Super Bowl Champs! Jr. Warriors Building a Dynasty

One team became the first back-to-back champ in New Lenox Youth Football, and the other didn't allow a point all season.

One team won its second straight championship. Another rolled through the season with incredible defensive dominance.  The Jr. Warriors youth football program in New Lenox has become quite the force, with this year its Lightweight and Super Lightweight teams both winning the Super Bowl.  Players and coaches from the programs were recognized at the Dec. 17 Village Board meeting.  "We are going to have a high school dynasty," trustee Dave Smith said.  "With all due respect to Lincoln-Way, I think the Bears could use these kids," trustee Nancy Dye said.  Learn more about the Jr. Warriors football and cheer programs. Mayor Tim Baldermann praised the coaches and parents for their work to create good football players, but also good people.  "…

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Vote: What Was the Best Super Bowl Commercial?

While south suburban residents cheered on local products in the Super Bowl, major companies showed off their products in the commercials. Tell us who had the most memorable ad.

From post-apocalyptic Chevy owners to Elton John as a Pepsi-dispensing king, last night's Super Bowl was full of memorable ads. We at Patch weren't that excited by the ads, though. We've seen a lot better. We recap some of the more memorable ones below, but if you liked something better (from past or present) tell us in the comments). Here are a few of our favorites. Pick which one topped your list. Watch all the commercials here. Slow mo Doritos slingshot baby No other way to say it: A grandma used an infant as a human slingshot to steal Doritos from a snotty child. Chevy after the blast In this Silverado ad, Chevy owners mourn those who did not make it because they had the wrong car. Matthew Broderick's career off Matthew Broderick, the …

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OakLawnBill

3:09 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012

And the movie where he was supporting actor to a monkey.   more ›

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comic: Watching the Super Bowl with Mitt Romney

The leading Republican candidate for president tries to score some points with the poor.

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Editor's Notebook

Rob Ninkovich: Ranking the Highlights of Our Super Bowl Star

The New Lenox native might not be "YouTube famous" yet, but he's got some nice highlights on NFL.com. I rank them here.

Rob Ninkovich is playing the biggest game of his life this weekend. But before this season, the Patriots linebacker and New Lenox native was generally unknown. At least unknown outside of New Lenox, where Ninkovich starred at Lincoln-Way Central. In the high school, his jersey hangs in the athletics area. He still makes an impact in the community. Read below for my rankings of Ninkovich's top highlights. But a tough road to the Super Bowl has kept him under the radar. He wasn't recruited out of high school, ended up at Joliet Junior College and then transferred to Purdue. After the Saints drafted him in the fifth round, he was waived four times and finally found a home in New England in 2009. Still, he didn't really get the SportsCenter …

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Patriots Linebacker Ninkovich Makes 'Super' Impression in His Old Neighborhood

Patriots linebacker and former New Lenox resident Rob Ninkovich connected with his nephew, Cameron, and many others at Spencer Pointe Elementary School by agreeing to help with a classroom project.

In Kirsten Frankovich’s third-grade class at Spencer Pointe Elementary School, he already is recognized as a Super hero. And Rob Ninkovich has yet to play in his first Super Bowl. Ninkovich, a former resident of New Lenox and graduate of Lincoln-Way Central High School, connected with the children in Frankovich’s class through his nephew, Cameron Thornton, an 8-year-old fan of the New England Patriots. Thornton’s uncle Rob is an outside linebacker who has climbed from the NFL’s scrap heap into the limelight. In Boston, he is revered by folks in much the same fashion as Bears fans worship Brian Urlacher for his playmaking abilities on defense. But that’s nothing compared to the reaction Ninkovich gets when he walks into a classroom filled …

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