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July 4, 2014
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Sports Quote of the Day:
"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught." ~ J. C. Watts, Politician and Former College Football Quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners
Brazil faces upbeat Colombia in World Cup quarters.
By TALES AZZONI (AP Sports Writer)
Brazil and Colombia enter the World Cup quarterfinals with totally different mindsets.
Brazil is surrounded by doubts after a more difficult start than expected to the tournament it is hosting. Colombia is upbeat after convincing performances and four straight wins.
While the hosts narrowly beat Chile in a penalty shootout to avoid elimination in the second round, the Colombians had a convincing 2-0 win over Uruguay to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.
The South American rivals play Friday in the northeastern city of Fortaleza, with Brazil hoping to keep alive its quest for a sixth World Cup title and Colombia aiming to extend its best ever run in football's showcase event.
Despite its tradition and home-field advantage, Brazil is far from a big favorite. An uncomfortable opening win over Croatia, a draw with Mexico and a win over Cameroon in the group stage preceded the tight knockout match against Chile, when Brazil advanced on penalties.
''It's normal to have people demanding that we play better,'' Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. ''But it's also normal what we have been seeing in this World Cup so far. There were a lot of even matches. There is no difference between teams that have tradition and world titles and the rest of the teams. Matches are being decided on penalties, in the final minutes, on mistakes.''
Colombia has won all of its matches without any real difficulty, thanks in part to the tournament's second-best attack with 11 goals, one less than the Netherlands. It also has a strong defense with only two goals conceded. Brazil, meanwhile, has scored eight goals and conceded three.
''We're very happy because we are making history,'' said Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez, the tournament's leading scorer with five goals. ''We want to do even more because this is a team that really wants to win.''
Colombia has beaten Brazil only twice - the last time in the 1991 Copa America - but the teams have drawn the last four matches they played, including in a 2012 friendly in New York.
Brazil has reached the quarterfinals in six consecutive World Cups, but was eliminated at this stage in the last two.
The host nation's hopes of going farther into the tournament this time remain on the shoulders of Neymar, who has scored four goals and has been decisive for his team. The striker injured his right knee against Chile but team doctors said he will be fit to play at the Arena Castelao.
''Chile and Colombia have similar teams,'' Neymar said. ''It's going to be another war. We will need to be on top of our game from the beginning to try to play better. Hopefully we won't have to suffer so much.''
Colombia is relying mostly on Rodriguez, one of the stars of the World Cup so far.
''He has a lot of quality with his left foot, he's showing why Monaco paid a lot of money to sign him,'' Brazil defensive midfielder Fernandinho said. ''We can't give him any space, we are going to have to be very careful with him.''
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has all of his players available for Friday's match, but Scolari will be forced to make changes due to the suspension of defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo. The Brazilian coach said he may go back to the formation that he used when his team won the 2002 title, with three central defenders.
In Wednesday's training, Scolari hinted that midfielder Paulinho will be Gustavo's replacement, but he tested several other lineups, including one without central forward Fred, who has been struggling since the competition started.
One of Scolari's biggest concerns remains the nerves his young squad is experiencing. He admitted that a lack of experience is hurting his team, so he scheduled a players' meeting with the team psychologist on Tuesday to try to help them cope with the pressure.
Some of the players lost their composure in the tense match against Chile.
''What happened against Chile will serve to motivate us in the next matches,'' Brazil midfielder Ramires said. ''We will be better prepared.''
A 1982 clash revived as France-Germany meet in Cup.
By STEVE DOUGLAS (AP Sports Writer)
When Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer embarked on a series of hair-raising dashes out of his area in the second-round win over Algeria, it would have struck a chord with French football fans of a certain vintage.
Thoughts no doubt returned to one of the most shocking collisions in World Cup history, which occurred in the 1982 semifinal between West Germany and France and involved another goalkeeper's excursion off his line.
Harald Schumacher's airborne challenge on Patrick Battiston, which knocked the France defender unconscious and broke his jaw but went unpunished, still raises anger and emotion in France - particularly as West Germany went on to win that match in a penalty shootout thanks to the saves of Schumacher.
Predictably, the incident has been one of the major talking points ahead of the countries' clash in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday. It will be their fourth meeting on football's biggest stage, with Germany also winning the most recent head-to-head in 1986 in the semifinals.
''Tomorrow we will write a new page of history,'' France coach Didier Deschamps said when asked about the hurt of 1982 and '86. ''We will try to make it as pleasant as possible.''
Under the headline of ''A Classic Match,'' top-selling French sports newspaper L'Equipe used its front page Wednesday to detail the step-by-step process of Schumacher's aerial collision with Battiston.
Clearly, the episode hasn't been forgotten in France but many of country's players weren't even born when that game took place. And they aren't using it as motivation.''As far as we are concerned, we live in the present,'' France's 26-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said. ''There is a long history between both nations but we will concentrate on our own match and we want to write our own history.''
Germany is playing in the quarterfinals for a ninth straight World Cup and also reached at least the semifinals of the last two European Championships. But there is a growing feeling that a young and dynamic France team can bring down its more experienced opponent.
With Germany's defense stretched - and sometimes shambolic - this tournament, that's a department the French will aim to exploit at Rio's Maracana stadium.
Ponderous and porous, the German back line also features center backs playing as full backs, allowing Algeria's speedy forwards to cause havoc in the Round of 16 match that Germany won 2-1 in extra time. That's why Neuer was called on so many times to race out of his area and play the ''sweeper'' role, rescuing his defenders.
''There were some matches that were a bit more complicated,'' Deschamps said of Germany, also referring to the group-stage 2-2 draw with Ghana. ''But this is a very solid team, very calm, with strong individual players. They like ball possession. To impose a certain rhythm, a certain style of play.''
''I have a lot of respect for Germany,'' Deschamps added. ''The team is at a higher level, at least on paper.''
Deschamps will likely be wrestling with two selection dilemmas ahead of the match, chiefly who to partner with Karim Benzema in attack out of Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann.
Giroud has height and presence, but Griezmann offers guile and craft and they might be the qualities that will give the Germany defense more problems. Griezmann's game-changing substitute appearance in France's 2-0 win over Nigeria in the second round could well influence Deschamps' thinking.
There is also the question of who plays alongside Raphael Varane at center back out of Laurent Koscielny and Mamadou Sakho, the vice-captain who is fit again after a left hamstring injury.
If the French progress past the quarterfinals, they will have done better than most pundits would have predicted, especially with Deschamps having revamped the team in his two years in charge.
Though expectations have been raised back in France, there will be more pressure on Germany.
''We are not afraid of anything,'' Lloris said. ''We are fully aware of the fact that in one match, just about anything is possible. There is no fear - (just) real pleasure, sheer joy, to be playing Germany in the quarterfinals.''
And expect Neuer to continue making appearances outside the penalty area as well as inside, just like Schumacher did 32 years ago.
''Neuer has the same technical skills as the others - he can play in midfield,'' Germany coach Joachim Loew said. ''He has great orientation, that's why we are happy for him to take some risks.''
Belgium-Argentina Preview.
By KARL RITTER (Associated Press)
So far none of Argentina's opponents has been able to stop Lionel Messi.
Perhaps Belgium has what it takes. But even if doesn't, the Red Devils present a fresh challenge for Argentina at this World Cup.
For the first time in Brazil, Argentina faces an opponent with attacking potential that rivals its own.
''We will have to adapt, but what really interests me is to see how they will adapt to us,'' Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said.
Argentina has struggled on its road to the quarterfinals, relying on single moments of Messi magic to break stalemates against mostly defense-oriented teams.
On Saturday in Brasilia, it's up against a young, sparkling team that's considered a dark horse for the title.
Even though it needed extra time to prevail against the United States, Belgium unleashed offensive qualities in that game that could present major problems for Argentina's at times shaky defense.
Belgium fired 38 shots, half of them from midfielders Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard, and strikers Divock Origi and Romelo Lukaku. An impressive performance by U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard kept the score down.
Meanwhile, Argentina's attack hasn't been as fearsome as predicted. Center forward Gonzalo Higuain is scoreless after four games and his attacking partner Sergio Aguero is out injured. Ezequiel Lavezzi is replacing the Manchester City striker but was largely ineffective against Switzerland.
Then there's Messi.
The little genius has delivered when Argentina needed him most, scoring in every group stage match and setting up Angel Di Maria's extra-time winner against Switzerland in the round of 16.
