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"Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got to keep going." ~ Chantal Sutherland, Model, Television Personality and Jockey in North American Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Trending: The Chicago Cubs are favored to win the World Series. No, seriously. (See the baseball sections for details).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears-Lions Preview.
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
While Jay Cutler is receiving some praise for leading the banged-up Chicago Bears to back-to-back wins, Matthew Stafford is hoping to dig out of a horrendous start.
Two quarterbacks playing much differently meet Sunday when the visiting Bears look to avoid their longest losing streak against the winless Detroit Lions in 42 years.
Cutler has had a patch-work receiving corps with first-round pick Kevin White, Pro Bowler Alshon Jeffery and veteran Eddie Royal nursing injuries. Making matters worse, Will Montgomery and Jermon Bushrod also have gone down on the offensive line.
Cutler, however, has made the most of what's left by keeping plays alive despite battling a hamstring injury that cost him one-plus games. Since sitting out a 26-0 loss at Seattle on Sept. 27, he's thrown for 533 yards with four touchdowns and one pick.
The 10th-year pro lost an early fumble in the end zone last Sunday before rebounding with a pair of late scoring strikes in an 18-17 win at Kansas City. He dropped the snap before calmly hitting Matt Forte in stride for the go-ahead score with 18 seconds left.
Coach John Fox said Cutler is still growing under new offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
"We're still six months into it from just a learning aspect, not even a practicing aspect, but I like what I've seen and I expect him to get better moving forward," Fox told the team's official website.
Since throwing for 12 touchdowns and one interception in his first nine career starts against the Lions (0-5), Cutler has five TDs and six picks while getting sacked seven times in three straight losses. He did not play in the most recent meeting - a 20-14 home loss Dec. 21 - after being benched by former coach Marc Trestman.
Matthew Stafford certainly knows the feeling after being yanked following his third interception in last Sunday's 42-17 home loss to Arizona. Coach Jim Caldwell stuck to his word after reportedly telling the 2014 Pro Bowler one more pick would lead to the bench.
Stafford has struggled throughout much of the season, ranking 33rd in the NFL with a 74.8 passer rating while throwing a league-high eight interceptions. He's thrown just two touchdown passes to go with five picks over his last three games.
One result has been star receiver Calvin Johnson's 32 catches for just 322 yards.
With backup Dan Orlovsky not a likely solution, Caldwell has made it clear Stafford will be under center as the Lions try to end their worst start since going 0-16 in 2008.
Stafford has played well at home versus Chicago (2-3), completing 67.6 percent of his attempts while throwing for eight touchdowns and three interceptions in four meetings.
"There's no quarterback controversy or anything of that nature," said Caldwell, who guided an 11-5 Lions team to the playoffs last year. "But I know one thing, we've got to get better."
Detroit, which hasn't won five straight versus Chicago since 1971-73, could face some hostility if it doesn't get off to a strong start. Frustrated fans booed the Lions last weekend, leading receiver Golden Tate to voice displeasure before easing off this week.
Caldwell then admitted Monday that his squad didn't give maximum effort.
"I understand where our fan base is coming from as far as their patience with this organization and a lot of people put it in perspective," Tate told the team's official website. "And I'll just keep it at that."
Joique Bell, who has 22 yards on 20 carries this season, expects to play after missing two games with an ankle injury. Rookie Ameer Abdullah was benched Sunday after fumbling twice for the Lions, who rank last in the NFL with 49.0 rushing yards per game.
Since allowing 35.0 points and 331.0 yards per game during an 0-3 start, the Bears have given up an average of 18.5 points and 265.0 yards. They have nine sacks in the previous three contests - led by Pernell McPhee's three - after previously recording none.
Linebacker Shea McClellin, though, could be out after injuring his knee last week.
Detroit is 22nd in total defense (375.4 yards per game) and 27th against the rush (126.6) after allowing a season-high point total and 187 rushing yards against Arizona. Now linebacker DeAndre Levy is out after aggravating a hip injury in his season debut.
That could be a bad sign as the Lions face Forte, who has an NFL-best 438 rushing yards. However, they've limited him to 94 and 2.3 per carry in the last three meetings.
Bears waiting on Alshon Jeffery to provide downfield threat.
By John Mullin
Alshon Jeffery, who was limited (again) in practice on Thursday has more optimism about playing this Sunday in Detroit (“a lot better than last week,” Jeffery said) than he has had for any of the Bears’ last four games (all of which he missed) because of a hamstring strain. The offense has out-gained opponents in three of those, all but the Seattle game.
But the Bears rank 31st in yards per pass attempt (6.1 yards), meaning that the football is not going deep downfield very often. Not all of it can be laid at the foot of protection questions, with the Bears 18th in sack percentage; not great but not catastrophic, either.
The Bears have 17 pass plays of 20 yards or longer but only 10 of those have come from wide receivers, and Jeffery accounted for two of those in the one game he played (Green Bay). Jeffery has had longest catches for 80 and 74 yards the past two seasons and through five games this year the Bears have none longer than 50 yards.
The twin hopes are that Jeffery will be active Sunday in Ford Field and that he will bring something that has been sorely missed by the 2015 Bears offense.
“I think we’re going to be able to open things up a little bit,” offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. “We haven’t really been able to attack down the field. A lot of our guys… ‘Q’ [Marquess Wilson] has tried to do a good job with what we ask him to do.
“[But] I know Alshon is a special cat. The way that he goes up and gets the ball, it’s rare to see. I know there’s a few guys that can do it, but it seems like a contested throw, he wins a lot. Like [receivers coach Mike] Groh always would say, ‘He’s an above the rim player,’ and there’s not a lot of those guys around the league.”
Jeffery actually is, literally, an above-the-rim player. He was a four-time state champion as a member of the Calhoun County (S.C.) High School basketball team.
“[Not playing has] been frustrating at times, but I have great teammates and great coaches, and great people around me that are keeping me in good spirits,” Jeffery said. “We'll evaluate it. Let's just see what the coaches say and see how it feels. [We’re a] couple of days away from Sunday, so we'll see.”
Bears rookie WR Kevin White does some light work at practice.
By John Mullin
Lost among the myriad injuries that have afflicted the Bears, particularly at the wide-receiver spot, was perhaps the most devastating of all: the stress fracture to the left shin of rookie wideout Kevin White, which ended his season before it ever got close to starting.
White, the No. 7 pick of this year’s draft and expected to be a centerpiece in the offense of coordinator Adam Gase, appeared at Bears practice on Thursday just doing some light running and catching casual tosses from a member of the Bears’ medical staff. Because of the injury, which occurred sometime during June workouts with the team, White was placed on the physically unable to perform list to open training camp and given the “reserve/physically unable to perform” designation during Aug. 30 roster cutdowns before the start of the season.
“They are continuing to rehab,” Bears head coach John Fox said. “The training staff, they’ve been doing a lot of indoor work. Now he’s progressing to where he can get on the grass a little bit. He’s not been activated. He’s still reserve PUP.”
The designation indicated that the Bears in fact held onto the prospect of White returning this season from surgery in late August to insert a pin into the bone in his left shin. One scenario is that the Bears will be able to bring White back at some point in the season but it will be dependent in part on whether the season is unfolding such that he will be a meaningful addition to a meaningful season.
White would be eligible to resume practicing after the sixth regular-season weekend on through the 11th regular-season weekend (Nov. 23). The Bears would have three weeks from when White resumes practicing to decide on whether to move him onto the active roster.
As far as White returning, “I’m kind of vague, not optimistic, not pessimistic, just one day at a time,” Fox said. “I know he’s made good progress and we’ll just cross that bridge when we get to it.”
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks offense stopped by Holtby, Capitals in loss. OK Hawks, that's enough. Let's go!!!
By Tracey Myers
Coach Joel Quenneville wasn’t as perturbed with Thursday night’s loss as he was Wednesday’s. At least against the Washington Capitals, the Blackhawks had some choice scoring opportunities.
But it was another loss nonetheless and another one in which the Blackhawks’ offense just could not find many answers.
Viktor Svedberg scored the first goal of his NHL career but the Blackhawks were otherwise quiet in a 4-1 loss to the Capitals at the Verizon Center. It wasn’t as dismal a game as Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, where the Blackhawks looked listless from start to (just about) finish. But it was the same result, nonetheless.
“You don’t like the way things are going,” Quenneville said. “The game’s over before you know it.”
It was another night where the Blackhawks looked for some chemistry or jump throughout their lines. The fourth group, the reunited Andrew Desjardins, Marcus Kruger and Andrew Shaw, was the Blackhawks’ best combination with the best scoring opportunities. But be it Braden Holtby, who stopped 26 of 27 shots, iron or near misses, the Blackhawks couldn’t capitalize much.
On the other side, the Capitals were energetic from the start. They had eight shots before the Blackhawks got their first, a Svedberg shot that came about 10 minutes into the game. Embarrassed by the San Jose Sharks here on Tuesday night, the Capitals looked like a motivated bunch on Thursday. T.J.Oshie, John Carlson, Matt Niskanen and Alexander Ovechkin scored for the Capitals.
“I mean, we expected it; they didn’t have a great last game and we knew they were going to come out flying. That’s exactly what they did,” Shaw said. “It took us a period to get into it.”
The Blackhawks were very good in the second period, outshooting the Capitals 17-7. But as Quenneville put it, “we had some great chances, empty net missed, not sharp around the net.”
The feeling-out process with the revamped lineup apparently continues.
“I think it’s a little bit of that, but at the same time we know we can work a little bit harder,” Duncan Keith said. “I think once we win a few more puck battles and races to the puck, that’s going to help us out a lot.”
The Blackhawks have been in these scoring slumps in the past. It’s not fun, but it’s not any reason to panic. Still, they’d like to start finding solutions sooner rather than later.
“We’re not happy with how we played the last few games. Of course, we’re going to try to find ways and that’s usually what we do. That’s just how it is,” Kruger said. “All of us have to be better and take responsibility.”
Blackhawks commit six penalties in shutout loss to Flyers.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks have shown glimpses in this early season of what they can do when they’re on the same page. They showed on Wednesday what happens when they’re not.
Sam Gagner scored his first goal in a Philadelphia uniform and Michal Neuvirth stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Flyers beat the Blackhawks 3-0 on Wednesday night. It was the first shutout of the season for the Blackhawks, who haven’t won a regular-season game in Philadelphia since Nov. 9, 1996.
The Blackhawks got into penalty trouble early in this one and never really recovered. After taking just four penalties in their first three games, they took five in the first two periods on Wednesday. That gave the Flyers power plays, life and eventually a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“It’s the opposite talked about it this morning: we took some careless penalties,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We gave them momentum. They had pace and we stood around and watched a majority of the game.”
The Blackhawks had their chances and had five power plays themselves, but they couldn’t capitalize on anything. Neuvirth was a big reason for that. At other times the Blackhawks just missed great opportunities.
“I just think we had our chances at the end, but sometimes you don’t come out with the work ethic you need,” Jonathan Toews said. “We weren’t winning the puck races, we weren’t winning the battles, all those little details you hear us talk about. You don’t get the bounces if you don’t do that. That’s kind of what it came down to tonight and translated into us taking some penalties and having to kill off a few and us not generating a whole heck of a lot on the power play.”
Their second line has been the driving force in the early season. But on Wednesday the combination of Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane – who was booed every time he touched the puck – yielded nothing. The Blackhawks’ other three lines haven’t generated much. That includes the top line, which had another left-wing tryout – Viktor Tikhonov – with Toews and Marian Hossa by the end of this game.
“You try things,” Quenneville said. “You’re not happy but certainly tonight wasn’t what we were looking for. It wasn’t about trying different things tonight. We were brutal.”
The Blackhawks won’t have a lot of time to think about this one, as they face the Washington Capitals tomorrow. Scott Darling is “likely” to start, Quenneville said. They’ve done some good in this early season but they’ve also got some things they need to fix.
“I guess it’s still feeling each other out as a team, making sure we’re all prepared, we’re all ready to go before the game, and we’re all on the same page,” Toews said. “It starts with the guys that have been here for a number of years, guys that know what it takes, especially early on. We’ll make sure we carry out a better effort tomorrow night.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Masked Derrick Rose returns to practice, optimistic about opener.
On the other side, the Capitals were energetic from the start. They had eight shots before the Blackhawks got their first, a Svedberg shot that came about 10 minutes into the game. Embarrassed by the San Jose Sharks here on Tuesday night, the Capitals looked like a motivated bunch on Thursday. T.J.Oshie, John Carlson, Matt Niskanen and Alexander Ovechkin scored for the Capitals.
“I mean, we expected it; they didn’t have a great last game and we knew they were going to come out flying. That’s exactly what they did,” Shaw said. “It took us a period to get into it.”
The Blackhawks were very good in the second period, outshooting the Capitals 17-7. But as Quenneville put it, “we had some great chances, empty net missed, not sharp around the net.”
The feeling-out process with the revamped lineup apparently continues.
“I think it’s a little bit of that, but at the same time we know we can work a little bit harder,” Duncan Keith said. “I think once we win a few more puck battles and races to the puck, that’s going to help us out a lot.”
The Blackhawks have been in these scoring slumps in the past. It’s not fun, but it’s not any reason to panic. Still, they’d like to start finding solutions sooner rather than later.
“We’re not happy with how we played the last few games. Of course, we’re going to try to find ways and that’s usually what we do. That’s just how it is,” Kruger said. “All of us have to be better and take responsibility.”
Blackhawks commit six penalties in shutout loss to Flyers.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks have shown glimpses in this early season of what they can do when they’re on the same page. They showed on Wednesday what happens when they’re not.
Sam Gagner scored his first goal in a Philadelphia uniform and Michal Neuvirth stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Flyers beat the Blackhawks 3-0 on Wednesday night. It was the first shutout of the season for the Blackhawks, who haven’t won a regular-season game in Philadelphia since Nov. 9, 1996.
The Blackhawks got into penalty trouble early in this one and never really recovered. After taking just four penalties in their first three games, they took five in the first two periods on Wednesday. That gave the Flyers power plays, life and eventually a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“It’s the opposite talked about it this morning: we took some careless penalties,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We gave them momentum. They had pace and we stood around and watched a majority of the game.”
The Blackhawks had their chances and had five power plays themselves, but they couldn’t capitalize on anything. Neuvirth was a big reason for that. At other times the Blackhawks just missed great opportunities.
“I just think we had our chances at the end, but sometimes you don’t come out with the work ethic you need,” Jonathan Toews said. “We weren’t winning the puck races, we weren’t winning the battles, all those little details you hear us talk about. You don’t get the bounces if you don’t do that. That’s kind of what it came down to tonight and translated into us taking some penalties and having to kill off a few and us not generating a whole heck of a lot on the power play.”
Their second line has been the driving force in the early season. But on Wednesday the combination of Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane – who was booed every time he touched the puck – yielded nothing. The Blackhawks’ other three lines haven’t generated much. That includes the top line, which had another left-wing tryout – Viktor Tikhonov – with Toews and Marian Hossa by the end of this game.
“You try things,” Quenneville said. “You’re not happy but certainly tonight wasn’t what we were looking for. It wasn’t about trying different things tonight. We were brutal.”
The Blackhawks won’t have a lot of time to think about this one, as they face the Washington Capitals tomorrow. Scott Darling is “likely” to start, Quenneville said. They’ve done some good in this early season but they’ve also got some things they need to fix.
“I guess it’s still feeling each other out as a team, making sure we’re all prepared, we’re all ready to go before the game, and we’re all on the same page,” Toews said. “It starts with the guys that have been here for a number of years, guys that know what it takes, especially early on. We’ll make sure we carry out a better effort tomorrow night.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Masked Derrick Rose returns to practice, optimistic about opener.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/@_MarcusD_)
Perhaps the Elusive One, the Reclusive One should now be called the Optimistic One.
Or the Masked One.
Derrick Rose walked over confidently to the assembled media after shooting around with his newly-fitted mask at the Advocate Center and delivered his first comments since his orbital bone surgery two weeks ago, while not ruling out a debut on opening night Oct. 27.
“No pain,” Rose said. “I haven't had no pain since the first couple days after the surgery. After that, it's just getting it open, waiting for my eye to get right in the center, because it's a little bit higher than the other eye right now.”
He spoke so positively about where is now, it appears he’s made enough progress to at least be optimistic about having his name called when the Bulls take the floor against the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center.
“It’s whenever I can go play. I want to play. I’m anxious to play. I’m getting jittery just watching them play and the freedom we have playing,” he said. “If I’m willing to go and I know there’s nothing in my way, I’ll play.”
Despite the left eye looking like he’d been in a bout with Sugar Ray Leonard or Thomas Hearns for a few rounds, barely staying open at times, he seemed to be comfortable with the temporary reality of having accepted his left eye has gone through this type of trauma.
The dark moments, both literally and figuratively, directly after his procedure were the worst ones, but he quickly quipped with a level of humor, “I’m happy it’s not my knees.”
Referring to the knees that have often failed him and played a part in the derision he’s endured subsequently, he described the darkest—and worst moments of the last two weeks.
“Getting out of surgery. Throbbing, it felt like a blowtorch on your face,” Rose said. “Just having to stay in the house for two weeks. Felt like I was in jail or something, but just happy to be out, happy to be with my teammates, and happy to be back on the same mission previous to this [injury].”
Rose has spent plenty of time watching this team with his one good eye, and sees an open floor with plenty of opportunity to involve his teammates to the tune of at least seven assists per game, numbers he reached in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, his best as a professional.
“I’m cool with that. Whatever makes the game easy,” Rose said. “Even when I came back and practiced before training camp, I wasn’t being aggressive. I was just trying to get the feel for the offense and just get used to pushing the ball the way he wants us to push it.”
And if need be, he could play with the left eye not at maximum efficiency because a Rose with one eye is better than many with two. He hasn't yet been cleared for contact, taking things a step at a time while keeping an eye to the near future.
“I think I can. I can’t open my other eye,” Rose said. “That’s when I get double vision. But with one eye open, I think I could play pretty good.”
When asked if he ever wondered “why me?”, Rose said the temporary feeling didn’t last long, a sentiment many in the Chicago basketball community could wish they shared.
“Not at all. I will say the first day it's like that,” Rose said. “But after that, I just know there's a bigger plan. I'm doing all I can do on and off the court to try to be the best person I am and be the best athlete I can become. That's the only thing I can do. All the other things, like the injuries and all that; I'm just happy that it's not my knees. My eyes, anything else, I can deal with it. As long as it's not my legs, I'm fine.”
The film showed Taj Gibson as the culprit who hit Rose with an inadvertent elbow on the first day of training camp, the day that was supposed to signal the new beginning for the player who had a few too many new beginnings in short time.
“It comes along with it I guess. Just another cool story I can tell my son, for real,” he said.
As the swelling went down, the optimism rose even as the criticism surrounding his Media Day comments began to swell even more, as if the injury was some karmic payback for an awkwardly-placed answer.
“Everybody knows why I'm here,” Rose said. “That's why I picked this profession, just to win games no matter how we win games. It's all about winning. The No. 1 goal is to win the championship. This is my eighth year in the league. I was hoping I would win one before my eighth year, but it's all in God's plans, so just got to follow along with it and keep my goals pretty strict.”
Bulls' Taj Gibson makes positive impact in preseason debut.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/foxsports.com)
He expected it, but Taj Gibson still had to laugh about finding himself huffing and puffing after his first time downcourt in his preseason debut after ankle surgery.
“To tell you the truth, my heart was beating so fast,” Gibson said. “I was too hyped, my first play down I couldn’t catch my breath.”
Fred Hoiberg saw all he needed to see in 10 minutes of Gibson’s return, as the veteran scored four points, making two of his three shots and grabbing a couple of boards.
“Taj was good his first time out,” Hoiberg said.
Hoiberg wasn’t happy about much in the Bulls’ 114-91 loss to the Pistons, but seeing Gibson out there, displaying his usual spunk had to please him on some level. Gibson battled through excruciating pain in the postseason, then found out after he had torn ligaments in his left ankle that hindered his athleticism and mobility defensively.
After going though a decent amount of practices and scrimmages, playing in an actual game was a test for him. He hit a baseline jumper and was active around the glass, so it’s a step forward in the recovery process.
“It was fun, being able to touch the ball for the first time in a long time, after rehab and a lot of work over the summer,” he said. “It just felt good to be out there.”
Gibson isn’t going to push himself too much too soon, especially considering the marathon that is the NBA season being two weeks away and the end of the season being at least two trimesters away.
Baby steps.
“It responded good,” said Gibson, referring to the ankle. “Just getting my legs back under me. The coaching staff kept me in tune. They were proud of me, understanding it’s a long process of rehab and pushing through a lot of late nights. It was fun just to be out there.”
With Bobby Portis emerging, the Bulls don’t have to rush Gibson to make sure the valuable reserve is ready to play 30 minutes a night in November.
But if the Bulls plan on using their big lineup in some form, with Nikola Mirotic playing small forward, either Portis or Gibson should be playing power forward to add some athleticism and speed to the lineup.
“Yeah, every night Bobby comes in,” Gibson said. “I already see his determination. He gets up shots late. I come in late at night too and he’s always in here. Scrimmages and practices, he’s always listening to me.”
He also made his voice heard when discussing the state of the defense, which hasn’t been to anybody’s satisfaction thus far. Jimmy Butler voiced his concerns after Monday’s game against New Orleans, and the Bulls were still a step or three slower than their usual standards Wednesday.
“It’s our defense it’s too…it’s lackadaisical,” Gibson said. “We’ve got guys who are capable of doing a lot better. Speaking as a veteran, we got to do a lot better as a team.”
“Young guys have to lock in a lot better and that’s our fault, we have to challenge them in practice. These things are correctable. Our offense has been great. I saw it out there it was wide open. It takes time, we got a lot of games, a couple more practices out there. We’ll look at the film and it’ll tell us what we need to do.”
But at least his ankle isn’t in the back of his mind, so he can perform to as close to peak efficiency as his own standards have shown.
“It feels a lot stronger. No pain,” Gibson said. “I feel I’m jumping a lot better, a lot higher. Just having fun. My teammates are just making it fun again.”
Who has the edge: Cubs or Mets? What's Your Take?
By Mark Gonzales
Starting pitching
It lines up well for the Cubs to have left-hander Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta starting the first two games of the National League Championship Series on Saturday and Sunday. Though he was charged with the Cubs' only loss in their last 13 games, Lester has a 2.35 ERA over his last two starts and he struck out nine Friday in his loss to the Cardinals. An extra day of rest won't hurt Arrieta. Potential Game 3 starter Kyle Hendricks has a 3.38 ERA at Wrigley Field, compared to a 4.47 road ERA. Whoever starts Game 4 — Jason Hammel or Dan Haren — won't be asked to pitch deep.
Edge: Mets
Bullpen
In a best-of-seven series, the Cubs could add another reliever and opt for one fewer position player. The Cubs may need more contributions from the bullpen than they did in Games 2 and 4 of the NL Division Series because of the likelihood Hendricks, Hammel or Haren will start Games 3 and 4. Clayton Richard and Travis Wood will split the late-inning assignments against the formidable left-handed hitters.
The Mets don't have a firm bridge to closer Jeurys Familia, who throws in the high 90s and tied the Mets' all-time save record with 43. Setup reliever Tyler Clippard struggled late in the regular season, and Addison Reed has been inconsistent. Former starter Bartolo Colon could be the most valuable addition to the bullpen. Left-handers batted .301 against left-hander Jonathan Niese, who was switched from the rotation.
Edge: Cubs
Hitting
Power carried the Cubs past the Cardinals in the division series, but the offense also drew 17 walks and executed three sacrifice bunts against a tough pitching staff. Patience will be a key factor as the Cubs try to jack up the starters' pitch counts and get into a vulnerable bullpen soon. The ascent of Jorge Soler makes the Cubs' lineup more dangerous than at any time during the regular season.
The Mets' offense has improved greatly since the Cubs swept them in their three-game series June 30-July 2. The addition of Yoenis Cespedes and return of David Wright stretched a once-feeble lineup. One scout said Curtis Granderson was one of the Mets' more underrated players, citing his 26 home runs and .364 on-base percentage. But the key may be streaky left-handed hitter Lucas Duda. Rookie Michael Conforto is nearly as polished as the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber.
Edge: Cubs
Fielding
The left hamstring of shortstop Addison Russell will focus attention on Javier Baez. Baez possesses more range and has a stronger arm, but Russell is more dependable. Jorge Soler displayed his powerful arm in Game 4 of the NLDS, but look for the Cubs to continue to make late-inning defensive changes in right field with a lead.
The Mets are hoping that shortstop Wilmer Flores can make the routine play as Russell has for the Cubs. Cespedes has a powerful arm. Look for the Cubs to test the arm of center fielder Juan Lagares, who still covers a lot of ground. Daniel Murphy is versatile but can't match the defense of injured second baseman Ruben Tejada. The return of third baseman David Wright stabilizes the infield defense.
Edge: Cubs
Manager
Joe Maddon possessed the right moves in the wild-card game and NLDS, and he will treat the NLCS as seven one-game series. Maddon also will exploit a weakness, as he did in calling for the consecutive squeeze bunts that changed the course of Game 2 in the NLDS.
Terry Collins has done a magnificent job coping with a lineup that was power-starved until the final two months of the season. Collins is aware of Maddon's tendencies dating back to their days as coaches in the Angels' system. But Collins' biggest challenge will be handling a shaky bullpen at the first sign of trouble.
Edge: Cubs
Mark Gonzales' pick: Cubs in six.
In a best-of-seven series, the Cubs could add another reliever and opt for one fewer position player. The Cubs may need more contributions from the bullpen than they did in Games 2 and 4 of the NL Division Series because of the likelihood Hendricks, Hammel or Haren will start Games 3 and 4. Clayton Richard and Travis Wood will split the late-inning assignments against the formidable left-handed hitters.
The Mets don't have a firm bridge to closer Jeurys Familia, who throws in the high 90s and tied the Mets' all-time save record with 43. Setup reliever Tyler Clippard struggled late in the regular season, and Addison Reed has been inconsistent. Former starter Bartolo Colon could be the most valuable addition to the bullpen. Left-handers batted .301 against left-hander Jonathan Niese, who was switched from the rotation.
Edge: Cubs
Hitting
Power carried the Cubs past the Cardinals in the division series, but the offense also drew 17 walks and executed three sacrifice bunts against a tough pitching staff. Patience will be a key factor as the Cubs try to jack up the starters' pitch counts and get into a vulnerable bullpen soon. The ascent of Jorge Soler makes the Cubs' lineup more dangerous than at any time during the regular season.
The Mets' offense has improved greatly since the Cubs swept them in their three-game series June 30-July 2. The addition of Yoenis Cespedes and return of David Wright stretched a once-feeble lineup. One scout said Curtis Granderson was one of the Mets' more underrated players, citing his 26 home runs and .364 on-base percentage. But the key may be streaky left-handed hitter Lucas Duda. Rookie Michael Conforto is nearly as polished as the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber.
Edge: Cubs
Fielding
The left hamstring of shortstop Addison Russell will focus attention on Javier Baez. Baez possesses more range and has a stronger arm, but Russell is more dependable. Jorge Soler displayed his powerful arm in Game 4 of the NLDS, but look for the Cubs to continue to make late-inning defensive changes in right field with a lead.
The Mets are hoping that shortstop Wilmer Flores can make the routine play as Russell has for the Cubs. Cespedes has a powerful arm. Look for the Cubs to test the arm of center fielder Juan Lagares, who still covers a lot of ground. Daniel Murphy is versatile but can't match the defense of injured second baseman Ruben Tejada. The return of third baseman David Wright stabilizes the infield defense.
Edge: Cubs
Manager
Joe Maddon possessed the right moves in the wild-card game and NLDS, and he will treat the NLCS as seven one-game series. Maddon also will exploit a weakness, as he did in calling for the consecutive squeeze bunts that changed the course of Game 2 in the NLDS.
Terry Collins has done a magnificent job coping with a lineup that was power-starved until the final two months of the season. Collins is aware of Maddon's tendencies dating back to their days as coaches in the Angels' system. But Collins' biggest challenge will be handling a shaky bullpen at the first sign of trouble.
Edge: Cubs
Mark Gonzales' pick: Cubs in six.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We agree with Mr. Gonzales completely. Our team is young, aggressive and loose. They're hungry and realize that they now have the opportunity of a lifetime. Maddon will keep them grounded and constantly remind them that even though they beat the Mets in all seven outings this year, this is a new day and everyone's objective is the same..... to go to the World Series. I believe in this team and see the Cubs winning in six or less games also. Let's go CUBS!!!!!
We've never been accused of being bashful, you know what we think and how we feel, but we're interested in your thoughts and what's your take? Take a few minutes. go to the comments section at the bottom of this blog and share your opinion with us. We love to hear from you and look forward to your feedback. Again, let's go CUBS!!!!!
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
Cubs lining up Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta for first two games of NLCS.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Cubs announced their rotation for the first two games of the National League Championship Series Thursday, lining up Jon Lester for Game 1 and Jake Arrieta for Game 2.
With the NLCS opener on Saturday in either New York or Los Angeles, it would be exactly five days in between starts for Arrieta, who started Monday against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
But the Cubs aren't going to push their ace, instead opting to keep Lester's turn in the rotation as is.
"It's nice giving Jake an extra day," manager Joe Maddon said. "Really, part of the strategy was to not pitch Jon [in Game 4 of the NLDS] so he was ready for the fifth game or to come into the first game of the next round.
"It kind of played out well, so that's how we're going to set it up in the beginning. I'm really comfortable. They'll both be starters in two games [this series], possibly. That's what we're most comfortable with."
By the time Game 1 comes around, Lester will have had seven days off in between starts after he got the ball in the NLDS opener in St. Louis last Friday.
Arrieta is in prime physical shape and even though he actually looked human against the Cardinals, he's still been the best pitcher on the planet for the last few months.
So does Arrieta really need the extra day of rest?
"He'll probably tell you he would not, but I like the idea that he has it," Maddon said. "We've been pushing him pretty hard. His innings are way up compared to where they've been in the past.
"This postseason, I've talked about it before - it's beyond the physical drain, it's the emotional drain. He went through a really difficult moment [in the wild-card game] in Pittsburgh that night and he set this whole thing up for us.
"Any time you can give a guy both an emotional and a physical break, you take advantage of that right now."
But the Cubs aren't going to push their ace, instead opting to keep Lester's turn in the rotation as is.
"It's nice giving Jake an extra day," manager Joe Maddon said. "Really, part of the strategy was to not pitch Jon [in Game 4 of the NLDS] so he was ready for the fifth game or to come into the first game of the next round.
"It kind of played out well, so that's how we're going to set it up in the beginning. I'm really comfortable. They'll both be starters in two games [this series], possibly. That's what we're most comfortable with."
By the time Game 1 comes around, Lester will have had seven days off in between starts after he got the ball in the NLDS opener in St. Louis last Friday.
Arrieta is in prime physical shape and even though he actually looked human against the Cardinals, he's still been the best pitcher on the planet for the last few months.
