Faux SoxFest weekend begins Friday, with White Sox fans seeking a proper substitute in the absence of the annual fan fest and the team trying to make some news in the dead of a Chicago winter.

A season ticket holders event Friday at the Field Museum basically takes the place of the traditional SoxFest, which was canceled during the pandemic in 2021 and never resumed. The Sox aren’t promoting it much, hoping not to look as if they’re simply responding to fans who believe SoxFest was canceled to avoid the expected griping.

As of Thursday, no media availability was scheduled for Friday’s event, suggesting the Sox want this to be a private gathering between the organization and its most loyal, paying customers. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, which also might explain why the Sox don’t want the media around.

The Sox are betting they still can garner media attention on a slow sports weekend in Chicago, without the bother or expense of planning a huge, multiday event.

On Friday, the Sox announced the return of SoxFest in January 2025 to mark the 20-year anniversary of the 2005 World Series team and the 125-year anniversary of the organization.

If the Sox make any news from the Field Museum, it likely would be leaked first by individual fans, perhaps via Sox Twitter (or Sox X, if you must), to the fans who weren’t invited. Obviously fans have many questions for the Sox brain trust, from the lack of major offseason moves to the Dylan Cease situation to the possibility of a new South Loop stadium.

There’s also newly signed broadcaster John Schriffen to discuss, as well as the one he replaced, Jason Benetti. And what’s the progress of the investigation into the mysterious gunshots in the left–field bleachers?

Any new theories, chairman?

If a normal SoxFest were in place this weekend, it would be the first time for general manager Chris Getz to explain his plan to fans, just as former GMs Ken Williams and Rick Hahn faithfully did most of the last two decades, with mixed results. A SoxFest without some creative tension is not a true SoxFest.

It would be a great opportunity for manager Pedro Grifol to explain why he expects things to be different in 2024, with a lower payroll and holes in the rotation, bullpen and infield. And marketing boss Brooks Boyer could explain how he plans to get people in the seats in a ballpark the team seemingly admits is not worth preserving.

Meanwhile, the potential South Loop Park has gotten a generally positive reception without any details being announced. Wouldn’t it be perfect to reveal the renderings at SoxFest?

Alas, for those fans who aren’t invited to the Field Museum, a Faux SoxFest will have to suffice.

What is that? According to reliable sources, a Faux SoxFest contains all the elements of the real deal, except without players to sign autographs, executives to yell at about their decisions or memorabilia booths selling action photos of former catcher Carlton Fisk tagging two guys out on one play at the plate.

At Faux SoxFest, there’s no need to drive to McCormick Place or a downtown hotel and pay for parking, an admission fee or maybe even a hotel room. All you need is a few chairs, some cold beverages and three or more fellow Sox fans to discuss the state of the organization. Malört is optional. Anyone bringing up Justin Fields is promptly shown the door.

Sox therapy is free to dispense and always welcome, no matter what time of year. A Faux SoxFest would reduce the team’s carbon footprint while helping fans relieve stress caused by the compulsive and unnecessary refreshing of the mlbtraderumors.com website.

It’s undeniable this has been a lousy winter for Chicago baseball fans, no matter which side of town you call your own. But the fact the Cubs held their downtown fan convention while the Sox had none is particularly galling to some Sox fans. A new season deserves to be celebrated in the winter, when there are no losses, no injuries and no random shootings.

Players are usually in a great mood, including Eloy Jiménez, who recently told A.J. Pierzynski’s podcast, “Fair Territory,” that he would hit more than 40 home runs in 2024 “if I’m healthy.”

That’s not exactly his MO, but it’s never too early to think big. The ‘24 Sox have to rely on Jiménez, Luis Robert and Andrew Vaughn to carry the offense, assuming they don’t deal Jiménez along the way.

But that’s a topic to be discussed this weekend at your local Faux SoxFest, where people are all the same — and where everybody knows your name.

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Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus are working on revamping their coaching staff.

After firing five coaches earlier this month, including offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, the Bears began the offseason seeking at least new offensive and defensive coordinators and position coaches for the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs.

On Tuesday, the Bears officially announced the hiring of former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron as their new offensive coordinator. A deal had been reported Monday to be in the works.

“This was a very exhaustive search, but in the end I’m grateful the journey led us to Shane,” Eberflus said in a statement. “He is a great teacher and communicator with a diverse coaching background among some of the game’s most elite head coaches. I look forward to partnering with him as we build out the rest of the staff and get him started here.”

Waldron said in a statement: “I appreciate this opportunity given to me by Coach Eberflus and Ryan Pole. We can’t wait to get to work at a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fan base.”

Here’s how the offensive coordinator hiring process unfolded.

Jan. 18

The Bears are expected to interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, ESPN reported.

The rundown: Kingsbury, 44, spent this past season as a senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach at USC, where potential No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams played. The Bears are getting deeper into their evaluations of Williams as they determine whether to draft a quarterback with the No. 1 pick this spring. Williams threw for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions in 12 games in 2023.

In four seasons as the Cardinals coach, Kingsbury was 28-37-1. The Cardinals fired him last January following a 4-13 season after the team made the playoffs a year earlier behind quarterback Kyler Murray. Before that, Kingsbury was the head coach for six seasons at Texas Tech, where he coached quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

He also was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M and Houston. Kingsbury played quarterback at Texas Tech and in the NFL, NFL Europe and CFL.

The Bears are interviewing Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported.

The rundown: Robinson, 37, has been part of Sean McVay’s coaching staff in Los Angeles for the last five seasons and in his current role the last two years. In 2021, Robinson also served as Matthew Stafford’s quarterbacks coach as Stafford matched a career high with 41 touchdown passes and led the Rams to a Super Bowl title.

This season Robinson contributed to a passing offense that ranked in the top 10 in yards and yards per play.

Robinson was a standout quarterback at Oklahoma State and a seventh-round selection by the New England Patriots in 2010. He spent four seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bears have requested an interview with Philadelphia Eagles senior offensive assistant Marcus Brady, ESPN reported.

The rundown: Brady, 44, spent the 2023 season on Nick Sirianni’s Eagles staff after five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

He worked on the same Colts coaching staff as Bears coach Matt Eberflus for four years under Frank Reich, though on the opposite side of the ball from Eberflus. With the Colts, Brady rose from assistant quarterbacks coach (2018) to quarterbacks coach (2019-20) and then to offensive coordinator (2021-22) after Sirianni left for the Eagles. The Colts offense was one of the best in the league at running the ball in 2021, but it ranked 27th in total yards per game with 311.6 in 2022.

Brady also spent nine seasons coaching in the Canadian Football League.

Jan. 17

The Bears are interviewing Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, The Athletic reported.

The rundown: Brown, 37, completed his first year as the Panthers coordinator after three seasons with the Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl under McVay.

The Panthers struggled behind rookie quarterback Bryce Young in 2023, averaging a league-worst 265.3 yards per game. With the Rams, Brown coached running backs and then tight ends and had the title of assistant head coach in his last two seasons.

The former Georgia running back was a running backs coach in college for eight seasons, including with Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina and Miami, where he also was the offensive coordinator. Brown also is scheduled to interview with the Tennessee Titans for their head coaching position.

Jan. 15

The Bears interviewed former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reported.

The rundown: Roman, 51, is a longtime NFL coach who served as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Ravens. Among his accomplishments is crafting the Ravens offense around dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson and helping Jackson to an MVP season in his second year in 2019. The Ravens had the best rushing offense in the league that year.

However, Roman and the Ravens parted after the 2022 season after the offense declined. The Ravens went from averaging 33.2 points in 2019 to 20.6 in 2022.

Jan. 12

The Bears interviewed Seahawks quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The rundown: Olson, 60, has been a college and NFL quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator since 1990. He has extensive experience as an NFL offensive coordinator, holding the position with the Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders in separate stints and Jacksonville Jaguars.

He most recently was the Seahawks quarterbacks coach in 2023 and a senior offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. Olson spent the 2003 season as the Bears quarterbacks coach.

The Bears planned to interview Kentucky offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Liam Coen, CBS Sports reported.

The rundown: Coen, 38, has one season of NFL offensive coordinator experience with the Rams in 2022, though McVay called the plays. He was an assistant wide receivers coach and assistant quarterbacks coach with the Rams from 2018-20.

Beyond that, Coen has been a college quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator since 2010 at Brown, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and most recently Kentucky in 2021 and 2023.

Jan. 11

The Bears planned to interview 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak, ESPN reported.

The rundown: Kubiak, 36, is in his first season with the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan. Before that, he was the Denver Broncos passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 for Russell Wilson and their QBs coach from 2016-18.

Kubiak, the son of longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak, also worked for the Minnesota Vikings as offensive coordinator in 2021 and quarterbacks coach from 2019-20, working with Kirk Cousins.

Jan. 10

The Bears requested an interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, NFL Network reported.

The rundown: Waldron, 44, was the Seahawks offensive coordinator the last three seasons, helping quarterback Geno Smith to a comeback season in 2022. Before that, he spent four seasons with the Rams as passing game coordinator, quarterbacks coach and tight ends coach under McVay.

He also served as an offensive assistant with the Patriots (2008-09) and Washington (2016) and worked in operations with the Patriots early in his career. He has coached in college, high school and the UFL.

More Bears news

Bears Q&A: Did GM Ryan Poles miss a chance at a big-name coach? How desirable are the coordinator openings?
Caleb Williams declares for the NFL draft — and the Bears, picking No. 1, ‘can’t be scared of the unknown,’ analyst says
Bears GM Ryan Poles staying ‘open-minded’ as he evaluates whether to keep Justin Fields or draft a QB at No. 1
Column: How can GM Ryan Poles fix the cycle that has plagued the Bears forever? Pick the right quarterback.
Why did Bears GM Ryan Poles decide to retain coach Matt Eberflus? ‘The stability was a big piece of it.’
5 player decisions besides QB facing the Bears, including Jaylon Johnson’s contract and Darnell Mooney’s future
Column: What the Bears can learn about turning a franchise’s fortunes from the Houston Texans

Thriving defensively, Cretin-Derham Hall will again be crossing the Mississippi River for more basketball.

Smothering its opponent early led to a comfortable cushion, resulting in a second half that was never in doubt, and the Raiders beat Tartan 59-45 in the Class 4A, Section 4 final Thursday.

Monteff Dixon scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half, Anthony Knight had 15, and Miles Bollinger overcame early foul trouble to net 12.

It’s the second-lowest point total of the season for the Raiders. But it was enough.

“We knew they were going to play Joe Mitchell tight, so other guys had to step up offensively. And then trying to keep Tartan to one shot and out was the biggest thing for us. So getting stops on defense, executing on offense kind of putting a complete game together,” Knight said.

Mitchell, a Division I prospect who averages nearly 20 points a game, had eight.

It’s the third section title in four seasons, and sixth in eight years for Cretin-Derham Hall (24-4). The Raiders lost to East Ridge in a section semifinal last year.

Big school state tournament quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday at Target Center. Brackets are to be announced Saturday.

“It’s fun. I’m excited. I’m short for words,” Bollinger said.

In its semifinal win over St. Paul Central, the Raiders were down 12 early. They had a much better start in the final. Mitchell had five points, and four Raiders scored in a 13-2 run for 25-11 lead.

Playing with a bruised heel, Knight scored with 5.6 seconds left in the first half for a 33-18 lead.

“He’s our senior, he’s our competitor, and he just answered the bell today,” said coach Jerry Kline. “We knew they weren’t going to guard him. … He stepped up. That’s what seniors do in March.”

A 3-pointer by Bollinger made it 41-23 early in the second half, and Tartan got no closer than 14 at the end.

Dixon, a 6-foot-5 junior in his third year of basketball, had just one first-half bucket, but scored 14 of the final 18 Cretin-Derham Hall points, including short jumpers, a scoop, layup and a steal and dunk.

“He’s an animal. He’s tough, he’s big, He was relentless tonight,” Kline said.

Cedric Banks led the Titans (24-5) with 17 points, but Tartan was held to its lowest point total of the season and scored fewer than 60 for just the third time.

“We just overall didn’t play very well,” said coach Mark Klingsporn. “Our defensive game plan was fine. We held them to 59 points on their home court. We just didn’t perform on offense.”

Looking to make the tournament for the first time since 2014, Tartan struggled with turnovers, poor outside shooting and couldn’t get it to the big men inside.

“We played so unselfish, we played so hard. We’re where we need to be and we just played with a lot of fight and a lot of energy,” Kline said.

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In a last, desperate push to make the playoffs, the Wild are taking care of their own business, and it finally appears to be paying dividends.

Zach Bogosian and Kirill Kaprizov scored goals, and Marc-Andre Fleury earned his 75th career shutout as the Wild beat the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0, on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild jumped idle St. Louis for ninth place in the Western Conference, and within four points of eighth-place Vegas pending their 8 p.m. puck drop in Calgary. Minnesota plays the Golden Knights twice more among their final 15 regular-season games.

Fleury, who has started the past three Wild games, made 17 saves and improved to 9-2-0 in his past 13 games, 11 of them starts, since Jan. 13.

With his second shutout of the season, Fleury is one shy of tying Tony Esposito for 10th on the NHL’s career list. Already this season, Fleury has become the fourth NHL goalie to play 1,000 games and passed Martin Brodeur for second in career wins, which is now 560.

It was a tight defensive effort against the Ducks, who didn’t get their 11th shot on goal until 2:16 into the third period. They briefly appeared to pull within a goal early in the third period, but the Wild challenged and it was waived off for offsides.

The Ducks pulled goaltender Lukas Dostal with 2:31 remaining but Minnesota was active in its end, clearing the puck a few times and getting line changes as the Wild preserved the shutout.

Minnesota completed a three-game homestand against Anaheim, Arizona and Nashville 3-0 and has improved to 12-4-2 since returning from the all-star break on Feb. 7. In their last two games before the break, and closer to a playoff spot then held by the Predators, the Wild failed to earn a point against Nashville and Anaheim.

Day to day

The Wild were without Joel Eriksson Ek on Thursday after he left Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Arizona early with a lower body injury, and it was unclear whether he would travel with the Wild for Saturday’s game at St. Louis.

Still, the Wild have to feel good about their top center’s status. “I would call it day to day right now,” coach John Hynes told reporters after Thursday’s morning skate.

That prognosis hasn’t always been followed by a quick return, but the Wild do expect Eriksson Ek — who leads the team with a plus-16, and is second in goals (29) and points (60) — back for most of the team’s last 15 regular-season games.

Briefly

Center Marat Khusnutdinov made his NHL debut on Thursday. Playing center on the third line with Marcus Foligno and Freddie Gaudreau, the young Russian who just finished his fourth KHL season, played 11:54. He didn’t register a shot but won 6 of 9 faceoffs. … Foligno, who has been playing with a nagging lower body injury, missed his second straight morning skate on Thursday — and it will probably be that way for the rest of the season. “I would think so,” Hynes said. “Particularly on morning skates, that he will not skate and just be ready for the games.”

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