Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"
Sports Quote of the Day:
"Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory." ~ General George S. Patton
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Briggs, Cutler returns: One big, the other bigger.
By John Mullin
When the injuries occurred, both in the Washington game, a purely theoretical question was: Would the loss of quarterback Jay Cutler or linebacker Lance Briggs prove the more damaging hit to the Bears?
The answer has been anything but theoretical. And now the question changes to whose return projects to make a major difference for a team whose season is hanging in the balance.
Offense sans Cutler
The Bears’ offense ranked 11th in yardage and second in scoring when Cutler suffered his torn groin muscle. With him in and out of the lineup since then, the offense now ranks eighth in yardage and fifth in scoring.
Comparing turnips to turnips (apples are clichéd), the scoring during Cutler’s stewardship included four defensive touchdowns over six games, making the average 24 points per game. The offense in three Josh McCown starts has scored 64 points (21.3), although the 24 points the offense put up in the second half at Washington behind McCown makes the point production under the two quarterback just about a wash.
Defense sans Briggs
The defense lost Briggs with a fractured shoulder in the Washington game. It also lost its compass, giving up twice as many rushing without Briggs as it was with him.
Before Washington the unit already lost tackles Henry Melton and Nate Collins in weeks three and five, respectively, but ranked 12th in the NFL giving up a respectable 102 rushing yards per game going into the Washington game.
It now ranks 32nd giving up 153.6 yards per game on the ground. More to the Briggs point, the Bears have allowed 204.4 rushing yards per game in the five without him.
The Bears were giving up 23.3 before the Washington game, with the offense giving up two return TDs and special teams one. In the five games without Briggs, the unit has allowed 23.8 points per game, albeit with games against Green Bay without Aaron Rodgers, St. Louis with Kellen Clemens and Minnesota under Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel.
The bigger point
The issue is not whether Briggs or Cutler is more valuable to the Bears. That question really turns on whether Josh McCown or Khaseem Greene has been a better fill-in. Easy one there.
The real issue is looking forward: Whose return projects to have a greater lift factor for the Bears, who desperately need a charge after losing three of their last four. The offense has faltered too often in the past several games but nowhere to the level of the defense’s problems.
Which makes Briggs’ possible return for Dallas or whenever a potential season-saver. And Briggs was slightly ahead of Cutler on the recovery curve.
“Lance on his shoulder, it’s healing,” coach Marc Trestman said. “He’s progressing. He got some work last week. We’ll see how he is on Thursday [when Bears resume practicing]….
“I will know more on Thursday. We’ll have to see where it is. Next couple days, I’ll have a better idea.”
Bears' playoff chances plummet to 15 percent.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
Three weeks ago, the Chicago Bears' playoff chances looked encouraging, even with injuries to their anchors on offense and defense, Jay Cutler and Lance Briggs.
The streaking Green Bay Packers quickly lost three straight without their Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is still nursing a collarbone injury. The Dallas Cowboys fell to .500 after allowing 625 total yards and an NFL-record 40 first downs to the New Orleans Saints. The Carolina Panthers were about to host Tom Brady's 7-2 New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. And the 4-5 Philadelphia Eagles had no idea who their starting quarterback would be moving forward. (Now, coach Chip Kelly says Nick Foles is their starter for the next 1,000 years).
As you can see, a lot can change in a couple weeks.
The Bears sat atop the NFC North with a 6-4 record after Week 10, tied with the Detroit Lions.
But after their second consecutive loss, the Bears' odds of making the playoffs have plummeted to 15 percent, according to playoffrace.com.
Chicago has dropped to 6-6 and remain only a game back from the Lions for the division lead, but Detroit owns the tiebreaker giving them a 75.99 percent chance at holding their current playoff spot.
The Bears return to Soldier Field this week for the first time since Nov. 17, squaring off against a Cowboys team that has won three of their last four games, including two in a row.
Chicago's final three games consist of back-to-back road contests against the Cleveland Browns and red-hot Eagles, and will wrap-up the regular-season vs. the Packers, who are hoping Rodgers will be back for.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Stars 4, Blackhawks 3.
By Jerry Bonkowski, The Sports Xchange
Left winger Antoine Roussel's penalty-shot goal at 3:01 of the third period ended a spirited Chicago Blackhawks comeback while providing the winning tally in the Dallas Stars' 4-3 win Tuesday at the United Center.
Roussel's fifth goal of the season broke a 3-3 tie and the Stars (13-9-4) hung on for only their second win in the last six games, despite Chicago (20-5-4) outshooting Dallas by a whopping 50-18 margin.
Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen was outstanding in the net, knocking aside an onslaught of Blackhawks scoring attempts, as Dallas earned its seventh win in its last eight road games.
Chicago goalie Corey Crawford came into the game as the winningest goalie in the NHL thus far this season.
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Chicago, which returned home after a seven-game road trip that saw it go 6-1-0. In addition, it was only the fourth loss for the Blackhawks in their last 18 games.
Dallas appeared to come into the game with revenge on its mind, having lost in a 2-1 shootout Saturday at home to the visiting Blackhawks. Chicago also won the first meeting of the season between the two clubs earlier in November, as well.
Dallas managed just five shots on goal in the first period but made the most of their limited efforts, scoring twice, while Chicago was held scoreless despite 16 of its own shots on Lehtonen.
Dallas scored first when right winger Valeri Nichushkin beat Crawford at 13:47. It was Nichushkin's third goal of the season.
Stars right winger Alex Chiasson scored his eighth goal of the season at 18:50 on the power play.
Dallas increased its lead to 3-0 at 3:07 of the second period on left winger Erik Cole's wrist shot.
After outshooting the Stars 24-9 through nearly the entire first half of the game, the Blackhawks finally scored on right winger Patrick Sharp's power-play goal (11th of season) at 9:39. It was Sharp's 50th career power-play tally and his 200th as a Blackhawk.
But Chicago was far from done, adding two more goals in the middle period.
Rookie defenseman Nick Leddy, who is quickly becoming a star in Chicago, nailed his third goal of the season at 16:09 to draw the Blackhawks to within one goal, 3-2.
The Blackhawks tied it up just over a minute later on defenseman Johnny Oduya's third goal of the season, a wicked wrist shot from just inside the blue line at 17:14.
Dallas would score the deciding goal on Roussel's penalty shot.
Chicago had a great opportunity to tie the game near the midpoint of the final period with a 5-on-3 advantage, but Lehtonen and the Stars' defense was up to the challenge.
NOTES: Attendance was 21,411. ... Chicago RW Patrick Kane extended his current streak to 20 points in the last 15 games, while D Duncan Keith extended his own streak of at least one assist in the last eight games. ... After going 8-2-3 in October, the Blackhawks were 12-2-1 in November. The Stars were 5-6-1 in October and 7-3-2 in November. ... The Blackhawks came into the game with a dominating 126-95-31-3 all-time record over the Stars (including their prior stint as the Minnesota North Stars). ... Even though he was recalled from Texas of the AHL on Monday, forward Travis Morin was a healthy scratch for Tuesday's game for Dallas. ... Although there had been pre-game speculation that he might play, Dallas C Tyler Seguin remained out with concussion-like symptoms. ... Tuesday began a streak where the Blackhawks play nine of their next 14 games at home. Dallas began a brief two-game road trip Tuesday, but also began a streak that will see them away from the Lone Star State for seven of their next 11 games. ... Tuesday marked Chicago D Michal Rozsival's 800th career NHL game.
Blackhawks notes: Roster report, Kane's recognition.
By Tracey Myers
Michal Handzus was out sick for morning skate and is unlikely to play, and Sheldon Brookbank will probably draw into the open forward spot as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars tonight at the United Center.
Handzus returned to the lineup on Nov. 23 vs. Vancouver after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. He did practice on Monday. Brookbank, who has played some wing for the Blackhawks this season, will be on the team’s third line tonight.
Corey Crawford gets the start for the Blackhawks.
Handzus returned to the lineup on Nov. 23 vs. Vancouver after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. He did practice on Monday. Brookbank, who has played some wing for the Blackhawks this season, will be on the team’s third line tonight.
Corey Crawford gets the start for the Blackhawks.
Defenseman Michael Kostka skated on the team’s third line with Kris Versteeg and Andrew Shaw, but he is out tonight. Kostka (foot) is still on long-term injured reserve but coach Joel Quenneville said, “any day now, we’ll activate him.”
For the Stars, Tyler Seguin (concussion) is out. Kari Lehtonen is the likely starter in goal.
Meanwhile, Patrick Kane was honored for his stellar November, as the NHL named him the No. 1 star for that month. Kane had nine goals — four of which were game-winners — and 19 points in November, which included a career-best 12-game point streak from Nov. 3-27.
“He’s had a great start to the season and his November was outstanding,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “It seems like he’s had the puck more than in the past. He’s a threat off the rush and in the zone, and it seems like every time he hits the ice he has the puck, and that’s a good thing.”
Kane said his great month could be a byproduct of the Blackhawks’ overall team game, which has flourished recently.
“We’ve seen that before. It seems like the best teams, the players on teams that are doing well get recognized a little more,” he said. “So, maybe that’s the case, I guess.”
NHL announces start of Stadium Series ticket sales.
By Nina Falcone
The National Hockey League announced Tuesday that a select number of tickets for the Blackhawks' upcoming Stadium Series game against the Pittsburgh Penguins will go on sale beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 11.
There's no word yet on how many tickets will become available that day or when the rest will be released.
The outdoor game is set to take place on March 1 at Soldier Field and will be televised on NBC.
The outdoor game is set to take place on March 1 at Soldier Field and will be televised on NBC.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Comparing Bulls' Tony Snell to his rookie peers.
By Aggrey Sam
When it comes to the NBA’s rookie class at this early juncture of the season, few observers would disagree with the statement that Philadelphia point guard Michael Carter-Williams has been the cream of the crop thus far, as the Bulls witnessed firsthand in what then seemed like a shocking road loss to the 76ers.
Behind Carter-Williams, who already appears to at least partially justify the Sixers trading All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday in a draft-day deal, is Orlando Magic combo guard Victor Oladipo, but after that is where it gets a little dicey. It’s still extremely early, but what was panned as an underwhelming draft appears to be the case thus far.
Sure, there have been pleasant surprises: Steven Adams of the Thunder, though still very raw on offense may be the young, physical, athletic defensive-minded center Oklahoma City has been looking for; Milwaukee’s second-round pick, Nate Wolters, has started half of the Bucks’ games and proven to be a mature floor general; Boston’s Vitor Faverani, a native of Brazil via Italy, is a sleeper; undrafted Australian Matthew Dellavedova, a rugged guard who played his college hoops at St. Mary’s, has played important minutes for the Cavaliers.
Also, injuries have delayed the debuts of some of the more highly-touted players: Sixers center Nerlens Noel is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college; Portland’s C.J. McCollum hasn’t yet suited up because of a broken foot; ditto for Washington’s Otto Porter, who has a hip injury; Suns center Alex Len has only played in four games thus far and didn’t play for Phoenix’s summer-league team; Mavericks point guard Shane Larkin got off to a late start after suffering a severe ankle injury in July; Jazz point guard Trey Burke has only played in seven games for Utah and has increasingly improved, notching his game high of 21 points Monday night in a win over Houston.
But the norm has been many of the top draft picks struggling, from No. 1 overall selection Anthony Bennett essentially falling out of Cleveland’s rotation to Timberwolves swingman Shabazz Muhammad, the top prep prospect in the nation two years ago, playing in only six of Minnesota’s games and logging just 25 total minutes on the season.
That’s what makes Bulls rookie Tony Snell’s recent showing relatively impressive now and possibly having more significant long-term implications. On the surface, Snell’s last outing, six points in 22 minutes (shooting 2-for-4 from three-point range and dishing out a pair of assists) Monday during the Bulls’ triple-overtime loss to New Orleans, isn’t saying much. But it must be taken into consideration that veteran Mike Dunleavy Jr. had the hot hand, scoring a season-high 23 points, including 6-for-10 shooting from three-point range, and when Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau first inserted Snell into the starting lineup before last week’s loss in Utah, some of the rationale was that Dunleavy would be able to give the second unit some needed firepower.
When currently-sidelined starting shooting guard Jimmy Butler returns from his turf-toe injury, Snell is likely to return to the bench, but as a regular and vital member of the Bulls’ rotation, given his willingness to defend, underrated playmaking and ballhandling abilities, and most significantly, his outside-shooting prowess, something so desperately needed on the team. Still, just the fact that Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau not only trusted to him to start, regardless of the circumstances, but has been so positive about the rookie’s contributions is a reason to be optimistic.
“I think he’s done a really good job, actually from the point where we drafted him. He worked extremely hard all summer, he did a good job in the preseason and even when he wasn’t playing, he was practicing well. He was really preparing himself to play,” explained Thibodeau, whose past track record with Butler and Marquis Teague, who was assigned to the Bulls’ D-League affiliate Tuesday, suggested that he isn’t keen on playing rookies, though he always makes mention of giving Omer Asik minutes — the center was older and had professional experience internationally, not to mention the Bulls’ had depth issues in the post — early in his NBA career.
“Usually, what happens with those guys, when they work like that and they prepare themselves that way, when the opportunity does roll around, they’re ready for it and he’s done that. So he’s not satisfied. Each day, he comes in, he tries to improve. When he makes a mistake, he tries to correct it and not repeat the same mistake twice. He’s done a good job for us.
“We’ll see. We’ll see how it unfolds,” the coach continued, when asked about Snell’s role upon Butler’s return. “We need everybody. I like what he’s doing. We’re going to see how the team functions. Getting Jimmy back will be a big plus for us.
“I like [Snell’s] demeanor a lot. I think that he’s very serious-minded. He doesn’t get too high, he doesn’t get too low. He just comes in, it’s all business. It’s important to him, he’s very serious. He’s not afraid. Late in the games, he’s not afraid, so that’s a big plus.”
Snell didn’t receive double-digit playing time in the regular season until the Bulls’ blowout defeat at the hands of the Clippers, their first game without Derrick Rose, so to paraphrase Thibodeau, “throw that out.” He entered the starting lineup in the team’s next game, the following night in Utah and has now started a total of four contests, averaging 11.5 points on 53.1-percent shooting from the field and 42.1-percent shooting from three-point range in those games.
When compared to other players who observers believed the Bulls could have selected with the 20th pick in June’s draft — Minnesota’s Gorgui Dieng, who went 21st overall, has played sparingly for the Timberwolves, though the center is averaging a team-high 1.1 blocks per game in limited minutes, while Brooklyn big man Mason Plumlee, the No. 22 selection, has been serviceable for the woeful Nets, averaging 6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per night — the most obvious player to evaluate is Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr.
The son of the Chicago native and former All-Star point guard by the same name has seen his minutes fluctuate — some of that is due to the absolute mess that is 3-13 New York: Oak Park, Ill., native Iman Shumpert, a third-year shooting guard, the subject of trade rumors, and reigning Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith, who signed a contract extension over the summer, off to a horrific start to the campaign — but the 24th overall pick is managing to score 7.3 points per game on 44.3-percent shooting from the floor and 40 percent in 15.4 minutes an evening. Coming off a career-high 21 points in the Knicks’ last game Sunday, Hardaway could become more of a fixture for New York, whether Shumpert is traded or not.
While Snell and Hardaway, an explosive athlete who entered the league with a reputation for being a streaky shooter, have taken advantage of opportunities presented to them due to various circumstances — in the Bulls’ case, injuries; for the Knicks, turmoil — the two rookie shooting guards drafted highest (Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick, is being used more as a primary ballhandler by the Magic and another McCollum, drafted 10th, also projects as more of a scoring combo guard when he eventually suits up) have struggled to find their stride. Lottery picks Ben McLemore of Sacramento and Detroit’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are starting for their respective teams, but their levels of success thus far, perhaps affected by the personnel they play with, has been uneven.
McLemore, once projected to be the first player selected, slipped to seventh in the first round and after experiencing major issues with his shot, creating off the dribble in defense during summer league, his stock dropping was somewhat understandable, though the physical tools — including a picture-perfect jumper, a prototypical NBA shooting-guard frame and explosive athleticism — are there. The Kings, under first-year head coach Mike Malone, have started McLemore in nine out of 15 games and he’s averaging 8.8 points in 22.5 minutes per game, with shooting marks of 37.1 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from deep for a 4-11 team.
Caldwell-Pope, the eighth pick, flew under the radar in college, but was billed as a prolific scorer with good range, size and defensive potential. One of the few players on the 7-10 Pistons capable of spacing the floor, Caldwell-Pope has played in 15 of 17 games, with 10 starts under his belt, and per-game averages of 21.1 minutes and 7.4 points on 35 percent shooting from the floor and 27.1 percent from three-point range.
Going beyond the numbers, Hardaway appears to be a stable high-energy, instant-offense type for the Knicks, Caldwell-Pope projects to be a “3-and-D” guy for the Pistons and the hope is that McLemore can become an outside-shooting complement to big man DeMarcus Cousins for the Kings. But all of those teams are in flux, with Malone and new Detroit head coach Maurice Cheeks trying to implement their styles of play and Mike Woodson in jeopardy of losing his job in New York.
Snell, on the other hand, has entered a situation in Chicago which he seems well-suited for, as his defensive focus has garnered Thibodeau’s respect and on a team needing both players who hit outside shots and create for themselves and others, he does both things, while adding youth and athleticism to the lineup. By no means is he a finished product, as Snell will have to add bulk to his slender frame, but with his strong work ethic, that shouldn’t be an issue and given his versatility and apparently high basketball I.Q., he’ll continue to make adjustments as he gains experience.
Again, it’s still very early — not only in Snell’s career, but in his rookie season — and there’s only a small sample size to judge, but in a year that didn’t yield much immediate-impact talent, the Bulls may have one of the league's better finds.
The Hall of Fame candidate whose name shall not be spoken.
By Rob Neyer
A month or so ago, I wrote about the Hall of Fame's latest veterans committee ballot (and no, they don't call it the veterans committee any more). Just to refresh your memory, from the Hall's press release:
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) - Six former major league players, four managers and two executives comprise the 12-name Expansion Era ballot, featuring candidates whose greatest contributions to the game were realized from 1973 through the present. A 16-member Expansion Era electorate will review and cast votes at the 2013 Baseball Winter Meetings for consideration for the Hall of Fame Class of 2014, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced today.
Dave Concepcion, Bobby Cox, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Tony La Russa, Billy Martin, Marvin Miller, Dave Parker, Dan Quisenberry, Ted Simmons, George Steinbrenner, Joe Torre are the candidates that will be considered by the electorate. Any candidate who earns votes on 75% of ballots cast will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be inducted on Sunday, July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Results of the Expansion Era vote will be announced on Monday, December 9 at 10 a.m. ET from the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
As I wrote then, I would vote for Cox, La Russa, and Torre. Probably Marvin Miller, too. And maybe George Steinbrenner, someday. But that's just the beginning! Even leaving those five and all players completely aside, I can easily come up with 10 excellent Hall of Fame candidates ... most of whom have received little or no support from various Hall of Fame voting bodies over the years.
I've come up with a similar list before. Oddly, I can't find it anywhere. Which gives me license to come up with another list. Which I'll do later this week. Today, though? I want to write about a single candidate on that imaginary-so-far list, someone I've never written about before. And let's make a little game out of it. Let me tell you a few things about this candidate, and as I mention these things, you can try to figure out who we're talking about ...
This fellow played briefly for the Brooklyn Dodgers during World War II, then spent a couple of years in the U.S. Navy. After the war, he played shortstop for Montreal. His teammate Jackie Robinson had been a shortstop with the Kansas City Monarchs but was adjusting to second base, and by all accounts our fellow did everything he could to help out.
Before long, this fellow became a scout with the Dodgers; not long after that, he became the Dodgers' director of scouting. In 1954, he filed a scouting report that helped convince Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley to spend whatever it took to sign Sandy Koufax; the fellow later said that he saw two things in his life that made the hair on the back of his neck literally stand on end: the first time he saw Michelangelo's paintings in the Sistine Chapel, and the first time he saw Koufax pitch.
Oh, and that scouting report? On the 60-80 scouting scale, this fellow gave Koufax a 77 for the speed of his fastball, and a 72 for the break on his pitches. Which I mention here because this fellow invented the 60-80 scouting scale. Sixty-some years ago, he invented something that essentially remains the standard, today.
Around the same time, this fellow held a clinic for young players in Puerto Rico, and was the first to offer Roberto Clemente a contract in Organized Baseball. Clemente signed, only to be drafted by the Pirates a year later when the Dodgers' attempts to hide him went for naught.
Also around the same time, our man put together all the things he'd been teaching young, prospective Dodgers into a book: The Dodgers' Way to Play Baseball. The Dodgers, more than any other team of the era, actually had their own way. Branch Rickey had gotten the organization started, but our man refined Rickey's practices like they'd never been refined before. In the decades since, various other organizations have claimed their own ways. Especially the Orioles. But the Dodgers were the firstest with the mostest.
So the Dodgers, with our fellow still serving as head scout, continued to produce great young players, and after moving to Los Angeles in 1958, the club won National League pennants in 1959, 1963, and 1965. Our man took over as general manager in 1968, and the Dodgers returned to the World Series in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1981. Counting the Dodgers' pennants in Brooklyn in 1952, '53, '55 and '56, it's no real stretch to suggest that this fellow played a key role in a full dozen National League championships. I wonder how many fellows might say the same?
I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like a Hall of Famer to me. Except, sure: Nobody's ever gotten elected because he was a great scout, or even a great scouting director. To get elected as an executive, you must either own a (successful, unless you're Tom Yawkey) franchise for a long time, or put together a long run of success as a general manager. Our man was a general manager for nearly 20 years, but maybe four league championships and just one World's Championship (1981) just aren't quite enough. After all, Buzzie Bavasi ran the Dodgers through most of the 1950s and '60s and hasn't been elected. However, I would (and will) argue that our man deserves some good measure of credit for his work as a scout and scouting director. Enough credit to put him over the top. I mean, a dozen pennants. Key roles.
And then in 1987, Nightline. Yes, we're talking about Al Campanis. I'll bet that some of you don't know anything about Al Campanis except his career-ending appearance on Nightline in 1987. I'm not going to embed it, because it's distasteful and I don't care to watch it again, but it's right here if you want it. Campanis, who by all accounts had always treated everyone fairly in his long and brilliantly successful career, said a few utterly ridiculous things about African-Americans.
Two days later, the Dodgers fired Campanis and promoted Fred Claire to take over as general manager. In his book, Claire wrote,
Prior to becoming general manager, I often had the opportunity to attend GM meetings with Al. I also sat in on his nightly meetings in spring training. His passion for the game, and the men who played it, was tremendous.
I remember receiving a call from Al one day not long after his departure from the team. During the conversation, Al mentioned he had long had a picture of Jackie Robinson in his office and, it seemed to me, he was making the point as if to say he had no prejudice.
"Al, I've known you for 20 years, I responded. "You don't have anything to prove to me. I know you."
Some years after Campanis's embarrassment, Don Newcombe told the Los Angeles Times, "I don't believe Campanis has a prejudiced bone in his body." Newcombe also suggested that if Jackie Robinson had been alive in 1987, he would have advised Campanis to just apologize, after which everyone would forget about it. Robinson wasn't alive, and so we'll never know. But it does seem to me that Jackie would have forgiven the old friend who taught him everything he knew about not getting killed while turning a double play. And it's strange to me that the worst two minutes in a fellow's career apparently mean more than the forty great years that came before.
A big week of golf on 3 continents.
By DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer)
Joost Luiten better hope his decision to hit one shot at the BMW Masters doesn't keep him out of that other ''Masters.''
Luiten had a sore shoulder in Shanghai. He had to play two of three ''Final Series'' events on the European Tour to be eligible for the finale in Dubai. So he chose to hit one shot off the first tee at Lake Malaren in the BMW Masters and withdraw. He rested his shoulder for two weeks, played Turkey and then tied for fourth in Dubai.
However, that added one tournament to his total in the world ranking formula. If he had not been required to play the BMW Masters, Luiten would be at No. 49.
Ultimately, however, his performance will dictate whether he gets into the Masters. Even though it's late in the year, the fields on three continents are packed with good players at the World Challenge in California, the Hong Kong Open and the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.
The strongest field is in California, though it will have no bearing on the Masters because all 18 players at Sherwood are already eligible (and all of them are in the top 30).
Miguel Angel Jimenez (No. 48) is playing in Hong Kong, by far the weakest of the three fields. If he doesn't play well, the Spaniard risks being passed in the ranking by Richard Sterne (No. 51) or Luiten in South Africa. Also playing in South Africa are Gary Woodland (No. 57 but already in the Masters), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (No. 60) and Peter Uihlein (No. 67).
The final tournament of the year is the Nelson Mandela Invitational, though the field is expected to be weak. Among those expected to play are Branden Grace, currently at No. 50.
For the players who don't quite crack the top 50, Augusta National takes the top 50 one week before the Masters. Then again, Geoff Ogilvy missed the top 50 by one shot in Australia at the end of last year and went backward at the start of a new season.
---
WHEN GOLF GETS IN THE WAY OF FOOTBALL: Jason Dufner took to Twitter to ask tournament host Tiger Woods if the World Challenge could change to 36 holes on Thursday and Friday ''so I can watch my beloved Auburn'' play for the SEC Championship.
If nothing else, it got Woods to tweet something for the first time in a month: ''Petition denied.''
Auburn and Missouri play at 1 p.m. PST, so Dufner's best hope is to play so poorly in the opening two rounds that he's off the course by then.
Woods, who went to Stanford, has no such problem. The Cardinal and Arizona State play for the Pac-12 title at 4:45 p.m. PST, well after the third round is over. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State (Hunter Mahan) goes after a Big 12 title when it plays Oklahoma at 9 a.m. PST.
---
ROOKIE STARS: One of the best rivalries in golf this year was not a rivalry except when measuring achievements on two tours.
Jordan Spieth started the PGA Tour season with no status and earned temporary membership, won the John Deere Classic, qualified for the Tour Championship, was picked for the Presidents Cup team and finished No. 7 in the FedEx Cup standings. It was the best rookie season on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods started with no status and won twice in his first seven tournaments in 1996.
Across the ocean, Hideki Matsuyama was equally impressive on the Japan Golf Tour.
The 21-year-old Japanese star didn't turn pro until April. He won four times this year, and his win last week in the Casio World Open made him the first rookie to win the Japanese money title with just more than $2 million. Matsuyama had a pair of top 10s in the majors (he tied for 19th in the PGA Championship), and he earned his PGA Tour card for the 2013-14 season. In his first tour event as a member, he tied for third in the Frys.com Open.
Spieth earned 184.432 ranking points this year and is No. 22 in the world. Matsuyama earned 157.47 points and is No. 23 in the world.
---
SEMINOLE JACK: Jack Nicklaus grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and won an NCAA title at Ohio State. He even dotted the ''i'' at a Buckeyes football game.
But as Nicklaus told the Palm Beach Post this week, ''blood is thicker than anything else.''
His grandson, Nick O'Leary, is the starting tight end for Florida State, and the top-ranked Seminoles could very well meet Ohio State if both teams win their conference championships on Saturday.
Nicklaus said his allegiance would be with Florida State.
Maybe Nicklaus saw this coming.
He was at his alma mater at the start of the football season and told Ohio State coach Urban Meyer that he had already secured tickets to the title game in the Rose Bowl. Meyer cautioned Nicklaus not to jinx the Buckeyes, only for Nicklaus to tell him, ''Urban, I bought the tickets for Florida State. I hope you get there.''
---
THE CUPS RUNNETH OVER: Add a couple of more cups to the calendar.
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand have been selected as playing captains for the inaugural EurAsia Cup. The team matches will be played March 27-29 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Among those expected to compete are Graeme McDowell, Jamie Donaldson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
It gives Europe team match competition in a Ryder Cup year.
Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin have been named honorary captains of the ''Concession Cup,'' to be played May 1-3 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. The matches are for leading mid-amateurs, senior amateurs and super senior amateurs from the United States against Britain & Ireland.
The club was named after the moment of sportsmanship at the 1969 Ryder Cup, when Nicklaus conceded Jacklin a short par putt for the event to end in a tie. The Americans retained the cup.
---
DIVOTS: Brandt Snedeker is being replaced in the Franklin Templeton Shootout field by Harris English. Snedeker hurt his left knee after losing his balance on a Segway in China, and is taking the rest of the year off as a precaution. He is expected to return at the Tournament of Championship at Kapalua the first week of January. ... The European Tour has appointed David Williams chairman of the board, replacing Neil Coles, who retired this year. ... The winners in golf over the last few weeks include Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Charl Schwartzel and Luke Donald. ... Steve Stricker is the only player from the top 10 in the world who has not won this year.
---
STAT OF THE WEEK: Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker are the only players from the top 25 in the world who are not playing this week.
---
FINAL WORD: ''I have spent more time in the ice bucket than a bottle of Moet & Chandon over the last month.'' - Henrik Stenson, who has been coping with a wrist injury.
Jason Dufner kindly asks Tiger Woods to shorten event this week so he can watch Auburn football.
By Shane Bacon
On Saturday night in Alabama, the Auburn Tigers pulled off one of the most stunning last second wins in the history of college football, taking out top-seeded Alabama thanks to a failed field goal return by Chris Davis.
Unless you are Hanks in "Castaway" you've seen a few highlights of that play, but Auburn's quest for a national championship is now just heating up.
Auburn plays Missouri on Saturday at 4 PM ET, meaning those lucky professional golfers that got the invite to Tiger Woods' event in California will be missing a good portion of that game, if not all of it.
Which Auburn Tiger is in the field, and has kindly asked Tiger Woods to shorten the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge from four days to two days? That would be our PGA Championship winner, Jason Dufner, who went to Twitter on Monday to ask the top golfer in the world if he wouldn't mind this slight tweak.
Dear Mr @TigerWoods I petition the event this week to play 36 holes Thurs and Friday, so I can watch my beloved Auburn play for SEC champ thx
It's probably a little too close to the start date to condense the golf tournament to just two days, but maybe Dufner should plan on a couple of weak opening scores so he's sure to go out early on Saturday and get his round over with.
I guess if he opens 75-75 we will know just how big of an Auburn fan the Duf really is.
Update: Tiger responded ...
Jason Dufner ✔ @JasonDufner 02 Dec
Tiger Woods ✔ @TigerWoods Follow
Reporting by Mike Collett; Editing by Brian Homewood/Rex Gowar
FIFA will go ahead with its controversial decision to stage World Cup matches at midday in tropical venues, president Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday as soccer's governing body announced a bafflingly complex procedure for Friday's draw.
General Secretary Jerome Valcke caused general bewilderment as he tried to explain the workings of the draw which will decide which teams comprise the eight first-round groups at next year's tournament.
"It's not easy to understand it the first time, I agree with you" he said. "It took me some time to be sure I had the right explanation."
Each group will consist of one team from each of four pots with Pot 1 featuring the top seeds: Brazil, the host nation, alongside Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland.
The other pots will be based on geographical criteria so that countries from the same confederations are kept apart.
Pot 2 will contain the five African teams, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon, plus the non-seeded South American teams Chile and Ecuador and a European team to be moved out of Pot 4 in a pre-draw.
Pot 3 will feature Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras while nine European sides, Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and France, will comprise Pot 4.
Valcke revealed that a pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2 where they would then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
To complicate matters further, the four South American seeds would form a temporary Pot X and the three not drawn against the European team in Pot 2 will return to the main draw.
NOT BENEFICIAL
A seeded team's place in the draw will determine how much travelling around the vast hinterland of Brazil, the world's fifth largest country by area, will be involved and may therefore not be so beneficial as in the past.
The seeded team in Group H will have a relatively easy first round schedule with matches in the milder conditions of Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
But the seeds in Group G will play in the intense heat of northeastern cities Fortaleza, Natal, Salvador or Recife.
The team that meet Brazil in the opening game - position A2 in the draw -- will face a 3,880-km flight to Manaus in the Amazon for their next match before a 4,508-km flight to Recife for their third game.
Any team surviving that probably deserves a place in the last 16 for stoicism alone.
Kickoff times could also pose a threat to a team's chances depending on whether they play in the humid north or the chilly south.
From June 12 until June 22 when there are three matches a day -- the programme switches to four a day from June 23 to June 26 for the last round of group games -- matches are due to start at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm local time which is 1600GMT, 1900GMT and 2200GMT to maximize European television audiences.
However, the early kickoff time has sparked some unease as it will be very hot in the northeast at that time of day.
Blatter said last month that FIFA could reconsider but changed his mind on Tuesday.
"We are sticking with the kickoff times, they have been decided. There is no change," he told reporters.
From June 23 until June 26 a pair of games will kick off at 1pm and the other pair at the same time later in the afternoon, although the clock will show 4pm in one stadium and 5pm at the other because they are in different time zones.
Brazil, already allocated position A1 in the draw, will kick off the World Cup on June 12 in Sao Paulo, where two construction workers were killed last week when a crane collapsed on to the stadium staging the opening match.
The host team then play in Fortaleza before finishing their group matches in the capital Brasilia.
In such a vast country, there was an early plan to revert to the arrangements once used in World Cups where teams were based in one region instead of travelling all over the country but Brazilian organizers did not want one region to stage all of Brazil's first round games.
As that was not politically expedient, FIFA agreed every team had to travel all over, resulting in the huge distances covered, apart from those in Group H where the venues are relatively close.
The team drawn in position E3 has the unenviable task of playing in the wintry cool of Porto Alegre then the tropical heat of Salvador in its first two group matches.
With the World Cup less than 200 days away and with roads, airport buildings, stadiums and other infrastructure projects unlikely to be ready or abandoned altogether, Brazil's problems seemed a long way away in the idyllic resort setting of Costa do Suape in Bahia state where the draw takes place.
Representatives of the eight countries to have won the World Cup will assist in the draw with organizers saying that Pele would be included.
Friday's glitzy ceremony being shown live in 193 countries around the world, will, for 90 minutes at least, mask all the problems Brazil still faces to be ready in time for next year's big kickoff.
UNITED STATES AIMS FOR KNOCKOUT STAGE UNDER KLINSMANN.
MLSsoccer.com
As Brazil 2014 approaches, the US and Klinsmann will be busy locking in a roster that still have plenty of fringe yet to be trimmed, with the hope being that a blend of MLS- and European-based players can help turn the regional power into a consistent international player. Positive results in high-profile friendlies provide hope, and the knockout stage is the expectation for what is still a developing soccer nation.
WHO GOT THEM THERE
Jozy Altidore, FWD, Sunderland (pictured above): The striker flipped a switch mid-year for the US, which coincided with the strong run of form that catapulted the Americans from a just another Hexagonal hopeful to their normal place at the head of the CONCACAF table. He has still yet to find his form on the club side, but his confidence is rising and Klinsmann is certain his form will turn.
Michael Bradley, MID, Roma: An unsung hero in the center of the field for the US, Bradley is a calming presence in the defensive third, and has a knack for popping up in dangerous positions as well. He's become a integral part of Roma's challenge for Serie A after a few bumps in the road, and certainly won't take anything for granted with the Nats.
Tim Howard, GK, Everton: Even with the strong play of backup ‘keeper Brad Guzan threatening his starting role, Howard has come up big when the US needed it most. Same old same old with Everton as well during a fast start in the EPL, and the the veteran even tried his hand at broadcasting in his spare time. Plus, he scores goals.
THE COACH
Encouragingly, 2012 was better for the Americans, and the team had its best-ever winning percentage in a calendar year under the tutelage of the former Germany and Bayern Munich manager. That success continued in 2013, with the US running off 12 consecutive wins and claiming 15 victories in 16 matches following rumors of a rift in the squad.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Hexagonal record: 7-2-1, 22pts / 15 GF, 8 GA (1st place in CONCACAF Hexagonal)
The US took care of business at home, going 5-0-0 against its opponents in the Hex, outscoring them by a combined score of 8-0. A draw at Estadio Azteca in March set the US off in the right direction in their road fixtures after a loss to open the Hex at Honduras. Wins in Jamaica and Panama propelled them to the top spot in CONCACAF, and sealed a World Cup berth before they took the field for their final two matches.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
10th appearance
Why not Michigan State? Mark Dantonio's BCS title push in lockstep with team's attitude.
By Dan Wetzel
Mark Dantonio is smart enough to know that his Michigan State Spartans have zero chance of earning a spot in the BCS title game. This is true even if they beat current No. 2 Ohio State and Duke somehow upsets No. 1 Florida State.
Still, there Dantonio was Tuesday, standing in front of the media and broaching the subject himself, just laying it out there for discussion.
"Why not us?" he said.
For the national title?
The NCAA Basketball Top Twenty Five, 12/01/2013.
By The Associated Press
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 1, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:
Record Pts Prv
1. Michigan St. (63) 7-0 1,623 1
2. Arizona (2) 7-0 1,547 4
3. Kentucky 7-1 1,473 3
4. Syracuse 7-0 1,375 8
5. Ohio St. 6-0 1,340 7
6. Kansas 6-1 1,240 2
7. Louisville 6-1 1,139 9
8. Wisconsin 8-0 1,094 10
9. Oklahoma St. 7-1 1,070 5
10. Duke 6-2 1,021 6
11. Wichita St. 8-0 911 12
12. UConn 7-0 836 13
13. Oregon 7-0 801 14
14. Villanova 7-0 785 -
15. Florida 6-1 758 15
16. Memphis 5-1 748 21
17. Iowa St. 5-0 623 17
18. UCLA 7-0 548 19
19. Gonzaga 7-1 380 11
20. Baylor 7-1 377 18
21. UMass 6-0 274 24
22. Michigan 5-2 223 22
23. Iowa 7-1 171 23
24. San Diego St. 5-1 150 -
25. Dayton 6-1 90 -
Others receiving votes: Indiana 74, Virginia 73, New Mexico 71, North Carolina 62, Florida St. 40, Boise St. 36, Pittsburgh 36, VCU 30, Charlotte 20, Colorado 17, Creighton 17, Missouri 16, Harvard 10, Illinois 10, Cincinnati 8, Mississippi 3, George Washington 2, Saint Mary's (Cal) 2, Xavier 1.
Chicago White Sox's Offseason To-Do List
By Matthew Smith
COMMENTARY | Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is not in an enviable position.
There is much work to be done in order to improve a team that finished the 2013 season with 99 losses. So much so, that it is going to take more than one offseason to compile a 25-man roster that is not limited in the things it can do.
To be fair, the White Sox have a head start. They have a core of young players -- Chris Sale, Avisail Garcia, Jose Quintana, and Jose Abreu -- who are under team control until, at the earliest, 2017.
With the rest of the roster in mind, let's look at five things on Hahn's to-do list as the Winter Meetings draw closer:
Find a left-handed reliever
Yes, Hector Santiago is still on the roster. And, yes, the White Sox brought David Purcey back after releasing him after the season ended. That shouldn't preclude Hahn from going out and acquiring another southpaw.
After all, Santiago spends much of his time in the starting rotation, and there is no guarantee that he will even be on the team next year. Purcey, on the other hand, has a history of trouble getting the ball over the plate. While he pitched admirably in 2013, he still walked six batters every nine innings and has a career 1.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That has to be concern moving forward and must be addressed.
Find a catcher
If you followed the White Sox even casually last year, you know that they were woeful behind the plate -- and not just offensively.
As a unit, the catchers threw out only 26 percent of would-be base-stealers and allowed 21 passed balls. On offense, they compiled a .196./238/.325 slash line with 16 home runs and 58 runs batted in. Only the Miami Marlins received less production from the position group.
Couple their defensive ineptitude with their inability to hit or get on base, and the need to improve is clear.
Improve team speed
With the addition of Jose Abreu, the White Sox got slower. Sure, Abreu's bat has immense potential, but that doesn't change the fact that the team is not fast.
They do have Leury Garcia, Jordan Danks, Alejandro De Aza, and Alexei Ramirez who are capable of taking the extra base, but that's about it. And don't forget that Danks and Garcia do not start on a regular basis. Teams that have seven regulars with below-average speed will typically have a hard time manufacturing runs. The need to improve the team's overall speed leads directly into the next item on Hahn's to-do list.
Find a different left fielder
Dayan Viciedo has a howitzer for an arm and some pop in his bat, but that is about it. He is not a left fielder by any stretch of the imagination. A trade or change of position is most assuredly in his future.
Now the White Sox do have four or five outfielders in the minor leagues that have the potential to be part of the solution, but, for the most part, their progress has been slow. A package trade similar to the one that netted them Avisail Garcia may be the best way to get a left fielder that has speed, power, and is a plus fielder.
Find a third baseman
The hot corner has been a perpetual problem since Joe Crede left the team. Hahn thought he had it solved when he brought in Jeff Keppinger last offseason, but the right-handed hitter did not prove up to the task of playing every day.
Dear Mr @TigerWoods I petition the event this week to play 36 holes Thurs and Friday, so I can watch my beloved Auburn play for SEC champ thx
@JasonDufner Petition denied.
Johnson aiming to get McNabb in a race car.
By David Caraviello
Is driving a race car an athletic pursuit? Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb may soon get the chance to find out for himself.
Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson said he and the former Philadelphia Eagles great spoke by telephone Monday, and the two are working on getting McNabb into a race car.
"I hope so," Johnson said Tuesday at the 2013 NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum, which kicked off Champion's Week. "I actually spoke with him on the phone yesterday, and we're making some ground there. We have to find a car big enough to get him in."
McNabb drew fire from all quarters of the NASCAR industry in late November, when he said Johnson was "absolutely not" an athlete after the Hendrick Motorsports great neared his sixth title at the sport's premier level. "He sits in a car and drives," McNabb said Nov. 15 on the "FOX Sports Live" television program. "That doesn't make you athletic."
Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson said he and the former Philadelphia Eagles great spoke by telephone Monday, and the two are working on getting McNabb into a race car.
"I hope so," Johnson said Tuesday at the 2013 NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum, which kicked off Champion's Week. "I actually spoke with him on the phone yesterday, and we're making some ground there. We have to find a car big enough to get him in."
McNabb drew fire from all quarters of the NASCAR industry in late November, when he said Johnson was "absolutely not" an athlete after the Hendrick Motorsports great neared his sixth title at the sport's premier level. "He sits in a car and drives," McNabb said Nov. 15 on the "FOX Sports Live" television program. "That doesn't make you athletic."
After clinching the title two days later at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson fired back. "Yes, I am an athlete, and so is every other driver in one of these race cars," he said. ?
The term particularly applies to Johnson, who has long made strength and endurance training a part of his routine, and regularly competes for age-group titles in running events and triathlons. He has hopes of one day competing in the Boston Marathon.
Johnson appeared on the same "FOX Sports Live" program Monday night, although McNabb was on vacation and not present. "Come to the track," Johnson said on the program. "Come just experience what goes on in a very simple way. I think we've been winning people over each and every year, and I'm excited to win Donovan over. I really think that we can. I'd love to change his mind."
Getting McNabb in a race car just might do the trick. That experience certainly won over former NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, who once raced against Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a short track for a television program.
"Whoever said these guys aren't athletes are out of their minds," O'Neal told NASCAR.com during a visit to Daytona International Speedway in July. "That was the toughest three hours I've ever had in my life. I was fitted for a car, me and Dale raced 50 laps, and I slept for two days after that. I really did. Being in a hot car, the AC thing blowing in your face, it's very, very exhausting. And I was terrified. I don't really get scared by a lot of stuff, but I was freaking terrified. You definitely have to be in great shape to do this."
Johnson hopes to see the same conversion in McNabb, who retired from professional football after the 2011 season following a career in which he made six Pro Bowls and took the Eagles to one Super Bowl.
"Honestly, it's a great opportunity," Johnson said. "Because there have been plenty of people who have doubted our sport and the athleticism that's involved with it. I know Shaquille's voice was heard. Donovan has a big voice right now, and once we get him turned around, he'll do great things for our sport."
For Johnson, who in many ways has helped to define athleticism in auto racing, it's a constant battle.
"We're winning them over one at a time," he said. "We'll get McNabb in a car here pretty soon and see what we can do."
The term particularly applies to Johnson, who has long made strength and endurance training a part of his routine, and regularly competes for age-group titles in running events and triathlons. He has hopes of one day competing in the Boston Marathon.
Johnson appeared on the same "FOX Sports Live" program Monday night, although McNabb was on vacation and not present. "Come to the track," Johnson said on the program. "Come just experience what goes on in a very simple way. I think we've been winning people over each and every year, and I'm excited to win Donovan over. I really think that we can. I'd love to change his mind."
Getting McNabb in a race car just might do the trick. That experience certainly won over former NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, who once raced against Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a short track for a television program.
"Whoever said these guys aren't athletes are out of their minds," O'Neal told NASCAR.com during a visit to Daytona International Speedway in July. "That was the toughest three hours I've ever had in my life. I was fitted for a car, me and Dale raced 50 laps, and I slept for two days after that. I really did. Being in a hot car, the AC thing blowing in your face, it's very, very exhausting. And I was terrified. I don't really get scared by a lot of stuff, but I was freaking terrified. You definitely have to be in great shape to do this."
Johnson hopes to see the same conversion in McNabb, who retired from professional football after the 2011 season following a career in which he made six Pro Bowls and took the Eagles to one Super Bowl.
"Honestly, it's a great opportunity," Johnson said. "Because there have been plenty of people who have doubted our sport and the athleticism that's involved with it. I know Shaquille's voice was heard. Donovan has a big voice right now, and once we get him turned around, he'll do great things for our sport."
For Johnson, who in many ways has helped to define athleticism in auto racing, it's a constant battle.
"We're winning them over one at a time," he said. "We'll get McNabb in a car here pretty soon and see what we can do."
The heat is on as FIFA announces draw procedure.
Reporting by Mike Collett; Editing by Brian Homewood/Rex Gowar
FIFA will go ahead with its controversial decision to stage World Cup matches at midday in tropical venues, president Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday as soccer's governing body announced a bafflingly complex procedure for Friday's draw.
General Secretary Jerome Valcke caused general bewilderment as he tried to explain the workings of the draw which will decide which teams comprise the eight first-round groups at next year's tournament.
"It's not easy to understand it the first time, I agree with you" he said. "It took me some time to be sure I had the right explanation."
Each group will consist of one team from each of four pots with Pot 1 featuring the top seeds: Brazil, the host nation, alongside Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland.
The other pots will be based on geographical criteria so that countries from the same confederations are kept apart.
Pot 2 will contain the five African teams, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon, plus the non-seeded South American teams Chile and Ecuador and a European team to be moved out of Pot 4 in a pre-draw.
Pot 3 will feature Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras while nine European sides, Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and France, will comprise Pot 4.
Valcke revealed that a pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2 where they would then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
To complicate matters further, the four South American seeds would form a temporary Pot X and the three not drawn against the European team in Pot 2 will return to the main draw.
NOT BENEFICIAL
A seeded team's place in the draw will determine how much travelling around the vast hinterland of Brazil, the world's fifth largest country by area, will be involved and may therefore not be so beneficial as in the past.
The seeded team in Group H will have a relatively easy first round schedule with matches in the milder conditions of Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
But the seeds in Group G will play in the intense heat of northeastern cities Fortaleza, Natal, Salvador or Recife.
The team that meet Brazil in the opening game - position A2 in the draw -- will face a 3,880-km flight to Manaus in the Amazon for their next match before a 4,508-km flight to Recife for their third game.
Any team surviving that probably deserves a place in the last 16 for stoicism alone.
Kickoff times could also pose a threat to a team's chances depending on whether they play in the humid north or the chilly south.
From June 12 until June 22 when there are three matches a day -- the programme switches to four a day from June 23 to June 26 for the last round of group games -- matches are due to start at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm local time which is 1600GMT, 1900GMT and 2200GMT to maximize European television audiences.
However, the early kickoff time has sparked some unease as it will be very hot in the northeast at that time of day.
Blatter said last month that FIFA could reconsider but changed his mind on Tuesday.
"We are sticking with the kickoff times, they have been decided. There is no change," he told reporters.
From June 23 until June 26 a pair of games will kick off at 1pm and the other pair at the same time later in the afternoon, although the clock will show 4pm in one stadium and 5pm at the other because they are in different time zones.
Brazil, already allocated position A1 in the draw, will kick off the World Cup on June 12 in Sao Paulo, where two construction workers were killed last week when a crane collapsed on to the stadium staging the opening match.
The host team then play in Fortaleza before finishing their group matches in the capital Brasilia.
In such a vast country, there was an early plan to revert to the arrangements once used in World Cups where teams were based in one region instead of travelling all over the country but Brazilian organizers did not want one region to stage all of Brazil's first round games.
As that was not politically expedient, FIFA agreed every team had to travel all over, resulting in the huge distances covered, apart from those in Group H where the venues are relatively close.
The team drawn in position E3 has the unenviable task of playing in the wintry cool of Porto Alegre then the tropical heat of Salvador in its first two group matches.
With the World Cup less than 200 days away and with roads, airport buildings, stadiums and other infrastructure projects unlikely to be ready or abandoned altogether, Brazil's problems seemed a long way away in the idyllic resort setting of Costa do Suape in Bahia state where the draw takes place.
Representatives of the eight countries to have won the World Cup will assist in the draw with organizers saying that Pele would be included.
Friday's glitzy ceremony being shown live in 193 countries around the world, will, for 90 minutes at least, mask all the problems Brazil still faces to be ready in time for next year's big kickoff.
UNITED STATES AIMS FOR KNOCKOUT STAGE UNDER KLINSMANN.
MLSsoccer.com
Despite Mexico's domination of CONCACAF following South Africa, the USMNT rebounded under the guidance of Jurgen Klinsmann to set the pace in the Hex and in the region, nabbing its seventh consecutive World Cup appearance.As Brazil 2014 approaches, the US and Klinsmann will be busy locking in a roster that still have plenty of fringe yet to be trimmed, with the hope being that a blend of MLS- and European-based players can help turn the regional power into a consistent international player. Positive results in high-profile friendlies provide hope, and the knockout stage is the expectation for what is still a developing soccer nation.
WHO GOT THEM THERE
Jozy Altidore, FWD, Sunderland (pictured above): The striker flipped a switch mid-year for the US, which coincided with the strong run of form that catapulted the Americans from a just another Hexagonal hopeful to their normal place at the head of the CONCACAF table. He has still yet to find his form on the club side, but his confidence is rising and Klinsmann is certain his form will turn.
THE COACH
Jurgen Klinsmann (above) has gone from German scoring machine during his playing career to helping transform the US on the international stage since being hired in July 2011. It was a slow beginning, though, as the US struggled to close out 2011 under Klinsmann’s guidance.Encouragingly, 2012 was better for the Americans, and the team had its best-ever winning percentage in a calendar year under the tutelage of the former Germany and Bayern Munich manager. That success continued in 2013, with the US running off 12 consecutive wins and claiming 15 victories in 16 matches following rumors of a rift in the squad.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Hexagonal record: 7-2-1, 22pts / 15 GF, 8 GA (1st place in CONCACAF Hexagonal)
The US took care of business at home, going 5-0-0 against its opponents in the Hex, outscoring them by a combined score of 8-0. A draw at Estadio Azteca in March set the US off in the right direction in their road fixtures after a loss to open the Hex at Honduras. Wins in Jamaica and Panama propelled them to the top spot in CONCACAF, and sealed a World Cup berth before they took the field for their final two matches.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
10th appearance
The US will be making its 10th World Cup appearance in 2014, and seventh consecutive. Since 1990, the US has alternated being eliminated in the group phase and making it into the knockout phase, with their best finish (in the modern era) coming in 2002 at South Korea/Japan, when they topped archrival Mexico in the Round of 16 to make it to the Quarterfinals. If the trend continues, the US might be looking at an early exit in Brazil. Then again, the pattern has to break sometime.
MLS/USA CONNECTIONS
Klinsmann has made a concerted effort to feature MLS talent on his roster. In the US' recent international friendlies, Sean Johnson (Chicago), Bill Hamid (DC United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Omar Gonzalez (LA) and Seattle duo Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson were all part of the Stars and Stripes. In World Cup Qualifiers, the US included MLSers Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando (RSL), Landon Donovan (LA), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Graham Zusi and Matt Besler (SKC). Many others including Clint Dempsey, Bradley, Howard and Altidore got their start on home soil.
MLS/USA CONNECTIONS
Klinsmann has made a concerted effort to feature MLS talent on his roster. In the US' recent international friendlies, Sean Johnson (Chicago), Bill Hamid (DC United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Omar Gonzalez (LA) and Seattle duo Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson were all part of the Stars and Stripes. In World Cup Qualifiers, the US included MLSers Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando (RSL), Landon Donovan (LA), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Graham Zusi and Matt Besler (SKC). Many others including Clint Dempsey, Bradley, Howard and Altidore got their start on home soil.
Why not Michigan State? Mark Dantonio's BCS title push in lockstep with team's attitude.
By Dan Wetzel
Mark Dantonio is smart enough to know that his Michigan State Spartans have zero chance of earning a spot in the BCS title game. This is true even if they beat current No. 2 Ohio State and Duke somehow upsets No. 1 Florida State.
The winner of the SEC – either No. 3 Auburn or No. 5 Missouri – would get one bid. The other would probably go to No. 4 Alabama, which is idle. Maybe that's fair, maybe it isn't, but that's the way it is. Dantonio can't possibly think poll voters would jump No. 10 MSU over half a dozen teams, including the two-time defending champion Crimson Tide, whose only blemish was decided on a final second 109-yard field goal return.
Still, there Dantonio was Tuesday, standing in front of the media and broaching the subject himself, just laying it out there for discussion.
"Why not us?" he said.
For the national title?
"Yeah, why not us?" he repeated.
Don't bother debating him because swaying some poll voter somewhere with such a hypothetical was neither the point nor the purpose. He doesn't care about who doubts him; the intended audience was his own team.
"Oh, I love it," said linebacker Max Bullough of Dantonio's penchant for saying big, bold things about the State program. "I love it. Maybe even too much sometimes, but I love it."
Michigan State is here – from unranked to No. 10, from unexpected to 11-1, from unheralded to set to go toe-to-toe with the mighty Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game – because Mark Dantonio has found away to build, operate and motivate a program along multiple seemingly conflicting paths.
The first is to stand geographically surrounded by three of the sport's most glamorous programs – Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame – and find players who either were passed over – "lowballed," as cornerback Darqueze Dennard put it – or eagerly sought out the chance to blaze their own trail here.
Those players then buy into the powerful notion of self-determination that Dantonio preaches, the concept that only the individual can control the future, that potential is reachable, that "the buck stops with me" and thus no excuses are tolerated. In fact, they don't just buy it. They covet the notion.
Finally, when he has an entire team of chip-on-their-shoulder, looking-for-a-fight high-achievers and they rise up and do spectacular things (such as winning every Big 10 game by double digits) Dantonio stands tall, glares around and challenges any doubters or skeptics to a fight.
Yeah, why not us?
The national stage may be new here, but this is not a woe-is-me operation. Dantonio will take shots at the Wolverines. He'll challenge perceptions in the media. He'll back his guys and talk them up and apologize for none of it.
It's a powerful emotion to tie together – the confident underdog – and one that Dantonio is increasingly pulling off up here over the last seven seasons. It's not just the 62 victories – including 11 in three of the last four seasons – but that elusive level of consistency and accountability and corresponding pride speaks to something bigger in store.
Does Michigan sign more high-rated recruits? Yeah, so? Why worry about that? It's tough to beat Michigan in recruiting. On the field, it turns out, it's different – five of the last six for MSU.
Yeah, why not us?
This is exactly what Ohio State will face Saturday night in Indy with its national title dreams in the balance – not just a ferocious defense and a burgeoning offense but a lot of knowing, well-earned swagger. Just how Dantonio wants it.
Don't bother debating him because swaying some poll voter somewhere with such a hypothetical was neither the point nor the purpose. He doesn't care about who doubts him; the intended audience was his own team.
"Oh, I love it," said linebacker Max Bullough of Dantonio's penchant for saying big, bold things about the State program. "I love it. Maybe even too much sometimes, but I love it."
Michigan State is here – from unranked to No. 10, from unexpected to 11-1, from unheralded to set to go toe-to-toe with the mighty Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game – because Mark Dantonio has found away to build, operate and motivate a program along multiple seemingly conflicting paths.
The first is to stand geographically surrounded by three of the sport's most glamorous programs – Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame – and find players who either were passed over – "lowballed," as cornerback Darqueze Dennard put it – or eagerly sought out the chance to blaze their own trail here.
Those players then buy into the powerful notion of self-determination that Dantonio preaches, the concept that only the individual can control the future, that potential is reachable, that "the buck stops with me" and thus no excuses are tolerated. In fact, they don't just buy it. They covet the notion.
Finally, when he has an entire team of chip-on-their-shoulder, looking-for-a-fight high-achievers and they rise up and do spectacular things (such as winning every Big 10 game by double digits) Dantonio stands tall, glares around and challenges any doubters or skeptics to a fight.
Yeah, why not us?
The national stage may be new here, but this is not a woe-is-me operation. Dantonio will take shots at the Wolverines. He'll challenge perceptions in the media. He'll back his guys and talk them up and apologize for none of it.
It's a powerful emotion to tie together – the confident underdog – and one that Dantonio is increasingly pulling off up here over the last seven seasons. It's not just the 62 victories – including 11 in three of the last four seasons – but that elusive level of consistency and accountability and corresponding pride speaks to something bigger in store.
Does Michigan sign more high-rated recruits? Yeah, so? Why worry about that? It's tough to beat Michigan in recruiting. On the field, it turns out, it's different – five of the last six for MSU.
Yeah, why not us?
This is exactly what Ohio State will face Saturday night in Indy with its national title dreams in the balance – not just a ferocious defense and a burgeoning offense but a lot of knowing, well-earned swagger. Just how Dantonio wants it.
"To me swagger and confidence go hand in hand, and that's how we feel internally because of Coach D," Bullough said. "Because he's brought players that are like that in here. He's instilled that in us every single day in team meetings. I'm very similar to Coach D in that aspect. Every time he comes up here and says something like ['why not us?'], it gives me chills."
It only works, however, because of the work put in. It's not that MSU doesn't have talent or doesn't sign high-school stars – it does. The core, however, remains blue collar and team-first. That's the only way Dantonio will allow.
"I think that's something that the culture within our program creates," Dantonio, 59, said. "I think there's no question that every football program you have to go and you have to work to become what you want to become. And I think within our system here, you come in, you get into our weight program, you develop, you're on the field, we give opportunities to our players, and eventually you figure out that it's on you, that the buck stops there."
This isn't about recruiting rankings. This isn't about what gets said on ESPN. This isn't about which team is more famous. This is about each player realizing no one can stop them from lifting the weights, studying film and dedicating themselves to the team.
"I think we all have to understand that," he said. "That it starts with you. You have to take that component and idea and embrace it before you can go to anything else. You have to understand that you're responsible for your own success, and that's what we'll try and do.
"That's who we are."
A lesson for football?
"It's a lesson for life," he said.
And so here come the Spartans, whose Big Ten season has been every bit as dominant, and perhaps even more so, than Ohio State – not to mention the five-loss Wolverines down in Ann Arbor.
Yes, all the talk in the media is about Ohio State. All the focus is on Ohio State. All the speculation is about Ohio State. Dantonio doesn't care. He may even like it.
"It's about us," he said. "Absolutely, it's about us. It's not about them. We have to play them."
Mark Dantonio's once mid-pack program is ready for the primetime rock fight: proud of who they are, mindful of where they came and oh-so dangerously confident in what that all means.
It only works, however, because of the work put in. It's not that MSU doesn't have talent or doesn't sign high-school stars – it does. The core, however, remains blue collar and team-first. That's the only way Dantonio will allow.
"I think that's something that the culture within our program creates," Dantonio, 59, said. "I think there's no question that every football program you have to go and you have to work to become what you want to become. And I think within our system here, you come in, you get into our weight program, you develop, you're on the field, we give opportunities to our players, and eventually you figure out that it's on you, that the buck stops there."
This isn't about recruiting rankings. This isn't about what gets said on ESPN. This isn't about which team is more famous. This is about each player realizing no one can stop them from lifting the weights, studying film and dedicating themselves to the team.
"I think we all have to understand that," he said. "That it starts with you. You have to take that component and idea and embrace it before you can go to anything else. You have to understand that you're responsible for your own success, and that's what we'll try and do.
"That's who we are."
A lesson for football?
"It's a lesson for life," he said.
And so here come the Spartans, whose Big Ten season has been every bit as dominant, and perhaps even more so, than Ohio State – not to mention the five-loss Wolverines down in Ann Arbor.
Yes, all the talk in the media is about Ohio State. All the focus is on Ohio State. All the speculation is about Ohio State. Dantonio doesn't care. He may even like it.
"It's about us," he said. "Absolutely, it's about us. It's not about them. We have to play them."
Mark Dantonio's once mid-pack program is ready for the primetime rock fight: proud of who they are, mindful of where they came and oh-so dangerously confident in what that all means.
The NCAA Basketball Top Twenty Five, 12/01/2013.
By The Associated Press
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 1, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:
1. Michigan St. (63) 7-0 1,623 1
2. Arizona (2) 7-0 1,547 4
3. Kentucky 7-1 1,473 3
4. Syracuse 7-0 1,375 8
5. Ohio St. 6-0 1,340 7
6. Kansas 6-1 1,240 2
7. Louisville 6-1 1,139 9
8. Wisconsin 8-0 1,094 10
9. Oklahoma St. 7-1 1,070 5
10. Duke 6-2 1,021 6
11. Wichita St. 8-0 911 12
12. UConn 7-0 836 13
13. Oregon 7-0 801 14
14. Villanova 7-0 785 -
15. Florida 6-1 758 15
16. Memphis 5-1 748 21
17. Iowa St. 5-0 623 17
18. UCLA 7-0 548 19
19. Gonzaga 7-1 380 11
20. Baylor 7-1 377 18
21. UMass 6-0 274 24
22. Michigan 5-2 223 22
23. Iowa 7-1 171 23
24. San Diego St. 5-1 150 -
25. Dayton 6-1 90 -
Others receiving votes: Indiana 74, Virginia 73, New Mexico 71, North Carolina 62, Florida St. 40, Boise St. 36, Pittsburgh 36, VCU 30, Charlotte 20, Colorado 17, Creighton 17, Missouri 16, Harvard 10, Illinois 10, Cincinnati 8, Mississippi 3, George Washington 2, Saint Mary's (Cal) 2, Xavier 1.
Chicago White Sox's Offseason To-Do List
By Matthew Smith
COMMENTARY | Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is not in an enviable position.
There is much work to be done in order to improve a team that finished the 2013 season with 99 losses. So much so, that it is going to take more than one offseason to compile a 25-man roster that is not limited in the things it can do.
To be fair, the White Sox have a head start. They have a core of young players -- Chris Sale, Avisail Garcia, Jose Quintana, and Jose Abreu -- who are under team control until, at the earliest, 2017.
With the rest of the roster in mind, let's look at five things on Hahn's to-do list as the Winter Meetings draw closer:
Find a left-handed reliever
Yes, Hector Santiago is still on the roster. And, yes, the White Sox brought David Purcey back after releasing him after the season ended. That shouldn't preclude Hahn from going out and acquiring another southpaw.
After all, Santiago spends much of his time in the starting rotation, and there is no guarantee that he will even be on the team next year. Purcey, on the other hand, has a history of trouble getting the ball over the plate. While he pitched admirably in 2013, he still walked six batters every nine innings and has a career 1.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That has to be concern moving forward and must be addressed.
Find a catcher
If you followed the White Sox even casually last year, you know that they were woeful behind the plate -- and not just offensively.
As a unit, the catchers threw out only 26 percent of would-be base-stealers and allowed 21 passed balls. On offense, they compiled a .196./238/.325 slash line with 16 home runs and 58 runs batted in. Only the Miami Marlins received less production from the position group.
Couple their defensive ineptitude with their inability to hit or get on base, and the need to improve is clear.
Improve team speed
With the addition of Jose Abreu, the White Sox got slower. Sure, Abreu's bat has immense potential, but that doesn't change the fact that the team is not fast.
They do have Leury Garcia, Jordan Danks, Alejandro De Aza, and Alexei Ramirez who are capable of taking the extra base, but that's about it. And don't forget that Danks and Garcia do not start on a regular basis. Teams that have seven regulars with below-average speed will typically have a hard time manufacturing runs. The need to improve the team's overall speed leads directly into the next item on Hahn's to-do list.
Find a different left fielder
Dayan Viciedo has a howitzer for an arm and some pop in his bat, but that is about it. He is not a left fielder by any stretch of the imagination. A trade or change of position is most assuredly in his future.
Now the White Sox do have four or five outfielders in the minor leagues that have the potential to be part of the solution, but, for the most part, their progress has been slow. A package trade similar to the one that netted them Avisail Garcia may be the best way to get a left fielder that has speed, power, and is a plus fielder.
Find a third baseman
The hot corner has been a perpetual problem since Joe Crede left the team. Hahn thought he had it solved when he brought in Jeff Keppinger last offseason, but the right-handed hitter did not prove up to the task of playing every day.
There are quite a few quality third basemen in Double-A and Triple-A around the league who could be had if the right players were made available by the White Sox. The cost would likely be high, but Hahn could use the surplus of pitching the organization has stockpiled in the major and minor leagues to acquire the long-term fix for what is an ongoing problem.
*********************************************
Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment