ST. LOUIS -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale
Sveum came up with a creative way for the players to honor Ron Santo Sunday as
he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"When they jog across the line,
they're going to click their heels," he said.
The sight of nine Cubs players clicking
their heels as they go out to their positions in the first innings should be
something to see. The Cubs will also wear shoulder patches with Santo's No. 10
and the HOF insignia for the Hall of Fame.
t� i ��K zK owed me so
much, and now it's my turn to get my confidence and every part of my game up
and learn how to be a better leader."
Teague and Butler are the only locks here
to land on the 2012-13 Bulls roster, and it's clear this summer league is all
about their development.
In the first two games, Butler displayed a
more aggressive mindset and ability to attack the rim, shooting 24 free throws.
He also continued the physical defense that highlighted some of his
higher-profile, regular-season appearances from his rookie season.
However, his work is not done, according to
the man whose opinion counts the most.
"He has to do a lot better than he did
last year," coach Tom Thibodeau said.
This is a huge summer for Butler, last
year's first-round pick. Thanks to last season's NBA lockout, Butler had no
summer league. He had no offseason supervision from coaches and the Bulls'
strength and conditioning staff. He had an abbreviated training camp. He barely
had any practice time because the compressed schedule meant non-game days were
days off.
Thibodeau knows this as well as anyone.
"It's very important, not just in
terms of summer league but in terms of working on his game, working on his
body, studying the league, knowing what we're trying to get done,"
Thibodeau said. "I have to be able to count on him. He has done a terrific
job so far this summer but this isn't the NBA. This is basically a rookie
league. It's a good step. He's in great shape, which is always a good sign.
He's playing with confidence. But he has to keep working.
"There are a lot of things he has to
do better to be in the regular rotation. He understands that and I love the way
he has approached things this offseason."
Before coming to Las Vegas, Butler
practically lived at the Berto Center. He would work out, rest, then work out
again. His body looks fit. His mind sounds sharp. He knows the opportunity
ahead of him.
"I'm still kind of a rookie, but I
feel I'm a veteran on this (summer league) team so I have to lead," he
said. "If that means trying to take over a game, that's what I'll do.
Going against this competition helps me. It's teaching me to play through
everything. A lot of fouls aren't being called. That's OK. It'll make me
tougher when the real season starts."
Butler averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds
in 8.5 minutes over 42 games last season. With Brewer gone and with a slim
possibility Luol Deng will miss time with his injured wrist, Butler knows he
has to be ready for increased responsibility.
Assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who is
heading the summer-league squad, goes so far as to say Butler is "the
man" and "go-to guy" until the Bulls' five-game schedule
concludes Sunday. Relayed this news, Butler smiles.
"I feel like my hard work is paying
off," he said. "But that doesn't mean you stop working."
