Author: staff

Sports

Bulls great Scottie Pippen draws long line of fans at Naperville signing for his new autobiography

For Chicago Bulls’ fans like Ali Bilardello, the championship teams from the 1990s and players like Scott Pippen will forever be without equal.“Those teams in the ‘90s, I was out of college and just moved home and went to all those parades and celebrations in the city,” said Bilardello, of Naperville. “I remember ducking out of work early when I was a lifeguard in order to get home and watch a game.”AdvertisementA chance to meet the legendary basketball player was impossible to pass up for hundreds of Bulls’ fans, like Bilardello, who was among those who lined up Monday at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville to have Pippen sign a copy of his new autobiography, “Unguarded,” and get a photo taken with the NBA Hall of Famer.Chicago Bulls’ star Scottie Pippen poses for a photo Monday night with Eric Depodesta, of Coal City, at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville. Depodesta was second in line to meet the former NBA star, who was promoting his new memoir, “Unguarded.” (David Sharos / Naperville Sun)Pippen’s book is a no-holds-barred look at his life, including the championship years with the Bulls and his experiences with coach Phil Jackson and teammates, which included Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman.AdvertisementThe memoir also explore the tragedies his family suffered as he grew up the youngest of 12 children in Hamburg, Arkansas. Pippen would go on to be the fifth overall draft pick in 1987 after being ignored by every major college basketball program in the country.Pippen declined to meet with media or do a Q&A session, but that didn’t deter fans who were thrilled to meet one of their idols.“He’s awesome. He was always one of my favorite, top guys that we liked on the team,” Bilardello said.Fans spoke of the Bulls’ glory years and how Pippen may have been one of the game’s greatest players.That was true for Catherine Sieber, of New Lenox, was first in line to get her book signed Monday.Seven hundred fans of basketball great Scottie Pippen lined up outside Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville Monday for a chance to have the legendary Chicago Bulls player sign a copy of his new autobiography, “Unguarded.” (David Sharos / Naperville Sun)“We just grew up on the Bulls,” Sieber said. “They were the epitome of everything. They were the team. … People don’t watch as much basketball as they used to since those Bulls teams played.”Eric Depodesta, of Coal City, said the 40-minute drive to Naperville “was definitely worth it.”“This is my first time here and for me, Scottie is a big deal. I grew up with him going through high school on and all the championships. He’s a hell of a player,” Depodesta said. “It’s just his whole story — small-time player in college who came up and made it big.”AdvertisementIt was a cannot-miss opportunity for Sergio Medina, of Aurora, who learned about the Pippen appearance through the bookstore’s Facebook page.“When I saw (Anderson’s was) going to have Scottie, I started going in and checking out to see how to purchase a ticket,” he said. “To be honest with you, Scottie is one of my favorite basketball players and since I started getting into basketball, I have nearly all of his sneakers made by Nike.”Dan Walsh brought his daughter, Maren, 11, saying he wanted to see Pippen “because my life in the ‘90s revolved around the Chicago Bulls.”“Your schedule was dictated back then by when the Chicago Bulls played, and when I learned I had the chance to meet Scottie Pippen, I couldn’t pass it up,” the Manhattan resident said.Scottie Pippen fans of all ages were among the 700 people who had a chance to have the former Chicago Bulls player sign his new book and take a photo with them Monday at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville. (David Sharos / Naperville Sun)Maren “couldn’t wait to meet him” either, she said.“I really like him a lot and he played with Dennis Rodman and Michael Jordan and I couldn’t wait to meet him because I look up to him in basketball and stuff,” she said. “I’ve been able to watch some of the old games. When I see Scottie, I’ll probably ask him about the hardest team he faced.”AdvertisementDavid Sharos is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.

Sports

Here’s a ‘Juicy’ story. Jarron Thompson turns into a strikeout king for Waubonsie Valley. ‘I know there’s nobody better than me.’

Waubonsie Valley junior Jarron Thompson has quite the back story.At age 1, Thompson was given a lifelong nickname by his mother, Karron — “JuJu,” a variation of “juicy,” that he was typically called by his sister and aunt.AdvertisementBut Thompson has another juicy nugget from his early childhood.“When I was younger, I always liked to pick things up and throw them,” Thompson said. “I’d play catch with my dad, James. I always had a strong arm from the jump.”AdvertisementJust ask the hitters from DeKalb or Neuqua Valley.Waubonsie Valley’s Jarron Thompson (14) waits for the sign against St. Charles East during a nonconference game in Aurora on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Coming off a career-best 16 strikeouts against DeKalb, Thompson followed that up Monday with another superb turn for the Warriors in a 3-2 DuPage Valley Conference victory over Neuqua.Thompson (3-3) struck out six and scattered eight hits while allowing just one earned run as Waubonsie (12-8, 6-4) captured its fifth straight win.The 6-foot Thompson, a Missouri recruit, has a rocket right arm and shows every indication of being an elite pitcher.His fastball has been timed at 92 mph. His slider features a berserk, corkscrew movement and ideal placement.Thompson also has the necessary mentality of a first-rate pitcher — a brash kind of confidence that hitters are not going to get the best of him.Not now. Not ever.“When I step up on the mound, that’s my whole thing,” Thompson said. “I know there’s nobody better than me.Advertisement“I go up with the attitude I’m the best one out there and I’m going to dominate.”Logan Gregorio, a senior catcher, has seen Thompson’s growth and development from a crucial perspective behind the plate.“Jarron is a very hardworking, talented, and yet also very humble,” Gregorio said. “He also has great leadership.“Whenever something needs to get done on the field, he always takes care of it.”Thompson had to learn disappointment and failure in order to reach his current levels of achievement.“The mental side of the game really held me up my sophomore year,” he said. “I was getting in my head a lot.Advertisement“I had all of these high expectations of being a sophomore on varsity, everybody expecting me to do well, and I tried to do too much. I ended up walking too many guys.”Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said Thompson no longer carries the burden of success and failure by himself.“He has gotten more confident and understands he can’t do it alone,” Acevedo said. “Last year, he was virtually a freshman since he lost his first season to the pandemic.“Being more understanding about the game has made him what he is today. He carries himself a little differently this season.”Waubonsie Valley’s Jarron Thompson (14) deliver a pitch against St. Charles East during a nonconference game in Aurora on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)Thompson always had the physical tools. Now, he has become more versatile and aware of the natural limitations.Naperville SunTwice-weeklyNews updates from the Naperville area delivered every Monday and Wednesday“I don’t think too much,” he said. “Some days, you’re not going to have your best stuff. If I throw a pitch, and it’s not what I want or they get a hit, I move on to the next batter.Advertisement“I try not to get struck on the last pitch and get thrown off my rhythm.”In developing that side of his game, Thompson has come to relish the psychological dance every pitcher goes through in direct confrontation with opposing hitters.More often than not, he’s the victor.“My favorite part is the cat-and-mouse part,” Thompson said. “It’s almost like a chess game and you’re trying to throw the hitter off.“Depending on how the at-bat goes, if I succeed, I feel good because I know that I won that individual battle.”Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.