Dawn Patrol: Bulls win ugly, Bears could be uglier, time to shop!
<h3 class="briefHead">Bulls beat Lakers in season-opening nail-biter</h3>
The Chicago Bulls beat the Los Angeles Lakers 88-87 in their season-opening matchup at the Staples Center. Despite a poor third quarter, the Bulls ended the game on a 17-5 run - capped by another instant-classic Derrick Rose shot - and held the Lakers scoreless - including a total Kobe Bryant stuff - in the final 4.8 seconds to get the win. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">The Bears are officially out of the playoffs (duh)</h3>
The Bears proved they could run the ball on the Packers all night, and that they could stuff the Green Bay running game most of the time. But the Bears, like most of the NFL, had no clue how to stop Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the odds-on favorite for this year's MVP award. For the first time in his NFL career, Rodgers threw 5 touchdown passes, which was way more than Green Bay (14-1) needed to clinch homefield throughout the playoffs and eliminate the Bears (7-8) from postseason consideration. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Hey, maybe Josh McCown is our quarterback</h3>
Why wasn't Josh McCown the quarterback for the Bears in the last two games? What does it say about Caleb Hanie that a guy who hasn't started since 2007 and just five weeks ago was coaching high school football could come out and play the Green Bay Packers that tough? More important, what does it say about the coaching staff's ability to judge talent on the roster? Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Tips for finding post-Christmas deals</h3>
While Christmas shopping is over, the post-Christmas shopping spree has just begun. This year, experts expect retailers to offer "isolated bargains," but not as many discounts as were available in late 2008 in the midst of the economic slump. Deals still can be found by checking out different types of stores and surfing the Web, experts say. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Mt. Prospect provides gifts for fire victims</h3>
A fire early Christmas morning in a Mount Prospect apartment building displaced about 10 residents, but village officials were able to provide gifts for two young girls rescued from the blaze. The fire started in the living room near the Christmas tree of a family living in a third-floor apartment on the 300 block of Hawthorn Circle. Firefighters rescued a mother and her two children from the apartment without injuries, but the family's Christmas gifts went up in flames. Human services workers found gifts for the girls, ages 7 and 12, from donations left over from the Toys for Kids drive. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">North Chicago church celebrates Christmas with sailors</h3>
Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in North Chicago played host to 90 Navy recruits yesterday, the only day of the recruits' 10-week boot camp that they will be allowed off base. Volunteers helped make the day merry during the 14th year the church has hosted sailors on Christmas. The church provided a meal, complete with candy dishes on each table, and the opportunity for the sailors to call their families. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Pope prays for peace in Syria, elsewhere</h3>
Pope Benedict XVI, in his Christmas message "to the city and to the world," called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. He also called for greater stability in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa's Great Lakes region during his speech at St. Peter's Basilica. The Pontiff didn't mention two attacks on Nigerian churches yesterday, as his speech was prepared before Christmas Day, the Vatican press office said. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Hawks about to spend a lot of time at United Center</h3>
After a well-deserved four days off, the Blackhawks are in a great spot to continue the momentum they took into the Christmas break. How's this for a favorable schedule coming off the holiday, starting today: Four straight games at the United Center and 11 of the next 13. Tim Sassone reports.
<h3 class="briefHead">Celebrate without fear with these party tips</h3>
Christmas may be over, but with New Year's Eve right around the corner, holiday parties aren't. Wearing something festive, smiling, offering to lend a hand, having a story or two in mind and knowing when to head for the door are tips from experts about how to be the life of the party. Dazzling guests with your outfit, wit and charm can be a cinch with these tips.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
Skies will be clear and sunny on Monday, with a high temperature of 47 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy with lows in the high 30s. On Tuesday, there's a chance of snow early in the morning, with a high temperature of 40 degrees. Full weather.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
Roadways are expected to be clear this morning following the Christmas holiday, with many people being off work. Metra, Pace and CTA are running their Sunday/holiday schedules.Full traffic.