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Sports Quote of the Day:
"For many sports fans, the onset of fall only means one thing: It's football season!" ~ Marcus Samuelsson, Chef and Restauranteur
"For many sports fans, the onset of fall only means one thing: It's football season!" ~ Marcus Samuelsson, Chef and Restauranteur
Trending: Impact plays forcing Bears into some tough/good roster decisions. (See the football section for additional Bears updates).
Trending: Why did Judge Berman rule in Tom Brady's favor? At Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica, we do not agree with this decision. Please read What's Your Take? for our thoughts. (See the football section for details).
Trending: Jonathan Toews on Patrick Kane situation: 'You stay together as a team'. (See the hockey section for details).
B ear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Impact plays forcing Bears into some tough/good roster decisions.
By John Mullin
This Photo: Jabaal Sheard, David Fales David Fales #12 of the Chicago Bears avoids being sacked by Jabaal Sheard #97 of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 28, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio.
“I think guys made cases for themselves, which makes it harder on [the organization],” said coach John Fox. “I think that’s a good thing.”
The very good news out of the 2015 Bears defense was the continuing ability to force turnovers, even if not always by the No. 1 unit. In Thursday’s 24-0 win over the Browns, the Bears came up with three, highlighted by an interception and TD return by safety Sherrod Martin. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell had a hand in a third takeaway of the preseason when he recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Lamarr Houston. Rookie linebacker Jonathan Anderson delivered a sack that forced a Cleveland fumble recovered by the Bears.
But the issue in fourth preseason games isn’t always who plays and how much, but sometimes who doesn’t play. With roster cuts due by Saturday afternoon, there were few notables in the starting defensive personnel, which included not one projected member of the 2015 No. 1 unit.
The linebacker depth chart went further into question by two sacks from undrafted rookie Anderson, the second forcing a fumble recovered by defensive lineman Cornelius Washington. John Timu rated an assist on sack No. 2, coming in with a blitz that forced Browns quarterback to step up into Anderson’s A-gap blitz.
Anderson underscored his bid for a roster spot with a tackle-for-loss late in the fourth quarter. He was credited with five tackles total (three for loss), two sacks, a quarterback hit, and even found time to contribute a tackle on special teams. If he didn’t earn that roster spot with the Bears, the Browns may be waiting to welcome him in.
“Really I see each game as an opportunity so I try to make the most of it,” Anderson said. “I didn’t see it as I was playing the Browns. I was seeing it as another opportunity.”
If there was a mild surprise it was 2013 second-round pick Jonathan Bostic in uniform but not playing, presumably because of an ankle injury from the Cincinnati game. “We had a lot of guys who dressed but didn’t play,” Fox said, not volunteering anything on Bostic’s situation. Because of his injury plagued offseason, a harsh possibility is that the Bears do not see a spot for him in 2015 and did not want to put him on the field and risk an injury that could expose them to an injury settlement.
Starting inside linebackers Christian Jones and Shea McClellin did not play, and Bostic, listed behind Jones on the depth chart, was replaced in the starting lineup by undrafted rookie free agent Timu. Bostic missed most of the offseason work with a flare-up of a back injury he suffered last season, and he was sidelined this week as well with the ankle injury.
Bears need to sort through RB depth chart.
By John Mullin
If the Bears keep four running backs – something they’ve rarely done without one being a fullback – then some roster decisions won’t have to be made. But that may not be so easy, given possible needs to keep extra players at other positions as insurance against injury concerns.
Put another way: Could the Bears actually keep Ka’Deem Carey, Jeremy Langford and Jacquizz Rodgers as backups to Matt Forte?
Langford, the one roster lock after Forte, broke a long run, with a 34-yarder in the second quarter that included strong second effort to turn a play that appeared to be stuffed into the Bears’ longest play of the first half. Langford had the second-longest play of the Bears’ preseason when he popped a 46-yard run in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Langford finished with 55 yards on nine carries and concludes the preseason as the Bears’ leading rusher with 153 yards on 28 carries, nearly 5.5 yards per rush.
“I’ve been pleased with the young guy,” said coach John Fox. “I think it’s been well documented that we like him. We did draft him. I think he’s had a good camp and he had another good performance tonight.”
Carey, who came into this preseason facing an uphill run to make the roster, led all rushers with 68 yards on 12 carries (5.7 ypc). And he has occasionally appeared on special teams, a weakness in his game as a rookie.
Carey appears to have played his way into a strong discussion on who and how many backs to keep.
Rodgers, with a modest 3.7-yard average in four seasons as an Atlanta Falcon, finished the preseason with 23 carries for a total of 86 yards – right at his career average.
Unless they commit four of their 25 offensive roster spots to running backs, however, a decision could come down to Carey with an unknown upside vs. Rodgers with a workmanlike if unspectacular track record.
“I think Ka’Deem Carey ran it hard and ‘Quizz’ ran it hard,” Fox said. “It’s never a fun moment making decisions on what 53 to keep. I think all three of them ran the ball very effectively tonight, and throughout camp.”
Why did Judge Berman rule in Tom Brady's favor? What's Your Take?
By Eric Edholm
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica opinion: Justice is blind but in this case, she peeked. The ruling is not fair and that's too bad, but it's done so let's move on.
U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman ruled that Tom Brady's four-game suspension should be overruled. The biggest reason? Legally speaking, Berman felt that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell extended his power and reach too far in the deflate-gate discipline and that Brady was not allowed the proper means to defend himself.
In the 40-page decision, Berman dissected the NFL's argument and found a number of flaws in its case against Brady. The ruling accurately reflected Berman's line of questioning during the hearings and is summed up in his hammer-blow line against Goodell, who is charged with issuing "his own brand of industrial justice."
So what did Berman fall back on? Here was his justification:
U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman ruled that Tom Brady's four-game suspension should be overruled. The biggest reason? Legally speaking, Berman felt that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell extended his power and reach too far in the deflate-gate discipline and that Brady was not allowed the proper means to defend himself.
In the 40-page decision, Berman dissected the NFL's argument and found a number of flaws in its case against Brady. The ruling accurately reflected Berman's line of questioning during the hearings and is summed up in his hammer-blow line against Goodell, who is charged with issuing "his own brand of industrial justice."
So what did Berman fall back on? Here was his justification:
Based on the foregoing and legal authorities, the Court hereby denies the Management Council 's motion to confirm the Award and grants the Player's Association motion to vacate the Award, Thereby vacating the four-game suspension of Tom Brady, effective immediately.
Part of Judge Berman's ruling in favor of Tom Brady
One of the catch phrases of the Wells report was Brady being "generally aware" of the New England Patriots' goings-on as they related to ball deflation. But the judge said Brady couldn't be suspended for that general awareness of other peoples’ conduct.
Berman said that Brady wasn't even made aware that he could be suspended for that or for not cooperating fully with Wells' investigation.
Berman said that Brady wasn't even made aware that he could be suspended for that or for not cooperating fully with Wells' investigation.
"Brady also had no notice that his discipline would be the equivalent of the discipline imposed upon a player who used performance enhancing drugs," Berman wrote.
More from Berman:
“[T]here is no evidence of a record of past suspensions based purely on obstructing a league investigation.”
And, Berman added: "The deference due an arbitrator does not extend ... [to] an award obtained without the requisites of fairness or due process."
Brady and his defense team also was not allowed to properly defend its case, Berman wrote, because they were denied sufficient access to the league's investigative files and to cross-examine NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash, who was not made available during the hearings — which seemed to irk Berman.
Brady and his defense team also was not allowed to properly defend its case, Berman wrote, because they were denied sufficient access to the league's investigative files and to cross-examine NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash, who was not made available during the hearings — which seemed to irk Berman.
Berman pushed both sides to agree to settle. He gave the NFL every opportunity to reduce the suspension and still come out looking like winners. The league balked at a settlement, as did Brady, and it's the NFLPA, the quarterback and the Patriots who were the big winners on Thursday.
Let's get going and have a terrific 2015 season. As always, you know what we think and how we feel, we'd love to hear your thoughts and what's your take? Just go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and let your thoughts rip. We'd love to hear how you really feel.
We also know that the Patriot's fan will not like our take, but it is what it is.
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
Decision Time: Less Than One Week Until The Start Of The 2015 NFL Season. You Can't Win If You Aren't In!!!!!
Many are called but few are chosen. Are you chosen? Are you confident in your knowledge about the NFL? Are you confident in you ability to pick winners for the upcoming 2015 season? Are you excited and chomping at the bit for the season to start? If you are, then the CS&T/AllsportsAmerica 2015 NFL Confidence Office Pool is for you!!!
