Q: Ira, I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask, but please tell me that the Heat aren’t going after 41-year-old LeBron James. Let’s keep the memories and move on. – Bob.

A: First, never say never. But I agree that of potential LeBron James landing spots in his free agency, a Miami return likely would not top the list for either party. First, players who want one last shot at a championship typically don’t move on to teams coming off consecutive 10th-place finishes. Plus, for the Heat it almost would be LeBron interruptus, to a degree stalling a needed retool if not rebuild. Playing it out with the Lakers, perhaps at less money,  would make sense. A Cavaliers return certainly would touch a sentimental chord. And going out on Broadway (or close to it) with the Knicks, has its appeal. Now, if the Heat were to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and if LeBron were willing to come for some type of exception money, that would be a different story.

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• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: For all the people seemingly wishing the Heat would go the Wizards route by tanking to reset and get high draft picks, consider this: The Wizards got the first pick in the draft in 2010. Since 2010, the Wizards have been to the playoffs five times. Since 2010, the Heat, who have never gotten a No. 1 pick, have 12 playoff appearances, been to six Finals, winning two of them.  – Harold, Wellington.

A: My belief remains that those who insist the Heat take major steps back also are those who would tune out during that period. Having been to Washington, in recent years it has been a delightful place to play for road teams, with plenty of crowd support. The home team? Not so much. And while tanking likely will never be the same with the new lottery rules, high picks come with no guarantee. Since drafting John Wall at No. 1 in 2010, the Wizards have come up with such uneven choices as Jan Vesely at No. 6 in 2011, Otto Porter at No. 3 in 2013 and Johnny Davis at No. 10 in 2022.

Q: Ira, recently my cable provider announced that FanDuel has been eliminated from their list of programs. Since FanDuel carries the Heat games, that is concerning. Will this decision be reversed? Will another network take over? It seems that an audience this massive would be attractive. Your thoughts on the matter. – Bill. Palm Beach Gardens. 

A: All team contracts with what stood as FanDuel’s local channels ceased at the end of this past season. The Heat will have a new broadcast partner beyond FanDuel next season, likely with a similar type of deal that has had Marlins and Panthers games available from most cable and satellite providers, possibly with an over-the-air component, as well.

Upcoming

Saturday: Katherine Lindenmuth vs. Linn Sandstrom, Brondby, Denmark. Streaming: DAZN, 11:05 a.m. MT

June 14: Abraham Perez vs. Jonathan González, Grand Rapids, Mich. Streaming: DAZN (time TBA)

Albuquerque boxer Abraham Perez, denied a world title shot, is getting the next-best thing: an interim world title shot.

Aaron Perez, his son’s trainer and local promoter, announced on Tuesday that the younger Perez will challenge Puerto Rican southpaw Jonathan González for the WBA interim flyweight (112-pound) title on June 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The fight is scheduled to be the main event of a Salita Promotions card and is to be streamed on DAZN.

Perez (14-0, seven knockouts) had signed to challenge Los Angeles’ Anthony Olascuaga for the WBO world flyweight title, but Olascuaga’s management would not accept Perez as an opponent — choosing to defend against Andy Dominguez on July 11 in San Francisco.

So, instead, it’s Perez-Gonzalez in Grand Rapids.

González (29–4-1, 14 KOs), 35, undoubtedly qualifies as the most accomplished opponent Perez will have faced. González, a former light flyweight (108-pound) world champion, won the WBA interim flyweight title on Jan. 3 with a victory by unanimous decision over Yankiel Rivera in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In his previous fight, González was TKO’d in the first round by Olascuaga in a bid for the WBO world title.

If Perez defeats González, that might or might not earn the Albuquerque fighter a shot at the WBA world title held by Californian Ricardo Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs).

In boxing, “interim” can mean anything a particular sanctioning body wants it to mean.

As an example, New Mexican Brian Mendoza’s sensational knockout of Sebastian Fundora in March 2023 earned Mendoza the WBC interim welterweight title — but did not produce a WBC world title shot against then-champion Jermell Charlo.

The victory over Fundora did, though, lead to a WBO world title shot for Mendoza against then-champion Tim Tszyu — which Mendoza lost by by unanimous decision.

For Perez, 27, time is not of the essence in his quest for a world title. But he did, in essence, lose a year out of his career after nearly drowning while doing breathing-control exercises in his family’s pool in July 2024.

The incident cost him a spot on the Aug. 10, 2024, Top Rank-promoted Angelo Leo-Luis Alberto Lopez card at Tingley Coliseum. The winner of that night’s scheduled bout between Perez and fellow Albuquerquean Matt Griego-Ortega likely would have benefited significantly from the exposure.

Sandoval, the WBA champion, has a defense scheduled against Galal Yafar on June 6 in Sheffield, England.

The winner would likely be looking to defend the title late in 2026.

Perez — again, should he defeat González — would be a logical candidate.

LINDENMUTH UPDATE: Bosque Farms’ Katherine Lindenmuth (8-5, three KOs) was to leave for Copenhagen, Denmark on Tuesday for her 10-round bout on Saturday against Australia’s (12-4-3, two KOs). The WBA interim flyweight title will be at stake.

Saturday’s card is scheduled to be streamed on DAZN, starting at 11:05 a.m. MT.

May 12—"One of the greatest Zags."

It's how more than one teammate characterized Brandon Clarke after news of the NBA forward's death spread on the internet and social media Tuesday morning.

Before embarking on a seven-year NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, Clarke was a highlight machine at Gonzaga, where he left a trail of single-season school records — field goal percentage, blocked shots, offensive rebounds — while guiding Mark Few's program to the Elite Eight of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

A number of Clarke's former Gonzaga teammates and others associated with the program paid tribute to the late forward with heartfelt messages on social media Tuesday.

Former Gonzaga and Memphis Grizzlies teammate Killian Tillie: "Rest in peace BC. You will be missed brother I love you... One of the greatest Zags and Grizzlies, it was an honor to share the court with you."

Former Gonzaga teammate and current Atlanta Hawks guard Corey Kispert: "RIP. You'll be missed BC."

Current Gonzaga assistant Jorge Sanz: "Rest in Peace, BC"

Former Gonzaga guard David Stockton: "Incredible Zag and person. This one hurts."

Former Gonzaga teammate Joel Ayayi: "Rest in peace BC"

Former Washington State guard and Memphis Grizzlies teammate Jaylen Wells: "Everything he's went through in the time I've been in Memphis he still came in with a smile on his fact and was a light in the locker room, truly an inspiring person. Memphis won't be the same without you. RIP BC."

Former Gonzaga forward Anton Watson: "Rest easy BC"

Former Gonzaga teammate Geno Crandall: "Nah, tip-dunk off the missed alley oop is still one of the craziest things I've seen. Rest well brother."

Former Gonzaga guard Rem Bakamus: "Zag for life. RIP BC"

Former Gonzaga teammate Matthew Lang: "RIP brother"

Former Gonzaga teammate Jack Beach: "RIP BC. One of the greatest Zags and people ever. You will be missed."

May 12—Last June, Izan Almansa was hunkered down inside a green room at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, waiting to hear if his name would be called in the second round of the NBA draft.

This fall, the Spanish native could be suiting up for Gonzaga and contributing to one of the top frontcourts in college basketball — yet another example of the rapidly changing NCAA hoops climate.

Almansa, a forward/center from Real Madrid who's spent the last two seasons playing professionally overseas, reportedly committed to Gonzaga on Tuesday although Mark Few's program will have to clear a series of eligibility hurdles to finalize the 20-year-old's addition.

A 6-foot-10, 200-pound big man with high upside, Almansa gave a commitment to Gonzaga on Tuesday, Spanish-based journalist Oscar Herreros reported on X.

A source close to the program told The Spokesman-Review that Gonzaga is counting on Almansa to join the roster next season, but cited "complex eligibility issues" that make his addition "far from official" at this point.

The issues likely stem from Almansa's time playing with NBA G League Ignite in 2023-24 and/or the forward's decision to stay in the NBA draft last season, coming off his 2024-25 season with the Perth Wildcats of Australia's professional NBL division.

Almansa was considered by many to be a second-round prospect in last year's draft and was one of 12 players invited to attend the second day of the event. He was ultimately the only player in the green room not to be selected, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and played four games with the organization at Las Vegas Summer League, where he teamed up with former Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis.

A handful of players with situations similar to Almansa's have been deemed eligible to play college basketball within the last year, sparking dialogue and debate among coaches, media members and others within the sport.

Former second-round NBA draft pick James Nnaji, who played for FC Barcelona of Spain's ACB — the league where Almansa is currently playing — enrolled at Baylor last December and appeared in 18 games for the Big 12 program.

Last season, the Zags played three West Coast Conference games against Santa Clara and Thierry Darlan, one of Almansa's former teammates on Ignite and the first ex-G Leaguer to gain NCAA eligibility, signifying a landmark case for the sport when the Broncos signed the forward last October.

Guard Dink Pate, a former Ignite guard who's made three stops in the NBA's developmental league, became the latest G League player to sign with a with a college program, joining Providence's roster last month.

If Almansa gains eligibility, he should solidify what's already shaping up to be one of the best frontcourt groups in the country, featuring Braden Huff, a 17.8 point-per-game scorer in 2025-26 prior to his season-ending knee injury, and top transfer portal prospect Massamba Diop, one of the best shot-blockers in the Big 12 last year at Arizona State.

Almansa's appeared in 15 games for Real Madrid at the Liga ACB level this season and made two appearances in EuroLeague play while competing for playing time with former NBA players Trey Lyles and Alex Len. He's averaging 4.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.6 minutes during ACB play.

Last July, he averaged 3.0 ppg and 1.8 rpg in 11.2 mpg during a Las Vegas Summer League stint with the 76ers. In four games, Almansa made 44.4% of his shots from the field.

Almansa played in 29 games for the Perth Wildcats during the 2024-25 NBL season, scoring 7.6 ppg to go with 4.3 rpg. He shot 51.1% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line during his lone season with the Australian club.

Gonzaga has numerous ties to Almansa, who teamed up with freshman point guard Mario Saint-Supery on Spain's senior national team for a pair of FIBA EuroBasket qualifiers against Slovakia in November of 2024.

The Murcia, Spain, native has won Most Valuable Player honors at three separate international competitions: the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup, 2022 FIBA U-17 World Cup and 2022 FIBA U-18 EuroBasket. Current Gonzaga assistant Jorge Sanz, a native of Zaragoza, Spain, was a member of the coaching staff when Almansa helped guide the U-17 World Cup team to a FIBA silver medal in 2022.

Almansa played with a trio of former Gonzaga players on the 2023-24 NBA G League Ignite team that featured Jeremy Pargo, Admon Gilder and David Stockton. Almansa started in 30 of 32 games for Ignite that season, averaging 11.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg.

The Spanish prospect also played in two other American leagues, signing with the now-defunct Overtime Elite in 2021-22 before joining YNG Dreamerz in 2022-23.

Almansa becomes Gonzaga's third addition this offseason, joining Diop and Houston transfer Isiah Harwell, who announced a commitment to Few's program but has yet to sign a financial aid agreement with the school.

May 12—GRAND FORKS — Growing up in Columbus, Neb., in the 1990s, Chad Mustard dreamed of being a football player at the University of Nebraska.

A 6-foot-7, 215-pound senior in high school, Mustard spent time at Nebraska's football camps in high school. Legendary Nebraska coach Tom Osborne knew Mustard.

Eventually, the Huskers called to ask Mustard to walk-on for the football program — a common practice at the time for in-state talent.

"Financially, I knew the best for me long term was to turn to basketball and get school paid," Mustard said.

Mustard then took a call from Fighting Sioux head basketball coach Rich Glas and assistant Ben Jacobson. With some encouragement from then-Wayne State (Neb.) head coach Greg McDermott, a former UND assistant, Mustard gave Grand Forks a chance.

Mustard would go on to a UND basketball career that earned him a spot in UND's Athletics Hall of Fame. He'll be honored this fall as part of the school's 2026 class of inductees.

Mustard's basketball career, though, was just the start of earning his place in the memory banks of Grand Forks sports fans.

As Mustard's college basketball career was nearing an end, he took a billiards class from UND football assistant coach Randy Hedberg, who would later go on to earn legendary status as a developer of quarterbacks at North Dakota State.

Hedberg suggested trying football after his basketball career.

"I was a typical college athlete, and I knew I had some schooling left and wouldn't have my degree after four years of basketball," Mustard said. "It seemed a natural fit to use football to figure that out.

"I had no idea what was going to come of it. I think I lasted so long in football because I had zero expectations. I didn't expect to be great. I just put my head down and found a way to figure it out. If I went in thinking I was hot stuff, I wouldn't have handled the failure of the NFL."

Hedberg didn't offer Mustard any promises. He told him he would have two years to play football, as Division II then had a six-year eligibility clock.

The transition from basketball to football didn't start with much fanfare. The Grand Forks Herald featured a four paragraph clip on March 21, 2000, to announce the move.

"He's going to give spring ball a shot," UND head coach Dale Lennon said in the clip. "That's a very pleasant surprise. He has a football mentality."

"It didn't go great," Mustard said. "I was pretty crappy at first. They were patient and understood I was out of it for a while."

Mustard would spend five years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, with his most notable stop as a journeyman in Denver. Known as a blocking tight end, Mustard played in 12 games with the Broncos in 2006. He caught two passes for 23 yards. He had five catches for 62 yards in 2007, then played in eight games in 2008.

Mustard credits former UND head coach Chris Mussman, who was offensive coordinator in Mustard's football tenure, for installing the technique to excel with the Broncos.

"The zone run scheme is what got me hired initially," Mustard said. "We were running 40-50 times a game. It was the same footwork. It was like riding a bike. When I was in Cleveland, I was a square peg in a round hole."

En route to UND's Division II national championship, Mustard's most memorable play in Grand Forks came on Nov. 24, 2001, in the playoffs against Pittsburg State at the Alerus Center.

Mustard caught a 62-yard pass from Kelby Klostermann and bullied his way down the sideline for a touchdown.

Had social media been powerful in 2001, Mustard had his viral moment.

The video may appear grainy today, but it's still out there.

"The internet is a powerful thing," Mustard said. "I teach and coach (in Nebraska). I've taught at five schools and kids can find that stuff easily. The more I watch the more it looks like watching an old video of Pete Maravich. It was a play and awesome ... but it doesn't look that athletic. If you get a stopwatch out, I wasn't running very fast."

Still, Mustard's play holds a place in UND football history alongside Mike Mooney's 1993 fumble recovery, Jim Kleinsasser's 77-yard touchdown in the Fargodome in 1998 and Luke Schleusner's 2001 catch against Grand Valley State that led to UND's title-winning touchdown run.

Mustard's listed playing weight was about 270 pounds that season, but he said he was hanging out with offensive linemen at that time and was probably pushing 300 pounds when he scored the touchdown.

"I remember that was as far as I had run in some time," said Mustard, who played in the Indoor Football League and NFL Europe before his NFL break. "Guys were mobbing me, but I've got to breathe."

Mustard now lives in Omaha with his wife and twin 16-year-old daughters.

He was caught off-guard by the call of a Hall of Fame selection.

"It never really crossed my mind," he said. "Just gratitude. It's really a culmination of playing on some really good teams with some really great players. When a guy like me is going into the Hall of Fame, it's really the work of Hunter Reinke and Brady Larson and Marcus Travis and Hunter Berg ... I'm going to forget to say some names but no one guy does it by himself. I just wanted to win. It's a huge honor but I have so much gratitude for Coach Glas taking a chance on me.

"Grand Forks was so good to me. I felt like what I imagined a Husker feels like in Lincoln. People were so good to me and my family and took care of me 500 miles from home. I don't regret a single second of my time at UND."

In late April, the Wild earned their first playoff series win in more than a decade by bouncing back. They trailed Dallas 2-1 in the series, and were down by a goal in Game 4, facing the possibility of traveling back to Texas to face elimination.

Instead, they tied the game, won it in overtime, and grabbed the next two games to reach Round 2.

And there, in Round 2, on Monday, they got a hard lesson in how great teams bounce back.

The Wild had routed Colorado in Game 3, getting back into the series with a 5-1 win. They took a lead in Game 4, only to see the powerful Avalanche turn the tables and dominate long stretches. Trailing in the third period, the Wild forged a 2-2 tie on the strength of Nico Sturm’s first playoff goal since 2021.

And from there, it was all Colorado. By the time it was over, the Avalanche led the series 3-1, and the NHL’s best regular season team had improved to 7-1 in the playoffs.

Most notably, immediately after Sturm’s goal, the Avalanche hemmed Minnesota into the defensive zone, and didn’t relent until Parker Kelly had scored the game-winner. They added two more into an empty net for a 5-2 win.

“They’re a good team too. They’re gonna have good shifts. They’re gonna have pushes. You gotta try and limit those,” Wild forward Matt Boldy said. “Yeah, there’s not really much of an answer for it. Yeah, those shifts are big. We know that. But the game’s not always gonna go perfectly. And they’re a good team too. But yeah, we think we left a little out there tonight.”

For Sturm, who won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, the trouble started long before his goal got the sellout crowd back involved.

“We made bad decisions with the puck tonight, especially in the first half of the game. And, to be honest, we probably didn’t deserve to win when you take the whole game into perspective,” he said, offering some brutal honesty. “I felt like we started playing with about seven, eight minutes left in the second period, that’s when we found our game. At both blue lines, really, that team is too good to where you can get away with some of those mistakes, turning pucks over at the far blue line, not getting pucks out at our blue line. And overall, when you take the whole game, the final score is probably where it was supposed to be, to be honest.”

For the team that has dominated the NHL this season, and is determined to hang a fourth title banner inside Ball Arena, the response to quiet the Minnesota audience was described as “tenacious” by the Colorado coach.

“There was no hesitation on our forecheck,” said Jared Bednar, of his team’s relentless attack. “Guys were skating, they weren’t coasting in, so we came up with some turned-over pucks and were able to find a little bit of space in D-zone for a couple shifts there, and then we ended up getting rewarded.”

The Wild’s bounce back in Round 1 was impressive and inspiring to an army of fans who were desperately hungry for some good postseason news from this franchise. Now facing elimination for the first time this season, they know that an even bigger bounce back will be required.

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Using the butt end of a hockey stick to strike an opponent has long been considered one of the dirtier and more dangerous plays in hockey.

When Wild forward Michael McCarron took a butt end to the face from Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson on Monday, he did not shy away from offering an opinion on the play. Or the player.

“He’s a dirty player,” McCarron said. “He took his butt end and clearly butt-ended me in the face,”

The play happened in the first period on the side boards to the left of Colorado goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. McCarron delivered a hard hit on Manson, who was back in action for the Avalanche after missing the previous four games due to injury. McCarron landed on top of Manson, there was some clutching and grabbing, and then replays showed that Manson made contact with McCarron’s face with the end of his stick.

When officials separated the pair, McCarron needed to be restrained as he tried to go after Manson as the defenseman headed to the Colorado bench. After a lengthy video review, Manson was given a four-minute double minor penalty, rather than a five-minute major penalty.

The Wild got the game’s first goal on the ensuing power play. They felt that was not enough.

“I don’t know how it’s not a five-minute (major penalty),” McCarron said. “I think the rulebook says its a five minute if you butt end someone in the face. He’s a dirty player. He always has been. Not very well respected.”

Wild coach John Hynes said he did not ask for an explanation of why Manson was not given a major penalty and ejected. Manson, for his part, defended his career and reputation after the game.

“That’s fine. If he wants to call me a dirty player he can just look at my history. It’s been 13 years and I haven’t been suspended yet,” he said. “I’m not that dirty. I think there are other guys in the league that are doing more. Was that the cleanest play? No. Was it purposeful? No. It wasn’t purposeful either. I served my time. They scored on it. Benefited them. That’s his perspective.”

In four playoff games, Manson has two assists and eight penalty minutes.

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MIAMI GARDENS — In a couple of years’ time, we could be looking back at Saturday, April 25 as the day the Miami Dolphins added multiple linebackers that provide the versatility to allow coach Jeff Hafley to do all that he wants with his defense.

That’s right. The Saturday of the draft.

Sure, the Dolphins selected a potential lockdown cornerback who can take away one side of the field against the pass in Chris Johnson at the end of the first round that Thursday night. Then, on Friday night, in the second round, they picked up a possible long-term leader at the heart of the defense in linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

But the additions of two linebackers early that Saturday afternoon in the fourth round could really swing things for Hafley’s scheme. Trey Moore, who doubles as an edge rusher, and Kyle Louis, who can also play safety, will offer Hafley the opportunity to get ultra-creative and give opposing offenses a variety of looks.

“It excites me. I think anytime you can draft a player who can do multiple things, it’s our job as coaches to have a vision for him and figure out where to play him or play him in multiple spots,” Hafley said at the conclusion of the draft the night of April 25.

“Sometimes, coaches look at, ‘We’re playing 3-4; we’re playing 4-3, and he doesn’t fit the scheme,’ I don’t agree with that. I mean, let’s get the best football players we can and let’s figure out what they can do, and now it’s going to be fun trying to figure out these guys as we watch them do individual (drills) and then we watch them play football to figure out how to make it work.

“I think we’ve got a lot of pieces now to do that.”

Moore may be needed mostly on the edge to start his NFL journey. The Dolphins are now flushed with off-ball linebackers but need edge rushers if the combination of Chop Robinson and economical free agents Josh Uche and David Ojabo isn’t exceptional on its own. And Miami waited until Day 3 of the draft to address the edge need, with Moore and then seventh-round pick Max Llewellyn.

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Before transferring to Texas for 2024 and 2025, Moore had a whopping 14 sacks at UTSA in 2023 playing as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

“I played defensive end in a 4-2 scheme at Texas my first year, then I played inside linebacker in that same scheme,” Moore listed recently as to his versatility. “I played Sam ‘backer in a 4-3 scheme, and I’ve played Will, outside ‘backer, boundary ‘backer in a 3-4 scheme.

“I do a lot of things well, so whatever they need me to do, whatever role they need me to play, I’m going to be able to do that as best as I can.”

As Moore is 6 feet 2, 243 pounds, Louis is on the opposite end of the linebacker flexibility spectrum at 6 feet, 200 pounds. He was a converted safety to play linebacker at Pittsburgh, and some believe him to project as a big safety in the NFL, which Hafley has mentioned him doing.

“I feel the most at home at linebacker,” Louis explained. “I feel the most at home going against tight ends at linebacker, going against running backs at linebacker, beating a lineman at linebacker. And then passing downs, packages or heavy-run downs, I could definitely play the nickel role when needed.”

His safety experience helps with his coverage skills.

“Ideal role for me is playing the Will linebacker spot and having different coverage responsibilities, I’d say that,” he said.

That would let him learn behind Jordyn Brooks at the Will.

“Obviously, similar but different. Both versatile pieces,” Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith said shortly after Miami drafted both Moore and Louis in the fourth round.

Smith said of Moore: “He’s been a pressure player his whole career that he’s been in college ball. So his versatility is playing multi-line, stack, edge and has the body and athleticism to play on both third downs and special teams.”

And Smith added on Louis: “We see his third-down value in coverage, very athletic guy, can run, play man coverage, can align as a big nickel, dime linebacker.”

In Louis, who wasn’t expected to last into the third day of the draft, the Dolphins are getting a motivated player.

“It’s definitely motivation,” he said of the slight to fall into the fourth round. “Most importantly, it’s just I thank God for humbling me in that way, so I’m going to come in hungry, for sure.”

Moore expressed at rookie minicamp on Friday that he, Louis and Rodriguez have developed an early rapport.

“Me, him and Jacob have been obviously working together and learning a bunch of stuff,” he said. “Those guys are great. I think we’re going to be real close, and it’s good to work with those guys.”

In the NFL, “cut-down day” has long been an established part of the league calendar.

Each August, each of the 32 NFL franchises are tasked with cutting its roster size from 90 to 53 players ahead of the season. More than 1,100 players — long shots, aging veterans and agonizingly close calls — lose their jobs on a day coaches, front office personnel and players have long referred to as the worst of the year.

This summer, college teams face something similar — albeit at a smaller scale.

By opting into the House v. NCAA settlement last year, FBS programs are now subject to a 105-player roster limit. Unlike previous rules allowing for only 85 full scholarships — on rosters that could swell to 120 — all 105 players can be put on full or partial scholarship.

The 105 is, however, a hard cap. Teams didn’t have to worry about meeting that number last summer due to protections afforded to players who might have lost a roster spot after the settlement went into effect.

This summer? There will almost assuredly be cuts as teams — New Mexico among them — work to meet that cap.

How, then, are the Lobos managing it?

UNM carried 101 players into spring practice, including seven designated student-athletes (DSAs). DSAs are players “whose roster spots would have been impacted by immediate implementation of the roster limits” last summer, per an NCAA governance update, and do not count towards the 105-player limit.

Likely starting defensive end Darren Agu and running back Cameron Mathews are among UNM’s seven DSAs. The Lobos are also bringing in 20 incoming freshmen, putting the Lobos at 121 rostered players on paper when they likely need to be at 112 by the first game.

In April, coach Jason Eck said UNM would use a two-pronged approach split across the spring and late summer to meet that number. That approach is already underway. Friday, Eck said he and his staff met with some players this week to let them know “where they stood” as that number looms.

“Some of them, we’re not going to be able to bring back,” he said. “Some of them, (it’s) kind of, ‘Hey, you’re back, but you’re still at risk. You’re one of the guys who’s kind of in a pool that needs to improve.’”

Depending on the timeline, players have some options. Those that won’t be coming back for training camp can go try and play at another non-NCAA program, like a junior college or an NAIA team. Those programs are not subject to the NCAA’s rules against “ghost transfers,” players who leave one NCAA program and enroll at another without formally entering the transfer portal.

For players coming back for training camp but might not make it to the season, Eck said he’s told some he would bring them back for spring practice if they stay enrolled at UNM.

“The guys who are leaving right now, if we can’t bring them back for camp (this summer), we’re trying to help those guys figure out what they want to do,” Eck said. “If they wanna stay here in school and try to get their degree from the University of New Mexico, if they wanna play — you know, one of the guys is a graduate, so he wants to move on as a grad transfer (and try) to find some place where he can play and go to grad school.

“Everyone’s a little different (with) different scenarios.”

But it might not be as simple as making it to 112, which might work to UNM’s advantage. Last year, Eck said players who suffered a season-ending injury before games started were not subject to the roster limit, which could give UNM some wiggle room beyond 112.

Regardless, Eck says he sees UNM coming to camp with “no more than” 115 on the roster.

“It is a little tricker that way,” he said. “But it’s also, you gotta play by the rules. If guys are frustrated, you just gotta tell them, ‘Hey, we gotta make tough decisions.’

“And these are tough decisions.”

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.

With Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood pulled for an extra attacker late Saturday at Grand Casino Arena, Colorado center Nazem Kadri, alone at the bottom of the right circle, threw one final puck on net for the Avalanche.

There were nine seconds remaining, and zero chance of the Avs scoring three goals to send the game to overtime. Yet, when Kadri’s shot left his stick, Brock Faber stepped in front of it.

Why let Colorado leave the ice with even a sliver of momentum they could take into Game 4 Monday in St. Paul?

Matt Boldy pounced on the loose puck and scored an empty-netter with four seconds left to seal the Wild’s 5-1 victory, their first since closing out a first-round series win in Game 6 against Dallas on April 30.

Faber set up the first goal, scored the fourth, and set up the empty-netter when he blocked Kadri’s shot. In nine postseason games, he has four goals and nine points. So does blue line partner Quinn Hughes, who has unlocked something in Faber since joining the Wild via trade on Dec. 13.

Together, they have been the engine that makes the Wild go. The Wild are a forechecking team, and they’re the guys that keep the puck in the zone. The Avalanche had no answer for them on Saturday.

The Wild were a little stunned by how sideways Games 1 and 2 went for them in Denver. Now, the Avalanche were talking about what they have to do to contain the Wild forecheck — which was the key to everything for Minnesota on Saturday.

“Mobile D men out there,” veteran center Brock Nelson said. “Quinn and Brock can circle the zone, support one another, create a little bit of space. … We have to be sharp, be quick to close on the D men, try to prevent them from rolling a bit more and then just be quick to support.”

The Wild’s relentless siege on Colorado’s zone put the Central Division leaders, and President’s Trophy winners, on their heels. Avalanche penalties led to Kirill Kaprizov’s four-on-four goal, and to Hughes’ four-on-three score.

Ryan Hartman scored a power-play early in the second period, and the Wild scored on a delayed penalty when Faber started a rush, passed to Vladimir Tarasenko and crash the net, where the rebound off Tarasenko’s shot bounced off Faber’s leg and over the goal line for a 4-1 lead.

“One of those guys,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “He has the ‘it factor.’ ”

With a promising season on the line in a must-win game, Hynes rode his top blue liners hard — 29 minutes, 30 seconds from Faber, 28:30 from Hughes. He had to; it was that kind of game. None of the other defensemen played more than Jared Spurgeon’s 17:38.

The Wild didn’t just get up off the mat on Saturday, keep the bell from ringing at least once so they can look themselves in the mirror. They used a three-day break — their first real rest since sealing their first-round series with Game 6 against Dallas on April 30 — to get better.

The Avs didn’t lose that game Saturday — their first in seven postseason contests — Minnesota won it. The Wild reminded everyone that they’re an awfully good team. Their stars — Kaprizov, Boldly, Hughes, Faber and rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt among them — were the game’s best players. Their checking lines were relentless. The D made smart decisions. Passes were crisp.

“Tonight was a lot better. Tonight was the way we play,” Faber said.

For all the fireworks and special teams play, the Wild really sealed their win by keeping the Avalanche pinned in their own end for much of the third period. Until they pulled Blackwood — a courtesy replacement for Wedgewood in the second period — the Avs just didn’t have enough zone time late to forge a rally.

“They got a couple bounces … but they earned their bounces,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “They were going to the net hard. They looked like they were quicker, more physical and more determined. So, now it’s up to us to respond.”

The forecheck came in waves, mostly with Hughes and Faber at the point. Maybe we were so enamored with Hughes that we slept on Faber a little. He’s been so good since he was a Calder Trophy finalist as a rookie — general manager Bill Guerin followed with an eight-year contract extension worth $68 million — that it’s difficult to call this postseason a revelation.

And yet it has been.

Sometimes good players stay good players; sometimes they become great players. We’re watching Faber, just 23 and in his third NHL season, become a great one.

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CHICAGO — DJ Harris’ welcome-to-the-NFL moment came on the final play of Chicago Bears rookie minicamp Friday morning.

