CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Wednesday Sports News Update, 12/14/2016.

Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica

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

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

Because it's all about you!!!

"Sports Quote of the Day"

“There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.” ~ Garth Stein, Author and Film Producer

Trending: Scott Darling dazzles in Blackhawks’ victory over Rangers. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).

Trending: Dowell Loggains a liability for Bears QB future? Look a little deeper.
(See the football section for Bears News an NFL updates).

Trending: Rick Hahn stresses patience for White Sox rebuild: 'We're not going to force this thing'. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).

Trending: Bulls blow 21-point first-half lead in loss to Tom Thibodeau's Timberwolves. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).

Trending: No Fire players taken in MLS expansion draft. (See the soccer section for Fire updates and MLS news)

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Scott Darling dazzles in Blackhawks’ victory over Rangers.

By Tracey Myers

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Being comfortable. It’s usually a good thing.

For a backup goaltender, however, it’s not always easy to be comfortable. It’s just part of the job to be constantly waiting, constantly wondering when you’ll play. But for Scott Darling, comfort is about how he’s fitting into this Blackhawks team. This season, his second full one with the Blackhawks, he’s felt as comfortable as ever. And in taking over during Corey Crawford’s injury absence, Darling has looked every bit of that.

Darling stopped 33 of 34 saves and Artem Anisimov scored his 13th goal of the season as the Blackhawks beat the New York Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks remain atop the Western Conference with 42 points.

The Blackhawks were near full strength again, as Jonathan Toews (back) returned after missing nine games and Brent Seabrook (upper body) returned after missing two. Toews logged just over 18 minutes of ice time while Seabrook played nearly 24 minutes.

Trevor van Riemsdyk scored his first goal of the season. Anisimov added an assist to go with his goal, which was his sixth game winner of the season. That leads the Blackhawks and it’s also a new season best for Anisimov; he had five game-winning goals with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2013-14 season. Artemi Panarin had two assists.

But in the end it was once again Darling, who was stellar. Five days after he and former teammate Antti Raanta had a tremendous goaltending duel in Chicago – Raanta got the 1-0 overtime shutout victory – Tuesday was all Darling. He was strong in the second period when the Blackhawks were outshot 16-7 and was key down the stretch when the Rangers were going for the equalizer.

Darling talked about where he is with the Blackhawks now.

“A lot of it is just being comfortable,” Darling said. “Last year was my first full year, I was still nervous about my role, my position with a new organization. Coming back now I’m not one of the new guys. I’ve been here 2 ½ years. You’re comfortable. You’re friends with everybody. It’s nice to be comfortable.”

The Blackhawks, in turn, are as comfortable with Darling in net as they are with Crawford. Darling is 3-2-1 in Crawford’s absence. He’s allowed just three goals in his past four starts.

“He’s absolutely amazing,” Anisimov said. “He played great for us in the net. He makes huge saves in the key time. We try to help him. Amazing right now.”

Raanta had two consecutive shutouts entering this one. Van Riemsdyk broke that streak when he scored 5:18 into the second period.

“Yeah, it was pretty special,” van Riemsdyk said. “I grew up watching a lot of Rangers game. We got Rangers tickets for Christmas every year, we used to have to pick a game. I don’t score too many but to score one here is pretty special.”

Jesper Fast got one past Darling about three minutes later but Anisimov scored his, off a great pass from Brian Campbell, with 1:09 remaining in the second period.

“Of course, it’s my first team in the NHL and I made [my] debut here,” Anisimov said of the Rangers. “And it’s special feeling, especially when I score here.”

Whether hurt or healed, the Blackhawks keep collecting points. They’ve done it most of the time with goaltending and Tuesday was no exception. Darling was good during his rookie year, despite being nervous about his place on this team. Now he’s comfortable, and the results show it.

“No matter what night it is or against any opponent, we’re comfortable with how we play in front of him. He gives us a chance to win,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Darls gives you that same type of approach [like Crawford]. He gives us confidence and plays with confidence as well.”

Five Things from Blackhawks-Rangers: Anisimov scores game-winner, Darling outduels Raanta.

By Tracey Myers

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Great goaltending: the Blackhawks are reminding themselves on an almost nightly basis that, when you have it, you really appreciate it.

Yeah, the trend continues but the Blackhawks aren’t complaining. There were other positives in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers. So before we pack up and head to… wait, we’re here a few more days. Never mind. Here are the Five Things to take away from this Blackhawks victory.

1. Scott Darling wins this duel. Round 1 between Darling and Antti Raanta was stellar, with Raanta taking the decision. In Round 2 on Tuesday Darling bested his former teammate, stopping 33 of 34 for the victory. Darling once again faced a good amount of quality shots, most coming in the second period – the Rangers outshot the Blackhawks 16-7 in those 20 minutes. That work, including a sprawling stop on Mats Zuccarello, gave the Blackhawks an opportunity to take the lead in the second. And they did.

2. Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook return. Seabrook played his usual minutes – nearly 24 of them – while Toews was just over 18 minutes. Coach Joel Quenneville figured Toews playing under 20 minutes was good for the captain, who was back after missing nine consecutive games. The Blackhawks will continue to monitor Toews as this road trip continues. Toews was also strong at the faceoff circle, winning eight of 13.

3. Artem Anisimov with his 13th of the season. Heading into Friday’s game against the Rangers in Chicago, Anisimov talked on how his time in New York will always mean something – “my first team in the NHL, and it’s a special moment when we play against them.” It means that much more after Tuesday, when Anisimov scored what would be his sixth game-winning goal of the season. Anisimov has been a great presence at the net for the Blackhawks, and he capitalized on that placement again on Tuesday.

4. Trevor van Riemsdyk scores his first of the season. OK, obviously scoring goals isn’t the main focus of van Riemsdyk’s game. But Raanta was on a serious roll entering this one – he had two consecutive shutouts, including one against the Blackhawks on Friday. The Blackhawks needed someone to break through, and van Riemsdyk did. He was stumbling as he scored it – “that wasn’t too graceful, not the nicest shot, but I’ll take them any way I can get them,” he said. But out there with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, van Riemsdyk knew how to play. “When you’re out there with Kaner and Bread Man, you just skate around with your stick on the ice and if you’re open they’ll find you.”

5. Jimmy Vesey is a talent. The young forward had his share of interested teams this summer – the Blackhawks were among them – and it’s easy to see why. Vesey was great on Tuesday night, throwing a whopping seven shots at Darling. No, Vesey couldn’t get one through but it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Artemi Panarin joins elite company with latest accomplishment in NHL.

By Charlie Roumeliotis

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Artemi Panarin has had a fantastic start to his NHL career, and his latest accomplishment only validated that.

The 25-year-old Russian winger became the 27th player in league history to score 100 or more points in his first 110 games, and is the first player to do it since Blackhawks teammate Patrick Kane, according to hockey-reference.com.

He's one of six active players on the list, joining Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Paul Stastny and Kane.

Nine of those 27 players are currently in the Hockey Hall of Fame, with a handful of others likely to join them, such as Crosby, Kane, Ovechkin and Teemu Selanne.

That's some elite company.

The best part for Chicago is, it feels like Panarin is just getting started.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears: Alshon Jeffery's return finally gives Matt Barkley an elite target.

By John Mullin

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

So many weeks of the Bears’ 3-10 season have been marked by player exits from the stage, whether for injury or suspension. The games now may mean little overall because of the Bears being eliminated from playoff possibilities but the impending return of one of those players – wide receiver Alshon Jeffery – suddenly adds a level of significance to next Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

Jeffery was suspended four games on Nov. 14 for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs and is eligible to return this week after being barred from even being in the building while under suspension. He was at Halas Hall on Monday, with coach John Fox “re-introducing” the veteran wideout and team co-captain to the team.

The real introduction, however, will come when Jeffery begins working with quarterback Matt Barkley, whose run as Bears starting quarterback began during Jeffery’s absence. Jeffery resumes playing for his next contract -- “I think he has a pretty good understanding” of what the next three weeks mean, Fox said – and at the same time gives Barkley an opportunity to operate the offense with one of its biggest weapons after working primarily with receivers no higher than No. 4 on the depth chart. Eddie Royal played 12 snaps in the Tennessee game, Barkley’s first NFL start, but has been inactive the past two weeks.

Barkley has developed chemistry with backups Josh Bellamy, Cam Meredith, Deonte Thompson and Daniel Braverman, with the goal now to develop something with Jeffery “hopefully fast, like this week,” Fox said. “We’re playing a pretty good team here at our place. Obviously we have to work on it.

“The passing game is timing and precision. Alshon knows our offense. It’s not like he’s new to it. This will be his third quarterback throwing to him and even that’s not different. When Jay got hurt and we put Brian in there was an adjustment for everybody and it will be an adjustment for Alshon with Matt.”

Bears In-Foe: Aa-Rod and his 'R' words.

By Chris Boden

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Two years ago, after the Packers' 1-2 start, Aaron Rodgers famously called for their fans to "R-E-L-A-X" in a radio interview before heading to Soldier Field and torching the Bears, 38-17.

Three weeks ago, after a fourth straight loss on national TV in D.C. (and fifth in six games, broken up only by their Thursday night win over the Bears), he stated in his postgame press conference that, after dropping to 4-6, he felt good about his team's ability to "run the table."

Relax. Run. Rodgers.

Here come the Packers, winners of three straight, back in the NFC North mix, and suddenly looking scary again after (and still finding their way through) a series of defensive injuries. They come to town after their biggest shot in the arm, a 38-10 blowout of Seattle Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Packers have been focusing on faster starts after getting punched in the mouth early (and sometimes often) during their slump. So there was Rodgers, on Sunday's third play from scrimmage, showing how much the Seahawks might miss Earl Thomas with a 66-yard touchdown strike to Davante Adams. But complicating matters on that play was Rodgers injuring his right calf to pair with the left hamstring he strained, and has been nursing, throughout this three-game win streak. 

Up 28-3 early in the fourth quarter, head coach Mike McCarthy got Rodgers off the field and out of further physical harm.

While Jordy Nelson's return from last year's torn ACL (leading all receivers with a dozen touchdown receptions among 75 catches), the oft-criticized and injured Adams has come into his own. The 2014 second-round draft pick has already established a career-high with 63 catches, 897 yards, a 14.2-yard average and nine TD's (after just four over his first two seasons). 

It may be a comparatively quiet year for Randall Cobb, but the slot weapon still has 60 catches. The rare splash in free agency by GM Ted Thompson for tight end Jared Cook has yet to pay off. He missed six games earlier in the season with an ankle injury, and is expected to play Sunday despite leaving early vs. Seattle with a chest injury. He and Richard Rodgers have combined for 43 catches and two touchdowns at the position.

Elite right guard T.J. Lang returned Sunday after needing just a month to return from a broken foot, and helped keep the gimpy "Aa-Rod" clean (just one sack allowed) vs. that Seattle D. The season-opening line is back intact, having allowed 27 sacks.

Eddie Lacy lasted just five games in his contract year before it ended, while James Starks (2.3 average) hasn't gotten back on track after mid-season knee injury. So wideout Ty Montgomery remains the main ball-carrier, and after running nine times for 60 yards against the Bears, owns a 5.2-yard average on 44 rushes, while adding 35 receptions. 

Give McCarthy and company marks for ingenuity and enough balance while managing to average just under 100 yards on the ground per game. Former Seahawk Christine Michael (20-59) has yet to make an impact.

Oh. And Rodgers (Aaron, not Richard)? His 32 touchdown passes leads the NFL, while throwing just seven picks. That TD-to-INT ratio is 7/0 during the win streak, completing 74 percent of his passes with a 123.8 passer rating. 

With numbers like that, they might just "Run The Table" against each division rival down the stretch.  Let's see if the Bears can get in the way.

Bears In-Foe: Pack 'D' coming off Lovie-like effort.

By CSN Staff

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Six turnovers.

With Sunday's Dange-Russ effort vs. Wilson and the Seahawks, Dom Capers' much-maligned unit turned a minus-5 giveaway/takeaway ratio this season to a plus-one.

The Packers picked off Russell Wilson five times (two off deflections, including one that binged off Doug Baldwin's helmet), and remember, Wilson played his final collegiate season at Wisconsin, so never mind the conditions. Just like he helped guide the Seahawks through that sub-zero playoff win in Minnesota last January.

The Bears could not take advantage of a 12th-string (I kid...though not far off...) defensive backfield in these teams' first meeting, as Brian Hoyer broke an arm and Matt Barkley was forced into his Bears debut (6-of-15, 81 yards, two interceptions).

One of the DBs thrust into a starter's role that night, Demetri Goodson, is now on IR. But more importantly, left corner Demetrious Randall (who missed six of seven games with a groin pull), Quentin Rollins (three games, groin) are back. Ladarius Gunter (10 pass deflections) has managed to remain healthy, and Micah Hyde has had a few issues as well. 

But the impressive safety tandem (how about that, Bears?) of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (three INTs) and Morgan Burnett have combined to miss just one contest.

The bug has bitten at linebacker, though. Jake Ryan returned after missing two games with an ankle problem, but Blake Martinez has missed three straight with a knee injury. Those two inside linebackers remain tied for second on the team in tackles. 

That forced Clay Matthews (4.0 sacks) temporarily back inside, but he missed three games with a hamstring pull and was limited Sunday with a shoulder problem. Rookie linebacker Kyle Fackrell has also flashed at times, but has missed the last three. 

On the outside, leading sacker Nick Perry (8.0) missed Sunday's game with a broken hand. Julius Peppers (6.5 sacks) just keeps on keeping on, a month from his 37th birthday.

Can Jordan Howard do some damage, just 31 yards from 1,000 in his rookie season? Ka'Deem Carey had three more carries than the bellcow in the first meeting (seven rushes, 22 yards). The Packers are top-10 in run defense (96.2), but if the Bears have any thoughts of ball-control, and a potentially season-spoiling upset of the arch-rival, figure Howard needs to get more than the 13 touches he had to settle for in Detroit.

The Packers allowed 146 points in their four-game skid. They've allowed a total of 33 vs. the Eagles, Texans and Seahawks in this win streak.

Special teams

RB/WR Ty Montgomery averages more than 22 yards per kickoff return, which would place him in the top 10 if he had more attempts. 

Trevor Davis' 12.8-yard average (when used) provides a higher punt return average than the sure-handed, but less-explosive Micah Hyde.

The Packers rank last in kickoff return coverage, but the Bears are 30th in punt coverage. Mason Crosby has connected of 21-of-25 field goal attempts.

Dowell Loggains a liability for Bears QB future? Look a little deeper.

By John Mullin

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The narrative has been forming for some weeks and even months, that the Bears have an overarching, franchise-grade issue at offensive coordinator. The story stretches from a present season in which the Bears have regressed offensively under Dowell Loggains, into a future which anticipates the organization investing in and committing to a young quarterback. That doubts exist about Loggains being entrusted with what will be the cornerstone of the franchise for years to come would be an understatement.

The reasons are simple enough: The Bears scored 20 or more points 11 times last year, only four times so far in 2016. The identity of becoming an effective running team has been spotty, with the run declining from 45.7 percent of plays last season to 38.3 through the loss to the Detroit Lions. A 3-10 record and offensive shortcomings have made Loggains nothing short of a target.

Except that maybe it all isn’t that simple at all. Something feels decidedly overly oversimplified, in fact.

Because three different Bears quarterbacks have played stretches of their best football in the NFL over the past 29 games. Jay Cutler. Brian Hoyer. Matt Barkley. The constant in Bears quarterback development is not Adam Gase, now Miami Dolphins coach, but Loggains.

“Dowell coached Jay; he was Jay’s position coach [in 2015],” said coach John Fox. “This year, Dave Ragone is the position coach and he’s done an outstanding job. It’s he and Dowell.”

Vs. last season when Jay Cutler started 15 games and played 92.1 percent of the snaps, and all but the Seattle game (concussion), the Bears have started three different quarterbacks in 2016 and won games with all three in 2016.

With Loggains as quarterbacks coach last season, Cutler eliminated turnovers and posted the highest passer rating (92.3) of his 11-yard NFL career. Hoyer filled in for Cutler this year and went on the best four-game streak of his career, all 300-yard passing games, six TD passes vs. zero interceptions.

Now has come Barkley, a two-team castoff who has started the last three games with Cutler and Hoyer gone to IR, and has emerged as perhaps the coaching resume highlight of 2016.

“Truth be told, if we don’t have 18 drops in three games, this kid might be 3-0,” Fox said. “I don’t know that, but he’s played well enough to be 3-0.”

(Parenthetically since it was only preseason, but Connor Shaw played to a 132 passer rating before he was lost to a broken leg late in the Kansas City game.)

Beyond the quarterback work, Loggains has tweaked other elements of the offense, although injuries have thwarted more than a few hoped-for improvements.

The Bears have needed five different starting offensive line combinations and started the same five in consecutive weeks just once since the first Green Bay game. Wide receiver Eddie Royal played 12 snaps in the Tennessee game, then was inactive for San Francisco and Detroit. Alshon Jeffery has not played since Tampa Bay, and Kevin White was done after the first Detroit game, on Oct. 2.

Yet the Bears are averaging 4.4 yards per rush this season, a 10-percent jump from last year’s 4.0.

“We’re doing a lot different things on offense than we were a year ago,” Fox said. “We’re running the football better, I know that.”

Loggains’ resume suffers from results in Cleveland and Tennessee when those teams were bottom-feeders without personnel. But Loggains’ NFL pedigree includes time with Mike Munchak and the late Mike Heimerdinger at Tennessee, as well as Bill Parcells when the latter was a consultant with the Browns.. “He’s been around some really good coaches,” Fox said, “and that’s what I looked at when I came here.”

Expect Loggains to be firmly in place through this offseason, the draft and the immediate future. Members of the coaching staff say privately that Loggains is more inclusive than and a better internal communicator than Gase, which doesn’t mean much without wins, but builds continuity of message.

And he has had a hand in getting the best out of three Bears quarterbacks in less than two years. Which also doesn’t mean much without wins, but suggests that the guy may know something about the position as the organization looks presumably toward a next step at the position.

“I think our staff as a whole,” Fox said, “with the cards we’ve been dealt, some of the things that’ve happened, have done a tremendous job, Dowell included.”

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Bulls blow 21-point first-half lead in loss to Tom Thibodeau's Timberwolves.

By Vincent Goodwill

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

It worked out just the way Tom Thibodeau wanted it to — or perhaps not even in his wildest dreams could he imagine his return to Chicago could play out like this.

He watched his immature team take the Bulls’ best shot and seemingly lulled them to sleep after 20 minutes as the Bulls likely believed the 6-18 Minnesota Timberwolves would play to their youthful reputation.

Instead, it was the Bulls who played down to their reputation as a fourth-quarter outfit, as a team that can’t handle prosperity and as one that plays to the perceived level of its competition — losing to the worst after beating the best.

By the time Dwyane Wade clapped his hands in anger at official Ben Taylor when trying to draw a foul down four with less than 30 seconds remaining, earning two technical fouls and an ejection, the game was already decided.

The Bulls allowed Thibodeau his revenge in a 99-94 Wolves win Tuesday night at the United Center, a result that didn’t seem likely when the Bulls led by 20 most of the first half.

Thibodeau got his standing ovation, introduced after his team’s starting lineups, got hugs from former players and then lulled them to sleep a few minutes later before walking out victoriously a couple hours later.

“We just quit playing. It’s beyond me to have a team down like that and you let them back in,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “You gotta have that killer mentality, step on them when they’re down. We let them back in it, and we’re in a dogfight the rest of the game.”

Thibodeau’s young pups — Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine — all played up to expectations when the Wolves made their comeback, jumping over and running past the Bulls.

Towns survived a 6-for-21 night to score 16 points with 12 rebounds, all while protecting the rim without fouling. LaVine scored 24 with six rebounds and six assists, and Wiggins scored 23 with nine rebounds.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 but often tried to challenge Towns at the rim to unfortunate results, shooting 9-for-22 with six assists and nine rebounds. Robin Lopez scored 14, getting off early, and Taj Gibson scored 10.

Aside from that, production was scarce — as has been the case for most of the season.

“We let up. We have to keep building on leads,” Butler said. “If we do what we’re supposed to do, guard, rebound, we won’t give up leads.”

In no mood to discuss going against Thibodeau, Butler said “Next question, please.”

Wade shot just 4-for-13 with 12 points and eight assists, including an errant triple with less than a minute remaining.

“It was frustration,” Wade said. “It’s bad when you lose at home. Of course when you lose to a team you shouldn’t lose to, it feels worse. We gotta find a way to fix it.”

Thibodeau said afterward the plan after taking the early hit was to just keep playing and to get the deficit under 10 before the half — perhaps a tacit admission that getting to the fourth quarter with the game in doubt made him a happy camper considering the Bulls’ ineptitude in the final 12 minutes.

“We just had to remain connected out there,” Thibodeau said. “We then played much better defense. In the second half, we were very good defensively.”

Of course, it highlighted the Bulls’ fourth-quarter woes — a belief many felt was exacerbated by teams refusing to guard Rajon Rondo on the perimeter and no Doug McDermott to spread the floor.

But Rondo was out with an ankle injury, and even with McDermott on the floor, the Bulls again had little movement and couldn’t get anything done in the fourth, scoring just 19.

“Did we miss Rondo? Sure we did,” Hoiberg said. “He’s a guy that would’ve kept that pace going through the course of the game. But it’s not an excuse to what happened tonight.”

They were beat to the glass, 49-42, and allowed 15 offensive rebounds while shooting 4-for-15 from 3-point range. Losing the battle on fast-break points (16-11) and second-chance points (20-15) made their slim margin for error that much slimmer.

“The two biggest things we talked about today was offensive rebounds ... and transition,” Hoiberg said. “They exposed us on both of those tonight.”

In a game where the Bulls comfortably led by 20 six minutes into the contest, making it look anything besides a wonderful homecoming for their former coach, they decided to make it more than interesting with a lifeless stretch to end the first half.

“We came out pretty amazing,” Wade said. “Then they had rhythm, and we were playing from behind. That’s the frustrating part. Sometimes you don’t come back from that. We never came back from that as a team.”

After shooting 68 percent with 14 assists and just two turnovers, holding a 55-36 lead with 4:14 left in the first half, they mentally headed to the locker room. The Timberwolves didn’t, going on a 16-1 run to end the second quarter and making it a four-point game.

Feeling the energy and new life, they kept coming at the Bulls for the rest of the night and ignored their third-quarter woes that often erased big leads. Towns found his game, and the young legs of Wiggins and LaVine kept getting out on the break when the Bulls penetrated too deep or couldn’t muster any semblance of organized offense.

When the night ended, Thibodeau motioned a wave to Hoiberg and perhaps to Chicago with a tribute of his own — one of quiet satisfaction.

Tom Thibodeau: '90 percent' of time in Chicago was great.

By Vincent Goodwill

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Although just four players remain from Tom Thibodeau’s last season in Chicago, his first trip back as a coach who’ll be on the opposite sideline brings about some feelings of nostalgia, even though he wouldn’t be confused as some sentimental sap.

“Yeah, like when you come back you look at the building, you look at the time that you spent here,” Thibodeau said after his Minnesota Timberwolves finished shootaround at the United Center Tuesday morning. “Obviously you build a lot of relationships over that time. And I know what a great organization, the history, the tradition, being part of it. It was a great run for me. It was a great experience. You think about the players, the organization, the arena, all the people you see, the fans, the city itself, when I look back it was unbelievable.”

Saying “90 percent” of his time in Chicago was great, Thibodeau was classy in discussing his former employers.

“When I look back, you can focus on the 10 or 15 percent that didn't end up going the way you would like, but there were a lot of good times,” Thibodeau said. “And overall, the organization treated me great. I have no regret.”

In a way, he can’t even escape the specter of Chicago. He spent his season-long sabbatical last year as a Chicago resident, often being spotted around town through the year and living in Minneapolis currently is a place he calls “a smaller Chicago”.

“I was there at the start of my career. It’s a great city,” Thibodeau said. “There’s a lot going on. Great sports town, behind their teams. It’s a lot different than it was 25 years ago. Downtown is great. I’m enjoying it.”

Taking over as president of basketball operations along with assuming the title of head coach this summer—as one would think he coveted the former due to his acrimonious relationship with Gar Forman and John Paxson—he reiterated again he has no hard feelings toward either, or Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

Many will remember Reinsdorf issued a strong public statement from the team when the Bulls fired Thibodeau after their second-round playoff loss to the Cavaliers in 2015.

“I don't have a problem with those guys. I really don't,” Thibodeau said. “They have a job to do, I had a job to do. Unfortunately, we had some injuries along the way, and so it didn't end up maybe the way we all would have liked, but I don't have any problem with those guys.”

As for Reinsdorf, with whom he shared a close relationship, Thibodeau said he hoped to run into the Bulls chairman at the Hall of Fame but didn’t get a chance to.

“Jerry was great to me. I've got great respect for him,” Thibodeau said. “I spoke to Michael (Bulls President and COO). But at some point, I'll sit down with Jerry.”

He called his first season, the 2010-11 campaign that saw the Bulls claim the number one seed with Derrick Rose winning MVP and Thibodeau himself winning Coach of the Year as his best.

“When I look back, I think that start the first year was such a remarkable year,” Thibodeau said. “And it was all the guys. The team was such a deep team, and for Derrick to have that kind of season, and then Joakim (Noah) growing, Luol (Deng) growing, Taj (Gibson), Kyle Korver, (Omer) Asik...It was an unbelievable group of guys. I had great fortune to be coaching those guys. And the organization, they gave me an opportunity. I'll always be grateful for that.”

He’ll get a hero’s welcome when introduced to the United Center crowd but he knows the warm feelings from at least one of his former Bulls players will dissipate at tip-off.

The player is the one he spent the most time with over the summer with USA basketball, the player he desperately tried to acquire on draft night, Jimmy Butler.

“I know when that ball goes up tonight, he’ll be trying to kill me and we’ll be trying to kill him,” Thibodeau said.

Butler was one of the players who developed the most under Thibodeau’s unrelenting style, qualities he believes he has in the young players he inherited on the Timberwolves’ roster like Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine.

“I don’t think any of us could’ve said that we thought he would be who he is today but we knew he would be good,” Thibodeau said. “We knew he would be a good rotation player. We knew that he was smart and tough and driven. And those guys always get better. And it’s his dedication and commitment.”

CUBS: First Aroldis Chapman, now Wade Davis, but Cubs still see Hector Rondon as a big part of their plans.

By Patrick Mooney

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The Cubs added a closer this summer to a team that had been 56-1 when leading entering the ninth inning – and then made the bullpen a top priority this winter – and still insist it’s nothing personal with Hector Rondon.

“It’s been Aroldis Chapman and Wade Davis,” team president Theo Epstein said. “There’s fewer than 10 people, maybe, on the planet that you would move Rondon out of the closer’s role for, in my opinion. But those happen to be two of them.”

Kenley Jansen would be another, and the Los Angeles Dodgers plowed ahead on Monday with a reported five-year, $80 million deal to bring back their 270-pound version of Mariano Rivera.

This after a week where Mark Melancon and Chapman shattered the record for a closer contract, with the San Francisco Giants reacting to their bullpen meltdown against the Cubs in the playoffs with a four-year, $62 million investment and Chapman returning to the New York Yankees on a five-year, $86 million deal.

When you have a chance to get Chapman, “you better take it,” Rondon said after the Cubs completed that blockbuster trade with the Yankees in late July, handling his demotion with class and promising to do whatever it takes to help the team win.

But the Cubs never really got the bullpen they envisioned. Rondon went almost two full weeks in between appearances before the Cubs finally placed him on the disabled list with a strained right triceps in the middle of August. By the World Series, manager Joe Maddon clearly didn’t trust Rondon, who only pitched in Game 1 (a 6-0 loss) and Game 4 (a 7-2 loss) against the Cleveland Indians.

“I talked to Rondon,” Maddon said last week after the Cubs acquired Davis from the Kansas City Royals. “When a guy gets hurt like that, I feel like I’m responsible. Part of that is maybe using him too much in different situations.

“At the end of the year, he wasn’t as effective as he had been. And I really believe that sometimes you use a guy too much. So I wanted him to understand and know that by bringing Wade in, (we’d) try to take some of the burden off these guys earlier in the year.

“You have to be cognizant of all that after you play to November 2, moving to the next year, because you want to do it again.”

Only the Cubs could give up a Cuban outfielder with enormous potential (Jorge Soler) – and get a two-time All-Star closer who notched the final out of the 2015 World Series – and still have it be considered a “quiet” winter meetings.    

But Davis – who requires only a one-year, $10 million commitment – makes too much sense for the defending champs in an overheated market for closers.

Rondon has big-picture perspective as someone who thought about quitting baseball when it looked like injuries would derail his career before he ever got to the big leagues. Once one of the best pitching prospects in Cleveland’s farm system, Tommy John surgery and elbow complications nearly wiped out Rondon’s 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.

That Rule 5 pick is already a huge success story after saving 77 games in a Cubs uniform, which MLB Trade Rumors projects as a $5.7 million payday through the arbitration system. 

Only seven months ago, FanGraphs published a story on how Rondon had been so dominant that he was breaking the Fielding Independent Pitching metric. When healthy, Rondon has all the makings of an elite setup guy, close to triple-digit velocity, swing-and-miss stuff, a feel for pitching and a sense of calm under pressure.

“He understands Wade being there,” Maddon said. “I also want him to understand that Wade can’t do it all the time, and that he needs to be ready and prepared to do it, which he will be.

“I told him how much I respect him. And, again, he’s all about the team, so it’s just one of those things: Wade will close, but these other guys are going to benefit because of that.”  

WHITE SOX: Rick Hahn stresses patience for White Sox rebuild: 'We're not going to force this thing'.

By Dan Hayes

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

They’re two deals into what Rick Hahn expects to be a painful, lengthy process and more are on the way. But the White Sox general manager won’t take the next step in the team’s rebuilding project unless it’s the appropriate time.

While fans have already begun to clamor for more after Chris Sale and Adam Eaton were traded last week, Hahn thinks it would be unwise for he and the front office to act with haste. They must instead remain patient as they handle the club’s rebuild, a process that could reboot the organization and offer sustained success if performed properly.

Even though some moves could happen as soon as this week, the White Sox are unlikely to trade away all their chips before they head to Arizona in February.

“We’re not going to force this thing,” Hahn said last week at the Winter Meetings. “Until the right players are accessible and we feel the market condition is right based on the value of our players and what’s accessible to us, we’re going to have to wait for the right time. But we know what we want to do and we realize we’re going to have to exercise a little bit of patience, which isn’t the easiest thing for all of us. But again our focus is on the long term benefit of all this.”

Though Sale and Eaton are gone, it doesn’t mean the White Sox no longer have any desirable talent to deal. On the contrary, the White Sox still have many resources for other teams to acquire.

The list of potential trade targets includes the top starting pitcher available, Jose Quintana, slugger Jose Abreu, free agents-to-be Todd Frazier and Melky Cabrera, and relievers David Robertson and Nate Jones, who have become very popular with baseball in the midst of a bullpen craze.

Pleased to see the team aggressively head in the direction of a rebuild for the first time since 1997, White Sox fans understandably want more. And they want it now.

Given the returns for Sale and Eaton, the belief is Quintana should bring back a similar amount to a pair of packages that netted two top-50 prospects apiece.

But already a report surfaced that the Houston Astros balked at the White Sox, who asked for Francis Martes, Kyle Tucker and Joe Musgrove. Even though they’d like to capitalize on a market extremely thin on pitchers, Hahn won’t budge on his price and he shouldn’t.

Not only is Quintana consistently good and on a four-year deal, there are few pitchers available. In short, Hahn’s holding all the cards and he knows it, which allows him to stay patient.

Patience in moving Sale in December instead of July allowed other teams to bid for the five-time All-Star and gave the White Sox a chance to reel in a talented prospect package from the Boston Red Sox.

The White Sox intended to take the same patient approach with Eaton until the Washington Nationals overwhelmed them with a package that included two top-30 overall pitching prospects and a 2016 first-round pick (Dane Dunning) that amateur scouting director Nick Hostetler had very high on the team’s board last June.

“Our desire to move this thing along is not going to be what dictates the pace,” Hahn said. “What’s going to dictate the pace is the value of our players, the potential return we get and how that fits with our long-term plan.

“There may not be anything else until after the holidays or through the trade deadline or into next offseason. We’re taking a longer-term view, and we’re going to do this deliberately and with reason and logic and react accordingly with the market.”

A patient approach would affect some players differently than others. The White Sox are likely better off trading Robertson now that he’s one of a few closers left on the market and baseball is hungry for relievers. Same could go for Jones, who has five years left on his deal at an affordable rate if his options are exercised.

Frazier and Cabrera are also likelier to be traded in the next few months as both become free agents next November.  

But this offseason may not be the best time to move Abreu, whose homer total has decreased from 36 in 2014 to 25 this season. Not only did Abreu struggle for the first four months of 2016, the market is still flooded with right-handed power as free agents Mark Trumbo, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista remain available.

The White Sox could be better off hanging on to Abreu, who is under team control for three more years. The same goes for Quintana, who has team options for 2019 and 2020.

As Hahn notes, patience is key.

“We don't view this as a quick fix,” Hahn said. “This is something that we're going to do with diligence and with the proper patience in order to maximize our returns.

“It's much more important to do it right than to do it quickly. Do it too quickly, do it hastily without the proper vetting of targets could put yourself in a worse predicament, if you aren't careful.”

Getz: Development staff up to task of rebuild.

By Scott Merkin

(Photo/www.chicagowhitesox.com)

Sox farm director gained firsthand experience building champion from ground up in KC.

In Chris Getz's first year as the White Sox director of player development, the team's one-time second baseman gets to oversee the development of arguably the most important rebuild in franchise history.

No pressure there, at least nothing greater than Getz's already high expectations.

"Certainly the landscape of the organization from top to bottom has changed," the 33-year-old Getz told MLB.com during an interview at the recently completed Winter Meetings. "From a Minor League perspective, we've added a lot of quality, high-caliber type players. As a farm director, certainly it's exciting.

"Our organization is excited with the direction that we've taken. It's a direction that is different than what we've done here in a while. So, I look forward to getting to know these players. Hopefully these players get comfortable quickly, and we get them to the big leagues and have them reach the ceiling which we've identified."

• White Sox Top 30 Prospects list

Getz certainly won't be solely responsible for the development of infielder Yoan Moncada -- MLBPipeline.com's No. 1 overall prospect -- outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and pitchers Michael Kopech (No. 30 overall), Lucas Giolito (No. 3 overall), Reynaldo Lopez (No. 38 overall), Dane Dunning and Victor Diaz, who were acquired in deals for ace Chris Sale and right fielder Adam Eaton, not to mention the prospects already in-house. With All-Star left-hander Jose Quintana, third baseman Todd Frazier and closer David Robertson also available, that prospect haul could grow.

There's no question Getz is the sharp baseball mind the White Sox wanted for this particular position. But as manager Rick Renteria astutely pointed out regarding Major League player development, it takes an entire group of Minor League managers, coaches and instructors to get these players big league ready.

"You get to know the individual, and everyone is different," Getz said. "Our scouts have identified the ceilings of these players, and it's our job to exhaust every avenue to get those players to reach those ceilings. We've got a lot of experience in our player development system.

"I wouldn't say they've dealt with some of the caliber of guys that we have. But man, we've got years and years of experience. We will approach it head on. I've talked to some guys, some staff in our system, and they are really excited to meet these guys and get going in Spring Training."

Having been a part of the Kansas City Royals both as a player and in the front office, Getz had a first-hand look as to how a successful rebuild works: Bring together the core homegrown group (Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon) make key additions (Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Wade Davis, to name a few), let the group learn and even lose together and then hopefully watch it grow into an American League champion (2014) and World Series champion ('15).

That process stands at its most formative stages for the White Sox. And Getz has returned to be a part of the growth.

"What I witnessed, that core group coming through Kansas City, they went through the growing pains, they truly did. They learned from that," Getz said. "It brought them close together. It created almost a fearlessness.

"So when they started improving their skills at the Major League level and they came together, you witnessed something that was very special. But the earlier you can get them together, the better for the long term health of the organization."

Golf: I got a club for that..... Woods officially commits to 2017 Genesis Open.

By Will Gray

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

Tiger Woods officially committed to the Genesis Open, marking his return to the tournament where he made his first PGA Tour start. The tournament will be played Feb. 16-19.

Woods was just a high school sophomore when he played in what was known as the Nissan Los Angeles Open in 1992. He was a runner-up at Riviera Country Club in both 1998 and 1999 but has not played the event since 2006.

"I'm very excited to come back to Riviera and compete in the Genesis Open. This is where it all started for me," Woods said. "It was my first PGA Tour event, I was 16 years old, I weighed about 105 pounds, and it was a life-changing moment for me."

Woods' commitment is not a surprise given that the tournament, which was called the Northern Trust Open last season, now benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Woods made his return to competition earlier this month, finishing 15th out of 17 players at the Hero World Challenge in his first start in nearly 16 months.

Woods has not committed to any 2017 events beyond Riviera. It remains to be seen if he will play again before the event, either during the European Tour's Desert Swing or at the Jan. 26-29 Farmers Insurance Open, an event that Woods has won seven times.

Stenson named European Tour Golfer of the Year.

By Will Gray

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

Henrik Stenson has been named Golfer of the Year by the European Tour after a season that included a win at the Open and a second Race to Dubai title.

The 40-year-old Swede enjoyed the best year of his career, although he didn't get into the winner's circle until the BMW International Open in Germany in June. He followed that with a breakthrough major triumph at Royal Troon, holding off Phil Mickelson during a memorable final round.

Stenson starred the following month as golf returned to the Olympics, earning a silver medal behind only Great Britain's Justin Rose. He closed out the season by winning the European Tour's season-long Race to Dubai, a feat he first accomplished in 2013 when he also took home Golfer of the Year honors.

"To win the claret jug, a silver medal at the Olympics, the Race to Dubai and now this means 2016 was a very special year for me, and I'm proud of what I achieved," Stenson said. "You can argue that my consistency was a touch higher in 2013, but in 2016 I produced my best performances at key moments, so it will go down as the best year I have had and this award is a very nice way to end it."

Other candidates for the award included Rose and Danny Willett, who became the first European to win the Masters since 1999. Dustin Johnson was named PGA Tour Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season in October.

First Senior LPGA Championship coming in 2017.

By Randall Mell

The Senior LPGA Championship for women 45 and over will be staged for the first time next year, the LPGA announced Tuesday.

The championship’s launch will come at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in Indiana July 10-12 with Golf Channel televising. It’s a Monday-through-Wednesday 54-hole event that will feature a field of 81 players with a $600,000 purse.

“This is a landmark event for the LPGA because it provides a larger platform to celebrate the legends of the game,” LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said in a statement. “With the USGA’s recently announced U.S. Senior Women’s Open and now our event, the women who forged the way for the current generation will now have two major championships each year.”

The USGA will host its first U.S. Senior Women’s Open in 2018 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. That championship will be for women 50 and over.

European Tour announces full 2017 schedule.

By Will Gray

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

The European Tour released its full schedule for the 2017 season Tuesday, a roster that includes 47 tournaments and the promise of a 48th event to be announced shortly.

The circuit had previously released its schedule for the early part of the season, which actually began earlier this month and has already seen three tournaments conducted in South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong.

The first event of the new year will be the Jan. 12-15 South African Open, followed by the traditional Desert Swing through Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai. This year also marks the return of events to Portugal, Italy and Spain after short hiatuses, notably the Oct. 19-22 Andalucia Valderrama Masters which will be held at the former Ryder Cup venue and hosted by Sergio Garcia.

The schedule will be anchored by the newly-announced Rolex Series, a group of seven tournaments that will replace the former Race to Dubai. Included under that umbrella are the BMW PGA Championship, Irish Open, Scottish Open, Italian Open, Turkish Open, Nedbank Golf Challenge and DP World Tour Championship.

The circuit has also reinstated its co-sanctioning of the PGA Tour's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which it withdrew last year over scheduling issues with the Open de France.

The still-unannounced event is earmarked for May 4-7, the week before the Players Championship in the U.S. Once announced, it will push the 2017 schedule past the 2016 total of 47 events.

Tournaments held in 2016 that have been dropped for next year include the True Thailand Classic, Mauritius Open and the Open de Espana, the last of which had been included on the schedule every year since the Tour's inception in 1972.

Korean Open winner, runner-up to receive Open spots.

By Will Gray

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

The R&A announced Tuesday that the winner and runner-up at the 2017 Kolon Korean Open will each receive exemptions into the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

These are the first such exemptions for the event, which is co-sanctioned by the Korean Golf Tour and OneAsia Tour and was first played in 1958. The decorated list of past champions includes Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, K.J. Choi, John Daly and Rickie Fowler. Last year Korea's Kyounghoon Lee successfully defended his title.

"The Open brings together the best players from around the world and is truly a global celebration of golf," said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of championships for the R&A. "Korea is a strong golfing nation and these new exemptions will create added incentive for the golfers competing in this historic tournament."

The Kolon Korean Open will be held June 1-4 at Woojeong Hills Country Club in the South Chungcheong province.

NASCAR: Brian France denies report on length of contract with Monster Energy.

By Dan McFadin

(Photo/Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

On SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France called reported numbers on NASCAR’s new title sponsorship deal with Monster Energy “inaccurate” while speaking more about the partnership that was announced last week.

France called into SiriusXM Speedway, hosted by Dave Moody.

France refuted a report by the Sports Business Journal that the deal was for $20 million a year for two years with a two-year option.

“Those are not accurate numbers,” France said. “We have a good understanding about where this relationship is going to be. So no, those are not accurate numbers. We’ll work on that.”

Monster is the third different company to be the entitlement sponsor for the premier series after Winston and Nextel/Sprint. In the SBJ report, NASCAR COO Brent Dewar said the “terms and conditions we’re getting are what we wanted,” adding that the sanctioning body wanted a short-term deal “so we could stay current in the marketplace.”

Nextel, which later became Sprint, began sponsoring the premier series in 2004.

Also not know at the time is what the official title of the premier series will be with Monster.

“We’ll have an announcement shortly,” France said. “We’re working together with them. A lot of it is they know motorsports. They’re not just along for the ride. They have real good opinions on what they want to get done here as our entitlement sponsor. We’re going to listen to them because they’re obviously the most important partner.”

Social Roundup: Jeff Gordon preps for Rolex 24 at Daytona

By Daniel McFadin

(Photo/twitter.com)

Jeff Gordon‘s racing career is not over yet. Not long after the 2016 NASCAR season ended, it was announced the four-time premier series champion would be competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona next year.

Tuesday morning Gordon was busy prepping for a closed test for the event, which will be his second time competing in the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway. He first ran in the race in 2007.

Gordon will drive in the Jan. 28-29 race with Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli as co-drivers of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R. The car is owned by Wayne Taylor Racing.

Here’s the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona entry list, so far.

By Tony DiZinno

(Photo/No. 14 Lexus and No. 46 Lamborghini. Photo courtesy of IMSA)

Because there’s been an avalanche of announcements ahead of next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, which is barely more than a month away, you might have lost track of who’s all driving where and what driver lineups are set.

Luckily, we’re keeping track on our end.

Here’s what we know, via a mix of team releases and news reports. Lineups that have yet to be formally confirmed, but have participated in Daytona testing, have an asterisk by them.

PROTOTYPE (13-14 expected)

Most of the Prototype field is already set. Mazda is due to announce their full lineups before the end of the year and it’d be a surprise if it didn’t feature some familiar faces as the extra drivers.

PR1/Mathiasen and JDC/Miller, which step up from PC, also are due formal reveals of their lineups, expected to feature similar names. Starworks’ Peter Baron has a habit of pulling some incredible lineups out for the Rolex 24 and he would figure to do so with at least one of his entries in 2017.

Full season

2, Tequila Patron ESM, Ligier JS P217 Nissan, Dalziel/Sharp/Derani
22, Tequila Patron ESM, Ligier JS P217 Nissan, E. Brown/van Overbeek/B. Senna/Hartley
5, Action Express Racing, Cadillac DPi-V.R, Barbosa/Fittipaldi/Albuquerque
31, Action Express Racing, Cadillac DPi-V.R, Cameron/Curran/S. Morris/Conway
10, Wayne Taylor Racing, Cadillac DPi-V.R, J. Taylor/R. Taylor/Angelelli/J. Gordon
55, Mazda Motorsports, Mazda MRT24-P, Bomarito/Nunez (extra driver to be announced)
70, Mazda Motorsports, Mazda MRT24-P, T. Long/J. Miller (extra driver to be announced)
52, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, Ligier JS P217 Gibson, Kimber-Smith/Gutierrez/Guasch*
85, JDC/Miller Motorsports, Oreca 07 Gibson, TBA
90, VISIT FLORIDA Racing, Riley Mk. 30 Gibson, van der Zande/Goossens (extra driver to be announced)
TBA (7, 8 or 88 expected), Starworks Motorsport, Riley Mk. 30 Gibson, TBA

Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup/Daytona only

TBA (21 or 81 expected), DragonSpeed, Oreca 07 Gibson, Lapierre/Hanley/Hedman/Duval
TBA (12 or 13 expected), Rebellion Racing, Oreca 07 Gibson, Heidfeld/Buemi/Jani/Sarrazin

GT LE MANS (10-13 expected) 

Corvette, BMW and Porsche have formally revealed all their full lineups. Ford’s is expected in the next couple weeks. Risi is traditionally the latest of the bunch, and often revolves around what Ferrari factory drivers are available.

Per Sportscar365, Ford is planning a four-car run at Daytona for its GTLM program. Proton Competition has reportedly planned a one-car outing for Daytona and Scuderia Corsa ran a Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup GTLM program last year with a 488 GTE.

Full season

3, Corvette Racing, Corvette C7.R, Magnussen/Garcia/Rockenfeller
4, Corvette Racing, Corvette C7.R, Gavin/Milner/Fassler
19, BMW Team RLL, BMW M6 GTLM, Auberlen/Sims/Farfus/Spengler
25, BMW Team RLL, BMW M6 GTLM, Edwards/Tomczyk/Wittmer/Catsburg
62, Risi Competizione, Ferrari 488 GTE, Vilander*
66, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, Ford GT, Hand/D. Mueller*
67, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, Ford GT, Briscoe/Westbrook/Dixon*
911, Porsche GT Team, Porsche 911 RSR, Pilet/D. Werner/Makowiecki
912, Porsche GT Team, Porsche 911 RSR, Vanthoor/Estre/Lietz

Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup/Daytona only

TBA, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, Ford GT, TBA
TBA, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, Ford GT, TBA
TBA, Proton Competition, Porsche 911 RSR, Ried

GT DAYTONA (Widest range: 22-30-plus possible) 

Of the teams that have announced a full-season program for 2017, Stevenson, TRG and Turner Motorsport haven’t put out their full-season lineups. It’d be a surprise if Stevenson shifts from its 2016 lineup. At least eight extra entries will join the fun at Daytona, likely with more to follow.

Full season

6, Stevenson Motorsports, Audi R8 LMS, Liddell/A. Davis*
9, Stevenson Motorsports, Audi R8 LMS, Aschenbach/M. Bell (U.S.)*
14, 3GT Racing, Lexus RC F GT3, Karam/Pruett/I. James/Menezes
15, 3GT Racing, Lexus RC F GT3, Hawksworth/Alon/Cindric/D. Farnbacher
27, Dream Racing, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Sbirrazzuoli/DeGeorge/Ruberti/Giammaria*
48, Paul Miller Racing, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Sellers/Mad. Snow/B. Miller/Caldarelli
33, Riley-Team AMG, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Keating/J. Bleekemolen (extra drivers to be announced)
50, Riley-WeatherTech Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Jeannette/MacNeil/van Gisbergen (extra driver to be announced)
75, SunEnergy1 Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Vautier/Habul/Said (extra driver to be announced)
54, CORE autosport, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Braun/Bennett (extra drivers to be announced)
73, Park Place Motorsports, Porsche 911 GT3 R, J. Bergmeister/Lindsey/McMurry
TBA, TRG, Porsche 911 GT3 R, TBA
63, Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari 488 GT3, Balzan/Nielsen/Cressoni (extra driver to be announced)
86, Michael Shank Racing, Acura NSX GT3, Segal/Negri/Dyer/Hunter-Reay
93, Michael Shank Racing, Acura NSX GT3, Lally/Legge/Wilkins/Rahal
96, Turner Motorsport, BMW M6 GT3, TBA
97, Turner Motorsport, BMW M6 GT3, TBA

Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup/Daytona only

11, GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Engelhart/Ineichen/Bortolotti/E. Companc
TBA, GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Engelhart/Ineichen (extra drivers to be announced)
21, Konrad Motorsport, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Basseng/Mapelli/Willsey (extra driver to be announced; Trebing has tested)
28, Alegra Motorsports, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Morad/Lazare/M. de Quesada (extra driver to be announced)
29, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS, De Phillippi/Mies/Gounon/Schmidt
46, Ebimotors, Lamborghini Huracán GT3, Babini/E. Busnelli (extra drivers to be announced)
59, Manthey Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Reimer/Renger/Proczyk/S. Smith* (testing only thus far)
98, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda (extra driver to be announced)

PROTOTYPE CHALLENGE (5-7 expected)

No PC team has yet announced a driver for next year other than Performance Tech Motorsports running James French in its No. 38 Oreca FLM09. Despite CORE’s absence and PR1/Mathiasen and JDC/Miller both stepping up to Prototype, PC should field anywhere from five to seven cars at Daytona between Starworks Motorsport, JDC/Miller, Performance Tech and BAR1 Motorsports.

ADDITIONAL TEAMS OF NOTE

There are still several teams that raced in 2016 are yet to reveal their full 2017 intentions and scale of program. Some may turn up at Daytona and others may have turned their final wheel in IMSA for the time being.

Of note, the GTD programs of Magnus Racing, Alex Job Racing (and Team Seattle), Black Swan Racing, Change Racing and Lone Star Racing are a festival of TBD.

The above list is always subject to change, and only figures to expand from what’s already listed.

SOCCER: No Fire players taken in MLS expansion draft.

By Dan Santaromita

(Photo/USA TODAY)

The expansion draft for incoming Major League Soccer clubs Atlanta and Minnesota took place Tuesday and no Chicago Fire players were selected.

Each expansion team took five players and each existing team could only lose one player so 10 existing clubs lost a player in Tuesday's draft.

When the list of unprotected players came out yesterday there was some buzz that former Fire midfielder Harry Shipp could be taken, but Atlanta opened by selecting Danny Toia from Montreal, meaning Shipp could not be selected after that pick.

Former Fire backup goalkeeper Alec Kann was selected by Atlanta.

The Fire left only two players currently under contract unprotected: David Arshakyan and Michael Harrington.

The conclusion of the expansion draft means trades are open once again. Also the league announced the list of players eligible for MLS free agency on Monday. Teams are allowed to negotiate with free agents beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Thursday will feature the MLS waiver draft and the first stage of the re-entry draft is the following day. Typically, neither has many moves, but it is a sign that the MLS offseason is in full force.

Bournemouth 1-0 Leicester City: Boruc late heroics save win.

By Nicholas Mendola

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Artur Boruc made several key saves as Bournemouth rose to eighth in the Premier League win a 1-0 win over Leicester City at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday.

Marc Pugh had the goal for the Cherries, who stayed stout in defense against a Leicester side that scored four against Man City this weekend.

Leicester remains 14th, with 16 points.

The Cherries continue to hum, and Marc Pugh was in the catbird seat when Benik Afobe‘s fine chance was parried by Ron-Robert Zeiler.

That was one of the few inspiring moments of the half, though Leicester came out of the break invigorated and began to pressure the Bournemouth back line.

Jamie Vardy cued up Andy King for a header, but the cross had a ton of pace and headed over the frame. It remained 1-0 in the 63rd minute.

Leicester won 11 corners to Bournemouth’s four, the 11th coming in the 86th minute when Shinji Okazaki nearly buried a back pass error from the Cherries.

Leicester came so close to equalizing through Leonardo Ulloa as stoppage time bean, but Artur Boruc got low to save the close-range blast.

Everton 2-1 Arsenal: Toffees end Gunners 14-match unbeaten run.

By Nicholas Mendola

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Ashley Williams‘ 86th minute header completed an Everton comeback, as the Toffees bested Arsenal 2-1 on Tuesday at Goodison Park.

Seamus Coleman also scored for Everton, who moved 7th with 23 points. Arsenal remains in second with 34 points, and received its goal via Alexis Sanchez.

The first half was pretty one-sided, though the visitors needed a bit of luck to open the scoring. Alexis Sanchez’s free kick went through Ashley Williams‘ legs — why were his leg spread so wide?!? — catching one to redirect past Maarten Stekelenberg and give the Gunners are a deserved 1-0 lead.

But Seamus Coleman nodded a Leighton Baines cross behind Petr Cech to level it up just before the break. Baines sent a terrific right-footed (!!!) cross in between Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal, and Coleman rose to score it.

The fierce play carried over into the tunnel, as several players had to be divided at the break.

Francis Coquelin tripped Baines dribbling through the heart of the Arsenal defense, setting the defender up for a free kick from just outside the arc. Ross Barkley cranked a shot off leaping wall member Gabriel Paulista.

The second half had an almost breakneck pace at times, and Romelu Lukaku brought danger when he drove around the left end only to hit his shot off the outside of the goal.

Olivier Giroud and Alex Iwobi entered for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, but the match looked largely the same.

Everton, in turn, gave a debut to teenager Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who came on for Enner Valencia with 11 minutes to play.

Cech made a fine save off Phil Jagielka corner, but it earned another and that’s when Williams struck. The ex-Swans man made amends for the early deflection, and the Gunners were down.

La Liga & Serie A: Villareal blasts Atletico, Roma edges AC Milan.

By Matt Reed

(Photo/David Ramos/Getty Images)

A roundup of Monday’s action from around Spain’s La Liga and Italian first division Serie A…

Villareal 3-0 Atletico Madrid

The Yellow Submarine moved up to fourth in Spain’s top flight on Monday after goals from Manu Trigueros, Jonathon dos Santos and Roberto Soriano fired for the hosts. The loss is Atletico’s second straight in all competitions after falling to Bayern Munich in the final match of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Fiorentina 2-1 Sassuolo

Nikola Kalinic continued his strong season for the Viola after notching a brace for the hosts during the first half. The Croatian striker’s performance helped Fiorentina move up to seventh in the Serie A table, while Sassuolo remains 15th on 17 points. Francesco Acerbi gave the visitors a life line with under a quarter hour remaining, however, Sassuolo couldn’t complete the comeback.

Roma 1-0 AC Milan

While the two remain among Serie A’s elite following Monday’s slugfest, it was the hosts that came out victorious following Radja Nainggolan’s second-half strike. AC Milan blew a glorious opportunity in the opening stanza as M’Baye Niang couldn’t convert from the penalty spot. The victory pushes Roma three points clear of Milan into second place in Italy, while both sides still trail league leaders Juventus as the season nears its halfway point.

Premier League Playback: Ranking toughness of festive schedule.

By Joe Prince-Wright

JOLLY OR JEALOUS?

It’s that wonderful time of the year again.

Of course, I’m talking about the heavily congested Premier League fixture list which has each team playing five games in just under three weeks. Madness. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.

As clubs prepare for the busy festive season, the midweek slate of games coming up over the next two days signals the start of an incredibly hectic period which is usually critical in determining where each team will finish in the table this season.

Will they challenge for the title or fall off? Can they drag themselves out of relegation or be embroiled in the battle against the drop until May? The next few weeks will be crucial in deciding all of that.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at and rank the strength of the schedule for each Premier League team (a score of 10 signals the toughest schedule, with 1 being the easiest) between now and Jan. 3 when the break for the third round of the FA Cup arrives.

Chelsea – 6/10

Wednesday at Sunderland
Saturday at Crystal Palace
Dec. 26 vs. Bournemouth
Dec. 31 vs. Stoke City
Jan. 4 at Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal – 6/10

Tuesday at Everton
Sunday at Manchester City
Dec. 26 vs. West Bromwich Albion
Jan. 1 vs. Crystal Palace
Jan. 3 at Bournemouth

Liverpool – 6/10

Wednesday at Middlesbrough
Dec. 19 at Everton
Dec. 27 vs. Stoke City
Dec. 31 vs. Manchester City
Jan. 2 at Sunderland

Manchester City – 7/10

Wednesday vs. Watford
Sunday vs. Arsenal
Dec. 26 at Hull City
Dec. 31 at Liverpool
Jan. 2 vs. Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur – 5/10

Wednesday vs. Hull City
Sunday vs. Burnley
Dec. 28 at Southampton
Jan. 1 at Watford
Jan. 4 vs. Chelsea

Manchester United – 3/10

Wednesday at Crystal Palace
Saturday at West Brom
Dec. 26 vs. Sunderland
Dec. 31 vs. Middlesbrough
Jan. 2 at West Ham United

Watford – 8/10

Wednesday at Man City
Saturday at Sunderland
Dec. 26 vs. Crystal Palace
Jan. 1 vs. Tottenham
Jan. 3 at Stoke City

West Brom – 8/10

Wednesday vs. Swansea
Saturday vs. Man United
Dec. 26 at Arsenal
Dec. 31 at Southampton
Jan. 2 vs. Hull City

Everton – 8/10

Tuesday vs. Arsenal
Dec. 19 vs. Liverpool
Dec. 26 at Leicester
Dec. 30 at Hull
Jan. 2 vs. Southampton

Southampton – 6/10

Wednesday at Stoke City
Sunday at Bournemouth
Dec. 28 vs. Tottenham
Dec. 31 vs. West Brom
Jan. 2 at Everton

Stoke – 9/10

Wednesday vs. Southampton
Saturday vs. Leicester City
Dec. 27 at Liverpool
Dec. 31 at Chelsea
Jan. 3 vs. Watford

Bournemouth – 8/10

Tuesday vs. Leicester City
Sunday vs. Southampton
Dec. 26 at Chelsea
Dec. 31 at Swansea
Jan. 3 vs. Arsenal

Burnley – 7/10

Wednesday at West Ham
Sunday at Tottenham
Dec. 26 vs. Middlesbrough
Dec. 31 vs. Sunderland
Jan. 2 at Man City

Leicester City – 5/10

Tuesday at Bournemouth
Saturday at Stoke City
Dec. 26 vs. Everton
Dec. 31 vs. West Ham
Jan. 2 at Middlesbrough

Crystal Palace – 9/10

Wednesday vs. Man United
Saturday vs. Chelsea
Dec. 26 at Watford
Jan. 1 at Arsenal
Jan. 3 vs. Swansea

Middlesbrough – 8/10

Wednesday vs. Liverpool
Saturday vs. Swansea
Dec. 26 at Burnley
Dec. 31 at Man United
Jan. 2 vs. Leicester

West Ham – 6/10

Wednesday vs. Burnley
Saturday vs. Hull City
Dec. 26 at Swansea
Dec. 31 at Leicester
Jan. 2 vs. Man United

Swansea City – 4/10

Wednesday at West Brom
Saturday at Middlesbrough
Dec. 26 vs. West Ham
Dec. 31 vs. Bournemouth
Jan. 3 at Crystal Palace

Hull City – 8/10

Wednesday at Tottenham
Saturday at West Ham
Dec. 26 vs. Man City
Dec. 30 vs. Everton
Jan. 2 at West Brom

Sunderland – 9/10

Wednesday vs. Chelsea
Saturday vs. Watford
Dec. 26 at Man United
Dec. 31 at Burnley
Jan. 2 vs. Liverpool

NCAAFB: Jim Harbaugh tells Michigan players rumors of his departure are “lies made up by our enemies”.

By Kevin McGuire

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

With talk burning up about the possibility Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh might possibly potentially be rumored to be entertaining the idea of returning to the NFL, Harbaugh has done all he can to shut down the idea directly to his players.

“He said ‘(I’ll keep this) short, sweet and to the point: I’m not leaving,’ ” Michigan defensive tackle Ryan Glasgow said Tuesday, according to MLive.com. “He said (the NFL rumors) are ‘lies made up by our enemies.’ ”

Maybe the rumors come from Russia. Or China. Or the Wake Forest radio booth. Who knows for sure?

It is worth noting here the only real rumor that has seemed to ignite this conversation was delivered by sports radio host Colin Cowherd (whom Harbaugh once had a frosty radio interview with) following a conversation with Albert Breer of the NFL Network (an Ohio State alum). But Harbaugh’s name has been thrown around regarding the new vacancy with the Los Angeles Rams, with Eric Dickerson reportedly stumping for the Rams to make a push to bring Harbaugh back to the NFC West.

It is also worth remembering that coaches tell their players what they need to in order to provide a sense of stability. Harbaugh will be coaching somewhere in 2017, and it stands to reason there is an extremely good chance he will be doing so in Ann Arbor.

Unless he’s not. Predicting what Harbaugh will or will not do is not an exact science.

Wake Forest radio announcer Tommy Elrod fired for giving game prep docs to Wake opponents since 2014.

By Kevin McGuire

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Wake Forest radio announcer and former Wake Forest football player Tommy Elrod had been supplying game prep information to opponents since 2014, a Wake Forest investigation concluded. The investigation started after it had become suspicious of Louisville allegedly gaining an advantage at halftime of a game between the two ACC schools late in the regular season. The cause for alarm was a result of Wake Forest discovering Louisville had left behind some documents from Wake Forest’s game prep materials that were left behind at Louisville’s stadium. But who would have known the source of the infiltration would be an inside job like this?

A statement from Wake Forest says the investigation was not limited to the questionable game against Louisville and came to the following conclusions:

• Based on emails, text messages and phone records, Tommy Elrod, a radio announcer for Wake Forest football games, provided or attempted to provide confidential and proprietary game preparations on multiple occasions, starting in 2014.
• No members of the Wake Forest athletic department, football staff or players were involved in any way in these actions.

“I have known Tommy Elrod since his days as a player on our football team,” a statement from Wake Forest Director of Athletics Ron Wellman said via email. “I’m deeply disappointed that he would act against Wake Forest, our football team and our fans in such a harmful manner by compromising confidential game preparation information.”

“I am extremely disappointed that our confidential and proprietary game preparation was compromised,” Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson said in a statement. “It’s incomprehensible that a former Wake Forest student-athlete, graduate-assistant, full-time football coach, and current radio analyst for the school, would betray his alma mater. We allowed him to have full access to our players, team functions, film room, and practices. He violated our trust which negatively impacted our entire program. I am glad we have taken steps to ensure it will not happen in the future.”

Elrod played for Wake Forest from 1993 through 1997. He later joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant under former head coach Jim Grobe. He remained on the staff in various positions for the next 11 seasons but was not kept on the staff by Clawson when he was hired by the university. Elrod moved on to do radio for IMG Radio Network in 2014 to cover Wake Forest football. He has now been terminated from that position, and Wake Forest has now banned him from the entire athletics program and its facilities.

FAU makes hiring of Lane Kiffin official.

By John Taylor

(Photo/Getty Images)

And there you have it.

Reports that first surfaced late last week and came to a boil Monday have been confirmed, with Florida Atlantic confirming that Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin has been named as the fifth head football coach in the program’s history.  Kiffin replaces Charlie Partridge, who was fired after guiding the Owls to three consecutive nine-loss seasons.

A 10 a.m. ET press conference has been planned to officially introduce Kiffin.

This will mark Kiffin’s fourth stint as a head coach, and his third at the collegiate level. After a tumultuous tenure as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders that began in 2007 unceremoniously ended after just four games in 2008, Kiffin took over at Tennessee in 2009 for what proved to be a one-and-done on Rocky Top.

Three-plus seasons at USC ended after the fifth game of 2013 when Kiffin was pulled off the team bus at Los Angeles International Airport and dismissed. During his time with the Trojans, Kiffin had posted a 28-15 record.

Including his time with the Vols, Kiffin has a career mark of 35-21 at the collegiate level.

Kiffin is in the midst of his third season at Alabama. It’s expected he’ll remain with the Crimson Tide through the end of their playoff run.

NCAABKB: 2016 NCAA Associated Press Basketball Rankings, 12/12/2016.

AP

RANK	SCHOOL	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1	Villanova (56)	10-0	1,613	1
2	UCLA (3)	10-0	1,505	2
3	Kansas	9-1	1,455	3
4	Baylor (6)	8-0	1,439	4
5	Duke	10-1	1,391	5
6	Kentucky	9-1	1,277	6
7	North Carolina	10-1	1,222	7
8	Gonzaga	10-0	1,195	8
9	Indiana	8-1	1,124	9
10	Creighton	10-0	1,043	10
11	Louisville	9-1	981	11
12	West Virginia	8-1	864	15
13	Virginia	8-1	848	14
14	Wisconsin	9-2	779	17
15	Purdue	8-2	652	18
16	South Carolina	8-0	598	19
17	Xavier	8-2	526	13
18	Butler	9-1	492	16
19	Arizona	8-2	436	20
20	Saint Mary's (Calif.)	7-1	391	12
21	Notre Dame	9-1	310	23
22	Oregon	8-2	251	24
23	Florida State	10-1	227	NR
24	Southern California	9-0	158	NR
25	Cincinnati	7-2	155	22

Others receiving votes: Florida 44, Wichita State 33, Virginia Tech 32, Maryland 31, Valparaiso 9, TCU 8, Middle Tennessee 7, Miami (Fla.) 6, Minnesota 6, Kansas State 4, Central Florida 2, Syracuse 2, Ohio State 2, Pittsburgh 2, Michigan State 2, Iowa State 1, Clemson 1, Loyola (Ill.) 1.

Seton Hall upsets unbeaten No. 16 South Carolina.

By Scott Phillips

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Seton Hall overcame some rough stretches of offense and closed out strong as the Pirates upset previously unbeaten No. 16 South Carolina for a 67-64 win at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

Despite only shooting 34 percent from the field, Seton Hall gutted out a win over one of the best defensive teams in the country.

Attacking the offensive glass hard for 18 rebounds, Seton Hall was able to stay in the game thanks to second-chance opportunities and a defense that kept working despite the sluggish offense. Khadeen Carrington paced the Seton Hall offense with 21 points while Desi Rodriguez added 16 points and Angel Delgado contributed a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Rodriguez made the go-ahead bucket with 11 seconds left as South Carolina sophomore P.J. Dozier missed what would have been a potential game-winning three-pointer at the other end.

South Carolina (8-1) once again excelled on the defensive end, as their ball pressure did a number on Seton Hall early. But the Gamecock big men were in foul trouble on Monday and it ended up hurting them immensely on the glass. Chris Silva (11 points) fouled out while Maik Kotsar had some foul issues of his own. And South Carolina couldn’t get much consistent offensive help for Dozier, as he finished with 20 points. The suspension of Sindarius Thornwell clearly made a difference on the South Carolina offense, but they also played pretty well without their leading scorer and had plenty of opportunities to win this game.

This win is very important for Seton Hall’s postseason aspirations since it’s a neutral-court win over a quality opponent. Up until this point, Kevin Willard’s ballclub had wins over Cal and Iowa but both of those teams aren’t nearly as strong as South Carolina. The Big East is going to have plenty of opportunities for more big wins with Villanova, Creighton and Xavier all off to good starts and if Seton Hall can earn some more quality wins, they should find themselves back in the NCAA tournament.

NCAA not anticipating any big changes to NCAA Tournament.

Associated Press

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The NCAA Tournament has gone through some massive changes in recent years, the biggest being an expansion to 68 teams.

Don’t expect any more big changes anytime soon.

Though there are annual quibbles about which teams should make the field, the format for one of the biggest spectacles in sports works and the NCAA has no interest in messing with it.

“Over the past many, many decades, the core is really solid, so it’s what can we do to enhance it without taking away from that core,” Mark Hollis, chair of the NCAA’s Division I men’s basketball committee, said Monday.

“Because of the intricacies of the NCAA Tournament, I would challenge that’s something you wouldn’t want to touch. We live in a society where we want to change, improve everything, but the core of it is pretty good.”

The NCAA Tournament field expanded from 53 to 64 teams in 1985, a format that remained in place until a play-in game was added in 2001 and expanded the bracket to 65 teams.

A big change came in 2011, when the NCAA Tournament expanded the field to 68 teams, with the last four to get into the tournament playing in the First Four.

The larger field has helped increase the chances for upsets, which have come fast and furious over the past several seasons.

The audience has expanded with the field; the 2015 NCAA Tournament was the most-watched in 22 years, averaging 11.3 million viewers.

“Is it (expansion) possible in the future? Sure, anything’s possible, but I don’t see that in the short term,” said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president of men’s basketball championships. “The core of it and the thing that makes it so incredibly popular is what’s protected by this committee, so by and large the traditions that make March Madness the way it is will stay.”

The NCAA has discussed moving the First Four from Dayton, Ohio, or at least expanding it to two sites, but has had a hard time justifying it.

Since becoming the First Four site in 2011, Dayton has been a perfect host. The teams are selected on Sunday and the games are Tuesday night, but the city is always ready and the games usually sell out despite the short turnaround.

Playing games at a second site would make it easier for teams in the West travel-wise, but it may come under the category of why fix what’s not broken.

“That’s the X factor: If we you move it, consider another location, can they deliver that incredible college basketball feel and experience?” Gavitt said. “It’s a risk because you don’t know. Some of the other places where we have first and second rounds somewhat depend on what teams are playing there. That’s always going to be the trick when it comes to First Four.”

The NCAA is looking at changes to the regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

The tournament’s first weekend is exciting, the games spread across the country and upsets coming at every turn. The Final Four has its own vibe with a national championship on the line and so many other activities surrounding the games.

The regional rounds determine which teams will play in the Final Four, but often don’t get the hype of the tournament’s first and third weekends.

To enhance the regionals, the NCAA is looking at making those games more of a stand-alone event like the Final Four by adding concerts and fan experiences to go along with the games.

“It’ll never approach the size and scope of the Final Four, but for those fans, those four teams in those three days are arguably as good as the Final Four the following weekend, depending on who the teams are,” Gavitt said. “So to make it a bigger and more exciting event for that locality would make it special.”

Kentucky Derby 2.0: Horse racing's $12 million wager.

The Wall Street Journal

Nov 5, 2016; Santa Anita, CA, USA; Mike Smith aboard Arrogate takes the lead in front of Victor Espinoza aboard California Chrome in race twelve during the 33rd Breeders Cup world championships at Santa Anita Park  (USA TODAY SPORTS)

Florida’s Gulfstream Park next month will host a new race with the world’s largest purse in thoroughbred racing: the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, run on dirt at 11/8 miles.

But while the winnings are record-setting, the outsized purse isn’t the only thing about the Jan. 28 race that has set the racing world abuzz. The twist is in how the purse is funded, which has set off an international scramble to get in the gate.

Instead of coming from the track’s coffers, the $12 million is being put up by 12 entrants who paid $1 million each. The concept harks back to basics: Putting up cash for my-horse-is-faster-than-yours bragging rights.

Not all of these stakeholders have horses to enter. The $1 million buys only a stall in the starting gate, a space that can be leased, contracted, shared or sold.

The matter of acquiring an actual horse to enter has given rise to an unusual global matchmaking game, with stakeholders, some of whom are longtime leaders in racing who don’t happen to have the right horse, flirting with owners who do.

“I’ve received six calls and my trainer received one,” said Paul Pompa, whose horse Connect won the Pennsylvania Derby and as yet has no stall. “These are calls from respected horsemen.”

The gambit has attracted people like longtime race fan Dan Schafer, a 33-year-old entrepreneur who owns pizza shop franchises in the Midwest and a free daily fantasy sports site. He purchased a spot in the gate without so much as a horseshoe because he saw the race as an innovative way to be involved in racing—rather than the well-trod path of buying a young horse and praying it has Kentucky Derby potential.

“I believe in the industry,” he said. “To grow the sport, we need to grow the fan base. There are a lot of skeptics, but skeptics are going to be our biggest watchers.”

The race is the brainchild of Frank Stronach, the billionaire founder of the Canadian auto-parts supply empire Magna International Inc. 

The Stronach Group, founded in 2011, controls wagering platforms and premier tracks, including Gulfstream, Southern California’s Santa Anita Park and Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, home to the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Skeptics are loath to criticize the race publicly so as not to run afoul of Stronach. But the race has raised eyebrows among some who say the race puts owners’ egos and bank accounts ahead of horses, who may wind up racing against competition above their class.

During a recent interview, perched in a box high above Southern California’s famed Santa Anita Park, Stronach defended the strange new marketplace that Pegasus has given rise to.

“Nobody has to buy a share,” he said. “It’s a free market. If you haven’t got the right horse, you can look around. You might have people with the right horse. You could make deals.”

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, December 14, 2016.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1901 - The first table tennis tournament was held. It was at the London Royal Aquarium.

1915 - Jack Johnson became the first black world heavyweight champion.

1952 - The Brooklyn Dodgers signed pitcher Sandy Koufax.

1982 - Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles Kings) scored his 500th goal.

1984 - Howard Cosell retired from the NFL's Monday Night Football.

1986 - Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) set an NFL record with his seventh 400-yard game.

1988 - CBS won the exclusive rights to major league baseball's 1990-94 seasons for $1.1 billion.

1988 - The NBA's Miami Heat won their first game. They had lost their first 17 games.

1997 - Mike Gartner (Phoenix Coyotes) became only the fifth player in NHL history to score 700 career goals. The other 700 goal scorers were Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Phil Esposito and Marcel Dionne.

1997 - Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) ran for more than 100 yards for his 13th consecutive game.

1998 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) caught a pass in a game against the Detroit Lions. It was his 191st consecutive game with a reception.

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

Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you.