Somewhere in the middle of a wild six-player, five-team NBA trade that was finalized on Aug. 20 was Hickory Hills native and Stagg graduate Max Strus.
When the ink was dry on all of the contracts, the 30-year-old Strus was sent from Cleveland to the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s his fourth team after seven seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Injuries limited Strus to just 12 games last season, when he averaged 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.
“We are going to be highly competitive, and Max will be a big part of it,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a news release. “He is a good shooter who can handle and pass.
“Max competes on both ends of the court and his versatility allows him to play different roles with different groups.”
Alek’s back
Mount Carmel grad Alek Thomas is back in MLB for the first time since his trade from Arizona to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 12.
The two-time defending World Series champs called up the 26-year-old center fielder after Andy Pages was injured. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI on Aug. 22 in a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh and 1-for-3 with an RBI in a 4-0 win over the Pirates the next day.
“It’s been a little while,” Thomas told reporters. “So, I’m super glad to be back and happy to help the team in any way, shape or form.”
Andrew golfers set records
Andrew fall sports athletes were recognized at halftime of the season-opening football game against Oak Forest on Aug. 21 and the boys golf team had a little more spring in its step as the athletes waved to the crowd.
Earlier in the day, the Thunderbolts shot a program-record 18-hole round of 312 with their fourth-place finish at the Crete-Monee Invitational at Deer Creek.
Luke Zukowski took third with a program-record 74. Josh Hirsch and Dean Forst each had 79s and Ty Pasek and 80.
Fire report
The Chicago Fire kept a seven-game unbeaten streak in Leagues Cups and MLS competitions alive with a 2-1 win at Orlando City on Aug. 19 and a 1-1 tie at Red Bull New York on Aug. 22.
Recently acquired star Robert Lewandowski scored what turned out to be the game winner against Orlando in the 69th minute. Maren Halle-Selassie scored the lone goal against New York.
The Fire (11-6-3 in MLS play) was scheduled to play Monterrey in the Leagues Cup Tournament quarterfinals on Aug. 25 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview and visit Seattle at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 29.
The Fire II (10-8-6) knocked off Inter Miami II 3-1 in an MSL NEXT Pro game at SeatGeek Stadium on Aug. 23. Dylan Borso, Brody Williams and Dean Boltz scored for the Fire.
The Fire II lost 2-1 to host Atlanta United II on Aug. 18 as Williams scored his first career goal. The Fire visit Columbus at noon on Aug. 30.
Cougars set for debut
Chicago State’s football team will play the first game in program history on Aug. 29 when it hosts Roosevelt at noon at SeatGeek Stadium.
Bobby Rome is the head coach for the Cougars, who have several local players on their roster: wide receiver Arshawn Powell (Evergreen Park), quarterback Dontrell Jackson Jr. (Marist) and running back Calvin Lee (St. Rita).