other news: googlenews ap upi nytimes bbc csmonitor

Chicago Sun Times
Index
Study: Key to happiness is having friends at church ...
Attending religious services regularly and having close friends in your congregation are keys to having a happier, more satisfying life, a new study finds. Even attending services irregularly — several times a year — increases a person’s sense of well-being, as long as there is a circle of friendships within …
Mug shots in the news ...
Recent mug shots in the news. …
Meter, cop, tax referenda won't be on ballot ...
Chicago voters will not get a chance to weigh in on whether they want to renegotiate the parking meter lease, eliminate 910 police vacancies authorized by the city budget or adopt a transaction tax on LaSalle Street exchanges. Monday’s special City Council meeting called to consider placing those three non-binding …
...
…
More college students taking degree programs online ...
Danny Ashcom reports for class in the living room of his Uptown one-bedroom apartment. The 32-year-old counselor is earning an online master's degree in computer science through the University of Illinois at Springfield. He started the program in August, the same month he graduated with a traditional bricks-and-mortar master's degree …
State senator pushes bill seeking replacement of Metra board ...
The Metra board has taken a lot of heat since revelations that former Metra executive director Philip Pagano took $475,000 in pay for unused vacation time, even when he took the vacations. After Pagano's suicide in May, the board took steps to provide more oversight on staff pay and benefits. …
Studies explore nature of generosity ...
Generous impulses often are described in fund-raising appeals, conversation and greeting cards as coming "from the heart." In fact, the origins of giving probably are deep in the brain's circuitry. The University of Notre Dame is leading a new research initiative to explain why some people give and some don't. …
Cops: Returning student caught with gun ...
Eutimio Rodriguez was among the few students honored for academic excellence on a wall banner at George Washington School, Chicago Public Schools staff said. But when the 18-year-old returned to his former school Tuesday, he had a loaded gun hidden in an ankle holster, police said. Rodriguez -- who'd never …
Big dreams for Northerly Island ...
Northerly Island would get a dramatic makeover that would expand its nature sanctuary to Lake Michigan with a series of offshore reefs -- complete with a sunken ship -- that would create a water playground for swimmers, divers and kayakers under plans unveiled by the Chicago Park District Thursday. In …
Mourners honor slain CHA officer ...
Slain former Chicago Housing Authority police officer Stephen Peters loved the comic hero Superman, and adopted that name for himself. So his mother, Laura Peters, slipped a Superman toy into her son's jacket to accompany him in his coffin. Peters' father, Robert Peters, said that gesture "was the hardest thing …
Schools snub grading system, make up own rules ...
At Chicago's Northside College Prep, the top-scoring public high school in the state, a student who scores a 90 on a test gets an A. But at another elite college prep, Whitney Young Magnet, that same score merits just a B. It's also a B at Robeson Achievement Academy -- …
Vietnam vet awarded Purple Heart in surprise ceremony ...
Forty years ago, while fighting in Cambodia, Chicagoan Jim DePersia was hit by a bullet that pierced his shoulder, lung and shattered a vertebra before exiting his lower back. It just missed his heart -- and DePersia kept fighting. But DePersia, who is now 61 and lives in Cedar Lake …
Sheriff's deputy allegedly 'decked' woman at tavern, got punched ...
A Cook County Sheriff's deputy has been put on desk duty after he was arrested early Friday for allegedly punching a woman at a Southwest Side bar. Joseph Ranzino, 49, of Marengo, was arrested at Cha Cha's, 3900 S. Western Ave., police said. Ranzino walked up to a 43-year-old woman …
Top 100 elementary schools in Illinois ...
…
Woman pleads guilty in minority-owned business scheme ...
A Naperville woman accused of running a bogus minority-owned business to get city contracts pleaded guilty to a federal charge, averting a trial that was to begin on Monday. But the amount of jail time 61-year-old Aurora Venegas will face is already in dispute after she pleaded guilty to just …
Semi-naked invited to run for a worthy cause Saturday ...
Ho! Ho! Whoa!!! Nearly naked folks dashing through the city- Yep. Saturday, as the Santa Speedo Run gets under way. The event, benefitting the Chicago Diabetes Project, starts at Shenanigans, 16 W. Division, where a $40 cover gets each participant access to a three-hour open bar and snacks, a Flip …
Texas pressures Mexico over lake shooting ...
AUSTIN, Texas — The search for an American tourist reportedly shot dead on a border lake has led Texas Gov. Rick Perry to tangle with the Mexican government over the investigation and efforts to recover the body. Perry this week urged Calderon to call him within 48 hours to update …
How to avoid job-hunting scams ...
With unemployment rates at an all-time high, hunting for a job is harder than ever. And to make matters worse, the ever-innovative con artist has jumped aboard. Job-seekers need to be careful of employment scams, says Steve J. Bernas, president of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. …
Credit card law offers protection for consumers ...
It's no secret that credit cards can get consumers into trouble. Spend more than you're allowed, get hit with exorbitant fees. Miss a payment, see your interest rates shoot through the roof. Pay the minimum payment every month, and it could take a lifetime to get rid of the entire …
'Dibs' can be an abuse of winter parking tradition ...
We could have our first snow this week. So here's a little message about parking. The Ride knows that there is a Chicago tradition of "dibs," marking shoveled-out parking spaces with chairs, broomsticks, birdcages and buckets. But the Ride also feels incredibly discouraged when she sees people marking "dibs" when …
Outgoing Ald. Smith: Keep Weis as top cop ...
In his last day on the job, Chicago’s longest-serving black alderman on Tuesday urged whoever wins the race for mayor to retain embattled Police Supt. Jody Weis. “Morale is at rock-bottom because people don’t like it because he puts them out there, kicks them in the rear end and makes …
Record objections against candidates ...
By Abdon M. Pallasch and Fran Spielman Staff Reporters A record 426 objections were filed by Tuesday’s deadline against many of the 20 candidates for mayor, the 350 candidates for aldermen and a handful of candidates for city clerk and city treasurer. Last week, 15 challenges were filed against mayoral …
Audit: About 1,400 city stickers 'missing' ...
Nearly 1,400 city stickers are "missing" and unaccounted for - at a potential loss to Chicago taxpayers of $134,325 - because of lax internal controls and sloppy record-keeping at a satellite city clerk's office where residents paid $3.9 million last year to purchase city stickers, passports and residential parking permits …
Fewer cops on North Side- ...
Police districts on Chicago's North Side would lose beat officers to South Side and West Side districts if the city were to reallocate cops based on the volume of 911 calls and backups for police service, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found. Police Supt. Jody Weis is expected to unveil …
Daley won't let up on snow removal despite retirement ...
Politics and snow removal have been intertwined in Chicago every since the Blizzard of '79 that buried then-Mayor Michael Bilandic. What happens now that Mayor Daley is retiring and there's no political motivation to pick up the snow before it hits the ground- "We're professional people. We're not looking at …
Business
AGL Resources buying Nicor in $2.38B deal ...
AGL Resources Inc. is buying Nicor Inc. for about $2.38 billion in cash and stock in a deal that would combine two regional natural gas distributors.Atlanta-based AGL is paying a premium of about 12 percent for Nicor, which is based outside Chicago in Naperville, Ill.The companies said in announcing the …
Microsoft unveils new privacy feature for IE ...
Microsoft Corp. is tweaking its Internet Explorer with an upcoming feature that will let users add lists of sites that they do and don’t want tracking them, a peace offering as the debate about websites’ shady surveillance tactics heats up. The announcement Tuesday comes amid uproar over the sneaky ways …
Caterpillar: Korean trade deal will mean Ill. jobs ...
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Caterpillar Inc. officials believe the United States’ potential new trade deal with South Korea will mean new jobs at its manufacturing sites in central Illinois. Caterpillar spokeswoman Bridget Young told the (Peoria) Journal Star on Monday that previous trade deals with Chile and Australia have helped …
UPS to require photo IDs for shipping packages ...
NEW YORK (AP) — UPS is now requiring photo identification from customers shipping packages at retail locations around the world, a month after explosives made it on to one of the company’s planes. The Atlanta-based package courier said Tuesday the move is part of an ongoing review to enhance security. …
Stocks pop after Obama, GOP agree on taxes ...
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose broadly after President Barack Obama and Republican leaders agreed to a package of tax cuts and an extension of unemployment benefits. Bond prices fell as traders moved money into riskier assets. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index and the Nasdaq composite traded above their …
...
…
More hiring expected in area ...
More Chicago metropolitan area employers are planning to boost hiring in the first quarter next year, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which was the most optimistic for the area in two years. Fourteen percent of respondents plan to add staff, up from 8 percent a year earlier. …
Photo finishers: Perfect gift choices ...
I’m continuing my Holiday Gift Guide with the toughest category of the bunch: pocket cameras. I yearn for the days when there were only three models of digital cameras and two of them had the image quality of an Etch-A-Sketch. To simplify your shopping, I’ve boiled down the choices to …
Online sales up 12 percent from last year ...
Shoppers are staying busy this holiday season, as online sales have jumped 12 percent from the same period a year ago, to $16.8 billion, says online tracking firm ComScore. On Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving — online sales hit a record $1.028 billion. Since then, the growth of …
Brothers bring back city classic -- Maurice Lenell ...
From the crumbling of the famed Maurice Lenell Cooky Co. comes a new Chicago store to peddle the sweets. A pair of Chicago brothers have opened a spot to sell the cookies, the first retail store dedicated to the brand since the company's 2008 shuttering of operations in Norridge. Since …
Chicago startup provides brain-boosting activities ...
Charles Rodriguez loves board games, and after his favorite store closed, he discovered a Chicago startup that treats customers to fun and brain-challenging activity at the same time. Rodriguez, a 39-year-old Logan Square resident, is experiencing a retro renaissance: He and his friends, many of whom met playing Team Trivia …
Grammar school, parents molded Argonne labs chief ...
Angela C. Harvey proudly cites her South Lawndale roots and her Chicago public school education when she explains her role in overseeing the U.S. Department of Energy's management of Argonne National Laboratories. Harvey considers herself fortunate to have attended Daniel J. Corkery Elementary School, which emphasized science learning and where …
Black Friday flat; Monday 'strong' ...
ShopperTrak, the Chicago-based research firm, says major stores took in about the same amount of money Friday, Saturday and Sunday that they did Thanksgiving weekend last year, even though more shoppers came out. Customer traffic rose 2.8 percent, making up for a 1.1 percent decline in 2009, but shoppers were …
Amazon investing $175 million in Groupon rival ...
As Chicago-based daily-deal company Groupon continues negotiating its sale to Google, online retailer Amazon announced Thursday that it is investing $175 million in Groupon's major rival, LivingSocial. LivingSocial, a Washington, D.C.-based daily-deals site considered Groupon's most successful competitor with more than $1 million in revenues booked each day, will use …
Google pays $1 for Street View trespassing ...
PITTSBURGH - Google Inc. has acknowledged trespassing by taking a photo of a Pennsylvania couple's home for its Street View service, but the company will pay only $1 in damages. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Cathy Bissoon in Pittsburgh signed a consent judgment Thursday. A Google spokeswoman tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, …
Some of Leslie Scrushy’s jewelry to be auctioned ...
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Nine pieces of jewelry that once belonged to former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy’s wife are set to be auctioned off next month. Sotheby’s auction house plans to auction off the rings, earrings and bracelets that are worth an estimated combined value of $1.3 million. They include a …
Wrigley finance proposal has struck out ...
The Cubs' plan to use 35 years' worth of amusement-tax growth to finance a $200 million renovation of Wrigley Field -- and back-stop the bonds with a 2 percent hotel tax -- is dead, sources said Wednesday. The setback for a plan the Cubs had hoped to ram through the …
New Trier hall of fame: Rumsfeld in, Rahm out ...
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Rainn Wilson, who plays goofball Dwight K. Schrute on "The Office- " You bet. But actress Ann-Margret and Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel- Forget it. Winnetka's New Trier Township High School Wednesday released the winners of its first-ever alumni Hall of Honor …
Unemployment at 9.8% ...
The bumpy recovery ride continued last month as the nation's unemployment rate hit a seven-month high and the economy created far fewer jobs than expected, but the stock market shrugged off the news. The jobless rate rose to 9.8 percent in November from 9.6 percent the previous three months, the …
Reports: Groupon rejects Google offer ...
Chicago daily-deal website Groupon has reportedly rejected a buyout from Google that was believed to be as high as $6 billion. Bloomberg News quoted an unnamed source on Friday as saying that Groupon's founders hesitated to go through with the deal. A Google spokesman declined comment late Friday, and a …
Deals plentiful in shopping frenzy ...
It may not be the most romantic Christmas present, but for those seeking appliances this holiday season, deals are likely to be plentiful. Both Sears and Home Depot are already offering discounts on appliances ahead of "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving. Many more deals will be found during the …
Guillen's son makes his own name as broadcaster ...
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen may be pegged as a wild card in the major-league baseball world. But his son Ozzie Guillen Jr., 26, is all business. Especially when talking about his role as color commentator for Spanish-language radio broadcasts of the Chicago Bulls. "I do plenty of research …
Mortgage rates climb a little bit ...
Rates on fixed mortgages edged up again this week after hitting their lowest level in decades last month.Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate for 30-year fixed loans rose to 4.46 percent from 4.40 percent last week. Three weeks ago, the rate hit 4.17 percent, the lowest level on …
Area spends more on needs ...
Where did our dollars go? Consumers in the Chicago area spent an average of $56,947 per year on housing, transportation, food, health care and other items in 2008 to 2009, according to a Labor Department report released Thursday. That was 14 percent higher than the national average of $49,778. The …
Mag Mile Borders to close Jan. 7 ...
Shoppers determined to find bargains will have their final chance this holiday to hunt for books, music and e-readers at Borders bookstore at 830 N. Michigan Ave., because the store closes Jan. 7. Last year, Borders Group extended the lease of the Mag Mile bookstore until January 2011, and a …
Entertainment
After 3-year wait, 'Chicago Overcoat' gets debut ... Actor Frank Vincent has carved out a solid career playing menacing Mafiosi and swaggering street toughs in several of the most beloved films and TV shows of all time. He worked with director Martin Scorsese on “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas” and “Casino.” He spent three years as steely mob boss Phil Leotardo on David Chase’s lauded HBO series “The Sopranos.” All of those productions were run and staffed by industry veterans. So imagine his reaction upon arriving on the set of “Chicago Overcoat,” a locally produced indie film and the handiwork of six twentysomething upstarts from Columbia College.
Mel Gibson’s much-delayed movie headed to theaters ... Bill Zwecker: It’s been a tough year for Jodie Foster. The Oscar winner had hoped to release her new film “The Beaver” — which she directed and in which co-stars — but was forced to put the film on the back burner because of the man playing its lead character: Mel Gibson.

Oprah, McCartney lead Kennedy Center gala ... When The Beatles were storming America, Oprah Winfrey had the band's poster on her bedroom wall, Merle Haggard was free from prison, Jerry Herman was making Broadway sing and Bill T. Jones was not yet a dancer but growing up in a migrant labor camp. On Sunday, these leading artists who followed divergent paths since the 1960s joined Paul McCartney to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
Oprah’s next books really old, really long ... Better set some time aside for Oprah Winfrey’s latest book club pick.

After 3-year wait, 'Chicago Overcoat' gets debut ... Actor Frank Vincent has carved out a solid career playing menacing Mafiosi and swaggering street toughs in several of the most beloved films and TV shows of all time. He worked with director Martin Scorsese on “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas” and “Casino.” He spent three years as steely mob boss Phil Leotardo on David Chase’s lauded HBO series “The Sopranos.” All of those productions were run and staffed by industry veterans. So imagine his reaction upon arriving on the set of “Chicago Overcoat,” a locally produced indie film and the handiwork of six twentysomething upstarts from Columbia College.
Harry loses latest tangle with Rapunzel ... Hair won out over Harry Potter at the weekend box office.

Mel Gibson’s much-delayed movie headed to theaters ... Bill Zwecker: It’s been a tough year for Jodie Foster. The Oscar winner had hoped to release her new film “The Beaver” — which she directed and in which co-stars — but was forced to put the film on the back burner because of the man playing its lead character: Mel Gibson.

Oprah, McCartney lead Kennedy Center gala ... When The Beatles were storming America, Oprah Winfrey had the band's poster on her bedroom wall, Merle Haggard was free from prison, Jerry Herman was making Broadway sing and Bill T. Jones was not yet a dancer but growing up in a migrant labor camp. On Sunday, these leading artists who followed divergent paths since the 1960s joined Paul McCartney to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
Voice of ‘Dora The Explorer,’ network end dispute ... NEW YORK — A teenage actress has dropped her claim that Nickelodeon massively underpaid her for lending her voice to the plucky cartoon heroine of “Dora the Explorer.”

Columns
Sports
Loss of Kane becomes Hawks' latest challenge ...
The bumps in the road just keep getting bigger for the Blackhawks. So far this season, they’ve had to learn how to survive without winger Marian Hossa twice and defenseman Brian Campbell and center Dave Bolland because of injuries. Now they’ll have to adjust without winger Patrick Kane at a …
...
…
Turco vs. Stars no sure thing ...
The Dallas Stars come to town Wednesday night, but coach Joel Quenneville hasn’t decided whether to give goaltender Marty Turco the nod against his former team. “[Corey Crawford] is on a nice winning roll, but we’ll have to give that some consideration,” Quenneville said. Crawford has won six consecutive starts …
Monday Quick Hits ...
…
Lovie close to hitting return key ...
One more win may not guarantee the Bears their first postseason berth in four years, but it will all but guarantee that coach Lovie Smith will return next season, according to league sources. Holding the Bears’ coach to a playoffs-or-bust mandate is more problematic considering there likely will be quality …
Olympians popular — to name a few ...
Apparently, the 2010 Winter Olympics had an impact on society. Namely in baby names. BabyCenter.com has issued its annual ‘‘Baby Names Survey.’’ Among the names making the biggest leaps: Bode (as in skier Bode Miller): up 59 percent. Shaun (as in snowboarder Shaun White): up 33 percent. Apollo (as in …
Will’s the 1 right now, but watch out for Jay ...
Vandy is dandy — as far as former Vanderbilt players on Chicago teams are concerned. So in the pantheon (not to be confused with The Parthenon, which is in Nashville, as is Vanderbilt) of legendary former Vandy athletes who have played for Chicago teams, the ranking is pretty much like …
NBA agrees to buy Hornets from Shinn ...
NBA commissioner David Stern confirmed Monday the league is proceeding with its plan to buy the New Orleans Hornets from majority owner George Shinn and minority owner Gary Chouest. Shinn has been trying since last spring to sell the team to Chouest, but those negotiations stalled. ‘‘In the absence of …
Tuesday rolls around ...
Every one of the 70 league members takes advantage of Bluebird owner Bill Brennan Jr.’s offer to pay the $3 entry fee during Champs Week. ‘‘Our family bought the center eight years ago on Dec. 17,’’ Brennan Jr. said, “and from the start, we wanted to get as many leagues …
...
ON THE AIR Today BASKETBALL 6 p.m. College: Memphis vs. Kansas in New York ESPN 6 p.m. College: Georgia at Georgia Tech ESPN2 7 p.m. College: Northern Iowa at Iowa BTN 7:30 p.m. NBA: Warriors at Mavericks NBA 8 p.m. College: Michigan State vs. Syracuse in New York ESPN 8 p.m. College: Purdue at Valparaiso ESPNU HOCKEY 6:30 p.m. NHL: Sabres at Bruins Versus …
HIGH SCHOOLS ...
BOYS BASKETBALL MONDAY’S RESULTS NOBLE SPORTS Noble Street at Rauner METRO GREEN TEAM Englewood 70, Air Force 19 Urban Prep-South Shore 59, Chicago AAT 44 Urban Prep-South Shore (1-1, 1-0): Wali Muhammad 16 pts; Nicolas Parks 11 pts CMSA at Aspira Epic at Hawkins Phoenix at Alcott Powerhouse at Marine …
THE HAPPY COUPLE? ...
…
Top 10 teams ...
top teams 1. Prairie Ridge: The Wolves have giant-killer Jenny Covers to go along with Heather Kill, Brittany Potts, Nikki Novak and Danielle Dyra. 2. Stevenson: Ali Castriano, Theresa Wojton and Carlie Dobkin are a talented trio. If Caitlin Pagano returns from an arm injury, watch out. 3. Glenbard West: …
...
NE3:15, Ch. 2 …
Feeling it with every swing ...
People would ask me whether I knew Ron Santo, and my response was always the same: ''Yes, and so do you.'' The man who cheered and groaned on the radio, who urged and ached and pleaded, who died a thousand deaths with his Cubs -- that was Ron Santo. What …
A case in points: BCS title game ...
Who says defense wins championships- When Auburn and Oregon, two of the nation's most frenetic scoring machines, square off for the national championship, it will be a meeting of two teams that do a great job of making their points. It ought to be fun. Just don't blink. After …
Rose's three ties it at buzzer in Bulls' OT win ...
Derrick Rose was standing at his locker surrounded by reporters as he talked about his buzzer-beating heroics in the Bulls' 119-116 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night when Rockets center (and former Bull) Brad Miller walked into the room. ''A-hole ... a-hole ... a-hole,'' Miller whispered (not …
Bulls Top 25 ...
Sun-Times writer Mark Potash ranks the 25 best Bulls players--not named Michael Jordan--of all-time. …
50 Greatest Bears ...
…
Quick Hits ...
…
Quick Hits ...
…
Adam Dunn already a team player for Sox ...
Even before he inked his four-year, $56 million contract with the White Sox, slugger Adam Dunn showed what kind of teammate he is going to be on the South Side. The sought-after free agent agreed to back-load money on his contract so Sox general manager Ken Williams might have more …
Looks like Dunn deal ...
No stranger to chasing down his white whales, Ken Williams harpooned his latest one on Thursday. And it's a doozy. The Sun-Times first reported back in June that slugger Adam Dunn was sought by the White Sox' general manager, but Washington's asking price in completing the trade became completely unrealistic. …
Bulls' defense struggles, can't contain Garnett ...
BOSTON -- All the momentum the Bulls built with inspiring play during the recent seven-game road trip has disappeared after back- to-back flat performances -- the latest being a 104-92 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday night at the TD Garden. After their first winning record on the annual …
Hawks run it up- That's the rub ...
It wasn't a fight or a hair-pulling or even some name-calling. But Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault added another footnote in the Blackhawks-Canucks rivalry when he accused the Hawks of running up the score after the last time they played. ''We basically embarrassed ourselves in front of our fans, and they …
Bears
First and 10: Observations on Bears victory over Lions ...
There’s nothing wrong with being lucky if you’re good. Facing a 2-9 Lions team playing without Matthew Stafford and Kyle Vanden Bosch a week after beating the Eagles without Asante Samuel was yet another fortuitous break in what is turning into a golden schedule for the Bears. Now they get …
Team short at LB after Pisa's surgery ...
Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa underwent what coach Lovie Smith described as a “minor scope” on his sore right knee. How long he will be sidelined remains to be seen, which could be a concern since backup linebacker Nick Roach also left Sunday’s 24-20 victory against the Lions with a hip injury …
Bears' offense picks up 'D' ...
DETROIT -- With 5:17 left in the game, after forcing a key punt, veteran Tim Jennings gathered all of the defensive backs around him. He led a quick meeting, which included defensive backs coach Jon Hoke, to review the team's two-minute defense and the tendencies of the Lions' offense. ''Just …
The hit parade keeps rolling ...
DETROIT -- Theoretically, at least, when a quarterback crosses the line of scrimmage with the ball, he becomes a running back. Maybe a big, slow, running back with a funny number. But a running back, nevertheless. So when Bears quarterback Jay Cutler set sail with nine minutes to go in …
Lovie speaks, Bears listen ...
DETROIT -- Bears coach Lovie Smith isn't one to get caught up in extremes of emotion, but that didn't stop him from directing some well-chosen words at his defense at halftime of the team's 24-20 victory Sunday against the Detroit Lions. The Bears trailed 17-14 at the time, having just …
Cutler steps up, 'makes play after play' ...
DETROIT -- Consider it another sign of progress that Jay Cutler was sacked four times, lost a fumble on one of them and sounded afterward like he was in a comfort zone all day Sunday. ''It's starting to get fun for us,'' Cutler said after the Bear' 24-20 victory over …
Urlacher on the defensive, even after his 17 tackles ...
DETROIT -- If you think the Bears' defense was ineffective with Brian Urlacher during the first half of Sunday's 24-20 win over the Lions, imagine where they would have been without him. The team's captain and middle linebacker made nine of his season-high 17 tackles during the first two quarters. …
BEARS IN BRIEF: Bennett has a career day ...
DETROIT -- Earl Bennett laughed when asked if he has a different mentality on third down. ''Catch it and get the first,'' he said. ''I'm just trying to make plays. Whatever is called, I'm going to run my route to the best of my ability and keep moving until they …
Grading the Bears at Lions ...
Quarterback: A Considering the pressure the Lions threw at Jay Cutler (21-for-26, 234 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 4 sacks, 117.0), his performance was just as impressive as against the Eagles. Running backs: B+ Matt Forte (13 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD) ran hard. Chester Taylor (9-33, 1 TD) scored …
Quarterly Report: Bears at Lions ...
KEY PLAYER: 1Q Earl Bennett, Bears WR: Made two big third-down catches on the Bears' tying TD drive -- a nine-yard gain to the Bears' 34 on third-and-nine and a 14-yard gain to the Lions' 22 on third-and-eight. KEY STAT: 1Q 9-37 After Matt Forte was stopped for three and …
Bears 24, Lions 20 ...
The Bears come from behind to defeat the Lions 24-20: …
Bears' good health a huge factor in team's success ...
Standing at the lectern in the media room Thursday at Halas Hall, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher literally knocked on wood when he mentioned, ''We've been pretty healthy for the most part this season.'' That is an understatement. Of all the breaks the Bears have gotten this season -- starting with …
AFTERNOON SPORTS CLUB Less Jay + less Martz = victory over Bills ...
What does it say for the Bears that they acquired the most prolific quarterback in their history and hired the mastermind of one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history to infuse some life into their offense, yet had to rein in both of them to beat a winless …
Bears' offensive line looking like a much different bunch ...
No one in full possession of his mental faculties would suggest the Bears have a great offensive line. Few people outside of Halas Hall would suggest the Bears have a good offensive line, especially if they dwelled on the Eagles' four sacks of Jay Cutler. But good enough- Absolutely. And …
AFTERNOON SPORTS CLUB Hey, Lovie-you ought to start listening to us! ...
Lovie Smith famously asked us to trust him when he fired Ron Rivera after the 2006 season. Maybe it's time he started trusting us. Smith is always subtly annoyed when the Bears win a game inspite of themselves and while he's basking in the glow of victory, we're wallowing in …
Quarterly Report: Bears vs. Vikings ...
KEY PLAYER: 1Q Brett Favre, Vikings QB: Took what the defense gave him and was 6-for-6 for 46 yards. After 14-yarder to Visanthe Shiancoe to the 26, three runs forced the Vikes to settle for a field goal and 3-0 lead. KEY STAT: 1Q 2.8 Jay Cutler's passer rating -- …
Grading the Bears ...
Quarterback: B Jay Cutler outplayed Brett Favre with another Kyle Orton-like performance -- 22 of 35, 237 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs (87.4 rating). He also had a 25-yard run on a scramble. Running backs: B Matt Forte (21 carries, 69 yards) and Chester Taylor (11-33) had modest numbers, but …
O-line no longer a punch line or running joke ...
It's still too early to hold a parade for the Bears' offensive line. But after Jay Cutler was sacked only once and Matt Forte gained yardage on 19 of his first 20 carries in a 27-13 victory Sunday over the Vikings at Soldier Field, a little respect might be in …
Cutler reinforces confidence of his teammates, coaches ...
var InlineVideoDiv = "VideoPlayerDiv";var InlineHeight = 235;var InlineWidth = 390;var InlineExtras = "";var CompantionAd = false;var AutoStart = false;var autoCategory = false;var InlineVideoRelease = "http://release.theplatform.com/content.select- tracking=true&pid=6UoArZkQAD82d2XhLPIx81iMGhDtV9aE"; Bears linebacker Lance Briggs enjoyed the best view of Sunday's game at Soldier Field, watching from his team's sideline as the offense controlled the …
Potash's breakdown: Bears vs. Vikings ...
WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL ON THE GROUND The Bears didn't do much in the run game against the Bills' 32nd-ranked rush defense last week: Matt Forte (14-49) and Chester Taylor (10-13) combined for 62 yards on 24 carries. But at least they tried. No telling what Mike Martz …
NFL stats: Hits and errors ...
Brett Favre, in his 20th NFL season, has seen it all. The 11-time Pro Bowl selection owns prestigious records (touchdowns and victories) and dubious ones (interceptions and fumbles). But neither Favre nor the Minnesota Vikings are nearly as hot as last season, when he led the team to the NFC …
Bears at Bills quarterly report ...
KEY PLAYER: 1Q Johnny Knox, Bears WR: Turned a short pass into a 24-yard gain on third-and-4 to put the Bears within striking distance of the red zone at the Bills' 22.KEY STAT: 1Q 64%: Of the 25 plays run by the Bears and Bills in the quarter, 16 were …
Grading the Bears ...
Quarterback: B+ Jay Cutler took what the defense gave him, including 3 scrambles for 18, 13 and 9 yards -- all for first downs. He was 17-for-30 for 188 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Running backs: C Matt Forte (14 carries, 49 yards) had a 22-yard run that set …
Taylor's easy TD breaks down a wall ...
TORONTO -- Let the record show that not only did Chester Taylor score, but he scored untouched. The thousands of Bears fans who came to Canada can say they witnessed history when Taylor scored from one yard out in the third quarter to end a dubious streak. Before that touchdown, …
Scales don't lie -- it's a win ...
TORONTO -- ''Balance'' was the buzz word throughout the Bears' bye week. From ownership through the team president, the general manager, the coach, the media and the fans, everybody seemed to want the same thing: a ying for a yang, a run for a pass, a complement for the defense …
Sox
Cubs
Ron Santo ...
…
Santo's success against best shows he's Hall of Famer ...
When Ron Santo was in his prime with the Cubs in 1967, the Tribune's Robert Markus wrote a column criticizing the Hall of Fame voting as a joke. Putting virtually every former player on the ballot opened the door not only for ''unworthy names'' such as Clint Courtney, Earl Torgeson …
Cubs name pitching coach ...
The Chicago Cubs today named Mark Riggins as its pitching coach, replacing Larry Rothschild. Riggins, 53, has been promoted after spending the last three seasons as the Cubs’ minor league pitching coordinator. Riggins last stop in the Majors was with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995 under managers Joe Torre …
Big dreams, bigger task for Cubs ...
The world of Disney doesn't figure to be so wonderful to the Cubs during this week's winter meetings at Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla. Years of backloaded deals in the final years of Tribune Co. ownership have conspired with payroll reductions and system-up roster-building under Ricketts ownership …
Paying tribute to Ron Santo ...
A treasure to children, adults alike When I was 7, I took a black marker and wrote ''Santo'' and ''10'' on the back of a plain white T-shirt. That's the sort of thing we did in those days. If there were jerseys for sale in the 1960s, I didn't know …
No doubt about it: The pressure's on for Cubs ...
So much for Cubbie Swagger. Almost four years after Lou Piniella coined the term in his first year as Cubs manager, he's not the only part of that equation that's gone from the North Side. It might be hard to imagine, but a few more weeks like the last few and …
Cubbie blues ...
A mound of memorabilia -- Cubs caps and No. 10 T-shirts, photos and flowers and Old Style beer cans -- grew outside Wrigley Field Friday, as fans came to pay their respects to Ron Santo, the Cubs third base great and broadcaster who died early Friday at his home in …
Ron Santo a player unlike any other ...
To his legions of fans, Ron Santo was more than a Hall of Fame baseball player--even though their beloved Chicago Cubs third baseman was always denied entry. Even objective baseball observers acknowledged Santo to be ``the best player not in the Hall,'' his career statistics and accomplishments on par with …
Quade the favorite, but Girardi still looms ...
So onetime Cubs manager candidate Fredi Gonzalez formally took over for Bobby Cox as the Atlanta Braves' manager Wednesday. So what's taking the Cubs so long with a process that began in earnest with Lou Piniella's retirement announcement in July and that was anticipated for a year- The official answer …
Best candidate for the job: Sandberg ...
Each time his phone rings these days, Ryne Sandberg must wonder if THIS will be the call. He has been through this process before, waiting for three tries to get a call from Cooperstown, the one that finally came in 2005. This time, the anticipation is a little different. Sandberg's …
Hendry won't be big on big-name free agents ...
Don't count on Adam Dunn or Cliff Lee -- or even Derrek Lee -- in a Cubs uniform next season. With a payroll budget that figures to leave little room for big-shot free agents, indications are that general manager Jim Hendry is focusing more on the likes of lefty-hitting Nick …
Cubs hire Listach to be bench coach ...
Sources confirmed Monday that former Washington Nationals third-base coach Pat Listach has been hired as Cubs manager Mike Quade's bench coach, completing Quade's 2011 staff. Listach, 43, was hired in time to travel to Arizona to participate in the Cubs' annual organizational meetings, which start today, a source said. An …
They're Quade's Cubbies ...
He wasn't the fans' choice. Indications are he wasn't the first choice of some within the organization. And few people outside the Cubs' clubhouse even knew who he was two months ago. But after a successful six-week audition, outspoken support from several clubhouse leaders and two weeks of postseason vetting, …
CUBS: Rothschild exercises option for next season ...
They don't know what they'll get from Carlos Zambrano -- or for him, if he can be traded -- and they don't know whether they can replace the quality lost when they traded Ted Lilly to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July. But the Cubs look like they'll have one …
Cubs need stars to justify bucks, rookies to rise ...
The last time Cubs catcher Koyie Hill saw something even close to this, he was a rookie in 2004, traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to an Arizona Diamondbacks team on its way to a 111-loss season. Actually, that wasn't really as close to this Cubs season as it could …
Cubs: Highlights, questions and Quade ...
As the Cubs closed out a fifth-place season with all eyes on 2011, players lined up to endorse interim manager Mike Quade for the full-time job after Manager Q's 24-13 reign became the highlight of an otherwise tumultuous, circus-like, disappointing season. ''To say we want to build on this, absolutely,'' …
Cubs' operations budget to remain steady ...
With the announcement of the Cubs' new manager probably another two weeks or more away and decisions on key players to follow, chairman Tom Ricketts on Friday promised no decrease in the team's baseball operations budget in a letter sent to season-ticket holders. Though the major-league payroll still is expected …
Wedge to Mariners; Cubs still scoping out Girardi ...
The Cubs' pool of managerial candidates shrank by one Friday, but that doesn't mean the process will move any faster -- not until or unless Joe Girardi and his New York Yankees speed up their playoff run, which resumed Friday night in Texas with the ALCS opener. With Cubs candidate …
Quade: 'Why not us- ' ...
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and general manager Jim Hendry say the next order of business after Tuesday's manager announcement involves improving the roster, but how much payroll is available is unclear. Meanwhile, manager Mike Quade says the Cubs can win in 2011, as is. ''What I saw with the improvement …
Cubs prove again why they fail in 'postseason' ...
There have been more painful moments than glorious ones at Wrigley Field in October and November over the last 45 years. And not just the baseball games that should have played but weren't. The Bears were 5-15 in their last three years at Wrigley, and two of the victories were …
For Cubs, Wrigley is a cathedral; for Bears, it was a battleground ...
The pristine beauty of Wrigley Field is part of the charm of Cubs baseball -- the lush outfield grass, the well-manicured infield, the ivy-covered walls, fans in the bleachers basking in the summer sun. But for football it was almost the opposite. The charm of the Bears playing at Wrigley …
Cubs' Rothschild off to Yankees ...
The Cubs' turnover continued with an unexpected departure today, when the New York Yankees announced the hiring of pitching coach Larry Rothschild away from the Cubs. Rothschild, who last month exercised his contract option for 2011 with the Cubs, had talked in recent seasons with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry …
Sox, Bears could foil Wrigley Field rehab ...
Two major players could end up blocking the plate, preventing the Cubs from scoring with their plan to use 35 years' worth of amusement tax growth to renovate Wrigley Field: the Bears and White Sox. Sources said the Cubs' financing plan calls for a 2 percent hotel tax to backstop …
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts' letter to season ticket holders ...
Thursday, November 11, 2010 Dear Season Ticket Holder, When my family and I took ownership of the Chicago Cubs just about one year ago, we committed to being good neighbors and to preserving Wrigley Field. We're excited to tell you today about an opportunity to achieve both. As the third …
Cubs announce Quade's coaches ...
The Chicago Cubs today announced Manager Mike Quade's 2011 major league coaching staff. Five members from last year's coaching staff will return in 2011: pitching coach Larry Rothschild, hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, bullpen coach Lester Strode, third base coach Ivan DeJesus and first base coach Bob Dernier. Pat Listach will …
Bulls
Rose with a shot of Boozer a good mix ...

For obvious reasons, Derrick Rose's buzzer-beating three-pointer to force overtime received much of the attention after the Bulls' 119-116 victory against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at the United Center.