>> Good evening and thanks for joining us on the weekend review.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka has died.

So blessed in so many ways.

What what I really got the >> the unhappy about I've been in the National Football League for 30 years as a player and assistant coach and head coach.

It's been my whole life.

If some day I got to go out and get a legitimate job.

What the heck am?

I give it my best shot.

>> Tributes pour in after the cigar chomping sweater vest, clad high intensity coach and Hall of Fame tight end dies at 86.

>> I want awareness because what's happening is not normal.

We should see here in the malaise was happy.

>> A year after she was shot 5 times by a Border Patrol agent, Maher Marr Martinez sues the federal government.

He's never accomplish anything for Illinois and he's not cut off of the job.

Frankly, he cannot be trusted to lead or states.

Former Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin slams gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey and endorses JB Pritzker for reelection.

Mayor Brandon Johnson defends embattled Chicago school board.

President candidate Eladio Dominguez amid harassment allegations and >> this one softly?

>> There will be 5th game in this ALDS.

>> Cleveland notches their second 9 run game in a row dashing the White Sox hopes of winning their division series at home and setting up a high stakes winner take all game 5.

>> And now to our week in review panel.

Joining us are Crain's Chicago Business contributor Dan McGrath, Rick Pearson of the Chicago Tribune.

Melody Mercado of Block Club, Chicago and Kerry Shepherd of Axios, Chicago.

Thank you all for being right to it.

So, Dan, hard to sum up.

Mike did cause Legacy first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Only coach to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl win.

What's been on your mind as you're reflecting since its ad, whether you like the guy or not?

obviously most people liked him because he was really beloved here in Chicago.

But it's like.

>> He was prominent out there for so long as a player and as a coach and it's not just like part of your youth is going to take part of your life is gone because this guy was part of our lives for so long.

And to me, he really he embodied how Chicagoans like to think of their selves.

You know, we're tough and we're resilient and we don't take any guff from anybody and that was the persona that he projected it was true.

That's how he was.

Yeah, he's a tough guy.

Was a tough player.

And I he really insisted on those qualities in the players that he coached kind of looked into the 85 bears.

I think most of the people at this table could coach team fairly successful.

But now the they the Super Bowl.

And like, I say his personality, the team sort of reflected his personality.

And I to this stay there.

The most beloved team in the history of Chicago, probably by a lot.

And I would say of all the sports figures he occupies a place AutoZone.

There's nobody who commanded that the city's attention and held it the way he did.

Well, that's funny, too.

I mean, you know, when he was leaving the team as a player had some choice words for palace, you know, 10 years as head coach.

He and the Bears parted ways.

But whatever bad blood there might have been.

>> Seems like a dissipated pretty easily was a bear at heart here, which record.

If you've been thinking about since hear the news of Dickens death.

Well, just what powerful part of the fabric of Chicago and not just the sports fabric, but >> just we've been you look at the 85 85 bears.

We still talk about him all the in It's just but it's always about too.

>> And just kind full character that he was on the football field for those a lot of people never got to see him when he played.

And but just becoming that and and almost sometimes becoming a caricature of itself.

And just because he knew how powerful that the was.

Yeah, I mean, you know, you talk about him being such an important figure.

He's like Lake Michigan.

You just kind of think it's always going to be there not is emblematic of the Bears.

I think he's emblematic of NFL and the certain time of, you know, growing up in the 80's.

I we were joking before, like a lot of our dads had the different mustache.

You know?

>> And I'm excited to see how pays tribute to him this weekend because obviously the famous Demers sketch.

Yeah, he became such a figure globally and in pop culture have to think Will Farrell might've gotten a phone today?

I mean, melody, even for folks who are from Chicago big Bears fans.

He's just such a recognizable figure in pop culture.

Yeah, absolutely.

I feel like that question specifically for me.

And that was born in 95 saw people dress up as as they could for Halloween and seeing that very prominently in pop culture before even knew who he was.

Says this prominent figure in Chicago.

Yeah.

And you know, someone you know, the Bears, Eunice, retired, you know his numbers that it was going to be the last one that they did.

So he sees a figure that has some lasting impact.

No doubt.

>> unfortunately didn't go into politics, although certainly was plenty opinion.

well, I he was very seriously courted to run against Barack Obama 1004 and could change the this is certain authenticity about him to, you know, he was what he was seeing.

I don't think he really put on airs or >> that's why I was surprised with political ally because he wasn't a politician know.

And there's talk us to weigh on that.

Sure he can to survive problem very well that yeah, for the most part, part of his appeal was he came across as an authentic guy.

This is who I am.

This is and Chicago embrace really did very Midwestern even though he was, you know, Pennsylvania Khater Island well equipped, but PA every tough steel come very Yeah.

So it reflected kind the dentist to right pro I don't know what inside you're in the big honesty, the what you know.

And and, you know, his death comes just a couple days before Sunday's big rivalry matchup against the Packers that got imagine there's already favored, but that's going to be light a fire under because don't just the rivalry.

>> Is the rivalry.

But and the Packers hated each He enforced Gregory like blood enemies and he hated Max McGee the rivalry back then was every bit as intense is it is now and probably even a little bit more personal.

>> And boy, he was right in the middle of that.

He was 15 5 against the Packers as the Bears coach.

And it's been a long time since Packers.

The Bears had the Packers number the way they did back So it's kind of ironic that he would die the week of Packers.

Yeah, plenty of pressure on Ben Thompson and Tyson Bagent coming into this game.

>> Alright, Kerry in a sporting event of another kind.

The 55,000 person, Chicago Marathon happens to be coinciding with a major downtown hotel strike, right?

This could be the kind of messy.

Yeah.

I talked to strikers for workers today.

It's at 6 hotels right now, but they say the union unite here.

Local one says that there are 46 hotels that have been without a contract since at least August.

>> And yeah, the timing is not good, which is upsetting to people like Alderman Hopkins, for example, whose downtown he says like this could really disrupt the marathon.

This is a major I mean, the marathon brings in like a million spectators or something.

You know, some crazy number.

Yeah, there there they are in front of Think maybe the West end.

so it's 6 hotels.

And, you know, downtown is so crowded right now.

The hotels, the Marriott told me, look, we have contingency plans.

This isn't going to disrupt everything like, you know, I'm just picturing like runners not making it to the race because of some sort of issue is staffing.

They say that's, you know, not going to happen.

They're prepared, but they want better wages.

They say, look, everything it with inflation is higher.

We haven't gotten raises a long time.

Some of them are makes a minimum wage like doormen.

So they live on tips and says is really, you know, affecting them.

Yeah.

And they've been without a contract disputes been going on for quite a while for quite a while.

And they've been threatening this league.

85 1% of them voted to strike a couple weeks ago.

And so we sort of anticipated this was coming.

I I don't know that I anticipated coming before marathon weekend.

So they will definitely be heard, I think base and the timing very much so.

>> Alright, returning to some political news.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is sticking by Dominguez, the CTU backed candidate for Chicago school board.

President.

That's despite the fact that he's faced questions about his conduct with a teenage girl.

You know, are you surprised to see that that demonstration of loyalty there?

I think that loyalty was always going to be there.

I mean, it is the problem is the CTU got him to the job and that that loyalty is going to stay.

I have talked some other people, though, who?

>> In the political sphere who have always been kind of CTU loyalists aren't willing to go as far as to even make an endorsement because of expressing concerns about what kind of misconduct may have occurred.

Yeah, and you have to imagine, you know, based on the reporting.

>> You know, your Tribune colleagues have done and, you know, other outlets that they're sort of these questions about, why didn't this come up in in the vetting process while in the process?

I mean, and apparently, you know, there had been an earlier investigation that didn't find quote anything.

But I mean, the subsequent events have proven that there are valid issues for looking into here.

Yeah.

And you know, Dominguez for his part says he's willing to participate in any of these investigations.

He's answered every question that's been asked of him.

