CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Friday Sports News Update and What's Your Take? 04/03/2015.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica

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

We offer: Select opportunities, For your convenience, At "Very Rare but Super Fair" pricing,

Because it's all about you!!!

Sports Quote of the Day:

"Success is dependent on effort." ~ Sophocles, Greek Tragedian (Playwright)
 
Trending: Lexi Thompson appears on provocative Golf Digest cover.

By Ryan Ballengee

Lexi Thompson appears on the May 2015 cover of Golf Digest in their annual fitness-themed issue.

 
Lexi Thompson made a splash last year as she jumped into Poppie's Pond at host Mission Hills C.C. after winning the ANA Inspiration for her first major title.

Thompson's now making a different kind of splash ahead of her title defense.

The 20-year-old appears on the May cover of Golf Digest -- the magazine's third-annual "Fitness & Power" issue -- without a shirt, instead covering her torso with looks like a gym towel.

This is the first time a pro golfer has appeared on the cover of this fitness-themed issue. Fox Sports golf reporter Holly Sonders, then with Golf Channel, appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in 2013. The next year, the magazine featured Paulina Gretzky, connected to the sport as Dustin Johnson's fiancee (and now mother of the couple's child). Those first two issues drew criticism from the golf community for not featuring LPGA players, as well for the clothes -- or lack thereof -- worn by the featured subjects.

Whatever issues with the cover aside, several other LPGA players are featured in a shoot inside the magazine in a manner that won't ruffle the feathers of as many in golf. Michelle Wie, Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Cheyenne Woods are shown working out in what you might expect most people to wear to the gym. 

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

STATS LLC                                                

Having clinched a seventh consecutive playoff berth their last time out, the Chicago Blackhawks can now set their sights on the Central Division crown.

They can move within one point of that top spot with a win Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres, whose tanking effort has seemingly been set aside following consecutive victories.

Chicago (47-24-6) faced a third straight loss Sunday to drop out of the Central's top three and into a wild-card slot, but mounted a third-period comeback to edge Winnipeg 4-3 in what coach Joel Quenneville called "probably the No. 1" game of the season.

Since that victory, the Blackhawks have enjoyed dominant wins over both Los Angeles and Vancouver to reach 100 points for the fifth time since 2008-09, and after clinching a postseason berth Thursday, they currently sit just three points back of first-place Nashville with one game in hand.

"The last three games, I definitely like the trend," Quenneville said. "We had a stretch there where we were very ordinary. ... We got more speed to our game, we got more balance to our lines, we have more urgency to our game.

"We should be happy now with clinching the playoff spot, but we still got some work to do."

Jonathan Toews has sparked Chicago's run with three goals in his last four games. He scored the go-ahead tally in Thursday's 3-1 victory over the Canucks for his 64th point of the season, tying Patrick Kane for the team lead.

Goaltending has also been a bright point for Chicago. Corey Crawford stopped 35 of 36 shots against Vancouver, and backup Scott Darling held the Kings to one goal on 32 shots.

"I think we're more focused on playing good hockey, playing the right way," Crawford said. "I think if you do that, the wins will come, the points will come. I think we did that tonight."

Darling, who has a 0.37 goals-against average in three appearances this month, figures to get the start Friday. He'll likely be opposed by Buffalo's Anders Lindback, who is in the midst of his first winning streak this season.

Lindback and the Sabres (22-47-8) have won two straight, beating fellow bottom-feeders Arizona and Toronto. The Sabres' 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday upped their scoring average to 3.4 over their last five contests, a significant improvement from their league-worst 1.76 mark through the first 72 games.

That improvement, however, may not be welcome. The Sabres, whose home fans cheered Arizona's overtime win over Buffalo on March 26, currently own the NHL's worst record, but trail the Coyotes by only two points.

Should the Sabres clinch the lowest point total, they would have a league-best 20 percent chance at winning the NHL Draft Lottery, and at worst would end up with the second selection.

Still, that goal is not one that coach Ted Nolan will allow his team to focus on.

"It's about the integrity of the game," Nolan told the Sabres' official website. "You're not going to tell professional athletes not to work and not to compete. This group here, they're giving us what they have to give for the last little while here."

A 6-2 victory over the Sabres on Oct. 11 was the Blackhawks' sixth straight in the series since a 2-1 loss on Dec. 11, 2009.

Blackhawks clinch playoff spot with 3-1 victory over Canucks.

By JAY COHEN (AP Sports Writer

Jonathan Toews and Marcus Kruger scored in the third period, and the Chicago Blackhawks clinched a playoff spot with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.

Kruger also had an assist on Teuvo Teravainen's first-period goal, and Corey Crawford made 34 saves in Chicago's third straight win. The Blackhawks (47-24-6) remained one point back of St. Louis for second in the Central Division.

Derek Dorsett scored for Vancouver (45-28-5), which was coming off consecutive wins at St. Louis and Nashville. Eddie Lack finished with 35 stops.

The teams were tied at 1 when Toews pushed home a rebound at 8:09. It was Toews' third goal in the last four games and No. 26 on the season.

The Canucks almost had a quick response, but Crawford made a great stop on Nick Bonino, drawing chants of ''Co-rey! Co-rey!'' from the crowd. Crawford also denied a streaking Yannick Weber before Toews' tiebreaking goal, with a crestfallen Weber skating off with his head down.

Kruger finished the scoring at 10:31, beating Lack with a nifty backhand for his seventh goal.  

Chicago plays again Friday night in Buffalo, and then hosts St. Louis on Sunday night. The Blackhawks and Blues also play next Thursday in St. Louis.

The Blackhawks jumped in front in the first period when their fourth line of Teravainen, Kruger and Andrew Desjardins continued their recent strong play with an extended stretch in the offensive zone. Kruger got open in front and was stopped by Lack, but stayed with it and fed Teravainen for the rookie's fourth goal at 6:51.

Teravainen had a whopping eight shots in 13 1/2 minutes in Chicago's 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.

The Blackhawks stayed in front until the final two minutes of the period, when defenseman Michal Rozsival made a costly mistake that Dorsett turned into his seventh goal of the season. Rozsival's pass went right to Dorsett, who skated to his right before sending a shot over Crawford's right shoulder at 18:46.

Each team had chances to go in front in the second, but Crawford and Lack were there each time. Crawford kicked away a prime opportunity for Alexandre Burrows and stopped a tip by Radim Vrbata. Lack made a pad save when Brandon Saad skated in on a breakaway in the final minute.

NOTES: The Canucks won each of the first two games against the Blackhawks this season. ... Blackhawks F Patrick Kane (broken collarbone) participated in the morning skate. He also practiced with the team Wednesday in a white non-contact jersey. ... The Blackhawks agreed to a two-year contract with college free agent Tanner Kero, a forward from Michigan Tech who will report to Rockford of the American Hockey League. The 22-year-old Kero had 20 goals and 26 assists in 41 games in his senior year with the Huskies.

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session… Pistons-Bulls Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO (STATS Senior Writer) 8 hours ago                                  
                              

 

                                                                                                                                       

Keyed by consistent success at home, the Chicago Bulls haven't dropped a season series to the Detroit Pistons in almost a decade.

To prevent that from happening, the Bulls must continue that dominance at the United Center on Friday night.

Excluding the playoffs, Chicago is 28-7 against Detroit since last losing the season series in 2005-06. That includes a 92-75 loss Dec. 7, 2013, for the Bulls' only blemish in the last 17 meetings at home.

Chicago (45-30) opened this season's four-game series with a 102-91 home victory Nov. 10, then shot a combined 42.6 percent and scored 91 points each time while dropping both road matchups. It's the first time since 2005-06 that the Bulls won't win the series.

Though the Pistons (29-46) have reached 100 points once while shooting 42.0 percent over those last 17 meetings at Chicago, the Bulls have learned to take nothing for granted.

"You can't let your guard down in this league," coach Tom Thibodeau said after Chicago blew a 19-point lead and was outscored 54-19 in the final 19 minutes of a 107-91 defeat to the Pistons on March 21.

Chicago totaled as many points and looked almost as inept while being outscored 25-17 in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's 95-91 loss at Milwaukee.

Tied with Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls averaged 104.5 points and shot 49.0 percent to win five of the previous six games. However, they hit 41.9 percent of their shots, went 5 of 26 from 3-point range, missed 13 free throws, were outscored 23-10 in second-chance points and committed 20 turnovers.

"The loss at this point of the season is something I'm not happy about," said All-Star Pau Gasol, who recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds for his league-leading 49th double-double. "We should be, as we have been, sharper."

Looking to become the first Bull since Charles Oakley in 1986-87 to record at least 50 doubles-doubles, Gasol has two in the first three games with the Pistons. He had 27 points and 10 boards in last month's matchup as Chicago played without Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.

While Rose's return from another knee surgery remains uncertain, Butler has averaged 21.3 points in four games since missing 11 with an elbow strain. He scored 30 in a 100-91 loss at Detroit on Feb. 20.

It's uncertain if Chicago will have backup guard Kirk Hinrich available after he injured his knee Wednesday.

Chicago, however, could catch a break if Pistons forward Greg Monroe (knee) misses a 10th consecutive game and guard Reggie Jackson isn't fully healthy after falling ill earlier in the week then rolling his ankle in the second quarter of Wednesday's 102-78 loss at Charlotte.

Jackson finished with eight assists and seven rebounds but scored nine on 3-of-16 shooting. He averaged 22.7 points and shot 54.3 percent while Detroit won five of the previous six. That stretch began with 22 and 11 assists against Chicago.

The Pistons averaged 106.3 points on 46.6 percent shooting over those six contests before hitting on 35.2 percent during their second-lowest scoring game of the season.

"When you're not ready to play, it's going to be a long night," coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Bulls out-muscled, out-hustled in loss to Bucks 95-91.

By Vincent Goodwill

The tension was as palpable as the desperation in the air of BMO Harris Bradley Center, as the difficulty Tom Thibodeau will likely face when the postseason starts was on full display when Nikola Mirotic missed two good looks that could have tied the game late against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Never mind the Bucks were fighting recent history, having lost seven of the last eight and nine straight home losses against their Central Division foes, or that this is the likely first round matchup at the Nos. 3 and 6 spots if things hold for the final two weeks.

But after the Bucks played the Bulls tough and finally prevailed in front of a crowd that had to feel the atmosphere feel like a road game with a 95-91 win, they probably left with more confidence about a possible matchup than they had before—not to mention, the Bulls’ slim chance of catching the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second seed are long gone now.

“It definitely made it a lot harder,” said Pau Gasol of catching the Cavaliers. “It’s tough, frustrating because we did it to ourselves and we’ll see how badly these losses cost us.”

The contest might have cost them Kirk Hinrich, as the backup guard took a charge in the third quarter and injured his left knee. The X-rays were negative, and he was able to walk off the floor under his own power with a limp—just what the Bulls needed with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Thibodeau’s choice of going with the NBA’s best fourth-quarter scorer in March, Mirotic, didn’t pay dividends, especially at the expense of Taj Gibson, who was one of the few Bulls playing with energy on both sides of the floor for the night.

Gibson did pick up his fifth foul midway through the fourth, sat and didn’t return.

“I wanted to see how it would go,” Thibodeau said. “We were trying to get something done offensively. And Taj is still working his way back.”

Mirotic missed all five of his 3-point attempts and scored just six points with six rebounds, but he certainly wasn’t the big issue for the Bulls’ and their inability to keep their winning ways alive.

A combination of unforced errors and a sporadic energy night led to the Bulls’ demise, along with missing all 11 of their 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter when the game was tied at 76, 78, 80, 84, 86, and 88 before the Bucks took a slight 92-88 lead with a little over three minutes left.

The long arms and quick feet of the Bucks were aided by some lethargic play of the Bulls, a team that hasn’t played much in the last week or so, as they allowed 20 offensive rebounds.

“Once you start feeling good, you have to give them credit, they were more aggressive throughout the course of the game,” Thibodeau said. “They were quicker to the ball, we didn’t react.”

Their energy was inconsistent for most of the night, and they couldn’t glean anything extra from the Bulls fans draped in red who made the easy drive to Milwaukee.

Khris Middleton scored 12 of his 14 in the second half, including seven in the fourth when the Bulls began to wake up.

Michael Carter-Williams, acquired at the trade deadline for Brandon Knight, used his 6-foot-7 frame to score 15 in a row in the second quarter (21 points total) to keep the Bucks in the game, abusing the smaller Aaron Brooks, and the Bulls didn’t double him.

“I’ve been doubled all night, every time I touched the ball close to the basket,” Gasol said. “We didn’t do that much against Carter-Williams and it created a lot of problems. Gametime execution was not good enough.

The didn’t take advantage of getting to the foul line 19 more times than the Bucks, shooting just 65 percent. It would’ve negated their 42 percent shooting performance, as Gibson was the only player who shot above 50 percent for the evening.

Jimmy Butler made all eight of his foul shots, scoring 25 with seven rebounds in 41 minutes, but Gasol didn’t get many shots (11), scoring 14 with 11 rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes.

“It’s just frustrating to lose a game like this,” Gasol said. “We could’ve done things a lot different and a lot better.”

And now, they’re playing a dangerous game, missing out on an opportunity to crush a young playoff opponent, instead giving them life.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!! After a decade of leadership, Bears' revolving door ushers out Roberto Garza.

By Chris Boden
                          

The changes keep coming in Lake Forest in the Ryan Pace/John Fox regime. Some are easy for the Bears fanbase and personnel at Halas Hall to take, others aren't. But it's a business, from the nods of approval in the departure of Brandon Marshall to the questions and concerns about the signing of Ray McDonald.

Others are just hollow. It'll likely happen when Charles Tillman signs elsewhere but there was a preview of that with Thursday's release of center Roberto Garza, the last member of the offense remaining from the 2006 Super Bowl team. 

   

Garza - a fourth-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 - was truly a value signing as a free agent in 2005 by Jerry Angelo and had a remarkable 10-year starting run at guard and center for the Bears. He missed four games in 2014 with an ankle injury suffered in the season opener, but he had only missed two games in his Bears career prior to that.

“We have a great deal of respect for what Roberto has brought to the Bears over the last 10 years,” Pace said. “He has been a great player, teammate and leader. We wish Roberto and his family the very best as he continues his career.”

In the revolving door of appointed leadership and captain-ship of the Marc Trestman era, Garza was truly looked up to in the locker room (even if he wasn't necessarily appointed) available to speak through all the ups and downs. The 36-year-old was the last transaction by Phil Emery in the final week of last season as general manager in a one-year contract extension that wouldn't have an effect on the salary cap. The roles Garza played on and off the field made it easy for Emery's bosses to rubber-stamp the move.

But with a new regime comes people and players they want in place. Will Montgomery - who took over at center last season for Fox's Broncos after originally being a seventh-round draft pick under Fox's reign in Carolina - slides in as Garza's replacement.

If Garza, whose toughness was exhibited every week by playing several seasons without an ACL in his right knee, cannot find work with another team, he's already established a presence in broadcasting. He's been a regular for several seasons on shows with my colleague Dan Jiggetts and has been a sideline reporter the last two seasons for the NFL's Spanish Language broadcasts.

"Thank you to the Chicago Bears and Bears fan base for an incredible 10 years," Garza wrote on his Twitter and Instagram accounts Thursday morning.

Bears add ex-Cardinals LB Sam Acho on one-year deal.

#BEARSTALK                              
 

     

Bears GM Ryan Pace is committing to his strategy of bringing in new players on one-year deals.

Just a day after the team signed running back Jacquizz Rodgers, the Bears announced on Wednesday that they've added Arizona Cardinals linebacker Sam Acho on a one-year deal. Other details of the contract were not immediately known.

Acho, 26, spent the past four seasons with the Cardinals after being drafted by the team in the fourth round in 2011. The Texas product started 26 of his first 32 games in the NFL, racking up 88 tackles and 11 sacks during that period. The past two years, however, Acho has only played in 19 games (a leg injury ended his 2013 campaign early), recording only two sacks and 36 tackles over that span. Acho has experience in a 3-4 defense, which will prove to be valuable as the Bears defense undergoes a transformation under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. 

The Bears are in the midst of completely retooling their linebacking group. The team's biggest splash came early on in free agency with the addition of OLB Pernell McPhee. Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston are also expected to contribute at outside linebacker in the new 3-4 scheme likely making Acho's addition more of a depth move.

Bears re-sign special teams standout Sherrick McManis.

By Scott Krinch

An offseason trend of handing out one-year contracts continued for the Bears once again on Wednesday as the team re-signed cornerback and special teams standout Sherrick McManis.

McManis is the 10th player that Bears general manager Ryan Pace has signed to a one-year deal the past two weeks. The Bears signed ex-Arizona Cardinals linebacker Sam Acho to a one-year deal earlier Wednesday morning. 

“It’s a blessing to be able to come back and come back home,” McManis told Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. “My family is close by. The coaching staff is amazing. I’m excited to work with them as well as getting to see all of my teammates again.”

McManis, 27, appeared in 39 games the past three seasons with the Bears, notching a franchise-high 38 special teams tackles during that span. He also served as the Bears' special teams captain twice in 2014.

McManis was originally selected by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Northwestern. After two seasons with the Texans, he was traded to the Bears on Aug. 31, 2012 for fullback Tyler Clutts. In 62 career games, McManis has registered 54 special teams tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

McManis is the second cornerback the Bears have signed this offseason, joining Alan Ball and Demontre Hurst.

Cubs will have to prove they're not all talk. 

By Patrick Mooney

Is there a Bloomberg Businessweek cover jinx?

The Cubs are about to find out with the magazine hitting newsstands on Friday, crowning them champions of…spreadsheets?

Over and over, the words “CUBS WIN!” plaster the cover, surrounding an image of Starlin Castro leaping in midair above the subhead: “Well, not yet. But after a century of epic mismanagement a sports empire is in bloom.”

OK then. It’s time for the Cubs to shut up and play.

Enough with the Wrigley Field construction updates, existential Jumbotron debates, Cactus League attendance records, Baseball America prospect lists and PR battles with Boras Corp.

Stop telling us how "transparent" you are and reminding everyone this is doing it "the right way." Show us. 

Because it’s been five straight fifth-place finishes since the Ricketts family entered into a leveraged partnership with Sam Zell’s Tribune Co. (and acquired a piece of Comcast SportsNet Chicago). And because this team could actually, you know, be pretty good this year. No need to oversell.

“We’re all watching the same movie,” chairman Tom Ricketts said. “The trades at the middle of last summer were really kind of the end of the beginning for us. We’re looking forward and we’re looking (at) winning now.

“That’s something that we’ve built toward. We feel like this is the year where we’re going to start to show our results.”

Theo Epstein’s baseball operations department built a blue-chip farm system, winning the offseason by hiring star manager Joe Maddon, signing $155 million ace Jon Lester and upgrading the roster across the board.

Crane Kenney’s business operations department finally broke ground on the $600 million Wrigleyville development. The first phase will be unveiled on Easter Sunday night against the St. Louis Cardinals on national TV.

Within the Businessweek feature, Kenney looked back on the decision to put a Kraft Noodle in front of the iconic marquee a few years ago, describing his job as trying to fill a wheelbarrow with money to dump in Epstein’s office: “My threshold is: ‘Is this a noodle?’”

“Now that the hard part begins, it’s time to go play and compete,” Epstein said. “All the hype and noise is meaningless – (and) makes a lot of us uncomfortable – but (it) will go away. The only thing that matters is the standings. That’s how it should be.”

The baseball industry laughed last year when Sports Illustrated anointed the Houston Astros “YOUR 2017 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS,” smirking at the hubris of “Ground Control.”

It only took seven Cactus League games (0-6-1) before Anthony Rizzo had his winning-the-division prediction thrown back in his face. All the snow in Chicago hadn’t even melted yet.

“We’re really young and we have all the talent in the world,” Rizzo said. “Now light bulbs just need to start going off so it’ll click. The belief is there. (Bleep), we all see it. You see the home runs that everyone’s hitting, the talent, the speed, from top to bottom. Good things are happening.”

Between Rizzo and Castro, the Cubs have two 25-year-old All-Stars anchoring their infield. At least until Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Javier Baez come up from Triple-A Iowa.

Bryant’s service-time drama totally overshadowed Jorge Soler, but the Cuban outfielder should generate National League Rookie of the Year buzz. Kyle Hendricks is a Greg Maddux wannabe. Jake Arrieta’s no-hit bids will be must-see TV.

The Cubs should have some personality. All-Star catcher Miguel Montero will tell you exactly what he thinks. Backup catcher David Ross could get just about any other job in baseball once he’s done playing. The bullpen is nasty.

“The young players are fitting in well and they’re showing they belong,” Arrieta said. “I haven’t seen many instances where guys appear nervous. I see guys calm and collected at the plate. In the field and in between innings, there’s positive chatter keeping guys’ awareness up.

“We’re feeding off each other and ready for those meaningful, purposeful games that are actually going to count.”

Maddon is supposed to be the glue that holds it all together. Fans are absolutely going to love his shot-and-a-beer routine at The Cubby Bear. The media will be entertained/distracted every day. The players embrace the anti-rules philosophy and respect how he helped turn the Tampa Bay Rays into a small-market power.

“It’s always been ‘Why not us?’” third baseman Mike Olt said. “But it’s always deep in the back of a lot of guys’ heads (wondering): ‘Do we have what it takes this year?’ We got some big pieces that are going to help that.

“It’s fun to come in here and have a different mindset where it’s not: ‘Are we going to win today?’ It’s: ‘We want to win today. We’re expected to win today.’”

Win or lose, it will be fascinating to see how all these egos fit together, whether or not the Cubs can withstand the avalanche of expectations.

“Certainly, at different stages of the path, you’re concerned about how long things are going to take,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We’re in a big market. We have a fan base that loves the Cubs. We obviously wanted to do things as quickly as possible without compromising (our beliefs).

“In some darker moments, we were worried about how long it might take. That said, we haven’t really gotten anywhere. We’ve gotten to a place where we competed in the second half (last season). We’ve gotten to a place where we’re attractive to free agents. But we still haven’t won yet.”

Pitching a major point of emphasis for White Sox.

By Scott Merkin

The White Sox had a valuable lesson reinforced during the 2005 season that many other World Series champions to follow have agreed upon.

A powerful lineup can get teams to the postseason, but it's pitching that carries the final team standing to a parade. With that playoff target firmly in mind, general manager Rick Hahn rebuilt the 2015 pitching staff as part of his overhaul in the offseason.

These past two years have been very much out of the ordinary for a squad that contended in the American League Central during much of the past decade. The White Sox won 63 games in 2013 and then won 10 more in '14. But a team known for developing the likes of Mark Buehrle, Chris Sale and Bobby Jenks, to name a few over the years, along with a highly respected pitching coach in Don Cooper, had the AL's third-worst ERA at 4.29.

Much of that problem was pinned on the bullpen, which finished with the second-worst ERA at 4.38 that was only topped by the Astros (4.80 ERA). But starters weren't much better with a 4.26 ERA that included Sale's 2.17 ERA over 174 innings. So Hahn rebuilt from the start of the game, trading for the right-handed presence of Jeff Samardzija to put in between Sale and Jose Quintana, and in the end, by signing closer David Robertson to a four-year, $46 million deal and left-handed setup man Zach Duke to a three-year, $15 million deal.

Add in the talent already in place, and the White Sox have a staff on paper that can compete with anyone else in the division. Cooper, who is fiercely protective of his pitchers in good and bad times, appreciates the changes for the better.

"Hey, we had no lefties [last year], so we have two. I'm kick-my-heels happy about that," Cooper said. "We didn't have a closer. We got a closer. I'm kick-my-heels happy.

"What these moves have done is level the playing field. But even more than that, you know Zach Duke is going to pitch the sixth, seventh or eighth for the next [three] years. Robertson is going to close for the next four years. I can tell you sitting on the bench not knowing who is going to close, that's a big answer."

Zach Putnam and Javy Guerra will break camp with the team from last year's relief crew, and Jake Petricka would have done the same if not for a 15-day disabled-list trip because of right forearm soreness. This prior crew possessed ability, but as Cooper mentioned, Robertson, Duke, Dan Jennings and potentially Matt Albers not only improve the group, but will help align it correctly.

Starters who can consistently work deep into games become one of the bullpen's greatest assets. In Sale, Samardzija, Quintana, John Danks and Hector Noesi, the White Sox have, at the very least, five who can each pitch 200 innings.

"You have a guy like Samardzija and then you add a guy to the back like Robertson, that's taking away innings in a good way from the middle relievers," Putnam said. "Our workload hopefully is going to be a lot less than it was last year. That will translate into guys being more effective when they are in situations that we were last year."

Nate Jones is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and he could provide quality in-season help without the White Sox giving up a player. Young standouts such as Carlos Rodon, Chris Beck and Frankie Montas could do the same as part of the rotation.

Even the best-set plans can be hampered by injuries. Sale suffered an avulsion fracture in his right foot from a home accident on Feb. 27, but it looks as if it will only cost him one start. Robertson battled right forearm soreness, but he pitched fine over the weekend, and Petricka could be back April 11.

These temporary setbacks won't dampen the enthusiasm.

"On paper, everything is fitting together perfectly," Putnam said. "It's really exciting stuff."

"We are in a better spot," Cooper said. "Now we have to play the 162."

Golf: I got a club for that; Piercy leads by two after Round 1 at Shell.

By Will Gray

Cloudy skies gave way to breezy conditions Thursday at the Shell Houston Open, where a two-time PGA Tour winner tops the standings. Here’s how things look after one round at the Golf Club of Houston, with Scott Piercy holding a two-shot lead:

Leaderboard: Scott Piercy (-9), Alex Cejka (-7), J.B. Holmes (-7), Phil Mickelson (-6), Charles Howell III (-6), Luke Guthrie (-6), Shawn Stefani (-6).

What it means: Piercy is finally healthy after missing much of last season with an elbow injury, and he quickly grabbed the lead after tying the course record. He doesn’t have much breathing room, though, as scoring conditions allowed more than half the field to break par.

Round of the day: Piercy is no stranger to low numbers, and he put up another one with a 9-under 63 in the opening round. The veteran found 17 of 18 greens in regulation and needed only 26 putts, reeling off a stretch of five straight birdies in the middle of his round to put him in contention as he eyes a third win.

Best of the rest: Holmes already has a pair of runner-up finishes to his credit this season, and he is again in the mix after an opening 65 that required only 24 putts. He began his round with a hole-out eagle, then added six more birdies, including four en route to a front-nine 30.

Biggest disappointment: Reigning champ Matt Jones grabbed his first win in dramatic fashion here a year ago, but the Aussie is unlikely to defend after an even-par 72. Jones canceled three birdies with a trio of bogeys and will need a sub-par effort Friday just to make the cut.

Main storyline heading into Friday: The chase pack includes several big names, but none bigger than Mickelson, who showed signs of life with an opening-round 66. He has contended with regularity at this event in recent years, and another strong effort in the second round could help build momentum heading into the Masters.

Shot of the day: Patrick Reed got off to a slow start but turned things around at No. 4, where he holed out a wedge from 99 yards for eagle. It was one of two hole-outs on the day for Reed, who opened with a 4-under 68.

Quote of the day: ”Currently I’m not even qualified for the Drive, Chip and Putt. I’ve got some work ahead of me.” – Howell, a resident of Augusta, Ga., who needs to win to qualify for the Masters.

Adam Scott will use an anchored broomstick putter at the Masters.

By Ryan Ballengee

Adam Scott of Australia reacts on the fifth green during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 21, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)

Adam Scott is matching the switch...back.

The 2013 Masters champion will use a long putter with an anchored putting stroke at next week's Masters, Scott confirmed to the Australian Associated Press.

Scott, who switched to a traditional-length putter at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March, struggled with the stroke in two subsequent Florida starts at the Valspar Championship, where he missed the cut after making the money in 45 straight PGA Tour events, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

The Aussie used the long putter to win his lone major championship. It's his last chance to use the anchored stroke at the Masters, as it will become illegal on Jan. 1, 2016. 

After he struggled on the greens at Bay Hill, Scott explained why he might make the temporary switch back to the broomstick.

"It's all about the lag putting," Scott said to PGATour.com. "It's such a difference in weight of club and stroke and everything. I'm just trying to figure it all out."

Quantifying which NASCAR drivers will make the Chase.

By Eric Chemi

NASCAR's Sprint Cup series this Easter will have a rare weekend off in its 36-race schedule. After last Sunday's win by Denny Hamlin at Martinsville, we've now seen five different drivers win the first six races. Kevin Harvick has two wins, while four other drivers have one apiece. There are 20 more races to go before the "cutoff' for the Chase—NASCAR's version of the playoffs. The points system will be reset and only 16 drivers will qualify.

As the rules are currently set, every driver who gets a win during the first 26 races will qualify. That means we already have five drivers who are locked in. The rest of the 16 spots will be given to winless drivers who finished consistently high enough in the points standings. 
 
The question then remains: How many different winners will there be? How many leftover spots will be filled by winless drivers? The answer matters because it affects how teams might strategize over the next few months, whether to make a risky call to win the race, or settle in for a solid top-five finish.

The chart below lists the current top drivers, and their recent winning percentage. The five names in green are the drivers who already have wins this year. The drivers in white still do not have a win this year. The drivers in red have such a low win percentage, like Danica Patrick's zero percent, that we would not expect them to get a win.
 

 

Consider Dale Earnhardt Jr. He has a 2.8 win percentage in the last five years. The math on that says he has a 43 percent chance of winning one of the next 20 races—not a slam dunk. But he has had a lot of strong momentum recently, and if he keeps that up, he should still be able to make the Chase.

The drivers shaded in red should not expect to get a win, based on past results. They'll need to step up their game and improve on their past results if they want to make the playoffs. Two drivers in particular—Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon—have shown potential to get a win. Don't be surprised to see either—or both—of them get a win this season. They are the two best bets of drivers from the red category being able to break out.

Contrast them to a top driver like Matt Kenseth—he's had a strong win percentage over the past five years, but my NBC Sports colleague Dustin Long points out that Kenseth is currently mired in a 50-race winless streak. Similar with Tony Stewart, he's recently performed much worse than his five-year average.

Based on these individual driver winning percentages, we can calculate how many different winners we'll see through the first 26 races. If Harvick wins all of the upcoming races by himself, then we'd still have only five unique winners. Obviously that's not going to happen, as other drivers are due to get some wins. The question is exactly how many can we expect? Here's the answer.

 

                                                            
The most likely outcome is we get to 13 winners. That's the current five winners plus another eight new ones (like Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards, who are certainly due a win soon). 

If we get to 13 different winners, that would leave only three spots to fill based on the points standings. This is where drivers like Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer can make their way into the playoffs. Truex is currently third in the standings, but has only a slim 11 percent chance of winning a race. Bowyer has less than a 50 percent chance of winning a single race by the cutoff.

And then there is Ryan Newman, who finished second in the 2014 championship despite going winless the entire year. He survived on the strength of clutch consistency. There is only a 36 percent chance that he can get a single win by the cutoff—and with his massive penalty this week, it may be the only shot he has to get in now.

For many drivers, getting lucky on finding a single win will be easier than staying consistent enough all season to make it in on points.

NASCAR penalizes Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing for illegal tires.

By Jordan Bianchi

 

The penalties for Newman and RCR are hefty after NASCAR determined the No. 31 illegally modified its tires.

NASCAR heavily penalized Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Richard Childress team Tuesday for tires that were illegally modified at Auto Club Speedway.

 

The penalties include Newman losing 75 driver points and crew chief Luke Lambert receiving a six-race suspension and $125,000 fine. Team engineer Philip Surgen and tire specialist James Bender were also suspended six races.

 

Following the March 22 race at ACS, NASCAR conducted an "audit" where officials confiscated the tires off the cars of Newman and RCR teammate Paul Menard, in addition to Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas Racing. The tires were sent to a third party for inspection, with only Newman's found in violation.

 

NASCAR determined Newman's tires were not compliant with a rule barring "any modifications to the tire or wheel, including the valve stem hardware, that is used to release pressure." Any infractions pertaining to tires, engines or fuel usually result in significant sanctions.

 

"NASCAR takes very seriously its responsibility to govern and regulate the rules of the sport in order to ensure competitive balance," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "We've been very clear that any modifications to race vehicle tires is an unacceptable practice and will not be tolerated."

 

Since last year there's been rampant speculation that teams were drilling small holes in tires to slowly bleed air out, a tactic legal in many other racing disciplines. The practice provides better grip by relieving air pressure built up over long runs, which allows drivers to maintain faster speeds.

 

Several drivers and crew chiefs, including Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Chad Knaus and Alan Gustafson, acknowledged the rumors that some teams were illegally manipulating their tires by drilling small holes last weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin even called for anyone found cheating to be banned for life.

 

"Definitely no room for it in the sport, that's for sure," Hamlin said. "Hope they clamp down on that if they do find it and if they find it multiple times with somebody, they should have a permanent vacation somewhere."

 

When asked if he was concerned about any potential penalties, Newman stated he "wasn't worried about anything." In a statement Tuesday, RCR again denied any wrongdoing and said the team plans to appeal the penalties.

 

"We understand the seriousness of the penalty," the team said in a statement. "In fact, RCR has been one of the most outspoken opponents against 'tire bleeding' since the rumors began to surface last season. Once NASCAR provides us with the specific details of the infraction we will conduct a further internal investigation, and evaluate our options for an appeal."

 

By losing 75 points, Newman, who finished runner-up in the championship to Harvick last year, drops from sixth in the standings to 27th overall.

 

Although he is still eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff, Newman essentially needs earn a regular season win to qualify -- something he hasn't accomplished since July 2013 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

What will Jurgen Klinsmann's USMNT roster look like for 2015 Gold Cup?

By Andy Edwards

The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off in 97 days. I’m not entirely sure, but I do believe the 2014 World Cup just ended in Brazil and Germany were crowned world champions.

Yet here we are, almost an entire year later with CONCACAF’s bi-annual tournament just three months away. Not to make July 7 seem any sooner than it really is, the U.S. national team has just three more exhibitions scheduled — vs. Mexico (April 15, in San Antonio) and at Netherlands (June 5) and Germany (June 10) — before Jurgen Klinsmann’s side begins its quest to retain their 2013 Copa Oro title.

With just three fixtures left between now and the time Klinsmann’s 23-man roster is due in to CONCACAF, it’s the perfect time to begin speculating what that roster may look like and pinpointing battles for the roster’s final places.

2015 Gold Cup roster projections — April 1 edition (in order of depth)

Goalkeepers (3)

Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Bill Hamid.

As things stand, Brad Guzan is the undisputed No. 1 of the USMNT, and even if/when Tim Howard returns from his self-imposed year-long break, it should stay that way. Sure, welcome Howard, a legend in his own right, back with open arms — just as Klinsmann should have done with Landon Donovan — but as the No. 2 ‘keeper fighting to win the job from Guzan.

Klinsmann and Bob Bradley have proved over the last 10 years that as long as Nick Rimando has a pulse, he’ll be on a USMNT tournament roster. This time, he enters camp as the No. 2, with young Bill Hamid hoping to prematurely usher those above him toward the exit door. He’s the man after 2018.

Missed the cut, but could/should go: William Yarbrough.

Defenders (8)

Fabian Johnson, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, DeAndre Yedlin, Brek Shea, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timothy Chandler.

Here’s where the questions begin. Will the three-man backline return after going away for two months, thus bringing into question the position of Jermaine Jones. Is DeAndre Yedlin a right back or winger, right now? Why can’t Fabian Johnson, a natural and really good left back, just play left back?

With only three games to be played before the Gold Cup, it’s hard to imagine Klinsmann trying to force the 3-5-2 into happening again. But then again, he’s Jurgen Klinsmann. Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez haven’t done much on the USMNT stage to lose their starting spots, but John Brooks, still just 22, has had a great season for Hertha Berlin and in recent USMNT appearances. In a perfect world, he forces Klinsmann’s hand and his play demands a starting place.

Missed the cut, but could/should go: Greg Garza, Tim Ream, Michael Orozco.

Midfielders (8)

Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud, Alfredo Morales, Danny Williams, Miguel Ibarra, Julian Green.

If Jones is a midfielder again, what does that mean for Mix Diskerud and does it mean Michael Bradley is once again shoehorned into the No. 10 role? Couldn’t Diskerud play the 10 and Bradley, arguably the best player currently in CONCACAF, play his natural position, a deeper-lying role and hit inch-perfect balls like THIS all day long? That seems pretty simple to me.

Julian Green went to the World Cup, so there’s no way Klinsmann doesn’t select him for the Gold Cup a year later. Not doing so would, in a way, mean Klinsmann admitting his own misstep, and that’s not going to happen anytime soon. Alfredo Morales and Danny Williams act as predictable cover for Bradley and Jones, with Miguel Ibarra the truest wild card pick of the bunch.

Missed the cut, but could/should go: Graham Zusi, Kyle Beckerman, Lee Nguyen, Wil Trapp.

 Forwards (4)

Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Aron Johansson, Gyasi Zardes.

There’s honestly very little to discus regarding the forwards — there’s not a ton of great options outside the obvious two or three regulars. Clint Dempsey’s “position” will always be a forward/midfielder hybrid, but he’s most likely to play alongside or just off the should of Jozy Altidore this summer, so he’s listed here as a forward.

Johannsson is the change-of-pace option when they need a goal late and/or Altidore is running on fumes.  Zardes goes as the unpredictable youngster most likely to play zero minutes, though his versatility to play as a wide attacker cutting in makes the 23-year-old an interesting change-of-pace option as well.

Missed the cut, but could/should go: Chris Wondolowski, Rubio Rubin, Bobby Wood.

No British soccer teams will compete at 2016 Olympics in Rio.

By Andy Edwards

(Photo/Getty Images)

Britain will not be represented by any national soccer teams at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after the English Football Association (FA) failed to gain support from fellow Brit nations Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

According to the English FA, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were against a united British team — similar to that of the one-off coalition that competed at the 2012 London games — saying another unified crusade could put their independence within FIFA at risk.

Without the support of all four British nations, FIFA vice president Jim Boyce said the organization would not sanction a partial Britain team.

The Under-21 European Championship, which runs from June 17-30 in the Czech Republic, will serve as UEFA’s qualifying process to determine the continent’s four 2016 Olympics representatives.

US Senators urge FIFA to take 2018 World Cup away from Russia.

By Joe Prince-Wright

(Photo/FIFA)

13 U.S. Senators have written to FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, to ask for the 2018 World Cup to be moved out of Russia.

A year has past since Russian troops and Russian-backed rebels forced their way into Ukraine and have taken control of large chunks of the former Soviet nation.

Senators such as Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson, Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin and Arizona Republican John McCain were part of the letter sent this week, as they asked FIFA to move the World Cup out of Russia amid 40 nations around the world have placed sanctions on Russia for the “ongoing violations of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

The letter asks for an extraordinary general meeting to discuss the topic of moving the 2018 World Cup to another nation, as tournament would “provide economic relief” to Russia. What have FIFA got to say about all of this? Spokeswomen Delia Fischer believes the World Cup can have a positive impact on Russia.

“We have seen that the FIFA World Cup can be a force for good,” Fischer said, “and FIFA believes this will be the case for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.”

 

The big issue here is that will the U.S. national team, and plenty of others around the world, boycott the World Cup in Russia? With letters like this, the tension will continue to rise and unless Russia sorts out its differences with Ukraine way before 2018, then plenty of countries around the world will be facing tricky decisions as to whether or not they should compete in the World Cup.

 

From FIFA’s point of view, could the World Cup be moved to another country at short notice? Of course it could. , The U.S., England, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Australia, Japan and several other countries in South America could hold the event at a few months notice.

Kentucky's platoon system gives way to traditional rotation.

By GARY B. GRAVES (AP Sports Writer)

John Calipari's platoon system has given way to a nine-man rotation that gives the Kentucky coach plenty of combinations.

Who plays and how long hasn't mattered to the top-ranked Wildcats.

Platooning has been replaced by the immediate challenge of winning the school's ninth championship and remaining undefeated along the way.

The egos that were checked early have remained on the shelf during the NCAA Tournament as Calipari has let the flow of the game dictate his substitution strategy.

''That's what makes him such a good coach,'' reserve 7-footer Dakari Johnson said Tuesday of Calipari. ''He knows what's best for us. He's going to do everything for the team to win. He's going to put the guys in there that are going to battle and just compete.''

The challenge for Wisconsin at this weekend's Final Four in Indianapolis is figuring out which combination they'll face from Kentucky, which can play small, in half-court sets or up-tempo.

The Wildcats and Badgers met in last year's Final Four with Kentucky advancing behind an exciting 74-73 victory. This Kentucky squad is even deeper.

Calipari began the season able to go 10-deep with his roster, so platooning gave him a way to give everyone enough minutes to be happy and win games. Rotating players in and out has just given him more options - and helped the Wildcats stay unbeaten at 38-0.

''We coach every player on this team like they're a starter,'' Calipari said. ''There's no one coached - we don't have subs. I've said that statement before. We have reinforcements. We've got them and you look up and there's about 12 tanks coming over the hill. ... That's what we've been doing.''

Kentucky played the season's first few weeks with Calipari replacing his entire starting lineup after about five minutes into the game, sooner if he wasn't getting the results or energy he wanted. Calipari has also platooned against weaker schools, beginning both halves with the approach.

A season-ending knee injury to junior forward Alex Poythress in December thrust 6-foot-10 Trey Lyles into the starting lineup, changing substitutions to whatever the matchup or situation demanded.

And in the NCAA Tournament, the combinations have worked for Kentucky.

There have been times where the Wildcats have featured a three-guard lineup with 6-6 twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison and 5-9 Tyler Ulis together in the backcourt, or some two-guard combination of those three along with shooter Devin Booker. Kentucky has also gone to their big-man lineup, pairing Johnson and fellow 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein for short stints, and blended them with 6-11 Karl-Anthony Towns, 6-9 Marcus Lee and Lyles in two- or three-man sets.

''He doesn't get enough credit for his coaching,'' Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. ''For all the pluses of knowing that maybe you got better talent than most teams, you also got other issues. I don't know many guys that could have juggled that at Kentucky like he has.''  

Calipari's mixing hasn't hurt overall playing time for the Wildcats' nine regulars, who average 11.1 to 25.8 minutes per game. But players such as Cauley-Stein and Ulis have each logged 30-plus minutes at least once while Lee and Johnson have seen their time decrease. 

 Johnson isn't concerned because the Wildcats are still winning, which is all that matters.

''When you come here, he's going to put you into position to succeed,'' he said. ''You've just got to embrace it and buy into the team culture.''

The Wildcats certainly had to buy into teamwork during Saturday night's tense 68-66 Midwest region-clinching victory over Notre Dame, a game that Calipari admittedly tried ''every combination I could'' to stay in a contest they trailed by six points with just over six minutes remaining.

The coach continually shuffled players in and out down the stretch and got results on both ends as Kentucky made its last nine shots along with several crucial defensive stops to remain unbeaten. Nobody talked about minutes afterward, just that every hand on deck participated.

It's been that way all season, in any combination.

''Being on a team like this where we're winning, making history and sharing, there's nothing like this,'' Booker said. ''I'm enjoying the moment.''

UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma on men's game: 'It's a joke.'

By Kyle Ringo

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma reacts during his team's practice for a women's college basketball NCAA tournament first round game, Friday, March 20, 2015, in Storrs, Conn. Over the past two decades, the Hall of Fame coach and his players have been the face of the sport, winning nine championships and poised to make a run at a 10th title this year. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Geno Auriemma generally isn't one to sugarcoat his opinions. Like him or not, he calls it like he sees it. 

He did just that during a conference call Wednesday while discussing his team's game in the women's Final Four with Maryland on Sunday. Auriemma shared his thoughts on the state of the men's game, a much talked-about topic throughout the season because of the dip in scoring this year.

"I think the game is a joke. It really is," Auriemma said. "I don't coach it. I don't play it, so I don't understand all the ins and outs of it. But as a spectator, forget that I'm a coach, as a spectator, watching it, it's a joke. There's only like ten teams, you know, out of 25, that actually play the kind of game of basketball that you'd like to watch.

"And the bottom line is that nobody can score, and they'll tell you it's because of great defense, great scouting, a lot of team work, nonsense, nonsense. College men's basketball is so far behind the times it's unbelievable. I mean women's basketball is behind the times. Men's basketball is even further behind the times."

Numerous coaches have advocated going to a 30-second shot clock in the men's game, which currently uses a 35-second shot clock. The women already use a 30-second shot clock. 

Auriemma has won nine national titles coaching the Huskies and he makes $2 million annually. He said he is fine with men's coach Kevin Ollie making $3 million. Ollie led the Huskies to the national title on the men's side last season but his program didn't make it back to the NCAA tournament this season.

"That's where the market is," Auriemma said in a USA Today story. "Kevin is probably exactly where he needs to be. Or maybe less than he needs to be, who knows? It's what the market will bear for those guys, and I'm all for it. Sometimes there is talk about a cap, but that's not workable. This is America. Anyone should be able to make all they can."

NCAA is 'very pleased' with revisions to Indiana law.

By Sam Cooper

Indiana revised its new controversial religious freedom law on Thursday morning and NCAA president Mark Emmert said that the association is “very pleased” with the changes.

“We are very pleased the Indiana legislature is taking action to amend Senate Bill 101 so that it is clear individuals cannot be discriminated against,” Emmert said in a statement.

“NCAA core values call for an environment that is inclusive and non-discriminatory for our student-athletes, membership, fans, staff and their families. We look forward to the amended bill being passed quickly and signed into law expeditiously by the governor.”

The law is titled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and was originally passed last week. Critics of the law feel that it opens the door for discrimination against gays and lesbians on the grounds of religious belief.

The NCAA, which is based in Indianapolis, responded strongly in opposition of the law soon after it passed, even suggesting it would considering moving events like the Final Four out of state if the law did not change.

Others in collegiate athletics have also spoken out against the law. The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday that it would not hold meetings in Indiana until the law was changed or repealed. Additionally, USC athletic director Pat Haden tweeted that he would not attend the College Football Playoff meetings in Indianapolis because of the law.

U.S. Olympic Committee 'candidly concerned' non-revenue college sports will be cut. What's Your Take?

By Pat Forde

Will added benefits for big-money sports spell the end for non-revenue sports? (AFP)

The great competitive and commercial climax of the college sports season occurs this week in Indianapolis with the Final Four. Millions of dollars will be spent watching millionaire coaches and (a few) future millionaire players battle for the national basketball championship in a football stadium.

Final Fours, like the college football postseason, have done nothing but expand in scope and profitability in recent years. The amount to be spent on (and made off) those events seems to be limitless. Especially on the gridiron, where the College Football Playoff has broken the bank.
 

But more and more, the revenue geyser is meant to sustain only the two glamour athletic programs – football and men's basketball. The more money those sports make, the more gets plowed back into them in the way of opulent facilities and lavish coaching salaries. 

Which is why some smaller cogs in the College Sports Inc., machine – the non-revenue athletes and coaches – will be watching this Final Four both wistfully and worriedly. 

Their very existence is threatened. Even as football and basketball make record-breaking money, non-revenue sports – the pipeline to a strong American Olympic team – have never felt less secure. Men's non-revenue sports are the most at-risk.

"We are, candidly, very concerned," U.S. Olympic committee CEO Scott Blackmun told Yahoo Sports.

If you enjoy watching American men win gold medals every four years, enjoy a hearty "USA! USA! USA!" cheer, and enjoy hearing the "Star-Spangled Banner" played while athletes tear up, you should be very concerned as well.

Next week, the NCAA men's gymnastics championships will be held in Norman, Okla. Last week, the men's swimming national championship was held in Iowa City. The week before that, the wrestling national championship was contested in St. Louis. All those sports have been impacted by changing times in college athletics – and the future is even more challenging.

Blackmun said that 65 percent of America's London Olympics team was comprised of athletes who trained in college. But some of those feeder programs are on the endangered list.

Since the early 1980s, Blackmun said, college men's gymnastics programs have been cut by 75 percent. Wrestling has been cut by half. About 50 schools have dropped their men's swimming programs.

And that's before the next wave of expenditures hits university athletic departments.

There are full cost of attendance scholarships, plus enhanced meal plans and health coverage. There is the O'Bannon lawsuit outcome to be factored in, and the Kessler lawsuit as well, each of which seeks major financial windfalls for athletes in revenue-producing sports.

"We're not against giving college athletes much-improved medical care, four-year scholarships, full cost of attendance," Blackmun said. "Our concern is that the inevitable impact of these changes is coming down on Olympic sports. We've seen estimates that athletic departments will have to spend an additional $2 million to $3 million per year to cover these costs. That's the cost of operating two or three Olympic sports programs.

"If you're looking at your options, they are: raising more money or cutting more programs. If the answer is the transfer from the men's gymnastics program to fund these mandates, men's gymnastics is in trouble."

And men's gymnastics isn't the only one in trouble. Within the last few months, Chattanooga dropped its men's track program and College of Charleston shut down its swimming programs – men's and women's. Bigger schools have gone before them – Washington, it's worth noting, dropped men's and women's swimming when the school president was Mark Emmert, now the head of the NCAA.

With the changes in legislation and potential legal outcomes looming, there have been preliminary discussions in some power conferences about petitioning to reduce the number of sports Division I schools must sponsor (the current minimum is 14, with at least six of those men's sports). That has induced some musical chairs-style anxiety among non-revenue programs, each trying to prove themselves worthy of a place within what could be shrinking athletic departments.

USA Swimming, the national governing body of club swimming, has extended a three-year, $375,000 grant to the College Swim Coaches Association of America to find ways to promote and support the sport.

"USA Swimming needs to take more of a role in promoting college swimming," executive director Chuck Wielgus said. "We've always been a little reluctant. We've seen our role as supporting club swimming. ... We felt it was time for us to get involved in a supporting role. Those of us who care about Olympic sports realize they are at greater risk than they ever have been before."

Joel Shinofield, executive director of the CSCAA, said his task is fairly elementary: "How do we keep swimming around? We need to find a way to help coaches sell their programs and athletic directors to keep their programs."

How do they do that, in an era where revenue sports command million-dollar assistant coaching salaries, and multimillion-dollar facility upgrades? By being their own fundraisers with prospective donors, and by examining ways to make their sport more viewer-friendly.

With college and pro football dominating January, and March backlogged with college basketball, some non-revenue sports are toying with the idea of trying to move their championships into the relatively fallow weeks of post-Super Bowl February. Swimming coaches have even discussed changing the format of their championships into a three-week, tournament-style series of dual meets (more TV-friendly) to crown a champion.

"A dual meet can be fan-friendly," California men's coach Dave Durden said. "It can typically fit into 90 minutes to two hours with [TV] production. We have a great audience for our sport every four years, but how can we grab that audience at other times? We've got to figure out how to make that every-four-year audience an every-year audience."

"It's a great sport and I love it, but it doesn't matter what I think. It's what the public thinks and athletic directors think. The collective of men's and women's swimming, we've got to come together, get to the table and make some compromises on some things."

The ugly offshoot of all this could be interdepartmental cannibalism, with non-revenue sports pitting themselves against each other. That wouldn't benefit America's general Olympic health.

"The Olympic sports need to work together," said Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson, a former Olympic gold medalist who was a college star at Iowa State. "We're all teaching lessons about teamwork, hard work, and how to be successful – probably the best way to learn those lessons is through college athletics.

"I believe it's very clear that our country needs to develop hard workers and people who know what it's like to get beat and to fight back, to dream big, to work at making the world a better place. College athletics is a place to learn that."

There is a great irony in a system that imperils non-revenue sports for the specific aim of gold-plating football and basketball programs. At these non-profit institutions of higher education, the most accomplished and serious student-athletes – with the high GPAs, graduation rates and diverse majors – tend to be clustered in the programs that are on the chopping block.

According to the NCAA's own research, sports with the highest "student-athlete academic identity" are swimming for men and gymnastics for women. Sixty-nine percent of male swimmers identify strongly with being both a student and an athlete, and 84 percent of women's gymnasts.

On the men's side, track was second-highest at 67 percent and tennis was tied with football for third at 65 percent. Basketball was at 61 percent, trailing only golf, lacrosse and baseball.

Given the academic credentials of many non-revenue college athletes – and their chances to become successful professionals who give back to their alma maters – it would seem counter-intuitive for schools to eliminate programs that bring them to campus in the first place. But counter-intuitive thinking tends to rule College Sports Inc., in modern times.

"If we lose [a substantial number of programs], then you really become about basketball and football only," Shinofield said. "Those sports do an incredible job of providing opportunities, especially to first-generation college students. But if it's only about making money, then it's not about education."

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: This is a very interesting article and one that should be read by all. Surely NCAA football and men's basketball are the most glamorous and most lucrative revenue producing sports in college athletics, however, there is more to college sports than that. The other sports such as track and field, wrestling, swimming and diving, tennis, baseball, hockey (Remember that fabulous college team that beat the Russians in 1980), soccer, fencing, lacrosse, mixed rifle, water polo, cross country, skiing and volleyball are all collegiate sports that feed into our American Olympic teams. The commitment, the training facilities, the coaching and support are all available through our tremendous colleges and universities regardless how big or how small they are. We cannot forsake these sports just because they are not big revenue producers. The student athletes that participate in these sports truly learn about teamwork, hard work, and how to be successful. Within them, they have the highest graduation rates of all student athletes and for them, it is truly all about education. The NCAA should encourage it athletic directors to find a way to funnel a percentage of this massive football and basketball revenue into these non revenue producing sports as it's a source of training and preparation for our Olympic athletes. But in reality, what it really does is enhance our national pride every four years in the Summer and Winter. It's tremendously impressive to see our student athletes compete and constantly win. We all love to hear America's national anthem being played at the conclusion of each competitive event. 

Now you know what we think and how we feel, we'd love to know, what's your take? Take a moment and go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your thoughts. We love hearing from you. The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica editorial staff.

Ravens owner: NFL 'pretty stupid' not to have domestic violence policy.

By Will Brinson

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was outspoken on a call with season-ticket holders. (USATSI)

No team has been in front of the domestic-violence issue in the NFL like the Ravens. Even without Ray Rice on the roster, it's hard not to think of the early 2014 crisis surrounding football and domestic violence and not think of Baltimore.

In a recent conference call with season-ticket holders, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was asked about the NFL's policy and said it was "pretty stupid" not to already have a policy in place for domestic violence.

"I think that we were pretty stupid not to recognize domestic violence as a category by itself," Bisciotti said. "No other infractions -- failed drug tests, bar fights or DUIs -- nothing to me should rise to that level. I'm embarrassed to say that they were lumped together. So, I'm happy that we found ourselves comfortable taking that categorically and putting it into at the top of the list as something that is just unacceptable."

Bisciotti's words are bold but he's 100 percent accurate and everyone in and around the NFL would probably agree with him.

The league would love to hop in a Deloreon, go back in time and implement a stronger, tougher domestic-violence policy.

Part of the problem the league faces now is being reactive instead of proactive. The Ravens failed in a similar fashion during the investigation into Rice's situation.

"We did the best we can," Bisciotti said. "I can't say I don't have regrets. I said back then, my regret was not cutting him. My regret was not demanding to see the video. I believe we could've gotten it. If we had seen the video back in the spring, I think we would have a different circumstance. We would've released him. We should have seen the video in May and not in September."

Hopefully the NFL and the Ravens will use the lesson learned from the last year to do whatever's possible to prevent future incidents through a stronger, tougher policy on domestic violence

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, April 3, 2015.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1977 - Montreal Canadiens became the first team in NHL history to win 60 games in a season. They beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 to end the season with a record of 60-8-12.

1985 - The Major League Baseball Players' Association agreed to a proposal of the team owners to expand the 1985 League Championship Series from the best-of-five games to best-of-seven.

2002 - Michael Jordan (Washington Wizards) announced that he was done for the season due to a knee injury.

2006 - U.S. President Bush threw out the first pitch at the Cincinnati Reds opening home game.

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

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!!!!!