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Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson can claim ex-Hawk Al Secord, former Vancouver Canuck Todd Bertuzzi and the late “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek.Associate GM Norm Maciver can boast of the NHL’s Staal brothers — Eric, Marc and Jordan — and Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s lovable band leader and foil.Advertisement“He says Sudbury’s better than Thunder Bay,” Maciver told the Tribune about their respective Ontario hometowns. “I tease (him that) Thunder Bay’s better, whether it’s hockey players, celebrities, anything. We give it to each other.” Giving it to each other forms the basis of the relationship between Davidson, an outspoken go-getter, and the reserved and cerebral Maciver, whom the Hawks rehired March 9.Advertisement“There was perhaps some disappointment (among Hawks fans) when I just brought in someone that I’d had a previous relationship with,” Davidson said in April, “but that previous relationship allows him to say basically whatever the heck he wants. He’s going to be very honest, very open, and tell me if he thinks I’m barking up the wrong tree and what I need to hear.“There’s no feeling-out process for that. Right out of the gate, he’s going to give me the honest truth, and that’s what I want.”[ [Don’t miss] 5 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ season finale: ‘It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth’ ]Maciver said the two have been close since May 2012, when then-Hawks GM Stan Bowman named Maciver assistant GM.“At that time, most of my kids were in high school so my wife and kids stayed back in Minnesota, so I was here by myself,” Maciver said. “Kyle was single at the time, so we kind of bonded.“We can say anything to each other. Neither of us are going to take offense to it. He’s going to challenge me and I challenge him, and that’s how it’s always been for us, even when he was in a position below me in years past.”Now Davidson is the boss and the architect of an organizational overhaul, and Maciver is one of his biggest hires.Maciver talked more about the rebuild — “It’s a very challenging situation we’re in right now” — in an interview with the Tribune on Monday. Here are five topics he addressed. When Bowman shook up the hockey operations hierarchy in summer 2020, he demoted Maciver from assistant GM to vice president of player personnel and promoted Davidson from assistant to the general manager to assistant GM overseeing hockey administration.AdvertisementMaciver didn’t want to get into his relationship with Bowman or the job change, but he ultimately left to become the expansion Seattle Kraken’s director of player personnel.Blackhawks associate general manager Norm Maciver at the United Center on Feb. 9, 2016, during his previous stint with the team. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)He returned to Chicago just short of a full season with the Kraken. Davidson was the biggest reason, he said, “but also that opportunity to have more of an expanded role than I had in Seattle.”Davidson assured Maciver he would have a major voice in making over the team.“He has a different background than myself, much like (player development coach) Brian Campbell,” Davidson said. “They’re (former) players, and Norm has been an assistant coach, he’s been in development, he’s been in scouting, he’s been in management, so he’s got this great depth of experience that I don’t have myself. So that’s a great resource.”Davidson fired vice president of amateur scouting Mark Kelley and assistant GM of pro evaluation Ryan Stewart during the season, and now the amateur and pro scouting directors and the director of player personnel report to Maciver.Maciver kept his department “status quo” until the end of the season, and he’s not looking to clean house but rather change the scouts’ priorities.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Blackhawks continue sweeping changes by firing assistant coaches Marc Crawford and Rob Cookson ]“There are certain things that are huge red flags for us that maybe in the past might not have been deemed red flags,” he said. “The competitive nature of players’ speed and size weren’t emphasized as much. There was definitely a priority toward skill in the past.“It worked. We got three Stanley Cups out of it,” but Maciver said it would be folly to try to replicate those circumstances.“Having (Duncan) Keith in place and then being able to draft (Jonathan) Toews and (Patrick) Kane in back-to-back years, I don’t know if something like that will ever happen (again),” Maciver said. “We’re going to have to have an approach where we build this through the type of players we draft.“Obviously we’d like to be able to play faster than we’ve been able to play, a little bit more tenacious maybe. … One of the biggest issues over the years is keeping the puck out of our net, so defensively we need to get a lot better.”Blackhawks associate general manager Norm Maciver at the United Center on Feb. 9, 2016, during his previous stint with the team. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)The names may be the same, but Maciver said their new positions include the power to carry out their own vision — echoing sentiments Davidson expressed in April.“This is definitely a fresh start for both of us,” Maciver said.AdvertisementThe hiring of former Cubs executive Jeff Greenberg shows Davidson’s willingness to deviate from hockey norms. That outside-the-box mindset bleeds into everyday conversations between Davidson and Maciver.“We’re both huge sports fans, so we’ll be watching ‘Inside the NBA’ and I’ll get a text message (from Davidson): ‘Did you see what Charles (Barkley) said last night?’” Maciver said. “We also study what’s made those (non-NHL) teams so successful. … There could be a golf tournament or World Series or Super Bowl, whatever it is, just constantly (sharing) little tidbits someone sees.”Davidson’s imperative has been to collect high draft picks and prospects, and that’s usually done through the long slog of losing — and losing badly.However, the Hawks won’t have a first-round pick this year unless they land one of the top two picks in the lottery or the conditional pick they received from the Minnesota Wild for Marc-André Fleury upgrades. And Maciver said you can’t bank on losing as a strategy.“Look, coaches, players, they’re competitive people and we’re competitive. You can’t try to manufacture losses,” he said. “We obviously have to be strategic in what we’re doing, but we’re not out there trying to lose. We’re trying to be the best team we can (be) under the current environment … for the fans.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Strome and Kubalik are restricted free agents with arbitration rights. Maciver kept his cards close to the vest.Advertisement“(Davidson) and I and Brian Campbell, we’ll be the ones making those decisions,” Maciver said.With Lankinen an unrestricted free agent, the Hawks don’t have a goalie under contract.Blackhawks goaltender Kevin Lankinen during a pause in practice at the United Center on Dec. 13, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)“Once we get a little more clarity as to what happens May 10 with the lottery situation, that’s going to clear up a lot of things for us,” Maciver said. “We definitely need to rebuild the pipeline and we do that through draft choices. … And then we have to spend our money very wisely.”Maciver indicated he would prefer to keep salary-cap room to take on a bad contract from a desperate team, “similar to 2016 where we have to move assets to help your own cap situation.”In summer 2016, the Hawks faced a $3.07 million salary-cap overage and had to part with Teuvo Teravainen to get Bryan Bickell’s $4 million contract off the books.“So we’re just going to take it all in and evaluate it,” Maciver said.

Dylan Cease was in command against the entire Los Angeles Angels lineup Monday — and Mike Trout was no exception.Cease struck out the three-time American League MVP three times in the Chicago White Sox’s 3-0 victory, part of an 11-strikeout performance that matched the right-hander’s career high. He got Trout swinging in the first inning, retired him on a 98 mph fastball in the fourth and struck him out looking in the seventh. Advertisement“That was the best start of my career by far, from execution to stuff to results,” said Cease, who allowed just one hit in seven innings. “That’s definitely a good one to build on.”[ [Don’t miss] What went wrong for the White Sox in April? Breaking down a tough first month to the 2022 season. ]Cease and relievers Kendall Graveman and Liam Hendriks limited the Angels to two hits and struck out 15 as the Sox gained a split of the four-game series in front of 13,112 at Guaranteed Rate Field.Advertisement“I don’t think you can say enough about what Cease has been able to do the whole year,” said Hendriks, who struck out the side in the ninth and collected his fifth save. “He’s been unbelievable.”Just two Angels reached against Cease (3-1), who surrendered a double to Taylor Ward in the fourth and hit Tyler Wade with a pitch in the sixth. It’s the fifth time Cease has recorded 11 strikeouts.“I felt great,” Cease said. “I went in with a plan — just keep my eyes on the target, execute pitches — and fortunately it worked out.”Cease’s 10 double-digit strikeout games are tied with Jim Scott and Gary Peters for ninth in Sox history. He has 39 strikeouts this season, tied with Chris Sale (2014) and Jake Peavy (2013) for the third-most by a Sox pitcher through five starts.“How quickly he’s developing is just very fun to see,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “To me he’s pitching with a lot of command. He also competes. Never satisfied with the last inning. It’s always the next one.”Cease struck out at least two batters in four of his seven innings, including striking out the side in the fifth.“Some games I’ll have outings where I’ve only got really two pitches working and I’m battling,” Cease said. “Today I pretty much feel like I knew where four pitches were going.”That includes the three times he faced Trout.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Why Liam Hendriks doesn’t like intentional walks: ‘I’m never thinking about putting somebody on,’ the White Sox closer says ]“He’s maybe the greatest player of all time, so any time you can get him out it’s definitely a confidence booster,” Cease said. “I stayed pretty even-keeled today. It’s best to just focus on what you’ve got to do. If you sit there and think, ‘Oh, my God, it’s Mike Trout,’ it’s going to be hard to get him out.“I was just staying focused on what I had to do. And it worked out well.”Hendriks struck out Trout in the ninth to end the game — and an 0-for-4, four-strikeout day for the Angels superstar.“You’re talking about one of the best hitters not only just currently in the game, but possibly in history,” Hendriks said. “And he doesn’t swing and miss too often. I’ve heard some people say his approach is he sits on the pitcher’s best pitch. Well Cease has five different best pitches. It’s unbelievable.“You don’t see it too often (against Trout). That just means whoever he plays tomorrow, he’s probably going to break out and do something really cool.”Offensively, the Sox carried over the momentum from Sunday’s five-run ninth inning by scoring twice in the first. Tim Anderson and Luis Robert singled and scored.AdvertisementIn the sixth, José Abreu singled and scored from first on a two-out double by Adam Engel. Abreu had a smile on his face following a slight tumble after sliding at home plate.“We kept building off the energy from that last inning (Sunday),” Anderson said. “Hopefully we can keep building off this win today, keep competing and be able to go across town and get two wins (against the Cubs).”After losing eight straight, the Sox have split their last six games.“We never really lost hope,” Cease said. “It was just a really rough stretch and things like that’ll happen. But it’s a long season and I would put our talent with just about anybody.”The Sox optioned infielder Danny Mendick and reliever Anderson Severino to Triple-A Charlotte before the game as Major League Baseball reduced rosters from 28 to 26 players.Mendick was 5 for 20 (.250) with two doubles, one home run and three RBIs in 10 games. Severino had a 6.14 ERA and nine strikeouts in six relief appearances.

The uncertainty surrounding his baseball future lingered in David Robertson’s mind.Right elbow soreness derailed Robertson’s 2019 season just seven appearances into a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. He tried to rehab the injury but ultimately required Tommy John surgery in August 2019 to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.AdvertisementLooking back, Robertson says he should have listened to doctors and stopped trying to push through the injury in an effort to avoid surgery.“I went into Philly with really high hopes,” Robertson told the Tribune. “It was a great opportunity, a great spot to be in and when I got there, my body just let me down.Advertisement“And it was a tough road. There was always that fear it was the end.”[ [Don’t miss] Column: Cubs need to get their rotation back on track after April’s struggles — including back-to-back blowout defeats ]Robertson, who turned 37 last month, endured a winding road to get back to the big leagues, where he again is an elite high-leverage reliever. He has been essentially unhittable in the first month of his Chicago Cubs career.Robertson hasn’t allowed a run through 10 innings this season while giving up just one hit in nine appearances. He leads the Cubs with five saves and has 14 strikeouts and five walks.The formula for his success: “Having a new elbow — honestly, that’s the biggest thing,” Robertson said. “It’s having a little bit of structure in my day-to-day routine and just feeling healthy again. Having the ability to throw the ball like I was when I was younger.”Cubs reliever David Robertson, right, waits to be introduced April 7, 2022, on opening day at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)His return to the majors, let alone this type of success, was never a given.Robertson faced a setback in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic affected his rehab from Tommy John surgery, complicated by losing a month because of an outbreak at the Phillies complex in Florida where he was rehabbing. It cost him a shot at returning during the shortened 2020 season.“I like being the guy that’s depended on, even if it doesn’t always work out in the game,” Robertson said. “I’ve been on the injured list a few times but never for anything like that. So I had to basically say this year and a half is gone. “My rehab process was a little screwed up, definitely different from most folks. But I got it done and eventually everything healed up.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: Is the Cubs offense for real or is it too small of a sample size to judge? ]Robertson, though, wasn’t content merely to get back to the big leagues. He turned down major-league offers last spring because they weren’t what he was looking for. He felt he was a higher-caliber pitcher than what was reflected in those deals, so he remained a free agent going into the 2021 season.“I wasn’t going to do it for less than what I thought I was worth,” Robertson explained. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I knew then I wasn’t done. If I had to take a year off (in 2021), I thought I could do it and come back.”When Robertson learned of a possibility to pitch for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics, he continued to prepare his body and arm. He went on to win a silver medal, tallying two saves in three appearances.Team USA catcher Mark Kolozsvary and David Robertson celebrate a 4-2 win against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics on July 31, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)Going into the Olympics, Robertson knew the trade deadline would pass by the end of the tournament. He figured he would be one of the best relief options available, especially when accounting for his postseason experience.His gamble paid off in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, showing glimpses over the final month and in the postseason of what had made him a valued reliever.Robertson, again representing himself during contract talks, found the right fit with the Cubs in March on a one-year, $3.5 million contract.AdvertisementManager David Ross staunchly avoids naming or referring to a specific closer on his team. When the Rays were at Wrigley Field last month, Ross wryly noted that if a team like the Rays with three straight playoff appearances doesn’t need to denote a closer, why do the Cubs?[ [Don’t miss] Willson Contreras’ bigger Cubs leadership role is fueled by years of listening — and putting in work ]Ross clearly wants to maintain flexibility in how he uses the back end of the bullpen without worrying about the perception of which relievers are entrenched in certain roles. The Cubs bullpen seems to be on board with this flexible approach, and it has paid off. The relievers have been generally reliable, posting a 3.45 ERA that ranked 12th in the majors through Sunday.But while Robertson hasn’t officially been called the Cubs closer, they’re consistently using him in save opportunities. His five saves are four more than right-handers Rowan Wick and Mychal Givens have.The things Ross values in pitchers he continues to see from Robertson — throwing strikes, getting ahead of hitters, nasty breaking balls. Adding those qualities to Robertson’s poise and veteran experience has been an extremely effective combination.Cubs reliever David Robertson delivers against the Rays at Wrigley Field on April 18, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)“The calmness, the pace, the intent in which he pitches has really stood out to me,” Ross said during last week’s road trip. “I love the fact that he mixes his deliveries. There’s a real slide step there. You’re not going to be able to take advantage of running on him or messing up his rhythm. He’s messing with the timing of the hitter. Very deceptive.”Only the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Dillon Peters (11⅓ innings) and the Cleveland Guardians’ Trevor Stephan (10⅔) own longer scoreless-innings streaks to begin the season than Robertson.Advertisement“He is so consistent day in and day out,” Cubs bullpen coach Chris Young said, “and as he’s coming off an incredibly short sprint for him, he’s continued to build arm strength, continue to build reps, the stuff’s trending up a little bit.[ [Don’t miss] How Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel’s experience at catcher helps him defensively: ‘He’s hungry’ ]Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“But the consistency at which he pitches, it just gives you that vibe of he could roll out of bed and throw a down-and-away strike and a curveball for a strike. It’s incredible the roll he’s gotten back on now that he’s healthy again.”Baseball Savant’s Statcast data indicate Robertson is throwing a career-high 33.8% sliders since he first started using the pitch in 2017. Meanwhile, his typical go-to curveball sits at a career-low 15.9%. When asked about how the pitches’ usage differs from career trends, Robertson explained he doesn’t view them as distinct pitches.“It’s just a breaking ball,” he said. “I don’t consider them different. I grip them slightly different and roll them off. I’m just trying to keep them from getting hit, so whatever it takes.”Cubs left fielder Ian Happ, left, celebrates a 5-4 win over the Brewers with reliever David Robertson on April 7, 2022, on opening day at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Robertson’s off-speed stuff has been a key part of keeping hitters in check. The lone hit he surrendered came off his cutter, while only nine of the 78 off-speed pitches he has thrown have been put in play.Said Young: “The ability to add and subtract velocity, to change shapes, to throw one in put-away counts, to move it around — his feel for that off-speed pitch to make it do different things at different velocities in different locations is a huge piece of the success for him.” AdvertisementRobertson is generating the highest ground-ball rate (52.9%) of his 14-year career. Hitters have yet to barrel a ball off him. He is striking out 38.9% of batters while recording a 75% first-pitch strike rate.All of it plays into Robertson’s lights-out performance.

Marquee Sports Network is expanding the scope of its coverage beyond the Chicago Cubs.The network announced a multiyear broadcast partnership with the Sky to provide live television broadcasts of 16 games. All non-nationally televised games will also be available to stream through Marquee Plus via the app for authenticated Marquee subscribers.AdvertisementLocally-televised Sky games that conflict with Cubs games will be carried by WCIU-TV as well as Marquee Plus.“On behalf of the Chicago Cubs organization, I’m so honored to announce this broadcast partnership with the WNBA Champion Chicago Sky,” Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to a great partnership between the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Sky and Marquee”AdvertisementThe Sky broadcast team will consist of Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (analyst) and Meghan McKeown (analyst).The Sky open the season Friday at home against the Los Angeles Sparks. It will be the first Sky game to air on Marquee.“This partnership with Marquee elevates the Chicago Sky fan experience in a way that has never been done before,” Sky President/CEO Adam Fox said in a statement. “Women’s basketball, particularly the Chicago Sky, is increasingly gaining attention and affinity, and Marquee’s commitment to women’s professional sports made this an easy partnership. With Marquee, as well as our continued relationship with WCIU-TV, fans will never miss a moment of the Sky’s title defense.”

NEW YORK — A lawyer for former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who sued the league alleging racist hiring practices, told a judge Monday that arbitration is the wrong way to resolve the lawsuit in part because NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would be the arbitrator and that would be “unconscionable.”Attorney Douglas Wigdor said the league was trying to force “behind closed doors” the claims of Flores and two other Black coaches. None of the coaches was present for the Manhattan federal court hearing.AdvertisementIt was the first hearing for a lawsuit Flores filed in February, when he claimed the league was “rife with racism” even as the NFL publicly condemns it.Flores was fired in January as head coach by the Miami Dolphins after leading the team to a 24-25 record over three years, with two straight winning seasons including the most recent, when a 9-8 record left them out of the playoffs. He has been hired since as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.AdvertisementHis lawsuit was joined last month by two other coaches, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.There are six minority head coaches currently in the NFL, a league where the majority of the players are Black.Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, representing the NFL, told Judge Valerie E. Caproni that the league believes all claims in the lawsuit must be moved to arbitration according to the terms of employment agreements.Wigdor said the league demonstrated “this unconscionable bias of the arbitrator” when the NFL said the claims in the lawsuit were without merit after it was first filed. He said it would not be fair for Goodell to arbitrate the claims after he earned $120 million over the past two years from the league’s teams.Lynch said she invited the three coaches and their lawyers to meet with league officials to discuss the “important issues” surrounding racial inclusion that the NFL seeks to address.“Today, they declined to meet with us,” she said.Wigdor said he rejected the league’s invitation to discuss racial issues because there would be no magistrate judge or judge present.For now, the judge has put the lawsuit on the slow track, setting up a schedule stretching into August for the submission of written arguments regarding whether arbitration is required.AdvertisementThat schedule is likely to be delayed further once Wigdor formally informs the judge that he wants to seek permission to collect evidence surrounding the arbitration practices of the league before the issue is resolved.

James Madison University is canceling the rest of its softball season in the wake of the death of star player Lauren Bernett.The school announced that Bernett, 20, who was a sophomore catcher and power hitter for the team, had died last Tuesday.Advertisement“Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes,” university president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne said in a statement. “Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program.”The Rockingham County Sheriff’s office in Virginia has said the death is an apparent suicide.AdvertisementJames Madison catcher Lauren Bernett during a NCAA softball game on Friday, May 28, 2021 in Columbia, Mo. (Colin E. Braley/AP)JMU coach Loren LaPorte announced the decision to cancel the season on Monday.“This was an extremely difficult decision and one that was not made lightly,” JMU coach Loren LaPorte said in a news release. “We are so grateful for the support of our fans all season and for the love from the softball community during the past week. We will use this time to continue healing and to honor Lauren’s memory while finishing the academic semester strong.”LaPorte added that the team and school would be sure to properly honor the team’s seniors whose collegiate careers came to an abrupt end.“We will make sure that they are honored for the commitment and dedication they have made as student-athletes.”The team had previously already canceled five games.Bernett’s death came roughly a month after Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer died by suicide months before graduation.With News Wire Services

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle and TV baking show host Anthony Adams and his wife, Andenika, on April 26 sold their five-bedroom, 4,847-square-foot timber frame house in Wadsworth for $765,000.Adams, 41, played for the Bears for five seasons, from 2007 through 2011. A comedian, Adams was one of the co-hosts of the ABC cooking competition show “The Great American Baking Show” from 2017 until 2020.AdvertisementIn Wadsworth, Adams and his wife paid $800,000 for the house in early 2014. They first listed the house in June for $950,000, and they cut their asking price little more than a week later to just below $900,000, and then to just below $850,000 another week or so later. They reduced the asking price for the final time to $785,000 in November.Built in 2001 and situated on a 4.66-acre property at the end of a cul-de-sac, the house has six bathrooms, three fireplaces, exposed wood beams, a newly remodeled kitchen with high-end appliances, a home theater, a walk-in wine cellar, heated floors, a large wet bar and an upstairs loft. Outside are an outdoor kitchen and a separate two-story in-law suite.AdvertisementAdams and his wife sold the Wadsworth house because they paid $2 million in July for a five-bedroom, 9,817-square-foot mansion in Long Grove.Listing agent Lori Progar of Coldwell Banker told Elite Street that the Wadsworth house that Anthony and Andenika Adams sold was “very special.”“This home was very special to me as an agent, the only true timber frame home that I have sold in my almost 40-year career,” Progar said. “I think I loved it as much as my clients (did). I know it was a home truly special to the Adams family and near and dear to their hearts. They felt it was time for a change and decided to move closer to the city. From its exposed beams to its rustic charm, it is privately tucked away on almost 5 acres. It will be missed.”The Wadsworth house had a $14,032 property tax bill in the 2020 tax year.Goldsborough is a freelance writer.Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news.

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Vera Rasnake laughed as she led a trio of barking, jostling dogs into the Iowa Greyhound Park, but her smile faded when she acknowledged that after 41 years of being around the sleek animals, her sport was teetering on extinction.After the end of a truncated season in Dubuque in May, the track here will close. By the end of the year there will only be two tracks left in the country.Advertisement“It’s very hard for me to see this,” Rasnake said.It’s been a long slide for greyhound racing, which reached its peak in the 1980s when there were more than 50 tracks across 19 states. Since then, increased concerns about how the dogs are treated along with an explosion of gambling options have nearly killed a sport that gained widespread appeal about a century ago.AdvertisementA racing association found that betting on greyhounds plunged from $3.5 billion in 1991 to about $500 million in 2014. Since then, many more tracks have closed.In some states like the dog-racing mecca of Florida in 2021, it was voter initiatives that ended the sport at the state’s dozen tracks. In others like Iowa, state officials allowed casinos to end subsidies that had kept greyhound racing alive as interest declined.“Do I think the industry is dying? Yes,” said Gwyneth Anne Thayer, who has written a history of greyhound racing. But “it’s happening way faster than I thought it would.”Greyhounds compete in a race at the Iowa Greyhound Park, April 16, 2022, in Dubuque, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)The Dubuque track closure and the end of racing in West Memphis, Arkansas, this December will leave racing only in West Virginia, where tracks in Wheeling and near Charleston operate with subsidies from casino revenue.For some animal welfare groups, the industry’s collapse is the culmination of decades of work to publicize allegations of greyhound mistreatment. The group GREY2K was formed in 2001 and Carey Theil, the organization’s executive director, said he feels a sense of accomplishment now that the sport’s end seems within reach.“This has become one of the signature animal welfare debates of our time,” Theil said.GREY2K, the Humane Society and other groups have long argued that greyhound racing was cruel, including its longtime practice of killing dogs that weren’t deemed top racers, using drugs to enhance their performance, confining them for long periods and subjecting animals to the risk of injury on the racetrack.Industry supporters note there now is a huge demand to adopt retired racers and deny that the other problems are widespread. They also contend that some don’t understand the love greyhounds have for running.AdvertisementOn opening day at the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque, spectators packed into a spacious room that overlooked the track, sipping beers and mixed drinks as they pored over racing statistics before placing bets at kiosks or with attendants. They expressed disappointment that the track would close, lamenting the loss of an entertainment option in Dubuque, a city of about 60,000 known for its stately brick buildings and church steeples built on hills overlooking the Mississippi River.Peggy Janiszewski and her friend Robin Hannan have for years been driving about three hours from the Chicago area to Dubuque to watch the racing. They typically bet only a few dollars on each race but are more interested in watching the dogs than counting their winnings.“They’re beautiful. Like works of art,” Janiszewski said.Bruce Krueger said he has been making the 170-mile (274-kilometer) drive from Milwaukee to Dubuque. He doesn’t believe the dogs are mistreated.“I know some trainers, and they treat them like kings and queens,” Krueger said.General Manager Brian Carpenter was 16 when he started working at the track in its second year and has remained 36 seasons until this, its final year.AdvertisementHe recalls the excitement when the track opened in 1985, a time when Iowa was mired in farm bankruptcies and much of Dubuque was struggling. Back then, thousands of people would attend the races, with buses of gamblers arriving every weekend from Chicago and Milwaukee.“It was an exciting time and the track offered good jobs,” he said.Opening day this year drew at least 1,000 people but smaller crowds are typical, especially on weeknights.The Dubuque track was helped along by city and state funding, and after Iowa and other states began allowing casinos, the Dubuque operation was expanded to include its own casino.Thayer’s book, “Going to the Dogs,” describes a sport with a colorful and often tumultuous history. From its beginning in the 1920s following development of the mechanical lure, the industry was continually pushing to allow for legalized betting state-by-state and to attract attention, with help from Hollywood celebrities, athletes and beauty pageant competitors.At times, the sport drew more spectators than its more prominent rival horse racing. While considered seedy by some, it was mainstream entertainment for decades, Thayer said.Advertisement“People don’t realize how normalized it was in American culture for a long time,” she said.Greyhound racing also is held in other countries, including Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico and Vietnam, but it is facing some of the same problems apparent in the U.S.Although greyhound racing in the U.S. will be confined only to West Virginia, that state seems intent on retaining the sport, said Steve Sarras, president of the West Virginia Kennel Owners Association. The state’s two tracks run races five-days a week year-round.Sarras said West Virginia legislators made repeated visits to his kennel and others to inspect conditions, and ultimately were confident the dogs are well treated.“When you see it firsthand, you cannot fake how happy a dog is,” he said.

No Big Ten men’s basketball team has won as many league games the last three seasons as Illinois.Coach Brad Underwood has resurrected the Illini from Power Five purgatory, compiling a 44-16 record in league play during that span. Illinois capped the run with a shared Big Ten regular-season title before another second-round NCAA Tournament exit in March.AdvertisementWins, however, still don’t provide immunity from college basketball’s ever-revolving landscape, in which successful programs still hemorrhage stars who leave early for the NBA or via the transfer portal.Star center Kofi Cockburn was no exception, announcing April 20 his intention to go pro instead of returning for a fourth year in Champaign.Advertisement“Came here as a young guy, hadn’t been in a high school All-Star Game, and leaves here as a two-time All-American,” Underwood said. “One of the most celebrated players in our history. His jersey will hang here.”Gone, too, are fifth-year players Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams, who became the lifeblood of the program as Illinois endured two losing campaigns before Ayo Dosunmu and Cockburn stepped on campus.Wily point guard Andre Curbelo transferred to St. John’s after an injury-plagued year and sharpshooting graduate transfer Alfonso Plummer is out of eligibility after hitting 98 3-pointers on a 40.8% clip.And Jacob Grandison opted not to return to Illinois, leaving roughly 85% of last season’s scoring needing to be replaced.But it helps to bring in the No. 7 recruiting class in the country, according to the 247Sports.com rankings.Top-30 point guard Skyy Clark is the highest-rated recruit to land at Illinois in the modern era.Monteverde Academy’s Skyy Clark makes a pass against IMG Academy during a game at the Hoophall Classic, Jan. 17, 2022, in Springfield, Mass. (Gregory Payan/AP)“There was a lot about Illinois that made it feel like the perfect place,” Clark told the Tribune. “It really started with my relationship with Coach Tim (Anderson). I’ve known him since eighth grade, he was my first offer when he was at DePaul.”Underwood exudes confidence.Advertisement“We’ve got guys with natural leadership abilities who are ready to blossom into that (leadership) role,” Underwood said. “A guy that we just signed (Clark) is not afraid of that role. He’s done that his whole life. He’s already reaching out and connecting with guys.”Clark is coming off an ACL tear from last summer. He initially signed with Kentucky but obtained a release from his letter of intent in March before committing to Illinois.Although Clark has been back in action for months, he said the reputation of Illinois strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher — including bulking up stars such as Cockburn and Dosunmu — was a crucial factor in his decision.“I met Coach Underwood at the house visit, and what really did it all together was Coach Fletch,” Clark said. “I feel like he’s the best in the world at what he does. Coming off my ACL, I haven’t really been 100% body-wise, like athleticism, strength and everything. I believe this summer he’s going to get me back to my old self and maybe even better.”Underwood won’t hesitate to throw his new class — arguably his most talented yet — into the fire. At least a couple of challenging matchups await the new-look Illini in Las Vegas in November in the Roman Main Event, an early season tournament that will feature Baylor, UCLA and Virginia.“The one thing you know I’m not going to do is back off our schedule,” Underwood said April 20. “We’re going to play an elite schedule.”AdvertisementClark isn’t backing down from the high expectations that have surrounded the program in recent years, saying he and his fellow freshmen relish the challenge.“The thing about us is we love the expectation,” Clark said. “We love the pressure that’s being put on us and we all know we’re going to work super hard this summer to prove not only to other people — most importantly, to ourselves — that we can really do some damage.”Illinois adds three other top-110 recruits — including Thornton star forward Ty Rodgers — this year, along with Clark.“Ty Rodgers is one of those guys that’s one of my favorite players on the circuit,” Underwood said. “He impacts winning at the highest level. There’s nothing he can’t do. Physically, he’s got a body that allows him to be ready and play multiple positions.”Thornton’s Ty Rodgers (20) goes through Kankakee’s Naz Hill (15) and Pierre Allen (5) on his way to the basket during the Class 3A Marian Catholic Sectional semifinals in Chicago Heights on March 2, 2022. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)Combo guard Jayden Epps is the top recruit fromNorth Carolina, hailing from high-profile AAU side Combine Academy, and shooting guard Sencire Harris starred at St. Vincent-St. Mary, the Akron, Ohio, school where LeBron James burst into national fame.AdvertisementClark and Epps could see serious time as the team’s primary ball handler, while Harris projects to be a strong Power Five guard. Underwood said he wouldn’t be surprised if he ultimately calls some sets for Rodgers, adding that Rodgers can guard four of the five positions on the court.“I thought he was the best defender on the (Nike Elite Youth Basketball League) circuit last summer,” Underwood said. “And I just love his passing. We haven’t had that physical size and presence in an elite passer and guy who can guard multiple positions at 6 (feet), 6 inches, 6 (feet), 7 (inches).”Clark and Rodgers played AAU together in middle school at Bates Fundamentals in the EYBL. Clark said that he quickly hit it off with Epps and Harris in a group chat the four recruits made.The Nashville, Tenn., native, who played his high school ball at Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, is a proven scorer, distributor and ball handler.And though it could take some time to adjust to the next level, Clark seems focused on doing what he needs to in order to make a strong impact immediately.Advertisement“I don’t really go out much,” Clark said. “I’m at the gym or I’m at home with my family. I’m a simple man. I love to fish. I love to thrift shop.”Chicago native Terrence Shannon Jr. gave the Illini their first high-profile transfer portal addition, announcing his commitment Friday. The 6-6 wing averaged 10.4 points per game at Texas Tech last season and has two years of eligibility remaining.The Illini sought several talented transfer options, including former DePaul guard David Jones. The portal has seen virtually nonstop action since the tournament ended, with teams in hot pursuit of proven players.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.AdvertisementThe Illini are hopeful former Baylor forward Dain Dainja — who has played just nine minutes of college basketball but is a former top-100 prospect — can slot into the frontcourt and provide a valuable and distinctive skill set after Cockburn’s departure.“Dain has been part of a national championship locker room,” Underwood said.Forward Coleman Hawkins finished in excellent form after struggling to establish a role in the first half of the season. He averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. Guards RJ Melendez and Luke Goode also played contributing roles well, especially in February and March, and were pluses on the defensive end after some early hiccups.“The talent level is probably better than it has ever been,” Underwood said. “I love that piece of it.”Gavin Good is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Crowds will be back in full to watch 20 of the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the world race for the most coveted title in their sport: Kentucky Derby champion.Few sporting events combine the spectacle and condensed excitement we will see from Louisville on May 7. But these are unusual times for the Derby, coming off controversial results in two of the past three runnings and now marked by the absence of the sport’s biggest star, suspended trainer Bob Baffert.AdvertisementFrom the competition to the messier side of racing, here are five stories to watch as we prepare for the first leg of the Triple Crown:We will not see Bob Baffert’s signature white hair and sunglasses this year, 12 months after Baffert-trained Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby only to lose his victory because of a positive test for the anti-inflammatory drug betamethasone. (John Minchillo/AP)Baffert was the brightest star in the Derby firmament for a quarter century. Now, he’s persona non grata at Churchill Downs, suspended from the track that served as a stage for some of his grandest victories and for innumerable rap sessions with fans and reporters outside his Barn 33. We will not see the signature white hair and sunglasses this year, 12 months after Baffert-trained Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in the 2021 Derby only to lose his victory because of a positive test for the anti-inflammatory drug betamethasone. Baffert has spent recent months embroiled in legal battles with the Kentucky racing officials who barred him. Meanwhile, the story took on a more tragic tone when Medina Spirit died suddenly in December.AdvertisementBaffert is now the face of racing’s perpetual struggle to police medication, just as surely as he was the face of Triple Crown glory in 2015 and 2018. There are plenty of people in the sport who think that’s unfair, who argue that Baffert was more careless in his handling of medication protocols than reckless in his pursuit of victory. But officials in Kentucky and New York, where he’s facing a possible two-year suspension, have lined up against him, and he won’t be part of the Triple Crown this year, given that Maryland honors suspensions from other states.So, will Baffert be out of sight, out of mind when a new group of Derby horses break on Saturday? Not so fast. Two 3-year-olds that he trained, Taiba and Messier, will run under the guidance of his former assistant, Tim Yakteen, piloted by a pair of riders, Mike Smith and John Velazquez, whom Baffert favored for big races. Both are serious contenders coming off their duel in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby. They’ll enter with the two highest Beyer speed figures (a measure of pace that accounts for distance, speed of competition and track conditions) in the field. If either wins, Baffert will be central to the story of the 2022 Derby, whether race organizers want him to be or not.Joel Rosario, top left, guides Epicenter to victory in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes horse race at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on Feb. 19. (Amanda Hodges Weir/AP)No trainer in North American history has won more races than Steve Asmussen, who has guided champions in the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup. The Derby is the one major hole in his Hall of Fame resume, and he might never get a better chance to fill it than he’ll have with Epicenter, winner of the March 26 Louisiana Derby.Trainers often talk about the importance of versatility in the Derby, which presents unusual challenges because of the large field and the unfamiliar distance for these still-developing horses. Well, Epicenter has won from the front and he’s won stalking the lead. Handicappers used to be skeptical of the Louisiana Derby as a prep race because of the six-week gap between it and the Kentucky Derby, but that’s no longer an unusual wait time for these horses. Epicenter has looked sharp in his workouts at Churchill Downs. His rider, Joel Rosario, is one of the best.All of that said, Zandon presents many of the same virtues. He made his case for favorite status by roaring from the back of the pack to pass Smile Happy (another gifted Derby contender) in the April 9 Blue Grass Stakes. He has also run effectively sitting closer to the lead, which he might have to do in the Derby, a race that has not favored late chargers. His trainer, Chad Brown, has won four Eclipse Awards as the best in his field, but like Asmussen, he’s looking for his first Derby victory. His rider, Flavien Prat, was fifth in earnings last year, four spots behind Rosario.Epicenter beat Zandon in the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes and has been the presumptive Derby favorite since he won his final prep in commanding fashion, but plenty of handicappers think Zandon is capable of a bigger step forward. It’s a compelling matchup.No one is hotter than Brad Cox, who has won the last two Eclipse Awards as most outstanding trainer. The Kentucky native picked up his first Derby win, albeit in undesired fashion, when Medina Spirit was disqualified. (Charlie Riedel / AP)No one is hotter than Cox, who has won the last two Eclipse Awards as most outstanding trainer. The Kentucky native picked up his first Derby win, albeit in undesired fashion, when Medina Spirit was disqualified. He also won the 2021 Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality.Cox will likely have three horses, Cyberknife, Tawny Port and Zozos, in this Derby field. Cyberknife is the most accomplished of the bunch. His signature win came in the April 2 Arkansas Derby, a prep race that did not end up impressing many handicappers. But Cox said the performance made good on high-end talent Cyberknife had demonstrated in training, and it’s difficult to dismiss the trainer’s optimism, given his results from the last two years.AdvertisementZozos, a speed horse who might take the early lead, and Tawny Port, winner of the April 16 Lexington Stakes, have also improved, giving Cox a much better Derby hand than anyone expected a few months ago.Mo Donegal, with Joel Rosario, made his case as a contender by charging from last place to take the April 9 Wood Memorial, New York’s signature Derby prep race. (Viola Jasko/AP)Few trainers do a better job getting their horses to the Derby than Todd Pletcher, who will be looking for his first win in the race since 2017. Mo Donegal made his case as a contender by charging from last place to take the April 9 Wood Memorial, New York’s signature Derby prep race. The Pletcher-trained colt looked sensational in the stretch as he ran down Early Voting, suggesting potential he had not previously demonstrated. He will face a steeper climb, trying to win with that style against a larger, more talented field at Churchill Downs.Pletcher’s other Derby horse, Charge It, does not have a signature win on his resume, but he took on a huge leap in competition to finish second in the April 2 Florida Derby. He’ll be an intriguing longer shot on Derby day.The horse that beat him in Florida, White Abarrio, will likely reside with Mo Donegal in the second tier of Derby contenders. He has won four times in five career starts for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and his tactical speed, backed up by some excellent workout times, should make him a good fit for the Derby.Todd Herl of the Churchill Downs sign shop, top, removes the name of Medina Spirit before putting up Mandaloun in the paddock at Churchill Downs on Feb. 22 in Louisville, Kentucky. Medina Spirit was stripped of the victory in last year’s Kentucky Derby and Mandaloun was declared the winner after a ruling by state racing stewards. (Michael Clevenger/AP)When was the last “normal” Kentucky Derby? Maybe 2018, when Baffert-trained Justify kicked off his Triple Crown run? Even that race was subsequently complicated by news that the horse had tested positive for the anti-nausea drug scopolamine at his final prep race, but the news did not break until more than a year later.Since then, we watched a disqualification decide the 2019 Derby. We lived through a reshuffled Triple Crown, with a Labor Day weekend Derby serving as the second leg, during the pandemic year of 2020. We saw Medina Spirit’s 2021 victory called into question and ultimately overturned because of his positive test for betamethasone. In recent months, the headlines around Baffert’s suspension and legal battles have arguably overshadowed the prep races for this year’s Derby.AdvertisementSo much noise, so little of it having to do with the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the country. It will not be easy for the 2022 race to transcend this context, but the Derby is an event built on the optimism of owners and trainers who yearn to test their most gifted young athletes on the largest possible stage. It never stops attracting fans, bettors and horsemen, despite the gloom that often pervades the sport.148th KENTUCKY DERBYSaturday, 6:57 p.m.TV: Ch. 11