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"The ability to change constantly and effectively is made easier by high-level continuity." ~ Michael Porter, Academic Focused On Management and Economics
Trending: The Bears have started cleaning house. They realize that they don't have the talent and are going nowhere. They're taking a page out of the Blackhawks' and Cubs' books. Start from scratch with young, eager and aggressive talent with a mature coach that can teach them. All we have to look forward to is three to four years of growth and viola!!!! Let's hope they get the same results as the Blackhawks and the Cubs. Remember hope springs eternal.....
Trending: The Bears have started cleaning house. They realize that they don't have the talent and are going nowhere. They're taking a page out of the Blackhawks' and Cubs' books. Start from scratch with young, eager and aggressive talent with a mature coach that can teach them. All we have to look forward to is three to four years of growth and viola!!!! Let's hope they get the same results as the Blackhawks and the Cubs. Remember hope springs eternal.....
Trending: Derrick Rose suffers orbital fracture, will undergo surgery. (See basketball section for details).
Trending: The Cubs have 92 wins after a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds last night and are prepping for the playoffs. (See baseball section for details).
Trending: The Cubs have 92 wins after a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds last night and are prepping for the playoffs. (See baseball section for details).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Fox hoping Bears will grow and learn.
By Larry Mayer
John Fox will look for his first win as Bears coach Sunday against Oakland. (Photo/chicagobears.com)
The Bears have lost their first three games to some of the NFL’s best teams in the Packers, Cardinals and Seahawks. But that doesn’t make first-year coach John Fox feel any better.
“There’s no consolation,” Fox said Monday. “You go into every one of these things with an expectation to win. Obviously we haven’t done that in all three of those opportunities.
“There’s no consolation,” Fox said Monday. “You go into every one of these things with an expectation to win. Obviously we haven’t done that in all three of those opportunities.
“There’s no doubt that those teams have beat some pretty good teams along the way and they are good football teams. But this league’s about winning no matter who you line up against, so we’re still in that process. We haven’t won our first game yet and we’re doing everything in our power to get that accomplished.”
The Bears are 0-3 for the first time since 2003. They won their fourth game that season over the Raiders, something they hope to accomplish again Sunday at Soldier Field.
“We’ve had three opportunities in the regular season and they haven’t turned out like we expect,” Fox said. “All three of them take on a different personality. Every opponent takes on its own personality; how you match up as an individual football team versus your opponent.
“[We’re] obviously disappointed that we’re 0-3 in those opportunities. I don’t know that it’s all been horrible. I know the result is horrible, but hopefully we can grow and learn and get better from it moving forward.”
The Bears have played well in spurts this season; they led the Packers 13-10 at halftime, were tied with the Cardinals 14-14 in the second quarter and only trailed the Seahawks 6-0 at the half. But they have yet to sustain a high level of play over the course of an entire game.
“There have been parts of those games where I think we’ve been competitive,” Fox said. “We just haven’t done it for the long haul yet, for all 60 minutes. I have to remind people that one-and-a-half of those three games we were without our starting quarterback. That’s not an excuse. It’s just a reality.
The Bears are 0-3 for the first time since 2003. They won their fourth game that season over the Raiders, something they hope to accomplish again Sunday at Soldier Field.
“We’ve had three opportunities in the regular season and they haven’t turned out like we expect,” Fox said. “All three of them take on a different personality. Every opponent takes on its own personality; how you match up as an individual football team versus your opponent.
“[We’re] obviously disappointed that we’re 0-3 in those opportunities. I don’t know that it’s all been horrible. I know the result is horrible, but hopefully we can grow and learn and get better from it moving forward.”
The Bears have played well in spurts this season; they led the Packers 13-10 at halftime, were tied with the Cardinals 14-14 in the second quarter and only trailed the Seahawks 6-0 at the half. But they have yet to sustain a high level of play over the course of an entire game.
“There have been parts of those games where I think we’ve been competitive,” Fox said. “We just haven’t done it for the long haul yet, for all 60 minutes. I have to remind people that one-and-a-half of those three games we were without our starting quarterback. That’s not an excuse. It’s just a reality.
“We’re missing some integral parts that hopefully, at some point, we get back. When that is, I don’t know. I don’t put timeframes on it. But the good news is that we’ve got to look at some people, some other guys and see how they react in those situations. And hopefully we’re learning some stuff that will help us moving forward.”
With starting quarterbackJay Cutler unable to play Sunday in Seattle due to a hamstring injury, the Bears leaned heavily on their running game. Backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw just 17 passes, completing nine for 63 yards. As a team, the Bears compiled only seven first downs and punted on all 10 of their possessions.
“Was it a conservative game plan? I would say probably a fair assessment,” Fox said. “Could we have opened it up a little bit? That’s probably fair. Would the results have been a lot different? I’m not sure.
With starting quarterback
“Was it a conservative game plan? I would say probably a fair assessment,” Fox said. “Could we have opened it up a little bit? That’s probably fair. Would the results have been a lot different? I’m not sure.
Asked if he felt Clausen played well enough to win, Fox told reporters: “I didn’t think our whole football team played well enough to win the football game. There were some bright spots. You guys don’t see them. I think in a pass-fail system nobody’s totally pleased. But I don’t think it came down to one guy in that game.”
One of those bright spots was how the defense performed, especially in the first half when the Seahawks were 0-of-6 on third down. On two occasions, the Bears stopped Marshawn Lynch on third-and-one.
“We executed better [than in previous games],” Fox said. “This game is taking what you learn and see in practice and converting it to the pressure of a live game. That was an area of our football team that did show improvement.”
One of two NFL teams without a sack entering Week 3, the Bears recorded four sacks of quarterback Russell Wilson, with
“Everybody measures pass rush—I shouldn't say everybody, some people—with sacks,” Fox said. “I don’t know that that’s always the great evaluation. But I thought all-in-all our pass defense was a little bit improved.
“There are things to work off of. We had a couple tighter coverages where Russell had to pull the ball down. That buys time for your rush. I thought all-in-all we did a good job of crowding the guys in the rush. We didn’t have guys running eight yards by [Wilson]. We pushed the pocket up inside. Jarvis Jenkins had a couple good examples of that. Like everything, you just try to keep improving every week and I saw a bit of improvement in that area.”
Bears trade Jared Allen to Carolina Panthers for draft pick.
By John Mullin
The Bears’ 0-3 start and the Carolina Panthers’ 3-0 beginning to the 2015 season converged on Monday when the Panthers traded to obtain Jared Allen, returning the veteran defensive end to his more familiar 4-3 scheme under Carolina coach Ron Rivera in return for a sixth-round draft choice.
The deal, first reported by FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, gives Allen a chance to play for a playoff contender and nets the Bears something in return for an aging veteran who clearly was not a long-term fit with the team under coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“We had some depth at the linebacker position and were able to reach an agreement with the Panthers to bring a 2016 draft pick to our team in exchange for Jared Allen,” GM Ryan Pace said in a statement Monday. “Whether it is acquiring additional picks or signing players, we will continue to be aggressive in finding ways to improve our football team.
“We appreciate Jared’s contributions and wish him the best in Carolina.”
Allen had made some progress converting to an outside linebacker in the Bears’ 3-4 defense, starting all three games this season. But he had yet to register a sack, had only six total tackles through three games and just three quarterback hits/pressures. He did have the Bears’ lone interception this season but did not have the consistent impact that he did in his career as a right end in a 4-3 scheme.
The deal concludes a disappointing tenure for one of the NFL’s all-time sack leaders and one of the more expensive contract boondoggles by the organization. Former GM Phil Emery signed Allen in the 2014 offseason to a deal that included a guaranteed $11.5 million for 2015. Allen delivered a career-low 5.5 sacks during last year’s defensive debacle and had not shown flashes to indicate he had returned to his form of past years.
The Bears also have a glut of players in the Allen mold – Sam Acho, Lamarr Houston, Pernell McPhee, Willie Young – and Allen does not contribute on special teams.
The Panthers, however, are tied atop with the Atlanta Falcons with 3-0 records. They have just seven sacks through three games, none by starting right end Kony Ealy, who was benched for disciplinary reasons for the start of Sunday’s win over New Orleans.
Allen is expected to be a situational pass rusher, with Ealy sliding inside to tackle in nickel situations. Starting left end Charles Johnson went down with a hamstring strain on Sunday and is expected to miss time with the injury.
Bears trade LB Jon Bostic to New England Patriots.
CSN Staff
The Bears have reportedly traded linebacker Jon Bostic to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
Bostic, 24, was inactive in the Bears' loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3 and has yet to appear in a game this season due to an ankle injury.
The former second-round pick by the Bears in 2013 spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he accumulated 103 tackles, 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception in 29 career regular-season games.
The move comes hours after the Bears shipped Jared Allen to Carolina for a conditional sixth-rounder.
Bears waive 2014 fourth-round pick Brock Vereen.
By John Mullin
A day after trading linebacker Jonathan Bostic to New England, the Bears have jettisoned another Phil Emery draft pick by waiving safety Brock Vereen, who had begun training camp as the starting free safety and for whom the Bears had traded up in the 2014 draft.
In moves expected to upgrade their troubled special teams, the Bears signed linebacker Chris Prosinski and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds.
Vereen’s decline was precipitous, culminating with him being beaten badly by Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham for a 30-yard touchdown. Vereen, the Bears’ second fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft, played just three regular-down snaps in the Seattle game, with the Graham catch the low point.
Vereen also was in on 17 special-teams snaps in a game that included a 105-yard kickoff return and 64-yard punt return. Vereen was not involved in any tackles vs. the Seahawks and was credited with just one assisted tackle for the season.
Vereen becomes the third Emery draft choice let go by the Bears this year, beginning with linebacker Khaseem Greene in May and continuing with Bostic on Monday.
In Vereen’s place the Bears signed safety Chris Prosinski, who has appeared in 56 games with nine starts over four seasons with Jacksonville (2011-14) and Philadelphia (2014), collecting 73 tackles, one TFL, one interception and six pass break-ups.
On special teams Prosinski has recorded 27 tackles and one fumble recovery. Listed at 6-2, 208-pounds, the Wyoming native was originally a fourth-round selection (121st overall) of the Jaguars in the 2011 draft out of Wyoming.
