Sports Quote of the Day:
"Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority." ~ Vince Lombardi, Legendary NFL Football Coach
Are you ready for some football? No seriously, are you ready for some football?
Are you ready for some football? No seriously, are you ready for some football?
If you are, please read the link below!!!
Link: http://allsportsamerica.blogspot.com/2013/07/are-you-ready-for-some-football-no.html
Remember, (1) Competition breeds excellence, (2) You can't win ($$$) if you aren't in and (3) The odds are better than the Lottery!!!
Remember, (1) Competition breeds excellence, (2) You can't win ($$$) if you aren't in and (3) The odds are better than the Lottery!!!
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Chicago Bears: Listing the Top Offseason Moves for Each NFC North Team
By Billy Grayson
COMMENTARY | Every year, each NFL team goes through a myriad of change on its roster. Players are cut or aren't re-signed, rookies are drafted, and undrafted rookies often crack final 53-man rosters.
With the NFC North having been so competitive last season, each team underwent lots of change to attempt to put their teams over the hump. For some (Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings), it was about remaining in the playoffs; another (Chicago Bears) trying to get over the hump and break in after barely missing out last year; and a final one (Detroit Lions) hoping to resurrect its successes from years prior.
Here are the top offseason moves for each NFC North team, listed alphabetically:
Chicago Bears: Signing LT Jermon Bushrod (UFA, New Orleans Saints)
The Bears acted quickly this offseason when free agency began, locking up Bushrod on the day free agency started to a five-year deal worth up to $35 million ($17 million guaranteed) in hopes that he would shore up their offensive line problems from the last few years. Under former head coach Lovie Smith, the Bears tried out numerous guys at left tackle, from Chris Williams to Gabe Carimi to J'Marcus Webb, who has now shifted to right tackle. None of them worked, and it was apparent that in order for the Bears' offense to reach its maximum potential, they would need to do a better job of protecting QB Jay Cutler's blindside.
Cutler enters the final year of his contract, and the hope is that he and new head coach and offensive guru Marc Trestman will develop a beautiful relationship. The key, though, will be keeping Cutler healthy and upright. That all starts with Bushrod's ability to contain each opponents best pass rusher.
Much has been made of QB Matthew Stafford's big, powerful arm, the unbelievable abilities of WR Calvin Johnson, and the aerial attack that the Lions have bolstered in the past. From 2010-2012, the Lions have finished third, first, and first in passing attempts in the NFL, including Stafford's single-season record of 727 set last season. Opponents know that the Lions love to air it out, so they gear up to stop the pass.
This was the Lions' downfall last season on offense, but bringing in Bush this season should help shore up their running game. Bush has often been criticized as not being a between-the-tackles or capable goal-line runner, but he will offer a nice change of pace to Mikel Leshoure, a player marred by injury since he entered the league. The key for Bush and the Lions is whether or not they'll commit to running the ball 25+ times/game; if they do that, more balance on offense should lead to more victories in the win column.
For all that has been made about the Lions' passing attack, few would argue that the most potent in this division belongs to Packers, led by QB Aaron Rodgers. For years under the guidance of head coach Mike McCarthy, they have been able to get away with spreading the field out, spreading the ball around to their plethora of talented receivers, and only running when they have to.
It finally caught up to them last season when the San Francisco 49ers ran the ball and controlled the clock in the NFC divisional playoff matchup, one that Green Bay lost 45-31. The Packers have longed for a running game that can take the pressure off of Rodgers, and hope that the pair of rookies with vastly different styles can aid in that department. Lacy, listed at 5 feel 11 inches and 230 pounds, will be the bruiser and short-yardage back the Packers have so desperately needed (although Jon Kuhn did perform adequately in that role last season). Franklin, at 5-10 and 205 pounds, will be the speed back and more than likely the workhorse who gets the majority of the carries. It will be interesting to see over the course of the season how this back-by-committee tandem works and if one or the other will be able to become the lead back.
Minnesota Vikings: Drafting DT Shariff Floyd (23rd overall)
The Vikings badly needed an infusion of youth and found able replacements for departed veterans Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield and Percy Harvin. Floyd, drafted out of Florida, was projected by many to be a top 5 pick on draft night. He slid all the way down to 23, and the Vikings traded into the first round to acquire him.
Already set at the DE position with Jared Allen, they view Floyd as a pass-rushing DT alongside veteran Kevin Williams. Being able to get pressure with the front 4 D-linemen is key in this division, and the hope is that this will alleviate some of the double teams Allen constantly faces. If Floyd is able to develop quickly, the Vikings' D-line could continue to be one of the top units in football. Look for this move to help improve a passing defense that finished 23rd in the league in passing yards allowed (3,908) last season.
NFL teams trending toward no tackling in camp.
By
NFL teams trending toward no tackling in camp.
By
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? 30 in 30: Stability makes Blackhawks favorite again.
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com senior writer
Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville predictably doesn't want to discuss or even utter the word "dynasty," not when it comes to his team, which is the closest thing the NHL has to a present-day dynasty with two Stanley Cup championships in the past four seasons.
"In today's game it's tough to even think like that with the significant changes to your roster," Quenneville told NHL.com.
Except the changes the Blackhawks have made since they won the Cup in Boston on June 24 aren't that significant, at least when compared to what they went through in the months after winning the Cup in Philadelphia on June 9, 2010.
Chicago experienced a roster overhaul necessitated by the NHL salary cap in 2010, losing eight players who suited up for Game 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers before the next season started. This summer, general manager Stan Bowman chose to trade Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik and not re-sign Viktor Stalberg or Ray Emery, but those are the only subtractions from the lineup Quenneville used in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.Emery, the backup goaltender, didn't play in the game. Bolland scored the winning goal.
With Bryan Bickell, Michal Rozsival, Michal Handzus, Marcus Kruger and Nick Leddy all retained with new contracts, the Blackhawks' roster for this coming season isn't all that different from last season, when not only did they win the Cup but had a historic start, going an NHL-record 24 straight games without a regulation loss to start the season.
With the salary cap designed to be the great equalizer, "dynasty" may be a dangerous word in the NHL today. The Blackhawks, though, could be on their way to becoming a legitimate one. They just don't want to recognize it publicly.
"The will to win it again will definitely be in place because we know the character these guys have and what they bring … but the opportunity to prove that [a dynasty] is not what we're trying to prove," Quenneville said. "We're just trying to win and be successful. It comes with it. It's been a nice start to these guys' careers and they should be proud of what they have achieved, but I don't think anyone is satisfied."
Nor is anyone in Chicago guaranteeing the Blackhawks will win the Cup again next season even though they are the August favorite to come out of the Western Conference. Like every team, the Blackhawks have some issues to iron out.
The Bolland trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs created an opening at center, and because Quenneville would prefer to use Handzus in a smaller role than he had in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, the Blackhawks are going to hold open tryouts for the No. 2 center position. Brandon Pirri and Brandon Saad are the leading candidates.
Pirri has spent the past three seasons in the American Hockey League, leading the league in scoring last season with 75 points in 76 games. Saad was a left wing for the Blackhawks last season, but Quenneville said he played center in his development years and the coach wants to give him a look there in camp.
Saad] with the puck is a good thing," Quenneville said. "He's big, protects it well, and defensively he's been fine on the wall. Down low you've got a little bit more responsibility in our system for what you have to do, but I think he's capable of grabbing it. We'll see."
Quenneville also mentioned Kruger, Andrew Shaw and Drew Leblanc as candidates. Quenneville called Handzus the safe option should nothing else work out, and Sharp could move back to center if need be, but the team prefers him playing on the left side.
"I'm not concerned because we've got about six or seven different options and you know something is going to work," Quenneville said. "That's how I see it."
Bowman gave Bickell a four-year, $16 million contract based off of his breakout performance in the postseason, when he finished second on the team with 17 points and tied for second with nine goals, establishing a significant role on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
That's where the Blackhawks want Bickell to be this season, but he has to play up to the level of his contract.
"He has all the ingredients you want in a power forward," Quenneville said of Bickell (6-foot-4, 233 pounds). "He's big, strong, can shoot, can hit, can play tough, has a nice set of hands. The consistency is what kept him away from playing up there regularly. That's the challenge.
"I think he's capable of doing it, but the everyday stuff and the challenges that come with that consistency is what we're going to be pushing him for and he's going to be striving for as well. It should be a good progression for him in the development of his career."
By trading Frolik to the Winnipeg Jets, Bowman gambled by dealing away one of Chicago's top penalty-killing forwards. Frolik and Kruger were on in every big situation on the PK, but now the Blackhawks need someone to step into that role.
Quenneville would prefer it be someone who doesn't play a prominent 5-on-5 or power-play role, so he's eyeing 25-year-old right wing Ben Smith, who first has to make the team in training camp. Smith was the surprise last-minute replacement for injured Marian Hossa in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Smith has played in 20 regular-season games and eight playoff games.
"Hopefully that guy who gets the opportunity, which is good, quality ice time, can fit well with Kruger," Quenneville said.
There are other unknown issues, such as how will Corey Crawford get along with new backup goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and their yet-to-be-named goalie coach (Stephane Waite left for the Montreal Canadiens), but the point remains that Chicago has a legitimate chance to repeat, an opportunity to become a modern-day dynasty.
Maybe then Quenneville will at least say the word.
"In today's game it's tough to even think like that with the significant changes to your roster," Quenneville told NHL.com.
Except the changes the Blackhawks have made since they won the Cup in Boston on June 24 aren't that significant, at least when compared to what they went through in the months after winning the Cup in Philadelphia on June 9, 2010.
Chicago experienced a roster overhaul necessitated by the NHL salary cap in 2010, losing eight players who suited up for Game 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers before the next season started. This summer, general manager Stan Bowman chose to trade Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik and not re-sign Viktor Stalberg or Ray Emery, but those are the only subtractions from the lineup Quenneville used in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.Emery, the backup goaltender, didn't play in the game. Bolland scored the winning goal.
With Bryan Bickell, Michal Rozsival, Michal Handzus, Marcus Kruger and Nick Leddy all retained with new contracts, the Blackhawks' roster for this coming season isn't all that different from last season, when not only did they win the Cup but had a historic start, going an NHL-record 24 straight games without a regulation loss to start the season.
With the salary cap designed to be the great equalizer, "dynasty" may be a dangerous word in the NHL today. The Blackhawks, though, could be on their way to becoming a legitimate one. They just don't want to recognize it publicly.
"The will to win it again will definitely be in place because we know the character these guys have and what they bring … but the opportunity to prove that [a dynasty] is not what we're trying to prove," Quenneville said. "We're just trying to win and be successful. It comes with it. It's been a nice start to these guys' careers and they should be proud of what they have achieved, but I don't think anyone is satisfied."
Nor is anyone in Chicago guaranteeing the Blackhawks will win the Cup again next season even though they are the August favorite to come out of the Western Conference. Like every team, the Blackhawks have some issues to iron out.
The Bolland trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs created an opening at center, and because Quenneville would prefer to use Handzus in a smaller role than he had in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, the Blackhawks are going to hold open tryouts for the No. 2 center position. Brandon Pirri and Brandon Saad are the leading candidates.
Pirri has spent the past three seasons in the American Hockey League, leading the league in scoring last season with 75 points in 76 games. Saad was a left wing for the Blackhawks last season, but Quenneville said he played center in his development years and the coach wants to give him a look there in camp.
Saad] with the puck is a good thing," Quenneville said. "He's big, protects it well, and defensively he's been fine on the wall. Down low you've got a little bit more responsibility in our system for what you have to do, but I think he's capable of grabbing it. We'll see."
Quenneville also mentioned Kruger, Andrew Shaw and Drew Leblanc as candidates. Quenneville called Handzus the safe option should nothing else work out, and Sharp could move back to center if need be, but the team prefers him playing on the left side.
"I'm not concerned because we've got about six or seven different options and you know something is going to work," Quenneville said. "That's how I see it."
Bowman gave Bickell a four-year, $16 million contract based off of his breakout performance in the postseason, when he finished second on the team with 17 points and tied for second with nine goals, establishing a significant role on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
That's where the Blackhawks want Bickell to be this season, but he has to play up to the level of his contract.
"He has all the ingredients you want in a power forward," Quenneville said of Bickell (6-foot-4, 233 pounds). "He's big, strong, can shoot, can hit, can play tough, has a nice set of hands. The consistency is what kept him away from playing up there regularly. That's the challenge.
"I think he's capable of doing it, but the everyday stuff and the challenges that come with that consistency is what we're going to be pushing him for and he's going to be striving for as well. It should be a good progression for him in the development of his career."
By trading Frolik to the Winnipeg Jets, Bowman gambled by dealing away one of Chicago's top penalty-killing forwards. Frolik and Kruger were on in every big situation on the PK, but now the Blackhawks need someone to step into that role.
Quenneville would prefer it be someone who doesn't play a prominent 5-on-5 or power-play role, so he's eyeing 25-year-old right wing Ben Smith, who first has to make the team in training camp. Smith was the surprise last-minute replacement for injured Marian Hossa in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Smith has played in 20 regular-season games and eight playoff games.
"Hopefully that guy who gets the opportunity, which is good, quality ice time, can fit well with Kruger," Quenneville said.
There are other unknown issues, such as how will Corey Crawford get along with new backup goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and their yet-to-be-named goalie coach (Stephane Waite left for the Montreal Canadiens), but the point remains that Chicago has a legitimate chance to repeat, an opportunity to become a modern-day dynasty.
Maybe then Quenneville will at least say the word.
BLACKHAWKS' OFFSEASON OUTLOOK
Additions: G Nikolai Khabibulin, D Theo Peckham
Subtractions: C Dave Bolland, RW Michael Frolik, RW Viktor Stalberg, G Ray Emery, LW Daniel Carcillo, D Steve Montador, LW Rostislav Olesz
UFAs: RW Jamal Mayers
Promotion candidates: C Brandon Pirri, RW Ben Smith, LW Jeremy Morin, RW Jimmy Hayes, D Adam Clendenning, C Drew LeBlanc
PGA Championship: Scott, Furyk tied for lead at Oak Hill.
By
Adam Scott began the final major of the year with a tee shot deep into the trees. He ended the opening round of the PGA Championship by having to gouge out of deep rough. It was the golf in between that was some of the best he has ever played, even for an Australian with a green jacket.
Showing that he's not satisfied as only being a Masters champion, Scott ran off five straight birdies early in his round Thursday on soft and vulnerable Oak Hill, and a 15-foot par putt at the end gave him a 5-under 65 and a share of the lead with Jim Furyk.
''Probably the best run I've ever had,'' Scott said of his five straight birdies. ''I just hit really nice shots and didn't leave myself too much work. You have to take advantage of that if you're feeling that. It was a dream start after kind of a nervous first couple of holes.''
It felt like an easy start to so many others.
Oak Hill has such a strong reputation that it has yielded only 10 scores under par over 72 holes in five previous major championships. The last time the PGA Championship was held on this Donald Ross design in 2003, there were only 12 rounds under par on the first day.
But with overnight rain, humid conditions and a 71-minute delay for storms in the afternoon, Thursday might be as easy as it gets. Scott and Furyk had plenty of company, two of 35 players who broke par.
Tiger Woods was not among them.
The world's No. 1 player made only two birdies despite playing in the still of the morning, and he watched his round fall apart with a bogey on par-5 fourth and a double bogey on his final hole when his flop shot out of a deep rough floated into a bunker. Woods had a 71, not a bad start at Oak Hill, except on this day.
''The round realistically could have been under par easily,'' Woods said.
Furyk, who won his lone major at the U.S. Open in 2003 at Olympia Fields, has gone nearly three years since his last win at the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup and win PGA Tour player of the year. Still fresh are the four close calls from a year ago, including the U.S. Open.
He was as steady as Scott, rarely putting himself in trouble until the end of the round. Furyk missed the fairway to the right and had to pitch out because of thick rough and trees blocking his way to the green. That led to his only bogey, but still his lowest first-round score in 19 appearances at the PGA Championship.
''Usually disappointed with ending the day on a bogey,'' Furyk said. ''But you know, 65, PGA, is not so bad.''
David Hearn of Canada, an alternate until a week ago, had a 66 in the morning. Also at 66 was Lee Westwood, who had his best score ever in the PGA and offered evidence that there was no hangover from losing a 54-hole lead in the British Open last month.
There were no record scores at Oak Hill despite the soft conditions, just a lot of low rounds.
''If you don't hit it in the fairways, then you won't score well,'' Westwood said. ''These guys are good. There are a lot of good players playing in the tournament. Somebody is going to hit it straight, and somebody is going to shoot a good score.''
Scott certainly didn't start out that way. He had to pitch out from the trees on No. 1, but managed to get up-and-down from about 85 yards in front of the green, and after two more pars, he began his big run of birdies.
''Just got on a bit of a roll and hit a few shots close,'' Scott said. ''I didn't have too much putting to do. You've got to take advantage when it happens, because it doesn't happen too much in the majors. Nothing to complain about in 65.''
He felt similar to the opening round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes last year in the British Open, when he flirted with a 63 and had to settle for a course record-tying 64.
Scott was on pace to tie the Oak Hill record for majors when he birdied the 14th, but he three-putted two holes later for bogey and was pleased to walk away with par on the 18th.
''I felt good out there today,'' he said. ''I felt like I could swing freely and I was hitting all the shots that I wanted to hit. When you get something going for you in a major, sometimes you have got to be not afraid to get out of your own way and let go. I did that at Lytham, and I did that here for 10 or 11 holes.''
Just last month at Muirfield, the 31-year-old Australian had the outright lead on the back nine in the British Open until he made four straight bogeys and couldn't keep up with Phil Mickelson and his great finish. Even so, it was evident that Scott was serious about adding more majors to that green jacket he won at Augusta National in April.
''I put a lot into my game the last two years with a focus on the big tournaments,'' Scott said. ''Everyone around me has had the same focus, as well. We come here to do business.''
Even Rory McIlroy got in on the act. The defending champion, at the end of a major season that has been a major disappointment, came out firing with three birdies on the opening four holes and made the turn in 32 until back-to-back bogeys. He wound up with a 69.
A resurgent Paul Casey was in the group at 67, while U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, British Open runner-up Henrik Stenson and the ageless Miguel Angel Jimenez were among 11 players at 68.
Mickelson wound up with the same score as Woods, only they arrived at 71 much differently. Woods had only two birdies. Mickelson shot 71 despite two double bogeys, including one on the 18th hole. On the par-5 fourth hole, he hooked his tee shot out-of-bounds and nearly lost the next tee shot in the same place.
''The first four holes was like a shock to my system,'' Mickelson said. ''Hitting it out-of-bounds on 4 ... out-of-bounds is not even in play. So I got off to a terrible start. I was actually under par for a little while, but that took a lot of fight. And unfortunately, I'm in a position where if I hit a low round tomorrow, I can get back in it.''
He headed straight to the practice range, even summoning coach Butch Harmon down from the Sky Sports television booth.
Asked when he finished his work if he was worried about his game, Mickelson replied, ''Not now. I was.''
A-Rod formally files the appeal of his 211 -game suspension. What's your take?
By Craig Calcaterra
(Reuters)
Alex Rodriguez and the union have filed his suspension papers:
The Major League Baseball Players Association formally appealed Alex Rodriguez‘s 211-game suspension Wednesday, sending the case to an independent arbitrator. Union spokesman Greg Bouris confirmed the appeal and said the players’ association had no further comment.Major League Baseball declined comment too. If A-Rod comments no one is going to believe him anyway, so he probably shouldn’t bother.
All of this is a formality, of course. But the formal parts are what really matters when you’re doing legal things.
What's your take? We'd love to hear your opinion on A-Rod's suspension.
Ernie Banks to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
By Craig Calcaterra
Why give him just one medal? Let’s give him two!
President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Dean Smith are among those who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. According to the White House, this award is given to individuals “who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
Banks has been a fantastic ambassador for the game and is, by all accounts a wonderful human being. He will join Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Buck O’Neil, Frank Robinson, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams as Medal of Freedom recipients from the game of baseball.
Bulls offseason: Big man situation, grades, power rankings and more.
By Jay Patt
Not much going on right now for the Bulls, so let's argue about some meaningless rankings!
It has been pretty quiet on the Bulls front as we wait for the schedule to be unveiled tonight and perhaps another signing to round out the roster.
The Bulls are still in the market for a big man, although there hasn't been much chatter about the possibilities still out there. Antawn Jamison's name has been linked to the Bulls, and while he would provide a bit more shooting as a stretch 4, he's not exactly the backup center we've been hoping for.
Cole Aldrich is still available, as is Jason Collins, while another possible option could be Hamed Haddadi. The 28-year-old has played sparingly over his five-year NBA career, but he is 7-2 and is currently playing extremely well for Iran in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. My only qualm with signing Haddadi would be having to listen to Funk butcher his name.
CSN Chicago's Aggrey Sam had some thoughts on the big man situation last week:
With not much going on, usually this is the time when internet peeps start coming out with offseason grades, power rankings and projections for next year. While none of these things really mean anything, I often find it to be entertaining fodder for discussion. So we're going to look at some of the stuff that has been put out there in the last week or so.
- First, some offseason grades/rankings. Both ESPN's Chad Ford (INSIDER) and NBA.com's David Aldridge weren't all that impressed with what the Bulls did this summer. Ford gave the Bulls a C because they didn't do enough to "move the needle." I guess that's somewhat true, although I think the Mike Dunleavy signing warrants at least a B- grade. I would certainly dock the Bulls for how the backup center situation has played out thus far, but not harshly enough to warrant a flat C grade. As for Aldridge, he ranked the Bulls as having the 22nd best offseason in the league. He doesn't really say anything bad about what the Bulls did, but he does say the Pacers have caught and passed them. I've said in this space several times that I believe a healthy Bulls team is still better than the Pacers, but Indiana is going to be quite formidable no matter what, and even more so if Danny Granger stays healthy (way bigger ? than Rose staying healthy, in my humble opinion).
- Next, some power rankings. 22 SB Nation team bloggers cast their votes, and the Bulls came in sixth with an average ranking of 6.2. The highest ranking was No. 4 and the lowest ranking was No. 9. I'd say the No. 6 spot is pretty fair, although I personally would have them a bit higher, perhaps as high as No. 3 behind the Heat and Thunder. Then there were these hilarious rankings from Chris Sheridan over at Sheridan Hoops. He has the Bulls at No. 10 (behind the Knicks), while his Bulls blurb says Adidas should have fired Derrick Rose for what happened last year and that the team was dumb for not getting Pau Gasol. Never mind the fact that the deal that Sheridan was pushing for last season wasn't legal in the slightest (Taj, Mirotic and Bobcats pick).
- And finally, ESPN's Bradford Doolittle (INSIDER) has been projecting the top players at each position for the upcoming season based on WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player). I already posted a FanShot for the point guard rankings that had Rose at No. 7, but since then, the shooting guard and small forward rankings have been posted. There was no Jimmy Butler to be found on either ranking, and Luol Deng was at No. 13 for small forwards (behind Matt Barnes, so a minor victory for the dude who insisted that Barnes is as good or better than Deng). So yeah, the Bulls have gotten shit on pretty hard in these projections. Keep an eye out for the power forward and center ones in the next few days. Almost expecting Joakim Noah not to show up in the top 10 for centers.
It has been pretty quiet on the Bulls front as we wait for the schedule to be unveiled tonight and perhaps another signing to round out the roster.
The Bulls are still in the market for a big man, although there hasn't been much chatter about the possibilities still out there. Antawn Jamison's name has been linked to the Bulls, and while he would provide a bit more shooting as a stretch 4, he's not exactly the backup center we've been hoping for.
Cole Aldrich is still available, as is Jason Collins, while another possible option could be Hamed Haddadi. The 28-year-old has played sparingly over his five-year NBA career, but he is 7-2 and is currently playing extremely well for Iran in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. My only qualm with signing Haddadi would be having to listen to Funk butcher his name.
CSN Chicago's Aggrey Sam had some thoughts on the big man situation last week:
At this point, with presumed free-agent targets Marcus Camby and DeJuan Blair off the board, the Bulls' roster is virtually set in stone, with any potentially impactful big-man additions a more fleeting possibility.
A training-camp audition for a role behind both All-Star center Joakim Noah and re-signed veteran Nazr Mohammed - the narrative about the latter moving into more of an "emergency," fifth post player spot is now inaccurate until a proven, younger signee with a somewhat reliable and more productive recent track record enters the mix - seems likely, which wouldn't rule out the return of Malcolm Thomas, who was waived last week.At this rate, it honestly wouldn't surprise me if Thomas did return and re-signed as the 13th man on the roster. We'll see.
With not much going on, usually this is the time when internet peeps start coming out with offseason grades, power rankings and projections for next year. While none of these things really mean anything, I often find it to be entertaining fodder for discussion. So we're going to look at some of the stuff that has been put out there in the last week or so.
- First, some offseason grades/rankings. Both ESPN's Chad Ford (INSIDER) and NBA.com's David Aldridge weren't all that impressed with what the Bulls did this summer. Ford gave the Bulls a C because they didn't do enough to "move the needle." I guess that's somewhat true, although I think the Mike Dunleavy signing warrants at least a B- grade. I would certainly dock the Bulls for how the backup center situation has played out thus far, but not harshly enough to warrant a flat C grade. As for Aldridge, he ranked the Bulls as having the 22nd best offseason in the league. He doesn't really say anything bad about what the Bulls did, but he does say the Pacers have caught and passed them. I've said in this space several times that I believe a healthy Bulls team is still better than the Pacers, but Indiana is going to be quite formidable no matter what, and even more so if Danny Granger stays healthy (way bigger ? than Rose staying healthy, in my humble opinion).
- Next, some power rankings. 22 SB Nation team bloggers cast their votes, and the Bulls came in sixth with an average ranking of 6.2. The highest ranking was No. 4 and the lowest ranking was No. 9. I'd say the No. 6 spot is pretty fair, although I personally would have them a bit higher, perhaps as high as No. 3 behind the Heat and Thunder. Then there were these hilarious rankings from Chris Sheridan over at Sheridan Hoops. He has the Bulls at No. 10 (behind the Knicks), while his Bulls blurb says Adidas should have fired Derrick Rose for what happened last year and that the team was dumb for not getting Pau Gasol. Never mind the fact that the deal that Sheridan was pushing for last season wasn't legal in the slightest (Taj, Mirotic and Bobcats pick).
- And finally, ESPN's Bradford Doolittle (INSIDER) has been projecting the top players at each position for the upcoming season based on WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player). I already posted a FanShot for the point guard rankings that had Rose at No. 7, but since then, the shooting guard and small forward rankings have been posted. There was no Jimmy Butler to be found on either ranking, and Luol Deng was at No. 13 for small forwards (behind Matt Barnes, so a minor victory for the dude who insisted that Barnes is as good or better than Deng). So yeah, the Bulls have gotten shit on pretty hard in these projections. Keep an eye out for the power forward and center ones in the next few days. Almost expecting Joakim Noah not to show up in the top 10 for centers.
Ten NASCAR Legends Fans Would Love to See Race Today.
By L. A. Crum
From Tim Flock to Richard Petty, Which Driver Would Fans Most Want to See Behind the Wheel in 2013?
COMMENTARY | One of the greatest debates in all of sports is how your all-time favorite player, driver or team would do in modern times.
How many wins would Richard Petty have won in today's Generation 6 car? Could Ned Jarrett have even come close to replicating his NASCAR-record 14-lap margin of victory from 1965? How would the current regime have handled a fiery competitor like Darrell Waltrip today?
Let's take a look at the 10 drivers in their primes fans would most love to see racing today:
COMMENTARY | One of the greatest debates in all of sports is how your all-time favorite player, driver or team would do in modern times.
In NASCAR, that means a completely different world when it comes to the cars, the tracks and the competition.
How many wins would Richard Petty have won in today's Generation 6 car? Could Ned Jarrett have even come close to replicating his NASCAR-record 14-lap margin of victory from 1965? How would the current regime have handled a fiery competitor like Darrell Waltrip today?
Let's take a look at the 10 drivers in their primes fans would most love to see racing today:
10) Alan Kulwicki - A man taken well before his time, Alan Kulwicki is a driver fans would all have loved to see race for many more years. Before an airplane crash took his life in 1993, Kulwicki had already recorded one championship and was well on his way to super-stardom. Kulwicki is remembered for his determination, coming into the sport with no sponsor and a minimal budget, and still earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1986. While Kulwicki only had five career wins in NASCAR competition, he is a man many would love to still see racing today.
9) Rusty Wallace - Rusty Wallace has only been retired since 2005, but, boy, does the NASCAR community miss him. The fiery driver from Missouri was outspoken, fun to watch and not afraid to move drivers out of the way to get a win. Wallace is eighth on the all-time win list with 55 and has one championship coming in 1989. His short track career was the stuff of legend, and Wallace was the original master of the road course before Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart came along. Wallace's personality alone would be welcome in today's garage area.
8) Cale Yarborough - Before there was Jimmie Johnson, there was Cale Yarborough. The original master of consecutive championships, Yarborough won three straight from 1976-78, winning 28 times during that span. Overall, the South Carolina native had 83 wins, four Daytona 500 victories and 68 poles, including a modern-era record 14 in one season. Yarborough was also a part of one of NASCAR's most iconic moments -- The Fight. The famous brawl between Yarborough and Bobby Allison during the 1979 Daytona 500 -- the very first flag-to-flag national coverage for the sport -- helped pave the way for the success NASCAR enjoys today. The passion for racing Yarborough exhibited would be fun to watch today.
7) Junior Johnson - The "Last American Hero" and a bootlegger from the '50s and '60s, Junior Johnson was one of NASCAR's earliest superstars. Johnson had 50 wins and 46 poles during a span of 14 years before becoming an even more respected team owner, guiding the careers of such racing legends as Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip. The "outlaw" racer who was actually pardoned by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, was the kind of personality that is dearly missed in today's vanilla NASCAR world. To see one of the original moonshine heroes -- and the man that practically invented drafting -- out on the track today would be well worth the price of admission.
6) Bill Elliott - "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville," "Million Dollar Bill" or just plain Bill Elliott, however you know him, he is driver fans would love to still see behind the wheel today. The 1988 NASCAR champion and 44-time race winner won his first race in 1983 and his last in 2003. Perhaps best known for his sweep of the Winston Million in 1985, his 16 Most Popular Driver awards and speed records at Talladega and Daytona, the great Elliott was a fan-favorite and a master of winning the sport's biggest races. He would be a sure bet to add even more wins today.
5) Tim Flock - What Tim Flock did in only 187 races in the 1950s was simply amazing. The Alabama man had 39 wins, 37 poles, two championships -- in 1952 and 1955 -- and held a 20-percent career winning percentage, good enough for second all-time. One of the sport's early pioneers, how much fun would it have been to see a man who competed at some of the earliest NASCAR races in a modern Sprint Cup car? "Tim Flock passes Jimmie Johnson for the lead," we can dream.
4) David Pearson - A model of consistency, Pearson is second on the all-time win list with 105 victories along with 113 pole positions and three championships -- in 1966, 1968 and 1969. While he didn't have a flamboyant personality like others on this list, his amazing numbers on a variety of different tracks, including multiple wins on road courses, super speedways, short tracks and even dirt tracks solidifies the "Silver Fox" as a man fans would love to see behind the wheel today.
3) Darrell Waltrip - Are you a big fan of NASCAR's famous "have at it" rule? Then you would have loved Darrell Waltrip. Not even counting his success on the track during a career that included three championships, 84 wins and 59 poles, Waltrip makes the list for his personality alone. Nicknamed "Jaws," Waltrip didn't have many on-track friends during his racing career with high-profile rivalries with some of the sports biggest stars. Waltrip in his prime versus the Busch brothers, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon? Yeah, who wouldn't want to see that?
2) Richard Petty - The numbers speak for themselves. What fans would love to see is how Richard Petty would fair in a modern car against today's competition in his prime. Seven championships, 200 wins, 123 poles, seven Daytona 500s all in 1,027 starts -- yeah, it is impressive. Now transplant Petty the legend to a current Gen 6 car and have at it. While he might not record 27 wins in one season as he did in the past, I would venture to say it would be fun to watch him try.
1) Dale Earnhardt - Is there anyone else fans would love to see racing today more than Dale Earnhardt? He is one of the sport's all-time greats, taken much too soon. His seven championships and 76 wins stretched into the 2000s, so asking how he would do against modern competition has already been answered. Fans would simply love to have "The Intimidator" back on the track, trading paint and telling it how it is. His personality and that distinct No. 3 make him the biggest persona the sport has ever seen and an easy choice for No. 1 on the list.
Stewart crash may spur second thoughts.
By David Caraviello
Two days after the Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, David Ragan will venture to Carolina Speedway and strap into his super late model for an event on the Gastonia, N.C., dirt track that pays $3,000 to win. These days, he wonders if some NASCAR team owners and sponsors might view his hobby in a less than favorable light.
Extracurricular competition among established NASCAR drivers has always required a delicate balance, but it's come under greater scrutiny in the wake of Tony Stewart's crash Monday night in a winged sprint car race on an Iowa dirt track. The three-time Sprint Cup champion will miss the event at Watkins Glen, and likely several races beyond that, as he recovers from a pair of broken bones in his lower right leg. Max Papis will drive his No. 14 car Sunday.
Extracurricular competition among established NASCAR drivers has always required a delicate balance, but it's come under greater scrutiny in the wake of Tony Stewart's crash Monday night in a winged sprint car race on an Iowa dirt track. The three-time Sprint Cup champion will miss the event at Watkins Glen, and likely several races beyond that, as he recovers from a pair of broken bones in his lower right leg. Max Papis will drive his No. 14 car Sunday.
Stewart is far from the only national-series NASCAR driver who dabbles in lower-level circuits in his free time. But he's certainly among the most prominent, and an injury suffered outside of a NASCAR race that will end his Chase for the Sprint Cup hopes has some wondering how car owners and sponsors will react.
"It'll definitely make some of the car owners have second thoughts about some of their drivers," said Ragan, who won earlier this season at Talladega. "I think it will make the sponsors think when they're rewriting their contracts for the upcoming season, setting two- and three-year deals. They'll think about the risk that some of their drivers may take. And not only in other types of racing, but going skiing, jumping out of airplanes. Maybe Travis Pastrana can get by with some of that stuff, because that's his life. But we do a lot of fun things outside of the sport, and we just have to be smart."
As the owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, Stewart enjoys a degree of latitude that not all drivers have. Some organizations do try to limit how much their drivers compete outside of NASCAR -- as was the case for Stewart himself when he drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. But the high profile of a perennial title contender may open more eyes to the gap that exists between some short tracks and the sport's highest levels, just as Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash in 2001 brought the safety crisis in NASCAR's national divisions to light.
"When an injury happens to a driver of Tony's magnitude -- one of the sport's most visible superstars -- such as when Dale Earnhardt's death spawned safety innovations, everyone takes a closer look," said three-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Fame member Darrell Waltrip, now an analyst for Fox television. "We already were questioning the wisdom of racing in other series, especially sprint cars. But I think Tony's injury probably is the straw that broke the camel's back. Some owners and drivers now might decide it's too risky and curtail this."
Not that NASCAR drivers have always been able to race anywhere and everywhere they want. Ragan said when he was at Roush Fenway Racing -- where he won the summer Sprint Cup event at Daytona in 2011 -- team co-owner Jack Roush preferred that his drivers run any planned outside activity by him first.
"Back when I drove for Roush Fenway Racing, it's something that Jack was very open with -- hey, if you want you go do anything else, come talk to me," Ragan, now with Front Row Motorsports, said Wednesday at a Charlotte Motor Speedway event promoting the facility's fall races. "If you're driving a good car, and you're racing in a good race with good competitors, then it's OK. But something like if you're at a Saturday night short track, you don't have a suit and a helmet, and want to just jump in someone's car to make a few laps to race -- that's probably not a smart idea."
Roush may be a little more open in his thinking these days thanks to the arrival of Pastrana, an extreme sports legend who competes in rally cars in addition to his full Nationwide Series schedule. "With Travis Pastrana being my teammate, it kind of loosens the reins a little bit, said Trevor Bayne, a Nationwide driver and former Daytona 500 champion who also competes for Roush.
"We're not stupid. We know it's a risk," Bayne added at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "You've just got to be smart about those risks that you take."
Although winged sprint cars have been a primary focus of attention -- due to both Stewart's injury and the fatal crash of former NASCAR driver Jason Leffler at a New Jersey dirt track in June -- many national-series drivers regularly return to their roots by competing in late models, dirt cars, modifieds, or other types of vehicles. Any potential crackdown on extracurricular racing would require a culture change within the motorsports community, given how many drivers who do it.
"Will owners and drivers re-read their contracts? Maybe. If I'm an owner with a driver and 300-plus employees that depend on that driver getting in the car each weekend because the sponsor pays me, then I not only have to protect myself, I have to protect my business and employees. That's how I look at it as an owner," said Kyle Petty, an eight-time winner on NASCAR's top circuit, and now a television analyst for Speed.
"As a driver, I'm going to say, 'This is what I do. I don't live in a bubble. I can't let life live me. I have to live it, and can't just sit on my rear end and do just this one thing. I want to drive everything I can.' Therein lies what will be the compromise between the owners and drivers. Some drivers won't ever get in another type of car. Many of them are Cup drivers only. Then there are others -- Kasey Kahne, Tony, Kyle Busch and others -- who will run anything with four wheels and a steering wheel. It's not a game-changer, but Tony's accident shines a light on an issue that certainly will be addressed by drivers and owners."
Will it be addressed at Stewart-Haas? On a conference call Tuesday with reporters, team competition director Greg Zipadelli certainly sounded as if a conversation was in order.
"I think it makes him better at what he does here, but it obviously leaves the door open for a situation that we're in now," Zipadelli said of Stewart. "I think that as many races as he's run in the past, we're probably lucky that this is the first time we're dealing with this, to be perfectly honest with you. We'll do our best at Stewart-Haas to put pieces together and sit down and evaluate it, and I think it would be a lot easier to look at and talk about things right now because we're in the situation that we're in moving forward. That doesn't mean anything other than we will talk about it, we'll discuss it and we'll try and do what's best for Stewart-Haas and our partners in the future."
Ragan and Bayne offer opposite ends of the spectrum. Ragan competes when he can in late models and Legends cars, but chooses his events carefully and even brings his own seat belts to the track. "You try to do the best you can," he said. "You never know what may happen, but you can't live life scared to death of what risk lay in front of you, either."
And then there's Bayne, who doesn't compete much outside of NASCAR. He was out five races due to Lyme disease in 2011, and even though that absence wasn't due to an on-track issue, it was enough for him to realize he didn't want to risk missing any more time behind the wheel.
"You've got to be smart," he said. "You can't be out here doing stuff when you're running for championships and get yourself hurt. I've kind of had my mulligan of being out of the race car ? in 2011 for five weeks, and it wasn't (because of) something I did. But you don't want to have many of those. I try to be as safe as possible. You can't put yourself in a bubble, but you can make good decisions."
"It'll definitely make some of the car owners have second thoughts about some of their drivers," said Ragan, who won earlier this season at Talladega. "I think it will make the sponsors think when they're rewriting their contracts for the upcoming season, setting two- and three-year deals. They'll think about the risk that some of their drivers may take. And not only in other types of racing, but going skiing, jumping out of airplanes. Maybe Travis Pastrana can get by with some of that stuff, because that's his life. But we do a lot of fun things outside of the sport, and we just have to be smart."
As the owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, Stewart enjoys a degree of latitude that not all drivers have. Some organizations do try to limit how much their drivers compete outside of NASCAR -- as was the case for Stewart himself when he drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. But the high profile of a perennial title contender may open more eyes to the gap that exists between some short tracks and the sport's highest levels, just as Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash in 2001 brought the safety crisis in NASCAR's national divisions to light.
"When an injury happens to a driver of Tony's magnitude -- one of the sport's most visible superstars -- such as when Dale Earnhardt's death spawned safety innovations, everyone takes a closer look," said three-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Fame member Darrell Waltrip, now an analyst for Fox television. "We already were questioning the wisdom of racing in other series, especially sprint cars. But I think Tony's injury probably is the straw that broke the camel's back. Some owners and drivers now might decide it's too risky and curtail this."
Not that NASCAR drivers have always been able to race anywhere and everywhere they want. Ragan said when he was at Roush Fenway Racing -- where he won the summer Sprint Cup event at Daytona in 2011 -- team co-owner Jack Roush preferred that his drivers run any planned outside activity by him first.
"Back when I drove for Roush Fenway Racing, it's something that Jack was very open with -- hey, if you want you go do anything else, come talk to me," Ragan, now with Front Row Motorsports, said Wednesday at a Charlotte Motor Speedway event promoting the facility's fall races. "If you're driving a good car, and you're racing in a good race with good competitors, then it's OK. But something like if you're at a Saturday night short track, you don't have a suit and a helmet, and want to just jump in someone's car to make a few laps to race -- that's probably not a smart idea."
Roush may be a little more open in his thinking these days thanks to the arrival of Pastrana, an extreme sports legend who competes in rally cars in addition to his full Nationwide Series schedule. "With Travis Pastrana being my teammate, it kind of loosens the reins a little bit, said Trevor Bayne, a Nationwide driver and former Daytona 500 champion who also competes for Roush.
"We're not stupid. We know it's a risk," Bayne added at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "You've just got to be smart about those risks that you take."
Although winged sprint cars have been a primary focus of attention -- due to both Stewart's injury and the fatal crash of former NASCAR driver Jason Leffler at a New Jersey dirt track in June -- many national-series drivers regularly return to their roots by competing in late models, dirt cars, modifieds, or other types of vehicles. Any potential crackdown on extracurricular racing would require a culture change within the motorsports community, given how many drivers who do it.
"Will owners and drivers re-read their contracts? Maybe. If I'm an owner with a driver and 300-plus employees that depend on that driver getting in the car each weekend because the sponsor pays me, then I not only have to protect myself, I have to protect my business and employees. That's how I look at it as an owner," said Kyle Petty, an eight-time winner on NASCAR's top circuit, and now a television analyst for Speed.
"As a driver, I'm going to say, 'This is what I do. I don't live in a bubble. I can't let life live me. I have to live it, and can't just sit on my rear end and do just this one thing. I want to drive everything I can.' Therein lies what will be the compromise between the owners and drivers. Some drivers won't ever get in another type of car. Many of them are Cup drivers only. Then there are others -- Kasey Kahne, Tony, Kyle Busch and others -- who will run anything with four wheels and a steering wheel. It's not a game-changer, but Tony's accident shines a light on an issue that certainly will be addressed by drivers and owners."
Will it be addressed at Stewart-Haas? On a conference call Tuesday with reporters, team competition director Greg Zipadelli certainly sounded as if a conversation was in order.
"I think it makes him better at what he does here, but it obviously leaves the door open for a situation that we're in now," Zipadelli said of Stewart. "I think that as many races as he's run in the past, we're probably lucky that this is the first time we're dealing with this, to be perfectly honest with you. We'll do our best at Stewart-Haas to put pieces together and sit down and evaluate it, and I think it would be a lot easier to look at and talk about things right now because we're in the situation that we're in moving forward. That doesn't mean anything other than we will talk about it, we'll discuss it and we'll try and do what's best for Stewart-Haas and our partners in the future."
Ragan and Bayne offer opposite ends of the spectrum. Ragan competes when he can in late models and Legends cars, but chooses his events carefully and even brings his own seat belts to the track. "You try to do the best you can," he said. "You never know what may happen, but you can't live life scared to death of what risk lay in front of you, either."
And then there's Bayne, who doesn't compete much outside of NASCAR. He was out five races due to Lyme disease in 2011, and even though that absence wasn't due to an on-track issue, it was enough for him to realize he didn't want to risk missing any more time behind the wheel.
"You've got to be smart," he said. "You can't be out here doing stuff when you're running for championships and get yourself hurt. I've kind of had my mulligan of being out of the race car ? in 2011 for five weeks, and it wasn't (because of) something I did. But you don't want to have many of those. I try to be as safe as possible. You can't put yourself in a bubble, but you can make good decisions."
Dortmund Over Bayern for the Bundesliga?
By Shahan Ahmed
COMMENTARY | In Germany, Bayern Munich has the best squad, but Borussia Dortmund has the best team.
Bayern's talent is superfluous and gluttonous, but the team is still in the caterpillar stages of Pep Guardiola's vision of football. Dortmund, however, is already a butterfly that has spread its wings and is able to fly at full flight with Jurgen Klopp confidently coordinating every aerodynamic maneuver. Consequently, the top of the Bundesliga guarantees a competitive and entertaining 2013-14 campaign.
On Aug. 9, only 2 1/2 months after Bayern Munich triumphantly hoisted the Champions League trophy, the Bavarian giants kick off their Bundesliga title defense with a Friday fixture against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Bayern dominated the 2012-13 domestic campaign to such an extent that nearly every league record created since the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963 was shattered during Jupp Heynckes' swan song. Already, it has become abundantly apparent that the 2013-14 edition of Bayern will not surpass the high marks Heynckes was able to achieve in his glorious farewell campaign.
With Heynckes relaxing in retirement, Guardiola now holds the reins of the record 22-time Bundesliga champion. Upon his arrival in Bavaria, Guardiola had a difficult decision to make: continue forward or implement change immediately.
Bayern dominated the 2012-13 domestic campaign to such an extent that nearly every league record created since the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963 was shattered during Jupp Heynckes' swan song. Already, it has become abundantly apparent that the 2013-14 edition of Bayern will not surpass the high marks Heynckes was able to achieve in his glorious farewell campaign.
With Heynckes relaxing in retirement, Guardiola now holds the reins of the record 22-time Bundesliga champion. Upon his arrival in Bavaria, Guardiola had a difficult decision to make: continue forward or implement change immediately.
He had the best team in Europe, and he could have provided leadership and continued forward with the style and philosophy left behind by his predecessor.
Considering the players available, he would have likely run away with another Bundesliga title and been in contention for another treble.
Instead, the former Barcelona coach and player brought in Thiago Alcantara, a player whom he coached with Barcelona's B-team and brought into the Barcelona senior team. With Thiago's purchase and subsequent arrival in Munich, Guardiola sent the clear message that the 2013-14 Bayern would feature a different style than the treble winning Bayern -- a distinctly Barcelona style.
The decision to immediately implement his philosophy rather than allow the unstoppable treble winning machine to continue forward was clearly a long-term strategy, but was it the right move? Only time will tell, but if Bayern is not successful in the short-term, Guardiola's long-term vision may never come to fruition.
The treble winning season referred to Bayern's claim over the German Cup, Bundesliga, and the Champions League, however, Heynckes also won the German Super Cup at the start of the 2012-13 season -- marking his final season as manager as one of the best in the history of the sport at any level.
In its only meaningful test this prenatal season, Bayern failed. Two weeks prior to the Bundesliga kickoff, Guardiola lost 4-2 to Dortmund in the German Super Cup. In the fetal stages of the 2013-14 campaign, Bayern already ensured that this season would not match or surpass the incredible heights of the triumphant season that past.
Dortmund, as everyone should clearly remember, narrowly lost 2-1 in the Champions League final to Heynckes' Bayern back on May 25, 2013.
In sharp contrast to Bayern's switch in manager, style, and philosophy, Dortmund's ship is as steady as ever. In the Super Cup, Klopp, Dortmund's passionate manager, projected his wry smile and contrasted with the face-slapping seriousness of Guardiola.
Bayern is developing; Dortmund is developed. Bayern's squad strength and quality cannot be rivaled, as the German champions added to a squad many already considered to be the strongest in Europe. Whereas Bayern possesses the strongest squad, Dortmund presents the best team in Germany due to consistency in personnel, tactics, and management -- all of which are a credit to Klopp.
Despite losing Mario Götze to Bayern, Dortmund held on to all of its other first-team players and strengthened throughout the summer. Preseason play pointed to on-loan Nuri Sahin, who was captain prior to his move to Real Madrid in 2011, playing a central role in the upcoming season. With the additions of Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Werder Bremen, Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Saint-Etienne (the last name in that trio may instantly be the fastest player in Germany), Dortmund strategically strengthened for the departures of Götze, Felipe Santana, and Patrick Owomoyela.
Ultimately, Klopp's decision to stay in North Rhine-Westphalia promised to make the 2013-14 Bundesliga season competitive. Dortmund refused to sell star striker Robert Lewandowski and expect the Polish international to leave for free at the end of the season, but Dortmund is focused on the short-term success of the squad.
Entering the season, the Bundesliga is a two-horse race. Dortmund and Bayern have each collected two table-topping trophies over the past four years, so the 2013-14 season is a tiebreaker of sorts. Bookmakers are offering 2/9 payout on Bayern with Dortmund closest behind at five to one. Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke are next in line, but both are considered long shots at around 50 to one.
What does that all mean? Bayern is the favorite, but Dortmund is also ahead of the pack and everyone else in Germany expects to mind the gap.
The 2013-14 campaign is lining up as a climax of Klopp's time with Dortmund and the start of Guardiola's time with Bayern. With both clubs only 11 weeks removed from the Champions League final, anyone who was not previously convinced of German football should be intently studying the Bundesliga fixture list (Note: Dortmund hosts Bayern on Nov. 23).
After all, last season proved that Dortmund and Bayern don't only exhibit the best football in Germany; they play the best football in Europe. Which one of the two is better? Well, that is what the 2013-14 Bundesliga is all about.
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