In a tight game, the Swiss shackled him successfully until his decisive run in the 118th minute.
''We knew that we would face a situation like that, but that's football and we had luck on our side,'' Messi said. ''We're aware that all matches are going to be very close and that details will make the difference.''
Wilmots was unwilling to compare the strengths of the two teams but noted that except for a few players, Argentina's performance at the World Cup has exposed some weaknesses.
''Obviously they have Di Maria, Lavezzi, Higuain and Messi,'' Wilmots said. ''But I also saw they showed a lack of balance within the team and that they had problems.''
If Messi is in extraordinary form, he will cause problems for Belgium, Wilmots conceded Thursday. ''But if you ask me as a coach whether I prefer a good collective or one great player, I prefer the team.''
Argentina left back Sergio Rojo is suspended and will probably be replaced by Jose Basanta in Saturday's game.
Wilmots said Belgium left back Thomas Vermaelen is likely to return after missing the U.S. game with a hamstring injury, while midfielder Steven Defour is back from suspension.
Belgium and Argentina haven't met in the World Cup since the 1980s, when they were both at their peak.
In 1982, Belgium beat Argentina 1-0 in their World Cup opener. Four years later Diego Maradona scored both goals in a 2-0 semifinal win on Argentina's road to its second World Cup title.
Costa Rica-Netherlands Preview.
By MIKE CORDER (Associated Press)
At this point in the World Cup, the Dutch know plenty about Costa Rica - once one of the surprise packages of the tournament. What they may not have heard is that Costa Rica's Jorge Luis Pinto learned his coaching from the Dutchman who invented 'total football.'
Pinto, a well-traveled Colombian, studied at the University of Cologne early in the 1980s when Dutch coach Rinus Michels was coaching the city's Bundesliga club.
''In those years I spent my time watching him training and talking to him,'' Pinto said. ''When I didn't have classes, I went to see the club practice. I saw many things and learned a lot.''
Michels was a good teacher - a few years later he would lead the Netherlands to its one and only international title, the 1988 European Championship, having pioneered the 'total football' approach - where players can change their positions during a game.
Now Pinto aims to stop the Dutch taking another step toward their first world title when his Costa Rica team meets the Netherlands on Saturday in the quarterfinals at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova.
It is not only Pinto who knows the Dutch game well. Bryan Ruiz had a successful spell with FC Twente before joining Fulham and now plays at PSV Eindhoven alongside likely Netherlands starter Georginio Wijnaldum and super-sub Memphis Depay.
Ruiz said he has shared what he knows about the Dutch players with his coach.
''Pinto asked me about it and I provided a bit of analysis of the ones I know,'' he said Thursday.
''I haven't had any contact with Memphis or Georginio,'' he added. ''Of course, the day of the match, we will greet each other, chat a bit and then get focused.''
Ruiz has teamed up with a strong, fast-paced striker in Joel Campbell, propelling Costa Rica to the surprise top spot in a Group D that also included England, Italy and Uruguay. Pinto's team also has a miserly defense that has conceded just two goals in the tournament so far.
''Costa Rica has a very good team,'' in-form Dutch forward Arjen Robben said. ''I think before not a lot of people would have expected them to go through to the next round but I think they are a very strong team and it's going to be another very difficult game for us where we have to give everything to go through to the semi-finals.''
Not surprisingly, Costa Rica will be attempting to shut down the Dutch striking partnership of Robben and Robin van Persie, who are looking to get back on the scoring sheet after combining for six goals in their team's first two matches but failing to find the net since.
''We just can't afford to give them any room to maneuver,'' midfielder Celso Borges said. ''They can make you pay if they get an opening.''
The winner in Salvador goes on to a semifinal against either Belgium or Argentina in Sao Paulo on July 9.
Costa Rica will be without defender Oscar Duarte, who was sent off in the 66th minute of the penalty shootout victory over Greece. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas skipped training on Wednesday with a sore shoulder, but he has been declared fit to play.
The lengthening Dutch injury list is creating problems for coach Louis van Gaal, who is fast running out of fit midfielders.
AC Milan strongman Nigel de Jong may have played his last World Cup match in Brazil after tearing a groin muscle early in the second-round defeat of Mexico. Leroy Fer also is in doubt with a hamstring injury he picked up in training the day after scoring the crucial opening goal in the Netherlands 2-0 defeat of Chile.
Van Gaal could push left back Daley Blind from defense to midfield or opt for Feyenoord's Jordie Clasie, who has yet to play in Brazil and has only eight caps to his name.
Van Gaal's most experienced midfielder, Wesley Sneijder, appears to be running into form at just the right time.
The team's top scorer in South Africa four years ago broke his Brazil duck against Mexico with a sizzling drive in the 88th minute, after substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar had headed the ball back. Substitute Huntelaar then calmly slotted home a stoppage time penalty, but he said the assist for Sneijder was his most important touch.
''That moment was so intense,'' he told Dutch website Nu.nl. ''It was an explosion of joy and adrenaline that gave us the feeling we could force a result in the regular 90 minutes.''
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Cutler relishes bond with Marshall.
By Larry Mayer
Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall are entering their sixth season together as NFL teammates.
Jay Cutler was amused but definitely not shocked when Bears teammate
“I don’t think many people knew what was going on or when he was going to do it,” Cutler said. “[But] it doesn’t surprise me. Brandon has his way of doing things that have never been done.”
That’s also true in terms of what Marshall has achieved on the field. In 2012, the 6-4, 230-pounder set Bears records and career highs with 118 receptions and 1,508 yards. Last year he became the first player in franchise history with multiple 100-catch seasons when he compiled 100 receptions for 1,295 yards and 12 touchdowns.
After signing his new three-year deal, Marshall acknowledged that the 2012 trade that sent him from the Dolphins to the Bears was “life-saving and career-saving” in part because it reunited him with Cutler, his teammate with the Denver Broncos from 2006-08.
“I wanted to be back with Jay,” Marshall said last month. “I wanted to be in Chicago. I didn’t even know anything about the history to be honest. I didn’t even know anything about how great this city was, but I wanted to be back with Jay.”
Cutler was just as excited about the reunion and was thrilled to hear about Marshall’s extension.
“I think it was a little touch-and-go there for a while, but I think [general manager] Phil [Emery] did a great job of keeping everything together and working with Brandon and his agent,” Cutler said.
“At the end of the day, everyone wanted him to stay here. The organization wanted him to stay here. Brandon wanted to stay here. We’ve got a great group of people—scouts, management and ownership upstairs. When they’ve got a good guy, they try to keep him around.”
Building camaraderie: Cutler was among a large group of Bears players who spent time during the offseason at Marshall’s home in Florida working out and taking part in team-building activities.
“I don’t think we got as much football done as we wanted to in Florida, but that was OK,” Cutler said. “We got to know some guys. We’ve got a lot of new players this year and we got some new guys down there, mixed with the guys that have been around, and that’s what it was about.
“It’s hard to simulate that once OTAs start and once minicamp starts and training camp starts because it’s all football. It’s hard to get to know the guys on an off-the-field basis like we did down in Florida.”
Veteran leadership: Cutler appreciates the work that Marshall did in Florida at Fit Speed—a facility that Marshall co-owns—with young receivers
“They do a lot of football, but they do a lot of stuff in the weight room,” Cutler said. “Brandon’s a physical specimen. All the things he does great on the field, he does a lot of things in the offseason preparing his body. Just showing ‘Q’ and Alshon what he does in the offseason, how hard he works and how dedicated he is to his craft, it means a lot.”
Diaper dandy: Cutler said the highlight of his offseason occurred in early May when his wife, Kristin Cavallari, gave birth to their second son, Jaxon.
“Going from one to two is a little bit different,” Cutler said. “You go from zone defense to man-to-man and now there’s just zero free time. It’s been hectic, but it’s been fun.”
Competition for return jobs wide open.
By Larry Mayer
With at least five players in the mix, the competition for the Bears’ punt and kickoff return jobs will be among the most intriguing position battles this summer in training camp.
“We have a lot of experience back there,” said special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. “There’s a lot of talent and that’s really what you want when you’re evaluating.”
The candidates for the two jobs include
Weems is the most experienced of the group. Spending his first five seasons with the Falcons from 2007-11, he averaged 25.6 yards on 113 kickoff returns and 10.6 yards on 77 punt returns. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2010 when he returned three kicks for touchdowns, including a 102-yard kickoff return in a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.
“Most definitely I’ve missed doing it,” Weems said. “It’s still in the blood. I love doing it. That’s what I was in Atlanta doing. That’s what I made the Pro Bowl doing. There’s no question in my mind that I love doing it.”
Weems was used sparingly in the return game the past two seasons with the Bears because he was behind Hester, who owns the NFL’s all-time record with 18 combined kick return touchdowns. But with Hester gone, Weems now has a chance to win the job.
“I’ve been patient for the last two years and now I feel like it’s my turn, and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” Weems said.
The Bears signed Spurlock and Edwards June 3, exactly one week after veteran return man Domenik Hixon was lost for the season with a torn ACL in the Bears’ first OTA practice.
“[Hixon] was one of the guys we were really looking forward to seeing,” DeCamillis said. “It’s just a tough break for him. He’s been a very productive guy in the league as far as a returner. It’s just one of those things that happens. It’s too bad for him and too bad for us.”
Spurlock has played in 67 games with two starts over seven seasons with the Cardinals (2006), Buccaneers (2007, '09-11), 49ers (2009), Chargers (2012), Jaguars (2012), Lions (2013) and Cowboys (2013). He has averaged 9.6 yards with two touchdowns on 81 punt returns and 24.2 yards and three TDs on 107 kickoff returns.
Edwards has appeared in 41 games over four seasons with the Panthers (2010-13) and Browns (2013), averaging 7.0 yards on 40 punt returns and 19.7 yards on 15 kickoff returns while adding six receptions for 131 yards and three rushes for 12 yards.
Williams is an intriguing prospect the Bears signed last December off the New Orleans Saints practice squad. The New Mexico product played three seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger Cats, setting a CFL record with six return touchdowns in 2012.
Ford is also a possibility. The second-year pro from LSU ranked second in the SEC in kickoff returns in 2012, averaging 27.5 yards with four returns of at least 40 yards.
Asked what criteria will determine who wins the jobs, DeCamillis said: “The first thing is returner mechanics. You want a guy who can make all the catches. You want a solid punt return guy that can square up his body and make sure he makes the right decisions, because that’s really the biggest part of being a returner is making the right decision, in my opinion.
“The second thing is the talent with the ball in his hand. If you can identify a guy that can make plays in open space, that’s really what you are looking for. And it happens in different ways. Devin had great speed; that’s why he was good. There have been other guys that have excellent vision and they’re good, so you just have to find what that guy is good at and try to tailor the scheme towards him.”
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Puck Daddy’s 2014 NHL Free Agent Report Card.
By Greg Wyshynski
First, a disclaimer: This isn’t all about the first 48 hours of free agency.
If we’re going to raise hell about context when it comes to something like the General Manager of the Year Award, then it’s only fair that we extend the analysis of the NHL’s 30 teams and their offseasons back a week to the trades, buyouts and other transactions around the NHL Draft.
So keep that in mind when reading the 2014 NHL Free Agent Report Card, as we factor in some of the key transactions (Kesler, etc.) for these teams.
Who won? Who lost? Who signed John Scott?
Here … we … go.
The addition of Ryan Kesler gives Anaheim that second elite center they need to compete in the loaded Western Conference. Obviously they had some good fortune in that Kesler limited his trade market to Anaheim and … well, Anaheim. The Ducks fared a little worse in free agency, handing Clayton Stoner a 4-year, $13-million contract to a defenseman who saw his ice time cut by nearly 5 minutes on average last season. They also snagged Jason LaBarbara as a veteran depth goalie. GRADE: B+
Arizona Coyotes
They decided to buy out Mike Ribeiro due to “behavioral problems,” turning that signing from last summer into a disastrous one. Sam Gagner is rescued from buyout as a replacement; is this is spot to shine? They couldn’t convince Radim Vrbata to take term over money. They signed Joe Vitale and Andrew Campbell, and it’ll be fun to see how Sean Burke transforms the career of Devin Dubnyk. GRADE: C-
The Bruins did a heaping plate of nothing in adding players, but smartly chose to let Jurassic Shawn Thornton leave for Florida and to not give Jarome Iginla the term he was seeking, given the other contracts due in the next two years. Will they trade a defenseman for another scoring winger? GRADE: B
We turn the mic to GM Tim Murray for his analysis of free agency:
Thanks Tim.
The Sabres signed Brian Gionta (3 years, $12.75M); Matt Moulson (5/$25M); Andrej Meszaros (1/$4.125M); and former Sabre Cody McCormick (3/$4.5M). They re-signed Marcus Foligno for 2 years and $3.75 million, and flipped a second-round pick for Montreal Canadiens salary dump Josh Gorges.
The Moulson signing was a good one that’ll help when the Sabres turn the corner. Gorges and Gionta are good mentors. They’re over the salary floor. But nothing they’ve done here should subvert the Dishonor For Connor and/or Sack For Jack draft lottery campaigns and for that they get a GRADE: A-
Calgary Flames
Jonas Hiller at 2 years and $9 million is an upgrade, but at this point he’s a quality tandem guy rather than a legit No. 1. Mason Raymond is a nice signing at 3 years and $9.5 million, uniting him with Brian Burke. Deryk Engelland is … a terrible signing. Everyone who saw the $2.9 million next to his name assumed that was the full ticket for three years; nope, that’s his average salary, meaning he’s making more against the cap in three years than Tom Gilbert is in two years for Montreal. But the Flames clearly needed more truculence and pugnacity … oh, wait, they already traded for Brandon Bollig? Hey, it got them to the cap floor. They also let Mike Cammalleri walk. GRADE: C-
Carolina Hurricanes
Ron Francis’s first offseason as GM was spent raking Leafs: Jay McClement (1/$1M), Tim Gleason (1/$1.2M) and Drew MacIntyre (1/$600K) head to Raleigh. He re-signed Ron Hainsey and Nathan Gerbe. They lost Manny Malhotra to Montreal and Justin Peters to Washington. Still waiting on that big, roster changing move, if it in fact ever arrives. GRADE: C-
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have a cap problem. They also had a center depth problem. So getting Brad Richards in at $2 million for one season was pretty much perfect: At best, he’s Patrick Kane’s center; at worst, he’s a solid vet with a low salary down the lineup, who well eventually be a healthy scratch by the Cup Final. They also inked Peter Regin for peanuts. GRADE: A-
Colorado Avalanche
Letting Paul Stastny walk was a necessity, given his contract demands; and like he said, it’s not as if the Avs don’t have other options at center. The Jarome Iginla signing gives Colorado someone that’ll go to the net hard and get his mitts dirty; the only issue is his skating ability, considering how the Avs fly. The make-or-break might be Brad Stuart, who’s a terrible possession defenseman but one that’s only signed for next season, in case this was a blunder. Jesse Winchester was added for depth and/or healthy scratches. GRADE: B
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jackets' only addition was the June 23 trade for Scott Hartnell, which was terrific on a number of fronts. But they clearly like the hand they’re playing. Lost Blake Comeau to the Penguins. GRADE: B+
Dallas Stars
Traded three good young prospects and a pick for what could be one year of Jason Spezza, but that’s burying the lede: The Stars now have Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Cody Eakin and Vern Fiddler up the gut in a conference where center play can determine who advances. Snagging Ales Hemsky for three years at $4 million is brilliant, considering his chemistry with Spezza in Ottawa. Anders Lindback at 1 year and $925K is a solid signing as well. The only thing keeping this from being an “A+” is the potential for Spezza to leave.
GRADE: A
As we chronicled here, the Wings had one target – a right-handed, puck-moving defenseman – and whiffed on all the top options on the market, despite offering more to Dan Boyle than the Rangers did. But hey, Kyle Quincey’s getting $4.25 million against the cap. GRADE: D-
Edmonton Oilers
GM Craig MacTavish added some vertebrae to the team’s backbone. Teddy Purcell, acquired for San Gagner, lost his way a little under Jon Cooper but can be a nice complimentary player to the Oilers’ stars. Nikita Nikitin (2 years, $9 million) and Mark Fayne (4 years, $14.5 million) are making “paying more since we’re Edmonton” money but bolster the defense; Fayne, in particular, still has some offensive upside, although one wonders how much he was supported by Andy Greene. Benoit Pouliot gets 5 years and $20 million; the fancy stats community celebrates; Jeremy Roenick spit out his Coors Light. GRADE: B-
Florida Panthers
The Panthers continued their traditions established under GM Dale Tallon: Overpaying for veteran depth players and signing ex-Blackhawks. Dave Bolland’s 5 years at $5.5 million fulfills both standards, and its completely preposterous. Shawn Thornton gets two years and $2.4 million to punch things. Jussi Jokinen gets four years and $4 million per season, and will be a nice piece if he remains motivated. Willie Mitchell, a solid citizen, gets 2 years and $8.5 million. Derek MacKenzie got perhaps the only sane contract at 3 years and $1.3 million annually. Outside of Bolland, these are stop-gap deals intended to bring mentors into a young locker room. From a hockey perspective, they don’t do much to elevate the team in front of Roberto Luongo. But they all get the Panthers to the floor, which is the point. GRADE: C-
Angeles Kings
Re-signed Marian Gaborik (7 years, $34,3M) and Matt Greene (4/$10M). Did nothing else. Winners! GRADE: A+
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
Thomas Vanek finally found his way to Minnesota on a 3-year, $19.5 million deal. If he’s the dynamic linemate he was on Long Island, it could be a boon. If he’s the invisible man he was in Montreal, fitting ill in the lineup, it will be a bust. One thing’s for sure: There’s going to be criticism for Vanek taking ice time from the Wild’s good young prospects. But the term is great. They also made minor signings in Stu Bickel and Joel Rechlicz. GRADE: B+
Montreal Canadiens
Flipping Danny Briere for PA Parenteau was obviously a net positive. The flipping of Josh Gorges for Tom Gilbert (2 years, $5.6M) saves the Habs term and money and is at worst a lateral move on the ice. They brought back Mike Weaver and re-upped Andrei Markov, and cut a little fat by letting Brian Gionta follow Gorges to Buffalo. Manny Malhotra’s a great signing at 1 year and $850K. Strong start to the postseason for GM Marc Bergevin; now, about Subban … GRADE: B+
Nashville Predators
Sigh … Spezza rejected a trade, the other centers opted elsewhere so the Predators settled for Olli Jokinen for one year and $2.5 million. That’s the bad news. The good news is that he’ll have James Neal to feed the puck to after the Preds pried him from the Penguins. The Neal trade keeps this thing from being a total disaster. GRADE: C+
New Jersey Devils
The Devils’ desire to become home for every Czech player over 30 continued, as Martin Havlat was signed for a huge value contract of 1 year and $1.5 million. But the boldest move was for Mike Cammalleri at 5 years and $25 million. Will he help the offense? Yes. Is it too much money and term? Of course. Will Lou Lamoriello find a way to magically make that contract disappear if things don’t work out? Fuhgeddaboudit …GRADE: B-
New York Islanders
GM Garth Snow landed the very, very, very poor man’s Selanne and Kariya. Mikhail Grabovski (4 years, $20M) and Nikolai Kulemin (4 years, $16.75M) are huge depth moves for the Islanders’ offense. Cory Conacher adds more scoring depth. Alas, the team’s need continues to be keeping pucks out of their own net. (Jaroslav Halak will help). Plus the circle was completed on the Vanek/Moulson mess, as one went to Minnesota, one went from Minnesota to Buffalo and the Islanders still don’t have their ticket for the McDavid Lottery. GRADE: B-
New York Rangers
Dan Boyle gives the Rangers more offense than Anton Stralman at $9 million and 2 years, but has a little more tread off the tires. Dominic Moore was re-signed as a valuable depth player. Tanner Glass was signed for 3 years and $4.35 million, for some reason. They also said goodbye to Brad Richards, for you addition by subtraction fans. GRADE: B-
Ottawa Senators
Getting forwards Alex Chiasson, Alex Guptill and Nicholas Paul and 2nd round pick in 2015 for Jason Spezza was a solid return, given the no-trade clause he was wielding. Extra credit for avoiding another Dany Heatley nightmare. GRADE: C+
Philadelphia Flyers
Traded Scott Hartnell’s charisma and top-line play for R.J. Umberger’s versatility and better contract. Brought back Ray Emery for one year as a backup. Signed Blair Jones, Nick Schultz and Huggy Bear himself, Zack Stortini. Other than that, a quieter-than-usual offseason for the Flyers … for now. GRADE: C-
In which GM Jim Rutherford begins correcting the mistakes of the past. He bolstered the Penguins’ bottom six with Nick Spaling (acquired in the Neal trade), Blake Comeau (1 year, $700K), re-signing Marcel Goc (1 year, $1.2M) and, in one of his best moves, Steve Downie at 1 year and $1 million. He jettisoned Brooks Oprik and Matt Niskanen, and replaced the latter with Christian Ehrhoff for 1 year and $4 million – one of the best signings of July 1. The big questions: How will the Neal trade shake out, and who joins the Pens’ top six along with Hornqvist? GRADE: B+
San Jose Sharks
John Scott. One year. $750K. Oh, and Ice Girls. GRADE: F
St. Louis Blues
The $28 million for Paul Stastny is a lot, but the four years are perfect. He provides them with a true center and someone that can give the Blues the depth up the middle they lacked. Plus there’s that adorable homecoming aspect to his signing there. Carl Gunnarson could be a great partner for Kevin Shattenkirk. But when all is said and done, are we going to remember this as the summer the Blues signed Jori Lehtera? GRADE: A+
Tampa Bay Lightning
Anton Stralman ($22.5 million, 5 years) and Jason Garrison (acquired via trade) are two major upgrades to the Lightning blue line. Evgeni Nabokov is a solid backup/insurance policy for Ben Bishop. And 3 years and $6 million for Brian Boyle? Congrats, Mr. Yzerman. GRADE: A-
Toronto Maple Leafs
No home runs, which naturally will get this panned in the Toronto echo chamber, but luring Leo Komarov (4 years, $11.8 million) and Petri Kontola to the NHL and the Stephane Robidas signing (3 years, $9 million) are all positive moves. Roman Polak for Carl Gunnarson … a little more questionable. Best of all: No Dave Bolland overpayment! They’re learning! GRADE: B
Vancouver Canucks
The Ryan Miller signing is good for keeping up appearances, at 3 years and $18 million, but his numbers are similar to those of Eddie Lack. Has the experience edge, though. And Jim Benning didn't draft Lack. The Vrbata signing for two years is a great one, whether or not he plays with the Sedins. Clearing Jason Garrison’s salary was a positive. And say what you will about Sbisa and Bonino, but the Canucks’ hands were tied on Kesler. GRADE: B+
Washington Capitals
The huge roll of the dice from new GM Brian MacLellan. Matt Niskanen (7 years, $40.25M) and Brooks Orpik (5 years, $27.5M) are overcompensated, but both are upgrades over what was already there and are reunited with an assistant coach that knows them best in Todd Reirden. Is Orpik done? Can Niskanen come close to his offensive numbers last season? The Capitals added Chris Connor, Mike Moore and goalie Justin Peters (2 years, $1.9M) as well. It’s a GRADE: C, taking into account how much the Capitals have to overpay for free agents. For some reason.
Winnipeg Jets
Mathieu Perreault is good value at 3 years and $9 million (Winnipeg multiplier understood), but he’s a water bug when the rest of the West has whale sharks. But once again, the Jets are seemingly not invited to the free agent party. To the homegrown players! GRADE: D+
Bulls talk to Carmelo Anthony about $16 Million Salary. What's Your Take?
By Dan Feldman
The Chicago Bulls will have a hard time offering Carmelo Anthony a max contract. That’s clear.
They can amnesty Carlos Boozer, waive a few no-value players and trade a few role players without returning salary. Doing that, I project they could make Melo an offer that starts at $16,284,762 and is worth $69,535,934 over four years.
They could also do a sign-and-trade involving Carlos Boozer that would get Melo a max deal – $22,458,402 starting and $95,897,375 over four years. But Phil Jackson might not participate in that.
What’s a little more unclear is what the Bulls would actually do.
We don’t know which role players they’re wedded to – Taj Gibson, for example, seems central to Chicago’s pitch – and how they view Nikola Mirotic. Mirotic, a 2011 draft pick still playing overseas, can now negotiate a contract above the rookie scale. To offer him that, the Bulls must use cap room or an exception – and that interferes with money they could pay Melo.
So, how much would Chicago leave for Melo?
Marc Berman of the New York Post:
According to an NBA source, the Bulls, during Tuesday’s meetings, floated the idea of Anthony making about $16 million per year across four seasons.That might be the Bulls’ offer, but that’s not what Berman’s report says. It only says that salary was floated.
Quite possibly, the Bulls are discussing multiple scenarios with Melo. The more money he sacrifices, the better roster they can assemble around him. A moving target with Melo having say on which deals would cause him to sacrifice money makes sense.
Maybe Melo accepts $95,897,375 over four years, the most he could get by leaving New York. Maybe he’s cool with $69,535,934, the amount I believe the Bulls could generate fairly easily without a sign-and-trade. And maybe he’d even settle for the $64 million the Bulls discussed.
But the further removed we get from the Knicks’ max potential offer – $129,135,810 over five years – the less likely teams are to land Melo.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: This is nuts!!!! A player traveling around the country to visit franchised teams to see who would like to pay the most for his talent. Yes Carmelo is a terrific player but let me ask this question, can he guarantee a championship? And if he's that good, why hasn't he done it before now? Look, I'm not putting Carmelo down by any means, I just don't know why these team owners put themselves in this position and then say, "salaries are too high" so let's lock out the players or roll back these contracts. Fact: Michael Jordan was not the highest paid player in the NBA until his last two years with the Bulls at $30 million per year. He made most of his money with endorsements. And yes, he invested and didn't waste it on a posse!!!!! He did not travel around shopping his talent, he took the players he was given and elevated their confidence and potential and convinced them that they were winners. No TV announcement shows or the rest of this outlandish hype or nonsense was needed. You let your play speak for you. There's a tremendous amount of young talent out there, all that is needed is a good coach to convince them that they can win if they play as a team. One last point, Isn't it refreshing to see that San Antonio doesn't participate in this crap? Like the Bulls (6 Championships), San Antonio (5 Championships), built their team with good young talent and a very good coach and I bet that they'll be a contender again next year and the amazing thing is that they don't have any salary cap problems because they're about winning.
Now you know what we think and how we feel, we'd love to know, what’s your take?
Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Blog Editor. Please use the comment section below and have at it. Let us know your thoughts.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… New coach, new level for Bulls' McDermott.
By Adam Fluck
As the son of a basketball coach, Doug McDermott has been around the game his entire life.
When his father, Greg, coached at Iowa State, he regularly attended practice. And while Doug, who attended Ames High School at the time, would have loved to play for the Cyclones, he didn’t get a lot of attention from Division I schools.
“I was kind of a late bloomer,” admits Doug. “I wasn’t getting recruited a lot.”
So the younger McDermott committed to attend the University of Northern Iowa. But when Greg left the Big 12 for Omaha, Nebraska, things changed.
“When he got the job at Creighton, I was fortunate enough to join him,” said Doug. “We had a great four years. I got a lot better under him and his staff.”
The entire McDermott family—parents Greg and Theresa, along with Doug’s siblings, Sydney and Nick—was on hand at the Berto Center Monday as the Bulls introduced their 2014 draft picks.
As he did on draft night, General Manager Gar Forman stated that the Bulls had targeted McDermott, someone who the team had been watching closely since his freshman year at Creighton. Chicago traded up to acquire him, sending the 16th and 19th picks and a 2015 second round pick to Denver for his rights and forward Anthony Randolph.
Forman sees McDermott as a great fit, bringing an uncanny ability to shoot the ball along with a versatile game, the ability to play inside or out, and a high basketball IQ.
For McDermott, it’s a level that few could have seen him reaching as recently as a few years ago.
“He developed quickly but Doug has put the time in,” said Greg. “It’s a unique story because he was a sixth man on his high school team as a junior. Six years later, he’s a lottery pick and that doesn’t happen very often.”
Doug credits high school teammate Harrison Barnes—then regarded as one of the country’s top prep player and now with the Golden State Warriors—for pushing him in all those competitive practices.
It was Barnes’ work ethic that rubbed off on McDermott and ultimately made him a better player.
Still, though, the NBA was not something Doug or Greg thought possible—until after his freshman year of college.
That’s when Doug was one of 12 players selected to represent USA Basketball at the U19 FIBA World Championships in Riga, Latvia. A good showing there—Doug averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds—fueled his confidence. He also put on an additional 15-20 pounds of muscle which allowed him to finish through contact as well as extend his shooting range.
As a sophomore, Doug saw a significant increase in his production across the board. The NBA began to take notice. By the time he closed out his college career, the accolades and accomplishments had piled up: National Player of the Year. First Team-All American. Fifth in NCAA history with 3,150 career points, having passed the likes of Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson.
And through it all, there was Greg, Doug’s father and coach, who stayed on him to be his best, though it wasn’t always easy or enjoyable for either of them.
“There were definitely some tough days in practice,” said Doug. “Since I was his kid, he had to be a lot harder on me to set an example for the team. At first, that was hard to get used to. But by the time I was a senior, I really got used to it.”
The elder McDermott agreed: “It was a challenge at first. For 18 years, my voice was his father’s voice and overnight it became his coach’s voice.”
As both Greg and Doug looked back on the adjustment period and surely recalled some of the highest highs and lowest lows in their minds, both agree that it was an extremely rewarding experience at the end of the day.
Now, as McDermott joins the Bulls, it’s no longer Greg who will be working with him in practice or drawing up plays in the huddle. Still…
“He’ll always be my coach and my biggest critic,” said Doug with a smile. “I’ll have to deal with that the rest of my career. But it is what it is and we’ve had a lot of fun together. I’m excited to play for a new coach.”
That being said, Doug doesn’t expect playing for Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau to be any easier.
“It could be harder. I’ve heard some things from my dad that maybe Thibs won’t say to me,” laughed McDermott before turning serious. “I’ve got some pretty high expectations. I’m going in with an open mind. I know it’s going to be hard and I think it’s going to start today actually. I’m planning on getting a workout in this afternoon so we’ll see.”
As Greg watched his son enter the NBA world on Monday, the coach in him couldn’t help but envision Doug on the floor with the likes of Derrick Rose.
“Doug didn’t get many open shots in college,” stated Greg. “He had to work for everything he got and a lot of his three-point shots he had to catch and they’d be gone because he didn’t have much space. Derrick’s ability to create things off the dribble for himself and his teammates is going to allow Doug to get some open shots. And when he gets open shots, more than not he’s going to knock them down.”
“It’s pretty crazy,” said Doug. “I’m just excited to meet him right now. I’ll be like a little kid meeting him. I couldn’t ask for a better point guard. He draws so much attention and is so explosive. I feel like I can really play off a guy like that.”
No one wins in revelation that MLB granted A-Rod permission to use PEDs.
By Jeff Passan
Seven years ago, Major League Baseball granted Alex Rodriguez permission to use synthetic testosterone. Because of course it did. As if the story that included robberies, hidden cameras, hush-hush payments, inappropriate sex, copious drug use, high-powered lawyers, leaks and pretty much every other imaginable slice of drama better fit for a fictitious TV show than real life weren't enough, now comes the revelation that baseball laid down its longest suspension in history for the very same thing it approved less than a decade earlier.
An excerpt on Sports Illustrated's website from "Blood Sport," the soon-to-be-released book about the Biogenesis case, provided this juicy nugget from transcripts of Rodriguez's case against MLB on Wednesday morning and added a twist to an already-warped relationship between the parties. The league's pursuit of Rodriguez that led to his eventual 162-game suspension perpetually toed the line between warranted and overly personal – and, on occasion, crossed it. Perhaps now we better understand why.
While baseball wasn't exactly Dr. Frankenstein – the book proposal for "Blood Sport," leaked last year, alleged Rodriguez may have used performance-enhancing drugs in high school – it did play enabler to a habitual user along with the MLB Players Association, which helps draw up and enforce its drug-testing program. Between the therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) granted Rodriguez in 2007 for testosterone and one in 2008 for Clomid, a drug used to help women get pregnant and men create more testosterone, baseball for two years sanctioned PED use by someone who turned out to be one of its most notorious PED users.
Whether MLB knew of his positive test in 2003 –which Rodriguez admitted to in 2009 – when it granted Rodriguez's exemption is unclear. The idea that nobody at MLB realized one of its biggest stars tested positive when a list of players who did so was circulating around the game is difficult to fathom.
At the same time, the decision on TUEs – more than 100 of which are issued annually, almost all for ADHD medication – falls to the league's independent program administrator, a doctor who is supposed to operate with no oversight. In such a situation, MLB could conceivably not know what's happening within its own program.
Indeed, in a statement released Wednesday morning, the league claimed as much:
Indeed, in a statement released Wednesday morning, the league claimed as much:
"All decisions regarding whether a player shall receive a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) under the Joint Drug Program are made by the Independent Program Administrator (IPA) in consultation with outside medical experts, with no input by either the Office of the Commissioner or the Players Association. The process is confidentially administered by the IPA, and MLB and the MLBPA are not even made aware of which players applied for TUEs."
Since 2008, when MLB started releasing figures annually on TUEs issued, the league has granted 11 for hypogonadism; the most in a single year has been three, in both '08 and '13. With more stringent drug testing today, and a longitudinal program in which a player's testosterone levels are compared to a baseline number, the league is far less likely today to allow PED use from a longtime PED user.
At the same time, baseball is evermore aware the lengths to which players will go to gain advantages, and the specter of Rodriguez is herpetic, vanishing occasionally only to flash at the most inopportune time. He is the perpetual reminder that the drug war the league chose to fight did not end with his yearlong banishment. He has every intention of coming back next season, to the team he sued, with the players he sued, in the league he sued.
And while Rodriguez is playing good soldier now, no longer blasting away about the unfair treatment and the conspiracy against him, whatever moral authority remains finds a little more resonance with the news of the TUE. Ill-gotten though it may have been, a doctor sanctioned by MLB and the union gave out the TUE because A-Rod qualified under rules written by MLB and the union. For someone who tried squeezing an edge or advantage through a needle or his mouth, muddying the distinction between right and wrong was an invitation for him to keep using PEDs.
So he did. And now he's here: more of his secrets to be exposed upon the release of "Blood Sport" on Tuesday, getting sued by his lawyers for not paying them, 39 years old later this month, out the rest of the season, owed $61 million from 2015-17 (and another $6 million if he hits six more home runs) and forever part of this weird, weird story that somehow manages to get weirder by the day.
Posnanski: Epstein's building an offensive juggernaut.
By Joe Posnanski
When we last left Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, the Cubs were in last place, and the talk was patience. And now … the Cubs are in last place. And the talk is patience.
Well, being a Cubs fan is the very definition of the word “patience” isn’t it?
“The toughest thing,” Epstein says, “is that fans here feel -- and they’re right to feel this way -- they feel like they’ve already been through enough. So they are saying: ‘Why are you ACTIVELY putting us through more of this?’ And I don’t have an answer for that except that we think it’s the only way we’re going to win.”
Well the Cubs plan IS coming into focus, and it IS exciting, and it IS going to take more time. This is the harsh reality. When Epstein became the Boston Red Sox general manager in late 2002, he was given a team on the brink of doing remarkable things. A few tweaks, some smart acquisitions, a little bit of luck and the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. Then, some excellent drafting, a few more tweaks, a little more luck, the Red Sox won their second World Series three years later.
It was heady stuff for a young guy who grew up in Boston, but say this for Epstein: He didn’t really fall for his own hype. When he took over the Cubs job, he made it as clear as he possibly could that there he was no miracle worker and he could see no easy or quick fixes. He saw in the Cubs an expensive team that lost 90 games, a minor league system without much talent and a star, Starlin Castro, who could not stop himself from swinging at bad pitches.
In other words, he saw an intense and long rebuilding project.
Blixt makes sizzling start to title defense.
Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
Swede Jonas Blixt made a storming start to his title defense at The Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on Thursday as he charged into a one-shot lead in the opening round.
Firing at the flags whenever possible on a calm morning in the Allegheny Mountains, the 30-year-old racked up eight birdies and two bogeys on the way to a six-under-par 64 on the Greenbrier's Old White Course.
Blixt, who won last year's Greenbrier Classic by two shots after closing with a 67, was delighted with his overall strategy coming into his second ever title defense on the PGA Tour.
COURSE MANAGEMENT
Golf: Match Play adopts 'World Cup-type' format for 2015.
Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
A revamped WGC-Match Play Championship will take a leaf out of the World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil when it is staged for the first time at the TPC Harding Park in San Francisco next year.
Posnanski: Epstein's building an offensive juggernaut.
By Joe Posnanski
When we last left Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, the Cubs were in last place, and the talk was patience. And now … the Cubs are in last place. And the talk is patience.
Well, being a Cubs fan is the very definition of the word “patience” isn’t it?
“The toughest thing,” Epstein says, “is that fans here feel -- and they’re right to feel this way -- they feel like they’ve already been through enough. So they are saying: ‘Why are you ACTIVELY putting us through more of this?’ And I don’t have an answer for that except that we think it’s the only way we’re going to win.”
Well the Cubs plan IS coming into focus, and it IS exciting, and it IS going to take more time. This is the harsh reality. When Epstein became the Boston Red Sox general manager in late 2002, he was given a team on the brink of doing remarkable things. A few tweaks, some smart acquisitions, a little bit of luck and the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. Then, some excellent drafting, a few more tweaks, a little more luck, the Red Sox won their second World Series three years later.
It was heady stuff for a young guy who grew up in Boston, but say this for Epstein: He didn’t really fall for his own hype. When he took over the Cubs job, he made it as clear as he possibly could that there he was no miracle worker and he could see no easy or quick fixes. He saw in the Cubs an expensive team that lost 90 games, a minor league system without much talent and a star, Starlin Castro, who could not stop himself from swinging at bad pitches.
In other words, he saw an intense and long rebuilding project.
Blixt makes sizzling start to title defense.
Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
Swede Jonas Blixt made a storming start to his title defense at The Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on Thursday as he charged into a one-shot lead in the opening round.
Firing at the flags whenever possible on a calm morning in the Allegheny Mountains, the 30-year-old racked up eight birdies and two bogeys on the way to a six-under-par 64 on the Greenbrier's Old White Course.
That left him one ahead of New Zealand's Danny Lee and Americans James Hahn, Jason Bohn, Chris Kirk, D.A. Points, Patrick Rodgers, Jim Renner and Joe Durant, who tied for sixth at last week's Senior Players Championship, the year's third major on the over-50s Champions Tour.
American world number 18 Steve Stricker, who has been playing a limited schedule on the PGA Tour in recent years, carded a bogey-free 66 in his first tournament since last month's U.S. Open.
Blixt, who won last year's Greenbrier Classic by two shots after closing with a 67, was delighted with his overall strategy coming into his second ever title defense on the PGA Tour.
"I think I relaxed a little too much the first time," the Swede told Golf Channel, referring to his maiden victory on the U.S. circuit at the 2012 Frys.com Open and his tie for 51st at the event the following year.
"I was too comfortable. You've just got to realize it's a new golf tournament, they are four rounds to play and there's a bunch of players that can beat you.
"So I just went out there and tried to fire at everything," said Blixt, who totaled only 22 putts. "I made as many birdies as possible to get a head start. I got some good breaks and made some putts."
COURSE MANAGEMENT
Rodgers, who turned professional before the Travelers Championship two weeks ago and is playing on a sponsor's exemption at The Greenbrier, soared into contention after a solid display of course management in the opening round.
"I really hung in there ... placed the ball where I needed to and was able to get on a good run on the (second) nine," said Rodgers, who stormed home in four-under 30 after holing a wedge from 118 yards to eagle his 10th hole of the day, the par-four first.
"I'm continuing to get settled in here the last three weeks and I'm continuing to learn and improve. Hopefully I'll just build on today and continue to get better as the week goes on."
Tour veteran Stricker, making only his eighth start on the PGA Tour this season, recorded four birdies with his wife, Nicki, working as his caddie.
Asked to pinpoint the toughest challenge he faced as an irregular competitor on the PGA Tour, Stricker replied: "Knowing that your shots really do count.
"You spend a lot of time at home practicing and the shots don't really matter. You can hit one off line and it doesn't mean anything.
"And when you come out here, every shot means something. You've got to try and erase that out of your mind and do what you do at home and do what you do when you're practicing."
Stricker, whose best finish this season was a tie for sixth at the Memorial Tournament last month, felt he was doing a pretty good job in that regard.
"I have gotten used to that over the years," the 47-year-old smiled. "I haven't played much and I am kind of used to that fact. So I am excited about the start this week."
Masters champion and world number three Bubba Watson, who set up home with his family at the luxurious Greenbrier resort only a month ago, carded a 68 in the more difficult conditions of the afternoon when the wind began to pick up.
Golf: Match Play adopts 'World Cup-type' format for 2015.
Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
A revamped WGC-Match Play Championship will take a leaf out of the World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil when it is staged for the first time at the TPC Harding Park in San Francisco next year.
Apart from a change of venue, organizers hope that a "World Cup-type format" will breath new life into the first of the season's four elite World Golf Championships (WGC) events where so often in the past the top players have made early exits.
Instead of the traditional 'tennis-style' draw where the top seed takes on the 64th seed in the opening round, the 64 players who qualify via the world rankings will be organized into 16 groups of four and guaranteed a minimum of three matches.
"We're going to do it differently next year," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem told a news conference on Wednesday after Harding Park had been announced as the venue for the 2015 edition. "It's going to be a World Cup-type format.
"It's kind of nice that we're able to talk about that in the context of everybody in the United States being riveted to that format over the last month in Brazil where we'll be playing golf in the Olympics for the first time in '16."
Golf will be returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 when the Rio de Janeiro Games are held in 2016.
"The 64 players will be broken down into groups of four: 16 groups of four, and then on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, they'll all play each other," Finchem said of the new Match Play Championship format.
"And then we'll cut to the top 16 players out of that to play to 16, eight, four and two on the weekend."
FICKLE NATURE
The playing format has been revised to help address the fickle nature of the championship where there has never been any guarantee that the game's top players will still be in the draw from the quarter-final stage onwards.
Former world number one Tiger Woods is a three-times winner of the event but he has also suffered early disappointment, losing at the first hurdle in 2002, 2011 and last year and going out in the second round in 2005, 2009 and 2012.
This year's edition, held for the final time in Marana, Arizona from Feb. 19-23, suffered with three notable absentees after Woods, second-ranked Australian Adam Scott and five-times major winner Phil Mickelson opted not to play.
Finchem outlined three good reasons for the championship's format change.
"It's a lot more golf," he said. "There are going to be 96 matches for fans here to go out and watch on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Secondly, over time, the best players rise to the top so we think that'll be positive as it goes into the weekend.
"Third, if you're a Steve Stricker fan or a Bubba Watson fan or a Tiger Woods fan, you're going to be able to follow your favorite player for three days hoping that he makes it into the round of 16.
"It's a new direction for the Match Play for sure but one that's going to create a lot more enthusiasm and excitement."
Australian Jason Day, the tournament's eighth seed, won this year's Match Play Championship with a one-up victory over Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, the 27th seed, after 23 holes in the final.
Masters 'pioneer' Ball dies aged 103.
Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
Samuel Henry "Errie" Ball, the last surviving player who competed in the inaugural Masters Tournament of 1934, died on Wednesday in Stuart, Florida at the age of 103.
Born in Bangor, Wales to one of Britain's most esteemed golfing families, Ball went on to compete in 25 major championships and became the PGA of America’s oldest and longest-serving member.
As a club professional, he taught generations of players and he was inducted into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame in 2011.
"The PGA of America is saddened by the passing of Errie Ball, a professional in all aspects of life," PGA of America president Ted Bishop said in a statement.
"Errie's amazing career spans the legends of the game, from Harry Vardon through Tiger Woods. His longevity, according to those who knew him best, was founded upon a love of people. Each day, like each step he took on the course, was spent with purpose.
"We will miss him dearly, but his legacy continues to shine through the many PGA professionals he inspired to grow our game."
Ball, whose father, William Henry Ball, spent 50 years as golf professional at Lancaster Golf Club, began playing the game at the age of 10 and turned professional at 17.
He first worked for his uncle, Frank Ball, who was head professional at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta. He earned his first head professional post at Mobile Country Club in Alabama after being recommended by amateur golfing great Bobby Jones.
Ball received an invitation from Jones to be part of the 72-player field in 1934 for the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament, which in 1939 became the Masters.
"I thought it (the Masters) was the greatest, the best place that I could be in golf," Ball said while watching this year's edition unfold on television from his living room. "Because it was associated with Bob Jones, I knew it would be a success.
"I loved playing golf with Bob because he had such a great golf swing and I wanted to copy it. I learned to be gracious from him. He seemed like he shook hands with everybody with a smile."
Ball's great uncle, John Ball, was the first amateur to win the British Open (in 1890) and also clinched eight British amateur championships.
Wild card Daytona is anyone's race to win.
By Staff report, NASCAR Wire Service
Daytona. Sonoma. Talladega. Watkins Glen. Those four tracks, scattered across the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season schedule, offer a unique opportunity under the new 'win-and-in' rules for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
They're all wild cards, with an almost unending list of potential winners.
That theory especially holds true at Daytona and Talladega ? the series' two restrictor plate tracks ? which boast an abundance of surprise winners (see: Trevor Bayne and David Ragan).
Tony Stewart explains, as the series heads to Daytona for the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT).
"Someone described racing on the superspeedways as being a combination of a science project and the luck of a casino, and it's exactly that way," Stewart said. "You do everything in your power to take care of the science or technology side. You do everything you can to build the fastest car. If you don't have the luck to go with it -- even if you don't have any drama with getting the car touched, nothing happens to the car -- if you're just in the wrong spot at the wrong time, it can take you out of the opportunity to take the best race car in the field and win."
Right place, right time. That's how Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500. And how Ragan nabbed the July Daytona victory a few months later.
This year, maybe more than any, it's exponentially more important to be in the right place at the right time. It will likely mean a spot in NASCAR's playoffs.
A win could belong to Ragan -- a winner at both Daytona and Talladega -- come Saturday night.
"It's been good to me over the years," said Ragan. "I go with an open attitude. I know that anything can happen. I know that you can get in a wreck early of someone else's making. But I also know that if you play your cards right and you have a good strategy, you have a shot to win."
Tennis-Raonic sees Federer is merely an obstacle to overcome.
Reuters; By Sam Holden, Editing by David Goodman
Milos Raonic will not be overawed by seven-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer when the men take to Centre Court for Friday's semi-final, the eighth seed said after seeing off Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios.
The 23-year-old Raonic powered past Kyrgios 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4 7-6(4) in Wednesday's battle of the big servers to become the first Canadian to reach Wimbledon's last four since 1908.
Walking into uncharted territory, Raonic could be forgiven for fearing 17-times grand slam winner Federer, but he remained defiant at the prospect of facing the Swiss veteran.
"I'm not playing the seven-times Wimbledon champion," Raonic told reporters. "I'm not playing a 32-year-old man. I'm not playing a father of two sets of twins. I'm not playing the guy that's won whatever he's won.
"I'm playing a guy that is standing in the way of what I want to achieve, and I've got to focus on everything that's there, on the situation, how best to deal with it to give myself the best possibilities to achieve what I want."
Raonic, who reached the quarter-finals at the French Open last month, is one of two players outside the world's top four to form the final quartet at the All England Club.
He and 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who beat defending champion Andy Murray in straight sets on Wednesday to set up a showdown with 2011 champion Novak Djokovic, are part of a crop of young players tipped to break the so-called Big Four's domination in the grand slams.
"We've been doing better and better, especially throughout this year," Raonic said of the young guns aiming to shoot down the experienced campaigners who, for all their success over the past decade, are beginning to show signs of vulnerability.
"It's nice to see that sort of human side to those four guys when you have to step up to face them and have a belief, more so than ever, that it's yours for the taking if you play well," Raonic said.
"You see it more in people's play and people's attitude when they step out on court. It's a big difference to where a lot of guys were maybe a year ago."
Bouchard gives Canada a Slam finalist at Wimbledon.
By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Tennis Writer)
Eugenie Bouchard could have lost her focus after the fourth game of her Wimbledon semifinal Thursday, when play was delayed for five minutes during Simona Halep's medical timeout for a left ankle injury.
Bouchard also could have gotten sidetracked when action was halted again, smack-dab in the middle of a tiebreaker, because an ill spectator was being attended to in the Centre Court stands.
And everything really could have unraveled for Bouchard later, as she let match point after match point slip away. Able to steel herself time and again, the singular-of-purpose Bouchard became Canada's first Grand Slam finalist by beating French Open runner-up Halep 7-6 (5), 6-2 at the All England Club.
''I'm able to not worry about the distractions,'' the 20-year-old Bouchard said. ''What I do well is I really don't let it get to me or affect me.''
In only her sixth major tournament, the 13th-seeded Bouchard will play for the championship Saturday against 2011 Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova. The sixth-seeded Kvitova defeated No. 23 Lucie Safarova 7-6 (6), 6-1 in the first all-Czech women's Slam semifinal.
''I know how (it feels) when you hold the trophy,'' Kvitova said, ''so I really want to win my second title here, and I will do everything (so) I can.''
Waiting in a hallway before walking on court, Kvitova and Safarova chatted, a pair of longtime friends who train at the same club back home. From 6-all in the tiebreaker, Kvitova won 31 of 48 points the rest of the way, using her overpowering serve and forehand that work so well on grass to improve to 6-0 against Safarova.
In a year that zero American men or women reached Wimbledon's round of 16 for the first time in 103 years, another Canadian, Milos Raonic, will try join Bouchard as a finalist. The men's semifinals Friday are old guard vs. new guard matchups: seven-time champion Roger Federer against Raonic, and top-seeded Novak Djokovic against Grigor Dimitrov.
As of now, the 24-year-old Kvitova is the only man or woman born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam title. If Bouchard becomes the second, she also would be the youngest major champion since Maria Sharapova was 19 at the 2006 U.S. Open.
''It's what I've worked so long for,'' Bouchard said, without a hint of irony.
Yes, Bouchard is clearly in a hurry - and, by the looks of her muted post-victory reaction, didn't appear all that thrilled to get past the third-seeded Halep, who twisted her ankle in the early going and got it taped by a trainer.
''I feel like my job is not done here,'' Bouchard said, ''so there's no need for a huge celebration.''
Taking the ball early while standing at the baseline, ending points quickly with flat groundstrokes, she reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and French Open this year before losing to the eventual champions.
''I totally feel like I belong,'' Bouchard said.
Halep led 3-2 in the tiebreaker when chair umpire Kader Nouni noticed something was wrong with a woman in a lower-tier seat - it was the warmest day of the tournament, topping 75 degrees (24 Celsius) - and waved both players to the sideline. After a four-minute break, Halep went ahead 4-2. But on the next point, Bouchard hit a net-cord winner - ''a lucky ball,'' Halep called it.
Bouchard took four of the next five points, too, closing the set with a swinging forehand volley.
''I lost, a little bit, my concentration,'' Halep acknowledged.
Her opponent did not.
''She's pretty calm, always composed,'' said Bouchard's mother, Julie Leclair, who sat two seats away from Bouchard's pal, ''Big Bang Theory'' actor Jim Parsons, in the player's guest box.
''She's been working for this since she was 4 1/2 years old,'' Leclair said. ''She just goes out every day, trying to be the best she can be.''
Bouchard's first match point came while ahead 5-1 in the second set, and Halep serving at 15-40. A fan yelled, Bouchard tried to call time and let her guard down, allowing Halep to hit an 81 mph (131 kph) ace. Bouchard tried to persuade Nouni to let them replay the point, but he didn't. Two more match points came and went in that game.
Then, serving for the match, Bouchard wasted two more chances to end things, before finally converting her sixth match point with a 99 mph (160 kph) service winner.
''It's not, like, a surprise to me,'' Bouchard said. ''I expect good results like this.''
College presidents say no to unions for athletes.
By TOM RAUM (Associated Press)
Northwestern University on Thursday urged the National Labor Relations Board to overturn a regional ruling that would allow its scholarship football players to unionize, holding up the football program as exemplifying the university's integration of athletics and education.
In a 60-page brief filed with the labor board in Washington just hours ahead of a midnight deadline, the university laid out its opposition to student athletes forming a union and asked to argue its case before the board.
The regional director's decision ''transforms what has always been a cooperative educational relationship between university and student into an adversarial employer-employee relationship,'' the university said in the brief.
Northwestern's brief was one of several filed Thursday by organizations on both sides of a March 26 ruling by a regional director of the labor board that could revolutionize college sports. The director ruled that football players who receive full scholarships to the Big Ten school qualify as employees under federal law and therefore can unionize.
An employee is regarded by law as someone who, among other things, receives compensation for a service and is under the strict, direct control of managers. In the case of the Northwestern players, coaches are the managers and scholarships are a form of compensation.
An organization of college presidents filed a friend-of-the-court brief taking strong issue with the regional director's ruling.
''Student-athletes participate for their own benefit; they do not render services for compensation,'' said the 1,800 member American Council on Education. They ''are not employees and therefore not subject to the National Labor Relations Act.''
The full labor board is weighing the case but has no deadline for a ruling.
In asking the board to overturn the ruling, Northwestern University said that its Chicago-region director ''overlooked or ignored key evidence that Northwestern presented showing that its student-athletes are primarily students, not employees.''
Instead the regional director's decision ''relied incorrectly on a common-law definition of employee that considered the amount of control an employer has over an employee,'' said Northwestern, which is located in Evanston, Illinois.
In its own brief, the fledgling College Athletes Players Association argued that Northwestern football is a commercial enterprise from which the university derives substantial financial benefits. ''They are entitled to representation ... the regional director's decision should be affirmed,'' the union said.
At its core, the players' union said, ''this case involves the same questions that arise in every representation case: Do the players perform services for the university? Do they work under the university's supervision and direction? Do they receive compensation for their work?''
Answering in the affirmative, the players' union said that under federal law, the players are entitled to vote on whether to unionize ''and to pursue a collective voice to address their working conditions.''
The Northwestern college athletes on scholarship did hold an election in the spring. However, the ballot box was sealed pending a final NLRB decision.
In other voices in the case:
-The AFL-CIO labor union asserted in its brief that the Northwestern football program ''functions as a largely autonomous commercial enterprise that is affiliated with and generates revenue for the university. There is no question that the players...'work for' the Northwestern football program in much the same way as professional athletes.''
- Republican members on the House Education and Workforce Committee, led by its chairman, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., urged the labor board to rule against the college athletes' union. ''The profound and inherent differences between the student-university and employee-employer relationship makes employee status unworkable both as a matter of laws and in practice.''
- Republican members of the Senate Labor Committee also sided with Northwestern, saying in its court filing, ''Congress never intended for college athletes to be considered employees under the National Labor Relations Act, and doing so is incompatible with the student-university relationship.''
- A coalition of unions representing major league professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey players filed its own brief supporting the players, noting that Northwestern should be able ''to negotiate clearly delineated contract terms'' with the university ''that respect each other's vital concerns and include a fair and effective dispute resolution mechanism.''
Indiana creating 'bill of rights' for student athletes.
By Kami Mattioli
Indiana University announced that it has a plan in place to implement sweeping change by introducing a student-athlete "Bill of Rights," according to athletic director Fred Glass.
Among the things promised in the reforms are guaranteed multi-year scholarships, iPads for all student-athletes, an increased commitment to heathcare and financial support to athletes who decide to return to the university to finish their academic careers later in life.
The lifetime promise to support a student-athlete's education will be called the "Hoosier for Life" program and will pay tuition, books and fees for IU students in good standing.
"It will be open to to any former student-athlete who was eligible for at least two seasons, left IU in good standing, did not transfer and is readmitted under university rules," Glass said.
Indiana's full-scholarship sports (men's and women's basketball, football, volleyball and women's tennis) will switch formats to offer multi-year scholarships -- a procedure that the NCAA began to allow in 2011, though isn't yet utilized by many schools.
In a similar move, USC athletic director Pat Haden announced on Monday that Southern California will offer four-year scholarships for its own football and men's and women's basketball players.
"Our view is, most ADs have long-term contracts, most presidents have long-term contracts, most coaches have long-term contracts; shouldn't student-athletes?" Glass explained.
Those who participate in partial-scholarship sports won't be left out.
They'll still be subject to scholarships on a year-by-year basis, but Indiana won't be allowed to reduce them "for reasons of illness, injury (or) because they're not good enough," Glass said.
Another stand-out aspect of the 10-point bill of rights is the university's decision to embed at least one student-athlete on any internal athletics search committee.
Though some athletes found themselves on the search panels previously, it was never a part of the written legislature until now.
The proposed bill of rights, effective immediately, is expected to cost millions of dollars.
Indiana plans to shoulder that cost initially.
"We're the first school ever to do this bill of rights. It includes some things that are discretionary, that we don't have to do, that are pretty costly," Glass said. "It's the right thing to do, and we're going to prioritize that."
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, July 4, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1910 - Race riots broke out all over the United States after African-American Jack Johnson knocked out Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match.
1919 - Jack Dempsey won the world heavyweight champion when he defeated Jess Willard.
1934 - Boxer Joe Louis won his first professional fight.
1939 - Lou Gehrig retired from major league baseball.
1980 - Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) got his 3,000th career strikeout.
1980 - Martina Navratilova won her sixth straight Wimbledon singles championship and her eighth overall.
2003 - Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault after turning himself in to police. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.
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