During his time as an NFL running back for the Chicago Bears (1965-1971), Gale Sayers broke records and collected numerous awards and achievements. Rookie of the Year (1965), All Star Game MVP (1967, 1968, 1970), to name a few. Now he can add one more achievement to the list: Humanitarian of the Year Award.
The Abraham Lincoln Centre (ALC) will honor Sayers for his outstanding commitment to helping children and youth. After he retired from football, Sayers founded Crest Computer Supply Company in 1984, and built it into a world-class provider of technology products. Sayers, along with his wife, also became an active philanthropist in Chicago. He supports the Cradle Foundation--an adoption organization in Evanston. More recently he founded the Gale Sayers Center in the neighborhood of Austin, which serves as an after-school program for children ages 8-12 from Chicago's west side and focuses on leadership, tutoring, and mentoring.
Gale Sayers has become a role model for children thanks to his successful NFL career, his professional achievements, and his work in the community. ALC believes his work greatly reflects its goals and commitment to provide promising futures for children and families in Chicago.
The Annual Dinner for Sayers will be held this Friday, October 23, at the Fairmont Hotel (200 N. Columbus Dr.)
REI wants to educate you on how to get active outdoors, oh, and they want to give you a free lunch from Chipotle. It doesn't get much better than that.
Here's the deal: Throughout the month of October, REI is hosting a Lunch and Learn every Tuesday from noon to 1pm. The sessions start on Oct. 6 and run until Oct. 27. The goal of this program is to help people get out of the office and have fun. Topics for each class range from "Getting Outdoors in the City," to "Quick and Easy Volunteering," from "Introduction to Action Sports," to "Introduction to Winter Sports." Each session will educate Chicagoans on ways to get out there, enjoy the city, and be active.
All it takes is a quick phone call to register for one Lunch and Learn during October. After picking which session to attend, one can then choose a steak, chicken, or veggie burrito for free lunch. The burrito will be waiting for attendees when they arrive at noon.
All sessions will be held at REI Lincoln Park, 2nd Floor Community Room, 1466 N. Halsted St. Call 312-951-6020 to register.
It's Friday, you just shut down your computer at work, and the thought of hanging out at the same bar surrounded by the same people just isn't cutting it for you.
A frothy mix of campy sports, sex and comedy (with some music thrown in for good measure), Lucha VaVoom was born in (East?) L.A. and has been moving across the country with traveling shows that combine a sometimes gender-bending twist on classic Mexican wrestling (lucha libre), burlesque and raunchy standup comedy. And that cultural mash-up will be at the Congress Theater tonight. Doors open at 8:30 and needless to say it's a 17 and over show. Tickets are still available.
Around again for the ninth time this year, the touring Bicycle Film Festival's coming back to Chicago from Tuesday, August 11 to Sunday, August 16 to celebrate and appreciate the velocipede in a variety of films. Judging from past year's content, the topics range from examinations of the messenger scene, reportage of Critical Mass altercations, and the occasional expose on the life of the professional cyclist. A flavor for all points in the cyclist spectrum. Last year's Road to Roubaix was especially good; hopefully, another race-oriented film is in the quiver this year.
The Chicago schedule, available here, doesn't yet list the films to be shown. However, it seems as if a fair number of ancillary events are planned, featuring music at the Metro and Smart Bar, an art show, Goldsprints, and a massive block party on Sunday, August 16.
Space is running out to register for the 27th annual Chicago Triathlon held on Sunday, August 30, 2009. While you probably know by now whether you're in good shape to compete in a triathlon (the training program puts my cycling-specific program to shame), if you're into seeing what you can do with a minimum of time, or if you were fence-sitting, now is the time to register.
The international-distance Chicago Triathlon consists of a 1.5-kilometer (.93 mi.) Lake Michigan swim, a 40-kilometer (24.8 mi.) bike on Lake Shore Drive, and a 10-kilometer (6.2 mi.) run along Chicago's lakefront. For those aforementioned fence-sitters and those interested in a shorter test of endurance and will, a "Sprint Distance" race, approximately half the distance of the international distance is the ideal choice.
Something of a late notice, but if you have nothing to do tonight from 6-8 p.m. and have an urge to work up a sweat, Moonshine Bar (1824 W. Division) is hosting a Opensprints tournament to celebrate the arrival of the 42Below crowd. Click here for the flyer.
42 Below's mission states "Through our country-wide 42Ride, along with a partnership with the Bicycle Film Festival, we aim to provide bike enthusiasts (21+) with an experience they will never forget and act as a catalyst for cities around the world to improve their bicycle infrastructures, raise bicycle awareness and just plain get with the program."
With their arrival today of the scrum of cyclists, a little something of a sprints tournament will go down. Go! And get sweaty!
The Chicago chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America is meeting tomorrow to figure out once and for all how they should regard players of the Steroid Era in their future Hall of Fame voting. One Delaware sports writer is urging them to "do the right thing."
When the dust clears after tonight's NBA draft, will Kirk Hinrich end up wearing a new uniform?
Local Iowa State and Duke basketball fans might have something to do next January 6.
The Fire is gearing up for its next match in the Super Liga against fellow MLS club Chivas USA Tuesday at Toyota Park.
ChicagoNow blogger Matt Olsen lists 10 Chicago sports surprises that weren't really surprises. Personally, I'd add the continually rising cost projections for hosting the Olympics.
It'll be Mark Brown (no, not this Mark Brown) instead of Gonzalo Omar Basile who will take on Fres Oquendo at "Windy City Fight Night 3" this Friday at the UIC Pavilion. On the undercard, Rita "La Guera" Figueroa has a rematch with Tammie "The Tasmanian Devil" Johnson. Man, I love nicknames.
The Chicago Machine hope to end a three-game losing streak when they take on the Washington Bayhawks this Saturday at Toyota Park in Major League Lacrosse action.
If you just can't let go of the 1985 Bears, you might have a reason to watch the Cleveland Browns a bit closer this season.
The Lou Malnati's Pizza Bronco team does a worst-to-first run in the Wilmette House women's baseball league. Meanwhile, it's the Riveters versus the Skyline and the Comets versus the Turtle Rock in Chicago Gems Women's Baseball League action at Bedford Park Fields.
Continuing this year on its successful 2008 program, the Active Transportation Alliance of Chicago is bringing back its Open Streets Sunday boulevard tour on August 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event this year combines last year's two days into one long, eight-mile avenue of bicycling, dancing, walking, and other activities. The route spans from Logan Square to Little Village, and passes through Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and Garfield Park. Stations and kiosks throughout the route will feature performances, children's activities, art, and workout demonstrations. Cost of entry is free.
The first race of the Soldier Field Cycling series is tomorrow. The showers predicted tomorrow will likely keep things a little on the mellow side, but as so often inevitably happens, the pace will pick up to full-tilt by the time the bell lap is rung. Juniors race for free! And since this race is so close to the Loop, no reason why one cannot stop by to cheer on racers after suffering all day long in the cubicle. More information on the SFC site, or here.
And for this Sunday is the Fox River Grove race. With a solid climb to shatter the field, this "crit" is unlike many of the other races here in Chicagoland -- it has terrain. The lighter fellows will likely have less of a problem here than many of the normal crit specialists. Lots of slots remain open.
The TdF is coming! The New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat is looking for volunteers for its July 11 event. Please e-mail Ashlee at West Town Bikes for more information or to sign up. The TdF directly benefits West Town Bikes, which develops cycling programs for Chicago youth. Drink beer, do good deeds. It's win-win, here.
So when Tony Dungy said signing Jay Cutler was risky for the Bears, did he stop to consider who the previous three or four Bears quarterbacks were?
Author Sarah Paretsky takes time off from documenting the exploits to private investigator V.I. Warshawski to discuss another dark subject: the Cubs. She compared Cubs fans to "tired women living with alcoholic men." Ouch.
If the news that Matt Hagan will trade the Shelor.com Funny Car body for a FRAM Tough Guard design on the Dodge Charger, you probably want to be at Route 66 Raceway this weekend.
Following the lead of our Gapers Block cohorts over in Book Club, we'd like to give a heads up on a few books and authors Tailgate sports readers might be interested in during this weekend's Printer's Row Lit Fest. Hey, it is legal to do more than just WATCH sports, you know?
Saturday
Harold Washington Library Multi-purpose Room
1 p.m. "Cubbie Blues"
James Finn Garner, James McArdle, Sara Paretsky, Stuart Shea and Gary moore discuss the new book that documents 100 years of Cub fan frustration (which is becoming a cottage industry). Donald Evans will moderate.
Hotel Blake, Burnham Room
1 p.m. "The Chicago Sports Reader"
Gerald Gems and Steven Reiss, co-editors of "The Chicago Sports Reader: 100 Years of Sports In the Windy City", in a conversation with Tom Lynch.
Sunday
University Center Park/Fountain Rooms
1 p.m. Sporting Lives
Sports writers Melissa Isaacson, Jonathan Eig and Gary Andrew Poole discuss their craft in a conversation with Dan McGrath.
This week Navy Pier is playing host to five full days of professional racquetball as the International Racquetball Tour stages its annual Pro National Tournament from Tuesday, May 5 through Saturday, May 9th.
Whether free professional racquetball is worth wading through the tourist throngs at the Pier is debatable. The draws include the fact that play takes place in a clear Lucite box, the players are among the best in the world and racquetball seems to be the only sport in which every player wears throwback headbands.
Also, included in the tournament is Chicagoan - and Lane Tech student - Geoff Goldblatt. He has clawed his way into the top two-hundred players in the country.
The Great Dewayne Wise Experiment is over. Ozzie's going with Chris Getz in the leadoff spot for tonight's game. Getz says he's ready for the change.
Bears tracks: Orlando Pace says he came here to play with a winner; Will Cutler fit in with the Bears, and if so, will he be throwing to this guy?
ESPN's much-ballyhooed (never thought I'd write that word) Chicagocentric website debuts Monday.
If you like your sports bloody and brutal (other than badminton, I mean), you probably already have your tickets to the upcoming World Extreme Cagefighting match at Allstate Arena
The Chicago area just missed out on another championship as the Chicago Mission lost in the title game of the USA Hockey Nationals.
The first-year Red Stars are looking to succeed where other Chicago soccer franchises have failed and their victory over St. Louis puts then on the right path. You can see for yourself at their home debut on April 19.
The Chicago Force kick off their 2009 season this Saturday, April 11, in Iowa vs. the Crush, before returing to North Park University for their home opener April 18 against the Wisconsin Warriors. You can hear head coach John Konecki discuss the upcoming season this Friday on AM 1240 (11 a.m.) and on WJJG-AM 1530 at 4:15 p.m.
Few sports other than cycling allow the fan to come intimately close to those at the top of the sport. We've all seen the videos of inebriated cycling fans running alongside the climbers in the Tour de France. During Superweek, some of the nation's fastest riders congregate here and if you're a Cat. 2, or even 3, you've probably rubbed elbows with some of these stallions.
Cycling also has its own legends and fables. Training protocols involving somehow cabbage leaves, fixed gears, and the mysterious supplesse that all cyclists seek like some kind of grail. Mountains and terrain that have brought glory to the son of a farmhand. Much like when Babe Ruth's called out his home run, cycling has its own romanticized vignettes passed down at that piano moment of a group ride or in the parking lot after a race. Maybe half of it is true? Maybe none of it? It's just as much a part of the sport as is shaving legs and Campagnolo.
So sometimes it's nice to hear the juice from the source.
Robbie Ventura, current coach, ex-pro who used to ride on U.S. Postal, and Chicagolander, will be giving a talk April 16th from 7-9 p.m. at the Trek Store in Highland Park (1925 Skokie Valley). Members of the Active Transportation Alliance get in for free, and non-members can join at the door for $25 which will also include admittance. Click here to RSVP.
Additionally, a VIP training session from 6-7 is available, but spots are limited.
Left Field is a new documentary about "Chicago's unofficial kickball league," an unruly collection of adult teams that invade city parks each summer. The film is screening at Portage Park Theatre, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., Feb. 26 -- get your tickets here.
