Best of Chicago 2012: Sports & Recreation
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Critics' Picks
Best Bowler for Hitting the Pins Hard
1060 W. Addison St. 312-645-9511If you want to witness the Babe Ruth of local bowling—as in, the hardest-hitting bowler in town—show up at Timber Lanes on a… continue
Best Chicago Pro Athlete Whose Number Isn't Retired
A basketball player is usually judged by his numbers—points, rebounds, assists. But stats don't tell the full story. In the 1970s, long before
Best Flying Mascot
Most sports mascots are lame, especially in Chicago. Southpaw of the White Sox, Tommy Hawk of the Blackhawks, Staley of the Bears: all plushy… continue
Best Local Collegian at Throwing Some Weight Around
9501 S. King Dr. 773-995-2000Emerson just capped her sophomore year with a sterling performance for the Cougars in the Great West Outdoor Championships in Humble, Texas: she finished… continue
Best Baseball Hall-of-Famer Who Was Raised in a South-Side Housing Project
There may have not been a more defining moment in my career as a baseball fan than watching Kirby Puckett jog around the bases… continue
Best Match of a New Organ with an Old Organist
When the Blackhawks moved from the Chicago Stadium to the United Center in 1994, they found the cost of breaking down and reinstalling the… continue
Best Roller Derby Nickname
Pinning down an appropriate roller derby alter ego—one that embodies the sport's rough-and-tumble spirit—can be a challenge. Whether it's a homophone (Dawn Ting),… continue
Best Handball Courts for Those Who Actually Still Play Handball
3111 E. 77th St. 312-745-1479Handball is a lot like racquetball, with one significant difference: there aren't any rackets. Since the ball is also a bit smaller and harder,… continue
Best Bike Cut-Through
One of my favorite things about biking in Chicago is never getting stuck in traffic—there's a certain pleasure in cruising past a lane… continue
Best Swimming Hole for Kamikaze Cannonballers
5200 N. Lake Shore Dr.To many Chicagoans, the beaches are fine for toe dipping but no place to go for a real swim on a steamy summer… continue
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Readers' Picks
