It was wild first day of free agency, with the Bulls getting reserve forward Thaddeus Young but there still remaining a hole at the PG position. Chicago of course wasn’t playing with the top levels of the market, and then throughout the night named targets like Patrick Beverley, Corey Joseph, and Ish Smith (even Ish!) went off the board.

But the Bulls look to have nicely rebounded in a move for the Tomas Satoransky. Per Woj, Satoransky was a restricted free agent but this will be completed via sign/trade (also, the Wizards just picked up Smith and have a big cap crunch). The Bulls are sending a future 2nd rounder (plus another 2nd round swap rights for the pick they sent to the Wizards last year in the Otto Porter deal) to Washington. Early reports are it’s a 3-year deal for around $30m, will have to see if the 3rd year is guaranteed and if the Bulls correctly strayed a bit from their stupid and/or arrogant 2021 plan of only signing two year deals.

Satoransky, in his prime at 28, is a pretty good option for the position next season. He capably filled in for 84 starts the last two seasons in Washington with John Wall always being hurt, and the team performed better than with their star. Looks to be more of the caretaker spot-up shooter type of point guard than one who will generate his own looks, but alongside Zach LaVine that’s a better fit. As a 3-point shooter was a shade under 40% at a under 3 attempts per36. And as a defender he’s reputed as solid and try-hardy, and may actually be good there. He definitely has good positional size listed at 6’7”.

Though not a standout starter-level at the position, Satoransky will be adequate to take the lead role here in Chicago next season. He’s likely a lot better option than the aforementioned Smith or Joseph. And he’s younger than Beverley.

So this would take up all of the Bulls remaining cap room, unless the Bulls can free up space by offloading incumbent starter Kris Dunn. They will also have the room exception available ($4.6m) plus minimum salaries to further fill out the roster.

People’s Gas is getting to work on its new $25 million North Shop Field Center at 4025 W. Peterson.

The building permit describes the project as a “new 2-story building to include service center, fleet hub, repair garage, field support shops and offices.” A previous permit had been issued for the building foundation and site utilities.

Epstein has provided architectural and engineering services for the 84,433-sq. ft. structure.

F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates is the general contractor. Key sub-trades include: Electrical – Block Electric Company; plumber – Abitua Plumbing, Inc.; and refrigeration and ventilation – Diversified General Contractor.

We are living in a golden age of queer cinema. Now more than ever, films about, starring, and made by queer people are taking up space in Hollywood. But sometimes the discourse surrounding queer representation in media is exhausting— especially since the media play such a powerful role in shaping how marginalized groups are perceived by society.

For much of film history, queer and trans characters have been depicted as villainous. If we overcorrect and show only queer characters who are perfect and polished, they are no longer interesting. True representation is a reflection of our flawed reality. Queer people are messy, we make mistakes, we're problematic, and we do things we regret. Here's a collection of films that feature dynamic queer characters who are anything but squeaky-clean.

Bound (1996) directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski

Step aside, Ocean's 8—the Wachowski sisters beat you to the punch by more than 20 years with this decadent lesbian heist flick. Bound is a masterful debut that's both a thrilling crime film and a sensual tale of queer desire. Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and Corky (Gina Gershon) manipulate everyone around them in order to get what they want—and Bound flips the script on tired stereotypes in femme-butch relationships. It's a film that champions the submissive, feminine underdog and introduces a queer femme fatale.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) directed by Anthony Minghella

When I die, scatter my ashes over Anthony Minghella's idyllic, homoerotic interpretation of Italy. Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley is fueled by lust, obsession, and fantasy. Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) wants to be with Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), but he also wants to be Dickie because Dickie is everything Tom is not: wealthy, carefree, and straight-passing. It's about the toxicity of adoration, the struggle for power in queer relationships, and the ways marginalization can alter both one's sense of reality and one's relationship to one's queer identity.

Bad Education (2004) directed by Pedro Almodóvar

It's hard to talk about Bad Education without spoiling it—but the film is more rewarding the less you know going into it. After decades of estrangement, first loves Ignacio (a captivating Gael García Bernal) and Enrique (Fele Martínez) reconnect and make a film about the abuse Ignacio experienced in the Catholic Church. But some things just aren't adding up and not everyone is who they say they are. This film is a technical marvel in nearly every aspect—and its nonnarrative style will keep you guessing until the very end.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) directed by Marielle Heller

A recent addition to the "Be Gay, Do Crime!" canon, Can You Ever Forgive Me? was one of the most overlooked films of last year. Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is a broke and lonely lesbian writer who takes better care of her cat than she does of herself. In a desperate attempt for cash, Israel forges letters from famous authors—later with the help of an equally disastrous gay friend (Richard E. Grant). On the surface the film is about petty crime, but underneath is a gut-wrenching portrayal of self-induced isolation.   v

Last night, we were all thrilled to watch the Chicago Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings in prime time, bumping their playoff odds up to nearly 90% (yup … they’re the 2015 Chicago Cubs, turning a corner a year early on the strength of a few key free agent pickups, a huge addition through trade, and one awesome second-overall draft pick).

But almost as cool as the win itself, was the game’s bump up to prime time (7:00 PM CT) from an original and far less-featured noon start. That decision demonstrated that the league and the country had their eyes on the Bears and this matchup, which is great for exposure, enthusiasm, and the general feeling around the team. Basically, if your team is flexed into high-profile broadcasts often enough, you’re probably on the right track.

Well, the Chicago Cubs are in a similar situation, and have been for a few years now. They bring a lot of eyeballs for a national audience, and ESPN just announced their early-season slate of games, which includes three Cubs games in the first week:

• Sunday, March 31st: Cubs at Rangers (3:00 CT)
• Monday, April 1st: Cubs at Braves (6:00 CT)
• Wednesday, April 3rd: Cubs at Braves (6:00 CT)

If you’re keeping track at home, that means that ESPN just gobbled up three of the Cubs’ first five games in order to broadcast them in front of a national audience. And, sure, the Braves are an up-and-coming NL powerhouse, but they don’t have quite the same pull the Cubs do, and the Texas Rangers are pretty openly in the middle of a rebuild. The Cubs are popular, and that’s swell. I mean, consider the fact that of the 14 early-season games ESPN just announced, the Cubs are in 21% of them.

And if you’re thinking 14 games is a lot, so a ton of teams must have gotten the call, think again. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Cubs are involved with 9 of those 14 contests:

Orioles at Yankees
Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Red Sox at Mariners
Braves at Phillies
Cubs at Rangers
Cardinals at Pirates
White Sox at Indians
Cubs at Braves
Giants at Dodgers
Cubs at Braves
Dodgers at Rockies
Yankees at Astros
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Astros at Yankees

I don’t think I need to tell anybody what’s good about being included in a group with the Yankees and Dodgers. Indeed, they’re the only three teams with three games picked up apiece. With a new TV deal still being ironed out (it’s still being ironed out … right?) this is a great signal to the market: the Cubs are in the *elite* tier of broadcast rights, so pay up or shut up or something.

It’s also worth noting that both the Dodgers and the Yankees are among the teams with their own regional sports network, something which the Cubs still appear keen to create. ESPN picking up those games won’t likely have much of an effect on any final deal, but it does help build some reference points in for the rest of us.

This spring, the eastern end of the Chicago Riverwalk will welcome a new monument dedicated to the memory of World War II submariners. While most people probably associate Chicago and submarines with the Museum of Science and Industry’s captured German U-boat, the city’s river was actually used during the war to transport 28 submarines built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico and ultimately the Pacific Ocean.

For the group of Navy veterans that raised the money to finance the memorial, the project has been more than four years in the making. “This has taken us a while towards completing our mission, but we are happy to finally see our challenge coming to an end,” project manager Frank Voznak, Jr. recently told Loop North News.

Slated for a waterfront site in front of Vista Tower, the steel monument is designed to resemble an interior bulkhead of a World War II submarine, complete with a pass-through hatch. The installation will be engraved with an image of one of the submarines passing beneath the raised Lake Shore Drive Bridge, a map of the route traveled, and the names of the 28 Wisconsin-produced vessels—four of which were lost in combat with all hands.

The addition coincides with a larger $10 million revamp of the Chicago Riverwalk between State Street and Lake Shore Drive, opening May 13. A dedication ceremony for the submariners memorial will be announced at a later date, according to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

The Tampa Bay Rays are picking up steam after thrashing the Baltimore Orioles in MLB on Friday.

The Rays topped the Orioles 16-4 at Camden Yards in their third straight win.

Tampa Bay tallied a staggering 20 hits to Baltimore's five, and first baseman Nate Lowe went four for five with a home run.

Renato Nunez was a bright spot for the Orioles, as he went two for four, hit a home run and had two RBIs.

The Rays are now 6.5 games back of the American League (AL) East-leading New York Yankees, while the 27-63 Orioles are last in the division.

Awesome Archer, Alvarez

Chris Archer struck out 10 batters in six innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs in the Houston Astros' 9-8 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Eduardo Rodriguez mowed down 10 Los Angeles Dodgers in the Boston Red Sox's 8-1 win at Fenway Park.

Dyson a dud

Jarrod Dyson was hitless in four at-bats in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 4-2 victory over the St Louis Cardinals.

Evan Longoria went one for five as the San Francisco Giants took down the Milwaukee Brewers 10-7.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 0 for four for the Toronto Blue Jays in their 4-0 loss to the Yankees.

Posey bomb

Buster Posey helped pushed the Giants into the lead with a bomb.

Friday's results

Chicago Cubs 4-3 Pittsburgh Pirates
Washington Nationals 4-0 Philadelphia Phillies
Tampa Bay Rays 16-4 Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees 4-0 Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox 8-1 Los Angeles Dodgers
Minnesota Twins 5-3 Cleveland Indians
Miami Marlins 8-4 New York Mets
Texas Rangers 9-8 Houston Astros
San Francisco Giants 10-7 Milwaukee Brewers
Kansas City Royals 8-5 Detroit Tigers
Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 St Louis Cardinals
Colorado Rockies 3-2 Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Angels 13-0 Seattle Mariners
Oakland Athletics 5-1 Chicago White Sox
Atlanta Braves 5-3 San Diego Padres

Astros at Rangers

These in-state rivals had a really close game on Friday, and it appears like Saturday could be another intense battle. Both sides hit well, but the Rangers were somehow able to overcome 13 strikeouts from Gerrit Cole. Houston still sit atop the AL West though.

A wildly popular Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we review select scenes from the rich tapestry of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history.

Today in baseball history:

• 1926 - In a Chicago Tribune article detailing the business side of the team, the Cubs casually reveal that Weeghman Park will now be known as Wrigley Field, reflecting the ownership of the club by William Wrigley, Jr. The north side ballpark was originally named after the previous owner of the team, Charles H. Weeghman, who had built the steel-and-concrete ballpark for the Chicago Whales, but moved the Cubs to the new venue after the two teams were merged under his ownership when the Federal League team folded. (1)
• 1968 - The MLB Rules Committee adopts a series of changes designed to increase the amount of offensive run production in both leagues. In the most significant alterations, the committee agrees to decrease the size of the strike zone and lower the height of the pitcher’s mound from 15 inches to 10 inches. The rules changes will result in increased run-scoring in 1969. (3)

Why was the pitchers’ mound lowered? Tracy Ringolsby thinks we should do it again. Fangraphs explains.

• 1971 - The Cubs trade 25-year-old right-hander Jim Colborn, along with Brock Davis and Earl Stephenson, to the Brewers for outfielder Jose Cardenal. Chicago’s newest outfielder will have a productive stay in the Windy City, batting .296 during his six-year tenure with the team. (1)
• 2010 - Former major league third baseman Ron Santo dies in an Arizona hospital from complications of bladder cancer and diabetes. The 70-year-old, considered one of the best players in Cubs history, rejoined the team in 1990 as the team’s WGN radio announcer, enamoring his listeners with his devotion to the lovable losers and gaining their admiration for his continued failure to gain induction into the Hall of Fame, an honor he will receive posthumously in 2012. (1)
• Cubs birthdays: Cozy Dolan, Bennie Tate, Mike Martin, Damon Berryhill, Manny Corpas,

Sources:

Thanks for reading. #Cubsnews