But certainly not something that he wants to deal with, you know, here and it's not something you want to have this close to an melody in Mayor Johnson's own race course not till February, although it feels like it's about to be dry tomorrow.

I he's been very involved using social media influencers to help get his message out and he's hardly alone in that as a candidate say not at all.

This is a phenomenon we've been seeing the past couple years in races across the country at the >> state, local and national level.

But what we're seeing here is that as technology evolves and people get information from things, not just the newspaper, radio television.

They're also getting in on social media and campaigns are looking for a way to authentically connect with voters.

But using content creators are friendlier with them that can help them spread a message that is flattering of themselves across across the realm of social media.

And so we're seeing this with Mayor Brandon Johnson.

We know that says Anna Mendoza hired a content creator to be chief of content for her campaign and they're trying to move been content creators as well.

And Alexei Giannulli us with that huge pot of money.

22 million dollars is looking to reopen some content creators paid and unpaid to make content with him.

And with the campaign.

So it will be very interesting as things start to gear up, especially because the laws surrounding this are very murky and you're not required to say on social media when it comes to political campaigns that, hey, this is an ad.

Hey, I'm getting paid to say nice things about, you know, Lexi Julius examined Ohsa Brandon Johnson.

So it will be interesting to see how this continues to play out, which raises the question about authenticity, right?

mean, So attempt portray authenticity, my but like everything else on social media, anybody seen the stuff.

A lot of just step back and take a question and say, is this real is it paid for?

>> Who bought it?

those kinds of and I can tell you there's going to be a lot of changes.

I think, yes, the inquest election law who was the target audience?

I my son works in politics and they always talk about.

>> Informed voters know that people really study the issues and I don't know the time older people such as myself.

I don't know that I'd swayed by social media influencers speaking for I think it's geared more towards jonesy on people don't go out to vote as much as you know.

>> Progressives would like them say they're definitely trying to tap into that sleeping giant that can help tip the scales in their favor.

The MLB and its a cheap compared to by provoking yeah, which I mean commercials.

Now it is.

Nobody's watching TV.

They're streaming, right.

So this is where their money is going.

>> I mean, we as reporters as melody notes, we've been seeing this creep in for a while now at the DNC, for example, couple years ago, there were many influencers and content creators who got passes to the floor that we as reporters didn't get.

So we were sort of on the out wound chain.

Yeah.

And you know, they surveyed a sneak pizza peeks at the Obama presidential center before a lot of reporters did.

So this is not super new.

This has been creeping in.

But to everyone's point, I mean, mayoral turnout is voting.

Turnout is just ridiculously low.

I mean, sometimes is under what 5%.

So, I mean, if this is how Gen Z Engine Elf are going to start to pay attention.

Good.

Are they going to vet this thoroughly?

Not so good.

Yeah.

Downey in New York to a very it worked out for him.

Very heard it.

I mean, look at Barack Obama and he relied heavily you know, that on the Internet and the web social media will.

And I think what's interesting, too, is that you're seeing it's not necessarily just a campaign tactic, but with, you know, to dance point with mom, Dani.

>> They're continuing to, you know, kind of issue traditional press releases or in favor of some of these, you know, these videos of these highly stylized post.

I wonder whether that's something that might filter into local politics here as well.

I yeah, that's an interesting question.

And I think it has to come across as authentic their candidates that.

>> Look authentic when they're dancing and doing, you know, you'd the trends on social media and there are those that do not.

And so.

>> It's going to be interesting to see how can they bend social media authentically from themselves without it being a little bit too much of a dog and pony show.

order is a day.

Yeah.

That's that's a whole nother.

All right, Rick, a little more of a traditional campaign ads story.

Former top Republican in the Illinois House >> breaking with his party's candidate and endorsing JB Pritzker.

What did you make of gender concert announcements?

Well, one, anybody who knows Durkin and the relationship or lack of relationship that he has with Erin Bailey.

>> This is totally expected.

And I wouldn't say that the fact that Durkin is endorsing JB Pritzker, that that's going to move any votes, right?

But it certainly is aimed to the.

