CHGO Digest: CHGO Rank Week, Bears reporting for camp, Caleb & Rome unsigned

Good morning, friends!

What are your favorite “I’ll never forget where I was” memories in Chicago sports history?

I’ll always remember staying up past my bedtime in 2010, 1980s Cubs-branded True Value portable radio tucked under my pillow, living and dying on John Wiedeman’s every word during Game 5 of the Blackhawks’ first round against the Predators.

I couldn’t contain my excitement during Marian Hossa’s overtime winner which prompted a visit from my mom wondering why I was still awake.

— Patrick Norton

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CHGO Ranks Chicago’s Greatest Games

Starting today, CHGO is counting down the 25 greatest games in Chicago’s illustrious sports history.

It didn’t have to win a championship, it didn’t have to include an eruption of points — the game just had to be great. The games that made our childhood, shaped our adulthood, and the ones we’ve only ever heard about from family members or seen in documentaries.

We’ll update the list with five games every day, unveiling the top five on Friday, July 19. And while you might be able to guess what’s atop the list, the journey to No. 1 is going to be a fun one full of reminiscing and debating the good old days. Make sure you’re locked into our Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts for more CHGO Ranks content this week!

🏆 CHGO Ranks | The 25 greatest games in Chicago sports history: No. 25 – No. 21

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Hit the links with us!

Join CHGO and ALLCITY’s Big Drive Energy at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club in West Chicago on July 22 for the inaugural Cookout Classic Golf Tournament! Sign up as an individual, twosome, or foursome!

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It’s Training Camp Week!

Congratulations, Bears fans. We’ve made it.

Rookies report to Halas Hall tomorrow before the rest of the team officially arrives on Friday. Full-team practices begin on Saturday. 12 days later, it’s the team’s first game action against the Houston Texans at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

But before the fun begins, the Bears’ front office still has work to complete.

• Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze still have not signed their rookie deals with the Bears (as of 7 a.m. on Monday). Williams said, “I’m not handling that. My lawyers and attorney and everybody, the head of the Bears, everybody up there up top is handling that. That’s not my position that I’m handling.”

• The Bears failed to sign Roquan Smith to his rookie contract before the team reported for training camp in 2018. Smith, who did not sign with an NFLPA-certified agent like Williams, held out until mid-August when the two sides eventually agreed to terms.
  
• Williams and Odunze aren’t the only rookies yet to have signed. Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner remain unsigned, as well as Cincinnati’s Amarius Mims.
  

🎧 LISTEN | The CHGO Bears Podcast discusses when Williams and Odunze could sign their deals and if Bears fans should be concerned yet.

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Roundup: White Sox’s & Cubs’ MLB Draft night, Angel Reese’s record streak ends

• Welcome to the South Side, LHP Hagen Smith, SS Caleb Bonemer, and LHP Blake Larson! The White Sox selected Smith No. 5 overall out of Arkansas during Sunday night’s MLB Draft. Bonemer and Larson are both high schoolers.
  
• The Cubs drafted two third basemen on Sunday night, taking Cam Smith from Florida State No. 14 overall and Cole Mathis from College of Charleston in the 2nd round. Smith has been described as having “30 home run potential” by ESPN.
  
• Angel Reese’s record-setting stretch is over. The rookie forward’s streak of double-doubles ended at 15 games on Saturday morning at the hands of the New York Liberty. Reese averaged 15.3 points and 13.2 rebounds over the historic run, snapping Candace Parker’s previous record of 12 games earlier this month.
  

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Matas. Buzelis. Posterizer.

A "Let's Go Matas" chant has broken out at Thomas & Mack Center.

Why? Because MATAS BUZELIS! 😱 pic.twitter.com/5W9Bxcrrnw

— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) July 15, 2024

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Join us for an upcoming CHGO event!

⚾ 7/19: Friday 1:20 Club at Wrigley Field! — vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
⛳️ 7/22: Cookout Classic Golf Outing at St. Andrews!
⚾ 8/9: Crosstown Classic Takeover at Guaranteed Rate Field
⛳ 8/23: Kickoff Classic Golf Tournament at Cog Hill!

Check out our full calendar here!