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It is an empire built piece by piece, but reaching expansively across the Baltimore area and beyond — through real estate that includes a downtown landmark and a renowned horse farm, to an aggressive law firm that won billions of dollars for workers harmed by asbestos and smokers sickened by tobacco, and of course, wrapping in the Orioles, whose glories and struggles define their proud and scrappy hometown.But now, in the twilight of his life, Peter G. Angelos’ vast portfolio of assets could be broken up amid a family feud over who will control them.AdvertisementAccording to a recently filed lawsuit, his wife wants to sell the team and his older son wants to “dissolve and dismantle” his law firm, the signature holdings that propelled the son of a Highlandtown tavern owner into one the most prominent and powerful figures in the state.The suit, filed June 9 by his younger son, Louis F. Angelos, 52, details a family feud that allegedly has been brewing since the health of the family patriarch began declining and he could no longer manage his businesses. Peter Angelos’ 93rd birthday is on the Fourth of July.AdvertisementLouis Angelos sued in Baltimore County Circuit Court, claiming his brother John P. Angelos, 54, has sought to seize control of their father’s assets, intimidating and confusing their mother, Georgia Kousouris Angelos, into acquiescence. The 80-year-old matriarch issued a statement in response to the suit, however, saying she alone has the authority to manage the family assets and fully supports John.Whether any asset is sold remains to be seen and, indeed, family holdings often don’t remain intact through the generations for any number of reasons. Disputes such as the one splitting the Angelos family are so familiar, they’ve inspired everything from Shakespeare’s “King Lear” to HBO’s “Succession.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11One Charles Center at 100 N. Charles St., one of a number of properties owned by Peter Angelos, on June 17, 2022. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun)The Angelos empire has had but one emperor, observers say, making it hard to envision the passing down of the crown.“With Peter’s personality, being such a dominant leader, the Angelos law firm was just him. He ran the Orioles the same way,” said Aris Melissaratos, a former Maryland secretary of business and economic development who now is vice president for leadership development for St. John Properties.“He was kind of dominant everywhere, and dominant over his two sons,” he said. “For decisions, it was always, ‘You have to see Mr. Angelos.’”The Law Offices of Peter Angelos, as the much-advertised firm is called, employed a fluctuating stable of attorneys over the years — but none were made partners, although it’s currently managed by Louis Angelos. And while Peter Angelos organized a group of buyers to purchase the Orioles in 1993, including the late novelist Tom Clancy and tennis-star-turned-broadcaster Pam Shriver, Angelos was the major investor and managing partner.As his health faltered, he granted power of attorney to his wife “to act in my place in all matters,” according to a document signed Oct. 31, 2017, and which was included in the filing of Louis Angelos’ lawsuit.Should she not be able to act in that capacity, the document went on to say, he designated his sons “acting jointly or separately” to replace her as his “attorney-in-fact.” Angelos also created a trust for his holdings, and on Aug. 9, 2019, he discontinued his role as its trustee while his wife and two sons took over as co-trustees.AdvertisementIn October 2020, Georgia Angelos placed her husband’s interest in the Orioles into his trust, according to the lawsuit.One Charles Center, one of a number of properties owned by Peter Angelos, is shown June 17, 2022, in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun)Peter Angelos last went to his law office, in the gleaming One Charles Center downtown, in February 2018. Angelos bought the building, designed by modernist giant Ludwig Mies van der Rowe, in 1996 for $6 million.The law firm specializes in personal injury cases, most notably illnesses and deaths by steel and shipyard workers from inhaling asbestos. The firm also handled the state’s litigation against the tobacco industry to recover costs related to caring for smokers.Attorneys in town say the law firm is smaller than during the height of the asbestos litigation and, according to Louis Angelos’ suit, John Angelos considered it unsustainable and thought it needed to be dissolved or spun off. Louis Angelos refused, the suit said, noting their father considered his firm his “most significant achievement” and his role with the Orioles “strictly secondary.”From a working-class background — his parents immigrated from Greece, and he went to law school at night — he rose in status and wealth. He served as a City Council member and ran unsuccessfully for mayor, and became a major philanthropic and Democratic political donor. He has given millions to his alma mater, the University of Baltimore Law School, where a building bears the names of his parents, John and Frances Angelos.Angelos has owned various downtown buildings over the years, and sought to protect the office-leasing market from moving to other parts of town. He sued to halt development plans outside the central business district, such as the westside Superblock project and the State Center revamp.AdvertisementLouis Angelos’ lawsuit accuses his brother of transferring what he estimates as more than $90 million of their father’s real estate holdings into an LLC owned by a trust that John Angelos largely controls.The former home of Boccaccio Restaurant in Baltimore’s Little Italy, one of a number of properties owned by Peter Angelos, is shown on June 17, 2022. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun)The list includes city and county properties, including 925 Eastern Ave. in Little Italy, which housed Boccaccio Restaurant until shortly after its owner’s death in 2008. Peter Angelos had been a regular, hosting everyone from Os pitching great Jim Palmer, who said the team owner was trying to woo him as manager, to then-Gov. Martin O’Malley, in a reported attempt to warm a chilly relationship with the Democrat.Angelos previously bought the legendary Maison Marconi on West Saratoga Street, saying he would relocate the restaurant to one of his Charles Street properties. Instead, he closed it five years later and sold the building in 2019.Angelos’ business interests tend to overlap. He owned thoroughbred horses before the Orioles, racing them under the name Marathon Farm. In 1998, he bought a 237-acre horse farm in Baltimore County for $2.6 million. He has named horses after then-Os manager Buck Showalter and right fielder Nick Markakis.The value of Peter Angelos’ fortune is unclear, although Melissaratos estimates it’s in excess of $2 billion. The Orioles are valued by Forbes at $1.375 billion.For many a family, experts say, the transition from founder to the next generation can be fraught.Advertisement“You’re not just dealing with business issues. You’re dealing with family issues, as well,” said Maurice Offit, a Baltimore-based attorney who specializes in estate planning, but noted he has no independent knowledge of the Angelos family’s situation. “Many times it’s hard.”And when the crown jewel of the family business is particularly high-profile, with much of the town invested in its every move, the challenges are that much greater, Melissaratos said.“The Os and Baltimore are synonymous,” he said.“Succession planning is always difficult to achieve, especially in a family with such a visible asset like the Orioles,” Melissaratos said.John A. Pica Jr., a former Democratic state legislator, agreed. Pica, who previously worked for the Angelos law firm and now is a lobbyist, said he hopes the family settles its differences.“Mr. Angelos built an empire through hard work. He kept the Orioles in Baltimore,” he said. “It’s very sad to see a battle like this going on, but I’m sure it will all work out.”AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 55Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun)In his lawsuit, Louis Angelos said his father brought both sons into the Orioles operations starting around 1995, two years after he and other investors bought the team for $173 million, then the most ever paid for a sports team.Frank Wren, the Orioles general manager for a single year, 1999, said the brothers were feeling their way in a still-unfamiliar field for them, and it was not always clear what their role was.“Both of the kids were new to the business, trying to figure out how to lead,” he said. “They were figuring out what was their place, where they really fit in, ‘What will Dad let us do?’ ‘Will the role have meat to it — or is it just a title and Dad’s running everything?’”Wren said Louis Angelos “had a decent feel for the game” and “was more interested in baseball stuff” than his brother at the time.Peter Angelos fired Wren at the end of the season, in part because he refused to hold a plane for a West Coast road trip for star Cal Ripken Jr., who was caught in traffic.“Peter’s very demanding. I don’t think saying that takes anyone by surprise,” Wren said. “He has a view of what should be done, and how.”AdvertisementThe lawsuit said the brothers initially worked together collaboratively, but a “rift” developed between John Angelos and his father over such matters as where the team should locate its spring training facility. The acrimony led to John Angelos allegedly walking away from the Orioles for long periods of time, during which Louis Angelos’ role on the team grew, the lawsuit said.John Angelos returned to the team in 2017 at his father’s request, according to the lawsuit, and began trying to seize control, unilaterally getting rid of those loyal to Peter Angelos and installing his own people. He now holds the title of chairman and CEO of the team.Louis Angelos said in his suit that his brother worked to consolidate his control over the team and could sell it or move it to Tennessee, where he lives in Nashville. John Angelos has denied he would move the team, and in the lawsuit, he is accused of stalling and thwarting his mother’s desire for a sale.The turmoil has many fans watching not just what’s happening on the field, where a yearslong rebuilding process seems to be bearing some fruit in exciting young players, but off it as well.“It’s unfortunate this rift comes as the team is about to turn around,” Melissaratos said.“It’s got to be resolved peacefully, not by having family laundry aired in public,” he said. “Someone needs to come in and calm things down. I would offer to do it.”

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles after a warrant was issued, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.LAPD spokeswoman Lizeth Lomeli confirmed Bridges was arrested, but did not release details on the charges. TMZ reported that Bridges is facing felony domestic violence charges.AdvertisementThe Hornets have not responded to news of Bridges’ arrest.Bridges, the Hornets’ leading scorer last season, is set to become a restricted free agent and could command a max contract in the coming weeks. The news comes on the eve of NBA free agency, which begins Thursday night with teams able to speak with free agents.AdvertisementThe 24-year-old Bridges averaged career highs with 20.2 points and seven rebounds last season in what amounted to a breakout season for the four-year NBA veteran while playing alongside All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball.Bridges, who played at Michigan State, is also a rapper who goes by the name RTB MB.The Hornets extended Bridges a qualifying offer on Tuesday, which allows them to a chance to match any offer sheet made by another team.“As an organization we love Miles,” Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said Tuesday. “We are going to bring him back. He has been great for the franchise and I believe, with his work ethic, he’s only going to get better.”The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Bridges said after the season he wanted to return to the Hornets, but he recently changed his Twitter bio from “forward for the Charlotte Hornets” to “It’s me,” adding some intrigue to the situation.

Will Zach LaVine remain in Chicago next season? After weeks of wondering and worrying, Bulls fans finally are close to receiving an answer as NBA free agency officially opens Thursday evening.Teams may begin negotiating with players and their agents at 5 p.m. CDT, though free agents cannot sign new deals until July 7. AdvertisementThis is LaVine’s first offseason as an unrestricted free agent, which allows the two-time All-Star shooting guard to pursue a deal with any team. It’s also his first opportunity to seek a five-year maximum contract from the Bulls, which could top out at $215 million according to an ESPN report of a 10% salary-cap increase for next season.LaVine declined during his exit interview with media in April to make a hard commitment to re-signing with the Bulls, deferring all questions about his future to his agent. But he made it clear at the end of the season that he knows his worth — and won’t compromise to receive it.Advertisement“You get paid what you’re valued at and I see myself as a top guy in this league,” Lavine said after the Bulls were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs.His teammates echoed the sentiment, calling for LaVine to receive a maximum contract from the Bulls.“Max player, max talent, max everything,” DeMar DeRozan said after the Game 5 loss to the Bucks. “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.”Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) talks with teammate Zach LaVine (8) during a game against the Clippers at the United Center on March 31, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The front office hasn’t publicly balked at these statements, and re-signing LaVine remains the clear offseason priority. The Bulls have a solid upper hand in their pursuit — they can offer LaVine more money than other team, and he openly enjoyed playing alongside DeRozan and other new teammates last season. After the NBA draft last week, general manager Marc Eversley said the Bulls have “every intention” to keep LaVine in Chicago, and executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas said Monday that the front office feels “confident” in its ability to reach a deal.June 28: Center Tony Bradley exercised his $2 million player option for the 2022-23 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.Free agents: Zach LaVine (unrestricted), Derrick Jones Jr. (unrestricted), Tristan Thompson (unrestricted), Troy Brown Jr. (restricted), Matt Thomas (restricted), Tyler Cook (restricted, two-way), Malcolm Hill (restricted, two-way)Under contract: Nikola Vučević (expires 2023), Coby White (2023), Javonte Green (2023), Ayo Dosunmu (2023), Tony Bradley (2023), DeMar DeRozan (2024), Patrick Williams (2024), Marko Simonović (2024), Lonzo Ball (2025), Alex Caruso (2025)AdvertisementChicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Eligible for extension: Vučević, White.June 30: Free-agency negotiations open at 5 p.m. CDT July 1: Signing moratorium begins, but teams can sign players to rookie, minimum and two-way contractsJuly 7: Signing moratorium ends and teams can begin making trades and signing playersJuly 7-17: NBA Summer League, Las VegasJuly 13: Last day to withdraw qualifying offers to free agentsAdvertisementAug. 31: Last day to waive players

The Chicago Bears are making progress toward completing their purchase of Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, officials say, with the clock ticking toward a deadline to seal the deal in 2023.Village documents obtained by the Tribune show the highest levels of the team’s administration, including Chairman George McCaskey, have been involved in meetings to make the purchase and subsequent construction of a new football stadium happen. The documents showed that the team deposited $125,000 with the village for studies of the stadium proposal, and they also included a former baseball executive’s proposal to add a minor league baseball complex to the site.AdvertisementIn September 2021, the team announced it had signed a purchase agreement to buy the property from Churchill Downs Inc. for $197 million, pending final approvals by both parties. Churchill Downs Inc. subsequently closed the famed racetrack. The Bears would have to break their lease at Soldier Field to build a new stadium at Arlington.[ [Don’t miss] The Arlington Heights Bears? Here’s what to know about the team’s possible move from Chicago’s Soldier Field. ]The new baseball fields were proposed by William Larsen, former general manager of the Kane County Cougars minor league team. In an email in February to Mayor Tom Hayes, Larsen wrote that the baseball fields would host four to six teams of undrafted college players.AdvertisementLarsen said he had no financial or other formal backing for the proposal, and hadn’t heard back from the Bears, but was told by scouts and others in professional baseball that there is a need for undrafted players to chase their dreams of playing professionally.“I might as well find out if they’re interested,” he said. “I knew it had a lot of potential.”He estimated 10 to 15 acres would be needed for the project on the 326-acre site, but did not cite any financing or backing for the deal.He guessed that the games could draw about 450,000 fans a year.The village forwarded the email to the Bears. Village officials would encourage the team to consider the idea, Hayes said, but it’s up to team officials to decide what to do with the site, within the village’s parameters. Meanwhile, village and team officials have continued meeting to discuss plans for the site, he said.Brandon Faber, Bears vice president of communications, didn’t comment on the baseball proposal, but said the team is still trying to see if the site will work for a football stadium.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 16Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, in Chicago on Sept. 29, 2021. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, a move that takes the team a step closer toward securing property for a new stadium and leaving their longtime home at Soldier Field. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)“We continue to work through the due diligence process on the Arlington Park property with our accomplished team of land use experts,” Faber said. “While significant progress has been made, we still must do extensive work and analysis to determine the viability of developing the site. Our expectation for a decision on whether we can purchase the property remains late 2022 or early 2023.”The village’s first recorded meeting with Bears representatives was Aug. 26, 2021, followed by meetings in October, February, March, April and June. Bears officials also agreed to attend training sessions this year on stadium security.AdvertisementThe October meeting at the village included McCaskey, Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips, and team attorney Cliff Stein, among others, village emails showed. Mayor Hayes, Village Manager Randy Recklaus and Director of Planning and Development Charles Perkins, among others, attended for the village.[ [Don’t miss] ‘One step at a time’: Chicago Bears remain in a waiting game for a potential new stadium in Arlington Heights ]Afternoon BriefingDailyChicago Tribune editors’ top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon.Hayes wouldn’t talk about specifics of the discussions, but said progress was speeding up due to the Bears’ deadline to finalize the deal by mid-2023.He confirmed that due to the size of the site, its plan likely would include mixed-use development featuring residential, commercial, retail and entertainment.“Things are moving quicker than they had been, as a result of the timeline the Bears are working under,” Hayes said. ”We have been working together with the team to meet their needs and our needs, and things are progressing. We’re doing all we can to make this a reality.”The Bears also deposited $125,000 with the village to pay for necessary consultant studies that the village would conduct regarding the proposal, Recklaus said.Such payments are not uncommon for projects that may require the hiring of a consultant for studies of traffic, security, crowd control or other issues, Recklaus said. A similar arrangement took place when studies were conducted before the former Sheraton Hotel near Arlington Park became apartments known as Arlington Downs. The village hasn’t conducted any such studies for the Bears yet.AdvertisementIn March, the team announced it had hired Manica Architecture, which designed the Las Vegas Raiders’ new stadium. The team also hired stadium development manager CAA Icon and real estate investment firm Jones Lang LaSalle to work on the proposal.rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Tim Anderson and José Abreu singled in the first inning for the Chicago White Sox against Shohei Ohtani.Anderson reached third and Abreu second on a wild pitch. But the Los Angeles Angels two-way star struck out Gavin Sheets to end the threat.AdvertisementThe Sox had another big opportunity in the fourth, loading the bases. But Ohtani struck out Josh Harrison for the third out.The Sox made Ohtani work but they couldn’t cash in Wednesday, falling 4-1 in front of 27,612 at Angel Stadium.Advertisement“We didn’t put the ball in play enough,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “That’s to their credit. Their pitching was good.”The Sox struck out 15 times as they dropped the rubber match of the three-game series.“We got it going, just key times they made a pitch and we didn’t put it in play,” La Russa said.Wednesday was billed as a showcase pitching matchup between Sox starter Michael Kopech and Ohtani. And both had numbers good enough to win.[ [Don’t miss] Andrew Vaughn, back at the site of his big-league debut, is putting up All-Star-caliber numbers for the White Sox ]“Obviously he’s a superstar,” Kopech said of Ohtani. “We have to be prepared coming into that on both sides of the ball with a guy like that. And for the most part, I was able to stay in control of that and work counts with him (Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk). I might not have been as efficient as I would have liked, but I was able to stay in the driver’s seat with him there.“He did a great job on the mound tonight. Kind of answered all of his own problems or his team’s own problems that they may have struggled with offensively, and they had a couple of big hits and came through for him. It’s quite a matchup like that, but I would like to see my best stuff on a day like that.”Kopech allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 5⅓ innings.White Sox starter Michael Kopech pitches in the first inning Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (Jae C. Hong/AP)“It was kind of a grind,” he said. “I started off making a few mistakes that got taken advantage of. And then toward the end where I really needed to bear down and make some tough pitches, didn’t make those pitches and I got taken advantage of. I’ve got to do a better job of putting us in control and being in the driver’s seat a little bit.Advertisement“I’ve been putting the team in a position where we have to fight all night long, and I can’t continue to do that.”Ohtani gave up five hits, struck out 11 and walked one in 5⅔ scoreless innings.“I thought we worked the at-bats,” La Russa said. “And then we did a better job of making the at-bats go longer. But he’s got weapons. He’s for real.”The first two Angels batters scored in the first. Taylor Ward singled and Mike Trout drove him in with a double.[ [Don’t miss] Rockford Peaches — 30 years after ‘A League of Their Own’ — live on in a new series: ‘We didn’t know we were part of something bigger’ ]With runners on first and second, Jared Walsh hit a grounder to Abreu. The first baseman threw to second to get an out, but the return throw got past Kopech as he tried to time getting the ball and the bag. Trout scored on the sequence, making it 2-0.Luis Robert and Abreu singled to begin the fourth. Sheets hit the ball hard, but Trout made a running catch in center for the first out. Ohtani struck out AJ Pollock but walked Leury García to load the bases.AdvertisementOhtani then struck out Harrison on five pitches.Abreu collected his third of four hits, a one-out single, in the sixth. Ohtani struck out Sheets and exited, having thrown 108 pitches. Pollock singled against reliever José Quijada, but Leury García hit a comebacker to the mound to end the inning.The Angels extended the lead with a two-run homer by Luis Rengifo in the bottom of the sixth. Kopech exited after 99 pitches.“I was talking to Lance (Lynn) a little after my outing and he said it best: The days you don’t have your best stuff and you’re able to grind through five or six and limit damage, that’s what pitching is about,” Kopech said. “Not when you do have your best stuff, things are going easy. You would like to have that every time, but it’s a difficult time and we face really good players.”The Sox scored on a wild pitch in the eighth, but that would be all for the offense. They went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.“Sometimes you strike out that many times and you didn’t do a good job,” La Russa said. “But we did a good job of prolonging at-bats, we had opportunities and they made the pitch to get the outs. Tip your cap to the other side.”

The Orlando Magic didn’t tender a qualifying offer to Mo Bamba by Wednesday, which will make him an unrestricted free agent when free agency officially opens at 12:01 a.m. Friday, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Orlando Sentinel.The Magic not extending the qualifying offer doesn’t mean Bamba won’t return. They still have an interest in bringing him back and are expected to work on negotiating a new deal when the period opens.AdvertisementBamba, the No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft, finished the final season of his 4-year, $24.1 million rookie scale contract in 2021-22.He averaged career-highs across the board, including minutes (25.7), points (10.6), rebounds (8.1), blocks (1.7) and assists (1.2) in 71 games (69 starts).AdvertisementThe Magic had until the close of business Wednesday to tender a 1-year, $10.1 million qualifying offer to Bamba to make him a restricted free agent.The move didn’t come as a surprise. Early Wednesday, it was clear that the Magic were “unlikely” to make the qualifier, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Sentinel.Orlando would have risked diminishing the value of Bamba’s contract on the trade market if it extended the qualifying offer and he opted into it. Players who return to a team on the qualifying offer are no longer extension eligible and become unrestricted free agents the following season. They also have a no-trade clause for that season they’re on the qualifying offer, meaning the team would need the player’s consent for a trade.If the Magic and Bamba agree to a new deal, it’d allow Orlando to retain his Bird rights and have more contract flexibility.Restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet with any team, but the player’s original team can retain him by matching the terms of that offer. As an unrestricted free agent, Bamba can sign with any team.There’s also the possibility the Magic sign and trade Bamba.