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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Sports announcing has been Chris Ackels’ dream for as long as he can remember.

Notre Dame Stadium’s new public-address announcer chuckles as he thinks back to KWAT-AM (1102), the imaginary outlet he invented in his boyhood room in the Dallas area. Well past bedtime, Ackels would craft hushed recaps of that night’s Texas Rangers game before throwing it to his younger brother, Thomas, for the out-of-town scoreboard.

“Sometimes he’d say, ‘Chris, I’m trying to sleep,’ but that was my radio station,” said Ackels, who also serves as an in-stadium host for the White Sox. “He’d have to read some scores, and I would go back to hosting my radio show.”

By his sophomore year at Jesuit College Prep School, Ackels had enough self-confidence to march into the office of athletic director Steve Koch and request a sportscasting opportunity. Ackels already had been up in the press box as a freshman spotter for Rangers high school football broadcasts, assisting local donor Tom Walsh and analyst Jack Fitzsimmons. So PA for JV boys basketball was a natural progression.

“[Koch] was the first person to put a microphone in front of my face and say, ‘I trust you,’ ” said Ackels, 30.

By his junior year, Ackels was calling soccer games through a rudimentary online streaming system that he researched and arranged. As a senior, he got a chance to do PA for boys basketball when Paul McDaniel, a Jesuit Prep counselor, offered to step aside.

“That was so cool,” Ackels said. “I got to announce starting lineups, and they were all my buddies on the team. My buddy Mike and my buddy Ben. It was great.”

The Irish football team won’t be quite as familiar for Ackels, but he once again credits a mentor’s belief in making this opportunity happen.

Even though he has done PA work for DePaul and Northwestern, as well as Big Ten, Big East and Atlantic 10 postseason events, he didn’t apply initially when Notre Dame announced a social-media-driven search for Mike Collins’ replacement after 39 seasons.

Instead, it took an unsolicited nomination and some persistence from Gene Honda, PA voice of the White Sox since 1985 and the Blackhawks since 2001.

“He’s the one who said, ‘Hey, I put your name in the hat for this thing,’ ” Ackels said. “Public-address announcers don’t have agents, but if I did, Gene has been the best agent I could possibly ask for. He’s just a good man and a mentor to me.”

After more prodding from Honda and a call in March from Nathan Bush, live events producer for Irish media, Ackels finally put together an audition tape. Four months later, he won the sweepstakes for what he terms a dream job at one of the nation’s iconic sports venues.

Next came an hourlong phone conversation with Collins, who retired at 75 after putting his personal stamp on the PA role since the season opener in 1982 against Michigan. It was Collins who coined the phrase “Here come the Irish!” and made pregame weather reports a memorable part of the fan experience.

Like Collins, Ackels plans to keep the press-box window open so he can feed off the energy of nearly 80,000 fans in the stands. At Collins’ urging, Ackels also hopes to let his natural personality flow on game days.

“There are a lot of unique things that Mike Collins did,” Ackels said. “Which of those things are Notre Dame and which of those things are Mike Collins are specific and unique to him? How can I honor that legacy but also be my own man?”

Collins’ advice: Be yourself.

“What made him so good and so unique was that his personality came across on the mike,” Ackels said. “He took this job and said, ‘I’m going to be me.’ He just kept encouraging me not to be afraid to do that.”

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LAS VEGAS — The plot of “As Aaron’s World Turns,” in which the petulant protagonist dreams of game-show-host glory, thickened July 22 when someone slapped four grand on the Packers at the Westgate SuperBook.

Two thousand to win the NFC, at 20-to-1 odds. Another two grand, at 40-1, to win Super Bowl LVI — a return of $124,000 if the Packers win it all.

The next day, a long-respected source informed SuperBook executive vice president Jay Kornegay and staff of a looming bombshell in Green Bay. They removed the Packers’ divisional odds and season-win total.

“Whether that would be retirement or a trade, we didn’t know,” Kornegay says. “Obviously, neither happened. A couple of days later, Aaron Rodgers announces he’s come to an agreement with the Packers.”

Tension, twists and turns vital to any hit soap opera riddle this one, which features team president Mark Murphy and general manager Brian Gutekunst as recurring antagonists.

