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"Leadership is the wise use of power. Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it." ~ Warren G. Bennis, Scholar, Organizational Consultant and Author
Filling in for Jozy Altidore: Three potential replacements.
By Jeff Carlisle
From the moment Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 23-man roster on May 22, among the bigger concerns was what the U.S. would do if striker Jozy Altidore got injured.
With the news that Altidore is officially out of Sunday's match against Portugal after suffering a strained left hamstring Monday against Ghana, that fear has been realized.
It must be said, Klinsmann's decision not to include a like-for-like replacement for Altidore on the roster was a head-scratcher that has morphed into a blunder. Given the strength of the Americans' Group G opponents, possession was always going to be a struggle. That concern was borne out against Ghana, who owned the ball for vast stretches of Monday's encounter. Altidore's ability to provide an outlet, hold the ball up, and link with teammates was expected to be a partial antidote to that weakness.
In his absence, Aron Johannsson -- who, to be fair, is a different kind of player than Altidore -- struggled to provide those attributes. Had Klinsmann included Terrence Boyd or Eddie Johnson, he wouldn't be in this predicament. But the roster deadline has long since passed, and now the U.S. and Klinsmann must find a solution.
In terms of options, Klinsmann has a few, though none of them are anywhere near ideal. One is to go 4-3-3 with Johannsson as the central striker, Clint Dempsey on one wing and Graham Zusi or Alejandro Bedoya on the other. It's a position that Johannsson has played at club level, which would give him a greater level of comfort. It might also serve to spare Dempsey and his broken nose from too many entanglements with hulking central defenders.
A big problem with this is that the U.S. has rarely played such a formation, and there just doesn't seem to be time to gain enough familiarity and cohesion before Sunday.
Another is to deploy Dempsey as the lone striker and use Zusi or Mix Diskerud as an extra midfielder. It's an intriguing idea in theory. A player like Zusi, whose strengths lie on the creative side, might be able to help the U.S. maintain possession better. But the U.S. has struggled with such an alignment in the past in that the midfield didn't always provide the needed level of support for Altidore. The result was that he was often stranded with no one to pass the ball to. Given Dempsey's broken nose -- which may affect his breathing and hence his stamina -- that option seems even less palatable.
That means Klinsmann likely will opt for a two-striker alignment, and it would seem he has three choices. Persist with Johannsson, bring in Chris Wondolowski, or turn to Diskerud with explicit instructions that he stay close to Dempsey.
If Johannsson is the choice, then it might be advisable for him and Dempsey to swap the respective roles they filled against Ghana, or at least alternate for stretches. Johannsson is not a back-to-goal kind of player. Neither is Dempsey, of course, and the downside is that you are taking away one of his best attributes, namely running at defenders.
But Dempsey has filled that role at times in the past for both club and country when need arose, and he performs the task better than any of the remaining forwards on the U.S. roster. Playing in support of Dempsey would allow Johannsson to face up to goal and threaten either off the dribble or with a pass.
Dempsey and Wondolowski were paired up in April's 2-2 draw against Mexico, with the latter player scoring the U.S. side's second goal in that match. It was a game that also saw Wondolowski link up well with his teammates, though his primary attributes remain his clever movement and nose for goal.
Diskerud is an interesting choice in that he's the best passer out of the three. If he can be disciplined enough to stay close to Dempsey, it might go a long way toward helping the U.S. keep the ball better.
Granted, it won't matter whom Klinsmann puts up top alongside Dempsey if the rest of the U.S. lineup doesn't do a better job of keeping possession. While that responsibility lies primarily on the midfield, the back line will need to be more precise with its distribution out of the back as well. That said, Diskerud's inclusion seems a long shot. The more logical choice comes down to Johannsson or Wondolowski, with the AZ striker's greater technical ability giving him a slight edge. Both figure to see the field against Portugal. At that point, it will be revealed if the U.S. can make the best of a difficult situation.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo start against U.S.?
Soccerly.com
All eyes are back on Cristiano Ronaldo's knee. According to Spanish reporter Jose Felix Dias, Dr. Noronha has advised Ronaldo to quit the World Cup and rest his knee.
An MRI taken on Saturday prior to Portugal's game against Germany showed that Ronaldo again has patellar tendonitis on his left knee and that it could tear at any time. The more effort the Portuguese captain puts on his knee, the more it swells. The risk is high as the damage could turn irreversible.
But Ronaldo is not listening to anyone. He ignored his doctor's advice and jumped on the field against Germany where he was noticeably not at his full capacity.
Ronaldo left Portugal's training early today just like he did last week. He walked off the field with an ice-pack on his left knee after an individual training session with the team's physiotherapist.
Will he start against the US?
Spain's World Cup reign ended by 2-0 loss to Chile.
By GRAHAM DUNBAR (AP Sports Writer)
With its superstars aging and its loyal coach slow to blend in young talent, Spain's glorious reign as the superpower of world football was bound to end.
The Spanish weren't favored to repeat as World Cup champions. But few expected the utter collapse that ended Wednesday with a 2-0 loss Chile, knocking Spain from contention and ending the run of the greatest team of the century.
Chile's pace and skill produced a dominating win similar to so many Spanish victories over the past six years. Spain was outplayed, out-run and out-fought.
The 5-1 beating by the Netherlands Friday was shocking and foretold where coach Vicente del Bosque's team was heading: Home.
''If you think about everything accomplished, and you told me we would be eliminated in group stage, I wouldn't believe you,'' del Bosque said.
''We have no excuses. It's a sad day for all of the players.''
Six of Spain's squad has played at least 100 national team games while winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
''Success is not eternal,'' said Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli, whose hyperactive energy around the dugout was shared by his team. ''This generation could not continue with that success and you can understand it."
''It's very special the fact we were able to play today against the World Cup champions the way we did,'' Sampaoli said, and ''eliminate them with courage, intensity and attack.''
Del Bosque acknowledged that his players were ''too slow, timid from the start.''
Chile twice came close to scoring in the first 90 seconds, and led in the 20th minute when Eduardo Vargas finished a slick move of incisive passing that was truly Spanish in its execution.
The second followed in the 43th when Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas punched a free kick to the feet of Charles Aranguiz, who fired a rising shot right back past the veteran captain, who took much of the blame for the loss to the Netherlands.
''I only ask fans for forgiveness, we did everything we could,'' said Casillas. The 33-year-old came to the World Cup after a second straight season as second-choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid and a glaring error in its Champions League final win last month.
Spain came to Brazil with a very similar - but older - team to the 2010 squad. They added Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, but he failed to score and was substituted in both matches.
Spain's ''tiki-taka'' style of play - keeping the ball for long stretches with short passes, and only shooting when you had a clear opening - had not been working as well in recent years. Brazil defeated Spain 3-0 in last summer's Confederations Cup final, a warm-up for the World Cup.
Spain became the third straight European defending World Cup champion to flop in the group stage. France in 2002 and Italy four years ago also failed to advance, or even win a match.
Spain can at least end that streak in a consolation game Monday against Australia. Chile and the Netherlands will play to decide the Group B winner. Both will advance to the final 16 knockout round, but the winner will be seeded higher.
Xabi Alonso, another Spanish veteran, will likely not start against Australia. He was replaced with 22-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke after an agonizing first half.
