CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Wednesday Sports News Update, 08/02/2017.

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"Sports Quote of the Day"

"If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards." ~ Paul "Bear" Bryant, Legendary College Football Coach and Player

TRENDING: Six points: Clean QBs, two Shaheen touchdowns highlights Monday's practice. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).

TRENDING: Blackhawks to appear on national TV a league-high 17 times in 2017-18. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).

TRENDING: Dwyane Wade finally figured out how teams can stop Steph Curry. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).

TRENDING: Jon Lester records 2,000th career strikeout, hits first career home run on same day; Smoak, Donaldson homer as Blue Jays beat White Sox 8-4. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).

TRENDING: WGC-Bridgestone: Tee times, TV schedule, key stats; Ariya prepares British Open defense with cold, but no driver; Arnie's Army benefits from outpouring of support after Palmer's death. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).

TRENDING: NASCAR to further limit Cup drivers in Xfinity, Truck Series in 2018. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).

TRENDING: Despite All-Star hype, Real Madrid focused on its preseason; PL roundup: Hammers, Town draw; Liverpool cruises at Bayern. (See the soccer section for Fire news and worldwide soccer updates).

TRENDING: Step in the right direction? Is the NFL seriously considering relaxing its marijuana rules? (See the last article on this blog; please read it and share your opinion with us by going to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and espousing your position with us).

(Photo/Getty Images)

Bears Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Six points: Clean QBs, two Shaheen touchdowns highlights Monday's practice.

By Chris Boden

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

1. QB Cleanup: After four interceptions on Sunday, none of the Bears quarterbacks were picked off by the defense. Leonard Floyd came awfully close during red zone time at the end of practice. He sprinted to the flat to intercept a Mitch Trubisky throw toward the sideline for what would have been a touchdown the other way. But he landed out of bounds. The only fumbled exchange was on a somewhat low shotgun snap that Mike Glennon fell on.

2. We SHOULD know that guy: As camp progresses every year, there's a player who has the kind of day that has you looking down on your roster. That guy was Joel Bouagnon, who probably had more touches than anyone else. The 6-foot-2, 228-pound undrafted running back from Aurora Christian and Northern Illinois finished his Huskies career with nine 100-yard rushing games and was second team All-MAC as a senior.

3. Kendall looked Wright: Between the presence of Kevin White and strong practices thus far from Cam Meredith and Victor Cruz, Kendall Wright's been somewhat lost in the mix. He changed that Monday with a couple of nice grabs, one against Bryce Callahan and another striding down the sideline. "I can't say enough about Kendall Wright," said position coach Zach Azzanni of a player who came in with a reputation as disgruntled in Tennessee. "He's totally bought in and been awesome. He's like having a graduate assistant on the field with me."

4. Sanchez on the Mark: While the signal callers cleaned up their turnovers, it was an otherwise unspectacular day until Mark Sanchez got his red zone work. He fired three touchdown passes to the rookie draftees: two to Adam Shaheen (though Sanchez likely would've been sacked on one), and another fade in the corner to Tarik Cohen.

5. "Kyle is our cornerback": Alright, a little too soon to jump that far. But as Marcus Cooper tries easing his way back from some hamstring tightness, Kyle Fuller was the player we saw most on the side opposite Prince Amukamara on Monday. With all the questions about the 2014 first-round draft pick, the Bears need to find out exactly what they have in a player who missed all of last season due to injury, either for themselves, or someone else.

6. Drew drawing up a deal?: We told you last Wednesday night agent Drew Rosenhaus was on campus, probably trying to negotiate an extension for new client, Akiem Hicks, who's in the second year of a two-year deal after an outstanding Bears debut in 2016. That obviously never happened, but Rosenhaus was spotted behind one end zone at Monday's practice. On the phone. Ryan Pace was standing, observing several yards away in the corner of the same end zone. Without a phone to his ear.

How Dave Ragone is using virtual reality to help develop Mitch Trubisky. 

By JJ Stankevitz

(Photo/AP)

Mitch Trubisky's highly visible problems receiving snaps over the weekend aren’t the toughest hurdle he’ll have to clear in his transition from the ACC to the NFL. Instead, the real issue is less clear to the thousands of fans who will make the trek to Olivet Nazarene University during training camp.

Trubisky still has plenty of work to do with his pre-snap responsibilities, which are far greater and tougher than he ever had at North Carolina. And it’s a challenge for quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone to get the Bears’ quarterback of the future a large quantity of reps (Trubisky dropping those snaps, though, didn’t help with that) while also working to get the team’s quarterback of the present ready, too.

But a virtual reality headset is helping mitigate the issues of limited practice reps for this year’s No. 2 overall pick, and is helping Ragone work with Trubisky on his pre-snap reads/adjustments and mental checklist.

Ragone can see what Trubisky does and where he’s looking on the Oculus strapped to his head. So when Trubisky is at the virtual line of scrimmage, if he’s looking at the wrong player, Ragone can identify it and coach him on what he should’ve been doing. The viewpoint of VR is ideal, given it’s easy to tell where Trubisky is looking, instead of an all-22 view where his eyes could be in the wrong place.

“They learn differently — some obviously are better with the board stuff, better on the film with the All-22 players, and some really take to the walk-throughs or the VR,” Ragone said. “And as a teacher, you’re trying to find the best method to teach one of the guys. And each guy uses the VR. It’s just some guys obviously you can tell gravitate toward it a little better than other. You can just feel that.

“… We always say: Take it from the classroom and carry it to the field. Being able to do that — same eye, in terms of your reads and progressions, you take it on the field and see if it matches.”

Trubisky was forced to learn how to take mental reps his first three years at North Carolina, when coaches there decided to roll with Marquise Williams (who never stuck in the NFL) over him. But Trubisky explained using VR as something that’s closer to being a physical rep than a mental rep.

“I’m really surprised what that technology has allowed us to do,” Trubisky said. “Instead of just watching film, you're actually getting reps without your body having to go through it. Using the VR has been a lot for me. Especially calling plays in the huddle. I call the play, go out and practice it and coach can see on the screen where my eyes are going so it’s helped me with progression and timing without actually going onto the field and having to do it. I can do it in the film room with the VR.”

Virtual reality isn’t perfect, and can’t replace the intensity of a practice rep (which, in front of sizable crowds in Bourbonnais, have been fairly intense). Ragone stressed that it’s one of many tools at his disposal for coaching up the Bears’ quarterbacks.

But the Bears’ investment in it could pay off if it helps Trubisky be ready to command an NFL offense sooner than he would’ve without it.

“That’s been a tremendous help for all the quarterbacks,” Ragone said. “It’s been a great tool for coach (Dowell) Loggains and myself to use as a coaching tool. Just the way we’re able to use it essentially another way to view practice. The quarterbacks have gravitated towards it. It allows us to really give them a different angle. And just basically allowed them to see the field as if they’re the ones taking the reps.”

Bears wide receivers coach motivates through toy soldiers. 

By Chris Boden

(Photo/USA TODAY)

If this Bears wide receivers group performs this season the way their position boss coaches and talks, this could end up being fun.

It's Zach Azzanni's first NFL coaching job, he's going full throttle, and from his standpoint, every one of his pupils is on board with that.

"I just constantly hear you can't coach like this - you can't coach like college in the NFL. I don't know, I don't think that's true," Azzanni said after Monday's practice at Olivet Nazarene University. "I think you can. I think they want it. I think they want that tight-knit, that brotherhood, that...`Coach, stay on me.' I think they all want to be pushed, to be good. If you kind of let them taper off - that it's` too cool for school' for the NFL, and` nah, we don't do it that way,' I think you're missing the boat. I think those guys want that.

"That's why they started playing. They get a paycheck now, and I get that. But they didn't get a paycheck for a long, long time, and they still got pushed. So they're having fun with it. We're creating that hard edge. It's fun. It's a work in progress."

Just like any position group, Azzanni's dealing with everything from an undrafted free agent like Tanner Gentry, to a potential stud still searching to reach his potential like Kevin White, to a former Pro Bowler like Victor Cruz, looking to revive and squeeze out some more production (and money) for a few more years.

"Each guy's different. You've gotta find ways to present how we're gonna do that, how we're gonna buy in. We do some corny stuff in my room, in our meetings, but they're buying in and having fun."

Oh, really? Like...

"Yeah, I give out those little green army guys. I give out one of those a day for our soldier of the day. And it doesn't have to mean making 18 catches. And you know what's funny? We go into those meetings and guys are like, `Who's got the Soldier of the Day?' Cuz they wanna line `em up on their desk. I mean, these guys are still kids playing this game. And we've got to make it fun, too. I'll let everyone else stress out about it, but we're gonna have some fun in there but also teach these guys how to respect this game, how to play it with a hard edge and make people change the way they think about NFL wideouts."

I had to ask. Is this coming out of his personal childhood collection?

"No it's just Amazon. Ten bucks (for a 144 pack)...I don't get paid what they get paid."

We'll bring you more interesting comments from Azzanni on White, Cruz and Cam Meredith Tuesday.

Self Confidence 101: Bears sending Kevin White back to college. 

By Chris Boden

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

If Bears fans had the opportunity to talk with Bears wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni, they'd walk away loving their chances of this group making an unexpected impact. Here's some of what Azzanni shared Monday after practice in Bourbonnais:

On the development of Kevin White after two injury-plagued seasons: 

"We talk about a golf shot every day. Like, 'what keeps you coming back to practice? What was that one golf shot that you remember that got you excited, that makes you want to come back for more?' So every day, we do that in our room. This morning, we watched his West Virginia highlight film again. He forgets about that sometimes, because of the battle he's had the last two years. I'm pleased with him. First day was great, second was OK, and today (Monday) he comes back out and he's buying in. You see flashes of what we want him to be, of what he wants to be. We've just got to block out the noise for him. I can't let him read the papers and the media. I just can't let him because there's going to be some negative in there that gets into his head and he can't let that happen. He's got to be positive and we've got to go in out bunker in there and I've got to tell him how great he is all the time, because he is."

On going back to White's West Virginia tape, circa 2014:

"I wanted him to see how he used to go up and just grab that ball out of the air, and he's starting to do that again. I know he had a drop the other day in one-on-ones the other day. He's a prideful kid, and he lets that beat him up and you cannot do that. You can't let one drop give you another drop. Kobe Bryant takes 60 shots a game. There's a reason. He clears it out, like he didn't even take those first 59. He keeps shooting and that's what Kevin's got to do. He's got to put it away. We've got to be on the positives too. He ran a great route, great release, physical, violent, ran a great route, now he's got to finish it. You've got to also understand there's some good in there too.

"He's a prideful guy. He's got some conscience. He wants to do well for Chicago. For Ryan Pace, for coach (John) Fox, for Dowell (Loggains), all these guys. He wants to do well and I tell him, don't worry about all that. Do well for you. Don't worry about the media and all the people outside. Let's just be the best player you can be.

Cam Meredith: 66 catches in 2016, so 2017?

"The sky's the limit for Cam. He's everything you want in an NFL receiver. He's tall, he's loose, he's got great ball skills, can run. He's smart because he played quarterback, so he gets the game a little bit better maybe than other players at the position. He's still got a lot of work to do and that's what's fun. So every day we're working on some of the little things to help him take his game to the next level, and he's willing. He just had an 'OK' second day, and when I played it for him, he didn't think he did. Then when you press 'play,' he looks at me and he's like, 'you're exactly right, coach.'  He's starting to get what the standards are and he's getting better and I'm excited about him, really excited."

Victor Cruz's encouraging start

"He's been through it all. Great seasons, Super Bowl, injury setbacks, he's seen it all, right? Big market in New York so he's definitely a good sounding board for those guys. As far as the first couple days? He's still learning the offense. But we're asking him to do things he did previously. Some of the routes he's running? That's what he did. It's too late in his career to reinvent a route tree for him. We got him to do the things he does well. A good first three days. I wouldn't say excellent, but good. I think what me and him are vibing together is, you know, I don't really care how long he's played. I'm going to push him like he's a rookie. At first, he was like, `Wow,' but now he appreciates it, I think."

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks to appear on national TV a league-high 17 times in 2017-18

By Charlie Roumeliotis

(Photo/USA TODAY)

Nobody will be making more national television appearances in 2017-18 than the Blackhawks, who are slated to play on NBC or NBCSN 17 times.

Eight of them will be exclusively on NBC or NBCSN while the other nine will be subject to blackout in the Chicago market in favor of the local stations.

The Blackhawks will face their division rival St. Louis Blues three times in front of a national TV audience, and receive a pair of contests with the Nashville Predators, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Check out the full schedule below:



Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Bulls' preseason schedule features games against LeBron, Cousins, Davis and Giannis. 

By Mark Strotman

(Photo/USA TODAY)

The Bulls' rebuild begins this fall, and they could have a rude awakening when they begin their preseason schedule.

Fred Hoiberg's group will prepare for the regular season with a slate that includes games against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

All six of the Bulls' preseason games will be aired on CSN Chicago and can be live-streamed on CSNChicago.com using the NBC Sports app.

Here's the schedule:

Tues., Oct. 3: at New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 4: at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 6: vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 8: vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 6 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 10: at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 13: vs. Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m.

Dwyane Wade finally figured out how teams can stop Steph Curry. 

By Mark Strotman

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Bulls guard Dwyane Wade had good news for the rest of the NBA early Tuesday morning.
He knows how to stop All-NBA point guard Steph Curry.

Wade held an impromptu Q+A on Twitter, answering a number of questions from some of his nearly 7.1 million followers. The questions ranged from what was going through his head on some of his most famous plays, to fans asking for one of his championship rings, to where he ranks among the all-time great shooting guards.

But the highlight of the early morning was when a fan asked how to slow down the game's best shooter and one of its best scorers. Wade's response? Epic:

"Pray that every grocery store in the world go out of business and his wife can't cook him any food. Whatever she's cooking it's working.  Pray that every grocery store in the world go out of business and his wife can't cook him any food. Whatever she's cooking it's working https://twitter.com/bluemanhoop/status/892267963604127744 … "

DWade ✔
@DwyaneWade  

1:28 AM - Aug 1, 2017

Curry's wife, Ayesha, has her own cooking show on the Food Network, and routinely posts images and recipes to her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Whatever she's making Steph, it's working. In the last three seasons Curry has two MVP awards, a pair of championships and has set multiple shooting records in the process.

Wade's got the blueprint on how to stop the game's best shooter. But don't hold your breath on those stores all closing.

CUBS: Jon Lester records 2,000th career strikeout, hits first career home run on same day.

By Matt Snyder

(Photo/cbssports.com)

The home run came on his 197th at-bat, and he's the 25th lefty with 2,000 Ks in MLB history.

Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester accomplished a couple of individual milestones in totally opposite directions on Tuesday night in Wrigley Field against the Diamondbacks. 

First, he hit a home run.

That was the first career homer for Lester and it probably carries more weight under the circumstances. Remember, he made dubious history by not collecting a hit until his 67th at-bat, an MLB record. The above home run comes in his 197th career at-bat, 236th plate appearance and 12th season in the majors.

Further, he has now won whatever the wager was between himself and teammate John Lackey (the Chicago Tribune has the details for those interested). 

A bit later, Lester recorded his ninth strikeout of the night, which was good for the 2,000th in his career. 

Lester becomes the 25th lefty in MLB history to record 2,000 strikeouts. He's the 82nd pitcher ever. It's not something rare enough we would've covered here aside from a footnote in our nightly roundup, but with the home run it seemed fun enough.

Cubs loaded for another World Series run with Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. 

By Patrick Mooney

(Photo/AP)

The Cubs want another parade down Michigan Avenue, loading up for another World Series run by adding lefty reliever Justin Wilson and veteran catcher Alex Avila on top of frontline starter Jose Quintana.    

At a time when other organizations are overprotective of prospects and planning for the future by following a Cubs Way blueprint, team president Theo Epstein knows what he wants and what he is willing to give up to keep Wrigleyville rocking this October.

The Cubs closed that deal with the Detroit Tigers late Sunday night and announced it early Monday morning, filling their two biggest immediate needs with almost six hours to go before Monday’s 3 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline in Chicago.

Pouncing on that proposal from the White Sox in the middle of July allowed Quintana to make three extra starts (2-1, 2.37 ERA) in a Cubs uniform, changing the energy in the clubhouse as the defending champs sprinted out of the All-Star break, going 13-3 and flipping a 5.5-game deficit in the National League Central into a 2.5-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.    
   
The Cubs are no longer the franchise of here-we-go-again pessimism, in part, because Epstein sacrificed elite prospect Gleyber Torres in a blockbuster deal with the New York Yankees last summer. Epstein made the calculated decision that he would rather be with Aroldis Chapman than against that 100-mph fastball in October, adding the superstar closer – a week before the trade deadline – to a team with close to a 99-percent chance of making the playoffs.

“A preemptive strike – he’s not afraid to make that before it gets too late,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Our guys do a great job of recognizing our need – and then not being afraid to go out and get it.”

The reality is the Cubs didn’t feel all that much pain while making these deals. (It would obviously be a much different story if the Cubs hadn’t recovered to win that World Series Game 7.) But this was The Plan all along, to collect as much young talent as possible, invest heavily in hitters and flip those assets when the Cubs needed pitching.      

So Torres might become a star in The Bronx, Eloy Jimenez should someday launch eye-popping homers on the South Side and the White Sox will help Dylan Cease refine his 100-mph fastball and big curveball.  

Jeimer Candelario should get a good opportunity in Detroit’s rebuilding situation as a 23-year-old switch-hitter who works out with Robinson Cano during the offseason, plays both corner-infield spots and has 21 homers, 106 RBI and a .912 OPS in 157 career games on the Triple-A level.

But Candelario didn’t have a clear path to the North Side. Neither did Class-A infielder Isaac Paredes, the other prospect packaged in the Wilson/Avila trade along with cash or a player to be named later.

The Cubs already have a battle-tested, championship-proven lineup of everyday players under club control through 2021: Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora Jr., plus Jason Heyward (assuming he doesn’t opt out of a $184 million contract) and rookie Ian Happ and a scouting-and-player-development machine that will be all over the draft and the international market.

The Cubs can now slot Quintana into their rotation through 2020 alongside Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs can also position Wilson – who has 92 holds, 14 saves and a 3.20 ERA in his career – as an elite setup guy for this pennant race and a potential ninth-inning option for next season if All-Star closer Wade Davis exits as a free agent.  

But enough about the future, the Cubs understand this is World Series or bust, all over again.

“We always knew there was talent in the room,” pitcher John Lackey said. “It was just a matter of guys getting back to feeling good and playing good baseball together. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that since the break. But then again, we got a long way to go, too.”

Joe Maddon ready to unleash Justin Wilson out of Cubs bullpen built for October. 

By Patrick Mooney

(Photo/USA TODAY)

Joe Maddon ended the World Series drought that lasted more than a century, made a dream come true for generations of Cubs fans and cemented his own Hall of Fame status – and still got hammered for the way he managed his bullpen last October into early November.

Think Maddon is pumped and already running through ways to deploy Justin Wilson and maximize the Cubs bullpen?

Maddon could never put up a “Help Wanted” sign in the dugout and send that negative message to the clubhouse. But during his media sessions over the weekend, the manager clearly laid out the reasons why Theo Epstein’s front office should add a big-time reliever before Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline in Chicago.

Alex Avila is the bonus from that deal with the Detroit Tigers: A respected veteran catcher with some left-handed pop (11 homers, .869 OPS this season) who can help prevent Willson Contreras from breaking down.

“Both of them add a lot of veteran presence to our already existing good group,” Maddon said at his charity golf event at Bryn Mawr Country Club in Lincolnwood. “This time of the year, when you add people like that – and the players in the clubhouse know that it’s going to make you better – it makes the vibe even greater than.”

As good as the bullpen has been so far this season – ranking second in the National League in ERA (3.34), batting average against (.212) and opponents’ OPS (.652) – the Cubs don’t have the same express lane to the postseason that they did last year.

That is when every moment is magnified and trusted relievers become even more valuable. Wilson notched 13 saves for the Tigers this year, putting up a 2.68 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP with 55 strikeouts in 40-plus innings, giving Maddon another option in front of All-Star closer Wade Davis.

This is Maddon’s ideal of neutrality, someone who can get out right-handed (.131 batting average) and left-handed hitters (.220) and has already made four playoff appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees.

“I’ve seen Wilson pitch in the American League – I’ve always liked his stuff. How could you not?” Maddon said. “When you get another guy like Justin, what it permits you to do is rotate the stock a little bit and not burn anybody out.”

To keep riding that momentum from a 13-3 run since the All-Star break, Maddon knows he will beat up the bullpen. Pedro Strop (46) and Carl Edwards Jr. (46) are already top-25 NL relievers in terms of appearances. Koji Uehara is 42 years old and has given up three homers in his last six appearances after allowing only one through his first 29.2 innings this season.

By this October, will Strop and Hector Rondon be in or out of Maddon’s circle of trust? Wilson will also become another left-handed look to go with Brian Duensing (2.47 ERA, 49 strikeouts, 10 walks in 43.2 innings) and Mike Montgomery (who got the last out in last year’s World Series).

“If you have multiple late-inning, high-leverage kind of dudes at the end of the game, then you don’t burn anybody’s candle out,” Maddon said. “You can’t do that, because we still have a couple months left – and then you have the postseason to follow – so you want to be careful with your guys.”

Wilson and Avila will arrive at Wrigley Field just in time for a six-game homestand that begins Tuesday night against two potential playoff opponents – the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals – for a team that isn’t messing around and wants to win another World Series.

“We do enjoy this moment at this time of the year,” Maddon said. “I’ve said it a thousand times that situations like this should bring out the best in everybody – players, coaches, managers, organizations. I know our guys are going to love it.”

Cubs needed to add Alex Avila to save Willson Contreras from himself.

By Patrick Mooney

(Photo/AP)

Joe Girardi noticed how Willson Contreras kept bouncing around at Wrigley Field. It didn’t matter that it was early May, the “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast had stretched into Monday morning and the Cubs would immediately head to O’Hare International Airport afterward to fly to Denver for a game at Coors Field that night.   

Girardi understood the grind. The New York Yankees manager had once been an All-Star catcher for the Cubs, lasting 15 seasons in the big leagues – far longer than any kid from Peoria and Northwestern could have dreamed – because of his effort, intensity and intelligence. 

“That’s the most energetic catcher I’ve ever seen play 18 innings,” Girardi said after watching Contreras catch eight different pitchers in a 5-4 loss that lasted 6 hours and 5 minutes. “I give that kid a lot of credit. He’s blocking balls, he’s all over, smiling, playing his rear end off.”

That’s why the Cubs had to save Contreras from himself and package catcher Alex Avila with lefty reliever Justin Wilson in that trade-deadline deal with the Detroit Tigers.

“Willson plays like the Energizer Bunny,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We all know that. But everyone has their limits. And I do think we have to be very careful not to wear him down – to make sure he’s still fresh during the pennant race.

“We risked him playing too much without going out and making a move like this.” 

Joe Girardi noticed how Willson Contreras kept bouncing around at Wrigley Field. It didn’t matter that it was early May, the “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast had stretched into Monday morning and the Cubs would immediately head to O’Hare International Airport afterward to fly to Denver for a game at Coors Field that night.   

The reinforcements will arrive just in time for a pivotal six-game homestand that begins Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks and features a potential first-round playoff preview this weekend against the Washington Nationals.

Contreras is only 25 years old and in the middle of his first full season in The Show. But he has already earned a World Series ring and established himself as one of the organization’s most dynamic players.

Since Miguel Montero talked his way off the team with that epic rant at Nationals Park on June 27, manager Joe Maddon started rookie Victor Caratini only four times at catcher. Caratini will return to Triple-A Iowa – where he had been hitting .341 with a .919 OPS in 69 games – to stay sharp for a September call-up and in case of an October emergency.  

“Caratini is a really good prospect,” Hoyer said. “He’s going to be a really good player. But we felt like the right thing to do for our pitching staff, for Willson, for the clubhouse was to add a veteran guy. That way, we have some depth at that position.

“With Victor going back to Iowa, we now have three catchers that we believe in, and I think that depth is really important as you go down the stretch. It really is important for Joe to get a veteran catcher that he really feels comfortable playing a lot.”

Avila will be a free agent after this season and the Cubs had some questions about his defense as they did background work on several targets behind the plate. But Avila worked with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Michael Fulmer in Detroit.

Avila made an All-Star team in 2011, the beginning of a run where the Tigers won four straight division titles and he played in eight postseason series. Avila is a left-handed hitter who can crush right-handed pitching, putting up 11 homers and an .869 overall OPS in 77 games this season.

Contreras is so entertaining to watch every night, but the Cubs are built to outlast and overwhelm the rest of the National League Central with their depth and versatility over the course of the 162-game marathon.

“We’ve been playing better, but we still have another level within us,” Maddon said. “Alex is not a backup catcher. He’s going to be serving as one, in a sense, but he’s not that. This guy is a regular, everyday, solid major-league catcher that we get to work in. This way, neither one’s going to be tired by the end of the year.”

WHITE SOX: Smoak, Donaldson homer as Blue Jays beat White Sox 8-4.

By Stats AP

The Toronto Blue Jays were sailing along after Justin Smoak and Josh Donaldson staked them to a commanding lead when tempers flared.

Bullpens emptied. And in a flash, it was over.

A heated exchange between Marcus Stroman and Chicago's Tim Anderson was one of the few tense moments in a rather routine win for Toronto.

Smoak hit his 31st homer, Donaldson homered and drove in three runs, and the Blue Jays beat the White Sox 8-4 on Tuesday night.

Smoak and Donaldson each connected for the second straight night and third time in five games. Donaldson also had a sacrifice fly and RBI double.

Stroman (10-5) went seven innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He was winless in his previous three starts despite a 1.89 ERA in that stretch.

Stroman exchanged words with Anderson as he batted leading off the seventh. They continued to go at it as Anderson walked back to the dugout after striking out.

The situation quickly cooled after both benches and dugouts emptied. Anderson was restrained, but there were no ejections. Of course, each player said the other was the instigator.

''It seemed like he wanted to talk the entire way back to the dugout after striking out,'' Stroman said. ''I got the ball back from Donaldson after throwing the ball around, and he was still continuing to talk, so I asked him what he was saying. He continued to talk more, so I walked toward the dugout. I thought he had a problem. I don't understand why he would be running his mouth walking back to the dugout. It made zero sense to me.''

Why did it matter if Anderson was talking?

''No comment,'' Stroman said.

Anderson said Stroman had words for him when he stepped out of the box and mumbled something after striking him out.

''I felt disrespected. I had to do what I had to do,'' Anderson said.

He insisted he has no regrets, adding, ''I stood up like I was supposed to and it happened.''

Toronto came out on top after dropping three of four and snapped a four-game road losing streak.

Chicago's Kevan Smith hit a two-run homer batting for injured designated hitter Matt Davidson in the sixth. But the White Sox lost for the 18th time in 22 games.

Donaldson connected in the first and added a sacrifice fly in the third to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.

Chicago's Omar Narvaez tied it with a two-run double in the fourth, but Smoak's two-run drive just beyond a leaping center fielder Leury Garcia with two outs in the fifth made it 4-2.

The Blue Jays added three more in the sixth while chasing Mike Pelfrey (3-9) after he retired the first two batters. Russell Martin hit a two-run, bases-loaded single off Gregory Infante, and Donaldson drove an RBI double off the center-field wall to make it 7-2.

Pelfrey gave up six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

BLUE JAYS MOVE

Toronto designated LHP Brett Oberholtzer for assignment to make room for OF Nori Aoki, who was acquired Monday in a trade that sent left-hander Francisco Liriano to Houston.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: Davidson is day to day with a bruised right wrist after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. ... Top prospect Yoan Moncada expects to miss two or three games after bruising his right knee in a frightening collision with OF Willy Garcia. Garcia, meanwhile, was put on the seven-day disabled list because of a concussion. The White Sox purchased infielder/outfielder Nicky Delmonico's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Toronto and Chicago wrap up a three-game series, with J.A. Happ (3-8, 4.15 ERA) starting for the Blue Jays and Derek Holland (5-10, 5.42) pitching for the White Sox in a matchup between left-handers. A 20-game winner last season, Happ is 0-3 in his past four outings. Holland has an 8.54 ERA in his past 11 starts.

Matt Davidson's second walk-off hit in as many nights wins it for White Sox. (Monday's night game, 07/31/2017).

By CSN Staff

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Matt Davidson is making a habit out of this whole walk-off winner thing.

The White Sox third baseman's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth capped off a massive comeback for the South Siders in their 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays.

The White Sox trailed 6-0 at one point and were down 6-1 heading into the 8th inning. An RBI double from Jose Abreu and homers from Davidson (two-run) and Yolmer Sanchez (solo) put the White Sox within a run heading to the final frame.

Abreu's single with two outs tied the game, playing Adam Engel. One batter later Davidson was up to his old tricks again.

After hitting a walk-off homer in Sunday's win over the Twins, Davidson slapped a single to center to give the White Sox an improbable victory.

"It’s huge for us,"" Davidson said after the game. "I’ll take it. We’re all contributing. … To win like that is awesome."

Davidson, who leads the White Sox with 22 homers, is enjoying a solid rookie campaign after some early-career struggles in the minors. At-bats like Monday night can do plenty for the 26-year-old's confidence.

"It's probably lifting (Davidson) up to the sky right now. He's feeling good about himself. Obviously the situation was to put together a great at-bat. He didn't try to do too much," manager Rick Renteria said. "Put the bat on the ball and was able to allow us to drive in the final run and win the ballgame. It just takes you, for him, to a point where your confidence builds a little. I think you gain more and more trust in who you are what you're capable of doing."

Nicky Delmonico gets opportunity to showcase himself with rebuilding with White Sox.

By Scott Krinch

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The rebuilding White Sox have called up another one of their talented prospects.

The White Sox announced on Tuesday they have purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Nicky Delmonico from Triple-A Charlotte.

Delmonico takes the roster spot of outfielder Willy Garcia who was placed on the seven-day DL with a concussion.

Delmonico, 25, is slashing .262/.347/.421 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 99 games with Charlotte this season. Delmonico was named to the International League All-Star Team earlier this season.

Delmonico, who has no major league experience, was originally selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 6th round of the 2011 MLB Draft  out of Tennessee. In 490 games spanning across six minor-league seasons, Delmonico has a .257/.341/.432 slash line with 61 homers and 248 RBI.

Garcia was injured in Monday's victory after he collided with rookie second baseman Yoan Moncada tracking down a fly ball in short right field.

The 24-year-old Garcia is slashing .258/.317/.441 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 40 games with the White Sox in 2017.

The White Sox continue a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Golf: I got a club for that..... WGC-Bridgestone: Tee times, TV schedule, key stats.

By Golf Channel Digital

The biggest names in the game are in Akron, Ohio this week for the 19th edition of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Here's the key info for this week's event.

Golf course: The South Course at Firestone Country Club was opened in 1929 and was designed by Bert Way. The course was redesigned in 1959 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and in 1985 by Jack Nicklaus. The course will play as a par 70 at 7,400 yards.

Purse: $9.75 million

TV schedule (All times Eastern): Thursday, 1:30-6:30 p.m. on Golf Channel; Friday, 1:30-6:30 p.m. on Golf Channel; Saturday, Noon-1:30 p.m. on Golf Channel and 2-6 p.m. on CBS; Sunday, Noon-1:30 p.m. on Golf Channel and 2-6 p.m. on CBS

Live streaming: Thursday, 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at golfchannel.com; Friday, 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at golfchannel.com; Saturday, Noon-1:30 p.m. at golfchannel.com and 2-6 p.m. at cbssports.com; Sunday, Noon-1:30 p.m. at golfchannel.com and 2-6 p.m. at cbssports.com

Notable tee times: Jordan Spieth-Rory McIlroy-Jason Day at 8:10 a.m. ET off No. 10; Brooks Koepka-Dustin Johnson-Hideki Matsuyama at 8:20 a.m. off No. 10; Jon Rahm-Adam Scott-Justin Thomas at 9:10 a.m. off No. 1; Sergio Garcia-Rickie Fowler-Matt Kuchar at 9:20 a.m. off No. 1

Defending champion: Dustin Johnson won the U.S. Open and then in his next start edged Scott Piercy by one stroke at Firestone. Piercy also finished second to Johnson at Oakmont.

Notables in the field: The limited-field event consists of 76 players and 55 of the top 56 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. World No. 36 Brandt Snedeker is the only player missing after he withdrew Monday because of a sternum joint injury. Open winner Jordan Spieth will make his first start since winning the claret jug. Rory McIlroy will also have a new caddie this week after parting with J.P. Fitzgerald. Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and the recently-married Sergio Garcia are among the other notables at Firestone.

Day-Spieth-McIlroy grouped at Firestone.

By Will Gray

Jason Day (L), Jordan Spieth (C) and Rory McIlroy (Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

Fans won’t be lacking for marquee groupings this week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Firestone Country Club will play host to 76 of the game’s best as they make final tweaks before heading east for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Here’s a look at a few notable early-round groupings in Ohio (all times ET):

8:10 a.m. Thursday, 9:10 a.m. Friday: Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day
The Champion Golfer of the Year will make his first start since his triumph at Royal Birkdale, as Spieth looks to improve on last year’s T-3 finish at Firestone. He’ll be joined by McIlroy, who will have a new caddie on the bag and hasn’t played this event since his win in 2014, while Ohio resident Day will round out the trio in search of his first win in 15 months.

8:20 a.m. Thursday, 9:20 a.m. Friday: Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama
This trio won’t lack for firepower, as the defending champ and world No. 1 will be sandwiched between the top two finishers at Erin Hills. Johnson is coming off a T-8 finish in Canada, while Koepka hasn’t played since his T-6 finish at The Open and Matsuyama looks to win his second WGC title of the season after routing the field in Shanghai last fall.

9:10 a.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. Friday: Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Adam Scott
Rahm will be making his Firestone debut after a middling performance at Royal Birkdale, and he’ll be joined by Thomas who remains in search of his fourth win of the season after missing the cut in each of his last three starts. Rounding out the group will be Scott, who won here in 2011 and has cracked the top 10 twice in the last three years.

9:20 a.m. Thursday, 8:10 a.m. Friday: Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar
The reigning Masters champ heads to Akron fresh off his wedding over the weekend in Texas, and he’ll look to improve upon his runner-up finish here in 2014 when he was out-dueled in the final round by McIlroy. Fowler is the only player in this week’s field with top-10 finishes each of the last three years, while Kuchar finished T-32 in Canada on the heels of his Open disappointment.

Ariya prepares British Open defense with cold, but no driver.

By Elspeth Burnside

Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, seen during the first round of the US Women's Open Championship, at Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey, on July 13, 2017 (AFP Photo/Matt SULLIVAN)

Ariya Jutanugarn may be fighting a cold but memories of her women's British Open win are keeping her warm as she prepares for her title defense this week at Kingsbarns.

The 21-year-old from Thailand won the major title by three shots over the tree-lined Woburn course - and she knows she faces a vastly different challenge at the wind swept Scottish links.

But one thing won't change from 12 months ago. The driver will not be in the bag.

The powerful youngster didn't use the golfer's biggest weapon last year and she said: "This time it will also stay in the locker. I'll be using my three wood and my two iron from the tee.

"This is only my third time at a links course. But I know I'll have to keep the ball low and sometimes aim 50 yards right or 40 yards left."

Jutanugarn spent a brief spell as the world No.1 when she won the Manulife LPGA Classic in Cambridge, Ontario last month.

But she has since struggled slightly with a shoulder injury and has dropped to No.3 behind Ryu So Yeon and Lexi Thompson.

"It's getting better, but I've now got a terrible cold," she said, coughing and spluttering. "It started Saturday and has got worse."

She admits her life has changed dramatically since becoming the first Thai golfer to win a major.

"Everyone back home is very proud," she said. "I won an award at the end of the year and now everyone knows me."

This is her first visit to St Andrews, the Scottish town regarded as the Home of Golf. But her sister Moriya, who played in the Women's British Open over the Old Course four years ago, has been the perfect tour guide.

"It is a very special place and it's cool to be here," said the five time LPGA winner. "My sister took me round the 17th and 18th at the Old Course. It was everything that I expected."

Olympic champion Park Inbee won the title, and completed a career Grand Slam of the majors, at Turnberry two years ago, and is aiming to make it a Scottish double.

She missed last year's Open due to injury, but bounced back to win Olympic gold in Rio.

"It's good to be back," admitted the 29-year-old South Korean. "I played in the Scottish Open at Dundonald last week and took a trip back to Turnberry. I had some great memories.

"My ball striking is not where I want it to be, but I always love the challenge of a links course. Sometimes I play well, and sometimes I don't get it. It's a mind set. You have to be prepared to be frustrated."

The seven-time major winner spent over a year as world No 1 in 2013/2014, but she is currently at No.10.

The Rio experience has helped elevate her status.

"People in restaurants and gas stations say they know me because of the Olympics," she revealed.

"It was an incomparable experience. Something completely different and it ranks right up there with the very best that I have achieved."

Arnie's Army benefits from outpouring of support after Palmer's death.

Katherine Fitzgerald

Palmer hits from sand trap on the second hold during a playoff in the 1962 Masters against Gary Player, left, and Dow Finsterwald. Palmer won to claim his third green jacket.  (Photo/AP)

Sam Saunders doesn’t care whether the glass is half full or half empty.

He just cares that it is mostly iced tea, with splashes of lemonade.

That’s the way his grandfather used to make it, and today, much of what 30-year-old Saunders does is to honor the late Arnold Palmer through a growing charity foundation.

Palmer died Sept. 25, 2016 at age 87. He left behind a massive legacy of an illustrious golf career and an unwavering commitment to philanthropy away from the course.

His nonprofit, Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation (AACF), continues that work today and has seen an uptick in growth since his death.

According to AACF, in the five weeks after Palmer passed away, the organization raised more than $110,000 with an increase of 17,000% in the total dollar amount received from the period of Sept. 1-24 to the five weeks after Palmer’s death.

For all of 2016, the foundation reported $3,407,173 in total revenue, surpassing the total from the previous year by more than $215,000. Prior to his death, Palmer had pledged $15 million from his estate to the cause, with $2.5 million being paid to the foundation each year from 2015 to 2020.

Tax records show that the foundation reported total revenue of $334,300 for 2014 and total expenses of $23,525.

“The outpouring we received was overwhelming,” said Kevin Bingham, CEO of AACF. “It gives you a feeling of solace and of determination, because we can’t let all the things this great man did to influence people be lost or go away.”

As the organization looks to continue to increase its influence, Saunders is taking on a more public role.

“I think I have a unique opportunity as not only a board member [of AACF] and the grandson of Arnold Palmer, but as a guy who plays on the PGA Tour,” Saunders said last month. “Not a lot of people have an opportunity to be on a stage like I am each and every week.”

Growing up the grandson of The King, Saunders is used to that stage. He caddied for his grandfather before turning pro himself, notching 12 top-10 finishes to date. Playing on the PGA Tour, he has learned that his grandfather’s achievements increased Palmer’s drive to give back.

“It’s recognizing when you’ve been put in a position — whether it’s to achieve great wealth or great fame — when you have an opportunity to enjoy your own life and be successful, there’s an obligation to give back and help other people,” Saunders said.

“It’s being successful on your own, but being selfless enough to help others.”

The selflessness that Palmer dedicated his life to continues.

AACF has ties to PGA Tour stops, most notably the Arnold Palmer Invitational (API) held every March in Orlando.

The 2017 API saw three times as many one-time transactions compared to 2016, according to the foundation.

The challenge now is deciding where to direct those donations. Palmer spent more than 60 years working in the philanthropic sector, and as AACF moves forward, the foundation’s leadership must decide where to focus.

“It’s tough because there’s so much you want to do and so many people you want to help, and it’s tough to consolidate that to a single mission,” Saunders said.

While the foundation is attempting to streamline all the ways it gives back, three causes stand out. The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies and the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve are cornerstones of the AACF. The hospitals are both a part of the Orlando Health network, while the Nature Reserve is outside Arnold’s hometown of Latrobe, Penn.

The Army will expand its footprint this summer, as the Arnie’s March Ohio is launched on Wednesday. The event will raise funds for pediatric cancer research as part of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational this week in Akron.

“The reality that Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer has expanded beyond Orlando would please my dad greatly,” said Amy Palmer Saunders, who chairs the AACF board, in a news release. She is also the mother of Sam Saunders.

“He was committed to so many philanthropic initiatives throughout his life, but supporting children in their fight against cancer and other debilitating diseases was always a priority. I know we are making him proud.”

The event is part of AACF’s drive to have a more nationwide presence.

“We feel like we owe it to him to have that kind of reach,” Bingham said.

At the Quicken Loans National last month, players walked past a statue of Palmer every time they finished the 18th hole at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Palmer made history at the course when he became the first professional in the history of golf to make a hole-in-one on the same tournament hole two days in a row, a statistically mesmerizing feat.

“First and last one to ever do that,” Saunders noted. “It’s never been done, and I don’t what the statistics are on that, but I doubt that will ever happen again.”

And while few of Palmer’s accomplishments, whether in golf or philanthropy, can be truly replicated, Arnie’s Army will continue forward.

NASCAR to further limit Cup drivers in Xfinity, Truck Series in 2018.

By Dustin Long

(Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

NASCAR announced guidelines that will further limit Cup drivers in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.

Cup drivers with more than five years of full-time experience in the Monster Energy Cup Series will be limited to seven Xfinity races next year. Those drivers are allowed to run 10 races this year.

Cup drivers with more than five years of full-time experience in the Monster Energy Cup Series will be limited to five Camping World Truck Series races. Those drivers are allowed to run seven races this year.

NASCAR also announced Tuesday that any driver who elects to score points in the Cup series, regardless of their experience in that series, will be prohibited from competing in the regular-season finale, playoff races and the Dash 4 Cash races in the Xfinity Series. The change is that drivers with less than five years of Cup experience are allowed to run all Xfinity races this season except the championship race in Miami.

Drivers who score points in the Cup series, regardless of experience, will be barred from competing in the regular-season finale and the playoff races in the Camping World Truck Series.

“Fans have made it clear that they want to see the future stars of the sport racing against their peers in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series,” said Jim Cassidy, senior vice president of racing operations, in a statement. “These guidelines achieve that and preserve limited opportunities for developing drivers to compete against the best in motorsports.”

NASCAR’s change to further limit Cup drivers in the Dash 4 Cash races is not surprising because Cup drivers were still dominating that event and the Xfintiy Series. Cup drivers won three of those four races this year – Erik Jones won at Bristol and Kyle Larson won at Richmond and Dover. Justin Allgaier was the only Xfinity regular to win a Dash 4 Cash race with his victory at Phoenix.

NASCAR signaled last month at Indianapolis that change was coming. Even with the participation guidelines for this season, Cup drivers won 11 of the first 13 Xfinity races this season.

Kevin Harvick was vocal about the proposal last month on his SiriusXM NASCAR Radio show “Happy Hours,” saying:

“They want to take this Xfinity Series and they want to make it into Xfinity drivers only,” Harvick said. “Well, guess what? If you don’t race against the Cup guys and you don’t have that experience on a weekly basis of learning what those Cup guys are doing to run fast and how this sport works, all that is going to happen is you’re just going to struggle longer when you get to Cup. You’re not going to have all the tendencies of the things that you need just racing against Xfintiy drivers that don’t have all the experience that Cup guys get.

“And oh by the way. Those Xfinity sponsorships? Most of those sponsorships are tied to a Cup guy. If they dropped these races to five races like they’re talking to next year, we’ll have to cut two races. There’s probably a million dollars tied to those two races in sponsoring the race, associates on the Cup car, personal services contracts, so there is a lot of money on the line.

“So when you look at a Ryan Preece gets to run a Joe Gibbs car (as he did last weekend at Iowa, winning), he got that opportunity because they want to run that car full-time and obviously they’re getting enough money from the races that Denny Hamlin runs and Erik Jones runs and Kyle Busch runs to charge the top dollar.”

Follow-Up: Kyle Busch calls NASCAR’s restrictions on Cup drivers in other series ‘frustrating’.

By Dustin Long

(Photo/Getty Images)

Kyle Busch calls NASCAR’s efforts to limit how many races Cup drivers can run in the Xfinity and Truck Series “frustrating” and said that if he was ever barred from running all Truck races, he’d shut his team down.

Busch made the comments Tuesday afternoon on “SiriusXM Speedway.’’

NASCAR announced Tuesday morning that it would further limit how many races Cup drivers can run in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. For Busch, he will be able to run seven Xfinity races (down from 10 this year) and five Truck races (down from seven this year) next season.

Busch expressed his disappointment with the rule change on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“It’s just kind of the way the sport has gone, I guess,’’ he said. “What’s kind of been happening the last couple of years with the comments and whatnot. It’s a bit frustrating for myself and for my team and for what we all had going on at Joe Gibbs Racing and what we wanted to accomplish. I get the picture. The problem with the picture is that it’s not painted as pretty as some may like it to be.’’

Busch noted that he skipped seven Xfinity races from early April to early June and all those races were won by Cup drivers — Kyle Larson and Erik Jones won twice each during that stretch.

“It didn’t change a damn thing,’’ Busch said of not running, “by eliminating the races that Cup drivers can run.

“If we all get together this offseason and pick and choose our races around each other’s schedule, we can still screw it up as much as we want to screw it up and piss everybody off.

I wouldn’t be so certain that might not happen.’’

Busch also forecast the end of Kyle Busch Motorsports — which is in its eighth season in the Camping World Truck Series — if NASCAR won’t let him drive in that series.

“If the limits for the Truck Series goes to zero, I’m done,’’ Busch said. “You will no longer see Kyle Busch Motorsports teams out on the race track. That’s the way I’m going to make it. We’ll see how that progresses as the years go along. On the Xfinity Series side, I’m sure that Joe (Gibbs) is frustrated, and I know I’m frustrated. We’ll just continue to race the races were allowed to run with the sponsorship that we have.’’

Busch’s Truck team has won 61 races since 2010. He runs Truck races in part because of the sponsorship he can bring in, which allows the team to run younger drivers in other races.

“I enjoy going out and running Truck races,’’ said Busch, who has won two of the four Truck races he’s run this season. “If I’m not allowed to do that, then why am I owning a team that I’m not allowed to race for? It just doesn’t make any sense. If I’m out there spending money for other drivers and whatnot to come up through the ranks, but yet I’m getting beat up and not allowed to drive in it, then it’s no fun for me. Then why am I spending money to evolve talent that is going to replace me one day?’’

Many fans refer to NASCAR’s restrictions as a Kyle Busch rule since he’s the Cup driver who typically runs more Xfinity and Truck races than most.

Busch was asked if he felt he was being unfairly targeted by the restrictions.

“I don’t think it’s me necessarily getting singled out,’’ he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I do feel as though that people have a legitimate bark, I guess let’s call it, with the Cup drivers in the Xfinity Series races. It only seems to get louder when it’s one particular driver.

“I do feel as though that these conversations wouldn’t be what they are if I were, let’s see, a Kevin Harvick or a Kyle Larson or a Brad (Keselowski), where I have a couple of wins a year here and there and I run 20, 15 races a year. But when I was running 20 races a year and I was winning 10 or 13 of those races, that’s when the barks seemed to get louder and talk of the restrictions seemed to get more and more.’’

Mort Follow-Up: Kevin Harvick on Cup drivers in Xfinity, Trucks: ‘Just let them race. Who cares?’

By Dustin Long

(Photo/Getty Images)

Kevin Harvick, who once owned an Xfinity team and races in that series, voiced his displeasure Tuesday night with NASCAR’s rule to further limit Cup drivers in Xfintiy and Truck races next year.

“I know there are going to be a lot of people that disagree with me, but it’s hard when you’re trying to build a business and you’re trying to sell sponsorship, you have no tool greater than yourself when you’re in a situation like Brad (Keselowski), myself or Kyle (Busch),’’ Harvick said on his SiriusXM NASCAR Radio show “Happy Hours.’’

“It seems you’re just getting your balls chopped off every time you try to go out and sell sponsorship to try to keep your team funded because of the fact you can’t run enough races, so you can’t tie it to enough things. To me, it’s not the right thing to do.’’

NASCAR announced Tuesday that all Cup drivers are prohibited from competing in the last eight races of the season for the Xfinity and Trucks — the regular-season finale and playoffs. Cup drivers are also prohibited from the Dash 4 Cash races.

Cup drivers with more than five years experience in that series are limited to seven Xfinity races (down from 10 this year) and five Truck races (down from seven this year). Harvick said that Cup drivers were going to be limited to five Xfinity races next year before a compromise of seven was set.

“Just let them race,’’ Harvick said. “Who cares? Why not just let them race. I don’t understand it. That’s what we do. We race cars, we race trucks, we race late models. That’s what we did all our life, we raced. I don’t know why all of a sudden it’s become a problem.’’

Harvick did say that he’s fine with Cup drivers being kept out of the playoffs in both series and the Dash 4 Cash races but they should not be kept out of any other races.

Harvick admits he’s biased toward team ownership because of his history. Harvick and wife DeLana owned Kevin Harvick Inc., which ran in NASCAR from 2002-11. The organization won Camping World Truck Series titles in 2007 and ’09 with Ron Hornaday Jr. and won the owner’s title in 2011. They sold the team after the 2011 season.

Harvick has said previously that allowing Cup drivers in the Xfinity and Truck Series gives young drivers in those series added experience of running against such competitors. He’s also expressed concerns about sponsorship since some sponsors want to be aligned with Cup drivers in those series.

Harvick said Tuesday on “Happy Hours” that Ryan Preece, who won this past weekend at Iowa Speedway for Joe Gibbs Racing, would not have had a chance to drive that car had it not been for JGR using Cup drivers.

“Let me tell you this, Ryan Preece‘s car wouldn’t even been in existence if Denny Hamlin and Erik Jones didn’t have the sponsorship … for that 20 car to be on the race track,” Harvick said on his show.

“I agree with the opportunity (for young drivers) but sometimes you have to balance that opportunity with trying to run a business,’’ Harvick said Tuesday night. “When you’re cutting Kyle’s feet and Brad’s feet out from underneath them when they can’t do what they want to do, then it becomes hard for the teams to do what they need to do.

“I think what you’re going to see happen, when you run out of those options, those Xfinity sponsors are going to start plugging holes on the Cup side and they’re still going to get the Cup driver that they want … because they’re going to put their money on the Cup car.’’

SOCCER: Despite All-Star hype, Real Madrid focused on its preseason. 

By Dan Santaromita

(Photo/USA TODAY)

Real Madrid is one of the biggest sports brands in the world and any time they visit an American city it's a big deal.

That's how Chicago and Major League Soccer are treating Los Merengues' appearance for the MLS All-Star Game. There's plenty of events, advertising and attention given to the All-Star Game to show what a big deal it is to MLS and soccer in Chicago.

However, for Real Madrid, the two-time defending UEFA Champions League winners, this is still just the preseason. On top of that, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the two most famous and talented soccer players in the world alongside Leo Messi, isn't with the team.

"We want to end the preseason with a victory," German midfielder Toni Kroos said in a press conference before the match on Tuesday. "It's an important game. It's the last game before the real season starts, before the games count.

"That's why we are here, to win this game tomorrow, to prepare for the next games."

Madrid hasn't yet won in the preseason. Real has lost to Manchester United on penalties in Santa Clara, Calif., got smoked by Manchester City 4-1 in Los Angeles and lost to rival Barcelona in Miami.

While the team isn't going to worry about negative results in exhibition matches, a club used to winning with regularity won't want to go without a win on its four-match U.S. tour.

"It's only preseason, that's all," manager Zinedine Zidane said through a translator. "The most important thing is to finish (the preseason) well."

While the MLS All-Stars will be playing for the pride of their league. The value of a result in an exhibition game always has questionable, at best, value. It still can provide extra exposure to the league, who now boasts a solid collection of world famous players, and may give extra attention to the Chicago Fire in a resurgent season for the team.

Fire coach Veljko Paunovic, who is also coaching the MLS All-Stars, said playing against Real Madrid is "an occasion that you just cannot let go.” For Madrid, it's still just preseason, but playing the MLS All-Stars is strange because of the thrown-together aspect of the All-Star team.

"In terms of organization, I don't know how they're going to play," Zidane said. "What I do know is they're a very good team."

Final preseason games arrive, big questions remain.

By Joe Prince-Wright

(Photo/Getty Images)

There are 10 days to go until the new 2017-18 Premier League season. 10 freaking days.

Even though the summer has dragged on, PL clubs have been working hard since May to make sure they’re in the right spot heading into the new campaign.

Below is a look at the final preseason games for each PL club, plus we ponder the main question surrounding each club.

Arsenal – Easy: will Sanchez and Ozil sign a new deal?
Aug. 6 v Chelsea (Community Shield)

Bournemouth – Can Jermain Defoe score 20 goals this season?
Aug. 2 v Yeovil Town
Aug. 6 v Napoli

Brighton & Hove Albion – Is Anthony Knockaert capable of doing ‘a Mahrez’ for the Seagulls?
Aug. 1 v Girona
Aug. 6 v Atletico Madrid

Burnley – Can they cope with Michael Keane‘s departure in defense?
Aug. 1 v Celta Vigo
Aug. 6 v Hannover 96

Chelsea – Is Alvaro Morata able to carry Chelsea’s title hopes?
Aug. 6 v Arsenal (Community Shield)

Crystal Palace – Can a creaking defense survive without Mamadou Sakho?
Aug. 5 v Schalke

Everton – Where will Wayne Rooney slot into the attack?
Aug. 3 v MFK Ruzomberok (Europa League third-qualifying round, second leg)
Aug. 6 v Sevilla

Huddersfield Town – Can Wagner gel 10 new players into a team?
Aug. 1 v Torino
Aug. 4 v Stuttgart

Leicester City – If Riyad Mahrez leaves, who holds the keys to Leicester’s offense?
Aug. 1 v Burton Albion
Aug. 4 v Borussia Monchengladbach

Liverpool – Can the triangle of Lovren, Matip and Mignolet stay mistake free?
Aug. 1 v Bayern Munich
Aug. 2 v Atletico Madrid of Napoli
Aug. 5 v Athletic Bilbao

Manchester City – Will Walker, Mendy provide the defensive balance City have long-needed? (Bonus: Gabriel to start over Aguero?)
Aug. 4 v West Ham United

Manchester United – Where is the best position for Paul Pogba?
Aug. 2 v Sampdoria
Aug. 8 v Real Madrid (UEFA Super Cup final)

Newcastle United – Can Dwight Gayle score the goals to push the Magpies into midtable?
Aug. 2 v Wolfsburg
Aug. 6 v Hellas Verona

Southampton – Can Saints cope without Virgil Van Dijk?
Aug. 2 v FC Augsburg
Aug. 5 v Sevilla

Stoke City – Where will the goals come from after Arnautovic’s departure?
Aug. 1 v St Pauli
Aug. 5 v RB Leipzig

Swansea City – How can the Swans replace Sigurdsson?
Aug. 5 v Sampdoria

Tottenham Hotspur – Are Spurs ready for the mental challenge of playing home games at Wembley?
Aug. 5 v Juventus

Watford – Can youngsters Chaloboah and Hughes flourish in midfield?
Aug. 5 v Real Sociedad

West Bromwich Albion – Will Jay Rodriguez stay fit?
Aug. 1 v Port Vale
Aug. 5 v Deportivo La Coruna

West Ham United – Is experience the answer with Chicharito, Zabaleta, Hart and Arnautovic on board?
Aug. 1 v Altona 93
Aug. 4 v Manchester City

PL roundup: Hammers, Town draw; Liverpool cruises at Bayern. 

By Nicholas Mendola

(Photo/Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

It was a busy day around Europe as seven Premier League clubs continue to shape up for next weekend’s openers.

Bayern Munich 0-3 Liverpool — RECAP

Beating Bayern by three, at home, is a bit of a statement even in the preseason, and Daniel Sturridge joined Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah on the score sheet as the Reds advanced to play Atletico Madrid in Tuesday’s Audi Cup Final.

Stuttgart 3-3 Huddersfield Town

Down 3-1 in Austria against Bundesliga competition, Town came back through Collin Quaner and Sean Scannell goals. Rajiv Van la Parra also scored for the visitors. American winger Julian Green played 30 minutes for Stuttgart.

Burton Albion 2-1 Leicester City

The Foxes were down two when substitute Harry Maguire made sure the hosts didn’t keep a clean sheet.

Girona 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton had a pair of goals ruled offside and saw Glenn Murray sent off against La Liga’s new boys, who welcomed four Man City players on loan.

St. Pauli 4-2 Stoke City

Not many normal starters traveled to Germany for Stoke, but Joselu made his impact felt with a road brace for Mark Hughes‘ men.

Port Vale 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Hal Robson-Kanu scored before halftime, but the underdogs came back to draw with minutes to play.

Altona 3-3 West Ham United

A Winston Reid red card had the Irons behind the 8-ball as Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez debuted in maroon, but Toni Martinez and Andre Ayew scored to join an Altona own goal to give the Premier Leaguers a draw against the Hamburg-based side.

Liverpool batters Bayern, Sturridge plays down injury.

By Nicholas Mendola

(Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)

Liverpool gave its supporters plenty of cause for excitement with a thorough and convincing win over Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup on Tuesday.

Sadio Mane scored before his audacious back heel pass helped set up Mohamed Salah for a goal, and Daniel Sturridge scored a cute chipped goal late to give the Reds a 3-0 victory and passage to the Tuesday’s final versus Atletico Madrid.

Sturridge caused some concern when he needed a substitution following an apparent hamstring injury shortly after scoring, but he insists he’ll be just fine. That’s good news considering Liverpool camp has been raving about his form. From The Liverpool Echo:

“It just a little bit of tension kicking off,” the striker explained. “I’ve done a lot of running and a lot of work. We train on the morning of the games. I think it’s just a bit of fatigue to be honest. I’ll be okay.”

The 27-year-old forward bagged seven goals in 27 appearances last season, and is three seasons removed from his 21 goal campaign in 2013-14. Sturridge, however, made 20 PL appearances and 27 total last season, his most since that campaign.

NCAAFB: 40 things to know about the 2017 college football schedule.

By Pat Forde

Nick Saban and Alabama face a real test in their opener against Florida State. (Photo/Associated Press)

As the calendar hits August, a Dash (if you will) through 40 observations on the college football schedule:

1. The Southeastern Conference is challenging itself like no other conference in September, with its top seven teams all playing a big-time game away from home within the first nine days of the month. The list: Alabama vs. Florida State in Atlanta on Sept. 2; Florida vs. Michigan in Arlington on Sept. 2; LSU vs. BYU in Houston on Sept. 2; Texas A&M at UCLA on Sept. 3; Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Sept. 4; Georgia at Notre Dame on Sept. 9; and Auburn at Clemson on Sept. 9. Is this league regaining its powerful depth, or is it again Alabama and 13 schmoes? We should have a good indication very early in the season.

2. Similarly, the Big 12 has a chance to stage a high-profile revival or again bury itself early. Seven teams play away from home against Power Five opponents in the first three weekends of the year: West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech in Landover, Maryland, Sept. 3; Oklahoma at Ohio State, Sept. 9; TCU at Arkansas, Sept. 9; Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh, Sept. 16; Texas at USC, Sept. 16; Kansas State at Vanderbilt, Sept. 16; and Baylor at Duke, Sept. 16. Last year the Big 12 failed almost unanimously in early out-of-conference tests, all but sealing its fate as a non-playoff conference.

3. Yes, you read that right: Baylor is playing a Power Five opponent out of conference. Last time it happened: 2009. Nobody has scheduled more timorously over the last several years than the Bears.

4. Sept. 16 is a showcase day for the Atlantic Coast Conference: Clemson visits Louisville in what has become a very good rivalry, very quickly; Miami is at Florida State in a rivalry matchup of preseason divisional favorites; and Pittsburgh gets a home game against likely preseason top 10 Oklahoma State.

5. The ACC also finally succeeded in getting its marquee game played as late as possible on the schedule. Florida State visits Clemson on Nov. 11, the first time since 2005 that the matchup has been the final conference game on both teams’ schedule. Both close with games against in-state SEC rivals – Florida for the Seminoles and South Carolina for the Tigers – and both are playing FCS patsies the week before. So the 10th game of the season could be the day the ACC Atlantic is decided.

6. Boo: For perhaps the first time ever, zero teams play every game on natural grass. Eighteen play every game on artificial turf: Ohio State, Washington State, Kansas State, Wyoming, Utah State, Air Force, UNLV, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Buffalo, Western Kentucky, Charlotte, UT-San Antonio, Arkansas State, Idaho and Coastal Carolina. In an era of “Fake News,” perhaps it was inevitable to have so many games on Fake Grass.

7. Teams with advantageous schedules, Part I: Florida gets the gift LSU home game courtesy of stiff-necked Tigers athletic director Joe Alleva and plays just three true road games.

8. Advantageous schedule, Part II: Arkansas plays four true road games, none before Oct. 7, and none of its opponents have a bye week before facing the Razorbacks.

9. Advantageous schedule, part III: Wisconsin plays neither Ohio State nor Penn State and gets Michigan in Madison; Northwestern plays neither Ohio State nor Michigan and gets Penn State in Evanston.

10. Advantageous schedule, part IV: Washington has five Pac-12 games at home, four on the road, does not play USC and should be heavily favored in at least three of five road games (Rutgers, Oregon State, Arizona State).

11. Advantageous schedule, part V: Washington State opens with five straight on the Palouse, capped by a Friday night game against USC.

12. Advantageous schedule, part VI: Kansas State won’t face a team that won more than seven games last year until Oct. 21.

13. Advantageous schedule, part VII: Pittsburgh avoids the Atlantic Big Three of Florida State, Clemson and Louisville.

14. Advantageous schedule, part VIII: SMU doesn’t leave the DFW Metroplex until Oct. 7 and doesn’t leave the state until Oct. 21.

15. Advantageous schedule, part IX: Wyoming plays four straight at home in September – a remarkable luxury for a Group of Five team – including a visit from Oregon.

16. Advantageous schedule, part X: Alabama plays one game farther than 250 miles from campus – at Texas A&M on Oct. 7.

17. Disadvantageous schedule, part I: Auburn plays three straight SEC road games in a span of four weeks: at LSU on Oct. 14, at Arkansas on Oct. 21, at Texas A&M on Nov. 4. Nobody else in the league plays more than two straight league games on the road. The Tigers also have the previously mentioned trip to Clemson on Sept. 9.

18. Disadvantageous schedule, part II: Indiana has four of its first eight on the road and plays five divisional games before November. The first game against a Big Ten West opponent is division favorite Wisconsin on Nov. 4.

19. Disadvantageous schedule, part III: California plays 10 straight weeks without a bye, draws USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 South, and could start 1-6 in Justin Wilcox’s debut season. The Golden Bears also finish at Stanford and at UCLA.

20. Disadvantageous schedule, part IV: Oklahoma State plays three road games in September. The Cowboys also face Texas and West Virginia on the road on consecutive Saturdays, then come home for a showdown with Oklahoma.

21. Disadvantageous schedule, part V: Between Sept. 23 and Nov. 11, Wake Forest plays five of seven games on the road. The home games are against Florida State and Louisville.

22. Disadvantageous schedule, part VI: South Florida plays three games in 13 days: at Connecticut on Sept. 9, Friday home game against Illinois on Sept. 15, Thursday home game against Temple on Sept. 21.

23. Disadvantageous schedule, part VII: Cincinnati plays three straight on the road: at Michigan on Sept. 9, at Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 16, at Navy on Sept. 23. (Granted, Bearcats fans should make the short commute to Oxford, Ohio, en masse for the middle game in that stretch.)

24. Disadvantageous schedule, part VIII: In its first season under Jeff Tedford, Fresno State faces these back-to-back road games: at Alabama on Sept. 9 and at Washington on Sept. 16; then at Hawaii on Nov. 11 and at Wyoming on Nov. 18. The competition will be brutal in the first back-to-back; the temperature swings will be extreme in the second.

25. Disadvantageous schedule, part IX: Brigham Young plays seven games away from home and has consecutive road games at Mississippi State on Oct. 14 and East Carolina on Oct. 21. It’s not easy to get to Starkville, Miss., or Greenville, N.C., especially when coming from Provo, Utah.

26. Disadvantageous schedule, part X: Syracuse road games are at LSU, three of the top four teams in the Atlantic (Florida State, Louisville and North Carolina State) and the favorite in the Coastal (Miami). Closest road game for Orange fans is 640 miles away in Raleigh. ACC geography strikes again.

27. Misplaced rivalry games: Duke visits North Carolina on Sept. 23, the earliest the two have ever played in a rivalry that dates back to 1922, when Duke was known as Trinity College. Oklahoma visits Oklahoma State on Nov. 4, the earliest the Bedlam game has been played since 2004.

28. Body-clock games: Cal at North Carolina (Sept. 2) kicks off at 9:20 a.m. Berkeley time; Minnesota at Oregon State (Sept. 9) kicks off at 9 p.m. Minneapolis time; Houston at Arizona (Sept. 9) kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Houston time; UCLA at Memphis (Sept. 16) kicks off at 9 a.m. Los Angeles time; Mississippi at Cal (Sept. 16) kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Oxford time.

29. Longest road trip (other than Stanford and Rice playing in Australia): Hawaii at Massachusetts, a distance of 5,000 miles.

30. Power Five teams playing true road games against non-Power Five teams: Oklahoma State at South Alabama; Iowa State at Akron; Kansas at Ohio; Wake Forest at Appalachian State; Miami at Arkansas State; North Carolina at Old Dominion; Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech; Kentucky at Southern Mississippi; Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee; Wisconsin at BYU; Illinois at South Florida; UCLA at Memphis; Utah at BYU; Arizona at UTEP; Stanford at San Diego State; Oregon at Wyoming; Oregon State at Colorado State; Georgia Tech at Central Florida; Missouri at Connecticut; Virginia Tech at East Carolina; and Virginia is at Boise State.

31. About that Virginia Tech-ECU game: It is the Pirates’ chance to extend a four-year streak of beating at least one ACC opponent.

32. Stanford doesn’t play a home game until Sept. 23, latest of any Power Five school, which is fine with the Cardinal. Undergraduate campus housing doesn’t open until Sept. 19, and classes don’t start until Sept. 25.

33. Utah State doesn’t play a Saturday home game until Oct. 7.

34. Tulane is at Navy on Sept. 9 and at Oklahoma on Sept. 16. Tough trips and tough preparation for wildly different offensive schemes.

35. UCLA plays six road games, two Friday nights, one Sunday and has the previously mentioned early-wakeup road game at Memphis.

36. Oklahoma’s streak of never playing consecutive true road games will reach three years this fall. The Sooners are the only Big 12 team not playing true road games in succession in 2017. Send a fruit basket to the conference office, OU fans.

37. USC twice plays back-to-back road games: Sept. 23 and 29 against Cal and Washington State, respectively; and Oct. 21 and 28 against Notre Dame and Arizona State. Last time USC won in South Bend, Lane Kiffin was the coach.

38. Say a prayer for the Mercer Bears, who just started playing football again in 2013 after shuttering the program in 1941. They play Auburn on Sept. 16 and Alabama on Nov. 18.

39. Alabama aside, the penultimate football Saturday of the regular season is actually legit in the SEC this year. Customarily a weekend set aside for scheduling tune-ups against patsies before a big rivalry matchup, this year the SEC has LSU at Tennessee, Texas A&M at Mississippi, Mississippi State at Arkansas, Kentucky at Georgia and Missouri at Vanderbilt. Much better.

40. Navy visits Florida Atlantic on Sept. 1. Lane Kiffin’s opener as coach of the Owls has unofficially been titled, “Disciplined vs. Un.”

NCAABKB: Big Ten doesn’t listen to member schools, releases awful conference breakdown.

By Scott Phillips

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Big Ten released the opponent breakdown for the 2017-18 men’s basketball season on Monday.

And they badly screwed it up.

The Big Ten has a difficult dilemma with scheduling its conference games because they are a 14-team league with an 18-game conference schedule. But the league is taking away a lot of classic rivalries this season that should always feature a home-and-away rivalry.

Here are some examples of rivalry games that we’ll only see once this season during Big Ten conference play:

• National title contender Michigan State and Michigan — coming off of a Sweet 16 appearance — only play one time.
• Indiana and new head coach Archie Miller only play in-state rival Purdue one time.
• Northwestern — fresh off of its first NCAA tournament appearance — only plays in-state rival Illinois and new head coach Brad Underwood one time.

As noted by the SB Nation Purdue site, Hammer & Rails, Purdue will have hosted only one of the last five conference games against Indiana in West Lafayette. Which seems totally fair…

This isn’t a new development. The Big Ten has had this issue with rivalry scheduling in men’s basketball before.

All three of those rivalries even requested that the Big Ten “protect” each of them so that the conference could guarantee a home-and-away series between those schools every year.

Kyle Austin from MLive has some quotes from the Big Ten meetings in May from Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski that drive this home.

From Austin’s report:

Bobinski said he didn’t think the protected rivalries could be added in time for the 2017-18 schedule, but said “I think we’ll get there in the reasonably near future.” Michigan-Michigan State and Indiana-Purdue were the two protected rivalries discussed, and Illinois and Northwestern also requested to have their rivalry protected, Bobinski said.

Clearly, the Big Ten didn’t listen in time to get this right for the 2017-18 season. And that’s a shame. Now we’re stuck with a Big Ten schedule that is missing a lot of fun home-and-away rivalry series this season.

Hopefully, the Big Ten listens to its members and rectifies this rivalry situation for future seasons.

NCAA would be wrong to force N.C. State's Braxton Beverly to redshirt.

By Rob Dauster

(Photo/Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Last November, Lavar Batts, a top 100 point guard from North Carolina, signed his Letter of Intent with VCU and head coach Will Wade. That same some, Thomas Allen, a top 100 shooting guard, signed his Letter of Intent with N.C. State and Mark Gottfried.

Batts is now on campus at N.C. State prepping for his freshman season after asking for, and receiving, a release from VCU in the spring, just days after Will Wade accepted the head coaching position at LSU. He took Allen’s spot on the roster after he asked for, and received, a release from the Wolfpack. Allen is now a freshman at Nebraska.

Both players are eligible to play this season.

Braxton Beverly, however, may not be.

Beverly is not a top 100 prospect, but he is a three-star point guard that signed his LOI with Ohio State the same month that Batts and Allen signed their LOIs. After Thad Matta was fired, he asked for, and received, a release from the Buckeyes and, a month later, signed with the Wolfpack; his head coach at Hargrave Military Academy, A.W. Hamilton, was hired as an assistant coach by new N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts, who was himself the head coach at Hargrave until 2011.

But Beverly is going to have to receive a waiver from the NCAA if he wants to play this season.

Unlike Gottfried and Wade, the coaching change at Ohio State happened in early June, nearly a month after Ohio State’s summer sessions began on May 10th. Beverly,  who received his release on June 30th, attended summer classes in Columbus on the assumption that the coaching staff that had recruited him to Ohio State would be coaching him at Ohio State. Since he attended those classes, he is no longer a prospect asking out of an LOI. In the NCAA’s eyes, he’s a freshman looking to transfer.

The rule, by the book, is that Beverly will have to do a year in residence before he is eligible to play for the Wolfpack, meaning he redshirts the 2017-18 season.

And that’s wrong.

The NCAA still has plenty of time to get this right. It is August 1st, after all, and as a transfer, Beverly is allowed to do everything that the rest of his teammates do — go to workouts, travel with the team to Italy, etc. — until actual games start being played. That’s three months away, which is plenty of time to apply for a waiver from the NCAA.

And if the NCAA is smart, they give Beverly one.

Look, this situation is unique. Coaches are not often fired in June, not when they are the greatest head coach in the history of a program like Ohio State and certainly not when they are just three months removed from getting a vote of confidence from their Athletic Director. No one expected this, and it would be unfair to punish Beverly for doing what many recruits do when the coach that recruited them moves on.

(And while we’re here, yes, recruits commit to coaches, not schools. The NCAA failing to recognize this is dumb and stubborn and, frankly, an embarrassment.)

What’s more, however, is that keeping Beverly from being eligible in 2017-18 decentivizes attending summer school for incoming freshmen. Where is the motivation to get a jump-start on your education if you know that it puts you at risk of being locked into the school if the coach you committed to is fired or takes a new job?

Ohio State has already granted Beverly a release. They’re fine with him playing.

Hopefully, the NCAA will cut him some slack as well.

Is the NFL seriously considering relaxing its marijuana rules?

By Mike Florio

(Photo/Getty Images)

On the surface, the news that the NFL has offered to collaborate with the NFLPA in its effort to study whether marijuana can be used as a pain management tools suggests that the league finally has decided to soften its stance that marijuana is addictive, unhealthy, illegal. But there’s always more going on than meets the eye.

The NFL had previously been clinging to its strong stance against marijuana, presumably due to the realities of collective bargaining. The league and the union agreed decades ago that marijuana would be prohibited for all purposes, and the league seemed to be inclined to change that only if the NFLPA would be making an equivalent concession.

But the union likely will never make a concession in this regard, because the current rules allow players who aren’t already in the program to avoid positive tests, if they’re smart. So the NFLPA wisely has been persistently couching the issue as a matter of player health and safety, forcing the league either to follow suit or risk being perceived as not caring about player health and safety.

Coincidentally (or not), the league finally has adopted the union’s perspective, on the heels of last week’s CTE study.

This hardly means that the league will make wholesale changes to its substance-abuse policy, or that the league will agree with any NFLPA findings regarding the benefits of smoking marijuana. Eventually, the league’s position could be, “We explored it, and we decided that it’s not something that will promote player health and safety.”

But that’s a problem for another day. For now, the NFL has taken the first step toward abandoning the collective bargaining façade and acknowledging that the best interests of the game compel at a minimum consideration of any and all mechanisms for promoting and enhancing the health and safety of the men who play it.

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, August 02, 2017.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1921 - Eight White Sox players were acquitted of throwing the 1919 World Series.

1938 - Bright yellow baseballs were used in a major league baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. It was hoped that the balls would be easier to see.

1992 - Jackie Joyner took the gold medal in the heptathlon for a second consecutive time.

2012 - Michael Phelps won his 16th Gold Medal when he won the 200-meter individual medley. With the victory he became the first male swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics.

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