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Trending: The Cubs magic number is 1 to get into the playoffs. Today could be the day. Let's go Cubs!!!!!
Trending: Puck Daddy’s 2015-16 NHL Season Preview. What's Your Take? (See the hockey section and share your thoughts with us).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears-Seahawks Preview.
By JORDAN GARRETSON
The Seattle Seahawks find themselves in a position they haven't been in four years, but they're not overreacting after two disappointing losses.
The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, would seem to have plenty of reasons to panic.
Playing in Seattle for the first time, the Seahawks look to win for the 27th time in 29 home games Sunday against Chicago.
Virtually no one expected the Seahawks - a franchise tied for second in the league with 36 wins from 2012-14 - to be in this position. But after defeats at St. Louis and Green Bay, they're off to their worst start since 2011 and are sitting at the bottom of the NFC West, which they've won seven of the last 11 seasons.
"To play at the level that we have played at the last three years, we've done a lot of things really well and to play at that level you have to because you're challenged at every turn," coach Pete Carroll said. "There is a lot of fine-tuning to get that done. There are a lot of teams that almost get on top but it's very challenging. We're in the fine-tuning of it and not starting well doesn't mean we won't finish well."
Though Carroll was level-headed in his assessment, he couldn't help but be miffed by his team's inability to close games out. The Seahawks blew fourth-quarter leads in both losses, giving up 80-plus yard drives in each game that culminated in touchdowns.
"Not finishing. Not finishing when we had the chance to win," Carroll said. "Whatever the circumstances were that led up to the finish, let's finish the thing and get out of there."
The good news is that Seattle plays three of its next four at CenturyLink Field, where it has lost only twice in the regular season and has gone 4-0 in the playoffs since 2012. The Seahawks also recovered from a lackluster start last year, finishing 12-4 despite splitting their first six games.
But perhaps what's most encouraging is that one of the league's best safeties has returned. Kam Chancellor reported Wednesday, ending his nearly eight-week holdout. Coming off his second straight second-team All-Pro selection, Chancellor has deflected 29 passes with eight interceptions in 61 starts since 2011.
The Seattle secondary, which limited opponents to an NFC-low 6.3 yards per attempt and an 80.4 passer rating last year, has given up 9.1 and 116.4 this year.
Chancellor's return doesn't bode well for the Bears, who are expected to start Jimmy Clausen after Jay Cutler suffered a strained hamstring in last Sunday's 48-23 loss to Arizona, and could be sidelined for a few weeks.
Clausen was 14 of 23 for 121 yards with an interception in relief. He's 1-10 as a starter, and his 60.0 passer rating is the lowest among the 67 quarterbacks with at least 300 attempts since 2010, his rookie year.
"Most backups are not getting all those reps (in practice) regardless of the position," coach John Fox said. "I think at the quarterback position it's a little tougher because you have to be in tune to everybody else completely. But I think all in all he did OK."
With Clausen at the helm, Chicago figures to lean heavily on Matt Forte, whose 271 yards from scrimmage leads all running backs.
The good news is that Seattle plays three of its next four at CenturyLink Field, where it has lost only twice in the regular season and has gone 4-0 in the playoffs since 2012. The Seahawks also recovered from a lackluster start last year, finishing 12-4 despite splitting their first six games.
But perhaps what's most encouraging is that one of the league's best safeties has returned. Kam Chancellor reported Wednesday, ending his nearly eight-week holdout. Coming off his second straight second-team All-Pro selection, Chancellor has deflected 29 passes with eight interceptions in 61 starts since 2011.
The Seattle secondary, which limited opponents to an NFC-low 6.3 yards per attempt and an 80.4 passer rating last year, has given up 9.1 and 116.4 this year.
Chancellor's return doesn't bode well for the Bears, who are expected to start Jimmy Clausen after Jay Cutler suffered a strained hamstring in last Sunday's 48-23 loss to Arizona, and could be sidelined for a few weeks.
Clausen was 14 of 23 for 121 yards with an interception in relief. He's 1-10 as a starter, and his 60.0 passer rating is the lowest among the 67 quarterbacks with at least 300 attempts since 2010, his rookie year.
"Most backups are not getting all those reps (in practice) regardless of the position," coach John Fox said. "I think at the quarterback position it's a little tougher because you have to be in tune to everybody else completely. But I think all in all he did OK."
With Clausen at the helm, Chicago figures to lean heavily on Matt Forte, whose 271 yards from scrimmage leads all running backs.
The quarterback situation is just one in a litany of issues for Chicago (0-2). Top receiver Alshon Jeffery may be out again after a hamstring sidelined him against Arizona. The Bears have floundered defensively, failing to record a sack in consecutive games for the first time since Week 2 and 3 in 2010. And they've also been by hurt by a lack of discipline, getting whistled for 20 penalties for 234 yards, including a franchise record-matching 170 yards against the Cardinals.
Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham figures to be able to take advantage of this matchup. He had just one reception for 11 yards against Green Bay, a letdown after he caught six passes for 51 yards and a score in his Seahawks debut.
"I think he is (frustrated). I think he is a competitor. He wants the ball, he wants to help us win. I don't think there is any question. I feel that too," Carroll said. "He's worked hard, he's great about it. He wants to do everything he can to help us."
Chicago gave up 13 TDs to opposing tight ends in 2014, the second-most in the NFL.
Marshawn Lynch has also been bottled up with only 114 yards through two games, failing to find the end zone. However, he's ran for 28 TDs in his last 25 home games - including the playoffs.
Seattle owns a 10-4 edge in regular-season games in the series, winning four of the last five meetings.
Jimmy Clausen's No. 1 challenge against the Seahawks.
Chicago gave up 13 TDs to opposing tight ends in 2014, the second-most in the NFL.
Marshawn Lynch has also been bottled up with only 114 yards through two games, failing to find the end zone. However, he's ran for 28 TDs in his last 25 home games - including the playoffs.
Seattle owns a 10-4 edge in regular-season games in the series, winning four of the last five meetings.
Jimmy Clausen's No. 1 challenge against the Seahawks.
By John Mullin
Jimmy Clausen will be getting his instructions from offensive coordinator Adam Gase on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. But as important as getting the play from Gase, it may not be as immediately important as what he gets from Will Montgomery.
The football.
And it’s up to Clausen to pay attention to both, maybe the latter even more than the former.
Every quarterback has a slightly different snap cadence, whether timing, inflection, volume or whatever. Their steps away from center may be subtly different, Clausen’s vs. Jay Cutler’s or whoever’s. Hand placement to take a direct snap won’t be exactly the same from quarterback to quarterback.
But veteran center Montgomery, who will have enough on his hands dealing with the Seattle defense and likely the timing of a silent snap count that most teams use in raucous CenturyLink Field, needs Clausen to adjust to him, not vice versa.
“I just tell them that where I’m snapping, they gotta get their hands there,” Montgomery said, smiling. “It’s going here, so get your hands there.”
As far as making sure Clausen (or Cutler) has the ball before leaving, “I don’t really pay attention to much of that,” Montgomery said. “It’s up to them.”
Bears leave town a day early; read-option a risk for Clausen?
By John Mullin
The Bears will leave on Friday for Seattle and their get-together with the Seahawks, coach John Fox believing in an extra travel day in advance of a game more than a time zone away.
“Usually that first sleep when you travel across a couple of time zones is pretty rotten,” Fox said. “So we just felt like with another chance to sleep, another day in that time zone, it’s been a little easier to adjust. But like most everything in this job you learn from experience, and some of them are negative. So you adjust, and we found that to be a little better.”
Offensive coordinator Adam Gase gave the Arizona Cardinals something a little unexpected last Sunday when he had Jay Cutler run some classic zone-read plays, where the Bears quarterback put the ball in the belly of his running back and left it there or took it back and ran himself based on what the defensive end did.
“Just gotta read it right,” said presumptive starter Jimmy Clausen. “If the end’s crashing down, you gotta pull it; if the end’s not crashing down, you gotta get it.”
But Cutler has a hamstring strain/tear and circumstances suggest that pursuing a similar plan with Clausen would be tantamount to tiptoeing around abyss, placing Clausen squarely in harm’s way to a degree exponentially beyond the standard risk quotient that comes with being an NFL quarterback.
Cutler’s backup was Clausen. But the only option behind Clausen is novice David Fales, should Clausen get hurt. And Clausen’s recent history includes two concussions in the past nine months.
Bennett brothers on opposite sides when Seahawks face Bears.
By CURTIS CRABTREE
Seahawks DE Michael Bennett and Bears TE Martellus Bennett (Photo/Kevin Baumer, The Whistle)
Michael Bennett dislikes playing against his brother Martellus, so much so that he nearly signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency last year to avoid having to face him again.
The Bears travel to Seattle on Sunday to face Michael's Seahawks. It's just the third time the brothers have had to play against each other in the regular season since the two entered the league - Martellus in 2008 and Michael in 2009.
''I don't like playing against my brother. It's just hard to make your mindset go against somebody that's your family,'' Michael said.
Michael, a defensive end, and Martellus, a tight end, always played on the same team growing up. They played together in high school and again at Texas A&M. It wasn't until Martellus' Dallas Cowboys played Michael's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011 that the two had to line up against each other in a game.
''We've never been two of those brothers that are super competitive against each other,'' Martellus said. ''We've always been on the same team. So I kind of dread lining up against him, but it's just one of those things that we have to do.''
The two met again the following season when the Buccaneers took on the New York Giants and once more in a preseason game last year between their two current teams.
''It's kind of uncomfortable,'' Michael said. ''You're so aggressive up front. My niece is watching the game and how's she going to listen to her father if I drive him back for a sack? It's one of those things.''
The brothers have a unique sense of humor and aren't afraid to express their opinions. While most of the players in the league are constantly worried about saying the wrong thing and protecting their image, the Bennetts are perfectly content just being themselves.
''I just think we're two of the most normal people in the NFL, I think everybody else are the weird ones,'' Martellus said.
The two frequently Facetime each other before games and share tips on what they've seen from watching each other play each week.
''Just talk about the things that I saw that he should work on, and he tells me the same thing,'' Michael said. ''But not this week. He can't tell me any secrets.''
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Chicago Blackhawks: Puck Daddy’s 2015-16 NHL Season Preview. What's Your Take?
By Josh Cooper
Last Season: 48-28-6, 102 points, third in Central Division. Stanley Cup champions.
2014-15 Season, In One Tweet.
Did They Get Better, Worse, Or Are They About The Same?
Worse.
Even without the Patrick Kane rape investigation situation, the defending Stanley Cup champions would have been in worse shape this season.
Gone are Stanley Cup stalwarts Patrick Sharp (43 points), Brandon Saad (52 points and 23 goals), Kris Versteeg (34 points in 61 games) and Johnny Oduya thanks to the NHL’s minimally increasing salary cap.
All four won a total of nine Cups with the Blackhawks, and are now on other teams. Sharp, a former alternate captain, won three with Chicago and was one of the team’s core guys.
The Blackhawks did a decent job trying to find value for those veterans, getting center Artem Anisimov to play second-line center, replacing Brad Richards who left for Detroit via free agency. Marko Dano was a first-round draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013 and has point-per-game potential. He had 21 points in 35 games with the Jackets last season. Both Dano and Anisimov were acquired in a mega-deal for Saad.
Chicago went to the KHL to grab sniper Artemi Panarin, who had 62 points with St. Petersburg last season and 10 points in 10 games with Russia in the World Championships.
The Blackhawks also signed former NHL first-round pick Viktor Tikhonov ($1.04 million) from the KHL for cheap. Tikhonov is 27 years old and should provide a level of stability on the team’s lower lines.
Forward Teuvo Teravainen, who had 10 points in 18 playoff games, is just 21 years old, but has the talent to be an decent offensive contributor for the team, though his immediate ceiling is unclear. Andrew Shaw (he of the playoff header no-goal) also gives the Blackhawks the type of grinding third-line center you need.
Defensemen Duncan Keith (25:34 of ice-time per-game during the regular season) and Brent Seabrook (22:11 per-game) should take care of the blueline for Chicago, even if that group lacks some level of depth.
Also, Toews (plus-30 and 28 goals) and the ageless Marian Hossa (61 points and 22 goals at age 36) will pick up the slack again up front.
But there’s that big question mark of Kane, who has proclaimed his innocence, and his status moving forward.
Defensemen Duncan Keith (25:34 of ice-time per-game during the regular season) and Brent Seabrook (22:11 per-game) should take care of the blueline for Chicago, even if that group lacks some level of depth.
Also, Toews (plus-30 and 28 goals) and the ageless Marian Hossa (61 points and 22 goals at age 36) will pick up the slack again up front.
But there’s that big question mark of Kane, who has proclaimed his innocence, and his status moving forward.
Will the NHL suspend him? Will Chicago suspend him? Will he get charged with a crime?
It’s all going to play out during the year and, regardless of the legal implications, will be bad for the Blackhawks’ bottom line.
Five Most Fascinating Players.1. Patrick Kane, F
When Kane spoke with reporters at training camp – his first news conference since the rape investigation in Buffalo started – he looked like he aged about five years since we last saw him. He’s an electric talent and was leading Chicago with 64 points in 61 games before he got hurt last February with a broken clavicle. Kane returned for the playoffs and paced the Hawks with 23 points in 23 games. His off-ice status, and what it does to his on-ice numbers and his off-ice behavior, merits watching throughout the season.
2. Duncan Keith, D
Keith averaged 31:07 of ice-time in the playoffs on his way to winning the Conn Smythe trophy as postseason MVP. Even though Keith appeared to never slow down, in spite of playing mega minutes, he’s a human being and you have to wonder if his numbers will take a hit this season. His 45 points were 16 lower than the prior season. Keith is the type of guy who knows how to pace himself during 82 games and turn it on in the playoffs.
3. Jonathan Toews, F
Toews never puts up mega numbers but he’s considered one of – if not the – best centers in the NHL. He’s also one of the league’s top leaders. The latter will be put to the test in regards to how he handles the Kane situation in the locker room. He’s also going to need to figure out how to help all the new faces blend in with the Hawks.
4. Marko Dano, F
Dano is not expected to replace Saad this season. But he’s a high-end prospect with a lot of scoring potential. He’s currently playing wing with Toews and Hossa, which means he could put up big numbers in his first full NHL season.
5. Corey Crawford, G
Is he underappreciated? Is he overrated? Is he a function of Chicago’s defensive system? Depends on the day with Crawford who just backstopped the Blackhawks to his second Stanley Cup with the team. In the last three years, his highest goals against average was 2.27. His highest save percentage was .917. He’s put up some solid NHL numbers despite his doubters.
Potentially The Best Thing About This Team
Toews, Hossa and Keith, without question.
In a summer that saw a lot of upheaval and character questions about the team, Toews, Hossa and Keith are three of the most professionally sound players you’ll find in the NHL and probable Hall of Famers.
You know what you’re going to get with them every time you put them on the ice.
Potentially The Worst Thing About This Team
The third defense pair.
Coach Joel Quenneville played Keith massive numbers in the playoffs due to lack of defensive depth. He can’t get away with that for 82 games.
The Blackhawks can’t play Seabrook, Keith, Hjalmarsson and newly acquired Trevor Daley for the entire game.
The trio of David Rundblad, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Michal Rozsival, who will all patchwork the third pair, is this team’s weak link.
Coach Joel Quenneville played Keith massive numbers in the playoffs due to lack of defensive depth. He can’t get away with that for 82 games.
The Blackhawks can’t play Seabrook, Keith, Hjalmarsson and newly acquired Trevor Daley for the entire game.
The trio of David Rundblad, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Michal Rozsival, who will all patchwork the third pair, is this team’s weak link.
Dream 3-on-3 OT Group.
Toews, Kane and Keith. Three players with Hall of Fame talent.
Coach Hot Seat Rating (1-10, 10 being scorching hot).
Quenneville has won three Stanley Cups since 2010. Something cataclysmic would have to happen for him to get the axe.
Quenneville has won three Stanley Cups since 2010. Something cataclysmic would have to happen for him to get the axe.
Awkward Old School Video Break.
The day that forever changed the Blackhawks franchise. Note how Toews was even serious as an 18-year-old.
The day that forever changed the Blackhawks franchise. Note how Toews was even serious as an 18-year-old.
https://youtu.be/9sCu2b_ROSM
Their Best Case Scenario Is …
All the new faces blend in better-than-expected. Anisimov turns into a solid second-line center and Dano develops his scoring touch and replaces Saad’s numbers.
Panarin and Tikhonov turn into nice value options at forward.
On defense, Keith continues his minute-crunching ways and Daley becomes an upgrade over Oduya.
Kane sees his legal issues resolved in the first couple of months of the season, giving the Blackhawks some sort of early closure – good, bad or indifferent for Kane.
Their Nightmare Scenario Is …
Their Nightmare Scenario Is …
Kane’s legal problems last the whole season, providing off-ice questions for Chicago. Keith sees a noticeable drop-off because of all the minutes he played in the postseason.
Hossa shows his age and drops into 40-point territory. All the new pieces turn into terrible fits and don’t come close to replacing the numbers of all the departed stalwarts.
Prediction
Toews, Keith, Hossa and Seabrook all play their typically remarkable hockey to lead Chicago to the playoffs.
Kane, if he plays, sees a drop-off in his production, but not enough to derail this team. Dano notches in between 50 and 60 points and turns into a pleasant surprise.
Chicago is ousted in the first round.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We think the Blackhawks are going to be contenders again this year even with all of the new faces. However, we would love to hear the thoughts of the many diehard Blackhawks hockey fans. Where do you think they'll finish? Will they win the Stanley Cup again this year? Will the Kane situation affect the team's morale? What's your take? Take a moment and go to the comments section at the bottom of this blog and share your thoughts with us. We love hearing your thoughts and opinions.
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
By Tracey Myers
Andrew Shaw scored a power-play goal, but Tomas Tatar scored a hat trick as the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks, 4-1, on Wednesday night.
The Blackhawks went with a prospect-heavy roster in Detroit. The group tested Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek, firing 17 shots at him through the first half of the game. But the Red Wings, dressing most of their regulars, got three from Tatar, including an empty-netter late in the third period.
Brad Richards, who signed a one-year deal with the Wings after winning the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks last season, had the primary assist on Tatar’s first two goals and the secondary assist on the third.
“I thought we had a good 40 minutes,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We did a lot of good things, had good energy, good pace, lots of direct plays and traffic at the net. We didn’t have the finish they had but certainly couldn’t fault the effort.”
The Blackhawks continued to prep for this season on a day when the Patrick Kane investigation took a strange turn. Thomas Eoannou, who represents the woman accusing Kane of rape, said Wednesday that the evidence bag containing the accuser’s rape kit had allegedly been opened, tampered with and left at the home of the accuser’s mother.
Kane’s lawyer, Paul Cambria, who spoke later on Wednesday, said if evidence were compromised, his client would be the one hurt. The Hamburg Police Department issued a statement saying its handling of the evidence in the case “is unassailable” and it will cooperate if there’s an investigation regarding its handling of the evidence. Kane, who did not travel to Detroit for Wednesday’s game — most of the Blackhawks’ top players did not — has not been charged with any crime.
Asked if today’s events changed the NHL’s stance regarding Kane being at camp, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, via email, said, “Not at this time, no.” As for the impact Wednesday’s events might have had on the Blackhawks, Quenneville said, “It’s business as usual for us. We keep moving forward. That’s where we’re at.”
Briefly
— Marcus Kruger was expected to be in Chicago by Wednesday night. Quenneville said Kruger could skate on his own on Thursday before joining the team in practice on Friday.
— Michal Rozsival will probably participate in heavier skates on Friday or Saturday. “We’re going to put a little bit more intensity over the next couple of days,” Quenneville said. “Once he’s on the ice, we’ll get a better indication of how far along he is or how far away.”
— Gordie Howe visited Quenneville prior to Thursday's night’s game. “I’ve met him many nights, had many dinners with him,” Quenneville said. “It’s good to see him. He’s a great man and great for the sport.”
Lawyer of Patrick Kane's accuser withdraws from case.
CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
In another turn of events, the lawyer of Patrick Kane's accuser has withdrawn from the case over "misrepresentations" about the allegedly tampered with evidence bag.
Attorney Thomas Eoannou scheduled an immediate press conference Thursday night to announce his decision."I do not believe the version of events I was given when I received it," Eoannou said. "Because I have no confidence in the story given to me, I'm withdrawing from the case."
Eoannou revealed in a news conference Wednesday that the evidence bag had allegedly been tampered with and anonymously delivered to Kane's accuser's mothers house.
Eoannou said Thursday that "there may have been some fabrications" regarding the story of the bag, and "I don't know what's true or not true."
He admits the bag delivered to the mother's home is "a real evidence bag," but concludes, "I received the storyline from the mother, and I'm not comfortable with that version of events."
Kane is accused of sexually assaulting the woman, but has not been charged.
Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita is scheduled to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. CT on Friday regarding the tampered evidence. You can watch on CSN and CSNChicago.com.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... NBA preseason primer: Rookie of the Year candidates.
By Vincent Goodwill and Mark Strotman
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Mark Strotman: Last year's rookie class was an absolute mess. Tabbed by many as the best incoming crop of players since 1996 - hell, they got the '96 SLAM cover treatment - they were decimated by injury. Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid and Julius Randle all suffered season-ending injuries (the latter two didn't play a single game) while Andrew Wiggins, Nerlens Noel (2013 Draft) and Nikola Mirotic salvaged an otherwise poor showing from the rooks - I'd also toss Elfrid Payton in there.
2015 appears to be a rookie class where opportunity will be ample. And no one will be thrown into the fire as quickly or given a larger role than Chicago native Jahlil Okafor. With Embiid on the pine for a second straight year, Okafor will be tasked with improving a Sixers offense that had an abysmal 93.0 offensive rating last year, far and away worst in the league. We've debated on Okafor's ceiling in the league, but there's no argument against him being ready to contribute from Day 1 offensively. His low-post game is as NBA-ready as we've seen in years, and I could see him having similar numbers as DeMarcus Cousins' rookie year (14.1 points on 43 percent shooting) with an uptick in his shooting percentage. Some of his glaring defensive deficiencies will be covered by Noel's prowess, which will only help Okafor's case. The fact that he'll be rolled out there at center every night as the main option for Brett Brown makes him the easy favorite to bring home Rookie of the Year honors.