By the time training camp started, with Rodgers wearing a red No. 12 jersey, the Packers’ NFC odds at the Westgate had been sliced to 6-1 and their Super Bowl odds to 12-1 — their opening numbers on Jan. 18. Says Kornegay: “Full circle.”

However, because he is a diehard Broncos fan who calls Colorado home, the theatrics became personal for Kornegay. Trusting early Rodgers-to-Denver reports, he had bet on his Broncos to win more than 7 1/2 games and the AFC West.

“A lot of rumors broke out the day before the draft,” he says. “I have to admit, I was one of those who kind of bit hard and emptied some of my accounts. We really thought it was going to happen at that time. It was running hot.

“Then, as every day passed, it got colder and colder.”

Kornegay had envisioned donning an orange No. 12 jersey.

“Probably,” he says with a laugh, “some of my emotions got involved.”

MARKET SWINGS

Emotions must have red-lined in the rest of the NFC North when “insiders” Adam Schefter and Mark Schlereth spun late-April tales of Rodgers’ imminent exit. The odds of the Packers retaining him had been whittled to -125 (risk $125 to win $100) at DraftKings on May 3. The Broncos were +200 to land him, the Raiders +500, the Saints +900. The Broncos were down to +140 by May 14.

Tim Murray, host of “The Night Cap” on the Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN), had seen the Packers as high as +190 to win the NFC North.

He says, “My God, can I get in Doc Brown’s DeLorean, go back and get those odds?”

Days after Rodgers reported to camp, Murray scans his computer to see the Packers’ divisional odds at -240 at the Westgate, -200 at the South Point, -160 at Circa.

“Things like that, especially in the futures market and especially in football, don’t happen that drastically that fast,” he says. “Fascinating.”

William Hill has the Packers -140, the Vikings +200, the Bears +450. At the SuperBook, the Bears opened +745 (bet $100 to win $745) to win the NFC North, dropping to +450 by late May and +400 in late June.

Matt Youmans, Murray’s VSiN colleague, bet the Vikings at +350 at the South Point on May 10, when he had estimated Rodgers’ chances of staying put at less than 50%.

He still likes that ticket today, due to the Packers’ difficult schedule and improvements he has gauged elsewhere in the division.

Murray has not made an NFL wager yet. When pressed, he favors the Giants, plus a point, at home against the Broncos in Week 1.

In the NFC North, he views too much uncertainty in how Bears coach Matt Nagy might handle veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and Justin Fields, the hot-shot first-round pick from Ohio State.

DON’T ROLL DICE

The Bears’ quarterback curiosity keeps Long Island handicapper Tom Barton from partaking in NFC North wagers, too. Sports betting is enough of a challenge dealing with known quantities, he implores. Unknowns mean you’re just guessing, rolling dice.

The SuperBook has the Bears’ win total for 17 games at 7 1/2 , over -100, under -120.

“Over makes sense, but there are too many variables,” says Barton, who loathes Nagy’s play-calling tendencies and recites more questions about the Bears, such as linebacker Khalil Mack staying healthy.

Barton favors the Jaguars, with a SuperBook total of 6 1/2 , -110 both ways. He nabbed over 6 elsewhere at -125 before the draft.

He likes the Jaguars’ offense, with new quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He doesn’t like the Jaguars’ defense, but he discounts the AFC South and says the Jags’ schedule is advantageous.

Will they lose 12 games? Barton’s “no” conclusion fueled that wager, since a 6-11 campaign pushes his bet.

He is a lifetime Bears supporter who always wagers on Rodgers at home in December. Another lesson, as Barton fiercely separates his disdain for Rodgers from professional money-making tactics. According to Playbook Football magazine publisher Marc Lawrence, Rodgers is 22-3, including 18-7 against the spread, at Lambeau Field in December. His career home ATS record is 62-36-4.

“Come December, I know his record, I know what they do, I know who they are,” Barton says. “If he’s in Lambeau [that month], I’m taking the Packers.”

Barton the Bears fan, though, savors every episode of the green-and-yellow melodrama.

“Green Bay is broken and dysfunctional,” he says. “The unraveling is happening. The Bears might not win the division this season, but they are set up better than the Packers for the ensuing five years.”

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When Diamond DeShields shows up, people notice.

