CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Friday Sports News Update and What's Your Take? 01/02/2015.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica

"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"

Sports Quote of the Day:

 “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.” ~ Neil Gaiman, Author

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Brouwer's late-game goal tops Blackhawks at Winter Classic 3-2.

By Tracey Myers

Eric Fehr #16 of the Washington Capitals approaches goaltender Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks on a breakaway to score in the first period during the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2015 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Blackhawks were about 13 seconds away from killing off a Jonathan Toews hooking penalty, a dubious call at a tough time. But before they could nix the Washington Capitals’ power play and head to overtime, one of their former players ended their day early.

Troy Brouwer scored a power-play goal with 12.9 seconds remaining and the Capitals beat the Blackhawks 3-2 at the Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon. It was a tough ending for the Blackhawks, who will also have to weather another loss. Kris Versteeg blocked a shot off his left hand early in the third period and will be out “a bit,” coach Joel Quenneville said. Usually, “a bit,” has meant several weeks. Quenneville said he will know more on Versteeg’s status on Friday.

Brandon Saad scored. Patrick Sharp also scored (a power-play goal) for the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks got their own late power-play opportunity when Matt Niskanen was whistled for boarding. That call was pretty questionable, as well. With Toews in the box on his suspect penalty, the Caps went on one last power-play charge. Alex Ovechkin tried to shoot but his stick was slashed in two by either Brent Seabrook or Saad. Brouwer swarmed on the loose puck and scored.

“It was a scrum,” Corey Crawford said. “Ovechkin got his stick knocked down, it was kind of a broken play and their guy made a quick shot and it squeezed through.”

Toews didn’t want to get into the call much after the game.

“I don’t think that, given the circumstances, that that situation should have been called but that’s just my opinion and it’s the way it goes, I guess,” Toews said. “You don’t agree with everything that happens out there.”

Quenneville didn’t get too upset about the call, either.

“We had a power play before that,” he said. “So I think both teams had their turn and they cashed in.”

The Blackhawks had a few turns on the power play on Thursday. They got one, when Sharp scored just seven seconds into a Nicklas Backstrom minor to cut the Caps’ lead to 2-1 at the time. But it was more about the power-play opportunities they let get away. They squandered their biggest chance midway through the second period when they went on a 5-on-3 for 91 seconds. The Blackhawks spent more time passing than shooting on it.

"Yeah, you always hear it: if you don’t score on a 5-on-3 sometimes it can come back to get you,” Sharp said. “We didn’t put one away.”

Quenneville mentioned that after the game.

“To me, that’s always [if] you don't score on 5-on-3s, you generally don't win and that ended up being the result,” he said. “I would have taken overtime any day of the week there, if we would have got to a 5-on-3. But a lot of times, you’ve got an opportunity for that length of time and the mentality today was just shoot the puck and things happen. But on the 5-on-3 it's not the same mentality, which probably didn't help us.”

The Blackhawks left Washington, D.C. with a bittersweet taste. They enjoyed another outdoor game but were frustrated by the result. They weren’t thrilled with the late hooking call but they weren’t stewing about it, either.

“I don’t know how much that play deserved a call there, how much it had to do with maybe us getting a few more opportunities on the power play previously in the game. It is what it is. They got their bounce they were looking forward with 12 seconds or so left and we walk away with nothing,” Toews said. “It’s not a good feeling…. We wanted to come in and steal two points from them in their own building here on the road. It didn’t work out the way we wanted it to but in a couple of days it’s back to our normal routine and we’ll be ready for that. It’s unfortunate, that break at the end.” 

Blackhawks' Kris Versteeg could be out 'a bit' with apparent hand injury.

By Tracey Myers

Kris Versteeg immediately grabbed his left hand, moments after an Eric Fehr shot caromed off it. And the postgame diagnosis for the Blackhawks forward didn’t sound too good.

“He could be out for a bit but we’ll know more [on Friday],” coach Joel Quenneville said of Versteeg.

Now to anyone who’s heard Quenneville describe previous injuries this season, “a bit” has usually meant several weeks. So once again, the Blackhawks will probably be down a player for several games. Versteeg has been having a renaissance season, recording nine goals and 18 assists in 33 games. He was part of a strong second-line combination with Brad Richards and Patrick Kane, who fueled the Blackhawks on their Circus Trip in November.

But if the Blackhawks have done one thing well this season — well, they’ve done several things well but stick with us — it’s been weathering injuries. The team went 11-3-0 when Patrick Sharp was out a month with a right-knee injury, thanks to contributions across the board. They won seven of the eight games Corey Crawford missed with his left-leg injury, thanks to Antti Raanta and Scott Darling.

So if Versteeg is out a few weeks, and it’s looking like that’s the case, the Blackhawks will fill the void as best they can.

“Yeah, we’ve had injuries and guys have stepped up to the plate,” Brandon Saad said. “If he’s out for a bit of time it’s going to be tough with how he’s playing and the way that line’s playing. But someone’s going to have to fill the role.”

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session… Block party: Bulls set franchise record in win over Nuggets 106-101.

By Mark Strotman

Jimmy Butler #21 led the Bulls in scoring with 26 points against the Denver Nuggets at the United Center in Chicago, Thursday, January 1, 2015. (Photo/Bill Smith/Chicago Bulls)      

Part of what disappointed Tom Thibodeau following the Bulls’ 82-point outing in a loss to the Nets on Tuesday was that his group could have affected the game in other areas on a clear off-night shooting the ball.

Those same shooting woes crept up Thursday, but the Bulls responded with a menacing defensive effort, recording a franchise record 18 blocks in a 106-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Pau Gasol neared a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine of those blocks, Jimmy Butler added 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Derrick Rose, despite another off night from the field, stepped up in the fourth quarter with 13 of his 17 points to help push the Bulls to victory and avoid a second straight home defeat.

The Bulls shot just 32 percent in the first half despite making five of their nine 3-point attempts. It began with a handful of missed shots around the rim from Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol, resulting in them making just 10 of 38 two-pointers as a team; seven of those misses came via Rose, who entered the game having made only 10 of his last 47 shots dating back to Saturday.

The two teams played within a possession of each other much of the first half, with Denver unable to capitalize on the Bulls’ poor shooting. But Wilson Chandler, who was a game-time decision with a quad contusion, scored eight straight points to give the Nuggets a 43-35 lead. Ty Lawson scored six points in the final 2 minutes to extend the lead to a game-high 11 at the break, 53-42. Kenneth Faried grabbed 14 rebounds in just 16 minutes.

The Bulls offense picked up in the third quarter, thanks in part to their leading scorer. Jimmy Butler, who had nine points on 3-for-7 shooting in the first half, responded with 15 points in the third stanza, hitting all four of his shots and all six of his free throws as the Bulls continued to chip away at the lead. His scoring helped, but it was his dribble penetration and pass to Kirk Hinrich for 3 that gave the Bulls a 77-74 lead after three quarters.

Gasol blocked five shots in the quarter alone, with the Nuggets shooting just 32 percent from the field and shooting just 6-for-16 in the paint.

The Nuggets fought back and briefly took the lead in the fourth quarter, but Rose, who had made just tow of his first 16 shots, hit a pair of floaters to give the Bulls a three-point lead. He put the exclamation point on the game with a 3-pointer, followed by a steal and alley-oop pass to Jimmy Butler that extended the lead to eight with less than 4 minutes to go.

The Nuggets got as close as three in the final minute but free throws from Aaron Brooks and Rose sealed things.

Faried finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds, while Ty Lawson added 20 points and seven assists in defeat.

Mike Dunleavy left the game early in the third quarter after rolling his right ankle. He was available to return but did not come back in the contest. He was seen on the bench with his left knee wrapped up.

Bulls notes: McDermott (knee) feels like a 'new man'.

By Mark Strotman
                                                                       

Chicago Bulls Doug McDermott #3 (Nick Laham/Getty Images North America)

Doug McDermott was seen taking 3-pointers following the Bulls' shootaround Thursday, and the rookie says he's progressing well nearly three weeks since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

"I feel like a new man than I did even to start the year," McDermott said. "I just feel fresh, man. My legs feel fresh, my knees feel 100 percent better. I’m squatting better than I ever have and my shot feels really good, so I’m excited to get back."

McDermott said he hopes his continued rehabilitation will allow him to begin practicing in "a couple weeks," and that his six-to-eight week timetable given after his surgery on Dec. 13 will be closer to the former than the latter.

The No. 11 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, McDermott originally said his undisclosed injury was "very minor" and that he expected to return shortly after. He had felt discomfort late in the Bulls' 16-day annual Circus Trip when the team went to the East Coast for two games.

Still, being a coach's kid through high school and college, McDermott has tried to make the most of his sidelining by soaking in all he can before making his return. Prior to his injury he had averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game.

"Just sitting on the bench during the game. The spacing, how to play off the bigs we have because we throw it in the post a lot. And just watching Mike and Jimmy and Aaron, Kirk, all those guys what they do out there, not just offensively but defensively, too," he said. "Just positioning-wise and how well they communicate together you can tell they’ve played together for a little bit and that’s something I’m going to have to step up if I want to play.

"It’s tough, especially being a rookie. You’re just getting your feet wet, trying to get used to things and then this happens. It’s really tough but I’ve tried to keep positive. I show up for early group every day to watch the plays, draw up the plays, just try to stay engaged and become even better mentally when I come back."

THIBODEAU HAS RESPECT FOR ROBINSON

Nate Robinson will be back in the United Center tonight when the Bulls take on the Nuggets. And for Tom Thibodeau it's another chance to reunite with one of the most colorful player he's had a chance to be around.

"Nate's a character. He did a great job for us and the thing about Nate is, I always said he's scaring both coaches right now," Thibodeau said laughing. "But he was wonderful. I've got a lot of respect for him. Obviously I coached him in Boston, too, but he's a great teammate and he did a great job for us."

Robinson played just one season in Chicago in 2012-13, but he made it a memorable one. In 82 games he averaged 13.1 points and 4.4 assists, and became a lethal scorer off the bench for a Bulls team that dealt with injuries throughout the year to Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. His most memorable game in a Bulls uniform came in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs. Facing the Nets without Deng, Robinson scored 34 points - including 29 after halftime - in the Bulls' thrilling 142-134 triple-overtime victory.

"We were shorthanded that whole season and at the end we lost a number of guys through quirks, really. And Nate was one of the guys that stepped up and he played great. Got a lot of respect for that. He's a great competitor and he brings energy. Brings juice every day to the team and I like that about him."

BUTLER PASSES ROSE IN ALL-STAR VOTING

The latest NBA All-Star balloting returns were revealed Thursday, and Jimmy Butler has passed Derrick Rose in the voting.

Butler's 174,250 votes rank fifth in the East among guards, while Rose, a three-time All-Star, trails him in sixth place with 168,281 votes. Butler stands a good chance of making his first All-Star Game, which will take place in New York on Feb. 15.

Pau Gasol has moved up to second in frontcourt voting, trailing only LeBron James. Gasol has been a reserve All-Star on four occasions but has never started the game.

Do NBA defenders try harder in fourth quarter? Numbers suggest yes.

By Kurt Helin

Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs

You hear this from casual fans all the time: NBA players only play hard on defense in the fourth quarter, then in the playoffs. As a die-hard NBA fan you can try to refute that all you want — the fact is that even when well defended a lot of NBA players can shoot a reasonable percentage anyway, the “good offense beats good defense” theory — but the more you deny it the more the casual fan wants to believe it.

And statistics show it may be true.

Over at numberfire.com Bryan Mears used the stats from the fantastic NBASavant.com, which digests the NBA’s Sports VU Camera data, and found this:

The average defender is a lot closer to the shooter in the fourth quarter and overtime than in the first three quarters of the game.

In the first quarter the average defender is 4.518 feet away from the shooter, then that number drops slightly in the second and third quarters (4.461 and 4.455 feet). You can understand that drop as teams adjust their defenses and get in the flow of the game.

Then in the fourth quarter that distance drops noticeably to 4.366, then it plummets to 4.063 in overtime. The pattern is more noticeable with shots inside eight feet — the distance is 5.215 in the first quarter and it is 5.002 in the fourth quarter and 4.631 in overtime.

Mears talks about the potential reasons for the drop.

The dip when the fourth quarter hits is the interesting part — it may not seem like much, but considering we’re analyzing thousands of shots that were taken a different distances, a minor change in average defender distance warrants notice. 

When overtime comes, things ramp up even more. The league has defined an open shot as one where the defender was four feet away or farther. The average jumpshot is considered uncontested by this definition, but with thousands of open shots and dunks and layups, this is also fairly intuitive. So when that defender distance dips almost to four — like it does it overtime — and the average shot is contested, players are really scrambling and sticking with players.

Interesting.

There are other variables — teams tend to play their better defenders more late, for example. There’s also questions about what this all really means.

To me, the most interesting test would be to run this study again on playoff games. Granted, the best defensive teams generally make and advance farther in the playoffs, but do you see more effort and more contested shots in the postseason than you do generally.

The answer may well be yes.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears not locked into Jay Cutler as their quarterback for 2015. What's Your Take?  

By John Mullin

Jay Cutler was part of the vetting process for Marc Trestman. More bizarre, Mike Martz flew to Nashville to be interviewed by Cutler before being hired as coordinator in 2010.

That cycle is no longer. This time Cutler will be told who his new head coach and coordinator are, not the other way around.

If he is still a Bear, that is.

"I don’t see any players playing a role in that decision,” Bears President Ted Phillips said on Monday. “Ultimately, as the process winds down, if a candidate wants to meet with whoever on the club, we’ll obviously consider that at that point."

For all of what was happening on the Bears’ private Black Monday, with general manager Phil Emery, Trestman and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer fired, and Ernie Accorsi hired to find GM and coach replacements, something was conspicuously missing.

Neither Phillips nor Chairman George McCaskey lavished anything close to a strong endorsement, vote of confidence or wording that included “franchise quarterback” or “elite” in talking about Cutler.

Quite the contrary, in fact. The senior management of the Bears clarified that the incoming GM and coach will not be required to remain saddled with Cutler just because of the $15.5 million already committed to the quarterback for 2015.

“I would say that the head coach and general manager have the discretion to decide who fits on our club, whether it’s quarterback or any other position,” Phillips said. “Look, nobody played to the levels we had expected this year. We’re 5-11. That’s what we are. We need to be better and the ultimate end, whoever the coach and GM are, they’re going to have the decisions to make as to who best fits our team at any position.”

"Any other position" obviously includes wide receiver, where Brandon Marshall's succession of distractions over the past season (the latest being challenging a radio host to a fight on Monday) may be more than a new regime cares to indulge the way the Trestman administration did.

McCaskey was equally clear on two points: that the call on Cutler will belong to the new staff, and, equally important, money will not be the tipping point.

“I’m a fan of Jay’s personally and I’m a fan of Jay’s professionally,” McCaskey said. “But all of the personnel decisions are going to be up to the new general manager and the new head coach.”

When the organization signed off on the cost of firing and paying off the contracts of Emery, Trestman and others, the die was cast that established that throwing good money after bad was not the plan.

“The balance swung overwhelmingly in favor of doing the right thing,” McCaskey said of the firings. “The money wasn’t a factor. We decided to do was in the best interest of the Chicago Bears regardless of the money situation.”

Cutler may have some significant difficulties reading defenses but he may be more than adept at reading situations.

After the final inept offensive performance of 2014 in the 13-9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Cutler had a simple answer on whether or not he knew if he would be the Bears in 2015: “No.”

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: The quarterback position must be addressed. Personally, I have no problem with Jay Cutler. I know he's a fine young man with a lot of talent. Some say he's the best quarterback the Bears have ever had. Not, I totally disagree with that. He may have the passing records but moving the ball up and down the field doesn't mean a thing if you don't win games and continue to commit more fumbles and throw more interceptions than any other quarterback in the league. The defense has been horrible the last two years, granted, but what about his years with Denver and his previous years with the Bears? He can't beat Green Bay, he can't get them to the playoffs, his mechanics are questionable (constantly throwing off of his back foot) and often throwing to covered receivers!!! "Talent without discipline is talent wasted" and that's a fact. Cutler may have the big contract but the next head coach and staff will not tolerate his ineptness. He will not be interviewing the coaches, they'll be judging him. And if he doesn't produce, he will be gone. You can bank on it.

We feel that the Bears and Cutler both need a fresh start. With a new GM, a new coach and a new attitude, the Bears will be able to set a new tone for expectations, objectives and performance. Cutler needs a fresh start to get away from the negativity that he has experienced this season to enable him to start anew without the mental stress and undue pressure.   

To reiterate a line from Friday' thoughts article, in our very honest, frank, forthright and blunt assessment of the Bears quarterback situation: No Coach or GM Can Save the Chicago Bears as Long as Jay Cutler Is Their QB.

Again, this is not a personal attack on Jay Cutler but strictly a football observation and necessity to improve the team.  

This is just our take, we'd love to know what you think. Please post your opinions in the comment section at the bottom of this blog. Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica sports blog editor.   

Report: Bears Request Permission To Interview 5 For GM Job.

CBSchicago.com/sports

The Bears have requested permission to interview five individuals for their vacant general manager job, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The candidates are Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard, Titans vice president of player personnel Lake Dawson, Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta, Texans director of pro personnel Brian Gaine and Saints director of player personnel Ryan Pace, Schefter reported.

Ballard is a familiar name around these parts, as he spent 11 seasons with the Bears previously — as an area scout from 2001-’11 and as the director of pro scouting in 2012 before moving on to Kansas City. He had a hand in the Bears drafting Pro Bowlers Matt Forte, Johnny Knox, Charles Tillman, Tommie Harris and Nathan Vasher.

Dawson, 42, has worked for eight seasons in Tennessee, “managing day-to-day football operations and overseeing the pro personnel and college scouting departments,” according to the Tennessean. Dawson interviewed for GM jobs with the Dolphins and Buccaneers last offseason.

DeCosta is one of the hottest names around, as he’s worked under the respected Ozzie Newsome and helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl title after the 2012 season. The Jets also have asked permission to interview DeCosta, who is viewed by many as the GM-in-waiting when Newsome decides to retire someday.

Gaine is a Bill Parcells protege, having worked under Pacells with the Jets, Cowboys and Dolphins. He’s been in Houston for one season after previously working for six years in Miami.

Pace was the Saints’ director of pro scouting for six years before becoming director of player personnel in 2013. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he played from 1995-’99.

It’s not yet known if the Bears’ requests to interview each candidate have been granted. Bears chairman George McCaskey said that ideally, the team would hire a GM before a coach, but management won’t stall on a preferred coaching candidate just because a GM isn’t in place.

In the coaching search, the Bears have requested permission to interview Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, per reports. Chicago has also expressed interest in Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.

How David Ross landed with Cubs and not Red Sox (or Padres)

By Rob Bradford

David Ross thought the entire offseason was bizarre enough. As the former Red Sox catcher put it, “€œI was blown away and flattered by the offers and opportunities that came my way. It really shocked me.”

Then the morning of Dec. 19 came around, and that took the unpredictability to another level.

“That last day was crazy,” Ross said by phone Friday afternoon.

Ross is the new owner of a two-year, $5 million deal with the Cubs, an agreement that was unofficially announced the Friday night before Christmas. But it was earlier that day when things took a turn he never saw coming.

Here’€™s what happened …

The day before, Thursday, Ross had informed the Red Sox he was going to verbally commit to the Cubs. Chicago had extended a two-year contract, which was a level the Red Sox didn’t appear ready to commit to.

According to the catcher, the Cubs’€™ signing of Jon Lester –€“ the pitcher Ross had caught with so much success over the previous two seasons — also most likely had some impact on both the organizations’€™ offers.

“I think the two-year deal … I don’€™t know what pushed the Red Sox out, but I think the two-year deal may have been a little more than they wanted to go, to be honest with you,” Ross explained. “They didn’€™t say that, but I think that’€™s where they were at. I don’€™t know if Lester had anything to do with it. They told me it was independent of Lester. They didn’€™t stop their pursuit of me after Lester signed. But they might have been more aggressive if Lester came back. I don’€™t know that, but if I were them … I think about that, trying to take me out of it and trying to be real and see what an organization would want or what would I give me if I were an organization.”

Then, later that Thursday, San Diego — whom had already been rebuffed by Ross two different times throughout the offseason — came back with a fairly aggressive offer. It was a proposal that was relayed to Ross by his agent, Ryan Gleichowski, Friday morning. He told Gleichowski they could talk about it after the catcher finished his workout.

To Ross’ surprise, there was plenty to discuss after those two hours at the gym.

There had been the agreement by the Padres to trade catcher Ryan Hanigan –€“ whom was just acquired by San Diego three days earlier — to the Red Sox in exchange for Will Middlebrooks. And then a report that Ross had also agreed to a deal with the Padres.

“It was a really weird day,” he said. “I went to sleep and got up the next morning and my agent told me the Padres had made another offer. I told him I was going to workout and we would talk when I got out. I literally got out of the gym, turned on my radio and they said David Ross had committed to the Padres. I couldn’€™t believe it. So I got my agent on the phone right away to try and figure that out. For about two hours of my day, it was crazy.

“I had turned [the Padres] down twice, saying no right away. I hadn’€™t fully committed to the Cubs, but I had. I wanted to be a man of my word. Me and Theo [Epstein] go back to 20€™08 and I respect him. Once Boston was off the table, I had already put my heart with Chicago.”

Despite not having any inside knowledge, the deal of Hanigan to the Red Sox didn’€™t surprise Ross. Even after San Diego’€™s deal for the former Reds and Rays backstop, the Padres had kept pursuing Ross, with the catcher’€™s good friend and former teammate Dave Roberts taking lead in San Diego’€™s communication.

“They were still calling for me so I knew they were going to move someone,” Ross said. “Then I heard they might move Middlebrooks to San Diego and I knew the Red Sox had always liked Hanigan. Ben had called me on him before they signed A.J. [Pierzynski] but I don’€™t think it was going to work out with Cincinnati. I knew they really liked Hanigan so I just started assuming they were going to deal Hanigan, and sure enough. I didn’€™t know any of that was going on the next day when I was at the gym. It was crazy.”

After assuring Epstein and Cubs that there was no agreement with the Padres, and he remained committed to Chicago, the reality of joining Joe Maddon‘€™s team truly sunk in.

There were no hard feelings toward the Red Sox. (“I had told them I will not make a decision without talking to them first,” he said. “They were going to get right of first refusal. So we checked in every couple of weeks. We kind of agreed that if I was going to go a different way that I would give them a head’€™s up and let them know what the offer was. They were a treat to deal with, to be honest with you.”) But the combination of the two years, along with family-related factors paved the way for Ross’€™ decision.

“I really didn’€™t think there were a whole lot of teams interested, and interested to the level they were,” said Ross, who was limited to 86 regular season games in two seasons with the Red Sox. “When you have the year I had … I hadn’€™t been a part of a whole lot of losing teams, maybe it drains you a little bit mentally and you start wondering about how much longer I could play this game and if teams will be interested. I was going to be 38 years old, not having a good offensive years and my defensive numbers were down. Coming off the high of the year before it was sort of depressing. So, yeah, it was totally different than how I thought it would shake out, to be honest with you.”

He added, “€œKind of the deciding factor with Chicago was that I have some friends there, Joe Maddon‘€™s approach to the game and how he treats players. That is a really good dynamic for my family. If you get in at midnight you’€™re not expected to be at the yard at 2 o’€™clock. Those sort of things weighed on my mind a little more. The day game, talking to [Ryan] Dempster, was more of cool thing that I thought. You get to have breakfast with your kids and then also have dinner with them. But the two-year offer, and [Eric] Hinske is a good buddy of mine … Knowing how the Red Sox treat their players and how they do everything first-class made it a tough decision. They try and take as much off their plate as possible so they can just focus on baseball, and I know Theo is big into the mindset of how they think and what they should focus on … To me, there were more positives in Chicago for me and my family.”

Golf: I got a club for that; Top quotes of 2013-14 PGA TOUR season.

By Staff, PGA TOUR.COM

Another eventful year on the golf course is coming to a close. We are commemorating 2014 by remembering some of the year’s most colorful quotes. From Rory McIlroy’s musings after his major victories to Tiger Woods’ quest for a VCR, these were some of our favorite sound bytes. Enjoy. 

“Oh no … not again.”

— Phil Mickelson, after he hit his tee shot into a hospitality tent for the second consecutive day at The Barclays
 

“Freak show. I mean, I can't describe it any other way.”

– Ted Scott, caddie for Bubba Watson, when asked to describe “Bubba Golf” after Watson won his second Masters
 

“I'm going to cry, because why me? Why Bubba Watson from Bagdad, Florida?”

– Bubba Watson, after winning his second Masters
 

“I believe in myself and – especially with how hard I’ve worked – I’m one of the top five players in the world”

— Patrick Reed after winning the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship for his third PGA TOUR victory in his 46th start
 

"It was a very strange way to make a 3."

— PLAYERS Championship winner Martin Kaymer on his 30-foot par putt at TPC Sawgrass’ 17th hole after his tee shot nearly spun into the water
 

"It's pretty interesting trying to find a VHS recorder. ... Fortunately my mom is of age where she has that still in the house."

— Tiger Woods, on his search for a VCR to watch tape of his swing from his amateur days
 

"Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008."

— Mickelson, at the press conference following the United States' loss at this year’s Ryder Cup
 

“I thought he was going to be nice and three-putt the last and we would have a halve, but he beat me by one.”

– Rory McIlroy, after losing to Augusta National member Jeff Knox in the third round of this year’s Masters. Knox played alongside McIlroy as a marker.
 

"That’s where Rory McIlroy's taken the standard of golf: to one level beyond where Tiger was."

— Colin Montgomerie
 

“I'm sure the whole world saw me sprint, but I had to go to the bathroom, and I had been holding it for way too many holes.”

– Billy Horschel, who sprinted to find a toilet after hitting the 18th green in his win at the BMW Championship
 

"Over 16 rounds (at) the Finals, it’s one shot here, one shot there. You don’t really think about that midway through the second round of the first event, but it matters.”

— Eric Axley, who earned his 2014-15 TOUR card by finishing $31.66 ahead of Roberto Castro on the Web.com Tour Finals money list
 

“I had a dream saying I was going to be hit in the face with a baseball bat.”

– Horschel, after winning the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and FedExCup, describing his tendency to have dreams predicting the future. He also dreamt he would win the FedExCup.
 

"It's 242 days away."

— McIlroy, after winning the PGA Championship, on the 2015 Masters, where he will have his first opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam

Court rules against RCR in lawsuit vs. McMurray's new crew chief.

By Tom Jensen

Richard Childress is a six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion team owner. (Chris Trotman / Getty Images)

A North Carolina court has ruled against Richard Childress Racing in its attempt to block former RCR engineer Matthew McCall from going to work as Jamie McMurray's crew chief on the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

According to a report at Courthousenews.com, RCR sought to block McCall's move, citing a 12-month non-compete clause in his contract should he resign.

The website wrote, "RCR sued McCall in Davidson County, N.C., in November for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. It moved on Dec. 3 for a temporary restraining order to keep McCall from working for Ganassi or another competitor."

But the request for a restraining order was denied.

"Plaintiff has not shown, at this time, a likelihood of success on its claim that by accepting a crew chief position with Ganassi, Defendant has become employed in a 'capacity identical or similar to that in which he participated while employed by (plaintiff) and therefore has breached the employment contract,'" Judge Louis Bledsoe III ruled, adding that there was no evidence of misappropriation of trade secrets.

McCall, 33, is a native of Denver, N.C. In addition to his garage work, he was driven in five races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and two more in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is also a third-degree black belt in karate.

In 2014, McCall was the race engineer on the No. 31 RCR Chevrolet, which Ryan Newman drove to a runner-up finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

"Matt brings a lot to the table that we are thrilled to have," team owner Chip Ganassi said on Nov. 18 when the team announced McCall's hiring. "He has been a successful race engineer for the No. 31 team and has the added experience of being a driver, which we feel will add to his success in leading the No. 1 team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will mesh very well with Jamie and the whole team. We couldn't be happier."

"This organization is one that everyone in the garage has taken notice of in 2014, and I am just looking forward to the opportunity to make them even better," McCall said. "We have a group of very talented people building and driving the race cars here and I can't wait to get started."

Manchester City 3-2 Sunderland: Lampard, of course, scores the winner.

By NBC Sports

Frank Lampard of Manchester City celebrates his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester City beat Sunderland 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, as Frank Lampard popped up with the winner after an incredible spell of goals in the second half.

All five goals were scored in a 14 minute spell, as Yaya Toure scored a stunner to put City ahead and then Stevan Jovetic made it 2-0. However, Sunderland came roaring back as former City players Jack Rodwell and Adam Johsnon scored but Lampard headed home to make it 3-2.

City remain in second, while Sunderland are just three points off the relegation zone after a second defeat in their last three games.

City had all of the early play and came closest to scoring when Toure’s shot was blocked and David Silva sent his follow up effort just wide of the post.
 

Sunderland improved as the half wore on and just before the break Willy Caballero made a terrific save from Sebastian Larsson’s free kick. The Argentine ‘keeper came in for Joe Hart and kept the score level at the break following a lackluster opening 45 minutes at the Etihad. 

In the second half City continued to have all of the play and they were finally rewarded for their efforts when Toure smashed home a beauty from 25-yards out to make it 1-0. After patient build up play on the edge of the box, Toure let fly to ease the tension inside the stadium.

Jovetic then made it 2-0 to City with a cheeky finish but no sooner had that happened than Sunderland got a goal back from Rodwell against his old club. 2-1. Moments later it was 2-2 after Billy Jones was taken down by Pablo Zabaleta in the box. A stonewall penalty as another former Man City player Johnson made it 2-2 from the spot. Remarkable comeback as the game burst into live with five goals in 14 minutes, because Lampard arrived off the bench in the 70th minute to head home and make it 3-2 with his seventh goal of the season. 

That goal turned out to be the winner, as a day which started with Lampard controversially extending his time at Man City ended with the 36-year-old proving exactly why Manuel Pellegrini wants to keep him around.

LINEUPS

 

Man City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Demichelis, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Nasri (Kolarov, 85′), Silva (Milner, 90′), Navas, Jovetic (Lampard, 70′)

 

Goals: Toure (57′), Jovetic (66′), Lampard (73)

 

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini (Coates, 78′), Jones, Brown, O’Shea, Rodwell, Larsson, Gomez (Giaccherini, 58′), Johnson, Buckley (Alvarez, 65′), Wickham.

 

Goals: Rodwell (68′), Johnson (71′)

 

Stoke City 1-1 Manchester United: Potters denied big win, as United hold on.

 

By NBC Sports

 

Stoke City drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Thursday, as the Red Devils remain unbeaten in 10 games but were pushed hard at the Britannia Stadium to open up 2015.

The Potters went ahead with 1 minute and 45 seconds on the clock as Ryan Shawcross hooked home from a corner to give Stoke the perfect start. However midway through the first half, predatory striker Radamel Falcao beat his man at a corner to prod home an equalizer for United.

In the second half Stoke had the better chances with Peter Crouch hitting the post and had a clear handball in the box missed by referee Michael Oliver. Overall, the draw was a fair result as Stoke climb to 10th place on 26 points while United remain in third on 37 points.

Stoke took the lead inside the first two minutes as a corner from the right was flicked on by Crouch and Shawcross hooked in from close range. 1-0 to the Potters, as United were caught napping early on.
 

Following that goal Stoke continued to harass United’s backline as Diouf battered his way pass Jonny Evans and was clean through on goal. However the former Manchester United striker shanked his effort horribly wide as Stoke squandered a glorious chance to go 2-0 up.

Falcao made Stoke pay for that miss, as he nipped in front of Marc Muniesa from a corner to slot home and make it 1-1 in the 26th minute. U.S. international Geoff Cameron sent a header just over the bar soon after as Stoke tried to restore their lead but the teams went in level at the break.

In the second half a real moment of controversy arrived as Crouch’s header was clearly handballed by Chris Smalling in the box but referee Oliver waved away the PK calls as the home fans were left furious. In the 67th minute Robin Van Persie was found by Juan Mata in the box but the Dutchman sent his shot just wide after a brilliant bit of control. Following that Crouch hit the post with a header and Cameron could not quite got on the end of the follow up as Stoke pushed hard for a winner.

United finished the stronger side but Stoke held on to secure a point, but it could have easily been a third-straight win for the Potters.

LINEUPS

Stoke City: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Arnautovic (Assaidi, 81′), Walters, Diouf, Crouch

Goal: Shawcross (2′)

Manchester United: De Gea, Young (Rafael, 75′), Jones, Smalling, Evans, Shaw (Januzaj, 64′), Carrick, Mata, Rooney, van Persie, Falcao (Herrera, 64′)

Goal: Falcao (26′)

Southampton 2-0 Arsenal: Saints go clear of Gunners in race for top four.

By NBC Sports

Southampton beat Arsenal 2-0 at St Mary’s on New Year’s Day with the Saints securing a huge win over their rivals, as the race for a top-four finish heats up.

Saints went ahead in the first half as Sadio Mane somehow lobbed home from a tight angle, and Dusan Tadic added a second after the break after some more calamitous defending from the Gunners. Towards the end of the match an Arsenal fan ran onto the pitch to tell Arsene Wenger exactly what he thought of their performance. Not pretty.

With the win Southampton remain in fourth on 36 points, that’s three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal who were well-below par on Thursday.

Early on Saints hit the post as Graziano Pelle got free but should have done better as his effort struck the woodwork.

Santi Cazorla had an effort saved by Fraser Forster as Arsenal grew into the match at St Mary’s as the first half played out. But 10 minutes before the break Southampton took the lead as Mane struck with a bizarre goal. A long punt up field saw Wojciech Szczesny come out of his goal but Mane got their first and chipped the ball in as Per Mertesacker failed to clear it off the line. 1-0 to Saints at half time, who could have led by more but James Ward-Prowse was denied and then Pelle shot wide.

 

Mane had to limp off before the break, as the Senegalese winger felt his hamstring which could cost him a place at the African Cup of Nations. 
 

In the second half Arsenal could not get past Forster as he denied Alexis Sanchez and soon after Saints went 2-0 up as Szczesny made another mistake. This time the ball was free after a heavy touch from the ‘keeper and Tadic tapped into an empty net.

Soon after it was almost 3-0 as Tadic curled an effort just wide of the post and then Pelle hit the post for the second time in the game and Ward-Prowse smashed the follow-up over, then Pelle had another effort cleared off the line.

Late in the game Arsenal went close with Sanchez curling a free kick onto the top of the net, but the Saints closed things out for an impressive win.

LINEUPS

Southampton: Forster, Gardos (Yoshida, 71′), Alderweireld, Fonte, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Wanyama, Tadic (Long, 85′), Mane (Reed, 42′), Steven Davis, Pelle

 

Goals: Mane (34′), Tadic (56′)

 

Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy (Akpom, 84′), Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Chambers (Walcott, 60′), Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Rosicky, Sanchez

Despite U.S. team’s success, American players are struggling in Europe.

By Alex Baker

Jozy Altidore of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on October 25, 2014 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

In the fall of 2012, things were arguably looking better than they ever had for American players plying their trade in Europe. Clint Dempsey had finished the previous season with Fulham fourth in the Premier League scoring charts, behind only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero to earn a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile in Italy, Michael Bradley had already parlayed an impressive season with Chievo Verona into a transfer to AS Roma.

Both moves were significant, putting U.S. men's national team players on sides that could reasonably vie for spots in the prestigious UEFA Champions League, and in Bradley’s case, the Serie A title. Suddenly two of American soccer’s leading lights were knocking on the door of Europe’s elite. But it never quite panned out. After one season with Spurs, during which he netted seven goals, Dempsey decamped back to MLS as a designated player for the Seattle Sounders. A few months later, Bradley followed him back across the Atlantic to join Toronto FC.

Money undoubtedly played a big part in the moves. MLS offered both players far more than they were likely to get from European clubs. But for American soccer fans, it was frustrating. Just when it seemed that two of our best players were positioned to distinguish themselves on club soccer’s biggest stage, they hightailed it back to MLS, leaving fans with the sinking feeling that maybe our players weren’t quite good enough after all.

Unfortunately, 16 months on from Dempsey joining Seattle, there’s been little to suggest otherwise. After two impressive seasons with AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie, Jozy Altidore moved to Sunderland in the Premier League where it’s impossible to say he’s been anything other than a flop. Brek Shea, who left MLS two seasons ago to join Stoke City, has also failed to find his feet in the English top flight and will join MLS expansion outfit Orlando City next year.

Ironically, at a time when many feel that the U.S. is flying higher than it ever has before, American players seem to be having a harder time "making it stick" in Europe. Despite the urgings of U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann for Americans to leave the safety of MLS behind and challenge themselves in Europe's top leagues, currently the USA doesn't seem to be producing players who are capable of meeting that challenge.

But there are reasons to be hopeful. Even now, promising USMNT right back Deandre Yedlin is on his way to joining Tottenham. Aron Johannsson is playing well in the Dutch league for AZ and Alejandro Bedoya, representing Ligue 1 side Nantes, recently netted a spectacular goal against French powerhouse, Paris Saint-Germain. Klinsmann’s crop of German-born players all feature prominently for their Bundesliga clubs. Gedion Zelalem, a teenage midfield prodigy at Arsenal, who’s been compared to Cesc Fabregas, has just become an American citizen and is expected to commit to the U.S. program. 

But for American soccer to reach the next level, it must eventually produce an attacking player capable of leading the line at one of Europe's elite clubs. Once upon a time, that player might’ve been Landon Donovan. But with the USMNT's all-time leading scorer now retired after having played the majority of his career for the LA Galaxy, we've yet to catch sight of the player who could be U.S. soccer’s next great hope. And with three and a half years to go until the 2018 World Cup in Russia, there couldn't be a better time for him to emerge.

Oregon dominates Florida State in College Football Playoff semifinal.

 By Sam Cooper

Oregon will play for the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship, and it clinched its berth in emphatic fashion.

The Ducks overwhelmed undefeated Florida State with a blazing fast offense and swarming defense en route to a dominant 59-20 win at the Rose Bowl.

The game was fairly even on both sides through one half, but Florida State continually shot itself in the foot with five second-half turnovers. And as the Seminoles continued to turn the ball over, the Ducks’ offense, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, continually cashed in with 41 second-half points – 28 of which came off FSU turnovers.
 

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around the game was already in hand, and Oregon continued to pile on as it punched its ticket to the Jan. 12 title game against either Alabama or Ohio State in Arlington, Texas.
 

While the final score may not reflect it, this was a tight contest early. Oregon’s lead was just 8-3 (Oregon successfully converted a two-point conversion following its first TD) and the Ducks’ defense kept it that way by stuffing Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston on a goal-line stand to open the second quarter.
 

That’s when Oregon’s tempo really started to take its toll. The Ducks’ drive following the goal line stand led to only a field goal to give Oregon an 11-3 lead, but its 19 plays were ran at hyper speed, spanning 88 yards in just 4:45 of game time.
 

And when the Seminoles got their own offense going, it stalled in the red zone and settled for another Roberto Aguayo field goal late in the second.
 

While the Seminoles struggled in the red zone, Oregon thrived. The Ducks again quickly worked their way down the field following Aguayo’s field goal and scored via a Thomas Tyner touchdown run to go ahead 18-6.
 

The Seminoles, who had won 29 consecutive games that included nine come-from-behind wins, didn’t wilt just yet as a six-yard Karlos Williams touchdown run cut the Oregon lead to 18-13 going into halftime.
 

Florida State opened the second half with the ball, looking to go ahead, but freshman tailback Dalvin Cook fumbled in Oregon territory. The Ducks quickly capitalized as tailback Royce Freeman was in the end zone just five plays later.
 

It was a sign of things to come.
 

After the teams traded two more touchdowns – a Winston 18-yard pass to Travis Rudolph and a Mariota 56-yard pass to Darren Carrington – Cook fumbled again, this time on a pass out of the backfield. Two plays later, Mariota hit Carrington behind the defense again to increase the Oregon lead to 39-20.
 

At this point, Florida State desperatetly needed a score and drove down to the Oregon 30-yard line. Instead of a field goal, Florida State went for it on fourth-and-5, and that’s where the flood gates opened.
 

Winston scrambled to avoid pressure and the ball simply slipped out of his hand. Oregon’s Tony Washington picked up the loose ball and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown, expanding the lead to 45-20.

 

Any thought that Florida State had another comeback in store ended there. Oregon added two more rushing scores – one from Mariota and another from Tyner – in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Though Winston threw for 348 yards, Mariota was the clear winner in a battle of the last two Heisman winners. Mariota threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns whole also running for 62 yards and a score.
 

In all, the Ducks racked up 639 yards and looked like a team that can’t be stopped on offense.
 

Now Oregon will wait and see to find out which team it will face next, while the Seminoles tasted defeat for the first time since Nov. 24, 2012.

In 2nd career start, Cardale Jones leads Ohio State in upset of Alabama.

Associated Press

 

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs by Alabama defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Cardale Jones came through again at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Ezekiel Elliott ran all over mighty Alabama. And Urban Meyer's quest to turn Ohio State into SEC North is one victory away from a national championship.

Jones turned in another savvy performance in his second college start and Elliott ran for 230 yards, leading the Buckeyes to a 42-35 upset of top-ranked Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal Thursday night.

Rallying from a 21-6 deficit, the Buckeyes (13-1, No. 4 CFP, No. 5 AP) advanced to play No. 2 Oregon in the Jan. 12 College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T at Arlington, Texas. The Ducks routed defending national champion Florida State 59-20 in the other semifinal at the Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual.

Jones threw for 243 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to Devin Smith that put the Buckeyes ahead for good early in the third quarter. He also ran for 43 yards and converted a crucial third-down play with a spinning, 1-yard dive and Ohio State clinging to a 34-28 lead.

On the next play, Elliott took a handoff, broke one feeble attempt at a tackle, and was gone for an 85-yard touchdown that essentially clinched the victory with 3:24 remaining.

Alabama (12-2) was denied a shot at its fourth national title in six years, though the Tide didn't go down quietly.

Blake Sims threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with 1:59 remaining. The Buckeyes recovered the onside kick, but Alabama got it back one more time after some questionable clock management by Ohio State.

The Tide's final shot ended when Sims' desperation heave into the end zone was intercepted as time ran out.

Meyer, who led Florida to a pair of national titles, left coaching for a year before taking over at Ohio State in 2012. He said his goal was to build the sort of Southeastern Conference powerhouse he had with the Gators, and he knew a faster, more athletic style would be needed to bring the Big Ten school up to par.

Now, after just three years on the job, he's one win away from bringing the Buckeyes a national title.

"We're good enough," Meyer said. "That was a sledgehammer game. That was a classic. So, we are good enough."

Jones started fall practice as Ohio State's third-string quarterback, moved up the depth chart when star Braxton Miller sustained a season-ending shoulder injury, and became the starter for the Big Ten championship game after J.T. Barrett went down with an injury.

A 59-0 rout of Wisconsin showed that Jones was up to the job. His performance against Alabama gives him a chance to go down as one of the greatest replacement players in college football history.

No. 6 Villanova beats Butler 67-55 to go 13-0.

By DAN GELSTON (AP Sports Writer)

Villanova guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) drives to the basket past Butler forward Roosevelt Jones (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

There have been Final Four teams and a national championship team and multiple Big East title winners for Villanova since its first recognized game in 1920.

Only one other edition has ever been perfect through 13 games.

Up next for coach Jay Wright's crew, a chance to be alone in the record book.

Ryan Arcidiacono scored 15 points and JayVaughn Pinkston had 13 to help No. 6 Villanova beat Butler 67-55 on Wednesday and match the best start in program history.

The Wildcats are 13-0 (1-0 Big East) for the first time since the 1937-38 season. That team lost its 14th game against Westminster College. Villanova can set a school record with a 14-0 start when it plays Saturday at Seton Hall.

''Anything we do to match bests in this program means the world to me,'' Wright said. ''Us compared to other programs, I'm not as interested in. To match that, means a lot to us.''
 

Daniel Ochefu had 10 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots for Villanova, and Kris Jenkins scored 11. The Big East-favorite Wildcats opened an 11-point lead in the first half and then built a second double-digit lead after the Bulldogs pulled within four at halftime. Butler never managed to rally again after missing 12 of its first 14 shots in the second half.
 

Villanova leading scorer Darrun Hilliard returned to the lineup after sitting out one game with a concussion. He scored eight points on 2-of-5 shooting.

Pinkston scored off the opening tip, Ochefu scored off a turnover and the Wildcats were up 8-2 in minutes. Arcidiacono hit a pair of 3-pointers early in the game to stretch the lead for the Wildcats and show he might be moving out of his early-season slump.

Arcidiacono, a 6-foot-3 junior point guard, had a knack for hitting big shots late in games for the Wildcats during his first two seasons and he took control as one of their go-to players in crunch time.

But he was in a major funk for most of this season, including a 9-for-33 stretch over five games when he cracked double-digit scoring just once. Wright pinned some of the blame on Arcidiacono's academic pressures and a sore wrist, and never lost faith in the guard.

''I'm doing the same routine I've done for the past 2 1/2 years here. It's not doing anything different,'' Arcidiacono said. ''I'm just maybe finding a rhythm right now.''

Arcidiacono responded the last two games with nine assists and no turnovers against Syracuse and a 16-point game on 6-of-12 shooting against NJIT.

''We were winning, so I really didn't care,'' he said. ''If I was scoring, that was just another positive. I was trying to find everyone.''

Arcidiacono did just that when he assisted on Jenkins' 3-pointer midway through the second half that made it 48-38, and the Wildcats pulled away from there. Ochefu hit back-to-back jumpers and Pinkston followed with a three-point play that made it 59-43.

Alex Barlow and Andrew Chrabascz both scored 12 points for Butler (10-4, 0-1).
 

The Bulldogs briefly cracked the AP Top 25 after a win against North Carolina before two straight losses helped knock them out of the poll. They shot only 36 percent in the second half (8 of 22) and failed to take advantage of a 17-3 edge on the offensive glass.

Butler's leading scorers were non-factors, with Kellen Dunham (16.6) scoring 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting and Roosevelt Jones (11.2) scoring eight on 4-of-15 shooting.

''Kellen's got to get cleaner looks for us,'' Butler interim coach Chris Holtmann said.

''I never felt like we were as good as we needed to be in the halfcourt. I thought it was too easy for them.''

TIP-INS

Butler: The Bulldogs made their first shot of the game, then missed the next nine. ... Butler outrebounded Villanova 40-29.

Villanova: The Wildcats are 9-5 in Big East openers under Wright. ... Villanova made 16 of 26 free throws. ... Wright won his 299th game with the Wildcats. ... The Wildcats owned a 16-6 edge in points off turnovers and a 28-20 advantage on points in the paint

HOME STREAK

The Wildcats have won 21 straight games at the Pavilion. They were 12-0 at their on-campus home last season and are 2-0 this season at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. The Wildcats also have sold out every Pavilion home game dating to the 2000-01 season. ''Everybody else today is probably talking bowl games,'' Wright said. ''Everybody around here, for the last week, has been fired up for this game.''

UP NEXT

Butler plays Saturday at No. 15 St. John's.

Villanova plays Saturday at Seton Hall.

Harbaugh's a hit, and now the work begins.

By NOAH TRISTER

Jim Harbaugh may have already solved two significant problems at Michigan.

The fan base is unified again, and the apathy that led to a slip in attendance certainly seems like a thing of the past.

Now the question is whether the Wolverines will start winning more games — and how soon?
 

"Michigan's always been great. It's always been great. I always believe in it," Harbaugh said Tuesday at a news conference introducing him as the team's new coach. "In terms of selling something, you're selling something you believe in in your core."

Harbaugh is back. And none too soon for fans who desperately want him to save the football program where he starred as a quarterback 30 years ago — one that has fallen into the middle of the pack at best in the Big Ten and become an afterthought in the national landscape.
 

At least, that's the perception. Harbaugh defiantly insisted there would be no rebuilding.
 

"This is Michigan. There is no turnarounds at Michigan," he said. "This is greatness. Long tradition of it."
 

The day began with a packed news conference, and onlookers peeking through the windows from outside. Harbaugh strode to the podium for a smiling, lighthearted session as his family watched from a few feet away. Later, he was on the court at halftime of Michigan's basketball game against Illinois, addressing the crowd.
 

"I pledge to you that we will do our very best to carry on the great tradition of Michigan — excellence all across the board," Harbaugh said to the cheering crowd at Crisler Center during Tuesday's matinee win against Illinois — an overtime thriller, naturally.
 

"You know how to make a guy feel at home," Harbaugh yelled, his voice sounding hoarse from a whirlwind few days.
 

As a starting quarterback for three seasons under Bo Schembechler, he is remembered for delivering a victory he guaranteed over Ohio State in 1986, the same season he was Big Ten player of the year and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
 

The famously confident Harbaugh stopped short of any real bluster as he took the reins of the storied program Tuesday. After all, he inherits a team that has lost 10 of its last 11 games to archrival Ohio State and six of its last seven to Michigan State.
 

"They're outstanding programs. No, I make no guarantees," he said. "I made a guarantee a long time ago, and I've learned from that, and I've grown. I understand that you don't make guarantees."
 

Harbaugh did play along at the end of his news conference, when someone from the audience yelled: "Who's got it better than us?"
 

The coach responded in familiar fashion: "Nooooooo-body."
 

Harbaugh's seven-year deal is worth about $40 million, not counting performance bonuses. His $5 million annual salary increases by 10 percent after years three and five, and he also received a $2 million signing bonus. He can receive bonuses based on Big Ten championships, bowl appearances, coaching awards and team academic performance. Following a review by the athletic director after next season, Michigan will also determine a deferred compensation arrangement.
 

Harbaugh's $5 million base salary next season is what he would have received in the final year of his deal with the San Francisco 49ers, but he left Sunday in what the team called a mutual decision.
 

This past season was the third time in seven years Michigan finished with a losing record. The program's most recent sub-.500 season before this dismal stretch came in 1967, two years before Schembechler began his run as coach.
 

Nothing Michigan has tried lately seemed to work for any extended period of time. Rich Rodriguez had tremendous success at West Virginia before taking over at Michigan after the 2007 season. But the transition was shaky and he was fired after three years. Brady Hoke took over and went 31-20, but his team looked worse each season and he was let go early this month.

The longer Michigan's coaching search went on, the more obvious it became that the school was focused on Harbaugh, who was finally available after his NFL season ended Sunday. The 51-year-old Harbaugh coached the 49ers to three straight NFC championship games, but they missed the playoffs this season at 8-8.
 

"I think it brings a lot of credibility back to the program," said Derrick Walker, a teammate of Harbaugh's at Michigan. "That's not discounting what Brady Hoke did because Brady was a heck of a guy. Rodriguez came in and tried to do his thing, and you've got to respect that also, but I think it brings it back to the Bo Schembechler-type days."
 

The Wolverines must replace two key players from this season's team. Quarterback Devin Gardner was a senior, and junior wide receiver Devin Funchess is leaving for the NFL draft. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is gone, too, headed back to the SEC for the offensive coordinator job at Florida after a single season in Ann Arbor.
 

"Harbaugh is obviously a big name around the world and especially in Ann Arbor. Having him as our coach, it really magnifies everything," said Shane Morris, who may be next in line at quarterback. "I can't wait. He knows how to win, and that's what we're ready to do. We're ready to win."
 

Harbaugh's arrival at Michigan is a huge victory for interim athletic director Jim Hackett, who took over after Dave Brandon stepped down at the end of October.
 

"Our guy came home," Hackett said.
 

Now Harbaugh's name is the buzz of the Big Ten — and fans in Ann Arbor are eager to embrace the possibilities. There were replica jerseys with Harbaugh's old No. 4 on sale at the basketball game, and quite a few fans were wearing Harbaugh's signature khaki pants — although the new coach himself was dressed more formally.
 

"Thank you for the enthusiasm and the support," Harbaugh told the crowd. "Even though we have not done a darn thing, it is much appreciated."

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, January 2, 2015.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1953 - The Baltimore Bullets (NBA) began a 32 game road losing streak.

1957 - Gene Fullmer defeated Sugar Ray Robinson to win the middleweight boxing title.

1965 - "Broadway" Joe Namath signed the richest rookie contract ($400,000) in the history of pro football.

1971 - In Glasgow, Scotland, 66 people were crushed when fans trying to leave encountered fans trying to return after hearing that a late goal had been scored.

1972 - Elvis Presley gave Muhammad Ali a $10000 robe with "People's Champion" inscribed on it. Ali wore the robe on March 31, 1973 when he lost to Ken Norton.

1982 - The New York Islanders began a 23 undefeated home streak.

1983 - Ken Anderson (Cincinnati Bengals) completed 20 consecutive passes to set an NFL record for passing accuracy.

1985 - The Rebels of UNLV beat Utah State in three overtime periods. The final score of 142-140 set a new NCAA record for total points in a basketball game (282). The game took over three hours to play.

1986 - Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) scored his 500th career NHL goal.

2002 - Mike Modano (Dallas Stars) scored his 400th career NHL goal. Modano became only the fourth United States-born player to reach 400 goals.

2002 - Ron Francis (Carolina Hurricanes) scored his 500th career NHL goal. Francis became only the fifth player in NHL history to reach 500 goals and 1,000 assists.

2003 - It was announced that Bill Parcells would be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

*****************************************************************

Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you!!!!!