Vincent Goodwill: Not to think this would have a Chicago bent to it, but Okafor is tagged with the stink of playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, the worst professional franchise in sports (no exaggeration). So either he’ll get hurt or play well enough to get traded for future draft picks.
As for another candidate, consider this: Since Derrick Rose’s rookie year (2008-09), five of the seven Rookie of the Year award winners have been point guards or in Tyreke Evans’ case in 2010, a lead guard.
Andrew Wiggins and Blake Griffin are the anomaly’s, and rightfully so. But Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, the player chosen ahead of Okafor, appears to have “star” written all over him.
He’ll have to share a backcourt with the retiring (?) Kobe Bryant while Jordan Clarkston won’t just cede into the background. Sharing the ball with the ball-dominant Bryant isn’t the easiest task in the world, ask Steve Nash.
But if Bryant accepts a lesser role and allows Russell to flourish, he could be special. He has exceptional court vision and his jump shot is set up by a handle that will embarrass more than a few defenders.
And, let’s be honest. The Lakers will stink. Julius Randle and a few other pieces are just learning at this level. So he’ll have plenty of freedom to play through mistakes and since there aren’t championship expectations, he can play loose.
He’s been compared to Jason Kidd coming out of college and although the production can’t be predicted yet, his handle and jumper are worlds ahead of Kidd’s at this formative stage.
MS: And it makes sense that point guards have hogged Rookie of the Year honors lately; teams in need of a floor general put him to use right away. There's two wings and two frontcourt positions, but just one point guard. If your team is lacking at the spot, prepare to go against live fire from Day 1.
It's the same reason I really believe Emmanuel Mudiay is in a great position. We discussed it a little with our potential breakout players, but a lot of the time Rookie of the Year comes down to guys who simply got the minutes to log volume numbers. Well, with Ty Lawson off to Houston the depth chart in Denver is Mudiay, Jameer Nelson and Erick Green. Seriously.
We don't know as much about Mudiay and how his game will translate after a year in China, but we do know he's lightning quick in transition - good for the Western Conference - is an excellent passer - good for Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari - and a stout defender at 6-foot-5, which will come in handy against the lethal West point guard class.
There are concerns about his jump shot and whether he'll hit the ground running at 19 years old, but with a rock-solid head coach in Michael Malone, a decent supporting cast and a distinct role as the future of the Nuggets, I wouldn't be surprised if Mudiay puts together a Rookie of the Year campaign averaging 30+ minutes a night.
VG: Mudiay comes with the Larry Brown stamp of approval, considering he was slated to play for the Hall of Fame coach before going to play in China for a year. If you don’t go to college, it’s like you don’t exist for a segment of fans, i.e. Brandon Jennings. But Mudiay would’ve turned the college world on its ear last season and he happens to be drafted by the Nuggets, another team with low expectations, setting up an easy situation to excel.
But when I think about a player who did attend college and turned it on its ear, I’m thinking of the guy who inexplicably slipped in the draft, Miami Heat rookie Justise Winslow. Winslow was lost in the Duke shuffle last season, the ensemble cast that won the national championship. His stats didn’t overwhelm many but his play certainly did, which is why it was so shocking to see him drop to 10th in the draft.
He won’t be starting, considering Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng are the starting swingmen for the Heat. But when you talk skill level and pro readiness, he’s at the top of the list. Winslow plays with a control and a maturity to his game that’s beyond his years. He won’t overwhelm you athletically, which could be a big impediment in the college-to-pro transition. But his ball handling skills and ability to get to the lane with his perimeter footwork will translate well. And if Miami has any injury issues, he’ll step right in, and will have major minutes anyways.
He won’t have the best stats but if the Heat rise back near the top of the East after missing the playoffs last year and Winslow is a big part of it, he’ll receive a groundswell of support for the award—and could wind up as the best non-big in the draft regardless.
Bulls reveal new court design, including larger logo and Chicago flag's four stars.
By Mark Strotman
2015 appears to be a rookie class where opportunity will be ample. And no one will be thrown into the fire as quickly or given a larger role than Chicago native Jahlil Okafor. With Embiid on the pine for a second straight year, Okafor will be tasked with improving a Sixers offense that had an abysmal 93.0 offensive rating last year, far and away worst in the league. We've debated on Okafor's ceiling in the league, but there's no argument against him being ready to contribute from Day 1 offensively. His low-post game is as NBA-ready as we've seen in years, and I could see him having similar numbers as DeMarcus Cousins' rookie year (14.1 points on 43 percent shooting) with an uptick in his shooting percentage. Some of his glaring defensive deficiencies will be covered by Noel's prowess, which will only help Okafor's case. The fact that he'll be rolled out there at center every night as the main option for Brett Brown makes him the easy favorite to bring home Rookie of the Year honors.
Vincent Goodwill: Not to think this would have a Chicago bent to it, but Okafor is tagged with the stink of playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, the worst professional franchise in sports (no exaggeration). So either he’ll get hurt or play well enough to get traded for future draft picks.
As for another candidate, consider this: Since Derrick Rose’s rookie year (2008-09), five of the seven Rookie of the Year award winners have been point guards or in Tyreke Evans’ case in 2010, a lead guard.
Andrew Wiggins and Blake Griffin are the anomaly’s, and rightfully so. But Lakers rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, the player chosen ahead of Okafor, appears to have “star” written all over him.
He’ll have to share a backcourt with the retiring (?) Kobe Bryant while Jordan Clarkston won’t just cede into the background. Sharing the ball with the ball-dominant Bryant isn’t the easiest task in the world, ask Steve Nash.
But if Bryant accepts a lesser role and allows Russell to flourish, he could be special. He has exceptional court vision and his jump shot is set up by a handle that will embarrass more than a few defenders.
And, let’s be honest. The Lakers will stink. Julius Randle and a few other pieces are just learning at this level. So he’ll have plenty of freedom to play through mistakes and since there aren’t championship expectations, he can play loose.
He’s been compared to Jason Kidd coming out of college and although the production can’t be predicted yet, his handle and jumper are worlds ahead of Kidd’s at this formative stage.
MS: And it makes sense that point guards have hogged Rookie of the Year honors lately; teams in need of a floor general put him to use right away. There's two wings and two frontcourt positions, but just one point guard. If your team is lacking at the spot, prepare to go against live fire from Day 1.
It's the same reason I really believe Emmanuel Mudiay is in a great position. We discussed it a little with our potential breakout players, but a lot of the time Rookie of the Year comes down to guys who simply got the minutes to log volume numbers. Well, with Ty Lawson off to Houston the depth chart in Denver is Mudiay, Jameer Nelson and Erick Green. Seriously.
We don't know as much about Mudiay and how his game will translate after a year in China, but we do know he's lightning quick in transition - good for the Western Conference - is an excellent passer - good for Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari - and a stout defender at 6-foot-5, which will come in handy against the lethal West point guard class.
There are concerns about his jump shot and whether he'll hit the ground running at 19 years old, but with a rock-solid head coach in Michael Malone, a decent supporting cast and a distinct role as the future of the Nuggets, I wouldn't be surprised if Mudiay puts together a Rookie of the Year campaign averaging 30+ minutes a night.
VG: Mudiay comes with the Larry Brown stamp of approval, considering he was slated to play for the Hall of Fame coach before going to play in China for a year. If you don’t go to college, it’s like you don’t exist for a segment of fans, i.e. Brandon Jennings. But Mudiay would’ve turned the college world on its ear last season and he happens to be drafted by the Nuggets, another team with low expectations, setting up an easy situation to excel.
But when I think about a player who did attend college and turned it on its ear, I’m thinking of the guy who inexplicably slipped in the draft, Miami Heat rookie Justise Winslow. Winslow was lost in the Duke shuffle last season, the ensemble cast that won the national championship. His stats didn’t overwhelm many but his play certainly did, which is why it was so shocking to see him drop to 10th in the draft.
He won’t be starting, considering Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng are the starting swingmen for the Heat. But when you talk skill level and pro readiness, he’s at the top of the list. Winslow plays with a control and a maturity to his game that’s beyond his years. He won’t overwhelm you athletically, which could be a big impediment in the college-to-pro transition. But his ball handling skills and ability to get to the lane with his perimeter footwork will translate well. And if Miami has any injury issues, he’ll step right in, and will have major minutes anyways.
He won’t have the best stats but if the Heat rise back near the top of the East after missing the playoffs last year and Winslow is a big part of it, he’ll receive a groundswell of support for the award—and could wind up as the best non-big in the draft regardless.
Bulls reveal new court design, including larger logo and Chicago flag's four stars.
By Mark Strotman
The Bulls announced subtle changes to the United Center floor for the upcoming season, including a larger midcourt logo and an ode to the Chicago flag.
The iconic midcourt logo has increased in size by 75 percent, according to a press release from the team, and the basketball behind the logo has been removed.
The "Chicago Bulls" font on either baseline has been changed to match the font of the official Bulls logo, along with the font used in "Bulls.com" and "@ChicagoBulls" along the north apron of the court.
The south apron of the court will feature the four stars from the City of Chicago flag, which "highlight the team's civic pride and incorporate the 'Chicago Basketball' branding campaign."
The lines on the court have been changed to all black. Previously the midcourt line and 3-point lines were red, and the lines inside the paint were white.
The new court will debut on October 6 when the Bulls open their preseason slate against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Check out the new court design in the image below.
The chain reactions that turned Cubs into playoff contender.
The iconic midcourt logo has increased in size by 75 percent, according to a press release from the team, and the basketball behind the logo has been removed.
The "Chicago Bulls" font on either baseline has been changed to match the font of the official Bulls logo, along with the font used in "Bulls.com" and "@ChicagoBulls" along the north apron of the court.
The south apron of the court will feature the four stars from the City of Chicago flag, which "highlight the team's civic pride and incorporate the 'Chicago Basketball' branding campaign."
The lines on the court have been changed to all black. Previously the midcourt line and 3-point lines were red, and the lines inside the paint were white.
The new court will debut on October 6 when the Bulls open their preseason slate against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Check out the new court design in the image below.
The chain reactions that turned Cubs into playoff contender.
Everybody has a plan, Mike Tyson once said, until they get punched in the mouth.
To become a heavyweight contender, the Cubs had to constantly bob and weave, hit below the belt a few times and get up off the mat over and over again.
So don’t pretend the Cubs knew it would happen like this or try to airbrush history and push the year-ahead-of-schedule narrative. The Plan wasn’t even necessarily supposed to be The Plan.
When Theo Epstein left the Boston Red Sox and took over as president of baseball operations, the idea of the Cubs fighting for the second wild card and finishing in third place in the National League Central by Year 4 would have sounded completely reasonable, maybe even a little disappointing.
That’s it? Then again, raise your hand if you saw this lightning-bolt season coming in 2015, the Cubs waking up on Sept. 24 with the third-best record in the majors and on pace for 95 wins heading into this weekend’s showdown against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs needed guts to take a stocky catcher/outfielder from Indiana University, make a below-slot deal with last year’s No. 4 overall pick and fast-track Kyle Schwarber into the middle of their lineup.
The Cubs needed patience to grab a Tommy John case from the Cleveland Indians in the Rule 5 draft, carry Hector Rondon on the 2013 roster and allow him to develop into a 100-mph closer.
