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Ryan Poles made four trades Saturday in the final day of the draft, but the deal the Chicago Bears general manager could not make was finding a taker for veteran quarterback Nick Foles.That led the team to agree to release the veteran and former Super Bowl MVP, allowing Foles to become a free agent and search for his next team. NFL Media reported the move Saturday night.AdvertisementFoles’ contract called for him to receive a fully-guaranteed $4 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the current league year that began in March. He was due to earn a $4 million base salary this season with $1 million of it also fully guaranteed.The Bears effectively replaced Foles, 33, when they signed veteran Trevor Siemian to be their No. 2 quarterback behind Justin Fields. Foles did not attend the voluntary minicamp earlier this month at Halas Hall.AdvertisementPoles was asked about Foles’ status earlier Saturday evening but didn’t offer an update.“We haven’t gotten there yet,” he said. “Obviously, we’ll update you when the next move happens. We’ve kind of phased that into different phases. So now that it’s post-draft, we’ll have some conversations and see where we want to go next with that.”Former GM Ryan Pace in 2020 traded a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire Foles, who was deemed a good fit for coach Matt Nagy’s offense with the team uncertain about its future with former first-round pick Mitch Trubisky. The quarterbacks battled for the starting job in training camp with neither performing particularly well. Trubisky was named the starter but was benched during the Week 3 game at Atlanta. The offense rallied to a 30-26 victory and the job belonged to Foles.He would win only one more game as a starter that season, a 23-16 victory at Carolina in Week 6. Foles’ record as the starter was 1-6 before he left the Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field with a hip injury.The Bears let Trubisky go, signed veteran Andy Dalton and then traded up for Fields, effectively making Foles the No. 3 quarterback last season. His only action came in a Week 16 start at Seattle, throwing for 250 yards and a touchdown in a 25-24 victory over the Seahawks.Getting a team to trade for Foles and his contract earlier in the offseason wasn’t something the Bears could accomplish. He exits as another example of a Bears quarterback plan that didn’t pan out.

MILWAUKEE — After years of failing to develop starting pitching, the Chicago Cubs finished 2021 with three potential starters in Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson and Adbert Alzolay.The prospect of those three joining Kyle Hendricks in the rotation for the next few years was an enticing one for fans eager to see something new at Wrigley Field. And without having to spend a fortune on the rotation, the Cubs theoretically could’ve used the money saved to fill other holes on the roster — and maybe have some left over to sign catcher Willson Contreras to a long-term deal.AdvertisementBut things change quickly in baseball.Alzolay was shut down in spring training with a lat injury and will miss multiple months. Even when he returns, he likely will start out as a reliever. Thompson returned to his former role in the bullpen and has been too dominant to mess with, at least for now.AdvertisementThat has left Steele, 26, as the last man standing. And with the calendar turning to May, the jury is still out on whether he can stick in the rotation the entire season.Steele entered Saturday’s start against the Milwaukee Brewers looking to find his mechanics and prove his endurance. He got off to a rocky start thanks to a pair of Cubs errors and his own fielding miscue in the Brewers three-run first inning. He allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with one walk over three innings, throwing 74 pitches and striking out four.Steele threw five scoreless innings against the Brewers on April 9, but failed to last more than three innings in his last three starts, including Saturday.“The main thing we’ve seen is the inability to repeat his delivery,” manager David Ross said during batting practice. “He just kind of loses it, the strike zone or the feel for the baseball, in an inning. He falls behind hitters and has to work really hard to get back.“Just finding a consistent rhythm out there as the game goes on seems to be (the issue). He usually starts out pretty well, and then that third or fourth inning, he struggles a little bit finding the zone. His stuff plays in the zone. We know that. But you’ve got to get ahead of hitters, keep them off balance.”The short spring could be a factor. But Ross said Steele’s lack of experience probably is the biggest reason. After a brilliant stint in the bullpen last season — he compiled a 2.03 ERA — Steele stretched out at Triple-A Iowa to return to the Cubs as a starter after the sell-off. He went 2-4 with a 4.95 ERA in nine starts, but finished with seven scoreless innings in his final outing Sept. 30.Growing pains were expected in 2022, and the Cubs are willing to live with them as long as Steele shows progress.AdvertisementChicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“When you don’t a have feel for a certain pitch or you have trouble commanding one, what do you go to?” Ross said of the thought process. “I think all that stuff, experience drives that. You get some tough lessons at this level. He’ll continue to grow and make adjustments to it.”If the Cubs hope to be competitive, the starters need to pick up the pace. Entering Saturday’s game Cubs starters were a combined 3-10 and ranked 27th in the majors with a 5.54 ERA.Marcus Stroman (0-3, 6.98 ERA), who starts Sunday in the series finale, hasn’t lived up to expectations, while Hendricks has been up and down since a strong opening-day start against the Brewers. He was beaten up in Friday’s 11-1 loss in Milwaukee, serving up three home runs, and his 5.47 ERA is fourth-worst among starters with 20 or more innings.“Consistency is what you’re striving for,” Hendricks told reporters after Friday’s loss. “And that starts with pitch to pitch for me. I’m just not having that right now. It’s kind of been one game to the next.”Before the game Saturday the Cubs optioned starter Mark Leiter Jr. to Triple-A Iowa while calling up lefty reliever Locke St. John, leaving a vacancy in the rotation. The rosters will be pared from 28 to 26 on Monday, after teams were allowed to carry two more players early on because of the short spring training.With two upcoming off days, the Cubs probably don’t need a fifth starter until May 10, leaving Hendricks, Stroman, Steele and Drew Smyly as the foursome. Wade Miley, rehabbing from left elbow inflammation, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday. Alec Mills remains in limbo after suffering a right quad strain while rehabbing from a lower back strain.AdvertisementIf the Cubs continue to fall in the National League Central, you wonder how long it will be before Thompson gets another shot at starting.

The Chicago White Sox suffered a unique walk-off loss on opening day in Detroit, when Javier Báez’s long fly to right was originally ruled a juggling catch by AJ Pollock before being correctly reversed to a game-winning hit.The rest of April didn’t get much better.AdvertisementThe Sox wrapped up the month on a positive note Saturday with a 4-0 win against the Los Angeles Angels. It was only their second win in the last 12 games.Starter Vince Velasquez was impressive in front of 33,762 at Guaranteed Rate Field, allowing four hits and striking out six in 5⅔ innings.AdvertisementTim Anderson led off the first with a home run and Luis Robert had a three-run homer in the fifth.With the victory, the Sox enter May with an 8-12 record.April marked their first losing month since September 2019. That snaps a streak of eight consecutive winning months, the franchise’s longest stretch since June 1993 to August 1994.The last couple of weeks, which included an eight-game losing streak from April 17-26, have been particularly tough.“It’s been a rough stretch,” starter Lucas Giolito said after Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Angels. “But there’s not really much that needs to be said. It’s just a matter of going out and executing in every facet of the game.“On my end, I feel like I could’ve executed better (Friday). I’m sure other guys feel like they could’ve executed better in other areas. But that’s the way it goes. If we just continue to go out prepared and let our talent shine out on the field, have focus in every situation, things will start to go our way.”Here are four areas that hampered the Sox in April.Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson walks back to the dugout after lining out to end the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Guaranteed Rate Field, April 29, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The Sox entered Saturday ranked fifth in the majors with a 90.0 mph average exit velocity, but that didn’t translate into hits and runs.AdvertisementIn the last 16 games leading up to Saturday, the Sox were slashing .190/.245/.304 with 14 homers and 41 runs (2.6 runs per game). They scored three runs or less 13 times in April.“We’re putting good at-bats together, but we’ve just got to string some together now,” said left fielder Andrew Vaughn, who was hitting .283 and leads the Sox with four homers and 12 RBIs before Saturday’s game.The Sox entered Saturday tied for 12th in the American League in runs (60), and ranked 14th in hits (127) and last in batting average (.207) in the league.They were in the top five in the AL in each of those categories last season (fifth in runs, fourth in hits and average). Manager Tony La Russa is confident that potential will come through.“That’s what we talked about all spring, we’ve got a deep lineup, got to stay positive and keep working,” La Russa said before Saturday’s game.Saturday was a good sign for the team with their fourth multi-homer game of the season.AdvertisementChicago White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock (18) walks to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field, April 26, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The Sox were second in the AL with 586 walks in 2021.That same type of patience wasn’t on display in April. The Sox entered Saturday last in the AL with 39 walks.For an offense seeking consistency, sometimes a walk can spark a rally. But Friday marked the eighth consecutive game the Sox walked three times or less.“We can be more aggressive in the zone and not chase,” La Russa said after Thursday’s 5-2 loss in 10 innings to the Kansas City Royals.Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez leaves the field on a cart after falling to the turf on a groundout against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning, April 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP)The Sox were hit hard by injuries in 2021, and that has been the case again early this season.The list of players on the injured list include starter Lance Lynn (right knee surgery), relievers Joe Kelly (biceps nerve injury) and Garrett Crochet (season-ending Tommy John surgery), third baseman Yoán Moncada (right oblique strain) and outfielder Eloy Jiménez (right hamstring tendon tear).AdvertisementMoncada began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, going 1-for-3 with a single. Kelly is slated to pitch Sunday for Charlotte.Vaughn got hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Friday, but the Sox breathed a sigh of relief Saturday because X-rays were negative. He’s day to day.“I’ve seen a lot of guys take 95 (mph) to the hand, and it doesn’t end really well,” Vaughn said. “I guess I got pretty lucky.”Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu (79) commits an error on a throw from shortstop Tim Anderson as Kansas City Royals baserunner Salvador Pérez (13) reaches safely in the fourth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, April 26, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Through Friday, the Sox and Baltimore Orioles led the majors with 21 errors.“The defense has been, I think, one of the larger surprises in terms of its performance thus far,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday. “Over the course of the summer I think guys are going to perform at their more accustomed levels than what we’ve seen over the past week or two weeks.”The Sox had one error Friday, making it 10 of their last 12 games with at least one miscue.AdvertisementLa Russa said generally there’s a balance involved when trying not to take offensive scuffles to the field.“If you don’t care, then it doesn’t bother you, but if you care that you want to hit and produce, it’s hard not to get distracted by it,” he said. “You’ve really got to fight it. … You’ve just got to understand you win the game on both sides, and the better defense (you have), the fewer runs you’ve got to score.“It’s the best players in the world, but they have their issues. It’s not automatic. They’re not robots.”The good news for the Sox is that it’s a long season and they aren’t the only team in the AL Central off to a slow start. The Minnesota Twins are the only team in the division with a winning record.“It’s on us to execute the plan and to do our job,” first baseman José Abreu said Friday through an interpreter. “We haven’t been able to do that. Hopefully sooner rather than later we’ll be able to do that.”

