CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Friday Sports News Update and What's Your Take? 06/05/2015.

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Sports Quote of the Day:

"Playoff hockey is the best way to market your team. It's the best way to grow your fan base and give hope to your players and for them to develop." ~ Steve Yzerman, Retired NHL Player and Current NHL General Manager 

Trending: Veteran Chicago Blackhawks vs. Young Tampa Bay Lightning in game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday night at 7:15 PM (EST).

Trending: The running of The 147th Belmont Stakes, Saturday, June 6, 2015, at 6:50 PM (EST) on NBC TV and streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra. (See Horse Racing articles below for details).

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Lightning strategy may force split of Toews-Kane line.

By Arpon Basu

Entering the Stanley Cup Final, Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were playing so well together, he saw no reason to split them up.

The Tampa Bay Lightning may have given him one.

The Blackhawks won Game 1 of the series on Wednesday 2-1, but the way the line of Toews, Kane and Brandon Saad was neutralized by the Lightning's top defensive pairing of Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, as well as the surprise use of Cedric Paquette as a checking center with Ryan Callahan on his wing, might give Quenneville something to think about heading into Game 2 on Saturday (7:15 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA Sports).

Quenneville has used Toews and Kane on separate lines most of the season, with Marian Hossa playing with Toews and Kane lining up next to center Brad Richards. When that's the case, opposing teams are forced to pick their poison when deploying their best defensive players, particularly on the back end. When Toews and Kane are together, as they were in Game 1, that decision becomes much easier.

Early in the third period of Game 1, the Lightning iced the puck with defensemen Matt Carle and Andrej Sustr on the ice. Quenneville immediately sent out the Toews line and they proceeded to spend the entire shift in the offensive zone, something they had difficulty doing for much of the game.

That one shift was a good example of how effective Hedman and Stralman had been in containing the Blackhawks' high-powered top line.

"They're great skating [defensemen]," Toews said Thursday. "They're offensive. They're smart defensively. Hedman is a big guy, but he's mobile as well. I think we had some shifts where we had puck possession. We just got to find ways to get inside, get shots, just get traffic in front of the goaltender.

"We had some puck possession in some moments, but it didn't really amount to a whole lot the way we wanted it to. Coming off that third period [Wednesday] night, I think we'll be ready to jump in Saturday night and create and try and make some of their top players play in their own end."

Lightning coach Jon Cooper clearly wanted to get his top defensive pairing out against the Blackhawks big guns as often as possible. According to war-on-ice.com, Hedman was on the ice for 13:45 of Kane's 20:21 of 5-on-5 ice time, or 64.5 percent. For Stralman, the number was 58.7 percent. Hedman was on the ice for 11:18 of Toews' 17:37 of 5-on-5 ice time, or 64.1 percent, and Stralman was on for 67 percent of it.

The Lightning won the matchup in terms of possession, controlling a strong majority of the shot attempts when Hedman and Stralman were out against the Toews line.

Being on the road, Quenneville said it's going to be difficult to avoid that matchup if that's what Cooper wants to do, but he did hint he may revert back to splitting Toews and Kane for at least part of Game 2.

"A couple times I had [Kane] back with [Richards] and [Kris Versteeg]," he said. "[Versteeg] gives you that versatility as well. Hossa can go back with [Toews]. We'll see how that plays out. They'll still visit each other over the course of the game with some shifts."

Kane played 1:46 at 5-on-5 with Richards in Game 1, and Hossa played 1:37 with Toews. If the trend from Game 1 continues, Quenneville may be tempted to revert back to that more often in Game 2.

The fact Cooper wanted Hedman and Stralman to be out against the Toews line was no surprise. What was surprising was that he asked Paquette, a 21-year-old rookie, to match up against Toews in the middle, mostly for defensive-zone and neutral-zone face-offs, and to start each period.

Paquette and Callahan had either Alex Killorn or J.T. Brown on left wing, depending on the situation, but that pair was given the job by Cooper to play the tough minutes against the Toews line and did the job, with some huge help from the defensive pair behind them.

Cooper explained his goal in using that forward matchup was to free his more offensive lines to create opportunities to score, so as long as Paquette and Callahan were able to come out even against Toews it would benefit the Lightning.

They did that, but the Lightning still lost. However, Toews recognized his line will need to take better advantage of not only that matchup, but any matchup to give the Blackhawks a chance of heading home up 2-0 in the series. 
 
"He's a very good player for his age," Toews said of Paquette. "He skates very well, he has a lot of speed. Tampa has four lines that can play with speed and that can play with the puck. Their possession game is very, very strong. So for my line, it's not only a matter of playing well on offense, but also to play smart in our zone.

"No matter the line we find ourselves against, we have to play that way, smart."

Callahan said he had no idea prior to the game he and Paquette would be given the assignment of facing Toews so often, and it was something Cooper did intentionally to spare Paquette from overthinking his task leading up to the game.

"I don't want him thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I'm going to have to check Captain Everything,'" Cooper explained. "If he's been in the League a few years, it may be different. I might have a different approach if I'm talking to [Valtteri Filppula].

"For [Paquette], it's go out there and do your job. For me, the way it is with certain players, I didn't want him thinking about it. I want him to go out and play. He finds himself against No. 19, so be it. I thought he did a great job."

If Paquette continues doing such a great job Saturday, it may force Quenneville to make a decision on the makeup of his top two lines. Though Quenneville won't have to worry about it as much when the series shifts to Chicago for Game 3 on Monday, the matchup could become a determining factor in who ultimately wins the Stanley Cup.

Five Things from Hawks-Bolts Game 1: Crawford stays stoic.

By Tracey Myers

Corey Crawford #50 and Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game One of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 3, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Blackhawks have had plenty of third-period magic in their postseason history. They conjured up a little more on Wednesday night.

After trailing for more than 2 1/2 periods the Blackhawks scored twice in just under two minutes to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. It was a thrilling finish to a game that had an energetic start from the Lightning then quieted down considerably before those two Blackhawks goals.

So before we embark on two days of quote gathering before Game 2, let’s look at Five Things to take away from the Blackhawks’ Game 1 victory over Tampa Bay. 

1. Teuvo Teravainen comes through again. OK, young Finnish forward, we get it: you tell us you’re comfortable, regardless of the stage, and then you go out and prove it. The forward who Marian Hossa described as, “Finnish cold,” Teravainen was cool as could be at a tense time. His third goal of the postseason tied the game and his pick off J.T. Brown set up Antoine Vermette’s game-winner. Added Hossa, “he’s talented, talented guy [with] lots of skills. He sees the ice really well. And he’s showing it in these big Finals games.”

2. Corey Crawford stays stoic. There have been times in the past when Crawford, after going a long stretch without seeing a shot, can be unprepared when he does see one again. Well, that didn’t happen on Wednesday night. Tampa Bay went several minutes without a shot in the third period, but Crawford was ready on Ryan Callahan’s breakaway. Not long after that, Teravainen scored the tying goal. Crawford finished with 22 stops on 23 shots.

3. Kris Versteeg all right? Versteeg, in for an injured Bryan Bickell, didn’t look too healthy in the second period when he went face-first into the goal post. The Blackhawks didn’t pull Versteeg aside immediately to check how he was; instead, he went straight to the penalty box for goaltender interference. Asked afterward if the Blackhawks followed protocol for these situations, coach Joel Quenneville said, “absolutely.” Versteeg said the post run-in “was a little ugly, but I had to collect my thoughts there and go on with the game.”

4. Antoine Vermette improving this postseason, too. Vermette had a rough late regular season with the Blackhawks but he’s helped give them secondary scoring at critical times this postseason. Vermette, whose goal won Game 4 against the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Final, got the winner tonight, too.

5. Lesson learned for the Lightning. Tampa Bay didn’t push things in the third period. Perhaps it was just them getting into a defensive mode. Perhaps it was the Blackhawks dictating the pace more. It may have even been a combination. But Victor Hedman said the Lightning have to learn from that. “We're not happy sitting back the way we did late in the third, but you have to give them credit for the way they played, the way they pushed the pace,” he said. “We definitely have things to learn there from the third but for most of the night I thought we played a really good game. Our effort was there. We played hard, competed hard.”

Late goals fuel Blackhawks victory over Lightning in Game 1, 2-1. 

By Tracey Myers

Antoine Vermette #80 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates his third period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game One of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 3, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Patrick Sharp talked of trust, of just going with the ups and downs that come with every game.

“I think it’s a credit to just trusting the process, staying with it,” Sharp said. “There are some stretches that don’t look so good. There are some stretches that look great. It’s all about that next shift and what you can do to help your team, and no better example than tonight.”

Indeed. The Lightning flashed their speed early, and it kept them on top for two periods. The Blackhawks flashed their third-period prowess late, and it helped them take Game 1.

Teuvo Teravainen scored with 6:32 remaining in regulation and Antoine Vermette added the winner just one minute, 58 seconds later as the Blackhawks came back to beat the Lightning, 2-1, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night. Game 2 is at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday.

Corey Crawford stopped 22 of 23 shots for the victory. Duncan Keith had an assist as did Andrew Shaw, who may or may not have bitten Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman during a first-period scrum — “It felt like it,” Hedman said. “I have a little bruise, so maybe.”

One surprise came before the game even began, as Bryan Bickell is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Coach Joel Quenneville said Bickell is “close. We’ll see how he is over the next day or so.” Kris Versteeg, who rejoined the team Tuesday morning after he and his wife welcomed their first child on Monday, took Bickell’s place.

While the lineup was slightly different, the Blackhawks’ ability to find a way remained the same. The Blackhawks played a more aggressive third period, outshooting the Lightning 6-0 at one point. Then Teravainen struck, his shot screened by Valtteri Filppula and Marcus Kruger, among others, before settling behind Ben Bishop to tie the game 1-1.

“I just try to shoot. Shoot high there and sometimes good things happen,” Teravainen said. “I think there was a lot of traffic in the net. Krugs was out there and maybe the goalie didn’t see it.”

Less than two minutes later, Teravainen poked the puck away from J.T. Brown and got it to Vermette, who fired high to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead with 4:34 remaining in regulation.

“I think that was a great illustration with the way we try to play,” Vermette said of the game-winning goal. “We try to establish our speed and are moving our feet, especially on our end. Teuvo created a turnover, I got the puck and got a shot out of it.”

In a game that didn’t feature many great scoring opportunities, the Blackhawks capitalized on two late ones. It helped them get over a very slow start.

The Lightning, meanwhile, couldn’t have had a better start. Fueled by a boisterous home crowd, Tampa Bay came out flying, buzzing around Crawford not long after the opening puck drop. Their lone goal was a beauty, as Alex Killorn redirected an Anton Stralman pass — or had one of the niftiest backhand shots ever, we can’t decide — to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead just 4:31 into the game.

But the Lightning couldn’t find another goal among their 23 shots at it.

“I think the way I'd look at the game, we didn't really give them much the entire game. If we're going to sit here and count, yeah, did they have a little more puck possession in the third period, they did. There's no question,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. “Could we have made a few more poised plays? I suppose we could have. But I thought we had chances to put them away. We didn't put them away.”

The Blackhawks’ core has learned a lot through these postseasons. They’ve learned not to react too extreme to the ups and downs of every contest. They’ve learned to trust that they’ll figure things out. On Wednesday, they did. Again.

“The last half of the game I thought we were fine. Playing catch-up to against a team that, when they get the lead on you they get into the prevent defense, it was tough to get through. Basically we had to get through,” Quenneville said. “Finding a way today is a good illustration of what this team’s all about. Finding ways to win, it was probably a good example of that tonight.”

No consensus reached on overtime format at Competition Committee meeting.
  
By Dhiren Mahiban

The NHL and NHLPA Competition Committee meeting was held on Thursday in New York, amongst the topics discussed was changes to the overtime format. However, further discussion will be required before changes are made for next season.

NHL GMs supported the idea of a 3-on-3 overtime format during the March meetings in Florida.

The Co-chairs of the NHL / NHLPA Competition Committee, Mathieu Schneider and Colin Campbell, released the following statement:

There was considerable discussion of changing the current overtime format but no consensus was reached. The NHLPA and NHL will continue discussions in the coming weeks on potential changes with the intention for the Committee to make a decision on overtime later this month. There will be no changes to the shootout format.

 

There could be a couple changes coming for next season.

The Competition Committee made recommendations on expanded video review and changes to the face off procedure.

Video review would adopt a coach’s challenge on goals that have resulted from either goaltender interference or offside plays. The video review would be conducted with consultation with the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto. In order for a coach to make a challenge, the team must have a timeout available.

The committee also recommended that during all defensive zone face-offs, the player from the defensive zone team must put down his stick first. For face-offs at center ice, the rule will remain the same, with the visiting team player putting his stick down first.

The proposed rule changes from today’s meeting require approval by the NHLPA’s Executive Board and the NHL’s Board of Governors.

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session… Hoiberg's personal touch will bring smiles back to Bulls. What's Your Take?

By Mark Schanowski

It’s interesting to see recent history repeat itself when it comes to Bulls coaching hires. Back in 1998 during the Bulls championship run, reports surfaced about Jerry Krause’s fascination with the NBA potential of Iowa State head coach Tim Floyd. And, sure enough, Floyd was hired the following season to preside over Krause’s failed attempt to rebuild the dynasty Bulls on the fly.

Fast forward to this season, and all the reports of the Bulls potential interest in Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg if the damaged relationship with Tom Thibodeau eventually led to a break-up. Tuesday, Hoiberg was introduced as the 19th head coach in Bulls franchise history after an extremely brief search with Hoiberg seemingly the only candidate. One thing we can say for sure, Hoiberg is a lot better prepared for his first experience on an NBA bench than Floyd.

After covering Hoiberg as a player during his Bulls stint from 1999 to 2003, I can tell you he is an extremely bright, hard-working person who truly enjoyed competing on the highest level and welcomed his interactions with the media. During his introductory news conference, Hoiberg told the story of wanting to make a comeback as an NBA player during his time as a Minnesota Timberwolves executive, even after having a pace-maker implanted following heart surgery. Of course, he knew that would be impossible, but he missed the competition that much.

Hoiberg joked about being a bench player with the Indiana Pacers in the late 90’s, watching his teams lose some classic battles to the Michael Jordan-led Bulls. And, he even fondly remembered his days on those historically bad Bulls’ teams under Floyd and Bill Cartwright. Hoiberg was an excellent three-point shooter, leading the NBA in 2004-05 by knocking down 48 percent of his attempts beyond the arc. All in all, he played 10 seasons before his heart condition forced an early retirement, making his mark as a competitor, shooter and teammate.

Spending four seasons in the Timberwolves front office gave Hoiberg the chance to appreciate the long hours and hard work it takes to construct an NBA roster, but he always felt that at some point he wanted to get back to the front lines as part of a coaching staff. When Iowa State’s Greg McDermott (the father of Bulls forward Doug McDermott), decided to accept a job offer at Creighton, Hoiberg was given the opportunity to coach his alma mater. Over his five seasons on the Cyclones’ bench, Hoiberg produced some of the NCAA’s most efficient offensive teams, taking Iowa State to the big dance four times.

Now, Hoiberg brings that fast paced offense to the NBA level in Chicago. He’ll ask Derrick Rose and the other Bulls guards to push the pace at every opportunity, looking for early offense and open three-point shots. Hoiberg says he will use analytic research to help devise the best way to attack opposing defenses and get the most out of the talent on the Bulls' roster.

Today’s NBA has become a shooter’s league with all four of the Conference Finalists in this year’s playoffs ranking among the Top 5 in three-point shooting. The Bulls have some underused players on the bench in McDermott and Tony Snell, and to a lesser extent, Nikola Mirotic, who should get consistent playing time in Hoiberg’s offensive system.

Will that be enough to carry the Bulls past LeBron James and the Cavs in next year’s playoffs? Only time will tell. But in hiring a trusted friend like Hoiberg, Gar Forman pretty much ensured harmony between the front office and coaching staff. And, for all the players who chafed under Thibodeau’s relentless, demanding approach in recent years, Hoiberg’s arrival should bring some much needed smiles to the Advocate Center.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: The only thing that is constant in life is change. And as much as things change, they remain the same. We were all comfortable with Coach Thibodeau and didn't know or understand why a change was being made. We heard that there was a communications problem, we'll never know all of the facts but let's not beat a dead horse to death. It's time to move on and start preparing for the 2015-16 season. Give the new coach a chance and who knows, perhaps he will lead the Bulls to a NBA championship. Let's give him the chance we would all want if we were taking the job or any new job as a matter of fact.

Our hopes and prayers are with him and we wish him the best. Now let's start chasing that championship!!!!!

Now that you know how we feel, what do you think? Go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog d let us know what's your take? We value your thoughts and opinions.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.

Warriors drop Cavaliers in overtime in Game 1 of 2015 NBA Finals, 108-100.

By Adi Joseph

Andre Iguodala. (Photo/Getty Images)

Well, that's a start. Game 1 of the NBA Finals had everything for everyone: LeBron James being the best player in the world, the "Splash Brothers" splashing jump shots, J.R. Smith taking (and sometimes making) absurd ones.

Then there was Andre Iguodala. The veteran sixth man was the difference-maker Thursday as the Warriors won 108-100 in overtime to take a 1-0 lead. His modest numbers (15 points on 6-for-8 shooting) don't show his impressive defense on James on regulation's final play or his will to keep the Warriors in the game during every Cavs run.

The Cavaliers didn't score in overtime until James made a meaningless layup with 8.9 seconds.

The victory seems even bigger because of James' heroic efforts for the Cavaliers. He was the best player on the court for the first 48 minutes, totaling 44 points, six assists and eight rebounds.

Now he must battle back from a 1-0 deficit, and he might be doing it without Kyrie Irving. The Cavs' All-Star point guard left the game during overtime with a limp, favoring the left knee that had given him trouble throughout the playoffs.

The game was tied at the two-minute mark, a back-and-forth affair of first-half runs and second-half answers from both teams. The Cavaliers came out firing and took a 29-19 lead after the first quarter, leading by as many as 14. But the Warriors answered quickly in the second, even taking a five-point lead themselves before the Cavs rebutted.

The second half was memorable. James took to the post and physically dominated in a way many have expected for years from him. But the Warriors always seemed to have an answer, often from "Splash Brother" All-Star guards Curry and Klay Thompson, who combined for 47 points (26 from Curry, who added eight assists). 

The game appeared set to end in regulation when James took the ball with about eight seconds left in a tie game. But Iguodala forced him to take an off-balance shot, and Iman Shumpert's long putback shot attempt bricked.

Irving (23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals) and Timofey Mozgov (16 points and seven rebounds) were huge factors for the Cavs, as well. Irving even had two memorable blocks of Curry down the stretch. But poor shooting, particularly from Smith in the final three quarters and overtime (when he went 1-for-7 on 3-pointers) did not help against the marksmen Warriors.

Game 2 is Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ABC), again in Oakland's Oracle Arena.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!! Jared Allen 'having fun' in OLB role in Bears' new D.

By Kevin Patra

 

Jared Allen famously never wanted to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Now that the Chicago Bears pass rusher is forced into playing the position under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio -- after Allen's poor 2014 season and an unmovable contract kept him in the Windy City -- he's warming up to the experience.

The 33-year-old admits his insistence on staying a 4-3 defensive end was borne out of "ignorance."

"I didn't know anything about it (playing OLB)," he said, via ESPN.com. "I played in a Tampa 2 defense my entire career, so there is a part of me that absolutely loves putting my hand in the dirt and that individual matchup with the left tackle in run or pass, or with the tight end. But this as a football player is fun, it really is -- the different styles of matchups you get and some of the one-on-one rushes it creates are really fun. Ultimately, it's kind of the same stuff, but later in my career it's easier on my body because I'm not technically banging every single day."

Allen is coming off a career-low 5.5 sacks as part of horrific Bears defense in 2014. This season, the unit is made up mostly of the wrong parts to run Fangio's defense.

Still, the Bears have spoken positively about Allen's transition and the veteran claims it could lengthen his career.

"My body feels fresher because I'm not banging every single day and putting my hands on a 300-plus pounder and banging heads and that kind of stuff.

"I'm having fun with it. I know it's just OTAs, but being out there and seeing the one-on-one matchups that I've been able to create and the rush angles I've been able to create, so it's kind of broadening my perspective on football. For me, it's been a blast and I'm just excited to keep going."

While Allen likely enters the season as the starter, color us skeptical of the veteran being anything more than a rotational pass rusher until we see him drop in coverage during training camp and preseason games.

Chicago Bears place 3 on CBS Sports' Top 100 NFL Players list.

By Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.

The NFL's off season has become list season for the numerous networks, publications and websites that trot out their annual rankings of this, that and the other thing. One thing it does provide however, is good conversation for those of us that want to talk football all year long.

The latest list we'll spotlight is from Pete Prisco, Senior NFL Columnist of CBS Sports. He ranks the Top 100 Players in the NFL and he has 3 Chicago Bears on his list. Here are those Bears...

99. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears: His numbers were down some from 2013, but he still caught 85 passes for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns. His average per catch was down from 16.0 to 13.3, which is concerning.

I'm not that concerned with his yards per catch, because he played in an offense that led the league in wide receiver screens last year and he was slowed for much of the season with a hamstring injury. The injury could have caused him to put on a little bad weight, so a healthy and well conditioned Jeffery should be able to pick up his play in Adam Gase's offense.

81. Kyle Long, G, Chicago Bears: He has been to two Pro Bowls in two years and is quickly emerging as one of the better guards in the league. With a little more experience, he will be dominant. He is already outstanding in pass protection.

I think Long will thrive in the new offensive scheme if he remains at guard. O-Line coach Dave Magazu will utilize a zone blocking scheme, but he's also worked in some power blocking into what he does. Long's athleticism and strength makes him a unique talent.

70. Pernell McPhee, OLB, Chicago Bears: The Bears signed him as a free agent from the Ravens where he was used as a situational player. He can line up outside, inside, up or down, which was key to his success. With the Bears, he will be a 3-4 rush linebacker, which should help his sack numbers.

McPhee making this list just goes to show you how much he's thought of nationally as a player. Even though he had a good season in Baltimore last year (7.5 sacks), his top 100 ranking speaks more to the potential people see in him. The Bears are already tinkering with lining him all around their new 3-4 defense.

 

What are your thoughts on these three Bears excelling in 2015? Do you agree or do you think too much is expected from them?

 

Slauson becoming more of a leader.

 

By Larry Mayer

 

Matt Slauson celebrates with Matt Forte after Forte scored a touchdown last year against the Dolphins.

A few days after the Bears released veteran center Roberto Garza in early April, guard Matt Slauson vowed to assume more of a leadership role with the team.

Two months later, coach John Fox has noticed that the seventh-year pro has done just that as he returns after missing the final eight games last season with a torn pectoral muscle.

“He’s a veteran player that’s been around,” Fox said Wednesday at Halas Hall after the Bears completed their sixth of 10 OTA practices. “Anytime you get injured as a player and you’re not able to go out there with your teammates it’s a tough pill to swallow.

“He’s really attacked this offseason. He’s been great with our coaching staff and with his teammates and I’ve definitely seen him take a step forward in the leadership department.”

Turning heads: Fox has been impressed with third-year receiver Marquess Wilson during offseason workouts.

A 2013 seventh-round draft pick from Washington State, Wilson was performing well last offseason before breaking his collarbone during training camp. He ultimately caught 17 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown in the final seven games of the season.

“It was probably a frustrating start to his career,” Fox said. “But he caught our eye as a guy that we were impressed with on the tape, albeit limited tape and I’ve liked what I’ve seen during these first six [OTA] practice opportunities.”

So far so good: Fox has also liked what he’s seen of third-year right tackle Jordan Mills. But it’s very difficult to draw any conclusions from non-contact practices.

“He’s grasped the protections and the run schemes,” Fox said. “We’re practicing some things at kind of a high pace right now. But until we get in pads, sometimes it’s hard to give a great, great evaluation in particularly really on any side of the ball linemen-wise.”

On the mend: Outside linebackers Willie Young (ruptured Achilles tendon) and Lamarr Houston (torn ACL) continue to rebound from last year’s season-ending injuries.  

“They’re week-to-week,” Fox said. “They’re going through their rehab. They’re with the medical staff now. They do an outstanding job. They’re on target and we’ll see when they get back out there.”

Still missing: Veteran tight end Martellus Bennett remains absent from the Bears’ offseason program, and it’s unknown whether he’ll return for the final four OTA practices next week.

“As I said before, this is voluntary,” Fox said. “It’s not going to change for the rest of this offseason. So you’ll have to ask him that. I just know we’ve got a lot of guys out here working really hard to get better.”

Asked if he expects Bennett to attend the Bears’ mandatory minicamp June 16-18, Fox said: “I can’t predict what those intentions are, just that I’d prefer him to be here and now we’ll put all of our energy and focus on the guys that are.”

Crowded position: Even without Bennett, the Bears have seven tight ends participating in their offseason program: Blake Annen, Jacob Maxwell, Zach Miller, Chris Pantale, Bear Pascoe, Dante Rosario and Brian Vogler.

“There’s a long list of them, but they’ve done a good job of learning the system both in the pass game and in the run game,” Fox said. “I like what I have seen. There are some young guys there that some people may not have heard of. … But they’re working at it and they do a good job with it.”

Love it or hate it, Cubs creating their own identity. 

By Patrick Mooney

The Loveable Losers are slowly morphing into The Hateable Winners.

Well, the Cubs haven’t actually won anything yet, heading into Nationals Park on Thursday night only three games above .500, slipping to third place in the National League Central. But you could see the fireworks coming with a brash young team that’s trying to create an identity.

“Well, I don’t want us to have the identity of hitting home runs and flipping the bat and doing cartwheels around the bases,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Absolutely not. Act like you’re going to do it again.”

No, this isn’t what Professor Maddon had in mind when he got a $25 million tenure position at The Cub University: Junior Lake pimping it at home plate, shushing Miami’s dugout rounding third base and sparking a bench-clearing incident during Wednesday night’s 7-3 loss at Marlins Park.

But there was an inevitable sense that stuff like this would happen with Maddon’s liberal-arts approach and anti-rules philosophy. If you want players to be themselves, to show their emotions and not be afraid to make mistakes, then you can’t be surprised when they get carried away in the moment.

“Poor behavior is not part of what we’re looking for,” Maddon said. “There’s not even any correlation between the two at all.

“The risk is if you let them get away with it. That’s the risk for the first time. And if you don’t put a lid on it, then, of course, it can become something more complicated.”

This isn’t picking on Lake, who realized what he did wrong, took full responsibility for his actions and wanted to apologize to Miami pitcher Dan Haren, the rest of the Marlins and the kids who might be watching at home on TV.

It’s just that it’s probably too late to put a lid on all this, because it’s bigger than any one moment or individual personality. It’s the “We Are Good” T-shirts and the Bloomberg Businessweek cover story trumpeting the “sports empire” now “in bloom.”

It’s all the battles with City Hall, the rooftop owners and their Lakeview neighbors in launching the $600 million Wrigleyville development.

It’s the six months it took the Red Sox to finalize compensation after chairman Tom Ricketts and president of business operations Crane Kenney hired Theo Epstein away from Boston to run the baseball side after the 2011 season.

It’s Major League Baseball getting involved again in the Maddon tampering case, with the Rays forcing an investigation that finally cleared the Cubs six months after they fired Rick Renteria and grabbed the star manager out of Tampa Bay.

It’s Anthony Rizzo predicting the Cubs will win the division in January. It’s the natural excitement after five consecutive fifth-place finishes — and what should be the pushback in a pennant race.

“We have no reason to get under people’s skin,” Rizzo said. “We should all be running the ball out hard, like we do, and hustling, like we do. We’re just playing the game hard.”

To be clear, the Cubs will need that edge and a sense of swagger to end this century-and-counting drought. Even Jon Lester — who owns two World Series rings and comes across as all business — seems to understand the postgame dance parties in the clubhouse.

“You go back to being with the Red Sox and everything is so regimented and serious all the time,” Lester said. “You’re expected to win. And when you do win, there’s really no celebration. It’s just on to the next day. It’s nice to take (the) two minutes out of our day and really enjoy what we just did on the field.

“I haven’t been around these guys for the past couple years and seen how they take losses. But to walk in the clubhouse and see how these guys handle losses is also good. They’re pissed off. They care. That’s obviously a step in the right direction. "Winning in the big leagues is tough. (But) once those two minutes are over, then it’s on to the next one. And these guys have done a great job of that.”

The Cubs are also running the risk of retaliation if baseball’s fun police doesn’t like Lake’s act or Starlin Castro’s 30-second home-run trot showing up on “SportsCenter.”

“There’s no comparison between what Castro did and what Junior did,” Maddon said. “One is absolutely, demonstratively unacceptable. And the other one is just a slow stroll around the bases. I don’t see that one as being necessarily upsetting to the other team.”

Jake Arrieta got that question after the Cubs gave Kris Bryant the silent treatment, emptying the dugout in the middle of a game against the Brewers and celebrating his first big-league homer inside Miller Park’s visiting clubhouse.

“None of us here would disrespect the game,” Arrieta said. “Don’t do things that you feel would be disrespectful to teammates (or) to the other team. And we would never do that. But at the same time, you got to have fun.

“(If) we got our ass kicked yesterday, (then) we have to come in the next day with the same mentality. Stay loose (and) confident.

“The looser you stay in the clubhouse, and off the field as a team, the easier it is to kind of turn the page and come back with no apprehension or tentativeness the next day. (You) just come out and play the game.”

Would you rather see your team making enemies or remaining afterthoughts?

“(As for the) baseball purists,” Arrieta said, “the game’s going to change a little bit and you have to expect that. There are 19-, 20-, 21-year-old kids in the big leagues and the millennial fans like that stuff. It creates a little excitement.

“If there is a line and there are boundaries, then we won’t cross those. But we’re still going to have fun.”

White Sox extra innings loss spoils Carlos Rodon’s strong start.

By JJ Stankevitz

Long after Carlos Rodon departed his career-best start, Texas finally broke through.
Shin-Soo Choo’s walk-off single off lefty Dan Jennings in the 11th inning dealt the White Sox a 2-1 loss Thursday night at Globe Life Stadium. Leonys Martin led off the frame with a single to center and was bunted to second by Hanser Alberto. After Delino DeShields Jr. was walked, Choo poked a Jennings breaking ball into left for the game-winning hit.

Rodon set a career high with 10 strikeouts over his six innings of one-run ball, marking the first time a White Sox rookie has racked up double-digit strikeouts since Hector Santiago did against Cleveland on Oct. 1, 2012. Rodon scattered five hits and three walks and tied a career high with 108 pitches.

Texas struck in the first inning when Prince Fielder threaded a ground ball by a diving Carlos Sanchez for an RBI single — though Rodon got out of the inning by striking out the next three batters he faced. It was the first of two innings in which Rodon struck out the side.

Gordon Beckham’s fourth inning sacrifice fly scored Avisail Garcia and equalized the score at one. The White Sox had some good swings against Texas starter Yovani Gallardo, but only managed a few loud outs to the warning track over the right-hander’s six innings of work.

Texas loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but Carlos Sanchez brilliantly turned a double play on Alberto’s grounder to Alexei Ramirez to end the inning. Sanchez held his ground as Martin barreled into him with a clean slide and still fired a strike to Adam LaRoche at first to end the inning and keep the score tied at one.

The loss concluded an 11-game road trip on which the White Sox went 5-6 against Toronto, Baltimore, Houston and Texas. 

Golf: I got a club for that: Matsuyama in tie for Memorial lead, Tiger toils.

Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes, Editing by Larry Fine

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, reacts to missing his birdie putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the Memorial golf tournament, Thursday, June 4, 2015, in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama piled up four birdies on each nine to surge into a tie for the lead at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, on Thursday as Tiger Woods fought back from a messy start to open with a one-over 73.

Japanese Matsuyama, who won last year's title in a playoff with American Kevin Na, took advantage of relatively soft conditions on a calm, overcast day at Muirfield Village to fire a flawless eight-under-par 64.

That put the 23-year-old Asian joint top at the tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus, level with American Bo Van Pelt, who birdied six of his first nine holes before losing some momentum after the turn.

"I hit the ball very well today, had a lot of birdie putts and putted well so I'm very happy with the round," Matsuyama, speaking through an interpreter, told Golf Channel.

Scotland's Russell Knox and American Jason Dufner carded 66s while world number two Jordan Spieth, the highest-ranked player in the field, recovered from a slow start to card a 68.

Woods, however, covered his first nine holes in an ugly four-over 40 before scrambling on his second nine with three late birdies to salvage his round.

 
"Some of the shots I hit were really, really good, but then I also had some really bad shots," the former world number one said. "And we need to work on that, and eliminate the bad ones."

Woods, a five-times champion at Muirfield Village whose world ranking has plummeted to 172nd, ended his roller-coaster round with five birdies, four bogeys and a double at the tricky par-four 18th, his ninth hole of the day.

He is playing only his fifth PGA Tour event of the season after struggling with his game, and has not competed since tying for 69th at the Players Championship last month.

Masters champion Spieth, already a double winner on the U.S. circuit this season, was delighted with his score after teeing off at the 10th.

"It's not easy to start on number 10, it's a brutal hole," said the 21-year-old American. "Great up-and-downs the first four holes before I finally hit a wedge in there tight on 14 and a good up-and-down out of the bunker on 15 for birdie.

"To shoot two-under on the back nine is a great score. Most of the chances are on the front. Very pleased with the round."

Woods rallies after awful start to open Memorial with 73.

AFP

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Memorial Tournament on June 4, 2015 in Dublin, Ohio (AFP Photo/Andy Lyons)

Only a late-round rally lifted Tiger Woods to one-over par 73 that left the former world number-one feeling "beat up" after the first round of the Memorial on Thursday.

Woods, who has plunged to 172nd in the world rankings and hasn't won a tournament since August of 2013, got off to a dismal start in the Jack Nicklaus-hosted tournament he has won five times.  He teed off on 10 at Muirfield Village and played his first nine holes in four-over par 40, making the turn after a double-bogey at the par-four 18th where he hit his drive out of bounds.

He righted the ship with three birdies and no bogeys on his inward run, but was well off the clubhouse lead of eight-under par.  Physically, I feel good. Mentally I feel beat up," said Woods, who is playing his fifth tournament of 2015 and just his second since coming back from a self-imposed absence from competition at the Masters in April.

"That grind is so hard. To turn that round around like I did today... That was hard."

With the US Open a fortnight away, the 14-time major champion is still tinkering with his swing, implementing changes with instructor Chris Como even since his last tournament, the Players Championship, in May.  

Woods remained optimistic that the changes would pay off in the long run.  

"I've gone through phases like this, rounds like this, where yeah, it's easy to revert back and go ahead and hit some old pattern," he said. "But it doesn't do you any good going forward.  

"And when it turns, I've had periods where I've played good for four or five years, where I've won close to 20 tournaments in that stretch."  

Woods has never missed the cut at Memorial in 14 prior starts.  

But he hit only four of 14 fairways and nine of 18 greens on Thursday.
 

Woods was missing in both directions. He was in the left rough off the 10th tee, and found water to the left with his approach at 11.
 

At 13 he was right, right again on 17 and at 18 so far right as to be out of play.
 

"I was just trying to stay committed to what we're working on, to what we're doing," he said.

"I hit it awful, yeah. So what? I was going to go through this phase and stick with it, keep sticking with it. And some of the shots I hit were really, really good, but then I also had some really bad shots, too. And we need to work on that, too and omit the bad ones."

NASCAR: Looking ahead: Who could be heads to Chase and who could be disappointed.

By Dustin Long

(Getty Images)

With NASCAR halfway to the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the pressure builds on drivers who have yet to win and all but secure a chance to race for the title.

There have been nine different winners this season (compared to 10 a year ago), leaving seven spots for the Chase to be determined by points – at this time.

Last year, there were 13 winners when the Chase began, leaving three spots open for those via points. It likely will be about the same this year.

So, as the series heads to Pocono Raceway to begin a stretch of 13 races in 15 weeks, here’s a look at who is in contention for those final Chase spots and the chances they have of making it.

Martin Truex Jr.

Chase appearances: 2 (best finish 11th in 2007 & 2012)

Points position: 2nd (ranks first among winless drivers)

Notable performances: Has led the most laps in last three points races but did not win any of those.

Why he’ll make Chase: Clearly has one of the fastest cars and even if he doesn’t win, he should make it via points.

Why he won’t make Chase: He and team decide to take four-week summer vacation and miss a few races. Would have to be that drastic.
 
Jamie McMurray

Chase appearances: 0

Points position: 7th (ranks second among winless drivers)

Notable performances: Has an average finish of 9.7 at the seven tracks the series has run that will host a Chase race.

Why he’ll make Chase: It’s amazing that the former Daytona 500, Sprint All-Star and Brickyard 400 winner has not made the Chase in his career. Everything finally goes his way.

Why he won’t make Chase: Can’t afford a number of poor finishes. If only three drivers make the Chase on points as happened last year, he could be teetering on the edge if he doesn’t win a race.

Kasey Kahne

Chase appearances: 5 (best finish 4th in 2012)

Points position: 8th (ranks third among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 4th at Phoenix and Dover.

Why he’ll make Chase: Should score a win to secure a spot. Could come this weekend at Pocono where he won in 2013 and has two top-two finishes in last five starts there.

Why he won’t make Chase: He didn’t win until Atlanta last year – two races before the Chase cutoff. That race moved, so he won’t have that track to bail him out if he doesn’t have a win that late in the season.
 
Jeff Gordon

Chase appearances: 10 (best finish 2nd in 2007)

Points position: 9th (ranks fourth among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 3rd at Bristol. Led 87 laps in Daytona 500 but was collected in last-lap wreck.

Why he’ll make Chase: There could be no worse disappointment than not to make the Chase in his final full season. If things get hairy, the full resources of Hendrick Motorsports will be focused on getting him in the Chase, much like how Kasey Kahne won late to make last year’s Chase.

Why he won’t make Chase: If he has more speeding penalties on pit road at the wrong time. One such penalty likely cost him a shot to win at Martinsville.

Aric Almirola

Chase appearances: 1 (best finish 16th in 2014)

Points position: 10th (ranks fifth among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 5th at Dover

Why he’ll make Chase: He’s been steady all season with no finish worse than 26th and only two finishes of 20th or worse. He’s maximizing what the car and team are providing.

Why he won’t make Chase: He’s about two poor finishes from falling too far out of the third spot among winless drivers – the likely cutoff for winless drivers to make the Chase – if he doesn’t score a victory.
 
Paul Menard

Chase appearances: 0

Points position: 12th (ranks sixth among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 3rd at Talladega and 4th at Auto Club Speedway

Why he’ll make Chase: He’s been steady for much of the season with only one finish worse than 25th. He needs to be even stronger. Has led only one lap this season, so unless something changes, winning will be difficult to achieve.

Why he won’t make Chase: If one can’t lead laps, they can’t win. If he has a couple of bad performances, he likely won’t be able to overcome that to make it via points.

Ryan Newman

Chase appearances: 6 (best finish 2nd in 2014)

Points position: 13th (ranks seventh among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 3rd at Las Vegas and Phoenix

Why he’ll make Chase: He’s doing the same thing as he did last year with consistency. He has eight top-10 finishes this season compared to four at this point a year ago. He’s used to the pressure – just recall his last-lap move on Kyle Larson at Phoenix to make the Chase finale last year.

Why he won’t make Chase: Consistency only gets one so far. It may not be enough this time.

Clint Bowyer

Chase appearances: 5 (best finish 2nd in 2012)

Points position: 17th (ranks eighth among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 7th in Daytona 500

Why he’ll make Chase: Likely will have to win to do so.

Why he won’t make Chase: Team hasn’t shown it’s strong enough to challenge for a victory. Has led just two laps this season and has eight finishes of 20th or worse. That won’t cut it if he can’t score a win.

Danica Patrick

Chase appearances: 0

Points position: 18th (ranks ninth among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 7th at Martinsville

Why she’ll make Chase: Will need to win a race somewhere.

Why she won’t make Chase: Hasn’t been in position to win a race. That likely will continue, keeping her out of the Chase.

Greg Biffle

Chase appearances: 7 (best finish 2nd in 2005)

Points position: 19th (ranks 10th among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 2nd in Coca-Cola 600

Why he’ll make Chase: Nearly stole a win at Charlotte on fuel mileage. If he can do it somewhere else, he’ll be in.

Why he won’t make Chase: While his car showed it was better in the Coca-Cola 600, there’s still a long way to go for Roush Fenway Racing to compete for wins. Until it does so, RFR won’t have a driver in the Chase.

Kyle Larson

Chase appearances: 0

Points position: 20th (ranks 11th among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 3rd at Dover

Why he’ll make Chase: Team picks up performance and matches the potential of this driver in the final 13 races before the Chase field is set.

Why he won’t make Chase: This team has been off at times this season with six finishes of 25th or worse. If that continues, he won’t make the Chase.

Tony Stewart

Chase appearances: 8 (won title in Chase format in 2005 & ’11)

Points position: 28th (ranks 19th among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 6th at Bristol

Why he’ll make Chase: Must win. Best bet is Daytona, Bristol or maybe the road courses.

Why he won’t make Chase: Although scoring better finishes lately compared to start of the year, this team has not shown the speed to compete for a win that it must have to make the Chase.

Kyle Busch

Chase appearances: 7 (best finish 4th in 2013)

Points position: 40th (ranks 31st among winless drivers)

Notable performances: 11th in Coca-Cola 600

Why he’ll make Chase: He’s been fast in his first two races back and put himself in position to have strong finishes until some late issues.

Why he won’t make Chase: Can’t overcome deficit of missing 11 races.

Waltrip: 'A lot of unrest' in NASCAR led to driver council.

By JENNA FRYER

Martin Truex Jr. pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

NASCAR has never had much of an appetite for drivers uniting to create a single voice. The sanctioning body once banned Curtis Turner for trying to form a union in 1961.

But times have changed, said Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, who believes dislike of the current rules package has led to the creation of a driver's council. The group of drivers elected by their peers met with NASCAR at Dover last weekend.

''We've never had what we'd call a 'council' before ... NASCAR was never too open to meeting with a group of people, but had been willing to meet one-on-one,'' said Waltrip, a three-time champion and current analyst for Fox.

Waltrip is certain that a push for better racing is behind the drivers' decision to present a unified front to NASCAR. Last year, team owners formed the Race Team Alliance to address escalating costs, rules and other issues.

''There is a lot of unrest in the sport currently, and I think that's why NASCAR is listening,'' Waltrip said. ''Hopefully, they'll take drivers' input and make some better decisions. What we all want ... is good racing and action on the track.''

Waltrip, though, indicated that there's no need for a new rules package in 2016. The 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship last season was competitive, but slight adjustments to the 2015 rules has not provided much carry-over into this year.

There has been talk that NASCAR will leave the rules package untouched for next year - something most drivers have at least privately opposed. Among those selected to meet with NASCAR last week were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Tony Stewart. 

Waltrip is in the camp that believes the 2015 rules can stick for some time.

''Last year was the best racing we'd had in a long time, which is why I hated to see changes in 2015, then we weren't but a few races into 2015 and were hearing talk about changes for 2016,'' Waltrip said. ''Let it breathe a little. Constant rule changes aren't helping anyone, making competition better or saving money.''

INDYCAR-BLOCKING: Graham Rahal was not pleased to be hit with a blocking penalty in Sunday's race, even though he still finished third in the second of two races at Detroit.

The call came after he tried to hold off Takuma Sato in the late stages of the race, and Rahal wants IndyCar to consider adding more driver experience to race control. The current steward system rules by majority vote, and the three stewards don't often include a former driver.

''I'd like to see three drivers in race control, three retired drivers that know what's going on,'' Rahal said. ''I mean, it's no disrespect to who's there. I think they've done a fair job with what they've been given.''

Rahal argued that his use of an on-board camera in his car makes it easier for race control to see everything that goes on with him, as opposed to drivers who do not have the cameras. Rahal even suggested Paul Tracy, currently an analyst for NBC Sports, could be an asset in race control.

''I think you need to go find three retired guys that have been through this, been through the wringer, Paul Tracy, guys like that, that know exactly the ins-and-outs of this. They can make a fair call every time,'' he said.

BRISCOE-TEXAS: Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has called on Ryan Briscoe to again fill in for injured driver James Hinchcliffe as IndyCar shifts to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.

Briscoe finished 12th in the Indianapolis 500 driving for Hinchcliffe, who suffered a life-threatening leg injury a week before the race. Hinchcliffe's leg was pierced by a broken part of the suspension following a crash in practice.

Conor Daly replaced Hinchcliffe last week at Detroit and finished sixth on Sunday after leading 12 laps. Briscoe won at Texas from the pole in 2010, was second in 2009 and has finished third three times.

Also, Dale Coyne Racing shuffled its two-car lineup for Texas. Pippa Mann will drive the No. 18 on Saturday night and Tristan Vautier will drive the No. 19. Both drove the Indy 500 for Coyne but were out of the cars at Detroit.

SOCCER: Yallop: 'Naive' Fire lament second half performance vs. D.C.

By Danny Michallik

In his weekly conference call Monday afternoon, head coach Frank Yallop forewarned his side of D.C. United’s knack for churning out results while occasionally not performing at their best. On Wednesday, Ben Olsen’s bruised and battered group proved precisely that, and why they deserve to sit atop the Eastern Conference.

After a 3-0 thumping of the Montreal Impact, the Chicago Fire reverted to losing ways with a 3-1 defeat to D.C. United at RFK Stadium, their first loss since stumbling to Real Salt Lake on May 9 and first against an in-conference opponent.

"For whatever reason we stopped playing in a certain part in the game and started trying to soak up pressure when we can’t do that," Yallop said in his post-match press conference. "We were naïve a little bit tonight I think in the big picture and D.C. United kept going and were stronger than us.

"I haven’t seen the goals, so I have to look at them again on tape, but it’s never good to concede three goals at home or away but especially when you’re away and one goal up."

A hushed beginning to the match saw the Fire (4-6-2, 14 points) silence the home crowd in the 28th minute as Designated Player David Accam found the net for the third time in 2015. But a second-half brace from Jairo Arrieta and an insurance tally from Conor Doyle in the 75th minute secured all three points for the unflustered hosts, who extended their home unbeaten streak to 20 games, while the Men in Red slipped to seventh place in the standings.

The Ghanaian found it difficult to establish a rhythm in the early going, but left back Joevin Jones’ darting run to elude multiple D.C. defenders in the fifth minute provided Frank Yallop’s side with the impetus to impose a similar strategy deployed against the Impact at Toyota Park five days earlier.

It was D.C., though, who would generate the first meaningful attack of the match, as Nick DeLeon was released into space behind the Fire back four, firing his cross-shot across Jon Busch - making his third consecutive start - only for the ‘keeper to palm comfortably wide.

Accam nearly produced the breakthrough in the 20th minute following Matt Polster’s break-up play in the midfield. The rookie collected the ball and darted toward D.C.’s defense to find the winger, but his sliding effort trickled inches wide of former Fire ‘keeper Andrew Dykstra’s goal.

In the 26th minute, D.C. defender Steven Birnbaum’s clumsy hand ball was whistled for a penalty kick, but Dykstra kept out skipper Jeff Larentowicz’s effort, before Accam struck a minute later.

Harry Shipp’s early recognition to find a sprinting Quincy Amarikwa - one of a bevy of changes to the Fire lineup - down the left flank resulted in a surprise 1-0 advantage to the visitors, as Accam latched onto a one-time, low driven cross from Amarikwa to bury past Dykstra and muzzle the 11,218 onlookers.

The second half saw a determined D.C. outfit take the game to the Men in Red, as substitute Fabian Espindola profoundly put his stamp on the match. After withstanding a quarter of an hour’s worth of pressure, Olsen’s delegation eventually breached an absorbent Fire defense.

Espindola’s corner kick delivery in the 61st minute was met by Arrieta, who lost his marks and headed past Busch to level the match at one apiece. Arrieta would inflict further damage eight minutes later, pouncing onto a loose ball in the box to fire past a stranded Busch once more.

Despite sending on the rested Razvan Cocis and Kennedy Igboananike in hopes of salvaging a third straight 2-2 draw on their travels, it was D.C. who struck again, this time via Conor Doyle, who provided the insurance goal with a tap-in in the 75th minute.

"For us, conceding three goals in any match is not good so we’ve got to look at it again, dig deep and get ready for Saturday’s game because it’s a big game for us," Yallop added.

For D.C., the victory cemented the team’s position at the summit of the Eastern Conference, while the loss marks the 15th game in which the Fire have failed to win on the road.

Next up, the Men in Red return for another quick turnaround with a home bout against expansion side Orlando City SC on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs)

(4-4-1-1): Jon Busch; Lovel Palmer, Jeff Larentowicz (C), Eric Gehrig, Joevin Jones; Michael Stephens (Razvan Cocis, 62'), Matt Polster, Matt Watson (Kennedy Igboananike, 70'), David Accam (Guly do Prado, 77'); Harry Shipp; Quincy Amarikwa.

USMNT vs. Netherlands preview: Experimentation in the rearview as Gold Cup lies ahead.

By Duncan Day

(Getty Images)

On Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET, the U.S. men’s national team will participate in one of their highest-profile games as of late—a friendly against the Netherlands, the runner-up at 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

After the 2014 World Cup had ended with the Stars and Stripes bowing out in the round of 16 stage vs. Belgium, manager Jurgen Klinsmann brought the squad back into action on Sep. 3 in a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.

From there, the United States were winless in five matches: draws to Ecuador and Honduras followed by three-straight defeats prior to a 2-1 victory over Panama in February.

While no tournament for the U.S. as considerable as the World Cup looms, the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup cannot be overlooked, especially considering it factored into the firing of former USMNT head coach Bob Bradley nearly four years ago.

Klinsmann had a wonderful chance to prove himself in Brazil this past summer, and amidst months of testing range of youth and skill available to him, his attention is now geared towards putting together the absolute best squad.

With that emphasis, getting a positive outcome over Oranje, televised on ESPN for all of America to see, becomes necessary.

“Are we coming here to get results? Yes, we are,” the coach said to reporters at Amsterdam Arena, via MLSsoccer.com. “We want to compete with them, in real games. And we want to see a lot of things from our players, just a couple weeks away from the Gold Cup.”

Klinsmann also noted that “the percentage is very high”, in respect to current players on the roster that will take the field at the upcoming tournament.

Nevertheless, notable absences do exist.

Two forwards integral to the United States’ success—Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey—will both not appear against the Dutch, as well as New England Revolution midfielder/center back Jermaine Jones. And the 2014 World Cup regulars in the back line, Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler, did not make the roster.

As for the Netherlands, manager Guus Hiddink hasn’t enjoyed an expected smooth run of form, his side sitting at third-place in their UEFA 2016 Euro qualifying group, five and six points behind Iceland and the Czech Republic respectively.

Friendly defeats to Mexico and Italy have also put a damper on the national team’s status, and now is the best time to strike for the United States, as Hiddink has lamented the attacking void created due to Arjen Robben’s calf-tear injury.

“With the absence of Arjen Robben, the team will lose 30 to 40 percent of its quality and production. That’s the impact he has shown over the last year and a half,” Hiddink said. ”It’s a loss for the Dutch national team, but also very annoying for him and Bayern Munich I can complain about it long and hard, but that will not help. We must go on.”

Still, the Netherlands will have a challenging outfit spearheaded by Manchester United trio Robin Van Persie, Memphis Depay, and Daley Blind, not to mention a host of Eredivisie talent.

NCAAFB: Nick Saban not happy with new SEC 'serious misconduct' rule.

By Tom Fornelli

Nick Saban isn't a big fan of the SEC's new transfer policy. (USATSI) 

During last week's SEC spring meetings, the biggest piece of news to emerge was probably the conference's decision to pass a new rule preventing transfers from entering the conference who were previously disciplined by another school for "serious misconduct."

The SEC defined "serious misconduct" as sexual assault, domestic violence or other forms of sexual violence. It was a rule that was widely applauded by most, but it appears there was at least one person who didn't like the idea, and that person happens to be the head coach at Alabama.

Saban was asked if he was in favor of the rule on Thursday.

"No," Saban said per al.com, "but I'm supportive of the league. I understand what they're trying to do, and I was really [looking] to clearly define exactly why -- or what -- I thought convicted and felonies should be involved in the rule, and I guess I got sort of misinterpreted. But one of the points that I tried to make was Cam Newton being in the SEC and Nick Marshall being in the SEC benefited the SEC, and it benefited those players.

"So if those players were not allowed to play in the SEC they'd be playing someplace else. What I'm most concerned about, I just think that we should have the same rules in the SEC as all the other Big 5 schools have because now we're not just talking about the SEC. We're talking about having a playoff -- no different than the NFL. One division in the NFL doesn't have different rules, different salary caps, different anything because the league knows that parity is the best competitive balance that you can create."

There's just a whole lot wrong with Saban's opinion on this matter.

First of all, had the rules been in place back before Cam Newton and Nick Marshall both transferred to Auburn (from Florida and Georgia, respectively), the rule wouldn't have applied to them.

Newton allegedly stole a laptop at Florida and had some academic issues with the university, while Marshall allegedly stole money from a teammate at Georgia. Not exactly wonderful things for either to do, but neither qualifies as "serious misconduct" under the new rule's definition.

As for the competitive balance aspect that Saban talks about, I get where he's coming from, but I have a hard time sympathizing with him about it. The fact that he's saying it's not fair that other schools might be able to accept players who have been arrested for sexual assault while he cannot just seems so wholly tone deaf that I really don't even know how to respond.

Of course, it should be mentioned that the SEC passed this rule largely in response to Alabama accepting the transfer of Jonathan Taylor, who had been dismissed at Georgia following his arrest for domestic violence before transferring to Alabama. Taylor was then dismissed at Alabama following another domestic violence arrest (the accuser did later recant her accusation).

NCAA charges UNC with lack of institutional control, extra benefits.

By Chip Patterson

The NCAA said the AFAM department went unchecked at UNC for 18 years. (Getty Images)

The University of North Carolina released its Notice of Allegations from the NCAA on Thursday, which described five Level I charges that include lack of institutional control.

The NCAA defines Level I charges as a "severe breach of conduct." In this case, the NCAA says the impermissible extra benefits provided to student-athletes over a nine-year time span (2002-2011) "seriously undermined or threatened the integrity of the NCAA collegiate model."

You can find a full downloadable PDF of the Notice of Allegations by clicking here. For those who prefer a quick summary of the five charges:

1. The NCAA charged UNC with providing impermissible benefits via academic counselors in the AFAM department and 10 athletes exceeding independent study course limits.

2. Jan Boxill, academic advisor to the women's basketball team, is alleged to have provided impermissible academic assistance to women's basketball players.

3. Deb Crowder, the administrative assistant to AFAM department head Julius Nyang'oro, violated ethical conduct by not assisting NCAA investigation.

4. AFAM department chair Julius Nyang'oro violated ethical conduct by not assisting with the NCAA investigation.

5. The NCAA charged UNC with a lack of institutional control for all of the above charges.

North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said Thursday that the school has already begun to "construct" its response, which it had 90 days to complete. That response will be sent to the Committee on Infractions, and Cunningham guessed that some of the charges will be contested while others will not.

"I do think that, at the first read, there are some allegations that we will probably agree with and others that we will not," Cunningham said. "It will probably take the full 90 days to write our full response, and tell the entire story that surrounds these issues."

Cunningham said while there was not a "bombshell" in the report, he was surprised at the volume of the exhibits, adding that there was "more of them than I anticipated."

Notably absent from the allegations is the name of any football or men's basketball personnel. Roy Williams, John Bunting, Butch Davis and interim football coach Everett Withers were all interviewed in the enforcement committee's investigation, but none were named in the allegations.

"Everyone who loves Carolina is truly saddened by these allegations," Roy Williams said in a statement on Thursday. "We aspire to and work toward meeting higher standards than the actions that warranted this notice. Our university and numerous outside groups have looked at every aspect of our academic and athletic life. As a result, Carolina has implemented scores of new processes and checks and balances that have undoubtedly made us a better university. Hopefully, we will never again receive such a notice."

After the response comes a meeting with the Committee on Infractions and then 60 days before the NCAA issues a final ruling. Currently, it looks like this case will not reach a resolution until early 2016.

“We take the allegations the NCAA made about past conduct very seriously," UNC chancellor Carol L. Folt said. "This is the next step in a defined process, and we are a long way from reaching a conclusion. We will respond to the notice using facts and evidence to present a full picture of our case. Although we may identify some instances in the NCAA's notice where we agree and others where we do not, we are committed to continue pursuing a fair and just outcome for Carolina."

NCAA's APR report shows improvement in major sports.

By Travis Durkee

NCAA logo (Photo/Getty Images)

The NCAA released its 2013-14 Academic Progress Rate report Wednesday, with figures showing “notable increases” in football and men’s basketball.

The APR for Division I men’s basketball programs increased by four points, while football programs saw a five-point rise.

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each season and creates an average of the past four seasons. If a program falls below the 930 standard, which represents roughly a 50-percent graduation rate, it cannot compete in postseason play.

For the 2015-16 season, 21 teams will be ineligible for postseason action, a sharp drop from 42 a year ago. Twenty-eight teams will face other penalties outside of a postseason ban compared to 70 in 2014-15.

“More college athletes than ever are succeeding in the classroom, and I applaud their commitment to academic achievement. We are pleased and proud of their accomplishments,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a release. “Our goal always has been to encourage students to achieve academically and earn their degrees. Every year, Division I students prove that both academic and athletic success are achievable.”

Of the schools facing penalties, Florida A&M took the most hits. The university’s men’s basketball, football, men’s cross country, and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams are ineligible for postseason competition and all face other penalties in 2015-16.

The Field, Odds, And Storylines For The 147th Belmont Stakes.

By Teresa Genaro

(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
 

The field for the 147th Belmont Stakes, in post position order.

1)  Mubtaahij. Depending on the translation from the Arabic, his name means “happy,” “cheery,” or “elated.” Following an eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, his first race in North American, he’s won four of eight lifetime starts, including the $2 million UAE Derby, all at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. South African trainer Michael de Kock saddles his first Belmont starter; this $600,000 purchase is owned by Essafinaat Limited and will be ridden by Belmont-based Irad Ortiz Jr. Mubtaahij is the only horse in the Belmont to race without the anti-bleeding medication furosemide. Morning line odds: 10-1.

2)  Tale of Verve. The surprise runner-up in the Preakness three weeks ago, Tale of Verve went into that race with just one win in six attempts. Sent off at odds of nearly 29-1, he closed from far back over Pimlico’s sloppy track but was no threat to winner American Pharoah, finishing seven lengths back. If the off track is what moved Tale of Verve up, he’ll have no such luck on Saturday, with the forecast for perfect weather. This $440,000 purchase is owned by Canada’s Charles Fipke, whose Golden Soul finished second in the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. Like Golden Soul, Tale of Verve is trained by Dallas Stewart; he’ll be ridden by Gary Stevens, winner of three Belmont Stakes, more recently in 1995. Morning line odds: 15-1.

3)  Madefromlucky. One of two horses entered by trainer Todd Pletcher, who won this race in 2007 with Rag to Riches, the first filly to win the Belmont since 1905, and in 2013 with Palace Malice. He ran in neither the Kentucky Derby nor the Preakness, racing last at Belmont a month ago, winning the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes. A win over Belmont’s unusual 1.5-mile configuration is not to be dismissed lightly, though in two previous encounters with American Pharoah, he’s not been able to finish closer than six lengths to him. He’s got the services of Javier Castellano, a two-time reigning Eclipse Award winner for outstanding jockey looking for his first win in the Belmont. Sired by 2010 Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, he’s owned by Cheyenne Stables and Mac Nichol. Morning line odds: 12-1.

4)  Frammento. Trainer Nick Zito has won two Belmont Stakes, and both times he foiled Triple Crown attempts:  in 2004 his Birdstone beat Smarty Jones, and in 2008, his Da ‘Tara won a race in which favored Big Brown turned in an inexplicably bad performance, finishing last. Can he do it again? Like Da’ Tara and Birdstone, Frammento’s going to be a longshot; he comes to the Belmont of an 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and just one win in eight lifetime races. Owned by Mossarosa, Frammento will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who won the Belmont in 2010 (Drosselmeyer) and 2013 (Palace Malice). Morning line odds: 30-1.

5)  American Pharoah. He’s won six of seven lifetime races. He crushed the field at the Preakness. He can run on the lead or off the pace. He’s done pretty much everything asked of him to this point in his short career. Can he do this, too, and make racing history? That he’s got the talent to do it is undisputed. But can he win three races in five weeks? Can he win at Belmont without ever having run over the course? Both his trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza have been here before: they’ve come to Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line and fallen short each time, Baffert three times (1997 Silver Charm, 1998 Real Quiet, 2002 War Emblem ), Espinoza twice (2002 War Emblem, 2014 California Chrome). Neither has ever won the Belmont, nor has owner Zayat Stables, who finished second in 2012 with Paynter. Morning line odds: 3-5.

6)  Frosted. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin hopes that this homebred colt owned by Godolphin Racing, the operation of Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, can bring him a second win in the Belmont Stakes, following Jazil’s win in 2006. He comes off a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, losing by 3 1/4 lengths after racing wide; he’s sired by super-hot stallion Tapit, which suggests that the Belmont’s 12 furlongs won’t be a problem. Joel Rosario tries to make it two in a row after winning last year’s Belmont with Tonalist. Morning line odds: 5-1.

7)  Keen Ice.  He was a longshot in the Kentucky Derby, in which he finished seventh, and he’ll be a longshot here, but his sire Curlin finished second in the 2007 edition of the race, barely losing a hard-fought battle, before twice being named Horse of the Year. His pedigree says he can get this distance, but he hasn’t hit the winner’s circle, or even finished second, since last September. He’s owned by Donegal Racing and trained by Dale Romans; Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who’s finished second twice in the Belmont and won it in 2009, gets the call. Morning line odds: 20-1.

8.)  Materiality. The second entered here by trainer Todd Pletcher, who won this race in 2007 with Rag to Riches, the first filly to win the Belmont since 1905, and in 2013 with Palace Malice. Undefeated going into the Kentucky Derby off three races in which he’d been on or close to the lead, he broke badly at Churchill Downs, taking him out of the race from the start, leading to a sixth-place finish. A $400,000 purchase, he’ll be making his first start at Belmont Park after racing and training at Pletcher’s Florida base over the winter. Owned by Alto Racing, he’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who rode Belmont Stakes winners in 2007 (Rags to Riches, for Pletcher) and 2012 (Union Rags). Morning line odds: 6-1.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Belmont Stakes.

By David Helm

(Photo Credit: Al Bello, Getty Images)

The Belmont Stakes, held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, is the third race of the Triple Crown in professional horse racing. The mile and a half race is held every year in June, and in some cases, receives hype around a particular horse vying for the coveted Triple Crown. In 2015, most know that American Pharoah is the latest horse with aspirations of that honor. Here are some facts that you might not know about the Belmont Stakes 

1. In early years, the Belmont States was run clockwise, like races in England. The first counterclockwise Belmont Stakes was run in 1921.

2. Only seven women have trained Belmont Stakes horses. Dianne Carpenter showed the best with Kingpost, who finished second to Risen Star in 1988.

3. The Belmont Stakes raced with only two horses in the field five times — 1887, 1888, 1892, 1910 and 1920.

4. The Belmont Stakes is the fourth-oldest stakes race in North America. The top three in order are: The Phoenix Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, (1831), the Queen’s Plate in Canada (1860) and the Travers at Saratoga (1864). Belmont’s first running was in 1867.

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6. The traditional flower of the Belmont Stakes is the white carnation. The winner is awarded a blanket of 300-400 carnations, which takes 10 hours to make. The flowers are shipped in from either California or Bogota, Colombia.

7. James R. Keene and Belair Stud share the record for most Belmont Stakes wins with six. Stud had two Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox (1930) and Omaha (1935).

8. Easy Goer’s victory in 1989 was the second-fastest (2:26) in Belmont history. Only Secretariat’s time of 2:24 in 1973 was faster.

(Photo Credit: Rob Carr, Getty Images)

9. Since 1905, the horse in the first post has produced the most winners with 23.

10. The Belmont Stakes trophy is a Tiffany-made silver bowl. On it features the three foundation thoroughbreds–Eclipse, Herod and Matchem. The trophy was first presented by the Belmont Family in 1926. The owner of the winning horse receives a replica of the official trophy. The winning trainer and jockey each receive a smaller version of the trophy.

Why This French Open May Be Serena Williams' Finest Major.

By Jim Caple

For the fourth time in six matches at the French Open, Serena Williams rallied from a set down to win. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Serena Williams has won 19 Grand Slam singles titles in her career, the second-most of anyone in the Open era. She will fight to win another here Saturday. If she does, it will not be just her 20th, but one of her most remarkable as well.

Consider what she has done this fortnight. She has lost the first set of a match four times this French Open and come back to win each time. The first three times it was mostly about rallying from a poor start. Thursday's semifinal victory over Timea Bacsinszky wasn't just about Serena rallying from a poor start, though. This was about having the strength to overcome a poor start and illness.

And also turning what was shaping up to be one of the ugliest losses of her career into one of her most stunning wins. Down a set and a break in the second set, she rallied to win the final 10 games to beat Bacsinszky 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 and advance to the final, where she will face Lucie Safarova.

Asked whether she was affected by playing such a tough opponent, as well as by Williams' struggles with illness, Bacsinszky replied: "I think you have to try to forget all of that no matter who you're playing against. At the end, they have two hands, they have two legs, they have a brain.''

And in Williams' case, a pretty strong heart.

Williams said she came down with the flu several days ago, but this time it affected her more than before. There was a report that Williams vomited before the match, with the weather at about 80 degrees. During the match, she placed ice towels on her head, against her face and around her neck during changeovers. According to BBC coverage, once, while wrapping herself in towels, she asked the chair umpire: "That's not the set, is it?''

When on the court, she moved slowly, as if she were in her 70s rather than her 30s. Sometimes she did not move at all. Bacsinszky placed some excellent drop shots and Williams didn't even attempt to chase them. Once, when Bacsinszky readied to serve, Williams simply stood behind the baseline looking as if she were in another world rather than preparing for a return at a Grand Slam. And then she merely glanced as the ace shot past her.

At one point, Williams lost control of the ball while bouncing it before a serve, fumbled for it, and then let it roll away. It wasn't nearly as drastic as her struggles during her meltdown in the Wimbledon doubles last year, but it didn't look good. Later, when Bacsinszky was challenging a call in the second set, Williams bent over her racket as if exhausted or dizzy or both.

Williams couldn't even complete her final sentence during the traditional post-match interview on the court, coughing at the end of it and then waving off the announcer. She did find time to say: "I don't think I've ever been this sick. I didn't expect to win that. I can't believe I won.''

Williams did not speak to reporters at the main news conference, either, explaining in a statement that she has been "unwell for a few days'' and needed to see the tournament doctor.

Perhaps most telling of all during the match, she did not let loose with a single cry of "C'mon!" -- or at least not one that was audible in the stands.

And yet ... she won. Again. After losing the first set 6-4 and trailing 3-2 in the second, Williams raised her game. Not only was it the fourth time she has dropped the first set this tournament and won, it was the 33rd time she has done so in Grand Slams, by far the most of any active player.

"Many things were posing difficulties to her,'' Bacsinszky said. "Like she had to work on what I was doing, and then she managed to find a solution, which means that she has a lot of merit for that.

"Well, no wonder that she's won 19 Grand Slam titles. No wonder she's had so many victories.''

While Williams' game improved, Bacsinszky's dropped. With a chance to even the third set at 1-1, the No. 24 seed hit two should-be winners right back into the net. The second blunder gave Williams the game, and Bacsinszky was so frustrated that she flipped over the racket and slammed the ball away with the handle. The match was pretty much over after that.

Williams' serves also strengthened, as did her returns. Though still moving slower than her usual pace, she showed her power. And her fire. She won 5 of 8 break points on Bacsinszky's serve and held off 8 of 10 on her own.

Asked by a French reporter whether she thought Williams was really that sick or also being somewhat theatrical to mess with her head, Bacsinszky said she didn't think Williams was putting on an act. And that the officials obviously didn't think so, either, otherwise they would have said something about the time she was taking between points.

"Whether this be theatrical or not, it's part of the game,'' she said. "The rules are clear. The one who wins is the one who wins the very last point.''

Safarova, Williams' opponent in the final, has played all but one of the past 10 days and plays in the doubles semifinals Friday. Williams, meanwhile, will get -- and desperately needs -- a day off. Will she be feeling better? Playing better? Will she lose the first set again? What could she possibly do next to make this remarkable Slam even more amazing?

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, June 5, 2015.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1927 - Johnny Weissmuller set two world records in swimming events. Weissmuller set marks in the 100-yard, and 200-yard, free-style swimming competition.

1963 - The NHL held its first amateur draft. Twenty-one players were selected. Montreal chose first and selected Garry Monahan.

1967 - The National Hockey League (NHL) awarded six new franchises. The Minnesota North Stars (later the Dallas Stars), Oakland Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers and the St. Louis Blues received their NHL franchises.

1973 - The first hole-in-one in the British Amateur golf championship was made by Jim Crowford.

1989 - The Toronto Blue Jays lost their debut game in the Skydome against the Milwaukee Brewers.

1991 - Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues) won the Hart Trophy. The feat created the first father-and-son team to win the Hart Trophy.

 

 

 

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, June 5, 2015.

memoriesofhistory.com

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