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"Sports Quote of the Day"
The Super Bowl is a game. Life is for real. What I went through helped me get to where I am today. I won't forget. I can't forget. Because a man who forgets his past sometimes loses his soul and forgets where to go in the future. ~ Junior Seau, 10-Time All Pro Former NFL Linebacker
Trending: Jonathan Toews gets fifth OT winner as Blackhawks down Coyotes. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
The Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews scores a goal against Arizona Coyotes' Louis Domingue during the second period on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (Photo/Ross D. Franklin/AP)
Trending: Chicago Bulls-Denver Nuggets Preview. (See the basketball section for Bulls updates).
Trending: NHL suspends Jonathan Toews one game for missing All-Star weekend due to illness. What's Your Take? (Please read the last article on this blog and share your thoughts with us).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks 'used frustration the right way' to top Coyotes in OT.
By Tracey Myers
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville stands on the team bench as he argues with officials during the first period on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (Photo/Ross D. Franklin/AP)
Marian Hossa wasn’t happy that he had a goal from him. But he and the Blackhawks were just fine with the end result.
Hossa had one goal disallowed but did score one later, and Jonathan Toews scored two, including his fifth overtime goal of the season, in the Blackhawks’ 5-4 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. The Blackhawks have won two in a row out of the All-Star break and remain atop the Central Division with 74 points. The Dallas Stars, who the Blackhawks face on Saturday, are second with 71 points.
Patrick Kane scored his 31st goal, setting a new career-high for a season. Hossa’s goal that did count was the 495th of his career. Michal Rozsival scored his first of the season and Artei Panarin finished with two assists.
It was a game that featured everything: a goal that was originally a goal before it became a disallowed goal, a short-handed goal two power-play goals and a bunch of penalties. And of course, there was another overtime winner for Toews.
As happy as the Blackhawks were at the end, however, they were fuming early. Hossa appeared to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead in the first period but the Coyotes challenged for goaltender interference, and won. In replays it looked like Coyotes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck pushed Hossa into Louis Domingue. But the NHL’s Situation Room, in a release, said Hossa interfered with Domingue, wiping way the goal. The release stated:
According to Rule 78.7, “The standard for overturning the call in the event of a ‘GOAL’ call on the ice is that the Referee, after reviewing any and all available replays and consulting with the Toronto Video Room, determines that the goal should have been disallowed due to ‘Interference on the Goalkeeper,’ as described in Rules 69.1, 69.3 and 69.4.”
Hossa still wasn’t happy about the ruling after the game.
“First of all we are happy we won this crazy game. Obviously, it was pretty fun to watch, I guess, from upstairs,” Hossa said. “Disappointing from the first goal, I couldn’t believe it. Obviously, you know, I thought that was the first joke. I tried to battle in front of the net and I don’t have any intention to touch the goalie. I just try to battle through two guys and put the puck in the net. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the playoffs, if there’s going to be calls after calls after calls. But I don’t think it’s good for the league.”
Coach Joel Quenneville, who was visibly livid at the time of the call, was a lot calmer with the end result.
“We had a real good response in that second period. I didn’t mind the first as well. Heck of a hockey game, back and forth,” he said. “[The Coyotes] were desperate coming off a tough game. You knew they were going to be ready and they responded. Hard-working game for both teams; it was incredibly competitive and fun to be a part of. I think the fans enjoyed it.”
As frustrated as Hossa was early, that ire led to him having arguably his best game of the season. The disallowed goal didn’t mean Hossa shied away from the net, and that’s how he got the one that counted in the second period.
“That was the Hoss we know very well making those single-handed efforts and taking the puck to the net the way he did in the second period,” Toews said. “It was nice to see him get one back there. I think he was deserving to have that first one.
Unfortunately it went against him but scored another big one for us in the second there.”
And then in overtime it was Toews, who’s making a habit of scoring winners in those extra few minutes.
“I don’t know, just getting opportunities and if you get a few early in the season you feel confident in that situation,” he said. “I think I had three, maybe four shifts in overtime; so I think when you get that kind of ice time, the play is going back and forth, somebody is going to score. It’s nice that I’ve been able to cash in those situations a little bit.”
The Blackhawks weren’t thrilled at how this one started. They were fine with the finish.
“I think in some cases you just have to realize some calls are going to go against you whether you agree with it or not,” Toews said. “I guess we used the frustration the right way.”
Five Things: Jonathan Toews with his fifth overtime winner.
By Tracey Myers
There are times when calls don’t go your way. The Blackhawks were reminded of that on Thursday night with a disallowed goal early.
How you deal with those calls, however, is what ultimately matters. And after fuming, seething and cursing — lots of cursing — the Blackhawks got it together enough to eke out an overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes. It was a fun one to watch, if you like a lot of goals and a little bit of drama.
Anyway, you all saw it. So before we call it a night, let’s look at Five Things to take from the Blackhawks’ 5-4 victory over the Coyotes.
1. An angry Marian Hossa is a great Marian Hossa. Seriously, it takes a lot to tick off Hossa. He’s one of the most affable guys you’ll meet in this business. But he was still angry about his disallowed goal following the game. But during the game Hossa channeled that energy the right way with a great performance. As coach Joel Quenneville said, “We like Hoss, whether he’s scoring or not. But he had a real presence in tonight’s game.”
2. Jonathan Toews with the OT winner. Thursday marked the fifth time that’s been written this season. There’s just something about Toews in overtime. Sure, he gets great opportunities with the open ice. But Toews, in his first game since prior to the All-Star break, has also built up confidence from what he’s done in previous overtimes. Toews’ 3-on-3 goal-scoring prowess had Quenneville joking, “I would’ve liked to have seen him in the All-Star game.”
3. Michal Rozsival’s first goal was almost the game winner. Seriously, how great of a story would it have been if Rozsival’s goal were the difference? The veteran defenseman had a big smile on his face after scoring his first goal of the season, a 4-on-4 goal off a pass from Artem Anisimov. Alas, it wasn’t the winner, but it was a nice goal for Rozsival nonetheless.
4. Patrick Kane scores his 31st of the season. I used the word kerfuffle to describe the second period, because it was. And lost in the midst of penalties, a redemption goal and other fun, Kane set a new career mark for goals in a season. Who knows with what number he could finish, considering the Blackhawks have 27 regular-season games remaining.
5. An entertaining regular-season game. We’re at that point of the season where games can be a bit draggy, even if teams are just out of the All-Star break. If you wanted to watch some fun hockey, this one didn’t disappoint. Plenty of drama and penalties and goals and ties and angst: You usually have to wait for the postseason for all of that. On Thursday, you saw it in game No. 55 for the Blackhawks.
Hossa had one goal disallowed but did score one later, and Jonathan Toews scored two, including his fifth overtime goal of the season, in the Blackhawks’ 5-4 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. The Blackhawks have won two in a row out of the All-Star break and remain atop the Central Division with 74 points. The Dallas Stars, who the Blackhawks face on Saturday, are second with 71 points.
Patrick Kane scored his 31st goal, setting a new career-high for a season. Hossa’s goal that did count was the 495th of his career. Michal Rozsival scored his first of the season and Artei Panarin finished with two assists.
It was a game that featured everything: a goal that was originally a goal before it became a disallowed goal, a short-handed goal two power-play goals and a bunch of penalties. And of course, there was another overtime winner for Toews.
As happy as the Blackhawks were at the end, however, they were fuming early. Hossa appeared to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead in the first period but the Coyotes challenged for goaltender interference, and won. In replays it looked like Coyotes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck pushed Hossa into Louis Domingue. But the NHL’s Situation Room, in a release, said Hossa interfered with Domingue, wiping way the goal. The release stated:
According to Rule 78.7, “The standard for overturning the call in the event of a ‘GOAL’ call on the ice is that the Referee, after reviewing any and all available replays and consulting with the Toronto Video Room, determines that the goal should have been disallowed due to ‘Interference on the Goalkeeper,’ as described in Rules 69.1, 69.3 and 69.4.”
Hossa still wasn’t happy about the ruling after the game.
“First of all we are happy we won this crazy game. Obviously, it was pretty fun to watch, I guess, from upstairs,” Hossa said. “Disappointing from the first goal, I couldn’t believe it. Obviously, you know, I thought that was the first joke. I tried to battle in front of the net and I don’t have any intention to touch the goalie. I just try to battle through two guys and put the puck in the net. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the playoffs, if there’s going to be calls after calls after calls. But I don’t think it’s good for the league.”
Coach Joel Quenneville, who was visibly livid at the time of the call, was a lot calmer with the end result.
“We had a real good response in that second period. I didn’t mind the first as well. Heck of a hockey game, back and forth,” he said. “[The Coyotes] were desperate coming off a tough game. You knew they were going to be ready and they responded. Hard-working game for both teams; it was incredibly competitive and fun to be a part of. I think the fans enjoyed it.”
As frustrated as Hossa was early, that ire led to him having arguably his best game of the season. The disallowed goal didn’t mean Hossa shied away from the net, and that’s how he got the one that counted in the second period.
“That was the Hoss we know very well making those single-handed efforts and taking the puck to the net the way he did in the second period,” Toews said. “It was nice to see him get one back there. I think he was deserving to have that first one.
Unfortunately it went against him but scored another big one for us in the second there.”
And then in overtime it was Toews, who’s making a habit of scoring winners in those extra few minutes.
“I don’t know, just getting opportunities and if you get a few early in the season you feel confident in that situation,” he said. “I think I had three, maybe four shifts in overtime; so I think when you get that kind of ice time, the play is going back and forth, somebody is going to score. It’s nice that I’ve been able to cash in those situations a little bit.”
The Blackhawks weren’t thrilled at how this one started. They were fine with the finish.
“I think in some cases you just have to realize some calls are going to go against you whether you agree with it or not,” Toews said. “I guess we used the frustration the right way.”
Five Things: Jonathan Toews with his fifth overtime winner.
By Tracey Myers
There are times when calls don’t go your way. The Blackhawks were reminded of that on Thursday night with a disallowed goal early.
How you deal with those calls, however, is what ultimately matters. And after fuming, seething and cursing — lots of cursing — the Blackhawks got it together enough to eke out an overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes. It was a fun one to watch, if you like a lot of goals and a little bit of drama.
Anyway, you all saw it. So before we call it a night, let’s look at Five Things to take from the Blackhawks’ 5-4 victory over the Coyotes.
1. An angry Marian Hossa is a great Marian Hossa. Seriously, it takes a lot to tick off Hossa. He’s one of the most affable guys you’ll meet in this business. But he was still angry about his disallowed goal following the game. But during the game Hossa channeled that energy the right way with a great performance. As coach Joel Quenneville said, “We like Hoss, whether he’s scoring or not. But he had a real presence in tonight’s game.”
2. Jonathan Toews with the OT winner. Thursday marked the fifth time that’s been written this season. There’s just something about Toews in overtime. Sure, he gets great opportunities with the open ice. But Toews, in his first game since prior to the All-Star break, has also built up confidence from what he’s done in previous overtimes. Toews’ 3-on-3 goal-scoring prowess had Quenneville joking, “I would’ve liked to have seen him in the All-Star game.”
3. Michal Rozsival’s first goal was almost the game winner. Seriously, how great of a story would it have been if Rozsival’s goal were the difference? The veteran defenseman had a big smile on his face after scoring his first goal of the season, a 4-on-4 goal off a pass from Artem Anisimov. Alas, it wasn’t the winner, but it was a nice goal for Rozsival nonetheless.
4. Patrick Kane scores his 31st of the season. I used the word kerfuffle to describe the second period, because it was. And lost in the midst of penalties, a redemption goal and other fun, Kane set a new career mark for goals in a season. Who knows with what number he could finish, considering the Blackhawks have 27 regular-season games remaining.
5. An entertaining regular-season game. We’re at that point of the season where games can be a bit draggy, even if teams are just out of the All-Star break. If you wanted to watch some fun hockey, this one didn’t disappoint. Plenty of drama and penalties and goals and ties and angst: You usually have to wait for the postseason for all of that. On Thursday, you saw it in game No. 55 for the Blackhawks.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Chicago Bulls-Denver Nuggets Preview.
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Coach Fred Hoiberg is hopeful his inconsistent Chicago Bulls have finally found something to build on, though that will be difficult if two of his biggest stars are held out.
With Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol questionable Friday night, the Bulls seek their first back-to-back wins in a month and their second road victory over the Denver Nuggets in 16 years.
Butler, an All-Star for the second straight season, missed his first game Wednesday due to left knee soreness. The shooting guard, averaging a team-high 22.4 points, said he was feeling better Thursday and will test his knee during the morning shoot-a-round.
"I have to think big picture," Butler told the team's official website. "Got to do what's right for your body. I have to be smart; just being cautious. I think I'll be fine."
Otherwise, the Bulls may need another big game from E'Twaun Moore after he stepped up with a career-high 24 points in Wednesday's 107-102 win at Sacramento. The journeyman has averaged 12.5 points since moving into the starting lineup for the first four on this seven-game trip.
Derrick Rose contributed 21 points and nine assists but also committed seven turnovers as Chicago (27-21) snapped a two-game losing streak to move past a 4-9 stretch.
After posting a 98.7 offensive rating over their previous nine games, the Bulls played more at the pace Hoiberg has been longing for with 104 possessions and a 102.6 rating Wednesday. They also made 11 for 21 from 3-point range and finished with 26 assists.
"The ball was swinging side to side, we were getting it in the right guys' hands, shifted the defense and good things happened and hopefully we'll carry this over," Hoiberg said.
Gasol, though, suffered a left hand sprain Wednesday but was able to finish the contest with 16 points and 13 rebounds. It would be a particularly big loss since he's averaged 23.7 points in his last six meetings with Denver dating to his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chicago, already missing Mike Dunleavy, Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noah, has won the past two games against the Nuggets but has dropped the last eight road matchups. The club has lost 14 of its past 15 trips to Denver, with its only victory coming in February 2006.
The Nuggets (19-31) have allowed an average of 89 points in their last two games after giving up 111.4 in their previous eight. However, they shot just 37.1 percent in an 85-81 loss at Utah on Wednesday after averaging 108.9 points on 46.3 percent shooting over their prior nine.
Butler, an All-Star for the second straight season, missed his first game Wednesday due to left knee soreness. The shooting guard, averaging a team-high 22.4 points, said he was feeling better Thursday and will test his knee during the morning shoot-a-round.
"I have to think big picture," Butler told the team's official website. "Got to do what's right for your body. I have to be smart; just being cautious. I think I'll be fine."
Otherwise, the Bulls may need another big game from E'Twaun Moore after he stepped up with a career-high 24 points in Wednesday's 107-102 win at Sacramento. The journeyman has averaged 12.5 points since moving into the starting lineup for the first four on this seven-game trip.
Derrick Rose contributed 21 points and nine assists but also committed seven turnovers as Chicago (27-21) snapped a two-game losing streak to move past a 4-9 stretch.
After posting a 98.7 offensive rating over their previous nine games, the Bulls played more at the pace Hoiberg has been longing for with 104 possessions and a 102.6 rating Wednesday. They also made 11 for 21 from 3-point range and finished with 26 assists.
"The ball was swinging side to side, we were getting it in the right guys' hands, shifted the defense and good things happened and hopefully we'll carry this over," Hoiberg said.
Gasol, though, suffered a left hand sprain Wednesday but was able to finish the contest with 16 points and 13 rebounds. It would be a particularly big loss since he's averaged 23.7 points in his last six meetings with Denver dating to his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chicago, already missing Mike Dunleavy, Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noah, has won the past two games against the Nuggets but has dropped the last eight road matchups. The club has lost 14 of its past 15 trips to Denver, with its only victory coming in February 2006.
The Nuggets (19-31) have allowed an average of 89 points in their last two games after giving up 111.4 in their previous eight. However, they shot just 37.1 percent in an 85-81 loss at Utah on Wednesday after averaging 108.9 points on 46.3 percent shooting over their prior nine.
"We have a hard time when we're forced to play (slow)," coach Mike Malone said. "That's just the reality."
Danilo Gallinari had 24 points and is averaging 22.9 over his past 17 games. Nikola Jokic hopes to recover after finishing with eight on 3-of-9 shooting while dealing with a strained shoulder. He averaged 19.3 and 11.7 rebounds in his prior three games.
The Nuggets were held to 38.7 percent shooting and outrebounded 62-49 in a 99-90 loss at Chicago on Dec. 2. Gasol led the Bulls with a season-high 26 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks, though Butler and Rose totaled 31 points on 8-of-33 shooting.
Shorthanded Bulls top Kings behind E'Twaun Moore's career night. (Wednesday night's game, 02/03/2016).
By Vincent Goodwill
You know the drill: Bulls team appears on brink of destruction, before someone rises up to save them from themselves, at least for a night.
In a building the Bulls are playing in for the last time as the Kings are moving downtown next season, they got a little mouthwash from the last three visits, all embarrassing defeats.
They didn’t collapse, although they nearly let go of the rope and gave the Kings multiple chances at sending the game into overtime, before DeMarcus Cousins missed multiple inside shots and then when given another chance, missed two free throws that could’ve cut the lead to one, spoiling an otherwise stellar night.
But for the Bulls, desperation called for them to take a star performance wherever they could get it.
“It feels great to get that one, to find a way, we had a couple big defensive possessions down the stretch,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We played with a toughness all night.”
The Bulls shooting guard leading them in scoring wasn’t their leading scorer, as he was on the bench for the night as a cheerleader with knee tendinitis. But E’Twaun Moore had all the responsibilities of Jimmy Butler, as he was depended on to guard Rudy Gay, a man who was six inches and at least thirty pounds heavier than he.
But he wouldn’t allow Gay to bully him, and found himself wide open for triples when the Kings tried to overload on Derrick Rose or Pau Gasol or were flat-out undisciplined.
Moore hit 9 of 16 for a career-high 24 points, five rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes, including four triples.
“I knew our team needed a spark and it was an important game,” Moore said. “That’s what I tried to come out with a lot of energy and just try to provide that spark for us.”
But even he wasn’t immune from a couple plays that could’ve turned the game in the other direction, fouling Marco Belinelli on a 3-point make, and missing two free throws after Cousins blew an inside opportunity.
Rose played under control with 21, nine assists and six rebounds in 35 minutes, facilitating early and getting more aggressive late, hitting a couple floaters to keep the Kings at bay and the last runner extending the lead to 101-92 with 2:30 remaining.
The Bulls had 26 assists on their 40 baskets, as the ball movement was as good as it’s been through this recent struggling stretch, as Rose was at the head.
“Derrick’s thrust was really good. A lot of our success came from him,” Hoiberg said.
Rose found himself with the ball in his hands more without an extra playmaker on the floor, and looked natural in the role, despite his seven turnovers.
“It comes with it, turnovers and all that,” said Rose, noting he played two quarters straight without rest. “The turnovers were devastating and hurt us but I’m going to learn from my mistakes and protect the ball a little more.”
And when the Bulls couldn’t keep a hobbled but determined Cousins away from the rim, Moore and Rose were the ones tasked with settling things down—especially after Cousins’ drive and devastating dunk on Gasol and Taj Gibson with 1:35 left to cut the lead to 103-98.
“Every game is different, I try to read the game,” Rose said. “If I get my shots here and there, I’ll take it. I try not to mess with the game. We went up, they came back. My job is to read the game.”
Moore started off things with 13 in the first as Rose noted the Kings were laying off him, giving his team confidence when the Bulls were clearly looking for a reason, and some of the much-maligned role players actually followed suit.
“I knew it was important to start the game off well,” Moore said.
“They didn’t know until he hit him with three 3-pointers in the first, then they had to wake up and get him off the line,” Rose said.
After all, role players have to be stars some nights or at least have those moments. Doug McDermott actually called for the ball at the top of the key, definitively stepping into a triple with the Bulls’ lead at a ginger 83-80 margin. It was followed by an Aaron Brooks triple and then suddenly, McDermott swooped in for a two-handed dunk after his own 3-point miss.
The 3-point makes reversed a recent trend where the Bulls have been anemic beyond the arc, as they hit 11 and actually took a 13-point lead before the Kings came roaring back.
Although it seemed like they would fold, they kept it together long enough to pull off a win, giving themselves a little life in the middle of this road trip.
Mike Dunleavy joins Bulls, expected to debut Saturday.
#BULLSTALK
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Mike Dunleavy's return could be just around the corner.
The Bulls recalled the veteran forward from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA D-League Wednesday afternoon, where Dunleavy had spent the last few days practicing.
Dunleavy is expected to make his season debut Saturday against the Timberwolves, The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Wednesday.
Dunleavy has been trying to rehab from offseason lower back surgery and experienced a setback, but now appears to be feeling good and just getting back into game shape.
The Bulls are treating Dunleavy's return as a sort of trade acquisition. He will provide some much-needed depth as the Bulls are currently mired in their biggest slump of the season while dealing without Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic.
Dunleavy started 124 games for the Bulls during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, averaging 30.5 minutes, 10.5 points and 1.6 3-pointers a game in that span.
Super Bowl Update.
By The Associated Press
LAST WEEK - Broncos beat Patriots 20-18 for AFC title; Panthers beat Cardinals 49-15 for NFC title
AP PRO32 RANKING - Broncos No. 2, Panthers No. 1
BRONCOS OFFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (17), PASS (14).
BRONCOS DEFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (3), PASS (1).
PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (2), PASS (24).
PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (4), PASS (11).
Broncos won AFC West for fifth consecutive season (tied for fifth-longest streak in NFL history) and 15th time overall. ... Denver 11-3 in games decided by seven points or fewer in 2015 (including playoffs), most of any club in single season in NFL history. ...
Gary Kubiak (12) tied Red Miller (1977) for most wins by coach in first season with Broncos. Kubiak first to reach Super Bowl with same team as player and head coach in NFL history. ..
Peyton Manning at 39 trying to become oldest QB to win Super Bowl heading into what many expect will be final game of 18-year career. Manning second in playoff history in yards passing (7,198), completions (636) and attempts (1,004), trailing only Tom Brady. Manning (40) ranks fourth in postseason TD passes and needs four to tie Brett Favre (44) for third. Manning has 13 postseason wins and needs one to tie Terry Bradshaw and John Elway for third most of any starting QB. Manning has 860 yards passing in three Super Bowls and needs 140 to join Brady (1,605), Kurt Warner (1,156), Joe Montana (1,142) and Elway (1,128) as only players to reach 1,000. Manning has nine 300-yard games in postseason and needs one to tie Brady for most. ...
Broncos were one of two teams to have two 700-yard rushers: Ronnie Hillman (863) and C.J. Anderson (720). ...
WR Demaryius Thomas led team in catches (105) and yards receiving (1,304) with six TDs. Thomas set Super Bowl record with 13 receptions for 118 yards two years ago in loss to Seattle. Since 2012, Thomas is second in NFL with 5,787 yards receiving. ...
LBs Danny Trevathan (109) and Brandon Marshall (101) were top two on team in tackles. ...
Broncos led NFL in total defense (283.1 yards per game) and pass defense (199.6 yards per game). ...
LB DeMarcus Ware has 5 1/2 sacks in seven postseason games. LB Miller had 2 1/2 sacks and an interception in AFC title game against Patriots. ...
Since '08, CB Aqib Talib leads NFL with eight pick-6s. ...
Panthers making second Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl 38 loss to New England). ...
Panthers have won team-record 17 games, including club-record 15 in regular season. Won NFC South for third consecutive season and have won division six times. Coach Ron Rivera has won division in three of five seasons with Carolina. ...
Panthers led NFL with franchise-record 500 points and 59 TDs in regular season. They lead NFL in postseason with 80 points and 10 TDs, scored 49 points in NFC championship game, most points in that game in Super Bowl era. ...
QB Cam Newton only player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdowns passing (35) and at least 10 touchdowns rushing (10) in season. Accounted for 45 TDs in regular season, most in NFL. All-Pro QB passed for 3,837 yards and rushed for 636 yards in regular season. Newton only player in NFL history with at least 3,000 yards passing and at least 500 yards rushing in five seasons. He has 31 regular-season games with passing TD and rushing TD, tied for most in NFL history (Steve Young). ...
In NFC championship game, became only player in NFL history with at least 300 yards passing, at least two touchdowns passing and at least two touchdowns rushing in a playoff game. ...
RB Jonathan Stewart leads NFL with 189 yards rushing in postseason. TE Greg Olsen had 77 catches for 1,104 yards and seven TDs in regular season, his second consecutive season with at least 75 catches, 1,000 yards and six TDs. WR Ted Ginn Jr., led team with career-high 10 receiving TDs. Has scored seven TDs in past six games, including 22-yard TD run in NFC championship game. WR Philly Brown had four catches for 113 yards in NFC championship game, including 86-yard TD catch-and-run. ...
Panthers led NFL in regular season with 39 takeaways, 24 interceptions and plus-20 turnover differential. Panthers lead NFL in postseason with nine takeaways, six interceptions and plus-8 turnover differential. All-Pro LB Luke Kuechly led team with 118 tackles in regular season. Since entering NFL in 2012, he leads league with 591 tackles. Has 14 interceptions since 2012 (including playoffs), most by linebacker. Kuechly first player in NFL history with interception returned for touchdown in back-to-back playoff games in postseason. All-Pro LB Thomas Davis second on team with 105 tackles in regular season. Was only player in NFL with at least four sacks (5 1/2) and at least four interceptions (four) in regular season. David broke right forearm vs. Arizona, but is expected to play. ...
Kawann Short has career-high 13 sacks (including playoffs), most by defensive tackle. ...
Including playoffs, Panthers lead NFL with six interceptions returned for touchdowns. Kuechly (three), All-Pro CB Josh Norman (two) and S Kurt Coleman (one). ...
DE Jared Allen has four sacks and two forced fumbles in past five postseason games. Including playoffs, Allen has 140 sacks, tied for second most among active players. ...
K Graham Gano led NFC with franchise-record 146 points in regular season.
The Bulls recalled the veteran forward from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA D-League Wednesday afternoon, where Dunleavy had spent the last few days practicing.
Dunleavy is expected to make his season debut Saturday against the Timberwolves, The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Wednesday.
Dunleavy has been trying to rehab from offseason lower back surgery and experienced a setback, but now appears to be feeling good and just getting back into game shape.
The Bulls are treating Dunleavy's return as a sort of trade acquisition. He will provide some much-needed depth as the Bulls are currently mired in their biggest slump of the season while dealing without Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic.
Dunleavy started 124 games for the Bulls during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, averaging 30.5 minutes, 10.5 points and 1.6 3-pointers a game in that span.
Super Bowl Update.
By The Associated Press
DENVER (14-4) vs. CAROLINA (17-1)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
OPENING LINE - Panthers by 3 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Broncos 9-7-2; Panthers 13-5
SERIES RECORD - Broncos lead 3-1
LAST MEETING - Broncos beat Panthers 36-14, Nov. 11, 2012
LAST WEEK - Broncos beat Patriots 20-18 for AFC title; Panthers beat Cardinals 49-15 for NFC title
AP PRO32 RANKING - Broncos No. 2, Panthers No. 1
BRONCOS OFFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (17), PASS (14).
BRONCOS DEFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (3), PASS (1).
PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (2), PASS (24).
PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (4), PASS (11).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Broncos making eighth Super Bowl appearance, tying Dallas, New England and Pittsburgh for most in league history. Owner Pat Bowlen's seven Super Bowl trips tied with New England's Robert Kraft for most. ...
Broncos won AFC West for fifth consecutive season (tied for fifth-longest streak in NFL history) and 15th time overall. ... Denver 11-3 in games decided by seven points or fewer in 2015 (including playoffs), most of any club in single season in NFL history. ...
Gary Kubiak (12) tied Red Miller (1977) for most wins by coach in first season with Broncos. Kubiak first to reach Super Bowl with same team as player and head coach in NFL history. ..
Peyton Manning at 39 trying to become oldest QB to win Super Bowl heading into what many expect will be final game of 18-year career. Manning second in playoff history in yards passing (7,198), completions (636) and attempts (1,004), trailing only Tom Brady. Manning (40) ranks fourth in postseason TD passes and needs four to tie Brett Favre (44) for third. Manning has 13 postseason wins and needs one to tie Terry Bradshaw and John Elway for third most of any starting QB. Manning has 860 yards passing in three Super Bowls and needs 140 to join Brady (1,605), Kurt Warner (1,156), Joe Montana (1,142) and Elway (1,128) as only players to reach 1,000. Manning has nine 300-yard games in postseason and needs one to tie Brady for most. ...
Broncos were one of two teams to have two 700-yard rushers: Ronnie Hillman (863) and C.J. Anderson (720). ...
WR Demaryius Thomas led team in catches (105) and yards receiving (1,304) with six TDs. Thomas set Super Bowl record with 13 receptions for 118 yards two years ago in loss to Seattle. Since 2012, Thomas is second in NFL with 5,787 yards receiving. ...
LBs Danny Trevathan (109) and Brandon Marshall (101) were top two on team in tackles. ...
Broncos led NFL in total defense (283.1 yards per game) and pass defense (199.6 yards per game). ...
LB DeMarcus Ware has 5 1/2 sacks in seven postseason games. LB Miller had 2 1/2 sacks and an interception in AFC title game against Patriots. ...
Since '08, CB Aqib Talib leads NFL with eight pick-6s. ...
Panthers making second Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl 38 loss to New England). ...
Panthers have won team-record 17 games, including club-record 15 in regular season. Won NFC South for third consecutive season and have won division six times. Coach Ron Rivera has won division in three of five seasons with Carolina. ...
Panthers led NFL with franchise-record 500 points and 59 TDs in regular season. They lead NFL in postseason with 80 points and 10 TDs, scored 49 points in NFC championship game, most points in that game in Super Bowl era. ...
QB Cam Newton only player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdowns passing (35) and at least 10 touchdowns rushing (10) in season. Accounted for 45 TDs in regular season, most in NFL. All-Pro QB passed for 3,837 yards and rushed for 636 yards in regular season. Newton only player in NFL history with at least 3,000 yards passing and at least 500 yards rushing in five seasons. He has 31 regular-season games with passing TD and rushing TD, tied for most in NFL history (Steve Young). ...
In NFC championship game, became only player in NFL history with at least 300 yards passing, at least two touchdowns passing and at least two touchdowns rushing in a playoff game. ...
RB Jonathan Stewart leads NFL with 189 yards rushing in postseason. TE Greg Olsen had 77 catches for 1,104 yards and seven TDs in regular season, his second consecutive season with at least 75 catches, 1,000 yards and six TDs. WR Ted Ginn Jr., led team with career-high 10 receiving TDs. Has scored seven TDs in past six games, including 22-yard TD run in NFC championship game. WR Philly Brown had four catches for 113 yards in NFC championship game, including 86-yard TD catch-and-run. ...
Panthers led NFL in regular season with 39 takeaways, 24 interceptions and plus-20 turnover differential. Panthers lead NFL in postseason with nine takeaways, six interceptions and plus-8 turnover differential. All-Pro LB Luke Kuechly led team with 118 tackles in regular season. Since entering NFL in 2012, he leads league with 591 tackles. Has 14 interceptions since 2012 (including playoffs), most by linebacker. Kuechly first player in NFL history with interception returned for touchdown in back-to-back playoff games in postseason. All-Pro LB Thomas Davis second on team with 105 tackles in regular season. Was only player in NFL with at least four sacks (5 1/2) and at least four interceptions (four) in regular season. David broke right forearm vs. Arizona, but is expected to play. ...
Kawann Short has career-high 13 sacks (including playoffs), most by defensive tackle. ...
Including playoffs, Panthers lead NFL with six interceptions returned for touchdowns. Kuechly (three), All-Pro CB Josh Norman (two) and S Kurt Coleman (one). ...
DE Jared Allen has four sacks and two forced fumbles in past five postseason games. Including playoffs, Allen has 140 sacks, tied for second most among active players. ...
K Graham Gano led NFC with franchise-record 146 points in regular season.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Can Bears find help in Super Bowl 50? A few guys to keep an eye on.
By John Mullin
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The 2016 NFL draft will come at the end of April, well after the March 9 formal start of free-agent signings that will have a huge influence on what the Bears and every NFL team does in the draft. The draft is indeed the true source of building materials for franchise foundations but even at No. 11, the Bears cannot count solely on a targeted player being available.
Consequently, scores in free agency are the critical second step (re-signing or franchise-tagging your own is the first step) in a successful offseason. GM Ryan Pace, his staff and that of coach John Fox have done pro scouting all through the 2015 season but Super Bowl 50 is a quick layman’s chance to scout possible free-agency targets for the Bears when free agency opens.
Some of the notables worth a look, and including a handful of reserves, where GM Ryan Pace may go in search of value:
Carolina Panthers
CB Josh Norman - Career year in a contract year; may command top DB $$ at a premium position.
S Roman Harper - ’06 New Orleans pick while Ryan Pace on Saints staff, durable and productive but turning 34.
DL Kyle Love - Reserve DT played in 15 games, 2 starts, 3 sacks. Potential 5-technique started career in New England’s 3-4.
C/G Fernando Velasco - Backup started with Tennessee during tenure of Bears new OC Dowell Loggains.
Denver Broncos
S David Bruton - Veteran backup at both FS/SS a proven contributor on special teams but limited future in Denver behind T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart.
DE Malik Jackson - Denver signing DE Derek Wolfe (4 yr, $36M) makes Jackson a squeeze with Miller a must-keep. Drafted under John Fox. Tough inside rushman.
G Evan Mathis - Played ’15 under one-yr. deal at age 34.
LB Von Miller - The marquee target for every 3-4 defense, a pass-rush terror with range and cover ability.
LB Danny Trevathan Solid three-down inside LB likely to hit the market because Broncos have long list.
Some of the notables worth a look, and including a handful of reserves, where GM Ryan Pace may go in search of value:
Carolina Panthers
CB Josh Norman - Career year in a contract year; may command top DB $$ at a premium position.
S Roman Harper - ’06 New Orleans pick while Ryan Pace on Saints staff, durable and productive but turning 34.
DL Kyle Love - Reserve DT played in 15 games, 2 starts, 3 sacks. Potential 5-technique started career in New England’s 3-4.
C/G Fernando Velasco - Backup started with Tennessee during tenure of Bears new OC Dowell Loggains.
Denver Broncos
S David Bruton - Veteran backup at both FS/SS a proven contributor on special teams but limited future in Denver behind T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart.
DE Malik Jackson - Denver signing DE Derek Wolfe (4 yr, $36M) makes Jackson a squeeze with Miller a must-keep. Drafted under John Fox. Tough inside rushman.
G Evan Mathis - Played ’15 under one-yr. deal at age 34.
LB Von Miller - The marquee target for every 3-4 defense, a pass-rush terror with range and cover ability.
LB Danny Trevathan Solid three-down inside LB likely to hit the market because Broncos have long list.
Cubs believe Albert Almora’s time is coming after Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber’s fast-track development.
Patrick Mooney
(Photo/Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)
Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber’s fast track to stardom has forced even those inside the Cubs organization to reset expectations for prospects like Albert Almora and remember what a normal path to The Show looks like.
It’s not just prospect bloggers, the Chicago media and impatient Cubs fans needing that reminder. It’s a message Jason McLeod stressed during offseason meetings with minor-league coordinators after an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series.
Bryant, Schwarber and Addison Russell spoiled everyone, playing only 105 games at Triple-A Iowa combined before becoming key playoff contributors for a 97-win team in Chicago, showing uncommon poise and rolling up a 10.9 WAR rating.
“With Kris and Kyle and Addison, it was such a short time period that we had them,” said McLeod, the vice president who oversees scouting and player development. “While we should feel good about it, let’s certainly not sit back and say: ‘Look what we did.’ Because we didn’t do a whole lot with those guys – they were special players.
“So for us, the challenge is Gleyber Torres is still two or three years out as a 19-year-old (shortstop). What can we do with him to develop him fundamentally, mentally and make sure he’s ready when his time comes? And just going down the list of our next core group of players that we think are going to be those guys.”
The Cubs had that in mind when they made Almora the first player drafted here by the Theo Epstein administration in 2012, projecting a high floor as a contact hitter and elite defender in center field, betting on his experience with Team USA, exposure to elite competition in South Florida and solid Cuban-American family structure.
The Cubs used top-four picks on college hitters in the next two drafts, taking a University of San Diego third baseman at No. 2 overall in 2013 and surprising the industry by making a below-slot deal with an Indiana University catcher/outfielder in 2014.
While Bryant became an All-Star and a Rookie of the Year – and Schwarber turned into a Wrigleyville legend with five postseason home runs – Almora had an underwhelming year at Double-A Tennessee.
“We recalibrate just by staying as objective as you can on your evaluations of the player,” McLeod said, “and understanding that this is abnormal what these guys are doing. As much as we want all of our players to try to get to that level, there’s still a process in place of meeting certain goals as they go throughout their development.
“If (Almora) went to college, he’d be in Eugene right now rather than in Double-A, so I think you’re always looking at your players through that lens of the process.
“And every now and then you are going to get these guys, whether it’s our guys or Correa (who) just explode through the minor leagues.”
That would be Carlos Correa, who worked out at Wrigley Field before the 2012 draft and blossomed into last season’s American League Rookie of the Year. There was a sense around the Cubs that if the Houston Astros hadn’t taken Correa with the first overall pick that year, the dynamic shortstop might have dropped to them at No. 6, where they instead took Almora out of Mater Academy.
The Cubs passed on Russell, believing he had been out of shape and too unpredictable coming out of Pace High School in Florida. At a certain point in the pre-draft process, you have to pick your lane with teenage prospects, and the Cubs didn’t really have a strong relationship or comfort level with Russell.
With the Cubs locked in on Almora, Russell fell to the Oakland A’s at No. 11 in that first round. Billy Beane went for it in 2014 and mortgaged the future as the Cubs made Russell the centerpiece to the Jeff Samardzija deal. Russell replacing Starlin Castro and taking over at shortstop last summer would be a turning point for what became the hottest team in baseball.
“Certainly, I think Albert (is) going to have a good year,” McLeod said. “Because with the success of the other guys, we forget Albert’s 21 this year going into the (season). He’s young still – and hopefully he’s healthy – and he’ll be at Triple-A as a 21-year-old to open the season.”
A scout who appreciates Almora’s overall game noticed that he seemed adrift last summer at Tennessee, at least before a strong August (.917 OPS) boosted his overall numbers (.272 average with six homers, 26 doubles, 46 RBI in 106 games).
“We have to remember (that) he’s still understanding what it takes to be successful in the higher levels,” farm director Jaron Madison said. “Approach is big for him. I think he really started to buy into it towards the end of (last) year, getting pitches he can drive and not just put into play. And not being afraid to get to two strikes – because he never strikes out – (and) really trying to drive those balls that he should be hitting hard.
“Now it’s understanding where he is in his career – and how close he is. I think he’s going to take a big step forward this year.”
Maybe the Cubs wind up using Almora as a trade chip if they need a frontline pitcher before the July 31 deadline. Or maybe he makes another good impression in big-league camp and eventually finds himself pouring champagne all over Bryant and Schwarber in October.
“It just motivates me,” Almora told MLB.com last month during a rookie career development program run by the players’ union and Major League Baseball. “I’m working really hard. Whenever they think I’m ready, I’m going to go out there and help the team win any way I can.”
Matt Murton signs a minor league deal with Cubs.
#CUBSTALK
It’s not just prospect bloggers, the Chicago media and impatient Cubs fans needing that reminder. It’s a message Jason McLeod stressed during offseason meetings with minor-league coordinators after an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series.
Bryant, Schwarber and Addison Russell spoiled everyone, playing only 105 games at Triple-A Iowa combined before becoming key playoff contributors for a 97-win team in Chicago, showing uncommon poise and rolling up a 10.9 WAR rating.
“With Kris and Kyle and Addison, it was such a short time period that we had them,” said McLeod, the vice president who oversees scouting and player development. “While we should feel good about it, let’s certainly not sit back and say: ‘Look what we did.’ Because we didn’t do a whole lot with those guys – they were special players.
“So for us, the challenge is Gleyber Torres is still two or three years out as a 19-year-old (shortstop). What can we do with him to develop him fundamentally, mentally and make sure he’s ready when his time comes? And just going down the list of our next core group of players that we think are going to be those guys.”
The Cubs had that in mind when they made Almora the first player drafted here by the Theo Epstein administration in 2012, projecting a high floor as a contact hitter and elite defender in center field, betting on his experience with Team USA, exposure to elite competition in South Florida and solid Cuban-American family structure.
The Cubs used top-four picks on college hitters in the next two drafts, taking a University of San Diego third baseman at No. 2 overall in 2013 and surprising the industry by making a below-slot deal with an Indiana University catcher/outfielder in 2014.
While Bryant became an All-Star and a Rookie of the Year – and Schwarber turned into a Wrigleyville legend with five postseason home runs – Almora had an underwhelming year at Double-A Tennessee.
“We recalibrate just by staying as objective as you can on your evaluations of the player,” McLeod said, “and understanding that this is abnormal what these guys are doing. As much as we want all of our players to try to get to that level, there’s still a process in place of meeting certain goals as they go throughout their development.
“If (Almora) went to college, he’d be in Eugene right now rather than in Double-A, so I think you’re always looking at your players through that lens of the process.
“And every now and then you are going to get these guys, whether it’s our guys or Correa (who) just explode through the minor leagues.”
That would be Carlos Correa, who worked out at Wrigley Field before the 2012 draft and blossomed into last season’s American League Rookie of the Year. There was a sense around the Cubs that if the Houston Astros hadn’t taken Correa with the first overall pick that year, the dynamic shortstop might have dropped to them at No. 6, where they instead took Almora out of Mater Academy.
The Cubs passed on Russell, believing he had been out of shape and too unpredictable coming out of Pace High School in Florida. At a certain point in the pre-draft process, you have to pick your lane with teenage prospects, and the Cubs didn’t really have a strong relationship or comfort level with Russell.
With the Cubs locked in on Almora, Russell fell to the Oakland A’s at No. 11 in that first round. Billy Beane went for it in 2014 and mortgaged the future as the Cubs made Russell the centerpiece to the Jeff Samardzija deal. Russell replacing Starlin Castro and taking over at shortstop last summer would be a turning point for what became the hottest team in baseball.
“Certainly, I think Albert (is) going to have a good year,” McLeod said. “Because with the success of the other guys, we forget Albert’s 21 this year going into the (season). He’s young still – and hopefully he’s healthy – and he’ll be at Triple-A as a 21-year-old to open the season.”
A scout who appreciates Almora’s overall game noticed that he seemed adrift last summer at Tennessee, at least before a strong August (.917 OPS) boosted his overall numbers (.272 average with six homers, 26 doubles, 46 RBI in 106 games).
“We have to remember (that) he’s still understanding what it takes to be successful in the higher levels,” farm director Jaron Madison said. “Approach is big for him. I think he really started to buy into it towards the end of (last) year, getting pitches he can drive and not just put into play. And not being afraid to get to two strikes – because he never strikes out – (and) really trying to drive those balls that he should be hitting hard.
“Now it’s understanding where he is in his career – and how close he is. I think he’s going to take a big step forward this year.”
Maybe the Cubs wind up using Almora as a trade chip if they need a frontline pitcher before the July 31 deadline. Or maybe he makes another good impression in big-league camp and eventually finds himself pouring champagne all over Bryant and Schwarber in October.
“It just motivates me,” Almora told MLB.com last month during a rookie career development program run by the players’ union and Major League Baseball. “I’m working really hard. Whenever they think I’m ready, I’m going to go out there and help the team win any way I can.”
Matt Murton signs a minor league deal with Cubs.
#CUBSTALK
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
After six years away from the MLB, Matt Murton has signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on Wednesday night, according to a report.
The 34-year-old outfielder has spent the last six seasons in Japan playing for the Hanshin Tigers in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
Murton played four seasons with the Cubs from 2005-2008. He was acquired — along with Nomar Garciaparra — by the Cubs from the Boston Red Sox prior to the trade deadline in 2004.
In 2008, the Cubs traded Murton and three other prospects to the Oakland Athletics for Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin. Murton was traded to the Colorado Rockies prior to the 2009 season.
In his MLB career, he has played in 346 games in five seasons. He hit 29 homers, drove in 112 and had a career batting average of .286.
White Sox seek first winning April since 2009.
By Dan Hayes
The White Sox aim to put their recent miserable, cold and slow starts in the past this season.
Much of the talk at SoxFest last weekend surrounded the team’s hope for a strong opening month. The White Sox haven’t played above .500 ball through the end of April since 2009. Though a good April could convince fans tired of the team’s losing ways to attend more games, general manager Rick Hahn said he’s more concerned with wins and losses. En route to their third consecutive losing campaign, the 2015 White Sox opened with a thud. They lost 11 of their first 19 contests and trailed eventual World Series winners Kansas City by 5 1/2 games.
“I don’t look at it from an attendance standpoint, I look at it from a standings and momentum standpoint,” Hahn said. “I think it’s extremely important that Robin (Ventura) and I, Kenny (Williams), Jerry (Reinsdorf), all of us talk about this, in terms of from the first day of spring training setting the tone about the importance of accomplishing what we want and what our goals are on and off the field, which will then translate into a better start at the start of the year. So it’s something that we’ve targeted, but it’s important for every club to get off to a good start. I don’t view it as any more important than in years past, but it’s a priority, no doubt.”
A strong start won’t be easy.
The White Sox play 16 of 26 games on the road, including a four-game series at the Oakland A’s to start the season. Over the past three seasons, the White Sox are just 95-148 (.391) away from U.S. Cellular Field.
Poor March/April play has become the norm of late on the South Side. The team went 14-15 in 2014, 10-15 in 2013, 11-11 in 2012, 10-18 in 2011 and 9-14 in 2010. While a slow April doesn’t doom a team’s chances, it can make all the difference. One change Ventura talked about at SoxFest is potentially playing the team’s starters longer in spring training so they could get accustomed to one another. The 2016 White Sox will feature an entirely new infield, save for Jose Abreu at first.
While Hahn isn’t worried about attendance, pitcher Chris Sale hopes for a byproduct of increased numbers of fans.
“I do think (a strong start is) important,” Sale said. “I don’t think it’s everything, but I would say that if you’re starting off on the right foot, you get a good taste in your mouth, fans are getting excited. I think that’s huge too. When there are people at the stadium, and its loud and rocking and there’s an atmosphere, there’s no doubt in my mind or anybody else’s mind that the players feel that. That’s an energy you can’t replicate otherwise. Hopefully we do that and we can get that support.”
Much of the talk at SoxFest last weekend surrounded the team’s hope for a strong opening month. The White Sox haven’t played above .500 ball through the end of April since 2009. Though a good April could convince fans tired of the team’s losing ways to attend more games, general manager Rick Hahn said he’s more concerned with wins and losses. En route to their third consecutive losing campaign, the 2015 White Sox opened with a thud. They lost 11 of their first 19 contests and trailed eventual World Series winners Kansas City by 5 1/2 games.
“I don’t look at it from an attendance standpoint, I look at it from a standings and momentum standpoint,” Hahn said. “I think it’s extremely important that Robin (Ventura) and I, Kenny (Williams), Jerry (Reinsdorf), all of us talk about this, in terms of from the first day of spring training setting the tone about the importance of accomplishing what we want and what our goals are on and off the field, which will then translate into a better start at the start of the year. So it’s something that we’ve targeted, but it’s important for every club to get off to a good start. I don’t view it as any more important than in years past, but it’s a priority, no doubt.”
A strong start won’t be easy.
The White Sox play 16 of 26 games on the road, including a four-game series at the Oakland A’s to start the season. Over the past three seasons, the White Sox are just 95-148 (.391) away from U.S. Cellular Field.
Poor March/April play has become the norm of late on the South Side. The team went 14-15 in 2014, 10-15 in 2013, 11-11 in 2012, 10-18 in 2011 and 9-14 in 2010. While a slow April doesn’t doom a team’s chances, it can make all the difference. One change Ventura talked about at SoxFest is potentially playing the team’s starters longer in spring training so they could get accustomed to one another. The 2016 White Sox will feature an entirely new infield, save for Jose Abreu at first.
While Hahn isn’t worried about attendance, pitcher Chris Sale hopes for a byproduct of increased numbers of fans.
“I do think (a strong start is) important,” Sale said. “I don’t think it’s everything, but I would say that if you’re starting off on the right foot, you get a good taste in your mouth, fans are getting excited. I think that’s huge too. When there are people at the stadium, and its loud and rocking and there’s an atmosphere, there’s no doubt in my mind or anybody else’s mind that the players feel that. That’s an energy you can’t replicate otherwise. Hopefully we do that and we can get that support.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Fowler, Lowry, Matsuyama share Phoenix Open lead at 65.
By JOHN NICHOLSON
Rickie Fowler tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Rickie Fowler overcame some bad shots for a share of the lead Thursday in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Phil Mickelson compounded his mistakes and fell back.
After an hour-long frost delay at chilly TPC Scottsdale, Fowler played the first six holes in 5 under. A group behind, Mickelson took the lead at 5 under with a birdie on his eighth hole.
While Fowler finished with a 6-under 65 to tie Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama for the lead in the suspended first round, Mickelson had a 69 after dropping four strokes in a two-hole stretch.
''I made some good putts to start,'' Fowler said. ''Just kind of got everything going. Made a couple of bad swings. Cost me a little bit, but other than that, nice way to get off to a good start.''
Mickelson bogeyed the par-3 fourth after hitting short and right and failing to reach the green with his second, and unraveled with a triple bogey on the par-4 fifth. He drove out of bounds to the right, hit his second tee shot into the right bunker and three-putted from 50 feet.
''I hit a bad shot at the wrong time,'' Mickelson said. ''It's the tightest hole out there. You miss the fairway 5 yards left, you're in the wash, in the hazard. You miss it right of the bunker, you're out of bounds. ... I'm not going to dwell on the one bad one because there were really a lot of good ones.''
The best one was on the par-5 13th - his fourth hole of the day - when he hit a 252-yard hybrid approach to 2 1/2 feet to set up an eagle.
While Fowler finished with a 6-under 65 to tie Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama for the lead in the suspended first round, Mickelson had a 69 after dropping four strokes in a two-hole stretch.
''I made some good putts to start,'' Fowler said. ''Just kind of got everything going. Made a couple of bad swings. Cost me a little bit, but other than that, nice way to get off to a good start.''
Mickelson bogeyed the par-3 fourth after hitting short and right and failing to reach the green with his second, and unraveled with a triple bogey on the par-4 fifth. He drove out of bounds to the right, hit his second tee shot into the right bunker and three-putted from 50 feet.
''I hit a bad shot at the wrong time,'' Mickelson said. ''It's the tightest hole out there. You miss the fairway 5 yards left, you're in the wash, in the hazard. You miss it right of the bunker, you're out of bounds. ... I'm not going to dwell on the one bad one because there were really a lot of good ones.''
The best one was on the par-5 13th - his fourth hole of the day - when he hit a 252-yard hybrid approach to 2 1/2 feet to set up an eagle.
Winless in 48 events since the 2013 British Open, the 45-year-old former Arizona State player is working with swing coach Andrew Getson after splitting with Butch Harmon. Lefty tied for third two weeks ago at La Quinta in his season debut and missed the cut last week at Torrey Pines.
''When you don't score as low as you feel like you're playing, it can be frustrating, but for me, I find it to be more encouraging that I'm making a lot of birdies,'' said Mickelson, the tournament winner in 1996, 2005 and 2013.
Fowler also missed the cut at Torrey Pines after winning the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi the previous week. He has four worldwide victories in the last nine months.
''I know I have been swinging well and playing well,'' Fowler said. ''I just didn't make anything last week.''
Fowler opened with a birdie on the par-4 10th as the temperature crawled into the 40s, holing a 16-foot putt. He made a 35-footer on the 12th, two-putted for birdie on the 13th and made a 28-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th after hitting a 258-yard shot over the water.
''I had a good number in there,'' Fowler said. ''Actually, put a 5-wood in play last week, a new one.''
''I had a good number in there,'' Fowler said. ''Actually, put a 5-wood in play last week, a new one.''
The top-ranked player in the field at No. 4, Fowler bogeyed the par-3 16th after drawing an awkward lie in the right bunker. He birdied the short par-4 17th, and bogeyed the par-4 18th after driving left into the water. On his back nine, he got up-and-down for birdie from a greenside bunker on the par-5 third and closed with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth.
Lowry birdied seven of his first 13 holes, then bogeyed the next two.
''I got to 7 under and just became a little bit tense there,'' the Irishman said. ''That's something that I need to work on. ... It's a bad mistake if you don't learn from it.''
Matsuyama was in one of the last groups to finish before play was stopped because of darkness.
Matsuyama was in one of the last groups to finish before play was stopped because of darkness.
India's Anirban Lahiri was a stroke back at 66, and Bryce Molder also was 5 under with two holes left. He was one of 33 players who failed to finish.
Bubba Watson opened with a 69, finishing in fading light a day after saying he doesn't like the renovated course and is only playing the tournament out of loyalty to his sponsors. The two-time Masters champion tied for second the last two seasons.
DIVOTS: The crowd was estimated at 101,021. The first-round record of 118,461 was set last year with Tiger Woods in the field. ... Defending champion Brooks Koepka had a 67 playing alongside Watson. ... Brandt Snedeker, the winner Monday at Torrey Pines, also had a 67. ... Jason Dufner had a 71 in his first start since winning at La Quinta.
DIVOTS: The crowd was estimated at 101,021. The first-round record of 118,461 was set last year with Tiger Woods in the field. ... Defending champion Brooks Koepka had a 67 playing alongside Watson. ... Brandt Snedeker, the winner Monday at Torrey Pines, also had a 67. ... Jason Dufner had a 71 in his first start since winning at La Quinta.
Keegan Bradley penalized for too many clubs in the bag in PHX.
By Ryan Ballengee
Keegan Bradley shot 66 in the opening round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Thursday. However, he signed for 3-under 68.
Unfortunately, Bradley realized after the first hole that he was carrying 15 clubs in his bag. Under the Rules of Golf, a player is only allowed 14.
The penalty for the violation of Rule 4-4 is two strokes for each hole that a player carries more than the allotted amount of clubs, up to a maximum of four strokes.
Luckily for Bradley, he realized it after the first hole and it only cost him two shots. That could have ruined what was a good first round at TPC Scottsdale. Had the 66 held up, it would have been Bradley's best score of the 2015-16 PGA Tour season. However, the 68 should help in getting Bradley to the weekend for the first time in 2016.
McIlroy two back of Noren after Round 1 of Dubai Desert Classic.
By Ryan Ballengee
Rory McIlroy didn't get off to a great start on Thursday at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but the defending champion ended the day just two shots back of leader Alex Noren.
McIlroy shot 4-under 68 at Emirates Golf Club, which has him in eight-way tie for sixth place with, among others, Ernie Els and Bernd Wiesberger.
Playing back to front, McIlroy made an opening bogey on the par-5 10th. He then rallied for three birdies to finish his first nine. It was a similar pattern after the turn, with a bogey on the second hole, McIlroy's 11th of the day, followed by three more birdies. He almost eagled the sixth with an approach of about 200 yards.
Playing back to front, McIlroy made an opening bogey on the par-5 10th. He then rallied for three birdies to finish his first nine. It was a similar pattern after the turn, with a bogey on the second hole, McIlroy's 11th of the day, followed by three more birdies. He almost eagled the sixth with an approach of about 200 yards.
All in all, it was a good day.
"I thought I did well, considering the start and having some of the shots I hit throughout the round," McIlroy said. "To be able to shoot something at least in the 60s today was very pleasing. I didn't have my best stuff out there at some points, but when I got myself out of position, I was able to get myself back in position and make pars and a few birdies out there."
"I thought I did well, considering the start and having some of the shots I hit throughout the round," McIlroy said. "To be able to shoot something at least in the 60s today was very pleasing. I didn't have my best stuff out there at some points, but when I got myself out of position, I was able to get myself back in position and make pars and a few birdies out there."
McIlroy seems to play his most comfortable golf in the United Arab Emirates. He's a two-time winner of this event, a four-time runner-up in neighboring Abu Dhabi and he's won three of the last four European Tour Race to Dubai titles. If McIlroy can pull out a win this week, he'd join Els as the only three-time winners of this event.
NASCAR: Stewart to miss Daytona after back surgery. Questions and answers about Tony Stewart’s situation.
By Dustin Long
Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, is introduced during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22, 2015. Retiring American racer Stewart, the only driver to win both IndyCar and US stock car season titles, will not compete in February 2016's Daytona 500 after undergoing back surgery. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP (AFP Photo/Mike Ehrmann)
Stewart-Haas Racing announced Thursday that Tony Stewart would miss the beginning of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season after sustaining a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra in an all-terrain accident Sunday on the West Coast.
The announcement has led to many questions. Here are answers or explanations to some of the questions.
What is a burst fracture?
It is described at spineuniverse.com as an injury where the vertebra is “severely compressed.’’ The term burst, according to the site, implies that the margins of the vertebra are spread out in all directions. That can bruise the spinal cord and cause paralysis or partial neurologic injury. Stewart-Haas Racing officials announced Tuesday — when the injury was first disclosed — that Stewart could move his extremities after the accident.
A burst fracture is seen in a motor vehicle accident or a fall from a height and can cause severe pain. Greg Biffle told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that Stewart was injured in an incident in the dunes of Southern California.
Biffle noted that dunes can be challenging. “The dunes are unpredictable,’’ he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “ You can land harder on some spots than others. I’ll tell you what, I’ve knocked the wind out of myself, thought I broke my tailbone or back before.’’
What is the L1 vertebra?
It is the smallest vertebra, according to innerbody.com. The L1 vertebra bears the weight of the upper body and acts as a transition between the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
The human backbone features a column of 33 total vertebrae with 24 that are moveable. The moveable vertebrae are divided into three regions — cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The L1 vertebra is level with the ninth rib.
Did Tony Stewart have surgery?
Yes. He had fracture stabilizing surgery Wednesday.
How long will Tony Stewart be out of the car?
Stewart-Haas Racing said only that the three-time champion will miss the beginning of the Sprint Cup season. No timetable was set.
Who will be in the No. 14 until Tony Stewart returns?
Stewart-Haas Racing has not announced a replacement driver. NBC Sports’ Nate Ryan lists the likely candidates and what makes them an attractive choice.
What happens to Tony Stewart’s team for the Sprint Unlimited?
Tony Stewart was eligible to compete in the Feb. 13 event at Daytona International Speedway as a former Sprint Unlimited winner. NBC Sports checked with NASCAR on Thursday about the team’s eligibility without Stewart driving, and a representative stated they were examining the issue.
Something to consider. There are two drivers eligible for the Sprint Unlimited currently without rides: Jeff Gordon and David Gilliland. If neither finds a ride, that would allow the next two highest in points not yet in the Sprint Unlimited to be eligible for the event (Casey Mears and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.). The next eligible driver then would be Sam Hornish Jr., who does not have a Cup ride.
So is Tony Stewart eligible for a waiver for the Chase?
One of the requirements to make the Chase is that a driver must start every race. NASCAR granted waivers to Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson last year for missing races for various reasons — Kyle Busch was injured, Kurt Busch was suspended and Larson missed a race after passing out the day before the event. Nothing has been determined in Stewart’s case and likely won’t until closer to his return.
74-year-old Morgan Shepherd set to make his 92nd career start at Daytona.
The announcement has led to many questions. Here are answers or explanations to some of the questions.
What is a burst fracture?
It is described at spineuniverse.com as an injury where the vertebra is “severely compressed.’’ The term burst, according to the site, implies that the margins of the vertebra are spread out in all directions. That can bruise the spinal cord and cause paralysis or partial neurologic injury. Stewart-Haas Racing officials announced Tuesday — when the injury was first disclosed — that Stewart could move his extremities after the accident.
A burst fracture is seen in a motor vehicle accident or a fall from a height and can cause severe pain. Greg Biffle told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that Stewart was injured in an incident in the dunes of Southern California.
Biffle noted that dunes can be challenging. “The dunes are unpredictable,’’ he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “ You can land harder on some spots than others. I’ll tell you what, I’ve knocked the wind out of myself, thought I broke my tailbone or back before.’’
What is the L1 vertebra?
It is the smallest vertebra, according to innerbody.com. The L1 vertebra bears the weight of the upper body and acts as a transition between the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
The human backbone features a column of 33 total vertebrae with 24 that are moveable. The moveable vertebrae are divided into three regions — cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The L1 vertebra is level with the ninth rib.
Did Tony Stewart have surgery?
Yes. He had fracture stabilizing surgery Wednesday.
How long will Tony Stewart be out of the car?
Stewart-Haas Racing said only that the three-time champion will miss the beginning of the Sprint Cup season. No timetable was set.
Who will be in the No. 14 until Tony Stewart returns?
Stewart-Haas Racing has not announced a replacement driver. NBC Sports’ Nate Ryan lists the likely candidates and what makes them an attractive choice.
What happens to Tony Stewart’s team for the Sprint Unlimited?
Tony Stewart was eligible to compete in the Feb. 13 event at Daytona International Speedway as a former Sprint Unlimited winner. NBC Sports checked with NASCAR on Thursday about the team’s eligibility without Stewart driving, and a representative stated they were examining the issue.
Something to consider. There are two drivers eligible for the Sprint Unlimited currently without rides: Jeff Gordon and David Gilliland. If neither finds a ride, that would allow the next two highest in points not yet in the Sprint Unlimited to be eligible for the event (Casey Mears and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.). The next eligible driver then would be Sam Hornish Jr., who does not have a Cup ride.
So is Tony Stewart eligible for a waiver for the Chase?
One of the requirements to make the Chase is that a driver must start every race. NASCAR granted waivers to Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson last year for missing races for various reasons — Kyle Busch was injured, Kurt Busch was suspended and Larson missed a race after passing out the day before the event. Nothing has been determined in Stewart’s case and likely won’t until closer to his return.
74-year-old Morgan Shepherd set to make his 92nd career start at Daytona.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo courtesy Shepherd Racing Ventures)
Jeff Gordon retired at 44 years old. Tony Stewart will retire at season’s end at 45.
Meanwhile, there’s no retirement for Morgan Shepherd, who is still going at 74 years old.
The veteran NASCAR driver announced Wednesday that he’ll compete in the Feb. 20 Xfinity Series season-opening PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
Shepherd will extend a personal DIS record with his 92nd career start there.
Yes, you read that right – 92 starts at the superspeedway, per the track’s media guide. Broken down, that’s: Xfinity Series (26 starts), Trucks (3 starts), Sprint Unlimited qualifiying race (1 start), Sprint Unlimited (5 starts), Can-Am Duel (23), Coke Zero 400 (18 starts) and Daytona 500 (15).
“Our Camaro is coming together nicely,” Shepherd said in a media release. “It’s from the (Richard Childress Racing) shop, so we know it’s a fast car.
“And now that Tony Furr has come on board as crew chief, I think we’re starting out pretty well.”
Furr is a veteran crew chief who previously worked for Hendrick Motorsports, Petty Enterprises, Felix Sabates Racing and Cale Yarborough Racing, among others.
“Morgan’s got a good ride for Daytona, there’s no doubt about that,” Furr said. “We just have to get it prepared properly so when we unload, we are competitive from the get go.”
Meanwhile, there’s no retirement for Morgan Shepherd, who is still going at 74 years old.
The veteran NASCAR driver announced Wednesday that he’ll compete in the Feb. 20 Xfinity Series season-opening PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
Shepherd will extend a personal DIS record with his 92nd career start there.
Yes, you read that right – 92 starts at the superspeedway, per the track’s media guide. Broken down, that’s: Xfinity Series (26 starts), Trucks (3 starts), Sprint Unlimited qualifiying race (1 start), Sprint Unlimited (5 starts), Can-Am Duel (23), Coke Zero 400 (18 starts) and Daytona 500 (15).
“Our Camaro is coming together nicely,” Shepherd said in a media release. “It’s from the (Richard Childress Racing) shop, so we know it’s a fast car.
“And now that Tony Furr has come on board as crew chief, I think we’re starting out pretty well.”
Furr is a veteran crew chief who previously worked for Hendrick Motorsports, Petty Enterprises, Felix Sabates Racing and Cale Yarborough Racing, among others.
“Morgan’s got a good ride for Daytona, there’s no doubt about that,” Furr said. “We just have to get it prepared properly so when we unload, we are competitive from the get go.”
SOCCER: USMNT-Canada preview: Klinsmann’s Yanks look to go 2-0 to start 2016.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
The 10:15 p.m. ET kickoff will see Canada aiming to beat the United States for the first time in 17 tries. The USMNT holds a 13W-8L-11D record against Canada, including an 8W-8D record, dating back to a friendly loss in 1985.
Unbeaten in six, Canada will be playing its first game since November, and it’s only warm-up for the next batch of World Cup qualifiers in March. Les Rouges will enter that home-and-home with Mexico trailing El Tri by two points in CONCACAF qualifying’s Group A.
Much like their neighbors to the south, Canada is led by a mix of veterans and youth. There’s 85-times capped Julian de Guzman and six other players with more than 30 caps. Toronto FC star Cyle Larin is joined by FC Dallas’ Tesho Akindele and SpVgg Unterhaching in the striker corps.
The U.S. used a mixture of veterans and U-23 players to beat a similarly-stocked Iceland side 3-2 on Sunday at the same venue, the Stubhub Center in Carson.
Though Lee Nguyen played far from a starring role in the Iceland win, USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has praised the camp of New England Revolution playmaker.
The Yanks have 24 men left in camp after Brad Evans and Michael Orozco returned to their club teams:
U.S. Roster by Position
Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Defenders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire)
Midfielders: Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (Unattached), Perry Kitchen (Unattached), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
Week 25: Top 5 Premier League storylines — Title fight in Manchester; Relegation picture in focus.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo/Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The Premier League’s top dogs and bottom dwellers have the chance to create separation at both ends of the table when Week 25 hits in the Premier League.
Here are the best stories going this weekend in England and Wales.
The Etihad Stadium’s really, really, really big show
Manchester City vs. Leicester City — 7:45 a.m. ET Saturday (NBCSN)
When the Premier League schedule makers put this one atop the weekend slate, were they expecting it to be a title clash? The visitors enter City’s den with a three-point lead in the chase for a PL title. Both clubs have 12 points from their last six matches, and Leicester has five clean sheets in that stretch. Your move, Aguero.
Two giants scratching their heads in London
Chelsea vs. Manchester United — 11 a.m. ET Sunday (NBCSN)
The hosts with the most points last season now are quietly unbeaten in six, albeit with just a pair of wins. This wasn’t how a title defense was supposed to look, but it would feel much better if the Blues could top their old rivals at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. That said, United looked fantastic in unloading on Stoke City midweek, and could be geared up to take advantage of a wide-open Top Four race.
Can Klopp and the Kop help Liverpool right its ship?
Liverpool vs. Sunderland — 10 a.m. ET Saturday (USA)
Don’t look now, but the Reds have managed just one win in their last five Premier League matches. That stretch includes a 0-0 draw with Arsenal and failed tests against West Ham United, Manchester United and Leicester City. Given the fixtures this weekend, a loss to Sunderland could see Jurgen Klopp‘s crew in the bottom half.
A pair of relegation scraps could make the picture even clearer
Newcastle United vs. West Bromwich Albion — 10 a.m. ET Saturday (Premier League Extra Time)
Aston Villa vs. Norwich City— 10 a.m. ET Saturday (Premier League Extra Time)
Villa will be 13 points adrift and Newcastle five if Norwich and West Brom manage to nab three points each on Saturday. Given Sunderland’s plight at Anfield on Sunday, all three could be staring down only the greatest of escapes after the PL weekend.
Can anyone slow down Spurs?
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Watford — 10 a.m. ET Saturday (NBCSN)
Saturday’s visitors to White Hart Lane are coming off a 0-0 draw against Chelsea, but Quique Flores‘ Watford has a heck of a task in slowing down a Spurs side that has scored 3, 3, and 4 goals in its last three outings (wins over Norwich, Palace and Sunderland. If Leicester and Man City draw, Spurs could be within three points of the top of the table at the end of the weekend.
U.S. Soccer sues United States women’s national team over CBA.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
It’s early days when it comes to the story, so we’ll get right to it: the United States Soccer Federation is suing its women’s national team.
The conflict stems from a collective bargaining agreement that the Women’s National Team Players Association believes expired in 2012.
USSF says it’s set to expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
From a U.S. Soccer press release:
Earlier today, U.S. Soccer reluctantly filed a lawsuit in federal court in Chicago to confirm the existence of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that has been in place since 2013 and is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
U.S. Soccer felt it necessary to take this course of action after Richard Nichols, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Women’s National Team Players Association, notified U.S. Soccer that he does not believe there to be a current CBA, a position which would allow the team to take labor actions on and after February 24 – a view inconsistent with the negotiating history and directly contrary to the position of the prior Executive Director who actually negotiated the current agreement.This acrimony won’t look good on anyone.
Our friends at Equalizer Soccer report that the agreement was made in 2013, but never signed. The USSF clearly thinks it doesn’t need to be signed, while the WNTPA clearly knows the profile of the sport is higher and is hoping for a better payday and a faster road to better conditions (turf, etc.).
NCAABKB: Roberson helps Vanderbilt upset No. 8 Texas A&M 77-60.
AP - Sports
Jeff Roberson scored a career-high 20 points to help Vanderbilt upset No. 8 Texas A&M 77-60 on Thursday night for the Commodores' first win over a ranked team in four years.
Vanderbilt (13-9, 5-4 SEC) had lost its previous 13 games against ranked opponents, including six this season. The Commodores last win over a ranked opponent was in 2012 when it upset No. 1 Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference tournament final.
Texas A&M (18-4, 7-2) lost for the second time in three games, including a 74-71 defeat at Arkansas on Jan. 27.
Wade Baldwin IV had 17 points, Luke Kornet 14 and Damian Jones 13 for Vanderbilt, which tied its season high with 13 3-pointers.
Tonny Trocha-Morelos led the Aggies with 13 points. Alex Caruso added 11 points. Danuel House scored 10. Jalen Jones, one of the nation's top players, was held to four points as he missed 10 of his 11 shots. Texas A&M shot just 37 percent from the field.
Vanderbilt got off to a great start by taking a 14-1 lead as the Commodores hit six of their first seven shots from the floor. Damian Jones and Luke Kornet scored 16 of Vanderbilt's first 18 points.
Texas A&M responded with a 25-9 run that gave the Aggies as 26-23 lead on Admon Gilder's 3-pointer with 9:17 left. Vanderbilt finished the first half with a strong push taking a 40-33 lead on a 3-pointer by Wade Baldwin IV with three seconds left in the half.
Texas A&M's Jalen Jones missed eight of his first nine shots from the floor in the first 20 minutes.
The Commodores remained hot opening the second half with a 7-0 spurt that caused Aggies coach Billy Kennedy to call a timeout after Luke Kornet's 3-pointer from the top of the key stretched Vanderbilt's lead to 47-3 with 18:05 left.
Jeff Roberson's layup capped a 17-1 run, giving Vanderbilt a 49-33 lead with 17:15 left.
TIP-INS
Texas A&M: The Aggies are two wins from their ninth 20-win season in 12 years. Texas A&M began the season ranked third.
Vanderbilt: Five Commodores are from Texas: Luke Kornet, Jeff Roberson, Djery Baptiste, Carter Josephs, Semir Sehic.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M will host No. 25 South Carolina on Saturday.
Vanderbilt visits Mississippi on Saturday.
Big 12 best basketball league again, brutal half-season left.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
The Big 12 has the nation's No. 1 team in Oklahoma and half of the league's teams are ranked in the top 15 of the Top 25.
For the third season in a row, the conference has the best cumulative RPI with just more than a month to go before March Madness. And in a ''break'' from league play last weekend, the Big 12 won seven of 10 games against the Southeastern Conference in an event that used to be played in December.
''The league has clearly established itself as the best, year in and year out, in the country,'' Sooners coach Lon Kruger said. ''We're on a good run with really, really good young players and the success last weekend has pretty much validated what's being said about the conference.''
Now comes the second half of the league's brutal round-robin schedule, with each of the 10 teams exactly halfway through their 18 Big 12 games.
''First and foremost, everybody just wants to continue to get better,'' Baylor coach Scott Drew said. ''If you stop improving, you're not going to win games in that back half. ... It's important each and every day that you continue to get better, because other teams are.''
Drew reiterated that necessity, and talked about how quickly things could change.
''First and foremost, everybody just wants to continue to get better,'' Baylor coach Scott Drew said. ''If you stop improving, you're not going to win games in that back half. ... It's important each and every day that you continue to get better, because other teams are.''
Drew reiterated that necessity, and talked about how quickly things could change.
Baylor (17-5, 6-3 Big 12) recently lost at home to Texas (15-7, 6-3), dropping the Bears out of first place after matching the deepest they had ever gotten into Big 12 play still atop the standings. The Bears and Longhorns, who have won six of their last seven games for first-year coach Shaka Smart, are a game behind Big 12 co-leaders Oklahoma (19-2, 7-2) and No. 14 West Virginia (18-4, 7-2).
Those Texas squads are tied with No. 7 Kansas (18-4, 6-3), which has won or shared the last 11 Big 12 titles and at this point last season had a two-game lead in the conference standings.
Here are a few things to know going into the second half of conference play in the Big 12's 20th season:
AWAY FROM ALLEN FIELDHOUSE
Kansas had lost three of five Big 12 games, all of those losses on the road, before winning its Big 12-SEC Challenge game in overtime Saturday night against No. 20 Kentucky.
''We needed something to kind of halt the negative momentum that we had,'' Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. ''Hopefully it's a springboard for more energy, more activity, just a newness going into February, which obviously becomes the dog days of your season.''
Kansas won at home over Kansas State on Wednesday night, but plays five of its last nine Big 12 games on the road. That includes the Feb. 13 rematch with Oklahoma, which was No. 2 in a 109-106 triple-overtime loss to the then-No. 1 Jayhawks.
LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH
The Big 12 has sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons - the only league with 14 bids in that span. In the latest RPI, there are five Big 12 teams in the top 17 and three others in the top 55. ... After the weekend games against the SEC, the Big 12 has a 105-23 record in non-conference games, the highest winning percentage (82) by any league in non-conference games since 2003-04. No other league can tout every team having at least 10 victories.
ROAD WOES
Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU are all 0-5 in Big 12 road games, and Texas Tech's only road win was at TCU.
''In any other league in America, there's several teams ... we might be sitting at 5-3 instead of 2-5 or 2-6,'' Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said. ''Because of the league we play in and the caliber of teams in the league this season, your record may not look so good.''
AS PREDICTED
In their preseason polling, Big 12 coaches correctly picked the top and bottom half of the standings so far, though not in order. There are four teams currently with losing records in conference play - Texas Tech, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU - and those were picked as the bottom four. Kansas was the preseason favorite, followed by Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas, Baylor and West Virginia.
Those Texas squads are tied with No. 7 Kansas (18-4, 6-3), which has won or shared the last 11 Big 12 titles and at this point last season had a two-game lead in the conference standings.
Here are a few things to know going into the second half of conference play in the Big 12's 20th season:
AWAY FROM ALLEN FIELDHOUSE
Kansas had lost three of five Big 12 games, all of those losses on the road, before winning its Big 12-SEC Challenge game in overtime Saturday night against No. 20 Kentucky.
''We needed something to kind of halt the negative momentum that we had,'' Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. ''Hopefully it's a springboard for more energy, more activity, just a newness going into February, which obviously becomes the dog days of your season.''
Kansas won at home over Kansas State on Wednesday night, but plays five of its last nine Big 12 games on the road. That includes the Feb. 13 rematch with Oklahoma, which was No. 2 in a 109-106 triple-overtime loss to the then-No. 1 Jayhawks.
LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH
The Big 12 has sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons - the only league with 14 bids in that span. In the latest RPI, there are five Big 12 teams in the top 17 and three others in the top 55. ... After the weekend games against the SEC, the Big 12 has a 105-23 record in non-conference games, the highest winning percentage (82) by any league in non-conference games since 2003-04. No other league can tout every team having at least 10 victories.
ROAD WOES
Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU are all 0-5 in Big 12 road games, and Texas Tech's only road win was at TCU.
''In any other league in America, there's several teams ... we might be sitting at 5-3 instead of 2-5 or 2-6,'' Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said. ''Because of the league we play in and the caliber of teams in the league this season, your record may not look so good.''
AS PREDICTED
In their preseason polling, Big 12 coaches correctly picked the top and bottom half of the standings so far, though not in order. There are four teams currently with losing records in conference play - Texas Tech, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU - and those were picked as the bottom four. Kansas was the preseason favorite, followed by Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas, Baylor and West Virginia.
NCAA academic committee considering changes to rating system.
By MIKE MAROT
The NCAA may start holding schools more accountable for the academic progress of athletes who are graduate transfers.
An increasing number of football and men's basketball players are changing schools after earning diplomas and many end up not earning a second degree. Graduate transfers have been automatically awarded a retention point each semester on Academic Progress Rate scores even if they do not earn a second degree.
Teams whose athletes consistently have low scores can face penalties, including postseason bans.
On Thursday, the Division I academy committee announced it will consider eliminating those automatic retention points. The committee also will consider not allowing grad transfers to be eligible for a retention point if they enroll in undergrad courses.
No formal proposals have been made and the soonest any changes could take effect would be the fall of the 2017-18 academic year.
''This policy change could hold schools accountable for the academic progress of all students and make it more likely that students enrolled in graduate programs will receive the support and encouragement they need to finish their degree,'' said Ohio University President Rod McDavis, the committee chairman.
APR scores are calculated by awarding each athlete on a team one point per semester if they remain academically eligible and another point per semester if they stay in school. Because grad transfers already have a degree, they've only had to be academically eligible to earn both points for the team.
In a news release, the committee said it became concerned about the course load when it learned that nearly two-thirds of all grad transfers in the two highest-profile sports do not earn second degrees.
At a two-day meeting earlier this week, the debate turned to the possibility of using APR scores to help improve the numbers.
Players who earn their degrees before completing their athletic eligibility can transfer schools and play immediately. Those who transfer without first earning degrees must sit out one year before regaining their eligibility.
The committee also discussed adding a requirement that schools provide two-year scholarships to grad transfers - even if the incoming athlete only has one year of eligibility remaining. That, some believe, would give the post-grad student a better opportunity to earn that second degree.
Others have proposed making grad students sit out the first year and allow them to play the second, something Kentucky coach John Calipari said last summer would reduce the number of grad transfers across the country.
Some opponents contend grad transfers should be rewarded for earning a degree early and that the NCAA should not interfere with the current system.
The committee did approve a measure that will require more enhanced improvement plans from historically black colleges and universities and limited-resource schools that struggle to meet the APR's cutline of 930.
Schools will have to submit plans that include short-term and long-term goals, benchmarks to achieve those goals and a timetable to finish the job. The campus planning team must also include the school's highest academic executive, such as the provost, and representatives from each department that must complete a task.
The committee also is recommending two changes to an academic misconduct proposal that is expected to be voted on in April.
The current proposal would impose a violation regardless of whether an ineligible athlete competed in a contest. McDavis' committee wants the penalty to apply only if an athlete who engaged in academic misconduct plays in games.
Josh Helmholdt and Jason Howell
There are haves and there are have-nots coming out of the 2016 National Signing Day. Here we take a look at those coaches, fan bases and burger franchises who are flashing big smiles after Wednesday’s action.
NICK SABAN
Saban and Alabama’s recruiting prowess is the strongest in the nation. Every year the Crimson Tide are expected to sign a top class and usually deliver. However, in 2015 the Tide were toppled by USC, and they had some work to do in order to climb to the top in 2016. Work is exactly what the Crimson Tide did as three five-star prospects and two Rivals250s chose Alabama on National Signing Day. The big day put the Crimson Tide right back at the No. 1 spot. That makes seven out of the last nine years Alabama has finished No. 1 in the team rankings. Ridiculous.
THE MICHIGAN FAN BASE
For decades the Big Ten was known for “three yards and a cloud of dust.” Right now it represents the new age of recruiting, led by Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who capped off a month of sleepovers and tree climbing with a National Signing Day party in Ann Arbor that brought out celebrities as diverse as quarterback Tom Brady, wrestler Ric Flair and hip hop group Migos. Those in attendance had plenty to celebrate as the Wolverines landed the nation’s No. 1 player, five-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary. While it can be debated whether Michigan’s approach is a positive or negative for the recruiting process, one thing that cannot be argued is the Michigan fan base is having a lot of fun right now.
CHARLIE STRONG'S JOB SECURITY
Charlie Strong still has to show improvement on the field, but the events of today could go a long way to helping those efforts. It does not get much better than the Longhorns' National Signing Day close. They rocketed up the team ranks, and finished at the top of the Big 12 for the second year in a row. Flipping five-star Erick Fowler from LSU on signing day grabs the biggest headline, but there were plenty more throughout the day. On signing day alone the Longhorns added two Rivals100 standouts, and two more Rivals250 prospects. The defense definitely got better, and so did Strong’s chances of improving on the field in 2016.
FIVE-STAR QUARTERBACKS
Quarterbacks such as Ole Miss commit Shea Patterson and Georgia's Jacob Eason tend to make life easy for receivers, and receivers know that. So it is no surprise to see some of the nation’s top receiving targets sign on the dotted line to catch passes from those five-stars. Patterson saw Rivals100 receiver A.J. Brown choose Ole Miss over Mississippi State and Alabama, and three-star tight end Jacob Mathis also opted to spend his college days in Oxford. Meanwhile, Eason and the Bulldogs added five-star athlete Mecole Hardman Jr. and three-star receiver Tyler Simmons.
NEW HEAD COACHES
There was a lot of change atop FBS programs this winter, and several head coaches had to scramble to finish the 2016 class at their new programs. Overall, the group had a very good day, with a few new team leaders doing particularly well. The highest finishing team with a postseason coaching change in the recruiting rankings is Georgia, where Kirby Smart landed two three-stars, a four-star and five-star Mecole Hardman on Wednesday. Perhaps more impressive is what Scott Frost did down at UCF, though, where the Knights flipped Rivals250 wide receiver Dredrick Snelson from Minnesota and added help along both lines. Other new head coaches with good signing days included BYU’s Kalani Sitake, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and South Carolina’s Will Muschamp.
THE MYERS FAMILY
Brothers Nate Craig-Myers and Jayvaughn Myers had never been committed to the same school throughout the entire course of the recruiting process, meaning the family was facing the possibility of having two kids at separate schools and four years of rough travel schedules to maneuver. That was alleviated on National Signing Day when the brothers both declared their intentions to attend Auburn. Jayvaughn, the younger of the two brothers, had been a Florida commit for a period during his recruitment. Nate was an Auburn commit for much of his junior year before de-committing last May. Now that both will be suiting up for the Tigers, the family will not have to determine which kid to see on which weekend.
FLORIDA STATE'S LINE COACHES
The Seminoles landed five four-star commitments on signing day and for a period of time Wednesday held the overall team rankings lead. Four of those prospects are linemen and the fifth – 6-foot-2, 250-pound Dontavious Jackson – is probably going to end up in the trenches as well. Offensive line coach Rick Trickett saw his 2016 haul grow to six with the additions of 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle Jauan Williams and 6-foot-5, 297-pound offensive guard Landon Dickerson. Defensive line coach Odell Haggins added Rivals250 defensive tackle Shavar Manuel, Rivals100 defensive end Brian Burns and likely the aforementioned Jackson.
THE SEC
Alabama claims the top spot in the team rankings, but the conference boasts nine teams in the top 25 with Ole Miss, Auburn and LSU each finishing in the top 10. The SEC also added 16 five-star recruits, including two five-star quarterbacks. Impressive considering only 33 prospects - high school, prep, and junior college - received a five-star ranking. The next closest conference was the Pac-12 with five five-star signings. That is a remarkable achievement.
THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
Every year guys try to pull a surprise or two, but in 2016 the surprise was in full effect. Five-star Jeffery Simmons is a perfect example. It looked like he was headed to Alabama or Ole Miss, but on National Signing Day he announced in favor of Mississippi State. Tyrie Cleveland had everyone guessing before he inked with Florida over TCU, Arkansas and Houston. Erick Fowler’s flip from LSU to Texas was a bit of an unknown going into the day as well. E.J. Price and Connor Murphy to USC, Devin Asiasi to Michigan, and the list could go on. There are always some twists and turns, and 2016 had several.
IN-N-OUT BURGER FRANCHISES IN L.A.
Both USC and UCLA finished strong on signing day, and in the process added size to their classes. That should be good news for the West Coast’s fabled fast food chain. Take, for example, new USC commit E.J. Price out of Lawrenceville, Ga. The state of Georgia does not have In-N-Out Burger, but the chain has a chance to secure a customer for life now with the 6-foot-6, 317-pound Price headed its way. Throw in the Trojans' new defensive end commits Connor Murphy and Josh Fatu and new UCLA line commits Boss Tagaloa and Francisco Perez and In-N-Out locations around the Los Angeles area might be seeing Double-Double orders going out the door a little quicker.
NHL suspends Jonathan Toews one game for missing All-Star weekend due to illness. What's Your Take?
By C. Roumeliotis
After sitting out the third period in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Hurricanes due to an illness, Jonathan Toews will not attend the NHL All-Star Game this weekend in Nashville.
By rule, the Blackhawks captain must sit out the team's first game back on Feb. 2 against the Colorado Avalanche.
"[Toews] was pulled from Tuesday night’s third period because of an illness and remains symptomatic today," Blackhawks team physician Michael Terry said in a statement. "Rest over the break is most important for him to properly recover and be fully healthy heading into the rest of the season."
Predators forward James Neal has been added to the Central Division roster as Toews' replacement.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We ran this article earlier this week and it is one of the most asinine rules that I've ever heard. The rule states that if a player selected for the NHL All-Star game does not play, he must face suspension for the first game after the All-Star break. I agree with the rule if a player is just blowing off the game for no apparent reason just to take advantage of the time off. However if a player is sincerely sick or injured and it is verified by the team's or an independent league physician, the player should not be penalized. Maybe I'm missing something. Am I wrong, do you feel this rule is justified? I would love for a few diehard NHL fans to share the pros and cons of this rule for our readers. Someone please explain it so that it makes sense to me and any other readers that are confused.
Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your foresight with us. We look forward to hearing from you and truly value your opinion. Hopefully, someone can give us a clearer explanation and the reasoning for this rule.
Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Director.
Predators forward James Neal has been added to the Central Division roster as Toews' replacement.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We ran this article earlier this week and it is one of the most asinine rules that I've ever heard. The rule states that if a player selected for the NHL All-Star game does not play, he must face suspension for the first game after the All-Star break. I agree with the rule if a player is just blowing off the game for no apparent reason just to take advantage of the time off. However if a player is sincerely sick or injured and it is verified by the team's or an independent league physician, the player should not be penalized. Maybe I'm missing something. Am I wrong, do you feel this rule is justified? I would love for a few diehard NHL fans to share the pros and cons of this rule for our readers. Someone please explain it so that it makes sense to me and any other readers that are confused.
Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your foresight with us. We look forward to hearing from you and truly value your opinion. Hopefully, someone can give us a clearer explanation and the reasoning for this rule.
Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Director.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
Memoriesofhistory.com
1950 - Dick Irvin (Montreal Canadiens) became the first NHL coach to win 500 games. He ended his career with 690 wins.
1972 - Bob Douglas became the first black man elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.
1977 - Sugar Ray Leonard won his first pro fight. He beat Luis Vega in 6 rounds.
1988 - The first time in 30 years a wrestling match was aired in prime-time. Andre beat Hulk Hogan in the match.
1989 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the first NBA player to score 38,000 points.
1990 - NBC-TV obtained the television rights to all of Notre Dame's home football games for the next five years. Notre Dame was the first school to sell its games to a major TV network.
1991 - Dave Taylor (Los Angeles Kings) became only the 29th NHL player to score 1,000 career points.
1994 - Peter Bondra (Washington Capitals) became the 10th player in NHL history to score four goals in one period.
1997 - Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) became the seventh player to score 600 career goals.
1999 - Mike Tyson was sentenced to a year in jail for assaulting two people after a car accident on August 31, 1998. Tyson was also fined $5,000, had to serve 2 years of probation, and had to perform 200 hours of community service upon release.
2003 - Bob Knight (Texas Tech) coached his 800th victory.
2003 - Mike Modano (Dallas Stars) got his 600th career assist making him only the second American-born player to get 400 goals and 600 assists. Jeremy Roenick was the first American-born player to achieve the feat.
2006 - The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl XL. It was the fifth Super Bowl victory for the Steelers. Jerome Bettis announced his retirement after the game.
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Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you.
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