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Notice: Please accept our most sincere apology. Due to the technical difficulty that we experienced Thursday evening, we were unable to publish Friday's edition of the Sports News Update. We have taken precautions to prevent this from happening again in the future. Not to worry, today's edition will bring you up to speed on all of this past weekend's sports news. Thank for your patronage and please continue to read the latest sports news with a taste of Chicago flair.
Sports Quote of the Day:
“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.” ~ Vince Lombardi, Legendary NFL Coach
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Packers Blow Out Bears 38-17 at Soldier Field.
By James Neveau
Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass during the first half of theirgame against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 28, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, but Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers threw a wrench into the works as they scored 24 unanswered points in a 38-17 thumping at Soldier Field Sunday afternoon.
Jay Cutler threw two touchdowns and two interceptions on the day, while Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers' offense got back on track. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb each had over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns apiece in the contest.
On their first drive of the day, the Bears ground out a length 15 play possession that ultimately gave them the lead. Matt Forte and Ka’Deem Carey both rushed for some huge gains to get the running game going in a positive direction, and Martellus Bennett snagged a first down pass to keep the drive alive. Finally, Jay Cutler found Brandon Marshall on their traditional stick route near the goal line, and after an 8:30 possession, the Bears held a 7-0 lead.
Where the Bears had ground down the clock with their solid run game, the Packers used a precision passing attack to tie things up in just over two minutes. Aaron Rodgers made a big play when he rolled out of the pocket and found tight end Richard Rodgers for a 43-yard gain. After two straight completions to Jordy Nelson, Rodgers handed the ball off to Eddie Lacy, who promptly stormed across the goal line and tied things up at 7-7
In the final four minutes of the first quarter, the Bears began to use their running game again with great results. By the time the quarter came to an end, the Bears had 107 yards rushing in the game, and they were knocking on the doorstep of the end zone thanks to a botched 4th-and-1 play that Cutler somehow turned into a first down when he picked the ball up off the turf and ran down the field to extend the drive.
As the second quarter got underway, the Bears had several plays from in close to the goal line, but they couldn’t quite get the ball across. After a penalty to Kyle Long and a quick run by Forte, Cutler threw two straight incompletions, including a bad high pass to an open Alshon Jeffery, and the team had to settle for a Robbie Gould field goal to make it a 10-7 game just a minute into the frame.
The Packers took over on offense and promptly began to move the ball down the field once again. This time however they were the beneficiary of several questionable calls, including a 15-yard flag on DJ Williams on a third down play that allowed the drive to continue.
Ultimately, the Packers scored when Rodgers found Nelson in the corner of the end zone, beating Kyle Fuller in one-on-one coverage and giving Green Bay a 14-10 lead.
Undaunted, the Bears’ offense resumed their successful ways and marched right back down the field and scored again. Brandon Marshall and Bennett each picked up first downs through the air to start the drive, and then Forte bulldozed his way through the line for another one. Finally, the Bears looked like they were going to run their reverse play with Jeffery, but the receiver broke off the route, did a 180 turn, and with the whole Packer defense moving the wrong direction he jogged into the end zone to make it a 17-14 game in favor of the Bears.
The Bears attempted an onside kick after the touchdown, but after Cornelius Washington failed to come down with the ball, the Packers got decent field position and took advantage of it. Isaiah Frey ended up isolated against Randall Cobb in a bunch formation set for the Packers, and Rodgers lofted a ball over the top that Cobb snagged and scored on to give Green Bay back the lead at 21-17 with just over a minute remaining in the half.
In that minute, the Bears moved the ball down the field quickly thanks to a run by Forte and two more huge catches by Bennett, but they ultimately were stopped just short of paydirt. As the clock expired, Bennett snagged a catch at the 1-yard line, but his attempt to put the ball over the plane of the end zone was stopped short, leaving the Bears down four points at halftime.
As the second half got underway, the Packers’ passing game continued to thrive, with Nelson grabbing another key catch. The Bears were finally able to stop them short of the end zone however thanks to a key holding penalty, and Mason Crosby narrowly curled in a long field goal to make it a 24-17 contest.
The Bears’ offense got churning in a big way on their next drive, with Forte running and catching a pass for first downs. After Cutler dove across the line of scrimmage for a first down however, he made his first big mistake of the day when his pass was intercepted. Tramon Williams jumped a route underneath to Josh Morgan and deflected the ball right into the arms of Clay Matthews, who returned it deep into Bears territory. Thanks to a quick touchdown by Nelson, the Packers extended their lead to 31-17.
On the Bears’ next drive, they got a nice play out of Jeffery on the end-around, but Cutler threw another interception to put a final nail in the coffin for the Bears’ chances. Brandon Marshall was the intended receiver on the play, but the duo miscommunicated on the route and Sam Shields intercepted the pass and brought it all the way down to the Bears’ 11-yard line.
The Bears did make a stop on third down on the ensuing Packers’ drive, but a phantom holding call on Jon Bostic gave Green Bay new life and they promptly scored another touchdown. This time it was Cobb doing the honors again, faking out the defender and catching an easy lob pass to put Green Bay up 38-17.
The fourth quarter was merely a formality after that score, with both teams simply running out the clock. Jimmy Clausen ended up coming into the game for the Bears late in the contest to save wear and tear on Cutler, and as the clock wound down the Bears watched as their record fell to 2-2 on the season.
The Bears will look to bounce back next week against the Carolina Panthers as they hit the road once again.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Preseason Recap: Teravainen first NHL goal, Blackhawks top Oilers 5-0.
By Brandon M. Cain
Preseason Recap: Teravainen first NHL goal, Blackhawks top Oilers 5-0.
Teuvo Teravainen roofed a shot from the slot pass goaltender Richard Bachman with less than a minute left in the second period for his first NHL career goal in a Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Credit Union Center in Saskatoon Sunday.
Teravainen, 20, played in three games for Hawks last season after scoring 44 points (9G, 35A) with Jokerit in SM-Liiga. It was his first preseason game this season.
Joakim Nordstrom and Kris Versteeg also made their preseason debuts for the Hawks. Versteeg scored the fifth and final goal on a two-on-one with Bryan Bickell in the third period. Bickell and Versteeg each had a goal an assist while Tervainen, Garret Ross and Andrew Shaw lit the lamp. Goaltender Scott Darling recorded the shutout and the Hawks improved to 2-2 during preseason play.
Darling made 22 saves and had some help along the way with three shots ringing off the post. Bachman could not hold off Hawks' offense and took the loss. The Hawks were shutout on two power plays, but in turn killed four penalties.
Bickell opened the scoring with a redirect off a long shot by Nick Leddy with six minutes to go in the first period. Duncan Keith one-timed a loose puck along the boards, which bounced off Ross and into the net. Keith and Trevor van Riemsdyk were credited with the assists. Shaw redirected David Rundblad's shot with eight and half minutes left in the third period.
Bickell opened the scoring with a redirect off a long shot by Nick Leddy with six minutes to go in the first period. Duncan Keith one-timed a loose puck along the boards, which bounced off Ross and into the net. Keith and Trevor van Riemsdyk were credited with the assists. Shaw redirected David Rundblad's shot with eight and half minutes left in the third period.
Center depth, goaltending key could determine success for Blackhawks.
By Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent
The Chicago Blackhawks make no secret about their goal for this season and beyond.
They're out to add a sixth Stanley Cup championship banner to the rafters at United Center, and they have a roster with enough talent to do it. After falling one goal short of playing for the Cup in back-to-back seasons, the Blackhawks are rejuvenated and ready for another season to begin.
In order to achieve their goal this season, they'll need to make sure these three things happen:
1. Continue to keep aging players fresh -- When they won the Stanley Cup in 2010, the Blackhawks were comprised mostly of players in their early- to mid-20s. A couple of them, like left wing Patrick Sharp (32) and Duncan Keith (31), are now in their 30s; right wing Marian Hossa is 35.
Defenseman Johnny Oduya, who was a contributor to the 2013 Cup championship, is 32; defenseman Brent Seabrook is 29; and center Brad Richards, who signed as a free agent in July, is 34.
The good news is they're all in great physical shape. Their advanced conditioning should mitigate some of the effects of aging, but it doesn't stop aches and pains associated with years of contact and the overall grind of the schedule.
Like Hossa has learned to do with his back, the Blackhawks' veterans will have to stay proactive in health maintenance and the training staff will have to monitor things even more closely than before.
If Hossa, Sharp and Richards can stay healthy and keep their legs, the Blackhawks might have the best group of top-six forwards in the League. There is organizational depth behind them should the veterans need some time off, but it's still a significant step down in talent and championship experience.
2. Corey Crawford needs to bounce back -- There's no question the defense last season let Crawford down at some key times, particularly in the Western Conference Final loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
The Blackhawks' inability to clear some loose pucks around the net directly led to some critical goals that Crawford shouldn't be blamed for, but Chicago's top goalie needs to be better.
The disparity between his goals-against average and save percentage from 2012-13 to 2013-14 were striking, in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. His 2.53 GAA and .913 save percentage in the 2014 postseason were particularly troublesome, and his struggles were most noticeable against the Kings.
Crawford is starting the first season of a six-year contract extension worth a reported $36 million, so the scrutiny will be even higher than usual. His goal for the season boils down to one thing.
"Win hockey games," he said. "You can't get ahead of yourself in this League. You get yourself in trouble doing that. There's always that fire [to win], whether you win a Stanley Cup or you come up just short."
3. Be stronger down the middle -- Richards is no longer a No. 1 center, but he's out to prove that he can still be a solid No. 2 option. The Blackhawks' lack of a viable second-line center finally caught up to them last season.
After winning championships in 2010 and 2013 without a steady second-line center, they were overmatched down the middle by the Kings in the conference final. It wasn't by a huge margin, but it was enough to make Chicago's lack of center depth stand out.
Bringing in Richards on a one-year, $2 million contract appears to have remedied the problem, at least on paper. His presence allows the grittier Andrew Shaw to center the top checking line again, with power forward Bryan Bickell and whomever coach Joel Quenneville puts with them.
It also keeps the ever-improving Marcus Kruger in the middle of the fourth line. General manager Stan Bowman also re-signed forward Peter Regin, who has experience at center, and forwards Ben Smith and Joakim Nordstrom have proven they can play there too.
Finnish rookie Teuvo Teravainen, who has high-end offensive skills and is No. 5 on the NHL.com Top 60 prospect ranking, is waiting in the wings, but missed time in training camp with an upper-body injury. Prospects Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill also have experience as centers.
The Blackhawks are aiming to be better than ever down the middle, and their success likely depends on it.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… There's no time like the present for the Bulls.
By Sam Smith
"In the best season of his pro career, Noah became the emotional leader of the Bulls," writes Smith. "He won the league’s top defensive award and was voted by media the best center. Perhaps no one’s role on the Bulls could change as much this season." (Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)
Is it time? Has the time come today? Is it time to stop putting it off for another day? Is it time to not care what others say? Has the time come for the Bulls to return to the championship trophy celebration?
No one is supposed to discuss such things almost nine months before it’s possible. But this 2014-15 Bulls season is pregnant with wonderful and lively championship possibilities.
This Bulls team appears to be the strongest since the title years of the 1990’s.
One of the informal NBA formulas for ultimate success is to have two players in the top five at their positions and another in the top 10 and at least one who is a top defender at his position.
There are obvious reservations given the injuries the past two years to Derrick Rose. But if Rose is healthy, he certainly is a top five point guard.
Joakim Noah in being named last season Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA first team obviously can make the case for being top five at his position. And though Pau Gasol didn’t have a great season, his 2013-14 averages of 17.4 points and 9.7 rebounds would rank him among the top big men in the game. And he just comes out of the FIBA Basketball World Cup being perhaps the most impressive player in the tournament.
Plus, the Bulls put Noah and Jimmy Butler on the all-defensive teams last season with Taj Gibson also a strong contender as Gibson was runner up in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year.
The Bulls have a former league MVP and thus three current or former all-NBA players in the starting lineup assuming Gasol starts, as expected. They bring off the bench the league’s top big man reserve and added this offseason Nikola Mirotic, who was a two-time European winner of the Rising Star award for best young player and Spanish League MVP, Doug McDermott, the consensus national collegiate player of the year and one of the top three-point shooters in NCAA history, and point guard Aaron Brooks, who averaged 19.6 points per game the last time he was a regular starter.
The additions give the Bulls their deepest veteran team in almost two decades.
Plus, the Bulls can claim the top coach in the Eastern Conference in Tom Thibodeau, the only current Eastern Conference coach to be named NBA Coach of the Year.
The Bulls have size and arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA with Noah, Gasol and Gibson. The Bulls have athleticism in Rose and Butler. They have shooting with McDermott and Mike Dunleavy Jr., the latter shooting 40 percent on threes the last four seasons. They have defense with Kirk Hinrich also having been an all-league defender to add to Noah and Butler and Thibodeau regarded as the top defensive coach in the NBA. So why not think of a call to action, that it could be time again?
Here’s a look at the roster for the 2013-14 season. Media day for interviews is Monday. Training camp drills begin Tuesday. The first preseason game is Oct. 6 at the United Center against Washington. The opening game is Oct. 29 against the Knicks in New York.
-- Derrick Rose: Rose’s health, obviously, will be the question hanging over him all season. It was every day with the summer USA Basketball team even as he played five games in six days and looked as fast and athletic as anyone playing. The story line will be ripe with second guessing that either Rose is playing too much or too little, that he could get injured because he’s fatigued or could get injured because he’s not in condition. The first injury was after not playing too much; the second was in a back to back. Rose, to his credit, has gone past all of that even if the media and public has not and likely will not. I was at all the summer games and thought he looked great. The poor shooting was more a function of taking two or three shots per game and basically coming into games to be a facilitator because the other three “point” guards all shot every time they had the ball. You can improve shooting; not speed and athleticism. With the roster depth and addition of an inside player who can score in Gasol, Rose will be asked to do much less offensively. Remember, when he came to the Bulls, he averaged 16.8 points and the notion he could be a league MVP seemed ludicrous because everyone agreed he was not a scorer after averaging 14.9 in college. Rose became a scorer for the Bulls playing with starters like Keith Bogans. And when Noah and Gibson had much less sophisticated games. Rose just being back and being a threat will change how defenses react to the Bulls and, in theory, create shooting opportunities for other players. Yes, Rose remains the fulcrum around which the team thrives and potentially enables the Bulls to turn into title contenders. But we also know no one will be watched as carefully and with as much joy and dread.
-- Joakim Noah: In the best season of his pro career, Noah became the emotional leader of the Bulls. He won the league’s top defensive award and was voted by media the best center. Perhaps no one’s role on the Bulls could change as much this season. In some respects, Taj Gibson might fit better with Pau Gasol. Gasol likely will start at power forward with Noah at center. But Gasol is by far the better offensive player and post player. Much of Noah’s offensive impact last season was as something of a point center with the offense running through him. That changes with the return of Rose and the addition of Gasol. Plus, Noah quietly has been piling up injuries with thumb surgery in 2010, ankle and foot problems and then knee surgery after last season, which prevented him from playing in the summer. He’ll likely come into the season slowly and perhaps more than Rose is a candidate for reduced minutes as he turns 30 this season. Noah seems likely to be more of a defensive specialist this season being able to cover the better offensive player when playing with Gasol and adept in the switching defenses with Gibson that have been so effective under Thibodeau.
-- Pau Gasol: The jewel of the offseason for the Bulls. He’s been overlooked amidst the decline of the Lakers the last two seasons. But he showed in the World Cup games an offensive fluidity and defensive prowess with shot blocking. He was considered the league’s most skilled big man two years ago and could return to that level. He could be the most versatile big man in the Eastern Conference this season. He’s a good passer like Noah, so also could have offense come through him as Noah did last season. There probably hasn’t been a big man in franchise history with the offensive and defensive versatility.
-- Jimmy Butler: The news question that will follow Butler around throughout October will be whether he signs a long-term extension. If he doesn’t, he’ll become a restricted free agent and the Bulls could match any offer next summer. If there is a deal, it likely wouldn’t come until the last moments like with Taj Gibson two years ago. It’s a big season for Butler to show whether he can play the shooting guard position. It’s more important now with Rose and Gasol given their passing and presence should open space for shooters. After shooting 38 percent on threes in 2012-13, Butler’s percentage fell to 28 percent last season. But he averaged about 39 minutes per game in a heavy workload, especially after Luol Deng was traded. So perhaps there were tired legs. He should have more time off this season. Butler was voted a second team all-defensive player and will draw the best opposition offensive player, a vital role previously reserved for Deng.
-- Mike Dunleavy Jr. Pressed into starting duties much more than expected with injuries and then the trade of Deng, Dunleavy probably will start again at small forward. It’s not an ideal role as last season he started his most games in six years. But Dunleavy was sturdy in not missing a game for the first time in six years, averaging more than 30 minutes per game and second to D.J. Augustin in three-point shooting. He’s a good rebounder and passer, though not the ideal defender when Butler has to guard the small forward. Tony Snell could help defensively and it’s possible rookie Doug McDermott at some point moves into a starting role if his shooting remains strong.
-- Taj Gibson: There was speculation in the summer Gibson would be upset not starting with the departure of Carlos Boozer and having his coming out season as Sixth Man runner up. He set or tied career highs in virtually every offensive category. Gibson said there are no personal lineup issues. Plus, he should even without starting get plenty of playing time with the possibility of Noah easing into the season and a desire not to overwork Gasol at 34. It’s possible even not starting Gibson averages more minutes than either. Gibson finally developed a reliable baseline jump shot last season and should be able to move it farther outside. He’s an excellent interior defender and shot blocker, though not someone to move to small forward even with his defensive versatility. He should be the top Sixth Man contender this season.
-- Kirk Hinrich: Like Dunleavy, Hinrich became a surprise starter last season. The team did curtail his minutes, but he started more than 60 games despite the expectation of being third guard. His defense remains strong even as he turns 34 this season. After a slow start, Hinrich shot the ball well the second half of the season and gives the team options as Rose will play off the ball with Hinrich at point guard at times as Hinrich can defend the shooting guards.
-- Doug McDermott: The most intriguing of the young players given his shooting prowess. McDermott is a mature rookie who’ll be 23 early in the season. He was one of the best three point shooters in NCAA history and won basically every collegiate honor as a senior. He’ll come off the bench to start as veteran coaches with teams considered contenders generally don’t start rookies. Given Dunleavy is not the ideal starting small forward, that could change later in the season. Even if it doesn’t--coaches like Thibodeau don’t like what appears to be demotions with veterans--McDermott could get more minutes if his shooting remains strong. He should get opportunities playing with Rose, Noah and Gasol and appears to be a competent defender with good size.
-- Nikola Mirotic: With Gasol, Noah and Gibson, there doesn’t appear much playing time for a rookie up front while also adjusting to a new country and language. Mirotic is a power forward, stretch forward big man shooter. He has to play the big men role, so will be behind those three. He has impressive three-point range. So he should at least get some spot minutes as a designated shooter, though this should be more a transition season learning the league and the team.
-- Tony Snell: As a rookie last season, he got some spot starts with the injuries. He was too often tentative, which isn’t unusual for a rookie. He has been determined with an aggressive summer league to be more assertive. He’s got potential as a defender with size and long arms and showed flashes of three-point shooting range, though too often being deferential. Whether he is more aggressive likely will determine whether he has more of a role than he did last season as he can back up both wing positions.
-- Aaron Brooks: Formerly a high scoring point guard for the Rockets, he has become a journeyman and also left the NBA for a year to play in China. He was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2010 and has averaged almost 20 points in a season. Brooks is smallish at perhaps six feet, but an aggressive offensive player and insurance for Rose, a veteran player who can give Rose time off if there are health concerns or an inclination to rest for the playoffs.
-- Nazr Mohammed: The native Chicago big man returns for a third season with the Bulls. He takes on the quiet, veteran locker room role of providing the correct model and being available in case of injuries. He’s kept himself in good condition and is comfortable with the team’s system.
-- E’twaun Moore: The East Chicago native was an occasional starter because of injuries after being traded to Orlando. He’s played both guard positions at about 6-4 and is further insurance as he shoots the three reasonably well.
-- Cameron Bairstow: The second round pick big man isn’t likely to play much. But he appears to have the ability to develop into a backup big man role.
We’ll all have some better ideas where this can lead 90 games from now.
Breaking down the NBA’s Eastern Conference.
By Aggrey Sam
The Eastern Conference continues to be weaker than its Western counterpart as a whole, but following another offseason of significant player movement, the landscape looks a bit different.
Obviously the Cavaliers’ summer makes them the team to beat, with the Bulls’ strong offseason putting them neck and neck. But other teams, such as Washington, Toronto and Charlotte, could also make a push and the race for the bottom playoff seeds will also be interesting, as the Heat, Hawks, Knicks and Nets are among the clubs who could contend for the postseason.
Let’s take a divisional look at how all of the teams stack up individually:
Atlantic Division:
Toronto Raptors: Toronto is the class of this division after a surprise playoff appearance following the midseason Rudy Gay trade with Sacramento, strengthening the team’s bench with valuable reserves Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson, while allowing the backcourt of Kyle Lowry and All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan to thrive. Lowry, the heart and soul of the team along with underrated veteran big man Amir Johnson, re-signed with the team as a free agent, as did Patterson, Vasquez and Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. Whether or not they can make further strides depends on the development of young players like center Jonas Valanciunas, swingman Terrence Ross, as well as new sixth man Lou Williams, an instant-offense scorer now a year removed from his return from an ACL injury.
New York Knicks: The Knicks are championing a new era with team president Phil Jackson and first-year head coach Derek Fisher, who played for Oklahoma City last season, and by retaining superstar Carmelo Anthony, there’s at least some optimism in New York. Dealing away center Tyson Chandler for point guard Jose Calderon was an interesting move, but the steady veteran floor general should make the triangle offense flow, the team’s deep shooting-guard rotation—featuring sixth man J.R. Smith, Chicago-area native Iman Shumpert and second-year player Tim Hardaway Jr.—gives the squad some athleticism and though there are major holes on the roster, the Knicks could sneak back into the playoffs.
Brooklyn Nets: Brooklyn made a head-coaching change, as Jason Kidd controversially left for Milwaukee, with ex-Memphis coach Lionel Hollins replacing him. The no-nonsense Hollins has a veteran group centered around swingman Joe Johnson, point guard Deron Williams and oft-injured center Brook Lopez. But veteran scorer Paul Pierce leaving for Washington as a free agent hurt and though young big man Mason Plumlee, who played for the national team this summer, has shown signs of development, future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett (if he does return for another season) isn’t getting any younger.
Boston Celtics: It’s a tricky situation in Boston, as it’s a badly-kept secret that the Celtics are trying to trade point guard Rajon Rondo and they’re nowhere near contention. Youngsters like draft pick Marcus Smart, re-signed shooting guard Avery Bradley, finesse big man Kelly Olynyk and burly power forward Jared Sullinger have some promise, but nothing that suggests they’re superstar material, meaning players like Jeff Green and Chicago native Evan Turner will have the opportunities to make major impacts.
Philadelphia 76ers: One team certainly not worried about where they stand this season is Philadelphia, as the 76ers have clearly committed to developing young prospects (also known as tanking), as opposed to winning now. Reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams lost trusted veteran Thaddeus Young, but has a new running mate in fellow 2013 first-round pick Nerlens Noel, who missed all of last season due to injury, though there’s little else notable about the Sixers’ roster.
Central Division:
Chicago Bulls: Given their collective experience, offseason additions like veteran big man Pau Gasol and rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic, relative continuity and getting Derrick Rose back from his second significant injury, the Bulls are poised to have a banner regular season. Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau’s vaunted defense led by the likes of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah, sixth man Taj Gibson and swingman Jimmy Butler, combined with much-improved offensive firepower and perimeter shooting, make the Bulls among the most complete teams in the league.
Cleveland Cavaliers: For all of Cleveland’s star power and LeBron James’ brilliance, the Cavaliers are still a team composed of mostly young players who haven’t experienced much success. First-year head coach David Blatt is known for creative strategies, but there will be a learning curve coming from the world of international basketball, and re-signed point guard Kyrie Irving and fellow All-Star Kevin Love, not to mention youngsters like shooting guard Dion Waiters and power forward Tristan Thompson, will have to deal with outsized team expectations for the first time in their respective careers. Defense will almost certainly be an issue for the Cavs, as veteran center Anderson Varejao is the only player even resembling an interior presence, but once they jell, this should be one of the NBA’s elite teams.
Detroit Pistons: Stan Van Gundy, in his first year as both team president and head coach, has serious personnel challenges on his hands. Detroit’s crowded frontcourt, featuring power forwards Josh Smith and Greg Monroe—the latter signed a qualifying offer with the team for the upcoming season, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer—and promising young center Andre Drummond is talented, but doesn’t necessarily mesh well together. The Pistons also have a curious mix of perimeter players, led by shoot-first point guard Brandon Jennings, second-year shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and free-agent acquisitions D.J. Augustin, the former Bulls backup, and sharpshooter Jodie Meeks, but Van Gundy’s coaching acumen alone should be able to coax a few more wins out of the team than last season.
Indiana Pacers: After losing shooting guard Lance Stephenson to Charlotte in free agency and All-Star swingman Paul George to a gruesome leg injury while he played for USA Basketball in the offseason, the Pacers had a rough summer, building upon the negative trend that was their second-half collapse last regular season. Indiana will likely fall hard, as veteran power forward David West and center Roy Hibbert, who essentially had an on-court meltdown after being an All-Star the previous year, are the two mainstays remaining.
Milwaukee Bucks: Although the Bucks will be far from competitive, the aforementioned Kidd lucked into a good situation in Milwaukee, as he will coach perhaps the most NBA-ready rookie in the class, Chicago native Jabari Parker, as well as second-year Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who should combine to form an exciting, complementary tandem at the forward positions. If big man John Henson and scoring guard Brandon Knight continue to develop, and shot-blocker Larry Sanders can bounce back from a disappointing year on and off the court, the future will look a lot brighter.
Southeast Division:
Washington Wizards: One of the big surprises in the league last season, Washington, led by the talented young backcourt of All-Star point guard John Wall and shooting guard Bradley Beal, are now one of the upper-echelon teams in the East. The veteran frontcourt of big men Nene and Marcin Gortat are now boosted by the addition of the aforementioned Pierce, and the team has solid depth, including backup point guard Andre Miller and ex-Bull Drew Gooden. Wizards head coach Randy Wittman, who was signed to new contract extension, has the trust of this group, so as long as the team stays healthy, the focus will be on challenging the Bulls and Cavs for conference supremacy after making it to the second round of the playoffs last spring.
Charlotte Hornets: Possessing their old nickname and coming off a postseason appearance, Charlotte is poised to take another step this season, as the duo of big man Al Jefferson, arguably the league’s top post-up scorer, and point guard Kemba Walker get help in the form of the aforementioned Stephenson. Marvin Williams, the veteran forward, was another underrated free-agent acquisition and if young players like second-year big man Cody Zeller and draft picks Noah Vonleh and P.J. Hairston can contribute, Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford’s bench will be more formidable. Role players like sharpshooter Gary Neal, backup point guard Brian Roberts and swingmen Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Gerald Henderson Jr. and Jeffery Taylor aren’t big names, but fit in well with the defensive-oriented team.
Miami Heat: There’s no way to replace a player of James’ stature, but Miami ensured it wouldn’t fall into irrelevancy, as the Heat re-signed All-Stars Chris Bosh and Chicagoan Dwyane Wade, along with starting point guard Mario Chalmers and backup center Chris “Birdman” Andersen, then brought in the likes of ex-Bull Luol Deng, underrated big man Josh McRoberts and small forward Danny Granger. They won’t remain a top-tier team, but those players are enough to make the playoffs in the East.
Atlanta Hawks: Despite multiple injuries to key players, Atlanta sneaked into the postseason last spring behind Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer’s perimeter-oriented. Now, with star big man Al Horford back to go along with scoring point guard Jeff Teague, elite shooter Kyle Korver and All-Star power forward Paul Millsap, as well as a bolstered bench through free agency, they should again be one of the lower seeds in the postseason, though the unwanted attention brought on by abhorrent comments by general manager Danny Ferry and majority owner Bruce Levenson could be a distraction.
Orlando Magic: Orlando’s youth movement continues for at least another year, with forward Aaron Gordon and point guard Elfrid Payton, this year’s draft picks, joining the players such as second-year guard Victor Oladipo, forward Tobias Harris and big man Nikola Vucevic. The Magic picked up a few veterans in free agency, like shooting big man Channing Frye and ex-Bulls guard Ben Gordon, but the priority will be developing the youngsters, while hoping to get a few more wins in the process.
Examining the NBA’s stacked Western Conference.
By Aggrey Sam
Once again, the NBA’s Western Conference remains ridiculously loaded, with teams capable of winning 50-plus games—enough to be a top-four team in the East—potentially on the outside looking in when the playoffs roll around, as only a handful of clubs aren’t competitive enough to challenge for a postseason bid, at least on paper. Here’s an examination, division by division of the West:
Northwest Division:
Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder basically stood pat over the offseason, seemingly resolving to rely on the trio of reigning league MVP Kevin Durant, All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook and shot-blocking power forward Serge Ibaka. Former sixth man Reggie Jackson, who is line for a new contract extension this fall, should start in the backcourt this season and bruising second-year center Steven Adams could eventually join him. Oklahoma City’s offensive firepower will carry the team, but anything short of reaching the NBA Finals could put head coach Scott Brooks firmly on the hot seat.
Portland Trail Blazers: After a surprise breakthrough campaign last season that resulted in a trip to the second round of the playoffs, Portland is looking to take the next step behind the All-Star duo of power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and point guard Damian Lillard. The loss of sixth man Mo Williams will hurt, but the Blazers bolstered their bench with veteran free agents Chris Kaman and Steve Blake. If role players like versatile small forward Nicolas Batum, defensive-oriented center Robin Lopez and tough-minded shooting guard Wesley Matthews, and young reserves Thomas Robinson, Will Barton and C.J. McCollum are up to the task, a deeper squad could be the difference in how far the team goes.
Denver Nuggets: An injury-riddled season in the first year of the tenure of head coach Brian Shaw and general manager Tim Connelly wasn’t ideal, but the Nuggets have depth and talent. Speedy point guard Ty Lawson and rugged power forward Kenneth Faried, an unexpected star for USA Basketball this summer are the centerpieces for the Nuggets, but the eventual returns of small forward Danilo Gallinari, center JaVale McGee backup power forward J.J. Hickson and former Bulls fan favorite Nate Robinson from injury will help, as will the additions of rookies Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic, and the homecoming of Arron Afflalo to Denver.
Minnesota Timberwolves: The loss of All-Star power forward Kevin Love puts Minnesota in rebuilding mode, but the cupboard isn’t bare for the Wolves with the last two No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft, Canadians Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, as well as athletic rookie guard Zach LaVine. Center Nikola Pekovic is probably the team’s most established player, but expect the Wolves to play a more up-tempo style to cater to their younger personnel, potentially helping point guard Ricky Rubio improve as he awaits a new contract extension this fall. Some key veterans include forward Thaddeus Young, acquired from Philadelphia in the Love trade, scorer Kevin Martin and defensive-minded swingman Corey Brewer, but the organization is clearly embarking on a youth movement.
Utah Jazz: One of the youngest teams in the league, Utah retained star small forward Gordon Hayward over the summer and drafted Australian guard Dante Exum, adding to a nucleus that also features second-year point guard Trey Burke and big man Derrick Favors. The jury is still out on young players like physical bruiser Enes Kanter and smooth swingman Alec Burks, but rookie Rodney Hood and shot-blocking center Rudy Gobert have the potential to carve out niches for themselves down the line.
Pacific Division:
Los Angeles Clippers: In Doc Rivers’ second year at the helm with the Clippers—the Chicago-area native has now added team president to his resume—look for the team to build upon their success, having added depth with the free-agent acquisitions of outside-shooting center Spencer Hawes, backup point guard Jordan Farmar and scoring swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts. Those moves might not seem all that significant, but an improved bench could go a long way when battling other juggernauts in the West. Of course, everything still revolves around the All-Star tandem of point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin, with the interior presence of center DeAndre Jordan also playing an important role.
Golden State Warriors: There are high expectations for first-year head coach Steve Kerr in Oakland, as he replaces the fired Mark Jackson and tries to take an already-good team to the next level. The “Splash Brothers” backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson is Golden State’s focal point, but the health of the inside pairing of center Andrew Bogut and David Lee is also important. Swingman Andre Iguodala is also crucial, as is depth, with free-agent acquisition Shaun Livingston adding a new dimension to the bench, which also features young role players like rugged forward Draymond Green and talented wing Harrison Barnes.
Phoenix Suns: The Suns, coming off a surprisingly solid season, are in the odd position of having a young, cost-efficient roster, but also being a playoff contender in the second year of the tenure of head coach Jeff Hornacek and general manager Ryan McDonough. A potential distraction is the contract status of point guard Eric Bledsoe, who meshed so well alongside fellow floor general Goran Dragic. Isaiah Thomas, who excelled as a starter in Sacramento last season, and stretch power forward Anthony Tolliver came aboard as a free-agent signings and defensive specialist P.J. Tucker was retained, but besides athletic swingman Gerald Green, the rest of Phoenix’s roster is mostly made up of youngsters, from the Morris twins at forward, combo guard Archie Goodwin, fellow-second-year player Alex Len and draft picks T.J. Warren and Tyler Ennis.
Los Angeles Lakers: Now that Kobe Bryant is returning to the lineup, it’s unlikely that the Lakers have as disastrous of a season as a year ago, but new head coach Byron Scott still has an immense challenge. Holdovers like aging future Hall of Famer Steve Nash, sixth-man scorer Nick Young and high-energy big man Jordan Hill, and newcomers such as point guard Jeremy Lin, ex-Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer and rookie Julius Randle will help matters, though it might not make a difference in the deep West.
Sacramento Kings: With two players on the national team, big man DeMarcus Cousins and forward Rudy Gay, the Kings can at least hold out hope that things are going in the right direction. However, letting the aforementioned Thomas walk in free agency and replacing him with the mercurial Darren Collison is an iffy move at best and drafting shooting guards Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas in consecutive drafts doesn’t inspire much hope that Sacramento will make a major improvement this season.
Southwest Division:
San Antonio Spurs: The defending champions bring back virtually the same roster—with the addition of rookie point forward Kyle Anderson—and if the veteran trio of future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, All-Star point guard Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili can remain healthy for one more season, it’s no stretch to imagine the same cast of characters making another title run. Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard’s continued development is paramount and role players like Danny Green and ex-Bulls guard Marco Belinelli also have room to improve with another year in Gregg Popovich’s system. Retaining forward Boris Diaw was also significant, as evidenced by the Frenchman’s play in the FIBA World Cup.
Memphis Grizzlies: A tumultuous summer that featured a bizarre front office shake-up resulted in Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger not only keeping his job, but receiving a new contract extension and after rumors that he could either be traded or allowed to walk, veteran power forward Zach Randolph also inked a new deal. The combination of Randolph and center Marc Gasol is one of the best in basketball, and assuming Gasol can stay healthy for a full year, now that Joerger got back to former Memphis coach Lionel Hollins’ “grit and grind” style of play, the team should find its rhythm earlier than last season, which started poorly and ended in strong fashion. The backcourt of underrated floor general Mike Conley Jr. and defensive stopper Tony Allen, a Chicagoan, will also be important, and the addition of veteran scorer Vince Carter might be one of the better moves in the offseason around the league, giving the defensive-minded squad some additional offensive firepower.
New Orleans Pelicans: The development of big man Anthony Davis into one of the league’s elite players could lift New Orleans from the lottery into the playoffs, especially now that the Chicago native can play power forward, his more natural position, with the arrival of ex-Bulls center Omer Asik, giving the Pelicans two imposing shot-blocking and rebounding forces. But other players, such as point guard Jrue Holiday, shooting guard Eric Gordon and reserve scorers Tyreke Evans and Ryan Anderson, one of the NBA’s top stretch power forwards, will need to remain healthy for things to work out as planned.
Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks were active over the summer, signing small forward Chandler Parsons as a free agent and trading floor general Jose Calderon for center Tyson Chandler (bringing him back to where he won an NBA title) and point guard Raymond Felton. Other additions included veteran point guard Jameer Nelson and forwards Richard Jefferson, Al-Farouq Aminu, Rashard Lewis and Ivan Johnson, as well as retaining point guard Devin Harris. But as always, Dallas’ success hinges on the play of future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, who developed chemistry with scoring guard Monta Ellis throughout last season.
Houston Rockets: Houston replaced the aforementioned Parsons with Trevor Ariza, who played for the Rockets earlier in his career and was coming off a stellar campaign in Washington. The organization swung and missed in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, and after letting various players walk to free up cap space, outside of the All-Star duo of shooting guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard, Chicagoan Patrick Beverley, one of the league’s top on-ball defenders, is one of the few holdovers with experience.
Paul Konerko will 'forever remember' White Sox retirement ceremony.
By Dan Hayes
If he was overwhelmed by the first two days of his final homestand, Paul Konerko reached a new level during Saturday night’s extravaganza.
The White Sox celebrated their longtime captain in almost every way imaginable during a 42-minute pregame ceremony that included Konerko’s family, friends, former teammates and special guests, video tributes and lavish gifts.
Among the highlights was a statue of the first baseman on the left-field concourse unveiled during remarks made by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. The team also presented Konerko with artwork, two guitars and the ball he blasted into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. Emcee Hawk Harrelson also announced plans for Konerko’s No. 14 to be retired in a ceremony next season.
“This is way more than you ever dream could happen when you pick up a bat,” Konerko said. “You’re 6 years old and you find yourself here 32 years later with all this going on, it’s not something that you think is going to happen. I’m guessing it’s too late to ask for a day off Robin (Ventura) because I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get out there tonight. I’ll do my best. I’ll get out there.”
Before he began thanking his family — all three of his children threw out the first pitch — and other guests, Konerko congratulated Kansas City Royals players, who watched from the top step of the visiting dugout, for clinching their first postseason berth since 1985 and thanked them for waiting out the celebration.
Konerko then thanked his current and former teammates during an 8-minute speech. Included among them were Jim Thome, Brian Anderson, Greg Norton, Cliff Politte, Chris Getz, Sean Lowe and Ross Gload. Konerko also acknowledged Craig Wilson, Scott Podsednik, Mark Kotsay and Joe Crede, who couldn’t attend Saturday’s event because their flights had been cancelled or delayed.
“That’s what it’s all about right there, people coming in after you play with them for years and they want to come out to help you out and represent for you here,” Konerko said.
The White Sox front office was the next to be praised as Konerko singled out Brooks Boyer, the team’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, who helped track down his legendary home run ball from Chris Claeys, a North Side White Sox fan.
He also paid tribute to general managers Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn, who had presented him with replicas of his left-field statue.
“You guys were great, you guys were fair to me,” Konerko said. “I tried to show up and play as hard as I could for you. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it wasn’t, but the intent was there and I did my best for you.”
Konerko also thanked manager Robin Ventura for how he has handled him this season and last offseason, when the slugger wasn’t certain whether or not he’d get the chance to return to the club. The team’s coaching staff and training staff were also recognized, as was Reinsdorf, whom he noted he’s “forever indebted” to.
Konerko finished his speech by addressing the sellout crowd, which spent Saturday holding up signs, chanting “Paulie” and roaring in approval of the fan favorite. Rather than address them as fans, Konerko recognized the team’s faithful as his “friends” and said their relationship clicked from the start in 1999. Konerko said he most appreciated how the team’s fans treated him during the bad times and credited their efforts for a performance that has helped him blast 439 home runs with the White Sox over parts of 16 seasons.
“When you look at that statue out there, or you look at that number that’s going to go right there, just realize that when you look at that when I’m not there and you’re at these games, your fingerprints are all over it,” Konerko said. “It wouldn’t be there without you guys.”
The team pulled out all the stops for Konerko’s ceremony, which began with him seated in the home dugout while his family, friends, teammates and Harrelson were seated on the field. After making brief remarks and introducing everyone, Harrleson announced Konerko and then turned everyone’s attention to the video board in center field for tributes.
Among those who congratulated Konerko from afar were Metallica front man James Hetfield — Konerko’s longtime walkup music was the band’s song ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ — Gordon Beckham, Jonathan Toews, Derrick Rose, Juan Uribe, Podsednik, Crede and Jermaine Dye. Ozzie Guillen thanked Konerko for making him look like a good manager and fellow retiree Derek Jeter also offered his congratulations.
The crowd also roared in approval for the video tributes by Mark Buehrle and A.J. Pierzynski, who said “Greetings from St. Louis.”
Adam Eaton and Tyler Flowers followed by presenting Konerko with his first gift, a bench made of baseball bats with the words “Our Teammate” and “Our Captain” written on the back. Konerko also received two guitars, a 1976 Gibson, to represent the year he was born, and a mint condition 1963 Fender Stratocaster.
“There might not be one (Fender) of that year and that shape in the world,” Konerko said.
Reinsdorf then took over and congratulated Konerko and his family, noting Konerko’s achievements in the community were far greater than the outstanding numbers he produced at the plate. Joking he probably wouldn’t have given him the ball from the final out of the 2005 Series, Reinsdorf told Konerko the White Sox tracked down the second-best piece of memorabilia and Claeys walked out to present Konerko with his trophy.
As if that wasn’t enough, Reinsdorf then had Konerko’s statue unveiled.
Before he ended his speech with the words “Play Ball,” Konerko tried to capture the magnitude of the event and what it meant to him.
Even after the speech, the video tributes continued late into the game. Fans chanted “Paulie” every time the slugger strode to the plate and gave him a standing ovation when he took the field by himself to start the game; his teammates waited for Konerko to reach first base and tip his cap to the crowd.
Throughout the rest of the game, the White Sox played old Konerko clips on the video board. The first baseman said he watched all of it, including the tributes, from the bench.
Konerko’s wife and three children also appeared on the video board late in the contest with his oldest son telling him, “I love you” but retirement is a “bad idea.”
Konerko admitted that taking it all in made it harder for him to compete. He finished 0-for-3 and was replaced at the start of the seventh inning by rookie Andy Wilkins, walking off the field to one last standing ovation.
“I knew when I signed back there would be an end to this and there would be some sort of the things that they would do, things at the end,” Konerko said. “You just try to envision what they are and try to be prepared, but that was really cool and really, they just were on the money with everything.”
Selling the Cubs' future: Anthony Rizzo's connection to Jon Lester.
By Patrick Mooney
Anthony Rizzo chatted with Jon Lester during the All-Star festivities in Minnesota. They hadn’t really reconnected since Rizzo visited the Fenway Park clubhouse in 2008 and met another cancer survivor.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein keeps selling the future and figures to make a pitch to Lester this winter. Year 3 ended with Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. It’s time to accelerate the next phase of this rebuilding project.
Rizzo is a big Miami Heat fan after growing up in South Florida, but he’s not planning to move all the chess pieces and put together another Big Three on his own. Still, the franchise first baseman does have a unique connection to the big-name pitcher the Cubs will be chasing this offseason.
The Boston Red Sox took care of Rizzo as he recovered from the diagnosis of limited-stage classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sending him to Massachusetts General Hospital and putting his family up in a hotel. Lester had already beaten anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and won the clinching game in the 2007 World Series.
After a summer of stories about whether or not Derrick Rose would help the Bulls recruit players, Rizzo feels like the Cubs will sell themselves — and Epstein is someone who can make things happen.
“I’m not in a position to do that in my career (now),” Rizzo said. “This isn’t like basketball (where) you have one guy. You need 25 strong with us. But I personally don’t need to do that. They have the front office, and our team will speak for itself. I trust what we’re doing.”
Rizzo has been hearing it from opposing players when they get to first base and start asking about Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant.
“It’s just mostly in the division, because we play these guys so much,” Rizzo said. “They see us the last few years. Even last year, guys got on (and said): ‘You guys got talent here.’ It’s just about putting it all together.”
The Cubs have finished in fifth place in the National League Central for five seasons in a row, but it almost always comes down to years and dollars and Wrigley Field should become a more attractive destination.
“I don’t ever see why it’s not,” Rizzo said. “Just because guys that are free agents played in Chicago, versus us or the White Sox. They know what the city’s like during the summer, outside of baseball, and how good (the) people are here, the passion for sports, the food. Everything.”
Lester has been doing his homework, asking around about what it’s like playing in Chicago. The 30-year-old lefty already knows Cubs executives Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod, who worked together in Boston.
Lester’s believed to be open-minded about his future after getting traded to the Oakland A’s at the July 31 deadline. Losing Yoenis Cespedes left a huge hole in the A’s lineup and their clubhouse, but Lester has been as good as advertised (6-4, 2.35 ERA in 11 starts), even if Oakland doesn’t become a factor in October.
The bidding will get crazy, and the New York Yankees are expected to make a strong push for Lester. But if the price is right, someone who already has two World Series rings might listen to the idea of cementing his legacy on the North Side.
“When everyone won in Boston,” Rizzo said, “those guys are going to be remembered forever. That’s the same way it is here.”
Zimmermann's no-hitter for Nats ends on great grab.
By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Sports Writer)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
One out away from pitching the Washington Nationals' first no-hitter, Jordan Zimmermann watched his 104th pitch on a crisp, clear Sunday afternoon get smacked toward deep left-center.
Zimmermann leaned his head back and winced. His first thought: ''Double. No-doubt double.''
''And then,'' the right-hander said later, ''he comes out of nowhere and makes that catch.''
Thanks to a dramatic, diving grab by little-used rookie Steven Souza Jr., who came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning, Zimmermann completed his gem, a 1-0 victory for the NL East champion Nationals over the Miami Marlins.
''I thought there was no way this would ever happen. My career numbers are something like one hit per inning, so I figure if I can make it out of the first, the hit's coming in the second,'' said the 28-year-old Zimmermann, a quiet guy who was a second-round draft pick in 2007 out of Division III University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. ''But today was one of those special days.''
Almost morphed into a one-hitter, though. With two outs in the ninth and a 2-1 count, Marlins leadoff man Christian Yelich turned on a 94 mph fastball over the plate.
Souza was shaded well over toward the left-field line at a coach's prompting.
''He probably couldn't have been more out of position,'' said right fielder Jayson Werth, who watched it all unfold from what became a nearly silent home dugout.
''I was just thinking to myself, 'It is not optimal to be Steven Souza right now, because as soon as you come into the game, every time, the ball's going to find you,''' Werth said. ''I had a feeling something crazy would happen. But not that crazy, that's for sure.''
Souza sprinted, extended his glove and leaped for the sensational catch, using his bare hand to squeeze the ball in his mitt as he fell.
''The one thing on my mind is, no matter how I'm going to get there, I'm going to get there,'' Souza said. ''Getting there, I kind of blacked out.''
Souza held his glove aloft to show he had the ball. Zimmermann raised both arms.
Nationals relievers in the home bullpen lifted their arms, too. So did thousands in the Nationals Park crowd of 35,085, who roared with every pitch late.
''I don't think anyone in the stadium expected Souza to get to that,'' Zimmermann said.
Indeed, Miami's Mike Dunn said he and other relievers in the left-field visitors' bullpen started cheering as the ball headed their way.
''When he caught it,'' Dunn said, ''it was just like, 'Really? Did that just happen?'''
Said Yelich: ''With that on the line, that might be one of the best plays I've ever seen. Ever.''
Souza jogged in and Zimmermann greeted him with a hug. Souza handed over the baseball, which Zimmermann shoved in his back pocket.
''It was too loud to hear everything he was saying,'' Souza said. ''But I heard, 'I love you' and 'Thank you.'''
Souza's name now belongs alongside those of other players delivering superb catches to save no-hitters. The name that kept coming up in the Nationals' clubhouse was Dewayne Wise, the defensive replacement whose juggling, tumbling grab in the ninth saved Mark Buehrle's perfect game for the White Sox in 2009.
No major leaguer had thrown a no-hitter in Washington since Bobby Burke did it for the Senators in 1931 against Boston.
Quite a way to cap a regular season in which the Nationals finished with the NL's best record, 96-66. Washington hosts San Francisco or Pittsburgh in Game 1 of a division series Friday.
''Just an epic day for an epic season,'' said Denard Span, who set a Nationals season record with his 184th hit.
Zimmermann (14-5) struck out 10 and allowed only two baserunners. After retiring the first 14 batters, he walked Justin Bourn on a low, full-count fastball with two outs in the fifth. In the seventh, Garrett Jones reached first base on a strike-three wild pitch; moments later, catcher Wilson Ramos picked him off.
Zimmermann's accuracy was unassailable: 79 strikes and 25 balls.
Starting on seven days' rest because his pitching shoulder got bruised by a line drive his last time out, Zimmermann poured in fastballs in the mid-90s mph, used his mid-80s slider to great effect and had his changeup fooling a Marlins lineup without NL home-run champion Giancarlo Stanton.
It was the fifth time there has been a no-hitter on the final day of the season. Happened last year, too, when Henderson Alvarez of the Marlins did it against Detroit. On Sunday, Alvarez (12-7) was Miami's starting pitcher against Zimmermann, allowing Ian Desmond's 24th homer for the only run.
With only a few clouds and the first-pitch temperature at 79 degrees, Zimmermann didn't need a whole lot of defensive help until Souza's memorable play. That might have been a good thing, because Nationals manager Matt Williams pulled his starters as the game went on.
The closest Miami came to hits before Yelich were three liners in the fifth grabbed by backup infielders - Tyler Moore at first, Kevin Frandsen at third, and Danny Espinosa at shortstop.
''Three rockets, and right at guys,'' said Zimmermann, who had shaving cream in both ears from the on-field celebration. ''That's when I knew there might be something special happening.''
Frandsen wasn't so sure, saying: ''Fifth inning's a little early to think, 'He's got a no-hitter.'''
Maybe. But after the third, pitching coach Steve McCatty pulled Williams aside to point out that their initial plan to let Zimmermann have a light day's work with an eye to the postseason might not hold up.
''I said, 'What do we do if we're going to give him six (innings) and he doesn't (allow) a hit?'' McCatty recounted. ''He just looked at me and said, 'That's not funny.' I said, 'Well, there's a good chance that's going to happen.'''
Thanks in part to Souza, it did.
Golf: I got a club for that… Europe wins Ryder Cup as USA fades once again.
By Jay Busbee
Rory McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Stephen Gallacher, Justin Rose, Europe team captain Paul McGinley, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjorn, Ian Poulter, Jamie Donaldson, Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia pose during the European team photo call ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 23, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
For a brief moment, there was hope. For a brief moment on Sunday morning at Gleneagles, the United States held the lead in six matches at the Ryder Cup, with four more all square. If everything had continued on that trend, the United States would have had a fair chance of capturing the cup it had fumbled away two years ago.
But if there was a theme to the 2014 Ryder Cup, it was this: Europe does not quit. (We'd make some French-surrender joke here, but Frenchman Victor Dubuisson won his two matches.) Virtually every time the United States would establish an advantage, Europe would grind back with a series of relentless drives, pitches, and putts.
Nowhere was this more apparent than in the first singles match of the final day, pitting white-hot American rookie Jordan Spieth against veteran U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell. Spieth blazed out to a three-hole lead by the turn, but slowly let McDowell back into the match and would end up taking it in relatively easy fashion, 2&1. Combine that with Rory McIlroy's earlier hammering of Rickie Fowler, and Europe, needing just four points on the day, had two points before the United States could post even one.
Patrick Reed, the pro wrestler in golfer's clothes, managed a big win against Henrik Stenson. But just a few minutes later, Martin Kaymer won the battle of two-major winners against Bubba Watson. Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson managed to win their matches, but by then, the finish line was already in sight. Hunter Mahan let Europe's best player, Justin Rose, back into their match and eventually halved, leaving Europe just half a point away from victory.
In the end, it fell to rookie Jamie Donaldson to hole the winning putt, defeating Keegan Bradley with five matches still on the course. Donaldson had two putts to win; he lipped the first, and tapped in the second. That guaranteed a tie, which meant Europe retained the cup, but the European team wanted to win it outright. As a result, Donaldson wasn't aware of the victory, and neither was the crowd. But with Donaldson's approach on 15 just two feet from the hole, the Europeans clinched victory outright – their eighth in the last 10 events – and the champagne began flowing.
The United States had faced an uphill challenge right from the start. Home-course advantage gives teams an implicit advantage of up to three points, and Europe, the defending champion, would retain the cup in the event of a tie. Plus, Europe boasted the majority of big-name stars in McIlroy, Rose, Kaymer, and others, as well as the noted Ryder Cup hired gun Ian Poulter. The United States lacked stars like Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Jason Dufner, and captain Tom Watson declined to pick the two hottest golfers in recent weeks in Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel.
Friday morning began with promise for the United States, as the rookie team of Spieth and Reed, and the veteran pairing of Mickelson and Bradley, each were able to win a point in fourball. Fowler and Jimmy Walker split against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer, but Bubba Watson and Simpson got blown out by Rose and Henrik Stenson. Still, the United States held the early lead.
It wouldn't last. In what would become a theme of this Ryder Cup, Europe woke up in the afternoon and took total control. The United States could only manage a half-point, again courtesy of Fowler and Walker. European MVP Rose again brought in a point for Europe, and the surprisingly strong team of Graeme McDowell and Dubuisson dealt Mickelson and Bradley their first loss as a team. Surprisingly, Spieth and Reed did not play the afternoon session on Friday, the first of many Tom Watson on-course decisions that would draw second guessing.
Saturday morning dawned with Mickelson and Bradley sidelined for the entire day, frustrating both players. The United States managed 2 1/2 points, with Fowler and Walker once again splitting their match. Jim Furyk and Mahan got up off the deck to win, and Reed and Spieth again continued their astonishing debut run. But Kuchar and Bubba Watson again took a loss, and then came the afternoon.
Europe took 3 1/2 points on Saturday afternoon, with only Spieth and Reed managing even a halve against the Euros' relentless assault. The problem for the US, in so many matches, was the inability to hold a lead or hold off a charge. The Europeans simply would not stop grinding, and the Americans had no margin for error from the very start. By the time Saturday ended, Europe was up 10-6, and all that the USA could do was hope and pray for another closing miracle.
It fell to Rory McIlroy, naturally, to end all that. The world's No. 1 player destroyed Fowler in their head-to-head match, and from there, the rout was on. And now, the United States will have a quiet flight back home, and a long wait until the competition returns to America, and Hazeltine, in 2016.
The suggestion from Jack Nicklaus that begat a lost Ryder Cup generation.
By Ryan Ballengee
Jack Nicklaus speaks with American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson (Getty Images)
You're angry. You're upset. You're looking for a scapegoat for the Americans' eighth loss in the last 10 Ryder Cups. Here's one: Jack Nicklaus.
In 1977, Jack Nicklaus met with the Earl of Derby, who, at the time, ran the PGA of Europe and the combined team of Great Britain and Ireland. GB&I had lost nine of the previous 10 Ryder Cups. They played to a draw in the 1969 matches at Royal Birkdale, thanks in large part to a putt Nicklaus conceded to Tony Jacklin on the final hole of the final match. It was obvious Americans would lose interest in the biennial matches if they won all the time. So Nicklaus had a suggestion: expand the GB&I team to include continental Europe.
The PGA of Europe and PGA of America both loved the idea. It would inject some intrigue. Two years later, Team Europe made its Ryder Cup debut, falling to the U.S. by a 17-9 count. The 1981 matches were worse, with the U.S. winning 18½-9½. But in 1983, the Europeans nearly pulled it out, losing by a mere point. Seve Ballesteros, at the peak of his career, urged his teammates not to lament the loss but see it as proof that they could, in fact, beat the Americans.
Since 1985, the Ryder Cup has been played 15 times. With their victory on Sunday at Gleneagles, Europe has won 10 times, halving once.
How fitting, then, for the European Tour to award Nicklaus on Sunday with an honorary lifetime membership.
How fitting, then, for the European Tour to award Nicklaus on Sunday with an honorary lifetime membership.
“Both organizations [the European Tour and PGA of Europe] would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the vision of one man who, in 1977, recommended to the President of the PGA of America and our President of the British PGA to consider widening the British and Ireland team to all of Europe," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady on Sunday.
Nicklaus never could have imagined expanding the Ryder Cup would have flipped the matches on their head, so dramatically in favor of the Europeans.
A look down the all-time list of most Ryder Cup points won shows the importance of Europe to the matches. Bernhard Langer (from Germany), Seve (Spain), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) and Sergio Garcia (Spain) are all in the top seven of that list.
Despite their differences -- language being the least of them -- the Europeans band together every two years to wallop the Americans. They come together as a team, lifted by a singular cause.
The U.S. says they do that defeat after defeat, but the results simply don't show it. In fact, a generation -- yes, a generation -- of resounding losses have poisoned the American talent pool. Woods, Mickelson, Furyk -- they've all been rolled by Europe so many times it's hard to imagine finding the inspiration to fight back. Mickelson may well have Stockholm Syndrome based on how he applauded Justin Rose after each successive bomb in their decisive singles match at Medinah. Woods phoned in the final hole against Francesco Molinari two years ago, knowing a win wasn't possible. Indifferent about the tie, he lost the hole to give the Europeans another win. Why bother.
Some 37 years after Nicklaus posited his revolutionary idea, it would be great if he, or anyone for that matter, could deliver one to benefit the United States. Let me humbly pose a pair of ideas.
PGA of America president Ted Bishop, or his successor Derek Sprague, should call 2008 captain Paul Azinger on Monday and offer him the job for 2016 at Hazeltine near Minneapolis. Apologies are in order for not celebrating what he masterminded at Valhalla. He should have the job until he loses. His pod system worked in the same way that nationality helps European duos gel.
Future captain's picks, be they two, three or 12, should favor inexperience. Tom Watson selected Hunter Mahan despite his crippling flub against Graeme McDowell in 2010 at Celtic Manor. Mahan's repeated goof against Justin Rose on Sunday was Exhibit A as to why Ryder Cup experience is a liability, not an asset, on the American team. Exhibits B, C and D are Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker, the three rookies who played inspired, passionate golf these last three days.
The next generation of American greats will have grown up knowing nothing but Ryder Cup defeat. They will be motivated in the way Seve Ballesteros was so infectiously. Reed and Spieth are the future, with other young players still to come.
Now we have two long years to identify a path forward, an inspired leader and to stew -- again.
NASCAR: Jeff Gordon wins at Dover as Kevin Harvick has tire issue.
By Nick Bromberg
Three of the best and most consistent drivers throughout the first 26 races won the first three races of the Chase.
After Kevin Harvick, the day's dominant driver, had a left-front tire problem at Dover, Jeff Gordon took advantage for his fifth Dover win and his first since 2001 at the concrete oval.
Gordon is the third driver to win in the first three Chase races. The first was won by Brad Keselowski, who finished second to Gordon. The second, last week at New Hampshire, was won by Joey Logano. Keselowski has five wins this season. Gordon and Logano now have four each. They're the three winningest drivers in the Cup Series this season and, had the Chase not been in effect, all would be in the top four in the points.
The race at Dover was the final race in the first round of the Chase. After the third race, the field was set to be whittled from 16 drivers to 12. The four drivers missing the next round of the Chase after Dover are AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch.
At Kansas, the 12 remaining drivers all will have their points total reset to 3,000 and after the next three races the field will be whittled to eight title contenders.
The win officially advanced Gordon to the next round of the Chase, but it's a moot point. Barring disaster, Gordon was a lock to advance among the 12 drivers moving on in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and he would have been alive for the title at Kansas whether he was second, fifth, or tenth.
"I don't know what happened to Kevin Harvick, that was unfortunate for him," Gordon said. "He was the class of the field. We tuned it to try to compete with him. When I saw him go out I knew we could compete with [Keselowski]. [Keselowski] was really good on short runs but we could run him down. Of course he made us work for it there at the end because he was so good on the short runs."
The run to the finish wasn't a short one, however. The last pit stops came under green with approximately 70 laps to go and when they were done, Gordon had a 2+ second lead over Keselowski and maintained position the rest of the way.
Outside of the drama surrounding the final Chase spots for drivers near the 12th position in points and in the middle of the pack, the only real drama was for Harvick's flat tire. The problem, which happened right after a set of green flag pit stops, was the last caution flag of the day. And it was yet another crazy issue for Harvick, who has had great runs derailed in seemingly innumberable ways in 2014.
"It knocked the inner valve stem off the left front," Harvick said. "A lugnut got in-between the wheel and the brake rotor and knocked the valve stem out. Crazy. Handing out early Christmas presents for people; winning races that we should be winning."
The flat tire didn't completely ruin his day though. Harvick stayed on the lead lap through the caution flag and ended up 13th.
Jimmie Johnson, the dominant driver at Dover in recent history, finished third. Logano was fourth while Matt Kenseth was fifth.
NASCAR: Driver reaction to 2015 rule changes.
By Kenny Bruce
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers say they aren't sure how NASCAR's 2015 rules package will affect their teams, but most appear to be in agreement about one change -- the ban on testing.
"I'm a big fan of (not testing)," 2003 series champion Matt Kenseth said Friday at Dover International Speedway. "Especially the no Daytona testing stuff (in January); we really don't learn anything there."
In addition to reducing engine horsepower and overall downforce on cars for 2015, NASCAR has banned private testing by teams. Since 2013, each organization has been allowed to test up to four times annually at tracks hosting Sprint Cup events, and as often as each chose at tracks not on the schedule.
Goodyear will continue to conduct tire tests at various facilities with what in the past has included at least one team from each of the three auto manufacturers -- Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. It's possible NASCAR could allow teams a test day leading into a race weekend as well if circumstances warranted such action.
Kenseth said depending on how the Goodyear tests are conducted, "it's kind of the same for everybody."
"Whether we all test together or none of us test, I think it's the same thing," the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said. "I'm a fan of that and I think it will save the owners some money, it will keep our road guys ... at home a little bit more and in the shop more."
For Carl Edwards, who will depart Roush Fenway Racing after this season to join JGR, the lack of track time with a new team could slow the maturation process.
"But we'll work all that out," Edwards said. "Especially with the format the way the championship is now, I don't feel like that should be too much trouble to get going even if it takes us a race or two."
Teams will not spend two to three days testing at Daytona International Speedway as they have each January, time many have said was unnecessary. Less than a month later, those same teams are back on the track at DIS for approximately 10 days of activity.
"Instead of just going to Daytona and doing the same thing that we've done, they've talked a little bit about going and doing something kind of like our Chase Across North America, which, for me, was a blast and I think everybody had a good time with that," said Edwards. "I don't think there's a downside at all to less testing and less time on the track at Daytona."
The lack of opportunities to confirm changes, scrutinize chassis setups and test the durability of new pieces on the race track will put more importance on what's already being done in the shop, where seven-post shaker rigs and simulation programs provide reams of information about a car's performance.
"We're just going to have to focus harder on our tools," six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said. "I don't think that any one change is going to make or break the rules package. I think it's a combination of changes -- mechanical grip, aero balance, the engine package and gear ratio that they're working on for a long-term vision of bringing costs down. And then a very important piece of the whole puzzle is the tire. So, it's not an easy process for NASCAR to juggle all those items and to keep everybody smiling."
Goodyear will continue to conduct tire tests at various facilities with what in the past has included at least one team from each of the three auto manufacturers -- Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. It's possible NASCAR could allow teams a test day leading into a race weekend as well if circumstances warranted such action.
Kenseth said depending on how the Goodyear tests are conducted, "it's kind of the same for everybody."
"Whether we all test together or none of us test, I think it's the same thing," the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said. "I'm a fan of that and I think it will save the owners some money, it will keep our road guys ... at home a little bit more and in the shop more."
For Carl Edwards, who will depart Roush Fenway Racing after this season to join JGR, the lack of track time with a new team could slow the maturation process.
"But we'll work all that out," Edwards said. "Especially with the format the way the championship is now, I don't feel like that should be too much trouble to get going even if it takes us a race or two."
Teams will not spend two to three days testing at Daytona International Speedway as they have each January, time many have said was unnecessary. Less than a month later, those same teams are back on the track at DIS for approximately 10 days of activity.
"Instead of just going to Daytona and doing the same thing that we've done, they've talked a little bit about going and doing something kind of like our Chase Across North America, which, for me, was a blast and I think everybody had a good time with that," said Edwards. "I don't think there's a downside at all to less testing and less time on the track at Daytona."
The lack of opportunities to confirm changes, scrutinize chassis setups and test the durability of new pieces on the race track will put more importance on what's already being done in the shop, where seven-post shaker rigs and simulation programs provide reams of information about a car's performance.
"We're just going to have to focus harder on our tools," six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said. "I don't think that any one change is going to make or break the rules package. I think it's a combination of changes -- mechanical grip, aero balance, the engine package and gear ratio that they're working on for a long-term vision of bringing costs down. And then a very important piece of the whole puzzle is the tire. So, it's not an easy process for NASCAR to juggle all those items and to keep everybody smiling."
Soccer: Relentless Marseille continue winning streak.
AFP; By Andy Scott
Marseille made it six wins on the bounce on Sunday, beating Saint-Etienne 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome to end the weekend two points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
Marcelo Bielsa's side produced a typically high octane performance in the first half and found themselves two goals ahead inside 28 minutes, Giannelli Imbula and Dimitri Payet both on target.
The tempo dropped in the second half and Jonathan Brison got one back for Saint-Etienne, but OM held on to make it three wins in the last eight days and six in a row, their longest winning streak since the start of the 2012-13 campaign.
This latest success saw them reclaim first place from Bordeaux, who had beaten Rennes 2-1 earlier on Sunday, while stuttering champions Paris Saint-Germain are five points off the pace in fourth.
Bielsa named an unchanged side following last Tuesday's 5-0 victory at Reims while the visitors made several changes, having drawn at home with Bordeaux on Thursday.
The hosts looked the fresher of the two teams and got off to the perfect start, Imbula collecting a Brice Dja Djedje pass, controlling and then lashing a shot into the bottom-left corner from just outside the area.
Payet, the former Saint-Etienne winger, then came close on two separate occasions before finding the net shortly before the half-hour mark, stroking the ball home from just inside the box after Andre Ayew had stolen possession back from Francois Clerc.
Marseille could not maintain the same level of intensity and Brison reduced the arrears on 53 minutes with a sweetly struck half-volley after the home defence had failed to clear their lines.
Nevertheless, the hosts held on and Andre-Pierre Gignac, scorer of eight goals already this season, was only denied another by a good Stephane Ruffier save late on.
Saint-Etienne, meanwhile, have still not won at the Velodrome since 1979, when Michel Platini and Johnny Rep were in their side.
"We must be honest. The coach has brought so much. He is meticulous -- everyone knows what they need to be doing," Marseille goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda told Canal Plus.
"But you can see that when we take our foot off the gas a little, like at the start of the second half, there is nothing between us and the other sides. We need to learn from games like this and remain fully concentrated."
- Bordeaux win it late -
Bordeaux were inspired by youngster Thomas Toure as they got the better of Rennes at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Toure set up Wahbi Khazri to put Les Girondins ahead in the second half and then curled in a magnificent winning goal in the third minute of added time after Habib Habibou had levelled for Rennes in the 80th minute.
"The players never gave up. They were cooked at the end, but they kept looking for the winner into the final minutes," said delighted Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol.
"They can be proud but they also know that there is work to be done in terms of the performance."
Elsewhere, Lyon made it four games unbeaten but threw away the lead in a 1-1 draw away to Nantes at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
Burkina Faso defender Bakary Kone headed in Alexandre Lacazette's free-kick to put OL ahead six minutes into the second half, but he then shoved Georges-Kevin Nkoudou to the ground inside the box, allowing Jordan Veretout to level from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.
Sunday's other game saw Lens draw 0-0 with fellow promoted club Caen at their temporary home in Amiens.
On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at Toulouse, their fourth draw in their last five matches meaning that they will not go into Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona in the best shape.
France's other Champions League group stage representative, Monaco, suffered a fourth loss in just eight league games this season, falling 1-0 at home to Nice in the Cote d'Azur derby, while there were wins for Lille, Metz, Montpellier and Evian.
Soccer: La Liga and Series A Roundup: Barca Rolls, Inter stumbles.
By Kyle Lynch
Catch up on all the latest news and scores from this weekend’s action in La Liga and Serie A.
La Liga
Barcelona 6-0 Granada
Barcelona dominated Granada to stay atop the La Liga table with a 6-0 win. Neymar scored a hat trick while Lionel Messi netted his 400th career goal for club and country. Barca outshot Granada 19-9 and 12-1 in shots on target.
Villareal 0-2 Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his superb form netting a first half goal to help lead Real Madrid over a strong Villareal side. Luka Modric opened the scoring before Ronaldo slotted home a Karim Benzema pass for his tenth goal in six La Liga games.
Atletico Madrid 4-0 Sevilla
Diego Simeone returned to the touchline for Atletico after serving his suspension to see his side put together their most impressive performance of the season. First half goals from Koke and Saul Niguez helped Atletico remain undefeated in La Liga.
Around La Liga:
Elche 0-1 Celta Vigo
Athletic 0-0 Eibar
Levante 0-2 Rayo
Getafe CF 1-0 Malaga
Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia
Deportivo 0-1 Almeria
Cordoba 0-0 Espanyol
Serie A
Roma 2-0 Verona
Roma remained perfect in Serie A play with their fifth win in as many matches. A 2-0 win was highlighted by Mattia Destro’s unreal volley from 45 yards out.
Atalanta 0-3 Juventus
Juventus joined Roma as the two perfect teams in Serie A with their fifth win of the season at Atalanta. Carlos Tevez scored a brace and Gianluigi Buffon stopped a second half penalty to keep Juve undefeated.
Inter Milan 1-4 Cagliari
Inter had only conceded one goal all season until Cagliari erupted for four first-half goals in a route at the San Siro. Yuto Nagatomo was sent off in the first half after earning two yellow cards in a span of five minutes, while Inter collapsed in an ugly defeat.
Around Serie A:
Sassuolo 0-1 Napoli
Cesena 1-1 AC Milan
Torino 1-1 Fiorentina
Chievo 1-1 Empoli
Genoa 0-1 Sampdoria
NCAA College Football Top 25 Rankings, September 28,2014.
CBSSports.com
Tennessee State beats Florida A&M.
AP Sports
Ronald Butler threw for 151 yards and Lane Clark kicked two field goals to help Tennessee State beat Florida A&M 27-7 on Saturday night.
Butler was 12 of 27 for the Tigers (4-1). Telvin Hooks ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Terrell Bonds scored for Tennessee State on a 43-yard interception return midway through the second quarter. Clark kicked his second field goal in the last few seconds of the first half and the Tigers led 20-0 at the break.
The final Tigers score came in the fourth quarter when Samquan Evans recovered a fumble by the Rattlers' backup QB Carson Royal following a sack and took it in for the score.
The Rattlers (0-4) did not score until early in the third quarter on a 16-yard run by Damien Flemming. Flemming finished with 15-of-30 passing for 113 yards and threw two interceptions.
Loss to Gophers the latest indignity for Michigan.
By NOAH TRISTER (AP Sports Writer)
No matter what the future holds for Michigan coach Brady Hoke, the Wolverines' loss to Minnesota certainly looked like a low point of his tenure.
The Golden Gophers dominated Michigan in a 30-14 victory Saturday - the second straight home loss for the Wolverines amid mounting speculation about Hoke's job status. Michigan again looked overwhelmed at times on offense, and Hoke is now taking heat not only for the defeat, but for his handling of quarterback Shane Morris after the sophomore took a violent hit in the fourth quarter.
The Wolverines (2-3) lost to Minnesota for the first time since 2005, and Michigan has clearly regressed since 2011, when Hoke led the team to a Sugar Bowl berth in his first season.
''Believe me, there's guys in (the locker room) who are taking responsibility for what we've done,'' Hoke said after the game. ''I'm talking about players, coaches, everybody. When you look at what's ahead of us, we've got to go back to work and get better.''
Athletic director Dave Brandon did not respond to an email seeking comment on the state of the program and Hoke's performance.
The Wolverines hadn't scored an offensive touchdown in their two previous losses, to Notre Dame and Utah. They scored one Saturday to take a 7-0 lead, but still didn't look capable of any offensive consistency against decent competition. The offensive line, expected to be a strength after Hoke brought his smash-mouth approach to replace Rich Rodriguez's spread offense, wilted toward the end of last season. The Wolverines still aren't blocking well enough to protect Morris and fellow quarterback Devin Gardner.
With Michigan down 30-7 early in the fourth quarter, Morris took a crunching hit from Theiren Cockran, who was called for roughing the passer. Morris briefly looked like he was having trouble standing, but he remained in the game for the next play and threw an incompletion before being taken out.
Gardner replaced him, but later on that drive, his helmet came off at the end of a play. While Gardner sat out for a play as required, Morris went back in and handed the ball off to a running back.
Hoke said he didn't see Morris looking wobbly after the initial hit.
Michigan plays at Rutgers next weekend in a game that looked like a probable victory before the season. But it's hard to say any win is certain at this point. The toughest tests may be still to come, with road games against Michigan State and Ohio State.
''You have to have 11 guys playing on the same page every time or you're bound to have mistakes,'' center Jack Miller said. ''I feel like it's something different every time. One thing you try to do in football is not make the same mistakes. If you're going to make one, make a new one and keep moving forward. Eventually, you hope to run out of them. We haven't gotten to that point.''
With the Big Ten looking unimpressive this season, 2014 looked like a year when Michigan could make progress after a 7-6 showing. But if the Wolverines don't turn things around soon, they may not even reach a bowl. Michigan missed the postseason in Rodriguez's first two seasons, and he only lasted one more. This is Hoke's fourth season, and the results lately have been unbecoming of one of college football's most storied programs.
In addition to the losing, fan apathy seems on the rise, with empty seats becoming more common at home games in the area where students sit.
''We know their frustrations and we share their frustrations,'' Hoke said. ''I would also tell them as a team we all take accountability for it and we also are all going to work together to rectify it.''
Humbled by Krzyzewski success, NBA must decide whether to continue game's worldwide growth.
Humbled by Krzyzewski success, NBA must decide whether to continue game's worldwide growth.
By Mike DeCourcy
For a while after the inaugural Dream Team entered the 1992 Olympic Games and left Barcelona with a gold medal, every USA Basketball senior national team carried that nickname. Shaq and Reggie were a Dream Team at the Worlds in 1994, Penny and the Admiral in the Atlanta Olympics.
It didn’t take long for that label to be permanently discarded. It only took a decade for the NBA to drag the national team from a 44-point average margin of victory and the greatest assemblage of talent ever on a single roster – 11 of the 12 were voted individually into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – to being defeated by Argentina, Yugoslavia and Spain at home in Indianapolis at the 2002 FIBA World Championships.That was no dream. That happened.
Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo fixed that in two years.
Oh, they had help. So much help. They had help from the coaching staffs chosen to work the USA bench, from Jim Boeheim to Nate McMillan to Mike D’Antoni to Monty Williams to Tom Thibodeaux. They had help from the coaching staffs at Syracuse and Duke, who aided with scouting and workouts and so many other tasks. They had help from international scouts who joined the cause and helped the coaches devise gameplans to attack the teams from Spain, Turkey, Serbia and others, and from the trainers who helped players stay fit and healthy as the miles on their bodies accumulated.
And, of course, more than anyone else they got help – in a sense, they were carried – by the players who committed to become national teamers, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant.
As the head coach of record, Krzyzewski gets a lot of credit for what has been achieved by the national team. He gets the glittering record: 52-1 in official FIFA competitions. He also gets the jealous, snide remarks from the NBA personnel who’d helped wreck the whole thing in the first place.
That is the real shame of the argument that broke out stateside following the Americans’ gold-medal performance at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Instead of celebrating the achievement of winning still another championship, this time with the very best U.S. talent absent from the roster, the story became whether coaching USA Basketball gave Krzyzewski an unfair advantage in recruiting.
Boeheim’s assertion that Kentucky coach John Calipari had complained about this – which Calipari denies – allowed the NBA-firsters who were sniping at the Duke coach to see their campfire turn escalate to a conflagration.
From 1992 until 2005, when Krzyzewski was hired to take over as head coach, USA Basketball at the senior level was strictly an NBA enterprise. Taking the game to the world helped grow the league’s reach enormously, particularly in China but also in numerous European countries. The NBA folks oversaw all that, and they benefitted in terms of the dollars drained from foreign markets and the burgeoning basketball talent immigrating from around the world.
There naturally has been a cost for that expansion, but it is far more episodic and anecdotal than Mark Cuban (whose objections are on the record) and some others in the league (who aren’t willing to take a personal stand and thus speak anonymously) will claim.
For every Yao Ming whose national team workload might have contributed to his decline, there are several who continued to play internationally well into their careers and still excel in the NBA: Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol, Boris Diaw.
For every Paul George injured in a freak playing accident, there are scores of guys who play hundreds of FIBA minutes without incident, all of whom would be playing somewhere, probably with less to gain, if world national team competition were eliminated.
The suggestion to turn the Olympics into an U-22 or U-23 event, which former NBA commissioner David Stern floated a while back and some in the league have adopted – sorry, but that’s not going to happen. Soccer gets away with it at the Olympic level because it is by far the world's most popular team sport and FIFA felt it necessary and prudent to protect its World Cup showcase event.
Some NBA folks want not only to diminish the Olympics, but also the Worlds. They want LeBron and Melo and all the Gasols out of the entire enterprise. "We need to get our vets out and move our younger players in," an NBA general manager told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
No, sir. What the NBA needs is to decide whether it wants basketball to be a world game. Baseball and hockey have recognized the value of international competition in promoting their games. Basketball has attained a position each of those sports would envy, but the Olympics could get along fine without basketball if the Games weren't getting the best.
Undermining Krzyzewski’s impressive work with the national team isn’t going to maintain or accelerate the game’s growth. Withdrawing the world’s best players from international play would kill it.
There already is a FIBA U-19 World Championship. It is a nice event that helps the world’s best teenagers test themselves and their progress.
Basketball doesn’t need any more age groups. If it wants to grow, it needs its best players on the biggest world stages. The NBA Finals is one, but only one, and maybe not the most important in that campaign.
NFL gets advice on personal conduct from Texas' Charlie Strong; 'He's taking a stand on the front lines'.
By Eric Adelson
Charlie Strong has caught the attention of the NFL's biggest ears. (USA TODAY Sports)
The NFL has reached out to several leaders in response to its current conduct crisis, from former players to a former sex crimes prosecutor to domestic violence experts. On Sunday, a more unlikely voice found an audience with commissioner Roger Goodell.
University of Texas head coach Charlie Strong.
Goodell and NFL vice president Troy Vincent met with Strong in Austin on Sunday to share ideas and seek input on discipline issues, but the appreciation for the coach's leadership has built for a while.
"He's setting a precedent," Vincent told Yahoo Sports. "He's taking a stand on the front lines."
League executives have been impressed with Strong's hard line on player conduct. He has ramped up drug testing considerably since taking over the Texas job from Mack Brown – 188 tests in only eight months – and he has dismissed nine players from the Longhorns squad for a variety of reasons. The commissioner was impressed enough to include an in-person visit after a morning meeting with former NFL players in Austin.
Of particular interest: Strong's dismissal of players involved in an alleged sexual assault. Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander were both kicked off the Longhorns squad after being charged with raping a co-ed over the summer. Strong didn't wait for the legal process to conclude; he took action on his own.
"If I'm a parent," Vincent said, "and I'm looking to send my son or daughter – especially my daughter – to the University of Texas, that coach is saying this is important."
One of the many problems facing the league is that by the time players arrive in the NFL, it may be too late to significantly alter behavior they've learned over time.
Disrespect of others is often either ignored or enabled by coddling coaches at lower levels, and a huge pro paycheck can dull the desire to change course.
Disrespect of others is often either ignored or enabled by coddling coaches at lower levels, and a huge pro paycheck can dull the desire to change course.
Strong, like all college coaches, arrives in a player's sphere of influence during the high school years. So part of what the NFL is doing by meeting with him is seeking ways to extend a message to younger athletes.
"What Coach Strong is doing," Vincent said, "Is creating a deterrent. You want to play Texas football, you can't get involved in this."
Strong has listed five core values for his players – the same ones he plastered on a wall at Louisville – "Honesty," "Treat Women With Respect," "No Drugs, "No Stealing, "No Guns." They seem obvious, almost rudimentary, but it's become clear that a lot of athletes at all levels aren't getting the point.
And while Texas has struggled on the field under Strong this season, the message is that there is something more important than winning. That is also something the NFL needs to communicate, even though there is far more money and pressure to win at the professional level.
"We can't compromise," said Vincent, "and sometimes that means getting rid of the best player."
Strong has advantages that other coaches don't: He's new on the job, meaning he has a honeymoon period; he has tons of recruiting talent all around him in Texas; and he has perhaps more in the way of money and resources than any other head coach in the country. He can afford to make this kind of statement.
Still, the NFL has noticed.
"We believe this is a model that should be emulated across the country in both amateur and professional football," Vincent said.
The morning meeting with former players included similar themes of accountability. Present at that conference were Ty Detmer, Jeff Campbell, Dan Neil, Robert Jones, Doug English, Jeff Blake, Patrick Jeffers, William Graham, Jerry Sisemore and Roosevelt Leaks.
Vincent said former players have conveyed a consistent message in meetings so far: "What are your values? Don't compromise them. Set the standard."
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, September 29, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1951 - The first network football game was televised by CBS-TV in color. The game was between the University of California and the University of Pennsylvania.
1957 - The New York Giants played their last game at the Polo Grounds. The next year the Giants were in San Francisco, CA.
1977 - Eva Shain became the first woman to officiate a heavyweight title boxing match. About 70 million people watched Muhammad Ali defeat Ernie Shavers on NBC-TV.
1986 - Mary Lou Retton announced that she was quitting gymnastics.
1992 - Magic Johnson announced that he was returning to professional basketball. The comeback ended the following November.
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