Sports

A full-time MLB umpire since 2011 and a crew chief since 2023, Dan Bellino is upping his game on behalf of his compatriots as president of the Major League Baseball Umpires Association. When Fra Noi last checked in with Dan Bellino in 2011, he’d just been named a full-time MLB umpire after spending parts of three seasons as a replacement. In the 14 seasons since, Bellino has umpired 1,758 MLB games and earned the respect of his peers: In 2023 he was promoted to crew chief and just last year was chosen by his peers to serve as the president …

A capacity crowd watched the Italian national team dominate its American counterpart during recent tournament play in the Chicago area. Italian volleyball fans in the Chicago area were delighted this summer to watch firsthand as the Italian national men’s team took on Team USA at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates. The crowd was near the arena’s capacity of 11,218 and while the vast majority were wearing red, white and blue, there was a small but mighty contingent of fans supporting Team Italy. A few Italy fans waved the Tricolore and sang along to “Inno di Mameli” during the national anthems …