Bears Lose Pro Scouting Director to Chiefs

May 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: Brad Biggs
Source: Tribune

After a busy free-agent period, the Bears have a new man running their pro personnel department.

Kevin Turks, who has been with the franchise since 2001, was promoted into the role Friday, sources in the scouting community said. Turks replaces Chris Ballard, whom general manager Phil Emery moved into the role a year ago. Ballard has departed to accept a promotion with the Chiefs.

The Bears got out of the gate quickly in free agency, signing left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett. In all, the team signed 14 veterans in free agency, nine of them new to the organization and five of them players who were re-signed. Ballard played a key role in all of that work.

Sources said the Bears moved swiftly to replace Ballard with Turks as director of pro personnel. Dwayne Joseph, who along with Turks had been an assistant director, gets an associate title.

Read the rest of the story here.

 

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Bulls Lose Game 6, Nets Tie Series

May 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: Andrew Seligman
Source: NBC Chicago

It may be known as the “flu game.”

With Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Nate Robinson battling flu symptoms, the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night dropped Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Brooklyn Nets.

With the Bulls’ 95-92 loss at the United Center, the series goes back to Brooklyn for Game 7 on Saturday, with the winner getting defending champion Miami in the second round.

Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson each scored 17 points to help the Nets avoid elimination.

The Bulls hung in until the end even though they were missing Deng and Kirk Hinrich.

A layup by Nazr Mohammed cut the Nets’ lead to 93-92 with 25.2 seconds remaining.

Nate Robinson then fouled Andray Blatche, who had missed a free throw only moments earlier. This time, he hit both to make it a three-point game with 19.2 seconds left.

The Bulls had a chance to tie it, but Marco Belinelli missed a 3-pointer and Joakim Noah stepped out of bounds with about six seconds left.

Chicago still had a chance, though.

Noah tied up Williams after the inbounds, resulting in a jump ball with 3.6 seconds left.

Johnson controlled the ball, and the Nets hung on.

Gerald Wallace added 15 points as Brooklyn won its second straight.

Read the rest of the article here.

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Pace Expands Bolingbrook-Chicago Service

May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: Melissa Sersland
Source: Bolingbrook Patch 

Pace has announced that, starting Monday, it will increase service on both Bolingbrook-to-Chicago routes.

The success of Pace’s bus-on-shoulder experiment, which allows buses to ride on the shoulder of I-55, has meant increased overall ridership — and now, the need for increased service.

On Tuesday, Pace announced it will begin offering new trips on routes 755 (Plainfield-Illinois Medical District Express) and 855 (Plainfield-East Loop Express).

Both routes depart the Park-N-Ride at the Plainfield Village Center. Route 855 also includes stops in Romeoville.
Read the rest of the story here.

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Bickell Scores in OT, Blackhawks Win Game 1

May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Source: ESPN

All a great regular season got the Chicago Blackhawks when they playoffs began Tuesday night was a lot of extra work.

At least they started the playoffs on a winning note.

Bryan Bickell scored in overtime on a two-on-one rush, and the Blackhawks escaped with a victory after dominating the regular season, beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1 Tuesday night.

Corey Crawford settled down after allowing a weak goal in the opening minutes. Marian Hossa also scored, and the Blackhawks took the early lead in this first-round series.

Game 2 is Friday at the United Center.

“We just needed to stay patient,” Bickell said. “We were getting our opportunities. Not odd-man rushes like they were, but we got the one, and to capitalize on it is huge. With our speed, through the whole season a lot of teams were trying to shut us down and let us get frustrated.”

The Blackhawks finally put this one away when Johnny Oduya chipped the puck off the boards up to Viktor Stalberg on the right side. Stalberg then dished it on the two-on-one rush to Bickell, who was all alone for the winning backhander at 16:35.

Read the rest of the article here.

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Beaten on Boards, Bulls Fall in Game 5

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: KC Johnson
Source: Chicago Tribune

Given that the Bulls have waited two years for a rematch with the Heat, two days for another chance doesn’t seem like that long.

The Nets forced Thursday’s Game 6 at the United Center with Monday night’s 110-91 triumph at the Barclays Center, rebounding with the confidence and big plays they lacked in their epic Game 4 collapse that led to their loss in triple overtime.

Key word: Rebounding.

The Bulls surrendered 17 offensive rebounds and allowed the Nets to pile up a 24-12 edge in second-chance points, both areas the Bulls typically dominate.

“We got our asses kicked,” Joakim Noh said. “They were more physical than us. We’re not happy about that.”

Deron Williams took over the third quarter, Andray Blatche and Gerald Wallace came up big in the fourth and Brook Lopez proved a force throughout as the Nets this time held on to a double-digit lead.

