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The NFL insisted on an indefinite suspension while Deshaun Watson’s legal team argued there’s no basis for that punishment as both sides presented their cases in front of a retired judge in Delaware on Tuesday, two people in attendance told The Associated Press.The hearing will continue Wednesday, and Watson is scheduled to be there for the duration, according to one person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the hearing isn’t public. It’s expected to conclude Thursday, but it’s not known when a ruling will be made.AdvertisementFormer U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association, will determine whether Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and whether to impose discipline.Watson agreed to settle 20 of 24 civil lawsuits for sexual misconduct, but the league is seeking at least a one-year suspension, one of the people told the AP. Watson’s side, led by attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and Rusty Hardin, wants the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to play this season for the Cleveland Browns.AdvertisementTwo separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations.Watson has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.This is the first hearing for Robinson, who was the first female Chief Judge for the District of Delaware. Previously, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had the authority to impose discipline for violations of the personal conduct policy.Still, Goodell holds considerable power. If either the union or league appeals Robinson’s decision, Goodell or his designee “will issue a written decision that will constitute full, final and complete disposition of the dispute,” per terms of Article 46 in the collective bargaining agreement.That means Goodell could ultimately overrule Robinson’s decision and suspend Watson for one year or even indefinitely due to the potential for more cases.However, an appeal would prolong the process for both sides.The NFL has punished several players for violating the league’s personal conduct policy without criminal charges. In 2010, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger received a six-game suspension after being accused of sexual assault by two women. Goodell later reduced the suspension to four games. Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott got six games in 2017 for domestic violence.On Monday, a woman who previously sued Watson filed a lawsuit against the Houston Texans, alleging Watson’s former team provided him with resources to enable his actions and “turned a blind eye” to his behavior.AdvertisementIt’s unknown how long it will take Robinson to make a decision, but the Browns should know Watson’s availability before training camp. NFL discipline typically begins the week leading into the first regular-season game, so Watson would be eligible for camp unless a potential punishment stipulates otherwise.The Browns traded a slew of draft picks to acquire Watson and gave him a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract in March.The Browns, who open training camp July 27, are eager to find out how long they will be without Watson or if they will have him at all next season.They signed veteran Jacoby Brissett to be Watson’s backup, but the team might be inclined to find a more high-profile starter should Watson be suspended for a significant period. Josh Dobbs is also on the Browns roster, but he never has started an NFL game.Any reconciliation with Baker Mayfield seems unlikely. The No. 1 pick in 2018, Mayfield was essentially pushed aside when the Browns persuaded Watson to come to Cleveland.At a youth camp in Oklahoma on Tuesday, Mayfield said there would need to be “some reaching out” for him and the Browns to repair their relationship.Advertisement“But we’re ready to move on, I think, on both sides,” he said.AP’s Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed.

WIMBLEDON, England — This is not what one thinks of when pondering the supposedly genteel roots of tennis and the purportedly proper atmosphere at Wimbledon, a country-club sport contested at a place officially called the All England Lawn Tennis Club: A player, Nick Kyrgios, capping a first-round victory Tuesday by spitting in the direction of a spectator he said was hassling him.Advertisement“I’ve been dealing with hate and negativity for a long time, so I don’t feel like I owed that person anything‚” Kyrgios said after beating Britain’s Paul Jubb 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 7-5. “Like, he literally came to the match to literally just not even support anyone, really. It was more just to stir up and disrespect.“That’s fine. But if I give it back to you, then that’s just how it is.”AdvertisementDuring the match, which filled the stands at 1,980-seat Court No. 3 — and attracted lengthy lines of folks hoping to be let in, likely owing to the popularity of the anything-can-happen Kyrgios, a 27-year-old from Australia, and the involvement of a local player — Kyrgios asked, without success, to have the fan removed for cursing and sending other verbal abuse his way.[ [Don’t miss] Serena Williams loses in her return to Wimbledon, a 1st-round defeat to Harmony Tan ]This comes less than three weeks after organizers at a tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, investigated when Kyrgios said he heard racist insults from the crowd during a match, and it raises questions about when unruly behavior is too unruly and whether more should, or even can, be done to shield athletes from inappropriate comments from the stands.“I’ve grown up in Australia, so I definitely know what racism is,” Kyrgios said. “I feel like it’s a battle, constant battle, coming from that place and dealing with it. … I don’t think it’s got anything to do with that.“I just think spectators, in general, think there’s just no line there anymore. They can just say something and they film it and then they laugh about it. It’s like that could actually hurt someone’s feelings. Do you know what I mean?”Australia’s Nick Kyrgios complains about an umpire decision during a singles match against Britain’s Paul Jubb on Day 2 of the Wimbledon tennis championships Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)Tennis players long have dealt with online abuse, particularly from gamblers angry about a match’s outcome. Negative interaction among athletes and the people paying to watch them is gaining more attention in real life too.At a tournament in Indian Wells, California, in March, Naomi Osaka cried after a spectator shouted, “Osaka, you suck!”The four-time Grand Slam champion explained the episode dredged up thoughts of when Serena and Venus Williams were jeered at that event in 2001 after Venus withdrew, citing an injury, before the sisters were supposed to play each other. Their father, Richard, said racial slurs were sent his way; his daughters stayed away from that tournament for years.“Personally, I’ve never experienced any type of heckling on the court (and) I’m very lucky because I know other players have experienced it,” said Coco Gauff, an 18-year-old Floridian who was the runner-up at this year’s French Open and won her Wimbledon match Tuesday. “Definitely online, I have the experience a lot, but that’s different. I definitely think there is a line that you shouldn’t cross.”AdvertisementGauff mentioned what she called the “obvious” examples of racial or sexual comments.“That’s definitely way past the line,” she said. “There are some things that you do have to deal with as an athlete. That’s just a part of the sport. Particularly in tennis, it’s not very common. It’s not in the tennis culture, especially let alone at Wimbledon. “I think the line definitely is a lot closer to being crossed than I would say than other sports because that’s just the culture of tennis. For me, personal attacks — that kind of crosses the line, really.”An All England Club spokesperson said no fans were removed from Kyrgios’ match, but there could be a review of what went on, including what he said at his news conference.As for the sorts of things he is hearing from people during his matches, Kyrgios concluded: “I’m just starting to think that it’s normal, when it’s really not.”

WIMBLEDON, England — Serena Williams has lost her first singles match in nearly a year, getting beat by 115th-ranked Harmony Tan of France in a third-set tiebreaker at Wimbledon.Williams was two points from victory but could not finish the job and bowed out with a 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) defeat on Tuesday night.AdvertisementThey played at Centre Court with the arena’s retractable roof closed after the first set.Williams is a 23-time Grand Slam champion but the 40-year-old American had not competed in singles since she got injured in the first set of her first-round match at the All England Club on June 29, 2021.AdvertisementShe has won Wimbledon seven times. This was only the third first-round exit in 80 career Grand Slam appearances for Williams. One came at the French Open in 2012 and one at Wimbledon a year ago when she had to stop playing because of an injured leg.This was Tan’s Wimbledon debut.

“Pivot, slide, slow on recovery … we’re pulling all the way into our rib cage. We don’t want to pull into our hipbones or our stomachs. We want it nice and high.”More than a dozen people listened to the instructions from Chicago Rowing Union’s (CRU) head coach Mollie Halvorsen while sitting on Concept 2 ERG Rowers during a learn to row class at Dammrich Rowing Center in Skokie. Sequencing is important to learn, she reiterates.Advertisement“When you pivot over or bend at the waist, we do not want our hands to dive down. We want them to be nice and flat. Arms away first, then body over,” she said.The mantra becomes “arms, body, body, arms … arms up, body over, body back, arms in” while the hum of the ERGs try to turn in unison. Repetitive, yes, but this crash course is supposed to help everyone learn the rudimentary lessons of rowing crew and what to expect when on the water in the North Shore Channel of the Chicago River with seven of their classmates.AdvertisementChicago Rowing Union members lean a shell into the water at Dammrich Rowing Center in Skokie. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)One crew of Chicago Rowing Union rowers waits for another before a session at Dammrich Rowing Center on June 8, 2022, in Skokie. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)What started as a group created by members of the LGBTQ+ community in 2005 to row in the Gay Games in 2006, is now an inclusive competitive and recreational rowing club focused on promoting diversity in the sport of rowing, according to CRU’s President Simone Azure. The sport is historically pricey and known to be a predominately white one, per Azure — one of CRU’s eight-person boats cost $13,000, and that was used.“It’s just like a Mercedes to a Toyota to a Fiat,” Azure said. “Resolutes are more expensive boats, but they have a tendency to last longer.”Newer boats cost more and equipment prices, regatta fees and transportation costs also add up, making the sport less accessible. Halvorsen said recognizing the accessibility and diversity gap is why CRU partnered with the Skokie Park District to hold its learn-to-row camps.“We are trying very hard to create an inclusive community within sports rowing and give access to members of the community that haven’t had exposure to the sport in the past,” she said.Azure recalls rowing for another ream and paying annual dues in the $4,500 range. The Skokie Park District charges $200 for people to learn sweep rowing with CRU. Sweep rowing is where each rower uses one oar in boats of four or eight people. For a rowing season of seven months, CRU’s recreation rowing team rows twice a week and charges $108/month; CRU’s competitive team rows three times a week for $148/month. CRU also holds fundraisers, has a scholarship program and has reduced rates in the past for individuals to attract all sorts of people to the sport. The pandemic impacted CRU’s membership numbers, but Azure’s recruiting has membership back in the double digits.“Our learn-to-row program, that’s how we build our program,” said the Edgebrook resident. “Now, there’s more spaces for gay people and the LGBTQ+ community, my big push is targeting diverse as possible. It’s not just a gay team. I want to stress the inclusivity on our team because we focus in on that. We have lots of allies and we’re happy as hell to have all of those guys, too.”Azure and Halvorsen pride themselves on making sure camaraderie and friendly competition is a part of CRU. The rowing community is a tight one. Azure, a member of the Turtle Mountain Ojibwe tribe who identifies as Two-Spirit, competed and medaled in a recent regatta in Washington, D.C., to support the DC Strokes Rowing Club, an LGBTQ+ rowing club. They are protesting the U.S. Rowing’s decision to hold its Masters National Championships in Sarasota, Florida, in August. DC Strokes is boycotting the event as long as the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law remains in effect. CRU, a master’s group of adults 27 years and older, signed their petition in support.“We try to be really supportive of one another,” Azure said. “The point is to have a place where people of all genders, colors and whatever feel included and they feel safe within this organization.”AdvertisementAt the learn-to-row class held June 11, a mother joined her daughter, a student at St. Ignatius who is considering joining the school’s crew team. A young man participated in the same class because he is thinking about trying out for Loyola’s crew team. CRU members helped participants through the hourslong session that began with rowing machines, transitioned to indoor sweep rowing tanks and ended with rowing an eight-person boat on the North Channel complete with a coxswain, person in charge of the boat’s navigation and steering. The coxswain gives directions of when and how to move the equipment, including the 200-pound boat, and when to board the boat. Assignments on where everyone will sit is given before launch, so you know if you’ll be port or starboard while on the boat.Things to remember:Don’t step just anywhere on the boat. You can poke a hole in it. Step on the strongest part of the boat to get in.Boarding and disembarking the boat is done in unison with others, not as a single person, so the boat doesn’t tip.And the shoes that you put your feet in, are anchored to the boat itself. In case of emergency, pull the release cord to free your feet to swim out.Also, try not to catch a crab — aka do a faulty stroke where the oar is under water too long becoming jammed.“A big part of the stroke is timing,” Halvorsen said. “When we’re in the boat, we’re tied to seven other people. We need to make sure that we are putting the blades in the water together, out of the water together. We want to make sure that we’re touching at the same time and that we’re finishing at the same time. It seems like a super easy thing, but it trips people up when they’re learning because of the sequencing. The tendency is to want to bring the knees up before our hands get out. On the ERG, it’s easier to lift the hands over the knees, but when you’re on the water, you cannot lift your hands over the knees with the oar in front of you.”An exercise in team building, Azure says rowing crew is a sport where you can tell who’s doing the work, who’s not, and who is distracted. While on the launch boat — one that trails the boats with the coxswains — Azure jokes, encourages and inspires those rowing making the experience engaging while learning. The hard part is remembering all the steps taught in the classroom and translating them to the water in real time.“I’ve met many people through rowing here in Chicago and around the world really, that have helped me advance and have been very generous with their time and energy while teaching me a new sport,” she said. One can tell she tries to do the same for those in each learn-to-row class.Members of CRU all have their own stories as to how they came to rowing. Some picked it up at college when their friends were doing it and picked it back up with CRU. Azure was walking in Andersonville when she was approached by a gentleman who is now one of her really good friends. He handed her a card and said come and try to learn to row. She said OK. And Halvorsen went to her first learn-to-row camp in middle school. She was hooked after her first time, she’s never looked back. This year marks 21 years in the sport for her. CRU member Fiona Nolan says the act of rowing crew as the closest thing to heaven on Earth that they have found when everyone is rowing at the same time.AdvertisementCoxswain Merri Furlong said a person new to rowing crew can be good within a year and within two years be great — something she’s seen.Chicago Rowing Union members Joseph Edmonds and Fiona Nolan walk to a shed to retrieve a coach’s boat at Dammrich Rowing Center on June 8, 2022, in Skokie. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)Morton Grove resident Jamie Edwards attended the June 11 class. Upon its completion, she said she was excited to come back for the second part on Sunday. A lover of water sports, she said her uncle is a competitive rower and she was curious about what the sport entailed.“I was looking for where I could get involved and came across Chicago Rowing Union,” she said. “It was tougher than I expected having worked on a stationary exercise rower before, although that kind of makes me want to do it even more, like a challenge.”Edwards left knowing that getting better takes practice — something she’s willing to do with CRU.“I’m sure it gets easier once you get more in sync,” she said. “I really want to get better.”With a smile on her face, Edwards left wondering about what her aura app on her Apple watch says post rowing.Advertisement“The thing I love about rowing is it’s a low impact, full body workout, which is really nice,” Edwards said. “There was this moment being on the water where you’re just connected and it just feels really good … there’s something about being on the water.”Chicago Rowing Union’s next Learn to Row session is slated for July 19. The group will also be at the 42nd Annual Chicago Sprints at the Lincoln Park Lagoon July 8-10.drockett@chicagotribune.com

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yoán Moncada was just starting to heat up before he landed on the injured list.The Chicago White Sox reinstated the third baseman from the 10-day IL Tuesday and optioned infielder Lenyn Sosa to Triple-A Charlotte.AdvertisementMoncada was placed on the IL retroactive to June 18 with a strained right hamstring after he left in the third inning of a June 17 game in Houston. He talked with the training staff in the dugout after grounding out in the second, then remained in the game for the bottom of the second. Josh Harrison replaced him in the third.Moncada is slashing .179/.230/.292 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 29 games while dealing with a variety of injuries for much of this season.AdvertisementHe began the season on the IL with a right oblique strain and played his first game May 9. He experienced quadriceps discomfort that limited his playing time in late May.[ [Don’t miss] Lucas Giolito’s strong start goes to waste in the White Sox’s 4-3 loss ]Moncada had a career-high five hits in a 13-0 victory against the Detroit Tigers on June 15 at Comerica Park. He suffered the hamstring injury in the team’s next game.Sosa joined the Sox from Double-A Birmingham on Thursday and went 1-for-12 (.083) with a double in four games. He collected his first major-league hit in Sunday’s 4-3 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Guaranteed Rate Field.He led the Southern League in several offensive categories — including hits (85) and batting average (.331) — at the time of his promotion.

NEW YORK — Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman will get a chance to play in front of their home fans as the trio was selected as reserves for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 10 at Wintrust Arena.The Chicago Sky stars will join Candace Parker, who was voted in as a starter last week.AdvertisementOther reserve guards picked Tuesday included the Washington Mystics’ Ariel Atkins, Phoenix Mercury’s Skylar Diggins-Smith, Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale and Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd, a Niles West alumna. Atlanta Dream rookie Rhyne Howard also was picked by the league’s 12 coaches, who voted for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position regardless of conference.Coaches were not able to vote for their own players.AdvertisementThe Las Vegas Aces’ Dearica Hamby, New York Liberty’s Natasha Howard and Connecticut Sun’s Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas also were chosen in the frontcourt. Jones is the only player to make the All-Star Game this season while coming off the bench.[ [Don’t miss] ‘We’re doing a disservice to an entire generation’: How Chicago athletes and teams reacted to Roe being overturned ]The Sky’s James Wade will coach one team while the Aces’ Becky Hammon will lead the other. The league announced last week Breanna Stewart and Sylvia Fowles will co-captain one squad and Sue Bird and A’ja Wilson will draft for the other. All four were chosen as starters. Fowles and Bird announced earlier this year they will retire after the season.The All-Star teams will be drafted Saturday.Howard, who played with Bird and Stewart in Seattle before coming over to the Liberty, put in a pitch to play with her former guard.“I would love to play with Sue one more time,” she said after practice Tuesday. “It’s her last All-Star Game.”[ [Don’t miss] As Brittney Griner’s detention nears 130 days, WNBA fans and activists want action ]The other starters announced last week were the Los Angeles Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike, the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, the Sun’s Jonquel Jones and the Aces’ Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young.The Indiana Fever is the only team without an All-Star.

All Rafael Ortega could do was wait.Consistent at-bats in the Chicago Cubs lineup weren’t available for the outfielder through the first five weeks of the season. With Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki entrenched in left and right field, respectively, Ortega’s opportunities were limited to occasional starts in center and at designated hitter.AdvertisementGetting in an offensive rhythm posed a challenge, contributing to a .204/.304/.286 slash line through April. Within the context of his big-league career — in which extended playing time has been limited during parts of six seasons spanning 10 years — it wasn’t an unfamiliar spot for Ortega. However, he took advantage of the Cubs’ post-trade-deadline roster situation last year and thrived as one of their best hitters.But the start of the 2022 season put Ortega in a familiar position.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: How Tony La Russa and David Ross are trying to change the script during Chicago’s summer of baseball discontent ]“For me it’s more mentally right now — I’m trying to be more mentally positive because I haven’t been playing every day,” Ortega told the Tribune during the Cubs’ road trip last week. “I have been telling myself: Just wait for your opportunity and then when you get the opportunity, just do what you have to do.”Between Jason Heyward dealing with COVID-19 in mid-May and Suzuki remaining sidelined by a sprained left ring finger, Ortega’s extended look over the last six weeks is paying off for the 31-year-old Venezuelan.Since May 17, when Heyward went on the COVID-related injured list, Ortega is hitting .293 with a .377 on-base percentage and .801 OPS in 33 games. He owns a .321/.387/.500 line in June with six of his 18 hits going for extra bases. That includes his game-tying two-run homer Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals and a two-run double in the Cubs’ comeback win Sunday.The Cubs’ David Bote (13) and Rafael Ortega celebrate after scoring during the fourth inning against the Cardinals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson/AP)Ortega says his production comes down to consistency — with his approach, decision making and playing time.“It’s mostly about just being relaxed at the plate, my body feeling relaxed,” Ortega said through an interpreter. “When I tighten up a little bit and have that pressure, I don’t make good decisions. So it’s really just about being relaxed with my body and with my swing. Load up and I’m able to have a good swing.”Fifteen of Ortega’s 44 starts have come at DH, a role he continues to adjust to. As part of his in-game preparation, Ortega will come inside to hit in the cage or prepare as if he were heading out on the field to play defense.“It’s just about making sure that I’m not overswinging when getting ready for a pitcher or maybe taking it too easy,” Ortega said. “It’s finding that right balance.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Ortega is maintaining a focus on what he can control each day. He has seen how the Cubs roster has evolved over the past year and is grateful for his first real shot to stick in the majors.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: Cubs aren’t the same as a decade ago — but they keep trotting out the same old narrative to fans ]As to whether he fits in the Cubs’ longer-term vision as the organization tries to build its next contender, Ortega said he “hopes that I can be a part of that. I would love to be part of the championship-winning team.”It’s not guaranteed Ortega will be on the roster past the Aug. 2 trade deadline. He likely will see his playing time diminish when Suzuki returns from the IL, but he could be an attractive left-handed bat off the bench for a playoff contender.Even beyond the last six weeks, Ortega has shown he can be a valuable big-league hitter. Since the Cubs called him up in May 2021 — a stretch covering 165 games and 529 plate appearances — Ortega has hit .283, slugged .439 with a .359 on-base percentage and tallied 15 home runs, 24 doubles, 66 runs scored, a 118 OPS+ and 2.6 WAR.Ortega is prepared for anything that might happen leading up to the trade deadline.“When I was growing up, trying to get into the big leagues,” he said, “we’re told there’s 30 teams out there. You might not necessarily get to play for the same team for a long time or even throughout your whole caree.“So if there’s a team out there that might think that my skill set would work for the team — I mean, my mentality is to come in and try to do good job.”

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.”