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Former Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien kept coming back to the same word to describe his former assistant coach Luke Richardson: “presence.”And Julien wasn’t just talking about the new Chicago Blackhawks coach’s demeanor.Advertisement“He’s probably going to challenge a lot of players when it comes to fitness. He’s in unbelievable shape,” Julien said about the 53-year-old Richardson, a 6-foot-3 former defenseman who would jump into drills to give a player a breather. “He works out every day — extremely hard. Sometimes you look at him and tell yourself he could still be a player.“That’s Luke in a nutshell.”AdvertisementAnother of Richardson’s former Canadiens coaches, Martin St. Louis, said with a laugh: “I’m sure (Hawks) players are going to YouTube him and they’re going to see the kind of player he was, and I think he’s going to command respect right away.”[embedded content]While St. Louis and Julien agree on Richardson’s physical bearing, they also see many of the same personality traits they believe make Richardson the right fit at the right time for the Hawks: composure, patience, respect and empathy.“He’s just a very approachable, calculated guy,” St. Louis said. “He’ll relate to the young guys and prospects, and I think the guys will gravitate to him. His whole experience as a player, as a head coach in the American (Hockey) League, as an assistant coach in the NHL now, he’s got a lot of time in the game. And now going to have his own style.“But he cares about people. He’s a very caring human and his players are going to feel that.”Richardson said in a Hawks release Monday: “I plan to create an environment of trust with our team. With trust, relationships will form and grow, thus allowing everyone to blossom and execute their role.“My philosophy is to be better today than we were yesterday and, to achieve that, we will need commitment and consistency.”[ [Don’t miss] Jeff Greenberg brings the system he learned with Theo Epstein’s Cubs to the Blackhawks as he tries to ‘close that gap’ with baseball ]He was consistent in building his NHL resume, whether he realized he was doing so or not. The Ottawa, Ontario, native played more than 1,400 games with six teams across 21 seasons.Richardson began his coaching career as an assistant with his hometown Senators in 2008-09. In 2012 he was named coach of the AHL Binghamton Senators, who made the playoffs in the first two of his four seasons.AdvertisementHe led Canada to a Spengler Cup championship in December 2016 before joining the New York Islanders as an assistant for the 2017-18 season.Julien hired Richardson that summer and had him work with defensemen and the penalty kill.“Luke has got a lot of knowledge on the game, and one of his biggest strengths is his rapport with the players,” Julien said. “Besides being knowledgeable, he’s a very patient guy too. … He’s not a guy that will panic on the spot, but he’ll get his message across.”The Canadiens fired Julien in February 2021 and installed Dominique Ducharme, but happenstance put an international spotlight on Richardson.Canadiens interim coach Luke Richardson stands behind the bench during a Stanley Cup semifinals game against the Golden Knights on June 18, 2021, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/AP)Ducharme contracted COVID-19 during the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals, and Richardson shepherded the Habs to a series win against the Vegas Golden Knights. He also coached the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, which the Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.Julien said Richardson’s command of the bench appeared seamless.Advertisement“With the forwards, he had the same kind of respect from them as well,” Julien said.Ducharme got the axe in February, almost a year after Julien was fired, and St. Louis leaned on Richardson — his former teammate with the 2006-07 Lightning — when he was named as Ducharme’s replacement.“For me it’s bittersweet,” St. Louis said of Richardson getting the Hawks job. “I’m really excited for him. He’s been in the game a long time and he’s been at it. For him to get the opportunity, he’s earned that. I hate to lose him because for me he was a good guy to jump in this with, getting the job in February.“He’s got a quiet confidence, but he’s very calm and collected. The modern coach now has more of a calm approach about things. I think Luke is that.”[ [Don’t miss] Eric Nesterenko, member of the 1961 Blackhawks, dies at 88 — and leaves behind a complicated hockey legacy ]Both St. Louis and Julien noted Richardson’s ability to be patient with young players while still holding them accountable.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“Obviously hockey’s a game of mistakes, but they felt comfortable they would learn from their mistakes a little bit and get some coaching and reinforcement,” St. Louis said. “I don’t think Luke suffocated them.Advertisement“Sometimes people just overcoach. Luke did not do that.”Julien added: “They’re not going to feel (he’s) one of those guys that will throw them under the bus.”Richardson’s ability to connect with players likely will determine his longevity with the Hawks. That’s general manager Kyle Davidson’s mandate.It was a perceived lack of response from players that led to Jeremy Colliton’s firing in November, and on paper interim coach Derek King didn’t fare a great deal better despite reviews that he was more effective addressing the room.“He’s a really good communicator,” Julien said of Richardson, “but he’s also got that presence and that respect from the players. If you put all those things together, it should add to success, the kind of coach that you’re looking for.“I personally think it was a good choice. In my mind, Luke deserves that shot.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito’s best outing in a month — including back-to-back strikeouts of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani in the fifth inning — went to waste in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in front of 21,973 on Monday at Angel Stadium.The Sox took the lead in the top of the seventh, only to give it away in the bottom of the inning as they began a six-game trip on a sour note.Advertisement“In position to win a game, it breaks your heart not to hold it for (Giolito),” manager Tony La Russa said.Taylor Ward put the Angels ahead with a two-run double against reliever Reynaldo López. The Sox have lost five of six.AdvertisementGiolito allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings, fanning Trout and Ohtani twice apiece. He had allowed at least four earned runs in four of his previous five starts.“My overall confidence wasn’t shaken,” Giolito said. “I’m not going to sit here and say everything is great and everything is perfect and I’m going to go out and dominate every start. Anything can happen. It was very frustrating to get into bad habits and allow myself to perform the way I’ve performed for multiple starts in a row.“But my job as a starter is to go out there and take the ball and give us a chance to win. I’m pleased I did that (Monday). Not pleased we lost the game, but it’s how it goes sometimes. I’m just going to continue to put in the work and lock in these adjustments.”White Sox starter Lucas Giolito pitches during the second inning Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (Jae C. Hong/AP)The two runs he surrendered came in a strange sequence. Brandon Marsh hit a long fly to right in the second. Sox right fielder Gavin Sheets raced near the short wall and briefly had the ball in his glove, but it popped out.At first glance, it appeared to bounce off the top of the wall, hit a fan and then bounce back into play. It was originally ruled a two-run homer.But after a review, it was clear the ball did not hit the fan. It was changed to an RBI triple.“Felt like I had a good jump. I thought I had it,” Sheets said. “I hit the wall and checked the glove and still thought I had it. And obviously found it was over on the side and got it in as quick as I could. “It’s frustrating. Obviously a ball that’s a tough play, one that I wanted and thought I had. When you’ve got Gio on the mound, you know runs are tough to come by for the other team and you want to make a play for him in that situation.”AdvertisementMarsh scored moments later when Andrew Velazquez’s hard-hit comebacker ricocheted off Giolito’s foot and into shallow right for a single.While the Angels made the most of their early breaks, the Sox didn’t capitalize on some of their chances.Tim Anderson collected their first hit with a leadoff single in the fourth. He stole second — the 100th stolen base of his career — and moved to third with one out on another stolen base.But Luis Robert flied out to shallow center and José Abreu flied out to right.An inning later, Sheets doubled and reached third on a grounder with two outs. Noah Syndergaard struck out Josh Harrison to end the inning.The Sox finally broke through in the sixth. Anderson drew a one-out walk. Vaughn brought him home with a double to left. Abreu tied the game with a two-out double to left.AdvertisementJosé Abreu watches his RBI double during the sixth inning Monday, June 27, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (Jae C. Hong/AP)The Sox took the lead in the seventh after Sheets singled and moved to second when Syndergaard couldn’t cleanly field Seby Zavala’s bunt. Harrison drove in Sheets with a single to center, but Zavala was out venturing a little too far after rounding second.“I can’t believe this happened,” La Russa said. “Overran the base. Big out. Mistakes. Mistakes part of the game.”The Sox had the lead but it was short-lived.López walked Max Stassi, and Marsh singled. They moved up on a bunt, and Ward followed with the two-run double just out of Robert’s reach near the wall in right-center.“Game of inches,” La Russa said.Abreu put a charge into the crowd with a high fly to deep center leading off the ninth, but Trout made the catch near the wall. And second baseman Luis Rengifo made a nice play to rob Leury García for the final out as the Sox came up just short again.Advertisement“It’s always the time,” Giolito said when asked if this is a critical juncture for the team to start gaining ground. “You don’t want to be losing baseball games. At the same time it’s a long season and we’ve been dealing with a lot of adversity, injuries-wise.“For me, personally, I’m pleased with some of the aspects of my start (Monday). It makes me feel a lot better about the work I’m putting in and continue to put in to continue to make these adjustments. Overall, yeah, it’s always time to try and put things together (in) every facet of the game and win series.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Reynaldo López has worked out with Johnny Cueto during previous offseasons.Recently, López found himself following Cueto in a game.AdvertisementCueto pitched seven shutout innings for the Chicago White Sox on June 18 against the vaunted Houston Astros offense. López finished with two scoreless innings as they combined for a three-hitter in a 7-0 victory at Minute Maid Park, with López allowing one hit and striking out three.López has enjoyed being teammates with Cueto, his countryman from the Dominican Republic, who has been impressive since joining the Sox in May. Cueto is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.Advertisement“We have a very good relationship,” López said through an interpreter Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “We have had that for a couple of years. It has been better now playing together. It has been fun. We talk about the game, about pitching situations. If we did something wrong, we know we could do better. We can tell each other that in this situation, you can do this better.[ [Don’t miss] Column: How Tony La Russa and David Ross are trying to change the script during Chicago’s summer of baseball discontent ]“We are able to say what we think about each other and our performance in order for the other one to get better. It’s that kind of relationship we have.”López has been able to lean on teammates such as Cueto while playing a larger role in the Sox bullpen. He is 4-1 this season with a 3.00 ERA in 27 appearances, including one start, and has 33 strikeouts in 33 innings.“It’s almost impossible to measure his value,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said before Monday’s series opener against the Angels. “He’s really come down and has been overpowering. Not just the fastball but quality breaking balls.”White Sox reliever Reynaldo Lopez looks up after getting the last out of the sixth inning against the Blue Jays on June 20, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)López entered Monday with 11 consecutive scoreless innings over his last eight outings, which includes his one start as an opener June 10 against the Texas Rangers.“Can’t give him enough credit,” La Russa said.López started for the Sox from 2017-20. He pitched mostly out of the bullpen last season (nine starts in 20 outings) and has seen that relief role expand this year.“I’ve learned a lot being in the bullpen, and I’m a different pitcher now,” he said, “just having that knowledge now that you have to be more aggressive, being in that attack mode every time, that makes every pitch count.” AdvertisementOpponents are batting .188 (12-for-64) with runners on base against López, who also has held hitters to a 1-for-12 mark (.083) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Opponents are 7-for-33 (.212) overall against López with runners in scoring position.[ [Don’t miss] Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout — and possibly Yermín Mercedes — await the White Sox on their 6-game trip ]Reliever Kendall Graveman has been helpful with the adjustment to relief work, López said.“Right before the season started, he gave me some clues about what to do to have success before every series,” López said. “Just try to go to the opposite batter, try to check their weaknesses and strengths, try to analyze and visually try to pitch to them.“And at the same time, have a plan. And I’ve been doing that. I usually do my report at home before I get there on other teams, and that has helped me too. Those little things have helped me to adjust better and have that kind of success I have right now.”Another key, López said, is feeling more in sync with his mechanics.“Right now, everything feels in place,” he said. “Everything is synced up. My delivery is all in one movement. My arm action is good. I feel loose. Last year was a difficult one and to get to this point wasn’t an easy process. It was a lot of work and a lot of changes I had to make.Advertisement“Now because of that, I feel more comfortable. My pitches are better, my command is better and that’s been the key.”He laughed when asked if, in three or four years down the line, he would rather be a starter or a closer.“I think I will go with being a starter,” López said. “That’s what I used to be and I like doing it. But at the same time, I think being a reliever or especially as a closer, the closer has a lot more adrenaline in that part of the game. I would say the relationship is probably 60-40 right now, starter.”

Former Illinois star Dee Brown is the new coach at Roosevelt University in Chicago, the NAIA school announced Monday.The 37-year-old Brown was a McDonald’s All-American and Mr. Basketball of Illinois in 2002 at Proviso East in Maywood.AdvertisementHe went on to lead Illinois to Big Ten regular-season titles in 2004 and 2005 and a run to the 2005 NCAA championship game, in which the Illini lost to North Carolina.Brown played professionally for nine seasons, including two NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns.AdvertisementBrown has been an assistant at Illinois-Chicago since 2017. He also worked as director of player development and alumni relations for the Illinois men’s basketball team under former coach John Groce and coached AAU ball.

On Thursday, the sports world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program that receives funding from the government.Fans, athletes, politicians and celebrities took part in celebrating the last 50 years of empowered female athletes. Title IX gave girls and women an opportunity to participate in sports that had long been available to men, though it did not necessarily level the playing field. The day was filled with remembrances of influential women in sports and promises for the future.AdvertisementThen on Friday, the Supreme Court stifled that joy when it overturned Roe v. Wade. The timing was likely coincidental but impactful nonetheless. The right for women to make decisions for their own bodies, as they see fit, was taken away.Abortion is a matter of both personal choice and healthcare, and for athletes, regardless of gender, Roe being struck down will have an impact on where they choose to play and live and the type of healthcare they are able to receive.AdvertisementIn Illinois, where a law remains in place to keep abortion legal, Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised the state would remain a “safe haven” for women’s reproductive rights.Two-time WNBA MVP and Chicago-area native Candace Parker expressed her dismay, telling WGN-TV: “I have a 13-year-old daughter. For me personally, for us in this generation to mess this up for her and the decisions that she can make and the ownership of her own body — I feel like we’re doing a disservice to an entire generation.“I get emotional because I feel like as women in this country every time we take two or three steps forward — is it by chance that it was close to Title IX and the 50th anniversary? I feel like we have a way in this country of handling things in that way. I’m just disappointed.”Her Chicago Sky teammate Courtney Vandersloot added: “To me, it’s just heartbreaking that we’re in 2022 and women are still fighting for their right for their own bodies. I don’t agree with it. For people that are standing up and being the voice — I think it’s really important. The fight’s not over. People need voices and I think the WNBA and the Chicago Sky is a great platform.”White Sox closer Liam Hendriks, in an appearance on WSCR-670 AM’s “Parkins & Spiegel Show,” voiced his displeasure with the decision.“Obviously, today is a terrible, terrible day for women’s rights,” Hendriks said. “I mean, what’s next? Are they going to take voting for women as well now? It’s just something that is absurd in the fact that they thought that this is their thing.“If this had anything to do with men, there’d be no chance that this would be overturned. And that’s something that’s disgraceful in this day and age.”Hendriks also served as the “voice” of Pride Night for the Sox on Thursday.Advertisement“The fact is the hate I get for being an ally is very limited compared to what some other people may be getting if they’re in the spotlight or in the limelight going through this ordeal of going out and being true to themselves,” he said.Other Chicago athletes took to social media to voice their displeasure with the ruling or express solidarity with those affected by it.“The strength of our women is unmatched. We must protect them at all costs,” Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman tweeted. “Unimaginable to see their rights taken away. Men should never be allowed to make laws about women’s bodies. Those of you who disagree need to realize you’re a direct part of the problem. Change is needed!”The strength of our women is unmatched. We must protect them all at costs. Unimaginable to see their rights taken away. Men should never be allowed to make laws about women’s bodies. Those of you who disagree need to realize you’re a direct part of the problem. Change is needed!— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) June 25, 2022

Stroman also retweeted Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price and former NBA coach Stan van Gundy.Several athletes, including the Cubs’ Adbert Alzolay and the Bears’ Jaquan Brisker and Thomas Graham Jr., opted to retweet posts.The Chicago Sky shared a statement that read: “The Chicago Sky stand for all women and their rights to have autonomy over their own bodies and decide their own futures. We will be a voice for all those impacted by today’s Supreme Court decision and continue to fight for women’s freedom, health equity, and social justice.”AdvertisementThe commissioners of the NBA and WNBA released a joint statement: “The NBA and WNBA believe that women should be able to make their own decisions concerning their health and future, and we believe that freedom should be protected. We will continue to advocate for gender and health equity, including ensuring our employees have access to reproductive health care, regardless of their location.”NBA AND WNBA STATEMENT REGARDING ROE V. WADE DECISION NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued the following statement regarding today’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: pic.twitter.com/P13MSouB5A— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2022

The WNBA firmly believes people have the right to make their own personal decisions regarding their health. We stand in solidarity with those who fear for the repercussions of the Supreme Court decision today and remain committed to our 2022 WNBA season focus on civic engagement. pic.twitter.com/RtuBdjbozP— WNBA (@WNBA) June 24, 2022

It hasn’t exactly been the best of times for Tony La Russa and David Ross, the two baseball managers in a baseball town.Neither is a particularly good loser, yet losing has defined both of their 2022 seasons in the first three months.AdvertisementLa Russa’s Chicago White Sox were expected to be World Series contenders. It’s a team custom-built for a veteran manager to get it over the hump, which is why La Russa came out of retirement in 2020 to take the reins.But the Sox began their West Coast trip Monday in Anaheim with a losing record amid plenty of discord over whether La Russa carries most of the blame.AdvertisementOn the flip side, not much was expected from Ross’ Cubs after a 91-loss season and only two significant free-agent signings in Marcus Stroman and Seiya Suzuki.But the Cubs, being the Cubs, still have managed to play below those low expectations. They’ll take the fifth-worst record in the majors (28-45) into Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series with the bottom-feeding Cincinnati Reds.The collective angst among Chicago baseball fans is at near-historic levels, perhaps not seen since the summer of 2002, when the Cubs lost 95 games under Don Baylor, Rene Lachemann and Bruce Kimm and the Sox finished .500 under Jerry Manuel.No one is happy, except perhaps the beer cup stackers not watching the games at Wrigley Field and the gambling sites accepting wagers from the dwindling number of Sox fans who still believe they’ll make a run.White Sox manager Tony La Russa stands in the dugout during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 20, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)La Russa, 77, and Ross, 45, are quite different in age and personality. But they do share a few similarities, including a testiness on occasion after difficult losses. Both have been tested in 2022.La Russa has been confrontational with reporters, and Ross once walked out on a reporter’s question, which he later apologized for. Neither has spewed volcanic ash despite the minor eruptions.Unfortunately, the days of managers of losing teams venting at the main culprits — the players they manage — are seemingly part of a bygone era. As long as the effort is there, La Russa and Ross are OK, and as far as they’re concerned, the effort has been there all season.“It doesn’t benefit any manager, coach, even player to rant publicly,” Ross said Sunday morning at Busch Stadium. “There are things that happen in house that you have to take care of and you have to have a little bit of teeth every once in a while.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] ‘Hot as a pistol’: 3 standout numbers that led to prospect Lenyn Sosa’s promotion to the White Sox ]“The key to that is understanding why you have those conversations, what those intentions are and the expectations for a manager, a coach, an organization that will never go away. When you keep those standards high and don’t waver, it’s really important.”Ross said he shows “emotions,” but flipping the food spread in the postgame clubhouse to show how you feel no longer is a viable way to send a message, unlike the days of Billy Martin and his peers.“When I got to A-ball, the spread was on a little bitty picnic table,” Ross recalled. “That thing’s easy to flip. Now it’s a buffet line. That would piss me off — I would probably be hungry in 30 minutes, right? “I played for some of those guys and you understand where they’re coming from. But I think now the conversations — and being able to hold in those emotions and be direct with the wording — is going to get you farther than (showing) emotion.”Cubs manager David Ross looks out from the dugout in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on June 15, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Legend has it that Martin once flipped the clubhouse spread after a tough loss to the White Sox at old Comiskey Park, oblivious to a New York Yankees player sitting at the table munching on a sandwich.Those were the days when managers had much more control over players’ careers. That ended with the beginnings of free agency, the ubiquity of multiyear contracts going into eight and then nine figures and finally the intrusion of front offices into everyday decisions from lineups to bullpen usage.AdvertisementEven Lou Piniella conceded when he arrived in Chicago to manage the Cubs in 2007 that it was now a “player’s game.” Piniella was one of the last of the old-school managers, confident enough in his job security to call Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley a “piece of (expletive).” But his biggest confrontation in town wasn’t with a player but with Steve Stone after the Sox broadcaster criticized him in 2010 for not playing prospect Tyler Colvin.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Cubs aren’t the same as a decade ago — but they keep trotting out the same old narrative to fans ]“I think that means that Lou doesn’t have a great grasp on what to do with young players,” Stone told Comcast SportsNet, now NBC Chicago Sports.“What job has he had in baseball besides talking on television or radio?” Piniella fumed. “What has he done? Why isn’t he a farm director and bring some kids around? Why isn’t he a general manager? Why hasn’t he ever put the uniform on and (become) a pitching coach? Why hasn’t he been a field manager?“There are 30 teams out there that could use a guy’s expertise like that. I’m tired of some of these guys, I really am. That’s it. Let’s go to baseball.”Stone found himself in another free-for-all over the weekend when he trolled Sox fans for whining above and beyond the call of duty about La Russa and the struggling team. He seemed to endorse the idea of complaining fans jumping off the Sox bandwagon.We seem to have hit a nexus. I call it thinning out the herd. For those of you heading for the exits, adios. For those of you who want the coaches fired, the manager gone, the players traded and the owner replaced. That’s not practical. Welcome to a less bitter world all others— Steve Stone (@stevestone) June 25, 2022

“We seem to have hit a nexus,” Stone tweeted. “I call it thinning out the herd. For those of you heading for the exits, adios. For those of you who want the coaches fired, the manager gone, the players traded and the owner replaced. That’s not practical. Welcome to a less bitter world all others.”AdvertisementLa Russa, meanwhile, has been nothing but complimentary toward ticked-off Sox fans, repeating that they have the right to be upset about a team that has underachieved. He said he was OK with fans booing him rather than the players,“I’ve said it 100 times, man, I like that they’re here and they care,” La Russa said last week. “And if they’re displeased and it’s with me, I’d rather them be here and care than not care and not be here.”That was before the Sox lost three of four to the Baltimore Orioles, which simply added to the angst.So here were are again, potentially facing a long, hot summer without a winning baseball team on either side of town.The two embattled managers are trying to keep their heads, while all around them, everyone is losing theirs.

There’s only been one question in Chicago about this summer’s NBA free agency — will Zach LaVine be on the Bulls next season?That decision could be made by the end of this week as the NBA trade window opens at 5 p.m. Thursday night, at which point teams can begin negotiating deals with free agents.AdvertisementExecutive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas didn’t tip his hand on whether the Bulls will dish out a maximum deal to LaVine — which tops out close to $215 million with a five-year commitment — but he remained bullish on the team’s ability to return the All-Star to Chicago.[ [Don’t miss] Dalen Terry, the No. 18 pick, arrives ready to get to work for the Chicago Bulls: ‘I breathe, sleep, cry basketball’ ]“We’ve been very open that we hope that Zach is here for a long time,” Karnišovas said. “Nothing has changed. … I’m confident.”AdvertisementIf the Bulls are successful in keeping LaVine, their next concern quickly moves to his left knee. LaVine underwent a scope surgery in May to clean up a nagging injury that dampened his performance through the final third of the regular season.“I think he’s going to be healthy and he’s now progressing great,” Karnišovas said.General manager Marc Eversley echoed optimism about the health of both LaVine and starting point guard Lonzo Ball, who will also spend the offseason recovering from knee surgery following a season-ending injury and surgery in January.[ [Don’t miss] Zach LaVine enters free agency ‘open-eyed’ as the Chicago Bulls chase continuity: ‘My time here has been great’ ]The front office has plenty to do to improve on a winning record and short-lived playoffs run last season, but the most important is also the most elusive — keeping their stars healthy. Ball and LaVine are cornerstones for the Bulls, but both are also injury prone, a vulnerability highlighted by their absences last season.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.For the Bulls, another key for maintaining success comes down to the margins, especially with injury concerns still looming. New additions like No. 18 draft pick Dalen Terry will be one part of that plan, adding wing depth and defensive energy.Karnišovas said the Bulls have yet to make roster decisions on rotational players like Tony Bradley, Tyler Cook and Malcolm Hill, who stepped up for considerable minutes during the Bulls’ COVID-19 outbreak last winter. Although the Bulls are still open to new additions, Karnišovas continued to emphasize “continuity” as the focus for the roster.Artūras Karnišovas, executive vice president of basketball operations, speaks as the Bulls introduce first-round pick Dalen Terry on June 27, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)“You can build your rosters three ways — through the trades, free agency and the draft — and I think we’re tapping into all three of them,” he said. “This group has been here almost since October, so we’re still trying to get used to how to play with each other.”The development of Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu — the youngest players on the roster — also remains a focus. Although Williams and Dosunmu will not travel to Las Vegas to play in NBA summer league games, the pair will train in Chicago in July to prepare for training camp.AdvertisementIt was a split season for the two youngsters — Dosunmu started 40 games as a rookie, but Williams spent most of the year on the sidelines recovering from a wrist injury. Coach Billy Donovan said the Bulls are “very, very confident” Dosunmu can contribute as a point guard for the 2022-23 season, although he will likely move back to the bench when Ball returns as the starting ballhandler.As the Bulls approach a new season, the improvement of these rotational players will determine the team’s competitiveness in a building Eastern Conference.“It’s important to get a good mix,” Karnišovas said. “For young guys, it’s important also to develop. Even with last year’s roster, there’s a lot of vets, there’s a lot of in-between and the young guys got a lot of experience when emphasis was put on winning. We got 46 wins which is great. We got playoff experience. But we need to build on that and it’s not going to be easy next year to come back and do the same.”

The Houston Texans had been told that their former quarterback Deshaun Watson

When Chicago Bulls draft pick Dalen Terry turned 10,

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday sided with a football coach from Washington state who sought to kneel and pray on the field after games.The court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines for the coach. The justices said the coach’s prayer was protected by the First Amendment.Advertisement“The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.The case forced the justices to wrestle with how to balance the religious and free speech rights of teachers and coaches with the rights of students not to feel pressured into participating in religious practices. The outcome could strengthen the acceptability of some religious practices in the public school setting.AdvertisementThe decision is also the latest in a line of Supreme Court rulings for religious plaintiffs. In another recent example, the court ruled that Maine can’t exclude religious schools from a program that offers tuition aid for private education, a decision that could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money.That the court ruled for the coach is perhaps not surprising. In 2019, the court declined to take up the case at an early stage, but four of the court’s conservatives agreed that a lower court decision in favor of the school district was “troubling” for its “understanding of the free speech rights of public school teachers.”The case before the justices involved Joseph Kennedy, a Christian and former football coach at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. Kennedy started coaching at the school in 2008 and initially prayed alone on the 50-yard line at the end of games. But students started joining him, and over time he began to deliver a short, inspirational talk with religious references. Kennedy did that for years and led students in locker room prayers. The school district learned what he was doing in 2015 and asked him to stop.Kennedy stopped leading students in prayer in the locker room and on the field but wanted to continue praying on the field himself, with students free to join if they wished. Concerned about being sued for violating students’ religious freedom rights, the school asked him to stop his practice of kneeling and praying while still “on duty” as a coach after the game. The school tried to work out a solution so Kennedy could pray privately before or after the game. When he continued to kneel and pray on the field, the school put him on paid leave.Three justices on the court attended public high schools themselves while the rest attended Catholic schools.The case is Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 21-418.