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Sports Quote of the Day:
"What makes something special is not just what you have to gain, but what you feel there is to lose." Andre Agassi, Retired professional tennis player and former world number 1 player
U.S. World Cup players buoyed by large audience.
By RONALD BLUM (AP Sports Writer)
The last time the U.S. played in a World Cup in Brazil, just one American reporter was on hand, using vacation time and paying his own way.
Sixty-four years later, about 100 credentialed U.S. media members are covering the tournament - and that doesn't even include staffers from the networks broadcasting the games.
Back home, millions of people are watching on giant screens or office computers, at bars and public gatherings. In their protected Brazilian bubble, U.S. players find out about it via email, text, tweet, Facebook, cable television and all sorts of other inventions that didn't exist in 1950.
''All the bars and the pubs and restaurants are packed, and it's all over social media and people are taking off work,'' goalkeeper Tim Howard said. ''That says a lot. They do that for the Super Bowl. So the fact that they're doing it for the World Cup is special.''
The Americans traveled Sunday to Salvador for Tuesday's second-round game against Belgium. Sunday also marked the anniversary of the famous 1-0 victory over England at Belo Horizonte, still considered by many the biggest upset in World Cup history.
Dent McSkimming of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was the only American reporter there in 1950. Now every game is televised live back home, drawing audiences that would make every U.S. league other than the NFL jealous.
Stars in other sports are taking notice. San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum pulled on a U.S. road jersey after throwing a no-hitter last week.
This kind of attention and hype would have been unimaginable not just in 1990, when the U.S. returned to the World Cup after a 40-year absence, but even as recently as 2010.
''Obviously when we were in Korea, when we were in Germany, South Africa, the support has always been there, but it's just a lot bigger,'' said defender DaMarcus Beasley, the first American to play in four World Cups. ''We get a lot more mainstream people that never really watched soccer or been a fan of soccer. And obviously people are going to say, 'Ah, people only come out during the World Cup. They don't support every game.' But we see it differently. We see what's going on behind the scenes, and we know our support is growing in the right direction, and us getting out of our group is a way to help improve our growth from a soccer standpoint.''
Players have cited the large crowds at home and the thousands of U.S. fans in Brazilian stadiums as forces that motivated them during difficult moments.
''It is the reason we exist,'' said Korey Donahoo, president of the American Outlaws supporters group, ''to inspire a difference in the team and to help spur the players on to greater things.''
The three U.S. group stage games averaged more than 18 million viewers between English-language ESPN and Spanish-language Univision. The 2-2 Sunday evening draw with Portugal was the most-watched soccer game in American history with 24.7 million TV viewers.
The finale against Germany started at noon EDT when much of the country was at work - or at least supposed to be. A record audience of 1.05 million streamed that match on WatchESPN.
''Four years ago it was impressive, and the fact that it seems even bigger now is a testament to our country,'' Howard said. ''I don't know if we can get that type of electricity every weekend. I don't think that's where we're at as a country in terms of the soccer fanaticism.''
By comparison, Boston's six-game World Series win over St. Louis last October averaged 14.9 million viewers on Fox, San Antonio's five-game victory over Miami in this month's NBA Finals averaged 15.5 million on ABC, and Los Angeles' five-game win over the New York Rangers in the NHL's Stanley Cup finals averaged 5 million on NBC and NBCSN.
But ''American football'' is still the king in the U.S. The opening weekend of the NFL playoffs this past season averaged 34.7 million viewers for four games.
''This is a very special time for us back home in America and with the growth of soccer,'' defender Omar Gonzalez said. ''With us getting out of the group, it definitely helps a lot. The viewership on different channels has been great, and we want to keep it going.''
A win over Belgium would advance the U.S. to a quarterfinal against Argentina or Switzerland on Saturday at noon EDT, another potential record-setter.
''We're on a positive trendline in this sport. I don't think there's any denying that,'' U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. ''What this does is, it jumps up to a much higher trendline.''
Mexico blames ref for extending 2nd-round curse.
By DEREK GATOPOULOS (Associated Press)
Mexico's second-round curse at the World Cup remains unbroken.
Playing in the round of 16 for the sixth straight tournament, the Mexicans looked like they had finally done everything right against the Netherlands on Sunday.
Their rigid defense was holding the free-scoring Dutch at bay, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made some spectacular saves, and their string of first-half chances produced a goal from Giovani Dos Santos just after the break.It all unraveled in the 88th minute.
''The boys are very sad. It was really very painful to go out this way,'' Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said. ''We were eliminated because of an invented penalty.
''We are going home now and so should the referee.'''
Herrera argued that Robben should have been cautioned by referee Pedro Proenca for two earlier penalty claims.
He also acknowledged, however, that his players lost their concentration in the final minutes of a match that was stopped twice for official cooling breaks.
Mexico has played at all but five of the 20 World Cups, reaching the quarterfinals as host in both 1970 and 1986, but has been unable to better their record since last hosting the tournament 28 years ago.
On Sunday, the Mexicans excelled against a favored opponent that came into the game outscoring their group rivals 10-2. Mexico, using a 5-3-2 lineup, had only conceded once.
Ochoa was the main reason why.
And the Mexico goalkeeper was a key factor again on Sunday, making a seemingly impossible save in the 57th minute by getting his body in the way as Stefan de Vrij stabbed at the ball. The shot hit the goalkeeper and then bounced off the post.
Nine minutes later, the 28-year-old Ochoa crouched to block a goal-bound shot from Robben, who ran down the right and jumped clear of Marquez.
But shortly after Sneijder scored, Ochoa guessed wrong on Huntelaar's penalty, diving the wrong way and sending Mexico home.
''It isn't easy to go out this way, the way this match went,'' Ochoa said. ''It's just very hard to deal with when victory escapes you this way.''
Costa Rica hangs on to beat Greece in shootout.
By GERALD IMRAY (AP Sports Writer)
With his team down to 10 men for nearly an hour, Keylor Navas made sure Costa Rica's last line of defense held firm.
The goalkeeper came through with a string of stops in regulation and extra time and then made the only save in a penalty shootout to send Costa Rica through to the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday with a win over Greece.
After Navas dived to his right to push out the effort by Theofanis Gekas, Costa Rica defender Michael Umana scored the decisive spot kick for a 5-3 win in the shootout, sending the team sprinting down the pitch to embrace its goalkeeper. The game had finished 1-1 following extra time, after Greece equalized in second-half injury time.
After Navas dived to his right to push out the effort by Theofanis Gekas, Costa Rica defender Michael Umana scored the decisive spot kick for a 5-3 win in the shootout, sending the team sprinting down the pitch to embrace its goalkeeper. The game had finished 1-1 following extra time, after Greece equalized in second-half injury time.
''It was only a dream for us, a dream that became a reality,'' Navas said. ''A dream that was dreamed by an entire country.''
''To the entire people in Costa Rica, those at home and out on the streets, this is for you,'' Costa Rica's Colombian coach Jorge Luis Pinto said. ''This is a people that love football and they deserve it. ... We will continue fighting. We will go on. We see beautiful things.''
The victory also delighted the majority of the just over 41,000 fans in Recife as the Brazilian locals shouted for Costa Rica throughout the game and often broke out into chants of ''Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ticos!'' - using the common nickname for Costa Ricans.
Greece was often booed.
Costa Rica went ahead in the 52nd minute with a coolly taken goal by captain Bryan Ruiz, but the game changed when Oscar Duarte clumsily lunged at Greece's Jose Halebos in the 66th and was sent off with a second yellow card.
Pouring forward, the Greeks did beat Navas in injury time when defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos smashed in a rebound to make the team's numerical advantage eventually pay. Yet Navas kept denying the Greeksd through extra time and then, crucially, when he dived, threw up a hand and pushed Gekas' spot-kick away at the end.
''Obviously he has to be congratulated,'' Greece coach Fernando Santos said of Costa Rica's 'keeper. ''If it weren't for (him), the results would have been different.''
Santos had been sent to the stands by Australian referee Ben Williams just before the penalties and said he watched the shootout on a television inside the stadium.
''Sadness,'' he said of Greece's elimination and his last game in charge of the team. ''Definitely sadness. Not much (else) goes through your mind at that time.''
The red card for Duarte changed the game - which Costa Rica had slowly begun to control - and Greece surged forward for most of the remainder of the match.
But, with the exception of Papastathopoulos' goal, they just couldn't get past Navas as shot after shot was blocked. Greece had 13 shots on target to Costa Rica's two.
Navas smothered a volley from Dimitris Salpingidis from point-blank range in the first half. After the equalizer, he threw himself high to tip over a header from substitute Konstantinos Mitroglou that would have surely been the winner in the dying seconds of regulation time. He then made three crucial stops in extra time, when Costas Katsouranis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and Konstantinos Mitroglou were all denied.
During the shootout, the Costa Rican squad had knelt in a line. They then burst onto their feet to race over to Navas and smother him in a huddle when Umana's shot hit the net and Costa Rica made the last eight at the World Cup.
''We will not stay on the quarterfinals,'' coach Pinto said. ''Rest assured that we will not get eliminated there.''
Lineups:
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Giancarlo Gonzalez, Michael Umana, Oscar Duarte, Junior Diaz, Cristian Gamboa (Johnny Acosta, 77); Celso Borges, Christian Bolanos (Randall Brenes, 83), Yeltsin Tejeda (Jose Cubero, 66); Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz.
Greece: Orestis Karnezis; Kostas Manolas, Vasileios Torosidis, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Jose Holebas; Andreas Samaris (Konstantinos Mitroglou, 58), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Giorgos Karagounis, Giannis Maniatis (Costas Katsouranis, 78); Georgios Samaras, Dimitris Salpingidis (Theofanis Gekas, 69).
U.S. plans to attack unbeaten but underwhelming Belgium.
Reuters; By Neil Maidment
The United States' declaration of their attacking intentions may awaken the more thrill-seeking instincts of unbeaten but so far underwhelming Belgium as they prepare for "war" in Tuesday's last-16 World Cup clash.
The Belgians came through the group stage with three wins from three against Algeria, Russia and South Korea but failed to hit the heights expected of their exciting, star-studded squad with somewhat lukewarm performances and late shows.
However with talents likes Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku there is time for that to change and the Europeans will be a stiff test for a U.S. side that surprised many by beating off 2010 quarter-finalists Ghana and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to qualify alongside Germany in Group G.
The American's mix of organization and physical fitness has been improved by coach Juergen Klinsmann's focus on quick passing moves that have sharpened their attacking edge, and it is that high energy mantra that could unsettle Belgium.
The American's mix of organization and physical fitness has been improved by coach Juergen Klinsmann's focus on quick passing moves that have sharpened their attacking edge, and it is that high energy mantra that could unsettle Belgium.
"Physically they are very strong. We are preparing for a war," Belgium coach Marc Wilmots told reporters.
A fast start could be key to the progress of the U.S. who will have noticed that Belgium took until at least the 70th minute to score in all three of their group matches.
"We are going to take it to them," said Klinsmann, whose players' families have been told to change flights home until after the World Cup final. "We believe we have enough confidence now going into this game to beat them. We know we have to go to our extremes to make this happen."
While the Belgians may have stuttered slightly, an unbeaten qualifying campaign extended to their first three World Cup games is enviable and does support their ranking as fifth favorites with bookmakers going into the tournament.
A defense possessing Thibault Courtois in goal and dominant center half Vincent Company have conceded just once in Brazil - a penalty to Algeria - and despite their 'dark horse' tag appear unperturbed by a void of anticipated flair in their displays.
"What does it mean to play beautifully?," Wilmots said.
"Every game is characterized by tactics and physical fitness. What is important in the end is the result, to win the match with whatever style of play."
The Belgians have won the last four of their five games with the U.S., including a 4-2 victory in Cleveland in May last year. A solitary win for the U.S. came in the 1930 World Cup.
Having sealed a last 16 spot after two group games, Wilmots fielded a much changed side in Belgium's final tie with South Korea, meaning there will be many fresh legs for the U.S. clash with the line-up expected to revert to that which faced Russia.
Both Kompany and fellow defender Thomas Vermaelen are expected to play despite recent injuries but Wilmots will definitely be without the suspended Steven Defour, as well as injured duo Laurent Ciman and Anthony Vanden Borre.
For the U.S. striker Jozy Altidore is expected to be on the bench after resuming training following a hamstring injury but Klinsmann is unlikely to tinker too much with his line-up.
Toby Alderweireld, Moussa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen and Axel Witsel are one booking away from suspension for Belgium, while the same threat applies to Omar Gonzalez, Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones for the U.S.
The winner of the clash at Salvador's Fonte Nova arena will play Argentina or Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
FIFA World Cup Scores. June 27, 2014 - June 29, 2014.ESPN.com
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Brazil (3) 1
Chile (2) 1
Colombia 2
Uruguay 0
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Netherlands 2
Mexico 1
Costa Rica (5) 1
Greece (3) 1
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Can Jordan Palmer or Jimmy Clausen be this year's Josh McCown?
By Chris Boden
We sat here a year ago with concern about Josh McCown not being the experienced equal of Jason Campbell, as the first names that start with "J" to backup Jay goes back a little farther.
61 pass attempts in six game appearances the previous five seasons, including a stretch of nearly two entire seasons when he wasn't even in the NFL.
That was McCown heading into last season. And then Josh shocked-and-awed us when he trotted onto the field in week 7 in Washington as Jay Cutler was being gingerly helped off of it. Jordan Palmer got a call a day later, but wasn't needed as McCown worked his magic and Cutler eventually returned.
Just as Campbell found a home and an opportunity in Cleveland, McCown did the same with Tampa Bay, and we're left to wonder if Matt Cavanaugh and Marc Trestman can duplicate that trick with either Palmer or Jimmy Clausen. Neither has thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2010. That's a year after Cutler last played an entire season.
"Off the top of my head, I don’t know how many teams around the league have quality veteran depth at the backup position," said Cavanaugh. "So I don’t think we’re behind the eight-ball there. I just know we have some young guys we think have a lot of talent, and they’re all competing to try and be that guy that, if something happens to Jay, he can come in and we don’t miss a beat. I don’t know that everybody was convincved Josh McCown was that guy last year until it happened. I don’t have any doubt that whoever it is is gonna be ready to play if they have to play."
Back in 1984 through 1986, Cavanaugh was backing up a guy named Joe Montana in San Francisco before the future Hall of Famer really started getting dinged-up, pre-Steve Young. The Bears quarterbacks coach started four games over those three years, winning three. He had a pretty good group around him, too.
Palmer was limited during the recent OTA's with soreness in the pectoral muscle and shoulder in his throwing arm before taking his share of snaps in minicamp. Clausen was completing a two-week crash course with the playbook, and was impressive enough to be kept over journeyman Jerrod Johnson (wow! TWO "J's"!), who'd been with the club since late last season, and was more well-versed in the offense. But Clausen has 10 NFL starts to none for Palmer, 299 pass attempts in the league to 15 for Palmer.
"Its always tough when you get in a new system late and you try to learn the verbage. Because he’s got some years in the league I don’t think there’s any schemes were running that he's not familiar with, but it's able to communicate it. Hear it, call it quickly, get in the huddle and say it. He’s a smart guy and he’s caught up real fast."
Depending on the numbers games and injuries at other positions heading into the regular season, it's conceivable the Bears could keep both to back up Cutler, unless rookie David Fales shows so much that he doesn't start on the practice squad.
Other NFC backup quarterbacks, heading into training camp next month:
ARIZONA: Drew Stanton (to Carson Palmer)
ATLANTA: T.J. Yates (Matt Ryan)
CAROLINA: Derek Anderson (Cam Newton)
DALLAS: Brandon Weeden (Tony Romo)
DETROIT: Dan Orlovsky (Matthew Stafford)
GREEN BAY: Matt Flynn (Aaron Rodgers)
MINNESOTA: Teddy Bridgewater (Matt Cassel)
NEW ORLEANS: Luke McCown (Drew Brees)
N.Y. GIANTS: Ryan Nassib (Eli Manning)
PHILADELPHIA: Mark Sanchez (Nick Foles)
SAN FRANCISCO: Blaine Gabbert (Colin Kaepernick)
SEATTLE: Terrelle Pryor (Russell Wilson)
ST. LOUIS: Garrett Gilbert/Austin Davis (Sam Bradford)
TAMPA BAY: Mike Glennon (Josh McCown)
WASHINGTON: Kirk Cousins (Robert Griffin III)
Bears' Paul Pasqualoni: The 'defensive line whisperer'.
By Chris Boden
Before Phil Emery got to work gutting the Bears' defensive line in free agency, he and Mel Tucker brought in some experienced coaching specialists.
Clint Hurtt brought 13 years of collegiate success, mostly at Miami (FL) and Louisville, while Joe Kim has been a pass-rush specialist with seven teams in between earning and coaching Black Belts in Taekwondo.
But first in the line of hires for that defensive line is Paul Pasqualoni, whose coaching career began 42 years ago.
One of the decisions the Bears had to make at one position was whether to re-sign Jeremiah Ratliff or Henry Melton. Once pros and cons were weighed, it was the older Ratliff - who'd returned the final month of last season from a year-long injury, who signed a salary cap-friendly deal (two years, $3.5 million) before reaching free agency. Melton still hadn't gotten back on the field during Dallas' recent OTA's and minicamp after his torn ACL in Week 3.
While Melton is reunited with Rod Marinelli and hopes to fatten up his contract after this season depending on his game day availability, Pasqualoni reunites with Ratliff. They were together during a portion of Ratliff's stretch of four straight Pro Bowls with the Cowboys, and has been seeing a similar player following that long layoff.
"I think he's very close," Pasqualoni said of Ratliff. "He's in very good physical condition, and his weight's about where he wants it to be when he comes back for preseason camp."
And Ratliff can be another "coach" for the interior linemen who were drafted in the second and third rounds. Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton are being looked at as long-term answers, while Ratliff seeks a return to form and Stephen Paea enters a contract year. Pasqualoni, along with Hurtt and Kim, aim to get the kids growing quickly enough to contribute something this fall.
"I'm really looking forward to them getting their pads on and seeing exactly what they have when the (offensive) line gets their pads on, going up against a real good offensive line," Pasqualoni said. "Early in preseason camp will give us a good indication of how far they've come and how much more they've got to do to go in and help us."
The first strike when free agency opened was signing the versatile LaMarr Houston, who's least experienced rushing from left end. So, Pasqualoni and his staff spent the past month getting him used to the switch.
"You can see the quickness, speed, and explosiveness he's capable of playing with," he said. "He's going to give us a pretty stout guy on first and second downs, and a guy who's capable on third down of either rushing inside or outside. He's going to give us flexibility with what he can do."
And while the offseason saw Melton, Julius Peppers, and Corey Wootton (plus Shea McClellin's move to linebacker) move out, the biggest splash came with the reason Houston's moving to left end: Jared Allen. Pasqualoni says he's discovered the former Viking's intangibles are as big a reason as his physical gifts that place him second in sacks (128.5) among the NFL's active players, trailing only Arizona's John Abraham.
"Jared has brought a lot of energy and experience to the program, to our meeting room: a guy who's just flat-out smart and a very knowledgeable football player," Pasqualoni said. "He has great vision, can see what's going on and tells you what's happening in the game, and there's no substitute for that."
The Bears hope to substitute last season's defensive performance with one the franchise and its fans have come to expect, and it all starts with a well-seasoned coach and his reconstructed line.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? 2014 NHL Team-by-Team Draft Selections.
By The Associated Press
Anaheim Ducks
1 (10) Nick Ritchie, LW, Peterborough (OHL).
2 (55) Brandon Montour, D, Waterloo (USHL).
5 (123) Matthew Berkovitz, D, Ashwaubenon H.S. (Wis.).
7 (205) Ondrej Kase, RW, Chomutov (Czech Republic).
Arizona Coyotes
1 (12) Brendan Perlini, LW, Niagara (OHL).
2 (43) Ryan MacInnis, C, Kitchener (OHL).
2 (58) Christian Dvorak, LW, London (OHL).
3 (87) Anton Karlsson, RW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden).
4 (117) Michael Bunting, LW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL).
5 (133) Dysin Mayo, D, Edmonton (WHL).
6 (163) David Westlund, D, Brynas Jr. (Sweden).
7 (191) Jared Fiegl, LW, USA U-18 (USHL).
7 (193) Edgars Kulda, LW, Edmonton (WHL).
1 (25) David Pastrnak, RW, Sodertalje (Sweden).
2 (56) Ryan Donato, C, Dexter H.S. (Mass.)
4 (116) Danton Heinen, C-LW, Surrey (BCHL).
5 (146) Anders Bjork, LW, USA-18 (USHL).
7 (206) Emil Johansson, D, HV 71 Jr. (Sweden).
1 (2) Sam Reinhart, C, Kootenay (WHL).
2 (31) Brendan Lemieux, LW, Barrie (OHL).
2 (44) Eric Cornel, C, Peterborough (OHL).
2 (49) Vaclav Karabacek, RW, Gatineau (QMJHL).
3 (61) Jonas Johansson, G, Brynas Jr. (Sweden).
3 (74) Brycen Martin, D, Swift Current (WHL).
5 (121) Maxwell Willman, C, Williston-Northampton H.S. (Mass.)
6 (151) Christopher Brown, C, Cranbrook Kingswood H.S. (Mich.)
7 (181) Victor Olofsson, RW, Modo Jr. (Sweden).
1 (4) Sam Bennett, C, Kingston (OHL).
2 (34) Mason McDonald, G, Charlottetown (QMJHL).
2 (54) Hunter Smith, RW, Oshawa (OHL).
3 (64) Brandon Hickey, D, Spruce Grove (AJHL).
6 (175) Adam Ollas Mattsson, D, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden).
7 (184) Austin Carroll, RW, Victoria (WHL).
Carolina Hurricanes
1 (7) Haydn Fleury, D, Red Deer (WHL).
2 (37) Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Plymouth (OHL).
3 (67) Warren Foegele, LW, St. Andrews H.S. (Ont.).
4 (96) Josh Wesley, D, Plymouth (OHL).
4 (97) Lucas Wallmark, C, Sweden Lulea.
5 (127) Clark Bishop, C, Cape Breton (QMJHL).
7 (187) Kyle Jenkins, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL).
1 (20) Nick Schmaltz, C, Green Bay (USHL).
3 (83) Matheson Iacopelli, RW, Muskegon (USHL).
3 (88) Beau Starrett, C-LW, Pre. South Shore (USPHL).
4 (98) Frederik Olofsson, LW, Chicago (USHL).
5 (141) Luc Snuggerud, D, Eden Prairie (Minn.) H.S.
5 (148) Andreas Soderberg, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden).
6 (178) Dylan Sikura, C, Aurora (OJHL).
7 (208) Jack Ramsey, RW, Penticton (BCHL).
1 (23) Conner Bleackley, C, Red Deer (WHL).
3 (84) Kyle Wood, D, North Bay (OHL).
4 (93) Nicholas Magyar, RW, Kitchener (OHL).
5 (144) Anton Lindholm, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden).
6 (174) Maximilian Pajpach, G, Slovakia U18.
7 (204) Julien Nantel, C-LW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL).
1 (16) Sonny Milano, LW, USA Under-18 (USHL).
2 (47) Ryan Collins, D, USA U-18 (USHL).3 (76) Elvis Merzlikins, G, Swiss Lugano.
3 (77) Blake Siebenaler, D, Niagara (OHL).
4 (107) Julien Pelletier, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL).5 (137) Tyler Bird, RW, Kimball Union H.S. (N.H.).
7 (197) Olivier Leblanc, D, Saint John (QMJHL).
Dallas Stars
1 (14) Julius Honka, D, Swift Current (WHL).
2 (45) Brett Pollock, LW, Edmonton (WHL).
3 (75) Alexander Peters, D, Plymouth (OHL).
4 (105) Michael Prapavessis, D, Toronto Lakeshore (OJHL).
4 (115) Brent Moran, G, Niagara (OHL).
5 (135) Miro Karjalainen, D, Jokerit U18 (Finland).
6 (154) Aaron Haydon, D, Niagara (OHL).
6 (165) John Nyberg, LW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden).
7 (195) Patrick Sanvido, D, Windsor (OHL).
Detroit Red Wings
1 (15) Dylan Larkin, C, USA Under-18 (USHL).
3 (63) Dominic Turgeon, C, Portland (WHL).
4 (106) Christoffer Ehn, C, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden)
5 (136) Thomas (Chase) Perry, G, Wenatchee (NAHL).
6 (166) Julius Vahatalo, LW, TPS Jr. (Finland).
7 (196) Axel Holmstrom, C, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden).
7 (201) Alexander Kadeykin, C, Mytischi (Russia).
Edmonton Oilers
1 (3) Leon Draisaitl, C, Prince Albert (WHL).
4 (91) William Lagesson, D, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden).
4 (111) Zachary Nagelvoort, G, Michigan.
5 (130) Liam Coughlin, C-LW, Vernon (BCHL).
6 (153) Tyler Vesel, C, Omaha (USHL).
7 (183) Keven Bouchard, G, Val-D'or (QMJHL).Florida Panthers
1 (1) Aaron Ekblad, D, Barrie (OHL).
2 (32) Jayce Hawryluk, C, Brandon (WHL).
3 (65) Juho Lammikko, RW, Assat Jr. (Finland).
4 (92) Joe Wegwerth, RW, USA-18 (USHL).
5 (143) Miguel Fidler, LW, Edina (Minn.) H.S.
7 (182) Hugo Fagerblom, G, Frolunda U18 (Sweden).
Los Angeles Kings
1 (29) Adrian Kempe, LW, Modo (Sweden).
2 (50) Roland McKeown, D, Kingston (OHL).
2 (60) Alex Lintuniemi, D, Ottawa (OHL).
3 (90) Michael Amadio, C, North Bay (OHL).
4 (120) Steven Johnson, D, Omaha (USHL).
5 (150) Alec Dillon, G, Victoria (BCHL).
6 (157) Jake Marchment, C, Belleville (OHL).6 (180) Matthew Mistele, LW, Plymouth (OHL).
7 (209) Spencer Watson, RW, Kingston (OHL).
7 (210) Jacob Middleton, D, Ottawa (OHL).
Minnesota Wild
1 (18) Alex Tuch, RW, USA Under-18 (USHL).
3 (80) Louis Belpedio, D, USA-18 (USHL).
4 (109) Kaapo Kahkonen, G, Blues Jr. (Finland)
5 (139) Tanner Faith, D, Kootenay (WHL).
6 (160) Pontus Sjalin , D, Ostersunds (Sweden).
6 (167) Chase Lang, C, Calgary (WHL).
6 (169) Reid Duke, C, Lethbridge (WHL).
7 (199) Pavel Jenys, C, Brno (Czech Republic).
1 (26) Nikita Scherbak, RW, Saskatoon (WHL).
3 (73) Brett Lernout, D, Swift Current (WHL).
5 (125) Nikolas Koberstein, D, Olds (AJHL).5 (147) Daniel Audette, C, Sherbrooke (QMJHL).
6 (177) Hayden Hawkey, G, Omaha (USHL).
7 (207) Jake Evans, C-RW, St. Michaels (OJHL).
Nashville Predators
1 (11) Kevin Fiala, LW, HV 71 Jr. (Sweden).
2 (42) Vladislav Kamenev, LW, Magnitogorsk 2 (Russia-Jr.).
2 (51) Jack Dougherty, D, USA U-18 (USHL).
3 (62) Justin Kirkland, LW, Kelowna (WHL).
4 (112) Viktor Arvidsson, LW, Skelleftea (Sweden).
5 (132) Joonas Lyytinen, D, Kalpa (Finland).
6 (162) Aaron Irving, D, Edmonton (WHL).
1 (30) John Quenneville, C, Brandon (WHL).
2 (41) Joshua Jacobs, D, Indiana (USHL).3 (71) Connor Chatham, RW, Plymouth (OHL).
5 (131) Ryan Rehill, D, Kamloops (WHL).
6 (152) Joey Dudek, C, Kimball Union H.S. (N.H.)
6 (161) Brandon Baddock, LW, Edmonton (WHL).
New York Islanders
1 (5) Michael Dal Colle, LW, Oshawa (OHL).
1 (28) Joshua Ho-Sang, C, Windsor (OHL).
3 (78) Ilya Sorokin, G, Novokuznetsk (Russia).
4 (95) Linus Soderstrom, G, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden).
4 (108) Devon Toews, D, Quinnipiac.
6 (155) Kyle Schempp, C, Ferris State.
7 (200) Lukas Sutter, C, Red Deer (WHL).
2 (59) Brandon Halverson, G, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL).
3 (85) Keegan Iverson, C-RW, Portland (WHL).
4 (104) Ryan Mantha, D, Indiana (USHL).
4 (118) Igor Shesterkin, G, Spartak 2 (Russia-Jr.).
5 (122) Richard Nejezchleb, LW, Brandon (WHL).
5 (140) Daniel Walcott, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL).
5 (142) Tyler Nanne, D, Edina (Minn.) H.S.Ottawa Senators
2 (40) Andreas Englund, D, Djurgarden (Sweden-2).
3 (70) Miles Gendron, D, Rivers Academy H.S. (Mass.).
4 (100) Shane Eiserman, C-LW, Dubuque (USHL).
7 (189) Kelly Summers, D, Carleton Place (CCHL).
7 (190) Francis Perron, LW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL).
Philadelphia Flyers
1 (17) Travis Sanheim, D, Calgary (WHL).
2 (48) Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW, Val-D'or (QMJHL).
3 (86) Mark Friedman, D, Waterloo (USHL).
5 (138) Oskar Lindblom, LW, Brynas Jr. (Sweden).
6 (168) Radel Fazleev, C, Calgary (WHL).
7 (198) Jesper Pettersson, D, Linkoping (Sweden).
1 (22) Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Kalpa (Finland).
4 (113) Sam Lafferty, C-LW, Deerfield H.S. (Mass.).
5 (145) Anthony Angello, C, Omaha (USHL).
6 (173) Jaden Lindo, RW, Owen Sound (OHL).
7 (203) Jeff Taylor, D, Union (N.Y.).
St. Louis Blues
1 (21) Robert Fabri, C, Guelph (OHL).
2 (33) Ivan Barbashev, C-LW, Moncton (QMJHL).
2 (52) Maxim Letunov, C, Youngstown (USHL).
3 (82) Jake Walman, D, Toronto JC (OJHL).
4 (94) Ville Husso, G, Finland HIFK.
4 (110) Austin Poganski, RW, Tri-City (USHL).
5 (124) Jaedon Descheneau, RW, Kootenay (WHL).
6 (172) Chandler Yakimowicz, RW, London (OHL).6 (176) Samuel Blais, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL).
7 (202) Dwyer Tschantz, RW, Indiana (USHL).
San Jose Sharks
1 (27) Nikolay Goldobin, RW, Sarnia (OHL).
2 (46) Julius Bergman, D, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden).
2 (53) Noah Rod, RW, Geneve Jr. (Switzerland).
3 (72) Alex Schoenborn, RW, Portland (WHL).
3 (81) Dylan Sadowy, LW, Saginaw (OHL).
4 (102) Alexis Vanier, D, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL).
5 (149) Rourke Chartier, C, Kelowna (WHL).
6 (171) Kevin Labanc, RW, Barrie (OHL).
Tampa Bay Lightning
1 (19) Anthony Deangelo, D, Sarnia (OHL).
2 (35) Dominik Masin, D, Slavia Jr. (Czech Republic).
2 (57) Johnathan MacLeod, D, USA U-18 (USHL).
3 (79) Brayden Point, C, Moose Jaw (WHL).
4 (119) Ben Thomas, D, Calgary (WHL).
6 (170) Cristiano Digiacinto, LW, Windsor (OHL).
7 (185) Cameron Darcy, C, Cape Breton (QMJHL).
Toronto Maple Leafs
1 (8) William Nylander, C-RW, Modo (Sweden).
3 (68) Rinat Valiev, D, Kootenay (WHL).
4 (103) John Piccinich, RW, Youngstown (USHL).
5 (128) Dakota Joshua, C, Sioux Falls (USHL).
6 (158) Nolan Vesey, LW, Pre. South Shore (USPHL).
7 (188) Pierre Engvall, LW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden).
1 (6) Jake Virtanen, RW, Calgary (WHL).
1 (24) Jared McCann, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL).
2 (36) Thatcher Demko, G, Boston College.
3 (66) Nikita Tryamkin, D, Yekaterinburg (Russia).
5 (126) Gustav Forsling, D, Linkoping Jr. (Sweden).
6 (156) Kyle Pettit, C, Erie (OHL).
7 (186) Mackenze Stewart, D, Prince Albert (WHL).Washington Capitals
1 (13) Jakub Vrana, LW-RW, Linkoping (Sweden).
2 (39) Vitek Vanecek, G, Liberec Jr. (Czech Republic).
3 (89) Nathan Walker, LW, Hershey (AHL).
5 (134) Shane Gersich, C-LW, USA-18 (USHL).
6 (159) Steven Spinner, RW, Eden Prairie H.S. (Minn.)
7 (194) Kevin Elgestal, RW, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden).
Winnipeg Jets
1 (9) Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Halifax (QMJHL).
3 (69) Jack Glover, D, USA-18 (USHL).
4 (99) Chase De Leo, C, Portland (WHL).
4 (101) Nelson Nogier, D, Saskatoon (WHL).
5 (129) Clinston Franklin, LW, Sioux Falls (USHL).
6 (164) Pavel Kraskovsky, C, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-Jr.).
7 (192) Matt Ustaski, C-LW, Langley (BCHL).
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Derrick Rose doesn't plan to recruit Carmelo Anthony to Bulls.
By Marc J. Spears
The Chicago Bulls are expected to pursue Carmelo Anthony in free agency. They just shouldn't expect Derrick Rose to participate in the recruiting.
Rose told Yahoo Sports on Sunday that he doesn't plan to recruit Anthony – or any free agent, for that matter – even though he likes Anthony's game and thinks they can play alongside each other.
Rose's reason is simple: He said it's "not his job."
"My thing is if they want to come, they can come," Rose said.
Anthony averaged 27.4 points for the New York Knicks last season. Rose averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists during the 2011-12 season – the last before he injured his left knee in the 2012 playoffs. Rose respects Anthony's game and believes they can co-exist.
"I love Melo's game," Rose said. "He's a great player. Takes the game serious. He's consistent. He shoots the ball great. I love his heart.
"I can play with anybody, no matter who it is. I believe I can play with anyone if they step on the court with me."
As for when Rose will resume playing, he told Yahoo Sports he expects to be ready for the 2014-15 NBA season-opener, but has yet to decide if he will try out for USA Basketball's World Cup team this summer.
Rose has played in only 10 total games the past two seasons and 50 the past three because of various injuries, including two major knee surgeries. He said he has been taking part in five-on-five scrimmages for a while and his rehabilitation is going well. But Rose also said he is uncertain if he will participate in USA Basketball's training camp starting July 28 in Las Vegas.
"I still don't know yet," Rose told Yahoo Sports at the Drew Gooden Foundation Basketball Camp on Sunday. "If I'm feeling right and the time is [right], for sure I will go out there. My body is responding good, but you never know.
"Right now, I haven't really thought about that. I am just worrying about just trying to get back every day and I'm really taking rehab one day at a time instead of trying to think about competing."
The United States will begin playing in the World Cup in Spain on Aug. 30 and the gold medal game is Sept. 14. If Rose doesn't play, USA Basketball's 2014-16 28-man roster pool is still loaded with point guards that include Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry. Westbrook, Lillard, Irving and Curry are expected to try out for the World Cup team.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo is expected to begin reaching out to players in early July. USA Basketball will also have a training camp in Rose's native Chicago from Aug. 14-15 and play Brazil in an exhibition game on Aug. 16 at the United Center. Rose last played in a game for the Bulls on Nov. 22 and last played in the United Center in Chicago on Nov. 18.
Rose said it would be fun to play for the U.S. in Chicago, but he's more focused on his rehabilitation. He said his national team decision will be made between himself and his agent, B.J. Armstrong.
"If we both agree on it, we're good. If not, there is nothing wrong with saying no," Rose said.
Rose has been playing five-on-five for about 45 days and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau recently said Rose was increasing the intensity of his workouts. Rose is certain he will be in uniform for the Bulls' opener.
"For sure. That's not a concern," Rose said. "I'm on a mission. I'm just trying to get better. I'm taking it day by day. I'm getting the best out of every day."
Asked to grade the strength of his knee, Rose said, "I want it to be a surprise. I want people to see me. It's going to be a surprise."
Rose flew to the Bay Area for one day to make a surprise appearance at the camp hosted by Gooden, his former Bulls teammate. He spent about 10 minutes talking to and taking questions from the kids in attendance. He next spent another 20 minutes patiently signing autographs and taking pictures with kids and adults in attendance at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center.
Before Rose departed, the kids began chanting, "MVP! MVP!" Rose hopes to be playing at that level next season.
"I think I was ready a long time ago," Rose said. "Right now is about just getting all the wrinkles out. I've been playing for a long time, even though nobody has [seen it]. I want to just step on the court and I want people to see that I'm the same."
Justin Rose looking like someone to watch after Quicken Loans National victory.
By Brian Murphy
Behold the career of one Justin Peter Rose, 33 years old and carving his place in the golf world quite nicely, thank you.
With his almost-blew-it-but-didn't playoff win over Shawn Stefani in the Quicken Loans National at crispy Congressional on Sunday, Rose showed us many things. Among them:
• How to win on the PGA Tour for the fifth consecutive year, a streak topped only by Phil Mickelson (10 years) and Dustin Johnson (seven years). It should be noted that Mickelson's streak, as we barrel into July, has yet to be extended in 2014.
• How to back up and prove a major championship, as Rose joins Adam Scott by winning the year after his first major, avoiding one of those lost-in-the-wilderness post-major things, a combination of hangover and existential doubt that has plagued many a first-time major winner.
• How to handle the tough stuff. By winning at Merion last year, Rose tamed the USGA and their form of torture they call the U.S. Open. Then, on Sunday he took on a dry and fierce Congressional Country Club that was slaying the world's best players – only three players of 75 broke 70 – and fired a 1-under 70 to charge from three shots back and surge past 54-hole leader Patrick Reed.
Oh, yeah. Patrick Reed.
The 23-year-old who ordered a custom-made and custom-delivered bull's-eye to be placed on his back all year after his March declaration that he was a "top five" player in the world found out that life in the klieg lights can cause a little flop sweat. Reed was three-for-three in holding 54-hole leads entering Sunday, including twice already this year. But golf lashes out at those who presume to master it, and Reed shot 41 on Congressional's back nine, stumbling home like a drunk who couldn't find his hotel room key. His 77 assured him an 11th-place finish and more respect for the game.
Back to Rose. His Merion win on Father's Day 2013 was a masterpiece, his driver/4-iron to Merion's 18th for the par that won him his first major always in the annals of finest U.S. Open closings of all time. The question is, what do you do next? Tiger Woods has sort of made that answer hard in the past 15 years, because all he did was win more majors and more majors and more events and more events. Normal guys like Justin Rose can't just snap their fingers and do that.
Mind, Rose was playing capable golf entering Congressional. His tie-14th at the 2014 Masters and tie-12th at Pinehurst No. 2 is impressive stuff. Only Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Jimmy Walker (!), Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott and Jim Furyk were also able to top-15 at both of this year's majors so far.
And now Rose has done it again, playing his best when conditions are toughest, overcoming his awful water ball on 18 when victory seemed his by making that 15-foot bogey putt. He heads back to the United Kingdom now, for the Scottish Open and then to Hoylake two weeks from Thursday for the Open Championship. You'd be a fool to not rate him a favorite.
SCORECARD OF THE WEEK
70-66-65 – 12-under 201, Stacy Lewis, winner, LPGA NW Arkansas Championship, Pinnacle County Club, Rogers, Ark.
Somebody alert the FIFA World Cup. It has competition for adrenalized drama.
The LPGA just continues to throw haymaker after haymaker for golf fans. This is a golden age of women's golf, sports fans. I hope you're rolling up your sleeves and diving in.
A week after Michelle Wie's U.S. Women's Open win, a victory that transcended the game and earned her appearances on the "Today Show," Fox News and CNN, Wie held the Saturday night lead in Arkansas. What a story, right? Except, the feisty and competitive and unstoppable Stacy Lewis, a home girl who went to the University of Arkansas and knows how to call them hogs, wanted a piece of Wie and fired a final-round 65 to edge yet another must-see talent, teenager Lydia Ko, by one stroke.
By the way, if Lewis shooting 65 on a Sunday sounds familiar, it nearly is. She dropped a cool 66 at Pinehurst No. 2 last Sunday to earn that silver medal and make Wie perspire just a tad.
WoooooPigSoo-ie!, indeed.
Even Wie got into the Lewis-admiring act, tweeting out that Stacy Lewis, her Florida neighbor, is "such a baller." She then implored Lewis to take part in a new social media golf thing called the "Ice Bucket Challenge," in which the likes of Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Wie and – yes – now Lewis willingly dump a bucket of ice on their own head.
What are you gonna do? Kids are wacky.
Lewis said the Razorback State hometown pressure actually made her more nervous than the U.S. Open, which was a curious statement. What's Lewis saying, that Arkansas is more important than a national championship? Come on, Stace!
All right, all right. We'll cut her some slack. She's more than delivering the goods, and the LPGA is enjoying the deliveries nearly weekly. Next up, July 10-13, is the Women's British Open, and Lewis jets into the U.K. as defending champ. Maybe she'll even wear a plastic Razorback hog head at some point in her final round.
MULLIGAN OF THE WEEK
Every now and then we have to go big picture, and earning the Mully o' the Week this week is the main man himself, Tiger Woods, for even teeing it up at Congressional.
We all understand the Tiger Woods Foundation means something to Tiger, and we all understand his competitive jones is second to none. We all understand that microdiscectomy surgery is no joke, and takes more than three months to recover. But when Tiger Woods is throwing a 74-75 Thursday-Friday at us, and when Tiger Woods is missing the cut by four strokes, and when Tiger Woods is telling us how "encouraged" he is because his back felt OK and when Tiger Woods is beating only 12 guys in a field of 156 … something just doesn't feel right.
Tiger could have honored his foundation by not playing, still recovering, showing up at Congressional, pressing the flesh, doing the media rounds, honoring the winner, et cetera, without presenting us with an unsightly 36 holes of golf. All it did was give everyone more logs to heave on the Tiger-ripping bonfire, proclaim how finished he is, and state with certainty that Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships is as snug as a bug in a rug.
So, Tiger. How about you take a powder at Congressional, wait a few weeks more, skip the Quicken Loans National and … give that Tiger a mulligan!
BROADCAST MOMENT OF THE WEEK
"There's water over here … oh, Justin, that's wet!" – Jim Nantz, CBS, shouting at Justin Rose and his golf ball as his second shot from the trees sought H2O.
That was a fun moment on Sunday. Nantz underscored the urgency of the moment by barking out his warning, when in reality the golf swing was finished and the ball's fate was in the process of being decided by physics and gravity. No Nantz yellow flag, however frantic, was to change its destiny.
The entire CBS crew piled on Rose. Nick Faldo, Rose's mentor, was heartsick, like his dog got hit by a car. Peter Kostis was disgusted. And yet, it all worked out for Rose when he "saved" bogey with a 15-footer to get into the playoff with Stefani.
Best part was, Rose was on The Golf Channel afterwards, explaining his thinking as to why he went for the risky play of trying to advance his second too far after driving in the trees. His explanation of the pin placement, and the desired trajectory and his goal for the second shot's arrival – front right bunker, or neck of the green – was enunciated with such Rose-like maturity and clarity, and in such a proper English accent, that you damn near believed he made the right play by the time he was done talking. Golfers need to sell things to themselves, I'm convinced. It's the only way to stay sane.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
It's a bit of quiet week, as America celebrates birthday No. 238 – Lookin' Good, USA! – and the PGA Tour heads to West Virginia for the Greenbrier. Apple pie for everyone. Tiger Woods, thankfully, will take the week off. Sadly, we will be deprived of any Michelle Wie/Stacy Lewis fireworks, so we'll have to settle for some black-market fireworks of our own, bought from one of those places with the big inflatable gorilla announcing its presence.
Keselowski: Hand won't be an issue at Daytona.
By Pat DeCola
Brad Keselowski celebrated Saturday night's win at Kentucky Speedway in a most unusual location: the infield care center.
The Team Penske driver, who led 199 of 267 laps to win the Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts, sliced his right hand open in Victory Lane on a champagne bottle, trying to simultaneously shake up the suds and open it on the very podium where his race trophy sat.
His celebration cut short, the driver was whisked away to the infield care center to get four stitches before taking care of his post-race media obligations.
"We were playing around with some champagne bottles, and as I told my good friend, 'We should have stuck with beer,'" Keselowski said. "We were having too much fun with champagne and one of the bottles broke and I cut my hand open. It's no big deal. ? I hit it on something. I think I hit it on the corner of the podium, and it broke. I was trying to get the top off and shake it at the same time. People were spraying me; I couldn't really see all that well. Just one of them deals."
Among so much chatter about the bumps laced throughout the Kentucky asphalt that, coincidentally, cause the teeth of every driver to chatter as they rumble over them at 180 mph, this type of injury was the last thing anyone expected.?
"The frontstretch bumps are a concussion, and Victory Lane is bleeding of the hand. I guess I don't have enough to lose upstairs to worry about the first one," Keselowski said. "You know, I did the typical guy thing. I said 'It's not that bad, it's not that bad,' and I shook it a couple times and there was blood flying everywhere. Then I thought, 'This is pretty bad.' And then I started kind of walking through my mind, 'Is this for real?'"
What comes next are the questions about what Keselowski will still be able to do with his stitched and bandaged hand, appropriately adorned with his most recent "Winner" sticker, considering two of the things he's most known for heavily involve his digital extremities: driving and tweeting.
No stranger to injury, Keselowski once tweeted a gruesome image of a broken ankle sustained during a test session at Road Atlanta in 2011. He said he's trying to rely less on his phone lately and didn't get a chance to tweet a picture of his most recent injury because he didn't have it on him in Victory Lane, but also -- and more importantly -- the laceration won't be an issue when the series heads to Daytona International Speedway next week for the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
"Do I anticipate (any problems holding the steering wheel)? No, last time I had stitches, it was just seven days or so and we're going to Daytona, which is probably the easiest track you could ask for. I didn't break any bones or any of that stuff. I just put a big gash, so I don't think it'll be an issue."
For Keselowski, lost in the champagne circus is the fact that he continues a streak of dominance in which he's finished first, second or third in four of his past five races, vaulting him to fourth in the points standings and third in the Chase Grid. It's a return to form for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, who suffered through a down year in 2013, during which he missed the Chase.
With win number two of the season in the books and Team Penske looking like one of the strongest organizations the sport has to offer, this likely won't be the last Victory Lane celebration -- even if they have to switch to beer, or at least twist-offs, next time.?
"Yeah, welcome to the party. It's all good. I'm just glad we won. It's a lot better story when you win and get hurt."
5 things at Wimbledon: Manic Monday.
By DENNIS PASSA (AP Sports Writer)
It won't quite be Manic Monday at Wimbledon, but close.
The second Monday at the Grand Slam tournament has been dubbed that previously because all remaining players in the singles draw - 16 men and 16 women - usually play their fourth-round matches on that day after a rest day on Sunday.
But with rain stopping third round play Saturday for nearly five hours on all but the covered Centre Court, several matches were either postponed or suspended. So only 30 singles players will hit the courts at the All England Club on Monday and several others, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, will have the day off while their section of the draw is settled.
Here are five other things to know about the seventh day of play at Wimbledon:
STREAKS MEET: Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion who has won 22 of 23 matches since April, including the French Open final, plays Angelique Kerber of Germany, who is 7-1 so far this grass-court season, including the final at Eastbourne. Sharapova is attempting the French Open-Wimbledon clay-grass double for the second time, having lost in the fourth round here in 2012 after winning at Roland Garros a few weeks earlier. ''Of course, the transition, it's no secret, it's very difficult,'' Sharapova says. ''But I'm quite happy with the way I've gone about things so far.''
TSONGA REDEMPTION?: Novak Djokovic goes into his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga with a sore left arm after a fall in Friday's match against another Frenchman, Gilles Simon. Djokovic says ultrasounds show no major issues, despite at first thinking he had dislocated his shoulder. The last time the two played, Tsonga won just six games at the French Open earlier this month in a fourth-round loss. He hasn't beaten Djokovic in 10 matches.
FRUSTRATING TIMES: China's Peng Shuai plays 2011 champion Petra Kvitova trying to end her drought in quarterfinals at Grand Slam tournaments. Peng is playing in her 36th major and her best results are five fourth-round appearances, three of them at Wimbledon. The 28-year-old Peng has 12 career doubles titles but none in singles despite playing in five finals.
LONG MATCH: Kei Nishikori and Simone Bolelli will resume their marathon third-round match level 3-3 in the fifth set. Officially, the current match time is 2 hours, 55 minutes. The pair walked on court about 1 p.m. Saturday after the start of play was delayed 90 minutes by rain, played only a few games before play was stopped due to more showers, then the match was suspended because of darkness. They'll resume at 11 a.m. Monday, which will quickly put the match time over three hours. But taking into account Sunday's day off at Wimbledon, the start-to-finish time of the match will stretch to nearly 48 hours.
CORNET'S SURPRISE: If Serena Williams had read the form guide ahead of her third-round match with Alize Cornet, she might have had reason not to take the Frenchwoman's chances of beating her seriously. But Cornet will play Eugenie Bouchard of Canada on Monday and Williams is out of singles. It's only Cornet's second fourth-round appearance in 34 Grand Slams (the 2009 Australian Open is the other). Cornet had never previously defeated a top 20 player in a major.
Has conference realignment at last reached a lull?
By DAVE CAMPBELL (AP Sports Writer)
The latest wave of major conference realignment lands ashore this week, bringing with it geographical contradictions, upended traditions and financial gains.
Welcome to the Atlantic coast, Louisville.
Time to get to know the Great Lakes, Maryland and Rutgers.
Meet your new neighbors, schools of the American Athletic Conference. The footprint of the former Big East now covers nine states, from Connecticut to Texas.
The change in league memberships has dominated college sports the last decade as much as the chase for national championships, with power conferences competing for multimedia revenue and recruiting exposure and the dominoes that fall in line behind them.
As of Tuesday, 12 more football teams in the NCAA's bowl subdivision will have new affiliations. The American replaces Louisville (Atlantic Coast) and Rutgers (Big Ten) with Conference USA-departing East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa. Maryland, a 1953 ACC original, bolts for the Big Ten.
Of the 128 schools to play at the FBS level this season, more than 40 percent have made at least one move over the past decade. That figure doesn't even include the shake-ups of the mid-to-late 1990s that produced the Big 12, Conference USA and the Mountain West. Flip the calendar back 25 years and find only 48 teams that have stayed put. That means more than 62 percent of them switched during that span.
There aren't other major moves on the immediate horizon, though. Might this mean administrators, coaches, athletes and fans can finally take a deep breath and start getting used to the new landscape?
''Hopefully, we're starting one of those periods where we're all intact and can reach our full potential,'' ACC Commissioner John Swofford said.
Legal and practical reasons point to a lull. NCAA revenue sharing rights and the pay-for-play debate are the current attention-getters. All five major leagues - the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern conferences - have long-term television contracts in place. These ''grant of rights'' agreements generally prevent further departures and make additions that force revenue division into smaller shares less attractive.
The court fight between the ACC and Maryland offers another discouragement of destabilization. After the ACC filed a lawsuit over Maryland's requirement to pay the full exit fee of approximately $52 million, Maryland filed a $157 million counterclaim against the league.
''Change is never easy. But I think over time people will accept it, and everything will level and even out,'' said former Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi, who was a part of planning for the 2011 addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten that touched off the last big boom.
Four of the five second-tier FBS conferences - the American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt - will play with odd numbers in 2014 and thus leave one or more teams out of league play every weekend all season.
And consider this quirk of a 14-team Big Ten: Minnesota opened TCF Bank Stadium on campus in 2009, and Indiana will make its first visit there in ... 2018. The Gophers will have played Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State and San Jose State twice each at their new home before hosting the Hoosiers once. Minnesota's visit to Indiana in 2013 was the only one scheduled in a 12-season span.
The big winner in this, though, could be Louisville. The Cardinals have developed a top-tier football team to accompany the basketball powerhouse, and they'll introduce their flourishing programs and sparkling venues to the ACC this fall.
''It's just been remarkable what has been accomplished there. You couldn't help but pay attention to what was happening at Louisville,'' said Swofford, whose league now spans from Florida to Massachusetts, with more television households and total population than any other conference in the country.
With television at the heart of the matter, stability is never permanent. The industry of college sports is no different from the market-driven society in which it exists.
''To strive and thrive, you've got to get bigger. Conference realignment is about exactly that: having more economic value when you get bigger,'' said Chris Bevilacqua, a sports media consultant. ''It's not going to stop, because the market forces are going to continue to incentivize and reward size. It's not just college. It's everything in the ecosystem. So will it settle down and pause for a while? My guess is probably. Will there be further consolidation and realignment? I think most definitely. When will that happen? That's hard to say.''
An old voicemail from Charles Barkley still inspires Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl.
By Raphielle Johnson
There’s no denying the fact that Bruce Pearl has his work cut out for him at Auburn, where he’s been handed the keys to a program that has struggled mightily in recent years. But with the hiring of Pearl, who was highly successful at Tennessee before NCAA sanctions led to his dismissal, fans, administrators and former players are optimistic about the future.
One of those former players is Charles Barkley, who after three seasons at Auburn left as one of the greatest players in school history. During the men’s basketball reunion on Friday, Barkley expressed his approval of the hire made by athletic director Jay Jacobs.
What was also learned during that reunion was the fact that Pearl has held onto a voicemail left by Barkley nearly a decade ago, noting that it continues to serve as a source of motivation for him.
On the message, which lasted roughly 10-12 seconds, were the kind of words of encouragement that still provide Pearl an emotional lift to this day:
“Bruce Pearl, this is Charles Barkley, you do not need to call me back. I’ve just been watching your teams play and I love the way you coach and I love the way your teams play.”
“I have it on an old cell phone,” Pearl said Friday evening from the Auburn Men’s Basketball Reunion at the Moore’s Mill Club in Auburn. “And there were times when we get down on ourselves (as coaches) and we lose confidence in what we do, and I’ve listened to that message a time or two. I’d never met him, I didn’t call him back because he said don’t call me back, but I kept that message.”Much tends to be made about the players a new coach can bring in, and Pearl’s staff has gotten off to a solid start recruiting-wise with his show-cause not coming to its conclusion until late August. However it’s also important for the new head coach to establish a connection with the past, especially when it comes to the players who helped the program achieve success.
That’s the value of events such as Friday’s reunion, and if Auburn is to make the climb back to respectability and earn NCAA tournament bids the players of the past can help Pearl as he looks to sell his program to recruits and a fan base hungry for a winner.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, June 30, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1962 - Los Angeles Dodger Sandy Koufax pitched his first no-hitter in a game with the New York Mets.
1970 - The Cincinnati Reds moved to their new home at Riverfront Stadium.
1978 - Willie McCovey hit his 500th career home run.
1984 - The longest professional football game took place in the United States Football League (USFL). The Los Angeles Express beat the Michigan Panthers 27-21 after 93 minutes and 33 seconds.
1994 - The U.S. Figure Skating Association stripped Tonya Harding of the 1994 national championship and banned her from the organization for life for an attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan.
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