicago postgame broadcast. “I thought we left some money on the table offensively with the turnovers we were forcing and the way our defense responded to their first quarter."
Advertisement
Or how about a team that touts defense making the mistake of doubling Brandon Ingram behind the arc while leaving 3-point marksman J.J. Redick (46.4%) with a free look?
“Lack of focus,” said Kris Dunn, who leads the NBA in steals (79) after collecting five against the Pelicans. “You’ve got to understand the players on the court.
🚨Kris Dunn got his 5th steal. He now leads the @NBA with 79 total steals this season. https://t.co/QMcqfDpHzX — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 9, 2020
“We’ve got to watch and see what the mishaps were,” he said. “It’s starting to get repetitive. ... It’s going to get to a time where, ‘Are we going to do something about it?’
“We still have a chance to be in the race in the playoffs. It’s got to mean something to this locker room.”
Here are three observations about the game.
1. The Bulls’ third quarters are like snowflakes — no two meltdowns are exactly alike.
But there are common themes, several on display as the Bulls got outworked by the Pelicans 44-27 in the third Wednesday night. Here’s how they broke down.
Cold shooting: Opponents are making more shots than the Bulls in recent third quarters, but it doesn’t mean they’ve been taking more attempts.
Advertisement
Wednesday’s game is a great example. The Bulls and Pelicans each took 20 shots and nine from 3-point range, but New Orleans converted five more field goals and one more 3-pointer.
It also doesn’t help that the Bulls place more of a premium on the 3-point shots they’re not knocking down than being in place for second-chance points (which they had just five for the game).
Regrettable fouls: Thaddeus Young fouled Brandon Ingram behind the circle, and he shot three free throws. Chandler Hutchison committed a shove foul while trying to create space to tap a rebound to a teammate. Later, Hutchison’s elbow-tap foul against Ingram behind the arc sent Ingram to the line for another three free throws.
The Pelicans got to the foul line 16 times in the third quarter and made 14, while the Bulls made 8 of 11.
Energy and urgency: The Bulls blamed those twin scapegoats for their lackluster third quarter — and it’s not the first time. They referenced those same issues in the Celtics loss and in other losses as well.
“I thought in third quarter ... our energy dipped. We missed a few assignments and they went on a roll and we couldn’t recover from the roll,” Jim Boylen said via NBC Sports Chicago.
Advertisement
“We made a little run in the fourth but not enough.”
“Some of it’s energy,” Boylen added later. “I think some of it’s our aggressiveness. I think some of it is poor offensive execution.”
Rotation and recognition: The Bulls’ defense got shredded by screen-and-roll plays and free cutters to the basket. And at times when the Bulls did get home, the Pelicans moved the ball around to an open 3-point shooter too quickly for the Bulls to recover. That played a big role in Brandon Ingram and J.J. Redick leading the Pelicans with 16 and 7 points in the quarter, respectively.
In some cases, the Bulls looked lost with their assignments and even borderline-indifferent on their switches, perhaps frustration setting in.
“I thought our hand pressure, our ball pressure, we were a step slow in our pick-and-roll coverages,” Boylen said. “I’d have to look at it to get exactly what happened but that’s what I thought. … Our hands were not good in the third and I thought the ball moved too easily. And it’s hard to cover the floor when the ball’s popping like that.”
Advertisement
Mistakes pile up quickly: One misstep leads to another and it snowballs.
The Bulls were trailing 78-73 when Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a free throw. Chandler Hutchison had position to box out Ingram but Ingram reached over his head to get the rebound and put-back. Zach LaVine traveled on the Bulls’ next possession and Kris Dunn left seemingly an acre of space between himself and Redick and couldn’t close out in time on his 3-pointer.
Then the Bulls lost track of Jaxson Hayes cutting to the basket for a layup on Alexander-Walker’s assist. And in 49 seconds, a five-point hole became 12.
2. The Bulls need a bench ruling — and fast.
With Wendell Carter Jr. facing perhaps a month on the mend with a sprained ankle, the Bulls opted to start Lauri Markkanen at center and Thaddeus Young at power forward, and brought Daniel Gafford off the bench.
Jim Boylen had talked about how he wanted to play Markkanen at the 5, so what better time to give him a long look at that spot. Besides, Gafford also had a sprained ankle, albeit less severe than Carter’s, and his offensive game is much more limited than Markkanen’s and Young’s.
The results were predictable. New Orleans’ Derrick Favors used his physical edge to have his way with Markkanen in the post. And without Young steadying the second unit, they were invisible for stretches.
Advertisement
In the first quarter, four Bulls backups — Gafford, Coby White, Chandler Hutchison and Ryan Arcidiacono — played a combined 14 minutes and had a collective zero points to show for it. Gafford was shut out for just the second game in which he has played at least 10 minutes, and the Bulls bench was outscored 34-23.
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram goes up for a dunk against Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison in the second half of Wednesday's game in New Orleans. (Matthew Hinton/AP)
“I thought some of the newness and youngness and different lineups weighed on us a little bit,” Jim Boylen said via NBCSCH.
They definitely showed their youth, such as when Josh Hart snatched Gafford’s hand-off to White and scored a layup.
Hutchison didn’t add much either as he slowly works back after a long layoff for a shoulder injury. He scored 3 points (all on free throws) and had four rebounds in about 13 minutes.
“We’re trying to get him acclimated without throwing too much at him but also give him some minutes,” Boylen said. “We had a situation where he’s been playing playing mostly 3, but tonight we had to play him at some four. That’s tough on a young guy.”
3. The Bulls can’t take advantage of star absences.
Once again, the Bulls didn’t have to face an opponent at full strength. On Wednesday night, they didn’t have to worry about Jrue Holiday and Zion Williamson, who has yet to play this season.
Advertisement
The Bulls would argue that they haven’t had Otto Porter and (as of Wednesday) Wendell Carter Jr., but they had plenty of other weapons — including Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen — and have failed to take advantage of teams missing stars such as the Celtics without Kemba Walker, the Mavericks without Kristaps Porzingis and the Warriors (twice) without Stephen Curry.
The Bulls could see the opposite dynamic on Jan. 29.
Pacers star Victor Oladipo tells Stadium’s Shams Charania that he plans to make his season debut when Indiana hosts the Bulls.
Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Northwestern can’t hold a 10-point lead at Indiana and falls 66-62 for its 5th straight loss

“ We ’ ve got a real young group that ’ s trying to learn how to win , “ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re on the right track , we ’ ve just got to continue the @ @ @ @ @ got to find a way to get over the hump and start closing some of @ @ @

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Trayce Jackson-Davis made the tie-breaking free throws with 1:57 left and scored eight of Indiana’s final 10 points Wednesday to cap a late rally, giving the Hoosiers a 66-62 victory over Northwestern.
Indiana trailed by 10 midway through the second half and trailed 59-54 with 3:20 to go. But Jackson-Davis, who finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, delivered on offense for the Hoosiers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten).
Advertisement
Northwestern (5-9, 0-4) scored only three points on 1-of-6 shooting the rest of the game.
Pat Spencer had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds to lead the Wildcats, who have lost five straight. A.J. Turner and Miller Kopp each scored 12.
Advertisement
Turner returned to the lineup after missing the previous game with a lower-body injury. Ryan Young added 10 points and seven rebounds.
For the Hoosiers, it was another brutal night for the offense.
But after Northwestern took a 50-40 lead on Spencer’s short jumper with 12 minutes remaining, Jackson-Davis, Justin Smith and Aljami Durham bailed out the Hoosiers by combining for 10 straight points to tie the score at 50 with 7:38 to go.
And when the Wildcats retook the lead, Smith tied it with a three-point play, Jackson-Davis broke the tie with two free throws and punctuated the victory with an alley-oop dunk that made it 63-59 with 1:22 left.
Northwestern never recovered and couldn’t close out its first win in Bloomington since 2014. Coach Chris Collins is 0-4 in conference play for the first time in his seven seasons in Evanston.
“We’ve got a real young group that’s trying to learn how to win,“ Collins said. “We’re on the right track, we’ve just got to continue the effort and we’ve got to find a way to get over the hump and start closing some of these games.“


