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‘Soldier Field was off the chain’: Chicago Bears rookie QB Tyson Bagent reflects on his storybook day — and a big win for his team

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

If the magnitude of the moment ever hit Tyson Bagent — a small-town kid from West Virginia making his first NFL start for the Chicago Bears — the 23-year-old quarterback seemed far more appreciative than overwhelmed on Sunday.That was true leading up to the game. It was true during the Bears’ impressive 30-12 trouncing of the Las Vegas Raiders at Soldier Field. And it was true for 11 minutes afterward when the undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University came to his postgame news conference and attempted to describe the entire experience.Nervous?“Uh, yeah,” Bagent confirmed. “Yeah.”Until he wasn’t.“I feel like I settled in after the first snap. But really, I feel like I feel really nervous the entire week until we get on the field pregame. And then it usually goes away.”That’s when Bagent’s confidence typically kicks in, an infectious quality embedded in his DNA.“I feel like I’ve played like...

Callahan: Patriots scored a throwback win in home upset of Bills

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

FOXBORO — Moments after his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, Mike Vrabel preached to a choir of a few hundred.The indoor ceremony was joyous and populated by ex-teammates, coaches and fans all happy to see him and ride shotgun on a two-hour drive down memory lane.Piece of cake.But during his halftime speech Sunday, standing atop a makeshift stage over the Gillette Stadium field, Vrabel addressed an unsettled crowd of thousands; a mix of fans disappointed and displeased at the Patriots’ 1-5 start after decades of dominance.So during his two minutes at the mic, Vrabel did not bask in past glory. He recognized the moment, and his audience for what they were and decided to stump for his old team.“I want to thank the fans that made playing in this stadium unbelievably special. … I also don’t want you to take this organization for granted,” Vrabel said. “Enjoy it. It’s not like this everywhere.”Essentially, Vrabel called on fans to believe as t...

Football provides a homecoming and hope in Lahaina, where thousands of homes are gone after wildfire

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Fans decked in red streamed into the Lahainaluna High School football stadium, snacking on nachos and venison chili, bopping to the high school band’s rendition of “Sweet Caroline,” and exchanging long hugs with neighbors and classmates. It was homecoming, and for many of the fans, coaches and the players themselves, being back at the stadium was the closest thing to feeling at home since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century leveled their town.“I don’t know if I can put into words how much it means to Lahaina,” said offensive lineman Morgan “Bula” Montgomery, who has lived in three different hotels with his family since their apartment building burned down. “Just looking in the stands, you see all the old-timers coming out, all the alumni and even the little kids — just all kind of excited, waiting for that first snap.”Classes resumed last week at Lahainaluna High and at the two other public schools that survived the Aug. 8 fire, and on Saturday ...

Suspicious package near bus platform at Bayview station

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

Police are investigating a suspicious package near a bus platform at Bayview subway station on Sunday night.At approximately 7:20 p.m. Toronto police arrived to investigate. The station has been evacuated out of an abundance of caution, as the Emergency Disposal Unit advised.Two lanes southbound are blocked on Bayview Avenue at Sheppard Avenue East.TTC Line 4 Sheppard has no service between Sheppard-Yonge and Don Mills stations due to police activity. Shuttle buses are running.Trains are not stopping at Bayview due to police activity.

Memorial service held at Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery in Etobicoke

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

As work continues on identifying Indigenous graves at the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery in Etobicoke, dozens attended a memorial service on Sunday to remember all those buried at the site.“We honour the 1,511 buried here generations ago, to listen to their voices, ensure that their lives are not forgotten and commit ourselves as Canadians to care for those who are struggling with mental health issues and ensure this space honours them,” a memorial event statement said.Located at the northeast corner of Horner and Evans avenues, moments of reflection, music and prayer filled the massive space.The burials at the cemetery happened between 1890 and 1974. Many graves don’t have proper recognition with bare patches. On one side of the cemetery there are hand-written memorial rocks.Garry Sault, an Ojibway elder in the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, performed a smudging ceremony as part of the service. He said the day is one that should be of awareness ...

Rally in support of Israel takes place at Foster Beach

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

CHICAGO — A rally in support of Israel took place at Foster Beach in Lincoln Park on Sunday.About 20 to 30 people gathered at the beach holding up flags and chanting in support of Israel.Organizers say they had originally planned for a much larger crowd and for the event to take place at Federal Plaza in the Loop, but after some threats of violence, organizers felt moving the event was the best option. Israel bombs Gaza, Syria and West Bank as war threatens to ignite other fronts One of the people who spoke at Sunday's event was Ira Piltz, an attorney who lives in Chicago. Piltz said his daughter and a number of his relatives are currently in Israel and he fears for their safety.Others at the event held up signs allegedly showing the faces and names of those kidnapped by Hamas.Organizer Brad Gluszewski said the event was not about being anti-Palestine, but instead about being anti-terrorism and ultimately about bringing the Jewish community together amid the ongoing conflict."We j...

Chicago-area synagogues donate ambulance to EMS agency in Israel

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — As the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on, six Chicago-area synagogues have joined together to donate an ambulance to Magen David Odom (MDA), the emergency medical service agency in Israel.The ambulance was on display during a dedication and showing of support that was held in Highland Park on Sunday before it is sent to Israel.The ambulance will reach Israel in the next few weeks and join a fleet of emergency vehicles at MDA. Local Jewish community members hold vigil, fast in support of Gaza The ongoing conflict has left thousands of civilians dead and wounded.According to the Associated Press, over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed and at least 212 people were captured and taken back to Gaza. The Hamas-run Health Ministry, says over 4,600 people have been killed in Gaza, that number includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion.Yoni Yagodovsky, the Director of International Relations for MDA, said he has witnessed atrocities during prev...

St. Louisans make strides against breast cancer, inspiring others battling illness

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is more than just a walk. It's a movement to help save lives.Jamie Zografos is proud to be part of this movement. She beat breast cancer eight years ago.“I was 39. I was going in for breast augmentation because that's what you do when you're about to turn 40,” she joked. “I never had a mammogram, so it was my first mammogram that the surgeon wanted me to have before he did any work. “I was like, ‘Yeah, this is silly.’ But after the first mammogram is when they said, 'Yeah, things don't really look how they're supposed to.'”Despite two years of challenges and complications related to surgery, she never ended up needing radiation or chemotherapy. Despite it all, she calls herself early for being diagnosed early in Stage 0. She had to undergo a double mastectomy to avoid anything coming back.Not only did Zografos take part in the walk on Saturday, but the American Cancer Society also nominated her to serve as an ambassador to bring aware...

Broncos S Kareem Jackson ejected for second time this season after another high hit: “One of the challenges for Kareem is he’s got some priors”

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

In what’s become a regular occurrence this season, Broncos safety Kareem Jackson again found himself delivering a high hit to an opponent Sunday afternoon.For the second time in seven games, the 14th year pro got ejected.He’s almost certainly going to draw another hefty fine — he’s up past $89,000 on four fines this year — and could face suspension.This time, Jackson hit Green Bay tight end Luke Musgrave high early in the fourth quarter. Musgrave was turning up the sideline and slipped, lowering his target. But Jackson’s facemask hit Musgrave high and the flags came out immediately.“One of the challenges for Kareem is he’s got some priors,” head coach Sean Payton said after the game, adding that, because of that, he wasn’t surprised to see the penalty flags. “When you get pulled over and you’ve had four or five speeding violations, you’re going to spend a little more time on the side of the road than if you didn’t have any.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Bron...

Broncos report card: A sterling performance from Wil Lutz is enough for a “W” when not much else looked pretty

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:45 GMT

Offense — CThe Broncos squandered a couple of opportunities early and settled for field goals in the red zone, but thanks to their defense and a hapless opponent, they had plenty of time to find their stride. As it has most of the year, Denver’s run game produced efficient results. Unlike much of the season, coach Sean Payton actually had the scoreboard and the inclination to stick with it. An 18-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to Courtland Sutton put a nice bow on his best outing of the season: six catches for 76 yards and the score. Denver didn’t do a ton in the second half after that, but ran the ball well enough to get into range for a go-ahead field goal and avoided the big mistake. Play turnover-free football and you’ve got a chance to win this type of game.Defense — CIt started off so well on Sunday for the Broncos defense against Green Bay. They put together a solid outing against Kansas City in Week 6 and then yielded very little to the Packers through ...