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Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Jay Cutler rallies Bears past 49ers in fourth.
By JANIE McCAULEY (AP Sports Writer)
Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) celebrates with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) after catching a 3-yard touchdown reception against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Down big, Jay Cutler kept his poise on the road while Colin Kaepernick struggled in prime time.
Cutler passed for three fourth-quarter touchdowns after much of Chicago's starting defense went down, and the Bears beat the San Francisco 49ers 28-20 Sunday night to spoil their Levi's Stadium debut.
''We just kept plugging, we knew we had some good stuff,'' Cutler said. ''We just had to figure them out.''
Cutler threw three TD passes to Brandon Marshall, two in the wild fourth quarter, as Chicago erased a 13-point deficit and quieted the sellout crowd. Cutler threw for two scores in a 27-second span early in the final period, aided by the gutsy play of a backup cornerback.
Kyle Fuller made two late interceptions for the depleted Chicago secondary, and the first set up the go-ahead score.
''Just coming in here, working hard, it was a team win,'' said Fuller, the Bears' first-round pick in this year's draft. ''We are thankful for that and will keep on building.''
Kaepernick was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for ''inappropriate language'' following Fuller's first big play. That gave the Bears first-and-goal on the 3, and Cutler threw a 3-yard TD pass to Martellus Bennett as the Bears went ahead 21-20.
Kaepernick threw three interceptions in all, lost a fumble and his cool, a far cry from his breakout start on the Monday night stage nearly two years ago in a rout of the Bears. Cutler sat out that night with a concussion.
A sloppy game filled with 26 penalties - 16 by the Niners - and a crazy collapse overshadowed the fanfare of the regular-season debut for the sparkling $1.2 billion stadium.
The Bears (1-1), in a stretch with six of eight games on the road, go home with some serious momentum despite injuries on both sides of the ball.
Five key defenders are hurt: cornerbacks Sherrick McManis (quadriceps) and Charles Tillman (triceps), defensive end Trevor Scott (foot), safety Chris Conte (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion).
The 49ers (1-1) had a 17-7 halftime lead, but missed an opportunity to grab an early lead in the NFC West after the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks lost earlier in the day at San Diego.
Michael Crabtree caught a touchdown pass on his 27th birthday and Frank Gore ran for a score but also had his 54-yard TD burst negated by Anquan Boldin's costly holding penalty.
Cutler helped the Bears get on the board with a 25-yard run late in the first half. He took a jarring hit from Quinton Dial with 56 seconds remaining, but stayed in the game and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Marshall, who made a leaping, one-handed catch to pull the ball into his body as he fell into the end zone.
What a way for Chicago to forget that bitter 23-20 overtime loss to the Bills at home in Week 1.
San Francisco didn't give the ball away once in a season-opening win at Dallas.
In the first half, the 49ers outgained Chicago 197-93 and out-penalized the Bears 10-7 for 85 lost yards. The much-scrutinized field featured visible chunks of loose sod after new grass was laid for a third time since April.
Kaepernick made his first career start against the Bears nearly two years ago, and then held onto the No. 1 job over Alex Smith. Cutler didn't face the 49ers during a November 2012 Monday night game at Candlestick Park.
A concussion to now-Chiefs QB Smith thrust Kaepernick into the spotlight that night, and he threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns as the Niners pounded the Bears 32-7.
The 49ers were embarrassed at home for the second time in a month. They lost 34-0 in a rout by Denver in the first preseason game in the new stadium.
Chicago's patchwork offensive line looked shaky early with center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson each sidelined by ankle injuries.
San Francisco tight ends Vance McDonald (knee) and Vernon Davis (ankle) were hurt as the 49ers lost a home opener for the first time under fourth-year coach Jim Harbaugh.
NFL estimates nearly three in 10 former players will have cognitive problems.
By Mike Florio
When it comes to concussions, the NFL has come a long way from the days of lies and half-truths regarding concussions. (Maybe the NFL eventually will make that same progress when it comes to botched investigations of player misconduct.)
After years of downplaying and denying the long-term risks of concussion, the NFL is fully awake. The process began five years ago next month, but it’s taken some time for the league to embrace completely the idea that it’s not good for the brain when the skull repeatedly hits other things hard. Via the Associated Press, the league has acknowledged in connection with the settlement of the concussion litigation that nearly three in 10 former players eventually will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia.
The disclosures made by the NFL came as part of the formal settlement approval process. The NFL acknowledged that the rates of Alzheimer’s disease and moderate cognitive impairment are “materially higher than those expected in the general population” and would arise at “notably younger ages.”
The league also pointed out that the estimates are “reasonable and conservative,” with a deliberate effort to “overstate the number of players who will develop [illnesses],” so that the fund available for retired players with qualifying illnesses will have enough money to cover them all. Even so, the numbers are attracting plenty of attention.
“This statement clears up all the confusion and doubt manufactured over the years questioning the link between brain trauma and long-term neurological impairment,” former NFL player and long-time advocate for concussion awareness Chris Nowinski told the New York Times. “We have come a long way since the days of outright denial. The number of former players predicted to develop dementia is staggering, and that total does not even include former players who develop mood and behavior disorders and die prior to developing the cognitive symptoms associated with [chronic traumatic encephelopathy].”
Even if former players had fully known the risks during their careers, most would have still played. Today, with full knowledge of the risks of long-term health problems available, football players still clamor to play in the NFL.
Players' union reps approve HGH testing for '14.
By BARRY WILNER (AP Pro Football Writer)
HGH testing is coming to the NFL this season.
Player representatives to the union voted Friday to implement testing for human growth hormone for the 2014 NFL season. HGH testing was originally agreed upon in 2011, but the players have balked at the science in the testing and the appeals process for positive tests.
They also approved a league proposal to significantly increase the threshold for positive marijuana tests. Some players have complained that the NFL threshold of 15 nanograms per milliliter is so low that anyone within the vicinity of people smoking marijuana could test positive. The threshold has been increased to 35 ng/ml.
Overall changes are retroactive for players suspended under previous policies, as well as for those in the appeal process. Those players, presumably including Browns receiver Josh Gordon (suspended for the season) and Broncos receiver Wes Welker (four games), are subject to standards of the new policies. Their suspensions could be reduced - no immediate announcements were made regarding those suspensions.
Welker was suspended for amphetamine use in the offseason, but punishment for that is being switched from the performance enhancers policy to the substance abuse program - except for in-season violations.
A two-game suspension will be issued for a player convicted of driving under the influence. But an NFL proposal to immediately suspend a player, owner, coach, team executive or league employee for a DUI arrest was rejected by the union.
Both sides agreed to arbitration for appeals under the substance abuse and the PED policies. The NFL and NFL Players Association will hire between three and five arbitrators.
They also will retain independent investigators to review cases in which player confidentiality under the drug policy has been breached. Punishment for leaks could range up to $500,000 and/or termination of a job.
''This is an historic moment for our players and our league,'' NFLPA President Eric Winston said. ''We have collectively bargained drug policies that will keep the game clean and safe, but also provide our players with an unprecedented level of fairness and transparency.''
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Kings vs. Blackhawks: Who Is America's Team?
By Michelle Timian
Today, no two teams in the NHL share the spotlight as the league’s elite quite like the L.A. Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. They have four Stanley Cups between them in five seasons and have twice battled one another for a chance at the Cup in two Western Conference Finals series considered as intense as any Stanley Cup Final game. Both enjoy wide-spread popularity across the United States, which asks the question: between these two NHL juggernauts, which team can claim to be “America’s Team”?
The Best in the U.S.
Had the question been raised a few years ago, the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins may have been fighting for the honor of America’s Team. However, with the Red Wings slow decline and the Bruins recently identified as the most hated NHL team in the world, coupled with the rise of the Kings and the Blackhawks, there are now new teams capturing the attention of U.S. hockey fans.
Both the Kings and the Blackhawks are among the most popular teams in the entire NHL and it shows in the stands. The Blackhawks have the highest attendance of any team in the League at an average of 22,623 people per game, with standing room only ticket bringing the United Center to 117.6% capacity. It is thanks to their drawing power that the Blackhawks are chosen so often for the NHL’s marque events, such as two Winter Classics and the Stadium Series.
The fans of the L.A. Kings, while wrongly criticized for a lack of support in a non-traditional market, actually draw over-capacity too, at 107.6%. While they didn’t break any records at the Stanley Cup parade, the Kings are the eighth best in the NHL in terms of attendance and fourth out of all U.S.-based teams. With the Stadium Series enabling smaller markets and more unusual locales to host outdoor hockey games, the L.A. Kings gained a lot of attention of their Hollywood style game versus the Ducks. That success resulted in the Kings securing another Stadium Series game in 2015.
The same fan support in the stands makes their presence felt on social media as well. According to CapGeek’s Twitter Rankings, the Blackhawks (first at 624,761) and the Kings (eighth at 451,006) are among the most followed teams in the NHL.
The Blackhawks also dominate in other social media outlets. As this fan engagement study shows, the Blackhawks are third overall and second of U.S.-based teams in terms of Facebook fans, Twitter followers, attendance and average ticket prices. The Kings, meanwhile are tenth overall and seventh out of U.S. teams.
In the Media
There is no question that the L.A. Kings benefit from being the hockey team in Tinsel Town. With many talk shows filmed in the L.A. area, Kings players are often asked to appear on various media outlets outside of Stanley Cup appearances. With Jonathan Quick surprising a young fan or Anze Kopitar showing his support of breast cancer awareness both on The Ellen DeGeneres Show , these Kings players bring exposure to the sport of hockey and specifically the Kings team.
It is not just current Kings players representing the team. During the 23rd season of the CBS reality TV show, The Amazing Race, two members of the L.A. Kings Ice Crew participated in the race, promoting the team by wearing the Kings’ logo and talking about the 2012 Stanley Cup win. L.A. Kings legend Luc Robitaille appeared as himself on the Disney Channel cartoon Phineas and Ferb. In the video game Grand Theft Auto V, the fictional Los Santos Kings appear.
On the flip side, big name stars are often seen at Kings games. Not only are celebrities spotted in the stands, Will Ferrell and South Park’s Cartman pump up the crowd during games.
The Blackhawks have made their own pop culture appearance as well, with defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook appearing in the NBC TV show “Chicago Fire”.
Use in Commercials
While star players on the Blackhawks and Kings are understandably used to sell the NHL itself, to see these two teams featured in non-hockey-related TV spots shows their appeal to a broader audience.
Sponsors of the NHL – especially Verizon – feature the L.A. Kings more so than any other NHL team, with commercials for NHL GameCenter and #FOMOH with Kings captain Dustin Brown.
The Kings rivalry with the San Jose Sharks is also the focus for a recent GEICO TV spot. Apple used the L.A. Kings for their iPad “What Will Your Verse Be?” commercial, showing several shots of Kings players at practice.
Patrick Kane, as a top American hockey player suiting up for a successful big-market team, has been featured most often for non-hockey specific commercials. He has represented the sport of hockey in “all sports” type of commercials for both SportsCenter and Gatorade.
Despite the Kings’ heavier usage in TV spots and talk shows, the numbers in terms of game attendance and fans (via social media) prove that the Blackhawks have a wider and greater appeal and therefore should be considered “America's Team?”.
NHL announces rules changes for 2014-15 season.
NHL.com
The National Hockey League announced today a series of rules changes for the 2014-15 season, following approval earlier in the summer by the League's Board of Governors and the National Hockey League Players' Association:
Rule 1.8 – Rink - Goalkeeper's Restricted Area
The trapezoid will be expanded by two feet from the goal post on both sides of the net.
Rule 23 – Game Misconduct Penalties
A new Game Misconduct category will be created. Clipping, charging, elbowing, interference, kneeing, head-butting and butt-ending move from the general category into the same category as boarding and checking from behind ("Physical Fouls"), whereby a player who incurs two such game misconducts in this category would now be automatically suspended for one game.
Rule 24 – Penalty Shot
The 'Spin-O-Rama' move, as described in Section 24.2 of the 2013-14 NHL Rule Book, will no longer be permitted either in Penalty Shot situations or in the Shootout.
Rule 38 – Video Goal Judge
Video review will be expanded in the following areas:
* Rule 38.4 (viii) has been modified to allow broader discretion to Hockey Operations to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals (e.g., to ensure they are "good hockey goals"). The revised Rule will allow Hockey Operations to correct a broader array of situations where video review clearly establishes that a "goal" or "no goal" call on the ice has been made in error. The new expanded rule will also allow Hockey Operations to provide guidance to referees on goal and potential goal plays where the referee has blown his whistle (or intended to blow his whistle) after having lost sight of the puck.
* In reviewing "Kicked in Goals," Hockey Operations will require more demonstrable video evidence of a "distinct kicking motion" in order to overrule a "goal" call on the ice, or to uphold a "no goal" call on the ice.
Rule 57 – Tripping
The rule relating to "Tripping" will be revised to specifically provide that a two minute minor penalty will be assessed when a defending player "dives" and trips an attacking player with his body/arm/shoulder, regardless of whether the defending player is able to make initial contact with the puck.
But, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise be appropriate, if the defending player "dives" and touches the puck first (before the trip), no penalty shot will be awarded. (In such cases, the resulting penalty will be limited to a two-minute minor penalty for tripping.)
Rule 64 – Diving / Embellishment
The supplementary discipline penalties associated with Rule 64.3 (Diving/Embellishment) will be revised to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties. Fines will be assessed to players and head coaches on a graduated scale outlined below.
| Incident # | Player Fine(s) | Head Coach Fine(s) | ||
| 1 | Warning | N/A | ||
| 2 | $2,000 | N/A | ||
| 3 | $3,000 | N/A | ||
| 4 | $4,000 | $2,000 | ||
| 5 | $5,000 | $3,000 | ||
| 6 | $5,000 | $4,000 | ||
| 7 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 8 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
Rule 76 – Face-offs
To curb delay tactics on face-offs after icing infractions, in situations where the defending team is guilty of a face-off violation, following an icing, the defending player who is initially lined up for the face-off will be given a warning, but will be required to remain in the circle to take the face-off. A second face-off violation by the defending team in such situation will result in a two minute minor bench penalty.
Rule 84 – Overtime
* Teams will switch ends prior to the start of overtime in the regular season.
* The entire ice surface will undergo a "dry scrape" prior to the start of overtime in the regular season.
* The procedure requiring the head coach to submit a list of the first three shooters in the shoot-out has been eliminated.
Rule 85 – Puck Out of Bounds
There have been further rule changes made relating to face-off location to avoid penalizing teams for plays intended to create bona fide scoring opportunities. Specifically, the following are "categories of plays" where face-offs will remain in the attacking zone despite the fact that the attacking team was technically responsible for the stoppage in play: Shots at the net by a player on the attacking team where: (i) the shot breaks the glass; (ii) the shot goes off the side of the net and deflects out of play; (iii) the shot goes off the dasher boards or glass and deflects out of play; (iv) the shot is tipped or deflected out of play by a teammate; and (v) the shot becomes wedged in or on the exterior of the goal net.
In addition, the following rule change will be enacted for the 2014 preseason and may be continued for the 2014/15 regular season if approved by the League and the NHLPA.
Rule 1.9 – Rink – Face-off Spots and Circles – Ice Markings/Hash Marks
The hash marks at the end zone circles will be moved from three feet apart to five feet, seven inches apart (international markings).
Analysis: Rules changes could create more scoring.
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer
Though the NHL's general managers didn't have an interest in devising major rule changes when they met six months ago in Boca Raton, Fla., they did come up with a plan to create subtle changes geared toward increasing offense.
After the majority of their recommended changes were approved by the NHL Competition Committee, the NHL Board of Governors and the National Hockey League Players' Association's Executive Board, the League announced the changes for the 2014-15 season Thursday.
Not surprisingly, they are similar, and in many cases the exact same, as the ideas the GMs discussed, debated and recommended six months ago. And yes, the majority of the changes have been written into the rulebook with the underlying goal of increasing offense.
Here are six examples:
Rule 1.8 -- Rink - Goalkeeper's Restricted Area
The trapezoid area will be increased from 18 feet to 22 feet along the goal line as a way to give goaltenders more of an opportunity to help their defensemen as they come back for the puck. However, in allowing goalies more freedom to play the puck the NHL also is increasing the possibility for turnovers and scoring chances by the forechecking team.
For example, a goalie moves out of his crease to his right to play the puck in the extra space he now has but fumbles the puck, misfires on a pass or has a miscommunication with his defenseman. Now the forechecker, if he's doing his job, has an opportunity to pounce on the turnover to create a scoring chance for himself or a teammate.
Unless a team has a goalie as adept at playing the puck as Mike Smith or Martin Brodeur, most coaches would rather a skater handle the puck than a goalie for fear of a turnover.
Rule 38 -- Video Goal Judge
Expanding video review is a hot-button issue in the NHL and the GMs have acted deliberately on this for fear of unintended consequences. They don't want to make a change, such as putting a monitor in the penalty box and allowing the on-ice officials to go to the replay to determine goaltender interference on an otherwise good goal, only to find out later it has created a new problem.
The GMs are not ready to move beyond the discussion phase on something like reviewing goals scored on potential goalie-interference plays, but the League is expanding the video review process for the 2014-15 season to allow the Hockey Operations Department more leniency in calling for what are defined as "good hockey goals."
As an example, there now will be a broader discretion for allowing kicked-in goals. If the puck goes in the net from a kicking motion but it's not clear if it was intentionally kicked in or accidentally kicked in, Hockey Operations will lean toward it being a good goal.
Hockey Operations also will have the ability to provide guidance to the on-ice referees on goal and potential goal plays in situations where the whistle blew or was intended to be blown after they lost sight of the puck. That means that the people in the NHL Situation Room in Toronto can talk the officials through the play to make sure the puck wasn't in the net prior to the exact time the referee blew the play dead or intended to blow the play dead.
Rule 57 -- Tripping
In the past it has been legal for a defending player to dive and knock the puck off an attacking player's stick with his own stick, hands, legs or feet as long as he touches the puck first. It was viewed in many instances as a momentum-changing defensive play because the majority of the time it stopped a developing breakaway or odd-man rush.
Not anymore. Now, that same defensive play will result in a two-minute minor penalty for tripping regardless if the defending player touches the puck first.
The summary here is that if an attacking player or players have a step and could go in for a breakaway or odd-man rush, the NHL wants to let that exciting play happen. If the defending player doesn't want to let it happen, he'll have to sit in the box and give the opposition a power play.
However, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise have been awarded, if a defending player dives and touches the puck first and knocks it off the attacking player's stick, no penalty shot will be awarded. The result will be a penalty for tripping and a power play for the opposition.
Rule 76 -- Faceoffs
The NHL has changed the rule on faceoffs to eliminate delay tactics teams had used after icing infractions. This was a bothersome issue for the general managers, who did not like it when coaches used delay tactics that were obvious and unpunishable.
Now, following an icing the defending player who lines up to take the faceoff will be given a warning if he commits a violation but will be required to stay in the circle to take the faceoff. If he commits a second violation his team will be assessed a two-minute penalty for delay of game.
Under the previous format a player could go into the circle for a faceoff after an icing but commit a violation to get thrown out, creating a short rest period for teammates before another player replaced him for the second faceoff attempt.
This rule change increases the chance of two things happening: A tired center losing a defensive-zone faceoff after an icing, and a power play because of multiple violations by a tired player.
Rule 84 -- Overtime
The GMs want more games to end in overtime than in the shootout but they're not prepared to increase the amount of minutes played in overtime or decrease the number of skaters allowed on the ice. Instead, they're going with a change that historically has resulted in an increased percentage of goals.
Teams will switch ends prior to the start of overtime as they do prior to the start of the second period. Switching ends creates the long-change effect and has led to a greater number of goals scored in the second period (36 percent) than in the first (30 percent) or third (34 percent) since 2005-06 because of the increased challenges of changing players on the fly.
The United States Hockey League made the change last season to switch ends for overtime and experienced an approximate 10-percent bump in games that ended in overtime rather than the shootout, according to stats provided in March.
To help facilitate more goals in overtime, the entire ice surface will be cleaned with a dry scrape prior to the beginning of the overtime session. A cleaner ice sheet obviously gives players a better chance to make plays and create scoring chances. In the past, the ice wasn't scraped until before the start of the shootout.
Rule 85 -- Puck Out of Bounds
This is about the location of faceoffs after plays in which the attacking team is responsible for the stoppage in play.
The faceoff will take place in the attacking zone if the puck goes out of bounds on shots that break the glass, carom off the net and deflect out of play, go off the boards or glass and deflect out of play, get tipped or deflected out of play by a teammate, or result in the puck getting stuck somewhere in or on the exterior of the goal.
It stands to reason that with more faceoffs in the attacking zone there are more opportunities to create scoring chances or icing infractions.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… USA wins basketball worlds, 129-92 over Serbia.
By BRIAN MAHONEY (AP Basketball Writer)
United States' Anthony Davis vies for the ball against Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic during the final World Basketball match between the United States and Serbia at the Palacio de los Deportes stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Kyrie Irving made all six 3-pointers and scored 26 points, and the U.S. repeated as world champion for the first time by crushing Serbia 129-92 on Sunday in the Basketball World Cup.
James Harden added 23 for the Americans, who made 11 of 16 3-pointers in a sensational-shooting first half, adding one final romp to a tournament full of them.
This depleted team that was supposedly weak enough to lose was too good to be touched.
The Americans were supposed to have All-Star forwards Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, who all informed USA Basketball not long before the tournament that they would be unavailable.
But Irving - the tournament MVP - and Harden stuck around, and despite sending the youngest U.S. team since NBA players debuted in 1992, the Americans remained as dominant as ever.
They have won 63 straight games - 45 in official FIBA events and 18 in exhibition play - and are automatically qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
LeBron James, Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul might want to return for that. But the Americans will have to leave room for some players from this team, which has loads of young talent that figures to get even better from the time it spent together.