The Cubs also had to get lucky, be aggressive and learn how to counterpunch in baseball’s toughest division. With the magic number down to two, a look back at the chain reactions that might have created a playoff monster.
“Those twits never lie”
Dale Sveum didn’t have any use for social media, and he will never be known as the most elegant public speaker. But the baseball lifer has so many contacts throughout the industry and a gym-rat mentality that still influences this team.
After 197 losses in two seasons, Epstein fired the manager over beers inside a neighborhood bar along the Southport Corridor. But two of Sveum’s closest allies — Chris Bosio and Mike Borzello — stayed on the coaching staff after the 2013 season and then survived Rick Renteria’s one-and-done year.
Bosio and Borzello work closely with the pitching staff and catchers, breaking down video, interpreting the data and developing a strong game-planning system that tries to maximize individual strengths and minimize damage.
Together, they helped coach up and market pitchers like Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Scott Feldman, Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for the midseason trades that infused the organization with so much young talent.
The Cousin Eddie
Since the Tampa Bay Rays would never set the market and pay top dollar, Alan Nero tried to get a little something extra for his client, negotiating an opt-out clause into Joe Maddon’s contract if general manager Andrew Friedman left the organization.
That triggered once Friedman left to run baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers last October. If the St. Louis Cardinals hadn’t just beaten Cy Young/MVP winner Clayton Kershaw twice in a best-of-five series, would the Dodgers have demoted Ned Colletti?
Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer quickly met Maddon at an RV park on Florida’s Gulf Coast and ultimately fired Renteria, a good guy who had already been told he would be coming back in 2015 (despite looking overmatched).
Nero, the managing director of Octagon Baseball, has an office on Michigan Avenue, fueling the suspicions in Tampa that this had been another insider deal in Chicago. The Cubs felt the Rays reacted like spoiled brats, pushing Major League Baseball to launch a tampering investigation.
Maddon has the perfect personality to lead this team, hip enough to connect with rookies, the big name that commands respect from veterans, a curiosity level that works well with The Geek Department and the right amount of weird to keep the Chicago media distracted.
All that makes Maddon’s five-year, $25 million contract (plus playoff incentives) look like a bargain.
“Quarterback controversy”
In explaining why he sold low on Anthony Rizzo, Josh Byrnes told reporters he didn’t want a “quarterback controversy.” Byrnes — the San Diego Padres general manager at the time — had acquired first baseman Yonder Alonso in the Mat Latos deal with the Cincinnati Reds just before Christmas 2011.
The Cubs got their franchise first baseman three weeks later, giving up Andrew Cashner, a talented pitcher they believed would struggle to stay healthy and max out as a reliever.
Cashner has made 80 starts for the Padres, accounting for 520-plus innings. Byrnes — another one of Epstein and Hoyer’s buddies from Boston — now works in Friedman’s front office. Alonso has 32 career home runs in the big leagues.
Rizzo is a two-time All-Star who should show up again in the MVP voting this year (30 homers, 95 RBIs). He turned 26 last month and could remain under club control through the 2021 season.
The Oriole Way
The Baltimore Orioles pushed a cookie-cutter philosophy onto their pitchers and felt the tension between Dan Duquette’s front office and Buck Showalter’s dugout.
It didn’t stop the Orioles from winning 93 games in 2012 and the American League East last season. Maybe it never would have happened for Jake Arrieta in Baltimore (20-25, 5.46 ERA).
But that change-of-scenery trade in the middle of the 2013 season gave the Cubs a legitimate ace, a 20-game winner, someone with the potential to collect Cy Young hardware.
It only cost Feldman’s final 15 starts before free agency and reserve catcher Steve Clevenger to get Arrieta plus hard-throwing reliever Pedro Strop and two international signing bonus slots.
Ground Control
Another what-if scenario comes from perhaps the most polarizing organization in the game. Imagine how far the Houston Astros would be puffing their chests out now if they had taken Kris Bryant with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft and dropped another Rookie of the Year frontrunner into their powerful lineup.
The Cubs weren’t sold on Mark Appel, concerned he had been sheltered too much at Stanford University and left wondering just how high his ceiling would be. Plus, the Epstein administration doesn’t like the risk involved with pitchers near the top of the draft, believing position players are a much safer bet.
Bryant — a 6-foot-5 slugger out of the University of San Diego with superstar potential — looked almost like a sure thing to the Cubs. The Astros passed on Bryant (26 homers, 98 RBIs in The Show) and took Appel (5.12 ERA through 253 career minor-league innings).
The Tanaka sweepstakes
The Cubs also lucked out when the New York Yankees blew them away in the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes, committing $175 million to the Japanese pitcher, who has pitched at an All-Star level but hasn’t answered all the questions about his durability.
Epstein didn’t spend all of his department’s 2014 dollars, working with chairman Tom Ricketts to essentially create a savings account for the baseball side, a marked change from how it had been set up during the Jim Hendry administration.
This unconventional move was supposed to sync up the timeline with Crane Kenney’s business-operations department, working around the franchise’s financial restrictions until the Cubs had big-market spending power again.
The Cubs rolled the Tanaka money into this year’s budget, artificially inflating the payroll and helping finance Jon Lester’s six-year, $155 million megadeal.
The gorilla suit
The Cubs have a Boston complex, trying to use Fenway Park as a blueprint for the Wrigley Field renovations, and they probably wouldn’t be here without outgoing Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino.
Lucchino helped drive Epstein out of Fenway Park, first in a gorilla suit on Halloween 2005, and for good after the epic collapse at the end of the 2011 season.
Lucchino — who first helped Epstein break into the business and finally lost the power struggle in Boston this year — also tried to play hardball with Lester, making a below-market offer to a two-time World Series champion.
Lester ultimately felt disrespected and that standoff led the Red Sox down the path of dealing a homegrown player to the Oakland A’s at last year’s trade deadline.
During his recruiting trip to Chicago last November, Lester kept telling Epstein: “They’re going to burn this city down again when we win the World Series.”
Joe Maddon promises Cubs will party hard once playoff spot is clinched.
By Patrick Mooney
Joe Maddon established the freewheeling atmosphere around this team during his first press conference at The Cubby Bear, a Wrigleyville bar opposite the iconic marquee. The shot-and-a-beer manager offered to buy the first round last November.
Almost 11 months later, the Cubs are on the verge of clinching the playoff spot Maddon talked about during his media blitz. A team that already leads the league in zoo animals had its magic number move to two even with Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.
But it’s only a matter of time — a combination of Cubs’ wins and San Francisco Giants’ losses — even if Maddon said during his pregame media session that he didn’t know the magic number at that point.
Publicly, Maddon doesn’t want to give up the long-shot hopes of catching the St. Louis Cardinals, though the Cubs are seven games back in the National League Central with an elimination number of four.
And the Cubs still want to chase down the Pittsburgh Pirates for home-field advantage in the wild-card game. It will be another huge series this weekend at Wrigley Field, with the Pirates lining up Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett.
But that doesn’t mean the Cubs will act like they’ve been there before or downplay the celebration once they clinch the second wild-card spot.
“As big as it could possibly be,” Maddon said. “You celebrate achievement all the time. So I love the fact that we celebrate every night. It has this bonding effect among the group. And then when you go beyond that, celebrate just a little bit harder.”
The Cubs already blow it out after every win, chanting and dancing to loud music. There’s a fog machine and DJ lighting in the home clubhouse at Wrigley Field.
“It could go longer,” Maddon said. “We have like constraints in a sense. We got to get home. We got a game the next day.”
“I don’t know how much bigger it can get,” pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “But I guess there’s always room for improvement in anything.”
With 89 wins and the third-best record in the majors, the Cubs aren’t going to change now.
“Listen, the word ‘party’ has taken on a negative connotation in our country these days,” Maddon said. “It’s really bumming me out. There’s nothing wrong with having a good party.
“So if you have an opportunity to have a good party, go out and have one. All right? It’s OK to have a good time.”
Dale Sveum didn’t have any use for social media, and he will never be known as the most elegant public speaker. But the baseball lifer has so many contacts throughout the industry and a gym-rat mentality that still influences this team.
After 197 losses in two seasons, Epstein fired the manager over beers inside a neighborhood bar along the Southport Corridor. But two of Sveum’s closest allies — Chris Bosio and Mike Borzello — stayed on the coaching staff after the 2013 season and then survived Rick Renteria’s one-and-done year.
Bosio and Borzello work closely with the pitching staff and catchers, breaking down video, interpreting the data and developing a strong game-planning system that tries to maximize individual strengths and minimize damage.
Together, they helped coach up and market pitchers like Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Scott Feldman, Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for the midseason trades that infused the organization with so much young talent.
The Cousin Eddie
Since the Tampa Bay Rays would never set the market and pay top dollar, Alan Nero tried to get a little something extra for his client, negotiating an opt-out clause into Joe Maddon’s contract if general manager Andrew Friedman left the organization.
That triggered once Friedman left to run baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers last October. If the St. Louis Cardinals hadn’t just beaten Cy Young/MVP winner Clayton Kershaw twice in a best-of-five series, would the Dodgers have demoted Ned Colletti?
Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer quickly met Maddon at an RV park on Florida’s Gulf Coast and ultimately fired Renteria, a good guy who had already been told he would be coming back in 2015 (despite looking overmatched).
Nero, the managing director of Octagon Baseball, has an office on Michigan Avenue, fueling the suspicions in Tampa that this had been another insider deal in Chicago. The Cubs felt the Rays reacted like spoiled brats, pushing Major League Baseball to launch a tampering investigation.
Maddon has the perfect personality to lead this team, hip enough to connect with rookies, the big name that commands respect from veterans, a curiosity level that works well with The Geek Department and the right amount of weird to keep the Chicago media distracted.
All that makes Maddon’s five-year, $25 million contract (plus playoff incentives) look like a bargain.
“Quarterback controversy”
In explaining why he sold low on Anthony Rizzo, Josh Byrnes told reporters he didn’t want a “quarterback controversy.” Byrnes — the San Diego Padres general manager at the time — had acquired first baseman Yonder Alonso in the Mat Latos deal with the Cincinnati Reds just before Christmas 2011.
The Cubs got their franchise first baseman three weeks later, giving up Andrew Cashner, a talented pitcher they believed would struggle to stay healthy and max out as a reliever.
Cashner has made 80 starts for the Padres, accounting for 520-plus innings. Byrnes — another one of Epstein and Hoyer’s buddies from Boston — now works in Friedman’s front office. Alonso has 32 career home runs in the big leagues.
Rizzo is a two-time All-Star who should show up again in the MVP voting this year (30 homers, 95 RBIs). He turned 26 last month and could remain under club control through the 2021 season.
The Oriole Way
The Baltimore Orioles pushed a cookie-cutter philosophy onto their pitchers and felt the tension between Dan Duquette’s front office and Buck Showalter’s dugout.
It didn’t stop the Orioles from winning 93 games in 2012 and the American League East last season. Maybe it never would have happened for Jake Arrieta in Baltimore (20-25, 5.46 ERA).
But that change-of-scenery trade in the middle of the 2013 season gave the Cubs a legitimate ace, a 20-game winner, someone with the potential to collect Cy Young hardware.