Read the rest of the story here.

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Bulls Hold Off Nets to Take 2-1 Series Lead

April 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Source: Bleacher Report

It wasn’t pretty, but after four, dynamic quarters, the Chicago Bulls sank the Brooklyn Nets 79 to 76, as they took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Game 3 began just as the series did—with Brooklyn in full control. Looking to bounce back after dropping Game 2, Deron Williams led the Nets early, while Chicago struggled in the opening minutes.

By the end of the quarter, the tides had turned dramatically.

With Brooklyn struggling to score, the Bulls took full command, concluding the final 6:24 of the first quarter with a 14-0 run. Despite inactivity from Joakim Noah, a masterful performance from Carlos Boozer led a well-balanced Chicago attack, as the Nets seemed unable to garner an iota of momentum.

The domination lasted well into the second quarter, with the Nets connecting on just four field goals, although a handful of free throws allowed the team to miraculously enter the second half down by a just seven points.

For more game three recap and video highlights click here.

 

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Why is Derrick Rose held to a different standard than Jay Cutler?

April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: Rick Telander
Source: Sun-Times

He comes out before the game, sits on the Bulls’ bench and starts to lace up his new Adidas D Rose 3.5s.

Derrick Rose is ever friendly, ever courteous, so you ask him, ‘‘When are you going to play?’’

 He doesn’t say anything, just smiles. Not a happy smile. Not a sarcastic smile. But a smile that, if I’m reading it correctly, says: ‘‘I wish I knew.’’‘‘How about those shoes?’’ you say, just for conversation. ‘‘They weigh, like, 12 ounces ?’’

‘‘Less than that, I think,’’ he replies, taking an unlaced shoe off his foot and handing it to you for inspection.

This is not an arrogant superstar, people, but it might be a confused one. Surely, it is.

Rose hasn’t played in almost a year since having surgery on his left knee, and he didn’t play in the Bulls’ 90-82 victory Monday against the Brooklyn Nets that evened their playoff series 1-1.

Could the Bulls use Rose? Could Noah — the one from the Bible, not the one on the Bulls — have used an animal trainer?

 Read more about Telander’s breakdown here.

 

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Bulls Ratchet up Defense to Stifle Nets, Even Series

April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: Nick Friedell
Source: ESPN Chicago

The tone of the Chicago Bulls’ hard-fought 90-82 win over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals wasn’t set at any point during the actual victory on Monday night.

The tone was actually set in a lower-level meeting room in one of New York City’s swankiest hotels Sunday afternoon, just hours after Tom Thibodeau’s team was embarrassed in Game 1 on Saturday. That’s when the hard-charging coach let his team have it for playing without the type of edge that has set them apart in a season in which expectations were tempered because of ongoing issues to key players.

“He was really laying into guys,” Bulls forwardTaj Gibson said inside of a raucous visitor’s locker room at the Barclays Center. “I never saw him so inflamed. He was really calling guys out, letting guys know what he needed (them) to do. Everybody needed to go out there and dominate their matchup, go out and just put forth effort, and he really challenged guys the last couple days.”

Obviously, the Bulls got the message loud and clear. After allowing the Nets to do whatever they wanted on both ends of the floor Saturday night, Thibodeau’s bunch pulled together for the type of win that has become their trademark during his three-year tenure. Just when you’re ready to count out this Bulls’ team, they pull themselves up off the mat and find a way to win when the odds are against them. The Bulls played together and slowed down the Nets, holding them to 35.4 percent shooting from the field.

For more recaps about the game and what to look for game three click here.

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Alderman Favors Raising Smoking Age to 21

April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By: Fran Spielman
Source: Chicago Sun Times

Chicago should consider banning cigarette sales to smokers under 21 to slow an epidemic of teen smoking, an influential alderman said Monday.

Hours after New York City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Christine Quinn proposed raising her city’s legal smoking age from 18 to 21, Health Committee Chairman George Cardenas (12th) talked about Chicago following the Big Apple’s lead.

“That’s something worth exploring because more kids are smoking now,” said Cardenas, who didn’t immediately provide data to back that up.

In 2009, nearly 1 in 5 high school students — or 20 percent — smoked cigarettes. Teen smoking has dropped every year since the 1990s, but progress was slowing by 2009, according to the latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cardenas has proposed that young people under 21 be prohibited from purchasing energy drinks in Chicago.

 

For more about the alderman’s opinion and the  mayor’s response click here.

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WCKG Sports in Arizona with Sox Skipper Ventura

March 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WCKG_Sports-RobinVenturaJohnnyVon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WCKG Sports Director Johnny Von takes one for the team at White Sox Spring Training in Arizona!

Follow Johnny Von on facebook, on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube Channel here.

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