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“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” ~ Helen Keller, Author, Political Activist and Lecturer
USA knocked out of World Cup in loss to Belgium.
Soccerly.com
United States' Jermaine Jones, left, and Belgium's Toby Alderweireld challenge for the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Belgium and the USA at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) have fallen to Belgium in extra time by a score of 2-1 to finish their participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Round of 16 stage. U.S. goalkeeper had put up a spectacular performance to keep the scoreboard in zeros during the regulatory 90 minutes and send the match into extra time. But goals from Kevin de Bruyne in the first few minutes of the first half of extra time as well as a Romelu Lukaku goal with one minute left in the first period sentenced the match. German-American Julian Green gave the Americans hope early in the second half of extra time.
Belgium now advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup where they will face Argentina on Saturday July 5th.
The Belgians started the match off quickly as the young star sensation Origi - who got a surprise start - fired a shot from a tight angle and forced goalkeeper Tim Howard into a kick save in the opening seconds of the match.
The European side kept trying to send in crosses into the box from their right side, but they were properly dealt with by either DaMarcus Beasley preventing the crosses coming in or Omar Gonazalez and Matt Besler clearing them away.
After a few minutes the American side were able to settle into the match and start passing their way forward. Michael Bradley looked to spread the ball to either Clint Dempsey up top or Alejandro Bedoya/Graham Zusi in the wide positions. Dempsey was able to turn and shoot on goal in the 20th minute forcing Belgian goalkeeper Courtois into good save in what was the first American shot on goal.
Jurgan Klinsmann was forced to use his first of three subs in the 31st as Fabian Johnson could not continue anymore due to a hamstring injury. DeAndre Yedlin came in and took his place on the field.
The first half ended with both sides very evenly match and with the score deadlocked at zeros.
Once again it was the Belgians who came out of the locker room strongest and dominated the flow of play during the first 10-15 minutes of the second half. Mertens, who looked offside, put in a looping header two minutes into the second half that Tim Howard was able to punch over the crossbar after backtracking a few steps.
Belgium kept sending wave after wave of attacks on the U.S. goal, Origi missed a Vertonghen cross by inches, the same Origi then placed a header that forced Tim Howard into another good save. The Americans were pushed way back into their own field, all eleven player for the Stars & Stripes were pushed behind their own midfield line.
After surviving the initial onslaught from the 'Red Devils' looked to push forward on a few counterattacks, but never caused much danger on Courtois goal. Besides a couple breaks from the USMNT; Belgium kept up their pressure in search of the opening goal. Tim Howard time and time again had to be the hero to keep the Americans in the match.
The USMNT seemed to start the first half of extra time with a little more attacking conviction than the entire second. But as the Americans pushed forward Belgium was able to strike a quick counter and find the payoff for all of their pressure throughout the match.
Origi escaped down the right wing with tons of space taking advantage that Beasley was out of position, all the way up in the field. The youngster crossed the ball into de Bruyne who dribbled around three American defender and placed a strong far post shot that Howard couldn’t save.
Following the goal the USA pushed forward even harder. But left even more spaces in the back. The ‘Red Devils’ were able to take advantage of those spaces late in the first period of extra time. Goalscorer de Bruyne dribbled into the open space and fed the ball to Lukaku who blasted the ball past Howard’s front post.
The USMNT found a lifeline early in the second period as young German-America Julian Green - who caused huge deal of controversy in his inclusion into the 23 man roster - finished off a good Michael Bradley pass in front of goal to cut the Belgian lead in half.
After the USA goal the match turned into a real back and forth thriller as Belgium knew they could not sit on the one goal lead or else the Americans would find an equalizer.
Both teams pushed forward, especially the U.S. in search of another goal but it wasn’t to be. Belgium will now move on to Brasilia the nation’s capital city where they will face Argentina on July 5th at the Estadio Nacional on July 5th for a semifinal ticket.
Argentina sticks to script with late winner.
By KARL RITTER (Associated Press)
Argentina's theme at this World Cup seems to be scrappy wins with Lionel Messi pulling through at the last minute to save the day.
This time he didn't score on his own, but set the stage for Angel Di Maria to score an extra-time winner against Switzerland.
''It doesn't matter if it's beautiful or ugly,'' Di Maria said. ''Only that Argentina won and will play another game in the tournament.''
In the first half Tuesday, Argentina struggled to find paths through Switzerland's five-man midfield, and it was the Swiss that produced the best chances.
Granit Xhaka pushed Sergio Romero to a great save and Josip Drmic spoiled a great opportunity when he tried to chip the ball over the Argentina goalkeeper.
When cracks started opening in the defense in the second half, goalkeeper Diego Benaglio kept Switzerland in the game, stopping Gonzalo Higuain's header and Messi's low shot in the 78th minute.
Benaglio also saved a powerful attempt by Di Maria in extra time, and it looked like the Swiss would be able to push the game into a penalty shootout.
Then, in the 118th, Rodrigo Palacio won the ball in midfield and fed Messi, who dribbled down the middle in trademark fashion, escaping a challenge from Swiss defender Fabian Schaer before poking the ball to Di Maria. Unmarked, the Real Madrid player beat Benaglio with his 10th goal in Argentina's colors.
''What's important is that we moved on to the next stage,'' said Messi, who has scored four of Argentina's seven goals, including an injury-time winner against Iran. ''It was difficult. We knew it was going to be a hard match.''
Swiss substitute Blerim Dzemaili nearly equalized right before the end but his header hit the post, and the rebound bounced off his knee and wide of the goal.
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, whose brother died at age 81 one the eve of the match, said his team leaves the tournament with ''our heads high.''
''We made life very tough for them,'' he said. ''They managed to keep their cool. It shows Argentina has a good team.''
Hitzfeld said it was his last match as a football coach. He had earlier said he would quit after the tournament.
His Argentine counterpart, Alejandro Sabella, said he thought his team played a ''wonderful match,'' though he conceded there's room for improvement.
''It was a match that we deserved to win,'' said Sabella. ''The first half was very even. They had two clear chances and after that the match was ours.''
Argentina will play its next match without left back Marcos Rojo, who is suspended after receiving his second yellow card on Tuesday.
Lineups:
Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fernandez, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo (Jose Maria Basanta, 105); Fernando Gago (Lucas Biglia, 106), Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria; Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi (Rodrigo Palacio, 74).
Switzerland: Diego Benaglio; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Johan Djourou, Fabian Schaer, Ricardo Rodriquez; Xherdan Shaqiri, Gokhan Inler, Granit Xhaka (Gelson Fernandes, 66), Valon Behrami, Admir Mehmedi (Blerim Dzemaili, 113); Josip Drmic (Haris Seferovic, 82).
FIFA World Cup Scores. June 30, 2014 - July 2, 2014.
ESPN.com
Monday, June 30, 2014
France 2
Nigeria 0
Germany 2
Algeria 1
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Argentina 1
Switzerland 0
Belgium 2
United States 1
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Team Report - Chicago Bears.
The SportsXchange
After finishing 30th in defense among the NFL's 32 teams, it is no secret that the Chicago Bears will be focused on that side of the ball when they line up for their first training camp practice July 25 at Olivet Nazerene University in Bourbonnais, Ill.
The Bears were 32nd -- dead last -- in sacks, a situation they hope to improve with the addition of Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young.
While the Bears hope those proven veterans take care of business up front, the focus of a lot of attention will be at safety, where they find the key position battle, the main concern seems to be focused at safety, the team's weakest position with the most important job battle and the player with the most to prove. Here is a closer look at that and the team's most likely long shot to make the club:
WEAKEST POSITION
--Safety: The Bears are hurting at both safety spots. Former Giant Ryan Mundy has been steady enough that coaches are keeping him on the field the longest. In OTAs, the team played a regular rotation of safeties with the first team gave rookie Brock Vereen a chance with the first unit. The fourth-round pick from Minnesota was lining up at free safety, while Mundy was at strong safety.
With Chris Conte (shoulder) and Craig Steltz (torn pectoral tendon) still recovering after surgeries and unable to practice, Mundy, Vereen and M.D. Jennings got the first-team reps.
KEY POSITION BATTLE
Safety: This is a wide-open contest. With two new safeties and a different nickel corner, the secondary will take on the look of a project throughout the offseason.
During the first week of OTAs, two incumbents watched while the newcomers made inroads. Backup Craig Steltz had pectoral surgery after a season when he played 123 snaps and was not working out, while starting free safety Chris Conte had right shoulder surgery and isn't ready to practice yet. The Bears looked at free-agent pickups Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings at the starting safety spots.
"We approach it the same as it's going to be our starting safeties," cornerback Tim Jennings said about working with safeties unfamiliar with the defense.
PLAYER WITH MOST TO PROVE
--Chris Conte, FS: The Bears' playoff chances ended when Conte blew the coverage on Green Bay's Randall Cobb and he got into the open for a game-winning touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers in the closing seconds of the regular-season finale. That one play aside, Conte's play suffered much of last season after he had shown some improvement from his first year to his second. Only six teams gave up more passing plays of 20 yards or more than the Bears last year.
Conte wasn't much better as an open-field tackler. The former California cornerback is in the final year of his contract, which adds to the pressure and, worse, he has been unable to practice in OTAs due to offseason shoulder surgery. Meantime, former Packer M.D. Jennings has been making inroads by taking his place at starting free safety. The Bears also drafted Minnesota safety Brock Vereen, moving up in the selection process to get him.
BEST LONGSHOT ROOKIE
--Pat O'Donnell, P, Miami, Round 6/191st overall: The Bears did not waste a sixth-round pick on a punter if they weren't sure he could make it. The Bears were impressed by everything about him, starting with his size, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and, of course his leg. He averaged 47 yards a punt last year, four yards better than 2012.
Punting at Soldier Field never lends itself to big averages, but his size and strength should help cut through the cold November winds off Lake Michigan. NFLDraftScout.com projected O'Donnell in the area of a seventh-rounder or priority free agent, 260th overall.
--Both physically and mentally, quarterback Jay Cutler couldn't feel better about the approaching Chicago Bears season.
Armed with a new contract and knowledge of an offense he has had the rare luxury of running for a full season, Cutler said at minicamp this week he feels in the best position he's been since coming to Chicago in 2009.
"You're not guessing, you know where guys are going to be, you know what the calls are, you know why the call came in, you know what you want to get to if it is a problem," Cutler said about entering his second season in head coach Marc Trestman's offense. "We're going in that direction, but we're still trying to figure some stuff out and we had some areas last year we struggled in and we weren't perfect so we have to keep working and keep trying to get better."
Only twice before has Cutler had the same offensive system from one year to the next, initially in Denver and then in Chicago when he had Mike Martz as offensive coordinator in 2010-11.
Never has he had the type of weapons he has available after helping the Bears become the second-highest scoring team in the league and the No. 8 offense overall.
"We did OK last year, for the first year," he said. "We have the same guys we had last year, which is always good. Talent-wise it's hard to top our O-line and some of the guys we have on the outside and (running back) Matt Forte, who is hugely underrated.
"Talent-wise and being in the system two years and the way the guys work, all that adds up. Hopefully we can stay healthy and see where this thing goes."
Therein lies the problem, and it starts with Cutler. He hasn't played a full season since his first in Chicago in 2009.
"I was straight until I really got here for awhile and it was a hit parade back there," he said, referring to the beating he took behind a porous offensive line from 2009-12. "It takes its toll from time to time.
"I think with the offensive line we've got here, the guys are doing everything possible. Last year was last year. Kind of two freak injuries. I don't really foresee that happening again."
Cutler suffered injuries to his left groin and ankle last year and missed five games. He said Tuesday he began his strength and conditioning program earlier this year so he could, "get my whole left side back to even with my right side," and feels he has.
It's often been speculated his own habit of holding the ball longer led to some of the beatings he took when he was sacked 148 times in four years.
"It's two-fold," he said. "Once you start getting hit a lot you start taking your eyes off the secondary, you lose a lot of trust up front and it gets difficult to play quarterback that way.
"You look across the league and you see guys that are getting hit a lot, they're probably not going to be doing very well. The guys who stay pretty clean are in offenses year-in and year-out and get a feel for the guys, those guys are going to be the ones who are in the top of the league every year."
And Cutler has confidence he can stay clear of injury because the system lets him get rid of the football quicker. Another year in the system, and it's going to come out even faster. At least that's the design.
"Jay is incredibly smart football-wise," Trestman said. "He's incredibly smart, but very smart football-wise, obviously.
"His ability to draw from all the different experiences he's had both in the physical aspects of running these plays and then the mental aspects of having to read them out and find the right guy goes into his growth in the second year, plus he's working with the same people, which is a big advantage."
Expecting an offensive jump this year like the Bears made last year would be impossible. They went from 29th in passing to No. 5, and 28th in total offense to No. 8. And they did it with backup Josh McCown playing five games. They would need perfect health on the offensive line like last year, and they're already playing without right tackle Jordan Mills. He missed the first day of minicamp while recovering from the foot surgery he had at the end of last year.
They didn't have an injury of significance to their main three receivers -- Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett -- and this year lack some of the depth they had last year when they had Earl Bennett at wide receiver.
"So at No. 3 we've got a bunch of guys," Cutler said of the receiver situation. "I think offensively, once you get past the first-team guys there's a lot of competition with the O-line, tight end group, receiver, running back."
The same is true at quarterback, with a room full of players fighting to replace McCown.
"There's a lot of positions there that are kind of up for grabs so we'll see how it plays out," Cutler said.
NOTES, QUOTES
--When return man Devin Hester was allowed to leave without any interest from the Bears in free agency, the return situation was unclear.
General manager Phil Emery's acquisition of several veterans made it less of a concern, even if one of the candidates was Domenik Hixon, who suffered a torn ACL at the start of OTAs.
"It's good to have the competition, but it is a challenge, no question, to have that many guys," special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillas said. "But we have a lot of experience back there. I think there's a lot of talent and that's really what you want when you're evaluating."
DeCamillis tried veteran Eric Weems returning punts. Other returners who got work were former CFL return star Chris Williams, former Carolina Panthers return man Armanti Edwards and 31-year-old veteran receiver Micheal Spurlock.
"You want a guy who can make all the catches," DeCamillis said. "You want a solid punt return guy that can square up his body, 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.
"And then 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. And there's 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."
Williams seemed destined to get a chance since last year when the Bears still had Hester. They signed him off New Orleans' practice squad. He had six return touchdowns with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, but also had 11 touchdown catches and 1,298 yards on 83 receptions.
Edwards didn't get many chances in minicamp to return. He returned 40 punts and 15 kickoffs with Carolina and Cleveland from 2010-13.
--Safety Brock Vereen was selected 117 spots after the Chicago Bears celebrated getting first-round cornerback Kyle Fuller, but it was the fourth-rounder who turned heads the past two weeks working with the starting defense.
"He has great attention to detail," defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. "He's very sound from a technique standpoint. He's smart, he plays fast. He does not make a lot of mistakes. That's good to see. So I think it's arrow up with him."
Holdover starter safety Chris Conte is expected to return in training camp after shoulder surgery rehab kept him out of all offseason work. He wasn't even at Halas Hall, but that was because coach Marc Trestman said he sent Conte home due to illness. Safety Craig Steltz was in uniform for camp after offseason surgery but did not do much on the field.
"The more guys you add to the mix, the more competition there's gonna be," Tucker said. "So we're looking forward to getting Chris back out there, getting Steltz back out there. We'll roll those guys through and it'll be a fluid situation all the way through training camp."
The Bears are not locked into Conte as a starter if he's displaced in training camp. Chicago parted with their other opening-day safety starter in 2013, Major Wright, who signed to be a backup in Lovie Smith's defense with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Conte said his shoulder bothered him since 2012. Whether getting it fixed in April -- with at least a four-month recovery window -- makes him a more secure open-field tackler and better in downfield coverage is to be determined.
In addition to Vereen, the Bears signed former Packers starter M.D. Jennings and veteran Ryan Mundy, who was a spot starter with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.
Vereen said he still feels like a rookie, even when he expertly executes a call in Tucker's scheme with many moving parts. He played cornerback at safety at Minnesota and in a division where five-defensive back personnel groups are commonplace, Vereen is showing he can be an instant asset.
The Bears traded up in the fourth round to draft Vereen. Mundy called Vereen a sponge who picks up everything.
At this pace, a starting job as a rookie could be next.
--Rookie defensive tackle Will Sutton returned to the team for the final day of minicamp after receiving excused absences for personal reasons Tuesday and Wednesday.
--The release of tight end Fendi Onobun came as no surprise after he showed the same type of hands that kept him off the roster last year. Onobun dropped a handful of passes in minicamp after problems in that area in 2013 training camp and preseason. The Bears have other candidates for a third tight end spot if they choose to keep three, including Zach Miller (Jaguars) and Matthew Mulligan (Jets, Patriots), who both have NFL experience.
--One aspect of training camp that the Bears will have to sort out in the next few days is which quarterbacks get to come to Bourbonnais. Head coach Marc Trestman said he still hasn't decided whether he's bringing all five: Jay Cutler, Jimmy Clausen, Jordan Palmer, David Fales and Jerrod Johnson.
None of the backups on the roster have thrown a regular-season NFL pass since 2010. Palmer threw three passes in 2010, the same year Clausen with Carolina went 157-of-299 for 1,558 yards and a 58.4 passer rating in his only season of action so far.
"Off the top of my head, I don't know how many teams around the league have quality, veteran depth at the backup position," quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh said. "I don't know that we're behind the eight ball there.
"I just know that we've got some young guys that we think have a lot of talent and they're all competing to try to be that guy that if something happens, they come in and we don't miss a beat."
--Edgy might describe the defense of the Bears in more ways than one.
In hoping to rebound from last year's slide to No. 30 overall and last (32nd) against the run, the Bears want to be edgier. And a focal point is setting a strong edge on the defensive line. This may not exactly say a lot for last year's defensive ends, Julius Peppers and Corey Wootton, but the Bears see a defensive front forming now in minicamp that they think will make running off the edge -- or anywhere else -- difficult. Coaches believe defensive end LaMarr Houston, who got into a shoving match during OTAs, and former Detroit Lions lineman Willie Young, as well as from tackle Jeremiah Ratliff, are already making all the difference expected and more.
Even the acquisition of Jared Allen, viewed as having a non-stop motor that can be an asset against both the run and pass, should make Chicago a beastly challenge to attack.
"You can't play in the National Football League without being tough and having an edge and having a saltiness to your demeanor," defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. "We want to get to that point where we're consistently doing that."
Tucker doesn't want to see the defensive line chase a reputation for dirty play. He wants toughness and fundamentals, not back-alley brawlers.
"Salty helps as long as your fundamentals and techniques are right, you're fundamentally sound and structured," he said.
Head coach Marc Trestman, normally associated with the more cerebral aspect of the game and outspoken about football character and class, even got into the toughness talk -- to an extent.
"We weren't the tough team we wanted to be for a lot of different reasons," Trestman said, likely referring to numerous injuries to hit the defense where it hurt, with captains Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman missing significant time. "We want to accentuate it this year. Playing football and being a Chicago Bear, we brought a lot of former alumni in here (to talk), and the universal language hasn't just come from me. It has come from those people.
"We're a team that wants to play -- even offensively -- with a defensive mentality. And there's a way to play football in Chicago and that's to be tough and physical, set a vertical edge, violent shed and run to the football."
When Trestman saw the media ready to run with the toughness talk, he slowed the charge a bit. He called this talk "over-exaggerating," but did fall back on the importance for the defensive ends and linebackers to be more stout than they were last year.
"We've got to set the edge and the line of scrimmage, and there's a toughness and fundamentals that it takes to do that," he said. "And we're just making it a point of emphasis."
--Linebacker Jonathan Bostic feels like a different player in his second season, and coaches are seeing signs of a breakthrough.
There was no hitting in minicamp, but Bostic is finding his way to the right place more often than not.
Bostic was thrust into a starting role as a rookie after veteran D.J. Williams' season-ending torn pectoral muscle. As expected, he often struggled, in part because he was taking on more than the on-field role.
"A lot of the stuff we were doing last year was unorthodox to me," Bostic said. "I had never really done (it) before and I had to think about it. This year, I can react more."
When the Bears also lost veteran weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs from the defensive huddle, Bostic did a nosedive. He wasn't alone -- the rest of the defense declined, too, and every missed tackle highlighted who the Bears were missing.
Defensive end Jared Allen sees on last year's film a Bears defense that not only was injured, but went through a difficult transition that he believes is now over.
"(Brian) Urlacher (retiring) is huge," Allen said. "I mean, that's like losing a quarterback. So obviously there was going to be adjustments for guys learning how to play different positions."
A year later, the learning curve still exists on and off the field for Bostic. He isn't receiving the luxury of zeroing in on one position.
The Bears have used him in the offseason as a middle linebacker, as well as on the strong side and on the weak side. He's been either a starting or backup strong-side linebacker or backup middle and weak-side linebacker in non-contact scrimmages, although it's sometimes difficult to ascertain because coaches rotate players greatly until training camp begins.
Head coach Marc Trestman made it obvious who is the favorite to start at the middle linebacker spot when he said of Williams: "He's certainly the lead dog there."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
A closer look at the Bears' picks:
Round 1/14 -- Kyle Fuller, CB, 6-0, 192, Virginia Tech
--Graded by the Bears as the top cornerback in the draft, he was tabbed as an eventual replacement for Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings while being an understudy this year as a nickel corner and special teams contributor. Fuller played "inverted safety" and nickel besides playing cornerback at Virginia Tech. The drafting of Fuller, who can line up as a slot defensive back, came after some close analysis of offenses the Bears face regularly in the NFC North.
"Look at our division, we've got to line up against three (wide receivers) so much during the season -- that's 11 personnel -- it's a lot of what we see," coach Marc Trestman said. "We've got some tremendous offensive players throughout this division.
"Certainly Kyle gives us the versatility because he can play inside and outside and cover so much of the types of players we're seeing; the big player, the long player, now the (Eric) Ebrons of the World and certainly the three-wide receiver sets we see throughout the division."
Round 2/51 -- Ego Ferguson, DT, 6-3, 315, Louisiana State
--Ferguson is considered a raw, talented player after leaving LSU a year early for the draft because of family concerns. His mother, who worked as a guard in a detention center, had been injured on the job and found it difficult to work. He had a bit of a checkered past after missing the final game of his college career in the Outback Bowl because of a team rule violation. Ferguson is a powerful player who was given the assignment of taking up blockers as a weak-side defensive end for LSU. He had 85 career tackles and one sack, incuding 58 tackles his final year.
"I went back to his game against Alabama, his game against Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Georgia and nobody could run the ball against him inside at all," GM Phil Emery said. "He is a very strong, very powerful young man. I wanted to see where he was at rush-wise and in each one of those games he had four or five power rushes where he disrupted the quarterback."
Round 3/82 -- Will Sutton, DT, 6-1, 303, Arizona State
--A natural under tackle who will be tried at that spot in the Bears defense, he went from 270 pounds to 309 pounds and now back to 290. As a bigger player, his assignment was occupying blockers. When his weight was down, he was attacking up the field. Sutton finished with 20.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss. He was chosen the Pat Tillman Award winner as Pac-12 defensive player of the year as a junior, when at a lighter weight he made 13 sacks and 23 1/2 tackles for loss.
Round 4/117 -- Ka'Deem Carey, RB, 5-10, 207, Arizona
--A hard runner who lacks breakaway speed but was extremely durable and productive. Carey was Pac-12 offensive player of the year in 2013 with 1,885 rushing yards on 349 carries. He finished four years with 4,239 yards on 743 carries, averaging 5.7 yards. He'll fit in as Matt Forte's backup and possibly get short-yardage assignments. It's the role Michael Bush had last year before being cut for salary cap purposes.
Round 4/131 -- Brock Vereen, S, 5-11 1/2, 199, Minnesota
Played every position in the secondary for the Golden Gophers and made 11 of his 13 starts as a senior at free safety. Figures to challenge for either starting free safety or strong safety. He impressed in predraft workouts and the combine, especially in the bench press. He had 25 repetitions in the bench at 225 pounds, most for any defensive back at the combine, but also had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.47) and second-fastest shuttle time along safeties. His brother is Patriots running back Shane Vereen and his father, Henry, was a ninth-round draft pick by the Bucs in 1979.
Round 6/183 -- David Fales, QB, 6-2, 228, San Jose State
--He is expected to come in and compete with Jerrod Johnson for developmental quarterback behind backup Jordan Palmer. He led the NCAA in completion percentage as a junior (.725) after transferring from junior college. He'd originally committed to Nevada but left after his freshman year because an offense that greatly utilized the running of Colin Kaepernick did not fit his skills. A big arm hasn't been his calling card, but accuracy has, and he threw for 66 touchdowns in two seasons with San Jose State. He completed 68 percent in two seasons.
Round 6/191 -- Pat O'Donnell, P, 6-4, 220, Miami
--The Bears needed a punter after Adam Podlesh was dispatched. They had only Drew Butler and Tress Way on the roster. O'Donnell played his final year at Miami after he graduated from Cincinnati and still had one year of eligibility left. He is known as an athletic punter after running a 4.64 40-yard dash and did 23 reps with 225 pounds in the bench press -- almost twice as many as the team's first-round pick, Fuller. He caused a fumble with a hit last year, which reinforced his reputation. As a senior at Miami, his 47.1-yard average was a school record and almost 3 1/2 yards longer than his previous best. He also can kick off and hold for the placekicker.
--Started every game his final three seasons, the last two at left tackle. He is regarded by many personnel people as a guard candidate, not a tackle, but he does have the arm length of a tackle at 34 1/2 inches. He has decent speed out of his stance when pulling to block. The aim will be to develop him. Emery said he will be immediate competition for backup left tackle. Also, Jordan Mills struggled as a pass blocker at right tackle and frequently got help from extra tackle Eben Britton in a six-lineman formation. So if he learns quickly, it's not unreasonable for him to challenge for a starting spot. Leno also has guard experience.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks sign C Richards to 1-year deal.
By JAY COHEN (AP Sports Writer)
The Chicago Blackhawks were searching for another proven commodity at center, and Brad Richards was looking for an opportunity to chase a second Stanley Cup title.
Mix in a couple important conversations, and the deal was done.
The Blackhawks filled their biggest offseason need when they signed Richards to a one-year contract on Tuesday, bolstering their group of centers with an experienced scorer who could fit in quite nicely on their talented lines.
Richards had 20 goals and 31 assists in 82 games for the New York Rangers last season, and then had 12 points in the playoffs to help his team make it to the Stanley Cup finals. The 34-year-old Richards has 276 goals and 591 assists in 982 career games for Tampa Bay, Dallas and New York.
The Rangers bought out his contract last month. He had six years remaining on the nine-year, $60 million deal he signed in 2011.
''He brings so many things to the table for us,'' Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said. ''He's certainly got the experience and his leadership and I think his character off the ice is something that sometimes gets overlooked as the importance for us, but it's really the whole package that we're excited about.''
The Blackhawks have been looking for a second-line center behind Jonathan Toews for a couple years, and Richards' resume makes him a favorite to fill that role. The move also allows Chicago to bring along prospect Teuvo Teravainen more slowly.
''When you look at the opportunity to play here, it's pretty exciting because you know that if you're playing center on the top two lines you're playing with a great player or probably two great players, actually,'' Richards said. ''So it wasn't hard for me to love Chicago.''
What was hard was finding a deal that worked for Richards and the Blackhawks, who are $2.2 million over the salary cap, according to CapGeek.com. In addition to Richards' contract, reportedly worth $2 million, Chicago also re-signed center Peter Regin on the first day of NHL free agency to a one-year contract reportedly worth $650,000.
The Blackhawks are working on contract extensions for stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane that could be completed soon, so the willingness of Richards to accept a one-year contract was vital to the completion of the deal with the 2013 Stanley Cup champions.
''That was the only way this was going to work,'' Bowman said. ''I think it's a testament to Brad and how badly he wants to win, because I don't doubt that he left more money and term on the table.''
Bowman said the team has some ideas on what it is going to do to get under the salary cap, but he wanted to keep the focus on the addition of Richards.
Bowman spoke with Richards' agent, Pat Morris, at last weekend's NHL draft, and Morris called his client on Sunday to let him know of Chicago's interest. Richards then talked to Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville on a conference call Monday night.
''It was a great call that kind of made me feel even more excited about trying to figure this out,'' Richards said, ''and then as we woke up today, kind of left it up to Stan and Pat Morris, my agent, to try to figure (it) out.''
Richards joins a team that made it all the way to the Western Conference final in its title defense, losing to eventual NHL champion Los Angeles in seven games. The Kings' solid group of centers hurt Chicago at times during the series, but the Blackhawks hope they will be better prepared next time around with the addition of Richards.
''It's a great group that's been together and knows how to win,'' Richards said on a conference call.
''I can't wait to get to work and try to make it a great experience for everybody.''
The Scouting Report: Matt Iacopelli, Beau Starrett and Luc Snuggerud.
By Brad Boron - chicagoblackhawks.com
Matt Iacopelli:
Hockey's Future: "A big-bodied overager, Iacopelli put things together big-time this past season, his first in the USHL. Despite his size, he has the demeanor and hands of a smaller playmaker, showing great offensive instincts, a deceptively strong shot, and the ability to make use of both with regularity. His size serves him to win pucks in the corners and in front of the net as well as to create space for himself and his teammates. During the season, he was used as a go-to player offensively and not necessarily required or held accountable as much as some others might be with respect to defensive responsibilities. This area as well as his actual agility and foot speed will have to increase in the next few years in order for him to have a real shot at an NHL career.
"That said, Iacopelli was an offensive dynamo in the league, scoring 41 goals and 64 points in 58 games, a goal-scoring feat rarely achieved in the USHL. He also had 47 penalty minutes and a +12 rating. Scoring goals seems to be his key capability as he pumped in 26 last winter in 39 games for Belle Tire in the MWEHL."
Blackhawks Sr. Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Kelley: “Iacopelli is very intriguing for us. We’re very excited about him; he’s going to go to Western Michigan. The year he had in the USHL—the numbers he put up—he’s got a pro body, he’s got a pro shot.”
Beau Starrett:
Red Line Report: "Has very quick hands for a large man. Doesn't waste time teeing it up - receives and releases the puck in one motion. Has NHL tools at 6-4/195 pounts with above-average skating ability and long, loping stride. Strong on the puck and has shown an opportunistic scoring touch. Comes in hard on the forecheck and finishes checks, forcing defenders to look over their shoulders. When he decides to get physical, he can easily separate defenders from the puck. Has good vision, too - we've seen him make some nice looks and cross-ice feeds. Although raw, he has the size, soft hands and offensive element you can't teach."
Blackhawks VP/GM Stan Bowman: “We like the size... He’s got the frame, almost 6-foot-5. Give him a couple of years, and he’s got a lot of potential. We like the all-around game that he has, and he’s got skills offensively. When you have that size and can move around the ice, you have a really good chance in today’s game.”
Luc Snuggerud:
Eliteprospects.com: "Snuggerud is a strong skating defender who impresses with his ability to contribute at both ends. Joins the rush and can both carry the puck and make a heady pass. Mans the point well on the power play and has a strong shot. Recovers quickly to regain his defensive position. Plays with good aggressiveness in his own zone and in the corners."
Red Line Report: "Natural puck-rushing defenseman is at his best when he's attacking like a fourth forward. Emerged as one of the best puck movers in this year's draft class; loves to wheel the puck out of his zone or make a crisp outlet pass. Tended to do too much at the H.S. level, but kept his game more simple and effective playing with better talent in the USHL at season's end. Has a natural "wiggle" to his game 0 head fakes, shoulder shimmies, etc. His decision making is somewhat telegraphed, and is prone to dead-ending himself. Still lacks overall strength, but there is noticeably more zip in his skating compared to last season. Earned his warrior status by playing through the State High School Tournament and Clark Cup Playoffs with a broken bone in his hand."
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Chicago Bulls make hard pitch to Carmelo Anthony.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN (AP Sports Writer)
The Chicago Bulls made the hard sell for Carmelo Anthony and brought their stars along for the presentation on Tuesday.
That included Derrick Rose, no fan of recruiting. Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were there, too, trying to convince the New York Knicks' free agent to choose the Bulls.
Anthony arrived at a decked-out United Center in the afternoon with agent Leon Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau, a police SUV trailing their oversized limousine.
He walked past the Michael Jordan statue, waving to a small group of cheering fans as he went inside, where he spent much of the afternoon before getting a look at the soon-to-open practice facility across the street.
The Bulls believe they have a strong pitch and a simple selling point: Anthony can transform a playoff team into a championship contender.
They believe uniting Anthony with Rose and Joakim Noah would put them in position to contend for their first title since Jordan and Scottie Pippen led the way to two three-peats in the 1990s. And they certainly made their feelings clear on Tuesday, turning the arena into one big welcome mat.
Two giant digital images above the entrance on Madison Street showed Anthony in a Bulls No. 7 jersey dribbling next to a championship trophy, fans stopping to take pictures. Another image around the corner also showed him in a jersey dribbling.
Signs wrapping around corners of the building and stacked on top of each other read, ''Carmelo Anthony and Chicago basketball'' and ''Melo'' with a cropped Bulls logo.
Anthony, a top target in NBA free agency, is expected to visit other teams.
Cubs vs. Red Sox: Theo doesn’t worry about his legacy.
By Patrick Mooney
The memories flooded in when Theo Epstein traveled back home last month and saw all the old faces. The Band of Idiots got back together again at Abe & Louie’s, a Boylston Street steakhouse where the Red Sox celebrated the 10th anniversary of the championship team that will live forever here.
“It felt like the best possible high school reunion,” Epstein said. “I hadn’t realized I don’t spend any time thinking about that. I don’t think about the ’04 World Series. I don’t think about those teams or those events. And it brought it all back.”
Epstein couldn’t make it to Fenway Park on Monday night, because family reasons kept him back in Chicago. But the Cubs president of baseball operations doesn’t really enjoy being the center of attention anyway.
And Epstein doesn’t really worry about his legacy, which should be bulletproof after becoming the youngest GM in baseball history, helping construct the Red Sox team that broke the 86-year curse and building another World Series winner in 2007.
But there was also Boston’s epic collapse in September 2011, the fried-chicken-and-beer stories and the hardball compensation negotiations with the Cubs. It’s now almost 250 losses into the long rebuild at Wrigley Field, with no Hall of Fame core already in place, and 2016 being targeted as a potential breakthrough year.
Epstein isn’t concerned about how he will be remembered.
“That stuff kind of takes care of itself,” Epstein said. “I was there 10 years, and of course you’re going to have great times and great moments and you’re going to have really disappointing moments.
“Just because it was Boston and the Red Sox and because we kind of did everything to the extreme, the highs were really high and the lows were really low. But looking back, we had so many more great moments than we had disappointing times. It just happened to end on a bad note. That’s life.”
That’s Boston. (See the nasty endings with Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Terry Francona, Kevin Youkilis, Bobby Valentine, etc.)
“Yeah, it’s Boston, but for 10 years, we had as good a run as you could possibly hope for,” Epstein said. “So when I think back on what we accomplished in the World Series, I’m proud to have been part of that. And then I look at the people who are left there, with (Red Sox GM Ben Cherington) and the scouting staff and the development guys.
“And then some of the players who are there now, the (Xander) Bogaerts of the world. And then the players who are coming, Mookie Betts and Henry Owens and all those guys from the last couple drafts – it just makes me feel good. I should be proud that I was a part of that, and I am.
“But I also moved on for a reason, because after 10 years, not much good can happen.” Epstein clashed with Boston CEO Larry Lucchino, another Yale guy who once helped him break into the business. In the end, Epstein felt like the Red Sox lost their way, becoming addicted to big-money, big-name stars, trying to sell tickets at Fenway Park and drive ratings on NESN – and he didn’t do enough to stop it.
But the guy who responded to the power struggle by sneaking out of Fenway Park on Halloween 2005 – avoiding the Boston media and beginning a leave of absence – says he’s not heading toward another gorilla-suit moment.
“It was the healthy thing for me and the organization to move on,” Epstein said. “There’s nowhere I would rather have been for the last three years than being part of this organization, growing and finding our identity. And I think over the next couple years, we’re poised to explode, and do some really nice things down the line.”
New qualifying rules block out young players.
By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press
The Open Championship this year decided to scrap its 36-hole qualifiers on the European Tour and PGA Tour in favor of what effectively are 72-hole qualifiers.
Four leading players from the top 12 on the leaderboard at Congressional and the Greenbrier earn spots.
In Europe, the leading three players from the Irish Open, French Open and Scottish Open get into the Open. The John Deere Classic gets one spot.
It's the same amount of qualifying spots as were available last year through both 36-hole qualifiers.
But it eliminates any chance for Web.com Tour players, or for some of the top college players who turn pro in the summer. The only chance they have to qualify - without a trip across the Atlantic - is to get a spot in the PGA Tour or European Tour fields.
"These matters have been very much considered by the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and their request certainly has been to evolve from what we were with the 36-hole stand-alone into the series we have now," R&A Executive Director Michael Tate said on Tuesday. "They don't have that simple opportunity. They can, of course, still travel to the UK and qualify. But I understand how difficult that is.
"What we achieved and what we are doing now is probably correct."
Indeed, 288 players currently are playing for 12 spots at four regional spots in Britain over the next two days. A decade ago, local qualifying was the only way into the Open, and it was held the weekend before the championship.
Tom Watson wants Tiger Woods on his Ryder Cup team if 'he's healthy and playing well'.
By Shane Bacon
One of the biggest questions following Tiger Woods around isn't just about his major championship schedule this season, but the potential for Woods to make the 2014 Ryder Cup team.
As the Europeans continue to put together a stacked squad, if qualifications ended today both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson would miss out on automatically qualifying, which brings up some tough questions for captain Tom Watson, who spoke about this on Tuesday during a press conference at the Greenbrier Classic.
"I'm delighted to see Tiger back," Watson said. "I hope he's healthy and not in pain. As I've said, I want him on the Ryder Cup team if he's healthy and playing well."
Woods is currently ranked 69th in Ryder Cup points, and with only the top nine players automatically earning a spot on the team, it looks like Watson will have to pick Tiger if he actually wants him on the team.
With Europe dominating this event the last few years, winning the last two Ryder Cups and five of the last six, it seems that Woods would be a benefit for this team both with his presence and his veteran leadership, but as Watson said, Tiger won't just make the team because he's swinging a golf club with no pain.
That said, I don't see how you can ever leave Woods off a team event like this if he's playing at even a B-level on the PGA Tour. It will take Tiger most of July to figure out his game and get back to shooting solid rounds from time to time, but Ryder Cup week doesn't start at Gleneagles until September 23, and I expect Watson will roll with Tiger when it's time for him to make those tough selections for his captain's picks.
NASCAR: Larson "really confident" of Daytona chances, but wary of Big One.
By Chris Estrada
Kyle Larson‘s first Sprint Cup experience at Daytona International Speedway didn’t end well.
With 39 laps to go in February’s season-opening Daytona 500, Larson was taken out in a multi-car pileup that began when fellow rookie Austin Dillon slid up the track and into Larson, who promptly spun out and into oncoming traffic.
This weekend, he’ll be returning to Daytona hoping for a better result in the Coke Zero 400 – preferably, a win that would seal his place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Right now, Larson is within the Chase Grid but not by much. He’s tied for 14th on the Chase Grid with Greg Biffle at 474 points and Clint Bowyer is just one point behind in the 16th-place cutoff.
A victory Saturday night at the 2.5-mile oval throws all that points talk out the window. But in order to contend, Larson knows he has to avoid the mayhem that so often comes with restrictor-plate racing.
“We’re really confident, but at the same time it’s a track where things can go really badly,” said Larson in today’s NASCAR teleconference.
“Just kind of setting goals as every other week, try to finish the race and get a Top-10, and see if we can put ourselves in position to get a win at the end – that would be great.
“The biggest goal is to try and stay out of the Big One, because it’s going to happen. I’m sure there will be one or two of them throughout the race. [We need to] try to stay out of trouble.”
Larson will also be looking to bounce back from a couple of poor results in the last two races.
He was one of the quickest drivers during the Sonoma weekend two weeks ago, but brake and power steering problems during the race relegated him to a 28th-place finish.
Then last weekend at Kentucky, a right-front tire failure sent Larson into the wall at Lap 76 for his first DNF since the aforementioned Daytona 500.
But with the Chip Ganassi Racing team’s relatively solid pace throughout the season, Larson isn’t fretting.
“I think my crew chief [Chris Heroy] said it best – he’d be worried in the last couple years, but now our car has been fast, so he’s not worried at all,” he said.
“That’s good, and gave me some more confidence because I think any other two weekends or having two bad races would be less nerve-racking, but then you go to Daytona where the chances of another bad weekend are high, so it’s easy to get nervous about that.
“We haven’t had many struggles all year, and now we’ve had a couple bad ones. Just got to get back on track.”
Meanwhile, Larson has added another race this summer to his itinerary beyond the Sprint Cup Series. He confirmed today that he would drive a Turner Scott Motorsports entry in the Camping World Truck Series’ July 23 race on the dirt at Eldora Speedway.
“I don’t know if I was supposed to say anything or not about the [Eldora] race,” said Larson, who finished second last year at Eldora to Austin Dillon.
“But yeah, we’re running that race. I’m really excited about that. We’re going to go test here pretty soon and get ready for that one because that’s definitely a race I want to win. We were close last year, so it’s nice to get to go back and give it another shot.”
Nadal, Sharapova lose; Serena leaves with illness.
By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Tennis Writer)
Rafael Nadal ran out of comebacks at Wimbledon, losing to a brash, big-serving, between-the-legs-hitting 19-year-old kid who might just be a future star.
Maria Sharapova, somehow, seemed on the verge of a turnaround despite a flurry of unforced errors, saving six match points before finally succumbing on the seventh with - what else? - a missed shot.
And in the most striking sight of a memorable day of departures by past Wimbledon champions, Serena Williams couldn't get the ball over the net in a doubles match with her sister Venus, stopping after three games because of what was called a viral illness.
All in all, Tuesday was chock-full of significant events, and the most noteworthy winner had to be 144th-ranked Nick Kyrgios of Australia, who used 37 aces and a have-no-fear approach to beat Nadal 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-3 for a quarterfinal berth.
''I was in a bit of a zone out there,'' said Kyrgios, the lowest-ranked player to beat the No. 1 man at any Grand Slam tournament in 22 years.
''You've got to believe you can win the match from the very start, and I definitely thought that,'' the 6-foot-4 (1.93-meter) Kyrgios said. ''I'm playing some unbelievable tennis on the grass.''
That's for sure.
Playing in only his fifth major tournament - he got into the field thanks to a wild-card invitation - Kyrgios (pronounced KEER-ee-os) is the first man to reach the quarterfinals in his Wimbledon debut in 10 years. He's also the first teenager to defeat the top-ranked man at a Slam since Nadal was 19 when he beat Roger Federer at the 2005 French Open.
''We keep saying, 'Who's the next guy?' And I think we may have found him,'' seven-time major champion John McEnroe said on the BBC broadcast.
Nadal dropped the first set in each of his previous three matches before coming back to win. When he took the second set Tuesday, though, Kyrgios stayed steady.
''Kyrgios is young; he has nothing to lose,'' said Nadal's uncle and coach, Toni ''It's like when Boris Becker won here. He was 17 and had a very good serve. He could beat everyone because of his serve.
It's the same with Kyrgios. He plays aggressively and without any doubts.''
For Nadal, who won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, it was yet another early exit at the grass-court tournament against a much-lower-ranked opponent. In 2012, he lost in the second round against No. 100 Lukas Rosol. Last year, he was beaten in the first round by No. 135 Steve Darcis. Neither of those players is considered an up-and-coming contender like Kyrgios is, but the common thread among the trio was going for broke.
''The thing is, (on) this surface, when you have an opponent that decides to serve and to hit every ball very strong, you are in trouble,'' Nadal said.
Kyrgios, who saved nine match points while beating 13th-seeded Richard Gasquet in the second round, showed zero hint of nerves. Indeed, he soaked up all the attention and adoration offered by the Centre Court crowd, particularly after an audacious trick shot: Facing the net at the baseline, he whipped his racket around his back and casually flicked a shot that sailed between his legs and over the net for a winner.
He joked about reading that his mother said she didn't think he could beat Nadal.
''It actually made me a bit angry,'' Kyrgios said, then noted: ''I'll just text her a smiley face.''
On Wednesday, he faces No. 8 Milos Raonic of Canada, another man never before this far at Wimbledon. The other men's quarterfinals: seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer against good friend and Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in an all-Swiss matchup; defending champion Andy Murray against No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov; and 2011 champion Novak Djokovic against No. 26 Marin Cilic.
The women's quarterfinals Wednesday: No. 3 Simona Halep against 2013 runner-up Sabine Lisicki, and No. 9 Angelique Kerber against No. 13 Eugenie Bouchard. The semifinal on the other side of the draw was established Tuesday: 2011 champion Petra Kvitova against No. 23 Lucie Safarova.
