A few takeaways on the wacky world of sports and politics.<\/p>\n
Knight stands tall
\n![\"United](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Milan_Cortina_Olympics_Ice_Hockey_83046.jpg\")
Kendall Coyne, left, and Hilary Knight celebrate after receiving their gold medals with the U.S. women’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 19, 2026, in Milan. (Hassan Ammar\/AP)<\/p>\n
The U.S. men\u2019s hockey team\u2019s gold-medal win<\/a> in Milan was such a feel-good story that even the usual suspects couldn\u2019t ruin it.<\/p>\n But oh, how they tried.<\/p>\n FBI director Kash Patel<\/a> made a complete fool of himself by inserting himself into the winning locker room to celebrate like he was part of the team, acting like a 6-year-old on a sugar high. Then came President Donald Trump\u2019s embarrassing phone call<\/a>, during which he joked to the men he\u2019d also have to invite the gold-medal winning U.S. women\u2019s team<\/a> to the White House or else get impeached.<\/p>\n Trump is the Carrot Top of presidents, funny to only a small subset of Americans who qualify for memberships in DENSA, the opposite of MENSA.<\/p>\n U.S. women\u2019s star Hilary Knight called the joke \u201cdistasteful and unfortunate.\u201d<\/a> She could\u2019ve added \u201cmoronic and predictable\u201d but was probably being polite.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I have to sit in front of you and explain someone\u2019s behavior, (and) it\u2019s not my responsibility,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat is, is shifting the focus, shifting the narrative of this amazing accomplishment that we all did together. Granted, the men\u2019s and the women\u2019s team did it together and that is super special. It\u2019s never been done in our program\u2019s history and it\u2019s something we\u2019re really proud about. These women are amazing, and whatever is going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Bravo to Knight. Fortunately, several players from the U.S. men\u2019s team, including Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, apologized for laughing at Trump\u2019s\u00a0lame joke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know things just happened really quick there,\u201d McAvoy said.<\/p>\n The men went on to their White House celebration<\/a>, as is tradition for championship sports teams.\u00a0The women\u2019s team could not accept the belated invitation to the White House because they went back to their college or PWHL teams after the Olympics.<\/p>\n Hopefully they decline to go in the future. Being stage props for a president who never fails to disrespect women is no way to celebrate a gold medal.<\/p>\n Will Bulls history repeat itself? The Bulls will be trying to avoid their 12th consecutive loss Sunday afternoon at the United Center, facing the Milwaukee Bucks. They just went the entire month of February without a win<\/a>, which means the players that came over at the trade deadline have yet to experience a victory in a Bulls uniform.<\/p>\n Congrats are in order to executive vice president of basketball operations Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas on a stealthy tank job that won\u2019t lead to any NBA fines,\u00a0all for incrementally better odds at a higher draft pick<\/a>.<\/p>\n If this losing streak continues, the Bulls could snap the franchise record of 16 straight losses, set in the 2000-01 season when Tim Floyd was coach and Elton Brand and Ron Artest were the main stars. After their 16th straight loss, Floyd, the former Iowa State coach who replaced Phil Jackson<\/a>, pointed out that in college they could always schedule a cupcake to avoid such a scenario, using Nicholls State as an example.<\/p>\n Floyd then joked \u201cthe Bulls are the Nicholls State of the NBA,\u201d which was probably an overstatement since they were 6-42 at the time.<\/p>\n The 2001 trade deadline was approaching, but Bulls general manager Jerry Krause told the Tribune\u2019s K.C. Johnson it was no time to panic.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you panic and do something stupid in this game, you can tie yourself up and not be able to recover. \u2026 We won\u2019t do that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Bulls finally ended their historic losing streak the next night with a 96-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center. \u201cWe\u2019re not ready to reserve Grant Park,\u201d Floyd said. \u201cBut it feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulls marketing department decided it would be a good idea to shoot streamers after the win like they\u2019d won the NBA title. Floyd was not amused. The following summer the Bulls had the No. 4 pick in the draft and used it on Thornwood High School star Eddy Curry, who lasted awhile but never became a star.<\/p>\n Well, at least Krause didn\u2019t panic.<\/p>\n What will AK do? Stay tuned.<\/p>\n Tale of two ballparks The Cubs and White Sox play again Sunday at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., in a game televised on the Marquee Sports Network.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CTC-L-BULLS-BLAZERS062.jpg\")
Bulls guard Josh Giddey reacts in the second half during a loss to the Trail Blazers on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at the United Center. (Josh Boland\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
\n![\"Fans](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-l-cubs-sox-spring-training-0221-27.jpg\")
Fans sit behind the outfield while watching the Cubs play the Rangers in a Cactus League game at Sloan Park on Feb. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n