Month of may be more independent and MAGA Republican voters, as we're starting to see a very definitive split between those who identify as mega Trump Republicans and not Mecca, but there's certainly no love lost here.

I mean, Durkan blames the fact that House results were so bad for Republicans when he was last leader 4 years ago.

Blames it all Trump slash Darren Bailey and that's, of course, the race that Bailey last bite about 13 percentage points but lost the whole.

Basically all of the suburbs and that we used to be the Republican Party base in Illinois.

Yeah.

And I wonder, too, you know, Durkan has so consists consistently taking a stand against President Trump sort of the mag ideals.

>> As we've seen more and more Republican candidates, you know, either breaking with him or at least distancing themselves from Trump in this midterm.

I wonder whether Durkin is saying, look, I don't have anything to lose here.

This is my moment to help push folks in that direction.

certainly think, you know, politicians previous like or don't like to want to have that stay relevant rival.

But it does have a lobbying and, you lot.

operation in Springfield, but but also, you know, and knowing Durkin's background to the fact that he was the Illinois chairman for John McCain.

it for for those 2 runs, which kind of explains where his Republican ideology comes from.

And it certainly as he Darren Bailey isn't the Republican ideology that I grew up with us again, seems to be the theme of the show is authenticity.

Durkin has come after Bailey and say, hey, this this time around, you can pretend to be pushing yourself away from AG and Trump as much as you like.

You have accepted his endorsement.

However.

>> So I mean, he has called out and as RICK'S STORY user, some very cold did back, you know, he wasn't just say he said he Bailey out of the party Republican Party.

So yeah, yeah, very interesting.

And I do that's going to move the needle.

But certainly an interesting story to be howling >> Dan members of the city council, they did not hold back their disdain for Amtrak officials.

Representatives of just an issue is company with this sort of rail yard stadium swap.

I they've got the feds approval.

So where is this going to a lawsuit to think definitely I just I can't who's advising it should be a here.

If you're going to be involved with the White Sox.

>> The last people you want to do the residents of Bridgeport Bridgeport is just ground 0 for whites that support and it always has been because they've always been there.

you know, through thick and thin, those are the people who turn out.

And when big Jim stop the clock and got the city built even stop the clock, though.

I know they waited out here, but also find the right oys.

But >> There was very much a contingency that the well part people on the South side and they want in that location.

So there's a lot of history there.

And you know, even that the ballpark isn't perfect.

We all know that.

But it's been fixed up.

It's a perfectly perfectly serviceable facility and you're gonna swap it out a look at what was the earth and the Thompson went through with the whole thing was supposed to be development and keeping the Cadiz and that ends up.

Some of never that name.

But the chairman insisted on all that parking rate was parking lots just sit there when the team isn't playing or the team is on the road and you can't all of a sudden plot that night like district down in the middle of all.

They brought the White Sox spread a lot of this on themselves.

The stadium was it was built on the cheap.

It was built to accommodate acres and acres of parking that serve no one when the team is not playing was pointing the wrong pointed the wrong way for sure.

And there is snow.

I'm like Wrigley are some of the other newer parks other than the baseball.

There's no reason to go there.

There's nothing in the neighborhood and ala days.

People want an experience.

They want to make a day of Look at look at what the Ricketts have done it in around.

Really, it's pretty amazing.

it's all going in their pockets to.

it's a little bit Disneyland around Yeah.

But certainly an experience.

neighborhood.

All right.

A shifting gears to sort of a different development story.

Kerri.

>> Block.

37.

A decades long boondoggle for the city finally got built about 10 years ago.

Its been sold.

What are the new owners looking for?

This is Edwards Realty and property.

They are based in the suburbs.

They say that, you know, they revitalize underperforming spaces doesn't doesn't every developer say that.

But >> the idea is that in the head of it, the president said, look, I don't want black 30's.

I want black 37 to be more of a destination which, you know, Melody and I have both reported on this.

It's not really right now to be quite frank.

It's a bit of a cut through to the headway into the red line.

And the blue line about to I think they're about maybe 60% filled.

So there's a, you know, most what a quarter that is bacon and terms of tenants, the others.

I mean, it's it's not definite.

It's not a place where you're going to maybe hang out so much as you're waiting for the bus or the train place where I've taken the red line down to the Daily Center and I don't want to side.

Yes, exactly.

You didn't sign when it's really cold.

>> So we'll we'll see what this what this is going to look like.

You know, Michigan Avenue is revitalized a lot since the pandemic.

That's been a big story.

So I think they're trying to do states trees.

Well, they will, you know, development needs to move a little south of block.

37, we still have an area of State Street close to act on Harold Washington Library that has some vacancies revamped.

But State Street that Great Street, hopefully black.

37 can make it and block.

37.

I'm sorry.

It's ugly.

really is and see.

Don't hold back melody that they're going to change the name which I think is fantastic.

And they're going to judge at the inside because >> when I walk around, I can hear my own thoughts because so I'm excited to see what they do.

And I know they're saving some of those a vacant storefront areas for local pop ups.

Yeah, I think is very much needed.

And if in a footprint along state, local businesses will be great.

But melodies point.

I mean, this goes back to decade, Blair came and the Great Tribune architecture critic really reviled the architecture of the building.

So something a little more modern would be Call it bill.

And yeah, it could be a daily center to because he was the one came in with Big revitalization plan, the less of a All right, Dan, the Cleveland Guardians State alive force a game 5. you are there for the president's mask.

Say I'm ready to get that clinched it.

>> they think you can have been exposed.

You know, that they've had a great year when you think about.

>> 3 straight years of 100 losses and how they're playing for the league championship or they're about to play for the league championship.

Only terrific guy metamorphosis, but there are a little short day.

Patching it together with the pitching staff and hitting dating back to mid-September.

help kind of stopped hitting at the same time.

So they're just like last night.

They had 7 walks and they could still only manage 5 runs that be 3 going into the 9th inning.

So I'm that their their weaknesses of kind of been exposed.

And Cleveland struggled all year.

But Jose Ramirez was her broke a bone in his hand and he had surgery he's a terrific player going Yeah.

And now he's rounding back into form and he gives them something that the White don't have.

These only a terrific player, but he's a very experienced player.

He's used to these big moments in.

He delivers in these big when he hit the home run last night to put Cleveland ahead.

That's here.

Just went out of the stadium pretty amazing.

But you know that not over till it's over.

a tough to win in Cleveland, but the other day off to try get their pitching back in line we'll another Chicago team, one in Cleveland at wind, 6, 7, Is that about years ago as maybe some of that a good was due to the manager, not quite that much of character, a little character in his own right?

>> All right.

Well, all be watching and hoping for a successful game 5 tomorrow.

As for tonight's Game, we are out of time.

So our thanks to.

Dan McGrath, Rick Pearson.

Melody Mercado and carried Shepherd.

And we're back with a look at what's on tap for Chicago tonight next week.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> And that's our show for this Friday night.

Couple of notes.

Before we go, be sure to check out our website for our W T Tw News Voter Guide.

It's a one-stop shop for everything you need to know before you cast your ballot in November's midterm election.

That's at W T Tw Dot com Slash voter guide.

And speaking of November's election tune in next Tuesday night at 08:00PM for the only televised forum with candidates for Governor JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey will be here in this studio for this live event.

That's Tuesday at 08:00PM.

Now for all of us here at the week in review, I'm Nick Lumber.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy, stay safe and stay informed.

Have a great weekend.

All right.

We talked about the hotel rooms around marathon.

We didn't talk about the marathon itself.

Anybody planning to go down and check it Yeah, I love the marathon.

That's quite the sight go by my house.

I don't.

stadiums to avoid the road the signs his eyes it with the signs.

And it does feel like my daughter and in it.

>> 5 years from and be used to go spots along the course to watch her.

Yeah.

When you're ice or saying that to.

>> Hurry, the Kenyans are drinking all the And if that doesn't motivate a group >> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a and Clifford law, offices of personal injury, law firm that gives back to the community through law and philanthropy.