Results tagged “northwestern”

No home games, no problem. The Blackhawks' win streak, which started at the United Center, has continued on the current road trip as the 'Hawks have now won seven straight after edging Vancouver 1-0 last night. The lone goal came off the stick of Bryan Bickell just over a minute into the third period. Meanwhile, Antti Niemi was a monster in net for the 'Hawks, stopping all 30 shots he faced to help secure the shut-out victory. It was the third game in four days for the 'Hawks, who now have a few days off to rest before another stretch of three games in four days with a trio of games in California, beginning with San Jose on Wednesday (9:30 p.m., CSN).

    

Blackhawks Roll Past Oilers

It was a light evening of Chicago sports but with both the Blackhawks and Bulls in action, tonight will be much more eventful.

College basketball season kicks off this week, with a number of our local teams taking the court for the first time. What's in store for some of our area's most prominent programs?

    

Fire Doused By Real Salt Lake

There was plenty going on this weekend in the news but we understand if you missed it and were, instead, outside enjoying the amazing warm weather. Here's your chance to catch up.

   

College Football

Every year the boundaries for acceptable Halloween costumes are tested. Every year those boundaries are most certainly crossed, if only for a few of us at Chicagoist that insist on wearing the Ninja Turtles costume we've worn since we were eight. Halloween in some ways has become a social experiment, measuring the capacity for tolerance by exploring what really is in fact taboo by today's standards. For some, we found out where the line was drawn after photos of two local individuals dressed as "blackface" for Halloween surfaced on the Internet a few days ago. The two who dressed in blackface are believed to be students at Northwestern University and, as a result, there has been considerable public outcry in Evanston. The university even publicly addressed the photos, calling the costumes insensitive and in poor judgment, although not in violation of any university rules.

   

College Football

Call it a hunch, but we’re guessing you weren’t invited to Redmoon Theater’s Halloween performance at the White House. Yeah, we weren’t either. But no worries, there are plenty of shows to check out this weekend. In no particular order:

      

Blackhawks Shutdown, Shut Out Predators

The Dallas Stars came to town and did something that other teams are having a hard time doing this year: beat the Blackhawks. Dallas edged the 'Hawks 4-3 last night at the United Center. After a scoreless first period, the dam broke in the second as the teams combined for five goals in that period alone. Dallas took a 2-0 lead before Troy Brouwer got Chicago on the board. After another Dallas goal, Jonathon Toews scored to cut the lead to 3-2. After a fluke bounce off the boards got past Huet for another Dallas goal in the third period, Niklas Hjalmarsson scored to cut the lead again, this time to 4-3 but Dallas held and came out with the win. Cristobal Huet jad 21 saves besides allowing the four goals. The 'Hawks get a few days off now until Vancouver skates into town on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., CSN).

The Chicago Blackhawks gave fans their money's worth at last night's home opener, edging the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in a dramatic nine-round shoot-out win. The Blackhawks got on the board first thanks to a power play goal from Cam Barker. The Avalanche, however, bounced back in the second period with the next two goals to take a 2-1 edge. From there, the two teams exchanged goals as a total of five goals were scored in the second, ending with the teams tied at 3-3 (the 'Hawks got goals from Andrew Ladd and Duncan Keith). After a scoreless third period and overtime period, the teams moved to a shoot-out. The two teams extended the shoot-out to a ninth frame, the longest shoot-out in Blackhawks' history, when a goal by Andrew Ladd gave the 'Hawks a 4-3 shoot-out edge and a 4-3 win. Cristobal Huet stopped 16 of 19 shots he faced in regulation and overtime and came through with some key saves in the shoot-out, stopping 6 of 9 shots. The Blackhawks next welcome Calgary to town on Monday (7 p.m., VS).

Even a Cubs fan such as myself has to hand it to the White Sox: this "Well, if we can't be in the playoffs so we might as well completely screw up the playoff picture for someone else" attitude is pretty addictive. The White Sox downed Detroit 5-1 last night, forcing the Tigers into a tie with the Minnesota Twins heading into the last day of the season. Adding a little fun to the festivities, if the Twins and Tigers finished tied, the Twins host a playoff which will have to be played Tuesday because of the Vikings-Packers Monday Night Football game at the Metrodome. Anything that messes even the slightest bit with Bud Selig is totally awesome with us. Okay, but there was a game last night, too. Freddy Garcia looked sharp, pitching seven-plus innings, striking out seven, and giving up only a single run. Carlos Quentin had a two-run homer and Alex Rios also had a great night, knocking in three runs. The Sox wrap up 2009 against the Tigers today at 12:05 p.m. (WGN).

The Cubs won for the third straight game and for the sixth time in seven games since sending Milton Bradley packing for the year as they tripped up the Giants 6-2. Earlier this week, we said the Cubs' playoffs hopes were done. Even though the Cardinals (finally) clinched the NL Central, the Cubs do still have slim hopes of sneaking into the playoffs, 5.5 games back of Colorado in the Wild Card with 8 games left, though they'll still have to get through the Giants (which they will with a series sweep), Florida, a streaking Atlanta, and the aforementioned Rockies. Playoffs or not, the Cubs looked good yesterday, starter Tom Gorzelanny allowing only one run over five innings and the bullpen giving up only a solo homer in the seventh. The offense did their part, too, as Jake Fox and Geovany Soto had two RBIs each and Aramis Ramirez added a homer to the tally. The Cubs go for the sweep today at 3:05 p.m. (WGN).

A day after being shellacked 11-0 by the Kansas City Royals, the White Sox finally got a start out of there high-profile trade acquisition and exploded for 13 runs of their own to blow out the Royals 13-3. Jake Peavy, making his first start for the Sox and coming off a rehab stint, pitched good enough, giving up three runs over five innings. It wasn't a mind-blowing performance, but it was effective enough and White Sox fans can breath a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the offense exploded for the Pale Hose, led by Carlos Quentin's fifth inning grand slam, which broke a 3-3 tie. The Sox exploded again in the eighth for six runs while the bullpen shut down the Royals offense. Said Peavy of his first performance in Sox black, "I did some things well, and I did some things not so well. I have a long way to go to be where I want to be...I'm used to having more arm strength and having a little more giddy-up. It will all come in time. I'm not so sure how it will come along this year, because I'm so far behind, but it felt good to get out there and compete." The teams close out the series today at 1:05 p.m. (CSN) before the Sox start a crucial six game, seven day stretch against the Twins and Tigers - believe it or not, the Sox are still in striking distance, 5.5 games back of the Tigers.

Ah, 1994. I was a sophomore in high school, doing my best to cultivate a bitchin’ head of long hair to as better ‘bang to the new Divine Intervention album from Slayer. Heidi Fleiss was in the news (for the first time). Waterworld was already getting bad press for its high cost. Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold still made the gossip column. Trade rumors for Scottie Pippen were a-flyin’. All was right with the world. Olympically, we were all still high on the ’92 Dream Team and they were still kicking ass in the World Championship of Basketball in Toronto that summer. But one story in the Sun-Times by Steve Tucker from way back then got our attention - featuring a prescient lede:

The White Sox mustered an extra-inning 4-3 win yesterday in Anaheim and, more importantly, made a move up in their division, sliding into second place ahead of the Minnesota Twins. John Danks pitched a fantastic game, holding the Angels scoreless over six innings and the Sox were up 3-0 thanks in part to solo home runs from Gordon Beckham and Scott Podsednik. But the Sox bullpen gave away the lead, as Matt Thornton and Bobby Janks combined to give up three runs over the eight and ninth innings, forcing extras. In the top of the 10th, Podesednik came through again for the Sox, scoring on a wild pitch to go up 4-3, a lead they would hold for the victory. The Sox also stand alone in second only five games back of Detroit. The teams decide the series today at 2:35 p.m. (CSN).

After missing two games for the birth of his newest child, Derek Lee returned to the lineup in dramatic for the Cubs, hitting a pair of homers that helped the Cubs down the Mets 5-3. Down 1-0 in the fourth, it was Aramis Ramirez that got the Cubs rolling with a two-run homer. After the Mets tied the game in the bottom of the inning, Lee hit his first homer of the game - a two-run shot - which proved to be the winning runs. Lee then added another homer in the eighth to give the Cubs a little breathing room. Rich Harden struck out 10 over five innings for the win and - after the bullpen held - Carlos Marmol got the save. The two teams tussle again today at 12:10 (WGN).

Any Chicago sports fan knows the lengthy time that Wrigley Field spent as home to the Chicago Bears' football team (1921 until 1970 when they moved to Soldier Field). But now Wrigley could once again host a football game if several people, including University of Illinois coach Ron Zook, have their way. The story's been bouncing around for a while now, but Zook raised the issue again at today's Big 10 Media Day, asking for a game against Northwestern next year at Wrigley. During the media day, Zook appeared on ESPN 1000 where he said:

• Cook County Circuit Court clerk Dorothy Brown had no problem accepting gifts from employees until the Tribune came calling.
• What began as a simple break-in at a house in Matteson led to that town's biggest pot bust ever.
• Students rallied at Northwestern yesterday in support of classmates who say they were the victims of racial profiling.

Well, it would be an uneventful and presumably happy 32nd birthday for former Miss North Dakota and freelance journalist Roxana Saberi, but the Iranian-American woman was sentenced to eight years in Iranian prison this month following her conviction for espionage. According to her parents, the journalist has been on hunger strike for five days, protesting her imprisonment.

A Northwestern University pediatric resident may have exposed hundreds of children, infants and staff to tuberculosis at three Chicago-area hospitals, according to reports. No patients or staff members have been diagnosed with active TB as of Friday evening, with those closest to the resident testing negative on a skin test used to determine infection. The resident came in contact with about 300 staff and 150 patients during her residency at Northwestern, Children's Memorial and Evanston Hospitals.

Musical theater has been on our minds lately because frankly, we’re having trouble finding it in Chicago. Not just any musical theater - new work that originates in the second city. Sure Wicked had a nice run but the show began with an out-of-town try-out in San Francisco. Jersey Boys is still going strong, but the show’s ticket prices don’t really appeal to the masses. National tours come through all the time, most rrecently with Rent opening this week. But let’s face it: it’s just a cheap ploy to make a lot of money. (Original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal are way too old to play struggling 20 year olds in the East Village.) And to add insult to injury, each one of those shows is based on some prior piece of work.

The Chicago Bulls snapped an 0-7 road slump with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, 103-96. The Thunder took a five-point lead into the half, but Derrick Rose dropped 14 in the third quarter to spark a 10-point swing for the Bulls. Chicago carried the momentum into the final period, growing its lead to nine, but nearly faltered with a three-and-a-half minute dry spell towards the end of regulation. With their advantage reduced to one possession, Tyrus Thomas grabbed three key defensive rebounds and went four-for-four from the free-throw line to keep the Bulls on top. Thomas finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Rose went 12-for-14 from the field and led the Bulls with 25. The Bulls, who host the West's-best LA Lakers on Saturday, are now a game and a half ahead of Milwaukee and Charlotte in the standings.

The Chicago Blackhawks recent skid continued Sunday afternoon with a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders. Following a scoreless first act, the goals came easily for the Islanders in the second period, as they scored three times on only 10 attempts. In fact, it was the ‘Hawks who held a 23 shots-on-goal advantage, but they struggled to make the most of their opportunities. Kris Versteeg and Patrick Kane broke through for the Chicago, but New York’s Peter Mannino had an impressive, 40-save debut in net. On the other side of the ice Nikolai Khabibulin appeared a bit rusty in his return, after missing the last 14 games with a groin injury. The ‘Hawks take to the road for a Tuesday matchup with the Devils.

Northwestern lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday, 66-53, ending the Wildcats’ bid for their first-ever NCAA tournament berth. After trailing for most of the contest, Northwestern used a 10-point run midway through the second half to seize the lead, 49-47. That score held for the next two and a half minutes, until Minnesota upped the ante with their own 14-point scoring streak. The Wildcats’ next bucket didn’t come until the game’s final minute, far too late for another comeback attempt. On a particularly off shooting night for Northwestern, Kevin Coble turned in the top performance with 21 points. His teammates shot a combined 27 percent, including 12 missed three-pointers from senior Craig Moore. Finishing the regular season at ninth place in a crowded conference, Northwestern likely needed a Big Ten tournament win to earn an invitation to the Dance.

The Chicago Blackhawks were smothered by the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, losing 5-1. The Avalanche jumped ahead 2-0 in the first period before Jonathan Toews snuck in his eleventh goal in as many games to give the ‘Hawks a chance. Colorado then poured it on, however, with two scores in the second period and another in the third to pad their lead. The ‘Hawks struggled to sustain a significant offensive push, attempting only 25 shots on their opponent’s net, and didn’t fare much better on the defensive end, surrendering the five goals on 29 Avalanche attempts. Cristobal Huet had a night off, and Antti Niemi had an off night in his stead. Chicago will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes.

Bulls Whip WarriorsThe Chicago predicta-Bulls earned another home victory on Wednesday, defeating the Golden State Warriors 110-88. This time Chicago fell behind early, surrendering 20 points in the first five and a half minutes, before propelling themselves into the lead with a 26-8 scoring run. Recently acquired John Salmons and Brad Miller led the scoring with 23 and 19, respectively, and Joakim Noah had a nice outing with 14 points, 17 boards and four blocked shots. Chicago has been thriving at home as of late, winning its last four contests at the UC by an average of 15 points. Conversely, the Bulls have lost their last four road games by the same average margin. The good news? The Bulls play 12 of their remaining 20 games at home, including Friday's matchup with Milwaukee.

Baseball fans across the city look forward to when out North Side and South Side teams square off each summer. This year, collegiate baseball fans can get in on the rivalry action, too. The White Sox and U.S. Cellular Field -- still Comiskey Park to true Sox fans -- will host a baseball game between Northwestern and Notre Dame on April 15 at 7:00 pm. While both universities are better know for their academic rigor and football prowess, the strong Wildcats and Fighting Irish ties to Chicago and the big time stage should add a festive atmosphere to the game for players and fans alike, even if the mid-April weather still winds up more appropriate for football. Tickets are $10 and are available at the U.S. Cellular box office and at whitesox.com starting the week of March 16, with proceeds supporting White Sox Charities.