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Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Bears-Eagles Preview.
By JUSTIN EINHORN (STATS Senior Editor)
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Not too long ago, the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles would have been very happy knowing they'd have a shot to win a division title in the regular-season finale.
Now it's possible neither will even have to wait that long.
A week before each team plays what could be a playoffs-or-bust game against its biggest rival, Chicago and Philadelphia will know by the start of their matchup Sunday night whether either one - or both - can wrap up its division.
Oddly, this game also could end up being relatively meaningless for both.
If Dallas loses at Washington earlier in the day, the Eagles (8-6) will claim the NFC East title by beating the Bears - six weeks after being under .500 and down to their third-string quarterback. If the Cowboys win, this game becomes somewhat irrelevant for Philadelphia because with a win or a loss, the East would be up for grabs next week when the Eagles visit Dallas.
Even in that scenario, coach Chip Kelly has no plans to sit his starters.
"We're not in a situation where we've got to rest anybody," he said. "We've got to play and get back on the winning track. We've got to be ready to play winning football."
While the Eagles had a five-game win streak snapped last Sunday with a surprising 48-30 loss in Minnesota, the Bears welcomed back Jay Cutler and won 38-31 at Cleveland. The following day, Chicago (8-6) took a one-game lead in the NFC North when Detroit lost to Baltimore.
The Bears will earn the division crown with a win Sunday if second-place Green Bay loses to Pittsburgh and the Lions don't beat the Giants. Of those North rivals, if only Detroit loses, this game won't mean much to Chicago because regardless of the result, it would face the Packers for the division title next Sunday.
"The only anxiety for me was depending on someone else, so now that we control our own destiny, I'm kind of at ease and really focused on Philadelphia," receiver Brandon Marshall said. "It actually makes it easier that we're in this position right now."
Until last Sunday, the Bears hadn't been in control of their playoff destiny since Detroit swept their season series with a 21-19 win Nov. 10. It seemed like Chicago might not get it back considering Cutler suffered a high ankle sprain that day, leaving journeyman Josh McCown to start.
McCown, though, played well as the Bears went 2-2 while the Lions stumbled, and many believed he should keep the job when Cutler got healthy. Coach Marc Trestman still went back to Cutler, who got off to a shaky start with two early interceptions but ended up going 22 of 31 for 265 yards and three touchdowns.
"The guys rallied around me," Cutler said. "I'd be lying if I didn't say there was (pressure) with everything on the outside and as well as Josh has played. But this was the plan all along and no one really flinched in our building."
Cutler now looks to pick apart an Eagles secondary that let Matt Cassel throw for 382 yards last week. Despite the Vikings missing Adrian Peterson, Philadelphia gave up more than 21 points for the first time in 10 games.
This defensive assignment will be no easier. Chicago averages an NFC-high 29.0 points with Cutler throwing to imposing 1,000-yard receivers Marshall and Alshon Jeffery along with Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett. Forte has run for more than 100 yards in a career-high three straight games.
"Chicago might be one of the most talented offenses we face," defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. "... (Cutler) can make all the throws and you can tell he understands this offense because his eyes are downfield and he's getting the ball where it needs to be. This is, overall, probably our biggest test."
It's also a big one for a Chicago run defense that is the NFL's worst, yielding 152.4 yards per game and 5.2 per carry, and is facing league rushing leader LeSean McCoy (1,343).
The Bears' defense, though, could get a huge boost with the possible return of Lance Briggs. The former Pro Bowl linebacker has missed the past seven games with a fractured shoulder.
"We'll see where he is," Trestman said Wednesday. "It's still day to day. Like I said to you the other day, I'm optimistic he'll play. How much? We'll see how he feels."
Whether or not Briggs is back, McCoy is likely to be more involved in Kelly's gameplan after having season lows of eight rushes and 38 yards last week. That could take some pressure off Nick Foles, who threw for a career-high 428 yards in Minnesota but had 48 attempts and was sacked four times.
DeSean Jackson had a career-high 10 catches for a season-best 195 yards, leaving him 134 shy of Mike Quick's single-season franchise record (1,409).
"Any time you're able to play Sunday night, Monday night, a game where the whole world is watching, it definitely makes a difference," Jackson said. "... It's going to be a big game, the stage is set already so we're ready for it."
Jackson was held to 42 yards over the last two meetings with Chicago as the Eagles lost both, but Charles Tillman played those games. The Bears announced this week their star cornerback won't return this season due to a torn triceps.
Cutler threw for six TDs and no INTs in those two matchups while Forte ran for 250 yards, most recently rushing for 133 in a 30-24 win at Philadelphia in 2011. Forte's 1,200 rushing yards are 38 shy of his career high as a rookie in 2008.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks satisfied with standings, performance thus far.
By Tracey Myers
(USA Today Sports Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks had one of their lighter skates on Thursday morning, their annual outing with family members at the United Center. Some players just goofed around with each other while others helped their kids maneuver around the ice in their little skates.
It was a nice respite for the Blackhawks, a day on which they could have a little fun, take a breath and realize just how well they’ve done thus far this season.
The Blackhawks will enter Friday night’s tilt with the Vancouver Canucks atop the Western Conference standings (25-7-5, 55 points). It’s been a productive first few months for the Blackhawks, who shed any Stanley Cup hangover talk quickly and have stayed the successful course since. They’re happy with where they are, but know they have months to go.
“You guys know, we’ve been playing games every other day, and a lot of back to backs. It’s nice to sit back, look at the standings and be satisfied with what we’ve accomplished. But we also have a veteran team that realizes nothing’s done yet,” Patrick Sharp said. “We want to use this time to get better and improve as the season goes on.”
The team’s schedule has been a hectic one. They’ve fallen on their faces in a few games – Exhibit A being their lopsided loss to Toronto over the weekend. But the Blackhawks, who showed their resilience several times during the 2013 postseason, have displayed that again following tough losses.
“We just expect a high level from each other,” Jonathan Toews said. “When things go south and we don’t play so well, we can hit the reset button and say, ‘Forget about that one, move on.’ When you have experience winning, you know what it takes to win. You understand you’ll go through tough moments and when you do, you don’t overreact to them. You just keep doing what you’re doing. We had a tough one against Toronto, we forgot about it. When you keep doing the right things, good things will happen.”
The Blackhawks have weathered some injuries during this stretch – Bryan Bickell returned on Tuesday after a month-long injury absence. They continue to do so with their goaltenders. Corey Crawford could start skating this week, but it sounds like Nikolai Khabibulin is still nowhere near ready to return. Antti Raanta has done his part just fine. The Blackhawks acquired Jason LaBarbera from the Edmonton Oilers last week, and recalled him from Rockford this afternoon. Kent Simpson was reassigned to the IceHogs; general manager Stan Bowman said they want Simpson playing games, which he wasn’t doing much of here.
While the Blackhawks will settle into the roster freeze, which begins at midnight Eastern time, they’re not settling for what they’ve done up to this point. As strong as the Blackhawks have been, they have several teams on their tail. The Anaheim Ducks have won six in a row and are just two points back of the Blackhawks. Los Angeles entered its Thursday night game against San Jose five points behind the Blackhawks.
“As good as we’ve played, we haven’t distanced ourselves from the people behind us. That shows you how competitive the division and conference is,” Bowman said. “We’re focused on continuing to win and we’re happy with getting off to a good start. But we’re not satisfied. We want to keep going.”
The Blackhawks have won plenty these last few years because they’ve rarely been satisfied. They’ve had the same core of players, the same group of guys who won’t settle for anything less. There’s still much work to do and a lot of time before the playoffs commence. But for now, the Blackhawks will appreciate where their hard work’s gotten them entering the Christmas break.
“The thing about our team and the guys is, no one’s really ever satisfied with what we’re doing. If we lose a game it feels like things are dropping down around here a little bit,” Patrick Kane said. “It’s just exciting to be around a group that’s always trying to get better, always trying to prove (itself) and do something special.”
Blackhawks finding different ways to score on the power play.
Tracey Myers
Patrick Sharp joked about the power-play propensity, something that seemed so foreign to the Chicago Blackhawks last season.
It’s almost like you just expect it to score every game, right?
“Never,” he said with a laugh. “You guys know special teams run hot and cold. Right now we seem to move it around pretty good, both units. Pucks are going in. It’s been the key to our success the last little while, but we want to be sure to remember what makes us successful.”
Yes, it has been successful. With at least one power-play goal in each of their last 10 games the Blackhawks are now ranked (gasp) third in the NHL, converting on it 24.6 percent of the time.
So what’s made it successful? We’ll take a quick look at what’s worked:
1. They’re shooting.
That sounds like a no-brainer on how to make a power-play work, but the Blackhawks weren’t doing nearly enough of it last season. What they were doing, and way too much, was passing. The Blackhawks are still doing some passing, obviously, but now it’s for a purpose. They’re firing, and even if it doesn’t result in a goal it gets things going.
2. The Andrew Shaw factor.
We wrote recently how the Blackhawks needed a good net-front presence to help their power play, and Shaw has provided that. It doesn’t matter if he’s not the biggest guy out there. Whoever sits in front of the goalie has to shield him, know when to screen and when to redirect and how to take the punishment from the opposition. Shaw has done all that, and it’s been part of the reason the Blackhawks’ power play has scored often.
3. Familiarity.
The Blackhawks’ power-play units used to change often when the team was struggling on the advantage. Now, they’ve remained the same for quite some time. Familiarity breeds confidence and certainty: players know where their teammates are, their tendencies.
4. Making their move.
Another problem for the Blackhawks last season was they were standing still too much. No movement, no shifting, no searching for the open lanes enough. Well, the Blackhawks are no longer statues on the power play. They’re active, using their strong skating ability to take advantage of the advantage.
The Blackhawks’ power-play personnel really hasn’t changed from last season. The results, however, have. They’re finding success on it, and it’s been beneficial in some of those final scores.
“We’re scoring in different ways,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We have different looks, different options and play recognition is high end. But it’s all because we’re shooting the puck and things are happening.”
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Bulls lose more bodies, fourth straight game.
By Aggrey Sam
Short their entire starting perimeter group, not including Derick Rose, by halftime of Thursday night’s game, the second in a back-to-back set against two of the better squads in the Western Conference, the increasingly undermanned Bulls (9-16) once again put up a valiant effort, but didn’t have nearly enough firepower to keep up with a talented Thunder (21-4) group, falling 107-95, at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the team’s fourth consecutive loss and 13th defeat in their last 16 outings.
Even without leading scorer Luol Deng—the All-Star small forward was sidelined with a recurrence of his Achilles’ injury, joining injured point guard Kirk Hinrich as unavailable for action—the Bulls kept pace with the high-octane Thunder in the early going of the contest.
All-Star center Joakim Noah (23 points, 12 rebounds) got off to a hot start, scoring nine points by the midway point of the opening period. But he was countered by the play of elite scorer Kevin Durant (32 points, nine rebounds, six assists), who also got assistance from the backcourt tandem of fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook (20 points, 10 assists) and defensive-minded swingman Thabo Sefolosha (10 points, five rebounds, four assists), an ex-Bull.
The Thunder’s slim cushion ballooned into a double-digit lead, as their second unit, led by explosive combo guard Reggie Jackson (18 points), outplayed their counterparts, and at the conclusion of the first quarter, the Bulls faced a 35-24 deficit.
The onslaught continued in the second quarter, as the backup-guard combination of Jackson and sharpshooter Jeremy Lamb kept the pressure on the turnover-prone Bulls, though rookie swingman Tony Snell (10 points, eight rebounds), getting extended playing time with Deng out, was a relative bright spot. The Bulls’ injury woes were exacerbated during the course of the game, as Jimmy Butler, only four games removed from being on the shelf for almost a month with a right turf-toe injury, suffered a right-ankle injury.
But somehow, the Bulls persevered, as the trio of Noah, Snell and top reserve Taj Gibson led the way, eventually cutting it to a three-point game, 47-44, by virtue of a 14-4 run, culminated by a D.J. Augustin (15 points, five assists) four-point play with 3:37 left in the second quarter. The Thunder again acquired some breathing room, but thanks to the late-period sharpshooting of Mike Dunleavy Jr., (11 points, six assists) who started in Deng’s place, the Bulls were only down 55-52, at the intermission.
After the break, the Thunder gradually widened the gap, as Westbrook and Durant carried the offensive burden. A saving grace for the Bulls, their ability to get to the foul line, was relatively equalized in the third quarter—the home team began to get to the charity stripe, too—but just when it seemed as if the Thunder had complete control of the contest and would be able to coast for the remainder of the outing, a rally led by Taj Gibson (16 points, six rebounds) made it a single-digit affair again, before heading into the final stanza behind by a still-manageable 84-72 margin.
A 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter in the increasingly physical affair showed that the Bulls, buoyed by Augustin’s outside shooting and the interior play of Gibson and Noah, wouldn’t go down without a fight. But the Thunder’s second unit didn’t let the Bulls stay within striking distance, and after the reinsertion of Westbrook and Durant, the Bulls’ chances significantly dwindled down the stretch.
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau seemed to realize that fact and took out Noah, who had a monster performance, and Augustin, currently the team’s starting point guard, with under four minutes to play, effectively waving the white flag after yet another partially admirable effort with little results to show for it.
Interview with Negro League Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick.
OutsidePitchMLB LLC; (The Official Website of Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC @OutsidePitchMLB)
The Negro League Baseball Museum, located in Kansas City, M.O., celebrates and educates the history of the greatest players and figures of the Negro Leagues from 1920 – 1960. (Photo Courtesy of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, M.O.)
Outside Pitch Sports Network had the pleasure of interviewing Negro League Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick on Outside Pitch MLB Radio on Monday. He was also willing to answer a few more questions for Outside Pitch Sports Network after the fact. It would be a disservice to the history of the game if anyone missed out on the radio interview, which can be heard here. However, he also discusses at length more about the history of baseball and the Negro Leagues. Here is the exclusive OPSN interview in its entirety.
Outside Pitch Sports Network: The Negro Leagues was not just one league, but multiple leagues. Can you explain the history of the Negro Leagues and the formation of different leagues?
Bob Kendrick: There were six different league structures over the 40 years that the Negro Leagues operated from 1920 to 1960. The Negro National League (NNL) was established by Andrew “Rube” Foster in Kansas City at a meeting that took place at the Paseo YMCA (Just around the corner from where the NLBM operates today and the future home of the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center). In 1923, Ed Bolden formed a rival league known as the Eastern Color League (ECL). In 1924, the inaugural Negro Leagues World Series was held with the Kansas City Monarchs squaring-off against Bolden’s Hilldale Daisies (Darby, P.A). In addition to the NNL and ECL, other Negro League affiliates included: American Negro League, Negro Southern League, Negro American League and East-West League.
OPSN: How did Jim Crow laws impact the ability for African American baseball players ability to not only develop their potential as players, but also impact major league baseball as well?
BK: What Jim Crow laws did was create the impetus for a Black Baseball circuit and eventually the formation of the Negro Leagues which gave the best African-American and Hispanic Baseball players to showcase their world-class skills. As baseball fans, those same Jim Crow laws robbed us from seeing all the best baseball players take the field to play and compete. In addition, the Negro Leagues would also serve as an engine that drove Black businesses to their economic heights.
OPSN: The fear of the Negro Leagues dominating Major League Baseball was apparent in the early stages when Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis disallowed Major League teams from playing black teams for fear of embarrassment. Did Commissioner Landis’ outlaw of competition between Negro Leagues and Major Leagues help the Negro Leagues grow in terms of on the field talent?
BK: Landis, coincidentally became commissioner of Major League Baseball in 1920, the same year that the Negro Leagues were established in Kansas City by Rube Foster. In many ways his refusal to allow Major League teams to play Negro League teams elevated the stature of Black Baseball. Landis felt it was an embarrassment for Major League teams to lose to Negro League teams which in essence served notice that Black Baseball was a force to be reckoned with.
OPSN: The Negro League Baseball Museum is a historic venue which teaches us all about the greatest baseball players that we never saw play such as Josh Gibson and Buck O’Neil. How does the museum ensure to preserve the rich history of the Negro Leagues but also educate today’s society about the quality of players and coaches who never had the chance to impact the game at the Major League Baseball level?
BK: The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) celebrates the 2,600 courageous men (and women) who forged a glorious history during the inglorious era of American segregation. The players had no idea that they were making history. They just wanted to “play ball!” The passion, determination and perseverance they displayed in the face of tremendous social adversity not only changed the game but changed our country for the better. The NLBM puts a proud spotlight on the greats of the game before Jackie Robinson breaks Major League baseball’s color barrier. Through the work of the NLBM, the world is awakening to baseball’s unsung heroes who could play the game and teach the game as well as anyone affiliated with the sport.
OPSN: Satchel Paige, one of the greatest pitchers in Negro League history, made his debut at the age of 42 in 1948 with the Cleveland Indians. How important is Paige’s impact not only in the Negro Leagues but also his place in MLB history?
BK: Major League Baseball says that Satchel was 42 when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948. He was likely closer to 52 than 42. He never revealed his real age but most believed he was at least 10 years older than he claimed. He helped the Indians with the World Series in ’48. I’m not sure there has ever been any more lore or legend surrounding any baseball player than there is with Satchel. He was, by far, the star among stars in the Negro Leagues. Arguably the game’s greatest showman but he could back it up with immense talent that saw in great demand to pitch from big cities to small towns. Everybody wanted to see Satchel take the mound.
OPSN: Eddie Klepp was the first white player to play in the Negro Leagues. What was his impact on the Negro Leagues?
BK: Klepp’s impact on the Negro Leagues was minimal on the field. In the eyes of the Negro Leagues he was just another player playing ball. It does, however speaks to the fact that the Negro Leagues didn’t care what color you were. All they cared about was “can you play?” And, if you can play… than you could play.
Outside Pitch Sports Network thanks Negro League Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick for his time being able to conduct the interview not only for the radio broadcast, but for Outside Pitch Sports Network. OPSN plans on continuing an ongoing relationship with Kendrick and the Negro League Baseball Museum, and hope to broadcast a LIVE show from the historic venue in 2014.
Ten things I would love to see changed in professional golf. What's your take?
By Shane Bacon
Golf is our passion. We play it, we watch it, we live it and we always want the game to evolve. So what could we tweak in professional golf to make the game even better? Read on for our 10 ideas for 2014.
1. Walking rules officials in every group -- If you had to coin 2013 something, it would probably be the year of the rules, with Tiger getting in trouble a few times and it turning into the biggest controversy of the entire golf season.
Just have a guy walk with each group, at each tournament, and 97 percent of the problems will simply go away. It might be a tough thing to do initially, but if we can find scorers and sign boys and marshals for each group at each event, we can find 100 people that know the rules of golf front to back.
2. Laser flag sticks -- We've heard this idea before about goal-posts in football or the foul pole in baseball, so why not golf? If instead of old school flag sticks that get in the way of a good shot we had a simple laser or hologram that shines up from the bottom of the cup to indicate where the pin is, it would take away guys getting completely hosed when they pull off an almost perfect golf shot (Also, easy sponsorship opportunity with the "Star Wars" franchise).
For those thinking that not having a real flag would be a problem for caddies and the wind, remember that our national championship was just played on a golf course that had wicker baskets on the top of the sticks and not flags. And, if this had happened a season ago, Tiger Woods would probably be on a hunt for major No. 16 or 17 when the 2014 Masters rolled around.
3. The FedEx Cup giving us some sort of match play for all the dough -- I don't care how they do it, how many people they have or which course they play it on, but we should get the top two or four or eight players in the FedEx Cup standings going at in the most exciting format in golf on a Sunday. Make the final day of this system a man and another man simply having to beat each other for the $10 million bonus, and I think it would add extra drama if second place got nothing. Win? You just set your kids and grandkids for life. Lose and you'll have to walk back to your mansion and beautiful wife without any bonus money.
4. Force the best in the world to play in team events with a penalty if they skip -- Rumors have been swirling about certain big names potentially skipping out on upcoming Ryder and Presidents Cups, but aren't the governing golf bodies forgetting that they actually do have some power? If the Presidents Cup wants to ensure they'll have the biggest names in the world participating, make it mandatory to play if you qualify with a penalty being that you won't be invited to one of the majors next season if you decide to skip out. If there is one thing that can scare the swooshes off of Tiger or the smiles off Phil it's the idea that they'll have to miss majors, the only thing they really care about, and making a serious demand like this would definitely lock in those names, and others, for the coming years.
(Also, in defense of the players I think they should get paid to play in these events moving forward, and understand why they would get upset that everyone is making money on these team events except them.)
5. Bring Back the real Q-School -- This new format is seriously the worst. The only guy that gets full Web.com status for next season is the guy that wins out of 152 guys that qualify and they still have to play six grueling, mind-numbing rounds? Get out of here with that.
6. Find a solution to slow play or risk losing fans for good -- I know one of the most tired arguments about baseball is that the game is slow, but if you simply look at the fans in 2013 you won't find a lot of youngsters haggling with scalpers so they can go sit for four hours and pay for overpriced food and drinks.
The thing that golf has over baseball is that they can show other holes when the leaders hit their shots, but the game is still. so. slow. We have to find a way to speed it up or else the game is going to go the way of long-winded journalism, and it needs to happen sooner than later.
You know what scares pros more than getting pulled to the side for a drug test? A penalty. We've waived the slow play penalty over the head of players for years like a hopeful kid holds mistletoe, but that kid isn't getting a smooch and these big names aren't really getting a shot added to their score if they play in five and a half hours.
Find a way to penalize the players no matter their name, stick to your guns for the entire season and see if we can cut just 15 minutes from each round on tour. It would makes the players happy, it would makes fans enjoy the game more and it might bring a few more eyeballs if it was just a little faster.
7. Allow the PGA Tour and European Tour to be separate entities -- I'm not sure when this started, but it almost seems rare to find PGA Tour events these days that don't count for some point system over in Europe.
This isn't fair to players that spend their entire year across the pond, and all it does is make the rich a lot richer. Why not make all the tournaments except the majors count for the tour they are played on? Some might complain that a World Golf Championships event should count for both, but just play two in the United States, two in Europe and count those points for those tours.
I get that this might lose the likes of Tiger traveling to Europe to play in an event that won't help his FedEx Cup number, but it seems that certain players that aren't scared to play a split schedule get all the dough while guys that are strictly European Tour members don't have a real chance at the end-of-year bonuses because they didn't get points for tournaments that didn't take place in Europe.
8. Some universal prize for a double-eagle -- In 2013, the PGA Tour saw 30 aces to just two double-eagles, a staggering number but not that shocking considering how tough it is to make a double-eagle.
Why not get some company to sponsor some double-eagle challenge, where the first man to make a double-eagle "wins" the prize but if someone tops it at any point in the season he "steals" the prize from the original albatross man? If nothing else, Lexus or Mercedes or Huffy should give the guy some mode of transportation for going 3-under on one hole.
9. A LPGA major at Augusta National -- It's 2013, we have women members at the most famous golf course in the world, and it seems that Augusta continues to evolve and grow.
The next logical step? A major held at Augusta for the LPGA. Seriously, what is the downside to this? Golf fans get to see Augusta for another week, the best women in the world get their own shot at Camellia, Firethorn and Holly and everyone is happy.
10. The PGA Championship goes back to match play -- I know, I know, you've heard this one from me before, but why not?! Up until 1958 the final major of the year was all match play, and the format should be part of at least one of the four big majors each season.
I get the drawbacks (a Shaun Micheel-Chad Campbell final isn't going to break the Nielsen ratings), but I just think fans love match play and would enjoy seeing two guys going at it, head to head, for the final major of each season.
Now, your turn! What would you like to see change in professional golf?
For you golf fanatics, after reading this article, what do you think, what's your take?
About NASCAR.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was born after a December 1947 meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla., where Bill France Sr. sought to organize the growing sport. What grew from this summit of automotive leaders was a national phenomenon, now in its seventh decade of racing.
France's vision to bring stock car racing under one organization has seen the sport transition from the dusty, dirt tracks and sandy beaches of its earliest days to today's high-tech speedways and television coverage that broadens its reach to millions of fans.
France helped facilitate that growth with the construction and 1959 debut of Daytona International Speedway, which hosts the sport's crown jewel race -- the Daytona 500 -- every February on its steep asphalt banks.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which was born as the "Strictly Stock" division in 1949, is now the premier motor sports circuit in North America. The sport has gone from racing the modified, pre-World War II coupes of bygone eras to competing with the brand-new sixth generation of stock car -- aggressively styled, purpose-built racers derived from road-going Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota sedans.
Three national series, four regional touring series, one local grassroots series and three international circuits race under the NASCAR banner, which also sanctions the GRAND-AM Road Racing series.
The vivid history of the sport has a home in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which opened in 2010 in Charlotte, N.C. The family business continues to thrive today under the leadership of grandson Brian Z. France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, and granddaughter Lesa France Kennedy, who serves on the NASCAR board of directors.
Corporate information
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio, PRN Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport.
NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as three international series.
Also part of NASCAR is GRAND-AM Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America.
Nigeria to use USA for World Cup training camp - Keshi.
AFP
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi wants the African champions to use the United States as their pre-World Cup training base.
Football officials had previously floated the idea of training in Argentina, Colombia or the United States.
But Keshi said he has decided on two American cities, Miami or Houston, because they are likely to have similar weather as Sao Paulo, the Brazilian city where the Super Eagles will be based for the tournament.
Nigeria are scheduled to begin their World Cup training on May 25.
"I have proposed that we camp in the United States because by the time we would be opening our camping the US would have the same weather as Brazil," Keshi said.
"There are several US cities that would be hot like Brazil and would have the same temperature (as) Sao Paolo."
He specifically identified Miami and Houston, which has a large Nigerian community.
Japan will most likely be one of Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendly opponents after they expressed a desire to test their readiness against the Eagles.
"While in Brazil for the draw, I was told Japan were interested in playing us, but I would also like to play countries like Peru," Keshi said.
"Considering the countries we have in our group, I would love the Eagles to play countries from the region that have the same playing style," he added.
"But it would also depend on the availability of such countries because some of them may have concluded their friendly arrangement already."
Nigeria will face Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the first round of next year’s World Cup.
On the heels of an 8-4 season, Jackson State wants more local players on the team. What's your take?
By Nick Bromberg
Jackson State went 8-1 in the SWAC in 2013 and 8-4 overall, but when the season was over, head coach Rick Comegy and the entire coaching staff sans one were fired. Why?
Well, the release from the school made it pretty clear.
"We’re looking for a coach who is going to recruit local, build a local program,” university spokesperson Eric Stringfellow said in the release.
“We’re looking for somebody where discipline is a part of their DNA. And the last thing is when you look at our fan base, you look at our numbers from what they once where to where they are now, I think it’s clear that there’s some work to be done in terms of recruiting student athletes from the Jackson metro, Mississippi area.”
The historically black university made the SWAC Championship game for the second straight season. But it did so with 12 players from Jackson on the roster. And that is apparently a problem.
Though the university must feel it runs deeper than the numbers suggest. From John Talty at the Clarion-Ledger:
Jackson State is banking on a roster stacked with local players boosting home attendance numbers. Average attendance numbers actually went up this year compared to last year (17,286 from 14,462 – which ranked 15th in the FCS in 2012). But, that still leaves a lot of empty seats in a 60,492-capacity Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
And while the average number of fans attending an FCS game was 9,620 in 2012, the idea is that local fans, who might not have a natural connection to Jackson State, will flock to see local guys play at the stadium.
Here's where it gets tricky. The metropolitan area population of Jackson is roughly 540,000. Is that enough of a population base to field a competitive FCS team with mostly local players? It's not like Jackson is going to get the best players.
Mississippi, Mississippi State and other SEC and FBS level schools will be at the top of the food chain. And is attendance going to increase for a team that may have more local kids but isn't as good?
Sure, Jackson State may be able to compete with low-level FBS teams for recruits, but they're not going to compete against the SEC in most, if not all cases. We'll see if the strategy works out. It's much easier to make a decision that's not based on wins and losses when you're not in one of college football's power conferences.
After reading this article, what do you think? Should Jackson State try to win as many games as they can with a national recruiting program or should they try to get as many local players as they can to draw fans, win or lose? We'd be interested in your opinion, what's your take?
S. Illinois coach: Players 'bunch of mama's boys'.
By ERIC OLSON (AP Sports Writer)
Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson said he regretted singling out one of his players in a postgame diatribe that went viral.
And that's about it.
Hinson said at a news conference in Carbondale, Ill., on Wednesday that he apologized to starting point guard Marcus Fillyaw for calling him ''absolutely awful'' in a 73-65 loss at Murray State on Tuesday night.
Hinson, however, said he wouldn't take back calling his players ''uncoachable,'' ''a bunch of mama's boys'' and comparing the disciplining of his young team to housebreaking a puppy.
''If that ruffles your feathers, or ruffles somebody else's feathers, then you know what, you're going to have to deal with it,'' Hinson said. ''And here's the other thing, I'm going to have to deal with it.''Fillyaw said he wasn't surprised with the way Hinson voiced his displeasure.
''Everything he said was true,'' Fillyaw said. ''Right now our team is playing soft. That's a big part of our identity right now ... It wasn't so much him calling me out personally. I was just as upset with my performance. His statement about me was accurate.''
Fillyaw paused and added, ''It was embarrassing that the whole world knows now.''
Athletic director Mario Moccia said he took no disciplinary action against Hinson.
''He's very passionate. That's why we hired him,'' Moccia said. ''I just reinforced that we never want to specifically criticize a player. There's a way to answer the media's question about a specific player's performance without being overly critical where people think you're being too tough on the kid.''
Long known for being blunt, Hinson initially was calm Tuesday when he met with reporters minutes after the Salukis (2-8) lost their fourth straight game. He became more wound up the longer he discussed a performance in which his team shot 42 percent, committed 18 turnovers and was outrebounded 40-29.
''They won't let me coach them,'' Hinson said. ''Any time I coach somebody they put their head down. We're soft. We've been enabled for whatever reason. I got a bunch of mama's boys right now. And we just won't buck up and bow our necks, and we've got to get through that.''
Hinson added, ''I'm tired of coaching a guy and having him roll his eyes, or put his head down or feel sorry for himself. I'm tired of that. This is big time. ... We've got men and women serving our country. They don't get to take days off. We're going to college and getting it paid for.''
Several media outlets reported that senior center Davante Drinkard later tweeted, ''I can't believe the little man had the nerve to call us mama's boys. Smh. I guess this is where Our team learns to point the finger.''
The tweet was later removed. As of Wednesday afternoon, Drinkard's Twitter account was allowing access only to confirmed followers.
Hinson said he wasn't upset about Drinkard's tweet. ''That's why we live in this country. It's freedom of speech,'' Hinson said. ''He apologized for calling me 'little man.' I'm 5-foot-8. I am a little man. It's OK.''
Jay Bilas, a standout at Duke and now an ESPN broadcaster, and Creighton coach Greg McDermott both said Hinson only wants the best for - and from - his players.
''On one hand, we want our coaches and subjects to be candid with us and tell us the truth, and then when they do we want to criticize them for that, too,'' Bilas said. ''I have no problem with coaches that want to perhaps motivate their teams through the media at times. I didn't think any of it was over the top. We'll see if it works.''
McDermott has known Hinson since the early 2000s, when he was coach at Northern Iowa and Hinson was at Missouri State.
''Barry is a great coach and better person,'' McDermott wrote in a text message. ''He wears his passion on his sleeve, which was evident in the interview. If his players listen to him, they will be better because of it.''
Fillyaw was scoreless with three fouls, two turnovers and one assist in 14 minutes against Murray State.
''Marcus was absolutely awful,'' Hinson said. ''That's about as PG-rated as I can say it. He was awful. Our guards were awful. Our three starting guards had one assist and seven turnovers. They must think it's a tax credit. It's unbelievable how our starting guards played.''
Hinson added, ''We made three turnovers tonight where we just came down and threw them the ball. I swear I thought one time that one of our players said, 'Merry Christmas.'''
Hinson also blasted his big men, who combined to go 2 for 11.
''My wife can score more than two buckets on 11 shots, because I know my wife will at least shot-fake one time,'' Hinson said, his voice rising. ''But those guys aren't listening. They're uncoachable right now.''
Hinson suggested that he will make a point of having his players do push-ups or run on a treadmill if they don't do as they're told.
''To me, when you've got a young team, it's a lot like house training a puppy dog,'' Hinson said, rolling up a piece of paper and swatting the table in front of him. ''You know what, when the dog does something wrong, 'Bad dog.' Well, I'm not going to hit 'em. I'm not going to swat 'em. But, 'Bad dog, get on the treadmill.' That's probably what we need to do.''
The 52-year-old Hinson is in his second season at Southern Illinois. He went 14-17 after inheriting a program hamstrung by academic problems and personnel issues. He had spent the previous four seasons in an administrative position with the Kansas basketball program.
He's 221-165 in 13 seasons as a head coach at SIU, Oral Roberts and Missouri State.
He's 221-165 in 13 seasons as a head coach at SIU, Oral Roberts and Missouri State.
Texans interview Lovie Smith for head-coaching spot; others on their short list.
By Eric Edholm
The Houston Texans have an advantage on the competition for teams that will be looking for head coaches this offseason. They have already fired theirs.
When the Texans became the first team to fire their head coach this season, letting Gary Kubiak go in the midst of what is now an 12-game losing streak, owner Bob McNair said he valued candidates with prior head-coaching experience.
One of those candidates reportedly is former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith, a Texas native, whom the team already has interviewed, according to ESPN. There are others they hope to talk to, and that list will include interim head coach Wade Phillips, who took over for Kubiak.
John McClain Follow
@McClain_on_NFL
Besides Lovie Smith, among others Texans R interested N are Penn State coach Bill O'Brien and SD OC Ken Whisenhunt. Wade will get interview
Smith, 55, had an 81-63 record in nine seasons with the Bears, leading the team to three division titles and Super Bowl XLI, where they lost to Peyton Manning's Colts.
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