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to be interested in Bamba, a person told the Sentinel.AdvertisementTeams may communicate with free agents starting at 6 p.m. Thursday before agreeing to terms six hours later.The free agency moratorium is a negotiation period from Friday through July 6 in which teams can come to terms on contracts and other deals while the new salary cap numbers are adjusted after an audit of league finances. Those deals can become official at 12:01 p.m. on July 6.The Magic had three other players who were eligible for 1-year qualifying offers — Bol Bol ($2.7 million) and two-way players Ignas Brazdeikis ($50,000) and Admiral Schofield ($50,000).The Magic extended a two-way qualifying offer to Schofield, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Orlando Sentinel, making him a restricted free agent.The Magic didn’t publicly comment on any of these players.This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, center, celebrates with center fielder Christopher Morel and third baseman Patrick Wisdom (16) after hitting a two-run homer during the fifth inning on June 29, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Federico Navarro scored in the 68th minute and the Chicago Fire beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Wednesday night at Soldier Field.Gabriel Slonina saved both of the shots he faced for the Fire (4-8-5), who won for the second time in three games after a 10-game winless streak. It was the seventh shutout of the season for Slonina.AdvertisementAndre Blake saved three shots for the Union (7-2-8), who lost for the first time in seven games.Both teams play Sunday. The Fire visit the San Jose Earthquakes and the Union visit the Columbus Crew.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A tribute board hangs near the entrance of the visiting clubhouse at Angel Stadium, acknowledging players who made their major-league debuts at the ballpark since 2020.The list includes Andrew Vaughn.AdvertisementThe Chicago White Sox designated hitter enjoyed returning to Angel Stadium this week.“It’s kind of cool,” Vaughn said before Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “They have a little thing in the clubhouse that has a bunch of (autographed) balls from guys that debuted. I got to be up there, which is kind of special.Advertisement“Brings back a lot of memories.”Back on April 2, 2021, Vaughn went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run in a 12-8 Sox victory.“It was a whirlwind,” Vaughn said. “So many emotions. Nerves. Excitement. It’s tough to put into words how much was going through my head.“Looking back, it’s been a year and a half, but it kind of feels like yesterday. It’s so cliché to say, but you don’t forget things like that.”[ [Don’t miss] Yoán Moncada returns from the IL looking to turn around a frustrating season ]Vaughn said the journey from then to now has been “a learning curve.”“I’ve gotten to improve on so many things because of that moment,” Vaughn said. “I got to just build upon it and learn what it’s like and how this game works and evolve with it.”In that short time, Vaughn has become one of the team’s top hitters. He entered Wednesday’s series finale slashing .307/.360/.465 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 56 games. He’s second on the team with 13 doubles.Vaughn has a .798 OPS against right-handers, an improvement from .610 last season.AdvertisementAnd he has been clutch, going 15-for-42 (.357) with runners in scoring position and 7-for-18 (.389) with runners in scoring position and two outs.White Sox designated hitter Andrew Vaughn hits an RBI double against the Blue Jays on June 20, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)He was not in the starting lineup Wednesday, as manager Tony La Russa said the team wanted to give Vaughn two days — including Thursday’s day off — to “refresh his legs.”“Most days if not all days this season, he’s as good as any hitter we have on the team, and that’s a remarkable statement to make,” La Russa said before Wednesday’s game. “He’s smart. He adjusts. He takes instruction well. And he’s a hungry hitter.”Vaughn is slashing .337/.391/.429 (33-for-98) with six doubles, one home run, 11 RBIs, 10 walks and nine multihit performances in his last 23 games. He has reached base safely in 22 of the 23.He’s seventh in the American League in average (.315) since May 1 and tied for ninth in the majors (.345) since May 31.All of that success has led to Vaughn’s name popping up in the All-Star conversation.Advertisement“They are amazing words,” he said when asked about being in the All-Star discussion. “I don’t even know how to explain it. But it’s pretty cool to be in that company. As a kid, you watch the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game and it’s probably the coolest thing to watch during the whole year besides the playoffs.“It would be an extreme honor, but I think the No. 1 goal — and everyone in here is the same way — is to get to the playoffs.”[ [Don’t miss] Rockford Peaches — 30 years after ‘A League of Their Own’ — live on in a new series: ‘We didn’t know we were part of something bigger’ ]Among Vaughn’s favorite All-Star week moments were a couple that occurred in 2007 in San Francisco.“Vlad (Guerrero) Sr.’s Home Run Derby in San Francisco, hitting the glove (well beyond the left-center wall), which was basically thought to be unheard of,” Vaughn said. “The Ichiro (Suzuki) inside-the-park home run in SF (in the fifth inning of the All-Star Game) was insane. Just so many (moments).”Vaughn was born in Santa Rosa, Calif., and played college baseball at California. The Sox selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft.He said his parents and sister were in attendance at Angel Stadium. He’s expecting more friends and family when the Sox play the Giants this weekend at Oracle Park. That three-game series begins Friday.Advertisement“It’s really cool,” he said. “As a kid I was a Giants fan, I went to Giants games. Giants games were where it was at. Fun, a great atmosphere. It’s going to be pretty special to get to play there after sitting in the stands so many times.”

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, like many GMs before him, believes progress isn’t necessarily “linear.” But Luke Richardson has lived it.AdvertisementThe Montreal Canadiens went from play-in charity chase in 2020 to Stanley Cup Final runner-up in 2021 and back to last-place languisher this past season, and Richardson was along for the ride as an assistant coach.So Richardson appeared unfazed by the word “rebuild” during his introduction as Hawks head coach Wednesday at the Blackhawks Store on Michigan Avenue.Advertisement“I’ve been through — both playing and coaching — rebuilds, teams that are competitive, whether it was two years ago in the Stanley Cup Final. The ultimate challenge is to get there,” Richardson said. “I’m totally comfortable with developing players, having patience with players, but I said right from the start, I am an optimist and I want to go win every game and I’m going to approach every game like that.”[ [Don’t miss] Luke Richardson’s mentors say the new Blackhawks coach has a way with players: ‘Going to command respect right away’ ]But there will be plenty of time for all the heavy lifting — and losing — this team may endure. Wednesday’s introduction christened the honeymoon phase.Richardson held court with a backdrop of the Apple Store and Tribune Tower across the Chicago River, but he might as well have been perched atop Willis Tower.“It’s a real exciting day,” he said. “Right from Day 1 of my NHL career, (Chicago) was such an exciting place to be, and I’m so happy to be on it from this side of it for a change.”The former defenseman alluded to his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 1987, when his Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Hawks 7-5 at Chicago Stadium.Luke Richardson is introduced as the new Blackhawks coach Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)In settling on Richardson as the franchise’s 40th head coach, Davidson chose the person he believed would have credibility with veterans and patience with prospects.“When we started the search, we wanted someone who could lead with authority and hold players accountable,” Davidson said. “In addition we were looking for someone who could develop and coach young talent while also connecting with the veteran players.”AdvertisementRichardson replaces interim coach Derek King, who took the reins after the Hawks fired Jeremy Colliton on Nov. 6. Davidson still envisions a place for King — whom he called “a serious candidate” for the head coaching job — to be determined later this summer“It was a tough spot for Derek to step into (in) his first foray as a head coach, so we thought he did excellent,” Davidson said. “He really helped calm things down and solidify things in the locker room. … We’re looking to bring high-character people into the organization, and Derek is that.”Here are five things we learned about Richardson.Talk to people who know Richardson, and one word keeps coming up: “calm.”Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis told the Tribune, “He’s got a quiet confidence.”Folks once said similar things about Colliton’s demeanor, and we saw how that turned out. So Richardson was asked: Can you get feisty when you need to?Advertisement“Usually the referees do that to me,” he joked. “I have learned I don’t have to do that so much, and you get your point across better. It’s the same with the players.”[ [Don’t miss] 3 things we learned from Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson, including why he hired a ‘baseball guy’ ]When he needed to send a message in practice, especially when he coached the AHL Binghamton Senators, “I’d (bag) skate the players, but I’d skate with them,” Richardson said. “And I would try to beat them. I would hold my breath and pretend I was not out of shape. But I am. I try to let them believe that I can (beat them), and it shapes them into, ‘Wow, we’ve got to pick it up here.’”That’s a case where he needs the players amped up. Richardson wants them also to follow his lead when he needs them to settle down.“A calm demeanor … leads to the players feeling calmness on the bench but aware of their job and what they have to do,” he said. “Not tense or yelling and screaming at the ref but under control. I think that filters into the players in front of you and they lose track of the game plan and get off track.”Luke Richardson on his (mostly) calm demeanor: “If you have to make a point you pick the time to make that point and then you don’t lose the players. … where they’re going to shut you off and not listen to you because you’re yelling more than you’re teaching and coaching.” pic.twitter.com/b9xGgjmki9— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) June 29, 2022

Richardson said it’s not calculated but occasions to be aggressive will come up organically. He thinks back to what he responded to as a player.“It’s not all the time where they’re going to shut you off and not listen to you because you’re yelling more than you’re teaching and coaching,” he said. “Nobody wants to be in an environment like that. I don’t.”AdvertisementRichardson said he first learned of the Hawks’ interest when Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes informed him that the Hawks asked permission to interview him.“The initial reason that Luke’s name popped up was something you’re seeing a lot of over the last couple days: Nobody has a bad word to say about him,” Davidson said. “Everyone’s had a great experience with him, so that was one of the first things that put him on our radar.“Then once we got into the room with Luke, something intangible — it just felt like it clicked. It felt really natural and comfortable.”Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson, left, introduces Luke Richardson as the team’s new head coach Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)The first interview lasted “4½ hours or something, but it didn’t seem that long,” Richardson said. He discussed his philosophies with Hawks management and broke down film.“Once we got a little deeper into how he sees the game and how he views players and his communication styles,” Davidson said, “it really resonated with us and felt like something that would work within the system we’re putting in place here.”The Hawks also interviewed King, Vancouver Canucks associate coach Brad Shaw and Pittsburgh Penguins assistant Todd Reirden. They invited Richardson to fly back to Chicago and took him to dinner. Later, he watched a Stanley Cup Final game with Davidson.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 5 things we heard from Norm Maciver, the Blackhawks associate GM, including his thoughts on tanking for draft picks ]“I felt very comfortable, confident on how things went,” Richardson said, “and Kyle said, ‘I think we’re going to meet one more time tomorrow morning.’ I walked back to the hotel thinking, ‘Well, that’s got to be good.’“Then I started overthinking: ‘Maybe they’re going to call me in and say thanks very much for coming, see ya next time.’ But it worked out and Kyle presented it to me in a way that I felt was the right fit — not a good fit, it was the right fit. Very comfortable with each other in supporting each other going forward on the direction the management and organization want to go, and I feel that I can deliver in that area.”“… I felt was the right fit — not a good fit — it was the right fit.”—new Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson on being offered the job pic.twitter.com/BOpGIlD1x1— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) June 29, 2022

There’s a unique energy at the United Center when Jim Cornelison belts out the national anthem, and that hasn’t been lost on Richardson.“If we can take that passion and excitement and take that right out of the national anthem and play like that, taking the X’s and O’s out of it, just with that passion alone and implementing it into our system, that is what I want,” he said. “I think the people see that.”And there’s a time when the music stops.[ [Don’t miss] Jeff Greenberg brings the system he learned with Theo Epstein’s Cubs to the Blackhawks as he tries to ‘close that gap’ with baseball ]“Obviously sports is a tough business, it’s a win-loss business, and you get there with your play,” he said. “When? I’m not sure. I can’t give a timeline on that, but I know that we’re going to be working toward that every day, and I think that will resonate and show in the product on the ice.”AdvertisementRichardson added this caveat, reminiscent of Davidson’s reluctance to rush the rebuild or put a timeline on it: “We’re going to have to take those steps one, two, three, four. We can’t go one, 10 — we can’t skip anything. We have to do everything right.“It’ll take a little time. I’m not sure how much time, but that’s exciting. I like a challenge and I’m ready for it.”Richardson’s rookie season, 1987-88, also happened to be Hawks great Eddie Olczyk’s first season in Toronto.“I was lucky enough to be roommates with Eddie Olczyk,” Richardson said. “What a great mentor he was both on the ice and off the ice. His personality is so bubbly.Richardson made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 1987, at Chicago Stadium. Olczyk alleviated any pregame nerves.AdvertisementThe Flyers’ Luke Richardson, right, is sent flying by the Maple Leafs’ Tie Domi on March 29, 2001, in Philadelphia. (MILES KENNEDY / AP)“He took me out for breakfast that morning — because obviously he knows Chicago — at a little diner somewhere,” Richardson said. “And just being with me all day that day. He was like: ‘Just make sure you’re ready for that national anthem. Just make sure you’re ready.’“It didn’t matter how many times the players said that, I was not ready. I was definitely intimidated with the big team, the loud crowd and that organ. Chills on the back of my neck. It was such an exciting game.“Today, every time I come to the United Center, I have that feeling. It brings me back to 1987.”After the news conference, Richardson posed for pictures with his family, flanked by wife Stephanie and daughter Morgan.Earlier he memorialized his daughter Daron, who inspired his family’s cause to raise suicide awareness among young people. Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“Life is tough and 11 years ago we lost our daughter Daron (then 14) to suicide,” Richardson said. “It was devastating obviously for our family, but we wouldn’t be here today, the three of us, without the hockey community, guys like Eddie (Olczyk) reaching out and his wife, Diana. Our house was full of people that I played with, coached with, hockey community, and that’s the only way we got through it.Advertisement“And that’s the way I believe that a hockey team survives. It’s family and it’s support. So I coach like that.”The Richardsons created Do It For Daron (DIFD) to support suicide prevention, and Richardson said he was gratified that as he moved from stop to stop in his hockey career, each community — Ottawa, Binghamton, Montreal, New York — took up the cause.“We bring that movement of mental health awareness with us everywhere we go,” he said, “and that’s why purple is a big part of my wardrobe and our family’s. It’s Daron’s favorite and it’s part of the DIFD movement.” In the wake of the scandal involving the 2010 Blackhawks — in which former prospect Kyle Beach accused a former video coach of sexual assault and the team was found to have suppressed the allegation — the Hawks launched a new department dedicated to players’ mental health.“(The) department that’s in place here is ahead of anybody in the NHL, I can tell you that,” Richardson said. “Very impressed with meeting with everybody and talking about creating an environment where the players feel comfortable going in and having support.“And the coaching staff has got to respect that, support that. (That’s) a great advantage for our organization to have and it’s a very smart step for all teams to follow.”