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Sports Quote of the Day:
"Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve." ~ Tom Landry, Legendary Dallas Cowboys Head Football Coach
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Bruins 3, Blackhawks 0.
By Mike Shalin, The Sports Xchange
Last June, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins at TD Garden to win the Stanley Cup.
On Thursday night, on the Blackhawks' first visit since scoring two late goals in 17 seconds to capture the Cup in Game 6 of the Finals, it was Boston downing Chicago 3-0 for its 13th win in the last 14 games.
Boston goalie Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season. Center Patrice Bergeron scored twice and fellow center Carl Soderberg once for the Bruins, who have yielded only 18 goals in the last 14 games and an amazing nine in the last nine games.
Bergeron, scoring for the fifth straight game, scored his 24th goal of the season in the first period and then scored again in the third -- just 13 seconds after Soderberg's 14th of the season.
On Bergeron's second goal, Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford lifted the net up from the back as Bergeron was shooting. The puck went through where the net should have been and it took a review to declare the goal.
The win moved the Bruins, who had their 12-game winning streak stopped in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, back ahead of St. Louis in the battle for the overall points lead, pending the outcome of the Blues' game.
The victory was Boston's 50th, the ninth time the franchise has had 50 wins in a season.
Chicago, playing without injured forwards Patrick Kane and Bryan Bickell, is in second place in the Central Division and will likely face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs -- home ice in that series still up in the air.
The Blackhawks, who failed to clinch a playoff spot by not getting at least a point, were clearly excited to return to Boston.
"Just taking the bus to the hotel you start thinking about some things that happened here," said Crawford, who made 20 saves in the loss.
The teams split the two-game season series, but the Bruins went 1-0-1.
The Blackhawks came out strong, but it was the Bruins who got the first goal, when Bergeron tipped in a shot from defenseman Matt Bartkowski 11:50 into the game. Bergeron has scored the first Boston goal in each of the five games during his streak.
NOTES: Bruins G Tuukka Rask on the Blackhawks returning to Boston for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup at TD Garden in June: "Probably brings some good memories to them. At least this time they're not going to wreck our visiting locker room, I hope." ... The Bruins wore Boston Fire Department caps for warmups and had a moment of silence before the game in honor of the two firefighters who died Wednesday fighting a blaze not far from TD Garden. The department's honor guard was on the ice for the national anthem. After the game, the fire department was chosen as the first star. ... The Blackhawks continue their three-game road trip at Ottawa on Friday night before visiting Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Bruins play at Washington on Saturday and at Philadelphia on Sunday. ... With the Bruins honoring the 1950s as part of their 90th-season celebration, Hall of Famer John Bucyk, the team's all-time leading goal scorer, dropped the first puck.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Bernstein: Better Problems For Bears’ Defense.
By Dan Bernstein- CBSChicago.com Senior Columnist
New Bears defensive end Jared Allen will continue to wear jersey No. 69 with the club.
Finishing tied for dead last in the NFL in sacks is a problem — 31 in 16 games won’t get it done.
Surrendering a league-worst 6.2 yards per play? Problem. So are the nauseating 2,583 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 5.3 yards per rush and 353 total first downs allowed. Bears general manager Phil Emery likes to talk about his defensive line in terms of “disruptions,” but last year’s Bears only disrupted opponents by cluttering their heads with end-zone celebration options.
But just as Emery moved swiftly at this time last year to shore up an incompetent offensive line that was the team’s primary limiting factor in 2012, so has he acted in free agency this year for the other side of the ball.
Lamarr Houston arrived at the outset from the Raiders, followed shortly by Detroit’s Willie Young and then the return of Israel Idonije. Here came a pair of sensible upside bets roundly praised by scouts and coaches and a move to bolster depth and versatility. As is his style, Emery spoke openly and plainly about a desire to correct a shortcoming and then acted.
Other signs began pointing to even more, soon after. First the expected release of Julius Peppers, then some trimming around the edges of the cap to carve out more space. A trip down to the Bank of Cutler created $4 million more for his use, culminating in Wednesday’s announcement of the four-year, $32-million deal for Jared Allen, including a reported $15.5 million guaranteed.
When Phil gets hungry, he eats. He goes at it like it’s the after-last-call trip to White Castle, and he just walked back to the booth with his own Crave Case. He may wake up wishing he hadn’t done it, but it sure tastes good in the moment.
Allen will be 32 when the season begins, and some dismiss him as a deteriorating, one-trick-pony. The age is inarguable, but that’s a valuable trick. He started all 16 games for the Vikings last year and had 11.5 sacks, which is more than one-third of that Bears team total. This essentially swaps out Peppers for somebody less expensive and two years younger, with the kind of outsized personality that makes writers and radio talk-show hosts very happy.
Coach Marc Trestman likes to have lockers alternate offense/defense, so here’s requesting that Allen buddy up with Martellus Bennett and we bring in the HBO Hard Knocks cameras to start rolling ASAP. The two would have their own development deal with a network after three episodes.
I’m not sure how all the pieces fit along the line now. I’m not sure Emery does either, and that doesn’t matter yet. Houston can play inside at the under-tackle (3-technique) spot in a 4-3, or a frequent rotation could keep Allen fresh. It’s also possible that the commitment to more open-minded scheming and the addition of positional coaches with multiple-front backgrounds means something creative that can be figured out as they see who’s comfortable where. After all, the Giants won a title in recent years just lining up defensive ends all across and telling them to get up the field.
This binge also opens up new draft possibilities, if Emery feels like the edges are now solid. Another stout presence inside could still be on the way or a predatory safety to roam the backfield in a way newly fashionable after the Seahawks’ championship blueprint. How about both?
The Bears defense now has just the kind of problems you want.
NFL Rule Changes: League To Emphasize Player Conduct Rules.
By BARRY WILNER
The NFL will place a heavy emphasis on enforcing its player conduct rules, something Rams coach Jeff Fisher calls "a front-of-the-book issue."
As the league's spring meetings wrapped up Wednesday with Commissioner Roger Goodell saying expansion of the playoffs next season is possible, sportsmanship — and lack thereof — was the prime topic.
"We're going to clean the game up on the field," said Fisher, co-chairman of the influential competition committee. "The in-your-face taunting, those types of things, the language. It's all in the (rule) book. It's all under unsportsmanlike conduct. There's no change in our rule. We're going to enforce the current rule."
That includes abusive and racist language.
"It includes everything, yes," Fisher said with emphasis.
He noted that everyone is fed up when a lack of sportsmanship occurs: owners, coaches, fans, players.
"The NCAA is hoping for us to do something about it and we've got to take the lead," Fisher said, "and we're going to do that."
The Miami Dolphins were plagued by a bullying scandal last season after tackle Jonathan Martin left the team. NFL investigators found that guard Richie Incognito and two teammates engaged in persistent harassment directed at Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer. Incognito was suspended for the final eight games of the season and no longer is with the Dolphins.
Taunting penalties also were up last year, Fisher said, from "nine to 12 or 13."
"In the past, taunting, sportsmanship was in the back of the book under points of emphasis," he said. "It is now in the front of the book. It falls in our book right after all the statistical things which were good about our game last year. It is now a front-of-the-book issue. And what we want to do is we want to be able to put it back in the back of the book."
While the owners voted or tabled a dozen rules or bylaw changes, expanding the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams — one in each conference — was discussed. Goodell is optimistic that's coming, and he will discuss it with the players union April 8. A vote could come as early as the owners' May meeting in Atlanta.
Could two extra wild-card games be implemented for 2014?
"It's not out of the question," Goodell said. "We have more work. I wouldn't rule it out, but I wouldn't say that's the direction we're heading.
"I think there's a tremendous amount of interest in this, possibly even to the point of support. But there also are things we still want to make sure we do right."
He believes expanded playoffs would make late-season division and wild-card races more compelling.
And two more postseason games would increase TV revenues.
Also on Wednesday, the owners:
— Approved experimentation with extra-point kicks from the 20-yard line for two weeks in the preseason, but implementing longer PATs for the regular season has been tabled.
— Adopted proposals to extend the length of the goalposts 5 feet to 35 feet to better determine if kicks are good; to no longer stop the clock on sacks; and to allow video reviews on plays with a recovery of a loose ball on the field even though the play had been whistled dead.
— Rejected proposals to move kickoffs to the 40-yard line; to allow more than one player to be placed on injured reserve, then return to the roster during the season; to subject personal foul penalties to video review; to permit coaches to challenge any officiating decision except on scoring plays or turnovers, which automatically are reviewed; and to eliminate the first preseason cutdown to 75 players.
— Tabled proposals to raise the number of active players for games not played on a Sunday or Monday, except for opening week, from 46 to 49; to raise the practice squad maximum from eight to 10 players; to eliminate overtime in preseason games; to allow trades after the Super Bowl and before the new league year begins in March; to permit teams to test at their facilities 10 players who attended the NFL combine; to place fixed cameras on the goal lines, sidelines and end lines to aid replay reviews; and to call pass interference in the area 1 yard or less from the line of scrimmage, where it does not apply now.
On Tuesday, the owners approved allowing referees to consult with the officiating department in New York on replay challenges, and they voted to ban blockers from rolling up on the side of the legs of a defender. The league also barred players from dunking the ball over the crossbar in celebration.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Trail Blazers-Bulls Preview.
By JORDAN GARRETSON (STATS Writer)
When Derrick Rose was lost for the season in Chicago's first meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers four months ago, few likely would have pegged the Bulls to be in the position they're in.
Chicago will look to clinch a playoff berth Friday night with a win over the visiting Trail Blazers, who are hoping the return of LaMarcus Aldridge can spark a turnaround after their recent lull.
The Bulls suffered a 98-95 loss in Portland on Nov. 22 after squandering a 21-point lead. More devastating was the loss of Rose, who injured his right knee in the third quarter after losing his footing when trying to change direction. It was later revealed to be a torn meniscus, sidelining him for the season.
From there, Chicago lost 13 of its next 19 games. Besides no longer appearing to resemble a contender in the Eastern Conference, a ninth trip to the playoffs in 10 seasons also appeared in jeopardy.
But the Bulls (40-31) have won an East-best 28 games since Jan. 1, pulling even with Toronto for third following an 89-77 home victory over first-place Indiana on Monday.
"We feel like we can go at anybody, we can beat anybody, when we're hungry. Stay humble and keep grinding," said Joakim Noah, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Noah is averaging 7.4 assists in 13 games this month, and his 5.1 assists per game on the season are the most by a center since Vlade Divac averaged 5.3 for Sacramento in 2003-04. The Bulls are 10-3 when Noah has at least eight assists.
Chicago, averaging 11.3 turnovers during a 5-2 stretch, committed only 10 turnovers Monday and claimed a 46-42 rebounding advantage after being outrebounded 51-36 in a 91-79 loss at Indiana three nights earlier.
Taj Gibson scored 23 after going 1 for 6 with seven points in the previous matchup, while Kirk Hinrich was 7 of 13 for 18 points after averaging 6.8 and shooting 31.3 percent over his previous four.
Portland (46-27) snapped a three-game slide with Thursday's 100-85 win at Atlanta and is one game ahead of Golden State for fifth place in the West. Aldridge tallied 25 points and 16 rebounds after missing the previous seven games with a lower back contusion.
The Trail Blazers, scoring 106.8 points per game and shooting 44.8 percent on the season, had averaged 90.0 points on 38.5 percent shooting in their previous three contests.
"We're a whole different team with him," said Damian Lillard, who scored 21. "He's our best player. He brings balance to our team. We had an inside presence and we were able to play inside-out, like we have all year. I just think with him out there we just got more quality shots."
The Bulls have held their last seven opponents to an average of 87.7 points on 39.0 percent shooting.
Aldridge scored 12 on 4-of-20 shooting in the season's first meeting, though the Trail Blazers were 12 of 26 from 3-point range and got 28 points from Wesley Matthews. Aldridge had been averaging 28.3 points on 59.6 percent shooting in his previous seven matchups with the Bulls.
Chicago has lost 10 of 12 in the series, including four of six at home, though Portland is 2-7 over its last nine road games.
Thibodeau: Derrick Rose doing 'all the non-contact stuff'.
By Aggrey Sam
Due to a report last week that has made the rounds and seemingly gained steam as time has gone, the belief that Derrick Rose could return to the Bulls’ lineup in time for next month’s playoffs — let alone the organization “expects” him to do so — is, for the second consecutive spring, a topic of conversation.
The sight of the injured superstar launching jumpers at the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice at the Berto Center, while not anything of substance, prompted the assembled to ask Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau for an update of the point guard’s status.
The coach confirmed that Rose was indeed participating in the non-contact portion of the Bulls’ practices, which is a sign of progress, but continued to dismiss the mere idea of the Chicago native playing in the postseason.
“Yeah, he’s doing that,” Thibodeau said of the former league MVP’s participation in “all the non-contact stuff.”
“He’s moving along fine. He has picked it up a little bit. But there’s still no contact. He’s out for the year, but he’s doing well,” the coach went on to explain. “Last week, he was doing parts of the non-contact. You know, we’re not practicing real long this time of the year. All the non-contact stuff he’s doing.”
Regular Season Over Under win total odds for every MLB team.
By OddsShark
St. Louis may not be the best team in baseball but odds makers believe they are the best bet to get the most wins in the regular season in 2014.
Are the St. Louis Cardinals the best team in baseball or do they play in a division where oddsmakers believe they will win more games than any other team?
Online sportsbooks have been posting odds on how many games each MLB team will win in 2014. Surprisingly, MLB betting lines and props at Sports Interaction have the Cardinals at 91.5 wins, ahead of other top teams.
The defending-champion Red Sox have a total of 88 wins, a low number but they play in a very tough American League East where the Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and Rays are all very tough.
Detroit, perennial champs in the AL Central, and Washington, the early favorite to win the NL East are both at 90 wins, second on the betting board.
To nobody's surprise, Houston has the lowest total at 62.5. Miami is next at 69.5 wins.
Check out the full list of baseball win total lines courtesy of Sports Interaction. And see the latest MLB lines on every game every when the season kicks off for real this weekend.
| Atlanta Braves |
| Over +87.5 -109 |
| Under +87.5 -121 |
| Baltimore Orioles |
| Over +82.5 +119 |
| Under +82.5 -166 |
| Boston Red Sox |
| Over +88.0 -119 |
| Under +88.0 -117 |
| Chicago Cubs |
| Over +70.0 -116 |
| Under +70.0 -113 |
| Chicago White Sox |
| Over +76.5 +102 |
| Under +76.5 -144 |
| Cincinnati Reds |
| Over +84.5 -116 |
| Under +84.5 -113 |
| Cleveland Indians |
| Over +80.5 -165 |
| Under +80.5 +117 |
| Colorado Rockies |
| Over +76.5 -120 |
| Under +76.5 -110 |
| Detroit Tigers |
| Over +90.0 -108 |
| Under +90.0 -130 |
| Kansas City Royals |
| Over +82.5 -121 |
| Under +82.5 -116 |
| L.A. Angels |
| Over +87.0 -109 |
| Under +87.0 -121 |
| Miami Marlins |
| Over +69.5 -110 |
| Under +69.5 -120 |
| Milwaukee Brewers |
| Over +80.0 -117 |
| Under +80.0 -113 |
| Minnesota Twins |
| Over +70.5 -114 |
| Under +70.5 -116 |
| New York Mets |
| Over +74.0 -151 |
| Under +74.0 +107 |
| Oakland Athletics |
| Over +88.5 +108 |
| Under +88.5 -152 |
| Philadelphia Phillies |
| Under +76.5 -121 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Over +84.5 -117 |
| San Diego Padres |
| Over +79.0 -108 |
| Under +79.0 -123 |
| San Francisco Giants |
| Over +86.5 -106 |
| Under +86.5 -125 |
| Over +82.0 +103 |
| Under +82.0 -144 |
| St Louis Cardinals |
| Over +91.5 -123 |
| Under +91.5 -108 |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
| Over +88.0 -122 |
| Under +88.0 -109 |
| Texas Rangers |
| Over +87.0 -119 |
| Under +87.0 -111 |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
| Over +79.5 -150 |
| Under +79.5 +107 |
| Washington Nationals |
| Over +90.0 -120 |
| Under +90.0 -116 |
| Houston Astros |
| Over +62.5 -118 |
| Under +62.5 -112 |
| New York Yankees |
| Over +87.0 +101 |
| Under +87.0 -133 |
Masters field almost full, Texas Open last chance to get in via world ranking.
By PGA.COM
This week's Valero Texas Open is the last chance for players to crack the top 50 in the world ranking and earn a spot in the Masters.
The drama is lacking this year.
Richard Sterne is No. 53 and George Coetzee is No. 55 - except they're not in the field at San Antonio. The only players at the Texas Open who can move into the top 50 are Chesson Hadley (No. 56) and Ryan Palmer (No. 62). Everyone else who could make it to the top 50 would have to win - and that's an automatic invitation, anyway.
Without any movement, Stephen Gallacher of Scotland (who won Dubai) is the only player who will have moved into the top 50 since the end of last year.
Augusta National began relying on the world ranking in 2000, only it was slightly different. The top 50 at the end of the preceding year received invitations, along with the top 50 a month before the Masters. Starting in 2003, the final cutoff was moved to one week before the Masters.
The club has never said why it takes the top 50 at the end of a calendar year. Perhaps it's so players can make travel arrangements, or perhaps it was to give an advantage to overseas players, who compete deep into the year. PGA Tour members have more avenues to qualify throughout the season.
But imagine what would happen if there was only one cutoff for the top 50 in the world, and it followed the Florida Swing.
Matteo Manassero (51), Branden Grace (57), David Lynn (65) and Peter Hanson (70) all were in the top 50 in December. They would have spent the Florida Swing trying to stay in the top 50 or move back in. That change might be something for Augusta National to consider if it feels the field is getting too close to 100 players.
As it is, the Masters virtually is assured of having fewer than 100 players for the 48th straight year. But just barely.
R&A asks members to allow women to join.
By DOUG FERGUSON
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club, exclusively for men since it was founded 260 years ago at St. Andrews, will vote in September on whether women can join the club.
"It's an exciting day for the club," R&A club secretary Peter Dawson said Wednesday. "There will be quite a bit of internal discussion between now and the September vote. It's a matter for the members to determine. All indications are very supportive."
"It's an exciting day for the club," R&A club secretary Peter Dawson said Wednesday. "There will be quite a bit of internal discussion between now and the September vote. It's a matter for the members to determine. All indications are very supportive."
A statement from the club said that all committees were "strongly in favor of the rule change" and asked members to go along.
The move was hailed by British sports minister Helen Grant, who was hopeful a favorable vote would encourage other single-sex golf clubs to follow suit.
Dawson, however, said the vote would have no bearing on whether the British Open is played on links courses that exclude women as members — Royal St. George's, Royal Troon and Muirfield, where Phil Mickelson won last year. The Open returns to Troon in 2016.
"I don't want you to think there's any connection between this vote and these issues," Dawson said. "What other clubs choose to do in the UK is not connected to this. ... To be entirely honest, we're not here to put pressure on other clubs that have supported The Open Championship and other R&A championships."
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews has about 2,400 members from around the world and dates to 1754. The clubhouse is among the most famous buildings in golf, overlooking the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Augusta National for years was the symbol of men-only golf clubs because it hosts The Masters every April. The club announced in August 2012 that it had invited women to join for the first time — former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore.
Even though Augusta National went 80 years without a female member, it had no policy that barred women from joining. The R&A had such a policy, and that's what will be voted on in September.
Dawson said he did not think Augusta National's decision had any bearing on the R&A Golf Club.
"We noted what happened at Augusta," he said. "They have their own procedure of doing things. We are doing this because of our governance role."
He also said the R&A did not feel pressure from any of its corporate sponsors, who were subjected to the debate at the British Open.
"You can always ask that question: 'Why now? Why not 10 years ago?' The R&A have been considering this. It's been on our agenda, on our radar, for quite some time," Dawson said. "The feeling is as society changes, as sport changes, as golf changes, it's something the R&A needs to do, and is doing now as being forward-looking as we can."
The club and the group that runs The Open are separate entities.
For years, the men-only Royal & Ancient was in charge of the Rules of Golf for every country in the world except for the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the USGA. And it operated the British Open, the oldest championship in golf.
Ten years ago, the administrative duties were split off into a corporate structure that is called "The R&A," of which Dawson is the chief executive. That's the group in charge of the Rules of Golf and organizing The Open and other R&A championships.
And while "The R&A" has female employees, its committee and board roles are populated by members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. So there are no women in leadership roles when it comes to rules and championship golf.
That likely will change with a favorable vote in September for female members.
"This is welcome news from the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and I urge its members to follow their committees' recommendations and vote 'yes' for women members," Grant said in a statement. "It would mark a step in the right direction for the sport and I would hope encourage the remaining golf clubs that still have anachronistic single-sex member policies to follow suit."
While the members have access to the R&A clubhouse behind the first tee at the Old Course, R&A members belong to a club, not a golf course. The seven golf courses at St. Andrews are open to the public.
"We noted what happened at Augusta," he said. "They have their own procedure of doing things. We are doing this because of our governance role."
He also said the R&A did not feel pressure from any of its corporate sponsors, who were subjected to the debate at the British Open.
"You can always ask that question: 'Why now? Why not 10 years ago?' The R&A have been considering this. It's been on our agenda, on our radar, for quite some time," Dawson said. "The feeling is as society changes, as sport changes, as golf changes, it's something the R&A needs to do, and is doing now as being forward-looking as we can."
The club and the group that runs The Open are separate entities.
For years, the men-only Royal & Ancient was in charge of the Rules of Golf for every country in the world except for the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the USGA. And it operated the British Open, the oldest championship in golf.
Ten years ago, the administrative duties were split off into a corporate structure that is called "The R&A," of which Dawson is the chief executive. That's the group in charge of the Rules of Golf and organizing The Open and other R&A championships.
And while "The R&A" has female employees, its committee and board roles are populated by members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. So there are no women in leadership roles when it comes to rules and championship golf.
That likely will change with a favorable vote in September for female members.
"This is welcome news from the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and I urge its members to follow their committees' recommendations and vote 'yes' for women members," Grant said in a statement. "It would mark a step in the right direction for the sport and I would hope encourage the remaining golf clubs that still have anachronistic single-sex member policies to follow suit."
While the members have access to the R&A clubhouse behind the first tee at the Old Course, R&A members belong to a club, not a golf course. The seven golf courses at St. Andrews are open to the public.
All Ryder Cup matches to be aired in US.
AP Sports
For the first time, every match of this year's Ryder Cup in Europe will be shown live in the United States.
NBC Sports Group announced Tuesday that Golf Channel will broadcast Friday matches and NBC will broadcast the Saturday and Sunday matches from Gleneagles in Scotland. The Ryder Cup will be held on Sept. 26-28.
Golf Channel is broadcasting Friday matches for the first time, taking over for ESPN. The coverage will be from 2:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Saturday's matches will be shown on NBC from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT, while NBC will have Sunday singles from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT.
The NBC Sports Group will provide 26 1/2 hours of live coverage, the most ever for a European-based event.
Driver Reports: Previewing the Martinsville race.
By Brad Norman
Editor's note: The following drivers are ranked according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.
1. Carl Edwards (No. 99)
Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
Standing: Edwards leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings with 186 points.
Past five races: 10th at Auto Club, 1st at Bristol, 5th at Las Vegas, 8th at Phoenix, 17th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 2 top-fives, 4 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Edwards' average finish is 15.4 and his average running position is 16.2 over the past nine years. In 19 career starts at Martinsville, he has one top-five and five top-10s.
Quick hit: Edwards has never won at Martinsville, although his Loop Data ranks in the top 15 among drivers currently on the circuit. And while the No. 99 team is tops in points, Edwards has finished outside the top 10 in four consecutive races at the paperclip-shaped track.
Past five races: 10th at Auto Club, 1st at Bristol, 5th at Las Vegas, 8th at Phoenix, 17th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 2 top-fives, 4 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Edwards' average finish is 15.4 and his average running position is 16.2 over the past nine years. In 19 career starts at Martinsville, he has one top-five and five top-10s.
Quick hit: Edwards has never won at Martinsville, although his Loop Data ranks in the top 15 among drivers currently on the circuit. And while the No. 99 team is tops in points, Edwards has finished outside the top 10 in four consecutive races at the paperclip-shaped track.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88)
Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
Standing: Earnhardt Jr. is second in the standings with 185 points.
Past five races: 12th at Auto Club, 24th at Bristol, 2nd at Las Vegas, 2nd at Phoenix, 1st at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 3 top-fives, 3 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Earnhardt Jr.'s average finish is 12.1 and his average running position is 11.0 over the past nine years. In 28 career starts at Martinsville, he has 10 top-fives and 15 top-10s.
Quick hit: Junior has two different streaks of four consecutive top-10 finishes at the track, the most recent of which came from 2010-2012. His average finish at the 0.526-mile track is 11.0 in 12 races with Hendrick Motorsports, and he has a pair of teammates in Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon who have mastered Martinsville.
Past five races: 12th at Auto Club, 24th at Bristol, 2nd at Las Vegas, 2nd at Phoenix, 1st at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 3 top-fives, 3 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Earnhardt Jr.'s average finish is 12.1 and his average running position is 11.0 over the past nine years. In 28 career starts at Martinsville, he has 10 top-fives and 15 top-10s.
Quick hit: Junior has two different streaks of four consecutive top-10 finishes at the track, the most recent of which came from 2010-2012. His average finish at the 0.526-mile track is 11.0 in 12 races with Hendrick Motorsports, and he has a pair of teammates in Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon who have mastered Martinsville.
3. Jeff Gordon (No. 24)
Hendrick Motorsports, ChevroletStanding: Gordon is third in the standings with 184 points.
Past five races: 13th at Auto Club, 7th at Bristol, 9th at Las Vegas, 5th at Phoenix, 4th at Daytona.
Season stats: 2 top-fives, 4 top-10s, 1 pole.
Track history: At Martinsville, Gordon's average finish is 4.7 and his average running position is 6.2 over the past nine years. In 42 career starts at Martinsville, he has eight wins, 27 top-fives, 34 top-10s and seven poles.
Quick hit: Gordon's average finish at Martinsville last year was 2.0, and he won the fall race. Since 2011, he has four top-fives and five top-10s in six races there. He's one of the best Martinsville drivers in the history of the sport, and his team has hit on every setup this year. He's one of the race favorites.
4. Brad Keselowski (No. 2)
Penske Racing, FordStanding: Keselowski is fourth in the standings with 182 points.
Past five races: 26th at Auto Club, 14th at Bristol, 1st at Las Vegas, 3rd at Phoenix, 3rd at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 3 top-fives, 3 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Keselowski's average finish is 10.4 and his average running position is 13.5 over the past nine years. In eight career starts at Martinsville, he has one top-five and five top-10s.
Quick hit: Keselowski has been among the best in the sport on the short track over the past two years. He kept up with Jimmie Johnson in a critical Chase race en route to his 2012 title and has four consecutive top-10s. The most recent Martinsville race resulted in Keselowski's best finish at the track -- fourth last fall.
5. Matt Kenseth (No. 20)
Joe Gibbs Racing, ToyotaStanding: Kenseth is fifth in the standings with 179 points.
Past five races: 4th at Auto Club, 13th at Bristol, 10th at Las Vegas, 12th at Phoenix, 6th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-five, 3 top-10s, 1 pole.
Track history: At Martinsville, Kenseth's average finish is 14.0 and his average running position is 16.2 over the past nine years. In 28 career starts at Martinsville, he has four top-fives and nine top-10s.
Quick hit: Kenseth's performance at Martinsville has been unpredictable throughout his career. A runner-up showing last fall was his best effort at the track, but he also has seven finishes outside the top 10 in the past five years. Bottom line: His Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are better bets.
6. Jimmie Johnson (No. 48)
Hendrick Motorsports, ChevroletStanding: Johnson is sixth in the standings with 165 points.
Past five races:, 24th at Auto Club, 19th at Bristol, 6th at Las Vegas, 6th at Phoenix, 5th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-five, 3 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Johnson's average finish is 3.9 and his average running position is 5.8 over the past nine years. In 24 career starts at Martinsville, he has eight wins, 17 top-fives, 21 top-10s and three poles.
Quick hit: Johnson's best two tracks on the circuit come back-to-back, with Martinsville following Fontana. With three consecutive top-fives (including two wins), Six-Time seems due to break through for his first win of the season.
7. Kyle Busch (No. 18)
Joe Gibbs Racing, ToyotaStanding: Busch is seventh in the standings with 158 points.
Past five races: 1st at Auto Club, 29th at Bristol, 11th at Las Vegas, 9th at Phoenix, 19th at Daytona
Season stats: 1 win, 1 top-five, 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Busch's average finish is 16.0 and his average running position is 13.2 over the past nine years. In 18 career starts at Martinsville, he has eight top-fives and nine top-10s.
Quick hit: Half of Busch's 18 career starts have resulted in top-10s, but there's the nagging reality that he also has seven finishes outside the top 20. Which way will he lean Sunday? The bet here is that Busch, reinvigorated from his California conquest last week, challenges for a spot in the top five.
8. Ryan Newman (No. 31)
Richard Childress Racing, ChevroletStanding: Newman is eighth in the standings with 150 points.
Past five races: 20th at Auto Club, 16th at Bristol, 7th at Las Vegas, 7th at Phoenix, 22nd at Daytona.
Season stats: 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Newman's average finish is 14.5 and his average running position is 15.2 over the past nine years. In 24 career starts at Martinsville, he has one win, four top-fives, 11 top-10s and three poles.
Quick hit: Newman won at Martinsville in 2012, but he finished outside the top 30 in both races last year. Will he rally in his first year with Richard Childress Racing? Early results indicate yes -- RCR is the only team of three or more drivers to have its entire lineup in the top 16 in the points standings.
9. Austin Dillon (No. 3)
Richard Childress Racing, ChevroletStanding: Dillon is ninth in the standings with 150 points.
Past five races: 11th at Auto Club, 11th at Bristol, 16th at Las Vegas, 24th at Phoenix, 9th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-10, 1 pole.
Track history: Dillon has never started a Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville.
Quick hit: The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender will have to lean heavily on his four Camping World Truck Series starts at The Paperclip. The results there are two top-10s in four starts, with the caveat that it came in a vehicle totally unlike the Sprint Cup Series car.
10. Joey Logano (No. 22)
Penske Racing, FordStanding: Logano is 10th in the standings with 141 points.
Past five races: 39th at Auto Club, 20th at Bristol, 4th at Las Vegas, 4th at Phoenix, 11th at Daytona.
Season stats: 2 top-fives, 2 top-10s, 1 pole.
Track history: At Martinsville, Logano's average finish is 15.9 and his average running position is 17.1 over the past nine years. In 20 career starts at Martinsville, he has one top-five and two top-10s.
Quick hit: Logano has typically qualified well at Martinsville -- it's finishing that has been the problem. Logano started fourth and sixth in last year's two races, but finished 23rd and 14th. His lone top-10s both came in 2010 with Joe Gibbs Racing.
11. Denny Hamlin (No. 11)
Joe Gibbs Racing, ToyotaStanding: Hamlin is 11th in the standings with 140 points.
Past five races: DNS at Auto Club, 6th at Bristol, 12th at Las Vegas, 19th at Phoenix, 2nd at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-five, 2 top-10s, 1 pole.
Track history: At Martinsville, Hamlin's average finish is 8.1 and his average running position is 8.8 over the past nine years. In 16 career starts at Martinsville, he has four wins, nine top-fives, 13 top-10s and three poles.
Quick hit: Hamlin is a Martinsville maestro and must be considered among the favorites -- even after missing last week's event in Fontana with a vision problem. Hamlin swept the 2010 races at the short track and has plenty of experience here after growing up in Virginia.
12. Jamie McMurray (No. 1)
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, ChevroletStanding: McMurray is 12th in the standings with 138 points.
Past five races: 6th at Auto Club, 38th at Bristol, 15th at Las Vegas, 10th at Phoenix, 14th at Daytona.
Season stats: 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, McMurray's average finish is 16.7 and his average running position is 15.9 over the past nine years. In 22 career starts at Martinsville, he has one top-five, 12 top-10s and one pole.
Quick hit: Consider McMurray as one of your NASCAR Fantasy Live value plays. His No. 1 Chevrolet has been on point this season, and he recorded top-10s in both Martinsville races last year.
13. Brian Vickers (No. 55)
Michael Waltrip Racing, ToyotaStanding: Vickers is 13th in the standings with 137 points.
Past five races: 7th at Auto Club, 9th at Bristol, 13th at Las Vegas, 25th at Phoenix, 30th at Daytona.
Season stats: 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Vickers' average finish is 18.9 and his average running position is 16.9 over the past nine years. In 16 career starts at Martinsville, he has three top-10s.
Quick hit: Vickers only drove in one Martinsville race last year in a part-time role. In that spring event, though, he qualified third and finished 11th. Three consecutive times, he's started sixth or better. And through five races this year, he's improved his finish every week.
14. Paul Menard (No. 27)
Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
Standing: Menard is 14th in the standings with 134 points.
Past five races: 9th at Auto Club, 21st at Bristol, 3rd at Las Vegas, 23rd at Phoenix, 32nd at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-five, 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Menard's average finish is 21.8 and his average running position is 23.1 over the past nine years. In 13 career starts at Martinsville, his best finish is 12th in 2012.
Quick hit: Menard's stay in the top 16 could be short. He's coming off finishes of 19th and 22nd at Martinsville last season. He hasn't completed every lap of both the spring and fall races here since 2010.
Past five races: 9th at Auto Club, 21st at Bristol, 3rd at Las Vegas, 23rd at Phoenix, 32nd at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-five, 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Menard's average finish is 21.8 and his average running position is 23.1 over the past nine years. In 13 career starts at Martinsville, his best finish is 12th in 2012.
Quick hit: Menard's stay in the top 16 could be short. He's coming off finishes of 19th and 22nd at Martinsville last season. He hasn't completed every lap of both the spring and fall races here since 2010.
15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 17)
Roush Fenway Racing, FordStanding: Stenhouse Jr. is 15th in the standings with 132 points.
Past five races: 34th at Auto Club, 2nd at Bristol, 27th at Las Vegas, 18th at Phoenix, 7th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 top-five, 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Stenhouse Jr.'s average finish is 28.0 and his average running position is 30.3 over the past nine years. In two career starts at Martinsville, his best finish was 25th in 2013.
Quick hit: Stenhouse Jr. couldn't carry his momentum after a second-place showing in Bristol last week. Then again, the best showing of his career came on a short track after a disappointing effort the previous week.
16. Kyle Larson (No. 42)
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Chevrolet
Standing: Larson is 16th in the standings with 131 points.
Past five races: 2nd at Auto Club, 10th at Bristol, 19th at Las Vegas, 20th at Phoenix, 38th at Daytona
Season stats: 1 top-five, 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Larson's average finish is 42.0 and his average running position is 38.2 over the past nine years. In one career start at Martinsville, he finished 42nd in 2013.
Quick hit: Larson's Martinsville history is about as bad as you can get. Considering he skipped a full-time Truck Series ride -- a series that competes regularly on the 0.526-mile oval -- Larson has the least experience on this track out of all the Cup regulars. That may be too much for even his enormous natural talent to overcome.
Past five races: 2nd at Auto Club, 10th at Bristol, 19th at Las Vegas, 20th at Phoenix, 38th at Daytona
Season stats: 1 top-five, 2 top-10s.
Track history: At Martinsville, Larson's average finish is 42.0 and his average running position is 38.2 over the past nine years. In one career start at Martinsville, he finished 42nd in 2013.
Quick hit: Larson's Martinsville history is about as bad as you can get. Considering he skipped a full-time Truck Series ride -- a series that competes regularly on the 0.526-mile oval -- Larson has the least experience on this track out of all the Cup regulars. That may be too much for even his enormous natural talent to overcome.
25. Kevin Harvick (No. 4)
Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet
Standing: Harvick is 25th in the standings with 97 points.
Past four races: 36th at Auto Club, 39th at Bristol, 41st at Las Vegas, 1st at Phoenix, 13th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 1 top-five, 1 top-10.
Track history: At Martinsville, Harvick's average finish is 14.8 and his average running position is 13.8 over the past nine years. In 25 career starts at Martinsville, he has one win, three top-fives and 11 top-10s.
Quick hit: Harvick has had the worst luck of any Sprint Cup driver so far this season. He's still in the Chase field thanks to his Phoenix victory, but has three consecutive finishes outside the top 35.
Past four races: 36th at Auto Club, 39th at Bristol, 41st at Las Vegas, 1st at Phoenix, 13th at Daytona.
Season stats: 1 win, 1 top-five, 1 top-10.
Track history: At Martinsville, Harvick's average finish is 14.8 and his average running position is 13.8 over the past nine years. In 25 career starts at Martinsville, he has one win, three top-fives and 11 top-10s.
Quick hit: Harvick has had the worst luck of any Sprint Cup driver so far this season. He's still in the Chase field thanks to his Phoenix victory, but has three consecutive finishes outside the top 35.
World Cup: Jurgen Klinsmann talks need for USMNT players to impress in short time before Brazil.
MLSSoccer.com
With just a few months before the 2014 World Cup, the US national team coaching staff has raised its scouting game, looking for the best and most prepared American players to go to Brazil.
And with the USMNT's latest friendly right around the corner, the message to players from head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is that they have a very short window to impress before the World Cup roster is named.
Klinsmann discussed the play of notable MLS stars like Michael Bradley, Graham Zusi, and Maurice Edu, as well as a variety of other topics, in an interview on US Soccer's website on Wednesday, following the release of the USMNT roster for the friendly on April 2 against Mexico in Glendale, Ariz. (11 pm ET, ESPN, UniMas).
With 19 players on the 22-man roster for the friendly coming from MLS, Klinsmann expressed his satisfaction at seeing the league season underway, and spoke about Bradley's start with Toronto FC.
“Definitely having MLS back in the picture and picking up its rhythm, it’s just great seeing Michael Bradley there on the field showing everybody how good of a player he is," the USMNT boss said.
He continued: "It’s very important to us that our leaders in our group are really getting a rhythm and getting games in. Seeing Michael back on the field and the others as well is really important.”
Klinsmann mentioned the three MLS sides in CONCACAF Champions League failing to progress in the knockout stages last week, calling the results, "a big bummer for us and gives us a lot of questions to be answered on how can we avoid that next time."
But it appears scheduling the friendly against the US' biggest rival, Mexico, was intended to provide players called in a litmus test of sorts on the international stage ahead of the World Cup roster announcement.
"It is definitely a game we need to see where our MLS- and Mexican-based players are," Klinsmann said. "They need to prove now that they badly want to go to Brazil. Therefore, it’s going to be a tense couple of days.
"It’s going to be a test for what they can expect going into our World Cup preparations because it’s performing at the right time. It’s about understanding that they have to be tough now. It’s not about slowly getting into a rhythm, it’s about showing if you deserve to get into this World Cup roster."
Because of the timing of the friendly, Klinsmann said his message to the players is different than at the annual January camp, where players have an extended opportunity to impress.
"In that way, it will be a little bit different camp," he said. "It will be measured different because it’s the last game before we go into World Cup preparations. Therefore we tell the players from Day 1 when they come in on Sunday to step it up."
Kentucky-Louisville Preview.
By EDDIE PELLS (AP National Writer)
John Calipari sent Andrew and Aaron Harrison and three other freshmen to sit behind the microphones and answer questions about Kentucky's upcoming Sweet 16 matchup against Bluegrass State rival Louisville.
Rick Pitino sent up seniors Russ Smith and Luke Hancock.
That, as much as the 70 miles that separates the schools, is the gulf between the neighbors who play Friday in one of the most important meetings in their long, colorful and not-so-friendly rivalry.
Eighth-seeded Kentucky plays the one-and-done game and won a title that way in 2012. Fourth-seeded Louisville goes for a more long-term approach and took home its own championship trophy last season.
''There's so many arguments,'' Pitino said. ''I think the best of all worlds, me personally, I would like to see exactly what football has.''
Whether they stay a minimum of three years (football), one year (basketball) or something else, the issue of how athletes fit into a college campus was thrust into the spotlight by this week's National Labor Relations Board decision that defined football players at Northwestern as employees.
Neither coach would bite when asked how they felt about the ruling. ''Has nothing to do with this game, so I leave it alone,'' Calipari said.
But both are well aware of the business side of their game that fosters the tenuous relationships between players, coaches and schools. The one-and-done rule has been key in Calipari's re-emergence as a Final Four coach over the last six years, and has weighed on the minds of other coaches, like Pitino, who don't land the NBA-ready kids as frequently but often find themselves competing against them.
''I think we're all playing the hand we're dealt,'' Calipari said. ''Kids are going on to the league from us and performing, and I'm proud of that. Would I like to have had them for four years? Yes. But I also like what's happened for them and their families.''
Calipari, whose 2012 title team came behind one-and-doner Anthony Davis, now of the Pelicans, saw the negatives of having to rebuild every year play out in stark detail this season. A starting lineup with five freshmen struggled with expectations, sharing, listening and handling criticism.
Now comes the payoff. Calipari has figured out how to get the most from the Wildcats (26-10) and, as a result, they are clicking. Aaron Harrison has scored 18 and 19 points in the last two games. His brother had 20 in Kentucky's 78-76 upset over Wichita State. Yet another freshman, James Young, made a 3-pointer that gave Kentucky the lead in that game with less than 2 minutes to go.
''They had to hear how bad they were as players, how selfish they were, they're not together, this isn't a team,'' Calipari said. ''Instead of separating, they stuck together. They kept believing in the staff and wanted answers, 'How do we get this right?' and they accepted answers.''
Not that managing a more experienced roster, with seven players coming off a national title, has been all smooth sailing for Pitino and the Cardinals (31-5).
Pitino dismissed Chane Behanan in December for violating school rules. The focal point of last year's title run, Kevin Ware, took a medical redshirt for more recovery on the right leg he snapped gruesomely during last year's regional final, also in Indianapolis.
''I know everyone wants to talk about experience,'' Hancock said when asked about the differences between what a senior knows and what a freshman knows come this time of year. ''But they've got six, seven, eight, nine, 10 guys that are going to play real hard. We have the same. It's not going to be too big an advantage either way.''
Since 1983, the teams have met in the regular season every year.
This season's game was a 73-66 Kentucky victory that served as only a brief respite for the Wildcats, who sank from top-ranked team at the beginning of the season to out of the poll by March 10.
The Cardinals were hardly a finished product at the time, either. Like Kentucky, they've saved their best basketball for March. They won their conference tournament games by an average of 33, then figured ways to grind out ugly wins against Manhattan and St. Louis.
Pitino said he's been in the state for 20 years - first as coach of Kentucky - ''and the game, to me, has really only had difficult consequences for the loser twice.''
No. 1 was the 2012 Final Four meeting, won by Kentucky. No. 2 will be Friday's game.
''People grieve for a year after the game. People celebrate for a year after the game,'' Calipari said. ''I've tried to not make it bigger than it is. But it doesn't work.''
NCAA Sweet Sixteen Final Scores, Thursday, March 27, 2014.
Yahoo Sports
4) San Diego State 64
1) Arizona 70
4) UCLA 68
1) Florida 79
6) Baylor 52
2) Wisconsin 69
11) Dayton 82
10) Stanford 72
Explaining what the Northwestern college football union decision means.
By Patrick Vint
Kain Colter and the Northwestern football team can unionize. So what does this mean, and what happens next, for the Wildcats and elsewhere?
On Wednesday afternoon, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region 13 director Peter Sung Ohr issued a ruling granting Northwestern football players the right to unionize. The decision is a bomb to the heart of college football's amateurism rules, and could lead to significant change to college athletics in general.
What did the NLRB say?
What players had to do to win
In order to find that the Northwestern players could form a union, Ohr had to find that the players were employees of the University. An "employee'" is a person who [1] is under contract of hire to [2] perform services for another, [3] subject to the employer's control, and [4] in return for payment.
Almost nobody (this author included) thought the players could meet this standard. To do so, they would have to show that they were hired, controlled, and paid by Northwestern. From inside the system, finding that players are being hired by coaches and paid in scholarship money feels absurd.
Ohr, though, is not in the system. Ohr's opinion reads like that of someone who has not watched college football for one minute of his life, was told the basic premise for the sport's existence and amateurism rules, and rejected all the inherent contradictions. Ohr begins by detailing the life of a Northwestern scholarship football player, and how it differs from that of a typical student:
- During August training camp, players engage in 50 to 60 hours of football-related work per week and are subject to a strict itinerary for up to 16 hours a day.
- During the regular season, players devote 40 to 50 hours per week to football, including travel, and again are subject to a strict schedule of activities. The Director also points out that many of the activities required of football players, such as training meetings, travel, seven-on-seven drills, and film study, are not included in the NCAA's limit of 20 hours per week for "countable athletically related activities."
- If the team makes a bowl game, the season extends into December. Players are still expected to go through their full weekly routine. There is a brief break near the holidays, but players are required to be back by Christmas morning and must provide position coaches with their flight itineraries showing their intent to return on time before being allowed to leave.
- For road games, players are on a strict schedule from early Friday morning through late Saturday that includes travel, team meetings, and training. In a footnote, the Director criticizes the fact that while "the players devoted more than 24 hours on Friday and Saturday to travel and football related activities, this only constituted 4.8 [countable hours] under the NCAA's guidelines." Northwestern players are permitted to spend two to three hours studying while traveling as long as they "get their mind right to get ready to play," per head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
- Optional offseason workouts during off weeks are monitored by the player "leadership council" for attendance, and team training personnel monitor mandatory offseason workouts. Players spend 15 to 20 hours per week during the offseason on football activities.
- Spring practice requires 20 to 25 hours per week of practice and film study.
What the NLRB declared
Where Ohr hammers Northwestern is on the priority of football over academics. According to his findings, players are not permitted to take classes that conflict with practice, and scholarship players cannot leave practice early to make a class.
Northwestern provided plentiful examples of its emphasis on academics, including holding a bus back to allow players to take a quiz before going to a game at Iowa and prohibiting players from missing more than five classes due to football in a term, but the scheduling issues, combined with the relative time commitment, was the controlling factor for the Director.
He also found ample control by Northwestern over its players' lives:
- Freshmen and sophomore football players are required to live in dorms, and upperclassmen living off campus have to submit their leases to Fitzgerald for approval.
- The athletic department must approve any outside employment and monitors their work.
- Players are required to give detailed information about their cars to the athletic department.
- Players are restricted from what they can post on the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and must accept friend requests from Fitzgerald or other coaches so that their posts can be monitored.
- Players cannot profit off of their likeness or image, and are required to sign a release allowing Northwestern and the Big Ten to use their name, likeness, and image (this is the O'Bannon suit making its way into other realms).
And when you've successfully decoupled athletics from academics, finding that those players are employees is not a big leap. To Ohr, [1] the letter of intent and scholarship offer is the employment contract, [2] the hours of practice and play that generates millions of dollars of revenue for the school are the employer's benefits, [3] the coach's rules are the control, and [4] the scholarship itself is the pay. Players are employees, and it didn't take any stretch in logic to get there.
Northwestern had argued that a previous case was the proper precedent. In a prior decision, the NLRB had rejected a unionization attempt by graduate students working as teaching and research assistants at Brown University. In that decision, the NLRB found that the employees were primarily students, their roles were tied to their education, their supervisors were school faculty, and their wages were the same financial support given to those who were not working those jobs. Because the graduate students were students first and employees second, they were not employees.
Ohr rejected the argument here, and in doing so, laid bare what he deemed the fallacy at the heart of the sport: That football has anything at all to do with academics. He held that Northwestern football players, who spend 40 to 60 hours a week on football duties during the season and repeatedly adjust their class schedules to make time for football activities, are not primarily students, and that their compensation -- scholarships -- is not financial aid. The scholarships are provided not for the players' academic performance -- in fact, many of the players would not even be admitted to Northwestern were it not for their football prowess -- but for their performance of services for Northwestern on the field of play.
By splitting football from academics, Ohr has made every college football player the equivalent of every other student who is busing tables or working in a call center to pay for school. And that is revolutionary.
What happens next?
For Northwestern football
The effects at Northwestern are immediate. The NLRB has directed an election among only Northwestern scholarship football players who have not exhausted their eligibility (ironically, that will likely exclude union movement leader and former Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter from voting, as he was a senior in 2013).
The results of the election will determine whether the football team will be represented by the College Athletes Players Association. A Sports Illustrated legal expert said that they are nearly certain to get the number of votes needed to establish the union.
From there, the union would be entitled to collectively bargain with Northwestern over the players' benefits. NCAA regulations will likely throw a kink into this, as additional benefits could make players ineligible to participate.
Northwestern has already announced its intention to appeal to the National Labor Relations Board proper, where it could receive a more favorable decision. If Northwestern loses at the Board, it could enter the federal courts. The school could delay any negotiations until the appeal is resolved, but that process could take them through the 2014 season. If it agrees to negotiate, Northwestern would cut off its right to appeal into the courts.
For your favorite team
At other private schools (like Notre Dame, USC, and Vanderbilt), players could copy Northwestern's model and work toward unionization, citing Wednesday's decision as precedent. Directors in other districts are not required to follow Ohr's decision, though, so repeated unionization could lead to different results across the country.
State schools (like Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas) are not governed by the NLRB, and its decisions are not enforceable against state-school football programs. State labor laws would apply. In right-to-work states, unionization would be a non-starter. How well it would work elsewhere will depend on each state's laws and regulations.
For other sports
The NLRB's decision is limited to Northwestern football players at the moment. It could potentially be extended to successful private school basketball programs (looking at you, Duke), but its application to non-revenue sports could be tricky.
One of the key components of the Regional Director's finding that football players were employees was the fact that football generates revenue for Northwestern, making it easy to say the players' actions had value. It is much more difficult to find the value in non-revenue sports. Does the notoriety of Northwestern's successful lacrosse program provide benefit to the school? What about a middle-of-the-pack wrestling program? Or a basketball team that has never made the NCAA Tournament? Any attempt at unionization by non-revenue student athletes could be much more difficult.
The Title IX implications are unclear. If Northwestern agrees to negotiate with its football players and provides additional benefits or scholarships to cover the full cost of attendance, someone is going to argue that the preferential treatment is a violation of the landmark civil rights act. On the other hand, given the finding that those football players are employees and not students, Northwestern could argue that benefits conveyed to football players aren't covered by Title IX at all.
Could allowing individual endorsements be the solution to college athlete compensation? What's your take?
By Nick Bromberg
You're not going to find many supporters of college athletic reform who don't feel that Wednesday's National Labor Relations Board ruling in favor of Northwestern players' efforts to form a union is a sign of change.
What will that change mean? Well, people are still trying to figure that out.
Many of the questions raised by Wednesday's decision were brought up on Twitter Wednesday night by former Missouri wide receiver T.J. Moe, who played for the Tigers from 2009-2012 and ranks fifth all-time in career receptions at Mizzou. Moe feels a union isn't the solution to the issue of athlete compensation.
"What Northwestern is doing is essentially doing is threatening the existence of what we know college football to be," Moe told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday night. "It's not going to totally threaten college football, because there are some schools that would be able to pay their athletes because they have huge revenues. But for most schools, they will actually have to shut down half their programs and there will be lawsuits ... It is much more damaging to the NCAA, if you ask me, what Northwestern is doing.
"Now, the O'Bannon case is a bigger threat, I would say for accomplishing something. A union isn't going to accomplish something. It's only going to tear it down."
The O'Bannon case seeks damages from the NCAA and its member schools for the usage of college athletes' likenesses as college athletes currently don't receive any revenue from the use of their image.
College athletes also aren't allowed endorsement deals. Moe said he'd like to see endorsements opened up to college athletes. Why? Because it'd allow athletes to capitalize on their current earning potential and it wouldn't bankrupt schools that didn't have the revenues to pay players.
"If you're going to a big enough school, you're going to get on the map anyway. Tell me right now (Missouri WR) Dorial Green-Beckham, if it were allowed, wouldn't have full-fledged million-dollar endorsement from Nike," Moe said. "He would, no question about it. Because he's going to be a first-round draft pick next year and everyone knows it."
An endorsement system certainly wouldn't be equitable for all college athletes; obviously not everyone would get a deal. And with men's football and basketball being most universities' primary revenue producers, deals would heavily skew to those sports. But since the income wouldn't be from the school, it wouldn't be affected by Title IX regulations.
However, the NCAA does like to say that most athletes go pro in something other than sports and such an endorsement system would be much like the professional marketplace. Don't many people go to college to maximize their earning potential in life?
For many NCAA athletes, their collegiate years are the peak of their athletic earnings potential through endorsements. Moe referenced 1997 Nebraska Heisman Trophy-winner Eric Crouch, who wasn't able to capitalize on his massive fame as a collegian via endorsement deals.
As Crouch's pro career didn't take off, his biggest accomplishments as an athlete were at Nebraska, where he didn't get any of the royalties the school received from using his likeness, nor was he able to do commercials for car dealerships or any other company that could benefit from his pitch.
Moe, who spent 2013 on injured-reserve for the New England Patriots after he tore his Achilles' tendon in June, can relate.
"(In college) I'm bringing in millions and millions and millions of dollars of revenue because I show up on Saturday and I score touchdowns. And they sell my jersey. They sold the '28' jersey (Moe's number in college) in the Mizzou store, in the Wal-Marts around Missouri for three years, since my first game as a sophomore. And I didn't see a dime of it. I don't care, but that was, right there, probably the top of my money-making potential in life."
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: This matter still has to play out in the court system, however, whatever the outcome, you can rest assured that college sports will never be the same. I can guarantee you that ticket cost, college tuitions, alumni financial request, etc. will greatly increase. And the really sad thing is that some schools will drop sports from their college programs. They won't be able to afford them anymore. You may not agree with me and that's your choice, but believe me, it's not going to be good. Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Sports Blog Editor. Now you know what I think, what's your take?
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