Also looking to beef up special teams, the Bears added linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, a veteran of 30 games with three starts over three seasons in Jacksonville (2013-15), producing 22 tackles, one TFL and a pass break-up.
On special teams Reynolds was credited with 18 tackles and a fumble recovery. Listed at 6-1, 240-pounds the Norfolk, Virginia native entered the NFL in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Jonathan Toews looks to lead repeat bid.....
By Chris Peters
Blackhawks will look to Jonathan Toews to lead their repeat bid. (Photo/USATSI)
The Chicago Blackhawks won another Stanley Cup, their third in six years, and it turns out that championships are expensive. Before the players could even get their champagne-soaked clothes to the dry cleaners, the team started making moves as part of a massive roster purge to get underneath the salary cap.
It's a good problem to have, of course. You'd rather have to shed salary after a win than have to clear bad contracts that ultimately didn't help you reach your goal. The large extensions handed to Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews last summer had a lot to do with the purge as each will combine to make $21 million against the cap starting this season. However, general manager Stan Bowman has proven year after year that he can build effectively around his core players. It doesn't make the departures any less painful, but it does give him the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2015-16 season.
The one difference this year as opposed to the previous two titles, the Blackhawks actually had to start shedding players from their Stanley Cup core. Veteran sniper Patrick Sharp was shipped to the Dallas Stars after winning his third Cup and Brandon Saad, who appeared to establish himself as a core-like player despite his youth, was shockingly dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Others less tied to the core like Brad Richards and Johnny Oduya headed for bigger paydays in free agency.
So now it's up to a new group to continue the higher standard this franchise has held itself to. Meanwhile, as all of the new players are getting acclimated, there is one big item looming over the team's head.
The ongoing investigation into allegations of rape against Kane has taken shocking twists and turns over the last two months. The star forward remains in camp and this case could soon reach a resolution of some type, but what happens next is anyone's guess. The investigation still could head to a grand jury, but there is no date set for that. There's also the chance that the district attorney drops the case, clearing Kane who has maintained his innocence. It may be a distraction for the team, but the seriousness of the allegations supersedes what it means from a hockey perspective. The legal process will have to continue to play out however it will.
The Blackhawks, however, still have to try to put together a competitive team in the NHL's toughest division, with a roster that at least on paper doesn't look as good as the one it had last year. Even with that in mind, the core players like Toews, Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson are still going to keep this team in the Stanley Cup conversation.
2015-16 at a glance
New arrivals: Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Trevor Daley, Ryan Garbutt, Artemi Panarin, Viktor Tikhonov, Erik Gustafsson
Key losses: Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Johnny Oduya, Brad Richards, Antoine Vermette, Kimmo Timonen, Kris Versteeg, Antti Raanta, Joakim Nordstrom
Top returning scorers: Jonathan Toews (81 GP, 28-38—66), Patrick Kane (61 GP, 27-37—64), Marian Hossa (82 GP, 22-39—61)
Total salary against cap: $71,080,960
Salary cap space remaining: $319,040
Biggest question heading into the season: Will Chicago's lack of cap space hamper them all season?
So the outcome of the Patrick Kane investigation is obviously the biggest question the Blackhawks have going into the season, but we've spent the better part of two months writing about and opining on that topic. So, instead of covering old ground, one of the key storylines going into this season for the Blackhawks is that even after all the moves they made this summer, they're still in salary cap hell.
The team is going to be able to put Michal Rozsival, who was just re-signed, onto long-term injured reserve as he is still recovering from the broken leg he suffered last postseason. That helps a little, but the Blackhawks still have some maneuvering they can do based on the players remaining in camp, but there's going to be such little wiggle room.
The salary cap situation will affect decisions all year long. They'll even have to be careful about who they call up over the course of the year. It also is going to make it more difficult to make additions at the trade deadline if the team needs some fortifying ahead of the postseason like it did last year.
Bowman has done the salary cap dance pretty well in the past, but how this current cap situation impacts roster decisions will be very interesting to watch over the marathon that is the regular season.
Season outlook: The Blackhawks are still very good, even after the offseason purge. They probably ended up getting rid of more than they were expecting to heading into last season as the salary cap didn't rise as much as previously thought.
The forward group is going to have a lot of new faces. Artem Anisimov is expected to be the team's No. 2 center after coming over from the Blue Jackets in the Brandon Saad trade. Marko Dano, also part of that deal and an extremely promising 20-year-old winger, very well could be taking Saad's place on Chicago's top line alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.
The team also signed a pair of Russians out of the KHL. Artemi Panarin is a highly-skilled 23-year-old, who offers another young, highly-skilled forward to a mix that already includes Teuvo Teravainen, who had a breakout performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Viktor Tikhonov, the other KHL signing, should help provide depth if he makes the team.
Aside from another depth forward in Ryan Garbutt (part of the Sharp return), the rest of the cast should be familiar. The top six will remain as dangerous as any in the league with Toews, Hossa and Kane spread out.
Defensively there will be some questions about depth. Obviously, the team is set at the top with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Niklas Hjalmarsson is about as good a No. 3 as you'll find in the league in terms of shut-down capabilities. New addition Trevor Daley should bring some offense and could be better protected defensively in the Blackhawks' lineup than he was in Dallas. Meanwhile, Trevor van Riemsdyk and David Rundblad offer the Blackhawks a young bottom pairing that will probably be utilized carefully, if that's what they decide to go with.
It's a good problem to have, of course. You'd rather have to shed salary after a win than have to clear bad contracts that ultimately didn't help you reach your goal. The large extensions handed to Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews last summer had a lot to do with the purge as each will combine to make $21 million against the cap starting this season. However, general manager Stan Bowman has proven year after year that he can build effectively around his core players. It doesn't make the departures any less painful, but it does give him the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2015-16 season.
The one difference this year as opposed to the previous two titles, the Blackhawks actually had to start shedding players from their Stanley Cup core. Veteran sniper Patrick Sharp was shipped to the Dallas Stars after winning his third Cup and Brandon Saad, who appeared to establish himself as a core-like player despite his youth, was shockingly dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Others less tied to the core like Brad Richards and Johnny Oduya headed for bigger paydays in free agency.
So now it's up to a new group to continue the higher standard this franchise has held itself to. Meanwhile, as all of the new players are getting acclimated, there is one big item looming over the team's head.
The ongoing investigation into allegations of rape against Kane has taken shocking twists and turns over the last two months. The star forward remains in camp and this case could soon reach a resolution of some type, but what happens next is anyone's guess. The investigation still could head to a grand jury, but there is no date set for that. There's also the chance that the district attorney drops the case, clearing Kane who has maintained his innocence. It may be a distraction for the team, but the seriousness of the allegations supersedes what it means from a hockey perspective. The legal process will have to continue to play out however it will.
The Blackhawks, however, still have to try to put together a competitive team in the NHL's toughest division, with a roster that at least on paper doesn't look as good as the one it had last year. Even with that in mind, the core players like Toews, Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson are still going to keep this team in the Stanley Cup conversation.
2015-16 at a glance
New arrivals: Artem Anisimov, Marko Dano, Trevor Daley, Ryan Garbutt, Artemi Panarin, Viktor Tikhonov, Erik Gustafsson
Key losses: Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Johnny Oduya, Brad Richards, Antoine Vermette, Kimmo Timonen, Kris Versteeg, Antti Raanta, Joakim Nordstrom
Top returning scorers: Jonathan Toews (81 GP, 28-38—66), Patrick Kane (61 GP, 27-37—64), Marian Hossa (82 GP, 22-39—61)
Total salary against cap: $71,080,960
Salary cap space remaining: $319,040
Biggest question heading into the season: Will Chicago's lack of cap space hamper them all season?
So the outcome of the Patrick Kane investigation is obviously the biggest question the Blackhawks have going into the season, but we've spent the better part of two months writing about and opining on that topic. So, instead of covering old ground, one of the key storylines going into this season for the Blackhawks is that even after all the moves they made this summer, they're still in salary cap hell.
The team is going to be able to put Michal Rozsival, who was just re-signed, onto long-term injured reserve as he is still recovering from the broken leg he suffered last postseason. That helps a little, but the Blackhawks still have some maneuvering they can do based on the players remaining in camp, but there's going to be such little wiggle room.
The salary cap situation will affect decisions all year long. They'll even have to be careful about who they call up over the course of the year. It also is going to make it more difficult to make additions at the trade deadline if the team needs some fortifying ahead of the postseason like it did last year.
Bowman has done the salary cap dance pretty well in the past, but how this current cap situation impacts roster decisions will be very interesting to watch over the marathon that is the regular season.
Season outlook: The Blackhawks are still very good, even after the offseason purge. They probably ended up getting rid of more than they were expecting to heading into last season as the salary cap didn't rise as much as previously thought.
The forward group is going to have a lot of new faces. Artem Anisimov is expected to be the team's No. 2 center after coming over from the Blue Jackets in the Brandon Saad trade. Marko Dano, also part of that deal and an extremely promising 20-year-old winger, very well could be taking Saad's place on Chicago's top line alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.
The team also signed a pair of Russians out of the KHL. Artemi Panarin is a highly-skilled 23-year-old, who offers another young, highly-skilled forward to a mix that already includes Teuvo Teravainen, who had a breakout performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Viktor Tikhonov, the other KHL signing, should help provide depth if he makes the team.
Aside from another depth forward in Ryan Garbutt (part of the Sharp return), the rest of the cast should be familiar. The top six will remain as dangerous as any in the league with Toews, Hossa and Kane spread out.
Defensively there will be some questions about depth. Obviously, the team is set at the top with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Niklas Hjalmarsson is about as good a No. 3 as you'll find in the league in terms of shut-down capabilities. New addition Trevor Daley should bring some offense and could be better protected defensively in the Blackhawks' lineup than he was in Dallas. Meanwhile, Trevor van Riemsdyk and David Rundblad offer the Blackhawks a young bottom pairing that will probably be utilized carefully, if that's what they decide to go with.
The top four is going to get taxed all year long. They were great with big minutes in the playoffs, but you have to wonder how much they're going to have to be able to handle over a full season.
Corey Crawford had a really strong season in 2014-15 and will be backed up by the very capable Scott Darling, who saw some time in the playoffs last year even. That's a solid tandem that should help take some of the pressure off the defense.
On paper, there's no doubt the Blackhawks can compete and contend for another Cup, but there's a reason no team has repeated as champions since the 1997 and 1998 Detroit Red Wings (and it's not just the salary cap).
Don't be surprised if they struggle a bit in the regular season as they did last year at various points. There are a few more holes in the lineup than they're used to and having to keep pace in the tough Central would be challenging for any team. They'll still be a playoff team, though, and probably a tough out for whoever they get in the postseason.
Blackhawks continue prepping for 3-on-3 OT.
By Tracey Myers
Coach Joel Quenneville was giving his assessment of 3-on-3 so far this preseason, although some outings haven’t allotted him a good look.
“The other night the game ended so quickly I couldn’t get a good read on it,” he said about 3-on-3 vs. St. Louis on Saturday, which ended a minute into overtime.
The Blackhawks are like every other team in the NHL this preseason, acclimating themselves to 3-on-3 before it starts to count for a point during the regular season. The league implemented it in the hopes of reducing the number of shootouts.
Judging by preseason results, it’s having the desired effect. According to the league, of 17 necessary 3-on-3 overtimes thus far, 13 have been decided in that overtime.
In the Blackhawks’ first 3-on-3 vs. Detroit, Trevor Daley scored off a 3-on-1 just one minute, 40 seconds into it. The second one was planned regardless of the score at the end of regulation – the Blackhawks had already won 3-1 – and lasted just 60 seconds.
A quick poll of fellow hockey writers shows most 3-on-3 sessions – be it those the league stipulated to have 3-on-3 regardless or ones necessitated by a tie – are ending quickly. And by quickly, we mean finishing in two minutes or less.
Quenneville said there are so many factors that will go into capitalizing on a 3-on-3.
“Changes are a big part of it and puck possession’s key. How do you play without the puck and you’re incorporating goaltending with it. There are a lot of intangibles,” said Quenneville. “Groups of three: two forwards and a [defenseman], two Ds and a forward or three forwards? There are a lot of options you can sort out. The personnel going into games will dictate that but technically we need some rules of thumb of how you play certain situations, particularly in your own end without [the puck.]”
Marian Hossa said he sees the opportunistic angle as well as the concerns of it.
“There’s so much ice there and it could be a lot of fun. But also defensively it’s not easy to contain,” he said. “Because when you have big, skilled players coming against you and you lose half a step, there’s a scoring chance every time.”
It’s easy to believe the open ice means fire away from the offensive standpoint. But there’s danger in that, too. If a rebound gets away from the team on the attack, things could quickly go the other way.
“Yeah, that’s something you have to watch out for,” Daley said. “The shooter has to protect everyone else. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.”
While goalies have that much more pressure on them, Quenneville said they could also be the catalyst for starting their team’s offensive push.
“I think that’ll be exactly what will happen: you’ll be in the offensive zone and you might want to keep the puck, send it down and change, come back and here we go again,” Quenneville said. “Changes are important. Getting fresh guys out there will be critical as well – how do you get the change when you’re tired and in your own end? But I think the goaltender and how he handles it, he could be one more guy who is part of the attack.”
Corey Crawford’s OK with possibly starting things off with a pass?
“I don’t know. I don’t want to be trying too much. If there’s an opportunity I’ll take it,” Crawford said with a smile. “I have to stop the puck first.”
There is going to be a lot of trial and error with the 3-on-3, especially in the early going. And don’t be surprised if games end shortly after that overtime begins, at least until teams become more comfortable with the new format.
Is 3-on-3 a good thing? Will it be the scorer’s dream? Will it be every goaltender’s worst nightmare? Those questions will be answered as the season progresses. It will definitely be entertaining. And right now, it looks to be serving its original purpose.
“For the people, it’ll be real interesting and a lot of goals,” Hossa said. “And you probably won’t see as many shootouts.”
Blackhawks trim roster to 31, cut Paille, Kopecky, Visnovsky.
By C. Roumeliotis
The Blackhawks announced Monday that they have released forwards Tomas Kopecky and Daniel Paille, and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky, all of whom were with the team on a professional tryout.
Kopecky, 33, recorded two goals and six assists in 64 regular-season games with the Florida Panthers last season, and signed with the Blackhawks on a tryout basis looking to rejuvenate his career in a place he helped bring a Stanley Cup to in 2010.
Paille, a former Stanley Cup champion himself, was looking to do the same after becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer following six seasons in Boston. The 31-year-old forward had a solid camp, but a tight roster and minimal salary cap space didn't help his case.
Visnovsky, 39, showed that he still has something left in the tank and he appeared to have a legitimate chance at earning a roster spot with Michal Rozsival (ankle) out, but the Blackhawks appear to be set with the defenseman they have now heading into the season.
The Blackhawks also assigned forward Brandon Mashinter and defenseman Cameron Schilling to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.
The roster now includes 18 forwards, 10 defenseman and three goaltenders.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Fred Hoiberg to add a personal touch to the Bulls.
Fred Hoiberg sat on the podium for his first Media Day like it was his 15th, cracking sly jokes, smiling easily and appearing relaxed without a hint of arrogance headed into his first training camp.
Of course, smiling came as easy as passing a kidney stone to Tom Thibodeau, but personality aside, Hoiberg is replacing a successful coach who gave this team an identity it lacked for so long.
Hoiberg’s task is to build on the foundation, one he readily acknowledges was established by Thibodeau through five years of grinding, prodding and more prodding.
Hoiberg’s signature may be a little softer but possibly—and hopefully for his sake—just as successful. The Hoiberg affect may be more personal, it may be more of an actual touch.
So when he had lunch with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, the man who took over for a successful coach and led his team to an NBA title, Hoiberg took note.
“We talked about when he took over, some of the things that he felt were important to do,” Hoiberg said. “And that was one thing he mentioned, I felt coming into the job that I felt I had to get out and see everybody. So after the summer league was over, that was my priority.”
So he loaded up on the frequent flyer miles, going to see each of his players in their respective element after the Las Vegas Summer League. Whether it was seeing Derrick Rose in Los Angeles or Jimmy Butler in San Diego or Joakim Noah in Santa Barbara, he met them on their turf, to introduce himself, to let them know a little about himself.
Not to establish that he wasn’t Thibodeau, but to show them he wasn’t going to be some empty suit.
“As far as the goal of going out and seeing everybody, it was really just to build the relationships up with them,” Hoiberg said. “And show them some areas where I thought they might get the ball on the floor so they could work on those skills when they were away from the gym here in Chicago.”
Most coaches will tell you there’s only so much strategy that comes with being successful, that establishing a connection that will result in getting some stubborn men to join together for one singular goal.
“It’s going to be a little adjustment, but it should be challenging and fun at the same time,” Rose said. “We know that we love playing basketball, being under Thibs system for so long that now it’s a new vibe to the team, a new coach. He brings something new to the table where he’s more relaxed. I think the players should appreciate that more, I think we should appreciate it more.”
That’s not a shot at Thibodeau, but perhaps an admission that things were a bit sterile on his watch. Butler said Hoiberg’s approach has permeated through the entire coaching staff.
“I’m excited. You see the way that they work together as a whole with coach Hoiberg,” Butler said. “They’re always out here with the guys working with the guys getting up shots, helping them work on their game. That’s important because you really get a knack for the guy you’re around and you get to understand and feel them, not only on the court but off the court.
“I think that’s just as important, so you know what’s going on in their personal life, so you can relate to them and all. They work really hard with that and always ask how we’re doing. And when we play basketball, it’s time for business. But other than that, they’re really good people too.”
The man who hired him, who seemingly bumped heads with Thibodeau and won, Gar Forman, has noticed the change. But again, it should be stated, the warm and fuzzy talk had better be accompanied by W’s.
“You can see the players responding to it,” Forman said. “And I think the players are as excited as we are about everything Fred's going to bring to the table. He's had a great summer. Our guys have responded and that's been a real positive.”
It all begins with two-a-days, and Hoiberg will have to make tough decisions on playing time, hierarchy and rotations. In other words, the honeymoon won’t last long with everybody.
“Training camp's going to be very competitive,” Hoiberg said. “When we step out on that floor tomorrow for the first time, I know those guys are going to be going at it and going after each other.”
Bulls PG Rose to have eye surgery after getting elbowed.
AP - Sports
Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 28, 2015 at the Advocate Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bulls star Derrick Rose will have surgery on his left eye after being elbowed in the face.
The 2011 NBA MVP sustained a left orbital fracture on the first day of practice, the team said Tuesday in a release. He is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, and a timetable for his return will be determined after the operation.
It's the latest in a long line of injuries for Rose, and the last thing the Bulls needed with a new coach in Fred Hoiberg.
Rose missed all of the 2012-13 season after tearing his left ACL during the first round of the 2012 playoffs, and played only 10 games two years ago after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. He also had a minor procedure on the right knee late last season.
The Bulls return mostly intact after winning 50 games and losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The one big change they made was on the sideline, with Hoiberg replacing the defensive-minded Tom Thibodeau.
Management is counting on a new coach to get the most out of an experienced roster. A big component in the team's health - particularly Rose's, although he is not the only injured Bulls player.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. had back surgery Friday and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks. Taj Gibson is working his way back from left ankle surgery.
As for Rose, it still remains to be seen if he can consistently play at the level propelled the Chicago product from Rookie of the Year to All-Star to MVP in his first three seasons, before the injuries set in.
Rose showed some flashes last season, averaging 17.7 points, and was eyeing big things this year. He came into camp after a summer of training instead of rehab.
''I know I'm great,'' Rose said Monday during the team's media day. ''There's a lot of people that don't know I'm great, that's the thing. But it's cool. I know I can hoop.''
Rose also raised some eyebrows Monday when he talked about becoming a free agent, even though he has two years left on his contract. He also said he's focusing on staying in Chicago and taking care of his son.
''Even though we're all right, we're comfortable, when you talk about that x-amount of dollars, I think it raises everyone's eyebrows,'' Rose said. ''So there's nothing wrong with being over-prepared.''
Bulls excited for Noah: 'Joakim looks like Joakim'.