So does Arrieta really need the extra day of rest?
"He'll probably tell you he would not, but I like the idea that he has it," Maddon said. "We've been pushing him pretty hard. His innings are way up compared to where they've been in the past.
"This postseason, I've talked about it before - it's beyond the physical drain, it's the emotional drain. He went through a really difficult moment [in the wild-card game] in Pittsburgh that night and he set this whole thing up for us.
"Any time you can give a guy both an emotional and a physical break, you take advantage of that right now."
Maddon didn't release the rest of the rotation beyond Game 2, but he did admit the Cubs would probably use four starters, meaning Kyle Hendricks could be in line for Game 3 back at Wrigley Field and Jason Hammel (who lasted just three innings in Game 4 of the NLDS Tuesday) could get the ball in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Beyond that, Maddon also admitted they have had discussions about how the entire NLCS plays out. If the series goes to seven games, the Cubs hope Lester and Arrieta would be able to take the ball once more each (think Games 5 and 6) as a starter, and Maddon didn't rule out either being available out of the bullpen if necessary.
"Of course they would be, but if your regular relief pitchers are ready, I'm good with those guys," Maddon said. "Our relief pitchers have pitched really well. I'm not opposed to using a starter in that moment. Not at all.
"But that would be the fact that the other guys are unavailable or maybe overworked, something to that extent. It's different to come out of the bullpen. I've done it before; I'm not afraid to do it. But I'd rather use the other guys first."
The Dodgers (Zack Greinke) and Mets (Jacob deGrom) are forced to use a top starter for Game 5 of their series, meaning the winning team would probably not be available until Game 3 of the NLCS.
The Cubs, meanwhile, have plenty of time to rest and are grateful they didn't have to make the trip to St. Louis or use Lester in a Game 5.
After all, giving him the ball in Game 1 of a crucial playoff series is what they signed him for.
"Jon Lester in a big game is always tasty," Maddon said. "You'll always take that. I have no problem with any of that.
"I really expect well. I know he's very confident. I think this little extra rest is going to help, too."
Beyond that, Maddon also admitted they have had discussions about how the entire NLCS plays out. If the series goes to seven games, the Cubs hope Lester and Arrieta would be able to take the ball once more each (think Games 5 and 6) as a starter, and Maddon didn't rule out either being available out of the bullpen if necessary.
"Of course they would be, but if your regular relief pitchers are ready, I'm good with those guys," Maddon said. "Our relief pitchers have pitched really well. I'm not opposed to using a starter in that moment. Not at all.
"But that would be the fact that the other guys are unavailable or maybe overworked, something to that extent. It's different to come out of the bullpen. I've done it before; I'm not afraid to do it. But I'd rather use the other guys first."
The Dodgers (Zack Greinke) and Mets (Jacob deGrom) are forced to use a top starter for Game 5 of their series, meaning the winning team would probably not be available until Game 3 of the NLCS.
The Cubs, meanwhile, have plenty of time to rest and are grateful they didn't have to make the trip to St. Louis or use Lester in a Game 5.
After all, giving him the ball in Game 1 of a crucial playoff series is what they signed him for.
"Jon Lester in a big game is always tasty," Maddon said. "You'll always take that. I have no problem with any of that.
"I really expect well. I know he's very confident. I think this little extra rest is going to help, too."
The Chicago Cubs are favored to win the World Series. No, seriously.
By Kyle Ringo
The Chicago Cubs were the third-best team in baseball this season when it comes to wins and losses in the regular season. So no one should be shocked to see the Cubs as the favorite to win the World Series atop the betting lines at sports books and Internet gambling sites now in mid-October.
But, come on, these are the Cubs we're talking about. We know they're good. We know they've earned it, and then some, and they're a lot of fun to watch with so many talented young players making huge contributions. It's just so strange to see the team known as the lovable losers for sooooo long finally in this position.
As of Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Chicago ousted St. Louis, the best team in baseball in the regular season, from the playoffs and prior to Kansas City and Toronto clinching spots in the American League Championship Series, the Cubs were the top pick, according to Las Vegas.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook had the Cubs at 40 to 1 to win it all before the season started. Those odds improved dramatically throughout the season and had improved to 5-2 following the NLDS triumph over the Cardinals. The Cubs were 8-5 favorites at MGM's book early Wednesday and William Hill bookmakers had the Cubs at 9-4 up from 50-1 a year ago.
Bookmakers figure to lose big if the Cubs pull it off and finally win the World Series for the first time since 1908 because the Cubs attract heavy action year in and year out regardless of how good they're expected to be. They attract even more when they're good. It's fun to put a little dough on a long shot and hope it pays off big, which is something Cubs fans and others have been doing for years figuring this just might be the year it pays off.
This year, it might actually happen.
Chicago will have to get through either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the New York Mets first in the NLCS. We'll find out which one of those teams will face the Cubs when they meet in Game 5 of their division series Thursday in Los Angeles.
Cubs NLCS Schedule: Game Dates, Times.
NBCCHICAGO.COM
If you thought the NLDS was invigorating, the city of Chicago hasn't seen anything yet.
NLCS Game 1 – Saturday, Oct. 17 Cubs @ Mets @ 6:30 p.m. CT
NLCS Game 2 – Sunday, Oct. 18 Cubs @ Mets @ 6:30 p.m. CT
NLCS Game 3 – Tuesday, Oct. 20 Mets @ Cubs (Wrigley Field) (Time TBD)
NLCS Game 4 – Wednesday, Oct. 21 Mets @ Cubs (Wrigley Field) (Time TBD)
NLCS Game 5* – Thursday, Oct. 22 Mets @ Cubs (Wrigley Field)
NLCS Game 6* – Saturday, Oct. 24 Cubs @ Mets
NLCS Game 7* – Sunday, Oct. 25 Cubs @ Mets
*if necessary
White Sox hope for offensive boost from within.
By Scott Merkin
The White Sox need offense. Homegrown hitters would be their preference, to be exact.
While the organization's pitching development for the past two decades stacks up with any other in the Major Leagues, see Mark Buehrle, Chris Sale and the impressive debut of Carlos Rodon for a few references, the team hasn't had a true impact bat of its own since the days of Aaron Rowand, Joe Crede and Carlos Lee.
While the organization's pitching development for the past two decades stacks up with any other in the Major Leagues, see Mark Buehrle, Chris Sale and the impressive debut of Carlos Rodon for a few references, the team hasn't had a true impact bat of its own since the days of Aaron Rowand, Joe Crede and Carlos Lee.
Development begins with the Draft, a point fully understood by Nick Hostetler, the team's new director of amateur scouting.
"Guys that control the strike zone, that is No. 1," Hostetler said. "But there's obviously an emphasis on developing more position players."
That particular topic stood out as one of many discussed during White Sox meetings at Camelback Ranch, ending last Thursday. These meetings included general manager Rick Hahn, executive vice president Ken Williams, pitching coach Don Cooper, hitting coach Todd Steverson and 26 of the team's amateur scouts, among others.
Having Cooper and Steverson in attendance became essential in the sense that if discussions are centered upon pitching mechanics and approach throughout the organization, not to mention the type of pitcher to be scouted and drafted, then the department head of pitching, so to speak, needs to have input. That same continuity within the offense requires Steverson's point of view.
Trayce Thompson, Tyler Saladino and Carlos Sanchez made their homegrown mark at the big league level during the 2015 season, but they weren't exactly considered impact level: at least not as of yet. Those big bats often come from the early rounds of the Draft, as the Cubs' Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber or the Cardinals' Stephen Piscotty would illustrate.
More of the White Sox recent top-pick Draft focus has gone offense, with Gordon Beckham ('08), Jared Mitchell ('09), Keenyn Walker ('11), Courtney Hawkins ('12) and Tim Anderson ('13) serving as the team's first selection in their respective classes. The goal targeted last week in Arizona was building up the position player side of the operation to get on the same high level as pitching.
"We've been able to build off of that success," said Hahn of the team's long-term pitching development, pre-dating his White Sox arrival to when Williams was Minor League director and Cooper was pitching coordinator. "We have a very high level of continuity of development and a very high level of communication we want to emphasize there.
"In order to have long-term sustainable success, we are going to have to build from within and answer as many of our needs as we can, internally. We've been awfully good from the pitchers' side of things and we are getting better from the position player side of the operation. These meetings were just another step of reinforcing that and advancing that."
Golf: I got a club for that..... Steele gets his season off to an ideal start at Silverado.
By DOUG FERGUSON
Brendan Steele chips the ball onto the ninth green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the first round of the Frys.com PGA Tour golf tournament Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Napa, Calif. Steele shot a 9-under-par 63. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
''As weird as it is to say, it was kind of a basic 63,'' he said.
It gave him a one-shot lead over Jhonattan Vegas among early starters in ideal scoring conditions at Silverado, which has such subtle movement in the greens that the course doesn't always yield low scores even when players have a short iron into the putting surface.
Of the early starters, 21 players were at 68 or better.
That included Rory McIlroy, who is between two seasons. The world's No. 3 player had numerous birdie chances and didn't convert nearly as many as he would have liked. What pleased McIlroy was the quality of his game from tee-to-green, far crisper than it was at the Tour Championship three weeks ago.
''Definitely a step in the right direction today,'' McIlroy said.
Vegas, who won as a rookie in 2011 at the Humana Challenge, lost his card this year and failed to get it back at the Web.com Tour Finals two weeks ago. He is relying on his limited status as a past champion and sponsor exemptions, so it was important to make the most out of his exemption this week.
Harold Varner III, who joins Tiger Woods as the only players of black heritage on the PGA Tour this year, made a strong rookie debut with a 65. The group at 66 included Justin Thomas, with Justin Rose among those at 67.
Steele posted a target early with a 29 on the back nine, including five straight birdies before making the turn. At one point, he rolled in putts of 25 feet, 20 feet and 18. That prompted this observation from Steve Wheatcroft.
''Just hang in there,'' he said Wheatcroft told him. ''It's a long season. You'll make one eventually.''
Sang-moon Bae, unable to defend because of his mandatory military service in South Korea, won last year at Silverado at 15-under par. No one had better than 65 the entire tournament last year, which made Steele's round stand out even more.
Steele wasn't surprised.
This is the third straight year of a wraparound season that starts in October with a two-week break after the old season ended. Steele had some good results toward the end of last season, took a short break, started practicing and liked how his game felt.
''In the pro-am yesterday I was like, 'We need to get this tournament going.' I hate it when I'm home and I feel really good,'' he said. ''It's hard to keep it. I always say that your game is either coming or going, right? So when it's coming, you want to be in the right place.''
''Just hang in there,'' he said Wheatcroft told him. ''It's a long season. You'll make one eventually.''
Sang-moon Bae, unable to defend because of his mandatory military service in South Korea, won last year at Silverado at 15-under par. No one had better than 65 the entire tournament last year, which made Steele's round stand out even more.
Steele wasn't surprised.
This is the third straight year of a wraparound season that starts in October with a two-week break after the old season ended. Steele had some good results toward the end of last season, took a short break, started practicing and liked how his game felt.
''In the pro-am yesterday I was like, 'We need to get this tournament going.' I hate it when I'm home and I feel really good,'' he said. ''It's hard to keep it. I always say that your game is either coming or going, right? So when it's coming, you want to be in the right place.''
McIlroy is coming and going as it relates to seasons.
While this is the season opener on the PGA Tour, he leaves after this week for three tournaments in Asia to finish off his European Tour schedule with hopes of winning another Race to Dubai title. This is only his fifth tournament dating to the PGA Championship, when he returned from a two-month hiatus to heal his injured ankle.
His game looked good, but he struggled to match the speed with the line for a number of birdie chances from about 12 feet or in.
His game looked good, but he struggled to match the speed with the line for a number of birdie chances from about 12 feet or in.
''Gave myself a lot of chances,'' McIlroy said. ''I converted a few, but I'll need to hole a few more. I feel like this is a golf course that you can give yourself a lot of chances. If I can keep hitting the ball the way I am and just hole a few more, I'll be OK.''
Varner made a flashy finish to get near the top of the leaderboard. He holed an 18-foot eagle putt on No. 16, stuffed a sand wedge into 2 feet for birdie on the 17th and had to settle for a birdie on the par-5 18th when he narrowly missed another eagle chance.
Varner earned his card through the Web.com Tour, and he already noticed one big difference. While a tournament in wine country doesn't attract a massive crowd, it was still far more than he was used to seeing.
Varner earned his card through the Web.com Tour, and he already noticed one big difference. While a tournament in wine country doesn't attract a massive crowd, it was still far more than he was used to seeing.
''It's fun until you hit one too far left or right,'' Varner said. ''I get a little nervous because there are people over there. Usually there is no one over there and I just go find it. But there are so many people, you might hit them. So it's good. Different experience. I guess you've just got to get used to it.''
Stewart, Sifford, Trevino among seven into PGA Hall of Fame.
AFP
Palm Beach Gardens (United States) (AFP) - Six-time major champion Lee Trevino, triple major winner Payne Stewart, racial-barrier breaker Charlie Sifford and 1958 US Open champion Tommy Bolt were among seven Americans named Thursday as new PGA of America Hall of Fame members.
Trevino, 75, is the only living member of that group, which will be enshrined at a November 12 ceremony in Florida.
Others to be honored include 2013 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Michael Doctor and 2014 winner Ray Cutright, and former University of Texas coach George Hannon.
"It is with great pride that the PGA of America welcomes this exceptional class, who by their achievements have made significant and lasting contributions to our Association and the game of golf," PGA president Derek Sprague said.
"They represent individuals who were passionate leaders, stood strong against social injustice, inspired young players to greater heights and whose performance on the course is remembered for generations."
Trevino, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981, captured the 1968 and 1971 US Opens, the 1971 and 1972 British Opens and the 1974 and 1984 PGA Championships, but was never better than 10th in 20 Masters starts.
Sifford, who died in February aged 92, was the first African American on the US PGA Tour. He won the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and 1969 Los Angeles Open and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sifford received the Presidential Medal of Freedom last year and was among those that 14-time major champion Tiger Woods cites as an inspiration.
Stewart died in a 1999 plane crash at age 42, just four months after winning the US Open. He also won the 1991 US Open and 1989 PGA Championship.
Bolt, who died in 2008 aged 92, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.
He beat South African star Gary Player by four shots at Southern Hills for his only major title. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
NASCAR officially reduces downforce for 2016 Cup season.
By Nick Bromberg
Rejoice. The downforce reductions fans and drivers wanted NASCAR to make for the 2016 season are happening.
NASCAR revealed the rules for next season Wednesday and the low downforce rules that were used at Darlington and Kentucky in 2015 will be the norm for 2016. The lower downforce reduced the cars' grip and gave drivers more opportunities to maneuver their cars around the track and pass each other.
Rejoice. The downforce reductions fans and drivers wanted NASCAR to make for the 2016 season are happening.
NASCAR revealed the rules for next season Wednesday and the low downforce rules that were used at Darlington and Kentucky in 2015 will be the norm for 2016. The lower downforce reduced the cars' grip and gave drivers more opportunities to maneuver their cars around the track and pass each other.
“NASCAR has worked tirelessly with our teams, drivers, manufacturers and Goodyear to develop a rules package that provides fans with the best racing possible,” NASCAR vice president Steve O’Donnell said in a statement “The success of the races at Kentucky and Darlington in similar trim proved extremely valuable in accelerating rules development for 2016. Now, as teams have even more time to prepare and a strong baseline of data, we anticipate the racing to be even better.”
The tireless work was necessary because NASCAR absolutely whiffed when it came to the rules for the 2015 season. The sanctioning body had reduced downforce while simultaneously reducing horsepower. Teams were able to manipulate the lost downforce back into cars and with the reduced horsepower, cornering speeds were actually up. The lack of throttle off-time combined with the aerodynamic grip produced by the cars made passing incredibly difficult.
Here's a list of the changes NASCAR is making for next year. The current spoilers are 6-inches high. They'll be cut nearly in half for 2016 like they were at Darlington and Kentucky. The reduced splitter lengths and radiator pan sizes will also help cut downforce. The changes are in effect for all but Daytona and Talladega, where the Cup Series cars run restrictor plates in the engines.
The sanctioning body should also be commended for not keeping the high-drag rules it tested during the Indianapolis and Michigan races this year. The rules tweaks were designed for cars to be able to draft each other and get a pass via a slingshot. The changes did not have the desired effects and might have even made passing harder.
Despite the rousing success of the low-downforce races before the Chase began, NASCAR (rightfully) stuck with the 2015 rules for the Chase.
SOCCER: Fire prepare for final away match of season at D.C. United.
By Danny Michallik
Despite the rousing success of the low-downforce races before the Chase began, NASCAR (rightfully) stuck with the 2015 rules for the Chase.
SOCCER: Fire prepare for final away match of season at D.C. United.
By Danny Michallik
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Wins have come at a premium for the Men in Red this season. And after grabbing all three points against the New England Revolution on Oct. 3 and training through a bye week, interim coach Brian Bliss and the Fire are striving to make it two on the trot.
Following a weekend off, the Fire were back out on the practice field as they prepare for their final away match of the season - a trip to the nation's capital.
Barring a three-game winning streak that canceled out a three-match losing spell to start the 2015 campaign, the Men in Red have been unable to build on any of their other regular season victories since, either losing or drawing in the ensuing fixture. Bliss hopes the Fire (8-18-6, 30 points) can carry the energy gained from the result against the Revolution into Sunday's match at RFK Stadium against D.C. United (14-12-6, 48 points).
"It's unfortunate that we had the international break after the New England win, but it is what it is," Bliss said after training Thursday. "We had that downtime, but it gave us a good opportunity to heal some guys that might've been ailing and gave us some good training time as well. Hopefully we've still got that momentum going, and it'd be nice to put a nice series [of wins] together to end the season."
Other notes from training:
Fire quartet returns from international duty
David Accam (Ghana), Daneil Cyrus and Joevin Jones (Trinidad and Tobago), and Matt Polster (United States Under-23s) all went the full 90 minutes with their respective national teams Tuesday night. All four reported back to Chicago on Wednesday, but were held out of training on Thursday to take part in a separate, regeneration session.
"All of those guys have played minutes for us with the first team, and started a lot of these games," Bliss said. "We're counting on them. So, hopefully everybody comes back and they're feeling it, and they're ready to go on Sunday. We'll plug them in as we see fit."
Added Bliss of Accam's club performances: "He's got speed to burn, and the timing of his runs is pretty good. He's got a little bit of [Sebastian] Giovinco in him. ... He's been an asset to us, and his minutes-to-goals [ratio] is pretty fantastic. He's got a little bit of bite to him. When he feels he's been wronged, he goes after it. If he feels he's made a mistake, he goes and tries to make up for it. He's pretty durable in that respect, too, because he takes a pounding and he keeps going. Credit to him that he doesn't dive around or take extra time off."
Injury update
Designated Player Gilberto is still feeling the ill effects of a knock to the foot he sustained in a tussle with Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones. The Brazilian forward, who's notched three goals in his last two appearances, was kept out of training on Thursday.
"He can't get out there and do the stuff that he's capable of doing right now," Bliss said. "Hopefully, by the end of the week he's ready to go."
Guest players
- With a labral tear keeping Sean Johnson out for the remainder of the season - he is able to contribute to goalkeeping sessions but not at full tilt - and Alec Kann playing second fiddle to starter Jon Busch, Bliss welcomed in goalkeeper Austin Ejide this week.
Ejide, 31, most recently plied his trade with Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel but has been out-of-contract since July 1. He was also named to three FIFA World Cup squads for Nigeria: Japan and South Korea (2002), South Africa (2010), and Brazil (2014).
- All five USL players who were invited to training last week (Romeo Filipović (Arizona United), Jamiel Hardware (Saint Louis FC), Parker Maher (Saint Louis FC), James Musa (Saint Louis FC) and Jason Plumhoff (Harrisburg City Islanders)) have rejoined their clubs.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Brian Dunseth will step in as the color analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Dan Kelly for Sunday’s D.C.-Chicago broadcast (1 p.m. CT; CSN).
What should Klinsmann be achieving with USMNT?
By Joe Prince-Wright
Following a weekend off, the Fire were back out on the practice field as they prepare for their final away match of the season - a trip to the nation's capital.
Barring a three-game winning streak that canceled out a three-match losing spell to start the 2015 campaign, the Men in Red have been unable to build on any of their other regular season victories since, either losing or drawing in the ensuing fixture. Bliss hopes the Fire (8-18-6, 30 points) can carry the energy gained from the result against the Revolution into Sunday's match at RFK Stadium against D.C. United (14-12-6, 48 points).
"It's unfortunate that we had the international break after the New England win, but it is what it is," Bliss said after training Thursday. "We had that downtime, but it gave us a good opportunity to heal some guys that might've been ailing and gave us some good training time as well. Hopefully we've still got that momentum going, and it'd be nice to put a nice series [of wins] together to end the season."
Other notes from training:
Fire quartet returns from international duty
David Accam (Ghana), Daneil Cyrus and Joevin Jones (Trinidad and Tobago), and Matt Polster (United States Under-23s) all went the full 90 minutes with their respective national teams Tuesday night. All four reported back to Chicago on Wednesday, but were held out of training on Thursday to take part in a separate, regeneration session.
"All of those guys have played minutes for us with the first team, and started a lot of these games," Bliss said. "We're counting on them. So, hopefully everybody comes back and they're feeling it, and they're ready to go on Sunday. We'll plug them in as we see fit."
Added Bliss of Accam's club performances: "He's got speed to burn, and the timing of his runs is pretty good. He's got a little bit of [Sebastian] Giovinco in him. ... He's been an asset to us, and his minutes-to-goals [ratio] is pretty fantastic. He's got a little bit of bite to him. When he feels he's been wronged, he goes after it. If he feels he's made a mistake, he goes and tries to make up for it. He's pretty durable in that respect, too, because he takes a pounding and he keeps going. Credit to him that he doesn't dive around or take extra time off."
Injury update
Designated Player Gilberto is still feeling the ill effects of a knock to the foot he sustained in a tussle with Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones. The Brazilian forward, who's notched three goals in his last two appearances, was kept out of training on Thursday.
"He can't get out there and do the stuff that he's capable of doing right now," Bliss said. "Hopefully, by the end of the week he's ready to go."
Guest players
- With a labral tear keeping Sean Johnson out for the remainder of the season - he is able to contribute to goalkeeping sessions but not at full tilt - and Alec Kann playing second fiddle to starter Jon Busch, Bliss welcomed in goalkeeper Austin Ejide this week.
Ejide, 31, most recently plied his trade with Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel but has been out-of-contract since July 1. He was also named to three FIFA World Cup squads for Nigeria: Japan and South Korea (2002), South Africa (2010), and Brazil (2014).
- All five USL players who were invited to training last week (Romeo Filipović (Arizona United), Jamiel Hardware (Saint Louis FC), Parker Maher (Saint Louis FC), James Musa (Saint Louis FC) and Jason Plumhoff (Harrisburg City Islanders)) have rejoined their clubs.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Brian Dunseth will step in as the color analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Dan Kelly for Sunday’s D.C.-Chicago broadcast (1 p.m. CT; CSN).
What should Klinsmann be achieving with USMNT?
By Joe Prince-Wright
Clint Dempsey & Jurgen Klinsmann, USMNT — 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
I know. I hear it.
Following the CONCACAF Cup defeat to Mexico on Saturday I wrote a piece on the questions surrounding Jurgen Klinsmann’s side and how they have become a “rudderless ship drifting into the murky waters of obscurity on the international stage.”
Yeah. It has got that bad. In front of a crowd of under 10,000 (most of which seemed to be supporting the away team) for the 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday, it is becoming apparent that a large part of the USMNT fanbase is becoming disillusioned — regardless of the level of quality in the current player pool — with Klinsmann’s vision and the slow progress, if any, being made. The boos towards Klinsmann said it all.
Yet still, fans of the U.S. national team seem to be somewhat divided on that million dollar question: should he stay or should he go? Klinsmann, that is.
It all comes down to expectations. What does the average fan of the USMNT think is achievable? What do they want to see from their team and do they think they are seeing enough of it?
Four years into Klinsmann’s spell in charge of the U.S., and with another deal under his belt to lead the U.S. through the end of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, now is a good time to look at what has been achieved and the goals heading forward.
Klinsmann led the team to the 2013 Gold Cup. Great. It’s been done before, but still, a continental trophy should not be scoffed at. Okay, next up, has he been raising the profile of the USMNT across the globe? You can argue Klinsmann has done that too, as people across the world know his name, know what he has done as a player and a coach, which has helped to recruit plenty of youngsters (see: Julian Green, Gedion Zelalem) into selecting to represent the USA over other nations, mainly Germany. This factor, plus some marquee friendly wins over big European nations such as Italy, the Netherlands and Germany away from home, also stick out as people’s expectations have been lifted along the way. Not the whole time, but there have been enough flashes from this U.S. side to believe things were heading in the right direction.
Okay, now the bad stuff which has tempered people’s expectations of what this team can achieve. Klinsmann went big on this summer being pivotal in his master-plan for U.S. Soccer. He is, after all, technical director too. Let’s not forget that. First up was 2015 Gold Cup success which would in turn see the USA qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup. The U.S. finished fourth in a terrible Gold Cup campaign and then lost the playoff game to Mexico at the weekend. He also, as technical director, said it was vital the U.S. qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. They have failed to do that automatically, but have a shot at redemption in Rio in March as they will face Colombia in a one-off playoff game. So there is hope there. Then, what else is there? The achievement of getting out of the “Group of Death” at the 2014 World Cup was heralded, as was the staying power against Belgium in the Round of 16 extra time defeat, and many believed that progress was being made.
Yet, in just over 12 months since the World Cup euphoria, things have soured. Talk of player unrest, Klinsmann’s intriguing battle between wanting players to play at the highest level in Europe, then picking them anyway when they return to Major League Soccer and him publicly throwing the likes of Alejandro Bedoya and then Fabian Johnson under the bus in recent weeks has seen things threaten to spiral out of control. Criticism of U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati has followed from many quarters as many questioned why he would hand Klinsmann a new long-term deal before the 2014 World Cup began last summer. The big question here is, what do U.S. fans expect? And perhaps more poignantly, are those expectation levels on Klinsmann, and his players, unfair?
Do they expect to win the World Cup? No. Do they expect to dominate the CONCACAF region? Yes, although many admit Mexico will always be sparring partners at the same level. Do they want to see their team scrap and fight for every ball and leave everything out on the pitch? Yes. And you can argue that 99 percent of the times Klinsmann’s players have been doing that, but in the friendly defeats to Brazil and Costa Rica recently, you get the sense that even some of his players are starting to wonder: “What are we doing here? Where are we going as a team? What are the goals?”
Klinsmann’s long-stated goal is to reach the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It is. It truly is. He told our own Arlo White about this nearly two years ago before the U.S. played friendlies against Scotland and Austria over in Europe.
Right now, that expectation and that goal from Klinsmann seems a long way off. There is a lot of hard work to do and that work will be ever harder if the fans and, more importantly, the players are not on his side.
As fans, as soccer observers reading this, what do you expect from the U.S. national team? Do you just want a team that makes you proud and punches above its weight? Bob Bradley’s team certainly did that as he won the 2007 Gold Cup and came runner up in 2009 and 2011. Bradley’s team also delivered a glorious run to the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup and a Round of 16 berth in the 2010 World Cup. He had players of a similar ability, if not inferior, to the ones Klinsmann is working with now. That issue of “player ability” is something which frequently clouds thee expectation issues U.S. fans are currently having.
Do you want a team that excites you and rips opponents apart? Do you want a team that can challenge in the latter stages of a World Cup? Of course you do. But it is all about managing expectations. About looking at the players and the coaches you have, and what your opponents have, and then seeing what is realistic.
Many of you are split down the middle as to whether Klinsmann is the right man to lead the U.S. into the next World Cup cycle which begins with CONCACAF qualifying games in November. Ask yourself this: is there anybody out there better for the job who the U.S. can get and are the players at his disposal good enough to deliver a deep run at a World Cup tournament under three years from now?
Then, and only if you’re honest, will you get the answer to the riddling equation which has been irking fans of the U.S. national team for quite some time.
What should you expect from the U.S. national team? And, are those expectations being met?
NCAAFB: Florida-LSU Preview.
Okay, now the bad stuff which has tempered people’s expectations of what this team can achieve. Klinsmann went big on this summer being pivotal in his master-plan for U.S. Soccer. He is, after all, technical director too. Let’s not forget that. First up was 2015 Gold Cup success which would in turn see the USA qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup. The U.S. finished fourth in a terrible Gold Cup campaign and then lost the playoff game to Mexico at the weekend. He also, as technical director, said it was vital the U.S. qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. They have failed to do that automatically, but have a shot at redemption in Rio in March as they will face Colombia in a one-off playoff game. So there is hope there. Then, what else is there? The achievement of getting out of the “Group of Death” at the 2014 World Cup was heralded, as was the staying power against Belgium in the Round of 16 extra time defeat, and many believed that progress was being made.
Yet, in just over 12 months since the World Cup euphoria, things have soured. Talk of player unrest, Klinsmann’s intriguing battle between wanting players to play at the highest level in Europe, then picking them anyway when they return to Major League Soccer and him publicly throwing the likes of Alejandro Bedoya and then Fabian Johnson under the bus in recent weeks has seen things threaten to spiral out of control. Criticism of U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati has followed from many quarters as many questioned why he would hand Klinsmann a new long-term deal before the 2014 World Cup began last summer. The big question here is, what do U.S. fans expect? And perhaps more poignantly, are those expectation levels on Klinsmann, and his players, unfair?
Do they expect to win the World Cup? No. Do they expect to dominate the CONCACAF region? Yes, although many admit Mexico will always be sparring partners at the same level. Do they want to see their team scrap and fight for every ball and leave everything out on the pitch? Yes. And you can argue that 99 percent of the times Klinsmann’s players have been doing that, but in the friendly defeats to Brazil and Costa Rica recently, you get the sense that even some of his players are starting to wonder: “What are we doing here? Where are we going as a team? What are the goals?”
Klinsmann’s long-stated goal is to reach the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It is. It truly is. He told our own Arlo White about this nearly two years ago before the U.S. played friendlies against Scotland and Austria over in Europe.
Right now, that expectation and that goal from Klinsmann seems a long way off. There is a lot of hard work to do and that work will be ever harder if the fans and, more importantly, the players are not on his side.
As fans, as soccer observers reading this, what do you expect from the U.S. national team? Do you just want a team that makes you proud and punches above its weight? Bob Bradley’s team certainly did that as he won the 2007 Gold Cup and came runner up in 2009 and 2011. Bradley’s team also delivered a glorious run to the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup and a Round of 16 berth in the 2010 World Cup. He had players of a similar ability, if not inferior, to the ones Klinsmann is working with now. That issue of “player ability” is something which frequently clouds thee expectation issues U.S. fans are currently having.
Do you want a team that excites you and rips opponents apart? Do you want a team that can challenge in the latter stages of a World Cup? Of course you do. But it is all about managing expectations. About looking at the players and the coaches you have, and what your opponents have, and then seeing what is realistic.
Many of you are split down the middle as to whether Klinsmann is the right man to lead the U.S. into the next World Cup cycle which begins with CONCACAF qualifying games in November. Ask yourself this: is there anybody out there better for the job who the U.S. can get and are the players at his disposal good enough to deliver a deep run at a World Cup tournament under three years from now?
Then, and only if you’re honest, will you get the answer to the riddling equation which has been irking fans of the U.S. national team for quite some time.
What should you expect from the U.S. national team? And, are those expectations being met?
NCAAFB: Florida-LSU Preview.
AP - Sports
Florida quarterback Treon Harris was never really out of the mix.
Coach Jim McElwain regretted keeping Harris on the bench in a 14-9 win at Kentucky last month and got him on the field briefly in each of the last two games.
So starting Harris at No. 6 LSU (5-0, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday night won't be a total shock for the eighth-ranked Gators (6-0, 4-0), who will be without suspended quarterback Will Grier for the rest of the season.
While there will be questions about how well Harris will fill in for Grier, LSU coach Les Miles is starting to get some answers about how competent his passing attack can be with first-year starter Brandon Harris.
Southern Cal-Notre Dame Preview.
By SCOTT GARBARINI
Coach Jim McElwain regretted keeping Harris on the bench in a 14-9 win at Kentucky last month and got him on the field briefly in each of the last two games.
So starting Harris at No. 6 LSU (5-0, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday night won't be a total shock for the eighth-ranked Gators (6-0, 4-0), who will be without suspended quarterback Will Grier for the rest of the season.
While there will be questions about how well Harris will fill in for Grier, LSU coach Les Miles is starting to get some answers about how competent his passing attack can be with first-year starter Brandon Harris.
When asked whether the offense will look the same with Harris taking snaps, McElwain said ''I hope it looks better.''
''We didn't produce much in the second half (of last Saturday's 21-3 win at Missouri), so the expectation is to be better every week.''
McElwain nitpicked Grier's performances in each of his five starts, saying he rushed throws, missed open receivers and left points on the field.
McElwain surely will do the same to Harris, who started the season opener and came off the bench the following week against East Carolina. Harris hasn't thrown a meaningful pass since. That will change against the Tigers.
McElwain surely will do the same to Harris, who started the season opener and came off the bench the following week against East Carolina. Harris hasn't thrown a meaningful pass since. That will change against the Tigers.
Harris, who was suspended for Florida's win over Tennessee on Sept. 26, has completed 19 of 27 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 63 yards rushing and no turnovers.
''We were putting things in for him as we kind of go,'' McElwain said. ''Going into this, I felt that we've had two really good quarterbacks. Now it's Treon's opportunity to take the reins and run with it. He'll do a great job. ... Obviously he has a different skill set. He can do some things with his feet that are different.''
''We were putting things in for him as we kind of go,'' McElwain said. ''Going into this, I felt that we've had two really good quarterbacks. Now it's Treon's opportunity to take the reins and run with it. He'll do a great job. ... Obviously he has a different skill set. He can do some things with his feet that are different.''
Grier was suspended Monday for one year for violating the NCAA's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Grier failed an NCAA drug test in the last two weeks and said Monday he took an over-the-counter supplement that ''had something in it.''
He apologized and said he hopes ''people can learn from this.''
''We've got to move forward and we've got to all get behind Treon and rally him up and tell him he's got our support,'' defensive tackle Jon Bullard said. ''I'm really not worried about it honestly. He's a gamer. He's showed that. He's proved it. ... I'm not really stressing. I told him today, I tapped him and I'm like, 'I'm behind you. Let's go. Take care of the ball and we're going to be all right.'''
Grier's suspension wasn't the only one within the program this week. Freshman defensive back Deiondre Porter, one of the team's top special teams players, was banned indefinitely Thursday following his arrest a day earlier on four felony charges.
The Gators have lost the last two meetings with LSU, falling 30-27 at home last season on a 50-yard field goal with 3 seconds left.
Treon Harris and Brandon Harris have never appeared in this series, and Brandon Harris enters off the best performance of his two-year career.
Grier's suspension wasn't the only one within the program this week. Freshman defensive back Deiondre Porter, one of the team's top special teams players, was banned indefinitely Thursday following his arrest a day earlier on four felony charges.
The Gators have lost the last two meetings with LSU, falling 30-27 at home last season on a 50-yard field goal with 3 seconds left.
Treon Harris and Brandon Harris have never appeared in this series, and Brandon Harris enters off the best performance of his two-year career.
Because South Carolina was able to contain star running back Leonard Fournette for much of last Saturday's game, LSU needed more production from Harris - and got it. He set career highs with 18 completions, 28 attempts and 228 yards while throwing for two touchdowns in a 45-24 rout.
''If teams stack up on Fournette, the opportunity to score in the air will be there,'' Miles said. ''If there are a lot of guys in the box, there will be the opportunity to make the throw. Brandon is beginning to understand the position. Quarterback is all about control. It is a much more cerebral position.''
Fournette finished with 158 rushing yards, but that was a season low for him and more than half came on an 87-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Outside of that carry, Fournette picked up 71 yards on 19 attempts.
The Tigers actually had more passing yards (135) than rushing yards (103) in the first two quarters. Harris was 5 of 5 for 93 yards in the second half when LSU wore down the Gamecocks with its deep running back corps.
''We knew the whole week with the coverage South Carolina was playing we were going to have to be sharp,'' Harris said. ''They've got a four-man rush, so you've got to hold the back and just let those windows open up.
''We knew the whole week with the coverage South Carolina was playing we were going to have to be sharp,'' Harris said. ''They've got a four-man rush, so you've got to hold the back and just let those windows open up.
''That game didn't do anything for my confidence. These coaches have a lot of confidence in me. We haven't trailed until this game, so there hasn't been really a need to throw the ball. We don't need to say we need to pass the ball more. We've done everything we had to do and we're 5-0.''
Meanwhile, Miles downplayed the Gators' change at quarterback.
''I assume they will still have a very capable guy,'' Miles said. ''I would expect that their core plays will be the same. That will not change. We will prepare in the same way. They will just have a different quarterback doing things now.''
''I assume they will still have a very capable guy,'' Miles said. ''I would expect that their core plays will be the same. That will not change. We will prepare in the same way. They will just have a different quarterback doing things now.''
Southern Cal-Notre Dame Preview.
By SCOTT GARBARINI
(Photo/eBay)
An in-season coaching change lit a spark under an underachieving USC program two years ago. The Trojans can only hope for similar results as they enter yet another chaotic period.
Staggering from a stunning home loss and Steve Sarkisian's sudden dismissal, the Trojans begin a challenging stretch under interim coach Clay Helton with Saturday night's rivalry game at 14th-ranked Notre Dame.
Sarkisian's eventful 18-game tenure at USC (3-2) came to an abrupt end Monday, one day after the beleaguered coach was placed on leave by athletic director Pat Haden for coming to practice in an unfit state and four following the then-No. 17 Trojans' 17-12 loss to Washington as a double-digit favorite. Though Haden declined to offer specifics, the decision came less than two months after Sarkisian admitted to combining alcohol and medication before giving a speech while appearing intoxicated during a preseason pep rally.
Helton, a holdover from Lane Kiffin's staff in his third season as offensive coordinator, takes over a Trojans team that made its last trip to South Bend, Indiana, under similar turmoil in 2013. Kiffin was fired two weeks prior to that 14-10 loss when a 62-41 defeat at Arizona State left USC 0-2 in Pac-12 play.
USC proceeded to win six of its next seven games under Ed Orgeron before losing the regular-season finale to UCLA. Helton also was interim head coach for the Trojans' 45-20 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Fresno State after Orgeron resigned upon learning he wouldn't be a candidate for the permanent job.
''A lot of these guys, fortunately or unfortunately, have been in this situation before,'' said Helton, who will continue to call plays. ''You have to be yourself, and you have to coach it your own way. I told the guys, we're going to win a lot of ballgames here and we're going to have a lot of fun."
Despite the apparent state of disarray, Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly isn't taking the talented Trojans lightly.
''Teams come together under those circumstances and they're going to play their very best,'' Kelly said. ''It's a rivalry game for them as well. It's a chance for them to respond. You look at the way Texas responded this past weekend with a lot of media scrutiny. I expect USC to respond the same way.''
Kelly does have reason for concern. USC, ranked eighth in the preseason AP Top 25, dominated well-regarded Arizona State on the road in Sarkisian's second-to-last game and piled up 577 total yards in a 49-14 home rout of Notre Dame (5-1) last season. Though the Irish claimed the Jeweled Shillelagh the previous two meetings, the Trojans won nine of 10 in the series prior to that stretch with an average margin of victory of 23.3 points.
Cody Kessler threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in last year's triumph but was held to 156 yards and intercepted twice against Washington. The senior had just one interception with 15 touchdown passes over the first four games.
While Kessler struggled last week, DeShone Kizer has kept Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff chase with efficient quarterback play in place of an injured Malik Zaire. The redshirt freshman is completing nearly 66 percent of his throws with eight touchdown passes while directing a balanced offense that's averaged 508.5 yards in his four starts.
Kizer has been aided by a strong running game headed by C.J. Prosise, who turned in a fourth 100-yard effort in five games by gaining 129 with three touchdowns in last week's 41-24 win over previously unbeaten Navy. Two of those scores came after the Midshipmen lost fumbles deep in Notre Dame territory that helped the Irish bounce back from their two-point loss at No. 5 Clemson on Oct. 3.
Notre Dame's 238.8 rushing yards per game ranks 13th in the FBS while USC's inconsistent defense has allowed 182 or more in three of its five contests, a reason why the Trojans are 125th nationally in time of possession (25:09).
NCAABKB: Izzo would like to see college rules mirror NBA's more.
Staggering from a stunning home loss and Steve Sarkisian's sudden dismissal, the Trojans begin a challenging stretch under interim coach Clay Helton with Saturday night's rivalry game at 14th-ranked Notre Dame.
Sarkisian's eventful 18-game tenure at USC (3-2) came to an abrupt end Monday, one day after the beleaguered coach was placed on leave by athletic director Pat Haden for coming to practice in an unfit state and four following the then-No. 17 Trojans' 17-12 loss to Washington as a double-digit favorite. Though Haden declined to offer specifics, the decision came less than two months after Sarkisian admitted to combining alcohol and medication before giving a speech while appearing intoxicated during a preseason pep rally.
Helton, a holdover from Lane Kiffin's staff in his third season as offensive coordinator, takes over a Trojans team that made its last trip to South Bend, Indiana, under similar turmoil in 2013. Kiffin was fired two weeks prior to that 14-10 loss when a 62-41 defeat at Arizona State left USC 0-2 in Pac-12 play.
USC proceeded to win six of its next seven games under Ed Orgeron before losing the regular-season finale to UCLA. Helton also was interim head coach for the Trojans' 45-20 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Fresno State after Orgeron resigned upon learning he wouldn't be a candidate for the permanent job.
''A lot of these guys, fortunately or unfortunately, have been in this situation before,'' said Helton, who will continue to call plays. ''You have to be yourself, and you have to coach it your own way. I told the guys, we're going to win a lot of ballgames here and we're going to have a lot of fun."
Despite the apparent state of disarray, Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly isn't taking the talented Trojans lightly.
''Teams come together under those circumstances and they're going to play their very best,'' Kelly said. ''It's a rivalry game for them as well. It's a chance for them to respond. You look at the way Texas responded this past weekend with a lot of media scrutiny. I expect USC to respond the same way.''
Kelly does have reason for concern. USC, ranked eighth in the preseason AP Top 25, dominated well-regarded Arizona State on the road in Sarkisian's second-to-last game and piled up 577 total yards in a 49-14 home rout of Notre Dame (5-1) last season. Though the Irish claimed the Jeweled Shillelagh the previous two meetings, the Trojans won nine of 10 in the series prior to that stretch with an average margin of victory of 23.3 points.
Cody Kessler threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in last year's triumph but was held to 156 yards and intercepted twice against Washington. The senior had just one interception with 15 touchdown passes over the first four games.
While Kessler struggled last week, DeShone Kizer has kept Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff chase with efficient quarterback play in place of an injured Malik Zaire. The redshirt freshman is completing nearly 66 percent of his throws with eight touchdown passes while directing a balanced offense that's averaged 508.5 yards in his four starts.
Kizer has been aided by a strong running game headed by C.J. Prosise, who turned in a fourth 100-yard effort in five games by gaining 129 with three touchdowns in last week's 41-24 win over previously unbeaten Navy. Two of those scores came after the Midshipmen lost fumbles deep in Notre Dame territory that helped the Irish bounce back from their two-point loss at No. 5 Clemson on Oct. 3.
Notre Dame's 238.8 rushing yards per game ranks 13th in the FBS while USC's inconsistent defense has allowed 182 or more in three of its five contests, a reason why the Trojans are 125th nationally in time of possession (25:09).
NCAABKB: Izzo would like to see college rules mirror NBA's more.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
If Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had his way, college basketball would take a few more pages from the NBA rulebook.
''If I was the czar for the day, I'd try to get every rule like the NBA, personally,'' he said Thursday. ''I just think that we'd have a better working relationship.''
The NCAA is instituting several rules changes and issued a directive to officials in an effort to speed up the pace of play, create more movement, cut down on stoppages and strike a better balance between offense and defense.
One of the most notable rules changes is the reduction of the shot clock from 35 seconds to 30, a move Izzo applauds. He would not mind playing four quarters instead of two halves, although he is not advocating bumping the length of the game from 40 minutes to 48.
He just wants to see more similarities between the NCAA and NBA rules.
''You know, I get disappointed on the committees I'm on,'' Izzo said. ''I think you always hear, ''Well, you don't want to be like the NBA.'' Why not? That's what the kids want.''
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said he's not sure that simply copying the NBA rule book is right for the college game, given the talent of the pros, the length of their season and the way rosters are constructed. But he does think there are things the NCAA can learn from the league. He also thinks the college game is better than the pros in some ways.
''What we have to do is find out a way to make the changes that are appropriate with 32 conferences, lots of different styles, lots of different talent level,'' Delany said. ''I don't know that just en masse taking the NBA approach and dumping it on the colleges is necessarily the right answer. But I think it is the right answer to look at their game, see how they have made the changes. They have better, more plays at the rim. They have less block/charge. They have less congestion. They've taken their hands off the point guard, which I think was a good adjustment.''
TOURNAMENT TIME: Northwestern enters its third season under coach Chris Collins with some promising talent and that same old albatross. The school that hosted the first Final Four still has not played in the NCAA Tournament.
''For me, it's a matter of when that happens, not if,'' Collins said.
The Wildcats won five of their final eight games after dropping 10 in a row to finish 15-17 last season. Six losses during that slide were by single digits, including an overtime defeat at Michigan State.
If Bryant McIntosh builds on a promising freshman season (11.4 points per game) and seniors Tre Demps (12.5 points) and Alex Olah (11.7 points) provide a little more scoring, this just might be the year the Wildcats make it.
BANGED UP: With a long list of injured players, Illinois coach John Groce opted to make light of the situation rather than shed tears.
''I tried to make sure, when I got up out of bed this morning, that I didn't trip over anything or, you know, tried to remain healthy between the walk from the hotel room down the elevator here to the press conference,'' he said.
Illinois added starting guard Kendrick Nunn to the list this week after he injured his left thumb in practice. The junior was expected to see a hand specialist Thursday, and Groce wasn't sure about the extent of the injury let alone how long he will be out.
Sophomore forward Leron Black had knee surgery earlier this month that is expected to keep him out up to six weeks. Freshman guard Jalen Coleman-Lands is out with a stress fracture but expected back by the Nov. 13 opener against North Florida. Guard Tracy Abrams will miss the season.
HEADING EAST: Media day next year will be held in Washington, as will the 2017 conference tournament.
HE SAID IT: Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig, who figures to get more scoring opportunities this season: ''Sometimes when I'm falling asleep, I kind of think of how many opportunities I'm going to have this year. Feeling the pressure a little bit here and there. But it's going to be good for me. It's going to be a feeling process of when to kind of take the shots, when to take over.''
American Pharoah 'on target' in Breeders' buildup.
Reuters; Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes, Editing by Frank Pingue
American Pharoah (5) is walked into the winners circle after the 2015 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. (Photo/Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was "on target" in his Breeders' Cup Classic preparation after completing his toughest workout since finishing a shocking second in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.
The 3-year-old has been working out at his home track in California for longer than initially expected because of cold, wet weather over the past week in Kentucky, where he is set to end his stellar career at this month's Breeders' Cup Classic.
"He went really well," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, 62, told reporters after American Pharoah had worked seven furlongs in 1:23 flat before galloping out a mile in a rapid 1:35.40 at the Santa Anita race track in Arcadia, California on Wednesday.
"We wanted to get a strong work out of him and it looks like he handled it really well.
"He's reaching, running (and he) looked like he came back happy, so we're right on target. We put a horse out there in front of him ... Madam Aamoura ... he needed a target."
With Martin Garcia in the saddle, American Pharoah galloped straight off from the quarter mile chute and was set down approaching the five-furlong pole, well behind stablemate Madam Aamoura, a 3-year-old filly.
American Pharoah then zipped through splits of 12.20, 24.00, 35.00, 47.00, 59.80 and 1:11.40.
"This is the first time since the Aug. 29 Travers that he's let this horse roll," said highly respected private clocker Gary Young. "The previous works here were maintenance works.
"This was serious. He started out about seven lengths behind the target and he went by the target like a freight train by a hobo at the three sixteenths. He looked good throughout."
Baffert had initially planned to ship American Pharoah to Kentucky well ahead of the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at Keeneland in Lexington.
However, uncertain weather in the Bluegrass State caused Baffert to keep his prized colt in Arcadia "until the 25th or 27th (of October)," the trainer said.
American Pharoah entered the pantheon of U.S. thoroughbred racing's all-time greats by winning the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire in June to become the first horse to capture the coveted 'Triple Crown' in nearly four decades.
In winning a seventh straight race, American Pharoah became the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
After making his farewell racing performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the muscular son of 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneer of the Nile will then retire to stud.
With Martin Garcia in the saddle, American Pharoah galloped straight off from the quarter mile chute and was set down approaching the five-furlong pole, well behind stablemate Madam Aamoura, a 3-year-old filly.
American Pharoah then zipped through splits of 12.20, 24.00, 35.00, 47.00, 59.80 and 1:11.40.
"This is the first time since the Aug. 29 Travers that he's let this horse roll," said highly respected private clocker Gary Young. "The previous works here were maintenance works.
"This was serious. He started out about seven lengths behind the target and he went by the target like a freight train by a hobo at the three sixteenths. He looked good throughout."
Baffert had initially planned to ship American Pharoah to Kentucky well ahead of the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at Keeneland in Lexington.
However, uncertain weather in the Bluegrass State caused Baffert to keep his prized colt in Arcadia "until the 25th or 27th (of October)," the trainer said.
American Pharoah entered the pantheon of U.S. thoroughbred racing's all-time greats by winning the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire in June to become the first horse to capture the coveted 'Triple Crown' in nearly four decades.
In winning a seventh straight race, American Pharoah became the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
After making his farewell racing performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the muscular son of 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneer of the Nile will then retire to stud.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1946 - Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings) played his first NHL game.
1960 - The National League voted to admit Houston and New York to the league. It was the first structural change since 1900.
1971 - Norm Ullman (Toronto Maple Leafs) recorded his 1,000th point in a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
1972 - Joe Namath was on the cover of TIME magazine.
1991 - Roy Tarpley (Dallas Mavericks) became the 7th player to be banned from the National Basketball Association (NBA) for life under the league's anti-drug agreement.
1992 - Magic Johnson played his first professional game since coming out of retirement.
1996 - In Guatemala City, at least 84 people died and 147 were injured when a stampede of soccer fans occurred before the 1998 World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica.
2003 - Two NHL games ended in a scoreless tie for the first time since December 30, 1934. The games were Atlanta at the New York Rangers and Philadelphia at San Jose.
1960 - The National League voted to admit Houston and New York to the league. It was the first structural change since 1900.
1971 - Norm Ullman (Toronto Maple Leafs) recorded his 1,000th point in a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
1972 - Joe Namath was on the cover of TIME magazine.
1991 - Roy Tarpley (Dallas Mavericks) became the 7th player to be banned from the National Basketball Association (NBA) for life under the league's anti-drug agreement.
1992 - Magic Johnson played his first professional game since coming out of retirement.
1996 - In Guatemala City, at least 84 people died and 147 were injured when a stampede of soccer fans occurred before the 1998 World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica.
2003 - Two NHL games ended in a scoreless tie for the first time since December 30, 1934. The games were Atlanta at the New York Rangers and Philadelphia at San Jose.
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