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:
"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." ~ Vince Lombardi, Legendary and Two Time NFL Super Bowl Winning Coach
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Kings-Blackhawks Preview.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN (AP Sports Writer)
Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (19) controls the puck against Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar (11) during the second period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Chicago on Sunday, May 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have taken similar paths toward the top, hitting big in the draft and making shrewd moves after rough stretches.
They find themselves trying to knock each other out in the Western Conference finals for the second straight year.
The Blackhawks prevailed last year on their way to the Stanley Cup, and they have the early lead this time after taking the opener, 3-1. They will try to go up 2-0 when the best-of-seven series resumes Wednesday night in Chicago.
''We felt this year we're in the toughest division and conference,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''We just played two real competitive series (against St. Louis and Minnesota). Every game is tight. I think finding a way to win is what it's all about in today's game. Our guys are really diligent of doing the little things particularly that some nights give you an edge.''
Yes, the Blackhawks keep finding ways.
It's why they're eyeing their third championship in five years and are trying to become the first team to repeat since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. In an era with a hard salary cap where players want raises, that's simply not supposed to happen. Parity is the rule, yet the Blackhawks keep rising toward the top.
The same goes for the Kings.
They're enjoying their most successful era with three straight trips to the conference finals and a Stanley Cup two years ago after following a similar path to the Blackhawks.
The Kings missed the playoffs from 2003 to 2009 and lost in the first round in 2010 and 2011 before winning their first championship in 2012. Like the Blackhawks did with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, they hit in the draft with Anze Kopitar. They also collected a strong cast to support their core and filled in the gaps with key trades, like the one that landed Marian Gaborik from Columbus in March.
''You have to be able to adjust to the game, adjust to the rules, adjust to the style,'' Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. ''I think that's a big reason why we're both in the conference finals again. Whether we can adjust enough to beat the Stanley Cup champions, I don't know.''
The Blackhawks missed the playoffs from 2003 to 2008 and landed at rock bottom, with dwindling attendance and an alienated fan base unable to watch home games on TV because then-owner Bill Wirtz believed it would be unfair to season ticketholders. They finally emerged with a run to the conference finals in 2009, losing to Detroit. A year later, they beat Philadelphia to end a 49-year championship drought, only to have to part ways with a huge chunk of their team because of cap issues.
So they reloaded.
''I think management did excellent job with the team,'' Chicago's Marian Hossa said. ''We got a great coaching staff. I think the whole organization, it's top class. ... (Los Angeles) is a great organization also. They did an excellent job the last few years. They did it three times in a row. It's just amazing these two teams battling for the West again.''
The Kings had a few adjustments to make after losing 3-1 in Game 1.
Their top line of Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Gaborik got shut down by Toews' line, managing just six shots without scoring. Los Angeles will need more from a trio with 16 goals and 24 assists in the playoffs.
Even when the Kings had their chances, Corey Crawford stopped most of them. He made 25 saves with several neat stops, turning back Kyle Clifford on a 2-on-1 rush and stopping Gaborik and Brown in rapid succession.
So it's the Blackhawks with the early lead in the series and the Kings trying to pick themselves up - again. They did it after dropping the first three games to San Jose in the first round and then rallied from 3-2 down to knock out Anaheim in the conference semifinals.
''San Jose and Anaheim had arguably the top two, three, four best home records this year. We went into those tough buildings and won,'' Jarrett Stoll said. ''Chicago is no different. A tough building. We're going to have to figure out a way to win Game 2 and move on.''
Triple Crown Update: Belmont Stakes; California Chrome cleared to wear nasal strip.
By RICK FREEMAN (AP Sports Writer)
California Chrome beat out an idiosyncratic racing rule - by a nose.
The colt is back on track for his Triple Crown try after an only-in-New York equipment ban appeared ready to put a kink in his Triple Crown try at the Belmont Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner was cleared to wear the nasal strip he has worn all through a six-race winning streak that has set him up for a chance at horse racing's 12th Triple Crown.
New York racetracks have a rule prohibiting any equipment not specifically approved by stewards, and nasal strips were not on their list. A statement from the New York Racing Association and the state's Gaming Commission on Monday said the track's three stewards unanimously agreed to lift the ban.
The strip worn by California Chrome during his six-race winning streak is thought to assist airflow through the nostrils - something that should come in handy June 7 for Belmont's grueling run.
''I think it opens up his air passage and gives him that little extra oomph that he needs, especially going a mile and a half,'' trainer Art Sherman said. ''Any time you can have a good air passage that means a lot for these thoroughbreds.''
Other states allow equine nasal strips while racing, and even some jockeys wear them, as do humans in other sports. American marathon star Meb Keflezighi can be seen sporting one during his winning run in Boston last month.
California Chrome doesn't need to go 26.2 miles to reach racing immortality, though. Just 1 1/2 will do.
Racing hasn't had a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, and the sport's popularity has waned in the nearly four decades since. But it gets a boost every time a horse heads to the Big Apple with a Triple Crown on the line.
Sherman raised the possibility his horse wouldn't run in the Belmont if barred from using a nasal strip, but the problem was solved in about 24 hours, clearing the way for big crowds and plenty of betting at Belmont in less than three weeks.
Two years ago, Doug O'Neill trained I'll Have Another to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with the colt wearing a nasal strip. New York officials told O'Neill his horse couldn't wear one in the Belmont. The issue became moot when I'll Have Another was scratched the day before the race because of a leg injury.
This Belmont Stakes is shaping up as a possible 11-horse race, including two newcomers to the Triple Crown trail: Commissioner, sixth in the Arkansas Derby; and Tonalist, the Peter Pan Stakes winner.
Other probables include the second- through fifth-place finishers in the Kentucky Derby: Commanding Curve, Danza, Wicked Strong and Samraat. Intense Holiday, 12th in the Derby, is on the list.