It only cost Feldman’s final 15 starts before free agency and reserve catcher Steve Clevenger to get Arrieta plus hard-throwing reliever Pedro Strop and two international signing bonus slots.
Ground Control
Another what-if scenario comes from perhaps the most polarizing organization in the game. Imagine how far the Houston Astros would be puffing their chests out now if they had taken Kris Bryant with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft and dropped another Rookie of the Year frontrunner into their powerful lineup.
The Cubs weren’t sold on Mark Appel, concerned he had been sheltered too much at Stanford University and left wondering just how high his ceiling would be. Plus, the Epstein administration doesn’t like the risk involved with pitchers near the top of the draft, believing position players are a much safer bet.
Bryant — a 6-foot-5 slugger out of the University of San Diego with superstar potential — looked almost like a sure thing to the Cubs. The Astros passed on Bryant (26 homers, 98 RBIs in The Show) and took Appel (5.12 ERA through 253 career minor-league innings).
The Tanaka sweepstakes
The Cubs also lucked out when the New York Yankees blew them away in the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes, committing $175 million to the Japanese pitcher, who has pitched at an All-Star level but hasn’t answered all the questions about his durability.
Epstein didn’t spend all of his department’s 2014 dollars, working with chairman Tom Ricketts to essentially create a savings account for the baseball side, a marked change from how it had been set up during the Jim Hendry administration.
This unconventional move was supposed to sync up the timeline with Crane Kenney’s business-operations department, working around the franchise’s financial restrictions until the Cubs had big-market spending power again.
The Cubs rolled the Tanaka money into this year’s budget, artificially inflating the payroll and helping finance Jon Lester’s six-year, $155 million megadeal.
The gorilla suit
The Cubs have a Boston complex, trying to use Fenway Park as a blueprint for the Wrigley Field renovations, and they probably wouldn’t be here without outgoing Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino.
Lucchino helped drive Epstein out of Fenway Park, first in a gorilla suit on Halloween 2005, and for good after the epic collapse at the end of the 2011 season.
Lucchino — who first helped Epstein break into the business and finally lost the power struggle in Boston this year — also tried to play hardball with Lester, making a below-market offer to a two-time World Series champion.
Lester ultimately felt disrespected and that standoff led the Red Sox down the path of dealing a homegrown player to the Oakland A’s at last year’s trade deadline.
During his recruiting trip to Chicago last November, Lester kept telling Epstein: “They’re going to burn this city down again when we win the World Series.”
Joe Maddon promises Cubs will party hard once playoff spot is clinched.
By Patrick Mooney
Joe Maddon established the freewheeling atmosphere around this team during his first press conference at The Cubby Bear, a Wrigleyville bar opposite the iconic marquee. The shot-and-a-beer manager offered to buy the first round last November.
Almost 11 months later, the Cubs are on the verge of clinching the playoff spot Maddon talked about during his media blitz. A team that already leads the league in zoo animals had its magic number move to two even with Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.
But it’s only a matter of time — a combination of Cubs’ wins and San Francisco Giants’ losses — even if Maddon said during his pregame media session that he didn’t know the magic number at that point.
Publicly, Maddon doesn’t want to give up the long-shot hopes of catching the St. Louis Cardinals, though the Cubs are seven games back in the National League Central with an elimination number of four.
And the Cubs still want to chase down the Pittsburgh Pirates for home-field advantage in the wild-card game. It will be another huge series this weekend at Wrigley Field, with the Pirates lining up Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett.
But that doesn’t mean the Cubs will act like they’ve been there before or downplay the celebration once they clinch the second wild-card spot.
“As big as it could possibly be,” Maddon said. “You celebrate achievement all the time. So I love the fact that we celebrate every night. It has this bonding effect among the group. And then when you go beyond that, celebrate just a little bit harder.”
The Cubs already blow it out after every win, chanting and dancing to loud music. There’s a fog machine and DJ lighting in the home clubhouse at Wrigley Field.
“It could go longer,” Maddon said. “We have like constraints in a sense. We got to get home. We got a game the next day.”
“I don’t know how much bigger it can get,” pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “But I guess there’s always room for improvement in anything.”
With 89 wins and the third-best record in the majors, the Cubs aren’t going to change now.
“Listen, the word ‘party’ has taken on a negative connotation in our country these days,” Maddon said. “It’s really bumming me out. There’s nothing wrong with having a good party.
“So if you have an opportunity to have a good party, go out and have one. All right? It’s OK to have a good time.”
WHITE SOX: Beltran's homer costly as Chris Sale nears strikeout record.
By Dan Hayes
Chris Sale is close to setting a White Sox franchise record for strikeouts in a season. But he’s also on the verge of establishing a personal high for home runs allowed.
Sale struck out eight New York Yankees on Thursday night in a quest to surpass a mark set by Ed Walsh 107 seasons ago. He also left one pitch in the zone and Carlos Beltran made it count with a three-run homer as the White Sox dropped their ninth straight at Yankee Stadium, 3-2. One batter after Beltran homered, Sale earned the 1,000th strikeout of his career.
“Clearly you want to keep the ball in the yard,” Sale said. “I haven’t really done a great job of that this year at all. It happens.
“Clearly that’s not what I wanted to do. But it happens and you move on and you try to keep them right where they are at.”
Sale did shut down the Yankees after Beltran homered to give New York a 3-0 lead in the third inning as he retired 14 of 17. He also moved within two strikeouts of tying Walsh’s record (269), one Walsh established in 1908 in 464 innings pitched.
But a combination of an offense that -- surprise, surprise -- struggled again and a good guess by Beltran led to the sixth straight White Sox loss in a Sale start.
Sale -- who has 267 strikeouts in 2015 and has matched runs produced by Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez -- began the third inning by hitting Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury stole second base, but was ruled out on runner’s interference on a Chase Headley infield pop up. Sale walked Alex Rodriguez to put two on for Beltran. He got ahead 1-2 in the count with three straight fastballs before he left a 2-2 heater on the inside corner and Beltran ripped it over the left-field fence to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
“That was a good pitch today, smart hitter,” catcher Tyler Flowers said. “If we threw anything else I can’t imagine (Beltran) was gonna have a good swing. It seemed like he really went for it and he was right. Good hitters do that from time and time and he evidently had a good idea we were going to try and do that and put a great swing on it. It was a borderline strike, a little in. Unfortunate time to have that happen. “Other than that, (Sale) threw the ball again great as usual.”
Sale allowed three earned runs and seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings and gave the White Sox a chance to rally against Michael Pineda and Co.
Trayce Thompson got the White Sox on the board in the sixth inning with a solo homer off Pineda. An inning later, Thompson drew a bases loaded walk against Dellin Betances to get the White Sox within a run. But Betances struck out Adam LaRoche to leave the bases loaded. Thompson also struck out with the bases loaded in the third inning and the White Sox left two on in the fifth.
The White Sox left 10 on base and finished 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
“That’s all it takes,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s a professional at-bat by Beltran. He’s been a good hitter, clutch hitter. They have a lineup that’s full of those kind of guys. They’re a tough lineup to get through, and it just takes one, and one will get you when there are a couple of guys on. Three-run homers are killers, and this one was.”
The homer was the seventh allowed by Sale in his last four starts and he’s only one shy of the 23 allowed in 2013. While he leads the league with 11.92 strikeouts per nine and began the day with a 2.70 Fielding Independent Pitching, which ranks fourth in the majors, Sale has also seen an increase in homers allowed.
Whereas Sale yielded 0.67 homers per nine innings in 2014, he’s up to a career high 0.98 this season, the 34th most among qualified pitchers, according to fangraphs.com.
Flowers said he doesn’t know why Sale’s homer total has increased before adding, “there was a little something going on before but we’re past that now.” Flowers wouldn’t confirm if he meant Sale previously tipped his pitches.
Sale was also at a loss for why he’s allowed 10 more homers this season compared to 2014.
“It’s a question you’ll have to ask those guys really,” Sale said. “I don’t know. I assume most are on fastballs where I’m trying to go in and don’t really get it. That’s something I really couldn’t give you an exact answer on. It’s something I definitely need to clean up.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Stenson sets pace at Tour Championship.
Henrik Stenson upstaged his rivals on the opening day of the $8.25 million Tour Championship on Thursday, firing a seven-under-par 63 to snatch a two-shot lead over England's Paul Casey.
The pre-tournament hype had focused on the prospect of a battle between golf's "New Big Three" of world number one Jason Day, reigning Masters & US Open champion Jordan Spieth and four-time Major-winner Rory McIlroy.
But instead it was Swedish veteran Stenson who seized his chance to shine at the USPGA Tour's season finale, opening with consecutive birdies at the first three holes before a further birdie and an eagle left him six under at the turn.
Another birdie on the 10th raised the tantalizing prospect of Stenson breaking 60, and that rare feat looked within his grasp after he drained a six-foot birdie putt at the 12th to go eight under with six to play.
However Stenson was unable to pick up any more shots and bogeyed the 17th to fall back to seven under on the par-70 East Lake course -- two clear of Casey who shot 65.
McIlroy meanwhile was three off the lead after a four-under-par 66 comprising six birdies and two bogeys. Zach Johnson was level with McIlroy on four under.
Day hopes he is a blend of the best attributes of Spieth, McIlroy.
By Ryan Ballengee
Call the new world No. 1 Frankenday.
Since coming up a putt short of the British Open playoff in July, Jason Day has won four of his last six starts, including his first major at the PGA Championship and two of the first three FedEx Cup playoff events. He has surged past Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, and he's done it with aggressive putting and fearless length -- strengths of the two players he leaped over to get to the top of the world.
So, when he was asked Wednesday at the Tour Championship to describe his run, he invoked their names and talents.
"It's like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlory had a baby – and I was it," Day said to laughter. "Cause I've got Rory's length and I hope I've got Jordan's touch."
It's hard to argue with the assessment, especially in the wake of how he manhandled Whistling Straits, Plainfield Country Club and Conway Farms, making clutch putt after clutch putt in his last three wins.
There's some debate this week that Day should be PGA Tour Player of the Year if he manages to win the Tour Championship and, as a result, the FedEx Cup. That would give him six wins with a major compared to Jordan Spieth's four wins with two majors. While Day said he would vote for himself for the peer-voted award, he acknowledged that Spieth was more deserving of the award.
The pre-tournament hype had focused on the prospect of a battle between golf's "New Big Three" of world number one Jason Day, reigning Masters & US Open champion Jordan Spieth and four-time Major-winner Rory McIlroy.
But instead it was Swedish veteran Stenson who seized his chance to shine at the USPGA Tour's season finale, opening with consecutive birdies at the first three holes before a further birdie and an eagle left him six under at the turn.
Another birdie on the 10th raised the tantalizing prospect of Stenson breaking 60, and that rare feat looked within his grasp after he drained a six-foot birdie putt at the 12th to go eight under with six to play.
However Stenson was unable to pick up any more shots and bogeyed the 17th to fall back to seven under on the par-70 East Lake course -- two clear of Casey who shot 65.
McIlroy meanwhile was three off the lead after a four-under-par 66 comprising six birdies and two bogeys. Zach Johnson was level with McIlroy on four under.
Spieth was in a group of six players five shots off the lead at two under after carding a 68.
Spieth never managed to get his putter going on a frustrating front nine, sinking only one birdie to be one under at the turn.
Spieth never managed to get his putter going on a frustrating front nine, sinking only one birdie to be one under at the turn.
The Texan sank a 10-footer to pick up a birdie on the 12th but his momentum was undone by a bogey on the next hole.
He improved his score with a birdie on the 15th, coolly dropping a 13-foot putt for birdie.
World number one Day was a shot behind Spieth after a round which promised so much finished in an ultimately disappointing 69.
The in-form Aussie had looked to be the player to beat after notching birdies on the first three holes of the day.
But a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the par-four fifth negated his good early work and though he picked up a birdie on the eighth, the opportunity of a low score remained elusive.
Day and his rivals are all chasing the $10 million bonus on offer to the winner of the FedEx Cup playoff points race.
Earlier Thursday, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen limped out after suffering a hamstring injury, placing a question mark against his fitness for next month's President's Cup.
Oosthuizen withdrew after 13 holes following a muscle strain. The 2010 British Open champion was five-over-par when he pulled out.
Oosthuizen withdrew after 13 holes following a muscle strain. The 2010 British Open champion was five-over-par when he pulled out.
The 32-year-old later revealed the injury had impeded his ability to swing properly.
"It was getting worse and once it gets to a point where you don't swing it proper, it's no point in playing," Oosthuizen said.
Day hopes he is a blend of the best attributes of Spieth, McIlroy.
By Ryan Ballengee
Call the new world No. 1 Frankenday.
Since coming up a putt short of the British Open playoff in July, Jason Day has won four of his last six starts, including his first major at the PGA Championship and two of the first three FedEx Cup playoff events. He has surged past Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, and he's done it with aggressive putting and fearless length -- strengths of the two players he leaped over to get to the top of the world.
So, when he was asked Wednesday at the Tour Championship to describe his run, he invoked their names and talents.
"It's like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlory had a baby – and I was it," Day said to laughter. "Cause I've got Rory's length and I hope I've got Jordan's touch."
It's hard to argue with the assessment, especially in the wake of how he manhandled Whistling Straits, Plainfield Country Club and Conway Farms, making clutch putt after clutch putt in his last three wins.
There's some debate this week that Day should be PGA Tour Player of the Year if he manages to win the Tour Championship and, as a result, the FedEx Cup. That would give him six wins with a major compared to Jordan Spieth's four wins with two majors. While Day said he would vote for himself for the peer-voted award, he acknowledged that Spieth was more deserving of the award.
NASCAR: Jeff Gordon to become NASCAR's newest Iron Man.
By JENNA FRYER
Jeff Gordon greets with fans during drivers introduction before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Gordon will be making his 789th consecutive start, passing Ricky Rudd for the record. Rudd, who once used duct tape to keep his swollen eyes open so he could drive, set the mark in 2002 when he snapped Terry Labonte's streak of 655 consecutive races.
Although proud of his mark, Gordon readily admits Rudd and Labonte suffered through far more than he ever did.
''Those guys are way tougher than me. I've never had to tape my eyelids open to make the race,'' Gordon said. ''When you think of those guys and the conditions of the cars, they didn't have any kind of air conditioning, they dealt with some major injuries and fought through.''
Gordon and Labonte were teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, so Gordon saw Labonte's perseverance firsthand during their 1996 NASCAR title fight.
Labonte broke his left wrist in a crash during practice at Phoenix, where he was leading Gordon in the championship battle with two races remaining. Not driving was never an option for Labonte, who went on to finish third and fifth to win the championship while competing with a splint and a cast on his wrist.
Gordon, who has battled a back injury the last several years, called the feat amazing.
''I've had some injuries along the way that I've had to fight through, so I have a taste of it, but certainly nothing like those guys,'' Gordons said.
Gordon's streak began with his Cup debut on Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He has never missed a race and holds the record for the longest consecutive starts streak from the beginning of a career.
New Hampshire is also a fitting venue for the four-time champion to become the new Iron Man. He is the only driver to compete in all 41 Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and leads all drivers in top-five finishes, top-10s, laps led and laps completed (11,967) at the 1.058-mile track.
Gordon is also 128 shy of 25,000 career laps led.
NASCAR PENALTIES: NASCAR issued penalties to a handful of teams Wednesday, including Danica Patrick's team for an infraction during inspection and Kyle Busch's team for failing post-race inspection after his Xfinity Series victory.
Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Chris Gayle was fined $12,500 and placed on probation until the end of the year because Busch's car failed inspection after his win Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway.
JGR was also penalized because the car driven by Daniel Suarez had a right side vertical extension panel that was modified after pre-race inspection. Crew chief Eric Phillips and crew member John Egbert Jr. were placed on probation through the end of the year.
In the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR said the right side quarter panel behind the rear wheel on Patrick's car had been modified before qualifying. Crew chief Daniel Knost and car chief Pete White were placed on probation through the end of the year.
DALE JR. TO TV: When Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw some of his fellow drivers acting as guest analysts during Xfinity Series races, he tweeted he wanted a turn in the broadcast booth.
Fox listened and put together a deal with NASCAR's most popular driver. He'll be in the booth next season, but his races have not yet been determined.
''(Fox) extended the offer to me that we can give it a shot,'' Earnhardt said. ''I want to go up there next year and watch a few races, or watch one race, and see what I'm getting myself into. It looks like a lot of fun.''
Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray have all been in the booth this year for either Fox of NBC Sports Network.
''All the drivers who did it (looked great, sounded great, and they seemed to have a lot of fun doing it,'' Earnhardt said. ''I don't know if it's a career path for me - it just depends.''
ARCA-ENFINGER: With two races to go in the ARCA Series, Grant Enfinger has built a 225-point lead in his quest to win his first series championship.
Enfinger, an Alabama native, won the first three races of the season for the second straight year, and heads into the final stretch as winner of three of the past four events. He has a comfortable lead over Josh Williams.
While Enfinger has won six of 18 races this year, ARCA has had 12 different winners in the other races. Among those 12 drivers, 10 of them are first-time winners in the series. That list includes Ross Kenseth, Todd Gilliland, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Reed and Cole Custer.
ARCA races this Friday at Kentucky Speedway, then closes the year Oct. 16 at Kansas Speedway.
Percentages: Harvick, team can blame only themselves.
Gordon's streak began with his Cup debut on Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He has never missed a race and holds the record for the longest consecutive starts streak from the beginning of a career.
New Hampshire is also a fitting venue for the four-time champion to become the new Iron Man. He is the only driver to compete in all 41 Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and leads all drivers in top-five finishes, top-10s, laps led and laps completed (11,967) at the 1.058-mile track.
Gordon is also 128 shy of 25,000 career laps led.
NASCAR PENALTIES: NASCAR issued penalties to a handful of teams Wednesday, including Danica Patrick's team for an infraction during inspection and Kyle Busch's team for failing post-race inspection after his Xfinity Series victory.
Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Chris Gayle was fined $12,500 and placed on probation until the end of the year because Busch's car failed inspection after his win Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway.
JGR was also penalized because the car driven by Daniel Suarez had a right side vertical extension panel that was modified after pre-race inspection. Crew chief Eric Phillips and crew member John Egbert Jr. were placed on probation through the end of the year.
In the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR said the right side quarter panel behind the rear wheel on Patrick's car had been modified before qualifying. Crew chief Daniel Knost and car chief Pete White were placed on probation through the end of the year.
DALE JR. TO TV: When Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw some of his fellow drivers acting as guest analysts during Xfinity Series races, he tweeted he wanted a turn in the broadcast booth.
Fox listened and put together a deal with NASCAR's most popular driver. He'll be in the booth next season, but his races have not yet been determined.
''(Fox) extended the offer to me that we can give it a shot,'' Earnhardt said. ''I want to go up there next year and watch a few races, or watch one race, and see what I'm getting myself into. It looks like a lot of fun.''
Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray have all been in the booth this year for either Fox of NBC Sports Network.
''All the drivers who did it (looked great, sounded great, and they seemed to have a lot of fun doing it,'' Earnhardt said. ''I don't know if it's a career path for me - it just depends.''
ARCA-ENFINGER: With two races to go in the ARCA Series, Grant Enfinger has built a 225-point lead in his quest to win his first series championship.
Enfinger, an Alabama native, won the first three races of the season for the second straight year, and heads into the final stretch as winner of three of the past four events. He has a comfortable lead over Josh Williams.
While Enfinger has won six of 18 races this year, ARCA has had 12 different winners in the other races. Among those 12 drivers, 10 of them are first-time winners in the series. That list includes Ross Kenseth, Todd Gilliland, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Reed and Cole Custer.
ARCA races this Friday at Kentucky Speedway, then closes the year Oct. 16 at Kansas Speedway.
Percentages: Harvick, team can blame only themselves.
By Eric Chemi
Yes, Denny Hamlin was the winner Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. But there was one giant loser – Kevin Harvick. It wasn’t a single incident … but rather four things:
- His bump with Jimmie Johnson
- A flat tire caused by the bump
- His (and his team’s) decision to stay out instead of pitting immediately
- Crashing into the wall because of the flat tire that resulted
- The absence of cars falling out early.
- The dominance of every other Chase driver.
Harvick’s chance of moving on to the second round of the Chase has dropped dramatically to 52 percent. Most people might say that he needs to win to advance, but that’s not necessarily true.
His chances of advancing still primarily are based on points: a 33 percent chance he makes it on points, plus a 19 percent chance he advances by winning one of the next two races.
Remember, Harvick had only two wins this year but 10 second-place finishes. If he could get a couple more seconds, he would put himself back into position to advance. It’s doable based on his track record this year.
The sad part for Harvick is his team could have dealt with problems #1 and #2 by just pitting immediately. They were chose to stay on track (creating problem #3), causing the ultimate demise (problem #4).
Maybe by pitting he would have lost a lap – perhaps even two laps – and stayed that far back the entire race. Assuming he finished in the middle of the pack – P22, then he’d still have 20 more points compared to now, with a very healthy 78 percent chance of advancing.
You could say his team’s decision to stay out cost him 26 percent – at least. Note that Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards both lost a lap early, only to end up 1-2.
Let’s take a look at Harvick’s advancement probabilities in 10 spot increments:
–If Harvick had finished second, he’d have a 96 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
–If Harvick had finished 12th, he’d have an 87 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
–If Harvick had finished 22nd, he’d have a 78 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
–If Harvick had finished 32nd, he’d have a 68 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
Harvick shouldn’t be mad at Johnson. Perhaps the only punches he should have thrown were at himself (for not pitting) or for his crew (for not making him pit).
“I’m surprised that they didn’t come right to pit road,” says Josh Browne, a former Sprint Cup crew chief and now a co-founder at racing analytics firm Pit Rho. “It was so early in the race, and there was so much on the line. Harvick likely would have finished up front based on how the race played out, especially the advantage given to cars who took wave-arounds.”
It’s not Johnson’s fault that Harvick is this far back. And if Harvick misses the next round by less than 20 points, he has only himself to blame.
Remember, Harvick had only two wins this year but 10 second-place finishes. If he could get a couple more seconds, he would put himself back into position to advance. It’s doable based on his track record this year.
The sad part for Harvick is his team could have dealt with problems #1 and #2 by just pitting immediately. They were chose to stay on track (creating problem #3), causing the ultimate demise (problem #4).
Maybe by pitting he would have lost a lap – perhaps even two laps – and stayed that far back the entire race. Assuming he finished in the middle of the pack – P22, then he’d still have 20 more points compared to now, with a very healthy 78 percent chance of advancing.
You could say his team’s decision to stay out cost him 26 percent – at least. Note that Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards both lost a lap early, only to end up 1-2.
Let’s take a look at Harvick’s advancement probabilities in 10 spot increments:
–If Harvick had finished second, he’d have a 96 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
–If Harvick had finished 12th, he’d have an 87 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
–If Harvick had finished 22nd, he’d have a 78 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
–If Harvick had finished 32nd, he’d have a 68 percent chance of advancing to Round 2.
Harvick shouldn’t be mad at Johnson. Perhaps the only punches he should have thrown were at himself (for not pitting) or for his crew (for not making him pit).
“I’m surprised that they didn’t come right to pit road,” says Josh Browne, a former Sprint Cup crew chief and now a co-founder at racing analytics firm Pit Rho. “It was so early in the race, and there was so much on the line. Harvick likely would have finished up front based on how the race played out, especially the advantage given to cars who took wave-arounds.”
It’s not Johnson’s fault that Harvick is this far back. And if Harvick misses the next round by less than 20 points, he has only himself to blame.
SOCCER: Fire lack finishing touch in defeat to Montreal Impact.
By Danny Michallik
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Brian Bliss received a rude welcome in his first match in charge as Fire interim head coach.
Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba picked up where he left off on Sept. 5, when he notched a hat trick in his first-ever MLS start against the Fire. On Wednesday night, the Ivorian notched his fifth goal of the season before David Accam tallied a team-leading ninth goal to pull Bliss' group level five minutes past the halftime interval. But second-half substitute Andrés Romero's clinical finish in the 76th minute was enough to hand the Men in Red a 2-1 defeat in front of 17,832 at Stade Saputo.
The loss - a league-high 17th of 2015 - is the fourth on the bounce for the Fire (7-17-6, 27 points), who still occupy last place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Impact (11-11-6, 39 points) have a four-point cushion over Orlando City SC in the sixth and final playoff spot with two games in hand.
Bliss made a quartet of changes following the 1-0 defeat to Orlando City four days earlier, with Lovel Palmer and Patrick Doody coming in for Daneil Cyrus and Joevin Jones at right and left back, respectively. Matt Polster and Gilberto also earned starts, deputizing for Michael Stephens and Harry Shipp.
Both sides labored to carve out any concrete opportunities for themselves in the early stages, with Kennedy Igboananike and Gilberto trying their luck from distance before the 10-minute mark. In a flat 4-4-2 formation, the Fire back line capably blocked out Montreal's passing options and denied service in to the forwards, limiting the hosts to just one shot on target through the opening 38 minutes.
In the 16th minute, Gilberto was sent through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. The Brazilian elected to dribble around, but Evan Bush expertly pushed the ball away and out of his reach. Just past the half-hour mark, Gilberto found himself at the heart of the team's most clear-cut opportunity, squaring for Accam in the box, but the Ghanaian disappointingly scuffed his side-footed effort off target.
Six minutes later, the Men in Red would come to haunt those earlier misses.
Nigel Reo-Coker outmuscled and wriggled free from Razvan Cocis before delivering a pinpointed cross into the box to Drogba. The 37-year-old appeared to have unlawfully wrestled Jeff Larentowicz to the ground en route to powering home a header past a helpless Jon Busch, a contentious moment that went uncalled by the officiating crew, but was enough to send the hosts into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
In the second stanza, the Fire were injected with a bit of life.
Doody lobbed a ball over the top of the Impact defense from his left back position. Gilberto first capitalized on a mistake by Víctor Cabrera, flicked the ball over an onrushing Bush and sent a header on goal. The effort was cleared off the line and clanged off the post before Accam followed up with a goal-line header to pull the visitors level.
Perhaps the Fire's most gilt-edged chance on the night fell to Accam, who raced into the box in the 73rd minute. The combination of the Ghanaian's pace and trickery helped him sidestep two defenders, but in the end, opted to chip the scrambling Bush, who was relieved to see the effort sail over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Mauro Biello's side made the Fire pay via a finely executed, quick-fire attacking move. Patrice Bernier collected the ball in the Fire's defensive half and measured a splitting pass between Larentowicz and Ty Harden for Romero, who coolly dispatched past Busch less than five minutes after coming on for Johan Venegas.
Next up for the Fire is Saturday's visit to BMO Field to take on Toronto FC, while the Impact travel to the nation's capital to face D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs)
(4-4-2) - Jon Busch; Lovel Palmer, Jeff Larentowicz (C), Ty Harden, Patrick Doody; Patrick Nyarko (Harry Shipp, 83'), Matt Polster, Razvan Cocis, David Accam; Kennedy Igboananike (Joevin Jones, 66'), Gilberto (Mike Magee, 78').
Barcelona to face America or Asian team in Club World Cup.
AP
Barcelona will begin its quest for the Club World Cup title against either Club America of Mexico or the Asian Champions League winner.
Barcelona has a bye in the first round and will start in the semifinals on Dec. 17 in Yokohama.
River Plate of Argentina, the Copa Libertadores champion in South America, will also begin in the semifinals. It will play in Osaka against the African Champions League winner, Auckland City of New Zealand or the J-League winner.
Auckland City, the Oceania Champions League champion, opens the tournament on Dec. 10 against the J-League winner.
All seven qualified teams will be known by November.
The tournament's draw took place at FIFA's headquarters on Wednesday.
NCAAFB: High-scoring Tennessee offense savors chance to prove itself.
By STEVE MEGARGEE
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones yells to his players during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Western Carolina, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee is averaging 46 points, but the Volunteers' offensive production is somewhat deceptive.
With 138 points, the Vols (2-1) have their highest total over their first three games since the 1914 team had 171 points. The numbers seem misleading because two of Tennessee's first three opponents were Bowling Green and Football Championship Subdivision program Western Carolina.
In their only meeting with a major-conference school, the Vols lost 31-24 to Oklahoma in overtime after getting shut out in the last 42 minutes of regulation time. On Saturday, they face a stern test at Florida (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference), which enters the heated rivalry with 10 straight victories over the Vols (2-1, 0-0).
''They may be the best defense we've faced since we've been here,'' said Tennessee coach Butch Jones, who is in his third season at Knoxville.
Florida will be missing suspended cornerback Jalen Tabor, who sacked Justin Worley, knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble to set up the only touchdown in the Gators' 10-9 victory at Tennessee last year.
But that defense remains potent.
Florida had six sacks and two interceptions while allowing just eight pass completions last week in a 14-9 triumph at Kentucky. The Gators are eager to deliver a similar performance Saturday in front of their home crowd.
'We preach we don't lose at home,'' Florida safety Marcus Maye said. ''The past couple of years we've lost a couple of games, let a couple of games slip away. We're back to trying to get things back to how they usually are around here. Protect the Swamp.''
The Vols want to learn how far their offense has come the last two weeks.
Tennessee blew a 17-0 lead against Oklahoma because its offense wasted favorable field position and couldn't produce a game-clinching score. The Vols said afterward that they struggled to adjust to Oklahoma's blitzes.
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says the Oklahoma experience should help prepare Tennessee's offensive line for Saturday's test.
''An example would be the (Oklahoma) game we had some problems with protection, picking people up when we were trying to throw the ball deep,'' DeBord said. ''In this past game (against Western Carolina), we picked them up twice on a blitz and hit the ball deep.''
Aside from that second-half performance against Oklahoma, Tennessee has scored pretty much at will despite getting little production from some of their most notable receivers.
Alton ''Pig'' Howard, who led the Vols in catches and yards receiving last year, has only one reception. Jones said Wednesday that Howard ''is nursing some things'' and declared his status uncertain for Saturday's game. Jones indicated Monday that Howard had ''tweaked his ankle a little bit.''
Marquez North, who has caught at least 30 passes each of the last two seasons, has only four receptions for 38 yards.
The Vols have made up for it with their rushing attack. Tennessee leads the SEC with 158 carries and rank third in the conference with 246 yards rushing per game. Jalen Hurd has rushed for 300 yards and five touchdowns, while Alvin Kamara averages 7.5 yards per carry.
''They're going to play a long time beyond this league,'' Florida coach Jim McElwain said. ''They're really, really good players. We have to be really good tacklers this week and hopefully not give them a bunch of gaping holes.''
Tennessee's offense has done much of its damage so far against porous defenses.
Bowling Green is allowing 43.3 points per game. Western Carolina lost to The Citadel before coming to Tennessee and recorded its only win over Division II Mars Hill. The Vols believe they're ready for the Gators.
''We look at it as another opportunity to go out and show what we can do,'' Tennessee center Coleman Thomas said.
Tennessee is averaging 46 points, but the Volunteers' offensive production is somewhat deceptive.
With 138 points, the Vols (2-1) have their highest total over their first three games since the 1914 team had 171 points. The numbers seem misleading because two of Tennessee's first three opponents were Bowling Green and Football Championship Subdivision program Western Carolina.
In their only meeting with a major-conference school, the Vols lost 31-24 to Oklahoma in overtime after getting shut out in the last 42 minutes of regulation time. On Saturday, they face a stern test at Florida (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference), which enters the heated rivalry with 10 straight victories over the Vols (2-1, 0-0).
''They may be the best defense we've faced since we've been here,'' said Tennessee coach Butch Jones, who is in his third season at Knoxville.
Florida will be missing suspended cornerback Jalen Tabor, who sacked Justin Worley, knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble to set up the only touchdown in the Gators' 10-9 victory at Tennessee last year.
But that defense remains potent.
Florida had six sacks and two interceptions while allowing just eight pass completions last week in a 14-9 triumph at Kentucky. The Gators are eager to deliver a similar performance Saturday in front of their home crowd.
'We preach we don't lose at home,'' Florida safety Marcus Maye said. ''The past couple of years we've lost a couple of games, let a couple of games slip away. We're back to trying to get things back to how they usually are around here. Protect the Swamp.''
The Vols want to learn how far their offense has come the last two weeks.
Tennessee blew a 17-0 lead against Oklahoma because its offense wasted favorable field position and couldn't produce a game-clinching score. The Vols said afterward that they struggled to adjust to Oklahoma's blitzes.
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says the Oklahoma experience should help prepare Tennessee's offensive line for Saturday's test.
''An example would be the (Oklahoma) game we had some problems with protection, picking people up when we were trying to throw the ball deep,'' DeBord said. ''In this past game (against Western Carolina), we picked them up twice on a blitz and hit the ball deep.''
Aside from that second-half performance against Oklahoma, Tennessee has scored pretty much at will despite getting little production from some of their most notable receivers.
Alton ''Pig'' Howard, who led the Vols in catches and yards receiving last year, has only one reception. Jones said Wednesday that Howard ''is nursing some things'' and declared his status uncertain for Saturday's game. Jones indicated Monday that Howard had ''tweaked his ankle a little bit.''
Marquez North, who has caught at least 30 passes each of the last two seasons, has only four receptions for 38 yards.
The Vols have made up for it with their rushing attack. Tennessee leads the SEC with 158 carries and rank third in the conference with 246 yards rushing per game. Jalen Hurd has rushed for 300 yards and five touchdowns, while Alvin Kamara averages 7.5 yards per carry.
''They're going to play a long time beyond this league,'' Florida coach Jim McElwain said. ''They're really, really good players. We have to be really good tacklers this week and hopefully not give them a bunch of gaping holes.''
Tennessee's offense has done much of its damage so far against porous defenses.
Bowling Green is allowing 43.3 points per game. Western Carolina lost to The Citadel before coming to Tennessee and recorded its only win over Division II Mars Hill. The Vols believe they're ready for the Gators.
''We look at it as another opportunity to go out and show what we can do,'' Tennessee center Coleman Thomas said.
NCAAFB: LSU-Syracuse Preview.
AP Sports
Even as Leonard Fournette grabs headlines for his powerful and prolific performances, No. 8 LSU is proving that its running game is no one-man show.
While Fournette is averaging a nation-best 193.5 yards through a pair of victories to open the season, LSU's three backup running backs and quarterback Brandon Harris have combined for a not-so-shabby 136.5 rushing yards per game.
''We have elite backs we can shift into the game when we want to give Leonard a break and freshen him up,'' coach Les Miles said. ''Then, we have a mobile quarterback. That is always an issue for the defense when the quarterback can go up the field.''
The Tigers' high-powered rushing attack makes its first trip to the Carrier Dome on Saturday to face a Syracuse team that has one of the nation's best run defenses but has yet to face a program as talented as LSU.
Darrel Williams and true freshmen Derrius Guice and Nick Brossette round out LSU's quartet of running backs who've seen playing time this season. Williams has picked up 86 yards on 20 carries and is Fournette's primary backup. Williams also has the versatility to line up at fullback.
Guice and Brossette got the first carries of their LSU careers in last Saturday's 45-21 win over then-No. 18 Auburn. Guice, who broke off a 29-yard run, gained 55 yards on six attempts. Brossette, a hometown product like Guice, contributed 13 yards on four carries. Guice and Brossette also caught a pass.
''It's amazing the number of running backs we have,'' offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins said. ''They are all great running backs. It surprises the offensive linemen each week at how well they do. One of them comes in and it's like we don't miss a beat.''
LSU runs a very diverse offensive system. The Tigers will be in the I-formation at least 50 percent of the time. LSU can use a three wide-receiver set. Then, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron can call plays out of the zone-read playbook. Harris ran an old-fashioned option play for a touchdown against Auburn.
''Our running back group is the most talented in the country,'' offensive tackle Vadal Alexander said. ''All of our backs can make plays. All of them can gain yards.''
The Orange are third in the FBS in rushing defense at 46.7 yards per game and their opponents' 1.5 yards per carry ranks second, but they've padded their stats against Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan. The Chippewas are the worst rushing team out of the 127 FBS schools while Wake ranks 101st and Rhode Island is the 18th-worst run team in the FCS.
Off to its best start since starting 4-0 in 1991, Syracuse will likely be without quarterback Eric Dungey, who suffered an apparent head injury in a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit in last Saturday's 30-27 overtime win over Central Michigan.
''He's doing well," coach Scott Shafer said. "We'll just take it each day at a time."
Pressed into action when senior starter and captain Terrel Hunt suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the first quarter of the season opener, Dungey had performed well above expectations. He has a 204.0 pass efficiency rating, which would lead the nation if he had enough pass attempts. Dungey, who is shy of qualifying by nine attempts, has completed 21 of 36 passes for 428 yards and five TDs with zero interceptions and no lost fumbles. He also has rushed for 106 yards and one score.
After Dungey left last week, backup Austin Wilson was 4 of 7 for 49 yards with one TD and one interception, while walk-on Zack Mahoney finished 4 of 4 for 19 yards.
Mahoney is in line to start Saturday, as offensive coordinator Tim Lester said he is ''the guy that's shown the most'' and can execute all facets of the offense.
This will be the first meeting between these programs since the Orange won the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl. LSU beat Syracuse in the 1965 Sugar Bowl in the only other matchup.
NCAABKB: Scathing criticism from prominent ex-players is hurting UCLA.
By Jeff Eisenberg
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at a book signing in February. (Getty Images)
Gaining the support of a notoriously hard-to-please fan base is no longer the greatest challenge facing a UCLA basketball coach.
Bruins fans seem reasonable compared to some of the school's most prominent former players.
Bruins fans seem reasonable compared to some of the school's most prominent former players.
In the final two years of Ben Howland's tenure in Westwood, Bill Walton used his national TV platform to call for a change of leadership during every UCLA game he broadcasted. Then Wednesday, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio and expressed displeasure with how UCLA has performed under Howland's replacement Steve Alford.
"It's real ugly, man. I have to say that," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I watched them in the playoffs. They don't even know how to run the fast break. You know, I'm not trying to sit on the sidelines and throw stones at Coach Alford. He has a tough job. But people used to learn how to play the game at UCLA. I don't think that's happening now, and I think that's a real disappointment to those of us who are part of the tradition."
Scathing comments like those are damaging to the fragile health of UCLA's program even if fans dissatisfied with Alford are quick to applaud them.
In the short-term, Abdul-Jabbar is providing easy fodder for opposing coaches recruiting against the Bruins. In the long-term, Abdul-Jabbar is fueling the perception that UCLA isn't as desirable a job as its location and pedigree would suggest because it lacks the resources of a Kentucky or North Carolina yet the expectations are still similar.
Alford has taken UCLA to back-to-back Sweet 16s in his first two seasons and has four Rivals top 50 recruits committed in the next two classes, yet an influential former player publicly declares him "a real disappointment?" That's the sort of thing that surely would give an Archie Miller or Tony Bennett reason to hesitate should the UCLA job someday come open again.
Alford certainly is not exempt from criticism for his performance as UCLA coach thus far, but the strangest part of Abdul-Jabbar's comments is that he chose to attack the third-year coach's teaching ability.
UCLA has improved steadily from November to March in both Alford's two seasons and Norman Powell, Tony Parker and Kyle Anderson are among the many players who developed rapidly under his tutelage. Those are signs that Alford and his staff are doing an excellent job in skill development and in putting their players in a position to succeed.
Where Alford has fallen short of expectations is in his ability to connect with the UCLA fan base, generate interest in the program and fill Pauley Pavilion. UCLA's average attendance dropped from 9,549 in Ben Howland's final year to 7,711 last season despite the presence of a new head coach and a newly renovated arena.
It's also fair to question whether Alford's recent recruiting success is too dependent on the connection between assistant coach David Grace and the Compton Magic AAU program. What happens to UCLA if Grace lands another job or if the Magic stop producing so many elite prospects each season? Will the Bruins revert to the issues they had in Alford's first two recruiting classes when they missed on several prominent Los Angeles-area prospects?
None of that was among Abdul-Jabbar's concerns, which suggests he probably hasn't been paying close attention to his alma mater. In fact, his criticism smacked of sour grapes from a man who publicly expressed interest in the UCLA job after Howland's firing but never became a serious candidate.
What's curious about the criticism from Walton and Abdul-Jabbar is that it's in stark contrast to what their former college coach likely would have done under similar circumstances. Never once did John Wooden publicly criticize one of his UCLA successors even though it had to irk him when the program he led to 10 national titles fell from college basketball's peak.
What's curious about the criticism from Walton and Abdul-Jabbar is that it's in stark contrast to what their former college coach likely would have done under similar circumstances. Never once did John Wooden publicly criticize one of his UCLA successors even though it had to irk him when the program he led to 10 national titles fell from college basketball's peak.
Twelve years ago, just months after UCLA hired Howland, I had the chance to ask Wooden about the inevitable comparisons that arise between the Bruins' heyday and every subsequent era.
"They’re not fair at all because things have changed so much," Wooden responded. "I learned from my dad that you never compare."
Wooden's former players might want to follow that same approach. Griping over how the program has slipped isn't helping it get back to its former heights. It's only making that task more difficult.
Wooden's former players might want to follow that same approach. Griping over how the program has slipped isn't helping it get back to its former heights. It's only making that task more difficult.
7-Foot, 440-Pound High School Lineman Is Almost Too Big To Play Football.
By ThePostGame.com Staff
(Photo/thepostgame.com)
John Krahn is a big guy. He's so big, he might be too big.
For a football lineman, that's saying something.
The high school senior is 7 feet and 440 pounds -- both insane measurable. For context, he's taller than any lineman currently playing in the NFL.
And Krahn has always been a big guy, sometimes to his detriment. According to USA Today, Krahn was kept out of youth football for several years because he exceeded the league weight limits. A player of his size posed a threat to other players.
When the Riverside, California, youth finally got a chance to play middle school football, he started doing damage immediately -- but not in the way you'd hope. In his first football practice, he broke one of his teammate's arms by falling on top of him," according to a feature by The Press-Enterprise.
So it's been an odd ascent for Krahn. But now, his size and physical potential are drawing attention from Division I college football programs.
There's only one more hurdle to clear: Even now, at the college level, coaches want the ML King High defensive tackle to downsize.
"We had Division I coaches on site [at a summer camp] that said they'd consider offering him if he lost some weight," said Jimmy Thomas of USA Football, according to MaxPreps. "They think he could be a force at a lighter weight."
At the moment, Krahn is seen as a raw talent in need of refinement. His footwork needs improvement, and losing weight should improve his agility.
Between his need to lose weight and his rough skill set, Krahn could ultimately land with a junior college, where he can fine-tune his skills and possibly open doors to the Division I level later in his career.
Whatever happens, his size will be an asset for Krahn. Beyond football, he wants to become a police officer someday.
Law enforcement, with that body? He'll be a natural.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1882 - The first major league double header was played. It was between the Worcester and Providence teams.
1965 - Willie Mays, at the age of 34, became the oldest man to hit 50 home runs in a single season. He had also set the record for the youngest to hit 50 ten years earlier.
1965 - Satchel Paige (Kansas City Athletics), at the age of 59, pitched three shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox.
1978 - Melissa Ludtke, a writer for "Sports Illustrated", filed a suit in U.S. District Court. The result was that Major League Baseball could not bar female writers from the locker room after the game.
1993 - Charles Barkley and Nirvana were guests on "Saturday Night Live."
1997 - NBC sportscaster Marv Albert pled guilty to assault and battery of a lover. He was fired from NBC within hours.
2001 - Michael Jordan announced that he would return to the NBA as a player for the Washington Wizards. Jordan became the president of basketball operations for the team on January 19, 2000.
1965 - Willie Mays, at the age of 34, became the oldest man to hit 50 home runs in a single season. He had also set the record for the youngest to hit 50 ten years earlier.
1965 - Satchel Paige (Kansas City Athletics), at the age of 59, pitched three shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox.
1978 - Melissa Ludtke, a writer for "Sports Illustrated", filed a suit in U.S. District Court. The result was that Major League Baseball could not bar female writers from the locker room after the game.
1993 - Charles Barkley and Nirvana were guests on "Saturday Night Live."
1997 - NBC sportscaster Marv Albert pled guilty to assault and battery of a lover. He was fired from NBC within hours.
2001 - Michael Jordan announced that he would return to the NBA as a player for the Washington Wizards. Jordan became the president of basketball operations for the team on January 19, 2000.
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