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Trestan Ebner didn’t need long Friday to identify his favorite kickoff return from his five seasons at Baylor.“Probably Iowa State,” Ebner said with a grin. “Called it in the huddle.”AdvertisementIndeed, Ebner told teammates last September that Andrew Mevis’ third-quarter kickoff at McLane Stadium was coming to him and was about to go the distance the other way. A few moments later, he caught the football just outside the right hash marks at his 2-yard line and got rolling.Ebner angled toward the middle of the field, made one sharp cut inside, then found daylight to his left. When he stepped on the gas, the Cyclones coverage team was finished. Receiver Darien Porter may have gotten a fingertip on Ebner’s right ankle around the Iowa State 30. But otherwise, it was highlight-reel material. Called and delivered.AdvertisementThat proved to be a pivotal play in a 31-29 Baylor win and offered evidence of the confidence, speed and vision that make Ebner dangerous. Now he’ll try to use those talents with the Chicago Bears.[ [Don’t miss] Column: How Trestan Ebner’s fast-acting agent — and his sister’s cellphone — connected the Bears with the Baylor RB ]Velus Jones rewound a little further when asked to identify the moment he realized he had gifts as a return man. Pop Warner, Jones said, as a 10-year-old in Alabama.That’s when Jones, against a top-tier opponent that he said had lost only game in the previous half-decade, took a chance.“The ball was just rolling on the ground and I picked it up,” he said. “But I remember at one point that I was slow picking it up so I could bring (the coverage team) in a little more. Then I scooped it up and I knew I could get away with my speed.”[ [Don’t miss] 3 things we heard from Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, including his ‘tremendous’ dynamic with Justin Fields ]Jones used his blockers, found an opening and turned on the jets.End zone. Touchdown. Celebration.“I remember that like it was yesterday,” he said. “I realized sky’s the limit when it came to that. Ever since, I’ve just been perfecting my craft.”Now Jones, too, will work to use those special skills to help him break through in the NFL.AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11 Meet the Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL draft class. (Jae C. Hong/AP)As the Bears slowly make their way toward the starting line of the 2022 season with the team rebooting in so many ways, a special teams showdown between two explosive rookies should be fun to keep tabs on.“It will be an exciting competition,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said Saturday.Yes, general manager Ryan Poles drafted Jones and Ebner with visions of each carving out a significant role in the offense. But the two players’ special teams achievements also were circled and highlighted.[ [Don’t miss] Bears draft class is older with more college experience — a byproduct of COVID-19. Could it be deeper too? ]At Tennessee last season, Jones was the SEC’s Co-Special Teams Player of the Year after averaging 27.3 yards per kickoff return, including a 96-yard touchdown against South Alabama. He was also dangerous as a punt returner, finishing second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 15.1 yards per return.Ebner, meanwhile, scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns in his Baylor career and last season was honored as the Big 12′s Special Teams Player of the Year.Baylor running back Trestan Ebner (1) leaps over TCU placekicker Griffin Kell (39) while returning a kickoff Nov. 6, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)Hightower has been quick to point out that the Bears’ bid to find a kick returner will include more than the two rookies. Running back Khalil Herbert and wide receiver Byron Pringle have NFL experience in that role and will get a look. Others could blend into the battle as well.AdvertisementBut there’s a lot to like about Ebner and Jones.Ebner brings an aggressive mindset to the role and was quick to identify his strengths as a returner.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Bears haven’t had 2 rookie DBs start Week 1 in 51 years. Could Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker end that streak? ]“It’s my vision to find the hole and hit it and the speed to pull it off,” he said.Jones complements his blazing speed with an impressive combination of physicality and fearlessness.“I’ve never, ever been afraid of contact,” he said. “Always run through the smoke. That’s a part of my DNA.”Tennessee’s Velus Jones Jr. (1) returns a kickoff against Florida on Sept. 25, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (John Raoux/AP)A think-big mentality is also part of Jones’ wiring. So while he wore No. 12 for rookie minicamp over the weekend, he has aspirations of switching to No. 23. Yep, for Devin Hester.Advertisement“It would be nice to put that number on,” Jones said. “It’ll put a little pressure on myself. But it’s the kind of pressure you want. I just hope I can be half of what he was.”So do the Bears.For now, Jones and Ebner will continue getting their feet on the ground. When training camp intensifies in August, the two rookies will have opportunities to step up in a big way on special teams. Both remain eager for what’s ahead.

SAN DIEGO — Establishing consistency from start to start had eluded Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks.The typically reliable Hendricks has endured a slow start. One outing the veteran delivered a vintage performance, the next he struggled to get in a rhythm. Hendricks’ inconsistencies represent a microcosm of the Cubs rotation’s issues nearly five weeks into the season.AdvertisementBut when Hendricks, 32, is locked in, he remains one of the best starters in the league. Count his performance Monday night in San Diego as a classic Hendricks start. He came one out away from his fifth career shutout in the Cubs’ 6-0 victory versus the Padres. In a dazzling effort, Hendricks limited San Diego to three hits over 8⅔ innings while walking one batter and striking out seven.Hendricks talked manager David Ross into letting him go back out for the ninth at 99 pitches. Ross planned to let Hendricks face the first three Padres hitters, with reliever Scott Effross warming up to be ready to face Manny Machado. But a seven-pitch, one-out walk to Jake Cronenworth prevented Hendricks from going the distance.AdvertisementHendricks said he started to fatigue a little after striking out Jose Azocar to begin the ninth.“I can’t walk somebody 6-0 right there,” Hendricks said. “(Ross) knows that, I know that. He’s got all the trust in the world in me and I appreciate it so much.”Cubs fans react as starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks exits with two outs in the ninth inning of a game against the Padres on May 9, 2022. (Gregory Bull/AP)Hendricks became the first Cubs starter to pitch into the eighth inning this year and nearly was the first to throw a shutout since Alec Mills’ no-hitter on Sept. 13, 2020.Hendricks threw 116 pitches Monday, the third-highest pitch count of his career. The only two games he threw more came in 2016: 123 pitches in a shutout versus Miami and 117 pitches in a win at Cincinnati.“You never want to really come out no matter what it is, but I also didn’t realize kind of how high my pitch count was,” Hendricks said. “It’s good to get to see some of the results from the good pitches. But again, that can’t be the focus. I’ve got to establish what I’ve been doing and try to carry that over to the next start.”[ [Don’t miss] After a quick recall by the Chicago Cubs, can Frank Schwindel get on track to avoid a trip to the minors? ]Hendricks credited catcher Yan Gomes’ pitch sequencing early in the game and generating bad swings for helping him build confidence early. He executed the plan and limited the damage, the latter of which the righty hasn’t always navigated well this year. He neutralized the Padres by effectively mixing in his curveball enough to enhance his changeup (10 whiffs) and four-seam fastball (four whiffs and 10 called strikes).“The thing with Kyle is he’s one of the elite pitchers in the game, so guys are going to try to make adjustments,” Gomes said. “He’s probably got one of the best changeups you’ll see whether it’s to righties and lefties, which is usually not a common thing. So guys are going to make adjustments to him, and right now it’s just up to him to try to catch up to that side.“I think you’re starting to see him get a little bit more comfortable and starting to trust all his pitches.”AdvertisementCubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws to first for an out against the Padres’ Jose Azocar during the sixth inning on May 9, 2022. (Gregory Bull/AP)Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.For the Cubs to be merely competitive, they need Hendricks as a consistent, reliable force in the rotation. Stringing together consecutive quality starts is imperative. His last two outings suggested he is on the right track and creating some momentum in May. The Cubs can feed off Hendricks when he gets rolling.“Seeing the way he works both sides of the plate and the movement on his pitches and just kind of the master of his craft he has, it’s really special,” Nico Hoerner said. “The way that he pitches is not common in this game anymore and it’s amazing to see a guy that has mastered his craft and that’s who he is.“A pitcher that is getting early contact and has a good tempo and all that, it’s incredibly fun to play behind.”[ [Don’t miss] Wade Miley will make his Chicago Cubs debut tonight, coming off the injured list to add stability to the rotation ]Right fielder Seiya Suzuki seemingly avoided a serious injury in the win. Suzuki exited the game in the bottom of the sixth because of right ankle soreness. He is day-to-day after awkwardly stepping on first base in the fifth inning while trying to beat out his double-play ball that scored a run to put the Cubs ahead 3-0. The trainer told Ross that Suzuki’s ankle ailment is “nothing major.”Suzuki said his ankle felt fine after the game, but it will be up to Ross whether he plays Tuesday.“I just wanted to be aggressive there and try to be safe to get that run in,” Suzuki said of the play through interpreter Toy Matsushita. “In that case you want to be careful, but my feelings are stronger to be safe there.Advertisement“You want to play the whole game, but I felt that it was going to affect the team negatively if I kept on playing so I decided to come out of the game.”

SAN DIEGO — One rehab start served as sufficient buildup for Chicago Cubs left-hander Wade Miley.Miley will be activated from the injured list Tuesday to start against the San Diego Padres. The Cubs still are determining who will start Wednesday’s series finale.AdvertisementLeft elbow inflammation sidelined Miley shortly after he reported to spring training in mid-March. He was expected to be a stabilizing presence in the rotation after the Cubs claimed him off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds in November.[ [Don’t miss] Kyle Hendricks dazzles for Chicago Cubs in a near complete game — but Seiya Suzuki exits early in the 6-0 win ]While the Cubs offense had notably scuffled over the previous 17 games before Monday’s 6-0 win over the Padres — hitting .204 and averaging 3.2 runs in that span, which includes a 21-run game against the Pittsburgh Pirates — the rotation has yet to hit its stride. The Cubs need Miley to help get the rotation in a groove by ripping off a few consecutive quality starts.Advertisement“We’ve had to throw some bullpen days out there just because of some adversity we’ve hit early on,” manager David Ross said Monday at Petco Park. “Just another veteran presence you can get out there and trust to go out and do his thing.”The rotation appeared in rough shape after Sunday. Right-hander Marcus Stroman went on the injured list before the 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers without an injury distinction, indicating a COVID-19-related move.Then left-hander Justin Steele, originally slated to start Monday and bumped up to Sunday, exited the game while warming up for the fifth inning because of a sore left thumb.Steele played catch Monday and told the Tribune his thumb felt fine with no lingering issues. Although there is a little stiffness around his lower knuckle, Steele was able to use his slider grip Monday, which is what plagued him Sunday to prompt his removal. He anticipates making his next start.Right-hander Alec Mills’ progress hasn’t changed much. His light bullpen session Sunday at the team complex in Arizona went well, but it remains unclear when he will resume his rehab assignment. Mills initially went on the IL with a lower back strain and made a rehab start April 23, but he experienced tightness in his right quadriceps and was shut down nearly two weeks ago.Shortstop Andrelton Simmons had a scheduled day off Monday as part of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and will ramp up this week.

The next important step in the Chicago Bears offseason program begins next week with voluntary organized team activities at Halas Hall. It’s another chance for the new front office and coaching staff to implement systems and evaluate a constantly evolving roster.The Bears signed six tryout players from rookie minicamp over the weekend and have five weeks remaining before mandatory minicamp June 14-16, followed by a break before training camp.AdvertisementGeneral manager Ryan Poles, coach Matt Eberflus and their staffs will be searching for clues if not answers. Here are seven positions with questions, some of which won’t be resolved until training camp or even the preseason.Bears offensive lineman Dakota Dozier (78) warms up with teammates during minicamp at Halas Hall on April 21, 2022, in Lake Forest. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)Sam Mustipher lined up with the first unit during the voluntary minicamp last month after playing center the previous two seasons. Free-agent addition Lucas Patrick has taken over at center and the Bears would prefer to keep him there.AdvertisementDakota Dozier is an option after he started 16 games at guard for the Minnesota Vikings in 2020, giving him familiarity with the outside zone scheme. Sixth-round pick Zachary Thomas might compete for the job, but it’s premature to suggest the San Diego State product can go from Day 3 pick to starter in a matter of months.The Bears tried to pluck Ryan Bates from the Buffalo Bills as a restricted free agent, and he would have slotted in at right guard. But that move didn’t materialize, and a month and a half later there isn’t a clear starter.Bears offensive tackle Teven Jenkins (76) walks off the field after a loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Dec. 12, 2021, in Green Bay. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)That might be a bigger question than the issue at right guard. Borom was at left tackle during minicamp with Jenkins at right tackle. If the Bears didn’t believe the two second-year pros had legitimate chances to settle in, they probably would have made a move for one of the unsigned veteran options.“I think they both have a really good chance this year to show what they’re made of,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said Sunday.But it’s only a projection at this point.[ [Don’t miss] 4 things we learned at Bears rookie minicamp, including the inspiration Ja’Tyre Carter takes from his late brother ]“They’re working hard,” Poles said when asked about the offensive linemen Friday on the “Mully and Haugh Show” on WSCR-670 AM. “They’re improving. They’re taking coaching, so that is obviously a positive. If you are an O-line guy like I am, you know that we’re not going to be able to tell much about these offensive linemen until we put pads on.“So I love the work they’re putting in. They’re doing everything right. They’re adapting to the new scheme. They’re changing their bodies. Everything that they’re supposed to. But listen, we all know up front when the pads come on, that’s when we really see what’s going on.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 119Bears quarterback Justin Fields scores in the fourth quarter against the 49ers at Soldier Field on Oct. 31, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Despite the sentiment some hold that the Bears’ offseason moves to this point — which haven’t included any eye-catching moves on offense — hint at a lack of belief in the second-year quarterback, that’s simply not the case.AdvertisementThe Bears believe Fields can take a big step forward in the new scheme and they’re working on refining his mechanics with quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko while giving him the blueprint for the offense. Fields should have the basics down by training camp.[ [Don’t miss] 3 things we heard from Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, including his ‘tremendous’ dynamic with Justin Fields ]“There’s a lot,” Getsy said when asked what he’d like to see from Fields between now and then. “We’re working though this thing step by step. In order to be able to master our craft, we have to master each step.“We’re staying on track. I think he’s — if anything — ahead of pace and I’m real excited to see by the end of this thing if we’re just going to keep knocking out these steps.”Bears wide receiver Byron Pringle warms up during minicamp April 19, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)This question won’t be answered until the regular season, but the more work Fields gets with Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown and rookie Velus Jones, the better their timing will be when camp opens. They’ve been running routes on air and will be able to go against defensive players when OTAs start.It doesn’t sound like the team is interested in bringing in one of the unsigned name wide receivers. That puts pressure on Pringle and, to a lesser degree, St. Brown to emerge as consistent contributors with elevated roles in the new offense.Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (97) plays against the Cardinals on Dec. 25, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (Darryl Webb/AP)Eberflus has said he wants to play linemen in waves to keep them fresh and avoid the high snap counts you see on a lot of teams. Only two of his Indianapolis Colts defensive linemen played more than 60% of the defensive snaps last season: tackle DeForest Buckner (77.4%) and end Al-Quadin Muhammad (73.4%).AdvertisementMuhammad, a free-agent signing, figures to be a main cog for the Bears and Robert Quinn should start opposite him. Behind them, Trevis Gipson and rookie Dominique Robinson could help in pass-rushing situations.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Bears haven’t had 2 rookie DBs start Week 1 in 51 years. Could Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker end that streak? ]Inside, the Bears have Angelo Blackson, Justin Jones, Mario Edwards Jr. and Khyiris Tonga. Linemen can get thinned out quickly, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bears are proactive looking for another player to add to the mix.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 92Bears linebacker Roquan Smith tackles Packers running back Aaron Jones during the first quarter Jan. 3, 2021, at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)The Bears haven’t been able to answer this question, and it’s possible Eberflus and his staff won’t make a decision until training camp.Smith’s athletic ability seems to make him an ideal fit for the weak-side linebacker position, where Darius Leonard has starred in Indianapolis. It’s also the spot where Lance Briggs was a perennial Pro Bowl selection for the Bears under Lovie Smith. But don’t discount the significance of the middle linebacker position Brian Urlacher played.Wherever the Bears use Smith, he should be the most impactful player on the defense. Seeing how he reads and reacts during OTAs and minicamp should help influence the decision — or at least give the coaches an idea of where they want him to begin training camp.Bears defensive back Tavon Young (25) stretches during minicamp April 20, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The former Raven has been a feisty, effective defender when he’s on the field, but injuries marred his time in Baltimore and the coaching staff had to manage his practice time last season.AdvertisementDuke Shelley is behind him on the depth chart, and he has been underwhelming when he has had an opportunity. It’s a difficult position to play, and considering Young’s durability history, it’s worth keeping an eye on potential slot cornerbacks.

Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams said the NBA should consider having a special section in the stands reserved for the families of visiting teams in the wake of Chris Paul’s family being harassed during Sunday’s playoff game in Dallas.The incident happened during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Dallas Mavericks and Suns.AdvertisementESPN reported that members of Paul’s family had been harassed by fans and that some in the crowd made physical contact with them. The Mavericks said the fan was ejected.“It’s a hard one, because it’s happening more and more,” Williams said Monday at practice. “The situations are getting to a place now where I really feel like families, who are there to support their loved ones, need to be protected a bit more. Whether or not we have to give these people a section, a suite, something has to be done.Advertisement“Because we can’t wait for it to get to a level or two higher, before we do what we need to do. Yesterday was unnecessary.”The Mavericks said after the game they were aware of the incident between a fan and Paul’s family at American Airlines Center. Williams said he didn’t know the extent of the harassment in real time because the game was still being played.Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, l, greets, Chris Paul at the bench after Paul fouled out in the second half of Game 4. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)The Mavericks said in a statement on Monday the offending fans had been banned from the arena for eight months.“American Airlines Center and Dallas Mavericks security and executives have concluded the investigation into the incident involving the Paul family,” the statement said. “Two unruly fans attempted to give unwanted hugs and have conversations with members of the Paul family on the public concourse of American Airlines Center. AAC security responded immediately once notified by the family and the fans were swiftly ejected from the game. The fans involved in the incident will not be allowed to return to the arena until 2023.”After the game, Paul tweeted: “Wanna fine players for saying stuff to the fans but the fans can put they hands on our families.” He also added an expletive.Paul didn’t speak to the media after Monday’s practice.The NBA has had several moments of conflict between fans and players or their families over the past few seasons, including an incident earlier this season when LeBron James had two fans ejected in a game in Indiana.Suns forward Cam Johnson said a similar situation happened in Milwaukee last season during the NBA Finals when his girlfriend was hit in the back of the head and had beer spilled on her. Johnson said he didn’t hear about it until after the game.Advertisement“It was kind of a big scene,” Johnson said. “It really frustrated me.”Johnson said security in Milwaukee handled the situation and that the fan was kicked out. He said security can only do so much to keep families safe.“A large part of the responsibility has to be on fans,” Johnson said. “They just can’t act that way. There’s no other way around it. You’ve got to address the problem with the real problem. It’s that a fan can’t go up to someone’s mother and harass them.”On Sunday, the Mavericks beat the Suns 111-101 and evened the best-of-seven series 2-2. Paul fouled out of the game in the fourth quarter. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Phoenix.“I have to stress that I don’t think this is indicative of the fans in Dallas,” Williams said. “They’re cheering for their team. I’ve never had this kind of incident at that arena, even going back to the old spot, Reunion Arena, never.”

When everyone predicted last month the Chicago White Sox would run away with the American League Central, general manager Rick Hahn voiced concern about the possibility of getting off to a “little rocky” start.“Just the nature of the offseason, the shortened spring, the steep schedule expectations early in the year were going to create some volatility in the roster and likely in performance,” Hahn said Monday afternoon. “I didn’t quite foresee losing eight in a row followed by (winning) six in a row. But it’s not a total shock that we haven’t quite found our sea legs or that this team hasn’t quite found its identity.”AdvertisementActually this Sox team already had an identity, forged during its run to the postseason in 2021. But only lately have we seen that cocky, us-against-the-world attitude on display.A six-game winning streak will do that, and the return of third baseman Yoán Moncada and reliever Joe Kelly from the injured list Monday only added to the team’s swagger.AdvertisementThe switch-hitting Moncada might not solve all of their early issues hitting right-handers, and Kelly must prove he’s totally back about 6½ months after incurring a right biceps nerve injury for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Still, they’re two valuable ingredients to this White Sox stew.The Sox came home to summerlike weather Monday to begin a homestand against the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees. Michael Kopech, who has dominated since joining the rotation after his sabbatical in the bullpen last season, took the mound against the Guardians in search of his first win.[ [Don’t miss] Michael Kopech continues to learn with each start for the White Sox. ‘His stuff is electric,’ says Tim Anderson. ]It makes sense the Sox have handled Kopech with kid gloves — 23 innings in his first five starts — in spite of a sparkling 1.17 ERA. But does manager Tony La Russa foresee Kopech throwing into the eighth or ninth inning at all this season?“You’re fooling yourself or somebody if you predict what he’s going to get today,” La Russa said before Monday’s start. “If he’s cruising, he can pitch seven or eight if he’s having quick outs. If not, maybe half of that.“We know the reality is this is his first (full) year as a starter. It’s a long season and we’re going to err on the side of caution as far as extending him.”Kopech showed his frustration in the dugout after being removed in the fifth inning of his last start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, though he later said he understood the Sox were looking out for his well-being.White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada during batting practice before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday, May 9, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)It’s hard to come out when you’re almost unhittable. Kopech had limited right-handed hitters to a .114 average entering Monday’s game with no extra-base hits against him.“I don’t even think he’s brought anything near his ‘A’ game out yet, and he’s absolutely dominated guys,” fellow starter Dylan Cease said Monday. “When he’s clicking on all cylinders, it’s going to be scary.”AdvertisementCease, who may be on his way to his first All-Star selection, said Kopech is relearning how to be a regular starter for the first time since 2018. He missed all of 2019 after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.“He’s obviously already a good pitcher, and he had done it for spurts out of the bullpen,” Cease said. “But now it’s the next step of getting through the lineup a couple times. He absolutely has the stuff to do it.”It has been a minute since Kopech and Moncada became the first two prospects Hahn acquired for the rebuild when he sent ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox at the 2016 winter meetings. Injuries and COVID-19-related absences have prevented both players from living up to the early hype, but it’s easy to forget Moncada has played only four full seasons while Kopech had only eight career starts entering 2022.If the promised land is on the Sox docket, both players must be vital cogs on the ride.The Sox optioned Jake Burger to Triple-A Charlotte to open Moncada’s roster spot. Kelly took the place of reliever Aaron Bummer, who was placed on the IL retroactive to Saturday with a right knee sprain.“Just kind of a freak thing that happened in Boston,” Bummer said. “Just on the last two pitches felt something. We’re definitely playing it smart. We’re playing it safe this time of the year and not trying to push anything, and it’ll be healthy for the long run.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] The ‘Sodfather’ confirms the obvious: This Chicago spring — with its ‘brutal’ weather pattern— has been the worst ]Kelly’s health bears watching after Hahn signed the veteran in March to a two-year, $17 million deal with an option for 2024. Kelly once suffered a back injury cooking crawfish for his teammates in 2019.“He was cooking some Cajun food,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I guess he was standing a little longer than he wanted to. That’s what he told me.”With their never-ending series of untimely injuries, the Sox hopefully can keep Kelly away from the stove in 2022. Hand him some takeout menus from our many fine restaurants.It couldn’t hurt. The Sox have become experts in overcoming obstacles the last two-plus seasons, and their early travails could be a mere blip come October.“One of the beautiful things about this game is over the course of a long summer, the true talent and true ability of the team tends to prevail,” Hahn said.Summer arrived early Monday, interrupting our miserable Chicago spring.AdvertisementWe can only hope it’s a long one.

Eleven months after the NCAA lifted most of its restrictions against athletes cashing in on their fame, college sports leaders are trying to send a warning to schools and boosters they believe have crossed a line: There are still rules here and they will be enforced.But after last year’s Supreme Court ruling against the NCAA in an antitrust case, is a crackdown on so-called collectives brokering name, image and likeness deals likely — or even possible?Advertisement“I didn’t think (the NCAA) would not try at some point,” said Maddie Salamone, a sports attorney and former Duke lacrosse player. “That’s why many attorneys have been kind of giving cautious advice in terms of what is and is not allowed. Especially when it comes to collectives and different NIL deals.”The NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors on Monday approved guidance developed by a group of college sports administrators, clarifying the types of NIL payments and booster involvement that should be considered recruiting violations.Advertisement“Specifically, the guidance defines as a booster any third-party entity that promotes an athletics program, assists with recruiting or assists with providing benefits to recruits, enrolled student-athletes or their family members,” the NCAA release said. “The definition could include ‘collectives’ set up to funnel name, image and likeness deals to prospective student-athletes or enrolled student-athletes who might be considering transferring.”The NCAA added a reminder: Recruiting rules bar boosters from recruiting or providing benefits to prospects.The guidance is effective immediately. NCAA enforcement staff was directed to look for possible violations that might have occurred before May 9, 2022, but “pursue only those actions that clearly are contrary to the published interim policy, including the most severe violations of recruiting rules or payment for athletics performance.”The NCAA neither changed its rules nor created new ones.“I don’t think they’re even necessarily clarifying the rules,” said attorney Darren Heitner, who helped craft Florida’s NIL law. “My understanding is this is just certain individuals who have made up a working committee deciding that after almost 11 months we want to enforce our rules.”The rise of booster-funded collectives prompted the board in February to ask the DI Council to review the NCAA’s interim NIL policy. The concern among many in college sports has been that payments from collectives are being made to high school recruits and to college athletes in hopes of getting them to transfer to a particular school.“Some things look very much like pay-for-play,” Salamone said. “There are rules on the books within the NCAA around boosters. The fact that the NCAA has been hesitant to enforce anything I think has emboldened a lot of people around this issue to be a little bit more obvious.”Last year, the NCAA removed its longstanding ban against athletes earning money from sponsorship and endorsement deals. What remained in place, however, were three pillars of the NCAA’s amateur athlete model:AdvertisementAthletes could not be paid solely for playing their sport.Compensation could not be used to lure an athlete to a particular school.Financial arrangements must have some type of quid pro quo agreement in which the athlete was being paid for services provided, such as a social media post or an appearance.The NCAA did not ban boosters from being involved in NIL activity. However, without detailed NCAA rules and with state-level NIL laws differing across the country, it left both schools and the association struggling to determine which activities were impermissible.Some state laws also prohibit boosters from engaging with recruits, but there has been little appetite for enforcement of those laws.Should the NCAA start targeting some collectives, it could trigger a new round of lawsuits against the association.Mit Winter, a sports attorney in Kansas City, Missouri, said NCAA enforcement of these rules is not a clear-cut antitrust violation.“So the question is, under antitrust law, is the rule that’s being enforced reasonable?” Winter said. “And from my reading of everything, the rule that they’re going to be enforcing is the rule that says boosters and other third parties like collectives cannot pay athletes in return for a commitment to a school.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Heitner advises several collectives and businesses that have made NIL deals with college athletes. He said he has stressed to clients from the start to wait until athletes are at the school of their choice before getting involved.Advertisement“I don’t think it’s a collective issue,” he added. “I think it’s just a matter of the NCAA saying, ‘Hey, we’ve always been of the position that boosters cannot influence decision making of athletes, particularly high school athletes who have not yet enrolled at universities.’”Gabe Feldman, the director of sports law at Tulane, said the NCAA would be best served being forward-looking with its NIL enforcement.“That probably is a safer and more fair approach,” Feldman said. “Hindsight is 20/20, but what might have been an even better approach is to have come up with clear rules earlier and started enforcing those so we didn’t get to a situation where it might be unfair to start enforcing the rules.”College sports conferences and the NCAA have been frequent targets for lawsuits, and last June’s Supreme Court ruling left the door open for even more.Feldman said the NCAA could be opening itself up to more antitrust exposure by failing to enforce its existing rules. But both antitrust lawsuits and NCAA enforcement are notoriously slow-moving.“This would be like the tortoise and the tortoise,” Feldman said. “Neither would get done quickly, but there’s a lot of risk in the interim.”

SAN DIEGO — First baseman Frank Schwindel’s time with Triple-A Iowa didn’t last long.Schwindel is expected to rejoin the Chicago Cubs in San Diego ahead of their series opener Monday night, a source confirms. A Cubs fan spotted Schwindel on a Monday morning flight from Chicago to San Diego.AdvertisementIt is not yet clear what corresponding move the Cubs will make for Schwindel. However, for Schwindel to be so quickly recalled and not spend the minimum stint in the minors indicates the Cubs have some sort of injury or injured list move within the roster.Left-hander Justin Steele exited Sunday’s start with left thumb soreness. He was originally slated to start Monday against the Padres but had his outing pushed up. Right-hander Marcus Stroman was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start and placed on the IL without an injury distinction. Players can only go on the IL under those circumstances when it relates to COVID.AdvertisementSchwindel, 30, was optioned to Triple A before Sunday night’s 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He does not lose his final minor-league option because he has not spent the minimum 20 days in the minors. The Cubs hoped the move would allow Schwindel to get locked in and recapture what made him successful during his stellar two months to close out last season.[ [Don’t miss] How Chicago Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel’s experience at catcher helps him defensively: ‘He’s hungry’ ]After missing time in spring training because of back tightness, Schwindel has struggled to get going. He posted a .209/.250/.308 slash line with a 62 OPS+, five extra-base hits, 21 strikeouts and five walks. His strikeout rate is nearly 7% higher than last year while his walk rate has dipped by 1.5%.

ORLANDO — Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball standout and NBA player, has died in a shooting. He was 31.The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a shooting at 1:34 a.m. Monday when Payne was identified and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.AdvertisementLawrence Dority, 29, was present at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested on a first-degree murder warrant after homicide detectives interviewed him.Payne played in 107 NBA games, averaging four points and three rebounds, over four seasons with Atlanta, Minnesota and Orlando. The Hawks drafted him No. 15 overall in 2014, traded him to the Timberwolves, and he averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds as a potentially promising rookie.AdvertisementThe Magic waived the 6-foot-10 forward in January, 2018, after he was part of an ESPN report that detailed sexual assault allegations against former basketball and football players at the school.Michigan State’s Adreian Payne speaks during a NCAA Tournament press conference in New York on March 29, 2014. (Brad Horrigan / McClatchy-Tribune)Payne played professionally earlier this year for Juventus in Lithuania. He also played in Turkey, France, Greece and China.Payne, who is from Dayton, Ohio, started in 94 of 138 games over four seasons for Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior during the 2013-14 season.While in college, Payne befriended 8-year-old, cancer-stricken Lacey Holsworth and spoke at her memorial ceremony in April, 2014.

CLEVELAND — Ian Jackson and Johnuel “Boogie” Fland are among the brightest stars in the firmament of high school basketball and now have business deals to prove it.The New York City teens and friendly rivals are cashing in on their name, image and likeness through marketing contracts often referred to as NIL deals. The contracts have begun to trickle down to the high school level after the NCAA’s decision last year to allow college athletes to monetize their stardom.AdvertisementSeven states have so far approved the deals for prep athletes. Other states, such as Ohio, continue to debate whether NILs would sully high school sports.Jackson and Fland, both of whom are ranked as top college prospects for the 2024 graduating class, are paid a percentage of sales on a merchandise company’s products carrying their likeness and four-figure monthly checks to post about the brand on social media.AdvertisementJackson, 16, said he is saving the money he earns from the merchandise company Spreadshop and several other deals to buy a home for his family.“I want to put my family in a better place,” Jackson said.Fland, 15, also said he wants to help his family.“It’s been a very big deal,” he said. “All the hard work is finally paying off.”Johnuel “Boogie” Fland shoots hoops in the gymnasium of Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y., on May 2, 2022. (Robert Bumsted/AP)In Ohio, high school principals began voting May 1 on whether to change the state high school athletic association’s bylaws to allow athletes to sign deals.“A lot of us here at the OHSAA and school administrators don’t like NIL,” said Ohio High School Athletic Association spokesperson Tim Stried. “We wish we weren’t having to deal with this, but it’s not going away. We can have a hand in shaping it or do what the NCAA did and fight it until otherwise.”Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the National Federation of State High School Associations, said NIL rights for high school athletes could prove disruptive, but she tempered her criticism, saying, “I don’t think we’re going to see a lot of this.”High school, Niehoff said, “is not intended to be an opportunity to earn a living, and we hope it will stay that way.”AdvertisementThe issue of NIL deals for high school athletes follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision last June that said the NCAA cannot restrict education-related compensation benefits for the country’s nearly 500,000 college student-athletes. Since then, Alaska, California, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana and Utah have created laws or policies allowing NIL compensation for high school athletes.Jackson, who attends Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, is represented by his AAU coach. Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, has hired a marketing consultant to help Fland and other students at the school with NIL deals.Generally, college and high school athletes can use sports agents to market their name, image and likeness, but they are not permitted to hire agents to represent them professionally without endangering their eligibility. The standard fee for marketing agents is 15-20% of an athlete’s NIL deal.High school athletic associations in states where NIL deals are permitted bar students from using their school names and team logos in the deals they strike.In Florida, high school athletes are not allowed to benefit from their stardom. But Laney Higgins, a senior volleyball player at Carrollwood Day School in Lake Magdalene, cut a deal after her season ended that has her donating earnings to a concussion center that treated her.She signed with Q30 Innovations, a Connecticut company that produces devices to help reduce brain injuries, after suffering numerous concussions playing her sport. She donates the earnings to the University of South Florida Concussion Center in Tampa.AdvertisementHiggins is continuing her volleyball career at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven, Georgia, this fall.“Brands are going to continue to see that female student athletes can fulfill goals in a unique and authentic way because the biggest name doesn’t always mean the best success,” Higgins said.According to the latest data gathered by Opendorse Deals, a company that its officials say have helped connect 100,000 college athletes with third parties for NIL deals, the average payout has been small thus far. Division I athletes with at least one deal have earned about $664 on average, according to the data. For Division II athletes, it’s $59 and just $43 in Division III.Nearly 70% of deals involve social media posts, the Opendorse data shows.David Ridpath, an associate professor of sports business at Ohio University, frames the opportunity for student-athletes to benefit financially as a civil rights issue. Athletes are not employees of the schools they attend and should not be restricted from earning money, he said, adding that amounts won’t be large but could put “a few extra bucks in their pockets.”“In my view, it’s all been positive,” Ridpath said. “College and, by extension, high school athletes, are not employees and should not be restricted to any market place where they have value.”AdvertisementBasketball phenom Mikey Williams is among the exclusive group of high school athletes who have signed lucrative NIL deals. Williams, who will play his senior year at San Ysidro High School in San Diego, signed a deal with shoe and athletic apparel maker Puma for an undisclosed amount while attending a sports academy in Florida.Former Texas high school football star Quinn Ewers is another exception to the norm of modest earners. The highly touted quarterback chose to forgo his senior year to enroll early at Ohio State University last year, a move that allowed him to sign a reported $1.4 million in NIL deals before arriving on campus last summer. Ewers played only two meaningless snaps for the Buckeyes last season before choosing to transfer to the University of Texas.Matthew Mitten, a sports law professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, said there are potential pitfalls in NIL deals at both the high school and college levels, which he called the “last bastion of amateurism.”Mitten noted that University of Texas alumni and supporters in December announced that up to 16 football offensive lineman on scholarship would each receive $50,000 starting in August to support charitable causes.“It’s almost become a de facto pay to play,” Mitten said.Mitten and others wonder about the affect NIL opportunities could have on the forbidden yet hardly uncommon practice of high schools recruiting athletes. He raised the possibility that wealthy alumni from private high schools might copy the University of Texas alumni model.AdvertisementMitten and others say parents of high school athletes need to become educated about NIL deals to protect their children should an opportunity arise.“I think they’re going to have to be careful,” Mitten said. “There’s a whole lot of legal issues that minors and their parents and guardians won’t be familiar with.”