It’s my last blog! I can’t believe the end of the semester is here already! With this being the last blog, I don’t really want to spend it talking about sports, I’ve spent the whole semester doing that lol

I just want to recap my last semester as a college student and what I plan on doing next!

This semester was honestly super rough, even before all this COVID-19 stuff started. In January, I got a really bad case of the stomach flu that lasted weeks! I couldn’t keep anything down, and it all started with a Chick-Fil-A milkshake on the first Thursday classes of the semester. The semester started off so bad lol

And then in February, my grandma and one of my cats passed away, and then in that same time period, I got the Flu! That was one of the worst months of my life. I had to miss a whole week of classes, which I have never done before! And just as I was finally feeling better and getting back to normal, Coronavirus hit.

So basically, this semester really sucked and I’m glad it’s over! I’m so sad I missed out on the last months of senior year on campus. Us seniors really deserved to have fun, but that’s life.

As for my future, well I’m graduating with a Bachelors in Science in Sports Communication and I have my minor in Social Media Marketing, but there really aren’t any jobs available right now. I’ve been really considering going to law school actually, I took a law class in the Fall and became really interested! So, I am probably going to spend my summer studying for the LSAT test.

Anyway, I loved getting to know everyone in this class and learned a lot about them though the blogs, especially ones about animals bc so cute! Tweeting all semester also became fun, I forgot how much I love to talk about random things lol

Goodbye MTG 391 and Goodbye Bradley!

ESPN has debuted a documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 1997-98 season.

The 10-part documentary series takes an in-depth look at the the Chicago Bull’s dynasty through the lens of the final championship season in 1997-98. The Bulls allowed an NBA Entertainment crew to follow the team around for that entire season, and some of that never-before-seen footage will be featured in the documentary.

In addition, ESPN spoke to more than 100 people close to the team and personalities who experienced the run, exploring all angles of the Jordan phenomenon.

In Episode 1, Michael Jordan’s college and early NBA days are discussed in detail. Along with a preseason trip to Paris amid tension with GM Jerry Krause. Episode 2 discussed Scottie Pippen rising from obscurity to become one of the NBA’s best players, with talk about his problems with upper management of the team. Also, an injury early in Jordan’s career created distrust with Bulls management.

I highly enjoyed watching the first 2 episodes, I love watching behind-the-scenes of sport organizations and to see how the season ended with a championship after starting so badly. I wasn’t even born when all of this was going on, so it was really cool to see how the Bulls were back then and watch how it all really went down.

All I really knew about the Bulls back then was that they were really good, and Jordan was the best in the league. So, I like learning about the issues the players/coach had with the GM and how Pippen was treated with his contract.

Peoria was also mentioned and I thought that was crazy! The Bulls played an exhibition game at the Civic Center before Jordan’s first season back in 1985. Jordan talks about an event at a hotel in Peoria with players doing a lot of drugs, and I just laughed because….good ol’ Peoria lol

I’m really excited to watch the rest of the documentary series, and it made me want to watch Space Jam, so that’s on in the background as I write this lol

Even if you’re not a sports fan, you should check out the docu series because it gives so much insight into life at that time! 

With Arturas Karnisovas hired as the Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President – Basketball Operations. He will be responsible for all decisions made in Chicago’s basketball operations department.

His first decision was the relieve General Manager, Gar Forman of his duties. Forman first joined the Bulls as a scout way back in 1998 along with head coach Tim Floyd. Forman worked his way up the ranks and was eventually named general manager in 2009. He won Executive of the Year with Pat Riley in 2011 after Chicago won 62 games.

Unfortunately, Forman’s tenure with the Bulls went down him from there. There was the rift with Tom Thibodeau and the Fred Hoiberg debacle. There were key draft whiffs and bad trades. Jimmy Butler and his trainer both spoke out against Forman after the 2017 blockbuster trade. There were reports that Forman was using former assistant general manager/coach Randy Brown as a “spy” for him in the organization. This past November, several former players were reportedly upset about Forman’s behavior toward them during a reunion to celebrate Luol Deng.

