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Sports Quote of the Day:
"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." ~ Maya Angelou, Author, Poet, Dancer, Actress and Singer
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! America's betting big on the Bears in 2014.
CSN Staff
Forget the Dallas Cowboys: The Chicago Bears are shaping up to be America's team, that is, the portion of America that gambles on football.
NFL fans are showing a lot of confidence in the Bears as they look ahead to the 2014 season.
According to the online sports book Bovada, 95 percent of the money wagered on the Bears' upcoming season has Chicago favored to win more than 8.5 games, meaning only five percent of the public is betting they won't have a winning record after going 8-8 last season.
Per the Wall Street Journal, that money placed on the Bears is the most lopsided of all 32 over/under team win wagers.
The public showed a similar confidence back in 2012, with 83 percent of the preseason action favoring the Bears to win over 9.5 games. They went on to win 10.
Bears' defense in good hands.
By John Greenberg
After Wednesday's practice, most eyes at Chicago Bears camp were on one practice field, as the always magnetic Michael Irvin taped a TV segment with the squad's receiving stars of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett.
As Phil Emery and Marc Trestman would say, there was a lot of catching radius in that group.
On another practice field, away from the noise, rookie interior defensive linemen Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson were quietly working on their hand-to-hand combat skills with consultant Joe Kim.
The art of the empty hand could pay dividends for a rebuilt defensive line whose new motto could resemble a weekend golfer's: Grip it and rip it.
"There's a really big emphasis on using our hands and flipping our hips," Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. "[Kim] has been a good addition to our staff in terms of we all believe in using our hands on defense."
Suttin and Ferguson had to match moves with Kim in karate-style drills. If Quentin Tarantino were at practice, he would have had a great idea about a 1970s kung fu football team.
"It's fun. It's for us," Sutton said with a smile, after finishing drills that lasted about 20 minutes. "It's going to help us get better."
Raise your hands if you're ready to see a real Bears defense this season.
For all the talk about how great the Bears' offense is going to be -- really great or da best ever -- this is a playoff team only if the defense can do a 180 from last season.
Emery, the hands-on general manager, looks to have done a solid job building a unit this offseason -- at least up front.
Along with the two rookies drafted in the second and third rounds, the Bears inked Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen and Willie Young to join holdovers Stephen Paea and Jeremiah Ratliff.
Paul Pasqualoni was hired to coach the line unit of a defense that was, for much of the season, the worst in the league statistically, stylistically and holistically.
Last season, racked with injuries and beset by an identity crisis, the Bears' defense lost its way. It gave up the third-most yards and had the worst run defense in the league, yielding 161.4 yards per game -- a whopping 60 more than the previous season.
Remember when the St. Louis Rams ran over Chicago for 258 yards on 8.9 yards a carry last season en route to a 42-21 victory?
Don't worry, most of this defensive linemen don't recall, because they weren't around back then. Aside from a few film sessions, no one is talking about the past.
"This is a new group," Tucker said. "We're focused on the future."
The future and present is Houston, a 27-year-old run-stopping beast who was signed from the Oakland Raiders. He will play outside in some packages and flip inside in the Bears' nickel.
"He's embracing the technique we're asking him to use in the run game, and he has pass-rush ability," Tucker said. "He's shown ability to rush inside, as well as outside."
Houston and Allen were signed to give this group an immediate impact outside as the new inside players develop. For sure, the upgraded defensive line is the most promising unit on that side of the ball.
Along with the two rookies drafted in the second and third rounds, the Bears inked Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen and Willie Young to join holdovers Stephen Paea and Jeremiah Ratliff.
Paul Pasqualoni was hired to coach the line unit of a defense that was, for much of the season, the worst in the league statistically, stylistically and holistically.
Last season, racked with injuries and beset by an identity crisis, the Bears' defense lost its way. It gave up the third-most yards and had the worst run defense in the league, yielding 161.4 yards per game -- a whopping 60 more than the previous season.
Remember when the St. Louis Rams ran over Chicago for 258 yards on 8.9 yards a carry last season en route to a 42-21 victory?
Don't worry, most of this defensive linemen don't recall, because they weren't around back then. Aside from a few film sessions, no one is talking about the past.
"This is a new group," Tucker said. "We're focused on the future."
The future and present is Houston, a 27-year-old run-stopping beast who was signed from the Oakland Raiders. He will play outside in some packages and flip inside in the Bears' nickel.
"He's embracing the technique we're asking him to use in the run game, and he has pass-rush ability," Tucker said. "He's shown ability to rush inside, as well as outside."
Houston and Allen were signed to give this group an immediate impact outside as the new inside players develop. For sure, the upgraded defensive line is the most promising unit on that side of the ball.
So let's not go christening these guys the new 1985 Bears, or even the 2012 Bears. This group isn't rich at linebacker, and the safeties are a genuine concern.
So the defensive line will have to hold its own, and then some; and that includes the two rookies. As Sutton told me, he and Ferguson welcome the pressure that comes with being high draft picks.
"It starts up front," Sutton said. "That's why they trust us and brought Ego and I to play here right away," he said.
After keeping the Lovie Smith defense the same last season, partly to appease the veterans, Tucker is trying to remove the "embattled" title from his job with a fresh start.
As ESPN.com's Michael Wright wrote last week, the Bears are dumping their old pass-rush style which instructed linemen to shoot the gaps to stop the run as they chased the quarterback.
Now, the linemen -- along with the rest of the defense -- will be focused on using their hands to engage offensive linemen, rip past them and fly to the ball.
It's a subtle stylistic difference to fans, but it could pay off immediately with players strong enough and fast enough to disrupt offenses in the trenches.
Bears right tackle Jordan Mills has been mixing it up with Houston and Young, among others, and he said the defenders' newfound focus on hands technique is creating "havoc."
"The way our defense gets after it -- they get their hands on you, they're so quick and nimble and strong -- it's over," Mills said.
"Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Stephen Paea and Jay Ratliff, you can't double team one and leave one man to beat [you]," Mills said. "Going against our D-line, you better have a strategy -- and a good one."
Strategy is another new aspect to this defense. Tucker said the main focus will be keeping their plans flexible for the defensive line.
"We want to get off the ball, but we're not going to play every blocking scheme the same," Tucker said. "Whatever blocking scheme we get, we're going to play that block. That may require us to put our hands on that guy."
Last season we all credited Tucker for eschewing pride by keeping the defensive principles the same. But when injuries decimated the front seven and the defense looked hopeless, many called for Tucker's job after one year.
Tucker will need cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings to stay healthy and for rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller to contribute. He'll need a full season out of D.J. Williams and Lance Briggs and for the fairly anonymous group of safeties to take advantage of a renewed pass rush.
Right now, it's time for teaching and refining. Tucker wants every defender to focus on gaining an advantage over their offensive foe. That shouldn't be a problem for Tillman, Jennings and the rest of the vets trained to punch out footballs.
"Every coach on our staff is a big believer in using our hands at every position to control blockers, get off blocks, shed blocks and be able to get to the football," Tucker said.
It all sounds good now. We're a month away from seeing if the hands-on defense really makes a difference.
Ravens' Rice: His actions 'totally inexcusable'. What's your take?
By DAVID GINSBURG
Ray Rice stepped to the microphone, took a deep breath and spoke for 17 minutes about what he called "the biggest mistake of his life."
His arrest for domestic violence against his then-fiancee last February is something Rice figures will haunt him long after NFL career has ended.
The Baltimore Ravens running back was arrested on assault charges following a Feb. 15 altercation in New Jersey in which he allegedly struck Janay Palmer. Rice has been accepted into a diversion program, which upon completion could lead to the charges being dropped.
"My actions that night were totally inexcusable," said Rice, who during Ravens training camp Thursday spoke publicly for the first time since receiving a two-game suspension from the NFL.
"My daughter is 2 years old now. One day she's going to know the power of Google. Me having to explain that to her, what happened that night, that's something I have to live with the rest of my life."
Rice was referring to a grainy video in which he is shown dragging Palmer, now his wife, from an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. He did not address the incident at an impromptu news conference in May, and although he refused to divulge details on Thursday, he dismissed the notion that he was provoked.
"I don't want to keep re-living the incident. I'm trying to move forward," he said. "What happened that night was a huge mistake, and that's what I'll keep it at. I don't condone any of my behavior. I take full responsibility for my actions. My wife can do no wrong."
Rice wore a Ravens polo shirt and a pained expression throughout the session. More than a dozen TV cameras were in place, some telecasting the interview live, and several of his teammates stood behind the throng to show their support.
Rice, 27, is the team's career leader in total scrimmage yards and ranks behind only Jamal Lewis in total yards rushing. But this press conference wasn't about football.
This was about apologizing for actions that he insisted were one of a kind.
"It was the first time it ever happened," he said. "I've never had a problem with domestic abuse. This was a one-time incident."
"No football games and no money was going to determine what I have to live with the rest of my life. That punishment I received from the NFL, it hurts that I can't play football," he said. "I never planned to appeal any kind of punishment. So whether it was two games, four games, six games, eight games, I was going to own my actions and be a man about it and take whatever was given to me."
Rice's reputation has likely taken a harder hit than he has ever absorbed on the field.
"In some people's eyes, Ray can do no wrong. That's something I take pride in," he said. "I know a lot of people out there have lost respect, maybe not like me anymore. But that's my fault. I have to own that. That's my battle each day."
Rice also pleaded with his fans to make smart decisions.
"I still have kids out there wearing 27 jerseys, and I just want to tell them that please don't make the mistake I did," he said. "I always talk about one or two bad decisions and your dream can become a nightmare, and I was truly living a nightmare."
Rice's teammates still support him.
"I've known Ray for a while. He's a great guy," linebacker Elvis Dumervil said. "We're all human, we all make mistakes."
Rice realizes how many people were hurt by his actions.
"That's not who I am as a man. That's not who my mom raised me to be," he said. "I let her down, I let my wife down, I let my daughter down, I let my wife's parents down, I let the whole Baltimore community down, and I got my teammates here to support me, I let my teammates down. I let so many people down because of 30 seconds of my life that I know I can't take back."
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: Ray Rice made a horrific mistake and one that we don't condone, however, he sincerely realizes it and is remorseful, apologetic and ashamed. It's apparent by the highlighted paragraphs above that he is very aware of the people that he's let down. He has known his wife since high school and they've discussed this situation together and with counseling. They're ready to put it behind them and move on to better times. Again, it wasn't pretty and it wasn't nice. It's now time for the public to bow out and give them a chance to heal from this situation. His wife even appealed to Commissioner Goodell concerning his punishment. Let them work it out. Remember bible verse John 8:7, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." We feel Ray Rice realize the error of his ways and we feel that we will never hear about a situation like this from him again. We all have some skeletons in our closets and most of us are fortunate that they never come out or surface. We're not saying let's hide this incident under the rug but we are saying, let's not beat a dead horse to death. Give this young couple a chance to move forward..... It's time to get ready for America's game, football.
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.
NFL will roll out new player-tracking system for real-time on-field stats.
By Jay Busbee
Seattle's Richard Sherman has long maintained that he's a better cornerback than Arizona's Patrick Peterson and a more dominant player than San Francisco's Michael Crabtree. Now, at last, he may have hard numbers to back him up.
The NFL is rolling out the initial phase of a tracking system that will allow fans to view a wide range of statistics about their favorite players, including speed, routing, distance traveled, and separation. As reported by USA Today, each player will wear two small sensors under the shoulder pads, and the sensors will track the players' movements throughout the game. (And ONLY the game, which should bring a sigh of relief to quite a few players.)
Zebra Technologies, which has implemented similar technologies in other industries, will roll out the system in 17 stadiums. Those include: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, New England, New Orleans, Oakland, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington. (The players signed off on the use of the technology in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement.)
The data can be enhanced and used for television presentation. Down the line, it could be used as part of an app or second-screen experience (i.e. you're gonna pay more for it).
"For those of us that are coaches from our couches, we're like, 'Oh, come on! That guy was open!' Maybe he was and maybe he wasn't," Zebra's Jill Stelfox told USA Today. "If we know closing distance of a defender and an offensive guy, you can really know whether that hit would be made or whether he really could've made that play."
It doesn't take a big leap to see how this technology could be used in-game for coaches to gain an edge. Cornerback losing a step in the fourth quarter? Flood that zone, stat! Accordingly, the NFL will not let teams use the data gathered for competitive purposes in 2014. But information wants to be free, and coaches want information, and therefore there's a 12-year-old playing Madden right now who's going to make millions as Statistics Coordinator for the Patriots.
Down the line, tech could be used to track players' heart rate in-game, and also could be implemented in the ball to determine whether it crossed the goal line. But Sherman-style trash talking? We're still 15 years from a computer being able to replicate that.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Core Values: Blackhawks' future set with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane.
By Chris Peters | Hockey Writer
After coming within a goal of their second straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, the Chicago Blackhawks remain one of the teams to beat in the NHL next season and beyond. The Blackhawks are rife with long-term contracts and a group of players at the top of their lineup that rival any team's in the NHL.
Led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, who each signed eight-year extensions this offseason, the Blackhawks have a young duo that form the very tight nucleus of an exceptional core. The new deals for Kane and Toews could put Chicago under a cap crunch starting in 2015-16 when they kick in and that could alter the complexion of the team's top end, but there is depth to support those kinds of moves.
How those new extensions for Kane and Toews impact the future of the roster remains to be seen, but Chicago is loaded for another Stanley Cup run in 2014-15. They may even be better than they were just a season ago.
Here's a look at the group that should carry the Blackhawks even beyond next season.
Core Values: Chicago Blackhawks
Players (Age, term remaining on contract): C Jonathan Toews (26, 9 years), RW Patrick Kane (25, 9 years), D Duncan Keith (31, 9 years), RW Marian Hossa (35, 7 years), D Niklas Hjalmarsson (27, 5 years), LW Patrick Sharp(32, 3 years), G Corey Crawford (29, 6 years)
Total cap hit for 2014-15: $34,103,462 (49.4 percent of salary cap consumed by seven players)
Average age: 29.2
Total point production in 2013-14: 131 goals, 231 assists, 362 points (50.7 percent of team's point production)
Chicago Blackhawks Player Usage Chart via ExtraSkater.com*:
*Circle size represents time on ice, shade of circle represents possession (5v5 Corsi For percentage -- total shot attempts for relative to total shot attempts against). Blue represents CF percentage of 50 or better. The darker the shade, the better the possession numbers.
