Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
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:"The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit." ~ Morihei Ueshiba, Martial Artist
Trending: Why USA Today's Bears 3-13 prediction is wrong. (See football section for details).
Trending: Speith passes Rory McIlroy as world's No.1 golfer. (See golf section for details).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Why 3-13 prediction is dead wrong.
By Mike Boomer Burzawa
(Getty Images)
You might be optimistic about the Chicago Bears in 2015. Marc Trestman is out and a proven, real NFL head coach like John Fox is in. Mel Tucker is the defensive backs coach for Alabama (how did he score that gig???) and Vic Fangio, a legitimate defensive coordinator, will be at the controls of a new-look Bears defense.
You might be buying in, but some people aren’t. For instance, USA Today doesn’t think the Bears are going to be very good at all. In fact, they think the Bears are going to be awful; worse than last year’s 5-11 abomination. According to USA Today’s season predictions, they have the Bears pegged for three wins. Three. That’s worst in the NFC North, the NFC and the entire NFL.
Bears (3-13): Defense will look almost entirely different in terms of personnel and
scheme. They can only hope QB Jay Cutler looks entirely different from 2014 version under new coaching staff.
Even if Cutler’s gonna Cutler, he can’t out-Cutler his 2014
Jay Cutler led the NFL in two things in 2014 – salary and turnovers. Cutler threw 18 interceptions and coughed up six fumbles. Can Cutler top his 24 giveaways in 2015? He’s set the bar awfully high but even if he tries, I don’t think Cutler will cough up the ball 20 times. Here’s a look at how Jay has turned over the ball throughout his career:
While Jay went off the rails in his first season in Chicago in 2009 – with no offensive line to speak of, mind you – he’s managed to keep the turnovers since down to around 1.3 per game until 2014. As the team spiraled, so did Cutler, posting a whopping 1.6 turnovers per game in his 15 appearances. What was as maddening as his 18 interceptions were his 6 lost fumbles.
With Adam Gase running an offense that’s expected to run the ball more than the token 35% that Marc Trestman ran it, Jay won’t have as many chances to cough it up.
Improved Coaching Staff
The Bears brought in a legitimate head coach in John Fox. He’s not going to ignore one side of the ball and completely focus on the other. He’s not going to be in over his head like the last guy and he’s not going to lose the locker room if things don’t go well out of the gate. Fox has been there, done that. Fox has brought a physicality and discipline to the team that’s been sorely lacking.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears have brought in Vic Fangio. He is revamping the entire defense. Gone is Lovie Smith’s tried and true Cover-2 defense while Fangio ushers in a new era to Chicago Bears football. For the first time in franchise history, the Bears will play a 3-4 defense. The Bears suddenly become a little more unpredictable.
Fangio’s defense isn’t going to be embarrassed like Mel Tucker’s squad did. Even with the scheme change and a set of mismatched pieces, Fangio’s defense will not give up back-to-back fifty burgers like the Bears did last season. Unlike in seasons past, when opposing offenses knew how to attack the Bears defense, Fangio’s going to come at teams from all angles. Safety blitzes, defensive ends dropping into coverage, you won’t know what to expect.
The Bears defense was worst in franchise history two seasons in a row. Think about that. A team that’s been around since 1920 had two straight seasons with the worst defense. If the 2015 defense can avoid being a complete embarrassment, they’ll be improved.
Better Chemistry
The Bears were broken last season. From Brandon Marshall‘s locker room tirades and antics to Aaron Kromer’s anonymous ripping of Jay Cutler to the NFL Network that was later uncovered, ending in Kromer’s tearful apology to Cutler in front of the whole team. It was a mess. Trestman was just too weird and created a bad culture.
Kyle Long talked about tearing down walls in locker room this season. As one of the leaders on the team, he seems to get it. There’s a little bit of addition by subtraction. You cleaned out a lot of the bad culture and with that, the team should improve.
So to sum up, you get rid of some rotten apples (coaches included), expect that Jay Cutler can’t play much worse than he did last season and the defense has nowhere to go but up and you’ve got the formula for an improved Bears team. Make no mistake about it, I’m not quite ready to proclaim the Bears a playoff team, but I certainly think they’ll be far better a three win team.
Jay Cutler led the NFL in two things in 2014 – salary and turnovers. Cutler threw 18 interceptions and coughed up six fumbles. Can Cutler top his 24 giveaways in 2015? He’s set the bar awfully high but even if he tries, I don’t think Cutler will cough up the ball 20 times. Here’s a look at how Jay has turned over the ball throughout his career:
While Jay went off the rails in his first season in Chicago in 2009 – with no offensive line to speak of, mind you – he’s managed to keep the turnovers since down to around 1.3 per game until 2014. As the team spiraled, so did Cutler, posting a whopping 1.6 turnovers per game in his 15 appearances. What was as maddening as his 18 interceptions were his 6 lost fumbles.
With Adam Gase running an offense that’s expected to run the ball more than the token 35% that Marc Trestman ran it, Jay won’t have as many chances to cough it up.
Improved Coaching Staff
The Bears brought in a legitimate head coach in John Fox. He’s not going to ignore one side of the ball and completely focus on the other. He’s not going to be in over his head like the last guy and he’s not going to lose the locker room if things don’t go well out of the gate. Fox has been there, done that. Fox has brought a physicality and discipline to the team that’s been sorely lacking.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears have brought in Vic Fangio. He is revamping the entire defense. Gone is Lovie Smith’s tried and true Cover-2 defense while Fangio ushers in a new era to Chicago Bears football. For the first time in franchise history, the Bears will play a 3-4 defense. The Bears suddenly become a little more unpredictable.
Fangio’s defense isn’t going to be embarrassed like Mel Tucker’s squad did. Even with the scheme change and a set of mismatched pieces, Fangio’s defense will not give up back-to-back fifty burgers like the Bears did last season. Unlike in seasons past, when opposing offenses knew how to attack the Bears defense, Fangio’s going to come at teams from all angles. Safety blitzes, defensive ends dropping into coverage, you won’t know what to expect.
The Bears defense was worst in franchise history two seasons in a row. Think about that. A team that’s been around since 1920 had two straight seasons with the worst defense. If the 2015 defense can avoid being a complete embarrassment, they’ll be improved.
Better Chemistry
The Bears were broken last season. From Brandon Marshall‘s locker room tirades and antics to Aaron Kromer’s anonymous ripping of Jay Cutler to the NFL Network that was later uncovered, ending in Kromer’s tearful apology to Cutler in front of the whole team. It was a mess. Trestman was just too weird and created a bad culture.
Kyle Long talked about tearing down walls in locker room this season. As one of the leaders on the team, he seems to get it. There’s a little bit of addition by subtraction. You cleaned out a lot of the bad culture and with that, the team should improve.
So to sum up, you get rid of some rotten apples (coaches included), expect that Jay Cutler can’t play much worse than he did last season and the defense has nowhere to go but up and you’ve got the formula for an improved Bears team. Make no mistake about it, I’m not quite ready to proclaim the Bears a playoff team, but I certainly think they’ll be far better a three win team.
Amid hostilities, Bears still looking to find 'who the tough guys are'.
By John Mullin
John Fox wanted to change some things when he took over as Bears head coach. One was to instill a deeper core of toughness, mental and physical. Along with that comes a controlled surliness, or at least on the outer edge of control.
Some of the Bears veered over that last line, with the last of the 13 practices at Olivet Nazarene University being marked by a number of skirmishes in sessions that Fox expressly left the intensity high in temperatures closing in on 90 degrees for the second straight day.
Defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff took issue with use of hands by center Will Montgomery during a pass-protection drill, and each player landed heavy blows in a dust-up that left Ratliff fuming for the remainder of practice. Fox spent time in animated conversation with Ratliff, joined by Kyle Long and others.
Guard Vladimir Ducasse sustained a block into what linebacker Christian Jones considered after the whistle, the two had to be separated, and defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins delivered a smack to the back of Ducasse’s head as the guard walked away.
“Just camp,” said Fox, who said after an earlier-camp fight between Jenkins and Long probably wouldn’t be the last. It wasn’t. “We made it very, very competitive. This was not one of those non-padded, easy, exit, final days of camp. We kind of warned them and alerted them. Stuff happens in camp.”
It does. Defensive end Jared Allen was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when they practiced with the St. Louis Rams. “Those were melees,” Allen said, shaking his head.
The Bears have Monday off, practice Tuesday at Halas Hall, then travel to Indianapolis for joint practices with the Colts on Wednesday-Thursday. After Friday off, the teams play Saturday in the second preseason game for both.
The Colts practices may be incident-free, but not likely. Fox has made clear his desire to use all the “physical” that the collective bargaining agreement allows, meaning hard practices like Sunday’s will continue.
“We’re still at camp,” Fox said. “It was a very short camp. We’re going to continue it Tuesday as we head to Indy and work against the Colts prior to our Week 2 preseason game. They’ve got tomorrow off. We’ve still got a lot of work to do to find out who the tough guys are. The only way to find out is practices like that.”
Kevin White resigned to prospect of missing Bears ’15 season.
By John Mullin
Kevin White told a couple of local news outlets on Friday that if it were up to him, he would be out on the field playing the sport he was drafted to play.
But it wasn’t and isn’t up to the rookie wide receiver, who will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left shin. When exactly it first appeared isn’t clear at this point – one story is that it was there at the NFL Scouting Combine in March (where he ran a 4.35 “40”), others that it was early, or late, in offseason OTA’s.
Earlier or later, which doesn’t really matter now, the situation turned dark last week when White ran lightly on Monday without issues, then had some discomfort when he tried again on Tuesday.
The first and hardest thing for White, who missed one game in two seasons at West Virginia with a shoulder injury, was to admit that to the organization.
“Probably the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in a little while, kinda just throwing in the towel kinda-thing,” said White. "I just have to be honest, because if not, then I’ll hurt myself, and it wouldn’t be sure for my future, if that’s what it led to.”
The decision was not especially easy for the Bears, who could have continued to wait for healing to occur naturally. But the reality is that surgery might still be required even after additional waiting.
The offense will open the season without him and after that, “I know it’s going to be a little while [coming back],” White said. “If I can come back and am able to play a little bit in the season, we’ll do it. If I’m feeling ok.
“But just following through. If they want me out there, then I’ll try my best to get out there. I want to come back as soon as possible. But listening to the guys from understands. If it’s this season, then great. If it’s next season then I’ll just have to wait.”
First openly gay player drafted by NFL steps away from the game.
AFP
Michael Sam, who made history as the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League team, has decided to take a break from playing football (AFP Photo/Joe Skipper)
Michael Sam, who made history as the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League team, has decided to take a break from playing football.
Sam, drafted last year in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams, made the decision a week after making his debut with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
"The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," said Sam.
"Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support."
The college defensive standout was released by the Rams during the pre-season, before being picked up and then let go by the Dallas Cowboys.
After opting to pursue his career in the CFL, Sam had briefly left the Alouettes during training camp for personal reasons but returned after a fortnight.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? The Blackhawks are enjoying their time off as the 2015 training camp starts in one month.
C. Roumeliotis & CS&T/AA Staff
For the third consecutive season, the Blackhawks will open their 2015-16 training camp at the University of Notre Dame, the team announced Monday.
All practices will be open to the public, and will run from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 20 at Compton Family Ice Arena.
Following their three-day camp, the Blackhawks will return to Chicago for their annual Training Camp Festival at the United Center on Monday, Sept. 21.
Tickets for the festival are $5, and will be on sale July 17 at 10 a.m. through the Blackhawks' website or Ticketmaster.
Validation has come in many forms for Jimmy Butler, perhaps the most unlikely invitee to the USA Basketball minicamp/reunion in Las Vegas this past week.
Why Cubs are still winning big after winning the offseason.
(Photo/Touthouse.com)
The national media crowned the Cubs and White Sox as the kings of the winter meetings, teasing fans with the idea Chicago could become the epicenter for October baseball.By John Mullin
(Photo/fansided.com)
John Fox wanted to change some things when he took over as Bears head coach. One was to instill a deeper core of toughness, mental and physical. Along with that comes a controlled surliness, or at least on the outer edge of control.
Some of the Bears veered over that last line, with the last of the 13 practices at Olivet Nazarene University being marked by a number of skirmishes in sessions that Fox expressly left the intensity high in temperatures closing in on 90 degrees for the second straight day.
Defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff took issue with use of hands by center Will Montgomery during a pass-protection drill, and each player landed heavy blows in a dust-up that left Ratliff fuming for the remainder of practice. Fox spent time in animated conversation with Ratliff, joined by Kyle Long and others.
Guard Vladimir Ducasse sustained a block into what linebacker Christian Jones considered after the whistle, the two had to be separated, and defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins delivered a smack to the back of Ducasse’s head as the guard walked away.
“Just camp,” said Fox, who said after an earlier-camp fight between Jenkins and Long probably wouldn’t be the last. It wasn’t. “We made it very, very competitive. This was not one of those non-padded, easy, exit, final days of camp. We kind of warned them and alerted them. Stuff happens in camp.”
It does. Defensive end Jared Allen was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when they practiced with the St. Louis Rams. “Those were melees,” Allen said, shaking his head.
The Bears have Monday off, practice Tuesday at Halas Hall, then travel to Indianapolis for joint practices with the Colts on Wednesday-Thursday. After Friday off, the teams play Saturday in the second preseason game for both.
The Colts practices may be incident-free, but not likely. Fox has made clear his desire to use all the “physical” that the collective bargaining agreement allows, meaning hard practices like Sunday’s will continue.
“We’re still at camp,” Fox said. “It was a very short camp. We’re going to continue it Tuesday as we head to Indy and work against the Colts prior to our Week 2 preseason game. They’ve got tomorrow off. We’ve still got a lot of work to do to find out who the tough guys are. The only way to find out is practices like that.”
Kevin White resigned to prospect of missing Bears ’15 season.
By John Mullin
Kevin White told a couple of local news outlets on Friday that if it were up to him, he would be out on the field playing the sport he was drafted to play.
But it wasn’t and isn’t up to the rookie wide receiver, who will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left shin. When exactly it first appeared isn’t clear at this point – one story is that it was there at the NFL Scouting Combine in March (where he ran a 4.35 “40”), others that it was early, or late, in offseason OTA’s.
Earlier or later, which doesn’t really matter now, the situation turned dark last week when White ran lightly on Monday without issues, then had some discomfort when he tried again on Tuesday.
The first and hardest thing for White, who missed one game in two seasons at West Virginia with a shoulder injury, was to admit that to the organization.
“Probably the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in a little while, kinda just throwing in the towel kinda-thing,” said White. "I just have to be honest, because if not, then I’ll hurt myself, and it wouldn’t be sure for my future, if that’s what it led to.”
The decision was not especially easy for the Bears, who could have continued to wait for healing to occur naturally. But the reality is that surgery might still be required even after additional waiting.
The offense will open the season without him and after that, “I know it’s going to be a little while [coming back],” White said. “If I can come back and am able to play a little bit in the season, we’ll do it. If I’m feeling ok.
“But just following through. If they want me out there, then I’ll try my best to get out there. I want to come back as soon as possible. But listening to the guys from understands. If it’s this season, then great. If it’s next season then I’ll just have to wait.”
First openly gay player drafted by NFL steps away from the game.
AFP
Michael Sam, who made history as the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League team, has decided to take a break from playing football.
Sam, drafted last year in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams, made the decision a week after making his debut with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
"The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," said Sam.
"Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support."
The college defensive standout was released by the Rams during the pre-season, before being picked up and then let go by the Dallas Cowboys.
After opting to pursue his career in the CFL, Sam had briefly left the Alouettes during training camp for personal reasons but returned after a fortnight.
Sam made his debut for the Alouettes last Friday, becoming the first openly gay player to appear in a CFL contest.
Sam played sparingly as the Alouettes lost to the Ottawa Redblacks 26-23 in Ottawa, Ontario.
Three weeks until the opening day of the 2015 NFL season. Thinking about joining the CS&T/AA NFL Pick 'em Office Confidence Pool? Exude confidence, let everyone know that you get the job done. Show them and yourself that you can pick winners and reap some great rewards. As we say at Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica, "It's all about you."
Sports Quote of the Day: (With reference to the CS&T/AA 2015 NFL Office Pick 'em Pool)
"Chance favors only the prepared mind" ~ Louis Pasteur, Chemist and Microbiologist
Enter this pool credential information.
The Pool ID is: 110413
Mailing Address:_______________________________________________________
Three weeks until the opening day of the 2015 NFL season. Thinking about joining the CS&T/AA NFL Pick 'em Office Confidence Pool? Exude confidence, let everyone know that you get the job done. Show them and yourself that you can pick winners and reap some great rewards. As we say at Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica, "It's all about you."
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
"Chance favors only the prepared mind" ~ Louis Pasteur, Chemist and Microbiologist
It's three weeks until the start of the 2015 NFL season. Time to consider participating in the2015 CS&T/AllsportsAmerica NFL Office Pick 'em Pool. Some of you have played before and know how much fun it is. The season last for 17 weeks. The entry fee is the same as it's always has been, $35.00. We usually have 35 players but this year we are looking for 50 players. Again, the entry fee is the same but we're looking forward to doubling the payouts. We need your help, if you've played before, we're asking you to bring in one additional player. It can be a fellow employee, friend from the sports bar, relative, neighbor or general acquaintance. If you haven't played before, now is the time to take the plunge and join in the fun. The pool is conducted over the internet and you have 24/7 access to the website, statistics, scores, weekly winners, etc. This is strictly an office pick 'em pool for entertainment purposes only and rewards are paid out weekly every Tuesday morning.
We need 50 diehard football fans that love the sport and have confidence in their knowledge of the game their ability to pick winners. The entry fee is $35.00 for 17 weeks which also includes weekly payouts of: 1st place - $50.00 and, 2nd place - $30.00. We also have bonuses for the 1st and 2nd place players with the most accumulated points at the end of the season: 1st place - $200.00 and 2nd place - $100.00.
If we don't get 50 players, we will revert back to the payouts for 35 players. However, We know that we will get 50 players with everyone's help.
We made two major changes to our pool last year, 1) You do not have to pick against the spread. Just pick the winner of each game and place your confidence points on them and 2) Your picks must be made one hour before the game(s) on the day the game(s) are played. If you miss Thursday's game(s), you will lose the highest number of points for that week (16, 15 or whatever the maximum points are for that week), however, you may still make Sunday's picks. If we get more than 50 participants the payouts will increase proportionately.
To join, click below and follow the easy steps.
-Click on this link:
Enter this pool credential information.
The Pool ID is: 110413
The Pool Password is: csat2015
The PoolTracker Team
You are not on any mailing list from PoolTracker
and you will not be contacted by PoolTracker.
We take your privacy seriously.
Urgent Notice: Pool Deadline: September 1, 2015.
You may pay by the methods listed below:
You can pay through Paypal (credit card or bank account) or by check.
To pay by Paypal:
Go to http://www.paypal.com/, hit make a payment prompt and send your payment to chgtrnsprt@aol.com. Please use the family and friends prompt so that you don't incur any additional charges. When we receive your payment, you will receive a confirmation from Paypal and Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica.
To pay by check, use the entry form below:
Name:________________________________________________________________
City:________________________________ State:____________________________
Zip Code:____________
Email Address:_________________________________________________________
Telephone Number:_____________________________________________________
Please mail entry fee to:
"Chicago Sports & Travel/Allsports America Football Pool."
116 Fairfield Way
Bloomingdale, IL 60108-1538
NOTE: SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION(S) OR COMMENT(S), FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US BY EMAIL AT: CHICAGOSPORTSANDTRAVEL@YAHOO.COM OR BY TELEPHONE AT: (312) 593-0928. WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
Marion P. Jelks & J. Benjamin Scott
CS&T/AA Football Pool Co-Commissioners
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? The Blackhawks are enjoying their time off as the 2015 training camp starts in one month.
C. Roumeliotis & CS&T/AA Staff
The front office staff, coaches and players are enjoying this last month off before they return to the grind in another chase for the Stanley Cup. The Cup has traveled well around the world as staffers and players have enjoyed their day with the iconic NHL hardware. Their will be a lot of new faces and some off season situations that remain to be rectified, however, this team is well grounded and is on a mission.
For the third consecutive season, the Blackhawks will open their 2015-16 training camp at the University of Notre Dame, the team announced Monday.
All practices will be open to the public, and will run from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 20 at Compton Family Ice Arena.
Following their three-day camp, the Blackhawks will return to Chicago for their annual Training Camp Festival at the United Center on Monday, Sept. 21.
Tickets for the festival are $5, and will be on sale July 17 at 10 a.m. through the Blackhawks' website or Ticketmaster.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Validated Butler taking accountability, finding motivation.
By Vincent Goodwill
Validation has come in many forms for Jimmy Butler, perhaps the most unlikely invitee to the USA Basketball minicamp/reunion in Las Vegas this past week.
Whether it’s the maximum salary contract he agreed to on the opening day of free agency or his mere presence on Jerry Colangelo’s get-together—a must for those who want to be considered for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio—the motivation he used as an overlooked prospect to rise to these heights can’t hold as much water.
As the invitees sat to the side of the dual basketball courts, lollygagging and goofing around, Butler was to the side on the phone for a radio interview, wearing some Air Jordan’s only members of Brand Jordan have access to.
He says the acclaim and the opportunity to even be considered among the final 12 is surreal enough, and if you would’ve told the kid who had to fax his letter of intent to Marquette from a fast food joint many moons ago he would be here today, you might have to duck for cover.
“(I’d) Punch them in the face and (say) stop lying to me; I would never ever believe that. I never thought I’d be in the NBA,” Butler said. “I damn sure never thought I’d have a chance to represent Team USA. Now that I’m here I have to make the most of it. I think I’ve got a shot at it; we’ve got to see.”
Butler bringing up his blossoming friendship with movie star Mark Wahlberg is sure to raise eyebrows about Butler going “Hollywood,” but he brought up the star’s work ethic as something he admires most.
“He just got through finishing up 'Deep Water Rising,'” Butler said. “He’s probably looking two scripts (ahead) from now. That’s how his mind works. That’s where I got waking up at 5 a.m. from. Because that’s what he does. Wakes up at 5 a.m., reads, works out and then goes to work.”
Butler brought his trainer Chris Johnson to Vegas and the two haven’t stopped their basketball regimen because of the USA minicamp; Butler joked to the assembled media and a man who popped his head in to say hello to Butler for a quick second, Bulls GM Gar Forman, about ramping up his workouts.
“When you all were sleeping this morning, I was working,” he said.
How realistic a shot Butler has at making the final 12, nobody knows. But battling for a spot with the likes of a Finals MVP (Kawhi Leonard) and a fellow superstar in Paul George puts him in elite company.
“You hear guys making jokes they don’t want to be guarded by me and they honor how many minutes I play and still how hard I play,” Butler said. “That’s really cool, but more than anything I feel I am out here with some of the best players in the world. It’s humbling, but it also makes me smile because maybe I am a decent basketball player.”
His max deal means the Bulls view him as more than a decent player and opposing teams will have his name at the top of the scouting report every night, so he won’t sneak up on anyone this season—or ever again.
And whether it was a natural progression for a player of his caliber or the contract making him feel more emboldened to make such a statement, Butler referred to himself and Derrick Rose as the leaders of the team, with everyone else having to follow behind.
Holding his own feet to the fire, he said he won’t skip out on media after games anymore, which he did after the Game 6 debacle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round that ended the Bulls’ season—in which the aftermath spurned the school of thought he and Rose don’t get along.
“I know what’s really going on. Everybody doesn’t. We’re fine,” Butler said. “We just want to win. Whenever we win, all this is going out the window. If we buy into playing off one another and just getting out and playing fast, I like the chances we have at being the top backcourt in the league.”
Elaborating on the status of their relationship seems very sixth-grade-like, considering 15 guys in a locker room come from disparate places and have different interests and commonalities. It’s been said before but he and Rose don’t have to be best friends, but if Butler envisions himself on the same plane as his point guard, the two will have to be in lockstep from a leadership standpoint.
As for the Bulls’ chances to overthrow Cleveland, Butler summed it up matter of factly.
