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Chicago Tribune
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: Century of Progress — the second World's Fair hosted by the city — opens
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 27, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1933: Century of Progress — the city's second world's fair — opened in Chicago. 1968: Chicago Bears owner George Halas, 73, announced his retirement as the team's head coach. Halas finished with a regular-season record of 318-148-31 in 40 seasons. Ben Johnson is the 19th Chicago Bears head coach. Here's a look at how past coaches fared — and why they named Jim Dooley, a longtime assistant and former player, to replace him. Halas' 1968 send-off of 'Good luck, kid' to his successor immediately turned to bad luck and haunted Dooley through season records of 7-7, 1-13, 6-8 and 6-8. Enthusiastic and innovative, a true 'football man,' Dooley presided over four of the darkest and worst years in Bears history. 1993: The $618 million International Terminal was unveiled at O'Hare International Airport. The 1.2 million-square-foot, glass-and-steel building with dramatic, curving roof and skylights was completed following more than two years of construction. This facility, officially named Terminal 5, included 21 gates, 156 ticket counters and was estimated to handle 4 million passengers annually. It was the last project of a $2 billion O'Hare revitalization and expansion program begun a decade earlier. The terminal was expanded in 2023. 2012: Paul Konerko hit a tie-breaking three-run home run — his 400th with the Chicago White Sox — in a 12-6 win over the Cleveland Indians. The offensive outburst gave the Sox nine or more runs in four consecutive games. The White Sox last accomplished that feat June 27-30, 1938. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bought for $100, now worth over $6 billion: Why the Chicago Bears might just be the smartest investment in the history of professional sports
From $100 to $6 billion: How the Chicago Bears became the greatest sports investment in history (Chicago Bears) Imagine owning your favorite pro sports team — being in that exclusive inner circle where decisions shape legacies and fortunes. For most people, that's a fantasy reserved for video games and dreams. The reality? Team ownership is the ultimate billionaire's playground. Even the most underperforming franchises are worth hundreds of millions, while championship-caliber teams demand valuations in the billions. It's a club reserved for the ultra-wealthy, with even minor league ventures often proving to be financial sinkholes. How the Chicago Bears turned pocket change into a $6 billion empire over 100 historic years But every rule has an exception, and in the world of professional sports investments, the Chicago Bears are that golden outlier. What began as a modest $100 investment by George Halas in 1920 has now evolved into one of the most iconic and valuable franchises in sports history. That original $100 — equivalent to about $1,500 today — wouldn't even get you a lower-level ticket at Soldier Field now. But it did give Halas complete control of a fledgling football team back then. Fast forward to 2025, and the Bears are worth over $6 billion. It's arguably the greatest investment story in American sports history. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fashion Design Courses Fashion College Learn More Undo What makes this tale even more fascinating is that the Halas family still owns the franchise. Virginia Halas McCaskey, daughter of George Halas, is currently the principal owner. Her family's long-standing control over the Bears is one of the last remaining examples of generational ownership in the NFL , a league now defined by hedge funds, tech moguls, and corporate giants. Despite the lack of recent on-field success, the value of the Bears continues to skyrocket. A big reason for that lies in the NFL's growth into a financial juggernaut. From humble beginnings, the league has ballooned into a $20 billion empire. Television rights, global marketing, and the rise of fantasy football have turned franchises into billion-dollar businesses, whether they win or not. The Bears may not have added much silverware in the Super Bowl era, with just one Lombardi Trophy secured in 1985, but their legacy stretches far beyond titles. They've won 8 NFL Championships, mostly in the pre-merger days, and their longstanding rivalry with the Green Bay Packers — which began in 1921 — remains the oldest continuous rivalry in the league. The franchise's iconic orange-and-blue colors draw inspiration from the University of Illinois, and their nickname 'Bears' was a nod to the Chicago Cubs, symbolizing the bond between baseball and football in the city. But make no mistake — things are changing fast in Chicago. With a new stadium project looming and the dawn of the Ben Johnson era on the horizon, the Bears are entering a transformative chapter. They'll kick off the 2025 NFL season under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, hosting the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. This will be more than just a game — it will mark a new beginning for a team that's hungry to return to relevance. Before the regular season kicks off, Chicago will play three preseason games starting in early August, with two of those at home. With an extra road game on the schedule this year, the chance to showcase their talent in front of home fans during the preseason becomes even more valuable. While most of us can only fantasize about owning an NFL team, stories like that of the Chicago Bears keep the dream alive. 'Could you imagine purchasing an NFL franchise for $100?' That's not just a rhetorical question — it's a testament to how vision, timing, and belief can turn the improbable into a legacy worth billions. In an era where sports are driven by data, deals, and deep pockets, the Bears' journey is definitely a reminder that even the biggest success stories often begin with something small — like $100 and a dream. Also Read: "There nothing American about the 'Commanders'": Fans disapprove Washington team owner Marjorie Harris' "America's Team" claim Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Chicago Tribune
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Virginia McCaskey earned the respect and admiration of Chicago Bears fans — because she was one of them
There've been few untouchable owners in Chicago, where passionate fans frequently look for someone to blame when things go wrong, often starting at the top. But Chicago Bears principal owner Virginia McCaskey, who died Thursday at age 102, was the exception to the rule. Michael and George McCaskey, two executives in charge of running the Bears during their mother's long reign, were always subject to the usual criticisms and mocking that go with the job. When you're making decisions for a franchise that hasn't enjoyed much success, you have to expect some blowback. Even George Halas, old 'Papa Bear' himself, was forced to defend himself and the organization from time to time, especially later in his life. But Virginia almost always was exempt, escaping the brunt of fans' barbs no matter how bad things got. Part of her immunity was in deference to her age, and assuredly some fans just couldn't be nasty to a nice, elderly woman who just happened to own their favorite NFL team. But Virginia Halas McCaskey always was respected and admired in Chicago and in NFL circles alike. Bears fans and knowledgeable football fans all over mourned her passing Thursday as the last link to the man who started the league. Several former Bears players sent their condolences on social media, and many fans pointed out that Virginia's last Bears game as owner was splendiferous — a last-second win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the season finale. What could be better than that? Some called her 'NFL royalty,' and 'The First Lady of the NFL.' Others noted that her passing ended an era that began in 1920, when George Halas helped found the NFL. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in a statement, said McCaskey 'leaves a legacy of class, dignity and humanity' to the world. 'Faith, family and football — in that order — were her north stars and she lived by the simple adage to always 'do the right thing,'' Goodell said. 'The Bears that her father started meant the world to her and he would be proud of the way she continued the family business with such dedication and passion.' As most Bears fans know well, it was never in the plans for Virginia to be put in charge of the iconic NFL franchise. When she was born, on Jan. 5, 1923, George Halas had been expecting a boy. Photos: Bears owner Virginia McCaskey dies at age 102 'I already had visions of drawing my son into the thick of the Bears,' he wrote in his autobiography, 'Halas By Halas.' Two years later, George and Min Halas became parents again, and their newborn son, George Halas Jr., was brought up to follow in his father's footsteps. Nicknamed 'Mugs,' George Jr. became the Bears treasurer in 1950, general manager in 1960 and then president in '63, while Virginia and her husband, Ed McCaskey, grew their family of 11 children in Des Plaines. That all changed when Mugs died of a heart attack on a December morning in 1979, just before the Bears beat the St. Louis Cardinals. Virginia would inherit the leadership role of the franchise as principal owner when George Halas died in 1983 and was at the helm in their only Super Bowl-winning season in 1985. She retained the title of secretary of the board after her father's death and named her oldest son, Michael, as team president. While she mostly remained out of the spotlight, Virginia was outwardly overjoyed to own a team that not only dominated on the field in '85 but changed the way players and teams marketed themselves. And her unequivocal love of coach Mike Ditka, whom she compared to her father in personality and coaching ability, was never in question. 'When dad died, I know how he felt about the Bears,' she told the Tribune's Bob Verdi after their NFC title game win over the Los Angeles Rams. 'He felt especially good about Mike Ditka coming back to the organization. I'm not a football expert. I don't pretend to be a prophet. My main feeling is one of appreciation for Mike Ditka, how he's grown with this job, and all the good things he's done since he got here.' The Bears would go on to win Super Bowl XX in New Orleans, and it looked as though Virginia McCaskey's reign might even top her dad's. That, of course, was not to be. For reasons that have been debated for the last four decades, the Bears have never won a Super Bowl since and never developed or acquired an elite quarterback to lead them. George McCaskey publicly revealed Virginia's private feelings about the losing after the firing general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman in 2014 following the Bears' 5-11 season. 'She's been very supportive,' George said. 'She agrees with the decisions that we've made. She's pissed off. I can't think of a 91-year-old woman that that description would apply, but in this case, I can't think of a more accurate description. She's been on this Earth for eight of the Bears' nine championships, and she wants more. She feels that it's been too long since the last one, and that dissatisfaction is shared by her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She's fed up with mediocrity. She feels that she and Bears fans everywhere deserve better.' Boom. Virginia's private ranting quickly became part of the team's lore. Who is Virginia McCaskey? 8 things to know about the owner of the Chicago Bears. Bears fans could relate, and Virginia's comments, whether embellished or not, went viral. Even at 91 she seemingly understood the pain and heartache that went with rooting for the team she owned. Of all the comments she made over the years, that's probably the only one most Bears fans remember. Virginia was really one of them. The respect and admiration for Virginia McCaskey could not mute the anger some fans felt toward the team and the family's failure to build a winner. And even before the mourning subsides and the tributes end, all eyes turn to the succession plan and the big question: 'Who will own the Bears now?' It's a question that has been asked as long as Virginia has been in charge. 'Could I ever see the Bears leaving the family?' she said in 1985. 'No, we've had to do things our own way, but no, I could not see that.' Whether she was upset by the chants of 'sell the team' at the Bears' home finale on Dec. 26 is unknown. But we know how George, the current leader, feels about the family's stewardship, and it's doubtful change is coming anytime soon. As for now, the loss of the matriarch of the Bears family will be felt by family, friends and many who knew Virginia McCaskey only as the owner of their favorite team. Hopefully Bears fans will celebrate the long and eventful life she lived and toast a fellow Chicagoan who always did things her way.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How to Watch the AFC Championship Game Live for Free to See Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. If your Sunday plans strictly include gathering around the TV for your weekly fill of football, you're definitely not alone. With the Super Bowl just a couple weeks away, the stakes for what teams will make it through this weekend are even higher. Basically, you won't want to miss a second of the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Buffalo Bills on their home turf in the AFC Championship Game. Today's Top Deals The World's Strongest At-Home Light Therapy Laser Claims to Stop Aging In Its Tracks—& It's on Sale I Found the Best Baggu Crescent Bag Lookalike on Amazon & It's Down to $18 This Incredibly Adorable Valentine's Day Red Sloth Squishmallow Is 33% Off The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the semifinal playoff games of the National Football League and helps determines one of the two teams playing in the Super Bowl. Both the AFC and NFC Championship Games are played on the last Sunday of January by the two remaining playoff teams from each conference. The winners of the AFC and NFC Championship Games will then face off in the Super Bowl, the annual championship game of the NFL, which takes place on February 9th this year. $0+ Buy Now Both the AFC and NFC Championship Games were established as part of the 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League, with the merged league realigning into two conferences. Since 1984, each winner of the NFC Championship Game has received the George Halas Trophy, an award named after George Halas, NFL founder and the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears. The winner of the AFC Championship game receives the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named after Lamar Hunt, the founder of the AFL and the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2025 AFC Championship Game will be played on Sunday, January 26, between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. So where can NFL fans stream the AFC Championship Game this year? Read on for how to watch the AFC Championship Game live for free so you don't miss which NFL team is heading to the Super Bowl this year. The AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills airs on Sunday, January 26, at 6:30 p.m. EST on CBS and Paramount+. The AFC Championship Game airs on Paramount+ and CBS, which is available available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. While Hulu+ With Live TV doesn't have a free trial, it is cheaper per month than the other options, starting at $68.99 per month, and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Best Overall Pick to Watch AFC Championship Game: DirecTV Stream's Free Trial Best Free Trial Pick to Watch AFC Championship Game: Fubo's Free Trial Best Upgrade Pick to Watch AFC Championship Game: Hulu+ With Live TV $0+ Buy Now Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the AFC Championship Game live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the AFC Championship Game with DirecTV Stream's free trial. Visit packages page Click 'Try It Free' for the plan of your choice Enter your information and payment method Search for CBS or FOX and start watching the AFC Championship Game $0+ Buy Now Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the AFC Championship Game live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the AFC Championship Game with Fubo's free trial. Visit Click 'Start Free Trial' Enter your information and payment method Search for CBS or FOX and start watching the AFC Championship Game $68.99+ Buy Now Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the AFC Championship Game based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the AFC Championship Game with Hulu+ Live TV. Visit Click 'Sign Up Now' Enter your information and payment method Search for CBS or FOX and start watching the AFC Championship Game The teams playing in the 2025 AFC Championship Game are the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs' quarterback is Patrick Mahomes, while the Bills' quarterback is Josh Allen. The AFC Championship Game will be played at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO on the Chiefs' home turf. The AFC Championship Game airs on Sunday, January 26, at 6:30 p.m. EST on CBS and Paramount+. $0+ Buy Now Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways
