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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"What does it take to be a champion? Desire, dedication, determination, concentration and the will to win." ~ Patty Berg, Retired Professional Golfer, Founding Member of the LPGA and Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
TRENDING: David Haugh ranks the top five players on the Bears roster. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: Blackhawks announce 2017 Prospect Tournament roster. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: Vegas Projects Bulls As Worst in the NBA. (Taken from sbnation/com fanpost, 08/29/2017). (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: Zo, Rizzo provide zing for Cubs vs. Bucs; Did Sox 'fleece' Cubs in Jose Quintana trade or is Cubs Twitter overreacting? (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: DJ jumps into POY race with Spieth, Thomas. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR TV schedule: Week of September 1 – September 3. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
TRENDING: Fire: Despite scoring drought, Nemanja Nikolic 'sure' he will regain scoring touch; PL: Who needs what in the final days of the window? (See the soccer section for Fire news and worldwide soccer updates).
TRENDING: Below is one of the charities that we, (CS&T/AA), attend every year. We respect and appreciate the causes that they support and welcome you to save the date and attend if you can. We can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
Bears Down Chicago Bears!!!!! David Haugh ranks the top five players on the Bears roster.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
David Haugh apparently doesn't need to see NFL players play in regular season NFL games before saying they are among the best on a team.
The Chicago Tribune columnist was at the CSN Chicago studio and ranked his top five players on the Bears roster. The list has some surprising inclusions.
5. Jordan Howard, RB
Haugh's take: "Coming off an outstanding rookie year, a guy who is going to be the key to this offense."
4. Akiem Hicks, DE
Haugh's take: "This is a guy motivated by contract, naturally a leader, came to Chicago and he was better than I think advertised."
3. Kyle Long, OL
Haugh's take: "Kyle Long still has a great value to this team, but he's got to be on the field."
2. Mitch Trubisky, QB
Haugh's take: "To me he is your second most important member on this roster. He is the second best right now because if you put him in Week 1, I think he'd do an OK job."
1. Leonard Floyd, DE
Haugh's take: "You can't block this guy one-on-one. He is an impact player defensively. The Bears don't have many of those."
For another Bears top five, check out Dan Wiederer's list.
On Sunday, we saw what Mitch Trubisky needs to work on — and how good he can be.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/USA TODAY)
John Fox made a point earlier this month, saying if “you haven’t thrown a pick, you haven’t played.”
Trubisky had that sequence play out during his second series with the first team offense Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. On first and 10 from the Titans’ 48-yard line, Trubisky was scanning the field and getting his teammates set as the play clock bled to three seconds, leading to this being audibly heard on the Fox broadcast: “Go, Mitchell, go!”
The Bears called a timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty. After Trubisky slipped and fumbled for a five-yard loss, he was nearly picked off, then found Deonte Thompson for a 14-yard gain. Trubisky then committed a cardinal sin of playing quarterback: Taking a delay of game penalty on fourth-and-1.
So what did Trubisky learn from those operational gaffes?
“Be a better communicator with Dowell (Loggains) and in the huddle,” Trubisky said. “Just always being aware of the play clock and the situation. And that’s something you always gotta work on, because you gotta know what the situation is and be in control of the game.”
This is the area that, more than anything else, is holding Trubisky back from being the Bears’ starting quarterback. One of the first things Fox pointed out after Sunday’s game was Mike Glennon’s strength at the line of scrimmage — calling out protections, getting his teammates lined up, identifying defenses, etc. — which is notable given Trubisky’s inexperience with those duties at this level.
“I think it’s just experience,” Fox said. “You’re talking about a rookie at a position in the National Football League — that’s pretty difficult. You have to be aware of a lot of things, the clock included.”
While Trubisky’s athleticism and pure quarterbacking talent have been apparent from the first pass he threw Aug. 10 against the Denver Broncos, this was an example of a rookie mistake made by someone still learning how to operate an NFL offense.
“It’s just, things speed up for him and you just gotta be calm out there, understand the situation,” left tackle Charles Leno Jr. said. “It’s not like practice where the play clock can go to zero and you can still run a play. You gotta look at that clock. Little things like that that he’s gotta see.
"He’s still a rookie, man. He’s going to make those mistakes. We’re all supporting him, trying to build him up.”
This is a fixable issue, and one that may not hold Trubisky back for long. His picturesque 45-yard touchdown to Tanner Gentry on Sunday was a highlight-reel reminder of what the 2017 No. 2 overall pick can do, but even the less spectacular throws he made on Sunday had an air of impressiveness to them.
And despite that sloppy start with the first-team offense — a three-and-out and then the possession with those clock issues — Trubisky still completed 10 of 15 passes for 128 yards and had a quarterback rating of 115.4. If he doesn’t play on Thursday against the Cleveland Browns, he’ll finish his preseason debut with the following stats: 34/48 (a 70.8 completion percentage), 354 yards, three touchdowns and a rating of 112.7.
The latter half to the Fox quote about making mistakes is an emphasis on how a player responds to them. Trubisky responded well on Sunday, and can use those mistakes as a learning experience on which to grow -- and keep the pressure on Glennon to be the Bears' starting quarterback.
"So far, so good," Trubisky said of his preseason. "(There's) always stuff to learn and improve from but that’s what the film is for. We’re going to study this film, get better this week, learn from our mistakes and continue to get better and grow as a team. Just keep doing the little things."
Mark Sanchez won't play Thursday as Bears will get one last look at Mitch Trubisky.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/Associated Press)
John Fox said after Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans that Mark Sanchez would play in Thursday’s preseason finale, but that no longer will be the case. Instead, Mitch Trubisky and Connor Shaw will be the only two Bears quarterbacks playing against the Cleveland Browns.
“It's not easy to get live game reps as a quarterback in this league,” Fox said in reference to Trubisky. “It helps development, he needs all those opportunities he can get and (that’s) no different Thursday night.”
Fox has been adamant the Bears’ quarterback depth chart hasn’t changed despite Trubisky getting first-team snaps during practice last week and on Sunday. Sanchez didn’t play against the Titans and played one series against the Arizona Cardinals and saw two series against the Denver Broncos.
Sanchez’s lack of preseason playing time raises the question: Would the Bears turn to Trubisky if something were to happen to Glennon, and does it make Sanchez expendable when rosters are trimmed to 53 on Saturday?
Fox has routinely pointed to Sanchez’s experience — 72 starts, over 2,000 passing attempts and six playoff games in his seven-year career — as a reason to not need to play him much this month.
Keeping Sanchez could still have value if the Bears don’t want to have Trubisky make his regular-season debut in the middle of a game that, possibly, wouldn’t be going well.
“I think (Sanchez's) had a lot of looks, it just hasn’t been with us other than practice,” Fox said, “which is fine for us.”
Danny Trevathan feels ready to be a part what ‘could be one of the top defenses in the league’.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/Associated Press)
Danny Trevathan never doubted he would return from the ruptured patellar tendon he suffered last November, but didn’t know when he’d be on the field again.
Nine months later, it looks like that date will be Sept. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons.
“I feel like I’m 100 (percent), or I wouldn’t even be out there,” Trevathan said. “I feel real good about myself and I’m looking forward to Week 1.”
Trevathan traveled to Tennessee last weekend, and while he didn’t see the field, just warming up and preparing to play was “big” for the veteran inside linebacker. He’s had a few tests in practice and said he needed the physicality of those days after he traded in an orange non-contact jersey for a regular navy or white one.
But the biggest test will still be Week 1. For all the positive gains Trevathan has made this month, that’ll be his first game action since late November.
“I feel like I’m ready,” Trevathan said. “I still got the test coming up. My goal is just to be ready and prepared as I can be for the first game.”
The Bears’ defense — in particular the front seven — has looked strong in three preseason games without Trevathan (and, at times, a few other key guys). The first team allowed three points against Denver, seven against Arizona (which came after Tyrann Mathieu ran a Mike Glennon interception back into Bears territory) and none against Tennessee. Even with the it’s-just-preseason caveat, that production has buoyed a growing confidence within Vic Fangio’s group that it can be successful this year.
And Trevathan could be a big part of that as soon as things start to matter on Sept. 10.
“(The defense) could be whatever we make it,” Trevathan said. “We could be one of the top defenses in the league, if not the best. We all know that, we all believe in that, we’re putting in the work to head toward that direction and we just, come gametime, gotta put it on film and let everybody know that, game in and game out.”
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks announce 2017 Prospect Tournament roster.
By Chicago Blackhawks Media Relations / chicagoblackhawks.com
(Photo/www.blackhawks.com)
The Chicago Blackhawks announced their roster for the 2017 Prospect Tournament today, which will take place at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City, Mich., from Sept. 8-12. The team includes 24 players (14 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders), and will be coached by Rockford IceHogs Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and Assistant Coaches Derek King and Sheldon Brookbank.
Chicago's roster is highlighted by 2016-17 Ontario Hockey League Most Outstanding Player Alex DeBrincat and nine players who played for the Rockford IceHogs last season, including forward Anthony Louis and defenseman Luc Snuggerud. Click here for the full roster.
Blackhawks prospects will compete versus teams from the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. Teams are split into two divisions and will square off against each club within their division once during the round-robin before a crossover on the final day of the tournament, with the first-place finishers in each division meeting for the championship on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Tickets for the 2017 Prospect Tournament can be purchased at Centre Ice Arena or www.centreice.org.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Vegas Projects Bulls As Worst in the NBA. (Taken from sbnation/com fanpost, 08/29/2017).
By paulsteeno
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(Photo/David Banks-USA TODAY Sports)
Strangely, this is good news?
A Las Vegas oddsmaker confirmed what most NBA fans already knew: the Chicago Bulls are going to be really bad this season.
Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook manager Jeff Sherman revealed on Twitter their opening over/under on 2017-2018 wins for each NBA team.
The Bulls 21.5 wins was the lowest number by a significant margin.
Here’s how the Bulls tanking competition looks:
A Las Vegas oddsmaker confirmed what most NBA fans already knew: the Chicago Bulls are going to be really bad this season.
Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook manager Jeff Sherman revealed on Twitter their opening over/under on 2017-2018 wins for each NBA team.
The Bulls 21.5 wins was the lowest number by a significant margin.
Here’s how the Bulls tanking competition looks:
- Atlanta Hawks: 25.5 wins
- Sacramento Kings: 28.5 wins
- Phoenix Suns: 28.5 wins
- Brooklyn Nets: 28.5 wins
- New York Knicks: 30.5 wins
- Indiana Pacers: 31.5 wins
For those worried that the Bulls wouldn’t be able to tank correctly, this list should provide reassurance. The league’s worst team gets a 25% chance to win the draft lottery with an over 64% chance to ‘earn’ a top-3 pick.
CUBS: Zo, Rizzo provide zing for Cubs vs. Bucs.
(Photo/AP)
Ben Zobrist sparked a three-run sixth inning with a leadoff home run and Anthony Rizzo added an RBI double to back Jake Arrieta and lift the Cubs to a 4-1 win over the Pirates on Tuesday night, carrying Chicago to a season-high 11 games over .500 and a 3 1/2-game lead over the Brewers in the National League Central.
Arrieta struck out four and scattered two hits over six scoreless innings before exiting. The right-hander now is 7-2 with a 1.69 ERA since the start of July.
Chad Kuhl fell to 0-4 in six career starts against the Cubs. On Tuesday he was charged with three runs on seven hits, including Zobrist's homer, over 5 1/3 innings.
Rizzo had three hits and connected in the eighth for his 200th career double, and second of the game. He drove in Kris Bryant, who had walked to open the inning, to raise his RBI total to 94.
Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his franchise-record 27th consecutive save. The old mark was 26, which Davis had shared with Ryan Dempster (Aug. 2, 2005, to May 1, 2006).
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Catching up: Alex Avila hasn't provided much offense since joining the Cubs, but he delivered in the sixth. Zobrist smacked the first pitch he saw from Kuhl 405 feet into the right-field bleachers for his 10th home run. Kyle Schwarber then walked, and one out later, reached third on Rizzo's double to right, although he was nearly hit by the line drive. Tommy La Stella was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Avila delivered an RBI single to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead and chase Kuhl.
R-E-L-I-E-F: The Pirates collected as many hits against reliever Koji Uehara in the seventh inning as they did against Arrieta over six. With one out in the seventh, Uehara served up John Jaso's 10th home run, a 373-foot shot into the right-field bleachers. Uehara was chased one out later when pinch-hitter Elias Diaz singled, but Pedro Strop took over and struck out pinch-hitter Jose Osuna to end the inning.
Are Cubs turning Ben Zobrist into a part-time player?
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Joe Maddon believed in Ben Zobrist when he broke in with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and found all these different ways to use a multifaceted player. Zobrist bought into the super-utility concept – though he didn’t really have a choice – and helped create Maddon’s aura as a cool manager.
The Cubs used that relationship – and the chance to make history in his home state – to win a bidding war for a coveted free agent without offering the most guaranteed money. As last year’s World Series MVP, Zobrist helped absolve Maddon for his questionable Game 7 decisions.
But Maddon’s camera-friendly personality and deep-rooted connections to Zobrist has limits. Maddon didn’t worry about personal feelings during that playoff run, when he benched $184 million outfielder Jason Heyward, froze out relievers and started Javier Baez over Zobrist at second base for all 17 games.
You can already see the possibility of Zobrist becoming a part-time player down the stretch when hot-hitting Tommy La Stella starts at second base – like “3 a.m.” did during Monday’s 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field – and shortstop Addison Russell (strained right foot/plantar fasciitis) begins his rehab assignment the same night with Triple-A Iowa.
Play out the decisions from here, the way Maddon does with Jeremy Greenhouse, the assistant director of research and development, and Theo Epstein’s front office. The 2016 Cubs won two playoff rounds without Kyle Schwarber. Ian Happ hadn’t made his big-league debut yet. Jon Jay emerged as a leadoff solution. Heyward has bounced back from the worst offensive season of his career and still provides Gold Glove defense in right field.
“There are a lot of options,” Maddon said. “Honestly, that’s one thing I was just mulling over. I was just talking to Greenhouse about that. I like a bunch of different scenarios presented to me, beyond what I can just conjure up in my own mind.
“What does it look like from the outside looking in? Give me some more thoughts, so that I can make my best decisions going into this whole thing.
“When Addison comes back, that compounds things, obviously, because now all of a sudden – with Javy playing at the level that he is and what it does to your defense with those two guys in the middle – that can be very pertinent going down to the latter part of the season.”
Maddon came into this season focusing on rest and recovery, particularly with Zobrist, who won a World Series ring with the 2015 Kansas City Royals and then played into early November last year, cementing his reputation as a clutch switch-hitter who can change the dynamics of an entire playoff lineup.
On his 36th birthday, Zobrist hurt his left wrist on an awkward swing at Dodger Stadium, part of a series of injuries (neck, back) that broke his kinetic chain, sapped his hand speed and limited his ability to work in the batting cage. Zobrist went six weeks between his last two home runs – the first game after the All-Star break and over the weekend in Philadelphia – and has struggled to push his OPS above .700.
“It might relegate different guys – not just (Zobrist) – to becoming more on-off, on-off,” Maddon said. “Maybe on-on, then off, something to that effect. I don’t know yet. But I’m looking forward to Addison being well.
“And then we’re talking about Javy’s at-bats. If he continues that trend right now – where he’s not expanding his strike zone, which we’ve all been waiting for – if that happens, heads up. Heads up, he could be a real force the last month.”
The first-place Cubs can also afford to be patient with Zobrist, knowing that he is such a good teammate and hoping for another huge payoff in October.
“I’m just thankful that we’re in the place we are right now as a team, and that we have other capable guys,” Zobrist said. “Because if we didn’t, it would be a much worse place for me to have struggled for as long as I have (this) season.”
How Mike Montgomery sets up Cubs to win now and in the future.
By Patrick Mooney
Photo/USA TODAY)
Hours after Jon Lester threw a simulated game in an empty Wrigley Field, another lefty walked off the mound on Monday night to a standing ovation from the crowd of 38,453.
Nearing September in a season where the Cubs came dangerously close to considering a trade-deadline sale, focusing on player development and writing off 2017 as a learning experience for their young core, maybe the defending World Series champs can have it all.
Because Mike Montgomery – who emerged as one of the few bullpen options manager Joe Maddon trusted during last year’s playoff run and notched the final out in Game 7 – looked that good during a 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates as a short-term fix while Lester rests his tired left shoulder/tight lat muscle.
And the still-in-first-place Cubs are getting closer to full strength, with shortstop Addison Russell (strained right foot/plantar fasciitis) starting his Triple-A Iowa rehab assignment and catcher Willson Contreras facing Lester in that simulated game (though a team official stressed it’s still only Day 19 on a projected four-to-six-week timeline for a strained right hamstring).
Montgomery handed the ball to Maddon in the eighth inning and quickly saluted the fans as he neared the dugout after giving up a leadoff homer to Jordy Mercer that landed in the left-field bleachers and snapped his personal scoreless streak at 17.1 innings. However the personnel moves shake out from here, the Cubs understand they can still do something special again.
“I’m on a good team and I want to win,” Montgomery said. “Especially after last year, you realize that winning is the No. 1 goal. That trumps everything else.
“Yeah, in the minor leagues, growing up, it probably wasn’t the same for me. I probably had a little bit more of an ego. You get drafted and your ego kicks in.
“But then once you get to the big leagues, you realize: ‘Look, it’s all about winning.’ You got to put that aside, check the ego at the door and just go out there and help the team win.”
Montgomery needed only five pitches to get through the first inning and forced 10 groundouts – check out the highlight of “backup” shortstop Javier Baez doing a full-extension dive and pop-up throw to steal a base hit from Jose Osuna – and didn’t walk any of the 25 batters he faced.
“I think his future is as a starter,” Maddon said. “I think what you saw tonight is typical of what he’s capable of doing over a long period of time.”
The Cubs have to be optimistic about their pitching infrastructure when Jake Arrieta and John Lackey are about to become free agents and the costs of their young hitters will soar through the arbitration system. But Montgomery – who has gone 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in three spot starts since late July – is quietly making the case to be part of the 2018 rotation.
WHITE SOX: Frustrated by Tuesday's loss, James Shields still likes progress made with new arm slot.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Tuesday night was a good example of why James Shields said throwing from this new, lowered angle is still a work in progress.
The White Sox pitcher was a tiny bit off the mark, especially early in the count, and it didn’t help his cause. Now four-plus starts into an adjustment that has him throwing from a three-quarters angle, Shields walked five batters. Those free passes and an early errant throw on a potential inning-ending double play proved to be too much for Shields and the White Sox to overcome as they fell 6-4 to the Minnesota Twins.
“I was a little erratic today,” Shields said. “If I get strike one it’s a whole different ballgame, not walking guys. I didn’t think they hit me very hard tonight. I still got a lot of ground balls, but again I walked too many guys tonight.
“I wasn’t getting ahead of hitters.
“I felt like I struck one guy out but ended up walking him. Other than that, I need to do a better job of getting ahead of hitters.”
Shields’ stat line could have been vastly different with a good throw to second base in the first inning. That would have kept him in line with his output since he dropped down to the lower slot in the middle of an Aug. 5 outing at Boston. The right-hander was credited with allowing four earned runs in five innings on Monday, including two in the first. But had his throw to second base on Eddie Rosario’s comebacker been on the mark, Shields would have been out of the inning unscathed. Instead, Shields rushed the throw and Tim Anderson only got a force out at second, which allowed Brian Dozier to score. Byron Buxton followed with a two-out RBI single to make it 2-0.
Shields also walked five batters, the most he’s issued in a start since July. But he didn’t get the benefit of the doubt from plate ump Paul Emmel on several close pitches that appeared to be in the zone, according to MLB Statcast.
“I still think he threw a lot of strikes,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It could have gone either way. It didn’t go our way in that department, but all in all I thought he minimized damage on the other side of it.”
Shields did allow a homer to Jorge Polanco in the third inning and three walks and a single cost him another run in the fourth.
But the White Sox still like what they’ve seen from Shields in August since he made the switch in arm slots after a few former teammates suggested he try it.
Consider that in August, entering Tuesday, hitters had a .225/.284/.466 slash line versus Shields compared with a .263/.344/.522 line on the season.
He also entered Tuesday with a 37 percent fly ball rate in August, down from 45.2 percent. His strike out-rate climbed to 27.1 percent from 19.4 percent. Shields’ walk-rate was down to 7.3 percent from 10.3 percent and his groundball rate had increased by three percent to 40.3.
“It’s more than alteration, it’s a change,” said bullpen coach Curt Hasler said. “And this is him doing it. It impressed the heck out of me when he did it midgame in Boston. This guy has got tremendous feel so he can do that. The result he has gotten is more balls down, more ground balls, less balls in the air, more outs on the infield, higher strike to ball ratio. All those things have been a result of this change he’s been able to do. What we’re looking for is trying to maintain the things he’s kind of shown us a little bit with the angle. We’re seeing some things that are happening with the ball, with the sink down in the zone and he can still change speeds with all of his stuff and his changeup is still a plus pitch. We’re kind of learning as he goes.”
Shields was pleased with his progress after his previous start (also against Minnesota) but cautioned he’s still feeling his way around. He said he’s been messing around with the arm slot for 10 years and at the behest of his fellow pitchers broke it out. Shields is likely to continue trying it out.
“It's working out pretty well right now,” Shields said last Wednesday. “I think all my pitches are working pretty well. The curveball is working really well. My changeup was really good today. I'm utilizing each pitch when I need to right now. Like I said it's a work in progress. I have a few good games here in a row and I'm getting a lot of ground balls, which is where I need to be. Especially a lot of hitters are hitting fly balls in the game. So we're going to continue to work on it.”
White Sox Talk Podcast: Did Sox 'fleece' Cubs in Jose Quintana trade or is Cubs Twitter overreacting?
By CSN Staff
(Photo/USA TODAY)
It's been six weeks since the White Sox and Cubs made the José Quintana trade, and early returns are unanimous: Cubs fans are freaking out. They feel like the Cubs gave up too much in Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease and two more prospects. This became apparent after Quintana gave up six runs to the last-place Phillies on Friday. On the podcast, Chuck Garfien, Ryan McGuffey and Rob Wiatrowski bring on resident Cubs expert David Kaplan, who in a spirited conversation says that the White Sox received a Mercedes-type return for Quintana who he believes is only a Buick.
Listen to the White Sox Talk Podcast below.
World Series hero Willie Harris applies lessons from playing days to first managerial assignment.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/AP)
Willie Harris is best remembered for his World Series heroics, but he thinks it’s what he recalls about playing that has helped make his transition to manager a smooth one.
“It’s been a pretty easy transition for me because I feel like I’m more of a players-type manager, I get it,” Harris said. “I understand the grind. I know what it’s like to strike out with a runner on third and less than two outs and I understand those things.
“I think what makes me feel good about myself is my players knowing that I have their back in all situations. Obviously, we want to see everyone do well. But in this game you’re not supposed to do well. We share those thoughts with each other and we try to make each other better.”
Harris didn’t wait long to jump into coaching after his 12-year playing career ended in 2012. He spent several seasons coaching a travel team in St. Augustine, Fla. and hoped to make a career of it. In 2015, Harris attended the team’s 10-year World Series reunion and spoke to Rick Hahn, Kenny Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf about a potential coaching gig.
Several months later his phone rang with a job offer.
Harris has been taking care of his players since.
“He definitely knows what it’s like to play a full season and more being that he is a World Series champ,” said Double-A catcher Zack Collins, who was recently promoted after playing for Harris. “He made sure that all of his boys were feeling as good as possible going into the game and knows that half of the battle is just having confidence. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
While Harris wouldn’t mind having a winning record, it’s far from his priority as a manager. He realizes how critical development is for minor leaguers and wants to do everything he can to help players graduate to the next level. Helping a player reach the majors would have more meaning than any victories. It’s just another reason Harris knew he wanted to get back into baseball after retiring.
“You definitely miss it,” Harris said. “The first two years was really hard for me just being at home and watching the game and seeing some guys play and you know in your heart, ‘Man, I could still be doing that.’ But at some point in this game your time is going to run out. No matter how good of a player you are, your time is going to run out. My time ran out and I came to terms with that and I understand that and now I just want to help others. I just want to give what I have to someone else and hopefully make their dreams come true and be big league ball players.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Dell Technologies Championship: Tee times, TV schedule, stats.
By Golf Channel Digital
Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth staged an exciting duel at The Northern Trust, the first of four tournaments in the FedExCup Playoffs. Now it's on to Boston and the Dell Technologies Championship, which features a Friday start and Monday finish on Labor Day. Here's the key info for the second playoff event.
Golf course: TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., was opened in 2002 and designed by Arnold Palmer. The course was redesigned in 2007 by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Brad Faxon. The course will play as a par 71 at 7,342 yards.
Purse: $8.75 million; winner get $1,575,000 (2,000 FedExCup points)
TV schedule (All times Eastern): Friday, 2:30-6:30 p.m. on Golf Channel; Saturday, 3-6:30 p.m. on Golf Channel; Sunday, 1-3 p.m. on Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. on NBC; Monday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Golf Channel, 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on NBC
Live streaming: Friday, 2:30-6:30 p.m. at golfchannel.com; Saturday, 3-6:30 p.m. at golfchannel.com; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. at golfchannel.com; Monday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at golfchannel.com.
Notable tee times: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas at 9:15 a.m. Friday, 1:40 p.m. Saturday; Si Woo Kim, Ollie Schniederjans, Rory McIlroy at 1:04 p.m. Friday, 8:39 a.m. Saturday; Jason Day, Sergio Garcia, Billy Horschel at 1:28 p.m. Friday, 9:03 a.m. Saturday; Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler at 1:40 p.m. Friday, 9:15 a.m. Saturday (Click here for more tee times)
Defending champion: Rory McIlroy closed in 66-65 for a two-shot victory over Paul Casey, sparking his run to the overall FedExCup title.
Notables in the field: The field has been cut to the top 100 in FedExCup points, with the top 70 after this event advancing to the third tournament. A pair of notables currently outside the top 70 are Bubba Watson (72) and Adam Scott (73). Click here for the full points list.
Key stats:
• McIlroy is 56 under in this event over the last five years, 10 shots better than anyone else
• Adam Scott has a 68.7 scoring average at TPC Boston (best in this week's field; min. 25 rounds)
• Only two of the last six FedExCup champions were inside the top 10 entering the second playoff event
• Three players, previously not qualified, played their way into this event: Harold Varner III, Bubba Watson, David Lingmerth
• Only four players have ever advanced to the Tour Championship when starting the playoffs outside the top 100
• Four different players have won at least three times this season on Tour: Thomas, Johnson, Spieth, Matsuyama
• Last time that happened was 2003, when five players won at least three times, led by Tiger Woods (5)
(Stats and information provided by the Golf Channel editorial research unit)
DJ jumps into POY race with Spieth, Thomas.
By Rex Hoggard
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Early last week, Rory McIlroy was asked his thoughts on the current PGA Tour Player of the Year race and his answer left no room for ambiguity.
“If we were to announce the Player of the Year today, I would say it would be Justin Thomas,” said McIlroy, noting that the race was down to Thomas and Spieth.
On Sunday at The Northern Trust, Dustin Johnson may have created a third option. By defeating Spieth in a playoff at the post-season opener, Johnson secured his fourth title of the season and moved to first on the playoff points list.
Thomas also has four Tour victories, including a major (PGA Championship), while Spieth has three victories and a major (Open Championship). Depending on what transpires over the final three events of the season, Johnson could make it difficult not to vote for him even if he doesn’t have a major on his 2017 resume.
Asked if he thought he could win the Jack Nicklaus Award even if he didn’t win a major this season, Johnson made a compelling case.
“Yeah, I think so. Especially, if I can win one, two or three of the next ones,” he said.
Last Wednesday, however, McIlroy offered a different theory.
“This is no disrespect to any PGA Tour event or even the World Golf Championships, but I would give back three of my PGA Tour wins for another major,” McIlroy said.
The Player of the Year Award has not gone to the FedExCup champion six times in the playoff era, which began in 2007, including last year when Dustin Johnson won the Nicklaus Award and McIlroy won the season-long race.
2018 European Ryder Cup qualifying begins this week.
By Ryan Lavner
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
This week’s Czech Masters is the first event for players to earn points toward the 2018 European Ryder Cup team.
The yearlong process runs through next year’s Made in Denmark event, which is held at captain Thomas Bjorn’s home club. Though qualifying starts this week, points are weighted toward the end of 2018, with points earned from the 2018 BMW PGA multiplied by 1 1/2.
The European team is comprised of the top four from the European Points List, the top four from the World Points List and two captain’s picks.
This week’s field on the European Tour includes Thomas Pieters, Matt Fitzpatrick and Martin Kaymer, as well as promising up-and-comers Jordan Smith and Renato Paratore.
The 2018 Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 28-30 at Le Golf National in France.
NASCAR TV schedule: Week of September 1 – September 3.
By Staff Report; NASCAR.com
Friday, September 1
12 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice at Darlington, NBCSN
1 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Darlington, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice at Darlington, NBCSN
3:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice at Darlington, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington, NBCSN
Saturday, September 2
12:30 a.m., NASCAR Special, NBCSN
2:30 a.m., NASCAR Special, NBCSN
12 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Darlington, NBCSN
1 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
1:30 p.m. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Darlington, NBCSN
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green: Darlington, NBCSN
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Post-Race, NBCSN
5:30 p.m. Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS2
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Racing: K&N Pro Series, NBCSN
9:30 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, NBCSN
10:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN
Sunday, September 3
1 a.m., Racing Roots, NBCSN
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington, NBCSN
11:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN
2 p.m., Camping World Truck Series Setup: Mosport, FS1
2:30 p.m., Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250, FS1
4 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Countdown to Green: Darlington, NBCSN
6 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, NBCSN
10:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Post Show, NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
Statsitical Advance: Analyzing the Bojangles' Southern 500.
By Jayski.com staff
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Darlington
Denny Hamlin........................... 107.9
Kyle Busch............................... 104.2
Jimmie Johnson........................ 102.1
Kevin Harvick............................. 99.6
Kyle Larson................................ 96.6
Martin Truex Jr........................... 96.5
Brad Keselowski......................... 95.5
Kasey Kahne.............................. 95.4
Dale Earnhardt Jr....................... 94.0
Ryan Newman............................ 93.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (12 total) among active drivers at Darlington Raceway.
History
· Darlington Raceway was built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-1950.
· Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on Sept. 4, 1950 - 75 cars competed in the event - Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 mph, and the race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 mph, 6:38:40).
· The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.
· The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.
· The track was repaved in 1995.
· The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington.
· The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.
· There have been 113 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races held at Darlington Raceway.
Starts
· 718 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway; 438 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Darlington with 65.
· Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers with 23 MENCS starts at Darlington; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 21.
· Fred Lorenzen (16 starts) leads the series in average starting position at Darlington with a 3.688.
· Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the series in average starting position at Darlington with a 9.455.
· Denny Hamlin (9.4) and Ryan Newman (9.8) are the only two active drivers with an average starting position inside the top 10.
· 125 different drivers have made their Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Darlington Raceway; the most recent was T.J. Bell (5/7/2011).
Poles
· 49 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at least one Coors Light pole at Darlington Raceway.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the series in Coors Light poles at Darlington with 12 - (1967, '70, '72, '73 sweep, '75 sweep, '76 sweep, '77, '78 and '82)
· Kasey Kahne leads all active drivers in Coors Light poles at Darlington with four (2004, '05, '06 and '11).
· Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light Pole Award at Darlington in 1950 in an Oldsmobile with a speed of 82.034 mph.
· Nine drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Darlington. Kasey Kahne is the only active driver with consecutive poles (2005-2006).
· David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Darlington with five (1975 - 1977).
· Youngest Darlington pole winner: Kurt Busch (09/02/2001 - 23 years, 0 months, 29 days).
· Oldest Darlington pole winner: David Pearson (09/06/1982 - 47 years, 8 months, 15 days).
· Eight drivers have posted their first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway: Cotton Owens (1957), Fred Lorenzen (1961), Bill Elliott (1981), Ken Schrader (1987), John Andretti (1995), Kurt Busch (2001), Elliott Sadler (2003) and Clint Bowyer (2007).
· A total of 12 different manufacturers have won at least one Coors Light pole in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway; led by Ford with 42 poles, followed by Chevrolet (21), Mercury (13), Pontiac (10), Dodge (8), Buick (3), Oldsmobile (3), Plymouth (3), Chrysler (1), Hudson (1), Studebaker (1) and Toyota (1).
Wins
· 49 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Darlington Raceway, led by David Pearson with 10 victories.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with three wins.
· Jimmie Johnson (three) is the only active multiple race winner. Only five other active drivers have won at Darlington - Martin Truex Jr. (2016), Kevin Harvick (2014), Matt Kenseth (2013), Denny Hamlin (2010) and Kyle Busch (2008).
Wins
· Six drivers have posted their first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway: Johnny Mantz (1950), Nelson Stacy (1961), Larry Frank (1962), Terry Labonte (1980), Lake Speed (1988) and Regan Smith (2011).
· Youngest Darlington winner: Kyle Busch (05/10/2008 - 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
· Oldest Darlington winner: Harry Gant (09/01/1991 - 51 years, 7 months, 22 days).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins by an organization at Darlington in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 14 victories - Tim Richmond (1986), Ricky Rudd (1991), Jeff Gordon (1995, '96 sweep, '97, '98, '02, '07), Terry Labonte (2003), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep and 2012) and Mark Martin (2009).
· 11 different manufacturers have won in the MENCS at Darlington; led by Chevrolet with 41 victories; followed by Ford with 28 and Toyota has five.
· 20 of the 113 (17.6%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Kevin Harvick in 2015.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson has won from the pole four times at Darlington - the series-most.
· The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Darlington. The outside front row (second-place) has produced the second-most wins (17).
· 37 of the 113 (32.7%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington have been won from the front row: 20 from first-place and 17 from second-place.
· 70 of the 113 (61.9%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington have been won from a top-five starting position.
· 97 of the 112 (85.8%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Six of the 113 (5.3%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Darlington is 43rd by Johnny Mantz in 1950 - the inaugural MENCS event.
· 13 drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Darlington; Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990) and Jeff Gordon (1995-1996) are tied for the series-most in consecutive wins at Darlington with three each.
· All six active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winners at Darlington Raceway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Of the six active winners, Kyle Busch won at Darlington in the fewest previous appearances (three).
· Matt Kenseth competed at Darlington Raceway 19 times before winning in 2013; the longest span of any the six active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winners.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington without visiting Victory Lane at 21; followed by Kurt Busch with 20.
Additional Finishing Position Stats
· NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty are tied for the series-most runner-up finishes at Darlington with eight each.
· Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in second-place finishes at Darlington with three; followed by Kevin Harvick with two.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Darlington with 25. Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with nine; followed by Ryan Newman with seven.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott leads the series in top-10 finishes at Darlington with 35.
· Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers with 12 top 10s; followed by Matt Kenseth with 11.
· Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington with a 6.273.
· Two active series drivers have an average finish inside the top-10 at Darlington: Denny Hamlin (6.2) and Kyle Larson (7.0).
Track/Event Specific Stats
· There have been four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races resulting with a NASCAR Overtime finish at Darlington Raceway.
· Eight of the 113 races at Darlington Raceway have been shortened from their scheduled number of laps; the most recent was the fall race of 2000.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway six times: 1952, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2016.
· Dale Earnhardt leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Darlington Raceway with 2,648 laps led in 44 series starts.
Female Competitor Stats
· Three female drivers have competed at Darlington Raceway in the MENCS: Danica Patrick, Janet Guthrie, Shawna Robinson
NASCAR in South Carolina
· A total of 300 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks have been held in the state of South Carolina.
2018 NASCAR Hall inductees to serve as Southern 500 grand marshals.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo/www.racingjunk.com)
Ray Evernham, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ken Squire and Robert Yates – who along with the late Red Byron – will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall next January, have been named grand marshals for Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Among their duties, the grand marshals will give the command to start engines prior to the race, which will be televised at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Bojangles’ CEO Clifton Rutledge will also be part of the group that will give the command to start engines.
“Having the NASCAR Hall of Fame members, and Bojangles’ CEO Clifton Rutledge, serve as grand marshals for our Bojangles’ Southern 500 is a wonderful tradition we started in 2015,” Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. “It concludes pre-race ceremonies with an historic touch.”
Terry Labonte was grand marshal and gave the command to start engines before the 2015 Southern 500.
Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick and Mark Martin served as grand marshals and gave the command to start engines before last year’s Southern 500.
SOCCER: Fire: Despite scoring drought, Nemanja Nikolic 'sure' he will regain scoring touch.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Forwards naturally go through goal droughts, but how the player comes out of it is the key.
Nemanja Nikolic took Major League Soccer by storm with 16 goals in his first 18 games with the Fire. He was leading the league in goals scored and the league website was hyping his pace to beat the all-time record for goals in a season.
Nemanja Nikolic took Major League Soccer by storm with 16 goals in his first 18 games with the Fire. He was leading the league in goals scored and the league website was hyping his pace to beat the all-time record for goals in a season.
Things have changed. Nikolic hasn’t scored in the past eight games.
“Of course it’s not good when a striker have bad moments in his career, but it’s also our life,” Nikolic said after practice on Tuesday. “We need to know how to live in this, we need to know how to handle this kind of pressure. In the beginning everything was great, I scored a lot of goals. Now I have some bad momentum, but I don’t focus on these kind of things. I just think how to finish these kinds of situations and I am sure that I will score the goals like in the beginning of the season.”
Part of the reason for Nikolic’s scoring slump is a lack of scoring chances. He had four shots in the 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, but had just five in the previous four games combined.
Nikolic’s struggles have also coincided with the Fire’s. The team has a 1-6-1 record in the eight games Nikolic has failed to score in.
“For sure the team needs my goals,” Nikolic said. “Everybody has responsibility in this, but the strikers are always on the top end. Their job is to score goals and help the team to come out from this kind of situation. I will take responsibility on me and I will help the team I hope with my goals to come out from this.”
As teams have adapted to the Fire’s attack, Nikolic has become a priority for opposing defenses. On top of that, defenses have focused on defending through the middle while allowing the Fire to attack via the wings.
At 5-foot-11, Nikolic isn’t known for his aerial ability, but more and more of the Fire’s attacks are coming from wide areas and ending in crosses into the box. Nikolic’s hot streak came when the Fire were attacking from all angles. As much as Nikolic’s lack of goals have been a cause for the Fire's struggles, his drought is also a symptom of the Fire’s issues in build-up play.
Coach Veljko Paunovic is keeping the faith in Nikolic to get back on track.
“He’s practicing and working on that,” Paunovic said. "That’s the only thing you can do. You can get back to the fundamentals, the simple things, get sharp, focused and getting back to the winning track needs work and belief so I think that’s what he’s doing now and everyone else. We’ll fix it.”
Bruce Arena must mix and match for USMNT qualifiers.
By Associated Press
“He’s practicing and working on that,” Paunovic said. "That’s the only thing you can do. You can get back to the fundamentals, the simple things, get sharp, focused and getting back to the winning track needs work and belief so I think that’s what he’s doing now and everyone else. We’ll fix it.”
Bruce Arena must mix and match for USMNT qualifiers.
By Associated Press
(Photo/Getty Images)
In addition to being the coach who thus far has turned around the U.S. team’s fortunes in World Cup qualifying, Bruce Arena needs to be a world-class chef.
It’s not an easy chore for any national team coach and it helped lead to the undoing of Arena’s predecessor, Jurgen Klinsmann. Yet, heading into Friday night’s match with Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena, then a trip next Tuesday to Honduras, Arena has made it all taste pretty good.
“The players are familiar with each other and with the various opponents,” Arena said Monday after a light workout as 19 of the 26 roster members were on hand. “Through the week, (information) will get devoured pretty quickly.
“They’ve been together at one time or another this year, that’s a good thing about this group.”
The group includes 18 players from MLS squads, three from England, three from Germany, and two from Mexico. Many were in action with the national team in its most recent qualifiers, a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago and a huge 1-1 draw at Mexico in June. Several others played for the United States in July when it won the Gold Cup, though the strongest national rosters were not involved for that entire tournament.
“There were 18 of them in the Gold Cup,” Arena noted, “and they’ve all been together in different ways over the last couple of months.”
During that span, the Americans have gone 2-0-2, both victories at home, both ties on the road. Those correspond with Arena taking over a last-place team that was 0-2 because of losses to Mexico and Costa Rica, which ultimately cost Klinsmann his job.
The Americans stand third out of six in CONCACAF qualifying with four matches remaining. Mexico leads with 14 points, Costa Rica has 11 and the United States has eight. The top three teams automatically make the field of 32 for Russia 2018. The fourth-place team gets into a playoff for another berth.
Success under Arena, who guided the team to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals before a mediocre performance and first-round elimination at the 2006 tournament led to his departure, is not being taken for granted.
Defender Tim Ream, who has been on and off the team in recent years – but who could start Friday – lauds the coach’s demeanor and style, but recognizes it means little if the guys on the field don’t come through.
“As professionals, you can’t get above yourself and think the job is done. The job is never done,” Ream said. “There are bigger things at stake than your confidence in one game. We know nothing is guaranteed and our approach as players matches as if this can be your last game.”
Ream, like many of his teammates, appreciates that few if any positions are guaranteed – although stars such as Christian Pulisic and Tim Howard aren’t likely to be benched, barring injury.
“If you know you have competition, it keeps you on your toes,” said Ream, currently with Fulham in England. “Competition is important not just at the club level but at the international level. If you know you come in and don’t have a shot (of playing), it’s demoralizing. I know, I’ve been there.
“But they’ve created an atmosphere of competition here all the time.”
NOTES: Arena is from Long Island, and when asked about playing a qualifier for the first time in New Jersey, he playfully said: “I’m from New York. We don’t accept New Jersey as part of New York.” He later expressed confidence that the stadium would provide “good support. We’re well aware there are many Costa Ricans in the New York metropolitan area. I don’t mind playing here, it’s a great venue for getting players in from Europe and from Mexico.”
Who needs what in the final days of the window?
By Joe Prince-Wright
What does each club need to do in the final days of the transfer window?
We take a look below with plenty of business to be done with just three days to go.
Remember, there is a live transfer window show on NBCSN from 5 p.m. ET on Thursday as the window slams shut at 6 p.m. ET.
Let’s dig in.
Arsenal
Needs: Center back, winger – The same as each window, they need a commanding defender and/or defensive midfielder. They will likely get another winger and a striker.
Key targets: Jonny Evans (West Brom), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Virgil Van Dijk (Southampton), Jean Seri (Nice)
Likely departures: Alexis Sanchez (Man City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Chelsea, Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (West Brom)
Bournemouth
Needs: Winger – Eddie Howe‘s side have been lackluster in attack and that’s concerning. Adding an exciting winger could freshen things up.
Key targets: Demarai Gray (Leicester City)
Likely departures: None
Brighton & Hove Albion
Needs: Striker, defender – Chris Hughton‘s side will be tough to break down but Hemed and Murray need help up top.
Key targets: Oumar Niasse (Everton) Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal)
Likely departures: None
Burnley
Needs: Center back, striker – James Tarkowski has slotted in well for Michael Keane but more cover at center back is necessary. A new striker would be handy too.
Key targets: Abdul Majid Waris (Lorient)
Likely departures: None
Chelsea
Needs: Central midfield, striker, winger – More depth is needed if Chelsea will challenge to win the PL and Champions League.
Key targets: Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Cedric (Southampton), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Fernando Llorente (Swansea), Virgil van Dijk (Southampton), Ross Barkley (Everton)
Likely departures: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
Crystal Palace
Needs: Center back, striker – Frank De Boer needs new additions all over the pitch but defense is his most pressing concern.
Key targets: Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Jose Fonte (West Ham), Oumar Niasse (Everton)
Likely departures: Andros Townsend (Leicester City)
Everton
Needs: Striker, center back – Koeman has made it clear he wants a new striker but an audacious move for Diego Costa seems unlikely.
Key targets: Diego Costa (Chelsea), Nikola Vlasic (Hadjuk Split), Stefano Okaka (Watford)
Likely departures: Kevin Mirallas (Olympiakos), Ross Barkley (Chelsea)
Huddersfield Town
Needs: None – A rare case of the Terriers doing all of their business early in the window.
Likely arrivals: N/A
Likely departures: N/A
Leicester City
Needs: Winger, center back – The Foxes have leaked goals early in the season, albeit against top teams, but they continue to chase Jonny Evans.
Key targets: Jonny Evans (West Brom), Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
Likely departures: Riyad Mahrez (Chelsea, Roma), Demarai Gray (Bournemouth), Islam Slimani (Watford)
Liverpool
Needs: Center back, winger – The Reds need to strengthen their defense but a deal for van Dijk still seems unlikely.
Key targets: Virgil van Dijk (Southampton), Thomas Lemar (Monaco)
Likely departures: Divock Origi (Monaco), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
Manchester City
Needs: Striker, center back – Having another forward player seems excessive but who would put it past them to land Sanchez?
Key targets: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Jonny Evans (West Brom)
Likely departures: Raheem Sterling (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (West Brom)
Manchester United
Needs: Winger – All summer long Mourinho has been trying to sign one more wide player. Deals for Perisic and Bale seem a little too ambitious though, especially the way United’s wide players have started the season.
Key targets: Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Serge Aurier (PSG)
Likely departures: None
Newcastle United
Needs: Striker, winger – Rafael Benitez has tried multiple times to get deals over the line during the summer but failed. Will he have late success?
Key targets: Divock Origi (Liverpool), Danny Ings (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) Vidar Orn Kjartansson (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Likely departures: Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace), Jack Colback (Hull City)
Southampton
Needs: Striker, attacking midfielder – The Saints need a bit of pace in attack. Could former forward Walcott return to St Mary’s? It is all about keeping hold of Virgil van Dijk, even though the Dutchman has handed in a transfer request
Key targets: Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Likely departures: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal)
Stoke City
Needs: Striker, midfield – Still short on options up top, Mark Hughes may look to add a loan signing on deadline day.
Key targets: Vincent Janseen (Tottenham), Fabian Delph (Man City)
Likely departures: Giannelli Imbula (Torino)
Swansea City
Needs: Striker, midfielder – Seems like there is plenty of work left to do at Swansea as they aim to splash the Gylfi Sigurdsson cash.
Key targets: Wilfried Bony (Manchester City), Nacer Chadli (West Brom), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven)
Likely departures: Fernando Llorente (Chelsea)
Tottenham Hotspur
Needs: Right back – More competition at right back seems to be the only area where Pochettino wants to strengthen.
Key targets: Serge Aurier (Paris Saint-Germain), Juan Foyth (Estudiantes)
Likely departures: Moussa Sissoko (Inter Milan)
Watford
Needs: Left back, striker – Marco Silva wants more firepower and a new left back in the final days of the window
Key targets: Alberto Moreno (Liverpool), Islam Slimani (Leicester City)
Likely departures: Stefano Okaka (Everton, West Brom), Jerome Sinclair
West Bromwich Albion
Needs: Left back, central midfield, striker – After a strong start Tony Pulis is trying to do some wheeling and dealing in the final days with three positions the focus.
Key targets: Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Stefano Okaka (Watford) Josef de Souza (Fenerbache)
Likely departures: Nacer Chadli (Swansea City)
West Ham United
Needs: Central midfield – Hammers will try to finish off their summer of spending with a new holding midfielder
Key targets: William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon)
Likely departures: None
World Cup qualifying: State of play in the Oceania region.
By Associated Press
(Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Soccer’s smallest region – Oceania – doesn’t have a guaranteed spot at the World
Cup. Instead, the final two qualification matches in the confederation determine who will contest a playoff against a South American team for a place in Russia.
New Zealand and the Solomon Islands meet in a home-and-away playoff on Friday and on Sept. 5. The winner could face a daunting opponent in the inter-continental playoff against the fifth place team from South America, with two-time World Cup winner Argentina currently occupying that spot.
“The time pressures of this week are huge and unique,” New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson said. “We only have our full squad together for two and a half days before kick-off on Friday night so every minute with the team counts. This isn’t an excuse, it’s the opposite – it’s a great opportunity for us.”
The New Zealanders qualified by topping Group A of the continental tournament, with a win and a draw against New Caledonia and two wins over Fiji.
New Zealand lost an inter-continental playoff against Mexico in 2014, missing out on a spot in the World Cup in Brazil after going through the group stage in the 2010 tournament unbeaten.
New Zealand has injury problems as it prepares to host the first leg against the Solomon Islands. Captain Winston Reid, defender Tommy Smith, midfielder Marco Rojas and striker Shane Smeltz are all sidelined.
Smeltz, one of the stars of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign in 2010, has been replaced by Wellington Phoenix forward Alex Rufer, the son of former All Whites midfielder Shane Rufer.
All but two players on the Solomons squad were picked from the domestic competition. The Solomon Islands needed to beat Tahiti and Papua New Guinea to advance.
All 32 World Cup slots will be settled by November, ahead of the tournament draw the following month in Moscow.
World Cup qualifying: State of play in the Asian groups.
By Associated Press
(Photo/Getty Images)
Iran and Brazil, along with host Russia, are the only teams so far assured of a place at the 2018 World Cup. Three more Asian teams will secure their place in the tournament draw in December over the next week as qualifying resumes.
With Iran already securing qualification from Group A, South Korea and Uzbekistan are vying for the second automatic qualifying spot. In Group B, there is a three-way tussle between Japan, Saudi Arabia and Asian Cup champion Australia to finish in the top two.
The two third-place teams from each group will contest a playoff in October to determine who goes into an intercontinental qualifier against the fourth-place team in qualifying from CONCACAF, the North and Central America and the Caribbean confederation.
GROUP A
After all the upheaval from two recent losses that cost Uli Stielike his job as coach, South Korea has a one-point cushion over third-place Uzbekistan and can secure a place in Russia with victory at home against unbeaten Iran on Thursday – if Uzbekistan loses in China. Any other combination of results will leave the second spot up for grabs when the South Koreans travel to Tashkent five days later for its final group game.
South Korea has qualified for the last eight World Cups, and former South Korea midfielder Shin Tae-yong has taken over as coach with the sole aim of extending that streak to nine.
Fourth-place Syria, which is four points behind South Korea and still has a chance to qualify automatically, will play Qatar on neutral territory in Malaysia on Thursday. China and 2022 World Cup host Qatar each need two wins from the last two matches to stay in the mix.
GROUP B
Second-place Saudi Arabia kicks off match day nine at the fourth-place United Arab Emirates in a strong position to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Japan leads the group with 17 points, a one-point buffer over Australia and Saudi Arabia – countries it will meet in its last two games in Saitama and Jeddah, five days apart – and seven points clear of the UAE.
The Japanese could secure qualification for a sixth consecutive World Cup with a win over Australia, but two losses or two draws over the six-day span could see them slip to third.
Unbeaten Australia will be without injured captain Mile Jedinak. Tim Cahill, a veteran of three World Cups and 100 games for Australia, is hoping his team can finally produce its first win in Japan since 1969.
“I’m very focused on being prepared and making sure we are ready for such a big occasion,” Cahill said.
Thailand hosts Iraq on Thursday in a game between two teams which have no chance of making it to Russia.
NCAAFB: These are the 17 college football teams that can win the national title in 2017.
By Dennis Dodd
History tell us that there is a small group of teams that can actually capture the championship.
We would love to give you multiple championship plot lines for the season. You know, the endless possibilities for upsets, dark horses, chaos!
We would love to. We can't. The 2017 season is shaping up to be chalk. Same names, same powers, same bat time, same bat channel. Take a top 10, any top 10. Throw a blanket over it. Mostly likely, this season's four College Football Playoff teams are underneath it.
To that point: It's possible Alabama-Florida State this week is for CFP seeding. You've probably read -- mostly here -- the FSU-Bama loser can easily get back to the CFP Football Four. Why not? The game is already being called the greatest season opener of all-time. You put that much talent on one field, how can there be an elimination in Week 1?
This is exactly what the commissioners didn't want when they cobbled together the CFP. Remember "Every Game Matters" and all that? Well, if the Tide and Noles rematch in the CFP … the regular season, in fact, doesn't matter as much. Don't forget: A big reason we're here is most folks didn't want to see Alabama and LSU play twice in 2011.
The only thing college football dislikes more than Cinderellas is rematches. (Just don't tell the Big 12, which is guaranteed to have one each season in its championship game.)
Back to the chalk: The same teams have dominated since the dawn of college football time. Only 30 teams have won national championships in the wire service era (since 1936). Only 16 teams have played for a national championship since the BCS started in 1998. Only 12 have won it.
That chalk enough for you?
The top five in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 (Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State, Southern California and Clemson) have won nine of the past 14 national championships.
In the interest of inclusion, below we list 17 teams who have the best chance to win the national championship this season. Yes, that's a lot considering what I just wrote. It's also the fewest in the three years we've been doing this. Stow your chaos. Eleven of the 17 have already won a national championship.
American -- South Florida: Even if the Bulls run the table, their nonconference schedule stinks (San Jose State, Stony Brook, Illinois, Massachusetts). I'm telling you as a friend, the CFP Selection Committee isn't going to award South Florida a spot with its only Power Five win over Illinois.
Basically, every Power Five champ would have to end with two losses for USF to even be considered. However, a 14-0 season allows coach Charlie Strong to bounce after one season.
ACC -- Florida State, Clemson, Louisville: We already told you about the Noles. Clemson is probably overrated just a bit at No. 5, mainly because you're asking Kelly Bryant to do what Deshaun Watson just did -- lead the Tigers to a 14-1 championship season. Oh wait, Watson actually got the Tigers to the title game in consecutive seasons.
We'll know real quick about Clemson. It plays Auburn, at Louisville and at Virginia Tech before Oct. 1. Louisville is a legit playoff dark horse. Heisman winner Lamar Jackson is a singular talent. Nine guys come back on defense. Clemson has to come to Louisville in Week 3.
The Cardinals have a soft enough nonconference slate while playing in the country's strongest league. Louisville has to rid itself of the mystery of last season's late collapse. Only 13 teams enter the season with a longer losing streak than Louisville's three.
Big Ten -- Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan: The Buckeyes won 11 games in a season they were the youngest team in the country. What are they going to do this year at "full strength?" The defensive line is up there with Clemson as one of the best in the country. There might be three past, current or future All-Americans on the offensive line.
The key is getting championship play out of quarterback J.T. Barrett. Cue new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who coached a couple of Heisman winners at Oklahoma.
Big Ten champ Penn State has the conference's best player (tailback Saquon Barkley) and renewed confidence. The Oct. 28 game at Ohio State might determine the Big Ten's best team.
Wisconsin has a (long) shot because it should win the West Division, and with a one-shot Big Ten title game to get to the CFP, who knows? The Badgers get Michigan, Iowa and Northwestern at home. We're being a bit charitable with Michigan. The Wolverines take a step back this season and might be out of the playoff race by Sunday morning if they lose to Florida.
Big 12 -- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State: The Cowboys get a slight nod as the Big 12 champ because of the coaching change at OU. That being said, for either of these teams to get to the CFP, it's going to have to play some defense.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops' unit has finished above No. 39 in total defense once since he returned in 2012. It was 82nd last year. Oklahoma State can outscore most everyone and probably has to beat Oklahoma twice to get to the CFP. That's what the Big 12 knew when it reinstituted its championship game. That's also a big ask.
Pac-12 -- USC, Utah, Washington, Stanford: The Trojans have to be favored because -- beyond the loads of talent -- they don't have to play Washington in the regular season. That game would occur only in the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans and Huskies are clearly the Pac-12's best. Before that, USC's two toughest games (Stanford, Utah) are at home. The Huskies are here to stay as a top-10 team as long as Chris Petersen is around.
For Utah to break through, the Utes probably have to win at USC and Washington. Stanford will win at least 10 because it has done exactly that in six of the past seven seasons. Based on early results, Bryce Love looks like a capable replacement for Christian McCaffrey.
SEC -- Alabama, Auburn, LSU: Might as well pencil in Alabama, but elsewhere the SEC has some work to do. It starts the season as the nation's No. 3 conference (behind the Big Ten and ACC). That doesn't mean things can't change quickly. The issue last year was finding a No. 2 team behind Alabama.
Auburn went to the Sugar Bowl only because the contract with the SEC made it so. This season, there is a bit more depth. Auburn is definitely the second-best team. The addition of Jarrett Stidham gives Gus Malzahn his best offense since 2013.
LSU still doesn't have a quarterback (Danny Etling), which is sort of important in a championship race. Another loss to Alabama would be the program's seventh straight in Ed Orgeron's first season. I just can't bring myself to pick anyone from the East Division. The division champ has to win the SEC first. It hasn't since Florida in 2008.
College football Week 1 lines, game odds: Best games could be the closest.
By Chip Patterson
The betting lines for college football's first big weekend are out, with point spreads ranging from the close contests expected in Alabama-Florida State and Michigan-Florida to the more lop-sided expectations, like defending champion Clemson starting the season as more than a five-touchdown favorite against Kent State.
Each week, we will look at the early game lines, courtesy of our friends at SportsLine. Here are the lines you need to know -- and some to steer clear of -- for Week 1 of the college football season.
Lines you need to know
No. 1 Alabama (-7) vs. No. 3 Florida State: It's the Greatest Opener of All Time (GOOAT), and any movement on the one-touchdown spread should be watched carefully as we move closer to kickoff. Ultimately, the expectation here is that Alabama will win and Florida State will compete, but if you think the Seminoles can pull off the upset, there's an opportunity waiting for you should the public hammer Bama hard and push this line to 7.5.
No. 11 Michigan (-3.5) vs. No. 17 Florida: The Antonio Callaway suspension adjustment has already taken place, and given the instability at quarterback for Florida during spring practice and fall camp, it's likely that the line is set no matter who ends up taking the first snap for the Gators. There are ton of new, talented faces that will be making their debut here, allowing fans to familiarize themselves with the next crop of playmakers at these powerhouse programs.
No. 21 Virginia Tech (-4.5) vs. No. 22 West Virginia: Justin Fuente's 10-win debut in Blacksburg has experts and the oddsmakers alike high on the Hokies' 2017 outlook. Both teams will be breaking in new starting quarterbacks, with Josh Jackson taking over for Jerod Evans at Virginia Tech and former Florida quarterback Will Grier returning to the field for West Virginia. This Sunday night, FedEx Field hosted showdown between regional rivals could be one of the best games of the weekend.
No. 10 Oklahoma State (-18) vs. Tulsa: The expectation for Thursday night in Stillwater is points, with an over-under currently sitting just north of 70. It shouldn't take long for quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington to stake their claim as the most dynamic duo in college football, as the big question for bettors regards faith in a new starting quarterback leading that dynamic Tulsa offense.
No. 2 Ohio State (-20.5) at Indiana: A road Big Ten opener for a national title favorite is normally a stay-away game, but the Buckeyes might have some value as long as this line stays south of 21 considering its new offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson, has the opponent scouted pretty well as the former Hoosiers head coach and an upgrade in offensive talent from the last time he was coaching in Memorial Stadium.
Consider staying away
No. 8 Washington (-27.5) at Rutgers: Laying nearly four touchdowns on a Friday night cross-country road trip? You don't want to be sweating out a Kyle Bolin-led backdoor cover in the fourth quarter. Jake Browning and Washington should win by double-digits -- and potentially by 30 -- but there are too many variables in play.
No. 9 Wisconsin (-27.5) vs. Utah State: The Badgers offense finished last year putting 30+ points on the board in its final three regular season games, but I could also see the desire to take care of business and keep the starters healthy -- particularly with the recent preseason injury issues -- lead to Utah State hanging around or sneaking in the backdoor.
No. 5 Clemson (-40) vs. Kent State: Clemson is one of the best teams in college football and Kent State was picked to finish near the bottom of the MAC, but this is too many daggum points to feel comfortable taking any side.
No. 13 LSU (-14) vs. BYU: The Cougars already have one game under their belt, besting Portland State 20-6 in the opener, and LSU will be without its best defensive player in Arden Key. Throw in the complications of the game moving to New Orleans because of Hurricane Harvey and this one falls firmly in the "stay away" column.
No. 23 Texas (-18.5) vs. Maryland: Early kickoff, new head coach and a Maryland team that will likely try to disrupt the debut of the re-tooled Texas offense. The Longhorns have the better team, we think, but don't be surprised if this game is close at halftime and stressful.
Best of the rest
- No. 4 USC (-28) vs. Western Michigan
- No. 6 Penn State (-30.5) vs. Akron
- No. 7 Oklahoma (-43) vs. UTEP
- No. 12 Auburn (-34.5) vs. Georgia Southern
- No. 15 Georgia (14.5) vs. Appalachian State
- No. 16 Louisville (-25) vs. Purdue
- No. 25 Tennessee (-3) vs. Georgia Tech
NCAABKB: World University Games 2017: Purdue 40 minutes from gold after wrecking Serbia.
By Mike DeCourcy
(Photo/Getty Images)
By the end of 40 minutes, every single player on the United States roster had scored.
At the start, though, the U.S. only needed the guys named Edwards.
Purdue stars Vincent Edwards and Carsen Edwards combined for 22 of 25 points scored in the first quarter as the U.S. blew open its semifinal game against Serbia in the World University Games at Taipei early Monday morning. With that 93-61 victory, the U.S. advanced to face Lithuania in the gold-medal game Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET.
Purdue, coached by Matt Painter, represents the U.S. in the competition, and is attempting to match what Kansas accomplished in 2015 by winning the gold. The last time the U.S. sent an all-star team to this event, in 2013, a squad that included future NBA players Doug McDermott, Adreian Payne, Yogi Ferrell and Sean Kilpatrick finished ninth.
Against Serbia, Boilermakers forward Vincent Edwards was too dynamic, too versatile, just too nearly perfect to handle. He scored 31 points before leaving the game late in the third quarter to celebrate with the other starters. Meanwhile, the team’s reserves continued pounding the opposition until relenting in the final few minutes. He made 12 of 15 shots from the floor — including 4 of 5 3-point attempts — and made all three of his free throws. He also grabbed five rebounds.
“Vince Edwards was just really efficient today and had a really good all-around game and got us going,” Painter said afterward. “He has just been really good here in Taipei. He is such a versatile player that he puts other teams in a bind with the way he can play.
“Your senior year is supposed to be your best year of basketball and it’s trending that way for him. He’s played great here and has done a lot of things to help our team win.”
Both teams played overtime quarterfinal games to advance to Monday morning’s semis: the U.S. defeated Israel 111-107 and Serbia got by Finland by a single point, but it was apparent early the U.S. had recovered more rapidly.
Vincent and Carsen Edwards scored 15 of USA’s points as the team opened up a 25-15 lead after one quarter. The game was effectively over before halftime, when Serbia managed only eight points — including just three in the final 5 minutes of the period.
When the second half opened with the U.S. ahead 46-23, Serbia’s starters remained on the bench.
They were being rested for the bronze medal game.
The U.S. went on a 19-0 run in the third quarter and Painter got to play his subs through the remainder of the game. The lead grew as large as 43 points, but Serbia closed the game on a 14-7 run to make it appear remotely competitive.
“I thought our athleticism really bothered them and, for whatever reason, we had a better recovery from our overtime game the previous night than they did,” Painter said. “We really just wanted to keep the pressure on and kind of wear them down. We did a good job of just competing and staying with it. We put ourselves in a great position and thought if we could come out in the second half and have that knockout punch, we could get them to concede the victory.”
The key to the U.S. success in this tournament to date has been its phenomenal long-distance shooting. Purdue’s top four perimeter players, Dakota Mathias, Ryan Cline, Carsen Edwards and P.J. Thompson — plus Vincent Edwards who plays most often as a stretch-4 — are all hitting 41 percent or better from deep. Kline (17-of-30) and Vince (13-of-24) are over 50 percent.
Opponents are at only 27.3 percent after Serbia made just 8 of 26 attempts.
“We are really going to have to compete and play hard against Lithuania,” Painter said. “That is an excellent team we will face and will have to play at a high level to win.”
Big Ten plans move to 20-game conference schedule in 2018-19, report says.
By Marc Lancaster
(Photo/Getty Images)
The Big Ten is finalizing plans to expand to a 20-game conference schedule for the 2018-19 season, FanRag Sports reported Tuesday.
That move would follow the lead of the ACC, which already has announced its intention to play 20 league games beginning in 2019-20, in attempting to maximize both strength of schedule for member schools and programming inventory for the conference's television network.
At the same time, those moves will present yet another hurdle to mid-major schools attempting to schedule quality non-conference opponents in an effort to boost their NCAA Tournament resumes.
As FanRag notes, the Big Ten already has long-term commitments to the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and the Gavitt Tipoff Games (against the Big East), leaving fewer options for coaches who want to add marquee games before league play.
Federer overcomes Tiafoe scare to advance.
(Photo/Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
World number three Roger Federer survived a first round scare from Frances Tiafoe as the Swiss ground out a 4-6 6-2 6-1 1-6 6-4 victory over the American teenager before a raucous crowd at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.
Federer looked more relieved than overjoyed when Tiafoe's forehand found the net on match point to keep his hopes of a 20th grand slam title alive.
The 19-year-old Tiafoe broke Federer in the first game of the match and bellowed out a loud "Come on!" when his forehand winner found the line to capture the opening set.
Federer, who has won this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon since taking a six-month break last year, soon found his groove once he broke Tiafoe to take a 3-1 lead in the second set and reeled off nine of the next 10 games.
However, his poor form returned in a 23-minute fourth set when his serve and the accuracy of his trusty one-handed backhand completely deserted him.
Despite coming away with the win, the shaky performance raises questions about the health of the 36-year-old Swiss, who sat out the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month with back pain.
U.S. Open: Defending champion Kerber shown the door in Rd 1.
Reuters
(Photo/www.sport.daily.lonews.ro)
Defending champion Angelique Kerber of Germany was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the first round when she lost 6-3, 6-1 to Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka on Tuesday.
Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka sent defending champion Angelique Kerber crashing out of the U.S. Open first round on Tuesday, bringing a rare bright spot to a rain-lashed day at Flushing Meadows.
As players ran for cover off the outside courts, Osaka's big-hitting game and love of the big occasion thrived under the roof of the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova eased into the second round with a no-nonsense 6-2 6-1 victory over Poland's Magda Linette as rain began to fall at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. The World No. 46, born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, won 6-3, 6-1 as sixth seed Kerber became the first U.S. Open women's defending champion to lose in the first round since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005.
Osaka, who surrendered a 5-1 third set lead on the same court in losing to Madison Keys 12 months ago, fired 22 winners as Kerber went tumbling out of the world's top 10 as well as the tournament.
As players ran for cover off the outside courts, Osaka's big-hitting game and love of the big occasion thrived under the roof of the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova eased into the second round with a no-nonsense 6-2 6-1 victory over Poland's Magda Linette as rain began to fall at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. The World No. 46, born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, won 6-3, 6-1 as sixth seed Kerber became the first U.S. Open women's defending champion to lose in the first round since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005.
Osaka, who surrendered a 5-1 third set lead on the same court in losing to Madison Keys 12 months ago, fired 22 winners as Kerber went tumbling out of the world's top 10 as well as the tournament.
"At 4-1, I was hoping I don't do what I did last year," said the 19-year-old Osaka, who admitted suffering a brief flashback to her tearful loss to Keys.
"So that helped me focus and concentrate, which I needed as Angelique gets everything back."
Osaka will face either Sweden's Rebecca Peterson or Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic for a place in the last 32.
"I just want to play good. I did that today and so I want to carry that into the next match," added the Japanese teenager, who secured her first career win over a top-10 player.
Kerber is the third top seed to go out in the first round after number two Simona Halep and seventh-seeded Johanna Konta lost on Monday.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova eased into the second round with a no-nonsense 6-2 6-1 victory over Poland's Magda Linette as rain began to fall at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. The Czech, who will next face Paraguay's Veronica Cepede Royg or American qualifier Nicole Gibbs, outclassed her 72nd-ranked opponent after the roof on Arthur Ashe was closed just before the second set.
Pliskova, who reached the final here last year, broke twice in the opening set to take a commanding lead with a fine backhand passing shot as Linette struggled on serve.
After fighting off six break points in the fifth game of the second set, Pliskova rolled on to prevail on her first match point with a second-serve ace.
"I felt a little bit nervous walking on this court, especially after last year and the memories I have here," said Pliskova.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, August 30, 2017.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1905 - Ty Cobb made his major league batting debut with the Detroit Tigers.
1918 - The New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0. The game only took 57 minutes to play.
1937 - Joe Louis won a 15-round decision over Tommy Farr in his first defense of his heavyweight title.
1966 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) hit home runs from both sides of the plate against St. Louis.
1984 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and several others, were inducted into the Sportscasters Hall of Fame.
1987 - Canada's Ben Johnson set the world record in the 100 meter race at 9.83. Johnson later lost the record due to steroid use.
2001 - Ashely Martin became the first woman to play in a Division I football game. She kicked three extra points in the game.
2002 - The major league baseball players union and the team owners came to an agreement that avoided a player's strike set to begin on this day.
Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you.
1918 - The New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0. The game only took 57 minutes to play.
1937 - Joe Louis won a 15-round decision over Tommy Farr in his first defense of his heavyweight title.
1966 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) hit home runs from both sides of the plate against St. Louis.
1984 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and several others, were inducted into the Sportscasters Hall of Fame.
1987 - Canada's Ben Johnson set the world record in the 100 meter race at 9.83. Johnson later lost the record due to steroid use.
2001 - Ashely Martin became the first woman to play in a Division I football game. She kicked three extra points in the game.
2002 - The major league baseball players union and the team owners came to an agreement that avoided a player's strike set to begin on this day.
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Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you.
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