reportfruit8-blog

[reportfruit8-blog]

The Cubs will host back-to-back ESPN Sunday night games in May

Cubs games are generally good draws on ESPN’s Sunday Night baseball franchise, and so Friday the network announced that two games at Wrigley Field in May will be carried as part of their SNB series.

Sunday, May 5 vs. the Cardinals and Sunday, May 12 vs. the Brewers will now be night games at Wrigley. In connection with the network’s new time schedule for Sunday night games, these will begin at 6:05 p.m. CT. The usual SNB crew of Matt Vasgersian, Jessica Mendoza and Alex Rodriguez will call the action those two nights.

The Cubs already had previously been scheduled for two other ESPN Sunday night games: June 16 against the Dodgers at Los Angeles, and the Little League Classic, which will take place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 18. The LLC will feature the Cubs vs. the Pirates and begin at 6:10 p.m. CT.

Teams are limited to five appearances per season on Sunday Night Baseball, so the Cubs could possibly have one more SNB game scheduled during the 2019 season. There are two Sunday games vs. the Brewers that could be chosen: July 28 at Milwaukee or September 1 at Wrigley Field. (Two other Cubs/Brewers Sunday dates, August 4 at Wrigley Field and September 8 at Milwaukee, already have ESPN Yankees/Red Sox games scheduled.) The network might also pick up the September 22 game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

As always, we await further developments.

Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/12/21/18151671/cubs-espn-sunday-night-games-may-cardinals-brewers

[reportfruit8-blog]

How has three-point shooting changed the game?

One of the most famous, or perhaps infamous, comments from an NBA player in a league that often features the most outrageous observations was Chicagoan Antoine Walker's unique declaration of independence almost 20 years ago responding to why he shot so many three pointers. Walker said he did so because there were no fours.

These days in the NBA what seemed outrageous then, especially Walker's propensity for exceptionally long shots in transition accompanied with success by a full body shimmy, has become haute couture as personified by the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry. Curry's shooting and swaggering has become one of the the league's most popular attractions.

Which actually explains Zach LaVine and his attempt at victory against the San Antonio Spurs Monday night. The Bulls lost 108-107 when LaVine's isolation-run-down-the-clock three missed and Ryan Arcidiacono's desperate attempt after a steal came up short. LaVine's shot selection was much questioned, but it's perhaps personified the NBA more than its critics.

Why it has is probably is a complex and varied combination of AAU prep training, video game lifestyles, NBA rules changes and the desire of most major sports leagues to enhance offense in this era of short attention spans. Walker was joking. The NBA isn't anymore.

The Bulls should continue to get a personal education this week as they play in Milwaukee Wednesday to begin a four-game road trip and Saturday in Houston. The Bucks are one of the biggest stories of the new season at second in the East, essentially the same players with a new coach and a new offensive philosophy of the three.

The Bucks average more than 40 three point attempts per game, the only team doing so other than the Houston Rockets, whom the Bulls visit Saturday.

There were plenty of reasons why LaVine likely attempted that shot, waving off a screen to avoid the double team, surrounded by several players not generally accustomed to taking or making late game shots, running down the clock to go for a rare win, anticipating a crowd at the basket and deciding as the team's leading scorer it was his responsibility. Not unlike James Harden at just about the same time Monday night on the way to 54 points with a bunch of those tightly contested long threes late in the game. True, Harden's team lost also, but who was he throwing it to? P.J. Tucker? Clint Capella?

Remember when the maxim was you went for the tie at home and the win on the road. Monday trailing by two points in the last seconds, Dwyane Wade passed on a wide open elbow two pointer to pass back to Josh Richardson for a three. That missed. No one seemed too upset. Dwyane knows fashion. And, hey, Jimmy Butler won that game in Philadelphia Sunday with as unlikely a long, step back wing three. Remember, the 76ers also were down one when Jimmy faded back to take that extra long and more difficult three. And Jimmy draws as many fouls as anyone in the NBA.

The difference? His went in.

And remember when everyone kept condemning LeBron James for not taking that last shot, driving and passing instead? Isn't that the best player's job?

Michael Jordan, of course, took a lot of those shots, and most were fearless attacks at the basket. Get to the free throw line. Make the defense commit. Perhaps a better chance for an offensive rebound with a miss. Make it an easier shot. All reasonable ideas.

It's just not the way the NBA game is played anymore as much as many of us, including Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, don't like it.

It so happened before Monday's game, Popovich was asked about the curiosity of his Spurs team, a team historically known for its defense, giving up more points than it was scoring. When in his long tenure had that occurred? Never, Popovich as quick to recall. He said he doubted his team could guard me. Nevertheless, I decided not to ask for a jersey.

"Now you look at a stat sheet after a game and the first thing you look at is the threes. If you made threes and the other team didn't, you win. You don't even look at the rebounds or the turnovers or how much transition D was involved. You don't even care. That's how much an impact the three-point shot has and it's evidenced by how everybody plays." Gregg Popovich

Not having Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, obviously, had something to do with that. Though with now a .500 team that only has a chance to make the playoffs, Popovich also acknowledged the inevitable evolution of the game that seems to be chasing out the strategies of he and many of his contemporaries.

He hates it, by the way, in case you were wondering.

"The inside game is kaputski," Popovich explained without helping with the spelling.

"You've got to have downhill players, you've got to have people that can penetrate and kick, you've got to have people who can switch, you've got to have big guys who can play little guys," he said.

And mostly you have to have players who can shoot the three.

He really doesn't with a team 28th in attempts. They shoot them pretty well, but with a core of LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay, they don't often try. Which accounts to being a .500 team.

Popovich, arguably the greatest coach of his era and one of the most celebrated in NBA history, admitted it's difficult to even defend these days the way the NBA has both emphasized three-point shooting while enforcing touch fouls and a lack of physical play on the perimeter. The league is averaging 110 points per game this season. In 2000-01, for example, the ball movement Kings led the league in scoring at 101.7 per game. Four teams averaged more than 100 points. Walker, by the way, attempted 603 threes to lead the NBA that season, almost 100 more than the second most. He was considered out of step. If he were a free agent today at 6-8 and a ball handler, he'd be the most sought after player in the league. Consider when Walker in the early 2000s was averaging more than 600 threes per season for about three seasons, the entire Bulls team was averaging about 900. Several teams barely averaged more per season than Walker alone. Everyone agreed you couldn't win that way. It would always be about defense.

"These days there's such an emphasis on the three because it's proven to be analytically correct," Popovich Monday offered with what appeared to be a sneer. "Now you look at a stat sheet after a game and the first thing you look at is the threes. If you made threes and the other team didn't, you win. You don't even look at the rebounds or the turnovers or how much transition D was involved. You don't even care. That's how much an impact the three-point shot has and it's evidenced by how everybody plays."

"I hate it, but I always have," Popovich said even as he's adjusted over the years. "I've hated the three for 20 years. That's why I make a joke all the time (and say) if we're going to make it a different game, let's have a four-point play. Because if everybody likes the three, they'll really like the four. People will jump out of their seats if you have a five-point play. It will be great. There's no basketball anymore, there's no beauty in it. It's pretty boring. But it is what it is and you need to work with it."

So we all need to understand Zach.

He's with the times; we're just behind. Like it or not, and many of us certainly do not. But I suspect most of us are not in that marketing demographic all the marketers like so much.

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/how-has-three-point-shooting-changed-game

[reportfruit8-blog]

Astros, Reds rookie sluggers rewrite baseball history with three-homer games

The rookies are taking over Major League Baseball.

We’ve heard all the buzz surrounding Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr., just to name a few.

On Saturday, it was Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros and Aristides Aquino of the Cincinnati Reds who rewrote the history books by becoming the first pair of rookie sluggers to each hit three home runs on the same day.

And that tidbit was just the tip of the iceberg.

