CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Friday Sports News Update and What's Your Take? 04/08/2015.

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Trending: Pope Francis is now an Honorary Harlem Globetrotter.

By Dan Devine 

NBA scouts scouring the globe for international talent must be cursing themselves this morning, after being beaten to the punch for the services of the hottest Argentine to rock Italy since Manu Ginobili in the early 2000s.

The organization that swooped in? The Harlem Globetrotters. The talent in question? The ball-handlin' Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis:

 

 
Pope Francis met with members of the Globetrotters on Wednesday during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. The 'Trotters visited Vatican City as part of a promotional push for their upcoming 90th anniversary tour, marking the eighth time the club has had an audience with a Pope, and they took full advantage, with Globetrotter "Flight Time" Lang getting "a red, white, and blue ball spinning on his own finger, then took the pope's right index finger and let a smiling Francis try it himself," according to The Associated Press.

The team also named Pope Francis an "honorary Globetrotter," a title bestowed upon "an individual of extraordinary character and achievement who has made an everlasting mark on the world." He's just the ninth person ever to receive the weirdly prestigious distinction, joining a pretty broad array of individuals — former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, comedian Bob Hope, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, comedian Whoopi Goldberg, South African activist and president Nelson Mandela, Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Pope John Paul II and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson — who would, it's safe to say, make for a fascinating nine-man rotation in a contest against the Washington Generals.

In addition to the ball-spinning and honorary-status-winning, Pope Francis added a new personalized basketball jersey to his collection thanks to the Globetrotters:

I know what you're thinking — after getting a No. 1 jersey from the Boston Celtics, why did the Pope get a No. 90 jersey from the Globetrotters? My theory: the two numbers add up to 91, and the Pontiff's offering a subtle tip of his giant cap to the last hoops ambassador to make a visit to Vatican City. We can only wonder whether dyed hair and piercings will follow.

Trending: NBA in negotiations with "global sports betting companies" to partner in Europe. What's Your Take?

By Kurt Helin

When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came out in support of legalized gambling legislation, there was one motivation behind it — money.

Silver looked at things like the Barclays Premiere League where three teams have their kit/jersey deal with an online gambling company, and numerous other teams have other sponsorship deals with said firms. For a global brand like the NBA, that’s a lot of potential cash on the table.

And the NBA is already looking to get a piece of it, reports Jered Zwerling of Bleacher Report.

Indeed, B/R has learned, through sources involved with the situation, that the NBA has been in recent negotiations with several global sports betting companies, which include but are not limited to Bwin.party and William Hill. One of them could soon become the league’s official partner in Europe’s regulated markets, which allows for betting on American pro sports. 

“The NBA has seen the success that English Premier League soccer clubs have had with sports betting operators, and they’re following that same model,” a source with knowledge of the discussions said. “They’ve seen the naming rights and the size of those deals, and they understand that it’s an opportunity to open up another revenue stream overseas, in the hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Right now, this would likely be just an overseas thing for the NBA as there is no legalized online gaming in the United States.

However, Silver sees what is coming — Americans are still gambling online, that money is just going overseas, and if states regulate it there will be a hodgepodge of rules. Better to have one federal set of rules for everyone to follow. Makes sense. Of course, good luck getting anything that makes sense out of Washington right now.

Whatever happens, Silver wants to be sure the owners are positioned to make more cash off it. This is a business first, lest anyone forget.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: Legalized Gambling Pros and Cons. (Many states in America have legalized gambling and are enjoying the benefits of doing so. However, along with certain economical advantages, there are many social disadvantages that accompany this legalization as well.)

Many people say that gambling is a harmful social evil, but there are many more who believe that it is a perfectly normal means of recreation that does not deserve all the negative press that it gets. After all, gambling serves as a major source of revenue for many different parties with vested interests, and it also improves the economy in certain ways and provides employment opportunities as well. Legalizing gambling is a controversial issue that has many people for and against it, and the effects of legalized gambling can be viewed in many different ways.

The biggest impact of gambling though, is seen in people's homes. Individuals who have a gambling problem often tend to overdo it, and their addiction leads to severe problems in households. This involves the loss of money, theft of money, neglecting other duties and responsibilities, and other dangers like getting into trouble with gambling cartels and over indulging in drinking and other substances. Problems arise because there are many people who just do not know when to stop gambling, and this lack of self-restraint is the single biggest reason why gambling is viewed with such disdain. 

Facts About Legal Gambling

At first, the answer to whether gambling needs to be legalized would seem to be a definitive no, but on closer inspection, you will find that legalizing gambling has certain advantages as well. The biggest beneficiary of this arrangement will undoubtedly be the Government of the country where gambling has been legalized, and this is what has been driving this debate on endlessly. 

The Pros of Legalized Gambling

The single biggest benefit of legalized gambling is the rise that the tourism industry of the country will experience. People will undoubtedly flock to this region from all around the world, and this will boost many different parties in various ways. This will inevitably lead to a rise in employment opportunities in the region as well, and the economy will grow as a result. Casinos and gambling houses are required to pay pretty high taxes, and this is another area that the Government will benefit from. The resulting increase in the tax revenue due will also lower the tax burden on other sources, and this will be welcomed by other citizens of the country as well.

Along with casinos and gambling houses, many restaurants and hotels would also arise in the region which would prove beneficial to many people. This would lead to many new jobs opening up, it would lead to greater diversity in a certain region and it would definitely lead to a rise in the standard of living of everyone involved. 

The Cons of Legalized Gambling

As already mentioned, one of the most prominent points in the debate is the issue of problem gamblers. These are people who have no control over their urges and try to dupe casinos through illegal means. Not only do they cause problems in casinos, they also cause issues in their homes and in other areas around the casinos which is one of the most widespread negative effects of gambling. The crime rate in the region will rise because of all this, and so will other illicit activities like money laundering, counterfeit money and arms trading. It has also been noted that suicide rates are higher in areas where gambling has been legalized.

Even though the tourism industry will prosper, other small business establishments that provide recreation and entertainment will suffer, as most people will only visit the casinos and restaurants around the casino itself. Hence, the growth will be very unevenly divided. Moreover, many destitute people will harass tourists and wealthy looking people for money and small change and this will make life uncomfortable for many families or individuals. Additionally, people will soon find themselves spending money on gambling instead of saving it or investing it wisely and this will affect people's financial lives drastically. Ultimately, the aspects legalized gambling would depend on the self-discipline that people possess and also on the magnitude with which the gambling industry is embraced in a region. But, there can be no denying the fact that it will have more disadvantages than advantages. 
 

 Some Facts and Statistics About Legalized Gambling

• It is estimated that at present, around 20 million citizens of America are problem gamblers and compulsive gamblers.
• Atlantic City, where gambling is legal saw a phenomenal 320% rise in the crime rate, and also a 100% rise in cases of rape, muggings and burglary.
• The last Presidential Election in the United States saw a contribution of close to $7 million by the gambling industry in the country.
• The total income from this industry in the last year was close to $95 billion, and the tax amount paid was around the $6 billion mark.
• Around 500,000 jobs in the United States are provided by the gambling industry.
• 19 of the 50 states in the USA allow legalized gambling and place very little restrictions on the industry.

  
At the end of the day, legalizing gambling is a major social step that has many consequences. The cons outweigh the pros though so any state or region that is considering this, should make their decision very carefully. In some areas, gambling can prove extremely beneficial and revive people's lives, but in some other areas, it can destroy lives as well.
 
The above presentation is an article written by Rahul Thadani and published June 4, 2011. Our biggest concern is protecting the integrity of the sport. As stated in the above article, some people are weak, yield to temptation and can't control themselves. The players in the sports industry are no different than the general population, some have weaknesses that will get into debt over their heads and put them in a position to be exploited. Some examples are: Black Sox Scandal (1919), Pete Rose gambling (1989), CCNY point shaving scandal (1951), Boston College point shaving scandal 1978-79, Operation Slapshot gambling ring NHL (2006), etc. We are not saying gambling is a bad thing, we just want to keep the games fair and let the outcome of the games be above reproach. In other words, let the chips fall where they may.

Now that you know how we feel and what we think, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and expound on your position. We can't wait to read it.

The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks sweep Wild, move on to Western Conference Final.  

By Tracey Myers

Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba hits Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane in the first period. (Photo/Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune)

It was a tussle as expected with the Minnesota Wild, facing elimination, giving the Blackhawks everything it could.

Still, the Blackhawks withstood enough of it, with Corey Crawford coming up big again and Patrick Kane scoring a critical goal again. And for the third consecutive season, the Blackhawks will head to the Western Conference Final.

Marian Hossa’s first goal of the postseason proved to be the game-winner and Crawford stopped 34 of 37 shots as the Blackhawks beat the Wild 4-3 at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night. The Blackhawks swept the Wild in four games and will get some time to rest before the next round begins. When that begins isn’t known yet; the Blackhawks are the first to wrap up a second-round series.

Kane scored his fifth goal of this series for a 3-1 lead in the third period. Kane now has 104 points in 103 career postseason games.

The night did end on a bittersweet note. Michal Rozsival fell awkwardly, twisting his left foot/ankle, while defending Tomas Vanek in the second period. Rozsival was down for several moments and had to be helped to the locker room. He was putting no weight on his left leg as he left the ice. There was no immediate update during the game but the news wasn’t expected to be good.

The first period started with the Wild pushing, bringing a physical game and looking for an early lead. The Blackhawks got that early lead again, however, when Brent Seabrook’s shot hit Marco Scandell’s shin pad and beat Devan Dubnyk for a 1-0 lead.

Shaw added his early in the second period on the Blackhawks’ first power play. The puck was under Nate Prosser but Andrew Shaw dug it out and beat Dubnyk for a 2-0 lead.

Then the Wild finally broke through when Erik Haula bested Crawford to cut Chicago’s lead to 2-1. It was the Wild’s first goal since the third period of Game 2. The Wild kept the pressure on throughout the second, outshooting the Blackhawks 18-10 for the period, but Crawford turned away 17 of those shots.

The third was fairly back and forth until 6:40 remaining in the period, when Bryan Bickell and Kane were sprung on an odd-man rush. Kane finished, as he has plenty this series, to restore the Blackhawks’ two-goal lead, 3-1.

The Wild got one last power-play chance with 3:58 remaining in regulation when Bickell was called for boarding. The Wild pulled Dubnyk for a 6-on-4 power play but Marian Hossa struck first with a short-handed, empty-net goal with 3:07 remaining in regulation.

Still, the Wild wasn’t done. Jared Spurgeon scored a power-play goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation and Nino Niederreiter also scored to make it 4-3 with just 1:27 remaining in the game. The Blackhawks were called for too many men but the Wild couldn’t find the equalizer in the waning seconds.

Hey, it had to be a wild ending, right?

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session… Cavaliers-Bulls Preview.

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD (STATS Writer)

 

While a lineup change put a stop to the Chicago Bulls' pick-and-roll game, a headband-clad LeBron James went from feeling things out in the opener to dominating Game 2 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
 

With Cleveland's J.R. Smith now available but Iman Shumpert's status unclear, the onus is on the Bulls to respond with their own adjustments Friday night when the Eastern Conference semifinals shift to the United Center.
 

After confessing he'd been too passive in a Game 1 defeat, James relentlessly attacked Chicago's defense Wednesday. He finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists as Cleveland never trailed in a 106-91 win.

The four-time MVP scored 15 of his playoff-high point total on 13 drives in Game 2 after he had seven points on 14 drives Monday. He also went 7 for 9 from the foul line after getting to the stripe twice in Game 1.  

''There wasn't one possession where he wasn't dominant,'' said Kyrie Irving, who added 21 points. ''When he has that mindset, he's the greatest player playing our game right now.''  

Much was made of the fact that James went back to his signature headband, which the superstar had ditched since a March 7 game against Phoenix.
 

 It's a good bet it'll be back on Friday when the Central Division champions attempt to regain home-court advantage. James totaled 67 points as Cleveland split two visits to the United Center during the regular season, though he had eight turnovers as the Cavs played without Kevin Love there in a February defeat.

Chicago's Jimmy Butler, who's spending most of his time guarding James in this series, did not play in either of those meetings. The All-Star guard, named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Thursday, led the Bulls with 18 points in Game 2 but shot 5 of 14.

"I have to man up and take the challenge," Butler told the team's official website. "LeBron was aggressive, but I wasn't aggressive enough. I was counting too much on help being there, which is on me. I will be better."

Smith could give the Bulls something else to worry about after serving a two-game suspension for striking Boston's Jae Crowder. He's averaged 17.3 points while hitting 15 of 31 from 3-point range in three games against Chicago after joining the Cavaliers.

Shumpert has totaled 37 points and made 8 of 17 from beyond the arc in this series, though coach David Blatt says the team needs a little more time before knowing if he'll play after Shumpert strained his groin Wednesday.

With Love done for the playoffs, Blatt seemed to make the right move in Game 2 by pairing Tristan Thompson with James in the frontcourt instead of Mike Miller.

Pau Gasol went 8 for 9 on shots with no defender within four feet en route to 21 points in Game 1, but didn't have the same looks Wednesday when he scored 11 and went 1 for 3 in those situations.

Derrick Rose, who has shot a combined 9 for 34 in his last two home games, looks to regroup after he finished with 14 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds while missing 14 of 20 shots Wednesday. He only has four points on 17 drives in the series and hasn't attempted a free throw since Game 5 against Milwaukee.

Irving had 27 points on 24 drives and has been to the line 21 times.

''If they're not calling it, they're not calling it,'' Rose said. ''I can't worry about that.''

The Bulls are focused on improving defensively after allowing a playoff-high regulation point total and 12-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc. They had given up 89.0 points per game and held opponents to 29.6 from long distance over their previous seven.

"I know our fans are waiting, the city's just waiting for us to come back there and it should be another exciting game," Rose added. "Hopefully we play some defense."

Bulls' Jimmy Butler named NBA's Most Improved Player.

By Eric Freeman

Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls shoots over LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half during Game One in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena on May 4, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 99-92. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

No one can settle on the best interpretation of the NBA's annual Most Improved Player award. But that doesn't mean the voters don't regularly settle on a very deserving winner.

Chicago Bulls All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler, the final pick of the first round in the 2011 draft, was officially announced as the NBA's 2014-15 Most Improved Player on Thursday. Butler will be presented with the award at United Center on Friday, prior to Game 3 of the Bulls' Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The news was first reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com on Wednesday.

Butler received 92 out of a possible 130 first-place votes, finishing with 535 "award points," to take home the honor. (Players get five points for each first-place vote, three for each second-place ballot and one for each third-place nod.) Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green finished second, earning 11 first-place votes, 43 second-place bids and 200 total points; he also served as the runner-up in this year's Defensive Player of the Year race, slotting just behind winner Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs.

Another top-five finisher in DPoY voting, second-year Utah Jazz shot-blocker Rudy Gobert, came in third, with 12 first-place votes and 189 total points. Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who went from out of the NBA to a starting role on a playoff hopeful in less than two months, finished fourth, while Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson — who, like Butler, rose from starter to All-Star in his fourth pro campaign, rounded out the top five. You can check out the full voting results here.

This award often goes to a player whose per-game scoring average increases simply because he plays more minutes, but Butler is an exception. The 25-year-old guard played exactly the same number of minutes per game in 2014-15 as he did last season (38.7, tops in the league this year) but increased his scoring average from 13.1 points per game to 20 points a night while also improving every single one of his shooting percentages — from 39.7 percent from the field last year to 46.2 percent, from 28.3 percent from beyond the arc to 37.8 percent, and from 76.9 percent at the free-throw line to 83.4 percent.

Those changes coincided with a more essential role in the Bulls offense. Butler was the team's most consistent perimeter scorer for the bulk of the season, made his first All-Star team, and is currently averaging 24.1 ppg through the Bulls' first seven playoff games. Butler earned his first postseason award last spring when he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.

Butler joins recent MIP winners Kevin Love and Paul George as players who took home the hardware while making the leap from the level of a solid young player to that of a star. There are many other ways to look at the award, and the other top 2014-15 candidates fall into some of the most common categories.

The Heat's Whiteside became one of the league's top rim protectors after falling out of the league for two full seasons — he was the pick for those who value a rise from having been written off by the vast majority of analysts. Utah's Gobert was a relative non-factor as a rookie but became a fearsome player at both ends in his second season — he's a good choice for anyone who wants a player who rises from obscurity and looks primed for much better things in the future. Golden State's Green is a bit like Butler — he stands out for those looking for a rotation player who becomes an essential part of a contender.

Whatever option you prefer, it's difficult to argue that Butler isn't deserving of the honor. His next challenge will be to stay a star for years to come.

Bulls smacked around by LeBron, Cavs in Game 2, 106-91.

By Vincent Goodwill

The Bulls claimed not to be satisfied with just stealing a series opening win, pledging to take seriously an opportunity to put the Cleveland Cavaliers in a big hole before heading to Chicago for the weekend.

But they couldn't manufacture the desperation that came with knowing their season would likely be over with a loss, as was the likelihood of another Cavaliers loss. So LeBron James atoned for his self-described “bad game” and turned in a vintage performance on the way to a series-tying 106-91 win at Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday.

Just as one could tell the Bulls had bad intentions stepping into the ring Monday night, the Cavaliers had the same thoughts, illustrated by their leader powering them to a 13-2 lead in the first few minutes.

“I knew we were in trouble, as soon as they jumped out, I just had a bad feeling,” said Bulls reserve Taj Gibson. “I just hoped we wouldn’t lose too much of a lead. Every quarter we kept chopping it down, chopping it down but wearing out our energy.”

If one wasn’t sure about James’ energy, his devastating drive and dunk over Jimmy Butler in the second quarter put everyone on notice, finishing with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists, although it took 29 shots to get there, if there’s a silver lining for Bulls fans.

“You win one game, it doesn’t mean you win the series,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “You feel too good about yourselves, you’re gonna get knocked on your butt. And that’s what happened.”

Just as the Bulls led wire-to-wire in Game 1, they trailed all game Wednesday, shooting 33 percent in the first quarter while allowing the Cavs to shoot 65 percent.

“The story of the game was the first quarter,” Thibodeau said. “They smashed us. And we gotta respond a lot better.”

The Bulls’ slight glimmer of hope came in the third, a 14-0 run, with Derrick Rose scoring or assisting on every Bulls basket when Iman Shumpert left for the locker room with a left groin injury and the Cavs comfortably ahead by 25.

Shumpert has come to emerge as a vital cog in the Cavs’ machine, hitting four triples for the second straight game and scoring 15 in 29 minutes. As for Rose, the Bulls point guard couldn’t get to the free-throw line for the third straight game, the first time in his career such an occurrence has happened.

Thibodeau was clearly less than pleased about Rose not getting to the line while his counterpart Kyrie Irving has gone 21 times in two games, but doesn’t want to hear from the league office about a fine for criticizing the officials, so his long wry stare was followed by a sarcastic statement when it was brought to his attention afterwards.

“I guess he’s gotta go harder, I don’t know,” Thibodeau said. “It looks like there’s a lot of contact to me, I don’t know. Obviously others don’t see it that way.”

And even though Irving dropped in a quiet 21, James set the tone early, forcing the Bulls’ defense to put so much attention on him it freed up his teammates for 12 triples, including 9-15 in the first half after the Bulls held them to 27 percent shooting from that range in Game 1.

James had to check himself out of the game in the first five minutes because he expended so much energy trying to get his teammates going. Had that trend continued, the Bulls could’ve been in a good spot, going down the stretch against a tired Cavs leader.

“We gotta come out with a lot more energy,” Gibson said. “We came out a little lax.
It’s hard to get the same looks when you have guys into you. They were just running at us every time. We just gotta make adjustments.”

But unfortunately for the Bulls, James’ teammates followed his lead. Tristan Thompson, who started at power forward in place of Mike Miller, was a nightmare of activity on the offensive glass.

Thompson ran around, threw down and jumped over Pau Gasol, for six offensive rebounds, negating the Bulls’ relative effectiveness with their initial defense after a blistering Cavaliers start.

James Jones and Matthew Dellavedova combined for six three-pointers, while Kendrick Perkins added agitation and irritation to Gasol, who had a miserable night.

The Bulls’ bigs activity left a lot to be desired, as Gasol, Joakim Noah and even Gibson (5-5 shooting) couldn’t do much on the glass.

More than anything, the Bulls appeared a step slow and plenty satisfied, with no counter for the Cavs’ desperation. Rose and Butler battled frustration and ineffectiveness all game, without getting much help from the other weapons. Butler scored 18 while Rose added 14 but took 20 shots with 10 assists and seven rebounds.

If Game 1 was a clear shot across the bow to the Cavaliers, they returned it in kind in a game they needed to win—and likely, giving the Bulls a whipping that will instill a little doubt before the scene shifts.

Round 2 to Cleveland.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!! Rookie minicamp means first look at Bears' 2015 draft class.  

By John Mullin

The constant around-Chicago question of the past week - “So, whaddya think of the Bears’ draft?” – starts getting a meaningful answer on Friday with the advent of the rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. But with no pads and three of the Bears’ six picks being linemen, the truly meaningful answers will have to wait until July 29 when the Bears open training camp in Bourbonnais.

In the meantime, however, orientation for the draft picks and undrafted free agents is the real job of coaches as they introduce individuals who were college football players seven days ago into the ways of not only the NFL, but the coaching staff of John Fox.

“Our expectations are high for these guys,” said GM Ryan Pace coming out of one draft day. “There’s a lot of opportunities in front of them.”

 More for some than others, and not just for the draft choices. Undrafted free agent quarterback Shane Carden from East Carolina will be taking his first NFL steps in a competition for a roster spot with David Fales, a sixth-rounder in Phil Emery’s final draft (2014) as Bears GM.

No. 1 pick Kevin White was drafted to replace traded-away Brandon Marshall at wide receiver. No. 2 Eddie Goldman is ticketed for nose tackle, where the Bears have no one at his size (6-4, 335 pounds) anywhere on the defensive line, nose or otherwise.

Center Hroniss Grasu at No. 3 begins his center career behind Will Montgomery, brought in from Denver where he played for Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase, albeit just for the 2014 Broncos season, plus his rookie season (2006) with Fox in Carolina. But Montgomery is 32 and has not sufficiently established himself as a linchpin of offensive lines with the Broncos, Washington Redskins and New York Jets.

After the top three, the expectation for the remaining picks as well as the undrafted free agents is for them to be factors on special teams as depth. Given the recent litany of injuries in all three phases, there will indeed be the opportunities of which Pace spoke.

Running back Jeremy Langford (fourth round) rates as the favorite to secure the No. 2 running back job. Since Langford has played defensive back during his time at Michigan State, “there’s flexibility there positionally,” Fox said.

“He’s played on defense before. Sometimes that comes into a factor as far as fourth down or special teams. The guy’s tackled somebody before. He’s been in that kind of environment.”

Fifth-rounder Adrian Amos comes in behind veterans Ryan Mundy and Antrel Rolle at safety and into competition with Brock Vereen from the 2014 draft. Offensive lineman Tayo Fabuluje will be looked at as a guard and tackle, with a chance to unseat right tackle Jordan Mills.

It would not be the first time an unheralded late-round pick emerged as a first-year starter on the offensive line. J’Marcus Webb was a 2010 seventh-rounder and the starting right tackle by game five of that season. Webb in turn lost his job (and roster spot) to Mills, a fifth rounder in 2013.

“When [Fabuluje] is at the right weight, we feel really good about him,” Pace said, “and there’s a lot of upside potential as well.”

Players have discussed shortening season to 154 games with MLB.

By Mike Axisa

Rob Manfred confirmed the MLBPA has asked about a 154-game schedule. (USATSI)

The current collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players is not set to expire until after the 2016 season, though the two sides are constantly discussing issues and bringing up ideas. The sooner they do it, the less likely it is there will be a work stoppage.

On Wednesday, commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with reporters in Houston, and mentioned that MLBPA has broached the idea of shortening the season to 154 games. Here's what Manfred told Richard Justice of MLB.com:

"Players have asked about 154," Manfred said. "I think 154 is a topic that is complicated. It has big competitive and economic ramifications. Having said that, I think in the 20-something years I've worked in the game, there's more conversation about it than there has been in a long time."

The MLB schedule currently calls for 162 games in 183 days, so only 21 off-days in six months, with many of them tied up in travel. It's a real grind and it's understandable why the players would like to squeeze in eight extra off-days if possible. Here's more from Manfred, from the Associated Press:

"One hundred and sixty-two games in 183 days, and a lot of those 21 days consumed by travel, is a pretty demanding schedule," he said. "By reputation I work pretty hard, and I don't think I work 162 days out of 183. It's a tough schedule."

Obviously there are significant economic ramifications with going from a 162-game schedule to a 154-game schedule. Eight fewer games means four fewer home dates per teams, which means thousands if not millions in lost revenue for owners. That's why they'll strongly oppose a 154-game schedule when the time comes to hammer out a new CBA.

As a baseball fan, I am against anything that would mean less baseball, so thumbs down to the 154-game schedule idea from this guy. But I get it. The players want some extra rest in an effort to stay healthy and productive, which could lead to more exciting baseball, especially later in the season.

The AL transitioned from a 154-game schedule to a 162-game schedule in 1961. The NL made the switch the following year.

Another loss shows gap between Cubs and Cardinals.

By Patrick Mooney

Tired of hearing about The Cardinal Way yet?

This measuring-stick series ended with the Cubs leaving Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon after a 5-1 loss that again showed the gap between these two rivals. But it also didn’t feel like so many other trips to St. Louis where the Cubs appeared to be years and years away from seriously challenging the 11-time World Series champions.

“They got my respect,” manager Joe Maddon said. “But it’s about us. It’s not about them. We have to take care of our own house. We have to create our own culture. We have to create our methods where people are going to start talking about us exactly the same way they talk about them.

“It’s not easy to do. They’ve been doing it for awhile. But I know it can be done.”

It won’t happen overnight. But the Cubs (14-13) are already moving aggressively, promoting Addison Russell after only 14 career games above the Double-A level, rebuilding their bullpen on the fly this week and siccing Maddon on home-plate umpire D.J. Reyburn to protect their young hitters.

Those Cubs didn’t have an answer for Cardinals right-hander John Lackey, who walked off the mound in the eighth inning to a standing ovation from the crowd of 44,472 after allowing only one run on five hits while striking out 10.   

Jake Arrieta had some iffy defense behind him, but the No. 2 starter also didn’t look all that sharp, giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings. The Cubs have committed five errors in their last three games, and that doesn’t include Starlin Castro’s synchronized throwing program.

St. Louis (21-7) already set a record for the best start in franchise history. Jon Lester – the only Cubs starter who pitched through the sixth inning during this four-game series – correctly pointed out that it’s only May and it’s not like the Cardinals are kicking their butts. There are 135 games to go.

“There’s a ton of respect for them, but this is about us taking our place,” Maddon said. “We have to continue to play the game in a way that we’re able to compete with them consistently. And I think so far this year we have.”

Kyle Lobstein limits White Sox as Tigers avoid sweep.

By Dan Hayes

The White Sox offense still isn’t the consistent threat the team believes it can be.

Starting pitcher Kyle Lobstein limited the White Sox to one legitimate scoring chance on Thursday afternoon -- albeit a good one -- as the Detroit Tigers avoided their first sweep by the South Siders since 2008 with a 4-1 victory at U.S. Cellular Field. Lobstein pitched 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball as he and closer Joakim Soria combined on a five-hitter. Jose Quintana took the loss after he allowed two runs in five innings with eight strikeouts.

Quintana appeared like he might be headed for a victory when the White Sox rallied for a run in the bottom of the fourth. Taking advantage of an Ian Kinsler error, the White Sox got consecutive singles from Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia -- who had the game-winner on Wednesday -- to tie the game. Adam LaRoche then drew a seven-pitch walk against Lobstein to load the bases with nobody out.

But Alexei Ramirez swung at the first pitch -- an 88-mph fastball -- and bounced into a double play as Nick Castellanos fielded the ball, stepped on third and fired home in time to tag Abreu out. Gordon Beckham then grounded out to first to end the inning.

That was the only real threat the White Sox, who rallied for wins the previous two games, could muster. Lobstein recorded 13 of 20 outs on ground balls, limiting his opponents to five hits and two walks. His only run allowed was unearned.

Quintana worked overtime early to navigate through a middle of the Detroit order that gives him trouble.

He allowed a run in the first on a wild pitch with two outs before stranding two with a strikeout of J.D. Martinez. Quintana then needed 10 pitches to retire Yoenis Cespedes with two in scoring position and two outs to end the third, after which he was at 69 pitches.

Quintana nearly got out of trouble in the fifth inning but Beckham couldn’t turn a double play. With runners on the corners and one out, Beckham couldn’t glove a Miguel Cabrera grounder and had to settle for the out at first as Detroit jumped ahead 2-1.

Quintana allowed four hits and walked two, throwing strikes on 71 of 107 pitches. In his previous start against Detroit last month, Quintana gave up a career-high nine runs.

The Tigers scored twice in the eighth inning against Dan Jennings, who hadn’t allowed a run since Opening Day. Victor Martinez singled in a run and Castellanos another to give Lobstein a three-run cushion.

Golf: I got a club for that: Matsuyama leads, McIlroy two back at Players Championship.

Reuters; By Ben Everill, Editing by Andrew Both

Rory McIlroy outplayed Jordan Spieth in a duel between the world's two top-ranked players, but another young gun stole the show with the clubhouse lead during the opening round of the Players Championship on Thursday.

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, fired a five-under 67 to take the lead at TPC Sawgrass, one shot ahead of Americans Billy Horschel, Ben Martin and Troy Merritt with half the field back in the clubhouse in the $10 million event.
 

Northern Irishman McIlroy, who played with Spieth and world number seven Jason Day, put together a steady three-under 69 to be part of a logjam of players just two back.
 

Australian Day matched McIlroy but Masters champion Spieth struggled to a three-over 75 and fell eight off the early pace.

Matsuyama put up six birdies and just a lone bogey at the first, his 10th hole.

 
"I putted very well today. That was the difference," the 23-year-old told reporters through an interpreter. 

McIlroy, who arrived only on tournament eve after taking a couple of days off following his WGC-Match Play victory on Sunday, continued his good form.

He played the back nine first and started with a run of five pars before a neat birdie on the 15th preceded a brilliant eagle on the par-five 16th, where he hit his second shot to seven feet.

The 26-year-old gave a stroke back with a bogey on the first but dropped in a 14-foot birdie on the eighth.

"It's about staying patient," McIlroy said of his round.

"There's a lot of pars on my card, but I was able to pick off a couple of birdies and a nice eagle on 16, so pleased with the start.

"I felt conditions got quite tricky out there at the end with the wind. It swirls a lot around here, and made club selection a little bit more difficult."

But Spieth looked a pale shadow of the man who blew away the field at the Masters only four weeks ago, and he admitted he was having trouble trusting his swing after a round that included five bogeys and just two birdies.

"A really tough ball striking day, just couldn't find anything really since I have gotten here on Monday," said the Texan.

"I was looking for something in my alignment, just didn't quite trust it today until I was already too far behind the eight-ball. So, yeah, just a really, really poor day."

McIlroy: Jordan Spieth is just the latest of my rivals.

By Ryan Ballengee

When Tiger Woods was at the peak of his powers, golf so desperately wanted someone to step up and simply challenge him. Mickelson, Els, Goosen and Singh come to mind. So, too, did one-week big men like Bob May and Chris DiMarco.

For a while, golf reached so far as to concoct a Big Three or a Big Five. It never materialized. It was a figment of our imagination. 

Now the same thing is happening to Rory McIlroy, and he's not all that interested in the chatter.

“The talk doesn’t change much," he said Wednesday ahead of The Players Championship. "Last year it was Rickie, this year it’s Jordan. It could have been Tiger. There have been four or five rivals in the past year. It doesn’t really do anything for me.”

That may prove to be bulletin-board material for Spieth, who was almost irrationally crowned the best player in the world after his record-smashing Masters win in April. Spieth and McIlroy will both tell you that the scoreboard of wins -- especially majors -- heavily favors the Ulsterman.

That said, McIlroy is excited to spend the next two days with Spieth and 27-year-old Aussie Jason Day at TPC Sawgrass.

“When I saw the draw come out, I was excited to play, not just with Jordan but obviously with Jason Day as well,” McIlroy said. “It's always nice when you're a part of a group that's got a little bit of a buzz around it and a good atmosphere.”

NASCAR appeals officer upholds penalties against RCR.

By JENNA FRYER (AP Auto Racing Writer)

NASCAR's final appeals officer upheld penalties levied against Richard Childress Racing for intentionally manipulating Ryan Newman's tires in March.

The decision of Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss is final. He ruled Wednesday there was ''a preponderance of evidence'' that RCR manipulated the tires.

Moss could have reduced, thrown out or even increased the penalties NASCAR initially levied after confiscating tires from several teams following a race at California. NASCAR said that RCR had intentionally altered the tires to let air leak out during a run - a process known as ''bleeding'' - to give Newman an advantage.

Newman crew chief Luke Lambert now must serve a six-race suspension and pay a $75,000 fine. The crew also loses an engineer and the tire specialist for six races, and a loss of 50 points for Newman and Childress.

Childress said in a statement the team did not agree with the ruling of Moss, a former Gulfstream executive who has now ruled with NASCAR in both of the hearings he has conducted.

''We feel we had a compelling case and still feel we were in the right, and the facts presented (Wednesday) would have proved that,'' Childress said. ''We do appreciate the opportunity to be heard. We stand behind our suspended team members and look forward to their return. We will now move on and continue our goals of winning races and making the Chase for the Championship.''

Newman last year finished second in the championship finale.

Moss' ruling means Lambert, engineer Philip Surgen and tire specialist James Bender can't work at the race track until the July race at Daytona. The six-race suspension also covers next week's All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

RCR had previously appealed the penalties to a three-member panel, which reduced the monetary fine and deduction of points, but upheld the suspensions. As the team decided if it would go to Moss, it sent an interim crew chief to Bristol Motor Speedway in place of Lambert.

But RCR decided after qualifying at Bristol to appeal, and Lambert worked Bristol, Richmond and Talladega as the team awaited its hearing.

Newman's team was punished amid widespread speculation throughout the garage that teams were poking tiny holes in their tires for an advantage. NASCAR seized tires after races at Phoenix and California. Of the four teams who had tires confiscated after California, only Newman's tires came back as having been manipulated. Kevin Harvick' and Joey Logano's tires were taken at Phoenix and both passed an inspection.

Newman has so far not commented on the penalties against his team. He's scheduled to speak to reporters Friday at Kansas Speedway for the first time since NASCAR ruled RCR manipulated his tires.

IndyCar drivers 'explore the limits' of IMS road course in new aero kits. 

By Daniel McFadin

Verizon IndyCar Series teams tested the new superspeedway aero kits at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, but Thursday it was back to the road course kit with two practice sessions around the 14-turn, 3.439-mile infield track at IMS.

For three hours and 40 minutes, 25 drivers tested under mostly sunny skies preparing for Saturday’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, with Sebastien Bourdais and Scott Dixon taking the first and second rounds, respectively.

“It’s a lot of fun when you’re at Indianapolis, road course or oval,” Dixon told media after the second session. “I think this track is a little different to a lot of them in the sheer fact you trim out so much.

“It can be frustrating at times piecing a lap together.  When you do it’s rewarding.”

Dixon was rewarded with a fast lap of 1:10.6971 on his 22nd of 24 laps.

“As all of us have been off track trying to explore the limits,” said Dixon, who started sixth but finished 15th in last year’s Grand Prix of Indy. “The track is pretty slippery I find this year, maybe due to the tar field getting a little bit older.  But it’s definitely been a lot of fun today.”

One of the drivers to find himself off course was Team Penske’s Will Power. The defending series champion spun off into the dirt and gravel on the back half of the track early in the second session.

“It’s a track you can do that on because (there’s) not too many things to hit (off-course),” said Power who wound up second fastest despite the blooper. “I was very loose at the beginning of the session.  I’m just trying in the braking zones, as well, trying to get everything dialed in.”

One question going into the weekend is how tires will hold up with the new aero kit combined with weather conditions.

“(Once you) start to trim out a lot, you’re probably going to work the rear (tires) a lot harder,” Graham Rahal said after being the fastest Honda in the second session at P7. “You never know what can happen here or in the race. I think we saw that last year. A lot of guys I thought were really strong, when we went to the long run, they struggled a little bit.

“With a straightaway this long, you ought to be able to pass at least a couple guys in one shot.”

In the first practice session Chevrolet swept the top five position before Takuma Sato’s Honda claimed the sixth position. Rahal’s fastest second-session lap was 1:11.1422.

“I think all the Chevys are quicker than the Hondas here on trap speed,” Rahal said. “I think it’s probably just a bit of drivability. I mean, these guys are over here talking about adjusting it to their driving style.

Rahal finds it’s hard for his team adjust his No. 15 Steak ‘n Shake Honda to his driving style at the track.

“It’s pretty pitch sensitive,” Rahal said. “You find you’re sideways more than you’re pointed straight. As I said, if you’re doing that, it’s fast, that’s okay. That’s where we’ve been this year.”

US announce roster for U-20 World Cup in New Zealand this Summer.

By Joe Prince-Wright

Ahead of the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand this summer, the U.S. has named their 20-man squad for the tournament.

Head coach Tab Ramos has included the likes of Emerson Hyndman and Rubio Rubin who have both featured for the full national team, while a host of promising MLS youngster such as Erik Palmer-Brown, Kellyn Acosta, Jordan Allen, Tommy Thompson and Bradford Jamieson also made the roster.

One of the biggest omissions from the squad was Borussia Dortmund youngster Junior Flores, while it is being report that English side Reading refused to release forward Andrija Novakovich for the tournament. Others who can count themselves unlucky to not make the squad include Lynden Gooch and Roman Gall.

It is unclear whether or not Arsenal youngster Gedion Zelalem will be called up by Ramos as U.S. Soccer is still waiting to hear back from FIFA on whether or not the German born midfielder has had his request to change national teams rubber-stamped. Expect more news on that in the coming days.

Below are the 20 players selected, as the final deadline for Ramos to name a 21-man squad is May 15. In terms of their schedule, players will start to arrive in Carson, Calif. on May 14 and then the team departs on May 16 for a training camp in Australia.

The U.S. were drawn in Group A along with hosts New Zealand, Ukraine and Myanmar. The team opens group play against Myanmar at 12 a.m. ET on May 30 in Whangarei, then face New Zealand on June 2 and Ukraine on June 5, both of which will be played in Auckland. You can watch all of the USA’s games live on NBC Universo, as Ramos’ side look to make it past the group stage after crashing out of the last tournament in 2013. The best finish the U.S. has ever achieved in this tournament was fourth place back in 1989.

USA U-20 squad for 2015 U-20 World Cup

Goalkeepers (3): Jeff Caldwell (University of Virginia; Todd, N.C.), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zack Steffen (Freiburg; Downingtown, Pa.)

Defenders (6): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; Westcliff on Sea, England), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (Unattached; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Desevio Payne (FC Groningen; Greenwood, S.C.), John Requejo (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.)

Midfielders (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Russell Canouse (Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC; Glendora, Calif.), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham; Dallas, Texas), Joel Sonora (Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Forwards (5): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Maki Tall (Red Star; Washington, D.C.), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes; Loomis, Calif.)

USMNT fall one place to 28th in latest FIFA world rankings. 

By Joe Prince-Wright

Mexico v United States

In the latest FIFA rankings the U.S. national team has fallen one place to 28th in the world.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s side last played on April 15 against Mexico as the U.S. won 2-0 in San Antonio. The U.S. is the third-best team in the CONCACAF region according to these latest batch of rankings as Costa Rica leads the way in 15th, while Mexico dropped four places to 22nd.

World champions Germany remains top of the tree and there were no changes to the top 17 nations as Argentina stay in second, Belgium is third, Colombian remain fourth and Brazil rounds off the top five.

The big movers were Gareth Bale‘s Wales as they rose to 21st in the world, their highest ranking in history.

Below are the top 30 teams, as the U.S. won’t be happy with their ranking but they at least they aren’t at their all-time low of 36th which occurred back in July 2012. Plus a strong showing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer will likely see the U.S. catapult themselves back into the top 20.

FIFA’s latest world rankings – May 7

1. Germany
2. Argentina
3. Belgium
4. Colombia
5. Brazil
6. Netherlands
7. Portugal
8. Uruguay
9. Switzerland
10. Spain
11. France
12. Romania
13. Italy
14. England
15. Costa Rica
16. Chile
17. Croatia
18. Czech Republic
19. Slovakia
20. Algeria
21. Wales
22. Mexico
23. Ivory Coast
24. Greece
25. Austria
26. Ghana
27. Russia
28. USA
29. Denmark
30. Scotland

New bowls push FBS postseason to 42 games, needing 82 teams.

By The Associated Press

The NCAA certified three new bowls to push the total number of postseason games in major college football to new high of 42.
 

Debuting this season will be the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida, and as yet unnamed games in Tucson, Arizona, and Austin, Texas.

A game in Little Rock, Arkansas, was also up for certification, but Wright Waters, executive director of the Football Bowl Association, said organizers recently asked to be considered for the 2016-17 season.

ESPN first reported the new bowls had been certified.  

The Austin and Orlando games will match teams from the American Athletic Conference and Sun Belt Conference. The Tucson game will feature the Mountain West and Conference USA.  

The new bowls mean 82 of 128 FBS teams will play in the postseason next season.

Big 12 unveils new tiebreaker procedure.

By Sam Cooper

The Big 12 will actually have “one true champion” in 2015.  

After the conference essentially handcuffed itself from consideration for a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2014 with TCU and Baylor finishing as co-champions, a new tiebreaker system was formalized on Wednesday.  

You can read the new procedure below, via ESPN’s Max Olson:  

(via Max Olson/ESPN)
 

As you can see, if two teams have the same record, the team that won their head-to-head matchup (like Baylor beat TCU last season) is declared the conference champion.  

 

If three or more teams are tied after the league’s round robin style conference schedule, it gets a bit more complicated. The teams will be compared by their results against the next highest placed teams. For example, if two of the three tied teams beat the team that finished fourth and the other lost to the fourth-placed team, the team that lost would be eliminated.
 

Afterward, the champion would be determined by head-to-head play.
 

If those two tiebreakers don’t do the trick, the champion would be determined by scoring differential (points scored vs. points allowed) among the tied teams. And if all three options cannot break a tie, the “champion will be determined by draw at the Conference office.”
 

The implementation of this new tiebreaker system comes a day after conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby said that the league would probably not pursue the opportunity of playing a conference championship game.
 

This distinction could ultimately have implications on the College Football Playoff.

Baylor and TCU, last season's conference co-champions, were left out of the top four and CFP committee members have said that the Big 12’s lack of a champion did not help its members’ final resume for the top four. Ultimately, Ohio State and its dominating performance in the Big Ten title game vaulted the Buckeyes ahead of Baylor and TCU.
 

It remains to be seen if the lack of a conference championship game will effect the Big 12’s chances in 2015, but at least the league’s slogan – “One True Champion” – will actually live up to its billing.

Looking Froward: Eight programs on the rise in 2015-16.

By Rob Dauster

Melo Trimble (Photo/Getty Images)

Maryland: A year ago at this time, the Terps had lost five players to transfer and head coach Mark Turgeon was getting ready to see his face plastered on every Hot Seat list produced by the internet. Fast forward to today, and the Terps will be teaming an all-American point guard in Melo Trimble with a front line that includes potential draft pick Jake Layman and top five recruit Diamond Stone on a team that will be in the preseason top five. It may be hard to believe, but a program on the eastern seaboard will be the favorite to win the Big Ten in 2016.

California: Cuonzo Martin turned this ship around quickly. The Bears finished 7-11 in the Pac-12 last season but they’re going to enter the 2015-16 season as a preseason top 15 team. Not only do they return the trio of Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Bird and Jordan Mathews, but they’ll add top five freshmen Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb to the mix as well. There will be questions about Cal’s depth and their size up front, but they’ll be able to put as much talent on the floor as anyone in the conference.

Marquette: I’m higher on the Golden Eagles than a lot of people, but I think that Steve Wojciechowski will have this group finishing near the top of the Big East and ranked in the top 25. Luke Fischer should be better with a season under his belt, while he’ll team with top ten recruit Henry Ellenson on the front line. Throw in the myriad of talented perimeter players that Wojo has on the roster, and there are plenty of pieces for Marquette to make a significant improvement on last season’s 13-19 record.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores began SEC play 1-7 last season, but they finished the year as one of the hottest teams in the conference. They won eight of their last ten games — including the last five of the regular season — before making the Elite 8 of the NIT. With the majority of their rotation, including star big man Damian Jones, returning and a top 20 recruiting class joining the program, Kevin Stallings’ should have one of the SEC’s best teams next season.

Florida State: The Seminoles should compete for a spot in the NCAA tournament next season as Leonard Hamilton has added a talented recruiting class, headlined by Dwayne Bacon, to a team that returns most of the roster that competed in ACC play last year. Xavier Rathan-Mayes will see his name on a couple of preseason all-American lists.

Oregon: The Ducks won 11 of their last 13 games in the Pac-12 after a 2-3 start, playing their way into the Pac-12 tournament title game and the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament despite playing with a roster limited by three offseason dismissals. Joe Young has graduated, but the rest of the roster returns while Tyler Dorsey and Dylan Ennis join the program. The Ducks should once again be a top 25 team.

Texas A&M: The Aggies return Danuel House, Jalen Jones and Alex Caruso from a team that just missed the NCAA tournament. But that’s not what’s so promising about this program. Their recruiting class is. The Aggies have landed one of the best classes in the country, landing some o the top talent in the state of Texas. They should be competing in the SEC as soon as this season.

Rhode Island: The Rams not only return the young core of E.C. Mathews, Jared Terrell and Hassan Martin, but they will also add Kuran Iverson, a former top 30 recruit and Memphis transfer, in December. URI will be a favorite to win the Atlantic 10 this season.

Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah jogs on track.

By GARY B. GRAVES

Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah gets a bath outside Barn 33 following a jog on the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Thursday, May 7, 2015. American Pharoah is continuing his training at Churchill Downs before going to Baltimore for next weekend's Preakness Stakes horse race. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

American Pharoah looked fresh after his first jog since winning the Kentucky Derby, and trainer Bob Baffert plans to keep his preparations for the Preakness just as light.

The top three Derby finishers all jogged lightly Thursday as dawn broke on a clear morning at Churchill Downs. American Pharoah was on the track with stable mate and third-place Dortmund and runner-up Firing Line.

They appeared in good shape afterward as they await next weekend's Preakness. American Pharoah and Dortmund are expected to travel to Baltimore on Wednesday and Baffert said that he doesn't plan timed workouts for his horses.

"They jogged today and everything went really well," Baffert said on an NTRA conference call. "They'll go to the track and gallop. I'm going to get there Sunday.

"I really doubt if I'm going to breeze them. I don't think they need any breezing."

American Pharoah exercise rider Jorge Alvarez took the Derby winner on a clockwise jog. Dana Barnes put Dortmund through a similar outing under the supervision of assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes.

Barnes is overseeing preparations for Baffert while the trainer is in California. He sent Baffert video of the colts Wednesday and had more good news for his boss after Thursday's jogs.

"Everything seems fine with both horses," he said. "It's just a matter of recharging their batteries. You want to get them happy and put some weight on them."

American Pharoah fulfilled expectations as the Derby favorite, rallying past Firing Line in the stretch for a one-length victory and fifth straight win overall. Dortmund finished two lengths behind Firing Line.

American Pharoah was given Sunday off and walked the shedrow Monday. On Thursday, the Derby winner and Dortmund both seemed lively.

"They're pretty much ready to roll," Baffert said. "I'm just going to keep them strong, healthy and happy."

Firing Line also jogged under Humberto Gomez alongside Perfect Drift, the third-place finisher behind War Emblem in the 2002 Derby. The colt trained by Simon Callaghan will gallop Friday.

"He was good this morning, a lot of energy and feeling good," Gomez said.

But for American Pharoah and Dortmund, Thursday was a time to loosen up. The Derby champion and one of his likely challengers got baths before heading back to their barns for rest and feeding.

"Both are eating well," Barnes said. "They didn't back off their feed, so that's a good sign."

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, May 8, 2015.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1866 - Australian Rules Football was created.

1878 - Paul Hines made baseball's first unassisted triple play.

1909 - Chief Bender (Philadelphia Athletics) hit two inside the park home runs against Boston.

1915 - H.P. Whitney's Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby.

1935 - Ernie Lombardi (Cincinnati Reds) hit four doubles on consecutive at-bats against four different Philadelphia pitchers.

1954 - Parry O'Brien became the first to toss a shot put over 60 feet. O'Brien achieved a distance of 60 feet 5 1/4 inches.

1961 - New Yorkers selected a new name for their new National League baseball franchise. They chose the Mets.

1966 - Frank Robinson (Baltimore Orioles) became the first player to hit a ball completely out of Cleveland's Memorial Stadium.

1966 - The St. Louis Cardinals played their last game at Busch Stadium. They lost to San Francisco 10-5.

1967 - Muhammad Ali was indicted for refusing induction in U.S. Army.

1970 - The New York Knicks won their first NBA title when they defeated Los Angeles in Game 7 of the Finals.

1971 - Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali at New York's Madison Square Garden. It was Ali's first defeat of his pro career.

1973 - In Cincinnati, Ralph Miller, the last of the 19th century baseball players, died at the age of 100.

1984 - Kirby Puckett (Minnesota Twins) debuted with four singles.

1984 - The Soviet Union announced that they would not participate in the 1984 Summer Olympics Games in Los Angeles.

1984 - The Chicago White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-6 in 25 innings. The game was actually completed on May 9.

1988 - Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) completed the first round the playoffs with 226 points in five games against Cleveland.

1993 - Lennox Lewis defended his WBC heavyweight title for the first time. He was in a unanimous 12-round decision over Tony Tucker.

1995 - Mark Messier (New York Rangers) became the third player to reach 100 playoff goals.

1999 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) hit his 361st home run. The feat tied him for 45th place on the all-time home run list with Joe DiMaggio.

2000 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis) hit his 534 home run. He tied Jimmie Foxx for ninth place on the all-time home run list.

2000 - Jason and Jeremy Giambi (Oakland) became the 10th set of brothers to hit home runs in the same game.

2012 - Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers) became the 16th major league baseball player to hit four home runs in one game.

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