Three Preakness runners could return: Ride On Curlin (second), Social Inclusion (third) and Kid Cruz (eighth).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Moon: Super Bowl window open now for Bears.
By John Mullin
Good to visit this morning with “The Davids” – Haugh and Kaplan – on 87.7 FM’s “The Game” and look at the Brandon Marshall deal and other aspects of a huge Bears offseason.
Haugh hit on a key element of the Marshall extension in that it removes a potential major irritant from this season and probably the next couple. It was no secret that Marshall wanted an extension as early as during the 2013 season, and without one, every week could have become a sideshow if Marshall felt like he was playing for a contract but not getting enough passing attention to enhance his chances.
My thought is that the Marshall “plan” also has a major positive by leaving zero doubt that Marshall, along with quarterback Jay Cutler, are the true “new” faces of the franchise. Marshall has gone from about to be cut by the Miami Dolphins in 2012 to a leader, and removing his own contract from his mind only serves to free him up to focus on football and teammates, which he’s already been doing.
Kaplan raised the issue of the Bears’ Super Bowl “window,” and my feeling is that the organization believes nothing short of it being wide open right now. That’s why you lavish a huge contract on your incumbent quarterback and a 30-ish wide receiver, on top of a signing like Jared Allen and re-signings like Jeremiah Ratliff and Charles Tillman.
Vegas doesn’t see it that way, of course. The Bears’ “wins” line is eight, which concerned Kaplan a bit, but lines are intended to get betting money evenly on both sides and the Bears were 8-8 in two of the last three seasons.
But those eight-win seasons were the result of epic injuries – Cutler in 2011 and most of the defense in 2013. That can happen again, clearly. For that matter, so can an Aaron Rodgers injury in Green Bay that keeps the Packers’ win total to eight, as it did.
Bears strike 3-year deal with WR Brandon Marshall.
AP Sports
The Chicago Bears and Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2017 season on Monday.
Marshall announced on Twitter that the extension is worth $30 million and that he's donating $1 million to the ''mental health community.'' He signed the deal during an appearance on ABC's ''The View'' talk show.
In 2011, Marshall disclosed that he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Marshall has a history of off-field problems, but the Bears have had no complaints.
In two seasons in Chicago, Marshall has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice and ranked second in the NFL during that time in receptions (218), fourth in receiving yards (2,803), fifth in touchdown receptions (23) and tied for second in 100-yard receiving games (13).
General manager Phil Emery did not indicate that an extension was imminent during an interview with WSCR-AM 670 Monday morning but had high praise for his star receiver.
''A great player,'' he said. ''Obviously a player we'd like to have here for the long term. He is healthy. He feels great.''
The extension for Marshall is just the latest move in a busy offseason for the Bears. Most of their energy has focused on overhauling a defense that ranked among the league's worst after they missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. They let Julius Peppers go and signed Jared Allen, replacing one accomplished pass rusher with another, and addressed every other area on that side.
But they haven't ignored the offense, either. They locked in quarterback Jay Cutler with a seven-year contract after the season and now have his favorite target in the fold for four more years.
Marshall has basically set the standard for Chicago receivers since his arrival from Miami in a trade. His 118 receptions in 2012 and 100 last season are the top two totals in franchise history, and with the emergence of Alshon Jeffery (1,421 yards) last season, the Bears have one of the best receiving tandems in the league.
APNewsBreak: Ex-players: NFL illegally used drugs.
By BEN NUCKOLS (Associated Press)
A group of retired NFL players says in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the league, thirsty for profits, illegally supplied them with risky narcotics and other painkillers that numbed their injuries for games and led to medical complications down the road.
The league obtained and administered the drugs illegally, without prescriptions and without warning players of their potential side effects, to speed the return of injured players to the field and maximize profits, the lawsuit alleges. Players say they were never told about broken legs and ankles and instead were fed pills to mask the pain. One says that instead of surgery, he was given anti-inflammatories and skipped practices so he could play in money-making games. And others say that after years of free pills from the NFL, they retired from the league addicted to the painkillers.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, in Atlanta for the league's spring meetings, said: ''We have not seen the lawsuit and our attorneys have not had an opportunity to review it.''
The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, and a copy was shared with The Associated Press ahead of the filing.
The lawsuit comes on the heels of a landmark case that accused the league of concealing known risks from players' concussions. The NFL settled that case for $765 million last year. No blame was assessed and players received no punitive damages.
The drug lawsuit names eight players, including three members of the NFL champion 1985 Chicago Bears: Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Dent, offensive lineman Keith Van Horne, and quarterback Jim McMahon. Lawyers seek class-action status, and they say in the filing that more than 500 other former players have signed on to the lawsuit.
McMahon says in the lawsuit that he suffered a broken neck and ankle during his career but rather than sitting out, he received medications and was pushed back on to the field. Team doctors and trainers never told him about the injuries, according to the lawsuit.
McMahon also became addicted to painkillers, at one point taking more than 100 Percocet pills per month, even in the offseason, the lawsuit says. Team-employed doctors and trainers illegally administered the drugs, the lawsuit alleges, because they didn't get prescriptions, keep records or explain side effects.
Van Horne played an entire season on a broken leg and wasn't told about the injury for five years, ''during which time he was fed a constant diet of pills to deal with the pain,'' the lawsuit says.
Among the eight named plaintiffs, six were also plaintiffs in concussion-related litigation, including McMahon and Van Horne.
The latest lawsuit seeks an injunction creating an NFL-funded testing and monitoring program to help prevent addiction and injuries and disabilities related to the use of painkillers. It also seeks unspecified financial damages.