Those trade partners that didn’t materialize for Ryan Poles on Friday night came from every direction Saturday.The new Chicago Bears general manager, who made it known since January that he would love to have more draft capital, did just that, starting in the morning when he sent a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for two picks at the end of Round 7.AdvertisementThe Bears sat out the fourth round and when it was time to get involved in Round 5, Poles traded down three times, cutting deals with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. When all was said and done, he went from having three Day 3 picks to eight, nearly tripling the number of lottery tickets he and staff members were scratching off on the second floor of Halas Hall.It was the first time the Bears ever had eight Day 3 picks. The NFL moved to a three-day draft format in 2010. The team has had eight picks in Rounds 4 through 7 three other times in the last 25 years (1999, 2003 and 2008). In that era, it was a two-day draft.AdvertisementSafety Craig Steltz, cornerback Zack Bowman and tight end Kellen Davis were the most impactful Day 3 picks in 2008. In 2003, it was safety Todd Johnson and wide receiver Bobby Wade. In 1999, it was linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Warrick Holdman and defensive back Jerry Azumah. Colvin and Holdman were Round 4 picks.Poles didn’t have the draft capital to invest high picks into the offensive line — not when the strength of the board Friday in Round 2 was in the secondary after nine O-linemen had their names called in Round 1 the day before. So he threw lots of picks at the position, choosing four linemen in a span of six picks. The Bears added Braxton Jones, a potential left tackle from Southern Utah, Zach Thomas, a tackle that projects as a guard from San Diego State, Doug Kramer, a five-year starter at center for Illinois, and Ja’Tyre Carter, a guard from Southern.That left the Bears one short of being able to put a starting unit on the field next weekend for rookie minicamp. If new offensive line coach Chris Morgan can get one to develop into a starter and maybe have another project as a multi-position backup, that would be a victory.The Bears don’t have a great history of turning late picks into starters up front. They’re hoping Larry Borom, a fifth-round selection last year, pans out at tackle with a new staff in place. The only late picks that got a shot and worked out as starters in the last decade were a pair of tackles drafted by former GM Phil Emery — Jordan Mills in the fifth round in 2013 and Charles Leno in the seventh round in 2014.Poles left open the possibility to bring in competition for the line, citing the possibility of veterans being released by other teams, street free agents and even a potential trade, which wouldn’t be a surprise even if it’s not for a high-profile name.Surely Poles would have loved the opportunity to add one of the top offensive tackles in the class, something he would have been able to do with the seventh overall pick if the Bears were not paying off the bill for Justin Fields. He identified a secondary in dire need of help and went with where the talent was Friday. Now the Bears play the long game with their rookie tackles and wait to see what Borom and Teven Jenkins, a second-round pick a year ago, can do.It’s a draft that on the surface didn’t do a lot for quarterback Justin Fields, but the coaching staff has the benefit of the doubt for now. Velus Jones, the rocket wide receiver from Tennessee, wouldn’t have made sense for the former coaching staff. The Bears couldn’t come up with creative ways to involve Cordarrelle Patterson and the Tarik Cohen experience was good for only one season.If new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy can create ways to involve Jones — and comparisons to Deebo Samuel really aren’t fair at this point — the Bears might have a dangerous weapon in space, the kind of player who can turn a simple play into big yards.AdvertisementThat’s also what made the sixth-round selection of Baylor running back Trestan Ebner intriguing. He was a special teams dynamo in the Big 12 but he’s also a natural pass catcher out of the backfield — not something you would associate with David Montgomery or Khalil Herbert. Ebner is going to have his work cut out to earn playing time, but he could add another element (along with speed) to the offense. Versatility and speed are something every team seeks.Poles talked Friday about chipping away when asked about improving the O-line before the end of the offseason program, describing a methodical process that’s going to take time. It sounded in many ways like the description of a rebuild. If the Bears hit with a couple of their eight Day 3 picks, that will be part of chipping away.But just remember: we’re looking at final day picks without a fourth-rounder. They’re dice rolls.

Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer announced her retirement Saturday after 50 years in college basketball.She finished with 1,055 wins — fourth all-time among Division I women’s basketball coaches. Stringer made four Final Four appearances and reached the NCAA Tournament 28 times while leading Cheyney State, Iowa and Rutgers. Stringer was emotional when she talked to her team Friday night on a Zoom call.Advertisement“I am officially announcing my retirement,” Stringer in a statement. “My life has been defined by coaching and I’ve been on this journey for over five decades. It is rare that someone gets to do what they love for this long and I have been fortunate to do that. I love Rutgers University for the incredible opportunity they offered me and the tremendous victories we achieved together.”The 74-year-old coach had been on leave this past season because of COVID-19 concerns. She signed a five-year extension before going on leave last April. Her retirement becomes effective on Sept. 1, and she agreed to an $872,988 retirement buyout. Rutgers will name its basketball court in her honor next season.AdvertisementRutgers President Jonathan Holloway said naming the court after her is “a fitting and indelible tribute to one of the greatest coaches of all time.” He called Stringer “an icon” whose impact has been “felt across our campuses, around the state and throughout the nation.”Stringer has coached at Rutgers since 1995, winning 535 games. She led the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA title game in 2007 when they lost to Tennessee.C. Vivian Stringer announced her retirement Saturday after 50 years in college basketball. She finished with 1,055 wins, fourth all-time among Division I women’s basketball coaches. (Mel Evans/AP)The school’s appearance in 2000 made Stringer the first men’s or women’s coach to guide three different programs to the Final Four. She led Cheyney State to the first NCAA title game in 1982 and Iowa to the national semifinals in 1993.“Coach Stringer is a titan in college basketball, inspiring generations of student-athletes and coaches to pursue excellence on and off the court,” Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs said. “Her place in the history of the game is cemented, but more remarkable is the legions of young women whose lives she helped shape.”She started her coaching career in 1971-72 at Cheyney State in Pennsylvania.“I am forever indebted to all the coaches who I worked beside,” Stringer said. “Some were former players, some were colleagues, but all were friends and family at the end of the day and were my most trusted relationships.“To the young ladies that I was fortunate to have coached and mentored into the women and leaders of today, keep pushing the barriers, keep pushing for your spot at the table, and always know who you are.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.At Iowa, Stringer elevated the program starting in 1983, setting an attendance record in 1985 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Stringer left Iowa to coach at Rutgers following the death of her husband Bill.Advertisement“There’s always a soft spot in my heart for the University of Iowa and Dr. Christine Grant for giving me my first major coaching position … She was a strong believer in women’s rights and that’s a responsibility that I have championed and will continue to take up the fight for.”Stringer has been an inspiration to many Black female coaches, including South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, who won her second national championship on April 3.“Coach Stringer thank you for elevating our game,” Staley tweeted. “The strength of your shoulders allowed us to stand tall. We will forever keep your legacy in our hearts. Thank you Coach Stringer.”Stringer won 20 or more games 37 times in her career, finishing with a 1,055-426 record (.712 winning percentage). She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Stringer also served as an assistant coach on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that won a gold medal.The school will begin a search for a new coach immediately. Associate head coach Tim Eatman had taken over for Stringer in her absence.“This was the hardest decision of my life, but I thank God he has allowed me to do the thing I love most. I am ready to start my new journey and spending more time with my family, children, and grandchildren,” she said. “I am truly blessed to have had so many wonderful people in my life.”

