athletes

Chicago Cubs center fielder Nelson Velázquez (4) stands for the national anthem before a game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Felix Okpara (34) and Michigan State Spartans center Mady Sissoko (22) watch the ball in the first half of a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals game at the United Center Friday, March 10, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields eyes a receiver during warmups for a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Atlanta. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Cubs second baseman Esteban Quiroz (43) breaks the bat while grounding out in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) is tackled by Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Green Bay. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago White Sox players celebrate as Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (48) pounds the turf after giving up a bases loaded fielder’s choice to designated hitter Jose Abreu (79) for a 4-3 White Sox win at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sept. 2, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen (7) commits a flagrant foul on Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (6) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Milwaukee. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) deflects a shot on goal by Chicago Blackhawks left wing Alex DeBrincat (12) in the third period at United Center Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Fans watch as Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (11) is unable to catch a two-point conversion as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris Westry (30) defends in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) slides into home plate as he scores on a Jose Abreu double in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field Thursday, June 10, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws in the third inning against the Cleveland Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Cubs players take their positions in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, in Chicago. Games were played in empty stadiums for the season because of COVID-19 protocols. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Team LeBron players react as Kemba Walker of Team Giannis falls to the floor while Chris Paul of Team LeBron looks to see where the ball is headed, in the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star Game at the United Center Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Russell Westbrook of Team LeBron is blocked by Joel Embiid, center, and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Team Giannis in the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star Game at the United Center Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Glynn Watson Jr. (5) makes an offensive charge against Wisconsin Badgers guard Brad Davison (34) in the second half during the Big Ten Tournament at United Center Friday, March 15, 2019, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Children ascend a climbing wall during a camp session at Ultimate Ninjas, 2915 W. Montrose Ave., Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Chicago. The fitness and obstacle course facility has added daytime classes for children because of the ongoing Chicago Teachers Union strike. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier (26) tosses the ball to second base to force out Chicago Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) in the second inning at Wrigley Field Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Pamela Robinson, 48, does Double Dutch with members of the 40+ Double Dutch Club in a parking lot at Community Park Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, in Country Club Hills. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) gestures toward Texas A&M Aggies guard Chennedy Carter (3) after hitting a three-pointer in the fourth quarter of the NCAA Chicago Region semifinal at Wintrust Arena Saturday, March 30, 2019, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Dallas Stars defenseman Ben Lovejoy (21) gets a stick to the face from Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) in the third period at the United Center Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Zach Laszkiewicz, of Westchester, slips after attempting a field goal at the Goose Island Beer Co. Field Goal Challenge, held outside the brewery in the 1800 block of West Fulton Street Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Chicago. 100 contestants got a chance to kick a 43-yard field goal for a prize of two 2019 NFL game tickets anywhere in the United States; no one was successful. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Joe Gaziano (97) sacks Duke Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones (17) in the third quarter at Ryan Field Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Evanston. Jones left the game after the play. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Duke Blue Devils safety Michael Carter II (26) breaks up a pass intended for Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver JJ Jefferson (12) in the first quarter at Ryan Field Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Evanston. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright congratulates guard Jalen Brunson (1) as the clock winds down on a 79-62 win over the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA championship game at the Alamodome Monday, April 2, 2018, in San Antonio. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Loyola Ramblers players celebrate in the locker room after a 75-56 win over the Southern Illinois Salukis at SIU Arena Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, in Carbondale. The Ramblers clinched the Missouri Valley Conference. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Fans watch as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) attempts to catch a foul ball from Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Oct. 17, 2017. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cleveland Indians second baseman Michael Martinez (1) jogs away as the Chicago Cubs celebrate a 8-7 win over the Cleveland Indians to take the World Series early Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) leaps over Chicago Bears strong safety Chris Prosinski (31) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Arlington, Tex. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) signs autographs before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
New York City FC midfielder Thomas McNamara (15) trips Chicago Fire defender Brandon Vincent (3) in the second half at Toyota Park Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Bridgeview. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley (6) and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dennis Rasmussen (70), upside down, get into a scrum as Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) stops a puck in the first period at the United Center Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Blackhawks celebrate a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup Championship at the United Center Monday, June 15, 2015, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) tries to deflect a pass from Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) in the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena Monday, May 4, 2015, in Cleveland, Ohio. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is introduced for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena Monday, May 4, 2015, in Cleveland, Ohio. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44), right, and second baseman Addison Russell (22) stretch for the ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez (27), as catcher Martin Maldonado (12) approaches third base in the second inning at Wrigley Field Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A Belleville Althoff Catholic High School player receives the runner-up trophy after a 67-63 loss to St. Joseph High School in the Class 3A championship game at Carver Arena Saturday, March 22, 2015, in Peoria. (John J. Kim/Chicago
Tribune)
A drop of sweat falls from Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett’s nose at the start of the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Benet Academy volleyball players celebrate a victory over Libertyville in the the Class 4A state championship at Redbird Arena on the ISU campus Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, in Normal. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier perform in the pairs short program at the ISU GP 2014 Hilton HHonors Skate America competition at the Sears Centre Saturday, Oct. 26, 2014, in Hoffman Estates. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Northern Illinois wide receiver Da’Ron Brown (4) makes a touchdown reception as Daquan Pace of Eastern Michigan defends in the third quarter at Huskie Stadium Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, in DeKalb. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Matt Garza of the Cubs yells profanities to himself after giving up a two-run home run to Adam LaRoche of the Nationals in the fourth inning at Wrigley Field Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
Nike Lentz, right, bleeds as he is punched by Evan Dunham in a Lightweight Bout during an Ultimate Fighting Championship match at the United Center Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Chicago. Dunham won by technical knock-out after the second round. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
Chicago State’s Jeremy Robinson (31) and DePaul’s Krys Faber, right, compete for the ball in the first half Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
Blood falls from the nose and mouth of the Cubs’ Aramis Ramirez after a grounder bounced off his face at third base in the seventh inning against the Astros Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Ramirez left the game. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
The Sacramento Kings’ Tony Massenburg gets a nose full of fingers from Speedy Claxton of the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, in 2003.