Browsing: Sports

Let’s get this out of the way: The lake can be cold. You snap on a pair of water shoes on a warm summer day and step gingerly into the clear Lake Superior waters of Madeline Island’s Big Bay. Edging ever deeper, though, is a process. You inhale sharply with every step, advancing to your waist, your chest, your shoulders — and finally, full submersion. But once your body adjusts to the shock, the feeling is completely invigorating. Curative. As summer vacation returns with a vengeance, the Midwest’s best beaches will provide a no-frills escape this year. These aren’t the Gulf Stream waters, and this certainly isn’t the Caribbean. But from the Great Lakes to the 10,000 Lakes, the best beaches of the “North Coast” are collectively like our Caribbean. So don’t let the coastal elites tell you that the Midwest has no beaches. They have no idea. Here, we share 12 of our favorites. By Simon Peter Groebner and Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune Jun 28, 2021

The Bears, who also have to fill a hole at nickel this month, drafted Vildor in the fifth round in 2020 out of Georgia Southern, with whom he had nine interceptions, 33 passes defended, 95 tackles and nine tackles for a loss in four seasons. That included an interception and pass breakup against Clemson in 2018 to first grab the attention of the Bears scouting staff, who viewed him as quick, athletic and able to play in the slot or outside.

Garcia, Tarrago, Anni Espar, Laura Ester, Pili Pena and Marta Bach also were on Spain’s roster when it lost to the United States in the final at the 2012 Olympics, and they looked primed for revenge in Tokyo. The reigning European champions had won five of six, outlasting Hungary in the semifinals.

Of the 10 players with the most snaps on special teams last season, six return: Houston-Carson, Iyiegbuniwe, running back Ryan Nall, Woods, tight end J.P. Holtz and safety Deon Bush. Gone are safety Sherrick McManis, who was a true leader for nine seasons, along with outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, defensive end Brent Urban and tight end Demetrius Harris. That means Tabor needs to find some big bodies to step up for his unit. Figure Jones takes one slot, but Tabor will be seeking athletic players over 260 pounds or so.

Simone Biles, of the United States, watches gymnasts perform after she exited the team final on July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. Biles cited the emotional strain of preparing for the Tokyo Games, not a physical injury, as a root cause of her withdrawal. (Ashley Landis / AP)

Durant sealed it with two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, making the outcome academic. The lead was five, France’s final possession was irrelevant, and it was over. The U.S. players gathered for a hug at midcourt, Durant, Bam Adebayo and Draymond Green wrapped themselves in American flags, and the journey was complete.

Jepchirchir crossed the line in a winning time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 20 seconds Saturday in a race moved up an hour to avoid the heat. A smattering of fans lining the course applauded as the Tokyo Games went north for the marathons and race walks. Her teammate Brigid Kosgei was second and American Molly Seidel, a relative newcomer to the marathon stage, took home the bronze.

“A guy throwing that hard, upper 90s to a hundred mph, you really just want to have your foot down as early as possible,” Goodwin said. “You want to be in position to hit the fastball with somebody that’s fastball-reliant, which he was. Also getting your foot down helps you to be able to recognize breaking balls a little bit sooner and be in position to put a good swing on it. That’s kind of where I was at, looking for the heater but reacting to the breaking stuff.”

Caitlyn Getz, of Belvidere, Illinois, takes photos of her children, Liam, 8, and Lily, 11, on the set of the 1989 “Field of Dreams” baseball movie, Aug. 3, 2021, in Dyersville, Iowa. The Chicago White Sox are scheduled to play the New York Yankees on Aug. 12 in a MLB-sized field being built adjacent to the original movie set field. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

The parade is the unofficial back-to-school kickoff and the oldest African-American parade in the country. Parker, who grew up in Naperville, will join a long list of stars who have participated in the event, including Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Nat King Cole.