Reliving The Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series Journey

108 years. That’s how long the Chicago Cubs had to wait before they won another World Series – and did they claim it in memorable fashion.

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The Cleveland Indians, themselves looking to break decades of championship drought, proved a formidable opponent. Both teams had to dig deep during the World Series as it went the distance, and Game 7 needed ten innings to finish.

There was even a 17-minute rain delay between the ninth and tenth innings, which added to the already drama-filled game. But those few minutes might have been advantageous for the Cubs because it gave outfielder Jason Heyward enough time to get the players pumped. Coming back from the short break, World Series MVP Ben Zobrist batted in two runs and Miguel Montero added a single that proved to give the team enough breathing room and eke out an 8-7 win.

Throughout the 2016 season, Cubs had been showing that they were ready to finally break the World Series curse with consistent strong play. They won 103 games, marking the first time they breached the century mark since 1910. It was also the best record in Major League Baseball last season, and good enough to win the National League Central division by an astounding 17-and-a-half games.

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Building off a remarkable season, the Cubs rode the momentum to an even more impressive postseason.

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The Godfather's Penumbra Over American Filmmaking

Adapted from the Mario Puzo novel of the same title, “The Godfather” is an icon of modern American cinema and has left an indelible mark on the film industry and popular culture. Besides its oft caricatured depiction of crime families, the story, crafted by master director Francis Ford Coppola, revolutionized cinematic storytelling.

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The Corleone family depicted in the film was in most respects the archetype for the image of organized crime in American popular culture. Far from being a card-carrying villainous mastermind, Don Vito was portrayed as a tough but fair figure that talks highly about the value of family and honor, the very epitome of the noble demon in the cinematic age.

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Noble as he might be, the Don was no saint. The cinematography beautifully juxtaposes Don Vito's fair temperament in person with the cutthroat means of intimidation he and his family (the particularly repugnant Sonny in particular) used to accomplish their goals. It is this juxtaposition of cruelty, coupled with Don Vito's desire to turn legitimate (and his dismay at Michael's eventual descent to criminality), that firmly plants the film series against the glamorization of organized crime. This colossal bait and switch had been revolutionary in not only portraying gangsters in a non-romanticized light but delivering nuanced protagonists or anti-heros.

The film's narrative was, in many respects, a tragedy, chronicling the ruthless rise of Michael Corleone and his loss of morality and contrasting it with his father's desire to leave criminality behind. This cycle of attempting and failing at redemption continues to resonate as one of the defining narratives in any medium of the 2oth century.

Richard Ohlhaber is a big fan of movies like “The Godfather.” Visit this blog for more information on his varied interests.

Surprising Facts About 'The Shawshank Redemption'

When it was first released, “The Shawshank Redemption” didn’t do well at the box office. But with the positive reviews from critics and approval of staunch film aficionados, “The Shawshank Redemption” went on to become one of the greatest movies of the ‘90s. Back in the day, the movie was a hit in video rental shops and had remarkable sales when it came out on DVD. Here are some surprising facts about the film:

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1. Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Harrison Ford, and Robert Redford were considered for the role of Andy.

Andy is a middle-aged man with graying red hair. However, in director Frank Darabont’s head, Andy had always been Morgan Freeman due to his authoritative appeal. Though he and Tim Robbins weren’t the first choices for the role, the director and crew praised their professionalism on set.

2. Morgan Freeman considers the movie as a favorite among his works.

“The Shawshank Redemption” is probably the best one Freeman’s known for. He also did a catch scene that lasted nine hours and caused him to return to work the next day in a cast. In an interview, he said that the movie’s final title threw him off despite his liking for the script. But according to him, it’s all in the past.

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3. The director bought the book rights for $5,651.

For a Stephen King novella, Darabont had a pretty good deal. The director then wrote the script for eight weeks. Years later, they discovered that the author never cashed the check. Instead, he framed it and sent it to Darabont with a note that says, “In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve.”

It’s amusing to know that even with initial setbacks, all the details came together and resulted in a great film. “The Shawshank Redemption” contributed to an era of great movies.

Richard Ohlhaber grew up in Chicago but has been a resident in Texas for many years now. Aside from being a Chicago sports fan, he is also fond of watching movies such as ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘The Gladiator.’ Visit this blog for more on Richard’s interests.

One-Two Punch: Basketball's Greatest Dynamic Duo

Many basketball pairs can lay claim to the title of being the best in the history of the league: Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. But none of them can compare to Chicago Bulls’ dynamic duo, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

MJ, His Airness, is arguably the best player the sport has ever seen. But to claim that Pippen was a Robin to Jordan’s Batman cannot be more wrong.

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On his own, Pippen showed that he can lead the team to winning seasons, as he did during Jordan’s short-lived retirement from 1993 to 1995. Together, though, they built a dynasty and won six championships – more than any other basketball duo, save for any pair from the 1950s to 60s Celtics who won eleven titles against a relatively watered-down league.

After Jordan retired, there were several players who strived to “be like Mike.” The first to ever do so was actually Pippen.

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Jordan may be known for his scoring prowess, all-around game, and unmatched clutch ability. But behind this greatness was his work ethic, tenacity, attention to detail, and hunger for victory. And Pippen followed suit, supplementing his natural talent with the right attitude.

A Batman-Robin analogy might not stand; the Jordan-Pippen tandem is more akin to Batman and Superman without the head-on collisions, according to this writer.

Richard Ohlhaber was born and raised in Chicago. Even after moving to Texas, he remains a loyal fan of the Chicago Bulls, counting Michael Jordan as his favorite player. Read more about the Bulls and sports, in general, by visiting this blog.

The Bear Of Bears: Remembering Walter Payton

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Many football experts, including Hall-of-Famer and legendary coach Mike Ditka believe that Chicago Bear Walter Payton was the greatest running back in the history of the game. But what was more astounding was that his on-field achievements were matched by the person that he was outside of the game. He was by all accounts one of the nicest people to ever come out of the NFL. Such a personality was rooted in humble beginnings.

Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1954. In high school, he played in a marching band, sang for the choir, and ran for the track team. He didn’t join the football team though so as not to compete with his brother Eddie, who was also on the team. When Eddie graduated, Walter joined the team, and immediately became a star running back because of his strength and speed.

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In college, Walter played for Jackson State University, which was historically black, alongside other future pro football players Jerome Barkum and Jackie Slater. As a part of the Jackson State Tigers, Payton dominated the competition.

Although Walter Payton broke a few records, it would all pale in comparison to his performance on October 1, 1972, in a game against Lane College. Payton scored seven touchdowns and led the Tigers through a lopsided 72-0 victory. This game would be a precursor to his legend.

Richard Ohlhaber loves everything about Chicago, especially the Bears and the Bulls. Learn more about him and the professional sports teams of the Windy City by subscribing to this Twitter account.

The Italian Way: Social Etiquette Tourists Should Know

Tourists arrive in Italy by the hundreds daily. However, not all are aware of the social practices that are highly valued by the Italians. To avoid being a clueless visitor in the foreign country, here are some notes on Italian etiquette:

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Shake hands with everyone.

Yes, everyone in the group you’re with. It is polite to shake not just the hands of your host. When attending a social gathering, it is common practice to greet everyone with a handshake. Or if a friendly relationship has been established, you can greet by kissing both cheeks.

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Open gifts in front of the giver.

In some cultures, it is okay to open a gift when the giver is out of sight. Not so for Italians. Upon receiving a gift, open it and politely thank the giver. This will assure him or her that the gift has been well received. Another tip: it is considered a good gesture to give little treats to children especially those of an Italian host.

Stand when an older person enters the room.

Especially when invited to a home or a social event. This is to pay respect to the elderly.

Small talk before shop talk.

It is okay to engage in small talk as it is great in calming the nerves especially when the next topics would be about more serious matters like business. However, when engaging in small talk with an Italian, it is good to keep away from asking personal questions.

When traveling abroad, it is wise to look up social customs and etiquette in order to please the locals. Especially in a country that values friendship and loyalty like Italy, keeping up with their practices might make a tourist’s stay more memorable.

Richard Ohlhaber lives in Texas but grew up in Chicago. The wind stayed with him, though, as he remains a Chicago Bulls and Bears fan through and through. If he could live anywhere in the world, he would choose Italy. For more sports and travel entries, visit this page.

The Linsanity In Bulls: What It Means To Have Lin In The Chicago Roster

After the early exit of the Charlotte Hornets and the near-seeding of the Chicago Bulls in the NBA playoffs, there has been some speculation that the Bulls are looking to sign Jeremy Lin into the franchise for the next season. It seems that the Bulls want Lin into their lineup because they are looking for players who will be able to stand-in for the injury-prone Derrick Rose.

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Lin’s play style is a good fit for Frank Hoiberg’s fast-paced offense strategy. There is also a lot of potential that the Lin-Butler duo can give to the team. They could work extremely well together, especially that an ego clash between the two is highly unlikely. So what will it take for the Bulls to sign up Lin? A very handsome paycheck and a cohesive team spirit.

Although the trade is possible, the transfer might face resistance from the player himself. Lin has stated in earlier interviews that he likes the laid-back and relaxed atmosphere that he currently enjoys with Charlotte. As such, a highly competitive team such as Chicago might not appeal to him.

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The star player has also stated that moving between teams isn’t actually ideal for him. In his six years of playing professional basketball, he has had the most fun with the Hornets and that he is surrounded by incredible players and a reliable coaching staff. Currently, there is no strong indication that Lin will be packing his bags to join a different team.

Growing up in Chicago, Richard Ohlhaber has for the most part of his life been a fervent follower of the Bulls. Check out this Twitter page for more about him and his favorite NBA powerhouse.