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Sports Quote of the Day:
"Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs." ~ Mario Andretti, Indy 500 Driver and Team Owner
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks beat Kings to take 2-0 lead in series. We will get two more. Let's still the first one on the road!!!
By
It was a wrist shot for Andrew Shaw, who leaned back and yelled after his first-period score. Brent Seabrook got in on the action, and Bryan Bickell and Michal Handzus added two more goals on consecutive shots in the second.
And just like that, Jonathan Quick was gone.
The Chicago Blackhawks chased the Los Angeles Kings' standout goalie during an impressive display in the opening two periods of a 4-2 victory Sunday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
''It's a high-speed game. If we use our speed, we'll be all right,'' Shaw said. ''We played our game. That's the difference. The guys played good. We all competed for each other. We did everything we needed to do, keeping it deep in the zone.''
Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad added two assists apiece as the Blackhawks grabbed a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with their fifth consecutive victory.
Corey Crawford made 29 saves in another solid performance, drawing chants of ''Co-rey! Co-rey!'' from the capacity crowd at the United Center.
''We went through a little spurt there in the last series where we were doing the right things but the pucks weren't going in,'' Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said.
''So now we're getting the results we want. We can do what we're doing more often. We can do it better as well in the next few games.''
Game 3 is Tuesday night at Los Angeles, where the Kings have won 14 consecutive games, dating to the regular season. The Kings also lost their first two games of the playoffs at St. Louis before winning four straight to eliminate the Blues in the first round.
Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli scored for Los Angeles, but the Kings struggled to score without Mike Richards, who was scratched because of an undisclosed upper body injury. The defending Stanley Cup champions have 29 goals in 15 postseason games.
''You've got to find a way,'' Quick said. ''They did their job at home. We've got to go home and do our job now.''
Richards, who leads the Kings with 10 playoff points, was sidelined after taking a big hit from Dave Bolland in the final minutes of the Blackhawks' 2-1 victory on Saturday.
Kings coach Darryl Sutter said Richards was ''fine'' a couple of hours before the game, but the center was scratched from the lineup after participating in the pregame warmups.
''He was fine today, then I think just once his blood got pumping tonight, the adrenaline got going, there were symptoms,'' Sutter said. ''I went in right after warmup, he was sitting there and I said, 'Unless you're 100 percent, you're not playing.'''
Los Angeles forward Brad Richardson and defenseman Drew Doughty gingerly skated off at separate points of the first period, but both returned to the ice.
The series took on a more physical tone in the second game in two days - a rarity in the playoffs brought on by The Rolling Stones' tour.
The top-seeded Blackhawks also won the series opener in each of the first two rounds, but they dropped three in a row following their Game 1 victory against Detroit in the conference semifinals.
There was no such letdown this time.
''It was frustrating early on, that series against Detroit, but I think we learned a lot there,'' defenseman Duncan Keith said.
Shaw got Chicago off to a fast start, taking a nifty pass from Viktor Stalberg and beating Quick on the glove side just 1:56 into the game. Marian Hossa set up Seabrook in the final minute for a low liner into the left corner of the net. The defenseman put the Blackhawks into this round with an overtime goal in Game 7 against Detroit on Wednesday.
The Blackhawks added two more in the second, separated by just 2:09. Bickell scored a power-play goal on a rebound in front, and Handzus skated in and beat Quick to make it 4-0 at 9:20.
''We gave them too many Grade-A scoring chances, and they capitalized,'' Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said. ''You can't give up those opportunities and expect your goalie to bail you out every single time.''
The crowd of 21,824 roared after Handzus' second goal of the postseason, and cheered even louder when Quick skated off and was replaced by Jonathan Bernier.
Quick, last year's playoff MVP who had played every minute of this year's playoffs, finished with 13 saves.
''We had some nice shots. We had some high-quality stuff off the rush, as well, in that period,'' Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''I still think that's going to be an ongoing challenge with him.''
Carter converted a one-timer at 18:57 of the second, and Toffoli netted a power-play goal with 1:02 left in the game, but that was it for the Kings.
The Blackhawks killed three other power plays and have allowed just two goals in 47 attempts in the playoffs.
Crawford was saluted by the crowd after he stopped Dustin Penner on a quality opportunity late in the second, and the chants resumed when he pulled Kings forward Kyle Clifford off Toews during a scrum with 8:45 left.
''The guy grabbed him, got a couple free shots. I figured it was enough,'' Crawford said. ''I just decided to go in there and grab his head.''
Crawford was one of the top goalies in the NHL during the lockout-shortened regular season, and he has carried that into the playoffs. He has allowed just one goal in four of his last six games.
''He's the guy we want in net back there,'' Sharp said. ''He's proven it in the past. It's nice to see him finally get the credit that he deserves.''
NOTES: Kings rookie D Jake Muzzin was scratched after playing in the first 14 postseason games. ... Crawford was 1-1 with a 3.54 goals-against average against Los Angeles during the regular season.
Pacers-Heat Preview, Game 7, 06/03/2013.
By
As the final horn in a Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers was sounding, LeBron James walked toward several of his Miami Heat teammates to shake some hands and share a couple of quick words.
His message was clear: Get ready for Game 7.
