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Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Bears hold off Jets to win again.
AFP
Quarterback Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears looks to pass against the New York Jets during a game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 22, 2014 (AFP Photo/Al Bello)
Jay Cutler threw for two touchdowns and the injury-riddled Chicago Bears held off the New York Jets 27-19 on Monday to wrap up week three of the NFL season.
Ryan Mundy returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and Robbie Gould's 45-yard field goal made it an eight-point game with less than four minutes to play.
Alshon Jeffery, playing through a hamstring injury, made eight catches for 105 yards. Bennett became the third player in the NFL this season with at least one receiving touchdown in all three games.
Chicago gained just 60 yards on the ground, a week after gaining only 46 with their running game in a victory over San Francisco.
But Chicago's injury-hit defense intercepted Jets quarterback Geno Smith twice, sacked him three times and allowed just one touchdown in six trips to the red zone.
The Jets had a chance to tie the game with a late drive. But the Bears defense held up and forced a turnover on fourth down from the nine yard line with less than a minute remaining.
'Scrappy' Bears like what kind of team they’re becoming.
By John Mullin
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller (23) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in the end zone against the New York Jets during the third quarter. (Photo/Associated Press)
If the Bears left California after their win over the San Francisco 49ers feeling as though they might have found some sense of identity, they left New Jersey with a 27-19 win over the New York Jets feeling that they have solidified something in their character.
It’s not a sexy self-image. Maybe it’s a distant echo of the self-proclaimed “Grabowskis” of Mike Ditka.
“This is a scrappy team,” said Lance Briggs, who has seen many iterations of Bears teams over his 12 Chicago seasons. “Scrappy. Extremely scrappy.
“Every game has its moments, and critical situations arose. Offensively we had a third-and-short, and Matt Forte extended the drive and killed some time. For us defensively, we were down to a moment where it was win or possible tie, maybe overtime and somebody has to make a play.
“Tonight there were moments when this could have gone either way. But this ... I’m excited about what this team is becoming.”
This much at least was clear after Monday night’s game against the Jets: The Bears are 2-1, and maybe that’s all that ultimately matters.
In a year in which only five of 32 teams are undefeated or winless — last year there were 13 without either a win or a loss at this point — that counts for something. A truly dominant team has yet to present itself, and only the 3-0 Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals have done more in the first three weeks of the 2014 season than the Bears.
“How does this game feel?” said guard Kyle Long. “It feels like a win. On the road. On Monday night. After going coast to coast. That feels really great.”
The Bears got away fast, up 14-0 in less than six minutes of the first quarter. But the Jets closed to within four points in the second. The Bears pushed it back to 11 with an 80-yard drive to open the second half. But the Jets closed to within five points in the fourth. And the Bears answered with a field goal to push the Jets a little further back.
The come-from-behind grit — “scrappy” — that marked the rally from 17-0 and 20-7 deficits last Sunday seemed at times to be missing against the Jets on Monday night in MetLife Stadium. What was present, however, was a team that got on top of a lesser opponent early, then allowed that rival to take back the momentum and nearly the scoreboard.
After the Jets finished the first half with some growing momentum, the Bears came out with that 80-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. It wasn’t enough to completely squelch the Jets, who closed to within four points with a fifth field goal midway through the fourth quarter. But the offense then strung together a 12-play drive lasting six minutes, 42 seconds and ending with a 45-yard field goal by Robbie Gould for the final margin.
For the second straight week the Bears turned turnovers into touchdowns, which is routinely one of those things that very successful teams do every season. A 45-yard touchdown return of an interception by safety Ryan Mundy on the New York Jets’ second play was followed later in Monday’s first quarter by a three-play, 40-yard touchdown finish following a recovery of a fumbled punt by safety Ahmad Dixon.
This comes after the Bears turned interceptions into their final two touchdowns against San Francisco.
But much as it did in the loss to the Buffalo Bills, which started with a four-play, pitch-and-catch TD drive, then had two punts and two turnovers in its next four possessions, the offense on Monday effectively stalled at some crucial points from then on. At points with chances to put the Jets away with any kind of sustained drive — like a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter rather than a field goal — that didn’t happen.
But what did happen was a win with the run-intensive Jets netting just 108 yards on the ground and the Bears committing just one turnover (a Jay Cutler fumble on a blitz-sack) while taking the ball away from an opponent three times (two interceptions, one fumble recovery, 14 points off those turnovers).
The defense, with its own chance to put the game away in the final two minutes, allowed a 51-yard catch and run by wide receiver Greg Salas with shoddy tackles and angles. That was followed by holding on linebacker Jonathan Bostic to give New York another first down, this at the Chicago 14, while pressure was flushing Geno Smith out of pocket and into a busted play.
But third- and fourth-down passes went incomplete in the end zone, with plays being made when the game was in the balance.
“This is a team that is there for each other,” said defensive end Willie Young. “We are going to find a way, because we have confidence that we will find a way to get over adversity.”
That would be called ... scrappy.
Nothing Will Stop Fans From Watching NFL.
By Brian New
To protest the NFL domestic violence policies, a Dallas bar owner decided not to show any NFL games on Sunday. The owner of Jack Mac’s Swill & Grill, on the restaurant’s Facebook page, asked his patrons to stand with him in his protest of the NFL. But he has been the exception.
Despite all of the off-field troubles, fans packed local sports bars on Sunday to watch and cheer for their favorite NFL teams. “Nothing in this world would stop me from watching the NFL,” said Tammy Kara from the TNT Sportspage sports bar.
Kara was one of nearly a dozen Minnesota Vikings fans at TNT Sportspage wearing an Adrian Peterson jersey on Sunday. The NFL barred Peterson from playing this week after the Texas native was charged with felony child abuse.
Those wearing the purple No. 28 jersey on Sunday said that it is not a matter condoning his alleged actions. It is about loyalty to their team and the sport that they love. “I would never think twice about not wearing an Adrian Peterson jersey,” Kara said. “Ever.”
But if it seems as though there is nothing that the NFL could do to drive away fans, marketing expert Jeremy Jobe said that this is not the case.
“They have already fumbled it,” said Jobe, the president of Right Foot Media. “Is it going to hurt the NFL immediately? No. Is it going to hurt over time? Most definitely.” Jobe added that the NFL should have its high-profile players — like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees — appear in public service announcements speaking out against domestic violence.
If the league does not change its image and make a convincing stand against issues like domestic violence and child abuse, Jobe said, then the fans will gradually go away.
Although, most of the fans at TNT Sportspage on Sunday said that it will not be them leaving. “If you want to boycott the NFL, fine,” said Kenneth Carlson. “I’ll be here supporting my team. Nothing will ever change that.”
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Jonathan Toews' overtime goal gives Blackhawks preseason win.
By Tracey Myers
Joanthan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks hots Landon Ferraro #29 of the Detroit Red Wings as they battle for the puck during a preseason game at the United Center on September 23, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The way the Blackhawks won their first preseason game gave coach Joel Quenneville the perfect inroad.
“We didn’t score too many overtime goals last year,” he said. “Hopefully we can change that this year.”
Jonathan Toews deflected Duncan Keith’s shot 3:01 into overtime, and the Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, in their preseason opener at the United Center on Tuesday night.
As first runs go it wasn’t so bad. The Wings started off quicker, but the Blackhawks had the finish. The Blackhawks had their top two lines rolling on Tuesday night while holding most of their third- and fourth-line regulars out. Their power play went 0-for-4, but their penalty kill was 4-for-4.
“I liked the game,” Quenneville said. “It wasn’t just a scrimmage. The pace was good, and we had to work for what we got. We got a break on the (Toews) shot.”
Patrick Kane scored a breakaway goal late in the second period.
Brad Richards flipped a pass toward Kane, who broke ahead and backhanded the shot past Jonas Gustavsson to tie it, 1-1, 17:23 into the second period. Luke Glendening’s redirect had put the Red Wings up 1-0 about six minutes into the game.
Corey Crawford stopped 13 of 14 shots in just under 32 minutes worth of work.
“I felt pretty good,” said Crawford. “There are always some things you have to get used to: rebounds, screens and tips. Those sort of things take a little bit more time.”
The Blackhawks will go to Detroit to play the Red Wings on Thursday.
Inside the Rivalry: Chicago Blackhawks.
By Anish Patel and Braden Thompson
(Photo/Frederick Breedon)
For years, the Predators were always playing catch up to the Detroit Red Wings. Once they moved to the east, most Preds' fans, including myself, thought the division would be wide open and up for grabs. Needless to say, I was dead wrong. The Chicago Blackhawks are now the big brother of the Central division. They may not be winning the division every year, but they are always in the mix, and always seeming to torture the Predators in the process (with the exception of last year). They have built a team that will contend for years to come and will not slow down for anyone who gets in their way.
For this one, I have decided to enlist the help of fellow staff writer (and Blackhawks expert) Braden Thompson to help me out. Let's dive right in!
Record against Chicago in 2013-2014: 4-1-0
Anish: The Predators, in the mid 2000's, seemed like a team that was on the rise. They were making all the right moves in the off season (both through free agency and the draft). The organization wanted to make it a point that they weren't going to be pushed around anymore. David Poile did a great job by drafting Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, and also signing Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, and acquiring Steve Sullivan in a trade from the Blackhawks. The Predators had the upper hand in the rivalry for a good amount of time. That all started to change when Chicago drafted Jonathan Toews in 2006 and Patrick Kane in 2007. Ever since their rookie season in 2007, the Blackhawks have seem to have the advantage in the series.
Braden: Full disclosure, I have been a Chicago Blackhawks fan since I was six. I couldn't be more excited to cover the Predators this year, and I've become very excited and intrigued by this team...but yeah I'm also a Hawks fan. FYI, you can be both a Hawks and Preds fan because the world doesn't have to make sense. Now that we have that out of the way, I have to agree with Anish on the history here. The Blackhawks were an embarrassment of a franchise for years up until they were able to draft Toews and Kane in consecutive drafts. In fact, their years of toiling in the basement of the league is basically what allowed them to become the team they are today. Before Chicago's rise in the 2008-09 season, Nashville was a team with much more promise. Before 2003, Nashville never appeared as a serious threat, but from 2003-2008 Nashville was the better team hands down. Recent history is a little more murky as the 2010 playoff matchup turned out to be less of a cakewalk than Chicago fans would like to admit. With Chicago firmly entrenched as a cup contender and Nashville as a team on an upward trend of possession and skill, I wouldn't be surprised to see this rivalry take off again in the near future.
Most Hated Player
Anish: This is a tough one for me. I, personally, don't really have a hatred for anyone in particular on this current team. If i have to choose though, I am going with Marian Hossa (out of pure respect mostly). I only say Hossa because he seems to always find his scoring touch against the Preds. Not only that, but his goals come at clutch moments for the Blackhawks. Again, this hatred comes strictly from him always finding a way to crush the hopes of all Preds' fans.
Braden: If it were a year ago, I would say Patric Hornqvist. He never put up head turning point totals, but he was an effective, tough power forward who had a knack for getting under the skin of players and fans alike. On the current roster, the most hated player has to be Shea Weber. As a great player on an opposing team, it's easy to dislike Weber. He's got an absolutely venomous shot from the point and is a top-5 defenseman in the league. Basically, he's easy to hate because he's so good.
Best Game From Last Season
Anish: This has to be the tilt between these two teams on April 12th, 2014. A high scoring, fast paced affair that left the fans in awe and in complete hockey bliss. A back and forth match that didn't have a clear cut favorite until the very end. Not a great game for the goalies, but from a fan's perspective, who doesn't enjoy seeing 12 goals scored in a game. I could watch the highlights for this game over and over again, but I'll let you guys enjoy it for now.
Braden: As a former (and current) Hawks fan, I have only one choice as best game from last season. To be honest, the game on December 17th, 2014 was a pretty dull affair. A great blast from Weber and some "Showtime" from Patrick Kane are really the only noteworthy events from this game. Anish's choice is probably the best game, but for the sake of not following his lead again and to see how crazy the comments get about me being a Hawks fan writing for a Preds blog, I'm sticking with the only Hawks win over the Preds from last season.
The Moment This Became A Rivalry
Anish: I think the moment that the Blackhawks drafted Toews and Kane is when this really started to become a rivalry. For years prior to that draft, Chicago struggled to stay relevant in the division. With no major star power, the Blackhawks needed a change badly. In come Toews and Kane, and the rest is history. Games started to become more competitive and trips up to the United Center weren't guaranteed victories any more. I mean, you can't even count games at Bridgestone as a victory any more as well. With the Predators reloading their team with fresh faces throughout, I look forward to seeing what this rivalry has in store for us in the future.
