Opening day at Phillips Park
Gary Mallory of Aurora tees off on the 17th hole at Phillips Park in Aurora on the first day of play which was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jordan Glasgow: Marmion to Michigan to NFL’s Colts
By Bobby Narang In a way, Jordan Glasgow’s future was all mapped out for him. After all, when your two older brothers, Graham and Ryan, play standout roles at Marmion Academy in Aurora, then attend the University of Michigan as walk-on players, eventually earn scholarships, and become starters for the
‘Greasy’ Neale slipped past Chicago pro sports teams
By Woodrow Carroll His rightful name was Alfred Earle Neale. However, to those who knew him, he was called Greasy. He proved to be rough on Chicago’s sports teams! Born in West Virginia in 1891, Neale acquired his sobriquet at an early age after a name-calling session with other youngsters.
Projections and reminiscence instead of competition
Projections and reminiscence. If the game is the thing and we are without live games in sports, it boils down to what might be in the future and what it was previously. • Projection leaves us with the National Football League draft held April 23-25 virtually (online) with no absolute
Coach Rob Judson continues impressive career
By Bobby Narang Former Northern Illinois University men’s head basketball coach, Rob Judson, continues to add to an impressive coaching career. Judson completed his third season on the Marquette University staff in Milwaukee. A member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player at both Zion-Benton
Bowl game 17 years ago revealing, including three Tolers
By Woodrow Carroll The college football Insight Bowl Game played Dec. 26, 2003 in Phoenix, Ariz. was a classic. It provided yours truly the opportunity to meet three generations of a legendary family, the Tolers. The game was held where Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks play. The venue was called
Sports future plans required; on recalling the past
With the lack of live competition we are dependent on reliving the past and thinking about the future in sports. Changes in all future professional sports are required. See the Sports Lineup below. Cancellations and postponements reign supreme. We can chafe or acknowledge the necessity. The Indycar Series, the Indianapolis
Aurora University part of rapid growth of women’s wrestling
By Bobby Narang Aurora University is taking a step forward at a time when some colleges are choosing to take a step back in athletics. In late March, the Aurora University athletic department announced it would add men’s and women’s wrestling to increase the department to 24 collegiate sports. It
Nicknames special in 1952 college All-Star-NFL game
By Woodrow Carroll By Woodrow Carroll For more than 40 years, one of the biggest football attractions in Chicago was the All-Star team/National Football League game. The game each Summer pitted a selection of college gridiron greats against the reigning National Football League champion. Starting in 1934, the game was
Sports in doubt; Katrina comparison to COVID-19
Recovery is the question, even in sports. When will sports teams return to playing schedules and how? High school and college teams’ Spring sports seasons have been canceled. Schedules that never were started never will be started. Asterisks will be in those record books forever. That was last month and
Tough challenge exists for Northern Illinois University football
By Bobby Narang Northern Illinois University head football coach Thomas Hammock is accustomed to handling tough challenges. The former Northern Illinois star running back had his stellar career cut short by a heart condition just one game into his senior season. He finished with 2,432 yards and just one of
The late Henri Richard legendary Montreal Canadien
By Woodrow Carroll Former Montreal Canadiens’ ice hockey star Henri Richard died March 6 at the age of 84. Richard, with ties to all manner of other hockey greatness, had a couple of distinctions of his own. Henri Richard was born February 29, 1936. A February 29 birth, as we
Sports’ immediate future in doubt within our crisis
What we would like to do and what can be the realty of sports remain yards, feet, and meters apart. Now should be high school and college cold-April track and field meets. Rain-threatened high school baseball games should be the rule, in spite of the high 70 degree exception Tuesday
NIU’s Eugene German on all-America team
The awards continue to come in for Northern Illinois University men’s basketball senior Eugene German, Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter, who was named to the Division I Lou Henson all-America team Wednesday, March 25 by CollegeInsider.com and became the first Huskie to earn all-America recognition in 34 years. Northern Illinois’ all-time
Nate Shockey among York’s best
By Bobby Narang In a two-year span, Nate Shockey established himself as one of the best players in York High School basketball history. All Shockey did was win games in his final two seasons and played a leading role on two of the best teams in program history. That’s why
A journey: Boxing’s Jersey Joe Walcott
By Woodrow Carroll Jersey Joe Wolcott, real name Arnold Raymond Cream, was boxing’s heavyweight champion in 1951 and 1952. In championship matches, Wolcott fared rather poorly by losing six of his eight championship fights. Yet, thanks to persistence, luck, and timing Wolcott entered boxing Hall of Fame. Jersey Joe? Camden,
All sports seasons continue to encounter crossroads
Life happens! The world turned upside down in sports makes it a learning experience. The predictability of events such as opening day, rivalry games, planned tournaments, and championships, are on a different schedule as a result of pandemic COVID-19 (corpnavirus) The only certainty is that the silent assassin can touch
Minutes away from sectional basketball IHSA ends season
By Bobby Narang Just minutes before the tipoff of Hinsdale South High School’s boys Class 3A sectional semifinal home game against Benet Academy March 12, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) canceled the rest of the basketball season due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus epidemic). Hinsdale South senior guard Billy Durkin,
Sox revival, 1951-1967, started by Paul Richards
By Woodrow Carroll In normal times, the Chicago White Sox would be opening the 2020 Major League Baseball season against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, March 26 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. Well, these are extraordinary times with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) virus knocking at the door. It remains to
Filling a void: Previous championships, reflections
Will virtual sports, the video simulation catch on with the lack of competition from sixth grade through the professional ranks? NASCAR brought together drivers to give simulation a look. Somehow it may fill a void. It may be clever. It may be a one-time aspect, however, it never could be