Sports shorts: Sox, Wolves, several Springfield teams

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Relevant and not-so-relevant thoughts:

• Will the Chicago White Sox ever surpass the .500 mark and make a run at the Central Division leaders in the American League, Minnesota and Cleveland? Through Monday this week, the Sox were one game under .500, 32-33, and only 4.5 games behind first-place Minnesota and 3.5 game behind Cleveland. Well more than half the season remains. Patience?

• June pro sports include the U.S. Open golf and the Wimbledon tennis in the United Kingdom. Is it possible to surpass in a combination of tradition, quality of play, and big finishes. Often a letdown may follow for fans.

• Chicago area Winter sports are represented by the Chicago Wolves ice hockey team in the American Hockey Association’s (AHA) Calder Cup championship series. Through two games in the best of seven earlier this week, the Wolves were tied with Springfield (Mass.) at one game each. The Wolves are from the Central Division and Springfield is from the Eastern Division in AHA.

• Springfield? That is the segue to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Illinois high school basketball. The 38-year-old Andre Iguedala, a 6-6 forward for the recent NBA champion Golden State Warriors, was an important player for Springfield Lanphier High School in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Tournament. Lanphier took second place in the 2002 State tournament to Westinghouse from Chicago. Iguedala, in a sense, was a glue to the Golden State team in the recently-concluded season, even though he played in only a few games. It was unique because Golden State two years ago had the worst record in the NBA following championship seasons. Kevin Durant left one year prior to the plunge in the standings and Golden State suffered injuries and dissension. Iguedala, who played in the State high school championship game two years following West Aurora’s 2000 State championship team, led with understanding and maturity following successful seasons earlier with Golden State and the Miami Heat. Such components lead to championship seasons. Keeping the faith applies.

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