Is it wise for youth athletes to specialize in one sport?

Specialization in Sport

By Brent Schwartz If Bo Jackson was a high school athlete today, even with his immense talent in football and baseball, odds are there would be a coach saying, “Hey Bo, you need to pick one sport.” That is what Chrishawn Cook heard as a budding athlete at Niles North. “I tried to play football […]

Niles North basketball elevates expectations after surprising season

Niles North

By Brent Schwartz All that stood between the Niles North Vikings and a regional championship were three minutes. After a back-and-forth three quarters against Notre Dame College Prep, the Vikings used a 10-0 run to take a 48-35 lead to start the fourth. But a flurry of missed 3-pointers followed, and they squandered the advantage, […]

Did the Bears make the right move in signing Mike Glennon?

Solider Field

By Brent Schwartz In today’s NFL landscape, teams either have a franchise quarterback or they are pursuing one. The Chicago Bears’ pursuit has led them to last week’s signing of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup, Mike Glennon, who they will be paying $43.5 million over the next three years, with $14.5 million guaranteed according to […]

New England Patriots’ Trey Flowers shares Super Bowl success with his father

Flowers

By Brent Schwartz Reporting from Houston Robert Flowers Jr. packed his things, and planned his trip to go watch his son, New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers, play football. It’s a trip Robert has made several times over the years, driving to stadiums across the country.. This time was different. Robert was flying to […]

Feel the love; Patriots fan club gathers on Super Bowl eve

Houston Patriots Fans

By Brent Schwartz Reporting from Houston On the afternoon before Super Bowl LI, New England Patriots’ fans swarmed Diablo Loco, a sports bar just eight miles north of NRG Stadium, where their beloved team will take on the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. The bar is a usual hotspot for Patriots’ fans, thanks to the Houston Patriots […]

Niles North’s Damaria Franklin developing into one of area’s stars

Franklin

By Brent Schwartz Niles North’s Damaria Franklin was on the wing, where he often is, calling for the ball. Upon securing a pass, he moved towards the basket, except this time, there were three New Trier defenders draped all over him. Franklin then looked right and found Jamaal Stephenson open in the corner. Stephenson promptly […]

Evanston outlasts Niles North in emerging rivalry

Basketball

By Brent Schwartz During pre-game warmups Friday, Evanston’s Nojel Eastern walked over to the Niles North bench to grab a cup of water from the Vikings’ Gatorade cooler. “Are you guys not playing?” Eastern asked two Niles North players sitting on the bench. He then smiled, walked through the Niles North shootaround and returned to […]

Olson father-son duo finds success at Niles North

hoops

By Brent Schwartz “Let’s go!” shouted Niles North head coach Glenn Olson, urging one of his scrimmage teams to push the floor during an intense practice. He is often animated, but focused when running practice, keeping his players on their toes. After practice, Glenn addressed his team with a sense confidence. “A lot of you […]