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Police give ‘all clear’ to 3 buildings targeted by bomb threats, including Water Tower Place and Blo

Police give ‘all clear’ to 3 buildings targeted by bomb threats, including Water Tower Place and Block 37

“ Two police officers came in and told everybody we needed to get out of the mall quickly , ” @ @ @ @ @ himself as a Macy ’ s employee but declined to be identified in full .

Chicago police respond to a bomb threat on Jan. 8, 2020, at Water Tower Place while people stand outside. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Three downtown Chicago buildings targeted Wednesday afternoon by bomb threats have been swept and everything was “all clear,” Chicago police said.
Earlier, some people were being kept outside of Water Tower Place in the 800 block of North Michigan Avenue as police investigated one report of a bomb threat there.
Advertisement
A Chicago police spokesman confirmed another report of a bomb threat at the Block 37 shopping center in the 100 block of North State Street. A third report of a bomb threat was made at the Four Seasons residences, in the 100 block of East Delaware Place, a Fire Department spokesman said.
The three threats were called in within minutes of each other — 4:26 p.m. for Michigan Avenue and 4:34 p.m. for the Delaware and State locations, police said.
Advertisement
As of 6:40 p.m., the Delaware, Water Tower and State Street locations had been swept and “everything is all clear,” Chicago police said in a media notification.
Macy’s employees standing outside the south entrance of Water Tower Place said they were told to evacuate shortly after 4:30 p.m.
“Two police officers came in and told everybody we needed to get out of the mall quickly,” said one person who identified himself as a Macy’s employee but declined to be identified in full.
Another woman, who also declined to give her last name, said she was sitting in the Water Tower Place food court when she saw people starting to run.
“I saw people running, so I followed them,” she said.
Shortly before 5 p.m., there was a large, visible law enforcement presence outside Water Tower Place, with police officers stationed at entrances.


chicagotribune--2020-01-08--Robin Lehner is ready to return from a knee injury, but Dylan Strome will miss at least one game wit

Robin Lehner is ready to return from a knee injury, but Dylan Strome will miss at least one game with a sprained ankle

How much time Dylan Strome will miss after spraining his right ankle in Tuesday ’ s 2-1 loss to the @ @ @ @ @ murky .
Strome was at the United Center on Wednesday and walking around without crutches @ @ @ @ @ Colliton said he will not play Thursday against the Predators .

The Blackhawks finally received some good news on the injury front Wednesday.
The team sent goalie Kevin Lankinen back to Rockford, paving the way for Robin Lehner to return after he sat out two games with a right knee injury suffered last week against the Canucks.
Advertisement
How much time Dylan Strome will miss after spraining his right ankle in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Flames is still a bit murky. Strome was at the United Center on Wednesday and walking around without crutches, but Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said he will not play Thursday against the Predators.
“It’s still pretty soon after,” Colliton said. “We’ll know more as we get a little further away.”
Advertisement
The Hawks are already without forwards Andrew Shaw (concussion), Brandon Saad (right ankle) and Drake Caggiula (concussion). There isn’t a timetable for Shaw’s return, but Colliton said Saad is “getting better” and the initial target of playing in mid-January hasn’t changed.
Colliton also said Caggiula was "close" to playing after being out since Nov. 10.
Lehner will be available to play against the Predators after Corey Crawford went 1-1 while stopping 45 of 49 shots in starts against the Red Wings and Flames.
Lehner initially believed his knee was fine after the Canucks’ Tanner Pearson fell into him late in the third period on Jan. 2, but it became worse over the next couple of days before subsiding.
“Thought it was going to be a few weeks at least,” Lehner said after Wednesday’s practice at the United Center. “But it’s good.”