Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"
Sports Quote of the Day:
"The secret to success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." ~ Benjamin Disraeli, Former British Prime Minister and Writer
2014 Preakness odds: California Chrome is the morning line favorite.
By James Pennington
California Chrome is a heavy, heavy favorite.
Kentucky Derby champion California Chrome is the prohibitive favorite to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. He was announced as the favorite at 3-5 odds Tuesday evening at the post position draw.
If California Chrome wins at Pimlico as he is favored to do, he will become the sixth horse since 2002 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown and the first since I'll Have Another did so in 2012.
Twelve horses have won the first two races since 1978, when Affirmed became the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
The second favorite is Social Inclusion, coming in at 5-1 odds starting near the outside in the No. 8 gate.
Ride On Curlin, the horse that finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby starting in the second-most outside gate, is at 10-1 odds after drawing the furthest outside post for the Preakness, the No. 10 gate. Joel Rosario will ride Ride On Curlin in the Preakness after Calvin Borel rode him in the Kentucky Derby.
Bayern, starting in the No. 5 post, is also at 10-1 odds. He did not start in the Kentucky Derby; he finished first in the Derby Stakes Trial at Churchill Downs on April 26 but was placed second because of interference. Bayern's trainer is Bob Baffert, who has won the Preakness six times. His last Preakness win was in 2010 with Lookin At Lucky.
Below are the odds for each of the 10 horses in the race, ordered by starting gate.
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds |
| 1. Dynamic Impact | Miguel Mena | Mark E. Casse | 12-1 |
| 2. General A Rod | Javier Castellano | Mike Maker | 15-1 |
| 3. California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | 3-5 |
| 4. Ring Weekend | Alan Garcia | H. Graham Motion | 20-1 |
| 5. Bayern | Rosie Napravnik | Bob Baffert | 10-1 |
| 6. Ria Antonia | Calvin Borel | Tom Amoss | 30-1 |
| 7. Kid Cruz | Julian Pimentel | Linda Rice | 20-1 |
| 8. Social Inclusion | Luis Contreras | Manny Azpurua | 5-1 |
| 9. Pablo Del Monte | Jeffrey Sanchez | Wesley A. Ward | 20-1 |
| 10. Ride On Curlin | Joel Rosario | William Gowan | 10-1 |
*Please note that odds are subject to change by race starting time.
Weak Preakness field shows fundamental flaw in horse racing's Triple Crown.
By Pat Forde
The stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course is a one-stall, one-star staging area this week.
It is California Chrome in stall 40, the traditional residence of the Kentucky Derby winner. And it is everyone else, going about their equine business in obscurity leading up to the Preakness Saturday.
All eyes are trained on 3-5 favorite Chrome and his 77-year-old trainer, Art Sherman. The crowd around Sherman has necessitated a semi-formal morning press conference, a departure from the customary casual interactions between media and trainers. When Art talks, reporters flock.
That's largely because the modestly bred horse on a dazzling five-race winning streak is a great story. And because his human connections are an even better story. But it's also because the rest of the assemblage brings to these proceedings less buzz than a dying bumblebee.
The Kentucky Derby field annually contains the best and brightest 3-year-old colts in the land – along with a few overmatched dreamers. Besides California Chrome, only two other Derby horses are entered in the Preakness: Ride On Curlin (seventh in Louisville) and General a Rod (11th). Everyone else from the Derby bailed out on a $1.5 million race that is the second leg of the Triple Crown.
California Chrome has won three graded stakes races in a row, by a combined 14¼ lengths. The other nine horses in the field have combined to win two graded stakes races – Dynamic Impact in the Illinois Derby last month and Ring Weekend in the Tampa Bay Derby in early March. Winners of major 3-year-old spring races like the Arkansas Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes and Florida Derby are all sitting this one out.
"There's no bona fide stake horses in there," Sherman said last week, more a statement of fact than any kind of trash talk. "You've got to prove yourself."
This is not a Who's Who of horse racing. It's a Who's That.
The bleakness of this Preakness field emphasizes a fundamental flaw in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. It is run on an outdated calendar. The turnaround from the first Saturday in May to the third Saturday in May is not something most thoroughbred owners and trainers are interested in trying.
Almost nobody races their horses on two weeks' rest anymore, which is the time between the Derby and this race. The only horse in this year's Preakness field to have run on a two-week layoff is Bayern, who contested the Arkansas Derby April 12 and then came back to run in the Derby Trial April 26 to open Churchill Downs' spring meet. Trainer Bob Baffert is so excited about Bayern's chances that he hadn't even shown up at Pimlico as of Thursday morning, letting an assistant handle pre-race prep.
Baffert is the No. 2 trainer in the nation in terms of purse money won in 2014. The top trainer, this year and most years, is Todd Pletcher. He brought four horses to the Kentucky Derby but zero to the Preakness, skipping it for the third year in a row.
Instead Pletcher will plot a potential ambush of California Chrome with fresher horses at the Belmont Stakes June 7. That's not overly fair or sporting, but that's horse racing.
California Chrome has had at least 28 days between all 10 of his career starts. The only reason he's running in the Preakness is because he won the Derby, and you can't win the Triple Crown without winning the second leg.
"I would love to see at least three [weeks between the Derby and Preakness]," Sherman said. "It takes a horse about 11 days to completely recover out of a race. … It's pushing the envelope a little bit [to run again in 14]. … But here I am trying it, so I'm hoping the racing gods are looking down on me."
On paper, it would take some ungodly bad luck for California Chrome not to win this race. He will probably have to beat himself.
There would seem to be only three scenarios in which Chrome loses the Preakness:
• A terrible break from the starting gate.
The colt tends to be restless in the gate, which has led to a few awkward breaks during his career. Assistant trainer Alan Sherman, Art's son, said California Chrome's front feet were spread a bit wide when the gate opened in the Kentucky Derby, but jockey Victor Espinoza still got him away in good order.
The colt likes to be forwardly placed in a race as opposed to coming from far back, so being left at the gate would not be an ideal way to start the 1&frac316;-mile Preakness. The Shermans are schooling California Chrome in the starting gate at Pimlico this week to make him feel at ease come Saturday.
"I'll put it in Victor's ear before the race," Alan Sherman said. "Make sure his feet are square."
And if they're not?
"I don't know if you'd say it doesn't matter," Alan said. "But he can overcome it."
• A murderous pace that California Chrome cannot lay off of.
This figures to be a speedier race in the early going than the Derby, which was run at a deliberate 1 minute, 11⅘ seconds to the halfway point. If Bayern, Social Inclusion and Pablo Del Monte set a wicked pace and Chrome is pulled into it, there is a chance he won't have enough left in the stretch to finish strong. Espinoza will need to relax his horse behind the leaders – which he's done ably in his last two races.
"If he can come out of there and be fourth around the turn and fourth on the backside," Art Sherman said, "you're going to see old Chrome perform."
• A physical problem.
The Shermans confirmed that California Chrome coughed a few times Thursday morning, leading to the customary rampant barn speculation about the favorite's health. Alan Sherman said the colt has a throat blister that is being treated, but that he had the same thing before running away with the Kentucky Derby.
"The horse is completely fine," Alan told the Pimlico media relations staff. "His blood work came back perfect. He coughed about four times today and we got him checked out right away. The blister isn't going to affect him at all; the vet said there were absolutely no other problems, nothing else going on."
California Chrome looked like a happy camper after going to the track Thursday morning, playfully biting at the leather shank in Alan's hands as groom Raul Rodriguez bathed him and put talcum powder on his white feet. If there is something wrong with him, you couldn't tell it at that moment.
But the Preakness scrutiny is always sharpest on the Derby winner. Especially when the rest of the field is this uninspiring.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Western Conference Final begins Sunday, May 18.
blackhawks.nhl.com
The National Hockey League today announced that the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final will begin Sunday, May 18, when the Chicago Blackhawks face off against the winner of the Second Round series between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.
The starting time for Game 1 on Sunday will be 3 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC in the U.S. and televised in Canada by TSN and RDS.
Based on the number of points each team earned during the regular season, the Ducks would host the Blackhawks in Game 1, while the Blackhawks would host the Kings in Game 1.
As previously announced, the Ducks and Kings will play Game 7 of their Second Round series on Friday, May 16, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT in Anaheim. In the U.S., that game will be televised on NBCSN. In Canada, the game will be on TSN and RDS.
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final begins at 1 p.m. ET in Montreal on Saturday, May 17, with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. That game will be seen on CBC and RDS in Canada and on NBC in the U.S.
The entire 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals schedule will be released upon the completion of the Second Round.
Ducks or Kings: Sizing up Blackhawks' potential opponents.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks find themselves in a very familiar position. Yes, they’re off to another conference final, their fourth appearance there in the past six seasons. But we’re talking more about playing the waiting game.
The Blackhawks, who eliminated the Minnesota Wild in Game 6 on Tuesday night, will play the winner of the 2nd Round series between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings. The series is tied, 3-3, with Game 7 looming in Anaheim on Friday night and if the Ducks win, they will have home-ice advantage vs. the Blackhawks. If the Kings come back to win the series, the Blackhawks have the home-ice edge. Either way, the Western Conference Final will begin this weekend.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages of playing each team? Glad we asked. Let’s have a look at a few.
Anaheim Ducks
Advantages:
— A little more dinged up? At this point of the postseason, everyone’s dealing with injuries, whether we know about them or not. It’s just a matter of how serious those injuries are and how many players are nursing them. The Ducks will be coming off two physical series, first against the Dallas Stars and now the Kings. Those take their toll.
— A young goaltender. John Gibson came on as the surprise starter in Game 4 vs. the Kings. It worked, as Gibson won a 28-save shutout that night and then stopped 39 of 42 to claim Game 5 for the Ducks. Gibson obviously can handle pressure, coming into the situation he has. But how will he do as that pressure escalates? The Blackhawks would want to test him and find out.
Disadvantages:
— More travel weary. The Blackhawks haven’t had to go far for their first two postseason rounds. Nevertheless, they’ve still spent some time flying, with two trips to St. Louis and three to Minnesota (they came home between Games 3 and 4). Meanwhile, the Ducks’ travel was a whopping 45-minute drive, pending Southern California traffic, of course. Hey, don’t underestimate the benefit of less travel; it has its wearisome qualities.
— Scoring savvy. The Wild had their chances but couldn’t capitalize on them. The Ducks have. Anaheim is averaging 2.91 goals per game this postseason, just a shade under the Blackhawks (2.92). Scoring has been fairly balanced, too. Devante Smith-Pelly leads the Ducks with five goals, Ryan Getzlaf and Nick Bonino have four and Corey Perry has three.
Los Angeles Kings
Advantages:
— The Kings are struggling to score again. They got their share of goals against the Sharks, but against the Ducks, the Kings have just 11 goals over the first five games. Marian Gaborik has been stellar throughout the playoffs, scoring five of his eight goals vs. the Ducks. Anze Kopitar has been helper-happy with six assists vs. the Ducks, but he hasn’t scored a goal against them. This ultimately hurt the Kings last season, too.
— A little more dinged up, part deux. The Kings have been missing defenseman Robyn Regehr since Game 1, when he was hurt on a hit by Teemu Selanne. That’s been tough for a Kings team already depleted at defenseman (Willie Mitchell’s been out the entire second round). That adds to the Kings’ susceptibility as the playoffs continue.
Disadvantages:
— The Kings are resilient. Los Angeles was down, 3-0, in its first-round series to the San Jose Sharks. We all know how that turned out. So be it trailing in this series to Anaheim or if they move on and face a deficit against the Blackhawks, the Kings won’t be fazed. Coming back has been a strong suit; don’t underestimate their resolve.
— That Jonathan Quick guy. Yeah, he’s struggled as of late, with the Ducks’ Gibson getting the best of Games 4 and 5. Still, Quick is one of the best in the league for a reason. When he’s on, he’s tremendous, and the Blackhawks would have their hands full if they got that guy.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Bears rookies arrive at Halas Hall.
By Larry Mayer
Chicago Bears draftees and their newly assigned jersey numbers.
Brock Vereen realized a dream last Saturday when he was picked by the Bears in the fourth round of the draft. But it didn't truly sink in until he arrived at Halas Hall Thursday for rookie minicamp.
"It just felt good to see what is hopefully going to be my home for future years to come," said Vereen, a safety from Minnesota. "It's finally starting to hit me and I'm excited to get on the field."
Vereen was among over 50 rookies from across the country who arrived at the Bears' facility Thursday. They spent the day getting fitted for helmets, taking physicals and receiving their playbooks.
"When you get drafted, you get your name called," said fourth-round pick
The rookies entered Halas Hall through the lobby, which features plaques of all 27 Bears Hall of Famers-the most of any NFL team-as well as a large image of George Halas, who helped found the NFL and spent his entire adult life as a Bears player, coach and owner.
The rookie minicamp will consist of one practice on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and include eight draft picks, nine undrafted free agents and nearly 40 others who will participate on a tryout basis. The minicamp is open to the media, but it's closed to the public.
Asked what he hopes to show on the field this weekend, Carey said: "Just the same thing they saw when they were [evaluating] me; I'm a hard-nosed dude and I'm hitting the holes and just having fun and enjoying football."
Bears coach Marc Trestman conducted a welcome meeting for the rookies at 5 p.m. Thursday. Their work day Friday will begin with breakfast at 6 a.m. and end with a shuttle bus trip back to their hotel at 6:15 p.m. In between, they'll participate in practice, meetings and walkthroughs.
In addition to Carey and Vereen, other Bears draft picks are first-round cornerback
The nine undrafted free agents are running back Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois), defensive tackles Brandon Dunn (Louisville) and Lee Pegues (East Carolina), guards Ryan Groy (Wisconsin) and James Dunbar (TCU), tackle Cody Booth (Temple), and linebackers Tana Patrick (Alabama), Christian Jones (Florida State) and Devekeyan Lattimore (South Florida).
First-year Bears players who also are slated to participate in the weekend minicamp include punter
Phil Emery wasn’t kidding about making Bears bigger.
By John Mullin
On more than one occasion general manager Phil Emery has talked about looking to make the Bears a bigger team. But last weekend’s draft took that to whole new levels.
Beyond the obvious in the form of defensive tackle Ego Ferguson (6-foot-3, 315 pounds), Emery drafted a punter in Pat O’Donnell who is taller than any Bears linebacker and half of the defensive linemen. More than that, Emery drafted a punter and a safety who bench-press virtually the equal or more than any of the three offensive and defensive linemen the Bears drafted.
Ferguson benched 225 pounds a total of 24 times at the NFL Scouting Combine. So did fellow incoming defensive tackle Will Sutton. Offensive tackle Charles Leno did 21 reps.
O’Donnell did 23. Even running back Ka’Deem Carey put up the 225 pounds 19 times. Brock Vereen, at 5-foot-11, 199 pounds, did 25 reps, giving new meaning to the phrase “strong safety.”
“He's very strong, he's a really good tackler, so I don't see his size as a deterrent,” Emery said.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… NBA converges on Chicago for draft combine.
By Aggrey Sam
Even before the NBA’s annual draft combine began Wednesday in Chicago, some of the event’s buzz was dulled by reports of the three candidates for the No. 1 overall pick in June — the Kansas duo of Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, as well as Duke’s Jabari Parker, a Chicago native — not being in attendance.
But that’s not what it’s about anyway, as teams have scouted the top draft prospects for months, if not years, and the gathering is more about convenience, with actual basketball drills mattering less to teams than players taking physicals and going through the interview process. If anything, the athletic testing will be scrutinized to ensure prospects are in good shape and either confirm or deny what’s been previously evaluated, with measurements also being another component used to determine how to use a pick in another month. The combine has essentially become one of the league’s annual conventions of sorts, along with summer league and the All-Star Game, a place to swap rumors, do business and glean information for the offseason.
It is, however, useful for teams such as the Bulls, who are equipped with two first-round picks, the 16th and 19th overall selections. While other players will surely intrigue the organization as time goes on, many of the names they’ll see up close this week in Chicago to begin the getting-to-know-you stage of things will also be in play when new NBA commissioner Adam Silver is set to announce their choices, assuming they don’t trade one or both of the picks.
But that’s not what it’s about anyway, as teams have scouted the top draft prospects for months, if not years, and the gathering is more about convenience, with actual basketball drills mattering less to teams than players taking physicals and going through the interview process. If anything, the athletic testing will be scrutinized to ensure prospects are in good shape and either confirm or deny what’s been previously evaluated, with measurements also being another component used to determine how to use a pick in another month. The combine has essentially become one of the league’s annual conventions of sorts, along with summer league and the All-Star Game, a place to swap rumors, do business and glean information for the offseason.
It is, however, useful for teams such as the Bulls, who are equipped with two first-round picks, the 16th and 19th overall selections. While other players will surely intrigue the organization as time goes on, many of the names they’ll see up close this week in Chicago to begin the getting-to-know-you stage of things will also be in play when new NBA commissioner Adam Silver is set to announce their choices, assuming they don’t trade one or both of the picks.
The front office has typically gone for a combination of the right fit, the best-available strategy and drafting for need, something that’s been successful during Bulls general manager Gar Forman’s tenure, as evidenced by the success of sixth man Taj Gibson, a 2009 draftee, and starter Jimmy Butler, a 2011 addition. The jury is still out on 2013 selection Tony Snell — not to mention their other 2011 pick, Nikola Mirotic, who remains in Spain for the time being — and while the departed James Johnson, now in Memphis, and Marquis Teague, who was dealt to Brooklyn, weren’t home runs, the Bulls are generally regarded as a team that evaluates well.
Judging from their offensive struggles in the recently-completed season, shooting will be a priority and in this deep draft class, there are several prolific outside marksmen.
Michigan’s Nik Stauskas might be the premier shooter available, but as his stock continues to rise, it appears less likely that the Canada native, who is already working out in the city — he’s represented by Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, which is also Gibson’s agency — will be on the board for the Bulls. While his sophomore-season numbers didn’t reflect his reputation, Michigan State product Gary Harris — known for his two-way play, though detractors point to his lack of great size for a shooting guard — is another potential fit, albeit one who, like Stauskas, might not be around when it’s the Bulls’ turn to announce their selection. Kentucky swingman James Young had a similar season, one in which the southpaw played well overall, but didn’t shoot it as consistently from deep as observers as expected, but upside as a prospect could be worth some growing pains, if he doesn’t impress other teams enough in workouts to put him out of the Bulls’ range.
Judging from their offensive struggles in the recently-completed season, shooting will be a priority and in this deep draft class, there are several prolific outside marksmen.
Michigan’s Nik Stauskas might be the premier shooter available, but as his stock continues to rise, it appears less likely that the Canada native, who is already working out in the city — he’s represented by Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, which is also Gibson’s agency — will be on the board for the Bulls. While his sophomore-season numbers didn’t reflect his reputation, Michigan State product Gary Harris — known for his two-way play, though detractors point to his lack of great size for a shooting guard — is another potential fit, albeit one who, like Stauskas, might not be around when it’s the Bulls’ turn to announce their selection. Kentucky swingman James Young had a similar season, one in which the southpaw played well overall, but didn’t shoot it as consistently from deep as observers as expected, but upside as a prospect could be worth some growing pains, if he doesn’t impress other teams enough in workouts to put him out of the Bulls’ range.
More likely to be available is another lefty, Duke wing Rodney Hood, who has not only a sweet outside stroke, but underrated versatility and excellent size. P.J. Hairston, who had an eye-opening campaign for the D-League’s Texas Legends, could be another name to watch, though he has some red flags relating to his dismissal from North Carolina that have the potential to scare off the character-conscious Bulls.
Adding depth at big man is also an area of need for the Bulls, but unfortunately for them, most of the worthy candidates that fit the bill are expected to be off the board before they have the opportunity to snatch one up. There’s an outside chance that Harris’ teammate, power forward Adreian Payne, is available — critics point to the four-year senior’s age as a negative, but it didn’t seem to hurt Gibson’s development — and with his background under hard-nosed coach Tom Izzo, the ability to knock down long-range shots and tremendous athleticism, he would be an ideal acquisition.
Of course, with their free-agency considerations, not only a trade, as previously mentioned, but drafting a player from overseas in order to stash them abroad, a la Mirotic, is a feasible proposition.
Adding depth at big man is also an area of need for the Bulls, but unfortunately for them, most of the worthy candidates that fit the bill are expected to be off the board before they have the opportunity to snatch one up. There’s an outside chance that Harris’ teammate, power forward Adreian Payne, is available — critics point to the four-year senior’s age as a negative, but it didn’t seem to hurt Gibson’s development — and with his background under hard-nosed coach Tom Izzo, the ability to knock down long-range shots and tremendous athleticism, he would be an ideal acquisition.
Of course, with their free-agency considerations, not only a trade, as previously mentioned, but drafting a player from overseas in order to stash them abroad, a la Mirotic, is a feasible proposition.
MLB forms succession committee to name next commissioner.
By Matt Snyder | Baseball Writer
MLB commissioner Bud Selig will retire at the completion of his current term, which ends Jan. 24, 2015. Understandably not wanting to wait until the last minute to name his replacement, Major League Baseball is moving forward with the selection process.
Cubs: Trade forces lining up with Samardzija, Hammel.
By Patrick Mooney
This Cubs season is almost 25 percent complete, which is still a long way toward September, much less the finishing touches on a renovated Wrigley Field or the 2020 TV bonanza (as long as the cable bubble doesn’t burst).
As the Cubs packed up after a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon, they would leave Busch Stadium with the worst record in baseball at 13-26, percentage points below the tanking Houston Astros.
Which makes you wonder where the Cubs would be if they didn’t get Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro’s bounce-back starts, Emilio Bonifacio’s hot streak, Welington Castillo’s step forward, Mike Olt’s eight homers, Hector Rondon’s 1.47 ERA and some very good starting pitching.
The trade forces are lining up with Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, the steady sign-and-flip guy who let one bad inning ruin his getaway day. Hammel joked it’s “the kiss of death” to strike out the side in the first, and sure enough he gave up a two-out, two-run single to Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha in the four-run second.
It depends on what aisle you want to shop in, but Hammel (4-2, 3.06 ERA) said physically that was the best he felt all year, despite giving up five runs in 5.1 innings.
Samardzija has a 1.45 ERA, going 7-for-8 in quality starts, but he will still be looking for his first win when he faces the first-place Milwaukee Brewers on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
“The wins thing to me is frustrating, because in general I think it’s a stat we’ve all moved away from,” Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said. “Unfortunately, I think it’s a big story because he’s now breaking records with his winless streak. But the way he’s pitched — he’s been as good as anybody in the National League. People recognize it.”
Or, as pitching coach Chris Bosio said: “Jeff Samardzija’s a beast.”
When the Cubs woke up in St. Louis on Thursday, the five teams in the American League East were separated by only 3.5 games. The five teams in the National League East were separated by only 4.5 games.
There are teams at or above .500 that could be seeing windows closing or feeling some pressure from the fans ownership to deliver results now — like the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies.
The New York Yankees — who will face Hammel and Samardzija next week at Wrigley Field — have 60 percent of their Opening Day rotation on the disabled list.
As part of the sweeping Tommy John epidemic, the Miami Marlins just lost Jose Fernandez, their All-Star, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young contender and box-office attraction in Little Havana.
The Texas Rangers have gone to this well before with Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster, but they do have seven pitchers from their 40-man roster now on the disabled list.
Hoyer knows there’s nothing left to say about the business side of Samardzija’s game: “Certainly, we’ve discussed his contractual status ad nauseam.”
Samardzija, who intends to test the free-agent market after the 2015 season, lobbied the Theo Epstein administration after a breakthrough year as a reliever in 2011, believing he could be a frontline guy in the rotation.
“Jeff deserves the most credit,” Hoyer said. “He was the one that really pounded the table saying he wanted to be a starter and he’s kept getting better and better. There’s times when he’s relied on his split, but this year he’s done a brilliant job of pitching with his two-seamer, staying down in the zone. He keeps evolving as a pitcher.”
The kind of pitcher who could be a difference-maker in a pennant race. It will take some time to play out, but no one will be surprised when the Cubs try to jump the market again.
“You got to stay looking at the positives,” Hammel said, “because we played a lot of good ballgames where we’re not getting blown out. It’s not ugly games. It’s just one or two pitches here and there or one or two timely hits that we just haven’t gotten. It’s not like we’re just laying down.”
A Conversation with Arnold Palmer.
By PGA.COM
Arnold Palmer helped create modern golf in that electric flash when he, his charisma and go-for-the-throat game intersected with the blossoming of television. Many years later, he similarly jump-started senior golf as well.
Palmer turned 50 in September 1979, and when he made his debut in senior golf more than a year later, at the Senior PGA Championship, he won. Palmer, a 53-year member of the PGA of America, recently reflected on his two Senior PGA Championship victories, the state of senior golf today and his contributions toward its success.
Q: The Senior PGA Tour was launched in 1980, four months after you turned 50, with four events, the last being the Senior PGA Championship in December. So you were 1-for-1 as a senior. How do you just step in and win a major?
PALMER: I was excited by the fact that I was playing in it, and I certainly was going to give it everything I had. I don't know (that I expected to win), but I can tell you it wasn't easy. I ended up tied with my old friend, Paul Harney, at 1 over, and I won with a birdie on the first playoff hole, the 18th.
Q: Did it make up for the PGA Championship you came so close to but never could win?
PALMER: Well, I suppose there was some consolation for not having won the PGA, in winning the Senior. But I don't think I'll ever totally get over the fact that I didn't win the PGA Championship.
MORE 2014 SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Read the digital version of the Championship Program
Q: Still a painful memory?
PALMER: Absolutely.
Q: You came so close. Tied for second three times. Were the gods taunting you, saying, in effect, 'You did everything else in golf so we're not going to let you have the PGA?'
PALMER: (No answer, but an obvious chuckle.)
Q: You won another Senior PGA Championship under odd circumstances. It was in 1984, when there were two Senior PGAs. The first one, in January, was supposed to be in 1983 but was bumped into 1984 because the Ryder Cup was scheduled at the course, PGA National, in the fall of 1983. You won by two over Don January, but you had a strange week — a 63 in the second round, then 79 in the third. Where did that come from?
PALMER: Well, not to alibi, but the weather turned awful. Very cold for Florida, and wind and rain. [Only two players shot better than 73 in that round.]
Q: Early in your senior golf years, you split your time between the regular tour and the senior tour.
PALMER: Tell the truth, I was a little reluctant to even play the senior tour. I was still doing relatively well on the regular tour.
Q: The Senior PGA Tour [now the Champions Tour] began with four tournaments in 1980, and interest was sparked when you won your debut. But everyone knew the tour needed some strong recognition, and that meant you. You had to play, the way Bobby Jones had to play in the early Masters. Who finally convinced you?
PALMER: Well, thanks for the kind words. Not sure that's all correct, but lots of people did ask me to play: Deane Beman, the PGA Tour commissioner at the time. And Don January, one of the big factors in founding the tour. I guess those were the two main people.
Q: Speaking of attractions, there was the SBC Championship at San Antonio, and you weren't sure you were playing in that senior event. You were in your shop at Latrobe when the tournament director phoned.
PALMER: Yep. I remember that. I was working on some clubs. I told him I would play.
Q: Did you know that after they announced it in the paper, ticket sales went up by 40 percent?
PALMER: Really? I recall I didn't do all that well in the tournament. But I'm glad if I could be of some help.
Q: In the Masters last month, Miguel Angel Jimenez, who just turned 50, challenged to the end and finished fourth. Bernhard Langer was 56 and tied for eighth, and Freddie Couples, 54, was in the running until the fourth round and tied for 20th. What does this say about the quality of the Champions Tour?
PALMER: We've been saying it all along; these guys are very good. No question. They're great golfers. Are they pushovers? No way.
Q: You have had as much impact on golf as any individual who's ever played the game. How do you look back on your contributions?
PALMER: If I have brought the game to the people ... I am happy for that. My contributions are only in line with what I think, and I can name other people, like (President) Eisenhower and a few others, that have had a lot to do with people becoming more aware of the game. I think as time goes on and more people have the opportunity to play the game, and with all the programs we are initiating to help youngsters get into the game, it will be as commonplace as baseball is. I really believe that and hope that it happens.
Golf: You won't believe this golf video!!! AMAZING!!!
Sent to me by a dear friend, (JVP)
On August 10, 2010, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus were playing the opening round at Harbor Shores, a new course Jack Nicklaus had designed.
Johnny Miller was preparing to chip while on the 10th green.
Engines will soon fire in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway, signaling the start of an incredibly busy ? and assuredly breathtaking ? two weeks of NASCAR racing.
Dotted throughout the upcoming fortnight calendar are events that will tie NASCAR's past, present and future into one thrilling package. On the docket?
- Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The winner and second-place finisher of this all-or-nothing event will advance to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday. Immediately following the race, the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will also be announced, filling out the 22-driver all-star field.
- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte, Friday, May 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Rising stars Darrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Blaney, Ben Kennedy and German Quiroga take on veterans and double-duty drivers Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Matt Crafton and Ron Hornaday Jr. under the lights for the first points race of "Charlotte Speedweeks."
- NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte, Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The most exciting all-star event in all of sports celebrates a major milestone. This will be the 30th running of the annual non-points race, with NASCAR's brightest stars battling under the lights for $1 million.
- The IMSA Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Canada season begins with a pair of 45-minute races Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
- NASCAR K&N Pro Series combo race, the Casey's General Stores 150 at Iowa Speedway. The 150-lap event is an annual clash between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, and features a large group of NASCAR's rising stars, including nine members of the 2014-2015 NASCAR Next class. The race will be telecast via tape delay, on May 24 at 8:30 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
- NASCAR Nationwide Series Get to Know Newton 250 presented by Sherwin Williams at Iowa on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Future stars such as Chase Elliott ? who will pull a different kind of double duty, flying back-and-forth between Georgia and Iowa for his high school graduation and the race ? will usher in standalone season with this annually intense short track event.
- The Pinty's presents the Clarington 200, on Sunday, May 18, will be the 2014 season-opening event for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, and the first of two events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The race will headline CTMP's Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend. Two-time series champion Andrew Ranger is back and looking to join Scott Steckly as three-time title winners. The NCTS opener will be one of a number of NASCAR touring series events scheduled during the next two weeks, including races at Kern County Raceway Park (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), Stafford Motor Speedway (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), and Queretaro (NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series).
- NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day on Wednesday, May 21 at 4 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com. NASCAR America on NBC Sports Network will broadcast live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame at 5 p.m. ET. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel will deliberate in Charlotte, N.C., to decide the five legends who will make up the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. In addition, the inaugural winner of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR will be decided upon and unveiled.
- NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte, Saturday, May 24 at 2:45 p.m. ET on ABC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Currently, only three points separate the top three drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Chase Elliott, Elliott Sadler and Regan Smith will all attempt to break up the logjam at the top of the standings during this Memorial Day Weekend opener.
- The IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge headlines Lime Rock Park's traditional Memorial Day sports car weekend, running a pair of two-hour, 30-minute races for the Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) classes on Saturday, May 24. It is the ninth consecutive year the Continental Tire Challenge will race at Lime Rock and the first since 2011 on Memorial Day Weekend. Lime Rock hosted the Continental Tire Challenge season finale the past two seasons.
- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. NASCAR's most grueling test, the Coca-Cola 600 has featured some surprising outcomes ? elevating the intrigue to a championship format which has put an unprecedented importance on winning. Will we see a surprising name added to the potential Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup list?
- The NASCAR Industry is a long-time supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the year, and with the NASCAR An American Salute platform, the industry kicks off a seven-week campaign to rally teams, tracks, fans and partners to collectively recognize and honor active and retired service men and women beginning with Memorial Day Weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and running through Independence Day Weekend's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The NASCAR community is encouraged to salute our service men and women by using the hashtag #NASCARSalutes on Twitter and Instagram and visiting NASCAR.com/Salute.
Along with the on-track activity listed above, watch for these special programs on FOX Sports 1 ? all produced by NASCAR Productions ? throughout the two weeks:
100,000 CAMERAS: THE NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE, Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Produced by NASCAR Productions, the groundbreaking, 30-minute documentary will utilize fan- and driver-generated video to showcase the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race from fans' points of view. Regardless of location, fans are encouraged to capture their All-Star race experiences on their cameras/mobile devices and upload the videos/images to their social media accounts using the hashtags #100KCams and #SprintAllStar for a chance to be included in the show. Visit www.foxsports.com/100KCams for more details.
EMPTY CUP: QUEST FOR THE 1992 NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP, Friday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Produced by NASCAR Productions, the 30-minute special reflects on the highs and lows of Davey Allison's 1992 season, including the final moments when the Robert Yates Racing team lost the championship bid.
THE 600: HISTORY OF NASCAR'S TOUGHEST RACE, Friday, May 23 at 9:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Produced by NASCAR Productions, the 60-minute documentary looks back at the people and events that define the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR legends Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon reflect on the event's unorthodox history and the thrill of winning NASCAR's longest race.
Log on to NASCAR.com for continuous coverage of the events mentioned above and much more.
“Well I think on the other end of it, the committee that’s going to pick the top four teams for the playoff are really picking the top 12 teams for all six sort of championship bowl games, whatever they call it now. Well, why don’t we do it like basketball and let them pick all the teams for all the bowl games. Then it doesn’t matter what your record is.”
The College Football Playoff selection committee already chooses the teams who participate in the six bowl games (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta and Peach) tied with the Playoff, so Saban believes it could decide the participants in the other bowls as well.
Additionally, Saban thinks the qualifications for bowl eligibility should be reevaluated as well.
“I mean, who’s to say having six wins and having a 6-6 season is what qualifies to go to a bowl game,” Saban said. “If you play in a tough league and you play a tough schedule and you win a couple big games – RPI or whatever you want to call it – and even though you may lose to some very good teams you should still have an opportunity to go to a bowl game because your team may be better than another team who played a lesser schedule.
“If we do that, then more people would not be so concerned about the type of schedule they played and the number of wins that they got.”
Saban makes an interesting point here. Using a system similar to college basketball’s, where a committee picks each bowl team with an emphasis on RPI, would be a fascinating approach.
While the six-win plateau is good for rebuilding programs who get a taste of bowl exposure, it can be argued that there are teams who may have a 5-7 record against top-level competition that get passed over for a bowl game when they have a clear advantage over a 6-6 or 7-5 team from a lesser conference.
Additionally, if the number of wins had no impact on a team’s bowl chances, teams would probably be less inclined to schedule weak opponents in the non-conference portion of the schedule.
***************************************************************************
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!!!!!
Nicklaus promptly stopped him, stating that he didn’t want a divot on the new green.
Jack asked Johnny to just putt the ball instead.
Johnny claimed he had no choice but to chip it.
Jack disagreed.
Please cut and paste this link into your browser, watch and then you'll know the rest of the story...
(Jack Nicklaus 102' putt at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores)
Enjoy!!!
'Stress-free' Leishman takes early control in Texas.
Reuters; Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
Australian Marc Leishman birdied three of his first five holes on the way to a "fairly stress-free" round and an early one-shot lead at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas on Thursday.
The 30-year-old from Victoria, bidding for a second career victory on the PGA Tour, carded a four-under-par 66 in breezy conditions for the opening round at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.
Leishman piled up five birdies and a sole bogey, at the par-four fourth, to finish a stroke in front of Americans Ryan Palmer, Boo Weekley and John Huh, and South African Tyrone Van Aswegen.
Leishman, who clinched his first PGA Tour title at the 2012 Travelers Championship, made his first birdie of the day at the par-three second despite losing sight of his ball off the tee as he gazed ahead into bright sunlight.
"It was a good surprise," a smiling Leishman told reporters. "I thought I hit a good shot, but it's hard to tell when you're looking straight into the sun. That's one of the toughest shots in golf."
'Stress-free' Leishman takes early control in Texas.
Reuters; Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue
Australian Marc Leishman birdied three of his first five holes on the way to a "fairly stress-free" round and an early one-shot lead at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas on Thursday.
The 30-year-old from Victoria, bidding for a second career victory on the PGA Tour, carded a four-under-par 66 in breezy conditions for the opening round at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.
Leishman piled up five birdies and a sole bogey, at the par-four fourth, to finish a stroke in front of Americans Ryan Palmer, Boo Weekley and John Huh, and South African Tyrone Van Aswegen.
Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, also of South Africa, was among a group of eight players who opened with 68s.
Leishman, who clinched his first PGA Tour title at the 2012 Travelers Championship, made his first birdie of the day at the par-three second despite losing sight of his ball off the tee as he gazed ahead into bright sunlight.
Neither he nor his playing partners had any idea of where the shot had landed but load roars then erupted from the gallery gathered around the green and he later saw that his ball ended up only a foot from the cup.
"It was a good surprise," a smiling Leishman told reporters. "I thought I hit a good shot, but it's hard to tell when you're looking straight into the sun. That's one of the toughest shots in golf."
The Australian sandwiched further birdies at the third and fifth around his lone bogey, and also picked up shots at the 10th and 16th to set the pace at an event where he has recorded top-12 finishes in four of his five starts.
"I enjoy playing in the wind, especially on golf courses where you can land it short of the green and bounce it up," said Leishman. "I like this place."
Defending champion Bae Sang-moon of South Korea did not enjoy the best of starts, mixing five birdies with six bogeys and a double at the par-four eighth to card a three-over 73.
Local favorite Jordan Spieth, who played with Bae in a high-profile grouping that also included his fellow American Harris English, opened with a 70. English returned a 71.
Past, present and future collide in jam-packed two weeks.
By Official NASCAR release
Engines will soon fire in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway, signaling the start of an incredibly busy ? and assuredly breathtaking ? two weeks of NASCAR racing.
Dotted throughout the upcoming fortnight calendar are events that will tie NASCAR's past, present and future into one thrilling package. On the docket?
- Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The winner and second-place finisher of this all-or-nothing event will advance to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday. Immediately following the race, the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will also be announced, filling out the 22-driver all-star field.
- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte, Friday, May 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Rising stars Darrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Blaney, Ben Kennedy and German Quiroga take on veterans and double-duty drivers Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Matt Crafton and Ron Hornaday Jr. under the lights for the first points race of "Charlotte Speedweeks."
- NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte, Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The most exciting all-star event in all of sports celebrates a major milestone. This will be the 30th running of the annual non-points race, with NASCAR's brightest stars battling under the lights for $1 million.
- The IMSA Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Canada season begins with a pair of 45-minute races Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
- NASCAR K&N Pro Series combo race, the Casey's General Stores 150 at Iowa Speedway. The 150-lap event is an annual clash between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, and features a large group of NASCAR's rising stars, including nine members of the 2014-2015 NASCAR Next class. The race will be telecast via tape delay, on May 24 at 8:30 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
- NASCAR Nationwide Series Get to Know Newton 250 presented by Sherwin Williams at Iowa on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Future stars such as Chase Elliott ? who will pull a different kind of double duty, flying back-and-forth between Georgia and Iowa for his high school graduation and the race ? will usher in standalone season with this annually intense short track event.
- The Pinty's presents the Clarington 200, on Sunday, May 18, will be the 2014 season-opening event for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, and the first of two events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The race will headline CTMP's Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend. Two-time series champion Andrew Ranger is back and looking to join Scott Steckly as three-time title winners. The NCTS opener will be one of a number of NASCAR touring series events scheduled during the next two weeks, including races at Kern County Raceway Park (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), Stafford Motor Speedway (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), and Queretaro (NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series).
- NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day on Wednesday, May 21 at 4 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com. NASCAR America on NBC Sports Network will broadcast live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame at 5 p.m. ET. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel will deliberate in Charlotte, N.C., to decide the five legends who will make up the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. In addition, the inaugural winner of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR will be decided upon and unveiled.
- NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte, Saturday, May 24 at 2:45 p.m. ET on ABC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Currently, only three points separate the top three drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Chase Elliott, Elliott Sadler and Regan Smith will all attempt to break up the logjam at the top of the standings during this Memorial Day Weekend opener.
- The IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge headlines Lime Rock Park's traditional Memorial Day sports car weekend, running a pair of two-hour, 30-minute races for the Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) classes on Saturday, May 24. It is the ninth consecutive year the Continental Tire Challenge will race at Lime Rock and the first since 2011 on Memorial Day Weekend. Lime Rock hosted the Continental Tire Challenge season finale the past two seasons.
- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. NASCAR's most grueling test, the Coca-Cola 600 has featured some surprising outcomes ? elevating the intrigue to a championship format which has put an unprecedented importance on winning. Will we see a surprising name added to the potential Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup list?
- The NASCAR Industry is a long-time supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the year, and with the NASCAR An American Salute platform, the industry kicks off a seven-week campaign to rally teams, tracks, fans and partners to collectively recognize and honor active and retired service men and women beginning with Memorial Day Weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and running through Independence Day Weekend's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The NASCAR community is encouraged to salute our service men and women by using the hashtag #NASCARSalutes on Twitter and Instagram and visiting NASCAR.com/Salute.
Along with the on-track activity listed above, watch for these special programs on FOX Sports 1 ? all produced by NASCAR Productions ? throughout the two weeks:
100,000 CAMERAS: THE NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE, Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Produced by NASCAR Productions, the groundbreaking, 30-minute documentary will utilize fan- and driver-generated video to showcase the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race from fans' points of view. Regardless of location, fans are encouraged to capture their All-Star race experiences on their cameras/mobile devices and upload the videos/images to their social media accounts using the hashtags #100KCams and #SprintAllStar for a chance to be included in the show. Visit www.foxsports.com/100KCams for more details.
EMPTY CUP: QUEST FOR THE 1992 NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP, Friday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Produced by NASCAR Productions, the 30-minute special reflects on the highs and lows of Davey Allison's 1992 season, including the final moments when the Robert Yates Racing team lost the championship bid.
THE 600: HISTORY OF NASCAR'S TOUGHEST RACE, Friday, May 23 at 9:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Produced by NASCAR Productions, the 60-minute documentary looks back at the people and events that define the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR legends Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon reflect on the event's unorthodox history and the thrill of winning NASCAR's longest race.
Log on to NASCAR.com for continuous coverage of the events mentioned above and much more.
US begins World Cup training camp in California.
AP
Jurgen Klinsmann cut right to it: The U.S. has some serious catching up to do a month before its World Cup opener.
Klinsmann was eager to get started on a scorching Wednesday afternoon at Stanford Stadium as the Americans began a two-week training camp leading up to a May 27 exhibition with Azerbaijan at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.
While all 30 Americans have yet to arrive in the Bay Area, Klinsmann will have the tough task of cutting his roster to 23 by June 2.
"The reason we take 30 is we're not sure yet," Klinsmann said before his team took the field. "There will be intense training sessions ahead of them in order to show what they have, in every position not only as a center forward, the entire team."
Defender Geoff Cameron and goalkeepers Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are scheduled to arrive Sunday, as Klinsmann gave them a few extra days coming from their Premier League clubs in England.
Clarence Goodson, a defender with the nearby San Jose Earthquakes, led the U.S. team through the Stanford Stadium tunnel and onto the field for Day 1.
"Whoo hoo hoo!" hollered left back DaMarcus Beasley in the heat.
Forward Chris Wondolowski smiled and said he had consumed plenty of water.
Beasley is trying for his fourth World Cup.
"I still get butterflies," he said. "I haven't been with the team for a while. To see all the guys' faces, it's good to be back with the team and obviously it's very important. We have a lot of work to do, and a lot of work to be done in these three weeks before the team goes to Brazil."
Klinsmann said defender Omar Gonzalez, the Los Angeles Galaxy defender who is nursing a left knee injury from a May 3 game against Colorado, should be close to full strength later in the week.
Midfielder Maurice Edu wasn't medically cleared for Wednesday's workout because of concussion symptoms, but can train without body contact.
Klinsmann knows he needs to evaluate everybody in short order — and a versatile, deep defense will be one of those areas even if the group is lacking in World Cup minutes.
"This is World Cup preparation, this is building a foundation for hopefully a successful World Cup," he said. "It's a lot of work, it's doing our homework, it's fine-tuning a lot of elements there on the training field, getting a sense for the guys how they're taking it. To build every piece you're working on, whether it's tactical, whether it's technical, if it's chemistry-wise, improve it and build on it to make this team as strong as possible to go into this summer's World Cup.
"That foundation will be laid now in these two and a half weeks in Stanford and then we obviously go with it on the road to New York and Florida before we fly down to Sao Paulo."
With temperatures in the mid-90s, team dietitian Danielle LaFata stressed hydration — and she has some experience with it given none of the U.S. players cramped up even once during Gold Cup play last July.
She had already strategized how to keep the players hydrated and fueled with nutritional drinks before and after training, preparing for each player's individual needs based on body weight and minutes. Especially for those traveling from Europe and dealing with hotter weather in addition to jet lag and general fatigue.
The Americans held a long stretching session at the end of about 90 minutes of on-field training.
Beasley, for one, believes this is the best U.S. squad he has been a part of. The Americans are gearing up for their final three tuneups before the Group G World Cup opener June 16 against Ghana in Natal.
So what if the odds are against them?
"You should bet on us," Beasley said, chuckling. "You never know what happens. It's one game in a World Cup, whoever's better on that day will win. Simple as that."
Nick Saban thinks the entire bowl selection system should be changed.
By Sam Cooper
For many, the institution of the College Football Playoff in 2014 is a welcome change to the landscape of college football. At the same time, there are people out there who think the sport’s postseason needs further changes. One of those people is Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
On Tuesday’s stop in Montgomery of the Crimson Caravan, Saban was asked about the SEC’s decision to stay away from a nine-game conference schedule. His response went beyond the issue of conference schedules.
“I think we have to change the whole system,” Saban said, per Al.com. “I understand everybody’s point of view on this. Everybody wants to be bowl eligible; they look at it like if we have another conference game, that’s seven more losses of everyone which would minimize the number of teams that could get in bowl games.
“Well I think on the other end of it, the committee that’s going to pick the top four teams for the playoff are really picking the top 12 teams for all six sort of championship bowl games, whatever they call it now. Well, why don’t we do it like basketball and let them pick all the teams for all the bowl games. Then it doesn’t matter what your record is.”
The College Football Playoff selection committee already chooses the teams who participate in the six bowl games (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta and Peach) tied with the Playoff, so Saban believes it could decide the participants in the other bowls as well.
Additionally, Saban thinks the qualifications for bowl eligibility should be reevaluated as well.
“I mean, who’s to say having six wins and having a 6-6 season is what qualifies to go to a bowl game,” Saban said. “If you play in a tough league and you play a tough schedule and you win a couple big games – RPI or whatever you want to call it – and even though you may lose to some very good teams you should still have an opportunity to go to a bowl game because your team may be better than another team who played a lesser schedule.
“If we do that, then more people would not be so concerned about the type of schedule they played and the number of wins that they got.”
Saban makes an interesting point here. Using a system similar to college basketball’s, where a committee picks each bowl team with an emphasis on RPI, would be a fascinating approach.
While the six-win plateau is good for rebuilding programs who get a taste of bowl exposure, it can be argued that there are teams who may have a 5-7 record against top-level competition that get passed over for a bowl game when they have a clear advantage over a 6-6 or 7-5 team from a lesser conference.
Additionally, if the number of wins had no impact on a team’s bowl chances, teams would probably be less inclined to schedule weak opponents in the non-conference portion of the schedule.
The value of college sports. What's your take?
NCAA.org Website
Benefits to college student-athletes
1. College Education
A college degree has a direct impact on a person’s quality of life. A 2013 study by The College Board shows that the median lifetime earnings of bachelor’s degree recipients are 65 percent higher than those of high school graduates. Access to a college education is a great benefit to student-athletes as well. NCAA research shows 15 percent of Division I student-athletes are first-generation college students.
2. Academic Success
The NCAA's most recent data indicate that more than eight out of 10 (82 percent) Division I student-athletes are earning their degrees. Overall, college student-athletes graduate at rates higher than college students in general. As part of the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate, more than 11,500 student-athletes have returned to campus and completed their degrees since 2005.
3. Scholarships
More than 150,000 student-athletes receive $2.7 billion in athletic scholarships each year from NCAA member colleges and universities.
The average college student graduates with $35,200 in debt. Athletic scholarships offset these costs for student-athletes. In addition, USA Today determined that a full men’s basketball scholarship can be worth at least $120,000 per year, when factoring in goods, services and future earnings.
Athletes who do not receive athletic scholarships have a variety of other financial aid available to them, including academic scholarships and federal Pell Grants. Student-athletes’ earnings from part-time employment also are exempt from financial aid limits. Moreover, in the last decade NCAA schools have awarded more than $17 billion in athletics scholarships.
4. Student Assistance Fund
Division I student-athletes have access through their campus and conference offices to more than $73 million from the NCAA’s Student Assistance Fund. These resources can be used in a variety of ways, from helping student-athletes fly home in the event of a family tragedy to purchasing a winter coat or other needed clothing that they might not be able to afford.
5. Academic and Support Services
Student-athletes receive academic support, such as state-of-the-art technology and tutoring, and have access to athlete-focused academic advisors in addition to traditional academic advisors. The NCAA also provides resources each year to schools as part of the Academic Enhancement Fund.
6. Medical Care
The NCAA takes appropriate steps to modify safety guidelines, playing rules and standards.
All student-athletes receive medical care and most are provided medical insurance through their schools. On top of that, the NCAA provides a catastrophic injury program. Furthermore, student-athletes can obtain their own disability insurance based on future earnings potential as professional athletes, which is permitted under NCAA rules.
7. Elite Training Opportunities
Student-athletes have regular access to top-notch coaching, facilities and equipment. These resources typically cost Olympic athletes thousands of dollars per year.
8. Healthy Living
Student-athletes have access to cafeteria “training tables” on campus. In addition, some schools hire nutritionists and dieticians to work with each individual student-athlete.
9. Exposure and Experiences
Student-athletes have the opportunity to travel across the country and around the world for competition, including regular-season, NCAA championships and foreign tours. Some student-athletes receive national and international exposure during competition. These experiences can open doors for the few who will compete professionally and for the majority who will go pro in something other than sports.
10. Preparation for Life
Increasingly, the business world is focusing on creating a team environment with employees, as evidenced by constant discussion of teamwork in publications like the Harvard Business Review. By competing in college sports, student-athletes learn important skills, like leadership, time management and how to effectively work with others toward a common goal. Companies have specifically said that they seek to hire former student-athletes, and the majority of student-athletes say that participating in college sports prepares them for life after graduation.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: By now most of you know our position on college sports, it's amateur status and why we question the need for a union. Mentioned above are the benefits provided to student athletes. It's been stated that they needed to be represented on the NCAA board. I recently read a quote by the legendary NFL player and Hall of Famer, Jim Brown, "The NCAA is probably the most reprehensible organization God ever created," the
Hall of Fame running back said..." I would love to hear what the real issue is, We all know the old saying... "It's all about the money." I've heard that they don't want to be paid to play, what is it all about? I don't want to sound naïve and it may seem so, but please tell me what the real issue is? As we've stated many times previously, college sports are going to change dramatically and will never be the same. In fact, some schools will lose their athletic departments because they won't be able to afford them. I would love for someone to explain to me what I'm missing and convince me why a union is needed? Maybe I don't know or have all of the facts; would someone please enlighten me? As always, you know our position, we'd love to know what you think and what's your take? Marion P. Jelks, CS&T/AA Blog Editor.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, May 16, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1869 - The Cincinnati Reds played their first baseball game.
1914 - The American Horseshoe Pitchers Association (AHPA) was formed in Kansas City, Kansas.
1925 - WHAS made the first network broadcast of the Kentucky Derby.
1932 - The New York Yankees got their fourth consecutive shutout. The feat tied the record with Cleveland and Boston.
1933 - Cecil Travis became the first player to get five hits in his first game.
1939 - The Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians met at Shibe Park in Philadelphia for the first baseball game to be played under the lights in the American League.
1954 - Ted Williams got 8 hits in his first game (a double-header) back after breaking his collarbone.
1965 - Jim Palmer (Baltimore Orioles) made his pitching debut.
1972 - Greg Luzinski hit a home run in which the ball hit the Liberty Bell monument in Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium.
1979 - The National League approved the sale of the Astros from Ford Motors to John J. McMullen for $19 million.
1981 - Craig Reynolds (Houston Astros) hit 3 triples against the Chicago Cubs.
1985 - Michael Jordan was named Rookie of the Year in the NBA.
1994 - Jennifer Capriati was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana.
1996 - Sammy Sosa became the first Chicago Cub player to hit two home runs in one inning.
1997 - Gary Gaetti (St. Louis Cardinals) recorded his 2,000th hit.
2003 - The Anaheim Mighty Ducks defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1. The win advanced the Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1869 - The Cincinnati Reds played their first baseball game.
1914 - The American Horseshoe Pitchers Association (AHPA) was formed in Kansas City, Kansas.
1925 - WHAS made the first network broadcast of the Kentucky Derby.
1932 - The New York Yankees got their fourth consecutive shutout. The feat tied the record with Cleveland and Boston.
1933 - Cecil Travis became the first player to get five hits in his first game.
1939 - The Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians met at Shibe Park in Philadelphia for the first baseball game to be played under the lights in the American League.
1954 - Ted Williams got 8 hits in his first game (a double-header) back after breaking his collarbone.
1965 - Jim Palmer (Baltimore Orioles) made his pitching debut.
1972 - Greg Luzinski hit a home run in which the ball hit the Liberty Bell monument in Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium.
1979 - The National League approved the sale of the Astros from Ford Motors to John J. McMullen for $19 million.
1981 - Craig Reynolds (Houston Astros) hit 3 triples against the Chicago Cubs.
1985 - Michael Jordan was named Rookie of the Year in the NBA.
1994 - Jennifer Capriati was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana.
1996 - Sammy Sosa became the first Chicago Cub player to hit two home runs in one inning.
1997 - Gary Gaetti (St. Louis Cardinals) recorded his 2,000th hit.
2003 - The Anaheim Mighty Ducks defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1. The win advanced the Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.
***************************************************************************
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!!!!!
Thank you for this information, I think it will be useful for me in the future.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your article and the photo is super. Thanks you.
ReplyDelete