Do you like any songs by Lionel Richie?

READER
The Daily Reader

I just read the Sun-Times analysis of the Bears’ draft, and a strange thing has come over me. I’m now talking in a question and answer format.

That’s the cadence that the newspaper’s Bears beat reporters—Patrick Finley, Jason Lieser, and Mark Potash—employed for their analysis. For instance, they asked, “The Bears’ decision to trade back in round one and draft Darnell Wright was . . .”

Finley answered, “Boring.”

Lieser: “Inevitable.”

And Potash: “The right move.”

And so on and so forth for several questions about the draft.

As much as I enjoyed reading that article, it was like hearing an oldie on the radio, say, “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. I can’t get that question and answer cadence out of my mind. For example . . .

Speaking of NFL drafts, does the 2017 decision by the Bears to take Trubisky over Mahomes still rank as the worst decision in the history of sports?

Yes.

Worse than lakefront liberals choosing Vallas over Johnson?

Huh?

Question, answer the question!

Okay. I’m not sure. But the lakefront liberals’ decision is definitely more pathetic.

As pathetic as you rushing out to buy tickets to see Lionel Richie in concert this summer?

Okay, first of all . . . Lionel’s playing with Earth, Wind, & Fire. So I’m not just seeing Lionel.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you like any songs by Lionel Richie?

Yes, “Brick House”. I love “Brick House”!

That’s not by Lionel Richie.

Okay, Mr. Technicality. But it’s by the Commodores. And Lionel was in the Commodores. So there!

Is calling “Brick House” a Lionel Richie song even though it’s by the Commodores more truthful than what Donald Trump says about E. Jean Carroll?

What? Huh? Where did that come from?

Truthful or not?

Way more truthful.

Do you believe E. Jean Carroll’s testimony in her trial against Trump?

Yes. But I thought we were talking football . . .

Is anything more hypocritical than MAGA law and order types voting for an alleged rapist?

No. 

Do you think MAGA cares if you call them hypocrites?

No. Fascists don’t care about being hypocritical—they only care about winning.

Did you steal that line from Sam Holloway?

Damn. Busted! Sorry, Sam. 

If drafting fascists could make the Bears a better team would you draft them?

No!

Even if this particular fascist filled their need for an edge rusher?

Hmm . . .

That’s not an answer.

Oops, out of space. Get back to you on that one.

Meanwhile . . .

See you tonight (Tuesday, May 2) at the Promontory (5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West in the Hyde Park neighborhood). Me and Maya Dukmasova with 20th Ward Alderperson Jeanette Taylor and 49th Ward Alderperson Maria Hadden. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the show starts at 7 PM. Buy tickets here. Peace.

🎙Listen to The Ben Joravsky Show 🎙

What Ben's Reading

  Confidence, a novel by Rafael Frumkin. It tells the story of Ezra and Orson, a couple of teenage grifters on the loose in America. Think Tom Ripley meets Elizabeth Holmes. Chilling stuff.
 Steve Krakow on the Independents
 Ben Joravsky on Jerry Butler & Curtis Mayfield (from 1999)
 

Best of the Ben J. Show

  Oh, What a Week: in defense of Jerry Springer
 
Stacy Davis Gates: you can’t win if you’re afraid to lose
 
Mick Dumke: on all things Chicago politics

 

Chicago hip-hop duo defprez reinforce each other in a powerful circuit on It’s Always a Time Like This

by Leor Galil | Read here 
 

Remembering Paola Coletto, Beth Murphy, and Vincent Williams

Three people who made unique contributions to Chicago theater died in April.

by Kerry Reid Read here 

2022 Buy Local poll winners

by Chicago Reader Read here 

TONIGHT!

Join senior Reader writer Ben Joravsky and Maya Dukmasova at The Promontory, located at 5311 South Lake Park Avenue West, for “First Tuesdays” beginning at 6:30 PM. 

They’ll chat with Alderpersons Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward) and Maria Hadden (49th Ward) about the City Council reorganization, and what to expect from Chicago’s legislators in the era of Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson. 

GET TICKETS HERE

 

Issue of
Apr. 20 – May 3, 2023 
Vol. 52, No. 14

View/Download Issue [PDF]

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