1995. You’re a freshman in high school and play on the school’s basketball team. The team travels one weekend to St. Viator to take on the Lions, for which Jarrett Payton basically dominates. During pre-game drills, Walter, his father, enters the gym. You notice, race out of the drill and approach the Bears great, shake his hand. Tell him what an inspiration he’s been. Get an autograph. Walter can’t be more polite. Your coach is so pissed you ran out of the drill—focus!—that he benches you the whole game. In the years since, when you retell the story time and time again to friends, it always ends the same way. “It was worth it.”
Best audience choices: “I was pushed out of the way of Jordan on the street this year, by his ”people.” I was taking pictures, not of him, i hadn’t seen him coming. I fell down. MJ smiled. Worth it.”; “My friend saw Brian Urlacher at Ikea last Spring. He was staring and dumbfounded when Mr. Urlacher walked over and asked him if he was alright.”; “At Bull & Bear one fine afternoon, i happened to spot the infamous Jay Mariotti and my dear friend decided he was going to go up to him and tell how much he stunk. His exact words were: ‘Hey man, i don’t like you or respect anything you say, but i respect that you have the forum to say it.'”
Best of Chicago 2021: Ray Pride's Personal Best Newcity invited fourteen writers to share their "personal Best of Chicago”—a collection of voices expressing their city in their own very personal ways, that together offer universal insights into what we all cherish about our life in this place.
Best of Chicago 2021: Robert Rodi's Personal Best Newcity invited fourteen writers to share their "personal Best of Chicago”—a collection of voices expressing their city in their own very personal ways, that together offer universal insights into what we all cherish about our life in this place.
Best of Chicago 2021: John Moss' Personal Best Newcity invited fourteen writers to share their "personal Best of Chicago”—a collection of voices expressing their city in their own very personal ways, that together offer universal insights into what we all cherish about our life in this place.
Best of Chicago 2021: David Hammond's Personal Best Newcity invited fourteen writers to share their "personal Best of Chicago”—a collection of voices expressing their city in their own very personal ways, that together offer universal insights into what we all cherish about our life in this place.
Best of Chicago 2021: David Witter's Personal Best Newcity invited fourteen writers to share their "personal Best of Chicago”—a collection of voices expressing their city in their own very personal ways, that together offer universal insights into what we all cherish about our life in this place.
