• HOME
  • ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
  • BUSINESS
  • COMMUNITY/CIVIC
  • EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
  • EDUCATION
  • GOVERNMENT
  • HEALTH/WELLNESS
  • HOUSING
  • INTERNATIONAL
  • JUSTICE/LAW
  • RELIGION
  • SPORTS 1
  • SPORTS 2
  • TRANSITIONS
  • YOUTH
  • More
    • HOME
    • ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
    • BUSINESS
    • COMMUNITY/CIVIC
    • EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
    • EDUCATION
    • GOVERNMENT
    • HEALTH/WELLNESS
    • HOUSING
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • JUSTICE/LAW
    • RELIGION
    • SPORTS 1
    • SPORTS 2
    • TRANSITIONS
    • YOUTH
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

  • My Account
  • Signed in as:

  • filler@godaddy.com


  • My Account
  • Sign out

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • HOME
  • ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
  • BUSINESS
  • COMMUNITY/CIVIC
  • EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
  • EDUCATION
  • GOVERNMENT
  • HEALTH/WELLNESS
  • HOUSING
  • INTERNATIONAL
  • JUSTICE/LAW
  • RELIGION
  • SPORTS 1
  • SPORTS 2
  • TRANSITIONS
  • YOUTH

Account


  • My Account
  • Sign out


  • Sign In
  • My Account

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Wednesday, October 15, 2025Wednesday, October 15, 2025Wednesday, October 15, 2025

SPORTS

Windy City Bulls Lose To Indiana Mad Ants 119-107

WINDY CITY BULLS JUST CAN’T KEEP UP

WINDY CITY BULLS JUST CAN’T KEEP UP

DJ Steward goes downhill towards the hoop in last month’s matchup against the Wisconsin Herd. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


Bulls are now 1-4 in the month of December


By Andrew Diederich

Sports Reporter

ON AIR Daily News


The Windy City Bulls fell to the Indiana Mad Ants at home on Sunday, December 15, 2024,119-107. After trailing by one after the first quarter, Indiana got on a roll offensively to record 38 points in the second quarter. This then became a double-digit lead in the second half of which Windy City could not overcome.


The Bulls welcomed two-way big man Adama Sanogo back to the lineup after missing Friday night’s game playing with the NBA squad. Sanogo would finish with a team-high 24 points along with 15 rebounds. 

WINDY CITY BULLS JUST CAN’T KEEP UP

Marcus Domask helps his teammate Alex Schumacher to his feet after drawing a foul against the Herd. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


The weapons of the Mad Ants came to play, however. The backcourt tandem of Dakota Mathias and Tristen Newton only missed 4 shots combined, ending up 17 of 21 from the field. Mathias led all scorers with 33 points, and Newton’s 21 points and 6 assists was certainly no small feat either. All five Mad Ant starters finished in double figures, including former third overall pick Jahlil Okafor with a stat-stuffing 23 points and 10 boards.


Still though, there is a lot positively to take away from this Bulls loss. Guards DJ Steward and Alex Schumacher both continued their great play in trying to keep up with Indiana’s backcourt. Steward recorded a double-double made up of 18 points and 12 assists, while Schumacher contributed his career-high with 19 points. 

Fellow starter Ben Coupet Jr. knocked down four deep balls en route to 16 points himself. 


WINDY CITY BULLS CAN’T HOLD OFF THE SIOUX FALLS COMEBACK, LOSE AT HOME

Two-way forward Adama Sanogo returned from the NBA squad and recorded his seventh double-double of the season. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


And while David Muoka shot a perfect 5 of 5 off the bench, Marcus Domask could not keep his hot hand from Friday, notching 4 points and 4 assists. 


The Bulls did win the turnover battle and outscored Indiana 70-54 in the paint. The turnovers especially were a large concern coming from Friday’s loss to the Skyforce, as mentioned by head coach Billy Donovan III.


 In many ways, the Bulls played the right way, but better shooting from their opponent is what would cost them in the end. 


Sunday afternoon’s matchup marked the final outing of a three-game homestand for Windy City. They now drop to 4-10 ahead of the G League Winter Showcase, after which their record will reset.

WINDY CITY BULLS CAN’T HOLD OFF THE SIOUX FALLS COMEBACK, LOSE AT HOME

WINDY CITY BULLS CAN’T HOLD OFF THE SIOUX FALLS COMEBACK, LOSE AT HOME

Rookie Marcus Domask creates some space near the elbow and fades away for a tough shot against the Wisconsin Herd in November. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


Domask’s career night not enough for surging Skyforce team


By Andrew Diederich

Sports Reporter

ON AIR Daily News


The Windy City Bulls couldn’t hold onto a 18-point halftime lead and fell to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, 114-111. The Friday night December 13, 2024 Eastern conference matchup was the teams’ second matchup in 7 days, but this one told a much different story than last week’s blowout Skyforce victory. 


Despite not having key contributors Adama Sanogo and EJ Liddell on the floor, the Bulls came out firing on all cylinders, led by the shot creation of Marcus Domask. 

Ben Coupet Jr. fires a three in front of his own bench and gets his teammates going in their battle against the Herd. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)



The rookie’s hot start only got hotter, as he would finish with a career-high 23 points on a perfect 10 of 10 from the field. It was definitely his night to shine, though Domask admitted him getting the ball early and often wasn’t necessarily part of the game plan. 


“Sometimes that just happens in the offense,” Domask said. “Sometimes the ball finds you, sometimes it doesn’t. And in the first half, my teammates found me.” 


Domask was supported early by the rim-running of David Muoka, who threw down a myriad of dunks as well as swatting away many shots in the first two quarters.

Coming out of the locker room, the dynamic of how the game was played completely shifted. The Bulls stymied the Skyforce offense in the first half, limiting their offense to 6 points outside of the paint. 


But led by the prowess of Josh Christopher, the Skyforce began scoring at all three levels, knocking down threes at an efficient clip and outworking the Bulls in the interior. 


DJ Steward evades his defender and heads towards the baseline in last month’s matchup against the Wisconsin Herd. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


This was further aided by a noticeable increase in defensive pressure, forcing bad passes and a couple shot clock violations from the Bulls down the stretch. 


“As a team, I think we had a few too many turnovers (in the second half), and the turnovers allowed them to get out in transition. It just kind of popped from there.” Domask said.

The Skyforce outscored the Bulls 37-15 in the third, giving them a four-point lead heading into the final quarter. The final 12 minutes were a shootout, with both teams shooting well over 60% from the floor. Despite numerous late efforts, the Bulls were unable to contain the different weapons of this Skyforce squad, and a final chance to send it into overtime fell short.


“We try to find ways to kind of throw them off your rhythm to your point, whether it's changing defenses or whatever. I thought we did a really good job of that,” head coach Billy Donovan III said postgame on why the game seemed to turn so quickly in the second half. 


”I think when you have a team like (Sioux Falls) get out in transition, that’s when they start getting in rhythm. Josh Christopher starts feeling good, Nassir Little feels good, (Isaiah) Stevens and all those guys start feeling good, and that’s where you start getting into trouble.”


Indeed, it was those three players who pushed the Skyforce over the top. Josh Christopher finished with a game-high 34 points on nearly 50% efficiency. Pair that with Nassir Little’s contributions on both ends as well as Isaiah Stevens' impressive 13 points and 14 assists, and it’s easy to see why this Skyforce team has given the Bulls fits.



Other notable contributors for the Bulls include DJ Steward with 21 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Jordan Hall pitched in off the bench with a double-double consisting of 17 points and 10 assists, and fan-favorite Ryan Arcidiacano had 8 points of his own.


The Windy City Bulls now fall to 4-9 and look ahead to another home game against the Indiana Mad Ants. Coach Donovan gave a vote of confidence to conclude things postgame. 


“It's really trying to control the things you can control because there's so much in this game you can't control,” Donovan said. 




Head coach Billy Donovan III is 4-9 so far in his first season at the helm. (Andy Diederich / On 

Air Daily News)


“If we could control everything, we'd be undefeated right now, but that's not how this game goes. We're going to learn from this. We'll work to clean this up tomorrow, and then we'll be ready to go get Indiana on Sunday.”

UIC Wins Overtime Thriller 69-68 Over Dartmouth

Sets Rebound Record

By Kalia Butler


CHICAGO — UIC’s junior guard tandem of Javon Jackson and Jordan Mason led the Flames to  a hard-fought 69-68 overtime victory over Dartmouth on Sunday afternoon  December 8, 2024 at Credit Union 1  Arena. 

Each player scored a game-high 17 points, with Jackson also contributing four assists and  four steals, while Mason added three assists and three steals. 


The Flames sealed the win with a dominant defensive performance in overtime, stopping  Dartmouth on seven consecutive possessions. 


This marked UIC’s first regular-season overtime  victory since the 2021-22 season and its first home overtime win in five years. Head coach Rob Ehsan was pleased with the team’s resilience. 


"This was the first close game we've had all year, going back and forth down to the wire," Ehsan  said. "Credit to our guys – we fought until the end. It wasn’t perfect at times, but our toughness,  grit, hustle, and effort really won us the game." 

Redshirt senior forward Modestas Kancleris tied his career-high with 13 rebounds and added  three blocked shots. Sophomore forward Sasa Ciani grabbed 12 boards, helping UIC set a new  arena record with 59 total rebounds, surpassing the previous record of 58 set in 1995. 


UIC also  added 10 steals, showcasing their defensive strength. UIC’s victory over Dartmouth was their second all-time win against the Ivy League school,  improving their record to 2-0 against the Big Green. 

The Flames are now 7-3 all-time against Ivy  League opponents, following their win over Yale earlier this season. 


Looking ahead, UIC (5-4, 0-1 MVC) will take a break for final exams before beginning a  three-game road trip. The Flames will next travel to Little Rock on Sunday, Dec. 15, for a 1 p.m.  (CT) matchup at the Jack Stephens Center. 

DePaul Secures New Coach’s First Win in Overtime Thriller

By Joshua M. Hicks

Sports Editor

@joshmhicksmedia


The DePaul Blue Demons turned the page on a new chapter starting the first season of the Chris Holtmann era with a 80-79 overtime thriller Monday, November 4, 2024 against Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles. 


The match was a constant back and forth. The Blue Demons started the game strong with 8 straight points from graduate guard Isaiah Rivera and a 3-point shot from senior forward Troy D’Amico. But Southern Indiana took the first punch and gathered themselves with a quick comeback to cut DePaul’s lead to two points, leading 11-9 at the first break.


Post break, the Screaming Eagles went on an 11-0 run, (14-3 run overall) over a four-minute period, making their next seven shots giving them a 16-11 lead. To slow the Screaming Eagles down, Off the bench, the Blue Demons brought junior guard Conor Enright off the bench and he sparked the time with energy on both ends of the floor. He drew a charge and stopped the bleeding by hitting a timely 3-point shot to cut DePaul’s deficit to two, giving Southern Indiana a 16-15 lead. 


DePaul had moments where they struggled to put points on the board, encountering multiple scoring droughts throughout the first half. But the team regrouped themselves, going on a 15-3 run and hitting 7 straight field goals to give the team a 34-28 lead.

Led by  Rivera, the team hit  11 of their last 12 shots, including a last second 3-point shot that allowed DePaul to go into halftime with a 44-40 lead. The team shot 63 percent from the field and 67 percent from the 3-point line. Rivera led the team with 20 points.  


The back and forth play continued in the second half. Rivera continued his scoring efforts and sophomore guard Jacob Meyer joined the 3-point party, hitting consecutive 3-point baskets to help extend DePaul’s lead. 


But Southern Indiana fought back and cut DePaul’s lead to two, holding DePaul to only hitting two of their last 12 field goal attempts, including 0 field goals over a five minute span. With under 4 minutes to go, DePaul was hanging on by a thread, holding on to a 68-66 lead. Down the stretch, Southern Indiana took over. As DePaul’s scoring woes varied throughout the stretch,  the Screaming Eagles took a 71-69 lead with 34 seconds left to play behind the leadership of sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi. 


The game appeared to be over, but the Blue Demons had the final say so. Meyer stepped up and knocked in 3 of his 23 points in the final seconds of the half to end regulation, sending the game into overtime. Overtime became a defensive battle, both teams making it difficult to score. 

DePaul sophomore guard Layden Blocker came up with timely defensive stops that included a steal that led to Meyer drawing a foul on the fast break and making two free throws.

Meyer’s free throws sealed the deal with the Blue Demons taking their home opener 80-78.
Meyers broke down the shot that gave the Blue Demons a second chance at winning the game. 


“Coach [Holtmann] put his trust in me to make that shot,” Meyers said. “I practiced that shot with my assistant coaches all the time.”With Blocker in and out of the game due to severe cramps, Rivera stepped up to help the team in the scoring department, dropping 25 points. Though he struggled in the last exhibition game against Illinois Wesleyan, he expressed his work ethic as the reason why he was able to knock off some of the rust and begin finding himself on the court.


 “Last game was my first game since I had double hip surgery,” Rivera said. “It didn’t go the way I wanted but I got back in the gym and worked with Coach Mullins. Coach Holtmann had me shoot shots when I was tired and tried to get my legs back to it.”


Head coach Chris Holtmann won his first game as the new coach of the program. He expressed gratitude and praised the team for their resiliency and fight to stay in the game and make big plays down the stretch. It has been over 300 days since DePaul won their last game. Holtmann’s message to the fanbase is simple: it’s a new day and he wants to earn the right for the arena to be full. 


“I can’t wait until this place is filled,” Holtmann said. “We have to earn the right for people to come watch us, but this place will be full.”

DePaul guard Isaiah Rivera finds space in the paint and finishes with his off hand in an exhibition against Illinois Wesleyan. Photo by Andy Diederich/ON AIR Daily News. 

DePaul sophomore transfer Jacob Meyer draws in defenders and looks for an open teammate.  Photo by Andy Diederich/ON AIR Daily News. 

Blue Demons head coach Chris Holtmann argues a foul call against DePaul in the first half of their exhibition game against Illinois Wesleyan. Photo by Andy Diederich/ON AIR Daily News. 

DePaul Defeats Valparaiso To Extend DePaul’s 7 Game Winning

By Kalia Butler


CHICAGO – DePaul men’s basketball extended its unbeaten start to 7-0 with an 89-70 victory over Valparaiso on Friday, November 29, 2024 at Wintrust Arena. The win marked DePaul's best start to a season since 2019-20, with contributions from nine different players in the scoring column.

Isaiah Rivera led the Blue Demons with a game-high 19 points, including three three-pointers. He shot an efficient 7-of-10 from the floor while grabbing four rebounds and dished out two assists. 


Jacob Meyer and CJ Gunn each scored 12 points, while Troy D’Amico added 11. Playmaking standout Conor Enright continued his strong performance, recording eight assists for the fourth game this season with eight or more assists.


“We pride ourselves in our depth and we need that every night from multiple guys,” Rivera said in response to the team's balanced scoring win. “The best team has multiple guys that can score and do a lot of things on the court.”


Troy D’Amico also praised the bench's contributions, saying, “The bench has been tremendous and every night they’ve come ready.”


Though Valparaiso briefly held a 7-5 lead early in the game, DePaul quickly responded. After Rivera hit a corner three off an in-bound pass from Enright, the Blue Demons went on a 12-2 run to take a 17-9 lead, prompting Valparaiso to call a timeout. 

DePaul's defense then locked down the Beacons, holding them to a five-minute scoreless stretch while also limiting them to just 1-of-11 shooting during that span. The Blue Demons built a 23-9 advantage during an 18-2 run, and despite a brief shooting surge from Valparaiso, DePaul maintained a double-digit lead heading into halftime.

Head coach Chris Holtmann reflected on the team’s depth and the importance of bench support: 

“This group is going to need a lift from the bench… "It's good to see guys step up,” said Holtmann.

Proud of the group's accomplishments, Holtmann emphasized the importance of moving on and getting better. The team now prepares for its first road game against Texas Tech (5-1) marking their first true “test” of the season. 

“It’s going to be a great environment and a great opportunity,” said Holtmann.

The BIG EAST/Big 12 Challenge, taking on RV Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, is scheduled for December 4. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

DEPAUL TAKES PROVIDENCE TO OVERTIME BUT FALLS, 70-63

The Blue Demons are still without a Big East victory since the 2022 season

By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News

In their first Big East action of the young season, the DePaul men’s basketball team lost to Providence, 70-63. Tuesday December 10, 2024.


A wildly back-and-forth matchup saw the game head to overtime in front of a rowdy and raucous DePaul crowd, but it was the Friar faithful who left victorious.


Providence ran out to a quick 10-point lead soon after the tip, before the Blue Demons stormed back with a 19-3 run late in the first half. 


DePaul found success early on the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop, taking advantage of some lackluster Providence defense



Big man David Skogman got hot early, sinking a trio of three-pointers in the first period.  


 “Some of their threes were truly just off of ridiculous non execution plays on pick-and-rolls by us. They didn't have us in rotation. They got the reads just because we didn't switch,” Providence head coach Kim English said postgame. 


 After Providence fought back to make it just a three point deficit at halftime, it appeared that they were now the team in the driver’s seat. Bensley Joseph and Bryce Hopkins were able to get themselves in favorable one-on-one matchups to create scoring opportunities. 


Add in some quick buckets in transition, and Providence quickly took back the lead.  Slow starts coming out of the locker room have plagued this Blue Demon team many times this season.  


 “I wouldn't say there's a specific thing that is causing slow starts, we've had great starts coming into the second half,” Starting guard Isaiah Rivera said. “Sometimes it’s a couple plays here or there, you gotta come up with the 50-50 balls.”   


Still though, DePaul ramped up the defensive pressure in the second to force turnovers, leading to easy scores on the other end. Wintrust Arena was absolutely rocking, a sign of DePaul’s resurgence into the Chicago sports atmosphere.


Rivera loved the energy the team was getting from the crowd. 


 “We really feel (the crowd) when we're making our runs, we feel the defense chants, we could feel that,” Rivera said. “We hope it continues and we're gonna work as hard as we can to bring wins for this fanbase.”   



DePaul held an eight-point advantage with under four minutes to go, before some quick steals and clutch three-point shooting from Providence sent it to overtime. The Friars would prevail in the final frame, with Joseph and Hopkins again running the offense effortlessly to put the game away.   Key contributors for DePaul included Conor Enright, who continued to show his phenomenal court vision with 7 assists to go along with 6 points. Other starters Jacob Meyer and Isaiah Rivera also combined for 20 points, and leading the way for both teams was the previously mentioned David Skogman. His final statline sat at 22 points, a career-high 6 made three-pointers, and 6 rebounds. He gave a vote of confidence when asked about the attitude going forward.   


“We have some tougher opponents coming up here,” Skogman said. “I don't think there's much we need to change, like schematically or anything like that. I think it's just all about coming together and being more consistent and just buying in on what we do. I think if we do what we do best, I think we can hang with anybody in the league.”


DePaul now moves to 7-2 in the era of head coach Chris Holtmann, who was critical yet optimistic on his team’s performance.  


 “This group really fights across the board,” Holtmann said. “There's no question, I think everybody's seen that. The challenge for us is you gotta be able to take lessons like this and figure out a way where we can be better…who you are in January and February, you hope is a lot different than in November and December. And that's the challenge.”  


The Blue Demons are back home this Saturday against Wichita State before heading to Queens next week for a Big East matchup against St. Johns. 

Chicago Sky Names Tyler Marsh Head Coach

CHICAGO - Former Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh is the new head coach of the Chicago Sky basketball team as of November 2024.  This is General Manager Jeff Pagliocca's first head coaching hire since his arrival in 2023.


“The Chicago Sky organization is proud to welcome our next head coach Tyler Marsh to Skytown,” a Chicago Sky team spokesperson said. “Coach Marsh is widely respected for the development of elite players and shares our goal of being a playoff and championship contender every year.”


The Chicago Sky's 2024 WNBA season record was 13 wins and 27 losses, with a win percentage of .325. The Sky finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and did not qualify for the playoffs, marking the first time since 2018 that they missed the playoffs. 


While there is no set date for the upcoming WNBA season, the league is expected to resume play in May 2025.

Tyler Marsh new Chicago Sky basketball team Head Coach

DEPAUL MEN WIN EXHIBITION, LOOK TO RE-ESTABLISH WINNING WAYS

ON AIR Daily News Sports Reporter Andrew Diederich gives a wrap up of the exhibition game between DePaul and Illinois Wesleyan held at the Wintrust Arena Sunday October 27, 2024 in which DePaul defeated Illinois Wesleyan with a score of 76-60.

The Blue Demons have a fully new team top-to-bottom

DePaul’s Layden Blocker makes a move and heads towards the basket. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)


By Andrew Diederich

Sports Reporter

ON AIR Daily News


The DePaul Blue Demons men’s basketball team shined in their first action of the 2024-2025 season, defeating Illinois Wesleyan 76-60 in exhibition. A slow start for the Demons turned into smooth sailing down the stretch, much to the pleasure of the home crowd at Wintrust Arena.


DePaul made the most of their lone preseason game, which saw all 14 newcomers to the roster take the court. While only an exhibition, the matchup was largely important in establishing what this DePaul team will actually look like this season. 

An entirely new roster filled with both freshman and graduate transfers alike will be led into battle this year by new head coach Chris Holtmann.


Leading the charge for the Demons were sophomore guard transfers Layden Blocker and Jacob Meyer, notching 19 points each along with six combined steals. Blocker and Meyer are both 6’2’’ guards coming off of standout freshman seasons at Arkansas and Coastal Carolina, respectively. 


They’ll be aided this season by the experience from graduate transfers David Skogman and Isaiah Rivera, who both started and logged 27 minutes on Sunday. 


The big man in Skogman had an efficient 12 points and 9 rebounds, but Rivera finished 1/12 from the field for only three points. 

Coach Holtmann had little concern about where Rivera stands heading into the season. 


"As coaches, we shouldn't expect him to be in full season," Holtmann said. "He had no summer. He's coming off double hip surgery. He just doesn't quite have his game legs, [or] his game conditioning yet, which is why him playing 28 [minutes] was really good. I think we'll see a completely different player come January, but it is going to take him some time when you have that kind of surgery and you don't do anything all summer." 


Other key contributors for DePaul were forward Troy D’Amico, forward JJ Traynor, and guard David Thomas, who combined for 21 points and 6 assists. However, the biggest storyline of this DePaul team is what head coach Chris Holtmann can do in his first season. 


DePaul is coming off a horrid 3-29 season last year, going winless in their 20 games of Big East play. Long gone are the glory days with Ray Meyer at the helm, as the Demons have not made a trip to the NCAA tournament in 20 years. 


With nothing to lose, DePaul went all in on Holtmann, inking him to a 6-year contract in March. His previous success at Butler and Ohio State more than qualifies him to lead a D1 program. 


But unlike his previous teams, Holtmann has had to build up this roster and staff from the ground up in hopes to finally turn the tides in the Blue Demons favor. He himself acknowledged there will be growing pains. telling his team

Troy D’Amico soars in to finish off a pass from teammate Jacob Meyer. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)

NJ Benson draws three defenders to him in the post late in the first half. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


“We didn’t prepare you for everything right now, let’s find solutions together, okay?” Holtmann said. 


With this newfound energy, DePaul will open their season against Southern Indiana at home on Monday, November 4th. Their first Big East action comes on December 10th against Providence. 

Have the Bulls found the glue for their future backcourt?

Newest Chicago Bull Josh Giddey Could Be Missing Piece to Thriving Back Court

Josh Giddey fields questions from reporters at Bulls Media Day. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


By Andrew Diederich

Sports Reporter

ON AIR Daily News


At Chicago Bulls media day Monday afternoon, September 30, 2024, faces, new and old, donned the classic red and white threads inside the practice facility at the Advocate Center. Most notable amongst those new faces is former Thunder guard Josh Giddey, who was traded for Alex Caruso this offseason. 


The move came as part of a whole host of offseason transactions from the Bulls’ front office. Veteran star DeMar DeRoza


n was dealt via sign and trade in exchange for Chris Duarte and a pair of second-round picks. 


Other new additions were made in free agency, specifically the likes of Jalen Smith, Talen Horton-Tucker, and EJ Liddell.



 

Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams, and Zach Lavine pose alongside Giddey during media day. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


Giddey, an Australia native now entering his fourth year, feels the most notable amongst the crew. Team president Arturas Karnisovas opened his media day presser with the following statement:


“Our emphasis is on playing a fast-paced, tough, and energetic style that will showcase the talent we’ve invested in, particularly our youth, while still retaining key veteran leadership to guide them.” - Bulls President Arturas Karnisovas


Of the offseason acquisitions, Giddey is the one that checks all of the boxes. In 210 games with OKC, Giddey averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists a night, mainly providing value in jumpstarting the potent Thunder offense.


“You look around this team that we have, and there's a lot of guys that can handle the ball, make plays in the open floor,” Giddey said. “It's a big luxury to have, and as a guy that likes to kick the ball ahead and get things going in transition, it's a great group of guys to play with.” 


Giddey spoke fondly of the assets that will be flanking him on the floor this season and elaborated on some of the work they’re doing to give this offense new life. 


“We've started playing scrimmages with 14-second shot clocks, and really emphasizing the pace that we want to play at,” Giddey said. “We've got the guys in this group to do it with, and that's just a matter of drilling it in, and once it becomes a habit, this team's going to be pretty scary to deal with in the open court.”


Certainly, Giddey’s value will also be tested by what help he’s able to provide on defense. Head coach Billy Donovan would not commit to setting a starting lineup for opening night, specifying the possibility of a three guard lineup at times. 

Team executive Arturas Karnisovas and head coach Billy Donovan speak at their media day press conference. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)


This would put more defensive responsibility on Giddey as he’s replacing the ball-hawking Alex Caruso, whom he was traded for. And with Nikola Vucevic being the only solid rim defender on the roster, Giddey and the backcourt will need to shoulder even more when it comes to help defense and working the glass.  

Still, Giddey’s teammates were thrilled to run things back with some new young blood amongst them. 


“​​He's a very good passer, a good pick-and-roll player, good in the open court,” Center Nikola Vucevic said of Giddey. “I think that's something when Lonzo (Ball) was injured, we missed a lot. And now we get both of them, which will be great.” 


The mention of Ball is also important to gauge what the Bulls will be able to do with a floor general in Giddey. The best this current Bulls core has looked was in 2021, where a healthy Bulls team with Ball at the point guard were first in the East halfway through the season.


Sure, it helps that DeMar DeRozan was playing MVP-caliber hoops, but the presence of a playmaker was really what amped up offensive output night after night. With Ball’s imminent return, albeit in a limited role, Giddey can hopefully step up and provide open looks for teammates while still pushing the pace.  


Giddey and the Bulls start preseason play on October 8th against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their regular season opener is at the New Orleans Pelicans on October 23rd.

WHITE SOX WIN SEASON FINALE, BUT NOT MUCH ELSE

The Sox avoid further embarrassment on the field… for now

By Andrew Diederich

Sports Reporter

ON AIR Daily News


You are not hallucinating - the White Sox won again.  

In their final game of the 2024 season, Sunday, September 29, the White Sox came out victorious against the Detroit Tigers, 9-5. An early five-run lead was nearly squandered before a suddenly potent White Sox offense put up 4 runs in the seventh inning. 

This win means the Sox finished their season winning 5 of their last 6 games, perhaps motivated by trying to not be laughed at any more than they already have. Where does one begin when reflecting upon the Sox’s year? Despite finishing with the most losses in the modern era of baseball, their 41-121 record seems too generous in telling the full story. Somehow the events and reports coming out of the clubhouse tell a story of a team that transcends being bad. It’s not so much that the White Sox didn’t win, it’s being shown that they simply can’t win.

We’ll start with the numbers. 41 wins, 121 losses. Over 50 games back of the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. A losing streak of 14 games starting in May, only to surpass that mark a few months later by losing 21 straight.


 Allowing XXX runs while scoring only XXX themselves, for a dismal run differential of -XXX. Even for those not very familiar with the sport of baseball, the statistics seem cartoonishly poor.


It’s even difficult to find individual efforts that are worthy of acknowledgment. It certainly didn’t come from anyone on the coaching staff, as manager Pedro Grifol was fired after a 28-89 start to this year. Erick Fedde and Garrett Crochet were solid starting pitchers for the Sox this year, with Fedde actually finishing with a winning record of 7-4. 


But the real woes lie within the bullpen and those actually stepping up to the plate. Not a single member of the bullpen had an ERA under 4.13, and the hitters combined for an on base percentage south of .280.


Even advanced statistics won’t save these poor White Sox. No one outside of Fedde or Crochet had a WAR (wins above replacement) above 2, where any value less than 2 indicates a substitute level player.


Any professional organization that loses this much usually has problems that go higher-up than the clubhouse, and these Sox are no exception. 

PETE ROSE, BASEBALL’S HIT KING, PASSES AWAY AT 83

17-time All-Star continually made headlines on and off the baseball field

17-time All-Star continually made headlines on and off the baseball field

17-time All-Star continually made headlines on and off the baseball field

By Andrew Diederich

Sports Reporter

ON AIR Daily News


On Monday, September 30, 2024, baseball’s legendary Pete Rose died at age 83, according to the Coroner’s office in Clark County, Nevada.

Calling Rose a polarizing figure might still be an understatement. There’s of course his accomplishments on the field, a lengthy career built off of a gritty attitude and a fierce dedication to his craft. “Charlie Hustle” tallied an MLB-record 4,256 hits, 17 all-star selections, 2 Gold Gloves, 3 NL batting titles, and 3 World Series trophies in his 24 years on the diamond.


Rose would retire in 1986, continuing to manage his longtime team in the Cincinnati Reds. It was this stint where Rose’s legacy would become more well-known due to the publication of the Dowd Report, showing that Rose bet on baseball while managing the Reds. The report proved that Rose bet on the Reds to win while managing them, but no evidence of Rose betting against his team was ever found. Regardless, Rose’s actions landed him on MLB’s permanently ineligible list, barring him from returning in any capacity to the sport and effectively ruining his chances at making the Hall of Fame.

17-time All-Star continually made headlines on and off the baseball field

17-time All-Star continually made headlines on and off the baseball field

In life after the big leagues, Rose would admit to his gambling on sports including baseball in his 2004 autobiography. Rose applied for reinstatement to the MLB several times to no avail. His most recent application in 2022 included a statement saying how Rose “still thinks every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame.” The request was quickly denied by current MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred.


Other headlines on Rose over the years have included a 1990 tax evasion conviction and a statutory rape lawsuit, which was dismissed. Despite this, Rose maintained a rather public persona, living out his years making appearances in Las Vegas and even serving as a studio analyst for Fox Sports.


Pete Rose’s contributions to the sport of baseball cannot be overstated. The enigma of a man retired holding dozens of NL and MLB records and never left the ball field without putting on a show. While in recent years he may be more associated with his decisions off the field, Pete Rose will live on as a symbol of relentless competitiveness and fiery passion.



Kenny McReynolds Uses Platform To Fulfill Life's Mission

Helping Student Athletes Succeed

By Joshua M Hicks

Sports Editor

ON AIR Daily News


South Side native Kenny McReynolds has made his mark over the years in the city of Chicago. As an award-winning sports journalist, McReynolds’ love for sports has allowed him to stay close to his passions. However, his greatest passion is more than just being around the games he loves. He inspires future generations to use sports as an avenue to pursue their dreams and put them in a position to succeed after sports. 


McReynolds grew up in sports, being an avid baseball, football, basketball and track fan. But track became the sport that provided the opportunity to stay home and become a student-track athlete at DePaul University. 

Upon arrival, McReynolds' sports career was cut short due to several knee injuries, derailing his ability to keep up with the competition. He then pivoted to life after sports, knowing he wanted to be near the game. It was then where his desire for sports broadcasting came into play. 


“I always tell student athletes that they’ll never know when that ball is going to stop bouncing, but they can’t take their education away from them,” McReynolds said. “Even if I didn’t hurt my knee and I made a trillion dollars, I still was going to get my education.”


McReynolds majored in sports journalism while at DePaul and started his broadcasting career in radio at WBMX 102.7 FM (which is now V103) and Fox 32 before coming to MeTV/WCIU-TV, where he created the Sports Edition television show. In collaboration with Chicago Public Schools, the show was formed to give student athletes good exposure on what they were doing in and out of the playing surface. 


When professional athletes became guests on the show, they were given opportunities to provide wisdom to the student athletes to listen and follow. The exposure was more than just highlighting the good views of student athletes. It was also to educate the student athletes in learning how to handle press and effectively conduct interviews, knowing their presence is going to be magnified due to the programs they were playing for in their collegiate careers. 

“Magic Johnson said no matter who we are, along the way somebody helped us. That is the philosophy I try to live by.” McReynolds said. “We’ve done over 1,000 sports edition shows, and it’s not about me. It’s about the student athletes.” 


Calvin Davis, current athletic director for Proviso Township school district 209, formerly co-hosted the Sports Edition show with McReynolds. During his 10-year tenure, he witnessed first-hand the importance of McReynolds mission, learning some important tactics that he was able to transfer to his current position in middle and high school sports. 


Davis recalled occurring events such as the Dinner of Champions, where every single champion in all 22 sports would be honored, including the top academic student athletes. Lots of Chicago legends have been acknowledged, but the ultimate purpose was fulfilled: honoring greatness and providing additional resources to invest in development for their future success.


“That’s one of my fondest memories, along with the work that we did to enhance scholarship opportunities and develop students in the most positive way.” Davis said. “Kenny and WCIU-TV contributed greatly to that.”


February 13, 2023 - Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot honored kenny McReynolds for his 2,500th high school broadcast as an announcer. (Photos  provided courtesy of Kenny McRet=ynolds)


Former DePaul legend Lemone Lampley is a witness to what preparation can do in adjusting to life post high school. McReynolds and Lampley came to DePaul at the same time, with Lampley being a player and McReynolds being his assistant coach in 1982. 


He admitted that McReynolds played a role in his commitment to DePaul, and was an instrumental resource in his growth and development at the university. 
That friendship carried into his adult life and still is prevalent today. As his “big brother”, McReynolds not only took care of him at DePaul, but also used his platform to highlight his non-profit organization called MOCCHA (Men of Color Connected for Higher Achievement), which was created to help young men of color navigate their teen years.


“Anytime a person is willing to sacrifice time, money, resources to give back, it is a huge accomplishment and speaks well to the person that they are,” Lampley said. “That was reciprocated to me. I have a burden to give back to young Black men, and Kenny sowed some of those seeds in my heart and mind to want to give back and be a mentor to some of the young men coming behind me.”


Antoine Walker, former high school All-American, NBA All-Star and NCAA/NBA champion, was a product of the McReynolds preparation tree. Walker met McReynolds during his high school days at Mount Carmel. From that point on, McReynolds was instrumental to Walker’s growth and development in the media space, including how to handle interviews and talk to the press. 


But for Walker, McReynolds was more than just a teacher, he was family. Walker described McReynolds as a father-figure who was loyal and has always been by his side through various trials and tribulations. He also used McReynolds as a sound board, gaining advice from him so that he can make the best decisions.


“If he sees potential in a kid, knows he can better himself, get into college and maybe one day make it to the next level, he’ll do what he can to help you,” Walker said. “Whether that is making a phone call, getting you with the right trainer, or helping your mother and father put you in the best position possible by using those resources.”

February 10, 2024 - Craig Anderson, executive director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) presented Kenny McReynolds with the IHSA distinguished Media Service Award. (Photos provided courtesy of Kenny McReynolds)

 August 2, 2024 - Ray Richardson of NABJ Sports Task Force presented Kenny McReynolds with the 2024 Sam Lacey Lifetime Achievement Award  during the 2024 NABJ National Convention. (Photos  provided courtesy of Kenny McReynolds)


.

McReynolds broadcast career ranges over 30 years, with a plethora of awards and various honors for his contributions to high school sports broadcasting. He has announced over 2,500 high school games and helped over 100 student athletes with their careers. Though a great achievement, he is not slowing down.“I want to try to get 100 more,” McReynolds said. 


Copyright © 2025 ON AIR Daily News - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept