CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Monday Sports News Update, 08/15/2016.

Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica

"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"

We offer: Select opportunities, For your convenience, At "Very Rare but Super Fair" pricing

Because it's all about you!!!

"Sports Quote of the Day"

“What matters is to live in the present, live now, for every moment is now. It is your thoughts and acts of the moment that create your future. The outline of your future path already exists, for you created its pattern by your past.” ~ Sai Baba, Guru and Philanthropist

Trending: What we learned from the Chicago Bears' first preseason game. (See the football section for Bears and NFL updates).

Trending: USA claims Gold medal 1,000 with win in women's 4x100m medley. (See the Olympic section, (Last section on this blog) Team USA and Olympic updates).

The U.S. claimed gold medal No. 1,000 with a win in the women's 4x100-meter medley. (Photo/USATSI)

Trending: Blackhawks in the mix to sign Jimmy Vesey with pitch involving Jonathan Toews, per reports. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks and NHL updates).

Trending: Fred Hoiberg believes NBA experience with multiple 'strong personalities' could help him coach new-look Bulls. (See the basketball section for Bulls and NBA updates).

Trending: Mondialiste wins 34th annual Arlington Million. (See the article before the Olympic section for Arlington Million details).

Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".   

                                                     
                                                        Cubs 2016 Record: 73-43

White Sox 2016 Record: 56-61

(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! What we learned from the Chicago Bears' first preseason game.

By Bryan Perez

(Photo/BEARSWIRE)

The first preseason game of any calendar year is hardly an indicator of what lies ahead, but that doesn’t mean the four quarters of football are totally worthless.  If problem areas spread from the first game to the second, the theory of ironing out wrinkles quickly becomes troublesome trends.

Head coach John Fox’s second preseason with the team has started very differently from his first when the Bears defeated the Dolphins by a score of 27-10 in Week 1 of the 2015 summer slate.  The offensive line gave up only one sack that night and several running backs found success on the ground to the tune of 166 yards and two touchdowns.

Against the Broncos, the Bears gave up seven sacks and failed to score a single point.  No running back ran for more than 12 yards and the secondary looked confused and unable to defend against Mark Sanchez.

Yes, that Mark Sanchez.

Has the team regressed?  Or was the first game’s struggles a result of new players learning to gel together as they advance toward the regular season?

Offensive line needs work

This is stating the obvious, especially after the Bears’ offense surrendered seven sacks and couldn’t generate anything resembling a running game.  But beyond the box score, there’s real concern with both the starters and depth of this unit.

General manager Ryan Pace pushed in all his chips on third-year left tackle Charles Leno, Jr., who was victimized early in the game for a critical pressure resulting in a sack.  Keep in mind that both Von Miller and Demarcus Ware sat this one out.

If Leno fails to develop into a reliable left tackle, the entire line will suffer crippling consequences.  The Bears didn’t add any viable fallback plan in the event Leno struggles. The only logical option would be to kick Kyle Long out to left tackle.

Chicago is not prepared to sustain an injury or sub-par play at either tackle spot because the depth of the offensive line is putrid. The second-team linemen played like fringe prospects, putting even more pressure on the reclamation project of guard Amini Silatolu. If he can make a healthy return in 2016, his presence would allow Long to move outside again. If not, then say some prayers for the quarterback.

It really is Jeremy Langford's job to lose

All the offseason talk about the running back competition in Chicago was fun while it lasted, but Langford is clearly sitting atop the depth chart right now.  He received all of the first team’s meaningful reps and he plays with a different level of playmaking explosion than any of the other backs.

If you’re looking to wager money on the real threat to Langford’s role, put your cash on rookie Jordan Howard.  Ka’Deem Carey and Jacquizz Rodgers are nice players, but neither has the dynamic traits of a featured back.  Howard, while not the most explosive runner, looked very comfortable in his first NFL action.  The combination of Langford and Howard would bring a real thunder-and-lightning dynamic to the offense.

Leonard Floyd isn't as small as advertised

Yes, the scale says that the Bears’ first-round pick is hovering around 240 pounds, but he’s a long and lean-looking athlete who wasn’t overpowered during his first NFL game. Floyd is going to overcome his slight frame with his elite athletic ability and he proved it early in the game against the Broncos.  He flashed a dynamic spin move and a tough-guy’s attitude in the trenches.  And don’t discount his hustle.  He was really good in backside pursuit and is only going to get better.

Alshon Jeffery is hungry

The Bears’ franchise player was hobbled all week with a hamstring injury, but he showed quite a bit by suiting up and playing in what was essentially a meaningless game.  Jeffery lined up and went to battle with his teammates despite the risk of aggravating his ailing hamstring.  He made a nice 12-yard reception in the first quarter and earned praise from Cutler after the game. There’s no denying how the almighty dollar can bring the best out of a player during their contract year.  And while no amount of money can buy good health, the quest for a big payday could lead to Jeffery being a lot more available than he was in 2015.

The secondary needs work

Starting cornerback Tracy Porter sat the game out, giving Bryce Callahan a chance to show what he can do as an outside cover guy.  It didn’t go so well.  Callahan gave up the 32-yard touchdown to Demariyus Thomas and, combined with former first-round pick Kyle Fuller, couldn’t seem to make a big stop when the team needed it most.  The Bears’ two rookies — Deon Bush and Deiondre’ Hall — flashed some promise, but Chicago is going to need an above-average pass rush to protect the flaws in the coverage unit.

Dowell Loggains was outcoached

In his first game as the Bears’ offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains had no answer for the blitzing Broncos’ defense.  There were no adjustments — not even after halftime — that helped the team keep its quarterback on his feet.  The offense looked out of sync all night with no real flow or rhythm to the play calling.  Maybe the Bears didn’t think the Broncos would be so aggressive in a preseason game, but that’s no excuse.  Loggains needs to rebound against the Patriots on August 18, or the offense could be in for a long and disorganized season.

Bears reshuffle O-line with signings of Khaled Holmes, Shelley Smith.

By Scott Krinch

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

After allowing seven sacks in Thursday's preseason loss to the Denver Broncos, the Bears have reshuffled their offensive line.

The Bears announced on Saturday they have signed veteran offensive linemen Khaled Holmes and Shelley Smith and waived undrafted free agent offensive linemen Dan Buchholz and Donovan Williams.

The 26-year-old Holmes was originally selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of USC. Holmes appeared in 17 games with nine starts in three seasons with the Colts.

Smith, 29, was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Colorado State. Smith appeared in 36 games across six seasons with the Texans (2010-11), St. Louis Rams (2012-13), Miami Dolphins (2014-15) and Broncos (2015).

Buchholz joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Duquesne on July 23. 

After going undrafted following his collegiate career at Louisiana-Lafayette, Williams signed with the Bears following rookie minicamp in May.

Bears: Kyle Fuller dealing with knee soreness, won't travel to New England.

By CSN Staff

(Photo/USA Today Sports Images)       

Kyle Fuller won't travel with the Bears when they head to New England this week because of knee soreness, head coach John Fox said at practice Sunday.

"You're concerned about anybody that's injured," Fox said. "But I think it's something he was kind of fighting through during the offseason, he's fought through in camp. We'll look at it a bit more in-depth and see how it materializes."

Fuller played in Thursday's preseason opener against the Broncos. He hasn't missed a game in his first two seasons with the Bears. Last year he defended nine passes and collected a pair of interceptions.

Fuller's absence in the secondary will give more time to defensive backs Jacoby Glenn, Deiondre' Hall, Bryce Callahan and De'Vante Busby.

"We liked (Glenn) last year. He was on the practice squad primarily," Fox said. "He's a young player that we saw improve as we went and i think he has done that and we'll see how he does in a game setting Thursday night."

Hall, who the Bears selected in the fifth round of this year's draft, had a solid showing in his first contest, breaking up a pair of passes in the end-zone. He could be a player who pushes for early playing time this season.

"They determine that. You give them opportunities, see how they perform," Fox said. "I thought in (Hall's) first test he earned more time, and we'll see where that takes us."

The Bears will practice with the New England Patriots on Monday and Tuesday before their game Thursday, something Fox said gives players a different look with a game-like atmosphere.

"I think it's kind of a good experience, practice being on the road. Even though we've got a large number of people I think it's good competitive work," he said. "It's almost like a fifth preseason game."

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? The winds of change in the Windy City.

By The Noogie

(Photo/Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports)

As we meander through the division, looking at how things are changing team by team, we are left wondering if as more things change for the Chicago Blackhawks, do more things stay the same?

Chicago Blackhawks

Estimated cap space: 2.4 million

2015-16 record: 47-26-9 103 pts

The Blackhawks found themselves in a tight spot going into the off-season. With their backs up against the proverbial salary cap wall. They were in dire need to shed some dead weight. Casualties of the cap are all over the league, and the Blackhawks had their hand forced in having to trade Andrew Shaw to the Montreal Canadiens for draft picks. Teuvo Teravainen and Wild killer Bryan Bickell were also sent packing for picks. Both will now call the PNC Arena in Raleigh their home.

Chicago also lost Andrew Ladd to the New York Islanders in free agency. Dale Weise went to Philadelphia and Mike Liambas will move within the division, and signed with the Nashville Predators organization this summer. David Rundblad has had a tumultuous career with the Blackhawks. The former Coyotes first round pick just failed to launch in 2 seasons with the Hawks. He cleared buyout waivers and the Hawks and Rundblad agreed to terminating his contract, freeing him up to sign elsewhere.

With all these roster spots opening up, the Hawks had to fill a few holes, but try to keep the price down at the same time. Jordin Tootoo was brought in from the Devils where he scored 14 goals in 134 games over the past 2 seasons. Brian Campbell is a 37 year old defensemen making his return to the Windy City after spending the last 5 seasons with the Panthers. Sam Carrick, who's played 19 NHL games over 2 seasons with the Maple Leafs will join the Hawks organization as well and hope to make a splash with the perennial contenders.

The last couple off-seasons for the Hawks have seen a fair amount of turnover. Patrick Sharp was shipped to Dallas last summer and Johnny Oduya joined him through free agency. The biggest reason for all the turbulence in the Blackhawks organization right now is, get this, 2 big contracts on their roster. Sound familiar Wild fans?

With all the turnover the past few seasons with the Blackhawks, it’s a wonder how the Blackhawks would be able to maintain an elite level of success which has embedded itself with the team over the last decade. Players come in, players go out, yet the Blackhawks have remained a steady driving force in the Central Division. In a way, we can thank them for how ultra-competitive the division has become.

It’s not to say that the Hawks aren’t going to miss the likes of Andrew Ladd, Andrew Shaw, Teuvo Teravainen. These guys had roles which they filled nicely with the team. And talk about specialists, Wild killer Bryan Bickell may well be missed in their contests against the State of Hockey too. Fortunately for the Hawks, their are stanchions in every arena they can count on to help along the way.

It's tough to come to the conclusion that the Blackhawks got any better since they were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs. Coach Q has a knack for getting that extra level from his role players though. Although their overall skill level has probably sunk back to Earth a bit, don't expect them to be any easier to play against this fall. They still have some elite level talent on the roster, and will be dangerous for some time to come.

All that said, they may find life in a division they helped point towards an elite level of competition, just a little tougher come this October. Everyone is fighting for the same 5 Central Division playoff spots (since the Pacific Division can barely muster up 3 playoff teams). Until somebody knocks these guys down a peg, it would be wise to treat them with the respect most of the players deserve.

Blackhawks in the mix to sign Jimmy Vesey with pitch involving Jonathan Toews, per reports.

By Satchel Price

(Photo/Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The latest on the Hawks' pursuit of young forward Jimmy Vesey, and some thoughts on why it's a good idea.

The Chicago Blackhawks don't appear to be messing around with their interest in young forward Jimmy Vesey. The 23-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent Monday and the Hawks plan to have captain Jonathan Toews involved in their pitch, per Bleacher Report's Adrian Dater.

It's unclear how involved Toews will actually be in the process, but this is going to be a big selling point for Chicago. Vesey's rights have been held by Buffalo over the past few months and he's a Boston native, so the Sabres and Bruins have naturally been considered top suitors for him. The Hawks keep getting mentioned, though, and as we close in on his actual free agency, all indications are that they're still very much in the mix.

Last month, Vesey's agent told reporters that the Blackhawks were among several teams on Vesey's "short list" of teams he planned to speak with. This week, one report said the Bruins weren't in Vesey's top three, knocking one potential option lower on the list, and another said the Hawks and Devils were leading the pack.

So the possibility of Vesey choosing Chicago over everyone else seems very real, especially if reports of Toews trying to recruit him are true. Every team is limited in what they can offer Vesey financially because of entry-level contract rules, so this is a situation where other variables will play significantly into his decision. That's why everyone pegged Boston as a obvious potential landing place.

But the Hawks are clearly establishing what they can offer over everyone else. Come here and be the final piece we need to be win another Stanley Cup. Come play on a line with one of the best in the world from Day 1. Nobody else can offer a better, faster route to NHL stardom (and the money that comes with that). It's almost the exact same pitch they presumably made to Artemi Panarin, except with Patrick Kane instead of Toews. That time it worked, and we'll see if it does this time, too.

Why I'm on board with the Vesey pursuit

Now, let's also take a moment to talk about expectations with Vesey here. He was a third-round pick in 2012 and developed into one of college hockey's best players at Harvard. The Hawks' serious interest in him clearly shows that they believe he can help them. With all that said, please do not expect the next Panarin here. That was some "once in a decade, maybe" kind of craziness landing someone that good and that fun almost out of nowhere. Vesey likely isn't that kind of talent. The reasons why acquiring Vesey is exciting, to me, come with that in mind.

Chicago badly needs depth on the wings, and Vesey is a big, young player with real potential. The way his contract will likely be laid out, with some performance-related bonuses attached, means that the Hawks will only really have to face any salary cap risk in this scenario if he performs well. If he can't cut it, then he's just another guy making $925,000 in Rockford. This is a high-upside, low-risk gamble, which is why teams have lined up to sign Vesey. If he's so good that he earns his bonuses, it'd be worth it, just like it is with Panarin.

This is a better idea than going after another veteran who may not have the legs to get through 82 games plus a full playoff slate. The Hawks need someone who could potentially be a reliable contributor next to Toews, and while that's a huge thing to put on Vesey, the team's giving all indications they believe he might be able to do it. Joel Quenneville might not be the easiest coach for some young players, but he's embraced certain guys. Vesey's willingness to play a physical game probably helps him there. Right now, when the alternative is Richard Panik, that's enough for me to give the idea a hearty thumbs up.

Vesey doesn't need to score 30 goals next season, and he almost certainly won't. But if he can help Toews play a strong possession game and bring stability to the first line -- essentially a poor man's Brandon Saad -- that'll go a long way toward avoiding some of the headaches next season. It seems like that's possible, and at this price, you're usually not going to get a sure thing anyway.

CUBS: Cubs not feeling comfortable with lead over Cardinals after series split.

By JJ Stankevitz

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The Cubs aren’t taking their sizable lead in the National League Central for granted and fully expect the St. Louis Cardinals to make a run at some point in the coming months. 

But in case anyone on Clark and Addison was getting comfortable with the thought of cruising to a division title, Stephen Piscotty’s three-run home run drove home their self-described “Cardinal aficionado” manager’s point: “They’re going to come back at us very soon,” Joe Maddon said. 

Hector Rondon allowed that go-ahead blast to Piscotty and gave up a solo home run to Brandon Moss as a disastrous eighth inning sent the Cubs to a 6-4 loss to the Cardinals in front of 41,019 Sunday night at Wrigley Field. 

What doesn’t sting, though: Realistically, the Cardinals won’t catch the Cubs in the NL Central. Before Sunday’s game, FanGraphs gave the Cubs a 99 percent chance of winning the division (and a 100 percent chance of reaching the playoffs), and their lead is still a dozen games. 

The Cubs aren’t taking any comfort in viewing where they stand through a big-picture lens, though. 

“I don’t find myself looking ahead because we haven’t done anything yet,” outfielder Jason Heyward said before Sunday’s game. “You gotta do it to get there, you gotta clinch first, and after that, you gotta take it one series at a time.” 

But the narrow view of Sunday revealed an ugly loss, one that comes on the heels of Saturday’s brutal bullpen meltdown, too.

Chris Coghlan’s double, Jason Hayward’s infield single and Willson Contreras’ walk loaded the bases to lead off the seventh with the Cubs holding a 3-1 advantage. But against right-hander Matt Bowman, pinch-hitter Matt Szczur flew out to center — it wasn’t deep enough for Coghlan to be sent home — Dexter Fowler struck out and Kris Bryant flew out for a feeble end to the inning.

Rondon, who hadn’t pitched in 12 days due to a triceps issue, allowed Kolten Wong to reach on a line drive single to lead off the eighth, which Greg Garcia followed with a bunt single. Piscotty then laid into a 1-1 fastball and clobbered it deep into the left field bleachers to put St. Louis ahead. 

The Cardinals weren’t done, though, with Moss launching his solo home run and, after Travis Wood took over for Rondon, adding another run on Randal Grichuk’s RBI double. St. Louis batted around in the inning, which ended with Wong lining out to center with runners on second and third. 

And adding injury to insult, starter John Lackey left Sunday’s game in the top of the seventh with an undisclosed ailment. 

Anthony Rizzo launched a solo home run, his 25th of the season, in the eighth and chipped in with RBI singles in the first and sixth innings. Lackey was solid before leaving the game with a 2-2 count and two out in the seventh, allowing an unearned run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in his 6 2/3 innings. 

Bullpen implodes as Cardinals snap Cubs' 11-game winning streak. (Saturday afternoon's game, 08/13/2016). 

By Vinnie Duber

 

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Innings don’t get much uglier than Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr.’s top of the eighth inning Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Edwards entered in relief of Kyle Hendricks, and he preceded to walk four of the seven batters he faced, allowing the visiting St. Louis Cardinals to score a go-ahead run on a bases-loaded wild pitch and then another tally on a bases-loaded walk. After he exited, fellow Cubs reliever Joe Smith gave up a grand slam to Randal Grichuk, a blow that broke the game wide open and proved the most damaging in an 8-4 Cubs loss that brought an end to their 11-game winning streak.

After getting a leadoff lineout, Edwards sandwiched his first two walks around a base hit to load the bases. He struck out Yadier Molina, but the third strike was a wild pitch, allowing Stephen Piscotty to come home and score the tie-breaking run. Another walk reloaded the bases, and a fourth free pass forced in a run to make it a 4-2 game. That’s when Edwards was lifted in favor of Smith, but Grichuk blasted a grand slam into the basket in left-center field to give the Cardinals a six-run inning and a six-run lead.

Prior to the bullpen’s late-inning struggles, Hendricks was nearly untouchable early, continuing to pitch in the sensational fashion that’s suddenly made him the most dominant pitcher on a starting staff with multiple All Stars. He struck out eight in the first two innings and had nine punch outs after four innings, having not allowed any of the four Cardinals hitters who reached base past first.

But after a 1-2-3 fifth, Hendricks made a couple mistakes, serving up hard-hit solo home runs to Brandon Moss and Jedd Gyorko in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Gyorko’s blast tied the game at 2.

Cubs hitters looked primed for another offensive explosion after winning a 13-2 smackdown on Friday. But despite making Cardinals starter Luke Weaver work in his major league debut, the Cubs managed just a pair of runs on back-to-back hits to start the second inning, and that was it. Addison Russell followed Ben Zobrist’s leadoff double with a two-run homer. And though the Cubs loaded the bases after Russell’s home run, they didn’t get any runs out of it.

After the Cardinals bullpen pitched four scoreless innings in relief of Weaver -- who lasted just four innings -- the Cubs' bats finally awoke in the ninth. Zobrist and Russell led off the inning with back-to-back hits, and a groundball base hit on the infield off Jason Heyward's bat was thrown away by fielding pitcher Seth Maness, allowing a run to score. Another run scored two batters later on Javier Baez's groundout to make it 8-4.

Hendricks’ outing was still pretty superb, despite the pair of home runs allowed. He surrendered just two runs — the 17th time in 22 starts this season he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer — and matched a career high with 12 strikeouts, done earlier this season in a June 19 game against the Pirates. In his last 10 games, Hendricks has allowed just eight earned runs in 60 1/3 innings pitched, good for a remarkable 1.19 ERA since June 24.

The Cubs’ 11-game winning streak stopped with the loss, their first in exactly two weeks.

WHITE SOX: Chris Sale, White Sox lose finale to Marlins 5-4.

By Dan Hayes

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Chris Sale is still in search of win No. 15.

The victory has eluded the five-time All-Star pitcher for six weeks now, including Sunday afternoon when the Miami Marlins rallied from an early deficit to beat the White Sox 5-4 in front of 21,401 at Marlins Park. Sale allowed five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings and Miami averted a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting White Sox.

Trailing 2-0, Miami pieced together the go-ahead rally in the fifth inning with four straight singles to tie the score. Marlins starter Tom Koehler lined a 1-2 pitch from Sale off the pitcher’s foot for a two-run single with the bases loaded. Ichiro Suzuki then tried to move the remaining runners up with a sac bunt. Adeiny Hechavarria advanced and managed to score all the way from second base as Sale didn’t cover home plate, which had been vacated when catcher Omar Narvaez went out to field the bunt.

The White Sox rallied to tie the score at 3, but Miami pulled back ahead against Sale in the seventh. Martin Prado’s one-out RBI single to right gave the Marlins a 4-3 lead. Sale stuck out Christian Yelich but Marcell Ozuna singled in another run off Jacob Turner to stretch the lead to two runs.

Sale gave up eight hits and walked one while striking out seven in a 110-pitch effort.

The White Sox offense put Sale in a good position to secure the victory when they produced a pair of first-inning runs off Koehler. Adam Eaton gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead when he homered on the first pitch of the game, his 10th. Jose Abreu’s RBI single later in the inning scored Melky Cabrera, who doubled with one out. Abreu also later tied the score when his grounder took a favorable bounce off third base and went for an RBI double.

But Koehler held the White Sox in check between the end of the first inning until the sixth. His bullpen closed it out just barely as Fernando Rodney worked around four hits in the ninth, including a Tim Anderson solo homer. The White Sox nearly tied the game on Tyler Saladino’s two-out single to left but Yelich threw pinch runner Carlos Sanchez out at home to prevent a tie.

Despite uncertain future with White Sox, Robin Ventura remains focused on winning games.

By Dan Hayes

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Even though he isn’t concerned about his future, Robin Ventura remains committed to the White Sox.

The club’s fifth-year manager said on Sunday morning he still enjoys his job even after a tumultuous season that has included Adam LaRoche’s abrupt retirement and Chris Sale’s five-game suspension for destruction of team property. The comments from Ventura, whose contract expires after this season, come on the heels of a Sun-Times report in which he’d said he like to return as the team’s manager if asked.

Whether or not Ventura would be asked to return is as uncertain as the team’s future direction. Last month, general manager Rick Hahn said the club has been mired in mediocrity and is open to all options. But Ventura reiterated Sunday he’s more worried about the team’s final 46 games than himself even as he has come to appreciate his position over time.

“When you come in here and work as hard as we do, you’re not here this long if you’re doing it as a lark,” Ventura said. “We’ve always taken it seriously of doing the work and getting them in the best spot possible. Sometimes you look around, it goes pretty quick.”

The White Sox headed into Sunday’s series finale with a 56-60 mark and are far outside looking in at the wild-card race, 7 1/2 games back of the second spot. The team’s .483 winning percentage is the highest it has been since Ventura’s first season when the White Sox went 85-77.

One could argue that 2016 has been the most trying season for Ventura. The White Sox have struggled mightily since their 23-10 start. Not only is the team beset with injuries to several key players, but Ventura has twice found his clubhouse in crisis after LaRoche and Sale both had disputes with management. Ventura said it all comes with the territory.

“You just deal with it,” Ventura said. “That’s part of, you have a lot of high-spirited competitive people in one spot and sometimes it can burst on you at any particular spot and you deal with it and you move on. Having been around baseball, I’ve seen a lot of these. This is not exclusive to us by any means. When you’re a manager, you deal with it and you move on.”

Ventura expects the White Sox would make a quick decision after the season about whether or not to bring him back. But he said he’ll continue to keep his focus on the field until they reach that point.

“I’ve always gone through with where I am and the focus is on these guys and winning games,” Ventura said. “There’s plenty of time to look at it in the offseason. I’ve never felt like there is a reason for either side to have to do something just because I don’t have a contract next year. It doesn’t mean I won’t have one and doesn’t mean I will have one. But you just go through it and do what you’re supposed to do and this is what I’m supposed to do right now.”

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Fred Hoiberg believes NBA experience with multiple 'strong personalities' could help him coach new-look Bulls.

By Vincent Goodwill

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The team Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg inherited last season is vastly different than the one he’ll start training camp preparation for next week, along with the external expectations looking more like a question mark than one of conference contention.

Still, though, he couldn’t contain his excitement as he made a trip to his native Iowa and sat down with CSNChicago.com for an interview.

He’s still dealing with being the man who replaced Tom Thibodeau as coach but in his second season, he believes he’s much more comfortable in his position and his adjustment to the scrutiny that comes with being in a large media market.

And with a roster makeover that featured Derrick Rose get traded to New York along with Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol leaving via free agency, perhaps he gets a second chance at a first impression after an up and down season that saw the Bulls miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

“We did have a lot of injuries but there’s no excuse for me,” Hoiberg said. “I’ve got to get them playing more consistent basketball. “

“We’ve got to be more consistent on a nightly basis and that’s on me.”

The Bulls added veterans and former champions Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo in free agency, a surprise to many around the NBA as the Bulls opted for talent and experience as opposed to natural basketball fit — an awkward setup on paper that will fall at Hoiberg’s feet when camp begins next month.

“The biggest thing is we have multiple playmakers now, we have guys who can get in and break down the defense,” Hoiberg said. “That’s the most important thing to have on an NBA roster is multiple ballhandlers, multiple playmakers. Bigs who are gonna set screens and put pressure on the rim.”

Hoiberg parroted what the Bulls front office has been saying since Rondo and Wade have been brought aboard, highlighting the fact they made free agency additions without sacrificing some of the youth on the roster.

“Rondo is a point guard who I think will thrive in the system we like to run and then to get Dwyane, we didn’t have to give up any of the young pieces in the process,” Hoiberg said. “We’re able to stay competitive with players with championship experience. To pair those two guys with Jimmy Butler, it’ll be a dynamic and exciting backcourt.”

Figuring out how to handle three ball dominant perimeter players, including one in Wade where his minutes and workload will be monitored from Day One, will be among his biggest challenges he and the trio faces.

None are great perimeter shooters and Hoiberg has made no secret of wanting to play a fast pace offense where 3-pointers can fly early and often.

“It’s gonna take sacrifice,” Hoiberg said. “When you have guys who can put up big numbers every night, there’s gonna be sacrifice involved and guys will have to buy into their roles. It may not be your night every time you take the floor. But if everybody buys in, we have a chance to do a lot of good things this year.”

He worked Rondo out last week, helping him with a hitch in his shot that he hopes will lead to improved outside shooting (36 percent last season). With Wade, the two exchanged texts about what Hoiberg foresees as an evolving vision of what the offense could look like early.

“Those guys will be in, in September to help the young guys along and start developing that important chemistry which is the most important thing for our group next year,” he said. “You have two guys who’ll be good in that department. You have Jimmy, a young player, young superstar who’s grown into that role. It’s gonna be good and hopefully it’ll click early.”

With “hopefully” being the key word, he admits there isn’t an expectation for things to look smoothly from the onset, as figuring out ways to maximize the shooting while likely having two of the three perimeter players on the floor and getting enough defense and rebounding at the same time.

“We’ll have to have the right rotations out there,” Hoiberg said. “It probably won’t be the first week where we’re clicking and everything is determined.”

He made the comparison in terms of the circumstances to perhaps the best team he played on, the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves. Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell were added to a team that couldn’t escape the first round and they went to the Western Conference Finals on the back of MVP Kevin Garnett.

“We had three strong personalities, three very good players,” Hoiberg said. “It took a while but once it got going we were off and running and had the best record in the West.”

In context, no one can expect the Bulls to be the best team in the East, but people should expect a better working relationship between Hoiberg and Butler — especially when you factor in Wade’s presence in the locker room as a mature adult who won’t be fazed by little issues that seemed to plague the Bulls last season.

But Butler and Hoiberg have improved their relationship on their own, according to the second-year Bulls coach.

“Jimmy and I have had a lot of conversations,” he said. “There’s a lot of things (that happened) last year. The big thing was the comment after the New York game…We got it handed to us and the comment was made.”

In what has been repeated ad nauseam, Butler called for the mild-mannered Hoiberg to “coach us harder” after a two-game stretch in December that saw the Bulls lose a four-overtime game against the Pistons followed by getting waxed by the Knicks the next night.

It put Hoiberg in an awkward position of sorts and Butler received criticism for calling out his coach publicly. No matter where people sat in terms of the comments, it made for scrutinized co-existence that will only be more scrutinized until the wins start piling up.

“We had a lot of conversations and I don’t see any issues with Jimmy Butler and I,” Hoiberg said. “The biggest thing as a staff is we have 15 guys that we gotta coach and hopefully put them in situations and utilize their skill sets and get the most out of them.”

Golf: I got a club for that..... A ringing endorsement for golf in the Games.

By Rex Hoggard

(Photo/Golf Channel)

Those who figured golf was never suited for the Olympic podium, that the game’s majors made the Rio experiment a square hoop amid the Olympic rings, were given an alternative to consider on Sunday.

On a warm and sunny day in Rio the world watched golf. Really, the world, not just the avid core who have driven the game for decades.

The majors will always hold a place above and beyond anything else in golf - history wouldn’t allow any other ranking - and the Ryder Cup enjoys special status regardless of the lopsided nature of the last few matches.

But Olympic golf, a novelty concept for most until this week’s event, proved to be something different, something neither better nor worse than the game’s predetermined benchmarks but definitely apart from the norm.

What else could explain Matt Kuchar’s emotions after closing with a 63 to secure the bronze medal.

“This was a chance to medal and do something; my heart was pounding,” said Kuchar, who closed with an Olympic record-equaling 63. “I can assure you I’ve never been so excited to finish top 3 in my life. I’ve never felt this sort of pride just busting out of my chest before.”

It wasn’t an entirely perfect introduction for the game after a 112-year hiatus. The two biggest storylines heading into Sunday were Matthew McConaughey, the man of Oscar-winning fame who made a cameo at the event on Friday to watch Rickie Fowler, and capybaras, the oversized rats that call the Olympic Golf Course home.

Some of that languid start had to do with Marcus Fraser, an engaging Australian who set the early pace for two days. But the 90th-ranked player in the world did little to improve golf’s appeal considering he was the sixth-best Australian who received his Olympic start only after Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones declined to make the trip.

The four Americans in the field also added little to the buzz through three days, with the group a collective 5 over par in Round 1 and none of them inside the top 10 heading into the final round.

On Sunday, however, the game responded with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson quickly separating themselves from the field and turned what was always going to be a marathon relative to most Olympic sports into a medal-deciding sprint.

The Swede took a share of the lead with a 35-foot birdie putt at the second, the Englishman answered to regain his advantage with a 4-footer at the third and so it went.

The two were tied after the 10th hole and Stenson knotted the proceedings again with a 4 footer for birdie at the 16th hole to set up the kind of dramatic exchange one expects at the game’s most important events.

History will show Rose won England’s first gold medal in golf by a cool two strokes, but that detail ignores Stenson’s three-putt at the last after his bold birdie attempt ran some 8 feet past the hole. Players had said all along they wouldn’t play any differently with medals on the line than they would if it were a major, and Stenson’s play proved the point.

Although silver may be an acquired consolation for golfers, Stenson acknowledged the surreal satisfaction of a trip to the Olympic podium, even if the shade of medal (silver) wasn’t exactly what he’d hope to go home with.

“I wanted to put myself in contention and fight it out for the medals and I did that,” said Stenson, who closed with a 68 for a 14-under total. “Of course I would have liked to sit there with the gold rather than a silver but all in all I'm pretty pleased with my performance.”

It’s a testament to Stenson’s resolve this year that his finish was somewhat tempered by what has been by any measure an eventful season after he began the year fresh off knee surgery and withdrew from the Qatar Masters and from the U.S. Open with neck and knee issues.

But he rebounded from those setbacks by winning his first major last month at Royal Troon and seemed to embrace the unique satisfaction of a silver medal on Sunday in Rio.

Even Kuchar’s bronze medal-winning performance was captivating when you consider on July 2, a week before the deadline to qualify for the Games, he was outside the top 15 in the world ranking.

The 38-year-old tied for third at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational to move to No. 15 in the world and when Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth declined their spots on the American team Kuchar found himself bound for Rio.

“I had a great last couple months of golf that crept me inside the top 15 in the world ranking,” said Kuchar, who spent exactly two weeks in the top 15 to earn his spot as an Olympian. “It took a couple guys not playing for me to get in and I thought this might just be fate.”

Not bad for a guy who just a week earlier was unclear on the format for this week’s competition.

But it was Rose’s victory, a ball-striking masterpiece that at least outwardly appeared effortless, that sealed golf’s transition from a curiosity to a competitive fit for the Olympics.

Throughout all the turmoil that seemed to consume golf’s return to the Games – from construction delays at the Rio golf course to concerns over the Zika virus that drove away a healthy portion of the game’s top players – Rose never wavered in his commitment to Olympic golf.

That dedication began with his decision to arrive in Rio early to march in the Opening Ceremony and his dogged focus to treat these Games as more than just a sightseeing adventure interrupted by the occasional round of golf.

While the American team basked in the glow of the Olympic flame, rubbing elbows with other athletes and making regular calls to other events, Rose approached the event with a singular focus.

On Saturday American Bubba Watson admitted, “This is a dream of a lifetime. I'm hanging with the athletes. I mean, golf just gets in my way. I want to go watch the other sports.”

While that approach is perfectly understandable, admirable even for those who had never even been given the opportunity to dream in Olympic terms, it wasn’t good enough for Rose.

Rose savored the experience, but never lost focus on why he was in Rio.

“I made a big deal of this all year,” said Rose, who finished his week with four rounds in the 60s (67-69-65-67) for a 16-under total. “I got in on Friday - that’s typical with what I would do for a major. I felt very inspired this week, very focused and motivated.”

There’s no accounting for what place Olympic golf will hold in the hierarchy of importance in coming years. The fact is the game is assured only one more start in 2020 at the Tokyo Games, but if Sunday’s finale holds any sway it certainly made a persuasive pitch to remain on the podium.

Asked how he would debate the benefits of golf remaining on the Olympic program, Rose went with an economy of words: “Anybody making the decision I’d ask, were you in Rio on Sunday?”

Moore wins John Deere Classic by 2 over Martin.

By Will Gray

(Photo/The Golf Channel)

After a marathon Saturday at TPC Deere Run, Ryan Moore returned to the course to seal his victory at the John Deere Classic. Here's how things ended up in the Quad Cities, where Moore won by two shots:

Leaderboard: Ryan Moore (-22), Ben Martin (-20), Morgan Hoffman (-17), Whee Kim (-17), Ricky Barnes (-15)

What it means: Moore entered the final round with a one-shot lead, and he stretched that advantage to five after birdies on four of his first 10 holes. While Martin reeled off three birdies of his own to trim Moore's advantage to two shots, it never got any closer than that. The victory marks Moore's fifth career PGA Tour title and his first since the 2014 CIMB Classic, while Martin's runner-up emphatically moved him off the FedEx Cup bubble.

Round of the day: Kevin Na began the day well off the pace, but a bogey-free 64 helped Na crack the top 10. Na was the second highest-ranked player in this week's field behind Zach Johnson and he tallied seven birdies Sunday, including four on the back nine, en route to a T-8 finish.

Best of the rest: Adam Hadwin was even par through four holes Sunday before ending his week with a flurry of birdies. The Canadian birdied four in a row on Nos. 5-8, then added three more circles on the back nine en route to a 7-under 64 that drew him alongside Na into a tie for eighth at 14 under, eight shots behind Moore.

Biggest disappointment: Hoffman was only one shot behind Moore to begin the day, but he wasn't able to get anything going during an even-par 71 finale. Hoffman birdied three of his first eight holes, but surrounded them with two bogeys and then didn't make a single birdie during a 1-over 37 on the back nine that left him five shots back.

Shot of the day: Any lingering drama was removed when Moore's 6-iron approach, which was partially lying in a divot, found the green on the 72nd hole. The subsequent two-putt from long range gave him the title.

Quote of the day: "I was trying to make birdies coming down the stretch, I was trying to stretch that margin a little bit. I couldn't get any putts to go, but in the end we snuck it out." - Moore

NASCAR: Rain Man: Justin Marks masters the elements, Mid-Ohio for first Xfinity Series win.

By Daniel McFadin

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

Justin Marks didn’t have the best car under dry conditions, but he was the best driver when Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was covered in rain.

The part-time driver of the No. 42 for Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet used his years of sports car racing to lead a race high 43 laps – the first of his career – to earn his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win on Saturday.

Marks victory in his 25th start came in a race filled with eight cautions for 32 laps and countless cars going off track -including Marks on Lap 32 – as rain came and went over the Lexington, Ohio, road course. It returned in its hardest form on the final lap around the 13-turn road course, as Marks managed a healthy distance over the field to finish with a 3.7 second lead.

It could have been worse. Marks had a 24-second lead when the race’s final caution waved on Lap 72.

“These are as tough conditions as you could put drivers in,” Marks told NBC Sports. “My specialty is road racing in the rain in these stock cars. I don’t get much of an opportunity to do it.  When that opportunity presents itself, you really have to take advantage of it.”

Marks gave CGR its second win of the year after Kyle Larson won at Pocono Raceway,  a race that was shortened by rain.

“It means the world,” said an increasingly emotional Marks, who has 64 starts across NASCAR’s top three divisions and is co-owner of HScott Motorsports’ K&N series teams. “I’m not a big time race car driver, I’ve had a big career with a lot of rides and stuff. Just means a lot to be able to get an opportunity with Chip Ganassi Racing and to get a win. I wish my family was here.”

Marks has made 12 starts this season in the No. 42 car. Before 2016 he had never made more than five starts in any of his previous six seasons. His previous best finish was sixth at Mid-Ohio in 2014.

“My hat’s off to Justin Marks,” said Sam Hornish Jr, who started from the pole and led eight laps.  “I generally hold myself as a pretty decent rain racer, even given the opportunity there at the end I couldn’t do anything with him.”

The top five was filled by Marks, Hornish, Ryan Blaney, Ty Dillon and Justin Allgaier.

HOW JUSTIN MARKS WON: Justin Marks stayed on-track and sped away from the field in the rain on a restart with three laps to go, finishing more than three seconds ahead of Sam Hornish Jr.

WHO HAD A GOOD DAY:   Pole-sitter Sam Hornish Jr. fell from second to 20^th after spinning twice on Lap 19, the second restart under wet conditions. The Ohio native then went off course into the dirt on Lap 20 and almost got stuck, bringing out the caution. Hornish fought back to finish second for his second top-three finish in his three starts this year … Ryan Blaney finished third in his first start at Mid-Ohio … Brendan Gaughan finished eighth after being involved in a Lap 33 restart crash that tore the right side sheet metal off his car and being in multiple spins … Erik Jones finished sixth with a mashed up right-rear quarter panel after the five-car accident on Lap 33

WHO HAD A BAD DAY: Owen Kelly, competing in his first race of any kind in three years, took the lead on a Lap 10 restart on rain tires then spun going through the esses. Kelly later briefly led under caution, but finished 16th … TJ Bell brought out the second caution when he was the first driver to get stuck in the dirt after sliding off track on Lap 15. Bell would bring out the eighth and final caution after getting stuck in the dirt … On Lap 29, Daniel Suarez brought out the fourth caution for getting stuck in the dirt. The No. 19 finished 23^rd, a lap down … On the restart on Lap 33, Erik Jones made contact with Andy Lally, spinning them both. Jones than was ran into by Nelson Piquet Jr, damaging both cars. Piquet finished 38^th … Kenny Habul was involved in multiple accidents before getting permanently stuck in the first with 20 to go, finishing 36^th.

NOTABLE: Justin Marks is the fourth different winner in the first four Xfinity races at Mid-Ohio. Marks is also the second first-time Xfinity winner this season after Daniel Suarez’ win at Michigan. In Xfinity Series history, Marks is the 11th driver to earn his first win on a road course.

Quote of the Day: “In the dry, I feel like we could win, but Justin just went out there and was a monster in the wet.” – Sam Hornish Jr. after finished second.

NEXT: Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Johnson wins Knoxville Nationals; NASCAR well-represented in finals.

By Jerry Bonkowski

(Photo courtesy Jason Johnson official Facebook page)

The NASCAR community was well-represented in the results of the marquee main event of Saturday’s 56th running of the Knoxville Nationals sprint car race in Iowa.

Jason “The Ragin’ Cajun” Johnson held off Donnie Schatz in the final five laps of the 50-lap A-main race at Knoxville Raceway to win, taking home $150,000.

Upon climbing out of his race car, Johnson — the 2015 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year and five-time American Sprint Car Series champion — dedicated the win to late race car driver Bryan Clauson, who died last Sunday, less than 24 hours after being involved in a racing accident in a Midget car race in Kansas.

“I wasn’t giving up,” Johnson said according to a post-race media release. “I mean, this is the biggest race of the year, and the biggest race of my career.

“It was a golden opportunity, and I needed to make the most of it. I know (Schatz) wasn’t happy with me for crowding him but I wanted to win.”

Schatz, who drives for NASCAR star Tony Stewart, won last year’s event. Saturday was only the second time Schatz has lost the finals in the last 11 years.

“We did everything we could,” Schatz said. “Jason [Johnson] did a great job. I didn’t think you could run that hard a pace for 50 laps, but he did, and once he got out there, I tried everything to catch him and just couldn’t do it.”

Shane Stewart, who drives for Marks Larson Racing – co-owned by Saturday’s Xfinity Series race winner at Mid-Ohio, Justin Marks, and Sprint Cup driver Kyle Larson – finished third.

Daryn Pittman, who drives for Kasey Kahne Racing, started from the pole and finished fourth.

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle Larson Kyle Larson finished fifth. Larson started third in the 22-lap B feature and was one of four drivers that advanced to the A main.

Brad Sweet, who also drives for Kahne’s team, finished 11th.

Lastly, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver and two-time defending Chili Bowl winner Rico Abreu finished 12th.

Here’s the final results (and starting position) of Saturday’s main event:

1. Jason Johnson (2); 2. Donny Schatz (5); 3. Shane Stewart (8); 4. Daryn Pittman (1); 5. Kyle Larson (21); 6. Jamie Veal (4); 7. Chad Kemenah (6); 8. Greg Hodnett (18); 9. Ian Madsen (23); 10. David Gravel (11); 11. Brad Sweet (7); 12. Rico Abreu (17); 13. Danny Lasoski (19); 14. Tim Kaeding (9); 15. Kraig Kinser (25); 16. Logan Schuchart (24); 17. Terry McCarl (10); 18. Sammy Swindell (12); 19. Lucas Wolfe (20); 20. Dusty Zomer (14); 21. Jeff Swindell (16); 22. Kerry Madsen (3); 23. Dale Blaney (22); 24. Craig Dollansky (15); 25. James McFadden (13).

Lap Leaders: Pittman 1-10, J. Johnson 11, Pittman 12, Schatz 13-26, J. Johnson 27-43, Schatz 44-45, J. Johnson 46-50.

Hard-charger award: Kyle Larson.

SOCCER: Fire score late to salvage home draw against Orlando.

By Dan Santaromita

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

For once, the Chicago Fire were the team to score a late goal and change the result.

Unfortunately for the Fire, they scored that late goal after they were already trailing at home. Razvan Cocis’ 78th minute header gave the Fire a 2-2 draw with visiting Orlando on Sunday.

John Goossens gave the Fire an early spark, but Orlando’s big players came up with big plays in the first half. Goossens pinged a shot in off the post from outside the box for his second goal of the season.

However, for the third game in a row the Fire (4-11-7, 19 points) gave up a goal soon after scoring one. Three minutes later Cyle Larin held off Jonathan Campbell to get a touch on a bouncing ball in the box and tie the game for Orlando (5-6-12, 27 points).

"I think these are the things that we have to improve again," Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said. "We don’t have to be afraid when we have a good result in our hands. We have to manage better.

The Fire opened the match with a three-man backline consisting of Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell and Eric Gehrig. Orlando’s counter to that was to have Kaka play out wide left where he saw a lot of the ball and with time and space. The Fire adjusted, moving Kappelhof to right back and shifting Brandon Vincent to a more defensive position at left back in a flat back four.

However, that didn’t stop Orlando or Kaka. The Brazilian gave the Lions the lead in the 32nd minute on a rebound after a Larin header hit the post.

“Obviously we had a lot of issues on the right side with Kaka," Paunovic said. "Very good by (Orlando coach) Jason Kreis, very smart moving him on the sideline. I think also we struggled there. Once we did our adjustments, switching to 4-2-3-1 and putting Kappelhof, our maybe most experienced guy in our defense, against Kaka.

We were able to stop him. When I say stop him, I know what I am saying because it’s very difficult to stop Kaka. We all know who is Kaka, but I think he did a great job."

Cocis saved the Fire from a defeat by heading in a Brandon Vincent cross following a short corner in what was a wide open game. The Fire held an 8-7 edge in shots on target.

"I think at least this time it was a good and better reaction in the second half," Cocis said. "We stepped up higher in the field, which was great, and it feels good when I see that we can be there. We can be higher up the field, dominate the opponent and stay there. As you saw even after we scored the second goal, we could have scored the third one.

The Fire extended their home unbeaten run to 10 matches.

A win could have brought the Fire closer to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, which Orlando currently is tied for, but instead the Fire remain eight points back. Sunday’s match was an opportunity to gain three points on the team they were chasing. Instead, it’s another missed opportunity.

The Fire’s next game is at Montreal on Saturday.

Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool: Coutinho stars in season’s first heavyweight bout.

By Kyle Bonn

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

Liverpool did not play well across the first 45 minutes, but they have Philippe Coutinho, and with the Brazilian spark plug, the fuse can ignite at any moment.

Coutinho scored a pair and assisted another as Liverpool won a free-flowing game 4-3 at the Emirates. The game swung back and forth, as the Gunners were up 1-0 most of the first half, the Reds scored four goals in a row to take control, and then the home side came just short of completing a remarkable late comeback.

The match began with a cagey nature, with Arsenal holding a fair amount of possession but being pressured by the Jurgen Klopp press. The first chance fell to the Gunners on 15 minutes when a long ball from Monreal was not cleared properly by Alberto Moreno, who instead headed directly into the path of Aaron Ramsey. The Reds defender made up for his mistake with a pinpoint tackle to see out the chance.

Liverpool pressed well, but their attack seemed disjointed, finding themselves in offside positions or misplaced passes that killed chances early. The Reds had their first opportunity on 23 minutes, when Georgino Wijnaldum won the ball back from Monreal, leading Jordan Henderson to deliver a ball in to a free Roberto Firmino, but Hector Bellerin just put Firmino under enough pressure to see him bungle the chance.

Arsenal should have gone in front when given a penalty in the 29th minute. Moreno needlessly dropped Theo Walcott at the edge of the area, and the referee pointed directly to the spot. Simon Mignolet produced a fantastic save on the penalty, as Walcott looked to poke it into the low corner. Walcott would atone minutes later, however, as he’d get behind Moreno. Alex Iwobi found him on the right, and the English international found the far corner for a 1-0 Arsenal lead.

Liverpool’s physical nature of play began to build up the card count, with Moreno earning himself a yellow card for his foul on Walcott, and both Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren picked up first-half cautions. The Reds appeared second-best for much of the first half, but Philippe Coutinho single-handedly brought them back level on the stroke of halftime.

Into first-half injury time, Coutinho won a questionable free-kick, and took the strike from well outside the area, and from at least 30 yards out he deposited an absolutely outrageous strike into the top corner past a helpless Petr Cech. The goal is the second straight on opening day for Coutinho, having scored the 1-0 winner against Stoke City last season.

Following the break, Liverpool looked much more cohesive, and they were duly rewarded. Coutinho cut into the left edge of the box and plucked a beautiful flick to a waiting Adam Lallana on the far side. The England international chested it down and finished cooly from a tight angle for a 2-1 lead just four minutes after the break.

Just minutes after that, Coutinho would get his second goal and put the Reds 3-1 up as Nathaniel Clyne whipped in a pacey cross and the Brazilian easily touched home from point-blank range. Arsenal looked shell-shocked, and it would get worse. Sadio Mane ran straight around Calum Chambers and ripped an off-balance scorcher into the top corner for a 4-1 Liverpool lead.

The Reds weren’t able to celebrate their stunning scoreline for long, as the Gunners picked up a lifeline in what turned into a goal fest. Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored just 56 seconds after Mane’s goal, emulating his predecessor by flicking the ball past Nathaniel Clyne and beating Simon Mignolet at his near post.

Coutinho was removed on 70 minutes after cramping up suddenly on a one-on-two breakaway, replaced by Emre Can. Arsenal brought on debutant Granit Xhaka to shore up the midfield, and the Gunners would grab a lifeline. With 15 minutes remaining, a beautiful curling free-kick from substitute Santi Cazorla glanced off the head of a rising Chambers in the box, and the Gunners were suddenly back within one.

The home side poured numbers and pressure forward, but it wasn’t enough as the Gunners were downed by Liverpool at home for just the second time in their last 21 meetings.

Barcelona holds advantage over Sevilla in Spanish Super Cup.

By Matt Reed

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

Luis Suarez and Munir El Haddadi gave Barcelona a 2-0 advantage over Sevilla on Sunday in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

After a quiet first half, the Blaugrana broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when Suarez slotted home Arda Turan’s cross.

El Haddadi doubled the Barca advantage nine minutes from time after Lionel Messi played a perfect through ball into the path of the Spanish international. The 25-year-old has figured into the Barcelona team more throughout preseason with Neymar at the Olympics Games in Brazil.

Barcelona dominated the game’s possession, limiting Sevilla to a mere one shot on target at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The two sides will return to action in three days when they meet at the Camp Nou.

Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester United: Red Devils capitalize on defensive errors.

By Kyle Bonn

(Photo/Getty Images)

It wasn’t exactly pretty, but Manchester United will take it.

On Jose Mourinho’s debut with the Red Devils, the visitors scored a pair of ugly goals highlighted by some disastrous defending that sent United home with all three points. Juan Mata bagged the opener just before halftime after a howler at the back from Simon Francis, and the second fell to Wayne Rooney who somehow found himself completely unmarked to nod home easily.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic also wanted in on the party, capping the scoring for United with their third of the day, and a consolation for Adam Smith was the only positive the hosts could find.

The start of the match was sluggish, with just a few moments of heavy physical contact – including Zlatan Ibrahimovic barreling over a pair of Bournemouth defenders – breaking up the otherwise listless first 15 minutes.

Finally, there was some action on goal as Callum Wilson of Bournemouth struck a shot that grazed the outside of the post and slid just wide in the 17th minute, although the play was subsequently pulled back for a foul on Wilson.

United had its first chance on net when Anthony Martial burst down the left wing and cut inside on 24 minutes, shooting from the far corner of the box, but it blazed well over. The Cherries began dug in defensively, and United looked to break down the compact style with short, tight passing. It worked Rooney a shot that produced the game’s first save, a comfortable one down low to the left of Artur Boruc.

With the game lacking a spark, Bournemouth earned a free-kick on the left edge but it came to nothing after solid defending by the visitors. Instead of a spark, Manchester United were gifted a gaffe. The Cherries gashed themselves at the back five minutes before the break, with a pair of hideously poor touches from Simon Francis on an otherwise innocuous long-ball from Ander Herrera.

First, Francis appeared to be caught between a touch and a back-pass, and instead just handed Juan Mata the ball free on goal. Boruc came out in an attempt to smother the ball, but instead he sent it flying off Francis’s leg, and the ball rebounded again into the path of Mata, who touched home for the opener.

After the break, United’s attack looked more up to the task. Rooney had a great chance saved well by Boruc five minutes after halftime, and a penalty shout in the 52nd minute that was waved away correctly. Rooney would finish a chance on the hour mark, after a scuffed shot from Antonio Valencia fell right to the England captain, and all alone in the box he headed past Boruc.

Ibrahimovic nearly put United 3-0 up moments later with a close-range free-kick, but Boruc produced a fantastic save to keep the Cherries within reach. You can’t keep Ibra out forever, though, as the Swedish superstar would indeed produce United’s third with a clinical effort from outside the box, a low strike into the far corner.

Bournemouth would get a nice goal in the 69th minute as Adam Smith produced a stunning bit of attacking play to beat David De Gea. A ball from Lewis Grabban sprung Smith down the right, and his cut-back touch produced the space to fire a missile into the top corner to bring the Cherries back within two.

It would prove too little too late, as Manchester United easily saw the game out. Zlatan had the opportunity for another late, but he instead laid off for new signing Henrik Mkhitaryan – on as a substitute – and the pass was wayward. De Gea was required one more time in injury time, as Andrew Surman fired a shot on a corner. United’s opening day win is their 16th on the first match of a season, moving them above Chelsea for most in the Premier League.

NCAAFB: After turmoil at Illinois, Smith brings excitement, calm.

By David Mercer

In this March 29, 2016 file photo, Illinois football coach Lovie Smith speaks with the media at an NCAA college football press conference at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Smith takes over an Illinois team with some talent, but little depth and big questions at key positions. But Smith's hire has breathed life back into Illini.

When Illinois players talk about the differences between this summer and last, they talk about excitement and calm.

They use both words to describe changes that have begun under their first-year leader, longtime NFL coach Lovie Smith. And both words illustrate the sharp contrast between this summer and last, when their coach was fired just a week before the opening game.

''I think that's a great feeling. It's a feeling we haven't felt in a while, just as players,'' senior quarterback Wes Lunt said.

Part of Smith's job has been trying to repair both the reputation of Illini football and the team's morale, both damaged when Tim Beckman was fired last summer amid allegations that he mistreated players and interfered in medical decisions.

Of course, Smith is at Illinois to do more than polish a tarnished brand. Under Beckman and replacement Bill Cubit, wins were scarce. Cubit was thrust into the interim role when Beckman was fired and the team finished 5-7 (2-6 Big Ten). Illinois never won more than six games in Beckman's three seasons.

''We were a five-win team last year, I understand that,'' Smith said. ''I know we're going to be a better team.''

A few things to keep an eye out for as Illinois prepares to open the season:

A LOAD OFF LUNT

Lunt's history of injuries and a lack of proven pass-catchers - another anterior cruciate ligament tear is expected to sideline Mike Dudek for a second straight season - mean Illinois will need to be able to run the ball. That means sophomore Ke'Shawn Vaughn, the only experienced back on the roster, will see a lot of carries.

''In order for us to have success at the running game Keshawn Vaughn has to have a good year. He realizes it,'' Smith said.

Vaughn carried the ball 157 times for 723 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman.

DEFENSE FIRST

Smith pointed out before preseason workouts that defense should be Illinois' strength. But the Illini lost a half-dozen starters from a defense that was ranked eighth in the Big Ten in points given up at 23.3 per game and ninth in yards allowed at 350.8. The emergence of Dawuane Smoot at defensive end gives Illinois a strong pass rusher. He led the team with eight sacks and 15 tackles for losses in 2015. Transfer Hardy Nickerson's arrival from Cal - his father, also Hardy Nickerson, is the defensive coordinator - should strengthen a thin group of linebackers.

KEY GAMES

If the Illini can finish the nonconference schedule 2-1 with wins over Murray State and Western Michigan, the Big Ten schedule offers four games that would not require dramatic upsets to win. Illinois hosts Purdue and faces Rutgers on the road. If the Illini win those, the Oct. 29 home game against Minnesota and the Nov. 26 game at Northwestern could be make-or-break games for a bowl berth.

PREDICTION

The Illini are energized by their new coach and his NFL pedigree, but this is essentially the same team that was 5-7 last season, minus a number of key starters. Lunt's ability to stay healthy will be a major factor. The home-heavy schedule and a handful of winnable Big Ten games give Illinois a path to a bowl game. But given the likelihood of injuries and first-season hiccups for a brand-new coaching staff, 5-7 and sixth in the Big Ten West seems about right.

SEASON OPENER

The Lovie Smith era begins at home on Sept. 3 against Murray State. The Illini and Racers have never played. The Racers, a Football Championship Subdivision school, were 3-8 last season.

Why Texas OC Sterlin Gilbert is the right man to save Charlie Strong.

By Robert Larkin

(Photo/Pinterest.com)

After numerous offensive mistakes, the Longhorns head coach finally has his guy.

When Texas Longhorns offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert rises to the podium at a press conference, a sense of ease immediately falls over the room. The San Angelo native’s deep Texas draw conveys a quiet confidence built on football glory and consistent success.

Carrying an inexplicable aura about him, he reminds you of a Western film hero who will ultimately saves the day. He certainly, however, doesn’t seem like the guy with one of the most stressful, draining jobs on the college football landscape, and perhaps that’s the most astonishing thing about Gilbert’s short time in Austin so far.

Despite the pressure from fans, media, and message boards to repair a broken offense, the former Tulsa coordinator doesn’t seem bothered in the least by any of his lofty expectations. He knows exactly what he can do.

It’s not like he’s oblivious to the circumstances. When a reporter asked if he understood what he was getting himself into at his opening press conference, Gilbert bluntly replied, “without a doubt.”

He understands the magnitude of his position, but just like those Western heroes whom he seems to embody most, the 38-year-old offensive coordinator will be asked to do something most would believe to be impossible — turn around the Texas offense.

In a heroic effort to save Charlie Strong’s job, he will be asked to take the reins of an offense that finished 75th in Football Outsider’s S&P+ offensive efficiency rankings, including an 114th-place finish in passing offense, and perform Houdini-like magic to turn them into one of the top units in the Big 12. Most importantly, this transition is going to need to see dramatic improvement in one year’s time.

For most, it would seem Gilbert metaphorically bit off a little more than he could chew. However, if anyone is going to rebuild the struggling Longhorn offense it’s Texas’ native son.

Everyone in Austin is wondering if Gilbert can turn a dismal offense into a productive unit in his first year. Sure, after watching Texas against Iowa State, TCU, and so many other teams last year, it’s almost inconceivable to think an offense like the one the ‘Horns ran last year can turn it around in one offseason. However, there’s optimism, because just two years ago Texas’ conference partner in Fort Worth did the exact same thing.

It’s hard not to draw comparisons between the upcoming year for the Longhorns and the 2014 TCU Horned Frogs. Two seasons ago, TCU did not know what to expect heading into their season opener, as the Horned Frogs had just gone through a rough adjustment to their new home in the Big 12, finishing the season at 4-8, and were walking into 2014 with a cloudy quarterback situation.

Before that campaign, Patterson fired his offensive coordinators and went on a coaching search in order to replicate the high-flying offenses that were popular across the Big 12. Eventually he hired two spread offense-oriented coordinators with Texas ties, Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham. Under their direction, the Horned Frogs experienced a meteoric rise in their second Big 12 season.

Behind a prolific offense that jumped from 93rd to 17th in the S&P+ offensive efficiency rankings, TCU won the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss and ended the year with a 12-1 record. Former wide receiver Trevone Boykin turned into a Heisman contender, and the rest is history.

Seeing the eerily similar situations and the ultimate outcome, there’s reason to believe Texas can make a similar jump in offense.

Like TCU did when they hired the Meacham/Cumbie duo, Texas immediately upgraded their offense when they hired Gilbert because they finally committed to a consistent offensive message, the first time that has occurred since Charlie Strong took over.

TCU and Texas both struggled not just because they lacked the athletes (quarterback and line situations were both poor however), but rather because they lacked an identity. If anything, Longhorn fans should take comfort in that that their offense walks into 2016 with a clear game plan of how it wants to establish itself.

Another big reason TCU engineered success that bodes well for Gilbert is the simplicity of the spread systems. Instead of sophisticated passing trees and blocking schemes, Texas will rely on pre-snap reads and motions that give the Longhorns the best matchup. In some instance it will create for the Longhorns and in other instances will make up for deficiencies in other areas, meaning a larger chance for success than the Shawn Watson offense that emphasized beating the man right in front of you.

Gilbert’s offense comes down to making the game so simple, your instincts on the field are automatic. It’s so simple that players aren’t even given a playbook.

Instead, they are encouraged to jump on the field and learn from their coaches in real time. Whether you’re an incoming freshman or a senior who has had to learn multiple formations over four years, a player can quickly grasp the system and jump into the offense. The learning curve is not as steep, and a quick install is made much easier.

With players gaining a comprehensive understanding of the offense, the Longhorns will run it quicker, keeping defenses off balance and allowing more chances to score.

Reducing the mental aspect and speeding up the offense is an important part of the plan.

“When you start to minimize the thinking process,” Gilbert said, “it allows you to go faster.”

The process becomes so engrained in a player’s memory that it becomes second nature when they’re on the field. For players, it’s an automatic process that makes success that much easier.

"It's all built on high reps," the former Tulsa coordinator said. "When you get it right, we're gonna do it again. When you get it right again, we're gonna do it again."

After Gilbert and Phil Montgomery took over at Tulsa last season, the Golden Hurricanes’ plays per game rose to 86.3, the highest of any team in college football. At Bowling Green during the 2014 season, Gilbert’s offense ran 81.5 plays per game, finishing 12th overall in the country and increasing their plays per game by eight.

Despite Gilbert spending only one year at each school, players understood the game-plan quickly and immediate progress was the result. The combination of speed and rhythm is where Gilbert wants the offense to end up before it opens against Notre Dame.

“The ultimate goal is where it always feels fast and it feels right,” he said.

Sure, it’s a tall task to install an entirely new system in a limited time, but Gilbert has invaluable experience in that, too — he has had to install his system four times in five years (Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, Tulsa, Texas), so he knows how to get the offense on the same page in a hurry.

More important than the accolades like FCS Coordinator of the Year or coaching a Tulsa offense to high levels of production is the fact that Gilbert has been here before. While the bright lights of Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial stadium may be completely new, he’s the same brilliantly-gifted coordinator who has had success after one-year installations. 

From a recruiting standpoint, Gilbert’s arrival in Austin makes even more sense. In a state where a majority of the high schools are running spread oriented offenses, the flagship program finally has a college-level system ready to match. The new Texas coordinator said it best in his press conference with a simple statement.

“I’m a Texas high school football coach.”

Now, the Longhorns have an offense that can plug in Texas’ most talented skill players after they have been indoctrinated in similar systems across the state. In the long run, it will help the Longhorns now that they can sell a fun, high-octane offense that plays right into recruits’ abilities.

An excellent example came earlier this offseason with Texas landed former Baylor signee Devin Duvernay, a player who earlier had spurned the Longhorns for a chance to play in Baylor’s system. Without a new offense, Texas probably wouldn’t have secured Duvernay’s services. Equipped with a system some high school players have learned since junior high, Texas coaches should see offensive recruiting pay immediate dividends.

Some have called Strong’s hire of Gilbert “desperate and contrived,” but is it?

At a time where the offense was growing stale, he turned to a coach who brings innovation, simplicity, and a game-plan that stems from the systems used by high schools across the state of Texas.

It mirrors the attempts of teams like Oklahoma and TCU, but does it really matter? Not one Sooner complained when Bob Stoops replicated the TCU formula after going 8-5. Sure enough, he went to a College Football Playoff.

To the outsiders, Charlie Strong looks like a man at his weak point, waiting for anyone to save him. Strong, however, is smart and methodical and knows what he has hired. It took time for him to find an offensive identity, but with Gilbert leading the offense, he has found the right fit.

NCAABKB: Michigan hitting the weight room hard this offseason with “Camp Sanderson”.

By Scott Phillips

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

One of the secret strength’s of Michigan’s program under John Beilein has been the summer strength and conditioning program. Under strength coach Jon Sanderson, “Camp Sanderson” has gained a lot of traction thanks to huge gains from NBA draft picks at Michigan like Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert.

The program is in place once again this offseason and a few players appear to be making the most out of the time in the weight room. According to Beilein’s radio show “Huge Show,” some returning players are making positive gains.

“It’s hard to be tough when, physically, your strength is not there yet,” he said.

“Duncan Robinson is a stronger kid than he was (last year) at this time. D.J. Wilson is stronger. Zak Irvin had nothing going.

“It’s tough sometimes being perceived as being tough when, right now, your strength is not at the level of the other guys. Another year in the weight room? See how tough we are.”

As noted in a story from Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press, Irvin was injured last offseason as he was recovering from back surgery. Now that the senior guard has another full offseason to work on his body, it’ll be interesting to see how that translates in his senior year.

Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer also noted that Duncan Robinson is now up to 215 pounds, which should help the floor-spacing forward play more inside next season.

Irvin and Robinson will be two of the key players for the Wolverines next season and if both of those guys are rolling as scorers, then Michigan could surprise some people in the Big Ten. Health will be a huge part of that, however, as the injury bug has been biting the Michigan program the last few seasons.

HORSE RACING: Mondialiste wins 34th annual Arlington Million.   

By CSN Staff

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The Pizza Man's quest to become the first horse to win back-to-back Arlington Millions was spoiled by an Irish horse with a French name. 

Mondialiste, which means "globalist" in French, held off The Pizza Man and a charging field to claim the top prize in the 34th running of the race.

Jockey Daniel A. Tudhope decided to come across the pond to ride Mondialiste in the Grade 1 race, and after a big win, the decision paid off. 

"I have a lot to do with this horse," Tudhope told Alyssa Ali after the race. "I love riding him all the time at home."

The results weren't exactly shocking for anyone who has followed Mondialiste's racing record on U.S. soil. The horse finished second in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile and won last year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile.  

Even with those impressive finishes in America, trainer David O'Meara wasn't walking to the winners circle early.  

"We come hopeful, not expecting," O'Meara said. 

Mondialiste's win at Arlington guarantees another trip to the Breeders' Cup.

The Irish horse returned $10.80 to win, $6.40 to place and $4.80 to show. 

OLYMPICS: Medals Count (08/14/2016).

2016 Summer Olympics medal table

Rank	NOC	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States (USA)	26	21	22	69
2	Great Britain (GBR)	15	16	7	38
3	China (CHN)	15	13	17	45
4	Russia (RUS)	9	11	10	30
5	Germany (GER)	8	5	4	17
6	France (FRA)	7	8	7	22
7	Italy (ITA)	7	8	6	21
8	Japan (JPN)	7	4	15	26
9	Australia (AUS)	6	7	9	22
10	South Korea (KOR)	6	3	5	14
11	Hungary (HUN)	5	3	4	12
12	Netherlands (NED)	4	2	3	9
13	Spain (ESP)	3	0	2	5
14	New Zealand (NZL)	2	6	0	8
15	Canada (CAN)	2	2	9	13
16	Kazakhstan (KAZ)	2	2	4	8
17	Colombia (COL)	2	2	0	4
18	Switzerland (SUI)	2	1	2	5
19	Belgium (BEL)	2	1	1	4
	Thailand (THA)	2	1	1	4
21	Croatia (CRO)	2	1	0	3
22	Iran (IRI)	2	0	1	3
	Jamaica (JAM)	2	0	1	3
24	South Africa (RSA)	1	5	1	7
25	Sweden (SWE)	1	4	1	6
26	Denmark (DEN)	1	3	3	7
27	North Korea (PRK)	1	3	2	6
28	Brazil (BRA)	1	2	3	6
29	Belarus (BLR)	1	2	1	4
30	Kenya (KEN)	1	2	0	3
31	Poland (POL)	1	1	2	4
	Romania (ROU)	1	1	2	4
33	Cuba (CUB)	1	1	3	5
	Slovenia (SLO)	1	1	1	3
35	Argentina (ARG)	1	1	0	2
	Slovakia (SVK)	1	1	0	2
	Vietnam (VIE)	1	1	0	2
38	Czech Republic (CZE)	1	0	5	6
39	Ethiopia (ETH)	1	0	3	4
	Uzbekistan (UZB)	1	0	3	4
41	Chinese Taipei (TPE)	1	0	2	3
42	Greece (GRE)	1	0	1	2
	Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA)	1	0	1	2
44	Fiji (FIJ)	1	0	0	1
	Kosovo (KOS)	1	0	0	1
	Puerto Rico (PUR)	1	0	0	1
	Singapore (SIN)	1	0	0	1
48	Ukraine (UKR)	0	3	1	4
49	Azerbaijan (AZE)	0	2	0	2
	Indonesia (INA)	0	2	0	2
51	Lithuania (LTU)	0	1	2	3
52	Georgia (GEO)	0	1	1	2
53	Bahrain (BRN)	0	1	0	1
	Grenada (GRN)	0	1	0	1
	Ireland (IRL)	0	1	0	1
	Malaysia (MAS)	0	1	0	1
	Mongolia (MGL)	0	1	0	1
	Philippines (PHI)	0	1	0	1
	Turkey (TUR)	0	1	0	1
	Venezuela (VEN)	0	1	0	1
61	Norway (NOR)	0	0	3	3
62	Egypt (EGY)	0	0	2	2
	Israel (ISR)	0	0	2	2
64	Estonia (EST)	0	0	1	1
	Kyrgyzstan (KGZ)	0	0	1	1
	Portugal (POR)	0	0	1	1
	Tunisia (TUN)	0	0	1	1
	United Arab Emirates (UAE)	0	0	1	1
Total (68 NOCs)		162	162	178	502

OLYMPICS: USA claims Gold medal 1,000 with win in women's 4x100m medley. 

By Ruben Palacios

The U.S. claimed gold medal No. 1,000 with a win in the women's 4x100-meter medley. (Photo/USATSI)

Feel good about yourself, America. You have the most gold medals ever and it's not even close.

With a win in the women's 4x100-meter medley on Saturday, the United States claimed its 1,000th gold medal in Summer Olympics history.

The relay team, which consists of Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel, won the gold with a 3:53.13 time.

Some members of the relay team have already left their mark on history during these Rio Olympics. Manuel became the first African-American female swimmer to win an Olympic gold. King has made headlines for blasting athletes with a doping background and backing her smack talk with wins.

Now, the entire team shares a legendary accomplishment that no other country even comes close to.

The U.S. Olympic Committee plans on recognizing the team for its feat, but the exact plans have yet to be revealed.

Olympics 2016: Simone Biles wins third gold, first vault title.

By Rolando Rosa

Simone Biles won her third gold medal of the Rio Olympics on Sunday. (Photo/Getty Images)

Biles added to her sensational showing at the Summer Games with another gold for USA gymnastics.

Simone Biles continued her dominant display of excellence at the 2016 Rio Olympics with a gold medal in the vault final. Biles took first place (15.966) followed by Russia's Maria Paseka (15.253) and Switzerland's Giulia Steingruber (15.216).

The 19-year-old becomes the first U.S. women's gymnast to earn three gold medals in a single Olympics.

A multiple world champion on the beam and the floor, this is the first title in vault for Biles, who also placed first in the individual all-round and helped the U.S. to victory in the team all-around.

She also exacted some revenge on Paseka, who placed first at the 2015 World Championship.

Biles posted a 15.900 on her first vault and 16.033 on her second vault.

Biles can finish up her unprecedented stint at Rio with five gold medals, as she competes in the beam on Monday and the floor exercise on Tuesday.

Why Matt Kuchar's bronze medal means everything to him.

By Jeff Eisenberg

Matt Kuchar admires his bronze medal after making a late charge in the final round. (Photo/Reuters)

Thirty-six hours before the first round of the Olympic golf tournament began, American Matt Kuchar visited the aquatics stadium and watched Michael Phelps win a pair of races.

“To see the greatest Olympian ever claim two more medals, it was just inspiring,” Kuchar said. “When you see that, you think, ‘I’ve got a chance to do what he did.’ It’s not going to be 20-something like he has, but I’ve got a chance to get one.”

Kuchar now also owns a medal thanks to a thrilling Sunday charge. He posted the lowest round of the day, a bogey-free 8-under par 63, to climb from seventh to third on the leaderboard and claim a bronze medal.

“I can’t explain to you the amount of pride I have finishing third,” Kuchar said. “Typically you wouldn’t say that, but I got to the golf course this morning thinking I had a real shot at medaling. The overwhelming sense of pride I’m feeling is just remarkable.”

The most impressive part of Kuchar’s round was that he easily could have shot a stroke or two lower and put a real scare into gold medalist Justin Rose of England and silver medalist Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

Kuchar was within three shots of the co-leaders when he drove the green on the par-4 16th hole, but he was too aggressive with his eagle putt. It rolled well past the hole as Kuchar gestured futilely for it to slow down, leading to his only three-putt of the day.

The gap between Kuchar and the two men he was chasing had shrunk to one by the 18th hole when the 38-year-old American caught another bad break. His pitch stuck in the light rough and came to a stop 20 feet from the hole, leaving him a long birdie putt instead of a more favorable one.

Kuchar bowed his head in disgust after missing the subsequent putt, forcing him to settle for a tap-in for par. Rose then birdied the 18th hole about 30 minutes later to claim victory by two shots over Stenson and three over Kuchar.

“Matt played beautiful golf,” said playing partner Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

“He was very unlucky on 16 for his par. Had [his drive] gone another five or 10 feet, he would have had a clear putt. Then on 18, it just stayed short. He really could have shot 18-under [for the tournament].”

Kuchar owes a thank you to Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson for his bronze medal. Had either of them not backed out of playing at the Olympics because of concerns about the Zika virus, Kuchar would not have qualified to play in Rio.

Six of the world’s top-10 players passed on the chance to participate in the first Olympic golf event in 112 years, but the tournament was a success in spite of their absences.

By all accounts, the course itself was world-class even though it was hastily built on a plot of land where only sand and scrubs once stood just a few years ago. The top players who did attend also thoroughly enjoyed their experiences and pledged to return in four years if they’re eligible.

Nobody enjoyed themselves more than American Bubba Watson, despite never seriously contending for a medal and settling for a tie for eighth place overall. Watson spent the week hobnobbing with everyone from Greg Louganis, to Phelps, to members of the U.S. field hockey and track and field teams.

“This is the greatest sporting event I’ve ever been part of, and it’s a thrill of a lifetime to be part of it,” Watson said. “I get the Master’s for the rest of my life, but it’s just golf. There’s no other events going on. When you talk about a sporting event, this is a dream come true.”

If Watson’s enthusiasm spreads to some of the elite golfers who passed on the chance to play in Rio, it can only help the sport’s chances of remaining in the Olympics once the trial period ends in 2020. The only complaint many of the golfers had was that they would like to see a team element added so that the Olympics feel less like a typical PGA event.

You won’t hear any of Sunday’s medalists complaining, though. Each raved about their Olympic experience – both at the golf course and away from it.

Earlier this week, Kuchar sat in the player’s box for a bronze medal doubles tennis match involving Americans Jack Sock and Steve Johnson. When the U.S. team won, Kuchar said they were as excited to wear the custom jackets athletes don on the podium as they were to receive the bronze medals themselves. That same sentiment hit Kuchar on Sunday as he stepped onto the medal stand.

Said Kuchar, “Now I’ve earned the right to wear that jacket.”

USA Basketball defeats France, finishes preliminary round undefeated.

By CSN Staff

(Photo/Associated Press)

The United States men's national team had another close call Sunday afternoon in Rio, but again came away unscathed.

Klay Thompson connected on seven 3-pointers and scored 30 points to lead Team USA to a 100-97 victory over France. The men's national team finished 5-0 in preliminary play, earning the top seed in Group A.

Kyrie Irving had a team-high 12 assists; as a team the Americans assisted on 32 of 35 made baskets. Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler made his only field goal attempt in six minutes of action.

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, August 15, 2016.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1970 - Mrs. Pat Palinkas became the first woman to ‘play’ in a pro football game when she held the ball for the Orlando, FL, Panthers.

1984 - Pete Rose returned to become player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He had been away from his hometown for six years. Rose had been in Philadelphia and Montreal.

1990 - Mark McGwire hit a grand slam in the 10th inning to become the first major league player to hit 30 or more homers in his first four seasons. The Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 6-2.

1993 - Nolan Ryan got his 324th and final victory. The Texas Rangers beat the Indians 4-1.

1997 - Dan Wilson hit the 3,000th Seattle Mariners homerun.

1997 - The Los Angeles Dodgers retired Tommy Lasorda's #2.

*****************************************************************

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.