Some records were equaled, and other records were broken as result of the respective barrages. We’re here to break it all down.

Alvarez passes Hall of Famers

The Astros lineup against the Baltimore Orioles pitching staff is the ultimate mismatch in MLB. Baltimore entered play Saturday having allowed a league-high 234 home runs, which is 34 more than the next closest team. The Astros added six more to that total in a 23-2 victory.

Alvarez went back-to-back with Alex Bregman in the first inning, before launching a grand slam in the seventh and a two-run blast off outfielder Stevie Wilkerson in the ninth.

The seven RBIs give Alvarez 51 in his 45 MLB games. That moved him past Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Joe Dimaggio for the best start to a career.

The 22-year-old designated hitter is up to 17 home runs. His presence has made Houston’s already dangerous lineup into a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Saturday’s 23-run output was a franchise record.

Yasiel who?

Reds rookie Aristides Aquino is making fans forget about Yasiel Puig after tying the home run record for first 10 games. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

More

As for Reds rookie Aristides Aquino, he’s making fans forget about Yasiel Puig in a hurry.

The 25-year-old outfielder launched home runs in each of his first three at-bats during Saturday’s 10-1 win against the Chicago Cubs, giving him seven already in his first 10 major league games.

Only one other player in the modern era — Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story — can make that claim.

Aquino accomplished another more obscure first in the Reds dominant win.

The hot-hitting slugger hit his home runs in three consecutive innings. He took Cubs starter Kyle Hendrick deep with solo shots in the second and third innings. He added a third solo blast off reliever Dillon Maples in the fourth inning. He has five home runs in the first three games of Cincinnati’s series against the Cubs, with one more to come on Sunday afternoon.

Aquino was inserted into the lineup on Aug. 1, two days after the Reds traded Puig to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Trevor Bauer in a three-team deal that also included the San Diego Padres. Prior to that, he’d only had one major league at-bat — a strikeout against the San Francisco Giants.

With MLB hitters on pace to shatter the single-season home run record, some of these usually notable home run accomplishments are slowly but surely losing their luster. But for one night, Alvarez and Aquino managed to stand out.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/reds-rookie-ties-home-run-record-in-first-10-games-after-replacing-yasiel-puig-010012939.html?src=rss

[reportfruit8-blog]

Fantasy Baseball: Which teams have the most favorable schedules during the stretch run?

Special to Yahoo Sports

Although many leagues have unique head-to-head playoff schedules, most formats get down to the nitty-gritty during the final four weeks of the regular season. And this year’s finishing stretch is a tidy four-week bonanza from Sept. 2-29.

For those who are already locked into a playoff spot, here are the teams that have favorable or unfavorable schedules in September. After all, upcoming schedules could swing the balance when deciding on which players to hold and which ones to cast aside.

Favorable for hitters

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox play all but four of their September contests either at home or at offense-inducing road venues. Their final-week slate includes an appetizing series in Texas before returning home to beat up on the Orioles. Let’s just hope that they have reason to play their regulars in those games.

New York Yankees

The Yankees face a handful of underwhelming pitching staffs, including one series against the Tigers and two series each against the Rangers and Blue Jays. There may still be an opportunity for injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton to provide a bit of 2019 value.

[Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Football league for free today]

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles play 19 September games at hitter-friendly stadiums, and four of their remaining seven contests are against a weak Tigers pitching staff.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers face some solid staffs, but their venues are terrific. They play 13 games at home and finish the regular season with a road trip to Cincinnati and Colorado. The Reds and Rockies will likely be patching together innings after being mathematically eliminated before the final week.

Washington Nationals

The venues and opponents aren’t especially favorable, but the Nats are a good volume play, with 27 games over the final 28 days.

Unfavorable for hitters

Atlanta Braves

The Braves spend little time at hitter-friendly venues, but the main reason for their spot in this space is four September off days, including two in the final week of the season.

Miami Marlins

Besides a trio of series at their pitcher-friendly home park, the Marlins visit the Mets, Giants, D-backs, and Pirates. Their few sluggers will need to work hard for their round-trippers next month.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have four days off in September and play just two series at hitter-friendly venues. They also have an 11-day stretch where they have three days off and otherwise face the Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees.

Favorable for pitchers

Miami Marlins

Their opponents are a solid group, but the Marlins don’t face any of baseball’s best lineups and play most of their games at offense-suppressing stadiums. Wins won’t come easy for this group, but they could provide solid ratios.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have a nice 10-game homestand from September 13-22, which is bracketed by some favorable road matchups against the Padres, Pirates, and Cardinals.

Houston Astros

As if the Astros staff needed more help, every Houston game after September 4 is either at home or in a pitcher-friendly road venue against a team that is out of the race. The fact that they have four days off in September is less of a problem for their pitchers than it is for their hitters.

Fantasy Football Draft Kit

More

Los Angeles Dodgers

Like the Astros, the rich get richer in September. The Dodgers have two home series against the Rockies, who struggle mightily outside of Coors Field. They also have two series against a mediocre Giants lineup. The icing on the cake is a series against the lowly Orioles and another set at Petco Park.

Minnesota Twins

Minnesota starters will not have an easy time during the first half of September. But they should be money down the stretch, as their final four opponents are the White Sox, Royals, Tigers and Royals again.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-backs play 15 of their final 18 games at home. Also, they have three September series against the Padres. Stretch-run matchups against the Marlins and Reds (twice) add to the excitement.

Unfavorable for pitchers

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies play 12 of their final 18 games at home. And one of their road matchups is against a stellar Dodgers lineup.

More Fantasy Advice From Yahoo Sports

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-baseball-which-teams-have-the-most-favorable-schedules-during-the-stretch-run-201505211.html?src=rss

[reportfruit8-blog]

Bulls vs. Pistons final score: Wendell Carter Jr. shines in 107-88 loss

The Pistons scored the first eight points against the Bulls on Friday night, including a Reggie Jackson banked 3-pointer, which effectively set the stage for the entire game. But while the Bulls stunk as a team in a hideous 107-88 loss, Wendell Carter Jr. was a monster against one of the better frontcourts in the league in Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin.

Carter poured in a career-high 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks:

Carter showed no fear going up against Drummond and Griffin, aggressively taking it at the rim and also doing a ton of damage from mid-range. A small sample of Carter’s night on both ends:

Carter has dealt with a lot of foul trouble of late, but this time it was the rookie getting Drummond in some foul trouble thanks to his early aggressiveness. The youngster then did his finest work in the third quarter, running some exquisite two-man game with Zach LaVine to rack up 17 of his 28 points on 7-of-9 shooting. LaVine had seven of his nine assists in the frame, with most of those coming on pick-and-rolls with Carter.

Carter’s explosion turned what was a 19-point deficit in the first half to five midway through the third quarter. But the Bulls wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the night. The Pistons went on a 17-2 run over the next four-plus minutes to take a 20-point lead, and while their own ugly offense allowed the Bulls to get within single digits with just over seven minutes to play, it never got closer than nine points.

Outside of Carter, there was a whole bunch of nothing. Jabari Parker was the only other Bull in double figures with 12 points, but he shot 6-of-16 overall and missed all four of his 3-point attempts. He also had two comical turnovers in a first quarter that saw the Bulls fall in a big hole.

LaVine was dreadful outside of that stretch in the third quarter when he was finding Carter, failing to reach double digits in scoring for the first time this season. He had eight points on 3-of-12 shooting and didn’t attempt a single 3-pointer. He also had five turnovers, some just as bad as Parker’s early miscues. Lavine just didn’t seem to have his usual explosiveness right from the get-go, and it showed throughout the night.

The Bulls shot 3-of-21 from 3 as Ryan Arcidiacono came back down to earth (1-of-5 from 3) and Justin Holiday’s road shooting woes continued (3-of-9 overall, 2-of-6 from 3), though Holiday did tie a career high with seven assists.

