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“I think the lockdown taught us all a lot and we all have to get through it in our own way, and I didn’t enjoy not working,” he said. “You’re sitting there, you have no idea when things are going to be relaxed again, and you have this idea of where’d you go and what you’re going to do and already knowing that the Fire and I had a relationship, it just made it even more exciting, the prospect to do some traveling, to get out there.
“You would hope that (NBC) would be willing to, as much as it is feasible, step out of the Olympics bubble and talk to everyday people in Japan to hear their thoughts,” said Jules Boykoff, a Pacific University professor and author of “Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics,” who has been critical of the decision to proceed with the games.
New COVID-19 cases on Friday in Tokyo were reported at 1,271. They were 822 a week ago, and it marks the 27th straight day that cases were higher than a week previous. New cases on Thursday were reported at 1,308, which was the highest in six months.
Hendricks, who improved to 12-4, battled command at times, especially in the fourth when the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out behind a double and two walks. He struggled to spot his changeup but battled and got a fly out and strikeout looking to end the inning to maintain the Cubs’ one-run lead.
Chicago White Sox catcher Zack Collins, left, watches Houston Astros left fielder Michael Brantley (23) celebrate with first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) after hitting a home run in the fifth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 16, 2021. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
“Look, it stinks to lose Joc, I mean he was definitely a fun teammate, I think he played really hard, he has great energy on a daily basis,” Ross said Friday. “When things like that happen in baseball, it gives an opportunity for a guy like Ian Happ to step up or Rafael Ortega or Jake Marisnick, another outfielder to have a chance to be better than Joc was for us. I mean, I really believe that. There’s guys that can step up and have good seasons.
“We’re not going to rush him,” Kantrovitz said. “We’re going to take our time. He’s kind of been on this circuit, as many of the top picks have been over the last few weeks, so we’re going to take our time in the intake process, let him get his feet wet, and then evaluate where he is from there.”
“But in saying that I wouldn’t be opposed to another veteran piece that would be of a different personality than I am. It’s going to be better for some of the young kids who like to show less emotions or like to be a little more stoic. I like to think I’m having a positive contribution to the bullpen down there, personality-wise, but not everyone has the same vibes and the same kind of flip-on, flip-off thing that I have.
“There’s a standard and the standard is winning and we haven’t gotten to that point yet,” said Stewart, who scored 17 points for the U.S. “It’s frustrating, it’s part of the game and part of the process. When we get to Tokyo and get to the Olympics that’s when it’s really, really crunch time. We’re continuing to elevate and get better every day. We’ll get to where we want to be.”
In an interview with ESPN the same day, Cockburn said Kentucky — where former Illini assistant coach Orlando Antigua, Cockburn’s primary recruiter at Illinois, is now on staff — was “a serious option.” But The Athletic reported Wednesday that talks between Cockburn and the Wildcats never escalated and that Florida State was his main suitor besides Illinois.