CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Wednesday Sports News Update, 12/31/2014.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica

"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"

 

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wishes you and your family a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!! 

 

Sports Quote of the Day:

"Don't tell me how hard you work. Tell me how much you get done." ~ James Ling, Businessman

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals Winter Classic,  January 1, 2015.

By Kevin (Excerpts)

It’s finally time for the Winter Classic. This year’s edition matches up the Chicago Blackhawks against the Washington Capitals at Nationals Park on New Year’s Day. The Winter Classic isn’t just any other regular season game. The thrill of playing outdoors and the tens of thousands of fans should give the players a boost to put on quite a show.

Can the Western Conference powerhouse, Chicago, spoil the New Year’s Day party in Washington? Read on as we give you a complete preview of the exciting action to come.

Where: Nationals Park, Washington

When: Thursday, January 1, 1:00 PM ET

The Chicago Blackhawks had quite a scare against their Western Conference rivals, Nashville, on Monday night. They trailed by 3-0 in the second period before Brad Richards, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa scored in a 7:10 span to tie the game. Nashville would lead again before Bryan Bickell’s goal tied it in the dying minutes of regulation, and Jonathan Toews scored the only goal in the shootout for the win.

Chicago can avoid another scare if its vaunted defense holds up. The Blackhawks own league’s best goals-against average at 2.08.

Netminder Corey Crawford has been solid between the pipes, ranking 12th in the league with a 2.08 GAA. However, Crawford also has his bad days, like on Monday night where he allowed four goals against Nashville. He also allowed three goals and had a .875 save percentage in a 3-2 loss to Washington on November 7.

The Blackhawks can still win if their goaltending has another down game as they also have one of the league’s best offenses this season. Patrick Kane has 11 points (four goals and seven assists) in his past five games and has 39 points (sixth-most in the league) on the season.

Meanwhile, Patrick Sharp had his 500^th assist Monday night in his 700^th game. Sharp’s playmaking should be an excellent complement to Kane in Chicago’s frontline. Jonathan Toews is also a steady contributor to the Blackhawks’ offense with 12 points (three goals and nine assists) in December. The three make up a formidable Chicago attack, which has scored 3.03 goals per game (third in the league).

The Blackhawks are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

With a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Monday night, the Washington Capitals have now lost for the second time in three games heading into the Winter Classic.

The Capitals still had their moments though as they wiped off the Isles’ 3-0 advantage with a three-goal barrage in the third period.

Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist against the Isles. He has been a handful to contain, firing at least five shots on goal in the past 10 games. Ovechkin’s ability to put pucks on goal should draw Chicago’s defenders to him lest he score.

With the Blackhawks’ defense focused on Ovechkin, the doors may open for Nicklas Backstrom to net a timely goal. Backstrom has 12 goals in 36 games this season.

Left winger Marcus Johansson may be solid off the bench to fill in for Ovechkin. He has 21 points on the season (10 goals and 11 assists),  two of which came in the first meeting against the Blackhawks this season. He had a goal and assisted in another against Chicago’s Corey Crawford.

The Caps may start Braden Holtby between the pipes again when they welcome Chicago to Nationals Park. Holtby allowed two goals and had a .950 save percentage in the first meeting against the Blackhawks.

The Caps have won their last three home games against Chicago.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica prediction: The Blackhawks spoil the New Year’s party at Washington.

Sabres Girgensons, 5 'Hawks lead NHL All-Star vote.

AP - Sports

Five Chicago Blackhawks players and Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons are poised to be selected by fans to play in the NHL All-Star Game at Columbus, Ohio, next month.

With two days left before voting closes, Girgensons maintains his overall lead with more than 1.46 million, the NHL announced Tuesday. A majority of the second-year player's votes are coming from his native Latvia.

Fans are allowed to vote using the same device up to 10 times a day.

In line for the final two forward spots are Chicago's Patrick Kane (1.07 million votes) and Jonathan Toews (1.06 million). Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby (704,792) is fourth.

Chicago's Duncan Keith (1.04 million) and Brent Seabrook (875,868) lead defensemen. Blackhawks' Corey Crawford leads goalies with 955,385 votes, nearly 400,000 more than Montreal's Carey Price.

Winter Classic evokes childhood memories for Blackhawks, Capitals.

By Tracey Myers
                                                             

The Blackhawks and Washington Capitals have a few things in common.

They’ve both done this outdoor-game thing a few times, be it a Winter Classic – the latest coming Thursday, between the two, at Nationals Park – or a Stadium Series contest. They’ve both got their superstars. And as this Classic approaches, players on each team naturally think of childhood hockey and skating memories.

So as we ready for this year’s Classic between the Blackhawks and Capitals, players reminisce about those adolescent outdoor moments:

Marian Hossa: “When me and my brother went outside of my apartment, it really low so my parents would always yell there was dinner on the table. We said, ‘Yeah, we’ll be right there.’ Half an hour later they were yelling again, so it’s good memories.”

Andrew Shaw: “My dad used to build [a rink] in the background. As we got older he stopped building it because he always worried about us putting pucks through the neighbors’ windows. So that put an end to that. But we’d go out to the cottage once in a while and have a game of shinny with my buddies. It was always fun. Just every chance you got, you were going out and playing on any pond.”

Bryan Bickell: “Every Christmas back home I’d go to my grandma’s place and we’d skate every Christmas day. That was the most special thing for me, to be with my family and enjoying hockey. It was fun to just be out there, whether there was barely any ice at all or snowing. I think about just anytime you were outside with friends and family, just having fun.”

Troy Brouwer: “I don’t know how old I was, five or six, my aunt and uncle’s place in red deer for Christmas break, they had an outdoor rink in the park a few blocks away. I remember the street being frozen and I skated down the street and onto the rink and played all night long. That’s probably my best memory because where I grew up it doesn’t get cold enough to have outdoor rinks in the winter. So I don’t have a ton of them, but that’s the one that sticks out.”

Toews' SO goal lifts Blackhawks over Predators 5-4.

By MATT CARLSON (Associated Press)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (29) celebrates with teammates center Jonathan Toews (19) and Andrew Shaw (65) after scoring the tying goal in the third period against the Nashville Predators during an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, in Chicago. The Blackhawks won 5-4 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes)

 

Jonathan Toews scored the only goal in the shootout, after Chicago's Bryan Bickell netted the tying goal with 1:13 left in regulation, and the Blackhawks topped the Nashville Predators 5-4 on Monday night.

Bickell beat Pekka Rinne through a crowd - and with Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford on the bench for an extra skater - after Rinne had stopped David Rundblad's drive from the blue line.

Toews provided the winning margin when he beat Rinne on the Blackhawks' first shootout attempt. 

Brad Richards, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa scored in a 7:10 span late in the second period to tie it at after the Predators built a 3-0 lead.

James Neal's second goal of the game, a power-play tally with 56 seconds left in the second period, put Nashville ahead 4-3. Roman Josi and Craig Smith also scored, and Colin Wilson added two assists.
 

Rinne made 38 saves, and Crawford stopped 36 shots before his perfect shootout as the division rivals met for the fourth and final time in the regular season.

Chicago's Patrick Sharp had an assist for his 500th NHL point, earned in his 700th game.

There were surprising scoring bursts and swings, considering the game matched the teams with the league's best defensive records. Chicago entered with an NHL-leading 2.03 goals-against average. Nashville's was at 2.06.

The Predators were a step quicker in the first period and built a 2-0 lead as they put 18 shots on Crawford.
 

Josi opened the scoring at 11:50, five seconds after the Predators killed Wilson's hooking penalty. Josi raced down right wing and fired a rising shot over Crawford's stick.
 

Smith made it 2-0 with 2:48 left in the period and seven seconds after a Nashville power play ended. Crawford stopped Wilson's first close-in attempt, but Smith popped in the rebound.

Neal was credited with his first goal at 7:28 of the second period to make it 3-0.

Then the Blackhawks roared back.

Rinne made point-blank stops on Toews and Patrick Kane during a Chicago power play midway through the period. Richards made it 3-1 seven seconds after the advantage ended, at 10:33.

Shaw stuffed in a loose puck from the side of the net with 4:12 left in the period to cut it to 3-2.

Hossa's 4-on-3-power-play goal, ripped over Rinne's glove from the top of the right circle, tied it 3-all 1:55 later.

Just six seconds after Chicago was penalized for having too many men on the ice, Neal buried a rebound of Filip Forsberg's drive to put the Predators back ahead.