Cameron Payne had eight points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench, but he missed all three of his triples and had one possession where he nearly fell over while dribbling and then airballed a floater seconds later. He also airballed a 3-pointer, and you could hear the pain in Stacey King’s voice on each misguided Payne 3-point attempt. The point guard is now 6-of-31 from deep since hitting seven over a month ago against the Hornets.

For the Pistons, Jackson and Griffin scored 20 points apiece to lead the way, with Jackson hitting a career-high six treys. Drummond had his issues with Carter, but he still finished with 19 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks.

The Bulls have now lost five games in a row to fall to 5-18, and they head to Houston to face the Rockets on Saturday night.

Source: https://www.blogabull.com/2018/11/30/18120503/bulls-vs-pistons-final-score-wendell-carter-jr-shines-in-107-88-loss

[reportfruit8-blog]

Red Bull Cut Their Prizes for DJs, So This DJ is Crowdfunding Them Himself

DJ Konflikt is a highly successful open format DJ who clocks in 150,000 travel miles a year for gigs. He also won Red Bull’s 3Style DJ Battle local battle in the Miami area in 2013. He was awarded $5000 in cash, and when he moved on to the regional finals he won $10,000 in cash. Those who placed after him were also awarded cash.

This year’s Red Bull battle recently had its national championships in Philadelphia, and it was through his fellow DJs that Konflikt found out that the multi-billion dollar company was no longer giving out any kind of prizes to its local, national and international winners, neither cash nor gear. There are regional competitions within the US, as well as 21 other countries holding their own competitions that lead up to the finals in Taiwan. The website states, “The main award for each National Finals Participant is the opportunity to take part at the respective National Final�� and best of all “The prize for the World Champion is to be awarded the title ‘Red Bull Music 3Style World Champion’.”

This seems antithetical to a concept wherein everyone in the process of the competition is getting paid except for the DJ.

“They’re supposed to be celebrating the DJ, and they’re the ONE person that doesn’t get paid.”

Konflikt says, “They spend time effort and energy, their well being, they spend their whole lives working on their craft…..word play, transitions, mixing, scratching, timing, creative control of samples, a lifetime of lessons that culminates in 15 minutes onstage…They’re supposed to be celebrating the DJ, and they’re the ONE person that doesn’t get paid.”

Maybe there are budget cuts that inevitably happen in any business model. But then again, there is a cover charge for the attending audiences for these events, and the judges, the venues, the people who do sound and lighting, the marketing people… they all presumably get paid. Why is it that at the end of the day, the ones that get sacrificed are the DJs upon which the whole concept is predicated upon?

[ Update: The DJ Community Raised $9000 for Red Bull’s DJ Battle Winners. Red Bull Still Won’t Comment ]

If the whole point is to celebrate the art of DJing and all its creative possibilities, why is it the winners no longer get anything from their hundreds if not thousands of hours of work that they put into their craft?

In the meantime, this is a massive marketing campaign for Red Bull, which has branded itself throughout the years via its Music Academy and many music based initiatives as a leader in pushing electronic music and DJ culture. Many DJs have expressed this to be somewhat exploitive, if not contradictory.

HOW IT STARTED

Every year since 2007, the Red Bull 3Style DJ championships would scour the globe for the world’s top open format DJs. According to their YouTube page, “Red Bull 3Style has cemented itself as a home for real DJing. More than just a competition, it’s a global community that brings together the most skilled DJs to learn, develop and celebrate the art of the mix across dance floors worldwide.”

The contest was born in the mid 2000s, when open format DJing, or the spinning of multiple genres was taking the world by storm. Red Bull began testing out the idea at its first contest in Vancouver’s Atlantis club in 2007, broadening it to more Canadian cities in 2008, until the first Red Bull 3Style national final in Toronto in 2009. What started out as DJs being selected through an elimination process via regional cities then grew into a global competition with DJs from 10 different countries that would culminate in a World Final. Come 2013 the Red Bull 3Style was seen as the biggest and most prestigious DJ competition in the world.

If the whole point is to celebrate the art of DJing and all its creative possibilities, why is it the DJs get nothing from their hundreds if not thousands of hours of work that they put into their craft?

PROMOTION AS PAYMENT

Some would argue that the prize is promotion for the DJs. And sure, DJs knew what they were signing up for in the rules and regulations. But how many times have we heard that song and dance? DJs can’t eat off of potential promotion, and placing anywhere but first place in a competition doesn’t always guarantee future bookings.

With the insane amount of time and effort these world class DJs put into preparing for the competition, is the message that Red Bull, which over the years has presented itself as a massive proponent for the music culture, that DJs aren’t worth the money?

#PaytheDJs

Konflikt decided that instead of merely being another agitated voice on social media, he put into action a GoFundMe to help raise money for all 5 national finalists and winner of this year’s competition. He kicked things off with $1000 of his own money and has inspired others in the DJ community to help contribute.

He states “I don’t believe DJs should practice for months, help expand a brand and not be compensated for their time and effort. With your help, we can make the situation right. Once the target has been reached I will make sure all of the DJs receive their prize money.”

What initially started as a $3500 goal has now, 4 days later, reached up to over $8000 dollars. Konflikt’s plan is to continue the GoFundMe until Friday Oct. 26th, then will personally hand over checks to each of the 6 competitors.

FEAR OF THE RED BULL

His Instagram post with the initial call to action purposely didn’t mention the Red Bull name because he’s aware he’s going up against a litany of lawyers that may come after him for defamation. But based on the numerous comments on the post, all the DJs know exactly what competition he’s referring to.

The hashtag #PaytheDJs has now been their call to action, and if you were to go to Red Bull’s post congratulating national winner DJJespinosa, the hashtag is in all the comments. Red Bull has been tagged quite a few times in multiple posts but they have yet to respond.

The 5 finalists and winner of the national competition have not commented publicly on the lack of prizes. The World Finals in Taiwan are coming up in January and the national winner will obviously be competing. The remaining 5 finalists are potential wild cards for that competition as well should someone cancel out last minute.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So yes, through these competitions Red Bull is pushing the DJ culture forward, but if they aren’t rewarding the very people that are putting all their effort into it, what does that say about their worth? Konflikt isn’t worried about what others think, he’s willing to put his money where his mouth is “I have a commitment to my DJ community to always stand with them over anything else.”

To donate to the GoFundMe to help pay for six participating DJs in the Red Bull 3Style US National Finals, you can do so until this Friday Oct. 26th: https://www.gofundme.com/paythedjs

Source: http://5chicago.com/features/red-bull-3style-dj-battle-dj-konflikt/

[reportfruit8-blog]

The Loop’s bold new Linea has only a few apartments available

The new Linea, an architecturally bold, full-amenity, pet-friendly apartment tower at 215 W Lake St, has four levels of amenities. Linea leased up very quickly, and now has a few apartments coming available through normal turnover.

You can tour the top two floors of amenities in the above video with architect and co-developer Mike Moceri.

The distinctive hallmark of Linea’s bold architecture is a reprise of the classic Chicago bay window, with three walls of floor-to-ceiling glass. The bays dramatically expand Linea’s striking urban vistas.

Tour a 3-bedroom, 2-bath smart home and a unique corner convertible in the above videos.

Tour two new furnished models in the above videos.

Linea offers studio to 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartments.

Linea’s furnished models showcase the livability and flexibility of its generously-sized floor plans, which have been thoughtfully designed to ensure space for dining room tables and home office desks.

The loft-aesthetic apartments feature high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, plank flooring throughout, in-unit washer / dryers and beautifully-finished kitchens and baths.

Linea’s four floors of amenities start with lobby-level lounges and top out with outdoor terraces and an indoor / outdoor pool.

