Chicago Sports Exchange: Robinson’s Diplomacy Toward Bears Is Noble, If Not Altogether Ballsy
White Sox, Sky and Red Stars keep winning while Bulls pass it forward
Bless your heart, Allen Robinson.
For the second straight season Robinson will catch passes without a long-term contract to fall back on. That neither he nor the Bears flinched before the deadline to get an extension done Thursday wasn’t surprising. But his bred-in-the-bone professionalism is.
When you consider the routes players at his position take to get what they want and his firsthand knowledge of the inherent risk of injury, it’s downright shocking.
Robinson’s been no more of a squeaky wheel in the wake of he and Ryan Pace playing their game of chicken to a draw than he was when he was franchise tagged in March. That is to say he’s been business as usual.
He hasn’t pouted.
He hasn’t threatened to holdout.
He hasn’t tried to force a trade.
He did skip voluntary organized team activities last month. Except he did so to focus on his individual training, working to become an even scarier version of the wide receiver who became just the fourth player in team history to bag at least 100 receptions last season.
Although he’s not a fan of the tag, Robinson stands to make more money than the five players who hauled in more receptions than he did last season because of it. But unlike Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Darren Waller, and Travis Kelce, the soon-to-be eight-year pro essentially has to prove himself for the third time in five years.
Needless to say, it’s a strange position for a player of Robinson’s caliber to be in. It’s also likely the last season he’ll find himself playing without the security of a long-term deal.
Unfortunately, unless the salary cap hits the roof next year, that contract figures to be signed elsewhere.
BUY — White Sox Come Out Swinging After All-Star Break
That should do the trick for now.
The White Sox taking two of three from Houston, particularly in the fashion they did (with Lucas Giolito and Carlos Rodón delivering near-untouchable pitching performances and the heart of their order providing plenty of pop before the largest crowds to visit Guaranteed Rate Field this season), puts a lid on the chatter about them not being able to beat quality opponents.
At least until Friday, when the Sox take on the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
BUY — Bulls Give An Assist In “The Triangle”
While Bulls fans wait with baited breath to see who Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley can get in free agency this summer, the organization was busy giving a bit of themselves to the city’s South Side.
Three-time NBA champion teammates Toni Kukoč and Randy Brown and current Bulls guard Ryan Arcidiacono helped unveil a refurbished basketball court designed by local artist Anthony Lewellen at Burnside Park Wednesday.
A select group of Chicago Park District families, neighbors and local community organizations were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured a shooting challenge with Brown and Arcidiacono and resulted in a donation of more than $10,000 to Illinois programs of Prevent Blindness.
No word on why recent Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame selectee Kukoč didn’t partake. Though one could imagine if a dwindling game clock had been involved, he would’ve reminded folks of his shooting prowess, too.
The refurbishment is part of a year-round initiative called “Framing the Future,” by the team’s jersey patch sponsor, Zenni.
BUY — Red Stars Stretch Their Boundaries In Third Straight Win
Ok, there’s a pattern forming here.
A week after a pair of own goals propelled them to victory, the Red Stars were the beneficiaries of two more foibles in a 3-1 win against OL Reign Sunday.
The Red Stars (5-4-2), who now hold the National Women’s Soccer League record for forced own goals in a season (5), moved into second place behind the Portland Thorns with their third consecutive victory.
BUY — Sky Make Headlines Even On Days Off
Hump day?
What hump day?
Between the news that Candace Parker will become the first female to make a NBA 2K cover, Allie Quigley cooking the nets in what she promised was her final three-point contest (tear) and Parker, Kahleah Copper and Courtney Vandersloot helping Team WNBA to All-Star game bragging rights, the Sky made a runway out of last Wednesday.
For the sake of their fans, let’s hope they do the same to the second half of the season, which begins with a date with defending champion Seattle August 15.