Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"
We offer: Select opportunities, For your convenience, At "Very Rare but Super Fair" pricing,
Because it's all about you!!!
Sports Quote of the Day:
"Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish." ~ Sam Walton, Businessman and Entrepreneur best known for founding Walmart and Sam's Club.
Trending: Job squeezes will intensify as Bears move into preseason games. (See football section for details).
Trending: Chicago Cubs sweep the San Francisco Giants. (See baseball sections for details).
Steelers Great Jerome Bettis Leads Eclectic Hall of Fame Class.
By WILL GRAVES
Members of the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2015, from left are running back Jerome Bettis; wide receiver Tim Brown; defensive end and linebacker Charles Haley; Bill Polian; Tyler Seau, son of the late linebacker Junior Seau, on behalf of his father; guard Will Shields; center Mick Tingelhoff; and Ron Wolf. (Photo: Mark Humphrey, AP)
The humbled men in gold jackets entering football immortality were unmistakable. So was the endless sea of twirling yellow Terrible Towels there to greet them and the outpouring of compassion for the legend who wasn't there.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis headlined the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015 on Saturday night, the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history turning the annual enshrinement ceremony into a de facto pep rally.
Bettis grabbed one of the ubiquitous towels synonymous with the franchise at the beginning of his speech and led a chant of "Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go" as the capacity crowd at Tom Benson Stadium — most of them clad in some variation of black-and-yellow — roared in support of the player that served as the physical embodiment of the team he helped lead to a fifth Super Bowl title in 2006.
"I really thought the Bus' last stop was in Detroit at Super Bowl 40," Bettis said. "But now I know the Bus will always and forever run in Canton, Ohio."
The euphoria surrounding Bettis' induction proved fitting on a night most of the eight-member class saw their lengthy wait to join football's most exclusive club come to an end.
Only linebacker Junior Seau was elected in his first year on the ballot. The 12-time Pro Bowler's induction, however, proved bittersweet, coming more than three years after he took his own life. His death and the complex fallout from it — Seau's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL — set the backdrop for the evening's most touching moment.
Hall of Fame rules about players awarded posthumously prevented Seau's daughter from giving a full speech on her father's behalf. Instead she spoke at length during an extended video tribute, calling her dad "a perfect match for football: both stubborn, both relentless, competitive and hard-hitting."
Those hard hits are at the center of the family's legal battle with the league, though Sydney Seau used the stage to instead pay homage to his spirit. She fought back tears when his bronze bust was unveiled and told him "congratulations, you made it" as images of Seau in his prime flashed on the video screen.
It was the emotional high point of a night that flipped between laughter and tears and back again.
Defensive end Charles Haley cracked jokes between heartfelt disclosures of his battle with depression. Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff didn't say a word, instead letting Hall of Fame teammate Fran Tarkenton speak for him shortly after Tingelhoff's bust was unveiled.
Kansas City guard Will Shields spoke with the same thoughtfulness that made him one of the best linemen of his generation during a standout career with the Chiefs.
Contributors Bill Polian and Ron Wolf paid their respects to the icons who paved the way for their success. Wide receiver Tim Brown led chants of "Rai-ders! Rai-ders!" more than a decade after the last of his 1,094 receptions.
Haley, the only player in NFL history with five Super Bowl rings, gave a rousing, freewheeling speech that included a good-natured jabs at everyone from former San Francisco owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. DeBartolo called the decision to trade Haley to Dallas in 1992 his biggest mistake during his tenure.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Job squeezes will intensify as Bears move into preseason games.
By John Mullin
With an actual preseason game (vs. a 36-play full scrimmage) looming this Thursday vs. the Miami Dolphins in Soldier Field, a depth chart is expected to be coming out. But it obviously won’t be binding and also will be subject to significant change over the next couple weeks going into game three at Cincinnati.
Understand that every practice does count, and scrimmages like Saturday’s in Soldier Field count a little more. But those are all quizzes, vs. games, which are “tests” and count considerably more.
But observations are possible on both sides of the football, with particular focus on a couple of spots:
Wide receiver
Kevin White has been a story line this training camp by virtue of being the No. 7 pick of the draft and not on the field yet. That will move to a different phase this week, and no one expects White to have health problems as the regular season unfolds.
Eddie Royal projects to be the best No. 3 receiver since Bobby Engram was the depth behind Curtis Conway and Jeff Graham back in the Dave Wannstedt era. And a triad of White, Royal and Alshon Jeffery, on top of Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte, should be the equal of any five “skill” players in the NFC, possibly the league as a whole.
It would surprise no one if the Bears secured an upgrade at No. 4 once cuts start coming later this month.
Defensive line/linebacker
The chances of Willie Young securing a roster spot have become increasingly problematic as camp has gone on and he is still unable to participate fully in practice work.
The issue, apart from the obvious Achilles rehab and comeback, is that he’s a true ‘tweener on a team that clearly values position flexibility but right now has too many players who do that better than Young. He has been a 4-3 rush end, as was Jared Allen before this year.
But Allen has flashed impressive playmaking as an edge rusher/linebacker in a two-point stance. And while Lamarr Houston is himself coming off a season ending knee injury, he has done that exact hybrid job as an Oakland Raider.
Linebacker has the four current starters (Acho, Jones, McClellin, McPhee) plus Jonathan Bostic and Mason Foster capable of playing inside. That’s six, and DeDe Lattimore has contributed on special teams (Young does not).
And special teams are very much a tipping point.
“Typically most rosters are 25 [offense, 25 [defense], and three [special teams],” coach John Fox said. “It can always vary. We’re way too early to try and pick the best. A lot of it will come down to fourth-down [special-teams] guys. But we’ll keep more linebackers now because the outside guys are like defensive linemen.”
Offensive line
Kyle Long has taken some drill reps at tackle but coaches have given no indication of plans to move the two-time Pro Bowl guard. Jordan Mills has remained the right tackle, with occasional struggles.
Coaches were pleased with what they saw from Charles Leno, but Leno has not been consistently proficient working primarily at left tackle, and unless the decision is that Vladimir Ducasse is a better guard than Mills or Leno is a tackle, which could move Long to tackle in a five-best-will-start scenario, a shakeup on the offensive line would be a mild surprise.
Bears defense reaching much-needed comfort points.
By John Mullin
The biggest single reason for dismal predictions for the 2015 Bears are the questions hanging over the defense. Either the perspective is from the rearview mirror, using the 2013-14 seasons as the frame of reference, or from a cracked crystal ball looking into a future that starts with a complete defensive change to a 3-4 scheme.
The past was an abomination and the future is an unknown of epic proportions.
Saturday’s scrimmage, however, while still just a practice and still involving players very familiar with each other, was at least a tiny hint that the Bears defensively may be nowhere near as inept as they were the past two seasons. Nor does it appear to be quite so unschooled in 3-4’ness that it needs tutorials before every play to run it.
The No. 1 defense was matched up with the No. 2 offense, so it should have dominated. Which it did: 36 yards on 22 plays run by the first and second
The No. 1 defense was matched up with the No. 2 offense, so it should have dominated. Which it did: 36 yards on 22 plays run by the first and second
“We’re not going to get too far ahead of ourselves now,” said safety Ryan Mundy, in a position competition with second-year DB Brock Vereen. “The offense, I don’t think they came out and put their whole playbook on display… .
“It went good, because we got off the field. That’s something [defensive coordinator Vic] Fangio has been preaching all along: that you have to win on the practice field.”
On Saturday, the Bears’ defense did. Emphatically.
Misfits? Not necessarily
Conventional wisdom has been that significantly different personnel are required to run a 3-4 successfully than a 4-3. Probably. But one-time 4-3’ defensive end Jared Allen had all but locked up a position in the rotation within the No. 1 defense, and that was before Saturday.
Allen, working against over-matched tackle Charles Leno, batted down one pass and collected a simulated sack of quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
Shea McClellin, who hasn’t really fit in anywhere through his first three NFL seasons, flashed again on Saturday with a sack of Clausen and has become visibly more comfortable at inside linebacker along with Christian Jones.
Shea McClellin, who hasn’t really fit in anywhere through his first three NFL seasons, flashed again on Saturday with a sack of Clausen and has become visibly more comfortable at inside linebacker along with Christian Jones.
David Bass, facing a struggle for a roster spot and trying to fit at outside linebacker for the first time in his career, beat edge protection for the one sack of Jay Cutler.
D-line’ing
The success or failure of the Bears defense, as with virtually every defense, will turn on the defensive line. Exact positions and who starts where still are in the forming stages, but as he has been much of the past week, Eddie Goldman was at nose tackle with the No. 1 defense, flanked by Ego Ferguson and Jeremiah Ratliff in a down-3 package that has been increasingly the norm.
Offensive linemen have privately been lavish in their assessments of the rookie lineman and “he’s a big, square body, which is why we drafted him where we did (second round), and he’s had a good camp so far,” said coach John Fox.
Looking ahead: Ratliff is one DL starter, whether at end/five-technique or nose tackle. Ferguson, drafted last year to be a run-stopping, 4-3 nose tackle, has played himself into one end/5 position at this point.
If Goldman is a better nose tackle than Jarvis Jenkins or Will Sutton is a five-technique (he is, at this point of camp), best guess is Ratliff lines up as the starter opposite Ferguson with Goldman, at 6-4, 335 pounds, the nose tackle and the biggest starting Bears D-lineman since Keith Traylor and Ted Washington.
Bears scrimmage gives strong early hints on strategy, personnel.
By John Mullin
What coach John Fox intended to serve as an unofficial fifth preseason “game” – about a dozen full-hitting plays for each of the three offensive and defensive units – revealed a Bears defense that is ahead of the offense, for the day anyhow, and perhaps a few other 2015 “indicators.”
The structure of the scrimmage/practice, in which only quarterbacks were not to be tackled, put the No. 1 offense against the No. 2 defense and No. 2 offense against the No. 1 defense. The third-stringers on both offense and defense had each other. Typically in camp the No. 1’s are matched up with their corresponding 1’s, the 2’s vs. 2’s and so on. The change expands the match-ups for purposes of evaluation.
The offense was without starting tailback Matt Forte and the defense without rush linebacker Pernell McPhee, both held out by coaches’ decision. But even without two of the projected linchpins on either side of the football, several strong impressions were possible coming off Saturday’s annual Family Fest practice in Soldier Field:
The offense was without starting tailback Matt Forte and the defense without rush linebacker Pernell McPhee, both held out by coaches’ decision. But even without two of the projected linchpins on either side of the football, several strong impressions were possible coming off Saturday’s annual Family Fest practice in Soldier Field:
Think “balance”
Coach Fox stated that the Bears would run the football and coordinator Adam Gase provided a solid indication that balanced football will indeed be the design.
The No. 1 offense ran 11 plays, wasn’t terribly effective overall (26 yards by unofficial count), but even without Forte, Gase ran the football on six of those snaps.
Quarterback Jay Cutler threw five passes, completed only one (a 12-yard toss to wideout Eddie Royal after a Cutler rollout), and did not have Alshon Jeffery for the scrimmage. But Cutler continues to be interception/turnover-free in any 7-on-7 or “team” session this training camp. Reducing turnovers was THE focus of Gase and coaches this off-season and the significance of progress here cannot be overstated.
Quarterback Jay Cutler threw five passes, completed only one (a 12-yard toss to wideout Eddie Royal after a Cutler rollout), and did not have Alshon Jeffery for the scrimmage. But Cutler continues to be interception/turnover-free in any 7-on-7 or “team” session this training camp. Reducing turnovers was THE focus of Gase and coaches this off-season and the significance of progress here cannot be overstated.
“We’re getting to know him, he’s getting to know us,” Fox said. “He’s worked at it hard on everything we’ve asked and we’ll just keep evaluating these game-type conditions.”
Running back “committee” forming
Jacquizz Rodgers, whose workload ramped up substantially through last week, is quietly building a case for himself as the No. 2 running back, leaving rookie Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey battling for a No. 3 spot.
Rodgers was handed the ball on two of the first three plays, and Langford, running with the No. 1’s, carried three times as well.
“[Rodgers] is a guy I’ve seen on tape, competed against him, great teammate, fine young man,” Fox said. “He’s built low to the ground [5-foot-6], does have power along with speed and quickness.”
Special teams is a tipping point for players not in starting units, and Langford was drafted in this year’s fourth round in part because of his prowess on special teams.
NFL legend Frank Gifford passes away at 84.
By Hasani Gittens
New York Giants halfback Frank Gifford during a workout September 1958 in New York. (Photo/Rooney, AP/File)
Pro Football Hall of Famer and veteran sports journalist Frank Gifford has died in Connecticut, his family announced on Sunday. He was 84.
In a statement, his family said:
It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and friend, Frank Gifford. Frank died suddenly this beautiful Sunday morning of natural causes at his Connecticut home. We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers.
Born in Santa Monica, California, in 1930, Gifford attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship and went pro after being selected 11th overall in the first round of the 1952 draft.
Gifford played with the New York Giants his entire NFL career, from 1952 to 1964, with several visits to the Pro Bowl. In 1956, he was the league's Most Valuable Player and led the team to a championship (before it was called "The Super Bowl").
Gifford played with the New York Giants his entire NFL career, from 1952 to 1964, with several visits to the Pro Bowl. In 1956, he was the league's Most Valuable Player and led the team to a championship (before it was called "The Super Bowl").
The Giants used Gifford at running back, defensive back and wide receiver and on special teams. He went to the Pro Bowl at three different positions. His 5,434 yards receiving were a Giants record for 39 years, until Amani Toomer surpassed him in 2003. His jersey number, 16, was retired by the team in 2000.
"Frank Gifford was an icon of the game, both as a Hall of Fame player for the Giants and Hall of Fame broadcaster for CBS and ABC," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Frank's talent and charisma on the field and on the air were important elements in the growth and popularity of the modern NFL."
After his playing career ended, he became a sports commentator, first for CBS and then as a co-host of "Monday Night Football" from 1971 to 1985.
When he wasn't on the field, Gifford tried to put his movie-star good looks to use in Hollywood, appearing in about a dozen films, most notably the 1959 submarine movie "Up Periscope."
He married TODAY show host Kathie Lee Gifford on Oct. 18, 1986.
On Twitter on Sunday afternoon, Kathie Lee posted: "Deeply grateful to all 4 ur outpouring of grace. We are steadfast in our faith & finding comfort in knowing where Frank is. Phillippians 4:13."
That verse states, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Tickets for Blackhawks Training Camp at Notre Dame on sale Monday, August 10.
By Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that tickets for the 2015 Blackhawks training camp sessions at Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 20, will go on sale on Monday, Aug. 10, at 9:00 a.m. CT/10:00 a.m. ET. Fans can purchase general admission tickets for $10.00 each at und.com/tickets. For any questions, please contact the Murnane Family Ticket Office at 574-631-7356. Ticket limits may apply.
The Blackhawks will hold training camp at Compton Family Ice Arena (100 Compton Family Ice Arena, Notre Dame, IN) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 20. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. ET each day. On Friday, complimentary parking will be available in the south Joyce Lot (located directly north of the Compton Family Ice Arena off of Joyce Drive). Additional complimentary parking will be available in the Innovation Park Grass Lot (located south of the Compton Family Ice Arena off of Angela Boulevard). Paid parking will be available in the Eddy Street Parking Garage and Lot. Complimentary parking will be available in the Stadium Lot and both Joyce Lots on Sunday. Notre Dame Parking Services (574-631-5053) will be on-site to assist with any parking needs. Please visit chicagoblackhawks.com for more information.
Due to the Notre Dame home football game on Saturday, Sept. 19, tickets for all Blackhawks practice sessions on Saturday will be offered exclusively by Notre Dame at a later date to persons who have purchased Notre Dame football tickets for that same day directly through the university. On-campus parking will only be available to those attending the Notre Dame football game.
Report: Woman accusing Patrick Kane had bite mark, scratch.
Fox Sports
New details emerged Sunday into the investigation of Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane.
The woman accusing the hockey star of rape reportedly had bite marks on her shoulders and a scratch on her leg, sources told The Buffalo News, which first reported the story.
The report says the woman claims she and a friend went to Kane's home in Hamburg after meeting him at SkyBar early Sunday morning. She says once there, he followed her into a room and overpowered her around 4 a.m., about an hour after Kane was seen leaving the bar.
The report says she left with her friend and called relatives before going to a hospital for an examination. Local police were then alerted.
Lawyer Paul Cambria confirmed in a text message to The Associated Press on Saturday that he has been hired to represent Kane. Cambria represented Kane in 2009, when he pleaded guilty to a non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct after being accused of assaulting a Buffalo cab driver over 20 cents.
Saturday was supposed to be Kane's day with the Stanley Cup, but he canceled any public events and instead spent the day with friends and family.
On Friday, Hamburg police confirmed Kane is under investigation for an "incident that allegedly occurred" at the player's offseason home in suburban Buffalo. Hamburg Police Chief Gregory Wickett did not discuss the nature of the investigation. He said police are gathering information and awaiting forensic tests.
The Buffalo News reported Thursday that the Kane investigation focuses on an alleged rape, citing two law enforcement sources. The report says a woman reported being assaulted over the weekend and had testing done via a rape kit at a hospital.
WKBW-TV in Buffalo, citing sources, reported that the alleged incident involves Kane and a woman that began at a bar in Evans, N.Y.
WKBW-TV in Buffalo, citing sources, reported that the alleged incident involves Kane and a woman that began at a bar in Evans, N.Y.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Butler in, Rose out 0n USA Baskerball's minicamp roster.
#BULLSTALK
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
USA Basketball released its mini-camp roster Thursday afternoon and Bulls star Jimmy Butler is one of 34 players selected to head to Las Vegas.
But Derrick Rose was not one of the 26 returning players as the Bulls point guard was left off the roster.
Butler joins Harrison Barnes, Michael Carter-Williams, Mike Conley, Draymond Green, Tobias Harris, DeAndre Jordan and Victor Oladipo as new members to the 2014-16 USA National Team roster.
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry highlight the 26 returning players.
Team USA now features four players from the Golden State Warriors (Green, Curry, Barnes and Klay Thompson), three from the Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love) and three from the Los Angeles Clippers (Jordan, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul). Butler is the only Bulls player on the roster.
Former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau will serve as an assistant coach to Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, who will head up the USA Basketball coaching staff.
Mini-camp includes practices in Vegas on Aug. 11-12 before the USA Basketball Showcase at 6:30 p.m. (Central time) on Aug. 13.
Arrieta struts his ace stuff as Cubs go for Giants 'jugular'.
By Tony Andracki
Jake Arrieta (Photo/csnchicago.com)
Talk about going for the jugular.
After the Cubs' third straight win over the San Francisco Giants Saturday evening, manager Joe Maddon preached the importance of never being satisfied and going for the 'jugular.'
The Cubs did just that Sunday behind another ace performance from Jake Arrieta, finishing off the defending World Series Champions with a 2-0 win to complete the four-game sweep in front of 39,939 fans at Wrigley Field.
"They're really good. That's what makes this such an impressive four games," Maddon said. "The fact that we played against such a good team.
"And they do have a heart of a champion. You see how they battled in that last inning. I've always respected that."
Every fan was on their feet for the ninth inning, as Cubs unofficial closer Hector Rondon loaded the bases with nobody out.
But with the intensity cranked up to 11, Rondon struck out Hector Sanchez, Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco in succession to escape the jam and pick up his 19th save of the season.
Are these young Cubs ready to win on a bigger stage as they make their playoff push?
"I think we have been ready," Arrieta said. "It's just a matter of figuring out, necessarily, how to do that. How to close out a series when we have things in our favor.
"I feel like, in the past at times, we maybe let a game like that slip away. Which, from time to time over 162 games, that's going to happen. But at this point in the season, where we're at, who's in front of us, the games we have remaining, if you have the opportunity, you've gotta close those out.
"Hector was able to bear down. ... That was just an incredible job by him not to let the magnitude of the situation get to him and continue to make good pitches."
Almost 164,000 fans came out for a playoff-esque atmosphere on Chicago's North Side to watch an inexperienced Cubs team prove they belong in the playoff race this season.
The Cubs have won 10 of 11 and are now 3.5 games up on the Giants in the race for the second National League wild card.
To a man, the Cubs stayed on message after the game, stressing the need to focus on one day at a time and not get too caught up in any sort of statement made from this series.
"I'm not really into statements," Arrieta said. "I think we're just playing really good baseball. We're good at turning the page now. Not worried about yesterday or the series before. Each game is big for us.
"Because of the division we're in, the two teams that are ahead of us, we know they're not slowing down and we don't intend to, either.
"So what we have to do now is to continue to make it difficult for the guys ahead of us. Continue to show that we're going to put pressure on and not let up."
After allowing a two-out infield single to Matt Duffy in the eighth inning, Arrieta walked off the field to a deafening ovation from the crowd. Justin Grimm came on and immediately allowed a single to Buster Posey before Hunter Pence flew out deep to the warning track in center field to end the threat.
Arrieta said it was the best ovation he's heard from the crowd since his near no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park last season.
"It's a special feeling," he said. "That's why you play this game, for moments like that. I'm sure we're going to be fortunate enough to be in those types of situations even more often as the season continues to progress.
"It's kind of a position where you're speechless. You just try to enjoy it and take it in as much as you can."
Arrieta finished with six strikeouts, allowing only four hits and two walks in 7.2 innings.
The Cubs have won seven of Arrieta's last eight starts and he's surrendered just 10 earned runs in 73.1 innings since June 21, good for a 1.23 ERA.
Arrieta showed off his pitching prowess in back-to-back innings, striking out the side in the fifth and then pitching to contact and escaping the sixth with only six pitches thrown.
Even at 103 pitches and laboring through the seventh, Arrieta hit for himself (and struck out) and then came back out for the eighth inning. He finished with 117 pitches, his second-highest total of the season (he threw 122 pitches in a complete game in Minnesota June 21).
Arrieta even contributed to the offense, legging out a stand-up triple in the second inning and coming around to score on Addison Russell's sacrifice fly.
Arrieta said he was thinking three all the way out of the box.
"Yeah, I dunno," Arrieta said, shrugging. "Just put a good swing on it, I guess. Giving some of my teammates a hard time, telling them I got more pop than they do and that I can hit it into the wind.
"[Bryant's] got all this pop and Rizzo and they're hitting fly balls to shallow right and I go, 'It's not that hard.'
"Anything I can contribute on the offensive side is a bonus."
Arrieta was so good, he was getting praise from the starting catchers from both teams (Miguel Montero and Posey).
"He was OK..." Montero said to laughs. "He was outstanding. He was filthy. All his pitches were perfect. Sometimes, he just did a little bit too much; that's where he would get out of control.
"But other than that, you can't ask for more. Buster told me that he was one of the nastiest right-handers that he ever faced. I told him, 'He's fun to catch.'"
A reporter asked Arrieta what the key has been to his dominance over the last 10 starts.
Arrieta leaned back in his chair, wiped his arm with a towel and answered simply:
"Locked in."
Royals push pass White Sox 5-4 to secure sweep.
By Dan Hayes
The Kansas City Royals are living the charmed life and the White Sox aren’t.
Part of the Royals’ luxurious existence, one that has afforded them an 11-game lead in the American League Central, is their dominance of the White Sox this season. Some it is has been good fortune.
On Sunday afternoon, the White Sox saw a convergence of both in the eighth inning as they dropped a 5-4 decision to Kansas City, their 10th loss in 13 tries against their divisional foe in 2015. With a one-run victory in each game, the Royals swept the White Sox, who have lost eight of their past 10.
“It’s always tough,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “You see opportunities you have -- we’ve had some guys on third base, haven’t been able to get them in, and they all add up.”
This series was all about a very good team that added Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto at the trade deadline taking advantage of a squad that has middle at its best the entire season.
Sure, Kansas City benefited from a series of nice bounces each of the last two days.
But they also put themselves in the correct position to receive that good luck and they have done so all season, especially this weekend.
With the score tied at 4 and one out in the eighth, Jake Petricka put himself and the White Sox in a difficult spot as Alex Rios singled and Paulo Orlando hit a ground-rule double to left center. And then, even though the White Sox had the infield drawn in and Petricka got his 2-seamer in on the hands and Jose Abreu made a nice play, the Royals still managed to take a 5-4 lead.
Omar Infante got enough of Petricka’s pitch to place it in the right spot where even though Abreu made a nice barehanded stop he couldn’t make an accurate enough throw to cut down Rios, who made a nice read and slide home.
It was the kind of play where “if everything went perfect” the White Sox would have kept the score tied. But it hasn’t been that kind of season for the White Sox, who dropped to seven games below the .500 mark. The Royals have won five of six one-run games against the White Sox in 2015.
“The team that puts the ball in play gets breaks like that,” Petricka said. “Hats off to a team that just fights like that.
“They play hard every game. We were playing just as hard, we just didn’t get the break this time. You can always say you missed an opportunity, but it’s just a break one way or another. We got ourselves into situations, they got lucky and got out of them. We just kind of missed one break.”
The White Sox didn’t answer back in the ninth against Ryan Madson and dropped 14 1/2 back of the AL Central leaders.
A series sweep looked like a mere formality after the first inning as Kansas City scored three times against Jose Quintana, including two on a homer by Kendrys Morales. But Quintana battled through and found his form, lasting into the seventh inning. Quintana allowed four earned runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
“It was hard,” Quintana said. “We played the first-place team in the division and tried to get wins, but all three games were for one run. It’s hard, but we need to come back.”
The White Sox tied the game in the bottom of the eighth against Kelvin Herrera on a two-out RBI single by Melky Cabrera. They earlier rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Danny Duffy, who lasted 3 1/3 innings. Gordon Beckham had an RBI single and Alexei Ramirez singled in two more in a third-inning rally.
But the White Sox missed out on several earlier opportunities, too. They had runners on the corners and one out in the fourth but Kris Medlen struck out Tyler Flowers and got Beckham to fly out. Adam Eaton, who scored the tying run after he doubled to start the eighth inning, drew a leadoff walk against Medlen in the fifth but was picked off first base. A night earlier, Geovany Soto was picked off second base with a full count and Abreu at the plate. The White Sox rallied back on Saturday too but came up empty.
“These guys are grinding,” Ventura said. “They’re not laying down. They continue to battle back. … We just didn’t get it done.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Lowry triumphs with clutch display at Firestone.
By Mark Lamport-Stokes, Editing by Larry Fine
Shane Lowry (l) and Jim Furyk shake hands after finishing the third round of the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club - South Course. (Photo/Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports)
Ireland's Shane Lowry, helped by sensational recovery shots at the 10th and 18th that both led to birdies, clinched his first PGA Tour victory by two strokes at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday.
Two off the pace heading into the final round at Firestone Country Club, Lowry overhauled third-round leaders Jim Furyk and Justin Rose, and held off a charging Bubba Watson with a closing four-under-par 66 in overcast conditions.
The bearded Irishman, ranked 48th in the world, registered four birdies and several clutch par saves in a flawless display on a tree-lined layout where danger lurked at every corner to post an 11-under total of 269.
American left-hander Watson, ranked third and bidding for his third PGA Tour victory this season, also signed off with a 66 to secure second place in an elite field of 77 players at the World Golf Championships event.
Lowry's final birdie of the day came at the par-four last where he struck his second shot from the left rough through trees and over a bunker to 11 feet beyond the flag, then coolly sank the putt.
"I played as good a golf as I've ever played the last four days," Lowry, 28, a double winner on the European Tour, told CBS Sports after celebrating his birdie on the 18th green with three fist pumps.
"I managed to hole a few putts and get a bit of luck. I was quite nervous with a few holes to go. But I made a lot of good decisions, hit the ball well. It's such a good feeling to shoot a bogey-free 66 on the golf course like that."
Lowry became the first player from Ireland to win a WGC title and earned a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour through the 2017-2018 season.
English world number eight Rose and sixth-ranked American Furyk were not at their best on Sunday and carded matching 72s as they slipped back into a tie for third at seven-under.
They both covered the front nine in one-over to trail Lowry by one shot before the Irishman, after hitting a wayward drive at the 10th, conjured a miracle second shot from rough left of the 11th tee, his ball settling two feet from the flag.
That set up a tap-in birdie for a two-shot lead.
Lowry, who became only the third amateur to win a European Tour title with his victory at the 2009 Irish Open, did well to save par at the 14th and 17th with clutch putts before sealing victory with his unlikely birdie at the 18th.
Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth, who had been a distant nine strokes off the pace overnight, signed off with a sparkling 66 to surge into a tie for 10th at four-under.
PGA keeps same bunker rules in 2015 as 2010 at Whistling Straits.
By Ryan Ballengee
The bunker that was site of Dustin Johnson's shocking demise on the 72nd hole of the 2010 PGA Championship may be covered, but the PGA of America will still apply the same definition of a bunker five years later at Whistling Straits.
The PGA of America has already released and posted supplementary rules for next week's final major of the year, explaining that, again, if it has sand in it, it's probably a bunker.
The PGA of America has already released and posted supplementary rules for next week's final major of the year, explaining that, again, if it has sand in it, it's probably a bunker.
Here's the full text of the rule:
1. All areas of the course that were designed and built as bunkers, filled wth sand, will be played as bunkers (hazards), whether or not they have been raked. This will mean that many bunkers positioned outside of the ropes, as well as some areas of bunkers inside the ropes, close to the rope line, will likely include numerous footprints, heel prints, trash and tire tracks during the play of the Championship. Such irregularities of surface are a part of the game and no free relief will be available from these conditions. All bunkers inside the ropes will be raked each morning prior to play as normal.
2. Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies)
The language is very similar to what was posted in the players' locker room in 2010.
After hitting his tee shot some 70 yards right on the final hole of regulation, Johnson's ball found a sandy area in which fans had been standing and trash had been sitting. Johnson didn't remember the local rule for the week and grounded his club as he hit his second shot. After making what Johnson thought was a bogey to join a playoff with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, a rules official explained Johnson's mistake and that he would need to take a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker.
Kaymer won the playoff for his first major title.
NASCAR: Joey Logano passes Kevin Harvick on last lap to win at Watkins Glen.
By Nick Bromberg
Joey Logano ran out of fuel while leading with less than three laps to go last week at Pocono. On Sunday at Watkins Glen, he went to victory lane because of another driver's fuel misfortune.
Logano passed Kevin Harvick entering the final corner of the race to win his first road course race in the Sprint Cup Series. Harvick had run out of gas entering turns 6 and 7 at Watkins Glen and didn't have a big enough gap to hold off Logano, who had pitted seven laps later than Harvick did.
Logano last pitted on lap 58 during a caution flag that flew when Tony Stewart's car broke and Jimmie Johnson went spinning. While Logano didn't restart the race in first or even in the top five, he was the first car off pit road and the first driver confident enough to make the it to the end of the race without running out of gas.
"I felt like we got ourselves to be the first car on fuel to make it," Logano's crew chief Todd Gordon said. "And had to push those guys hard enough to make them use up their fuel and not save fuel. Put ourselves in the right spot and executed.
Harvick, who took the lead shortly after the race's final restart, had pitted seven laps sooner. The drivers between he and Logano had also pitted around the time Harvick did. Those that stayed out when Logano pitted were hoping that a caution flag would fly in the race's final laps. Over the last seven races at Watkins Glen, a yellow had been displayed within the final 20 laps.
It didn't happen on Sunday as the race went green to the end, similar to Pocono. Drivers like Logano last week had tried to stretch their fuel past a normal green flag fuel window because they expected a caution to come. But while seven cautions happened in the race's first 72 laps, the final 63 laps went green.
Logano said he pushed from the beginning of the last green flag run, hoping to force others ahead of him to run out of gas. He overdrove turn 1 on the final lap and lost a ton of time to Harvick. But when Harvick ran out of fuel, it ultimately didn't matter.
"I was just trying to pick them off one at a time," Logano said. "I was really, really good through the bus stop so I was trying to use that to my advantage to pass cars and were able to kind of pick our way through it and then Harvick, once I got to him he picked it up. You could tell he was saving fuel and once I got close to him he started going faster. I lost a little bit but that was just the coolest win. To win at this place is ... this is a dream come true win here.
Harvick tried to bump Logano as the cars went through the final corner, but the effort came up short. And may not have been truly effective anyway. Harvick didn't have a lot of momentum off the corner and ended up finishing third as Kyle Busch got him at the finish line. Busch, who also pitted when Logano did, played the end of the race conservatively, figuring that a caution would come out for a driver running out of fuel.
The win is Logano's second win of the year – he won the season-opening Daytona 500 – and he's guaranteed a berth in the Chase. He made the final four last year but miscue on a pit stop at Homestead ruined his title chances.
Former F1 champion Villeneuve goes electric.
AFP
Jacques Villeneuve in practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 11, 2014 (AFP Photo/Michael Hickey)
Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve is coming out of retirement to compete in the Formula E championship next season.
The 44-year-old became the only Canadian to land the F1 title in 1997. The winner of 11 grand prix he moved on to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hour and had a spell in NASCAR.
The son of the late Gilles Villeneuve, who also has an Indianapolis 500 success to his name, will drive alongside Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin for Venturi, replacing Nick Heidfeld.
"This is the first time in several years that I will participate in a full championship," said Villeneuve, who tested for the team in France last week.
"It had been 10 years since I had driven on that kind of track with a single-seater, but it's like riding a bike, you never forget.
"Last season each time I met drivers from Formula E they were saying it is a really interesting championship.
"I am excited because the atmosphere in the team is great and that has a very big influence."
Formula E's first season, which concluded in London in June, was won by Briton Sam Bird driving for Virgin.
Monaco-based Venturi are debutants in the all-electric eight constructor championship for Formula E's second season which kicks off in China in October.
SOCCER: Early second-half goal sees Fire fall on the road to Timbers.
By Danny Michallik
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
On the road and in a hostile environment, the Chicago Fire slipped to their 12th defeat of the season, falling to the Portland Timbers, 1-0, Friday night.
A redirected shot from close range from forward Fanendo Adi three minutes into the second half propelled Caleb Porter's side to its 10th victory of 2015. Meanwhile, the Fire's winless streak in league play on their travels extended to 18 matches, leaving them stranded in ninth place on 22 points in the Eastern Conference standings.
"It’s kind of one of those plays, I think everyone is in pretty good spots and it just kind of ricocheted straight to them and it just hits him and goes in," head coach Frank Yallop said after the match. "Our final pass just wasn’t quite there, but in general I thought we defended well against a team that’s difficult to play against, especially on this surface at home.”
Yallop trotted out the same group that downed FC Dallas, 2-0, on Sunday. It was the first time since May 22 (vs. Columbus Crew SC) and May 30 (vs. Montreal Impact) that the second-year head coach elected to dish out identical starting lineups in back-to-back matches.
Both sides struggled to muster anything worth noting in the opening stages, engaging in a sloppy and scoreless first half at Providence Park. Harry Shipp's right-footed curler at the 15-minute mark, along with a blunder from Portland 'keeper Adam Kwarasey that nearly gifted Jason Johnson an open-netter in the 33rd minute were the only meaningful chances of note for the visitors.
Portland's Rodney Wallace and Fanendo Adi hit the back of the net twice in two minutes, but both efforts were ruled out for offside after the midfielder and forward streaked in behind the Fire defense.
Despite playing a high defensive line and leaving themselves exposed at the back at times - while having to cope with Designated Player David Accam's premature exit in the 43rd minute with groin tightness - the Men in Red limited the hosts to not a single shot on target through the opening 45 minutes.
Commended for weathering the first-half storm, the Fire found themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline in the 48th minute. Diego Valeri's deflected cross from the right flank wasn't dealt with properly, with the back line looking on as Sean Johnson's punch met Adi, who poked home to give the hosts a favorable advantage.
The Fire grew into the game gradually as the half wore on, carving out a decent opportunity in the 72nd minute via second-half substitute Kennedy Igboananike. A free kick from Shaun Maloney met the Nigerian in the box, whose header trickled just wide of Kwarasey's left post.
With Igboananike and Maloney combining four minutes from time - the Nigerian controlling and teeing up the Scotsman for a one-timer at the edge of the area - Maloney's shot went wide of Kwarasey's frame, signaling the end to a forgettable night for the Men in Red in the Pacific Northwest.
Next up is a pivotal and potentially season-defining Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal bout with the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park.
"We got one more hurdle to get through to be in the final and there is no better time to go now and on a Wednesday night to go and try to do that," Yallop added. "We’re excited. We have to let this one go because I spoke to the guys today and they gave me everything they had. I thought the effort was fantastic. I thought we tried hard and gave 100 percent, we just didn’t quite get it done tonight, but we’re going to now focus on Wednesday and try to get a result there.”
Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs):
(4-4-1-1): Sean Johnson; Lovel Palmer; Eric Gehrig, Jeff Larentowicz (C), Joevin Jones; Harry Shipp, Matt Polster, Razvan Cocis, Shaun Maloney; David Accam (Patrick Nyarko, 43'); Jason Johnson (Kennedy Igboananike, 68').
Premier League round-up: Drama, goals galore on wild opening day.
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/NBCsports.com)
Five games took place on the opening day of the Premier League season, and they came with plenty of goals and drama.
Leicester City hammered Sunderland, Manchester United crept past Tottenham, Bournemouth were downed by Villa on their PL debut, while Everton drew with Watford and Palace beat Norwich. But the best game of the day came at the end as Chelsea drew 2-2 with Swansea in an absolute cracker at Stamford Bridge. It had it all.
All in all, and I think you will agree with this, it was great to have the PL back.
Below you will find videos, recaps, reaction and more from all five games.
Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur – RECAP
Louis Van Gaal‘s five new signings all played a part as the Red Devils beat Spurs 1-0 on the opening day of the season. The only goal of the game came against the run of play as Spurs’ bright start was interrupted when Kyle Walker tried to challenge Wayne Rooney but instead toe-poked the ball into his own net for the first goal of the 2015-16 season. Spurs had a great chance early on when Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen carved open United’s defense but the latter lobbed his effort over. Eriksen tested United’s new goalkeeper Sergio Romero late on, but he was up to the challenge as a tight game went United’s way.
- 3 things we learned
- Van Gaal confident De Gea will stay
- VIDEO – Walker’s bizarre own goal
- Pochettino says Spurs deserved more
Chelsea 2-2 Swansea City – RECAP
Jose Mourinho‘s men got their title defense off to an inauspicious start against Swansea at Stamford Bridge.Oscar‘s free kick gave Chelsea an early lead, but Andre Ayew scored on his debut to make it 1-1. Willian‘s deflected effort but the Blues ahead before the break and in the second half the moment of the match arrived as Thibaut Courtois flicked Bafetimbi Gomis and referee Michael Oliver awarded Swansea a penalty kick and showed Chelsea’s goalkeeper a red card. Gomis scored the resulting spot kick and despite some heavy pressure from the Swans, Chelsea held on for a point.
Leicester City 4-2 Sunderland – RECAP
What a start for Claudio Ranieri in charge of the Foxes as his side raced into a 3-0 lead at half time. Jamie Vardy‘s header got things going early on, then Riyad Mahrez scored twice before half time to stun Sunderland. The Black Cats improved in the second half, with Jermain Defoe pulling one back, but Marc Albrighton scored another to make it 4-1. Steven Fletcher pulled another one back for Sunderland, but it ended 4-2 at the King Power Stadium with Leicester momentarily top of the league.
Everton 2-2 Watford – RECAP
Newly promoted Waford got a point away at Goodison Park on the opening day and the Hornets were a few minutes away from grabbing a win. Mexico international Miguel Layun put the 1-0 up in the first half, but Ross Barkley equalized in stunning fashion to make it 1-1. Late on Odion Ighalo put Watford 2-1 up, but Arouna Kone scored just two minutes later as the Toffees fought back to grab a point.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa – RECAP
Second half substitute Rudy Gestede powered home a header just 13 minutes into his debut to hand Villa an opening day win for the third-straight PL season. Tim Sherwood handed six players their debuts and after struggling in the first half, Villa improved in the second but Bournemouth and Eddie Howe will feel hard done by to lose in the sun down on the South Coast. Marc Pugh and Dan Gosling went close in the first half, while Matt Ritchie had some chances late on to snag an equalizer, but Bournemouth’s first-ever game in the PL ended in defeat.
Norwich City 1-3 Crystal Palace – RECAP
The Eagles bagged an impressive win away from home as goals either side of half time from Wilfried Zahaand Damien Delaney put them 2-0 up. Substitute Nathan Redmond pulled one back for Norwich with a long-range goal, then Cameron Jerome had a goal disallowed and the Canaries thought they should have had a penalty when Sebastian Bassong went down. Late on Palace debutant Yohan Cabaye wrapped up the win, as Alan Pardew‘s side started off this season exactly the way they finished last year.
NCAAFB: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio optimistic.
AP - Sports
Mark Dantonio likes what he sees now and loves where his ninth Michigan State football team could finish.
After 24 wins in the past two seasons, including comeback victories in the Rose and Cotton bowls, Dantonio knows that the Spartans can ''Reach Higher,'' this year's mantra, and wind up better than third and fifth in the country.
''We're starting from square one again,'' Dantonio said Saturday. ''It's a new season, a new time, but a lot of big dreams and expectations come with it. ... We can't be entitled with anything we do.''
That attitude was reflected in the focus of Michigan State's veterans and the enthusiasm of the newcomers. From fifth-year senior All-America candidates like center Jack Allen, defensive end Shilique Calhoun and quarterback Connor Cook to newcomers like running back L.J. Scott and defensive back Khari Willis, Dantonio had reason to smile.
''Great retention by our older players, outstanding,'' Dantonio said. ''And our new players are figuring their way through it. It's their first day, so you're just trying to get from point A to point B. But there's talent in our freshman class. I don't think there is any doubt about that.''
Darian Hicks, a co-starter at cornerback, was diagnosed with mononucleosis Friday and will be sidelined for several weeks. Otherwise, everyone expected to be in training camp is there and healthy, including wide receiver Aaron Burbridge and offensive tackle Kodi Kieler, projected starters back from injuries.
''Everyone passed the (conditioning) test,'' Dantonio said. ''We had to run it a couple of times, but everyone passed it by their second time. Sometimes we have guys run for weeks.''
With the opener on Friday, Sept. 4, at Western Michigan and with a marquee match-up against Oregon eight nights later in Spartan Stadium, a consensus top-10 team has plenty of reasons to pay attention each day, including the presence of impressive depth.
''I think every position is always up for grabs, because you don't know what the future holds,'' Dantonio said. ''People might get hurt and get banged up, so everybody has to play to their best. You're got to rise above what you've been.''
Michigan State lost leads in 2014 in a 46-27 setback at Oregon and a 49-37 loss to Ohio State, the finalists in the first College Football Playoff. Otherwise, the Spartans were outstanding in almost every game, setting school records for points (559), scoring average (43.0), touchdowns (70), total offense (6,510), rushing touchdowns (44), rushing yards (3,057) and first downs (321).
But Dantonio's program has long been built on defense, as seen in its eight straight bowl appearances and four straight post-season victories, all as underdogs. Last season was no exception for the only program to rank among the eight best in the nation in total defense in each of the past four years. Led by one of the country's deepest and most talented defensive lines, Michigan State should be stingy again.
One of the big concerns has been finding a new punter, with redshirt-freshman Jake Hartbarger projected to become just the third player to handle those duties in Dantonio's tenure, following four-year fixtures Aaron Bates and Mike Sadler.
''It has been good,'' Dantonio said. ''And I'll tell you, Jake punted very well today. His times were excellent, and he had booming punts.''
When the punting game is one of the biggest questions, a team with 17 returning starters has a lot of reasons to be confident. Dantonio knows it will take more than that, however.
''Today is a starting point,'' Dantonio said. ''We'll have three scrimmages, and we'll go live a lot. The freshmen are just figuring it out. And so are we.''
Archer leaves Denmark, becomes American football star.
By PAT EATON-ROBB
Connecticut tackle Andreas Knappe, center, speaks with reporters at the American Athletic Conference NCAA college football media days in Newport, R.I., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
His teammates call him Thor and UConn is counting on junior Andreas Knappe to be a hammer on the offensive line this season.
The 6-foot-8, 310-pound tackle, who sports a bushy reddish-blonde beard and flowing hair, is actually from Silkeborg, Demark.
He grew up playing team handball - an Olympic sport that looks like a cross between basketball and soccer - and was a world-class archer on the Danish junior national team.
''They were training me to see if I could get to go to the Olympics or the World Championships or something like that,'' he said Tuesday during the annual American Athletic Conference's media day in Newport, R.I. ''I got tired of it. I grew out of it, I guess, because I started to have a lot of growing pains and I was young.''
He didn't start playing American football until he was 18-years old, and it was a case of love at first snap, he said.
''My best friend joined a football team in my town, and said to me, ''You should come, this is great,''' Knappe said.
After winning the ''Mermaid Bowl'' as a member of the Triangle Razorbacks of the Danish American Football Federation, Knappe bought a helmet and a set of pads. He left with a scout in 2012 to attend some football camps in America, hoping to find a place to play.
''It was blind faith,'' said Mike Cummings, UConn's offensive line coach. ''Imagine you are 18 years old and someone tells you, ''Go over to Denmark, get the gear and start playing team handball, because you like the sport. It's not happening.''
But it did happen for Knappe, who caught the eye of former coach Paul Pasqualoni's staff at UConn.
Former roommate Tim Willman, now a law school student at the University of Maryland, said he and other teammates knew right away they were dealing with a rare talent.
''My first impression was, 'Wow this is a big, big guy,'' Willman said. ''He was raw, but he had this amazing strength and athletic ability that just needed to be molded.''
Knappe was placed on the defensive line, and was redshirted his first season. Eventually, coaches moved him to offense and last year he worked his way into the starting lineup.
UConn offensive coordinator Frank Verducci said Knappe still has a lot to learn about football. But he has impressed coaches with his ability to pick up concepts quickly and then work relentlessly to perfect them.
''We like guys who compete in everything they do,'' said. ''We love three sport athletes. Now, football, archery and team handball are not usually the three sports. But he's unique, that's for sure.''
Off the field, Knappe (pronounced Kah-NAPP-ee) has made an even bigger impression. Willman got him involved in the Goal Line Project, a charity in which college student mentor middle school athletes. Knappe spends a lot of time with inner-city kids in Hartford, talking to them about ethics and life choices.
''Because you're a Husky, they listen,'' he said.
His efforts have landed Knappe on the 2015 Watch List for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded to the FBS player that best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement. He's also been nominated for 2015 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.
UConn coach Bob Diaco said Knappe is exactly the type of athlete he wants as the face of his young program, which endured a 2-10 season during his inaugural year.
''He has a rare combination of tough gentleman,'' Diaco said. ''He has a rare combination of aggressive intelligence. He has some things that don't normally blend together, that blend together nicely for him.''
Knappe has expanded his original dream of playing in the United States to playing in the NFL and said he has no plans to go back to the bow and arrow.
''I think that ship has sailed for me,'' he said. ''I know a couple of people who went to the Olympics and I know a couple of world champs in archery from Denmark. I'm tremendously proud of them and happy for them, but I chose a little bit different pathway.''
NIT Season Tip-Off moves across the river to Barclays Center.
AP - Sports
After being played at Madison Square Garden for 30 years, the NIT Season Tip-Off will move across the East River to Barclays Center in Brooklyn starting with the 2015 edition.
The semifinals will feature Arkansas meeting Georgia Tech and Stanford facing Villanova with the games played Nov. 26 and Nov. 27, and aired on ESPN2 and ESPNU. Stanford won the NIT in April, while Villanova was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big East regular-season and tournament titles.
The semifinalists will each host two designated campus-site teams before traveling to Brooklyn. The four campus-site teams will be Akron, Charleston Southern, East Tennessee State and Green Bay.
The NIT Season Tip-Off will be held at Barclays in 2016 and 2018. The 2017 event is scheduled for the soon-to-be-renovated Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
The postseason NIT will still be played at Madison Square Garden, where it has been since held since 1938.
NCAABKB: Power conference schools avoiding games at Wyoming..
By Scott Phillips
(Photo/NBCsports.com)
The Dome of Doom is one of the most difficult places to play in all of college sports. Located at 7,220 feet above sea level the elevation of Wyoming’s home arena — and 15,000-plus screaming fans — makes it nearly impossible to win games on the road there. Head coach Larry Shyatt is 60-15 at home the past four years as Wyoming’s head coach and power conference programs seem to want no part of playing a non-conference game there.
In a story from the Associated Press late this week, Shyatt revealed how he’s tried to do everything he can to schedule major conference opponents to come and play in Wyoming. The Cowboys will draw Cal at the Dome of Doom this season, but it was a deal in which Wyoming had to play two road games to make the one home game happen. The school hasn’t had a true home-and-home arrangement with a power conference program since Washington State over a decade ago.
Only four power conference programs have played a road game at Wyoming since 1997 and none since the 2004-05 season. Having been a member of staffs at bigger basketball programs like Clemson and Florida, Shyatt understands the scheduling conundrum, but he’d still like to draw some big-name opponents in his home arena.
“They’re not playing us, and quite honestly, if I was the head coach at Colorado or Florida, I don’t know if I would come to Laramie unless they’d play in October, September, August, July or June,” Shyatt said to the AP. “If I’m thinking selfishly of my university, what am I getting? What are we getting? What’s our league getting? Tough call.”
As the AP story notes, Wyoming has entered some in-season tournaments to try to beef up the schedule the next few seasons, but this is just another example of a program from a non-power league having a tough time getting major teams to play them at home. If Wyoming and other Mountain West programs hope to continue to make at-large NCAA tournament appearances, they need to try to get some kind of scheduling bump at home if they can. Coming off of four consecutive postseason appearances, it’s doubtful any power conference team wants to travel to Wyoming but it will be interesting to see if these sorts of things change in the next couple of years.
Amanda Nunes isn't a trash talker, but thinks she deserves a shot at Ronda Rousey.
MMA Weekly
Amanda Nunes Isn’t a Trash Talker, but Thinks She Deserves a Shot at Ronda Rousey
Amanda Nunes has quietly become a contender in the UFC women’s bantamweight division. The soft-spoken Brazilian doesn't want to talk her way into a title fight, but lets her performances speak for themselves.
Following the biggest win of her career, a first-round submission over fourth-ranked Sara McMann at UFC Fight Night 73 on Saturday, broadcaster Jon Anik gave Nunes every opportunity to call out undefeated champion Ronda Rousey. Nunes decided not to do it.
“I don’t need to talk. I’m going to show. We’re going to step in the cage and do my things. My next fight is going to be like this; we’re going to win it, more bonuses, knock people out, submit. For sure, I’m going to have my title shot soon,” said the 27-year-old during the event’s post-fight press conference.
Rousey is expected to face top contender Miesha Tate for a third time in her next outing, and if Nunes can’t get a title shot, she wants a fight against someone that will get her a step closer.
“I’m thinking I deserve, maybe, the title shot, or maybe someone more close,” she said. “I’m thinking Cat (Zingano), Alexis Davis… We have a lot of girls in the top five.”
Nunes is 4-1 in the UFC. Her lone loss is to Zingano at UFC 178 in September of 2014. She was winning the fight when Zingano scored a technical knockout finish in the third round.
Zingano is currently ranked second, while Davis sits in the third slot in the women’s 135-pound division.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, August 10, 2015.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1947 - William Odom completed an around-the-world flight. He set the solo record by completing the flight in 73 hours and 5 minutes.
1971 - Harmon Kilebrew became the 10th major league player to hit 500 career home runs.
1973 - Arnold Palmer did not make the cut for the final two rounds of the PGA Golf Championship. It was the first time in his career.
1981 - Pete Rose hit a single and broke the National League all-time hit record with his 3,630 hit.
1971 - Harmon Kilebrew became the 10th major league player to hit 500 career home runs.
1973 - Arnold Palmer did not make the cut for the final two rounds of the PGA Golf Championship. It was the first time in his career.
1981 - Pete Rose hit a single and broke the National League all-time hit record with his 3,630 hit.
*****************************************************************
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!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment