Pretty silly not to have a proper exchange program for jerseys ordered online. Bought a jersey for…read morea family member for Christmas that was not quite the right size. But to get the replacement, I have to spend more money to ship the original one back, and now lose out on the Cyber Monday pricing because I have to essentially buy a new jersey at today's price, rather than just being able to exchange size-for-size. This is all so customer-unfriendly in the age of Amazon and year 2024.

Few people know that on a quiet tree-lined stretch of the near south side of Chicago sits the…read more"brain trust", if you can call it that, of United States soccer. Inside these offices sit a man (or maybe a little ogre) named Sunil Gulati - a businessman with no soccer background. And, from his office - I like to picture it as a dungeon, though I'm sure it's a golden palace - he makes bad decision after bad decision on how to build soccer in the United States. Looking for a new coach? Why not hire another MLS/U.S. college retread instead of an internationally respected guy. Have one of the worst calls in the history of the World Cup made against you (when even the BBC says the United States shouldn't have had a goal waived off against Slovenia when their home team is fighting in the same group)? Filing a protest would take too much effort and paperwork. It's much easier just to sit back and hope to get a better referee next time. Pressure MLS to conform better to the international calendar. Why? Because it would help player development to have them available for games. Unnecessary! Get the United States team back into the Copa America? Why test it against the best national teams in South America? They might get intimidated, lose confidence. Yet, somehow, despite Enron/Goldman Sachs/BP level incompetence at the top, a rag-tag band of second-tier European players and MLS all-stars managed to get to the second round of the World Cup and won its group over England in the process. These players with unbreakable hearts came from behind twice and scored in the last couple of minutes of the final group game to do so. They stared elimination in the face twice and laughed! Laughed not out of hubris but out of hope. Maybe that flows from the top, but I doubt it. Anyhow, despite the U.S.S.F., I'm proud of my home country's soccer team. No need to look overseas for a team to support when the United States plays a no-diving (okay, not much, Jozy Altidore does go down a bit easy), offense-minded, soccer that matches the kind of soccer that people in the United States would like to see the whole world play. And the leadership hasn't been all bad. The U.S.S.F. is trying hard to bring the World Cup back to U.S. soil in 2018 or 2022. They finally opened a training center in 2003. And you can't argue with results like a second place in the Confederations Cup and consistent women's team success. Still, if we had a better governing body in the United States, soccer success on the men's side might have come to the United States a long time ago.

The Chicago Bears are one of the most historic and winningest franchises in NFL history. Da Bears…read moreare tied with the Arizona Cardinals for the NFL's two oldest teams. Both teams' first NFL season happened in 1920. Coincidentally, the Cardinals started in Chicago. The Bears currently have the most regular season wins of any NFL franchise. By win percentage, they're only bested by three other storied franchises (in order): the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers, and the New England Patriots. Elite company. That said, something that sets the aforementioned teams apart from the Bears are the number of Super Bowl championships won. Since the first Super Bowl was played in 1967, the Bears have only won one: Super Bowl XX in 1986 (1985 season). In contrast, the Cowboys have won five Super Bowls, the Packers four, and the Patriots six. Before the Super Bowl era in the NFL (1920-1969), the Bears won the second-most championships in the league. They won eight NFL titles from 1921 to 1963, second only to the Packers' 11 titles. Super Bowl XX was a rout with the 15-1 Bears defeating the 11-5 Patriots, 46-10. The Bears more-than-covered the 10-point spread they were favored by. Their 46 defense, which they popularized, stifled the Pats. That game featured several future Hall of Famers, most notably Bears head coach Mike Ditka and Bears running back Walter Payton. Ditka not only led Chicago to the Super Bowl championship in 1986, but he was also the tight end on the Bears team that won the 1963 NFL championship. Walter Payton, considered one of the greatest running backs of all time, was the offensive star of the Super Bowl XX team. After winning the championship, he had just completed the 11th of what would be 13 productive seasons for the Bears (1975-1987). Linebacker Mike Singletary was the defensive star and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year that season. However, it was Bears defensive end Richard Dent (from Atlanta, Georgia) who was named Super Bowl MVP for the several key defensive plays he made during the game. Since Ditka's last season in 1992, playoff appearances for the Bears have been few and far between. They've only made it to the NFC Championship Game twice (2006, 2010). 2006 was the team's best season in recent memory. Chicago went 13-3 in the regular season and were led by head coach Lovie Smith, quarterback Rex Grossman, running back Thomas Jones, wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, and linebacker Brian Urlacher. Like Ditka and Payton, Urlacher had a long and successful career with the Bears and was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears are currently led by head coach Matt Nagy. His first year at the helm in Chicago was promising with a 12-4 regular season (2018). Unfortunately, since losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Game that year, his win-loss record has been mediocre at best.

This team is finally going somewhere. Caleb looks like a great QB and they have a decent line to…read moreprotect him. Strong backfield and recievers. Finally things are looking up!

Of all the Chicago teams, the Bulls are the one I've seen the least. And that says a lot…read moreconsidering I don't root for the Bear or Sox. The other night I brought my son to just his second Bulls game. We were here a few years ago, which is an eternity in terms of the talent on the court. Gone are the days of miserable Pax/Gar teams (thank God) and replaced by awesome stars like Demar Derozan and Zach LaVine. Aside from the new found talent, I have to say that the entertainment factor here was amazing. As in, leaps and bounds better than any other sporting event we go to (and we go see a lot of games in different sports). The pregame intro is classic, the tv and called timeout skits were terrific and hysterical, and the halftime show was a collaboration of gymnasts and performers that put on one hell of a show. Honestly, I felt like I got my money's worth on non-game entertainment alone (despite not catching a parachuting t-shirt from the rafters)..lol. In addition to the game, I highly recommend getting here early to take in everything the building has to offer. The arena is stocked with Bulls and Hawks championship pennants hanging from the banners. One of their concourses is now home to the once outdoor MJ bronze statue, and we also found the case with Bulls 90's championship trophies. Those brought back fond memories. An exciting team that wins adds a lot of value, I'm not going to lie. But the non-game entertainment factor is phenomenal. Even if you aren't an NBA or Bulls fan, I'd still highly recommend stopping in sometime. GO BULLS!

We had a quick stay in Chicago after a family wedding and just had to come see one of the elite NBA…read moreteams. Bought great seats same day as the game. The venue is beautiful with lots of fast moving concession stands. And the Uber tent is genius! Team lost that day, but we still had fun. I hope to see another game in the future.

Getting to the baseball park by public transportation from downtown was so easy and definitely the…read morebest way to get there! The stadium itself was great, and don't forget to check out the statues in the outfield. The tacos were amazing and definitely worth getting. However, I'd skip the churros, they were hard and tasted stale. Overall, a great stadium experience!

Beautiful stadium! The younger staff working the hot dog and sausage stand could use a little more…read moretraining. Our food was served barely warm, almost cold. The bathrooms could also use more frequent cleaning, especially during busy events. Other than that, it's a really nice stadium and a great place to catch a game.

I went to the Red Stars inaugural game last Saturday, and wow are those women good! Even in the…read morerain, on a soaking wet field, they played with so much control and skill. I was explaining to friends that since there are not a lot of paid professional women's soccer leagues in the world, that a lot of the best players come to the US. So this is probably the easiest way to watch really high quality soccer live! Oh, and tickets are really cheap! So if you are a soccer fan, or a women's sports fan you will enjoy going to Red Stars games!

These girls are extremely skilled! I never thought much of soccer until I witnessed a game tonight…read moreand WOW, I definitely have a major respect for this sport and the players now! A few friends and I sat right in front of the brother of one of the player's (Natalie Spilger) and it was awesome to see them interact! She did great and he was right there behind her! It really pulls you further into the game and brings you right onto the field with these girls. Awesome job girls!.. I hope you progress and push Chicago to LOVE soccer and respect it and what you do out there as much as I do now. Tip: Family members of the players tend to sit within section 126 which runs about $30 a seat (you sit right behind the players bench). Although you can get general admission tickets which are $15. At the end of the game a player or two stands back and signs autographs for fans.. This also takes place right below section 126. This venue is extremely kid friendly!

Are you a hockey fan, but can't be bothered with necking it out for a Hawks ticket? Or you find…read moreyourself not in the mood to catch a Wolves game. Welcome to the world of the ECHL where anything is possible. The Sears Centre is home to a new hockey club (Chicago Express) where if you want to hear the slashing sounds on the ice or the roaring whistle of a train as a goal is scored; you are more than welcome. Chicago has been lucky enough to be granted with three levels of professional hockey and this is definitely no exception. An Affiliate of the NHL's Blue Jackets, the Express skate with determination and skill that make it perfect to watch while they are growing as professional players. The venue itself isn't overly large and offers pretty much a decent seat from both sides of the rink. The Sears Centre suits the bill for holding the sounds of the ice and the crowd without making you think there could be a concert the next night. Because the Express club is still so fresh and so clean, seats are readily available for every game. We're talking, if you wanted to be bangin' on the glass come this Saturday (or when the next home game is) you'll probably find out that your luck--is in tact. For this particular outing, I ended up sitting rows behind the benches for which I have to admit...I am skeptical and should have opted for the other side but couldn't for the life of me get the ticket site figured out. Ten rows up from the ice is still a pretty sweet view--even if you're somewhat behind the benches. The crowd has taken the Express to heart already which is very warming, because they are a brand new franchise. Loud cat calls, whistles and screams to skate to the center is something that will be of a common fixture for the night. Tickets are definitely affordable. To sit in the lower 100 level tickets start as low as $17, and sitting behind the glass if that is your fancy is only $25. For anyone in need of getting a hockey fix this is a great option to choose from. Parking itself is standard for the Centre, look to spend about $10 to park easily across the way from the arena entrance.

We came here with our 2 year old and some friends and had a good time. They have so much to do for…read morethe kids..train rides, hats, music, intermission activities. It's great for those that can't (or won't ) pay the crazy amount for a Hawks ticket and it's close by. The game was a bit like a high school game but it was still entertaining and you can't beat $1 beers and $1 hot dogs on Fridays. Overall it's something fun to do on a Friday night.

#BecauseWeWon In…read more2013, the Chicago Blackhawks took home Lord Stanley's Cup for the second time in 4 years and their 5th time overall. Any fallout or backlash resulting from the second lockout in recent memory was quickly erased by the stellar play and gutsy effort by each skater on the team and both of our goalies, Ray Emery and Corey Crawford, and not to be forgotten, Coach Q's knack for finding the right combinations for each line throughout the season and deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Victory Rally is the ending point of the Victory Parade and the culmination of this shortened seasons' worth of determination and the reminder that there is but One Goal, which is to take home The Stanley Cup. The Rally took place this year at Hutchinson Field, the south end of Grant Park. Police presence was heaviest at the outer edges of the park, where they checked bags, and at the entrances and main thoroughfares. On this warm and sunny day, extra water fountains were placed near the existing spigots. The only issue I had was that no matter how much pre-planning you do to get to the rally and get the spot you want, it won't make any difference. You can camp out all night and wait at the barricades on Congress, but you'll still end up finding somewhere else to take up residence. I had dreams of being right up next to the stage but in reality, it was just too hot to stay there anyway, and we ended up finding shade among the small trees lining Hutchinson Field as we waited for the double decker buses to come down Columbus and make their way to the park. Still, there are enough Jumbotrons and speakers set up that no matter where you are, you'll still be able to see and hear everything that's going on. I was just glad to be there, and be in the presence of my fellow Blackhawks fans, bandwagon or not, it's nice to see Chicagoans united in celebration for a huge win over a tough Boston team for the title of 2013 Stanley Cup Champions. Let's Go Hawks!!

The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the all-time great hockey teams. I guess you can say that about…read moreall of the Original Six of which the Blackhawks are one. The Blackhawks are top-five in the NHL in both total number of Stanley Cup championships won (6) and total number of Stanley Cup Finals appearances (13). While historic franchises like the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs have won more Stanley Cup championships than the Blackhawks, the Blackhawks have continued to win championships well into the 21st century. That's something neither the Canadiens nor Maple Leafs can say with those teams' last titles occurring in 1993 and 1967, respectively. Members of the Arthur Wirtz family have been principal owners of the Blackhawks franchise since 1966. The franchise had won three Stanley Cup championships - 1934, 1938, and 1961 - prior to Arthur Wirtz becoming the lead partner. Chicago wouldn't win a Stanley Cup again until Arthur's grandson Rocky assumed control in 2007. They've since won the Cup three times: 2010, 2013, and 2015. Unlike his frugal father, "Dollar" Bill, Rocky spent a lot of money to rebuild and market the franchise, promoting a new culture while still honoring its past. It paid off. Current general manager Stan Bowman (who joined in 2009) and former head coach Joel Quenneville (2008-2018) oversaw the Blackhawks' three Stanley Cup victories in the 2010s. The captain on all three of those teams is current captain, "Captain Serious," Jonathan Toews. Toews was drafted by Chicago with the third overall pick in the 2006 draft. At age 20, he was named team captain heading into the 2008-09 season. At the time, he was the second-youngest captain in league history. Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010 (playoffs MVP) with Patrick Kane (2013) and Duncan Keith (2015) following suit. Toews, Kane, and Keith won three Stanley Cups together and are still teammates today; the Blackhawks' Big Three. Like Toews, Kane and Keith were drafted by Chicago too. Kane in 2007 (No. 1 overall pick) and Keith in 2002 (No. 54). All three players rank in the top 10 among team leaders in points and assists in both the regular season and playoffs. Toews and Kane are also in the top 10 in goals. The Big Three are now past their prime. If the young players on the current roster can step up, the Blackhawks might be able to make one last run this era.

Chicago Blackhawks have won Six Stanley Cups since their founding in 1926. They are one of the…read more"Original Six" NHL teams, along with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. I became a fan when my daughter went to college in the vicinity of Chicago. I'm really a fan of hockey period. I do own memorabilia and sportswear for certain teams. This is one of them. If you're from Chicago and not a fan, then shame on you! I love your city and I support your Blackhawks.

I have attended several baseball games at the Village of Lisle - Benedictine University Sports…read moreComplex. The DuPage Drones are a new Prospect League Baseball (Collegiate Wood Bat) Team, and they can PLAY BALL! Often scoring 5 runs or more, they "earn" the night's ticket holders a free scoop from their sponsor, the Downers Grove Culver's. The staff is great at planning special theme nights and entertaining with flying drone races, contests, characters in costume, fireworks, and a run around the bases. They have an assortment of #Drones gear available for purchase - hats, T-shirts, pullovers. The concession stands offer a wide variety of food choices for reasonable prices. There are all of your typical choices - hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, beer, etc., but the last time I was there I had a Caesar salad and a frozen Strawberry Margarita - both YUMMY! The stands are filled with folding seats with backs, not just bleachers, so they are comfortable, and there are plenty of tables available for dining use. The restrooms are very clean with hot tap water at the sinks.