We have a little over a week to go before the NFL season gets underway. It's decision time and we want you in. $35.00 for 17 weeks of pure, unadulterated football drama, anxiety, exaltation, frustration, happiness, sadness, celebration and the full gamut of emotions on the 2015 NFL rollercoaster. Enter and try it, we guarantee you a season of fun. Surprise yourself and see how good you really are. It cost less than a Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's hamburger, a glass of beer, a gallon of gas, etc., once a week. Our entry fee is reasonable and the rewards are fabulous. Think about it and make your move. You can't win if you aren't in and if you're not in, you're out. You don't want to be out!!! Trust us.
Below is a sample of the first week's CS&T/AA 2015 NFL Office Pick 'em Pool) Pick sheet. You must also pick a tiebreaker score, (The combined total score for both teams). Our pool is a marathon not a sprint..... 17 weeks of concentration, dedication and extreme confidence. Let the games begin. They do, September 10, 2015.
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Below is a sample of the first week's CS&T/AA 2015 NFL Office Pick 'em Pool) Pick sheet. You must also pick a tiebreaker score, (The combined total score for both teams). Our pool is a marathon not a sprint..... 17 weeks of concentration, dedication and extreme confidence. Let the games begin. They do, September 10, 2015.
| Game ** = Pick cannot be edited, picks deadline has past. | Away Team | Home Team | Ranking [?] (Your goal is to get the most points.) | Game Date / Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9/10/2015 7:30 PM* | |||||
| 2 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 3 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 4 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 5 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 6 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 7 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 8 | 9/13/2015 12:00 PM* | |||||
| 9 | 9/13/2015 3:05 PM* | |||||
| 10 | 9/13/2015 3:05 PM* | |||||
| 11 | 9/13/2015 3:25 PM* | |||||
| 12 | 9/13/2015 3:25 PM* | |||||
| 13 | 9/13/2015 3:25 PM* | |||||
| 14 | 9/13/2015 7:30 PM* | |||||
| 15 | 9/14/2015 6:10 PM* | |||||
| 16 | 9/14/2015 9:20 PM* | |||||
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How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Jonathan Toews on Patrick Kane situation: 'You stay together as a team'.
By Josh Cooper
Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (19) and Patrick Kane (88) celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series on Monday, June 15, 2015, in Chicago. The Blackhawks defeated the Lightning 2-0 to win the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
You knew it was coming. A key member of the Chicago Blackhawks was going to be asked a question about Patrick Kane in an on the record interview.
Kane is currently being investigated for rape in Buffalo for an incident that allegedly occurred in early August. Kane has not been charged with a crime.
This kind of happened with Jonathan Toews on TSN 1290 in Winnipeg.
The question below:
Jonathan, I do want to ask you one question about being the captain of the Blackhawks. Obviously most people are aware of a situation that has been developing regarding one of your star teammates. Obviously I won’t ask you to comment on anything like that but when something like that happens during the offseason does your focus as far as dealing with your teammates as well as the media change going into training camp as the captain of the team?
Below is Tazer’s answer in full (S/t Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune who transcribed the whole thing):
“I think you have confidence that things like that will resolve themselves over time. For the time being, you stay together as a team. You support your teammate … uh, teammate, teammates that are maybe going through a rough patch. You know, we saw it last year with some rumors that spread through social media about several guys in the locker room. It’s not the first time we’ve seen situations like that and eventually you deal with it internally and you stay together as a team and you’re confidence as individuals and as a group that everyone kind of stays together. At the end of the day, we always say to each other that what is said and what is done within the locker is the only thing that matters. We don’t let anything going on the outside affect the way we do our jobs and the way we come to work together as a team. Again, I get a lot of credit because I have the ‘C’ on my sweater and I think we have a great group of guys who understand what it takes to be a leader, what it takes to be part of a good team. Clearly, it’s more than just what happens on the ice. There’s always a lot of things being said and things going on off the ice but no matter what, we do a good job of sticking together.”
So really, Toews didn’t say a whole lot with using a lot of words. He did bring up the situation earlier in the year when there were rumors about a situation in the Chicago locker room. Toews is a savvy, well-spoken veteran in regards to the media.
Also, even though the questioner said the question wasn't really about Kane ... come on. It totally was.
As we near the hockey season, these questions are going to become more and more frequent around the Blackhawks, and will likely turn into a major distraction.
Also, how will Kane deal with the flood of requests that will no doubt come his way when he reports to Chicago?
This was definitely a preview of what’s to come for the Blackhawks.
Antti Raanta reportedly rooted against Blackhawks during Stanley Cup run.
By Josh Cooper
You knew it was coming. A key member of the Chicago Blackhawks was going to be asked a question about Patrick Kane in an on the record interview.
Kane is currently being investigated for rape in Buffalo for an incident that allegedly occurred in early August. Kane has not been charged with a crime.
This kind of happened with Jonathan Toews on TSN 1290 in Winnipeg.
The question below:
Jonathan, I do want to ask you one question about being the captain of the Blackhawks. Obviously most people are aware of a situation that has been developing regarding one of your star teammates. Obviously I won’t ask you to comment on anything like that but when something like that happens during the offseason does your focus as far as dealing with your teammates as well as the media change going into training camp as the captain of the team?
Below is Tazer’s answer in full (S/t Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune who transcribed the whole thing):
“I think you have confidence that things like that will resolve themselves over time. For the time being, you stay together as a team. You support your teammate … uh, teammate, teammates that are maybe going through a rough patch. You know, we saw it last year with some rumors that spread through social media about several guys in the locker room. It’s not the first time we’ve seen situations like that and eventually you deal with it internally and you stay together as a team and you’re confidence as individuals and as a group that everyone kind of stays together. At the end of the day, we always say to each other that what is said and what is done within the locker is the only thing that matters. We don’t let anything going on the outside affect the way we do our jobs and the way we come to work together as a team. Again, I get a lot of credit because I have the ‘C’ on my sweater and I think we have a great group of guys who understand what it takes to be a leader, what it takes to be part of a good team. Clearly, it’s more than just what happens on the ice. There’s always a lot of things being said and things going on off the ice but no matter what, we do a good job of sticking together.”
So really, Toews didn’t say a whole lot with using a lot of words. He did bring up the situation earlier in the year when there were rumors about a situation in the Chicago locker room. Toews is a savvy, well-spoken veteran in regards to the media.
Also, even though the questioner said the question wasn't really about Kane ... come on. It totally was.
As we near the hockey season, these questions are going to become more and more frequent around the Blackhawks, and will likely turn into a major distraction.
Also, how will Kane deal with the flood of requests that will no doubt come his way when he reports to Chicago?
This was definitely a preview of what’s to come for the Blackhawks.
Antti Raanta reportedly rooted against Blackhawks during Stanley Cup run.
#Hawkstalk
Antti Raanta (Photo/csnchicago.com)
Apparently goalie Antti Raanta was masking his feelings during the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run this year.
According to a Finnish paper, Satakunnan Kansa, Raanta, who was traded to the New York Rangers this offseason, admitted he was rooting against the Blackhawks during the playoffs this year. Here's an excerpt Yahoo! Sports got from the story:
“I was really hoping Nashville would beat us in four games and I could get back to Finland. I was [so pissed off] about how Chicago was treating me.”
According to Raanta, Blackhawks were suffering of weak team spirit and head coach Joel Quenneville didn't seem to like him.
Raanta slid down the depth chart during the year with the emergence of Scott Darling. After he was dealt to the Rangers, Raanta publicly thanked the Blackhawks and their fans for their support.“I noticed that coach didn't like me, in that position it is pretty difficult to fight the windmills,” Raanta said
Update: Writer defends account of Antti Raanta's frustration with Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
Antti Raanta got plenty of flack on Wednesday for some harsh comments he made to a Finnish magazine about his last few months with the Blackhawks. The writer of that story said Raanta did vent his frustration, but it was just one quote from a very lengthy and positive story.
Juha Luotola, sports editor of Satakunnan Kansa, said he talked to Raanta for “3-4 hours and he had many great things to say about his time in Chicago. Unfortunately for him, this one line has now taken from his life story in the magazine.”
Raanta was quoted as saying that, “with fingers crossed, I hoped Nashville would beat us in four so I could get back to Finland sooner. I was so pissed.” Raanta told several Chicago outlets he did not say it.
Luotola, who says he has the interview on tape, added that Raanta’s one quote of frustration is getting overblown.
“Antti was frustrated after Chicago send him [a] second time [to the] AHL and he told me truly how he felt. Statement looks bad if you read only one line from story. It's easy to [be] misunderstood and get away from the full story,” Luotola said via email.
“But I also know that Antti didn't mean that in bad way. It was just his way to explain how frustrated he was: bad feeling last couple hours and after that, he was happy to be a part of team again.”
Blackhawks re-sign Joakim Nordstrom to one-year deal.
By C. Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks have agreed to a one-year contract with forward Joakim Nordstrom, the team announced Wednesday. Nordstrom's two-way deal reportedly carries a $605,000 cap hit for the Blackhawks.
Nordstrom, 23, registered three assists in 38 regular season games last season, where he helped contribute on the Blackhawks' penalty kill.
He also appeared in three postseason contests during last year's Stanley Cup run.
