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Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Bears beat Ravens 23-20 in OT after long delay.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN (AP Sports Writer)
Bears rookie LB Jonathan Bostic picked off Ravens QB Joe Flacco in the second quarter at the 50, for his first career interception. The Bears offense converted the interception into a field goal.
Josh McCown spent a few quiet moments trying to figure out what would happen. He probably didn't envision this.
The Bears waited out a long rain delay and put in extra time to come away with a much-needed win.
Robbie Gould kicked a 38-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Bears to a 23-20 victory over Baltimore Sunday in a game delayed about two hours by a torrential downpour.
Justin Tucker tied it for the Ravens with a 21-yard field goal at the end of regulation.
The big delay came after Tucker kicked a 52-yarder with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. Fans were ordered to take cover as players headed to the locker rooms while heavy rains and winds whipped through Soldier Field. They emerged about two hours later with the sky clearing and the sun coming out, but the rain and wind returned in the third quarter, turning the stands into a sea of ponchos.
During the delay, Bears players stretched and went over the game plan.
''Closed my eyes and just trying to think about the game, visualize the game a little bit,'' McCown said. ''And kind of assess what happened the first two series. What did we do wrong? Why weren't we moving the ball? What are they going to do to us?''
Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't say what his team did during the down time, although his team is no stranger to delays. The Ravens experienced a power outage in the Super Bowl, after all, and the start of their season-opener at Denver was pushed back by lightning. Both were just 34 minutes, though.
''I think we've led the league in delays over the last few years,'' Harbaugh said.
Gould won it with a 38-yarder on third-and-8 at the 20 with 8:41 left in OT after McCown connected with a leaping Martellus Bennett on a 43-yard pass to put the ball on the 22, and the Bears (6-4) came away with the win after dropping four of six.
They were leading 20-17 with 10:33 remaining in regulation after Matt Forte scored on a 14-yard screen from McCown, dodging three or four defenders along the way, but the Ravens (4-6) made one big push down the stretch to send it to overtime.
They drove from the 16 to the 2, getting a one-handed catch from Dallas Clark on a fourth down at 44. After Joe Flacco overthrew Torrey Smith in the back of the end zone on third down, Tucker tied it at 20-all with 3 seconds left.
McCown threw for 216 yards without an interception, subbing for Jay Cutler (high left ankle sprain). In four games and two starts, he has five touchdowns and no turnovers, and he came through under brutal conditions.
''It's definitely one of those days where you look across the field and (see) Joe Flacco and look on the sideline and Jay's over there,'' McCown said. ''And I'm like, 'Can I borrow somebody's arm?'''
Alshon Jeffery had seven catches for 83 yards. Forte added 42 receiving and 83 rushing.
Julius Peppers had two sacks. David Bass returned an interception for a touchdown, and Jonathan Bostic set up a field goal by Gould at the end of the first half with an interception.
The Ravens were able to get their ground game going, with Ray Rice rushing for 131 yards and a touchdown against a team that's struggled to stop the run. He scored from the 1 early on after a 47-yard dash on Baltimore's first drive. But Flacco had a rough day, throwing for 162 yards and getting picked off twice.
''Every time you get the ball, it either was wet or had all kinds of mud on it,'' he said. ''It was an issue for the timing stuff, getting a grip on it quick enough.''
The Bears scored 10 points in a 12-second stretch in the second quarter, on a 20-yard field goal by Gould and a 24-yard interception return by Bass. He picked off Flacco at the line and ran untouched to the end zone, Chicago's fourth interception return for a TD this season, but Baltimore immediately answered with an 80-yard scoring drive.
Flacco lofted a 5-yard scoring pass between two defenders to Smith to put the Ravens back on top, 17-10, with 4:08 left in the half. But an interception at midfield by Bostic with a minute left led to a 46-yard field goal by Gould as time expired, making it a four-point game at the half.
And what a strange half it was.
Play was stopped just after 12:30 p.m. CT and didn't resume until 2:25. There were reports of at least one tornado touching down in Illinois and extensive damage in at least one part of the state. At Soldier Field, long lines formed in the upper deck as drenched fans tried to make their way toward the tunnel with lightning striking near the stadium.
''It was pretty muddy, windy,'' Bennett said. ''I feel like I've been fishing all day.''
NOTES: Bears DT Stephen Paea left the game with a toe injury. ... Harbaugh wouldn't comment on the condition of S Matt Elam, who limped off the field in the fourth quarter after making a tackle on Forte.
The Bears waited out a long rain delay and put in extra time to come away with a much-needed win.
Robbie Gould kicked a 38-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Bears to a 23-20 victory over Baltimore Sunday in a game delayed about two hours by a torrential downpour.
Justin Tucker tied it for the Ravens with a 21-yard field goal at the end of regulation.
The big delay came after Tucker kicked a 52-yarder with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. Fans were ordered to take cover as players headed to the locker rooms while heavy rains and winds whipped through Soldier Field. They emerged about two hours later with the sky clearing and the sun coming out, but the rain and wind returned in the third quarter, turning the stands into a sea of ponchos.