Linea is a short block from the Riverwalk and from the downtown theater district. There’s Pedway access at the corner to the CTA’s Clark and Lake transit hub with connections throughout Chicago, including O’Hare and Midway airports. Scores of restaurants and bars, Millennium Park, Maggie Park, Daley Plaza and more are all within a few minutes’ walk.

Linea has on-site management, maintenance and leasing staff, and 24/7 door staff.

Source: http://yochicago.com/the-loops-bold-new-linea-has-only-a-few-apartments-available/60579/

[reportfruit8-blog]

You Know the Offseason Has Officially Arrived When the Rays and Mariners Make a Trade

In the Jerry Dipoto-Matt Silverman era of the Mariners and Rays, you do not need a calendar as the holidays approach. That’s because you’ll always knows it’s roughly early to mid-November when those two teams get together on some kind of trade. And then they’ll do so again a few times before Spring Training, so you’ll know roughly when March arrives.

This year’s installment sees a fine catcher headed off to Tampa Bay, and an outfielder headed back to Seattle (where he literally spent 77 minutes as a member during a previous flurry of trades between these teams back in January):

Useful, interesting players in this one. Nothing that’ll knock your socks off, but hey, it’s the offseason! Trades are here!

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2018/11/07/you-know-the-offseason-has-officially-arrived-when-the-rays-and-mariners-make-a-trade/

[reportfruit8-blog]

Ten Years of Forgotten Chicago, Ten CHI-llusives

Ten Years of Forgotten Chicago, Ten CHI-llusives

Patrick Steffes

A rare StonEcho in the Loop, this sidewalk near the intersection of Monroe and Clark still advertises federal deposit insurance for a long-vanished Chicago savings and loan. For our definition of a StonEcho, and more examples, see below.

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Forgotten Chicago’s launch as a web site in late 2007, we are publishing some of our favorite recurring elements of the Chicago area’s built environment, something we call “CHI-llusives.” Always searching for overlooked remnants of the built environment, in recent years the Forgotten Chicago crew and our friends have been on the lookout for these particular urban (and suburban) oddities.

We are calling these ten elements “CHI-llusives” which is itself a made-up word combining Chicago, elusive, and illusive. These three words were combined as “elusive” means often hard to find, and “illusive” because for some of these types, their original use is not apparent at first glance.

CHI-llusives share the following four characteristics:

1. Mostly unstudied and undocumented 2. With a few exceptions, generally no longer being produced or built 3. Sometimes not readily apparent at first glance 4. Often seen as obsolete or dated, and are frequently disappearing from the built environment

Our 10 CHI-llusives include the following:

1. Tidy Town 2. Hizzoner 3. Telebomb 4. Coolidge Coop 5. StonEcho 6. Resurrection 7. Graves Danger 8. Unreal Estate 9. Gladstore 10. Animerchant

Below are descriptions and images of Forgotten Chicago’s ten CHI-llusives:

1. Tidy Town

Patrick Steffes

Tidy Town (ˈtīdē toun)

Noun. An opaque plastic, molded, backlit sign with raised letters and clip-art style artwork that advertises a local and usually stand-alone business.

Forgotten Chicago’s Department of Naming Convention voted unanimously in June 2017 to name these distinctive plastic signs “Tidy Towns” in honor of the namesake coin Laundromat on West Cermak Road in Cicero. The namesake Tidy Town was seen during Forgotten Chicago’s tenth event season in 2017 in an FC tour of that community and Berwyn that same month. An apt description, Tidy Towns are far more restrained and tidier, at least after sundown, than the blinking and buzzing incandescent and neon signs that often preceded them.

Patrick Steffes

Long considered the cheap step-cousin of the style of signs they often replaced, Tidy Towns feature an opaque off-white background and colorful clip-art style artwork that can be easily read from a speeding automobile or city bus. Tidy Towns were for decades a prolific part of Chicago commercial districts, and have been rapidly disappearing in recent years as their namesake businesses close or newer signs are installed.

2. Hizzoner

Matthew Kaplan

Hizzoner (hizz ˈänər)

Noun. A city-sanctioned metal or stone plaque or sign noting a civic project or city-sanctioned improvement area, featuring the name of the mayor and other municipal officials at the time of the structure’s dedication.

One of the few CHI-llusives that are in no danger of widespread removal or lack of future placement, Hizzoners may be seen throughout Chicago and the region in buildings such as libraries, parks and public works projects. Along with listing the mayor, Hizzoners usually feature names of other city officials. Despite their masculine connotation, Hizzoners expressly include those featuring Jane Byrne, Chicago’s sole female mayor to date, and notably tougher than many of the men that served as mayor before or since her one term from 1979 to 1983.

Patrick Steffes

A special acknowledgement of the name is due to Neil Giuntoli, whose 2006 play “Hizzoner: Daley the First” was met with critical acclaim and repeated revivals in the years since its premiere. Giuntoli himself is the great-great-great nephew of Mayor Anton Cermak, whose brief tenure as mayor from 1931 until his assassination in 1933 produced few documented Hizzoners of one of Chicago’s greatest mayors.

3. Telebomb

ˈteləˌbäm

Noun. A physical remnant of public telephone infrastructure, defunct brand names, manufacturers or consumer products related to the telecommunications industry.

Patrick Steffes

Telebombs are a physical remnant of outdated forms of telecommunication. These include defunct brand names relating to the legacy of the former Bell System including Western Electric, SBC / Ameritech and Illinois Bell that are visible today on places like manhole covers, equipment boxes and on telephone poles.

Telebombs naturally include partially dismantled phone booths or former rows of now-covered pay phones set in a wall in a public building such as a hotel or office building lobby. Still not uncommon today, former locations of pay phones will gradually disappear in the years ahead as building interiors are remodeled.

Patrick Steffes

Other forms of now largely disused communication devices are also considered Telebombs, include the more elusive extant signs advertising flip phones, beepers, pagers and faxing services. Physical remnants of long-gone consumer wireless brands that once served northeastern Illinois such as PrimeCo, U.S. Cellular and MCI WorldCom are also part of this category.

4. Coolidge Coop

Top: Western Architect, 1928, Bottom: Patrick Steffes

‘ko͞olij ko͞op

Noun. A building completed by 1930 that offered enclosed storage of automobiles and remains standing today, either modified to a different use or still offering parking facilities. Coolidge Coops are named in honor of President Calvin Coolidge, whose administration from 1923 to 1929 coincided with the height of private parking garage construction in the first half of the twentieth century.

Official Automobile Blue Book, 1918

Not a Coolidge Coop because it is no longer extant, the Down Town Garage would be flattened just a few years after this ad appeared for the construction of the Stevens Hotel, largest in the world when it opened on the 700 block of South Michigan Avenue in 1927. Additional details of this curious and long-forgotten garage have proved elusive, as to what was implied by the staff of a parking garage “anxious to entertain tourists on the way through the city.”

Matthew Kaplan

Despite having an extensive public transportation network decades before and after the advent of the automobile, Chicago experienced an enormous building boom of automobile parking garages from the early 1900s to 1930. Little-researched and often overlooked, many of these sturdy structures remain, either converted to other uses or still offering garage facilities. This handsome and nearly completely intact Coolidge Coop above was seen during Forgotten Chicago’s tour of Lake View in September 2017.

5. StonEcho

stōnˈekō

Noun. Although correct when first built or installed, a StonEcho is a now-inaccurate name of a building, street or business that was carved in stone or rendered in terra cotta or terrazzo and remains at least partially visible today.

Left: Architecture Record, 1936 Right: Patrick Steffes

Published in 1936, the terrazzo name of Chicago-based national shoe retailer Feltman & Curme may be seen at the bottom of the image on the left. Still extant in Uptown as of this writing in 2017, this classic StonEcho has been visited several times since Forgotten Chicago’s first Uptown tour in 2011.