Scotty Miller, an eight-year veteran with a Super Bowl ring from his time running routes for Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ran a go route. Harris grabbed hold of Miller and tried to keep up as quarterback Maverick McIvor — a tryout player from Western Kentucky by way of Abilene Christian and originally Texas Tech — lofted a ball down the right sideline inside the Walter Payton Center.

Harris was all over Miller, and had there been officials at practice, a yellow flag surely would have been tossed. The crafty veteran hauled in the pass as the offensive players erupted in cheers.

It’s no knock on Harris, a tryout player who spent the last two years at Youngstown State after starting his college career with three seasons at Division II Tiffin. He competed throughout the play. There will be more reps Saturday.

Miller knows the ins and outs of the league, and he has a chance to latch on with his local team as the Bears probably could use a little more depth at wide receiver on their 90-man roster.

The two-day minicamp is a crash course for the seven-man draft class — and other newcomers — on how the team operates on the field and in the weight room. The rookies will be mixed in with the veterans beginning Monday during Phase 2 of the voluntary offseason program.

“It’s more about just introducing them to our way of life,” coach Ben Johnson said before practice. “That’s really the objective here. Good start already (Thursday) night. I know a lot of information was digested and we’ll see it come to life here.”

First-round pick Dillon Thieneman got his first taste of things. The Bears ran through circuit drills for the first 20 minutes of practice, and then he took reps at strong safety in 7-on-7 drills. There won’t be any highlight videos of him breaking up passes. The ball never made it his way.

Ultimately, Thieneman will be tasked with learning both safety positions. On special teams he lined up as the personal protector during some simulated punts. If he’s a starter on defense, as expected, his special teams role probably will be minimal, but you have to learn your way around, especially as a rookie.

“Been waiting for this moment for a while, so to get out there, it’s cool,” Thieneman said.

lt certainly was a little different to see center Logan Jones, a second-round pick from Iowa, wearing No. 54. The number hadn’t been issued since Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher last wore it in 2012.

Chairman George McCaskey was adamant after Mike Ditka’s No. 89 was retired in 2013 that the Bears were done retiring numbers, a situation they were sort of forced into by being too liberal with retirements decades ago.

And it was different seeing a Kreutz wear No. 57 again as Illinois center Josh Kreutz participated on a tryout basis, more than 15 years after his father, six-time Pro Bowl selection Olin Kreutz, last manned the position for the Bears. If he sticks around, hopefully the team picks a different number for Josh. No pressure, kid.

The newcomers ought to get up to speed pretty quickly with the veterans as organized team activities approach later this month, and then mandatory veteran minicamp comes in June. The Bears had a very productive rookie class a year ago when you consider the statistical output by tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and running back Kyle Monangai. Ozzy Trapilo made six regular-season starts at left tackle, and defensive end Shemar Turner was starting to pitch in before a torn ACL.

They say it takes a couple of years, sometimes as many as three, to fully evaluate a draft class. Loveland is certainly the real deal. Can Burden ascend to become a No. 1 receiver at some point? Is Monangai’s future as a complementary back or more? Time will tell.

The current crop of draft picks will have different timelines. Thieneman might be the only one projected to start right away. That’s not to say Jones and cornerback Malik Muhammad, a fourth-round pick from Texas, won’t have opportunities to push for action.

Johnson reiterated what he has said previously: Once you’re on the roster, he doesn’t care how you arrived, meaning draft status and contract size don’t matter to him as he’s going through evaluations.

“How can they provide value for this football team?” Johnson said. “Is it special teams? Is it competing for playing time on offense or defense? That’s really up to them.”

Cornerback is a position to keep an eye on. After waiving Zah Frazier on Thursday, the Bears have 11 on the roster if you include free-agent pickup Cam Lewis as a reserve nickel corner and not a safety. That’s probably one light of where the team will be by training camp.

There’s plenty to prove at cornerback. Veteran Jaylon Johnson hasn’t been involved yet in the offseason program, a source said. That’s consistent with how he has operated previously, and the program is voluntary. Johnson surely is fully aware of the stakes on the table for him this season with no guaranteed money remaining in his contract in 2027.

There are opportunities for reps, and the starting job opposite Johnson will have to be won. Tyrique Stevenson, entering a contract year, must prove he can be the consistent performer the Bears have longed for since picking him in the second round in 2023, or else he’ll face a real challenge from someone.

Nahshon Wright, an unknown this time a year ago, emerged to become a starter, and Nick McCloud found meaningful playing time. They were a couple of veterans who forced their way on to the roster, but both are gone now.

Rookie minicamps usually don’t deliver many revelations. There can be some “ooh” and “aah” moments if there’s a highly touted quarterback. The Bears want to get everyone up to speed so they can evaluate their full roster.

Maybe they’ll add a wide receiver or two to the mix, and Miller did have the play of the day. Surely they’re on the lookout for a cornerback. There will be more reps for Harris after a tough one at the end Friday.

____

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch wanted to call a timeout with five minutes to play Friday and the Wolves trailing Game 3 against San Atnonio by two.

Finch felt official Tony Brothers waited three ticks too long to grant the request and, per his account, told Brothers “I want my three seconds back.”

“Because he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play, and then gave me it. It almost cost us the turnover,” Finch said. “And then he lost it.”

“Lost it” is a subjective term, but Finch then claims he went to ask Brothers where the ball would be inbounded from after the timeout, at which point Brothers turned and took a couple steps toward Finch before shouting in his direction.

“So, completely unprofessional behavior by him,” Finch said.

It is rare for an NBA official to get into a shouting match with a player or coach. But Finch’s account is only one side of the story. And the Timberwolves’ coach is possibly the biggest complainer — both during the game and after — re: officials.

Nearly every time the refs make a trip down the floor, Finch has something to say in their ear. That likely can be grating. Still, does that give the refs justification to bark back? Or should they merely “take” the verbal scolding from players and coaches with little to no reaction?

Certainly, refs never want to become a major storyline in the game. The 61-year-old Brothers crossed that threshold Friday. Whether any discip

“It’s competition at the highest level. We want to win, Finchy want to win. Tony Brothers is Tony Brothers,” Wolves guard Anthony Edwards said. “We all love him, so it’s all good.

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ARLINGTON, Texas — It was an ordinary day in an extraordinary run for the Chicago Cubs.

Another 10-game winning streak was in the books Friday after a 7-1 win over the Texas Rangers before 32,394 at Globe Life Field, the second such run of the season for a Cubs team that continues to defy baseball norms.

Ben Brown threw four hitless innings in his first start for the injured Matthew Boyd, and Javier Assad notched the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit. Pete Crow-Armstrong made the Rangers’ “Elvis Cam” after catching a sinking liner in center and waved to Ian Happ as he lay on the grass.

3 numbers that stand out in the Chicago Cubs’ 9-game winning streak: ‘It’s pretty special’

And Nico Hoerner did another “Nico thing,” winding up on second when the Rangers middle infielders collided on a grounder up the middle and failed to notice he hadn’t stopped running.

Don’t try to understand it. Just let the wave wash over you and enjoy.

It’s crazy to think this was the first Cubs team since 1935 with a pair of 10-game winning streaks, right?

“Not necessarily,” said Seiya Suzuki, whose two-run home run in the fourth inning sparked the offense early. “We’re just playing our brand of baseball and just weighting the wins. Hopefully we just keep stacking them up.”

The Cubs are celebrating their 150th birthday this season, and according to MLB stats czar Sarah Langs, they’ve had six other seasons with multiple 10-plus-game winning streaks: 1880, 1885, 1886, 1906, 1901 and, as mentioned, 1935. In 1906, they had four double-digit winning streaks in a 116-win season but wound up losing to the White Sox team known as the “Hitless Wonders” in the only all-Chicago World Series.

“Obviously incredible,” Hoerner said of the streak. “It’s crazy. Baseball is a game full of a ridiculous amount of stats and things to look up. Any time you have to go that far back, it’s obviously a good sign, especially on a positive like that.

“Just going to keep it rolling.”

The Cubs already were the first major-league team with multiple nine-plus-game winning streaks since the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, who were on their way to their first World Series title.

Oh, and there are still three more weeks in May.

“It gives you goosebumps,” Brown said. “It’s special to be part of. It’s special to witness, special to watch.”

The Cubs have won 20 of their last 23 games, improving to an MLB-best 27-12.

They led 4-1 in the seventh Friday when Hoerner led off with a grounder that shortstop Corey Seager botched while running into Justin Foscue, who was charged with the error. The ball trickled behind second, and Hoerner kept going, hustling his way to second.

“That’s Nico,” manager Craig Counsell said. “If there is a play maybe that they show about Nico’s career, they should show that play, because that’s just who he is. That was a great play.”

Hoerner said it was mostly a matter of instinct and something the Cubs are always looking to do at any moment.

“There was not really any thinking or communication on things like that (while) baserunning,” he said. “Always looking to take extra bases and capitalize on opportunities. Our team plays the game pretty hard and always looks for extra bases. … There are always opportunities to seize.”

Seizing the opportunity has been a recurring theme of this year’s Cubs. The pitching staff has been folded, spindled and mutilated but keeps on trucking. Brown started Friday on a bullpen day, knowing he wouldn’t last long but treasuring the opportunity.

Brown said he was able to go out and “play free” and with “nothing to lose.” He lowered his ERA to 1.82 with his first scoreless start since a six-inning stint on May 2, 2025, in Milwaukee. His value as a late-inning leverage guy had to be sacrificed due to the Cubs’ need for a starter after Boyd underwent left meniscus surgery that will sideline him for about six weeks.

“We couldn’t have asked for anything more,” Counsell said of Brown.

Counsell wouldn’t guarantee Brown a start in Atlanta next week but said he’d “be involved in it somehow.” Hard to believe he wouldn’t give him another shot.

Last year the Cubs went into September without losing more than three straight games until a five-game skid from Sept. 19-24. This year they won 10 straight, suffered a three-game losing streak on April 25-27 in Los Angeles and San Diego and now have whipped off 10 straight wins again.

“Look, I think this is a group that’s collectively playing at a high level,” Counsell said. “From a position-player standpoint I think we’re very well-rounded, and that leads to consistency. It doesn’t lead to winning streaks, but it leads to (the fact) you don’t go in long ruts because we have the ability to beat you in a number of different ways offensively, so it’s not just the home run, it’s not just the speed or something like that.

“And we’ve pitched well. If you go back to the starters, we’re not well everywhere pitching, but the starters getting us outs at the start of the game has been a really big part of this thing. All the bullpen chaos and the name-switching and injuries and only one off day really in this whole stretch … the starters getting deep into games is what really sets that up to be possible to happen, in my eyes. And the defense helps the starters so much in that regard too.”

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The Cubs on Friday activated Ethan Roberts, who suffered a freak injury to his right middle finger while working out in mid-April, and sent Gavin Hollowell down to Triple-A Iowa. Roberts pitched a scoreless ninth.

Lefty Caleb Thielbar threw a bullpen Friday and is closer to returning from his left hamstring strain, though he’ll probably go on a minor-league rehab stint in a week. Hunter Harvey had a setback while rehabbing a right triceps injury and will be shut down for another month.

The bullpen chaos has only added to the wild ride, with many different players playing a role.

“People stepping up in roles they maybe weren’t expected to,” Hoerner said, adding, “you’d think there would be two or three stars” carrying the group in two streaks like this.

“We’re fortunate to have a group that has star talent,” he said. “But every part of the roster has been huge for us in big moments in parts of these streaks. And that’s what it takes for a whole season and beyond.”

Photos from the Chicago White Sox’s 12-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners on May 8, 2026, at Rate Field.

Yes, Albuquerque native Angelo Leo is still the International Boxing Federation featherweight champion. But Leo’s retention of the title came about on Friday, not Saturday, and in a most peculiar and unsatisfying way.

Challenger Ra’eese Aleem’s failure to make the 126-pound featherweight limit at Friday’s weigh-in has led to the cancellation of Leo’s Saturday IBF title defense in Atlanta.

Leo, who had the option of fighting Aleem with no title at stake, opted not to do so. As reported by boxingscene.com, Leo, having weighed in successfully at 125 pounds, is still entitled to his contracted pay, reported to be $147,000.

Aleem, who had called Saturday’s fight the greatest opportunity of his career, weighed in at 128.8 pounds. Two hours later, given a second chance, he still weighed 128 pounds. The fight was cancelled at that point.

An attempt by the Journal to reach Leo for comment was unsuccessful. But Albuquerque’s Luis Chavez, Leo’s longtime co-trainer, said by phone from Atlanta that the champion was “very upset. … We trained so hard for nothing.”

Leo, Chavez said, “Looked terrific (in training), and then this happened.”

Chavez said Leo had no wish to fight a non-title bout against an overweight opponent.

What’s next for Leo (26-1, 12 knockouts) is anyone’s guess. He last fought on May 24, 2025, when he successfully defended his title with a victory over Tomoki Kameda in Osaka, Japan. Leo had won the title via a victory by 10th-round knockout of then-champion Luis Alberto Lopez at Albuquerque’s Tingley Coliseum on Aug. 10, 2024.

Before the IBF ordered a mandatory title defense for Leo against Aleem, the organization’s No. 1 challenger, a group including Santa Fe promoter Pat Holmes and international promoter Sampson Lewkowicz had been working on a possible title defense for Leo in Albuquerque against South Africa’s Lerato Diamini.

Chavez said he’d been told a fight in Albuquerque is once again a possibility.

Could Leo-Aleem be rescheduled? Perhaps, but trust that Aleem would make weight given a second chance would be low at best. Missing weight for a world title fight by 2 pounds is viewed within the sport as close to unforgivable.

If the IBF were to remove Aleem as the mandatory challenger, elevate No. 2 challenger Omar Trinidad (20-0-2, 14 KOs) of Los Angeles and again order a mandatory defense, there’d be the obstacle of Trinidad’s scheduled June 28 fight against Jarwin Ancajas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Could a title-unification fight be arranged for Leo against one the other three featherweight champions? That, as always when rival sanctioning bodies are involved, is complicated.

Bruce Carrington, who won the WBC featherweight title in January, already has a July 4 title defense scheduled against Rene Palacios.

Rafael Espinoza, the WBO champion, last fought in November. Brandon Figueroa, the WBA champion, upset then-champion Nick Ball in February. Neither Espinoza nor Figueroa has a fight scheduled.

NO TITLE SHOT FOR PEREZ: Aaron Perez, unbeaten Albuquerque flyweight Abraham Perez’s father, trainer and promoter, says his son had signed to challenge Anthony Olascagua for the Los Angeles boxer’s WBO 112-pound title — only to have Olascagua’s camp reject the fight.

“We signed the contract and made the deal,” Aaron Perez said. “However … we got a response from the promoter (All-Star Boxing) saying that Anthony’s team didn’t want the fight.

“Apparently Abraham was a little too dangerous for them.”

No title defense by Olascagua has been scheduled, as per boxrec.com.

Aaron Perez’s company, Legacy Promotions, has a card scheduled for July 31. Because of the offer to challenge Olascagua for a world title, Abraham was not placed on the July 31 card — headlined by Albuquerqueans Josh Torres and Cristian Cabral in separate fights.

Rather than rearrange the Legacy Card, Aaron Perez said he hoped to secure a fight for his son on another card in July.

Abraham Perez (14-0, 7 KOs) does not appear in the most recent WBO flyweight rankings (though that’s not always a barrier to getting a title shot). He’s ranked 12th by the IBF. He last fought on a Legacy Promotions card on April 4, defeating The Philippines’ Esneth Domingo (22-5, 14 KOs) by lopsided unanimous decision.

CHICAGO — Tony Medlin first mentioned it to new Chicago Bears center Logan Jones.

Medlin, the team’s director of equipment, is one of the first people who players meet in the locker room when the team acquires them. Medlin has been with the Bears since 1987 and he has been the head equipment manager since 1997.

When they started talking about jersey numbers, Medlin mentioned No. 54 as a potential option for Jones, the team’s second-round draft pick last month.

“I came in and Tony, the equipment guy, he was kind of joking about it with me and whatnot,” Jones said. “He’s been here such a long time. He’s like, ‘I think it would be really cool.’ ”

That number, of course, belonged to Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher from 2000-12. Nobody has worn No. 54 for the Bears since Urlacher retired after the 2012 season.

Jones is about to change that. The 57th selection in the draft, Jones is excited to carry on Urlacher’s legacy.

“To be able to do that, and to be able to honor his number and who he is — when you think of the Chicago Bears, that’s kind of who you think of,” Jones said. “To see that number out in practice and stuff, it just lets everybody think, ‘Oh, that’s Brian Urlacher’s number.’ ”

Urlacher’s No. 54 jersey remains one of the most popular jerseys in the stands for home games at Soldier Field. The five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018, but his jersey number is not retired.

The Bears already have a league-record 14 numbers retired. The franchise hasn’t retired a number since Mike Ditka’s No. 89 during a halftime ceremony in 2013.

At the time, team Chairman George McCaskey said the Bears intended for Ditka’s number to be the team’s final jersey retirement.

With 14 numbers prohibited for current players, the Bears already struggle to find enough numbers when training camp begins with a 90-man roster. A few players each year have to share a number during camp. It’s less of a problem during the regular season, but 14 retired numbers still limits the options quite a bit.

So Urlacher’s 54 remains available, although nobody has worn it since his final season. The Bears did communicate with Urlacher before offering No. 54 as an option for Jones. Urlacher was on board with the rookie center using his old number. Jones and Urlacher have not met, but Jones said he hopes to meet him one day.

“It’s kind of supporting his memory and letting everybody see the legacy he left,” Jones said Friday during rookie minicamp. “So to be able to wear that number is really cool, and hopefully I get the chance to meet him one day too.”

Jones will be certain to see plenty of No. 54 jerseys in the stands when he plays his first game at Soldier Field later this year.

The Bears hope Jones can be a fixture of their offensive line for years to come. The franchise has been trying to find a consistent presence at the center position since longtime center Olin Kreutz last played for the team in 2010.

The Bears thought they had an answer when they signed veteran free agent Drew Dalman last year. But Dalman, a Pro Bowl selection in 2025, elected to step away from football and retire with two years remaining on his contract.

Thus, the Bears found themselves looking for a new center yet again. In a two-pronged approach, the team traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury in March and drafted Jones a month later.

The plan is for Bradbury to begin as the starter, but the expectation is that the job eventually will belong to Jones. It’s just a matter of when. The center position has a lot of responsibilities in coach Ben Johnson’s offense, and learning all of the protections will be a challenge for a rookie center.

On top of that, he’ll need to build a rapport with quarterback Caleb Williams, to whom he will be snapping the football.

“Time will tell,” Johnson said when asked when Jones will be ready. “The ball is in his court as far as I’m concerned. He understands that, just like with everyone else, we’re looking to create competition and consistency day after day and building trust, not only with Caleb and the other quarterbacks, but within that offensive line room and then obviously with the coaching staff. It’s just a matter of time to build trust.”

Added Jones: “It’s very challenging. You’ve got to go out and earn everything.”

If all goes to plan, Jones will be snapping to Williams for many years — and Jones will be doing it in the iconic No. 54 jersey.

Henry Kusiak was the best hitter on his team for five games with the Long Island Ducks to start his 2026 campaign. But when he got a call at 10 p.m. from his manager, Lew Ford, his first thought wasn’t necessarily optimistic.

“I thought he was going to tell me he traded me,” Kusiak said.

When asked about Kusiak’s thought, Ford laughed and said: “They’re not expecting a call from their manager, usually, on their off day and at night. But I had good news for him, and I knew he was going to be excited.”

That thought had entered the former MSSU star’s mind because the Ducks were loaded with middle infielders. In fact, Kusiak had played outfield to start the season. His position for his career with the Lions at Missouri Southern State University was shortstop.

He was thinking maybe Ford had to make a trade to go get a pitcher or something and clear out some of the second basemen/shortstops on the team.

“He didn’t know how else to tell me other than ‘you’ve been picked up by the (Minnesota) Twins,’” Kusiak said. “I think he was involved in some way, so, I’m thankful to him.”

Ford spoke about having a connection with the Minnesota Twins.

“The Twins have signed a couple of our guys. I do know their contact there, and they ask about guys here, including Henry,” he said. “It’s nice to have familiarity, but he’s the one who did what it took to get signed. I think our team and this league is good exposure for our guys.”

The Ducks are a part of the Atlantic League.

The 25-year-old now has joined the Twins’ Single-A ballclub in Fort Myers, Florida. That team is the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. He played in his first game with them on Wednesday. The Mussels lost 4-3 and Kusiak went 0 for 5 at the plate. He played shortstop in the field.

The first day on the new job is not indicative of what Ford saw in a week’s time.

“He hit well. His bat is a big reason that the Twins had signed him. ... He did make some good defensive plays here for us in the short time. Ultimately, he was ripping the cover off the ball,” Ford said.

Kusiak mentioned he’d piqued the interest of some teams the season prior when he played for the Chicago Dogs. He was optimistic he might get a phone call this season if he got off to a good start. But when asked if he expected it after five games, he said, “Not at all.”

His first call after getting the news was to his girlfriend, Maggie Finnegan, and then his mom and dad, Kathy and Kevin Kusiak.

He said he thought his parents would be OK with coming in second to Finnegan, saying, “They know we’re close.”

“It was emotional,” Kusiak said of calling each of them. “I couldn’t hold it back. I put in a lot of hard work. I haven’t done anything yet, but it’s nice to hit a goal and it’s nice to share that with them.”

He is “grateful” for sacrifices made by his parents and for things such as them letting him live at home with them at the beginning of his pro career and the travel.

“It’s huge. Not making much money and living at home. Having them support me through the grind and having people that believe in you when maybe you don’t,” Kusiak said.

That support is a key factor, he says. He played a year of ball with the Windy City Thunderbolts right after graduating from MSSU in 2024 and then went to the Chicago Dogs.

Continuing his pro journey, he decided he wanted to keep moving around from league to league to try to get his name out there and to be known in various leagues.

But he says that journey isn’t easy.

“It’s hard to take the route through indy (independent league) ball. You wonder if you’re good enough or if you belong here. It’s tough. But I was able to learn from big leaguers,” Kusiak said.

He also gave a call to his former head coach at Southern, Bryce Darnell, and he said Darnell felt the same as his family — proud of him.

As Kusiak continues, he is putting an emphasis on being who he is. He doesn’t want to change anything or strive to be something different. He even wants to take the focus off of “proving” himself.

He says he understands he’ll have to prove himself in order to keep climbing the pro ranks, but he just wants to continue to be himself and just learn.

“It’s a foot in the door. It’s just one more of those. I want to continue to learn and get better,” Kusiak said.

He says he dreamed of playing playoff baseball in the MLB and experiencing that atmosphere. But looking forward, he doesn’t want to worry about chasing a dream because he may never know how far or close that dream is.

EMPORIA, Kan. — Three Lions logged home runs as the top-seeded Missouri Southern State University Lions softball team (47-7) earned a spot in the MIAA championship finals with a 6-1 win over the host team fourth-seeded Emporia State University Hornets (29-18) on Friday at Emporia’s Trusler Sports Complex.

Southern senior Katie Gray sparked the Lions offense in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left field. That homer plated Bailey Dillon and broke Gray’s single-season MSSU home run record with her 16th home run of the year. Emily Perry gave the Lions a 3-0 lead when she doubled to right center and drove in Carsen Tinkler.

The Hornets put a run across in the top of the fifth when Taryn Burkhard plated Kinsey Perine with a single up the middle.

MSSU answered with a trio of runs, all via the long ball, in the bottom of the frame. Maddie Rolfs scored Micah Snider after she busted one over left center field that sent Emporia State’s center fielder Burkhardt crashing into the fence.

Freshman Avery Sue Davis went back-to-back with Rolfs, sending one over the left field fence for a solo shot that made it a 6-1 Lions lead.

That score held as the Lions secured their spot in the finals, set for noon Saturday.

Three Lions logged multiple hits in the game. Tinkler was 2 for 3 with a run, Rolfs went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run, and Davis finished 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run.

Starter Kiki Pickens (20-3) earned her 20th win of the season. She gave up one run on five hits, while striking out four and walking two in four innings of work. Freshman Emily Davis earned the save after giving up no runs on two hits in three innings of relief. Davis fanned five and walked none.

“Kiki early on helping keep us composed was really big for us,” MSSU head coach Halie Blackney said. “I feel that paid off early in the game, and then we kind of settled in and were ourselves. Pitching and defense is what we hang our hat on. Kiki did her thing, and then Emily Davis came in and did her thing too.”

Burkhardt led Emporia State after going 2 for 4 with one RBI.

Hornets starter Hannah Butterbaugh was tagged with the loss after surrendering three runs on six hits. She struck out none and walked none in 2 2/3 innings.

Blackney shared her thoughts on the win.

“We knew playing the Hornets here in Emporia, there was going to be a lot of energy,” Blackney said. “They are an energetic bunch, and we knew we would have to weather the storm. I felt like the maturity and experience of our upperclassmen really carried us through that. It was a team win. I love our team, just because of how we pay, which is together always.”

The MIAA regular season champions Lions will look to win the MIAA Tournament title as well when they face Rogers State University on Saturday. Rogers State beat the University of Central Oklahoma by a score of 7-5 in the second semifinal Friday.

Tinkler talked abut what it would be like to capture both the regular-season and the tourney titles — something that hasn’t happened since 2001.

“We couldn’t end any better,” Tinkler said. “That’s the goal and that would be awesome.”

Tinkler shared what she believes it will take to win the MIAA tourney.

“I think we just stay who we are, stay consistent, and it will take care of itself,” Tinkler said.

CHICAGO — Injuries? No excuses.

Memorable comeback victories? Plenty.

The Chicago Cubs’ torrid stretch has them tied for the best record (26-12) in Major League Baseball coming off a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. They’ve won 19 of 22 games — a 10-game winning streak followed by a brief three-game skid on the West Coast and now nine consecutive wins heading into a road stretch against the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox.

“We’ve played really well,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said at the beginning of the homestand. “Now, the reality is that we’ve had a ton of bullpen injuries and pitching injuries and we have to overcome those. But, yes, all things considered, you look at where our record is and how we’ve gotten there, I think we’ve played well.

“But we have five more months to go and we’ve got to keep doing it.”

As the Cubs put together their latest impressive run, three numbers stand out.

1. 15 consecutive wins at Wrigley Field

The Cubs are loving the home environment, regardless of the sometimes finicky elements.

Who says a home-field advantage can’t provide a tangible boost? The Cubs certainly have been playing like it can. The 15 consecutive wins at Wrigley Field is their longest home winning streak since tallying 18 straight from Sept. 4-22, 1935. It also represents the longest such streak in the majors since 2023, when the New York Yankees won 15 consecutive at home.

“I’m not the type of person to believe something you can’t physically see,” pitcher Shota Imanaga told reporters through interpreter Edwin Stanberry after Thursday’s win. “But I feel like at Wrigley, there’s this power that you can’t see, but you can kind of feel where it’s like with the fans and the cheering, where the other team feels the pressure if you’re on the mound or if you’re up to bat.

“And then on the other side, when we’re up to bat or if we’re pitching, you feel that extra push and support of this power you can’t see. I think there is something there.”

The Cubs just completed their second 7-0 homestand this year — the first time they’ve accomplished that feat in a single season since 1880, according to team historian Ed Hartig.

A pair of four-game sweeps against the Philadelphia Phillies and Reds, both coming at Wrigley, marks the first time the Cubs have recorded multiple four-game sweeps in a season since 2018, when they did it three times against the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets and Reds. The last time the Cubs had at least two four-game sweeps within their first 38 games was 1920.

“It’s pretty special,” left fielder Ian Happ said Thursday. “Four-game sweeps in the big leagues is really hard. Any sweep’s tough, but four games is pretty impressive. Our ability to do it in a bunch of different ways (has) been the most impressive part and (with) contributions from all over the place.”

2. 2.83 rotation ERA

The injury blows haven’t stopped for the Cubs.

The rotation already had been tested with Cade Horton out for the season after elbow surgery and Justin Steele’s return from April 2025 elbow surgery, initial targeted for late May/early June, getting delayed until potentially after the All-Star break because of a flexor strain. Then Matthew Boyd needed surgery on the meniscus in his left knee this week, sustaining the injury while playing at home with his kids.

The Cubs rotation keeps stepping up, though. Its collective 2.83 ERA during the nine-game winning streak is second-best in the majors in that span. Left-hander Imanaga has been everything the Cubs have needed to set the tone. He has allowed just one run, on a homer, in 13 innings over his last two starts while striking out 15 and walking four. Imanaga has lowered his season ERA to 2.28 in eight starts, giving up one run or fewer in six of those games.

It hasn’t fallen solely on Imanaga’s shoulders to keep the staff rolling. Cubs starters’ 54 innings pitched over the last 10 days are the second-most by a big-league rotation. They’ve been able to put together strong innings in part by shutting down opponents’ chances when they do get on base — an MLB-leading 92.2% left-on-base percentage during this stretch — aided by an elite defense.

The Cubs will need continued consistency from Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea to get through this stretch without Boyd and Steele.

3. 52 runs scored

As one of the best offenses in baseball, the Cubs can beat teams in a variety of ways.

The offensive versatility has been on display, especially their ability to win close games. Five of the wins during the nine-game streak were decided by one run, including three straight walk-offs Monday through Wednesday.

The three walk-off wins against the Reds was just the fourth time in franchise history the Cubs recorded three walk-off victories versus the same opponent, according to Elias Sports Bureau. It previously occurred in 1943 and 1932 against the New York Giants and 1932 against the Boston Braves.

Led by hot stretches from Happ (193 weighted runs created plus), first baseman Michael Busch (202 wRC+), center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (171 wRC+) and right fielder Seiya Suzuki (120 wRC+), the Cubs’ 52 runs scored over their last nine games trail only the Yankees (59), and they own the third-highest on-base percentage (.358) and wRC+ (124).

Crow-Armstrong has slugged more home runs (three) during this nine-game winning streak than he hit in his first 29 games (one).

“I just expect he and Michael to get hot here at some point soon,” Hoyer said at the start of the homestand of Crow-Armstrong and Busch. “That’s the thing I like about our offense the most is Nico (Hoerner has) carried us early. He’s not going to keep up that pace, but you know that when he comes down a little bit, we have other guys who sort of haven’t hit their stride yet.

“I look at Pete and Michael in that vein. It’s a matter of time until those guys break out, and when they do, both those guys have a chance to get hot and carry us for a while with their talent.”