About the Core
Jonathan Toews: A consensus top-five player in the NHL, Toews is widely considered one of the best two-way centers in the game today. He's also been lauded for his leadership skills, having served as Chicago's captain since he was 20 years old and leading his team to two Stanley Cups by age 25. He has 440 points in 484 career games, a Conn Smythe and Selke Trophy to his name and two Olympic gold medals to go with his two Stanley Cups have made Toews one of the most successful players in hockey. With he and Patrick Kane signing identical long-term contracts that will give them the highest cap hit ($10.5 million) in the salary cap era starting next season, Toews still has a lot to do in the game. It's no coincidence that the Blackhawks franchise turned around quickly after the arrival of Toews and Kane. How he was acquired: 2006 NHL Entry Draft, first round, third overall
Patrick Kane: The super-skilled winger has become one of the league's most popular and most marketable players over the last seven seasons in Chicago. He burst onto the scene with 72 points as a rookie, winning the Calder Trophy, and has been lighting up scoreboards ever since. Kane has 493 points in 515 games over his career and is on pace to become one of the highest-scoring Americans in the history of the NHL. Kane won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP for the Blackhawks' 2013 run to the Stanley Cup and scored the Cup-clincher in 2010. The 25-year-old was a point-per-game player in an injury-shortened 2013-14 season and had 20 points in the playoffs, showing he may just be warming up. Maturity concerns plagued Kane early in his career, with good reason, but those have subsided over the last two years. With Kane and Toews locked down to long-term contracts, the two faces of the franchise should keep the Blackhawks trending up as one of the league's most popular and successful teams after years of just the opposite. How he was acquired: 2007 NHL Entry Draft, first round, first overall
Duncan Keith: A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Keith has been the Blackhawks cornerstone defenseman for nine years. His productivity offensively sometimes overshadows his terrific defensive ability, highlighted by his speed and defensive stick. He went through some of the leaner years in Blackhawks history, but is as much responsible for the club's revival as anyone else. In 686 games, he has 370 points, including two campaigns of 60 or more points (both of which he won the Norris after). Last season, Keith posted 55 assists and 61 points. Keith has averaged over 25:17 per game in his career, almost always leading the Blackhawks in ice time as the team's most reliable workhorse. He is under contract into his 40s, so it's likely Keith will remain a Blackhawk for the entirety of his career. How he was acquired: 2002 NHL Entry Draft, second round, 54th overall
Marian Hossa: The Chicago Blackhawks were trending in the right direction, but it wasn't until Hossa signed as a free agent ahead of the 2009-10 season that the club became the juggernaut it is today. Possibly the most important free agent signing in the history of the franchise, Hossa has put up 276 points in 315 games with the club and was a key piece to both Stanley Cup runs. Though Hossa is starting to get up there in years, he remains one of the finest two-way wings in the NHL. Last season, at age 35, Hossa put up his first 30-goal season in five years with the team. The Blackhawks are Hossa's fifth team in the league and while he doesn't produce like he did early in his career, he is still a high-impact player. It is unclear how long Hossa will be this effective as he'll be 42 when his contract expires, but it doesn't appear the vet is going to slow down any time soon. He needs just five points to eclipse 1,000 for his career. How he was acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2009
Niklas Hjalmarsson: This might be a bit of a controversial choice over the popular Brent Seabrook, but if last season is any indication, Hjalmarsson is highly valued by the organization and plays one of the more important roles on the squad. Though Keith won the Norris Trophy last season, it was Hjalmarsson eating the bulk of the toughest defensive minutes and mostly excelling in them. Though the Swedish rearguard may be on the second pairing, he saw a lot of matchups against top competition and saw far more shifts start in the defensive zone than the top pairing. There's a reason the Blackhawks didn't blink when the San Jose Sharks signed Hjalmarsson to an offer sheet in 2010. Even then it was clear that Hjalmarsson was going to be a big part of the Blackhawks' future plans. His five-year, $20.5 million extension with the team will kick in this year. Given the role Hjalmarsson plays and his success in that role, he's a big part of what is happening in Chicago. How he was acquired: 2005 NHL Entry Draft, fourth round, 108th overall
Patrick Sharp: After leading the Blackhawks in scoring last season with a career-best 78 points including 34 goals, Sharp reasserted himself as an important piece of Chicago's lineup. He has been one of the team's most reliable goal scorers over the years, touching 30-plus goals four times for the club. Over his career with the team, Sharp has 468 points in 611 games and has helped the team build one of the best top-six forward groups in the league (and that's even with the black hole that has been the team's No. 2 center position). That hasn't protected Sharp from being the subject of trade rumors more recently, however. With three years left on his deal at a cap hit of nearly $6 million, he might be the kind of guy the team decides to move as younger players look ready to jump into that role (SEE: Brandon Saad). The fan-favorite shouldn't be going anywhere next season, but once the Toews and Kane extensions kick in, all eyes will turn to Sharp again and the rumors may have merit then. That said, he remains an important part of the team and will be as long as he is under contract with the squad. How he was acquired: Traded from the Philadelphia Flyers with Eric Meloche for Matt Ellison and a third-round draft pick on December 5, 2005.
Corey Crawford: This is one of those core additions to this list that is triggered more by the long-term deal he received from the team than it is subjective opinion. The Blackhawks hitched their wagons to Crawford on a six-year, $36 million extension after the team won the Stanley Cup in 2013. Then 28, Crawford was coming off a career year and was excellent during the Cup run. Last season, he fell back to earth a bit with a .917 save percentage in 59 appearances and a .912 mark in the postseason. That was all before the new deal kicked in. It starts this year, and it's that deal, perhaps more so than the Kane and Toews extensions that could hamper the salary cap movement of the Blackhawks. Though the goaltending market is completely different from the rest of the league, the $6 million per year was an aggressive decision on a goalie who has had essentially one good year. Over his career with the Blackhawks, Crawford has put up a .914 save percentage in 211 appearances and owns a 2.36 goals-against average. With a team as deep as the Blackhawks, it's surprising that their slightly-above-league-average goaltender will be the third-highest paid player on the team next year. With what the Blackhawks are paying him, Crawford will need a bounce-back year to help justify the weighty contract and his inclusion in the team's core group. How he was acquired: 2003 NHL Entry Draft, second round, 52nd overall
Who's next in line
As the core listed above would indicate, the Blackhawks have had great success by building from within. The team has drafted well, particularly in the later rounds and has been rewarded with a young group that could provide a second wave of talent.
That charge is being led by Brandon Saad, currently. The second-year pro has 74 points in 126 games so far and showed great improvement last season from his rookie year. Saad put up 47 points in 78 games last year including 19 goals. The team has been able to move him throughout the lineup quite a bit and the results were usually pretty good for whoever was playing with Saad.
During the playoffs, the team experimented (successfully) with Kane and Saad with Andrew Shaw. That trio played with speed and gave opponents fits. Could that be a combination next year? Joel Qunneville might have to consider it, even with the addition of Brad Richards.
Shaw could also be looked at as a future core player after posting his first 20 goal season last year. Though he plays more of an abrasive role, Shaw has speed and some quality skill. The grinders don't often get core status, but Shaw showed that there may be a little more to his game last season.
The same goes for defenseman Nick Leddy, who has shown improvement over his four years in the league. The gifted puck mover has seen his responsibilities on the team fluctuate over time, but he is only 23 years old and has shown strong puck-moving capabilities, which are at a premium in today's NHL.
The Blackhawks also have a few players in the pipeline who could be looked to as a key part of their future, not the least of which being former first-round pick Teuvo Teravainen who arrived in North America last year to great fanfare after a successful run in the Finnish pro leagues. Where he fits in next season remains to be seen, but it shouldn't be too long before Chicago starts counting on this highly-skilled forward.
Overview
The Blackhawks have developed a tremendous core. With five of the seven players acquired through the draft, Chicago has made the most of their picks. They got the can't miss guys at the top of the draft in Kane and Toews, which turned out to be the two players that helped change the course of the franchise. They also got mid-round steals in Keith and Hjalmarsson.
That has allowed them to gradually add to the team over time. In the Stan Bowman era, free agents have been added only to supplement the talent they already had. In the case of Hossa, which was the last big move of the Dale Tallon regime, the Blackhawks added a missing piece, but one that was going to help them over a long period of time. That one has paid off in spades.
What makes this core particularly interesting is that the Blackhawks have had to rebuild around it twice. After the 2010 Stanley Cup, the team had to be dismantled to stay cap compliant. Thanks to the established core led by Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson at that time, it only took three years to build back up into a Cup contender.
Now the team will face big decisions after signing Toews and Kane to long-term extensions. Their organizational depth may be tested a bit as the Blackhawks will have to fill the bottom of the lineup with cheaper alternatives to established veterans who are due more money. It's going to take some maneuvering, but it's worth rearranging if you can keep your two franchise stars for the long term.
Considering the core is as strong as it is without including players like Brent Seabrook and Brandon Saad, it says a lot about what the Blackhawks have built.
With only two years remaining on his contract, what happens with Seabrook next is cloudy. That's the biggest reason for leaving him off at this point. There's no question he's been a huge part of the organization and will continue to be at least for what's left on his contract. But the term remaining on his deal also makes him a bit easier to move as well, should the team seek some restructuring after this season to stay cap compliant. One of those bigger contracts is probably going to have to move.
That said, with the uncertainty of how the salary cap will rise over the next few seasons, Chicago may not be in as big of a bind as it seems they could be now.
With the addition of Brad Richards to fill the No. 2 center hole this year, the Blackhawks are loaded up for another Stanley Cup run in 2014-15. What happens beyond that is going to be interesting, but considering how the last seven or so years have gone for the franchise, there's reason to believe they'll be able to maintain competitiveness for years to come thanks to key players being locked up on long-term deals and a prospect pool that has allowed the club to restock the bottom of the lineup more affordably.
It's this structure that has made the Blackhawks one of the model franchises of the NHL.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Thibodeau's presence looms large for Team USA.
By Aggrey Sam
His voice already hoarse from arguing with referees and shouting out defensive instructions — screaming “Kyle!” at Korver, the ex-Bull and current Hawks sharpshooter, as if it were 2011 — and calling strategic timeouts to draw up clever inbounds scoring plays in a late, ultimately-failed comeback in Wednesday’s scrimmage, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is already in regular-season form, regardless of the fact that it’s July and his present occupation is being an assistant coach for USA Basketball.
“Thibs doesn’t sit down. Thibs stands up the whole time, yelling. Lost his voice already, so it’s Day 3, voice is gone. Thibs is completely different,” Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said, when asked to compare Thibodeau to the national team’s former defensive-oriented assistant coach, current Indiana Pacers aide Nate McMillan. “He’s a strategist. Not to say there’s anything wrong with Nate, but Thibs’ style is a little bit different.”
Bulls general manager Gar Forman observed about Thibodeau: “I think it’s great, just the opportunity to work with these guys. We have to get him some throat lozenges, though. It seems like he’s losing his voice.”
It’s not surprising to anyone remotely familiar with the coach that his impassioned style, witnessed annually from the outset of training camp through whenever the Bulls’ season ends, has made an appearance during USA Basketball’s training camp at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. But in addition to his usual burning desire to win, Thibodeau is gaining valuable experience under Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, the national team’s head coach, and given the Bulls’ upgrade in personnel this offseason, new offensive strategies to ponder in utilizing the likes of the returned Rose, veteran big man Pau Gasol and rookie Doug McDermott, also in attendance with the Select Team, among others.
But while many observers believe the Bulls — at least on paper — could be the class of the Eastern Conference, even with LeBron James’ Ohio homecoming, Thibodeau is only cautiously optimistic.
“It looks good. But we have to see how it unfolds. The team that won 62 games and 50 in the lockout season, they did it on the floor. So we can talk about it. But we have to put the work into it and we have to see what it looks like on the floor. I like the fact we have quality depth. I love the players we have. We’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Thibodeau, who had the top regular-season team in the entire NBA in both of his first two campaigns in Chicago.
“It’s all good. Every year, you come into a season with new and different challenges. So we had the challenge of Derrick being out and how you get around that. Now you have depth again so you look at what your team is and say what are the strengths and weaknesses of the club are and build your planning around that. We’re excited about our group. The way Jo and Taj played last year is a huge plus. The addition of Pau and a stretch four in Mirotic, picking up McDermott. But the biggest thing is Derrick. Obviously, that’s huge for our team. You can never lose sight of how important he is for our team.”
For his part, Rose is high on the additions made by the aforementioned Forman and Bulls executive vice president John Paxson this summer, believing he has the best supporting cast he’s played with professionally.
“I have that sense that they [the Bulls’ front office] went for it. They gave it their all, we got who we could get, who wanted to come, and that’s who we have to ride with. We have a lot of confidence in the players we just signed, and we know that the guys we already have here are working out very hard. It’s just a matter of fact of just getting in the gym, working out together, gelling very quickly if I’m going overseas early,” the former league MVP said.
“I think this is the most talented team I’ve played on in my NBA career, to tell you the truth. With all the players I have, the experience that everybody is bringing to the table, and the way everybody is working out individually in the offseason from what I’ve been hearing. Just seeing Tony Snell bust his [expletive] in the gym the whole summer, seeing Doug [McDermott] doing the same thing and they end up playing well [in summer league], it kind of gave me a boost and let me know that hard work pays off. So I’m watching them play summer-league games a couple of times, see them playing with a lot of confidence, it just gave me confidence coming to this trial. I think that we have a deep team and we have players that have one goal, and we’ll do anything to get there.”
Meanwhile, even with the Bulls’ potential, Thibodeau remains focused on the task at hand, the upcoming FIBA World Cup in Madrid, Spain. Team USA is expected to carry 15 players out of the 19 roster hopefuls and possible Select Team additions through its two exhibition games in New York — following an Aug. 16 matchup against Brazil at the United Center — but after each session of the five-day camp, including Friday’s intra-squad exhibition game, there’s an opportunity for evaluation, between the coaching staff, which also features New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, as well as USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo, like a Chicagoan like Krzyzewski.
“Just mainly how the team will fit together. Who had a good day, what do we need? You start thinking about the team in general. You’re going to be on the road for a long period of time. What are the characteristics that you’re looking for? Sometimes it’s tough because you may have to cut some deserving players, but you’re looking to bring the best team and what fits best, and who can accept a certain role,” Thibodeau said of the paring-down process. “All of the roles may be different, but the commitment to the team must be the same. So it’s an opportunity to see how guys can adapt, how quickly they can adapt to a different role and usually, it’s a different role for everyone.”
Including himself.
Forecast: Love swings NBA title odds.
By Ethan Sherwood Strauss
What impact does Kevin Love have on the NBA title race? Based on predictions made by our ESPN Forecast panel, this star who has never made a postseason has the potential to completely shake up next season's championship picture.
Though the San Antonio Spurs are currently projected to win next season's title, they lose that status if Love gets traded to an Eastern contender. If the Cavs get Love, our panel has them as the overall 2015 title favorites. Same goes for the restocked Bulls if they acquire Minnesota's highly available power forward.
To be clear, these projections are pricing in the weakness of the East. We specifically asked panelists to predict a future Cavs (with Love) vs. Spurs Finals, and San Antonio came out as better than 60 percent favorites. The Spurs are thought to remain the league's best team, but they have to do more to make the Finals than an Eastern contender must.
The panel also sees Cleveland as the favorite to win the East if Love is not traded to Cleveland or Chicago. While adding Love certainly boosts the Cavs' chances, the panel sees a Love addition as far more important for Golden State than for Cleveland. Based on our projections, getting Love on the Warriors better than triples their chances of a title parade by the Bay.
ESPN Forecast: NBA title chances if Kevin Love is traded to Cleveland
Assuming the Cavs acquire Kevin Love in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett
| RANK | TEAM | TITLE ODDS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
More title odds: Indiana Pacers, 4.87%; Houston Rockets, 4.16%; Golden State Warriors, 3.96%; Miami Heat, 3.17%; Dallas Mavericks, 2.85%; Portland Trail Blazers, 2.60%; Memphis Grizzlies, 2.25%; Washington Wizards, 2.03%. ESPN Forecast: NBA title chances for teams with and without Kevin Love
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 San Antonio Spurs | |||||||||||||||||
 Oklahoma City Thunder | |||||||||||||||||
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 Chicago Bulls | |||||||||||||||||
By Grace Raynor
Retiring shortstop feted in pregame ceremony in final Arlington appearance.
By now, Derek Jeter is used to the celebrations, the pregame festivities that opposing teams honor him with in his final stops at their ballparks. Typically, he knows what to expect. But that wasn't fully the case Wednesday night when the Rangers honored the shortstop by surprising him with a special on-field presentation from the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
Bush, a former managing partner of the Rangers from 1989-1994, had just been on the video board a few minutes earlier, smiling as he recounted the advice Jeter had given him before he threw the first pitch of Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. Seven weeks removed from the 9/11 attacks, Bush was hoping his presence in Yankee Stadium would be a calming one to the American people that night.
"Don't bounce it," Jeter had told him. "They'll boo you."
Jeter laughed Wednesday, standing next to former Rangers All-Stars Michael Young and Ivan Rodriguez, only to see Bush enter the field from the Rangers' dugout area seconds later. Bush smiled, giving the baseball icon a signed photo taken in the indoor batting cage before he threw the first pitch that October night in New York.
Jeter didn't expect the on-field surprise.
"I had heard he was coming to the stadium, but I didn't know he was going on the field," Jeter said.
"That's a pretty special feeling, when you have a President come out and give you something to honor you. That's definitely a memory I'll have for a long time. I'll be able to brag to a lot of different people."
Rodriguez and Young presented Jeter with a $10,000 donation from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to go toward his Turn 2 Foundation, and he also received a pair of Lucchese Italian goat leather cowboy boots. The boots had his name, number and the Yankees' logo on them to have something to remember Texas by.
Jeter was asked if the surprise visit by President Bush was more meaningful than the gifts.
"It's an experience, you know what I mean?" said Jeter. "That's a gift within itself. Not too many people can say they've had the President come out and honor them in a ceremony. It meant a lot to me."
"I think you have to have a pretty special guy in order to have a ceremony like that," Young said. " In a lot of ways, Derek's kind of a cultural icon in this country, not necessarily just a Hall of Fame baseball player. But you have to be a pretty special guy in order to get that kind of a sendoff. I think Chipper [Jones] got it a lot, Cal Ripken Jr. of course, Mariano [Rivera], Derek -- giants of the game."
Jeter entered his final game in Globe Life Park on Wednesday batting .333 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs through 72 regular-season games there. He's played seven playoff games at the park -- in the American League Division Series in 1996, 1998 and 1999, and the AL Championship Series in 2010.
"He's an unbelievable player. When I'm not playing against him, I love to watch him play -- the things that he does, the things that he did in the field," Rodriguez said. "If there's a way to teach a kid how to hit a baseball, that's the best way to teach a kid how to hit a baseball."
Here is every deal made on MLB's exciting trade-deadline day.
By Mike Oz
First, exhale.
Major League Baseball's 4 p.m. ET deadline for non-waiver trades has passed and it was quite a ride. It was one of the best trade-deadline days in years, with aces moving, contenders getting better and a large number of major leaguers – not just prospects – swapping teams.
It was a lot to follow, especially in that final 45 minutes or so. We thought you, our wonderful reader, might be well served if The Stew collected every trade and put it in one single list.
Here you are. Enjoy ... while we exhale some more.
DAVID PRICE GOES TO THE TIGERS IN A THREE-TEAM SWAP
It happened. David Price finally got traded. He's a member of the Detroit Tigers now, joining Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez in what soon might be renamed Cy Young City. The Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners were also part of the deal, with the Rays getting pitcher Drew Smyly and shortstop Willy Adames from Detroit, plus infielder Nick Franklin from the Mariners. Seattle added outfielder Austin Jackson for their part in the deal. [More]
THE A'S GET JON LESTER FROM RED SOX FOR YOENIS CESPEDES
The other ace on the move happened Thursday morning, when the Oakland Athletics landed Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for slugger Yoenis Cespedes, a high-powered deal that set the tone for a wild day of trading for the Red Sox. [More]
JOHN LACKEY GOES TO ST. LOUIS
The Red Sox sent another starting pitcher, John Lackey, to the St. Louis Cardinals and got a nice return. Pitcher Joe Kelly and first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig came to Boston. What makes Lackey, 35, appealing is that a clause in his contract calls for him to make only $500K next season. It's been reported that Lackey plans to honor that and not seek a new deal. [More]
ANOTHER BOSTON MOVE: ANDREW MILLER TO BALTIMORE
The Red Sox then dealt highly sought-after relief pitcher Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles. This time, they got a player for the future in return. The O's gave up their No. 3 prospect, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. [More]
STEPHEN DREW GOES TO THE YANKEES
In a rare swap between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees, shortstop Stephen Drew was dealt to the Bronx for Kelly Johnson. Drew will play second base, not shortstop. It was the first deal between the two teams since 1997. [More]
YANKEES ALSO ADD MARTIN PRADO
The versatile Martin Prado, a 30-year-old who can play second base, third base and outfield, was also acquired by the Yankees. He's coming over from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Peter O'Brien, a powerful 24-year-old catcher/first baseman/outfielder who has hit 33 homers in Single-A and Double-A this season.
GERARDO PARRA TRADED TO MILWAUKEE
The Milwaukee Brewers added Gold Glove outfielder Gerardo Parra in a deal with the D-backs. Arizona adds a couple more minor leaguers — outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda. [More]
ASTROS-MARLINS SWAP YOUNGSTERS
Lots of players on the move here: The Houston Astros sent 24-year-old pitcher Jarred Cosart, rookie shortstop Enrique Hernandez and outfielder Austin Wates to the Miami Marlins, and got a decent return. The headline: third baseman Colin Moran, the sixth overall selection in last year's draft. Outfielder Jake Marisnick, pitcher Francis Martes and a draft pick also went back to Houston.
CUBS SEND BONIFACIO AND RUSSEL TO BRAVES
The Braves acquired sought-after outfielder/second baseman Emilio Bonifacio from the Chicago Cubs, along with pitcher James Russell. A lot of clubs seemed interested in Bonifacio, but the Braves nabbed him for prospect Victor Caratini, a catcher/third baseman.
NATS GET CABRERA TO HELP THEIR INFIELD
Asdrubal Cabrera is headed to the Washington Nationals from the Cleveland Indians, where he'll likely move from shortstop to second base. The Indians sent young shortstop Zach Walters back to the Nats. [More]
A'S SEND TOMMY MILONE TO THE TWINS, GET SAM FULD AGAIN
The now pitching-rich A's sent unhappy starter Tommy Milone to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for outfielder Sam Fuld. Funny story: Fuld was actually on the A's earlier this season, but was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Twins. [More]
MARINERS ADD DENORFIA FROM THE PADRES
Outfielder Chris Denorfia went to the Mariners, giving them a right-handed bat and some additional outfield help. He's a free agent after this season. In return, the Padres got outfielder Abraham Almonte and pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen.
Golf: I got a club for that… Leishman leads Bridgestone after opening-round 64.
By Will Gray
Firestone Country Club proved a stern test Thursday, but in the year of the Aussie, another player from down under holds the lead. Here’s how things look after the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, where Marc Leishman holds a one-shot advantage:
Leaderboard: Marc Leishman (-6), Ryan Moore (-5), Charl Schwartzel (-5), Justin Rose (-5), Patrick Reed (-3), Rickie Fowler (-3), Graham DeLaet (-3)
What it means: Leishman only has one PGA Tour win, but he contended on several big stages last year and is starting to heat up as 2014 winds to a close. Several big names got into red figures Thursday, though, including Rose, who has won two of his last three starts.
Round of the day: Leishman carded eight birdies against just two bogeys, shooting 3-under 32 on both sides. Though he hit only 11 of 18 greens in regulation, he made the most of his opportunities, needing only 24 putts to complete his round.
Best of the rest: Moore is on the U.S. Ryder Cup bubble, but after a 5-under 65 he has put his name near the top of the standings in Akron. The veteran made it around Firestone without dropping a shot, finishing his round with three birdies across his final five holes after starting on No. 10.
Biggest disappointment: Martin Kaymer demolished the field at Pinehurst just last month, but this time the German was on the receiving end of the punishment, opening with a 7-over 77. He didn’t make a single birdie all day, and his round included four bogeys in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 10-14 en route to an inward 40.
Main storyline heading into Friday: It remains to be seen who will emerge from a relatively crowded leaderboard, but one player who will have a chance to do so early Friday will be Tiger Woods. Woods opened with a 2-under 68, and will now turn around and play in the morning wave during the second round as he chases his ninth win at Firestone.
Quote of the day: “I drove the ball well. It makes this course a lot easier when you’re on the fairway. It’s pretty tough when you’re playing from the rough.” – Leishman
Deepest major field set for Valhalla.
Associated Press
The PGA Championship announced its field on Tuesday, which included those who qualified on PGA points (PGA Tour money earned in the past 12 months) and what it refers to as "special invitations." Translation: Anyone ranked in the top 100 on the world.
Whatever it's called, it works.
The 156-man field at Valhalla next week will include the top 100 players from the world ranking, barring anyone having to withdraw. It goes even deeper than that. One of the special invitations went to Kevin Chappell, who is No. 104 in the world.
The highest-ranked player not currently in the PGA Championship field is Jerry Kelly at No. 109. Kelly is the first alternate and most likely to get in because the PGA sets aside two spots for winners of the Bridgestone Invitational and Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nevada, if they are not already eligible. Pat Perez is the second alternate.
There were a few mysteries in the special invitations.
Stewart Cink received one of the spots, even though he is No. 149 in the world and was 21 spots behind Kelly in the PGA points list. Another invitation went to Robert Karlsson of Sweden, who is No. 115 in the world but has been making a rapid climb in the world ranking this year. Karlsson was outside the top 200 just over a month ago.
Of the 41 players who received special invitations, Cink, Chappell and David Hearn of Canada were the only ones who play exclusively on the PGA Tour. The other two Americans who received invitations are on the Champions Tour -- Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson and Kenny Perry, who grew up in Kentucky and lost in a playoff at Valhalla in the 1996 PGA Championship.
Woods still eyeing Snead's, Nicklaus' records.
By The Sports Xchange
While Tiger Woods is on the bubble to make the Ryder Cup team, he still has lofty records in his sights.
He is gunning for Sam Snead's all-time tournament record (he is three back) and Jack Nicklaus' majors record (he is four back).
"I think there are probably two goals that are pushing me right now which one is to get the all-time (tournament) wins record," Woods said. "I'm only three back of Sam (Snead) on that one and obviously the major record, you know, being four back of Jack. So, those two are pretty synonymous with the greats of the game of golf, to be number two and on both lists is not too bad. And that means I've had a pretty good career."
The more short-term goal is making the Ryder Cup team, and a strong performance this weekend at the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, would help immensely. Woods, playing in his third tournament since returning from surgery, has owned the course over his career.
"If he's playing well and he's healthy, I'll pick him," Tom Watson said at Royal Liverpool, where Woods finished 69th in his second tournament back from injury. "But then the caveat is if he doesn't get into the FedEx Cup (playoffs), what to do then? And that's the question I can't answer right now."
But Woods had a disappointing weekend at the British Open, which he was well aware of.
"Well, I didn't hit the ball very well; that's just plain and simple," he said. "I made so many mistakes. When I first came back at Congressional, I made a ton of mistakes there as well. My thought process was off. I missed the ball, like wrong sides. I was too passive at certain points and too aggressive at others."
New LPGA event to host '15 opener.
Associated Press
The LPGA Tour is starting the 2015 season in Florida for the first time in more than a decade.
The tour announced Tuesday that the Coates Golf Championship will be played Jan. 28-31 at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. The Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic will be held the following week.
The Coates Golf Championship will feature a 120-player field over 72 holes for a $1.5 million purse.
The tournament will start on Wednesday and end on Saturday, one day before the Super Bowl.
The last time the LPGA season opened in Florida was in 2001 in Orlando.
"Playing back-to-back events in Florida and The Bahamas in the East Coast time zone will be a great way for our fans to watch our first two events of the year live on Golf Channel," LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said.
Indy officials seek new ways to attract fans.
By MICHAEL MAROT (AP Sports Writer)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles keeps looking for ways to fill seats.
He has a full weekend of NASCAR and sports car races leading up to the Brickyard 400. He's kept motorcycles on the summer schedule at Indy and added road races and vintage car races. He's hired headline bands for concerts and camped inside the historic venue. But every year the challenge of keeping racing fans engaged gets a little tougher.
Race organizers increasingly compete against other sports and children's events while trying to get the fan dollars in a still tough economy.
Boles is sticking to his master plan.
''I think our focus last year and more so this year was how do we make the fan experience really great,'' Boles said after Sunday's most recent race, the Brickyard. ''We want to make sure it's a great experience, and we believe that if we can deliver that, we can deliver on putting fans in the seats.''
Even in the self-proclaimed racing capital of the world and in a city that seems to embrace nearly every sporting event in town, it's tough.
Formula One pulled Indy off its schedule as attendance figures dropped following the 2005 tire-marred debacle. On Sunday, race organizers covered up some of the expected empty seats at the Brickyard but still had tens of thousands empty. In two weeks, MotoGP riders who have frequently complained about Indy's road-course surface will get their first shot on the track's new road course configuration in front of what they hope will be a bigger crowd. Even the track's signature event, the Indianapolis 500, has struggled to sell out the estimated 225,000 seats.
While Indy ranks at or near the top of the most attended races in IndyCar, Cup and MotoGP, Boles is convinced he can win his race to bring more fans to the track.
He points to the uptick in infield ticket sales on a rainy weekend even though those tickets are cheaper and allow children 12 and under to get in for free with a paying adult. The estimated crowd was about 85,000.
Some argue that moving the Brickyard to Indy's road course would help. A year ago, many of those same people thought the solution would be making the Brickyard a night race.
Boles doesn't buy it.
''I think everyone agrees that Indianapolis Motor Speedway under lights would be really cool. But it's hard to make that case from a business sense,'' Boles said when asked about adding lights to the track. ''It would take an estimated $20 to $25 million to do it and that's on the low end.
''Our brand is, especially with IndyCar and NASCAR, on ovals, so I think it would be difficult to move it to the road course, too,'' he added.
Drivers don't want to see major changes, either.
''You have to get it done with a great racecar. You do it on restarts. You have to have good pit stops, pit strategy,'' five-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon said. ''The significance of this win at this point in the season, what it does for you as a team, confidence, positioning yourself to try to go win a championship, I don't know how you really rank it. In my opinion, for me personally, this is it. This is as good as it gets.''
The key is making fans feel the same way.
So Boles is looking to add bigger concerts and more races to Indy's already busy schedule. He already has The Grand Prix of Indianapolis, an IndyCar road race, on May 9 and the 500 on May 24. He expects the Brickyard to be back in late July, hopes to have a new deal for the 2015 MotoGP race finished by the end of race weekend and is considering adding a September race.
But it's only a start as Boles tries to bring fans back to the track that once served as Indy's biggest social club.
''The one place I was really surprised about was seeing how many people were on the infield mounds (for the Brickyard),'' he said. ''We put a lot of effort trying to make those a better viewing experience for the fans and it seemed to work.''
Glazers set to raise $150m by selling Man U shares.
By ROB HARRIS (AP Sports Writer)
Manchester United's American owners are set to raise around $150 million by selling more of their shares in the club on the New York Stock Exchange.
The English Premier League club announced Wednesday that the Glazer family is selling 8 million shares with reduced voting rights, which equates to around 5 percent of the business. The Glazers, who maintain control of the club, previously sold 10 percent of their holding via a stock listing in 2012.
The announcement comes two months after Malcom Glazer, who led the family takeover of United in 2005, died. His six grown children control the club.
The latest share sale was announced on a day when United shares closed at $19.31, with the Glazers cashing in at a time of renewed confidence at the club.
Former Netherlands and Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal has taken charge following a dismal first season of the post-Alex Ferguson era under David Moyes that saw the team finish seventh and fail to qualify for the Champions League.
United also signed a 10-year kit sponsorship deal earlier this month with Adidas, announcing that it would be worth an overall 750 million pounds ($1.3 billion) from 2015.
But United has disclosed to potential investors in the new share prospectus that failure to play in the Champions League for two or more consecutive seasons would see the annual Adidas payments drop from that second year by 30 percent from 75 million pounds to 52.5 million pounds ($89 million). If United is relegated, Adidas can cut its payments in half during seasons out of the Premier League, and give a season's notice to terminate the sponsorship. Conversely the fee could rise by up to four million pounds ($7 million) each year if the team wins the Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup.
Ferguson left after 26 years as manager, winning 13 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice during an unprecedented period of domination. A loss of Champions League revenue from UEFA is already set to cost the club around $60 million next season.
''Our success and many achievements over the last 20 years does not necessarily mean that we will continue to be successful in the future, whether as a result of changes in player personnel, coaching staff or otherwise,'' United said in the share prospectus. ''A downturn in the performance of our first team could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain coaches and players.''
United said success on the pitch is key to ''the value and strength of our brand and reputation,'' with a global array of sponsorship deals helping the club generate an estimated revenue of around 430 million pounds ($727 million) for the year to June 30, 2014.
Claiming to have 659 million followers around the world has helped to drive up turnover in recent years, but United has conceded that ''our popularity in certain countries or regions may depend, at least in part, on fielding certain players from those countries or regions.''
Man United issue Champions League warning.
AFP
Manchester United's owners on Thursday warned investors the club may struggle to keep their best players if they miss out on Champions League qualification for a second consecutive season.
"Because of the prestige associated with participating in the European competitions, particularly the Champions League, failure to qualify for any European competition, particularly for consecutive seasons, would negatively affect our ability to attract and retain talented players and coaching staff, as well as supporters, sponsors and other commercial partners," owners the Glazer family said in the club's prospectus.
United also revealed that income from their new 10-year kit deal with Adidas will fall by 30 percent to £52.5 million ($88.6 million, 66.2 million euros) per year if they miss out on the Champions League for two seasons in a row.
Former manager David Moyes was sacked by United in April for failing to secure a Champions League place last season and his successor Louis van Gaal will be expected to steer the club back into the lucrative competition.
The Glazer family have also announced plans to sell five percent of their 90 percent stake in the club -- eight million shares -- for around $150 million.
The proceeds will go to the Glazer's investment vehicle, Red Football LLC, rather than the club itself.
After rising steeply following the announcement of the Adidas deal earlier this month, United's shares closed at $19.31 in New York on Wednesday.
Are you ready for some football? It's going to be a fabulous year!!! Let's go Bears!!!
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Chicago Bears 2014-15 Super Bowl Champions?!?!?!?!?
Why college football preseason polls don't and shouldn't matter.
Jon Solomon, National College Football Writer
Welcome back to the silly season of preseason polls. These are the talk-friendly rankings that stir up interest in late July and August, generate online page views and debate on talk radio, and typically look meaningless in December.
The coaches poll was released Thursday. Beware, No. 1 Florida State. No preseason No. 1 in the coaches poll has finished No. 1 since Southern California in 2004. Five of the past six preseason No. 1s finished No. 8 or lower and with two or three losses.
Now, more than ever, the 2013 season should be a reminder of the value of preseason polls. Here's how last year's final top 5 teams were ranked in the preseason: Florida State (No. 12), Auburn (not ranked), Michigan State (not ranked), South Carolina (No. 7), Missouri (not ranked).
In six of the past seven seasons, at least three preseason top-10 teams finished with four or more losses. Injuries, hype, complacency, team chemistry, poor coaching and plain bad luck can all cause a preseason top-10 team to crash and burn.
In the past, preseason polls could directly impact the final BCS standings. The coaches poll rankings fed into the BCS rankings that were released later in the season. So how people viewed a team in the preseason -- before a single game had been played -- could help or hurt you in December. Voting habits changed in recent years allowing teams to be reshuffled depending on how the season plays out, yet it would still be an advantage to start high.
It remains to be seen if the preseason polls will or won't impact the playoff selection committee moving forward. Will the committee allow for the natural fluidity of surprising teams to emerge without preconceived notions based on tradition and past performances?
"Up until this year, I don't know if we did [have a shot]," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "I'm not sexy. We're not sexy, you know? Our fans don't click on websites enough, on dot-com sites. All that nonsense is gone."
Maybe. But in honor of that nonsense driving fan interest, here's one more poll: The worst preseason top-10 picks from the coaches poll since 2006:
1. 2012 Arkansas: Preseason No. 10, finished 4-8
2. 2013 Florida: Preseason No. 10, finished 4-8
3. 2010 Texas: Preseason No. 4, finished 5-7
4. 2012 USC: Preseason No. 3, finished 7-6
5. 2011 Texas A&M: Preseason No. 9, finished 7-6
6. 2008 Clemson: Preseason No. 9, finished 7-6
7. 2006 Florida State: Preseason No. 10, finished 7-6
8. 2013 Georgia: Preseason No. 5, finished 8-5
9. 2010 Iowa: Preseason No. 10, finished 8-5
10. 2013 Texas A&M: Preseason No. 6 (1 first-place vote), finished 9-4
Just think: It's only 18 days until the Associated Press preseason poll comes out.
Will Emmanuel Mudiay's jump to China be the start of a trend for recruits?
By Pat Forde and Dan Wetzel
The talk of the college basketball recruiting circuit this summer centered around a prospect who wasn't headed to college.
Emmanuel Mudiay, a top-five guard in the class of 2014 out of Dallas, was once signed for SMU and hall of fame coach Larry Brown. Instead he opted to turn pro, some say because of finances, many others say because of eligibility concerns.
The reason didn't matter. What did were the terms of the deal he signed and who he signed it with: a $1.275 million contract to play a single 30-35 game season for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.
That's $1.275 million, mostly tax-free, for five months of work. Moreover, the season ends in March, allowing him plenty of time to prep for next June's NBA draft. It's a lot more than tuition, room and board offered by SMU and more than enough to spin heads all over the recruiting trail.
"I think the new snack money will convince kids to go to school," joked Louisville coach Rick Pitino as he watched the AAU Nationals here earlier this month, referencing the NCAA initiative to provide unlimited food to players.
"We've got free Power Bars," he continued.
If future high school players make plans based solely on the bottom line, then Mudiay would turn out to be a trailblazer, because in terms of dollars this is a mismatch.
No one expects that, however.
The vast majority of American players will continue to choose to go to college for at least one year until they are eligible for the NBA draft. College athletics, for all the attacks it is enduring, still offers myriad benefits, including national television exposure, an opportunity at an education, competition in the famed NCAA tournament, tremendous camaraderie and the comforts of home.
Playing in China does none of those things.
That said, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) offers its own unique benefits beyond a potentially vast payday. It's what makes the Mudiay-Guangdong deal the most intriguing signing in basketball outside of LeBron James' return to Cleveland.
In the United States, much of the focus is on whether Mudiay has a positive experience and returns as a lottery pick, with a lot of money already earned.
"I think a lot of people will take inventory on this," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "How does it go for Mudiay? If it goes well and he has success over there and he's a top-10 pick, some other people may look at it. I think it will cause a ripple effect if he has a lot of success."
What's even more important, however, is whether the investment works for the Southern Tigers, namely if the franchise, already one of the strongest in the CBA, effectively markets the opportunity to watch a young talent and future NBA star (much the way U.S. colleges do). Profit isn't the sole determination either, as only a few CBA clubs make money.
Excitement plays a role.
If this is a win for the team, then it won't be the last of the CBA's 18 franchises waving million-dollar plus contracts around high school gyms and AAU tournaments in an effort to draw a next generation star away from the college ranks.
With that kind of money on the table, some of the best players are going to take it. Maybe it's only a couple of players a year, but that's a change from the current situation.
"China is about new things," said Giovanni Funiciello, president of Los Angeles-based GCF Sports Management and a prominent agent and sports marketer in Chinese basketball since 1999. "You have a potential star in the making. I'm not going to put Mudiay in the category of LeBron James, but if [a team marketed] the possibility of a LeBron prior to going to the NBA …
"Is that going to mean more money out of it?" he continued. "I don't know yet. The jury is out on that. But it's possible. It's definitely possible."
Currently, Chinese teams are limited to just two foreign players and until now they have chosen veteran Americans. If a young up-and-comer is deemed more enticing, then that could shift.
The unique nature of Chinese basketball, opposed to the far more mature, competitive and cutthroat European leagues, is why this is different than previous players who chose to play professionally overseas directly out of high school. The most notable of those is current Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings, who went to Italy in 2008-09 and struggled to find playing time or get paid what was once believed to be a seven-figure deal.
Jennings returned as a lottery pick but it didn't result in a flood of players making the leap, mainly because there was little reason for the Euro teams to want them.
In China, there could be both demand and some varied benefits for American players.
The Money
It's significant and will be mostly tax-free, with a Texas resident such as Mudiay needing only to contribute to social security. And it's quick cash: the season is just five months long. He'll be home by spring.
With a favorable exchange rate and a cost of living that is paltry by American standards, Mudiay can bring a vast support system with him to ease the transition and live like a king, all while saving money and supporting people back home. This isn't just scraping by.
"For a high school kid to bank $800,000 going into his first year in the NBA is going to send a message to other kids," Pitino said. "And for that kind of money, a lot of parents would probably go with them. It's only [five] months, and there's no school, which a lot of them don't want to do anyway."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated he wants to extend the current age limit to two years, a move most in basketball expect to happen eventually. If so, then the potential earnings in China double, while the NCAA expects the best young talent in the world to remain uncompensated amateurs.
"If it's two years, then you could be talking three or four million dollars," Funiciello notes. "That's an awful lot to pass up."
The Play
Euroleague is grown man's basketball, with ultra competitive rivalries, coaches focused on winning – not developing teenagers destined to leave at season's end – and opponents who can overwhelm even the most impressive prospect. It has a lengthy schedule, running from October to mid-May. The fans are sophisticated and demand strong play.
Even obvious talents such as Jennings and Ricky Rubio, both instant starters in the NBA, struggled to get off the bench as 18 year olds. Besides the obvious risk to draft stock, it takes a headstrong player to survive that kind of humbling.
In China, the level of play is far more casual. There is rudimentary coaching according to American players and observers of the league, and defense is often lax. It's not unheard of for American players on opposing teams to engage in wink-and-nod defensive deals to help increase scoring and preserve jobs.Culturally, American players are expected to score the most points in each game and average between 20 and 30 a contest. It is actually considered wrong for an American to pass up a shot.
This sometimes leads to absurd stat lines, such as former Rutgers player Quincy Douby once pouring in 75 points in a game, journeyman NBA player Bobby Brown going for 74 points and 10 rebounds once this season (he went 26-for-52 from the floor) or onetime Atlanta Hawk Ivan Johnson having a 54-point, 19-rebound effort.
"They aren't bringing Emmanuel in to average less than 20 points a game," Funiciello said. "If he averages less than that, then there's a problem."
The basketball may be bastardized, but the risk of being exposed is minimal. And how many young players aren't interested in having a complete green light against weak defenses, all while never having to crack a textbook?
There may not be great skill development (there often isn't in college hoops either) but this is a soft landing spot, nothing like Europe.
"To many people, college is everything," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "But to some people, maybe it's not the right fit … for some people [playing professionally in China] may be a better fit."
The Marketing
American sports fans know Kentucky and Kansas. Guangdong, they do not. The province is home to 104 million people though, and the Southern Tigers are routinely a contender for the title and feature a number of beloved national team players.
Playing college basketball is a tremendous marketing opportunity for a young player, but playing in the Chinese Basketball Association as a hyped, up-and-comer could be a game-changer for the right person.
"The potential could be big," Funiciello said. "The Chinese would see the player as one of their own and follow him when he gets to the NBA. The inroads in China would be incredible if he becomes a perennial NBA All-Star."
It's not a foreign concept, as fans of major college powers often follow former players' NBA careers, even if they are on campus just six months. In this case the numbers multiple. The University of Kentucky likes to call its vast array of fans as the Big Blue Nation. China is an actual nation, and one with 1.35 billion residents where basketball is quickly becoming the most popular sport.
Meanwhile, the trend with U.S. companies is to tie more and more of their budgets up in fewer and fewer players, mostly LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and a couple others. So looking overseas for outside income makes sense.
"There's not a lot of advertising dollars left in the United States," Funiciello said. "It's not like the early 1990s when everyone was getting money. A couple guys have monopolized the endorsements."
This isn't new, but it continues to grow as the Chinese economy and its interest in basketball develop. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant have made tens of millions hawking everything from shoes to cereal in China – Shaq remains the most popular pitchman despite retiring in 2011. It extends beyond the biggest stars though.
Retired NBA veteran Shane Battier has his own lucrative deal with Peak shoes and apparel. Stephon Marbury became wildly popular in China after coming to the CBA. Tracy McGrady found a second life. And dozens of American players head over during the summer for promotional opportunities. The opportunity, and cash, is there.
The Potential
Adam Silver has stated he hopes to bridge the gap between pro fans and college fans, only a small number of which overlap. He simply wants "basketball fans." The two-year age limit could be part of that, helping the college game maintain continuity and star power.
While the league office is not focused on the potential of Mudiay, the possibility remains. If this were beneficial to all, why wouldn't the NBA want a handful of its young players connecting with Chinese fans and helping continue to open up a market that has long intrigued league executives.
In terms of sheer numbers, China is bigger than the NCAA could ever dream. If the Mudiay experiment works, why wouldn't the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association consider direct cooperation of future stars and not just be a landing spot for aging ones?
None of this is to say it's easy or sure to work.
Mudiay still must thrive in a new basketball structure. The coaching may not be great. There are forever concerns about the state of medical care. And he has to do it while living in Mainland China, a completely different culture. There is a major language barrier, the food is different and the familiarities of home are far away. It's a daily grind even for experienced travelers.
So this could also be a disaster.
And even if he can do well on perhaps the most solidly run team in the league, ensuing players would find that each franchise is different, ranging from reasonable fits to complete shocks that might forestall recruitment.
The Xinjiang Flying Tigers, for instance, are capable of doling out almost unlimited salaries because like much of the league, it isn't run like a business trying to be profitable, but as an entertainment point. In the past it has paid big to bring in prominent former NBA players such as Kenyon Martin.
It's also located in the remote city of Urumqi, which is tucked between Kazakhstan, Siberia and Mongolia. It would be the hardest of sells for an American teenager.
Still, the possibilities here are considerable, especially if this works for the Chinese. This isn't Brandon Jennings trying Europe. The Chinese generally favor American big men, but if a smooth, open court player such as Mudiay becomes a fan favorite, then options open up for all sorts of kids who may be willing to take a well-compensated leap away from the NCAA.
No one thinks every top American prospect will suddenly pack up for the Far East. College basketball isn't going to crumble because of this.
That doesn't mean the Emmanuel Mudiay Experiment isn't capable of moving past the talk of the summer recruiting circuit and into a pioneering move that could change the game in its wake.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, August 1, 2014
MemoriesofHistory.com
1945 - Mell Ott hit his 500th career home run.
1972 - Joe Namath signed a two year contract worth $500,000 with the New York Jets.
1976 - The Seattle Seahawks played their first (preseason) game. The Seahawks lost 27-20 to San Francisco.
1978 - Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds ended his streak of hitting in 44 consecutive games.
1986 - John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal were married.
1986 - Bert Blyleven became only the 10th pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in his career.
1993 - Reggie Jackson was admitted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
2005 - It was announced that Raphael Palmeiro would be suspended for 10 days after testing positive for steroid use. Palmeiro stood by his statements to the U.S. Congress on March 17, 2005, that he had never taken steroids.
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