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News

Asian drag performers slay the way forward

Despite its experimental environment, Chicago’s drag world entered the pandemic with a lack of labor protections. COVID-19 exacerbated economic hardships, especially for queer performers of color…

Sports

Column: Chicago Bears offensive line still has big questions — and moving parts — as shown by Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones

If moving parts on the offensive line during the offseason program are a sign of things to come, you’re going to need a scorecard to track things when Chicago Bears training camp opens and honest-to-goodness competition and evaluation begins in the trenches.The most eye-opening development Wednesday was Teven Jenkins, the tackle the Bears traded up to draft in Round 2 (39th overall) a year ago, running with the second team at right tackle.AdvertisementIn practice sessions previously open to media, Jenkins had been with the starters on the right side with Larry Borom, a fifth-round pick in 2021, at left tackle. With Jenkins lining up with the second team, rookie fifth-round pick Braxton Jones was at left tackle and Borom at right tackle.[ [Don’t miss] 4 things we learned at Chicago Bears OTAs, including Braxton Jones taking 1st-team reps and Kyler Gordon’s absence ]This is far from finalized — it’s spring football with no contact (at least with full pads on) — and this will be hashed out in camp and the preseason when jobs will be on the line.Advertisement“Early on in the OTAs, you guys asked a question about the tackles, and we said, ‘Hey, we’re going to move guys around and shift guys around,’ ” coach Matt Eberflus said. “So it (was) the halfway point for us. We had six practices and then we (had) six to seven to go at that point when we made the switch and we wanted to change combinations.Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins practices on May 24, 2022, during OTAs at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)“That’s not the only (position) we’ve changed from tackle to tackle. We’ve moved some receivers around. Some guys are playing X. Some guys are playing Z. We’ve adjusted some guys on the defensive line just to really find out, have a true evaluation of what’s the best fit for us going into training camp. We might like the other combination. We might like this combination. We might not like either one of them. Now let’s go to the one in training camp. We’ll figure out what the best thing is and that’s really just more information for the coaches to find out what’s best for the Bears.”One of the other moves was switching from Sam Mustipher at right guard to Dakota Dozier, a 31-year-old who primarily has been a backup in his career. Right guard figures to be up for grabs when training camp opens, and it makes sense not to simply hand a job to Jenkins, who underwent back surgery during his rookie season and was limited to six games, two starts and only 161 snaps.While the coaching staff is mixing and matching, there is no way to spin this early development as a positive for Jenkins. It’s worth wondering if he’s considered a good fit for a team that is going to run a lot of outside zone and play-action. The Bears could have questions about his movement and ability to climb to the second level and play in space.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears chalk up penalty for too much contact in OTAs to younger players eager to prove themselves: ‘They’re flying around’ ]It will be particularly interesting if Jones, a first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection last year, gets left tackle reps with the starters in training camp. The Bears obviously saw traits in him they liked — he was one of four linemen general manager Ryan Poles selected on Day 3 of the draft. But if he had high-end traits, he wouldn’t have lasted until Round 5.Bears tackle Braxton Jones stretches at rookie minicamp at Halas Hall on May 6, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Since 2010, 12 rookie offensive tackles have been drafted in the fifth round or later to start a minimum of eight games. Three did so for the Bears — Borom last season, Jordan Mills in 2013 and J’Marcus Webb in 2010. It’s not a star-studded list, and the best — Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata — is an outlier as a former Australian rugby standout.Jones has no ceiling, and it would be a tremendous development if he proves to be a legitimate challenger for playing time sooner rather than later.Jenkins no doubt will have a chance to run with the starters in training camp, which is when the coaching staff and front office can begin to make more nuanced decisions regarding where everyone fits and what the depth chart, which will be fluid through August, should look like.AdvertisementBut this should not be viewed as a motivating tactic. A second-year player who missed most of his rookie season doesn’t need that. It is evidence the Bears perhaps have more questions about the offensive line than some envisioned. It remains to be seen how many answers are on the current roster.

Lifestyle

Ask Amy: Anxious driver is compelled to take the wheel

Dear Amy: I have this “thing” about needing to drive, no matter whose vehicle it is. I have to drive. Otherwise, I’m a nervous wreck.This began right after our daughter died in a car wreck in 2006. She was 19.AdvertisementI know this is a mental issue, but being aware of that doesn’t help.I feel like if I drive, everything and everyone will be OK because I’m a very safe driver. I also watch other cars like a hawk.AdvertisementMy husband hates this because I adhere to the speed limit, especially on the Interstate, where nobody drives the speed limit. He gripes the whole time.He knows why I do this, but it doesn’t stop him from being vocal about how much it annoys him – and that makes me even more nervous.I wish I could be the passenger so I could relax, enjoy the view or sleep. I cannot make myself relax; I’m so anxious and afraid.I would like to get over this. I want to be unafraid – the way I used to be.I’m tired of being afraid of everything. This manifests in other areas also.Is there a name for this? Could my ADHD have something to do with this?– The Cowardly LionessDear Lioness: I am aware of a designation that might apply to you: “CG,” or “Complicated Grief.”AdvertisementFor you, this manifests through your intrusive thoughts and the compulsive need to drive – otherwise you feel unbearably anxious.You can feel better – and you will feel better – with treatment. (And yes, in my amateur opinion, your ADHD is related to this.)The event that brought this on is so tragic. And of course you are reminded of this every time you get into a car.But your brain is working overtime trying to make the world safe, and your need to control some essentially uncontrollable aspects of your life must be exhausting for you (and yes, frustrating for others).Knowing that your experience is caused by “a mental issue” is good, but in this case awareness is only the first step. I hope you will seek out a grief counselor or grief group to talk to about your loss. This is one step toward healing.Your family doctor should also refer you to a psychiatrist or trauma specialist, who could help to set you on a healthier path through talk therapy, holistic coping techniques, and medication.AdvertisementDear Amy: My sister and her husband are in a bad place. I love them both. They have been together for over 20 years and have three young children. They were high school sweethearts.I have known my brother-in-law since I was 12. He’s like a brother to me and it hurts to see them both hurting.Basically they are in this vicious cycle where she ignores him and ices him out because she is so angry. He drinks all the time and will say mean things to her, and not remember later.He drinks because he feels unloved and disregarded. He recently made a comment to my husband about taking his own life.I want to help them both, whether or not they choose to stay together.Can I talk to them both individually without overstepping?AdvertisementCan I ask my sister to give him one more chance if he stops drinking, and to be more open to him?She will not do therapy, which I think would benefit them both. He has been to therapy, but only randomly. I want to help them, but I’m unsure how.– A Broken-hearted SisterDear Sister: You are obviously very fond of this couple and are deeply invested in trying to help them.None of your efforts will likely yield results, however, because this is their dysfunction and until one or both of them decides to change, they will continue in this cycle.Yes, I think you should express your love and concern to each of them. Urge them to get help.AdvertisementYou would benefit from attending a “friends and family” support program such as Al-anon. If your sister will attend meetings with you, all the better.Dear Amy: “Swim Parent” was carting a teenage neighbor back and forth to swim practice, with no help from her parents.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.My parents were like that girl’s. They said that if I wanted to be in gymnastics, I had to find my own transportation. They never helped.Thank God for other parents.– Grateful GymnastDear Grateful: Other kids’ parents have saved many childhoods.AdvertisementGot a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Sports

Oklahoma tops Texas 10-5 to win its 2nd straight Women’s College World Series championship

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kinzie Hansen and Grace Lyons hit three-run homers, Jayda Coleman made two spectacular defensive plays and No. 1 seed Oklahoma defeated unseeded Texas 10-5 on Thursday night to win its second straight Women’s College World Series title.The Sooners (59-3) claimed the best-of-three series 2-0 after winning Game 1 16-1 on Wednesday. It was Oklahoma’s sixth championship and fifth in the last nine World Series.AdvertisementJocelyn Alo, the two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, was named Most Outstanding Player. She hit .666 for the tournament, tied Tiare Jennings for a World Series-record five home runs and set a Series mark with 12 runs scored.Alo hit a hard single in her final at-bat in the sixth inning and later scored. In the seventh, she stepped in to play left field and caught two fly balls for outs before leaving the game to a standing ovation. She ended her career with a Division I-record 122 home runs.AdvertisementJennings set a World Series record with 15 RBIs. Oklahoma scored 41 runs in its final three World Series games.Oklahoma players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Texas in the Women’s College World Series softball championship Thursday in Oklahoma City. The Sooners won 10-5. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)Oklahoma’s Alyssa Brito (33) celebrates as she runs in from the outfield after the fifth inning of Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series softball championship against Texas on Thursday in Oklahoma City. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)Oklahoma’s Jordy Bahl (22-1), the NFCA Freshman of the Year, settled down after a rough start. She allowed two runs and four hits in four innings.Texas pitcher Estelle Czech (13-2) began the game with three shutout innings but ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth and was replaced.Mia Scott hit a three-run homer and JJ Smith had two hits for the Longhorns (47-22-1), who had survived six elimination games in NCAA Tournament play before Thursday.The Longhorns loaded the bases with no outs in the first and scored two runs. Coleman jumped above the fence for a spectacular grab that robbed Courtney Day of a two-run homer and ended the inning.Oklahoma finally got on the board in the fourth. After the Sooners got their first run following a throwing error, Taylon Snow’s RBI single tied the game at 2-all.In the fourth, Coleman had another defensive gem, throwing out a Texas runner at second from the warning track.Alyssa Brito’s RBI double in the fifth gave Oklahoma the lead for the first time, and Hansen’s blast later in the inning put the Sooners up 6-2.AdvertisementThe crowd stood for Alo’s at-bat in the sixth, hoping for one more blast. Instead, her single loaded the bases. Two batters later, Lyons’ homer made it 10-2.Scott’s 3-run homer came in the seventh.