Patrick Steffes

As a neighborhood, Uptown is comparatively lousy with StonEchos. This apartment building just off Broadway and steps from the Uptown Theater still shows Lafayette Street, whose name was changed decades ago. Currently inaccurate former street names inscribed in stone remain in many places in the Chicago area.

Serhii Chrucky

Numerous Chicago’s neighborhood banks failed during the Great Depression, including the former Immel State Bank in 1931 at Belmont, Elston and California. Later a nut company headquarters, the current Michelle’s Ballroom was the location of Forgotten Chicago’s 10×10 celebration on February 11, 2018.

6. Resurrection

Patrick Steffes

ˌrezəˈrekSH(ə)n

Noun. A building originally constructed for religious purposes converted to secular use, or a secular building converted to religious use.

Overlooked Modernist architect David Haid (1929-1993) may be best known in his distinguished career for the Abraham Lincoln Oasis on the Tri-State Tollway, since demolished. Haid also designed a factory in west suburban Wheaton in 1966, converted in 2012 to a church. This Resurrection has been faithful to the building’s exceptional industrial architecture.

7. Graves Danger

Matthew Kaplan

ˈɡrāvz ˈdānjər

Noun. Named in honor of Postmodern pioneer Michael Graves (1934-2015), a Graves Danger is an overlooked, poorly maintained, or threatened Postmodern interior or building dating from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Visited above during Forgotten Chicago’s tenth event season in August 2017, the 1986 Dearborn Station in the South Loop features a nearly-completely intact Postmodern interior. As with many Graves Dangers, this interior may be threatened in years ahead with modernization or a conversion to other uses.

Serhii Chrucky

Northwest suburban Elk Grove Village has a remarkable collection of little-known Postmodern buildings, including the project above by Arquitectonica, one of the most prolific firms in this style and the epitome of South Florida cool in the 1980s. Seen by some as laughably out-of-date, Postmodern buildings and interiors, especially single-family homes, have been threatened in recent years with demolition or drastic remodelings.

8. Unreal Estate

ˌənˈrē(ə)l iˈstāt

Noun. A mostly unbuilt or partially completed residential or commercial development with physical remnants dating from its initial construction.

Patrick Steffes

A textbook example of Unreal Estate and the often-outrageous development schemes announced at the height of Chicagoland’s 1920s real estate bubble, Thornbury Estates was announced in April 1927 and was planned be a “community of estates” on lots from one-half to up to 20 acres, spread over 450 acres of then-mostly undeveloped land in Lake County, Illinois.

Ninety years later, there are still remnants of this mostly-failed development, including a few brick entrance markers, a few swank period homes, and what may have been a sales office at the entrance to this doomed development. In an area as large as Chicagoland, there are nearly countless examples of Unreal Estate, many waiting to be discovered and documented.

Top: Chicago Tribune, 1929 Bottom: Patrick Steffes

Perhaps no single municipality in the Chicago area was as visibly affected by the 1920s housing crash as west suburban Westchester, which for decades contained seemingly-endless stretches of completed streets and sidewalks and very few actual buildings. A curious Unreal Estate remnant today is a prairie crossed with sidewalks and a 1980s suburban office complex on the horizon, as seen above.

Patrick Steffes

Though not on the same scale as in the 1920s, eighty years later vast and often abandoned and unfinished housing developments were seen again throughout the Chicago area, including this recent example in Lake County, Illinois. Forgotten Chicago has been documenting these landscapes since 2006, traveling hundreds of miles in the suburbs and exurbs of Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

9. Gladstore

ɡladstôr

Noun. A circa 1930s to 1960s storefront modernization that does not relate to the remainder of the building it is housed in; often streamlined and with exuberant detail. Gladstores are named in honor of the closed Gladstone Park Bakery on Chicago’s North Milwaukee Avenue.

Patrick Steffes

Mainly located in Chicago’s outlying shopping districts and inner-ring suburbs, Gladstores were designed to attract the attention of shoppers traveling by foot, bus, streetcar, or automobile. Usually featuring large windows and attention-getting signage, far fewer Gladstores remain today compared with their ubiquity by the mid-1960s.

Google Street View, 2014

One of the few remaining Gladstores in Chicago’s Loop and obscured as of this writing by a metal grate, the Art Deco storefront of the now-closed Roberto’s men’s clothing store at 214 South State Street is nearly completely intact from its remodeling in 1935 for the Mitzi Frock Shop.

The epitome of a Gladstore, this storefront adjacent to the highly ornamented 1913 Consumers Building by Jenney, Mundie and Jensen and has absolutely no relation with neighboring buildings built around the same time; the original construction date of the building pictured is not known. The former Mitzi / Roberto’s was designed by architect M. Louis Kroman, perhaps best known for his exuberant Art Deco 1929 Coolidge Coop at the southwest corner of South Lake Park Avenue and East 55th Street in Hyde Park.

10. Animerchant

ˈanəˌˈmərCHənt

Noun. A cartoon or mascot that is the identity of a business headquartered in the Chicago area.

Patrick Steffes

Our final collection of CHI-llusives are Animerchants, cartoon-style illustrations and/or mascots that were or are integral to the identity of locally-based business. Reaching their peak in popularity in the decades after World War II, Animerchants are becoming increasingly rare, as few are created today and older businesses change their identities or close down.

Chicago Tribune, 2017

A notable and welcome exception to the move away from Animerchants is JoJo, the distinctive new mascot and symbol for Jewel Osco that made its debut in June 2017. JoJo’s unique appearance marks a welcome return to locally based chains trying to stand out from their competitors with a quirky, fun, and memorable symbol.

Patrick Steffes

We hope you enjoyed our collection of CHI-llusives, and encourage our readers to share photos of their own finds throughout the Chicago area:

ChEyeBall on Twitter, featuring CHI-llusives and more

ChEyeBall on Instagram, also featuring CHI-llusives

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This article was last updated on Sunday, December 31st, 2017 at 1:26 pm.

Source: https://forgottenchicago.com/features/ten-years-of-forgotten-chicago-ten-chi-llusives/

[reportfruit8-blog]

Staying on the rails

When my editor sent me the description for this issue, there was something in it about managing brokers being the “linchpin” of a real estate office. This is a word that people aren’t using enough. And if you say it a bunch of times, it makes no sense. I went down an interwebs rabbit hole and discovered that the word describes a fastener used to prevent a wheel from sliding off an axle. That totally sums up in a nutshell what managing brokers do! Now that we’ve got that covered, see if you can’t manage to use that word in a sentence with your agents this coming week and make them impressed with your deep vocabulary. As usual, you’re welcome.

Now for the gossip. In case you were wondering why traffic has been so light lately, it’s because all the CPS folks were out for spring break. Well, they’re all back, so enjoy getting stuck behind the wheel again in the morning and middle of the afternoon. Coolest vacation locale? One agent told me she went to Egypt for the break.

If you see Danny Lewis around, make sure to ask to see his feet. Even if you’re not necessarily into feet (no judgement either way), you might just catch him in those new Zillow Preferred Agent socks he’s so proud of.

Dan Kieres may be the big boss at his new brokerage, but in between showings he’s basically a chauffeur to the little munchkins in his life. I recently saw a video of Dan running down the block in a full suit while pulling a wagon full of toddlers. Now that’s multitasking.

Melissa Govedarica welcomed her new grandson to the world on Tax Day. I couldn’t believe it either when I heard the news. Ms. Govedarica looks like she is barely old enough to have children, let alone grandchildren.

There are a lot of ways leaders work to build healthy relationships on their teams, and it turns out sweat equity is one of them. The Sarah Leonard Team proved this with a recent mid-day gym selfie. You know the old saying: The team that pumps iron together stays together.

I’m a bit light on the happenings around town in this issue, which I’m sure has nothing to do with me falling in a bush after a recent unnamed event. I will say that CA’s expert photog Dan Machnik is already shooting some Who’s Who candidates this month around town, and I may or may not be one of his subjects. Cool location shoots include places like 727 Madison, One Bennett Park and The Cooper.

Let’s get cracking on wishing our spring babies a happy birthday. Nancy Taylor and Steve McEwen share an April 29th birthday, while Marty Winefield will get a birthday balloon on April 30. Nicole Fabiano Oertel and Justin Lopatin share a May 2 birthday, and Leslie Struthers can do her own thing on May 3. Francisco Quintero and Susie Pearson should head out together to party on May 4. Nykea Pippion McGriff can thank her parents for her birth (and her cool name) on May 6, while Sam Powell may get lucky on May 7. Danielle Dowell and Eve Benton celebrate on May 9, and Katherine Sather gets down on May 10. Last, but not least, Mimi Harpur, Brett Decker, Jonathan McCulloch and Joe Caltabiano should toast their moms on their May 12 bdays, because not only did those moms bring them into the world on that day, but it also happens to be Mother’s Day.

Source: https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2019/04/29/staying-on-the-rails/

[reportfruit8-blog]

Warriors have plenty of respect for Raptors team 'here for a reason'

TORONTO — The Golden State Warriors have a resume that demands your attention.

Beginning Thursday, they will compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy for a fifth straight time and look to hoist it for a third consecutive season and fourth in five years. Since the NBA/ABA merger, the Los Angeles Lakers contested eight out of 10 finals between 1980 and 1989 and won five titles in that span. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls won six titles in eight years and Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs won five championships over a 15-year stretch including a golden period of three in five.

That’s the class they will join by winning another title in 2019, usurping everyone else including the great Kobe and Shaq Laker teams.

The Toronto Raptors as a franchise boast no such championship pedigree. Yes, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green can claim they’ve reached the summit, but Serge Ibaka has one Finals appearance to speak of while everyone else will be making their debut.

Yet, when those most responsible for this era of dominance took their respective turns at the podium, they showed nothing but respect for a team they believe has put in the work to get here.

“They have a very good team, and they're here for a reason,” Klay Thompson said. “So you can't take them lightly just because they haven't been here before. They have our respect and we'll come correct tomorrow.”

Toronto is 8-2 on its home floor in these playoffs and has gone 66-16 at home over the past two regular seasons. The Raptors beat the Warriors in both their regular season meetings this season, and even though there are plenty of caveats that can be rightfully added to both games, Steph Curry is well aware of the fact they’ve been in and around the upper echelon of the league for some time now.

“Probably last four years, honestly, they have been knocking on the door,” Curry said. “You always keep up with what's going on in the other conference through every playoff run, and obviously this year's the year they got over the hump.”

Thompson singled out the difference an MVP-caliber player in Kawhi Leonard can make, but also reserved praise for Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. He highlighted the Cameroonian’s scoring ability around the rim and as a modern-day power forward being “the type of guy you want in that four spot.”

What was perhaps most fascinating about the Warriors’ respect for the Raptors is how much of it stems from Toronto’s leader and floor general, Kyle Lowry. To a man, they all heaped heavy praise for Lowry’s bulldog mentality and seemed genuinely happy to see him finally make his first Finals appearance.

“He's tough and scrappy and just a very high-IQ basketball player,” Curry said. “He always seems to be in the mix, whether he's taking a charge or getting a loose ball or getting a steal or knocking down a big shot. I know he's heard a lot of noise throughout these playoff runs here in Toronto trying to get over the hump and whatnot, but he's just a very solid basketball player that knows how to play the game and knows how to impact it.

“You just have to know where he is at all times. You have to match his energy because you know that will be there, especially at home. That's going to be fun. Guys like that bring the best out of you, for sure.”

In 16 games against Curry, Lowry is averaging 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.9 steals. Their biggest duel came on Dec. 5, 2015, when Curry’s 44 points outdid Lowry’s 41 in an entertaining 112-109 victory for the Warriors in Toronto. Most recently, Lowry led the Raptors — in the absence of Leonard — to their first win at Oracle Arena since Feb. 8, 2004 and finishing with 23 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and three steals in a 113-93 victory.

While Leonard is certainly the best player on the Raptors, Lowry will be the determining factor in whether or not Toronto is able to pull off the upset. He is the Raptors’ heartbeat, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is well aware of the threat he presents.

“He's tough. That's the thing that jumps out at you when you watch Kyle is he's a leader and he's tough, physically and mentally,” Kerr said. “I think he's in a perfect role where he can lead without having to be the best player. They have the continuity now of having this team around him, and then you add Kawhi, the superstar.

Story continues

“Now I think Kyle can be in the perfect role for himself and for his team, which is point guard, leader. He can step up and have big games when he has to, but he's not relied on for that scoring night-in and night-out. So it seems to me he's really thrived this year with Kawhi next to him.”

Draymond Green won an Olympic gold medal playing alongside Lowry in Brazil and the two share quite a few similarities. Both are known for their hard-nosed play, their ability to make a difference within the margins, and their high level understanding of the game that makes their teammates so much better.

“I got mad respect for Kyle, a friend, first off,” Green said. “In college, a guy who got it out of the mud. He wasn't always an All-Star. He wasn't always a starter. But he got it out of the mud and he's where he's at today. He's faced a lot of doubt. He's been criticized a ton, this year and previous years before, but yet he's still standing and he's here in this moment and it's well deserved.”

More Raptors coverage from Yahoo Sports

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-have-plenty-of-respect-for-raptors-team-here-for-a-reason-231737980.html?src=rss

[reportfruit8-blog]

Joe Versus Joe, Inevitable Robel Adjustments, Rizzo’s Top Speed, and Other Bullets

The kiddos and I are heading to see The Grandma and The Papa today, which will be a lot of fun if I can survive the solo car trip. The big kids mostly can’t reach each other, so that’s a good start … but what if they figure out they can throw their shoes at each other?

I’d give credit to Joe West for blocking the Joe Maddon spin move, but I’m not entirely sure he wasn’t just gonna mostly stand there anyway:

Joe West been ridin’ them trails a long time:

Thankfully, by the way, David Bote was OK after taking a pitch to the helmet.

(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Amidst all the very deserved love for Robel Garcia, it’s worth reminding folks that – as he already has – the dude is going to strike out A LOT. Over time, he’s probably going to strike out too much to be productive unless he is able to make significant adjustments on the fly at the big league level. Given his extremely limited high-level stateside professional experience, you would have to assume that’s not going to be possible. The most likely outcome is that Garcia is able to do some damage despite the strikeouts for a little while, then gets brutalized for a while, and is sent back down to Iowa to keep working. Obviously I hope he is just a crazy guy who can adjust quickly on the fly – he can survive at maybe a 35% K rate, given the power, but that’s where he already was at AAA. Given his story and the work he’s put in, I wouldn’t put it past him emerging as a nice player in the coming years, but expectations for what he can be for all of 2019 should be limited. (No one is stopping us from loving the heck out of every good moment in the meantime, though!)

Single all the way for 97% of MLB players:

And I will have you know that there are 62 big league players who are slower than Rizzo, per Statcast. (Shouts to Albert Pujols, Yadi Molina, and Brian McCann for being the slowest guys in the league, which sounds extremely correct.)

Love seeing a big day from one of the Cubs’ best prospects:

Here come the draft picks:

The sublime of the ridiculous:

Thankfully no one was hurt, except perhaps for the Mets prospects who could see what their future might look like in the organization.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/07/05/joe-versus-joe-inevitable-robel-adjustments-rizzos-top-speed-and-other-bullets/

[reportfruit8-blog]

Chuck's Daily Check In - 02.14.19

FINAL FROM THE UNITED CENTER: Bulls 122, Memphis 110.

LEADING SCORERS: Bulls: Porter 37 (career high). Memphis: Bradley: 15. LEADING REBOUNDERS: Bulls: Markkanen and Porter each with 10. Memphis: Valanciunas: 7. LEADING ASSISTS: Bulls: Arcidiacono: 11 (career high). Memphis: Bradley, Conley, Valanciunas and Wright each with 5.

CCI RECAP: The Bulls made their first nine shots in an offensive display that featured all five starters contributing in a robust manner. Otto Porter Jr. scored a career-high 37 points drilling 16 of 20 from the field. I’m so impressed with Porter who plays under control and has a high basketball IQ. He’s an underrated defensive player. Lauri Markkanen is headed in to the break playing at an extremely high level recording his fifth straight double-double and eighth in his last nine games. Ryan Arcidiacono filling in for the injured Kris Dunn dished out a career-high 11 assists and Robin Lopez notched a season-high 25 points going 10-15 from the field. Lopez is shooting a spectacular 68% from the floor the last five games, averaging nearly 17 per contest. Zach LaVine with a solid all around 15-6-7 game, shooting 54% the last 5 games, averaging 24 per game. The Bulls ball movement was terrific recording 28 assists. A great sendoff as players and management can get away or a few days and refresh before resuming play in eight days.

CCI IN THE LOCKER ROOM: "He obviously has been a big addition in a lot of different ways。" - Coach Boylen on Otto Porter Jr.

UP NEXT: All-Star break. At Orlando on February 22.

Portland 129, Golden State 107: Damian Lillard scored 29 points as the Blazers ended the Warriors five-game win streak. Golden State rested DeMarcus Cousins.

Los Angeles Clippers 134, Phoenix 107: Lou Williams became the first player in NBA history to score 30 points and collected 10 assists in fewer than 23 minutes.

Milwaukee 106, Indiana 97: Before Giannis heads to Charlotte for All-Star weekend, he destroyed the Pacers with a 33-19-11 game. The Bucks have won 20 road games, one more than they did all of last season.

Boston 118, Detroit 110: The Celtics ended the Pistons four-game win streak. Boston has won 7 out of its last 9 games. The Celtics are 9-2 this season without Kyrie Irving.

Philadelphia 129, New York Knicks 111: The Knicks suffered their 18th straight loss. Joel Embiid registered his 10th straight double-double.

Toronto 129, Washington 120: CCI’s leading candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, Pascal Siakam, did not disappoint Raptors fans. He scored a career-high 44 points and gobbled up 10 rebounds. The Raps are 13-3 without Kawhi Leonard in their lineup.

Minnesota 121, Houston 111: Ok, I got it... Rockets lose... but I love watching James Harden. Harden with 42 points - his 31st consecutive game of scoring 30 or more, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history.

Miami 112, Dallas 101: Dwyane Wade with 22; his last appearance in Dallas...the site of his first NBA title.

Denver 120, Sacramento 118: Isaiah Thomas is back! He drilled two three-point field goals. Nikola Jokic with a triple double. The Kings blew a 17 points first half lead.

Brooklyn 148 Cleveland 138 3OT: DeMarre Carroll scored 14 of his 36 points in the third extra period. Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 42 in a losing cause for the 12-46 Cavaliers.

Enes Kanter has joined the Blazers as Portland looked to bolster their front court.

Thanks for reading CCI. Reach out at cswirsky@bulls.com or Twitter: @ctsbulls.

CCI will take its own All-Star break and will resume on February 22. Always a pleasure!

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/chucks-daily-check-021419

[reportfruit8-blog]

Nico’s Wild Ride, Phillies’ Wild Spending, Voters’ Wild Voting, and Other Bullets

The Little Boy is having a Thanksgiving program and feast at his school this morning, so I’m gonna go check that out. If there’s no stuffing, I’m yanking him from school.

The Arizona Fall League is coming to a close with its championship game this weekend, and for Cubs prospects, it’s already over. Top draft pick Nico Hoerner wound up hitting a whopping .337/.362/.506, which, even accounting for some BABIP inflation, is incredibly impressive when you consider the competition he was facing as a guy who had played exactly 14 pro games before coming into the league. The potential to be special is there, especially if he can stick at shortstop, and Hoerner will take some things away from the experience (MLB.com): “I feel like I understand already what I do that works for me at this level, but also things I really need to work on and got exposed in some ways. So for me moving forward, it helps my offseason knowing what I need to work on a lot. Pitch selection and approach, not so much I need to revamp my swing or anything but just getting to know how pitchers work and focusing on my strengths.”

Quite a year for Hoerner overall, eh? He gets picked in the first round by the Cubs, he glides through three levels of the minors quickly while raking, he hurts his elbow and is shut down, and then he gets to play in a postseason league that is full of quality prospects who’ve been pros for years. Oh and he puts up an OPS near .870 in the process.

More from the Cubs’ contingent in the AFL, as well as the need for a guy like Adbert Alzolay to come back strong:

We’ll get into this more in a Lukewarm Stove, but I just wanted to share it here so that I could comment artfully upon Scott Boras’s doubtless throbbing tumescence when he sees this headline:

This is insanity, and you are advised to check out the whole article/explanation to bask in the wrong-ness:

Chicago sports teams teaming up:

Second place in the MVP voting, first place in our hearts:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqOi0ChAKcd/

Before the snows truly descend:

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2018/11/16/nicos-wild-ride-phillies-wild-spending-voters-wild-voting-and-other-bullets/

[reportfruit8-blog]

Honoring 37+ years of service: Marketing Director Carol Kasper retires

This coming Friday will mark the end of a remarkable era: University of Chicago Press Marketing Director Carol Kasper will retire after more than 23 years as head of the Marketing Department, and nearly 38 years working at the Press.

We’ll let Press Director Garrett Kiely tell the story:

By any measure, January 20, 1981 was a momentous day. Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th President of the United States, the Iran hostage crisis ended, and Carol Ann Kasper started work at the University of Chicago Press as a part-time receptionist in the Journals Division.

When Carol arrived at the Press in 1981, she was not a stranger to the University of Chicago. She was an ABD doctoral student in the English Department who had earned an M.A. in American Literature from the University after graduating with a B.A. in English and a minor in German from Case Western Reserve University (She put that German experience to good use on her many visits to the annual Frankfurt Book Fair). She was promoted to full-time Marketing Copywriter later in 1981, Direct Marketing Manager in 1983, and was named Marketing Director in 1995. She has enjoyed a storied 23-year tenure in that position.

Carol’s influence on university press publishing was noted when she received the Association of University Presses’ Constituency Award in 2015. This is the highest honor given by our professional organization, and it recognizes an individual who has demonstrated active leadership and service, not only in service to the AUP but to the scholarly publishing community as a whole.

As noted in the ceremony celebrating her Constituency Award, Carol has mentored, supported, and trained dozens of people who are working at UCP and other university presses around the country. When people say that Chicago is the breeding ground for publishers, many of them emerged from under Carol’s wing. Within the Press, Carol is known for her kindness, patience, and practical experience. By her actions and personality, she has influenced every person and department at the Press.

Those of us who’ve worked with Carol know that every word of Garrett’s praise is true. We could not have asked for more in a colleague or boss than the support, mentoring, and confidence she’s given us. We will miss her—personality, cheer, and knowledge alike—tremendously. At the same time, we couldn’t be more excited for her as she starts this new chapter in her life.

Last Friday, Press staff (and a large number of Press alums from all over) gathered to pay tribute to our colleague, boss, and friend. You can see from the photos that it was a day of smiles and tears both, but there’s no question that happiness, gratitude, and appreciation were the dominant notes.

Congratulations, Carol. And thank you, for everything.

Source: http://pressblog.uchicago.edu/2018/10/31/honoring-37-years-of-service-marketing-director-carol-kasper-retires.html

[reportfruit8-blog]

Aces look to regain form in Pirates-Cubs clash

Two years ago, Chris Archer and Yu Darvish were All-Stars. Now they are both trying to regain All-Star form, or something close to it.

They will face off when the regular season resumes for Archer's visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and Darvish's Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon.

It's an important series for both National League Central foes. The Pirates find themselves just 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs for first place in the tightest division race in the majors.

"We're going to need to play better, and I think we, as a team, expect that," Cubs star Kris Bryant told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We completely underperformed in the first half. We let some games get away from us that we could easily have won. The questions and stories would be different right now, but we didn't do that and it's a little disappointing. But there are still a lot of games to be played."

The Pirates are waiting for Archer to turn things around. The right-hander enters the second half at 3-6 with a 5.49 ERA in 15 starts, and he has only pitched beyond six innings twice this season.

Archer and Darvish lead the NL in home runs allowed with 20 each, though Darvish has done so in three more starts. Archer gave up two homers to the Cubs in his last start before the break on July 3, and will be pitching on the north side of Chicago for the fourth time in his career.

Darvish (2-4, 5.01) is second in the league in wild pitches with eight and has six hit batters. He has yet to win at home this season and is 0-6 in his career at Wrigley Field.

The Pirates are powered by All-Star slugger Josh Bell, who led the majors at the break with 30 doubles and 84 RBIs and leads Pittsburgh with 27 home runs.

Bell was asked during All-Star festivities in Cleveland if he thinks the Pirates will make some moves to bolster their chances in the Central. He didn't seem to think much is needed.

"Hey, this is the squad we need. We may need one or two (more) guys here and there, but the guys we have right now are the guys who are going to take us to the next level and the guys who are going to take us to the postseason," Bell told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The Cubs have not been playing especially well of late, and figure to be buyers in the trade market with a half-game division lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago is 8-12 in its last 20 games, 13-17 in the last 30 and 15-16 against division opponents this season.

The Cubs are 3-4 against the Pirates this season, with just one run separating the teams in total runs scored against each other, 37 for Pittsburgh and 36 for the Cubs.

--Field Level Media

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/aces-look-regain-form-pirates-cubs-clash-231448150--mlb.html?src=rss

[reportfruit8-blog]

A look back at Ryan Arcidiacono's 2018-19 season

Ryan Arcidiacono before Bulls games in the United Center would stretch out and try to take it all in, and it had to be difficult and yet amazing to imagine at times for the long shot with the improving shot.

"I'd lay on the floor with about a minute or two left before we had to stand for the National Anthem and think how fortunate I am to be here in this organization and the opportunity and to play in the NBA," Arcidiacono said in an interview last week. "I've lived a very fortunate life and I've worked hard to get to this place. Not many people get here, I know that, and I have to cherish every opportunity I have."

Arcidiacono's accomplishment perhaps is not on the level of Tiger Woods' Master's golf tournament comeback, but it is an unexpected surprise, nonetheless.

Though a college star with the Villanova 2016 champions and Philadelphia native, the 6-3 Arcidiacono wasn't drafted by an NBA team and spent basically two years in the G-league before playing 81 games for the Bulls this season. That included back to back 22-point games early in the season and an average of 11.6 points on 39 percent three-point shooting in the last eight games with starter Kris Dunn out. Arcidiacono also finished third best in the NBA in assist/turnover ratio.

"People say stuff about you," the likable and always upbeat Arcidiacono said with a smile, "but I think given the opportunity they see I can play and that I have proved some doubters wrong and can play in this league and hopefully for a long time."

Arcidiacono doesn't know his NBA future yet since the Bulls can make him a qualifying offer to become a restricted free agent. But it seems certain after leading the team in the tough man categories the Bulls so much appreciate like games played and charges taken that Arcidiacono has earned himself a place in the NBA and also in the hearts of NBA fans.

"I've lived a very fortunate life and I've worked hard to get to this place. Not many people get here, I know that, and I have to cherish every opportunity I have." - Ryan Arcidiacono

It didn't seem that likely when Arcidiacono was passed over in the draft as a bit too slow and slender. He signed with the San Antonio Spurs for Summer League and played the season in the G-league in Austin. He had decided to play overseas after that, but there were issues with his contact and he ended up signing the Bulls' first two-way contract, spending most of the 2017-18 season in the G-league. He played briefly in 24 games for the Bulls, though primarily in Hoffman Estates where he could be found morning and night at workouts in the Sears Centre.

The work and commitment paid off as he started 32 games for the Bulls this season and worked his way up to third in assists and three-point shooting and leading in charges taken.

"I learned from a personal level I can play in this league and I can impact the games and I think I've taken pride in coming every day and working as hard as I can to be to be the best player I can be," Arcidiacono said. "I feel I was given a solid opportunity and took advantage of it. From a team standpoint, it's been tough because of all the injuries and the record, but we have a great group of young guys. I think it's been a positive year for me and a step in the right direction as a professional.

Ryan Arcidiacono shoots a big three against the San Antonio Spurs

"I'm more comfortable in games since the start of the season with the concepts we are trying to run and the coaching change, getting more and more comfortable with Jim (Boylen) at the helm and feel I played pretty solid the last couple of weeks of the season from a point guard perspective of being able to impact the game," Arcidiacono said. "That's what I try to do when I am out there."

Though Arcidiacono had those pair of 20-some scoring games early in the season amidst an avalanche of injuries that buried the season for the team, he takes pride primarily in the wins and whatever contribution he can make. That has included several instances of defending seven footers in the post and drawing changes by the veteran ruse of stepping back and drawing the offensive player into a traveling call. Arcidiacono is a 25-year-old with an old head.

"I've had games with two or three points where I was able to impact the game in a good way and did the little stuff to help us get a win. Not just the scoring," said Arcidiacono, "As I look back I try to write a little bit about each game, what I remember because there are so many games and what I learned and can learn going forward.

"The most encouraging and prideful I've been all year was that I even made the team," Arcidiacono admitted. "Before the season I didn't even know if I was going to make the team. But I worked my way into the lineup and impacted games and became someone who they can play in games and I can have a solid impact. I take great pride in that. I've been very fortunate with the situation and grateful for the opportunity that's been given to me. I found a home for this year and we'll see what happens.

"It's an accomplishment," Arcidiacono acknowledged, "but something I've been able to do my whole life is stay even keeled and level headed. I don't get too high on the highs and get too low on the lows. I think making the team was an expectation for me. I would have been disappointed if I were cut, but I'm also very grateful and do take great pride in being an NBA player and doing it my way. It hasn't been the easiest route there, but I am an NBA player and I feel as long as I continue to work hard it can happen and I can stick for a long time."

Arcidiacono headed back to Pennsylvania for a few days when the season ended, but he retains his apartment in Chicago and will be ready to get back to work.

"The most encouraging and prideful I've been all year was that I even made the team." - Ryan Arcidiacono

"You have to be very smart with summer workouts because basketball is such a grind and a long season, but I'll be in Chicago," Arcidiacono says. "I love Chicago in the summer time and then we'll figure things out.

"I think I had a solid year shooting the ball, up to 37, 38 percent (on threes)," he points out. "I started off great but need to be a little more consistent throughout the season. I went through a little slump, so I worked on a few moves here and there and being able to get to my spots, being a little more crafty around the rim. I feel I've taken steps in the right direction in finishing around the rim and looking at the basket and making plays for myself and not just my teammates. You have to keep working on little things. I was aggressive in practice and stuff, but my mindset is always to go out there and impact the game the best I can, stay aggressive and if I wanted to be on the floor I had to score a little myself.

"I really don't look ahead that much," Arcidiacono says. "I really try to focus on here and now because you never know where you are going to be next year, what is going to happen. You have to enjoy the process and the grind of getting better and seeing the improvements in the game. I know it might be a cliché of one day at a time, but I truly do take it one day at time and try to be the best player and person I can be."

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/look-back-ryan-arcidiaconos-2018-19-season