Here comes the ultimate game. To the winner, a trip to the NBA Finals. To the loser, an offseason loaded with regret. It's that simple now for the champion Heat and the confident Pacers, who meet in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night in Miami - a perk the Heat earned by finishing with the league's best record this season.
''Each and every year there are 30 teams that would love to be a part of this, to have one game to advance to the NBA Finals,'' James said. ''And there's two teams that's in this position. And it's something that you can't substitute, this feeling. You can't substitute the atmosphere that we're going to be in on Monday night for both teams. We should all cherish this moment.''
When it's over Monday, only one club will be cherishing the outcome.
For the Heat, it's a chance to move into the finals for the third straight year and keep hope alive of winning a second straight title. For the Pacers, it's a chance to cap what would surely go into the books as one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history, considering that they finished 16 1/2 games behind the Heat in the regular season.
None of that matters much now. The Pacers have beaten Miami five of nine times this season. They need a sixth, or else it was all for naught.
''It is a closeout game and an elimination game,'' Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.
''Our approach right now is not if we lose we're out - our approach is if we win, we get to the finals. And that's what we're going for. We're going to give our best shot and try to win the Eastern Conference championship.''
Monday's winner will open the NBA Finals on Thursday against San Antonio.
History suggests that the odds are long for the Pacers. Since the NBA went to its current playoff format in 1984, home teams are 16-2 in Game 7's played in the conference finals or NBA Finals.
Then again, the Pacers were colossal underdogs heading into this series, and if it wasn't for a last-second collapse at the end of Game 1, they probably would already be East champs.
''It's going to be tough in their arena,'' Pacers guard Lance Stephenson said. ''We've just got to bring it. If we play aggressive like we do at home, we can get the 'W.'''
Indiana headed to Miami with enough luggage for an eight-day trip. If the Pacers win Game 7, they're headed to San Antonio, with no time to make a return swing through Indianapolis along the way.
''We believe we can win the series. We always have,'' Vogel said. ''We haven't been perfect this series, but we're going to need to be near perfect to win a Game 7 there.''
The Pacers had an off-the-court distraction to address Sunday. The team distributed an apology attributed to center Roy Hibbert, who used a gay slur in his postgame comments on Saturday, plus used a profanity to describe members of the media.
When the Pacers' flight left for Miami - it was reportedly delayed because of mechanical issues involving a battery - the NBA had not announced if it would discipline Hibbert.
''They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal views,'' Hibbert was quoted as saying in the statement released by the team. ''I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum, especially over live television.''
Vogel said he spoke with Hibbert about the matter Sunday, saying ''he obviously made a great mistake.''
On the court, though, Hibbert has had nothing to apologize for, dominating play inside while the Heat are struggling in countless ways.
Dwyane Wade's sore right knee - which has been an issue for about three months now - is not getting better anytime soon, and he's stopped even wanting to discuss how it's affecting his game. Chris Bosh said he needed to get back in the gym Sunday and regain some lost rhythm. Wade is averaging 12 points on 32 percent shooting in his last three games, Bosh just 6.3 points on 24 percent shooting in that same span.
''Just got to come out and play to win,'' Wade said. ''It's one game for both teams.''
Said James, when asked about the other two parts of Miami's Big Three: ''I mean, we can state the obvious. They're both struggling.''
They're hardly the only Heat players who picked the wrong time of year to go into a slide. Ray Allen is shooting 13 for 46 in this series, Shane Battier is at 2 for 16, and they're a combined 9 for 39 from 3-point range against the Pacers.
Mike Miller gave the Heat a big second-half boost as they tried to rally from a big deficit in Game 6, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra suggested that Miller could get some time in the series finale.
''Everything is on the table,'' Spoelstra said.
One roster tweak the Heat will make on Monday: Chris Andersen's one-game suspension for pushing Indiana's Tyler Hansbrough is now complete, and the Heat backup big man - who is 15 for 15 from the field in the series - will be available for Game 7.
So even on the cusp of elimination Sunday, Spoelstra was decidedly upbeat.
He lauded the Pacers and insisted that this series going the distance is a testament to the level of competition. He said the Heat didn't mind being pushed to the limit, and that his team would look at being in a Game 7 as ''a treasure.''
''You feel alive when you're tested, when there's adversity, when you have to reveal your character,'' Spoelstra said. ''Then when you do with that collectively, that is a special moment and a special feeling. There's nothing like it in pro sports ... arguably two of the top words in pro sports is 'Game 7.'''
The Heat had to win a Game 7 in the East finals at home last season, so they understand the pressure that will be there on Monday night. But in his postgame remarks Saturday, James was smiling, laughing on occasion, showing no signs of strain even though a season of the highest expectations is on the brink of ending earlier than anyone would find acceptable.
How he handles everything on Monday will probably determine if the Heat live to play another day in these playoffs.
''I probably will not be able to relax until the game starts,'' James said. ''You know, it's an opportunity for us. And like I said, that's what we had the best record in the league for. If we didn't take care of business on the road at some point in the playoffs, we could always fall back on this. We hate to be in this position, but it's an opportunity and we look forward to it on Monday.''
Trust issues between NFL, NFLPA could make it harder for players to accept help.
Posted by Mike Florio
On the surface, there’s no obvious connection between Dwight Freeney’s allegations of NFL collusion and receiver Titus Young’s reluctance to accept help from the league. But it’s possible that one is related to the other.