Kerber edged Sharapova 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 Tuesday. Sharapova made 49 unforced errors, 38 more than Kerber. Still, the 2004 champion saved one match point at 5-2 in the final set, then five more at 5-4, before pushing a backhand long to end it.
''I felt like I worked too hard within the match to let it go the easy way. So I did everything I could in the end to try to save those,'' Sharapova said. ''I did, but I didn't save the last one.''
Trial highlights NCAA changes already underway.
By TIM DAHLBERG (AP Sports Writer)
Sonny Vaccaro already feels like a winner, no matter how a federal judge rules in the antitrust lawsuit he helped bring against the NCAA.
He believes college athletes are winners, too, now that universities are moving toward reforms that were barely being discussed before the joint pressures of lawsuits and union possibilities started to be felt in the highest level of college athletics.
''In a sense we've won already,'' said Vaccaro, who recruited former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon and others to bring the court case. ''The Big 10 is now going to give four-year scholarships, Indiana has a bill of rights for athletes, and schools are expanding medical care. None of this would have happened without O'Bannon.''
A push by the five biggest college conferences to offer expanded benefits and pay to athletes may not have happened, either. But the biggest change in college sports may still be to come, following a three-week trial that ended Friday in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken may not know much about sports, as she frequently acknowledged during the trial. But she knows a lot about federal antitrust laws, and those are at the core of the 5-year-old lawsuit that could for the first time open the door for Division I college football and basketball players to get paid.
Wilken is expected to issue a ruling in the next few months on a request for an injunction that would prohibit the NCAA from enforcing rules against paying players for their names, images and likenesses (NILs).
Plaintiffs led by O'Bannon argued during the trial that the NCAA's rules on so-called amateurism are anti-competitive and allow the organization to operate as an illegal cartel. NCAA witnesses and attorneys responded by claiming amateurism is the only real model for college sports and that those sports would suffer if players were allowed to profit.
''Forcing changes through litigation to benefit only a select few would have far-reaching, detrimental effects on college sports as a whole, potentially reducing the opportunities for future generations of student-athletes to enjoy the benefits that make college sports special to its participants and fans,'' NCAA chief legal officer Donald Remy said in a statement.
The trial centered at times on issues so complex and arcane that lawyers on both sides struggled at times when arguing them. Plaintiffs presented experts who testified that the NCAA unfairly and illegally blocks athletes from selling their own NILs, while the NCAA's own experts painted a bleak picture of college sports should a tradition of amateurism that dates back more than a century be overturned.
The effects, however, will be more clear cut. Should the plaintiffs win - and win again and again on appeals the NCAA has vowed to take all the way to the Supreme Court - they envision a system where athletes at top football and basketball programs will not only get a college education, but a parting check when they leave their university. The money - which would come from the billions of dollars now flowing into new television deals - would be doled out equally among team members, and those who stay the entire four years will get the most.
Much like Vaccaro contends, though, things will continue to change in college athletes even if the NCAA prevails. The biggest conferences have already begun plans to add several thousand dollars in stipends to 65 member schools, along with guaranteed four-year scholarships and improved medical care for athletes.
Indiana last week said it will immediately begin guaranteeing four-year scholarships as part of a new athlete bill of rights that also covers the full cost of education and includes a personal iPad and university blazer for formal occasions.
''Do you think any of this is a coincidence?'' asked Vaccaro, who spent most of his career peddling athletic equipment to colleges before becoming convinced reform was needed. ''They took away the four-year scholarship in 1971 and suddenly they're now giving them back?''
Legal analyst Marc Edelman, an associate professor of law at City University of New York who specializes in sports and antitrust issues, said he believes the plaintiffs will prevail on the antitrust issue.
''The NCAA didn't have the law or facts on their side in this trial,'' Edelman said. ''Armed with bad law and facts, even the greatest collection of lawyers and economists can't ultimately change the outcome.''
NCAA reopens investigation into academic fraud at North Carolina.
By Jeff Eisenberg
When the NCAA finished its initial investigation into academic impropriety at North Carolina two years ago, it appeared the Tar Heels' nationally renowed basketball program would emerge from the scandal penalty-free.
Perhaps that may have been premature.
The NCAA announced Monday it is reopening its investigation into academic irregularities at North Carolina because some people of interest who previously wouldn't speak with investigators have since agreed to cooperate. Enforcement staffers cannot force anyone to speak with them since they do not have subpoena power.
The decision to reopen the investigation comes only a few weeks after explosive allegations made by Rashad McCants, a member of North Carolina's 2005 national championship team. McCants alleged that his academic advisers at North Carolina steered him to take sham classes in the school's African-American Studies department in order to ensure that he remained eligible. He also accused tutors of writing some of his term papers and said he passed classes in which he only seldom showed up.
Both North Carolina coach Roy Williams and many former Tar Heels players have since refuted McCants' allegations. In a statement released earlier this month, the other members of the 2005 national title team insisted they "attended class and did our own academic work."
"We want to thank our advisers and counselors who supported us, while also maintaining the integrity of the institution," the statement read. "We also want to make it clear that Coach (Roy) Williams and his staff operated with the highest level of ethics and integrity within their respective roles.
"We want to state that our personal academic experiences are not consistent with Rashad's claims. We know that Coach Williams did not have any knowledge of any academic impropriety."
The allegations made by McCants are some of the most damning for North Carolina in the three years since the Raleigh News & Observer and other media outlets began to report about academic fraud at the school. The scandal has centered around sham classes in the African American Studies department and accusations that tutors or academic advisers were writing papers turned in by athletes.
So far North Carolina's basketball program has emerged from the scandal penalty-free. The NCAA sanctioned the Tar Heels football program as a result of improper benefits and academic misconduct involving a tutor in 2012, but the penalties were a bigger blow to the school's reputation than to its ability to compete on the field.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, July 2, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1903 - Ed Delahanty (Washington) died from a fall from a railroad bridge at Niagara Falls.
1941 - Joe DiMaggio got a hit in his 45th consecutive game.
1994 - Colombian soccer player Andres Escobar was shot to death in Medellin. 10 days earlier he had accidentally scored a goal against his own team in World Cup competition.
1995 - Hideo Nomo became the first Japanese player to be selected for a major league baseball All-Star Game.
1996 - Alex Rodriguez became the third youngest player to be selected to the American League All Star team. Dwight Gooden and Ken Griffey Jr. were the two younger than Rodriguez.
2002 - A record 62 home runs were hit in 16 major league baseball games.
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