Cubs’ Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo with a double kiss goodbye — emphasis on ‘goodbye’Steve Greenbergon July 25, 2021 at 9:51 pm

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo will always have their back-to-back homers on a sun-splashed Sunday at Wrigley Field against the most God-awful team in the major leagues.

OK, so it probably doesn’t rank all that high on their career highlight lists. But it beats a stick in the eye.

A “Bryzzo” back-to-back in the first inning of a 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks felt rather like a double kiss goodbye — emphasis on the “goodbye” — heading into the July 30 trade deadline. By this time next week, one Cubs star, the other or both could be long gone. The same can be said of a bunch of their teammates.

Something tells us this isn’t the first time you’re hearing about the Cubs and the trade deadline.

But now? It’s that week. It has all come to a head. Tick-tock, you dig? Keep an ear to the ground, people. Sleep with one eye open.

The Cubs came into the season intending to rise above the massive distraction of having their best-known players all potentially on the way out. It just hasn’t happened. And that was all too predictable.

“I think we would be naive to say it hasn’t affected [things],” manager David Ross said. “Looking up on the board at the numbers of these guys, it’s very uncharacteristic of who they’ve been. So that has to be a factor.”

Not for one last back-to-back, it wasn’t. If the crowd could do it over again, a curtain call or two probably would be in order. Oh, well. Maybe next year.

Here’s what’s happening:

MON 26

Olympic gymnastics: men’s team final (5 a.m., Peacock, 7 p.m., Ch. 5)

The Japanese, Chinese and Russians are in a three-way tug-of-war for gold, or so the world assumes. Brody Malone, Sam Mikulak and the Americans sit quietly in the fourth qualifying spot — medaling in any position would be a giant coup.

Reds at Cubs (7:05 p.m., Marquee)

Wade Miley opposes Kyle Hendricks in an outstanding pitching matchup that could overshadow rampant trade speculation for, like, maybe five minutes?

Royals at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Give us a “D”! Give us an “H”! What’s that spell? Eloy Jimenez’s long-awaited return to the lineup, one hopes.

TUE 27

Olympic gymnastics: women’s team final (5 a.m., Peacock, 7 p.m., Ch. 5)

Not even Simone Biles was fully on point in qualifying, but let’s see if the U.S. team puts some surprising sloppiness in the rearview. Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Grace McCallum are still massive favorites to win gold.

Olympic swimming: men’s, women’s finals (7 p.m, Ch. 5)

Freestyle master Katie Ledecky — the successor to Michael Phelps as the face of U.S. swimming — goes for glory in the 200 and the 1500. How is she only 24?

Olympic men’s basketball: U.S. vs. Iran (11:40 p.m., Peacock, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Ch. 5)

Against all odds, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine and company will take on the mighty Iranian squad and try to do what they couldn’t against France: care.

WED 28

Olympic swimming: men’s, women’s finals (7 p.m., Ch. 5)

The men’s 800 free, 100 free and 200 breast are featured along with the women’s 200 fly and 4×200 free relay. Might as well just keep your nose clip and earplugs right next to the TV remote at this point.

Royals at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

You know what Lucas Giolito could really use? A nice, dominant “W.” And then a few more after that.

THU 29

Olympic gymnastics: women’s all-around (5 a.m., Peacock, 7 p.m., Ch. 5)

All eyes will be on Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time and maybe, just maybe, the best dang athlete on the planet. No pressure, though.

Reds at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)

Only 24 hours until the trade deadline. Oh, to have an advance peek at Ross’ lineup card.

Olympic men’s volleyball: U.S. vs. Brazil (7 p.m., CNBC)

The Brazilians are ranked No. 1 in the world. The No. 5-ranked Americans will try to wax the floor with them anyway.

FRI 30

Cubs at Nationals (6:05 p.m., Marquee)

Not to tell big cheese Jed Hoyer how to do his job, but he’d better not wait until tonight to check out a couple of prospects in the Nats’ system by the names of Lester and Schwarber.

SAT 31

Olympic swimming: men’s, women’s finals (7 p.m., Ch. 5)

The most exciting 50 meters in sports? Definitely those one-lap freestyle sprints for Olympic gold. Is it Caeleb Dressel’s time? Simone Manuel’s? Could be a big night for Team USA.

SUN 1

Olympic track and field: men’s, women’s finals (3 a.m., Peacock, 8:30 p.m., Ch. 5)

The most exciting 100 meters in sports? Oh, baby. It’s fastest-man-in-the-world time, and no one not named Usain Bolt — who isn’t in the field — has held that title since before the 2008 Games.

Indians at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Now that Jimenez has gotten back into the whole big-league-baseball, World Series-or-bust business, would it kill Luis Robert to join him?

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