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TRENDING: Swept away: Predators eliminate Blackhawks from Stanley Cup playoffs. What's Your Take? (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: Here's the Chicago Bears 2017 schedule. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: Supporting actor Dwyane Wade ready if called upon to lead in Game 3. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: Addison Russell’s walk-off homer sends the message for Cubs: ‘We never quit’. (Wednesday night's game, 04/19/2017). (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: White Sox eyeing newly cleared Cuban free agent Luis Robert. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR's full schedule for Bristol Motor Speedway. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Swept away: Predators eliminate Blackhawks from Stanley Cup playoffs. What's Your Take?
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Four and out. On the losing end of a postseason sweep for the first time in more than 20 years. On Thursday the Blackhawks’ postseason, which began with so much promise after a 109-point regular season, ended with a thud.
Roman Josi scored twice and Pekka Rinne stopped 30 of 31 shots as the Nashville Predators beat the Blackhawks 4-1 at Bridgestone Arena. The Blackhawks were swept for the first time since the 1993 division semifinals.
“It was a major disappointment across the board,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “I don’t think any of the four games – there was a stretch in the second period where we might have been competing to the level that we needed in the playoffs. We had some stretches in maybe Game 1 and maybe in segments in all four games. Not good enough. I don’t think anybody exceeded their expectations. We don’t compete to the level that’s necessary. I take that personally, as a coach, that we didn’t find the all-out button, didn’t get the job done.”
In the Blackhawks’ locker room there were a myriad of feelings, all in the same range: shock, bewilderment, disappointment and frustration.
“Yeah, I think we probably all thought it was going to go a different way, especially with the regular season you have,” said Patrick Kane. “Coming into the playoffs, I think we felt pretty confident. So yeah, I mean, disappointing, shocked. I don’t know. Yeah. It’s going to be a long summer, for sure.”
Quenneville said it was on him to make sure the Blackhawks were ready for this series – “whatever buttons you have to push, to find a way to make it work, whether it’s lines or excitement,” he said on what he didn’t do. But ultimately it’s the Blackhawks players who didn’t come through. They couldn’t solve the Predators, who were strong from the start. They couldn’t stop the Predators in their end and they couldn’t score at the other. In four games the Blackhawks scored just three goals, and two of them were on the power play.
“A feeling of emptiness. We can’t lose like this,” Artemi Panarin, who went goal-less in the series, said through interpreter Igor Alfimov. “[The Predators] kept it simple. We couldn’t control the puck well. Their defensemen were able to get the puck, get it into the offense. We weren’t able to control.”
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We know you can't win them all and yes, the Hawks have played well and thrilled us the last several years but we're kinda lost, excited, dazed and confused about this series. We can understand them losing the series, it happens but what we're a little in awe about is the Hawks getting swept. They're a much better team than that!!!!! We're not going to beat a dead horse to death but we'd like to hear from some of you diehard fans out there, What's your take?
Please take a moment and go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share some of your thoughts with us. What do you think happened? Everyone has an opinion and we'd love to hear yours.
As always, thanks in advance for sharing your observations with us. It's going to be a taxing time until the Hawks get back on the ice to remove this bad taste from our mouths. Not to worry, when the hawks come back, they'll be ready to go; they'll want to make it up to their fans and themselves. We will skate and win the Stanley cup again with this group. Just wait, you'll see!!!!!
The Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
Quick Hits from Blackhawks-Predators Game 4: Finished too soon.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks’ latest playoff run is over before it really started. A hungry Nashville Predators team had their way with the Blackhawks, claiming a 4-1 victory in Game 4 and sweeping the Blackhawks out of the postseason.
Still, it’s a surprise that the team that was hoisting the Stanley Cup less than two years ago is out after the first round for the second consecutive year. But that’s the way it goes. We have a few more notables to cover, so let’s get to those in our Quick Hits.
What worked: The Predators’ approach. Stick tap to the Nashville Predators: they were the better team in this series. They didn’t even toy with the notion of extending this series in Game 4, coming out with the same vigor and all-around game that got them their 3-0 lead in the first place. From Pekka Rinne on out the Predators weren’t concerned with their history against the Blackhawks. They were too busy writing a new version.
What Didn’t Work: Anything the Blackhawks tried. Line changes, playing Patrick Kane every opportunity they could, puck possession, you name it. The Blackhawks didn’t do anything well on Thursday night in a game they absolutely had to have. Their start was so-so and a late push yielded better scoring opportunities but only one goal, and by that time they were down 3-0. The Blackhawks just didn’t have it, so they’re heading home early.
Star of the game: Roman Josi. He was giving the Blackhawks a hard enough time with his defensive game. On Thursday he also hurt them with his offense. Josi scored twice and was stellar throughout. You could throw Viktor Arvidsson in the mix, too. Arvidsson had a goal and an assist (he didn’t get a point on Josi’s first goal but he was in front of the net on it). Arvidsson’s great regular season continues in the playoffs.
He Said It: “It’s tough enough to lose a series and fall short. It’s a whole different story to lose four straight and get swept like we did. I think we’ve got guys in this room that have experienced the highs of going all the way. I think aside from what it would feel like to miss the playoffs, especially with the potential in this room, this has to be the next worst feeling for sure. So … yeah, again, not much to say right now.” Jonathan Toews on the Blackhawks’ early exit.
By the Numbers:
3 – Goals for the Blackhawks in four games against the Predators.
1993 – The last time the Blackhawks were swept in a postseason series before suffering the same fate on Thursday.
23:43 – Time on ice for Patrick Kane, the most of any Blackhawks player in Game 4.
123 – Shots stopped, out of 126 shots faced, for Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Here's the Chicago Bears 2017 schedule.
By Dan Wiederer
Photo of Bears quarterback Mike Glennon. (Photo/Chicago Tribune)
On the heels of three consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC North, the Bears have nowhere to go but up in 2017. And in Year 3 of the John Fox era, up they must go. In the history of the franchise, no head coach has ever survived three consecutive losing seasons. So with that as a bar, it sure seems reasonable to think of this coming year as a win-or-else campaign.
The Bears’ slump of six seasons without reaching the playoffs has proved maddening. Only the Bills (17 seasons), Browns (14), Rams (12), Buccaneers (nine), Jaguars (nine) and Titans (eight) have been kept out of the postseason party longer. And while, here in April, no one is forecasting a sudden Bears resurgence, it’s natural for fans to expect significant signs of on-field improvement soon, even with a challenging 2017 schedule awaiting.
On Thursday, the NFL’s entire regular-season slate was finalized (and will be officially revealed at 7 p.m.), offering the Bears their itinerary for what’s ahead. It starts with a Week 1 home game against the NFC champion Falcons, ends with a New Year’s Eve finale in Minneapolis and includes two prime-time games.
Here’s a snapshot of everything that’s ahead. (Game times and television information will be updated as they become available).
Week 1
Sunday, Sept. 10
Vs. Atlanta Falcons
Need a glimpse into what an MVP quarterback looks like? Matt Ryan’s 2016 numbers were eye-popping: .699 completion percentage, 4,944 yards, 38 TD passes, seven interceptions.
Extra point: New Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has a tough act to follow. Under Kyle Shanahan last season, the Falcons scored a league-high 540 points, the seventh-highest regular-season total in NFL history.
Week 2
Sunday, Sept. 17
At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just another game for Mike Glennon? Yeah, right. The new Bears quarterback should be plenty motivated to face his former team so early in the season.
Extra point: The Bears went winless on the road last season. They lost all eight games by an average of 13 points. Included in that mess: a 36-10 loss at Raymond James Stadium in November in which Bucs QB Jameis Winston threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 3
Sunday, Sept. 24
Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown has averaged 120 catches over the last four seasons. By himself. The average 2016 reception total of the 10 receivers currently under contract with the Bears: 19.
Extra point: Bears running back Jordan Howard finished second in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,313 yards. Steelers back Le’Veon Bell was fifth (1,268).
Week 4
Thursday, Sept. 28
At Green Bay Packers, 7:25 p.m.
Wait a second … is that … Martellus Bennett? Wearing a cheesehead? The nomadic tight end ought to be good for a few memorable sound bites during rivalry week.
Extra point: For the first time in a long time, Jay Cutler’s Lambeau Field record (1-4) won’t be a hot topic. Cutler’s 2-11 overall record against the Packers, including playoffs, is something Glennon can aim to top.
Week 5
Monday, Oct. 9
Vs. Minnesota Vikings, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
In two meetings against the Vikings last season, Bears running back Jordan Howard totaled 288 rushing yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
Extra point: How’s this for a roadblock? The Vikings’ 20-10 loss in Chicago last Halloween was their 12th stumble in 14 trips to the new Soldier Field.
Week 6
Sunday, Oct. 15
At Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have gone two straight seasons without reaching the playoffs. It matches the franchise’s longest postseason drought of the 21st century.
Extra point: The teams’ last meeting — in Week 11 of 2013 at Soldier Field — included a first-half delay of 1 hour, 53 minutes because of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. It took overtime and some Josh McCown magic for the Bears to snag a 23-20 victory.
Week 7
Sunday, Oct. 22
Vs. Carolina Panthers
Which Panthers team should the Bears expect? The one that stormed to the Super Bowl two years ago? Or the squad that lost 10 times and finished last in the NFC South last season?
Here’s a snapshot of everything that’s ahead. (Game times and television information will be updated as they become available).
Week 1
Sunday, Sept. 10
Vs. Atlanta Falcons
Need a glimpse into what an MVP quarterback looks like? Matt Ryan’s 2016 numbers were eye-popping: .699 completion percentage, 4,944 yards, 38 TD passes, seven interceptions.
Extra point: New Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has a tough act to follow. Under Kyle Shanahan last season, the Falcons scored a league-high 540 points, the seventh-highest regular-season total in NFL history.
Week 2
Sunday, Sept. 17
At Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just another game for Mike Glennon? Yeah, right. The new Bears quarterback should be plenty motivated to face his former team so early in the season.
Extra point: The Bears went winless on the road last season. They lost all eight games by an average of 13 points. Included in that mess: a 36-10 loss at Raymond James Stadium in November in which Bucs QB Jameis Winston threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 3
Sunday, Sept. 24
Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown has averaged 120 catches over the last four seasons. By himself. The average 2016 reception total of the 10 receivers currently under contract with the Bears: 19.
Extra point: Bears running back Jordan Howard finished second in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,313 yards. Steelers back Le’Veon Bell was fifth (1,268).
Week 4
Thursday, Sept. 28
At Green Bay Packers, 7:25 p.m.
Wait a second … is that … Martellus Bennett? Wearing a cheesehead? The nomadic tight end ought to be good for a few memorable sound bites during rivalry week.
Extra point: For the first time in a long time, Jay Cutler’s Lambeau Field record (1-4) won’t be a hot topic. Cutler’s 2-11 overall record against the Packers, including playoffs, is something Glennon can aim to top.
Week 5
Monday, Oct. 9
Vs. Minnesota Vikings, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
In two meetings against the Vikings last season, Bears running back Jordan Howard totaled 288 rushing yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
Extra point: How’s this for a roadblock? The Vikings’ 20-10 loss in Chicago last Halloween was their 12th stumble in 14 trips to the new Soldier Field.
Week 6
Sunday, Oct. 15
At Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have gone two straight seasons without reaching the playoffs. It matches the franchise’s longest postseason drought of the 21st century.
Extra point: The teams’ last meeting — in Week 11 of 2013 at Soldier Field — included a first-half delay of 1 hour, 53 minutes because of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. It took overtime and some Josh McCown magic for the Bears to snag a 23-20 victory.
Week 7
Sunday, Oct. 22
Vs. Carolina Panthers
Which Panthers team should the Bears expect? The one that stormed to the Super Bowl two years ago? Or the squad that lost 10 times and finished last in the NFC South last season?
Extra point: Three years after being released by the Bears, Julius Peppers is still going. Peppers is now back where his career started. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Panthers and enters his 16th season. With 1431/2 sacks, Peppers needs seven more to crack the top five on the NFL’s all-time list.
Week 8
Sunday, Oct. 29
A homecoming of sorts for general manager Ryan Pace, who spent the first 14 seasons of his NFL career with the Saints.
Extra point: This will be just the third Bears trip to the Superdome in the 21st century. They fell 30-13 there in 2011 and dropped a 20-13 game in 2003 as well.
Week 9
OPEN DATE
The Bears are 0-2 under John Fox in games that come after the open date. Last season, the Bears returned from their off week and had their doors blown off in a 36-10 road loss to the Buccaneers.
Week 10
Sunday, Nov. 12
Vs. Green Bay Packers
By sweeping the Bears last season, the Packers evened the all-time series at 94-94-6. The Bears had held the advantage in the series since 1933.
Extra point: Aaron Rodgers has started and finished 18 games against the Bears during his career. He has won 15 of those with an average margin of victory of 13 points.
Week 11
Sunday, Nov. 19
Vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions were one of 2016’s most pleasant surprises … until they became a major disappointment. After a 9-4 start, they lost their final three regular-season games, then were walloped 26-6 by the Seahawks in their playoff opener.
Extra point: Matthew Stafford threw 10 interceptions last season, a career low in seasons in which he started at least five games. Four of Stafford’s picks came against the Bears, who finished second to last in the league in that category with eight.
Week 12
Sunday, Nov. 26
The Bears get an up-close look at how Alshon Jeffery’s life with Carson Wentz is developing. That assumes, of course, Jeffery is suited up. He missed 17 games during his five seasons in Chicago.
Extra point: The Eagles cruised in last season’s meeting, scoring a 29-14 upset at Soldier Field on “Monday Night Football.” But from the Bears’ perspective, that was only half as demoralizing as the 54-11 loss to Philly they experienced at Lincoln Financial Field in 2013.
Week 13
Sunday, Dec. 3
The Bears and 49ers meet for the fourth consecutive season and the third straight year at Soldier Field. Jordan Howard rushed for 117 yards and three TDs in last year’s meeting, a 26-6 Bears win.
Extra point: New 49ers general manager John Lynch and new coach Kyle Shanahan already have the Bears’ attention. The Niners will make the No. 2 overall pick in the draft next week before the Bears go on the clock at No. 3.
Week 14
Sunday, Dec. 10
The Bears won the last meeting in the series: a 24-21 triumph in Marc Trestman’s debut as head coach. Only two Bears who played in that game — Kyle Long and Sherrick McManis — remain on the roster.
Extra point: Marvin Lewis is entering his 15th season as Bengals head coach with a 118-103 overall regular-season record and an 0-7 mark in the playoffs. Since Lewis landed that job in 2003, the Bears have had four head coaches and 15 starting quarterbacks.
Week 15
Saturday, Dec. 16
At Detroit Lions
A rare Saturday appearance for the Bears. Now the bigger issue: Can they remain relevant deep into December for the first time in a while?
Extra point: The Bears haven’t won at Ford Field since the final game of Lovie Smith’s tenure. They’re 1-7 against the Lions since Smith was fired. Smith was 13-5 in nine seasons as Bears coach.
Week 16
Sunday, Dec. 24
Vs. Cleveland Browns
As bad as the Bears’ past decade has been — 74-86 overall — they’ve won 26 more games and made one more playoff appearance than the Browns during that span.
Extra point: The Browns own 11 selections for next week’s draft, including No. 1 overall and four other picks among the top 65. The consensus seems to be that the Browns will scoop up Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett at No. 1. But they could swing for a quarterback as well.
Week 17
Sunday, Dec. 31
At Minnesota Vikings
What do the Twin Cities even look like in the heart of autumn? The Bears haven’t traveled to Minneapolis before Thanksgiving since 2006.
Extra point: The Bears haven’t won a season finale since bettering the Lions 26-24 on Dec. 30, 2012. Also, in the last 20 meetings in the Bears-Vikings rivalry, there have been 10 combinations of starting quarterback matchups. The Vikings have used seven starting QBs, the Bears five. Who can ever forget the Brian Griese-Tarvaris Jackson showdown? Or a pair of Josh McCown vs. Christian Ponder tilts? In last season’s finale, of course, Sam Bradford bested Matt Barkley.
2017 NFL schedule: Top 10 prime-time games we're looking forward to watching.
By Shalise Monza Young
The NFL unveiled the 2017 regular-season schedule on Thursday night, to much (manufactured) fanfare.
While the allure of spending much of Sunday noshing snacks in front of your big screen and gorging on the afternoon games is still strong, the prime-time games are almost always events. But which games are the most appealing?
Keeping in mind that it’s April and teams that might look like contenders now could be duds come November, here are the top 10 prime-time games we’re looking forward to watching this season:
10. Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers, Week 4 (Thursday night): Bears quarterback Mike Glennon makes his prime-time debut as the face of his new franchise, against the rival Packers to boot.
9. Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, Week 3 (Thursday night): The Rams’ first season back in Los Angeles was one to forget. This is an early chance to see if young new head coach Sean McVay can get last year’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Jared Goff, on the right track.
8. Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, Week 6 (Monday night): The Titans’ young franchise quarterback, Marcus Mariota, finished last season on injured reserve after suffering a broken leg on Christmas Eve, an injury that effectively ended Tennessee’s hopes of winning the AFC South. Now healthy, he makes his Monday night debut.
7. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, Week 10 (Thursday night): These NFC West rivals are almost guaranteed to play a close, hard-fought game. But, please, no more 6-6 ties like last season…
6. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Week 11 (Sunday night): Two of the NFL’s young guns, Philly’s Carson Wentz and Dallas’ Dak Prescott, show off how they’ve grown from Year 1 to Year 2.
5. Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins, Week 9 (Sunday night): Two teams with hopes of becoming AFC contenders. Both were in the playoffs last season but made quick exits after each lost its top quarterback late in the regular season – Oakland’s Derek Carr suffered a broken leg, while Miami’s Ryan Tannehill suffered an ACL injury.
4. Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots, Week 1 (Thursday night): It’s not a sexy rivalry, but it’s the first game of the season, and that’s enough for us. Mark your calendars, folks: real NFL football returns in 140 nights!
3. Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons, Week 2 (Sunday night): An early opportunity to see if the Falcons are suffering from a Super Bowl LI hangover, against the team they beat in the NFC championship game.
2. New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, Week 1 (Sunday night): It’s pretty much a given now that these NFC East rivals will meet in the first week of the season, and they always put on a show.
1. Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots, Week 7 (Sunday night): It’s the rematch of Super Bowl LI, one of the greatest games in NFL history. Need we say more?
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Supporting actor Dwyane Wade ready if called upon to lead in Game 3.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Dwyane Wade had to chuckle at himself when the notion of him taking a leading role could be needed to complete an improbable start to the Bulls’ first-round series with the Celtics.
One of the reasons Chicago was so attractive to Wade was the presence of Jimmy Butler, who’s certainly cemented himself as a top 10-15 player this season. So Wade is more than content letting Butler have his turn in the spotlight—but he’s also had his share of closing moments this season, such as his 11-point fourth quarter in Game 2 where he turned off the lights at TD Garden with walk-down 3-pointers.
“I’m a supporting man,” Wade said. “I want to be up for an Oscar in my supporting role. Jimmy’s the leader. He’s the lead actor here. Myself, Rondo and all those guys -- it’s our job to support him. When it’s time in these playoffs for me to lead, I’ve done it my whole life.”
One could argue Wade has been one of the best leading men in NBA history before ceding some spotlight to LeBron James in Cleveland. Wade wasn’t shy about making the comparison of Butler’s responsibilities in this series to James’ in Miami, where Wade also mastered the art of being a supporting actor.
With the Bulls up 2-0, Wade has taken yet another half-step back to allow Rajon Rondo to emerge and Butler has been his usual brilliant self. He knows a time will be called for him to do more, but he won’t answer until he’s called.
“I’m not saying I’m gonna always come through, but I enjoy the moment when it’s time for me to make (plays). Some nights, it won’t be. You’ve got to do other things. But the other night, it was an opportunity to make some shots, get the ball in the areas that I like. ... That’s a comfort in our team knowing that we have guys that can do it, especially Jimmy.”
Make no mistake, though, two games don’t determine a series, even if the Bulls have outplayed the Celtics for the most part of 96 minutes on the road and being the first team since the first round moved to the best of seven format to take a 2-0 lead as an eighth seed.
“You’re not thinking you’re gonna go in Boston and get two,” Butler said. “You’re just trying to get one. That’s your focus. But once you got that one, now it’s just another game. Now, you’ve got to try and get the next one. But coming in, I didn’t say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna be up 2-0 on Boston.’ No, no one thought that. But we are in this position. We’ve earned it.”
And earning the right to have a 2-0 lead with two games at home on a spring weekend in Chicago brings about a different kind of pressure, one would think. The Bulls haven’t won five games in a row all season so a win Friday night would not only break that trend but put a stronghold on the series not many thought possible before it began.
Even if many saw the Celtics as a perfect opponent for the Bulls, expecting them to take a 3-0 lead would be seen as farfetched given the 82-game sample size presented from October to April.
“We anticipate Boston coming out, it's one of the best road teams in the league, it's been a very resilient team all year,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We have to continue to go out and play for each other. I know our guys aren't satisfied, they've got to continue to bring it and I'm confident our guys will.”
Only the Celtics and Toronto Raptors have winning records on the road this season (each at 23-18), and Isaiah Thomas rejoined the Celtics in Chicago after spending time with his family in Seattle following the unexpected death of his sister over the weekend.
The Celtics are hoping the change of scenery brings about some extra toughness, considering the way the Bulls have beat them up on the boards, led by Robin Lopez playing keep-away from Al Horford.
Considering the way the Bulls have outmuscled the Celtics, Wade is expecting a different brand of basketball this weekend and his team had better be ready.
“Just when you’re down you make a few adjustments, whether it’s your lineup, your coverages. You try to do things a little different than you did,” Wade said. “They’re gonna play a physical game. As the series goes on you start disliking guys a little more, game gets a little more physical, it’ll be the hardest game we’ve played to date. Gotta be prepared for that.”
And if Wade is called upon to step forward, his understated sentiments aside, he feels he has more than enough to make a difference.
One of the reasons Chicago was so attractive to Wade was the presence of Jimmy Butler, who’s certainly cemented himself as a top 10-15 player this season. So Wade is more than content letting Butler have his turn in the spotlight—but he’s also had his share of closing moments this season, such as his 11-point fourth quarter in Game 2 where he turned off the lights at TD Garden with walk-down 3-pointers.
“I’m a supporting man,” Wade said. “I want to be up for an Oscar in my supporting role. Jimmy’s the leader. He’s the lead actor here. Myself, Rondo and all those guys -- it’s our job to support him. When it’s time in these playoffs for me to lead, I’ve done it my whole life.”
One could argue Wade has been one of the best leading men in NBA history before ceding some spotlight to LeBron James in Cleveland. Wade wasn’t shy about making the comparison of Butler’s responsibilities in this series to James’ in Miami, where Wade also mastered the art of being a supporting actor.
With the Bulls up 2-0, Wade has taken yet another half-step back to allow Rajon Rondo to emerge and Butler has been his usual brilliant self. He knows a time will be called for him to do more, but he won’t answer until he’s called.
“I’m not saying I’m gonna always come through, but I enjoy the moment when it’s time for me to make (plays). Some nights, it won’t be. You’ve got to do other things. But the other night, it was an opportunity to make some shots, get the ball in the areas that I like. ... That’s a comfort in our team knowing that we have guys that can do it, especially Jimmy.”
Make no mistake, though, two games don’t determine a series, even if the Bulls have outplayed the Celtics for the most part of 96 minutes on the road and being the first team since the first round moved to the best of seven format to take a 2-0 lead as an eighth seed.
“You’re not thinking you’re gonna go in Boston and get two,” Butler said. “You’re just trying to get one. That’s your focus. But once you got that one, now it’s just another game. Now, you’ve got to try and get the next one. But coming in, I didn’t say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna be up 2-0 on Boston.’ No, no one thought that. But we are in this position. We’ve earned it.”
And earning the right to have a 2-0 lead with two games at home on a spring weekend in Chicago brings about a different kind of pressure, one would think. The Bulls haven’t won five games in a row all season so a win Friday night would not only break that trend but put a stronghold on the series not many thought possible before it began.
Even if many saw the Celtics as a perfect opponent for the Bulls, expecting them to take a 3-0 lead would be seen as farfetched given the 82-game sample size presented from October to April.
“We anticipate Boston coming out, it's one of the best road teams in the league, it's been a very resilient team all year,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We have to continue to go out and play for each other. I know our guys aren't satisfied, they've got to continue to bring it and I'm confident our guys will.”
Only the Celtics and Toronto Raptors have winning records on the road this season (each at 23-18), and Isaiah Thomas rejoined the Celtics in Chicago after spending time with his family in Seattle following the unexpected death of his sister over the weekend.
The Celtics are hoping the change of scenery brings about some extra toughness, considering the way the Bulls have beat them up on the boards, led by Robin Lopez playing keep-away from Al Horford.
Considering the way the Bulls have outmuscled the Celtics, Wade is expecting a different brand of basketball this weekend and his team had better be ready.
“Just when you’re down you make a few adjustments, whether it’s your lineup, your coverages. You try to do things a little different than you did,” Wade said. “They’re gonna play a physical game. As the series goes on you start disliking guys a little more, game gets a little more physical, it’ll be the hardest game we’ve played to date. Gotta be prepared for that.”
And if Wade is called upon to step forward, his understated sentiments aside, he feels he has more than enough to make a difference.
The hour-long meeting between Butler, Wade and Rondo that led to Bulls' Game 2 victory.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Halfway to history, leaving nothing to chance.
They wanted to make the Celtics quit, and Rajon Rondo wasn't shy about letting everybody know exactly what his intentions were.
Jimmy Butler is intent on showing the front office that he's a No. 1 guy you build around, not one you dangle to jumpstart a rebuild.
Dwyane Wade, seemingly the one with nothing to prove, wants to show he's still living for May and June.
The three were actually greeted by Celtics GM Danny Ainge after they left their press conference, exchanging pleasantries.
Wade has put Ainge out, Ainge wants Butler in, and Ainge knows exactly what "Playoff Rondo" is all about.
Three individual agendas, one common goal.
Wade fourth-quarter daggers, scoring 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Butler doing it all with 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Their elevator goes higher than the Celtics on talent and experience, with veterans who are aroused by the pressure of the playoffs compared to the often-mundane regular season.
Butler, Wade and Rondo met together for an hour after the team's morning shootaround, they revealed to CSNChicago.com.
No coaches, no teammates, because they knew the burden of advancing fell on they and they alone.
They were going over everything, from strategy to philosophy to even some impromptu play calls they made on the fly.
Considering everything the team has been through this season—and more specifically, the Three Alphas have been through—the meeting of the minds was of grown men who were all on the same page, finally.
Wade said he, LeBron James and Chris Bosh would have similar meetings after morning shootarounds during their days in Miami, leading to four straight trips to the NBA Finals and two titles.
"It was great, spending time with those guys," Wade said to CSNChicago.com after he, Butler and Rondo left the podium on Tuesday night. "Listening to their basketball minds, all of us listening to each other's mind and on the same page. People forget, we just got together. It doesn't just happen. You gotta go through something for it to happen. The best thing is, we went through the adverse situation."
Wade chuckled because he knew what came to mind, considering the three were in the eye of a storm three months ago after a frustrating loss to the Hawks. Wade and Butler were beyond incensed after blowing a 10-point lead in the last 3 minutes, making subtle and pointed comments about teammates not being focused enough on winning.
The next day, Rondo took to Instagram to call out Wade and Butler. From that point, imagining those three together on a playoff podium seemed as unlikely as an eighth seed beating a one seed in the NBA Playoffs.
Improbable, but not impossible.
"We didn't even have to talk about it," Wade said to CSNChicago.com "Every team I've been on, we've hit adversity at some point. Some, in the playoffs. You wanna hit it before the playoffs and I think we hit it before the playoffs. It made us better, communicate better. Lead better."
While on the podium a few minutes earlier, Wade joked that he "hated" Rondo competitively due to their playoff battles of years' past.
"That hate is that respect," Wade said to the media. "When we played against Boston back in the day, he knew all the plays. He messes up your first option. And then he knows the second option. We were just good enough to have a third option. He was that good."
Now that respect has turned into trust after all three have gone through individual turmoil this season, with Rondo being benched, Wade going through his elbow injury and Butler enduring another season of trade rumors and questions about his leadership.
Now, they're leaning on each other on the floor and figuring out how to make the best of a high-pressure playoff run. When Rondo launches an 80-foot pass to a 6-foot-7 wide receiver that would make Fred Hoiberg cuss under his breath, that's trust. When Butler passes up a lane to feed a cutting Wade for a dunk on the break, that's a team growing to believe in itself.
"I know what Rondo brings," Wade said to CSNChicago.com. "As somebody who played against him. Now I get to experience it up close and personal, I f------ love it. Because he's gonna make sure he's prepared, the last guy on the bench is prepared. Coach is prepared, he's gonna challenge everyone to be as prepared as he is. And when your point guard, your leader is prepared, we're all prepared."
Calling Rondo "our point guard" wasn't a slip of the tongue, as Wade told Rondo after the game, "Way to lead your team tonight."
When Wade signed with the Bulls, he openly stated it was Butler's team and he was there to aid the growing star. Now, he's taking even more of a backseat, ceding space on the floor for Rondo to dominate and be the maestro who gets everyone involved.
"I played on so many teams, man. At the end of the day, I'm all about winning," Wade said to CSNChicago.com. "You know what the easy thing is? It's easy to tell somebody else to play a role, you know what I'm saying?
"To be a successful team, everybody's got a role. Jimmy's got a role. His role is to be a No. 1 option. I got a role. If you wanna be able to tell people to play their role, you gotta be able to play their role. I had a time where I had the ball every damn play. 35 years old, I don't need that role. My job is to support Jimmy and if they need me to lead, I'll do my job."
Part of his job has been to warn teammates about the perils of relaxing upon coming home, even though Wade himself has never stolen two games on the road to start a playoff series.
But even he admits he doesn't know how this wild, winding ride will end. All he knows is it's exciting and exhilarating.
"This is the only reason I play. Eighty-two games is great but I'm built for this moment," Wade said. "The reason I signed here, I talked to Jimmy, was about this. Talked to Rondo, was about this. We didn't just wanna get in. We had to learn each other. We had to learn how to play together. At the end of the day, this is what we're built for. And we're getting better. We're getting better, still as the season went on. That's the crazy thing. Hopefully there's more season to go on."
The new big three?
By Sam Smith
Left to Right, Mirotic, Zipser, and Portis. (Photo/chicagobulls.com)
Mirotic, Zipser, and Portis have been huge in the first two games of the series.
It's a familiar NBA formula, the impact of the Big Three, that has the Bulls leading the Boston Celtics 2-0 in this first round playoff series. From Bird-McHale-Parish to Garnett-Pierce-Allen to LeBron-Wade-Bosh. Now comes Portis-Mirotic-Zipser?
"Zipser, Mirotic, Portis," bemoaned Celtics coach Brad Stevens after Tuesday's Bulls 111-97 victory. "Those guys have had huge impacts on the first two games of this series. I expect it from (Dwyane) Wade, right? I think we all do. Last year, I think he hit less than 10 threes during the regular season and then more than that in the first round of the playoffs. Like, this is who he is. And it's who (Rajon) Rondo's been throughout his career. The level that he's playing at is terrific. And then Butler's, Butler. But those other guys are really impacting the series in a big way."
The big man in this series has been the big man, Bulls center Robin Lopez. The Bulls seven footer has repeatedly frustrated the Celtics with offensive rebounds. He is averaging a series high 6.5 per game and overall 16 points and 9.5 rebounds on 14 of 21 shooting with a near unerring face up jump shot. Dwyane Wade broke out with 22 points in Game 2 on nine of 16 shooting and three of four three pointers. Wade is now four of six on threes in the two games. Wade made a total three pointers in his last 11 regular season games back to March 1.
Jimmy Butler has been the man, big second halves in both wins, the go-to scorer. He's averaging 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two games.
But the surprise of this first round as the Bulls host Game 3 in the United Center Friday is the Bulls' X-factor, actually Triple X, the relay race combination of Portis, Mirotic and Zipser. Often maligned, ignored and dismissed this season, they have taken turns as playoff virtuosos.
In Game 1, it was Portis, dazzling Boston with 19 points and nine rebounds, making eight of 10 shots often in crucial sequences that held off the Celtics. Remember, that was a game coming down to Butler needing to clinch it with free throws with 3.3 seconds left.
"I can't say I didn't see it coming," said Rondo, the mentor to the reserves and young players. "Bobby's a very confident player. He works extremely hard. What he's doing right now, he deserves it. He put in the work, staying humble. At the beginning of the year, he wasn't playing as much, but he stayed with it and things are happening for him. I told the guys from day one: People might not get the minutes that you want or play when you want, but stay ready when your name is called and lock in. It's going to take every one to win the title.
"Star power is great, but at the end of the night you need all 15 guys," said Rondo in emphasizing the message he's preached all season as the team's evangelist for the overlooked. "We wouldn't have won (Game 1) without RoLo, without Bobby Portis, without Jerian Grant. So star power to me is kind of overrated. Obviously Jimmy did what he did best, get buckets in the second half. But the little key stops we got from other guys were big for our team."
And so it was in Game 2 with Portis getting just nine minutes and taking one shot, a three he made. Clever strategy as well. Have the opposition prepare for the unexpected, and then surprise them again. No coach could have managed these two games better than Hoiberg.
Mirotic after the tough start in Game 1 that got him benched for the second half came back with a big 10-point first quarter. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in Game 2 and a crucial third quarter three with Boston making a run.
"Niko has done a good job playing off Rajon," said Hoiberg. "Niko coming out hitting a couple of shots, keeping us in it, was huge…;to be able to get a lead after that first quarter, a lot of that had to do with Niko's hot start and Rajon finding him for easy baskets. It's so important for your role players to play good basketball. So far we've had different guys step up in different games and hopefully we'll continue to get contributions."
And then there was Zipser, the lightly regarded but uber confident German import who after a quiet six points in Game 1 came up big in Game 2 with 16 points on six of eight shooting, adding a pair of threes. The last was the effective clincher from the left corner.
"I think my confidence comes from the game, comes from defense, comes from helping one another. That's why I am playing, why I played good (Tuesday). When those guys give me the ball, they tell me to shoot it. I know I can knock it down and everyone knows it on our team. So that gave me confidence; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If I don't play as good I know the minutes will be a less, but I just do my thing. If it works it works, if it doesn't (try again)."
Paul Zipser"I had the target to get to the NBA, of course," said Zipser. "I really felt I could do it. I wanted to (as a goal) score in the playoffs and that's what I did a couple of days ago; now we are up to the next step."
That's Friday with that back to the wall feeling from the Celtics. It's not over even if the Celtics lose, but no NBA team ever has won a series after trailing 0-3. There were three, the last Portland in 2003, to force a Game 7 after losing the first three games. It has happened in baseball and hockey, but never in basketball. But if the Celtics win, then it's just 2-1 and looking like seven games.
That the Celtics may be heading toward an historic upset as a No. 1 seed is both amazing and apropos given that former Celtic Rondo is having such a big influence in the series. Both in his play, averaging 11.5 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the two games, and with his standing with the young players on the bench.
"I'm very proud," Rondo said about the victories. "I told the guys it would take all 15. Even our scout team did a hell of a job going over the plays, preparing us for what they were going to do. And then our second group came out and played big."
It was typical Rondo this season encouraging and applauding the work of the least appreciated.
Of course, Rondo, once an All-Star and champion with the 2008 Celtics, could also relate given he spent perhaps half this season playing with those guys off the bench. It's a true testament to Rondo as a professional to have sunk through ACL surgery, being traded and dropped from the Mavericks in the playoffs, sent to basketball solitary in Sacramento and then coming to the Bulls and being benched, five straight DNPs in early January. Then came the infamous Wade/Butler excoriation of the reserves, Rondo's Instagram response to question Wade's leadership style in relation to "my vets," what seemed adieu for Rondo.
But he went to work, to play, really, because Rondo is a basketball junkie, embracing the second unit, advising and encouraging them. And if there's an obvious reason for their ability to display poise under pressure, it has to be, at least in part, the work with Rondo.
"He's been in a lot of these big moments, has championship experience and he's going to continue to lead us as long as we are playing. You can't say enough good things about how he's handled everything this season."
This was the guy Bulls fans loved to hate, especially in the 2009 playoffs when he assaulted Brad Miller in a crucial, series turning sequence. And, by the way, had five triple doubles in the series. In Boston, they call this time Playoff Rondo for his 12 triple doubles with the Celtics in his playoff career with the Celtics. Booed often in the two games, Rondo has been a fierce competitor and even tormentor. Avery Bradley said after Tuesday's game that Rondo was yelling to teammates how the Celtics were quitting.
Not that Rondo was ever going to surrender given his love of the game; it seemed the Bulls were going to give up on him. But in enduring a season long point guard audition for his position, Rondo stayed positive and emerged as Hoiberg's most reliable at the position. He played almost 41 minutes Tuesday with faith, ferocity and fire. Though it was an expanded rotation much condemned during the season, it also cannot be a coincidence that young players are more ready now for the playoffs.
And perhaps Rondo remaining a Bull. What seemed unlikely, if not a you've-got-to-be-kidding question a few months ago, hardly is without possibilities now. Rondo told reporters before Game 2 he'd like to return to the Bulls next season and was optimistic about the talent on the team, talent, incidentally, that Rondo has helped nurture.
"I just got to put the credit to my age," Rondo said about surviving and thriving this season. "I'm 31 now. My role is different. When I had older guys around me, I kind of leaned on them for advice and went through tough times. So for me to be the example, just continue to work and show up on time. If those guys want to listen, I try to give as much advice as possible. I remember when I was a younger cat, I always thought the veteran guys talked too much. I don't want always be the guy who is talking."
That's what was held against Rondo then as a combative youngster, that he challenged players like Kevin Garnett, coach Doc Rivers, guys who liked to talk. It engendered a negative reputation given the media popularity of Rivers and Garnett. Though as you often discover, people aren't often what you think or what you think you know or see. Rondo is a dedicated worker, an ideal teammate and a natural leader, if not a polished public speaker.
"What you guys write is part of the story, but it's not who I am daily," reminds Rondo,
generally crusty in public and more cuddly in private. "I guess this year in particular, what I went through, it's part of the growing process. I try to grow each year, each day. Wake up and try and be a better version of me. Yeah, the older you are, the more mature you're acting, the wiser you become."
Rondo doesn't shrink from the challenge. He was clearly upset about being benched and given DNPs, suggesting a lack of communication with management, perhaps a quick departure somewhere else.
"It's up there," Rondo said about this being among his greatest career crises. "My first year we lost 18 straight. My rookie year you doubted if you even belonged in the NBA. The team was so bad, and I wasn't even playing a lot, so that was a pretty tough year. People are going to form their opinions regardless of what I say or how I act. It's how life is. But like I said, the people that are close to me have been very supportive. I'm doing what I love. I went through a tough time playing basketball, but I have a great job, doing what I love, and still smiling to this day while I do it."
"This (Bulls) team was put together in a couple months with I think 10 new guys," Rondo noted. "It's hard to gel that quickly. At the same time, I think organizations have to give guys a little bit of time to grow and learn each other. Everyone is not going to be San Antonio: Always keep your guys together as long as possible so they can develop chemistry and make deep runs in the playoffs and go through things together and grow. If that's the case here, that'd be great. If not, it's up to those guys. I like where I'm at. I think we have a really good team. We made a big trade halfway through the season. All the things this year with 45 different lineups, we still made it to the playoffs. Right now, just try to stay consistent as possible and develop some chemistry."
It's looked good for two games.
CUBS: The education of Kyle Hendricks and why Cubs won’t overreact to a slow start.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Coordinated with Cubs Convention in January 2014 – to give prospects a sense of the market’s rabid fan base and media spotlight – Hendricks sat down with scouting/player development chief Jason McLeod and farm director Jaron Madison inside the team’s Clark Street offices.
“We were doing his offseason player plan with him,” McLeod recalled. “We take a lot of pride in putting these things together, strengths and weaknesses, and so we give Kyle his and I’m doing the intro: ‘Well, obviously, it was a great year you’ve had, winning pitcher of the year, not that there were many weaknesses to what you did…’
“He like almost cut me off and he goes: ‘No, I think there were plenty of weaknesses.’ He didn’t say this, but he almost had a look on his face like: ‘This is all you got?’”
This was days before the New York Yankees would win the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes, and Hendricks had only six starts above the Double-A level on his resume. By that July, Hendricks would step into a rotation that took a short-term hit when the Cubs shipped Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland A’s in the Addison Russell trade.
“They were giving me s--- for that,” Hendricks said with a laugh. “There were a few things I pointed out. It caught them by surprise. They told me all this good stuff, and I was like: ‘Where is the stuff I need to work on?’ It was pretty funny.”
The education of Hendricks, who has a degree in economics from Dartmouth College, never stops. He does yoga, focuses on breathing and absorbs scouting reports. He doesn’t need to look at the scoreboard or the radar gun to know when something is off.
“Kyle is still not on top of his game yet,” manager Joe Maddon said in the Wrigley Field interview room after Wednesday’s 7-4 comeback win over the Milwaukee Brewers. “I would say more than anything it would be the velocity.
“It’s all there – he’s not injured, he feels good. He threw one 86-mph fastball right by (Eric) Thames, only because he had been below that, and all of a sudden that’s 86. My point is, when he gets back to 87-88, then you’re going to see that greater separation between the fastball and the changeup.
“Right now, there’s not a dramatic separation between the two pitches, and that’s where the disconnect is for him now. I’m fully confident that he’s going to get that uptick in velocity back. And then you’ll see that greater separation, and then you see the bad swings.”
It would be impossible to expect Hendricks to match the 2.13 ERA he put up last season, an incredible combination of Ivy League smarts, mechanics in alignment and soaring confidence. Jake Arrieta played a similar game of expectations last year after winning a Cy Young Award and still managed to beat the Cleveland Indians twice in the World Series.
So the Cubs certainly aren’t going to overreact to three not-great starts in April where Hendricks has gone only five innings twice and given up three or four runs each time, leaving him with a 6.19 ERA. The Cubs have won two of those three starts, and slotting Hendricks fifth in the rotation did create an eight-day layoff to start the season.
Last year’s third-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award voting generated the most attention, but look at this 75-start sample (plus one relief appearance) for Hendricks in a Cubs uniform heading into this season: 31-17, 2.92 ERA, 1.070 WHIP.
Check out four of the first six names that pop up under “Similarity Scores” on Hendricks’ Baseball-Reference page: New York Mets aces Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard, plus Tanaka.
“The biggest thing that will get you in trouble is that you try to top that,” Jon Lester said. “Instead of a 2.2 or a 2.1 (ERA), it’s ‘I want a 1.8’ and you start kind of putting that in your mind. That’s why, for me, I’ve always just tried to stay with that 200-inning goal. Make every start and (reach) 200 innings, because I know that I’ll be somewhere around where I normally am.
“You’re going to have years like last year where Kyle wins (16) games and he has a (2.13 ERA). And then you’re going to have years where you get your butt kicked and you’re kind of doing the same stuff and you don’t really know why. You just try to maintain. (And) at the end of the year, you look up and you’re right there.
“We kind of know who (Kyle) is and what to expect. He made some really big adjustments for himself last year that obviously worked. So now it’s a matter of: Is the league going to adjust to him with them seeing him a couple times? He’s a smart kid. He knows. He makes really good in-game adjustments.
“The sky’s the limit. Is he going to have the 2.1? Who knows? We have a really good defense and I know that saved a lot of runs for us last year.”
The Associated Press reported Major League Baseball Advanced Media is now using Statcast instead of PITCHf/x to report velocities, which has led to some upticks around the game. Here’s how FanGraphs has clocked Hendricks’ average fastball since 2015: 88.3, 87.8 and 85.4 mph.
Hendricks – who led the majors with a .581 opponents’ OPS last year – has given up four homers in 16 innings this season. As a control/command pitcher, Hendricks walked four Brewers during Wednesday’s no-decision, including pitcher Tommy Milone on four pitches.
“Overall, still just need to kind of find that groove and lock it in,” Hendricks said. “My mechanics have been a little off, I’ve noticed, the last two weeks or so. I ramped up my throwing, so maybe throwing more has caused that. I just got to find the right balance right now.
“I just don’t feel strong out there, so I got to get my arm strength and feel like I can step on it (and) get the velocity back. And then from there, my changeup will just play off it.”
Hendricks emerged last year as the ace we didn’t see coming, allowing three earned runs or less in 22 straight starts from May 22 to Sept. 26, beating Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers the night the Cubs won their first pennant in 71 years and starting an epic World Series Game 7.
“That’s kind of been my MO – I’ve always been a slow starter,” Hendricks said. “You don’t like to be that way. You’re always trying to combat that. But, again, I felt good in spring. It just hasn’t transitioned yet. It’s staying with the process. I know what I have to do.”
Cubs rearranging rotation means Jon Lester won't face Red Sox and pitch this time at Fenway Park.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Jon Lester won’t make his dramatic return to the Fenway Park mound after an April that has already seen the $155 million ace get the Opening Night assignment and start the game where the Cubs finally raised their World Series banner at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs are rearranging their rotation again for this upcoming three-city road trip so that Lester will face the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, followed by Jake Arrieta on Saturday afternoon. This means Arrieta won’t be pitching on April 21, the one-year anniversary of his no-hitter at Great American Ball Park.
The Cubs wanted the Lester matchup next week against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team with a .178 average and a .534 OPS versus left-handers so far this season. Instead of made-for-TV storylines, the Cubs are going with numbers and logically mapping out a schedule that will see at least five days off this month.
With this switch, Lester misses the chance to face the Boston Red Sox for the first time since getting traded to the Oakland A’s at the 2014 deadline, a move that would spark a free-agent bidding war among a few big-market franchises. The Red Sox originally drafted and developed Lester, watching him beat cancer and become a two-time World Series champion in Boston.
This also means that Arrieta will get another chance to perform on the Fenway Park stage, where on June 30, 2014 he finished four outs away from a no-hitter and got a standing ovation, flashing the dominance that would make him a Cy Young Award winner the next year and position him for his own megadeal after this season.
The Cubs are rearranging their rotation again for this upcoming three-city road trip so that Lester will face the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, followed by Jake Arrieta on Saturday afternoon. This means Arrieta won’t be pitching on April 21, the one-year anniversary of his no-hitter at Great American Ball Park.
The Cubs wanted the Lester matchup next week against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team with a .178 average and a .534 OPS versus left-handers so far this season. Instead of made-for-TV storylines, the Cubs are going with numbers and logically mapping out a schedule that will see at least five days off this month.
With this switch, Lester misses the chance to face the Boston Red Sox for the first time since getting traded to the Oakland A’s at the 2014 deadline, a move that would spark a free-agent bidding war among a few big-market franchises. The Red Sox originally drafted and developed Lester, watching him beat cancer and become a two-time World Series champion in Boston.
This also means that Arrieta will get another chance to perform on the Fenway Park stage, where on June 30, 2014 he finished four outs away from a no-hitter and got a standing ovation, flashing the dominance that would make him a Cy Young Award winner the next year and position him for his own megadeal after this season.
Addison Russell’s walk-off homer sends the message for Cubs: ‘We never quit’. (Wednesday night's game, 04/19/2017).
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Not even 10 percent into the schedule, it's still way too early to draw any grand conclusions about the 2017 team. But largely the same group of players – supremely talented and a year older and a year wiser – has already shown some of those essential qualities.
Addison Russell flipped his bat to the ground and had a little bounce in his steps on Wednesday after he connected with a 97-mph fastball from Neftali Feliz, launching it into Wrigley Field's left-field bleachers for a three-run, walk-off homer. Russell tossed his helmet aside and jumped into the mosh pit awaiting at home plate, teammates pouring bottled water on him after a dramatic 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
"Just don't give up – that's the type of style that we play," Russell said. "It seems like whenever you kind of count us out, we seem to have a spark. That's all it takes – one hit, one walk and we get rolling."
That comeback ended the homestand where the Cubs finally raised a World Series banner, got their championship bling and unofficially ended their 2016 victory tour. The defending champs are 8-7 and have won four of their first five series this season, hoping this creates a sense of momentum for a three-city road trip that goes through Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Boston.
"There's been a lot going on, a lot of outside factors pushing against us," said Kyle Hendricks, who has a 6.19 ERA after a four-run, five-inning start against the Brewers. "It was a tough stretch for a little bit there, but these teams we're playing, man, they're coming for us. We have the target on our backs."
Friday will mark the two-year anniversary of Russell's big-league debut. He's still only three months removed from his 23rd birthday. He's already been a 21-homer, 95-RBI, All-Star shortstop, one of the clutch hitters for a championship team.
Russell delivered in the eighth inning by softly lifting a Corey Knebel curveball over the head of first baseman Eric Thames and just beyond the infield dirt for an RBI single that sliced Milwaukee's lead to 4-3.
It didn't matter that Knebel and Feliz struck out Willson Contreras, Albert Almora Jr. and Javier Baez to kill that rally – or that the starting lineup didn't feature Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist or Jason Heyward and the afternoon began with a 55-minute rain delay and Hendricks putting the Cubs in a 3-0 deficit by the second inning.
The day after another comeback win over the Brewers (8-8), Mike Montgomery, Pedro Strop, Koji Uehara and Wade Davis combined to throw four scoreless innings while pinch-running reliever Carl Edwards Jr. scored the game-winning run.
"We just keep coming back for more," manager Joe Maddon said. "It was really one of those ugly wins, but you'll take 'em any day of the week.
"We don't quit. It's on the ring, man, and that's a perfect example."
Another magazine honors Theo Epstein, as Cubs president lands on Time's list of 100 most influential people.
By CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Perhaps it's not quite as prestigious as being named the world's greatest leader by Fortune, but Theo Epstein has another magazine honor to deal with.
The Cubs president of baseball operations landed on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people.
Epstein wasn't the only sports figure on the list, joined by Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, New England Patriots championship-machine Tom Brady, Olympic gold-medal gymnast Simone Biles, Brazilian soccer star Neymar and lightning-rod quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
But the list also includes the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. government and other world leaders.
In fact, Epstein is listed in the "leaders" category, which is exclusively populated by the planet's biggest newsmakers: the heads of state of the United States, United Kingdom, India, China, North Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Turkey and Thailand; two U.S. senators; a Supreme Court justice; the Secretary of Defense; advisors to the presidents of the United States; the head of the Democratic Party; the director of the FBI; and, oh yeah, the Pope.
The Cubs president of baseball operations landed on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people.
Epstein wasn't the only sports figure on the list, joined by Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, New England Patriots championship-machine Tom Brady, Olympic gold-medal gymnast Simone Biles, Brazilian soccer star Neymar and lightning-rod quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
But the list also includes the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. government and other world leaders.
In fact, Epstein is listed in the "leaders" category, which is exclusively populated by the planet's biggest newsmakers: the heads of state of the United States, United Kingdom, India, China, North Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Turkey and Thailand; two U.S. senators; a Supreme Court justice; the Secretary of Defense; advisors to the presidents of the United States; the head of the Democratic Party; the director of the FBI; and, oh yeah, the Pope.
Additionally, keeping in line with celebrities writing the blurbs for each of Time's honorees, Epstein is profiled by famous Cubs fan John Cusack.
Here's what Cusack wrote about Epstein:
"Theo Epstein has this weird hue around him. His vision helped end historic World Series droughts in both Chicago and Boston. But his power lies in a paradox, in the knowledge that the only way to keep power is to give it away. He knows Wrigley Field is a multigenerational secular church. Our families have been there a long, long time. We are all just renting — nobody owns this.
"Theo may be a creature of destiny, but he recognizes that he's also just another flawed human being, no better than anyone else. It's an artful thing to thread that needle and wear it as a matter of common sense. He's more Old World than old school. Words and deeds need to match. Trust is earned. He apologizes to no one for caring.
"You can see it in the eyes of those he holds close. The relationships are far more personal and dignified than people crowding around a winner. When you mention someone he truly reveres, like the historian Howard Zinn, Theo's poker face drops into a reverential smile.
"After that epic World Series Game 7, I found myself in the dugout watching first baseman Anthony Rizzo waving to the heavens. Theo was quite still — I watched him watch Rizzo. He must have felt it and turned to me, almost apologetic. 'I haven't given you a proper hug!' he said.
"'Greatest sporting moment of the century,' I told him. 'Thank you. And thank you from my father.' He took it but undercut his achievement with a wry smile. 'No,' he said, 'it's all about these guys.' Then he walked back into the fray."
Here's what Cusack wrote about Epstein:
"Theo Epstein has this weird hue around him. His vision helped end historic World Series droughts in both Chicago and Boston. But his power lies in a paradox, in the knowledge that the only way to keep power is to give it away. He knows Wrigley Field is a multigenerational secular church. Our families have been there a long, long time. We are all just renting — nobody owns this.
"Theo may be a creature of destiny, but he recognizes that he's also just another flawed human being, no better than anyone else. It's an artful thing to thread that needle and wear it as a matter of common sense. He's more Old World than old school. Words and deeds need to match. Trust is earned. He apologizes to no one for caring.
"You can see it in the eyes of those he holds close. The relationships are far more personal and dignified than people crowding around a winner. When you mention someone he truly reveres, like the historian Howard Zinn, Theo's poker face drops into a reverential smile.
"After that epic World Series Game 7, I found myself in the dugout watching first baseman Anthony Rizzo waving to the heavens. Theo was quite still — I watched him watch Rizzo. He must have felt it and turned to me, almost apologetic. 'I haven't given you a proper hug!' he said.
"'Greatest sporting moment of the century,' I told him. 'Thank you. And thank you from my father.' He took it but undercut his achievement with a wry smile. 'No,' he said, 'it's all about these guys.' Then he walked back into the fray."
WHITE SOX eyeing newly cleared Cuban free agent Luis Robert.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The White Sox potentially could add another significant piece to their farm system next month after Luis Robert was officially cleared for free agency on Thursday.
The Cuban outfielder can be signed as soon as May 20 after Major League Baseball cleared him to become a free agent as part of the 2016-17 international class.
Though the White Sox have made no official comments, its believed the team intends to make a strong push for Robert’s services. While the White Sox selected three position players high in the 2016 draft and added two more in December trades, they need more talent to achieve what general manager Rick Hahn has described as a “critical mass.” Some observers believe that Robert, 19, would be a viable candidate to be the first overall pick in the amateur baseball draft were he eligible.
One rival evaluator recently said the White Sox are strong contenders for Robert. Baseball America also has linked the White Sox to Robert often the past few months.
Robert’s addition to the 2016-17 class means he can be signed under the rules of the old Collective Bargaining Agreement, which should result in a significantly better payday.
Back in March, BA’s Ben Badler described Robert as having “a strong, lean frame at 6-foot-3 with broad shoulders, a wide back and quick-twitch athleticism. A right-handed hitter with excellent bat speed and a sound swing, Robert has plus power with room to continue filling out and increase that in the future.” Because he’s 19, Robert is at an advantage over younger international prospects in that he’s physically easier to project than some of his 15- and 16-year-old counterparts.
That Robert is extremely talented and projectable could result in a shootout between teams bidding for Robert’s services without facing some of the harsher penalties that they would have had he instead been part of the 2017-18 class.
Under the rules of the old CBA, teams only pay a luxury tax for exceeding their allotted bonus pool. Current White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada was signed for $31.5 million under the rules of the old CBA by the Boston Red Sox in March 2015. The Red Sox also paid a $31.5 million tax as part of the signing.
The White Sox have revamped their farm system over the past 10 months. All but one of their top 10 prospects according to MLB.com have been drafted or acquired in trades. But of those 10, only Moncada, Luis Alexander Basabe and Zack Collins are position players. The team also selected outfielders Alex Call and Jameson Fisher with their third- and fourth-round selections in the draft.
The addition of Robert could have the White Sox well on their way in what Hahn has said will be a long and, at times, painful rebuilding process.
Depth and dominance: White Sox bullpen off to another hot start.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
As Zach Putnam sees it, the White Sox bullpen is afflicted in the best possible way early this season.
One after the other, White Sox relievers have delivered dominance from a variety of arm angles. Similar to last April, the White Sox bullpen is off to a scorching start with a 1.41 earned-run average through 14 games, third-best in the majors. Over 44 2/3 innings, White Sox relievers have struck out 54 batters.
Though it's hard to imagine any team sustaining this level of production, the White Sox potentially have a deeper pool of relievers to work with to help them avoid their 2016 dropoff. But it's that same depth that also could have opposing general managers flocking to the White Sox in order to remedy their bullpen issues this summer.
"It’s kind of a contagious thing like hitting," Putnam said. "You've got top of the order getting hits and getting on base and the guys just kind of fall in line. That's kind of how it has gone here. We've got guys that know their role, and they're doing a great job coming in and getting outs and eating up a lot of innings, too. We've had some guys with some pretty heavy workloads and everybody's doing their jobs.
"There's no weak spots, top to bottom."
The White Sox are several months into the franchise's first rebuild in 20 years.
You wouldn't know it by looking at the back end of the bullpen, which is more suited for a team trying to contend.
While closer David Robertson hasn't pitched at an elite level in his first two seasons, he still has converted on 75 of his 89 save opportunities (84 percent) and is off to an excellent start in 2017. Considered readily available on the trade block, Robertson has converted all four save chances this season and struck out 11 batters in 5 2/3 innings.
Nate Jones' success — 112 strikeouts versus 26 walks in 96 innings since returning from Tommy John surgery — also has caught the eye of scouts around the league, many of whom believe he could become a closer if the White Sox were to trade Robertson. Lefty Dan Jennings also is viewed by scouts as a potentially attractive option as he has shown marked improvement in his splits against left-handed hitters in two-plus seasons with the White Sox.
But it's the front end of the group that has given the White Sox a stronger, deeper bullpen so far in 2017.
Less than a year after he had bone chips removed from his right elbow, Putnam, 29, is healthy again and his split-fingered fastball is dancing to the tune of 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He's whiffed nine batters in eight scoreless innings.
Tommy Kahnle — who has 12 strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings this season — appears to have retained the lessons he learned about command late in 2016. After walking 14 batters and striking out seven in his first 11 1/3 innings with the White Sox, Kahnle has been outstanding. Since Aug. 11, 2016, Kahnle has 30 strikeouts and only seven walks in his 21 2/3 innings with a 0.83 ERA.
And veteran Anthony Swarzak is throwing as hard as he has in his career, his fastball averaging nearly 95 mph. So far Swarzak has six strikeouts and six scoreless frames.
"Good group of arms," Robertson said. "Everybody's getting a lot of opportunities and it seems like a lot of guys have really found their niche.
"You're seeing a whole bunch of different looks. We've got a lot of right-handed arms, power arms, but just different looks. Everybody throws the ball differently. Hitters see it differently.
"That's all it takes in baseball to get guys out."
Putnam said it's a combination of good communication from the coaching staff and the foundation at the back end of the 'pen that has aided the strong start. With Robertson in the ninth and Jones the primary setup man, the rest of the group has a good idea of what its role is.
That has led to plenty of belief in the bullpen.
"It doesn't matter who's trotting out, I think the coaching staff and the team has confidence in whoever comes out of that door," Putnam said. "I think a lot of that too is guys understanding their role and their job and what is expected of them. We're always on call and always ready. But knowing what situations to be extra ready for so that you're not caught off guard is huge."
The bullpen's performance has been critical early as it has allowed the White Sox to work around a poor overall showing by the offense. Despite ranking 13th in the American League in runs scored, the White Sox have played .500 baseball because of their dominant bullpen. And while it could one day be picked apart by opposing GMs, for now the team's relief core has made life easier for manager Rick Renteria.
"It's been really nice," Renteria said. "Obviously those guys have emerged being very effective. Hopefully it continues. It's one of those things as we continue to move forward, we have to continue to play clean baseball and we give ourselves a chance to stay in a ballgame. Anything can happen late, and if we have the guys in the pen — that's been working very, very well for us."
One after the other, White Sox relievers have delivered dominance from a variety of arm angles. Similar to last April, the White Sox bullpen is off to a scorching start with a 1.41 earned-run average through 14 games, third-best in the majors. Over 44 2/3 innings, White Sox relievers have struck out 54 batters.
Though it's hard to imagine any team sustaining this level of production, the White Sox potentially have a deeper pool of relievers to work with to help them avoid their 2016 dropoff. But it's that same depth that also could have opposing general managers flocking to the White Sox in order to remedy their bullpen issues this summer.
"It’s kind of a contagious thing like hitting," Putnam said. "You've got top of the order getting hits and getting on base and the guys just kind of fall in line. That's kind of how it has gone here. We've got guys that know their role, and they're doing a great job coming in and getting outs and eating up a lot of innings, too. We've had some guys with some pretty heavy workloads and everybody's doing their jobs.
"There's no weak spots, top to bottom."
The White Sox are several months into the franchise's first rebuild in 20 years.
You wouldn't know it by looking at the back end of the bullpen, which is more suited for a team trying to contend.
While closer David Robertson hasn't pitched at an elite level in his first two seasons, he still has converted on 75 of his 89 save opportunities (84 percent) and is off to an excellent start in 2017. Considered readily available on the trade block, Robertson has converted all four save chances this season and struck out 11 batters in 5 2/3 innings.
Nate Jones' success — 112 strikeouts versus 26 walks in 96 innings since returning from Tommy John surgery — also has caught the eye of scouts around the league, many of whom believe he could become a closer if the White Sox were to trade Robertson. Lefty Dan Jennings also is viewed by scouts as a potentially attractive option as he has shown marked improvement in his splits against left-handed hitters in two-plus seasons with the White Sox.
But it's the front end of the group that has given the White Sox a stronger, deeper bullpen so far in 2017.
Less than a year after he had bone chips removed from his right elbow, Putnam, 29, is healthy again and his split-fingered fastball is dancing to the tune of 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He's whiffed nine batters in eight scoreless innings.
Tommy Kahnle — who has 12 strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings this season — appears to have retained the lessons he learned about command late in 2016. After walking 14 batters and striking out seven in his first 11 1/3 innings with the White Sox, Kahnle has been outstanding. Since Aug. 11, 2016, Kahnle has 30 strikeouts and only seven walks in his 21 2/3 innings with a 0.83 ERA.
And veteran Anthony Swarzak is throwing as hard as he has in his career, his fastball averaging nearly 95 mph. So far Swarzak has six strikeouts and six scoreless frames.
"Good group of arms," Robertson said. "Everybody's getting a lot of opportunities and it seems like a lot of guys have really found their niche.
"You're seeing a whole bunch of different looks. We've got a lot of right-handed arms, power arms, but just different looks. Everybody throws the ball differently. Hitters see it differently.
"That's all it takes in baseball to get guys out."
Putnam said it's a combination of good communication from the coaching staff and the foundation at the back end of the 'pen that has aided the strong start. With Robertson in the ninth and Jones the primary setup man, the rest of the group has a good idea of what its role is.
That has led to plenty of belief in the bullpen.
"It doesn't matter who's trotting out, I think the coaching staff and the team has confidence in whoever comes out of that door," Putnam said. "I think a lot of that too is guys understanding their role and their job and what is expected of them. We're always on call and always ready. But knowing what situations to be extra ready for so that you're not caught off guard is huge."
The bullpen's performance has been critical early as it has allowed the White Sox to work around a poor overall showing by the offense. Despite ranking 13th in the American League in runs scored, the White Sox have played .500 baseball because of their dominant bullpen. And while it could one day be picked apart by opposing GMs, for now the team's relief core has made life easier for manager Rick Renteria.
"It's been really nice," Renteria said. "Obviously those guys have emerged being very effective. Hopefully it continues. It's one of those things as we continue to move forward, we have to continue to play clean baseball and we give ourselves a chance to stay in a ballgame. Anything can happen late, and if we have the guys in the pen — that's been working very, very well for us."
Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson show promising signs but White Sox fall to Yankees.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The good that emerged from Wednesday night's 9-1 loss to the New York Yankees didn't provide the White Sox with much immediate help.
Their collective efforts weren't enough, however, to keep up with the Yankees, who blasted three home runs off Rule 5 selection Dylan Covey in the series finale. Covey allowed eight earned runs and 10 hits in five innings.
"(Abreu) had a completely different outlook today for whatever reason and it just happens that way," manager Rick Renteria said. "Some good at-bats. So did Timmy. We had a few good at-bats in there, a couple situations we didn't capitalize on. It was one of those games that got away from us."
The White Sox offense has been very hit and miss early this season. They've provided runs by the barrel full in a few games and minimal production in others.
One reason for those struggles is the early slumps of Anderson and Abreu, two of their more prominent performers. Anderson entered Wednesday's finale with a .389 OPS and Abreu was at just .380. In short, neither has provided much for an offense that entered Wednesday ranked 13th among 15 American League teams with 48 runs scored.
But both looked sharp against Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka.
Abreu — who Tuesday said he was merely looking to make solid contact once again — started early with a double down the left-field line past a diving Chase Headley.
"Right now we're just working on trying to gain that confidence at the plate, because right now I don't feel it," Abreu said through an interpreter on Tuesday. "That's a process you have to pass through to get it again. That's why we're working right now.
"Right now, I'm not making any contact with the ball."
The slugger made plenty on Wednesday night.
Down 4-0 in the fourth, Abreu followed a leadoff double by Anderson with a booming one-out double of his own to produce the only White Sox RBI. The ball exited Abreu's bat at 109.3 mph, according to MLB.com.
"It was a while from the last time I heard that sound when I hit the ball," Abreu said Wednesday. "Besides the loss, I think it was a good game for me. I hit the ball the way I used to do it and that's a step forward."
Abreu also hit an outside pitch in the sixth inning for a hard single into right field. Abreu finished the contest 3-for-4, his fourth multi-hit game of the season but first since Thursday at Cleveland. He also made an outstanding defensive play to end the second inning with a diving grab to start an unassisted double play.
Anderson has shown little signs throughout the Yankees series he's about to break out. His fourth-inning double off Tanaka would have gone for a solo home run in most ballparks. But he settled for a double high off the left-field fence despite a 102.8-mph exit velocity.
Two innings later, Anderson lined another fastball to dead center only to have Jacoby Ellsbury track it down near the fence. The ball exited Anderson's bat at 102.1 mph, an outcome that normally produces a hit 79 percent of the time, according to Baseball Savant.
Anderson finished 1-for-4 but still raised his batting average on balls in play to .200, which is well short of the .375 he hit in 2016 and what he routinely produced in the minor leagues. Those factors would suggest Anderson is due for a market correction at the plate, which would be extremely beneficial to the 7-7 White Sox.
But it didn't amount to much on Wednesday.
Covey allowed a double and a two-run Chase Headley homer in the first, and yielded two more runs on two hits in the second inning. Starlin Castro tattooed a 3-0 fastball from Covey for a three-run homer in the fifth inning before Aaron Judge crushed a hanging curve 448 feet for a solo shot and an 8-1 lead.
"Obviously today didn't go the way I wanted it to go," Covey said. "But you kind of have to take it like it is and learn from the mistakes. Come back (Friday) and put work in to get better. Just get better with all my pitches."
Golf: I got a club for that..... Grace (66) leads by 1 at Texas Open.
By Golf Channel Digital
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Branden Grace shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead in the Valero Texas Open. Here's how things stand going into the second round in San Antonio:
Leaderboard: Grace (-6), Will MacKenzie (-5), John Huh (-5), Stewart Cink (-5)
What it means: South African Grace is coming off his best finish of the season, a T-11 in the RBC-Heritage. MacKenzie and Huh were more surprising entries on the leaderboard. MacKenzie is playing for the first time in almost a month (Puerto Rico Open in March). Huh's last three results were T-66 at Bay Hill, T-39 at Houston and a MC at Harbour Town.
Round of the day: Grace's 6-under 66 featured seven birdies against one bogey. He did what he needed to do, making birdie on three of the four par-5 holes (all but the 18th).
Best of the rest: MacKenzie, Huh and Cink matched 5-under 67s. After bogeyng his first hole of the day, the par-4 10th, MacKenzie logged three birdies on each side. Huh made the turn in 1 under, but heated up on the back nine, adding four more circles. Cink played in the afternoon wave.
Biggest disappointment: Needing to make $30,624 this week to keep his card, Ian Poulter came out flat, making the turn in 3 over par. Things got a little better on his second nine, with one bogey and one birdie, but his 75 puts a ton of pressure on him in Round 2.
Shot of the day: Ken Duke was bunkered, 76 feet from the pin in two, on the par-5 14th hole. He splashed the ball out of the sand and onto the green, where this happened:
Bubba (66) takes early lead at Shenzhen International.
By Will Gray
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Bubba Watson has taken his game international this week, and the early results are promising.
While the PGA Tour heads back to the Lone Star State for the Valero Texas Open, Watson hopped in a plane and flew to China for the Shenzhen International. It's the third straight year Watson has headlined the field, where he finished T-29 in 2015 and T-8 last year. But after a 6-under 66 in the opening round at Genzon Golf Club, the southpaw enjoys a one-shot lead over five players.
Watson bogeyed the par-3 12th, his third hole of the day, but that proved to be his only blemish. He bounced back with birdies on three of the next four holes, then followed a birdie on No. 1 with an eagle on the par-5 second.
"I just made putts today," Watson told reporters. "Most of my swings and most of my shots were really good today and there were no bad swings in there, so it just made the score better."
Watson completed his round before a lightning delay postponed play for nearly two hours. Other notable first-round scores include Tommy Fleetwood (69), Ross FIsher (71) and Peter Uihlein (71).
The low round comes at an opportune time for Watson, who has struggled to find his footing in recent months. He entered the week ranked No. 22 in the world, his lowest ranking since before he won the 2014 Genesis Open. He hasn't cracked the top 10 in a full-field, PGA Tour event since March 2016.
But Watson did make it out of group play at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, and despite a missed cut at the Masters he is happy he made the trip to China and is now on a course where he feels, of all things, familiar.
"The more you play the golf course, the more you are going to learn it and get better at it," Watson said. "Like the saying is, this is our home course, so after two years of playing it I should know by now."
Woods undergoes fourth back surgery.
By Will Gray
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Tiger Woods announced Thursday that he has undergone "successful" surgery to alleviate pain in his lower back and legs, a decision that will likely sideline him for the foreseeable future.
Woods had a "minimally invasive" anterior lumbar interbody fusion between his L5 and S1 vertebrae, a procedure that entailed removing a damaged disc and "re-elevating" another disc which was collapsed. The surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Guyer at the Texas Back Institute.
"The surgery went well, and I'm optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain," Woods said. "When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I have been battling so long."
This marks Woods' fourth surgery on his ailing back since April 2014. His previous surgeries included two microdiscectomies and a "clean-up" procedure in the fall of 2014, all of which led to a narrowed disc, sciatica and "severe" pain for which rehab and medications "failed as a permanent solution."
Woods has not played since withdrawing from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February. He made a media appearance earlier this week to announce plans to design a new course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo., and did not allude to any upcoming surgery.
"The back is progressing," Woods said Tuesday. "I have good days and bad days. I've had three back operations, and that's the nature of the business."
Woods is expected to rest for "several weeks," then begin therapy and treatment. Patients reportedly return to "full activity" about six months after the procedure, a timeline that would likely knock Woods out of the majors for the second straight year.
Woods had a "minimally invasive" anterior lumbar interbody fusion between his L5 and S1 vertebrae, a procedure that entailed removing a damaged disc and "re-elevating" another disc which was collapsed. The surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Guyer at the Texas Back Institute.
"The surgery went well, and I'm optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain," Woods said. "When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I have been battling so long."
This marks Woods' fourth surgery on his ailing back since April 2014. His previous surgeries included two microdiscectomies and a "clean-up" procedure in the fall of 2014, all of which led to a narrowed disc, sciatica and "severe" pain for which rehab and medications "failed as a permanent solution."
Woods has not played since withdrawing from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February. He made a media appearance earlier this week to announce plans to design a new course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo., and did not allude to any upcoming surgery.
"The back is progressing," Woods said Tuesday. "I have good days and bad days. I've had three back operations, and that's the nature of the business."
Woods is expected to rest for "several weeks," then begin therapy and treatment. Patients reportedly return to "full activity" about six months after the procedure, a timeline that would likely knock Woods out of the majors for the second straight year.
NASCAR's full schedule for Bristol Motor Speedway.
By Daniel McFadin
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
After a brief hiatus, NASCAR is back this weekend with its first of two race weekends at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Cup teams prepare for the Food City 500, while Xfinity teams take part in the second Dash 4 Cash race in the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300.
Here is the full weekend schedule for the Cup and Xfinity Series with TV and radio info.
All times are Eastern.
Friday, April 21
9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
10: 30 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
11:30 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. – Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)
1 – 1:55 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
3:30 – 4:25 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:45 p.m. – Cup qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (FS1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, April 22
6 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
8:30 – 9:25 a.m. – Cup practice (FS1)
9:35 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (FS1)
10:40 a.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
11 – 11:55 a.m. – Final Cup practice (FS1)
12:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1 p.m. – Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300; 300 laps/159.9 miles (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, April 23
6:30 a.m. – Cup garage opens
Noon – Driver-crew chief meeting
1:20 p.m. – Driver introductions
2 p.m. – Food City 500; 500 laps/266.5 miles (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
NASCAR Cup teams prepare for the Food City 500, while Xfinity teams take part in the second Dash 4 Cash race in the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300.
Here is the full weekend schedule for the Cup and Xfinity Series with TV and radio info.
All times are Eastern.
Friday, April 21
9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
10: 30 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
11:30 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. – Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)
1 – 1:55 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
3:30 – 4:25 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:45 p.m. – Cup qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (FS1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, April 22
6 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
8:30 – 9:25 a.m. – Cup practice (FS1)
9:35 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (FS1)
10:40 a.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
11 – 11:55 a.m. – Final Cup practice (FS1)
12:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1 p.m. – Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300; 300 laps/159.9 miles (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, April 23
6:30 a.m. – Cup garage opens
Noon – Driver-crew chief meeting
1:20 p.m. – Driver introductions
2 p.m. – Food City 500; 500 laps/266.5 miles (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Bristol Fantasy Racing Preview.
By Jeff Wackerlin
Kyle Busch, who is second in laps led this season, has led 529 laps in his last five Bristol starts and Kevin Harvick, who leads the series in laps led in 2017, posted a 4.0 average finish in both races last year, including a win in August. (Photo/Getty Images)
Who's HOT at Bristol
• Jimmie Johnson leads all drivers with 8.0 average finish in the last five races, which used this weekend's tire combination.
• Joey Logano has finished in the top 10 in four of his last five starts, including wins in the night race in 2014 and 2015.
• Kevin Harvick has posted a 3.3 average finish in his last three starts, including a win last summer.
• Five-time winner Kyle Busch has combined to lead 529 laps in his last five starts.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has finished sixth or better in three of the last five races.
Who to Keep an Eye On at Bristol
• Matt Kenseth has won two of the last seven Bristol races and led 142 laps in this event last year. However, He's finished 36th or worse in his last three starts.
• Series points leader Kyle Larson, who will also compete in the XFINITY Series race, led 90 laps and finished seventh in this event in 2015.
• Chase Elliott has posted a 9.5 average finish in his two starts at Bristol.
• Jamie McMurray (10.8), Ryan Newman (13.0), Clint Bowyer (14.6) and Austin Dillon (16.2) each rank in the top eight in average finish among all drivers that have competed in the five Bristol races with the current tire combination.
• Five-time Bristol winner Kurt Busch led 41 laps and finished third in this event last year.
• Denny Hamlin leads the series in average start (3.8) in the last eight races, which includes three poles. He led 19 laps and finished third last summer in the rain-delayed race.
• Brad Keselowski, who won the first short track race of the season, is a two-time winner at Bristol.
• Martin Truex Jr. has a top 10 driver rating in the last four races at Bristol.
• Trevor Bayne has posted a 10.7 average finish in his last three Bristol starts.
• Austin Dillon and Chris Buescher, who both finished in the top five last summer at Bristol, each had a good finish in the first short track race of the season earlier this month at Martinsville.
*Best Average Finish at Bristol
Last # of Races
|
Driver
|
Avg. Fin.
|
| Kevin Harvick | 4.0 | |
| Jimmie Johnson | 9.0 | |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 8.5 | |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 10.6 | |
| Ten Races | Clint Bowyer |
11.8
|
* - The best average finish is based off a driver entered in the race who has competed in every race during that time span.
*Lap Leaders at Bristol
Last # of Races
|
Driver
|
Laps Led
|
| Kyle Busch | 256 | |
| Kyle Busch | 448 | |
| Kyle Busch | 529 | |
| Matt Kenseth | 650 | |
| Ten Races | Matt Kenseth | 720 |
* - Must be entered in this weekend's race.
Bristol Loop Data Stat Leaders (2005-2016, 24 Races)*
*Fastest Early in a Run
|
*Fastest Late in a Run
|
*Avg. Running Position
|
1. Matt Kenseth
|
1. Kyle Larson
|
1. Matt Kenseth - 11.4
|
2. Kevin Harvick
|
2. Matt Kenseth
|
2. Kevin Harvick - 12.2
|
3. Kyle Busch
|
3. Kevin Harvick
|
3. Chase Elliott - 12.9
|
4. Kyle Larson
|
4. Kyle Busch
|
4. Kurt Busch - 13.3
|
5. Denny Hamlin
|
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
|
5. Jimmie Johnson - 13.5
|
*Laps in Top 15
|
*Quality Passes
|
*Driver Rating
|
1. Matt Kenseth - 9,347
|
1. Kurt Busch - 796
|
1. Matt Kenseth - 100.9
|
2. Kevin Harvick - 8,135
|
2. Kasey Kahne - 770
|
2. Kyle Busch - 100.5
|
3. Kurt Busch - 8,032
|
3. Matt Kenseth - 763
|
3. Kevin Harvick - 95.7
|
4. Jimmie Johnson - 8,012
|
4. Martin Truex Jr. - 699
|
4. Chase Elliott - 94.9
|
5. Ryan Newman - 7,764
|
5. Kevin Harvick - 689
|
5. Kurt Busch - 93.1
|
*Fastest Early In a Run: Ranks each driver during first 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop. *Fastest Late In a Run: Ranks each driver during last 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Quality Passes: Passing a car running in the Top 15 while under a green flag.
*Driver Rating: Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
For a look at all the Loop Data for Bristol Click Here to view the Food City 500 Pre-Race Loop Data Book. Click Here to view MRN's Season Loop Data page.
*Fastest Early in a Run
|
*Fastest Late in a Run
|
Avg. Running Position
|
1. Martin Truex Jr.
|
1. Chase Elliott
|
1. Chase Elliott - 5.9
|
2. Joey Logano
|
2. Brad Keselowski
|
2. Kyle Larson - 6.2
|
3. Kyle Larson
|
3. Jimmie Johnson
|
3. Brad Keselowski - 7.3
|
4. Chase Elliott
|
4. Martin Truex Jr.
|
4. Martin Truex Jr. - 8.8
|
5. Brad Keselowski
|
5. Kyle Larson
|
5. Joey Logano - 9.8
|
Laps in Top 15
|
*Quality Passes
|
*Driver Rating
|
1. Chase Elliott - 2,012
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1. Kyle Larson - 478
|
1. Brad Keselowski - 113.8
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2. Kyle Larson - 1,959
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2. Ryan Blaney - 436
|
2. Kyle Larson - 112.6
|
3. Brad Keselowski - 1,899
|
3. Joey Logano - 435
|
3. Chase Elliott - 109.8
|
4. Martin Truex Jr. - 1,871
|
4. Chase Elliott - 408
|
4. Martin Truex Jr. - 108.1
|
5. Joey Logano - 1,651
|
5. Jamie McMurray - 404
|
5. Joey Logano - 101.7
|
*Fastest Early In a Run: Ranks each driver during the first 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Fastest Early In a Run: *Fastest Late In a Run: Ranks each driver during last 25 percent of laps run since a pit stop.
*Quality Passes: Passing a car running in the Top 15 while under a green flag.
*Driver Rating: Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
MRN.com Staff Picks
Jeff Wackerlin: Kyle Busch
Pete Pistone: Kevin Harvick
Robbie Mays: Kyle Busch
Tyler Burnett: Kyle Larson
Driver Notes - Ordered by Average Finish (Top 15) in the Last Five Races at Bristol
Jimmie Johnson has finished in the seventh or better in four of the last five races, but has not led a lap in that span. He won this event in 2010.
Chase Elliott finished fourth in this event last season, which marked his first track start in the Cup Series. He led 14 laps and finished sixth in the August race.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has posted a 10.6 average finish in eight Bristol starts, which is his best track based on that stat. He's placed sixth or better in four of the last six races, including two runner-up finishes. Stenhouse has yet to lead a lap at Bristol and has one top 20 start - eighth.
Jamie McMurray has finished in the top 15 in his last five starts at Bristol. He led 148 laps and scored his first of two eighth-place finishes in that span in the 2014 August race.
Kevin Harvick is coming off his second Bristol win in 32 starts. Since joining Stewart-Haas Racing, Harvick has led 428 laps at the half-mile track, including 128 last summer. The most laps led with the team came in this event in 2015 when he was up front for 184 circuits.
Joey Logano has finished in the top 10 in four of his last five Bristol starts, including two wins. Both of his victories came in the August race in 2014 and 2015. Last year, Logano combined to lead 42 laps and finished 10th in both races.
Ryan Newman has finished in the top 10 on three of his last four starts at Bristol. Newman has a 16.4 average finish in 30 overall starts and a 13.5 in his six starts with Richard Childress Racing.
Clint Bowyer has finished in the top 15 eight times in his last 10 starts at Bristol, including five top 10s. Bowyer scored his first top 10 (seventh) on a short track since joining Stewart-Haas Racing earlier this month at Martinsville.
Trevor Bayne has posted a 10.7 average finish in his last three Bristol starts, including a fifth-place finish in this event last year.
Kurt Busch has posted an 18.3 average finish in his six Bristol starts with Stewart-Haas Racing. Busch, who finished third in this event last year, has combined to lead 167 laps in the spring race with SHR. His last of five wins at the track came in this event in 2006 with Team Penske.
Austin Dillon has finished 13th or better in four of his six starts at Bristol. He finished fourth last summer and scored a 10th-place finish in this event in 2015. Dillon's lone top 10 of the season came at a short track, finishing fifth at Martinsville earlier this month.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second in this event last year for his second consecutive top 10 at Bristol. Overall, Earnhardt has 16 top 10s in 33 starts, including a win in the 2004 night race.
Chris Buescher finished fifth last summer to lower his average finish to 17.0 in his three Bristol starts. Buescher's best finish of the season with JTG Daugherty Racing came at a short track, finishing 11th at Martinsville Speedway earlier this month.
Paul Menard's last of six top 10s in his 12 Bristol starts with Richard Childress Racing came in 2014 night race - ninth.
Denny Hamlin has finished third in the last two night races at Bristol with his last top 10 in the spring race coming in 2014 - sixth. Hamlin, who won the 2012 night race, has combined to lead 597 laps in his 22 starts. He does lead the series in average start (3.8) in the last eight races, which includes three poles.
Good news, race fans: few conflicts with NFL games during 2017 NASCAR playoffs.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo/Getty Images)
For the most part, NASCAR and the NFL won’t butt heads in the same cities too much when it comes to the 10 NASCAR Cup playoff weekends this year.
The NFL released its 2017 regular season schedule Thursday night, and with a few exceptions, racetracks in or near NFL teams are fairly in the clear when it comes to going head-to-head against their gridiron counterparts.
The most notable matchup will come on Sunday, November 5, a date Texas Motor Speedway boss Eddie Gossage is probably cursing about now.
While TMS’s NASCAR race begins at 2 p.m. ET that day, about 2 ½ hours and 30 miles down the road in Arlington, Texas, America’s Team – the Dallas Cowboys – will play host to the Kansas City Chiefs.
One other conflict of note – more so because of sentimental reasons – is September 24, when the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans, while New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host its last fall race (its race date is being moved to Las Vegas starting next season).
There’s also October 1, when Dover International Speedway hosts the third race of the playoffs. And while the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins are on the road, the Baltimore Ravens have a big game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
Here’s how NASCAR stacks up against the NFL during the 10-week NASCAR Cup playoffs:
Sept. 17 — Playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway – no conflict as Chicago Bears play at Tampa Bay.
Sept. 24 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway – moderate conflict – New England Patriots host the Houston Texans about 110 miles away. However, Pats fans who are also NASCAR fans may decide to skip the game to attend what will be the last fall race at NHMS for sentimental reasons.
Oct. 1 — Dover International Speedway – minor conflict – Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers 90 miles away. However, other nearby teams play on the road: Philadelphia Eagles play at Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Redskins play at the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 2 (Monday Night Football).
Oct. 8 — Charlotte Motor Speedway – no conflict – Carolina Panthers play at Detroit Lions
Oct. 15 — Talladega Superspeedway – minor conflict – Atlanta Falcons host the Miami Dolphins, but that’s about 110 miles and two hours away.
Oct. 22 — Kansas Speedway – no conflict – Kansas City Chiefs play at Oakland Raiders on October 19 (Thursday Night Football).
Oct. 29 — Martinsville Speedway – no conflict – (Carolina Panthers are at New York Jets, but Washington Redskins host Dallas Cowboys four hours and nearly 300 miles away).
Nov. 5 — Texas Motor Speedway – MAJOR conflict – NASCAR race starts at 2 p.m. ET, while Dallas Cowboys host the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 4:30 p.m. ET (and 30 miles from TMS).
Nov. 12 — Phoenix Raceway – no conflict – the Phoenix Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks, but that game will be held on November 9 (Thursday Night Football).
Nov. 19 — Homestead Miami Speedway – no conflict – the Dolphins enjoy a bye week (don’t be surprised if several players wind up at the NASCAR race).
The NFL released its 2017 regular season schedule Thursday night, and with a few exceptions, racetracks in or near NFL teams are fairly in the clear when it comes to going head-to-head against their gridiron counterparts.
The most notable matchup will come on Sunday, November 5, a date Texas Motor Speedway boss Eddie Gossage is probably cursing about now.
While TMS’s NASCAR race begins at 2 p.m. ET that day, about 2 ½ hours and 30 miles down the road in Arlington, Texas, America’s Team – the Dallas Cowboys – will play host to the Kansas City Chiefs.
One other conflict of note – more so because of sentimental reasons – is September 24, when the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans, while New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host its last fall race (its race date is being moved to Las Vegas starting next season).
There’s also October 1, when Dover International Speedway hosts the third race of the playoffs. And while the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins are on the road, the Baltimore Ravens have a big game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
Here’s how NASCAR stacks up against the NFL during the 10-week NASCAR Cup playoffs:
Sept. 17 — Playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway – no conflict as Chicago Bears play at Tampa Bay.
Sept. 24 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway – moderate conflict – New England Patriots host the Houston Texans about 110 miles away. However, Pats fans who are also NASCAR fans may decide to skip the game to attend what will be the last fall race at NHMS for sentimental reasons.
Oct. 1 — Dover International Speedway – minor conflict – Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers 90 miles away. However, other nearby teams play on the road: Philadelphia Eagles play at Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Redskins play at the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 2 (Monday Night Football).
Oct. 8 — Charlotte Motor Speedway – no conflict – Carolina Panthers play at Detroit Lions
Oct. 15 — Talladega Superspeedway – minor conflict – Atlanta Falcons host the Miami Dolphins, but that’s about 110 miles and two hours away.
Oct. 22 — Kansas Speedway – no conflict – Kansas City Chiefs play at Oakland Raiders on October 19 (Thursday Night Football).
Oct. 29 — Martinsville Speedway – no conflict – (Carolina Panthers are at New York Jets, but Washington Redskins host Dallas Cowboys four hours and nearly 300 miles away).
Nov. 5 — Texas Motor Speedway – MAJOR conflict – NASCAR race starts at 2 p.m. ET, while Dallas Cowboys host the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 4:30 p.m. ET (and 30 miles from TMS).
Nov. 12 — Phoenix Raceway – no conflict – the Phoenix Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks, but that game will be held on November 9 (Thursday Night Football).
Nov. 19 — Homestead Miami Speedway – no conflict – the Dolphins enjoy a bye week (don’t be surprised if several players wind up at the NASCAR race).
SOCCER: Premier League Power Rankings: Jumbled at the top.
By Nicholas Mendola
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Few people truly believe Spurs will catch Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title, but that’s not what Power Rankings are about, are they?
Not to us. Our PLPR’s have always been about how a team’s current form melds into their overall season, and that just may be enough for us to put a new team up top for the first time in a while.
That’s if we don’t change our mind by the time we finish filling out the chart…
That’s if we don’t change our mind by the time we finish filling out the chart…
| TEAM | RANKING | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | 20 (20) | Sunderland: Stewing on their plight through the weekend, and daydreaming of burying derby mates Middlesbrough next time out. | |
 | 19 (19) | Middlesbrough: Single-handedly making the argument for offense, Boro’s decent defense hasn’t been helped nearly enough by those outside of Alvaro Negredo. | |
 | 18 (18) | Swansea City: Guidolin goes defense? Swans lose. Bradley goes for broke? Swans lose. Clement tries a bunch of things? Swans show signs of life for a bit… but only a bit. Swans lose. | |
 | 17 (16) | Hull City: #BeTwoPointsBetterThanSwansea doesn’t go great on a shirt or a Tweet, but it’s the strategy. | |
 | 16 (15) | West Ham United: Need a summer of rest and a transfer window in a bad way. | |
 | 15 (13) | Bournemouth: After a 3-week gauntlet of Liverpool, Chelsea, and Spurs, “Home to Boro” probably looks amazing on the fixture list. | |
 | 14 (14) | Burnley: If there was a home Champions League (6th best record), Burnley would be headed for Europe. Only problem? The Clarets are two losses away from a winless season away from Turf Moor. | |
 | T-11 (12) | Crystal Palace: Tip of the cap to ol’ Sam Allardyce. We just wish he was willing to take a little bit of credit. | |
 | T-11 (9) | West Bromwich Albion: “ALRIGHT BOYS, WE’RE GONNA GET TO 40 POINTS OR SO, THEN WE’LL DISTRIBUTE POINTS TO EVERYONE ELSE THE REST OF THE WAY. LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” Tony Pulis in August, probably. | |
 | T-11 (17) | Stoke City: Finally back in the win column, Stoke rises | |
 | 10 (10) | Leicester City: With the Champions League era over, can we all agree that Leicester, unfettered by Europe, will probably win the league next season? Arsenal’s next. | |
| 9 (7) | Southampton: Man City loss reminds us that Virgil Van Dijk was really important. | |
 | 8 (11) | Watford: Winners of three-in-four and that loss came to Spurs, who look capable of outracing a fighter jet right now. | |
 | 7 (8) | Arsenal: Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are the main reasons the Gunners aren’t comfortably seventh or worse. | |
 | 6 (5) | Everton: We know the Toffees can dust the lower half of the table, but they really need to beat Chelsea or Arsenal in the run-in to engender any Top Four confidence for next season. | |
| 5 (4) | Liverpool: Quietly (?) unbeaten in seven. | |
 | 4 (6) | Manchester City: For the first time since their red-hot start, City is starting to consistently show what a Pep Guardiola team can be in the Premier League. Will summer reinforcements allow them to do it for a full year? | |
 | T-2 (3) | Manchester United: Still have not lost in league play since October 23rd. | |
 | T-2 (1) | Chelsea: Yes, they are going to win the league. No, we wouldn’t pick them on a neutral field against Spurs right now. Yes, they’ll probably prove us wrong at Wembley this weekend. | |
 | 1 (2) | Tottenham Hotspur: The best team going right now, just too late to make a difference to the title fight. Probably. Right? |
Top Premier League Story Lines: Relegation race running hot.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Forget five story lines, as the Premier League has just six matches altogether this weekend thanks to the FA Cup semifinals.
With the semifinalists all being PL powers, the focus will largely be on the relegation race aside from three Top Seven sides looking to put pressure on Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
Can Man Utd overcome short turnaround to keep up Top Four push?
Burnley vs. Manchester United — 9:15 a.m. ET Sunday
Defender-depleted Manchester United was home for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League second leg, which is the only blessing of a midweek match before a trip to Turf Moor to take on a Clarets side who is much better at home. The Red Devils control their Top Four destiny, but dropping a point would lend an advantage of both Liverpool and Man City while opening things up for Arsenal.
United will be keen to avenge the draw at Old Trafford which saw Tom Heaton making like Superman, nearly shattering his arm in a sublime save on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Palace seeks to be influential at both ends of table
Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace — 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday
Crystal Palace’s rise out of the drop zone has shaken up the Top Four a bit, too. Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend have helped the Eagles to April wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, and will hope to add Liverpool’s name to the list. Jurgen Klopp‘s Reds are two points clear of fourth place Man City and six ahead of fifth place Manchester United, but have would drop out of the Top Four if the aforementioned clubs win their matches-in-hand the rest of the way. Lost points would hit hard.
Cherries aim to put relegation in rear view mirror
Bournemouth vs. Middlesbrough — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
Eddie Howe‘s Bournemouth opens the day seven points clear of the drop with five matches to play, and a win would lift the Cherries well above the fray. Boro would just like to see safety, sitting six points shy of 17th.
Can Tigers keep up safety pace?
Hull City vs. Watford — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
While the unexpected is possible during the stretch run, the final relegation slot will likely come down to Hull and Swansea. Marco Silva’s Tigers are two points ahead of Swans and just need to maintain that pace barring a miraculous run from Boro. The next obstacle is a Watford side which has claimed three wins in four, the lone setback coming against the rolling Spurs.
Swans looking for any sign of life from the Liberty Stadium
Swansea City vs. Stoke City — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
One point from six matches does not make a successful relegation fight, and Paul Clement‘s side has lost to four lower tier sides since beating Burnley on March 4. Swansea have showed relegation form playing defense-first under Francesco Guidolin, throwing attack-first on Bob Bradley‘s watch, and now in a variety of ways under Clement. Maybe it’s the players?
Will Toffees be able to make improbable run to fifth?
West Ham United vs. Everton — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
Ronald Koeman‘s Toffees can been fairly consistent in piling up points, except when it comes to the teams above it. That’s what is keeping Everton from being a real threat to the Top Four. West Ham is not above Everton, and would love to hit a reset button on the entire season. No way the Toffees foul this up, even on the road, right?
Can Man Utd overcome short turnaround to keep up Top Four push?
Burnley vs. Manchester United — 9:15 a.m. ET Sunday
Defender-depleted Manchester United was home for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League second leg, which is the only blessing of a midweek match before a trip to Turf Moor to take on a Clarets side who is much better at home. The Red Devils control their Top Four destiny, but dropping a point would lend an advantage of both Liverpool and Man City while opening things up for Arsenal.
United will be keen to avenge the draw at Old Trafford which saw Tom Heaton making like Superman, nearly shattering his arm in a sublime save on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Palace seeks to be influential at both ends of table
Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace — 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday
Crystal Palace’s rise out of the drop zone has shaken up the Top Four a bit, too. Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend have helped the Eagles to April wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, and will hope to add Liverpool’s name to the list. Jurgen Klopp‘s Reds are two points clear of fourth place Man City and six ahead of fifth place Manchester United, but have would drop out of the Top Four if the aforementioned clubs win their matches-in-hand the rest of the way. Lost points would hit hard.
Cherries aim to put relegation in rear view mirror
Bournemouth vs. Middlesbrough — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
Eddie Howe‘s Bournemouth opens the day seven points clear of the drop with five matches to play, and a win would lift the Cherries well above the fray. Boro would just like to see safety, sitting six points shy of 17th.
Can Tigers keep up safety pace?
Hull City vs. Watford — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
While the unexpected is possible during the stretch run, the final relegation slot will likely come down to Hull and Swansea. Marco Silva’s Tigers are two points ahead of Swans and just need to maintain that pace barring a miraculous run from Boro. The next obstacle is a Watford side which has claimed three wins in four, the lone setback coming against the rolling Spurs.
Swans looking for any sign of life from the Liberty Stadium
Swansea City vs. Stoke City — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
One point from six matches does not make a successful relegation fight, and Paul Clement‘s side has lost to four lower tier sides since beating Burnley on March 4. Swansea have showed relegation form playing defense-first under Francesco Guidolin, throwing attack-first on Bob Bradley‘s watch, and now in a variety of ways under Clement. Maybe it’s the players?
Will Toffees be able to make improbable run to fifth?
West Ham United vs. Everton — 10 a.m. ET Saturday
Ronald Koeman‘s Toffees can been fairly consistent in piling up points, except when it comes to the teams above it. That’s what is keeping Everton from being a real threat to the Top Four. West Ham is not above Everton, and would love to hit a reset button on the entire season. No way the Toffees foul this up, even on the road, right?
Europa League wrap: Extra time times three as semis set.
By Nicholas Mendola
(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
The UEFA Europa League semifinals are set, as Lyon, Ajax, and Celta Vigo join Manchester United to make an attractive quartet aiming for Sweden.
Besiktas 2-1 (3-3 agg., PKs) Lyon
After 12 successful penalty kicks, Lyon’s Anthony Lopes dove to his right and made the first stop of penalty kicks, but Christophe Jallet sent his effort over the bar to send it to an eighth round. But Lopes stopped Matej Mitrovic to give captain Maxime Gonalons his winning moment.
Anderson Talisca scored both of Besiktas’ goals leading up to kicks, with Alexandre Lacazette nabbing Lyon’s goal after a 2-1 first leg in France.
Manchester United 2-1 (3-2 agg.) Anderlecht — RECAP
After 12 successful penalty kicks, Lyon’s Anthony Lopes dove to his right and made the first stop of penalty kicks, but Christophe Jallet sent his effort over the bar to send it to an eighth round. But Lopes stopped Matej Mitrovic to give captain Maxime Gonalons his winning moment.
Anderson Talisca scored both of Besiktas’ goals leading up to kicks, with Alexandre Lacazette nabbing Lyon’s goal after a 2-1 first leg in France.
Manchester United 2-1 (3-2 agg.) Anderlecht — RECAP
Schalke 3-2 (3-4 agg.) Ajax
Ajax’s two-goal lead was erased in a four-minute second half span, but the real fireworks started in extra time. Daniel Caligiuri scored to give Schalke a 3-2 aggregate lead, but Nick Viergever netted in the 111th minute before Amin Younes nabbed another in the 120th.
Genk 1-1 (3-4 agg.) Celta Vigo
Ugandan forward Pione Sisto scored in the 63rd minute to give La Liga’s side a two-goal aggregate advantage, and Leandro Trossard’s 67th minute answer was left waiting for a partner as Celta Vigo held on for a semifinal berth.
Juventus upends Barcelona to reach Champions League semifinals.
By Kyle Bonn
(Photo/Associated Press)
Barcelona looked for a second straight miracle comeback in the 2016/17 Champions League, but it was not to be as the stout Juventus defense held up under heavy fire for a 0-0 draw, seeing the Italians move into the semifinals with a 3-0 aggregate advantage.
The Spanish giants held much of the possession throughout the match, with Juventus happy to absorb the pressure. Georgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci lived up to their reputation as one of the world’s best central defensive partnerships, while Alex Sandro and former Barcelona full-back Dani Alves did the work on the flanks.
Lionel Messi had the best early chance with a wide open shot near the penalty area on 20 minutes, but couldn’t direct it goalwards, firing just wide right, leaving Luis Enrique baffled at the missed opportunity. There was a scary moment just before halftime when Messi went up for an aerial challenge and was undercut by Miralem Pjanic, landing square on his cheek. Messi recovered from his fall as his cheek began to bleed, and he returned for the second half with a bandage.
Juventus had opportunities as they built themselves into the game, with Juan Cuadrado proving the most dangerous. On the other end, Juventus defenders continued to usher the Barcelona attackers into wide areas of the box, forcing them to shoot from tight angles.
Sami Khedira was booked for hauling down Luis Suarez past the hour mark, meaning he is suspended for the semifinal first leg. As the final whistle blew, it marked an enormous 530 minutes since Juventus last conceded a goal in Champions League play, a 9th minute goal by Sevilla back in November.
The Spanish giants held much of the possession throughout the match, with Juventus happy to absorb the pressure. Georgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci lived up to their reputation as one of the world’s best central defensive partnerships, while Alex Sandro and former Barcelona full-back Dani Alves did the work on the flanks.
Lionel Messi had the best early chance with a wide open shot near the penalty area on 20 minutes, but couldn’t direct it goalwards, firing just wide right, leaving Luis Enrique baffled at the missed opportunity. There was a scary moment just before halftime when Messi went up for an aerial challenge and was undercut by Miralem Pjanic, landing square on his cheek. Messi recovered from his fall as his cheek began to bleed, and he returned for the second half with a bandage.
Juventus had opportunities as they built themselves into the game, with Juan Cuadrado proving the most dangerous. On the other end, Juventus defenders continued to usher the Barcelona attackers into wide areas of the box, forcing them to shoot from tight angles.
Sami Khedira was booked for hauling down Luis Suarez past the hour mark, meaning he is suspended for the semifinal first leg. As the final whistle blew, it marked an enormous 530 minutes since Juventus last conceded a goal in Champions League play, a 9th minute goal by Sevilla back in November.
NCAABKB: NCAA considering significant changes to the college basketball calendar.
By Rob Dauster
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
The fact that college basketball is one of the only sports without a recognizable and celebrated opening day has been an issue that has bugged critics of the sport for a long time.
Change could be on the way.
The Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee discussed the potential for changing the start date for college basketball games, moving it up from the second Friday in November to the Tuesday before the second Friday in November; three days earlier.
“The men’s college basketball community has been discussing the possibility of establishing a uniform start date for the sport,” the NCAA wrote in a statement. “Many believe it can create a less compressed schedule, particularly for nonconference games, which they believe would benefit student-athlete well-being by providing more time for rest and recovery.”
It’s also worth noting that the committee is considering creating a mandatory mid-season break. “Committee members also discussed standardizing the playing season to 21 weeks with a mandatory three- or four-day break for the student-athletes at some point during their school’s winter vacation period,” the NCAA said.
The real story, however, is the NCAA’s effort to create a college basketball opening day. It would be a nice change, particularly if the games are played midweek, but the bigger issue would be putting together games that would actually make opening night worth watching. As it currently stands, the de-facto starting point for the college basketball season is the Champions Classic, a showcase that features four of the biggest brands in the sport playing a double-header that caps a 24-hour college basketball marathon. It’s game like that — Duke vs. Kentucky, Kansas vs. Michigan State, North Carolina vs. Indiana, etc. — that need to be played on opening night to drive interest.
If all we end up getting is a bunch of high-major programs beating the hell out of overmatched mid-major teams no one cares about, the day that season starts isn’t going to matter.
Because no one is going to care.
NCAA announces 2019-2022 tournament host sites.
By Rob Dauster
(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The NCAA announced on Tuesday the locations for every NCAA tournament game that will be played fro 2019-2022.
While the big story was that the NCAA is headed back to North Carolina, there were some other useful nuggets worth pointing out:
While the big story was that the NCAA is headed back to North Carolina, there were some other useful nuggets worth pointing out:
- The next five Final Fours will be held, in order, in San Antonio, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Indianapolis and New Orleans.
- Dayton will remain the host of the First Four through at least 2022.
- In 2019, Columbia, South Carolina, and Hartford, Connecticut, will host first round games for the first time since 1970 and 1998, respectively. In 2022, San Francisco, Fort Worth and Cincinnati will be hosting the tournament for the first time in at least 30 years.
- In 2020, the NCAA will be hosting the Midwest Regionals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the first time since 2013 that a game other than the Final Four will be played in a dome. That same year, the East Regionals will be played back at Madison Square Garden.
NCAAFB: Indiana won’t accept any player with history of sexual or domestic violence.
By John Taylor
(Photo/Getty Images)
In April of 2015, the SEC voted to ban member institutions from accepting transfers who had been disciplined for serious misconduct at his previous school, with that defined as sexual assault, sexual violence and domestic violence. In June of 2016, that same conference announced that it will be expanding its existing policy to include “dating violence, stalking or conduct of a nature that creates serious concern about the safety of others.”
According to the Indianapolis Star, Indiana has enacted a similar policy, with the Big Ten school barring a transfer from another institution from enrolling “who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony involving sexual violence.” Sexual violence is defined by the school as “dating violence, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or sexual violence as defined by the Indiana University policy on sexual misconduct.”
IU’s policy also significantly expands on what the SEC’s current policy is, as not only transfers but “incoming freshmen” are a part of the ban as well.
“I think it’s new ground,” athletic director Fred Glass told the Star. “My hope is that we’re leading in this area, and maybe others will follow with, maybe not the exact same policy, but one that fits their particular institutions.”
The university also ensured that any appeals would be handled “outside the athletic department.” From the paper’s report:
It includes an appellate process, Glass said, acknowledging that “there’s always a chance that there’s going to be some person that gets caught up in this that shouldn’t, when you consider all the circumstances.”
But Glass also emphasized that any such appeal would go before a committee comprised of [IU faculty athletics representative Kurt] Zorn, IU general counsel Jacqueline Simmons and IU chief student welfare and Title IX officer Emily Springston.
“The key to that,” Glass said, “is those decisions are being made outside the athletic department.”The Big Ten has allowed each member institution to institute — or not — its own policy on this issue. Indiana is the first; whether other conference members follow suit will be interesting to see play out.
In-Depth Look at Hence’s Chances to Pull a Kentucky Derby Upset.
By Mike Curry
Hence secured a place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate with his Sunland Derby win. (Photo/Coady Photography)
Making the Grade, which will run through the 2017 Belmont Stakes, focuses on the winners or top performers of the big races, usually from the previous weekend, who could impact the Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey) and pedigree.
This week we take a closer look at Hence, winner of the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 26 at Sunland Park.
Perhaps no Kentucky Derby hopeful has been flattered more by the results of the last few weekends of prep races than Hence. He won the Sunland Derby by 3 ¾ lengths on March 29. In that race, he left eventual Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Irap toiling 8 ½ lengths in his wake and defeated eventual Arkansas Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money by 3 ¾ lengths. He’s already had two strong workouts at Churchill Downs, so let’s explore Hence’s chances to win the Kentucky Derby with six weeks of rest.
Ability: A homebred of Calumet Farm, Hence was winless in three starts as a 2-year-old. But after a dull career debut, he ran well in his final two races of the year when third behind eventual Lecomte Stakes winner Guest Suite in a 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland and second by a neck in a one-mile race at Churchill Downs. The 86 and 85 Equibase Speed Figures he earned, respectively for his those races were solid enough but certainly not inspirational.
In his first start at 3, racing fans got a taste of Hence’s natural talent. He won a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on a sloppy main track at Oaklawn Park that was far more impressive to witness than it was on paper. He stumbled badly at the start but recovered nicely and tracked the pace from fifth early. Hence took command with a bold, sweeping move into the stretch, but after surging clear he ducked in badly and almost hit the rail, losing all momentum as well as the lead. He then fought back gamely to regain control and edge away to victory. He earned an 88 Equibase Speed Figure, which really tells none of the story. Horses are not supposed to be able to almost come to a complete stop, recover and then reaccelerate to catch the horse that passed him.
After that breakthrough first win (below), trainer Steve Asmussen tested Hence in stakes competition and he came up empty when seventh, beaten by 13 lengths, in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. He did receive a then-career-best 96 Equibase Speed Figure, which might indicate he just wasn’t prepared for the huge jump in quality of opposition.
Hence earned a new top 97 Equibase Speed Figure in the Sunland Derby and punched his Kentucky Derby ticket. The speed figure came back light for Equibase (about 10 points behind the top contenders) and also for Timeform. The 110 figure he earned from Timeform is 13 points behind the 123 Always Dreaming earned for winning the Xpressbet Florida Derby, which ranks as the fastest last-race effort among the Derby hopefuls. Brisnet, however, credited Hence with a 103 speed figure for the Sunland Derby, which it rates as the fastest most-recent race from among the Kentucky Derby contenders.
Running style: Hence has run his best as a closer but perhaps the most accurate description of his racing style might be erratic. He set the pace in his final start at 2 when he ran second at Churchill Downs, spooked in the stretch at Oaklawn in his first win and charged from well back to win the Sunland Derby. What is clear is that he has a strong, sustained rally in him when he’s taken back off the pace and he has enough natural speed that he doesn’t have to be 20 lengths back to finish fast. Consider in the Sunland Derby, when the opening half-mile was a blistering :45.72, he dropped well back early but was only 4 ½ lengths back through a half-mile. He was also positioned in a nice stalking position in his win at Oaklawn. I’d expect him to be in the second half of the 20-horse field early in the Derby but not at the back of the pack.
Connections: Trainer Steve Asmussen has won 7,595 races through April 19, second all-time among North American trainers, but the two-time Eclipse Award winner has not won the Kentucky Derby with 15 starters. He has three top-three Kentucky Derby finishes, most recently with Gun Runner, who was third a year ago. Asmussen won the Preakness with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and won the Belmont Stakes with Creator last year.
Hence is owned and bred by one of the most important farms in the history of horse racing: Calumet Farm. Originally established by William Monroe Wright, the farm produced eight Kentucky Derby winners and two Triple Crown winners (Whirlaway, 1941; Citation, 1948).
Brad Kelley took the operation over in 2012. In 2013, Kelley started using the Calumet name for his stable. He had previously operated under the name Bluegrass Hall. Kelley claimed a Triple Crown race victory in 2013 when Oxbow won the Preakness Stakes.
Hence has been ridden by four different jockeys in his six starts. No rider has been named for the Kentucky Derby. Alfredo Juarez Jr. guided him to victory in the Sunland Derby.
Pedigree: Hence is by multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Street Boss, who set a track record at 5 ½ furlongs and a pair of track records going three-quarters of a mile. Street Boss never competed in a race longer than seven-eighths of a mile. He’s by a sire, Street Cry, very capable of getting two-turn racehorses, like 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta. Street Boss’ dam (mother), on the other hand, was a stakes-placed sprinter.
Hence is from the fifth crop of Street Boss, who last year was represented by Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia and in 2014 was represented by Arkansas Derby winner Danza, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby.
Many of Street Boss’ top runners have excelled at sprint distances, but Cathryn Sophia and Danza serve as examples of his ability to sire a horse capable of winning elite races at longer distances.
Hence gets a stamina boost from his dam, Floating Island, who is by 1992 Belmont Stakes winner and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, one of the most influential sires of the last 50 years and a major source of stamina.
Floating Island was unraced, but she is a half-sister (same dam, different sire) to four stakes winners: Pico Teneriffe, a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/8 miles and the dam of two-time Canadian champion Marchfield; Salmon Ladder, a Group 3 winner in England who also won going 1 ¾ miles as a steeplechaser; Areed Al Ola, a multiple stakes winner at a mile and a winner at 1 ¼ miles; and Capote’s Prospect, a U.S. stakes winner at one mile.
Hence’s grandam (maternal grandmother) never won a race, but his third dam (maternal great-grandmother) was a three-time stakes winner at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/8 miles.
Grade 1 winner Devil May Care is a notable member of the family and digging into the third and fourth generations you find quite bit of back class in the family. Other notable members of the female family include Grade/Group 1 winners Cryptoclearance and Duke of Marmalade as well many other top-class winners and international champions.
I love Hence’s potential long term. He looks like a 3-year-old with an exciting future as well as a racehorse who is starting to figure things out. I worry that the Kentucky Derby might be asking a lot of a 3-year-old who has shown some immaturity, but if he can handle the stress of 150,000-plus screaming fans and a 20-horse field, Hence is very interesting. It would take a big step forward on the biggest stage, but there is a good reason quite a few respected handicappers are taking a long look at Hence. He’s got a ton of potential.
This week we take a closer look at Hence, winner of the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 26 at Sunland Park.
Perhaps no Kentucky Derby hopeful has been flattered more by the results of the last few weekends of prep races than Hence. He won the Sunland Derby by 3 ¾ lengths on March 29. In that race, he left eventual Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Irap toiling 8 ½ lengths in his wake and defeated eventual Arkansas Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money by 3 ¾ lengths. He’s already had two strong workouts at Churchill Downs, so let’s explore Hence’s chances to win the Kentucky Derby with six weeks of rest.
Ability: A homebred of Calumet Farm, Hence was winless in three starts as a 2-year-old. But after a dull career debut, he ran well in his final two races of the year when third behind eventual Lecomte Stakes winner Guest Suite in a 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland and second by a neck in a one-mile race at Churchill Downs. The 86 and 85 Equibase Speed Figures he earned, respectively for his those races were solid enough but certainly not inspirational.
In his first start at 3, racing fans got a taste of Hence’s natural talent. He won a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on a sloppy main track at Oaklawn Park that was far more impressive to witness than it was on paper. He stumbled badly at the start but recovered nicely and tracked the pace from fifth early. Hence took command with a bold, sweeping move into the stretch, but after surging clear he ducked in badly and almost hit the rail, losing all momentum as well as the lead. He then fought back gamely to regain control and edge away to victory. He earned an 88 Equibase Speed Figure, which really tells none of the story. Horses are not supposed to be able to almost come to a complete stop, recover and then reaccelerate to catch the horse that passed him.
After that breakthrough first win (below), trainer Steve Asmussen tested Hence in stakes competition and he came up empty when seventh, beaten by 13 lengths, in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. He did receive a then-career-best 96 Equibase Speed Figure, which might indicate he just wasn’t prepared for the huge jump in quality of opposition.
Hence earned a new top 97 Equibase Speed Figure in the Sunland Derby and punched his Kentucky Derby ticket. The speed figure came back light for Equibase (about 10 points behind the top contenders) and also for Timeform. The 110 figure he earned from Timeform is 13 points behind the 123 Always Dreaming earned for winning the Xpressbet Florida Derby, which ranks as the fastest last-race effort among the Derby hopefuls. Brisnet, however, credited Hence with a 103 speed figure for the Sunland Derby, which it rates as the fastest most-recent race from among the Kentucky Derby contenders.
Running style: Hence has run his best as a closer but perhaps the most accurate description of his racing style might be erratic. He set the pace in his final start at 2 when he ran second at Churchill Downs, spooked in the stretch at Oaklawn in his first win and charged from well back to win the Sunland Derby. What is clear is that he has a strong, sustained rally in him when he’s taken back off the pace and he has enough natural speed that he doesn’t have to be 20 lengths back to finish fast. Consider in the Sunland Derby, when the opening half-mile was a blistering :45.72, he dropped well back early but was only 4 ½ lengths back through a half-mile. He was also positioned in a nice stalking position in his win at Oaklawn. I’d expect him to be in the second half of the 20-horse field early in the Derby but not at the back of the pack.
Connections: Trainer Steve Asmussen has won 7,595 races through April 19, second all-time among North American trainers, but the two-time Eclipse Award winner has not won the Kentucky Derby with 15 starters. He has three top-three Kentucky Derby finishes, most recently with Gun Runner, who was third a year ago. Asmussen won the Preakness with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and won the Belmont Stakes with Creator last year.
Hence is owned and bred by one of the most important farms in the history of horse racing: Calumet Farm. Originally established by William Monroe Wright, the farm produced eight Kentucky Derby winners and two Triple Crown winners (Whirlaway, 1941; Citation, 1948).
Brad Kelley took the operation over in 2012. In 2013, Kelley started using the Calumet name for his stable. He had previously operated under the name Bluegrass Hall. Kelley claimed a Triple Crown race victory in 2013 when Oxbow won the Preakness Stakes.
Hence has been ridden by four different jockeys in his six starts. No rider has been named for the Kentucky Derby. Alfredo Juarez Jr. guided him to victory in the Sunland Derby.
Pedigree: Hence is by multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Street Boss, who set a track record at 5 ½ furlongs and a pair of track records going three-quarters of a mile. Street Boss never competed in a race longer than seven-eighths of a mile. He’s by a sire, Street Cry, very capable of getting two-turn racehorses, like 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta. Street Boss’ dam (mother), on the other hand, was a stakes-placed sprinter.
Hence is from the fifth crop of Street Boss, who last year was represented by Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia and in 2014 was represented by Arkansas Derby winner Danza, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby.
Many of Street Boss’ top runners have excelled at sprint distances, but Cathryn Sophia and Danza serve as examples of his ability to sire a horse capable of winning elite races at longer distances.
Hence gets a stamina boost from his dam, Floating Island, who is by 1992 Belmont Stakes winner and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, one of the most influential sires of the last 50 years and a major source of stamina.
Floating Island was unraced, but she is a half-sister (same dam, different sire) to four stakes winners: Pico Teneriffe, a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/8 miles and the dam of two-time Canadian champion Marchfield; Salmon Ladder, a Group 3 winner in England who also won going 1 ¾ miles as a steeplechaser; Areed Al Ola, a multiple stakes winner at a mile and a winner at 1 ¼ miles; and Capote’s Prospect, a U.S. stakes winner at one mile.
Hence’s grandam (maternal grandmother) never won a race, but his third dam (maternal great-grandmother) was a three-time stakes winner at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/8 miles.
Grade 1 winner Devil May Care is a notable member of the family and digging into the third and fourth generations you find quite bit of back class in the family. Other notable members of the female family include Grade/Group 1 winners Cryptoclearance and Duke of Marmalade as well many other top-class winners and international champions.
I love Hence’s potential long term. He looks like a 3-year-old with an exciting future as well as a racehorse who is starting to figure things out. I worry that the Kentucky Derby might be asking a lot of a 3-year-old who has shown some immaturity, but if he can handle the stress of 150,000-plus screaming fans and a 20-horse field, Hence is very interesting. It would take a big step forward on the biggest stage, but there is a good reason quite a few respected handicappers are taking a long look at Hence. He’s got a ton of potential.
Love game for Serena: Spokeswoman says Williams is pregnant.
Associated Press
(Photo/Getty Images)
A spokeswoman for Serena Williams says the tennis star is pregnant.
Kelly Bush Novak wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday: “I’m happy to confirm Serena is expecting a baby this Fall.”
Earlier in the day, Williams posted a photo of herself on the social media site Snapchat with the caption “20 weeks.”
The 35-year-old Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in January – a little less than 12 weeks ago – and has not competed since, citing a knee injury when withdrawing from tournaments at Indian Wells, California, and Key Biscayne, Florida.
She announced in late December that she was engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
Kelly Bush Novak wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday: “I’m happy to confirm Serena is expecting a baby this Fall.”
Earlier in the day, Williams posted a photo of herself on the social media site Snapchat with the caption “20 weeks.”
The 35-year-old Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in January – a little less than 12 weeks ago – and has not competed since, citing a knee injury when withdrawing from tournaments at Indian Wells, California, and Key Biscayne, Florida.
She announced in late December that she was engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, April 21, 2017.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1969 - Japanese marathon runner Yoshiaki Unetani won the Boston Marathon. 1,152 had entered the race.
1970 - Sportscaster Curt Gowdy became the first sports broadcaster to receive the George Foster Peabody Award for achievement in radio and television.
1980 - Rosie Ruiz won the Boston Marathon when she crossed the finish line in a record time of 2 hours, 31 minutes and 56 seconds. After an investigation, she was stripped of the honor when evidence showed that she had not run the entire race.
1984 - David Palmer (Montreal Expos) pitched the fourth shortened, perfect game in major league baseball history. The game was called due to rain after five innings. Palmer had made 57 pitches.
1970 - Sportscaster Curt Gowdy became the first sports broadcaster to receive the George Foster Peabody Award for achievement in radio and television.
1980 - Rosie Ruiz won the Boston Marathon when she crossed the finish line in a record time of 2 hours, 31 minutes and 56 seconds. After an investigation, she was stripped of the honor when evidence showed that she had not run the entire race.
1984 - David Palmer (Montreal Expos) pitched the fourth shortened, perfect game in major league baseball history. The game was called due to rain after five innings. Palmer had made 57 pitches.
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