It’s a point former Chiefs G.M. Scott Pioli raised via email on Friday, a concept he’s mentioned in the past. The mistrust between the NFLPA and the NFL, as evidenced by Freeney’s claim of collusion, makes it harder for any player to take the leap of faith required when accepting a supposed no-strings-no-agenda offer of assistance from the NFL.
And while Young’s reluctance to accept help from the NFL potentially comes from Young’s issues, whatever they are, it doesn’t help if he senses that information harvested by the NFL could later be used against him in some way. Plenty of players believe that; if they didn’t, the league wouldn’t have disbanded the no-questions-asked ride service that had been made available to players who have had one or two (or more) too many drinks. As Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com pointed out last year, players believed the league was using the service as a way to spy on players.
If players are concerned about the NFL knowing that they drank too much, the players also would be concerned about the NFL knowing too much about their mental health.
While it’s unknown whether this had any impact on Titus Young’s stunning collapse from second-round draft pick to 11-charge defendant, the message for both the NFL and the NFLPA is that the players will benefit from an environment of genuine trust.
Freeney’s remarks show just how far the two sides have to go before trust can be restored.
Still, both sides should try, starting at the top of both organizations: Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. The players will benefit from it, and in turn the game will, too.
In Class Act Fashion, Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter Puts Family First.
The 37-year-old Outfielder Deserves Praise for Attending Son’s High School Graduation.
By Ricky Lindsay
COMMENTARY | If you weren't a fan of Torii Hunter before, you might have just become one.
The Detroit Tigers outfielder made headlines after announcing that he'll miss the first two games in the upcoming series against the Baltimore Orioles to be able to watch his two sons graduate from high school. During Hunter's absence, the Tigers will be forced to play with a 24-man roster since there is no designated list to place him on. The team would be without the 37-year-old regardless due to an elbow injury that occurred against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 29.
Hunter's decision to attend his son's graduation during the baseball season is not only commendable, but it's something rarely seen in professional sports. Other leagues might never have a player that experiences a situation similar to this because of a season much smaller than baseball's.
It's hard to imagine it happening, but like with any personal decision, Hunter is well aware of the possible backlash awaiting him.
"This is just once in a lifetime," Hunter told MLB.com. "I hope people forgive me for it."
It's really a shame that Hunter knows he has to ask for an apologize for taking the time to be a father. People may fail to realize that baseball is his career, and just like anyone else in the workforce, Hunter deserves some time off for these types of things as well.
Hunter's family lives in Texas, so he doesn't get to see them that often during baseball's long season. One can't fault him for wanting to be able to experience an irreplaceable moment in his sons' lives as it's likely he couldn't always be present for such occasions during his major-league career.
While baseball benefits from having someone like Hunter taking the field, his family misses out by not having him around for these types of things. Rather than scrutinize Hunter for his decision, commend him for being a class act and wanting to take the time to be a father to his children.
At the end of the day, some things are more important than a game, and Hunter's situation is a perfect example of this.
Kuchar holds on to win Memorial.
By
By
The Chicago Blackhawks celebrate after beating the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Sunday, June 2, 2013 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
It was a wrist shot for Andrew Shaw, who leaned back and yelled after his first-period score. Brent Seabrook got in on the action, and Bryan Bickell and Michal Handzus added two more goals on consecutive shots in the second.
And just like that, Jonathan Quick was gone.
The Chicago Blackhawks chased the Los Angeles Kings' standout goalie during an impressive display in the opening two periods of a 4-2 victory Sunday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
''It's a high-speed game. If we use our speed, we'll be all right,'' Shaw said. ''We played our game. That's the difference. The guys played good. We all competed for each other. We did everything we needed to do, keeping it deep in the zone.''
Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad added two assists apiece as the Blackhawks grabbed a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with their fifth consecutive victory.
Corey Crawford made 29 saves in another solid performance, drawing chants of ''Co-rey! Co-rey!'' from the capacity crowd at the United Center.
''We went through a little spurt there in the last series where we were doing the right things but the pucks weren't going in,'' Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said.
''So now we're getting the results we want. We can do what we're doing more often. We can do it better as well in the next few games.''
Game 3 is Tuesday night at Los Angeles, where the Kings have won 14 consecutive games, dating to the regular season. The Kings also lost their first two games of the playoffs at St. Louis before winning four straight to eliminate the Blues in the first round.
Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli scored for Los Angeles, but the Kings struggled to score without Mike Richards, who was scratched because of an undisclosed upper body injury. The defending Stanley Cup champions have 29 goals in 15 postseason games.
''You've got to find a way,'' Quick said. ''They did their job at home. We've got to go home and do our job now.''
Richards, who leads the Kings with 10 playoff points, was sidelined after taking a big hit from Dave Bolland in the final minutes of the Blackhawks' 2-1 victory on Saturday.
Kings coach Darryl Sutter said Richards was ''fine'' a couple of hours before the game, but the center was scratched from the lineup after participating in the pregame warmups.
''He was fine today, then I think just once his blood got pumping tonight, the adrenaline got going, there were symptoms,'' Sutter said. ''I went in right after warmup, he was sitting there and I said, 'Unless you're 100 percent, you're not playing.'''
Los Angeles forward Brad Richardson and defenseman Drew Doughty gingerly skated off at separate points of the first period, but both returned to the ice.
The series took on a more physical tone in the second game in two days - a rarity in the playoffs brought on by The Rolling Stones' tour.
The top-seeded Blackhawks also won the series opener in each of the first two rounds, but they dropped three in a row following their Game 1 victory against Detroit in the conference semifinals.
There was no such letdown this time.
''It was frustrating early on, that series against Detroit, but I think we learned a lot there,'' defenseman Duncan Keith said.
Shaw got Chicago off to a fast start, taking a nifty pass from Viktor Stalberg and beating Quick on the glove side just 1:56 into the game. Marian Hossa set up Seabrook in the final minute for a low liner into the left corner of the net. The defenseman put the Blackhawks into this round with an overtime goal in Game 7 against Detroit on Wednesday.
The Blackhawks added two more in the second, separated by just 2:09. Bickell scored a power-play goal on a rebound in front, and Handzus skated in and beat Quick to make it 4-0 at 9:20.
''We gave them too many Grade-A scoring chances, and they capitalized,'' Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said. ''You can't give up those opportunities and expect your goalie to bail you out every single time.''
The crowd of 21,824 roared after Handzus' second goal of the postseason, and cheered even louder when Quick skated off and was replaced by Jonathan Bernier.
Quick, last year's playoff MVP who had played every minute of this year's playoffs, finished with 13 saves.
''We had some nice shots. We had some high-quality stuff off the rush, as well, in that period,'' Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''I still think that's going to be an ongoing challenge with him.''
Carter converted a one-timer at 18:57 of the second, and Toffoli netted a power-play goal with 1:02 left in the game, but that was it for the Kings.
The Blackhawks killed three other power plays and have allowed just two goals in 47 attempts in the playoffs.
Crawford was saluted by the crowd after he stopped Dustin Penner on a quality opportunity late in the second, and the chants resumed when he pulled Kings forward Kyle Clifford off Toews during a scrum with 8:45 left.
''The guy grabbed him, got a couple free shots. I figured it was enough,'' Crawford said. ''I just decided to go in there and grab his head.''
Crawford was one of the top goalies in the NHL during the lockout-shortened regular season, and he has carried that into the playoffs. He has allowed just one goal in four of his last six games.
''He's the guy we want in net back there,'' Sharp said. ''He's proven it in the past. It's nice to see him finally get the credit that he deserves.''
NOTES: Kings rookie D Jake Muzzin was scratched after playing in the first 14 postseason games. ... Crawford was 1-1 with a 3.54 goals-against average against Los Angeles during the regular season.
Pacers-Heat Preview, Game 7, 06/03/2013.
By
As the final horn in a Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers was sounding, LeBron James walked toward several of his Miami Heat teammates to shake some hands and share a couple of quick words.
His message was clear: Get ready for Game 7.
Here comes the ultimate game. To the winner, a trip to the NBA Finals. To the loser, an offseason loaded with regret. It's that simple now for the champion Heat and the confident Pacers, who meet in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night in Miami - a perk the Heat earned by finishing with the league's best record this season.
''Each and every year there are 30 teams that would love to be a part of this, to have one game to advance to the NBA Finals,'' James said. ''And there's two teams that's in this position. And it's something that you can't substitute, this feeling. You can't substitute the atmosphere that we're going to be in on Monday night for both teams. We should all cherish this moment.''
When it's over Monday, only one club will be cherishing the outcome.
For the Heat, it's a chance to move into the finals for the third straight year and keep hope alive of winning a second straight title. For the Pacers, it's a chance to cap what would surely go into the books as one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history, considering that they finished 16 1/2 games behind the Heat in the regular season.
None of that matters much now. The Pacers have beaten Miami five of nine times this season. They need a sixth, or else it was all for naught.
''It is a closeout game and an elimination game,'' Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.
''Our approach right now is not if we lose we're out - our approach is if we win, we get to the finals. And that's what we're going for. We're going to give our best shot and try to win the Eastern Conference championship.''
Monday's winner will open the NBA Finals on Thursday against San Antonio.
History suggests that the odds are long for the Pacers. Since the NBA went to its current playoff format in 1984, home teams are 16-2 in Game 7's played in the conference finals or NBA Finals.
Then again, the Pacers were colossal underdogs heading into this series, and if it wasn't for a last-second collapse at the end of Game 1, they probably would already be East champs.
''It's going to be tough in their arena,'' Pacers guard Lance Stephenson said. ''We've just got to bring it. If we play aggressive like we do at home, we can get the 'W.'''
Indiana headed to Miami with enough luggage for an eight-day trip. If the Pacers win Game 7, they're headed to San Antonio, with no time to make a return swing through Indianapolis along the way.
''We believe we can win the series. We always have,'' Vogel said. ''We haven't been perfect this series, but we're going to need to be near perfect to win a Game 7 there.''
The Pacers had an off-the-court distraction to address Sunday. The team distributed an apology attributed to center Roy Hibbert, who used a gay slur in his postgame comments on Saturday, plus used a profanity to describe members of the media.
When the Pacers' flight left for Miami - it was reportedly delayed because of mechanical issues involving a battery - the NBA had not announced if it would discipline Hibbert.
''They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal views,'' Hibbert was quoted as saying in the statement released by the team. ''I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum, especially over live television.''
Vogel said he spoke with Hibbert about the matter Sunday, saying ''he obviously made a great mistake.''
