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Seattle Storm star and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird announced Thursday the 2022 season will be her last playing in the WNBA.The announcement by Bird, 41, ended any speculation about her future; she had acknowledged in February when she re-signed with Seattle that this would likely be her final season. She strongly considered retirement after last season before choosing to return for a 19th season as a player.AdvertisementBird’s announcement came a day before Seattle’s game at Connecticut. The Storm will close out their road trip on Sunday in New York, about 30 miles from where Bird grew up in Syosset, New York.“As the season has gone, like I said, I pretty much knew, and then once I saw the schedule, and then once I started packing for this trip a little bit, I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be my last time playing in New York. My last time playing in front of my family and friends.’ And so that’s why the timing of this is what it is,” Bird said in a video posted by the Storm on social media.Advertisement“I just really felt strongly about announcing my retirement, saying it was my last year so I can share that with my family and my friends, all the people in New York who have watched me growing up so they can come and see me play for the last time in my home state. So I’m excited about that. It’s also bittersweet.”Bird is a four-time WNBA champion, 12-time All-Star and the oldest player in the league. She has spent her entire WNBA career with Seattle since becoming the No. 1 draft pick in 2002 following her storied college career at UConn. This season is her 21st associated with the franchise although just her 19th playing after missing two seasons due to injuries. She is the league’s all-time leader in assists and the standard by which other point guards are judged.Bird turns 42 in October and was on the cusp of stepping away a year ago, and when the Storm were eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the playoffs, fans chanted “One more year! One more year!” as she did an on-court televised interview.Those cheers were egged on by Phoenix’s longtime star Diana Taurasi, Bird’s former college teammate at UConn and part of all five of those Olympic gold-medal runs.In the end, the fans — and Taurasi — got what they wanted. Bird came back, for exactly one more year.“Sue Bird is Storm basketball,” her WNBA team tweeted moments after Bird made her decision known. “Every moment, every memory has one constant. No. 10. It’s time for the final chapter.”

Few players in WNBA history have experienced Kahleah Copper’s success. If women’s basketball had a triple crown, her last year easily would qualify.Between the start of last season and her return to the Sky on May 22, Copper became a first-time WNBA All-Star, a WNBA Finals MVP, and a Spanish league and EuroLeague MVP. She also led Perfumerías Avenida to its eighth Spanish league title, her second championship in eight months. It’s no wonder Chicago Sky teammate Candace Parker refers to Copper as the “worldwide MVP.”Advertisement“I don’t think there’s another WNBA player that had the resume she had over this past year,” said Ticha Penicheiro, Copper’s agent. “At the beginning of her career especially, she was always a team player. Sometimes you put your personal goals on the back burner, but now, I’m sure she’s checked off a lot of things on her list.”Copper has welcomed the fame that has come with winning a championship with the Sky. People come up to her at airports, and she was honored at City Hall in her hometown of Philadelphia in the offseason. She is soft-spoken, a direct contradiction to her tenacious nature on the court, but her calm demeanor lends itself to someone who can handle the newfound public attention.Advertisement“It’s something I’m embracing,” Copper said. “It’s cool. It’s what comes with winning.”Kahleah Copper heads out to receiver her championship ring commemorating the Chicago Sky’s 2021 WNBA title on May 24, 2022, at Wintrust Arena. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)Along with fame came more money.Copper doesn’t know how many deals she landed since helping the Sky win the WNBA title last season, but her marketing team made sure to strike while the iron was hot. She has been featured in commercials for Mountain Dew and Dick’s Sporting Goods, among others.She also signed a contract with Popeyes, which generated a lot of discussion on social media. Before reaching the deal, Copper’s team reached out to Kentucky Fried Chicken to see if it would be interested in partnering with her. Copper’s nickname is “KFC” — for Kahleah Freaking Copper — making the sides ideal partners. However, as Copper put it, KFC was “slacking,” so Popeyes and the Sky star eventually agreed to a deal.“Hopefully KFC will come back around because that is pretty fitting,” Penicheiro said.Outside of drawing more revenue from endorsements, Copper went into the offseason as a restricted free agent knowing she could demand a maximum contract. Most teams had cap space, and the Sky had only four players signed through the 2023 season.Sky coach/general manager James Wade made it clear as free agency began that re-signing Copper was a priority. He felt confident in the relationship he had with Copper and the culture the franchise had built.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 18Standing underneath a newly unveiled WNBA championship banner, Chicago Sky players and coaches show off their 2021 championship rings on May 24, 2022, at Wintrust Arena. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)“When (the media) talks about free agency, they don’t think about player’s lives and relationships,” Wade said. “You have to change teammates and relationships you are invested in. (The Sky organization) is practically a family and we won a championship. (Copper has) accomplished a lot of things here and she saw her development and how she continues to build and build. I think that would be hard to leave.”AdvertisementThe Sky ended up applying the core-designation tag on Copper, meaning she couldn’t sign with another WNBA team and could return to the Sky on a one-year, $228,094 deal. Instead, the sides agreed to a two-year, $405,000 contract through 2023.“I thought, ‘Why not?’, ” Copper said when asked about taking a multiyear deal over the core designation offer. “This is my second home. I love it here. They believed in me and wanted to take care of me.”Copper has changed the complexion of the offense since returning from overseas — she missed the Sky’s first four games of the season. They were in the bottom half of the league in fast-break points before her arrival. Copper leads the league in the category while the Sky rank No. 4 over the last six games. Teams are still trying to figure out how to stop her in transition but have come up empty.Copper is averaging 12.4 points on 41.7% shooting and 5.4 rebounds in nine games for the Sky (9-4), who play host to the Atlanta Dream in a Commissioner’s Cup game Friday at Wintrust Arena.She maintains a day-to-day mentality — not letting the long term mar what is expected of her. She is focused on a championship and nothing else.Advertisement“I’m just trying to get better,” Copper said. “My mindset is the same: Never get too high or too low or complacent. Just continue to get better and try to reach new heights. We’re trying to repeat.”James Kay is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

The Chicago Cubs’ losing streak reached nine games Wednesday with a 19-5 loss to the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field.The Padres have won three straight in the series, which concludes Thursday afternoon with Matt Swarmer facing Joe Musgrove.Advertisement“Losing is not fun,” Ian Happ said. “It never is. And when you go through stretches like that, long innings, you try to keep everybody upbeat and positive. I feel that gets harder as the losses mount.”Rookie Caleb Kilian was out of sync in his second start, and the bullpen collapsed after he was removed after allowing five runs in four innings. Keeping everyone in a positive frame of mind has been difficult when a team has been beaten down as badly as the Cubs this week.Advertisement“We’re working on that,” manager David Ross said. “I don’t have any magical answer. We haven’t been very good. I think we’ve got to pitch a little bit better than we’ve pitched the last couple nights.”Ross once again called on first baseman Frank Schwindel to pitch, the third time this season and second time this week. Schwindel gave up three runs in the ninth.“It’s crazy,” Happ said. “It’s kind of been an explosion (of position players pitching) the last couple years and this year. The more we can play where position don’t pitch, the better.”Some fans enjoy watching it. But the more it happens, the less funny it seems.“Yeah, it’s not (funny),” Happ said. “It’s not that fun to see anymore. But it’s a reality of keeping arms fresh. You can’t just go out there and blow through your bullpen every day and expect to be competitive the next day, especially night to day.”Schwindel has served up four home runs in three innings, compiling an 18.00 ERA.Here are some other ugly numbers to chew on.The Cubs’ ERA over the nine-game losing streak. They’ve served up 21 home runs and allowed 111 hits over that span.AdvertisementThe Cubs’ winning percentage since a loss to the New York Mets on June 14, 2021. Going into that game, the Cubs were 38-27 and tied for first place in the National League Central. They’re 56-103 since, including losing streaks of 11, 12 and nine games.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The Cubs are winless in all 29 games this season in which they’re trailed entering the seventh inning.Runs allowed by Cubs pitchers (and first baseman Frank Schwindel) over the last five games since losing 8-0 to the Yankees on Saturday in New York. They have been outscored 84-26 during the skid. The Cubs’ record on replay challenges. Not only are they losing on the field, they’re also very bad at challenging calls. Opposing teams have won seven and lost four against the Cubs.The Cubs’ record at Wrigley Field. They’re 2-7-1 in home series, including a win in the opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers.Cubs starters’ ERA. They’re also a combined 12-27. The 4.91 ERA is still better than in 2021, when the starters posted a 5.27 ERA, fourth worst in the majors.AdvertisementThe Cubs’ average with runners in scoring position (122-for-554). They began Wednesday ranked 28th in the category, ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks (.216) and Pittsburgh Pirates (.201).Fan who caught a Manny Machado home run Wednesday and didn’t bother to throw it back.

Alfonso Soriano doesn’t get a chance to watch many Chicago Cubs games in his Tampa, Fla., home, but he’s seen enough of Chicago Cubs rookie Christopher Morel to know the rookie has a promising future.“Oh man, I’ve seen him and he’s got a lot of talent,” Soriano said Wednesday while treating his son Allen’s travel league team to a night at his old stomping grounds. “So I hope he can have a great career. He’s shown it already in a few games.”AdvertisementMorel and Soriano are kindred spirits, so it was nice to see Morel introduce himself to the former Cubs star during batting practice at Wrigley Field.But that has been Morel’s M.O. since making his major-league debut May 17 and hitting a home run in his first at-bat at Wrigley Field. He has become the Cubs’ unofficial ambassador, putting the friendly in Friendly Confines.AdvertisementMorel started Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres the same way he has all season — by greeting the plate umpire and opposing catcher with a fist bump before leading off the first inning.Chicago Cubs center fielder Christopher Morel warms up to face the San Diego Padres as the sun sets Monday, June 13, 2022 at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Most umpires have fist-bumped Morel back, though CB Bucknor declined the other night, giving him a polite nod instead. Morel said it’s a tradition he started in the minors.“Every time I get a chance to say hi to somebody, I do it,” Morel said. “If somebody feels good, then I feel good too.”It’s refreshing to watch young players such as Morel come up and enjoy the moment. A major-league career goes by fast, and if a player lets the pressures of the game get to him he can turn bitter at an early age.Soriano knew that and never came to the ballpark in a bad mood, never was affected by fan booing and never hid from reporters when he was in a slump.[ [Don’t miss] Long rest and a changeup pays off for Kyle Hendricks — but Chicago Cubs bullpen implodes for an 8th straight loss ]That’s one reason a few dozen old acquaintances — front office employees, clubhouse workers, reporters and security guards — stopped by the field before Wednesday’s game to say hello to Soriano, who has seldom been back to Wrigley since being traded to the New York Yankees in 2013.Soriano had a job he loved and said he never forgot that.“I used to be blessed to have the talent to play,” he said. “Why would I ever be mad? I played a long time and did something I loved to do. I like when I hear young guys in the game have that mentality and that character, so good for Morel.”AdvertisementThe Cubs need Morel now more than ever with the season spiraling downward. They carried an eight-game losing streak into Wednesday and were in danger of being passed in the National League Central by the lowly Cincinnati Reds, who began the season 3-22.It’s going to be a long season for the Cubs. No one expected much going in, but it has been hard to watch nonetheless. So fans need reasons to keep watching the remaining 100 games, and the Cubs need advertisers for the Marquee Sports Network and people to buy beer and hot dogs at Wrigley during a season going nowhere.Cubs center fielder Christopher Morel drives in two runs with a single in the second inning against the Padres on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Cubs center fielder Christopher Morel advances to second base on a double in the second inning against the Padres on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Morel and top pitching prospect Caleb Kilian, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday to face the Padres, are two kids who can make things interesting. Morel already has sealed a spot on the roster the rest of the way. He started his career by reaching base in a franchise-record 22 straight games while playing solid defense in center field and at second, third and shortstop.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“He’s got some long levers, real power there,” manager David Ross said recently. “Moving him around the field, his skill set, the tools show up daily. He’s still learning some moments. He’s still a kid out there running around high-fiving everybody, and sometimes we need to rein him in in that area.”That would be a shame. Baseball needs players who look like they’re enjoying themselves, and the Cubs have a tradition of exuberant players, from Jose Cardenal to Sammy Sosa, from Soriano to Morel.Morel is starting to get noticed more often as he rides his scooter to the ballpark or stops by the local Starbucks.Advertisement“Every time that happens I say thank God for this moment,” he said. “It’s super amazing. I think I have a lot of support going on all around me with everything that’s happened. But my responsibility to the team is to focus on baseball, and that’s what I’m doing.”Kilian, meanwhile, had a rough start Wednesday, throwing 30 pitches in the Padres’ two-run first inning while pitching with a 19-mph wind blowing straight out. He hopes to stick around for a while, but he was called up for his second start only because of injuries to Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly and Wade Miley. None of the three veteran starters is close to returning, but that doesn’t mean Kilian won’t be sent back to Iowa.Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Kilian warms up before a game against the Padres on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“At some point he’ll be in that thing every day as long as he continues to do what he’s been doing,” Ross said, referring to the rotation. “He’s got a really bright future in our eyes. If you go out and do this, you’re never going back down. That’s usually how a major-league player’s tenure happens.”Morel paved the way. Now it’s up to Kilian to follow in his footsteps.

Byron Pringle knows he didn’t make the right type of headlines in his first couple of months as a Chicago Bears wide receiver.He was arrested in April in Florida for reckless driving and driving while his license was suspended after an officer suspected him of doing a donut on the road with a child and another passenger in the car.AdvertisementBut if Bears fans will allow him to reintroduce himself, here’s what he wants them to know.“I’m just a hardworking man,” he said. “I love the game. Things happen.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 3 things we learned at Chicago Bears minicamp, including a ‘cold-weather’ offense and Trevis Gipson’s comfort ]Pringle didn’t expand much on the incident in his first comments to the media after Wednesday’s mandatory minicamp practice at Halas Hall, saying he had “no thoughts on it.” He pleaded not guilty to the charges, asked for a trial by jury and has a pretrial court date set for July 5, according to Pasco County records.He said he spoke with general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus before the news came out in the media and “everything’s squared away in house.”That echoed what Poles told the media just a few days after the arrest. Poles, who knew Pringle from their four years together in Kansas City, said the Bears were in “a good place” with Pringle and that the incident was “not a reflection of who he is at all.”Pringle tweeted after his media availability: “I’m just here to play football not answer (clown) questions.”So the focus since the arrest has been about how Pringle can make positive headlines with a Bears offense that needs some wide receivers to step up alongside Darnell Mooney.Eberflus has been pleased with what he has seen from Pringle during practices the last several weeks.“He does a really good job and is an explosive athlete, and he’s strong,” Eberflus said . “He’s got a strong set of hands to catch it in traffic and he does a really good job (with) yards after catch. He can break some tackles, you can feel his strength and you can see that on tape. We like where he is.”Pringle, who signed a one-year contract worth $4 million guaranteed this offseason, has a big opportunity to increase his production from a career-best 42 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. He was fifth in catches — and the third wide receiver — on the potent Chiefs offense run by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.AdvertisementNow, the 28-year-old former undrafted free agent from Kansas State is part of a collection of Bears receivers with a lot to prove after Poles made mostly modest offseason additions at the position.Wide receiver Byron Pringle warms up during Bears minicamp on April 19, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Mooney is the only Bears wide receiver on the roster with a better season production-wise than Pringle had in 2021. Tajae Sharpe had 41 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2016. Poles also drafted rookie Velus Jones Jr. in the third round last month.So while running back David Montgomery and tight end Cole Kmet are likely to be involved in the passing game, too, there’s room for a newcomer to break out. Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis are among the other players looking for that shot.Pringle brushed off questions about individual goals and instead said he’s trying to execute at a high level, win and have fun, something Mahomes tried to make sure his teammates always were doing. And Pringle believes they can do that behind quarterback Justin Fields and new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy despite years of offensive struggles in Chicago.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields understands the offense’s growing pains are inevitable: ‘We’re not ready’ ]“I always keep a smile on my face wherever I go, so I’m keeping that positive energy,” Pringle said. “Coming here, we ain’t worried about the past. We’re trying to go forward. We’re trying to go up. We’re not looking back at what happened in the past, and as a unit, we’re trying to be better, hold each other accountable.”Chiefs coach Andy Reid said at the NFL owners meeting a couple of months ago that Pringle would “play his heart out” and “still will continue to grow because he works so hard.”AdvertisementThat’s why Pringle thinks he can make better news in the months ahead.“I never try to stay at one level,” Pringle said. “I keep trying to keep going forward. … I don’t try to be the same player, the same dude. I try to learn something every day.”

DETROIT — Yoán Moncada raised his arms as he walked through the Chicago White Sox dugout.Teammates gathered around him and greeted him with high-fives and pats on the backs.AdvertisementMoncada had just circled the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers. It was his first home run since May 14 against the New York Yankees.“It feels good to have that kind of support,” Moncada said through an interpreter. “They celebrated that homer like it was my first career homer. It was good.”AdvertisementMoncada set the tone Wednesday in a 13-0 Sox victory in front of 20,726 at Comerica Park. The third baseman had a career-high five hits, drove in five and scored twice.White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada (10) celebrates teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning against the Tigers on Wednesday in Detroit. Moncada had five hits and five RBIs in the Sox’s 13-0 rout to complete a series sweep. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)“A day like today is good for your mind, your confidence,” said Moncada, who’s average went from .141 to .181. “Sometimes when you’re in a bad stretch you can get a little down, but a day like today helps to reinforce that confidence and to feel good. It was definitely a good day to feel good.”Moncada went 5-for-6 with the homer in the first, a single in the fourth, a double in the sixth and RBI singles in the eighth and ninth.“He showed today the stroke of a .300 hitter,” manager Tony La Russa said. “The ball inside, he turned on it. He’s really got a beautiful stroke.”Shortstop Danny Mendick hit a solo homer in the fourth and catcher Seby Zavala had a two-run homer an inning later as the Sox completed a three-game sweep. They set season highs for runs and hits (22), and everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit.“The boys came to work today,” La Russa said. “Very difficult for both sides (with weather conditions at 94 degrees for first pitch), but the boys came to work.”The Sox produced with two outs throughout the series. They had four two-out RBIs in Monday’s 9-5 win and three two-out RBIs in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory.White Sox manager Tony La Russa, left, celebrates with shortstop Danny Mendick after a 13-0 win against the Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Mendick hit a home run in the win. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)White Sox catcher Seby Zavala hits a two-run homerun against the Tigers during the fifth inning Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)That trend continued with six Wednesday, starting with Moncada’s three-run homer. He drove in another run with two outs in the ninth. Josh Harrison, who went 3-for-5, had a two-out RBI single as part of a two-run third inning. José Abreu, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs, had a two-out RBI single during a two-run fourth.AdvertisementThe Sox led 11-0 after six innings. The Tigers used position players Harold Castro (seventh), Kody Clemens (eighth) and Tucker Barnhart (ninth) to pitch the final three innings.Wednesday also marked pitcher Vince Velasquez’s return from the injured list. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out three in 2⅔ innings.Velasquez had been on the injured list since May 31 with a strained left groin. In Wednesday’s corresponding move, the Sox placed right-hander Kyle Crick on the 15-day IL — retroactive to Tuesday — with right elbow inflammation.“Just checking off all the boxes,” Velasquez said. “Seemed like a lot of stuff really didn’t leave from the last appearance (May 24 against) Boston. I tried to make sure that everything is as crisp as possible so when it is time to get whatever role I need to be in, just stay sharp and stay ready at all costs.“I’m thrilled with the results of today’s performance.”Davis Martin followed Velasquez’s start, allowing three hits and striking out three in 5⅓ innings.Advertisement“He’s a cool customer,” La Russa said of Martin, who earned the first win of his big-league career.Said Martin: “(Velasquez) started off really strong, he was dominant from the start. For me watching from the bullpen, taking away a lot of the stuff that he was doing so I could just jump right in and follow what he was doing because his plan was working, his stuff was working, so just trying to pick up from where he left off because he set the tone so high.“The fastball location helped set the tone for everything else. Fastball in there early and let the offspeed play down. Seby did a great job calling the game.”White Sox pitcher Davis Martin delivers during the third inning against the Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Martin picked up his first major-league win in the 13-0 victory. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)The Sox climbed back to one game under .500 at 30-31. They are off Thursday before beginning a weekend series against the Astros on Friday in Houston. It will be the first meeting between the teams since last year’s American League Division Series, which the Astros won in four games.“If we were playing any team that’s as good as Houston is this weekend, it would be huge for us because we’re within yelling distance of getting to where we’re a winning club, not a losing club,” La Russa said. “The fact that it’s Houston, they’re playing really well.”The Astros are in first in the AL West at 39-24.Advertisement“Whoever we’re playing is an opportunity for us to be a winning club,” La Russa said. “The fact that it’s one of the best clubs in both leagues, you understand the challenge that it’s going to be. So get ready.”

The offense rebounded with a better showing during the second of three mandatory veteran minicamp practices Wednesday, with quarterback Justin Fields making some sharp throws and avoiding turnovers that plagued him the day before.Here are three things learned at Halas Hall.AdvertisementTight end Ryan Griffin works out during Bears minicamp on April 19, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The 10-year-veteran, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract in April, seemed to describe the kind of offensive system that would rely on good tight ends.“You can see in our roster makeup we’re a younger team,” Griffin, 32, said. “A lot of hungry guys. Hardworking guys. And I think our vision is a hardworking, tough-nosed, cold-weather football team, and I pride myself on being a part of some of those teams. I’m happy to be here and try to get this thing right.”AdvertisementHow is the offense going to come into shape?“Seems like we’re going to be physical, we’re going to run, we’re going to be well-conditioned and we’re going to pound,” he said. “And we’re going to run sideline to sideline and hopefully we can get some balls over the top. In the meantime, we’ve got to score. You’ve got to put points on the board to win in this league. We’ve got the guys in this room to do it, we’ve just got to get the execution right, and that’s what this part of the year is all about. This is why we’re here. We’re working.”[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields understands the offense’s growing pains are inevitable: ‘We’re not ready’ ]Griffin and James O’Shaughnessy, the eight-year veteran from Naperville North and Illinois State, are the only veteran tight ends on the roster behind Cole Kmet. Perhaps it signals that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will lean more on 12 personnel (one running back, two wide receivers, two tight ends) this season. Getsy comes from Green Bay, and the Packers were No. 2 in the league using 12 personnel last season (29% of the time) behind only the Miami Dolphins.It can be a good idea for teams that don’t have depth at wide receiver and it can help the running game. But not every team that uses the outside-zone running scheme uses a lot of 12 personnel. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, were in 12 personnel only 10% of the time last season.Trevis Gipson stretches during Bears OTAs on May 24, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The defensive end had a bit of a slow adjustment as a rookie in 2020 when he went from being a defensive end at Tulsa to playing as an outside linebacker. He adapted well in 2021, finishing with seven sacks, but is happy with the change in scheme in which he doesn’t have to be as concerned with responsibilities in coverage.“They’re just turning us loose,” Gipson said. “Honestly, letting us play ball, play fast, play smart, with a tremendous amount of effort. So that’s something that’s going to pay off for the whole defense, the whole team, and I think we’re going to have great results.“I think overall, especially in this defense … it’s going to be tremendous. I get to come out of a three-point, (accelerate) off the ball faster and just little things like that get lost in different positions.”[ [Don’t miss] 4 things we learned at Chicago Bears minicamp, including Robert Quinn’s absence and Dakota Dozier’s injury ]Gipson said he has been impressed with rookie Dominique Robinson, a situational pass rusher drafted from Miami-Ohio.Advertisement“Sort of reminds me of me, honestly,” Gipson said. “Fifth-round pick, chip on his shoulder, dominating practice every day and still looking to get better anywhere he can.“He’s really athletic. Dude is lean, can move, very versatile. He can rush the passer with speed and rush the passer with power, and I think that makes him a great player. I would say he’s better than me, honestly. He has a lot more pass-rush attributes than I did coming in. He has more experience on the edge than I did. We take the same approach to the learning game, but overall, he’s a great student, great athlete, and I think he’s going to help us a lot.”Bears offensive lineman Braxton Jones stretches at rookie minicamp at on May 6 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Left guard Cody Whitehair had an excused absence and veteran Lucas Patrick was pretty much limited to individual drills, so the Bears moved some parts around. At one point Braxton Jones was at left tackle with Zach Thomas at left guard and Doug Kramer at center. Sam Mustipher lined up at right guard and Larry Borom was at right tackle. Veteran Dakota Dozier was not spotted after leaving Tuesday’s practice on a cart with what appeared to be an injury to his left leg.At first glance, coach Matt Eberflus said he thought Thomas held up well and didn’t make any mental mistakes.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Chicago Bears offensive line still has big questions — and moving parts — as shown by Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones ]What’s going to be telling about the line is how the first and second teams are deployed at the start of training camp next month. The coaching staff might plan to have legitimate competitions at one or two positions, but the depth chart has to start somewhere. Decisions on who will be where could be made soon even if the reveal has to wait until late July.“We’ll have a big meeting (Thursday) with (GM) Ryan (Poles) and his staff, with all of the coaches, just to reassess the whole roster before the players and the coaches go on break,” Eberflus said.AdvertisementTeven Jenkins, the 2021 second-round pick, hasn’t been an option at guard, with Eberflus saying they’ve wanted him to focus on right tackle.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11 Meet the Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL draft class. (Jae C. Hong/AP)ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 24New Bears coach Matt Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles pose with a helmet after being introduced on Jan. 31, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Peter Angelos’ wife Georgia on Wednesday became the latest and arguably most crucial voice to weigh in on the side of her son, John Angelos, as the head of the Orioles, pushing back against a lawsuit filed last week by her other son.With family patriarch and Os owner Peter Angelos ailing and no longer managing his holdings, Louis Angelos, 52, sued his younger brother and mother last week over what he said were John Angelos’ efforts to seize control of the team.AdvertisementBut in a statement the Orioles released Wednesday, Georgia Kousouris Angelos asserted her role as the voice of her husband and cast support to older son John, 54.“I, alone, have the authority to manage the family’s assets and make decisions,” Georgia Angelos said.Advertisement“Since I appointed John Angelos as chairman and CEO of the Orioles in 2020, he has led the organization thoughtfully and effectively, including through unprecedentedly challenging times,” she said. “John has my full faith, as well as the trust and confidence of Major League Baseball.”Peter Angelos, now 92, had designated his wife to act on his behalf, according to a power of attorney transfer that was among the documents Louis Angelos included when he filed his lawsuit. The document, signed in October 2017 as Peter Angelos’ health began deteriorating, said that should his wife no longer be capable of managing her affairs, the power of attorney would go to the couple’s two sons, acting “jointly or separately.”In the lawsuit filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court last Thursday, Louis Angelos said his mother wanted to sell the Orioles, adding credence to a rumor that has long swirled around the team, particularly in the wake of Peter Angelos’ exit from its helm. The lawsuit said John Angelos “has done everything in his power to stall and, ultimately, to stall and, ultimately, thwart plans to sell the club,” single-handedly torpedoing “one highly credible group of buyers.”The suit reinforced another rumor with an inference that John Angelos’ consolidation of control over the team could allow him to move the team to Tennessee, where he lives in Nashville with his country music singer-songwriter wife.But on Monday, John Angelos denied the Orioles were going anywhere. In a statement also released by the team, John Angelos repeated a prior assertion that the Os will remain in Baltimore “as long as Fort McHenry is standing watch over the Inner Harbor.” The statement was silent on the subject of selling the team, as it was on the fact that his brother had sued him.But Georgia Angelos’ statement began by denouncing “the false and painful claims that have been alleged in the lawsuit that my son, Louis, has brought against me and my older son, John.“I want to set the record straight,” she said.Additionally, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the team’s landlord at Camden Yards, told The Baltimore Sun that it recognized John Angelos as the team’s CEO. Citing their “excellent working relationship,” the authority said it was continuing negotiations with John Angelos on a new lease to keep the Orioles in town.AdvertisementThe team is in its final year of a lease that includes a clause that expressly bars “the relocation of the Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball Team from Baltimore, Maryland,” sweet words in a city haunted by its loss on a snowy night in 1984 of their beloved Colts football team.At issue is $600 million in bonds that the General Assembly authorized and Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law for improvements to Camden Yards, along with the same amount for Ravens Stadium. The bonds cannot be issued without a lease, and the lease must run long enough to pay off the bonds with the longest term.While there is no guarantee a new lease would contain the same no-relocation clause in the current one, the stadium authority says such clauses are common in similar agreements. The lease terms would apply to the new owner should the club be sold, according to the authority.The family fireworks have generated much attention, as Orioles Nation speculated on what it means for the team, who for all their losing ways in recent years manages to keep its grip on local hearts.Georgia Angelos noted her deep roots in town, saying she was “born and raised in Northeast Baltimore, within walking distance of Memorial Stadium, and attending city public schools: PS 50, PS 49 and Eastern High School.“I attended the first Orioles Opening Day in 1954,” she said, going on to credit her husband and his partners for restoring local ownership when they bought the team four decades later. That avoided, she said, “the constant threat of relocation that had taken the Colts away from Baltimore.Advertisement“Any suggestion that Peter, John, or I would explore moving the club is false and intentionally divisive,” she said.Fans should feel reassured by the statement, said Alan M. Rifkin, the former outside counsel to the Orioles.“She is and always has been a pillar of honesty and sincerity,” he told The Sun. “The public and Orioles fans should take great comfort in her continuing commitment to the city.”Georgia Angelos’ statement rejects the allegations made by Louis Angelos in his suit. He describes his brother as plotting to get rid of lawyers and team officials who were loyal to his father and replacing them with “yes men” that would allow him to exert total control. To do that, he intimidated and confused his mother and got her to agree to amendments to the trust that Peter Angelos created for his holdings.Louis Angelos’ attorney, Jeffrey E. Nusinov, previously decried John Angelos’ statement, in which John Angelos said he “was appointed Chairman and CEO according to my parents’ expressed wishes.” Nusinov could not be reached Wednesday for comment.The suit also claimed John Angelos co-opted a lawyer, Chris Jones, into working solely for his rather than the family’s interests. John Angelos’ wife, Margaret Valentine, took Jones’ daughter, an aspiring country-singer, under her wing, which resulted in her getting her gigs to perform in Camden Yards.AdvertisementBut Georgia Angelos defended Jones’ “professionalism and integrity,” saying he was a friend and invaluable in estate and Orioles planning.“Chris and his family as well as my son, John, and his family are owed an apology,” she said.She also expressed regret to the Orioles staff and, “most importantly, devoted Orioles’ fans,” over the public airing of a battle within her normally private family.“I have always believed,” she said, “that family disputes and concerns should remain among family members.“I look forward to putting this matter behind us all.”Sun reporter Jeff Barker contributed to this article.

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks’ changeup has been a staple of his big-league success.So it’s not a coincidence that the pitch was at the root of shutting down the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night after nearly two-week layoff for the pitcher.AdvertisementA dead arm and shoulder fatigue had sidelined Hendricks, but time off resolved the issue. After nearing a shutout last month against San Diego, Hendricks went five-plus innings and allowed one run while not walking a batter and striking out six batters.[ [Don’t miss] How a new slider helped Glen Ellyn native Eric Stout earn a call up to his childhood-favorite Chicago Cubs ]But the Cubs squandered Hendricks’ outing in a 12-5 loss, which was a season-high eight straight defeat. The bullpen imploded after his departure, allowing all 12 runs to score over the final four innings. Manager David Ross needed three pitchers to get through the seventh inning when the Padres loaded the bases twice with nobody out as they sent 12 batters to the plate in the six-run, go-ahead inning.Advertisement“I feel back to 100% normal,” Hendricks said. “Fatigued a little bit for sure, maybe a little bit at the end. I left that pitch up and that was maybe the one bad pitch for me. But overall I felt healthwise great and stamina-wise real good there for a while. My stuff and my mechanics felt really good so I’ve got to get back into a routine now and get that pitch count back up.”Right-hander Caleb Kilian will start Wednesday against the Padres, Ross announced after the loss. The Cubs will need to put someone on the injured list to recall the rookie since Kilian hasn’t spent the minimum 15 days in the minors since the team optioned him.Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks during the sixth inning against the Padres on June 14, 2022. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)The Cubs’ scuffling offense wasted Willson Contreras’ stellar performance, which featured a double and his 10th career multi-home run game.Hendricks surrendered a leadoff double in the sixth, prompting a mound visit from Ross. Prior to the inning, they had discussed in the dugout that Hendricks would be going batter-to-batter in the inning. Coming into the game, Hendricks and the Cubs felt comfortable letting him throw in the 85-pitch range. But, at 78 pitches and with a five-run lead, Ross went to the bullpen following the double.“I was watching and it looked like he was running out of gas,” Ross said.The bullpen’s meltdown thwarted Hendricks’ momentum-building start. Of the five relievers used — Chris Martin, Scott Effross, Mychal Givens, Brandon Hughes and Eric Stout — only Hughes did not allow a run. Givens failed to record an out in the seventh, walking three Padres and was charged with four runs allowed.“It’s hard to hard to put my finger on it and sometimes they have a bad night,” Ross said of the bullpen. “They’d been really good. I’m not going to sit up here and make some excuse or something. They weren’t good. They’ll be back in there tomorrow night.”[ [Don’t miss] A bruised finger doesn’t stop Justin Steele in a much-needed start for the Chicago Cubs: ‘The pain was manageable’ ]Getting Hendricks right is important after his ups and downs dating to the start of last season.Advertisement“Kyle was fantastic, I couldn’t ask for more,” Contreras said. “He battled. He execute every pitch that was called.”His changeup appears to be the key to unlocking better consistency, and the Cubs need that to carry over. He threw 40% changeups Tuesday, his highest Pitch% in 12 starts this year. He hadn’t thrown a higher percentage in a start since Sept. 16. Hendricks tallied nine whiffs on the Padres’ 17 swings against his changeup.“There’s some things that we tried to identify in his downtime of getting back to what he is,” Ross said. “I want him to continue to do that and let the other teams figure out what the difference is, but I thought he got back to a lot of the ways that he’s had success this year.”Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks delivers during the first inning against the Padres on June 14, 2022. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Hendricks is known for how frequently he throws in between starts and values getting work in off a mound. But “for a guy that wants to throw a lot, it’s kind of hard at times,” to take the proper rest needed, Hottovy said. Based on the off days last week, the Cubs had targeted Hendricks to return Tuesday while also considering Sunday’s series finale at Yankee Stadium.The Cubs opted to not put Hendricks on the injured list because of rotation flexibility with scheduled off days and optimism he wouldn’t need to be sidelined too long. If they had needed his active roster spot, maybe the Cubs would have taken a different path to getting Hendricks the rest he needed for his arm and shoulder to bounce back.“Once we hit that point where he felt like he was recovering well and it wasn’t taking as much to get loose, then we were ready to push it with some bullpens and stuff,” Hottovy said. “And once he got to the bullpens, we can get pitch data or you can get more information to kind of get a clearer picture of where he is.Advertisement“We were holding out hope that there was a chance he’d be back a little bit sooner but, in the end, I think we made the right decisions with getting him ready.”[ [Don’t miss] 3 thoughts on the Chicago Cubs, including being ‘patient’ with Seiya Suzuki’s slow recovery and the Jason Heyward roster conundrum ]Getting Hendricks back is a boost after the loss of three veteran starters to the IL. Wade Miley’s left shoulder was examined Monday and he’s been prescribed rest. He will then be reevaluated and given a throwing program. The Cubs felt confident he had fully healed from the shoulder strain when he came off the IL Friday and he felt good until one pitch to Josh Donaldson.Hottovy said the Cubs should have a better timetable for Miley’s return next week. He anticipates Miley will need a deliberate ramp up to hit all the checkpoints. Hottovy called it a “blurred line” as to whether Miley reaggravated his previous shoulder injury or suffered a new injury elsewhere in his shoulder.“It’s in a similar area, but he feels it at different points,” Hottovy said. “One he felt it in his extension and then one might be when he’s going into layback external rotation. So, we’ve got to let that area calm down and figure out what we’re actually dealing with.”

DETROIT — Chicago White Sox third-base coach Joe McEwing wanted to make something clear Tuesday at Comerica Park.“First things first, I’m a pescatarian, so I don’t eat meat,” McEwing said. “I don’t eat ribeye or fillet, … I eat fish.”AdvertisementMcEwing was referencing Lance Lynn’s reasoning after the pitcher was asked after Monday night’s game about a lively discussion caught on camera between the two during a game against the Detroit Tigers.“He was trying to get me going,” Lynn said after the game. “He kept telling me that fillets are better than ribeye. I’m more of a ribeye and potatoes guy. He’s a fillet and Caesar salad. I just told him was wrong.Advertisement“And then he went back to coaching third.”McEwing said the situation was a miscommunication.“Let it be known I love Lance to death,” McEwing said. “We have the same personalities. We’re both competitors and we both care so much about how much work goes into a daily game. It was a miscommunication between us. And we took care of it, we hugged each other. I was thinking something else that he was thinking internally and mentally. And we hugged it out and we’re good.”The Tigers had seven hits in the first two innings. The discussion was before the third. The assumption was the conversation centered on positioning of players.“And that’s the miscommunication part, that’s what I assumed,” McEwing said. “And it was more or less about him not making pitches. He wasn’t making pitches. He was leaving balls in the middle of the zone, and that’s what he was feeling internally.“My assumption was that it was about something else. And that’s where the miscommunication comes. And it happens. When you’re out there competing and both sides care about their job and winning and losing and things like that may happen. But that’s part of the game. … We have the same fiery personalities and that’s where it came out. But we talked about it and moved on.”Lynn allowed three runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and no walks in 4⅓ innings in the 9-5 victory.“Lance battled and perhaps most importantly told me after the game he feels good,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “He feels really good. Location might have shown a little bit of rust. I know he got frustrated because he didn’t make a couple of pitches that he is normally used to making.Advertisement“But he battled through with his stuff, without his best stuff like the veteran that he is and gave us what we needed to get a win (Monday). That was good to have him back from a performance standpoint, and it’s just fantastic having him back in that (clubhouse) giving his presence.”Hahn didn’t make much of what was shown on camera between Lynn and McEwing.“I viewed it as two competitors having a conversation,” Hahn said. “Now the fact that Joe doesn’t eat meat makes me a little dubious of the explanation that you all reported that the conversation was about, but I’m not going to question your sources. (Lynn’s explanation) was impressive, but you’ve got to check your sources on that one.“That’s a nothing burger. No pun intended.”