Her style is singular, effortless and constantly changing. So, when she sat courtside (next to future Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan) at the WNBA’s 17th All-Star Game in Las Vegas in July, it was no surprise that she stood out.

It was a different vantage point for the Sky’s shooting guard compared to the last time she was in Las Vegas for the All-Star Game two years before.

In 2019, she was playing.

“I wanted to be upset,” DeShields said. “And I was very briefly, until I put into perspective how far I’ve come on my own journey.”

Being one of 144 players in the WNBA is supposed to be hard. The more aligned you are with your goals, the harder things get because you’re being guided to level up.

That’s the advice DeShields received from new teammate Candace Parker.

At the beginning of the 2021 season, Parker said she was reminded a lot of herself looking at DeShields and the intensity with which she approaches the game.

DeShields is typically the first player in the gym. Nobody puts more pressure on her to be great than she does on herself. She deals with that drive to be great and the weight that comes with it by reminding herself to control what she can control.

During the 2020 WNBA bubble season, there was little the rising star could control both professionally and personally.

“The ‘why’, I was stressed,” DeShields said of leaving the bubble. “I was dealing with a high dose of stress in my life.”

DeShields was adamant that America’s overdue awakening to systemic racism and police violence against Black women and men played a minor role in the stress she was navigating.

The choice to leave the bubble was about nobody but DeShields. She said it was hard to be that selfish, but she ultimately had to do what was best for her.

“You don’t know what people are going through,” DeShields said. “That’s something I take with me every day. I don’t judge people for anything.”

DeShields has learned to prioritize her mental health in ways she never has before. Whether from maturity or life experience, she understands now how important it is to approach the game with gratitude. She also understands the need to unplug.

One way she does that is through meditation. DeShields tries to meditate twice, sometimes three times, a day if the Sky are playing. In the morning, at night and before games she connects to the silence and it helps her remain centered and at peace.

Following the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game and a three-day trip to celebrate her teammates, DeShields flew back to Chicago and immediately went back to work.

Her game is a work in progress. DeShields is not the same player she was in 2019 when she became a first-time WNBA All-Star after leading the Sky in scoring, averaging 16.9 points.

This season, DeShields came in working her way back from a lingering knee injury she suffered in 2020.

She also came in this season ready to embrace a new role with the Sky as a lockdown defender and all-around playmaker.

In the second part of the season, Wade is looking for DeShields to be more efficient with the ball. Through the first 20 games, DeShields is the Sky’s fourth-leading scorer with 11.9 points on 40% shooting.

Another priority is DeShields’ scoring in transition. In 2019 she led the league in fast-break points, averaging 3.7 points a game. This year, Kahleah Copper is the league leader with 3.4.

The message as the Sky prepares for the second part of the season is that there’s still work to do. DeShields hasn’t stopped.

“I don’t think we’ve seen what we’re going to see from Diamond going forward,” Sky coach and general manager James Wade said. “The sky is the limit for her.”

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Chicago Bulls: Exciting basketball is finally back in town by Anthony Damato

Things are getting a bit worrisome at Chicago Bears training camp. For those reading social media posts about the offensive line and fans being anxious, they are all accurate.

The Bears are enduring a string of tough news recently, and continue to see their offensive linemen drop like flies.

Right now, they are without their top two offensive tackles in rookie second-round pick Teven Jenkins and veteran Germain Ifedi. Jenkins has not practiced yet in camp due to a back injury, while Ifedi is out with a hip issue.

This last week, their tackles shriveled up even more when second-year pro Lachavious Simmons left practice with a possible concussion. There was some positive news to be had, though, because rookie fifth-round pick Larry Borom was filling in nicely and looked extremely promising. Then, Borom also left with a possible concussion.

The Chicago Bears have injury woes regarding their top four offensive tackles, and have to find help immediately.

With concerns to their top four tackles now, the Bears have to look at free agents to bring in. They have no choice, even if it’s to provide extra camp bodies until the unit gets healthy.

There are still a few free agent tackles worth bringing in — even some who may earn a starting job on the right side.

Veteran Russell Okung is still available, and when healthy, is still one of the better tackles in all of football. Last year, Okung spent his lone season with the Carolina Panthers and played in just seven games. However, he was stellar in those seven games.

The 2-time Pro Bowl tackle played three seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers prior to Carolina. Okung is 32 years old, but still has some football left in him. At this point, signing him to a minimal deal would be a wise call.

Another name whom the Bears should be familiar with is Rick Wagner, formerly of the Green Bay Packers (one season) and Detroit Lions (three seasons). Wagner began his career with the Baltimore Ravens, but the Bears have seen him each of the past four years while playing in the NFC North.

Marshall Newhouse is another veteran currently available, who has played on eight different teams over the past decade. Newhouse started his career with Green Bay, which Bears fans probably remember.

Regardless of whom the Bears sign, just getting another body or two in camp right now should be priority. They have to get enough guys on the roster to suit up against the Miami Dolphins in their first preseason game next Saturday.

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Bears: Sean Desai poised to restore defense

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The biggest aspect of their current offensive line woes, which should be at the forefront of coach Matt Nagy’s mind, is that there is no way they roll rookie Justin Fields out there until their offensive line is as healthy as possible. Look for Fields’ reps to be limited against the Dolphins if they can’t put together a sufficient line in front of him Saturday afternoon.

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A man was charged in a Far South Side shooting that left one person injured.

On Aug. 4, around 6 p.m., Albert Smith, 35, allegedly shot a man multiple times in his body, Chicago Police said.

The victim, 25, was taken to Roseland Hospital where his condition was stabilized, police said.

Smith was arrested almost immediately following the attack when he was identified as the shooter, police said.

Smith was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a discharged firearm, police said.

Smith was also charged as an armed habitual criminal, meaning he received, sold, possessed or transferred any firearm after having been convicted at least twice of a felony or any weapon or substance-related crimes, police said.

Bond was scheduled for Aug. 7.

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Tyler Jandron spent the 2020 baseball season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and his outlook on the grueling recovery process was that it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Thousands of players were left searching for opportunities on the field after seasons were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For Jandron, the year off allowed him to focus on his return to the mound free of guilt that he’d be missing a season.

“It benefitted me,” Jandron said. “Once I understood that no teams were playing and things shut down, I took it as an opportunity to get ready for this year.”

Managers in the independent leagues measure time in dog years.

In terms of players’ development, 12 months are really like seven years. It might sound like a dramatic comparison, but the point is taking a year off can derail a player’s career.

When the Frontier League suspended its 2020 season, some teams held local events for players to continue their development. The Joliet Slammers were one of four teams that participated in the Champions Cup in Joliet. The modified schedule gave Frontier League players and free agents from MiLB-affiliated teams an opportunity to play.

After a year of scrapped seasons and disarray, what’s the explanation for the increase in players getting called up to affiliated ball in 2021? There’s more than one, but the first thing to consider is workload.

“This year has been very aggressive,” Slammers manager Aaron Nieckula said. “Part of that has to do with the pandemic last year and the way it shut down minor-league baseball.”

Nieckula, in his first season with the Slammers, estimates that his team and the Frontier League as a whole are ahead of the typical number of players that are pulled into affiliated baseball in a standard year.

Schaumburg Boomers manager Jamie Bennett, who has been with the organization since 2011, said the league already has reached its yearly total. The Frontier League is a little over halfway through the regular season.

Pitchers in independent baseball have always been targeted the most by affiliated clubs because of workload management.

Every organization has a different philosophy, but once pitchers reach their set number of innings and starts, they’re shut down. Every year, a pitcher will throw around 15 to 20% more than he did the year before.

The limited number of reps pitchers in affiliated baseball had in 2020 significantly affected their workload, which has led to more opportunities for independent-leaguers.

“Coming from affiliated ball, I told them this year is great timing and will be a great opportunity for many of you,” Nieckula said. “Just know there are going to be scouts and evaluators out at most of our games.”

The three major independent leagues are the American Association, the Atlantic League and the Frontier League.

The Atlantic League is an older league made up mostly of former major-league and Triple-A players. The American Association is in the middle of the pack. The Frontier League is geared more toward young players looking to develop.

Jandron spent a year in affiliated baseball after signing a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks in 2018 and getting assigned to the Missoula Osprey. He was released after one season and signed with the Slammers in 2019.

When MLB cut its farm teams to 120, eliminating 40 cities as affiliates, there was a rush of players and coaches in search of jobs. They turned to the independent leagues.

