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Liam Hendriks is not a fan of intentional walks.“Don’t ever put anyone on when I’m on the mound,” the Chicago White Sox closer said Wednesday, displaying his competitiveness.AdvertisementThe topic came up in the aftermath of the team’s decision to pitch to Byron Buxton with first base open in the 10th inning of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. Buxton hit a three-run homer off Hendriks as the Twins beat the Sox 6-4.“(A) 3-1 (count), he’s 0 for 2 career off me,” Hendriks said. “Obviously it’s not the middle of the stretch that he’s on right now. This is a guy that was drafted (No. 2 overall in 2012) for a reason. He’s got all the talent in the world.Advertisement“But I’ve been able to beat him on pitches in similar locations before in my career and I know that I trust my stuff no matter what. I’m never thinking about putting somebody on base or pitching scared because that’s when you get into trouble.”Hendriks, who is tied for second in the American League with four saves, has been recovering from a “back spasm issue” since Sunday. Kendall Graveman pitched the final two innings of the Sox’s 7-3 win against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.“We are taking it day by day and it all depends on how the next step goes,” Hendriks said.The issue popped up between the ninth and 10th innings at Target Field, he said.“I don’t know what happened,” Hendriks said. “I went to grab a towel and walked slowly on the tile in cleats and just couldn’t stand up right after that. They tried to take me out and I just kept telling them no. Probably in hindsight it would have been a good thing. But my stubborn (butt) is going back out there no matter what.“The pain came without slipping. It just clenched while walking on tile. I deal with it every now and then, but this one just didn’t go away. Usually it will happen and then I’ll be able to walk around for a little bit and it’s fine. It just didn’t go away this time unfortunately.”Hendriks said he felt it “a little bit” while on the mound.“Not so much actually pitching,” he said. “There were a couple of throw backs (to the mound) that tweaked it a little bit. You see everything was up, a lot higher than usual, and I think it was a little factor of not being able to finish my pitches and stuff like that.AdvertisementThe Twins’ Byron Buxton watches his three-run homer off White Sox closer Liam Hendriks in the 10th inning Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Minneapolis, (Jerry Holt/AP)“Still no excuses for what happened in that game. I should have been able to get it done regardless of how I’m feeling. I usually have that tack of being able to throw the pitch when I need to. Unfortunately it didn’t work.”Hendriks, the AL Reliever of the Year in 2020 and 2021, said of Buxton’s 469-foot home run: “If you’re going to give up a walk-off homer, you might as well make it the longest in Statcast-era history, right?”Hendriks has one intentional walk this season after having only one in 2021 and one in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with the Oakland Athletics.“I have no fault with me attacking (Buxton) because he’s a free swinger,” Hendriks added. “If I get it into a better location, he doesn’t do that much damage with it. And then I have a chance of facing a guy who I have always had tough at-bats with, with (Luis) Arraez (2 for 4 career vs. Hendriks) on deck. I’m not trying to put a guy on for a contact guy with the winning run on second base.”Hendriks met with reporters before the Sox snapped their eight-game losing streak Wednesday.“I have complete faith in this group,” Hendriks said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys, bench guys on this team who on any other team are starters. That’s a tribute to the talent level in this clubhouse and what we are able to do.Advertisement“If we get those couple of dink hits that will fall in or make a pitch or a lineout here and there, the entire vibe changes. I spoke to (second baseman Josh Harrison) about it (Tuesday). We still need to remain that cocky, that arrogant, that confident group because no matter what, we know we’ve got the talent in this clubhouse and we can go on a run.”

After ending his last season under contract with the Chicago Bulls in COVID-19 isolation, the future is uncertain for guard Zach LaVine. But teammate DeMar DeRozan feels certain about one thing — whoever lands LaVine will need to dig deep into their wallet.As LaVine enters free agency eligible for the NBA’s maximum contract, DeRozan advocated for the two-time All-Star.Advertisement“Max player, max talent, max everything,” DeRozan said. “He’s one of those players in this league that you don’t see too often. I tell him all the time how envious I am of the things he’s able to do. He deserves everything that’s coming to him.”DeRozan and LaVine created the one-two punch this season that the Bulls had needed for years to lift them to their first postseason berth since 2017. The duo combined for 52.3 points per game in the regular season, providing the bulk of the Bulls offense.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] DeMar DeRozan is stymied by the Bucks in the Bulls’ season-ending 116-100 loss in Game 5 ]Their relationship began last summer when they spent time together in Chicago and flew back and forth to Los Angeles to discuss the future of the Bulls.“We had a lot of dialogue before we even stepped out there on the court,” DeRozan said. “That sort of set the foundation from there. Everything just carried over once we got on the court.”While LaVine’s athleticism and playmaking stood out, DeRozan said he was most impressed by LaVine’s intense competitive edge.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“He’s just the ultimate competitor,” DeRozan said.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 27Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, center left, congratulates Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Bucks’ 116-100 win in Game 5 on April 27, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)That drive carried off the court. LaVine once spent an entire flight playing tic-tac-toe against DeRozan, who kept beating his younger teammate using a few tricks he picked up from his daughter. No matter how many times DeRozan won, LaVine insisted on a rematch.“He wouldn’t leave me alone until he beat me,” DeRozan said with a laugh.Re-signing LaVine will be a priority for the Bulls, who spent the recent years of their rebuild forming a team around him. [ [Don’t miss] Column: Bulls coach Billy Donovan had to deal with adversity all season, and Game 5 was no different ]LaVine never has controlled his NBA destination. He was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 and traded to the Bulls in 2017. He agreed to an offer sheet with the Sacramento Kings in 2018 as a restricted free agent, but the Bulls exercised their right of first refusal to retain him for four additional years.AdvertisementDespite spending eight years in the NBA, this was LaVine’s first winning season. Before his first playoff series, LaVine emphasized his loyalty to both franchises despite that lack of success.“Everybody’s got to play the card that they’re dealt,” LaVine told the media before Game 1. “It just took me a little longer than everybody else, but I didn’t cop out and go to a different team.”

