Front page flashback:<\/strong> Jan. 5, 2017<\/p>\n Reputed leader Gregory \u201cBowlegs\u201d Chester of the Hobos, a Chicago super gang, and alleged lieutenants Paris Poe, Arnold Council, Gabriel Bush, Derrick Vaughn and William Ford were convicted<\/a> on racketeering conspiracy charges.<\/p>\n Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1942:<\/strong> The Chicago Bears \u2014 who won the 1941 championship \u2014 defeated a team of NFL All-Stars 35-24 on a \u201cdreary, chilly afternoon\u201d<\/a> at the Polo Grounds in New York City. It was the Bears\u2019 19th victory in 20 games. The game raised more than $51,000 (or more than $1 million in today\u2019s dollars) for the Naval Relief Society.<\/p>\n 1966:<\/strong> Field Enterprises, then publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Daily News, launched WFLD-Ch. 32<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe plan to be a station of selectivity,\u201d said station director Sterling C. \u201cRed\u201d Quinlan. \u201cWe\u2019ll be big in sports. We intend to show Chicagoans how the city works, how it is actually governed, what goes on behind the scenes. We mean to keep an eye on the town and jump into civic issues. We are not locked into anything and we\u2019ll give all sorts of things a try.\u201d<\/p>\n 1982:<\/strong> Chicago Bears coach Neill Armstrong was\u00a0fired<\/a> after a 6-10 record during the 1981 season.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2024\/12\/02\/chicago-bears-head-coaches-history\/<\/p>\n Armstrong, who previously coached Edmonton in the Canadian Football League, made just one playoff appearance as Bears coach.<\/p>\n Who topped Halas\u2019 list for the team\u2019s next head coach? Mike Ditka<\/a>.<\/p>\n Michael Jordan: Top moments and stats in the life and career of the Chicago Bulls and NBA legend<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 2002:<\/strong> Washington Wizards forward Michael Jordan became the fourth player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points<\/a> when he hit a free throw in the second quarter of an 89-83 win against his old team \u2014 the Chicago Bulls. Jordan joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Wilt Chamberlain.<\/p>\n 2005:<\/strong> Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg was elected<\/a> to the Baseball Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Sandberg was inducted<\/a> on July 31, 2005, and delivered a stirring speech that criticized the products of the steroid era.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did it become OK for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Remembering Ryne Sandberg, the Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sandberg spoke about playing the game \u201cright because that\u2019s what you\u2019re supposed to do\u201d and said if his election into the Hall validates anything it\u2019s that \u201clearning how to bunt, hit-and-run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light (on) the dugout camera.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Six](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-HOBOS-CONVICTED-2017-01.jpg\")
Six reputed leaders of the Hobos street gang were convicted of racketeering conspiracy charges on Jan. 4, 2017. A federal jury found the gang carried out a total of eight murders over the course of a decade. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Before](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-CHICAGO-BEARS-DEFEAT-NFL-ALL-STARS-1942-01.jpg\")
Before the Chicago Bears played in the NFL’s fourth All-Star game on Jan. 4, 1942, head coach George Halas told his team: “It looks like this is your real test. This is the worst gridiron you’ve had to play on and it’s up to you to show your greatness, in spite of the conditions.” Despite the muddy playing field, the Bears scored five touchdowns on their way to a 35-24 victory. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Newsman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-CT-mike_flannery_leaves_tv_kogan14_181446731.jpg\")
Journalist Mike Flannery of WFLD-Ch. 32 at Chicago’s Fox studio newsroom on June 19, 2023. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-L-CTHIST-CTHIST-AUK-891-CT_F_226343611.jpg\")
Chicago Bears Coach Neill Armstrong, the 11th man to direct the team in the club’s 58-year history, huddles with the players during his first practice on April 28, 1978. (Walter Kale\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Ryne](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ctc-l-sandberg-Cooperstown-e1767128560302.jpg\")
Ryne Sandberg, clutching his Hall of Fame plaque, waves to the Cooperstown, New York, crowd on July 31, 2005. (Phil Velasquez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n