Nieckula said 25% of his team is made up of players with affiliated-baseball experience, and that’s fairly standard when looking at rosters across the Frontier League. Many former affiliated players landed in the Atlantic League or the American Association.

Still, the axing of 40 affiliates led not only to an increase in talent in the leagues but interest from scouts, as well. The pandemic made it easier to be seen by scouts online.

Jandron didn’t come into the 2021 season feeling prepared. Not many players did, even if they were some of the few who were on the field last year.

What 2020 taught players is that the opportunity to go from independent baseball to affiliated baseball is more real than ever.

“I don’t think we had one guy picked up in 2019,” Jandron said. “To see four guys get picked up early off our team, it shows that they’re looking. They’re always going to be looking.”

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Nearly 20 tabs were open on Kyle Krull’s computer when his family turned it on. All involved the same topic: chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Krull was a charismatic 25-year-old navigating the trials of young adulthood. He had just graduated from Western Michigan and had a new job, new roommates and, by all accounts, a fresh start on life.

Hidden was the weight of the neurocognitive disorder, CTE, that blanketed him every waking minute of his life.

Nobody knew the extent of his suffering until his death.

“We were having a morbid conversation,” said Megan Campion, Krull’s sister. “I remember exactly where we were and how he was sitting. He said, ‘I want to donate my body to science so nobody feels the way I do and they can figure out CTE.’ “

“That was the first time I heard those three letters.”

Krull died by suicide the morning of June 1, 2019. His body was found three days later.

At that point, his family had grown accustomed to Krull being unreachable for days at a time before he’d return with understandable explanations. Over the years, Campion, her parents and those closest to Krull had noticed changes in his behavior but nothing that led them to believe he was suicidal.

One of the tabs open on his computer after his death was the Concussion Legacy Foundation’s website.

Campion’s husband reached out to the CLF, explaining how they’d come across the site. Krull’s family then donated his brain to the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank and researchers posthumously diagnosed him with Stage 1 CTE.

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One of the biggest challenges for Kyle as a child was heading off to preschool — he didn’t want to. So his parents did what parents do and came up with an answer: a Buzz Lightyear costume from the “Toy Story” movies.

He wore it often, walking into class with a charisma he eventually became known for. From those days on, his mantra became “To infinity and beyond.”

Sports were a big part of Megan and Kyle’s life growing up, but never in a demanding way. Football was off-limits to Kyle until the sixth grade. He tearfully pleaded with his parents every summer leading up to the fall football season, but they continued to say no.

Krull’s father, John, played football in college, and his mother, Jennifer, a health professional, wanted to take every precaution to protect their son.

After his first season, it was clear Krull would be a special player. He went on to be a three-year varsity starter at linebacker for Lemont High School, eventually earning a scholarship to play at Western Illinois.

After every game during his high school career, Krull had a routine. At the time, it didn’t seem odd to his family. He would return home after grabbing dinner with his dad, head to the basement or his room, shut off every light and sit in the darkness, sometimes listening to music or playing on his phone. By morning, he’d emerge with the bright personality he was known for and head to watch film with his teammates.

The post-concussion symptoms and chronic headaches were already starting.

“The biggest myth about CTE is that it correlates with or is directly related to concussions,” said Dr. Robert Cantu, co-founder of the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. “The reality is, although concussions count, the most important thing is repetitive head impact and the amount of it.”

Eric Michaelsen, who was the head coach at Lemont from 2002 to 2013 and coached Krull for his three seasons on the varsity team, can’t pinpoint when he first learned about CTE. Lemont has had mandatory concussion training for coaches of contact sports since 2011.

Campion believes her brother, had he known about the risk of developing CTE, still would have played football in high school. But she’s certain he would not have accepted a scholarship to play at Western.

She can recall the Western Illinois coaching staff sitting with her parents on a recruiting trip. They promised to protect and treat Krull like a son.

After playing one season for the Leathernecks, Krull quit and transferred to Western Michigan, where he focused on life after football. By then, more severe symptoms — irritability, trouble sleeping and cognitive issues — had begun to develop.

“He called me one time and said ‘Meg, I can’t do this anymore. I don’t feel safe,’ ” Campion said. “He was a punching bag the entire year.”

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Cantu said doctors can estimate the likelihood of CTE being present by looking at the symptoms an athlete has (and their progression) along with the amount of exposure to repetitive head injury. But the cognitive, behavioral and mood symptoms have too much overlap with symptoms of other neurocognitive diseases to diagnose someone with certainty before they die.

Cantu relates CTE to smoking. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the greater the risk you’ll develop cancer. But not everyone who smokes will develop cancer.

There are also genetic risk factors that Cantu says play a role in why athletes’ response to head trauma is different.

Cantu said although doctors are not able to stop the progression of CTE, they can treat and manage the symptoms with therapy and medication. He added that starting contact collision sports later in life greatly reduces a person’s risk for developing neurocognitive disorders.

Still, there are doctors who believe the only real way to prevent the disease is to stop playing football altogether.

“It bothers me somewhat that there is a sentiment, particularly in Chicago, that life goes on and we’re just going to keep watching all our favorite sports teams,” said neurology specialist Dr. James Castle, who has been treating suspected CTE patients — early 20s through late 80s — for 10 years. “In reality, I’ve seen a lot of former players, and they look really awful and are very debilitated later in life.”

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After graduating from Western Michigan, Krull knew something was wrong. He was unable to sleep at night, had begun to lose feeling in his fingers and toes and had memory loss and trouble balancing. He would have outbursts against family members and later not recall hurtful things he said.

His apologies were emotional, and he always promised it wouldn’t happen again — until it did.

For Krull’s family, there is no peace in his death, but being able to name the disease that killed him has left a crack in the door toward acceptance. Campion’s hope is there’s a continued effort to understand CTE and implement changes in contact sports that help prevent it. The NFL, for example, has largely pivoted from its earlier time of denial about CTE. More than 20 rules changes have been implemented over the last 10 years that reduce the amount of head trauma. The league has also donated more than $100 million toward concussion research.

Campion feels close to her brother — joyful — when she’s outside doing something athletic. The flip side to that joy is the crippling pain she feels when she considers moments she won’t be able to share with him, like her having kids one day or seeing him get married.

In those moments, she tries to find peace in the way he lived his life.

“Everything he did was to infinity and beyond,” she said.

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“Untold”

Three and a half stars

A former tennis player who was once ranked No. 1 in America talks about being so overwhelmed by anxiety that minutes before a 2012 U.S. Open match against Roger Federer, he withdrew.

We follow the journey of a legendary American athlete who shattered a world record in winning Olympic gold — but always felt like a fraud.

An NBA champion speaks of his role in the most infamous brawl in league history and how he struggled with mental health issues, including severe depression, throughout his career.

The five-part sports documentary series “Untold” premieres Tuesday on Netflix. Given the international headlines about Simone Biles’ brave and admirable decision to withdraw from a number of events at the Tokyo Olympic Games, citing mental health issues, the timing couldn’t be better. This is a collection of five stand-alone, 80-minute documentaries — and in four of those films, we see world-class athletes demonstrating remarkable strength and character as they speak about their various off-court, off-field challenges, from depression and anxiety, to surviving a horrifically abusive relationship.

Like the best of ESPN’s “30 for 30” docs, the “Untold” series is framed in the world of sports but goes far beyond that to tell the stories of some greatly talented and widely celebrated athletes who are also as flawed and vulnerable as the rest of us. The first indication of that is the opening title sequence, an elegantly staged passage set to the tune of “Your Sweet Love” by Lee Hazlewood, with the lyrics: “Stranger’s arms reach out to me, cause they know I’m so lonely . . . ” Yep, we’re not going to be hearing “Chelsea Dagger” or “Sweet Caroline” in this series.

The premiere episode is titled “Malice at the Palace” and takes us back to the dark night of Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, when the Pacers and Pistons squared off at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and all hell broke loose when a tussle on the court led to Ron Artest laying on the scorer’s table — at which point a fan threw a plastic cup filled with a drink at Artest, who responded by going into the stands, where he was eventually joined by a number of other players. It was pure madness and there was plenty of blame to go around — but “Malice at the Palace” does a journalistically sound job of putting events in perspective, with the help of never-before-seen security footage. And whereas Artest (later known as Metta World Peace), Jermaine O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Stephen Jackson and Ben Wallace all lament how things turned out, some of the idiot fans who were the true instigators of the melee never seem to take any kind of responsibility.

