Marion Barber

It’s not just the glorious hair, or the fact that—when in football pads–he appears not to have a neck: M-Barb is the best new Monster to join the Midway because he runs like a bull trying to shake rodeo clowns from his back. Matt Forte gets most of the attention, and deservedly so. But when the Bears offense has needed an additional spark this season, they’ve found it in one of Barber’s punishing runs up the gut.

Audience choice: Marion Barber

Best of Chicago 2011

Dale Sveum

No disrespect to Robin Ventura, who won five Gold Gloves on the South Side and ate an equal number of Nolan Ryan uppercuts, but we’re going Dale Sveum here. Maybe it’s because of his being part of the Red Sox 2004 World Series win, or his being part of the NL Central champion 2011 Milwaukee Brewers… or because Newcity entrusted this category to an Old Style-swilling, bleacher-bumming, Holy Cow-exclaiming Cubs fan. Who really can tell? All we know is, Sveum played under five different Manager of the Year winners during his day: La Russa, Torre, Piniella, Leyland and Lamont. Hopefully Sveum was paying attention.

Audience choice:
Dale Sveum

Best of Chicago 2011

Issue an apology

Chicago Cubs third basemen Ron Santo became eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 1980, but failed to achieve the necessary votes. Throughout the three decades that followed, Santo endured election after election, never earning the invitation to baseball’s hallowed halls in Cooperstown, New York. His career numbers were impressive, while not spectacular—.277 batting average, 342 homeruns, 1,331 RBIs—though for the era in which he played, he was golden. Over the years, Santo emphasized publicly how important it was to him to make it into the Hall of Fame and, in the years as the Cubs’ radio color man, he gained an increasing affection from fans as they, very passionately, lobbied for his induction. (Jeff Santo, Ron’s son, released a documentary about his dad in 2004 called “This Old Cub” that reinforced Santo’s desire to reach Cooperstown, and in 2007 the Illinois House of Representatives even adopted a bill to urge the Hall of Fame to elect him.) Earlier this month, Santo was finally granted his wish, as the Golden Era Committee of the HoF voted him into baseball royalty. Santo can’t enjoy it himself, of course—he died last year due to complications from bladder cancer and his very public lifelong struggle with diabetes. While Santo’s family is surely delighted with his induction, one can’t help but feel the man was cheated by a flawed, self-important organization. His baseball achievements more than merit his inclusion—Santo has been repeatedly listed among the top ten at his position of all-time—and being retired, let alone being dead, in no way makes one a better ballplayer or a more appropriate candidate for election. Bottom line: Baseball should’ve honored the man and his family while he was still alive. With a sport that’s been clouded with shame since the steroid-era began, you’d hope it could at least honor its legends with class. Instead, baseball fans are insulted once again.

Best of Chicago 2011

Theo Epstein

He did the impossible… twice! True it was Boston, but on their best day they aren’t better than us. Chicago will be Theo’s new playground, new mission to do the impossible. Figure if he could slay the Yankees, the Cardinals should be easy.

Audience choice:
Matt Garza

Best of Chicago 2011

Columbia Yacht Club
Chicago’s harbors boast several fine waterfront clubs, some more exclusive than others but all of which offer copious dock space, storage facilities and eateries. Columbia, established in 1892, sets itself apart with its noteworthy location, pleasant atmosphere and cooperative community. Non-members can enjoy the perks with a member-friend and the sailing school is open to anyone who hears Lake Michigan calling forth a passion for tying knots and rigging sails. Though membership fees are steeper than competitors in the northern and southern harbors, Columbia brings expert and novice sailors together on personal vessels and on the club’s floating home, a 372-foot Canadian icebreaker and ferryboat with a killer view of the city.

111 North Lake Shore
(312)938-3625
columbiayachtclub.com

Audience choice:
Chicago Yacht Club
400 East Monroe
(312)861-7777
300 West Belmont
(773)477-7575
chicagoyachtclub.org

Best of Chicago 2010

JABB
Amid 6,000 square feet of heavy bags, boxing rings and pugilists jumping rope and firing off bicycle crunches, bespectacled men shadow box next to welterweight contenders. David Diaz talks about his title fight with Manny Pacquiao while Kendall Gill cracks jokes with the house pros. Then, at 6pm, the Training Camp class begins and twenty or so students are put through the most thorough hour workout in any Chicago gym, period. From bag work to individual training, cardiovascular to strength training, JABB’s boot camp will whip any man or woman into incredible shape in a matter of days. All the trainers are former dedicated boxers and the class is delightfully split between men and women.

410 North Oakley
(312)733-5222
jabbboxing.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Ann Sather
Are those cinnamon rolls leaving a bit of a metallic taste in your mouth? Don’t rush to the doctor—it could just be a remnant left from the Stanley Cup’s summer tour of the city. Yes, between bar visits to Underground and Market, the Cup got up early to enjoy brunch at this city favorite alongside team captain Jonathan Toews. Although it was certainly cool to see our Hawks don the trophy on Jay Leno’s show, nothing compares to eating the breakfast of champions next to some real-life champs.

5207 North Clark
(773)271-6677
909 West Belmont
(773)348-2378
3411 North Broadway
(773)404-4475
annsather.com

Audience choice:
Chicago Annual Pride Parade
chicagopridecalendar.org

Best of Chicago 2010

Thomas Jones
Perhaps GM Jerry Angelo’s greatest flub, the abandonment of running back Thomas Jones after the 2006 Super Bowl season, in a misguided attempt to make then-recently drafted Cedric Benson the man, has played a large part in the Bears’ offensive troubles in the seasons since. Matt Forte is a strong back, to be sure, but as most NFL teams have moved to running-back tandems and away from classic featured backs, Forte is left with failed experiment Chester Taylor. (And before that Garrett Wolfe, and before that “the other” Adrian Peterson.) Can you imagine the Bears’ running game if we had held on to Jones? The trade for Jay Cutler, dare we say, may have been unnecessary. Numbers don’t lie—in the three seasons he played with the Jets after the Bears let him go, he rushed for 1,119 yards, 1,312 yards and 1,402 yards, respectively. Not only is that tremendous production, with each year the 32-year-old is improving. He also scored fourteen touchdowns last year. This season, for the Kansas City Chiefs, he’s threatening 1,000-yard production again and has five TDs. We honestly can’t elaborate any more right now, because it’s making us sick.

Audience choice:
Jim Thome

Best in Chicago 2010

State Restaurant & Café
NFL Sunday Ticket? Big deal, who doesn’t have that? Free wifi? Definite plus. How about a media center and seven internet terminals throughout the bar? Okay, this is starting to get interesting…Did we mention more than 100 flat-screen HD plasma TVs? We’ll excuse you if you just messed yourself.

935 West Webster
(773)975-8030
state-chicago.co

Best of Chicago 2010

That guy working the upper-deck 300 level at the Blackhawks game
“Beer here, beer here!” The game has your temperature rising so it’s time for a cold one. “Beer man, over here.” Before you can bat an eye, this guy’s gouged a hole in the side of the can, flipped the top and poured that baby—ten seconds flat. Damn impressive, but what sets him apart is the dramatic flair of a true performer he brings to his work as he throws his head back as if he’s in a state of personal ecstasy. He’s so good, you order a round for the whole row, just to watch the show. That roar, Hawks score? Oops, missed it.

Best of Chicago 2010