>>> [ MUSIC ] >>> HELLO IN THANK YOU, FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TONIGHT .

>> IT IS NO SECRET THAT THE WEST IS THE KEY.

>> CITY OFFICIALS ARE REVEALING THEIR PLANS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

>>> OR DISCUSSION OVER WHETHER THE OFFICER THAT KILLED A YOUNG MAN SHOULD BE FIRED OR SUSPENDED.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAMS BREAKS DOWN THE CHALLENGES OF --.

AND AS THE AMATEUR BOXING TOURNAMENT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS, THE RETURN TO THE RING WITH THREE PAST CHAMPIONS.

NOW TO PARIS WITH OUR TOP STORIES.

>> BRANDIS, ONE DAY AFTER JOE BIDEN TAKES TO CHICAGO, CITY AND STATE LEADERS TOOK A VICTORY LAP ON A BEAUTIFUL WARM SPRING DAY.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TOOK IT THE ADVANTAGE OF NAMING THIS HIS HOMETOWN.

>> WE ARE AN IDEAL BACKDROP HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> WE BREAK DOWN WHAT IT MEANS AS THE BIGGEST PARTY FOR DEMOCRATS COMES BACK TO CHICAGO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 28 YEARS.

WE TALKED WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

CHICAGO BEAT OUT NEW YORK AND SEVERAL OTHER CITIES.

WHAT PUT CHICAGO OVER THE TOP?

>> CHICAGO GIVES DEMOCRATS A CHANCE TO SHORE UP THEIR BLUE WELL.

WITH WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, AND MINNESOTA.

THOSE ARE THE STATES THAT WITHOUT WINNING, JOE BIDEN WOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT TODAY.

HAVING THE CONVENTION IN CHICAGO MEANS THAT VOTERS IN THOSE STATES WILL BE ABLE TO SEE HIS PITCH AND GET TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LIVE IN CHICAGO.

VERY BLUE CITY WHERE THE LEADERS HAVE PRIORITIZED GUN CONTROL, ABORTION ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND UNION STRENGTH.

>> LEADERS IN OTHER STATES SAY THAT CHICAGO IS LIKE THE CAPITAL OF THE MIDWEST.

SOCAL SUPPORTERS SAY THAT THIS COULD INJECT $150 MILLION INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, BUT HAS BEEN STRUGGLING SINCE COVID-19.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAD TO SAY ABOUT FOOTING THE BILL IF IT COMES UP SHORT .

>> ME, PERSONALLY, WHAT I GUARANTEED IS THAT I AM AND THE COMMITTEE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER WILL WORK HARD TO RAISE ALL OF THE DOLLARS NECESSARY.

>> HEATHER, WE KNOW THAT J.B. PRITZKER IS INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT A REASON THAT WE GOT THE CONVENTION?

>> IT IS NOT A NEGATIVE THAT THE MOST POWERFUL DEMOCRAT IN CHICAGO IS ALSO A BILLIONAIRE.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HAVING A BILLIONAIRE RUNNING IS A GREAT BACKUP PLAN.

ESPECIALLY AMIDST THE FIGHT FOR WHO IS THE -- >>> STANDING NEXT TO THE GOVERNOR TODAY, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, WHO WORKED VERY HARD OF THE LAST TWO YEARS TO LAND THIS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REACTION OF THE NEW MAYOR THOUGH.

>> I TOOK THE FINAL SHOT IN HERE WE ARE, CHICAGO.

>> THAT IS A REFERENCE TO THE NBA FINALS AGAINST UTAH WHERE JORDAN THREW IT OUT TO STEVE AND LANDED THE SHOT.

WAS IT AWKWARD FOR HIM?

>> YOU COULD TELL THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT SAW THIS CONVENTION IS SOMETHING THAT SHE COULD BRING TO CHICAGO AND THEN PRESIDE OVER IT BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT WILL BE JOHNSON WHO WILL TAKE THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AND PRESIDE OVER THIS.

AND IF THE OUTCOME IS ANYTHING LIKE THE 1996 CONVENTION IT COULD TRANSFORM CHICAGO.

AFTER THE 1996 -- THERE WERE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BECAME RED-HOT REAL ESTATE SO THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT MARK THIS CONVENTION WILL LEAVE ON THE CITY.

>> THE THING THAT ENDED AFTER THE 1996 CONVENTION, THAT WAS THE MacARENA.

>> HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE THAT AGAIN .

>> THANK YOU, OTHER.

YOU CAN SEE MORE ON THAT STORY BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> THERE IS A SHELTER IN PLACE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN EVANSTON.

EVANSTON POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR FOUR SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING THAT LEFT TWO PEOPLE INJURED JUST BEFORE 8:30 PM TONIGHT.

IT HAPPENED TOO CLARK STREET BEACH JUST SOUTH OF CAMPUS.

THEY SAY THAT THE SUSPECTS WERE SEEN HEADED NORTH ON SHERIDAN ROAD IN A VAN.

POLICE SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT THE SUSPECTS ARE NO LONGER IN THE AREA.

>>> ILLINOIS IS GETTING MORE THAN $67 MILLION FROM E-CIGARETTE MARKETER JUUL.

>> 67.6 MILLION WILL BE COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

CHANGING CONDUCT IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS INDUSTRY.

>> THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SURROUNDING STATES SUED THE COMPANY.

THEY SAY THAT JUUL PRODUCT SERVED AS A GATEWAY TO TOBACCO BASED PRODUCTS FOR THE YOUTH.

>>> FACULTY AT ANOTHER ILLINOIS PUBLIC UNIVERSITY WILL SOON BE JOINING THE PICKET LINES.

WTTW NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IS TAKEN A STRIKE TODAY.

THEY HAVE SUFFERED FROM FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH DWINDLING ENROLLMENT AND CHANGE OVER ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO RECENTLY VOTED TO LET GO OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT.

THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW.

>>> NEARLY 2 DOZEN SCHOOLS ACROSS ILLINOIS RECEIVED THREATS OVER THE PHONE TODAY.

IT WAS PART OF A SO-CALLED SWATTING EFFORT.

SO PEOPLE CALLED AND FALSELY ALLEGED UNSAFE SITUATIONS.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COUNTIES THAT RECEIVED THESE CALLS.

AS OF THIS AFTERNOON THERE ARE NO CREDIBLE THREATS TO ANY OF THE SCHOOLS.

>>> COMING UP NEXT GOT TO FIRE OR SUSPEND THE OFFICER THAT FATALLY SHOT AND KILLED ADAM TOLEDO.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING.

>>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE POLICE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AGREES THAT THE OFFICER THAT SHOT AND KILLED ADAM TOLEDO VOTED FOR HIM TO BE FIRED.

BUT OTHERS SAY HE SHOULD ONLY BE FIRED FOR SEVEN DAYS.

WE TALKED WITH A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND FORMER HEAD OF THE INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY.

EIGHT SHE CREATED THE OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE OF OFFICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

KNOWN AS COPA.

SO THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

WALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT C.O.P.A .

DOES.

>> THE FIRST THING IS THAT THE AGENCY SENDS A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS THAT RESPOND TO THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT.

THEY START THE INVESTIGATING INVESTIGATORY PROCESS THAT INCLUDES GATHERING EVIDENCE.

THEN THERE IS A FULL INVESTIGATION INCLUDING INTERVIEWING WITNESSES AND THEN INTERVIEWING THE OFFICER IN COLLECTING REPORTS.

AND JUST CONDUCTING A FULL INVESTIGATION TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

>> SO BOTH C.O.P.A.

AND POLICE RECOMMENDED THAT THE OFFICER BE FIRED BUT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN RECOMMENDED A FIVE DAY SUSPENSION., HOW DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT REVIEW THESE CASES?

AND HOW CAN TWO SUPERINTENDENTS ARRIVE AT SUCH DIFFERENT PUNISHMENTS?

>> THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS IS WHEN C.O.P.A.

COMPLETES THE INVESTIGATION THE COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY SUBMIT THOSE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENT .

THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE C.O.P.A.

ASSESSMENT AND DECIDE IF HE OR SHE AGREES.

IF THEY DO NOT AGREE, WHAT HAPPENS IS, THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF C.O.P.A.

AND THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

THEN, THEY DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY TAKE THE VIEW OF C.O.P.A.

OR IF THEY NEED TO PROCEED ONTO A FULL HEARING.

OR IF THEY AGREE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT VIEW ON THE PUNISHMENT .

IN WHICH CASE, THAT WOULD BE -- .

>> SO THERE IS THIS INTERIM IT SUPERINTENDENT, ERIC CARTER, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE OFFICER BE FIRED.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE CONFLICTING RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> NOW THAT HE HAS AGREED, THE FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFICER HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE CASE WILL OCCUR BEFORE THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD.

AT THIS POINT THERE WILL BE A FULL HEARING AND THE OFFICER CAN EXPLAIN HIS SIDE OF THE STORY AND PRESENT EVIDENCE.

IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE A TRIAL.

THOSE PROCEEDINGS ARE RECORDED AND THEN THE POLICE BOARD REVIEWS THE TESTIMONY AND MAKES A DETERMINATION.

>> BASED ON THAT, IF THE POLICE BOARD HAS ALREADY RECOMMENDED FIRING, WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THEY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATION?

>> IT IS POSSIBLE.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT EXPRESS THAT POINT OF VIEW WHEN IT WAS REFERRED FOR RESENTMENT BETWEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT AND C.O.P.A.. NOW WE HAVE A REVIEW OF THE FULL BOARD, WHICH IS NINE PEOPLE.

THEY WILL BE EVALUATING THE EVIDENCE.

AND THEY WILL BE REACTING TO THE ACTUAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT THE HEARING AS OPPOSED TO THE SINGLE MEMBER WHO WAS JUST GIVEN A SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE.

THEY WILL BE HEARING AND SEEING MORE ABOUT THIS.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY MAY DIFFER IN THEIR OPINION.

>> WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WITH OFFICERS FACING DISCIPLINARY MATTERS.

THIS SHOOTING HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO.

WHERE HAS HE BEEN SINCE THEN?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE CHARGES.

SOME OFFICERS, AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS, THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL STRIP THEM OF THEIR POWERS.

SO THEY ARE NOT DOING ACTUAL POLICE WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO.

FOR LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES, THEY WOULD CONTINUE IN THE JOB BUT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THEY ARE PROBABLY IN A DIFFERENT ROLE.

>>> BACK WITH MORE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> PROSECUTION RESTED CASE IN THE BRIBERY TRIAL OF THE SO-CALLED COM ED FOUR.

THE CHALLENGES FACING THE MAYOR ELECT.

HERE WITH ALL OF THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

HARRIS, PROSECUTION RESTED ITS CASE TODAY AND WE LEARNED THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE COM ED FOUR IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY.

WHERE DOES THIS STAND?

>> WHERE IT STANDS RIGHT NOW IS WEEKS OF TESTIMONY AND DOZENS OF WITNESSES.

PHONE AND VIDEO RECORDINGS.

THEY WILL BE PEELING BACK ON THIS.

MADIGAN IS PUSHING FAVORABLE -- AND YOU HEARD FROM A LONG TIME MADIGAN SUPPORTER.

HE SAID HE GOT CHECKS FROM THEM.

BUT THE QUESTION IS, DOES THAT CROSSED THE LINE INTO BRIBERY?

IS THERE A SMOKING GUN WHERE SHE SAID, YOU PASSED THIS LEGISLATION FOR US AND WE ARE GOING TO PAY YOUR GUYS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT EXISTS BUT THE THING THAT IS WORKING IS THE COMPANY ALREADY ADMITTED GUILT TO BRIBERY.

>> I THINK THAT SOMETHING ELSE THAT COULD HELP IS THE CONVERSATIONS.

WHEN YOU HEAR THAT IT JUST SOUNDS CRASS.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A JURY.

THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK BUT WHEN YOU HEAR SOME OF THAT TALK, I THINK IT WILL MAKE THE AVERAGE RESIDENT SAY, WHAT?

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THESE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THEY WERE HAVING?

THAT MAY WORK IN FAVOR OF THE PROSECUTION.

>> HOW WAS IT THAT DESPITE THE HIGH PROFILE TRIAL, DEMOCRATS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE PAID ANY KIND OF PRICE FOR YEARS IF NOT DECADES OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION.

>> IN FACT, THE MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE OR EVEN GREATER THAN THEY WERE UNDER MADIGAN BUT A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO THE STRUCTURE SET UP BY MADIGAN.

I THINK THAT IS A REASONABLE QUESTION AND I DON'T HAVE A GREAT ANSWER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES.

THERE IS THE FACT THAT IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CHARGE, THEY DREW THE MAP.

I THINK THAT THERE IS BLANKET ACCEPTANCE BY THOSE IN ILLINOIS WITH, THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.

I THINK THERE IS ALSO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THIS TIME THAT IS REALLY WOUNDED BECAUSE OF THE FORMER GOVERNOR WHO IS NOT BELOVED IN ILLINOIS.

ALSO, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

A LOT OF THEM WERE MODERATES IN ILLINOIS AND SUBURBAN VOTERS MIGHT HAVE CONSIDERED THEMSELVES GOP LEANING ARE STAYING AWAY FROM THE PARTY.

>> AND A LOT OF THESE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS ARE JUMPING OFF OF THE MADIGAN TITANIC.

THEY WERE ABLE TO SORT OF GET THAT STENCH OFF OF THEMSELVES.

AND SAY, THAT IS HIM, NOT US.

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

THIS BEAKER OF THE HOUSE WAS ALMOST HAND-PICKED.

MENTORED BY AND ENLISTED BY MADIGAN.

>> BUT THEY HAD AN ALIGNMENT WITH MADIGAN AS WELL.

>> HEATHER, YOU WERE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE DNC BEING ANNOUNCED COMING TO CHICAGO IN 2024.

HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THE FACT THAT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST CONVENTION IN CHICAGO WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF FORMER SPEAKER MIKE MADIGAN?

>> WHAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER HOPES IS THAT THIS WILL SHOWCASE THE NEW ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

A NEW ERA.

I THINK IT IS HARD TO OVERSTATE THE LEVEL OF CONTROL THAT MADIGAN EXERCISES OVER DELEGATES TO THESE CONVENTIONS.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT IN THE WEEDS FOR PEOPLE BUT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF EACH PARTY.

IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO RUN TO BE A DELEGATE, THAT BECOMES PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

MADIGAN RAN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOW IT HAS TO BE REBUILT.

AND, WELL, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO DO THAT ON A NATIONAL STAGE.

>> HE DESPERATELY WANTS TO RUN THIS PARTY AND BE THE HEAD HONCHO.

HE WANTS TO RUN THE PARTY IN ILLINOIS BUT IT HAS NOT WORKED OUT IN HIS FAVOR.

THIS IS HIS CHANCE TO SAY, YOU ARE IN MY HOMETOWN AND I RUN THIS THING.

>> WHAT WILL THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE, HEATHER?

>> IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT.

WE DID GET QUESTIONS TODAY, HOW IS CHICAGO GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CONVENTION DOES NOT SWEEP OUT ON HOUSED PEOPLE.

HOW WILL THE CITY MAKE SURE THAT THIS BENEFITS THE WHOLE CITY AND NOT JUST DOWNTOWN AND THE WEST LOOP.

WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE 1996 CONVENTION.

SO, THEY NEED TO DO ALL OF THAT WHILE CREATING THIS NEW VISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT HE HAS PROMISED.

AGAIN, THAT IS NO SMALL FEAT.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOING TO BE CENTER STAGE AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT REPUBLICAN PARTIES ARE NOT AS STRONG BUT THEY WILL BE FOCUSING ON CHICAGO.

WE SOUGHT TRUMP CONSTANTLY DO THAT.

THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT ALL EYES ARE ON, PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE LOOKING AT JOHNSON FULFILLING HIS PUBLIC SAFETY PLEDGES.

THEY ARE GOING TO NEED POLICE OFFICERS.

THERE WILL BE HELP FROM SECRET SERVICE AND OTHER UNITS BUT, THESE TWO ISSUES ARE BUTTING UP AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

>> SO, WHO ARE SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

>> THEY HAVE DEEP TIES TO THE SERVICE INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEE.

AND THAT SHOULD NOT SURPRISE ANYONE.

THE NAME THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME WAS PATEL.

WHO RAN THE GRASSROOTS ALLIANCE.

SHE SUED THE CITY ON BEHALF OF THE GRASSROOTS ALLIANCE OVER THE GIANT SUBSIDY FOR THE LINCOLN YARD DEVELOPMENT.

THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF, SYMBOLIZES HOW FAR WE HAVE COME TO REPLACE LORI LIGHTFOOT WHO CAMPAIGNED AGAINST LINCOLN YARDS AND THEN SUPPORTED IT.

AND THEN TO HAVE THE SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR ELECT BE SOMEBODY WHO WENT SO FAR AS TO SUE THE CITY BECAUSE SHE FOUND IT SO ABHORRENT.

>> I THINK WHAT IS MISSING, THERE IS, WHO IS ON IT AND WHO ISN'T?

IS IT SURPRISING?

NOT PARTICULARLY.

YET, IN TERMS OF, AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THERE IS THIS PRESSURE IN TERMS OF BALANCING THE INTEREST OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE INTEREST OF DOWNTOWN.

THERE YOU GO.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT HERE.

ONE OF THE BIG DECISIONS THAT LIES AHEAD IS PICKING THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHERE THAT PROCESS IS?

>> THE PROCESS HAS KICKED OFF WITH COMMUNITY HEARINGS FROM THE COMMISSION OF CIVILIANS TO PICK CANDIDATES.

JOHNSON HAS SAID, TO SOME EXTENT, SOMEONE WITHIN THE CPD WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK.

AND IT WILL BE A DELICATE BALANCE TO WIN THE TRUST OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND BRIDGE SOME GAPS HERE.

CERTAINLY, THERE IS SKEPTICISM WITH THE RANK-AND-FILE.

>> BY THE WAY, THAT COMMISSION HAS -- SOMEBODY ELSE .

>> ARE WE NAMING NAMES?

>> AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT, PEOPLE WERE URGING HIM TO COME BACK INTO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE SEEMS TO HAVE AT LEAST SOME SORT OF GRASSROOTS SUPPORT AND THAT IS AN INTERESTING WRINKLE IN ALL OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU, AMANDA.

>>> COMING UP, GOLDEN GLOVE CHAMPIONS OF THE PAST ARE LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST 100 YEARS.

>>> BEFORE MICHAEL FLATLEY WAS LOADED THE DANCE, HE WAS THE LORD OF THE RINGS?

AS IN THE BOXING RING.

HE WON THE AMATEUR GOLDEN GLOBES CHAMPIONSHIP.

HE WAS ONE OF MANY CHICAGO KIDS WHO FOUND SUCCESS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ROPES.

THANKS IN PART TO THE GOLDEN GLOVES.

IT CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL THIS YEAR.

ERIKA GUNDERSON WENT TO RINGSIDE WITH PAST CHAMPIONS FOR A LOOK BACK AT THE TOURNAMENT LEGACY IN CHICAGO.

>> BOXING SAVED MY LIFE.

>> Reporter: FRANK SMITH SAID HE STARTED BOXING AS A CHILD.

AT THE BEHEST OF HIS MOTHER, WHO AGREED HE NEEDED SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM BUSY.

>> SHE TOOK ME TO SEE THE BOXING COACH AT THE GARDENS FACILITY.

IT WORKED THOUGH.

I COULD'VE GONE THE OTHER WAY.

>> Reporter: THAT TRAINING KICKED OFF HIS CAREER AS A GOLDEN GLOVES WINNER.

IN 1974 HE WON THE MEDIUM WHITE TITLE.

>> I WAS JUST A SKINNY LITTLE KID.

WHEN I TAKE OFF MY ROBE, EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU CAN HEAR THEM.

THEY ALL SAID, JUST THIS SKINNY KID IS GOING TO GET HIS BUTT WHOOPED.

TRUCK THAT SKINNY KID WON TO BECOME THE FIRST FIGHTER IN CHICAGO GOLDEN GLOVES HISTORY TO WIN THREE TITLES.

SINCE THE TOURNAMENT CROWNED ITS FIRST CHAMPION IN 1923, IT HAS SEEN GREATS LIKE JOE LEWIS, DAVID DIAZ, AND MORE STEP INSIDE THE RING.

IT'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WOULD BE HELPING YOUNG MEN FIND HER PRESENT DIRECTION OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS.

A BOXING REFEREE FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS TIES TO THAT.

HE HEARD ABOUT GEORGE ADAMS.

>> HE HAD SO MANY GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT MY FATHER.

IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I WAS JUST TAKING ALL OF THIS IN AND I THOUGHT, I JUST WANT TO BE A GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPION.

>> Reporter: ADAMS WENT ON TO WIN THE GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1972.

HE WON AGAIN AS WELL AS TWO ADDITIONAL TITLES.

-- GOT HOOKED ON BOXING AS A TEENAGER WITH A COUPLE OF EXTRA POUNDS, FIGHTING AN OLDER OPPONENT.

>> HE CAME DOWN HE JUST STARTED WAILING ON ME.

I LOOKED UP AND HE WAS JUST EXHAUSTED.

AND I THOUGHT, IT'S MY TURN.

I GOT INTO IT AND PEOPLE STARTED CHEERING.

PEOPLE WERE JUST GOING CRAZY.

>> HE WENT ON TO WIN THREE GOLDEN GLOBES TITLES IN 1997, 98 AND 99.

THE TOURNAMENT IS MARKING ONE CENTURY OF MOLDING YOUNG MEN AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY PRIDE AND CEMENTING THE CHICAGO REPUTATION AS A BOXING TOWN.

ALL OF THESE MEN HAVE HUNG UP THEIR GLOVES AS GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS YEARS AGO.

>> I OWE MY LIFE TO BOXING.

>> BEING A CHAMPION IS HUMBLING.

BUT, IT IS ALSO GRATIFYING.

IT IS IN MY BLOOD.

TRUCK FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS ERICA ANDERSON.

>> FRANK SMITH AND TIM ADAMS WILL BE HONORED ON FRIDAY.

GOLDEN GLOVE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS ARE TAKING PLACE TONIGHT AT CICERO STADIUM.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US AT THE SHOW I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I AM PARIS SCHUTZ .

STAY SAFE TONIGHT AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.