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Trending: Chicago baseball pioneer Minnie Minoso dies.

By Ian Denomme

Chicago White Sox legend Orestes "Minnie" Minoso signs autographs prior to the Sox' home opener against the Detroit Tigers, at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Major league baseball's first black player in Chicago, Minnie Minoso, has died. The Cook County medical examiner confirmed his death Sunday, March 1, 2015. There is some question about his age but the White Sox say he was 92. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

The baseball world lost another legend on Sunday with the death of former Chicago White Sox outfielder Minnie Minoso. Minoso was a seven-time All-Star while playing with the White Sox in the 1950s and 1960s, but much more than that he was a pioneer. When he was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the White Sox in 1951, he became the city of Chicago’s first black player.

There is some dispute over when Minoso was born, but the team website said he was 92. The Chicago Tribune reported that Minoso was found dead in his car at a Chicago gas station on Sunday morning and that foul play was not suspected.

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Chicago White Sox                                                                           Follow
✔ @whitesox

Minnie Minoso — Mr. #WhiteSox — has died. Tears of sadness are falling for a great man.

 

8:48 AM - 1 Mar 2015

 

2,177 Retweets 1,550 favorites

 

 

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The Cuban slugger spent 12 of his 17 seasons with the White Sox and hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat. The White Sox retired his No. 9 in 1983 and erected a statue at U.S. Cellular Field in 2004. Minoso is one of only two players to appear in a game in five different decades. He had two at-bats for the White Sox in 1980 at age 54. He was also famous for getting plunked. Between 1952 and 1961 he led the league in times hit by a pitch nine times, and is ninth on the all-time list with 192.

His career was much more than just frivolities. He was a career .298 hitter, a three time Gold Glover and four times finished in the top four of American League MVP voting. His combination of power and speed also put him in rare company:



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Christopher Kamka                                                                            Follow
@ckamka

During the 1950's, two players had 100 HR & 100 SB while hitting .300 Willie Mays & Minnie Minoso http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=hk0MI …

6:07 PM - 3 Nov 2014                   
 

27 Retweets 20 favorites 

 

        

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Minoso began his career in Cuba then joined the Negro leagues in 1946, winning a Negro World Series in 1947 with the New York Cubans. He signed with the Indians in 1948, but had only 20 plate appearances with the club before being dealt to the White Sox. He also remains notably absent from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Despite the push by the White Sox and other prominent Latin players, Minoso has never made it to Cooperstown. His highest percentage during his 15 years on the writers' ballot was 21.1 in 1988. He was considered by the Veterans Committee in 2014 and fell short of the required percentage for induction.

“'My last dream is to be in Cooperstown, to be with those guys,”' Minoso said. “'I want to be there. This is my life's dream.

”White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf released a statement Sunday morning.

“Our organization and our city have suffered a heart-breaking loss today,” Reinsdorf said. “We have lost our dear friend and a great man. Many tears are falling ... When you talk about the top players in the American League in the 1950s, you talk about Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Minnie Minoso."

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Hurricanes-Blackhawks Preview.

By JEFF MEZYDLO (STATS Senior Writer)

With two trades in as many days, the Chicago Blackhawks believe they've found the right pair to help fill the void left by the absence of their leading scorer and improve an inconsistent defense.

Veterans Antoine Vermette and Kimmo Timonen could make their debut with the Blackhawks on Monday night against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes, who can match a season high with their fourth straight win.  

One night after Chicago (37-21-5) acquired Timonen from Philadelphia for two draft picks, it picked up Vermette from Arizona on Saturday in exchange for prospect Klas Dahlbeck and a 2015 first-round pick.  

Though Vermette (13 goals, 22 assists) has been shut out in six straight contests, the addition of the Coyotes' top point-producing forward could help the Blackhawks overcome the expected 12-week loss of injured star Patrick Kane (fractured clavicle). 

"Vermette is a terrific player," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said.  

While the 11-year veteran was a frequent subject of trade rumors and will certainly be welcome in Chicago, his immediate emotions were mixed.

 You've got to take (the trade) as a man," Vermette told the NHL's official website. "It's part of the game, unfortunately. It's not easy."

Timonen, who turns 40 this month, appears set to make his season debut after being sidelined by blood clots discovered in his leg and lungs last summer. The former All-Star ranks third among active NHL defensemen with 571 points.

"He's fresh, he's ready to go," Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said. "Once we get him up to speed, he's a great player."

Hoping to get one last shot at the Stanley Cup before retiring at the end of the season, Timonen provides a veteran presence for a defensive corps that's minus Johnny Oduya (upper-body injury) and has yielded at least four non-shootout goals in four of the last nine games.

"He is going to give us a lot of options, versatility and leadership," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told the team's official website. "We'll get him going."

Third in the Central Division and a loser in four of six, Chicago looks to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat at Tampa Bay on Friday.

Corey Crawford wasn't in net for that contest but should play Monday after making 20 saves in a 3-0 victory at Florida on Thursday. He had allowed four goals in each of his two previous outings. Crawford posted a 1.93 goals-against average in winning both starts versus Carolina last season.

While the Blackhawks have been active buyers prior to Monday's trade deadline, the Hurricanes (24-30-7) have already unloaded forward Jiri Tlusty and defensemen Andrej Sekera and Tim Gleason.

Though Carolina is set to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, it's owned a 12-4 goal advantage during a three-game winning streak.

"We had a good week, obviously," coach Bill Peters told the team's official website.

Jay McClement, who signed a two-year contract extension with Carolina on Sunday, scored twice Saturday. He's recorded three of his six goals in the last three games.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews had a goal in three straight games before Friday's loss. He's scored in two consecutive home contests against the Hurricanes.

Vermette has gone without a point in his last six versus Carolina.

Blackhawks acquire C Antoine Vermette from Coyotes.

 

By Tracey Myers

Stan Bowman said on Friday that he was still working the phones, still looking for a forward to compliment the Blackhawks’ roster down the stretch.

“Hopefully it works out,” he said. On Saturday night, it did.

The Blackhawks acquired Antoine Vermette from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Klas Dahlbeck and a first-round pick. The 32-year-old Vermette was among the top targets at this year’s trade deadline.

Vermette has 13 goals and 22 assists in 63 games with the Coyotes this season. Vermette played his final game with the Coyotes tonight against the Boston Bruins. He traveled back to Arizona afterward and will speak to the media on Sunday.

It was Bowman’s second acquisition in as many days. The Blackhawks picked up defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers, in exchange for two draft picks, on Friday night.

Sure, the Blackhawks had to pay a bit of a price for Vermette with that first-round pick and Dahlbeck, who played a few games with the Blackhawks earlier this season. But it’s still a solid deal for a two-way player who will strengthen the Blackhawks up the middle.

Arizona general manager Don Maloney said the Blackhawks presented the best package for Vermette.

“We had two other deals that were comparable, close. Chicago was ready to do the deal now. That was the main thing. They said, ‘let’s move forward,’ and we’re happy to put this one in the bank so we can focus on some other things we’re looking to do,” Maloney said. “[Vermette] is a good player. A lot of teams were interested in acquiring his rights. Chicago gave us the best deal.”

Vermette should bolster a Blackhawks lineup that’s going to miss Patrick Kane for up to three months (fractured left clavicle). He’ll also help the Blackhawks in the faceoff circle; he’s eighth in the league with a 56.0 faceoff percentage, just behind new teammate Jonathan Toews (56.2). Vermette is in the final year of his current contract, which carries a $3.75 cap hit.

The Blackhawks should be getting a Vermette with a big weight taken off his shoulders. Vermette’s name had been bandied about in trade rumors for some time, and it may have affected his on-ice performance.

“I don’t think in the last month, month and a half he was playing anywhere near where he’s capable of playing. I think the pending deal was a huge factor,” Maloney said. “He’ll be excellent in Chicago.”

Blackhawks' Timonen motivated by Stanley Cup aspirations.

 
By Tracey Myers  

Kimmo Timonen was lying in a Finland hospital last summer, pondering his future.

The veteran defenseman was stricken with blood clots in his leg and lungs. It would take months but he would recover, and doctors told him if he followed their medical plan Timonen could play again.

“I decided then, if that small chance happened, the only thing missing from my hockey career is a Stanley Cup,” Timonen said. “That was the only goal for which I’d return to hockey.”

On Friday, Timonen was acquired by a Blackhawks team with which he feels he can achieve that goal. 

The Blackhawks got Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for two draft picks. For the 39-year-old Timonen, this is one last opportunity in the NHL. It’s one last chance to win a Cup, which has eluded him his entire career. And after not playing all season due to fighting those blood clots, Timonen is ready to see if he can help the Blackhawks down the stretch.

“I like their game, obviously, because they’re a puck possession team and that’s my game,” he said on a conference call on Friday. “I like making plays, I like to hang onto it and get that first pass. That’s my game. I haven’t talked to the coaches on what my role’s going to be but I’m open to everything. I’m just happy to be there and I’m going to work really hard.”

Timonen resumed skating with the Flyers about two weeks ago. He was slated to start for them on Saturday before this deal sent him to Chicago. He’s not sure if he plays on Monday when the Blackhawks host the Carolina Hurricanes — neither are general manager Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville at the moment. But Timonen is traveling to Chicago on Saturday and will practice with the Blackhawks on Sunday. 

After that, he’ll see where he is. Obviously, with two weeks of skating after being sidelined for months, it could take some time.

“I’m sure it’ll take a couple of games,” he said. “You can skate and practice, but playing the game is when you get your timing back and your instincts are taking over. You can’t simulate that in practice. I don’t have an exhibition game to ease myself into it. I have to be good to go right away. I feel really good right now and I’m sure I can help the team.”

Timonen went through his health scare last summer. He’s taken the necessary medications, gone through six months worth of recovery and a few weeks worth of skating. It’s been a long road, but Timonen was willing to take it to get one more shot at that Cup.

“Let’s say I won a Stanley Cup before: I probably wouldn’t be talking to you guys right now. That’s the thing which is pushing me to work hard,” he said. “It wasn’t easy to work out six months to get on the ice. It was hard work but it was easy at the same time because I want to win it. I just want to get to the playoffs and just have a chance to win it.” 

Blackhawks blanked by Bishop, Lightning 4-0. (Friday night's game, 02/27/2015).

By Tracey Myers

Coach Joel Quenneville was looking at that first goal as an important one.

The Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning were playing a tight game for a while, each team getting its chances although the Blackhawks feeling they could’ve gotten much better ones on their end. And in the end, that first goal was critical. Problem was, the Blackhawks weren’t the ones scoring it, or any for that matter.

Steven Stamkos scored his 33rd and 34th of the season and the Blackhawks came up empty on the other end as the Lightning beat them 4-0 on Friday night. The Blackhawks snapped a two-game winning streak and failed to gain ground on the idle St. Louis Blues in the Central Division.

For the Blackhawks, it’s been a busy few days. They got two big victories against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday and Thursday but also dealt with losing Patrick Kane. Johnny Oduya was already out of the lineup. But the Blackhawks weren’t leaning on the depleted lineup excuse.

“We’re not even thinking about that,” said Patrick Sharp. “Those are great players but there are no excuses, especially for that game out there. That has nothing to do with the way we played today.”

Coach Joel Quenneville wasn’t buying it, either.

“We’ve played 11 games in a short amount of time here. This was one of those games where you have to find a way,” he said. “We weren’t as competitive as we needed to be later in the game.”

The Blackhawks pointed to a few things going wrong on Friday. They made mistakes. They weren’t crisp with their passes.

“They’ve got a lot of speed and skill. Their forwards and defensemen can all skate. When you can do that, you just roll them over and they come like waves,” Duncan Keith said. “In a game like this we have to keep it simple and limit our turnovers. I was guilty of that. We weren’t at our best; we needed to be simple. They got a few breaks and stayed out of the box too.”

While the Blackhawks got 28 shots on Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop, Sharp said they weren’t enough good ones.

“He had a strong game but our [team], we could do a better job of getting quality scoring chances,” he said. “We didn’t have enough jam around the net and it resulted in no goals.”

The Lightning, who hadn’t played the last four days, had plenty of game and goals. Stamkos had two and Brian Boyle and Ryan Callahan each had one.

The Blackhawks didn’t wrap up this trip with the punch and power with which they started it. Quenneville thought the first goal would be critical. It was, and the Lightning just went from there.

“Whoever scored first was going to be in a good spot there,” Quenneville said. “This game was pretty even until that point and we didn’t do anything after that. It was a huge turning point, that first goal.”

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session… Bulls lose Butler, run out of gas against the Clippers

By Vincent Goodwill

When Nikola Mirotic can give the Bulls 29 points of offensive production, it’s usually gravy as he’s expected to be a complement to some more seasoned offensive players.

But when he’s the one everyone is looking for during fourth-quarter rallies, doom is probably a more likely ending than success.

Aside from a Joakim Noah free throw with 1:14 left of the final period, nobody aside from Mirotic (16 points) scored in the fourth for the Bulls, making way for the Los Angeles Clippers to overcome the “hack-a-Dre” campaign and methodically pull away Sunday, 96-86 at the United Center.

“When your primary scorers are out, you’re going to struggle,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of his team’s third sub-40 percent shooting performance in last four games.

“Niko played very well,” he said of the rookie’s career-high performance. “He puts a lot of pressure on the defense. He shoots the ball with confidence, even his misses you think are going in. He’s coming along.”

Mirotic’s best game as a pro came under the backdrop of not knowing how long he would play or where he stands in the ever-changing rotation his coach employs.

“It doesn’t matter if I play 20, 30 or five minutes, I’m always trying to be positive,” said Mirotic, who shot 11-for-23 from the field. “I wasn’t shooting the ball well, but today was a good day. With time, I’m getting more confidence.”

The reason for the Bulls’ dependence on Mirotic was part-circumstance, part-desperation as Jimmy Butler exited the game early in the third quarter with a left elbow injury he sustained running into a DeAndre Jordan screen.

Even before that, though, the Bulls offense had stalled as Pau Gasol was ineffective in his return from illness, making just two of 13 field-goal attempts and the team overall shot just 31 percent from the field.

“I want to give Pau a lot of credit. Pau is sick, very sick,” Thibodeau said. “He knows we’re shorthanded and got out there and gave us everything he had.”

Surprisingly, the Bulls held an eight-point lead early in the third when Butler got hurt and led 76-73 with 8:48 left in the game.

“We have to be able to find a way to win. Whatever that is, that’s what we have to do,” Thibodeau said. “That game was hanging in the balance with six minutes to go.”

But the difference between the two teams’ existing personnel became evident for the rest of the afternoon.

Former Bull Jamal Crawford danced around the floor for body-twisting jumpers and runners, offsetting Mirotic scoring seven straight over Clippers forward Matt Barnes.

“You know the situation. Without Derrick, without Pau, without Jimmy, so somebody needed to shoot the ball,” Mirotic said. “My teammates tried to find me and I made some tough shots.”

Chris Paul continued his domination, putting stress on the Bulls defense with 28 and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes while the Bulls couldn’t keep enough bodies on Jordan, who grabbed 26 rebounds, often throwing Noah and Gasol aside like rag dolls while going after loose balls.

Gasol had the unfortunate task of intentionally fouling Jordan, a 40 percent foul shooter, three times before the two-minute mark.

“It’s a tough one for me, I’m old school,” said Clippers coach and Chicago native Doc Rivers. “It’s bad for the game, the fans don’t like it. But it’s part of the game. You have intentional walks in baseball.”

The physicality was matched for most of the afternoon, as the Bulls didn’t turn it over much, but couldn’t make shots and to make matters worse, couldn’t create them. Kirk Hinrich shot 0-for-7. Butler was 3-for-9 before he went to the locker room and Mike Dunleavy only took three shots in 31 minutes.

With the limp on Taj Gibson’s ankle looking more and more like something that won’t heal overnight, and Butler’s injury leading to a likely unknown status, the need for more Nikola is probably the worst-case scenario in a season full of bad twists for the Chicago Bulls.

Shorthanded Bulls lose Gibson early but beat Timberwolves 96-89. (Friday night's game, 02/27/2015).

 

By Vincent Goodwill

 

Jimmy Butler and center Joakim Noah walk off the court after a 96-89 win. John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

 

An index finger was in the air for Aaron Brooks after a swing pass resulted in a triple from Derrick Rose’s placeholder, but it was one of exasperation, not exultation.

The deep sigh that accompanied the shot to put the Bulls up five signified his miserable night, an evening where the Bulls had trouble fighting off a team with nothing to lose in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But playing with nothing to lose is different than playing to win, as the visitors couldn’t keep up in the final three minutes, with the Bulls pulling away, 96-89 at the United Center.

It wasn’t that they didn’t give all 22,000 in the house a one-night scare, one the crowd certainly didn’t appreciate after Taj Gibson left early with an ankle injury, combined with Pau Gasol’s illness keeping him out and the last three days with the latest Rose saga giving hope for a playoff run.

“It’s an ankle sprain. We’ll have to see tomorrow what it looks like,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s the same one that was giving him trouble before.”

The Timberwolves were dishing out the trouble Friday. When Tony Snell drove the lane and dunked, the United Center crowd roared but the Timberwolves didn’t flinch. Rookie Andrew Wiggins hit a corner jumper to tie the game at 79, and another high-archer with five minutes left to give his team an 85-84 lead.

Kirk Hinrich slipped by the defense for a layup, and then more ball movement resulted in a Mike Dunleavy triple to give the Bulls reason to exhale at 89-85. But they couldn’t yet breathe.

They needed every bit of scoring Hinrich could muster, considering Brooks shot 2-for-15 in 32 minutes and the Bulls shot just 39 percent on the night.

Hinrich’s second and final field goal of the night—a driving layup with 1:32 left gave them a 91-86 lead, before the Timberwolves’ youth came into play in the form of a five-second violation.

Butler creating shots down the stretch was a formula for success, as the All-Star guard scored 28 and grabbed 12 rebounds in a tough 43-minute performance, playing every position but center and initiating the offense.

“We have enough bodies and weapons on our bench where guys can mix and match and play different positions and guard different positions,” Butler said. “Thibs does a great job of preparing us for that.”

Butler was far more aggressive than he was Wednesday, while Dunleavy came alive, scoring in his usual-opportunistic fashion scoring 21 with eight rebounds in his best performance since returning from injury.

“We had a lot of 3-point opportunities,” said Dunleavy of the Bulls’ season-high tying 31 3-point attempts (nine makes). “We stepped up and knocked some down. It’s a great win for us, with all the guys out and what we’ve been through this week. We’re feeling good.”

Without Rose and Gasol, Joakim Noah had to play the part of playmaker, and the offense ran as effectively as it could’ve being facilitated by a center.

“I don’t know what we were doing,” Thibodeau joked. “We have been working on playing shorthanded. It’s not the plays, it’s the players.”

Considering Noah had his hands full with brutish center Nikola Pekovic, he kept the Timberwolves' center on high alert with eight assists to go with his 12 rebounds and 11 points.

“He has great vision and decision-making ability,” Thibodeau said. “He has a very unorthodox game in many ways. When guys make the cut, he can get it there.”

Pekovic nearly matched that production with 12 points and 11 boards in 29 minutes, while Wiggins scored an impactful 14. Veteran guard Kevin Martin scored 18 with five rebounds, as the Timberwolves shot 43 percent from the field.

There were some good signs, at least of game plan recognition and execution. Before Gibson’s injury, Noah found him twice for lob passes from the elbow.

Even after, they used the Timberwolves’ pattern of overplaying against them, going to Butler multiple times over the top of the defense for easy looks.

The game was nip and tuck, as the Bulls sometimes played tight and nervous before realizing the tenor of the season—unlike the Timberwolves, there’s a difference between playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Former NBA standout Anthony Mason dies at 48. (Tennessee State University Alumni).

By Dan Devine

Pat Riley (l) and Anthony Mason (c) smile after a 1992 game against the Portland Trail Blazers. (Brian Drake/NBAE/Getty Images)

Anthony Mason, the rugged forward whose toughness and relentlessness fueled his journey from afterthought to NBA All-Star, died early Saturday after suffering a massive heart attack and being diagnosed with congestive heart failure earlier this month. He was 48.

Eddie Mata, who interviewed Mason as part of his "Where Are They Now In Sports" video series, reported that Mason passed away at 2:36 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday. Peter Botte of the New York Daily News and ESPN New York's Ian Begley subsequently confirmed the 13-year NBA veteran's passing. 

Longtime New York basketball writer Peter Vecsey first reported via Twitter on Feb. 11 that Mason was "fighting [for his] life" after undergoing multiple surgeries, including one procedure that lasted nine hours. Vecsey reported that Mason had reached 350 pounds, had been dealing with heart problems for the past year, and was at a New York-area hospital undergoing tests when the heart attack occurred, prompting him to be rushed into surgery.

After multiple procedures and several touch-and-go days, Mason's condition stabilized. He was reportedly "getting better" in recent days, unable to speak but responding to family members by "blinking and shaking his head and things like that," according to his son, Antoine Mason.

Mason is survived by his sons, Anthony Jr., who played college ball at St. John's before embarking on professional stints with the D-League's Sioux Falls Skyforce and clubs in France and Italy; and Antoine, who finished second in the NCAA in scoring last year at Niagara and has since transferred to Auburn. Mason is also survived by Anthony Jr.'s mother, Monica Bryant, and Antoine's mother, Latifa Whitlock.

Mason averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game during a 13-year NBA career spent with six teams that was marked by ferocious play on the court and explosions off it, and fierce battles with opponents, teammates and coaches alike. He was a big man with guard skills; a freight train filling the lane with hellacious handles and footwork running the break; an undersized four adept at playing in the post and on the perimeter; a brutalizing defender who also boasted a feathery touch with both hands.

He was the sort of player and personality who resisted simple characterization, as Pat Riley, who coached Mason during his heyday with the New York Knicks in the 1990s and during his lone season with the Miami Heat, told Mark Jacobson in a November 1994 New York Magazine feature:

"Anthony's what I'd call an oxymoron," says Pat Riley. "He defies expectations [...] As a player you look at Mase's size and court demeanor and think he's a blue-collar banger, and he is, but he's also very nimble, can outrun people, and has superior ball-handling skills. He's deft, almost cute. There's a bundle of contradictions about him. He's versatile, unique in that way."

Then Riley stops in mid-hagiography, forms his bituminous-eyed John Carradine half-smile, and adds, "Maybe too unique for his own good."

Mason's hard-charging, take-no-prisoners approach made him an intense competitor and fan favorite on the court, especially in New York. But it also sometimes led him into trouble off the court, including a 1996 accusation of fighting with police in Times Square over a parking ticket and a 2000 arrest on third-degree assault charges for his alleged role in a Harlem bar fight. The most serious allegation came in 1998, when Mason and a friend were charged with statutory rape for having consensual sex with two underage girls in Queens. Mason entered into a plea agreement on the lesser charge of endangering the welfare of a child, for which he was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. 

"There is a Jekyll and Hyde there, and I don't know where it comes from," Ken Fiedler, Mason's former coach at Queens' Springfield Gardens High School, told Mike Wise, then of the New York Times, in November 1996. "People see more of the dark side of Anthony than the shining light side. The guy I see isn't like the one you read about in the papers." 

Born in Miami but raised in Queens, Mason first drew NBA attention as a 6-foot-7, 225-pounder who played all five positions for coach Larry Reid at Tennessee State. Despite averaging 28 points, 10.4 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game during his senior season en route to a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, Mason slid to the third round of the 1988 NBA draft, where the Portland Trail Blazers nabbed him with the 53rd overall pick.
 

With the likes of Caldwell Jones, Jerome Kersey and Mark Bryant entrenched up front in Portland, there wasn't much room for Mason to crack the Blazers' rotation, so he spent his first pro overseas, playing for Turkish club Efes Pilsen.

"Turkey was strange," he told Jacobson. "People would follow me down the street. Then I'd go into the hotel, go to sleep, get up the next morning, go out, and there'd be the same person still staring at me."

Mason came back to the States and the East Coast for a shot with the New Jersey Nets, then coached by former Knicks great Willis Reed, who was close with Fiedler. But after Reed was bumped to the front office and Bill Fitch took over on the sideline, Mason struggled to crack the Nets' rotation, logging just 108 minutes over 21 appearances in Jersey before being cut.

From there, Mason spent time with Marinos de Oriente in Caracas, Venezuela; had a couple of 10-day cups of coffee with the Denver Nuggets that amounted to all of 21 total minutes; joined the Tulsa Fast Breakers of the CBA (where he earned the nickname "Beast"); and suited up for the Long Island Surf of the USBL, where he was pouring in buckets with his sights set on a lucrative contract to play in Italy.

Instead, Ernie Grunfeld, then the Knicks' vice president of player personnel, invited Mason to New York's 1991 training camp. His strength, quickness and tenacity impressed Riley, the new head coach, and earned him the chance to back up Charles Oakley and Xavier McDaniel.

Before long, Mason was cutting into their playing time, earning praise for his bruising play and love of "razor buzz graffiti" in his hair, and entrenching himself as an integral cog off the bench for a Knicks team that pushed the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls to seven games in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!! Free-agent market offers many intriguing prospects for Bears.

By Dan Wiederer

With the NFL scouting combine in the rearview mirror, the league's spotlight has shifted quickly toward free agency, in which the Bears will make their first big steps in their roster revision efforts.

The new league year begins at 3 p.m. March 10, opening the doors for what again will be a frenzied free-agent market. But how much will the Bears aim to accomplish? And which big-name players will figure prominently in their discussions?

To set the table for the organization's March plans, here's a look into four key issues facing new general manager Ryan Pace.

1. Just how exactly will the Bears approach free agency?
             
Here's the quick overview: Pace feels incredibly comfortable with the Bears' salary-cap situation and acknowledges he won't be afraid to take a few big swings in free agency if he sees the pitches he likes.

"If there is a player that we know can upgrade us right now, we'll attack it," Pace said.
With the NFLPA projecting the 2015 salary cap to come in north of $143 million, the Bears should be close to $28 million below the cap when free agency begins, more than enough room to shop as they see fit.

"We'll be calculated," Pace said. "In a perfect world, you address a lot of your needs in free agency to open up the draft for best player available."

Still, the new GM's core philosophy will be to build the nucleus of the roster through the draft, using free agency more as a supplement. In that vein, Pace understands the need to synchronize his draft plans with his free-agency vision. That requires an understanding of the comparative strengths at every position between the draft class and what may be available in free agency.

This year's draft class, for example, may be thinnest at safety with a major falloff after top prospect Landon Collins of Alabama. So it will benefit the Bears to do their full homework on the free-agent class at safety. Chris Conte, a 52-game starter for the Bears over the last four seasons, is headed for the open market.

Outside replacement options at safety for the Bears could include the Patriots' Devin McCourty, the Broncos' Rahim Moore and the Giants' Stevie Brown.

The second phase of free agency could open up bargain options on safeties such as the Texans' Kendrick Lewis or the Jaguars' Sherrod Martin.

With a shift to a 3-4 defense underway, expect linebacker also to be a top priority for Pace. High-end free-agent options at outside linebacker will include Justin Durant (Cowboys) and Jason Worilds (Steelers). Brandon Spikes (Bills) and Rey Maualuga (Bengals) headline the inside linebacker class.

2).Which of the Bears' in-house free agents are headed out of town?
          
The bad news for Pace — or maybe it's actually the best news — is that very few of the players on his current roster with expiring contracts are worth re-signing. The two biggest names on that 17-player list, of course, are Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs, a pair of longtime defensive standouts. But Tillman just turned 34 and has missed 22 games the past two seasons, twice suffering season-ending injuries to his right triceps.

Briggs' 34th birthday will arrive in November and he too has been on the shelf far too often the last two years, missing 15 games with shoulder, ribs and groin injuries.

At this point, the Bears will prefer to restock their roster with players who are young, healthy and ascending and there's likely little to gain by bringing Tillman and Briggs back for their 13th seasons.

That said, Pace and coach John Fox are being careful not to push either player out the door without their deserved reverence. After former general manager Phil Emery proved just a tad callous with his separations from several locker room linchpins — most notably Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester — Pace and Fox have pushed to give Tillman and Briggs their proper respect.

"They have been great Bears," Fox said. "And they have accomplished a lot. … They have the deepest respect of our ownership and our organization."

What Briggs and Tillman may not have is an opportunity to return.

3. What other notable Bears players are headed for the open market?

Conte flashed at points during his contract season in 2014, showcasing impressive range and athleticism in spurts. But the oft-injured safety missed four full games and couldn't finish seven others, battered around like a playground tetherball.

After four taxing seasons in Chicago, a fresh start with a new team may be the best thing for Conte, who may land back with coach Lovie Smith on the Bucs.

Defensive tackle Stephen Paea, meanwhile, delivered a far more productive presentation in the final year of his rookie contract, contributing a career-high six sacks and displaying enough power and agility to become an interior presence. That will give Paea added leverage on the open market. But measuring any Bears' interest has been difficult as they plan using a 3-4 defense.

Other notable names on the Bears' 18-player in-house free-agent list include quarterback Jimmy Clausen, linebacker D.J. Williams, tight end Dante Rosario, offensive lineman Eben Britton and special teams standout Sherrick McManis.

4) With major shake-ups in the front office and coaching staff, will the Bears be able to capitalize on any connections during this upcoming period?

The Bears will march into free agency with a new GM who's deeply familiar with the Saints roster, a coach and offensive coordinator (Adam Gase) who can offer intelligence on Broncos players and a defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio) who knows plenty about the free agents coming out of the 49ers' pipeline.

That should accelerate the homework the Bears will do on free agents from all three teams, a list that includes receiver Robert Meachem, linebacker Ramon Humber and safety Jamarca Sanford (Saints); Moore, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, guard Orlando Franklin and linebacker Nate Irving (Broncos); and cornerback Perrish Cox and linebacker Dan Skuta (49ers).

Knighton may be the most intriguing prospect on that list, a beefy but agile 28-year-old space-filler, who would fit the profile of what the Bears covet at nose tackle.

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was Knighton's coordinator with the Broncos the last three seasons and also was with him with the Jaguars for three years. Del Rio labels Knighton "a dancing bear type" and a significant asset to a 3-4 defense.

"He's kind of a big powerful man who can stay on his feet and run down the line," Del Rio said. "This game is about big, powerful men (who function) so that the guys who have the skill level can do their things."

Knighton won't come cheap. And both Pace and Fox have cast recent votes of confidence in Jeremiah Ratliff as a nose tackle option. But familiarity could become a factor for Fox.

Overall, the Bears are aware of the workload that will be required to reshape the roster to their liking. Free agency won't solve all of their issues but should offer a valuable starting point.

White Sox ace Sale breaks bone in foot, out at least 3 weeks.

AP

Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale is out for at least three weeks after breaking a bone in his right foot in what the team described as an accident at home.  

Unloading the back of his truck, general manager Rick Hahn explained Saturday. 

Sale, though, told quite a different tale. Asked what happened, the three-time All-Star launched into a longer story, deadpanning the whole way, about some intruder breaking into his house at night. 

"So I hit him with a roundhouse, tied him up" and put him by the curb, Sale told reporters. 

Asked if he was concerned about his foot, Sale went on with a straight face: "Well, yeah, by looking at the other guy's head when I kicked him, it didn't look good." 

"Initially I was a little worried, but after the X-rays and all that stuff, it worked out," he said. "I don't see this trickling into the regular season at all." 

The 25-year-old lefty was on crutches in camp, and the injury put in jeopardy a possible start for him on opening day. The White Sox begin April 6 at Kansas City. 

"Things happen. It was really just a freak incident," Sale said. 

Sale had X-rays on Saturday at a hospital in Glendale. He'll have more tests after the swelling goes down. 

"I came into this spring as ready as I've ever been, so this is a minor setback," he said. 

Sale was 12-4 with 208 strikeouts and a 2.17 ERA last season, finishing third in the AL Cy Young Award voting. He missed a month last year with a flexor strain in his left elbow, but returned at top form. 

"I mean, essentially it's a sprained ankle. I'll be fine," Sale said. "They aren't going to have to cut it off. I'll be walking on it in a few days. I'm not going to get down on myself." 

At the same time, Sale said he's not going to rush back. 

"I'm not a doctor. I'm here to do my rehab and get it right as fast as I can," he said. "That's what I'm going to do. I've never done anything like this before and I don't know what the timetable is." 

While the White Sox had not yet announced their rotation for the beginning of the season, it was expected that Sale would start on opening day for the third straight season. 

If he's not ready by then, other candidates to fill Sale's rotation spot include veteran Brad Penny and Carlos Rodon, the team's first-round draft pick last June. 

Jeff Samardzija, Jose Quintana, John Danks and Hector Noesi already are set in the rotation. 

"Clearly we're going to err on the side of caution and we'll know more in the coming weeks," Hahn said. "Due to the off-days early in the season we do not need a fifth starter, so to speak, until April 12. That would buy you another week." 

"But this is something that should heal completely in three weeks and he can resume baseball activities without restriction at that time," he said.

No turning back, Jon Lester goes all-in with Cubs.

By Patrick Mooney

The $155 million guaranteed obviously helped. But Jon Lester still had to buy into The Plan and believe the Cubs could evolve from a last-place team into a contender and eventually a World Series winner.

For Lester, these last few weeks in Mesa haven’t been about any aha moments validating his decision or realizing he’s in the right place for the next six years. It’s not finally getting the chance to see some of the details laid out in that recruiting pitch.

In Lester’s mind, there would be no turning back once he put on a Cubs hat and the No. 34 jersey during the press conference at a fancy Michigan Avenue restaurant.

“I’m either all-in or I’m all-out,” Lester said Saturday. “There’s no in between. So when I signed on the dotted line to come over here, I’m all-in. My opinion doesn’t change based on showing up here and meeting the rest of the guys.

“But one thing that’s been impressive is the way that Joe (Maddon’s) run this camp, and the way that these guys have gone about their business.

“It’s nice to see young guys that understand this is a game, but at the same time, it’s work. We’ve got to work. We’ve got things we need to improve on. That goes from the No. 1 down to however many guys we have in camp.”

Lester said Maddon comes as advertised, the manager moving around with a digital recorder to take down verbal memos filled with ideas and observations.

“There’s no BS,” Lester said. “You can tell that he means everything he says.”

Lester is a straight shooter who survived a cancer scare and lasted almost nine years with the Boston Red Sox. For all the breathless reporting on his first round of live batting practice on Friday, remember this is someone with two World Series rings and a career 2.57 ERA in the playoffs.

“It’s probably nothing compared to Boston,” said Anthony Rizzo, the All-Star first baseman and former Red Sox prospect.

This could wind up being a very bad contract as the 31-year-old ages and puts more mileage on his left arm (which has accounted for almost 1,600 regular-season innings already). But it’s not like Lester will hide from the responsibilities or be overwhelmed as a face of the franchise.

“I’m going to try to be honest as best I can,” Lester said. “If you guys have questions, I’ll try to answer them as best I can. That’s just who I am. If I suck that day, I suck that day. I’ll tell you.”

The Cubs understood they would eventually have to overpay someone to front their rotation, help change the clubhouse culture and give some credibility to this rebuilding project.

There are less unknowns with Lester. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein knew all about the intangibles, family background and medical history after their time together at Fenway Park.

“He’s very authentic,” Epstein said. “He’s already shown the people around here what he’s all about. He’s very serious about winning. He’s very serious about working hard. And he’s very serious about connecting with his teammates and with the people around him, forming bonds that he feels are really important to a winning club.

“He’s already leading by example. We’ve already got some of the young pitchers who have naturally started following Jon around doing his workout routine and observing his bullpens and seeing how he goes about his business.”

Lester does have a sense of humor, smiling and calling all the David Ross personal-catcher stories “overblown.”

“It kind of makes it sound like I can’t throw to anybody but him,” Lester said. “I had a pretty good career before he came along.”

Ross has 12 years of major-league service time and caught Lester during Boston’s World Series run in 2013.

“He’s probably one of the biggest competitors I’ve been around,” Ross said. “You have to be when you want to be an ace. To me, there’s not too many quote-unquote ‘horses’ out there, guys that are going to take the ball and give you the innings.

“He’s not going to back down from a challenge. He’s never going to want out of a game. He’s just an ultimate competitor. He’s done it on the biggest stage there is — plenty of times.”

That’s ultimately where Lester and his big contract will be judged — in October — not throwing live BP on Field 5.

Golf: I got a club for that; Poulter's late miscues open door for wild Monday Honda finish.

By Ryan Ballengee

With one swing, everything changed late on Sunday at The Honda Classic.

Ian Poulter, searching for his first stroke-play PGA Tour win in the United States, was on the tee with an 8-iron at the par-3 fifth hole with a three-shot lead. He did the unthinkable, shanking his ball way right. The ball bounced off a cart path and into a water hazard. After a drop, the Englishman couldn't get up-and-down for bogey.
 

Sensing opportunity, Patrick Reed made birdie from just off the green. 

Suddenly, there was a tie at the top in the waning moments of a long day at PGA National. 

On the next hole, Poulter lost the lead when his tee shot at the par-4 snapped left and into a water hazard. Poulter went on to make bogey. However, Reed, who made par at No. 6, didn't stay in charge for long.
 

Poulter's tee shot to the 199-yard, par-3 seventh to just 3 feet, setting up a bounce-back birdie to end the day at 7 under par. Reed made bogey to fall out of the lead, a shot  However, Poulter has company atop the leaderboard.
 

Paul Casey, who was part of the playoff last week at the Northern Trust Open, charged hard in the nine holes of the final round he played. He birdied three of the first four holes, then capped off his day by stuffing his approach to the par-4 ninth to 6 feet. The birdie has him tied with Poulter, with his ball sitting off the 10th fairway when play was called due to darkness.
 

The tournament will be wide open on Monday morning when play resumes at 8 a.m., with nine players sitting within four shots of the lead.

Jimmie Johnson wins frigid, drizzle-ridden Atlanta race.

By Jay Busbee

Jimmie Johnson celebrates in Victory Lane after winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway and earning his 71st career NSCS win.

No, it's not a list of the cars collected in either of the surprisingly large accidents on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It's a list of the mean Fahrenheit temperatures of this date at the track over the last five years. And since Jimmie Johnson ran a race that offered very little reason for question, we turn our attention to this: why on earth is there a race in Atlanta on the first day of March?

All right, fine, we'll give Johnson his due: his victory in the nobly-aimed, awkwardly-named Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 is the 71st of his career. He's eighth on the all-time wins list, now only five behind Dale Earnhardt. He's one point off the Cup standings lead behind Joey Logano, and he's almost surely punched his ticket into the Chase. He started 38th thanks to Friday's qualifying debacle, and even so managed to weave right through the field and lead 92 of the race's 325 laps.
 

All of which means that the next time the Sprint Cup series comes around to Atlanta, Johnson could very well be the seven-time defending champion. And for the sake of the track and the fan base around it, that return should be well over a year from now.

 

NASCAR, its tracks, and its broadcast partners create every year's schedule using a mixture of fixed dates, ratings considerations, weather forecasts, and probably a bit of alchemy. With all that in mind, it's not hard to envision a scenario where Atlanta ended up with this immediate post-Daytona date because it was the only one available.
 

Problem is, consider the factors working against this race from an attendance standpoint. The weather this time of year in Atlanta is generally gray and miserable, the kind of not-quite-sun, not-quite-snow that inspires ennui and bad poetry. Plus, NASCAR scheduled the very first race after Daytona for the second-closest track to Daytona, which means that all but the most independently wealthy of the mobile RV segment of the fanbase would opt for warm Florida over drizzly Georgia. (During last week's Daytona 500, Fox's Mike Joy advised fans on the way home from Florida to stop in Atlanta. It was a good, if ridiculously far-fetched, effort.)
 

Granted, there's a case to be made that at-track attendance is less important than ratings, that as long as the product is delivered to the viewing public via NASCAR's massive new television contracts, it doesn't much matter the source. Onscreen, Atlanta looks like Texas looks like Charlotte looks like Kentucky looks like ... you get the idea. Of course, the scattered stands are a bit of a discordant backdrop, like a symphony with one kazoo, but mathematically, you can make a case that the millions watching on TV carry greater weight than the tens of thousands pushing through the turnstiles at any given track.
 

Atlanta itself also carries a measure of blame; this is a fickle, front-running sports town. The track lost a date a few years back in large part because of attendance (and because track owner Speedway Motorsports Inc. wanted to give a date to Kentucky). So the city's rep and fan behavior do it no favors.
 

Plus, the track date is a bit of a moving target. Too early in the year, and you get the chilly mess of Sunday. Too late in the spring, and the temperature heats up hot enough to cook infield fans in their tents. Wait until after August, and college football and the NFL claim a huge chunk of potential ticket-buyers.
 

Nothing's ever simple in NASCAR; every action has a thousand unintended reactions. Still, this is one that,at first glance, seems fairly easy to implement: start the west coast swing one week earlier, and slot Atlanta into the season's fifth week. (Mean temperature data for the past three years, the only available: 64, 55, 70. A wee bit better than Sunday.)
 

Atlanta's one of NASCAR's best tracks from a pure driving perspective, as well as one of its most historic. Drivers love racing here, and championships have been won here. It deserves a better date, a better fate than Daytona afterthought.

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Mourinho's boys win League Cup trophy.

By Joe Prince-Wright

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, as the Premier League leaders won the first piece of silverware on offer in England this season.

A first half goal from John Terry set them on their way, then a Diego Costa shot which deflected off Kyle Walker and in sealed the victory at a rain soaked Wembley. 10 years after Mourinho hoisted the League Cup for his first trophy in England, the Portuguese boss now has the first title of his second spell in charge of the Blues after a perfect day for Chelsea which also saw Manchester City lose to Liverpool as their grip on the Premier League trophy also strengthened.

Winning the League Cup trophy marked Chelsea’s first title since their UEFA Europa League success in 2013, and the first time they have won the League Cup since 2007. As for Spurs, they have now lost their last two League Cup finals after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the 2008 final.

Chelsea started brightly as Terry almost got on the end of a ball at the back post but Hugo Lloris tipped Branislav Ivanovic’s deep cross out for a corner. Tottenham almost took the lead on 10 minutes as Harry Kane won a free kick after some trickery on the edge of the box and Christian Eriksen stepped up but his curling effort crashed off the crossbar and out. Moments later Eden Hazard curled an effort wide, as Chelsea pushed their way back into the match.

A flash-point arrived in the first half as Costa appeared to push Nabil Bentaleb in the face when holding off the Spurs midfielder, then Kyle Walker and Ryan Mason were incensed that the Brazilian forward wasn’t penalized by referee Anthony Taylor. Moments later Costa was taken out by Eric Dier, who was shown a yellow card, as Chelsea began to get under the skin of Spurs.

Before the break Eriksen again went close as he picked up the ball on the edge of the box but Petr Cech got down low to save at his near post. Terry then gave Chelsea the lead right on the stroke of half time, as  free kick from Willian on the right hit Dier and Terry slammed home the loose ball. 1-0 to Chelsea.

Moments before the break it was almost 2-0 as Gary Cahill headed towards goal but Lloris saved, as Spurs went in 1-0 down. In the second half Hazard popped up on the left and flashed the ball across the face of the goal but no Chelsea player could get on the end.

Cesc Fabregas then sent a spectacular bicycle kick towards the bottom corner which Lloris saved, as the Premier League leaders poured forward at the start of the second half. As the rain poured down at Wembley, Chelsea doubled their lead to put the game beyond Spurs’ reach.

Fabregas slotted in Costa and from a tight angle he drilled an effort towards goal which deflected off Walker and past Lloris into the net. 2-0 to Chelsea. Hazard then bent an effort just wide of the far post as Chelsea threatened to run away with things. Late on Spurs threw everything at Chelsea but Kane’s effort was deflected wide and that was as close as they got to halving the deficit.

LINEUPS

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Zouma, Fabregas (Oscar, 88′), Hazard, Diego Costa (Drogba, 90′), Willian (Cuadrado, 76′)

Goals: Terry (44′), Walker, OG (56′)

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Mason (Lamela, 71′), Bentaleb, Eriksen, Townsend, (Dembele, 62′) Kane, Chadli (Soldado, 80′)

Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City: Pair of Reds stunners stupefy City.

By Kyle Bonn

When Philippe Coutinho curled in the winner with 15 minutes to go, history repeated itself at Anfield today in more ways than one.

Coutinho once again stunned Manchester City with a winner late in the match to peg back their title hopes. Not only was the bit of brilliance a repeat of last year when he knocked off the Citizens late, but it was a repeat of the first half, when Jordan Henderson lit up Anfield with the opener just 11 minutes in. Coutinho’s winner was almost a carbon copy of Henderson’s lovely goal, as City saw red twice.

The game got off to a roaring start. Manchester City started better of the two, overwhelming the Liverpool third on a number of occasions, but Liverpool had the better early chances. Adam Lallana had a pair of opportunities inside 10 minutes, a breakaway through the central defenders that he put straight at Joe Hart under pressure, and a goal on a tight angle ruled out for the offside flag.

Those sprung Liverpool to life, and they’d cash in after just 11 mintues. Philippe Coutinho, who set up both Lallana chances, won the ball off Vincent Kompany in the midfield and started the attack. The ball came to Henderson at the top corner of the box, and after taking a moment to collect himself, he touched once towards the top of the key before unleashing a powerful curling effort that gave Joe Hart no chance and set Anfield alight.

Manchester City nearly had an immediate response. David Silva popped a long ball that caught out the Liverpool back line, over the heads of Martin Skrtel and Emre Can right at the feet of Sergio Aguero, but his shot from the edge of the box clanged the post and came rocketing back out.

They didn’t score on that occasion, but the visitors worked passing lanes and quick touches to look for an equalizer, and they’d find it before the half-hour mark. Silva found space in the middle of the Liverpool third, and he hit Aguero who cut into the middle. Dzeko snuck behind Skrtel who had stepped forward, and Aguero carved up the Liverpool defense with a pass before his strike partner finished it off from close range.

Lallana had one more half-chance which he couldn’t complete, and the teams went to halftime level. Straight after the break, City started brightly again, and Aguero headed just over the bar less than a minute in. Liverpool had its chances too in the opening stages of the second half, with Lallana finding Sterling with a cross bang in front of goal but under pressure the young striker couldn’t convert. Lallana had another goal ruled out for offsides on 54 minutes, with Skrtel just off on a free kick.

It was clear Liverpool was gaining steam, and while it took a few tries, they finally broke through for another lead. Coutinho, as he did last year, and as Henderson had done in the first half, ripped a curling strike from outside the box to take the lead and give the visitors nightmares.

Both sides then rang the changes, most notably Kolo Toure coming on for the first time ever in a competitive match against his brother Yaya. Daniel Sturridge came on as well, and had a chance with three minutes left in regulation but put it wide. That would do it, as Liverpool picked up a huge three points, moving level with Arsenal (for now) on points, back in fifth on goal differential. Manchester City remains five points adrift of Chelsea, who will now have a game in hand as they focus on the League Cup final this weekend.

LINEUPS

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Henderson, Allen, Moreno (Toure 73′), Markovic (Sturridge 76′), Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.

Goals – Henderson 11′, Coutinho 75′

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Mangala, Kompany, Kolarov, Fernandinho (Bony 78′), Toure, Silva, Nasri (Lampard 83′), Dzeko (Milner 58′), Aguero.

Goals – Dzeko 25′

Bracketology: What data is relevant and what isn't.

By Jerry Palm

As you might imagine, I hear from a lot of fans making the case for why their team should be in the tournament or seeded higher than I have them in my bracket. A lot of those arguments cite all kinds of metrics, partial records, and other positive aspects of their team's resumes, some of which are relevant, but many are not.

Recently, the NCAA has started posting almost daily updates of their team sheets. A team sheet contains all of the data the committee looks at about a team when evaluating it and comparing it to others.

Keep in mind that selecting and seeding the tournament is a subjective process guided by objective data. Individual committee members will interpret this data differently. Everyone on the committee has their own opinions as to which pieces of information are more important to them than others. I'm often asked what the committee considers more important, good wins or bad losses? My answer is that they are both a part of who you are as a team, and that often it depends on who you are being compared to and what stands out in those comparisons. If you asked the ten committee members that same question, you might get ten different answers.

So, if you want to make your team's case for selection or seeding, you need to stick to the data that is on those sheets. I want to point out a few things that are specifically missing.

1. RPI is the only metric. You may love KenPom, Sagarin, whatnot. Doesn't matter. The AP and coaches polls? Not a factor. Until one of those other ratings shows up on these sheets, they aren't relevant to the process. That said, RPI alone is never decisive. The committee never, ever compares two teams and picks the one with the higher RPI because it has a higher RPI.

2. Conference records/standings. Neither appears. Teams are being judged on their entire seasons, not their conference seasons. The only conference-specific data that appears is the strength of schedule within the conference. Also note that unlike football, head-to-head is not a major factor either. It can be if two teams are relatively equal (nothing is ever totally equal), but again, teams are judged on entire seasons, not one, or two, or sometimes even three games.

3. How a team finishes. There is a common perception that how a team is playing at the end of the year is more important. Many people feel it should be. None of those people are on the committee. That used to be a factor, which is likely why many people still think it is. They used to track how teams performed in their last 12 games, but got rid of that several years ago. Now, it's hard to look at those team sheets and even determine how a team has done lately in your head because the dates of the games are not prominently displayed, or even formatted like a date. The committee is committed to the concept that every game counts equally no matter when it's played.

There are also a couple pieces of relevant information that don't appear on the sheets. One is information about roster issues. Injuries, suspensions, and things of that nature are reported separately, but rest assured, the committee knows all about whatever problems a team has had over the course of the season. It's not terribly important, though. In general, a team's profile is its profile. The committee will not assume a team would have won a game it lost had it been at full strength. They also will not ignore the game. There may be some slight seeding consideration given, but sometimes that doesn't even happen. Those adjustments tend to happen more to teams that have lost key players for the season rather than for a few games.

Another relevant, and important, piece of data that will never appear on the sheets is the team's record against teams already in the field (by either winning their conference or having been voted in by the committee) or under consideration (teams on the committee's at-large consideration list). They don't appear on the sheet because they don't even exist until the selection meeting starts, and it can change frequently during the meeting. It's important though because only one team in the last 21 years has received an at-large bid without a win against a team in the field, and only about one team per year gets in with just one such win.

We have a tool on the site to help you compare two teams showing much of this data. Have fun playing with that. Draw your own confusion.

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Register now, study your teams, pick your potential favorites and fill in your bracket between March 15, and March 18, 2015. Remember, you cant win if you aren't in!!!

 

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2015 Bracket Buster Office Pool

 

 

The 2015 NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament is two and a half weeks away. The brackets will be finalized by the selection committee March 15, 2015, and two days after that, the play-in games will start. Two days after that, March 19, 2015, the madness begins!!! It's the most wonderful time of the year in college basketball. Everyone gets excited because they have a favorite team. Don't miss this select opportunity to participate in one of the most fun and exciting office pools of the year, The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica bracket buster office pool. The entry fee is very reasonable ($12.00 per bracket), actually "it's very rare but super fair" and the rewards are just as good; (1st place $200.00, 2nd place $100.00, 3rd place 50.00 and 4th place $50.00). Payouts go to the final four. If you live anywhere on this beautiful earth, are a college basketball fan and have a PayPal account, a checking account or cash, then you can participate in our pool. We're looking for a minimum of 40 participants.  In the event we get more than 40 players, the payouts will be adjusted accordingly. Note: Our office pool is for competitive entertainment purposes only. Again, don't miss out on this select opportunity ($$$). We look forward to your participation and wish you the best of luck.

 

A little advice: Look at the brackets, check the Las Vegas odds, make your picks but throw in a couple of upsets because there always are some and go for it!!! Remember, you can't win if you aren't in.

Teaser?: Do you think Kentucky will go all the way or does an upset await them? You make the call..... It's your bracket..... 
 

When you sign up to get in, bring a friend. "Competition does in fact breed excellence."
 

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Toughest Power Five coaching jobs.

By Tom Fornelli

It's not exactly a secret that if you're a college football coach, some jobs are more appealing than others. While there's definitely a gap between most Power Five schools and jobs from the Group of Five, there's a similar gap among the Power Five itself.

If you're an up-and-coming coach at a mid-major school looking to make the leap to a Power Five gig, and all the money that comes with it (remember, even the coach who finishes last in the SEC West next season will make at least $4 million), there are still some jobs you'll think twice about. Yeah, it's a promotion of sorts, but it's going to be incredibly hard to win there, and it could end up killing your career.

So in this week's Friday Five, I'm going to take a look at what I believe to be the five most difficult jobs in the Power Five conferences. There isn't a specific formula I used to come up with my five schools. There's a whole range of factors: history, recruiting base, competition within your own state and general fan apathy. These are the five schools where being bigger doesn't always mean better.

Let's get to it.

5. Indiana

There are a couple of things Indiana has working in its favor, with the two biggest being that it's a Big Ten school and it's located in a very scenic part of the state. But man are there a lot of things working against it as well. Take a moment and try to think of all the success in the history of Indiana football. Not easy, is it?

In the entire history of the program, Indiana has managed to win only two conference titles (1945, '67), had only six consensus All-Americans and only played in nine bowl games. The Hoosiers last made a bowl game in 2007, but before that you have to go all the way back to the 1993 Independence Bowl. The only coach in the history of the program to take Indiana to multiple bowl games was Bill Mallory, who was at the helm for six of the nine. John Pont, Lee Corso and Bill Lynch had one apiece.

Not surprisingly, Indiana is a basketball school, which makes sense given the lack of football success and the fact Indiana is just a basketball-mad state. Now, winning more football games could help change this, but it's not so easy to do that. The state itself isn't the most talent-rich when it comes to football, though Indianapolis does produce some solid players. Even then, Indiana is one of three major programs within the state borders. While it can be argued that the Hoosiers are on the same level as Purdue (though Purdue has had more success), Notre Dame casts a huge shadow.

Oh, and thanks to expansion, Indiana now has to play in a division that includes Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State. Good luck.

4. Vanderbilt

Some might disagree with this given the recent success there by James Franklin, but look at what happened the moment Franklin left for Penn State. And we cannot forget that from 1960 to 2011, when Franklin took over, Vanderbilt had only five winning seasons. The school has won 14 conference titles in its history, which is nice, but it's not nearly as nice when you realize the last one came in 1923 when the Commodores were co-champions of the Southern Conference.

The Commodores have never won an SEC title, or even an SEC East division title.

And there's good reason Vandy has had trouble. People will always bring up the academic requirements at the school, and yes, those will always be a problem for any university with high standards. It can definitely be done, but it isn't easy. There's also the fact that while Vanderbilt might be located in a wonderful city like Nashville, there are far more Tennessee fans in Nashville than there are Vanderbilt fans. The Vols run the state when it comes to football.

Combine all that with the fact that Vandy is in what has been the toughest conference in college football for the past decade, and it's a steep mountain to climb. So even when a coach like Franklin comes around and experiences success, they're much more likely to use it as a springboard to a better job than stick around and try to maintain it.

3. Kansas

Kansas is a school that has had its fair share of success in recent decades, as it did play in the 2007 Orange Bowl. Plus, six of its 12 bowl appearances have come in the past 25 years, and Kansas began playing football in 1890.

But it's still a very difficult gig.

Nothing against David Beaty, but there's a reason Kansas had to hire the Texas A&M wide receivers coach rather than an up-and-coming head coach or coordinator.

First of all, the state of Kansas itself isn't exactly recruiting-rich territory, so the Jayhawks have to rely on recruiting in Texas and Oklahoma and other places nearby that have more talent. It's just that everybody else in the Big 12 recruits those same places, and there aren't many top recruits that are going to pick Kansas over Texas.

The good news is that Kansas State has shown that a school in Kansas can have success and build itself up after a long, dark history of losses. But I just don't know how many Bill Snyders there are, and now that Kansas State has established itself, it's only tougher for the Jayhawks to overcome their neighbors.

Plus, like Indiana above, Kansas is without a doubt a basketball school. No matter what you accomplish at Kansas as a football coach, you're always going to be the second-most important person on that campus at best.

2. Iowa State

Yes, two of the three toughest gigs in this sport reside in the Big 12. A lot of problems Iowa State has are the same kind of problems that Kansas deals with. Have you ever been to Ames? There are a lot of college campuses across the country that are located in the middle of nowhere, but Ames might actually be nowhere.

That makes it harder to attract recruits, and I haven't even mentioned the fact that the Cyclones have to compete with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Also like Kansas, Iowa State has had more success in the past few decades than it had in the many before it. The school has played in 12 bowl games, eight since 2000. Obviously a factor in that is the fact that there have simply been a lot more bowl games to play in the past 20 years than there were before, but still, it's better than not playing in any at all.

Simply put, Iowa State is a difficult place to have success, and it's even more difficult to have sustained success. The last coach to leave Ames without a losing record (not including Chuck Banker, who went 1-1 in 1986) was Earle Bruce, who went 36-32 from 1973-78. That record at Iowa State was so impressive that Bruce turned it into the Ohio State job.

1. Wake Forest

Congratulations, Wake Forest, you're No. 1 at something.

Honestly, Jim Grobe may be the best football coach we've seen in a long time, because the fact he was able to go 77-82 in 13 seasons, and actually win an ACC title in 2006, is amazing considering what he had to work with there.

Wake Forest is a tiny, private school in Winston-Salem, NC, with stringent admission standards. If you're reading this post right now, there's a 95 percent chance you couldn't get into Wake Forest if you applied, nor could you probably find it on a map.

And while Wake is located in a talent-rich area of the country when it comes to football, it also shares that southeast region with a number of college football powers who come in and take their pick of players. Plus, Wake is only one of four members of the ACC that call North Carolina home, and it's on the bottom of the totem pole there as well.

And while some smaller schools can go the juco route for talent, those admission standards I mentioned mean that option isn't available to the Demon Deacons. So essentially a coach is looking for a player who is not only good enough to help him win football games but one that has the grades to get into Wake and would choose Wake from a myriad of other options.

That doesn't happen very often.

Honorable Mention: Washington State, Syracuse, Rutgers, Boston College, Colorado, Northwestern

Federer stuns Djokovic in Dubai.

AFP; By Richard Eaton

Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships trophy after defeating World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia February 28, 2015 (AFP Photo/Marwan Naamani)

Roger Federer claimed the 84th title of his legendary career, kept his nose in front in his personal rivalry with Novak Djokovic, and equaled his best achievement at any tournament by winning the Dubai Open for the seventh time on Saturday.

The Grand Slam record-holder from Switzerland beat the world number one from Serbia 6-4, 7-5 in a colorful success which took Federer’s title haul here equal to those of Halle and Wimbledon. It also put him 20-17 up against Djokovic.

Federer served superbly, his 12 aces taking his career total past 9,000, something only three other players have done since 1991.

Even more noticeable was his risk-taking, the frequency with which he approached the net, and the commitment with which he attacked his ground strokes.

The victory was a fine riposte to those who said after his third round loss to Andreas Seppi in the Australian Open that his good days were now behind him.

"People are often saying how old I am – but who knows how many years I have left. I can still play with the best," the 33-year-old said challengingly.

It required only one break of serve in the first set, in the eighth game, to give Federer the thrust he needed to close out the first set.

And one break was enough in the second, coming in the eleventh game.

Djokovic nevertheless came very close to vital breakthroughs when he had Federer at 15-40 in the third game of the first set, and again in the eighth and tenth games of the second set. The last two were both set points, and both were saved by aces.

"I definitely won the big points tonight," said Federer.

"I am very happy with this – otherwise I don’t think I would be here giving this interview.

- Djokovic denied 50th title -

"It’s very special to be part of this match. We have played many, many times, and this seventh title does mean a lot. I will always come back here every single year."

Djokovic, who was thus denied the 50th title of his career and the opportunity to overtake the 49 won by his coach Boris Becker, may reflect on the seven chances to break serve altogether which got away.

The first offered Djokovic perhaps his best chance when he pushed Federer back from the net with a decent lob, only for the maestro to produce a nerveless, powerful and accurate smash.

The second was abruptly truncated with a fine first serve, and this seemed to inspire Federer.

The two break points at 3-4 in the second set were similarly dispatched with an ace and a first service winner, and the two at 4-5 with even more rapid aces.

Djokovic had a break point in the last game of the match too, but that was to break back.

Federer saved that with the greatest difficulty of any of them, with a smash from a deep high lob which he could easily have missed.

But Federer was relaxed, pressure-free, and enormously buoyed by the noise of his many supporters here.

"Better than losing in the first round of the doubles," he said, recalling his brief exploits with Swiss compatriot Michael Lammer.

"You work hard and travel a lot, and make sacrifices and hope it pays off in big matches. It’s been a wonderful week. After this you can’t wait for the next tournament to start."

Djokovic often played very well, and claimed he could not have done more. He had to be pleased with what he had done, he reckoned, even if it was the first time that he had lost in his five finals here.
 

"We always make each other play our best tennis," he said.
 

"We require from each other the maximum focus and commitment, and that's what raises the quality of the match. That's why he's who he is."
 

Djokovic did have one last laugh.
 

"How come you had seven break points and he had two – and you lost?" he was asked on court afterwards.
 

His answer caused the stadium to erupt. "I think I will get the same question a little later from Boris," he said.

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, March 2, 2015.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1904 - The "Official Playing Rules of Professional Base Ball Clubs" were adopted.

1918 - Joe Malone (Toronto Arenas) became the first scoring leader in the NHL. He had scored 44 goals in 22 games in the first NHL season. His record stood until 1944-45 when 50 goals were scored by Maurice "The Rocket" Richard.

1922 - The Toronto St. Patricks and the Vancouver Millionaires played the final professional hockey game that featured seven players on each side.

1927 - Babe Ruth signed a 3-year contract with the New York Yankees worth $70,000 a year.

1929 - George Hainsworth (Montreal Canadiens) recorded his 20th shutout of the season. He ended the season with a total of 22.

1929 - The Chicago Blackhawks were shut out for the eighth consecutive game.

1940 - The first televised intercollegiate track meet was seen on TV in New York City on W2XBS. The game presented live from Madison Square Garden. New York University won the meet.

1962 - Wilt 'The Stilt' Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks. The final score was 169-147. Chamberlain broke several NBA records in the game.

1966 - Bobby Hull (Chicago Blackhawks) became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in two seasons.

1969 - Phil Esposito (Boston Bruins) became the first player in the NHL to score 100 points in a season. Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe also crossed the 100 mark during the same season.

1984 - John Long (Detroit) began a free throw streak of 51 NBA games.

1992 - Ryne Sandberg signed a 5-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $30.5 million.

2000 - Team New Zealand (Kiwis) retained yachting's America's Cup. It was the first time that a non-American syndicate had successfully defended the Cup.

2004 - The Pittsburgh Penguins ended their NHL record 14-game home losing streak when they tied the New York Islanders 3-3.

2004 - The Indianapolis Colts signed Peyton Manning to a seven-year, $98 million deal with a $34.5 million signing bonus. It was the largest package to date in the NFL.

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