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"You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional." ~ Joe Paterno, record winning football coach at Penn State University
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Sharks 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO).(As always, at least we got a point.)
By Jerry Bonkowski, The Sports Xchange
Blackhawks Goalie, Corey Crawford
Centers Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski converted both of San Jose's shots in a shootout, leading the Sharks to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at the United Center.
The Sharks (27-10-6) lost two of their previous three games. However, they are 6-2-0 in their past eight games.
Both center Jonathan Toews and left winger Patrick Sharp failed in their shootout attempts for the Blackhawks, who are not experiencing much luck of late in extra-period play. Chicago (29-7-9) lost for the sixth consecutive time when a game extended beyond regulation, and it fell to 3-0-3 mark in its past six games overall.
San Jose avenged a 5-1 loss in the first meeting between the two teams on Nov. 17 in Chicago. The Sharks are now 20-9-0-4 in their past 33 meetings with Chicago.
Defenseman Jason Demers put the Sharks on the board first at 10:12 of the first period, snaking the puck past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. It was Demers' third goal of the season.
Crawford was making his second appearance in the Blackhawks lineup -- and his first on the United Center home ice -- since being sidelined for nearly a month with a lower-body injury. Much as he did in Thursday's loss at the New York Islanders, Crawford looked a bit rusty.
After a scoreless second period, Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson tied the score at 1:27 of the third period with his fourth goal of the season, beating Sharks goalie Alex Stalock.
Defenseman Michal Rozsival's first goal of the season, a blazing slap shot from just inside the blue line at 4:01 of the third period, put the Blackhawks ahead 2-1.
Rozsival's tally literally had eyes, as it not only went right through the legs of Couture, but it also snuck through about a three-inch opening between the left post and Stalock's left leg.
San Jose tied the game just over seven minutes after Rozsival's goal on right winger Brent Burns' 14th goal of the season.
Stalock stopped 33 of Chicago's 35 shots prior to the shootout, while Crawford stopped 40 of San Jose's 42 shots.
NOTES: Despite dire predictions of below-zero temperatures and wind chills expected to reach as low as minus-50, attendance was 21,599, Chicago's 250th consecutive sellout, an NHL record. The Blackhawks are averaging 21,519 fans over their first 23 home games. ... The Blackhawks are in the midst of a run that will see them play six of seven games at home. On the flip side, after a home game Jan. 26 vs. the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago doesn't return to the United Center until March 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. A seven-game West Coast road trip will be wrapped around the NHL's Winter Olympics break. ... The Sharks play the Predators on Tuesday in Nashville before returning to San Jose, where they will play 10 of their next 15 games. ... Several media members who cover the Sharks were unable to make it into Chicago from Denver due to weather issues and canceled flights. Reporters do not travel with the team on its private charter.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! NFL playoff bracket and schedule 2014: Chargers, 49ers advance to Divisional round.
By Kenneth Arthur
The San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers won their Wild Card games on Sunday, joining the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts as the teams to survive the first weekend of the NFL postseason. But the playoffs are far from over and there's a lot of work left to be done.
In the NFC, the 49ers played a close game against the Green Bay Packers, trading blows throughout, before Phil Dawson hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired to win, 23-20. San Francisco advances to play the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, Jan. 12 at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Panthers beat the 49ers, 10-9, in Week 10.
The other AFC divisional matchup takes place on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 8:15 p.m. ET as the Colts take on the Patriots in New England, following Indy's huge 45-44 comeback win against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts and Patriots did not play against each other this season, but New England beat Indianapolis, 59-24, last year.
The Saints pulled off their own comeback on Saturday to advance in the NFC playoffs after beating the Eagles, 26-24. They will head to Seattle to play the Seahawks on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4:35 p.m. ET. The Seahawks beat New Orleans, 34-7, on Monday Night Football in Seattle in Week 13, as Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes in the win.
By John Mullin
Bears GM Phil Emery
The playoff outcomes of the weekend should give pause and cause for thought in Chicago, not the least of which is that the Bears may be closer to being a playoff force than their 2013 finish suggested:
It is entirely possible that the Bears slide from 10-6 to 8-8 could be followed by another dip in 2014. Best guess: not likely. The Bears were 46 seconds and a complete gaffe from 9-7 and the playoffs this season, and that was with just about everything going wrong on defense that could go wrong.
But here’s the thing: The Bears have a playoff-grade offense, arguably one good enough to go well into the playoffs. The mission statement of the offseason is to address the defense, which is potentially a simpler task than building an offense, which GM Phil Emery has done from offensive line on up to head coach.
To use Emery’s own phraseology, “it’s on me” as far as the draft. The Bears had the 14th pick in 2004 and rebuilt the defense with tackles Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson in the first two rounds.
Bernard Berrian was their third-round pick. Jared Allen was there in the fourth round. (Emery was a Bears scout then, but don’t blame him for missing Allen; Jerry Angelo was GM and Greg Gabriel was college scouting director, and nobody else took Allen for 125 picks, either.)
By Aggrey Sam
It was everything one has come to expect—defensive-oriented, predicated upon rebounding and with long stretches of sloppy offensive basketball—but the Bulls’ (14-18) 91-84 win over the Hawks (18-16) Saturday night at the United Center represented the identity the team has forged in recent seasons in all of its workmanlike glory.
Without durable power forward Carlos Boozer, who missed his first game of the season with a sore right knee, the Bulls still managed to build a slim cushion in the opening period behind the play of his replacement, Taj Gibson (10 points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots), and All-Star small forward Luol Deng (17 points, 11 rebounds, three steals).
Ex-Bull Kyle Korver’s record streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer was extended 103 straight contests in the early going, but the Bulls’ dominance on the boards—including contributions from veteran backup center Nazr Mohammed—and continued unselfishness on offense kept Atlanta at bay. Despite a buzzer-beating layup from Hawks sixth man Lou Williams to end the frame, the Bulls held a 26-18 lead after a quarter of play.
The Bulls maintained their comfortable advantage through balanced scoring, as the likes of Jimmy Butler (11 points, five steals) and the reserve duo of Mike Dunleavy Jr. (20 points) and D.J. Augustin (11 points, seven assists) provided timely offense. For the Hawks, while underrated forward Paul Millsap (16 points, 12 rebounds) and speedy point guard Jeff Teague (16 points, six assists) were effective, Atlanta’s firepower couldn’t be considered overwhelming, as the recent season-ending injury to big man Al Horford has made the team—one of the NBA’s surprises early in the campaign, as one of the few squads in the Eastern Conference with a winning record—even more reliant on perimeter shooting.
The first half ended on an entertaining exchange: Korver hit a corner triple with 2.9 seconds remaining in the period, followed by Deng answering with a heave from midcourt at the halftime buzzer to give the Bulls a 50-45 edge at the intermission.
After the break, the Bulls maintained their slight edge, though the Hawks, with role players like DeMarre Carroll and Pero Antic logging significant minutes, remained right on their heels. Deng, while not at his most efficient shooting the ball, emerged as the Bulls’ offensive focal point, while Gibson’s rugged interior play was another catalyst and All-Star center Joakim Noah’s (10 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks) defensive presence enabled him to make an impact on the contest.
Atlanta continued to make inroads, however, and kept trimming the gap, but heading into the final stanza, the score was 67-64 in the Bulls’ favor, as the bench tandem of Mohammed and Augustin—with his blend of scoring and playmaking providing its usual change of pace—gave them a boost late in the frame.
It remained a close-knit affair in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls stayed afloat behind the stellar shooting performance of Dunleavy, who even outshined Korver, his predecessor as the team’s designated marksman. The frontcourt trio of Deng, Gibson and Noah also played a part with their interior play, but the Hawks continued to exhibit a great deal of fight, with Teague, Millsap and reserve forward Mike Scott helping the visitors stay within striking distance.
Entering the game’s stretch run, Atlanta had numerous opportunities to trim what had become a two-possession game, but the Bulls’ trademark defense and rebounding prowess prevented the Hawks from getting quality shot attempts late. A pair of Deng free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining sealed the deal once and for all, giving the Bulls two consecutive wins, both at home.
10 compelling baseball figures to watch.
By Tim Brown
A little more than a month from the day baseball restarts (and presumably Mike Napoli will be fully clothed by then), we offer 10 of the more compelling figures of 2014. Some were among the compelling stories of 2013. That's just the way things go sometimes.
Masahiro Tanaka
The next Nomo? Irabu? Darvish? Igawa?
On a chilled and damp night in Denver, Hideo Nomo, then pitching for the Dodgers, no-hit the Rockies. In the postgame news conference, one in which Nomo seemed wholly unimpressed by what he'd done – the wet ground meant he'd pitched the entire game from the stretch, in the greatest hitters' park ever constructed, against the best offensive team in the league – he practically had to be goaded into a smile. And yet from the back of the room, first as soft sniffles, then unmistakable sobs, a Japanese reporter had briefly lost his professionalism to the joy of the triumph.
This is what intrigues us about the high-end Japanese player; the responsibility he carries from home across the sea, the transition to a game that will require of him change, and the expectation that he make it today, right now, with this pitch.
Whether he spends the year in New York, L.A., Texas, Seattle or elsewhere, Tanaka – of the 24-0 record, 1.27 ERA and contract in the range of $100 million – will have our attention.
Alex Rodriguez
While we're young, Fredric Horowitz.
We await the decision from the independent arbitrator on whether Rodriguez will be suspended well into the 2015 season, or not at all, or somewhere in between. Bud Selig waits. The Yankees wait. Eduardo Nunez waits. A-Rod and his team of legal demolition experts, injunctions at the ready, wait.
Rodriguez's lawyers claim their client should not serve an inning as a consequence of allegations brought by MLB and its star witness, Tony Bosch. Selig counters with 1,899 of them.
So Rodriguez, at 38 years old, sits on 654 home runs, on $86 million, and at the hair-trigger of a legal flamethrower. He will not go quietly. He might not go at all. And wouldn't it be interesting, come February, if Rodriguez – through some means – finds himself in a familiar clubhouse in Tampa, at his usual locker by the back door, slathering his bat with pine tar, talking about getting ready for the 2014 season.
Then what?
Albert Pujols
In Anaheim, there've been no playoff games. Attendance has fallen. There's been nothing like relevance.
The Albert Pujols era has not come off as owner Arte Moreno might have expected. Not yet.
As an Angel, Pujols has spent one season playing out of the worst slump of his life (finishing with 50 doubles, 30 homers, 105 RBI) and another barely able to take a step. He had knee surgery after the 2012 season and foot surgery during the 2013 season. He's also spent a lot of games watching his pitching staff get shellacked, and mornings – was he so inclined – reading about the rift between general manager Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia. He's about to play for his third hitting coach – Don Baylor follows Jim Eppard and Mickey Hatcher – in three seasons.
Eight years and $222 million remain on Pujols' contract, this much is true. He'll turn 34 in two weeks. Yet, he is resolute. He is prideful. He is the best hitter of his generation.
Assuming full health, Pujols becomes Pujols again. Assuming pitching (and Mike Trout, and Josh Hamilton), the Angels become the Angels again. Assuming the Texas Rangers and Oakland A's, it may not be enough.
Yasiel Puig
We've known Yasiel Puig for seven months or, according to the Internet, about the time it takes the average man to say, "I love you." Also, for him to do the dishes without being asked. Or, for that matter, to go to Mars.
It just seems longer.
The guy's a handful. He hits, he runs, he throws. He bat-flips, he dances, he glares. He lives life at 100 mph, and that's after he brakes for the state trooper. He shows up to Little League games, invites them all to Dodger Stadium, throws batting practice and laughs the whole time.
So, for the encore … what?
He'll decide, a single decision at a time, all of them under a very bright light.
Derek Jeter
He'll be 40 in June, coming off a season in which his body allowed him 63 at-bats. He enters his 20th season with 3,316 hits and five rings, the kind of résumé folks may have been thinking of when they started laying down bricks in Cooperstown.
Maybe he heals, and stays healed, and maybe he doesn't. Maybe he's still a big-league shortstop. Maybe he's not. Maybe he hits – and as recently as 2012 he did, batting .316 before his ankle shattered in the postseason.
More than a year later, he is what the Yankees are. They are iconic. They could be good again. They're going to need some help. And maybe they're running out of time.
Ryan Braun
Well, then. At any other time, Braun changing positions – from left field to right – would be interesting enough. And his return from a thumb injury might merit a question or two. Plus, you know, the fact he's a former MVP and still one of the better hitters in the game.
Instead, Braun returns from two drug suspensions, the first he successfully appealed (and pimped), and the second he took somewhat willingly.
This winter we've witnessed the beginnings of his re-entry into public life. He handed out food in the parking lot at Miller Park. He dined with the urine collector he'd once disparaged. He said he was "deeply remorseful."
Now he has a season to play. He's under contract for seven more years – and $127 million – with the Brewers. He'll restart his career branded as a Biogenesis casualty, a certified cheater, and a serial liar. That's a lot to lug around. Though perhaps not for Braun, who has a gift for convincing himself otherwise.
Don Mattingly
After three years, Mattingly seemed to tire of convincing people he can manage, to which those people responded, "Then you ought to do it better," which, at the moment, leaves Mattingly with a single year remaining on his contract and apparently little in the way of job security. Perhaps there is an extension coming, but neither Dodgers president Stan Kasten nor general manager Ned Colletti will say so, and that leaves Mattingly in the very same situation he complained about back in October. The organization did replace Mattingly's bench coach – Trey Hillman – with Tim Wallach, leaving the impression that the next time Mattingly pitches to Jason Heyward instead of Reed Johnson it will be his last.
Generally, we overthink the top step and under-think the clubhouse. Mattingly did his best work with the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Juan Uribe and even Puig. Yet too many tactical errors tend to erode a manager's leadership bearing and by the end of the postseason – the Dodgers fell out in the NLCS – the second-guessing of Mattingly's decisions wasn't limited to the media.
Mattingly is a good manager. The Dodgers expect him to be great. They need him to be great. They're about to find out if he can be.
Bud Selig
He's retiring. For real, he says, this time. For entertainment in the meantime, we get A-Rod and home plate collisions and instant replay and the Oakland A's and probably a lot of other stuff that will find its way to Selig, deserved or not.
Selig has done a pretty reasonable job of running the sport in some very difficult times, an opinion that isn't popular because nobody can seem to get over a tie in a game that didn't count, like Bud himself was leading the parade of pitchers. He also did not wrestle Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa to the ground in 1998 like he should have, because that's exactly what everyone else would have done if they were commissioner.
Anyway, what makes Selig particularly compelling is who succeeds him, and how that plays down the line with the union and its new leader, Tony Clark. The names we hear a lot are MLB COO Rob Manfred, MLB CEO of MLB Advanced Media Robert Bowman, MLB EVP Tim Brosnan, Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall and Mets GM Sandy Alderson. They're all reasonable candidates, and none will have the slightest idea what's in the plumbing in Oakland.
Robinson Cano
Hey, he did what anybody would have, and it's not like he can't come visit once in a while. Maybe he loves Seattle, and he won't disappear like Adrian Beltre did, and the Mariners trade for David Price or sign Tanaka, and they hit just enough to make it work, and it all saves the job of the general manager.
Cano struck the $240 million deal with the Mariners and in the aftermath said he "didn't get any respect" from the Yankees, and Yankees president Randy Levine responded, "I feel bad for him, because I think he was disappointed he's not a Yankee," then went on to say he most definitely would have given Mike Trout a 10-year contract, and next thing you knew Cano jerseys were hanging in the window of the Mariners' team store.
Regardless, the Mariners travel to the Bronx for a three-game series in late April, the first of many long journeys ahead for Cano.
Carlos Rodon
Rodon is the North Carolina State left-hander and the consensus first overall pick in the June draft. The projected 1-1, in baseball parlance, is a big-bodied kid with a big fastball, a disappearing slider and a developing changeup, the kind of pitcher who comes fast.
The Houston Astros have the first pick. Again.
The reason this is interesting is because Rodon's adviser is Scott Boras, and Rodon has leverage (he's a junior), and the Astros are in no position to turn away talent, and we're probably looking at the largest signing bonus since the bonus-pool system went into effect, a system Boras has a low opinion of.
With the 1-1 last June, the Astros selected Stanford senior (and Boras client) Mark Appel and paid him $6.35 million, a relative bargain.
One of the byproducts of an organizational rebuild that includes 111-loss seasons and early draft picks? Often enough, Boras comes with the plan and, for the moment, so does Rodon.
Toughest part of Ryder Cup is getting on team.
By DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer)
The most pressure involving the Ryder Cup this year is simply getting on the team.
It has never been more difficult - for Europe or the United States.
''I do not want to be missing out on that one,'' Graeme McDowell said last month at the end of a most successful season.
The former U.S. Open champion and Ryder Cup hero from Wales in 2010 won three times last year, including the World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria. He finished the year at No. 14 in the world, behind five Europeans - Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter.
But there are no guarantees in golf, especially in this era of great depth. McDowell goes into the year outside the top nine in the standings (four from European Tour money, five from world ranking points, both earned since September).
Both captains, Tom Watson and Paul McGinley, have three wild-card selections. Both teams have young players who were never part of the Ryder Cup conversation until now, whether that's Jordan Spieth of Texas or Victor Dubuisson of France.
''There's going to be two or three guys who miss,'' McDowell said. ''Good players. Quality players. I assume McGinley's wild cards are going to be very hotly contested. No doubt it's going to be a tough team to get on.''
All anyone has to do is look at the Presidents Cup last October - not because of who played for the American team, but who didn't.
Jim Furyk was left off the team when U.S. captain Fred Couples picked Spieth, and it was hard to fault him for that. Dustin Johnson, whom many regard as the best American talent under 30, didn't make the team and wasn't picked. Former Masters champion Bubba Watson stayed home. Rickie Fowler hasn't played on a U.S. team since he was a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup in Wales.
''It certainly is getting harder now - that, and I think the American players are hungry for it, so they're playing and they're working,'' Zach Johnson said. ''They are grinding and they want to make that team. It's harder to make those teams.''
Last fall, Johnson couldn't help but look at the rosters and say, ''He deserved to be on the team,'' or ''How do you not take that guy?''
''The obvious one was Jim,'' he said. ''How was he not on the team?''
Furyk had not missed a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup team since 1997. Then again, Furyk was 43 and every year gets a new class of young players who made it even harder. Harris English won twice last year. Think he doesn't have the Ryder Cup on his mind, especially after having played in a Walker Cup?
Tiger Woods, when he was going through a season of mediocre golf and troubling injuries in 2011, was regarded in some circles as a questionable captain's pick for the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. Woods didn't even qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs. Before heading down to Australia, his last top 10 was in April. Taking him would mean leaving PGA champion Keegan Bradley off the team.
All the opinions and analysis overlooked one important thing. He's Tiger Woods. And that made him an obvious choice.
How many guys are locks like that now?
Phil Mickelson, who turns 44 this year and is as unpredictable now as when he was a rookie, probably still fits into that category. And that's about it.
Consider who might be expected to play at Gleneagles the last week of September. Woods, Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar, Zach and Dustin Johnson, Jason Dufner, Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Spieth, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson, Furyk.
We're already up to 14. The Ryder Cup takes only 12.
And that's overlooking which new star might emerge this year. English? Billy Horschel? Gary Woodland? Ryan Moore?
Europe was at its strongest in the middle of the 2000s decade. Again, the strength was measured more by who didn't make the team. That prompted Colin Montgomerie to say in Ireland in 2006 that Europe had reached a stage where it could field two quality teams. It used to be the Europeans barely had enough for one.
Rose and Poulter didn't make the '06 team. Darren Clarke was left off the 2008 team, even though he had won twice that year. Garcia didn't play in 2010.
The Ryder Cup already is closer than ever. Sure, the Europeans seem to have a lock on that gold chalice. They won in 2010 when it came down to the final match, even though the Americans won all but one session in that rain-filled week. Europe's win in Medinah required a stunning comeback on the final day. It effectively was decided on a 45-foot birdie putt by Justin Rose.
The competition is greater than ever - for three days of competition, and especially for the next eight months trying to make the team. One thing is certain. There will be a lot of players disappointed to be sitting in front of their TVs.
Top 10 young drivers ready to take the next step.
By David Caraviello, NASCAR.com
Plenty of young talent ready to break through in all three national series
Youth springs eternal in NASCAR, and never more so than right now, when the sport is in the midst of a movement that promises to eventually alter the landscape of stock-car racing's highest levels. The best crop of young drivers in decades is climbing the ladder with the speed of a qualifying lap at Atlanta, and a number of those up-and-comers are poised to enjoy career years in 2014.
Of course, not every young driver showing potential will meet or exceed the expectations placed upon them, just as factors such as sponsorship and ride availability always threaten to unexpectedly shift a career into neutral. But right now, the sheer number of young drivers on the rise is so vast, that it seems only a matter of time before many of them break through and make their own marks on the national divisions of NASCAR.
Clearly this is a transitional period, with some older drivers moving away from full-time competition and leaving a domino effect of open rides in their wake. The NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series ranks are already overflowing with youthful promise, and this coming season will bring two of the more auspicious rookie candidates the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has seen in some time. It all adds up to a potential banner year for young drivers in NASCAR, and here are the top 10 ready to take the next step.
The 20-year-old Reed is perhaps best known for competing with Type 1 diabetes, and will indeed have the diabetes awareness campaign of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly on the hood of his No. 16 car in 2014. But the Bakersfield, Calif., native now has a chance to be better known for his results on the race track, given that he'll wheel one of Jack Roush's entries full-time in the Nationwide Series. Reed has shown some flashes, placing ninth last season in a Nationwide race at Richmond, and finishing on the lead lap in all but one of his six Nationwide starts in 2013. Now the former Legends and late model star has a chance to take a great leap forward in his first full-time campaign at NASCAR's national level.
9. Erik Jones, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Everyone knew the kid was good, given that he had a pair of Snowball Derby titles and an ARCA race victory to his name by the late summer of last year. Then he went out and stomped the field at Phoenix, leading 84 laps in November to become the youngest winner in the history of the Truck Series. The 17-year-old posts numbers that make you shake your head: five Truck starts in 2013, no finish worse than ninth. Yes, the equipment is top-notch. But there are a lot of kids in top-notch equipment who don't get the most out of it, and Jones does. In 2014 the Michigan native is expected to split the No. 51 truck with Kyle Busch, certainly raising the possibility of more race wins. And if he gets a chance at the driver's championship in 2015? Watch out.
8. Ty Dillon, Richard Childress Racing
His older brother may be garnering the most attention these days given his move to NASCAR's top level in the revered No. 3 car, but 21-year-old Ty is doing a fine job of following in Austin's footsteps. The younger Dillon moves up to the Nationwide Series this season, and into the same No. 3 program that Austin won the championship with a year ago. The runner-up for the Truck Series title last season, Ty has always been competitive in Nationwide events, and in 2014 he'll have the benefit of seasoned crew chief Danny Stockman Jr. calling the shots. Ty may not yet boast the national-series titles his older brother does, but in a Nationwide Series field that could be without six drivers who finished in the top 10 last season, he'll certainly have a chance to claim that first championship.
7. Ben Kennedy, Turner Scott Motorsports
The great grandson of NASCAR's founder may have raced primarily in the K&N Pro Series in 2013, but he certainly showed he could handle a car at NASCAR's national level in a head-turning fourth-place run in the Truck Series race at Martinsville in October. Now Kennedy, 22, moves up to the Truck circuit full-time, and in a proven ride -- the No. 31 of Turner Scott Motorsports, in which James Buescher won the championship in 2012. While Kennedy may face a learning curve in a deeper field of competition, his team certainly won't -- Michael Shelton is a proven crew chief who helped Buescher win six races and a title over the past two seasons. With Buescher off to RAB Racing and the Nationwide tour, the seat now opens for Kennedy, who couldn't ask for a better situation in his first year at NASCAR's national level.
6. Darrell Wallace Jr., Kyle Busch Motorsports
Wallace may have recorded a breakthrough much bigger than himself this past October, when he won a Truck Series event at Martinsville to become just the second African-American driver to claim a national series race. But that landmark alone didn't define his 2013 campaign, where the 20-year-old routinely challenged for race victories and finished eighth in final points. Wallace has always had talent, something that was evident in the handful of top-10s he recorded during limited Nationwide activity in 2012, and his first full-time campaign at the national level was everything it was expected to be. Wallace will likely be back in his No. 54 truck at KBM this season, and with Ty Dillon, Buescher and Brendan Gaughan all moving out of the series, he should be on the short list of top contenders for the title.
5. Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Racing
James Buescher may have a national series championship, but many in racing circles have long been watching his younger cousin Chris, who has been terrorizing the ARCA ranks since he was 16, and is now moving into NASCAR full-time. As a Roush Fenway developmental driver, Buescher enjoyed a stellar ARCA career that included 10 race victories and the 2012 title, which he won by completing every lap that season. For 2014, Buescher moves into the No. 60 Roush car most recently driven by Travis Pastrana, who has returned to rally racing. That vehicle had speed almost every week, something the 21-year-old Buescher may be better positioned to take advantage of than his predecessor. Not every ARCA ace has made it in NASCAR, but Buescher certainly shows all the signs of being able to break through.
4. Jeb Burton, Turner Scott Motorsports
No offense intended to reigning champion Matt Crafton, but you could do much worse than picking the 21-year-old Burton to win the Truck Series crown in 2014. He certainly showed that potential last year, maximizing the speed in his No. 4 truck to the tune of seven poles and a fifth-place standing in final points that probably wasn't wholly indicative of how well he ran most of the season. Back for another year at Turner Scott and with a successful rookie campaign under his belt, the time certainly seems right for the Virginia native to take the next step. The key may be harnessing some of that raw speed and winning more often -- his lone 2013 victory at Texas in June was just one of many events where Burton was in the mix at the finish. A few more race wins could net a much bigger victory for Ward's son at the end of the year.
3. Kyle Larson, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Some will view it as taking advantage of a young talent already under contract, others will see it as only accelerating an inevitable progression. Either way, Larson is bound for life on the Sprint Cup Series with just one full-time season of national competition to his name. The kid just radiates talent, which has been evident in his stellar runs against Sprint Cup interlopers in the Nationwide Series, his Truck victory at Rockingham, or the way he wowed everyone with his prowess on the dirt at Eldora. Larson can do it -- but can EGR give him the equipment to make it happen? That's the huge question here, and it centers not on the driver, but the team. If EGR's car development improves, the potential is limitless. Otherwise, it's a lot to ask of a 21-year-old rookie to carry a team on his own.
2. Ryan Blaney, Penske Racing
Strangely enough, the young driver perhaps most ready for the Sprint Cup Series is still two rungs down on the ladder. Blaney won a race in the Nationwide Series last year -- something neither Larson nor Austin Dillon could do -- as part of an outstanding campaign that saw the 20-year-old competitive in everything he drove. Blaney may have competed full-time on the Truck Series last year, winning twice and finishing sixth in points, but it's his Nationwide exploits -- 10 top-10 finishes in 16 career starts -- that leave no doubt. For 2014, he'll likely remain in Brad Keselowski's truck full-time and race a handful of times in Penske's No. 22 Nationwide car. The move up may have to wait, but in the interim Dave's son is extremely capable of winning more races in both series, not to mention taking aim at the Truck title.
1. Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing
People get caught up in the cowboy hat, and who his grandfather is, and whether or not he should be driving the No. 3. And despite it all, the 23-year-old Dillon continues to deliver, year after year. With championship trophies from both the Truck and Nationwide circuits to his name, the grandson of Richard Childress moves into a Sprint Cup team where all the ingredients appear in place. Although the car number has changed, Dillon will be stepping into essentially the same program that finished third in the final standings with Kevin Harvick in 2013. He'll also have a huge asset in Harvick's former crew chief, Gil Martin, who's seen it all, done it all, and won a lot of races along the way.
And let's not forget, Dillon is a driver who finished 11th in a Sprint Cup event last year at Michigan, and then 14th at the same track later on as Tony Stewart's injury substitute. No question, RCR is a team in transition with the departures of Harvick and Jeff Burton, and history has shown that the organization is prone to rollercoaster swings in performance. Given what we know, though, the combination of team, crew chief and driver here appears pretty close to ideal. It may take a while before Dillon is ready to compete for another national-series trophy that would complete an unprecedented trifecta. But another chance to remind people what he's capable of, this time on NASCAR's biggest stage? That seems right there for the taking.
| Series | Driver | Wins | Poles | Top 5s | Top 10s | Laps Led | Average Start | Average Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint Cup | Danica Patrick | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 30.1 | 26.1 |
| Sprint Cup | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 35 | 18.3 | 18.9 |
| Nationwide | Danica Patrick | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 64 | 18 | 21.1 |
| Nationwide | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 8 | 8 | 39 | 62 | 1422 | 8.9 | 12.5 |
The table below analyzes the 2014 Sprint Cup Series rookies' careers in the Nationwide Series:
| Driver | Wins | Poles | Top 5s | Top 10s | Laps Led | Average Start | Average Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Dillon | 2 | 10 | 31 | 53 | 1056 | 7.8 | 9.3 |
| Kyle Larson | 0 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 102 | 14.6 | 13.8 |
| Parker Kligerman | 0 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 52 | 13.2 | 15.7 |
| Cole Whitt | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 25 | 14.8 | 14.6 |
| Michael Annett | 0 | 0 | 7 | 34 | 49 | 21.9 | 17 |
Portugese legend Eusebio dies; Tributes flood in ahead of Eusebio funeral.
AFP
Tens of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the funeral Monday of Portuguese footballing great Eusebio, whose death has been met by worldwide tributes.
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, who died of cardio-pulmonary arrest early on Sunday aged 71, reigned over Portuguese football in the 1960s, bringing glory to both his club Benfica and his country.
His death led to an outpouring of tributes, with the Portuguese government decreeing three days of mourning and flags in Lisbon to fly at half mast ahead of his funeral.
"Football has lost a legend," FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote on Twitter. "But Eusebio's place among the greats will never be taken away."
English football hero Bobby Charlton, who helped Manchester United to victory over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final, said it had been a privilege to have known the man dubbed "the Black Panther".
"He was one of the finest players I ever had the privilege to play against," Charlton said at Old Trafford on Sunday, where around 75,000 fans staged a minute's applause ahead of an English FC Cup game.
"Not only that, he was a true sportsman. His goals record is incredible and stands the test of time."
The player's body was taken to Benfica's Luz stadium (Stadium of Light) in Lisbon, where fans placed flowers and prayed in front of Eusebio's statue.
"For me, he is simply the creator of football," said 24-year-old fan Luis Marques, while one banner left at the statue read: "I haven't come to say goodbye, but to say thank-you."
A funeral mass will be held in the Seminary Church near the stadium on Monday at 1600 GMT, and the footballer will be laid to rest at the Lumiar cemetery in the city's northern suburbs.
In line with Eusebio's wishes his coffin will, before the funeral ceremony, around 1330GMT, be carried around the stadium where he so often delighted fans.
"Portugal has today lost one of its most beloved sons, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira. The country mourns his death," President Anibal Cavaco Silva said.
Eusebio, born into poverty in Africa, scored 733 goals in 745 matches and rivalled all-time greats including Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano and Charlton.
"I was the best player in the world, top scorer in the world and Europe. I did everything, except win a World Cup," Eusebio said in an interview in 2011, recalling his tears after Portugal's loss in the 1966 World Cup semi-final to England.
From humble origins in the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique, Eusebio was to emerge as one of the world's most feared strikers, combining panther-like pace with a ferocious shooting ability.
Born in 1942, the poor boy from Maputo rose to prominence in Mozambique football circles as a teenager through his performances for Sporting Lourenco Marques, a team with links to Sporting Lisbon.
With his exceptional technique, strength and goal-scoring record, it was not long before word of Eusebio's prowess soon filtered back to Portugal. In December 1960 he was offered trials with Sporting.
Although keen, Eusebio was not willing to risk leaving his beloved mother unless there was the firm promise of a contract. Sporting baulked, creating an opening for Benfica, who snapped up the youngster's signature.
One-man rescue act
In an early game for Benfica, he had outshone Pele in a friendly with Santos, and in 1962 he scored the crucial goals in a 5-3 victory over Real Madrid in the European Cup final.
When Madrid's legendary Hungarian Ferenc Puskas symbolically handed his jersey to Eusebio after the match, the message was clear -- the torch had passed, and in 1965 Eusebio was awarded the Ballon d'Or.
But while Eusebio excelled with Benfica in Europe, it was his exploits at the 1966 World Cup for which he will be best remembered.
Eusebio's nine goals in England propelled Portugal to a third-place finish, and a succession of opposing teams simply had no answer to the power and pace of his play.
He scored twice in the 3-1 victory which sent holders Brazil out of the competition.
In the quarter-finals Eusebio was unstoppable, pulling off a one-man rescue act after Portugal went 3-0 down against North Korea after just 20 minutes.
The Koreans were blown away by a four-goal display from Eusebio as the Portuguese won 5-3.
In the semi-final against England, Eusebio was effectively marked out of the match but he did find the net again. He scored his ninth of the tournament in the third-place play-off win over the Soviet Union.
He finished his 64-cap career having accumulated 41 goals for Portugal. He also earned European football's Golden Boot award twice and was Portugal's top scorer every season between 1964 and 1973.
He helped Benfica to 11 league championships and five domestic cups.
In 1975 he joined the flow of players involved in the ill-fated North American Soccer League, before retiring in 1979 after winding down his career in Mexico and Portugal.
Married with two daughters, in retirement he became an ambassador for Benfica and the Portuguese football federation.
"Eusebio will always be eternal. Rest in peace," wrote current Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, in a message posted on Facebook alongside a photo of himself and his hero.
A ceremony at which the Portuguese president is to present Ronaldo with a prestigious honour has been postponed from Tuesday until later in the month, in respect of Eusebio's passing, the presidential office announced.
Last BCS title game matches Domination & Destiny.
By RALPH D. RUSSO (AP College Football Writer)
Team Destiny vs. Team Domination.
The Seminoles (13-0) ripped through their schedule on the way to Pasadena, winning each game by at least 14 points behind Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.
''I still think our best game is out there,'' Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Sunday. ''I'm looking forward to playing it on Monday night, and our kids are looking forward to the challenge.''
The turnaround Tigers (12-1) are the most unlikely group ever to reach the BCS championship game. Auburn went from 3-9 to Southeastern Conference champions in their first season under coach Gus Malzahn. It was a wild ride. The Prayer at Jordan-Hare beat Georgia. The Kick-Six beat Alabama. Destiny? Fate? Luck? The Tigers don't see it that way.
''Hey, I know we're a team of hard work, I know that,'' said tailback Tre Mason, a Heisman finalist who has run for 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns for the No. 1 rushing offense in the country. ''These guys put a lot of hard work in with me every day, blood, sweat and tears all year long.''
Auburn is the first team to reach the BCS championship game after having a losing season the previous season, and would become the first national champion to start the season unranked since BYU in 1984.
After 16 years of the BCS, the routine is familiar the day before the big game.
The coaches hold their final early morning news conferences, and then take a few minutes to shake hands with each other, exchange pleasantries and pose for pictures with the crystal football trophy that goes to the winner.
On Sunday it was Fisher, the fast-talking West Virginian and Nick Saban disciple, and Malzahn, who has gone from high school coach in Arkansas to the national championship game in eight years, running the drill.
Malzahn, who was the Tigers' offensive coordinator when they won the 2010 national title, said Sunday he told his players before the season one of their goals was to make the biggest turnaround in college football. Done. Auburn has already matched the 2000 Hawaii team for most improved record in FBS history.
''Well, Auburn is a great program and used to winning championships, so I knew that we were going to get it turned around,'' he said. ''I didn't know how quick. There was a lot of questions when we first got there. We did a lot of Dr. Phil-ing early, and our guys came together and they believed.''
Malzahn's up-tempo, spread offense is a combination of deception and power that seemingly gets better every game. Against Missouri in the SEC championship game, Auburn ran for 545 yards.
''Well, you have to have eye discipline,'' Fisher said. ''Any time you have moving parts, any time you bring something in front of you, just like when you're driving, if somebody flashes a hand in front of you while you're driving down the road it makes you blink, it makes your eyes distracted and you get off of what you're looking at and then at the same time they become very physical with how they play, and you get yourself out of position, they knock you out of the way, and there's a four, five, eight, 10 or they break a run right up the middle.''
Fisher has put together the most talented two-deep depth chart in the country, a collection of five-star recruits and NFL prospects reminiscent of coach Bobby Bowden's best Florida State teams. The Seminoles won two national titles under Fisher's Hall of Fame predecessor and played in the first three BCS title games. The Seminoles haven't been back since 2000.
A prodigy led them.
Winston turns 20 Monday. The redshirt freshman became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy, setting FBS freshman records for most yards passing (3,820) and touchdown passes (38). His only problems came off the field. In November, a year-old sexual assault complaint against him was investigated by Florida prosecutors. After three weeks, the state attorney announced he did not have enough evidence to charge Winston. A week and a half later, Winston won the Heisman in a landslide vote.
The Seminoles outscored their opponents by 42 points per game and have not trailed since Sept. 28. Winston and the rest of the starters have spent most fourth quarters relaxing. The Atlantic Coast Conference was no match for the Seminoles. Will the lack of stiff, four-quarter tests and not the most difficult of schedules put Florida State at a disadvantage?
The 'Noles say nonsense.
''I can't help that another team can't keep up with us,'' linebacker Telvin Smith said.
Florida State is also trying to break the SEC's grip on the national championship. The streak is at seven, but never has the SEC team been as big an underdog (Auburn is getting 10 points from oddsmakers).
The Seminoles are fine with being the favorites.
''I'm glad everybody's calling Auburn a team of destiny,'' Winston said, ''because at Florida State we control our own destiny.''
San Diego State ends Kansas’ home-court winning streak in nonconference games.
By Kyle Ringo
When the college basketball season began, Kansas was viewed as a Final Four contender with the most sought-after freshman in the nation on the roster in Andrew Wiggins.
But over the past two months, the Jayhawks have taken a series of steps backward, including Sunday's 61-57 home loss to a talented, experienced and determined San Diego State team.
The 21st-ranked Aztecs ended the Jayhawks' 7-year-old 68-game home winning streak in nonconference games in coach Steve Fisher's first time coaching in Allen Fieldhouse. The last time Kansas lost at home outside the Big 12 Conference was Nov. 15, 2006 to Oral Roberts.
The Jayhawks had fallen from No. 5 in the preseason Associated Press poll to No. 16 this week and they will continue to fall when the new polls are released Monday.
All four of Kansas' losses have come against teams in the current rankings, and the Jayhawks still have that win over Duke back in November to feel good about. But coach Bill Self has some issues to address at point guard and in the paint and it's not a good time to be trying to find fixes heading into conference play in, arguably the toughest conference in the nation.
Give the Jayhawks some credit for fighting back from an 11-point deficit to give themselves a chance to win at the end. They just didn't get it done - again. Losing close games late against good teams is becoming a theme for these Jayhawks.
Meanwhile, Fisher's team extended its winning streak to 11 games and its' only loss this season came back in mid-November to Arizona, currently the nation's No. 1 team.
The Aztecs have three wins over ranked opponents and while the Mountain West Conference will certainly be challenging, its tough to think the Aztecs won't get through the conference schedule mostly unscathed.
The Aztecs play tough defense and rebound. They dominated the boards 51-39 Sunday, which is almost unheard of against Kansas on its home floor. They held the Jayhawks to 29.8 percent shooting, the second worst shooting performance of the Bill Self coaching era in Lawrence. No one is going to want to see the Aztecs on the other end of the court in March.
Dennis Rodman names team to play exhibition in North Korea.
By The Sports Xchange
Former NBA player Dennis Rodman announced Saturday the team that he'll lead to play an exhibition basketball game in North Korea.
The game, to be played this Wednesday, Jan. 8, in the country's capital of Pyongyang, will be part of the 31st birthday celebration of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un.
While careful not to call it a "U.S. team" due to political circumstances, Rodman's squad will feature a number of former NBA all-stars, including Vin Baker, Cliff Robinson and Kenny Anderson, along with relative old-timers such as Craig Hodges, Charles Smith and Doug Christie.
Rodman's team will play one of North Korea's top senior national teams.
In an interview with NBA.com, Rodman called the game his version of "basketball diplomacy."
"My previous travels have allowed me to feel the enthusiasm and warmth of fans," Rodman said. "The positive memories and smiles on the faces of the children and families are a testament to the great efforts we have put into fulfilling our mission wherever we go voiding any politics.
"We are all looking forward to arriving in Pyongyang, meeting the citizens, visiting various charities and using the opportunity to develop new relationships that result in our annual return."
Rodman trained the North Korean team just before Christmas before returning to the United States. It was his second trip to the isolated nation, having previously done so last February with the Harlem Globetrotters when he first met Kim for the first time. The pair developed a quick friendship, leading Rodman to call the North Korean leader "a friend for life."
Smith said he's looking forward to playing the game.
"Dennis and I are total opposites, but we work very well together," Smith said. "Dennis is one of the few people I know that doesn't just talk but actually lives a culturally diverse life. We have traveled everywhere together so I was not surprised with his first visit to North Korea.
"Cultural exchange is about sharing. Sharing ideas and thoughts on education, culture and life."
Rodman did not address Kim's recent execution of his uncle for alleged crimes against the nation.
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