Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
"America's Finest Sports Fan Travel Club, May We Plan An Event Or Sports Travel For You?"
We offer: Select opportunities, For your convenience, At "Very Rare but Super Fair" pricing,
Because it's all about you!!!
Sports Quote of the Day:
"At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure. And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful. As long as you blame others for the reason you aren't where you want to be, you will always be a failure." ~ Erin Cummings, Actress
Trending: Jake Arrieta masterful as Cubs avoid sweep vs. White Sox. Sox take two out of three, now we have to wait until August for the next three games at Cellular Field on the Southside to see who will be the winner of the Cross Town Classic Trophy in 2015. (See baseball section for details).
Trending: Serena Slam complete with Wimbledon title. Serena Williams won her 21st Grand Slam crown, putting her one away from Steffi Graf's all-time record. (See the tennis section for details).
Trending: Blackhawks trade Patrick Sharp to Dallas Stars. (See the hockey section for details).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Young players aim to make impression during Blackhawks prospect camp.
By Chris Hine
It was less than a month ago the Blackhawks hoisted the Stanley Cup, but the team is gearing up for more hockey. Well, at least some of its younger players are.
The Hawks open their prospect camp Sunday at Johnny's IceHouse West. The event is open to the public, which can see some of the franchise's top young players on display as they vie for spots with the Hawks or their AHL affiliate in Rockford.
Among the group will be winger Marko Dano, 20, whom the Hawks recently acquired from the Blue Jackets in the Brandon Saad trade, and forward Mark McNeill, 22.
It's also a big opportunity for Bartlett native Vincent Hinostroza, 21, a sixth-round pick in 2012 who left Notre Dame after two seasons to sign a three-year entry-level deal with the Hawks. Hinostroza, a center, said this will be his fourth prospect camp but the first as a full-fledged, under-contract member of the organization.
"In past years, I always knew I was going back to Notre Dame, so I just wanted to leave a good impression on the Blackhawks coaching staff," Hinostroza said. "But this year, being a part of the organization, it's like a first impression for me. It's huge for me to go out there and work hard, be good, show them how I can play."
The whole experience has been a bit surreal for Hinostroza, who said when he was in high school he was like a lot of other kids who showed their support for the Hawks by wearing mostly Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane jerseys — or in Hinostroza's case, "shirseys."
Now he will be trying to work his way up through the Hawks system to join them on the roster.
"It's absolutely nuts to think about it," Hinostroza said. "After the season, I spoke to some of the Blackhawks scouts, (general manager) Stan Bowman, my agent, and they all thought it'd be best if I left college and began my pro career. Notre Dame is a great place and I loved it there, but I was ready for the next step."
Hinostroza led the Irish in points last season by totaling 11 goals and 33 assists in 42 games.
Getting drafted is a highlight of any young player's career, but in hockey the process from draft day to putting pen to paper can take years.
"It's a new beginning, the start of a lot of hard work," Hinostroza said. "When you get drafted, you think down the road I'll play professional hockey with the Blackhawks, but you never know when it's going to happen."
Given the spate of roster moves the Hawks have made this offseason, Hinostroza said the chance for young players to contribute can be motivation to put on their best game for the Hawks' brass — even in the middle of July.
"We're all pretty motivated because we have the same goal," Hinostroza said. "But either way, if we're in Rockford or Chicago, we just want to get better.
"It's not a bad thing if we go to Rockford because the end goal is Chicago. We know we'll improve there and hopefully make it up."
Blackhawks trade Patrick Sharp to Dallas Stars.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/Blackhawks.NHL.com)
Patrick Sharp was an integral part of the Blackhawks, a player the team acquired when it was still trying to find its new identity and years before it found its constant success.
Now he’s part of their glorious recent past.
The Blackhawks traded Sharp and defenseman Stephen Johns to the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Trevor Daley and forward Ryan Garbutt. The move clears some cap space for the Blackhawks, who now have about $70.4 million committed to 21 players. Sharp has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a cap hit of $5.9 million per season. Johns is in the final year of a deal paying him $800,000. The Blackhawks take Daley’s contract (two more years at a cap hit of $3.3 million a season) and half of Garbutt’s ($900,000 cap hit each of the next two years).
But this isn’t just what the Blackhawks lost money-wise with Sharp. While it’s no surprise he was dealt, Sharp and his contributions that led to three Stanley Cups in the past six seasons will be missed. His past season wasn’t his best — 16 goals and 27 assists in 68 games — but he’s nevertheless had a lot of great individual seasons. He recorded 34 goals in 2010-11 and 2013-14 (two goals shy of his career best 36 set in the 2007-08 season).
General manager Stan Bowman had been working for some time to get a deal done.
“It’s difficult trying to find a trading partner. You have a need they have and a player they like and they have the cap space to do what you’re trying to do,” Bowman said. “There have been countless phone calls over the past three weeks, this one finally made sense.”
Bowman said he talked to Sharp on Friday.
“More so than anything, [I] just thanked him for everything he’s done of the organization over the years,” Bowman said via conference call. “We’ve been through a lot together. He came when our team wasn’t at the level it was at in recent years and he played a big part in getting us to that next level. It was a great ride alongside Patrick and I wished him well.”
Bowman was also not concerned about trading assets to the Stars, who are in the same division.
“It cuts both ways,” Bowman said. “Dallas is giving us two of theirs to play against their team. I don’t know if that’s something you can pay too much attention to. You have to do what’s best for your team and not be as fixated on what they’re doing. Does this make sense for your team?”
A message left with Sharp on Friday night was not immediately returned. Two days after winning the Cup, Sharp talked of his trying year, on and off the ice, and how the Blackhawks banded together to win again.
“I blocked out a lot of things out this year,” Sharp said on June 17. “I thought it was pretty unfair to hear some of the stuff I was hearing about myself and my teammates but that’s the kind of group we have: we stuck together and got it done.
“To win a third Stanley Cup in this city is something that I’ll always remember,” Sharp continued. “It’s pretty special. It’s a huge accomplishment.”
Update on Sharp Trade; Patrick Sharp sad to leave Blackhawks, but looking forward to Stars.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/eBay.com)
Patrick Sharp felt the emotional mix once he found out he was traded to the Dallas Stars.
After hearing speculation and innuendo for quite a while now, there was naturally happiness to have the deal finally done. And while he’s ready to start a new chapter with a team on the rise, he’s also sad to leave a Blackhawks team he helped bring back to life.
Sharp talked Saturday of the four-player deal that sends him to Dallas. For Sharp, the last few weeks and months have been exhilarating and tiring. He won another Stanley Cup, the third the Blackhawks claimed in the past six seasons. He also heard constant chatter on where he could end up, given the Blackhawks’ salary-cap issues. And when the deal was finally made, it was like a weight was lifted.
“I’ve learned over the years not to listen to too many rumors, where they’re coming from unless they’re coming from [Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman] or my agent. But to hear the speculation was certainly something. It wasn’t weighting but it was getting annoying to a point,” Sharp said via conference call. “We wanted to get something done. I’m thrilled to get to Dallas and ready to get started with a new team.”
It wasn’t so much if Sharp would get traded as when he would get traded. The tighter salary cap – $71.4 million – coupled with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s new deals kicking in this season meant the Blackhawks had to shed money. Sharp, who has two years remaining on his current deal (cap hit of $5.9 million) was the most likely to go. Still, when that call comes, it’s not easy.
“The conversation with Stan was a tough one, as was the one with Joel [Quenneville],” Sharp said. “Whenever you leave an organization, there are certainly mixed emotions. You can’t say anything bad about the Blackhawks. I really enjoyed my time there. I’ve grown into the person I am today because of that organization. I look forward to reconnecting with those guys some day, be it the offseason or playing against them.”
Sharp is heading to a team trying to return to its successful years (late 1990s-early 2000s). When the Blackhawks acquired Sharp 10 years ago, he was a young player joining a team that was also trying to revive its former glory. Ten years and three Stanley Cups later, Sharp departs Chicago a proven winner.
“It’s amazing to see the turnaround,” Sharp said. “That’s a credit to some of the players who played there, a credit to front office and to the fan base. It’s amazing to see them win their third Cup in a short amount of time. It speaks to the organization, what a quality group it is; first class in every way. Being a part of it for 10 years, it doesn’t surprise me anymore, with such good quality people there that they had such a turnaround.”
The trade chatter has been silenced. The weight has been lifted for Sharp. It will be difficult to leave the place and a team he called home for the past 10 seasons but this is the business part of the sport that affects so many. It’s been a great run. Now Sharp is ready to turn the page.
“I can tell you I’m extremely proud of everything I’ve accomplished the last 10 years, on and off the ice. Sometimes that gets lost, the off-ice stuff the Hawks allowed me to do, whether it was interacting with fans, helping in a charitable way or just representing the city with the Hawks. The Cups stand out, no question about that,” Sharp said. “But that chapter of my life is over and I’m looking forward to starting a new one.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Bulls: Bobby Portis impresses in Summer League opener.
By Vincent Goodwill
In a conference that featured four players in his conference taken before Bobby Portis was selected by the Bulls at No. 22—all from Kentucky, it should be noted—it was he who was player of the year in the SEC.
So he’s no stranger to being the undercard, particularly in his summer league opener that just so happened to feature the first overall pick, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who played for Kentucky.
But Towns might as well have had a bulls eye on his back for Portis to go after as they were matched up throughout, as Portis was listed as a center in the Bulls’ 84-71 win Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Portis showed his worth in a 23-point, seven-rebound performance that, while tempered by the reality of Summer League, excited those who witnessed it.
“I had an ‘okay’ game,” deadpanned Portis afterward. “I could’ve made some more free throws, grabbed more rebounds.”
So hyped up and intense for his first taste of NBA basketball, he had to pull himself out the game a few times because he tired himself out—which pleased Fred Hoiberg.
“That showed me he was playing with great effort,” Hoiberg said.
The Bulls coach added a little spice by purposely matching up Portis with Towns to get the competitive juices flowing—as if Portis needed extra Red Bull anyways.
“We talked about matchups and said let’s throw him at Karl and see what he’s made of,” Hoiberg said. “He went out there and was aggressive, looking for his shot. Ran the floor extremely well.”
Portis wore a satisfied smile after he backed Towns down from the 3-point line for a hook shot that displayed a soft touch—more importantly showing the necessary strength in establishing post position.
He showed no hesitation in unleashing a triple near the top of the key, one that didn’t look as fluid but was just as effective when it fell through the net. Portis was 5-for-6 from the field in the first half, hitting a baseline jumper and generally looking comfortable on the floor.
After running the floor extremely hard for two alley-oop dunks, Portis’ tank was on empty and he asked out.
“I’m not intimidated by anyone,” Portis said. “I’m not worried about a matchup. I’m just going out there and playing my game, trying to be the best player I can be for this franchise.”
Towns’ moments came in flashes, showing his uncanny passing skills and even coming across the lane to block layups with relative ease—layups that jump started the Timberwolves fast break.
Towns got going in the second half, getting a measure of revenge on his counterpart in backing him down for a hook shot of his own and on the next possession, facing him up from 20 feet out for a jumper.
Towns finished with nine points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes, ceding the individual matchup but even the most optimistic Bulls fan couldn’t foresee Portis nailing three triples, not missing until his last attempt in the fourth quarter.
“He’s been comfortable,” Hoiberg said. “He took that wide open one, that last one is the only three he missed.”
“A couple coaches were grumbling, I said “(bleep) guys he’s 3-3 let’s see what he’s got. It’s a heat check, let him go a little bit”. It wasn’t just today. He showed it in camp. He’s comfortable on the perimeter and the post, not afraid to bang out there. Any time you can stretch a big and hit shots, that’s huge.”
Doug McDermott scored 20 and Ramon Galloway added 17 with nine assists in 32 minutes, but for the opener all eyes were on Portis, who didn’t disappoint.
Bulls not drawing much interest from bettors, but Cavs and Spurs are.
By Phil Thompson
The Bulls may have a fair shot at winning an NBA championship next season, but chances are you're not betting on them. Really, you're not betting on them.
Within the last three weeks, the Bulls have made up 3 percent of bets placed and just 2 percent of all money wagered on next year's NBA champion through William Hill US, Nevada's largest sports book operator with more 100 locations and a mobile phone service. Last preseason, the Bulls made up 9 percent of bets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are seeing most of this summer's action at 45 percent, which comes as little surprise since the Cavaliers reached this year's NBA Finals and presumably will gain re-signed forward Kevin Love and a healthy Kyrie Irving -- neither of whom were available for most of this summer's championship series -- along a few new free agents. The San Antonio Spurs made a splash in free agency by luring LaMarcus Aldridge and it has been reflected on the books. Their odds have improved from 10-1 three weeks ago to 7-2 on Friday, and they're next in line behind the Cavaliers with 16 percent of money bet on them.
The Bulls' odds have taken a slight dip, from 12-1 to 15-1, but that has more to do with perking up sluggish action on them as it does with what the team has or hasn't done in the offseason.
"Just a combination of the (overall NBA) pool being so small and zero interest in the Bulls whatsoever," said Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading at William Hill US. "That could change. Obviously, they got a new coach coming in so there should be renewed hope, a new attitude. Sometimes a new coach jump-starts things. We'll find out."
Not all bookmakers look at the Bulls in the same way. At MyTopSportsbooks.com, several teams jumped up or down the board based on their gains and losses in the draft and free agency. The Bulls stood pat at 15-1.
Geoff Johnson, spokesman for My Top Sports Books, said via email, "There's an argument to be made that they should move down with some other teams in the East signing solid players (e.g. the Raptors getting (DeMarre) Carroll, Bucks adding (Greg) Monroe) -- but those were intraconference moves, and when/if Derrick Rose is at full capacity, the Bulls still look a cut above everyone in the East except Cleveland."
The New York Knicks have taken their lumps (at least from some journalists and fans) for drafting Latvian project Kristaps Porzingis and making some curious decisions in free agency, but at My Top Sports Books, they got a boost from 500-1 (dead last) to 200-1. "Knicks moved up because of the splashy Robin Lopez signing and because the likes of division-mates Philly and Brooklyn fell. (Philly wasn't supposed to end up with a trio of centers the first time around.)," Johnson said.
Both sports books agreed that the Portland Trail Blazers are a tough sell after losing Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez to other teams, and trading Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh. They nosedived on My Top Sports Books' board from 18-1 to 80-1, and dropped from 35-1 to 60-1 at William Hill.
"Their additions -- Mason Plumlee, Gerald Henderson, Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu -- are a big step back," Johnson said.
"No question about it," said William Hill's Bogdanovich. "That was body blow to say the least."
The Bulls are 7-1 co-favorites to win the NBA Summer League championship along with the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks. League play began Friday in Las Vegas and the Bulls face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Chicago's opener on Saturday.
Below are the current and previous NBA futures odds for MyTopSportsbooks.com (MTS) and William Hill US (WH).
| TEAM | MTS ON 7/8 | MTS PRE-DRAFT | WH ON 7/10 | WH PRE-DRAFT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 5/2 | 4/1 | 3/1 | 7/2 |
| Golden State Warriors | 4/1 | 4/1 | 9/2 | 9/2 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 9/2 | 7/1 | 7/2 | 10/1 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 8/1 | 9/1 | 6/1 | 6/1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 15/1 | 15/1 | 15/1 | 12/1 |
| Houston Rockets | 20/1 | 9/1 | 20/1 | 15/1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 25/1 | 18/1 | 30/1 | 28/1 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 25/1* | 15/1 | 30/1 | 25/1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 25/1* | 12/1 | 12/1 | 10/1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 30/1 | 12/1 | 30/1 | 22/1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 35/1 | 38/1 | 30/1 | 20/1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 40/1 | 60/1 | 30/1 | 30/1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 40/1 | 26/1 | 40/1 | 35/1 |
| Washington Wizards | 40/1 | 22/1 | 25/1 | 20/1 |
| Miami Heat | 45/1 | 32/1 | 50/1 | 50/1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 60/1 | 26/1 | 75/1 | 75/1 |
| Boston Celtics | 75/1 | 32/1 | 75/1 | 60/1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 80/1 | 18/1 | 60/1 | 35/1 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 90/1 | 100/1 | 50/1 | 75/1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 100/1 | 100/1 | 100/1 | 100/1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 100/1 | 50/1 | 100/1 | 100/1 |
| Utah Jazz | 100/1 | 200/1 | 100/1 | 100/1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 125/1 | 50/1 | 100/1 | 100/1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 125/1 | 90/1 | 150/1 | 150/1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 150/1 | 120/1 | 150/1 | 150/1 |
| New York Knicks | 200/1 | 500/1 | 100/1 | 100/1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 200/1 | 80/1 | 75/1 | 125/1 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 250/1 | 80/1 | 150/1 | 150/1 |
| Orlando Magic | 250/1 | 120/1 | 200/1 | 150/1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 500/1 | 200/1 | 200/1 | 150/1 |
* -- Does not account for DeAndre Jordan's decision to spurn the Mavericks and stay with the Clippers, but the move will be reflected in future odds.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!! NFL teams eventually could go where the people, money are.
By Mike Florio
(Photo/Getty Images)
While there’s a chance the pendulum could swing the other way at some point in the future, the current cycle feels more than temporary. If so, and absent efforts by local leaders to finagle public money without elections that are likely to fail if they ever happen, teams that want their stadiums to be replaced will either have to find a way to do it with private money in their current locations — or they’ll have to move to a city where they can.
Which means that the league inevitably will be looking at the bigger cities, where a greater concentration of fans and a greater opportunity to consistently fill a venue would mean a greater flow of cash that would be used to pay for the stadium.
For starters, get used to the idea of two-team markets. The norm in New York since the merger, L.A. (which went from two teams to none 20 years ago) eventually will have a pair of franchises sharing a stadium in Carson or Inglewood. And Chicago already has made noise about an NFL equivalent of the Cubs/White Sox dynamic. If/when the time comes to replace Soldier Field, the Bears plus another team would be in much better position to pay for a new stadium without public funds than the Bears alone.
Major international cities would also become more viable without American tax dollars, especially if the citizen in foreign countries would be more willing to allow public money to be used to lure the NFL. It’s been known for years that England could eventually host one, and possibly two, teams. Toronto remains in the mix as well, despite the failed Bills experiment there.
And is it a coincidence the NFL suddenly is interested in returning to Mexico? More than 100,000 fans showed up there a decade ago for a game between the Cardinals and 49ers. With or without public assistance, the pesos would be plentiful for building a swanky new home for a Mexican NFL team.
Three cities with NFL teams currently aren’t in the top 50 U.S. television markets, based on the 2014 Official NFL Record & Fact Book: Buffalo, Green Bay (Milwaukee is No. 34), and New Orleans. Jacksonville ranked 48th, and Kansas City (No. 31) and Cincinnati (No. 35) trailed greater Orlando (No. 18), Sacramento (No. 20), Portland (No. 22), and Raleigh-Durham (No. 24). If it’s going to take private money to build stadiums, market size becomes far more important to finding private money.
Although the size of a market hardly becomes a guarantee of future relocation (the Packers surely will never leave Green Bay, and the Bills seem to be destined to stick around Buffalo), it becomes a major factor if a franchise hopes to finance a new or renovated stadium and can’t get money for nothing from the politicians.
The cycle still could shift, especially if the abandonment of San Diego, Oakland, and/or St. Louis serves as a wake-up call to other cities that could face losing their teams in the future. For now, though, NFL teams that want new or improved stadiums will have to pay for it themselves — which will make markets with more people and more money necessarily more attractive.
#CUBSTALK
Jake Arrieta did it all Sunday, helping the Cubs avoid a sweep at the hands of the White Sox.
After the South Siders took the series' first two games, Arrieta was magnificent for the Cubs, allowing just one run in a complete-game effort to lead the Cubs to a 3-1 win at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs gave their top starting pitcher an early two-run cushion, scoring twice in the bottom of the first on RBI hits from Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler against White Sox starter Jose Quintana.
But it was Arrieta who had the day's biggest offensive highlight, as well, knocking his first big league homer out over the left-field wall for the Cubs' third run in the fifth inning.
All preventing Arrieta from a shutout Sunday was Adam Eaton's run-scoring sacrifice bunt in the top of the sixth.
Other than that, Arrieta was nearly perfect, surrendering two hits and striking out nine in nine innings of work.
Arrieta earned his 10th win of the season and lowered his ERA to a sterling 2.66. He's allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last five starts, posting a ridiculously low 1.13 ERA during that span.
The Cubs head to the All-Star break with a 47-40 record after Sunday's victory.
Jon Lester: No more excuses after up-and-down first half with Cubs.
By Patrick Mooney
The shorthand version of Jon Lester’s first half-season with the Cubbies: $155 million; dead arm; the yips; 0-for-66.
At least that’s how it felt sometimes…Lester dealing with the weight of that big contract…getting shut down in spring training…being picked apart by ESPN on Opening Night for not throwing over to first base…and finally notching his first hit in the big leagues.
It’s not that Lester has been a head case or a lost cause or a huge disappointment. It’s just that Theo Epstein’s front office had waited years to sign a marquee free agent and overpay a No. 1 starter, and even Lester will admit he hasn’t pitched like an ace yet.
The White Sox ambushed Lester on Saturday afternoon, scoring two runs only three hitters into the game and forcing him to throw 25 pitches. And that felt like game over with the way Chris Sale has been pitching and this lineup has been hitting. The biggest crowd at Wrigley Field so far this season (41,596) sat through the rain and a 5-1 loss that almost seemed predictable.
Lester has admitted to maybe trying too hard to make a good impression in April (6.23 ERA), and having to learn the National League after spending his entire career with the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A’s, and making the adjustments to a new city and a media market that sees him through the lens of that megadeal.
“Just excuses,” Lester said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s the same thing. It’s nine innings. You have to get three outs in an inning. It’s baseball. It’s just an excuse. I won’t ever use that as any fallback or anything like that.
“The game doesn’t change, whether you’re pitching in the AL or the NL. Yeah, you have a pitcher as opposed to a DH. But other than that, it’s all the same. Fastballs down-and-away located does the same thing as it does in the American League.”
Lester’s half-season could be summed up against an underachieving White Sox lineup. The lefty settled down and cruised through the middle of the game, striking out the side in the sixth inning.
But Kris Bryant’s wild throwing error from third base contributed to a three-run seventh inning. Lester finished with eight strikeouts against zero walks and still gave up five runs, four earned, in seven innings.
Lester is now 4-8 with a 3.59 ERA and 109 strikeouts through 110-plus innings. He hasn’t won a game since May 16, though the Cubs have scored three runs total across his last six starts. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 6 — and the Cubs still lost 6-0.
“There’s some good in there, there’s some bad,” Lester said. “There’s a little bit of everything. Obviously, I’ll be the first one to tell you guys I haven’t thrown the ball (as well as) I’ve been able to in the past. I’ve had some spurts here and there.
“I had a really good May (1.76 ERA), a terrible June (5.74 ERA). But I feel like I’ve been OK since then. I feel like I’ve been OK to the point where I look up at the stats a little bit and kind of wonder what’s going on.”
To be clear, Lester doesn’t come across as defensive or overmatched. He’s usually refreshingly honest. At times, he’s looked absolutely dominant on the mound. His professionalism and championship pedigree brings needed credibility into the clubhouse and this overall rebuilding project.
The Cubs (46-40) still want more than that right now, because they know the history of 31-year-old pitchers on long-term deals and feel like they have the chance to do some damage this year.
“His stuff was just inconsistent,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’d be the first guy to tell you that. But that’s why you always hear the term: ‘It’s a long year.’ All of a sudden, guys like that find it and they can get on a severe roll. And then by the end of the season, the numbers are outrageous. Let’s just see how it plays.”
White Sox again can't support Jose Quintana in loss to Cubs.
By JJ Stankevitz
The White Sox head-scratching inability to score with Jose Quintana on the mound returned and prevented a Crosstown sweep from happening.
Despite another quality start from Quintana, the White Sox lost, 3-1, to the Cubs on Sunday afternoon in front of 41,688 at Wrigley Field. The White Sox have now scored one or zero runs in half of Quintana’s 18 starts this season and are averaging 2.4 runs when the 26-year-old left-hander takes the mound.
Quintana wasn’t without his own blemishes on a picture-perfect afternoon for baseball on Clark and Addison. He allowed a pair of runs in the first inning — a Kris Bryant triple and Jorge Soler single inflicted the damage — and in the fifth, Cubs starter Jake Arrieta blasted an 0-2 fastball out to left for a solo home run. But Quintana still fired his ninth consecutive quality start and struck out nine with no walks in 7 1/3 innings, and he hasn’t issued a walk in his last 30 2/3 innings dating back to June 21.
All the White Sox could muster was a lone tally when Adam Eaton laid down a successful safety squeeze to score Carlos Sanchez in the top of the sixth. Arrieta limited the White Sox to two hits and didn’t issue a walk in his complete game effort.
The White Sox last swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 2012.
Golf: I got a club for that: Spieth beats Gillis in playoff, wins John Deere Classic.
By LUKE MEREDITH
Jordan Spieth made it a lot tougher on himself than it needed to be.
In the end, Spieth got exactly what he was looking for from the John Deere Classic: a win and some positive energy ahead of the British Open.
Spieth beat Tom Gillis on the second hole of a playoff to win at TPC Deere Run on Sunday for his fourth victory of the season.
Gillis and Spieth, who opened the tournament with an even-par 71, finished the final round at 20-under 264. Zach Johnson and Danny Lee tied for third at 19 under.
"To be able to shoot 20-under in three rounds is nice momentum," Spieth said. "The finish, when I really didn't feel like tee to green I had much (Sunday), gives me a lot of momentum to draw on if I don't have my best stuff. "
The 46-year-old Gillis, who was attempting to become the oldest first-time winner on the PGA Tour in 20 years, sent an approach into the water. Spieth made par for his second win at this tournament in three years.
Now Spieth heads to the British Open in search of his third consecutive major championship.
Spieth is the first golfer to win four times before the Open Championship since Tiger Woods in 2000 — and he silenced many of the critics who questioned why he played this tournament instead of heading overseas early to prepare for St. Andrews.
"I really didn't care anyways. I came here for a reason, and we accomplished that reason," Spieth said.
After shooting a career-best 10 under on Saturday, Spieth entered the final round with a two-shot lead.
But the field caught up to Spieth when he turned in a pedestrian front nine.
Spieth bogeyed two of his first three holes and was soon passed by the likes of Gillis and Johnson.
Spieth was even at the turn and two shots back of Gillis, who in 171 previous PGA Tour starts had only finished in the top three twice.
Spieth's low point was a bogey on the par-4 11th hole after a putt from the fringe went left.
But Gillis played his final six holes at even par. Spieth roared back into contention with four birdies in five holes, including a 21-foot chip from the fringe on No. 16.
Spieth had a 30-foot putt for the win on No. 18, but he pushed it left. He nearly won on the first hole of the playoff, but his 33-foot try lipped out.
Even though Spieth ultimately outlasted the field, he knows he has some work to do — specifically with his driver, which abandoned him at times this weekend — if he hopes to make it three majors in a row.
"I need to fine tune my driver. I love where my putter is at. My pace control, my speed is awesome right now," Spieth said.
Gillis matched Spieth with a par on the first hole in sudden death. But a tee shot that went into the rough led to a shot in the water, effectively ending his bid for an elusive victory.
Gillis shot a 7-under 64 in the final round.
"When you're going to be 47, the window is closing," Gillis said. "What I saw (Sunday) and the last three days, I'd have to say makes me think I've still got some tread on the tires left."
Wonder shot wins Scottish Open for Fowler.
AFP; By Allan Kelly
Rickie Fowler of the United States, pictured on June 18, 2015, wins the Scottish Open (AFP Photo/Harry How)
Rickie Fowler won the Scottish Open at Gullane on Sunday, making it three birdies in the last four holes with a superb 109-yard wedge shot to within 18 inches at the last.
It was a dramatic finish to a closely-fought, round-long battle involving a dozen players, with the lead changing hands several times.
Fowler's Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Kuchar shared second, a shot back, with Raphael Jacquelin of France after rounds of 68 and 70 respectively.
A shot further back came top Scot Marc Warren, who had the day's best round of 64, young Englishman Eddie Pepperell, who had a 69, and Dutchman Joost Luiten with a 70.
It was just a fourth pro win for 26-year-old Fowler, who won the Players Championship earlier this year in similar style, and it sets him up perfectly for a crack at the Open Championship next week at St Andrews.
Last year he became just the third player after Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to place in the top five in all four Grand Slam tournaments and many feel he is on the cusp of winning his first major.
"I knew going into the 14th where I stood and I had been playing the last four holes well all week," he said.
"Tried to birdie them all and came up just short at the 17th. Hit a really good drive down 18 and hit a wedge really close.
"It definitely does a lot for me going into next week. Still got a lot of work to do, but I like my chances. It's great timing."
Warren's 64 had set the clubhouse lead at 10 under early in the afternoon and he then sat back hoping for some rain and wind to play havoc with the leaders.
He didn't quite get that, but the going out on the picturesque Gullane coastline was still tough enough to make matching him a difficult prospect.
Brooks, as he had done the day before, quickly lost his lead with a bogey at the first and it was Jacquelin who took up the pace, going around the turn at 11 under.
Americans Fowler and Kuchar were in pursuit but they were finding birdies hard to come by as the day wore on.
Brooks and Fowler then fell away with bogeys to nine under, leaving Kuchar closest to Jacquelin out on the course.
The American took a share of the lead with a birdie at the par-five 16th and edged ahead shortly after when the Frenchman missed a four-footer at the 14th.
Fowler then joined his countryman with birdies at 15 and 16 before he produced his grandstand finish at 18 to steal the show.
Jacquelin needed to hole his approach to the last to force a play-off and he nearly did so, his ball back-spinning to a few inches from the cup.
But Fowler had done enough, his three-birdies-in-four-holes finish winning the day in what was just his second Scottish Open appearance.
His winning putt was the first time during the four days that he had led the tournament outright.
Jacquelin's consolation is that his high finish gets him a place in the Open.
"I haven't played the Open since a few years ... so it's good week to come and the confidence is back as well as my game," he said.
Phil Mickelson closed well enough at five under after a 68, but it was a worrying day for defending champion Justin Rose.
One of the favourites for St Andrews, the Englishman had a dreadful afternoon, tumbling off the leaderboard with a 76 which left him at even par for the tournament.
He, and the others fortunate enough to have qualified for the Open, will now pack their bags and make the short hop up the east coast to St Andrews for the year's third major.
Field for the British Open.
AP
The field for the British Open, to be played June 16-19 on the Old Course at St. Andrews (players listed only in the first category for which they are eligible). Four spots to be determined Sunday at the John Deere Classic and Scottish Open:
PGA champions (5 years): Jason Dufner.
British Open champions aged 60 or under on July 19: Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen, Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington, Tiger Woods, Todd Hamilton, Ben Curtis, David Duval, Paul Lawrie, Mark O'Meara, Justin Leonard, Tom Lehman, John Daly, Nick Faldo, Mark Calcavecchia, Sandy Lyle.
Top 10 and ties from the 2014 British Open: Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Edoardo Molinari, Charl Schwartzel, Victor Dubuisson, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell.
Top 50 in the world ranking from May 25: Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker, J.B. Holmes, Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Martin Kaymer, Chris Kirk, Matt Kuchar, Billy Horschel, Kevin Na, Bill Haas, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Jamie Donaldson, Gary Woodland, Ryan Palmer, Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Hunter Mahan, Ryan Moore, Thongchai Jaidee, Paul Casey, Branden Grace, Webb Simpson, Danny Willett, Keegan Bradley, Anirban Lahiri, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Joost Luiten, Matt Every, Bernd Wiesberger, Ben Martin, Brendon Todd.
Top 30 in the Race to Dubai from 2014: Marcel Siem, Alexander Levy, Thomas Bjorn, Stephen Gallacher, Mikko Ilonen, Tommy Fleetwood, Ross Fisher, George Coetzee, Marc Warren, Romain Wattel, Pablo Larrazabal, Jonas Blixt.
Top 5 European Tour members not already exempt from the top 20 in the Race to Dubai through the BMW International Open: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Alex Noren.
2014 Tour Championship field: Russell Henley, Cameron Tringale, John Senden, Morgan Hoffmann, Geoff Ogilvy.
Top 5 PGA Tour members not already exempt from the top 20 in the FedEx Cup standings after the Travelers Championship: Charley Hoffman, Robert Streb, Kevin Kisner, Steven Bowditch.
2014 Order of Merit winner on the Asian Tour: David Lipsky.
2014 Order of Merit winner on the Sunshine Tour: Thomas Aiken.
Top 2 from a cumulative money list in 2015 through the Japan Tour Championship: Adam Bland, Liang Wen-chong.
2014 Senior British Open champion: Bernhard Langer.
2015 British Amateur champion: a-Romain Langasque
2014 U.S. Amateur champion: a-Gunn Yang.
2014 International European Amateur champion: a-Ashley Chesters.
2014 Mark H. McCormack Medal winner: a-Ollie Schneiderjans.
Open Qualifying Seriesional Final Qualifying (Japan-Mizuno Open): Taichi Teshima, Scott Strange, Shingji Tomimura, Tadahiro Takayama.
Open Qualifying Series (Irish Open): Soren Kjeldsen, Eddie Pepperell, Tyrrell Hatton.
Open Qualifying Series (Greenbrier Classic): Danny Lee, David Hearn, James Hahn, Greg Owen.
Open Qualifying Series (French Open): James Morrison, Jaco Van Zyl, Rafa Bello-Cabrera.
Open Qualifying Series (John Deere Classic): One spot TBD.
Open Qualifying Series (Scottish Open): Three spots TBD.
Open Final Qualifying: a-Alister Balcombe, a-Benjamin Taylor, Gary Boyd, Mark Young, a-Paul Kinnear, Ryan Fox, Scott Arnold, a-Jordan Niebrugge, Pelle Edberg, a-Paul Dunne, Robert Dinwiddie, Retief Goosen.
Alternates from the world ranking: Francesco Molinari, Matt Jones, Tim Clark, David Lingmerth, Harris English, Daniel Berger, Russell Knox.
NASCAR: Kyle Busch gets second win in seventh 2015 start at Kentucky.
By Nick Bromberg
Kyle Busch made a big leap towards the top 30 in points Saturday night at Kentucky as NASCAR hopes it made a big leap in improving the competition at intermediate tracks.
While Busch led over 160 of the race's 267 laps en route to the win, the racing throughout the entirety of the evening could not be considered boring, even by the most pessimistic of NASCAR fans. In NASCAR's first race with a new rules set that took away downforce from the cars, there was ample passing in the pack as drivers were sliding around and searching for grip.
It's Busch's second win of 2015 in his seventh start of the season. He entered the race 128 points behind Cole Whitt, the driver in 30th place in the points standings. He's now 87 points back of Whitt with eight races to go for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
With two wins, Busch is guaranteed a berth in the Chase ... if he's in the top 30. When Busch returned to Cup Series competition after suffering a broken leg and broken foot at Daytona in February, NASCAR waived the requirement that he start every race to be eligible for the Chase. But it didn't waive the rule that a driver must be in the top 30 to be Chase eligible.
At 87 points back, Busch now has to average a 17th-place finish over the next eight races to catch Whitt. It's a vast improvement over the 11th-place finish he needed with 11 races remaining before the Chase. Two wins in three races will do that.
To get the win, Busch needed to pass Joey Logano for the lead with less than 20 laps to go. Busch stalked Logano for a few laps and on his second try, passed the Daytona 500 champion for good. Following the pass, Logano had no answer for Busch, who drove away.
"I know I won, but so far so good, I like the new aero package obviously," Busch said. "It just seemed like you weren't stuck. Logano kind of moved up and blocked my lane and with the old package you kind of just get stalled out and you'd get stuck behind him. This one here I could kind of move around – I went back to the bottom and made a move on him to pass him low."
Logano was also the lone non-Joe Gibbs Racing car in the top five. Denny Hamlin finished third while Carl Edwards was fourth and Matt Kenseth was fifth.
The battle between Busch and Logano was one of the few fierce battles for the lead all evening. As has been usual in the Sprint Cup Series so far in 2015, especially at intermediate tracks like 1.5-mile Kentucky, the leader of the race was able to get far enough away from the rest of the field to keep any challengers at bay.
The battle between Busch and Logano was one of the few fierce battles for the lead all evening. As has been usual in the Sprint Cup Series so far in 2015, especially at intermediate tracks like 1.5-mile Kentucky, the leader of the race was able to get far enough away from the rest of the field to keep any challengers at bay.
But while the leaders, mainly Busch and also Brad Keselowski in the early stages of the race, were largely unchallenged, drivers throughout the rest of the field kept each other company. As the groove widened out, drivers in the middle of the pack were able to size each other up for passing opportunities. And, most importantly, complete them.
The lack of downforce on the cars meant drivers were forced to manage the throttle more throughout the corners of the track. And while the pedal-wrestling drivers were likely doing may not have been apparent to many viewers at home, the ability of cars to run close to each others' bumpers was. Drivers were able to follow each other closely for more than just a split second to make a pass. With the larger spoilers and other previous rules, literal nose-to-tail racing was few and far between.
Since NASCAR's announcement of different rules for Saturday night's race, the race was a highly anticipated event. And while the results certainly looked encouraging, the anticipation also bears mention. Was the racing really that much better than it's been at similar type tracks so far in 2015? Or was it better because observers wanted it to be better after hearing how good racing with less downforce could be, namely from many of the Cup Series' top drivers?
It's a fair question. And one that may not have a clear-cut answer. Did the restarts after a track-record 11 caution flags help to increase passing opportunities? Those caution flags certainly helped keep cars on the lead lap. At one point past halfway, 36 cars were on the same lap as the leader thanks to the wave-around rule.
But if the answer is foggy, the magic 8 ball at least said "the outlook is good" rather than "reply hazy, try again." NASCAR undoubtedly would like more passing for the lead. But it can't be unhappy with what it saw otherwise. And heck, some of those 11 cautions were for actual crashes, a sometimes rare sight at intermediate tracks in recent memory.
The next time we'll see this rules set is at Darlington in September. And by then, NASCAR will have had the opportunity to try an even different set of tweaks at Indianapolis and Michigan. Are track-specific rules combinations the wave of the NASCAR future? If Saturday night is a harbinger of things to come, we're betting heavily they are.
SOCCER; Jason Johnson's last-gasp goal gives Fire win over Sounders.
By Danny Michallik
After gaining much-needed confidence from a visit to the Lone Star State last Friday, the Fire beat their first Western Conference opponent of the season, knocking off Seattle Sounders FC, 1-0, in front of 18,528 at Toyota Park Saturday night.
It was a night of firsts, as head coach Frank Yallop made a trio of changes from the side that snatched a 1-1 draw at the Houston Dynamo last Friday.
Following his 72nd-minute equalizer at BBVA Compass Stadium - entering as a second-half substitute - Patrick Nyarko stood in for Jason Johnson, and earned his first MLS start since Oct. 10, 2014 at Sporting Kansas City and his 135th regular-season appearance. Meanwhile, a first-ever league cameo was granted to Patrick Doody, who returned from a loan stint at Saint Louis FC to deputize for Greg Cochrane. Mike Magee also reclaimed the captain's armband and slotted in alongside Kennedy Igboananike to lead the firing line for the Men in Red.
The Fire began just as Yallop preached prior to the match, on the front foot despite Magee spurning the game's first clear-cut opportunity in the third minute, heading a delightful cross from Nyarko over Perkins' goal.
Seven minutes later, a cheeky 1-2 between Harry Shipp and Nyarko had the makings of a stellar opening goal, as Shipp's low delivery found Kennedy Igboananike, whose one-time effort went wide before being flagged for offside. It was the first of three missed opportunities for the Nigerian, as he continued to put himself in positions to score all night, but failed to slot home past Perkins in the 34th minute, blazing a shot wildly off target and again in the 58th minute, with an attempted back-heel flick rolling safely into the palms of the Sounders 'keeper.
Yallop's side continued to apply pressure on the visitors, coming close to opening their account in the 19th minute. This time, it was Magee and Shipp who linked up, the latter providing an expertly weighted ball to the back post, which met the head of Nyarko, who was denied by an alert Perkins once again.
Former Fire forward Chad Barrett endeavored to get Sigi Schmid's outfit on the board in the 37th minute, as his one-timed, left footed side volley was stick firmly at Johnson. Cristian Roldan hit the woodwork just shy of the halftime whistle, marking the visitor's best chance in an opening 45 minutes that saw tensions flare up as Barrett and Eric Gehrig tussled before walking off the field.
Ten minutes into the second stanza, the Fire were lucky not to concede a penalty as Nyarko appeared to have brought down Thomás, but referee Allen Chapman let play go on.
The Rave Green resisted well despite the Fire continuing to inflict pressure on their counterparts, and, in the 67th minute, almost found their breakthrough. Substitute Andy Craven came close to making an instant impact after Tyrone Mears' free kick fell to the forward, whose volley was hounded down by Johnson.
In the 78th minute, substitute Guly do Prado nearly converted his headed effort past Perkins, who was up to the task yet again. Jason Johnson, a late substitute, took the Fire's last chance of the encounter with an arrow to the back post in second-half stoppage time to give the Men in Red a deserved victory, and first in league play since a 3-0 drubbing of the Montreal Impact on May 30.
Next up for the Fire is a midweek fixture against Columbus Crew SC on July 15 at Toyota Park. The Sounders host Colorado Rapids on July 18 at CenturyLink Field.
Chicago Fire Starting XI (subs):
(4-4-2): Sean Johnson; Lovel Palmer, Eric Gehrig, Adailton, Patrick Doody; Patrick Nyarko (Jason Johnson, 65'), Razvan Cocis, Matt Polster, Harry Shipp; Mike Magee (C) (Guly do Prado, 70'), Kennedy Igboananike (Michael Stephens, 83').
US beats Haiti 1-0 in Gold Cup, clinches group title.
By JIMMY GOLEN
Gyasi Zardes didn't wait long to make an impact for the United States in its Gold Cup match against Haiti on Friday night.
The 23-year-old forward entered at the start of the second half for Jozy Altidore, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Less than two minutes later, the forward with the blond-streaked Mohawk turned a pass from Greg Garza into a perfect setup for Clint Dempsey's goal, sending the Americans to a 1-0 win that clinched their group title.
"Gyasi has the special talent to take people on," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said, calling Zardes curious and eager to learn. "He has a lot of talent and a lot of potential. We just want to tell him every day, 'One step at a time.' ... It's a real joy to work with him."
Dempsey scored in the 47th minute and Brad Guzan made a pair of point-blank saves in the second half for the defending champions, who improved to 2-0 in the opening round and clinched a spot in a July 18 quarterfinal in Baltimore.
The Americans have won six in a row, are 30-1-2 in Gold Cup group play and have reached the knockout stage of all 13 Gold Cup tournaments. They have one game remaining in the group stage, against Panama on Monday in Kansas City, Kansas.
"It's a nice feeling, knowing that we are already in. But we are not slowing down," Klinsmann said. "We know we have an influence on who's going through. ... So we will not take our foot off the pedal."
Zardes started in the Gold Cup opener against Honduras, which the U.S. won 2-1. But Klinsmann shuffled his lineup liberally — including the whole back line — to keep his players fresh after the three-day turnaround.
On Friday, the coach came out of his office at halftime and told Zardes to warm up. "I just prepared myself to step on the field and try to make a difference," said Zardes, who is in his third year with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The goal didn't need so much as a word.
Zardes said he made eye contact with Garza, then gave the defender a head nod before he lofted the ball toward the penalty area. Zardas ran onto the ball and cut a pass backward, knowing that one of the forwards would be cutting toward the goal.
It turned out to be Dempsey, who scored with a right-footed shot from about 12 yards.
Dempsey has scored in the last four games he's played for the U.S. national team, one shy of the record Altidore set two years ago. Dempsey's 44 international goals are 13 shy of Landon Donovan's American record.
"I love being with this group of guys; they're top players," Zardes said. "I'm just trying to pursue my career and hopefully be like them."
Haiti, which is 0-1-1, will play Honduras on Monday, with the loser finishing last in the group. Klinsmann said he will try to balance the need to keep the team's momentum going with his players' need for rest.
Chief among those will be Altidore, who injured his hamstring on May 16 and is trying to get back into game shape.
"He will get stronger still. I'm not worried about it," Klinsmann said. "He's still in the process of becoming Jozy Altidore. We know he's going to score some goals."
The U.S. nearly went ahead in the 34th minute, when Aron Johannsson beat goalkeeper Johny Placide. Johannsson was ruled offside, but replays showed he was onside when Altidore passed the ball to him.
The most influential coaches and athletic directors in college sports.
By Jon Solomon
Who are the most influential college coaches? According to a CBSSports.com 12-member voting panel of people who work in the college sports industry, they are the highest-profile coaches who recently won big.
Who are the most influential college athletic directors? Based on the same panel's votes, these ADs tend to be those who are on powerful committees and/or tend to freely speak their mind.
What is telling about the vote -- and sure, it's a subjective vote -- is no coach or AD cracked the top 10 list of the Most Influential People in College Sports. The power of a coach tends to be far more local than national. The opinions of Mike Krzyzewski, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban and John Calipari usually result in more action at their respective universities than on the national landscape. Calipari, for instance, has been complaining for years that the NCAA and schools weren't allowed to pay for family travel to games. The NCAA created a pilot program this year once Meyer spoke out publicly and Ohio State AD Gene Smith and Oregon AD Rob Mullens worked behind the scenes to get it done.
One notable coach who didn't crack the coaches' top 10 but we believe should have made it: Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma. When you're a basketball coach, no matter the gender, and win as many NCAA titles as John Wooden while being as outspoken as Auriemma, you've got influence. Only Auriemma would criticize the style of play in men's basketball during the women's Final Four and get as much attention as he got. Auriemma received only one vote, perhaps speaking to how much college sports' influence is tied to the revenue-generating sports.
I suspect if we did this project again in a couple years there would be an AD or two who cracked the top 10 of the overall list. Athletic directors are starting to gain more power in NCAA decisions and as the Power Five conferences create their own legislation. Plus, they're serving on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, which will continue to be a lightning rod in college sports based on which teams make the four-team field and if the playoff should expand to eight teams.
| Most influential college coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking | Coach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-1 | Mike Krzyzewski, Duke men's basketball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-1 | Urban Meyer, Ohio State football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. | Nick Saban, Alabama football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. | John Calipari, Kentucky men's basketball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5. | Tom Izzo, Michigan State men's basketball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. | Roy Williams, North Carolina men's basketball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. | All Power Five conference football coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. | Jim Harbaugh, Michigan football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. | Bill Snyder, Kansas State football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10. | Mark Richt, Georgia football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voter on John Calipari: “Though some may point to only one national championship as well as the (Final Four) banners that were removed, it is hard to point to anything other than jealousy for a fair amount of the grief Calipari gets. He just thinks of things first, and is smart and stubborn enough to figure them out first as well.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voter on all Power Five coaches: “In today's competitive collegiate environment, most FBS head football coaches will receive anything he feels is necessary to compete and win.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voter on Jim Harbaugh: “He has the capacity to prompt change and discussion, such as his social media use and the satellite camps issue.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Voter on Mark Richt: "He's the only coach on the new and influential Football Oversight Committee and cares about the good of the game."
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NCAA to drop postseason ban after South Carolina flag move.
AP - Sports
Gamecocks helmets. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
The NCAA will end a nearly 15-year ban on South Carolina hosting sanctioned championship events following the decision to remove the Confederate flag from the state's capitol grounds.
Gov. Nikki Haley signed the legislation Thursday.
Within minutes of announcement, NCAA Board of Governors Chairman Kirk Schulz issued a statement commending South Carolina's lawmakers for taking the action. The ban applied to all championship events with pre-determined host sites, such as the men's basketball tournament. Events that were assigned to home teams, such as the baseball tournament, were exempt from the ban.
Schulz bidding to host NCAA tournament events can resume as soon as the Confederate flag comes down.
The 25 most influential people in college sports.
By Jon Solomon
Who are the most influential people in college sports? That's the question CBSSports.com sought to answer as the ground beneath the NCAA continues to shift.
But instead of creating our own highly speculative list, we asked 12 smart people inside college sports to make their own. Who moves the needle as the 25 most influential people?
The results follow in this story, including the number of points and ballots each person collected. A first-place vote was worth 25 points, a second-place vote was worth 24 points, and so on.
There were no right or wrong answers. Influence is in the eye of the beholder. Pick 12 different people to vote and you might get a decidedly different list.
Sometimes influence is directly tied to a person's skill set, ideas and personality, such as a prominent coach who gains a platform due to winning. Other times influence comes from a person's job title, such as a Power Five conference commissioner. In some cases, influence happens behind the scenes through relationships and politicking by people the public doesn't know much about. Increasingly, influence occurs from outside pressures brought by lawyers, players and politicians fighting for more athletes' rights and benefits.
| Voting panel | |
| Voter | Affiliation / experience |
| Sandy Barbour | Penn State athletic director; former Cal and Tulane athletic director; former Notre Dame deputy athletic director |
| Dan Beebe | College sports consultant at the Dan Beebe Group; former Big 12 and Ohio Valley commissioner; former NCAA director of enforcement |
| Charles Bloom | South Carolina senior associate athletic director; former SEC spokesman |
| John Currie | Kansas State athletic director; former Tennessee executive associate athletic director; former Wake Forest assistant athletic director |
| Gene Marsh | NCAA compliance lawyer at Jackson Lewis P.C.; former NCAA infractions committee chairman; former Alabama faculty athletics representative |
| Dave Revsine | Big Ten Network studio host; former ESPN anchor and play-by-play announcer; author of “The Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation” |
| Greg Shaheen | Sports consultant and president of OSM Advisors, LLC; former NCAA senior vice president who oversaw NCAA men's basketball tournament |
| Ellen Staurowsky | Drexel professor of sport management; co-founder of the College Athletes Rights and Empowerment Faculty Coalition; testified for Ed O'Bannon plaintiffs in lawsuit against NCAA |
| Scott Stricklin | Mississippi State athletic director; former athletic department official at Auburn, Tulane, Baylor and Kentucky |
| Scott Woodward | Washington athletic director; former Washington vice president of external affairs; former LSU director of external affairs |
| Tom Yeager | Colonial Athletic Association commissioner (longest-tenured Division I commissioner); board member of NCAA's football and men's basketball officiating LLCs; former NCAA infractions committee chairman |
| Debbie Yow | NC State athletic director; former Saint Louis and Maryland athletic director |
These 25 people may not have all of the answers to the NCAA's future, but collectively, they're playing a major role in shaping college sports as we know it. Members of media organizations were not eligible for voting.
