Sports
NHL playoff watch: Bruins, Canes an East finals preview?
Will today's game be repeated in a series this May? Plus, full playoff projections after a wild Saturday, updated draft lottery standings and more.
Roster decisions loom as the Chicago White Sox choose between ‘a lot of guys that do a lot of really good things’
By: Tribune News Service
When constructing a bench, Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol keeps in mind a conversation he had in Kansas City, Mo., while the Royals coaching staff constructed their playoff roster. “We’d go back and forth and we’d go through everything, and finally somebody said, ‘Look, there’s no perfect team,’ ”...
Column: 2023 MLB season begins with new rules, old narratives and the same opening-day dreams
By: Tribune News Service
After the success of the World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball begins its regular season Thursday at a ballpark near you. It’s a little like having dessert before a full-course dinner, knowing you’ll be full by the end but not caring a bit because it tasted so good. If MLB...
With 9 games left, where do the Chicago Bulls stand in the NBA play-in tournament?
By: Tribune News Service
The Chicago Bulls are fighting for a spot in the NBA play-in tournament, a battle for the last two playoff seeds in each conference. Here’s an explainer about the history of the event and how it works — and where the Bulls stand. When did the play-in begin? The NBA...
Patrick Beverley relishes the old and new in his return to Chicago. ‘Wherever I’m going, I’m going home,’ the Bulls guard says.
By: Tribune News Service
When Patrick Beverley finally came home, it wasn’t to the Chicago he used to know. This is a natural progression for any NBA athlete. Hometowns become a stop in the offseason calendar, stuck as a childhood memory as the city evolves without the athletes it raised. Now that he’s back,...
Colorado high school baseball players to watch in Class 3A, 4A, 5A in 2023
By: Kyle Newman
With the prep baseball season underway across the state, here’s a look at top players to watch in Class 3A, 4A and 5A this year. Class 3A Eaton Sr. INF Walker Martin, Eaton Sr. P/1B Tate Smith, Eaton Sr. UTL Ryder True, Bruce Randolph Jr. P/3B Pedro Carillo, Bayfield Sr....
Eaton baseball, headlined by heralded shortstop recruit Walker Martin, primed for three-peat in Class 3A
By: Kyle Newman
Are any sportsbooks taking bets on Colorado high school baseball? If so, might want to put some cash down on Eaton. The Reds, the two-time defending Class 3A champions and the state’s all-time winningest program with 13 titles overall, are a heavy favorite once again this spring. Loaded Eaton features...
For Rockies, realizing major-league dreams is long, arduous journey: “If you are not mentally tough, the game will spit you out”
By: Patrick Saunders
Riley Pint was a baby-faced 18-year-old when he first met with Colorado media on June 15, 2016, at Coors Field. The Rockies’ right-hander, the fourth overall pick in the draft out of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park, Kan., entered pro baseball with a 102 mph fastball, a $4.8 million...
Keeler: Kris Bryant’s challenge? Proving his $182 million contract isn’t the worst in Rockies history.
By: Sean Keeler
Kris Bryant owes Russell Wilson a steak dinner. Or seven. If DangeRuss hadn’t turned into PondeRuss, Bryant would be the most vilified sports figure along the Front Range this side of Kendrick Perkins. Imagine if Wilson had appeared in just five games for the Broncos because of injuries and didn’t...
CU offensive coordinator Sean Lewis is in hurry to make Buffs football nasty again. “You guys got a really good one.”
By: Sean Keeler
BOULDER — Sean Lewis likes a good gag. On gameday, though? Not so much. “I’m one of those guys where if you give me one cup of coffee, it’s like two. Give me two cups, it’s like four,” Syracuse football coach Dino Babers, one of the close friends and mentors...
ASK IRA: Is there any wiggle room left for Heat in the East race?
By: Tribune News Service
Q: So what’s the next big game for the Heat? – Victor. A: At this point, there is an easy answer: whatever the next game is on the schedule. For the Heat, there is no wiggle room in this race to try to avoid the play-in round. So that makes...
For the Orioles to once again exceed expectations, these 5 players are the key
By: Tribune News Service
A couple of years ago, coming up with five Orioles players who were capable of being key contributors to a winning ball club was a challenge. Now, the challenge is limiting the list to only five. From new veterans like Kyle Gibson to the team’s core anchored by Cedric Mullins...
Transfer Talk: Spurs target Raya, Ward-Prowse as part of squad overhaul
Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson and Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund will be on Manchester United's shortlist this summer, Transfer Talk has the latest.
Rapids rescue point at Austin FC as Kévin Cabral opens scoring account for Colorado in tie
By: Brendan Ploen
Down a goal and eagerly looking for an equalizer despite a slew of chances, Colorado needed a calm head Saturday night in Austin. It came in the form of a pair of late-game substitutes in Michael Barrios and Kévin Cabral. The Frenchman scored a crucial 85th-minute game-tying goal as the...
Nets snap losing skid in style by blowing out the Heat in Miami in must-win for playoff seeding
By: Tribune News Service
It was a game the Nets had to have. And they flew down to South Beach and took it. The stakes were greater Saturday night at FTX Arena than they’ve been at any point this season: Win and leapfrog the Miami Heat in the standings for sole ownership of the...
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets throttle NBA-best Bucks, 129-106
By: Mike Singer
Age is just a number like Jeff Green is just a basketball player. When the 36-year-old launched himself into thin air on Saturday, soaring over and above Giannis Antetokounmpo for a gravity-defying jam, there was no telling what city he’d land in. “Oh, man,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “That...
Mets send top prospects Brett Baty and Mark Vientos down to Triple-A, but ‘they’re a phone call away’
By: Tribune News Service
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets came into camp with a lineup full of veterans and top prospects trying to take away a few of their jobs. Brett Baty and Mark Vientos made some excellent cases for inclusion on the Opening Day roster, but they were optioned to Triple-A on...
Winderman’s view: Heat utterly defenseless at the worst possible time
By: Tribune News Service
Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 129-100 loss to the Brooklyn Nets: – For weeks, since the All-Star break, the Heat have been skating by on their offense. – But in the playoffs (or play-in) more will be needed on the other side of the ball. –...