A new National Women’s Soccer League season begins in earnest Saturday for the Chicago Red Stars, who hope their match against Racing Louisville FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview is the start of a new era.The team that takes the field Saturday — as it has since the beginning of the preseason Challenge Cup tournament — will be much different from the one that fell short of winning the club’s first NWSL title last fall.AdvertisementThat defeat kicked off a painful offseason, as club ownership allowed former coach Rory Dames to resign hours before a bombshell Washington Post report detailed years of abuse allegations against Dames at the Red Stars and Eclipse Select, a youth club Dames founded in 1997.“Everyone knows last year the entire league went through a lot,” defender Arin Wright said April 21 at the team’s 2022 jersey unveiling. “There was a lot of healing to be done.”AdvertisementChicago wasn’t the only NWSL club to confront coaching abuse. Earlier this week, the Houston Dash suspended coach and general manager James Clark over initial findings in a joint NWSL and player association investigation into “current and historic complaints of discrimination, harassment and abuse.”New Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli knew he was stepping into a difficult situation when the Red Stars hired him in February.“I knew, we all knew, that I was walking into an environment where there had been some issues in the past,” Petrucelli said Thursday. “I’ve tried to be very respectful of the players as a whole and individually as well. The interesting thing is from the day that I’ve got here, all I’ve seen is happy faces. All I’ve seen is players that are trying hard, players that are doing their best and players that love what they’re doing, love each other and love their club.”In addition to arriving in the wake of an abuse scandal, Petrucelli is adjusting to the workings of the NWSL and an extended competitive season.Petrucelli joined the Red Stars after going 427-182-54 as a Division I coach over 31 years, most recently at Southern Methodist University. He won the 1995 national title at Notre Dame and earned back-to-back coach of the year honors in ‘94 and ‘95. He coached at Texas for more than a decade and also coached the U.S. under-19 and under-21 national teams.Chicago Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo in action during an NWSL Challenge Cup match, March 20, 2022, in Houston. (Matt Patterson/AP)Petrucelli’s comments echo the tone of longtime Red Stars Vanessa DiBernardo and Wright.“It was something that was needed, and I think it was voiced by us, the players,” DiBernardo said April 21.AdvertisementWorking through a roster overhaul and gelling with front-office changes such as associate GM and former Red Star Michelle Lomnicki has been a complex process.Lomnicki will primarily manage player contracts and personnel matters, a role that previously was left in the head coach’s hands.“I think our club has done a very good job of making the changes and moving things around to elevate this club and move beyond what has gone wrong,” Wright said. “We’re ready to move forward and step into the next chapter.”There are other changes players say make them feel better supported. The club hired a human resources employee during the offseason and now has posters in the locker room about an anonymous hotline for reporting wrongdoing.“It’s nice having posters in our locker room of places where we can call and text to have support,” new signee and Arlington Heights native Amanda Kowalski said. “I think that’s super important. Not only are there resources available, but that we know that they’re there.”AdvertisementWright said earlier this month the team’s new culture is “very good” but added the Red Stars need to be “mindful of what was in the past… so we don’t fall back into those same patterns.”Forward Ella Stevens said Thursday that ensuring the club moves in the right direction off the field is what is most important, adding that a “positive environment” beyond soccer ultimately factors into on-field results.“When you feel supported and are happy playing and are where you want to be, your performance shows,” Stevens said.Chicago Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden (11) passes the ball during the second half of the NWSL final against the Washington Spirit, Nov. 20, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (Jeff Dean/AP)The Red Stars in December traded midfield stalwart and U.S. national team star Julie Ertz and NWSL Defender of the Year finalist Sarah Gorden to expansion side Angel City FC.Injuries have already plagued the team: defender Tierna Davidson suffered an ACL tear in preseason and forward Kealia Watt is still rehabilitating from her own ACL tear, which she sustained in the 2021 NWSL semifinal. Defender Casey Krueger and midfielder Sarah Woldmoe are each on maternity leave.That hasn’t stopped Petrucelli from wanting to set a high bar competitively.Advertisement“I want to (win a championship),” Petrucelli said Thursday. “I want our team to do that. I want our team to have a chance to celebrate success and enjoy the experience along the way.“I don’t feel external pressure, but I think you look at it and you go, ‘This is a team that historically has been fighting for a championship and we should be doing the same.’”Star forward Mallory Pugh is working her way back from a concussion, and midfielder Morgan Gautrat is likely to miss more time with a calf injury.“There’s a lot of change,” DiBernardo said. “It’s going to take time for all of us to kind of figure each other out. We have older players who have played with each other for a while, but we also have younger players who are coming into this league and this environment.”That puts the onus of setting the tone on veterans such as DiBernardo, the captain, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielder Yuki Nagasato, who returned in the offseason.“We are trying to jell and work together, and it’s going to be a process,” DiBernardo said. “But the environment is good and we feel good moving forward.”AdvertisementChicago Local 134, the Red Stars supporters group, in December called for majority owner Arnim Whistler to sell his controlling stake in the team, saying at the time it would not “complete payment for our season tickets or buy merchandise from the team.”Whistler has not sold his majority stake.“I’ll be here as long as I’m needed,” Whistler told the Tribune in February. “I think I’m still needed a bit. Certainly not being asked to leave, but if and when that’s the right thing to do, I will always do right by the club.”On Wednesday, Chicago Local 134 announced it will support the club for the 2022 season after boycotting games during the Challenge Cup.The group will silence all chanting and drums during the 10th minute of each match to “serve as a reminder of the continuing importance of our concerns.”Advertisement

“Continuity” was the buzzword this week as Chicago Bulls players and management met with reporters one last time following their first-round playoff loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.Keeping the core together was the stated goal of executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas, though it will be greatly weakened unless Zach LaVine returns. And as one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents this summer, that’s not a slam dunk — even if the Bulls can offer him the most money.AdvertisementWhile he said he has a “really soft spot in my heart” for Bulls fans, LaVine was noncommittal Friday when asked about his return.“I have to do this as a business decision as a man, not to just be viewed one way, and be like, ‘Aw, I’m automatically coming back’ or ‘I’m automatically leaving,’ things like that,” he said. “It’s unrestricted free agency, for my family and me. I have to go into this like it’s a decision where I have to be open-eyed. And obviously I have to make my list and talk to everybody in the summertime.”AdvertisementWhat factors will he consider?“That’s a good question, because I don’t even know yet,” he said.I think I can help here. There is only one factor that really matters, and it’s revealed in rapper Too Short/’s song “Get That Cheese:”“It’s payday, get that cheese. You gotta get that cheese. Just get that cheese.”Bulls guard Zach LaVine grabs a rebound against the Bucks at the United Center on April 24, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)LaVine deserves as much cheese as he can get, and good luck to him in his pursuit of mega millions. DeMar DeRozan called him a “max everything” player, meaning LaVine deserves a max contract for everything he does on the court and is as good a person as anyone off the court.Bulls fans shouldn’t blame LaVine if he leaves. He has given everything you could ask for in his five years in Chicago and never complained about having to be the centerpiece of a failed rebuild for four of those seasons.Of course, his health also is on everyone’s mind. Asked if a left knee issue will factor into the Bulls’ decision on LaVine, Karnišovas said: “No, I don’t think so.’’So in the long term, the knee won’t be an issue?Advertisement“No, not that I know,” Karnišovas said. “But again, in a short time we’re going to figure out what his plan is for the summer.”That’s an optimistic view, considering LaVine might have offseason knee surgery “almost immediately after the playoffs,” at least according to a Sun-Times report. LaVine said he’ll take a week or so to “chill” at home in California before seeing doctors. Karnišovas said he didn’t know if LaVine would need surgery and declined to speculate.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bulls veterans preach continuity as they hope to ‘run it back’ in 2022-23 after their 1st season together ]But LaVine’s explosiveness is dependent on his knees. If you’re going to offer a player a max contract, it would make sense to believe he’ll be healthy for most of the next five years. Hopefully that’s the case, because the Bulls are better with LaVine than without him.Yet as much as everyone in Chicago loves LaVine, he’s not the most indispensable player on the Bulls roster. That would be DeRozan, who supplanted LaVine as the face of the organization with a career year at 32. He has two years remaining on his contract and it’s imperative to win while he’s still here.Unlike most of us, DeRozan isn’t worried about the ravages of aging.Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and guard Zach LaVine go through a photo session on Sept. 27, 2021 during media day at the United Center. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)“If LeBron (James) still is doing what he’s doing (at 37), I got hope,” he said. “I got some years (left). I don’t look at it like I’m getting older (and) I’m getting slower. At the end of the day, I look at it like I’m getting smarter.Advertisement“I’m getting more of a will to keep being better. I don’t look at age too much. Maybe when I’m 38 or something. Just taking care of myself physically, mentally is a big part to this whole thing. I’ve been blessed to mostly stay healthy throughout my career. As long as I can go out and play, I’m going to figure out a way to get better.”DeRozan should be the kind of player his peers want to play alongside, which should aid the Bulls in free agency. They need another point guard with Lonzo Ball’s health in question, and a rim protector to complement Nikola Vučević. Not to mention someone who can come off the bench and consistently hit 3-pointers like Grayson Allen did to them in the playoffs.Alex Caruso is a great defender and a fan favorite, but offensively he’s not much of a threat. Patrick Williams had moments where he looked like a first-round pick and moments where he was barely visible on the court. Ayo Dosunmu needs to get stronger and work on his shooting.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The good news for Karnišovas is that Chicago is no longer a place quality free agents use to get leverage from the teams they’re actually interested in.“I was pleasantly surprised last summer how many people wanted to play in Chicago,” Karnišovas said. “Just the history of this franchise, the city of Chicago. And I think anybody that steps into the United Center, they feel the energy and passion.”[ [Don’t miss] Lonzo Ball’s frustrations continue in recovery from knee surgery after Chicago Bulls season ends ]That wasn’t always the case. After “The Last Dance” aired in 2020, Chicagoan and former NBA star Antoine Walker told WSCR-AM 670 the Bulls were “not a huge free agency attraction spot and that bothers me. Chicago isn’t a buzzing place that the elite players in the league talk about going to.”AdvertisementEven though the Bulls weren’t DeRozan’s first choice — he reportedly talked to James about joining the Los Angeles Lakers — he said it turned out to be a “perfect” place for him. Few players in any sport have come to Chicago in their 30s and become as instantly beloved as DeRozan. He’s Dennis Rodman without the craziness.DeRozan also is one of the most respected players in the league, and if he can convince some quality free agents to join him, it’s likely a few will listen. Coach Billy Donovan is a players’ coach with the right personality for this team, and with the Bulls on the upswing, Karnišovas should be able to build around his core and give Donovan a real bench.One thing Karnišovas has that his predecessors lacked is the trust of Bulls fans. He has changed the perception of the franchise, and that’s no small accomplishment. All in all, it was a fun season, and eventually we’ll see if LaVine gets his cheese — and if the Bulls can take another big step forward next season.

Tim Anderson doubled leading off the first inning for the Chicago White Sox against the Los Angeles Angels. The Sox wouldn’t get another hit Friday until José Abreu singled with two outs in the seventh.The Sox were limited to three hits by emergency starter Jimmy Herget and six other pitchers in a 5-1 loss to the Angles in front of 23,709 at Guaranteed Rate Field — their 10th defeat in the last 11 games.Advertisement“Since the first game of the season, we’ve been fighting to get to a rhythm at home plate,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “Everybody is fighting. Everybody is trying to get into that rhythm. We haven’t got to that point yet, but we are still fighting.Advertisement“I know everybody is working hard here. Everyone is doing their best to get results, to get out of this tough moment. I have plenty of confidence in everybody here because we know that we have the talent. Then it’s just a matter for us to keep working and keep grinding.”Homers in the first by Taylor Ward and Shohei Ohtani powered the Angels, who won their sixth straight. Ward finished a triple shy of the cycle and Ohtani scored three runs.“I would have liked to execute some more pitches than I did in the first inning,” said Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. “A couple poor pitches, a couple home runs. And then (in the sixth) against (Anthony) Rendon, not a good first-pitch fastball (that resulted in an RBI double).”Herget stepped in for Noah Syndergaard, who was a late scratch. Anderson greeted Herget with a double to right and moved to third on a grounder and scored when Yasmani Grandal reached on an error.The Angels retired the next 18 hitters, a streak that ended with Abreu’s single.“If you have respect for yourself, if you respect your work, if you have confidence in your talent, you have to keep working,” Abreu said. “I know that the game of baseball can be very difficult but you just need to keep working hard. If you are doing your job, you are doing your preparation, working out and taking care of the stuff you need to take care of to have success, sooner rather than later you’ll have success.“I know everybody here is doing their best. Everybody here is doing their job. It’s a matter for us to keep doing it, don’t hesitate about our talent and keep working hard.”The Sox hit a few line drives that were snagged by the Angels.AdvertisementCenter fielder Mike Trout made a leaping catch in the fourth to rob Abreu of a hit on a ball with a 103.9 mph exit velocity, according to MLB Statcast. Luis Robert — who went 0-for-4 in his first game since exiting with a groin strain April 21 in Cleveland — hit a liner with a 114.8 mph exit velocity in the fifth that Trout tracked down. And Rendon caught Andrew Vaughn’s line drive with an exit velocity of 111.3 mph in the seventh.“I don’t believe in luck, luck doesn’t exist,” Abreu said before joking,“but it seems like the other teams are playing with more players than us.”Anderson singled with one out in the ninth. The Sox loaded the bases with two outs before Robert flied out to right to end the game.“It’s (one thing) for me to say that guys are going after it, but when you see a rally like that in the ninth inning, that was close,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “(Robert) gets on base and you’ve got a home run on deck, and who knows? It could’ve been fantasy island.“The guys are grinding. But whatever the reason, the quality of at-bats can get better, and they’re working on it. It’s starting to show results. I’ve learned a long time ago, if you try to explain yourself it sounds like an excuse. The less you explain, the less excuses people think you’re making. But our offense is going to be fine. We’re going in the right direction.”

Until Ryan Poles makes moves on the offensive line that turn heads, he’s going to come across as an Illinois politician talking about reforming the state’s tollway system.That’s to say it’s going to be hard to put much weight into what the first-year general manager has to say about the line until something is actually done.AdvertisementAs needy as the Chicago Bears are on the offensive line — and at wide receiver — intense focus on an offense that has been a wreck the last couple seasons distracted from the reality the secondary was especially poor in 2021, creating a need that matched where the strength of the draft was Friday evening at the beginning of Round 2.Poles moved to help shore up that area, using his two second-round picks on Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon and Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker. Gordon figures to compete for a starting job opposite Jaylon Johnson, another cornerback the Bears tabbed in Round 2 from a Pac-12 school two years ago. Brisker ought to push for a spot next to Eddie Jackson right away as well.AdvertisementThe team’s well-documented needs on the offensive line remain unchanged through three rounds of the draft. They have two certain starters — Cody Whitehair at left guard and Lucas Patrick at center. The team is still learning about second-year players Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins, who got the first shot as starting tackles earlier this month in minicamp. Right guard is a question.The Bears are also in need of more targets for quarterback Justin Fields. The biggest moves have been signing Byron Pringle to a one-year, $4.1 million contract and adding Equanimeous St. Brown on a one-year deal for the minimum. Later Friday, the team drafted Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., who blazed through his 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in 4.31 seconds and is considered by some analysts to be the elite returner in the class. Still, that’s not much to compensate for seeing Allen Robinson depart via free agency and knowing Darnell Mooney is the only established receiver remaining from the previous staff.While everyone knows how poorly Fields, Andy Dalton, Nick Foles and the passing offense performed last season, less publicized is how bad the secondary was.Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker (1) reacts after a play against Michigan in State College, Pa., Nov. 13, 2021. (Barry Reeger/AP)The Bears ranked 27th in the NFL allowing 7.6 yards per attempt. They allowed 31 passing touchdowns, tied for 26th with only two teams surrendering more. They made only eight interceptions, which ranked 29th. Opposing quarterbacks combined for a 103.3 passer rating, dead last in the league. Sounds a lot like the company the Bears kept in key offensive categories, doesn’t it?All of those struggles came with the Bears ranking fourth in sacks with 49, making you wonder about the correlation between a good pass rush and pass coverage. With Khalil Mack traded away for the pick that produced Brisker and 32-year-old Robert Quinn potentially trade bait down the line, it’s difficult to imagine the defense approaching the same number of sacks.So with a defensive-minded head coach in Matt Eberflus and gaping holes in the secondary, Poles doubled down on defensive backs.AdvertisementSome figured Gordon, whom the Bears selected at No. 39, would be selected in Round 1 and one national scout for another franchise said he preferred Gordon to Trent McDuffie, his Washington teammate that went 21st overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. The scout said Gordon has greater short-area burst than McDuffie, so Gordon’s 4.52-second, 40-yard dash at the scouting combine wasn’t concerning. That slower time that might have helped the Bears.“When we watched him on tape and he ran that time, the 4.52, we kind of got a little excited,” Bears national scout Francis St. Paul said. “We were like, ‘Uh oh, we may have a chance now.’ He plays way faster than that time. And you see it all the time, there’s a lot of players that don’t run as fast as we’re all expecting but they play faster. And he has great play speed.”The Bears did well in 2004 when they drafted a cornerback in the fourth round that was knocked for having a sub-par 40 time. That was Nathan Vasher, who had 16 interceptions in his first three seasons.Brisker, whom the Bears selected with the 48th overall pick, is the highest-drafted safety by the Bears since they used the 42nd pick on Danieal Manning in 2006. The 6-foot-1, 199-pound Brisker was lauded by scouts for his combination to play physically as a big hitter and with range that will provide some versatility for defensive coordinator Alan Williams.The Bears praised the leadership traits of Gordon and Brisker, and while that’s always significant, it’s of particular importance in the first year of a new regime in a rebuild (even if that’s not what the organization wants to call it).Poles said earlier this week his goal was to trade down and add more picks. That didn’t materialize and perhaps three trades in the six picks before the Bears were on the clock left them with no potential partners. Now, the Bears will sit out Round 4 Saturday before they pick twice in Round 5 and once in Round 6. Any trades down at that point won’t net much in return.AdvertisementThe Bears haven’t benefitted from a tremendous draft for offensive linemen — nine were selected Thursday night — but no matter what Poles did in Rounds 2 and 3, you were going to be able to say he still has sizable holes, perhaps gaping ones, to fill.If Gordon and Brisker step in right away and perform, the Bears ought to be better on the back end with some potential building blocks for the future. That doesn’t do a thing to improve the offensive line, but just because Poles didn’t talk about needing to overhaul the defensive backfield in the same way doesn’t mean it wasn’t a glaring need.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 30Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of George Halas, took over as majority owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

BUFFALO, N.Y. — All bad things must come to an end.At least the Chicago Blackhawks finished a torturous season Friday with a point in 3-2 overtime loss against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center to finish 28-42-12.AdvertisementThe Hawks never got a shot off in the extra period before Casey Mittelstadt scored the game-winning goal.Interim coach Derek King ends the season on a three-game points streak. After the Hawks fired Jeremy Colliton and installed King Nov. 6, he was the first Hawks coach to start 4-0-0.AdvertisementStill, his Hawks scuffled through a six-game winless streak through December and January and an eight-game winless streak in late March and early April.Alex DeBrincat matched a career-best 41 goals, though it’s 15 more markers than the next closest Hawk: Patrick Kane at 26.Kane couldn’t top a personal high either: 66 assists.The bulk of the first two periods weren’t exactly an exhibition of precision passing on either side (the Hawks had 10 giveaways through two periods), with the teams combining for 15 shots on goal until Dominik Kubalík broke the scoreless monotony 8 minutes, 47 seconds into the second.It was Kubalík’s 15th of the season, and the heady low-to-high backhander that set him up was rookie Alex Vlasic’s first assist.After Tage Thompson put the Sabres on the board in the third period, Dylan Strome notched his 22nd goal of the season. Strome finished with two goals and three assists in the last nine games.However, Buffalo rookie Owen Power slipped a shot past Collin Delia with 5½ minutes left remaining for his second-career goal.