By Mark Strotman
Pau Gasol (L) and Joakim Noah (R). (Photo/csnchicago.com)
At this time a year ago, Joakim Noah was hurting.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery days after the Bulls' playoff loss to the Wizards and spent the entire offseason rehabilitating. He walked into Bulls media day having not played any basketball over the summer, filling his time with what he referred to as "boring stuff." He claimed he'd be ready for the rigors of the season, and to his part he lived up to his prediction. Noah played in 67 games and all 12 postseason contests, and only two of the 15 games he missed were attributed to left knee soreness.
But simply put, Noah wasn't himself. Granted, he wasn't going to replicate his All-NBA first team numbers from 2013-14, when the absence of Derrick Rose (knee) and Luol Deng (traded to Cleveland) made him the focal point on both ends of the floor. But Noah averaged just 7.2 points on a career-low 44.5 percent shooting and 9.6 rebounds. He was a step behind on defensive rotations, didn't have the same burst that had carried him to back-to-back NBA All-Defensive first team honors and struggled around the rim, shooting nine percentage points lower in that area from the previous year, per basketball-reference.com.
Noah would be the last to make excuses for his lackluster performance, and he didn't. The reality was, however, that an offseason stuck in the weight room and training facility instead of on the basketball floor was a setback. It's a situation Noah has reversed heading into 2015, the start of the Fred Hoiberg era and an important contract year for the 30-year-old.
He spent his offseason in Santa Barbara, Calif., at Peak Performance Project (P3), focusing on basketball and improving his strength as he looks to bounce back from last year's forgettable campaign. His motivation was simple: his teammates had picked him up last year, winning 50 games and earning the East's No. 3 seed. Now it's Noah's time to pay it forward.
"Just needed a little time to regroup and get healthy. That was my priority for this summer, and I’m really, really excited for this upcoming season," he said. "I just wanted to come right for my teammates. They were there for me. Last year was very tough for me, just not being able to move the way that I wanted to on the court, be able to play the way that I wanted to play. I’m excited to be back in Chicago and show my teammates that I can be there for them."
Added general manager Gar Forman: "Joakim looks like Joakim. He's live, he's active, he's had a good summer of training."
Fred Hoiberg said he hasn't made any decisions on the starting lineup, or the more important finishing lineup. He spent time with each member of the Bulls at some point over the summer, meeting with Noah on his journey along the West Coast that included meeting with Derrick Rose (Los Angeles) and Aaron Brooks (Oregon). Much was made last season about the Bulls potentially splitting up true centers Noah and Pau Gasol, shifting Noah to the second unit to better balance the Bulls' depth.
Hoiberg said he'll experiment frequently during the preseason with lineups, presumably meaning Noah will see time both in the starting lineup and coming off the bench.
"There’s a lot of flexibility to put guys in a lot of positions. There’s a lot of versatility on this roster. I don’t know if I can answer that question today. The important thing for me is before that first game against Cleveland on October 27th, hopefully that’ll be more defined."
Hoiberg may not know where he'll place Noah in his rotation, but what he can expect is the old energetic center who feels fresh after an offseason spent on the basketball floor instead of the training table.
Joe Maddon believes Cubs will block out all the playoff noise.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/The Sports Mockery)
Joe Maddon doesn’t have any use for that theory and doesn’t really believe in home-field advantage, either. So the star manager won’t have time for Bartman or Billy Goat or whatever other symbols the national media latches onto as the Cubs return to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
“I do vibrate on a different frequency, man,” Maddon said. “I’m not worried about that stuff. I don’t understand those kinds of concepts. So, really, for me, it’s a moot point.”
It’s not like this is a fluke team or a No. 16 seed coming out of a small-school conference for March Madness.
The Cubs have 92 wins after a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that began Tuesday night and ended Wednesday morning after a rain delay that lasted two hours and 31 minutes.
And with that, the Cubs moved to within three games of the Pittsburgh Pirates for home-field advantage in the National League’s wild-card game. The St. Louis Cardinals can clinch the division by winning one game in Wednesday’s doubleheader at PNC Park.
During Monday’s pregame media session inside Wrigley Field’s interview/room dungeon, Maddon listened to a reporter describe how Lou Piniella had a staying-in-the-moment meeting with his players before Game 1 of a 2008 division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Only to find a Greek Orthodox priest blessing the home dugout with holy water, a move sanctioned by Crane Kenney, now the franchise’s president of business operations, in a random footnote to a three-game sweep.
“Being Roman Catholic, I don’t know if I can do that,” Maddon said.
In October 2008, Addison Russell was 14 years old, Kyle Schwarber was a sophomore at Middletown High School (Ohio) and Kris Bryant hadn’t yet celebrated his 17th birthday.
“We are a special group of ballplayers,” Schwarber said. “We feel like we can do damage down the road. We don’t take any outside pressure, really. It’s more pressure from ourselves, because we know we are good.”
The Cubs clinched early enough that Theo Epstein’s front office and Maddon’s coaching staff will have so much time to tinker with the roster — Dan Haren made his case by throwing 7.1 scoreless innings against the last-place Reds — not to mention all the one-game over analysis and what-if scenarios for the media.
“I want us to do less preparation for this,” Maddon said. “Less work, less prep, less video, less everything – just go play. This is the time of the year where you just go play and rely on your abilities, your instincts, all the training and the work you’ve done to get to this point.
“The trap is to overthink it. That, to me, is the worst thing you can possibly do. Whoever we’re going to play, we played them 19 times already this year. My goodness, you’ve got to know the other side. They know us. We know them. We’ll remind each other about a couple little things prior to that game. But it’s about the players.”
Maddon’s entire philosophy is built around the idea of playing the same game, whether it’s March 7, June 7 or Oct. 7.
“If you turn your players loose and let them play, that’s your best chance of winning that particular game,” Maddon said. “Don’t have them go out there encumbered with thoughts that are only going to get in the way.”
A's hire Justine Siegal, making her the first female coach for an MLB team.
By Mike Oz
Siegal in 2011 throwing batting practice to the Indians. (Photo/Getty Images)
The Oakland Athletics, long one of baseball's most progressive organizations, have hired MLB's first female coach.
She's Justine Siegal, a 40-year-old who has coached collegiate and independent baseball, and will now be a part of the coaching staff for Oakland's Instructional League club in October.
Siegal has a history of barrier-breaking in baseball. She was the first woman to throw batting practice to MLB teams (she did so in 2011 for five teams, including the A's). She's also the first woman to coach pro baseball, when she was the first base coach for the independent Brockton Rox in 2009. Additionally, she also has a PhD in sport and exercise psychology and founded Baseball For All, a non-profit that helps provide opportunities in baseball, particularly for girls.
But for Siegal herself this is a heck of an opportunity, one she's been chasing for years. It's a two-week gig for now, but it could turn into something bigger. Here's more on what Siegal's role will be, via Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, and what the A's think about keeping her around:
“As a rookie coach, I expect to hit a lot of fungos, throw a lot of batting practice and help out wherever they want me to help,” Siegal said. “And I do like talking about life skills - I like to help people achieve their life goals.”
There is a chance that the opportunity could turn into a full-time coaching job with the organization at some point. The A’s do not have their minor-league coaching assignments set for next season so do not have an idea yet about potential job availability.
“Justine knows that nothing has been promised, but we’re not ruling that out,” [A’s assistant general manager David] Forst said.
Women coaching men is becoming more common on in pro sports. The San Antonio Spurs hired Becky Hammon as an assistant coach in 2014. She led their summer league team to a championship in July, summoning talk that she's ready to be a head coach in the NBA. In the NFL, Jen Welter was hired as a preseason intern by the Arizona Cardinals in July to work with the team's inside linebackers.
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Honored and grateful to be a guest coach for @Athletics during Instructional League. Baseball really is a game for all. #DreamBig
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Siegal believes, based on her previous tenures coaching baseball, that her gender won't be an issue with the young A's players. She told the Chronicle:
As it should be for any new coach.“I’ve found from experience that men are surprised to have a woman coach, but when they realize you know what you’re talking about and that you care, you fit right in with the rest of the staff,” Siegal said.
Jeff Samardzija bests Royals in potential last start for White Sox.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/isportsweb)
Just as the White Sox hoped when they acquired him, Jeff Samardzija earned a late September victory over a top American League club on Tuesday night.
But little else has gone according to plan for Samardzija or the White Sox.
Samardzija delivered seven sharp innings as the White Sox bested the Kansas City Royals 4-2 at U.S. Cellular Field. But instead of pitching in a pennant race, Samardzija was mostly improving his free agent resume as he likely made his final start for the White Sox, who officially were eliminated from the wild-card race last weekend.
Two starts after he was booed off the U.S. Cellular Field mound, Samardzija disappointed a Royals-friendly crowd as he posted five straight scoreless innings out of the gate.
Samardzija, who threw a one-hit shutout last week in Detroit, only got in trouble once in the early going. But he pitched around a pair of one-out singles in the second inning and retired nine straight batters into the fifth.
It’s just the type of outing the White Sox envisioned from Samardzija when they acquired him from Oakland last December and one he has only delivered on occasion in a disappointing season. Prior to his shutout on Sept. 21, Samardzija went 1-8 with a 9.24 ERA in the nine starts since the White Sox opted to hang onto him at the trade deadline. At the time of that decision -- a total reversal as the club was expected to sell Samardzija to the highest bidder -- the White Sox had won seven straight games. Suddenly they found themselves in the thick of the wild-card race and had visions of a deep postseason run with a rotation headed by Samardzija and Chris Sale.
But by the time Samardzija lost an Aug. 29 decision against the Seattle Mariners -- his sixth straight loss in August -- the White Sox had fallen seven games behind the second wild-card spot.
With Samardzija in top form on Tuesday the White Sox never trailed. They took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Jose Abreu’s two-out RBI single and increased the lead to three runs on Adam Eaton’s two-run homer in the sixth.
Samardzija -- who allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings -- saw his scoreless innings streak end at 14 in the sixth as Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales had back-to-back solo homers to get Kansas City within a run.
But Samardzija struck out Mike Moustakas to end the sixth and was aided by a fantastic diving catch from Trayce Thompson to end the seventh, a grab that likely saved a run from scoring.
The victory improved Samardzija to 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA in 214 innings this season.
Golf: I got a club for that..... 2015 FedEx Cup prize money: Every golfer's payout from $35M pool.
By Kyle Porter
Here are all the payouts for the 30 golfers who qualified for the Tour Championship as well as money earned by the other golfers who finished in the top 125 on the PGA Tour this season.
1st: $10,000,000
2nd: $3,000,000
3rd: $2,000,000
4th: $1,500,000
5th: $1,000,000
6th: $800,000
7th: $700,000
8th: $600,000
9th: $550,000
10th: $500,000
11th: $300,000
12th: $290,000
13th: $280,000
14th: $270,000
15th: $250,000
16th: $245,000
17th: $240,000
18th: $235,000
19th: $230,000
20th: $225,000
21st: $220,000
22nd: $215,000
23rd: $210,000
24th: $205,000
25th: $200,000
26th: $195,000
27th: $190,000
28th: $185,000
29th: $180,000
30th: $175,000
31st: $165,000
32nd: $155,000
33rd: $150,000
34th: $145,000
35th: $142,000
36th: $140,000
37th: $138,000
38th: $137,000
39th: $136,000
40th: $135,000
41st: $134,000
42nd: $133,000
43rd: $132,000
44th: $131,000
45th: $130,000
46th: $129,000
47th: $128,000
48th: $127,000
49th: $126,000
50th: $125,000
51st: $120,000
52nd: $115,000
53rd: $114,000
54th: $113,000
55th-70th: $110,000
71st-80th: $80,000
81st-100th: $75,000
101st-125th: $70,000
126th-150th: $32,000
NASCAR; Power Rankings: Joe Gibbs Racing at the summit again.
By Nick Bromberg
1. Matt Kenseth (LW: 7): With the win on Sunday, Kenseth is guaranteed to move on to the second round and we're going to go out on a limb and say he makes it to the third. The JGR cars have been mighty fast at the 1.5-mile tracks recently and Kenseth has become very good at Talladega. If Kenseth does make it to the final round, can we avoid talk of how Kenseth slumped last year? Because, as we've said before, he really didn't. He just missed victory lane. With his win on Sunday, he's now had at least 12 top-five finishes in the last five seasons.
2. Denny Hamlin (LW: 2): So much for taking it easy for two races. Hamlin ended up second on Sunday, though he wasn't even close to the lead. He was 8.4 seconds from Kenseth with the checkered flag flew. It's a farfetched scenario, but what if the four JGR cars are near the front of the field late in Sunday's race? Do Kenseth, Hamlin and Carl Edwards pull over for Kyle Busch? While some NASCAR fans wouldn't approve, it's the best strategy. Especially if it could get Busch into the second round.
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 4): After cutting a tire and fighting back to finish ninth, Johnson needs to avoid disaster at his best track and he'll cruise on in to the second round of the Chase. That shouldn't be a problem. But when thinking back to that flat left-front tire, it's easy to think that there's a chance Johnson could be down with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch in the standings if his car had careened into the wall. How nutty would a second-round Chase scenario without those three drivers be?
4. Carl Edwards (LW: 5): Edwards recovered nicely on Sunday and finished fifth. While fighting back from a penalty isn't necessarily playing it conservatively, Edwards can be the test case for why teams (read: Harvick) should always risk avoiding the worst-case scenario. Edwards had to serve a drive-through penalty for removing equipment from his pit box and fell all the way to 25th at one point. He made up 20 spots in the last half of the race.
5. Joey Logano (LW: 8): Logano mentioned Friday how he felt his team was hanging with Joe Gibbs Racing over the summer. The stats prove him right – Logano had two wins in August – and he was the first non-JGR car in the race results after finishing third. Plus, he's tied with Carl Edwards for the most points among drivers without a win in the first two races of the Chase.
6. Kurt Busch (LW: 3): Busch ended up finishing 19th after he was forced to pit for fuel late in the race. He's in a decent position heading into Dover, however. He's 17 points up on his brother, who is the first driver out of the Chase currently. Plus, Busch is in a much better position than he was last year. After he finished 36th at New Hampshire in 2014 he was eight points out of 12th. He was 18th at Dover and missed the second round of the Chase.
7. Ryan Newman (LW: 6): Newman finished 10th, though you're not liable to remember where Newman finished when asked about his most memorable moment of Sunday's race. That's his run-in with Danica Patrick. Newman's car appeared to skate up entering turn one and he tagged Patrick. She went spinning into the wall and then there was a giant foam explosion.
8. Brad Keselowski (LW: 9): Keselowski won't be penalized for his comments following Sunday's race. And that's good. Because his statement is correct when you look at it within the context of the Chase. Yes, we sound like a broken record, but the Chase is set up for entertainment and not fairness. A driver can have one bad race and be eliminated from contention under this system while another rides three mediocre finishes to the next round. That's not fair. And NASCAR likely knows this.
9. Kyle Busch (LW: 2): If Busch doesn't advance to the second round of the Chase at Dover, when do we start wondering about a Chase hex? We kid, though you'll certainly start to see talk of that nature if he's left out of the 12 drivers moving on. Busch is going to win a race over the next eight races. We're just not sure if it'll happen when he's a member of the Chase or not.
10 Jeff Gordon (LW: 12): Gordon is doing just enough to move on and that's perfectly acceptable. And, quite honestly, expected. Gordon getting to the second round isn't a surprise. But will he get to the third round? To do that, he'll have to get his first top-five since Pocono in August. Yes, it's been that long. Unless Gordon goes on an incredibly remarkable hot streak, 2015 is bound to be the worst year of his career in terms of top fives. He currently has three. He's never had less than seven.
11. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 11): How many times do you think it's crossed Truex's mind if he could have his teams switch manufacturers before the end of the season? Jumping into a Toyota with JGR-backed data must be incredibly appealing. Truex finished 8th at New Hampshire Sunday and if he gets to the second round of the Chase, expect to see a replay or two of his first career Cup Series win on Sunday.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 10): Outside of Kevin Harvick, the biggest fuel gamble that fell short at New Hampshire is Junior's. The No. 88 finished 25th and Junior is now one point from the outside of the top 12. Yes, it is conceivable (though not super likely) that three of the four drivers not moving on to the second round would be Busch, Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick. Oh boy.
The DNF: Harvick didn't DNF, but man, what a rough way to put yourself in a win-and-in scenario at Dover. Harvick had the day's dominant car, but the pit call on the final caution came too late and Harvick stayed out. He then wasn't able to save enough fuel over the course of the final run because of pressure from Matt Kenseth and ... well, good luck at Dover, champ.
Lucky Dog: Greg Biffle, congrats on winning the Sylvania 300 minus all of the Chase drivers. He finished 4th.
Dropped Out: No One.
NASCAR confirms meeting with owners about 'qualification concepts'.
By Nick Bromberg
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 4): After cutting a tire and fighting back to finish ninth, Johnson needs to avoid disaster at his best track and he'll cruise on in to the second round of the Chase. That shouldn't be a problem. But when thinking back to that flat left-front tire, it's easy to think that there's a chance Johnson could be down with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch in the standings if his car had careened into the wall. How nutty would a second-round Chase scenario without those three drivers be?
4. Carl Edwards (LW: 5): Edwards recovered nicely on Sunday and finished fifth. While fighting back from a penalty isn't necessarily playing it conservatively, Edwards can be the test case for why teams (read: Harvick) should always risk avoiding the worst-case scenario. Edwards had to serve a drive-through penalty for removing equipment from his pit box and fell all the way to 25th at one point. He made up 20 spots in the last half of the race.
5. Joey Logano (LW: 8): Logano mentioned Friday how he felt his team was hanging with Joe Gibbs Racing over the summer. The stats prove him right – Logano had two wins in August – and he was the first non-JGR car in the race results after finishing third. Plus, he's tied with Carl Edwards for the most points among drivers without a win in the first two races of the Chase.
6. Kurt Busch (LW: 3): Busch ended up finishing 19th after he was forced to pit for fuel late in the race. He's in a decent position heading into Dover, however. He's 17 points up on his brother, who is the first driver out of the Chase currently. Plus, Busch is in a much better position than he was last year. After he finished 36th at New Hampshire in 2014 he was eight points out of 12th. He was 18th at Dover and missed the second round of the Chase.
7. Ryan Newman (LW: 6): Newman finished 10th, though you're not liable to remember where Newman finished when asked about his most memorable moment of Sunday's race. That's his run-in with Danica Patrick. Newman's car appeared to skate up entering turn one and he tagged Patrick. She went spinning into the wall and then there was a giant foam explosion.
8. Brad Keselowski (LW: 9): Keselowski won't be penalized for his comments following Sunday's race. And that's good. Because his statement is correct when you look at it within the context of the Chase. Yes, we sound like a broken record, but the Chase is set up for entertainment and not fairness. A driver can have one bad race and be eliminated from contention under this system while another rides three mediocre finishes to the next round. That's not fair. And NASCAR likely knows this.
9. Kyle Busch (LW: 2): If Busch doesn't advance to the second round of the Chase at Dover, when do we start wondering about a Chase hex? We kid, though you'll certainly start to see talk of that nature if he's left out of the 12 drivers moving on. Busch is going to win a race over the next eight races. We're just not sure if it'll happen when he's a member of the Chase or not.
10 Jeff Gordon (LW: 12): Gordon is doing just enough to move on and that's perfectly acceptable. And, quite honestly, expected. Gordon getting to the second round isn't a surprise. But will he get to the third round? To do that, he'll have to get his first top-five since Pocono in August. Yes, it's been that long. Unless Gordon goes on an incredibly remarkable hot streak, 2015 is bound to be the worst year of his career in terms of top fives. He currently has three. He's never had less than seven.
11. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 11): How many times do you think it's crossed Truex's mind if he could have his teams switch manufacturers before the end of the season? Jumping into a Toyota with JGR-backed data must be incredibly appealing. Truex finished 8th at New Hampshire Sunday and if he gets to the second round of the Chase, expect to see a replay or two of his first career Cup Series win on Sunday.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 10): Outside of Kevin Harvick, the biggest fuel gamble that fell short at New Hampshire is Junior's. The No. 88 finished 25th and Junior is now one point from the outside of the top 12. Yes, it is conceivable (though not super likely) that three of the four drivers not moving on to the second round would be Busch, Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick. Oh boy.
The DNF: Harvick didn't DNF, but man, what a rough way to put yourself in a win-and-in scenario at Dover. Harvick had the day's dominant car, but the pit call on the final caution came too late and Harvick stayed out. He then wasn't able to save enough fuel over the course of the final run because of pressure from Matt Kenseth and ... well, good luck at Dover, champ.
Lucky Dog: Greg Biffle, congrats on winning the Sylvania 300 minus all of the Chase drivers. He finished 4th.
Dropped Out: No One.
NASCAR confirms meeting with owners about 'qualification concepts'.
By Nick Bromberg
NASCAR said Tuesday that the sport held a meeting with Sprint Cup Series owners to talk about the future of ownership in the sport.
Franchising has been a popular discussion point over the last few seasons. While NASCAR's statement didn't use the word franchise or any of its derivatives, it was clear that the sport did discuss a franchising model or something resembling one with the owners.
“Earlier today NASCAR met with all Sprint Cup Series owners and presented framework concepts for future qualification to compete in NASCAR’s top national series with an eye toward implementing a new model for the 2016 season. The on-going dialogue with the entire industry has been very good and today’s session was another productive step in that process. NASCAR, the tracks and the team owners all have the same collective goal: making the sport as strong and competitive as it can be for decades to come.
NASCAR's statement makes it obvious; there are more questions than answers at this point. Would there be an assigned value per team? Would two-car teams have half the value of a four-car team? How would new owners start out in NASCAR if there was a franchising model? Would a new system replace the current practice of selling points? When Michael Waltrip Racing shuts down at the end of the season, the team would be able to sell its points to an existing team or new team for the 2016 season. The new owner of the points would then have a higher priority if a provisional starting spot was needed early in the season.“Today’s meeting was one step in the process. There is still a lot of work to be done and that will continue over the coming months. We understand there will be speculation and rumors related to the concepts outlined today, but would caution against coming to any conclusions as we work toward final decisions. When it is appropriate to do so, NASCAR will make an official announcement. In the meantime, we are excited about the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and this weekend’s race at Dover.”
The discussions are likely part of the goal of the Race Team Alliance, which consists of all the major Sprint Cup Series teams. The RTA has said that one of its main goals is to help create a better and more efficient business model for teams in the Cup Series.
SOCCER; Bliss: Fire 'should be playing for self-pride, plus the fans'.
By Danny Michallik
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When the final whistle sounded at BMO Field on Saturday night, the Chicago Fire's fluctuating season and playoff chances, albeit improbable, were officially halted.
After extensive changes to the technical staff on the heels of a 1-0 setback to Orlando City SC on Sept. 19, the team's most recent stay in Canada yielded back-to-back defeats to the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC, spelling another taxing month for the Men in Red.
A club-record 18th loss at the weekend was enough to mathematically eliminate the team from postseason play, but Fire interim coach Brian Bliss insists morale has not wavered.
“We didn’t get a lot of time in terms of training, but the guys seem to be willing, good-spirited, up for the challenge," Bliss told reporters Monday via teleconference. "In this situation, with as many losses that have mounted up, usually you’ve got a lot of finger pointing and divisiveness in the locker room. That doesn’t seem to be the case at least from what I’ve noticed. Wished we would have had more time at home to do some training prior to, but the flipside was we got a lot of togetherness while on the road, and maybe that was a good thing, too."
The Fire finished September with five consecutive losses, four of which came away from Toyota Park and three that saw Bliss' group maintain a lead. Ultimately, a collective commitment to defense and attack was lacking, and, with three regular season matches left to play, dignity and a responsibility to perform for an upset fan base is on the line.
“That’s always the case, you hear that in any sport when you get down to it," Bliss added when asked if the next month serves as an audition for roster spots come 2016. "Coaches want to come out and pound a table and say, ‘You’re fighting for your jobs next year.’ I don’t want to go down that path because I don’t want to get into a position where I’m trying to threaten guys into trying to play better or buy into what we’re trying to do. They’ve got to find their own way to do that and show that.
"Guys are trying to play for next year, but they also should be playing for themselves and a little bit of self-pride, plus the fans. That’s what they should be rallying around, not so much rallying around a job.”
Injury notes:
- Ty Harden suffered a groin strain, and had to step out of training on Friday prior to the Toronto game. "He was a late scratch from the lineup," Bliss said, "and probably in the same boat heading into the weekend [vs. New England Revolution].”
- Following his return from ACL surgery, Patrick Nyarko was replaced by Joevin Jones at the 55-minute mark after sustaining a knock. “Patrick had a collision in the first half that caused some swelling and some pain on the outside of his knee," Bliss added. "I believe he’ll be fine going into Thursday’s training and should be available for the weekend.”
USA-Mexico to be broadcast live at 10 Illinois movie theaters.
By Danny Michallik
For the first time, the latest chapter in the fabled rivalry between the United States and Mexico is headed to the big screen.
Next month's highly awaited CONCACAF Cup clash at the Rose Bowl will be broadcast live at more than 200 movie theaters across the country, including 10 in Illinois, Fathom Events announced on Thursday. The organization is collaborating with Fox Sports 1 to supplement the fan experience. The one-off playoff fixture on Oct. 10 between the region's heated soccer rivals will determine CONCACAF's representative in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
“We’re really excited to be working with Fathom Events to bring the huge match between the U.S. and Mexico to big screens throughout the country,” said FOX Sports Head of Business David Nathanson in a release. “Live sports are the ultimate shared community experience, and the electric scene at what will be a jam-packed Rose Bowl will no doubt have fans in theaters feeling as if they’re in Pasadena too.”
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Mexico interim boss Tuca Ferretti have until Oct. 1 to prune their provisional rosters down to 23 names. Ferretti will already be without Andrés Guardado and Rafael Márquez, both of whom picked up injuries within the last week. Klinsmann will also be deprived of the services of Greg Garza, who sustained a hip injury while playing for Club Atlas.
Tickets for the movie presentation go on sale Friday. For the full list of locations and the Illinois locales, (Addison, Barrington, Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Gurnee, Joliet, Lincolnshire, Melrose Park, Orland Park) click here.
Viewing information:
United States vs. Mexico
Kickoff time: 8:30 p.m. CT
Where: Rose Bowl; Pasadena, Calif.
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
After extensive changes to the technical staff on the heels of a 1-0 setback to Orlando City SC on Sept. 19, the team's most recent stay in Canada yielded back-to-back defeats to the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC, spelling another taxing month for the Men in Red.
A club-record 18th loss at the weekend was enough to mathematically eliminate the team from postseason play, but Fire interim coach Brian Bliss insists morale has not wavered.
“We didn’t get a lot of time in terms of training, but the guys seem to be willing, good-spirited, up for the challenge," Bliss told reporters Monday via teleconference. "In this situation, with as many losses that have mounted up, usually you’ve got a lot of finger pointing and divisiveness in the locker room. That doesn’t seem to be the case at least from what I’ve noticed. Wished we would have had more time at home to do some training prior to, but the flipside was we got a lot of togetherness while on the road, and maybe that was a good thing, too."
The Fire finished September with five consecutive losses, four of which came away from Toyota Park and three that saw Bliss' group maintain a lead. Ultimately, a collective commitment to defense and attack was lacking, and, with three regular season matches left to play, dignity and a responsibility to perform for an upset fan base is on the line.
“That’s always the case, you hear that in any sport when you get down to it," Bliss added when asked if the next month serves as an audition for roster spots come 2016. "Coaches want to come out and pound a table and say, ‘You’re fighting for your jobs next year.’ I don’t want to go down that path because I don’t want to get into a position where I’m trying to threaten guys into trying to play better or buy into what we’re trying to do. They’ve got to find their own way to do that and show that.
"Guys are trying to play for next year, but they also should be playing for themselves and a little bit of self-pride, plus the fans. That’s what they should be rallying around, not so much rallying around a job.”
Injury notes:
- Ty Harden suffered a groin strain, and had to step out of training on Friday prior to the Toronto game. "He was a late scratch from the lineup," Bliss said, "and probably in the same boat heading into the weekend [vs. New England Revolution].”
- Following his return from ACL surgery, Patrick Nyarko was replaced by Joevin Jones at the 55-minute mark after sustaining a knock. “Patrick had a collision in the first half that caused some swelling and some pain on the outside of his knee," Bliss added. "I believe he’ll be fine going into Thursday’s training and should be available for the weekend.”
USA-Mexico to be broadcast live at 10 Illinois movie theaters.
By Danny Michallik
For the first time, the latest chapter in the fabled rivalry between the United States and Mexico is headed to the big screen.
Next month's highly awaited CONCACAF Cup clash at the Rose Bowl will be broadcast live at more than 200 movie theaters across the country, including 10 in Illinois, Fathom Events announced on Thursday. The organization is collaborating with Fox Sports 1 to supplement the fan experience. The one-off playoff fixture on Oct. 10 between the region's heated soccer rivals will determine CONCACAF's representative in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
“We’re really excited to be working with Fathom Events to bring the huge match between the U.S. and Mexico to big screens throughout the country,” said FOX Sports Head of Business David Nathanson in a release. “Live sports are the ultimate shared community experience, and the electric scene at what will be a jam-packed Rose Bowl will no doubt have fans in theaters feeling as if they’re in Pasadena too.”
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Mexico interim boss Tuca Ferretti have until Oct. 1 to prune their provisional rosters down to 23 names. Ferretti will already be without Andrés Guardado and Rafael Márquez, both of whom picked up injuries within the last week. Klinsmann will also be deprived of the services of Greg Garza, who sustained a hip injury while playing for Club Atlas.
Tickets for the movie presentation go on sale Friday. For the full list of locations and the Illinois locales, (Addison, Barrington, Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Gurnee, Joliet, Lincolnshire, Melrose Park, Orland Park) click here.
Viewing information:
United States vs. Mexico
Kickoff time: 8:30 p.m. CT
Where: Rose Bowl; Pasadena, Calif.
Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
NCAAFB: Notre Dame-Clemson Preview.
AP - Sports
Sixth-ranked Notre Dame faces a lot of unanswered questions through four games.
The Fighting Irish (4-0) have won two straight starts by quarterback DeShone Kizer, and he rallied Notre Dame with 12 seconds left to beat Virginia three weeks ago. But how will the sophomore react to a raucous crowd in his first road start at No. 12 Clemson?
Will the Irish defense, which seems to alternate between dominant and susceptible to big plays, find a way to play consistently well? Will the secondary continue to be burned by gadget plays?
But the biggest question facing the Irish: Just how good are they? It's hard to say. Notre Dame's victories have come against opponents with combined records of 4-11.
A 30-22 victory against then-No. 14 Georgia Tech two weeks ago doesn't look quite as impressive after the Yellow Jackets were beaten 34-20 by Duke on Saturday. Notre Dame heads into Clemson looking for its biggest road win since a 30-13 victory at Oklahoma in 2012 solidified its position as a national championship contender.
Coach Brian Kelly said at his weekly news conference Tuesday that what he is most confident about is team chemistry.
''It's a close team. They'll play hard for each other. There's no quit in them. They'll overcome adversity,'' he said.
The Irish already have overcome adversity with six players out with season-ending injuries, including quarterback Malik Zaire and running back Tarean Folston. Kizer at quarterback and C.J. Prosise at running back have done well replacing them. Prosise has rushed for 600 yards - the most ever by an Irish back in the first four games of a season. But both lack experience at their positions.
''We're still learning about the players that have had to come in and step in after these injuries,'' Kelly said.
Too often the past few seasons, Clemson has seen its chances for bigger things halted in marquee games. It happened in 2011 when the 8-0 Tigers were routed by Georgia Tech, 31-17. Then again two years later when 6-0 Clemson was run out of Death Valley by Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and Florida State, 51-14.
Along with a November date against the Seminoles, Saturday's visit from the Irish figures to be Clemson's biggest opportunity to paint itself as a playoff contender.
''I've been around since probably my (high school) freshman year,'' Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson said. ''From what I've been seeing, we've never kind of had that respect or gotten over that hump. I really don't care about the polls. We're going to do what we've got to do.''
It figures to be another mega-watt week on Clemson's campus. ESPN College GameDay will broadcast from the school for the first time since the Florida State defeat in 2013. Tickets are nearly impossible to get yet requests continue to pour in.
Clemson was the preseason pick to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title with Watson the favorite for player of the year. While Tigers are 3-0 for the fourth time in five years, the showing so far has left many questions with unsatisfying or incomplete answers.
Clemson's defense is ranked ninth nationally in allowing 260.7 yards a game - same as a year ago when it led the country - but has not yet been truly tested in wins over FCS opponent Wofford, Appalachian State and Louisville.
The Tigers' 1,000-yard receiver Mike Williams broke a bone in his neck in the season's first quarter and hasn't played since, robbing Watson of his primary deep threat. The result is many of Watson's completions have been short tosses as opponents take away the long ball.
But co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott thinks the drama will bring out Watson's best.
''He came to Clemson to compete against the biggest programs on the biggest stage,'' he said. ''I'm pretty sure he'll be excited and ready.''
Notre Dame comes in off a 62-27 win over Massachusetts. The contest was another game where Kizer and Prosise could grow and help the rest of the offense readjust instead of focusing on the Irish's numerous injuries.
''As long as the entire team knows that each player is valued for who they are, there's initial disappointment, but you don't lose morale,'' Kelly said.
Clemson safety Jayron Kearse said Notre Dame's receivers, particularly Will Fuller, have been a bit mouthy this week, trash-Tweeting on social media. The Tigers, Kearse said, are ready to shut down the Irish.
''They obviously don't know what we do down here in Death Valley,'' Kearse said.
What they don't know is how they will do on the road. The Irish had lost five straight road games until Kizer threw a 39-yard TD pass to Fuller with 12 seconds left to give Notre Dame a 34-27 victory at Virginia three weeks ago.
The Irish are 2-5 under Kelly on the road against ranked teams, with both wins coming in 2012 at No. 10 Michigan State and No. 8 Oklahoma. Clemson is 41-6 at home in seven seasons under coach Dabo Swinney and have won 11 straight.
Kelly said he expects the Irish to respond like they did last season when they nearly upset No. 2 Florida State, losing on a controversial pass interference call that cost them a touchdown with 13 seconds left.
''I think we'll have a lot of carry over,'' Kelly said. ''We'll talk in terms of the same kind of environment ... in terms of how we'll need to prepare.''
Ohio St.-Indiana Preview.
By KEVIN MASSOTH
There is a new, giddy feeling for unbeaten Indiana early this season. For Ohio State, it's same old, same old.
Minnesota-Northwestern Preview.
By JEFF MEZYDLO
Two seasons ago, Northwestern went undefeated in nonconference play and then managed one Big Ten victory.
The Wildcats gave up 181 yards on the ground after yielding 177 to Duke a week earlier, issues that were made worse by injuries to safety Godwin Igwebuike and defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo. If one or both are unable to play, though, Northwestern still has faith in its depth.
NCAABKB: NCAA suspends Larry Brown, bans SMU from the postseason.
The Hoosiers look to improve to 5-0 for the first time in 48 years on Saturday as the top-ranked Buckeyes try to extend the nation's longest road winning streak in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
The last time Indiana (4-0) and Ohio State (4-0) met with unbeaten records was Oct. 3, 1942, when each was 1-0. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes also opened the 1954 season against each other.
A 31-24 win over Wake Forest last Saturday gave the Hoosiers wins in their first four games for the first time since 1990, and they are on the verge of 5-0 for the first time since 1967. Of course, that would take beating Ohio State for the first time in 20 tries since 1988.
"They're the best team in the country," freshman receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. told the Hoosiers' official website. "You can't hide that."
You also can't ignore a pair of streaks that lead the nation for the defending national champions. The Buckeyes have won 14 straight road games and 16 in a row overall. Add to that a Big Ten-record 24 consecutive conference wins, and 5-0 looks further away for Indiana.
But high expectations lead to tough grading for Ohio State. The defense has been sparkling, allowing 49 combined points, but an offense that scored 84 in two College Football Playoff games last year has not displayed the same firepower.
Quarterback Cardale Jones has been inconsistent, and after his benching in a 20-13 win over Northern Illinois, he started last Saturday but was again up and down in a 38-12 victory over Western Michigan.
He finished 19 of 33 for 288 yards with two touchdown passes, but he completed just 6 of 14 passes in the second half with an interception. Jones, who also had a fumble which the Buckeyes recovered, ran 10 times for 32 yards and has been limited to 48 on the ground after getting 99 in the season opener.
''Overall, I thought Cardale played okay,'' coach Urban Meyer said. ''I still give him the okay because we have high expectations.''
Under-thrown passes irked Meyer, but he said that type of issue is fixable.
"If you are not executing down-the-field throws because your guys can't get open, that's a major problem," he told the team's official website. "That's a recruiting error, an effort error, something, and that wasn't the problem... it's just a matter of execution."
Unlike Jones, Ezekiel Elliott has continued his tear from late last season when he closed with three straight games of at least 200 yards rushing. The junior has now posted nine consecutive 100-yard games and is third in the Big Ten with 113.8 per game.
The player at the top of that list is Indiana junior Jordan Howard, the nation's leading rusher with 675 yards.
Howard is the Big Ten's co-offensive player of the week after rushing for 168 yards and a touchdown against Wake Forest. The transfer from UAB became the only FBS player in the last 20 seasons to rush for at least 140 yards in each of his first four games with a team.
"(Being named Big Ten player of the week) means a lot to me, but I guess it means a lot to the team because it shows we're doing something well," Howard said.
Ohio State will be Howard's biggest test. The Buckeyes have held opponents to averages of 12.2 points and 253.3 yards - both among the top 10 in the FBS - and join Missouri as the only Power Five conference teams not to allow a rush of more than 20 yards.
However, after giving up averages of 106.0 rushing yards and 2.6 per attempt through three games, the Ohio State run defense appeared vulnerable last week. That unit allowed 169 yards to a Western Michigan team which totaled 43 rushing yards against its previous two FBS opponents.
The Hoosiers will likely be without one of their top interior defensive linemen in tackle Darius Latham, who has been suspended for the second time this season. The school did not provide additional details about what led to the suspension but the indefinite suspension begins immediately.
Latham has 10 tackles in three games and leads the team with five tackles for loss. The junior is tied for second in sacks with two.
Minnesota-Northwestern Preview.
By JEFF MEZYDLO
Two seasons ago, Northwestern went undefeated in nonconference play and then managed one Big Ten victory.
Focused on avoiding such a slide, the No. 16 Wildcats open league action looking to start 5-0 for the third time in six seasons Saturday against visiting Minnesota.
Northwestern is no stranger to early success, going 21-3 in August and September since the start of the 2010 season. However, it's 6-14 in October during that span.
The Wildcats won all four games on their nonconference slate in 2013, then dropped seven straight Big Ten contests before ending the season with a 37-34 victory at Illinois.
Defensive lineman Deonte Gibson experienced that disappointment and another 5-7 finish in 2014, but feels confident Northwestern has learned from the past.
"You've got to be ready to just play now," Gibson told the school's official website. "Everything that happened in prior years says that we'll struggle in October. I don't believe so.
"Conference play, you've got to pick up the flag a little more."
While Northwestern's offense continues to find its way under freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson, it enters the week ranked third in the FBS in scoring defense at 8.8 points per contest and 11th in total defense at 266.0 yards.
However, the Wildcats likely need to play better after giving up their highest point total of the young season in last Saturday's 24-19 win over Ball State. The Cardinals' 359 yards were the most allowed by Northwestern in their nonconference schedule.
The Wildcats gave up 181 yards on the ground after yielding 177 to Duke a week earlier, issues that were made worse by injuries to safety Godwin Igwebuike and defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo. If one or both are unable to play, though, Northwestern still has faith in its depth.
"We've really instilled the idea that the next man up has to be ready to go whenever it's his time to shine," safety Traveon Henry said.
The Wildcats also think their ability to grind out victories or overcome such in-game adversity has prepared them well for the league season.
''I think our maturity's really showing,'' said versatile senior Dan Vitale, who caught five passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns last week. "Finding ways to win, which is what you need to do in Big Ten play."
Vitale recorded seven receptions for 36 yards and no TDs while Northwestern dropped its last two meetings with Minnesota (3-1) by a combined 10 points.
Though the Golden Gophers played admirably in a 23-17 loss to then-No. 2 TCU on Sept. 3, they've averaged 20.0 points while beating Colorado State, Kent State and Ohio by a combined nine. They needed Shannon Brooks' 3-yard run with 30 seconds left to beat the Bobcats 27-24 last Saturday.
"Just finding a way to win, that's all you have to do at the end of the day," coach Jerry Kill said. "We have to grow up real fast because we are into the Big Ten schedule."
The Gophers also are dealing with injuries to starting defensive backs Antonio Johnson, Briean Boddy-Calhoun and linebacker Cody Poock. If any or all are unable to go, Minnesota could find stopping Justin Jackson more difficult.
Second in the Big Ten with 516 rushing yards, Jackson gained a career-high 184 on 33 carries against Ball State. He's also caught four passes for 38 yards in the last two weeks.
Jackson ran for 106 yards and had four receptions for 50 and a touchdown in a 24-17 loss at Minnesota on Oct. 11.
Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner didn't throw a TD pass in that contest but ran for a pair of 1-yard scores.
Minnesota's lone victory in its last 16 road games against ranked league opponents was 28-24 over then-No. 21 Nebraska on Nov. 22.
NCAABKB: NCAA suspends Larry Brown, bans SMU from the postseason.
By Jeff Eisenberg
SMU head coach Larry Brown directs his team against UCLA during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Louisville, Ky., Thursday, March 19, 2015. UCLA won 60-59. (AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Larry Brown's third foray into college basketball is following the exact same pattern as the first two did more than a quarter century ago.
Spectacular success, followed quickly by severe NCAA violations.
The NCAA announced Tuesday that it has banned SMU from the 2016 postseason, suspended Brown for 30 percent (nine games) of the upcoming season and stripped the Mustangs of nine scholarships over the next three seasons. Brown also received a two-year show-cause penalty for failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance.
The penalties stem from an NCAA investigation into whether former SMU assistant Ulric Maligi and a former basketball administrator helped ex-McDonald's All-American Keith Frazier with the coursework he needed to become eligible to play for the Mustangs.
The NCAA found that Maligi encouraged Frazier to enroll in an online course necessary for him to meet initial eligibility standards to be admitted to the university. Then the administrative assistant obtained Frazier's username and password and completed his coursework, enabling him to play for the Mustangs as a freshman during the 2013-14 season.
What also contributed to the severity of SMU's punishment is that Brown and his staff were allegedly not forthright when approached by NCAA investigators.
The NCAA accused the administrative assistant of initially providing false information during her interviews and later refusing to interview again or provide documents requested by enforcement staffers. Brown did not learn of the misconduct until 2014, according to the NCAA, but he did not report it to SMU's compliance staff for more than a month and he initially denied having any information for NCAA investigators.
All that was clearly enough to make the NCAA feel comfortable wielding a sledge hammer to punish SMU because these penalties are no slap on the wrist.
The postseason ban is the most painful in the short term because SMU returns three starters from last year's 27-win team and had been expected to spar with UConn and Cincinnati for first place in the American Athletic Conference. The scholarship penalties could be crippling in the long term as the Mustangs won't be allowed to have more than 10 scholarship players for three straight seasons.
SMU's administrators have to shoulder some of the responsibility for this mess because they knew the risks when they hired Brown three years ago.
Brown led UCLA to the 1980 national title game, but the Bruins were put on probation for two years after the NCAA found players had received impermissible benefits. Brown led Kansas to a national title in 1988, but the Jayhawks were banned from postseason play the following year due to recruiting violations.
When SMU hired Brown in April 2012, school officials were eager to bring in a splashy name capable of raising the basketball program's profile in time for its move to the higher-profile American Athletic Conference the following year. SMU attempted and failed to land the likes of Buzz Williams, Tommy Amaker and Rick Majerus during an overly ambitious coaching search before settling on Brown as its leading candidate.
The boom-or-bust gamble paid off in some respects as SMU instantly became a factor for recruits it once couldn't get to return phone calls, reached the NIT title game in Brown's second year and ended a 23-year NCAA tournament drought last March.
But success under Brown has always led to NCAA investigators poking around on campus. And this time, the NCAA wasn't gentle either.
2015 Breeders' Cup Odds.
US Racing
US Racing
The Breeders' Cup is on October 30th & October 31st, 2015. Located at Keeneland, Lexington, Kentucky. Watch on NBC Sports on Friday at 3pm EST & Saturday at 1pm EST.
| * Horses - Breeders Cup Classic - Odds - Oct 05 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Odds - All Horses Are Action, Run Or Not | ||||
| Horses - Breeders Cup Classic - Odds To Win | ||||
| Team | American Odds | Fractional Odds | ||
| American Pharoah | +140 | 7/5 | ||
| California Chrome | +250 | 5/2 | ||
| Palace Malice | ||||
| Honor Code | +300 | 3/1 | ||
| Tonalist | +800 | 8/1 | ||
| Lea | +800 | 8/1 | ||
| Bayern | +4000 | 40/1 | ||
| Constitution | +2200 | 22/1 | ||
| Dortmund | +2200 | 22/1 | ||
| Firing Line | ||||
| Frosted | +1200 | 12/1 | ||
| Toast Of New York | +2500 | 25/1 | ||
| Wicked Strong | +2200 | 22/1 | ||
| Commissioner | +2200 | 22/1 | ||
| Materiality | ||||
| Moreno | ||||
| Texas Red | ||||
| Carpe Diem | ||||
| Hoppertunity | +4500 | 45/1 | ||
| Red Rifle | +5000 | 50/1 | ||
| Upstart | ||||
| Competitive Edge | +10000 | 100/1 | ||
| Tapiture | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| Untapable | +10000 | 100/1 | ||
| Shared Belief | ||||
| Protonico | +2500 | 25/1 | ||
| Wise Dan | ||||
| Catch A Flight | +2200 | 22/1 | ||
| Transparent | +4500 | 45/1 | ||
| Danza | ||||
| Elnaawi | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| Prince Bishop | +5000 | 50/1 | ||
| Race Day | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| V E Day | ||||
| Coach Inge | +4000 | 40/1 | ||
| Prospect Park | +2200 | 22/1 | ||
| Candy Boy | +7000 | 70/1 | ||
| John F Kennedy | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| Keen Ice | +700 | 7/1 | ||
| Liams Map | +1000 | 10/1 | ||
| Mubtaahij | +6000 | 60/1 | ||
| War Dispatch | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| Ocean Knight | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| El Kabeir | +10000 | 100/1 | ||
| General A Rod | +10000 | 100/1 | ||
| Madefromlucky | +5000 | 50/1 | ||
| Punctuate | ||||
| Ride On Curlin | +8000 | 80/1 | ||
| War Story | ||||
| Itsaknockout | +10000 | 100/1 | ||
| Noble Bird | ||||
| Hard Aces | +4500 | 45/1 | ||
| Matterhorn | +6000 | 60/1 | ||
| Effinex | +7000 | 70/1 | ||
| Gleneagles | +1000 | 10/1 | ||
| Epiphaneia | +10000 | 100/1 | ||
| Beholder | +250 | 5/2 | ||
| Social Inclusion | +3500 | 35/1 | ||
| Cigar Street | +4000 | 40/1 | ||
| Updated September 29, 2015. Bet US Racing - Official Breeder' Cup Odds. Breeders' Cup Betting, all odds are fixed odds prices. | ||||
Memoriesofhistory.com
1927 - George Herman "Babe" Ruth hit his 60th homerun of the season. He broke his own record with the homerun. The record stood until 1961 when Roger Maris broke the record.
1934 - Dizzy Dean won his 30th game of the season in a 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
1947 - The World Series was televised for the first time. The sponsors only paid $65,000 for the entire series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees.
1971 - The Washington Senators played their last game in Washington before moving to Arlington, TX. They were forced to forfeit the game to the New York Yankees when fans stormed the field in an effort to take souvenirs.
1972 - Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates) recorded his 3,000th career hit. It was his last as he was killed in Venezuela during the off season.
1973 - Hank Aaron finished the season one short of Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs. He broke the record in the first month of the 1974 season.
1973 - The New York Yankees completed their 50th season at the Stadium.
1984 - Mike Witt (California Angels) became only the 11th pitcher to throw a perfect game in major league baseball. He defeated the Texas Rangers 1-0.
1984 - The Los Angeles Rams set an NFL record when they registered three safeties in a 33-12 victory over the New York Giants.
1992 - George Brett (Kansas City Royals) reached his 3,000th career hit during a game against the California Angels. He was the 18th player to reach the mark.
1995 - Albert Belle (Cleveland Indians) became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 doubles in the same season.
1999 - The San Francisco Giants played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the last baseball game to be played at Candlestick Park (3Com Park). The Dodgers won 9-4 with 61,389 fans on hand.
2002 - Chris McAlister (Baltimore Ravens) returned a missed field goal 108 yards to set an NFL record.
1934 - Dizzy Dean won his 30th game of the season in a 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
1947 - The World Series was televised for the first time. The sponsors only paid $65,000 for the entire series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees.
1971 - The Washington Senators played their last game in Washington before moving to Arlington, TX. They were forced to forfeit the game to the New York Yankees when fans stormed the field in an effort to take souvenirs.
1972 - Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates) recorded his 3,000th career hit. It was his last as he was killed in Venezuela during the off season.
1973 - Hank Aaron finished the season one short of Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs. He broke the record in the first month of the 1974 season.
1973 - The New York Yankees completed their 50th season at the Stadium.
1984 - Mike Witt (California Angels) became only the 11th pitcher to throw a perfect game in major league baseball. He defeated the Texas Rangers 1-0.
1984 - The Los Angeles Rams set an NFL record when they registered three safeties in a 33-12 victory over the New York Giants.
1992 - George Brett (Kansas City Royals) reached his 3,000th career hit during a game against the California Angels. He was the 18th player to reach the mark.
1995 - Albert Belle (Cleveland Indians) became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 doubles in the same season.
1999 - The San Francisco Giants played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the last baseball game to be played at Candlestick Park (3Com Park). The Dodgers won 9-4 with 61,389 fans on hand.
2002 - Chris McAlister (Baltimore Ravens) returned a missed field goal 108 yards to set an NFL record.
*****************************************************************
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