It was the fifth world title for the Americans, tying Yugoslavia for the most all-time. And the second for Derrick Rose, who used this tournament as his return after missing most of the last two seasons following a pair of knee surgeries, along with Stephen Curry and Rudy Gay.
It was the first medal for Serbia, which had been a part of Yugoslavia when it won five. The Yugoslavians had been the last repeat champions, winning in 1998 and 2002.
The Serbians were only 2-3 in the group stage but then routed previously unbeaten Greece and Brazil before building a big lead and holding on for a 90-85 semifinal victory over France, which had beat then in the group stage and knocked out tournament co-favorite Spain in the quarters.
Serbia carried that momentum into the early moments of this one and was running a fluid offense that produced layups and dunks, and opened the biggest lead any team had against the U.S. in this tournament when Miroslav Raduljica's three-point play made it 15-7.
That was wiped out in a minute, and Serbia's hopes of winning didn't last much longer.
Harden had a three-point play and 3-pointer, DeMarcus Cousins tied it with a pair of free throws, and then Irving had a jumper, 3-pointer and layup to cap a 15-0 burst that made it 22-15.
Irving hit a couple more 3s in an 11-0 run later in the quarter that provided a 35-19 cushion, and the Americans poured it on midway through the second in making it 56-30 after back-to-back 3s by Irving and Harden.
France beat Lithuania 95-93 on Saturday for the bronze.
The Americans came in winning by 32.5 points per game and their closest victory in the tournament was by 21 points over Turkey. They thought they would get a tough game Sunday, but were simply too good to let that happen.
They finished at 58 percent from the field, made 15 of 30 3-pointers and put eight of their 12 players in double figures.
Showdown with Cavs among 42 Bulls games on CSN in 2014-15.
By Mark Strotman
The Bulls' 2014-15 TV schedule has been announced, and Comcast SportsNet will air 42 regular season games in addition to six preseason games.
The highlights include the Halloween home opener against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, three matchups against Chicago native and No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker and the Milwaukee Bucks, three more against the Washington Wizards (the team that knocked out the Bulls in last year's playoffs) and a handful of other Western Conference contenders.
Here's a rundown of the regular season schedule:
Note: ** indicates a CSN+ night
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (CT) |
| Fri, Oct. 31 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 p.m. |
| Tue, Nov. 4 | vs. Orlando Magic** | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Nov. 5 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Nov. 7 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 6 p.m. |
| Mon, Nov. 10 | vs. Detroit Pistons | 7 p.m. |
| Mon, Nov. 17 | at Los Angeles Clippers | 9:30 p.m. |
| Mon, Nov. 24 | at Utah Jazz | 8 p.m. |
| Tue, Nov. 25 | at Denver Nuggets | 8 p.m. |
| Fri, Nov. 28 | at Boston Celtics | 12 p.m. |
| Tue, Dec. 2 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Dec. 3 | at Charlotte Hornets | 6 p.m. |
| Wed, Dec. 10 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Dec. 12 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | 6 p.m. |
| Mon, Dec. 15 | at Atlanta Hawks | 6:30 p.m. |
| Mon, Dec. 22 | vs. Toronto Raptors | 7 p.m. |
| Tue, Dec. 23 | at Washington Wizards | 6 p.m. |
| Tue, Dec. 30 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | 7 p.m. |
| Thu, Jan. 1 | vs. Denver Nuggets | 7 p.m. |
| Mon, Jan. 5 | vs. Houston Rockets | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Jan. 7 | vs. Utah Jazz | 7 p.m. |
| Mon, Jan. 12 | vs. Orlando Magic | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Jan. 14 | vs. Washington Wizards | 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Jan. 16 | at Boston Celtics** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Tue, Jan. 27 | at Golden State Warriors | 9:30 p.m. |
| Thu, Jan. 29 | at Los Angeles Lakers | 9:30 p.m. |
| Fri, Jan. 30 | at Phoenix Suns | 9:30 p.m. |
| Wed, Feb. 4 | at Houston Rockets | 7 p.m. |
| Tue, Feb. 10 | vs. Sacramento Kings | 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Feb. 20 | at Detroit Pistons** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Mon, Feb. 23 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Feb. 25 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | 7 p.m. |
| Tue, Mar. 3 | vs. Washington Wizards | 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Mar. 6 | at Indiana Pacers | 6 p.m. |
| Mon, Mar. 9 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Mar. 11 | at Philadelphia 76ers | 6 p.m. |
| Wed, Mar. 18 | vs. Indiana Pacers | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Mar. 25 | at Toronto Raptors | 6:30 p.m. |
| Wed, Apr. 1 | at Milwaukee Bucks | 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Apr. 8 | at Orlando Magic | 6 p.m. |
| Sat, Apr. 11 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | 7 p.m. |
| Mon, Apr. 13 | at Brooklyn Nets | 6:30 p.m. |
| Wed, Apr. 15 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | 7 p.m. |
MLB Scores, Sunday, 09/14/2014.
Yahoo.com
Chicago Cubs 3
Pittsburgh Pirates 7
Tampa Bay rays 6
Toronto Blue Jays 5
Washington Nationals 3
New York Mets 0
Boston red Sox 8
Kansas City Royals 4
Colorado Rockies 1
St. Louis Cardinals 4
Houston Astros 6
Los Angeles Angels 1
Oakland Athletics 4
Seattle Mariners 0
New York Yankees 2
Baltimore Orioles 3
Minnesota Twins 6
Chicago White Sox 4
Cleveland Indians 4
Detroit Tigers 6
Miami Marlins 5
Philadelphia Phillies 4
Cincinnati Reds 2
Milwaukee Brewers 9
Atlanta Braves 3
Texas Rangers 10
Los Angeles Dodgers 4
san Francisco Giants 2
San Diego Padres 6
Arizona Diamondbacks 8
Pittsburgh Pirates 7
Tampa Bay rays 6
Toronto Blue Jays 5
Washington Nationals 3
New York Mets 0
Boston red Sox 8
Kansas City Royals 4
Colorado Rockies 1
St. Louis Cardinals 4
Houston Astros 6
Los Angeles Angels 1
Oakland Athletics 4
Seattle Mariners 0
New York Yankees 2
Baltimore Orioles 3
Minnesota Twins 6
Chicago White Sox 4
Cleveland Indians 4
Detroit Tigers 6
Miami Marlins 5
Philadelphia Phillies 4
Cincinnati Reds 2
Milwaukee Brewers 9
Atlanta Braves 3
Texas Rangers 10
Los Angeles Dodgers 4
san Francisco Giants 2
San Diego Padres 6
Arizona Diamondbacks 8
Cubs allow triple play, fall to Pirates 7-3.
By NATE BARNES Associated Press
Josh Harrison started Pittsburgh’s first triple play at home in 21 years and hit a tying two-run double in a six-run fifth inning Sunday that helped the Pirates rally past the Chicago Cubs 7-3.
Edinson Volquez (12-7) improved to 4-0 in his last 10 starts for the Pirates, who began the day with a 1 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the NL’s second wild card.
Pittsburgh improved to 14-5 against Chicago this year, winning all six series, and eliminated the Cubs from playoff contention. Chicago has not won the World Series since 1908 and hasn’t even reached the postseason since 2008.
Chicago led 3-0 and put runners on first and second in the fourth when Matt Szczur grounded to third. Harrison started an around-the-horn 5-4-3 triple play, throwing to second baseman Neil Walker, who relayed to first baseman Andrew Lambo.
Half-hour game: Fastest nine innings in history. (FYI)
By Tim Hagerty, Contributor
Time of game: 31 minutes. On Aug. 30, 1916, North Carolina State League teams Asheville and Winston-Salem finished a nine-inning game in just more than a half-hour. The teams agreed to speed-up policies so they could catch an afternoon train. Plus, the late-season game didn’t matter to the pennant race.
Base runners galloped until they were tagged out, pitchers lobbed the ball over the plate and fielders dashed to the dugout, sometimes even before the third out was recorded. All of the runs in Winston-Salem’s 2-1 win came from solo homers.
Two hundred spectators witnessed an historic game, but at the time they were furious. So was Asheville owner L.L. Jenkins, who was blindsided by the quick-game stunt and refunded all fans.
It's believed to be the fastest nine-inning game in professional baseball history.
If Major League Baseball is looking to increase the pace of games, a game nearly 100 years ago might provide tips.
Golf: I got a club for that… Horschel caps amazing run with FedEx Cup.
By Doug Ferguson (AP Golf Writer)
Bill Horschel poses with both trophies after winning the Tour Championship golf tournament and The FedEX Cup, Sunday, Sept 14, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Billy Horschel capped off the best three weeks of his career with the biggest payoff in golf.
Billy Horschel capped off the best three weeks of his career with the biggest payoff in golf.
Horschel pulled away from a self-destructing Rory McIlroy early, and then holed two clutch putts that felt like $10 million to hold off Jim Furyk on the back nine at East Lake. He closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-shot victory in the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup.
Horschel's career earnings were just over $4.5 million coming into the year.
He collected $11.4 million in one day - most of that the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus - with an incomparable run through the playoffs.
The 27-year-old from Florida was runner-up in Boston, a winner in Denver and he cashed in big in Atlanta. Horschel was No. 69 when the playoffs began a month ago. No one had ever won the FedEx Cup starting lower than No. 19.
He epitomized what these playoffs offered - one month for anyone to get a hot hand. Horschel shot in the 60s his last 12 rounds.
''He was clutch when he needed to be,'' McIlroy said. ''He played the best golf this week and I'm happy for him.''
The only boos Horschel heard all day was doing the Gator chomp walking off the 18th green before a host of Georgia fans.
The timing was great for Horschel - not so much for the American team going over to the Ryder Cup in two weeks. U.S. captain Tom Watson made his three picks after Horschel's runner-up finish in the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Now the hottest hand in golf - he should move up to No. 14 in the world - will be watching from home. Horschel figures to be plenty occupied. His wife is expecting their first child, a girl, in two weeks.
Furyk closed with two bogeys for a 69 and his fourth runner-up finish this year. He has not won since the Tour Championship four years ago. McIlroy never recovered from three straight bogeys around the turn, and three late birdies only helped him pick up some FedEx Cup cash. He closed with a 71 and wound up No. 3 in the FedEx Cup, which is worth an additional $2 million.
Chris Kirk, who started the Tour Championship atop the FedEx Cup standings, closed with a 68 and tied for fourth with Justin Rose (69) and Jason Day (69). Kirk wound up second in the FedEx Cup and earned a $3 million bonus.
Horschel finished at 11-under 269.
McIlroy will have to settle for a season worth more than $10 million - two major championships and the undisputed No. 1 player in golf. Whatever hopes he had of his first FedEx Cup ended early. He hooked his tee shot into the water on the par-3 fifth and made double bogey to fall three shots behind.
Needing to start picking up ground on the 600-yard ninth hole, he blasted his drive so far right that it wound up a foot away from the out-of-bounds fence of the practice range. There was no way out.
With his caddie and a rules official ducking in the holly bushes, McIlroy slashed out with a wedge over the bushes and through a gap in the trees that only he saw. Next, he had a mobile TV truck lowered to ground level to get his third into the fairway. But his wedge came up short, and he made bogey.
Two more bogeys later, including another three-putt at the 10th, he was five shots behind and out of the mix.
By then, it was a two-man race between Horschel and Furyk.
Horschel won by not losing. He raced a 50-foot putt nearly 8 feet by the hole on the 13th, and calmly sank the par putt to keep a one-shot lead. Furyk, playing in the group ahead of Horschel, got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 15th to tie for the lead, only for Horschel to get up-and-down from a bunker to regain it.
The key moment came at the 16th, where Horschel drove into the trees, pitched out to the fairway and came up about 30 feet short on his third shot. Right when it looked as if he might blink first, Horschel drained the par putt to stay in front.
Ahead of him, Furyk came up well short of the 17th green and missed a 12-foot par putt. Horschel was already on the 18th tee when he watched Furyk three-putt the par-3 18th hole for another bogey.
He put another shot in the middle of the green, taking away all the drama from the finish.
Not that it mattered to him.
Horschel is young enough - this is only fourth full year on the PGA Tour - that $10 million still matters. He conceded on Saturday that it would be hard not to think about it. Along with the bonus ($9 million in cash), Horschel gets a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
By Nick Bromberg
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) during the MYAFIBSTORY.COM 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Brad Keselowski saw Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson battling for the lead ahead of him and as Larson went high and Harvick went low heading into turn one, Keselowski took the middle.
It was the right option.
Keselowski stormed past both drivers and held on for the lead through a last restart to win the first race of the 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup on Sunday at Chicago.
Larson and Harvick were having a fantastic battle off a restart with 18 laps to go. Larson had the lead and Harvick, who restarted second, was able to hang with him. The two ran side by side for virtually the entirety of two laps, but the great racing came at a price.
Keselowski was hanging around in third and got an incredible draft of the huge hole in the air the two were creating with 16 laps to go. As Harvick headed to the white line and Larson went towards the wall, Keselowski cut the middle and was clear by the time he was on the backstretch.
"I'm not really sure," Keselowski responded when asked how he made the pass in victory lane. "I'll have to watch the ESPN replay to figure it out. But we obviously had a great car ... these Fords have really come together for a strong Chase run."
Last week, Keselowski won the last race before the Chase at Richmond for his fourth win, a victory that gave him solitary possession of first place for the Chase. With the win at Chicago, he keeps first place in the Chase and may put him in place for a repeat. Keselowski won at Chicago en route to the 2012 title. (Oh, and Keselowski is also guaranteed a spot through the first elimination round of the Chase.)
It was a win that came without the benefit of great track position too. Keselowski and his teammate Joey Logano have been the masters of qualifying this season but Friday's qualifying session was washed out. The lineup was set on practice speeds and both Penske cars started in the 20s. It ultimately didn't matter.
And neither did late pit stop trouble. Keselowski had to pit a second time under caution on lap 184 because of a potential loose wheel. He restarted 17th after starting at the back of the field but quickly sliced and diced his way up through the field. He was ninth within 25 laps and two more late cautions helped his ascent.
Jeff Gordon finished second and he's second in the points standings, seven behind Keselowski. Larson finished third while Joey Logano was fourth and Harvick was fifth.
NASCAR's popularity growing in Chicago.
NASCAR appears to be catching on in Chicago.
Sunday's Chase for the Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway drew more than 60,000 fans on a bright September afternoon, unofficially the largest crowd in four years the Joliet track has hosted NASCAR's playoff kickoff race.
"It's very gratifying" Chicagoland President Scott Paddock said. "You feel a little pressure from the industry to get their playoffs off on the right foot and the reception we got today and the feedback we received was 'job well done.'
"And we culminated with a great race."
NASCAR already announced next year's Chase hosts and Chicagoland Speedway will lead off the 2015 series for the fifth straight year.
Stewart silent: Tony Stewart, who finished 18th Sunday, continued to keep a low profile as New York officials concluded an investigation into his culpability in the death of a fellow dirt-track driver in an Aug. 9 accident. Authorities reportedly completed but did not release results of an accident that killed Kevin Ward, 20, at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Stewart struck Ward, who had walked onto the track to confront Stewart after a spinout. A statement on potential actions is expected from Ontario County (N.Y.) authorities later this week.
Snakebit at Chicago: Jimmie Johnson has six Sprint Cup titles to his credit but a victory at Chicagoland Speedway remains elusive. Johnson finished 12th after consistently running in the top 10 and briefly as high as third. Johnson has won the pole in 2005 and 2012 and has seven top-fives.
Patrick's woes: Danica Patrick hit the car driven by boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. late in Sunday's race. "I just didn't know Ricky was there and I obviously didn't want to hit his car or anyone else with 10 laps to go," she said. "I talked with Ricky afterward and we're fine."
Back on the road: NASCAR trailers packed up quickly and departed Chicagoland Speedway en route to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for next Sunday's second race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Van Gaal wants more from match-winner Di Maria.
AFP; Tom Williams
Manager Louis van Gaal urged Angel di Maria to give even more after he inspired Manchester United to a 4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on his home debut.
The Argentina international, United's record signing, upstaged debutant Radamel Falcao in Sunday's game at Old Trafford with a goal, an assist and a hand in the home side's two other goals.
He came off in the 82nd minute after suffering cramp and although Van Gaal heralded his contribution, he said that he expected the £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros) winger to get even better.
"Di Maria is all right, but he has cramp. Normally you have to play 90 minutes without cramp, but that's also a positive symbol that he gave everything," the Dutchman told his post-match press conference.
"When you prepare three goals and you make (score) the first goal yourself, you cannot play bad. But he had a lot of unnecessary losses, so we can do better. Even Angel di Maria.
"Can you do better when you prepare three goals and make one? It's nearly impossible. But I'm a coach and I analyse the game and I see things we have to improve as a team."
Di Maria put United ahead in the 24th minute with a free-kick from wide on the right that crept in at the far post.
He instigated the moves that saw Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney swell United's lead with a pair of low strikes before half-time and then teed up Juan Mata to add a fourth goal with a mishit shot in the 58th minute.
Having seen his side go four games without winning prior to Sunday's game, Van Gaal rejigged his line-up by introducing a four-man defence and a diamond midfield.
But despite the impressive nature of United's performance, the former Netherlands coach said the decision to jettison his 3-4-1-2 formation had been imposed upon him by circumstance.
"I could hardly play with five defenders because (Chris) Smalling and (Phil) Jones were injured," Van Gaal explained.
"So I was more or less forced to play with four defenders, but it's also because of the quality of players that I changed the system."
He added: "I said to the players before the match that we have to make a new start today."
- Van Gaal's championship ambition -
United, who also gave debuts to Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, finished the game with substitute Falcao alongside Robin van Persie in attack and with Rooney operating as a number 10.
But Van Gaal dismissed suggestions that this could be the most attacking side he has ever coached.
"I've worked already more than 35 years and I've played always on the attack," said the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.
"All my teams have scored the most of the league, so I hope at the end of this league we'll also score the most.
"But it's not our goal. Our goal is to be in the first three, because we have to qualify ourselves for the Champions League.
"The most important thing is the trajectory. We are building a process and we have to play in a certain style, we have to improve our qualities.
"And at the end I hope to be the manager of the champions of the Premier League. If it is not this year, then in my second or third year, but I want to give the championship to the fans."
QPR manager Harry Redknapp, who has never picked up a point in 15 league visits to Old Trafford, said his side were short of fitness.
"One or two of my players are still trying to get their fitness," he said.
"Sandro ended up with cramp because he's played one game all season. We need to get a few of them up to speed and if we do, I think we've got a great chance."
U.S. routs Mexico on record-breaking night for Hope Solo.
By Richard Farley
(Getty Images)
To the extent anybody was scared the U.S. would repeat last cycle’s qualifying mishaps, Saturday night in Sandy, Utah, will go a long way toward minimizing any lingering fears of Mexico. Facing the team whose 2010 upset sent them into a qualifying playoff, the United States put up an 8-0 victory at Rio Tinto Stadium, the team’s first piece of preparation ahead of next month’s CONCACAF qualifying tournament.
The result meant goalkeeper Hope Solo, entering the night tied with Brianna Scurry for the team’s all-time shutouts record, now sits alone among national team No. 1s. Behind a defense that was rarely tested, Solo recorded her 72nd career shutout, besting Scurry’s mark in 19 fewer international appearances (154).
The U.S. opened the scoring in the 11th minute after an own goal from Alina Garciamendez, whose attempted clearance of an Alex Morgan pass went off Mexico goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago before bouncing in for the game’s opening score.
Twelve minutes later, Morgan set up Wambach from deep down the left flank to double the U.S.’s lead, with Morgan adding her first of the night in the 36th minute. Before halftime, Wambach scored her 170th international goal, giving Morgan her second assist of the evening while sending the U.S. into halftime up, 4-0.
Eleven minutes after the break, Morgan added her second goal of the night, with defender Whitney Engen piling on the night’s sixth before the hour. Two 60th minute substitutes, Sydney Leroux and Heather O’Reilly, added late goals, giving the U.S. its final margin.
The win runs the U.S.’s all-time record against Mexico to 28-1-1, with the Tricolor’s only victory coming curing World Cup qualifying four years ago. Though that loss in CONCACAF’s qualifying tournament threw the U.S. into a playoff for Germany 2011’s last spot, there’s little chance we’ll see a similar outcome next month. Not only are there more qualifying spots for CONCACAF at next year’s World Cup (3.5, as opposed to 2.5 in 2011), but as recent results show, Mexico’s 2-1 win in Cancun remains an extreme outlier.
Five days from now, Mexico will have another chance to prove otherwise. The two teams meet again, this time at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.
The CONCACAF Women’s Championship begins on Oct. 15.
2014 College Football Rankings: Coaches Poll Week 4.
By Bryan M Vance
Do coaches even watch college football?
Week 3 was a boring week for college football. There were few can't-miss matchups, and even fewer dramatic changes in the rankings outside of USC, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia Tech.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | FIRST PLACE VOTES | PREVIOUS RANK | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State Seminoles | 2-0 | 1502 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 3-0 | 1408 | 1 | 2 | |
| 3 | Oregon Ducks | 3-0 | 1399 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | Oklahoma Sooners | 3-0 | 1390 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Auburn Tigers | 2-0 | 1297 | 5 | ||
| 6 | Baylor Bears | 3-0 | 1179 | 7 | 1 | |
| 7 | Texas A&M Aggies | 3-0 | 1159 | 8 | 1 | |
| 8 | LSU Tigers | 3-0 | 1107 | 9 | 1 | |
| 9 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 3-0 | 966 | 11 | 2 | |
| 10 | UCLA Bruins | 3-0 | 861 | 12 | 2 | |
| 11 | Michigan State Spartans | 1/1/2014 | 776 | 13 | 2 | |
| 12 | Ole Miss Rebels | 3-0 | 769 | 15 | 3 | |
| 13 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 3-0 | 732 | 14 | 1 | |
| 14 | Georgia Bulldogs | 1/1/2014 | 693 | 6 | 8 | |
| 15 | Stanford Cardinal | 2/1/2014 | 561 | 16 | 1 | |
| 16 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 2/1/2014 | 529 | 23 | 7 | |
| 17 | Wisconsin Badgers | 1/1/2014 | 436 | 17 | ||
| 18 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 2/1/2014 | 402 | 18 | ||
| 19 | Missouri Tigers | 3-0 | 382 | 22 | 3 | |
| 20 | Kansas State Wildcats | 2-0 | 381 | 20 | ||
| 21 | USC Trojans | 2/1/2014 | 338 | 10 | 11 | |
| 22 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 3-0 | 325 | 21 | 1 | |
| 23 | BYU Cougars | 3-0 | 222 | 27 | 4 | |
| 24 | Clemson Tigers | 1/1/2014 | 207 | 24 | ||
| 25 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 2-0 | 128 | 25 |
Schools Dropped Out: No. 19 Virginia Tech.
Others Receiving Votes: Duke 100; Mississippi State 92; Oklahoma State 83; Florida 72; TCU 50; Virginia Tech 47; Washington 44; East Carolina 35; Penn State 26; Marshall 25; West Virginia 19; Arizona 18; Cincinnati 15; Northern Illinois 10; Oregon State 8; Louisville 8; Arkansas 7; Pittsburgh 5; North Carolina State 4; Boston College 4; Memphis 2; Boise State 1; Virginia 1.
NIU, currently the only undefeated team in the MAC, received 10 votes this week. Up five from their five the Huskies received a week ago. While no MAC teams are ranked this week, the MAC does play a pair of ranked teams this weekend. Bowling Green heads out to Wisconsin to play the No. 17 Badgers are noon on ESPN2. Also at noon this Saturday, EMU visits in-state foe Michigan State, currently ranked No. 11.
Oh, and how about the coaches finally giving a Group of Five team (BYU) some love?
Tennessee State coasts past Jackson State 35-7.
AP-Sports
De'Ante Saunders had two interceptions, returning one 45 yards for a touchdown to fuel a stout defensive effort by Tennessee State in a 35-7 victory over Jackson State on Saturday night.
Tennessee State's (2-1) defense stymied Jackson State in the opening half, forcing three-and-outs on six of the first seven drives.
Jackson State's (2-1) fifth drive looked to have stalled as well, but a roughing the punter penalty extended it. Saunders' pick six came on the next play on an attempt by LaMontiez Ivy.
Ronald Butler found Dantwaun O'Neal for an 8-yard score and Tom Smith's second rushing touchdown made it 35-0 at halftime.
Anthony Bass had 2 1/2 of Tennessee State's seven sacks, helping limit Jackson State to -1 yard rushing total on 26 attempts.
Tennessee State lost the shutout when Rakeem Sims scored on a 5-yard run to put Jackson State on the board in the third quarter.
A.J. Guyton to Bob Knight: Return to Indiana, help heal old wounds.
Jeff Eisenberg
Bobby Knight before an NCAA college basketball game between Connecticut and Stanford in Hartford, Conn., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)
In the 14 years since Indiana controversially fired Bob Knight, the iconic former Hoosiers coach has never returned to the school he led to five Final Fours and three national championships.
One of Knight's most famous former players hopes he sets aside his grudge soon.
Former Big Ten player of the year A.J. Guyton, one of five new members of Indiana's athletic hall of fame, wrote an open letter on his Facebook page appealing to Knight to come back to Bloomington for the Nov. 7 induction dinner. Guyton believes a reconciliation between Knight and Indiana is the only way the program will ever reconnect with former players torn between showing loyalty to their coach and their school.
"Without you, Coach Knight, the relationships are strange at IU," Guyton wrote. "We are accepted and appreciated but there's a mission to "move on" from us. You're the only person who can make everything right & bridge this gap. It's not about the former administration, it's about the players you created [who] are in limbo, stuck in between. We are all experiencing various successes but not knowing how to include IU basketball.
"I'm certainly not asking anyone to apologize for anything. I'm simply extending a public invitation for you to do ME a favor, attend the induction ceremony on November 7th, it would mean the world to me as a former player and supporter. For you to come see the young professional you've helped create. I believe it's time, i believe the time is now.
"Indiana University, whatever charity you have to donate to on Coach Knight's behalf, lets get it done. Time's ticking & we all deserve a homecoming. I'm asking you, Coach Bob Knight, you said you'd do anything for me once I graduated, can you please attend my induction ceremony, which is coming back home to Indiana University?"
While the 1,129-word letter from Guyton may be the most heartfelt plea to Knight, it certainly isn't the first. In 2009, Indiana inducted Knight into its athletic hall of fame but he declined to attend despite multiple written invitations from athletic director Fred Glass. Indiana coach Tom Crean has also reached out to Knight to no avail, even after hiring former player Calbert Cheaney onto his staff.
The hostility between Knight and Indiana stems from the way school administrators placed him on a "zero-tolerance policy" late in his tenure and used a series of off-the-court incidents as an excuse to force him out in Sept. 2000.
Knight had always been a polarizing figure in Bloomington, revered by some for leading Indiana to 661 wins and maintaining a near-perfect graduation rate and reviled by others for his chair throwing antics and violent temper. The final straws for former Indiana president Myles Brand included an Indiana freshman accusing Knight of grabbing him by the arm in response to being greeted by his last name and ex-player Neil Reed alleging the iconic coach choked him during practice.
The bitter divorce created an ever-widening schism among those who supported Indiana and those loyal to Knight. It didn't help when Indiana security removed fans clad in homemade "Bring Back Bobby" T-Shirts in Feb. 2008. Or when Ohio State played a taped message from Knight before a game against Indiana in Feb. 2013 in which the Buckeyes alum declared, "I used to coach a little bit, and there's nothing better than Ohio State basketball."
Those incidents explain why Guyton believes it's unlikely Knight will honor his request and make his return to Bloomington on Nov. 7.
"We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it's absolutely not; it takes a very strong person to forgive," Guyton wrote. "It's a long shot, but if we share this letter enough, it might end up in the right hands."
Floyd Mayweather beats Marcos Maidana via unanimous decision in rematch.
By Kevin Iole
Floyd Mayweather (green gloves) and Marcos Maidana (blue gloves) trade punches during their WBC & WBA Welterweight and WBC Superwelter Weight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
Floyd Mayweather's nose was swollen and his lips were busted up. He seemed low key and subdued, even after yet another dominant performance.
The week was filled with unwanted controversies and distractions. He was dogged about domestic violence incidents in his past and ripped about thoughtless comments he made about Ray Rice.
The work of promoting a major fight had clearly taken a toll on him. And, he's moving inexorably toward his 38th birthday.
Love him or loathe him, you can't deny him.
Mayweather once again proved he's far and away the best fighter in the world by routing Marcos Maidana on Saturday before 16,144 at the MGM Grand Garden, retaining the WBC welterweight and super welterweight titles with a unanimous decision.
Judge Guido Cavalieri had it 115-112, but John McKaie and Dave Moretti had it 116-111 for Mayweather. Yahoo Sports had it 117-110 for Mayweather.
Mayweather gave himself a C-minus, but if that was a C-minus effort, nobody else could ever get a passing grade. He dictated the pace, landed more than half of his shots and connected with the hardest punches.
In the ring after he'd won for the 47th consecutive time, he even said of the long-awaited Manny Pacquiao fight, "Let's make it happen."
Asked at the post-fight news conference if a Pacquiao fight is realistic, he said, "What's realistic is that I am 47-0."
It was an overwhelming victory in the rematch, as he made Maidana look ordinary. Maidana wasn't able to cut off the ring and never landed much of consequence.
Maidana, who said he believes Mayweather is beatable, said he thought he won the fight, but he was alone in that assessment.
"I was in great condition and I never felt tired," Maidana said. "You don't win a fight by running. I thought I won the fight. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the judges love fighters who run. I don't want to waste my time with a third fight. I trained with all my heart and to get this type of result, this is not fair and there is no reason for another fight."
In the eighth round, they were grappling in the center of the ring and the fighters tangled. It appeared as if Maidana bit Mayweather on the right hand, and Mayweather reacted angrily. He came to the neutral corner and told the ringside media, "He bit me."
He was clearly angry and complaining to referee Kenny Bayless. It impacted him as the fight went down the stretch, he said. He had a mark on his right middle finger that he said was caused by the bite.
"I didn't know what it was, but my fingers all of a sudden went numb," Mayweather said. "It was the eighth round and my fingers went numb for rest of the fight. We were tangled in the center of the ring and I didn't know what it was at first. Then I realized he bit me."
Maidana denied biting, asking, "With a mouthpiece on? I'm not a dog." But later, he seemed to fess up, complaining about Mayweather's tactics. Maidana said Mayweather put his glove in his mouth as they were clinching.
It seemed Maidana was fighting far dirtier, but Maidana said, "He was rubbing his glove in my eyes."
The biggest news was not Mayweather's mastery, but that he gave hope to those who have long wanted to see a fight with Pacquiao. That was probably the biggest significance in an easy win in which Mayweather landed 166 of 326 punches while holding Maidana to just 128 of 572.
"Pacquiao needs to focus on the guy [Chris Algieri] in front of him," on Nov. 22 in China, Mayweather said. "Once he gets past that test, let's see what the future holds."
That doesn't mean the fight is anywhere near a sure thing – long-time observers will need a lot more than that during a euphoric moment post-fight to be convinced the long-awaited match is near – but it did mark a new stance by Mayweather.
Strangely, Mayweather seemed off-put by his performance. Maidana again tried to fight a rough-and-tumble fight and Mayweather did well to avoid being caught by anything wild.
But he wasn't happy with his defense. As he left the ring, he stood on the top step watching highlights on the large video board. He grinned wanly after seeing his hand raised.
"I got hit with shots tonight I shouldn't have gotten hit with, but that's the sport," Mayweather said.
He focused almost exclusively with his left hand in the early part of the fight, dropping the right hand in only on occasion. But as the middle rounds wore on he fired more rights until the biting incident.
Maidana tried the same roughhouse tactics he used in the first fight. He threw far less shots this time, but he was punching as Mayweather punched and made a bit of a difference.
"Chino threw so many punches in that first fight, but it's hard to hit Floyd," Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez said. "He stands right there and he moves the shoulder and he moving his head and he's hard to hit. But if you throw when he throws, he could be vulnerable."
All in all, it was a great night for Mayweather, who said promoting a fight "is a lot more work than people realize."
It's nothing compared to what he does in the ring, though, and he's coming down the stretch of a masterful career.
He's not as fast or as sharp as he was when he was younger, but he remains the most technically brilliant fighter in the world by a large margin.
And his experience of more than 18 years has helped him deal with all the outside issues.
Inside the ring, there is no one like him.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, September 15, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
MemoriesofHistory.com
1912 - Joe Wood (Boston Red Sox) won his 16th consecutive major league game.
1938 - Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first brothers to hit back-to-back home runs in a major league game. It was Lloyd's last home run.
1946 - A Brooklyn Dodgers-Chicago Cubs game was called when players, umpires and fans were attacked by gnats.
1953 - The National Boxing Association adopted the 10-point scoring system for all of its matches.
1963 - All three Alou brothers - Felipe, Matty and Jesus - played in the outfield at the same time for the San Francisco Giants in a 13-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1969 - Steve Carlton (St. Louis) struck out 19 Mets for a nine-inning game record.
1974 - Fred Lynn (Boston Red Sox) hit a home run on his very first major league at-bat.
1978 - Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks to win his 3rd World Heavyweight Boxing title.
1978 - The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first major league baseball team to pass the three-million mark in home attendance.
1979 - Bob Watson (Boston Red Sox) became the first player to hit for the cycle in both leagues. He hit for the cycle with the Houston Astros on June 23, 1977.
1990 - Bobby Thigpen (Chicago White Sox) became the first relief pitcher with 50 saves in a season.
1996 - The Baltimore Orioles broke the major league record for most home runs in one season. They finished with a total of 243. The New York Yankees had set the record at 240 in 1961.
1997 - The NHL and the player's union agreed to change the format of the 1998 All-Star Game. The decision was made for the top players from the United States and Canada to play against the best players from the rest of the world.
1997 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) hit his 51st and 52nd home runs to become the sixth player to hit 100 or more home runs over two consecutive seasons. He had hit 49 home runs the previous season.
1998 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis) hit his 63rd home run of the season.
1998 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) became the fourth-youngest player to reach 1,000 RBIs when he hit his 52nd home run of the season.
2002 - Curt Schilling (Arizona Diamondbacks) struck out eight to reach 300 for the season. Schilling and Randy Johnson became the first teammates in baseball history to each strike out 300 in the same season.
2004 - The National Hockey League locked out its players in an effort by management to gain massive economic change.
1938 - Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first brothers to hit back-to-back home runs in a major league game. It was Lloyd's last home run.
1946 - A Brooklyn Dodgers-Chicago Cubs game was called when players, umpires and fans were attacked by gnats.
1953 - The National Boxing Association adopted the 10-point scoring system for all of its matches.
1963 - All three Alou brothers - Felipe, Matty and Jesus - played in the outfield at the same time for the San Francisco Giants in a 13-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1969 - Steve Carlton (St. Louis) struck out 19 Mets for a nine-inning game record.
1974 - Fred Lynn (Boston Red Sox) hit a home run on his very first major league at-bat.
1978 - Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks to win his 3rd World Heavyweight Boxing title.
1978 - The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first major league baseball team to pass the three-million mark in home attendance.
1979 - Bob Watson (Boston Red Sox) became the first player to hit for the cycle in both leagues. He hit for the cycle with the Houston Astros on June 23, 1977.
1990 - Bobby Thigpen (Chicago White Sox) became the first relief pitcher with 50 saves in a season.
1996 - The Baltimore Orioles broke the major league record for most home runs in one season. They finished with a total of 243. The New York Yankees had set the record at 240 in 1961.
1997 - The NHL and the player's union agreed to change the format of the 1998 All-Star Game. The decision was made for the top players from the United States and Canada to play against the best players from the rest of the world.
1997 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) hit his 51st and 52nd home runs to become the sixth player to hit 100 or more home runs over two consecutive seasons. He had hit 49 home runs the previous season.
1998 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis) hit his 63rd home run of the season.
1998 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) became the fourth-youngest player to reach 1,000 RBIs when he hit his 52nd home run of the season.
2002 - Curt Schilling (Arizona Diamondbacks) struck out eight to reach 300 for the season. Schilling and Randy Johnson became the first teammates in baseball history to each strike out 300 in the same season.
2004 - The National Hockey League locked out its players in an effort by management to gain massive economic change.
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