Braden: The most vivid memory of this becoming a true rivalry in my eyes was the 2010 playoff series between these two teams. Despite being heavily favored, Chicago struggled against a disciplined and underrated Nashville squad. Who knows how the series would have panned out had the Predators just played four corners on the power play to end regulation. Going back to Nashville down 3-2 would have been no easy task. In my opinion, this was the toughest series for Chicago before the finals.
Bettman says NHL proactive about off-ice conduct.
AP Sports
Amid the NFL's domestic violence scandals, Gary Bettman says the NHL has been proactive about off-ice conduct.
Speaking at The Canadian Club of Toronto, the NHL commissioner did not specifically address football's problems but said hockey has tried to stay ahead of similar issues by educating players. Bettman added that sports can be a ''vehicle for positive social change.''
Asked about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Bettman says he ''can relate to being a subject of media scrutiny.'' Bettman says any mistake is magnified in a highly visible job.
Goodell has faced widespread criticism for the way he handled the suspension of now ex-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice after video showed him punching his then-fiancee in an elevator.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson is charged with child abuse in Texas for using a tree branch to spank his 4-year-old son.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Thibodeau has all he needs to get Bulls to NBA Finals.
By Aggrey Sam
Tom Thibodeau (Getty Images)
His first year at the helm, nobody expected the Bulls to immediately rise to the league’s elite, but they were not only the best team in the NBA during the regular season, but advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to Miami. No harm done there.
The next season, which was shortened by the NBA lockout, the Bulls lived up to their elevated expectations, again posting the league’s best regular-season mark, but then disaster struck: Derrick Rose suffered a left ACL injury during the opening game of the playoffs and later in the first-round series against Philadelphia, Joakim Noah was injured, paving the way for the 76ers to advance. Again, nothing could be done.
Without Rose in the lineup for all of the following campaign, Thibodeau cemented his status as one of the league’s premier coaches, taking a short-handed squad to the second round of the postseason, where they fell to the Heat again. Rose returned to the lineup last season, but tore his right meniscus after 10 regular-season games, ending his year, but even after All-Star small forward Luol Deng was traded to Cleveland, the Bulls stayed afloat, making the playoffs and then being ousted in the opening round by Washington, a mild disappointment.
Every step of the way, there’s been a valid reason, not just an excuse, for why Thibodeau couldn’t lead the Bulls to the promised land. He’s done the best that he could, from emphasizing his vaunted defensive system and making stars out of journeymen like Nate Robinson, D.J. Augustin and Marco Belinelli, to tweaking the Bulls’ offense to feature Noah as a primary ballhandler and behind the scenes, even making concessions like toning down his grueling practice regimen.
But this season, barring injuries (which is never a certainty, especially for a team as star-crossed as the Bulls have been in recent years), Thibodeau can’t say he doesn’t have the best weapons at his disposal possible to achieve his cherished goal of winning a title as a head coach, once and for all proving that all those years of snubs for top jobs were unjustified, to himself if no one else. Sure, the Bulls front office didn’t land Carmelo Anthony in free agency, but Pau Gasol is much more than a consolation prize, draft pick Doug McDermott was his guy as much as management’s, fellow rookie Nikola Mirotic is as highly regarded of a European prospect as there’s been in the NBA in a while, Aaron Brooks is one of the best insurance policies available and that’s not even mentioning the team’s holdovers.
Noah took his game to an elite level last season and had the best campaign of any center in the league, sixth man Taj Gibson could start for half of the teams in the NBA and has become a legitimate two-way force, Jimmy Butler has developed into an upper-echelon wing defender, being able to utilize veterans as reliable as Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kirk Hinrich in limited roles is a luxury, and after a stellar summer-league performance, second-year swingman Tony Snell has garnered the interest of multiple teams around the league.
Of course, there’s Rose, who displayed intermittent flashes of being his old self while playing for the national team, but will undoubtedly experience some growing pains during his second major comeback. Still, the fact that the former league MVP doesn’t have to carry the Bulls’ entire burden alone means there’s some leeway for uneven play while finding his stride, since his teammates are more than capable of winning early-season games until the Chicago native fully recaptures his previous form.
But players play and coaches coach, as the old adage goes, so it’s up to Thibodeau to figure out how to best deploy the Bulls’ personnel and manage issues such as allowing Rose to find his comfort level without alienating players used to getting a lot of touches like Gasol, ensuring that Gibson accepts continuing to be a backup, not overextending Butler in a crucial contract year, taking the ball out of Noah’s hands after two seasons functioning as a “point center” and making sure youngsters McDermott, Mirotic and Snell get much-needed experience. Oh, and after working under Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Duke coach and a Chicagoan, it wouldn’t hurt if Thibodeau’s in-game adjustments and offensive creativity also became a bit more varied.
Technical details aside (by no means should it be inferred that Thibodeau isn’t one of the best at his profession), in the weaker Eastern Conference, the consensus is that the Bulls and Cavaliers are the two top teams in the East, possibly by a wide margin. Given the Bulls’ cohesion, defensive chops, depth and experience, in the first year of LeBron James’ second stint in Cleveland, with mostly playoff novices—albeit very good ones, such as fellow All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love—and a first year NBA head coach in David Blatt, it’s logical to think that there’s no time like the present to get past the Cavs and make a trip to the NBA Finals.
Because if it doesn’t happen—again, barring injury—instead of offseason chatter surrounding a rumored rift between Thibodeau and the front office, in a city where not only Michael Jordan’s, but current Knicks president Phil Jackson’s shadow looms large, the scuttlebutt will be about whether he’s the right coach to bring a title to Chicago, justified or not.
Bulls re-sign veteran center Mohammed.
AP Sports
The deal was announced Monday. Terms were not disclosed.
A 16-year veteran, Mohammed spent the past two seasons with Chicago. He appeared in 80 games last year and averaged and averaged 1.6 points and 2.2 rebounds.
Mohammed has also played with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2010-12), the Charlotte Bobcats (2007-10), the Detroit Pistons (2006-08), the San Antonio Spurs (2004-06), the New York Knicks (2003-05), the Atlanta Hawks (2000-04) and the Philadelphia 76ers (1998-01).
Silver: NBA will review domestic violence policies.
By BRIAN MAHONEY (AP Basketball Writer)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday his league will ''take a fresh look'' at its domestic violence procedures in the wake of the NFL's rash of incidents.