During the delay, Bears players stretched and went over the game plan.
''Closed my eyes and just trying to think about the game, visualize the game a little bit,'' McCown said. ''And kind of assess what happened the first two series. What did we do wrong? Why weren't we moving the ball? What are they going to do to us?''
Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't say what his team did during the down time, although his team is no stranger to delays. The Ravens experienced a power outage in the Super Bowl, after all, and the start of their season-opener at Denver was pushed back by lightning. Both were just 34 minutes, though.
''I think we've led the league in delays over the last few years,'' Harbaugh said.
Gould won it with a 38-yarder on third-and-8 at the 20 with 8:41 left in OT after McCown connected with a leaping Martellus Bennett on a 43-yard pass to put the ball on the 22, and the Bears (6-4) came away with the win after dropping four of six.
They were leading 20-17 with 10:33 remaining in regulation after Matt Forte scored on a 14-yard screen from McCown, dodging three or four defenders along the way, but the Ravens (4-6) made one big push down the stretch to send it to overtime.
They drove from the 16 to the 2, getting a one-handed catch from Dallas Clark on a fourth down at 44. After Joe Flacco overthrew Torrey Smith in the back of the end zone on third down, Tucker tied it at 20-all with 3 seconds left.
McCown threw for 216 yards without an interception, subbing for Jay Cutler (high left ankle sprain). In four games and two starts, he has five touchdowns and no turnovers, and he came through under brutal conditions.
''It's definitely one of those days where you look across the field and (see) Joe Flacco and look on the sideline and Jay's over there,'' McCown said. ''And I'm like, 'Can I borrow somebody's arm?'''
Alshon Jeffery had seven catches for 83 yards. Forte added 42 receiving and 83 rushing.
Julius Peppers had two sacks. David Bass returned an interception for a touchdown, and Jonathan Bostic set up a field goal by Gould at the end of the first half with an interception.
The Ravens were able to get their ground game going, with Ray Rice rushing for 131 yards and a touchdown against a team that's struggled to stop the run. He scored from the 1 early on after a 47-yard dash on Baltimore's first drive. But Flacco had a rough day, throwing for 162 yards and getting picked off twice.
''Every time you get the ball, it either was wet or had all kinds of mud on it,'' he said. ''It was an issue for the timing stuff, getting a grip on it quick enough.''
The Bears scored 10 points in a 12-second stretch in the second quarter, on a 20-yard field goal by Gould and a 24-yard interception return by Bass. He picked off Flacco at the line and ran untouched to the end zone, Chicago's fourth interception return for a TD this season, but Baltimore immediately answered with an 80-yard scoring drive.
Flacco lofted a 5-yard scoring pass between two defenders to Smith to put the Ravens back on top, 17-10, with 4:08 left in the half. But an interception at midfield by Bostic with a minute left led to a 46-yard field goal by Gould as time expired, making it a four-point game at the half.
And what a strange half it was.
Play was stopped just after 12:30 p.m. CT and didn't resume until 2:25. There were reports of at least one tornado touching down in Illinois and extensive damage in at least one part of the state. At Soldier Field, long lines formed in the upper deck as drenched fans tried to make their way toward the tunnel with lightning striking near the stadium.
''It was pretty muddy, windy,'' Bennett said. ''I feel like I've been fishing all day.''
NOTES: Bears DT Stephen Paea left the game with a toe injury. ... Harbaugh wouldn't comment on the condition of S Matt Elam, who limped off the field in the fourth quarter after making a tackle on Forte.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks bounce back with big win over Sharks.
By Tracey Myers
Corey Crawford making one of his fabulous saves!!!
It’s been a bit of a sore spot these past few games for the Chicago Blackhawks: They love how they’ve scored goals, but they haven’t been thrilled with how many they allowed.
On Sunday night, they were looking more like their defensively stingy selves.
Patrick Sharp scored twice, the first the game-winner and the second a penalty shot, but it was the Blackhawks’ defense that was key in their 5-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks at the United Center.
The Blackhawks, now 14-3-4, jumped to the top of the Western Conference standings.
The Blackhawks were smarting over Saturday night’s 7-2 loss to the Predators. They didn’t talk about it much; didn’t need to. But they did make sure to correct one big problem on Sunday.
“The one thing we did talk about was our compete level could be much higher than it was in Nashville,” Sharp said. “It was tonight, and that’s a big reason why we won.”
Yes it was, and in every facet. Defensively, however, was the most improved area. The Blackhawks limited the Sharks to 24 shots on goal, a low total for a team that’s had 30 or more in their last four games. They also kept the Sharks quiet in the third period, where San Jose had outscored opponents 21-12 entering tonight’s game.
“I mean they came out hard, and we talked about that as a team, that they always do,” said Duncan Keith, who was a plus-2 on the night. “We were able to weather that storm. We got skating better as the game went along and were able to use our speed to advantage.”
The offense did the rest. Kris Versteeg had his first goal and assist in his second stint with the Blackhawks. Jonathan Toews and Brandon Pirri also scored.
“We got better each and every period,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We tried to limit their time and space and tried to kill their attack game, and ours got better as the game went on. (Saturday) wasn’t indicative of how we’ve played any game all year.
We were looking for an easy game, and we didn’t pay Blackhawk-type hockey. You have a few of those over the course of the season, but we had a good response immediately.”
Like we said, the Blackhawks didn’t talk much about that bad game in Nashville. Still, it was motivation for tonight.
“You don’t want to be outplayed like that and lose battles like that in back to back games,” said Corey Crawford, who stopped 23 of 24 in the victory. “It was important to come in here tonight and win most of the battles. That was a solid game for us, after coming off a disappointing loss like that.”
Saturday’s game was an anomaly for the Blackhawks, a deviation from their usual disciplined, organized game. It happens. But outings like Sunday night happen more.
“I don’t think any team likes to get beat like that. But sometimes, whether you’re not there mentally and all of a sudden it snowballs, next thing you know the score’s as high as it was,” Keith said. “But we just moved on, put it behind us, and did a good job tonight.”
Khabibulin to LTIR
Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who suffered a lower-body injury in Nashville on Saturday night, was placed on long-term injured reserve on Sunday. A player can be placed on LTIR if he suffers an injury that will cause him to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
Putting a player on LTIR can provide a team relief if its cap payroll begins to exceed the upper limit.
Briefly
— Andrew Shaw had a season-high seven hits.
— Toews now has six points (three goals, three assists) in his last six games.
— The Blackhawks are now 11-0-3 when scoring first.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session... Rivalry or not, Bulls-Pacers matchups take it up a notch.
csnchicago.com; Aggrey Sam
Stating that the Bulls’ success ended in the Michael Jordan era, as Pacers All-Star swingman Paul George recently asserted, is a bit extreme, just as Derrick Rose’s comment that he didn’t see Indiana as a rival wasn’t quite an accurate statement.
But regardless of denials about the other’s status, both teams know that they are the two main combatants for Central Division supremacy, as well as the strongest challengers to prevent two-time defending-champion Miami from getting a three-peat.
At 9-0 and the lone undefeated team left in the NBA coming into Saturday night’s game, the Pacers had a streak at stake. The Bulls — with Rose back in the lineup after missing Friday night’s win in Toronto to nurse his sore right hamstring — had the task of beating a fellow perceived title contender and both teams had plenty of animosity, not to mention pride.
It’s still early in the regular season, but based on both their start and how they finished the last campaign, the Pacers now appear to be one of the league’s elite teams, something the Bulls couldn’t claim before Saturday, given their previous inconsistent play. But after a 110-94 triumph at the United Center, the Bulls again appear to be the team observers expected, even if Rose wouldn’t admit to having any added motivation.
“I don’t get into that, man. For us, we know that when we play them, it’s going to be a tough game, and we just take it that way,” the point guard said after scoring a season-high 20 points. “Every night that we play them, they’re going to be the ones talking, and we can’t really feed into that. We’ve got to play the way we normally know how to play, and that’s hard and that’s together.”
Similarly, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, another fiery competitor, wouldn’t lend any credence to the notion that the Bulls and Pacers, despite their many heated matchups and mirroring physical, defensive-oriented styles, have a rivalry.
“Oh, you guys (the media) get into all that. I get into competition, that’s what I get into. We have to just be ready when the ball goes up. You guys talk about all that other nonsense,” the coach explained before the contest. “Emotion is part of the game. You get your intensity from your concentration and effort. If we’re going to rely on emotion and neglect the other parts, it’s not going to be very good. You have to put everything you have into it, but emotion is good, as long as it’s under control.”
At least his counterpart, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, could be somewhat honest about the relationship between the two Central Division opponents, or lack thereof.
“I think it comes down to, not so much our neighbor in our division, the Chicago Bulls, but we’re playing against a team that we consider a championship contender.
So whether that’s the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to fuel the engines, for sure. So it’s a little more than a mid-November game type of feel,” Vogel said. “I don’t think our team likes anybody we play against. Even if we liked them, once the ball gets thrown up, we don’t like them anymore, so I think that goes for everybody.”
Taking it up a notch, Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson, in the midst of an individual breakout season, admitted that matchups against the Bulls are dates circled on Indiana’s calendar.
“It’s like a rivalry game,” he told CSNChicago.com. “We take this game real personal and serious because we’re about two hours away. I think this game is going to be a big game because I think they feel like we were celebrating too much last game, at our house, so I think they’re going to really bring it to us. So I think we’ve really got to come prepared and focused.”
And leave it to Stephenson’s fellow Brooklyn native, Bulls big man Taj Gibson, to add a unique perspective. Gibson actually works out with some of the Pacers, such as George, during the summer in California, but that off-court respect ends as soon as the NBA season begins.
“It feels good to beat them because they’re our rival. Every time we’ve played them since I’ve been in a Bulls jersey, it’s been tough. It feels good. It’s hard because you go against guys you work out with in the summer, especially between me and Paul.
But regular season, we’re enemies. It’s a rivalry. We have no time to slap fives or anything like that. We’re both striving for one thing. Both teams are looking to go deep in the playoffs and fight for a championship, and there’s no love lost,” Gibson acknowledged. “We really weren’t worried about their streak. We were just worried about us getting wins, defending the home court, just getting better. We wanted to build on the win from last night, Toronto, and keep pushing forward because we understand we have a tough schedule. We play a lot of tough teams on the road early.”
For the Bulls, Saturday was more important from a headed-in-the-right-direction stand point, but the accomplishment of not only knocking off their rival but giving the Pacers their first loss in such convincing fashion doesn’t exactly hurt in the added-satisfaction category.
Bobcats-Bulls Preview.
By ALAN FERGUSON (STATS Writer)
With Derrick Rose back, the Chicago Bulls will try to remain perfect at home and keep the Charlotte Bobcats from matching their longest road win streak in franchise history.
After shining in a victory over previously unbeaten Indiana, Rose will also seek to lead the Bulls to their fifth consecutive victory Monday night.
Rose was dealing with an injured hamstring before Saturday's visit from the perfect Pacers and unsure if he was going to play. Not only was he on the court, he also scored a season-best 20 points and matched a career high with six 3-pointers in a 110-94 victory.
"This is my first time having a hamstring injury. I don't know how it would go if I had played last night. I don't think I'd be able to play tonight," Rose said. "I just gave it a chance today. It feels good. It feels the same way. It's a little tight, but it's not stopping me."
Luol Deng had a season-high 23 points and seven rebounds as the Bulls improved to 4-0 at home. While trying to add to that mark, Chicago (5-3) will try for its longest win streak since taking eight in a row Feb. 20-March 7, 2012.
"Guys have a good rhythm. Everybody has been putting in extra work after practice, late at night. It's shown. I'm happy with our progress," forward Taj Gibson said of rebounding from a 1-3 start. "We're just focused on getting better. It's early in the season. We understand we've got a long way to go."
The Bulls have won seven of eight over the Bobcats but split their two home matchups last season. Charlotte (5-5) won 91-81 in Chicago on Dec. 31 but fell 93-85 on Jan. 28 while finishing a league-worst 6-35 on the road in 2012-13.
The Bobcats are halfway to matching that win total with their current streak, their longest since a four-game run Jan. 18-28, 2011. The franchise also won four straight road games March 26-April 4, 2008, and Feb. 25-March 7, 2009.
Charlotte was denied a third straight overall victory Saturday with a 97-81 loss to Miami. Charlotte shot a season-low 34.9 percent and couldn't hold an opponent under 85 points for a third straight game.
"We've got to keep on pushing," said guard Kemba Walker, who had a team-best 22 points. "I think we've been playing some great basketball right now. It's still early in the season. All we have to do is keep looking forward and keep trying to get better."
Jeffery Taylor reached double figures for the sixth time in seven games, but he has a combined 13 points in three games against the Bulls. Walker, meanwhile, averaged a team-best 21.0 points and made 7 of 15 shots from 3-point range in last season's series.
Deng is averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last four home games against Charlotte.
Because of his lengthy absence due to a knee injury, Rose hasn't faced the Bobcats since March 9, 2011.
The former MVP, though, has averaged 23.6 points and 7.0 assists in his last seven games against Charlotte.
Scott Boras rips The Plan as Cubs avoid big free agents.
Rose was dealing with an injured hamstring before Saturday's visit from the perfect Pacers and unsure if he was going to play. Not only was he on the court, he also scored a season-best 20 points and matched a career high with six 3-pointers in a 110-94 victory.
"This is my first time having a hamstring injury. I don't know how it would go if I had played last night. I don't think I'd be able to play tonight," Rose said. "I just gave it a chance today. It feels good. It feels the same way. It's a little tight, but it's not stopping me."
Luol Deng had a season-high 23 points and seven rebounds as the Bulls improved to 4-0 at home. While trying to add to that mark, Chicago (5-3) will try for its longest win streak since taking eight in a row Feb. 20-March 7, 2012.
"Guys have a good rhythm. Everybody has been putting in extra work after practice, late at night. It's shown. I'm happy with our progress," forward Taj Gibson said of rebounding from a 1-3 start. "We're just focused on getting better. It's early in the season. We understand we've got a long way to go."
The Bulls have won seven of eight over the Bobcats but split their two home matchups last season. Charlotte (5-5) won 91-81 in Chicago on Dec. 31 but fell 93-85 on Jan. 28 while finishing a league-worst 6-35 on the road in 2012-13.
The Bobcats are halfway to matching that win total with their current streak, their longest since a four-game run Jan. 18-28, 2011. The franchise also won four straight road games March 26-April 4, 2008, and Feb. 25-March 7, 2009.
Charlotte was denied a third straight overall victory Saturday with a 97-81 loss to Miami. Charlotte shot a season-low 34.9 percent and couldn't hold an opponent under 85 points for a third straight game.
"We've got to keep on pushing," said guard Kemba Walker, who had a team-best 22 points. "I think we've been playing some great basketball right now. It's still early in the season. All we have to do is keep looking forward and keep trying to get better."
Jeffery Taylor reached double figures for the sixth time in seven games, but he has a combined 13 points in three games against the Bulls. Walker, meanwhile, averaged a team-best 21.0 points and made 7 of 15 shots from 3-point range in last season's series.
Deng is averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last four home games against Charlotte.
Because of his lengthy absence due to a knee injury, Rose hasn't faced the Bobcats since March 9, 2011.
The former MVP, though, has averaged 23.6 points and 7.0 assists in his last seven games against Charlotte.
Scott Boras rips The Plan as Cubs avoid big free agents.
By Patrick Mooney
Cubs fans can dream about Jacoby Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo, but don’t expect a franchise on hold to give out any megadeals anytime soon.
As the Cubs try to plow ahead with the delayed Wrigley Field renovations and negotiate new television deals, sources say they might not even have the financial flexibility to add one big-name free agent this winter.
Insiders predict they will keep listening to offers for Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija and doubt they have the resources to win a bidding war for Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.
“In Chicago, it’s funny,” agent Scott Boras said Wednesday at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. “The family has bought the team, but it’s kind of like ‘Meet the Parents.’ You know, I haven’t met them yet.”
Surrounded by reporters, Boras ripped The Plan and zinged the Ricketts ownership group while holding court in the lobby during Day 3 of the GM meetings.
In October 2009, the family finalized a highly leveraged $845 million purchase of the team (as well as a stake in Comcast SportsNet Chicago), beginning a conservative path that focused on building the farm system while freezing payroll levels from the Tribune Co.’s win-one-for-the-Tower days.
Boras was asked if he was talking about Joe Ricketts, the family patriarch who’s a shadow presence around the franchise. During the 2012 presidential race, Ricketts’ anti-Obama Super PAC damaged the club’s relationship with City Hall at a sensitive point in the Wrigley Field negotiations.
“I’m talking about – if this is a family-owned team – where is the (major-market approach)?” Boras said. “This is Chicago. You’re developing the infrastructure. But fans don’t come to see seats, grass, cement. They come to see players.
“They’ve done a great job in the draft and development and they’ve got a really good core of young players coming. But it’s just not what’s expected when you buy a major-market club.”
Boras clearly has an agenda as the game’s most powerful agent. He needs the Cubs to be all-in on clients like Ellsbury and Choo – or at least create that illusion – to drive up their prices. He also represents Albert Almora and Kris Bryant, two first-round picks who are supposed to be foundation pieces at a renovated Wrigley Field.
There’s no doubt Boras would like a way around president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer. If Boras can’t get an audience, chairman Tom Ricketts and president of business operations Crane Kenney were spotted at this resort hotel on Wednesday for the ownership/GM meetings.
Multiple executives here credited the Cubs for assembling an elite group of prospects that also includes potential ace C.J. Edwards and $30 million Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler.
So it certainly makes sense to avoid the nine-figure contracts that can cripple an organization (see Albert Pujols and the Los Angeles Angels). But with Almora, Bryant and Javier Baez on the fast track, do you have a sense of when the Cubs are going to start augmenting?
“I don’t know,” Boras said. “That’s why I said ‘Meet the Parents.’ I haven’t met them yet, so I don’t know what the plans are for the family. I don’t know what their scaling is. I only know that their general managers tell us that their budget only allows them to do certain things.”
The Cubs have been operating like a mid-market team, with a major-league payroll north of $100 million last season, waiting for the $500 million Wrigleyville project to come together. There are promises the business/baseball plans will line up and new stadium/broadcasting revenues will eventually fuel the economic engine.
After four straight fifth-place finishes and 197 losses across the past two seasons, Boras is wondering where the money is going. A restrictive collective bargaining agreement has limited how much the Cubs can spend in the draft and international marketplace.
Cubs fans should get used to the rhetoric. Almora and Bryant are on the rise and the Epstein administration figures to be drafting Boras clients near the top of the first round for a few more years.
Boras was an infielder in the Cubs system in the late 1970s and practiced law in Chicago – before he started playing hardball.
“It’s a story yet to be told,” Boras said. “We’re wondering. What was anticipated was that the Cubs would immediately respond in the way that the Cubs had in the past – and that is they’re a major-market team. They’re responding with a very polite development structure which (is) minimized by new major-league rules.
“(They’re) in a very dormant stage for a major-market team.”
Stenson wins World Tour Championship in Dubai.
By BERNIE McGUIRE (Associated Press)
Henrik Stenson won the season-ending World Tour Championship on Sunday after shooting an 8-under 64 in the final round.
The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and European Tour's Race to Dubai in the same season.
''It is still taking a little time to sink in what I've achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same,'' he said.
Stenson had six birdies in the final round before finishing with an eagle at the 18th hole left him at 25 under for the tournament. It was his first victory of the season on the European Tour.
''To achieve the double, double if you like in winning the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai on top of winning the PGA Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup takes some beating, I guess,'' Stenson said.
''I am just very, very pleased with the way I played. I knew it was going to be a tough week as I knew the guys like Justin (Rose) and Ian (Poulter) would come charging at me and try to catch me.''
Poulter birdied his closing two holes to shoot a 66 and finish second at 19 under. He also finished in second in the Race to Dubai.
''I have to take my hat off to Henrik as he is unbelievable,'' Poulter said.
''I tried to run him down as hard as I could but even with a sore wrist he has pressed on and I just could not get close enough. Henrik has not made a mistake all week and all I could do was make sure of second place and some valuable Ryder Cup points.''
Victor Dubuisson of France shot a 71 to claim third place at 17 under. Rory McIlroy continues to show signs of returning to form, closing with a 67 to share fifth place at 15-under par.
Rose shot a 70 in the final round and shared 10th place with Sweden's Peter Hanson.
Scott wins 'ugly' to defend Australian Masters.
Reuters; By Ian Ransom
World number two Adam Scott stood firm in the face of a fierce charge from Matt Kuchar to defend his home Australian Masters by two strokes on Sunday as the American's challenge crumbled over the closing holes.
Overnight leader by four strokes, U.S. Masters champion Scott had appeared poised to canter to victory on a breezy day at Royal Melbourne, but was forced to grind out the win as Kuchar roared into contention with a scintillating front nine.
After forging two strokes clear by the time he reached the 16th tee, Kuchar fell back into a share of the lead with a bogey on the tough par-four and then handed the initiative to Scott with a double-bogey six after finding sand on the last.
Playing a couple of groups behind the American, Scott was in no mood to give up the two-shot lead he suddenly inherited and was able to soak up the adulation of a massive home gallery when he tapped in a three-foot par putt on the last to seal victory.
"I guess today, sometimes you kind of win a little bit ugly," Scott told reporters after carding a scratchy even-par 71 for a 14-under total of 270 and a winner's cheque worth A$186,000 ($174,100).
"All of the good stuff I'd done in the first three rounds counted for a lot.
"Even though it wasn't the prettiest golf today... I got away with it, but I'll have to learn not to do it next time."
Former world number one Vijay Singh, joint second overnight, was quickly out of the picture after toiling early, leaving the title to be decided by a shoot-out between Scott and Kuchar.
CLUB SELECTION
Having played the famed sandbelt course with aplomb on the opening three days, Scott had trouble selecting the right clubs and ground his way to the turn on even-par as Kuchar soared to four-under for the day.
The 33-year-old Scott stumbled badly on the par-three 14th, his sand wedge off the tee coming up short and burying itself in a green-side bunker.
Faced with a "fried egg" lie, Scott's recovery raced off the green, leading to a double-bogey that handed Kuchar a two-stroke advantage.
"That one was completely on me because (caddy) Steve (Williams) wanted me to hit wedge but I just didn't have the feel for a wedge," Scott said.
Unbowed, Scott bounced back with a birdie on the next hole to put the heat back on Kuchar and was a model of composure as he completed the course with three straight pars.
Wearing the winner's 'gold jacket', Australia's answer to the more prestigious green one given at Augusta, Scott beamed as he pondered his second title in a week following his Australian PGA Championship win at the Gold Coast last week.
Scott has a chance to sweep all three of Australia's marquee tournaments when he lines up at the national Open in Sydney later this month, but will return to Royal Melbourne in a few days to team up with compatriot Jason Day for the World Cup starting on Thursday.
"Come back next week and see me and Jase," Scott urged fans at the trophy presentation. "We'll win the World Cup."
Jimmie Johnson wins 6th NASCAR championship.
By JENNA FRYER (AP Auto Racing Writer)
Soaked in sweat, champagne and success, Jimmie Johnson celebrated yet another NASCAR championship by sipping a beer.
A six-pack would have been more appropriate.
Back on top with only two NASCAR legends left to catch, Johnson won his sixth title in eight years Sunday to stake his claim as one of the most dominant competitors in sports history. Now looming large in Johnson's windshield is the mark of seven titles held by Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt.
The party had barely started on No. 6 when the debate began: Where does Johnson, who on-and-off for two years has used the hashtag '6Pack' on Twitter to describe his bid for this title, rank among NASCAR's greats?
''I feel like this team is capable of a lot of great things. There's still great years ahead of us,'' Johnson said. ''But all of that is in the future, a seventh, an eighth. I don't want to focus on that yet. It's not time.''
The time to rank Johnson will be when his driving career is over. But at just 38 and the youngest driver to win six titles, his career could last another decade or more.
Back on top with only two NASCAR legends left to catch, Johnson won his sixth title in eight years Sunday to stake his claim as one of the most dominant competitors in sports history. Now looming large in Johnson's windshield is the mark of seven titles held by Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt.
The party had barely started on No. 6 when the debate began: Where does Johnson, who on-and-off for two years has used the hashtag '6Pack' on Twitter to describe his bid for this title, rank among NASCAR's greats?
''I feel like this team is capable of a lot of great things. There's still great years ahead of us,'' Johnson said. ''But all of that is in the future, a seventh, an eighth. I don't want to focus on that yet. It's not time.''
The time to rank Johnson will be when his driving career is over. But at just 38 and the youngest driver to win six titles, his career could last another decade or more.
''It was just unbelievable year for us. Obviously, we wanted to win the championship as good as we ran all year,'' said Kenseth, winner of seven races in his first season with JGR.
Hamlin's celebration was brief as the victory stage was cleared for Johnson. Hamlin nearly stood atop the podium in 2010, when he took Johnson down to the wire, only to fade in the finale as Johnson claimed his record fifth consecutive title.
Brazil coach: Team will win 2014 World Cup.
By TALES AZZONI (AP Sports Writer)
Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident of Brazil's chances at the 2014 World Cup, guaranteeing the team will win the tournament at home.
Scolari had been saying Brazil was among the favorites, but not at the same level as other teams. Now the coach has asserted after the 5-0 rout of Honduras on Saturday that his team will come away with the title next year.
''Brazil will be the champion,'' he said after the win in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Scolari won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, which plays its last exhibition of the year against Chile on Tuesday in Toronto.
''I wouldn't accept to coach Brazil if I didn't think I could win the World Cup,'' Scolari said. ''I took the job because I'm 100 percent sure that I will win the World Cup with Brazil.''
Brazil will play one more match next year before Scolari selects his final squad for the June 12-July 13 World Cup, the first in Brazil since 1950.
The coach said his assertion doesn't come because of the victory over Honduras, which he said was harder than it looked, but rather because he understands the team's potential.
''Brazil will be the champion,'' he said after the win in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Scolari won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, which plays its last exhibition of the year against Chile on Tuesday in Toronto.
''I wouldn't accept to coach Brazil if I didn't think I could win the World Cup,'' Scolari said. ''I took the job because I'm 100 percent sure that I will win the World Cup with Brazil.''
Brazil will play one more match next year before Scolari selects his final squad for the June 12-July 13 World Cup, the first in Brazil since 1950.
The coach said his assertion doesn't come because of the victory over Honduras, which he said was harder than it looked, but rather because he understands the team's potential.
Yahoo Sports
| Rank | Team | Record | Rank | Pts | % | Rank | Pts | % | Avg | Avg | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alabama | 10-0 | 1 | 2620 | .9981 | 1 | 1544 | .9961 | .980 | .9914 | 1 |
| 2. | Florida St. | 10-0 | 2 | 2517 | .9589 | 2 | 1487 | .9594 | .980 | .9661 | 2 |
| 3. | Ohio St. | 10-0 | 3 | 2375 | .9048 | 3 | 1404 | .9058 | .850 | .8869 | 3 |
| 4. | Baylor | 9-0 | 4 | 2343 | .8926 | 4 | 1386 | .8942 | .870 | .8856 | 5 |
| 5. | Oregon | 9-1 | 5 | 2102 | .8008 | 5 | 1231 | .7942 | .780 | .7917 | 6 |
| 6. | Auburn | 10-1 | 7 | 1967 | .7493 | 7 | 1145 | .7387 | .870 | .7860 | 7 |
| 7. | Clemson | 9-1 | 6 | 2019 | .7691 | 6 | 1217 | .7852 | .750 | .7681 | 8 |
| 8. | Missouri | 9-1 | 8 | 1919 | .7310 | 8 | 1129 | .7284 | .710 | .7231 | 9 |
| 9. | Stanford | 8-2 | 11 | 1584 | .6034 | 12 | 865 | .5581 | .710 | .6238 | 4 |
| 10. | Oklahoma St. | 9-1 | 9 | 1660 | .6324 | 9 | 1030 | .6645 | .470 | .5890 | 12 |
| 11. | South Carolina | 8-2 | 12 | 1459 | .5558 | 11 | 882 | .5690 | .640 | .5883 | 10 |
| 12. | Texas A&M | 8-2 | 10 | 1626 | .6194 | 10 | 928 | .5987 | .400 | .5394 | 11 |
| 13. | Michigan St. | 9-1 | 13 | 1269 | .4834 | 13 | 729 | .4703 | .440 | .4646 | 16 |
| 14. | UCLA | 8-2 | 15 | 1110 | .4229 | 14 | 700 | .4516 | .510 | .4615 | 13 |
| 15. | Fresno St. | 9-0 | 14 | 1126 | .4290 | 16 | 622 | .4013 | .410 | .4134 | 14 |
| 16. | Northern Illinois | 10-0 | 18 | 864 | .3291 | 21 | 418 | .2697 | .520 | .3729 | 15 |
| 17. | Arizona St. | 8-2 | 22 | 570 | .2171 | 22 | 352 | .2271 | .580 | .3414 | 19 |
| 18. | UCF | 8-1 | 20 | 793 | .3021 | 20 | 446 | .2877 | .320 | .3033 | 17 |
| 19. | Wisconsin | 8-2 | 19 | 794 | .3025 | 17 | 511 | .3297 | .240 | .2907 | 22 |
| 20. | Oklahoma | 8-2 | 21 | 746 | .2842 | 18 | 502 | .3239 | .220 | .2760 | 18 |
| 21. | Louisville | 9-1 | 16 | 1010 | .3848 | 15 | 627 | .4045 | .010 | .2664 | 20 |
| 22. | LSU | 7-3 | 17 | 880 | .3352 | 19 | 478 | .3084 | .150 | .2645 | 21 |
| 23. | USC | 8-3 | 23 | 202 | .0770 | 25 | 115 | .0742 | .170 | .1070 | NR |
| 24. | Mississippi | 7-3 | 26 | 110 | .0419 | 26 | 35 | .0226 | .250 | .1048 | NR |
| 25. | Minnesota | 8-2 | 25 | 183 | .0697 | 23 | 173 | .1116 | .000 | .0604 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes:
None
J.J. Mann’s game-winning three helps Belmont topple shorthanded North Carolina.
By Jeff Eisenberg
Having lost standout guards Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson to graduation this past spring, Belmont needed a new star to emerge if it was going to have any chance of returning to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year.
Thankfully for the Bruins, somebody has stepped forward.
J.J. Mann continued his transformation from role player to go-to scoring threat on Sunday by burying the game-winning 3-pointer with 13.1 seconds left to help Belmont topple 12th-ranked North Carolina 83-80 in Chapel Hill. Mann finished with a game-high 28 points, 11 of which came during a game-ending 13-2 Bruins run during the game's final two minutes.
That Belmont was able to spring the upset is a testament to the skill of its coaching staff and the grit of its players because the Bruins were at a huge deficit in size and athleticism. North Carolina has a roster littered with former McDonald All-Americans and top 50 recruits. Belmont has a team full of overlooked but skilled players still adjusting to bigger roles this season.
The absence of wings P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald made North Carolina more vulnerable than its ranking might suggest, but the Tar Heels still had ample chance to put Belmont away. Even though North Carolina sank only 22 of 48 free throws on the day, the Tar Heels still managed to erase a double-digit first-half deficit and build a late eight-point lead before everything crumbled down the stretch.
Several times North Carolina appeared more interested in milking clock than extending its lead. Sophomore point guard Marcus Paige also committed turnovers on three of the Tar Heels' last four possessions. And on Mann's go-ahead 3-pointer, J.P. Tokoto inexplicably went under the ball screen instead of fighting over the top, enabling the Belmont wing to have a clean look at a shot from the top of the key.
Even so, North Carolina still trailed by only one entering its final possession, but the Tar Heels didn't get much of a look. Tokoto dribbled into traffic, picked up his dribble and attempted a fade-away jumper from the elbow that grazed the front rim and fell short, enabling Belmont to throw the ball up court and clinch the victory.
Belmont's late charge reduced the Dean Dome to stunned silence. The loss was only North Carolina's second non-conference defeat at home under Roy Williams, though perhaps Tar Heels fans shouldn't have been so surprised considering the abundance of warning signs leading up to Sunday's game.
The Bruins (3-1) had just defeated a pretty good Indiana State team that toppled Notre Dame earlier Sunday and is expected to contend in the Valley this year. The Tar Heels had just slogged their way to a laborious win over an unheralded Holy Cross team that lost 18 games the previous year.
It's foolish to draw sweeping conclusions about Belmont and North Carolina from just one game, but this much seems clear.
The Bruins look like contenders once again in the Ohio Valley Conference despite the personnel losses they sustained this spring. And the Tar Heels probably aren't likely to contend in the ACC unless they get Hairston and McDonald back, they improve their free throw shooting and they correct their mental miscues on defense.
High School Football Player Tony Picard May Be 'Biggest Running Back In The World' At 6'4, 400 Lbs.
By Chris Greenberg
Billed as "The Biggest Running Back In The World" in the description of a YouTube video of his highlights, high school football player Tony Picard seems to be part myth, part viral video sensation and part college scout's dream but he is entirely a nightmare for opposing defenses.
According to Northwest Prep Report, Picard is a running back and nose guard for White Swan High School in Washington who stands 6' 4" and weights 400 pounds. Dubbed "Big Tone," he is reportedly part Umatilla-Nez Perce Indian and part Sioux Indian.
“It’s so much fun to have him go out [on the field] as a captain and see him shaking hands before the game,” White Swan coach Andrew Bush told Indian Country Today Media Network. "They’re just kind of staring, like ‘Oh my gosh, you’ve got to be kidding me!'”
Picard had totaled 576 yards rushing with 8 touchdowns this season ahead of White Swan's showdown with Colfax on Saturday night, reported Joe Kinsey of Busted Coverage.
As Picard's name -- and imposing measurements -- began appearing around the Internet, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard shared a jaw-dropping image of overmatched defenders on Twitter and revealed that his father, Mike, began his coaching career at White Swan High School.
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