The world of baseball saw the surprising exit of umpire Angel Hernandez, whose career has been marked by inconsistency and controversy. Did he retire or was he fired? Could his discrimination lawsuit against MLB have played a role in his departure?

How will UCLA distribute the $22M that the athletic department has to share amongst all of the different sports following a judge’s ruling allowing unlimited transfers without a penalty? Will the funds go to the impact sports that bring in the most money for the school or will a good portion of it go to the underserved sports that are not revenue generators? What about factors such as Title IX and individual athletes? Has the NIL thrown the rule book completely out the window, now that star players can net millions in deals? With the ability for athletes to move from school to school through the transfer portal and the ever-changing landscape of collegiate sports, can fans still enjoy the games as they once did? Will a Premier League-style system emerge, leaving smaller schools in the dust?

The Chicago Bears are set to make their debut on HBO’s Hard Knocks, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be in the spotlight as he tackles fitting in with the team. Can the former USC star adapt to the Windy City’s tough weather conditions? The Bears’ stadium situation is also in flux amid a proposal to build a new stadium complex at the former Arlington Racetrack site. Will they remain at Soldier Field or opt to stake out lakefront property in the suburbs?

Kyrie Irving continues to make news with his contentious remarks at press conferences, leaving many to question Mark Cuban’s decision to sign him, given the player’s history of anti-Semitic comments. How is the camaraderie of the team, and by extension the entire organization, affected by Irving’s views?

Email Fred and the Fantastics with questions and comments at sportsfred@aol.com