Chicago
Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
Sports Quote of the Day:
"I got a jackass back in Oklahoma. You can work him from sunup to sundown, and he ain't never gonna win the Kentucky Derby." ~ Pepper Martin, Professional Baseball Player, response when asked by a coach to work twice as hard in practice.
How
'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks 2, Flames 0. Winning again, yeah!!!
By Jerry Bonkowski, The Sports Xchange
Nick Leddy and Brent Seabrook scored goals, and the Chicago Blackhawks snapped a season-worst, two-game losing streak, defeating the visiting Calgary Flames 2-0 Tuesday night at the United Center.
While most other teams wouldn't fret too much over a two-game losing skid, it had become a matter of concern for the Blackhawks, who have been the hottest team in the NFL this season.
That's why it was apparent from the opening faceoff that Chicago was in the game to win it -- and nothing less.
Getting back on track increased the Blackhawks' season record to 25-4-3. The Flames fell to 12-15-4.
Even though Calgary played its usual stingy game on defense, Leddy scored 7:09 into the game, and Chicago doubled the lead at 17:48 of the second period when Seabrook scored his sixth of the season.
Patrick Kane assisted on both goals.
Chicago dominated in shots on goal, posting a 16-3 margin in the second period, 35-16 on the game.
Still smarting from their 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, the Blackhawks came out with a visibly more aggressive style against the Flames.
It didn't take long for the change to pay dividends, as Leddy took a feed from Kane and scored his fifth goal of the season.
Early in the second period, Calgary's Jiri Hudler was sent to the penalty box for four minutes for high sticking after striking Chicago's Dave Boland in the face with his stick, opening up a bloody gash.
With Corey Crawford having been shelled for five goals and the loss Monday, Ray Emery was in the net for the Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Not coincidentally, Emery, who came into the game with an 11-0-0 record, turned back 45 of 47 shots in the last meeting with the Flames on Feb. 2, 2013, a game the Hawks won 3-2 in the shootout on a deciding goal by Marian Hossa.
Also in that game, the Hawks had their most lopsided contest of the season in shots, getting outshot 47-19, yet still coming out with the win.
Emery made 16 saves for the shutout, improving to 12-0-0.
NOTES: Calgary came into Tuesday's game with a balanced all-time record against Chicago: 61 wins, 61 losses, 26 ties, three overtime losses and two shootout losses. ... Tuesday marked the 900th career NHL game for Calgary's Cory Sarich, while teammate Chris Butler played in his 250th career game. ... The Flames are one of only five teams in the NHL that had not given up a short-handed goal. ... Among the 21,790 in attendance was actor Mr. T. Wearing an American flag bandana, the star of the legendary TV show "The A Team" took part in a goal-shooting contest between the second and third periods and made one shot.
Americans tie Mexico 0-0 in World Cup qualifying.
Brad Guzan lunged, smothering the ball with his body.
''It's always going to be a bit hectic and a bit crazy, especially late in the game,'' Guzan said. ''You're never going to come to a place like Azteca and go out and have it nice and easy. So we knew at some point, it was going to come, the pressure was going to come, and we were able to deal with it.''
Guzan swatted away shot after shot, young defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler showed the poise of veterans and the Americans hung on for a 0-0 draw Tuesday night, earning only their second point in a World Cup qualifier at Azteca Stadium.
The tie moved the U.S. (1-1-1) into third place in World Cup qualifying for the North and Central American and Caribbean region after three of 10 matches, one point behind Panama (1-0-2). The Americans and Costa Rica both have four points, but the Ticos are ahead on goal difference.
After playing at Jamaica on June 7, the U.S. will be at home for four of its last six qualifiers.
''We wanted to win, but we are pleased with the result,'' coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. ''They gave us everything they have.''
Klinsmann was criticized after the opening 1-0 loss at Honduras in February, with unidentified players and people close to the team questioning his tactics and leadership in a Sporting News report before last week's home win over Costa Rica.
Mexico coach Manuel De la Torre is sure to come under fire after a third straight draw, which dropped El Tri (0-0-3) to second-to-last place in the standings. The top three teams in the group, which also includes Honduras, advance to next year's World Cup in Brazil next year while the No. 4 nation meets New Zealand in a home-and-home playoff for another berth.
Mexico certainly had its chances with a whopping 17-1 advantage in shots and 15 corner kicks, three just in the last two minutes of stoppage time. But El Tri was plagued by poor finishing and dismal execution on set pieces.
''There are 21 points left. The leader has five; we have three. It*s tight,'' De la Torre said. ''It*s close, and of course we are not where we wanted to be. Our obligation is to win at home, and we have left points behind.''
Azteca is one of the world's most imposing venues and, like just about everybody else, the Americans have a miserable track record there. They are 0-13-2 in World Cup qualifiers in Mexico, with their only other point - also from a 0-0 draw - coming in 1997.
But Klinsmann has never lost to Mexico, either as a player or a coach with Germany and the U.S., and he has bolstered the Americans' confidence when it comes to their fierce rivals. The U.S. won at Azteca for the first time ever in an exhibition last summer, and the Americans talked repeatedly of making more history on this trip.
''Many people said it couldn't be done,'' said American forward Herculez Gomez, who plays professionally in Mexico. ''We showed just a tremendous attitude, a tremendous willingness to sacrifice for one another.''
Not even a patchwork - and inexperienced - lineup could shake them. Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocagnegra, mainstays of the U.S. defense for a decade, were absent, and Clarence Goodson, who started Friday's game at center back, was out with a strained hamstring. Klinsmann used his 25th lineup in 25 matches as U.S. coach and gambled by starting Matt Besler, who had played only one game for the Americans, a friendly.
But Besler and Omar Gonzalez - the last two Major League Soccer defenders of the year - looked like grizzled veterans as they repeatedly snuffed out shots by Javier Hernandez, Javier Aquino and Jesus Zavala.
''The guys were outstanding,'' Klinsmann said. ''Our back line, you know, many said they were inexperienced. They deserve a huge compliment. ... If one guy is not here, that's a huge opportunity to the next one stepping in, and I think the guys that stepped in here, they took their chance.''
Mexico dominated possession, and Aquino, Hernandez and Zavala repeatedly tested the inexperienced American defense, picking on left back DaMarcus Beasley in particular after he picked up a yellow card in the eighth minute. But Gonzalez came up with one big play after another, and Besler looked quite comfortable in the Azteca pressure-cooker.
But they got some help from El Tri, which blew numerous chances, including what should have been a couple of gimmes for Hernandez.
The Manchester United striker misplayed a bouncing corner kick in the 87th, getting only the back of his right foot on it. He pitched forward and into the net, but the ball popped skyward and over the goal. In the 28th minute, Jorge Torres Nilo sent a perfect cross in to Chicharito, who was right in front of the goal, just a few feet from Guzan. But Hernandez skied that one, too.
Guzan, who made his first start since 2010 in Friday night's qualifier, was superb. When Carlos Salcido lobbed a gorgeous chip shot to Zavala in the 43rd, Guzan ended the threat by coming out and slamming into Zavala. Not only did Guzan clear the ball, Zavala was called for a foul.
The Americans also got a bit lucky. Mexico could have been awarded a penalty kick for a two-handed push by Michael Bradley on Chicharito in the 12th minute. And El Tri probably should have been awarded one in the 76th when Maurice Edu took down Aquino from behind with a sliding tackle. The Mexican players were livid when no penalty was called, surrounding Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez. Lopez didn't back down, though replays showed Edu had clipped Aquino's foot.
The United States never really challenged Mexican goalkeeper Guilermo Ochoa. But their defense was offense enough, and the Americans were thrilled to leave Azteca with a rare point.
''That's a huge challenge before 100,000 people,'' Klinsmann said.
Note: Earlier Tuesday, FIFA rejected Costa Rica's appeal of the Americans' 1-0 victory Friday night, played in a snow storm at Commerce City, Colo.
By Jerry Bonkowski, The Sports Xchange
Nick Leddy and Brent Seabrook scored goals, and the Chicago Blackhawks snapped a season-worst, two-game losing streak, defeating the visiting Calgary Flames 2-0 Tuesday night at the United Center.
While most other teams wouldn't fret too much over a two-game losing skid, it had become a matter of concern for the Blackhawks, who have been the hottest team in the NFL this season.
That's why it was apparent from the opening faceoff that Chicago was in the game to win it -- and nothing less.
Getting back on track increased the Blackhawks' season record to 25-4-3. The Flames fell to 12-15-4.
Even though Calgary played its usual stingy game on defense, Leddy scored 7:09 into the game, and Chicago doubled the lead at 17:48 of the second period when Seabrook scored his sixth of the season.
Patrick Kane assisted on both goals.
Chicago dominated in shots on goal, posting a 16-3 margin in the second period, 35-16 on the game.
Still smarting from their 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, the Blackhawks came out with a visibly more aggressive style against the Flames.
It didn't take long for the change to pay dividends, as Leddy took a feed from Kane and scored his fifth goal of the season.
Early in the second period, Calgary's Jiri Hudler was sent to the penalty box for four minutes for high sticking after striking Chicago's Dave Boland in the face with his stick, opening up a bloody gash.
With Corey Crawford having been shelled for five goals and the loss Monday, Ray Emery was in the net for the Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Not coincidentally, Emery, who came into the game with an 11-0-0 record, turned back 45 of 47 shots in the last meeting with the Flames on Feb. 2, 2013, a game the Hawks won 3-2 in the shootout on a deciding goal by Marian Hossa.
Also in that game, the Hawks had their most lopsided contest of the season in shots, getting outshot 47-19, yet still coming out with the win.
Emery made 16 saves for the shutout, improving to 12-0-0.
NOTES: Calgary came into Tuesday's game with a balanced all-time record against Chicago: 61 wins, 61 losses, 26 ties, three overtime losses and two shootout losses. ... Tuesday marked the 900th career NHL game for Calgary's Cory Sarich, while teammate Chris Butler played in his 250th career game. ... The Flames are one of only five teams in the NHL that had not given up a short-handed goal. ... Among the 21,790 in attendance was actor Mr. T. Wearing an American flag bandana, the star of the legendary TV show "The A Team" took part in a goal-shooting contest between the second and third periods and made one shot.
Americans tie Mexico 0-0 in World Cup qualifying.
Brad Guzan lunged, smothering the ball with his body.
''It's always going to be a bit hectic and a bit crazy, especially late in the game,'' Guzan said. ''You're never going to come to a place like Azteca and go out and have it nice and easy. So we knew at some point, it was going to come, the pressure was going to come, and we were able to deal with it.''
Guzan swatted away shot after shot, young defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler showed the poise of veterans and the Americans hung on for a 0-0 draw Tuesday night, earning only their second point in a World Cup qualifier at Azteca Stadium.
The tie moved the U.S. (1-1-1) into third place in World Cup qualifying for the North and Central American and Caribbean region after three of 10 matches, one point behind Panama (1-0-2). The Americans and Costa Rica both have four points, but the Ticos are ahead on goal difference.
After playing at Jamaica on June 7, the U.S. will be at home for four of its last six qualifiers.
''We wanted to win, but we are pleased with the result,'' coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. ''They gave us everything they have.''
Klinsmann was criticized after the opening 1-0 loss at Honduras in February, with unidentified players and people close to the team questioning his tactics and leadership in a Sporting News report before last week's home win over Costa Rica.
Mexico coach Manuel De la Torre is sure to come under fire after a third straight draw, which dropped El Tri (0-0-3) to second-to-last place in the standings. The top three teams in the group, which also includes Honduras, advance to next year's World Cup in Brazil next year while the No. 4 nation meets New Zealand in a home-and-home playoff for another berth.
Mexico certainly had its chances with a whopping 17-1 advantage in shots and 15 corner kicks, three just in the last two minutes of stoppage time. But El Tri was plagued by poor finishing and dismal execution on set pieces.
''There are 21 points left. The leader has five; we have three. It*s tight,'' De la Torre said. ''It*s close, and of course we are not where we wanted to be. Our obligation is to win at home, and we have left points behind.''
Azteca is one of the world's most imposing venues and, like just about everybody else, the Americans have a miserable track record there. They are 0-13-2 in World Cup qualifiers in Mexico, with their only other point - also from a 0-0 draw - coming in 1997.
But Klinsmann has never lost to Mexico, either as a player or a coach with Germany and the U.S., and he has bolstered the Americans' confidence when it comes to their fierce rivals. The U.S. won at Azteca for the first time ever in an exhibition last summer, and the Americans talked repeatedly of making more history on this trip.
''Many people said it couldn't be done,'' said American forward Herculez Gomez, who plays professionally in Mexico. ''We showed just a tremendous attitude, a tremendous willingness to sacrifice for one another.''
Not even a patchwork - and inexperienced - lineup could shake them. Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocagnegra, mainstays of the U.S. defense for a decade, were absent, and Clarence Goodson, who started Friday's game at center back, was out with a strained hamstring. Klinsmann used his 25th lineup in 25 matches as U.S. coach and gambled by starting Matt Besler, who had played only one game for the Americans, a friendly.
But Besler and Omar Gonzalez - the last two Major League Soccer defenders of the year - looked like grizzled veterans as they repeatedly snuffed out shots by Javier Hernandez, Javier Aquino and Jesus Zavala.
''The guys were outstanding,'' Klinsmann said. ''Our back line, you know, many said they were inexperienced. They deserve a huge compliment. ... If one guy is not here, that's a huge opportunity to the next one stepping in, and I think the guys that stepped in here, they took their chance.''
Mexico dominated possession, and Aquino, Hernandez and Zavala repeatedly tested the inexperienced American defense, picking on left back DaMarcus Beasley in particular after he picked up a yellow card in the eighth minute. But Gonzalez came up with one big play after another, and Besler looked quite comfortable in the Azteca pressure-cooker.
But they got some help from El Tri, which blew numerous chances, including what should have been a couple of gimmes for Hernandez.
The Manchester United striker misplayed a bouncing corner kick in the 87th, getting only the back of his right foot on it. He pitched forward and into the net, but the ball popped skyward and over the goal. In the 28th minute, Jorge Torres Nilo sent a perfect cross in to Chicharito, who was right in front of the goal, just a few feet from Guzan. But Hernandez skied that one, too.
Guzan, who made his first start since 2010 in Friday night's qualifier, was superb. When Carlos Salcido lobbed a gorgeous chip shot to Zavala in the 43rd, Guzan ended the threat by coming out and slamming into Zavala. Not only did Guzan clear the ball, Zavala was called for a foul.
The Americans also got a bit lucky. Mexico could have been awarded a penalty kick for a two-handed push by Michael Bradley on Chicharito in the 12th minute. And El Tri probably should have been awarded one in the 76th when Maurice Edu took down Aquino from behind with a sliding tackle. The Mexican players were livid when no penalty was called, surrounding Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez. Lopez didn't back down, though replays showed Edu had clipped Aquino's foot.
The United States never really challenged Mexican goalkeeper Guilermo Ochoa. But their defense was offense enough, and the Americans were thrilled to leave Azteca with a rare point.
''That's a huge challenge before 100,000 people,'' Klinsmann said.
Note: Earlier Tuesday, FIFA rejected Costa Rica's appeal of the Americans' 1-0 victory Friday night, played in a snow storm at Commerce City, Colo.
NFL-Sexual orientation
becoming hot topic in U.S. pro sports.
By Julian Linden
In the ultra-scrutinised world of U.S. professional sports, there is still one line that no one has ever crossed.
There is still not a single openly gay player in any of America's major professional sports leagues.
In a country with openly gay politicians, entertainers and even soldiers, professional sports has become a final frontier.
Questions are now being asked why sports, which helped play a key role in changing public opinion on racial discrimination, is out of step with the rest of American society.
Nowhere has the issue become hotter than in the National Football League (NFL), the most macho of America's pro sports.
In the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver told reporters he would not welcome a homosexual teammate into the locker room.
He later retracted his comments but reports have since emerged of NFL teams asking college players about their sexuality ahead of next month's draft.
This prompted the New York State attorney general to send a letter to the NFL, urging the league to take action and adopt a formal policy of sexual discrimination.
Culliver's comments are not typical of the attitude of all professional sportsmen. Indeed, there are several high-profile NFL players, most notably Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo, who have advocated for gay rights.
Both believe it is only a matter of time before a professional player comes out publicly.
On Monday, CBS reported there was at least one current NFL player considering coming out.
"Based on interviews over the past several weeks with current and former players, I'm told that a current gay NFL player is strongly considering coming out publicly within the next few months," CBS reported.
The report said the player's identity was unknown but he was more concerned about the public response than the reactions of team mates.
CBS quoted free agent linebacker Scott Fujita as saying he did not believe sexuality would be an issue in the locker room.
"I honestly think the players of the NFL have been ready for an openly gay player for quite some time now," Fujita said.
"Trust me, the coming out of a player would create much bigger waves outside the locker room than inside. The way I've seen the conversation around LGBT issues evolve, especially in the past few years, has been encouraging.
"Guys are more accepting than they used to be."
There is still not a single openly gay player in any of America's major professional sports leagues.
In a country with openly gay politicians, entertainers and even soldiers, professional sports has become a final frontier.
Questions are now being asked why sports, which helped play a key role in changing public opinion on racial discrimination, is out of step with the rest of American society.
Nowhere has the issue become hotter than in the National Football League (NFL), the most macho of America's pro sports.
In the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver told reporters he would not welcome a homosexual teammate into the locker room.
He later retracted his comments but reports have since emerged of NFL teams asking college players about their sexuality ahead of next month's draft.
This prompted the New York State attorney general to send a letter to the NFL, urging the league to take action and adopt a formal policy of sexual discrimination.
Culliver's comments are not typical of the attitude of all professional sportsmen. Indeed, there are several high-profile NFL players, most notably Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo, who have advocated for gay rights.
Both believe it is only a matter of time before a professional player comes out publicly.
On Monday, CBS reported there was at least one current NFL player considering coming out.
"Based on interviews over the past several weeks with current and former players, I'm told that a current gay NFL player is strongly considering coming out publicly within the next few months," CBS reported.
The report said the player's identity was unknown but he was more concerned about the public response than the reactions of team mates.
CBS quoted free agent linebacker Scott Fujita as saying he did not believe sexuality would be an issue in the locker room.
"I honestly think the players of the NFL have been ready for an openly gay player for quite some time now," Fujita said.
"Trust me, the coming out of a player would create much bigger waves outside the locker room than inside. The way I've seen the conversation around LGBT issues evolve, especially in the past few years, has been encouraging.
"Guys are more accepting than they used to be."
McIlroy texts with Tiger after losing top ranking.
By
Woods responded by telling McIlroy to get going - he put it a bit more crudely than that - and win this week's Houston Open. A victory would put McIlroy back at No. 1, a spot he held for 32 weeks before Woods' latest win.
For now, McIlroy is fine with Woods holding the world's top ranking, especially with the Masters coming up in two weeks.
''I didn't think I could go into the Masters under the radar,'' McIlroy said. ''I can go in a little bit underneath him. So, in a way, it's not a bad thing.''
McIlroy skipped Bay Hill and says he had a ''good week, a fun week'' in Miami. He watched girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki play in the pro tennis event in Key Biscayne, Fla., then stopped by a municipal course on Saturday night to hit range balls in relative anonymity with Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic, currently the world's No. 1 tennis player.
''People left me alone, it was fine,'' McIlroy said. ''It's nice to just go, not just go about my business and no one cares, but you go about it and not be, I guess, the most talked about person in golf. It's a nice thing.''
McIlroy won four times in 2012, including the PGA Championship that catapulted him to No. 1. He signed a Nike contract in the offseason, but has gotten off to a rough start this year, raising questions about his adjustment to his new equipment.
He missed the cut at Abu Dhabi, lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship and then walked off the course during the second round of the Honda Classic, citing frustration. He finally saw signs of progress when he shot a 65 in the final round at Doral and tied for eighth, and he's confident that he's ready to contend at Redstone this week.
''We're not machines, we're humans,'' McIlroy said. ''You're going to have patches where you play great and have patches where you struggle a little bit. I guess you've just got to take the rough and the smooth and just try and treat those times, sort of play and be patient and know that you're working on the right things.''
Maybe McIlroy can learn from Woods as he tries to dig out of his early-season slump. Woods has won three times in five starts this year, looking as dominant as ever after going through injuries, personal turmoil and a swing change.
''I've always said he's been one of the greatest fighters on a golf course,'' McIlroy said. ''If things aren't going his way, he'll dig in and get whatever he can out of a round. He can repeat day-in, day-out, that attitude and that single-mindedness or that drive or motivation, I think that's his most impressive aspect.''
McIlroy said he's seeing more good shots since the last round at Doral, his lowest of the season.
''The weekend at Doral was great and the way I've been hitting the ball recently,'' he said. ''I've just got to keep working on it and keep working on it. I definitely feel like it's going in the right direction.''
When he's done in Houston, McIlroy will fly to Haiti, where he'll meet with families affected by the 2010 earthquake there. He also made a trip to Haiti before going to the U.S. Open in 2011, and won his first major at Congressional with a record score.
McIlroy is an Ireland ambassador to UNICEF and has geared his own charity work toward children.
''The last time I went, it was a very humbling place and it was a very eye-opening experience for me,'' McIlroy said. ''It will be another experience to go back there and see what it's like. It's nice to be able to do these things and raise awareness for these causes. I feel like it's something that has been pretty close to me since I've been there.''
By
Woods responded by telling McIlroy to get going - he put it a bit more crudely than that - and win this week's Houston Open. A victory would put McIlroy back at No. 1, a spot he held for 32 weeks before Woods' latest win.
For now, McIlroy is fine with Woods holding the world's top ranking, especially with the Masters coming up in two weeks.
''I didn't think I could go into the Masters under the radar,'' McIlroy said. ''I can go in a little bit underneath him. So, in a way, it's not a bad thing.''
McIlroy skipped Bay Hill and says he had a ''good week, a fun week'' in Miami. He watched girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki play in the pro tennis event in Key Biscayne, Fla., then stopped by a municipal course on Saturday night to hit range balls in relative anonymity with Wozniacki and Novak Djokovic, currently the world's No. 1 tennis player.
''People left me alone, it was fine,'' McIlroy said. ''It's nice to just go, not just go about my business and no one cares, but you go about it and not be, I guess, the most talked about person in golf. It's a nice thing.''
McIlroy won four times in 2012, including the PGA Championship that catapulted him to No. 1. He signed a Nike contract in the offseason, but has gotten off to a rough start this year, raising questions about his adjustment to his new equipment.
He missed the cut at Abu Dhabi, lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship and then walked off the course during the second round of the Honda Classic, citing frustration. He finally saw signs of progress when he shot a 65 in the final round at Doral and tied for eighth, and he's confident that he's ready to contend at Redstone this week.
''We're not machines, we're humans,'' McIlroy said. ''You're going to have patches where you play great and have patches where you struggle a little bit. I guess you've just got to take the rough and the smooth and just try and treat those times, sort of play and be patient and know that you're working on the right things.''
Maybe McIlroy can learn from Woods as he tries to dig out of his early-season slump. Woods has won three times in five starts this year, looking as dominant as ever after going through injuries, personal turmoil and a swing change.
''I've always said he's been one of the greatest fighters on a golf course,'' McIlroy said. ''If things aren't going his way, he'll dig in and get whatever he can out of a round. He can repeat day-in, day-out, that attitude and that single-mindedness or that drive or motivation, I think that's his most impressive aspect.''
McIlroy said he's seeing more good shots since the last round at Doral, his lowest of the season.
''The weekend at Doral was great and the way I've been hitting the ball recently,'' he said. ''I've just got to keep working on it and keep working on it. I definitely feel like it's going in the right direction.''
When he's done in Houston, McIlroy will fly to Haiti, where he'll meet with families affected by the 2010 earthquake there. He also made a trip to Haiti before going to the U.S. Open in 2011, and won his first major at Congressional with a record score.
McIlroy is an Ireland ambassador to UNICEF and has geared his own charity work toward children.
''The last time I went, it was a very humbling place and it was a very eye-opening experience for me,'' McIlroy said. ''It will be another experience to go back there and see what it's like. It's nice to be able to do these things and raise awareness for these causes. I feel like it's something that has been pretty close to me since I've been there.''
Heat-Bulls Preview, Do the Bulls have a chance to end the streak? We'll know tonight!!!
The Los Angeles Lakers made it look easy when they racked up win
after win after win for an NBA-record 33 straight games.
Those Lakers of 1971-72 won 17 games during that streak by 15 points or more.
The Heat take more of a grind-it-out approach, often getting into trouble before
flipping a switch and pulling away.
''We're going to get everybody's best shot because of the streak,'' Heat
guard Mario Chalmers said.
That's why instead of savoring the 27 in a row they've already won, the Heat
are bracing for perhaps one of the biggest road tests so far in their pursuit of
those Lakers. Miami (56-14) plays at Chicago on Wednesday night, a renewal of a
rivalry that, on paper, certainly has lost some of the sparkle it had a year or
two ago.
The Bulls (38-31) still don't have injured point guard Derrick Rose back in
the lineup and have lost 13 of their last 22 games. Still, the Heat expect a
playoff-type, rough-and-tumble meeting.
''Our historic run is about winning championships,'' Heat star LeBron James
said. ''That's what we want to be known for. It's part of a process. Whatever
comes in between that, we can be excited about it. We didn't have a goal in mind
to say, 'Let's go on a long consecutive win streak,' but our goal is to win
every game when we are on the floor.''
In recent days, that hasn't been easy. Boston had the Heat down by 17 early
and 13 in the fourth quarter. Cleveland put Miami in a 27-point hole, and
against Detroit and Charlotte, the Heat trailed by 11 before pulling away. On
Monday night, the Orlando Magic and Heat were tied late in the third
quarter before James keyed a 20-2 run that changed everything.
''We like knowing we have that switch,'' guard Dwyane
Wade said. ''We just don't want to use it too much.''
Chicago has already beaten the Heat once this season, on Miami's home floor.
On Friday, the Heat head to New Orleans, where the Hornets just snapped Denver's
15-game winning streak. And Sunday's game at San Antonio is against not only the
Western Conference leader and potential NBA Finals opponent, but also likely
will have huge implications for the No. 1 overall playoff seed.
Whether the opponent is a playoff team like Chicago or a lottery-bound club,
James said the approach has been steady.
''It has been tough all year,'' he said. ''It hasn't been easy for us at all.
Every team has given us their best. We know that Chicago is going to be a tough
game for us, and playing in that building. We want to come out with our game
plan ... and give ourselves a chance to win.''
The Bulls are percentage points ahead of the Atlanta
Hawks for fifth place in the East and 2 1/2 games behind Brooklyn for
fourth, which carries home-court advantage for the first round. As a result,
they are thinking more about helping themselves than being the team that ends
Miami's historic run.
"It would be great to be the team that beats them, but at the same time we
can't think about that," center Nazr Mohammed told the team's official website.
"We're a team that's trying to grind out some wins and this is one that we need.
... We just want to go out and get this victory."
Mohammed, who had four points and 10 rebounds in Sunday's 104-97 win at
Minnesota, could be in line for his third straight start if Joakim Noah is
unable to go again due to a foot injury.
Since Miami landed James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Wade in the summer
of 2010, no team has confounded the Heat more than the Bulls, and it's not even
close. The Heat and Bulls have played 14 times since then, each team winning
seven, and Miami averaged only 90.1 points in those games.
That's six points
less than they averaged against anyone else in that span, and 11 points shy of
what they typically score against the rest of the league.
''You can't necessarily gauge them against other teams,'' Heat coach Erik
Spoelstra said Monday night, after Miami topped Orlando 108-94. ''When they play
against us, it's highly competitive. We've played them in the playoffs. All of
our games have been physical and hotly contested. You have to deal with the
physical aspect but also the mental aspect of staying with it, grinding
possessions.''
Moments after the Heat extended their winning streak to 27, Spoelstra urged
his team to be ''grateful for this opportunity and stay in this moment.''
That's his way of saying, yes, enjoy the moment but don't lose sight of the
only goal that matters - another NBA title. That's what the players talked about
in the locker room after the Orlando game, as they wolfed down chicken, pasta
and vegetables and headed to the bus.
''To be honest with you, we don't really think about the streak,'' Heat
forward Udonis Haslem said.
''People might find this hard to believe, but if you
start thinking about a streak, that's when you slip up. If you start thinking
about the Lakers' record, that's when you're going to slip up.''
Besides, streaks don't come with championship rings.
''Not at all,'' Haslem said.
Florida Gulf Coast, other Sweet 16 teams thriving without
highly touted recruits.
By Pat Forde
Congratulations, Kaleb Tarczewski. You are the sole survivor of
the college basketball freshman top 10.
The Arizona center is the only member of the Rivals.com Class of 2012 top 10
still playing in this NCAA tournament. Not only that, he's the only player to
even win a game in this NCAA tournament.
Five other top 10 freshmen made the
tournament but lost in the first round: Shabazz Muhammad (No. 1) and Kyle
Anderson (No. 3) of UCLA; Steven Adams (No. 5) of Pitt; Anthony Bennett (No. 7)
of UNLV; and Marcus Smart (No. 10) of Oklahoma State.
Three members of the top 10 saw their teams dispatched to the NIT: Nerlens
Noel (No. 2) and Alex Poythress (No. 8) of Kentucky and Isaiah Austin (No. 4) of
Baylor.
The other top 10 recruit, Ricardo Ledo (No. 6), was academically ineligible
at Providence and never played anywhere.
So it's hardly been a banner year for blue chips. The lightning Kentucky
captured last year cannot always be bottled, as the defending champions and UCLA
both found out the hard way this season. One-and-dones have gotten nothing done
in this NCAA tourney.
Instead, it's been a banner March for Cleanthony Early of Wichita State, who
was anonymous in high school and went to a Division III junior college in
upstate New York. But the Shockers found him and have enjoyed the reward for
their diligence: Early had 37 points and 14 rebounds in two wins in Salt Lake
City.
It's been a banner March for Tyreek Duren of LaSalle, a zero-star recruit who
scored 19 points in the Explorers' round-of-32 victory over Mississippi. Being a
third-tier prospect out of Philly hasn't kept Duren out of a starring role in
the Sweet 16.
And it's been a banner March for the motley collection at Florida Gulf Coast,
a bunch of recruiting nobodies who have morphed into the surprise team of this
tournament. Point guard Brett Comer (24 assists in two games) signed with
Florida Atlantic, then backed out and went to FGCU – there was no line of
suitors waiting for him. Chase Fieler, the guy who famously threw down Comer's
alley-oop against Georgetown, cannot even be located in the Rivals.com
recruiting database. Neither can Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Sherwood Brown,
who arrived at FGCU as a walk-on. Bernard Thompson, the A-Sun Defensive Player
of the Year, was by comparison a big star: he had offers from East Carolina,
Murray State, VCU, Wright State, Northeastern and Georgia State. But even
Thompson was unranked nationally.
"I wasn't highly recruited out of high school, but I knew that I could play
amongst some of the best people in the nation," Brown said. "I just had that
type of confidence."
A player's confidence and willingness to work can matter more than how many
stars he's assigned coming out of high school. That is not new knowledge, but
FGCU has set a new standard in that area.
Yet even beyond the Cinderella-style schools in the Sweet 16, this tournament
has become a three-star playground. Yes, there are several Rivals five-star
talents left in the Big Dance – Cody Zeller at Indiana, Deshaun Thomas of Ohio
State, Vander Blue of Marquette, Gary Harris and others at Michigan State, plus
more at Kansas and Florida and Louisville – but they’re sharing the spotlight
with players who toiled in their shadows in high school and AAU ball.
This tournament belongs to juniors and seniors who were good coming out of
high school, but stuck around and made themselves college stars.
Guys like Louisville leading scorer Russ Smith, an unranked three-star guard
out of New York. Three years ago, nobody projected little Russdiculous as the
leading man on the overall No. 1 seed.
Guys like Damyean
Dotson of Oregon, a three-star freshman who did not crack the Rivals150 but has
scored 40 points in two dominant Ducks victories. Dotson is Oregon's No. 2
scorer on the season behind E.J. Singler, brother of blue-chipper Kyle Singler
but far less-heralded himself. Beyond the home-state Ducks, Singler had offers
from Pepperdine, Washington State and Saint Louis.
Guys like Seth Curry of Duke, a three-star prospect who went to Liberty
before transferring to the big time. Seth and brother Steph have to be the most
under-recruited family in college basketball history.
The two best players still in the tournament, according to all the national
awards voters? That would be Michigan point guard Trey Burke and Indiana guard
Victor Oladipo. Burke was Rivals' No. 142 prospect in the Class of 2011. Oladipo
was No. 144 in 2010. I don't recall live national broadcasts of their college
decisions.
(In fact, the lower end of the Rivals 150 class of 2010 was apparently the
place to be for 2013 success. Oladipo teammate Will Sheehey was No. 141; Duke
guard Tyler Thornton was No. 140. Ohio State had a pair of guys in the same
neighborhood: Lenzelle Smith at No. 132 and Aaron Craft at No. 111.)
Of the five-star guys still in college, most have learned a lot along the way
to this point.
Louisville, Florida, Kansas and Michigan State all are populated with
highly-ranked recruits who got to college and found out it was going to take a
little longer to reach their potential or refine their games for the NBA. Guys
like Peyton Siva at Louisville (now a senior), Kenny Boynton at Florida
(senior), Elijah Johnson at Kansas (senior) and Adreian Payne at Michigan State
(junior).
That hasn't been a catastrophe for any of them. There are worse things than
spending three or four years at those schools, being coached by the best
teachers in the game and enjoying the perks of campus celebrity while (what a
novelty) completing an education and growing up.
Along the way, Siva, Johnson and Payne have been to a Final Four. Boynton has
been to consecutive regional finals. All of them are four games away from
winning a national title.
Draft day may belong to the prospects at the top end of each recruiting
class. But almost all of them will be sitting at home and watching less-heralded
players for the next two weeks. It's their tournament from here through April 8.
NFL, Players Association continue HGH dispute.
By Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
After another round of disagreement between the NFL Players
Association and the league Tuesday, resolution over testing players for human
growth hormone is no closer.
Drawing from the same decision by an independent arbitration panel, the players association claimed certain tests are unreliable while a spokesman for the league told The Sports Xchange the panel specifically said its finding was "irrelevant" in regards to the NFLPA's dispute.
At the center of this latest disagreement was the findings of an independent arbitration panel in the case of skier Andrus Veerapalu v. the International Ski Federation.
On Jan. 29, 2011, blood and urine samples were taken from Veerapalu in a room in the Tehvandi Sports Centre in Otepaa, Estonia. The exam was undertaken by the World Anti-Doping Agency ("WADA"). The tests resulted in an initial adverse finding against the athlete, who protested and as of Tuesday an independent arbitration panel exonerated the skier based on technicalities in the testing.
In what is probably a harbinger more of the same between the ever-feuding factions, the NFLPA sent an email Tuesday dated April 26, 2013 that cited the "independent arbitration panel" assertion that certain tests are not viable.
Jilian Rodgers of the NFLPA sent an email and posted on the players association site, the following:
Today, an independent arbitration panel's decision found that the WADA isoform hGH test is unreliable. The suspension of an Olympic champion was overturned after findings that the hGH test administered by WADA is not scientifically verifiable. For almost two years, the NFL players have fought the NFL and certain members of Congress who have publicly referred to the players' insistence on scientific validity and fairness as "stalling" and "posturing."
"Today's decision validates the players" demand for scientific validity, full due process rights, and a transparent system.
DIRECT EXCERPT FROM THE DECISION: "In the Panel's view Respondent has, on balance, failed to establish to the comfortable satisfaction of the Panel that the decision limits were correctly determined and that they would lead to the claimed specificity of 99.99%. Despite the Respondent's ample opportunities to convince the Panel on the correctness of the decision limits including in post-Hearing brief as well as in response to the two subsequent rounds of Panel Questions, the Panel cannot exclude to its comfortable satisfaction that the decision limits are overinclusive and could lead to an excessive amount of false positive results."
Requests for more information drew no response from Rodgers or the NFLPA.
Brian McCarthy, the NFL's Vice President of Corporate Communications, told The Sports Xchange:
"Surprisingly, the union uses this particular decision to justify and extend into overtime its game of duck and delay. In fact, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rebuked the union in its findings: "The Panel agrees with the Respondent (International Ski Federation) that reference to the NFLPA's ongoing dispute regarding the implementation of the Test is irrelevant to the question of the Test's validity and reliability. The Panel further notes that the NFLPA dispute formed part of a wider National Football League/NFLPA discussion concerning their most recent collective bargaining agreement. The factual background and points of contention in that case are not relevant to this case."
Contrary to the union's statement, the panel specifically found the test to be reliable:
"... FIS had shown to their comfortable satisfaction that the HGH test is a reliable testing method for HGH abuse in professional sports that is based on scientifically correct assumptions and methods, the ruling stated."
As long as the two sides continue to disagree about most elements in this hGH testing situation, a resolution that allows such testing does not seem close.
PREVIEW-Baseball-Changing casts spread hope for upcoming MLB season.
By Larry Fine
Drawing from the same decision by an independent arbitration panel, the players association claimed certain tests are unreliable while a spokesman for the league told The Sports Xchange the panel specifically said its finding was "irrelevant" in regards to the NFLPA's dispute.
At the center of this latest disagreement was the findings of an independent arbitration panel in the case of skier Andrus Veerapalu v. the International Ski Federation.
On Jan. 29, 2011, blood and urine samples were taken from Veerapalu in a room in the Tehvandi Sports Centre in Otepaa, Estonia. The exam was undertaken by the World Anti-Doping Agency ("WADA"). The tests resulted in an initial adverse finding against the athlete, who protested and as of Tuesday an independent arbitration panel exonerated the skier based on technicalities in the testing.
In what is probably a harbinger more of the same between the ever-feuding factions, the NFLPA sent an email Tuesday dated April 26, 2013 that cited the "independent arbitration panel" assertion that certain tests are not viable.
Jilian Rodgers of the NFLPA sent an email and posted on the players association site, the following:
Today, an independent arbitration panel's decision found that the WADA isoform hGH test is unreliable. The suspension of an Olympic champion was overturned after findings that the hGH test administered by WADA is not scientifically verifiable. For almost two years, the NFL players have fought the NFL and certain members of Congress who have publicly referred to the players' insistence on scientific validity and fairness as "stalling" and "posturing."
"Today's decision validates the players" demand for scientific validity, full due process rights, and a transparent system.
DIRECT EXCERPT FROM THE DECISION: "In the Panel's view Respondent has, on balance, failed to establish to the comfortable satisfaction of the Panel that the decision limits were correctly determined and that they would lead to the claimed specificity of 99.99%. Despite the Respondent's ample opportunities to convince the Panel on the correctness of the decision limits including in post-Hearing brief as well as in response to the two subsequent rounds of Panel Questions, the Panel cannot exclude to its comfortable satisfaction that the decision limits are overinclusive and could lead to an excessive amount of false positive results."
Requests for more information drew no response from Rodgers or the NFLPA.
Brian McCarthy, the NFL's Vice President of Corporate Communications, told The Sports Xchange:
"Surprisingly, the union uses this particular decision to justify and extend into overtime its game of duck and delay. In fact, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rebuked the union in its findings: "The Panel agrees with the Respondent (International Ski Federation) that reference to the NFLPA's ongoing dispute regarding the implementation of the Test is irrelevant to the question of the Test's validity and reliability. The Panel further notes that the NFLPA dispute formed part of a wider National Football League/NFLPA discussion concerning their most recent collective bargaining agreement. The factual background and points of contention in that case are not relevant to this case."
Contrary to the union's statement, the panel specifically found the test to be reliable:
"... FIS had shown to their comfortable satisfaction that the HGH test is a reliable testing method for HGH abuse in professional sports that is based on scientifically correct assumptions and methods, the ruling stated."
As long as the two sides continue to disagree about most elements in this hGH testing situation, a resolution that allows such testing does not seem close.
PREVIEW-Baseball-Changing casts spread hope for upcoming MLB season.
By Larry Fine
The stars are gathering in Los Angeles and Canada's club could be poised for a
return to past glory in the 2013 Major League Baseball (MLB) season that gets
underway on Sunday.
A lively trade and free agent market has fanned hopes from Toronto to major league outposts in Kansas City and Seattle, and on to the City of Angels, where the Dodgers have more than doubled their payroll.
A corresponding feeling of dread descended on fans of the New York Yankees, who suddenly stopped spending and were hit by anxieties over age and injury, and in Miami, where the Marlins dumped salaries after a poor debut season in their new ballpark.
Another ominious Florida cloud threatened MLB, which was investigating reports linking some prominent players, including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, to an anti-aging clinic that allegedly supplied prohibited drugs.
With all that brewing, the San Francisco Giants focused on keeping their championship crew together, trusting that their pitching staff led by Matt Cain would give them a chance at a third World Series in four years.
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros launch the season and a new Lone Star State divisional rivalry on Sunday when they meet as American League West foes.
Houston shifted from the National League, balancing the majors with 15 teams in each league and setting up a steady diet of interleague play throughout the season.
Texas have juggled a lineup that took them into the 2010 and 2011 World Series with slugger Josh Hamilton, clubhouse leader Michael Young and power-hitting catcher Mike Napoli now gone.
RECORD SALARY
Hamilton signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels worth $125 million, joining a cast that includes three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols and reiging American League Rookie of the Year Mike Trout.
The Dodgers have spent big to battle the Giants for NL West supremacy and the Angels for their home city's affection and cable TV ratings.
Dodgers owners, including ex-Lakers' great Magic Johnson, who triggered the 'Showtime' style of five NBA title teams, put a new TV deal worth at least $7 billion over 25 years to work.
After a trade with the Boston Red Sox late last season brought in Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett for $250 million in contracts, the Dodgers added free agent pitcher Zack Greinke in the offseason for $147 million.
The Dodgers have more than doubled the estimated $95 million payroll they began with last season, and in 2013 will be surpassing the Yankees' record mark of $210 million.
The Yankees, who during the bombastic reign of late owner George Steinbrenner spent whatever it took to try and satisfy a 'World Series or bust' mentality, have grown budget conscious under the regime of his sons, Hal and Hank.
Unlike the NFL, NBA and NHL, baseball does not employ a salary cap to hold down costs, instead using a luxury tax to punish owners that exceed the payroll limit.
Hit with a $19.3 million penalty this offseason as the only team taxed, and with stiffer penalties kicking in next season, the Yankees were striving to stay under the $189 million threshold for 2014 rather than shopping for big bats.
They let home run hitters Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez and catcher Russell Martin leave via free agency. Spring injuries to Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson added to mounting concerns about aging stars Alex Rodriguez, out at least until mid-season, and Derek Jeter, coming back from a broken ankle.
While getting older may be a curse for the Yankees, it could turn the Washington Nationals into champions.
OVERTAXING STRASBURG
The NL East-winning Nationals, who won an MLB-best 98 games last season, caused a stir when they shut down young pitching ace Stephen Strasburg (15-6) in early September over worries about overtaxing his arm.
Strasburg was missed in the playoffs as Washington lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, but his restrictions have been removed and Washington could be primed to bring the first World Series crown to the U.S. capital in 89 years.
Atlanta, perennial NL East contenders, added the Upton brothers, Justin and B.J., over the offseason to add punch to their attack.
Toronto restructured their roster, livening up the offense with shortstop Jose Reyes and the rotation with Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle as part of a blockbuster trade with Miami.
A deal with the Mets brought them Cy Young knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in their bid to supplant the Yanks in the AL East and recapture the glory of their 1992-93 World Series triumphs.
In the AL Central, the Royals added pitching to their emerging offense by dealing prospect Wil Myers to Tampa Bay for starters James Shields and Wade Davis, though reigning AL champions Detroit still look to be the class of the division.
The Cincinnati Reds, who won 97 games in 2012, remain a solid favorite in the NL Central with the consistent St. Louis Cardinals always a threat.
The AL West, which includes the pitching-rich, division-winning Oakland A's, Rangers and Angels, could grow even more competitive with Seattle beefing up on offense after adding Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse.
A lively trade and free agent market has fanned hopes from Toronto to major league outposts in Kansas City and Seattle, and on to the City of Angels, where the Dodgers have more than doubled their payroll.
A corresponding feeling of dread descended on fans of the New York Yankees, who suddenly stopped spending and were hit by anxieties over age and injury, and in Miami, where the Marlins dumped salaries after a poor debut season in their new ballpark.
Another ominious Florida cloud threatened MLB, which was investigating reports linking some prominent players, including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, to an anti-aging clinic that allegedly supplied prohibited drugs.
With all that brewing, the San Francisco Giants focused on keeping their championship crew together, trusting that their pitching staff led by Matt Cain would give them a chance at a third World Series in four years.
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros launch the season and a new Lone Star State divisional rivalry on Sunday when they meet as American League West foes.
Houston shifted from the National League, balancing the majors with 15 teams in each league and setting up a steady diet of interleague play throughout the season.
Texas have juggled a lineup that took them into the 2010 and 2011 World Series with slugger Josh Hamilton, clubhouse leader Michael Young and power-hitting catcher Mike Napoli now gone.
RECORD SALARY
Hamilton signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels worth $125 million, joining a cast that includes three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols and reiging American League Rookie of the Year Mike Trout.
The Dodgers have spent big to battle the Giants for NL West supremacy and the Angels for their home city's affection and cable TV ratings.
Dodgers owners, including ex-Lakers' great Magic Johnson, who triggered the 'Showtime' style of five NBA title teams, put a new TV deal worth at least $7 billion over 25 years to work.
After a trade with the Boston Red Sox late last season brought in Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett for $250 million in contracts, the Dodgers added free agent pitcher Zack Greinke in the offseason for $147 million.
The Dodgers have more than doubled the estimated $95 million payroll they began with last season, and in 2013 will be surpassing the Yankees' record mark of $210 million.
The Yankees, who during the bombastic reign of late owner George Steinbrenner spent whatever it took to try and satisfy a 'World Series or bust' mentality, have grown budget conscious under the regime of his sons, Hal and Hank.
Unlike the NFL, NBA and NHL, baseball does not employ a salary cap to hold down costs, instead using a luxury tax to punish owners that exceed the payroll limit.
Hit with a $19.3 million penalty this offseason as the only team taxed, and with stiffer penalties kicking in next season, the Yankees were striving to stay under the $189 million threshold for 2014 rather than shopping for big bats.
They let home run hitters Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez and catcher Russell Martin leave via free agency. Spring injuries to Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson added to mounting concerns about aging stars Alex Rodriguez, out at least until mid-season, and Derek Jeter, coming back from a broken ankle.
While getting older may be a curse for the Yankees, it could turn the Washington Nationals into champions.
OVERTAXING STRASBURG
The NL East-winning Nationals, who won an MLB-best 98 games last season, caused a stir when they shut down young pitching ace Stephen Strasburg (15-6) in early September over worries about overtaxing his arm.
Strasburg was missed in the playoffs as Washington lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, but his restrictions have been removed and Washington could be primed to bring the first World Series crown to the U.S. capital in 89 years.
Atlanta, perennial NL East contenders, added the Upton brothers, Justin and B.J., over the offseason to add punch to their attack.
Toronto restructured their roster, livening up the offense with shortstop Jose Reyes and the rotation with Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle as part of a blockbuster trade with Miami.
A deal with the Mets brought them Cy Young knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in their bid to supplant the Yanks in the AL East and recapture the glory of their 1992-93 World Series triumphs.
In the AL Central, the Royals added pitching to their emerging offense by dealing prospect Wil Myers to Tampa Bay for starters James Shields and Wade Davis, though reigning AL champions Detroit still look to be the class of the division.
The Cincinnati Reds, who won 97 games in 2012, remain a solid favorite in the NL Central with the consistent St. Louis Cardinals always a threat.
The AL West, which includes the pitching-rich, division-winning Oakland A's, Rangers and Angels, could grow even more competitive with Seattle beefing up on offense after adding Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse.
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