You don’t need to watch anywhere near as much sports on television as I do to have gotten the message that former Saints quarterback Drew Brees wants you to “live your bet life,” which I gather is something like living your best life, only more exciting because you’ve got money riding on it.

Brees replaced a spokeswoman for the same sports betting app who suggested we all could “make it rain” cash from the sky if we signed up for “risk-free bets,” which seems terribly generous.

Then, there are those mesmerizing commercials with Caesar and Cleopatra (J.B. Smoove and Halle Berry) that hardly mention betting at all but assure us that “we are all Caesars,” which looks like a lot of fun, whatever it means.

Would this be an opportune time to mention that March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month?

Probably not, especially with this being the weekend of the NCAA Final Four and more wall-to-wall gambling commercials headed our way. But you’ll have to forgive me for being a wet blanket. I see a need for some counter-programming.

Don’t worry. I’m not going to proselytize against the evils of gambling. That ship has sailed. Our government now depends on funding from the gambling industry. We’re committed.

But it never hurts to offer a gentle reminder that, for some, gambling can be very destructive and that there are places to go for help.

Anita Pindiur sees the aftermath of problem gambling as the executive director of the Way Back Inn, which operates an outpatient treatment program in Maywood and Oak Park for problem gamblers. State funding allows the program to offer treatment at no cost to most people, she said.

Even then, most of those coming for treatment already have lost their jobs, their housing or personal relationships because of the financial and other problems created by their gambling addiction.

Like others who deal with problem gamblers, Pindiur has seen an uptick in people needing help since the legalization of sports betting, just as there was an uptick after the proliferation of video gambling machines.

“The disorder itself is you’re craving that action. It’s not so much about the win. It’s the action,” she says.

Pindiur has seen people who have racked up as much as $600,000 in gambling debts and have embezzled from their employers to feed their habit. But even smaller losses can be a sign of a problem.

“This isn’t because anybody is a bad person or doesn’t have willpower,” Pindiur says.

An estimated 2% to 4% of people exposed to gambling will develop a problem with it, says Bill Johnson, administrator of the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling.

One way to look at that is that at least 96% of the population will gamble safely with no danger of falling into the type of addictive behaviors that characterize problem gambling. So have fun.

The other perspective is that, with more and more people being exposed to gambling, even 2% becomes “a lot of people,” as pointed out by a recovering gambler active in Gamblers Anonymous named Brian, who asked me not to use his full name.

Like everyone I interviewed for this story, Brian makes it clear he takes no position on legalized gambling. He says his interest is in making sure that every gambler understands this: “There is a way to get this out of your life and take away the misery.”

Gamblers Anonymous operates a 12-step program with group meetings similar to other addiction recovery programs.You can find a GA meeting by calling the toll-free (888) 548-2790 hotline or online at www.gamblersanonymous.org.

There are other options. People might have noticed the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline number that’s squeezed in at the end of some of the gambling commercials. That will connect you to a trained counselor who can make a referral.

There’s also the weknowthefeeling.org website, which has been running commercials to reach problem gamblers.

Many who call have reached the crisis stage.

Johnson says problem gambling has the highest suicide rate of any addiction disorder.

Brian says he has known seven problem gamblers who have killed themselves.

Not everyone was intended to live their bet life.

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MESA, Ariz. – Cubs starting pitcher Wade Miley and shortstop Andrelton Simmons are expected to open the season on the injured list.

The Cubs announced on Friday that Miley would be shutting down for 10 days before resuming throwing. The left-hander was experiencing left elbow soreness, so he underwent an MRI, which revealed inflammation.

“I think he was pretty good when he came in [to camp],” Cubs manager David Ross said, “but it was one of those things, started a little uncomfortable and then just wasn’t going away.”

Miley’s elbow discomfort started in his windup, when his arms went over his head, according to Ross. The manager described the MRI as “precautionary,” after Miley felt the discomfort on his release as well.

