This month can be and nearly always is packed with sports going in many directions from Fall high sports, to culmination of Major League Baseball’s playoffs to college football moving deeper into the heart of the season’s schedules. The Chicago Bears continue to seek revival. Likely best left said as
In less than 30 days the Nation will hold important midterm elections November 8. The reactions vary from understanding their significance, to casual acceptance, to rolling eyes, and downright insistence to ignore, completely, with no effort to see the relevance to our lives. If there are no visible consequences, it
Sports thoughts, champions, perspectives: • Defense wins championships. The University of Illinois football program, after a long-time waiting, is having a good season. The defense is excelling and has given up the fewest points in Division I nationwide. The visiting University of Minnesota is No. 2 in points allowed. The
This week is National Newspaper Week. With the many forms of communication in addition to the newspaper, there can be discussions and debates on the functions and future of newspapers. Such discussion and debate always will be evident in the communications industry and in all other forms of business. The
Sports transitions are ongoing and always continue in one form or another. No doubt the Chicago Major League Baseball fans wave good-bye the season this week and seek to turn attention elsewhere. The White Sox with higher expectations than the Cubs truly were disappointing. The Cubs with lower expectations showed
In our community newspaper, The Voice, we are involved in presenting, best way possible, a reflection of our communities and the best way forward for community growth. We are blessed to receive many items from many areas and sources and we do our best to offer inclusion. Ordinarily, we receive
High school, college, professional. Those are the choices for fans in football, basically Friday night for high schools, Saturday for colleges, Sunday for professional teams. It used to be that neat, clean, and evenly divided. These days a few college and professional games are played Thursdays and the Illinois High
Succinctly, important dates in history are more than flags and celebratory food and music. In spite of our emphasis as a Nation on the Fourth of July Independence Day the first such major independent declaration in the world, the approval of the U.S. Constitution, September 17, 1787 is more meaningful
Overlapping and elongated seasons continue to expand in professional sports. Delight or detriment depends on a an’s perspective. The Summer sport of baseball, at the major league level, has had its regular season expanded a week until October 5 because of the work stoppage in Spring training which compelled the
In our world of events and commemorations, we would do well to enjoy a greater regard for the U.S. Constitution Day, which is celebrated each September 17. It often is overlooked and in the shadow of important Independence Day, started July 4, 1776. The latter has a nice ring to
The start of college football and high school football always draws a focus of interest, even with hard times for many of the teams of interest in our northern Illinois sports and with the dominant sport interest for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League. Interest must not necessarily
Fairness, community, complete. Those are parts of the process for most of us in the journalism business, except for the minority who wield a disjointed, extreme, political view, and shed the idea of balance and propriety. Mainstream journalistic endeavors seek to provide the full scope of activities, in print and
The game is the thing. Ratings and listings can be fun, interesting, provocative. The scores indicate relative strengths and often offer a does of reality. The news earlier this week than the college football top division will increase its number of teams in postseason playoffs from four to 12 teams
Death and taxes are inevitable. Birth and joy are essential components in life. In this space the objective is to diminish personal positions and offer clarity to bigger elements, bigger than self. Recent family focus prevailed through the death of an older sister, the second of two older sisters to
Sports questions come first. Answers follow. That’s what make projections and predictions interesting, even if well off base at times. • Can the Chicago White Sox overcome a .500 season and climb back into strong contention in the American League Central Division. It is difficult to overtake two teams and
Politics is a term and function that started many centuries ago, a Greek term and influence at the start of our Western Culture. Politics persists today. A quality assessment depends upon interests. Politics will be with us as long as governments exist with potential changes and predominant factions. Problems develop
When new seasons begin in sports, the good news is that no team has tasted defeat. Optimism exists in larger measure than near the end of he season for many teams. Still, some teams play better when the season advances in the schedule. Do two victories by the Bears in
We live in vital times in many ways and they are not to be underestimated. Learning to get along with others in difficult settings and find commonality is society’s goal. We can prevail in that quest, even when there are significant sidetracks, determined detours, and organized obstacles. It is true,
Sports competition offers something nearly for everyone. Fans seek the thrill of competition, dramatic finishes, and sterling champions. Participants’ mode is wide ranging, depending on the level of skill and accomplishment. Glory, gold, and gratitude may be equal of thrill competition, perfection, and advancement. We enter into a phase as
We depend on politics to keep the country running, avoid built-in conflicts within differences of opinions, and provide an avenue for discussion. Included, we are subject to negativity. It is too easy for candidates to be negative, see the glass half-filled, and, thereby offer a sense they have solutions. On