In an interview from NBC Sports Chicago, Karnisovas talked about his decision to relieve Forman of any GM duties. He said “Regarding Gar, I think after some consideration and conversation, it was apparent we had different philosophies that would prevent us from moving forward. I’m sure Gar gave his best to the Bulls organization, but those decisions are never easy. I was hired to effect change in the current situation, so that was the decision behind that.”

Bulls fan have taken to social media in the past using the hashtag “Fire Garpax”, which included former GM, Gar Forman and former Vice President of Basketball Operations, John Paxson. Karnisovas took over Paxson’s role, but still kept him around the team. For Forman, he is no longer part of the team or organization.

With “Garpax” being around since 1998, I think a change needed to happen in the Bulls front office. The Bulls have not been good for a while, and it stems from decisions that the GM and Basketball Operations team made.

I, along with so many other Bulls fans are excited to see where Karnisovas takes the team, and can finally start respecting the Bulls front office and organization.

Hey guys! For this weeks blog I’m going to talks about my favorite Chicago sports team’s stadium/arenas/whatever they are called! I have been to the United Center, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, and uhhhh whatever the White Sox stadium is called now (Guaranteed Rate Field) lol I think that’s almost every big professional team! I haven’t been to the arena where the Chicago Sky WNBA team plays!

So, to start out my favorite stadium/field/arena would be where the Blackhawks and Bulls play, the United Center. This is mostly because it is the stadium I have been to the most and have the most memories with. I have been to tons of Hawks game and their preseason fan fest, and even the NHL draft a couple years ago. Hockey was the sport I fell in love with and made me realize that I wanted to work in sports! It will always be my first love lol I love the atmosphere in the UC during Hawks game, it is so electrifying! I have not seen a Bulls game there yet, I plan to in the future!

My next favorite is Soldier Field! I have always been a Bears fan growing up, but I have only recently become engulfed with the sport as a whole. Football is my newest favorite sport, I have watched more football than hockey the past couple of years. I have been to two Bears games, one in 2015 and the other in 2018. The game in 2018 was the NFC North Title game against the Packers, where the Bears actually won! That was the best sports game I have ever been to! The atmosphere was something else, it was incredible to experience that game with so many Bears fans. It is a game I’ll never forget! Also, Soldier Field gets bonus points for hosting the Blackhawks celebration rally in 2015 that I went to and that was magical lol

Wrigley Field is up next, I have only been to Wrigley one time for a Cubs game, but it was really fun! However, they didn’t score a single run butttt I had fun anyway lol It was one of the first places I legally bought alcohol, so that’s always good lol I also got to get a little plastic baseball hat full of ice cream which who doesn’t love that! It was such a pretty day with great weather last June! Also, my mom always told me this story about how my grandpa, who was a big time editor for the Chicago Tribune got to park in the firehouse behind Wrigley because they really liked him? So, they didn’t have to deal with parking, because Wrigley is in the middle of a city lol Interesting story and it would never happen today lol

Lastly, is the White Sox stadium, Guaranteed Rate Field. Now, I have never actually been to a game here, but I got to tour the entire building and field during a class I took last May, and it was really cool! I am not a Sox fan, even though my cat is named after them lol but it was still a really cool park, semi-sketchy area butttt yeah idk what else to say about it!

If you have been to any of the Chicago sports stadiums, what is your favorite?

To help give fans a glimpse of how the athletes are handling the quarantine, the NHL over the last few days made the captains of all 31 teams available via video conference call in a group-type setting sorted by division. On Tuesday, it was the Central Division’s turn that featured Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, Alex Pietrangelo of the St. Louis Blues and Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks in the first group.

Toews said he has remained in Chicago, where he’s self-isolating in his new home with his girlfriend and their little Yorkie. He joked that he didn’t have much motivation to do anything the first three to five days of the quarantine period, but since then has stayed active by riding a stationary bike and preparing as if hockey could return at any point, even though that remains unclear.

“I can’t complain, still finding stuff to do,” said Toews, who has spent the past two nights watching Season 3 of Ozark. “Moved into a new place during the season this year and I think you guys can all agree, during the year you kind of put a lot on the backburner with how busy the schedule was and all that, so just catching up, calling some friends and little things that I don’t have time to do when we’re in season.”

Toews was also asked about the state of the franchise and his thoughts on Chairman, Rocky Wirtz confirming that the Blackhawks’ leadership group of President & CEO John McDonough, GM Stan Bowman and head coach Jeremy Colliton will return for the 2020-21 season.

“Regardless of what’s going on in the organization, I think your job as a captain and as a player and for myself and the other guys that have been in the room for a while, it’s just to focus on getting the most out of ourselves but [also] getting the most out of our group,” Toews said. “We’ve been through quite a few serious injuries with key players, guys that have experience in the playoffs but that brought that character and that leadership in the room as well, so I think that definitely hurt us.”

Toews has been a great captain for many years and I’m excited to see how the team does next season!

Hey guys! Back to talking about weekly sport updates!

This past week, the Chicago Bears signed quarterback Nick Foles from the Jaguars in exchange for the compensatory fourth-round draft pick they were recently awarded by the NFL.

The pick, which the Bears received based on a net loss of free agents in 2019, is the 34th selection in the fourth round and 140th in the draft overall.

Foles, 31, has appeared in 58 NFL games and compiled a 26-22 record in 48 starts over eight seasons with the Eagles (2012-14, 2017-18), Rams (2015), Chiefs (2016) and Jaguars (2019).

After one-year stints with the Rams and Chiefs, Foles returned to the Eagles in 2017. When starter Carson Wentz sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 14, Foles stepped in and helped lead Philadelphia to the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

In three playoff wins, Foles threw for 971 yards and six touchdowns with a 115.7 rating. He earned MVP honors in Super Bowl LII after leading the Eagles to a 41-33 victory over the Patriots by passing for 373 yards and three TDs with a 106.1 rating and catching a 1-yard touchdown pass from current Bears tight end Trey Burton on a trick play dubbed the “Philly Special.”

Last March Foles signed a four-year contract with the Jaguars. But he broke his left clavicle in the first game of the season and underwent surgery. He returned to action in early November and ended up making four starts.

Foles will be new to the Bears, but he is already familiar with coach Matt Nagy and two of his assistants. Nagy worked with Foles as an offensive quality coach with the Eagles in 2012 and Chiefs offensive coordinator in 2016.

New Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was Eagles quarterbacks coach in 2013 when Foles passed for 27 touchdowns and two interceptions, while new Bears quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo worked with Foles as Eagles quarterbacks coach in 2017 when Philadelphia won the Super Bowl and as Jaguars offensive coordinator last season.

The Bears also parted ways with Chase Danisels, their main backup to quarterback, Mitch Trubisky.

With all that being said…we can assume that Foles will be backup to Trubisky. I think the team wants to create competition for Trubisky after last seasons…mess lol He definitely needs someone to make him want to play for his role on the team.

This may be a good match for the Bears, but I still do not think Trubisky is a franchise quarterback and needs to either prove himself this season or he needs to be gone lol

We’ll see if the NFL season is able to even start with training camps in July and preseason in August due to Corona virus.

Hey guys! It has been a rough week since I last posted. It was so sad having to leave campus and not knowing when we’ll be back. For all my fellow seniors, it it extremely hard not knowing if we will ever be able to see our friends again and even celebrate our last month in college, or even have a graduation. There are so many uncertainties going on and the world feels like it’s ending.

On top of everything closing for the rest of the month and social distancing, which means spring break will be spent at home doing nothing. The entire sports world has come to an abrupt stop. With the NBA being the first league to suspend their season, after a player tested positive for CoronaVirus.

All other leagues followed in their footsteps, even our very own NCAA March Madness was cancelled. I was so excited to see Bradley play and actually beat Michigan State this year 😦

With all this canceling and suspending of teams and leagues, we have to think about all those who work for these teams and leagues and worry about their job safety.

The Blackhawks and Bulls have announced that all United Center workers will be payed for the remainder of the scheduled season.

Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf released a joint statement with Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz on Saturday that says:

“The United Center ownership and the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, on behalf of our front offices and players, will pay day-of-game employees through the remainder of the originally scheduled season. Our employees, whether they be front office staff, or our approximately 1,200 day-of-game staff, are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation together.”

This is great news to hear in light of the country and world’s current situation, yeah fans will not be able to watch sports for awhile, and players won’t be able to play their sports, but the most important take away is that people all around the country and world are losing their jobs.

So many places are not able to pay their workers while they have to close for a couple months, the Bulls, Blackhawks and the United Center makes tons of money and can afford to pay workers while they stay home.

I feel for all those people out there that are living pay check to pay check and cannot afford to stay home from work.

So, yes we will have to live without watching sports for a bit, but we can do that. We should focus on those who are really struggling through this time. Thank you to all the sport’s teams, grocery stores, big box stores and any other places that are paying their workers during this hard time.

Ben Zobrist hasn’t officially hung up his spikes, but the former Cubs utilityman and has no plans to play in 2020.

The fan favorite Zobrist briefly talked to reporters Friday in Arizona, saying he’s more focused on his family right now.

Zobrist went through a trying 2019 season in which he spent four months on the restricted list. The 38-year-old stepped away from the Cubs in May to address a personal matter. He showed he has plenty left in the tank upon returning in September, hitting .284 with a .377 on-base percentage in 21 games.

Although he’s content not joining a big league roster right now, Zobrist wants to keep his relationship with the Cubs organization going. He hasn’t been in uniform, but he’s been at the club’s spring camp this week.

With Zobrist being a free agent, I know there will be talk on what the Cubs will do. I am sad that he is not going to play anytime soon. He was such a dynamite player for the Cubs the past couple of years.

There were talks of him and his wife, Julianna getting a divorce, which is something that is huge and understandable to take a few steps back from your career.

Personal life is way more important than playing baseball, those are the people that will be around you when your career is over. I really hope he can bounce back from this and eventually play again.

The Blackhawks traded goaltender Robin Lehner to the Golden Knights for goaltender Malcolm Subban, defenseman prospect Slava Demin and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft prior to the NHL’s trade deadline Monday.

Lehner is 16-10-5 with a .918 save percentage, 3.01 goals-against average and 10.53 goals-saved above average this season, his first with Chicago since signing a one-year, $5 million contract July 1. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Lehner, however, wanted to stay with the Blackhawks as he offered to take a three-year contract extension for less money but he “never got an offer,” a source told Mark Lazerus of The Athletic.

Lehner and veteran Blackhawks goaltender, Corey Crawford were consistently vying for that top goalie spot all season. Crawford has proved himself to be great over the years he’s spent with Chicago, but lately his abilities have not been top notch.

Chicago has had issues lately with finding a goalie to eventually move on from Crawford, who is 35 years old and has many health issues the past couple of seasons. With this trade, it is led to believe that the Blackhawks plan to stick with Crawford in the near future.

I think this is one of Stan Bowman’s (General Manager) worst trades, second to trading Artemi Panarin a couple seasons ago. You have a great goalie, who was a Vezina Trophy (awarded to the goalie voted the best at his position) finalist last season, that is willing to take a pay cut to stay with your team, but you choose to just trade him away.

The Blackhawks need to think about the future of their team, their core players are all well into their thirties and they are not left with any good, younger players besides Alex Debrincat.

What do you guys think about this trade?