Silver said during a community service event in Staten Island that the league has been discussing with the NBA Players Association ways to further educate players and provide programs to them and their families.
''We learn from other leagues' experiences,'' Silver said. ''We're studying everything that's been happening in the NFL. We're working with our players' association. We've been talking for several weeks and we're going to take a fresh look at everything we do.''
The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have been criticized for punishments that were too slow or lenient for Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and other players involved in recent domestic violence cases. Goodell said last week the NFL wants to implement new personal conduct policies by the Super Bowl.
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement calls for a minimum 10-game suspension for a first offense of a player convicted of a violent felony.
''We have in place the appropriate mechanisms for discipline, although we'll take a fresh look at those as well,'' Silver said. ''But most importantly, it's education, and it's not just the players, but it's the players' families. That's what we're learning, too.
''We have in place the appropriate mechanisms for discipline, although we'll take a fresh look at those as well,'' Silver said. ''But most importantly, it's education, and it's not just the players, but it's the players' families. That's what we're learning, too.
''We have to take these programs directly to the players' spouses, directly to their partners so that they're aware of places they can go to express concerns, whether they're anonymous hotlines, team executives, league executives. And we're consulting experts. There's a lot to be learned here. It's a societal problem; it's not one that's unique to sports.''
Silver spoke at the opening of a refurbished Staten Island playground and basketball court in an area damaged by Hurricane Sandy. He was joined by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Knicks and Nets officials in announcing community efforts throughout New York, which will host the 2015 All-Star weekend. Silver said the goal of the programs is to directly reach 500,000 children.
New union executive director Michele Roberts also took part in what was her first official day in her new position. However, Silver said discussions with her started before Monday.
''We do have in place, unlike the NFL, a penalty scale, and to the extent it needs any tweaking, then we'll talk about tweaking it,'' Roberts said. ''What I hope we're going to do as well is figure out ways to prevent any occurrence like that on our side. It's one thing to know how to react in the event it happens; it's a lot smarter to try to make sure it doesn't happen in the first instance.''
Silver noted that the NBA has had its own difficulties with issues off the court, saying the aftermath of former Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist remarks means ''everyone understands the high standard that we are living under now in the NBA.'' The NFL's issues just accelerated the need to look for improvements.
''It's been going on, but the whole world is focused right now on what's happening around the NFL,'' Silver said, ''so it'd be foolish for us not to try to learn from everything that's happening with that league as well.''
The End Of A Wrigley Field Era.
By Al Yellon
Look closely at the photos in this post, because you won't see a view like this starting next year.
The final three day games of the 2014 season at Wrigley Field were played this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I took the photo above before Friday's game, of the view fans at Wrigley have of the bleachers and scoreboard from the third-base line.
This view won't be the same starting next season, as the Cubs plan to start construction on a bleacher expansion that will include a large video board, which will be placed (approximately) where the Toyota sign is. When the Cubs return to Wrigley April 6, 2015 to face the Cardinals on Opening Day, the view above, which has (except for the addition of the Toyota sign) remained pretty much unchanged since the 1930s, will be different.
I took that photo Friday for a couple of reasons. First, because it was supposed to be the only day of the three with unlimited sunshine (that turned out to be true), and also because of this second photo, also taken before Friday's game:
Friday, the Cubs/Dodgers game was the only day game on the schedule, thus the familiar "NITE GAME" was placed across all the other scheduled games on the board. This, of course, was the way the Wrigley scoreboard looked nearly every day (except most weekends) until 1988, when the Cubs began playing night games at Wrigley.
Now, we have 35 night games a year at Wrigley Field and so the board is filled with out-of-town scores on most game days.
Thought you'd like to see one last blast from Wrigley's past before it all changes. David Sameshima and I will head to Wrigley and take photos during this fall and winter's construction.
Manfred, Clark on MLB length of games committee.
AP Sports
Incoming baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' association head Tony Clark have been selected to participate in a new Major League Baseball committee tasked with decreasing the times of games.
The committee announced Monday by outgoing Commissioner Bud Selig will be chaired by Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. The group includes Boston Red Sox Chairman Tim Werner and partner Michael Gordon, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson and Major League Baseball Executive Vice President Joe Torre.
The average time of a nine-inning game has increased from 2 hours, 33 minutes in 1981 to a record 3:03 this year.
Selig says the group plans to make recommendations for the 2015 season.
Golf: I got a club for that… Captain Watson: Make no mistake, this Ryder Cup is a redemption mission.
There's been some turnover from 2012 to 2014, but seven of the players from the American team at Medinah two years ago are in Scotland for the Ryder Cup. Seven players on this Ryder Cup team lived the meltdown that saw Europe overcome a record four-point Saturday night deficit.
Captain Tom Watson didn't lead that team, but he knows the motivation for this team is self-explanatory.
“I made it very clear to them. This trip is a redemption trip," Watson said Monday. "Those players who played on that team -- [seven] of them are on this team -- it’s time to make amends. It’s a motivation.”
Ian Poulter incited the European comeback on Saturday night, birdieing the last five holes of the Saturday fourball match against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson and earning a critical point while partner Rory McIlroy looked on astounded. The Englishman's rally incited a 8.5-point performance in the Sunday singles session, capping an unprecedented comeback.
That comeback is why, in part, Tom Watson is the captain of this team. Watson, previously captain in 1993, is the last American captain to win on the road. He leads a side with just two wins since then. While his team, minus Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, looks weaker than the stacked European side on paper, Watson is quietly confident his team can pull through. In fact, he's already instructed the traveling American fans on how to share his optimism: shout the chant that had the nation in a frenzy around the World Cup.
“We believe that we can win,” Watson said.
Team Penske in command of the Chase after 2 races.
By JENNA FRYER (AP Auto Racing Writer)
As Brad Keselowski flaunted his fast car by leading session after session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Joey Logano took a good-natured swipe at his teammate by asking him via Twitter to slow down.
The first message apparently fell on deaf ears, so Logano tried again the next day, tweeting to Keselowski: ''You must have not heard me yesterday. Please?''
Logano ultimately didn't need an assist from Keselowski on Sunday. He led the final 30 laps to grab a pivotal victory, and the win pushed Logano into the second round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, where he and Keselowski are the only two drivers guaranteed of advancing.
Team Penske is hot - the hottest organization in NASCAR with four wins in the last five races - and Logano and Keselowski are ruthless right now about results. They aren't content simply securing spots in the second round of the Chase. They want to win everything in sight and not let anyone else in the game.
''Knowing that we're in the next round is nice,'' said Logano after his victory, ''but we want to go out there and win. Our goal is to win the championship. Just because we're in the next (round) doesn't mean we're going to take a week off next week.''
This 16-driver Chase under a new elimination format was supposed to pit Penske against mighty Hendrick Motorsports, but it's been all Penske through the first two races. Kevin Harvick has held his own, but his Stewart-Haas Racing entry has yet to stack up to the two Penske cars when a win is on the line.
And the four-car Hendrick effort? Well, Kasey Kahne could be eliminated Sunday at Dover, six-time and defending champion Jimmie Johnson has been mediocre at best, and Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. aren't yet on the same level as the two Penske teams.
Granted, the 10-race Chase has ebbs and flows - Matt Kenseth won the first two races last year but still lost the championship to Johnson. But what the first two races this year has shown is that Penske is playing for keeps.
Keselowski pushed hard for the organization to sign Logano, whom he believed would be a great complement to an organization on an upswing. Logano was signed during Keselowski's 2012 championship run - the first Cup title for Roger Penske in 40 years of NASCAR participation - and indeed strengthened the two-car team.
Although Keselowski failed to make the Chase last year and was ineligible to defend his title, Logano earned his first career berth as both cars were competitive for the first time in many, many years. Being shut out of the Chase made Keselowski more determined, and he's pushed and pushed behind the scenes for Penske to take an aggressive approach and rise to the level of Rick Hendrick's industry standard team.
So all season long has been a competition between the two organizations, with Harvick trying desperately to crash the party. Logano at Bristol picked up his third win of the year - at the time it tied him with Keselowski, Gordon, Earnhardt and Johnson for most in the series, and then Keselowski surged to his fourth victory two weeks later.
Keselowski's win at Richmond was good for the top seed in the Chase, and he made it two-straight with a victory in the Chase opener at Chicagoland to give him five on the year. Logano answered with Sunday's win at New Hampshire, and both drivers have made it clear they won't coast into each round. If they could somehow win all 10 Chase races, they'd have no pity for the other teams.
''I'd like to say the 35-inch, 35-ounce bat, they're swinging it hard,'' Walt Czarnecki, vice chairman at Penske, said Sunday. ''Someone asked me a minute ago, 'This must make you feel pretty good, both cars are advancing to the next round?' I said 'Let me tell you something about this group - we're worried about Dover right now.'
''That's our intent, one race at a time, and that's how we'll proceed.''
It's already been a successful year for the Penske organization, which celebrated its first IndyCar championship since 2006 last month when Will Power claimed his first career title. Now Penske is in command of the Chase, and also leading the owner standings in the Nationwide Series.
Keselowski feels the attention the team is receiving now didn't come until the seventh or eighth race of his title run two years ago. He's used to attention and doesn't mind it, but cautions the Penske organization against believing the hype.
''It's different because it's so early, and I know that we have so much further to go and so much more work to do,'' Keselowski said. ''In that sense, it's a compliment. But it's kind of scary because you don't want to get overinflated as a team and think you've done what you needed to do when there's so much work left to be done.''
Power Rankings: It's Team Penske and then it's everyone else.
By Nick Bromberg
1. Brad Keselowski (LW: 1): Kes gets to keep the top spot because of his bounceback after hitting the wall on lap 195. Thanks to a fuel-only pit stop on the next caution, Keselowski was in position to take the lead for 41 more laps before ultimately falling back and finishing seventh after a couple other perilous moments on the inside of other cars. If, for some crazy reason, you had reservations about the No. 2 team's effort in Chase races two and three with advancement guaranteed, those reservations are gone.
2. Joey Logano (LW: 4): Logano now has the second-most wins in the Cup Series behind the man (and teammate) in front of him. You could tell how serious Logano was about wanting to win a race at New Hampshire the way he did on Sunday. While his first career race win isn't illegitimate, the fact that he immediately referenced winning Sunday straight up versus what happened in 2009 was telling. You can't call Sunday, or Logano's title chances, fluky.
3. Kevin Harvick (LW: 2): After qualifying on Friday, Harvick said some words that were certainly not appreciated by the NASCAR trumpets that can only play a sound that champions winning. "I think the whole winning thing is really overrated," Harvick said. "Obviously you want to win. You want to win every week and you show up to try to win, but you can’t take any unnecessary chances and that is kind of the box that the point system puts you in." Amen to that, Kevin. And with finishes of fifth and third in two Chase races, Harvick is going to advance with no problem.
4. Kyle Busch (LW: 5): Is Sunday's race a sign of good things to come for Busch this Chase? Yes, he went spinning off the bumpers of Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne and ended up in the grass with a beat up car but thanks to a bunch of perserverance, hard work by his crew and good driving, Busch finished 8th. It doesn't take much of an imagination to envision how that race could have seen bad things mushroom after the spin. Instead, it was a top 10 and Busch will likely advance.
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 10): Oh hi, I'm Jimmie Johnson, six-time champion. Don't mind me, I'm just getting a top-five after narrowly missing a crash that could have ruined my day. And I'm now heading to a track where I have nine wins and 18 top 10s in 25 starts. Am I already thinking towards the next round? No, because my crew chief Chad would like us to win this race first. But I'll see you there with a yellow bumper.
6. Jeff Gordon (LW: 3): Gordon is far from the danger zone at this point. With a 21-point cushion and a bunch of drivers between himself and 12th, something is going to have to go wrong with a bunch of things going right for other people at Dover. But still, going from a guaranteed top-10 to a 26th place finish with less than 10 laps to go is a punch to the gut.
7. Kyle Larson (LW: 11): Imagine what it would be like if Larson had snuck into the Chase at Richmond? He'd be near the top of the points standings and a virtual lock to advance to the next round. Instead, he and Jamie McMurray are looking like the most formidable Chase spoilers since Tony Stewart went wild in 2006 and won three races during the Chase.
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 9): It feels a little bit like 2012 and 2013 Dale Earnhardt Jr. over the last two weeks. That's not a bad thing, necessarily, as Junior was consistent those two seasons and was consistently near the top 10. He just didn't have the outright speed he's shown at times this season. That speed needs to be there in the latter half of the Chase. But for this round and the next three races after that, an average finish of 10th should be plenty good enough.
9. Matt Kenseth (LW: 8): Given that Kenseth was taken out by Paul Menard with less than 30 laps to go and still finished 21st isn't horrible. Granted, the day could have been a lot better, but the misfortune of others means Kenseth is eight points and four spots ahead of not advancing. After spinning on pit road at Chicago last week, survive and advance is an apt description for Kenseth's Chase efforts.
10. A.J. Allmendinger (LW: NR): Could this be the chance for the Dinger to advance? He finished 13th at New Hampshire and is 10th in the points standings. He also has three top 10 finishes at Dover. However, all three of them came with Richard Petty Motorsports. In his time at JTG-Daugherty, he's finished 26th and 21st. 21st may not be enough to hold on.
11. Jamie McMurray (LW: NR): Is McMurray or Larson going to win a Chase race first this season? McMurray looks like he could repeat what he pulled off at Talladega last year, and why not at Talladega again? He'll likely have a good car there again. Or it could happen at Charlotte, site of his All-Star Race win. We'll take McMurray.
12. Aric Almirola (LW: NR): A poor run at New Hampshire could have guaranteed Almirola's elimination. Instead he went out and got his second-best New Hampshire finish by finishing sixth. His best Dover finish is sixth. 12th is his second best. He'll likely need a new second-best to advance, but considering the alternatives, it's a challenge Almirola is glad to undertake.
Lucky Dog: We're going to go with Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin who, thanks to the misfortune of others, are in a better spot in the standings than they could be in.
The DNF: It's not a DNF, but Tony Stewart finished two laps down and was 30th.
Dropped Out: Busch, Hamlin, Newman.
NASCAR sets testing ban that includes Daytona 500.
By JENNA FRYER
Brad Keselowski (2) leads cars in pit row during the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
NASCAR announced a new rules package Tuesday that will ban all private testing in 2015, including the annual Daytona 500 test, and levy the stiffest penalty possible on any team caught conducting its own sessions.
The only testing allowed next season will be sessions conducted by NASCAR or Goodyear. Any team caught testing on its own will receive a P6 penalty, the highest on NASCAR's new punishment scale. It carries a loss of 150 points, a minimum $150,000 fine and a six-week suspension for the crew chief and other crew members.
"It will be a huge penalty if anyone is caught," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's executive vice president and chief racing development officer.
O'Donnell said NASCAR believes teams will police the testing themselves and report any organization that breaks the ban.
The three-day annual Daytona 500 test each January was as much about promoting the season-opening race as it was for teams to shake off any cobwebs from the offseason. O'Donnell said that time will now be used to send drivers on a cross-country promotional tour similar to the "Chase Across North America" that NASCAR held this month with its 16 Chase championship drivers assigned to visit various race markets.
Scrapping the Daytona test was initiated by NASCAR, O'Donnell said, and not a concession to the newly-formed Race Team Alliance, the group of team owners that is pushing for better efficiencies and reduced costs for competition. The RTA maintained the on-track portion of Daytona testing was a waste of money and promoting the Daytona 500 was the priority.
"It's with collaboration," O'Donnell said. "It's working with the entire industry."
There didn't seem to be many objections to the testing ban throughout the industry.
"It's good financially for everyone, most importantly the lower funded teams who maybe don't have the funds to go test," said Brian Pattie, crew chief for Clint Bowyer. "Saving money across the board is beneficial for every team."
Among other changes to the rules package are updated qualifying formats, including at the Daytona 500. The front row will now be set through group qualifying instead of the traditional single-car runs. The rest of the field will be set by a pair of qualifying races later in Speedweeks.
NASCAR is also reducing engine horsepower through a tapered spacer from 850 to 725, and cutting the rear spoiler from 8 inches high to 6 inches. Changes will take about 300 pounds of downforce off of the car.
The horsepower reduction should slow cars from 5-7 mph, O'Donnell said, and is aimed to create more passing through the field over the course of a long green-flag run.
"I think where you will really see it is in the turns, where drivers need to come off the throttle more, and we believe that will be where we see more passing," O'Donnell said.
He said the goal is more green-flag passes for the lead and "we believe that will happen with drivers potentially making errors in the corner, and that's not just for the lead, but the entire field."
Pattie felt it was a step in the right direction.
"If the racing is better, that means it's better for the fans which in turn makes it better for all of us," he said.
Six-time and defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson said Tuesday the drivers would have preferred a larger amount of downforce being taken away, but that drivers don't mind if the cars are more difficult to drive.
"In time, we're going to really make these cars hard to drive. I think that is the goal where things are going to go," Johnson said. "And hopefully (we'll) get a tire on the cars that wears out."
Brian Vickers echoed the sentiment.
"Reducing the downforce should make the driver a greater part of the success equation," he said. "We can debate whether NASCAR should have gone further, but it is a step in the right direction."
Other changes announced Tuesday are that NASCAR will also now use rain tires in the Sprint Cup Series at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. The rain tires are already used in the lower Nationwide and Truck Series races on road courses, to positive fan feedback.
"The fans obviously love it," O'Donnell said. "If it's a complete downpour, obviously we can't race. But Goodyear is able to build a tire for Cup, and we talked to the teams and they said, 'Let's do it."
As for qualifying, the formats will be shortened at all types of tracks, mostly to cut the length of time in the first segment. Teams currently are sitting on pit road trying to time when to run a hot lap, and NASCAR will try to eliminate the waiting.
The first segment on short tracks and intermediate tracks will be 15 minutes, followed by a break, then 10 minutes, a break, and a final 5-minute session. At superspeedways, the field will be divided into two groups for the first 5-minute session, followed by two more 5-minute sessions.
Road course qualifying will consist of one 25-minute session, followed by a 10-minute session.
The Daytona 500 front row qualifying will be done in groups, but the length of the breaks is still being tweaked as NASCAR needs to fill a 3-hour television window.
U.S. Soccer Stands By Solo Decision.
AP Sports
(Photo Credit: Marc Serota/Getty Images)
U.S. Soccer is standing by its decision to allow goalkeeper Hope Solo to continue to play while she faces domestic violence charges.
Solo is charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in Washington state stemming from a June 21 altercation with her sister-in-law and 17-year-old nephew at a family gathering.
She has pleaded not guilty and the case is scheduled for trial on Nov. 4. She faces up to six months in jail if convicted.
Solo, who has been with the national team since 2000 and recently set the team record for most career shutouts, continued to play for the United States in exhibition matches and with her National Women’s Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign, following her arrest.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said Monday the organization will let her play until the legal matter is settled.
“U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo’s status with the national team,” Gulati said in a statement. “Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it.”
Gulati’s statement comes after U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun said he was disturbed by the charges against Solo. But in a statement to USA Today he did not say whether he believes she should face disciplinary action, such as suspension, before the matter plays out in court.
“The allegations involving Ms. Solo are disturbing and are inconsistent with our expectations of Olympians,” Blackmun said. ” We have had discussions with U.S. Soccer and fully expect them to take action if it is determined that the allegations are true.”
Solo is expected to start in goal for the U.S. women when the team plays next month in the CONCACAF championship, which will be played in four U.S. cities with the final scheduled for Oct. 26 at PPL Park in Pennsylvania. The event serves as a qualifying event for next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Canada.
According to the court documents in the abuse case, Solo’s 17-year-old nephew told police Solo was upset and appeared to have been drinking when she arrived at a family gathering. Following an argument, she and her nephew got into a fistfight, according to court documents.
When the boy’s mother tried to break up the confrontation, Solo punched her in the face, the documents said. The report also said that the nephew broke a broom over Solo’s head and pointed a broken BB gun at her to try to get her to leave.
Solo was released without bail. She was ordered not to have contact with the alleged victims and to not drink alcohol.
“Hope is not guilty of any crime,” her attorney Todd Maybrown said in an email to The AP following her arrest. “In fact, our investigation reveals that Hope was assaulted and injured during this unfortunate incident. We look forward to the opportunity to present the true facts in court and to having this matter behind Hope very soon.”
Solo married former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens in 2012. He was arrested just before their wedding for investigation of assault after a disturbance involving Solo, but he was not charged. Maybrown also represented Stevens in that case.
Solo issued an apology following her arrest via social media.
“I love my family dearly. We, like all families, have our challenges but my sincere hope is that we are able to resolve this situation as a family,” she wrote. “Adversity has always made us stronger and I know this situation will be no different.”
In an exhibition match against Mexico in Sandy, Utah, earlier this month, Solo recorded her 72nd career shutout in an 8-0 U.S. victory. She passed Briana Scurry (1994-2008) on the career list.
Solo, 32, has played in 154 international matches and was with the U.S. team that won gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
Solo is charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in Washington state stemming from a June 21 altercation with her sister-in-law and 17-year-old nephew at a family gathering.
She has pleaded not guilty and the case is scheduled for trial on Nov. 4. She faces up to six months in jail if convicted.
Solo, who has been with the national team since 2000 and recently set the team record for most career shutouts, continued to play for the United States in exhibition matches and with her National Women’s Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign, following her arrest.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said Monday the organization will let her play until the legal matter is settled.
“U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo’s status with the national team,” Gulati said in a statement. “Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it.”
Gulati’s statement comes after U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun said he was disturbed by the charges against Solo. But in a statement to USA Today he did not say whether he believes she should face disciplinary action, such as suspension, before the matter plays out in court.
“The allegations involving Ms. Solo are disturbing and are inconsistent with our expectations of Olympians,” Blackmun said. ” We have had discussions with U.S. Soccer and fully expect them to take action if it is determined that the allegations are true.”
Solo is expected to start in goal for the U.S. women when the team plays next month in the CONCACAF championship, which will be played in four U.S. cities with the final scheduled for Oct. 26 at PPL Park in Pennsylvania. The event serves as a qualifying event for next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Canada.
According to the court documents in the abuse case, Solo’s 17-year-old nephew told police Solo was upset and appeared to have been drinking when she arrived at a family gathering. Following an argument, she and her nephew got into a fistfight, according to court documents.
When the boy’s mother tried to break up the confrontation, Solo punched her in the face, the documents said. The report also said that the nephew broke a broom over Solo’s head and pointed a broken BB gun at her to try to get her to leave.
Solo was released without bail. She was ordered not to have contact with the alleged victims and to not drink alcohol.
“Hope is not guilty of any crime,” her attorney Todd Maybrown said in an email to The AP following her arrest. “In fact, our investigation reveals that Hope was assaulted and injured during this unfortunate incident. We look forward to the opportunity to present the true facts in court and to having this matter behind Hope very soon.”
Solo married former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens in 2012. He was arrested just before their wedding for investigation of assault after a disturbance involving Solo, but he was not charged. Maybrown also represented Stevens in that case.
Solo issued an apology following her arrest via social media.
“I love my family dearly. We, like all families, have our challenges but my sincere hope is that we are able to resolve this situation as a family,” she wrote. “Adversity has always made us stronger and I know this situation will be no different.”
In an exhibition match against Mexico in Sandy, Utah, earlier this month, Solo recorded her 72nd career shutout in an 8-0 U.S. victory. She passed Briana Scurry (1994-2008) on the career list.
Solo, 32, has played in 154 international matches and was with the U.S. team that won gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
Big Ten's 12-1 mark last week was best in 6 years.
By ERIC OLSON (AP College Football Writer)
The Big Ten is coming off its best week of non-conference play in six years, with wins in 12 of 13 games.
It followed the league's worst showing in non-conference play in 22 years, one in which Big Ten teams lost six of nine games and had national college football analysts howling about the conference's lack of strength.
The stunning turnaround didn't result in any chest thumping among the coaches on Tuesday.
''You've got to come every week, and some weeks are going to be better than others,'' Nebraska's Bo Pelini said. ''I think there is a lot of parity and good football teams out there, and it's hard to bring it week to week. I think all the stuff of people making judgments on anybody - on any team, any conference - after two or three weeks is ludicrous. I mean, that's why you play a full season.''
Nebraska's win over Miami and Indiana's upset of nationally ranked Missouri on the road highlighted a week in which the Big Ten went 4-1 against opponents from fellow power conferences. Michigan had the week's only loss, to Utah.
The last time the Big Ten had a winning percentage of .923 (12-1) or better during a week in which it played more than two non-conference games was Sept. 26, 2008, when the league went 11-0, according to STATS. When the Big Ten went 3-6 the week before last, it matched the worst non-conference showing since the league had the same record Sept. 19, 1992.
This year's non-conference record of 35-14 (.714) is fourth-best among the power five, behind the SEC's 31-3 (.912), Pac-12's 29-4 (.879) and ACC's 32-10 (.762) and ahead of the Big 12's 19-8 (.704).
The Big Ten is 5-9 against opponents from the power five. Only the Pac-12 (6-2) and SEC (5-2) have winning records against their peers.
''I think a lot of this stuff just gets overplayed. That's just me,'' said Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, whose team won at Pittsburgh. ''Football is week to week, and we've got a lot of good football teams in our conference and I think teams have represented the conference very well and I'm sure they will continue to. I'm happy when anybody in the league wins.''
The Big Ten came up short earlier in its premier non-conference games, with Michigan State losing at Oregon and Wisconsin losing to LSU.
The conference was 17-47 against Top 25 opponents since 2007 before Indiana toppled then-No. 18 Missouri 31-27. It was the long-struggling Hoosiers' first win over a ranked team since 2006, their first on the road since 1987 and a week after a three-point loss to Bowling Green.
''We're still us,'' said Indiana coach Kevin Wilson, whose team has won two of its first three. ''We didn't play that great Saturday, but we played a lot harder and we battled for four quarters and we sucked it up, gutted it up, and made a play and we got on the right side.
''We're close to having a couple losses, we're close to maybe having another win. There's a very fine line between winning and losing. We'll see if we have the courage and leadership and pride and see if we can back that effort up again.''
Big Ten play starts in earnest this week with Northwestern at Penn State, Iowa at Purdue, Maryland at Indiana, Minnesota at Michigan and Illinois at Nebraska.
The four other Big Ten teams face non-conference opponents, with Wyoming at Michigan State, Cincinnati at Ohio State, Tulane at Rutgers and South Florida at Wisconsin.
ESPN Tip-Off Tournament schedule revealed.
By Kami Mattioli
For the fourth year in a row, ESPN is featuring its marathon slate of college basketball games in its Tip-Off Tournament.
Though Nov.15 is the official start of the college basketball season, the action doesn't start until Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., when Miami takes on Florida to open up the 2014-15 season.
Though Nov.15 is the official start of the college basketball season, the action doesn't start until Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., when Miami takes on Florida to open up the 2014-15 season.
Right smack in the middle of the scheduled action is the Champions Classic in Indianapolis. The double-header pits Duke against Michigan State and, later that evening, Kentucky against Kansas.
Whether you're one of the brave few eschewing sleep to catch the whole marathon or just tuning in to see your team play, you'll find the whole lineup below.
Monday, Nov. 17
7 p.m. — Miami at Florida (ESPNU)
11 p.m. — Detroit at Oregon (ESPNU) *Legends Classic
— SMU at Gonzaga (ESPN2)
Tuesday, Nov. 18
1 a.m. — Auburn at Colorado (ESPN2)
3 a.m. — New Mexico State at St. Mary's (ESPN2)
5 a.m. — High Point at Hawaii (ESPN2)
7 a.m. — Iona at Wofford (ESPN2)
9 a.m. — Northern Iowa at Stephen F. Austin (ESPN2)
11 a.m. — Manhattan at UMass (ESPN2)
Noon — Baylor at South Carolina (ESPN)
2 p.m. — Wichita State vs. Memphis (ESPN)
4 p.m. — Utah at San Diego State (ESPN)
6 p.m. — Toledo at VCU (ESPNU) *Legends Classic
7 p.m. — Michigan State vs. Duke (ESPN) *Champions Classic
7:30 p.m. — Marquette at Ohio State (ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. — Kansas vs. Kentucky (ESPN) *Champions Classic
— Texas Tech at LSU (ESPN2)
Rickie Fowler 'USA' haircut is 'thuggish jingoism' to one European writer.
The senior president of the PGA of America joins young Rickie Fowler by shaving "USA" into the side of his head for the Ryder Cup, a display of 'thuggish jingoism' for at least one joyless European media member.
here is no event in golf hyped up more than the Ryder Cup. The players arrive with their wives and girlfriends and other dignitaries on Monday, practice, talk to the press, make a bunch of non-golf appearances and don't play an actual match until Friday. That gives us four full days to pick apart every word and movement. And that's how Rickie Fowler's haircut has potentially become a point of conflict at the Ryder Cup.
Decorum, please
here is no event in golf hyped up more than the Ryder Cup. The players arrive with their wives and girlfriends and other dignitaries on Monday, practice, talk to the press, make a bunch of non-golf appearances and don't play an actual match until Friday. That gives us four full days to pick apart every word and movement. And that's how Rickie Fowler's haircut has potentially become a point of conflict at the Ryder Cup.
Before the team boarded their plane for Scotland over the weekend, Fowler tweeted out a new shaved USA into the side of his head. It was innocuous. It was nice. It is not something you see from a professional golfer on a golf course, and it's part of what makes the Ryder Cup the most unique and fun event in golf. But this has stirred up some folks over in Europe, most notably one Oliver Brown of The Telegraph:
There is no other stage in the game that would permit Rickie Fowler to disembark the Americans' Ryder Cup plane in Edinburgh sporting a GI Joe-style crewcut, the letters "USA" shaved around his ear in an exhibition of thuggish jingoism that on any normal day would give grounds for many a club secretary to throw him off the premises in a heartbeat.
A haircut is now "thuggish jingoism" in a sports competition where he's playing for his country (h/t to Golf.com). The hot take also cites Tony Johnstone as another party skeptical of Fowler's haircut, and calls into question Tom Watson's ability to be a "moral adjudicator of golf."
Decorum, please
Well Mr. Brown will be pleased to know that Ted Bishop, the more senior president of the PGA of America, which overseas the Ryder Cup on the USA side, has joined young Fowler with this affronting nationalistic hairstyle.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, September 24, 2014.
MemoriesofHistory.com
1934 - Babe Ruth played his last game as a New York Yankee player.
1937 - The NHL Board of Governors introduced legislation that discouraged "icing" during the League's semi-annual meeting. The new rules would cause a face-off in the defending zone if a team shot the puck all the way down the ice without scoring a goal.
1938 - Don Budge became the first tennis player to win all four of the major titles when he won the U.S. Tennis Open. He had already won the Australian Open, the French Open and the British Open.
1940 - Jimmie Foxx hit his 500th career home run.
1957 - The Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field.
1989 - O.J. Simpson was a guest on the 15th Anniversary Special of "Saturday Night Live."
2006 - The Detroit Tigers clinched their first playoff berth since 1987.
2006 - Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
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