HK's Athletics Beyond Coronavirus Hillel Kuttler

Katja Koroleva is a world-class referee -- so good that she officiated in the 2019 Women's World Cup and could be selected again in 2023.  Professionally, Koroleva works as a physician assistant. But she couldn't balance those two passions, and something had to give. The pandemic spurred her to change jobs in health care to better accommodate her soccer aspirations.

JEFF SEIDEL passed away from colon cancer on Aug. 28 at age 59. He was a sportswriter who made his living in journalism's tundra, as a freelancer. Seidel covered Baltimore's Orioles and Ravens and all of Washington's pro teams, but he specialized in high school and collegiate sports -- and always did it with a smile. His daughter KARA SEIDEL, Ravens executive/consultant KEVIN BYRNE and recently-retired AP sportswriter DAVE GINSBURG remember a nice man and a solid professional.

As the Tokyo Olympics begin, take a journey back a quarter-century. MATT LeCROY discusses his experiences on the U.S. baseball team that took the bronze medal at the '96 Olympics, a club stacked with future major leaguers like himself. At the Opening Ceremony, he happened to enter the field with the great track star Carl Lewis. Now managing the Washington Nationals' AAA team, LeCroy appreciates the preparation of the '96 club's manager and coaches. He also fondly recalls his manager in Washington, the late Frank Robinson.

Virginia mortgage broker MANNY UPTON has spent parts of the past 18 baseball seasons flying across North America to watch his sons Justin (now with the Angels) and B.J. (now retired) play in the major leagues. He evinces parental pride, especially when recalling them playing for the same clubs in Atlanta and San Diego. This Father's Day, he also discusses their ballplaying buddies from youth who, too, enjoyed long careers: David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman and Mark Reynolds. 

On May 13, coronavirus took Shirley Kost, 82, a Texas Rangers fan dubbed The Cookie Lady. For decades, Shirley also dispensed hugs and smiles and brought joy to the ballpark. She bonded with players in a way that today's lifestyle and rules, even pre-pandemic, don't allow. Ex-Rangers FERGUSON JENKINS and KEVIN MENCH and Shirley's husband CAL KOST and daughter DONNA VERNON discuss her legacy. (Photo shows Shirley, Jenkins and Mench.)

Lacrosse athletes REESE GITTELMAN of Smith College and RYAN FITZPATRICK of UMass discuss their creative way to stay sharp during their teams' coronavirus shutdown: playing in a "bubble" and teaching the sport to kids. Where? In far-off Israel, where lacrosse is barely known. (Reese and Ryan are shown in these photos.)