“We got the same team. Is it enough? I don’t know, I guess we’ll find out,” Butler said. “It wasn’t enough last year. The only thing we changed was the coach.”
As the invitees sat to the side of the dual basketball courts, lollygagging and goofing around, Butler was to the side on the phone for a radio interview, wearing some Air Jordan’s only members of Brand Jordan have access to.
He says the acclaim and the opportunity to even be considered among the final 12 is surreal enough, and if you would’ve told the kid who had to fax his letter of intent to Marquette from a fast food joint many moons ago he would be here today, you might have to duck for cover.
“(I’d) Punch them in the face and (say) stop lying to me; I would never ever believe that. I never thought I’d be in the NBA,” Butler said. “I damn sure never thought I’d have a chance to represent Team USA. Now that I’m here I have to make the most of it. I think I’ve got a shot at it; we’ve got to see.”
Butler bringing up his blossoming friendship with movie star Mark Wahlberg is sure to raise eyebrows about Butler going “Hollywood,” but he brought up the star’s work ethic as something he admires most.
“He just got through finishing up 'Deep Water Rising,'” Butler said. “He’s probably looking two scripts (ahead) from now. That’s how his mind works. That’s where I got waking up at 5 a.m. from. Because that’s what he does. Wakes up at 5 a.m., reads, works out and then goes to work.”
Butler brought his trainer Chris Johnson to Vegas and the two haven’t stopped their basketball regimen because of the USA minicamp; Butler joked to the assembled media and a man who popped his head in to say hello to Butler for a quick second, Bulls GM Gar Forman, about ramping up his workouts.
“When you all were sleeping this morning, I was working,” he said.
How realistic a shot Butler has at making the final 12, nobody knows. But battling for a spot with the likes of a Finals MVP (Kawhi Leonard) and a fellow superstar in Paul George puts him in elite company.
“You hear guys making jokes they don’t want to be guarded by me and they honor how many minutes I play and still how hard I play,” Butler said. “That’s really cool, but more than anything I feel I am out here with some of the best players in the world. It’s humbling, but it also makes me smile because maybe I am a decent basketball player.”
His max deal means the Bulls view him as more than a decent player and opposing teams will have his name at the top of the scouting report every night, so he won’t sneak up on anyone this season—or ever again.
And whether it was a natural progression for a player of his caliber or the contract making him feel more emboldened to make such a statement, Butler referred to himself and Derrick Rose as the leaders of the team, with everyone else having to follow behind.
Holding his own feet to the fire, he said he won’t skip out on media after games anymore, which he did after the Game 6 debacle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round that ended the Bulls’ season—in which the aftermath spurned the school of thought he and Rose don’t get along.
“I know what’s really going on. Everybody doesn’t. We’re fine,” Butler said. “We just want to win. Whenever we win, all this is going out the window. If we buy into playing off one another and just getting out and playing fast, I like the chances we have at being the top backcourt in the league.”
Elaborating on the status of their relationship seems very sixth-grade-like, considering 15 guys in a locker room come from disparate places and have different interests and commonalities. It’s been said before but he and Rose don’t have to be best friends, but if Butler envisions himself on the same plane as his point guard, the two will have to be in lockstep from a leadership standpoint.
As for the Bulls’ chances to overthrow Cleveland, Butler summed it up matter of factly.
“We got the same team. Is it enough? I don’t know, I guess we’ll find out,” Butler said. “It wasn’t enough last year. The only thing we changed was the coach.”
Why Cubs are still winning big after winning the offseason.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/Touthouse.com)
One team woke up on Sunday with a 91.8 percent chance to make the playoffs, while Baseball Prospectus projected the other at 1.9 percent.
The Cubs saw their nine-game winning streak end against Chris Sale’s freak-of-nature stuff in a 3-1 loss that didn’t even feel that close at U.S. Cellular Field.
It was 94 degrees at first pitch, and the Cubs finally cooled down after winning 15 of their previous 16 games, moving ahead of the San Francisco Giants and pulling to within 2 1/2 games of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first wild-card spot.
“The whole winning-the-offseason (thing) is completely overrated,” catcher David Ross said. “There (are) all these teams that always have all this hype going into the season and it doesn’t work out.
“I don’t think you’ll ever be able to put together an All-Star team and then just run away with anything. It takes a group of guys to know their role and know what they’re good at, what they bring to the table and be able to do that unselfishly.”
So many teams that made a splash during the offseason appear to be sinking this summer. The White Sox are now five games under .500 and began the day just as close to holding a wild-card spot as having the worst record in the American League.
The Boston Red Sox are looking at their third last-place finish within the last four seasons (wrapped around a World Series title in 2013). The Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres fired their managers and combined are almost 30 games under .500.
“When you have a massive overhaul, it’s tough to win because of the chemistry,” outfielder Chris Coghlan said. “You have a lot of newness. People don’t understand: You got to pick up and move your family. You got a different city. Your routine is all jacked. We’re built on routine. So now all of a sudden, it changes.”
Coghlan remembered being part of the 2012 Marlins, a reality-show team that hired Ozzie Guillen, signed Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell, traded for Carlos Zambrano, moved into a taxpayer-funded stadium ... and lost 93 games. “I saw it in Miami,” Coghlan said. “I was like: ‘Man, we’re either going to win the pennant or we’re just going to be terrible.’
“You just had too many (moving pieces). A lot of people don’t pay attention to the chemistry. When you got to go a whole season, you got to blend together and you got to learn to be a family.
“It’s one thing to have one, three, five (new) guys. But when you got like seven to nine different players — or you have five significant everyday players — it’s very difficult.”
The Cubs haven’t bombed because Theo Epstein’s front office lucked into their dream manager and didn’t hesitate once Joe Maddon became a free agent, locking up another piece to a well-thought-out plan.
The Epstein administration convinced Jon Lester to become a $155 million anchor for the rotation after building the pipeline that’s produced Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. By Year 4, those big-picture deals around the trade deadline have yielded major contributors like Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop, Addison Russell, Kyle Hendricks and Justin Grimm.
Smaller moves like signing reliever Jason Motte and outfielder Chris Denorfia to one-year deals have paid off, and it’s impossible to miss the loose-but-professional vibe in the clubhouse.
“Teams have to jell,” Ross said. “It has to do with personalities, too. It’s not just talent. You got to bring in people that are good teammates and care about one another. It’s hard to come into a new place and fit in. It takes a little while. Some players do that a little easier than others.”
The Cubs have stayed relatively healthy, with Lester, Arrieta, Hendricks and Jason Hammel each making 20-plus starts. Anthony Rizzo has now been hit 24 times, but fortunately those pitches haven’t knocked out the All-Star first baseman.
Even Miguel Montero’s sprained thumb just before the All-Star break allowed Schwarber to spark the team and possibly jump into the National League’s Rookie of the Year conversation.
“It’s hard to win big-league games consistently,” Lester said. “We’ve tried to minimize the lows and ride the highs as long as we can. (And) these guys do a great job of turning the page (while) being so young, whether they were 0-for-4 or have a Kyle Schwarber day.”
The Cubs have embraced Maddon’s quirks and accepted the manager’s unconventional methods. The relievers have checked their egos at the bullpen door, with seven different guys notching saves. Starlin Castro hasn’t pouted since being moved off shortstop.
There is also a certain amount of luck and mental toughness involved, with the Cubs going 27-17 in one-run games and winning 11 in extra innings.
“It’s about coming together as a team,” said Ross, who has lasted 14 years in the big leagues, playing in seven postseason series and winning a World Series ring with Lester and the 2013 Red Sox.
“It always depends on the guys in the clubhouse. The winning teams I’ve been on, it’s about bringing your best on a daily basis and playing your team brand of baseball — whatever that is — and not individualized baseball or selfish baseball. It’s about team. It always will be.”
Kyle Schwarber finds out what Cubs-White Sox is all about.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
Kyle Schwarber didn’t realize a White Sox fan threw something at him until he got back to his spot in left field.
“Tall boy,” Schwarber said. “It wasn’t even drank all the way.”
Welcome to Chicago.
The Cubs enjoyed the party atmosphere late Saturday night inside U.S. Cellular Field’s visiting clubhouse after a 6-3 victory pushed their winning streak to nine games. Positioned for a crosstown sweep on Sunday, the Cubs are 19 games over .500, only 1.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for home-field advantage in the wild-card game.
The legend of Schwarber grew during what’s becoming an unbelievable rookie season. First, the kind of slight that drives Schwarber to prove people wrong, the doubts about his ability to catch in professional baseball and the perception the Cubs reached with the No. 4 overall pick last year.
With two outs in the fifth inning of a 1-1 game and a runner on second base, the White Sox had left-hander Jose Quintana intentionally walk Dexter Fowler to pitch to Schwarber, who had struck out and popped out in his first two at-bats.
Bad move. Schwarber lined an RBI single into right field.
“I don’t take (anything personally),” Schwarber said. “It’s a smart decision, I guess, to not face a righty and go after a lefty. But it does get a little fire under you.”
The Cubs have generated so much momentum with Schwarber, who’s hitting .315 with eight homers and 27 RBI through his first 33 games in The Show.
So when Alexei Ramirez knocked an RBI double into left field in the sixth inning – pulling the White Sox within one run – someone from the sellout crowd chucked a tall boy in Schwarber’s direction.
“I guess that’s what this series is all about,” Schwarber said.
The all-time move would have been for Schwarber to finish the beer right there. But the Cubs already feel almost invincible. After another big win, veteran catcher David Ross stood at his locker yelling at Schwarber while holding court with reporters.
“You should’ve shot gunned it,” Ross said. “That would have been awesome. You would have got points from me. You should have shot gunned it and then went over there and found him.
“I tell you what: I’d hate to try to wrap up Kyle Schwarber. I guarantee you that whoever threw that beer doesn’t want (any) part of Kyle Schwarber. I promise you that one.”
White Sox retain Crosstown Cup, avert sweep behind Chris Sale's 15 Ks.
By Dan Hayes
Shortly after Sunday’s 3-1 White Sox victory over the Cubs, Jose Abreu asked a clubhouse attendant to have Chris Sale autograph a baseball for him.
Abreu said the ball is a gift for his son, but nobody could blame him if he kept it for himself after Sale’s dominant performance in the finale of the 2015 Crosstown Cup.
Sale matched a career high with 15 strikeouts and didn’t yield a hit until the sixth inning as the White Sox won in front of 39,475 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Abreu, Alexei Ramirez and Melky Cabrera all homered off Dan Haren as the White Sox stopped the Cubs’ nine-game winning streak and evened the teams’ season series at three games apiece. The series tie means the White Sox — whose pitchers struck out a franchise-record 18 and combined on a three-hitter — retained the Cup after they won three of four meetings in 2014.
“Everybody knows the quality he has,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “We have to thank God because he’s with us. He’s an outstanding pitcher, probably one of the best in baseball right now, and every time he’s on the mound for us — I don’t know how to explain it because he’s unbelievable.”
Abreu said the ball is a gift for his son, but nobody could blame him if he kept it for himself after Sale’s dominant performance in the finale of the 2015 Crosstown Cup.
Sale matched a career high with 15 strikeouts and didn’t yield a hit until the sixth inning as the White Sox won in front of 39,475 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Abreu, Alexei Ramirez and Melky Cabrera all homered off Dan Haren as the White Sox stopped the Cubs’ nine-game winning streak and evened the teams’ season series at three games apiece. The series tie means the White Sox — whose pitchers struck out a franchise-record 18 and combined on a three-hitter — retained the Cup after they won three of four meetings in 2014.
“Everybody knows the quality he has,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “We have to thank God because he’s with us. He’s an outstanding pitcher, probably one of the best in baseball right now, and every time he’s on the mound for us — I don’t know how to explain it because he’s unbelievable.”
Sale’s fastball-slider-changeup combo did all the talking from the outset.
The left-hander struck out the side on 14 pitches in the first inning and didn’t have a batter put the ball in play until Jorge Soler reached on an error in the second. Sale struck out two more in the second inning, another in the third and got all three batters in the fourth. His first eight strikeouts came via swings.
“He was ready to go,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He was fantastic today. I don't know, not too many times he's been better than that. He's had some that were close to it, but right from the start of the game, when he strikes out the guys in the first inning, strikes out the side, you're feeling pretty good about it. He was darn near unhittable for the time he was in there.”
Sale only got into trouble once as he loaded the bases in the sixth inning, hitting Anthony Rizzo on a pitch on which he appeared to not check his swing. Dexter Fowler ended Sale’s no-hit bid with a clean, one-out single to left in the sixth, and Chris Denorfia drew a walk ahead of the Rizzo at-bat.
But Sale got out of it with a strikeout of Soler, who took a 1-2 slider just off the outside corner for a called third strike.
Starting the seventh inning with 104 pitches, Sale struck out Addison Russell on three off-speed pitches, got Starlin Castro on a 2-2 slider and blew Miguel Montero away with a 1-2 fastball that registered 95 mph.
Sale struck out eight of nine Cubs starters, including Kris Bryant three times.
He limited the Cubs to a hit, two walks and a hit batter over seven innings and threw strikes on 73 of 116 pitches.
“A couple of guys had tough days against him,” catcher Tyler Flowers said. “A couple of guys he executed every pitch in every at-bat against him. On their end they just have to top their cap. He’s tough when he doesn’t hit spots, and when he does it’s almost impossible.”
It wasn’t much easier against Nate Jones, who struck out the side on 13 pitches in a scoreless eighth inning, including pinch-hitters Kyle Schwarber and Chris Coghlan. Jones’ final strikeout established a new franchise record for the White Sox in a nine-inning game as they bested the previous mark of 17 from Sept. 13, 2014.
“I wouldn’t say I knew the exact number,” Sale said. “But I knew they were getting up there. It’s fun. The crowd gets into it. People in the K Zone are going crazy for me. It’s a fun, fun time. You have balls leaving the park, guys hitting homers. It’s a fun atmosphere to play in.”
The left-hander struck out the side on 14 pitches in the first inning and didn’t have a batter put the ball in play until Jorge Soler reached on an error in the second. Sale struck out two more in the second inning, another in the third and got all three batters in the fourth. His first eight strikeouts came via swings.
“He was ready to go,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He was fantastic today. I don't know, not too many times he's been better than that. He's had some that were close to it, but right from the start of the game, when he strikes out the guys in the first inning, strikes out the side, you're feeling pretty good about it. He was darn near unhittable for the time he was in there.”
Sale only got into trouble once as he loaded the bases in the sixth inning, hitting Anthony Rizzo on a pitch on which he appeared to not check his swing. Dexter Fowler ended Sale’s no-hit bid with a clean, one-out single to left in the sixth, and Chris Denorfia drew a walk ahead of the Rizzo at-bat.
But Sale got out of it with a strikeout of Soler, who took a 1-2 slider just off the outside corner for a called third strike.
Starting the seventh inning with 104 pitches, Sale struck out Addison Russell on three off-speed pitches, got Starlin Castro on a 2-2 slider and blew Miguel Montero away with a 1-2 fastball that registered 95 mph.
Sale struck out eight of nine Cubs starters, including Kris Bryant three times.
He limited the Cubs to a hit, two walks and a hit batter over seven innings and threw strikes on 73 of 116 pitches.
“A couple of guys had tough days against him,” catcher Tyler Flowers said. “A couple of guys he executed every pitch in every at-bat against him. On their end they just have to top their cap. He’s tough when he doesn’t hit spots, and when he does it’s almost impossible.”
It wasn’t much easier against Nate Jones, who struck out the side on 13 pitches in a scoreless eighth inning, including pinch-hitters Kyle Schwarber and Chris Coghlan. Jones’ final strikeout established a new franchise record for the White Sox in a nine-inning game as they bested the previous mark of 17 from Sept. 13, 2014.
“I wouldn’t say I knew the exact number,” Sale said. “But I knew they were getting up there. It’s fun. The crowd gets into it. People in the K Zone are going crazy for me. It’s a fun, fun time. You have balls leaving the park, guys hitting homers. It’s a fun atmosphere to play in.”
Abreu relishes the opportunity to play behind Sale. When Sale is as outstanding as he was against the Cubs, Abreu said the offense wants in the worst way to get him a victory. Abreu’s opposite-field drive in the third got that campaign started with Ramirez contributing in the fourth and Cabrera in the fifth.
The three-homer showing helped Sale to his 11th victory and netted Abreu a nice keepsake for his son.
“When Sale is on the mound he motivates you to do your best, and you’re not thinking about the other team, you’re thinking about your team and your teammates and that’s the only thing you have to take care,” Abreu said. “He’s so dominant.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Jason Day wins PGA Championship in record fashion.
By Kevin Kaduk
Jason Day, of Australia, holds up the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
After sharing the 54-hole lead at both the U.S. and British Opens this season, the 27-year-old Australian finally cashed in from the top of the leaderboard to win the PGA Championship Sunday at Whistling Straits.
Day fired a final-round 67 at the course on the shores of Lake Michigan, finishing with a score of 20-under par, the lowest any player in the history of the sport has ever finished to par in a major championship.
"It's a fantastic record to hold," said Day, who often grew emotional during interviews after his win. "There's been such amazing golfers, especially throughout the history of golf, our sport, and to have that record just goes to show the work I've put in is paying off."
Day's brilliant play allowed him to hold off Jordan Spieth by three strokes, denying the young Texan a chance to become only the third golfer to win three majors in one season.
The win helps Day to escape from the dreaded "never won a major" list and provides a nice cap to what had been a disappointing majors season. Day entered Sunday of the U.S. Open with a share of the lead but battled a bout of vertigo and came up short at Chambers Bay. He did the same at St. Andrews for the British Open but missed a birdie putt on the 18th green that kept him out of playoff won by Zach Johnson.
Day has been incredibly consistent in 22 career starts at the majors, garnering seven top-5 finishes and 10 appearances in the top 10. Both his play and personality have made him a fan favorite.
Spieth, who overtook Rory McIlroy to become No. 1 in the world golf rankings, finished with a final round 68 and was playing for a chance to join Ben Hogan (1953) and Tiger Woods (2000) as the only golfers to win three majors in one season.
Day, however, wasn't much interested in letting Spieth's history trip up his own bid. He entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Spieth and was aggressive early, taking birdies on the second, fifth, sixth and seventh holes.
When Day matched his playing partner's birdie putt on the par-5 fifth, Spieth felt the need to inform his caddy of something that was readily apparent.
"He's on today," Spieth said as the pair climbed toward the sixth tee.
Day's birdie on No. 7 extended his lead to four shots over Spieth. A bogey by Day on No. 8 proved to be his only a hiccup; his lead over Spieth and the rest of the field would never shrink to smaller than three strokes.
While it's not the same as hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy, Spieth can take consolation in an incredible achievement of his own. His combined score of -54 at the majors bested Tiger Woods' previous record of -53 set in 2000.
Day joins four other Australians who have won the PGA Championship: Jim Ferrier (1947), David Graham (1979), Wayne Grady (1990) and Steve Elkington (1995).
Jordan Spieth passes Rory McIlroy as the world's No. 1 golfer.
By Ryan Ballengee
Jordan Spieth, left, watches as Jason Day celebrates winning the PGA Championship. (AP)
Jordan Spieth called it "the best consolation prize ever."
Though the 22-year-old didn't win his third major championship of the year on Sunday at Whistling Straits – that honor went to Australian Jason Day – a final-round, 4-under 68 earned him a solo second-place finish and the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.
"That will never be taken away from me now," Spieth said afterward. "I'll always be a No. 1 player in the world."
He added, "It's an incredible honor."
Spieth supplants Rory McIlroy, who finished in 17th place, for the No. 1 ranking. There were five scenarios by which Spieth could become the top-ranked player for the first time, including one in which he finished second alone and McIlroy finished worse than sixth.
NASCAR: Dominant Kenseth corrals Michigan victory.
"That will never be taken away from me now," Spieth said afterward. "I'll always be a No. 1 player in the world."
He added, "It's an incredible honor."
Spieth supplants Rory McIlroy, who finished in 17th place, for the No. 1 ranking. There were five scenarios by which Spieth could become the top-ranked player for the first time, including one in which he finished second alone and McIlroy finished worse than sixth.
The reigning Masters and U.S. Open champion also becomes just the third player in the history of the game to finish inside the top four in all four major championships in a season. He also sets the all-time single-season scoring record in relationship to par in the majors (-54), supplanting Tiger Woods, who was 53-under par in three major victories in 2000.
Spieth's reign at the top of the world ranking, however, may be short-lived. Both McIlroy and Day are within striking distance of him, and with the four FedEx Cup playoff events starting in two weeks (McIlroy is skipping the first leg, The Barclays), a good September run could see Spieth's seat atop the rankings end quickly.
NASCAR: Dominant Kenseth corrals Michigan victory.
By Reid Spencer
Matt Kenseth was the class of the Sprint Cup field on Sunday, racing from pole position to victory lane in Michigan. (Photo/Getty Images)
From Matt Kenseth's point of view, the competition package NASCAR used at Michigan International Speedway could well have had a big, bright bow on it.
The Coors Light Pole-sitter for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Kenseth quickly exhibited his mastery of the high-drag aerodynamic package, leading 146 of 200 laps in winning for the third time this season, the third time at Michigan and the 34th time in his career.
The 2003 premier series champion had to survive a restart with 13 laps left, after Jimmie Johnson spun off Turn 4 to cause the eighth and final caution of the race. With a push from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, Kenseth cleared Kevin Harvick after the Lap 187 restart and went on to win by 1.722 seconds.
"Denny did a spectacular job pushing me," Kenseth said of the last run. "From the restart zone to about Turn 2 was like a superspeedway race -- whoever got locked up -- and those Chevys could really hook up.
"Denny did a heck of a job giving me a good push there to get by. Honestly, the toughest one was with the 3 (Dillon, with the two drivers swapping the lead after a restart on Lap 131). We went back and forth a few times and made some contact there, and it was hard to get away from him. My car took about five laps to get going, but once it got going, it was pretty stellar."
Harvick ran out of fuel under green on Lap 114 but recovered to finish second. Martin Truex Jr. ran third, followed by Austin Dillon (who started from the rear of the field after an engine change) and Hamlin.
Kenseth's victory was the fifth for Joe Gibbs Racing in the last six Sprint Cup races but Kenseth stopped short of declaring the JGR cars the favorites for the series championship this year. There are three regular-season races left before the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs start at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 20.
"It's early to talk favorites -- there's so much racing to do, and there are 16 teams (in the Chase) that are capable of winning races on a weekly basis as well as a championship," Kenseth said. "It's one week at a time like always.
"It's been a great week, and we've had a great couple months. We definitely have some momentum built. The guys gave us a rocket today and gave us rockets the last couple months. We're just going to work hard to try to keep it rolling."
Harvick, the reigning series champion, has finished second in five of his last six starts at Michigan, and he notched his seventh runner-up result since winning his second race of the season at Phoenix in March.
"We had an up-and-down day, that's for sure," Harvick said. "The first half of the race or so (we) really struggled with the handling of the car. The guys did a great job of getting that, and then ran out of gas and came back and didn't lose a lap and were able to have a good enough handling car to drive back up through there.
"Just really proud of my team and everything that they did. I didn't have anything for the 20 (Kenseth) today, but for everything that we overcame, it was still a good day."
Despite starting from the rear of the field, Kyle Busch finished 11th, solidified his position in the top 30 in points and moved closer to a spot in the Chase. Now 29th in the standings, Busch leads 30th-place Justin Allgaier by 18 points and 31st-place Cole Whitt by 23.
A four-time winner since returning from an 11-race injury absence, Busch must be in the top 30 after 26 races to lock up a spot in the Chase.
Clint Bowyer's Chase hopes took the hardest hit on Sunday. After running consistently in the top five, Bowyer's No. 15 Toyota bounced off the outside backstretch wall on Lap 126 -- the result of contact with Ryan Newman's Chevrolet -- and careened into the inside wall.
Bowyer finished 41st and dropped one position in the standings to 15th, 23 points ahead of Aric Almirola in 16th and 26 ahead of Kasey Kahne in 17th. Bowyer currently is in the final Chase-eligible position. If the next three races produce one or more unique winners, however, his Chase spot could be in serious jeopardy.
SOCCER: Fire, Union settle for point in dramatic draw in Philadelphia.
By Danny Michallik
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Whether Sunday night's match will be slammed as a spurned chance or an impressive resurgence come late October - when the playoff picture is cemented - may be up for debate.
What is certain, though, is that after recording a 3-3 draw away to a Philadelphia Union team that had secured their passage to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final four days prior, the Fire would've certainly preferred to walk away with all three points from PPL Park.
The Men in Red faced adversity once more: showing the pluck and mettle that was nonexistent in recent matches; seeing their second-half lead quelled and ultimately settling for a road point against Jim Curtin's side. A Patrick Nyarko strike, supplemented by Kennedy Igboananike's two goals and backed by Sean Johnson's heroic performance helped the Fire salvage a result from an absorbing, back-and-forth and end-to-end encounter that left Frank Yallop's group rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference table on 23 points, five back of a playoff spot heading into the final third of the MLS regular season.
Yallop made four changes from the side that fell to the Union midweek, giving Matt Polster, Harry Shipp and David Accam a rest, with Michael Stephens, Nyarko and Igboananike taking their place, respectively. Shaun Maloney reverted to a wider role, while Igboananike partnered Jason Johnson - who replaced the injured Gilberto - up front.
The Fire (6-12-5, 23 points) were hoping to rebound following their exit at the semifinal stage of the Open Cup midweek and procure anything and everything they could from their second straight bout with the Union (6-13-6, 24 points). Despite conceding an early goal in the first half, the Union forced Johnson into making eight spectacular saves - many of them late on - and were perhaps unfortunate to see just three goals ripple the back of the net on the night.
First half proceedings saw both sides struggle to grasp a firm foothold before Jason Johnson released Patrick Nyarko down the right flank. The Ghanaian whipped in a ball to an onrushing Igboananike in the six-yard box for the redirect, which skipped past Union 'keeper John McCarthy in the 10th minute.
Despite gathering some steam and retaining possession, the Fire fell victim to another set piece, their seventh of the season. Cristian Maidana's corner-kick delivery in the 21st minute found Fernando Aristeguieta, who got in front of Lovel Palmer and poked past Johnson to level the score at 1-1.
Ten minutes later, Maidana, who had tormented the Fire defense frequently during the Open Cup semifinal, pounced on a loose ball in the Union's defensive half and was sent on the counter attack, eventually picking out a streaking Fabinho on the left side. After cutting in on Palmer to his right foot, the Brazilian unleashed a sizzling shot that deflected off the Jamaican's foot and past a helpless Johnson to give the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into the halftime interval.
After latching onto Nyarko's service for the opening goal, Igboananike turned provider in the 54th minute, taking Union defender Ray Gaddis to the end line before sliding the ball across the face of goal to an unmarked Nyarko at the back post, who notched his second goal of the year to level the match at 2-2.
The frenetic pace of the match reared its head late on, with Johnson earning full marks. A double save to deny Maidana and C.J. Sapong in the 81st minute, and again four minutes from time, batting away efforts from Brian Carroll and Sébastien Le Toux.
Le Toux's persistency paid dividends, rolling a shot past the outstretch arms of Johnson in the 90th minute with what was sure to be the game winner, but Igboananike scored deep into stoppage time to help the fire emerge with a point. Next up for the Fire is their final cross-conference clash of the campaign, which pits them against the Colorado Rapids at Toyota Park on Saturday.
Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs)
(4-4-2): Sean Johnson; Lovel Palmer, Eric Gehrig, Jeff Larentowicz (C), Joevin Jones; Patrick Nyarko (Mike Magee, 84'), Razvan Cocis (Matt Polster, 74'), Michael Stephens, Shaun Maloney (Harry Shipp, 68'); Kennedy Igboananike, Jason Johnson.
Jose Mourinho says Chelsea's humbling defeat a "completely fake" result.
By Joe Prince-Wright
Manchester City v Chelsea – Premier League (Photo/NBCSports.com)
After suffering a damaging 3-0 defeat to title rivals Manchester City on Sunday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was in a defiant mood.
In a week where he has been lambasted for demoting two members of his own medical staff, the Portuguese boss suffered his worst-ever defeat as Chelsea manager (matching the 3-0 defeat at West Brom last season) and his side were simply blown away by a classy City side who scored on the half hour mark through Sergio Aguero and second half goals for Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho put gloss on the victory.
In a week where he has been lambasted for demoting two members of his own medical staff, the Portuguese boss suffered his worst-ever defeat as Chelsea manager (matching the 3-0 defeat at West Brom last season) and his side were simply blown away by a classy City side who scored on the half hour mark through Sergio Aguero and second half goals for Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho put gloss on the victory.
Speaking after the game in the tunnel, Mourinho was adamant the result was “fake” and the reigning PL champions didn’t deserve the embarrassing score line they were handed.
“The best team in the first half won the game. The best team in the second half was Chelsea for sure,” Mourinho said. “We had a difficult first half, we didn’t create a lot and our goalkeeper made a few important saves.”
“Second half everything was different. If the 1-0 was a doubtful result at minute 70, 3-0 is completely fake,” Mourinho added. “At 1-0 Chelsea were the best team for the whole second half. They make a change because they feel 1-0 is in danger and we concede a second goal. If 1-1 a different story, their team is in trouble.”Mourinho and his team are in a bad moment with just one point from their opening two games of the new season.
His replaced his captain John Terry at half time with Kurt Zouma and the Portuguese boss admitted his defense was “poor” in the first half. His midfield struggled to handle City’s dynamic attackers, while Cesc Fabregas looked a shadow of his former self and Diego Costa and Eden Hazard failed to cause many problems for City.
“They were the best team in the first half, they controlled the game and created chances,” Mourinho said of City. “Defensively we were quite fragile. In the second half everything changed.”
Speaking about that defensive fragility, Mourinho revealed that Terry “was not dancing around” in the dressing room after being taken off at half time, but also accepted the decision, as Chelsea wanted to play a higher defensive line to counteract City’s rapid counter attacks in the second half.
NCAAFB: Tennessee's practice gets announced attendance of 40,000.
By STEVE MEGARGEE
Tennessee coach Butch Jones believes holding one open practice each year helps prepare his team for the Neyland Stadium environment.
Of course, it helps when that workout draws the type of crowd that many programs can't attract during the regular season.
Even without a quarterback competition to lure curious fans, Tennessee's open practice Saturday at Neyland Stadium drew an announced attendance of 40,000. Spectators filled the majority of the lower bowl at the 102,455-seat facility.
''It's a tremendous evaluation tool to see how our players perform when there are people in the stands,'' Jones said. ''It was invaluable.''
Tennessee has made one August practice open to the public at Neyland Stadium each year since Jones' arrival as coach for the 2013 season. The open practices drew announced attendances of 39,000 in 2013 and 40,000 in 2014.
The Vols hope that the large crowd will help their underclassmen get at least a small taste of what they'll experience during regular-season home games. Tennessee played the most true freshmen of any Football Bowl Subdivision program last year and figures to rely heavily on newcomers again this season after signing a second straight recruiting class ranked among the nation's top five by multiple services.
Tennessee begins the season Sept. 5 against Bowling Green in Nashville's Nissan Stadium before facing Oklahoma in its home opener Sept. 12.
''It's nowhere near what game days at Neyland are, but it's definitely a steppingstone, so the first time they walk in here, they're not star-struck and can't think or do their jobs,'' sophomore tight end Ethan Wolf said.
During the last two open practices, a preseason quarterback competition garnered much of the attention. That wasn't the case this year, as junior Joshua Dobbs is the clear-cut starter and freshman Quinten Dormady was announced Friday as the second-team quarterback.
Jones still found a way to make things interesting for the fans who showed up by including some special events aside from the typical position drills and scrimmaging.
He opened the practice with a one-on-one matchup between mammoth-sized offensive guard Charles Mosley and defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie. Tennessee's roster lists Mosley as 350 pounds and McKenzie as 327 pounds.
Late in the practice, Tennessee's quarterbacks stood at the 30-yard line and threw passes in an attempt to hit the crossbar at the nearest end zone. As it turned out, the first person to accomplish that feat wasn't a quarterback but wide receiver Alton ''Pig'' Howard, who also had entered the competition.
Fans got to see Tennessee try out different combinations on the offensive line as the Vols attempt to replace injured guard Marcus Jackson that likely will knock him out for the entire season. Jones initially didn't specify the nature of Jackson's injury this week before later indicating the fifth-year senior hurt his biceps.
The Vols also worked out Saturday without guards Jack Jones and Jashon Robertson, who was in uniform but didn't participate in offensive line drills as he recovers from an ankle injury. Butch Jones said Jack Jones was held out for precautionary reasons and that Robertson should return this coming week.
Late in the practice, Tennessee's quarterbacks stood at the 30-yard line and threw passes in an attempt to hit the crossbar at the nearest end zone. As it turned out, the first person to accomplish that feat wasn't a quarterback but wide receiver Alton ''Pig'' Howard, who also had entered the competition.
Fans got to see Tennessee try out different combinations on the offensive line as the Vols attempt to replace injured guard Marcus Jackson that likely will knock him out for the entire season. Jones initially didn't specify the nature of Jackson's injury this week before later indicating the fifth-year senior hurt his biceps.
The Vols also worked out Saturday without guards Jack Jones and Jashon Robertson, who was in uniform but didn't participate in offensive line drills as he recovers from an ankle injury. Butch Jones said Jack Jones was held out for precautionary reasons and that Robertson should return this coming week.
NCAABKB: Kansas' Bill Self helps family in need of morale boost.
By Raphiellewhen does blackhawks training camp start Johnson
Coach Bill Self (Photo/AP)
The job of a college basketball coach, especially at a tradition-rich program, can be a busy one. Of course there’s the matter of coaching your current team, but there’s also the need to recruit the next class of athletes while also helping with community service and fundraising activities.
Many also look to help those in need of a positive message to help them get through tough times, which is what Bill Self did for the family of a sportswriter who covers the team. In a story written by David Dorsey of the Fort Myers (Florida) News-Press, the author discusses the lengths Self went to give Dorsey’s father a morale boost while his wife Nancy was battling Stage IV triple negative breast cancer.
Generals take final defeat, and it's loss for us all.
Many also look to help those in need of a positive message to help them get through tough times, which is what Bill Self did for the family of a sportswriter who covers the team. In a story written by David Dorsey of the Fort Myers (Florida) News-Press, the author discusses the lengths Self went to give Dorsey’s father a morale boost while his wife Nancy was battling Stage IV triple negative breast cancer.
“Hey Gene. This is Bill Self here. Sorry I haven’t called sooner. I’ve been out of town on business, and I just got back, and I’m catching up. I heard you guys are going through some stuff. I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but I wanted to check in with you to see how you’re doing. Give me a call when you can.”
My dad called the number Self left on the voice mail.
Expecting to get an administrative assistant, instead my father heard: “This is Bill Self.” He had left a direct line.
My father and Coach Self talked for a few minutes. Self gave my dad a much-needed pep talk. My father did an extraordinary job of caring for my mother during her final 60 days and throughout their 45 years of marriage. It’s hard work, caring for the dying. He had help from Grace Hospice and my Aunt Barb Liberman. My father did an amazing job. It was on par with the coaching job Self managed in 2008, when Mario Chalmers made that epic, game-tying shot, sending the NCAA title game against Memphis into overtime, which ended up being a formality.Self was also able to speak with Nancy over the phone, with the conversations taking place August 3. Sadly, Nancy would pass away the following night.
Generals take final defeat, and it's loss for us all.
By PAUL NEWBERRY
Say it ain't so.
The Harlem Globetrotters will no longer be beating the Washington Generals game after glorious fake game. A ''rivalry'' that dates to the Eisenhower administration is coming to an end now that the Trotters have decided to dump their longtime punching bag of an opponent, presumably for business reasons.
Farewell to the team that stoically took buckets of water to the face, allowed pants to be pulled to their ankles, and always made sure to score at least one less point than the team everyone paid to see.
Well, except for the single game the Generals won in 1971, when team founder Louis ''Red'' Klotz threw up the winning shot at the buzzer after Globetrotters star Meadowlark Lemon, losing track of the score, turned over the ball to do one last comic skit.
''Red said, 'Guys, we just won the game. We better get to the locker room before the Trotters find out,''' recalled John Ferrari, Klotz's son-in-law who took over running the Generals in 1987. ''Then they announced that the Generals had won. The only thing they had in the locker room was orange soda. So they poured orange soda on their heads. They didn't have any champagne.''
Too bad, because the Generals were a team worth celebrating, even if their record over the last 63 years was one win and ''something more than 16,000'' losses, in Ferrari's estimation.
''I think the audience saw that these guys were trying every night,'' he said. ''They want to win. They're getting close. Isn't that how most of us live? That's why people gravitated to the Generals.''
This got us to thinking about other sporting traditions that have gone away over the years.
Some of the favorites:
WHEN STARS WERE STARS: Joe Frazier nearly drowning while trying to swim? Johnny Unitas laboring to pedal a bike? Those were some of the highlights when the world's greatest athletes competed on the made-for-TV ''Superstars,'' the 1970s competition that showed these guys weren't any better than the rest of us when they got out of their comfort zone. Honorable mention goes to ''Battle of the Network Stars,'' which gave us Arte Johnson in a dunking tank.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: It was much more than a prime-time football game when Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Dandy Don Meredith came into our homes; it was a cultural phenomenon. We cursed the acerbic Cosell (especially when he left our favorite team off his much-anticipated halftime highlights), cheered Meredith's folksy comebacks, and marveled at Gifford holding it all together. They still call it Monday Night Football, but now it's just a game or two they play on Mondays.
GAMES THAT MATTERED: The NCAA Tournament was once limited to one basketball team from each conference. That meant the Atlantic Coast Conference representative had to win the league's season-ending tournament to get in. Talk about pressure and drama. In 1970, South Carolina went 14-0 during the regular season but lost the final to North Carolina State. That ended the Gamecocks' season.
ABC'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS: There was nothing like watching barrel jumping, lumberjack contests, and cliff diving from the comfort of your den on a Saturday afternoon. Not to mention that poor guy crashing off the ski-jumping hill in perpetuity during the opening credits, experiencing what we all came to know as ''the agony of defeat.''
HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHTS: They still have these, apparently, but there hasn't been anyone worth watching since Mike Tyson. Ahh, to return to an era when ''Heavyweight Champion'' made you one of the most recognized people on the planet.
RIVALRIES BURIED: Conference realignment has cost us such great matchups as Oklahoma-Nebraska, Texas-Texas A&M, and Penn State-Pittsburgh. What a pity. We also wish the Iron Bowl was still played in Birmingham, before an evenly divided crowd, not on the campuses of Alabama and Auburn. Then again, at least they still play every year.
PENNANT RACES: They no longer exist in baseball, not when there are six divisions and four teams that get into the playoffs without winning their division. The last great pennant race came in 1993, when the San Francisco Giants went 103-59 and didn't even make the playoffs. They lost the NL West to the Atlanta Braves, who were 104-58.
U.S.-SOVIET RIVALRY: The Olympics haven't been quite the same since the Soviet Union went out of business. Every four years, we all got pumped for the good-vs.-evil matchup between our pure, amateur Americans and those hated athletes with the ''CCCP'' across their chests. (Or, as they viewed it from the other side of the Iron Curtain: the glorious proletariat against the money-grubbing capitalists.) Never again will see epics such as the disputed Soviet gold medal in basketball at the Munich Games, or the U.S. hockey team pulling off the ''Miracle on Ice'' in Lake Placid.
And now, we've lost the ultimate losers, the Washington Generals.
That's a loss for us all.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, August 17, 2015.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1894 - John Wadsworth of Louisville set a major league record when he gave up 28 base hits in a single game.
1973 - Lee Trevino got the first hole in one of his career at the U.S.I. Golf Classic, in Sutton, MA.
1986 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) was struck out for his last at bat by San Diego Padres relief pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage.
1973 - Lee Trevino got the first hole in one of his career at the U.S.I. Golf Classic, in Sutton, MA.
1986 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) was struck out for his last at bat by San Diego Padres relief pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage.
*****************************************************************
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