Though Ross said he’s “not too concerned”, Miley’s early recovery timeline suggests a delay of more than just a few weeks. There is no solid timetable for his return, but after resuming throwing, Miley will still have to build up his innings.

On Sunday, before the Cubs decided to rest Miley’s arm, he threw live batting practice for the first time this spring.

“Felt really good about his live,” Ross said Friday, echoing what Miley had said on Sunday. “It looked really good from all our standpoints, just bugging him. When you have something when you start competing, the more you ramp up and things start to just not go away, we just want to make sure it’s not getting worse.”

Simmons has been on a throwing program for right shoulder soreness. He was scheduled to play light catch on Friday.

“It’s not looking good, is it?” Ross said of Simmons’ timeline, with less than a week before opening day. “He’s definitely behind. He’s done a good job of continuing to take some at-bats, working on his swing, so when that shoulder feels a little bit better, he should be able to hit the ground running.”

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The White Sox will send relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder AJ Pollock.

After struggling in the second half of 2021 in a setup role, Kimbrel had talked with White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and vice president Ken Williams about his place with the team. And Hahn — who never says he might trade somebody — publicly said in November that exploring a trade for the closer with 372 career saves was a possibility.

Hahn pulled the trigger Friday morning.

Kimbrel struggled in his first spring training outing. He struck out the first batter he faced, then had issues with command and allowed two walks and two hits in his first game.

Liam Hendriks is established as the Sox’ closer, and the club brought in right-handed relievers Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly.

The White Sox acquired Kimbrel from the Cubs last year for second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-hander Codi Heuer.

Kimbrel, 33, posted a 5.09 ERA in 23 games with the White Sox, working the eighth inningin 17 of the 23 games.

Now, with the Dodgers moving on from longtime closer Kenley Jansen, the ninth inning once again figures to be Kimbrel’s.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had resisted naming a closer, noting only that reliever Blake Treinen likely remained their best option, albeit one better suited to record the game’s most important outs regardless of inning. Now, the Dodgers have a definite ninth-inning guy.

Pollock, 34, hit .297 with 21 homers and 69 for the Dodgers last year. He is a career .281 hitter.

Contributing: USA TODAY Sports

This story will be updated.

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The White Sox and RHP Lucas Giolito avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.45 million contract.

Giolito had expressed frustration and disappointment over having to go through the arbitration process with the White Sox after the two sides were only $200,000 apart in their filings last week. Giolito filed for $7.5 million while the Sox filed at $7.3 million.

“Very frustrating,” Giolito said last week. “I love White Sox fans and I appreciated all the love from those guys [on social media]. It’s just very unfortunate, disheartening.”

Giolito, 26, went 11-9 last season with a 3.53 ERA, 1.103 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts in 31 starts last season, his fifth with the Sox.

With this signing, all players on the White Sox 40-man roster have agreed to terms for 2022.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox swapped veteran outfielder AJ Pollock and veteran closer Craig Kimbrel on Friday, a rare one-for-one trade — with no money exchanged — that cleared up uncertainties for two championship contenders.

From the Dodgers’ perspective, the deal frees up more playing time for the young, promising Gavin Lux, who was left without a defined role in the wake of the Freddie Freeman signing. Kimbrel, meanwhile, would slot in as the closer, allowing Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to be more flexible with his usage of Blake Treinen.

The White Sox had been looking to trade Kimbrel ever since exercising their $16 million option on him for 2022, given that Liam Hendriks is entrenched as their closer. Their bullpen depth — featuring Aaron Bummer, Garrett Crochet and veteran additions Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly — allowed them to use Kimbrel in an effort to plug a hole in their outfield.

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Pollock, who will make $10 million in 2022 and carries a $10 million player option for 2023, will likely slide in as the White Sox right fielder, prompting Eloy Jimenez to remain in left and Andrew Vaughn to slot in as the designated hitter, further solidifying what was already a potent lineup. The left-handed-hitting Gavin Sheets also figures to be in the mix, with Chicago possibly rotating all four of those players through three spots.

The Dodgers checked in on Kimbrel before last summer’s trade deadline but were hesitant to acquire him given the presence of Kenley Jansen. Kimbrel now fills the ninth-inning void that was left when Jansen signed with the Atlanta Braves, allowing the rest of their relievers to move back a spot. Ahead of Kimbrel, the Dodgers can deploy Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Alex Vesia and Victor Gonzalez, with the likes of Tommy Kahnle, Phil Bickford and Dustin May slated to become available at various points throughout the season.

Kimbrel, 33, has been among the best closers in the sport for the better part of a decade, compiling 371 saves and a 2.24 ERA. After struggling with the Chicago Cubs from 2019 to 2020, Kimbrel dominated through the first four months of 2021, allowing only two earned runs and striking out 64 batters in 36 2/3 innings. In a non-closing role with the White Sox, however, Kimbrel’s ERA ballooned to 5.09 in 24 regular-season appearances.

Pollock, 34, batted .282/.337/.519 with 52 home runs and 150 RBIs in 258 games for the Dodgers from 2019 to 2021. The former All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner caught a lot of criticism for his early struggles, but he turned that around with a .933 OPS in October 2021.

In a separate move, the White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year, $7.45 million contract with right-hander Lucas Giolito, avoiding arbitration. Giolito, 26, went 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts last season, his fifth with Chicago.

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The White Sox will send relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder AJ Pollock.

After struggling in the second half of 2021 in a setup role, Kimbrel had talked with White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and vice president Ken Williams about his place with the team. And Hahn — who never says he might trade somebody — publicly said in November that exploring a trade for the closer with 372 career saves was a possibility.

Hahn pulled the trigger Friday morning.

Kimbrel struggled in his first spring training outing. He struck out the first batter he faced, then had issues with command and allowed two walks and two hits in his first game.

Liam Hendriks is established as the Sox’ closer, and the club brought in right-handed relievers Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly.

The White Sox acquired Kimbrel from the Cubs last year for second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-hander Codi Heuer.

Kimbrel, 33, posted a 5.09 ERA in 23 games with the White Sox, working the eighth inningin 17 of the 23 games.

Now, with the Dodgers moving on from longtime closer Kenley Jansen, the ninth inning once again figures to be Kimbrel’s.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had resisted naming a closer, noting only that reliever Blake Treinen likely remained their best option, albeit one better suited to record the game’s most important outs regardless of inning. Now, the Dodgers have a definite ninth-inning guy.

Pollock, 34, hit .297 with 21 homers and 69 for the Dodgers last year. He is a career .281 hitter.

Contributing: USA TODAY Sports

This story will be updated.

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(As Editor/Publisher of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, a high school basketball publication for nearly two decades and a recruiting service, I have awarded a Coach of the Year in Illinois for the past 26 years. The following is the 27th recipient of the award.)

Lost in Glenbard West’s dominance and all the hoopla surrounding its magical season was a truly exceptional coaching job. It’s time to recognize Jason Opoka.

The majority of the time a Coach of the Year award is typically given to a team that overachieves, comes out of nowhere and darts up the rankings and advances deep into state tournament play. Rarely does the coach of the preseason No. 1 team receive the accolades they should.

But Opoka, who took over the Glenbard West program at the start of the 2019-20 season, steered this team to what it became: a state championship juggernaut with his fingerprints clearly all over it.

Great coaches push all the right buttons. Opoka did just that, starting well before this 2021-22 season and right up through the last three weeks of a dominating state tournament run.

The foresight, implementation and total buy-in of the 1-3-1 defense? Opoka.

The creative and rugged schedule that prepared and battle-tested a team and program like no other suburban team in recent years? Opoka.

The utilization of a gifted big man who you could run an offense through without sticking and leaving the 6-11 Braden Huff on the block? Opoka.

Managing exorbitant expectations and hype while still keeping a team that had never been through any of it before, including a state tournament run, level-headed, locked in and unselfish? Opoka.

There’s an inherent weight for any coach leading the preseason No. 1 team in the state, particularly at a program that’s never been in that position and for a coach who has never been through the pressure of it. Opoka admits he felt it internally at times throughout the season, but he made it a point to keep it all tucked away inside.

“I definitely felt it,” Opoka said of the monster expectations.

But he’s quick to recognize where the credit should be by being named the City/Suburban Hoops Report Coach of the Year: with his players and coaching staff.

“This award or acknowledgement is a team award that demonstrates the players and coaching staff exhibiting togetherness and selflessness on a daily basis, from day one,” said Opoka of being named the City/Suburban Hoops Report Coach of the Year. “They bought into something bigger than themselves.”

Opoka knew when this group of seniors entered high school that it was potentially a special group.

Senior star Caden Pierce remembers the first speech he heard from Opoka — in eighth grade.

Pierce and his Glen Ellyn Titans teammates, the feeder program for the Glenbard West basketball program, were playing at Biester Gymnasium on the Glenbard West campus as eighth-graders. Their future coach was there and talked to them following their game.

“He told us right then that we were a special group with a lot of talent,” said Pierce. “I remember him telling us we had a chance to be something special. That showed he believed in us.”

There obviously needed to be some guidance and nurturing. That’s exactly what Opoka provided as he moved up from an assistant coach in the program to head coach while this senior group were sophomores.

“He’s been a role model for us and someone to look up to since we were in middle school,” said Pierce of his coach. “He’s a players’ coach who instilled so much confidence in us, both in practice and in games.

“Besides being a great basketball mind, I think he’s a kid at heart on the inside, which makes him so approachable. He’s easy to talk to on and off the court, and you can talk to him about anything.”

But before dreams of a state championship run began, the vision was more pragmatic. This was Glenbard West basketball, after all, and winning a conference or regional championship was a logical starting point. Those were actually far-fetched goals for a program with so little history and tradition.

“We always had high expectations with this group,” said Opoka.

But in addition to some obvious talent within the program, Opoka’s decision to turn to the 1-3-1 defense was a defining moment for this team.

As this group was playing as sophomores, Opoka began flirting with the 1-3-1. About the midway point of that season two years ago, the most promising player in the program, Braden Huff, went down with an injury. The Hilltoppers soon began taking their lumps. A young team had hit the wall.

Opoka and his coaching staff started brainstorming, trying to come up with a way to revitalize this group down the stretch.

“We were trying to come up with a way to motivate and energize them,” said Opoka of a difficult stretch in that 2019-20 season. “We wanted to try something defensively. We were long, kind of active, so we implemented a 1-3-1. We did it, kept people out of the paint, had some success with it and got some wins.”

After finishing the regular season playing the 1-3-1 in what Opoka described as “in spurts,” that following summer the staff looked at the returning roster and decided to go all in.

Opoka met with former Elgin coaching legend Jim Harrington to talk 1-3-1 and picked the brains of other coaches, including Chaz Taft at Fenton. They talked drills, practices, principles and characteristics. Opoka broke it down with former College of DuPage head coach Don Klaas, a 1-3-1 guro of sorts.

“Why would we go and try and match feet with little guards with our size when we can disrupt with our length and activity,” said Opoka.

By the time the Covid 2020-21 season finally came about and was played out, Glenbard West was playing 1-3-1 defense roughly 90 percent of the time. The offseason allowed for some more fine tuning and the 1-3-1 defense was soon a menace to anyone going up against it in the summer months.

“Everything just kept clicking with it,” said Opoka. “The size, the tips, deflections and steals that led to transition opportunities. Our kids were passionate and excited about playing it and totally bought in. It became our identity and who we are.”

Boy, did it ever.

The fact of the matter is it became a monster weapon. Opoka could keep a team with very little depth very fresh; they weren’t running through screens while playingman-to-man.

When a player was in any kind of foul trouble Opoka could hide that foul-plagued player in a certain spot of the 1-3-1 to protect and keep him in the game.

Opponents could never simulate in practice what Glenbard West was about to throw at them. There was no way a high school scout team would have the size or length that mimicked the Hilltoppers or could come close simulating their rotations, angles or calls within it, Opoka soon would see.

The next box to check off for Opoka was preparing his team for a state tournament run. Even more important, he wanted to provide the players in his program with unique, fun opportunities. He sought out every state power and beyond that he could play.

“Our goal as a staff was to challenge each and every one of our players with the most rigorous schedule we could develop,” said Opoka. “We knew we could potentially take some lumps, but it didn’t matter. Our ultimate goal was to compete for a state championship.”

There were the Chicago Public League powers, including Young and Simeon. There was Class 1A champ Yorkville Christian and perennial powers Hillcrest and Benet. Highly-ranked Glenbrook South, 28-win Rolling Meadows, Chicago Catholic League champ Leo and sectional winner Larkin were on the schedule.

“We were open to playing anyone, anywhere, just to give our kids life-long opportunities to remember,” said Opoka.

Back in November when he heard nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon with Amari Bailey and Bronny James were coming to Chicago in February, he reached out to Sierra Canyon. He emailed the coaching staff to see if Sierra Canyon would be interested in playing on the front end or back end of its trip to Chicago. There was no response.

But just a few months later, through event promoters, the game Opoka wanted for his players became a reality — and a significant part of the Glenbard West story this season. It’s just that the game’s magnitude became much bigger than Opoka could have ever imagined.

While the opportunity of playing Sierra Canyon in Wintrust Arena was a one-of-a-kind experience for any high school basketball team, the buzzer-beating loss was also the only thing that kept it from being a truly perfect season for the 37-1 Hilltoppers.

The ultimate goal, however, was attained. Glenbard West mauled everyone it faced in the postseason, culminating with a 56-34 blowout win over Young in the state championship.

“After the game it just felt like we did what we were supposed to do,” said Opoka of the state title. “But it really didn’t set in until Monday and Tuesday when we didn’t have to go to practice.”

On the Monday following the state championship weekend in Champaign, Opoka says he was sitting and talking with Pierce and senior Paxton Warden during the final period of the day.

Opoka had his regular planning period while Pierce and Warden were in study hall. It was a time when they regularly talked throughout the season. But on this day, the eighth period of the school day was a little different.

“It was a little bit of a surreal moment,” Opoka says of that particular conversation.

The coaches and players were walking on air throughout the day. They were being congratulated and celebrated after claiming the school’s first-ever basketball state title less than 48 hours earlier. And it’s about that time when Opoka said it started to hit him, starting with the fact he wouldn’t be heading to practice with his players following the period.

“We were talking about how we just did everything we said we were going to possibly do this season,” Opoka said of his reminiscing moment with his two seniors. “It was a great feeling as we just sat there. It has started to sink in and, boy, does it feel good. We will be on cloud nine for a while.

“This is one of those historical moments of leaving a legacy in your community, at Glenbard West, in Glen Ellyn and in the West Suburban Conference. It was special. Hopefully we demonstrated that with class and with a fun-loving passion for the game of basketball.”

Past City/Suburban Hoops Report’s Coach of the Year

2022: Jason Opoka, Glenbard West

2021: Tom Kleinschmidt, DePaul Prep

2020: Tai Streets, Thornton

2019: Mike Oliver, Curie

2018: Mike Ellis, Evanston

2017: Mike Healy, Wheaton South

2016: Gene Heidkamp, Benet

2015: Phil Ralston, Geneva

2014: Tom Livatino, Loyola Academy

2013: Mike Taylor, Marian Catholic

2012: Robert Smith, Simeon

2011: Scott Miller, Glenbard East

2010: Gene Heidkamp, Benet

2009: Ron Ashlaw, Waukegan

2008: John Chappetto, Richards

2007: Pat Ambrose, Stevenson

2006: Gordie Kerkman, West Aurora

2005: David Weber, Glenbrook North

2004: Roy Condotti, Homewood-Flossmoor

2003: Bob Curran, Thornwood

2002: Rick Malnati, New Trier

2001: Conte Stamas, Lyons Twp.

2000: Dave Lohrke, Glenbard South

1999: Gene Pingatore, St. Joseph

1998: Mark Lindo, Naperville North

1997: Gordie Kerkman, West Aurora

1996: Rocky Hill, Thornton

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A 2020 NBA re-draft would not go Patrick Williams’ way these days.

Not with a class that’s not only proven to have more depth than originally expected, but one that has already flashed some star power on playoff-bound teams.

Anthony Edwards has proven to be a legit No. 1 overall pick for the Timberwolves, the jury is still out on James Wiseman at No. 2 because of injuries, LaMelo Ball has turned the Hornets around going No. 3, and then at fourth overall sits Williams.

More tease than franchise changer.

For now.

Especially when the likes of Isaac Okoro (5th overall), Tyrese Haliburton (12th overall), Saddiq Bey (19th overall), Precious Achiuwa (20th overall), Tyrese Maxey (21st overall) and Desmond Bane (30th overall) have been doing what they’ve been doing this season.

There’s no knowing if Bane would be “Bane!” with the Bulls, and he was never considered to be a top five pick. But imagine having a shooter like that, as well as a willing defender? There’s a reason Memphis is sitting in second place in the Western Conference and has a 19-2 record when MVP-candidate Ja Morant doesn’t play.

The Bulls, however, don’t have the luxury of playing the what-if game.

They have to do everything they can to turn Williams’ elite raw talent into something that translates on the court. Maybe, just maybe, that happened on Thursday.

It’s easy to lose sight of what the second-year power forward did in the overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers, especially when DeMar DeRozan dropped 50. DeRozan sure didn’t.

While Williams was talking with the media in the postgame, waiting in the wings was DeRozan, who kept yelling “Big three pointer … we don’t win the game without it!” in Williams’ direction.

The veteran wasn’t wrong.

With the Clippers trailing by just one in the overtime and 58 seconds left, Williams let his trademark rainbow-arc shot go from deep in the corner, as his three felt like a dagger for the visiting team. DeRozan finished the OT with 10 points, but Williams had five, and more importantly was in the game at closing time.

Not bad for a guy that without prompting admitted to being late for the morning shootaround and getting fined for it.

“I’m not sure if you guys know, but I was also late to shootaround this morning,” Williams told the media. “I had missed some of the film session. I felt like I let the guys down.”

His excuse?

“Just being 20 [years old],” Williams said.

Obviously, not his only 20-year-old moment of the day, as DeRozan was shocked that Williams pulled back the curtain on his tardiness to the public. Locker room business is like the first two rules of “Fight Club” — it is not to be discussed to the outside world.

“Damn, who said that?Hesaid that?” a surprised DeRozan said, after he was asked about Williams showing up late. “I gotta tell him not to say that to the media. He’s tripping.”

In just his seventh game back from wrist surgery, Williams will earn a pass as long as he continues playing with the aggressiveness he did against the Clippers. The problem is he’s been here before, saying all the right things about looking for his shot and trying to impact the game. It’s time for action, not words.

“The guys challenged me,” Williams said of his halftime adjustment. “From the top, Coach Billy challenged me to be aggressive when I get the ball because they were trapping DeMar and Zach [LaVine]. They showed trust in me so I had to show trust in those situations. I wanted to pretty much answer the challenge and step up to the plate.”

That sounded like a No. 4 overall pick … finally.

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