Alonso gave away the ball to Alexis Sanchez to start the move down Chile's right wing by Arturo Vidal and Aranguiz, leading to Vargas' score. Trailing behind the play, Alonso put his hands to his head.
He was booked before conceding another foul, forcing a free-kick that led to the second goal. And his usual accurate passing was off.
Other Spanish players were also guilty of wayward passing and woeful finishing.
Early in the second half, potential momentum shifts were lost when Diego Costa was slow on Andres Iniesta's threaded pass and Sergio Busquets volleyed wide in front of goal.
''We didn't do anything different to what we did in South Africa or the two Euros,'' said forward Fernando Torres, ineffective as a second-half substitute. ''We came with the same mentality, approaching the games the same way.''
Perhaps the Euro 2012 final was the high point of the era: A 4-0 dismantling of Italy on a similarly balmy evening in Kiev, Ukraine.
Then, the team was joined in locker-room celebrations by Crown Prince Felipe. He could not be in Rio de Janeiro. One hour after the match ended in the Maracana, at midnight in Madrid, he formally became king upon the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos.
On Thursday, Spain will wake up to a new king, but no longer rulers of world football.
FIFA World Cup Scores. June 17, 2014 - June 19, 2014.
ESPN.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Group A
Cameroon 0
Croatia 4
Group B
Australia 2
Netherlands 3
Spain 0
Chile 2
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Group C
Colombia 2
Ivory Coast 1
Japan 0
Greece 0
Group D
Uruguay 2
England 1
By The Sports Xchange
Both physically and mentally, quarterback Jay Cutler couldn't feel better about the upcoming Chicago Bears season.
Armed with a new contract and knowledge of an offense he has had the rare luxury of running for a full season, Cutler at minicamp this week feels in the best position he's been since coming to Chicago in 2009.
"You're not guessing, you know where guys are going to be, you know what the calls are, you know why the call came in, you know what you want to get to if it is a problem," Cutler said about entering his second season in Marc Trestman's offense. "We're going in that direction, but we're still trying to figure some stuff out. We had some areas last year we struggled in and we weren't perfect so we have to keep working and keep trying to get better."
Cutler only twice before had the same offensive system from one year to the next, initially in Denver and then in Chicago when he had Mike Martz as offensive coordinator from 2010-11.
Never has he had the type of weapons he has available after helping the Bears become the second-highest scoring team in the league and the No. 8 offense overall.
"We did OK last year, for the first year," he said. "We have the same guys we had last year, which is always good.
"Talent-wise it's hard to top our O-line and some of the guys we have on the outside and (running back) Matt Forte, who is hugely underrated," he said. "Talent-wise, being in the system two years and the way the guys work, all that adds up. Hopefully we can stay healthy and see where this thing goes."
Therein lies the problem, and it starts with Cutler. He hasn't played a full season since his first in Chicago in 2009.
"I was straight until I really got here for a while and it was a hit parade back there," he said, referring to the beating he took behind a porous offensive line from 2009-12. "It takes its toll from time to time.
"I think with the offensive line we've got here, the guys are doing everything possible. Last year was last year. Kind of two freak injuries. I don't really foresee that happening again."
Cutler suffered injuries to his left groin and ankle last year and missed five games. He said Tuesday he began his strength and conditioning program earlier this year so he could, "get my whole left side back to even with my right side," and feels he has.
It's often been speculated his own habit of holding the ball longer led to some of the beatings he took when he was sacked 148 times in four years.
"It's two-fold," he said. "Once you start getting hit a lot you start taking your eyes off the secondary, you lose a lot of trust up front and it gets difficult to play quarterback.
"You look across the league and you see guys that are getting hit a lot; they're probably not going to be doing very well. The guys who stay pretty clean are in offenses year-in and year-out and get a feel for the guys. Those guys are going to be the ones who are in the top of the league every year."
And Cutler has confidence he can stay clear of injury because the system lets him get rid of the football quicker. Another year in the system, and it's going to come out even faster. At least that's the design.
"He's incredibly smart, but very smart football-wise, obviously," Trestman said. "His ability to draw from all the different experiences he's had both in the physical aspects of running these plays and then the mental aspects of having to read them out and find the right guy goes into his growth in the second year. He's working with the same people, which is a big advantage."
Expecting an offensive jump this year like the Bears made last year would be impossible. They went from 29th in passing to No. 5, and 28th in total offense to No. 8. And they did it with backup Josh McCown in five games. The Bears would need perfect health on the offensive line like last year, and they're already playing without right tackle Jordan Mills. He missed the first day of minicamp while recovering from the foot surgery.
They didn't have an injury of significance to their main three receivers -- Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett -- and this year lack some of the depth they had last year when they had Earl Bennett at wide receiver.
"So at No. 3 we've got a bunch of guys," Cutler said of the receiver situation. "I think offensively, once you get past the first-team guys, there's a lot of competition with the O-line, tight end group, receiver, running back."
The same is true at quarterback, with a room full of players fighting to replace McCown.
"There are a lot of positions there that are kind of up for grabs so we'll see how it plays out," Cutler said.
Not tough enough in ’13, Bears DL entering 'violent shed'.
By John Mullin
As one former Bears head coach intoned, the past is for cowards and losers. Marc Trestman is not living in or dwelling on the past, but he is blunt about it and not seeing a repeat of one disturbing part of it:
“We weren’t the tough team we wanted to be [in 2013] for a lot of different reasons,” Trestman said on Wednesday. “We want to accentuate it this year.”
If this is an indication of what may be coming with the start of training camp in five weeks, it already is being accentuated, and this without pads or contact allowed.
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker spoke of the usual focus points for the Bears' defensive line — hand use, pad level, setting a vertical edge in the run game “and then being able to play your gap and half of another gap” — but then he added a new venue for the crucible that will be the competition along the defensive line:
“That’s a violent-shed situation,” Tucker said, adding quickly, “I like the group so far. It’s a lot of competition. There’s a lot of guys in there that we think can make this team and we have to make sure we get them reps in training camp so we know who are the right guys for us.”
Life in the “violent shed” will indeed be intense. The starting front four is virtually set, with ends Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston and tackles Stephen Paea and Jeremiah Ratliff.
But Paea is facing a challenge from nose tackle Ego Ferguson, like Paea a second-round pick, and there is the matter of Will Sutton, the Bears’ third-round pick and a projected three-technique behind Ratliff.
But supposing that Nate Collins is conceding anything at either tackle spot would be seriously in error. That makes five defensive tackles and nothing assures that all five make the opening-day roster.
At end it is no less violent: Allen, Houston and Willie Young at locks, with returning vet Israel Idonije always a consideration because of versatility, including special teams.
Idonije release closes an era, makes statement for Bears DL.
By John Mullin
Earlier this week Israel Idonije was reflecting on the career changes that saw him go to the Detroit Lions in 2013 after spending his entire career as a Bear. The change meant that he was away from Chicago in the first year of the Mel Tucker regime on defense before returning this offseason on a one-year deal.
He’d played his entire career with the likes of Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and Brian Urlacher, then went to an entirely new venue, then back again.
“The mind is a funny thing,” Idonije told CSN Chicago. “I was with that (Lovie Smith) staff for nine years so that was what I knew… Going to Detroit was a great thing because it was going to a whole new team and new faces, and now [returning to Chicago] is being with a new team and new faces.”
That all came to an abrupt finish on Thursday when the Bears terminated the contract of Idonije at the end of their three-day minicamp, a stretch that saw him lining up with third- and fourth-stringers by the end.
It will only be a line on the league transactions wire, another veteran whose career with the team that gave him his real start came quietly to a close. But the Bears’ release of Idonije merits more than just a line on the wire.
Idonije was an undrafted free agent out of Manitoba who made the Cleveland Browns in 2003 before being waived injured and then landed on the Bears’ practice squad. By the time he was done in Chicago he had been the Bears’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient in 2009 and the Bears’ nominee in 2009 and 2010 for the “Walter Payton Man of the Year” award, being one of the three finalists for the NFL award in 2010 for his work with children in Africa through his foundation.
He started 42 of 48 games from 2010-12 with a career-best eight sacks in 2010 and 7.5 in 2012. For his NFL career, Idonije started 50 of 149 games, registering 273 tackles, 29 sacks, 40 tackles for losses, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. He added 36 special teams tackles and eight blocked kicks.
Ironically, Idonije’s release points to a talent uptick even before next month’s start of training camp. The expectation has been that after an offseason of adding youth and firepower on the defensive line, the Bears were headed toward a situation where they would be letting go of individuals good enough to play in the NFL.
Defensive end was one of those areas.
Besides the front-liners of Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young, plus David Bass returning and 2013 sixth-rounder Cornelius Washington, the Bears also signed Austen Lane, Tracey Robertson and Trevor Scott, all with NFL experience and younger than Idonije (33).
After pay cut, Kiwanuka calls NFL contracts “unfair to players”. What’s Your Take?
By Michael David Smith
Just because Mathias Kiwanuka agreed to the pay cut he took to stay with the Giants this year, that doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.
Kiwanuka railed against NFL contracts in general and the situation he found himself in specifically when he saw his pay for 2014 slashed from $4.375 million to $1.5 million.
Kiwanuka said he went along with the Giants’ request to take a pay cut in large part because his wife had a baby in April and he didn’t want to uproot his family this offseason, but he doesn’t appreciate the fact that NFL teams can cut a player at any time.
“It’s something that is bargained collectively and for me, as an individual, you only have one action or recourse and that is to withhold your services and hold out,” Kiwanuka told Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger. “There is no market for you to shop your skills around.
That is the part that is very unfair to players. We’ve come a long way, I can’t imagine playing in the league without free agency, there has been progress. It is more fair than it has been in the past but that doesn’t mean it’s fair or equal now.”
Kiwanuka believes NFL contracts should be structured more like Major League Baseball contracts, so that the whole deal is guaranteed.
“If we are going to be playing on these contracts, make them contracts,” Kiwanuka said. “Either that or everyone sign a one-year deal every year and we’ll do it that way. It’s not fair to be locked in somewhere and have that place say that we’ve decided not to honor the rest of the deal. I don’t think it is a contract by definition if one side can opt out of it at any point and the other has no recourse.”
Although he described himself as “very angry and very upset” when he first found out the Giants were going to force him to take a pay cut or get cut, he also described himself as a “team player” who will do everything the Giants ask of him. He just wishes NFL teams weren’t so often asking players to take less money.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We often beat up players for holding out and wanting to renegotiate an existing contract and low and behold, the owners are doing the same thing. Take a pay cut or get cut from the team. Unbelievable. A deal is a deal and if a man doesn’t have his word, he doesn’t have anything. Is there any validity to those statements? Why write a multi-year contract if it doesn‘t mean anything? Either side can answer, the owners or the players? Why not just sign a one year contract and then negotiate the next year? If the players performs well, when he renegotiates, he gets a pay increase, if he doesn’t play as well, upon renegotiation, he remains the same or take a pay cut. The owners and the players need to face reality and work together or watch the demise of the NFL as fools. Eventually, hockey and soccer will replace “America’s Game.” Billionaires Vs. Millionaires” and the everyday ordinary sports fans that were the base and backbone that got the NFL where it is today will continue to suffer. In the words of the late Harold Melvin, “Wake up everybody!!!” Now you know what we think and how we feel, what’s your take?
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Regin's status with Blackhawks expected to be clearer soon.
By Tracey Myers
Peter Regin didn’t know his fate with the Chicago Blackhawks when the team packed up for the summer earlier this month. His agent said things should become clearer over the next week or so.
There have been no contractual discussions yet between the Blackhawks and Regin, the center’s agent, Craig Oster, said via email on Thursday. But Oster said he’ll have a better idea at the time of the NHL draft where his client stands with the Blackhawks.
This year’s draft is June 27-28 in Philadelphia.
Regin was acquired from the New York Islanders in early February, two days before the Olympic break. He played 17 regular-season games, recording two goals and two assists. He played five postseason games, entering the playoffs late in the Blackhawks’ second-round series against the Minnesota Wild after Andrew Shaw was hurt in Game 1 of the series. When Shaw returned, however, Regin was out again.
The 28-year-old Regin said earlier this month he’d love to return to the Blackhawks.
“It was really fun to be a part of such a good team and a winning team,” he said. “The whole atmosphere around this organization, how the players treat everything, they expect to win every night, they expect to win the (Stanley) Cup every year. To be a part of that was really cool.”
Regin admitted being out of the lineup was tough at the end.
“Obviously I would have liked to play more at times, like every player you want to play as much as you can. At times, you probably feel that you should play more,” he said. “But that’s the way it is, there are a lot of guys that want to play and somebody has to sit out.”
Here's the official 2014 NHL Entry Draft order.
By Mike Halford
On Monday, the NHL announced the official order for picks one through 30 at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, to be held in Philadelphia from June 27-28.
Some notes about the order…
– The first 13 picks were decided at April’s draft lottery, won by the Florida Panthers. The Panthers will select first overall; despite being a lottery team, the New Jersey Devils were given the 30th overall selection as an amendment to their punishment stemming from the Ilya Kovalchuk contract situation.
– Anaheim gets Ottawa’s pick at No. 10 from last summer’s Bobby Ryan trade.
– Tampa Bay gets New York’s pick at No. 28 from the trade deadline acquisition of Martin St. Louis.
– The Islanders had to the option to send this year’s pick (No. 5 overall) to Buffalo as part of the Thomas Vanek trade, but opted to retain the selection and forward their 2015 first-rounder instead.
Here’s the official list of picks:
1. Florida Panthers
2. Buffalo Sabres
3. Edmonton Oilers
4. Calgary Flames
5. New York Islanders
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Carolina Hurricanes
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Winnipeg Jets
10. Anaheim Ducks (from Ottawa Senators)
11. Nashville Predators
12. Phoenix Coyotes
13. Washington Capitals
14. Dallas Stars
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
17. Philadelphia Flyers
18. Minnesota Wild
19. Tampa Bay Lightning
20. San Jose Sharks
21. St. Louis Blues
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Colorado Avalanche
24. Anaheim Ducks
25. Boston Bruins
26. Montreal Canadiens
27. Chicago Blackhawks
28. Tampa Bay Lightning (from New York Rangers)
29. Los Angeles Kings
30. New Jersey Devils
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Report: Bulls want to trade their first round pick for a scorer.
By Dan Feldman
The Chicago Bulls ranked 28th in offensive rating this season, giving them the lowest-ranked offense ever to make the playoffs.
Just three other teams have ranked even 27th and reached the postseason, and two of them are the Bulls of this era – 2004-05 and 2009-10. (The 2011-12 Boston Celtics also did it).
There’s no question which side of the ball Chicago must address this offseason. As successful as the Bulls have been, their offense has been a weakness, and the Washington Wizards showed in the playoffs just how vulnerable that makes Chicago.
Thankfully for the Bulls, they have the tools to upgrade, including the No. 16 and No. 19 picks in next week’s draft.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated:
Chicago is aggressively trying to move its two first-round picks, according to rival executives. The Bulls are believed to be looking for either a veteran scorer or the chance to move up in the draft to select a young wing player with scoring potential.The Bulls have been frequently linked to Carmelo Anthony, who’s a pretty talented scorer. He makes plenty of sense as Chicago’s main target, and those picks could definitely be useful in a sign-and-trade.
Or the Bulls could package the selections in other ways. With Nikola Mirotic’s rights and Jimmy Butler still on his rookie contract, Chicago has the flexibility to splurge on immediate help.
Derrick Rose is returning and Joakim Noah remains in place to fortify the defense, so the Bulls – if they use their flexibility right – could contend for a title as soon as next season. If Chicago can’t move the picks, building a wider young base wouldn’t be so bad, but this is the time to push chips into the center of the table.
NBA roundup: The latest on Kevin Love trade rumors.
By Mark Strotman
Let's not let Carmelo Anthony have all the fun this offseason.
Just as intriguing as the "Carmelo to _____" rumors will be in the coming weeks, Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love is also hot on the radar of many NBA teams. Love's desire to leave Minnesota has been well documented, and all signs point to the Timberwolves trading their star power forward before next week's NBA Draft.
Various reports across national outlets have reported on rumors the past few weeks, and the time is nearing for the Timberwolves to make a deal or risk losing out on draft picks in next week's NBA Draft. Here's a look on the latest Love rumors, by team:
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have long been considered one of the top destinations for Love, who reportedly has interest in the team and even visited Boston and took in a Red Sox game at Fenway Park - and met up with Rajon Rondo - earlier this month. The Celtics reportedly offered a deal including young forwards Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green and multiple first-round picks - they hold the No. 6 and 17 picks - but the Timberwolves were not blown away by the offer, believing they can receive more in a deal elsewhere.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have been connected to Love for awhile, and Baxter Holmes' report noted that they are considered one of the frontrunners, with a potential package including Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. Other assets the Bulls have to offer include Nikola Mirotic, as well as the No. 16 and 19 picks in next week's draft. Bill Simmons tweeted Wednesday that the Bulls have focused their efforts on signing impending free agent Carmelo Anthony. Of the teams on this list, the Bulls are the closest to competing for a championship (assuming Derrick Rose's health), considering the weaker Eastern Conference.
Cleveland Cavaliers
A year ago the Cavaliers offered the Timberwolves the No. 1 overall pick, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson for Love. Now Cleveland has the top pick again in a much deeper draft and has interest in acquiring the All-Pro. That No. 1 pick won't be the struggling Anthony Bennett; it'll be one of Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins, three potential franchise players. Love has been linked to Cleveland, and he told The Big Lead earlier in the week that reports of him not wanting to go there were not true, saying, "I don’t think the Cleveland [trade rumors] are outlandish at all. They have a great young foundation." This certainly would be the biggest blockbuster move of any, considering what the Cavaliers would be surrendering by trading the top pick in a loaded class.
Denver Nuggets
A bit of a surprise team came to light late Wednesday night when Holmes listed the Nuggets as one of the frontrunners. According to Holmes, Denver would ship Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried to Minnesota in exchange for Love. The Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett added that Denver would also try and trade for Magic shooting guard Aaron Afflalo and then include him in the deal. No reports of draft picks were mentioned, but it's worth noting that the Nuggets hold the No. 11 pick in next week's NBA Draft.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets, which are also hard after Carmelo Anthony, were thought to be actively trying to make a deal for Kevin Love. But USA Today's Sam Amick was told the Rockets "are pretty sure they're outgunned in terms of having the assets that Minnesota wants." Those assets likely include Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik and Terrence Jones, three players who don't leave much room for growth in Minnesota, even if draft picks are involved - Houston has the No. 25 pick in next week's NBA Draft. They're also considered a frontrunner for Anthony, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have made their desire for Love known for quite some time, but they simply don't have the assets. Their best chance to land the Santa Monica, Calif., native would be for him to land somewhere and become a free agent in the 2015 class, though it seems unlikely he'll stay in Minnesota or that a team would trade for Love without a commitment that he'd re-sign after his contract expires. They've got to be on this list because of how badly they want a second star beside Kobe Bryant as his championship window closes, but the Lakers don't have a package that could match up with other teams on this list.
Phoenix Suns
Marc Spears tweeted two weeks ago that the Suns have interest in Love, with perhaps the best assets of any team to land him. Those players include guards Goran Dragic and restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe, who could command the full maximum to retain (Spears was not reporting that the Suns were offering those two players; they're simply the Suns' best assets). They also hold three first-round draft picks (No. 14, 18 and 27), so if they are willing to deal their talented backcourt and perhaps a draft pick or two, it could be Love's landing spot.
Kershaw throws no-hitter, Dodgers rout Rockies 8-0.
By JOE RESNICK (Associated Press)
A pair of Cy Young Awards, three straight major league ERA titles, a 20-win season - and now a no-hitter.
There isn't much more for Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to accomplish besides winning a World Series ring.
Kershaw dominated the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night, striking out a career-high 15 and allowing his only baserunner on a throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez in Los Angeles' 8-0 victory.
Kershaw's gem gave the Dodgers both no-hitters in the majors this season. Josh Beckett tossed one May 25 in Philadelphia.
''I am so amazed,'' Kershaw said. ''Beckett told me he was going to teach me how to do that, so I have Josh to thank.''
Cheered on by his wife in the stands, Kershaw (7-2) retired his first 18 batters before Corey Dickerson led off the seventh with a slow bouncer to Ramirez. His throw on the run went wide past first baseman Adrian Gonzalez for a two-base error - ending any chance for a perfect game.
But that was it for the Rockies against the 26-year-old Kershaw, who shrugged off the miscue and came oh-so-close to pitching the 22nd perfecto in the majors since 1900.
''He had command of everything. I told him between innings: 'It's not fair when you have a devastating slider and a devastating curveball in the same night,'' Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. ''And when he does that, nights like this are really possible.''
One batter after Dickerson reached base, rookie third baseman Miguel Rojas backhanded Troy Tulowitzki's grounder behind the bag and let fly with a strong throw to first that Gonzalez - a three-time Gold Glove winner - scooped out of the dirt to keep the no-hitter intact.
And with the crowd of 46,069 on its feet and roaring, Kershaw made quick work of the Rockies in the ninth.
DJ LeMahieu grounded out to first base on the first pitch and Charlie Culberson hit a lazy fly to right field on the next one. Dickerson then saw four straight strikes and went down swinging.
The only pitcher to have more strikeouts in a no-hitter was Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, according to STATS.
''I've seen some great pitching performances, but it's tough to be any better than Kershaw,'' Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.
After his 107th and final pitch, a beaming Kershaw raised his arms above his head and waited for a huge hug from Ellis.
''I started tearing up out there in the ninth inning, just sitting out there catching and watching him throw after he got those first two outs,'' Ellis said. ''It was pretty special.''
''It's something you never forget,'' he added. ''It's a game I'll watch on replays with my kids forever.''
Moments later, as he was about to be interviewed on the field, Kershaw was doused by teammates with two large buckets. The left-hander with the big-breaking curve also got a big hug from his wife.
Kershaw, who signed a $215 million, seven-year contract in the offseason - a record for a pitcher - gave Los Angeles sports fans their second memorable thrill in just a few days.
The Kings won the Stanley Cup at home last Friday night, their second NHL championship in three years, and brought the famous trophy to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday for a pregame ceremony.
The next night, Kershaw took over.
The only other time the Dodgers pitched two no-hitters in one season was 1956, when the team was still in Brooklyn. Carl Erskine and Sal Maglie turned the trick that year.
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who tossed four no-hitters, pitched the franchise's lone perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965, against the Chicago Cubs.
''I guess I haven't really thought of the ramifications of throwing one of these things, but it's definitely special company,'' Kershaw said. ''It's pretty cool.''
Ramirez was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesday night's game with a bruised ring finger on his throwing hand, the result of a sharp grounder by Dickerson than deflected into short center field for a double.
Ramirez was replaced on defense by rookie Carlos Triunfel to start the eighth.
Kershaw missed more than six weeks early this year because of a strained muscle in his upper back, after beating Arizona in the season opener during the Dodgers' two-game trip to Australia.
It was the 22nd no-hitter in Dodgers history - more than any other team - and the first at home since Ramon Martinez's 2-0 gem against the Marlins on July 14, 1995.
''His stuff was phenomenal tonight. I think all the guys said that. We tip our hats to him,'' Dickerson said.
Kershaw received a standing ovation when he came to bat in the eighth, and another one minutes later after finishing the job against one of baseball's top lineups.
Playing their home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, the Rockies began the day leading the majors in batting average, hits, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They were first in the NL in runs and homers.
''There are some guys in that lineup that give him fits,'' Ellis acknowledged. ''But the way he made those guys look tonight was a testament to how good his stuff was. He was pretty dialed in and pretty locked in - especially as the game progressed.''
Rojas also supported Kershaw with his bat, hitting a three-run double while continuing to fill in for injured third baseman Juan Uribe. Gonzalez and Matt Kemp each drove in two runs, helping the Dodgers complete their first three-game sweep at home this season.
Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) threw 86 pitches over 3 1-3 innings and was charged with eight runs, six hits and five walks. The left-hander is 0-3 with an 8.19 ERA in his last four starts after going 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA during his previous seven outings.
NOTES: Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters. He whiffed 17 batters in one of them, 16 in another and 15 in yet another. Warren Spahn (15) and Don Wilson (15) were the only other pitchers with 15 strikeouts in a no-hitter, STATS said. ... San Francisco LHP Jonathan Sanchez was the previous pitcher to throw a no-hitter with the only baserunner reaching on an error, in July 2009 against San Diego, STATS said. ... The last time the Rockies were held hitless, it was by Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo on Sept. 17, 1996. The only other no-hitter against Colorado was pitched by Al Leiter of the Marlins four months earlier.
The PGA Championship is bringing back the long drive contest for all players.
By Shane Bacon
The Par-3 Contest at the Masters will always be the best precursor to a golf tournament, but the PGA Championship is bringing something back to give it a run for its money.
The president of the PGA of America, Ted Bishop, said during a Wednesday press conference that they are going to bring back the long drive contest between players at this year's PGA Championship, which they hope to host the day before the opening round begins.
"The other thing that we're going to do that's pretty cool is that it was brought to our attention just a few weeks ago that Jack Nicklaus is actually carrying a money clip from the long drive contest that he won at the 1963 PGA Championship. So we are going to reintroduce a long drive contest during the week of the PGA Championship, it's probably going to be on Wednesday, we don't know the details of how this whole thing is going to unfold, but you'll hear more about that on top of the extension of the pick the hole location that we started last year at Oak Hill," Bishop said.Yes, you read that correct, Jack Nicklaus actually won the 1963 long drive contest that they held before the PGA Championship, and then went on to win the actual tournament (take that, Par-3 Contest jinx!), and according to the Nicklaus website, Jack still carries around the money clip that was awarded to the champion.
How far did Jack hit it back in '63? Check out what the website says:
"One little known fact about that week in Dallas is that in addition to winning his first PGA Championship, Jack also won a driving contest. He crushed a drive of 341 yards, 17 inches with a persimmon driver and wound golf ball. For his victory, Jack received a money clip that cherishes to this day. Below the PGA logo it says “Driving Distance Winner.”"My goodness, 341 yards with that equipment?! Just think about how far 341 yards is in today's game with the hottest driver in the world and these golf balls? That is really, really impressive from the Golden Bear, who was truly ahead of his time.
Geoff Shackelford has a list of all the past champions of this random long drive event that has been hosted from time to time, and honestly, is there any fan not excited about the possibility of this?
Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, J.B. Holmes and Gary Woodland all out there next to Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy trying to swing out of their shoes to hit the longest drive? These guys might average right around 300 yards per tee shot in the PGA Tour stat department, but give these guys the option of unleashing a big one and it could be really, really fun television with drives that get close to 400 yards.
For fun, here are the current leaders in driving distance on the PGA Tour. Who are you taking in a long drive contest at Valhalla?
Americans looking to take back Open title.
By Randall Mell
The American women have taken charge of the 2014 season.
The resurgence would go to yet another level if they can take back the U.S. Women’s Open trophy this week.
With Stacy Lewis returning to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, with Lexi Thompson taking the year’s first major championship, with American women winning eight of the first 13 LPGA events this year, there’s red-white-and-blue momentum in Pinehurst No. 2 this week.
With the dominance the South Koreans have shown in this championship, the Americans can use some momentum. South Koreans are going for their sixth U.S. Women’s Open title in the last seven years. Inbee Park is the defending champion. Paula Creamer is the only American to win a U.S. Women's Open since 2008. She won at Oakmont in 2010.
“This is kind of the only tournament we have to answer those questions still,” Lewis said. “Because the Americans, we have been playing some great golf here, over the last six months. It kind of seems like the way things have been going this year, that an American is due to win this thing. So, for me, it would be an honor. It's a championship that I think any American player just has dreams of winning. It's one of those that makes your career.”
Ryder Cup countdown underway, says McGinley.
AFP; By Fatiha Betscher
European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes that despite Martin Kaymer's convincing US Open success, honours in last week's championship were equally shared among the potential European and US team members for Gleneagle.
Kaymer's eight-shot Pinehurst triumph saw the 29-year old German move from ninth, and last among the leading automatic European qualifiers, to sixth and the assurance of a third straight European cap.
But while the now double major winning Kaymer cemented his place in McGinley's side, there were also three Americans inside the top-10 who strengthened a grip on qualifying automatically for Tom Watson's USA Team.
They included Rickie Fowler, who was tied second and is now seventh on the Ryder Cup points table, Dustin Johnson, joint fourth at Pinehurst and up to third on the points table, while Jimmy Walker who shared ninth place behind Kaymer remains second on the USA team table.
"I was very impressed like everyone with Martin's US Open victory," said McGinley.
"To lead after the first round, and then to extend his lead to a bigger margin by the time the fourth round came was very impressive, because in my view the US Open is the toughest tournament to win.
"Martin's win is great for the European Team, great for the European Tour as it certainly creates a buzz around the Tour.
"But also, looking at the results, I think the Americans, and Tom Watson will be sitting back happy with the US Open from his perspective, as well, too.
"There was a lot of his potential team who featured very strongly with top-10s, top-15s, and his team seems to be taking shape, as well.
"So it was also a very strong US Open showing from both teams.
"Indeed three other Americans were inside the top-20 including Matt Kuchar, who shared 12th place and is fourth on the USA points table, while Jim Furyk, who was also in 12th place is lying sixth on Watson's perspective team and likely Ryder Cup rookie Jordan Spieth finished T17th at Pinehurst to be fifth on the points table.
McGinley was speaking ahead of this week's Irish Open that is returning to the Fota Island Golf Club in Cork after an absence of 12 years.
And in the absence of Kaymer, who will return to competition at next week’s BMW International Open close to his home town of Dusseldorf, most interest this week will focus on the fellow US Open winning Irish-born duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.
McIlroy’s first visit to Ireland’s second largest city has been spoilt by his golf clubs going astray en route from the United States to Ireland.
And with now 100 days to the commencement of the Ryder Cup, McGinley says the pressure continues to intensify as he seeks to keep the golden trophy in European hands for a third occasion in succession.
"It's exciting with 100 days to go, and the countdown has started," he said.
'There's pressure there, of course. There's huge expectation. There's huge pressure, and there’s huge responsibilities as captain and there's a lot of important days ahead."
McGinley indicated also he will not announce his remaining two vice-captains until after his 12-man team is confirmed on September 2 when both he and Watson will each announce their 'wildcard' picks.
And while McGinley has already chosen 2002 victorious Captain Sam Torrance and fellow Irishman Des Smyth as two of his vice-captains, he stressed he's under no obligation to pick a vice-captain who could then replace McGinley as European Captain in 2016.
"I don't feel there's an obligation to pick two vice-captains who could be seen as future Ryder Cup captains, but then I want to see who makes the 12 before I look at where I go," he said.
"But safe to say, the likely two will be current players that are still playing on the Tour, and I can assure you, the remaining vice-captains being announced will still be competitive on Tour."
Track Smack: How will the Chase look after Sonoma?
David Caraviello, Kenny Bruce and Alan Cavanna, NASCAR.com
NASCAR.com writers discuss who has the best chances at Sonoma, which driver will be most likely to get RCR in the Chase and whether the Truck Series should return to short tracks
1. After seeing new winners in 10 of the first 12 weeks of the season, we've now had repeat victors for three straight races in a row. Which trend will we see at Sonoma Raceway?
Alan Cavanna: I think we see a new winner, but only because we're going to a road course. Previous Sonoma winners Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne and Martin Truex Jr. all still need victories, and can get them again. Plus, you know this is one of Marcos Ambrose's best shots at making the Chase, and the same goes for AJ Allmendinger.
David Caraviello: More new winners! And maybe not who you think, either. For all the talk about the guys like Marcos Ambrose with road-course backgrounds, it's been the oval-track guys who have historically fared better at Sonoma. So maybe someone else like Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and Kasey Kahne, who have all won at this track recently.
Kenny Bruce: Easy to say, guys, but maybe more difficult to occur -- especially given how much better some of this year's top-tier teams seem to be than the rest of the field. There's definitely a competitive gap. That being said, road-course racing does seem to bring out some teams' strengths that might not otherwise come into play on the ovals.
Cavanna: Allmendinger and crew used one of their tests just for this race a few weeks ago. With the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format, it pays to put absolutely every resource toward one event. With that incentive, I think we see a new winner.
Caraviello: Yeah Alan, AJ and that 47 team poured a lot into testing for this race -- to the point where they flew redeye directly to Pocono for the first day of that weekend. But even with all the knowledge they gained, is that team strong enough to win? I guess we will find out.
Bruce: Lot of talk, DC, this past weekend going into Sunday's race at Michigan. But then it didn't pan out. I think that team is still trying to find its footing. I like the Truex Jr. angle. In spite of the team's results this year, he has proven he can get around that place. As for Ambrose, if it's one of the few "best shots at a win," is there more pressure this weekend?
Caraviello: Given the way Marcos has performed at Watkins Glen in recent years, you'd think that might be his better shot. So perhaps he has something of a cushion this weekend -- albeit a very thin one.
Cavanna: Absolutely, Kenny. There's nothing in Ambrose's track record that will lead us to believe he'll win anywhere else this year. He's got two great shots. He better keep the car on this year, though.
Caraviello: You look at the stats at Sonoma, and maybe there are some surprise contenders in store -- guys like Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle, who haven't really been a factor all season. Their average finishes at Sonoma are better than you might think. They haven't really had the speed to contend on ovals -- but will that matter as much here?
Cavanna: Between the two road courses, the speed/power here will matter less. If anything, we've seen Sonoma become a strategy race right form the drop of the green flag. First one to his/her final fuel window will be in great position.
Bruce: Probably not, DC. Look at how many of the previous races have come down to the end with several guys battling for the lead. You gotta have the horses, but you've also got to be able to get around the track while making fewer mistakes than your opponents.
Caraviello: If I had to choose two guys who haven't won to lay Monopoly money on, I'd take Jamie McMurray and Brian Vickers. Both have been good on road courses, and both have been strong at Sonoma before. They haven't really had a shot to win there, but both drivers are very capable. And in all those turns and all that action, anything can happen.
Cavanna: I hope we have a Chase interloper. Nothing wrong with a good underdog story.
Caraviello: I'd guess the horsepower difference might matter more at Watkins Glen, which is like a superspeedway with more turns. Sonoma may very well come down to who takes out whom -- as has so often been the case recently in whine country.
Bruce: I see what you did. Nice. We'll likely have some of that, and a small brush fire on the back somewhere as well.
2. Paul Menard won the Nationwide Series race at Michigan, and then finished fourth in the Sprint Cup Series event. Is he Richard Childress Racing's best hope for a playoff bid?
Caraviello: These RCR guys are tough to figure out. They're all hanging around in the points, but they hardly lead any laps and haven't really been a threat to win. I could see one scenario in which all three of them make the Chase, and another in which none of them do.
Cavanna: Well said, DC. I'm not a Menard-believer just yet. We've seen a good first-half from him before. Last year at this point he was 11th in points. This year he's 13th.
Bruce: I think he's a legitimate hope, but not sure if he rates the top spot. Ryan Newman hasn't been great, but also hasn't been terrible. I think the 31 team could strike at any time. There will be tracks better suited to Menard's team, and I think the same goes for young Mr. Austin Dillon.
Cavanna: The expanded field certainly helps Menard's chances, and I think he has the consistency to do it. But in terms of "best chance," I'm sticking with Ryan Newman. He's been there, done that and I think the new relationship with crew chief Luke Lambert will continue to improve.
Caraviello: This is a team with two top-five finishes between its three drivers -- and Menard has both of them. Of the three RCR drivers (who have led a combined 58 laps all season) Menard has led the most laps. If we don't get many more repeat winners, maybe Paul makes it on points. If not, maybe another Brickyard miracle is in store.
Bruce: Newman's won at least one race for four consecutive seasons. OK, he's won only one race for four straight years. But I think they're gaining on it. Menard certainly did himself a huge favor at Michigan to get back inside the top 16. Now the key is to continue to hold the spot, or move up.
Caraviello: Guys, a bigger question -- why don't RCR cars run at the front more often? Even Kevin Harvick didn't lead that many laps, which is how he earned that "Closer" nickname by striking so often at the end. This season, their inability to run consistently at the front has been even more glaring. What's going on there?
Bruce: It's horsepower, for the most part. Dillon won the Daytona pole, but I'm not sure how much of that translates. They did a tremendous amount of testing at Chicago, trying out new engine packages. But how long does it take to find gains in the engine room? I don't have any idea.
Caraviello: Yeah, Kenny, and it doesn't matter the driver -- the issue has always been the same. I will say this: the RCR folks have done a nice job of staying the course in the wake of Harvick's departure. They haven't fallen off the map like many thought they would. They're competitive, and have three cars that seem capable of winning -- if only they could get to the front a little more often.
Bruce: Seems it's been the case for RCR that when they have slipped in the past, it takes them a little while to get turned around. But then all of a sudden, there they are again.
Cavanna: Without Kyle Larson taking all the headlines, we'd be praising Austin Dillon for his rookie season. It's been quiet but steady, and he does well at finishing races. As for Menard, it's just one of those "believe it when I see it" scenarios. I don't think "checkered flags" when I think Menard. Not yet.
Caraviello: I think "beards and Leinenkugels."
Cavanna: And sideburns! He'd be my facial hair idol -- if I could grow facial hair.
Caraviello: All I know is, if Paul does make the Chase, his winter beard has got to be worth a few extra bonus points.
3. Darrell Wallace Jr. won a slam-bang return to Gateway Motorsports Park for the Camping World Truck Series. More evidence that the circuit's focus should shift back toward shorter tracks?
Cavanna: I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any race fan who wouldn't want more short tracks in all the top levels of NASCAR.
Bruce: First of all, a tremendous race. Congrats to all involved in making the move back to Gateway. Secondly, for the life of me I don't understand why the series doesn't run more short tracks. Seems when folks realized how popular and exciting it was, they carted it off to the bigger tracks. And sucked some of the life out of it.
Caraviello: It certainly didn't hurt. Between the finish and the tiff between Erik Jones and German Quiroga that preceded it, that might have been the best race of the weekend. Give NASCAR credit for going back there. And give the track's new management credit for reviving the facility.
Bruce: I think you bring the Trucks to the same markets as Cup races, but maybe not the same tracks. But imagine if instead of Charlotte, the Trucks went to Hickory. Or, for gosh sakes, Bowman Gray.
Caraviello: I think they've tried, Kenny. Iowa has been a huge hit, Eldora has been embraced, and the Rockingham experiment seemed to work until it fell apart. I just wonder how limited they are due to the demands a national-series race places on a facility.
Cavanna: Kenny, you touch on what may be the problem with adding more short tracks. Often they'd have to be stand-alone events. But if you can find a short track in the same market as a Cup race, I think that's an awesome idea.
Bruce: Iowa and Eldora are great examples, DC. But I think Rockingham was a tough sell from the get-go. And still too big, in my opinion.
Caraviello: Let's all remember, the roots of the Truck Series are in shorter tracks -- this is a circuit that started at places like Tucson and Milwaukee and Mesa Marin. You'd think the Raceway Park outside Indianapolis might return to the radar screen eventually. The Trucks fit at shorter tracks better than they do anywhere, but how many of those shorter tracks today can provide the right environment for both competitors and fans?
Cavanna: And, fellow Smackers, we shouldn't ignore the fact that the Gateway race had no Cup regulars. I think that added to the racing. Young drivers, equal abilities. It was a great show.
Caraviello: But should a NASCAR national series really be going back to places with wooden grandstands and relatively substandard fan amenities? Not sure about that, regardless of the action some of these short tracks might be capable of producing.
Bruce: When it comes to the Trucks, the fans aren't asking for wider seats, huge TV screens that blot out the sun and top-shelf concession fare. They come to see great racing at an affordable price. It cuts both ways, though. To host a race, a track has to figure it can make back what it costs to put on.
Caraviello: Yeah, it's a tough balance, Kenny, as we saw with the Rockingham experiment. I honestly think NASCAR is making an effort in this direction, but it's not going to happen overnight. Gateway was another great step. Heck, let's see the Trucks go back to Sonoma. They've raced there before, after all. Give Erik Jones and German Quiroga the chance to go after it in 12 turns!
Bruce: Well, one thing's for certain -- the series rarely disappoints. Shorter season, shorter fields and some of the best racing. Is anyone paying attention?
Cavanna: Blame Kyle Busch? Everyone else does.
Caraviello: Even when he's not there!
NCAA president: Pay could destroy college sports.
By TIM DAHLBERG (AP Sports Writer)
NCAA President Mark Emmert stuck to his contention that amateurism is the core of college athletics, saying any effort to pay players would destroy a framework that has been in place for more than a century and cause many schools to either abandon sports or refuse to play other schools that do pay.
Emmert said college athletes themselves wouldn't want to play against other athletes who were getting paid.
''They want to know everyone is playing by the same rules,'' he said. ''They want to know the other teams consist of student athletes just like them.''
Emmert took the witness stand Thursday in a landmark antitrust trial against the NCAA to say college sports would be fatally flawed if players were allowed to receive a portion of the billions of dollars in basketball and football television revenues now flowing into big conferences and colleges.
Emmert said one of the biggest reasons fans like college sports is that they believe the athletes are really students who play for a love of the sport and for their school and community. He said fans understand college players aren't as good as professionals, but that doesn't stop some programs from being more popular than professional teams.
''To convert college sports into professional sports would be tantamount to converting it into minor league sports,'' Emmert said. ''And we know that in the U.S. minor league sports aren't very successful either for fan support or for the fan experience.''
Emmert's testimony came in a much-anticipated appearance as the NCAA tries to convince U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken that its system of so-called amateurism is not anti-competitive and is the best model for regulating college sports.
Watching closely from the plaintiff's table was former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon, who along with 19 other former players is seeking an injunction that would allow players to band together and sell the rights to their names, images and likenesses (NILs) in broadcasts and video games. O'Bannon testified on the first day of the trial last week that he went to UCLA to play basketball and that he was a student grudgingly at best.
The lawsuit and other efforts targeting the NCAA have already had some effect, with the biggest five conferences moving quickly toward giving athletes more money and benefits. Emmert said he supported those moves, but said giving athletes more than the true cost of attendance would cause a free-for-all in recruiting and force many schools to give up smaller sports.
Many schools, he said, would simply leave Division I sports rather than pay their players.
Under friendly questioning by an NCAA attorney, Emmert defended the concept of amateurism, which he said has been a core principle from the time the NCAA was founded in 1905 to today.
''It's one of the most fundamental principles of the NCAA and intercollegiate athletics,'' Emmert said. ''They have always seen and assumed that intercollegiate athletics is about the notion that these are members of the student body. They're not hired employees conducting games for entertainment. They're not a random group of folks that just come together to play sports.''
Emmert's appearance drew an overflow crowd to Wilken's courtroom as the NCAA sought to rebut earlier contentions by witnesses for the plaintiffs that the organization's rules on amateurism are anti-competitive and that almost everyone connected with college sports makes money except athletes.
Emmert acknowledged under sometimes contentious cross examination that many people are professionals because they make money in college sports, but said that is no different than other amateur sports. The NCAA president - who himself makes $1.6 million a year - drew a distinction between coaches making millions of dollars a year, and athletes who receive only tuition and room and board for their services.
''The pay to a professional coach is very different than the nature of the student-athlete's relationship to the university,'' Emmert said. ''The coach has been a paid individual as long as there have been paid coaches and student-athletes are amateurs. The fact coaches are getting paid more doesn't change those relationships at all.''
O'Bannon and others are asking for a ruling that would give basketball and football players the right to seek a share of revenues from their sports for use of their names, images and likenesses (NILs) in broadcasts and videogames. A broad outline of a plan sketched by the plaintiffs would give players equal shares for each year they play, with the money paid only after an athlete leaves college.
Emmert, a former university president who has headed the NCAA for nearly four years, said even deferred payments would be in direct violations of NCAA rules first crafted in 1905 that forbid giving money to players.
''It's still the same,'' he said. ''It's pay for playing, regardless of whether it's paid today or paid tomorrow.''
Emmert said if some schools paid their players for their NILs and others didn't it would create such an uneven playing field among schools there would likely be no national championships in football and basketball.
''Direct payment as an inducement (to recruits) is obviously fundamentally different than to say you're going to be in this locker room or that stadium,'' he said. ''Member schools would certainly find that an uncompetitive situation and wouldn't want to be a part of a championship that is driven by that.''
He acknowledged, though, that there is a lot of debate within the NCAA and its 1,100 member schools over how far universities can go in chasing money for athletic programs. Emmert said he himself ordered the cancellation of a NCAA videogame because there was a dispute over whether player NILs were being used in it. The NCAA settled a lawsuit over the use of NILs in the EA game for $20 million on the eve of the trial.
Transfer rule changes coming, but who makes call?
By RALPH D. RUSSO (AP College Football Writer)
The leaders of big-time college sports agree that transfer rules need to better accommodate players.
The days of coaches having a say in where an athlete can transfer could very well be going away, though it's not likely deregulation will lead to a system where athletes come and go as they please.
''The trick ... to this is affording students the prerogative and privileges that they deserve and to also be fair to the universities that invest heavily in time and resources to recruit them to that school,' Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Thursday in a telephone interview.
How that change happens is up for debate.
The wealthiest college football conferences (Big 12, Big Ten, Atlantic Conference, Pac-12, Southeastern Conference) are willing to work with all of Division I to come up with a solution, but they also want the power to make their own transfer rules if need be as part of an autonomy structure the NCAA is moving toward.
The wealthiest college football conferences (Big 12, Big Ten, Atlantic Conference, Pac-12, Southeastern Conference) are willing to work with all of Division I to come up with a solution, but they also want the power to make their own transfer rules if need be as part of an autonomy structure the NCAA is moving toward.
That worries the schools outside those powerful leagues, concerned they'll be in danger of losing their best players to the Big Five.
Most of the areas in which the Big Five conferences are seeking autonomy are related to how schools spend money on athletes. Transfer regulations are seen more as purely competitive-balance issues.
''I still haven't gotten a good answer as to why transfer rules have been included in the autonomy bucket,'' said SMU athletic director Rick Hart, whose school plays in the American Athletic Conference, one of the other five leagues in the top tier of college football knows as FBS. ''I'm hopeful that will remain something that is voted upon by the entire membership.''
NCAA transfer rules vary some from sport to sport. For football, men's and women's basketball and baseball, transferring players must sit out a year and lose a year of eligibility if they want to take a scholarship with another school playing at the same level. Athletes can apply for a family hardship waiver to be allowed to play immediately.
A recently passed proposal would eliminate the hardship waiver, but give transfers back the year of eligibility, though they would still have to sit out a year at the new school.
Hart said there is ''general support for that proposal,'' but more changes are being discussed.
''We've talked about outside the box type of things but they all have intended and unintended consequences,'' Hart said.
Current transfer rules also allow schools to deny an athlete's release from a scholarship, making it impossible to receive a scholarship from another school.
Recently, Kansas State drew criticism for initially denying the release of women's basketball player Leticia Romero. The school eventually released her to transfer to any school outside of the Big 12.
Many conferences have rules against athletes transferring from one member to another. At times coaches will place schools outside the conference on a restricted list for a transferring athlete.
Former Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt, now at Illinois, was initially restricted from transferring to an SEC school or Southern Mississippi, where former OSU assistant Todd Monken is head coach, in addition to another Big 12 school.
''Unless there is some evidence of tampering by a coach or another institution, I don't think institutions ought to have the opportunity to restrict where (athletes) can go,'' Bowlsby said. ''And I particularly don't think it should be left up to coach's discretion. I never thought it was a good idea.''
The greatest fear for all those involved, no matter the conference, is transfer rules becoming so liberal that coaches have to recruit their own players.
This, again, is especially worrisome for the schools outside the power conferences that rely on developing athletes who are not as highly recruited.
''The example that I used is Kellen Moore at Boise State,'' Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said of the former star quarterback. ''He came in as an un-recruited player and by the time he was into his junior year he showed he had some unbelievable talent.
''If the transfer rules are eliminated and there's free movement, does that allow that type of a player to quote 'go up' without any type of sitting out?''
Bowlsby said he understands the concerns about placing transfer rules in the autonomy bucket, and is confident a solution can come from all of Division I that suits all of Division I.
''But in the end, the five high-visibility conferences need to find a solution that meets our needs,'' he said.
On This Date in Sports History:
MemoriesofHistory.com
1912 - The New York Giants and the Boston Braves combined for 17 runs in the ninth inning. The Giants scored 7 to the Braves' 10 runs. The Giants won the game 21-12.
1936 - Jesse Owens set a 100-meter record at 10.2 seconds.
1950 - Willie Mays graduated from high school and immediately signed with the New York Giants.
1960 - Floyd Patterson knocked out Ingemar Johansson to become the first heavyweight fighter to regain his own crown.
1966 - The U.S. Open golf tournament was broadcast in color for the first time.
1967 - Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the conviction.
1980 - Robert Duran won a fifteen-round decision over Sugar Ray Leonard. It was the first defeat in twenty-eight professional fights for Leonard.
1982 - Pete Rose played in his 3,000th major league game. It was also his 523rd consecutive game.
1993 - The Chicago Bulls won their third consecutive NBA title. They defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 with a score of 99-98.
1994 - The Tigers' streak of 25 straight games with at least one home run ended. The lost the game 7-1 to Cleveland.
1994 - O.J. Simpson pled innocent in Los Angeles to the killing of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
1998 - Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) hit two home runs for the second straight game. The feat set a major league baseball record of 16 home runs in June.
1999 - Lawrence Phillips became the first NFL Europe player to rush for more that 1,000 yards in a season.
1999 - The Dallas Stars won their first NHL Stanley Cup by defeating the Buffalo Sabres in the third overtime of game six. The game actually began on June 19th.
2001 - Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants) hit his 38th home run of the season. The home run broke the major league baseball record for homers before the midseason All-Star break.
2002 - Luis Castillo (Florida Marlins) set a major league record for second basemen when he got a hit in his 34th straight game.
2003 - Jose Canseco was arrested after testing positive for steroids, a violation of his probation that stemmed from a nightclub brawl.
2004 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati Reds) got his 500th career home run.
2007 - Sammy Sosa (Texas Rangers) got his 600th career home run. The hit came against, the Chicago Cubs, his former team.
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