Arguably the most compelling entry in the series is “Breaking Point” (premiering Sept. 7), which tells the story of Mardy Fish, who was close friends with Andy Roddick when they were rising through the tennis ranks as teenagers (Fish even lived with Roddick’s family for a year). But while Roddick was ascending to the No. 1 ranking in the world, Fish labored on the fringes of the pro circuit, usually ranked somewhere in the 100s.

Some 10 years into his career, Fish reinvented himself, losing more than 20 pounds, changing his diet habits and suddenly becoming McEnroe-intense on the court. But at the 2012 U.S. Open, in the middle of a match, Fish had a major panic/anxiety attack. “All of a sudden, out of nowhere, just boom,” recounts Fish. “This is the first time it had happened on the court. The whole weight of the stress flooding in . . . I was all of a sudden, all alone.” Fish managed to finish the match. But just moments before Fish’s quarterfinal matchup against Federer, he bowed out. The good news is, with the help of a support system including his family and mental health professionals and his good friend Roddick, Fish is in a better place these days — though he acknowledges his issues are with him for life.

We all know Caitlyn Jenner’s story, but the “Untold” entry on Jenner’s life and career (on Aug. 24) is still a valuable and insightful biopic, with a treasure trove of highlight-reel and home video footage of a young, unknown Bruce Jenner training for the 1976 Olympic Games, followed by an extensive look at Jenner’s journey to transition. Another chapter, titled “Deal With the Devil” (Aug. 17), tells the story of boxer Christy Martin, who in the 1990s became the most famous female fighter in the world, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated and even getting a spot on the undercard of a Mike Tyson bout. All that time, though, Martin was in an abusive relationship with her husband and trainer, Jim Martin, a loathsome monster who is serving extensive prison time for stabbing and shooting Christy in 2010. While Jim Martin rots in a Florida correctional facility, Christy now has a wife and trains fighters. She talks about having had the same dream of Jim chasing her for nine years but says, “I’m getting better . . . I’m gonna be OK. I AM OK.”

The most entertaining chapter in the series is “Crimes and Penalties” (Aug. 31), which tells the story of the Danbury Trashers, a minor-league expansion franchise owned by one Jimmy Galante, who was in the waste management business and was connected to the Genovese crime family. When Galante paid the $500,000 franchise fee to the United Hockey League, he named his 17-year-old son A.J. as president and general manager. (Yes, Jimmy’s son is named A.J., just like Tony’s son in “The Sopranos.”) Even though A.J. would be the first to admit he was a punk, the kid actually had a talent for assembling a collection of bruisers and brawlers straight out of “Slap Shot” — guys such as Brad “Wingnut” Wingfield, David “One Eye Willy” Beauregard and Rumun “The Nigerian Nightmare” Ndur. These guys would start fights three seconds into games, much to the delight of the Trashers’ rabid fan base — and with the approval of the team owner, who often paid the team with thick wads of cash stuffed into envelopes.

As you might suspect, things did not end well for the Trashers, but they live on in the hearts of the fans in Danbury, Connecticut, and their story just begs to told someday in a full-length feature film.

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Chicago Blackhawks: It is time to trade Dylan Strome away by Vincent Parise

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Chicago Bulls (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

With the departure of old management last season, the Chicago Bulls felt strongly as an organization that they found their ideal fit in the Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley campaign that was about to take place in Chicago. The front office was aggressive right away and they acquired a proven coach in Billy Donovan. A lot of people would now credit him with helping their star player in Zach Lavine take the next step.

While Zach Lavine had personal success through the season, the team did not stun the rest of the league with their 31-41 record. They finished 11th in the East and fell just short of the playoffs yet again. Before we get ahead of ourselves though, let’s not forget the end of the season acquisition of Nikola Vucevic who averaged 21 and 11 with the club to wrap up his season.

That was yet another strong move by the newly renovated front office. The Bulls then fell into what looked to be like trouble amidst terrible lottery luck. Nonetheless, the Bulls felt like they got a promising 2nd round pick, a pick that many executives around the league believed was a late 1st rounder in Ayo Dosunmu.

Just when free agency started, you just had this feeling that the boys upstairs would put their heads together and make a push to bring championship-contending basketball back to Chicago where it belongs.

The Chicago Bulls made some big moves so far this offseason to improve 2021-22.

I have listed the free agency moves made by the Bulls, given their negotiated contracts as well as my own personal front office grade. Grades consist of money, organizational fit, scheme, how effective these players can be, and what set of skills they showcase that makes them a great fit for Chicago. These are the grades for player signings and the front office as a whole:

Next: Player signing grades

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Sitting on a picnic blanket scattered with snacks and art supplies, three teens chatted in the shade at Churchill Field Park.

“Since the pandemic started, I’ve just been walking here all the time. It’s this home away from home,” said Natalee Hapaniewski, 18, from Wicker Park. “I like how open it is in the middle of the city.”

Churchill is one of many parks just off the 606, the 2.7-mile elevated trail on the North Side.

“It’s a common space for us to hang out and not be cooped up in each other’s houses,” said Gabbie Cannon, 17, from Logan Square.

It’s a common feeling these days, and the Chicago area has plenty of places where that urge can be indulged.

Nina Molina/Sun-Times

The Morton Arboretum

Art and nature often coexist at this sprawling green haven in Lisle. For its new exhibit, “Human+Nature,” five of South African artist Daniel Popper’s sculptures of touchable human faces are scattered around the grounds for a scavenger hunt.

“It’s about a 3 mile hike to all the sculptures,” said Sarah Sargent, manager of interpretation and exhibits. (You also can drive or ride a tram.)

“We are looking forward to seeing how it looks in all different seasons.”

The Morton Arboretum

The arboretum also has a 10-acre Children’s Garden, and for adults, there are beer and wine tasting events.

“For our wine tasting in May, we sold out with nearly 800 people,” said Jenelle Hardtke, manager of special events. “People are ready to feel a bit more normal.”

The arboretum also hosts Arbor Evenings at 6 p.m. on Thursdays through Sept. 4, with activities and live music.

“From the start of the pandemic, the Morton Arboretum was considered an essential service. As people were forced inside, we were that safe haven for them to get out into nature,” Hardtke said.

The arboretum is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset. Admission ranges from $8 to $16; children under 2 are free. Memberships are available.

Palmisano Park

On the site of a former quarry in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, visitors now can fish, climb boulders or paddle a kayak — and, in some spots, still have a view of downtown.

“The land has changed from a coral reef to a quarry to a landfill and now to a park,” said Dennis Gonzalez, the park’s manager. “It’s a beautiful thing because it’s transformed and given the community something.”

Irene Tostado/Chicago Park District

The park, 2700 S. Halsted St., has 1.7 miles of trails across wetlands and fields and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“It offers new and old residents an opportunity to explore nature and the city,” Gonzalez said. “They can engage in a variety of activities in a unique outdoor setting.”

Irene Tostado/Chicago Park District

Garfield Park Conservatory

Visitors signing up to visit the Garfield Park Conservatory’s newest special exhibit may find themselves being led around by a teenager from the Urban Roots docent program.

“Artist’s Garden Still Life in Real Life: Charles Ethan Porter” pays homage to the landscape and still-life artist. Besides leading visitors through the exhibit, the teen docents will provide background information, according to Mattie Wilson, director of programs and interpretation for the conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.

Porter’s paintings will be re-created by plants in the gardens. Admission for the exhibit is $5; visitors must make a reservation.

Brian Rich/Sun-Times

“Imagine what the paintings would look like coming out of a vase or a planter,” said Mary Eysenbach, director of conservatories for the Chicago Park District. “It’s kind of a ‘live, still life.'”

The Garfield Park Conservatory requires reservations, though general admission to the gardens (not including special exhibits) is free. Reservations are added each day at 10 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Hours are Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brian Rich/Sun-Times

Chicago-area residents can also check out:

o Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe.

Visitors can walk through the 385 acres of gardens that boast millions of plants and flowers.

Cost: No per-person admission, but non-members pay $10 to $30 to park, depending on the day.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

o William W. Powers State Recreation Area, 12949 Avenue O, Chicago

On Wolf Lake by the Illinois-Indiana state line, the 160-acre site has spots for picnics, hiking, fishing, boating and hunting waterfowl.

Admission: Free

Hours: Daily, 6 a.m. to sunset

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