For those of us who grew up Chicago-sports obsessed in the 1970s & 80s, there were a few rites of passage. One of those was listening to Jim Durham broadcast a Bulls game.

If the White Sox make a playoffs push this season, it’s a safe bet that rookie closer Addison Reed will be at least as important as Kevin Youkilis.

Twenty-five years ago today, a Chicago team traded for arguably the best second banana in the history of professional sports. But was it Chicago’s best trade ever?

ChicagoSide caught up with Hawk recently and asked him to review the past three decades. So, as Harrelson might say, Sit back, relax, and strap it down. We got a whole lotta work to do.

Just how bad was the 2012 Bulls post-season collapse? Well, it makes our list of worst performances by Chicago squads in the playoffs.

Philip Humber was perfect yesterday. Forty years ago Milt Pappas of the Cubs was almost perfect. Read the venerable, old Cub’s take on the check-swing call for Humber’s 27th out, as he recalls how an umpire once stole his.