Changes are brewing for sports TV in ChiTown, as the Bulls, White Sox, and Blackhawks are leaving NBC Chicago to join Stadium, an app partially owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who happens to also own… wait for it… the Bulls and White Sox. With more fans cutting the cord and turning from network TV to streaming, teams need to find new ways to connect with fans and keep up with digital innovations. Will the novelty of fresh commentators on these evolving streaming platforms translate into the longevity enjoyed by former broadcasting greats Harry Caray and Steve Stone?

Are the Dodgers missing Michael Busch, who’s on a hot streak for the Cubs with six home runs? And is the Angels’ Mike Trout on the way to his goal of stealing 20-30 bases this year after stealing second and third in one game?

The NBA playoffs are heating up and at this early stage, it’s still anyone’s game. Will the 16 teams up their performances in the post-season? Have players who were injured during the season recovered enough to participate, or will sidelined stars be the difference between going out in an early round and making it through to the finals? The Western Conference is looking strong, with top teams having better win vs. loss records on the whole, but does the East think it’s their turn in the spotlight? And who is shaping up to be the NBA MPV for 2024?

Football fans are eagerly anticipating the NFL draft as college standouts await the calls that will change their lives. Which team has the first pick? Will Caleb Williams go to the Bears? What about Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix Jr.? Could as many as six QBs come off the board in Round One alone?

Now that the transfer portal is officially open, how many basketball players have left Duke and coach Jon Scheyer? What’s the latest from the NCAA on how many times an athlete can transfer without sitting out? Will bowl games be in jeopardy with coaches poaching players during bowl season?

And baseball bids a sad farewell to three all-time greats, Kenny Holtzman, Whitey Herzog, and the last surviving member of the Dodgers’ “Boys of Summer,” Carl Erskine. Rest in peace, gentlemen.

Email Fred and the Fantastics with questions and comments at sportsfred@aol.com