Author: staff

Sports

Column: A tragic event in Highland Park became just another day at the ballpark — and in America

About 3½ hours before the Chicago White Sox met the Minnesota Twins Monday to start the biggest series of the season, manager Tony La Russa’s pregame media session in the dugout competed with a singer practicing over the Guaranteed Rate Field sound system.La Russa began by discussing the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park that killed six people and injured more than 30 others.AdvertisementThe singer began by belting out a slow version of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”“At the twilight’s last gleaming,” she sang.Advertisement“Unfortunately it’s almost daily, way too frequently,” La Russa said of the pervasive gun violence in America.[ [Read more] Highland Park shooting: What to know ]“Whose broad stripes and bright stars…”“Did they find him?” La Russa asked reporters. “Did they catch him?”“Through the perilous fight…”“No,” a reporter told La Russa. The suspect was still at large at the time.“Even when there’s an explanation, there’s no explanation,” La Russa said. “It doesn’t make sense.”“O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming…”“Was there any talk of canceling the game,” La Russa was asked.Advertisement“And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air…”“There was a conversation with MLB,” La Russa said.“Gave proof through the night…”“And they decided that we would play. It was considered.”“That our flag was still there…”Did La Russa think the game should be played?Advertisement“O say does that star-spangled…”[ [Read more] Liam Hendriks calls out gun laws after Highland Park shootings. ‘The access to the weaponry … totally needs to change,’ Chicago White Sox closer says. ]The decision-makers were “very aware of the biggest picture,” La Russa replied. “If they say play. I think we should play.”“O’er the land of the free…”“I also know there are probably concerts going on tonight someplace,” La Russa said.“And the home of the brave.”“The whole city isn’t going to stop, so… But I know it was considered.”AdvertisementThe anthem ended. Back in the Sox dugout, the topic of conversation switched to the crucial, upcoming homestand against the first-place Twins and Detroit Tigers.There would be baseball because, well, I’m not really sure what went into the decision made by MLB and the White Sox. Perhaps it was because the Sox had already sold more than 30,000 tickets, and there were Paul Konerko bobbleheads that needed to be handed out. Maybe baseball decided fans needed a diversion after the horrifying news of the day.Either way, a nice crowd of 32,483 showed up despite the pregame rain. After a moment of silence for the victims of the Highland Park massacre, it was game on.The press box TVs were tuned into the game, but many of the reporters followed the news from Highland Park from their devices. The show must go on, and a job is a job. But when gun violence hits so close to home, it’s impossible to focus on the game below, no matter the stakes.As it turned out, it was one of those crazy, crazy nights the Eagles always sang about, and the game itself was fun to watch — albeit maddening — for most Sox fans.After the Sox tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning, the Twins pulled off an improbable 8-5 triple play in which center fielder Byron Buxton made a running grab and fired to third baseman Gio Urshela, who tagged Yoan Moncada and touched second base for the final two outs. Adam Engel and Moncada would be destined to see their blunders replayed the next 24 hours on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”AdvertisementLa Russa’s jaw dropped in a meme-worthy moment caught by the NBC Sports Chicago cameras as he witnessed the outcome. It was a look almost all of us in the press box shared, not to mention thousands of disbelieving Sox fans who thought they had seen it all.“Never seen one like it,” La Russa would later say.Neither had anyone else. Researchers tweeted that it was the first triple play of its kind in baseball history. When old-timers say you can go to a baseball game and see something that never has been seen before, believe them.After the Sox ran themselves out of the inning in the most spectacular way imaginable, the Twins went on to score four runs in the 10th inning to secure a 6-3 win. La Russa would be asked to leave the premises by the home plate umpire after complaining about the strike zone for Joe Kelly, who imploded in an outing he described with an expletive.A section of fans briefly chanted “Fire Tony,” even as La Russa was not in the dugout to hear them. Many fans began to clear out after Kelly, who allowed four runs while retiring two hitters, was pulled by bench coach Miguel Cairo. When Tim Anderson struck out to end the game in the bottom of the 10th, the ballpark quickly emptied.The postgame fireworks show had already been canceled after the Highland Park tragedy. But across the Dan Ryan, departing fans could catch glimpses of smaller fireworks shows. The reporters went downstairs to conduct their postgame interviews, where La Russa, Kelly, Engel, Johnny Cueto and José Abreu gave their assessments on the game and the current state of the Sox.AdvertisementIt was just another day at the park. It was just another day in America.

Sports

Scott Frost, Herm Edwards top coaches on the hot seat

This upcoming college football season can be a make-or-break year for several coaches who face tremendous pressure to succeed on the gridiron.Syracuse coach Dino Babers has a 29-43 record in six seasons with the Orange, including three straight losing seasons. (Karl B DeBlaker/AP)The Orange are coming off their fifth losing season under Babers in the last six years, posting a 29-43 record that includes 10-3 in 2018. That produced the program’s first bowl appearance since 2013. Athletics director John Wildhack threw his support behind Babers for the 2022 season after a flurry of assistant coaching changes, including firing offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. To make matters worse, Syracuse faces one of the most demanding schedules in the country with games against Purdue, N.C. State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest.It’s been a difficult offseason for Arizona State coach Herm Edwards, who has seen the Sun Devils face an investigation into recruiting violations by the NCAA. (L.E. Baskow/AP)AdvertisementPublic support for Edwards is quickly eroding after the program faced a challenging offseason that included an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. There also has been a mass exodus of talent, with more than two dozen players entering the transfer portal led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, linebacker Eric Gentry, receiver Ricky Pearsall and defensive lineman Jermayne Lole. Edwards’ future is undoubtedly tied to that of AD Ray Anderson, who has been his staunchest supporter since arriving in Tempe.Nebraska coach Scott Frost is 15-29 since taking over the Cornhuskers in 2018, with 21 of those defeats coming by one score. (Rebecca S. Gratz/AP)AdvertisementMost people outside of Lincoln believe this to be a critical season for Frost, particularly after a disappointing 15-29 record in his four seasons with the Cornhuskers. While supporters will point to 21 one-score losses, there also is the recently wrapped up NCAA investigation that saddled Frost with a one-year show-cause penalty. After firing most of the offensive staff, Nebraska turns to former Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who did wonders with quarterback Kenny Pickett last season. He’ll work with Texas transfer Casey Thompson, who replaces the departed Adrian Martinez.Despite a lot of anticipation with his hiring in 2019, Geoff Collins hasn’t won more than three games in each of the three seasons at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets haven’t gone to a bowl game since 2018 under then-coach Paul Johnson. (John Bazemore/AP)AdvertisementThe Yellow Jackets have failed to win more than three games in the last three seasons, begging the question if this could be the beginning of the end for Collins. They finished with a top-45 recruiting class each season but haven’t broken through in the win column. To make matters worse, they’ve lost talented players in tailback Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) and defensive lineman Jared Ivey (Ole Miss) to the transfer portal. The schedule is brutal, with games against Clemson, Ole Miss, UCF and Pittsburgh in the first five weeks.Auburn coach Bryan Harsin guided the Tigers to 6-7 last season. An offseason investigation into alledged player mistreatment almost cost him his job. (Butch Dill/AP)AdvertisementFrom the start, Harsin never seemed a perfect fit. While the 45-year-old coach led Boise State to 69-19 in seven seasons, his connection to SEC football was almost nonexistent. The Tigers finished 6-7 last season, capped by a five-game losing streak at the end. Harsin survived an offseason investigation into allegations of player mistreatment that further strained his relationship with the fan base. The departures of several players, including quarterback Bo Nix, leaves Auburn searching for his replacement. Any move would be costly, with Harsin owed $15 million. That would be on top of the $27 million they’ve paid former coach Gus Malzahn as part of his buyout after the 2020 season.USF coach Jeff Scott has been tremendous in helping the school’s athletic department raise money for facilities upgrades, but the Bulls have beaten one Football Bowl Subdivision team in two seasons. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)AdvertisementThe Bulls have three wins — two against Football Championship Subdivision foes — during the past two seasons under Scott. Despite the rough start, USF athletics director Michael Kelly has been a staunch supporter of his football coach, even going as far as to say the “future is bright” with him in charge. But Kelly did acknowledge that tangible results need to be seen. Off the field, Scott has been instrumental in helping raise money for the new indoor football facility and the possible on-campus stadium. The Bulls welcome 21 new players, including a bevy of transfers, to a roster with 18 returning starters. The schedule is a challenge, particularly early on with games against N.C. State, Florida and BYU in the first month.Steve Sarkisian’s first season at Texas was one to forget with the Longhorns dropping six in a row. But the offseason has brought optimism with the commitment of the No. 1 high school player in quarterback Arch Manning. (Chuck Burton /AP)AdvertisementA disappointing finish to his first season — six losses in a row — had Longhorns faithful feeling uneasy. Talent has never been an issue, but its about what Sarkisian does with it. A 57-56 home loss to Kansas left fans bewildered. The roster underwent a makeover with quarterback Casey Thompson and receiver Marcus Washington leaving for Nebraska. Still, the staff added transfer receivers Agiye Hall (Alabama) and Isaiah Neyor (SMU) along with tight end Jahleel Billingsley (Alabama). With a top-five recruiting class for 2023 that includes a commitment from No. 1 prospect Arch Manning, expectations are sky-high in Austin.This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.