Latest news with #MikeAdkesson
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Woeful White Sox have penguin throw out first pitch: ‘Can he start tomorrow?'
Perhaps the solution to the White Sox pitching woes is a little penguin named Pepe. Before Sunday's game against the Royals, Chicago trotted out Pepe to accompany Dr. Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of the Brookfield Zoo, for the ceremonial first pitch at Rate Field. Pepe waddled out to the mound from the dugout while Adkesson tossed in a strike. Advertisement A Humboldt penguin, the creature made his appearance in celebration of World Ocean Day, as an ambassador for ocean cleanliness and safety. The White Sox (22-44) could've used the penguin's services during the game, though, as they went on to lose 7-5. Advertisement 3 Pepe the penguin takes in the view from the pitcher's mound Sunday at Rate Field. AP Naturally, fans on social media had a field day with the adorable moment. 'Major upgrade for the White Sox pitching staff!' remarked one fan on X. 'Can he start tomorrow?' asked another. Advertisement 'Billy, this is Pepe. He's a penguin. He is one of the most undervalued birds in baseball. His defect is he can't fly,' cracked another, referencing the classic scene from Moneyball. 3 Pepe the penguin with Brookfield Zoo President and CEO Dr. Mike Adkesson and White Sox reporter Brooke Fletcher. @CHSN_WhiteSox/X 3 White Sox manager Will Venable in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Royals. AP The White Sox have the ninth-worst team ERA in the majors with a 4.12, and the loss to Kansas City was a prime example of their woes on the mound — Chicago's bullpen gave up five runs in a brutal display. Advertisement Others couldn't help but poke fun at former NFL player Taylor Lewan, who went viral for his brutal first pitch at a Cardinals game last week. 'Nobody show this to @TaylorLewan77,' posted one fan on X, with dozens of others echoing a similar message. The White Sox will look to take inspiration from Pepe as they attempt to climb out of a 20 ½-game hole in the AL Central starting with a three-game series in Houston against the Astros beginning on Tuesday night.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Pepe the penguin stole spotlight in conservation-themed White Sox game
Image Source: @whitesox/X On June 8, 2025, Pepe, a cute Humboldt penguin from Brookfield Zoo, stole the show at Guaranteed Rate Field. With Dr. Mike Adkesson, the zoo's CEO, Pepe waddled to the pitcher's mound for the first pitch before the Chicago White Sox played the Kansas City Royals. This fun moment, held on World Ocean Day, spread the word about saving oceans. Fans cheered loudly, and social media loved Pepe, making him the star. Even though the White Sox lost 7-5, Pepe's visit mixed sports with a big conservation message. Pepe's pitch sparks conservation awareness Pepe's trip to the game was more than just adorable; it was a message about the ocean. Humboldt penguins, which live in Chile and Peru, are in danger due to overfishing and climate change, says the IUCN. Brookfield Zoo brought Pepe to show fans how they help save these penguins. Dr. Adkesson said the zoo is proud of its work with penguins in the wild. World Ocean Day was the perfect day for Pepe's visit since it's all about the ocean. Videos of Pepe waddling to the mound went viral and fans were calling him a 'great pitcher' and joking he should join the team. These fun comments helped more people hear the zoo's message. By bringing Pepe to a baseball game, Brookfield Zoo made saving the ocean exciting for fans watching in the stands and online. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Both the White Sox and the zoo won with this teamwork. The crowd was happy, and the zoo shared their mission with new people. Pepe's pitch proved that small moments can make a big difference for an important cause. Also Read: Chicago White Sox announce the strategic signing of pitcher Tyler Alexander on $760,000 contract Royals outshine White Sox in close game While Pepe was the highlight, the White Sox had a tough game. They started well with a two-run homer by Miguel Vargas in the first inning, which got fans excited. But the Kansas City Royals tied the game in the fourth with a big homer by Salvador Perez. In the seventh, Jonathan India's hit gave the Royals the lead, and they won 7-5 after adding more runs later. The White Sox tried hard but lost, leaving their record at 22-44 in a hard season. Still, Pepe's visit kept fans smiling. Players like Sean Burke, who loves penguins, had fun taking photos with Pepe in the dugout. These moments kept the day special, even with the loss. The game's result didn't stop the event from being a success. Fans on social media called Pepe the day's hero, showing his visit was a hit. Brookfield Zoo and the White Sox turned a regular game into a fun way to talk about saving the environment, proving sports can help share big ideas. This day will inspire more events like it soon.
Chicago Tribune
07-06-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Bottlenose dolphin born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, takes its first breath on video
A bottlenose dolphin safely delivered a calf early Saturday morning at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, a 'momentous occasion' that marks the first dolphin birth in more than a decade at the west suburban zoo. Allie, a 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin and experienced mother of four, gave birth to the calf — which will be named later this summer — at 12:22 a.m., the zoo said in a news release. Veterinarians estimated that the calf weighs between 33 to 37 pounds and is 115 to 120 centimeters long. 'Every birth is a remarkable learning opportunity, and the scientific information we gain benefits marine conservation efforts,' said Dr. Mike Adkesson, the zoo's president and CEO. 'The birth offers a moment to celebrate the incredible work and dedication of our team to ensure the health and well-being of the animals in our care.' Allie began showing signs of labor Friday morning when her body temperature dropped about a degree, the zoo said. By 11 p.m., the calf's flukes presented itself, and within less than an hour and a half the calf was born, the zoo's first since 2014. A video showed the calf swimming up to the water's surface for its first breath alongside Allie and Tapeko, another dolphin and an experienced mother. 'The calf came out very strong,' Dr. Jennifer Langan, senior veterinarian, said in the video one hour after the delivery. 'It has been breathing well, and it's developing new skills that dolphins have to develop really quickly. That includes learning how to surface to breathe, learning how to move its flukes.' The calf reached other developmental milestones as well, including 'slipstreaming,' which is when a calf gets pulled along by its mother so that it doesn't have to work as hard to swim, the zoo said. The calf's dorsal fin and tail flukes are also pliable and lack firmness, but will gradually stiffen in a few days. These milestones, which staff are monitoring 'around the clock,' are important because although calves are born fully developed after a 12-month gestation, they heavily rely on their mother for nutrition, navigation and to conserve energy. A calf's first year of life can be particularly precarious. In the wild, 1 in 5 calves born to first-time mothers don't survive their first year, the zoo said. 'The first 30 days are a critical time frame for Allie and her calf,' said Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai, the zoo's senior vice president of animal health, welfare and science. 'We're closely monitoring behaviors and milestones to gauge the calf's progress, like its first breath of air, bonding with its mother, growth and an increase in nursing efficiency.' Staff will confirm which dolphin is the calf's father in the coming months, the zoo said. Brookfield Zoo has a long history of dolphin care and research. In 1961, it opened the country's first inland dolphin aquarium. For over five decades, the zoo has also led the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program in Florida, the world's longest-running wild dolphin conservation program, which studies bottlenose dolphins as indicators of the overall health of the marine ecosystem, as well as the presence of diseases and toxins like contaminants, runoff, red tides and algal blooms. The zoo's Seven Seas dolphin habitat is temporarily closed while the calf acclimates to the dolphin group.