The Swedish native spent portions of the 2014-15 campaign with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, but figures to compete for a full-time roster spot this season on the fourth line.
Nordstrom was a third-round draft pick (No. 90 overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2010 NHL Draft.
With the re-signing of Nordstrom, Marcus Kruger is now the Blackhawks' only unsigned restricted free agent.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Jimmy Butler outranks Derrick Rose on SI top NBA players list. (CS&T/AA thinks that if Rose comes back healthy and can play the whole season, his ranking will rise back to the top.)Nordstrom, 23, registered three assists in 38 regular season games last season, where he helped contribute on the Blackhawks' penalty kill.
He also appeared in three postseason contests during last year's Stanley Cup run.
The Swedish native spent portions of the 2014-15 campaign with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, but figures to compete for a full-time roster spot this season on the fourth line.
Nordstrom was a third-round draft pick (No. 90 overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2010 NHL Draft.
With the re-signing of Nordstrom, Marcus Kruger is now the Blackhawks' only unsigned restricted free agent.
By Phil Thompson
Jimmy Butler (Photo/David Becker, AP)
Sports Illustrated posted its top 100 NBA players list for the 2015-16 season Wednesday and -- well, this is awkward -- backcourt mates Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler are headed in opposite directions.
In SI's ranking, the Bulls guards have swapped positions in the pecking order. Butler jumped 80 places to 18th overall.
"Butler’s major jump in the Top 100 rankings is unusual, but hardly an over-correction," Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney write. "His career year yielded his first All-Star selection, his second All-Defensive selection, the 2015 Most Improved Player award, and a five-year, $95 million contract in free agency. He performed at an elite level last season no matter how you slice it, ranking No. 6 league-wide in Win Shares, No. 16 in WARP, and in the top 25 in PER and Real Plus-Minus."
Arguably, Rose would drop in many NBA writers' rankings after averaging 17.7 points per game and 4.9 assists, but he fell from 23rd overall to 60th on SI's list.
"At the peak of his powers, Derrick Rose’s ferocious off-the-dribble game was practically an offense in and of itself for the Bulls. ... Those days are gone, existing now only in flashes, as recurring knee injuries have sidelined Rose for more than 180 games over the last three years and neutered his offensive attack."
Three other Bulls most cracked the top 100. Pau Gasol rose nine spots from last season to 40th, Joakim Noah fell from 17th to 43rd, and Taj Gibson dropped 15 spots to 90th.
Why Theo Epstein thinks these Cubs can withstand the pressure.
"At the peak of his powers, Derrick Rose’s ferocious off-the-dribble game was practically an offense in and of itself for the Bulls. ... Those days are gone, existing now only in flashes, as recurring knee injuries have sidelined Rose for more than 180 games over the last three years and neutered his offensive attack."
Three other Bulls most cracked the top 100. Pau Gasol rose nine spots from last season to 40th, Joakim Noah fell from 17th to 43rd, and Taj Gibson dropped 15 spots to 90th.
Why Theo Epstein thinks these Cubs can withstand the pressure.
Hector Rondon waited around his hotel room, not sure if he should wear his Superman onesie to Dodger Stadium.
The unofficial Cubs closer knew he made the right decision as soon as he got down to the hotel lobby and saw his teammates already dressed up for Joe Maddon’s latest stunt.
With a red cape around his neck, Rondon rolled off the team bus and into the visiting clubhouse around 2:25 p.m. on Sunday, followed by Starlin Castro in a Super Mario Bros. T-shirt and pajama pants. Pedro Strop went with the same look in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Of course, they posed for pictures that would be posted on Twitter and Instagram. This was about two-and-a-half hours before first pitch against a $300 million first-place team in front of a national-television audience.
The Cubs would be back in the same room toasting Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter with bottles of Dom Perignon before boarding an overnight flight home from Los Angeles.
“We’re not guilty of overthinking too many things, which is good,” Theo Epstein said, talking about this specific group and not necessarily his baseball-operations department as a whole.
“The guys are really loose, and it’s not just words. I think if you’re around the team, you feel it. There’s not a lot of weight to the clubhouse on a day-to-day basis.”
As ex-manager Dale Sveum used to say: “Ya think?”
The Cubs have lost six of their last eight games and still woke up on Thursday with a 6.5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the National League’s second wild card. FanGraphs (96.4 percent) and Baseball Prospectus (93.7 percent) projected the Cubs as locks for the playoffs.
“There is a momentum at play in September that’s powerful,” Epstein said. “It’s more powerful than playoff odds and math and things like that that people like to look at this time of year.
“I think being loose and having a really positive vibe — even if we lose a few games in a row — is really important to help keep the momentum going the right way.”
In other words: Save it, nerds.
Epstein was the lead architect for the Boston Red Sox teams that won World Series titles in 2004 and 2007 — and the dysfunctional group that wound up with four words near the top of the 2011 season’s obituary: Fried chicken and beer.
Those Red Sox had been 30 games over .500 on Sept. 3, 2011, in second place in the American League East and nine games up on Maddon’s Tampa Bay Rays.
“At this time of year,” Epstein said, “if you start paying attention to the standings, or things aren’t going your way, or you’re not performing up to expectations, or you don’t like what people are writing about you, or you’re scoreboard-watching and not getting the results that you want to get, players and teams and organizations can get too tight.
“And it’s really hard to escape that.”
The Rays stormed into the playoffs as a wild-card team while Boston’s collapse led to sweeping changes at Fenway Park, with Epstein leaving for a president’s title and a direct report to ownership in Chicago.
The Cubs have serious issues with their rotation beyond Arrieta and Jon Lester. Injuries to Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler could create bigger holes in a lineup that might already be dragging.
Addison Russell played in only 68 minor-league games last season, and Kris Bryant hasn’t experienced playing through September and into October, either.
But the Cubs could go 15-15 the rest of the way and still win 90 games. This isn’t a fluke team or an accidental contender.
“Our thing is just playing naïve,” outfielder Chris Coghlan said. “Just going out there and doing it (because) that’s really essentially what it’s about.
“When we play in October, it’s the same thing. It’s the same game. Now it’s magnified to the nth degree, but it really is the same thing for us. You’re just critiqued a whole lot more or praised a whole lot more.”
So there goes Strop — his green-and-gold Air Jordans balanced on a two-wheel electric scooter — through a Wrigley Field clubhouse that sometimes smells like stale beer and has a disco ball and DJ lighting equipment hanging from the ceiling.
“Just show up, play hard and compete and try to win a ballgame,” Epstein said. “If you win, celebrate extremely hard for about 15 minutes and then let it go (and) do it again the next day. That’s really valuable and it also helps you avoid the pitfall of getting too tight.
“It’s such a loose group. I don’t think players are out there thinking about the standings or thinking about pressure or thinking about numbers or thinking about the gravity of the situation.
“I think they’re out there relaxed, loose, having fun, playing hard for one another, enjoying the moment and trying to let their talent take over and win a ballgame.”
Beginning Labor Day, the Cubs will have 13 games in 21 days against the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Check back then to see if the Cubs are still playing so loose and carefree — or suddenly feeling the weight of history and expectations.
“This team doesn’t strike me as the type that’s going to be overwhelmed by any situation,” Epstein said. “Over the course of 162, we’re going to go through our ups and downs. But I think this team thrives in competitive situations.
“You’ve seen how we’ve performed against good teams, how we’ve performed in certain games with our backs against the wall, limiting losing streaks or facing real tough starting pitching.
“I think this team responds to that type of challenge. And we’ll see this month.”
Jeff Samardzija wins for first time since July as White Sox avoid sweep.
By Dan Hayes
Jeff Samardzija snapped a personal six-game losing streak Thursday afternoon as he and the White Sox rebounded from an awful start.
Jeff Samardzija snapped a personal six-game losing streak Thursday afternoon as he and the White Sox rebounded from an awful start.
Samardzija settled in after he allowed a grand slam and his offense chipped away at Kyle Gibson and the Minnesota Twins bullpen as the White Sox avoided a series sweep with a 6-4 victory at Target Field.
J.B. Shuck’s pinch-hit, two-run triple and Avisail Garcia’s two RBIs helped the White Sox to only their fifth victory in 16 tries against Minnesota this season. The victory is the first for Samardzija since July 28 and he had to work hard to earn it.
“When you’re in the situation I’ve been in here the last month, that next turning point doesn’t come easy,” Samardzija said. “Very rarely do you come out and go eight innings, shutout and get the win 10-0. Usually you’ve got to kick that by going out and working hard and trusting your stuff and battling, and something like that will happen that can turn the tides.”
Samardzija’s fortunes changed when he was better able to command the outside corner to right-handed hitters on Thursday.
Before that, chances of avoiding the sweep and a seventh straight loss didn’t appear to be too good. Samardzija walked four of the first 14 batters he faced and paid for it when Eddie Rosario hit a grand slam in the third inning to put the Twins ahead 4-1.
But Samardzija — who had an 8.82 ERA in losing his last six starts — found a rhythm. He struck out Chris Herrman to end the third inning and retired 11 of 12 batters into the seventh inning.
“Early on he just seemed to be getting around it,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He finally found that and took care of it and was able to hit the opposite side of the plate. He seemed to be hooking everything on the first base side. After the homer, it just seemed like he was able to correct it and pitch well.
“He grinded through it. Nobody wants to give up the homer like that but he put it behind him.”
Samardzija exited after he allowed a one-out single in the seventh inning but Nate Jones eventually took over to hold down the Twins. Samardzija allowed four earned runs and five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
The right-hander’s rally spurred on his team’s.
They got a run in the fourth on Alexei Ramirez’s two-out RBI single and another in the sixth on Avisail Garcia’s sac fly. Garcia also had an RBI groundout in the first.
The White Sox completed their rally in the seventh inning against Casey Fien and Co. Ramirez singled and Geo Soto walked ahead of a sac bunt and Shuck ripped a two-run triple to left-center field to give the White Sox a 5-4 lead. Adam Eaton’s sac fly made it a two-run game.
Jones made it hold up with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three. His last out was the biggest as Jones retired Miguel Sano with a man aboard two days after the rookie hit a game-tying homer off the hard-throwing right-hander.
David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 28th save in 34 tries.
“Great (win),” Shuck said. “Samardzija did a great job. He had that one inning they put up four and I felt like they never had anywhere where they even sniffed scoring a run. He did a great job of shutting them down and then the bullpen came in and did a great job, Jonesy and Robertson and Jennings. So it was great to get everybody back on pace.”
But Samardzija — who had an 8.82 ERA in losing his last six starts — found a rhythm. He struck out Chris Herrman to end the third inning and retired 11 of 12 batters into the seventh inning.
“Early on he just seemed to be getting around it,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He finally found that and took care of it and was able to hit the opposite side of the plate. He seemed to be hooking everything on the first base side. After the homer, it just seemed like he was able to correct it and pitch well.
“He grinded through it. Nobody wants to give up the homer like that but he put it behind him.”
Samardzija exited after he allowed a one-out single in the seventh inning but Nate Jones eventually took over to hold down the Twins. Samardzija allowed four earned runs and five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
The right-hander’s rally spurred on his team’s.
They got a run in the fourth on Alexei Ramirez’s two-out RBI single and another in the sixth on Avisail Garcia’s sac fly. Garcia also had an RBI groundout in the first.
The White Sox completed their rally in the seventh inning against Casey Fien and Co. Ramirez singled and Geo Soto walked ahead of a sac bunt and Shuck ripped a two-run triple to left-center field to give the White Sox a 5-4 lead. Adam Eaton’s sac fly made it a two-run game.
Jones made it hold up with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three. His last out was the biggest as Jones retired Miguel Sano with a man aboard two days after the rookie hit a game-tying homer off the hard-throwing right-hander.
David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 28th save in 34 tries.
“Great (win),” Shuck said. “Samardzija did a great job. He had that one inning they put up four and I felt like they never had anywhere where they even sniffed scoring a run. He did a great job of shutting them down and then the bullpen came in and did a great job, Jonesy and Robertson and Jennings. So it was great to get everybody back on pace.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Top trio of McIlroy, Spieth, Day battling for No. 1.
AFP
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in action during the pro-am event prior to the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston on September 3, 2015 in Norton, Massachusetts (AFP Photo/Ross Kinnaird)
Rory McIlroy is confident he can hold on to his world number one ranking at the Deutsche Bank Championship that tees off Friday, even with Jordan Spieth and Jason Day breathing down his neck.
All he has to do is play good golf.
I'm sort of holding this ranking, I feel, based on how I played last year," admitted McIlroy, whose 2015 campaign was disrupted by a left ankle injury that forced him out of the British Open.
"But I've got a good run of events coming up to put another couple of wins on the board before the end of the year, and I feel I'm playing well enough to do that."
NASCAR; Darlington's return: Lady in Black back on Labor Day.
All he has to do is play good golf.
I'm sort of holding this ranking, I feel, based on how I played last year," admitted McIlroy, whose 2015 campaign was disrupted by a left ankle injury that forced him out of the British Open.
"But I've got a good run of events coming up to put another couple of wins on the board before the end of the year, and I feel I'm playing well enough to do that."
McIlroy regained the world number one ranking last week without lifting a club when Spieth missed the cut at the Barclays to bring his two-week reign at the top to an end.
Day, who reached a career-high third in the world with his PGA Championship triumph last month, won the Barclays to give himself a shot at the summit this week as well.
His 10.99 average world ranking points put him just 1.36 points behind the 12.35 of McIlroy, with Spieth in the middle on 12.22.
Before teeing off, at least, each man was willing to defer to another when asked who's the best right now.
Day, who reached a career-high third in the world with his PGA Championship triumph last month, won the Barclays to give himself a shot at the summit this week as well.
His 10.99 average world ranking points put him just 1.36 points behind the 12.35 of McIlroy, with Spieth in the middle on 12.22.
Before teeing off, at least, each man was willing to defer to another when asked who's the best right now.
"You'd have to say Jordan," said McIlroy, pointing to the 22-year-old Spieth's two major titles among four wins in 2015.
"I believe that Jason is number one right now," said Spieth, in deference to the red-hot Day's three wins since July.
Day, however, says the actual rankings don't lie.
"It's a two-year roll-over for a reason," the Aussie said. "I honestly believe that I'm playing some good golf right now (but) you can't look at the world rankings and say 'Yes I'm the best player in the world but I'm third in the world rankings."
- Winning takes care of it -
The only thing for Day to do is play his way to the top. Like his rivals in the race, he said he won't be thinking about the ranking when he tees it up at TPC Boston in the second of four events in the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.
As McIlroy put it: "Winning tournaments and playing well takes care of all of that."
Spieth said the Big Three buzz isn't distracting.
"I'm not focused on what either one is doing on the leaderboard unless they're in the lead," he said of McIlroy and Day. "And then if they're in the lead, how do I get up there and surpass them?"
"It's a two-year roll-over for a reason," the Aussie said. "I honestly believe that I'm playing some good golf right now (but) you can't look at the world rankings and say 'Yes I'm the best player in the world but I'm third in the world rankings."
- Winning takes care of it -
The only thing for Day to do is play his way to the top. Like his rivals in the race, he said he won't be thinking about the ranking when he tees it up at TPC Boston in the second of four events in the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.
As McIlroy put it: "Winning tournaments and playing well takes care of all of that."
Spieth said the Big Three buzz isn't distracting.
"I'm not focused on what either one is doing on the leaderboard unless they're in the lead," he said of McIlroy and Day. "And then if they're in the lead, how do I get up there and surpass them?"
Spieth is aiming to bounce back after suffering just his third missed cut of the season in New Jersey last week. He's returned to an old set of irons after trying a new one at the Barclays, and said some work with coach Cameron McCormick had assured him there was no big problem with his game.
"There wasn't much to fix," he said. "It was more what I was making up in my head."
Day, in contrast, is coming in hot. After his record-setting 20-under par triumph in the PGA, he finished 19-under at Plainfield Country Club on Sunday to win the Barclays by six strokes.
"It's been quite a run," Day said, adding in an ominous note for his challengers: "I liked last week's venue, and I like this one even more."
The top 70 finishers in the 100-strong field for the $8.25 million event advance to the third playoff tournament, the BMW Championship in Chicago.
The Tour Championship in Atlanta caps the playoffs, with a $10 million bonus up for grabs to the final FedEx Cup series points leader.
Jason Day: Tiger's texts are complicated but helping me play better.
By Ryan Ballengee
United States' Tiger Woods, left, laughs with Australia's Jason Day before putting on the 18th hole during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Tiger Woods texts with Jason Day pretty often, and the messages usually divulge some golf wisdom that only a guy who has won 79 times on the PGA Tour can offer.
Day appreciates the gesture and the mentoring, but he said Thursday that he doesn't always pick up what Woods is putting down.
His text messages, I have to digest them a little bit more, because he is very smart,” said Day. “He has to kind of dumb it down to my level, man. [He’s] saying these words, I've got to try to think them through."
These aren't "If a tree falls in the woods ..." kind of messages, but Woods, who thinks about the game perhaps more than any of its greatest champions, has a lot to offer on the psychology of winning. Day, who won The Barclays by six last week for his third PGA Tour win in four starts, is soaking it up as best he can.
"It’s been really cool," said Day, who has played a number of practice rounds with Woods this year. "Who wouldn’t want that mentorship from a player like that, especially on the golf course? To be able to receive text messages, and ask him questions, and him being so open towards me has been fantastic.”
If Day wins this week at TPC Boston, he may be able to pick Woods' brain on being No. 1 in the world. Were Day to win and current No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Jordan Spieth both finish outside the top two, then the Aussie could become the top player in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Jason Day: Tiger's texts are complicated but helping me play better.
By Ryan Ballengee
Tiger Woods texts with Jason Day pretty often, and the messages usually divulge some golf wisdom that only a guy who has won 79 times on the PGA Tour can offer.
Day appreciates the gesture and the mentoring, but he said Thursday that he doesn't always pick up what Woods is putting down.
His text messages, I have to digest them a little bit more, because he is very smart,” said Day. “He has to kind of dumb it down to my level, man. [He’s] saying these words, I've got to try to think them through."
These aren't "If a tree falls in the woods ..." kind of messages, but Woods, who thinks about the game perhaps more than any of its greatest champions, has a lot to offer on the psychology of winning. Day, who won The Barclays by six last week for his third PGA Tour win in four starts, is soaking it up as best he can.
"It’s been really cool," said Day, who has played a number of practice rounds with Woods this year. "Who wouldn’t want that mentorship from a player like that, especially on the golf course? To be able to receive text messages, and ask him questions, and him being so open towards me has been fantastic.”
If Day wins this week at TPC Boston, he may be able to pick Woods' brain on being No. 1 in the world. Were Day to win and current No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Jordan Spieth both finish outside the top two, then the Aussie could become the top player in the Official World Golf Ranking.
By PETE IACOBELLLI
Kevin Harvick (4) and Joey Logano (22) race during a NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. The superspeedway that had been a springtime staple of NASCAR the past 10 seasons has gone more than a year since engines were revved for the Southern 500. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)
Kyle Petty was never among the biggest fans of Darlington Raceway, once saying the big oval should be filled with water and turned into a stadium-sized bathtub.
''In a throwaway society, I think we need traditions to live, and this was a tradition,'' he said. ''It was a tradition of this sport. It was part of the cornerstone of this sport.''
NHRA: All you need to know about the 61st U.S. Nationals.
Still, the longtime NASCAR racer and NBC TV broadcaster never understood the Southern 500 leaving its historic spot on Labor Day weekend after 2003. That ends this year with the ''Lady in Black'' again being run over summer's closing holiday. Petty couldn't be happier about it.
''I remember when they moved it, and honestly, I was ticked, and that's putting that politely,'' Petty said.
Petty never did well at Darlington - no wins and just five top-10 finishes in 51 career events - by he knows well the significance of its place as NASCAR's oldest superspeedway.
For Petty and much of the NASCAR garage, Darlington was a touchstone of the past in an era where bigger and flashier has typically edged out older, now shuttered venues like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham on the circuit. Darlington appeared headed for a similar fate a decade ago with its signature event gone.
Instead, the raceway will play a significant role in setting the field for this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.
''In a throwaway society, I think we need traditions to live, and this was a tradition,'' he said. ''It was a tradition of this sport. It was part of the cornerstone of this sport.''
Most of the weekend will be a celebration of the past: 32 NASCAR teams will run some type of retro paint scheme on their cars for Sunday's race.
''The response we got from everyone as soon as we told them was amazing,'' Darlington president Chip Wile said.
Darlington organizers have kept the track vibrant the past dozen years, running successfully at night on Mother's Day weekend from 2005 through 2013. A year ago, Darlington's spring race was moved to April as NASCAR realigned things to allow a return to September for the track too tough to tame.
''From a driver's perspective, when they put the Southern 500 on a trophy, it doesn't matter what date it is,'' said Kevin Harvick, who won the last Southern 500 in April 2014. ''But I think when you step back and look at the nostalgia of the race, it brings a different aspect to it.''
Also enhancing the race is the desperation factor for race teams. There are only two events left to make it in the 16-driver Chase.
''It's tough when you're needing to steal a win to get in,'' said Ricky Stenhouse Jr., one of the three Roush Fenway Racing drivers outside the top 16.
Darlington has long been a track whose quirky turns - the 1.366-mile layout is shaped like an egg instead of a symmetrical oval - mean all drivers will run against the wall and struggle at times to fit back in line.
That means tempers will rise through the night. Harvick and Kyle Busch had a memorable dustup in the pit area after the 2011 race where Harvick left his car and reached into Busch's car. Busch eventually bumped aside Harvick's driverless car and pulled away.
A year later, crews for Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman scrummed in the pits after their drivers tangled with each other on the track.
''Darlington always brings out the best is us drivers as far as tempers flaring,'' Aric Almirola said ''It's such a challenging race track. It's a draining race track, not just physically, but mentally just trying to keep that focus.''NHRA: All you need to know about the 61st U.S. Nationals.
By Jerry Bonkowski
Here’s all the information you need to know about this weekend’s 61st annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis:
WHAT: 18th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the last race in the NHRA Mello Yello Series regular season. At the conclusion of this event, the top 10 drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – will be locked in to begin the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs, leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg, Ind. From I-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west for four miles past downtown Clermont. The facility’s main entrance is on the left, one-half mile past Raceway Road. From I-74 go south on Ronald Reagan Parkway, exit 68 and turn south. Turn east on U.S. 136 and entrance on the track will be on the right.
POINTS: A special world championship points system is in effect at this event, where drivers in the Mello Yello Series categories will earn points based on a point-and-a-half system (150 points to win). A single racer in each category can earn a maximum of 208 points at this event. Teams also will get 15 points instead of 10 for making a qualifying attempt. Qualifying bonus points will remain at 3-2-1 for the five qualifying sessions and the standard 1-8 points will be given for qualifying positions. Drivers who set a national E.T. record will earn 20 points.
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 7.
SCHEDULE (All times Eastern):
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2: Lucas Oil Series qualifying
THURSDAY, Sept. 3 – Lucas Oil Series qualifying and eliminations
FRIDAY, Sept. 4 – Lucas Oil Series (featuring Mopar HEMI Challenge): J&A Service Pro Mod Series qualifying at 6 pm, Mello Yello Series qualifying at 6:30 pm
SATURDAY, Sept. 5 – Lucas Oil Series qualifying and eliminations: Pro Mod Series qualifying at 2 and 5:30 pm; Traxxas Nitro Shootout Top Fuel rounds at 4, 5:25 and 7:45 pm; Mello Yello Series qualifying at 2:45 pm and 6:15 pm
SUNDAY, Sept. 6 – Lucas Oil Series qualifying and eliminations: J&A Service Pro Mod Series qualifying at 10:30 am, first round of eliminations at 2 pm; Traxxas Nitro Shootout (Funny Car) rounds at 12:30, 1:55 and 4:15 pm; Mello Yello Series qualifying at 11 am and 2:30 pm
MONDAY, Sept. 7 – Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 am; Mello Yello Series eliminations begin at 11 am.
TELEVISION:
—Sunday, ESPN, qualifying coverage, 11 am to 1:30 pm ET.
—Sunday, ESPN2, qualifying coverage, 11 pm to 1:30 am ET.
—Monday, ESPN, final eliminations, 4 to 7 pm ET.
2014 U.S. NATIONALS WINNERS: Richie Crampton, Top Fuel; Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car; Shane Gray, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST CAREER U.S. NATIONALS VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel, 9; Bob Glidden, Pro Stock, 9; Don Garlits, Top Fuel, 8; Don Prudhomme, Top Fuel and Funny Car, 7; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock, 6; Dave Schultz, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 6; Ed McCulloch, Funny Car and Top Fuel, 6; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock, 6; John Force, Funny Car, 4; Larry Dixon, Top Fuel, 4.
EVENT HISTORY: The NHRA’s most historic and prestigious event has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as “The Nationals” and often called the “Big Go” by drag racing historians and fans, the event was first held at an airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Raceway in 1961.
FAST FACTS: The Traxxas Nitro Shootout will offer $100,000 to the winners in special bonus events for qualified Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers. … Tony Schumacher is an 11-time U.S. Nationals finalist in Top Fuel (winning nine). Schumacher’s first career NHRA start came at the U.S. Nationals in 1996 and the then rookie posted a runner-up finish to Cory McClenathan. … John Force, 16-time NHRA Mello Yello Series world champion and winner of a record 143 events, has won the U.S. Nationals four times, his last coming in 2002. … Four women have earned Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victories, including Shirley Muldowney once in Top Fuel, Ashley Force Hood twice in Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria once in Funny Car and Angelle Sampey twice in Pro Stock Motorcycle. … Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Jim Head and Ed McCulloch have won the U.S. Nationals in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, while Antron Brown has also won the race in Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. … Eight female drivers representing all four Mello Yello Series categories are expected to compete in the U.S. Nationals. … Several high-profile drivers are looking for their first victory in the world’s most prestigious drag race, including two-time Indy runner-up Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, defending world champ Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Tony Pedregon in Funny Car and defending world champ Allen Johnson in Pro Stock.
TRACK HISTORY: In 1958, Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger Ward, Howard Fieber and 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals invested $5,000 each to fund the development of what would become Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The group purchased a 267-acre farm about seven miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a multipurpose auto racing facility. The original intention was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. Nearly as an afterthought, and as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5-mile road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA, the drag strip was the first of the three courses to be completed, with the facility’s first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. During the 1960 U.S. Nationals in Detroit, a handshake agreement between Binford and NHRA founder Wally Parks promised that the event would move to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 1961. The NHRA purchased the entire facility in 1979. The first major improvement came in 1983 with the construction and dedication of Parks Tower, the four-story drag strip tower. In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track at a cost of nearly $2.5 million, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, NHRA and Lucas Oil Raceway constructed a new drag strip racing surface, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. In 2006, new soft barrier walls were added to the oval. In 2007, the track announced its first track entitlement with O’Reilly Auto Parts. In 2011, the track announced a new track entitlement with Lucas Oil Products. The track – formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park – is now known as Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. During the winter of 2008, a new main track office building was constructed near the track entrance.
NHRA TRACK RECORDS:
–Top Fuel – 3.740 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Sept. ’13; 328.54 mph by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ’14.
–Funny Car – 3.998 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’14; 322.73 mph by Courtney Force, Sept. ’14.
–Pro Stock – 6.538 sec. by Jason Line, Sept. ’11; 211.13 mph by Mike Edwards, Sept. ’12.
–Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.815 sec. by Andrew Hines, Sept. ’10; 196.76 mph by Hines, Sept. ’10.
EXISTING NHRA NATIONAL RECORDS:
–Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
–Funny Car – 3.901 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 329.58 mph by Matt Hagan, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.
–Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown, N.J.
–Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., April ’15, Charlotte, N.C.
SOCCER: The tipping point of Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as USMNT head coach.WHERE: Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg, Ind. From I-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west for four miles past downtown Clermont. The facility’s main entrance is on the left, one-half mile past Raceway Road. From I-74 go south on Ronald Reagan Parkway, exit 68 and turn south. Turn east on U.S. 136 and entrance on the track will be on the right.
POINTS: A special world championship points system is in effect at this event, where drivers in the Mello Yello Series categories will earn points based on a point-and-a-half system (150 points to win). A single racer in each category can earn a maximum of 208 points at this event. Teams also will get 15 points instead of 10 for making a qualifying attempt. Qualifying bonus points will remain at 3-2-1 for the five qualifying sessions and the standard 1-8 points will be given for qualifying positions. Drivers who set a national E.T. record will earn 20 points.
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 7.
SCHEDULE (All times Eastern):
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2: Lucas Oil Series qualifying
THURSDAY, Sept. 3 – Lucas Oil Series qualifying and eliminations
FRIDAY, Sept. 4 – Lucas Oil Series (featuring Mopar HEMI Challenge): J&A Service Pro Mod Series qualifying at 6 pm, Mello Yello Series qualifying at 6:30 pm
SATURDAY, Sept. 5 – Lucas Oil Series qualifying and eliminations: Pro Mod Series qualifying at 2 and 5:30 pm; Traxxas Nitro Shootout Top Fuel rounds at 4, 5:25 and 7:45 pm; Mello Yello Series qualifying at 2:45 pm and 6:15 pm
SUNDAY, Sept. 6 – Lucas Oil Series qualifying and eliminations: J&A Service Pro Mod Series qualifying at 10:30 am, first round of eliminations at 2 pm; Traxxas Nitro Shootout (Funny Car) rounds at 12:30, 1:55 and 4:15 pm; Mello Yello Series qualifying at 11 am and 2:30 pm
MONDAY, Sept. 7 – Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 am; Mello Yello Series eliminations begin at 11 am.
TELEVISION:
—Sunday, ESPN, qualifying coverage, 11 am to 1:30 pm ET.
—Sunday, ESPN2, qualifying coverage, 11 pm to 1:30 am ET.
—Monday, ESPN, final eliminations, 4 to 7 pm ET.
2014 U.S. NATIONALS WINNERS: Richie Crampton, Top Fuel; Alexis DeJoria, Funny Car; Shane Gray, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST CAREER U.S. NATIONALS VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel, 9; Bob Glidden, Pro Stock, 9; Don Garlits, Top Fuel, 8; Don Prudhomme, Top Fuel and Funny Car, 7; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock, 6; Dave Schultz, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 6; Ed McCulloch, Funny Car and Top Fuel, 6; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock, 6; John Force, Funny Car, 4; Larry Dixon, Top Fuel, 4.
EVENT HISTORY: The NHRA’s most historic and prestigious event has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as “The Nationals” and often called the “Big Go” by drag racing historians and fans, the event was first held at an airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Raceway in 1961.
FAST FACTS: The Traxxas Nitro Shootout will offer $100,000 to the winners in special bonus events for qualified Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers. … Tony Schumacher is an 11-time U.S. Nationals finalist in Top Fuel (winning nine). Schumacher’s first career NHRA start came at the U.S. Nationals in 1996 and the then rookie posted a runner-up finish to Cory McClenathan. … John Force, 16-time NHRA Mello Yello Series world champion and winner of a record 143 events, has won the U.S. Nationals four times, his last coming in 2002. … Four women have earned Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victories, including Shirley Muldowney once in Top Fuel, Ashley Force Hood twice in Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria once in Funny Car and Angelle Sampey twice in Pro Stock Motorcycle. … Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Jim Head and Ed McCulloch have won the U.S. Nationals in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, while Antron Brown has also won the race in Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. … Eight female drivers representing all four Mello Yello Series categories are expected to compete in the U.S. Nationals. … Several high-profile drivers are looking for their first victory in the world’s most prestigious drag race, including two-time Indy runner-up Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, defending world champ Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Tony Pedregon in Funny Car and defending world champ Allen Johnson in Pro Stock.
TRACK HISTORY: In 1958, Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger Ward, Howard Fieber and 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals invested $5,000 each to fund the development of what would become Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The group purchased a 267-acre farm about seven miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a multipurpose auto racing facility. The original intention was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. Nearly as an afterthought, and as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5-mile road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA, the drag strip was the first of the three courses to be completed, with the facility’s first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. During the 1960 U.S. Nationals in Detroit, a handshake agreement between Binford and NHRA founder Wally Parks promised that the event would move to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 1961. The NHRA purchased the entire facility in 1979. The first major improvement came in 1983 with the construction and dedication of Parks Tower, the four-story drag strip tower. In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track at a cost of nearly $2.5 million, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, NHRA and Lucas Oil Raceway constructed a new drag strip racing surface, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. In 2006, new soft barrier walls were added to the oval. In 2007, the track announced its first track entitlement with O’Reilly Auto Parts. In 2011, the track announced a new track entitlement with Lucas Oil Products. The track – formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park – is now known as Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. During the winter of 2008, a new main track office building was constructed near the track entrance.
NHRA TRACK RECORDS:
–Top Fuel – 3.740 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Sept. ’13; 328.54 mph by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ’14.
–Funny Car – 3.998 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’14; 322.73 mph by Courtney Force, Sept. ’14.
–Pro Stock – 6.538 sec. by Jason Line, Sept. ’11; 211.13 mph by Mike Edwards, Sept. ’12.
–Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.815 sec. by Andrew Hines, Sept. ’10; 196.76 mph by Hines, Sept. ’10.
EXISTING NHRA NATIONAL RECORDS:
–Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
–Funny Car – 3.901 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 329.58 mph by Matt Hagan, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.
–Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown, N.J.
–Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., April ’15, Charlotte, N.C.
By Leander Schaerlaeckens
Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't gotten over it yet.
"Obviously it happened what happened in the Gold Cup," the United States men's national team head coach told reporters on Wednesday. "We don't want to get deeper into that topic. There's still a little bit of anger in me."
And rightly so. The United States men's national team's failure to at least reach the final of that tournament, instead crashing out of the semifinals in a 2-1 loss to Jamaica, can reasonably be designated as the biggest American failure at a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup.
It was the first time the USA didn't reach the final of the Gold Cup since 2003, six editions prior. And back then, the Americans lost the semifinal to mighty Brazil on an 89th-minute equalizer and an extra-time goal. Brazil had won the World Cup just the summer before. And back then, the U.S. at least won the admittedly pointless third-place game, which it failed to do this time around.
"I think it left something in our stomach, the way it happened there, the decisions of referees," Klinsmann said. "A lot of controversial stuff that happened in that Gold Cup left something bitter, something sour with us."
In truth, Klinsmann's men were a tad unfortunate to lose to Jamaica, going behind on a flukey goal and then losing on the free kick that ensued from a most unusual call on goalkeeper Brad Guzan for carrying the ball a few inches out of his penalty area. But then, apart from a 6-0 beat down laid on lowly Cuba in the quarterfinals, the U.S. had convinced nobody of its title credentials all tournament long. So for Klinsmann to blame the tournament's famous unpredictability and problematic officiating is something of a red herring.
Because he too must know that the last time an American team showed so poorly at the Gold Cup, back in 2011, when the final was lost 4-2 to archrivals Mexico in humiliating fashion, the head coach, Bob Bradley, was fired.
Klinsmann wasn't. There was no serious talk of axing the man appointed the very day after Bradley was relieved of his duties. Probably because he is Klinsmann. Probably because so much hope and so many reputations have been staked to his presumed success.
Upon his appointment more than four years ago, a large swath of the American soccer community convinced itself that he was just the man to lift the program to some perceived "next level." And while Klinsmann's ideas have indeed been grand, their deployment in practice has yielded little more than pedestrian results. There have been a few friendly wins over major powers, but no tangible progress when the results have mattered.
The entirety of Klinsmann's tenure has resided somewhere between failure to live up to the hype and outright failure. He won the off-year Gold Cup, as he was supposed to, and he reached the round of 16 at the World Cup, as he was supposed to. (Well, the Americans had a very difficult group, so Klinsmann deserves credit for surviving it. But then his team was badly outplayed in three of four games, so that sort of offsets the accomplishment.) He has always done just well enough for his job to be secure and for the illusion that better days were surely ahead to stay alive. But he's never done so well as to suggest that such a next level was within short reach.
Until this summer and that fateful Gold Cup, that is. In reality, there were few excuses for Klinsmann to hide behind, even if he managed to conjure some. Even though the summer following a World Cup can be written off as a rebuilding period, he had brought a veteran team into the tournament with the stated objective of winning the thing. And then he didn't.
Which brings us to the present, and the friendlies with Peru and Brazil in the offing on Friday in Washington, D.C. and Tuesday outside of Boston, respectively – followed by an October winner-take-all game against Mexico in Los Angeles for a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Now we have arrived at something of a tipping point in Klinsmann's tenure. Perform well against these South American powers – and if Peru doesn't strike you as a juggernaut, consider that it placed third at this summer's Copa America, ahead of record five-time world champions Brazil – and get some kind of positive result versus Mexico, and the loss to Jamaica might well be remembered merely as a one-off blip.
Sink further into the mire of mediocrity, however, and patience with Klinsmann's beautiful dreams and austere reality could finally wear thin.
Whether it's fair that the course of a four-year body of work will be judged against a pair of friendlies and another one-game playoff can be debated. But it is sort of fitting, considering that whatever credibility Klinsmann has managed to gain on the field has been won in friendlies – the famous victories in Italy and Mexico, and more recently in the Netherlands and Germany.
And while winner-take-all games come coupled with the cruelty of chance, they are nevertheless the dominant mechanism for deciding who wins the glory and who doesn't in international soccer. After the group stage, the World Cup – and every other major tournament – becomes a succession of one-game playoffs, and at some point the Americans will have to get comfortable with them if they're ever going to get anywhere. Pointing out that historically the USA is 1-6 in knockout games at the World Cup might be belaboring the argument here, but it nevertheless underpins the failure to join the sport's elite.
Looked at that way, these three games will make for a fitting litmus test for a head coach who has been given many benefits of many doubts, considering that his teams have looked and played nothing like he said they would.
To be fair, Klinsmann will be hamstrung in some ways. An injury rash among his outside backs meant he had to call in eight central defenders to plug the holes. Only Greg Garza is regularly employed as a back, but he has been glued to the bench for Atlas, his team in Mexico.
The Americans also will be without midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Clint Dempsey until their second game against Brazil next week. Those two playmakers, who are inarguably the most influential members of the team on the field, are being spared in order to accommodate their Major League Soccer seasons with Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders, respectively (who face each other on Saturday, by the way).
All the same, the Yanks will be expected to demonstrate against the Peruvians and the Brazilians that the Gold Cup elimination was something of an aberration. Or at the very least, that lessons have been learned and that meaningful progress will at last be made in the near future.
Their manager would thank them to.
FIFA World Rankings List.
AP - Sports
FIFA world rankings published Thursday (August position in parentheses):
1. Argentina (1)
2. Belgium (2)
3. Germany (3)
4. Colombia (4)
5. Brazil (5)
6. Portugal (6)
7. Romania (7)
8. Chile (10)
9. Wales (9)
10. England (8)
11. Spain (11)
12. Netherlands (12)
13. Austria (14)
14. Croatia (13)
15. Slovakia (14)
16. Italy (16)
17. Switzerland (17)
18. Uruguay (18)
19. Algeria (19)
20. Czech Republic (20)
Also:
28. United States (29).
NCAAFB: Utah tops Michigan 24-17, spoiling Jim Harbaugh's debut.
By Sam Cooper
Utah quarterback Travis Wilson (7) carries the ball. (AP)
Utah made sure Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan head-coaching debut did not go as the faithful in Ann Arbor hoped.
Behind a stellar effort from senior quarterback Travis Wilson and a gritty defensive performance, the Utes held off the Wolverines 24-17 in front of a packed crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Utah used a balanced offensive attack to carve up the Michigan defense while the Utes’ D intercepted Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock three times – including a game-sealing pick six by Justin Thomas in the fourth quarter.
Harbaugh kept his starting quarterback decision tight-lipped all week, but he opted for Rudock, the graduate transfer from Iowa, over junior Shane Morris. And after Utah hit a field goal on its first possession, Rudock’s first drive as a Wolverine ended with an interception deep in Michigan territory – his first of two in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Wilson and star running back Devontae Booker were able to eat up chunks of yardage to help the Utes jump out to a 10-3 halftime lead.
Michigan opened the second half with a missed 44-yard field goal, and Utah responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a Wilson 14-yard touchdown run.
Michigan then responded with a touchdown of its own on Rudock’s most impressive throw of the night – a 19-yard touchdown strike to tight end Jake Butt (8 catches, 93 yards) to cut the lead to 17-10.
Boykin, No. 2 TCU outlast Minnesota 23-17.
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Trevone Boykin and No. 2 TCU got quite a test from Minnesota in their opener.
Maye had four catches for 73 yards and Rodney Smith rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown for the Golden Gophers. They haven't beaten a Top 10 team at home since 1977.
NCAABKB: ACC releases entire 2015-16 schedule: Three things to know.
Boykin threw for 246 yards and a touchdown and ran for 92 yards and another score to help the Horned Frogs outlast Minnesota 23-17 on Thursday night.
Boykin started his Heisman push by completing 26 of 42 passes. But he also threw an interception and the Horned Frogs had a difficult time getting their frenetic offense rolling against Minnesota's determined defense. The 23 points were their fewest scored since Nov. 9, 2013, in a 21-17 victory over Iowa State.
Jaden Oberkrom made three field goals, including a 53-yarder, and Josh Doctson had eight catches for 74 yards and a touchdown for TCU.
Mitch Leidner threw for 197 yards for Minnesota. His touchdown pass to K.J. Maye with 1:32 left pulled the Golden Gophers within a touchdown, but TCU recovered the ensuing onside kick to hang on.
Maye had four catches for 73 yards and Rodney Smith rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown for the Golden Gophers. They haven't beaten a Top 10 team at home since 1977.
The Horned Frogs shared the Big 12 title last year, but were left out of the four-team playoff field. They've heard nothing but questions about the crushing disappointment for the last nine months, providing plenty of motivation to erase that memory with a national championship run this season.
Boykin wasn't particularly sharp in the opener. He missed two wide open receivers down the field for easy touchdowns, including Shaun Nixon all alone in the end zone in the fourth quarter. He also threw an interception right to cornerback Eric Murray in the second quarter and was nearly picked by a leaping De'Vondre Campbell.
He showed just enough flashes of the electricity to walk out a winner, especially when he dusted Murray with a nifty juke to turn a keeper into a 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that gave TCU a 17-3 lead.
Boykin looked sharp in comparison to Leidner, the junior who lost his two biggest weapons from last year - tight end Maxx Williams and running back David Cobb - to the NFL draft. The Gophers opened the game with five punts and a fumble by Leidner on a sack from Terrell Lathan that set up Boykin's 11-yard TD pass to Doctson.
The Horned Frogs' biggest question entering the season was on defense after losing six of their top seven tacklers from last year's unit. They also were missing sack leader James McFarland, who did not make the trip for unspecified reasons. The inexperienced defense responded by forcing five punts in the first six possessions.
The other one ended when Terrell Lathan sacked Leidner and forced a fumble to set up Boykin's 11-yard TD pass to Doctson that gave TCU a 10-0 lead early.
Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson and Minnesota coach Jerry Kill are longtime friends, with Kill getting a spot in Patterson's wedding party. The two coaches have said they weren't entirely pleased about the matchup, with both preferring the Kansas State-style nonconference schedule filled with cream puffs and pushovers.
The Gophers lost 30-7 in Fort Worth last year, which was the lowest-scoring game of the Horned Frogs' season.
NCAABKB: ACC releases entire 2015-16 schedule: Three things to know.
By Chip Patterson
The ACC released its full 2015-16 schedule on Wednesday, allowing hoops fans to fill out the calendar in the final hours before the start of college football season. While many of the non-conference games have been on the schedule for some time, Wednesday's release reveals the most important stretches of the conference schedule for title hopefuls like North Carolina, Duke and Virginia.
You can download your own PDF copy of the ACC's schedule here or check it out at the league's official website. Below, some thoughts on how the schedule lays out for a few teams that consider themselves either title or tournament hopefuls.
Duke's early February will inform March expectations: The defending champs will be young to start the season, but a Brandon Ingram-led batch of freshman should be in rhythm by the time Duke hits its toughest stretch: playing at home against NC State, Louisville and Virginia, then at North Carolina and at Louisville all in a two-week span in February.
Mark the date for Jim Boeheim's return: Jim Boeheim will return to the Syracuse sideline on Jan. 30 after sitting out the first nine ACC games for his role in NCAA violations committed by the basketball program. The Orange will host Georgia Tech in the Carrier Dome for the occasion, which is sure to be followed by a well-attended press conference to hear the Hall of Fame coach discuss his return.
North Carolina's toughest stretch comes late: The two-and-a-half weeks between Duke games (Feb. 17 in Chapel Hill and March 5 in Durham) is the toughest stretch of ACC play for the Tar Heels. That could be a positive in the sense of warming up for a potential postseason run, but it also provides plenty of potential setbacks should this team be gunning for the top seed in the tournament. UNC plays at home against a very good Miami team after hosting Duke, then at NC State, at Virginia and home against Syracuse before finishing the regular season in Durham.
Czech-mate: Wozniacki knocked out in second round; Federer, Murray advance.
You can download your own PDF copy of the ACC's schedule here or check it out at the league's official website. Below, some thoughts on how the schedule lays out for a few teams that consider themselves either title or tournament hopefuls.
Duke's early February will inform March expectations: The defending champs will be young to start the season, but a Brandon Ingram-led batch of freshman should be in rhythm by the time Duke hits its toughest stretch: playing at home against NC State, Louisville and Virginia, then at North Carolina and at Louisville all in a two-week span in February.
Mark the date for Jim Boeheim's return: Jim Boeheim will return to the Syracuse sideline on Jan. 30 after sitting out the first nine ACC games for his role in NCAA violations committed by the basketball program. The Orange will host Georgia Tech in the Carrier Dome for the occasion, which is sure to be followed by a well-attended press conference to hear the Hall of Fame coach discuss his return.
North Carolina's toughest stretch comes late: The two-and-a-half weeks between Duke games (Feb. 17 in Chapel Hill and March 5 in Durham) is the toughest stretch of ACC play for the Tar Heels. That could be a positive in the sense of warming up for a potential postseason run, but it also provides plenty of potential setbacks should this team be gunning for the top seed in the tournament. UNC plays at home against a very good Miami team after hosting Duke, then at NC State, at Virginia and home against Syracuse before finishing the regular season in Durham.
Czech-mate: Wozniacki knocked out in second round; Federer, Murray advance.
By Danielle Elliott
Arthur Ashe Stadium was nearly empty by the time fourth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic closed out the final match of day four, a three-hour marathon that lasted more than twice as long as Roger Federer's match before them.
Shortly after midnight, No. 149 Cetkovska completed a remarkable upset, defeating fourth-seed and 2014 runner-up Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6.
When Cetkovska built a 4-2 lead in the second set, the stadium started to clear out. That's when Wozniacki finally seemed to find her game.
She broke, held, and broke again to go up 5-4, then forced a third set. Those who stuck around were pulling for the comeback – and they nearly got it. Wozniacki had a break-point match-point opportunity at 5-4 in the third, but failed to convert. It was only her second missed break opportunity of the match.
At 12:05a.m., they went to a deciding tiebreak. And there, as in the first set, Cetkovska was lights out. Wozniacki only managed one point in the tiebreak as 30-year-old Cetkovska recorded the biggest win of her career. In five previous U.S. Open appearances, she had never advanced beyond the second round.
“I said it’s now or never,” Cetkovska said on the court after the win. “I was so happy to be able to come back and to compete, and this happens tonight… it’s amazing for me.”
Earlier on Ashe, No. 2 Federer practically walked into the third round. He defeated Steve Darcis, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. "It was pretty on the easier side, you know, so I was able to mix it up, was attacking, was also staying back some. I was pretty much all-out attack as much as I could," Federer said after the match.
No. 3 Andy Murray had a more challenging day, as Adrian Mannarino claimed the first two sets of their match. Murray pulled it together for the 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 comeback win. He said later that he has not been feeling well, that he has been battling a head cold that's going around the locker room.
American Pharoah to race again in Breeders' Cup Classic.
Associated Press
A few days of indecision over, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is back on schedule for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic and a chance for a magical career-ending race.
A few days of indecision over, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is back on schedule for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic and a chance for a magical career-ending race.
After a tough loss in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last Saturday, American Pharoah's owner Ahmed Zayat said his "gut feeling" was to retire rather than race on as planned.
On Thursday, following hours of talks with trainer Bob Baffert and the rest of Team Pharoah this week, the owner decided against retirement because "the champ deserves another chance.
"I am very confident that this is the right decision for American Pharoah," Zayat said in a statement released to The Associated Press and several other media outlets. "He loves to race. He has provided my family, racing fans, and general sports fans with great thrills this year.
"He won the Triple Crown earlier this year, and he deserves the chance to be in the sport's premier year-end event."
Zayat says after conferring with Baffert, assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, jockey Victor Espinoza and his son and racing manager, Justin Zayat, that American Pharoah came out of the Travers "in great shape." His initial read was perhaps the chiseled bay colt was tiring from the grind of shipping more than 20,000 miles by air and horse van and running in seven tough races since March.
"I believe there were a combination of factors that prevented American Pharoah from running his absolute best on Saturday," Zayat said without elaborating. "I have every confidence that he can run to his best again."
Since the loss to Keen Ice in the $1.6 million Travers, American Pharoah was returned to Baffert's home base at Del Mar Racetrack in California. He is to be paraded before fans at the track this weekend, and then on to Santa Anita to continue training.
There's also a chance he could travel to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for training in the weeks leading to the Classic at nearby Keeneland in Lexington on Oct. 31. Also, there's an outside possibility of a race before the Classic.
The reception at the Spa also may also have played a part in Zayat's decision to keep going. An appreciative crowd of 15,000 showed to watch American Pharoah gallop the day before the race, and a sellout crowd of 50,000 tried to cheer him to victory.
Zayat has said he wants to share the horse with racing fans, and even after the loss he was impressed with the support. Some fans called out to him and Baffert, "Thanks for bringing him here."
The buildup to the BC Classic surely will be bigger than ever. In addition to the Triple Crown winner, the field could include two-time champion mare Beholder, who beat the boys in the Pacific Classic last month, Travers winner Keen Ice and Whitney Handicap winner Honor Code.
Breeders' Cup President Craig Fravel said he usually doesn't comment on individual horses considering the event, but "we want to acknowledge the Zayat family on their decision to keep American Pharoah in training, and look forward to his continued engagement with the fans who have so genuinely connected with the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years."
American Pharoah's breeding rights were sold to Coolmore's Ashford Stud for an unknown fee, likely in the tens of millions of dollars. Since the horse is still racing, a stud fee has not been announced.
American Pharoah has won eight of 10 races and earned nearly $6 million. The loss in the Travers was his first since Aug. 9, 2014 - his first career start.
The son of Pioneerof the Nile won the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Aug. 2 in his first race since sweeping the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1949 - The longest pro tennis match in history was played when Pancho Gonzales and Ted Schroeder played 67 games in five sets. The record was broken in 2010. 1953 - The New York Yankees became the first baseball team to win five consecutive American League championships.
1972 - Swimmer Mark Spitz captured his seventh Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter medley relay event at Munich, Germany. Spitz was the first Olympian to win seven gold medals. World records were set in his seven events.
1993 - Jim Abbott, pitcher for the New York Yankees, pitched a no-hitter. Abbott had been born without a right hand.
2002 - The Oakland Athletics won their AL-record 20th straight game. The A's gave up an 11-run lead during the game and then won the game on a Scott Hatteberg home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game hosted the largest crowd (55,528) ever for a regular season game at the Coliseum.
2002 - St. Louis manager Tony La Russa got his 1,905th major league win. He tied Casey Stengal for eighth place.
1972 - Swimmer Mark Spitz captured his seventh Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter medley relay event at Munich, Germany. Spitz was the first Olympian to win seven gold medals. World records were set in his seven events.
1993 - Jim Abbott, pitcher for the New York Yankees, pitched a no-hitter. Abbott had been born without a right hand.
2002 - The Oakland Athletics won their AL-record 20th straight game. The A's gave up an 11-run lead during the game and then won the game on a Scott Hatteberg home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game hosted the largest crowd (55,528) ever for a regular season game at the Coliseum.
2002 - St. Louis manager Tony La Russa got his 1,905th major league win. He tied Casey Stengal for eighth place.
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