Author: staff

Sports

Column: Zach LaVine deserves his big payday — whether it’s with the Chicago Bulls or somewhere else

“Continuity” was the buzzword this week as Chicago Bulls players and management met with reporters one last time following their first-round playoff loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.Keeping the core together was the stated goal of executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas, though it will be greatly weakened unless Zach LaVine returns. And as one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents this summer, that’s not a slam dunk — even if the Bulls can offer him the most money.AdvertisementWhile he said he has a “really soft spot in my heart” for Bulls fans, LaVine was noncommittal Friday when asked about his return.“I have to do this as a business decision as a man, not to just be viewed one way, and be like, ‘Aw, I’m automatically coming back’ or ‘I’m automatically leaving,’ things like that,” he said. “It’s unrestricted free agency, for my family and me. I have to go into this like it’s a decision where I have to be open-eyed. And obviously I have to make my list and talk to everybody in the summertime.”AdvertisementWhat factors will he consider?“That’s a good question, because I don’t even know yet,” he said.I think I can help here. There is only one factor that really matters, and it’s revealed in rapper Too Short/’s song “Get That Cheese:”“It’s payday, get that cheese. You gotta get that cheese. Just get that cheese.”Bulls guard Zach LaVine grabs a rebound against the Bucks at the United Center on April 24, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)LaVine deserves as much cheese as he can get, and good luck to him in his pursuit of mega millions. DeMar DeRozan called him a “max everything” player, meaning LaVine deserves a max contract for everything he does on the court and is as good a person as anyone off the court.Bulls fans shouldn’t blame LaVine if he leaves. He has given everything you could ask for in his five years in Chicago and never complained about having to be the centerpiece of a failed rebuild for four of those seasons.Of course, his health also is on everyone’s mind. Asked if a left knee issue will factor into the Bulls’ decision on LaVine, Karnišovas said: “No, I don’t think so.’’So in the long term, the knee won’t be an issue?Advertisement“No, not that I know,” Karnišovas said. “But again, in a short time we’re going to figure out what his plan is for the summer.”That’s an optimistic view, considering LaVine might have offseason knee surgery “almost immediately after the playoffs,” at least according to a Sun-Times report. LaVine said he’ll take a week or so to “chill” at home in California before seeing doctors. Karnišovas said he didn’t know if LaVine would need surgery and declined to speculate.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bulls veterans preach continuity as they hope to ‘run it back’ in 2022-23 after their 1st season together ]But LaVine’s explosiveness is dependent on his knees. If you’re going to offer a player a max contract, it would make sense to believe he’ll be healthy for most of the next five years. Hopefully that’s the case, because the Bulls are better with LaVine than without him.Yet as much as everyone in Chicago loves LaVine, he’s not the most indispensable player on the Bulls roster. That would be DeRozan, who supplanted LaVine as the face of the organization with a career year at 32. He has two years remaining on his contract and it’s imperative to win while he’s still here.Unlike most of us, DeRozan isn’t worried about the ravages of aging.Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and guard Zach LaVine go through a photo session on Sept. 27, 2021 during media day at the United Center. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)“If LeBron (James) still is doing what he’s doing (at 37), I got hope,” he said. “I got some years (left). I don’t look at it like I’m getting older (and) I’m getting slower. At the end of the day, I look at it like I’m getting smarter.Advertisement“I’m getting more of a will to keep being better. I don’t look at age too much. Maybe when I’m 38 or something. Just taking care of myself physically, mentally is a big part to this whole thing. I’ve been blessed to mostly stay healthy throughout my career. As long as I can go out and play, I’m going to figure out a way to get better.”DeRozan should be the kind of player his peers want to play alongside, which should aid the Bulls in free agency. They need another point guard with Lonzo Ball’s health in question, and a rim protector to complement Nikola Vučević. Not to mention someone who can come off the bench and consistently hit 3-pointers like Grayson Allen did to them in the playoffs.Alex Caruso is a great defender and a fan favorite, but offensively he’s not much of a threat. Patrick Williams had moments where he looked like a first-round pick and moments where he was barely visible on the court. Ayo Dosunmu needs to get stronger and work on his shooting.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The good news for Karnišovas is that Chicago is no longer a place quality free agents use to get leverage from the teams they’re actually interested in.“I was pleasantly surprised last summer how many people wanted to play in Chicago,” Karnišovas said. “Just the history of this franchise, the city of Chicago. And I think anybody that steps into the United Center, they feel the energy and passion.”[ [Don’t miss] Lonzo Ball’s frustrations continue in recovery from knee surgery after Chicago Bulls season ends ]That wasn’t always the case. After “The Last Dance” aired in 2020, Chicagoan and former NBA star Antoine Walker told WSCR-AM 670 the Bulls were “not a huge free agency attraction spot and that bothers me. Chicago isn’t a buzzing place that the elite players in the league talk about going to.”AdvertisementEven though the Bulls weren’t DeRozan’s first choice — he reportedly talked to James about joining the Los Angeles Lakers — he said it turned out to be a “perfect” place for him. Few players in any sport have come to Chicago in their 30s and become as instantly beloved as DeRozan. He’s Dennis Rodman without the craziness.DeRozan also is one of the most respected players in the league, and if he can convince some quality free agents to join him, it’s likely a few will listen. Coach Billy Donovan is a players’ coach with the right personality for this team, and with the Bulls on the upswing, Karnišovas should be able to build around his core and give Donovan a real bench.One thing Karnišovas has that his predecessors lacked is the trust of Bulls fans. He has changed the perception of the franchise, and that’s no small accomplishment. All in all, it was a fun season, and eventually we’ll see if LaVine gets his cheese — and if the Bulls can take another big step forward next season.

Lifestyle

A guide to planting trees that will leave you confident about survival, longevity

If the Arbor Day spirit moves you to plant a tree, plant it right to give it the best chance for a long life of spreading green branches and sheltering people and homes.“How you plant a tree makes a critical difference in whether it will survive and how healthy it will be for the long term,” said Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “The most important things you can do for a tree are to choose it carefully so it’s the right kind of tree for your site and to avoid planting it too deep.”AdvertisementHere are some basics of proper tree planting:Find the base of the trunk. To make sure your hole is the right depth, locate the base of the trunk, where it flares out into the big, anchoring roots. That spot is often buried in soil when you buy a tree, whether it comes in a pot or wrapped in burlap. “Dig down to find the first big roots, and remove all the soil above that point,” Janoski said. “Don’t just assume that the soil level in the pot is correct.”AdvertisementMeasure the root mass. You’ll need to know the depth, from the root flare to the bottom, and the width.Dig a wide, shallow hole. It should be 2 to 3 times as wide as the root mass and shaped like a shallow soup bowl or saucer, with sloping sides.“Tree roots grow out to the side, not down, and a wide hole makes space for them to push out horizontally,” Janoski said. “Even after you’ve refilled the hole, there will be a wide area of nice loose soil for new roots.”Be careful not to dig too far down. “Planting too deeply is a major cause of long-term tree problems,” she said. The hole should be just deep enough so the flare at the base of the trunk will sit at the level of the surrounding soil, or slightly higher. For example, if the root mass is 11 inches deep, the hole should be just 10 or 11 inches deep at the center.Gently place the tree in the hole. Avoid handling it by the trunk or branches; grasp it from the bottom of the root mass. Set it in the middle of the hole and check that it is at the right depth. Walk all around it to make sure the trunk is upright from all angles.Remove as much wrapping as possible. If the tree came wrapped in burlap and wire, cut off and remove as much of it as you can reach.“It’s OK to leave the wire and burlap underneath,” Janoski said. “They won’t interfere with roots growing out sideways.” Make sure to take off any tags, wires or ropes wrapped around the trunk or branches. They could cut into the bark as the trunk grows wider and eventually kill the tree.Fill the hole. Use the same soil you removed. After filling the hole partway, gently but firmly tamp down the soil around the root mass to remove air pockets and keep the tree stable. Repeat, filling and tamping, until the hole is full. The soil level should be even from the base of the trunk out beyond the edge of the hole.AdvertisementWater well. Pour 5 to 10 gallons of water gently onto the root mass.Spread mulch. Make an even layer of mulch, such as shredded wood, in a wide circle around the base of the tree. It should be 2 to 4 inches deep.“Don’t pile mulch too deeply, and be careful to keep it a couple of inches away from the base of the trunk,” Janoski said. “Mulch should never be in contact with the bark. It can trap moisture and lead to decay and disease.”Make the mulch circle as wide as you can, to hold moisture in the soil, insulate the roots and protect the tree’s bark from damage by lawn mowers and other power tools.Keep watering. For at least the next two years, you will need to water the tree on a regular basis.“It doesn’t have enough roots yet to live on rainfall,” Janoski said. “It will need your help.”AdvertisementAt first, water right near the base where the root mass is. Over time, as the tree extends its roots, you’ll need to water a wider area.“The best watering is long and slow, so the roots have time to absorb it,” she said. Use a soaker hose, a trickle from a hose or sprinkler or a bucket, pouring gently. “Don’t water every day,” she said. “Water deeply, and then wait several days before watering again.”Arbor Day, the last Friday in April, is a traditional tree-planting day, but you can plant trees through June and again in September or October, avoiding only the hottest and driest part of summer. “There’s plenty of time to choose and plant a tree this year,” Janoski said.For tree and plant advice, contact the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic, or plantclinic@mortonarb.org). Beth Botts is a staff writer at the Arboretum.

Lifestyle

Ask Amy: Loved dog leaves a legacy of guilt behind

Dear Amy: The dog I had for over 10 years recently had to be euthanized.I loved my dog, but being a pet owner often made me feel guilty. I often felt that I had to choose between being with our dog or being a good mother to my kids.AdvertisementI realize that I was not ready to own a pet when I first got her. I made many blunders that I still regret to this day.My husband also loved our dog, but I believed that what he loved most was having a dog — any dog. I had this dog before we got married (over a decade ago), and I think I presented myself as a dog person, when actually I was only a “that dog” person.AdvertisementHe has brought up getting another dog for his birthday in a few months, and has been looking at local animal shelters. He said he didn’t enjoy living in a house without a dog in it.Amy, I loved my little dog, and if I could have her back, healthy and happy, I would. But I honestly don’t think I will ever want another dog, due to the guilt that comes with it.I believe that if I said I didn’t want other dogs, I would be asking him to make a big lifestyle change, and maybe even change who he is as a person.Just thinking about getting another dog stresses me out, and thinking about telling him stresses me out.Any advice?– DoglessDear Dogless: My recent adoption of the world’s cutest terrier has given me some personal insight into what you are describing. The guilt of not being able to make every single day The Best Dog Day Ever is intense, and that legendary unconditional canine love can actually make the guilt-burden seem heavier.You entered the marriage with a dog in hand/paw, but I wonder if the dynamic would be different if this time around your husband adopted the dog and took primary responsibility for its feeding, care, exercise, and entertainment.AdvertisementChildren eventually graduate from the household, while your dog’s needs increase with time. A dog’s health and happiness is completely dependent on you until the end. And the end, as you know, can be heartbreaking.If you were the backup parent, you might feel the burden differently. And understand that the rookie mistakes you made last time (and which you still feel guilty over) would not be a factor now.I hope you will be brave enough to be totally frank with your husband about this and that you will both take ample time to think this over carefully.If your husband feels very strongly about this, he might want to foster a dog for a few weeks to basically test the waters for both of you.Dear Amy: I met my biological father only two times, both times briefly, when he came to visit me.About two years ago, I texted his wife to ask about him. She never replied back.AdvertisementMy mother never told me of him nor talked about him.I know nothing about myself other than my place of birth.I wonder often about who I am, about my biological father’s other children, and health information. I’m now 77. Am I wrong for wanting to know these things?How would I find the answers to these things?– LostDear Lost: You are not wrong for wanting to know more about your family heritage!AdvertisementIf you know your biological father’s surname and your place of birth, you could do some genealogical research. Ask your reference librarian at your local library for ways to get started.You should also consider at-home DNA testing. When you register on a site and submit a DNA sample, you would then be connected with others who share your DNA, if they are also registered. This could potentially connect you not only with possible siblings, but with aunts, uncles and cousins.I would also suggest mailing a letter and/or phoning, versus texting your biological father’s wife. I’m assuming that she is older than you are, and many older people don’t use text messages to communicate.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.Dear Amy: The conversation in your column about strong food aversions brought me back. My father forced me to eat potatoes. I literally sat in front of a pile of cold mashed potatoes after everyone else had left the table.I finally ate them. Then I threw them back up.– No Spuds for MeAdvertisementDear No Spuds: Mission very much accomplished.Got 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

Chicago White Sox held to 3 hits in a 5-1 loss to the LA Angels — their 10th defeat in the last 11 games

Tim Anderson doubled leading off the first inning for the Chicago White Sox against the Los Angeles Angels. The Sox wouldn’t get another hit Friday until José Abreu singled with two outs in the seventh.The Sox were limited to three hits by emergency starter Jimmy Herget and six other pitchers in a 5-1 loss to the Angles in front of 23,709 at Guaranteed Rate Field — their 10th defeat in the last 11 games.Advertisement“Since the first game of the season, we’ve been fighting to get to a rhythm at home plate,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “Everybody is fighting. Everybody is trying to get into that rhythm. We haven’t got to that point yet, but we are still fighting.Advertisement“I know everybody is working hard here. Everyone is doing their best to get results, to get out of this tough moment. I have plenty of confidence in everybody here because we know that we have the talent. Then it’s just a matter for us to keep working and keep grinding.”Homers in the first by Taylor Ward and Shohei Ohtani powered the Angels, who won their sixth straight. Ward finished a triple shy of the cycle and Ohtani scored three runs.“I would have liked to execute some more pitches than I did in the first inning,” said Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. “A couple poor pitches, a couple home runs. And then (in the sixth) against (Anthony) Rendon, not a good first-pitch fastball (that resulted in an RBI double).”Herget stepped in for Noah Syndergaard, who was a late scratch. Anderson greeted Herget with a double to right and moved to third on a grounder and scored when Yasmani Grandal reached on an error.The Angels retired the next 18 hitters, a streak that ended with Abreu’s single.“If you have respect for yourself, if you respect your work, if you have confidence in your talent, you have to keep working,” Abreu said. “I know that the game of baseball can be very difficult but you just need to keep working hard. If you are doing your job, you are doing your preparation, working out and taking care of the stuff you need to take care of to have success, sooner rather than later you’ll have success.“I know everybody here is doing their best. Everybody here is doing their job. It’s a matter for us to keep doing it, don’t hesitate about our talent and keep working hard.”The Sox hit a few line drives that were snagged by the Angels.AdvertisementCenter fielder Mike Trout made a leaping catch in the fourth to rob Abreu of a hit on a ball with a 103.9 mph exit velocity, according to MLB Statcast. Luis Robert — who went 0-for-4 in his first game since exiting with a groin strain April 21 in Cleveland — hit a liner with a 114.8 mph exit velocity in the fifth that Trout tracked down. And Rendon caught Andrew Vaughn’s line drive with an exit velocity of 111.3 mph in the seventh.“I don’t believe in luck, luck doesn’t exist,” Abreu said before joking,“but it seems like the other teams are playing with more players than us.”Anderson singled with one out in the ninth. The Sox loaded the bases with two outs before Robert flied out to right to end the game.“It’s (one thing) for me to say that guys are going after it, but when you see a rally like that in the ninth inning, that was close,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “(Robert) gets on base and you’ve got a home run on deck, and who knows? It could’ve been fantasy island.“The guys are grinding. But whatever the reason, the quality of at-bats can get better, and they’re working on it. It’s starting to show results. I’ve learned a long time ago, if you try to explain yourself it sounds like an excuse. The less you explain, the less excuses people think you’re making. But our offense is going to be fine. We’re going in the right direction.”

Sports

Column: Ryan Poles didn’t talk too much about fixing the Chicago Bears’ secondary — but it was a glaring need

Until Ryan Poles makes moves on the offensive line that turn heads, he’s going to come across as an Illinois politician talking about reforming the state’s tollway system.That’s to say it’s going to be hard to put much weight into what the first-year general manager has to say about the line until something is actually done.AdvertisementAs needy as the Chicago Bears are on the offensive line — and at wide receiver — intense focus on an offense that has been a wreck the last couple seasons distracted from the reality the secondary was especially poor in 2021, creating a need that matched where the strength of the draft was Friday evening at the beginning of Round 2.Poles moved to help shore up that area, using his two second-round picks on Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon and Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker. Gordon figures to compete for a starting job opposite Jaylon Johnson, another cornerback the Bears tabbed in Round 2 from a Pac-12 school two years ago. Brisker ought to push for a spot next to Eddie Jackson right away as well.AdvertisementThe team’s well-documented needs on the offensive line remain unchanged through three rounds of the draft. They have two certain starters — Cody Whitehair at left guard and Lucas Patrick at center. The team is still learning about second-year players Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins, who got the first shot as starting tackles earlier this month in minicamp. Right guard is a question.The Bears are also in need of more targets for quarterback Justin Fields. The biggest moves have been signing Byron Pringle to a one-year, $4.1 million contract and adding Equanimeous St. Brown on a one-year deal for the minimum. Later Friday, the team drafted Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., who blazed through his 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in 4.31 seconds and is considered by some analysts to be the elite returner in the class. Still, that’s not much to compensate for seeing Allen Robinson depart via free agency and knowing Darnell Mooney is the only established receiver remaining from the previous staff.While everyone knows how poorly Fields, Andy Dalton, Nick Foles and the passing offense performed last season, less publicized is how bad the secondary was.Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker (1) reacts after a play against Michigan in State College, Pa., Nov. 13, 2021. (Barry Reeger/AP)The Bears ranked 27th in the NFL allowing 7.6 yards per attempt. They allowed 31 passing touchdowns, tied for 26th with only two teams surrendering more. They made only eight interceptions, which ranked 29th. Opposing quarterbacks combined for a 103.3 passer rating, dead last in the league. Sounds a lot like the company the Bears kept in key offensive categories, doesn’t it?All of those struggles came with the Bears ranking fourth in sacks with 49, making you wonder about the correlation between a good pass rush and pass coverage. With Khalil Mack traded away for the pick that produced Brisker and 32-year-old Robert Quinn potentially trade bait down the line, it’s difficult to imagine the defense approaching the same number of sacks.So with a defensive-minded head coach in Matt Eberflus and gaping holes in the secondary, Poles doubled down on defensive backs.AdvertisementSome figured Gordon, whom the Bears selected at No. 39, would be selected in Round 1 and one national scout for another franchise said he preferred Gordon to Trent McDuffie, his Washington teammate that went 21st overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. The scout said Gordon has greater short-area burst than McDuffie, so Gordon’s 4.52-second, 40-yard dash at the scouting combine wasn’t concerning. That slower time that might have helped the Bears.“When we watched him on tape and he ran that time, the 4.52, we kind of got a little excited,” Bears national scout Francis St. Paul said. “We were like, ‘Uh oh, we may have a chance now.’ He plays way faster than that time. And you see it all the time, there’s a lot of players that don’t run as fast as we’re all expecting but they play faster. And he has great play speed.”The Bears did well in 2004 when they drafted a cornerback in the fourth round that was knocked for having a sub-par 40 time. That was Nathan Vasher, who had 16 interceptions in his first three seasons.Brisker, whom the Bears selected with the 48th overall pick, is the highest-drafted safety by the Bears since they used the 42nd pick on Danieal Manning in 2006. The 6-foot-1, 199-pound Brisker was lauded by scouts for his combination to play physically as a big hitter and with range that will provide some versatility for defensive coordinator Alan Williams.The Bears praised the leadership traits of Gordon and Brisker, and while that’s always significant, it’s of particular importance in the first year of a new regime in a rebuild (even if that’s not what the organization wants to call it).Poles said earlier this week his goal was to trade down and add more picks. That didn’t materialize and perhaps three trades in the six picks before the Bears were on the clock left them with no potential partners. Now, the Bears will sit out Round 4 Saturday before they pick twice in Round 5 and once in Round 6. Any trades down at that point won’t net much in return.AdvertisementThe Bears haven’t benefitted from a tremendous draft for offensive linemen — nine were selected Thursday night — but no matter what Poles did in Rounds 2 and 3, you were going to be able to say he still has sizable holes, perhaps gaping ones, to fill.If Gordon and Brisker step in right away and perform, the Bears ought to be better on the back end with some potential building blocks for the future. That doesn’t do a thing to improve the offensive line, but just because Poles didn’t talk about needing to overhaul the defensive backfield in the same way doesn’t mean it wasn’t a glaring need.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 30Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of George Halas, took over as majority owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Sports

Chicago Blackhawks finish the season 28-42-12 with a 3-2 OT loss to the Buffalo Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. — All bad things must come to an end.At least the Chicago Blackhawks finished a torturous season Friday with a point in 3-2 overtime loss against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center to finish 28-42-12.AdvertisementThe Hawks never got a shot off in the extra period before Casey Mittelstadt scored the game-winning goal.Interim coach Derek King ends the season on a three-game points streak. After the Hawks fired Jeremy Colliton and installed King Nov. 6, he was the first Hawks coach to start 4-0-0.AdvertisementStill, his Hawks scuffled through a six-game winless streak through December and January and an eight-game winless streak in late March and early April.Alex DeBrincat matched a career-best 41 goals, though it’s 15 more markers than the next closest Hawk: Patrick Kane at 26.Kane couldn’t top a personal high either: 66 assists.The bulk of the first two periods weren’t exactly an exhibition of precision passing on either side (the Hawks had 10 giveaways through two periods), with the teams combining for 15 shots on goal until Dominik Kubalík broke the scoreless monotony 8 minutes, 47 seconds into the second.It was Kubalík’s 15th of the season, and the heady low-to-high backhander that set him up was rookie Alex Vlasic’s first assist.After Tage Thompson put the Sabres on the board in the third period, Dylan Strome notched his 22nd goal of the season. Strome finished with two goals and three assists in the last nine games.However, Buffalo rookie Owen Power slipped a shot past Collin Delia with 5½ minutes left remaining for his second-career goal.