Bears reveal stadium plans
The Chicago Bears are looking to build a new stadium, and they need nearly $5 billion to do so – but not everyone is in favor of the plan.
Chicago released a proposal for a domed stadium on Wednesday, with $3.2 billion earmarked for the stadium itself and another $1.5 billion for infrastructure.
The team announced that it would put more than $2 billion toward the stadium project. According to the Chicago Tribune, to make up the rest, the Bears would seek $300 million from the NFL and would ask the state of Illinois to borrow $900 million, which would be paid back by Chicago’s 2 percent hotel tax.
The plan didn’t sit well with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“I remain skeptical about this proposal, and I wonder whether it’s a good deal for the taxpayers,” Pritzker said. “There are a lot of priorities that the state has, and I’m not sure that this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers.”
Non-profit group Friends of the Parks, which focuses on Chicago’s Lakefront Protection ordinance, also criticized the plan, writing in a statement, “As is so often the case in Chicago, the powerful and wealthy are demanding that our entire city stop and fast track their plans to expand operations on the people’s lakefront.”
However, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attended the Bears’ press conference announcing the proposal, which he called a “crown jewel.”
NBA
Naz Reid entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent with no guarantee of a long pro career.
Now the fifth-year center is officially the best reserve in the NBA after being named sixth man of the year on Wednesday evening.
Reid narrowly edged out Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings to win the award. Reid received 45 first-place votes and 352 total points to Monk’s 43 and 342, respectively.
Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks was third with 81 points, followed by Norman Powell (65) of the Los Angeles Clippers and Bogdan Bogdanovic (40) of the Atlanta Hawks.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Illinois All-Big Ten guard Marcus Domask entered the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday, bringing an apparent end to his appeal for a medical hardship waiver and sixth year of college eligibility.
A transfer from Southern Illinois last spring, Domask delivered in a huge way in Champaign. The former Waupun High School star was named first team All-Big Ten and averaged 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists during the Fighting Illini’s run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
NFL
The Dallas Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on defensive end Micah Parsons on Wednesday.
The move will keep Parsons under contract through the 2025 season. It will pay him $21.32 million in 2025, barring a long-term deal with the Cowboys, a number determined by where he played the most snaps in 2023, which was DE. Parsons will earn $2.99 million this season.
Bengals’ Hendrickson requests trade: Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson requested a trade on Wednesday, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network.
Hendrickson signed a one-year, $21 million extension that included an $8 million signing bonus last year, but now he is looking for a long-term contract outside of Cincinnati. However, the Bengals do not want to deal him to another team, per reports.
MLB
Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer made his first start since undergoing back surgery, throwing 52 pitches while logging 2 1⁄ innings at Triple-A
3
Round Rock on Wednesday night.
Scherzer gave up three runs on five hits while striking out four without issuing a walk in his first rehab outing of 2024.
Crawford goes on IL: The Seattle Mariners placed shortstop J.P. Crawford on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right oblique strain.
The move is retroactive to Wednesday, when Crawford was scratched before the game at Texas due to soreness.
Crawford, 29, is batting .198 through 22 games this season with two homers, nine RBI and 13 runs.
— Wire reports