It\u2019s nothing new, of course. Chicago\u2019s stars have always supported each other. When the Bears played at Wrigley Field, Bobby Hull was a season ticket holder, and Billy Williams used to get tickets<\/a> for games from Bears receiver Dick Gordon.<\/p>\n The budding bromance of Crow-Armstrong and Williams should last a long time, or at least until the Cubs and Bears sign them to massive deals.<\/p>\n One of the primary requisites of the job of commissioner of a major sports league<\/strong> should be the ability to project strength. But the commissioners of the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball are all weaklings, as evidenced by a report from The Athletic<\/a> that Roger Goodell, Adam Silver, Gary Bettman and Rob Manfred will meet with President Donald Trump to help promote America 250, a celebration of the country\u2019s 250th birthday.<\/p>\n While Trump\u2019s jackboots instill fear in Minneapolis, Chicago and other American cities, and he embarrasses the country on the international stage, these four pretend leaders will be posing for photo-ops in the Oval Office and pretending all is right with the country. None of them has the courage to speak out against what\u2019s happening in America.<\/p>\n Lucky for them, they\u2019re only beholden to the billionaire owners of their league\u2019s teams, not the average fans who support their respective sports.<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Pat McAfee has always appealed to the lowest common denominator,<\/strong> so it\u2019s no surprise the clueless commentator is taking on unidentified media members who point out his lame frat boy act, calling them \u201cfat \u2026 lazy nerds\u201d on his TV show.<\/p>\n McAfee also tweeted that sports journalists \u201chate what sports are for people (happiness). They hate what sports are for society (unifier) \u2026 they\u2019re political journalists by nature who\u2019ve preyed on sports because they saw it as an easier path to \u2018make it.\u2019 Their days are numbered \u2026 my show being broadcasted on ESPN 10 hours a week with ZERO creative say from any \u2018journalism school\u2019 puppets is living proof of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Actually, the audience of McAfee\u2019s show is relatively tiny, or else it would be in a better time slot than in the early afternoon, when everyone else is working. He\u2019s already wearing thin on college football fans, and sooner or later the ratings will slide and ESPN will pull the plug and send him off to UFC analysis, where he belongs.<\/p>\n Illinois is having another stellar season, thanks to a deep team led by freshman Keaton Wagler.<\/strong> The 11th-ranked Illini are 17-3 after Saturday\u2019s 88-82 road win over Purdue and in contention for the Big Ten title.<\/p>\n And when the Illini are winning, coach Brad Underwood is at his most ornery, as when he recently sparred with an Illinois reporter who praised Tomislav Ivi\u0161i\u0107 for a good game against Northwestern<\/a> despite what he called an \u201cup-and-down season.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou guys say he\u2019s been up and down,\u201d Underwood shot back. \u201cI just say his role changed. You guys create more damn narratives that are full of (bleep). That\u2019s what he does. That\u2019s why he\u2019s been on draft boards. He\u2019s big and can shoot the cover off of it. \u2026 No one has ever doubted Tommy.\u201d<\/p>\n Love him or hate him, Underwood is never afraid to speak his mind.<\/p>\n Kudos to White Sox general manager Chris Getz<\/strong> for immediately spending the $20 million he saved by dumping Luis Robert Jr.\u2019s contract<\/a>, signing reliever Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million deal<\/a>. Now maybe he can move Grant Taylor into the rotation where he belongs.<\/p>\n Mike Berman was a professional and a hardworking sports reporter<\/strong> willing to work long hours at NBC-5. A Glenbrook North alumnus who grew up rooting for Chicago teams, he did his job for 10 years without calling attention to himself. His work spoke for itself.<\/p>\n Berman, who was let go by the station last week, deserved a better fate. Hopefully he winds up on another local station that will appreciate his work ethic.<\/p>\n![\"Illinois](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-Z-ILL-PUR.jpg\")
Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, left, drives past Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer during the first half Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in West Lafayette, Ind. Wagler scored 46 points in the Illini’s 88-82 win. (Michael Conroy\/AP)<\/p>\n
![\"Cubs](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CTC-CUBS-CONVENTION-011726-16.jpg\")
Manager Craig Counsell speaks during the Cubs Convention on Jan. 17, 2026, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n