25. Donald Remy, NCAA Chief Legal Officer
Points: 68 | Ballots: 6/12
Who is he? Remy has an influential voice in helping to make decisions on important NCAA lawsuits, such as the Ed O'Bannon, Jeffrey Kessler and Penn State cases. The NCAA's lawyers used to be silent publicly; that's not the case with Remy, who is often quoted on legal decisions. He was the NCAA's third highest-paid employee in 2013 with total compensation of $777,652, a 25-percent raise after a promotion.
T-22 Harris Pastides, South Carolina President
Points: 69 | Ballots: 6/12
Who is he? Pastides is chair of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, meaning he also has a seat at the table on the powerful NCAA Board of Governors. Pastides recently told CBSSports.com he's not inclined to have the NCAA try to get the US Supreme Court to hear the Ed O'Bannon case if the NCAA loses its appeal. The NCAA quickly put out statements after Pastides veered off the playbook.
Voter comment: “Pastides is a solid institutional leader for sure. Try juggling the Ol' Ball Coach (Steve Spurrier) [and] issues like the Confederate Flag while financials in his state make higher ed[ucation] as complicated as anywhere in the country.”
T-22 Jim Phillips, Northwestern Athletic Director
Points: 69 | Ballots: 6/12
Who is he? Phillips is on the fast track toward greater influence in college sports. He's the chairman of the NCAA Division I Council, a new legislative group that has given more power to athletic directors, and is the only Division I AD on the powerful NCAA Board of Governors. Phillips has had to navigate the ongoing unionization attempt by Northwestern football players. He was reportedly a candidate for Michigan's AD job last fall.
Voter comment: “One of the most active, young athletic administrators in the business, this appointment reflects Phillips' good work to date, and his willingness to stay in the batter's box until he gets a ball he can hit. Well-liked and deals well with complex issues. His is a name to watch, not just because of the roles he fills, but because there is plenty of time to see his ascension on this list.”
T-22 Kevin Plank, Under Armour Founder/CEO
Points: 69 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? Plank challenged Nike's supremacy in athletic apparel and the results continue to pay off for Under Armour, which has gone from plucky underdog to $3 billion in sales. Last year, Under Armour signed Notre Dame away from Adidas in a 10-year deal worth about $90 million in cash and merchandise. Plank, a former Maryland football player, recently pledged $25 million to the Terrapins' project that will convert their former basketball arena into a $155 million indoor football practice facility and academic research complex.
Voter comment: “With the recent retirement announcement of (Nike chairman) Phil Knight, how Kevin Plank chooses to manage his continuing and rapid ascent as the czar of modern sportswear will impact all of sport. It will help his Terrapins for certain, but likely many others along the way. Whether or not he cares to address some of the broader ills brought on by the apparel business over the past generations remains to be fully seen, but if he cares to, Plank can impact the result readily.”
21. Brian Hainline, NCAA Chief Medical Officer
Points: 72 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? Facing a concussion lawsuit and negative publicity in 2012, the NCAA hired Hainline as its first chief medical officer. Under Hainline, the NCAA launched a $30 million study with the Department of Defense to create what the White House called the most comprehensive concussion database ever. Hainline wants NCAA concussion guidelines to become rules, but that's a struggle within the membership. Just as importantly, Hainline has declared mental health as the NCAA's No. 1 safety concern.
Voter comment: “While the NFL has shouldered the lion's share of the discussion regarding concussions because of the high profile cases involved, Hainline may be the most relevant of all the voices to sort out the standards and practices to care for future generations of athletes. Though a newly created position over the last few years, Hainline has gained a reputation for being focused, pragmatic and thoughtful about navigating the waters of complex and very real health needs of student-athletes. The test will be for his patience with ‘the system' and his ability to get schools to recognize that the highest possible level of discretion and care is simply not a choice.”
20. Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame Athletic Director
Points: 77 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? Swarbrick rose to national prominence as a lawyer, consultant and executive in the college and Olympic sports industries. He is a forward thinker and a rare high-ranking person in college sports who will publicly go against the grain with outside-the-box dialogue. Last December, Swarbrick told CBSSports.com that athletes need to be treated more like other students and should be allowed to be paid through group licensing deals.
Voter comment: “Ten minutes with Swarbrick helps one understand how, without ever having worked a day on a college campus, he reportedly came within a single vote of edging Myles Brand for the NCAA presidency in late 2002. The timing may have been off -- then -- but the benefits his alma mater has reaped from that single vote are significant. Swarbrick wields incredible power and respect among his peers, and rightfully so.”
19. Michael Hausfeld, Ed O'Bannon Attorney
Points: 79 | Ballots: 6/12
Who is he? Hausfeld's victory in the Ed O'Bannon case -- pending appeal by the NCAA -- will be studied for decades. Jeffrey Kessler's case has greater consequences, but Hausfeld opened the door for players to be paid with numerous legal victories during an ongoing six-year battle with the NCAA. Hausfeld recently sued the NCAA and North Carolina over the university's academic scandal, a spin-off to the O'Bannon case that's trying to examine whether athletes are truly educated.
Voter comment: “The Hausfeld team achieved what many believed could never be done. The NCAA was found to have violated federal anti-trust law, leading to additional compensation for players. The president of the NCAA was placed on the stand in a federal court for the first time in history to be questioned about the manner in which the college sport industry is run.”
18. Phil Knight, Nike Co-Founder/Chairman
Points: 85 | Ballots: 6/12
Who is he? Knight made Nike the king of athletic apparel. Nike money flows through athletic departments -- and often to coaches -- through lucrative endorsement contracts. Oregon would not have its sustained success in football without the millions of dollars in donations from Knight, who is listed by Forbes as the 35th richest person in the world and 21st richest person in the US. Knight recently announced he will retire in 2016 and wants Nike President and CEO Mark Parker to succeed him as the company's chairman.
17. Kirk Schulz, Kansas State President
Points: 89 | Ballots: 5/12
Who is he? Schulz represents the new face of the NCAA. As chairman of the NCAA Board of Governors, Schulz had an influential voice in changing the NCAA model to Power Five autonomy while the industry tries late in the game to outrace court cases and interest by Congress. Schulz embraces social media and has provided some more sunshine into NCAA decisions.
Voter comment: “He was a key presidential leader at the 2014 and 2015 conventions. He was part of a committee that hired (Big 12 commissioner) Bob Bowlsby. He was key in negotiating exit fee agreements with outgoing Big 12 members and then incoming members. Behind the scenes, he has provided strong leadership.”
16. Nick Saban, Alabama Football Coach
Points: 94 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? Saban's “process” on and off the field has resulted in three national titles while heavily influencing other programs. Other coaches copied Saban by concentrating on the specific (and often expensive) steps designed to build a championship team. Adding more support staff and speaking with “one voice” can be traced to Saban. Off the field, Saban has spoken his mind on many topics -- such as slowing down up-tempo offense, ending satellite camps and playing nine SEC games -- but hasn't gotten his way.
Voter comment: “Saban has made his mark on the field as well as behind the scenes on a number of issues regarding the game he loves. Those in the business remark at his CEO-like talent and involvement in some of the more complicated issues (including playing rules). While doing so may not make him as unusual as many think (college football coaches are CEOs, no doubt), that he is able to do so with such impact and thought speaks to both his success and its continued longevity.”
T-14 Jimmy Sexton, Agent
Points: 96 | Ballots: 7/12
Who is he? Sexton is the powerful agent who sets the market for college football coaching hirings and salaries. Sexton's clients include head coaches Nick Saban, Gus Malzahn, Jimbo Fisher, Jim McElwain, Hugh Freeze and Jim Mora Jr., as well as prominent coordinators Will Muschamp and Lane Kiffin. When Auburn played Florida State for the 2013 BCS championship, Sexton became the first agent to represent both coaches in college football's title game. He understands the pulse of what's going on in the coaching market and has the relationships to make that pay off for his clients.
T-14 Jeff Long, Arkansas Athletic Director
Points: 96 | Ballots: 7/12
Who is he? Long has as many votes as the other members of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. But Long's voice each week in November and December becomes the one that the public hears to explain the committee's thinking. Long's explanations sometimes opened a can of worms, but the answers provided more transparency than the NCAA men's basketball committee often offered after the real selections. Long gained credibility in 2012 by firing Bobby Petrino for unfairly hiring his mistress and lying about numerous issues to Long.
Voter comment: “Long has ascended to a high profile role that no one could have seen coming only a few years ago. Though accompanied by more than a dozen colleagues (on the CFP Selection Committee), Long will again be this year's man on the hot seat. And coming from the most coveted football conference adds both pleasure and pressure to the role. For sure, however, his voice is more clearly seen in the leadership position of the game and the business as a result.”
13. John Swofford, ACC Commissioner
Points: 98 | Ballots: 6/12
Who is he? For a man who started and finished the most chaotic realignment in major college sports history, Swofford may be underrated at No. 13. The ACC remains one of the five major conferences -- unlike the Big East -- because of Swofford's maneuvering even after the ACC lost charter member Maryland to the Big Ten. In recent years, Swofford added Syracuse and Pittsburgh as a course correction for basketball; signed up Notre Dame for all sports except football, in which the Irish play about five ACC teams a year; and kept Florida State board members happy by tying ACC schools' TV rights together so it's harder for anyone to leave.
T- 11 Urban Meyer, Ohio State Football Coach
Points: 104 | Ballots: 7/12
Who is he? Meyer guided Ohio State to the national championship last season despite losing his top two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. Before Meyer won two national titles at Florida, many critics said his spread-option offense would never succeed in the SEC. Today, the SEC consists of many unique offenses that can be traced back to Meyer's success. His competitiveness in recruiting has changed the Big Ten and probably helped crystalize Michigan's need to hire Jim Harbaugh last fall to keep up. Off the field, Meyer used his platform at the post-game Sugar Bowl news conference to criticize the NCAA for not reimbursing families to see their sons play in the College Football Playoff. Two days later, the NCAA announced a pilot program to reimburse players' families.
Voter comment: “Though seemingly enigmatic at times, Meyer clearly has gone about his business in a way that assures he can call the shots in the sport he has mastered for as long as he wishes. Again. In another place (after winning national titles at Florida). And that in and of itself is remarkable.”
T-11 Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Basketball Coach
Points: 104 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? We know all about Krzyzewski's success on the court. He has won five NCAA titles (second only to John Wooden) and restored USA Basketball. Off the court, he's a brand name. His vision of leadership undoubtedly influences people who watch his commercials, read his books, and hear him on his national talk radio show. No college coach has morphed into the business world quite like Krzyzewski, who by marketing his leadership to influence others helps himself and Duke in the process.
Voter comment: “It wasn't long ago that the state of basketball in the United States was in crisis level. Well, not anymore. What wasn't largely understood at the time was that Coach K was grappling with his own relevance (think he regrets going to the Lakers now?) and how to top off his career. With renewed focus and energy, an adjusted approach to recruiting more akin to the times, and opportunities rightfully afforded him through (USA Basketball's) Jerry Colangelo and others, Coach K seems like a teenager again at the ripe age of 68. He can get anything done that he wants -- he just needs to want it.”
10. Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff Executive Director
Points: 121 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? After spending many years telling the public why a playoff would hurt football, Hancock oversaw the transition to … a playoff. Hancock's tune changed once enough of his bosses -- the presidents and commissioners -- finally wanted a better postseason. Still, Hancock and his staff pulled off an overwhelming success with the debut of the CFP, which was named by the Sports Business Journal as the Sports Event of the Year. The CFP drew record TV ratings and created more interest in college football late in the regular season.
Voter comment: “There is no more fitting role to close out a remarkable, distinguished career in college athletics than Hancock as the lead of the CFP. Cool, calm, smart yet simple in his approach, Hancock was what the FBS conferences needed.”
Voter comment: “Power is not taken, but given because of ability to take a group and get them to where they want to go. Is anyone better at this than Bill?”
9. Oliver Luck, NCAA Executive Vice President
Points: 126 | Ballots: 10/12
Who is he? Luck was hired away from his post as West Virginia AD last December to help provide a bridge to the NCAA's uncertain future. He's one of the most pragmatic thinkers about the legal challenges facing college sports. Luck has said he finds it appropriate for universities to pay athletes for what he considers a “fundamental right” to their name, image and likeness. How many NCAA executives would reach out to Sonny Vaccaro, a key figure in the Ed O'Bannon case, as Luck did shortly after he was hired? Luck's new role offers the NCAA office a respected former AD to better communicate with current ADs. In the voting, Luck was tied for second for the number of ballot appearances.
Voter comment: “The smart, savvy, and likable Luck will need every component of his vast skill set to help college athletics wade through the many competing interests that challenge it from all directions. It may very well be up to Luck to save the NCAA from itself and to keep it as a viable force in the college sports world.”
8. Mike Slive, Ex-SEC Commissioner
Points: 130 | Ballots: 7/12
Who is he? It's a testament to Slive's stature that he made the top 10 despite his recent retirement and going under the radar publicly for much of the past year due to cancer treatment. Three voters ranked Slive ahead of his successor, Greg Sankey, and two voters put Slive in the top five. Slive's influence will indirectly continue into the future. He campaigned for a football playoff when only John Swofford joined him. He added Texas A&M and Missouri to move his league to 14 teams, and he created the SEC Network, which will be a lucrative revenue source for SEC schools. And Slive put Sankey in great position to become the SEC's next commissioner -- a title that automatically gives major influence to whoever holds the job.
Voter comment: “Even in retirement, Slive is a respected voice, as one of the greatest conference commissioners in history. His opinion will help shape opinions.”
7. Jeffrey Kessler, Martin Jenkins Attorney
Points: 137 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is he? Technically, the lawsuit everyone fears is called the Martin Jenkins case, named after a plaintiff who recently played football at Clemson. In reality, it's the Kessler case. The prominent sports labor attorney helped bring free agency to the NFL and is essentially seeking the same thing in college for football and men's basketball players. Kessler's case could be certified as a class action in the coming months, pending an appellate court's decision in the Ed O'Bannon case and other possible legal maneuverings. Rulings in O'Bannon opened the door for Kessler, who is now trying to kick the door down.
Voter comment: “As if the players associations didn't have enough to keep him busy in the country's professional sports, the fact that Jeffrey Kessler is engaging in what could be the most far-reaching test of the college sports model (enough to make the O'Bannon case seem like a small claims matter) should cause any remaining skeptics about needed changes to the business to sit up and get to it. Kessler is fiery, fierce and doesn't play to lose -- or tie. In ways, his work over the coming years may make him the single most influential person in the fate of the world of intercollegiate athletics. Standby and be aware.”
6. Larry Scott, Pac-12 Commissioner
Points: 154 | Ballots: 10/12
Who is he? Scott jumped into college sports from tennis in 2010 with a near splash by aggressively trying to land Texas. After adding Utah and Colorado, Scott pooled together member schools' media rights to land a TV deal that has dramatically improved the Pac-12's money and exposure. Under Scott, the Pac-12 has tried to spread its brand into China and has been more aggressive than most leagues in providing new benefits to college players, such as guaranteed multi-year scholarships, looser transfer rules and post-college medical expenses. At $3.5 million, Scott remained the highest-paid conference commissioner in 2013-14.
Voter comment: “He's innovative, although the jury is still out on whether taking a more professional sports approach works in higher education.”
5. Mark Emmert, NCAA President
Points: 161 | Ballots: 9/12
Who is he? Emmert represents an interesting case study on how to rank influence. He is the NCAA president, yet he possesses far less authority than commissioners in major professional sports. He has testified before Congress about the NCAA's slow bureaucracy despite efforts to streamline changes faster, yet he also had missteps that contributed to a slow reform process. He has been the face of the association when unprecedented penalties to Penn State later got reduced, when the Miami investigation was botched, and when the NCAA waited on whether to tackle academic fraud at North Carolina. Emmert described his role this way to CBSSports.com last December: “The role of the president is not to be the guy who makes decisions, but a guy who helps keep people focused on those decisions, help them move past the issue du jour to bigger, broader issues.”
Voter comment: “There is no doubt Mark Emmert belongs on this list. But contemplate this: Has anyone ever held office for less than five years, had more curious lapses of judgement, exhibitions of ego and lost the confidence of nearly everyone who works for and with him -- and kept their job?! For sure, his low profile reflects the lashes imposed on many fronts for the first two-plus years of gaffes and neglect during his tenure. He's likely still in the role because those he reports to realize no one would yet want this job given the unrecognizable state of affairs Emmert took the organization toward when he got his hands on the wheel. Credit him with surviving multiple 10 counts and remaining in for the latter rounds.”
4. Claudia Wilken, Federal Judge
Points: 188 | Ballots: 8/12
Who is she? A California judge who last summer said she has never heard of an “ESPY” is changing college sports from a courtroom. Wilken decided in the Ed O'Bannon case that the NCAA's rules preventing athletes from being paid for use of their names, images and likenesses violate antitrust law. The decision is under appeal by the NCAA. If Wilken's decision stands, starting Aug. 1, universities would be allowed to offer deferred payments to players for the 2016-17 year. Wilken shot down the NCAA's longstanding amateurism defense to justify not paying players, but determined the NCAA could provide some restrictions. She also ruled on cost of attendance and she's the judge in Jeffrey Kessler's lawsuit seeking a free market. Wilken, arguably more than anybody else, is causing the NCAA to change.
Voter comment: “She holds the future structure of college athletics in her hands.”
3. Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Commissioner
Points: 199 | Ballots: 10/12
Who is he? The Big 12 is not the easiest place to be a commissioner. Historically, competing interests -- namely, those aligned with Texas -- have divided the Big 12 and threatened its existence. Yes, there are times his messaging gets lost in translation (see the “One True Champion” fiasco and the flip-flop on whether the Big 12 needs a football championship game). Yes, the Big 12 is not winning championships in prominent sports lately. But Bowlsby's ability to provide thoughtful, frank and measured dialogue to problems has impressed many in the industry. Bowlsby is now chairman of the new Football Oversight Committee, the new influential group that will oversee the NCAA Football Rules Committee. If college football's rules evolve due to concerns over player safety and too much offense, he will likely play a major role. Bowlsby is the only Power Five commissioner who has publicly been open to finding a model to compensate athletes.
2. Greg Sankey, SEC Commissioner
Points: 212 | Ballots: 10/12
Who is he? Since Sankey became SEC commissioner on June 1, the most common advice he receives: “Don't mess up.” Sankey inherits from Mike Slive a conference that is in good shape. As Slive's No. 2 man for many years, Sankey quietly was influential behind the scenes through his ideas, work on NCAA legislation and relationships around the country. Sankey is chairman of the NCAA infractions committee. He's the only Power Five commissioner who takes to Twitter to communicate with the public and help shape his message.
Voter comment: “He has unique and various experience of scale (former Commissioner of the Southland), governance (he seems to be able to recite the Division I Manual by heart), enforcement (as Chief Cop of the SEC for a dozen years and, at least for the moment, chair of the NCAA Committee on Infractions), strategy (impossible to not work with Slive and glean anything but the most thoughtful take on the business), humor (may be one of the funniest people you will ever meet), leadership (he commands a room in a way that makes clear he is there to stay), success (while those around him have largely gotten the credit, it will be nearly impossible for Greg not to get the credit he deserves in his new role). Expect him to ascend to No. 1 no later than Jim Delany's last day in office.”
1. Jim Delany, Big Ten Commissioner
Points: 270 | Ballots: 12/12
Who he is: Delany was the only person named on every ballot of the CBSSports.com survey. His recent additions of Rutgers and Maryland put the Big Ten into new markets for recruiting and TV purposes. Long before conference TV networks became the rage, Delany created the Big Ten Network, which is printing money for its schools. The league's TV money will only soon increase. All eyes nationally are on the windfall Delany is sure to land when the Big Ten's media rights deals with ESPN/ABC and CBS expire after the 2016-17 academic year, especially given Ohio State's recent football national championship, Jim Harbaugh's hiring at Michigan, and an improved Big Ten basketball product. At the same time, Delany has pushed the idea of freshman ineligibility -- or “year of readiness,” as he calls it -- to highlight college sports' legal concerns and the balance between academics and athletics for football and men's basketball players who are academically underprepared. You may agree or disagree with Delany. But you always pay attention to him -- and that's influence.
Voter comment: “The conference commissioners continue to be the biggest individual powerbrokers in the world of college athletics. Up until a few months ago, you could have had a decent debate as to whether Delany or Mike Slive was more powerful. But with Slive's retirement, Delany gets the top spot. He is an innovator. He is acutely aware of the power of the winds of change in the industry and isn't afraid to propose potentially unpopular solutions (see “year of readiness”). And, oh by the way, he's about to negotiate a break-the-bank TV deal.”
Serena Williams wins sixth Wimbledon.
AFP; By Steven Griffiths
Serena Williams won a sixth Wimbledon title on Saturday as the world number one became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam crown with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Garbine Muguruza in Saturday's final.
At 33 years and 289 days, Serena surpasses Martina Navratilova as the oldest player to win Wimbledon, and any of the other three Grand Slams, in the Open era.
Serena's sixth Wimbledon crown brought with it a slew of other remarkable landmarks that underline her credentials as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.
The American's 21st Grand Slam crown and 68th tour-level title earned her a check for £1.8 million ($2.7 million, 2.5 million euros).
But it is her legacy rather than her bank balance that concerns Williams these days and she now holds all four Grand Slam titles at the same time -- the rare 'Serena Slam' she last achieved in 2002-03.
"It feels so good. Garbine played so well. I didn't even know it was over because she was fighting so hard at the end. She will be holding this trophy very, very soon. I am happy it was such a great match," said Williams.
The American's 21st Grand Slam crown and 68th tour-level title earned her a check for £1.8 million ($2.7 million, 2.5 million euros).
But it is her legacy rather than her bank balance that concerns Williams these days and she now holds all four Grand Slam titles at the same time -- the rare 'Serena Slam' she last achieved in 2002-03.
"It feels so good. Garbine played so well. I didn't even know it was over because she was fighting so hard at the end. She will be holding this trophy very, very soon. I am happy it was such a great match," said Williams.
"I can't believe I am standing here with another Serena Slam. It is so cool. It has been a pleasure and an honor to give so many years in this unbelievable place."
Serena is the first woman to land the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back since she last won that difficult double in 2002.
Lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time since 2012 also leaves Serena needing only to defend the US Open to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to claim a calendar Grand Slam.
She is just one major title behind Graf on the Open era leaderboard and within three of all-time record holder Margaret Court's tally of 24.
She is the first player since Graf in 1988 to win Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens in the same year.
Given Serena's 39-1 record in 2015 and her astonishing streak of 28 consecutive Grand Slam match victories, few would bet against the American making more history in New York in August.
Regardless of her defeat, Muguruza, 21, has emerged as one of the brightest young stars on the women's tour after a bravura display in her first Grand Slam final appearance that often left Williams rattled.
"I enjoyed it a lot. I don't have words to say how I feel. I'm very proud and happy to be here," said Muguruza.
- Enough power -
"A Grand Slam final for me is a dream come true and I also want to say congrats to Serena, showing that she's world number one."
"A Grand Slam final for me is a dream come true and I also want to say congrats to Serena, showing that she's world number one."
Muguruza had more than enough power to trade blows from the baseline and she came out on top so often in the early stages that the frustrated American screamed "that's so bad" after losing another point.
Muguruza, born in Venezuela and raised in Barcelona, had insisted facing Serena was a task to be relished rather than feared.
She was proving true to her bold claim and, by the time Muguruza moved into a 4-2 lead, it seemed an epic shock was on the cards.
However, Serena had recovered from worse predicaments earlier in the tournament.
Williams scented blood and Muguruza crumbled, a double-fault on set point gift-wrapping the lead to Serena in a set that had been the underdog's for the taking.
Williams had won 28 of her last 30 tour-level finals, including her last nine at the majors, and, in her eighth Wimbledon final, she was finally back in that muscular groove.
Serena's fierce grimace and clenched fist after breaking in the fourth game of the second set suggested the finish line was in sight
But, serving for the match with 5-1 and then 5-3 leads, Williams was gripped by a bad case of nerves and Muguruza broke twice to prolong the contest.
Finally able to compose herself, Serena broke in the next game to seal yet another legacy-defining success.
Djokovic downs Federer to win third Wimbledon crown.
Reuters; By Martyn Herman, Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, Editing by Ken Ferris
Novak Djokovic displayed the true depth of his steely core to end Roger Federer's hopes of a record eighth Wimbledon title with a 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3 victory on Sunday.
The world number one overcame losing a stomach-churning second set tiebreak in which he squandered six points for a two-set lead, rebounding to overwhelm the Centre Court favorite who had reached dizzy heights in beating home favorite Andy Murray in Friday's spellbinding semi-final.
Djokovic now joins his coach Boris Becker on three Wimbledon titles, taking his grand slam haul to nine ahead of the likes of Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl.
After swiping away a forehand winner to end a two hour 56 minute contest that never quite reached the heights of last year's five-set epic, when Djokovic also ended Federer's bid for an 18th grand slam title, he roared to the skies.
The 28-year-old Serb then knelt down and plucked up some of the cherished grass and put it in his mouth.
"He (Federer) makes you push your limits, work hard and win every single point," 28-year-old Djokovic said on court.
"I have to say it's a big challenge playing against Roger. A lot of players of my generation have looked up to him and followed his lead."
Second seed Federer scored the first blow in the final, breaking for a 4-2 lead but Djokovic hit back immediately.
The Serb's often under-rated serve bailed him out at 5-6 in the first set when he saved two set points and he then ran away with the tiebreak, winning it 7-1 as Federer crumbled.
Djokovic had already wasted a set point in the second set before an epic tiebreak.
The clinical Serb was 6-3 ahead and seemed to have the final in his pocket, but Federer showed incredible fight to stay in the final and provoked an explosion of noise heard halfway across London when he cut off a backhand volley to eventually take the breaker 12-10.
It proved the high point of the afternoon for the Swiss maestro though and his level dropped sharply as he was broken early in the third set.
A short rain delay halted Djokovic's progress, but when play resumed the fire had gone from Federer's belly and he was powerless to stop the top seed's march to victory.
Tour de France: Froome wary of Van Garderen.
AFP; By Chesterman
While all the talk at the Tour de France has been of the overall battle between the 'fantastic four', current leader Chris Froome admitted he's been impressed by outsider Tejay Van Garderen.
Froome, the 2013 champion, will go into Sunday's team time-trial wearing the yellow jersey with a healthy advantage over the rest of the fantastic four.
Two-time former winner Alberto Contador is seventh at 36sec, reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali lost another 10sec to Froome on Saturday's eighth stage from Rennes to Mur de Bretagne and sits 13th at 1min 48sec, while 2014 Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quintana has 1min 56sec to make up and is currently down in 16th.
But American Van Garderen is third overall at just 13sec and his BMC team are the reigning world time-trial champions.
He also ran Froome close at last month's week-long Tour warm-up event, the Criterium du Dauphine.
"I really do think Tejay's ridden a very impressive race up until now. It wasn't long ago, in the Dauphine, we were battling it out for the leader's jersey. There wasn't much between us," said Froome.
"I believe he's in great condition and time will tell once we get into the high mountains in the Pyrenees. But I definitely expect him to be up there, he's got a strong team around him and has ridden a great race."
The first big test of this year's Tour will come in Tuesday's first summit finish in the Pyrenees with a final 15.3km climb at an average 7.4 percent gradient up to La Pierre-Saint Martin.
And although he has a buffer to his fantastic four rivals, Froome isn't taking any of them lightly, and now wants to add another name to the list.
"I think we definitely need to include Tejay in that equation but from those other three I do expect Nairo will be very strong up in the climbs.
"But he's lost a substantial amount of time already so he's going to have to try and make that time up again.
"Alberto, I don't think you can ever write him off. As we've seen time and time again he doesn't give up til the race is over.
"I guess we'll have to see how Vincenzo goes up the long climbs, it hasn't been a great start for him but things can change."
- decisive stage -
With Contador's Tinkoff-Saxo teammate Peter Sagan second overall at just 11sec, Froome knows he could lose the leader's yellow jersey on Sunday but he says the most important thing in the 29km team time-trial will be the management of effort and resources.
"The team time-trial tomorrow (Sunday) is going to be a very decisive stage in terms of the general classification.
"It's a very tricky team time-trial given it's very undulating.
"You need five riders to get up that final climb together. It's going to make it quite tough for a lot of teams and I do expect quite substantial time differences between the top teams and teams who don't coordinate so well."
Van Garderen, who was fifth overall in 2012 and again last year, admitted he can see himself donning yellow on Sunday night but didn't want to tempt fate.
"With the team I have and what they've done so far, I'm pretty confident," said the 26-year-old.
"There's always a chance, I don't want to jinx myself thinking about it too much, we're just going to go out there and ride as hard as we can.
"We've got four world champions in that discipline on this team so we'll put out the best performance we can."
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, July 13, 2015.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1896 - Philadelphia’s Ed Delahanty became the second major league player to hit four home runs in a single game.
1930 - The first soccer World Cup competition began in Montevideo, Uruguay. Thirteen teams were in the competition.
1972 - Carroll Rosenbloom (owner of the Baltimore Colts) and Robert Irsay (owner of the Los Angeles Rams) traded teams.
1973 - David Bedford set a new world record in the 10,000-meter race in London. His time was 27 minutes, 31 seconds.
1982 - The All-Star Game was played outside the United States for the first time. They played in Montreal, Canada.
1984 - Sportscaster Howard Cosell asked to be released from his duties on "Monday Night Football." He said that he was "tired of being tied to the football mentality."
1995 - Geddy Lee (Rush) sang "Oh Canada" before the All-Star Game at Baltimore's Camden Yards.
******************************************************************
Please let us hear your opinion on the above articles and pass them on to any other diehard fans that you think might be interested. But most of all, remember, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica wants you!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment