👋 Good morning!

Ben Johnson puts on the headset on the sidelines as the head coach of the Chicago Bears this weekend.

Most of us have been waiting for this day since January.

Some of us have been waiting since December, when Johnson’s Lions offense pulled off the “Stumble Bum” at Soldier Field.

In retrospect, I think it was pretty nice of the head coach to give Bears fans a little taste of what’s to come — hopefully.

– Patrick Norton

⚾️ Friday 1:20 Rooftop ⚾️

We’re knocking the Friday 1:20 Club out of the park and onto a Wrigley Rooftop.

WHEN?

• Friday, Aug. 15 - 1:20 p.m. vs. Pirates

• Monday, Aug.18 - 7:05 p.m. vs. Brewers

One ticket gets you both games, plus all you can eat and drink, and a CHGO Cubs t-shirt!

🎟️ TICKETS 🎟️

Joint Practice Day!

Before Sunday’s exhibition at Soldier Field, the Dolphins and Bears will partake in a joint practice session today at Halas Hall.

It’s a big chance to get some different looks, and it’s an opportunity the Bears’ defense is clearly looking forward to:

Dennis Allen on perks of joint practices: “It will be good for us to see something different, some new formations, some new motions, shifts, all those kinds of things – test out our rules.”

Tyrique Stevenson said Tuesday: “I’m definitely looking (forward) to it. It’s just work at the end of the day, iron sharpens iron, and that's what's going to happen when the Dolphins come in with their Pro Bowl receivers.”

Dayo Odeyingbo on the inevitable chippiness: “They can be a little chippy. That can be intense. You’re defending your home turf, especially in this situation. Everyone is excited to get going against someone else, someone you're not trying to look out for because it's not your teammate.”
Ben Johnson said after Family Fest: “I think that we will know a lot more about our team when we get these joint practices going, too. I think that'll really tell us a lot because I think, for a healthy team, over the course of camp, you kind of feel the defense win the day one day, and then the offense bounces back the next day, you kind of have those even battles.”
INJURY UPDATES: Cole Kmet returned to practice on Thursday after leaving Tuesday’s practice early with an injury. Roschon Johnson and Doug Kramer missed Thursday’s practice with foot injuries, and Kyler Gordon and Darnell Wright both left the session early.

Each practice means something, but today’s session against the Dolphins is the first real measuring-stick environment for the Bears. Granted, the Bears “won” last year’s joint practice against the Cincinnati Bengals — but this is a big step for Ben Johnson’s team.

The Bears ramped up the intensity of their practice on Tuesday before an off day on Wednesday, and then took things a bit lighter on Thursday, with practice ending with the offense playing defense and the defense playing offense. At this point in camp, it’s all a matter of keeping things fresh.

Today’s joint session does that too.

And if it means we see very little of the first-team offense on Sunday, then that’s okay. These joint sessions are typically more intense than the first preseason game anyway.

MORE: Bears appear to have ‘glue guy’ & more in Kyle Monangai

The Kickoff Classic ⛳️

FORE!

What: CHGO’s 3rd Annual Kickoff Classic

Where: Cog Hill #2 — The Ravines!

When: Friday, Aug. 22 - 9 a.m.

Open to: individuals, twosomes and foursomes

Perks: Limited-edition CHGO tee gifts, contests, giveaways, and lunch during a post-round ceremony.

TEE OFF WITH US

SWEPT: Despite Luis Robert Jr’s best efforts, the Mariners still completed the three-game sweep — and in excruciating fashion, too.

The White Sox took the lead on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th, but immediately surrendered the tying run in the bottom half of the inning when Lenyn Sosa airmailed a throw to first on a sac bunt attempt. The Mariners then walked it off with a base hit in the 11th.

The good news? Robert has been crushing the ball over the last month. Since July 11, he’s slashing .394/.461/.606 with four home runs, 14 RBI and nine stolen bases.

About that $20 million club option…

When the Sox opted to keep their fallen star past the trade deadline, picking up his option after this season became the only legitimate choice.

But they can’t necessarily rely on Robert to keep building on his positive play until next year’s deadline either.

So, my question (POLL BELOW) is this: If Luis Robert Jr. brings his season-long slash line up around .245/.315/.420 (currently .219/.302/.361), would you rather see the Sox trade him over the offseason or wait until the deadline again?

Mariners 4, White Sox 3 - F/11

ROSTER MOVES: Prior to Thursday’s loss, the White Sox placed Chase Meidroth on the 10-day IL (retroactive to August 4) with a right thumb contusion.

To replace Meidroth on the 26-man roster, the Sox selected Jacob Amaya from Triple-A Charlotte, designating RHP Gus Varland for assignment to clear the 40-man spot for Amaya.

HOW MUCH?! The Bears are reportedly valued at a whopping $8.8 billion (equivalent of 110,000,000 Diehard subscriptions).

That’s according to Sportico, which reported Thursday that the McCaskeys and Ryans had agreed to split Andrew McKenna’s two percent stake in the Bears. McKenna, a part-owner of the Bears and longtime McDonald’s executive, died in 2023.

KEEP DREAMIN’: The Sky led by six at halftime. They lost by 21. Kamilla Cardoso and Rachel Banham were the only Sky to reach double-digit points, and Cardoso’s six rebounds were a team high.

Dream 86, Sky 65