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Sports Quote of the Day:
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” ~ John Quincy Adams, Sixth President of the United States of America
Trending: Report: 3-on-3 overtime coming to NHL, pending board approval. (See hockey section for details).
Trending: U.S. gets by Colombia to advance to Women's World Cup quarterfinals. (See soccer section for details).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks bracing for roster shake-up as NHL Draft nears.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks entered last week on the cusp of winning their third Stanley Cup in the past six seasons, and by the end of last Monday night, they did that.
One week later, the anticipation is no longer about what the Blackhawks are about to win. It’s about what they’re about to lose.
The NHL draft begins on Friday but it won’t be surprising if the Blackhawks start shaking up their roster before then. It wouldn’t be the first time the Blackhawks started dismantling a team prior to the draft; on June 24, 2010, the day before that year’s draft, the Blackhawks sent Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel and Ben Eager to Atlanta in exchange for Jeremy Morin, among others, and first- and second-round picks for that draft.
It’s doubtful there will be a blockbuster trade like that this summer but the Blackhawks will nevertheless part with some familiar faces. The Blackhawks currently have more than $64 million devoted to 14 players, and the salary cap isn’t expected to be much more than $71 million for the 2015-16 season. General manager Stan Bowman made it clear the Blackhawks want to re-sign Brandon Saad (and Marcus Kruger and probably Andrew Desjardins, too), so here we are.
Patrick Sharp’s name has been bandied out plenty because he and his $5.9 million cap hit are most likely gone. A source said Pittsburgh is a possible destination but there could be others. Bryan Bickell, who has two years remaining on his current contract and a $4 million/year cap hit, could be another casualty.
Sharp may have had a so-so 2014-15 but he’s otherwise put up strong numbers through the past few regular- and postseasons. The 33-year-old would be a great fit for a team with cap space looking for a top-six forward. Bickell earned his contract during the 2013 postseason but hasn’t really lived up to those numbers. Still, he brings a physical edge that some teams could covet.
The Blackhawks will do their best to get a good return on whomever they trade, although it may not end up being a tremendous haul. Every other team is well aware of the Blackhawks’ plight and there may be some who try to lowball them. Hey, that’s the side effect of being in a salary-cap crunch.
Things are going to be changing very soon for the Blackhawks. They’ll have to say goodbye to some longtime friends who have been key in winning the last two or three Stanley Cups. They’ll see a different roster come autumn — maybe it won’t be 2010 different, but it will be different. But with loss will come gain: some Rockford players who have been working for years for an opportunity will finally get one. Some newcomers — Michael Paliotta, Kyle Baun and Artemi Panarin — will also get a shot. There are plenty of the core players remaining to keep the Blackhawks thinking success for some time to come.
Still, it will be bittersweet. It was only a week ago that the Blackhawks said hello to another Cup triumph. They’ll soon be saying goodbye to some who helped get them there.
Report: 3-on-3 overtime coming to NHL, pending board approval.
By Chris Peters
It appears the NHL will have a new overtime format for the 2015-16 regular season. That should be music to the ears of anyone that despises the shootout.
The NHL GMs and NHLPA agreed Monday to recommend a five-minute three-on-three overtime period for regular season games not decided in regulation, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. The move will need to be approved by the NHL's Board of Governors to be implemented.
But fear not, shootout lovers. Under the new rules, if the game is still tied at the end of a 3-on-3 OT, then the shootout would determine a winner.
There was reportedly debate between the GMs and the NHLPA regarding the overtime format, but it appears the players won out. There was believed to be a desire among NHL GMs that the league adopt the hybrid seven-minute overtime period as played in the American Hockey League last season. Those overtimes were played 4-on-4 until the first whistle after three minutes of clock time had passed. Then it switched to 3-on-3 for whatever was left of the OT period. If the game was still tied, then it would go to a shootout.
The AHL experienced dramatic results with limiting the number of games ending in a shootout. It sounds a little confusing, but it undoubtedly served its purpose and provided a nice compromise. It was also considered a resounding success.
The NHLPA wanted none of it, though.
For the purists out there, three-on-three may seem just as gimmicky as the shootout and there's some validity to that. The game will resemble more of a tennis match than it would a hockey game with the odd-man rushes three-on-three may generate.
That said, it means more ice time for star players and a challenging strategy for NHL head coaches. Will they go with two forwards and a D? Two D and one forward? It's going to be interesting to see how coaches toy with this, though that hopefully means they won't strategize the creativity out of it.
It's a new twist to get more games ending with something that at least resembles actual hockey as opposed to the skills competition that is the shootout which seems to get less compelling by the year. We'll have to wait and see if this is a suitable alternative.
I personally would have preferred the AHL way, which provides a best of both worlds option. Though I'll also admit that I am as intrigued as anyone as to what the most skilled NHL players are going to be able to do with all that ice. It's going to be interesting, at least. Now we'll have to see if it's successful.
Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship gear sales skyrocket.
By C. Roumeliotis
Winning a championship never gets old in Chicago.
A week after the Blackhawks captured their third Stanley Cup in the last six years, 2015 championship apparel has skyrocketed in sales, according to ChicagoBusiness.com's Danny Ecker.
The NHL reports that sales have increased by 20 percent through the first week this year — a remarkable rate for a team with multiple championship wins in a short period of time — from the Blackhawks' previous Stanley Cup win in 2013.
In addition to fans purchasing more gear, the market has spread beyond Chicago, which has played a significant role in the sales increase.
And the NHL's official online shop is perhaps benefiting the most: Web sales "were up 53 percent compared with the week after the 2013 Stanley Cup win and 68 percent compared with the 2010 title," reports Ecker, as out-of-region customers continue to grow.
So while Blackhawks fans already stocked up on championship apparel after the first two Stanley Cup wins, they're certainly not stopping for the third.
NHL sets 2015-16 salary cap at $71.4 million.
By Adam Gretz
The NHL salary cap will see a nearly two-and-a-half million dollar increase for the 2015-16 season.
The league and the NHLPA announced on Tuesday afternoon that the salary cap for next season has been set at $71.4 million, with a salary floor of $52.8 million.
The cap this past season was set at $69 million.
All along it had been estimated that the cap for next season would fall somewhere in the $71 million range, but there was still a concern among some teams that it would come under that mark. The $71.4 number certainly helps teams like Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles that are pressed against the cap and not only have to worry about filling out their roster, but also trying to re-sign their own restricted free agents.
There are six teams in the league that already have more than $64 million in cap space committed to player contracts for next season, including the Blackhawks, Bruins, Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks.
The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are facing one of the toughest challenges, having only 14 players signed for next season and currently having just a little more than $7 million in cap space. One of their top priorities this summer will be finding a way to sign Brandon Saad to a long-term contract extension while also having to part with some key players from their most recent championship team (most likely Patrick Sharp).
Teams are allowed to be 10 percent over the salary cap during the offseason, but must be cap compliant by the start of the regular season.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Could the Bulls bring DeMarcus Cousins to Chicago?
By Mark Schanowski
One of the best centers in the NBA could be available in trade in the hours leading up to Thursday night’s NBA Draft. Sacramento’s 24-year-old DeMarcus Cousins has been linked to trade rumors involving several teams around the league, and even though Kings’ owner Vivek Ranadive and head of basketball operations Vlade Divac insist Cousins is not available, a chain of events has already begun that might force the organization’s hands.
First, a little history. Cousins was a big fan of former Kings’ coach Mike Malone, who was fired unceremoniously early last season when injuries sent the team into a tailspin after an impressive early start. Former DePaul star Tyrone Corbin was inserted as interim coach, and left to twist in the wind while Ranadive continued to search for big-name options. Ranadive eventually settled on NBA lifer George Karl, who’s been known to feud with his star players in previous stops, and that move immediately drew less than favorable reviews from the Cousins camp.
Karl and "Boogie" were able to co-exist over the final half of last season, but when Karl told reporters in his end of the year review that he didn’t have an untradeable player on the roster, the uneasy alliance already was starting to crumble. Now, after seeing his name bandied about in numerous trade scenarios over the last several weeks, Cousins is ready to bolt Sacramento and would welcome a trade to the division rival Lakers. Y! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski detailed how difficult it would be to bring Cousins back to Sacramento next season, given his relationship with Karl is now beyond repair.
If a trade of Cousins is seen as almost inevitable, is there any chance the Bulls could make a serious bid for a player who made his first All-Star team last season, averaging 24 points and almost 13 rebounds per game? Cousins also was part of the U.S. gold medal winning team at the World Cup, and has had some big games against the Bulls in the past.
The Lakers have reportedly offered the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s draft, along with last year’s lottery pick, Julius Randle. The Celtics are willing to offer multiple first rounders and players to acquire their top trade target. If Ranadive eventually relents to Karl’s pleas to move Cousins off the roster, you’d have to think just about every NBA team will show interest.
So, what could the Bulls offer in a package for Cousins? Any deal would probably involve Jimmy Butler in a sign-and-trade move once he’s agreed to his new max contract. Butler’s max deal would start at just under $16 million, almost exactly what Cousins is scheduled to make next season. The Bulls could sweeten the package by returning the Top-10 protected first round pick for 2016 or 2017 owed to them by the Kings in the Luol Deng trade, while also including a future first rounder of their own.
If that’s not enough to interest Sacramento, would the Bulls consider trading Derrick Rose? The former league MVP has two years left and $41.3 million left on his contract. The Kings could match the money with a deal of Cousins and veteran point guard Darren Collison, while also receiving one or two first rounders back from the Bulls.
Granted, trading Butler or Rose in a package for Cousins would leave the Bulls extremely heavy in the front court with Cousins, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic. But remember, Noah only has one more year left on his contract, Gasol one year plus a player option, and Gibson has two more years. Gibson could also be traded at some point next season after he’s fully healed from his recent ankle surgery.
The harsh reality for the Bulls is they probably missed out on their best chance to beat LeBron James and the Cavs with their current roster. Big changes are coming in the next couple years with just about all of their key players’ contracts due to expire.
Why not accelerate the changeover by acquiring one of the NBA’s top scoring big men at a time when every other team in the league is fascinated by going small after the Warriors’ championship run? Maybe building a team around Cousins, either Butler or Rose, and young shooters like Mirotic, Doug McDermott and Tony Snell will put them in a better position when LeBron inevitably starts to slow down.
It’s a lot easier to find complementary wing players than All-Star bigs, which means the market for Cousins will be extremely competitive. New coach Fred Hoiberg might be inclined to design an offense around a speedy point guard and a collection of wing shooters, but the opportunity to make a bid for a player as talented as Cousins might be too good to pass up.
Hey, at least it’s worth a phone call.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!! Looking back – and ahead – at Bears offseason: Who anchors D-line?
By John Mullin
When GM Ryan Pace discussed the nose-tackle position back in February at the NFL Scouting Combine, he alluded to the two options he saw on the roster at the time: veteran Jeremiah Ratliff and second-year tackle Ego Ferguson. That said, the Bears then invested their second-round draft pick – the round in which Ferguson was selected last year – in Eddie Goldman out of Florida State.
Since then Ferguson has slimmed down to less than 300 pounds and shifted to one of the end/tackle slots away from the middle. Ratliff is the single best defensive lineman on the roster but turns 34 in August and has played in just 21 games combined over the last three seasons. He is a four-time Pro Bowl lineman but 2011 was the last of those appearances and he is not a space-eater (303 pounds) suited to demanding double teams in a defense that has been beyond challenged at stopping the run the past two years.
“Bigger is better,” Bears head coach John Fox has said, “and so we’ll see where that takes us.”
When Ray McDonald did not work out, the Bears were left with a major hole at one of three down-linemen spots. But while depth is always a concern on either line, the Bears have settled on absolutely nothing in the defensive interior at this point, and have shown some intriguing scenarios.
Ratliff has indeed lined up on the nose. So has Goldman (330 pounds). So has smallish second-year tackle Will Sutton. Given Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s history of creative scheming, the Bears have taken looks at size (Goldman) at the nose and also some quickness/pass-rush potential (Ratliff, Sutton).
“We’re not going to hold a guy being a rookie against him from putting him on the field,” Fangio said of Goldman. “He's big and strong, which is important. We don't feel like he'll get knocked back into our inside linebackers, which is really important.”
Looking back – and ahead – at Bears offseason: LB competition.
By John Mullin
The minicamps, OTA’s and strength-and-conditioning sessions wrapped up last week, leaving virtually the exact same questions that were in place back in April with the first minicamp: the offensive line, Jay Cutler and the new offense, linebackers, sufficient linemen for the forming 3-4 and so on. Those questions will remain in need of definitive answers all the way into mid-September when the Green Bay Packers come to Soldier Field.
Roster decisions, starters, “these guys understand that they pick the team,” said coach John Fox. “It's how they perform. How they practice. How they're evaluated. It's what to do, how to do, do it under pressure.”
Evaluations of either line will wait until training camp. Three of the Bears’ six draft choices were linemen, and they aren’t allowed in pads or each other’s kitchens until training camp.
But a few observations are in order in the quiet before Bourbonnais.
CSNChicago.com looks at three areas in particular:
Linebacker competition will be extreme
The top priority from the outset of free agency was linebacker, specifically outside pass-rush threats. Sam Acho and Pernell McPhee were signed and are ensconced on the edges of a defense that coordinator Vic Fangio is committed to making as unpredictable as the Bears’ 4-3 had become the opposite.
After that, matters become both uncertain and very interesting. Jared Allen was first-alternate on the outside, appeared to both grasp and enjoy the new role, regardless of him not being a starter for the first time since he began his rookie season (2004) as a backup and on special teams. Lamarr Houston and Willie Young are going to be pressed to find snaps as they return from season-ending leg injuries. Acho and McPhee were not signed to be situational pass rushers.
But it is inside where four players are head-to-head for two jobs, something that was never the case in the time of Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher. Jonathan Bostic needed injuries to D.J. Williams to slip into the starting lineup; now Bostic is coming off an offseason spent watching from the sidelines with what is believed to be a back issue. Like Houston and Young, Bostic has an uphill battle for a spot in either the base or sub packages this preseason.
The Bears signed Mason Foster from Tampa Bay, where he was a 4-3 middle linebacker who did not have a place in Lovie Smith’s system. Whether he has a prominent one in Fox/Fangio’s is far from assured.
The “starters” at the end of the pre-camp offseason are Christian Jones and Shea McClellin. Do not dismiss McClellin, looking at his third position in three years, and Jones has added muscle up to 250 pounds. Jones in particular has impressed and if he does not secure one of the inside-linebacker spots, it will be a camp surprise.
“I think McClellin and Christian Jones have some talent and they should be able to find a spot in our defense somewhere,” Fangio said. “[Jones has] got good size. He’s got good athletic ability. He’s a young, eager guy and football’s important to him. I think he’s got a bright future if he can develop.”
Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal working to rekindle chemistry.
By Josh Alper
(Photo/Getty Images)
The Bears got rid of a frequent Jay Cutler target this offseason when they traded wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Jets, but Cutler hasn’t been left without any ties to his days in Denver.
Eddie Royal signed with the team as a free agent, which reunites him with the man who was the quarterback during his rookie year with the Broncos in 2008. Royal got off to a fast start in his first year, catching 91 passes for 980 yards and five touchdowns while Cutler was throwing for a career-high 4,526 yards en route to the only Pro Bowl appearance of his career.
It was the only year that the two men worked together, but both remember it fondly and Royal says they’re putting in the same work now that they did then to build the same chemistry.
“It didn’t come easy,” Royal said, via ESPN.com. “It wasn’t like we just got on the field and everything just happened. We put in the work, the extra time in the film room, doing all the little things so that it would pay off on Sundays. That hasn’t changed so far. We’re putting in the same amount of work — if not more — right now, just trying to do everything that we can do so that we’re successful on Sundays.”
With Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte and first-rounder Kevin White also on hand, Royal might not be in line for 90 catches again this season but he could still help the team boost themselves from the No. 23 place in scoring that they achieved last season.
MLB: Report: Pete Rose bet on baseball games as a player.
By Chris Cwik
(AP Photo)
Pete Rose's case for reinstatement may have taken a big hit. A new report from ESPN's William Weinbaum and T.J. Quinn, citing documents that have been sealed for 26 years, suggests Rose bet on baseball games as a player. In the past, Rose has admitted to gambling on games when he was a manager, but he has remained adamant he's never done so as a player.
As recently as April, Rose stuck to that story, telling ESPN's Michael Kay he "never bet as a player: That's a fact."
Documents acquired by "Outside the Lines" say otherwise — that Rose, in fact, gambled on games in 1986, his final season playing for the Cincinnati Reds. The evidence is said to go beyond that listed in the 1989 Dowd report, which led to Rose's banishment from the game.
The gambling records come from a notebook owned by Michael Bertolini, a man who recorded and placed bets for Rose. The notebook was seized during a federal raid in 1989, and has remained under a court-ordered seal since then. The authenticity of the notebook has been verified by two postal inspectors who conducted the raid on Bertolini's house.
John Dowd, the former federal prosecutor who led MLB's investigation was asked by "Outside the Lines" to review the documents, and believes they put an end to the endless debates about Rose's gambling habits.
The new documents do not provide any evidence that Rose gambled against the Reds during 1986, a point he's vehemently denied. They do, however, give a glimpse into Rose's betting habits at that time."This does it. This closes the door," Dowd said.
From March to July of that year, he bet on a least one baseball game 30 times. It's possible he gambled on games more often, but some of the records are not legible. On top of baseball, Rose also bet on NBA and college basketball games.
Rose declined comment to "Outside the Lines" through his lawyer, but did offer a general statement concerning his reinstatement.
Since we submitted the application earlier this year, we committed to MLB that we would not comment on specific matters relating to reinstatement. I need to maintain that. To be sure, I'm eager to sit down with Mr. Manfred to address my entire history - the good and the bad -and my long personal journey since baseball. That meeting likely will come sometime after the All-Star break.For Rose, this new evidence would certainly put a dent in his chances at reinstatement. While there was no guarantee Rose would be allowed back in the game, there have been signs of hope since new commissioner Rob Manfred took charge.
Manfred said he would consider the request, and Rose has already been approved to participate in All-Star Game activities this season. He seemed to be inching his way back into the game before these new documents were uncovered.
A big part of Rose's case for reinstatement has been the fact that he finally came clean about his gambling habits in 2004. If this new evidence proves that Rose was being dishonest during his admission, it's unclear whether the commissioner will take further action.
Rose already has a lifetime ban, but it's possible his participation in the All-Star Game activities could be limited.
Samardzija, Soto lead White Sox to victory over Twins 6-2.
By Dan Hayes
While the White Sox have spent the past two weeks headed south, Jeff Samardzija’s compass has been pointed in the opposite direction.
With the trade deadline a little over five weeks away, the starting pitcher has recently improved his potential value with three good starts in a row. Samardzija struck out seven over seven innings and made the most of a big night from Geovany Soto as the White Sox topped the Minnesota Twins 6-2 in front of 27,349 at Target Field. The victory is only the third in 12 games for the White Sox, who won for the first time all season at Target Field.
Samardzija still hasn’t solved the first-inning curse (he gave up a solo home run to Eddie Rosario, his 17th earned run allowed in the opening stanza). But the tall right-hander picked it up from there for his third straight strong outing. After he gave up three straight first-inning hits, Samardzija set down nine in a row as Torii Hunter grounded into a double play to end the inning. Samardzija struck out the side in the third and picked it back up after he allowed a run in the fourth, striking out three more over his final three innings.
After he gave up 15 runs in two starts earlier this month, Samardzija has rebounded nicely. In his past three starts, Samardzija has a 3.00 ERA with 21 strikeouts and only two walks in 21 innings. The resurgence comes at a great time for the White Sox, who barring an unforeseen run of dominance, one they haven’t been able to produce through 70 games, will be open for business leading up to the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
Samardzija could be one of the team’s most sought after assets if the White Sox decided to part with him. The team could hang on to Samardzija in an attempt to sign him to a long-term deal after the season. It also might field offers and find out what they’d get in return doesn’t have the same value as a compensatory first-round pick for losing Samardzija as a free agent.
Just like Samardzija, the White Sox offense got out to yet another slow start.
But they found their bats in time to pick up Samardzija, who won for the first time since May 22.
Melky Cabrera struck out with the bases loaded and one out and Alexei Ramirez hit into a fielder’s choice to end the first inning without a run. The White Sox stranded two more men in the second inning and Mike Pelfrey retired the 3-4-5 hitters in order in the third. But Soto followed a one-out double by Conor Gillaspie with a game-tying RBI single in the fourth inning. Two innings later, with the White Sox trailing 2-1, Soto came through again with an RBI single off Pelfrey on a 0-2 pitch.
The White Sox came up with two more big two-out hits to pull ahead. Melky Cabrera, who doubled and scored in the sixth, singled in Jose Abreu with two outs in the seventh. Adam Eaton, who went 3-for-5, doubled in Carlos Sanchez to give the White Sox a 4-2 lead in the eighth.
The team’s five hits with runners in scoring position were it’s most since it had five in a June 3 victory at Texas. From June 4 through Monday, the White Sox hit .171 with runners in scoring position (18-for-105) with five extra-base hits.
Cubs walk off over Dodgers, put the league on notice 1-0.
By Tony Andracki
The Cubs are coming.
In fact, you could make the case they've already arrived.
The Cubs walked it off over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night in a 1-0 thriller in front of 36,799 fans at Wrigley Field.
Little-used outfielder Mike Baxter led off the 10th with a single and Matt Szczur - who homered off Clayton Kershaw Monday night - followed with an infield hit off the glove of Alberto Callaspo at 3B. Pinch-hitter Dexter Fowler followed with a walk to load the bases with nobody out.
Rookie Addison Russell then fought off pitch after pitch from Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen before bouncing a grounder to Adrian Gonzalez at 1B, who threw home to get the force.
Chris Denorfia - who entered the game in the 8th - was up next and delivered the game winning hit - a fly ball to left center that brought home Szczur.
That makes four wins in a row for the Cubs, including back-to-back victories against a team that leads the National League West and started Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the first two games of the series.
The Cubs forced Greinke to throw 111 pitches through six innings, getting into the Dodgers bullpen somewhat early on a night when neither team was able to muster up any offense.
Jason Hammel was magnificent for the Cubs, throwing 7.2 innings, allowing only two hits and two walks. One of those hits was a pop fly off the bat of Yasiel Puig that Szczur and Baxter lost in the lights.
Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Jason Motte combined to shut down the Dodgers the rest of the way.
It was the Cubs' ninth walk-off win of the year, which leads the MLB. They are now 8-3 in extra innings.
Cubs: Will Theo Epstein have flexibility to add at trade deadline?
By Patrick Mooney
Money is no object for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their $270 million payroll underwritten by Guggenheim Partners and a multibillion-dollar TV megadeal.
Will the Cubs have the ability to take on salary at the July 31 trade deadline? What sort of resources will be available to Theo Epstein’s baseball operations department?
“I don’t ever talk about payroll,” Epstein said, “because it just gives other teams a feel for maybe things we can and can’t do. I just try to plan accordingly, and execute on that plan, if you can.”
Money isn’t everything. The Cubs beat Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on a Monday night where tornado warnings hit the Chicago area, the sky turned ominous shades of yellowish orange and a power surge knocked out parts of the Wrigley Field light towers.
But this 4-2 victory brought out another good crowd (35,147) to Wrigleyville and left the Cubs with a 38-30 record that should make them buyers. Centerfielder Dexter Fowler getting X-rays on a sprained left ankle and left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada leaving the game with cramping in his deltoid muscle only reinforced the idea the Cubs need more help.
Epstein doesn’t have a blank check here, rolling over the $20 million saved from losing the Masahiro Tanaka bidding war and inflating the payroll to around $120 million this season. That creative accounting nudged the big-market Cubs past teams like the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals and into the middle of the pack.
Do you have the financial flexibility to do what you think you want to do leading up to the trade deadline?
“Every situation’s unique,” Epstein said. “So I think like most teams, we have some financial flexibility, and not unlimited financial flexibility.”
The Cubs don’t have a whatever-it-takes attitude. The restrictions imposed by Sam Zell’s Tribune Co. — a condition the Ricketts family accepted when purchasing the team (and a piece of Comcast Sportsnet Chicago) and entering into an $845 million leveraged partnership — run through the 2019 season.
But the Ricketts family and Crane Kenney’s business operations department have pushed forward with the Wrigley Field renovations, selling minority ownership shares to six investors and raising capital — believed to be more than $150 million — to help cover some of the construction costs.
“I don’t think that’s related,” Epstein said. “I think that went to the project.”
Now you can see what the future might look like at Clark and Addison, with two big video boards, new advertising signage and the remodeled bleachers, though those business-side breakthroughs won’t necessarily free up more money this summer.
“There’s a budget at the start of the year,” Epstein said, “anticipating some of the new revenue streams, and new revenues, and expenses as well. When the organization as a whole sits down to budget at the start of the year, you try to anticipate those things.
“So it would only be things that weren’t forecast in the budget that would be either new liabilities or new windfalls.”
Whether or not the Cubs are willing to pay the price in terms of dollars and prospects to land someone like Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels, Epstein will be looking to upgrade the rotation.
Epstein made that clear even before Wada left the game in the third inning, giving him one quality start in seven chances. Wada hoped to make his next start — and the Cubs seemed to think it was just cramping — but this shoulder problem again highlighted the organization’s depth issues.
“I’m really happy with the starting-pitching staff,” Epstein said. “We’ve performed really well as a group, but it usually takes nine or 10 to get through a season. We’ve had some injuries at (Triple-A) Iowa. We’ve had some guys who haven’t quite taken that leap yet to get them into positions where they can be guys who — right now — deserve an opportunity to step into a pennant race.
“We’re working on that next tier that might represent someone who has to step right into a pennant race. You don’t get warning when that need arises. You have to think in advance and plan in advance. Every team does that.
“Over the course of the season, sometimes you’re left short. We’re not hiding the ball — that’s one area right now where we kind of have a little bit of a short stack. And if there are ways to address it — before it becomes a real problem — we’d like to do that.”
The Cubs should be getting some answers from within. Reliever Neil Ramirez (shoulder) and third baseman Mike Olt (wrist) are supposed to continue their rehab assignments on Tuesday with Iowa. Epstein wouldn’t rule out the idea of Ramirez returning before the All-Star break.
Manager Joe Maddon hoped outfielder Jorge Soler (ankle) would be able to start playing in minor-league games about a week from now. Rafael Soriano, the one-time All-Star closer, is said to be still working out in the Dominican Republic.
“We do have some nice parts coming along the way,” Maddon said. “These guys are going to be able to come back and augment what we got going on right now. And they fit perfectly, so I’m not worried about who we may acquire. I think we have a lot of the parts right here.”
Golf: I got a club for that: Can Spieth follow in Rory’s footsteps?
By Kevin Casey
Rory McIlroy, (Left) and Jordan Spieth. (Right). (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
It’s that time of year again—a strange period where Tiger Woods’ unofficial 18-man event carries nearly as much clout in the World Golf Rankings as his own actual PGA Tour tournament in July.
So thank goodness Jordan Spieth decided to set the world ablaze.
The 21-year-old, the butt of thousands of drinking age jokes (seriously it got really annoying), stormed his way to victory at the Australian Open, posting a final-round 63 in breezy conditions to finish six shots ahead. And then of course there was the encore at Woods’ close get-together, where Spieth smoked the host by 26 shots, and everybody else by at least 10.
The American wunderkind has the golf world buzzing. Already considered a future flag bearer for the United States, Spieth and his recent results have left the golf establishment yearning for 2015 to see what this Texas boy wonder can do next.
And with some believing majors will be in his near future, an important question has started to pop up: Will Spieth’s upcoming season roughly match Rory McIlroy’s sensational 2014?
On the outset, it’s not an unjustified inquiry based on these recent events. The round of the year could very well be that 63. And Spieth’s total victory margin of 16 in consecutive weeks is a feat Woods himself has only reached twice.
But the question is presumptuous. It assumes that Spieth holds a real possibility of matching McIlroy’s recent exploits, when the truth is that the chances are exceedingly unlikely.
That’s right, the precious young American is, in essence, a long shot to follow in McIlroy’s 2014 footsteps. And there’s an ample view to see why.
For one, the increased hype hasn’t been entirely organic. Sure, the actual dominance of these two performances of course factored heavily into the rising expectations, but there’s no doubt the similarities between McIlroy’s end to 2013 and Spieth’s recent surge–namely their winning the Australian Open following disappointing seasons in the public eye–also aided in this production. Spieth was asked about this similarity in his post-tournament press conference in Australia, and some writers have brought it up since. And it serves no purpose but to add phony fuel to the Spieth expectation machine for 2015. It’s a downright lazy way to foster support for Spieth 2015, as any matching facts between McIlroy’s and Spieth’s Aussie victories are pure coincidences, not portenders of the latter’s future performance.
As for those dominating performances, let’s be realistic about the true nature of these tournaments. The Australian Open contains big names at the top, but little overall depth. And Woods’ event, while boasting a strong field, is a relaxed atmosphere with its unofficial status, contains less than 20 competitors and is in a spot in December when golfer motivation is alarmingly low. These were still impressive performances with extraordinary winning margins, but when you shine the light closer these weren’t exactly world-class events Spieth stormed through.
All of this brings more of a realistic shade to those 2015 ambitions, but to truly comprehend Spieth’s long odds, we have to understand just how special McIlroy’s 2014 campaign turned out. No, it’s not an all-time great season—Tiger has at least a few himself that he could say were better—but the numbers are staggering. In 24 total events, four wins, including two majors and the European Tour’s flagship event, 17 top-10s—a few admittedly backdoor—and one lone finish outside of the top-25. The wins, and the magnitude of the triumphs, are what catch the headlines, (and deservedly so), but the lack of truly disastrous results adds worth to the season’s value.
As Alex Myers noted, McIlroy went a whole year in golf and had one truly bad week. That’s incredible.
McIlroy posted this set of performances at 25, while Spieth must strive for those marks as he enters his age-21 season—a near impossible proposition.
Over the past 40 years, no single 21-year-old has put together a season that is an undisputed equal of what McIlroy pieced out in 2014. Woods and Seve Ballesteros are the only two who can claim age-21 seasons that “roughly match” Rory’s 2014—Woods with his four wins and one major in 1997 and Ballesteros with a five-win campaign in 1978. Otherwise nothing comes close to the McIlroy 2014 standard we are looking to reach here.
The next best seasons in this time span belong to Sergio Garcia (three wins, 11 top-10s in 2001), Adam Scott (two wins, nine top-10s in 2002) and Robert Gamez (two wins in 1990). While excellent campaigns from this trio, these don’t quite fit the criteria.
The picking here is slim then, with those age-21 players accomplishing roughly matching seasons to McIlroy 2014 once every 20 years. And the players on the outer section of the orbit are just as pared down.
If anybody could crack into this 21 group, namely the Woods-Ballesteros section, Spieth, based on his talent, is near the top of the list. But he would have to accomplish something that is done basically once every generation, a daunting task even for a player of Spieth’s ability.
And there’s a common theme among this quintet of 21-year-old achievers: They were all long drivers at the time of the season in question—with Woods and Ballesteros at the very top in this category.
That is probably not a coincidence.
Experience is a tough factor to measure in a golfer’s performance, but at age 21 every player lacks it to a large degree, and that deficiency likely hampers any young gun on the course. The long ball is the main way to overcome this disadvantage youth presents—course knowledge and strategy are overrated when you can hit your approach from 30 yards closer—and if you can’t pipe it deep, the trail to early domination becomes a lot more perilous.
Spieth is not a long-hitter by Tour standards, and is of course nowhere near Ballesteros-Woods. The 21-year-old is decidedly average in distance, finishing 89th in the category among 177 qualifying PGA Tour players in 2014 and 80th in a set of 180 the previous season.
All of this presents him another significant obstacle in soaring to Rory-like heights in 2014. Not only must the Texan pull off a once-in-a-generation feat, he has to do so while lacking a main attribute of all the previous men who accomplished something special at age 21.
Matters aren’t looking too good then in trying to reach the McIlroy standard.
Spieth no doubt has a bright future in this game, and at the very least his floor in 2015, and going forward, will be quite high. His game is as all-around as it gets, a circumstance that should shield him from any truly abysmal seasons.
The McIlroy-like visions may not be met, but Spieth’s 2015 won’t be an absolute bust.
With the 21-year-old, the expectations should be high, but fans and media tend to get carried away with this American darling.
Following a rookie year in which he became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since the 1930s, Spieth was considered a closer. A year later, losing efforts at the Masters and Players Championship were enough to convince observers to flip-flop and call Spieth “the great player who couldn’t close.”
It’s fair to anticipate another victory or two from Spieth in 2015; a major might easily be there for the taking as well. But there’s no need to panic if he doesn’t win, and it’s especially useless to fret if his season doesn’t come close to resembling the success of McIlroy’s 2014.
Spieth is for sure the leader of the American revolution in the professional level, just don’t expect it to be a short battle.
Golf: Power rankings: Travelers Championship
By Ryan Ballengee
The PGA Tour resumes across the country from Chambers Bay with the Travelers Championship near Hartford, Conn. TPC River Highlands hosts a field that includes 39 players who were in the year's second major. Kevin Streelman defends a title he won last year, finishing with seven consecutive birdies to pick up the win.
Here are our top five players for this week's Travelers Championship:
1. Brandt Snedeker -- Great putting is a virtue at TPC River Highlands, so Sneds makes sense. Was T-8 at the U.S. Open with a great finish and now has three top-10 finishes in a row.
2. Patrick Reed -- Patrick Reed tends to react well after a disappointment, and he was upset not to get the job done at the U.S. Open. Scores well and makes a lot of birdies, which is a must this week.
3. Bubba Watson -- Watson won here in 2010 and is pretty much a lock to finish in the top 15 most years he plays here. We'll see how he reacts to the frustration Chambers Bay caused him.
4. Louis Oosthuizen -- Oosthuizen finished T-2 at the U.S. Open. Had he not been saddled by Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler on Day 1 -- where they shot a 28-over three-ball -- he probably wins.
5. Kevin Na -- Na is making his first appearance here in four years, but he missed the cut the prior two times he was in the old GHO. However, he's been in the top 13 in four of his last six starts.
NASCAR; Power Rankings: To Xfinity and beyond.
By Nick Bromberg
1. Chris Buescher: Buescher is not only the points leader but he's the only Xfinity Series regular to have more than one win this year. Hell, he's only one of two Xfinity Series regulars (remember, Erik Jones is officially a Truck Series driver) to have a win all year. And not only does Buescher have two wins (Iowa and Dover), he's got the most top-five finishes of any Xfinity driver. It's a well-deserved points lead.
2. Chase Elliott: No, Chase Elliott is not the other Xfinity driver with a win. It's crazy that this year has been considered a disappointment for Elliott and he's third in the standings with 11 top-10 finishes in 14 races. But that's how it goes in a series that has only 20 drivers who have run in all 14 races. He's going to get a win this year, and maybe multiple ones, but it's going to take some work to match Ricky Stenhouse's back-to-back titles before moving on to the Cup Series.
3. Ty Dillon: Dillon has one less top-10 finish than Elliott does and three fewer top-fives. Yet he's second in the standings. Thank you avoiding bad finishes. He's still 29 points behind Buescher and with the way Buescher is running, Dillon is going to need to get to victory lane.
4. Regan Smith: While the three drivers ahead of him are making up ground from start to finish, Smith is going backwards. He's got an average starting position of 8th, but his average finish is 11th. If he can keep the qualifying strength and maintain it throughout a race ... well, we have a title contender. Alas, he's more than a full race behind Buescher.
5. Darrell Wallace: Wallace's season isn't remarkably different if he isn't knocked out of the lead by Buescher at Dover. Yeah, maybe he's in fourth in the standings and maybe he's got a win. And a win is obviously huge. But he's still on the periphery of the title hunt and still looking for a little extra speed every week. His best finish this season has been fifth and his lowest has been 20th. He's wearing out those 16 positions.
6. Brian Scott: Scott has 10 top-10 finishes, tying for second in the series. Alas, he's seventh in the standings because of two bad finishes. At Las Vegas he had an engine issue and finished 38th while he crashed and finished 36th at Dover.
7. Elliott Sadler: From title contender to anonymous Xfinity regular in four years? OK, that's incredibly harsh, but it's hard not to watch some races this year and think "Oh yeah, Sadler's in this race" when the ticker cycles through. He's been a staple from 10th-20th and has led 20 laps all season. 19 of which were at Talladega.
8. Brendan Gaughan: Will Gaughan get two wins this year? He won at Road America and Kentucky last year, his only top-five finishes of the year in 2014. If he does get a win (and no other top five), he'll eclipse his 2014 total as he has two already this season.
9. Daniel Suarez: There have been times where it's obvious Suarez is a rookie and relative newbie to stock cars. But there are times where you can see the speed he has. Of course, it helps immensely that he's driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, which has the best cars in the series. But it wouldn't be entirely surprising to see him win in 2015.
10. Ryan Reed: Hey, here's the only other Xfinity driver to win in 2015. And yes, his was a bit of a surprise as Reed drafted his way to the win at Daytona on the final lap in February. Since then, well, it hasn't been too fun. His best finish is 11th (twice). But he's 10th in the standings because of the lack of depth in the series.
SOCCER: Morgan, Lloyd lift USA over 10-woman Colombia.
AFP
Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd both scored to put the United States into the World Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-0 win over 10-woman Colombia.
The 28th-ranked South Americans on Monday were a player down for most of the second half after new goalkeeper Catalina Perez was sent off for a diving tackle on US forward Morgan two minutes after the break.
Abby Wambach stepped up to take the penalty but the superstar striker dramatically sent the ball left of goal, denying her a record-equaling 15th Women's World Cup goal to match Brazil star Marta.
Morgan finally broke through after 53 minutes with Lloyd getting a second 13 minutes later from a penalty after Megan Rapinoe was fouled inside the box by defender Angela Clavijo.
The USA, ranked second in the world and winners in 1991 and 1999, next meet China in Ottawa on Friday for a place in the semi-finals. The Americans have never failed to reach the Women's World Cup semi-finals.
- 'Decisions to make' -
It was, however, a costly game for the Olympic champions with key midfielders Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday set to miss the China game after collecting yellow cards.
"We've obviously got decisions to make, but we've invested significantly in players over the last six months," said US coach Jill Ellis.
"We've dealt with injuries so I feel very confident in the players we have to able to come on and contribute and I know they will be confident to be able to step up and help us advance."
It was the first World Cup match for Perez, who was replacing first-choice goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda, sitting out the game after a second yellow card in their 2-1 loss to England.
"If we had not had our goalkeeper sent off, the outcome would have been different," said Colombia coach Fabian Taborda.
"She's a great goalkeeper. I think she played well. Unfortunately she was shown a red card. It's the first time she has gotten one."
The 20-year-old, who plays college soccer for the University of Miami, pulled off three impressive saves in the first half.
Wambach thought she had the opening goal minutes into the game at the Commonwealth Stadium but her rebound off a Perez stop was ruled offside.
Perez also kept out a Wambach volley, and tipped Morgan's downward header over the crossbar.
At the other end of the pitch, Hope Solo was rarely tested in the US goal as she earned a record 174th cap for the United States, surpassing Briana Scurry's 173 between 1994-2008.
- US 'haven't peaked yet' -
The real action came immediately after the break with Perez sent off for fouling Morgan, who was through on goal.
Stefany Castano stepped into goal with forward Ingrid Vidal coming off, but the Colombians -- in the Women's World Cup for the first time -- could not reproduce the heroics that saw them shock third-ranked France 2-0 in their group match.
The breakthrough came eight minutes after the break when Morgan received a pass in the penalty area and fired through Castano's hands. Lloyd's penalty doubled their advantage.
"It was a huge match for us, a confidence booster as they're not an easy team to play against," said Lloyd.
"We were confident the chances would come. We just have to put them away. We haven't peaked yet. We still have a few more games to go for that."
FIFA Women's World Cup Canada. 2015 Score Summary. 6 June - 5 July, 2015.
Monday 22 June 2015
Round of 16
Norway 1
England 2
USA 2
Colombia 0
Tuesday 23 June 2015
Round of 16
Japan 2
Netherlands 1
Jurgen Klinsmann calls on World Cup veterans for U.S. Gold Cup roster.
By Leander Schaerlaeckens
United States' Clint Dempsey, center, and his teammates applaud after qualifying for the next World Cup round following their 1-0 loss to Germany during the group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Germany at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Thursday, June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
U.S. Soccer announced its roster for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Tuesday, trimming its 35-man provisional team to the 23 who will be contesting the regional championship stateside next month.
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann picked an experienced team, retaining 17 members from his 2014 World Cup roster. Following a friendly against Guatemala on July 3, the Americans will play their group stage games against Honduras on July 7, Haiti on July 10 and Panama on July 13.
The Yanks won the last edition of this tournament, in 2013, although a lot of countries sent diluted teams because of the conflict with World Cup qualifying. If they win it again, they'll be assured of a place at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. If they fail to, they'll enter a playoff against the winner for that berth.
The Gold Cup final will be played in Philadelphia on July 26.
Below is the full USA squad, with a quick thought on each player.
GOALKEEPERS
Brad Guzan, Aston Villa: In spite of losing his starting job at Villa late in the season, Guzan is still the USA's best option while Tim Howard remains on his national team sabbatical.
Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake: The MLS veteran is a good teammate and reliable between the sticks when called upon.
William Yarbrough, Club Leon: The Mexican-based American seems to have bypassed Bill Hamid as the third-string goalkeeper, based on strong early impressions on the program.
DEFENDERS
Ventura Alvarado, Club America: One of the few newish and young faces on the roster, Alvarado will probably provide cover for others.
John Brooks, Hertha Berlin: As a central defender, Brooks has made real strides in the last year but remains raw.
Timothy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt: Many wonder whether the German-American is overrated, but Chandler can play either fullback position.
Brad Evans, Seattle Sounders: Although he was surprisingly left off the World Cup roster, Evans remains valuable to Klinsmann as an attacking right back.
Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles Galaxy: Gonzo can't shake his gaffe-a-game habit, but is otherwise a useful central defender.
Fabian Johnson, Borussia Moenchengladbach: Capable of playing in defense or midfield on either flank, Johnson is the team's utility player.
Tim Ream, Bolton: Following years outside the team, the once-hyped Ream has parlayed several strong seasons in England's second tier into another opportunity.
MIDFIELDERS
Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake: Called in for another tour of duty, the wily and unshakable Beckerman will shield the defense.
Alejandro Bedoya, Nantes: Quietly growing into one of the better players on the team, Bedoya can play anywhere in midfield.
Michael Bradley, Toronto FC: As the USA's de-facto captain and best player, Bradley will build attacks and cover immense ground.
Brad Davis, Houston Dynamo: Even at 33, the international career of one of the most technically gifted players the U.S. has ever produced just won't end, even if he's never played a major role.
Mix Diskerud, New York City FC: Still more style than substance, Diskerud can help break down stodgy opponents, but he needs to help out on defense.
Alfredo Morales, Ingolstadt: As a sound holding midfielder, expect Morales to see time in the middle of the park.
DeAndre Yedlin, Tottenham Hotspur: Whether played at right back or on the right flank, Yedlin can change games with his speed.
Gyasi Zardes, Los Angeles Galaxy: Zardes has made huge strides with the national team, and, while a striker by trade, his designation as a midfielder seems to suggest he'll be playing on the wing.
Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City: The unassuming Zusi will do his work defensively and serve up crosses from the right flank.
FORWARDS
Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC: Back from yet another hamstring injury, Altidore remains the only dependable striker in the pool.
Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders: After serving a suspension for an ugly incident, captain Dempsey will be counted on to offer a creative spark.
Aron Johannsson, AZ: The Alabama-born, Iceland-raised forward has a habit of going hot and cold for the Americans, but when Johannsson is on, he is a difference maker.
Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes: Wondo is something of an enigma, and might be remembered best for That Miss Against Belgium at the World Cup, but he still has his use to Klinsmann as a goal-mouth poacher.
Schedule: Full list of Premier League teams heading to North America for preseason.
By Joe Prince-Wright
Seven Premier League teams are heading to North America at various stage of the 2015-16 preseason.
From the big boys Chelsea and Manchester United competing in the 2015 International Champions Cup, to the likes of Bournemouth and West Brom squaring off against Major League Soccer opponents, there are likely to be PL teams coming to your neck of the woods this summer.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the schedule so far for PL teams heading to the U.S. and Canada.
Get planning.
Bournemouth
July 15: Philadelphia Union (PPL Park, Penn.) – 7 p.m. ET
Chelsea
July 23: New York Red Bulls (International Champions Cup – Red Bull Arena, NJ) – 8 p.m. ET
July 25: Paris Saint-Germain (International Champions Cup – Bank of America Stadium, NC) – 6 p.m. ET
July 29: Barcelona (International Champions Cup – FedEx Field, MD) – 8 p.m. ET
Manchester United
July 18: Club America (International Champions Cup – CenturyLink Field, WA) – 11 p.m. ET
July 21: San Jose Earthquakes (International Champions Cup – Kabam Field, Berkeley, CA) – 11 p.m. ET
July 25: Barcelona (International Champions Cup – Levi’s Stadium, CA) – 4 p.m. ET
July 30: Paris Saint-Germain (International Champions Cup – Soldier Field, Chicago) – 9 p.m. ET
Newcastle United
July 15: Club Atlas (Miller Park, WI) – 9 p.m. ET
July 19: Sacramento Republic (Bonney Field, CA) – 11 p.m. ET
July 22: Portland Timbers (Providence Park, OR) – 10:30 p.m. ET
Sunderland
July 15: Sacramento Republic (Bonney Field, CA) – 11 p.m. ET
July 18: Futbol Pachuca (Bonney Field, CA) – 10:30 p.m. ET
July 23: Toronto (BMO Field, Toronto) – 7 p.m. ET
Tottenham Hotspur
July 30: MLS All-Stars (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, CO) – 9 p.m. ET
West Bromwich Albion
July 15: Orlando City (Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium, FL) – 7: 30 p.m. ET
July 17: Charleston Battery (Blackbaud Stadium, SC) – 7:30 p.m. ET
July 19: Richmond Kickers (Richmond City Stadium, VI) – 5:30 p.m. ET
NCAAFB: FAMU taps Alabama official to take over athletics department.
AP - Sports
Florida A&M University is turning to a University of Alabama official and former Oklahoma lineman to run its athletics department.
FAMU President Elmira Mangum on Monday named Milton Overton as the new director of intercollegiate athletics. He takes over the position after the resignation of Kellen Winslow and the death of Nelson Townsend. Townsend was acting as interim director when he died in January.
Overton has spent six years at Alabama where he was the senior associate athletics director. He had worked as a top athletics department official at Texas A&M University prior to joining Alabama. His job at Alabama included dealing with trademark licensing, event technology, track and field and cross country.
Overton was a four-year starter on the offensive line at Oklahoma.
NCAABKB: Sam Dekker Correctly Notes People Always Compare White Players To Other White Players.
By Maxwell Strachan
Sam Dekker, former Wisconsin Badger and soon-to-be NBA player, spoke a deep, deep truth on Tuesday.
He said something so basic that it probably shouldn’t even be news, except that it's something very few athletes ever really want to say.
“What players do you look to? What are the guys that you say, ‘I’d like to pattern my game after him or these people together?’” HuffPost Live host Marc Lamont Hill asked Dekker on Tuesday afternoon.
“Well, there’s a few,” Dekker said, obviously knowing what he was about to say, but questioning how exactly to say it. “Um, you know, there’s always, there’s always, me, um, the way I play, being a white guy, a lot of times you get compared to other white guys.”
Bingo.
“Which isn't fair because your game isn’t necessarily like a particular white guy,” Hill correctly noted.
“I mean, if you go down that line, guys like Gordon Hayward, Chandler Parsons, you know, guys of this era right now that are pretty athletic who can’t get up and down, stretch the floor, shoot the ball, put it on the floor,” Dekker said.
But don't go down that line, Sam. Don’t fall into the racial trap. You don't even really play like those guys. Who do you really play like?
“Another guy I kind of like watching is Trevor Ariza,” he said.
Double bingo, Sam.
The NBA Draft is on Thursday.
Mo'ne Davis meets Hank Aaron.
By Nick Birdsong
Mo'ne Davis (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File).
Hank Aaron (AP Photo/David Goldman, File).
Two pioneers met for the first time in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Mo'ne Davis and her teammates on the Anderson Monarchs barnstorming team stood alongside baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron at Turner Field. Davis became the first girl to pitch a no-hitter in the Little League World series and the first African-American girl ever to play in the annual competition, accomplishing the feats last summer as she wowed the crowd with her 70 mph fastball. Aaron finished his career atop MLB's all-time home run list with 755.
The Monarchs were in Atlanta as part of a three-week tour, during which they will learn about the civil rights movement. While in Atlanta, they visited the MLK Center for Non-Violent Social Change as well as the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, according to The Associated Press.
Davis, who turns 14 Wednesday, was also drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters on Tuesday. Basketball is her first love. Her goal is to earn a scholarship to the University of Connecticut and have a successful career in the WNBA.
Mo'ne Davis and her teammates on the Anderson Monarchs barnstorming team stood alongside baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron at Turner Field. Davis became the first girl to pitch a no-hitter in the Little League World series and the first African-American girl ever to play in the annual competition, accomplishing the feats last summer as she wowed the crowd with her 70 mph fastball. Aaron finished his career atop MLB's all-time home run list with 755.
The Monarchs were in Atlanta as part of a three-week tour, during which they will learn about the civil rights movement. While in Atlanta, they visited the MLK Center for Non-Violent Social Change as well as the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, according to The Associated Press.
Davis, who turns 14 Wednesday, was also drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters on Tuesday. Basketball is her first love. Her goal is to earn a scholarship to the University of Connecticut and have a successful career in the WNBA.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, June 24, 2015.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1904 - The first American motorboat race took place on the Hudson River in New York.
1917 - Ernie Shore (Boston Red Sox) replaced Babe Ruth and retired all 26 batters he faced. Ruth had been ejected from the game.
1917 - Molla Bjurstedt won the women's U.S. Lawn Tennis Association title for the third straight year.
1922 - Johnny Weissmuller broke his own world records in the 300, 400, 440 and 500 meters in a swim meet in Honolulu, Hawaii.
1972 - U.S. President Nixon signed the Higher Education Act of 1972. Title IX of this congressional act barred sex bias in athletics and other activities at colleges receiving federal assistance.
1991 - A Mazda became the first Japanese car to win the Le Mans 24 hour race.
1996 - Michael Johnson broke the world record for the men's 200 meter race. He ran it in 19.66 seconds.
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