On the court, though, Hibbert has had nothing to apologize for, dominating play inside while the Heat are struggling in countless ways.
Dwyane Wade's sore right knee - which has been an issue for about three months now - is not getting better anytime soon, and he's stopped even wanting to discuss how it's affecting his game. Chris Bosh said he needed to get back in the gym Sunday and regain some lost rhythm. Wade is averaging 12 points on 32 percent shooting in his last three games, Bosh just 6.3 points on 24 percent shooting in that same span.
''Just got to come out and play to win,'' Wade said. ''It's one game for both teams.''
Said James, when asked about the other two parts of Miami's Big Three: ''I mean, we can state the obvious. They're both struggling.''
They're hardly the only Heat players who picked the wrong time of year to go into a slide. Ray Allen is shooting 13 for 46 in this series, Shane Battier is at 2 for 16, and they're a combined 9 for 39 from 3-point range against the Pacers.
Mike Miller gave the Heat a big second-half boost as they tried to rally from a big deficit in Game 6, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra suggested that Miller could get some time in the series finale.
''Everything is on the table,'' Spoelstra said.
One roster tweak the Heat will make on Monday: Chris Andersen's one-game suspension for pushing Indiana's Tyler Hansbrough is now complete, and the Heat backup big man - who is 15 for 15 from the field in the series - will be available for Game 7.
So even on the cusp of elimination Sunday, Spoelstra was decidedly upbeat.
He lauded the Pacers and insisted that this series going the distance is a testament to the level of competition. He said the Heat didn't mind being pushed to the limit, and that his team would look at being in a Game 7 as ''a treasure.''
''You feel alive when you're tested, when there's adversity, when you have to reveal your character,'' Spoelstra said. ''Then when you do with that collectively, that is a special moment and a special feeling. There's nothing like it in pro sports ... arguably two of the top words in pro sports is 'Game 7.'''
The Heat had to win a Game 7 in the East finals at home last season, so they understand the pressure that will be there on Monday night. But in his postgame remarks Saturday, James was smiling, laughing on occasion, showing no signs of strain even though a season of the highest expectations is on the brink of ending earlier than anyone would find acceptable.
How he handles everything on Monday will probably determine if the Heat live to play another day in these playoffs.
''I probably will not be able to relax until the game starts,'' James said. ''You know, it's an opportunity for us. And like I said, that's what we had the best record in the league for. If we didn't take care of business on the road at some point in the playoffs, we could always fall back on this. We hate to be in this position, but it's an opportunity and we look forward to it on Monday.''
Trust issues between NFL, NFLPA could make it harder for players to accept help.
Posted by Mike Florio
On the surface, there’s no obvious connection between Dwight Freeney’s allegations of NFL collusion and receiver Titus Young’s reluctance to accept help from the league. But it’s possible that one is related to the other.
It’s a point former Chiefs G.M. Scott Pioli raised via email on Friday, a concept he’s mentioned in the past. The mistrust between the NFLPA and the NFL, as evidenced by Freeney’s claim of collusion, makes it harder for any player to take the leap of faith required when accepting a supposed no-strings-no-agenda offer of assistance from the NFL.
And while Young’s reluctance to accept help from the NFL potentially comes from Young’s issues, whatever they are, it doesn’t help if he senses that information harvested by the NFL could later be used against him in some way. Plenty of players believe that; if they didn’t, the league wouldn’t have disbanded the no-questions-asked ride service that had been made available to players who have had one or two (or more) too many drinks. As Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com pointed out last year, players believed the league was using the service as a way to spy on players.
If players are concerned about the NFL knowing that they drank too much, the players also would be concerned about the NFL knowing too much about their mental health.
While it’s unknown whether this had any impact on Titus Young’s stunning collapse from second-round draft pick to 11-charge defendant, the message for both the NFL and the NFLPA is that the players will benefit from an environment of genuine trust.
Freeney’s remarks show just how far the two sides have to go before trust can be restored.
Still, both sides should try, starting at the top of both organizations: Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. The players will benefit from it, and in turn the game will, too.
In Class Act Fashion, Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter Puts Family First.
The 37-year-old Outfielder Deserves Praise for Attending Son’s High School Graduation.
By Ricky Lindsay
COMMENTARY | If you weren't a fan of Torii Hunter before, you might have just become one.
The Detroit Tigers outfielder made headlines after announcing that he'll miss the first two games in the upcoming series against the Baltimore Orioles to be able to watch his two sons graduate from high school. During Hunter's absence, the Tigers will be forced to play with a 24-man roster since there is no designated list to place him on. The team would be without the 37-year-old regardless due to an elbow injury that occurred against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 29.
Hunter's decision to attend his son's graduation during the baseball season is not only commendable, but it's something rarely seen in professional sports. Other leagues might never have a player that experiences a situation similar to this because of a season much smaller than baseball's.
It's hard to imagine it happening, but like with any personal decision, Hunter is well aware of the possible backlash awaiting him.
"This is just once in a lifetime," Hunter told MLB.com. "I hope people forgive me for it."
It's really a shame that Hunter knows he has to ask for an apologize for taking the time to be a father. People may fail to realize that baseball is his career, and just like anyone else in the workforce, Hunter deserves some time off for these types of things as well.
Hunter's family lives in Texas, so he doesn't get to see them that often during baseball's long season. One can't fault him for wanting to be able to experience an irreplaceable moment in his sons' lives as it's likely he couldn't always be present for such occasions during his major-league career.
While baseball benefits from having someone like Hunter taking the field, his family misses out by not having him around for these types of things. Rather than scrutinize Hunter for his decision, commend him for being a class act and wanting to take the time to be a father to his children.
At the end of the day, some things are more important than a game, and Hunter's situation is a perfect example of this.
Kuchar holds on to win Memorial.
By
Matt Kuchar was in a good spot Sunday at the Memorial. He had his first multiple-win season, and an audience with tournament host Jack Nicklaus.
Needing two putts from 20 feet to hold off a late charge from Kevin Chappell, Kuchar punctuated a remarkably steady final round by making the birdie putt for a 4-under 68 and a two-shot victory at Muirfield Village. He joined Tiger Woods as the only players with more than one win this year on the PGA Tour.
Kuchar, who goes to a career-best No. 4 in the world, won the Match Play Championship in late February.
Tiger Woods made another triple bogey - two shots from a bunker, three putts from 15 feet on the fringe - at the par-3 12th and had to rally for an even-par 72. Woods came into the Memorial having won three times in his last four starts, and left with the second-highest score of his career at 8-over 296.
The final round was a snoozer until the very end, when Chappell birdied three of his last four holes. His approach to the 18th settled within tap-in range for birdie, putting a little extra pressure on Kuchar. When the putt dropped, he flashed that easy smile and thrust his fist into the air as his 3-year-old son Carson gave Nicklaus a high-five.
''This is such an amazing feeling. This never gets old,'' said Kuchar, who won for the sixth time in his career. ''To have Jack Nicklaus congratulate me is a real treat. This is as special as it gets.''
Chappell, who missed four birdie attempts inside 10 feet on the front nine, closed with a 4-under 68.
''He's world class with that putter, and I figured it was over with,'' Chappell said of Kuchar's final putt.
Kyle Stanley ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch to end the front nine and pull within one shot, but he fell back with a bogey on the par-5 11th and never caught up.
Stanley fell out of a tie for second on the 17th hole, and it was costly. A runner-up finish would have put him inside the top 50 and allowed him to skip 36 holes of U.S.
Open qualifying on Monday. He closed with a 71 and finished alone in third, which will move him to just inside the top 60.
The top 60 after next week are exempt to the U.S. Open.
''Mentally, I'm pretty drained right now,'' Stanley said. ''I would have shot a million this week if I didn't make putts. So I'm really happy about that.''
Kuchar finished at 12-under 276 and will be looked upon as one of the favorites in two weeks at the U.S. Open. He was runner-up last week at the Colonial.
Woods had little to cheer in what can only be written off as a most peculiar week. He was the defending champion and a five-time winner at Muirfield Village. He had won three of his last four tournaments - the exception was a tie for fourth at the Masters - and then he turned in some shocking scores. Woods had a 44 on the back nine Saturday, the worst 9-hole score of his pro career. He tied for 65th and was 20 shots behind, the largest deficit in a full-field event.
Woods was 30 shots behind at Firestone in 2010 at the depth of his most recent slump, and he was 20 shots behind in the 1996 Tour Championship at age 20. Both those tournaments have limited fields without a cut.
''It happens. It happens to us all,'' Woods said. ''Go home next week and practice.''
He attributed this week to his putting, and it was hard to argue. Woods is leading the tour in the key putting statistic, and he was 71st out of 73 players this week. He had a pair of three-putts from inside 5 feet.
Rory McIlroy closed with a 72 and finished 18 shots behind.
Kuchar was at his best off the tee. He didn't miss a fairway until the 17th hole, when he found a bunker to the right of the fairway. Chappell, coming off a 10-foot par save on the 16th hole, made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th to get within two shots.
Kuchar had to make a 5-foot par putt to keep the two-shot margin, and Chappell kept coming at him. He started walking after his approach to the 18th when he hit it.
''There at the end, it got scary,'' Kuchar said. ''He made a great run at the end.''
Kuchar never looks as though he is under much stress, and for so much of Sunday, he wasn't.
Starting the final round with a two-shot lead, he made a 15-foot birdie putt on the opening hole and was at least three shots clear until Stanley made birdies on the eighth and ninth holes to pull within one shot going to the back nine.
Stanley wasn't a threat for long, though.
Two holes later, Kuchar hit a nifty wedge to a tight pin for a short birdie on the par-5 11th, while Stanley ran into trouble off the tee, missed the green well to the right with his third shot and took bogey.
Chappell came to life with a birdie on the 13th hole, and he narrowly missed a 20-foot eagle putt on the 15th. Even so, Kuchar kept his distance all the way until he rolled in that last birdie putt that only counted toward the final margin.
Scott Stallings matched the low score of the final round with a 67 and tied for fourth with Bill Haas, who had a 71.
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Stewart wins Cup race at Dover.
By
With one big move, Tony Stewart put Juan Pablo Montoya and a sluggish season well behind him.
After a mundane start, Stewart is back in Victory Lane - and in the thick of Chase contention.
Stewart's outside pass on Montoya with three laps left was enough to win Sunday at Dover International Speedway and snap a 30-race winless streak.
''Our guys at our shop have been digging,'' Stewart said. ''None of these guys get down. We have been down, but they haven't gotten down. That is what carries you to days like today at the end of the day.''
Stewart was stuck in 20th in the standings and didn't even have a top-finish before he rallied in Dover. Stewart hadn't won on the concrete mile track since he swept both Cup races in 2000.
The No. 14 team erupted in celebration in the pits after winning for the first time since last July in Daytona.
It was a long time coming for the two-time Cup champ.
''It's been such a tough year,'' Stewart said.
It got a little easier Sunday. Stewart stoutly defended crew chief Steve Addington's performance this year and thanked Hendrick Motorsports for supplying engines to his Stewart-Haas Racing team.
He also knows their work is far from finished.
''We realize this could put the 14 team in contention to make the Chase,'' he said. ''That's not good enough.''
Meaning, he wants to not only make the 12-driver field, but know he's a top contender to win another championship. His 48th career win pushed him to 16th in the points standings and aided his cause for a wild-card spot. The two drivers in the 11th to 20th spot in the standings with the most wins earn a slot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Stewart is the only driver in those spots with a win.
''It's been very hard when you have the start of the season that we had,'' Stewart said.
''You start questioning, you start doubting, you start looking for answers that you don't have the knowledge to diagnose. That makes you feel very helpless at times.''
Seven-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson appeared to have the car to beat, but jumped a restart and had to serve a pass-through penalty. Johnson argued over the radio and stayed on the track before he finally hit pit road.
With Johnson out of the picture, Montoya and Stewart battled for the lead the rest of the race.
Jeff Gordon was third, followed by Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. NASCAR said Keselowski, the reigning series champion, failed post-race inspection because the entire front of his No. 2 Ford was too low. This was crew chief Paul Wolfe's first race back after a two-race suspension for unapproved parts.
Stewart tested at Dover and hoped that would help at a track that's given him fits the last few years. He hadn't finished better than 20th in his last four races at Dover.
He might not have gotten this win had Johnson not been penalized with about 19 laps left. Johnson jumped ahead of Montoya out of the restart box and NASCAR quickly threw the black flag.
''We certainly had the winning car,'' Johnson said. ''We'll have to come back and do it in the fall.''
Montoya's only two career Cup victories came on road courses. He tried to play the spoiler after Johnson's penalty but just didn't have enough to hold off a hard-charging Stewart.
''The car was a little bit too much of a handful at the end,'' Montoya said. ''We tried. I think it was too hot on the tires the run before and our left tires were completely gone.''
Johnson, who kept the points lead, finished 17th.
''He just wanted to get the jump on me,'' Montoya said. ''He just jumped it too much. I would have tried to do the same.''
Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., both in the top 10 in points entering the race, made early exits because of engine issues.
Pole sitter Denny Hamlin finished 34th after he hit the wall late in the race. Hamlin needed a big points day to try and crack the top 20 if he has any hope at a Chase for the Sprint Cup championship wild-card berth. Hamlin is 26th in the standings, 122 points out of 10th and 74 points out of 20th.
Few drivers run as well deep into the season as Stewart. It might be time again for him to get rolling.
''It's not a fix-all for what we've got going on,'' Addington said. ''It's a step in the right direction.''
Stewart-Haas Racing appeared to turn a corner last week at Charlotte after Ryan Newman finished sixth and Stewart was seventh.
Stewart said one strong weekend wasn't going to cure all of SHR's problems.
Make it two and with a big win in hand.
''We got two weeks of momentum under our belt now at two totally different race tracks,'' Stewart said. ''That is big. Momentum is huge in this sport. We still got a lot of work to do. We won't sit.''
USA 4-3 Germany: Altidore snaps drought as Klinsmann's USA tops Germany.
By Avi Creditor | Goal.com
Jozy Altidore's drought is over, and the U.S. men's national team has a boatload of momentum heading into three vital World Cup qualifiers later this month.
Altidore's first-half goal -- his first for the USA in 19 months -- set the tone for a 4-3 win over Germany in the Centennial Celebration match in front of 47,359 at RFK Stadium on Sunday. Clint Dempsey scored two goals in the second half to put away the result, as the Americans beat Germany for the first time since the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Altidore broke his drought in the 13th minute, hitting a wondrous first-time volley off a cross from Graham Zusi. He had not scored in the run of play for the USA since June 2011, and it was his first international goal since a penalty kick against Slovenia in November 2011.
Four minutes later, the Americans were gifted a goal, as German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen failed to handle Benedikt Howedes' backpass and allowed the ball to creep into the low left corner of his goal.Miroslav Klose entered the match a goal behind Gerd Muller's German record of 68 international goals, and he nearly brought Germany within 2-1 in the 24th minute. He split the U.S. center backs and finished past Tim Howard, but he was judged to be offside.
Per Mertesacker had an earlier chance to open the scoring, but the Arsenal defender fluffed his chance from close range. Germany got on the board in the 52nd minute, though, with Heiko Westermann heading home Max Kruse's corner kick. The Hamburg defender gained separation from Omar Gonzalez and connected for a clean header to slice the deficit in half.
Clint Dempsey restored the two-goal edge in the 60th minute, blasting home an effort off a cross from Altidore. The forward latched onto a long ball from Jermaine Jones, taking it down off his chest. Even though his touch took him away from goal, he remained patient and spotted both Michael Bradley and Dempsey in the box. The Tottenham attacker made no mistake with his first-time hit to make it 3-1.
Dempsey added his second in spectacular fashion minutes later, as he put a perfectly placed left-footed hit from long range past ter Stegen to bring the capacity crowd to a fever pitch. Even though Kruse's vicious right-footed strike and Draxler's opportunistic tap-in brought Germany within 4-3, the USA saw out the victory, ensuring that U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann defeated his former national side and assistant coach, Germany manager Joachim Low.
Of note in the U.S. lineup was that Seattle Sounders midfielder Brad Evans was handed the start at right back, and he more than held his own in providing service down the right flank while marking up Lukas Podolski. Fabian Johnson moved into an advanced winger role and played the first half before coming off in favor of Brad Davis.
Altidore's first-half goal -- his first for the USA in 19 months -- set the tone for a 4-3 win over Germany in the Centennial Celebration match in front of 47,359 at RFK Stadium on Sunday. Clint Dempsey scored two goals in the second half to put away the result, as the Americans beat Germany for the first time since the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Altidore broke his drought in the 13th minute, hitting a wondrous first-time volley off a cross from Graham Zusi. He had not scored in the run of play for the USA since June 2011, and it was his first international goal since a penalty kick against Slovenia in November 2011.
Four minutes later, the Americans were gifted a goal, as German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen failed to handle Benedikt Howedes' backpass and allowed the ball to creep into the low left corner of his goal.Miroslav Klose entered the match a goal behind Gerd Muller's German record of 68 international goals, and he nearly brought Germany within 2-1 in the 24th minute. He split the U.S. center backs and finished past Tim Howard, but he was judged to be offside.
Per Mertesacker had an earlier chance to open the scoring, but the Arsenal defender fluffed his chance from close range. Germany got on the board in the 52nd minute, though, with Heiko Westermann heading home Max Kruse's corner kick. The Hamburg defender gained separation from Omar Gonzalez and connected for a clean header to slice the deficit in half.
Clint Dempsey restored the two-goal edge in the 60th minute, blasting home an effort off a cross from Altidore. The forward latched onto a long ball from Jermaine Jones, taking it down off his chest. Even though his touch took him away from goal, he remained patient and spotted both Michael Bradley and Dempsey in the box. The Tottenham attacker made no mistake with his first-time hit to make it 3-1.
Dempsey added his second in spectacular fashion minutes later, as he put a perfectly placed left-footed hit from long range past ter Stegen to bring the capacity crowd to a fever pitch. Even though Kruse's vicious right-footed strike and Draxler's opportunistic tap-in brought Germany within 4-3, the USA saw out the victory, ensuring that U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann defeated his former national side and assistant coach, Germany manager Joachim Low.
Of note in the U.S. lineup was that Seattle Sounders midfielder Brad Evans was handed the start at right back, and he more than held his own in providing service down the right flank while marking up Lukas Podolski. Fabian Johnson moved into an advanced winger role and played the first half before coming off in favor of Brad Davis.
French Open, Day 8: Federer survives as Serena continues to make it look easy.
By Shane Bacon
Gilles Simon, Roger Federer — Getty Images
Without a doubt one of the best matches of this French Open happened on Sunday at Roland Garros, when Roger Federer held off Frenchman Gilles Simon in five sets.
The problem was, it might not have been better than Tommy Robredo versus Nicolas Almagro. Robredo became the first man in 86 years to win three Grand Slam matches after dropping the first two sets in each of them, taking out Almagro 6-7 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
The turnaround was incredible, as was Federer's, and that stat seems like one we won't see in a very long time.
Serena Williams won Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-3, making it four straight matches where Serena has dropped four game or less.
This around the post shot by Roger Federer early in his fourth round match was one of the better shots of the tournament thus far, and got a loud cheer from the Roland Garros crowd.
Harry Bourchier — Getty Images
It might be called the boys' division, but Harry Bourchier dresses like an adult. The Australian looked sharp in his greens even if his game didn't, losing his first round match to Jorge Brian Panta.
Sara Errani — Getty ImagesIt was a great three set win for Sara Errani, but that shirt needs to get bounced from her wardrobe.
Monday in Paris will give us Rafael Nadal, Tommy Haas and the much-anticipated match between American Sloane Stephens and defending champion Maria Sharapova. The two played earlier this year on clay in Rome, with Sharapova cruising 6-2, 6-1.
Baseball results, Sunday, 06/02/2013.
Reuters
Results from the MLB games on Sunday (home team in CAPS)
Tampa Bay 11 CLEVELAND 3
MIAMI 11 NY Mets 6
BALTIMORE 4 Detroit 2
PHILADELPHIA 7 Milwaukee 5
PITTSBURGH 5 Cincinnati 4 (11 innings)
ATLANTA 6 Washington 3
MINNESOTA 10 Seattle 0
San Francisco 4 ST. LOUIS 2
Arizona 8 CHICAGO CUBS 4
TEXAS 3 Kansas City 1
Houston 5 LA ANGELS 4
OAKLAND 2 Chicago White Sox 0
COLORADO 7 LA Dodgers 2
Boston 3 NY YANKEES 0 (6 innings)
Toronto 7 SAN DIEGO 4 (11 innings)
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