SPORTS’ CUP OVERFLOWING
Sports are back. Yeah, we know. We’ve been saying that a lot lately. We said it in July when baseball got going again. We said it when August arrived, bringing hockey and basketball with it. We’ve kind of said it over and over again, now that we think of it, probably because it’s reassuring and just plain feels good.
Did we mention sports are back? It’s true, now more than ever since the coronavirus outbreak pulled the plug on all games and leagues in March.
Look at the smorgasbord that is the week to come. The NBA is into its second round, with each series in the East — Bucks-Heat and Raptors-Celtics — having serious go-the-distance potential and the West contenders bringing all the offensive fireworks. As the NHL nears its conference finals, it’s almost a certainty the league will have a champion that hasn’t hoisted the Cup since before the lockout that zapped the 2004-05 season.
The up-and-coming Sox are Minneapolis-bound to take on a division heavyweight. The Cubs, coming off a six-homer explosion Sunday, are hanging on to their division lead. The Sky and Fire are hard at it, while the Red Stars are waiting for their September schedule to be released. As the Bears wade deep into Mitch Trubisky-vs.-Nick Foles waters, every day vital with their opener Sept. 13 near, college football games — no, not in the Big Ten — already are upon us.
Tennis, anyone? The U.S. Open is here, too. Here’s what’s happening: