Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"
"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"
Sports Quote of the Day:
"The ideal way to win a championship is step by step." ~ Phil Jackson, Legendary NBA Coach and Owner of 13 NBA Championship Rings
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks blank Ducks in battle of Western elites.
By Dennis Bernstein, The Sports Xchange
Chicago Blackhawks 2 at Anaheim Ducks 0, 02/05/2014
Two of the NHL's best matched up at the Honda Center on Wednesday, and the game met the expectations.
Winger Marian Hossa scored a goal and added an assist and goaltender Corey Crawford made 29 saves as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 2-0 on Tuesday in a hard hitting, tight checking, playoff-style atmosphere.
Chicago (35-10-14) earned at least a point in the first four games of a five game road trip prior to the Olympic break. They moved four points ahead of the St. Louis Blues for the Central Division lead, although the Blues have four games in hand.
"Crawford made some key saves, we had some blocks and fortunate bounces," said Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. "To me, getting through the 5-on-3 kills was huge and scoring first obviously helped."
Despite Chicago's league-high 14 overtime/shootout losses, their back-to-back wins in Los Angeles and Anaheim are a signal that the team is gearing up for defense of its Stanley Cup title. The Los Angeles victory was crafted with offense while Wednesday's win was due to goaltending and penalty killing success.
Hossa opened the scoring with his 24th goal of the season less than a minute into the second period when he took a pass from winger Patrick Sharp in the deep slot and slid the puck between Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller's right pad and the post.
Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews cashed in with an insurance goal with 2:31 remaining with a wrist shot after a turnover by Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler. Hossa drew the lone assist on Toews' 19th goal of the season.
"It's big for us," said Toews. "I feel that over the last month there were a lot of games that we didn't play so well and just didn't win a way to win. If we had to win 1-0 tonight, we were going to do it."
Anaheim hit a valley after setting a blistering pace through mid-January, losing six of their last 10 games, including four out of five at home. Its stagnant power play has not produced a goal over the last four games and has been a major contributor to the slide. An injury to winger Nick Bonino has been a factor as well.
"There's only a quarter of the season left and teams are starting to heat up, we need to find a way to do the same," said winger Corey Perry. "We had a good effort tonight but the bounces just did not go our way."
Though the Blackhawks drew to within one point of the Ducks for first overall in the NHL, Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau says the race means nothing and was defiant in his tone.
"Everyone wants to jump off the bandwagon? That's fine," Boudreau said. "We'll rebound from this and be there when it counts."
The Ducks' inability to cash in on multiple power-play opportunities in the second period allowed the Blackhawks to stay in front through 40 minutes. Anaheim had six minutes of power-play time in the final half of the period, but did not have a serious chance to even the game.
Hiller's play kept the Anaheim deficit at one in the early stages of the middle frame. Two of his strongest saves came when he stopped Chicago winger Kris Versteeg at the end of a 2-on-1 rush with a right pad save and a glove save on a wrist shot by Toews.
Anaheim had a golden opportunity to break the seal on the game with a 5-on-3 man-advantage late in the first period. The Ducks managed three shots during the power play, but Crawford was sharp and kept the game scoreless.
Anaheim (40-14-5) lost for the fourth time in its last five games and was shutout for the second time in three games. Hiller made 22 saves while suffering his ninth regulation loss of the season.
NOTES: Chicago did not dress D Michael Kostka, D Johnny Oduya and C Brandon Pirri. ... The Blackhawks rank first overall in offense and are the only team in the NHL with three 20-goal scorers, LW Patrick Sharp (28), LW Patrick Kane (25) and RW Marian Hossa (24). ... Chicago has yet to lose in regulation to a Pacific Division team (13-0-6). ... The Ducks recalled LW Emerson Etem from their Norfolk AHL affiliate and sent C David Steckel down. In 26 NHL games this season prior to this recall, Etem has scored 6 goals and 10 points. ... Anaheim scratched RW Tim Jackman, RW Jakob Silfverberg and D Bryan Allen. ... The Ducks and Blackhawks combined record of 74-23-19 is the best record of competing clubs at this stage of the season in nearly five years.
Blackhawks-Coyotes Preview.
By JEFF BARTL (STATS Writer)
Coach Joel Quenneville admitted to having some concern about how the Chicago Blackhawks would fare during their long road trip after heading into it in the midst of their worst slump of the season.
Now he hopes Chicago can ride its current hot streak into the Olympic break.
The Blackhawks won't have Patrick Kane as they try to win three straight for the first time in nearly two months Friday night against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Chicago (35-10-14) began its trip with a 5-4 overtime loss to Calgary on Jan. 28, which marked its season-worst fourth straight defeat. They've gone 3-0-1 since, including multiple-goal wins over Vancouver, Los Angeles and Anaheim.
Marian Hossa and captain Jonathan Toews scored in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Ducks, and Corey Crawford made 29 saves for his first shutout of the season.
Chicago hasn't won three straight since Dec. 8-11.
''The last handful of games on this trip, we've got back to the way we need to play,'' Toews said. ''(Anaheim is) a tough team to do that to, and we have to feel good about what we were able to accomplish.''
Hossa, who has three goals and four assists during a five-game point streak, has scored in both meetings with Phoenix. The Blackhawks won 5-4 in a shootout Nov. 14 and 5-2 on the road Nov. 30, and they've gone 4-0-1 in the series since losing to the Coyotes in six games in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.
"We have some momentum going into this game, so we want to make sure we take care of business and prepare the way we have for every game on this trip," Quenneville said. "We've gone to three tough buildings in a row and we're assuming the fourth one will be tough as well."
The last game before 10 Blackhawks head to the Olympics may be even tougher without Kane, who will attend his grandfather's funeral in Buffalo before leaving for Sochi to play with Team USA.
Kane's 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) lead the Blackhawks, and Quenneville will have to alter his lines in Kane's absence.
"Kaner gives you so many different looks and options," Quenneville said. "We'll probably move (Brandon) Saad up (to the second line) and see what he does there. (Brandon) Pirri might get some power-play time. It's a good opportunity for some guys to get some more quality ice time."
Chicago has won its last five road matchups, including postseason, with Phoenix, which dropped to 2-2-0 on a five-game homestand with Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Dallas. The Coyotes (26-20-10) will face the Stars on the road Saturday before the break.
Antoine Vermette scored Tuesday to give him eight goals and three assists during a career-best eight-game point streak. Phoenix is sitting just outside the Western Conference playoff picture and will be in for a battle for the final wild-card spot after the Olympics.
''It was really disappointing,'' Vermette said. ''We have to find a way to win these games.''
Mike Smith made 37 saves, though its unclear if he or Thomas Greiss will be in net with Phoenix playing again Saturday. Crawford, who has a 1.47 goals-against average over Chicago's last four, should get the start.
Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg will serve as best man in the wedding for former Chicago prospect and current Coyotes forward Rob Klinkhammer during the Olympic break.
"I need to review what he's planning to say for the toast and see if it's appropriate," Klinkhammer told the team's official website.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Chicago Bears: Will the Bears Be 4.1-Percent Better in 2014?
By Brian Davis
COMMENTARY | Like taxes, fans are never happy when ticket prices go up.
Offense - Passing
Between Jay Cutler (2,621) and Josh McCown (1,829), the Bears put up 4,450 passing yards in 2013. They also threw for 32 touchdowns. A 4.1% increase would mean that the Bears' quarterbacks would pass for 4,632 yards next season and throw for 34 (33.31) touchdowns.
When you consider the numbers the Bears put up in the first season in Mark Trestman's offense, it's a fair assessment to expect them to be even better next season, especially with 10 of the 11 starters already under contract.
With Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, and Matt Forte spearheading the passing game, the yardage seems like a doable feat. The touchdowns do too, but considering that Cutler has only ever made it up to 27 (and seems to miss a few games per season), the touchdowns are a little shakier.
It also depends on whether Josh McCown is back in the saddle as Cutler's backup.
Yardage: 75% chance
Touchdowns: 33% chance
Offense - Rushing
The Bears had 1,823 rushing yards -- 1,339 coming from Forte. The Bears would need to put up 1,898 rushing yards.
Picking a team to rush for almost 2,000 yards is tough to bet on. The Bears are also a stronger passing team than they have been in previous years. Forte gets a lot of attention in the flats as a receiver -- 74 receptions for 594 yards in 2013 -- so his yardage could easily fluctuate. If the Bears get that second, more-efficient running back behind Forte, then this number is a bigger possibility.
Rushing: 50% chance
Third-Down Conversions
The Bears converted 83-of-197 third downs in 2013 (42.1%). They'll need to get that number to 46.2%.
The personnel on offense should make this within reach, but getting a complementary power back to replace the disappointing Michael Bush should help the Bears convert on a few more short-yardage situations -- a stat they were near the bottom of the league in last season.
Third Down: 50% chance
Defense
Since the unit was a train wreck in 2013 (as in the worst defense in Bears history), it seems logical to assume they can improve by 4.1% in 2014.
This unit surrendered 3,919 passing yards, an astounding 2,583 rushing yards, and a depressing 478 points last season. To reach the desired increase, they would need to surrender 3,758 passing yards, 2,477 rushing yards, and 458 points.
There's no reason to believe the Bears won't improve by at least that much. In fact, it would be considered an unmitigated disaster if they only improve by 4.1%. Not only will the Bears get some injured players back, but there's also just no way the defense could be that bad two years in a row.
Defense: 99% chance
Turnovers and Sacks
The Bears' defense forced 28 turnovers and had 31 sacks in 2013. To fit our criteria, they would need 30 (29.18) turnovers and 33 (32.27) sacks in 2014.
If Charles Tillman does not return (and he very well may not), it would be a crippling blow to the Bears' ability to create turnovers. And with Lovie Smith long gone and the "ball-hawking" mindset of turnovers mostly gone with him, it's tough to see the current incarnation of the Bears as a top team in taking the ball away.
Thirty-one sacks is a fairly miserable number (and was good for last in the NFL), so you'd almost have to think the number will go up. But if Julius Peppers is cut and the defense is learning a new scheme (which it might be), who knows where the sack numbers end up.
Turnovers: 33% chance
Sacks: 66% chance
Wins
In 2013, the Bears were winners of 8 games. A 4.1% increase would mean 9 wins (8.33).
The Bears' 2014 schedule contains six teams with records over .500 in 2013, three teams who finished at .500, and seven who finished below. But among the teams that finished below were the Atlanta Falcons (4-12) and Detroit Lions (7-9), both of whom should be considered better than that.
The Bears should improve on 2013, but it's tough to scrape up 9 wins when you're looking at that schedule. If they don't play consistently, it could be a disappointing campaign.
The Bears should improve on 2013, but it's tough to scrape up 9 wins when you're looking at that schedule. If they don't play consistently, it could be a disappointing campaign.
Personally, I think they will be even better next year, but that's kind of my job as a Bears fan.
Wins: 66% chance
So, is a 4.1% increase too much to ask?
So, is a 4.1% increase too much to ask?
CBS, NFL Network join forces on broadcasts.
By The Sports Xchange
CBS will air eight NFL games on Thursday nights during the first half of the 2014 season and will produce eight games telecast by NFL Network during the second half of the schedule.
CBS and the NFL announced the agreement on Wednesday. Two of the NFL Network games will be played on Saturday late in the season.
Play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and color analyst Phil Simms will be paired for all 16 games. NFL Network hosts and CBS announcers will work together on the pregame, halftime and postgame shows.
"We are very pleased to build on our outstanding partnership with the NFL by expanding our coverage to Thursday nights," CBS Corporation president and CEO Les Moonves said in a statement. "CBS is a premium content company and the NFL represents the best premium content there is. I look forward to all this new deal will do for us not only on Thursday nights, but across our entire schedule."
The agreement runs through the 2014 season with a NFL option for 2015.
"NFL Network built Thursday into a night for NFL fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Our goal is to bring these games to more fans on broadcast television with unprecedented promotion and visibility for Thursday Night Football on CBS."
The new arrangement will give CBS, which has broadcast AFC games in recent years, the opportunity to expand into the NFC.
"The NFL is the most powerful programming in television. To add a prime-time NFL package to our successful Sunday AFC package further strengthens our position in the sports marketplace," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said. "We look forward to having Jim and Phil and our top production team showcased in prime time on Thursday nights."
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Warriors 102, Bulls 87.
By Dave Del Grande, The Sports Xchange
Point guard Stephen Curry poured in 34 points Thursday night as the Golden State Warriors rallied from a 16-point, first-half deficit to thump the Chicago Bulls 102-87 in a nationally televised game.
With new NBA commissioner Adam Silver in attendance, the Warriors (30-20) won for the third time in four games even though they faced the Bulls without center Andrew Bogut (sore shoulder) and power forward David Lee (sore shoulder and hip).
Golden State reached the 50-game mark with 30 wins, matching the record it compiled at the same point last season en route to the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Curry scored 16 of his 34 points in the second quarter, rallying the Warriors into a lead they relinquished only briefly.
Reserve forward Harrison Barnes hit two 3-pointers and Curry buried his third 3 of the night over an 82-second span of the fourth quarter, allowing the Warriors to pull away after Chicago closed to within 78-74.
The Bulls (24-25) got no closer than six after that.
Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson snapped a recent slump to drop in 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting. Backups Barnes and guard Jordan Crawford added 11 points apiece.
Curry, who made 13 of his 19 shots, also had nine assists, the second of which made him the ninth player in Warriors history to record at least 2,000 for a career.
Power forward Taj Gibson, starting in place of Carlos Boozer, who suffered a strained calf before the game, led Chicago with 26 points and 13 rebounds.
Point guard Kirk Hinrich had 15 points, guard Jimmy Butler scored 14, backup guard D.J. Augustin added 10 and center Joakim Noah compiled 11 assists, 10 rebounds and seven points for the Bulls, who were playing for the fifth time on their six-game Western trip.
It took the Warriors more than a quarter to snap out of a cold spell that doomed them in a 91-75 home loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night. Once they found their shooting touch, they were able to gradually pull away from the road-weary Bulls.
Chicago began the game looking as if it would duplicate the Bobcats' success, using an early 12-2 burst to build a 17-6 lead in the game's fifth minute. Gibson and Hinrich had four points apiece in the burst.
The Bulls led by as many as 15 later in the quarter and then 34-18 early in the second before the Warriors' turnaround began.
The deficit was still 40-30 before Golden State finished the half on a 20-6 run, a 6:47 stretch in which Curry had 14 points and assisted on two of the Warriors' other three field goals.
The Warriors led 50-46 at the half and then by as many as 10 in the third quarter. Thompson came alive in the period, hitting two 3-pointers and scoring 10 of his 22 points.
NOTES: The NBA announced Thursday that Warriors PG Stephen Curry (Three-Point Contest and Shooting Stars event) and SF Harrison Barnes (Slam Dunk competition) were added to the lineup for All-Star Saturday in New Orleans on Feb. 15. ... Warriors coach Mark Jackson disclosed before the game that PF David Lee (sore shoulder and hip) also would miss Saturday's game at Phoenix. ... Thursday's absences were just the second of the season for injured Warriors C Andrew Bogut and Lee. ... Curry became the ninth player in franchise history to record 2,000 career assists, a list that includes C Nate Thurmond, F Rick Barry and F Chris Mullin. ... SG Klay Thompson played in his 198th consecutive game Thursday, the 10th-longest streak in Warriors history. ... The Bulls cap their second six-game trip of the season Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles against the Lakers. They already surpassed the win total of their six-gamer in November, when they went 1-5.
19 MLB players on track for salary arbitration hearings. What's your take on professional sports salaries?
By Bryan Kilpatrick
For several MLB players, the grueling, invasive and downright corrosive salary arbitration hearing process will begin this week.
In 2013, 133 players filed for salary arbitration, and for the first time in the 40-year history of the process there were no hearings. So far in 2014, 19 of the 146 players who filed still haven't come to an agreement on a 2014 contract.
Teams and players who aren't able to come to an agreement based on figures submitted by each side in January will state their cases in an arbitration hearing before a three-person panel sometime between now and Feb. 20. That setting is where things get testy between front office personnel and players, as former big-league hurler Greg Swindell told Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2012:
"I remember sitting across the table from John Hart and Dan O'Dowd and being furious that this was the team I played for, but they were telling me how bad I was. I realized it was the business side of the game, but I didn't like it."
"[It was] a blood bath on both sides. We were on one side and Swindell and his agents, the Hendricks brothers, were on the other. The process was very uncomfortable."
Those stories go along with legendary arbitration tales that came out of Boston in the 1980s, as shared last year by Tom Van Riper of Forbes.com:
"Rich Gedman, a Red Sox catcher who batted .295 in 1985, pointed out at a hearing that his batting average was among the twenty highest in the league. Red Sox officials, presumably with a straight face, argued that Gedman's average didn't even crack the top 100. How? By showing the panelists a list of every player in the AL, including those who batted, say, .333 by going 3-for-9."
The discomfort involved with the process is likely a big reason why there were no hearings last year. That won't happen this year, with notable starting pitchers Justin Masterson, Jeff Samardzija and Homer Bailey, power closer Craig Kimbrel and possible budding star Brandon Belt among those seemingly headed to that dreaded phase opposite their respective clubs.
Two of the biggest names were removed from the board Tuesday, when the Braves signed first baseman Freddie Freeman to an eight-year, $135 million contract and inked outfielder Jason Heyward to a two-year, $13.3 million deal.
Here is a full list of players who will be going through the rigorous arbitration hearing process, along with the previously exchanged salary figures:
| Pos | Player | Team | Club offer | Player request | Midpoint |
| RHP | Homer Bailey | Reds | $8.7 million | $11.6 million | $10.15 million |
| RHP | Justin Masterson | Indians | $8.05 million | $11.8 million | $9.925 million |
| RHP | Craig Kimbrel | Braves | $6.55 million | $9 million | $7.775 million |
| C | Matt Wieters | Orioles | $6.5 million | $8.75 million | $7.625 million |
| RHP | Tyler Clippard | Nationals | $4.45 million | $6.35 million | $5.4 million |
| RHP | Jeff Samardzija | Cubs | $4.4 million | $6.2 million | $5.3 million |
| RHP | Greg Holland | Royals | $4.1 million | $5.2 million | $4.65 million |
| OF | Mark Trumbo | Diamondbacks | $3.4 million | $5.85 million | $4.625 million |
| RHP | Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | $3.5 million | $5.05 million | $4.275 million |
| OF | Michael Brantley | Indians | $2.7 million | $3.8 million | $3.25 million |
| 1B | Brandon Belt | Giants | $2.05 million | $3.6 million | $2.825 million |
| 1B | Justin Smoak | Mariners | $2.025 million | $3.25 million | $2.6375 million |
| 1B | Mitch Moreland | Rangers | $2.025 million | $3.25 million | $2.6375 million |
| OF | Josh Reddick | Athletics | $2 million | $3.25 million | $2.625 million |
| RHP | Andrew Cashner | Padres | $2.275 million | $2.4 million | $2.3375 million |
| 2B | Darwin Barney | Cubs | $1.8 million | $2.8 million | $2.3 million |
| LHP | Andrew Miller | Red Sox | $1.55 million | $2.15 million | $1.85 million |
| RHP | Vinnie Pestano | Indians | $975,000 | $1.45 million | $1.2125 million |
| RHP | Josh Tomlin | Indians | $800,000 | $975,000 | $887,500 |
* Agreement reached 02/06/2013
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica's take: We think that all professional athletes deserve fair payment for their special talents, however, we feel that many if not all of these players are overpaid. Yes we said it, they're overpaid. They make more than the President of the United States. They make more than the men that defend this country so that they can enjoy playing the games that we all grew up playing as kids. The men that defend our country put their lives on the line. What more do I need to say? In reality, the everyday, ordinary fans that built and grew sports cannot even afford to take their families to see a game now because it's too expensive. I often hear guys that don't even like sports complain because they have to subsidize professional sports through the everyday products that they buy to sustain their families because the corporations have endorsement contracts with the leagues, teams and players. We've also had some fans say that if non-fans don't like the companies' products that endorse sports and charge a fee in their products to support said leagues, teams and players, it's simple, don't buy their products. That's dangerous, don't tell people that are angry not to buy products, it can get out of hand and the backlash could be very detrimental. Again, let us state that players should be paid by position skills for their services at a very fair price. Let's alleviate these league lockouts every few years where owners use this method as a way to reduce salaries. America loves sports as a whole, so let's be fair to the fans also. After all, in reality, they foot the bill for the sports industry!!! What's your position on player's salaries? We'd love to know what you think, What's your take?
Loupe finally gets a score he can savor at Pebble.
By DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer)
Andrew Loupe knows how one week can change everything. He can only hope his 8-under 63 in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is the start of another one.
Loupe had to wait three hours to tee off because of rain Thursday, and then he played bogey-free on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula. That gave him the lowest score among those who finished their rounds.
Rain soaked the Monterey Peninsula in the morning, which was great news for an area desperate for rain, not so much for the tournament. Puddles quickly formed on the greens at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, forcing play to be stopped on all three courses.
Monterey Peninsula played the easiest, and Loupe took advantage. He never had to scramble for par, missed only one fairway and only two of his birdies were over 10 feet. This was his first trip to the area, and it was everything he imagined.
''This place is amazing,'' Loupe said with a smile as wide as a fairway.
The 25-year-old from Louisiana hasn't made the cut in five starts his rookie season. Loupe might not even have a PGA Tour card except for his tie for sixth in the last event of the Web.com Tour Finals. He had missed the cut in his previous three ''Finals'' event.
Stuart Appleby, Jim Renner, Richard Lee and Scott Gardiner had 65s at Monterey Peninsula. Phil Mickelson, a four-time champion, was at 5-under par through 15 holes when the round was stopped because of darkness.
Pebble Beach played the toughest, though the weather was not nearly bad enough to make that much of a difference with only a cool breeze and no rain the rest of the day. Jimmy Walker, already a two-time winner this season, got up-and-down for birdie on the 18th for a 66, the best score at Pebble.
Jordan Spieth, playing with country singer Jake Owen, had the best round at Spyglass Hill at 67. He picked up birdies on all but one of the par 5s, stuffed one close on the uphill second hold and escaped with par with a long pitch from short of the sixth green.
''It was more of an effort just to really play safe on the harder holes,'' Spieth said. ''The par 5s you can take advantage of out here. I three-putted the first par 5 for par, but bounced back on the other par 5s. And then I finally made some putts on the back nine. We picked a great day to have Spyglass.''
Dustin Johnson, a two-time winner of this event, had a 68 at Spyglass Hill playing with his future father-in-law, hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
''More happy with the fact he was 4 under today and it's a tough course,'' Gretzky said. ''I'm here for fun. He's here for work.''
Johnson had to work hard for his birdie on the ninth hole. His approach struck the pin and bounced back some 40 yards off the green. He chipped that in for his third straight birdie, and then picked up another birdie on the par-5 11th. He closed with seven pars for what he believes was his first bogey-free round at Spyglass.
Graeme McDowell, back at Pebble Beach for the first time since he won the 2010 U.S. Open, opened with a 71 at Spyglass Hill. He has to wait until Saturday to play Pebble Beach with his father, Kenny.
Defending champion Brandt Snedeker had a 72 at Spyglass Hill.
Loupe kept reminding everyone that his 63 was only one round, though it sounded as if he was reminding himself. He is thrilled to be on the PGA Tour, and it really hit him a few weeks ago at Torrey Pines when some of the biggest stars began showing up.
This wasn't the start he imagined, however - one round out of 11 that was under par, five weekends off. He wasn't about to panic, either.
''I really just stick to the plan and I know that my group is good. I have 100 percent trust in my swing coach, my family, my trainer,'' he said. ''I guess when you're in those ruts, I just kept telling myself, 'You're supposed to be here, you're going to play good, just keep playing.' This is just one round, guys, but I feel good.
''I did miss a few cuts coming into Sawgrass and played good,'' he said of the week that secured his card in the Web.com finals. ''And I just knew that I could do it again. Would I like to play more consistently? Yes. But I just want to keep this rolling.''
DIVOTS: Davis Love III was 2 over through 15 holes, but at least he had an amateur. Kelly Slater won the Volcom Pipe Pro 2014 on Wednesday at the Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, scoring a perfect 10 on one ride. He arrived at Pebble Beach about 5 a.m. Thursday. ... Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley opened with a 67 at Pebble Beach. ... Jim Furyk, in his first PGA Tour event since September, opened with a 70 at Spyglass Hill. David Duval made his first start of the year and shot 72 at Pebble Beach.
USGA to allow measuring devices in amateur events.
AP Sports
The United States Golf Association has approved the use of distance-measuring devices in all of its amateur championships and their qualifying events, starting this year.
The USGA's championship committee announced the decision Thursday at its annual meeting. The USGA said the ruling reflects a joint decision with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
The championship committee voted to adopt an optional local rule that has been available under the Rules of Golf since 2006. Distance-measuring devices will remain banned at the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open and their qualifying events.
''We have seen progressive developments in technologies available to golfers who seek to improve their playing performance and enjoyment that also maintain the essential elements of the game,'' said Thomas J. O'Toole Jr., USGA vice president and chairman of the championship committee. ''It is in this spirit that we are allowing the use of distance-measuring devices in our amateur competitions.''
Golf-World Match Play returns to England for 50th anniversary.
By Tony Jimenez; Editing by Josh Reich
The Volvo World Match Play Championship is to return to England this year with the 50th anniversary edition being staged at the London Golf Club on the outskirts of the capital.
The $3 million event, held in Bulgaria in May last year, returns to its traditional October date and features an elite 16-man field.
There will be four groups of four players in the opening round with the top two in each section going through to the knockout phase of the five-day championship that will be staged from Oct. 15-19.
World number three Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the defending champion, have already confirmed their participation.
"I really enjoy the match play format and I also want to support Volvo, not only because they are Swedish but because they have been such great supporters and sponsors of the European Tour for over 25 years," Stenson said in a news release on Wednesday.
American great Arnold Palmer won the inaugural World Match Play Championship at Wentworth on the fringes of London in 1964.
Wentworth hosted the event every year until 2007. The tournament was not held in 2008 or 2010 but in 2009, 2011 and 2012 it was staged in Andalucia, Spain.
Wednesday's announcement means that England, starved of top-notch golf tournaments in recent years, will host three leading events in 2014 - the others being the British Open in Liverpool in July and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May.
Toyota lands naming rights at famed Daytona.AP Sports
Toyota Motor Corp. on Thursday became the first company to land a naming rights deal at the revamped Daytona International Speedway.
The Japanese automaker and International Speedway Corp., which owns the famous Florida track, announced the sponsorship deal at the Chicago Auto Show.
The 11-year agreement, which begins in 2015, will provide Toyota with naming rights to one of the five massive fan entrances at the redesigned speedway. Toyota will have more than 20,000 square feet with which to work, giving the company plenty of space to showcase its automotive lineup and promote affiliated race teams.
''This is a unique opportunity for Toyota to elevate our brand in the motorsports community,'' said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations of Toyota Motor Sales in the United States.
The deal contains no exclusivity clause, meaning a rival car manufacturer, like Chevrolet or Ford, could sponsor another fan entrance at Daytona.
It does, however, make Toyota an official partner of the Daytona 500 and gives the company pace-car privileges. The means a foreign manufacturer will lead the field under caution at ''The Great American Race.''
''Toyota has been a great partner for many years and we will continue to work together to enhance the fan experience at many of our facilities across the country,'' speedway CEO Lesa France Kennedy said.
Daytona is undergoing a $400 million renovation, dubbed ''Daytona Rising.''
The project will overhaul the front-stretch grandstands with new tiered concourses, wider seats and additional restrooms and concessions. It is scheduled for completion in 2016. The track will have 11 football field-sized ''neighborhoods'' that feature video screens as well as retail and dining areas.
''Daytona Rising represents our commitment to delivering engaging and innovative ways for our partners to showcase their brand,'' track president Joie Chitwood III said. ''We're proud to integrate Toyota into this historic project. Our fans and guests will now enjoy more exciting, innovative and engaging experiences from the moment they enter the new facility to the time they reach their seats and beyond.''
Toyota also announced Thursday that it was extending a multi-year partnership with Kansas Speedway that includes using the automakers line of vehicles as pace cars for its races. Toyota became the official pace car at Kansas in 2012.
Shepherd, 72, aims to qualify for Daytona 500.
By The Sports Xchange
Veteran NASCAR driver Morgan Shepherd will try to become the oldest driver to qualify for the Daytona 500 this month.
The 72-year-old will drive the No. 93 Support Military Foundation Toyota fielded by BK Racing.
Shepherd competed in a Sprint Cup race last year for the Support Military Foundation at New Hampshire, becoming the oldest to race in the series. It was his first Cup race since 2006.
Last year, Shepherd started eight races in the Nationwide Series and in 2011 ran all 34 races on the circuit.
Shepherd's best finish in 15 Daytona 500 races was second in 1992. The last of his four career wins in NASCAR's top series came in 1993.
Daytona 500 qualifying for the top two spots will be Feb. 16. The remainder of the field for the Feb. 23 race will be set after the Budweiser Duel at Daytona on Feb. 20.
Business Wire; Major League Soccer
Miami selected as home to new MLS club; Will work to finalize stadium deal.
Major League Soccer today announced that David Beckham has exercised his option for an MLS expansion team, and he has selected Miami as the city for the new club. Beckham’s ownership group will now work with MLS and local officials to finalize a deal for a world-class soccer stadium.
“We appreciate all that David has done as a player, an ambassador and as a global icon to help grow Major League Soccer,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “We are thrilled that he will be an owner, and we look forward to him helping us achieve our goal of being one of the top soccer leagues in the world.”
“From the beginning of my career in England to today in Miami, my journey has always been driven by my incredible passion for the game,” said Beckham. “Miami is a vibrant, diverse community that thrives on the same type of energy that fuels the international appeal of soccer, and I look forward to a dedicated, long-term partnership with this dynamic city and Major League Soccer. My experience with the Galaxy is what convinced me that I wanted to one day own an MLS team and it is thrilling to now see that dream coming true.”
Beckham became Major League Soccer’s first Designated Player in 2007, and led the LA Galaxy to two MLS Cup titles during his six seasons in the league. During his time with the Galaxy, Major League Soccer experienced explosive growth, adding seven expansion teams and nine soccer stadiums. Beckham finished his career with another championship in 2013 with Paris St. Germain, ending a 20-year playing career that saw him star for Manchester United, Real Madrid and A.C. Milan, as well as England’s national team. Beckham will become the first former MLS player to own a team in the league.
One of the most international markets in the world, South Florida is the largest metropolitan area in the Southeastern United States with a proven and passionate fan base for soccer. During the last few years, multiple crowds of more than 60,000 per game have attended international soccer matches in South Florida.
“Miami is a unique melting pot of cultures that is brought together by one common thread, soccer,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “During the last several months there has been palpable excitement in our city when people talk about the possibility of a Beckham-owned team. Today’s announcement is celebrated across Miami.”
Beckham and his representatives plan to build a stadium for the new team, and they continue to have productive conversations with Mayor Gimenez and the Miami-Dade County Commission regarding a world-class stadium for the community of Miami. Because of the importance of the stadium, an agreement for a new stadium must be finalized in order for MLS to come to Miami. Beckham has pledged that he will not seek County or City funds for the construction of the stadium.
Beckham’s ownership group includes David’s business partner and long- time friend Simon Fuller. The remainder of the ownership group will be finalized over the next several months.
"I can remember so well my discussions with David back in 2007,” said Fuller. “The vision was for David to play in America and to help the sport that he loves to grow in popularity. It was central to our plans that one day David would own his own team. Here we are, February 2014 in Miami, the dream is now a reality and the commitment to grow the sport that he loves continues."
Major League Soccer, which begins its 19th season on March 8, currently features 19 clubs, with expansion teams in New York City and Orlando set to begin play in 2015. The League is scheduled to add three more expansion teams by 2020, including the Beckham team. Miami would become home to one of those three expansion teams pending finalization of a new stadium.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer’s 19th season begins March 8. The League’s 19 clubs for 2014 include the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; LA Galaxy; Montreal Impact; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; 2013 MLS Cup Champion Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Expansion teams New York City FC and Orlando City Soccer Club will begin play in 2015. For more information about MLS, log on to www.MLSsoccer.com.
Meet the big, bad villain - and potential NCAA tournament champ - from the MVC.
By Pat Forde
This flat, flairless town of 61,000 hard by the Illinois line is entombed in February gloom. There are mountains of snow plowed into parking lots and street corners, temperatures below freezing, the sky an impenetrable slate gray. There is no spring in sight.
But in the midst of a merciless Midwestern winter, the Hulman Center at Indiana State University offered a source of heat and light and energy Wednesday night. Students scurried along snow-packed streets and icy walkways toward the gym, piling in hours before tipoff. Seats that have not been full for years in the 10,200-seat area were taken by tipoff.
They were here to meet the Shockers. The undefeated Wichita State Shockers were in town, in their new role as the antithetical rock stars of the Missouri Valley Conference. The last time a Valley team was this big a deal was 35 years ago – Larry Bird was the star and Indiana State was the unbeaten team.
Now comes blue-collar Wichita State, lacking a Bird-like talent but dominating a proud league that was dealt a blow by the departure of Creighton and Doug McDermott. Where the Shockers go, crowds follow. And boos rain down. And the Shockers smile.
"They don't boo anybody," opined guard Fred Van Vleet, "that's not any good."
Van Vleet and his teammates know a compliment when they hear one. And a challenge when they see one. Indiana State was the challenge Wednesday night, and a serious one at that.
Fourth-ranked Wichita State did not play great, but was gritty enough to hold off MVC second-place Indiana State 65-58. The highest-ranked visitor ever to the Hulman Center trailed for just 2 minutes and 27 seconds all night, but could not put the home team away. The largest home crowd of the year by more than 2,000 (a total of 9.245) fueled a few determined Sycamore rallies and kept this game tense into the last few possessions.
It took four free throws in the final minute from a reformed bricklayer, post man Chadrack Lufile, to put away Indiana State. That and plenty of missed free throws by the Sycamores, plus some vintage Play Angry defense from the Shockers in the second half (ISU was 6 of 30 after intermission).
It took four free throws in the final minute from a reformed bricklayer, post man Chadrack Lufile, to put away Indiana State. That and plenty of missed free throws by the Sycamores, plus some vintage Play Angry defense from the Shockers in the second half (ISU was 6 of 30 after intermission).
“Quite a battle, quite a game,” Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. “That’s why winning on the road is so difficult.”
This is the late-season reality for one of two remaining unbeatens in college basketball: the opposing gyms get louder, the stakes get higher, the scrutiny becomes unlike anything Wichita has ever experienced in the regular season before.
To help keep it light and simultaneously narrow the focus to the task at hand, Marshall made this the Marshawn Lynch game.
It was victory No. 24 for Wichita State, the jersey number of the Seattle Seahawks running back. That’s the way Shockers coach Gregg Marshall has been having fun with his team’s gaudy undefeated streak – pick a famous number that goes with the game Wichita is trying to win.
“Last game was 23 – Michael Jordan,” Marshall said. “This game, Marshawn Lynch. Beast mode.”
Marshall demanded Beast Mode from his best player in the second half, and Cleanthony Early supplied it. He coasted through the first half with four points and no rebounds – “I’m pretty sure I’m going to get chewed out in film,” he said – then finished with 19 and five. He was demanding the ball when he had mismatches, attacking the basket and playing like an NBA prospect. His swooping and-one drive gave the Shockers a 61-56 lead with just over a minute to go, and Lufile (a 40-percent foul shooter last year, up to 69 percent this year) iced it late.
“Every day after practice, I shoot 100 free throws with our managers,” Lufile said.
That’s the dedication to improvement Marshall loves, and all his players embrace. This was not a roster full of guys who arrived in Wichita as instant-impact players; they had to grow into that role and coalesce with their teammates.
And last year it suddenly all came together. The Shockers went 26-8 and then caught fire in the NCAA tournament: taking down No. 1 seed Gonzaga, reaching the Final Four and pushing eventual national champion Louisville to the brink before relenting in the semifinals.
With four starters and the same chip-on-the-shoulder mentality returning, Wichita is even better this year. Undefeated-level better, which has become a growing national sensation.
Which is why Marshall searches for small ways to deal with an unaccustomed spotlight. The streak is there, no use pretending it isn’t. No Division-I team has finished the regular season unbeaten in a decade, since St. Joseph’s in 2004, so the Shockers have opted to embrace the pursuit of perfection.
“I want it, definitely,” Van Vleet said. “It would be a great accomplishment. We’re not running or hiding from it.”
After holding off Indiana State – and dealing a major blow to the Sycamores’ shot at an at-large NCAA tournament berth – Wichita State had the luxury of a charter plane ride home. Most Valley teams don’t have the budget for that, but this is a basketball-first athletic department that has put its money behind Marshall (he’s making $2 million a year) to keep him there.
While the travel is easier than most Valley teams enjoy, Wednesday was a marathon day for the Shockers. They were on their plane to fly here by 7 a.m. CT, went through an extended de-icing, flew into Terre Haute and did a walk-through before retiring to their hotel for a meal and some rest. They left the gym around 11 p.m. ET and headed straight to the airport to go home.
Next stop: Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday – for Northern Iowa and its more compact, 7,293-seat gym. This is game No. 25, so what will be Marshall’s theme for that one?
“I’m sure he’ll figure something out,” Van Vleet said. “He’s pretty clever.”
The weather is lousy in Iowa, too. But rest assured the home crowd will be hot and bothered once again at the sight of the Valley’s blue-collar rock stars.
13 Sports Facts That Even The Most Hardcore Fans Don't Know.
By Andy McDonald
Hey, sports fan! Obviously, there are plenty of things you probably don't know about the less popular sports out there. For example, did you know that a curling rink in Halifax was used as a temporary morgue in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster? Understandable, not many people do.
But what about lesser-known facts of the more popular, widely covered sports? No matter how avid a fan you consider yourself, here are some facts you probably didn't know about the sports you watch every day.
1. NFL refs also receive Super Bowl rings.
They're not as large or impressive as the rings received by the players, but all referees who officiate the Super Bowl get a serious piece of bling to commemorate the day.
2. The volleyball comes from a basketball's bladder.
Or at least they once did. When he first devised the sport in 1895, William G. Morgan tried to use a basketball, but found it too heavy for what he had in mind. So instead he played with the basketball's inflatable rubber inside (similar to a bike wheel's inner tube), until a custom ball was created just for the sport by A.G. Spalding.
3. The Pittsburgh Pirates' almost built a new stadium in the middle of a river.
Okay, more like over a river. In a construction proposal by the NADCO Engineering Co. back in the '50s, the Pirates' new stadium would have sat directly over the Monongahela River. If built, the 70,000 seating capacity structure would have also contained 600 hotel rooms, 4,500 parking stalls and 100 air conditioned bowling lanes.
4. Despite running about three hours, actual playing time in a Major League Baseball game is under 18 minutes.
According to the Wall Street Journal's own calculations, the 17 minutes and 58 seconds of action includes "balls in play, runner advancement attempts on stolen bases, wild pitches, pitches (balls, strikes, fouls and balls hit into play), trotting batters (on home runs, walks and hit-by-pitches), pickoff throws and even one fake-pickoff throw." Take all those away, and the amount of time that is pure action on the field is about 5 minutes and 47 seconds.
5. Until 1936, the jump ball in basketball took place at center court after every single made basket.
And you thought baseball games dragged on. Basketball could have just been like this, over and over and over...
6. An incomplete forward pass in football used to earn teams a 15-yard penalty.
Not only that, but if the pass was incomplete and never touched, the defense then took possession of the ball. This was all early in the 20th century before professional football existed and college football was the bee's knees. Though many established coaches at the time regarded the forward pass as a rather wussy way to play, the lower levels of contact seen during passing plays may have saved lives. In 1905, there were 18 football fatalities between high school and college leagues.
7. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers once combined to form the Steagles.
Due to so many of their players serving in the military during World War II, the Eagles and Steelers combined in 1943 to form one team called the Steagles. And the next year, the Steelers joined with the Chicago Cardinals for the same reason. The Cardeelers? Car dealers?
8. Olympic gold medals are actually made of silver.
The 1912 Olympic Games were the last to include gold medals actually made of solid gold. Currently, the gold medals are 93 percent silver and six percent copper, leaving about one percent (or six grams) for the highly prized gold finish.
9. Japanese golfers carry hole-in-one insurance.
In Japan, it is customary for golfers who've hit a hole-in-one to throw a celebration for their closest companions, though this can also be as simple as buying them all a celebratory gift. Nearly four million Japanese golfers carry golf insurance, paying a $65 premium every year for $3500 in coverage. So that's why your friends in Japan were celebrating your hole-in-one so emphatically.
10. Former MLB catcher Harry Chiti was the first player ever to be traded for himself.
Chiti was originally traded from the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets for a "player to be named later," but after fifteen terrible games with the Mets, Chiti became that player and was shipped back to Cleveland.
11. The word "Soccer" is an 1800s slang term.
"Soccer" comes from the abbreviation for "association," or "assoc," as in Football Association. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, it began as "socca," then morphed into "socker," and finally into "soccer."
12. Every ball used in Major League Baseball is dirty.
In order to take the slick factory sheen off and allow pitchers to get a better grip, Major League Baseball wipes down each baseball with mud from an undisclosed location on the Delaware River. And it's been done this way for close to 75 years now.
13. There has never been a documented perfect March Madness bracket.
Statistically speaking, you have a one in 9.2 quintillion chance of filling out a perfect bracket. One in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to be very, very exact. An autistic teenager from Illinois was perfect in his first two rounds in 2010 (a 1 in 13,460,000 feat), but alas did not go on to attain ultimate bracket perfection. And the incentive to do so got many, many dollars sweeter this year when billionaire Warren Buffet offered $1 billion (billion with a "b") to anyone who fills out a perfect March Madness bracket. So yeah, good luck with that.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the percentage of copper used in Olympic gold medals.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics.
By Mikaela Conley
Thanks to the dramatic time difference between the U.S. and Sochi, some of the details about when and where to catch the Olympics might be fuzzy. Here's a handy guide to sort out the details.
How can I watch events live?
For the first time during a Winter Olympics, every sporting event (there's one big exception we'll cover below) will be streamed live and online at NBCOlympics.com and through the NBC Sports Live Extra mobile app. Yahoo will have you covered with daily highlights if you aren't up at all hours of the night.
Can I watch all the Olympic events online?
Well, yes and no. NBC is implementing a 30-minute “free pass” to its subscribers for online Olympic videos. After the 30 minutes are up subscribers are asked to verify that they are in fact paying customers. Every subsequent attempt at watching Olympic videos online is limited to five minutes. For a detailed explanation on the verification process, please visit the NBC help page.
When is the Opening Ceremony?
The Opening Ceremony is slated to air on NBC Friday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST, but it’s important to note the Opening Ceremony will be one of the only Olympics events that will NOT be streamed online. Otherwise, NBC Sports Network will present more than 230 hours of Olympics television coverage from Sochi, which is the most ever on a cable network.
Where is a TV schedule for the Olympics?
The Opening Ceremony is slated to air on NBC Friday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST, but it’s important to note the Opening Ceremony will be one of the only Olympics events that will NOT be streamed online. Otherwise, NBC Sports Network will present more than 230 hours of Olympics television coverage from Sochi, which is the most ever on a cable network.
Where is a TV schedule for the Olympics?
Sochi is nine hours ahead of North America’s Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST). Live coverage on NBCSN will usually begin at the 3 a.m. EST and continue for 12 hours, and live online feeds that take place in the early morning (U.S. time) will be restarted again at 3:00 p.m. EST the same day, every day. You can find each day’s full schedule: here or here. Yahoo will also have video clips of the best Olympics moments of each day so check back daily.
When are some of the most popular events on TV?
Below is a schedule of some of the most watched Winter events:
Tuesday, Feb. 11 — 12:30 p.m. EST/9:30 a.m. PST — Men’s halfpipe finals
Wednesday, Feb. 12 -- 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 a.m. PST -- Women’s hockey, Canada vs. U.S.
Saturday, Feb. 15 — 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 a.m. PST — Men’s hockey U.S. vs. Russia
Wednesday, Feb. 19 — 11:15 a.m. EST/8:15 a.m. PST — Women’s bobsled
Thursday, Feb. 20 —10:00 a.m. EST/ 7:00 a.m. PST — Women’s free skate
Sunday, Feb. 23 — 7:00 a.m. EST/4:00 a.m. PST — Men’s hockey finals
All figure skating competitions will air live on cable during the day, and similar to previous Olympics, key performances will be aired on tape delay on NBC. Figure skating coverage will begin the morning of Feb. 8 with the team event, and Olympians Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will be commentators for the figure skating events.
How do I watch the closing ceremony on TV?
What Twitter feeds should I follow for Olympic highlights?
Here are some good Twitter handles to help you catch and follow all the Sochi action:
@wyshynski (editor of the Puck Daddy blog for Yahoo! Sports) @danwetzel (Yahoo! Sports columnist) @MillerBode (Official account of U.S. alpine skier Bode Miller) @lolojones (Official account of U.S. bobsledder Lolo Jones) @shaun_white (Official account of U.S. snowboarder Shaun White) @tedligety (Official account of U.S. alpine skier Ted Ligety) @ashwagner2010 (Official account of U.S. figure skater Ashley Wagner) @GracEGold (Official account of U.S. figure skater Gracie Gold) @lindseyvonn (Official account of NBC Olympics commentator and U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn) @usskiteam (Official account of the U.S. Ski Team) This Winter Olympics public Twitter list (Created by NBC's Nick Zaccardi @nzaccardi) @NBCOlympics @2014Sochi @Olympics @USOlympic @Sochi2014
How do I avoid spoilers?
Many diehard Olympics fans will try to stay away from any spoilers before watching the actual events, but in the age of digital madness, real-time results are becoming harder and harder to avoid.
If you really want to keep the blinders on, you’re going to have to temporarily disable the whole social media shebang, especially the big guns: Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Google Plus, etc. For many of us, doing away with social media for two weeks sounds like an apocalypse, so if you’re getting sweats and chills just thinking about the social media withdrawals, you can at least organize your newsfeeds. Be especially sure to hide the statuses of people who tend to post about news event in real time. (We all have at least a few of those social media titans in our circles.)
If you’re a Twitter fiend, be sure to use TweetDeck to track hashtags and keyword searches in the midst of reading about your friends’ latest opinions on kale. You can also turn off tweets that contain certain words. Under settings, choose "Global Filter." Then type in “Olympics” or certain events for which you're especially interested, and you should be able to avoid the cheers and jeers about the latest Sochi news until you're ready to soak it in.
Finally, dumb down your smartphone. Delete apps that will automatically post results, and be sure to turn off those spontaneous news alerts.
Good luck out there, Olympics fans!
*******************************************************
Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment