O’Donnell: Upcoming Warren event likely to leave more Qs than As
WHATEVER THE CRITCISMS OF THE MAN AS “A STADIUM WHISPERER,” don't ever let it be said that Kevin Warren doesn't like controlled media settings.
Whether it's lurking in a winning locker room or looking equally stone-faced next to the perpetually taciturn George McCaskey, the Bears president and CEO can match self-serving presence with just about anyone in or around the NFL.
Warren will dish more, more, more Thursday night when he takes a pre-camp breather from the “red zone” of Hammond and empty acres of Arlington Park.
That's when the comfy-cozy Gorton Center in Lake Forest will be the site of a “Talking Football With Kevin Warren” beginning at 7 p.m.
THE 90-MINUTE EVENT IS OPEN to the public. Tickets are $30 ($15 for “students”).
Sole host and questioner will be local author David Sweet, an earnest enough North Shore fellow who is certain to treat Warren with respect, gravitas and amiable connection.
WARREN IS 1-TO-9 TO BE WEARING an orange tie and in most measured, prepared lawyer's fashion explain the complexities and downright heartbreak as the rolling stadium love triangle between Arlington Heights, Hammond and the city of Chicago plays out.
Sweet's not to be faulted. And the John & Nancy Hughes Theater at the Gorton, on the southeast edge of downtown Lake Forest, is truly a magnificent place to watch any sort of event.
STREET-BEATIN':
Don't look now but as the All-Star break approaches, Will Venable of the White Sox is a primary candidate for A.L. Manager of the Year. That thought was unfathomable three months ago. It just goes to show what can happen when you put a resourceful Ivy Leaguer in charge. (Venable was all-conference in both basketball and baseball at Princeton.) …
Also on the Happy Hose, the return of Munetaka Murakami reminds that his chances of American League Rookie of the Year were significantly crunched by his achin' hamstring. Strong candidate for that honor is Detroit's Kevin McGonigle, 21, who's proving to be worth all of the first wave of the $150M extension he signed in April. (It runs to 2033.) …
Notable that as the White Sox have surged, rampant criticism of TV play-by-play man John Schriffen is easing. (His debut was rocky.) Also curious that post-dated criticism of Jason Benetti during his tenure at Rate Field has upticked among some very serious Sox fans. Benetti — now with the Tigers and NBC's Sunday night package — is a grand talent with a quick, textured intellect but he has not fully mastered image promotion. (He should lean on masterful Peacock pal Bob Costas for pointers.) …
New presence at WFLD-Channel 32 Sports is Devan Kaney, who will specialize in Bears coverage. It's a quick rebound for Kaney, who was a victim of harsh Audacy budget cuts at Philadelphia's WIP-FM in April. …
Speaking of the Bears-Ch. 32 links, credible speculation that the team is shopping future ancillary television programming, which only makes sense if Caleb-mania continues to rise this season. Further weakening the incumbent is the fact that with NFL steaming deals and rocketing interest in the Monsters, Fox may wind up airing less than half of the Bears' 2026 regular-season games (depending upon who gets the Week 18 closer at Minnesota; the Fox count is currently at eight). …
One of the hottest sports tickets of the Chicago holiday season will be the United Center thrilla between Danny Hurley and U-Conn vs. Brad Underwood's Fighting Illini on Dec. 4. Hurley, the departed Tarris Reed Jr. (Spurs) and the Huskies ended the power run of Keaton Wagler and all in a Final Four semifinal three months ago. Some sharpies are saying the Illini should be favored to win it all next spring. …
On the wings of one of the most electric playoff runs in regional college football history, Brock Spack and his Illinois State Redbirds have added a Week Zero opener against courageous St. Francis (Ill.) on Aug. 29. With QB battler Tommy Rittenhouse leading the charge, lightly regarded ISU won four road games in the FCS bonus round before losing the title game to Montana State in OT 35-34. (Rittenhouse, a Geneva native, was cut by the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League in May.) … `
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.