NOTES: Shaw's goal was his first since Nov. 28, a span of 13 games. . Richards returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury. Chicago D Michal Rozsival sat out his second (lower-body). ... Wilson has seven points in four games. . Nashville C Matt Cullen missed the game with an upper-body injury. He is day-to-day.  Predators C Mike Ribeiro played in his 900th NHL game. . A United Center season-high crowd of 22,208 watched the game.

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session… Rose, Bulls offense sputter in loss to Nets 96-82. 

By Mark Strotman

The Bulls offense stumbled into a victory late Monday night in Indiana.

It didn’t get much better Tuesday at home.

The Bulls scored a season-low 82 points and shot just 39 percent from the field, Derrick Rose had one of the worst shooting performances of his career and the team’s seven-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in a 96-82 loss Tuesday night to the Brooklyn Nets.

The offensive issues began in the second quarter. After scoring 31 in the opening period – led by 12 from Dunleavy – the Bulls managed just six points and committed five turnovers in the opening six minutes. What began as a case of shots simply not falling turned into stagnant offense combined with a spirited defensive effort from Brooklyn. A pair of Tony Snell 3-pointers salvaged a quarter in which the Bulls shot 6-for-27 and scored just 14 points.

It wasn’t dissimilar to the fourth quarter in Indiana on Monday night, when the Bulls scored just 11 points on 2-for-21 shooting, narrowly escaping Bankers Life Fieldhouse with a 92-90 win over the offensively inept Pacers.

But the Nets, who had scored just 80 points when they visited the United Center two weeks ago, arrived with considerably more firepower. Joe Johnson had his way in the second quarter, matching the Bulls’ 14 points by himself with a host of patented post moves over Jimmy Butler and Snell. He scored 20 points in the victory. Brook Lopez, starting in place of Kevin Garnett, also added eight in the quarter as the Nets took a 10-point lead into the break.

Dunleavy, who had a team-high 23 points in the loss, managed to jump start the Bulls’ offense again in the third quarter by hitting a pair of triples, but the Nets weathered the storm behind Lopez, who scored 11 more out of halftime. He finished with a season-high 29 points in 33 minutes. Jarrett Jack also took it to Derrick Rose in the stanza, scoring nine points while Rose continued to misfire from the field for a second straight night. Deron Williams scored 6 points and handed out 4 assists off the bench.

After a 5-for-20 performance in Indiana, Rose had arguably his worst shooting performance in a Bulls uniform, making just two of his 15 shots for a season-low four points. He added five assists but also committed four of the Bulls’ 12 turnovers. He did not play the fourth quarter, and after missing all five of his 3-point attempts now is an NBA-worst 26.3 percent from beyond the arc, dead last among qualified players.

But Rose wasn’t the only Bull to have an off-night from the field. Reigning Eastern Conference player of the week Jimmy Butler scored just eight points, Pau Gasol managed just 10 points and seven rebounds against the inside tandem of Lopez and Mason Plumlee.

The Bulls could have used an offensive spark from Aaron Brooks, but he was unavailable after being ejected in the second quarter. Frustrated by a no-call, Brooks threw the ball away from an official, resulting in a technical foul. Surprised by the call, Brooks began walking toward the official while barking at him, earning him a second technical foul and ejection. It left the Bulls without Brooks and Kirk Hinrich, who missed his fifth straight game with a hamstring strain.

Butler lead Bulls over Pacers 92-90. (Monday night's game, 12/29/2014).

By JIM JOHNSON (Associated Press)

Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls shoots against the Indiana Pacers on December 29, 2014 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jimmy Butler is finding ways to show what kind of threat he can be for the Chicago Bulls.

And he's finding ways to cause problems for the Indiana Pacers.

Butler had 27 points and nine rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 92-90 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

It was Butler's 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining that put the Bulls ahead for good.

 

''Derrick (Rose) is always on me to shoot and to shoot 3's and be aggressive,'' he said. ''I'm confident in my game, so I feel like I have to step up and take and make shots late.''
 

Pau Gasol had 20 points and Rose added 17 for the Bulls (22-9), who extended the team's season-best winning streak to seven straight.
 

Chris Copeland scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and George Hill and C.J. Miles each added 11 points for the Pacers (11-21), who trailed by 21 points in the second half.

The Bulls seemed to have put the game away when Mike Dunleavy converted a 3-point play to put the Bulls ahead 75-54 with 2:33 left in the third quarter. But the Pacers went on a 23-2 run and regained the lead on Lavoy Allen's basket to make it 84-83 with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter.

''It's a different thing, executing in the final four minutes of a game than the first 44 minutes of the game,'' Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. ''We had some poor possession on the offensive end. We were getting some stops, we just fell short.''

Chicago tied the four-game season series with the Pacers at 1-1 and won for the first time at Indiana after losing the previous four games.
 

Butler, who scored 32 points in a 99-90 loss to Indiana back on Nov. 15, gave Chicago all the momentum it needed.
 

He had two put-back dunks midway through the third quarter in a 6-2 run, including one with 7:24 remaining in the third to give the Bulls a 59-41 lead.
 

Butler also scored on a one-handed dunk at the buzzer to give Chicago a 47-35 halftime lead.

 

''The lesson we learned is you have to keep playing,'' Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''No lead is safe in this league.''
 

The two teams play the remaining two games of the series in March with each team hosting a game.
 

The Bulls, who lead the Central Division, have put up big offensive numbers lately and scored under 100 points for just the second time in the last seven games.
 

TIP-INS
 

Bulls: Guard Kirk Hinrich has missed four straight games with a left hamstring strain. Thibodeau said Hinrich participated in the morning shoot-around at Indiana and could return to the line-up as early as Tuesday against Brooklyn.
 

Pacers: Indiana shot under 50 percent for the first time after shooting above that mark in the previous four games. The Pacers didn't reach that mark in the first 27 games of the regular season.
 

SMASH-MOUTH DEFENSE
 

Vogel said he wants Indiana to play defense the way the team has been known too in recent years. The Pacers, who are No. 2 in the NBA in scoring defense, held the Bulls to 34.5 percent shooting. Chicago's 11 points in the fourth quarter was the fewest scored by the Bulls this season and the fewest allowed by the Pacers.
 

TOUGH CROWD
 

Monday's game was a sellout and Chicago fans made up much of the crowd. During line-up introductions cheers for the Bulls drowned out boo's from Pacers fans. Allen missed a shot early in the second quarter that didn't even reach the rim and many Bulls fans responded with the ''air-ball, air-ball'' chant, taking away the home court feel for the Pacers. Chicago's United Center is a little more than a three-hour drive from Indiana's Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Chicago Bulls Breakout Star Jimmy Butler Turned Down A Huge Contract Offer, And Now He Looks Like A Genius.
 

 By William Scott Davis

Jonathan Daniel Jimmy Butler is going to get paid handsomely this summer. As the season has progressed, the Chicago Bulls have seen the development of a new star.

This season, fourth-year guard Jimmy Butler has elevated his game to All-Star status. Butler is averaging career-highs in points per game (22.2), field goal percentage (48.7%), free throw attempts (8.3), rebounds (6.2), and assists (3.2).

Butler's breakout season has put the Bulls in an uncomfortable position, as he'll be a restricted free agent after the season. The Bulls tried to lock Butler up this past summer with a four-year, $40 million contract extension, but Butler reportedly turned it down. 

Butler took a huge gamble on himself: a bet that he'd stay healthy, outperform the offer, and stick with a team that's perennial contender in the Bulls.

It's obviously paying off. 

Not only do Butler's stats rank among the best of all perimeter players in the NBA, he's become the Bulls' best two-way a player — a gritty defender with a diverse offensive game.

He's showing it all off this season. Last Saturday, en route to 33 points, he posted up a smaller Pelicans player for an easy basket:

He can turn offense into defense:

Monday night, he hit the game-deciding three-pointer in the fourth quarter when the defense collapsed off of him.

Butler credits an offseason of hard work in which he and his friends didn't have TV or Internet so they'd be forced to work out.

Even Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau didn't quite see Butler's explosion coming:

“I’m not surprised he’s improved. The amount he’s improved? I wouldn’t be honest if I say I saw that coming. I thought he was capable of scoring more than he did but to be playing the way that he is, he’s playing great on both sides of the ball."  

The risk for the Bulls is that Butler will outplay what they want to offer him. The Bulls can match any offer Butler receives, but if he gets a maximum contract offer, the Bulls would have to decide whether to match and put themselves into the luxury tax. The Bulls have historically tried to avoid the luxury tax, which penalizes teams for going too high over the salary cap.

A max contract for Butler could add up to the $13-$15 million range per season, which over the course of time, would be a considerable leap above the Bulls' initial offer.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Marc Trestman and GM Phil Emery fired by Chicago Bears after 5-11 season. Please see Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica thoughts below.

By Kevin Kaduk

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery, left, talks to the media as head coach Marc Trestman listens at a news conference during the team's NFL football training camp in Bourbonnais, Ill. The Bears fired Emery and Trestman, Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, making sweeping changes after missing the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Chicago's Marc Trestman experiment is over after just two seasons.

Plucked from the Canadian Football League and hailed as an offensive genius who would finally lift the mercurial Jay Cutler to elite quarterback status, Trestman was fired by the Chicago Bears on Monday after posting a 5-11 record in 2014 and an overall mark of 13-19 the past two seasons.

Trestman isn't the only one leaving Halas Hall looking for a new job. The Bears also said goodbye to general manager Phil Emery after just three seasons. It was Emery who conducted an exhaustive search for his first head coach and ended up choosing Trestman over Bruce Arians, the presumptive NFL coach of the year with the Arizona Cardinals this season. Emery is also paying the price for signing quarterback Jay Cutler to an expensive extension last offseason. 

How disastrous was Trestman and Emery’s tenure in the Windy City? Well, consider this: Trestman was let go after just 32 games, the second-shortest stay in team history to Paddy Driscoll’s 24 games in 1956-57. Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron, in comparison, were kept around for 96 and 80 games despite similar winning percentages.

 

"I want to thank Virginia, George and the McCaskey family, Phil Emery and Ted Phillips for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears," Trestman said in a statement. "I also want to thank all the coaches and players who gave us everything we asked over the past two years. I have tremendous respect for this organization. Chicago is a special city with great fans. I appreciate the warm support my family and I received."
 

The McCaskey family admitting a mistake and quickly moving on seems like a progressive move for the usually conservative franchise. But it should be noted that Emery’s hiring of Trestman was viewed by some as a progressive and “thinking outside the box” move. 

Armed with black-rimmed glasses, a law degree and vocabulary stocked with ten-dollar words, Trestman didn’t look like your typical football coach. 

 His resume was different, too with offensive coordinator or assistant coaching stops with nine different NFL teams before finally getting a head coaching opportunity north of the border with the Montreal Alouettes. He won back-to-back Grey Cups with the Alouettes in 2009 and 2010.

Trestman returned to the NFL (and the United States) on Jan. 16, 2013, just two days before his 57th birthday, when he was named the 14th head coach in the long history of the Chicago Bears.

Fans in Chicago initially didn’t know what to make of the soft-spoken coach who couldn’t have been more different from the exalted Mike Ditka had he tried. Trestman touted building relationships with “valued people” instead of tearing players down. He was an offensive mastermind in a city where Dick Butkus still looms large. He favored an analytical approach to the game instead of a loud one based on emotion.

The 2013 Bears got off to a 3-0 start but that proved to be the extent of Trestman’s honeymoon in Chicago. Despite building a top-five offense while journeyman Josh McCown subbed in for an injured Jay Cutler, Trestman’s team featured a dregs-of-the-league defense and backfiring decisions like opting to have Robbie Gould kick a potential 47-yard game-winning field goal on second-and-7 against the Minnesota Vikings instead of opting to get the ball closer. (Gould would miss the attempt and Chicago later lost the game.) The Bears went 8-8 in 2013, missing out on the playoffs after losing to the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Week 17.

The 2014 season brought higher expectations with the return of a healthy Cutler, receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and a defense that was retooled through free agency. A Week 1 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills quickly dashed those dreams and led to a nightmare season that bottomed out with a 51-23 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8 and a 55-14 thrashing at the hands of the Green Bay Packers just two weeks later on Sunday Night Football.

In firing Trestman and Emery, the McCaskeys are acknowledging the disaster that was the 2014 season. Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer made headlines this month when it was revealed he was the source of disparaging comments made toward Cutler in the media. A plan to replace Cutler with Jimmy Clausen lasted just one week after Clausen suffered a concussion in a Week 16 game against the Detroit Lions.

Trestman wasn't the sole source of the Bears' problems, of course. He wasn’t the one who handed Cutler a monster contract that weighed down the franchise nor was he the one who failed to draft any difference-makers on defense, instead relying on expensive and aging free agents like Jared Allen.

He wasn’t the one who, well, hired himself.

Whichever GM and coach inherit the franchise will have to retool both sides of the ball, which is no easy task considering the amount of money that has been committed to the offense. The Bears have the seventh pick in next spring's NFL draft and must replenish a defense that has been among the NFL's worst the past two seasons.

Trestman, who will turn 59 on Jan. 15, should be fine. He’ll get paid for the two years that remain on his Bears contract and should still be in demand in the league as either an assistant coach or offensive adviser.

But after waiting so long for an NFL team to take a chance on his quiet and reserved approach, Trestman’s first head coaching opportunity will likely be his last.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica thoughts: In our opinion, the Bears have addressed a serious problem an are starting the process to rebuild. However, this will not be a quick process and the Bears front office must put together a comprehensive plan with a definite timeline for progress. Lacking positions including quarterback, linebackers, safeties, cornerbacks and linemen (def. & off.) are needed. If not necessarily for starting, for backup depth. Next, they need a head coach, coordinators and position coaches that can instill discipline. That seemed to have been one of Coach Trestman's major problems. No control and loss of the locker room.

After that, the quarterback position must be addressed. Personally, I have no problem with Jay Cutler. I'm sure he's a fine young man with a lot of talent. Some say he is the best quarterback the Bears have ever had. Not, I totally disagree with that. He may have the passing records, but moving the ball up and down the field doesn't mean a thing if you don't win games, continue to commit more fumbles and throw more interceptions than any other quarterback in the league. Some people say the defense was bad during the last two years, granted, you're right but what about his years with Denver and his previous years with the Bears? He can't beat Green Bay, he can't get them to the playoffs and on and on!!! "Talent without discipline is talent wasted" and that's a fact. Cutler may have the big contract but the next head coach and staff will not tolerate his ineptness. He will not be interviewing the coaches, they'll be judging him. And if he doesn't produce, he will be gone. You can bank on it.

However, in our very honest, frank, forthright and blunt assessment of the Bears quarterback situation: No Coach or GM Can Save the Chicago Bears as Long as Jay Cutler Is Their QB.

A good businessman always cuts his losses and the Bears are no different. Cutler is not the only problem on the offense. The wide receivers need to concentrate on their main jobs, catching the ball, reducing their extra curricular activities and concentrating on football. That's where their bread is buttered. The offensive line basically has a good foundation, Kyle Long, Jerome Bushrod, Roberto Garza, Matt Slauson (depending on how he responds to his injury) and Jordan Mills (depending on how he responds to his foot injury). Several young players got a chance to gain experience but much more is needed for depth in the event of more injury. The offense must establish their ability to run the ball. Period, paragraph, end of the story, No exception. The passing game cannot be successful without the ability to run the ball and the Bears have the best all purpose running back in the league, Matt Forte. Why not let him run the ball?

Now... something the Bears have always been known for since their inception, good DEFENSE. A strong coordinator with a new scheme is a must. That is the backbone of our team. Yes the NFL is becoming a passing league, but we all know that DEFENSE wins championships!!! You can score as much as you want but it doesn't mean a thing if your opponent scores more than you. Running the ball and good DEFENSE made Chicago feared, let's get back to basics.

Yes, 91 years old Virginia (Halas) McCaskey should be pissed off as noted in Monday's news conference. This is her father and her family's legacy that is being destroyed. Go get 'em Virginia, the fans are behind you. Let's bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Chicago where it belongs. It's time!!!

Chicago Bears Owner Virginia (Halas) McCaskey (File Photo) 

These are just our thoughts, we'd love to know what you think. Please post your opinions in the comment section at the bottom of this blog. Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica sports blog editor.   

Bears using ex-GM Ernie Accorsi as consultant for GM, coach.

By John Mullin

Former Giants executive Ernie Accorsi is helping out the Chicago Bears. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media)

The final decisions to fire Bears general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman were reached late Sunday night, according to Bears President Ted Phillips. But the search – actually “searches,” plural – for their replacements in fact began several days ago when Phillips and Chairman George McCaskey had a phone conversation with former NFL general manager Ernie Accorsi.

The conversation was to determine whether, if the Bears did decide to fire their two top football figures, Accorsi was available to serve as a consultant in finding their replacements. McCaskey and Phillips decided that Accorsi was indeed that individual, perhaps in part because Accorsi already had something of a candidates list already from his work on the NFL Career Development Advisory Council. That group also includes former Houston and Washington general manager Charley Casserly, currently the consultant for the New York Jets for their GM and coach searches.

“Had discussions with several members of the Advisory panel and felt that Ernie was the best fit for us in terms of his breadth of experience and being in it with a traditional team and understanding what the [Chicago] fanbase is all about,” Phillips said. “I’ve known him for a very long time, from back in the days when I used to negotiate player contracts and he’s a high-quality character guy. I think he’ll be a great fit.”

Accorsi, 73, had been general manager for the Baltimore Colts (1982-83), the Cleveland Browns (1985-92) and New York Giants, where he was assistant GM to the legendary George Young from 1994-97 and then served as general manager from 1998-2007 following Young’s death.

The Giants connection is not insignificant. The McCaskeys and Mara family, founders of the Giants, are long-time friends and it was Accorsi who hired two-time Super Bowl winning coach Tom Coughlin for the Giants.

Additionally, when George Halas was president of the National Football Conference, Accorsi was assistant to the president. He also was a suitemate of Brian Piccolo's at Wake Forest University.

“I think he gets what we're looking for,” McCaskey said.

Identity lost

What was clear on Monday from both McCaskey and Phillips was the escalating unhappiness not just with the Bears’ record, but also with what the team has become.

Too often last season, players spoke of not having a true identity as a team, whether big offense, physical defense, speed team, whatever. The identity of the Chicago Bears was lost in the wake of Lovie Smith’s departure and the search now is on for both people and character.

 “When you look at successful teams, they have an identity,” McCaskey said. “There will usually be, at some point in the season, they’ll be called upon to overcome adversity. There will be a point in the season where the team jells, where they come together.

“That’s what you want to see. That’s what we’re looking to see, somebody who can help make those things happen for our Bears.”

Changing the search engine

Searches for Bears general managers and coaches have typically involved casting very wide nets for prospective candidates. The first, biggest list is then winnowed to one of 10-12 candidates, then to two or three, and then the selection is made.

It was done that way for the hirings of Dick Jauron, Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman as coaches and for the additions of Jerry Angelo and Phil Emery.

But while the process itself was not at fault, the use of one plugged-in consultant is consistent with a desire for an accelerated pace to the searches.

“We’re going to proceed with a sense of urgency,” Phillips stressed. “There is no timeline, but we do have a sense of urgency and we will be prepared to act when we get the right candidates in place.”

When Emery went looking for a head coach, he looked principally in the vein of coaches from an offensive background. The need was to fix a poor offense and maximize what Jay Cutler could be.

The Trestman staff accomplished neither objective. So this time the “right candidate” is not coming from a pre-ordained source.

“We’re not foreclosing any possibilities, college experience, pro experience, previous head coaching experience, offensive-minded, defensive-minded,” Phillips said.

White Sox talent grab yields several leaders. 

By Dan Hayes

Only two months after their veteran voices amounted to a mere whisper, the White Sox have turned up the clubhouse volume.

With Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn and Gordon Beckham departed, the White Sox front office has been aware they required more than just talent for the 2015 roster. 

As they drew up their offseason blueprint, the White Sox hoped to find talented, steady veterans who could complement their young, athletic core both on and off the field. Executives Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams think they have accomplished that through a month-long talent grab that includes Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera and Jeff Samardzija.

"The one thing we were cognizant along the way in this endeavor was let’s not only target the best players, but the best fits in the clubhouse character-wise and intensity," Williams said earlier this month. "And people who can put it together. As I explained to David Robertson, it took us some lessons in the early 2000s that it’s not just the talent you throw against the wall, it has to fit together."

Though Konerko was more example than voice, the retired star had set the tone in the White Sox clubhouse for the past decade. While Dunn struggled when he played for the White Sox, his calm -- gregarious -- demeanor provided  young players a valuable lesson that you could continue to be the same person no matter how you performed. Beckham offered the same as he always contributed great defense, even if he slumped offensively.

The loss of all three looked to be considerable, though it didn't completely leave the team void of leadership.

Jose Abreu is limited by language, but demonstrated a strong influence on his Spanish-speaking teammates. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez sets an example by rarely taking days off. Though young, Adam Eaton provides hard to find fire and energy necessary for the long haul while John Danks and Tyler Flowers have proven to be a steadying force for the pitching staff.

But with several key vets gone, the White Sox knew they needed more than strong skillsets to get back to respectability.

The acquisitions of LaRoche and Duke got the club's leadership drive off to a strong start as both meet specific needs on the field and enjoy sterling reputations with previous teammates. Earlier this month, Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg spoke highly of the soft-spoken LaRoche, telling CSNWashington.com he's an "outstanding individual."

A converted reliever, Duke said in November he hopes to impart perspective gained from being "fired" as a starting pitcher on his young bullpen-mates to help them realize their potential.

Another leader by example, Samardzija has also shown he can be a clubhouse spokesperson who can handle media scrutiny. Growing up under Mariano Rivera's wing and replacing him, Robertson knows how to succeed on baseball's biggest stage and what it's like to be in the shoes of the team's young relievers. And not only can he bridge the language gap, but Cabrera has the most playoff experience of any player on the roster.

"Their makeup as been a strong part of their selling point and how they fit," Hahn said "Obviously we have a club on the younger side of things and as we try to take that next step we wanted to have some guys that have won before, some veteran presence and guys who are good at sort of bringing a clubhouse together and leading them through tough times. Each of these guys has a track record of being able to do that."

The White Sox aren't the only ones impressed by the cache of players, who have combined for 57.6 career Wins Above Replacement, according to baseball-reference.com.

At the Winter Meetings, super agent Scott Boras praised the club's efforts, noting the White Sox have loaded up on potential mentors for his talented client, Carlos Rodon. 

The  group's collective experience has the front office confident the team can mesh together despite all its new faces. 

"These guys are known commodities," Williams said. "This feels a little more stable and there is a little more optimism because they are known commodities."

Golf: I got a club for that; Predicting winners for the 2015 majors.

By Kyle Porter

Will Tiger Woods win a major in 2015? (Getty Images)

 
Any golf season always revolves around what happens at the four majors and/or the Ryder Cup. That's the sharp reality of golf, especially in 2015 when golfers will be extra picky, selecting the specific tournaments in which they will play with more precision than ever before.

Even though it makes the other 48 weeks of the year seem less important, it sure does make those four major weeks feel like the only thing that matters in sports.

The Masters always overtakes the sports news cycle and with the US Open at a first-time venue, the British Open at St. Andrews and the PGA Championship at famed Whistling Straits, it will be another season of tremendous major championship weeks.

But what will happen?

You would have had to search long and hard to find somebody this time last year who would have rationally picked Rory McIlroy to win two majors in 2014 and Bubba Watson to beat a child into submission on the back nine at Augusta -- much less a European to win the US Open by nearly double-digit strokes.

Yet all of those things happened in 2014 and, strangely, none of them seemed out of place. I have no clue what 2015 has in store but here are my predictions for the majors anyway.

Masters: Tiger Woods

The hype will be too much for McIlroy to handle this year. I think the Ulsterman gets his career slam at some point, just not in 2015.

Woods, though, he's finished outside the top six one time at Augusta since 2004. One time. He probably should have won the thing in 2013, too. Maybe he won't win it next year, but you can bet he'll at least be in the mix on the weekend.

US Open: Henrik Stenson

If the Swede doesn't get it done in 2015, I don't think it will ever happen.

He finished T4 in 2014 at Pinehurst and the length of Chambers Bay will play into his long-iron-hitting hands.

We went from 2001-13 without having a year in which every major winner was a repeat but that won't happen again in 2015 (unless McIlroy wins them all.)

British Open: Rory McIlroy

I'm concerned that it's almost too obvious. A wide open bomber's course and McIlroy swinging for his second straight Claret Jug. What am I missing?

Last time the Open was at St. Andrews, McIlroy posted a second-round 80 (!) and still finished T3 -- a second-round 72 would have gotten him in a playoff and a 71 would have won him the tournament.

Of all the golfers at all the tournaments in 2015, this is the one of which I'm most confident (which means he'll ultimately miss the cut).

PGA Championship: Jason Day

At some point you just sort of have to say that it can't not happen. I flat out refuse to believe that Day will go major-less over his entire career.

In 2010 at Whistling Straits, Day shot a final-round 74 (which had nothing on Nick Watney's final-round 81) to finish four back of Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, so he's had some history at this course.

He'll tidy up the 2015 major season with two first-time winners and two legends taking home the hardware (or jackets).

Who will be U.S. Ryder Cup captain?

By Ryan Ballengee

The U.S. Ryder Cup team hasn't won since 2008, when Paul Azinger lead a rather eclectic dozen into Valhalla and stomped all over a European team haplessly captained by Nick Faldo. While Europe is happy to keep on winning, now having taken eight of the last 10 in the biennial series, American fans may well lose interest if the PGA of America and the U.S. players can't right the ship. 

Who's the man to do that? It appears to be Fred Couples, who has been contacted by the 11-member Ryder Cup task force about taking the job for 2016 at Hazeltine. While the PGA of America has said a captain won't be named until perhaps mid-year, it seems a clear favorite has emerged.

Now what?

Coupes is a proven winner, leading the U.S. regulars to three consecutive wins in the off-year Presidents Cup. Though the International foe is weaker, at least in spirit, than the European opponent, the format is more grueling and doesn't let a captain hide struggling players. 

Fred Couples hits a tee shot on the 14th hole during round three of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on the Cochise Course at The Desert Mountain Club on November 1, 2014 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The 1992 Masters champion isn't overbearing. He won't be too intense. Couples wants his guys to feel in a position to succeed and knows no amount of pressure will help. 

He can commit the time to do the job right, already playing what amounts to a part-time schedule. 

The big question for Couples will be how his team will be selected. Will the task force change how many players automatically qualify? How will they get on the team? How many wild-card picks with Couples have at his disposal and how long will he be able to wait to pick them? 

Though 2015 is an off year for the Ryder Cup cycle, the foundation for American success in '16 will be laid in the ensuing months. 

2014 NASCAR Season in Review: Most Dramatic Moments.

By Bob Pockrass

Texas confrontation (Getty Images)

There are often lists of best races, and we’ll have one later this week.

But here’s a different list. The most dramatic moments of 2014, which sometimes can make a race seem better than it actually was.

1. Homestead finish

It was just what NASCAR wanted — its championship-contending drivers competing for the win at Homestead.

Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin all had a shot to win the championship in the final 15 laps. Hamlin, second at the time, passed Jeff Gordon on the restart. Harvick, 12th but with four fresh tires, passed four cars on the restart.

The caution flew — again — and Harvick, in sixth, was able to catch back up within seeing distance of the top two — Hamlin, who had no fresh tires, and Newman, who had two fresh tires.

Newman took the lead on the restart with nine laps remaining, but Harvick split through the middle of the pack to second and grabbed the lead two laps later.

Harvick then held off Newman on a restart with three laps remaining to capture the title.

2. Keselowski wins at Talladega

Brad Keselowski, needing a win to advance to the semifinal round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, had the lead on both “overtime” green-white-checkered restarts. But he lost the lead on the second one and needed to make a last-lap pass by Newman and then held off those trying to slingshot past him for the win.

As unpredictable as Talladega can be, it was a dramatic finish as he made the right moves at the right time (and maybe a little bit of help from Joey Logano keeping others at bay) and won with a car that had a little bit of damage from contact earlier in the race.

3. Wild finish and postrace in Texas

There they were three-wide, two drivers still in contention for the Sprint Cup title and one who wasn’t.

Who emerged? Jimmie Johnson, the six-time Cup champion who had already been eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Harvick and Keselowski followed him across the finish line.

But it wasn’t that simple. On a restart in the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, Gordon was the leader with Johnson on the inside. Keselowski tried to shoot the gap between them as the green flag dropped, and Keselowski had contact with Gordon.

Gordon suffered a flat tire, spun and ended up 29th. But there was still some fight left in Gordon after the checkered flag.

Gordon got out of his car and yelled at Keselowski, who was then pushed toward Gordon by Harvick and a brawl erupted between the Gordon and Keselowski crews.

4. Charlotte bump-and-headlock

Harvick had a comfortable lead but oil on the track resulted in a two-lap dash to the finish in October at Charlotte.

With the Chase drivers knowing they wouldn’t have to worry about their Talladega finish if they could win Charlotte, the dicing was wild in those final laps while Harvick, clearly with the best car, outlasted Gordon.

But there were tempers after the race as Denny Hamlin was mad at being shoved on the final restart by Keselowski, who also had angered Matt Kenseth by what Kenseth viewed as Keselowski running him into the wall on an earlier restart.

The result? Hamlin brake-checking Keselowski on the cool-down lap, Keselowski then trying to run into Hamlin and Kenseth, and then Tony Stewart backing into Keselowski on pit road after Keselowski accidentally got into him as well. Kenseth then put Keselowski in a headlock as Keselowski tried to walk back to his hauler.

5. Daytona 500: Rain and Dale Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. with a piece of bear bond on his grille threatening to cook his engine, held off the field on the final two laps to capture the Daytona 500. He did it with a great car and solid blocking moves over the final two laps, and the jockeying behind him resulted in a crash as they were coming to the checkered flag.

It was a long wait for the fans to see the most popular driver win the sport’s biggest race. The event included a rain delay of 6 hours and 21 minutes.

6. Keselowski race-winning move to open Chase

Keselowski opened the Chase with a win at Chicagoland, and the move was just as daring as the ones that caused ire later in the Chase.

But this one was awesome because it worked. As Harvick and Kyle Larson battled for the lead with 16 laps remaining, Keselowski split them going into the turn. Larson hung by the wall and Harvick tried to pinch Keselowski up into the wall but was too late, with Keselowski having the momentum to complete the pass.

7. Allmendinger holds off Ambrose

AJ Allmendinger earned the first Cup win of his career in dramatic fashion as he held off Marcos Ambrose in the final laps at Watkins Glen. Both stout road racers, this was a great battle of drivers.

The first lap of the green-white-checkered restart featured plenty of beating and banging, with Allmendinger holding off every one of Ambrose’s attempts. The final lap was a little less dramatic but it was an incredible finish as Allmendinger led the final 30 laps by surviving three restarts over the final nine laps.

He also won the first Cup race for JTG Daugherty Racing.

8. Phoenix finish with Newman tap of Larson

Newman needed one more spot on the final lap at Phoenix in November to advance to the championship round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

And that’s how a battle for 11th became a dramatic moment.

Newman got alongside Kyle Larson and traded some paint, knocking Larson toward the wall.

Newman got the spot. Larson got a little miffed but understood. And Gordon got left out of the Chase.

9. Kahne pass for Atlanta win

On the second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, Kasey Kahne took the lead from Kenseth just before the white flag dropped at Atlanta and then held on for the win.

Kahne and Kenseth, both looking for their first win of the season, were side-by-side on that first green-flag lap, and Kahne prevailed thanks to having four fresh tires while Kenseth had just two.

The win secured a spot for Kahne in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

10. Earnhardt pass of Keselowski at Pocono

As Keselowski slowed to try to get a piece of debris off his grille with five laps remaining, Earnhardt was able to pass Keselowski for the victory in the June race at Pocono.

Keselowski thought he could force the debris off by tucking quickly behind Danica Patrick, but he misjudged the move, opening the door for Earnhardt.

The win was the second of the year for Earnhardt and the first since his Daytona 500 victory.

Angry Barcelona lose appeal against transfer ban, will sign no new players until 2016.

By Joe Prince-Wright

(Getty Images)

Fans of FC Barcelona, get used to the squad of players you have right now. You will not see any new faces until January 2016.

On Tuesday the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Barca’s appeal against their ban, after they were found guilty of “infringing regulations on registering minors as youth players.”

The ban will now kick in, as expected, from January 1 2015 and last throughout the year with only players loaned out to other clubs able to return to Barcelona.

Barca knew this was likely coming as they were charged with this offense earlier in 2014 but after launching an appeal, they were able to sign more players as the appeals process played out over the summer, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Thomas Vermaelen and Ivan Rakitic arriving.

In a statement on their website, Barcelona were left fuming with the decision and revealed that they are looking into legal action through the Swiss Federal Court.

FC Barcelona wishes to state, with all due respect for the sports authorities, that it totally disagrees with the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced today to confirm the sanction originally imposed by FIFA as a consequence of the alleged breach of regulations on the international transfer of minor footballers. 

The Club has made it clear to the FIFA Disciplinary Commission, the FIFA Appeals Commission and the CAS itself that it understands and supports the policy on the protection of minors and the concern for the protection of their development and education. 

This is confirmed by how they Club has acted throughout its history, setting an example around the world for the way its young footballers are schooled and educated, and the work that is done on their development. FC Barcelona’s youth structure has enabled hundreds of young players to achieve their dreams and receive a decent upbringing. 

The errors that the Club might have committed, and which have been recognised and argued before the corresponding authorities are, in all cases, of an administrative nature and to a large extent have been caused by the existing conflict between the FIFA regulations and Spanish legislation, along with the Club’s conviction that it was acting correctly. 

Therefore, FC Barcelona considers the sanction to be completely disproportionate as it supposes an excessive punishment for the Club, when considering its trajectory and the circumstances of this specific case. 

In this regard, where the judicial grounds for the CAS decision are announced, the Club shall proceed by studying and evaluating the different legal options available, among others the possibility of appealing against the CAS arbitration to the Swiss Federal Courts.

Real Madrid: Gareth Bale will not leave "no matter how much is offered".

By Nicholas Mendola

Florentino Perez has laid the hammer down when it comes to the future of star attacker Gareth Bale.

Linked with an audacious bid from Manchester United, Bale isn’t going anywhere according to Real Madrid’s president.

Saying he “couldn’t imagine” Real Madrid without Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo, Perez declared the club’s allegiance to the 25-year-old Welsh star in no uncertain terms.

From the BBC:

“Bale is a key player. He has already done so much for the team and is a key part of our club’s future,” added Perez. 

“Every club knows that Gareth Bale will never leave Real Madrid and that the club will not discuss their star, no matter how much is offered.”

Maybe this will finally quell that ghost haunting White Hart Lane (We kid).

Credit Michigan hiring Jim Harbaugh to Urban Meyer, who always forces rivals to change.

By Matt Hayes

Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh (Getty Images)

You better believe it was planned, better believe Michigan knew exactly what it was doing at the exact moment the decision was made.

There, in the middle of Ohio State parading itself through the College Football Playoff Media Day, and a little more than 1,000 miles north, was Michigan’s introductory press conference to announce new coach Jim Harbaugh.

The moment in Ann Arbor was so big, that Press Conference Up North was so significant, it sucked the very life from the Media Day.

Round 1 winner: Michigan.

Buckle up, folks. It’s a long, ugly, bloody fight.

“This is Michigan,” Harbaugh said. “There are no turnarounds at Michigan. There is greatness.”

Before we get all maized and confused about what this all means, let me introduce the man responsible for Harbaugh leaving the NFL -- the holy land and highest level of competition for a coach -- to return to college football: Urban Meyer.

When Meyer builds a program; when he wins championships and draws the line in the sand no one will cross, the collateral damage is real and it is revealing. It happened at Utah, at Florida and now is happening at Ohio State.

If you want your program to change; if you want the culture of who you are and what you’re all about completely gutted and reshaped, better hope Urban Meyer is hired by your biggest rival.

Urb moves in, and all hope is lost. Then the search for answers begins.

It happened at BYU in 2005, after Meyer arrived at Utah in 2003 and took an underachieving Utes program and won back-to-back Mountain West Conference championships. He beat bitter rival BYU twice, so badly the last time (52-21) that the Cougars made a coaching change (Bronco Mendenhall) and a commitment to upgrading facilities.

Meyer arrived at Florida in 2005, and by his second season in Gainesville had won the national championship and beaten bitter rival Florida State twice by a combined 55-21. Soon after, Bobby Bowden’s untouchable security in Tallahassee eroded away.

By the time Meyer won his second national title in 2008 and had gained absolute control of recruiting in the state, FSU was forced into a painfully awkward forced retirement (see: firing) of Bowden after the 2009 season – and fifth straight loss to Meyer’s Gators.

 Jimbo Fisher arrived, FSU committed to building the first indoor practice facility in the state of Florida, and Meyer quit for health reasons a year later.

“He makes you completely rethink the way you operate,” Utah athletic director Chris Hill told me years ago about Meyer.

There is no gray area with Meyer; it’s his way and forget about any other way. Everyone is on board, or they’re useless to him.

“I mean, everyone,” says Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman. “Players, coaches, trainers, janitors; you name it. Everyone knows the message, speaks the message and spreads the message so there is no misunderstanding. There are no questions.”

And that leaves everyone outside his program searching for answers – including Michigan.

You didn’t really think Michigan was going to compete with and beat Ohio State with Brady Hoke, did you? You didn’t think Michigan was going to stop the bleeding on the recruiting trail with Hoke or any other guy who doesn’t have the charismatic charm and football fortitude to stand toe to toe with Meyer, did you?

Say this much for Michigan: they had seen enough of Urb, and knew the only answer was Harbaugh – no matter the cost. While other major programs are concerned with big-name coaches turning down offers and making programs look bad, Michigan went right after the biggest coaching fish available and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

This is what happens when Urb moves in next door, when his team wins three straight in the only game that matters and loses once in three years in the Big Ten.
You rethink everything, throw millions of dollars at it and hope for the best.

When asked during the Media Day what he thought of Harbaugh entering the fray, Meyer smirked and said, “it’s great for college football and great for the Big Ten.”

Meanwhile, back in Ann Arbor, the coach they were throwing frankincense and myrrh at was setting the tone for what it means to play for Michigan. As he walked into the press conference, he tripped on the carpet.

“A lesser athlete would have fallen down,” he said.

A lesser program wouldn’t have had the stones to do everything it could to hire the one man who can stand up to Meyer and not back down. The one coach who won’t talk a big game, won’t use gimmicks to score points (see: Hoke’s “Ohio” reference), and embrace all that is Maize and Blue.

When asked about selling Michigan to recruits, something that used to be so easy at Michigan but has since become so laborious, Harbaugh said, “You’re selling something you believe in your core. Like you know your name, you know Michigan football, you believe in Michigan football.”

Eight years ago, Harbaugh arrived at a moribund Stanford program and told anyone who would listen the Cardinal were going to win with “character and cruelty” – then went out and did just that. Five games into his first season with a team that won a single game the year before, Harbaugh took his 40-point underdog Cardinal into the L.A. Coliseum and beat college football king USC.

With a walk-on quarterback.

All hope is not lost at Michigan anymore, but it has a helluva fight on its hands with a coach named Meyer.

It’s a long, bloody, ugly fight.

And we can thank Urb for it.

NCAA The Top Twenty Five Basketball Teams. 12/29/2014.

cbssportsline.com

Associated Press Top 25   1. Kentucky 2. Duke 3. Virginia 4. Wisconsin 5. Louisville 6. Villanova 7. Gonzaga 8. Arizona 9. Iowa State 10. Utah 11. Texas 12. Maryland 13. Kansas 14. Notre Dame 15. St. John's 16. Wichita State 17. West Virginia 18. Oklahoma 19. North Carolina 20. Ohio State 21. Washington 22. Baylor 23. Northern Iowa 24. Colorado State 25. Georgetown

Coaches Poll   1. Kentucky 2. Duke 3. Virginia 4. Wisconsin 5. Villanova 6. Louisville 7. Arizona 8. Gonzaga 9. Iowa State 10. Texas 11. Maryland 12. Utah 13. Notre Dame 14. Kansas 15. West Virginia 16. Wichita State 17. St. John's 18. Ohio State 19. Washington 20. North Carolina 21. Oklahoma 22. Baylor 23. Northern Iowa 24. Colorado State 25. San Diego State

Player of the Year Power Rankings: Jahlil Okafor continues to hold top spot.

By Rob Dauster

Jahlil Okafor (AP Photo)

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke: Just another dominant performance from the nation’s best big man on Monday evening, as he went for 27 points and eight boards in a win over Toledo. There is no more dominant offensive weapon in college basketball.

2. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin: Frank The Tank put together arguably his best all-around game on the season on Sunday night, as he went for 25 points, 11 boards and six blocks against Buffalo while shutting down the Bulls star forward Justin Moss in the process.

3. Jerian Grant, Notre Dame: It will be interesting to see where Jerian Grant goes from here this season. Notre Dame has looked like an offensive juggernaut through the season’s first month and a half, but they’ve done it against one of the worst non-conference schedules in the country. Will Grant still be a Player of the Year candidate when the Irish are squaring off with the likes of Louisville and Duke? Also worth noting here: take away the 6-for-8 that Grant shot from three in a 48 point win over Chicago State, and he’s shooting just 30 percent from beyond the arc on the season.

4. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky: Cauley-Stein actually had a relatively forgettable game as Kentucky beat Louisville in the Yum! Center over the weekend. He finished with just five points, six boards and three steals, but his impact on the defensive end of the floor is hard to quantify simply with stats.

5. Georges Niang, Iowa State: Iowa State will kick off Big 12 play this weekend, which means that Niang will finally get some tougher tests. Niang has been up-and-down against high-major opponents this year. He was dominant in wins against Alabama and Arkansas, he struggled in a loss to Maryland and he had one good half in the win over Iowa. The Cyclones also blew out Georgia State, but Niang was just 3-for-12 from the floor in that game.

6. Montrezl Harrell, Louisville: Harrell came back from his one-game suspension against CSUN against Kentucky, but he wasn’t all that effective in a loss to the Wildcats, finishing with just nine points and eight boards. He was visibly frustrated with Chris Jones’ inability to run offense by the end of that game. You’d think, instead of taking challenged, fadeaway 23-footers, getting the ball to your future lottery pick would be a good idea, right?

7. Justin Anderson, Virginia: Anderson has been terrific this season, but my one issue with having him this high is that he’s not a go-to guy for Virginia this season. He’s a complimentary player, a spot-up shooter and a defender, and while he may be the best player in that role in the country, it’s still a role. Is that deserving of being an All-American? If you’re shooting 60.0 percent from, I’d say yes.

8. Delon Wright, Utah: Wright had his most efficient game of the season against South Dakota State: 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting, 10 assists and one turnover. Not bad.

9. Ty Wallace, Cal: Wallace is still putting up terrific numbers, but the Bears have come back to earth a bit after a torrid start to the season. They got beaten pretty handily by Wisconsin at home before Christmas and they wound up losing to Cal-St. Bakersfield on Sunday night. Individual brilliance is only going to get Cal so far this season.

10. Ron Baker, Wichita State: Playing with fire finally caught up with Wichita State, as they lost to George Washington after struggling to wins over Alabama and Hawaii. Baker had his worst game of the season against the Colonials and was not good in Hawaii. He finished with 9-for-31 in his last two games on the islands, averaging just 13 points and shooting 2-for-17 from three.

OTHERS THAT WERE CONSIDERED: Ryan Boatright (UConn), Tyler Haws (BYU), D’angelo Harrison (St. John’s), LaDontae Henton (Providence), Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), Jonathan Holmes (Texas), Stanley Johnson (Arizona), Jordan Mickey (LSU), Bobby Portis (Arkansas), D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State), Wesley Saunders (Harvard), Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington), Joseph Young (Oregon)

Top 14 Chicago sports stories of 2014. 

By Mark Strotman

It was a whirlwind of a year in the Chicago sports world. Though no teams were crowned champions in 2014, there were a number of stories - both good and bad - that helped shape the landscape of each. Memorable games, stars arriving, legends departing all made up the year that was. Here's our take on the Top 14 Chicago sports stories of 2014:

14. Notre Dame suspends four amid academic investigation

THE STORY: With Everett Golson back in the fold and a number of key starters returning, Notre Dame had dreams of getting back to competing for a national championship. But those dreams were put on hold, at least momentarily, when DaVaris Daniels, Eilar Hardy, Kendall Moore, KeiVarae Russell and Ishaq Williams were suspended indefinitely for alleged academic violations. There was hope they would return to the team at some point, but that time never came. The Irish raced out to a 6-0 start with wins over Michigan and No. 14 Stanford and were ranked as high as No. 5 in the country, but the loss of the suspended student-athletes, specifically Daniels and Russell, ultimately caught up with them. An offensive pass interference prevented a last-second loss at top-ranked Florida State, setting in motion Brian Kelly's group losing five of their last six games.

THE QUOTE: "I think if you create an environment and lay out the expectations of your program and they’re not met, then they should be held accountable. That’s been the case every year I’ve been a head coach." - Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly (August 16)

13. Kings top Blackhawks in overtime of instant classic Game 7

THE STORY: Game 7 of the Western Conference finals between the Blackhawks and Kings had a little bit of everything, much like the entire series. The Blackhawks, riding momentum from wins in Game 5 and 6, shot out to an early 2-0 lead behind goals from Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews. But the Kings answered with two goals in 51 seconds, and ultimately erased Blackhawks leads three different times. That sent the Game 7 to overtime - for just the sixth time in conference finals history - where an Alec Martinez shot deflected off Nick Leddy and past Corey Crawford, sending the Kings to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in three seasons. And though it didn't end with a Blackhawks victory, the series as a whole has gone down as one of most exciting in recent memory.

THE QUOTE: “We were one goal away. That’s all it came down to. We had a feeling this game was going to find a way to go to overtime, come down to overtime, the way these two teams were fighting playing against each. We were just looking for that one lucky bounce and ran out of time. We didn’t get it.” - Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (June 1)

12. Bulls trade Luol Deng, opening the door for Joakim Noah

THE STORY: Just one week into 2014 the Bulls produced shockwaves throughout the Windy City when they dealt longtime veteran Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Andrew Bynum's contract and three draft picks. After failing to agree on a extension, Deng, who had $14.3 million remaining on his expiring contract, had expressed the desire to test free agency in the offseason, forcing the Bulls to make a financial decision in dealing him on the cheap. It freed up cap space and got the Bulls under the luxury tax threshold, but it also meant that championship aspirations would be put on hold for yet another year in the wake of Derrick Rose's season-ending knee surgery. It also opened the door for Joakim Noah, who became the face of the franchise and willed the Bulls to 48 wins and a playoff appearance, both of which seemed impossible after Deng's departure. Noah wound up earning All-NBA First Team honors and was named the Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 80 games, salvaging a once-lost season.

THE QUOTE: “(Luol) has gone above and beyond anything we could have imagined, and we appreciate that and respect that. I want to convey from our organization to 'Lu,' publicly, what he’s meant to us and how difficult a decision to move him this has been." - Bulls VP of basketball operations John Paxson (January 7)

11. Jackie Robinson West captivates the city

THE STORY: What began as a nice story in South Williamsport, Pa., eventually took on a life of its own in the city of Chicago. The Jackie Robinson West baseball team, a group of 13 African-American boys from the South Side, fought their way through the Little League World Series, eventually becoming the first team from Chicago to win the United States title and qualify for the championship in nearly 50 years. Their magical run captivated the city, both the White Sox and Cubs expressed their support, the team was given a parade through Chicago upon their return and they made a trip to the White House to meet President Barack Obama.

THE QUOTE: "Just being there was unbelievable. And then we got there and won our first game we were like, 'Yo, let's try to win the whole thing.' So the mood changed and we tried to focus on winning the whole thing. So being on that field, knowing that we were the No. 1 team in the United States of America is unreal." - Jackie Robinson West manager Darold Butler (August 24)

10. Cubs finally break ground on Wrigley Field renovations

THE STORY: For months in 2014 the Cubs and rooftop owners engaged in a legal battle over the proposed $575 million Wrigley Field renovations. And thought at times it felt as though a deal would never get done, two weeks after their season ended the Cubs finally broke ground. With commissioner Bud Selig and Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel in attendance, the Cubs began the first of four phases including altered bleachers, seven outfield signs and a jumbotron in left field. Delays temporarily halted the construction on the bleachers, and there are concerns it may not be ready by Opening Day, but breaking ground on the renovation was an accomplishment in itself and signaled another step forward in the Cubs' rebuilding.

THE QUOTE: “The fact is that there were a lot of days where I was concerned that we would never get to here. Absolutely. But ultimately the mayor stepped up and we worked it out. We found a way to make sure that we could get this ballpark saved.” - Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts (October 11)

9. Paul Konerko says goodbye to Chicago, White Sox faithful

THE STORY: Paul Konerko's final season in Chicago wasn't what he had hoped for, appearing in just 81 games while the White Sox struggled to an 89-loss campaign. But not even a down year could dampen the legend's final weekend at U.S. Cellular Field. During a 42-minute pregame ceremony Konerko, surrounded by family, friends, former and current teammates and special guests, was presented with gifts, a video tribute and a statue in the left-field concourse. Hawk Harrelson also announced plans for Konerko's No. 14 to be retired the following season. Konerko was replaced to start the 6th inning and walked off the field for the last time to a standing ovation, capping off a memorable afternoon for one of the South Side's greatest.

THE QUOTE: “This is way more than you ever dream could happen when you pick up a bat. You’re six 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." - White Sox legend Paul Konerko (September 27)

8. Blackhawks lock in Kane, Toews with matching contract extensions

THE STORY: During the process of negotiating their respective contract extensions, Jonathan Toews said he texted Patrick Kane a few times to make sure they were on the same page. And like he had been on the ice for the first seven years of his NHL career, Kane was on the same page as his counterpart. So it was only fitting that the two signed identical eight-year, $84 million extensions in July, keeping them in Chicago through their primes as they work together for a third Stanley Cup. The duo's extensions don't begin until the 2015-16 season, but they've already gone to work on that goal; the Blackhawks enter 2015 with a 25-10-2 record and 52 points, sitting atop the Western Conference.

THE QUOTE: "We'll never deny the fact that we're part of a very special group of players that have enabled us to have a lot of the individual success that's been noticeable. So at the end of the day, there's that. And on the other side, we feel there's a number we deserve and are happy with. So far it's worked out and I'm sure as the game keeps growing, the Hawks will have a team that will be successful for years to come." - Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (July 23)

7. The summer of Carmelo Anthony

THE STORY: Everything was in place for the Bulls to make a major splash in free agency this past summer. A state-of-the-art practice facility, trade assets in the form of two first-round draft picks and young and cheap prospects, the departure of Carlos Boozer's bulky contract and a healthy Derrick Rose returning to a championship contender had all the makings of Chicago being a prime destination for Carmelo Anthony, who had opted out of his deal with the New York Knicks. The Bulls were the first to officially meet with Anthony, with Joakim Noah and Rose acting as recruiters for the seven-time All-Star. The Melo-drama lasted weeks, with Anthony making stops in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and New York, all the while the Bulls being considered the frontrunner for his services. Anthony ultimately opted for the familiarity and cash in New York, re-signing with the Knicks on a $124 million deal. But that decision also allowed the Bulls to begin working on Plan B, which included signing Pau Gasol, bringing over rookie Nikola Mirotic from Spain and re-signing Kirk Hinrich to a two-year deal, among other deals. The Bulls didn't get their man, but at 22-9 they're in far better position than Anthony's Knicks, who are going nowhere at 5-28.

THE QUOTE: "There was one point in time I was like, 'Oh, I'm going [to the Bulls]....You could see the culture they have over there. The seriousness they have, what they're about. It comes down to winning to me, and that's what they're about. That's what I like. They hit everything on the nail. That's hard to do." - New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (November 28)

6. White Sox rookie Jose Abreu takes the league by storm

THE STORY: Rick Hahn was adamant when the White Sox signed Cuban slugger Jose Abreu to a six-year, $68 million deal in March that the addition was made for the long-term, not just for a season-long boost in 2014. That may be the case, but Abreu certainly made his imprint on the White Sox in his first year in the bigs. The 27-year-old first baseman hit .317/.383/.581 with 36 home runs and 107 RBIs in 145 games and was unanimously named the BBWAA American League Rookie of the Year, earning all 30 first-place votes. He twice won AL Player of the Month (April, July), was a major reason the White Sox made a 10-game jump in the win column in 2014 and felt comfortable enough this offseason to make major splashes in acquiring Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson and Melky Cabrera.

THE QUOTE: "I think we all felt he had the potential to be this type of player at some point during his White Sox career, but I don’t believe any of us would have told you with a straight face that we fully expected this to be in Year 1.” - White Sox general manager Rick Hahn (November 12)

5. Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux enshrined in National Baseball Hall of Fame

THE STORY: There was little, if any, doubt that Frank Thomas and Greg Maddux would be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on their first try. But that didn't dilute the scene in Cooperstown this past summer when both players made heartfelt speeches upon being inducted into baseball lore. A nervous Maddux, who received 97.2 percent of the vote (7th highest in history), thanked family, friends and teammates as well as his time with the Cubs, noting that "I learned how to pitch in Chicago." A tearful Thomas, who received 83.7 percent of the vote, thanked as many people as he could before breaking down speaking about his father, Frank Sr., who passed away in 2001. Thomas and Maddux were enshrined in the Hall of Fame along with Tom Glavine, Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre.

THE QUOTE: "My dad was my everything. He pushed me day in and day out to go to practice and do all these things. He was just so proud of me all the time. I was just overcome with emotion. I’m sorry about it. But I’m not sorry about it because it is what I am and I’m proud to be here with these great legends.” - White Sox Hall of Famer Frank Thomas (July 27)

4. Joe Maddon makes memorable arrival in Chicago

THE STORY: A shot and a beer. Down the line Joe Maddon hopefully will be remembered for bringing a World Series to the North Side, but for now his electric press conference inside the Cubby Bear will go down as his highlight of 2014. Just days after he opted out of his deal in Tampa Bay rumors began surfacing that the Cubs were interested in bringing on board one of the game's top managers. And it didn't take long - 10 days, to be exact - for Theo Epstein to strike a five-year, $25 million deal with Maddon, subsequently ending Rick Renteria's one-year tenure with the ballclub. And at that press conference, Maddon reeled off a handful of memorable one-liners, talked about his enthusiasm for breaking the Cubs' 106-year long World Series drought and instilled yet another ounce of hope in the prospects of a championship on the North Side. The Cubs' offseason picked up steam shortly after that, but it was Maddon's hiring that got the ball rolling on the next phase of The Plan.

THE QUOTE: "I'm gonna talk World Series this year. I promise you. I am. And I'm gonna believe it. And I'm going to see how it's all going to play out. It's within our future, there's no question about that." - Cubs manager Joe Maddon (November 3)

3. The Derrick Rose roller coaster continues

THE STORY: Derrick Rose began 2014 the same way he began 2013: Sitting on the bench in a suit and tie, out for the year with a season-ending knee injury. This time a torn meniscus in his right knee had been the culprit, and there were real concerns that another knee injury, on the heels of a torn ACL in 2012, could cripple his NBA career. He watched as the Bulls won 48 games and were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Wizards before deeming himself ready to compete with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. He looked fresh in Spain, and though his jump shot was non-existent he did enough to bring optimism of health for the upcoming season. And while he missed 10 games early in the 2014-15 season with ankle and hamstring injuries, Rose appears to have turned the corner. In his last eight games, the former MVP has averaged 21.9 points and 4.3 assists in 29.0 minutes, helping the Bulls to a 22-9 record and looking like the favorites in the East. It's safe to say 2015 will begin far different for Rose than 2014.

THE QUOTE: "My confidence level is very high, like it’s always been. My goals are still the same: stay healthy, keep stringing ‘em out, and win games.” - Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (December 12)

2. White Sox trade for Samardzija, Cubs sign Lester to open free agency

THE STORY: Baseball season in Chicago went quietly in 2014, with the Cubs and White Sox each losing 89 games. But the offseason couldn't have been louder for the two organizations, and in the span of 24 hours each made big moves that should yield major dividends in 2015 and beyond. The White Sox began by acquiring Jeff Samardzija in exchange for a handful of prospects, adding a veteran right-hander to an already impressive starting rotation. Less than a day later the Cubs received word that Jon Lester had accepted their six-year, $155 million offer to become the ace on the North Side. Both teams made additional moves in the hectic offseason, but adding frontline starters created a mutual buzz on both ends of town that hadn't been felt in quite awhile.

THE QUOTE: "I want to win regardless of where I'm at. That's something we talked about extensively when we met. I believe in the plan that they have in place right now for the future of the Cubs." - Cubs ace Jon Lester (December 15)

"It's just what I remember growing up, so there's a very distinct intangible feeling I get when I'm around (Chicago) that is a comfort level because it's the same exact atmosphere that I grew up with playing in the parks. It has a lot to do with it.” - White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija (December 16)

1. Endless mistakes snowball in disastrous Bears campaign

THE STORY: Where to begin? A team with Super Bowl aspirations under second-year head coach Marc Trestman became the laughing stock of the NFL in a matter of weeks. From Lance Briggs' Double Nickel-gate, to back-to-back humiliating defensive efforts against the Patriots and Packers, to Aaron Kromer telling Ian Rappaport the Bears had buyer's remorse on Jay Cutler's contract extension, to three straight nationally-televised losses to the Lions, Cowboys and Saints, and Jay Cutler's $22.5 million salary being benched in Week 16, rock bottom was reached in arguably the franchise's most embarrassing season in 95 years. It ended with Trestman and general manager Phil Emery being fired on Monday. Where the Bears go from here remains to be seen, but what is clear is that this debacle of the season was Chicago sports' top story of 2014.

THE QUOTE: “We've been through a lot over the last six months. Certainly every day's a challenge handling the adversity that we've had and the minimal success we've had and it's been a challenge, something you've got to absorb and embrace along the way and try to be as consistent as you can wit the football team getting them ready each and every week." - Bears head coach Marc Trestman (December 25)

Just missed the cut:

- Javier Baez and Jorge Soler make memorable debuts for Cubs
- Duke-bound Jahlil Okafor leads Whitney Young to state title
- Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman both injured in possible final season in Chicago
- Jimmy Butler rises to stardom early in 2014-15 season
- Tim Beckman leads Illinois to bowl game, retains job
- Northwestern football players win bid to unionize

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, December 31, 2014.

Memoriesofhistory.com

 

1967 - The Green Bay Packers won the National Football League championship game by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. The game is known as the Ice Bowl since it was played with a wind chill of 40 degrees below zero.

1971 - The NHL announced that it had awarded a franchise to the New York Islanders.

1972 - Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates) was killed in a plane crash near Puerto Rico while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

1984 - ESPN debuted in Hawaii, making it available in all 50 states.

 

**************************************************************

Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you!!!!!