Chris Chelios gave his generation of fans the stories and nostalgia they sought while simultaneously making new fans out of the younger generations during a heartfelt, big-budget Blackhawks jersey retirement ceremony Sunday at the United Center. With his 90-year-old mother, Sue, and his four kids and former Hawks teammates including Jeremy Roenick and Ed Belfour in attendance, as well as a star-studded collection of friends ranging from Wayne Gretzky to John McEnroe to Dennis Rodman to Eddie Vedder, Chelios blew well past his allotted speaking time to no one’s surprise and everyone’s enjoyment.
In his first return to the United Center, Patrick Kane initially made one lap around the neutral zone, thanking Blackhawks fans for their deafening ovation. Then the ovation continued long enough to necessitate a second lap. And then long enough to necessitate a third lap. For two minutes that felt more like two hours, the season-high crowd of 21,141 at the United Center continuously roared in appreciation.
The Chicago Bears could be excused for experiencing a few flashbacks as the final stretch unfolded with another comfortable lead over the Detroit Lions. Only this time, there was no late collapse. The Bears held their ground and took a big step forward in the process. Justin Fields threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Chicago played its most impressive game of the season, beating the NFC North-leading Lions 28-13 on Sunday.
Max Verstappen notched up yet another Formula 1 victory in Las Vegas, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to claim a record 20th win in a season for Red Bull. There were multiple leaders and battles throughout the field, with incidents and penalties ultimately deciding the podium order. The world champion endured a penalty for clashing with Leclerc on the first lap and had to drive around damage picked up in another incident with Mercedes driver George Russell, but still went on to take his 18th win of the season. Team-mate Sergio Perez was embroiled in a last lap tussle with Leclerc for second, the Ferrari man snatching second in a surprise dive at Turn 14.
The Bulls have kept up the chase all this season, Washington, Sacramento, New Orleans and Phoenix, all seeming to wash away their hopes like going over Niagara Falls, and then came Saturday’s 129-121 victory over the Portland Trailblazers.
“We’ve talked about it enough,” said Zach LaVine, whose 36 points held off a 40-point barrage from Portland’s Damian Lillard. “We know how to play that way and showed it before. So now we’ve just got to do it consistently and come in the next game with the same mentality and keep it up. We’ve got to stay with what we’re doing, the same mindset.
“Offensively, we’re good enough to get back in any game,” said LaVine about a 17-point third quarter Bulls deficit. “We started playing for each other and scrambling on the defensive end. Our energy got brought up. We’ve got three guys who can get 40 any night. Whenever you play against someone like (Lillard) the competitor comes out in you. You have to have that mindset every game. I think that’s what’s been holding us back.”
Blackhawks melt down early in blowout loss to Kraken
The Blackhawks’ sellout crowd of 20,075 watched the Hawks allow six goals in the first 14 minutes of an 8-5 defeat Saturday, overshadowing Patrick Kane’s late goal in his return from injury. Once the game began, the Hawks delivered their worst performance in a season full of bad ones, losing 8-5 to the Kraken after surrendering six goals on seven shots in the first 14 minutes of the game. The result ended a three-game winning streak.
While quarterback Justin Fields had a record-breaking day as the Bears offense continued to ascend, the defense once again struggled throughout a 35-32 loss to the Dolphins Sunday at Soldier Field. With 178 rushing yards, Fields broke the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a regular-season game in NFL history held by Michael Vick, who ran for 173 yards Dec. 1, 2002 against the Vikings. He also broke the record for the longest TD run by a quarterback in Bears history on a 61-yard score in the third quarter.
Right-hander Keegan Thompson did his part to keep the sluggish White Sox offense in the doldrums, pitching five innings of one-run ball and the Cubs pinned five runs on veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto in a 5-1 victory Saturday before a sellout crowd of 37,820 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
On October 26, 1984, Michael Jordan made his NBA debut with the Chicago Bulls. Of the 25 ticket stubs that are still around today, there is only one known full, unused ticket from the season opener against the Washington Bullets. The historic piece of sports memorabilia comes courtesy of a former Northwestern student and Washington, D.C. native that was gifted two seats to the game by Bullets executive Jerry Sachs. With no one to take his extra ticket, he went to the game alone and held on to his spare, unused ticket for the last 38 years.
DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Houston Rockets 133-118 on Monday night. DeRozan, who scored 38 points in Sunday’s win over the Lakers after missing three games due to the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, received help from five teammates who scored in double figures.
The Bulls never trailed and led by 25 during the first half. They have won two consecutive games and six of their last eight.
The Blackhawks completed the comeback on Friday afternoon to pull a 3-2 win over the Blues after trailing 2-0 at the first intermission.
Alex DeBrincat scored the game-winner in overtime to complete the comeback bid, following regulation goals from Jujhar Khaira in the second and Brandon Hagel with just over five minutes to play in the third. Kevin Lankinen made 23 saves in his second win of the year.
An impressive display of complementary football fueled the Bears to an exciting 20-9 win over the Raiders Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. With their second straight win—and first in three road games this season—the Bears improved to 3-2, one game behind the first-place Packers (4-1) in the NFC North.
White Sox destroy Cubs 17-13 and win Crosstown Cup
The White Sox offense came alive in the bottom of the third with back-to-back doubles by Luis Robert and José Abreu, making that José’s second RBI of the game. Moncada drove in another with a bloop to center (he’s good, just stop), halving the deficit. And then, just like that …
It’s a whole new ball game. Two more reached base following an Andrew Vaughn HBP and a Tim Anderson … WALK?! And then the White Sox took the lead following probably the most embarrassing error by a shortstop ever. And Eloy drove in two more, making it 9-6.
ReyLo shut it down again in the top of the fifth, and the Sox poured on four more with Robert, Moncada, and Yaz RBIs putting them WELL into double digits. The inning ended the way many innings seem to end this year, a Leury García ground out with RISP.
In the top of the seventh, Mike Wright gave up a solo HR to Michael Hermosillo. If you don’t know who either of those guys are, that’s fine, it doesn’t matter, because the White Sox were still up by six. By the bottom of the seventh, the White Sox were back to double the Cubs’ total thanks to an Andrew Vaughn RBI. Jake Lamb came in to pinch-hit for Tim Anderson, and he popped out to Andrew Romine, who actually caught the ball this time.
Crochet came in in the top of the eighth, inheriting two base runners from Wright and giving up three runs on Ian Happ and Jason Hayward doubles. Crochet closed out the inning with the Sox still up, 14-10. At this point, many White Sox fans were asking, what is happening?
And then, just like that … it’s a brand new ball game. Well, not really, but if this also sounds familiar it’s because Yasmani Grandal hit ANOTHER three-run homer.
And finally, FINALLY, after over FOUR HOURS, the 2021 Crosstown Cup belongs in the hands of its rightful owners, the Chicago White Sox.
Thank you for attending the Yasmani & ReyLo Show, have a good night.
In a season full of exciting moments, where the White Sox have built a 10-game lead in the American League Central over the Indians, Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Yankees before 37,696 at Guaranteed Rate Field probably would not be included on that particular highlight reel.
