Ben Strauss

Ben is ChicagoSide's senior editor and a contributing writer to The New York Times. He is also a former Capitol Hill press secretary and can be reached on Twitter @bstrauss1.

10:00 am | Feb. 24

The Real Story of Simeon Basketball Coach Robert Smith

Simeon Career Academy’s Smith may be the most successful boys basketball coach in Illinois high school history, but after five championships, his future might be elsewhere.

12:33 am | Jan. 25

The Big Hurt Still Hurts

By all accounts, Frank Thomas today is a success — but he is far from adored in Chicago. What gives? ChicagoSide’s Ben Strauss take another look at his favorite White Sox slugger.

11:36 am | Jan. 24

VIDEO: Sun-Times’ Rick Telander On His NFL Career

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander has been a sportswriter for 40 years. But in this new video from NFL Films, he recalls the training camp he spent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1971, and describes his lifelong relationship with …

8:26 am | Jan. 18

An Artistic Rendering of a Cubs Fan’s Wet Dream

Ahead of this weekend’s Cub Convention, we bring you an exclusive artistic rendering that will make Cubs fans salivate, and Sox fans puke.

11:27 am | Jan. 7

PHOTO: Sox Sign Debased By Cubs Fan

Maybe Banksy is a North Sider, after all?

10:34 am | Jan. 4

Friday Five: Jan. 4, 2013

The best Chicago sports stories from the week… #1: Before Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly found himself at Grand Valley State — a terrific story from Greg Bishop in The New York Times. #2: Requiem For A Lovie Nine years, …

9:00 am | Dec. 31

Editor’s Picks 12/31: Bears Done

SEASON OVER: From 7-1 to out of the playoffs. A 10-6 record gets most teams to the postseason, but not these Bears. A 26-24 win in Detroit wasn’t enough, as Adrian Peterson and the Vikings beat the Packers in Minnesota …

10:35 am | Dec. 26

Editor’s Picks 12/26: Asik and Destroy

OMER’S RETURN: The Bulls will have many years to pat themselves on the back or second guess their handling of Omer Asik last summer, who returned to the United Center Tuesday night and shredded the Bulls, racking up 20 points, …

7:30 am | Dec. 24

Editor’s Picks 12/24: Bears Win, But…

STAYING ALIVE: The Bears beat the Cardinals Sunday 28-13 (highlights via NFL.com) and kept their playoff hopes alive. A win next week at Detroit, and a Vikings’ loss to the Packers (in Minnesota) and the Bears are in. As Lovie Smith …

9:05 am | Dec. 20

Editor’s Picks 12/20: Jabari Parker Day

THE DECISION: At 3 p.m. this afternoon, Jabari Parker will announce where he’ll play college basketball. The finalists remain BYU, Duke, Florida, Michigan State, and Stanford. Parker insists all five are still in the running (Tribune), building the drama for this …

1:24 am | Dec. 20

Jahlil Okafor: Chicago’s Next, Best Basketball Player In The Country

Today, Jabari Parker will make national news and announce where he intends to play college basketball, leaving Chicago—and the nation—to salivate over Jahlil Okafor, the city’s next basketball prodigy.

1:31 am | Dec. 19

Editor’s Picks 12/19: Noah Dark Thirty

JOAKIM NOAH: On the day Noah retired his finger guns (Chicagoist), he could have used them. Noah laid a triple-double on the Celtics in a convincing 100-89 Bulls win (highlights via NBA.com) that moved them to 14-11. Noah’s 11-point, 13-board, 10-assist night …

8:15 am | Dec. 18

Editor’s Picks 12/18: Urlacher v. Fans

URLACHER V. FANS: Brian went on FOX-Chicago Sunday night and delivered his defense of Lovie Smith. He also had some choice comments for the booing Bears fans, who have made his jersey one of the NFL’s most popular during his …

8:29 am | Dec. 17

Editor’s Picks 12/17: More Bears Pain

PACK IT IN?: The 21-13 loss (NFL.com) to the Packers Sunday was vintage Lovie Smith: the Bears were in position to win, but an incompetent offense assured they didn’t. Twice, the Bears had the ball deep in Packers’ territory in the …