Mike Clark's Chicago-area high school football rankings: Week 10

Winnetka Talk (Local Sports) 10/24 11:40A Mike Clark

Here are the Chicago-area high school football rankings with records and last week’s rankings in parentheses (NR indicates not ranked): 1. Lincoln-Way East 9-0 (1) Up next: vs. St. Charles East Friday (8A) 2. Batavia 9-0 (2) Up next: vs. Granite...

3 takeaways from Blackhawks’ win over the Ducks, including Corey Crawford's efficiency

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/24 12:00A Jimmy Greenfield

The Blackhawks’ 3-1 victory over the Ducks Tuesday night was the denouement of Brandon Saad’s return to form. He’s played progressively better each of the last three games, finalizing his return to being an offensive force for the Hawks by...

Football notes: Maine South's Bobby Inserra, Notre Dame's Ty Gavin aim to make impact in playoffs

Norridge-Harwood Heights News (Local Sports) 10/23 5:40A Dan Shalin

It’ll be all hands on deck for Maine South and Notre Dame when the IHSA playoffs begin this weekend, and that includes two of the Chicago area’s top players. Maine South quarterback Bobby Inserra, who suffered a leg injury in a Week 2 win over...

If Joe Girardi really wants to manage again, is his TV analyst job a conflict?

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/22 8:40A Phil Rosenthal

The latest speculation — and it’s just chatter for now — about MLB Network’s Joe Girardi someday returning to managing, possibly in Chicago, highlights a need for media reform. Stop with the speculation maybe? Nice try. How about requiring...

'This feels very us:' Chris Kunitz and his family are making moments to remember with his Chicago...

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/22 2:05A Jimmy Greenfield

The large family gathering on the night of the Blackhawks’ home opener was just clearing out when 9-year-old Zach Kunitz had a thought. “Is that what it’s like?” he asked his mom, Maureen, who didn’t quite know what he meant at first. Zach...

‘Trubisky equals TruMISSky’ Your 3-word reviews from the Bears' loss to the Patriots

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/21 10:55P Rich Campbell

Each week we ask readers to give us their three-word reviews of the Bears game on Twitter. Here are some of our favorites after the Bears came up 1-yard short — literally — of sending the game to overtime Sunday in their Week 7 loss to the...

Lucky for the Bears, Mitch Trubisky's actions are better than his words

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/18 12:35A Steve Rosenbloom

Mitch Trubisky was talking about the Bears developing a killer instinct the way great teams do. The second-year quarterback means well, of course, and he certainly captured the spirit of the thing, but this quote suggests that his thinking needs...

Can the Bears beat the Patriots on Sunday? Check the numbers.

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/17 2:15A Colleen Kane

Here’s a look at the Bears by the numbers as they prepare to face the Patriots at Soldier Field on Sunday (noon, CBS). Against the Dolphins 950: Yards of offense by the Bears in their last two games. Against the Buccaneers and Dolphins, they had...

Eastern Illinois legend Bob Spoo, 80, left his mark on Chicago-area football

Winnetka Talk (Local Sports) 10/16 3:40P Bob Narang

During his five decades as a football coach, Bob Spoo became known as a quarterback guru. Bill O’Donnell was one of his first projects. O’Donnell was Loyola’s starting quarterback in 1965 and 1966, when Spoo was the Ramblers’ quarterbacks coach....

Real Talk: Despite agonizing overtime loss, Bears still making significant progress on their climb

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/16 7:50A Dan Wiederer, Rich Campbell

After a three-game September winning streak lifted the Bears into first place and spread playoff visions across Chicago, Sunday’s 31-28 overtime loss to the Dolphins quickly changed the mood. The Vikings and Packers both won to tighten the NFC...

Meet the 2018-19 Bulls

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/15 11:26P

Photos of the Chicago Bulls 2018-19 roster ahead of the season opener.

Bears coach Matt Nagy stands behind his play-calling approach that preceded a costly missed field...

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/15 9:20A Dan Wiederer

On the most irksome Monday of his young head coaching career, Matt Nagy offered an accepting nod to the army of critics that seemed to be multiplying across Chicagoland. “I’m a big boy,” Nagy said from a lectern at Halas Hall. “And I can handle...

ESPN's Adam Amin will be 1st fill-in for Bulls TV announcer Neil Funk

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/15 2:25A Phil Rosenthal

With the first pick of the Neil Funk fill-in draft, the Bulls have selected ESPN’s Adam Amin to handle TV play-by-play when they visit the Mavericks on Oct. 22. It’s hard to imagine a better pick. A Chicago-area native who is one of the nation’s...

'I didn't know Chicago was so aggressive': Khalil Mack is still getting used to his new star status...

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/10 5:35A Dan Wiederer

After a whirlwind month, Khalil Mack needed the chance to exhale. What a September it had been. Traded to the Bears on the first day of the month, Mack followed by giving his new team and his new city an exhilarating four-week production surge....

Can the Bears beat the Dolphins on Sunday? Check the numbers

Chicago Tribune (Sports) 10/10 12:30A Colleen Kane

Here’s a look at the Bears by the numbers as they prepare to face the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday (noon, FOX-32). Bears through four games 154.6: Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s passer rating against the Buccaneers on Sept. 30 after...