Decisions on playing games have been highly important the last 18 months with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is more than playing games. It is sickness and health. The International Olympic Committee made the correct decision to hold the Olympic Games beginning July 21 in Japan, which already had been postponed one year, correctly. With that decision to hold the games, the athletes will be in a bubble to protect against the rise in the virus in Japan, and spectators will not be allowed into the stadiums, arenas, pools, and halls where there will be competition. That decision was wise because it would be a crucible for infection.
• June Swoon used to be the label for the Chicago Cubs’ baseball fortunes prior to their 2016 World Series. Often the teams would start well and drop out of the pennant races in June. Unfortunately for those who kept hopes alive for an all-Chicago World Series this season, the Cubs revisited the swoon this year with an 11-game losing streak. If only…. If only the Cubs could regain their pitching acumen, pay better in the field, and find timely hits to crawl back into the race, eight games behind Milwaukee at the all-star break. If only….
• The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) will hold sports in their traditional season slots with the apparent recovery from COVID-19 with the advent of vaccines to increase our health prospects. Last year’s schedules created havoc, nonetheless were welcome to have any competition and are for the record books. High school football will begin games Friday, Aug. 20 following an early August start to practices. All other traditional high school Fall sports will start at about the same time as football. College football will have fans in the stands if it all goes well and so will the National Football League. The Chicago Bears will begin their practice sessions July 29.
• The IHSA will hold its first girls wrestling State Tournament finals in Bloomington February 25-26 with individual and dual team tournaments concurrently. More than 800 girls passed certification to wrestle in the 2019-2020 school year, even though there was no State tournament.
• Last week Class 4A Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-State team was in this space. In Class 3A: Tyler Conklin, pitcher/shortstop, senior, Kaneland; Aidan Kress, pitcher/third baseman, senior, Fenton; Dylen Petrey, P/C/2B/RF, senior Hampshire; Rocco Tenuta, SS, sophomore, St. Francis. 2A:Jakob Johnson, P/RF, senior, Harvest Christian Academy; Ben Jones, P/SS, senior, Timothy Christian; 1A, Dalton Reibel, P/3B, senior, Newark.