That was a great response by UCF against Oklahoma State, driving the length of the field to tie the score at 21 shortly before the half. The Knights converted a key fourth down and overcame a holding penalty in the red zone.

It's a sad day for Chicago sports fans with news that Bears playing and coaching icon Mike Ditka passed Friday at 86. He coached the franchise to its only Super Bowl victory, and that 1985 team remains beloved as the epitome of the city's sporting identity. R.I.P., Mike Ditka. – at Chicago, IL

VOLLEYBALL VIEWING NOTE: Streaming now and to the conclusion of the finals Sunday on the free Bally Sports Live app is the AVP Laguna Beach Open. Facebook friend Aaron Wexler is one of the commentators. The production values aren't of national TV quality but it's OK. – at Chicago, IL

VOLLEYBALL VIEWING NOTE: The AVP Laguna Beach Open is being streamed live on the Bally Sports Live app. The video quality is fine. Facebook friend Aaron Wexler is one of the commentators. – at Chicago, IL

Ozzie Guillen on the postgame show: Mune "can't hit a balloon."

Considering the White Sox' rotation struggles, David Sandlin did more than enough to earn another start.

Our Sox of late have had trouble even getting hits, much less scoring runs. I suggest this lineup, which puts guys who are at least hitting a little bit at the top of the order: Antonacci, Meidroth, Vargas, Benintendi (dh), Grichuk (rf), Peters, C. Montgomery, Mune, Teel.

Kudos to Latin School senior Martin Testai for his first-place finish in Gold Coast Spikers' all-ages Labor Day Quinela Games tourney on the sun-kissed Fullerton courts at North Avenue Beach. It's back-to-back Labor Day victories for Martin, who has four Spikers titles overall.

In an ultra-competitive Gold Coast Spikers all-ages Quiniela Games round-robin tourney on Labor Day, Latin School senior Martin Testai (first place, center), Walter Payton senior Jack Peters (second, left) and UC Santa Barbara freshman Jason Beerkens (third) stood on the podium. – at Chicago, IL

The Orioles didn't even get a week out of Luis Robert Jr. after claiming him on waivers before he went on the IL? – at Chicago, IL

Gold Coast Spikers tips its cap to Whitney Young freshman Sam Hung, who collected his first Spikers tournament title in our all-ages Quiniela Games round-robin over the weekend. Sam is a product of a multi-generational family of avid beach-volleyball players.

Whitney Young freshman Sam Hung (first place, center), ICSJ seventh-grader Mia Palmich (runner-up, left) and Latin School sophomore Zachary Barner (third place) comprised the podium in Gold Coast Spikers' all-ages Quiniela Games round-robin tourney Sunday at North Avenue Beach. – at Chicago, IL

Sad news that former Orlando Sentinel Sports Dept. colleague Greg Boeck had passed was posted on Twitter by peers at USA Today. He was 78. Greg had been prep sports editor for a few years when I joined the Orlando Sentinel in 1972 and then covered WFL's Florida Blazers. – at Chicago, IL

This seems like a highly significant sponsorship addition to the AVP. Corona is a highly visible national brand that fits right into beach volleyball's lifestyle appeal. – at Chicago, IL

Sunday morning at North Avenue Beach, I happily renewed acquaintances with some longtime volleyball friends, including (left in picture below) Christine Pacheco, James Pacheco (in his trademark orange sleeveless shirt) and Elliott Fan right). Glorious day to be out on the sand. – at Chicago, IL

VOLLEYBALL VIEWING NOTE: Over the next three days, the NCAA women's volleyball season will get off to a roaring start with the AVCA First Serve matches, Involving many of the top teams in the country. All are nationally televised on cable or broadcast channels. – at Chicago, IL

Jordan Hicks: GAS!

The flip side is that the White Sox kept their heads above .500 during the two months when injured Mune was out of the lineup. All in all, the Sox' success has been more of team effort than the result of any individual.

I would be remiss NOT to point out that LSU Beach Volleyball posted graphic on Facebook (pictured below) celebrating the 3-peat in the iconic professional Manhattan Beach Open by its former collegiate stars Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz before the AVP did. That shouldn't happen. – at Chicago, IL

JJ Haaf (rising St. Ignatius senior) and Nicholas Kallos (incoming U. of Michigan freshman) continued to collect Gold Coast Spikers titles. On Thursday morning, they won our advanced Team Tournament at North Avenue Beach, their fourth first-place finish together in a GCS event.