CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Wednesday Sports News Update, 11/09/2016.

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"Sports Quote of the Day"

"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals." ~ Michelle Obama, Current First Lady of The United States of America

Trending: Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues Preview 11-09-2016. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).

Trending: Bears get defense centerpiece back as  Eddie Goldman practices after missed games. (See the football section for Bears News an NFL updates).

Trending: How Theo Epstein operates and why Cubs won’t be satisfied with just one World Series title. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).   

Trending: Dwyane Wade shares story of Heat's disrespect and why he left Miami for the Bulls. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).

Trending: College Football Playoff rankings: Washington moves up to No. 4. (See the college football section for NCAA news and team updates).

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues Preview 11-09-2016.

By Scores & Stats

The Chicago Blackhawks' six-game winning streak has been built on a foundation of a potent 1-2 punch involving reigning Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane and captain Jonathan Toews, as well as the strong goaltending of Corey Crawford. The Blackhawks look to continue their good fortune on all fronts and avenge a season-opening loss to the St. Louis Blues when the Central Division rivals meet at Scottrade Center on Wednesday.

"If our line can set the tone, or create more, have more shifts in their end, it's going to be good for our team in the long run," Kane told the Chicago Sun-Times. Well, the immediate "short term" has looked good as Kane has collected three goals and five assists during the winning streak and Toews answered his traditional slow start out of the blocks to record four of each. St. Louis' Jake Allen permitted nine goals in a two-game stretch before stopping 22-of-23 shots in a 5-1 victory over visiting Colorado on Sunday. The 26-year-old New Brunswick native has played significantly better at home than on the road, posting a 3-0-1 record with a 0.98 goals-against average and .959 save percentage at Scottrade Center as opposed to 2-3-1 mark with a 3.42 GAA and .864 save percentage away from the Gateway City.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (9-3-1): Veteran Marian Hossa set up a goal before scoring in overtime in a 4-3 win over Dallas on Sunday to increase his point total to seven (five goals, two assists) in his last six games and 1,100 in his decorated career. New linemate Artem Anisimov also tallied to extend his career-high point streak to 11 games, but he was held off the scoresheet in Chicago's 5-2 setback against St. Louis on Oct. 12. Crawford yielded three goals in that contest to fall to 14-5-5 lifetime versus the Blues but has stopped 164-of-169 shots while posting two shutouts during the Blackhawks' current winning streak.

ABOUT THE BLUES (7-4-2): Mired in a five-game point drought, 2012 top overall pick Nail Yakupov is expected to be a healthy scratch for the third straight game - and he's not a happy camper. "It's not my decision I'm not playing," Yakupov said. "Obviously, I couldn't be happy about it. So, it's a coach's decision and nothing I can do about it." An upper-body injury to Joel Edmundson will send fellow defenseman Petteri Lindbohm into the lineup, two days removed from being recalled from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis RW Vladimir Tarasenko recorded two goals and an assist in the first meeting with the Blackhawks and has collected 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in as many career encounters.

2. Blackhawks rookie C Tyler Motte is expected to miss three weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced on Tuesday.

3. The Blues scored three power-play goals in the first meeting with the Blackhawks but are just 1-for-21 in their last six games.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Blackhawks 2

Blackhawks will be without Tyler Motte for three weeks.

By Tracey Myers

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Tyler Motte will miss three weeks with a lower-body injury as the Blackhawks prepared for their game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.

Motte was injured in the second period of the Blackhawks’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night. He went awkwardly into the boards and was down for a few moments. While he got up under his own power, he wasn’t putting much weight on his left leg as he headed to the locker room. The forward was off to a good start with the Blackhawks, and his work will be missed.

“You expect him to come back ready to play and give us what he was giving us, because that versatility is what we really liked about him. We had trust in him,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Certainly you can’t forecast how he’ll come out of it but you’re missing that kind of time, there’s patience when you do come out of injuries. Hopefully he can have the speed right off the bat but sometimes it takes a little longer.”

Corey Crawford will get the start against the Blues.

Andrew Desjardins will draw back into the lineup. At Tuesday’s practice, he was on the fourth line (at left wing) with Dennis Rasmussen and Jordin Tootoo.

Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body) continues to improve. Whether or not he’s ready to go on the Circus Trip, which begins next week, is unknown right now.

“We’ll see how he progresses,” Quenneville said. “We’ll know, for sure, [if he goes on that road trip] by the end of the week.”

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears get defense centerpiece back as  Eddie Goldman practices after missed games.

By John Mullin

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

It started last year when Eddie Goldman was a rookie, usually exactly what veteran offensive linemen like to draw as a matchup in pass-protection drills. But one vet said that all of a sudden, guys needed to tie a shoe or adjust a helmet when their pairing was with the young nose tackle.

“He’s a dominant player,” said Cody Whitehair, who went against Goldman this year in training camp. “He ranks up there with the best I’ve played against, just a sound player, good with his hands and feet and that’s what makes him good. He is just a very good player.”

Goldman was ticketed to become an anchor for the Bears’ 3-4 scheme, a massive (335-pound) figure over a center or guard with the ability to push a pocket as well as handle gap responsibilities vs. the run. Goldman established himself as precisely the talent the Bears hoped to be getting with their No. 2 draft choice. He finished his rookie season with 4.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and 19 quarterback pressures while leading all Bears defensive linemen with 39 tackles despite missing game 16 with an ankle injury.

That was an unwanted foreshadowing, as Goldman, already emerging as a top talent in general as well as a central figure in what the Bears envision as a top-10 defense, suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Philadelphia game in Week 2. This after Goldman had flashed with a half-sack and six tackles at Houston the week before.

The impact of the loss to the defense was immediate and significant. The Bears gave up 199 rushing yards a season-high 31 points in the loss to the Cowboys, the one game in which players and coaches conceded was the one game this season where the Bears were completely dominated.

“Our first game after Eddie’s injury was Dallas,” said coach John Fox, “and that was a rough game for all of us.”

Goldman returned to practice on Monday for the first time since that injury. A focus had been on finding an ideal weight that maximized a strength-agility balance, and now part of the task is to regain the feel for his game after nearly two months laid up.

“I was smaller, so I was moving around more fluidly, more swiftly,” Goldman said. “That was a long time ago, man. I can't really reflect too much on it. It was a point of getting to where I can run to the ball time after time after time and then at the same time not be tired and keep going.”

Despite some early weight and conditioning issues last year, Goldman logged the second-highest snap total (516) among defensive linemen, 50.1 percent of all opponent plays. That was continuing this season, with Goldman playing 55 percent of the combined Texans and Eagles snaps even with his going down in the Philadelphia game.

Now he becomes a central figure in the Bears’ second half, one of the numerous key figures (Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal, Kevin White possibly) whose returns already have infused some added energy in the locker room and on the practice field.

But the return process will take some time, and Goldman’s availability for next Sunday against Tampa Bay remains an open question until later this week.

“There’s nothing really like practicing and playing football,” Fox said. “You try to simulate it whether it’s the offseason conditioning program, all the different things we do to keep guys in shape, keep their weight down, those types of things.

“But until you really get out there and practice, they find out there’s muscles they didn’t really even know about that first practice. Eddie’s done a good job being a pro. He’s developed that mindset, he’s in good shape that way. Now it’s just getting in football shape.”

Bears' roster move points to Kyle Long, Josh Sitton returning in Week 10.

By John Mullin

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

An under-radar roster move by the Bears on Tuesday provided another positive indicator that Pro Bowl guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton are on track to be back for next Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the Bears begin a search for an epic second-half season turnaround.

The Bears waived backup center/guard Cornelius Edison, who had been elevated from the practice squad on Oct. 24, after the Green Bay game in which Long suffered a triceps injury. Long’s setback put him among the inactives, along with Sitton, for the Minnesota game.

Edison, who impressed throughout training camp and preseason, is expected to be brought back to the practice squad. But the Bears dropping him from the 53-man roster is another strong indicator that Long and Sitton, down with an ankle injury from the Jacksonville game, are expected to be back for Tampa Bay after practicing on Monday.

Bears In-Foe: Bucs' banged-up backs grounds offense.

By Chris Boden

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Lovie Smith took Tampa Bay's rebuild from 2-14 in 2014 to 6-6 and surprise playoff contention a year ago before the Bucs dropped their final four games, including a Dec. 27 loss to the Bears. That was a big enough excuse for the Glazer family and GM Todd Licht to fear losing the man who coached-up their promising No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston after just one year. 

Other teams were interested in interviewing offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter for their head coaching jobs. They valued the consistency of the Koetter-Winston relationship above the overall continuity of Smith's attempted rebuild. So the ex-Bears head coach shockingly became the ex-Bucs head coach, and eventually Illinois' new head coach. Koetter's only experience as The Man In Charge was at the collegiate level (Boise State, Arizona State). He'd never been more than an OC in the NFL (previously with Atlanta and Jacksonville). The Bucs are on a 3-5 roller coaster. A good chunk of the reason is in our defensive analysis, but the offensive side has its faults. And bad injury luck.

Winston put the work in in the offseason, shedding 18 pounds of "baby fat" by working out with Michael Jordan's former conditioning guru, Tim Grover.

But while his impressive 4,032 yards passing as a rook was impressive, the greater on-field focus was to improve his 22-to-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Midway through his sophomore campaign, the ratio is 17-to-9 after three TD passes without a pick in last Thursday's blowout loss to Atlanta. But his completion percentage is only up a mere point. Same goes for his passer rating.

Part of the reason is veteran wideout Vincent Jackson was lost for the season early with a knee injury. And that bug has wiped out their running backs corps, including what some considered the best 1-2 punch in the league. Last year's second-leading rusher Doug Martin (1,402 yards) signed a new five-year, $36 million contract, but has been sidelined since a Week 2 hamstring pull. Koetter was hoping he could at least return to practice this week, but it didn't happen Monday.

Two weeks later, Charles Sims (529 rushing, 561 receiving yards last year), was sent off to knee surgery. Enter Bears castoff Jacquizz Rodgers, who answered with 101- and 154-yard rushing games, only to sprain a foot in his third start. 

Next candidate Antwone Smith sustained a season-ending knee injury Thursday night. So now they'll turn to undrafted rookie Peyton Barber and journeyman Mike James if Martin can't answer the bell again Sunday.

Last year's restructured offensive line that included two rookie second-round draft picks allowed just 27 sacks, but has allowed 19 so far this season.

So the offense revolves around stud wideout Mike Evans. And rightly so. While his receptions and yards rose comfortably from his first to second year (68-1,051 to 74-1,206), his touchdowns shrunk from a dozen to just three. The Bears limited the 6-foot-5 monster to four catches for 61 yards last December. 

At the halfway point this year? He's tied for fifth in the league with 55 catches already, fifth with 745 yards, and leads the league with eight TD catches. 

Undrafted slot receiver Adam Humphries has 30 catches, while tight end Cameron Brate has caught four touchdowns on 28 grabs. He flashed last year while 2014 second-rounder Austin Sefarian-Jenkins missed the equivalent of half of his first two seasons with injuries. He was simply cut several weeks back after a DUI arrest. 

Speaking of which, Josh Huff, the Eagles wideout/returner waived last week following that same charge in tandem with gun possession violations, was signed to the Bucs' practice squad Monday.

Winston (knee) and Evans (concussion protocol) left last Thursday's loss early, but practiced Monday.

Bears In-Foe: Bucs' 'Smith-for-Smith' swap a bad one thus far.

By Chris Boden

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Lovie Smith out. Mike Smith in. And Tampa Bay's defensive numbers despite some serious off-season investing? Down.

There were five players named "Smith" on the Bucs' roster to open the season. But while Mike had developed a well-earned respect as an assistant prior to a 66-46 head coaching record in Atlanta (where his new boss, Dirk Koetter, was his offensive coordinator), this year's scoring average has gone up by a field goal per game, total defense has dropped from 10th to 28th, while the rush and passing defense has dropped 13 and 11 spots in the rankings. This despite the fact they signed three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes and End Robert Ayers, Jr. (coming off a career-high 9.5 sacks) in free agency. 

They also invested three of their top four draft picks on the defensive side in cornerbacks Vernon Hargreaves III and Ryan Smith, and edge rusher Noah Spence. Throw them in the mix with four-time Pro Bowl tackle (and perhaps the league's best three-technique) Gerald McCoy, and an impressive linebacking trio of Lavonte David, Daryl Smith and Kwon Alexander, and you should have something better here.

After allowing more than 24 points in each of their first four games, they evened their record at 3-3 by permitting Carolina and San Francisco a total of just 31 points. But the last two weeks, facing top-five offenses from Oakland and Atlanta, they've allowed 73 points and ... 1,087 yards! Derek Carr and Matt Ryan completed 70 percent of their passes, which matched last year's average by opposing quarterbacks.

They also wanted to improve upon 2015's 31 touchdown passes allowed and 102.5 opponent passer rating. Those numbers stand at 18 and 103.5, respectively, this year.

McCoy's career 8.8-sack average in his career is higher than Warren Sapp's (8.5). He has four of the Bucs' 17 sacks. Spence has three. At draft time, teams had to weigh Spence's off-the-snap explosion against the drug issues from his past that got him kicked out of Ohio State. 

The Bears missed Alexander last season while serving a four-game PED suspension. Get this: He was Lovie Smith's LONE defensive pick in his two drafts! But what a value he provided in the 2015 fourth round, finishing second on the team in tackles despite missing that month. This year, he's among the league's top tacklers with 61 solos (and in on 72 total).

Daryl Smith has posted 120-plus tackles each of the past three seasons. And David finally got much-deserved Pro Bowl recognition last year after ranking third in the NFL with 147 tackles, combined with a team-leading 10 TFL's, three interceptions, and 13 pass break-ups.

Hargreaves III was the pick Tampa Bay used with the Bears' previous 11th overall pick that they swapped for No. 9 to get Leonard Floyd. He and Grimes have combined for 17 pass breakups (a dozen belonging to Grimes). Then there's old friend Chris Conte. Still surviving, still starting at safety. He and partner Bradley McDougald are the defense's next-leading tacklers so far this year behind Alexander. The Bucs have just four interceptions, but seven fumble recoveries. The team turnover ratio is minus-3.

Special Teams

Connor Barth and Kyle Brindza combined to miss 11 field goal attempts last season. So the Bucs invested their second-round pick on the most accurate kicker in NCAA history. Florida State's Robert Aguayo was perfect from up to 40 yards in his collegiate career and became the highest-drafted kicker in 11 years (Mike Nugent, 2005 Jets).

So how's it working out? Aguayo is 7-of-12 on field goals (four of the misses from 46 yards or in), and 11-of-13 on extra points.

Aforementioned rookie Ryan Smith handles kickoff returns on a unit that has the lowest average in the NFL. Adam Humphries' 9.5-yard punt return average ranks 16th. Tampa Bay's punt coverage team ranks fifth.

CUBS: How Theo Epstein operates and why Cubs won’t be satisfied with just one World Series title.

By Patrick Mooney

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Owners keep hiring young white guys with Ivy League/East Coast backgrounds to run their baseball teams, trying to sell hope to the fans and win the first press conference with the idea of the next Theo Epstein.

That implicit suggestion reduces a future Hall of Famer to a few bullet points in the media guide, underestimating Epstein’s creativity, open-minded nature, relentless approach and ruthless streak. It overlooks the unique, complex working conditions at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. It underestimates how much the game – and his life – has changed since he became the Boston Red Sox general manager in November 2002.  

Credit Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts for not believing that myth, sensing that Epstein had grown tired of the power struggles in Boston and needed a new challenge. Ricketts made the home-run hire in October 2011 and possessed the long-range vision to invest in what’s become a very big front office. Epstein activated the five-year plan where a lot of things actually went wrong…and the franchise still just won its first World Series title since 1908.

Epstein will cast a long shadow over the GM meetings this week at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Arizona, where 29 other franchises will be trying to play catch-up against the Cubs, a defending champion with arguably the industry’s best collection of young talent, a renovated Wrigley Field as an economic engine and promises of a new TV megadeal.

“He’s always looking for something, some type of competition, something to get the juices flowing,” said Darnell McDonald, who played for the Cubs and Red Sox and now works as a coordinator in the organization’s mental-skills program. “You know how they talk about Jordan? How Jordan would get mad if people weren’t guarding him hard enough and he’d get in fights in practice? Yeah, that’s him.”

Epstein absolutely hates to lose, whether it’s races up Camelback Mountain, a group outing to Topgolf, soccer at the team’s spring-training complex in Arizona or a pickup basketball tradition in the playoffs. Epstein’s crew played at the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility during a divisional-round series against the San Francisco Giants. They also took over the Staples Center’s purple-and-gold court in downtown Los Angeles one morning before a National League Championship Series game that night at Dodger Stadium.  

If that sounds like something out of “Entourage,” don’t forget that Epstein has now spent 25 seasons in Major League Baseball, or more than half his life, giving him a broad base of experience and a deep network of contacts.

Super-agent Scott Boras remembered Epstein as a young staffer with the San Diego Padres who joined Kevin Towers – the gunslinger GM at the time – for a meeting about Xavier Nady and kept asking questions. Nady’s 2000 draft class lined up with Epstein getting his degree from the University of San Diego Law School (without really going to class) and trying to build off his Yale University education and exposure to the worlds of scouting and player development.

“We talked about law school and baseball and appropriate backgrounds,” Boras recalled, launching into one of his trademark analogies. “I told him: Law school is like a rubber band on an envelope. The fact of the matter is – it’s what’s inside the envelope that matters. It helps you bundle things. But other than that, you only need it for things that are collective. The real decision-making is in the envelope.”

Really, there is no textbook for handling egomaniacs in Boston or all the wheeling and dealing in Chicago. Handcuffed by the leveraged partnership with Sam Zell’s Tribune Co., the Cubs needed Epstein’s brand name and built-in credibility from those two World Series titles in Boston to justify not operating like a big-market team.

Epstein took the unprecedented step of not spending the entire 2014 payroll on that year’s team after losing the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes to the New York Yankees, essentially creating a savings account for baseball operations (and Jon Lester’s $155 million contract). When the Cubs won 97 games and two playoff rounds last year, Epstein pushed the business side to fund a $290 million spending spree on free agents.   

“As we looked to put the 2003 and ’04 clubs together, there was already an elite core in place,” Epstein told a Cubs Convention audience in January. “You had Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez on the mound. What was needed in Boston was turning over the whole second half of the roster and buying low on players.

“With the Cubs, I think one of the things that we had to do was take an honest look at what was in the organization when we got here. And a lot of people always ask us: ‘Well, we like what you’ve done, but couldn’t you have done it quicker?’ Or: ‘Couldn’t you have tried to compete more while you were rebuilding?’

“And I honestly think looking back that this was the only choice we had to get to this point. There just wasn’t enough talent on the major-league roster. There weren’t enough resources. There wasn’t enough coming in the minor-league system.

“The biggest difference is that here we had to be really single-minded over a three-year period about just acquiring young talent to build to the point we got to in 2015.”

Boras, of course, directed all of his pointed, personal criticism (“Meet the Parents,” “All-Day Sucker”) toward a patient ownership group that wouldn’t take the bait. Boras also emphasized the idea that emerging clients like probable MVP Kris Bryant, Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and All-Star shortstop Addison Russell improved markedly after joining the Cubs.

“We did a lot of business in Boston,” Boras said. “Jackie Bradley wasn’t a first-round pick. You go back into the framework of Varitek and (Derek) Lowe and Jacoby (Ellsbury) and we managed all those things. (Theo) did something smart, though – he always let the negotiations (run through) his staff. He’d have somebody else do them – and we would talk baseball.

“We always had a good rapport and good logic. The one thing that was clear to me was he really enjoyed baseball information. He liked to make collective decisions. Not just his decision. And I think that has really helped him in his career, because he’s surrounded himself with good baseball (people).

“He’s kind of had an egoless approach to being a general manager or a president where he really wanted to come out with the best decision, whether or not that was his original thought going in or not. That’s a real important quality.”

That’s one reason why the Cubs are usually heard in the echo chamber of rumors, even when Epstein didn’t have money to spend or a clear need or an obvious fit for a particular player. The Cubs are always kicking the tires or doing background work and don’t mind when others try to connect the dots, believing there can be a competitive advantage in the misinformation.

Sometimes it takes dumb luck, like when a deal with the Atlanta Braves for Randall Delgado collapses in the middle of the 2012 season. If you could have seen the look on Ryan’s Dempster’s face back then, it would have reinforced a perception that Epstein lacked interpersonal skills, viewed players only as commodities and didn’t spend enough time around the big-league team, skipping almost all of the road trips.

But then Epstein invited Dempster into the team’s offices before that July 31 deadline, working with him to approve a trade to the Texas Rangers that would yield future Cy Young Award contender Kyle Hendricks.

“He cares about the players – he really does,” said Dempster, who’s now one of Epstein’s special assistants. “Hey, man, he’s got a job to do. Sometimes it’s hard, I’m sure, to have to cut that feeling button off and make decisions that are best for the ballclub.

“At the end of the day, he understands the sabermetrics, the numbers side, and all that. But he also understands the chemistry side and guys in the locker room and what they mean. That’s rare. It’s hard to do both, and I think he does both exceptionally well.”

One scout described how draft meetings can be so exhausting, because there are times where it feels like everyone in the room has eliminated the player from consideration, only to have Epstein ask one more question and reignite the discussion. Epstein personally visited with first-round picks Albert Almora Jr. (2012), Bryant (2013) and Kyle Schwarber (2014) before the draft and each player contributed to that Game 7 World Series win over the Cleveland Indians.

“There’s a trust in Theo and his whole process,” said catching/strategy coach Mike Borzello. “You know he’s putting things together and heading in the right direction and you’re just patient about it. Over time – if you’re lucky enough to still be here – you figure it’s going to work out.”

Epstein inherited Mike Quade as manager and quickly fired him after a debriefing on the organization. Epstein hired and fired Dale Sveum and didn’t hesitate to dump another handpicked manager (Rick Renteria) as soon as Joe Maddon became a free agent after the 2014 season. Borzello is a Sveum hire who won four World Series rings with the Yankees before following his godfather, Joe Torre, to Los Angeles. Borzello helped the Cubs dig out of a 101-loss season in 2012, witnessing the entire scope of the rebuild.

“(Theo’s) the perfect guy to work far, as far as I’m concerned, because he takes everyone’s opinion,” Borzello said. “He values your opinion, whether you’re in (agreement) or not. He wants to hear why you feel the way you do. He evaluates everyone’s ideas and comes to his own decision.

“I’ve been in places before where that wasn’t really the case. You felt like a lot of people had things to offer and they really weren’t asked. And maybe you can avoid some mistakes just by using all that you have.

“Theo values that more than anywhere that I’ve ever worked.”

Epstein never trashed the place after losing the bidding war for Jose Contreras, but he had gone into those negotiations by instructing Louie Eljaua to buy up a block of rooms at the Hotel Campo Real in Nicaragua, trying to box out the Yankees and get the Red Sox closer to the Cuban pitcher. Eljaua – a trusted holdover from the Jim Hendry regime – now runs international operations for the Cubs as another one of Epstein’s special assistants.

“I believe he has a genuine appreciation for what everyone does in baseball operations,” Eljaua said, “from the scouts to the player-development people to the medical staff (to) the clubhouse guys. He will go out of his way to pat someone on the back or shoot someone a text or an email and commend them on a job well done. You may not take the time to do that as much when you’re 28 or 29 years old.

“He expects excellence – and the bar is set real high here – but I would say he’s more patient with the process than he was 15 years ago. He’s also earned the right to implement a plan that requires patience, as he’s done here. The plan still has to be executed. And he’s done an amazing job of steering the ship and making sure we all have the tools to get it done.” 

With Epstein signed to a five-year extension worth in the neighborhood of $50 million, the Cubs ending a 108-year drought really only feels like the beginning of a golden age of baseball on the North Side.

Cubs make several moves to 40-man roster.

By CSN Staff

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The Cubs' 2016 season is officially over and preparations for their title defense has begun.

The Cubs announced Monday that they have selected RHP Jose Rosario from Triple-A Iowa, and claimed RHP Conor Mullee off waivers from the New York Yankees and activated him from the 60-day disabled list.

They also activated RHP Dallas Beeler, RHP Aaron Brooks, LHP Zac Rosscup and infielder Christian Villanueva, all of whom were on the 60-day DL. Beeler was outrighted to Iowa, along with RHP Andury Acevedo and catcher Tim Federowicz.

The Cubs' 40-man roster now stands at 34 players.

Cubs jump into offseason, making Dexter Fowler a $17.2 million qualifying offer.

By Patrick Mooney

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Taking a victory lap in New York, Dexter Fowler did “Saturday Night Live” with Bill Murray, Anthony Rizzo and David Ross. Less than 48 hours later, Fowler was scheduled to be on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, Rizzo and Ben Zobrist. In between those TV appearances, the Cubs made Fowler a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer before Monday’s deadline.

The Cubs barely had time to recover from their epic Game 7 win over the Cleveland Indians – and a championship parade into Grant Park that drew 5 million people – before having to make key decisions about the group that will defend the franchise’s first World Series title in 108 years.

Even before the general manager meetings opened in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Cubs allowed Jason Hammel to become a free agent on Sunday, formally declining his $12 million option for next season and electing to him pay a $2 million buyout.

“You sort of accept the nature of that in the sport,” GM Jed Hoyer said. “The last two teams to play really don’t get much of an offseason. You try to do work during the course of the postseason, but it’s really hard, just the anxiety of the games and the travel and everything. It’s harder to get it done. But there are no excuses. It starts now. And we’ve got to prepare to field a really good team next year.”

This figures to be the “he gone” ending for the “you go, we go” leadoff guy. Of course, no one expected Fowler to return in spring training on a one-year, $13 million guarantee. But the draft-pick compensation dragged down his market and the Baltimore Orioles slow-played negotiations over a reported three-year, $35 million deal. He should get paid this time for his playoff experience, switch-hitting skills, .366 career on-base percentage and .840 walk-year OPS.

The Cubs have been grooming Albert Almora Jr. – the first player Theo Epstein’s regime drafted here in 2012 – to eventually take over in center field and his playoff performance only reinforced that belief in a potential Gold Glove defender.

The Cubs could always add another outfielder if they want to ease in Almora. But that mix already includes so many mix-and-match parts for creative manager Joe Maddon. Gold Glove defender Jason Heyward can move from right to center at times. Zobrist and Kris Bryant can move between the infield and the outfield. Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber – assuming his left knee allows it – could split their time between catching and playing in the outfield.

Matt Szczur is a solid young role player (who might be attractive to a rebuilding team that could give him more of an opportunity to play on a regular basis). Trading Jorge Soler for pitching is easier said than done, given his up-and-down career and what will be sky-high asking prices based off a weak free-agent class. Ready or not, winter is coming.

Cubs' Theo Epstein named Sporting News Executive of the Year.

By CSN Staff

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

After constructing a World Series team in a city that hadn't seen a championship in 108 years, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was named Sporting News Executive of the Year.

The award is voted on by a panel of 56 major league executives, which took place at the end of the regular season.

The Cubs' win total has improved each year since Epstein signed with the club in October of 2011, and built the best team in baseball this season after winning 103 games, the franchise's highest win total since 1910.

They also won the NL Central by 17.5 games, the biggest first-place margin since 1906.

Epstein is the third Cub to win this respective award, joining Phil Wrigley (1945) and Dallas Green (1984).

Here are the full results:

1. Theo Epstein, Cubs (13)
2. Chris Antonetti, Indians (9)
3. Brian Cashman, Yankees (8)
4. Jon Daniels, Rangers (7)
T-5. Mike Chernoff, Indians (3)
T-5. Mike Rizzo, Nationals (3)
T-7. Dan Duquette, Orioles (2)
T-7. Jed Hoyer, Cubs (2)
9. Other: 7

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Chicago Bulls - Orlando Magic Preview.

From Statsalt

(Photo/statsalt.com)

NBA: Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. ET

The Bulls snapped their three-game losing streak in their last game, which was a 112-80 blowout of the Orlando Magic. Their defense had failed to shot up in losing three in a row where they gave up an average of 112 ppg. This was after playing solid D in winning their first three games of the season and overall they rank 11th in the league in opponents’ points allowed. Dwyane Wade is the 2nd leading scorer (16.9 ppg) proving he still has some gas left in his tank and the Bulls, who rank 9th in ppg, have five players averaging in double figures.

The Hawks won their first three games of the season before a two-game skid. They did rebound to win after that to snap that skid, but they really have failed to beat a very good team. Still, they are over .500 and they rank in the top eight in the league in points per game and opponents’ points per game.

The Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against the Bulls.

Getting back to playing good D

After struggling on defense in their three-game losing streak the Bulls held the Magic to a FG% of only 38.8% in their last game. While Chicago shot a legit FG% of 47.2% they were cold from deep missing 16 of their 19 3-pointers. In the game Jimmy Butler scored 20 points and Wade and Taj Gibson chimed in for 16 apiece. The bench also helped in the game combining to score 43 points. Last season the Bulls had no success against the Hawks losing all four meetings.

It is pretty easy for Chicago, as their defense will be vital. When they have given up more than 100 points they are only 1-3. This season the Bulls are 1-2 away from the Windy City.

Hawks are all about balance

The Hawks are a very balanced team and not just because they rank in the top 10 in ppg and opponents’ ppg. They have four players averaging in double figures in PF Paul Millsap, C Dwight Howard, and two guards. Howard has fit in nicely with his new squad and is averaging 17 ppg and 12.4 rpg. He and Millsap are a formidable frontcourt duo and the Bulls will have their hands full in the paint. It is key that Atlanta feeds the ball to Howard close to the hoop, as he is shooting 61.7% from the floor.

The Hawks are 3-1 at home this season. Their last home game may have been their best of the season beating the Houston Rockets 112-97 where they shot 52.9% from the floor and held Houston to 43.5% shooting.

The Chicago Bulls are:

• 7-25 ATS in their last 32 vs. NBA Southeast
• 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600

The Atlanta Hawks are:

• 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games
• 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall

The Bulls are coming off a solid win where they played well on both sides of the court, but it came at home and against a sub .500 Orlando Magic team. They only have one win on the road and that came against he Brooklyn Nets. The Hawks have a solid offense and defense and they will show that in their house in this game beating the Bulls and covering the spread.

Pick: Hawks

Exclusive: Dwyane Wade shares story of Heat's disrespect and why he left Miami for the Bulls.

By Vincent Goodwill

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Dwyane Wade stood at his new space in his new locker room, focused on looking ahead as his recent past was getting ready to stare him in the face. A return to Miami, a place nobody in their right mind thought he would ever leave, is looming.

The former “Heat Lifer” chuckles at the campaign built around him a couple years back, seeing as how he left his kingdom once he found out it was never really his to begin with.

“I thought it was an opportunity I would be there forever, but s--t happens,” Wade said in an exclusive interview with CSNChicago.com after the Bulls’ 112-80 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night “And when s--t happens, you gotta be prepared to (move on). I found out very quickly that this is a business.”

Wade is a Chicago Bull in large part due to the business end of basketball, as he left Miami in free agency over the summer when negotiations with the franchise he never wanted to leave went sour.

He insists there’s no hurt feelings with the Miami Heat franchise he became synonymous with, though he hasn’t spoken to Heat president Pat Riley since his departure — the only member of the franchise he hasn’t spoken with since free agency started, as one could say Riley is the sole reason Wade is wearing Bulls red as opposed to Heat red.

“I've kept in touch from everybody there besides Pat. From the owners on down,” Wade said. “It's nothing but respect, and I have no hard feelings. I understand what Pat is, he's a competitor. I've been knowing him for 13 years so I expect no different.

“People might not believe me, but I have no hard feelings toward Pat. Everything happened the way it was supposed to happen, everything happens for a reason, so I'm fine.”

Wade has added a level of maturity to the Bulls’ franchise, not just the locker room, since his arrival after an ugly divorce that left Wade feeling less of a priority and more of an afterthought to the Heat — a franchise with which he helped deliver NBA titles and bring a level of prestige to South Florida, which isn’t exactly a basketball hotbed.

How did it get here?

Well, as with all marriages that end abruptly, there’s complications and possibly misinterpretations all across the board. Wade and the Heat had different priorities headed into last summer as the Heat wanted to make a run at free agent Kevin Durant while keeping young center Hassan Whiteside in the fold.

Keeping that salary-cap space open for two max deals meant Wade had to twist in the wind a bit while the Heat tried to reload for a run at former mate LeBron James in the East.

“Definitely,” said Wade when asked if he felt a certain way about where he fit on the pecking order. “The biggest thing, is all about the way you communicate. I understand this business just as good as anybody. But it's a way, someone like me, a way you communicate what you're trying to do, and how you're gonna do it and what it looks like for me.”

The common courtesy and respect he felt he was due by the franchise — completely different from special treatment, he’s intimated on multiple occasions — went out the window, at least long enough for Wade to seriously explore other options.

“That's it. When you get respect, that's what you get back,” Wade said. “I've given nothing but respect. I feel like a lot of things in this world and this league are mishandled from the notion of communication. That's it.

“At the end of the day, I talked to those guys and I told them, 'It's free agency. I understand y'all have a job to do, and I have a job to do as well.' I let it be known I was going to be a free agent and I wasn't waiting by the phone for them to call me.”

At 34 years old, Wade feels like there was a middle ground that could’ve been found between what the Heat wanted to do externally and what should’ve been handled internally.

Each side had different priorities after being aligned for so long, with the Heat not wanting to be cap-strapped to a Kobe Bryant-like contract during his final two years with the Lakers, believing Wade couldn’t be a top-line player for a contender, while Wade felt he had to look out for himself.

It doesn’t make either wrong or right, but the relationship was headed in a different direction.

“And I did my homework because I understand Hassan was a priority, which he should've been,” Wade said. “I understood that they were trying to go out and get KD, because that's something they wanted to do. But I had to look out for myself and put myself in a situation that I wanted to be in, if things didn't work out the way I wanted them to work out and they didn't.”

Wade has become one of the more respected players in basketball not only for his play but his sacrifices and the way he helped James along when James came to Miami.

It’s not a stretch to say Wade made the biggest salary sacrifices in the history of basketball, turning down tens of millions of dollars in two contracts to help the Heat facilitate signings of James and Chris Bosh in 2010 while also keeping longtime teammate Udonis Haslem.

“You do things because you want to do them. All those things I did to stay in Miami was because I wanted to do them,” Wade said. “When I made the sacrifice, when I could've gotten $127 million and I took $110 million to make sure LeBron and Chris (come) but I also have UD (Haslem) stay, those were things I wanted to do. I didn't want to be in Miami and enjoy the success and not have UD there.”

Wade makes clear he wasn’t coerced or promised anything from the Heat franchise, and it sounds like if given the opportunity for a mulligan, he’d probably make the same decision.

Wade became a Chicago villain for spurning the Bulls but won two more championships in addition to winning Finals MVP in 2006 as a 24-year old.

“As a player, you know the saying, ‘all money ain't good money?’ Sometimes you make a decision to put yourself in a great situation more so than going to get the dollar,” Wade said. “I've been blessed to have a lot of endorsement money as well, and I've been able to make money up — you can't make money up, but I've been able to keep afloat (laughs).”

And unprompted, Wade addresses what he believes is the biggest misconception of the entire ordeal.

“So I never ...” Wade started, his eyes darting from his clothes to make strong eye contact. “There's this notion out there that I expected stuff on the back end. No, I've always wanted as a player what I was worth.”

So the player who was never the highest-paid player on his own team despite being the best athlete in his adopted state (only Dan Marino compares) didn’t feel valued, seemingly by Riley more than Heat owner Micky Arison.

Contentious negotiations followed when Wade opted out from the deal he signed in 2010 to try to help the Heat retain James, only to see James return to Cleveland after the 2013-14 season.

“That's when things started changing,” Wade said. “They decided to max out Chris, which I was all for. And then it became a situation with me from that standpoint and I wasn't happy with it.”

Wade and Bosh shared the same agent at the time, Henry Thomas, but they all operated as separate entities compared to their initial partnership. Wade signed a short deal but clearly wasn’t satisfied as their long-term objectives begun to grow wider and wider as Wade got older.

“I ain't gonna say, oh, I was happy go lucky,” he said. “Then I opted out again and the next year I signed the one-year, $20 million deal because I never made $20 million in a season. I wanted multiple years, they wanted to be players in free agency, I understand that.”

Calmly and reflectively, Wade answered every query about a big change in his career and life without much bitterness. But the one thing that stumped the first-ballot Hall of Famer was when he was asked if the Heat’s final offer was their initial offer, would he have stayed?

Multiple reports from the summer stated the Heat offered Wade $10 million annually — which considering the salary boom last summer along with the way Wade nearly carried the Heat back to the Eastern Conference Finals probably felt like a slap in the face.

Their final offer was a two-year, $40 million deal, some $7 million less than the Bulls came to the table with, and factoring in Florida’s lack of state taxes, Wade would’ve broke about even.

“It might've been different. I don't know. It could've been. It never happened,” Wade said. “It's hard to say because it never happened. I was never put in that position, and I wasn't the first option. I'm not sensitive to say, ‘If I'm not the first option, I'm leaving.’”

But he felt more like the fallback option than the priority after the Heat inked Whiteside to a max deal and struck out with Durant — a prospect that didn’t seem too realistic in hindsight.

“Obviously I've done my job and duty and stayed there,” he said. “This time I knew it was going to be different. When I went into free agency, I knew it was gonna be different. I just felt it. That's why I did my best to communicate with the powers that be. And I told them what I was gonna do.”

The powers that be?

“The powers that be. The owners, yeah (laughs), because that's what I did the last couple years,” Wade said.

As in not Riley, the man who knew Wade played two of his best individual seasons on teams that couldn’t compete because Riley wanted to hunt for Big Game, as in James.

As in not Riley, the man who saw the sacrifices Wade made to get players to Miami and try to keep them together.

So when Wade says “all money ain’t good money,” it helped the Heat on the front end but came back to bite them last summer. One offer was presented with love and respect, while the other was tinged with resentment.

Making the decision to choose Chicago meant putting himself first, and he was asked if that was difficult.

“No. At this age and point in my career, it wasn't,” Wade said. “And that's why I tell everybody it wasn't a hard decision. It's tough to make a decision when you know you get a couple days to make this decision and it's not gonna be the most popular decision because of X, Y and Z.

“For me, I don't know how many more years I have left to play this game. It's about doing what I want to do at this moment. Not saying I didn't do what I wanted, I always did what I wanted, but it's continuing to have the ability to do that. And I did. I put myself first for once. I didn't say, hey, I waited on Miami to come to me. At the end of the day, I could've come back to Miami and made great money. The contract they offered me was good. By the time it got to me, my heart was somewhere else.”

His heart was north, back home in Chicago with a franchise that desperately needed the credibility Wade could provide while Wade needed the love the Bulls franchise was showing him.

In Miami, he saw teammate Caron Butler get traded when the franchise told him he wouldn’t get moved. He saw Shaquille O’Neal moved when that relationship went south.

Perhaps he always knew the term “Heat Lifer” applies to one person and one person only: Riley.

“It's his show,” Wade said. “For the most part, he's the one who's always there. The players come and go (laughs).

“I never carry myself, like, oh, I'm the Miami Heat, like I can never be traded. That's just not who I am, I've seen this business early on. I'm not that cocky guy like that. I knew it was a possibility, either they might've gotten rid of me or I may have gotten an opportunity to go elsewhere.”

The latter occurred, and coming from someone who saw Michael Jordan in a Wizards uniform, he never thought he was too good to have his ending somewhere else — though it would’ve been special to stay in one place.

“A lot of (great) players played with a lot of other teams. You can count on one hand, two possibly,” Wade said. “Not saying I didn't think I would be one of those guys. I did everything in my power to be one of those guys, and that's all you can do.

“That's why I tell the (Heat) fans, I did everything I could to make sure I stay here. And then it got to a point where, you know what, it was no more I could do. I had to go and do what's best for myself and my family and my future when it comes to my happiness. I want to feel wanted as well. Who doesn't (want to feel) appreciated?”

He said he felt like a voice was tapping him on his shoulder saying “Chicago, Chicago,” so chasing his childhood dream became a reality — but left plenty of questions he’s attempted to answer in the time since last summer as he approaches going to American Airlines Arena as a visitor for the first time.

When he does, he’ll see plenty of old faces, familiar ones that will evoke great memories and likely a feeling of wistfulness. If he sees Riley in a back hallway or on the floor while warming up Thursday, he won’t shun him.

“Life is too short to be holding grudges. At the end of the day, Pat has helped me become a very rich man,” Wade said. “Me and Pat have won championships together. We've both helped each other’s legacies. I love that guy. I know how he is. He's stubborn just like I am.”

Two stubborn men made history, and at the moment Wade doesn’t foresee a reunion in the way James went back to Cleveland. The man who makes a habit out of saying “live in the moment” believes he’s vested in Chicago with the Bulls franchise, not worrying about what will happen when he becomes a free agent again.

“Honestly, I'm happy here, and that's all I'm focused on,” Wade said. “I'm not focused on that. I wanna see those young kids grow. I'm focused on here and what I can do here. And talking to Gar (Forman) and Pax (John Paxson), what's next for me here? I'm not focused on anything else.”

But just as there was something tapping him on the shoulder saying “Chicago, Chicago” as a free agent, “Miami” is looming and he can’t put it off much longer. If he can keep his emotions in check, showing the Heat what they’re missing is likely top of mind.

“Bobby (Portis) just said it in the bathroom, 'Thursday's gonna be crazy, you ready?' I said ‘nah, I ain't.’” Wade admitted. “I don't know what kind of emotions will come over me. I don't know how I'll feel, what it'll look like. I'll get ready when it comes.”

Bulls bounce back with big win over Magic.

By Vincent Goodwill

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

If it’s one thing this Bulls team should learn or will learn, it’s that good to great defense will cover and cure a lot of ills, as their worst offensive quarter of Monday’s 112-80 win over the Orlando Magic was obscured by a defensive masterpiece of sorts in the same 12 minutes.

They responded to their first big of adversity this season with a resounding “A”, holding the Magic to 19 percent shooting in the third quarter, allowing just 11 points and outscoring the Magic by 16.

Forcing turnovers has been the only hallmark of this team defensively, but for the first time they forced an offensively-awkward Magic team into misses—especially after the first few minutes looked like an instant replay of the last three games, where defense was optional.

They changed that narrative for a night, as the Magic shot just 39 percent while trailing by as many as 39 points.

“That’s where it’s going to start for us,” Jimmy Butler said. “We scored the ball decently. But whenever we’re guarding, it makes the game a lot easier. We want to continue to play like that.”

They harassed the young and new Magic team to 15 turnovers, leading to plenty of open court opportunities and overall crisp offensive play that was missing in Indiana Saturday night.

“A totally different mindset than we had starting the game and the entire game at Indiana,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “The big message at halftime was to be the aggressor going out and I thought our guys responded to that.”

Butler scored 20 with seven assists, five rebounds and four steals while Dwyane Wade and Taj Gibson each scored 16, as the Bulls shot 47 percent.

Gibson hasn’t spent any summers with Hakeem Olajuwon or Kevin McHale but his post work against new Magic addition Serge Ibaka probably led some to believe he acquired a new skill set over the summer.

He put Ibaka in the spin cycle for most of the night in the post, faking and wheeling around for easy layups and duck-ins while Ibaka, a pretty good defender, was left in the dust.

It signified a more definitive and aggressive Bulls team for most of the night. They went to the foul line far more (31 attempts to six) and outrebounded the Magic by a decent margin of 56-39.

“If you draw the defender and make the simple play, you take advantage of the numbers on the back end,” Hoiberg said. “When we attack the basket like we’re doing, trying to drive and close out and draw contact, you get yourself to the free throw line.”

That mindset was on both ends, as it’s clear the Bulls are playing in peaks and valleys early on.

“It takes awhile to get consistent. Some teams get it, some teams don’t,” Wade said. “You don’t have to win every game at home, but most at home and go .500 on the road. That will get you to 48-to-50 victories.”

He didn’t want to look too far ahead, being so early in the season but it’s clear if the defensive intensity can carry—especially on the road—then he believes a 50 win-season is possible.

In one sequence, Wade switched out and knocked it away from Evan Fournier, leading to a fast break and Butler layup.

Butler then stole the inbounds pass, saved it from going out of bounds and the hustle resulted in a Rondo short jumper.

In the end, the sequence didn’t mean much in the outcome, but with the Bulls only up by six, it turned things in the Bulls’ favor when past history suggests it was very possible.

“Be aggressive, attacking the rim,” Butler said. “We protected our home court, you don’t want to lose at the United Center.”

It was part of a 23-3 run that ended matters, as the Bulls took a 25-point lead headed into the fourth quarter.

Hoiberg made a shrewd move early in pulling Rajon Rondo after the Magic scored 20 points in the first five minutes, with Magic guard Elfrid Payton giving the Bulls fits with his penetration and feeding to Nikola Vucevic for easy jumpers.

“The message was to pick it up, start guarding, make it uncomfortable,” Hoiberg said. “We denied some passes, that threw off some timing. That’s what it was about, all about getting out and making them uncomfortable. We did a much better job.”

Isaiah Canaan was inserted after a Payton end-to-end layup and the fun ended for the Magic there. A 19-2 run ensued to finish the quarter, as Hoiberg also gave second-year forward Bobby Portis a look late in the first quarter to add more energy.

“We didn’t guard a soul in the first four or six minutes,” Butler said. “After that, we started doing our job.”

Wade scored 12 in the first half and Butler 11 as the Bulls still couldn’t fully put the Magic away, allowing them to stay within nine at the half by shooting 55 percent.

Then the third quarter began and the faucet was shut off, leading to the Bulls stopping the bleeding, dishing out some pain of their own.

WHITE SOX: GM Rick Hahn hints that rebuild could be on horizon for White Sox.

By Dan Hayes

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

It does Rick Hahn no good from a strategical standpoint to come out and say the White Sox are ready to facilitate the sale of a number of highly-valuable assets this offseason.

But if you look at all the hints the White Sox general manager has dropped since he noted in July that the club was yet again mired in mediocrity, including several more at Tuesday’s GM meetings, the franchise appears to have a clear direction on the horizon.

The White Sox could be on the verge of a historic roster teardown that includes the trades of pitchers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, among many others. With a free agent class thin on talent, especially among starting pitchers, and a top-heavy 25-man roster that has several critical, expensive holes to fill, the common belief is the White Sox are well-positioned to build for a bright future if they make their players available.

And while Hahn took every opportunity Tuesday to qualify that he wasn’t defining which direction the White Sox are headed during a 45-minute media session, he also continued to hammer home that the franchise is ready for a change.

“We’ve always been focused on putting ourselves in the best position to win,” Hahn said. “At the same time, I think we’re veering away from the standpoint of looking for stopgaps. A lot of what we did in the last few years had been trying to enhance the short-term potential of the club to put ourselves in a position to win immediately. I feel the approach at this point is focusing on longer-term benefits. It doesn’t mean we won’t necessarily be in a good position in 2017. It means that our targets and whatever we’re hoping to accomplish have a little more longer-term fits in nature.”

If they’ve truly reached the conclusion a rebuild is their best plan, the White Sox haven’t arrived at that point easily.

A rotation complete with Sale, Quintana and power-arm Carlos Rodon would lend most teams to the believe they’re only a few players away from postseason glory. But several years of frustration and disappointment -- they haven’t had a winning record since 2012 and have no postseason appearances in eight seasons -- and an honest assessment about what they’d need to compete in 2017 could force them into action.

At the very least, the White Sox as constructed need a starting catcher, a center fielder and a big left-handed bat --- potentially upwards of $30-35 million in contracts --- as well as another reliever.

“It’s very clear we have certain needs on this roster,” Hahn said. “None of those things are in great supply out in the free agent market right now. So in order to add to this group and put ourselves in position to win we’d have to get a little more creative and do it via trade in all probability.”

After several years of trying “half measures” and “stop gaps,” Hahn sounds as if the White Sox have come to the conclusion those wouldn’t do any more. No longer is a team that is too thin at the top of its farm system -- Baseball America’s top-10 White Sox prospect list released Monday included five players drafted in June -- hopeful it can catch lightning in a bottle with players on one-year deals, ie: Mat Latos, Jimmy Rollins and Austin Jackson.

The White Sox would find themselves in an enviable position if they move forward with such a plan.

A five-time All-Star who’s owed $38 million over the next three seasons if his options are picked up, Sale would likely be the best pitcher, possibly best player, available this offseason.

A first-time All-Star in 2016 who has produced 18.1 f-WAR the past four seasons, Quintana is owed roughly $37 million over the next four years if his two team options are picked up.

David Robertson is owed $25 million over two seasons in a year where Kenley Jansen could fetch $70 million. Adam Eaton, who produced 6.0 f-WAR and is a Gold Glove finalist for the second time in three seasons, is owed $38.4 million if his options for 2020 and 2021 were to be picked up. Todd Frazier is in the final year of arbitration and Melky Cabrera has one season left on his three-year deal.

But who would stay and who would go all depends on what’s being offered.

“Should we go to the position of selling off assets and looking more toward the long-term future, the market will dictate how deep of a cut that is based upon the return for some of our players potentially,” Hahn said. “But the market plays a huge role and part of that is being patient and making sure you have a firm understanding of the value of first, what’s available elsewhere, as well as how your players are viewed by the industry.”

The White Sox concluded their organizational meetings at the nearby Biltmore Resort on Sunday afternoon. Hahn characterized the three-day session as a “great benefit to us all.” Not only did the organization have a chance to determine its direction, but manager Rick Renteria also had his first chance to address the group, Hahn said.

Hahn said the White Sox have had discussions about where they are headed for several seasons. Those talks intensified in July when the club determined it wouldn’t try to supplement its 2016 roster with short-term additions.

One reason the club has long cited its continuance of an aggressive win-now approach is chairman Jerry Reinsdorf’s desire to bring the club another World Series title. But several months after Reinsdorf promised his front office would be “in lock step” this offseason, Hahn said he thinks the White Sox front office is on the same page about what they must do. And if the White Sox are headed for a rebuild, it would only come with Reinsdorf’s blessing.

“The offseason plans are crafted with his involvement and his approval,” Hahn said. “So it’s not a shock when we come to him and say we need to commit fully to this direction, regardless of what direction that is, because he’s been part of that conversation for a number of years. “Ultimately he’s a competitor, just like the rest of us. Ultimately he wants to win as quickly as possible like the rest of us. But at the same time, he also understands where we sit in the likelihood of getting ourselves in that position, and what it requires to get ourselves in that position in the short term, and if that’s not feasible, the reasons why we have to take a longer-term view.”

As frank as he was Tuesday, Hahn isn’t yet ready to state which direction the White Sox are headed. Given how baseball’s offseason is always a high-stakes game of poker, where posturing and bluffing matter, Hahn doesn’t want to give away his position. But once the White Sox do, Hahn promises their frustrated fanbase won’t have any trouble figuring out which way they’re headed.

“I don’t think it’s real beneficial for us to lay it all out there publicly,” Hahn said. "Once we start making transactions, we’ll explain our rationale behind what we’re doing and why we did it. But at this point, to announce intentions to every other club and agent that’s out there that we may be doing business with, there’s not a ton of strategic advantage for us. However, once we start making moves, which ultimately is what people care about, is what is the transaction going to be and what’s the direction signaled by those transactions, we’ll spend a fair amount of time explaining why we got to where we got to.”

Golf: I got a club for that..... Monahan officially named PGA Tour commissioner.

By Will Gray

(Photo/membersjacksonville.com)

Jay Monahan is set to replace Tim Finchem as PGA Tour commissioner. GolfChannel.com writers weigh in with one big item Monahan should address early in his new role.

By RYAN LAVNER

As successful as the PGA Tour has been since 1994, when Tim Finchem took over as commissioner, there still are clear areas for improvement.  

The biggest is the Tour’s transparency problem.

Under Finchem, the Tour employed the ol’ bury-your-head-in-the-sand strategy when it came to issues of player misconduct. Once, Finchem rather infamously stated: “We don’t think the fans really want to know about most of the stuff we would be talking about.”

Maybe not, but by taking this stance in regards to player fines and suspensions, the Tour differs from every other major sporting organization. Others have long realized what the Tour has not — that a public reprimand is often the best deterrent.

The Tour would also benefit from a more transparent process with its anti-doping program and slow play, sending a clear message to both players and fans that it takes all of these issues, both large and small, seriously.

By REX HOGGARD

When Jay Monahan finally settles into the big office at the PGA Tour, there will be no shortage of issues, both large and small, to be addressed; but the most pressing may be the Tour’s very identity.

For the majority of Finchem’s tenure as commissioner, Tiger Woods was the undisputed top draw, bringing new fans to the game and driving interest and television ratings to all-time highs.

Whether Woods is able to regain something close to that level of competitive relevance remains to be seen following multiple back procedures and more than a year on the disabled list, which means Monahan will likely have to look to a star-by-committee concept going forward.

Much like the NBA when Michael Jordan retired, the Tour will have to make the collective the conversation, a prospect made easier by a group of talented young players – from Jason Day and Rory McIlroy to Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth – that have emerged.

Parity isn’t necessarily a bad thing in sports if presented to the public correctly, which means it’ll be up to Monahan & Co. to frame the narrative properly going forward.

By RANDALL MELL

If Jay Monahan is putting up a suggestion box outside his office door, here’s an idea: How about a Major League Baseball type Opening Day for the PGA Tour in the future?

How about trying to get the new year – not the wrap-around season – off to a big bang start, instead of this soft Tournament of Champions start in Hawaii? Too many champions aren’t even showing up there anymore. Outgoing commissioner Tim Finchem did a terrific job creating a lot of big events through the PGA Tour schedule, but the rest of sports barely notices the PGA Tour is up and running again come January.

Yes, of course, there are challenges beginning the new year amid the NFL playoffs, but leading off with the WGC-Match Play Championship would get the PGA Tour some attention, especially if the Tour went back to the event’s old format, where the first- and second-round matchups created such a nice buzz.

Yes, there’s the danger of an anticlimactic weekend, with big names leaving early, but the electricity created in those first two rounds would finally give the PGA Tour an Opening Day feel people would notice.

By WILL GRAY

The new commissioner should walk into his new digs and immediately take a look at the calendar. When he does, there’s a chance he’ll realize that less is more.

This season the Tour will conduct a whopping 47 events across seven different countries. It’s a testament to the accomplishments of Monahan’s predecessor, but it has also created a sense that the competitive schedule extends in perpetuity.

The term “off-season” is thrown around with tongue planted firmly in cheek, often in reference to a stretch of days or weeks instead of months. More importantly, the stretched schedule tends to water down the overall product and creates a scenario where the Tour’s efforts to conjure a climactic close to the season run squarely up against the start of football, when the attention of the TV audience is fragmented.

And while the 2016 schedule was more hectic than most, it’s still a troubling sign when players from Jason Day to Justin Rose have to sideline themselves because the injuries accrued over a busy summer simply haven’t had enough time to properly heal.

Granted, this is a good problem to have, and as long as sponsors are lining up with checks in hand the Tour will – and should – gladly accept their money. But if Monahan hopes to carve out a more distinct identity for his product, he might want to start moving a few pieces around on the calendar in his office.

Zurich Classic to become team event in 2017.

By Will Gray

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans will reportedly switch to a two-man team format in 2017, becoming the PGA Tour's first team event in nearly 40 years.

According to Golf Channel reporter George Savaricas, the event will feature 80 teams of two. Both members of the winning team will receive the two-year Tour exemption that typically accompanies a victory in an official event, and each winning player will receive 400 FedEx Cup points. A regular tournament offers 500 points to the winner and 300 to the runner-up.

According to Savaricas, both winning team members will earn spots in the Tournament of Champions and PGA Championship, but will not receive Masters invitations for the team win.

The top 80 qualifiers will be allowed to choose their own teammate, with the caveat that their partner must have at least some PGA Tour status this season. If not, the selection will require the use of a sponsor invite.

Savaricas reports that play will include one round of foursomes (alternate shot) and one round of fourballs (best ball) before the 36-hole cut to the low 35 teams.

A PGA Tour official declined to comment on any proposed changes to the tournament's format.

Should the changes be implemented, it will mark the overhaul of an event that sometimes struggles to draw an elite field and often battles inclement weather delays during its late spring slot on the schedule. This year it took until Monday to complete 54 holes at TPC Louisiana, where the truncated event was won by Brian Stuard in a playoff over Jamie Lovemark and Byeong-Hun An. Next year's event will be held April 27-30.

The most recent official team event on Tour was the Walt Disney World National Team Championship, which featured a two-man format from 1974-81 before reverting back to individual stroke play in 1982.

Spieth plans to scale back travel heading into 2017.

By Will Gray

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

Jordan Spieth hopes that a lighter travel schedule will translate into better results heading into 2017.

Spieth was notably absent from the WGC-HSBC Champions in China last month, and he has not played a stroke-play event since the Tour Championship. He'll return to action next week at the Australian Open and will make his final start of the calendar year at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

But as Spieth told Golf.com, his break since the Ryder Cup has been by design.

"I just wanted an off-season. I needed some time off," Spieth said.

Spieth's light early-season schedule is a stark contrast to the ambitious itinerary he cobbled together after a record-setting season in 2015. Last year Spieth made 12 starts across six different countries leading up to the Masters, including stops in Abu Dhabi and Singapore for which he reportedly received lucrative appearance fees.

Spieth has slipped to fifth in the world rankings after starting the year ranked No. 1, and this time around he hopes that less (travel) will lead to more (wins).

"I might do more, but I want to take it slow and see what happens," he said. "I don't need that (travel). I didn't miss it at all."

Spieth's next official PGA Tour start is expected to be the Jan. 5-8 Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, where he will defend the title he won by eight shots earlier this year.

NASCAR: Power Rankings: Should Carl Edwards be No. 1?

By Nick Bromberg

These two drivers are at the top of our Power Rankings. But in what order? (Photo/Getty)

1. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 1): Let’s put Johnson’s Texas dominance into perspective. His 11th-place finish (after pitting on the final caution in a no-lose strategy in case the race went back green) was his worst finish at the track since the spring race in 2014.

And if you want to go back in Johnson’s career at Texas, it’s a really bad finish too. His average finish in 27 starts at the track is 8.4. Sunday night’s finish ties for his sixth-worst among those 27 starts. Absolutely crazy.

2. Carl Edwards (LW: 8): Edwards’ Martinsville finish is why we can’t vault him up to No. 1 this week. But it’s still good enough for a six-spot jump and a deserved second in the standings.

Edwards needed to reverse his summer and fall performance to have a shot for the championship. And he’s done that. Sunday’s win was his first since Richmond in April and his second top-five of the Chase. From Richmond to the Chase — a span of 17 races, Edwards had finished in the top five just twice.

He hasn’t been exceptionally excellent in the Chase with just three top-10 finishes in the eight races so far. But he’s won at the right time. And that’s more important than sustained performance in this Chase format.

3. Joey Logano (LW: 2): Will Logano rue Texas as the one that got away? It’ll be impossible not to if he misses out on making it to Homestead by a point or two. It’s a four-way battle for the final spots in the Chase at the moment, and it could just be for one spot if Kevin Harvick wins at Phoenix.

Logano led 178 laps Sunday night and ended up finishing second after he lost the lead on a green-flag pit stop cycle.

4. Kyle Busch (LW: 6): Here’s the man tied with Logano in the points standings. Technically, they’re also tied with Jimmie Johnson at 4,074 points, but since Johnson has the Martinsville win he’s irrelevant to the discussion. They’re just one point ahead of Matt Kenseth and two points ahead of Denny Hamlin.

If it matters — and it could if Busch finishes a spot ahead of Logano but Logano leads a lap at Phoenix — Logano has the tiebreaker over Busch currently with that second-place finish at Texas.

5. Matt Kenseth (LW: 4): Kenseth gets the No. 5 spot in Power Rankings because he finished seventh at Texas and is between Busch and Hamlin in the points standings. We’re all about order here.

The race among Logano, Busch, Kenseth and Hamlin entering the final race of the third round is the closest it’s been since the elimination Chase was implemented in 2014. Last season, the final three spots in the Chase were separated by 13 points and Nos. 2-4 entering Phoenix.

It was a little closer in 2014. Jeff Gordon occupied the fourth spot heading into Phoenix and Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth were a point behind while Brad Keselowski was four back.

6. Denny Hamlin (LW: 3): As the closeness of the points standings gets trumpeted throughout the weekend at Phoenix, it’s important to remember that NASCAR’s points system artificially creates the closeness. There’s been absolute craziness if the race among the top eight is not close heading into the final round.

This close race is a bit different, however, because three of the four drivers are teammates. It’s going to be fun if these Joe Gibbs Racing cars are all near each other on the track late in the race. How do you race a teammate for the shot at a title?

7. Kevin Harvick (LW: 6): Maybe we need to have Harvick higher in the standings because Phoenix is coming up? As we said Monday, Harvick winning at Phoenix is no sure thing, but it’s about the closest you can get to a sure thing in the Cup Series these days.

And given Harvick’s position in the standings, he’s going to need to win to advance. He’s 18 points back from the top four. That’s not insurmountable. But it seems quite unrealistic for Harvick to jump over two of the four drivers ahead of him.

8. Kurt Busch (LW: 7): Busch is in a much more tenuous spot than Harvick. He’s 34 points back. And he has to beat Harvick as well. Yeah, it’s not good.

Busch hasn’t led any laps at Phoenix since he led two while driving for James Finch in the 2012 spring race. He’s finished in the top 10 in each of the last four races, but a top 10 isn’t going to be good enough unless all the cars ahead of him in the standings wreck each other on lap five.

9. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 10): Truex would be in a pretty good position in the standings if he advanced out of the second round. Finishes of seventh and third would have Truex tied for the points lead with Johnson, Busch and Logano.

Alas, there’s that Talladega blown engine to ruin things. At least Truex has a good shot to finish fifth in the standings. We’re trying to look on the bright side here.

10. Brad Keselowski (LW: 9): Keselowski finished 14th on Sunday night, 10 spots lower than where he qualified in fourth. Keselowski struggled with the handling of his car all day and couldn’t keep up with teammate Logano who was the class of the field for most of the race.

11. Chase Elliott (LW: NR): Elliott has continued to show similar speed to teammate Johnson during the Chase. But as Johnson won at Charlotte in the second round, Elliott was saddled with the restart crash that screwed everything up. He finished fourth at Texas on Sunday night and will likely be a contender at Homestead in two weeks.

How crazy would it be if Chase won at Homestead to prevent the winner of the Chase from winning the Chase’s final race?

12. Kasey Kahne (LW: NR): Kahne has picked up his pace in the Chase. Alas, he’s not a member of it. He finished eighth at Texas on Sunday, his fifth top-10 finish in the Chase. And two of those finishes outside the top 10 are an 11th at Martinsville and a 12th at Dover.

Kahne now has 13 top-10 finishes in 2016 and continues his grip on the top spot among all non-Chase drivers.

Who is hot and cold entering the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

By Daniel McFadin

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

All conversations about Phoenix International Raceway begin and end with Kevin Harvick.

Four years ago, Harvick trailed Jimmie Johnson on the active wins list at the 1-mile track. Johnson once led with four wins, now Harvick overwhelms everyone with eight, including five of the last six.

It could have been six of six if not for rain ending last year’s fall race after 219 laps while Dale Earnhardt Jr. led.

Harvick and Johnson are the only active drivers who have reached eight wins at a track, with Johnson doing it at Dover (10), Martinsville (9) and Charlotte (8).

The last driver not named Harvick or Johnson to win consecutive Phoenix races was Earnhardt, who won in 2003 and 2004 when it only held one race a year.

Here is who is hot and cold entering Sunday’s Can-Am 500.

Who is hot

Jimmie Johnson

• Clinched spot in Championship 4 with Martinsville win.
• Finished top 10 in five of the last seven races.
• Four hundred and fifty-five laps led in the 2016 Chase, 266 in the regular season.
• Four Phoenix wins but last came in 2009, finished 11th at Phoenix in March

Kyle Busch

• Finished fifth at Martinsville and Texas.
• Top-10 finishes in eight of the last nine races.
• Finished top 10 in four of the last five races at Phoenix.
• Finished fourth in the last two Phoenix races.

Carl Edwards

• Clinched spot in championship race with Texas win.
• Only three top-10 finishes in the last 10 races, but one was a win at Texas.
• Three wins this season is most in a season since he had nine in 2008.
• Finished second at Phoenix in March, losing by 0.010 seconds (closest-ever margin of victory there).

Joey Logano

• Led race-high 178 laps and finished second at Texas.
• Finished in the top 10 in 18 of the last 22 races.
• Top-10 finishes in five of the last six races at Phoenix, 18th in March.
• Best Phoenix finish is third, twice.

Who is cold

Kevin Harvick

• Finished 20th or worse in four of the eight races of the Chase, had only two finishes outside top 20 in the regular season.
• All four wins came from a start of 11th or worse.
• Twenty-five top-10 finishes in 2016, most of all drivers. No top fives since
• Has never been eliminated from a Chase Round.
• Won six of last eight Phoenix races.

Kurt Busch

• Last two finishes are worst results in the last nine races.
• Only four top 10s in the last 13 races.
• Has four straight top 10s at Phoenix.

Denny Hamlin

• Top-10 finishes in 13 of the last 16 races.
• Finished top three in four of the last eight races at Phoenix.
• Finished third at Phoenix in March.

Other notes of interest entering the Can-Am 500:

• Kevin Harvick has won six of the 10 races at Phoenix since its 2011 reconfiguration; finished first or second in
  eight of the 10 Phoenix races since 2011.
• The last non-Chevrolet team to win at Phoenix was Carl Edwards in 2013 when he drove a Ford.
• Nine of the last 12 Phoenix races were completed in under three hours.
• Five cautions at Phoenix in March was the fewest in a full-distance race at Phoenix since the 2011 reconfiguration.

Sprint Cup Series clinch scenarios for Phoenix.

By Kelly Crandall

(Photo/Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Who will join Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards in the Championship 4?

That will be determined Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway as six drivers try to lock up one of the final two spots. That includes the last two Sprint Cup Series champions, Kyle Busch (2015) and Kevin Harvick (2014).

Busch holds the final transfer spot. But he has two teammates who are trying to take it from him. Busch’s advantage on Matt Kenseth is one point and he has two points on Denny Hamlin.

Harvick and his teammate, Kurt Busch, are at the bottom of the Chase grid.

Here are the clinch scenarios for the Can-Am 500:

Joey Logano (0 wins, 4074 points) – Would clinch on points with a second-place finish and at least one lap led. Would also clinch a spot with a win.

Kyle Busch (0 wins, 4074 points) – Would clinch on points with a second-place finish and the most laps led. Would also clinch a spot with a win.

Matt Kenseth (0 wins, 4073 points), Denny Hamlin (0 wins, 4072 points), Kevin Harvick (0 wins, 4056 points), and Kurt Busch (0 wins, 4040 points) can only guarantee a spot with a win. They could also clinch on points but would need help.

SOCCER: Premier League Playback: Grades for season, so far…

By Joe Prince-Wright

With 11 games of the 2016-17 Premier League season gone, we are now over a quarter of the way into the season.

The top dogs have started to separate themselves from the chasing pack, a few strugglers are getting cut adrift at the bottom and the rest is, well, a bit of a mess.

There are plenty of teams who’ve started slow and finally got going, plenty who came flying out of the traps and are now struggling and others who are up and down like a yo-yo.

Taking all that into account for the first time this season we dish out grades. 11 games in, we now have a pretty good ideas what lies in store for all 20 Premier League teams.

Liverpool

Grade: A-

How is the story unfolding? Top of the table, Liverpool have smashed in 30 goals in 11 games. Defensive issues still a problem but Mane, Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino are ripping teams apart. They are legit title contenders, with wins against Arsenal and Chelsea, plus draw against Spurs and Man United, proving that. Jurgen Klopp is are from “the normal one” and everyone knows that now.

Quote which sums it up…

Jurgen Klopp after their 6-1 win against Watford – “I know in the past a lot of things happened here and the story two, three years ago when it was really close, but this is not the team two or three years ago. This is not the team 25 years ago. We’re completely new. We stay cool. It’s the best position I can imagine but nothing else has happened.”

Chelsea

Grade: B+

How is the story unfolding? It started very well, then there was a big dip with defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, and now Antonio Conte‘s side are flying again. The switch to 3-4-3 after the defeat at Arsenal could be crucial. Since then, Chelsea has won five-straight and kept five-straight clean sheets. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are back and the Blues are looking ruthless.

Quote which sums it up…

Antonio Conte to following a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal – “I have to solve the situation. That is the most important thing. The situation is that every game we concede two goals, at a minimum. For this reason, three back or two back or four back, I don’t care. It is important to solve the situations. I must find the right solution for this team because in every game we are conceding two goals. I work a lot to find the right solution.”

Arsenal

Grade: B+

How is the story unfolding? The Gunners struggled early in the season but as soon as their international players returned, they looked more solid in the back with Koscielny and Mustafi bonding. Going forward Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have been the go-to men. Still, some doubts creeping in once again about their ability to deal with injuries to key players.

Quote which sums it up…

Arsene Wenger after the win at Hull in September – “We are a bit more mature, which I have said many times, but it is early in the season and it is very tight everywhere. At the moment Man City is in front but let’s just continue to improve and continue to win our games and see where we go. We are ambitious, we have a good attitude and good spirit and we’ve gained a bit of confidence now we’ve won a few games.”

Manchester City

Grade: B

How is the story unfolding? Pep Guardiola‘s men looked like they’d sweep all before them early on. Yeah, not so much. After six wins on the spin in the PL to open up, City has won just one of their last five with multiple defensive mistakes the issue. Still, they sit two points off top spot and beat Barcelona in the Champions League. The project is ongoing and there is clear progress despite it still being early days.

Quote which sums it up…

Pep Guardiola after the disappointing 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough – “The balance is what we want to see but in the boxes we are not good enough. But do you think it is a problem that we concede two chances a game and create 10? I have no regrets about that.”

Tottenham Hotspur

Grade: B

How is the story unfolding? Spurs remain the only PL team unbeaten but they’ve drawn six of their 11 games. Without Harry Kane for almost two months, Pochettino’s side have coped with his absence rather well. UCL struggles haven’t carried over into the league but with Kane now back, they’ll be expected to kick on.

Quote which sums it up…

Mauricio Pochettino after Spurs’ 2-0 win against Man City in September – “It is too early in the season to talk about aims but it is important to be consistent If we can play like this, how we played today, why can we not be consistent throughout the season? That is a big effort but that is the way that we work and we want to play. I think today was a good example that we want to follow and to build our pressure.”

Burnley 

Grade: B

How is the story unfolding? What a start for the Clarets. Sean Dyche‘s side have had some huge wins at home against Everton, Liverpool, Watford and Crystal Palace and their form at Turf Moor will keep them up. Looks like they’ve learned from previous PL campaigns and they have 14 points already.

Quote which sums it up…

Sean Dyche after the thrilling win over Crystal Palace – “It’s fantastic to be ninth in the table for a club like Burnley. There are questions asked of us in the Premier League but we’re enjoying the ride.”

Watford

Grade: C+

How is the story unfolding? A really decent start for the Hornets under new manager Walter Mazzarri. They sit in the top 10 and look much more solid (the hiding at Liverpool aside) than last season. Deeney and Ighalo yet to really fire, which will be a slight worry.

Quote which sums it up…

Walter Mazzarri after the home win against Hull City – “At the end we are very happy that we got the result, it’s difficult to go 90 minutes the way we played in the first five. They are a team who play tough football, they usually play very well. Today they had five at the back, and it’s a team we did not allow to play, and that is because of us.”

Everton

Grade: C+

How is the story unfolding? Ronald Koeman‘s team sit six points off the top four, which is where you would think they would be at this point in the season. They 5-0 spanking at Chelsea showed some of their limitations though. Tough run of games coming up in December too but Romelu Lukaku is looking hungry for goals.

Quote which sums it up…

Ronald Koeman on the win against West Ham: — “I said to them; ‘Why we are nervous? We are at home. If we press well and play well we get always the support of the fans.’ I saw too many doubts in the first half and I was saying to them, ‘Come on. Go for it. Football needs to be enjoyable. The second half, the start was different, the way we like to play and like to press the opponent and the fast first goal helped.”

West Brom

Grade: C

How is the story unfolding? Tony Pulis‘ side are a funny bunch. They beat Leicester away after a five-game winless run and they manage to grind out draws against the big boys. Steady start for the Baggies and Nacer Chadli has been a revelation.

Quote which sums it up…

Tony Pulis following the win against Leicester – “Obviously the result is fantastic. We played four top teams and we got four points, a point a game. When you think it’s Tottenham, Liverpool, Man City and now we’re at the champions. We get a point a game and for me, it is fantastic.”

Southampton

Grade: C-

How is the story unfolding? Its been an up and down start for Saints. It took them five games to win, then they went five unbeaten and now they’ve lost their last two. Under a new manager in Claude Puel, perhaps inconsistency is to be expected. With Europa League progress on their mind and a tough month coming up, they’ll be a little worried. Charlie Austin and Virgil Van Dijk remain red-hot.

Quote which sums it up…

Claude Puel following the shock defeat at Hull – “When you win after a game like Inter Milan and you come back in the Premier League against a team with good preparation, with one game a week, it’s important to keep the good concentration and the good attitude. It is always difficult and I think we learn for the future. It’s a good lesson for the future.”

Manchester United

Grade: C-

How is the story unfolding? It has been an eventful start to life at Old Trafford for Jose Mourinho. Did we expect anything else? From calling out his own players to being sent to the stands, Mourinho has his work cut out. Still, his side is six points off the top four after a run of just two wins in eight games following three wins from three to start the season. Europa League struggles have added to the intrigue as Pogba, Zlatan and Co. find their feet. Plenty of work to do for Jose.

Quote which sums it up:

Jose Mourinho after a 1-0 EFL Cup win against Man City – “It is real passion that doesn’t depend on results or the moments. It is easy to be a Man United fan when you win the Treble, when you win five titles in seven years. But it is not so easy when you lose 4-0 and this is incredible. The only thing I can say is that I couldn’t be prouder than I am to be Man United manager.”

Middlesbrough

Grade: C-

How is the story unfolding? Aitor Karanka‘s side are getting used to the Premier League. After going unbeaten in the first three games of the season, they went on a bad run and had to wait until Week 10 for their first home win. That came in-between away draws at Arsenal and Man City as Boro are showing a renewed defensive stability.

Quote which sums it up…

Aitor Karanka after the 1-1 draw at Man City – “It was an amazing result. Because in the first half we went on to the pitch with too much respect for them. I told them at half-time we weren’t just there to defend and that we could play like we did in the second half. I was pleased with our performance. Two weeks ago at Arsenal was more difficult than today because Arsenal didn’t score and we were organised. Our reaction was really good and it is a big step to showing how good we are.”

Stoke City

Grade: C-

How is the story unfolding? Mark Hughes‘ side once again started the season slowly but now they’re five games unbeaten, Joe Allen is an offensive machine and Wilfried Bony is scoring goals. Despite a few injuries, this looks like the Stoke of last season now.

Quote which sums it up…

Mark Hughes to ProSoccerTalk after the 1-1 draw at West Ham – “A lot was made of our so-called difficult start. We have come up against decent teams and haven’t quite hit our levels. But we are now fully into our stride and where we want to be.”

Bournemouth

Grade: D+

How is the story unfolding? Some worrying signs starting to creep in for the Cherries following defeats at Boro and then at home against Sunderland. Eddie Howe‘s young side have blown hot and cold and they have a knack of dominating games but not putting the opposition away.

Quote which sums it up…

Eddie Howe after the home defeat against Sunderland – “In the last two games we’ve had some gilt-edged chances. We scored six against Hull, but it’s frustrating when you have a hatful of chances and can’t put them away.”

Crystal Palace

Grade: D+

How is the story unfolding? Crystal Palace may be the streakiest team in the history of the PL. They went on a superb three-game winning run early in the season but are without a win in five now and have lost four on the spin. Alan Pardew must try and get the best out of Christian Benteke. When Palace do, they’re unplayable at times.

Quote which sums it up…

Alan Pardew after the 3-2 defeat Burnley – “This defeat is a big blow for us because we have some tough games coming up. We’re going to have to be strong after the international break and get some results. We dominated and actually played some good football today. We don’t look like a team that has lost four games, it’s been fine margins. We need to cut out these mistakes, and get ourselves to a position where we can see out a game.”

Hull City

Grade: D+

How is the story unfolding? After winning each of their opening two games Hull were in dreamland. They then didn’t win any of their next eight as Mike Phelan‘s got the job on a permanent basis. A big win against Southampton steadied the ship though. They’ll battle hard all season to stay up.

Quote which sums it up…

Mike Phelan after the 2-1 win against Southampton – “We’ve got 10 points from 11 games with a couple of big games coming up after the international break. It’s important that we stay level-headed and composed. We performed well in defeat at Watford last weekend but didn’t get anything from the game. This week we have got something against a very good Southampton team”

Leicester City

Grade: D

How is the story unfolding? Claudio Ranieri‘s side are not replicating their title-winning form of last season… at least in the Premier League. In the UEFA Champions League they’re unbeaten and all but through to the Round of 16, but the Foxes are in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle. Jamie Vardy is struggling for goals and they miss N'Golo Kante badly.

Quote which sums it up…

Claudio Ranieri after their 1-0 defeat at home to West Brom – “It is a pity because we were unbeaten for 20 matches and I am very sad, sad for the fans but it is okay and we have to react. Now we have to be calm and work together, but of course it is difficult because 80 per cent of my players go off on international duty. I will see my players now just two days before the next match at Watford.”

West Ham 

Grade: D-

How is the story unfolding? Slaven Bilic‘s men had a horrendous start, particularly with troubles in their new stadium, and the Hammers only have 11 points on the board with some very tough games coming up. Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini have shown only flashes of brilliance and it’s all a bit disjointed at the London Stadium.

Quote which sums it up…

Slaven Bilic on the tough schedule ahead – “It is a very tough schedule. But we have seen how we played against top teams last year. We beat Chelsea, one of the top teams, here in the cup. On paper it is very tough. Four games plus one cup game against Manchester United, but we have to get ourselves ready.”

Swansea City

Grade: F

How is the story unfolding? Nightmare start for the Swans who are joint-bottom after their worst-ever opening to a PL season cost Guidolin his job. American coach Bob Bradley has arrived but has no wins in four, yet there is hope on the horizon with a favorable fixture list in December. Still, the Swans always look like conceding right now, which is never good.

Quote which sums it up…

Bob Bradley on fan unrest after the defeat to Man United – “We understand very clearly where we are. There’s no hiding from the situation,” Bradley, the league’s first American coach, said after the game. They (the fans) have every right to be angry at halftime. We have to be honest about the work that needs to be done. There’s only one way to win the support of fans, and that’s to play better and take points… Once we get a result or two I think everyone will say ‘Okay, we have finally turned this thing around.’”

Sunderland

Grade: F

How is the story unfolding? Okay, so there are some signs of improvement, but David Moyes has a heck of a job on his hands. Sunderland’s squad resembles a bunch of misfits, chucked together at the last minute and although they got a big win at Bournemouth, it papers over the cracks. The Black Cats need to become tough to beat and hit teams on the counters and at set pieces. So far, just one win in 11 says it all.

Quote which sums it up…

David Moyes following the win against Bournemouth – “It is only one win, we need two now. All you can do is win the next game and pick up the points as you go along. We don’t get anything for winning one game, that’s for sure. What it will do it show people there is great spirit and commitment among the players and a great desire to do well.”

NCAAFB: College Football Playoff rankings: Washington moves up to No. 4.

By Sam Cooper

Washington moved up to No. 4 in this week’s rankings. (Photo/AP)

With its loss, A&M slid all the way down to No. 8, paving the way for several teams to climb in the rankings. Ohio State and Louisville each slid up a spot to Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, while Wisconsin (No. 7, up from No. 8), Auburn (still at No. 9) and Penn State (No. 10, up from No. 12) rounded out the top 10.

Throughout the week, many wondered if Ohio State (8-1), which destroyed last week’s No. 10 Nebraska 62-3 on Saturday night, would slide past unbeaten Washington, but the Huskies, after a 66-27 win over Cal, were ranked higher by the committee.

There were plenty of risers in this week’s rankings, with No. 11 Oklahoma (No. 14 last week), No. 12 Colorado (No. 15 last week), No. 13 Oklahoma State (No. 18 last week), No. 14 Virginia Tech (No. 19 last week), No. 16 West Virginia (No. 20 last week), No. 17 North Carolina (No. 21 last week) and No. 18 Florida State (No. 22 last week) all jumping up at least three spots compared to Week 10.

The two notable drop-offs in the rankings were Nebraska, which dropped from No. 10 down to No. 19 after its blowout loss in Columbus, and LSU, which plummeted from No. 13 all the way to No. 24 following a 10-0 defeat at the hands of top-ranked Alabama.

Elsewhere, SEC East frontrunner Florida dropped from No. 11 to unranked after a lackluster showing at Arkansas. Baylor, after its second loss in a row, also dropped from the rankings. The Bears were No. 17 last week.

USC and Arkansas made their debut in the 2016 CFP rankings at No. 20 and No. 25.

Here is the full Top 25:

College Football Playoff rankings, week 2

Big Ten announces 2017 Friday night schedule.

By John Taylor

(Photo/Getty Images)

Much to the chagrin of many, the Big Ten is officially ahead with its controversial version of Friday Night Lights.

Earlier this month, the Big Ten confirmed that it was going against its longstanding tradition next season by playing games on Friday nights in the months of September and October. Less than a week later, the conference has announced which six games will be played on the day usually reserved for high school football in the Midwest.

Half of the games will be non-conference matchups, the other half conference contests.

• Fri., Sept. 1 Washington at Rutgers
• Fri., Sept. 1 Utah State at Wisconsin
• Fri., Sept. 8 Ohio at Purdue
• Fri., Sept. 29 Nebraska at Illinois
• Fri., Oct. 13 Northwestern at Maryland
• Fri., Oct. 27 Michigan State at Northwestern

The league, as a direct result of its new television agreements that go into effect next season, will play six Friday night games per year for the next six years.  None of those games will be played in November.

Michigan, privately, and Penn State, publicly, will not be participating in FNL.  It’s unlikely either would’ve been asked to host such a game as the league is reportedly reluctant to schedule them in stadiums with a significant capacity.

The conference noted in today’s release that “[w]hile not all institutions are able to participate in Friday night matchups, all 14 institutions will participate in the broad initiative to provide more primetime exposure on national platforms.”

Given the scrutiny the decision has garnered, the league also went out of its way to ensure that they’re still thinking of the kids.

"The Big Ten Conference appreciates the significance of high school football within the region and has worked to minimize the impact of this initiative by limiting the number of Friday night games. Overall, these games represent approximately six percent of Big Ten home games annually, and no institution will host more than one game in any given year. Friday night games will also be announced at least 10 months in advance to provide all parties adequate time to prepare."

NCAABKB: College Basketball's X-Factor: 14 storylines that will determine champions.

By Rob Dauster

Jayson Tatum (Photo courtesy Duke Athletics)

The season will finally be here on Friday, meaning that the time for previewing the year is just about over. 

But before we get there, let’s take a closer look at 14 things that could end up deciding league titles, who gets to the Final Four and, eventually, who wins the national title.

Call them story lines, call them positional battles, call them what you like. Here are the most important x-factors as we enter the 2016-17 college basketball season: 

So … is Duke ever going to be healthy or nah?: The major issue that Duke is dealing with right now is the health of Harry Giles III’s knees. He had yet to be fully cleared from a torn ACL he suffered in the first game of his senior season in high school when, in September, he underwent a procedure on his other knee, the one that he tore up after his freshman year in high school. The question of whether or not Giles plays – and just how effective he will be if he does – has been swirling around the Duke program since news of his second ACL tear came out a year ago.

But he’s not the only Blue Devil currently battling an injury. Jayson Tatum sprained a bone in his foot and is expected back for Friday’s season-opener. Marques Bolden suffered what the program is calling a “lower leg injury” this week and is expected to miss the first two games of the season. And Grayson Allen is banged up, having been pulled from Duke’s exhibition against Virginia State after hurting his shoulder.

The latter three listed here are not dealing with serious injuries and should, in theory, be able to get healthy before the first Christmas Carol of the year is sung. But Giles is the ultimate difference maker for this team – think Karl-Anthony Towns and Kentucky in 2015 – and his absence for this group is massive.

Speaking of health, Dillon Brooks and his balky foot: Oregon was a No. 1 seed last season, returns plenty of talent from a team that won a dual-conference title and will enter this year as the favorite to win the Pac-12 once again. But they are doing so without their all-american Dillon Brooks, who is battling a foot injury that kept him out during Oregon’s trip to Spain over the summer. Brooks is the most talented player on this team and the one guy that plays the position that would allow Oregon lineup versatility. Just how long is he going to be out for and, when he returns, just how effective is he going to be?

Is Malik Monk a streaky shooter, a dumb shooter or a good shooter finally on a real team?: Monk shot around 32 percent from three as a high schooler, per Draft Express, and developed a reputation for being as streaky as anyone at any level. He might go for 40 and hit nine threes one game and follow that up with a 2-for-18 performance the next. That kind of inconsistency won’t fly at Kentucky, but neither will Monk’s shot selection, which had much more to do with his shooting percentages than anything else. He played on a high school team that was almost as bad as Anthony Davis’. He played on an AAU team where his point guards liked to shoot just as much as he did. We’ve never seen him on a team like Kentucky, where he isn’t far and away the most talented player.

So how will this play out? Will Monk embrace being a part of an offense, being a guy that is asked to execute sets and play within the confines of a system? Or will he buck at being reined in and spend the season trying to prove that he is Russell Westbrook? No one questions the talent, the scoring ability, the athleticism. They do, however, question whether he can be a consistent jump-shooter, and if he is, than the biggest concern about these Wildcats – their ability to make perimeter shots – is, in part, answered.

Just how effective will Villanova’s small-ball lineups be?: Because they are going to have to be very, very good if the Wildcats are going to have a real shot at repeating as national champs. That’s what happens when the only true low-post threat on last year’s team, Daniel Ochefu, graduates while the only true low-post threat on this year’s team, Omari Spellman, has been ruled ineligible for this year. Darryl Reynolds was effective in his minutes last season, but Darryl Reynolds is not the answer for a team looking to win another ring. That leaves Villanova in a position where they’ll be using, essentially, five guards sets, the Villanova ‘Death Lineup’, if you will. The physicality and length of guys like Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins, Mikal Bridges and Eric Paschall makes this option not only possible, but likely to succeed, at least to some degree.

How will Gonzaga’s veterans adjust to losing minutes?: The four most important players on Gonzaga’s roster this season are taking someone else’s minutes. Nigel Williams-Goss and Johnathan Williams III were transfers that sat out last season. Jordan Mathews is a grad transfer from Cal. Prezemek Karnowski was supposed to graduate this summer and received a waiver to play one more year due to injury issues. What that means is that the Bulldogs are going to have a lot of pieces on their roster that were either expecting to play – or how gotten used to playing – major minutes. I worry about how that will affect team chemistry considering that the Zags are ranked eighth in our preseason poll.

Is there anyone on Louisville that can replace Chinanu Onuaku’s interior presence?: Because that is what the Cardinals are going to miss from the pieces they lost this offseason. I’m not worried about Rick Pitino’s club finding a way to replace Damion Lee’s scoring or Trey Lewis’ minutes at the lead guard spot. Between the jump I expect Donovan Mitchell, Deng Adel and Ray Spalding to make along with the addition of V.J. King, the Cards have more than enough talent and athleticism on the perimeter to play the way that Pitino wants to play. But do they have someone to replace Onuaku, who was one of the nation’s most effective shot-blockers and rebounders?

Michigan State’s point guard play: The Spartans have had some brutal injury luck during the fall, as both Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling suffered knee injuries that could very likely keep Michigan State from having any sort of front court depth this season. That means that the play of freshman Nick Ward is going to be critical to their season, as is Miles Bridges’ ability to be a small-ball four that exceeds the substantial hype he is entering the season with. This is as young of a team as Izzo has ever coached at Michigan State, which is why I think it will be the point guard play of Tum Tum Nairn and Cassius Winston that determines just how far this team goes. A young roster needs an alpha-dog with the ball in his hands, someone that can direct traffic on the floor, get players the ball in a spot where they can be effective and that can take over when needed. Nairn, through two seasons, hasn’t yet proven he can be that guy, and Winston is a freshman himself.

Speaking of point guards … hello, Syracuse: Do the Orange have a point guard on their roster? Is Franklin Howard the next Michael Gbinije? Can John Gillon adjust to the rigors of the ACC game? Because the rest of this Orange roster looks intimidating. It may be the longest team that Boeheim has ever had at his disposal. Tyus Battle has a chance to be a really good player for the Orange, while Tyler Lydon is on the verge of becoming a lottery pick. Throw in the addition of Andrew White – whose ability to assimilate into a team is an x-factor in its own right – and there are pieces here. But there aren’t a ton of guys that can take a game over or create their own shot. Which is why the point guard play is so important: Who is going to be the player that makes offense easier for everyone else?

And hello, Indiana: The Hoosiers have a pair of potential lottery picks on their roster in Thomas Bryant and O.G. Anunoby, so I understand why they’re showing up in the top 15 of national polls. I have them there myself. But I think that we are all undervaluing just how much Yogi Ferrell meant to this team last season, and just how much his absence is going to cost them. Can Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk adequately fill in that role? And if they can’t, who on this Indiana team do you trust to have the ball in their hands on a critical possession when the Hoosiers have to have a bucket?

And are any of these point guards ‘Point Gods’?: These five point guards have the ability to end up somewhere on an all-america team. Do they have the talent around them to win enough games to be considered?

1. Dennis Smith Jr., N.C. State: Now healthy after recovering from a torn ACL, the uber-explosive Smith has an outside shot at being the No. 1 overall pick while the talent on the Wolfpack gives them a ceiling of being a top 15 team.
2. Melo Trimble, Maryland: Trimble had a rough year in 2015-16, but with some roster turnover this season, expect the veteran point guard to be on a mission this season.
3. Markelle Fultz, Washington: Fultz, like Smith, has a shot at being the No. 1 overall pick. Unlike Smith, however, Washington doesn’t have the same kind of talent around him.
4. Monte’ Morris, Iowa State: Morris is a name that college basketball junkies have been familiar with for some time. It will be his show this season as Georges Niang (finally) graduated after what felt like a ten-year career.
5. Jalen Adams, UConn: Adams isn’t as well-known as the other four names here, but he’s a sophomore point guard that was a top 25 prospect coming out of high school who should thrive in a Kevin Ollie system geared towards players of his ilk.

Will Allonzo Trier be eligible?: It’s mind-blowing just how much talent Arizona has lost this offseason that they expected to suit up from day one. Justin Simon transferred. Chance Comanche has been suspended for an academic issue. Terrence Ferguson is playing in Australia. Ray Smith tore his ACL. Now imagine you add Trier, who is dealing with an eligibility issue right now, to that list. He would Arizona’s leading returning scorer and the only non-freshman on the roster that might scare opposing game-planners. Without him, Arizona has seven scholarship players remaining and a starting five that may not be better than the five players they lost.

Can Ike Anigbogu anchor UCLA’s defense?: All the banter about the Bruins this summer centered around Bryce Alford, Lonzo Ball and whether or not head coach Steve Alford would be able to find a way to get all of the UCLA talent to play together. And while that is a definite concern, UCLA is only going to go so far this season if they can’t find a way to get tougher on the defensive end of the floor. They finished last season 119th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. Only Washington State was worse in the Pac-12. They couldn’t force turnovers, they couldn’t get defensive rebounds and they couldn’t defend the rim. Anigbogu, a five-star freshman big man, is the guy that has the ability to solve some of those issues, but he’s dealing with a tear in the meniscus in his right knee.

Is there a go-to low-post presence on North Carolina’s roster?: North Carolina’s best teams under Roy Williams all have two thing in common: NBA-caliber point guard play and a first round draft pick playing in the post. Think about it: Ray Felton and Sean May; Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough; Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller; Marcus Paige/Joel Berry II and Brice Johnson. Berry is back for his junior season, but who will he pair with on the block? Is Kennedy Meeks (finally?) ready to take that next step forward? Will Isaiah Hicks find a way to transfer his effectiveness in practice into consistent positive contributions in games?

Which Marcus Foster shows up at Creighton?: It’s been two years so I’ll forgive you if you’ve forgotten, but Marcus Foster was so good during his freshman season at Kansas State. He averaged 15.5 points and led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament despite entering the Big 12 program without being considered a top 100 recruit. Then, as a sophomore, he found himself out of shape, unmotivated and, eventually, in the doghouse. So he left, sitting out last season after transferring to Creighton. Will the motivated Marcus Foster show up this winter, or is that guy officially gone forever?

Honor thy glove: Here are this year's Gold Glove winners.

By Mike Oz

Salvador Perez won his fourth straight Gold Glove. (Photo/AP)

Baseball’s best defenders were honored Tuesday night with the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. The best gloves in baseball — some first-time winners and some long-standing repeat champs — got their moment to shine.

Some notable winners: Buster Posey won his first Gold Glove, dethroning Yadier Molina after eight straight wins; Francisco Lindor won his first at just 22; Nolan Arenado won his fourth straight at third base and Salvador Perez won his fourth straight at catcher. The Giants won three Gold Gloves, leading all MLB teams.

Here’s the full list of winners:

CATCHER

AL: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

NL: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

FIRST BASE

AL: Mitch Moreland, Texas Rangers

NL: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

SECOND BASE

AL: Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers

NL: Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants

THIRD BASE

AL: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers

NL: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

SHORTSTOP

AL: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

NL: Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants

LEFT FIELD

AL: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

NL: Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates

CENTER FIELD

AL: Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay Rays

NL: Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves

RIGHT FIELD

AL: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

NL: Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs

PITCHER

AL: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

NL: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Gold Glove awards are chosen based on votes by players and managers, who can only cast their ballot for players in their own league. Fans will now vote for the Platinum Glove winners, which honor the overall best defenders in each league. Fans can vote on rawlings.com.

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, November 09, 2016.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1861 - The first documented Canadian football game took place at the University of Toronto.

1952 - Maurice "The Rocket" Richard became the NHL's leading goal scorer with his 325th career goal. He later sent the puck to Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

1953 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 1922 ruling that major league baseball did not come within the scope of federal antitrust laws.

1961 - The Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) eliminated its "caucasians only" rule.

1965 - Willie Mays was named the National League Most Valuable Player.

1971 - The NHL announced that it had granted a franchise to Atlanta.

1972 - John Bucyk (Boston Bruins) scored his 1,000th NHL point.

1982 - Sugar Ray Leonard retired from boxing. In 1984 Leonard came out of retirement to fight one more time before becoming a boxing commentator for NBC.

1984 - Larry Bird and Dr J. got into a fight during a game. They were both fined $7,500.

1991 - Roman Anderson (Houston Cougars) became the first player in NCAA history to surpass 400 points when he kicked a 32-yard field goal.

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