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Sports Quote of the Day:
"Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event." ~ Brian Tracy, Authority on the enhancement of personal effectiveness, the development of human potential, and the art of salesmanship.
"Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event." ~ Brian Tracy, Authority on the enhancement of personal effectiveness, the development of human potential, and the art of salesmanship.
Trending: The Cubs finish with 97 wins and are ready for the playoffs. Let's go Cubs. (See the baseball section for details).
Trending: The Bears finally win a game. They're now 1-3. Detroit's infamous record of 0-16 is safe. Let's go Bears on to Kansas City and 2-3.
NFL Scores, 10/04/2015.
Baltimore Ravens 25
Pittsburgh Steelers 20
New York Jets 27
Miami Dolphins 19
Houston Texans 21
Atlanta Falcons 48
New York Giants 24
Buffalo Bills 10
Oakland Raiders 20
Chicago Bears 22
Kansas City Chiefs 21
Cincinnati Bengals 36
Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Indianapolis Colts 16
Carolina Panthers 37
Tampa bay Buccaneers 23
Philadelphia Eagles 20
Washington Redskins 23
Cleveland Browns 27
San Diego Chargers 30
St. Louis Rams 24
Arizona Cardinals 22
Minnesota Vikings 20
Denver Broncos 23
Green Bay Packers 17
San Francisco 49ers 3
Dallas Cowboys 20
New Orleans Saints 26
Detroit Lions
Seattle Seahawks (Monday Night's Game, 10/05/2015)
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Wild finish as Cutler leads Bears to first win of the season.
By Scott Krinch
Jay Cutler (L) and Robbie Gould (R). (Photo/csnchicago.com)
Same old Jay? Not this time.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was having a near flawless day until disaster struck in the form of future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. Stop if you've heard that before. But luckily for Cutler and the Bears, Cutler atoned for his error to lead Chicago to its first victory of the season.
Woodson, who once as a member of the Green Bay Packers stated that Cutler will always throw one to the opposing defense, picked off Cutler late in the fourth quarter with the Bears poised to take a two-score lead.
However, after a Raiders field goal with 2:05 remaining, Cutler marched the Bears 48 yards down the field to set up a game-winning Robbie Gould 49-yard field goal as Chicago beat Oakland, 22-20, at Soldier Field Sunday afternoon.
And the Bears offense ended the game just how they started.
Operating like a well-oiled machine on its opening drive, despite losing starting center Will Montgomery to an ankle injury on the game's first play from scrimmage, the Bears easily moved the ball 80 yards down the field in six plays.
Cutler showed no rust from a strained hamstring and completed four of his five passes on the drive. Cutler helped the Bears grab their first opening-drive touchdown of the season when he found Eddie Royal for a seven-yard score. It was Royal's first touchdown as a member of the Bears and first from Cutler since the duo connected against the Jets in Nov. 2008 as members of the Denver Broncos.
After showing signs of life in a Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Bears defense carried its momentum from the get-go, holding the Raiders to a measly 22 yards of offense in the first quarter.
However, after a bad punt by Spencer Lannnig - filling in for the injured Pat O'Donnell - the Raiders took over at midfield and found a crack in the Bears' defense. Derek Carr continued to show signs of growth when he delivered a strike to rookie sensation Amari Cooper for a 26-yard score to put Oakland in front.
The Raiders defense immediately put the ball back in the hands of its offense when they pounced on a Cutler-Matt Slauson fumbled snap. Just three plays later, Carr swung a pass out to second-string running back Roy Helu Jr., who put Bears inside linebacker Christian Jones in spin cycle for a four-yard touchdown reception.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was having a near flawless day until disaster struck in the form of future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson. Stop if you've heard that before. But luckily for Cutler and the Bears, Cutler atoned for his error to lead Chicago to its first victory of the season.
Woodson, who once as a member of the Green Bay Packers stated that Cutler will always throw one to the opposing defense, picked off Cutler late in the fourth quarter with the Bears poised to take a two-score lead.
However, after a Raiders field goal with 2:05 remaining, Cutler marched the Bears 48 yards down the field to set up a game-winning Robbie Gould 49-yard field goal as Chicago beat Oakland, 22-20, at Soldier Field Sunday afternoon.
And the Bears offense ended the game just how they started.
Operating like a well-oiled machine on its opening drive, despite losing starting center Will Montgomery to an ankle injury on the game's first play from scrimmage, the Bears easily moved the ball 80 yards down the field in six plays.
Cutler showed no rust from a strained hamstring and completed four of his five passes on the drive. Cutler helped the Bears grab their first opening-drive touchdown of the season when he found Eddie Royal for a seven-yard score. It was Royal's first touchdown as a member of the Bears and first from Cutler since the duo connected against the Jets in Nov. 2008 as members of the Denver Broncos.
After showing signs of life in a Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Bears defense carried its momentum from the get-go, holding the Raiders to a measly 22 yards of offense in the first quarter.
However, after a bad punt by Spencer Lannnig - filling in for the injured Pat O'Donnell - the Raiders took over at midfield and found a crack in the Bears' defense. Derek Carr continued to show signs of growth when he delivered a strike to rookie sensation Amari Cooper for a 26-yard score to put Oakland in front.
The Raiders defense immediately put the ball back in the hands of its offense when they pounced on a Cutler-Matt Slauson fumbled snap. Just three plays later, Carr swung a pass out to second-string running back Roy Helu Jr., who put Bears inside linebacker Christian Jones in spin cycle for a four-yard touchdown reception.
But Cutler, just like he did before his injury against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, continued to show signs of improvement in Adam's Gase's offense.
Cutler engineered a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive, culminating in a five-yard touchdown reception by tight end Martellus Bennett late in the second half. The Bears took the lead just before the half on a 19-yard Gould field goal after the defense gifted the Bears a prime scoring opportunity from a Pernell McPhee interception of Carr.
Before Gould's game-winning field, the Bears and Raiders traded field goals in each quarter of the second half.
The Bears travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in Week 5 next Sunday.
New leader of Bears defense Pernell McPhee on a 'playoff' mission.
By Scott Krinch
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When Pernell McPhee left the Baltimore Ravens and signed a five-year deal with the Bears this past offseason, it took him from a perennial-playoff contender to a team which hasn't sniffed the postseason since 2010.
The former Super Bowl champion has a long list of goals that he wants to accomplish in Chicago, including turning the franchise into a playoff team.
The Bears still aren't close to becoming one just yet, but they showed in Sunday's 22-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders that they may not be as far away as some people think.
"We just have to lock arms and just believe in each other," McPhee said following Sunday's win. "And I think we came out today and did that.
"When we lock arms we're going to win. We went out there today and locked arms. We need to make sure those arms stay locked the rest of the season. And I think we can do damage. That's what it's about. Us playing as a brotherhood. Going out there and fighting for each other."
The Raiders came into Soldier Field on an offensive tear, averaging just over 450 yards of total offense and 32 points per game in their last two wins. Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Latavius Murray and a young-and-upcoming Raiders offense was held to just 243 total yards and committed two turnovers in the loss.
A suddenly resurgent Bears defense, that traded away veterans Jared Allen and Jon Bostic earlier this week, brought out some of the "dog" that McPhee has been talking about the unit needing to have since he came over from Baltimore.
And that lead dog, who clearly hasn't lose any motivation after cashing in on a $38.75 million contract with the Bears, was a big reason why against the Raiders. McPhee collected eight tackles on Sunday, continuing to prove his worth and fast becoming a player which opposing offenses have to gameplan for — something the Bears haven't had on defense since the likes of Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers and Charles Tillman.
"I think Pernell McPhee's play has been really beneficial to our football team," Bears head coach John Fox said. "Not just today. I think he's brought a certain mindset to our team that was needed and is much appreciated."
The one area that will stick out on McPhee's stat line from Sunday is his first career interception, which fell right into his arms after Murray bobbled a pass late in the first half, but his biggest impact game on a crucial third down play in the fourth quarter.
With the Raiders primed to milk the clock and get in position to kick a potential game-winning field goal they ran an inside hand-off to backup running back Roy Helu Jr. on third-and-2 from the Bears' 22-yard line. McPhee penetrated through the line and stuck Helu Jr. in the backfield for a two-yard loss. The impact play gave the Bears enough time to get the ball back and drive for an eventual-game-winning Robbie Gould field goal.
"I'm on a mission. That's my emotion. The mission is playoffs, win, turn it around," McPhee said.
The Bears have needed a guy to step up on defense and make an impact play in a crucial moment, which is something that has been missing from the team the past few seasons.
And while McPhee is making his presence felt on the field, his leadership off it and in the locker room isn't going unnoticed by his teammates.
The Bears outside linebacker motivated his teammates with a speech on Saturday night which helped propel them to an inspired performance against the Raiders.
"McPhee's message to us was that we're brothers," Outside linebacker Sam Acho said. "At the end of the day we're brothers. We're a unit and we're a family. When you love somebody like a brother you play that much harder for them. When you respect someone like you respect your brother, I have a little brother who plays in the NFL and I love him and I've known him my whole life.
"These guys in the locker room are my brothers and so when you're playing for your brother you're playing that much harder. It just adds to it. There's something deep down inside. You don't get it in a lot of places, but in an NFL locker room you get it."
That Bears brotherhood that McPhee talked about stretches beyond just the defense.
"McPhee's speech wasn't an offense or defense thing," Bears tight end Martellus Bennett said. "It was a team thing. McPhee has been a great addition to this team this year. I'm very proud of him.
"He's my type of guy. I thought he motivated a lot of guys and told us what this season is all about."
Bears GM Ryan Pace isn't going to hit on every big free agent acquisition, but so far it looks like he hit the McPhee signing out of the park.
Robbie Gould has his Michael Jordan moment in Bears victory.
By Scott Krinch
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
NFL kickers usually don't talk much, let alone compare themselves to arguably the greatest basketball player of all time.
But most kickers don't have the credentials that Robbie Gould has.
The 11-year Bears kicker, who already broke the franchise record earlier this season for most career field goals, added another astonishing accomplishment to his résumé.
Gould drilled a game-winning 49-yard field goal to propel the Bears to a 22-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The kick gave Gould 12-career game-winning field goals since he joined the team back in 2005.
If the game-winner seemed like déjà-vu to Bears fans, Gould had that same feeling.
Earlier in Sunday's game, Gould connected on a 54-yard field goal from the same spot on the field, albeit just a few yards further, and he also made an identical kick from the same spot in overtime of a 2006 NFC Divisional playoff win against the Seattle Seahawks.
"I love that end zone, because that's the wind I'm used to," Gould said. "I think I've hit all my game-winners at that end. The last one I remember at that distance was the Seahawks. You kind of bring yourself back to certain kicks. I knew if I hit it to the right upright and everyone else did their job — which they did all game — we were going to have a chance to win it. Just trust your lines. It's the same old end zone down there for me. It's just something I'm comfortable with."
Following the win, Gould paid homage to greatest sporting legend the city of Chicago has ever seen.
"Listen, Michael Jordan never said he didn't want the ball at the end of the game," Gould said. "Let's be honest. When he passed he probably didn't even like passing so when you get in situations like that, that's your opportunity as a kicker to earn that respect in the locker room. Earn the respect of your teammates. You have to make those plays. Big players make big plays in big situations."
But most kickers don't have the credentials that Robbie Gould has.
The 11-year Bears kicker, who already broke the franchise record earlier this season for most career field goals, added another astonishing accomplishment to his résumé.
Gould drilled a game-winning 49-yard field goal to propel the Bears to a 22-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The kick gave Gould 12-career game-winning field goals since he joined the team back in 2005.
If the game-winner seemed like déjà-vu to Bears fans, Gould had that same feeling.
Earlier in Sunday's game, Gould connected on a 54-yard field goal from the same spot on the field, albeit just a few yards further, and he also made an identical kick from the same spot in overtime of a 2006 NFC Divisional playoff win against the Seattle Seahawks.
"I love that end zone, because that's the wind I'm used to," Gould said. "I think I've hit all my game-winners at that end. The last one I remember at that distance was the Seahawks. You kind of bring yourself back to certain kicks. I knew if I hit it to the right upright and everyone else did their job — which they did all game — we were going to have a chance to win it. Just trust your lines. It's the same old end zone down there for me. It's just something I'm comfortable with."
Following the win, Gould paid homage to greatest sporting legend the city of Chicago has ever seen.
"Listen, Michael Jordan never said he didn't want the ball at the end of the game," Gould said. "Let's be honest. When he passed he probably didn't even like passing so when you get in situations like that, that's your opportunity as a kicker to earn that respect in the locker room. Earn the respect of your teammates. You have to make those plays. Big players make big plays in big situations."
While Gould wants to compare himself to Jordan, Bears tight end Martellus Bennett sees similarities between Gould and a different 90s era Bulls guard.
"He needs to be more like Steve Kerr," Bennett said. "He needs to make more Steve Kerr references and less Michael Jordan references. Robbie is the Steve Kerr. Somebody else is the MJ. But it's like that moment, you want to take the last shot because that's who Mike was and what this city is used to seeing. I think there are several of guys who wanted the ball in that situation and Robbie got his chance to be Jordan.
"You know sometimes Mike gets double-teamed and he has to spot up. Mike drove to the lane and crossed somebody over and then they double-teamed him. So he sees Kerr out of his peripheral so he pitched it back to Gould in that situation. Hit the three and we won. But we didn't put the ball right in his hands to begin with. No iso for Steve Kerr."
"He needs to be more like Steve Kerr," Bennett said. "He needs to make more Steve Kerr references and less Michael Jordan references. Robbie is the Steve Kerr. Somebody else is the MJ. But it's like that moment, you want to take the last shot because that's who Mike was and what this city is used to seeing. I think there are several of guys who wanted the ball in that situation and Robbie got his chance to be Jordan.
"You know sometimes Mike gets double-teamed and he has to spot up. Mike drove to the lane and crossed somebody over and then they double-teamed him. So he sees Kerr out of his peripheral so he pitched it back to Gould in that situation. Hit the three and we won. But we didn't put the ball right in his hands to begin with. No iso for Steve Kerr."
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Panarin more at ease after preseason debut.
By Tracey Myers
Artemi Panarin settled the puck down near the red line, winning the keep-away game between he and a few Dallas Stars before passing to line mate Patrick Kane.
It was some nifty stick handling, and it left his Blackhawks teammates impressed.
“I mean, for being his first game, he looked really relaxed on the ice. He looked comfortable with the puck,” Marian Hossa said. “You could see the dangle on that shift, go through the three guys and get the puck back. He’s so slick, and we’ll see a lot of this from him.”
It’s moves like that that made the 23-year-old Panarin so sought after last spring, when he eventually signed with the Blackhawks. And while an upper-body injury kept him out of preseason action until the finale on Saturday night, that one showing was a promising one.
Panarin had two assists and had great early chemistry with Kane and Artem Anisimov in the Blackhawks’ 4-0 victory over the Stars on Saturday night. Panarin’s dress rehearsal gave him some confidence going into the regular season, which begins on Wednesday night against the New York Rangers.
“In the beginning it was a little tough. It took a couple of shifts to get into it. He didn’t touch the puck much in the beginning but then it got easier as he went along,” Viktor Tikhonov said for Panarin. “He has a little bit of an understanding. Getting ready for the [preseason] game, he didn’t know what to expect. Now he knows. Everything’s OK.”
Kane said it was a heck of a debut.
“It was obviously a good first step for him,” he said of Panarin. “You can see by some of his moves out there he’s going to be an exciting player to watch. It’s a little tough communicating with him and talking to him – good thing we have Anisimov to translate everything between us. But it was a fun first night and hopefully we keep getting better.”
As coach Joel Quenneville has said, he and the Blackhawks had a pretty good idea what to expect from Panarin. The adjustment to the North American game, however, was still going to be a hurdle. Couple that with Panarin missing so much of training camp with his injury, and he was going to have to catch up fast. The one game is a small sample size, but it was nevertheless encouraging.
“He looks like he’s got some skill, got some ability,” Quenneville said after the game. “He has a terrific shot, real good instincts. I like that line. It could be fun to watch; the kid’s got a real nice gift of finding pucks and getting it off quickly.”
Panarin will probably have his growing pains this season. He’s adjusting a lot, from learning English to adapting to the United States and the North American hockey game to knowing when he’s been honored for Three Stars after a game – Panarin got that honor on Saturday night, and Brent Seabrook helped him on where to go to be recognized. But as starts go, Panarin’s off to a promising one. The Blackhawks like what they see early here from Panarin. Others likely will, too.
“For not being on the ice he looks really relaxed. He’s great with the puck, has nice moves and I think we’ll see a lot of this,” Hossa said. “He has unbelievable skill. People here in Chicago are going to have a good time watching this guy dangling.”
Bryan Bickell ready to heed waiver wake-up call.
By Tracey Myers
What looked like a move to send Bryan Bickell to the Rockford IceHogs appears, in fact, to be the ultimate wake-up call attempt.
Bickell cleared waivers and will play Saturday night with the Blackhawks when they host the Dallas Stars in their preseason finale. Bickell was placed on waivers at 11 a.m. on Friday and cleared 24 hours later.
“I’m just taking it as an awakening, set a fire,” Bickell said following morning skate. “I look at the clock: it’s 11:16 and I’m still here and I’m looking to play tonight to really show them I can get that game back. I want to be a Blackhawk forever. Second opportunity.”
The Blackhawks have tried plenty of light-a-fire tactics in the past with Bickell, including healthy scratches. His overall game, however, hasn’t had the consistency it had in the spring of 2013, when he helped the Blackhawks win the second of their past three Stanley Cups. Bickell is in the third year of his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $4 million per season. Sportsnet.ca reported on Thursday that the Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers talked of a trade regarding Bickell, but that didn’t happen.
“Organizationally we know Bicks can bring a lot to or team,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’ll talk to him individually, like we will all the players on Monday, about roles and job descriptions. We think he can be a factor and we need him to be. So that’s where it’s at.”
Bickell is here right now. Will he stay? Ultimately, that’s up to Bickell and his play but if he’s still struggling in the short term the Blackhawks have options. According to generalfanager.com, the Blackhawks have 29 days/nine NHL games played in to reassign Bickell to Rockford without him having to clear waivers again.
“Yeah, I'm not sure what it is,” Patrick Kane said of Bickell getting the wake-up call. “But we were all happy to see him this morning. And I think he's playing tonight, so I'm sure he's excited about that. I'm sure it was a tough day for him yesterday. He's close with a lot of guys in here, so we all feel for him and I think we all hope he’s here.”
Bickell said he took Friday for himself to collect his thoughts and sort out what was happening. The Blackhawks sent him as big a message as possible while still keeping him here. As Bickell said, it’s up to him now.
“I know there’s been ... healthy scratches to kind of spark me. This is maybe a (motivation) to really show that I really want to be here,” Bickell said. “I don’t want to leave. [I want to] play like I used to play and be a physical presence on the ice; and with this team, that’s what I think we need and I need to bring it every night.”
Blackhawks receive 2015 Stanley Cup rings.
By C. Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks officially had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup last week, and now they'll be strolling around Chicago with some shiny hardware on their fingers.
In a private ceremony on Sunday, the Blackhawks received their 2015 championship rings, and they're pretty amazing.
The ring — which was designed by Jostens — is 355 round, pear, marquise and custom princess-cut diamonds, set in a 14 karat white gold ring, and also tops over 10.8 carats, according to the Blackhawks.
Check out the pictures below.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Bulls will experiment with lineups in preseason; Gasol, Mirotic keys.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/Fuente: Chicago Bulls)
Despite the Bulls being a relatively stable team in terms of personnel, when they step on the floor for the preseason some unique player combinations will be used.
After all, preseason is the time for experimentation and Fred Hoiberg has to work this Rubik’s Cube to make the product more diverse and less predictable than previous seasons.
“I try to split up the groups pretty even. We mix and match,” Hoiberg said. “We had three separate scrimmages where we put a lot of combinations of guys together.”
Hoiberg revealed Pau Gasol only played the first few minutes in a couple scrimmages before completely sitting out the third, likely part of the “Saving Gasol’s Gas” plan considering his age and the fact he played for the Spanish National Team over the summer.
Gasol and fellow Spaniard Nikola Mirotic will be key pieces in the diversity of the Bulls offense this season, as the Bulls will employ the popular “four-out, one-in” offensive set many teams use to maximize floor spacing for drivers and open 3-pointers for shooters.
“We’ll run some four out and one in,” Hoiberg said. “We’ll run some four out and one in with two bigs on the floor, especially with Pau out there. He has proven he can make shots and he can also make plays. If you swing it to him and he doesn’t shoot it, you can get into a second side action.”
Mirotic, in theory and form, is a good 3-point shooter but the numbers say he’s a 31.6 percent shooter. Teams won’t be so quick to run out and defend a shooter with those numbers, no matter his skill set.
Apparently it’s been a point of emphasis in camp, as the Bulls hope to improve on their 35 percent efficiency last season, but they were middle in the pack in terms of attempts.
“His three-pointers are much more consistent this year,” said Bulls forward Taj Gibson, who’s had to guard Mirotic on occasion in camp. “He's been doing a lot better as far as taking the pressure, knowing when to shoot and when not to shoot. We've been trying to get him to shoot a lot more, and he's been playing well.”
Hoiberg said Mirotic is more comfortable at the power forward than small forward, so he doesn’t appear to be a prime candidate to take Mike Dunleavy’s place in the first five.
But nothing is decided yet for the long-term, hence Hoiberg’s desire to see different starting lineups all through the preseason.
He hasn’t ruled out starting Gasol and Joakim Noah together, and is noncommittal on just about anything so early in camp.
“It was good to see different combinations, to start that process,” Hoiberg said. “As for who’ll be our starter for opening night, I don’t think we’ll probably start the same lineups for all the preseason games. We’ll see. We still have a few days before that first preseason game on Tuesday.”
And they have a long way before the regular season begins against the Cleveland Cavaliers, so all of this is in the embryonic stage.
“(Today’s a) very good teaching segment,” Hoiberg said. “Never been part of any staff, roster, player, coach where we walk out after our first scrimmage and say ‘all right guys, we got it all figured out’. We got a lot of things to work on and a lot of things to get cleaned up and work on.”
Derrick Rose advised to stay away from team while eye heals.
By Vincent Goodwill
Derrick Rose has been advised by doctors to stay away from outdoor light for a few more days while his eye heals more, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said at Saturday’s practice.
It’s unlikely he’ll be in the building for the Bulls’ preseason opener against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night at the United Center, but Hoiberg was optimistic about Rose re-joining the team in some capacity Wednesday.
Rose caught an elbow to the eye on an early drive on the first day of training camp and underwent surgery the next day.
“Follow-up went very well,” Hoiberg said. “They’ve advised him to continue to let that sight heal, and they think the best way for him to do that is to stay at home at this time. We plan on him being back on Wednesday morning.”
Although it may sound like a somewhat dire situation— and many have already engaged in eye-rolling when it comes to Rose given his injury history — it’s important to keep in mind he suffered the injury Tuesday and the overall timeline hasn’t changed since his surgery on Wednesday.
“No, it doesn’t change the two weeks. Everything is the same on that,” Hoiberg said. “And then after those two weeks he should be able to resume full activity. It’s just that these two weeks he’ll be very inactive.”
There is still very much the expectation that he’ll get enough work in once he’s cleared to be available for the season opener against Cleveland on Oct. 27, when the games really matter.
“They don’t want him really doing much of anything except walking back and forth, getting a lot of rest, and not doing anything where he could dilate his blood vessels. It’s just kind of what we heard.”
The Bulls coaching staff will take a trip to see Rose, to watch film with him and go over some new concepts since he can’t physically be in the building to observe.
“Like we talked about [Friday], we’ve added new sets, new things, so we’ll get him caught up by a couple of coaches going over and seeing him at his house,” Hoiberg said.
Backup guard Kirk Hinrich said once Rose returns to play, it shouldn’t be a complicated system to figure out.
“Yeah, no question. With a guy like Derrick, it's a perfect system for him,” Hinrich said. “Get stops, push the ball up and make basketball plays. He's as good as anybody at that.”
'Crazy Eyes Portis' embracing his nickname -- and being the younger brother.
By Vincent Goodwill
When Bobby Portis enters a game at the United Center, the fans sitting with a closer view of Michael Jordan’s banner will have a clear view of the rookie’s eyes—because they can’t be missed.
“This is me – Crazy Eyes Portis,” the long-armed athletic forward said. “I'm going to be bugging out there. I'm going to try to play as hard as possible.”
Before anybody else can dish out the nickname, Portis is laying full claim to it, considering the comparisons that have stemmed from noticeable pupils have ranged from former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress to former NBA player Darius Miles to current Los Angeles Laker Roy Hibbert.
Brooklyn Net Joe Johnson brought up the Miles comparison, back from their days in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“Everyone always tells me that I look like him (Burress), and that I look like Roy Hibbert. I hope I don’t, though,” he said.
Let’s just say he’s not a fan of any, so Crazy Eyes Portis will have to do for the moment.
“I'm just taking that nickname from what everybody else is calling me,” Portis said. “Everyone always talks about my eyes being bugged and everything. That's something I'm going to take and run with. I like that name.”
Nicknames in the NBA can be derived as a hazing technique before becoming a term of endearment, and considering Portis has always been the older brother, following the lead of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson in the frontcourt appeals to him.
“Joakim for sure. He’s like the big brother I never had,” Portis said. “Growing up I was always the oldest. I never had a big brother. He’s been there pushing me so far, reminding me everything I do should be hard and tenacious. I kind of feed off of his energy, and both of us try and bring the team up a little bit.”
Walking the streets of Chicago, he’s fairly recognizable, so the attention, the fast pace of the big city and yes, the traffic, is new to him. But the effort that’s required to play inside the lines of the court translates from the dirt roads to air-conditioned gyms with 30-somethings and the big eyes of evaluation watching his every move.
“I love it. That’s something I bring each and every day,” Portis said. “That’s one of my biggest qualities, playing hard. If I can just keep continuing to play hard like I do, I feel like our team will be good.”
And good veteran teams traditionally don’t just have minutes laid out for late first-round picks, especially in a crowded frontcourt where consistent time is almost impossible to guarantee.
“All of us are competing, you know. Me, Taj, Joakim, Pau and Mirotic – we’re all competing,” Portis said. “We’re all trying to fight for those minutes. We’re all trying to play the big role and help our team be successful. It’s not about backing down. It’s about stepping up and making your teammates better.”
The uncertainty of playing time aside, he’s treating the new experience with the utmost seriousness, as his crazy eyes will tell you before his lips part to tell you.
“I’ve been getting up every morning trying to get here first to make a good impression,” Portis said. “This is my first job ever. I’m 20 years old and I haven’t worked anywhere but here. I think it's a great job to have.”
Ready for Pittsburgh: Cubs storm into playoffs with 97 wins.
By Patrick Mooney
Cubs players celebrate their win. (Photo/Morry Gash/AP)
Playoffs? Joe Maddon almost sounded like he had been pre-gaming a little too hard before his first press conference at The Cubby Bear last November.
And then the new Cubs manager offered to buy everyone the first round The Hazleton Way – a shot and a beer – at the bar opposite the Wrigley Field marquee. Whatever, forget it, he’s rolling.
But this party will continue into October, the Cubs finishing an unbelievable regular season with 97 wins after Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
As crazy as that would have sounded at the beginning of spring training – when Maddon kept talking about the playoffs, man – how about that only being good enough for third place in the National League Central?
The Pittsburgh Pirates finally clinched home-field advantage for the wild-card game on Sunday, beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 to notch their 98th win.
So the Cubs will fly to Pittsburgh on Monday, work out at PNC Park on Tuesday and start potential Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta on Wednesday against Gerrit Cole (19-8, 2.60 ERA) and a Pittsburgh team that’s been hardened by earning three postseason appearances in the last three years.
“Obviously, the adrenaline’s going to run a little more,” Anthony Rizzo said. “But I think we’re ready for it. We played tough games against Pittsburgh all year – at their place, at our place – and we got Jake on the mound. We know when he’s out there, we’re a really, really loose bunch. We’re excited for it.”
Rizzo – who got his 100th and 101st RBIs with a bases-loaded single in the first inning – had stood in the same visiting clubhouse after Game 162 last season and said it was finally time to compete.
That was before Maddon escaped from his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, Jon Lester signed a $155 million megadeal to make history in Chicago and Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber made their big-league debuts.
The All-Star first baseman then predicted a division title during a stop at a local elementary school leading up to Cubs Convention. The St. Louis Cardinals won the Central, but this is still a 24-game improvement from 2014.
“I just had a feeling that this was going to be a good year,” Rizzo said. “I obviously said it in January. But we just raised our bar. The bar is set from here on out – to keep repeating this.”
The Cubs watched Arrieta develop into a 22-game winner and finish with the lowest post-All-Star break ERA in major-league history (0.75). Bryant became an All-Star and had a Rookie of the Year season with 26 homers and 99 RBI.
Dexter Fowler had a sensational walk year, scoring 102 runs and filling holes at the top of the order and in center field. Hector Rondon – the Rule 5 guy – saved 30 games and put up a 1.67 ERA.
“I’m really hoping or anticipating that our guys are going to be the same,” Maddon said. “That’s why I preach it all year long – I want us to play the same game. We’re not going to do anything differently.
“There’s not going to be anything new to put in there. There’s no new packages. We’re not running a new offense. We’re not going to blitz any more. No 3-4 (defense). Please don’t do anything differently. Just go play.”
The Cubs have gone 46-19 since getting no-hit by Cole Hamels and swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, the worst team in baseball, finding another gear that Theo Epstein’s front office didn’t see coming in Year 4 of the rebuild.
The Cubs won 34 one-run games this year, 23 in their last at-bat and 13 in a walk-off celebration, showing mental toughness and pitch-to-pitch focus for a goofy bunch that likes to rub helmets and have dance parties in the clubhouse.
The Cubs closed with an eight-game winning streak and a real sense of momentum knowing Arrieta will stare down the Pirates in a one-game playoff.
“We like our chances,” pitching coach Chris Bosio said. “We feel good about it. Everybody is pulling in one direction, believing. And that’s a powerful thing when you got millions and millions of fans and players and personnel all believing we can pull this thing off.''
“We’re on a good roll. We just want to keep rolling. All we want to know is if it’s a day game or a night game.”
It will be a 7 p.m. CST start on Wednesday in Pittsburgh and we’ll see how this group responds under the bright lights of October. The Cubs essentially had identical records at Wrigley Field (49-32) and on the road (48-33) this year and have an anytime/anywhere attitude with Arrieta on the mound.
After finishing in fifth place five times during his first five seasons, making three All-Star teams, losing his job at shortstop and moving to second base without complaint, Starlin Castro might appreciate this more than anybody else inside the clubhouse.
“We worked so hard to be good,” Castro said. “And now is the time. Just keep showing it.”
Frankie Montas whiffs seven but White Sox lose finale to Tigers.
By Dan Hayes
Frankie Montas struck out seven batters in four innings on Sunday afternoon.
That was about it as far as the highlights go for the White Sox, who lost 6-0 to the Detroit Tigers in the final game of the regular season.
Montas only allowed a run and two hits but the White Sox offense was no match for Daniel Norris and four Tigers relievers, who combined on a three-hit shutout.
A White Sox team that went into February with postseason aspirations finished 76-86, good for fourth in the American League Central.
“Very disappointing,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Absolutely. But now it's time, you go back to work and try to figure out what you're going to be doing in the future as far as guys making it to spring training, start doing that.
“You're going into this offseason trying to get some work done.”
Not much went right for the White Sox this season.
But one area they can be pleased with is the development of some of their younger players, Montas being one of them. The hard-throwing right-hander earned an All-Star nod at Double-A Birmingham, he appeared in the Futures Game and pitched well enough in relief after his September promotion to receive two starts in the team’s final 11 games.
Montas started slow on Sunday with a pair of first-inning walks and a run allowed but picked up steam from there, striking out the side in order in the third inning.
He ended the season with a 4.80 ERA and struck out 20 batters in 15 innings. He also walked nine.
“I learned how to play at this level,” Montas said through an interpreter. “You are competing against the best. How to handle the situations and compete against the best, how to have a routine and do your best every day.”
The White Sox had a chance to see what several other young players could do at the major league level this season. They have to like what they’ve seen from Carlos Rodon, Trayce Thompson and know that the defensive capabilities of Tyler Saladino and Carlos Sanchez have value in the big leagues.
The White Sox still aren’t sure what to make of Montas, whether he’s a better fit in the rotation or out of the bullpen, where he allowed a run in eight innings. But Ventura said once Montas got comfortable on Sunday he showed the White Sox glimpses of why he can be a starter.
Ventura likes what he has seen from Montas and some of the other young White Sox.
“That's the biggest thing,” Ventura said. “You see Trayce Thompson come up here and do the things that he's done, Frankie coming up and getting in there. We do have some young guys that got up here at the end that you have a better idea about looking forward.”
The White Sox should be able to add more young talent next June through the amateur draft and international free agency. Though the White Sox and Seattle Mariners ended with identical records, the White Sox pick 10th in the amateur draft because they had a worse record than Seattle in 2014.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Spieth voted Player of the Year after 'season to remember'.
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
World number one Jordan Spieth capped a sensational season on Friday when, as had been widely expected, he was voted the PGA Tour's Player of the Year after a 2014-15 campaign highlighted by two major victories among his five wins.
Spieth landed the coveted honor after clinching the first two majors of the season -- the Masters and U.S. Open -- before finishing one shot out of a British Open playoff in July and being runner-up at the PGA Championship in August.
The 22-year-old American ended his campaign in triumphant style with victory at the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta last week where he also clinched overall FedExCup playoff honors and the $10 million jackpot.
Spieth made 21 of 25 cuts on the PGA Tour, including four runner-up spots, as his earnings for the season ballooned to $22 million because of the FedExCup bonus.
He set a record for official earnings on the U.S. circuit, his tally of $12,030,465 eclipsing the previous mark of $10,905,166 established by Vijay Singh in 2004.
Spieth claimed Player of the Year honors over rivals Jason Day of Australia, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and fellow American Rickie Fowler in a vote of his peers.
Of that trio, Day pushed Spieth hardest in the battle for the prized accolade as he also triumphed five times on the 2014-15 PGA Tour while claiming his first major title at the PGA Championship.
"It was a season to remember," Spieth told reporters on a conference call. "You don't recognize it, I guess, as the year goes on. When you look at it in review, you can see exactly what we have done.
"It's an honor to win Player of the Year because it is the MVP (most valuable player) of our league and it's voted upon by the players. For them to recognise the hard work that we put in and what we've been able to do with it is truly special."
Spieth, the youngest Player of the Year since a 21-year-old Tiger Woods won the award 1997, also earned the Arnold Palmer Award as the Tour's leading money winner and claimed the Byron Nelson Award for adjusted scoring average (68.938).
REMARKABLE CONSISTENCY
Known for his brilliant putting and mental strength, Spieth displayed remarkable consistency as he dominated golf for most of the year. He came close to recording the first ever calendar grand slam of the four professional majors, his worst finish a tie for fourth at the British Open.
A surprising dip in form over the past month coincided with a red-hot run by Australian Day, who won four of six events, including the PGA Championship and two of the FedExCup playoff tournaments.
That stung the highly-competitive Spieth, who made a mental adjustment as he turned things around after missing the cut in the first two FedExCup playoff events.
"As far as the majors go, it certainly very much exceeded expectations," Spieth said of his season. "I obviously am most proud of the two wins, but I am also extremely proud of taking those two wins into the last two and not giving up, continuing to play our best golf.
"Really in my mind I should have won the (British) Open championship had I played the last two holes like we had battled that week, but unfortunately I missed a putt on 17 and didn't play 18 the right way.
"And then I ran into a buzz-saw in Jason Day at the PGA (Championship). Our best stuff was there. It certainly exceeded my expectations in the major championships."
American Daniel Berger, 22, the only rookie to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship after recording two runner-up spots along the way, was selected Rookie of the Year.
Thorbjorn Olesen salvages season with Alfred Dunhill Links win.
By Ryan Ballengee
With just a few weeks left in the European Tour's regular season, Thorbjorn Olesen came into the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship -- the Euro Tour equivalent of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am -- on the verge of losing his playing privileges. Then he went out and did something a promising young player would: he won.
Olesen wrapped up a two-shot win on Sunday at the Old Course at St. Andrews, one of three courses in the tournament rotation and host to the final round of the pro-am event. His 18-under total beat Americans Brooks Koepka and Chris Stroud, earning €708,171 and jumping from 124th on the money list standings into the top 25.
“This is very special,” said Olesen, who has been dealing with tendon problems in his left hand for much of the season. “It’s been a very tough year and to stand here with this trophy, especially to win it at St. Andrews. It’s something you dream of when you’re a little kid. So I’m very emotional.”
The Dane, who now has three European Tour wins, had missed 10 of his last 13 European Tour cuts, but the win should propel him into the top 75 in the Official World Golf Ranking, better than the 80th position where he finished 2014.
NASCAR: Harvick advances in Chase with Dover win; Johnson eliminated.
By Nick Bromberg
Kevin Harvick is heading to the second round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
After two issues in the first two races of the first round, Harvick was faced with a simple situation on Sunday. He needed to win at Dover to advance to the second round of the Chase. He did just that, dominating the race and pulling away on the final restart for his third win of the year.
While Harvick made it through to the second round, a huge name did not. Six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson had a driveline issue on Sunday and was forced to head to the garage for repairs. The points he lost while in the garage were massive. He finished 41st and ended up 14th in the Chase standings.
The top 12 drivers after the first three races advance. Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer are also not moving on to the second round. McMurray (who finished third) tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who finished fourth) for the last advancing spot in the points standings. But since Junior had the highest finish in the first three races, he's in.
Harvick, the 2014 champion, has been incredibly fast recently at Dover. His success at the one-mile track was no surprise. But those fast runs had been foiled by problems. He was one of the best cars in this race one year ago and suffered a cut valve stem on a tire. Jeff Gordon ended up winning the race.
He was super fast in the first two races of this Chase too. He was leading when he bumped with Johnson at Chicago. The bump led to a tire rub and a crash (and a punch to Johnson's chest after the race) when Harvick and his team elected to attempt to hope the tire rub would go away rather than pit and fix the problem. A week ago at New Hampshire, Harvick was leading with three laps to go when he ran out of fuel.
“I think we’re better than we were last year just because of the experiences and things that we’ve had," Harvick said about the pressure to win on Sunday. "I think when we look at everything that’s gone on over the last couple of years, it’s just been a lot of fun. So, it’s just that never quit attitude. That’s what [team co-owner] Tony Stewart said when we went to Homestead last year. He said, ‘Whatever you do, do not quit until they throw that checkered flag’”.
2015 is the second year of NASCAR's elimination Chase format and it's now the second-straight year that a driver has won in a win-and-in scenario. In 2014's second round of the Chase, Brad Keselowski won at Talladega to stave off elimination. And while the moments are dramatic, they're not necessarily the best way to ensure your survival into the next round. Keselowski himself seemed prescient about Harvick's first round when he reflected on his 2014 Chase experience before the first race at Chicago.
"We were able to kind of connect the Hail Mary pass at Talladega to make it to the next bracket and then, sure enough, we went to Martinsville and broke a rear gear in the car and played from behind and didn’t quite connect on the Hail Mary at Texas," Keselowski said. "You don’t want to live and die by that, and I think the lesson learned there is you just can’t have failures."
You can't. Unless you win. Both Johnson and Harvick witnessed that up-close on Sunday.
SOCCER: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United: Early storm, Alexis brilliance gives Gunners thumping win.
By NBC Sports
The Emirates faithful saw Arsenal give away multiple leads midweek on its way to a disappointing Champions League defeat.
That seems like months away now.
A three-goal explosion in the opening 20 minutes, capped by an absolute stunner from Alexis Sanchez, set the tone as the Gunners cruised to a 3-0 victory over Manchester United, who were top of the table heading into this weekend.
It took no time for Arsenal to go ahead as the visiting defense capitulated early. Just five minutes had gone by when Hector Bellerin burst down the right and while the initial cross was cleared, it came back to Ozil who served up a ball for Alexis Sanchez to tap in after beating Matteo Darmian to the near post.
It would get much worse for Manchester United. First, Arsenal doubled its lead just a minute later to stun the visitors. A beautiful Sanchez touch found Walcott on the break bursting forward. With the United defense out of sorts, Walcott sliced up the back line with a pass in to Ozil, and he buried the chance into the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes.
Before the clock hit the 20 minute mark, the Gunners would get a third, and it was a stunner. Alexis Sanchez powered forward into the final third, and he skipped past Darmian with ease to find space at the top of the box before crashing an absolute howitzer into the top corner for his second and Arsenal’s third.
Aaron Ramsey should have had a fourth past the half-hour mark, but he skied over the bar from point-blank range after Santi Cazorla‘s chip to the far post had unlocked the United defense again.
Manchester United finally unlocked the Gunners defense just a minute before the break, but young Anthony Martial saw his first shot saved brilliantly by Petr Cech on the turn, and he whiffed on his second chance from a Wayne Rooney cross moments later.
The second half plodded along in much less exciting fashion than the first, with the Gunners more and more content to sit back and easily absorb pressure as it went along. By the hour mark, Manchester United dominated possession but had little to show for it as Arsenal stayed compact.
There were few moments to remember in the second 45, and the home side eased their way to victory, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hitting the bar just before the final whistle. The three points moves the Gunners to 16 points, level with today’s opponents on points and just below them into third place on goal differential. Manchester United miss the opportunity to regain their top spot, leaving cross-town rivals Manchester City two points clear at the summit.
Harry Shipp's goal, assist helps Fire to win over Revolution.
By Danny Michallik
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Last week's 3-2 setback against Toronto FC saw a prevailing narrative come back to haunt the Chicago Fire. After taking two leads, both were wiped out and by the end of the night, the defeat officially eliminated the team from playoff contention.
On Saturday night, the self-pride that interim head coach Brian Bliss called for in the days building up to the Fire's penultimate home match of the regular season against the New England Revolution was on full display.
After conceding Juan Agudelo's headed goal against the run of play in the 31st minute, the Fire turned on in the second half. David Accam's near-post finish - his team-leading 10th of 2015 - followed by tallies from Harry Shipp and Gilberto helped the Fire (8-18-6, 30 points) snap a five-match losing streak in a 3-1 victory over the Revolution (13-11-8, 47 points) in front of an announced crowd of 16,694 at Toyota Park.
Bliss trotted out three changes from the side that fell in Toronto last time out. Joevin Jones made his return to the starting lineup at left back for Patrick Doody. Razvan Cocis partnered Michael Stephens in central midfield and Shipp deputized for Mike Magee underneath Gilberto.
On Saturday night, the self-pride that interim head coach Brian Bliss called for in the days building up to the Fire's penultimate home match of the regular season against the New England Revolution was on full display.
After conceding Juan Agudelo's headed goal against the run of play in the 31st minute, the Fire turned on in the second half. David Accam's near-post finish - his team-leading 10th of 2015 - followed by tallies from Harry Shipp and Gilberto helped the Fire (8-18-6, 30 points) snap a five-match losing streak in a 3-1 victory over the Revolution (13-11-8, 47 points) in front of an announced crowd of 16,694 at Toyota Park.
Bliss trotted out three changes from the side that fell in Toronto last time out. Joevin Jones made his return to the starting lineup at left back for Patrick Doody. Razvan Cocis partnered Michael Stephens in central midfield and Shipp deputized for Mike Magee underneath Gilberto.
The hosts struggled to find their feet in the early going, allowing New England midfielders Jermaine Jones and Kelyn Rowe to unleash the opening shots toward Jon Busch's net.
With more and more possession garnered in the final third, the Fire were able to carve out the game's first notable opportunity via Accam in the 21st minute. The Ghanaian collected the ball on the edge of the area and tantalized Andrew Farrell in a one-versus-one scenario before sending a curling right-footed effort at New England 'keeper Bobby Shuttleworth, who expertly palmed aside.
A minute shy of the half-hour mark, the Fire saw a flurry of chances go awry. First, Patrick Nyarko dished to Gilberto, whose volley was stopped by Shuttleworth. The Brazilian hit the post on the ensuing corner kick, and, seconds later, was found by Accam at the back post but couldn't direct a shot on target.
Seconds later, the visitors charged toward the other end, exposed the Fire back four and broke the deadlock. Lovel Palmer failed to close down Chris Tierney's cross, which found Agudelo, who powerfully headed past a stranded Busch from close range.
With 58 percent of possession yet little to show for in the opening 45, the Fire emerged from the halftime interval with an incentive to level the score, and they did just that.
Accam drove through the center of midfield and into the box and found an opening, muscling free of Jose Goncalves and squeezing a low shot inside the near post to level the score in the 51st minute. Eight minutes later, Shipp capitalized on a slip by Farrell and ran through on goal. The Homegrown midfielder kept his cool and slotted a shot through the legs of Shuttleworth for a 2-1 Fire lead.
As the second half wore on, Busch was called upon to make a number of saves to keep the Men in Red's advantage in check, most notably denying Agudelo and Rowe on the doorstep in the 66th minute.
Five minutes from time, second-half substitute Matt Watson beat Lee Nguyen to the endline and connected with Gilberto at the corner of the six-yard box. The Brazilian spun, turned and finished past Shuttleworth to seal all three points for the Fire.
Next up for the Fire is a trip to face D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Oct. 18.
Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs)
(4-4-1-1) - Jon Busch; Lovel Palmer, Jeff Larentowicz (C), Daneil Cyrus, Joevin Jones; Patrick Nyarko, Michael Stephens, Razvan Cocis (Matt Watson, 80'), David Accam; Harry Shipp (Patrick Doody, 72'); Gilberto
With more and more possession garnered in the final third, the Fire were able to carve out the game's first notable opportunity via Accam in the 21st minute. The Ghanaian collected the ball on the edge of the area and tantalized Andrew Farrell in a one-versus-one scenario before sending a curling right-footed effort at New England 'keeper Bobby Shuttleworth, who expertly palmed aside.
A minute shy of the half-hour mark, the Fire saw a flurry of chances go awry. First, Patrick Nyarko dished to Gilberto, whose volley was stopped by Shuttleworth. The Brazilian hit the post on the ensuing corner kick, and, seconds later, was found by Accam at the back post but couldn't direct a shot on target.
Seconds later, the visitors charged toward the other end, exposed the Fire back four and broke the deadlock. Lovel Palmer failed to close down Chris Tierney's cross, which found Agudelo, who powerfully headed past a stranded Busch from close range.
With 58 percent of possession yet little to show for in the opening 45, the Fire emerged from the halftime interval with an incentive to level the score, and they did just that.
Accam drove through the center of midfield and into the box and found an opening, muscling free of Jose Goncalves and squeezing a low shot inside the near post to level the score in the 51st minute. Eight minutes later, Shipp capitalized on a slip by Farrell and ran through on goal. The Homegrown midfielder kept his cool and slotted a shot through the legs of Shuttleworth for a 2-1 Fire lead.
As the second half wore on, Busch was called upon to make a number of saves to keep the Men in Red's advantage in check, most notably denying Agudelo and Rowe on the doorstep in the 66th minute.
Five minutes from time, second-half substitute Matt Watson beat Lee Nguyen to the endline and connected with Gilberto at the corner of the six-yard box. The Brazilian spun, turned and finished past Shuttleworth to seal all three points for the Fire.
Next up for the Fire is a trip to face D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Oct. 18.
Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs)
(4-4-1-1) - Jon Busch; Lovel Palmer, Jeff Larentowicz (C), Daneil Cyrus, Joevin Jones; Patrick Nyarko, Michael Stephens, Razvan Cocis (Matt Watson, 80'), David Accam; Harry Shipp (Patrick Doody, 72'); Gilberto
NCAAFB: AP Top 25 Ranking, 10/04/2015.
| Rank | Team | Record | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ohio St. (38) | 5-0 | 1444 | 1 |
| 2. | TCU (5) | 5-0 | 1371 | 4 |
| 3. | Baylor (10) | 4-0 | 1364 | 5 |
| 4. | Michigan St. | 5-0 | 1291 | 2 |
| 5. | Utah (7) | 4-0 | 1254 | 10 |
| 6. | Clemson | 4-0 | 1217 | 12 |
| 7. | LSU | 4-0 | 1212 | 9 |
| 8. | Alabama | 4-1 | 1026 | 13 |
| 9. | Texas A&M (1) | 5-0 | 1009 | 14 |
| 10. | Oklahoma | 4-0 | 976 | 15 |
| 11. | Florida | 5-0 | 935 | 25 |
| 12. | Florida St. | 4-0 | 922 | 11 |
| 13. | Northwestern | 5-0 | 753 | 16 |
| 14. | Mississippi | 4-1 | 731 | 3 |
| 15. | Notre Dame | 4-1 | 721 | 6 |
| 16. | Stanford | 4-1 | 617 | 18 |
| 17. | USC | 3-1 | 498 | 17 |
| 18. | Michigan | 4-1 | 452 | 22 |
| 19. | Georgia | 4-1 | 441 | 8 |
| 20. | UCLA | 4-1 | 415 | 7 |
| 21. | Oklahoma St. | 5-0 | 332 | 20 |
| 22. | Iowa | 5-0 | 254 | NR |
| 23. | California | 5-0 | 233 | 24 |
| 24. | Toledo | 4-0 | 87 | NR |
| 25. | Boise St. | 4-1 | 65 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes:
- Oregon 39,
- Houston 31,
- Duke 31,
- Temple 23,
- Navy 19,
- Memphis 19,
- Arizona St. 15,
- Mississippi St. 11,
- West Virginia 8,
- Texas Tech 4,
- BYU 3,
- Missouri 1,
- Kansas St. 1
Athlon Sports' most interesting stats from Week 5.
By Athlon Sports
Numbers and statistics are a huge part of college football. Every Sunday, reading updated box scores and stats is like Christmas for fans and media members. Some stats like total offense and total defense are overrated, but each help paint a picture for a team or particular game.
Whether the stats are historic, advanced or just an observation from a box score, Athlon Sports brings the most intriguing, important, historic and bizarre stats from around the weekend of college football action:
When Ohio State needed a big play against Indiana, quarterback Cardale Jones simply handed the ball to Elliott. The junior carried the offense in the 34-27 win over the Hoosiers, recording 274 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Elliott scored three times in the second half, averaging a ridiculous 65 yards on the three touchdown runs. After five weeks, Elliott is tied for first nationally with four rushing
plays of 50 yards or more.
28: Alabama’s Margin of Victory Over Georgia
A 28-point margin of victory isn’t much of a surprise for Alabama under coach Nick Saban. However, the 28-point margin of victory against Georgia was the biggest in school history on the road against a top-10 team. The Crimson Tide thoroughly dominated the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball and scored a touchdown on a blocked punt. Quarterback Jake Coker was an efficient 11 of 16 for 190 yards, running back Derrick Henry chipped in 148 yards on 26 carries, while the defense limited Georgia to just 4.3 yards per play.
7-3: Clemson’s Record in Games Against Top 10 Teams Under Dabo Swinney
Clemson was once known as a program that struggled to reach expectations. Not anymore. The Tigers held off Notre Dame for a 24-22 victory on a soggy night in Death Valley, improving their season record to 4-0. The Fighting Irish entered Week 5 ranked No. 6 nationally in the Associated Press poll. According to Clemson’s sports information department, the win over Notre Dame improved the Tigers to 7-3 under coach Dabo Swinney against top 10 teams.
3: Consecutive 200-Yard Rushing Games by LSU RB Leonard Fournette
Fournette continued his record-setting start to the 2015 season with 233 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries against Eastern Michigan. The sophomore has at least 200 rushing yards in three consecutive games, becoming the first player in SEC history to reach that mark. Additionally, Fournette’s season total (864 yards) is the most by any player in the nation through the first four games of a season since 2006.
88-10: Combined Final Scores of Texas’ Losses in Road Games in 2015
Texas dropped to 1-4 after a lackluster performance in a 50-7 loss to TCU. The 43-point margin of defeat to the Horned Frogs was the second biggest loss in this series, but the seven points underscored a bigger problem for coach Charlie Strong. Texas has managed only 10 points and just 3.6 yards per play in two road games this season. By comparison, in three home games this year, the Longhorns averaged 37.7 points per contest.
Baylor’s offense leads the way nationally by averaging 63.8 points per game. Big plays are a staple of this offense under coach Art Briles, as the Bears are tied for first nationally with 15 plays of 40 or more yards. Corey Coleman is one of the nation’s best big-play threats at receiver, averaging 23.8 yards per reception on 24 catches in four games. Additionally, Coleman’s 11 touchdowns are the best by any receiver in college football, and the junior is putting a lot of stress on defenses with each score. Coleman is averaging 32.2 yards on touchdown catches this season.
3: Losses by Tennessee When Leading by at Least 13 Points in 2015
Week 5 brought a familiar storyline for Tennessee fans. The Volunteers led Arkansas 14-0 in the first quarter but couldn't put the Razorbacks away. Arkansas rallied for a 24-20 victory, which dropped Tennessee to 0-3 this season when it led by at least 13 points. And it won’t get any easier for coach Butch Jones, as the Volunteers host Georgia this Saturday, followed by a road trip to Alabama on Oct. 24.
21: Biggest Comeback in North Carolina’s Program History
North Carolina scored a key conference win on Saturday, rallying from a 21-point deficit to defeat Georgia Tech 38-31. The 21-point rally was the largest comeback in school history and helped snap an eight-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets. Leading the way for North Carolina’s comeback was quarterback Marquise Williams. The senior finished as the team’s leading passer, rusher and receiver in the victory.
1.9: Virginia Tech’s Yards Per Play Against Pittsburgh
Ugly. That’s the best way to describe Virginia Tech’s performance on offense in Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh. The weather conditions weren’t ideal, but the Hokies managed only 100 yards on 53 plays, rushed for just nine yards, surrendered seven sacks and lost three turnovers. The 100 total yards were the fewest by Virginia Tech since Sept. 12, 1987.
14: Points Allowed by Michigan in Last Four Games
New coach Jim Harbaugh is still working out some of the kinks on Michigan’s offense, but the defense has been dominant in 2015. The Wolverines pitched their second consecutive shutout by blanking Maryland 28-0 on Saturday. This defense has allowed only 14 points over the last four games and no opponent has managed more than 235 yards in that span. Michigan’s defense is allowing just 7.6 points per game after five contests, which ranks second nationally behind Northwestern.
Northwestern, Iowa are Big Ten West favorites after winning on Saturday.
By Sam Cooper
Two unexpected teams have risen to the top of the Big Ten West.
Both Northwestern and Iowa used stellar defensive efforts to improve to 5-0 with impressive wins on Saturday to kick off Big Ten play.
No. 16 Northwestern was already on the national radar with wins over Stanford and Duke, but Pat Fitzgerald’s team let any doubters know that it is for real with a dominant 27-0 takedown of Minnesota. Sure, Minnesota doesn’t have the greatest offense, but the Wildcats made the Gophers look completely lifeless.
The Northwestern defense held Minnesota to just 173 yards of total offense while forcing two turnovers and stopping Minnesota on all three of its fourth-down attempts.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson continues to improve for the Wildcats. Thorson completed 14-of-19 passes for only 128 yards, but he showed his dual-threat capabilities with two more rushing touchdowns – giving him four on the season. Thorson had plenty of help from his ground game as well, with sophomore Justin Jackson racking up 120 yards on the afternoon.
The Wildcats’ offense is far from explosive, but it doesn’t have to be in order to win games, especially when the defense has given up only three touchdowns in five games.
And while the Northwestern defense displayed its dominance in Evanston, Iowa went on the road to Wisconsin and flexed its defensive muscles. In a game that was fairly sloppy on both sides, Iowa forced four Badgers turnovers to eke out a 10-6 road win.
All four of Wisconsin’s turnovers came from quarterback Joel Stave, who couldn’t get much going against a swarming Hawkeyes defense. Stave was intercepted twice by Desmond King and lost two fumbles, including a crucial botched handoff in the fourth quarter.
Iowa’s offense didn’t put up its most sparkling effort, but running back Jordan Canzeri (26 carries, 125 yards) was a bright spot, providing a boost for a struggling C.J. Beathard (9/21, 77 yards, TD, INT). The Hawkeyes scored their only touchdown when Beathard hit tight end George Kittle on a goal-line play late in the first half.
The Hawkeyes added a field goal before halftime and it was all they would need to pull out the win.
Wisconsin and Nebraska were the perceived favorites in the West coming into the season. But through five weeks, Northwestern and Iowa look like better teams with the Badgers and Huskers already having two losses apiece.
Sure it’s early in the year, but all of a sudden Iowa’s Oct. 17 trip to Northwestern looks like a heck of a matchup.
NCAABKB: Ten key questions facing top programs as practice opens.
By Jeff Eisenberg
1. Can Gonzaga's three frontcourt stars play together?
When Kyle Wiltjer, Przemek Karnowski and Domantas Sabonis all announced this past spring that they would be returning to Gonzaga, it created a compelling dilemma for Zags coach Mark Few. Could he figure out a way to get his three best players on the floor at the same time next season when each member of the trio stands at least 6-foot-10?
Few has said he intends to try it for stretches of games, a gamble that comes with plenty of advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, the 6-foot-10, highly skilled Wiltjer should be able to back down smaller defenders in the post when opponents play man-to-man or rain down 3-pointers if they go zone. On the other hand, Wiltjer struggled to stay in front of quick face-up power forwards last season, so Gonzaga may have to go zone to hide him defensively instead of asking him to guard opposing wings.
Ultimately, the three-big look may not be the lineup with which Gonzaga starts or finishes most games, but it makes sense for the Zags to have it in their arsenal. Their backcourt is unproven with Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell and Byron Wesley all graduating and they have a fourth big man, redshirt sophomore Ryan Edwards, capable of contributing off the bench too.
2. Has Indiana gotten any better defensively?
Thanks to the presence of an elite point guard and an array of wings who could either rain down 3-pointers or score off the dribble, Indiana boasted one of the nation's most efficient offenses last season. What prevented the Hoosiers from being anything more than a marginal NCAA tournament team was that their defense was every bit as inept as their offense was dynamic.
Indiana finished the season 275th in points per possession surrendered, only better than Missouri, Virginia Tech and DePaul among major-conference programs. Many of the Hoosiers' perimeter players struggled staying in front of their man or closing out on shooters and the team lacked any semblance of a rim protector besides foul-prone 6-foot-9 center Hanner Mosquera-Perea.
Can Indiana make a dramatic improvement this season even though its perimeter corps is the same as last year and its only scholarship player taller than 6-foot-8 will be a true freshman? Despite external skepticism, Tom Crean seems to think so. He intends to drill his players on getting over the top of screens, rotating quick enough on help defense and closing out on shooters. And, hey, maybe that back-to-basics emphasis will help. To become a top 15 team, Indiana doesn't have to be elite defensively. The Hoosiers just can't be incompetent either.
3. How does Virginia replace Justin Anderson in its starting lineup?
Had Justin Anderson returned for his senior year, Virginia might have entered the season as the nation's preseason No. 1 team. Instead the athletic, do-it-all wing capitalized on a strong 2014-15 season and entered the NBA draft, leaving the Cavaliers in search of a way to replace his 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 45 percent 3-point shooting.
The leading candidates to absorb Anderson's playing time are senior Evan Nolte and sophomore Marial Shayok, the former a long-range shooter whose 3-point shot deserted him last season and the latter an athletic wing who showed flashes of promise on both ends of the floor as a freshman. Tony Bennett also emerged from the summer pleased with the improvement of 6-foot-4 Tennessee transfer Darius Thompson and 6-foot-5 sophomore Devon Hall as well.
Whoever plays alongside returning starters London Perrantes and Malcolm Brogdon in the Virginia backcourt, the Cavaliers are hopeful it goes more smoothly than it did last season when Anderson fractured his left pinkie in early February. The 30-win Cavaliers never looked quite the same again, losing to both remaining Top 25 opponents on their schedule and then falling to Michigan State in the NCAA tournament's round of 32.
4. Can Kentucky's three point guards coexist and work together?
It's no mystery why John Calipari has adopted "positionless basketball" as his favorite catchphrase of the offseason to describe his program. The Kentucky coach needs his team to buy into that concept because his top three backcourt players ostensibly all project as point guards at the next level.
Five-foot-9 sophomore Tyler Ulis is a classic pass-first point guard who controls tempo, creates for teammates off the dribble, knocks down open shots and pesters opponents defensively. Six-foot-3 freshman Isaiah Briscoe is a strong, athletic lead guard who generates shots for himself and his teammates in transition and is at his best bullying smaller guards and finishing through contact. Six-foot-4 freshman Jamal Murray is the most comfortable of the three playing off ball because of his deep range as a spot-up shooter yet he also can score off the dribble, set up big men out of a pick-and-roll or find open shooters.
The bad news is that all three are best with the ball in their hands yet there's only one basketball to go around. The good news is they're playing for a coach who has shown an uncanny ability to get future pros to willingly sacrifice stats for the good of the team. All three have already forged a strong bond and are already saying the right things publicly. Plus, Kentucky's defense shouldn't suffer because Briscoe and Murray have the size and length to defend opposing wings.
5. Is point guard Derryck Thornton ready to step in right away for Duke?
Once Tyus Jones decided to parlay his brilliant freshman season into an NBA contract this past spring, one of college basketball's most talent-rich programs was left in an unusual position. Not only did Duke not have a single point guard on its 2015-16 roster, all the elite point guards in Class of 2015 had also already signed with other schools.
Mike Krzyzewski and his staff solved this problem by putting the full-court press on Class of 2016 prospect Derryck Thornton and persuading him to graduate a year ahead of time to take advantage for the chance to start immediately. His youth and inexperience make him the biggest question mark on a Duke team that will likely start returning standouts Grayson Allen and Matt Jones at the wings with veterans Amile Jefferson and Marshall Plumlee competing for playing time with highly touted freshmen Brandon Ingram and Chase Jeter in the frontcourt.
What will help Thornton make a positive impact right away is that his greatest strength is his decision making. He is a lethal scorer, a skilled playmaker and a solid defender but he needs to add strength and increase the consistency of his jump shot.
6. How will Villanova divvy up playing time among its three point guards?
One is the reigning co-Big East player of the year, a senior known as much for his infectious hustle and enthusiasm as for his knack for sinking big shots. The second is an obvious breakout candidate, a highly touted sophomore who was productive and efficient in limited minutes last season. The third is one of the most coveted incoming freshmen Jay Wright has ever recruited, a McDonald's All-American who starred on the US U-19 world championship team this past summer.
Ryan Arcidiacono, Phil Booth and Jalen Brunson are each standout point guards who would start for most teams around the nation, so how will Wright utilize all three of them? The most likely scenario is that at least two of the three will be on the court together at all times with Arcidiacono and Brunson starting alongside one-another and Booth playing 25 minutes per game as the first guard off the bench.
For Villanova, the advantage of that lineup is always having at least two guards on the floor who are capable of handling the ball, attacking the rim and creating for themselves or their teammates. A lack of size and strength at the shooting guard position could pose problems defensively, but the Wildcats will likely call on 6-foot-5 small forward Josh Hart to defend opposing teams' best wing.
7. Who will join Kaleb Tarczewski in Arizona's starting lineup?
For a team that lost four of its five starters to graduation or the NBA draft this past spring, Arizona enters the new season in remarkably good shape. The return of four rotation players, the arrival of four promising freshmen and the addition of three potential impact transfers give Sean Miller the deepest, most offensively gifted roster he's had since coming to Tucson and a litany of options for how to assemble his starting lineup.
The one certainty appears to be the center position, where returning starter Kaleb Tarczewski will once again see the majority of the playing time with sophomore Dusan Ristic providing scoring and rebounding off the bench. It's also a good bet that 5-foot-10 offensive spark plug Parker Jackson-Cartwright will inherit the starting point guard job from T.J. McConnell and high-scoring Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson will start at power forward.
How the rest of the rotation looks is anyone's guess. Combo guard Kadeem Allen averaged 25 points per game in junior college and drew high praise for his performance on the scout team last year. San Francisco transfer Mark Tollefson is versatile scorer who can play either forward spot. Senior guard Gabe York is a sharpshooter whose defense and all-around game have improved every year. And then there are the freshmen. Highly touted wing Alonzo Trier may be the most polished and college-ready, but Justin Simon can defend all three perimeter spots and Ray Smith is the only true small forward on the roster.
8. Will Cheick Diallo be eligible for Kansas?
The missing element in Kansas' frontcourt last season was a big man who could alter shots at one end and finish above the rim or in transition at the other. The Jayhawks filled that void with the signing of McDonald's All-American Cheick Diallo last spring, but the NCAA has yet to rule whether the 6-foot-9 Mali native will be academically eligible to play this season or not.
At issue are the three-plus years Diallo spent at Our Savior New American, a private school in Centereach, N.Y. Kansas coach Bill Self told reporters earlier this week that Diallo is practicing with the team and that he's hopeful the freshman will be cleared to play by the start of the season. Freshman Carlton Bragg and veteran Jamari Traylor are the other options to start alongside Perry Ellis if Diallo is unavailable.
If Diallo is cleared, he'd be the perfect complement to Ellis in the Kansas frontcourt because their strengths are so different. Ellis atones for modest length and athleticism with a polished repertoire of back-to-the-basket moves and mid-range jump shots. Diallo isn't going to scare anyone if Kansas feeds him the ball in the high post or on the low block, but he runs the floor exceptionally, finishes at the rim, rebounds at both ends and has impressive timing blocking shots.
9. What will Maryland get out of Rasheed Sulaimon?
One year after watching from home as his former teammates celebrated winning the national title, dismissed Duke shooting guard Rasheed Sulaimon will have a chance to experience that same joy with his new team. The senior has joined a Maryland program that could emerge as a title contender if Sulaimon can recapture the form he displayed early in his college career.
A former McDonald's All-American who averaged 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a freshman at Duke, Sulaimon probably would have been a first-round draft pick had he left school the following spring. Instead his playing time and productivity diminished the following two years as other talented wings eclipsed him in Duke's rotation, leading to issues behind the scenes.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon has known Sulaimon since high school and is confident he'll be an asset for the Terrapins. Sulaimon doesn't need to be a superstar for Maryland to be an elite team, but it would help if he can ease the burden on sophomore Melo Trimble, replace some of the scoring Dez Wells provided last season and guard opposing teams' top perimeter threat.
10. Will Purdue's trio of centers be an asset or a hindrance?
It's a testament to the size of Purdue's frontcourt that a McDonald's All-American nicknamed "Biggie" will be dwarfed by the two other centers in the Boilermakers' rotation. Six-foot-9 freshman Caleb Swanigan joins all-conference 7-foot senior A.J. Hammons and promising 7-foot-2 sophomore Isaac Haas to form a trio that will cause plenty of matchup issues both for Purdue and its opponents.
Assuming Purdue coach Matt Painter opts to slide Swanigan to power forward and start him alongside Hammons, that will create some challenges for the Boilermakers at both ends. Swanigan will have to prove he can stay in front of more mobile forwards off the dribble and can defend pick-and-pops out to the perimeter, two areas in which he probably doesn't have too much experience. Swanigan should be able to seal off smaller defenders at the other end, but providing Hammons and Haas enough space to operate in the post also will depend on his ability to play outside the paint and knock down mid-range jump shots.
Ultimately, Purdue's most effective lineup for spacing purposes and defensive versatility might feature promising combo forward Vince Edwards at the four, but can Painter utilize that lineup frequently and still keep his trio of big men happy? Hammons is an all-conference senior with NBA aspirations, Swanigan is Purdue's most ballyhooed recruit in years and Haas showed promise in limited minutes as a freshman. All three will expect to play a significant role for the Boilermakers this season.
MLB 2015 Playoff Bracket
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Memoriesofhistory.com
1919 - Enzo Ferrari debuted in his first race. He later founded the Auto Avio Construzioni Ferrari, an independent manufacturing company.
1921 - The World Series was broadcast on the radio for the first time. The game was between the New York Giants and the New York Yankees.
1932 - The Detroit Falcons introduced a new name (the Redwings) and new uniforms to the city of Detroit.
1983 - Wayne Gretzky began a streak of scoring that covered 51 games. The streak ended on January 27, 1984.
2001 - Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants) hit his 71st and 72nd home runs in a single season.
2003 - The Chicago Cubs won their first postseason series since the 1908 World Series.
2003 - Dante Hall (Kansas City Chiefs) scored on a return in an NFL-record fourth straight game. He scored his fourth touchdown on a return in only 5 games.
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