During one of the busiest periods of the predraft process, new Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles sat in a room inside the Indianapolis Convention Center and acknowledged his responsibility in procuring more offensive talent for quarterback Justin Fields. At that week’s scouting combine, Poles was eager to identify players who could fit what the Bears are looking for.Naturally, as a former offensive lineman, Poles emphasized the need to fortify the protection in front of Fields. But he also recognized Fields’ Year 2 growth curve will be heavily influenced by the pass-catchers he has and stressed the need to find “a dependability piece” for the starting quarterback.Said Poles: “For a lot of the really good quarterbacks, especially the young ones, when things go crazy who can they go to that they trust and is dependable and can make plays?”It’s no secret that Poles will head into this week’s draft — his first in the Halas Hall captain’s chair — determined to add to the receiving corps. The Bears currently own a pair of second-round picks (Nos. 39 and 48) and have a third-round selection at No. 71. Smart money says Poles will grab at least one receiver out of a deep draft class before Friday night is over. But there’s not necessarily a specific mold he’s looking to fill.“They come in different shapes and sizes and speeds,” Poles said in early March. “(It’s about) guys who can make plays when their number is called. That’s what we look for.”[ [Don’t miss] When do the Chicago Bears pick? What do the mock drafts say? Everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL draft. ]Without a first-round pick — the Bears’ No. 7 selection was traded to the New York Giants a year ago in the deal to land Fields — Poles and his staff may have to sit patiently as the best receivers come off the board. Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson. Southern California’s Drake London. Alabama’s Jameson Williams. Arkansas’ Treylon Burks.Poles may find himself in a bit of a fingers-crossed exercise, hoping the board breaks in a way that gives the Bears an opportunity to land one of the receivers they most covet. Many draft experts expect at least a half-dozen receivers to be taken on the first night. But with an impressively deep class, Poles should still have an intriguing menu to peruse Friday. With that in mind, the Tribune takes a look at 12 receivers who could be on the team’s radar.Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave dives into the end zone to finish a 5- yard touchdown catch during the fourth quarter against Purdue on Nov. 13, 2021. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images North America/TNS)Height, weight: 6-1, 188Why the Bears will draft him: Are the Bears looking for a dependability piece for Fields? Do they want their young quarterback to have a receiver he inherently trusts and can build chemistry with? Through that lens, the dream scenario would be for Olave to somehow slip to Day 2 — or at least remain on the board late enough in the first round that Poles could consider an aggressive trade up. As teammates at Ohio State in 2020, Fields and Olave had impressive harmony. Olave was Fields’ leading receiver with 50 catches, 729 yards and seven touchdowns over seven games in that COVID-shortened campaign. He followed up this past season with 65 grabs, 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. This is a pie-in-the-sky situation for the Bears. But Olave is a Day 1-starter. He’s a fluid route runner with impressive speed and ball skills and proven big-play production. A raucous Halas Hall celebration would be on tap if Poles were somehow able to land him.Why they won’t: The idea of Olave being available to the Bears at No. 39 is extremely far-fetched. The possibility of him slipping out of the top 20 Thursday night is a longshot. Some talent evaluators question whether Olave has a sturdy enough build and enough strength to excel against some of the NFL’s more physical corners. But that likely wouldn’t be a deterrent for the Bears.Analyst’s take: “I love the route running. He’s so smooth as a route runner. He knows where he needs to be versus zone coverage. And when you study his game, he has speed as well. … He’s a vertical threat. That’s what he does. Track star. He ran a 4.39(-second 40-yard dash) at the combine. And it’s not just track speed. He’s great at tracking the ball vertically.” — ESPN senior draft analyst Todd McShayAdvertisementPenn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson participates in a drill at the NFL combine on March 3, 2022. (AJ Mast/AP)Height, weight: 5-11, 178Why the Bears should draft him: Dotson was Penn State’s leading receiver in 2021, totaling 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns on the way to being named an AP third-team All-American. After four seasons with the Nittany Lions, he tied for second in school history with 183 catches and 25 receiving touchdowns. McShay called him “a burner” and raved about his ball skills, body control and speed. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said he has the best hands in the draft. Dotson also returned 19 punts for 338 yards and a touchdown — and his career average of 17.8 yards per return is a Penn State record.Why they’d stay away: There’s a possibility Dotson might be off the board before the Bears pick. The Athletic and ESPN each ranked him the sixth-best receiver in the class, with the possibility of him going in the first round. Dotson’s size and strength are the biggest question marks for draft analysts. Multiple analysts noted he doesn’t break a lot of tackles.Analyst’s take: “He really attacks the football. He’s got outstanding ability to adjust. He can catch it back hip, above the rim. You name it, he can do it.” — NFL Network analyst Daniel JeremiahAdvertisementGeorgia wide receiver George Pickens celebrates his touchdown catch against Cincinnati during the first half of the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2021. (Brynn Anderson/AP)Height, weight: 6-3, 195Why the Bears should draft him: Jeremiah called Pickens “really, really gifted” and “a fun one.” McShay said he thought Pickens might make it into the first round before the ACL tear that limited his 2021 season. Pickens made a big impact as a freshman when he led the Bulldogs with 49 catches for 727 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 36 catches for 513 yards and six touchdowns in eight games in 2020. Analysts call him a vertical threat with quickness, speed, strong ball-tracking skills and an ability to make in-air adjustments.Why they’d stay away: The ACL injury that Pickens suffered during 2021 spring practices is the major question mark. He made a quick recovery and returned to play in four games, making five catches for 107 yards, including a 52-yarder in the College Football Playoff National Championship game against Alabama. He also did on-field work at the combine, running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. But it’s a matter of a team being comfortable with his medical evaluations and the missed development of most of his junior season.Analyst’s take: “That guy, he can really go up and get the football. He just has that ability to play above the rim, and he’s a pretty crisp route runner for somebody who’s 6-3.” — JeremiahAdvertisementWestern Michigan wide receiver Skyy Moore runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine on March 3, 2022. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)Height, weight: 5-10, 195Why the Bears will draft him: Moore was an immediate difference maker at Western Michigan, an all-conference player as a freshman and able to remain consistently productive over his three seasons. He totaled 95 catches, 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Broncos in 2021. Moore projects to be used primarily in the slot and can excel there with his feel for the game and willingness to make contested catches. McShay calls him “silky smooth.” Talent evaluators have lauded his crisp route running and overall savvy in getting open. He is also productive after the catch, which would give him added value in Luke Getsy’s new offense.Why they won’t: Moore’s overall burst and athleticism isn’t freakish, and some evaluators question his ability to consistently create separation at the next level. Furthermore, with Darnell Mooney (5-11, 173 pounds) and Byron Pringle (6-1, 203) currently slotted in as the Bears’ top two receivers, Getsy may prefer to add more size to the receiving corps first.Analyst’s take: “I saw some Antonio Brown traits from him when you studied him. … That dude will just eat cushion. He’s really dynamic and crisp. … He’s quicker than a hiccup and just puts guys in a blender. Just really fun to watch.” — JeremiahAdvertisementWide receiver Alec Pierce runs a drill during Cincinnati pro day on March 24, 2022. (Aaron Doster/AP)Height, weight: 6-3, 211Why the Bears should draft him: Pierce is a former Glenbard West football, basketball, volleyball and track athlete who played four seasons — including three as a starter — at Cincinnati. As a sophomore, he had 37 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns, and he put together his best season in 2021 with 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. Pierce utilizes size, athleticism and speed that resulted in a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the combine. McShay said he’s “really good on vertical throws and good after the catch for a long-levered receiver.” He also has special teams experience.Why they’d stay away: Multiple analysts, including Jeremiah, suggested his route tree is limited, and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote Pierce is still honing his separation skills. He battled knee and shoulder injuries in 2020.Analyst’s take: “You’ve got big-time sprinter speed. He’s just real strong and powerful in what he does. You can watch the Notre Dame game, and you can see the big-time catches, kind of those wild catches. In scouting a lot of times we use the phrase ‘quicker than fast.’ He’s the opposite. He’s faster than quick. He’s got big-time speed. Some of the subtleties getting in and out, that’s going to be a little bit more of a challenge with him at the break point.” — JeremiahAdvertisementNorth Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson catches a pass during a drill at the NFL scouting combine on March 3, 2022. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)Height, weight: 6-5, 208Why the Bears will draft him: Watson’s most bullish believers are tempted to stamp him with the “Cooper Kupp 2.0″ label, seeing a star from the Football Championship Subdivision who has both the talent and drive that will translate to the NFL. Watson put together a head-turning week at the Senior Bowl in late January, then ran his 40-yard dash in an eye-opening 4.36 seconds at the combine. Over four seasons at North Dakota State, he averaged 20.4 yards per catch. Last season, his four longest touchdown receptions were for 71, 85, 67 and 65 yards, a testament to his big-play ability. Watson had 43 catches, 801 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games last season but also has the ability to contribute as a ball carrier and kickoff returner. With his dedication, Watson would fit well into the culture Poles and Matt Eberflus are trying to build.Why they won’t: Questions persist about Watson’s overall strength and how that might limit his effectiveness. He also had drop issues at times in college and may need time to adjust to the jump in competition. Some evaluators point out that Watson’s route running will need significant polish in the early stages of his career.Analyst’s take: “Ridiculously fast. That’s the way he plays. He just has that explosiveness in his routes. So you have to respect him on the underneath stuff but he will also beat you over the top. Throughout his career, he’s had high-end production. … I really like the way he competes and the way he fights for the football. The only thing you get a little nervous on is he has shown that he can struggle with concentration drops. I don’t think he has bad hands. I think it’s concentration. You’d have to work through that with him.” — Mark Dominik, Sirius XM draft analystAdvertisementAlabama wide receiver John Metchie III goes up for a pass in front of Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary during the second half of a game on Nov. 27, 2021. (Butch Dill/AP)Height, weight: 5-11, 187Why the Bears should draft him: Metchie had 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns over 13 games in his junior season while playing alongside wide receiver Jameson Williams, a likely first-round pick. Metchie finished his career at Alabama with 155 catches for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jeremiah called him “a ready-made slot,” noting his toughness, strength and route running. Metchie has earned strong reviews for his work from coach Nick Saban, who called him “the epitome of what you look for in a wide receiver.” This may not affect his draft status, but he also has made quite a journey on his path to the NFL. He was born in Taiwan and lived in Ghana and Canada before moving to a U.S. boarding school when he was 14 to pursue athletic opportunities.Why they’d stay away: Metchie tore the ACL in his left knee in December and didn’t participate in on-field, predraft activities. He also played through multiple injuries in 2020. He doesn’t have elite size or speed and didn’t have a catch of more than 46 yards as a junior. But Jeremiah believes he could be a good value pick in the third or fourth rounds.Analyst’s take: “Jameson was such a huge part of the offense and was a big-play guy. But Metchie does all of the dirty work, over the middle, third downs. When you have to rely on a receiver, he finds a way to separate and get open. He made a lot of tough catches, and I think he’s a lot better after the catch than people give him credit for.” — McShayAdvertisementSouth Alabama wide receiver Jalen Tolbert participates in a drill at the NFL scouting combine on March 3, 2022. (Steve Luciano/AP)Height, weight: 6-1, 195Why the Bears will draft him: The college video of Tolbert shows playmaking ability. In his final two seasons, he had 146 catches for 2,659 yards with 16 touchdowns. In 2020, he set a single-game school record with 252 receiving yards against Arkansas State. The operative word with Tolbert is “smooth.” He is crisp getting into and out of his breaks and has a feel for adjusting to passes that aren’t on target. He has the ability to play outside, but can easily move inside and has shown a willingness to block as well.Why they won’t: Playing in the Sun Belt Conference, Tolbert wasn’t tested as much as other talented receivers in this class. (It should be noted that he made seven catches for 143 yards against Tennessee last fall.) He doesn’t project to be a significant run-after-the-catch threat and will have to focus on improving his run blocking.Analyst’s take: “He’s a guy I really like a lot. You see the big plays out of him. And the beautiful thing about him is he was a kid who improved every year at South Alabama, both (skillfully) and production-wise. I like the fact that he is able to contort his body and make the difficult catch adjustments. And he has that top-end speed where you feel like he can be that vertical threat for you.” — DominikAdvertisementMemphis wide receiver Calvin Austin III plays against SMU in the first half of a game on Nov. 6, 2021. (Mark Humphrey/AP)Height, weight: 5-9, 162Why the Bears will draft him: Coming up through the scouting ranks with the Chiefs, Poles learned to adjust his mindset as he evaluated prospects, focusing on what a player does really well rather than being driven away by limitations. Poles should recognize Austin as a receiver who is passionate, fearless and lightning quick. After joining Memphis as a walk-on and redshirting in 2017, Austin grinded to become a key contributor for the Tigers and finished his college career with 137 catches, 2,202 yards and 19 touchdowns over his final two seasons. He can be a bottle rocket just waiting to be lit. Austin ran the 40 in 4.32 seconds at the combine, the third-fastest time in the receiver class, and added a vertical leap of 39 inches. That kind of explosion is intriguing. Why they won’t: Slight. Small. Diminutive. Tiny. Any other synonyms we should add? Quite simply, the NFL is a physical freak show. And it takes a whole lot of intangibles to overcome the size disadvantage Austin has. That’s height. That’s arm length. That’s overall bulk. All of that will limit Austin against press coverage and in making contested catches and ru-blocking. Many talent evaluators believe Austin has a chance to carve out a complementary niche in an NFL offense. But he may have a ceiling as a third receiver at best in a productive passing offense.Analyst’s take: “Man, he’s fun to watch. He really is. He’s so quick and he has the speed that you look for. He’s obviously undersized. So you worry a little about that frame, getting off press (coverage) and those sorts of things in the league. But if you move him around, from what I saw on tape, he’s so quick with those first two or three steps. That jitterbug move and the quick shuffle with his feet, he’s able to get himself off press coverage.” — McShayAdvertisementPurdue receiver David Bell catches a pass in front of Ohio State defensive back Denzel Burke during the second half on Nov. 13, 2021. (Jay LaPrete/AP)Height, weight: 6-1, 212Why the Bears should draft him: Bell topped 1,000 yards receiving in both 2019 and 2021, when he was Big Ten freshman of the year and then receiver of the year, respectively. He finished his three-year Purdue career with 232 catches for 2,946 yards and 21 touchdowns. Jeremiah said the former basketball player has outstanding hands and a huge catch radius that wins him a lot of 50/50 balls. Brugler touted his body control and dependability, as Bell uses savvy and technique to be productive. Jeremiah also called him tough and physical after the catch, noting he could be a good third- or fourth-rounder.Why they’d stay away: Bell is not the fastest option among the top 15 receivers in the draft. He ran a 4.65 40-yard dash at the combine and 4.71 at his pro day. Jeremiah called him “more smooth than explosive,” and Kiper said the big question is if he will be able to separate from defenders at the NFL level.Analyst’s take: “His consistency was outstanding. The separation? How will that be in the NFL? Those types of things will dictate what kind of pro he is. … The production and the consistency was there (at Purdue). But will NFL corners be in his hip pocket? Will he be able to get open (regularly) against NFL-caliber corners?”— KiperAdvertisementClemson wide receiver Justyn Ross catches a pass during the second half of a game against Florida State on Oct. 30, 2021. (Hakim Wright Sr./AP)Height, weight: 6-4, 205Why the Bears should draft him: Over three seasons at Clemson, Ross had 158 catches for 2,379 yards and 20 touchdowns. That included a career-high 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman, including an eye-catching performance in the national championship win over Alabama. After spinal surgery kept him out in 2020, he was determined to play his redshirt junior season, continuing through a stress fracture in his foot to make 46 catches for 514 yards. Ross had good size and length and analysts tout his body control and ball skills.Why they’d stay away: Ross has some of the most questions of any prospect on this list and could be a Day 3 option because of the congenital fusion discovered in his spine. He had surgery in June 2020 and returned to play in 2021 after receiving advice from a panel of experts, some of whom did not think he should play, according to ESPN. Crucial for teams will be medical evaluations on his neck and spine, as well as his foot, which also required surgery.Analyst’s take: “He’s an elite talent, he’s an explosive leaper, unbelievable body control and ball skills. He’s incredibly explosive in and out of his cuts, great change of direction, lateral movement. He’s fast and a great finisher on the ball, so there’s a lot of good to talk about Justyn Ross as a football player.” — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told ESPN.com.AdvertisementNevada wide receiver Romeo Doubs tries to get past Fresno State defensive back Wylan Free during the first half of a game on Oct. 23, 2021. (Gary Kazanjian/AP)Height, weight: 6-2, 200Why the Bears will draft him: If the Bears opt to address other needs in Rounds 2 and 3 — namely offensive line and cornerback — they can do so with comfort that talented receivers like Doubs could still be around. Doubs plays with a nasty competitive edge, which figures to make him attractive to Poles. He was also consistently productive in college, a two-time All-Mountain West selection who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his final two seasons. Doubs’ highlight reel showcases both his tenacity and intriguing ball skills. He has potential to become a reliable punt returner as well, averaging 11.9 yards per return at Nevada.Why they won’t: Doubs may be a bit of a project initially, needing much more sophistication in his route running. He must also learn how to create separation consistently at the NFL level while also understanding how to finish contested catches against more talented defensive backs.Analyst’s take: “That was a deep-strike offense with him at Nevada. It was fun to watch. They’d get him vertical a lot. A lot of deep posts. He tracks the ball really well. Now, he has a little bit of tightness to him, a little bit of stiffness there. But I think he can get over the top and can track the ball well. The other issue with him … is he had what I would call ‘face-up drops.’ Some guys track the ball over the shoulder really well but sometimes when you’re facing the quarterback and you’re squared up, you have some drop issues. That’s what his thing was.” — Jeremiah

MILWAUKEE — One of Billy Donovan’s more endearing qualities as Chicago Bulls coach is his willingness to say what he believes instead of always reverting to “coachspeak” when times are tough.When the Bulls got off to a great start in November and early December, Donovan warned against complacency, pointing out they needed improvement in several areas.AdvertisementDonovan was forced to start reserves Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmu in place of unavailable regulars Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso in the Bulls’ season-ending 116-100 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. And he didn’t try to sugarcoat the difficulties of the task at hand.Before the game, Donovan pointed to the Bulls’ first game in Milwaukee back on Jan. 21, when they played without LaVine and still were in the game in the final minute, and to other stretches they played without Lonzo Ball, Caruso or Nikola Vučević. A win with an undermanned team was not out of the question.Advertisement“At times maybe we have not been quite talented enough to get over the hump, but I do like the spirit of our guys in terms of the fact that they’ve kept themselves ready,” Donovan said before Game 5. “And, listen, stranger things have happened.”Donovan added that he wanted his players to “at least walk off the floor and go, ‘We got beat tonight,’ rather than, ‘Woe is me,’ or ‘How are we going to do this with Alex out and Zach out?’”Not many coaches would go into an elimination game stating the obvious. But Donovan is comfortable in his own skin.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Mission impossible? With their season on the line, the Bulls will have to rely on reserves to save the day. ]The Bulls went down in Game 5 as expected, and now it’s time for the autopsy. Should Bulls fans focus on the progress more than the ending?“I don’t know,” Donovan said. “You have to look at the season’s totality. I know with our schedule the way it was on the back end, after the All-Star break was really challenging and difficult. I think it made us better, although we absorbed a lot of losses, and going into this series playing against the defending champions, I don’t think that can do anything but help you get better.“But we’ll never know what our team would have really looked like with what we had to endure, and that’s the part I appreciate the most about these guys. Because it would’ve been very easy for them to make excuses, complain, get frustrated, get down, and they never did that. They always kept their spirit up and came to work.”It was a roller-coaster season that in the end was rewarding for the individual moments, if not the ending.“We had a lot of ups and downs,” DeMar DeRozan said. “It was a hell of a ride. It’s going to be something I’m pretty sure I’m going to look back on in a couple of weeks and start to miss it even more. It don’t always play out how you want, but you learn so much from it.”AdvertisementIt’s true the Bulls played over their heads at times this season and the talent level was lacking. They never addressed their size disadvantage, which became more glaring when Patrick Williams suffered a wrist injury in a fall against the New York Knicks in the fifth game of the season. Instead of a trade-deadline move, they took a flier on Tristan Thompson, who didn’t work out.Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) heads to the bench during a timeout in the third quarter of Game 5 on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Milwaukee. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)Green and Dosunmu, a second-round pick, started 45 and 40 games, respectively. Unproven players Alfonzo McKinnie and Malcolm Hill were brought in during the season and given minutes because of injuries, a COVID-19 outbreak and a lack of depth.It was one thing after another.And when the Bulls finally regressed and lost 15 of 21 games from Feb. 26 to April 10 to fall from first to sixth in the Eastern Conference race, Donovan rested his starters for the regular-season finale in Minnesota, where the reserves pulled out a meaningless win over the Timberwolves.Still, the Bulls won 46 games, a fact that gets lost in the late season collapse that remained fresh in our minds. Since Phil Jackson departed after the sixth title in 1997-98, the Bulls have had eight coaches, not including interims. Only Donovan, Tom Thibodeau and Scott Skiles have won 46 or more games in a season.The Bulls need veteran help, and free agents such as Victor Oladipo, who played under Donovan in Oklahoma City, will be available.AdvertisementDeRozan said he’s fine with talking to players this summer about what it’s like playing in Chicago.“Yeah, I’m all with wanting to compete and win,” he said. “Not just compete in the regular season. Compete for a championship. That’s my only goal right now. Whatever it is I can do, or if I can try to help to do that, definitely.”DeRozan said he never has been asked to recruit, but “for the most part, if guys reach out and there’s an opportunity for me to have conversations with guys that would like to join, why not?”[ [Don’t miss] How the Bulls’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Bucks unfolded ]Donovan also should be able to draw some players to Chicago. He has faced adversity throughout his professional coaching career but nothing like this season guiding the Bulls.He came to Chicago with a stellar record in Oklahoma City, where his .608 winning percentage ranked 11th among coaches with five or more years of experience. But after Kevin Durant helped lead the Thunder to the 2016 Western Conference finals before losing to the Golden State Warriors — and then joined the Warriors as a free agent — Donovan’s Thunder teams lost in the first round four straight seasons.After mutually agreeing to part after that season, Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas quickly swooped in and signed Donovan to a deal reportedly worth $24 million over four years.AdvertisementBulls coach Billy Donovan stands on the sideline in the fourth quarter of Game 5 on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Milwaukee. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)Halfway in, Donovan has a .500 record (77-77), though he had no chance to win last season with a rebuilding team.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.So how should Donovan be judged?There’s little doubt the Bulls players are in Donovan’s corner. He always has been known as a player’s coach and is respected by his peers.“I think Billy Donovan could coach on Mars,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, adding: “He’s universally adored by people that know him and work for him.”There wasn’t much Donovan could do in this series, and he said the Bulls will “have to work harder” next season just to get back to the playoffs.“Just because we got to this point, there’s nothing guaranteed next year,” he said. “What our approach and mentality is going to be like this offseason and going into training camp is going to be critically important for us to build off of some of the positive things that happened this year.”AdvertisementThere was little doubt the Bulls made progress in 2021-22 and provided moments that will last for years.Whether the regression took some of the shine off the season is a question for Karnišovas to answer.

MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Bulls season ended with an air of inevitability Wednesday night as the team crumpled against the Milwaukee Bucks in a 116-100 Game 5 loss to close their best-of-seven first-round series.The Bulls’ chances went from unlikely to grim after starters Alex Caruso (concussion) and Zach LaVine (COVID-19) were both ruled out of Game 5 early Wednesday. Bucks fans weren’t excited as they trickled into Fiserv Forum — they were expectant.AdvertisementEven Bulls coach Billy Donovan arrived in Milwaukee with dimmed positivity.“We’ll see what happens tonight,” Donovan said before the game. “Look, stranger things have happened.”AdvertisementThe only unexpected part of the loss was DeMar DeRozan’s stat line.Without LaVine available to balance the scoring, the weight of the Bulls offense fell fully onto DeRozan’s shoulders. After his 41-point performance in their Game 2 victory, the Bulls knew what DeRozan is capable of under duress — but so did the Bucks, who spent the night throwing themselves in the All-Star forward’s way.DeRozan couldn’t cut through the swarm of Bucks defenders who surrounded him anytime he touched the ball. Every look DeRozan took at the basket was obscured by a double or triple team, and he took only one shot in the first quarter.DeRozan finished with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting despite spending only five minutes on the bench.The Bucks were clearly content to allow any other player in a Bulls jersey to take a shot — so long as it wasn’t DeRozan. The tactic paid off in spades. Time after time, DeRozan drove into a triple team, then flipped the ball out to the perimeter. But each time, the result was the same. Air ball. Brick. Turnover. The Bulls moved the ball more fluidly than they had in most of the series, but none of that mattered when the shots didn’t fall.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The Bulls shot 42.4% from the field and made just 15 of their franchise-record 52 attempts behind the 3-point arc (28.8%). Rookie Ayo Dosunmu started his first playoff game in place of Caruso at point guard and finished with eight points and one assist. Coby White finished an ice-cold shooting series with 17 points on 4-for-13 3-point shooting.Patrick Williams led the Bulls in scoring with 22 points but couldn’t match the aggression of the Bucks at the rim. Nikola Vučević scored 19 points and went 3-for-9 from 3-point range.AdvertisementThe loss capped a dismal offensive series against the Bucks. The Bulls finished the five games shooting less than 40% from the field and averaging 95.2 points.Things got ugly by the 9:41 mark of the second quarter, when the Bucks doubled the score at 40-20. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 33 points as they shot 49.4% from the field. The Bulls halved the deficit in the third quarter, but a flurry of six 3-pointers helped the Bucks rumble back to a 20-point lead.The loss left a sour note at the end of a season of growth for the Bulls, who returned to the postseason and finished with a winning record for the first time in five years. DeRozan’s arrival in Chicago sparked a season of broken records and winning streaks.But a litany of injuries — from Williams’ wrist surgery and Lonzo Ball’s season-ending meniscus tear to Caruso’s concussion in Game 4 — clouded the potential of the improved Bulls roster.

ATLANTA — The Chicago Cubs will be waiting a little longer for their short-term injured pitchers to join the team.Left-hander Wade Miley threw 46 pitches Wednesday afternoon, getting in three up-downs during a simulated game at Truist Park. The Cubs want to see how he feels before determining his next steps, but Miley is getting closer to going on a rehab assignment.AdvertisementThe veteran shouldn’t need more than two rehab outings before coming off the injured list. Given his experience and understanding of his body, Miley might need only one rehab start.Right-hander Alec Mills was slated to make a rehab start Friday for Triple-A Iowa; however, he won’t pitch after feeling tightness in his right quadriceps while working out Tuesday. Mills will get a couple of days off before the Cubs implement his throwing schedule. He could throw another bullpen session before making his next rehab start.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 3 observations from the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the Braves, including Marcus Stroman’s slider-sinker combination ]Outfielder Clint Frazier, who went on the IL on April 20 after an appendectomy, is expected to go on a rehab assignment once he has fully healed. An appendectomy typically takes four weeks to come back from for hitters. Frazier likely would have been optioned to Iowa when big-league rosters reduce from 28 to 26 players Monday. He was one of six outfielders on the Cubs active roster before going on the IL. A rehab stint would give him a chance to get in a rhythm at the plate after starting five of the Cubs’ first 12 games.The Cubs have four players on the 60-day IL who can’t be activated before June 6.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Infielder David Bote, who is coming back from left shoulder surgery, likely will begin a rehab assignment in mid- to late May if he continues to trend in the right direction. That would put Bote on track to be activated as soon as he is eligible.[ [Don’t miss] A minor setback to Andrelton Simmons’ right shoulder continues to test the Cubs infield depth ]There isn’t an obvious spot on the big-league roster for Bote based on the current roster construction. While injuries could change that by the time Bote is full go, he does have a minor-league option the Cubs could use.Right-hander Adbert Alzolay (right shoulder strain) is working out but not throwing yet. The team hopes Alzolay will begin the ramp-up process soon.Part of the benefit of being on the 60-day IL is a pitcher coming off an injury like Alzolay’s has ample time to build arm and shoulder strength. Alzolay reported to spring training with the shoulder issue and got a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in early March. If the Cubs bring him back as a reliever, it would shorten the length of his rehab.[ [Don’t miss] Is the Cubs offense for real? 5 numbers highlighting the good — and bad — so far this season. ]Left-hander Brad Wieck (left elbow strain) had a PRP injection in late March and is further behind Alzolay. He isn’t expected to return until the second half of the season.AdvertisementRight-hander Manuel Rodríguez (right elbow strain) received a PRP shot with the hope of avoiding surgery. The Cubs will know more about Rodríguez’s outlook after he begins a throwing program in a couple of weeks.Left-hander Steven Brault is on the Triple-A IL after an MRI during his physical in March showed a triceps issue. He is going through a strengthening program for his arm with a return possibly three months away.

Chicago White Sox starter Dylan Cease had a no-hitter through five innings.But nothing comes easy when you’re on a losing streak, and by the time Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals reached the bottom of the seventh, a three-run Sox lead had vanished and the score was tied.AdvertisementManager Tony La Russa noticed an encouraging mood in the dugout.“Keep playing, keep playing, find a way,” La Russa said.AdvertisementThe Sox did just that.Left fielder Andrew Vaughn broke the tie with a three-run homer in the seventh and the Sox snapped their eight-game slide by beating the Royals 7-3 in front of 12,363 at Guaranteed Rate Field.“It’s a game of baseball, a game of failure, it’s going to happen a lot,” Vaughn said of the losing streak. “We just kept grinding, going out there every single day and doing our best. We have 140 more to go at least, so just keep going and keep playing.”Vaughn went 2 for 4 with four RBIs as the Sox won for the first time since beating the Tampa Bay Rays on April 16.“I don’t know what our record is going to be when we get to the end, but it’s going to be whatever we’re good enough to perform,” La Russa said. “Because the head, heart and the guts are there. We’ve got plenty of that.”They received a strong pitching performance from Cease, who allowed two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and three walks in six innings.“He was exceptional,” La Russa said.AdvertisementCease retired the first 13 batters before issuing a one-out walk in the fifth. He carried the no-hitter into the sixth, when Edward Olivares began the inning with an infield single.Cease said he was thinking of the no-hitter “a little bit.”“But it’s definitely not the main focus,” he said. “It’s noticing it more than just sitting there and dwelling on it.”Bloop hits to right and left field in the sixth drove in runs, cutting the Sox lead to 3-2. The Royals tied it with a sacrifice fly an inning later.It could have been a “here they go again” moment.Instead, the Sox bounced back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh.AdvertisementDanny Mendick and Tim Anderson singled. The Royals brought in Scott Barlow, and Vaughn hit the first pitch over the left-field wall, giving the Sox a 6-3 lead.“I was just looking for a good pitch,” Vaughn said. “I got a fastball middle up and put a good swing on it.”Vaughn leads the Sox with four home runs.“There were a lot of times during (2021) where he was our best run producer,” La Russa said. “Then toward the end he got a little tired maybe. But he’s a better hitter than he was last year, and he was good last year.”The Sox added a run in the eighth. The seven runs were their most since a 10-1 win April 10 in Detroit.“This is definitely something to build off,” Vaughn said. “Great at-bats, but we still have more in the tank.”AdvertisementLa Russa marked the end of the losing streak with a little dance as he entered Guaranteed Rate Field’s conference center for postgame interviews.“It’s a lot more fun winning,” said third baseman Jake Burger, who went 3 for 4 with a solo home run. “Everybody’s laughing, having a good time, music’s bumping when you come back in (the clubhouse).“We want to keep it that way.”Center fielder Luis Robert continued to rehab from a groin strain suffered April 21 in Cleveland. He has not played since.“He’s stepping up the workout every day,” La Russa said before Wednesday’s game. “When he can do everything without any discomfort, that’s when he’s green-lighted as far as I’m concerned because of all his activity, whether he’s playing defense or offense.“As of (Tuesday), he still felt a little something when he moved side to side. So that has to disappear.”AdvertisementYasmani Grandal served as the designated hitter after leaving Tuesday’s game with “soreness in his legs.” Grandal went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run Wednesday.Third baseman Yoán Moncada expects to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday. Reliever Joe Kelly is slated to pitch for Charlotte on Sunday.

This season has been a challenge for the Chicago Blackhawks and Jonathan Toews in particular.When you run it all down — a comeback from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), a nine-game winless streak to start the season, a coaching change, a monthlong stint in concussion protocol and a recent eight-game winless stretch during which the Hawks were officially eliminated from the playoffs — it could take a lot out of anyone.AdvertisementBut Toews reported Wednesday that he’s “feeling like myself again.”Asked more about his health — including his battle with CIRS, which saps his energy and makes him feel abnormal at times — Toews said: “I wouldn’t say there were any setbacks, but I’ve seen progress all year, physically and mentally and everything in between.Advertisement“Let’s face it, if you don’t come into a season in shape, ready to go at your peak, the game’s just getting younger and faster and our schedule is crazy, so it’s really hard to get ahead of the game when you come in way behind the eight-ball.”He said missing a month after suffering the concussion in late January “was huge for me, just to be able to get that rest.” And he received an emotional lift from playing his 1,000th game on March 31.Still, on the ice, Toews didn’t come close to what he produced in his prime. He entered Wednesday night’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights with 12 goals and 25 assists in 69 games.“Obviously not what I expected out of myself, even though I missed an entire season (in 2020-21),” he said. “Was definitely more challenging than I expected it to be. I feel like I learned more about myself and the game than any of those years where we were on top of the world.” The question is whether he’s ready to endure at least one more season under similar conditions with his eight-year contract running out next season.Patrick Kane, Toews’ partner in three Stanley Cup runs between 2010 and 2015, said Tuesday the front office’s rebuilding mission doesn’t necessarily conflict with his and other veterans’ desire for a quick turnaround. Kane cited the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers as examples of teams that blossomed ahead of schedule.Jonathan Toews says he agrees with Patrick Kane about the speed of the Blackhawks rebuild:“I think if a lot of different guys are given the right environment and right opportunity and keep taking steps forward, I think things can turn around pretty fast.” pic.twitter.com/HLx1TgJZrc— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) April 27, 2022

“I agree with him in that sense,” Toews said. “Like we’ve seen with other teams, things can turn around pretty quickly. If a lot of different guys are given the right environment and right opportunity and keep taking steps forward, I think things —.“You don’t want to make excuses when you look back on a season like this, but there are just so many things that made it feel like we’re working against the grain always. Whether it was the losing streak to start the season, goal droughts, just go down the list. … If we can all take those learning opportunities from it and all get better individually, I see us all improving quite a bit.”AdvertisementAlex DeBrincat expressed similar sentiments this week, and defenseman Seth Jones joined the chorus Wednesday.“If we have a good foundation, a good system for guys to come in and learn together, it can happen quicker than you expect,” Jones said. “L.A.’s went pretty quick, quicker than a lot of people thought. Anaheim was pretty good this year as well. I don’t think they realized how good they could be.”Jones and Toews both pointed to players who are already in the locker room stepping up. “The message definitely has to be that all this trial and error, all this pain, all the ups and downs of the season has to be for something,” Toews said. “Each guy has to figure out what that means to him and what they want out of their life and their hockey career, and if we can all find ways to be better individual players and people and teammates, then there’s huge potential there.”To realize that potential, however, the Hawks need talent in the pipeline. New general manager Kyle Davidson said the previous administration, of which he was a part, was guilty of taking “from the future to build the present,” and he vowed not to fall into the trap of mortgaging the future for quick fixes.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Interim coach Derek King coached many of the rookies and prospects in Rockford who form the Hawks’ nucleus of the future. His intimate knowledge of the younger players lends a unique perspective on whether Toews’ and Kane’s view of the rebuild is grounded in reality.Advertisement“I think it is realistic,” King said, “but you’ve got to add a couple more older guys. That’s what we talked about, the mentors for the (Kirby) Dachs and (MacKenzie) Entwistles and (Reese) Johnsons, all these guys coming up and … draft picks that are coming in.”To see it come to fruition, Toews likely would have to stick around longer than his final season under contract. Does he have the appetite to shepherd the next generation through growing pains after possibly missing the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons?And it’s no given Davidson would offer him an extension anyway, given his age (34 on Friday), declining play and current salary-cap hit of $10.5 million. There’s a monetary and opportunity cost to keeping Toews around, and the Hawks wouldn’t pay it just for nostalgia’s sake.Kane said Tuesday he hasn’t talked to Davidson about the future, and Toews declined to reveal whether he has had recent discussions with the GM.“I’m not going to comment on after next season because I have no idea. I think if anything these last few years have taught me is just to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead or not too far behind.”—Jonathan Toews on his future with the Blackhawks beyond next season pic.twitter.com/G2vhs6i8Gm— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) April 27, 2022

“It’ll be good for me to hear his take on how he sees the big picture, how he sees where I fit in with that,” Toews said. “I’m not going to comment on after next season because I have no idea. If anything these last few years have taught me to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead or too far behind.”

The Chicago Bears held two events Tuesday at Halas Hall.General manager Ryan Poles met with reporters to talk about his plans for his first draft with the team. And members of the organization gathered to honor the recipients of the annual Brian Piccolo Award.AdvertisementAlong with Poles’ draft preparation and his thoughts on position depth within the draft class, here are three we learned at the events.Chicago Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn (94) celebrates after sacking New York Giants quarterback Mike Glennon (2) to set the Bears single-season sack record in the fourth quarter, Jan. 2, 2022 at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The defensive end, who was the veteran recipient of the Piccolo Award, said the first thing that popped into his head when the Bears fired former general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy and hired Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus was “this isn’t my first coaching change.”Advertisement“Sucks to say, but I’ve been through many in my career,” the 11-year NFL veteran said. “The only thing I thought of was hopefully my résumé or my production from last year gives me a little weight to keep my foot in the building. At the end of the day, it’s a business. Again, you see Khalil Mack getting traded.“I didn’t expect to go anywhere, or want to go anywhere, but again, this is a crazy business.”Quinn said he was shocked when he heard Mack was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers.NFL Network reported Tuesday teams were inquiring about trade scenarios for Quinn but noted the Bears weren’t shopping him.Quinn said he’s not thinking about the possibility and instead is focused on trying to repeat the stellar individual season he had in 2021, when he had 18½ sacks, 22 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles.“Physically, mentally, spiritually, make sure that’s all put together,” he said. “(Finding) ways to get the best version of myself every day. This isn’t my first rodeo, so I think I know how to prepare during the offseason.”Quinn didn’t attend the Bears voluntary minicamp last week because he said he’s still trying to get his body right, but he was with Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams while at Halas Hall for the Piccolo Award ceremony.“Calm, cool and collected,” he said of the duo. “They want to get to know the man before the player, so they get to know your family and who you are. Anyone can watch game film and figure out who you are as a player, but to get to know your guys in the locker room, it just shows the type of character they have. So you can build up a stronger locker room and friendship in the building.”AdvertisementWide receiver Byron Pringle warms up, April 19, 2022 during Chicago Bears minicamp at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)A Florida Highway Patrol officer arrested Pringle on Saturday on charges of reckless driving and driving on a suspended license after suspecting the Bears wide receiver of doing a “donut” on the street in his 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.Poles said Pringle notified him of the arrest and communicated “the right way.” Poles said he was glad everyone was fine after the incident but declined to go into detail about their conversations.Poles signed Pringle to a one-year deal in March after working with him over Pringle’s first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.“I know him very well,” Poles said. “It’s not a reflection of who he is at all. You don’t want your guys in the news at all. At that point, it’s disappointing. But we had good conversations about it. We’re in a good place. We’ll keep that between us.”Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert (24) runs the ball before scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, Dec. 26, 2021 in Seattle. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Herbert was the rookie recipient of the award, voted on by players for teammates who embody “the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Brian Piccolo.” Herbert, a 2021 sixth-round draft pick, had 103 carries for 433 yards and two touchdowns.Herbert said he knew a little bit about Piccolo’s story before accepting the award. Quinn learned about the former Bears player in college when he won the ACC’s Piccolo Award for the conference’s most courageous player.AdvertisementDoctors discovered Quinn had a brain tumor when he was a senior in high school, and he originally was told he had only a week to live. But the tumor was benign, and Quinn had surgery to enable him to live with the tumor.Quinn said he felt a connection with Piccolo, who died of cancer at 26.“I remember looking at my mom for I don’t know how long, kind of (in) disbelief,” Quinn said. “More in shock. I mean, you try being 17 and they tell you you’ve got a week. … But after a couple of days I kind of came to grips with it — ‘I’m about to leave this world.’ “I was trying to go out as happy as possible and I guess from there on out, I just tried to live that same way because we all go though bad things. It’s just how you approach it and make the most of your situation. I’ve been blessed to still be here today and keep making positive of my situation.”

Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Steve Smith, who played for the team for six seasons in the 1990s, on Tuesday sold a four-bedroom, 4,822-square-foot house in Oak Brook for $1.26 million.Since retiring from his playing career, Smith, who now is an assistant coach for the New York Rangers’ Hartford Wolf Pack developmental hockey team, also has had a career as a homebuilder. In 2018, he paid $780,000 for the house in Oak Brook’s Brook Forest subdivision, and he subsequently set about on a dramatic overhaul of the home.AdvertisementSmith’s work included significantly expanding the second floor and raising the ceiling of the front entrance hall to produce a more light-filled entry. To execute the renovation, Smith used Hinsdale-based G.O. Architectural Design for the design work.The house has 2 ½ bathrooms, a family room with a fireplace, a glass-enclosed all-seasons room and a lower-level exercise room, all on a 0.48-acre property.AdvertisementSmith listed the house in December for $1.29 million.In a phone interview, Smith declined to comment on the sale.The house had a $9,492 property tax bill in the 2020 tax year.Bob Goldsborough is a freelance writer.Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news.