''The NFL knew of the debilitating effects of these drugs on all of its players and callously ignored the players' long-term health in its obsession to return them to play,'' Steven Silverman, attorney for the players, said. His Baltimore firm, Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin and White, also represents former National Hockey League players in a concussion-related lawsuit.
Former offensive lineman Jeremy Newberry describes lining up in the San Francisco 49ers' locker room with other players to receive powerful anti-inflammatory injections in their buttocks shortly before kickoff. Newberry played for San Francisco from 1998-2006, including one season in which played in every game but never practiced because of pain from his injuries, according to the lawsuit.
He retired in 2009, and because of the drugs he took while playing, he now suffers from renal failure, high blood pressure and violent headaches, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status for any former players who received narcotic painkillers, anti-inflammatories, local anesthetics, sleeping aids or other drugs without prescription, independent diagnosis, or warning about side effects or the dangers from mixing with other drugs.
''I was provided uppers, downers, painkillers, you name it while in the NFL,'' plaintiff J.D. Hill, who played for seven years in the 1970s, said in a statement. ''I became addicted and turned to the streets after my career and was homeless. Never took a drug in my life, and I became a junkie in the NFL.''
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Court Vision: Playoff lessons as the Heat even up the series.
By Zach Harper | NBA writer
Miami Heat 87, Indiana Pacers 83 | Series tied at 1-1
• We learned that this Miami Heat team can turn it on when they need to. It wouldn't have been a disaster if the Heat went back to Miami down 0-2, but it certainly wouldn't have been ideal. Grabbing home court advantage away from the Pacers (for now) is a big step in re-establishing they're the team to beat in this series, especially after how the Pacers played in Game 1.
• LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 22 of the Heat's 25 points in the fourth quarter, and 45 of their 87 in the game. The Pacers turned the Heat from a team concept into a two-man show, and yet their offense didn't allow them to stay in front of this one. James really turned it on in the fourth quarter and helped Miami separate themselves just enough to grab the split.
• Lance Stephenson was absurd in this game. His energy, attack, and presence just dominated the Heat at times. He was the game's high-scorer at 25 points, and had seven assists and six rebounds to go with it. He had 10 of his 25 points during a big run in the third quarter, but they went away from him in the fourth and Miami tightened up their defense.
• This was an incredibly ugly game. The Pacers led by one after the third quarter, but it felt like both teams were down big. Very sloppy, and I'm not sure you can chalk it up to just two great defensive teams. The defense was good, but the offense was bad. Neither team made more than two-thirds of their free throws either, combining to go 21-of-33 from the line.
• Chris Andersen was a monster. Roy Hibbert said last year during the ECF that Birdman was the big difference in playing them then from when they played them in the second round in the 2012 playoffs. His rebounding was huge. His defense was great. And his impact helped Norris Cole's scoring give the Heat a nice boost with their bench.
• Paul George and David West combined to shoot 9-of-32 from the field. Pacers got nine points on 13 shots out of their bench. That's just not acceptable.
• Hibbert did a great job on the boards with 13, including eight on the offensive glass. Pacers dominated the offensive boards (16-6), but their terrible shooting (40.0 percent) kept them from capitalizing.
• Game 3 is Saturday at 8:30pm ET on ESPN.
12 Types Of People You See At A Baseball Game.
CBS Chicago Website
For the average baseball fan going to the ballpark is a tradition like no other. Watching your favorite team play, drinking a beer, eating a hot dog and singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” is the Superfecta in baseball world.
But what about the other people that fill the stadium seats? You find yourself cheering on your favorite team with 40,000 other screaming fans, but have you ever stopped to look around and see who is sitting next to you? They always say sporting events make for great people watching so here is a look at the 12 people you will almost always see at a baseball game.
1. A Baby
It never fails, people. Never. There will always be one parental unit that brings a baby when it’s either way too cold or way too hot out and make the little creature sit in a BABYBJORN for 9 innings. Quite possibly on the borderline of child abuse.
2. The Kid High on Sugar
They had way too much cotton candy, popcorn, cracker jacks, and soda. If they don’t keep up the high, they crash and I mean they crash hard. You’ll hear screaming, see flying objects and tears streaming down at a rapid pace. Buckle up because you are in for a long and bumpy ride.
3. Obnoxious Drunk Guy
You know what I’m talking about. The guy who downed one too many Coors Lights and well the rest is pretty self explanatory. People are laughing at him not with him but he doesn’t care because he is having more fun than you despite not knowing what’s going on in the game. Fun thing to try: ask him the score/inning …
4. The Foul Ball Fiend
The person who will hit, punch, smash, kill and give his left kidney to catch a foul ball. Kid, woman, dog? It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, someone is standing in the way and they are now an enemy. Hide ya wife, hide ya kids, and most importantly protect your beer because this could get ugly.
The guy who either was taken by a client or took a client – aka a business outing. They either sit behind home plate or in the suites/luxury boxes. These kinds of people, my friends, are the very reason why ticket prices are so high. From one Bleacher Creature to another, say it loud and say it proud … #GoHomeSuits.
6. The Girl in “Pink”
Ok, she doesn’t have to be wearing pink but she’s the one taking pictures and texting on her phone and completely not paying attention to the game. She is only there for two reasons. 1) her partner/spouse/friend dragged her along 2) she wants to post pictures to her social media accounts and make her friends jealous.
7. The Veteran Score Keeper
The little cutie pie can often be seen keeping score on an official stat sheet, listening to the game on the radio through headphones while snacking on peanuts and soda. Befriend him/her mid-inning, you could learn a thing or two.
8. The Lifelong Devoted Fan
They breathe, sleep and eat based on their teams doings. They take the game way too seriously and are probably the people you hear and see crying after their team loses. They plan their whole week, day, month, and year around their teams schedule and truly believe they are the Number 1 fan.
9. The People On A Date
I’m not talking about a date night between a couple. I’m talking about the early on dates even the dreaded first date in which the twosome clearly aren’t paying attention to the game and are playing 21 questions and everybody in the stands can hear it. Go play “Soulmate or Stranger?” somewhere else.
10. The Fan Wearing Irrelevant Sporting/Team Attire
You know the guy who wears a Lakers jersey to a Dodger game? Or a a Phillies jersey to a New York Yankees-Arizona Diamondbacks game? Why is it so hard to wear the proper team attire? Cmon now! Get it together!
11. The Wave Starter
No. No. No. Just sit down. The wave is a sign of boredom. If you are bored at a baseball game than you need to get your head checked out. Period. End of story. Ban the Wave. #banthewave
12. The Streaker
Usually a 20-something goon who was dared to run out on the field with or without clothing. The result? Getting laid out and tackled, zip tied and kicked out of the game. Was it worth it? Probably not, but it makes for a hell of a good story.
Most US Open spots are going to qualifiers.
The USGA has tweaked the criteria for U.S. Open exemptions over the years without giving up two important objectives. It wants the most deserving players to be at the U.S. Open, and it wants to remain the most democratic of all majors.
The formula appears to be working.
At least half the 156-man field - usually a little more - has come through qualifying nine of the last 10 years. The exception was in 2006 when 80 players were exempt, and that was because of a few unusual circumstances. One of them was David Toms finishing bogey-bogey in 2005 to create an eight-way for 15th place. The top 15 and ties were exempt the following year, and 16 players got in through that category.
With two weeks remaining before sectional qualifying, the U.S. Open is headed toward another split - half the field will be exempt, the other half will have to qualify.
''Any time we consider an exemption change, that's the first thing we look at it,'' said Jeff Hall, the USGA's managing director of rules and competition. ''We want to exempt those players deserving as such. But the democratic nature of the U.S. Open is very important to us.''
Any proposed change goes through a series of models to make sure the majority of the field is exempt from qualifying.
Assuming that Tiger Woods does not play at Pinehurst No. 2 - he hasn't even been cleared to swing a club yet after March 31 back surgery - 49 players are exempt. There's a spot open for the BMW PGA Championship winner at Wentworth this week. And the top 60 in the world after each of the next two weeks will not have to qualify.
From the top 60 in this week's ranking, 25 players would be exempt.
The following week - after the Memorial - is the last cutoff, and it's loosely known as the ''Justin Rose Rule.'' Rose won the Memorial in 2010 and moved to No. 33 in the world, one week after the ranking exemption was closed. In the three years since the extra week was added, no more than two players were added to the field.
''We'll take that risk,'' Hall said. ''There's some duplication, generally, with the world ranking and the Tour Championship field. Those people tend to stay in the top 60.''
Everyone on the bubble going into this pivotal week is playing either Colonial or Wentworth except for Richard Sterne (57), Charles Howell III (66) and J.B. Holmes (72). Howell tied for third at the Byron Nelson, but that was his fifth straight week. He is taking this week off.
The U.S. Open is June 12-15 at Pinehurst No. 2. The last time the Open was played at Pinehurst, the winner (Michael Campbell) came through sectional qualifying.
NEXT STOP: Now that Adam Scott has become No. 1 in the world for the first time, the next question is how long he can keep it.
Scott and Matt Kuchar (No. 4) are playing at Colonial. Henrik Stenson (No. 3) has his best chance at rising to No. 1 because he is playing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, which effectively offers bonus points as Europe's flagship event. Stenson should be able to reach No. 1 if he places higher at Wentworth than Scott at Colonial. Kuchar would have to win Colonial.
With five players separated by an average of one point, golf could see its own version of musical chairs with the No. 1 ranking.
That wouldn't be the first time, of course.
The early summer of 1997 featured the most dynamic stretch in the 28-year history of the ranking when No. 1 changed five times in five weeks. Greg Norman was No. 1 until Tiger Woods replaced him. Woods lasted one week until Ernie Els won the Buick Classic and went to No. 1. Norman won the FedEx St. Judge Classic the following week to return to No. 1, and then Woods won the Western Open and reclaimed No. 1 for the next nine weeks.
ACES UP: Quicken Loans didn't waste any time getting fans involved in its PGA Tour event.
The new title sponsor of the Quicken Loans National will pick one person to receive $1 million if a PGA Tour player makes a hole-in-one on the 10th hole at Congressional during any of the four rounds of the tournament.
Registration for the Quicken Loans Hole-In-One Sweepstakes began Monday at www.pgatour.com/QuickenLoans.
''First impressions are important, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate our first year as sponsor of the Quicken Loans National than to create even more excitement for an already world-class tournament,'' said Jay Farner, the company's president and chief marketing officer.
Odds are long, though they're still better than picking a perfect bracket for the NCAA basketball tournament for $1 billion.
Quicken Loans is extending its sweepstakes beyond the June 26-29 tournament. For every hole-in-one on the PGA Tour for the rest of 2014, the Detroit-based company will pay a year's worth of mortgage payments to randomly selected entrant. And even if there are no aces, the company will randomly picked 60 names to receive one monthly mortgage payment on their home.
There were 11 aces on the PGA Tour from Congressional through the end of 2013. The only one at Congressional was by John Merrick - on the seventh hole.
HOGAN AWARD: The superb spring season of Patrick Rodgers got even better when he was selected to receive the Ben Hogan Award as the nation's top college golfer over the last 12 months. It was hard to argue with what the Stanford junior has done.
Rodgers was medalist at the NCAA regional in Oregon last week, an amazing run in which he has won five of his last six tournaments and was runner-up in the other. His 11 career victories ties Tiger Woods for the most in Stanford history. Rodgers was part of winning American teams in the Walker Cup and the Palmer Cup, and he has replaced U.S. Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick at No. 1 in the world amateur ranking.
By winning the Hogan Award, he received an exemption to the Colonial this week. It will be the fourth PGA Tour start for Rodgers, who has announced he is turning pro after his junior season. He tied for 15th in the John Deere Classic last summer.
DIVOTS: U.S. Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick is turning pro after the U.S. Open. He has signed with International Sports Management and will make his pro debut in the Irish Open. ... BMW strengthened its relationship with the European Tour by announcing a four-year extension through 2018. The agreement means BMW stays on as title sponsor for tournaments in England (BMW PGA Championship), Germany (BMW International Open) and Shanghai (BMW Masters), and it remains the official car of the European Tour. ... The RBC Canadian Open returns to Glen Abbey in 2015. It will be the Abbey's record 27th time to host golf's third-oldest national championship. ... The LPGA is returning to Portland for the 43rd year with its original name - The Portland Classic. Cambia Health Solutions has signed on as a presenting sponsor. It will be played Aug. 28-31 at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club.
STAT OF THE WEEK: Brendon Todd became the eighth player this year to be outside the top 100 in the world ranking and win a PGA Tour event.
FINAL WORD: ''There is no secret. Good food, good wine, good cigars and some exercise.'' - Miguel Angel Jimenez after winning a European Tour event at age 50.
An 11-year-old (yes, 11) qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.
By Shane Bacon
There is something unique about the game of golf when it comes to age. Just a day after Miguel Angel Jimenez became the oldest winner ever on the European Tour at the ripe age of 50, a young lady that hasn't even reached her teens qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.
Lucy Li, an 11-year-old from Redwood Shores, Calif., qualified for next month's major, becoming the youngest ever to do so in the history of this storied championship.
Li did so by shooting incredible rounds of 74-68 at Half Moon Bay in California on Monday, qualifying for the championship at Pinehurst that will take place the week after the men play their U.S. Open on the same course.
How crazy is this and what type of promise does this show for the potential of Li? Lexi Thompson, now 19, previously held the record as the youngest to ever qualify at the veteran age of 12, and she won her first LPGA major this season at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
And just how young is Li? In April, she was at Augusta National, as a part of the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt Championship (no spoiler really needed, as she won her age group), and get ready to feel really, really old, because Lucy Li was born in 2002 (by comparison, Tiger Woods was winning his seventh and eighth major championships that same year).
Li actually won her sectional qualifier on Monday by seven shots, which might be the most impressive part of all of this, and no matter how she plays at Pinehurst, the fact that an 11-year-old qualified for the toughest golf tournament of the year on the LPGA is absolutely amazing.
Power Rankings: It's time for the Nationwide Series to go through the gauntlet.
By Nick Bromberg
1. Chase Elliott: You're the only Nationwide driver to win multiple races this season, Chase? Welcome to the top of our semi-annual Nationwide Series Power Rankings! Elliott has taken to the series faster than many (any?) expected, and that could be to his detriment. Lots of folks are enamored with him -- and eight top 10s in 10 races is a valid reason for doing so -- however, patience should still reign. 10 races shouldn't be enough to spur serious "move him up to Cup!" talk.
2. Regan Smith: Speaking of top 10s, Elliott's teammate has finished in the top 10 in every race this season. He won the season-opening race at Daytona (that miraculously finished without a last-lap crash) and has been cruising along ever since. However, is it fair to ask if Smith and the No. 7 team have been off a tick? Seven of those top 10s are seventh and below.
3. Elliott Sadler: Is this the year for Elliott Sadler? Is there ever going to be a year for Elliott Sadler? Those are two questions looming this year as well. Sadler's found a niche in the Nationwide Series, finishing second, second and fourth in his three years since moving down from the Cup Series. But there's always been something to derail the title hopes. Will 2014 make it four-for-four?
4. Trevor Bayne: T-Bayne was leading the Nationwide standings until he fell to fifth after a 23rd place finish. He's still fifth now, a perfect example of the lack of depth in the series among Nationwide regulars. Other than that finish, Bayne hasn't finished lower than 11th, yet he's 36 points out of the lead. Hence why bad finishes throughout Sadler's Nationwide tenure have crippled his title chances.
5. Ty Dillon: Much like Smith above, Dillon's performance makes you wonder if his team is missing a little something too and he's fourth in the standings. His highest finish was sixth at Bristol and everything else has been in the 6-15th range. It's a step down from the consistency that won brother Austin Dillon the series title last year; though we're going to bet Ty Dillon wins a race this year.
6. Sam Hornish Jr.: This is the only year Hornish is going to be running a part-time NASCAR schedule, right? He picked up from where he left off last year at Iowa, beating Ryan Blaney for the win on Sunday, and finished fifth at Talladega in the previous race. Hornish has five more races in the No. 54 and don't be surprised if he wins another race or two.
7. Brian Scott: Here's where the drop-off begins for amongst full-time drivers. All the drivers running a full schedule ahead of Scott have a 70 percent top-10 finish rate. Scott's is at 30 percent with just three top 10s. A crash at Talladega basically eliminated any chance Scott had of winning the series title, but it'll take a bunch of calamities to prevent him from finishing in the top 10 for the fourth straight year.
8. Landon Cassill: Driving for long-time Nationwide Series team owner Johnny Davis, Cassill has finished in the top 10 in the past two races. He's 10th in the standings despite a miserable two races at Texas and California, where he had mechanical issues. How remarkable are those top-10s? In 590 race starts, JD Motorsports has 12 of them.
9. Chris Buescher: Buescher is ahead of Cassill in the standings despite failing to qualify at Daytona, where his team didn't have owner's points to fall back on and the session was shortened by rain. Since then, Buescher has three top 10s and finished second at Talladega to Elliott Sadler.
10. Brendan Gaughan: We pretty much know what Gaughan is as a driver at this point, right? He's hovered in the back-half of the top 10 for most of the season despite two crashes and will probably stay there. He may challenge for a race win at some point this year, and he'll accumulate enough top 15 finishes to stay where he is in the points.
Carpenter claims second consecutive Indy pole.
Reuters; (Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina, editing by Ed Osmond)
Ed Carpenter, the last driver on the track, took pole for the Indianapolis 500 for a second consecutive year on Sunday.
The Indiana native posted a four-lap average of 231.067 mph to bump James Hinchcliffe from the top spot for the May 25 race.
Canadian Hinchcliffe and Australian Will Power will join Carpenter on the front row.
Carpenter became the 11th driver to earn back-to-back poles for the 500-mile race. His average speed was the fastest since 2003.
"It's awesome to do this two years in a row," Carpenter told reporters. "I was surprised last year and didn't expect to do it this year with such deep competition.
"It’s exciting, but after going through this last year and not winning the race I’ve been so much more determined."
He led the 2013 race for 37 laps but finished 10th.
"Now it's all about the race and we want to close the deal," Carpenter said.
Hinchcliffe, who eight days ago suffered a concussion in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and was cleared to drive on Thursday, averaged 230.839 mph.
"We got a little bit loose going into Turn Three on that last lap and had to crack the throttle and that’s what killed that final lap," said Hinchcliffe, who was also second in qualifying last year.
Power had an average of 230.697 to start on the outside of row one.
Three-times Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves of Brazil will start fourth with Frenchman Simon Pagenaud and American Marco Andretti joining him on the second row.
Colombian Carlos Munoz and Americans Josef Newgarden and J.R. Hilderbrand make up the third row.
Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya had the fastest average among drivers ineligible for the pole and will start 10th after averaging 231.007.
IndyCar Series champion and 2008 IndyCar winner Scott Dixon of New Zealand and former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch follow.
Busch will attempt to complete both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's 600 mile race in Concord, North Carolina the same day.
Clint Dempsey still expects U.S. to survive Group of Death at World Cup.
By Martin Rogers
Being dealt into the mythical "Group of Death" is a World Cup fate no team wants to experience. General expectations for the United States dipped as soon as its draw was announced last December.
With world No. 2 Germany, Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal and World Cup nemesis Ghana to contend with, the Americans are widely considered to be no better than an outside chance to progress from Group G and match their round-of-16 finish four years ago. However, despite the predictions of oddsmakers and critics, U.S. captain Clint Dempsey is refusing to lower his own expectations for the squad.
Heading into what would be his third and likely last World Cup, Dempsey stands by the assertion he made once the team qualified for the tournament by beating Mexico in September – he continues to insist he'd be satisfied with nothing less than a deep run.
"The expectation doesn't change," he said. "Playing in a World Cup you are trying to compete against the best teams in the world. That is what it's all about. That is what is so special about it – that every team has had to work hard to qualify and they deserve to be there.
"Nothing in life is worth having if you don't have to work for it. Our group is difficult and we have our work cut out for us, but that is what it's all about. We will face the challenge head on and put in the work that is necessary and make it count."
Dempsey heads into Brazil on a fine run of form with the Seattle Sounders, having found his feet in Major League Soccer after a difficult transition period toward the end of last season. He has scored eight goals in nine games to rank second in MLS.
While his move from the English Premier League back to North America was a surprise, considering how he was just two years removed from being one of the Premiership's most productive players, he now feels primed and ready to lead the U.S. in Brazil. That leadership role has much to do with Dempsey's personal attributes of drive and desire, a mindset that has served him well his entire career.
It's a philosophy he hopes to convey to some of the younger players on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad.
"Approach it like it is your last," Dempsey said when asked what advice he is trying to impart. "You don't get many chances to play in a World Cup and you don't know when that opportunity will come again so make the most of it. Make sure you are doing everything you can to make the most of this moment so you can look back on it and tell your grandkids about it.
"This is what is so exciting about playing in a World Cup. It is like nothing else."
Group G will surely provide the sternest of challenges. The U.S. will need to be at its absolute peak to have a shot of going through to the knockout stage.
Germany is universally perceived as a genuine threat to win it all in Brazil, having grown in strength and cohesion since losing in the semifinals four years ago. For Portugal, much revolves around Ronaldo and the Real Madrid superstar is in the form of his life, having firmly established himself as the best player in the world over the past year. Ghana, which knocked out the U.S. in 2006 and 2010, comfortably cruised through African qualifying, as its depth in talent made it that continent's dominant force.
Dempsey admitted the size of the task ahead has ensured total focus during the World Cup training camp currently taking place at Stanford University in the Bay Area. The preliminary 30-man roster will be scaled down to a final number of 23 players by FIFA's June 2 deadline.
"You have to stay hungry," he said. "You want to make it count. You don't want to go down there and not be successful. We want to go down there and shake things up. We want to advance from our group and that is what we are focused on."
SEC announces future schedule rotations through 2025.
By Sam Cooper
After making the decision to stick with an eight-game conference schedule, the SEC got right back to work as it released the rotation of non-division opponents on team’s schedules for the next 12 seasons through 2025.
Per a release from the league, the university athletic directors re-confirmed the rotation after agreeing to continue playing six games against division opponents and two games against conference opponents from the other division. One non-division opponent will be played annually while the other non-division opponent rotates each season.
Here’s a helpful chart which lays out the yearly matchups, plus the matchups for each league team from the SEC Digital Network:
Alabama – 2014 vs. Florida; 2015 at Georgia; 2016 vs. Kentucky; 2017 at Vanderbilt; 2018 vs. Missouri; 2019 at South Carolina; 2020 vs. Georgia; 2021 at Florida; 2022 vs. Vanderbilt; 2023 at Kentucky; 2024 vs. South Carolina; 2025 at Missouri.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home - Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas A&M; Away - Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Arkansas – 2014 vs. Georgia; 2015 at Tennessee; 2016 vs. Florida; 2017 at South Carolina; 2018 vs. Vanderbilt; 2019 at Kentucky; 2020 vs. Tennessee; 2021 at Georgia; 2022 vs. South Carolina; 2023 at Florida; 2024 vs. Kentucky, 2025 at Vanderbilt.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss; Away – Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Missouri. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Auburn – 2014 vs. South Carolina; 2015 at Kentucky; 2016 vs. Vanderbilt; 2017 at Missouri; 2018 vs. Tennessee; 2019 at Florida; 2020 vs. Kentucky; 2021 at South Carolina; 2022 vs. Missouri; 2023 at Vanderbilt; 2024 vs. Florida; 2025 at Tennessee.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Arkansas, LSU, Texas A&M; Away – Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Georgia. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Florida – 2014 at Alabama; 2015 vs. Ole Miss; 2016 at Arkansas; 2017 vs. Texas A&M; 2018 at Mississippi State; 2019 vs. Auburn; 2020 at Ole Miss; 2021 vs. Alabama; 2022 at Texas A&M; 2023 vs. Arkansas; 2024 at Auburn; 2025 vs. Mississippi State.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, LSU; Away – Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Georgia – 2014 at Arkansas; 2015 vs. Alabama; 2016 at Ole Miss; 2017 vs. Mississippi State; 2018 at LSU; 2019 vs. Texas A&M; 2020 at Alabama; 2021 vs. Arkansas; 2022 at Mississippi State; 2023 vs. Ole Miss; 2024 at Texas A&M; 2025 vs. LSU.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Florida, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Auburn; Away – Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Kentucky – 2014 at LSU; 2015 vs. Auburn; 2016 at Alabama; 2017 vs. Ole Miss; 2018 at Texas A&M; 2019 vs. Arkansas; 2020 at Auburn; 2021 vs. LSU; 2022 at Ole Miss; 2023 vs. Alabama; 2024 at Arkansas; 2025 vs. Texas A&M.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Georgia, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State; Away – Florida, Missouri, Tennessee. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
LSU – 2014 vs. Kentucky; 2015 at South Carolina; 2016 vs. Missouri; 2017 at Tennessee; 2018 vs. Georgia; 2019 at Vanderbilt; 2020 vs. South Carolina; 2021 at Kentucky; 2022 vs. Tennessee; 2023 at Missouri; 2024 vs. Vanderbilt; 2025 at Georgia.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State; Away – Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M, Florida. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Ole Miss – 2014 vs. Tennessee; 2015 at Florida; 2016 vs. Georgia; 2017 at Kentucky; 2018 vs. South Carolina; 2019 at Missouri; 2020 vs. Florida; 2021 at Tennessee; 2022 vs. Kentucky; 2023 at Georgia; 2024 vs. Missouri; 2025 at South Carolina.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State; Away – Arkansas, LSU, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Mississippi State – 2014 vs. Vanderbilt; 2015 at Missouri; 2016 vs. South Carolina; 2017 at Georgia; 2018 vs. Florida; 2019 at Tennessee; 2020 vs. Missouri; 2021 at Vanderbilt; 2022 vs. Georgia; 2023 at South Carolina; 2024 vs. Tennessee; 2025 at Florida.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M; Away – Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Kentucky. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Missouri – 2014 at Texas A&M; 2015 vs. Mississippi State; 2016 at LSU; 2017 vs. Auburn; 2018 at Alabama; 2019 vs. Ole Miss; 2020 at Mississippi State; 2021 vs. Texas A&M; 2022 at Auburn; 2023 vs. LSU; 2024 at Ole Miss; 2025 vs. Alabama.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Georgia, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Arkansas; Away – Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
South Carolina – 2014 at Auburn; 2015 vs. LSU; 2016 at Mississippi State; 2017 vs. Arkansas; 2018 at Ole Miss; 2019 vs. Alabama; 2020 at LSU; 2021 vs. Auburn; 2022 at Arkansas; 2023 vs. Mississippi State; 2024 at Alabama; 2025 vs. Ole Miss.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M; Away – Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Texas A&M – 2014 vs. Missouri; 2015 at Vanderbilt; 2016 vs. Tennessee; 2017 at Florida; 2018 vs. Kentucky; 2019 at Georgia; 2020 vs. Vanderbilt; 2021 at Missouri; 2022 vs. Florida; 2023 at Tennessee; 2024 vs. Georgia; 2025 at Kentucky.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss; Away – Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, South Carolina. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Tennessee – 2014 at Ole Miss; 2015 vs. Arkansas; 2016 at Texas A&M; 2017 vs. LSU; 2018 at Auburn; 2019 vs. Mississippi State; 2020 at Arkansas; 2021 vs. Ole Miss; 2022 at LSU; 2023 vs. Texas A&M; 2024 at Mississippi State; 2025 vs. Auburn.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama; Away – Georgia, South Carolina, Vanderbilt. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
Vanderbilt – 2014 at Mississippi State; 2015 vs. Texas A&M; 2016 at Auburn; 2017 vs. Alabama; 2018 at Arkansas; 2019 vs. LSU; 2020 at Texas A&M; 2021 vs. Mississippi State; 2022 at Alabama; 2023 vs. Auburn; 2024 at LSU; 2025 vs. Arkansas.
(Permanent opponents in 2014: Home – Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ole Miss; Away – Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri. Sites alternate home and away through 2025.)
NCAA: Investing where it matters.
NCAA.org
There is a lot of talk about how much money college sports generates.
But did you know that more than 90 percent of the NCAA’s revenue goes to support student-athletes?
The NCAA and its member campuses are committed to providing opportunities for student-athletes to compete in college while pursuing their educations.
The value of the collegiate athletics experience is something you can’t put a price on. College sports provide opportunities for student-athletes to grow, develop leadership skills, get involved in their communities and, most important, earn a degree.
Of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities in the NCAA, only 23 schools make more money than they spend on sports each year.
For the rest, resources from the NCAA help schools fund $2.7 billion in athletic scholarships every year, making the Association second only to the federal government in funding college education.
There are more than 450,000 student-athletes, and the majority of them will go pro in something other than sports. Those student-athletes will take with them not just their degrees, but the experiences of college athletics and the life lessons they learned along the way.
In short, we put our money where our mission is.
$188.3 Million
Sports Sponsorship and Grants in Aid Funds
*This fund assists Division I schools with the continuation of the sports they sponsor at the varsity level and scholarships for student-athletes. With the exception of 23 schools, most schools lose money on sports each year, and these funds enable campuses to provide athletic and academic opportunities to student-athletes. Each school’s distribution is determined based on how many sports it sponsors and how many scholarships it provides.
$188.3 Million
Basketball Fund
*The basketball fund payments are made to conference offices and independent schools based upon a rolling six-year average of performance in the Division I men’s basketball tournament. One unit is awarded to each school participating in each game, except the championship game, over the same six-year period. The conferences distribute the funds among their members based on their specific revenue-sharing programs.
$97.4 Million
Division I Championships
*The NCAA is committed to providing a fair, safe and exciting atmosphere for student-athletes to ensure the best possible championship experience. The resources allocated to Division I championships include support for team travel, food and lodging for the student-athletes participating, and ancillary events at championships (for example, Bracket Town and Salute at the Men’s Final Four).
$73.5 Million
Student Assistance Fund
*The Student Assistance Fund combines the former Student-Athlete Opportunity and Special Assistance Funds. This money is intended to help Division I student-athletes with essential needs that arise during their time in college. These funds are available to pay for costs associated with family emergencies; clothing and other essentials; academic supplies; and medical and dental costs not covered by another insurance program. It can also be used for educational purposes, such as enrolling in summer school.
$25.1 Million
Academic Enhancement Fund
*A companion to the Student Assistance Fund, the academic enhancement fund is intended to enhance academic-support programs for student-athletes at Division I schools. Among the common uses by member institutions are tutoring services, equipment (such as laptops or tablets) and supplies.
$63.2 MillionDivision II and III allocations
*The NCAA allocates funds to Division II and Division III to support grants, student-athlete services and programs. It also funds championships including game expenses, meal allowances and team transportation, and supports other initiatives including grants, student-athlete services, and programs.
$43.7 Million
Other Division I Distributions
*The NCAA Division I Board of Directors and Executive Committee approved a supplemental $43.7 million distribution to Division I schools, which was available due to revenues exceeding expenses for the Association’s 2011-12 fiscal year. Like the basketball, sports sponsorship and scholarship funds, this distribution provides campuses with additional dollars to support student-athletes.
$8.5 MillionConference Grants
*These grants are used to implement conference-level programs in five specific categories of focus. These include officiating programs, compliance and enforcement, enhancement of opportunities for ethnic minorities, and heightening awareness of drug and gambling education programs.
$57.8 Million
Student-Athlete Services
*The NCAA invests this money each year in a variety of student-athlete-focused areas. These include health and safety, catastrophic injury insurance, drug testing, and leadership development. This money also funds several NCAA scholarships, including postgraduate scholarships for former student-athletes pursuing master’s degrees, doctorates or other advanced degrees. In addition, money from this fund supports the NCAA Honors Ceremony and the Woman of the Year award.
$27.7 Million
Membership Support Services
*As the governing body for collegiate athletics, the NCAA is tasked with ensuring fairness and integrity across all three divisions. While NCAA rules are proposed and approved by NCAA member schools, those same campuses often turn to the NCAA to help interpret and enforce the rules fairly across the Association. To assist with this work, the NCAA dedicates significant resources to the governance process, including committees and the NCAA Convention, in addition to training for campuses and national office support.
$4.7 Million
Educational Services
*The NCAA offers training and educational services to members and student-athletes on a regular basis. These funds support various programs, including the Women’s Coaches Academy, the Pathway Program, Emerging Leaders Seminar, and the annual NCAA Convention.
$27.9 Million
Other Association-Wide Expenses
*A portion of the NCAA budget is allocated to other association-wide expenses that support member institutions and the overall association, including legal services, communications and business insurance coverage.
$40.7 Million
General and Administration Expenses
*To fund the day-to-day administration of the NCAA and its national office, these expenses cover the cost of central services and initiatives at the national office, including administrative and financial services, operations, information technology, facilities management and executive.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, May 21, 2014.MemoriesofHistory.com
1881 - The United States Lawn Tennis Association was formed in New York City.
1926 - Earl Sheely (Chicago White Sox) hit his 6th consecutive double.
1930 - Max Bishop was walked 8 times during a doubleheader.
1930 - Babe Ruth (New York Yankees) hit three consecutive home runs.
1943 - The White Sox and the Senators played the fastest 9 inning night game in American League history. The game was finished in 89 minutes.
1947 - Joe DiMaggio and five of his New York Yankee teammates were fined $100 because they had not fulfilled contract requirements to do promotional duties for the team.
1948 - Joe DiMaggio (New York Yankees) hit a single, double, triple and home run in the same game.
1952 - The Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. The final score was 19-1.
1996 - Ken Griffey Jr. became the 8th youngest player to hit 200 home runs.
1997 - Roger Clemens (Boston Red Sox) got his 200th win.
2003 - The NFL decided to not vote on expanding the playoffs in 2004.
************************************************************
Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment