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Sports Quote of the Day:
"If you really want to be world class - to be the best you can be - it comes down to preparation and practice." ~ Robin S. Sharma, Writer, Speaker, Leadership Expert and Litigation Lawyer
Trending: Kansas City Royals 2015 World Series Champions defeat the New York Mets in Game 5, 7-2. (See World Series article for details).
(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
Trending: Patrick Kane won’t be criminally charged in rape case: Buffalo News. (See hockey section for details).
Trending: Bears blow fourth quarter lead, fall to Vikings in final seconds. (See football section for Bears updates).
Trending: American Pharoah wins final race, claiming Breeders’ Cup Classic and Grand Slam. (See update in horse racing section).
NFL Scores 11/01/2015.
Miami Dolphins 7
New England Patriots 36
Detroit Lions 10
Kansas City Chiefs 45
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23
Atlanta Falcons 20
Arizona Cardinals 34
Cleveland Browns 20
San Francisco 49ers 6
St. Louis Rams 27
New York Giants 49
New Orleans Saints 52
Minnesota Vikings 23
Chicago Bears 20
San Diego Chargers 26
Baltimore Ravens 29
Cincinnati Bengals 16
Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Tennessee Titans 6
Houston Texans 20
New York Jets 20
Oakland Raiders 34
Seattle Seahawks 13
Dallas Cowboys 12
Green Bay Packers 10
Denver Broncos 29
Indianapolis Colts Monday Night Game
Carolina Panthers 11/02/2015
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears blow fourth quarter lead, fall to Vikings in final seconds.
Detroit Lions 10
Kansas City Chiefs 45
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23
Atlanta Falcons 20
Arizona Cardinals 34
Cleveland Browns 20
San Francisco 49ers 6
St. Louis Rams 27
New York Giants 49
New Orleans Saints 52
Minnesota Vikings 23
Chicago Bears 20
San Diego Chargers 26
Baltimore Ravens 29
Cincinnati Bengals 16
Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Tennessee Titans 6
Houston Texans 20
New York Jets 20
Oakland Raiders 34
Seattle Seahawks 13
Dallas Cowboys 12
Green Bay Packers 10
Denver Broncos 29
Indianapolis Colts Monday Night Game
Carolina Panthers 11/02/2015
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears blow fourth quarter lead, fall to Vikings in final seconds.
By Scott Krinch
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
It looked like Jay Cutler was going to add another game-winning fourth quarter drive to his resume.
However, it was a quarterback on the other sidelines that stole the "Mr. 4th Quarter" moniker on Sunday.
With under five minutes remaining, Teddy Bridgewater led the Minnesota Vikings on back-to-back fourth quarter scoring drives as the Minnesota Vikings beat the Bears 23-20 at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon.
Blair Walsh drilled a 36-yard field goal as time expired to snap Minnesota's eight-year losing streak at Soldier Field. Before Walsh's game-winning field goal, Bridgewater connected with emerging rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs on the previous possession for a 40-yard touchdown to even the score at 20-20 with under two minutes remaining.
Despite playing with a makeshift offensive line which only had one Week 1 starter still at the same position (Kyle Long at right tackle) and losing Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte to a knee injury in the second half, Cutler engineered a 14-play, 74-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter that looked as if would be the game-winning score for the Bears. Cutler capped off the drive by lowering his shoulder on Vikings safety Harrison Smith and plowing into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. Cutler finished the game 22-of-32 for 211 yards, two total touchdowns and zero turnovers.
Before Bridgewater's heroics, the Bears defense had held Minnesota in check.
It's been an up-and-down year thus far for Vic Fangio's unit, but the Bears young defense, playing in its first game without veteran defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff who was released earlier this week, held the Vikings to just 6 points before fourth quarter outburst — the Vikings other touchdown came in the form of a Marcus Sherels 65-yard punt return in the first half.
With the Bears going through the motions for nearly 25 minutes, much-maligned second-year cornerback Kyle Fuller stayed inside a curl route by Diggs and turned at the right time to pick Bridgewater who zeroed in on the rookie. Before Fuller's takeaway, the Bears were one of only two teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars being the other, to not have an interception from a defensive back this season.
The Bears offense turned the turnover into immediate points just before the first half ended as Cutler found his favorite target Alshon Jeffery (10 receptions, 116 yards) for a 21-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone to even the game at 10-10 and give the Bears momentum heading into the locker room.
The Bears (2-5) will look to get back on track when they travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers next Monday night.
Bears secondary exposed as major weakness in loss to Vikings.
By Brad Biggs
A popular question for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer since Teddy Bridgewater was named quarterback last year was if he was the kind of player who could bring his team back to victory.
Against this Bears secondary, the answer is yes.
Never mind the Vikings had lost 12 of the last 13 times they'd been to Soldier Field. Forget that they trailed by seven with 4:55 to play after the Bears chewed up 8 minutes, 34 seconds off the clock on a scoring drive. Don't think about placing the blame on rookie running back Jeremy Langford for stone hands on a third-down pass with 70 seconds to play.
Searching for plays from their defensive backfield all season, the Bears finally got one as Kyle Fuller undercut a deep dig route by Vikings rookie Stefon Diggs for an interception late in the second quarter that set up a perfect 21-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Alshon Jeffery.
It was the first pick for a Bears defensive back in 196 pass attempts by opposing quarterbacks and came after Fuller made a nice play in the first quarter, using his left hand to deflect a throw to Diggs on third-and-4, forcing a punt. It's a positive sign to see the first-round draft pick from 2014 making plays. He had four pass breakups through the first six games and got two here, diagnosing Diggs' route on the pick.
In a position to close out the game, the secondary was exposed, and that's scary with the Bears traveling to San Diego to face the NFL's leading passer, Philip Rivers, next Monday. The defense had done a nice job of preventing Bridgewater from hitting Diggs and Mike Wallace for big plays. Bridgewater had completed only five passes to wide receivers in the first 58 minutes before Diggs sprung open against nickel cornerback Sherrick McManis, who dived inside as Diggs spun outside and motored 40 yards for a game-tying touchdown, eluding Fuller at the 4-yard line.
"I knew he was outside of me and your instinct as a DB is probably to tackle the inside," Diggs said. "So I just spinned out. I was just trying to get in the end zone."
McManis, who lost his job to undrafted rookie free agent Bryce Callahan earlier in the week, was forced into action earlier on the drive when Callahan came up stumbling after a nice tackle of Adrian Peterson in the flat. Officials ruled he had to go through concussion protocol.
Two plays later, McManis was flagged for defensive holding and then the Vikings were able to isolate Diggs on McManis on third-and-4 when the Bears blitzed linebacker Christian Jones.
"I've got to stay on my guy," McManis said. "That's what happened. It ain't no speed thing. I've just got to stay on him."
After Langford's drop, the Bears punted and the Vikings moved into comfortable range for Blair Walsh's 36-yard field goal as time expired. It was set up when Bridgewater heaved a prayer down the right sideline that Charles Johnson snatched in front of strong safety Antrel Rolle for a 35-yard gain with 27 seconds remaining.
Rolle was in Cover-2 and played as if Bridgewater made him the intended target. The Bears got hurt in Cover-2 in the overtime loss to the Lions when Calvin Johnson soared over rookie Harold Jones-Quartey to catch a bomb. This was far worse. Rolle is a veteran earning $5 million this season. The play was right there for him.
"Nothing I could have done differently," Rolle said. "I am playing the deep safety position. The ball was hanging high. I waited for the ball to get a little closer. I jumped, elevated. But it's science. He had a running start. He was able to undercut me while I was already in the air. It was a great play, you know. There was nothing I would have done differently. I would have done the same thing over again.
"You have to give credit where credit is due. I never saw him. I never saw him until the ball didn't hit my hands. I was baiting the quarterback a little bit. I got exactly what I wanted. It was just a great throw and catch."
Johnson was split wide outside the numbers, but Rolle has to see him, and when Johnson is out there all he can do is run a go deep or break off a comeback at 15 to 17 yards. Rolle needed to drive downhill on the ball. Do that properly and he would have had the second interception of the game for the secondary or, in a worst-case scenario, separated the ball from Johnson. He got the depth needed, but Rolle was standing there waiting, not reacting to Johnson.
"Teddy made some huge plays when he needed to and that's Teddy," Zimmer said.
Those plays were there for the Bears to make. They simply didn't and that's a storyline repeating itself as the season nears the midway point.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Patrick Kane won’t be criminally charged in rape case: Buffalo News.
By Greg Wyshynski
Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks is introduced during a pregame ceremony honoring the 2015 NHL Champions before the Blackhawks take on the New York Rangers at the United Center on October 7, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Patrick Kane case is back in the spotlight.
It's been off the front pages since that remarkable 24 hours in late September when the complainant's lawyer abruptly quit after her mother’s tale about discovering an empty rape kit at her home – a claim that the lawyer called a press conference to discuss one day earlier – was discovered to have been “an elaborate hoax.”
On Saturday night, the Buffalo News dropped a bombshell. According to three sources, “it appears no criminal charges will be filed against the Chicago Blackhawks hockey star,” the paper reported.
The three sources also said they do not believe the case will be presented to a grand jury. “This case is going nowhere,” one knowledgeable source told The Buffalo News when asked about the possibility of criminal charges.
“I was told … the case will be administratively dismissed” without being presented to a grand jury, a second knowledgeable source added.
On Saturday night, the Buffalo News dropped a bombshell. According to three sources, “it appears no criminal charges will be filed against the Chicago Blackhawks hockey star,” the paper reported.
The three sources also said they do not believe the case will be presented to a grand jury. “This case is going nowhere,” one knowledgeable source told The Buffalo News when asked about the possibility of criminal charges.
“I was told … the case will be administratively dismissed” without being presented to a grand jury, a second knowledgeable source added.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III postponed scheduled grand jury proceedings back on Sept. 8. To the surprise of no one, he declined to confirm the Buffalo News report:
“I am waiting for the investigation to be completed to my satisfaction,” Sedita said, “and to confer with the assigned prosecutor, who is on her vacation six time zones away, before announcing anything further.”
“I am waiting for the investigation to be completed to my satisfaction,” Sedita said, “and to confer with the assigned prosecutor, who is on her vacation six time zones away, before announcing anything further.”
Kane has been under investigation since Aug. 2, when a Buffalo area woman went to police with a claim that Kane raped her at his home in the early morning hours, after the two met at a bar earlier in the evening.
Over the next three months, the case crawled along but had several significant evidence leaks, including one involving DNA evidence. Then came the rape kit hoax, which at first threatened to derail the case based on evidence tampering but may have done so anyway for other reasons.
Kane’s attendance at Blackhawks training camp was divisive and controversial, which included a farcical press conference. But support for Kane from a healthy portion of the Blackhawks fan base and team management never waned, and the NHL kept its hands out of the controversy. (Save for keeping Kane away from its World Cup of Hockey preseason event, a tournament that he promoted for the NHL at the all-star game.)
Kane has six goals and eight assists in 11 games this season.
Blackhawks - Kings Preview.
By KEVIN MASSOTH
The Chicago Blackhawks should be happy to be back at the United Center, but they might not be too thrilled about the opponent that awaits them.
The Los Angeles Kings come rolling into Chicago looking for an eighth straight win Monday night, while the Blackhawks will try to stop that surge with a sixth consecutive victory on home ice.
The Los Angeles Kings come rolling into Chicago looking for an eighth straight win Monday night, while the Blackhawks will try to stop that surge with a sixth consecutive victory on home ice.
Los Angeles (7-3-0) opened the season with three ugly losses but has rattled off seven consecutive wins to rise to the top of the Pacific Division.
The NHL's hottest team has ridden its defense and goaltending to the league's second-longest winning streak thus far behind Montreal's season-opening nine-game spurt.
The Kings have allowed only nine goals during their streak after coughing up 12 in their opening three losses. Maybe the biggest reason is the man who's been in net for six of those games.
Though he allowed three goals in Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory over Nashville, Jonathan Quick has a 1.31 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in this hot stretch.
For Quick to keep that up, he'll have to do it against a team he's struggled to stop. The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner has an .885 save percentage in his last 12 starts against Chicago (6-5-0), two-thirds of which have come in the postseason.
Though he allowed three goals in Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory over Nashville, Jonathan Quick has a 1.31 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in this hot stretch.
For Quick to keep that up, he'll have to do it against a team he's struggled to stop. The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner has an .885 save percentage in his last 12 starts against Chicago (6-5-0), two-thirds of which have come in the postseason.
But Quick has an improving Los Angeles attack in front of him. The Kings have scored 18 goals in five games after putting up six in their first five. Tyler Toffoli has eight of Los Angeles' 22 goals during the winning streak, including two against the Predators before Jeff Carter won it in overtime.
''We're playing with a lot of confidence,'' said Drew Doughty, who picked up the assist on Carter's goal. ''We're trying to do all the right things, and we need to continue winning.''
An added boost would be a victory over a Chicago team that has had the Kings' number in regular-season play. The Blackhawks have won five of six during the season since the start of 2013-14, outscoring Los Angeles 20-10.
Chicago is still without Duncan Keith (knee) for a few more weeks, and in the last two games his absence has shown. After surrendering two goals in three wins without Keith, the Blackhawks have allowed eight in consecutive road losses - including three in the first period of Friday's 5-4 loss at Minnesota.
"You win in this league by how well you check and how well you play without the puck," coach Joel Quenneville told the team's official website. "But it's two nights where we've given up some goals... Those things can't happen if you want to be successful."
Chicago will be home for four of its next five, where it's allowed four total goals during a five-game winning streak. Blackhawks opponents are 1 for 15 on the power play at the United Center this season.
Chicago converted its only chance with the man advantage against Minnesota and also got a pair of goals from Jonathan Toews. The captain has all four of his goals in the past four games.
Chicago converted its only chance with the man advantage against Minnesota and also got a pair of goals from Jonathan Toews. The captain has all four of his goals in the past four games.
Toews has 16 goals and 21 assists in 39 career games against Los Angeles, including the playoffs.
Corey Crawford figures to be back in net for the Blackhawks. He is 3-5-0 with an .872 save percentage over his last eight starts against the Kings dating to Game 2 of the 2014 Western Conference finals.
Artemi Panarin getting his top-line chance.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks are already down a great defenseman. Now they’re likely down one of their best forwards, albeit for a shorter time.
Regardless, it’s another time when everyone needs to do a little more and someone gets a great opportunity.
Marian Hossa, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Minnesota Wild, is questionable for Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. Coach Joel Quenneville said he’ll know more about Hossa’s status on Monday morning, but based on line combinations at Sunday’s practice, it looks like the Blackhawks are prepared to go at least a game without Hossa.
Artemi Panarin moved up to the top line with Jonathan Toews and Ryan Garbutt on Sunday. For Panarin, who’s found great chemistry and success with Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane, said through Viktor Tikhonov that he will have to adjust.
“There are some small changes,” Tikhonov translated for Panarin. “It’s not a completely different game. But with Kane we have a little bit of a different style. Obviously with Toews it’s going to be a little bit different.”
Quenneville said Hossa’s injury, which kept him out of the third period against Minnesota on Friday night, is not serious. Still, missing the forward’s two-way game for even one game is tough.
“Well, there’s quality ice time in a lot of areas and [someone] gets to play with Jonny, so we’ll see,” said Quenneville. “You miss quality minutes and playing the right way is something we’re trying to emphasize. We’re coming off a game where we need to be better in certain areas without the puck, Solet's make sure we’re paying attention to where we are around the rink.”
As for Panarin getting that top-line opportunity, Quenneville said it’s to help balance the lines sans Hossa but Panarin also was probably going to be there eventually.
“Over the course of a season, we envisioned Jonny and him playing together at some point. Hopefully that can work,” he said. “Jonny scoring last game – we haven’t seen any other lines [except the second line] score all year – hopefully we can share the wealth on the production side of things. Hopefully we become more balanced in our scoring.”
BRIEFLY
- Duncan Keith (right knee) is “getting close to doing the next level of activity,” Quenneville said on Sunday. That doesn’t sound like it includes getting onto the ice just yet. Quenneville said he’d “have to find out for sure” when Keith can skate again.
- Michal Rozsival (left ankle) is doubtful to play this week. “He still has some extra work to do before we’re comfortable with him playing,” Quenneville said of the defenseman.
- Corey Crawford will start vs. the Los Angeles Kings.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Bulls avert crisis in close win over Magic.
By Vincent Goodwill
On the immediate heels of the disappointing loss to Detroit, two things were clear: When cutting down on silly plays and allowing old bugaboos to haunt them, they held a double-digit lead for most of the night.
But the lesson they’re learning very early is opposing teams have no problem challenging the notion of this new Bulls identity that relies more on skill than will.
(Photo/chicagobulls.com)
On the immediate heels of the disappointing loss to Detroit, two things were clear: When cutting down on silly plays and allowing old bugaboos to haunt them, they held a double-digit lead for most of the night.
But the lesson they’re learning very early is opposing teams have no problem challenging the notion of this new Bulls identity that relies more on skill than will.
And the Magic proved to be a worthy but not-quite-yet-ready adversary, making them sweat before the Bulls compose themselves for an 92-87 win at the United Center.
A 14-0 run that rendered the Bulls scoreless for nearly four minutes in the fourth quarter is giving more credence to the team’s lack of comfort level running whatever they need to in crunch time.
Derrick Rose found Pau Gasol for a free-throw line jumper shortly thereafter to break the ice, but the play with 2:50 remaining, one that gave the Bulls an 86-82 lead was their last basket of the night.
Luckily for them, the Magic couldn’t do much offensively with the opportunities the Bulls gave them, until Victor Oladipo’s triple with 17.1 seconds left cut the lead to three—meaning free throws had to be made to seal the game.
The Bulls corralled an early Magic surge when Joakim Noah and Doug McDermott came off the bench to provide a much-needed spark, with McDermott providing the shooting and Noah bringing everything else, illustrated by a two-handed dunk from Rose, a rare finish.
Rose was in facilitator mode again, with eight assists in 32 minutes, as he failed to crack double figures in scoring as he still battles double-vision.
Had the Bulls made a few more shots, it could’ve been an easier finish but they again struggled from the field, shooting 38 percent and missing 21 of their 28 3-pointers.
Nikola Mirotic, Gasol and McDermott were the consistent scorers, with Gasol and Mirotic putting up 16 each and McDermott scoring 10.
McDermott hit a buzzer-beating triple and another wing three from penetration to give the Bulls a 12-point lead before halftime, one they seemed to hold dear until turning the ball over opened the door.
But they again played solid enough defense for the fourth straight game, keeping the Magic under 40 percent and not allowing them to creep on the glass too much, at least not in the way the Pistons did Friday.
Only committing 15 turnovers, it certainly wasn’t a game featuring pristine effectiveness but they appeared to learn a quick lesson from a smarting loss in Detroit.
Pistons deal Bulls first loss of the season in OT affair. (Friday night's game, 10/30/2015).
By Vincent Goodwill
Winning in spite of a couple mortal sins obscured a couple unalienable truths for the Bulls early this season.
They can’t turn the ball over 20 times, nor can their defensive intensity come and go but most of all, they can’t win without Derrick Rose being some reasonable facsimile of himself.
And they can’t bully the Detroit Pistons anymore, especially not in the Palace of Auburn Hills, a place that’s become a house of horrors in the last two years. After a fourth quarter of driving to the basket, Derrick Rose’s potential winning jumper went wide and the Pistons took over in the extra five, giving them a 98-94 overtime win Friday night.
Fred Hoiberg didn’t call a timeout after the last defensive stop and trusted Rose to make the right play, and he had been going to the basket in the fourth quarter at all.
“He took the step back jumper,” Hoiberg said. “We want to attack in those situations. He came over at the huddle and said he wished he could have it over again.”
Andre Drummond, the man whose massive frame likely prevented Rose from going to the basket on that final regulation play, took over in overtime to complete his 20-point, 20-rebound night.
“He took away my drive, I should’ve pump-faked but it’s a learning experience,” Rose said. “A young guy was (defending) me too, takes one to really learn next time. I was aiming at the wrong basket.”
Hoiberg was willing to cut Rose slack, considering he’s still going through the double vision and he hasn’t gone through a training camp which has set him back a bit.
Checking it off as an aberration could be the easiest way of filing Rose’s performance, but it’s another illustration of the starts and re-starts he’s had throughout his career.
And Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson made life miserable for the Bulls, getting into the lane at will and challenging the Bulls bigs, getting them out of position on the way to 22 points on nine of 24 shooting with seven rebounds and seven assists.
The new and tough Pistons scored the first seven points of overtime, a remarkable feat considering each team had trouble seeing straight—as if everybody on the floor suffered from Rose’s double vision.
After shooting 50 percent in Brooklyn, the Bulls offense didn’t carry over—especially their late-game plays, reverted back to old habits, going isolation-heavy and not doing the little things that make this setup potent, shooting 40 percent from the field.
But their turnovers did, another 20 giveaway performance along with being outrebounded by the Pistons 61-50, mostly on the back of Drummond, and giving up 20 offensive rebounds allowed the Pistons to take 20 more shots.
The Pistons actually shot worse from the field, from the 3-point line and free-throw line, yet the Bulls miscues took away whatever advantage the Pistons’ offensive struggles created for them.
“I can’t put a finger on it,” Rose said. “I don’t know if it’s getting into the sets quicker or playing at a faster pace. We gotta look at the film.”
Rose turned it over five times and wouldn’t attribute it to playing the third game in four nights. Jimmy Butler didn’t want to hear that school of thought, either.
“Being reckless with the ball, just being careless,” Butler said. “That and offensive rebounds. We’re just being lazy with the ball. It’s easily correctable.”
Surprisingly, Joakim Noah only played 17 minutes with Drummond wrecking havoc on everyone wearing black Bulls jerseys, leaving Hoiberg in the position of trying to get the glass under control while his offense kept sputtering without a rhythm.
With Rose going scoreless for three quarters, Nikola Mirotic (22 points) and Pau Gasol (16 points, 12 rebounds) attempted to pick up that slack, likely making Hoiberg’s decision for him, and Butler had his hands full with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris.
One was in his chest defensively (Caldwell-Pope) while the other made him work on defense (Morris), with the latter scoring 15 in the third to break up the offensive lethargy, including the jumper to open overtime.
Butler struggled all night, scoring 23 but missing 14 of his 19 shots, including a triple that could’ve cut the Pistons’ lead to one with six seconds left in overtime, making it a slim chance for a comeback.
But the Pistons couldn’t contain Drummond and didn’t display any of the rhythm that was on display for parts of the first two wins, and perhaps the Pistons sent the Bulls a little message that they won’t be going away so easily this time around.
WORLD SERIES: Royals win the World Series with another epic comeback against the Mets.
World Series Trophy (Commissioner's Trophy)
Of all the ways for the Kansas City Royals to win their first championship in 30 years, this was the most fitting for the team that put the never in never say die: coming back again, aggressive as ever, relentlessly punishing the New York Mets for one final, merciful time.
The final was 7-2 Royals, the World Series theirs after five games, and they jumped and hugged and did the standard celebrating a champion does on the mound at Citi Field. This was different, though, not just because the Royals fell 90 feet short last season but because this team, if not for its seven epic comebacks, would've found itself similarly beaten.
Instead, a five-run explosion in the 12th inning blew open a game that the Royals had tied in the ninth, and the party that will last all fall and winter long in Kansas City was just starting. Pinch hitter Christian Colon provided the first blow, knocking in Jarrod Dyson to break the tie. Four more runs followed, and Wade Davis, baseball's best reliever, secured the last three outs to start the on-field dog pile.
In it was Lorenzo Cain, whose bases-clearing double accounted for the last three runs, and Eric Hosmer, whose daring run home in the ninth inning with two outs tied the score and let the Royals use their bullpen mastery. Manager Ned Yost, so often maligned in Kansas City, stood amid the chaos, admiring the plucky, aggressive, talented team he'd nurtured from perennial losers to postseason juggernaut.
The Royals' eight come-from-behind victories – seven by at least two runs – epitomized a group that prided itself on contact hitting that proved more and more vital as the postseason went on.
As the clock passed midnight and Sunday turned into Monday, the game grew even more odd. Already the questionable decision of Mets manager Terry Collins to leave in starter Matt Harvey for a shutout attempt in the ninth inning came back to bite him. After mustering four hits against Harvey over the first eight innings, Lorenzo Cain walked to lead off the ninth and stole second base. Hosmer, who had only two hits all series, smoked a double over left fielder Michael Conforto's head to score Cain and halve the lead.
Following a Mike Moustakas groundout that advanced Hosmer to third, Jeurys Familia broke Salvador Perez's bat on a looping bouncer toward third base. David Wright fielded it, checked that Hosmer wasn't running and tossed the ball to first baseman Lucas Duda, the crispness of his throw inhibited by a nagging shoulder injury.
As Wright released the ball, Hosmer took off toward home, challenging Duda to record the final out of the game on a play at home plate. Royals scouts told players to challenge the arms of Wright and Duda, and the scenario was drawn up perfectly. A great throw certainly would've nabbed Hosmer. A good throw might've. Duda's throw was a disaster, yanked to catcher Travis d'Arnuad's arm side and past him, allowing Hosmer to slide in for the tying run.
The teams traded outs in the 10th and 11th innings before Kansas City touched up reliever Addison Reed in the 12th. For all the heartache and agita, the swaying legs and fidgety hands, the full gamut of emotions that strangled Citi Field as the Mets blew another World Series lead, never did they imagine it would get this ugly.
Perez singled, and Dyson ran for him and stole second off d'Arnaud. He moved to third on a groundout and came home on a single from Colon, who hadn't logged a single postseason at-bat.
The Royals kept the line moving, their motto, and down went the Mets, Familia with his third blown save of the series, Reed with the loss and the Royals left to celebrate. They'd spent the spring and summer capturing the pulse of their city and making it race in October.
And as Perez picked someone to dunk with his customary Gatorade bath, he chose Yost, a champion manager chosen by Dayton Moore, a champion general manager, all of it surreal because to associate champion with the Kansas City Royals seems far-fetched.
It wasn't. And it's undeniable: 30 years after 1985, one year after they lost Game 7, the Royals are the World Series champions again.
Jon Lester delivered for Cubs in year 1 of megadeal.
By Patrick Mooney
Jon Lester's World-Series-or-bust mentality softened at the end of this unreal season.
Lester had been signed for the parade down Michigan Avenue, and fair or not, that's how his time in Chicago will be ultimately judged. But after the New York Mets swept the Cubs out of the National League Championship Series, Lester stood at his locker and looked at the bigger picture.
“You can only take positives (from this),” Lester said inside Wrigley Field’s home clubhouse. “And I would hope that everybody in here harps on the positives (and) thinks about all the good things we did this year, all the strides that we made to get to this point. It’s hard to get to this point.”
Momentum can shift so fast in this game – the unbeatable Mets entered this weekend at Citi Field down 0-2 to the Kansas City Royals in the World Series – but Lester is anchored here through at least the 2020 season with full no-trade rights.
To get back to this point, the Cubs will need more than Lester and Jake Arrieta at the top of their rotation, and pitching will be the No. 1 priority for Theo Epstein’s front office this winter.
Lester understood that $155 million would follow him for the rest of his career, and he wouldn’t get defensive when the Chicago media pointed out his salary, “the yips” and how much he means to the rise of this franchise.
You didn’t have to look too far beneath the surface or dig too deep into the numbers to see that Lester lived up to his end of the bargain in Year 1, even with a losing record (11-12) on a 97-win team.
Lester finished with a 3.34 ERA and set the franchise’s new single-season record for strikeouts by a lefty (207). He made 30-plus starts for the eighth straight year and put up more than 200 innings for the seventh time in his career. His WHIP (1.122) and Fielding Independent Pitching (2.92) only trailed his outstanding 2014 walk year with the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A’s.
Lester also admitted it was an up-and-down season that didn’t leave him completely satisfied. The newness for such a routine-obsessed pitcher and that “dead arm” in spring training probably contributed to a 6.23 ERA in April.
Lester got distracted when he looked over to first base and had trouble replicating the throws he could make in practice, leaving him vulnerable at times in the running game, even when he varied his times to home plate and threw thinly veiled pitchouts.
Opponents stole more bases off Lester (44) than any other pitcher in the majors. Even if that’s like a strong NFL defense that gives up chunks of yardage while minimizing points, it will become a point of emphasis again in Mesa, Arizona.
“I probably didn’t pitch to the full (level) I expected to pitch this year,” Lester said. “But I’ll go into the offseason and work on the things I need to work on, and come back to spring training ready to go. And, hopefully, get off to a better start than I did this year. Hopefully, we won’t have any setbacks.”
The Cubs also lost both of Lester’s playoff starts, and while he didn’t pitch poorly, he also didn’t quite live up to his reputation as a big-game performer.
Still, no regrets: The Cubs and Lester would do this megadeal all over again. (But it might take closer to – or north of – $200 million to land David Price.)
“I never look back,” Lester said. “Regardless of what the outcome was this year – if we won the World Series or if we finished out of the playoff race – we spent a lot of time making sure that this was the right decision.
“Obviously, I came here to try to win a World Series. We came up a little short this year. But regardless of the outcome of this year, (it’s) been nothing but a pleasure to play here (and) be a part of this community.”
Chicago can be a strange place for a big-name free agent – and eventually Lester will hit a wall and begin the decline phase of this contract – but the Cubs should feel good about the direction this is heading in Year 2.
“There is obviously a different comfort level now than there was then,” Lester said. “This clubhouse is really tight. I feel like everybody feels like family. Everybody pulls for each other. It’s still the cliché of great chemistry and all that stuff, (but) I do believe this clubhouse is a special clubhouse.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Justin Thomas secures first PGA Tour win 1-shot victory at CIMB Classic.
Justin Thomas of the United States poses with his trophy after winning the CIMB Classic golf tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/ Joshua Paul)
Once again, a player under the age of 25 has won on the PGA Tour.
Justin Thomas, 23, won the CIMB Classic on Sunday for his breakthrough Tour win in just his 39th start. His tournament-record, 26-under-262 total was good enough for a one-shot win over Adam Scott.
Thomas, who shot 6-under 66 to finish at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, didn't make it easy on himself down the stretch. After a birdie at the par-4 13th, Thomas established a one-shot lead. However, on the next hole, Thomas found a water hazard with his approach to the par 4, ultimately leading to what could be considered a good double bogey that left him a shot back of the pace. The Alabama product responded with three consecutive birdies that gave him a one-shot edge heading into the par-5 finishing hole.
"I just kept telling myself I controlled the tournament before that shot, so I just need to get back in it," Thomas said. "I had four more holes to try to make some more birdies and was fortunate enough to do it."
After running his winning birdie putt some 6 feet beyond the hole, Thomas left himself a nervous par putt for the victory. Thomas sank it to avoid a playoff with Scott and pick up his first PGA Tour victory.
Brendan Steele and Kevin Na finished in a tie for third place at 24-under par.
So far on this new PGA Tour season, players under the age of 25 have won all three events: Emiliano Grillo at the Frys.com Open, Smylie Kaufman at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas and now Thomas.
For his part, Na has finished in the top three in all three of those events, including a pair of runner-up finishes.
For his part, Na has finished in the top three in all three of those events, including a pair of runner-up finishes.
In his rookie campaign last season, Thomas showed signs a victory was coming, but he often flailed on Sunday's, owning the 79th best final-round scoring average on Tour. However, Thomas said on Sunday that he told himself that it would eventually be his time.
"I understand that we're in a sport where your winning percentage isn't in your favor," he said, "and I put myself there a bunch, and I just need to keep doing so and when moments like this can happen."
Dubuisson overtakes Van Zyl to win Turkish Airlines Open.
AP - Sports
Victor Dubuisson of France made three late birdies to overtake Jaco Van Zyl and clinch his second Turkish Airlines Open title on Saturday, denying the South African a wire-to-wire victory.
Van Zyl had led from the opening round and was two shots ahead of Dubuisson after birdies on the 13th and 14th. But the Frenchman responded with three birdies on the last four holes for a 6-under 66 while Van Zyl finished with four pars for a 67. That gave Dubuisson a one-shot victory with a 22-under 266 total and a second career European Tour title.
Rory McIlroy was a shot behind the joint overnight leaders going into the round but only managed a 71 to drop to a tie for sixth at the first of four Final Series tournaments that award increased points totals toward the Race to Dubai.
Dubuisson broke down in tears when his final birdie putt sank on the 18th, having managed just two top-10 finishes this year going into the tournament. But he clearly enjoys playing in Turkey, where he also won his first career title in 2013.
''Sometimes you feel like your game is never going to come back and this week I realized that my whole game was here,'' the Frenchman said. ''I was really counting on this Final Series to give me some confidence back because I completely lost it a few months ago. I was just missing everything.''
Kiradesh Aphibarnrat of Thailand finished third, another shot behind Van Zyl. Kiradesh almost chipped in for an eagle on the 18th that would have forced a playoff but then missed his birdie putt as well to finish with a 67.
McIlroy increased his lead in the Race to Dubai standings to almost 400,000 points ahead of Danny Willett as he seeks his third title in four years.
''It's always disappointing whenever you have a chance to win and you don't play well enough to do that,'' McIlroy said about his final round. ''I'll be going away from this tournament very disappointed with how I played today. But I'm still playing two more events this year and I feel like my game is good enough to give myself two opportunities to win again.''
NASCAR: Kenseth crashing Logano out of lead 'disappointing'.
By Nick Bromberg
Kenseth was driving a wounded car and crashed Logano, who was leading the race. Kenseth and Logano had previously had contact at Kansas two weeks ago when Kenseth went spinning as the two battled for the lead in the race's final laps.
Kenseth's car on Sunday was damaged from a previous incident involving Logano's teammate Brad Keselowski on a restart. While he stopped short of directly admitting his intentions after the crash, the video of the incident made it clear that Kenseth had one thing on his mind as Logano lapped him on lap 454.
O'Donnell said that Kenseth being multiple laps down colored the sanctioning body's view of the incident. Any penalties against Kenseth would be announced Tuesday.
"What we've said is the Chase promotes great racing and we saw that today on the race track," O'Donnell said. "... I think what was disappointing today was the incident that we're referring to is a driver that's not competing for a win, was in fact many laps down when that happened. So in our minds that's a little bit different than two drivers really going after it coming out of turn four for a win versus what happened tonight."
We left the first sentence of O'Donnell's comment in there for a reason. He referred to how the Chase promotes "great racing" multiple times throughout his press conference. It's hard not to see how those comments aren't at least a small admission that the racing itself in the Cup Series right now isn't great. And that the sport needs an elimination-style playoff format to create drama and excitement.
We left the first sentence of O'Donnell's comment in there for a reason. He referred to how the Chase promotes "great racing" multiple times throughout his press conference. It's hard not to see how those comments aren't at least a small admission that the racing itself in the Cup Series right now isn't great. And that the sport needs an elimination-style playoff format to create drama and excitement.
There's been plenty of chaos through the first 17 races of the current Chase format. Enough that it's hard to remember them all. There was Kenseth tackling Keselowski at Charlotte in 2014. The kerfuffle between Keselowski's team and Jeff Gordon's after an on-track incident at Texas. Ryan Newman pushing Kyle Larson out of the way at Phoenix to get to the Chase. Kevin Harvick shoving Jimmie Johnson after the two had contact at Chicago this year. Logano and Kenseth at Kansas. And of course, the craziness at Talladega last week.
Did we forget anything?
Kenseth's retribution towards Logano is simply a continuation of the circus theme peddled after last week's finish. With the list above, it's hard not to argue that NASCAR's Chase has become a circus. Just when you think the absurdity is over, lighter fluid is poured over the faintest of sparks.
O'Donnell was adamant that the Chase format is not the lighter fluid.
Did we forget anything?
Kenseth's retribution towards Logano is simply a continuation of the circus theme peddled after last week's finish. With the list above, it's hard not to argue that NASCAR's Chase has become a circus. Just when you think the absurdity is over, lighter fluid is poured over the faintest of sparks.
O'Donnell was adamant that the Chase format is not the lighter fluid.
"I think the Chase format creates great racing on the track and you saw the eight competitors who were going for a championship lead laps today," O'Donnell said. "Drivers at their best. So you're going to see drivers going door-to-door and in the history of NASCAR we've seen that. Again I'd go back to this incident as a one-off that we'll look at and we continue to believe that the Chase promotes great racing on the track and I think the fans certainly saw that today."
It's hard to agree with him at this point.
But that could change with any punitive actions the sanctioning body takes on Tuesday. Kenseth's "cowardly" (according to Logano) and punkish move could be the catalyst for the way NASCAR handles the Chase and controversy moving forward.
With his actions Sunday, Kenseth backed up his Talladega words that the racing is "just kind of out of control.” If NASCAR chooses to penalize Kenseth substantially (because he's been eliminated from the Chase, a points penalty is severely diminished), it can show it has control of what's happening on the track. And finally give a clear warning that not every incident needs to be settled with a bumper or a physical confrontation.
2015 hasn't been a good year for the sport. The preseason rules changes flopped so badly that the sport made midseason tweaks. The sanctioning body suspended a driver days before the Daytona 500 and reinstated him three races later after no criminal charges were filed against him. And it issued a weak and ineffective declaration asking fans to refrain from bringing the Confederate flag to NASCAR events.
But there's optimism moving forward and it's mainly due to the anticipation of the quality of the racing in 2016. The low-downforce rules that were such a hit at Darlington and Kentucky will be in effect almost everywhere next year. Many believe there won't be any promotion or fostering needed by the sport's title format for great racing to happen.
2015 hasn't been a good year for the sport. The preseason rules changes flopped so badly that the sport made midseason tweaks. The sanctioning body suspended a driver days before the Daytona 500 and reinstated him three races later after no criminal charges were filed against him. And it issued a weak and ineffective declaration asking fans to refrain from bringing the Confederate flag to NASCAR events.
But there's optimism moving forward and it's mainly due to the anticipation of the quality of the racing in 2016. The low-downforce rules that were such a hit at Darlington and Kentucky will be in effect almost everywhere next year. Many believe there won't be any promotion or fostering needed by the sport's title format for great racing to happen.
Sunday is a grand opportunity for the sport to show that the constant-confrontation status quo isn't sustainable, even if it's entertaining. The cheers for Kenseth after he got out of his car were exceptionally loud.
So were the cheers for Jeff Gordon, the winner of Sunday's race. Gordon's win was an authentic moment. Kenseth's was, well, borderlining on professional wrestling. And many people consider wrestling to be entertaining. But few, if any, consider it to be authentic.
Gordon Leads Sprint Cup Standings; Truex, Kyle Busch Tied For Second.
By Jerry Bonkowski
With Sunday's win at Martinsville Speedway, Jeff Gordon assumes the top spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings.
Gordon, who now has an automatic berth in the season-ending and championship-deciding race at Homestead in three weeks, leads Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, who are both tied for second place, eight points behind Gordon.
Defending series champ Kevin Harvick is fourth (10 points back), while Carl Edwards rallied late in the race to take fifth place in the standings (17 points behind).
Team Penske is in trouble, with Brad Keselowski in sixth place (-34) and Joey Logano in eighth (-38). In between is Kurt Busch in seventh place (-36)
Here’s how the standings look after Sunday’s race:
SOCCER: MLS Playoff Scores, 11/01/2015.
NBCSports.com
DC United 0
New York Red Bulls 1
Portland 0
Vancouver 0
New York Red Bulls 1
Portland 0
Vancouver 0
Columbus 1
Seattle 2
FC Dallas 1
While Chelsea's broken record of futility plays on, fans still sing for Mourinho.
By Leander Schaerlaeckens
The man who has made Chelsea one of the biggest clubs in England peered stoically out at the field as Liverpool twisted the knife and went ahead 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Some Blues fans still bellowed his name.
Over in the other manager's box, Jurgen Klopp ran off deliriously, leapt and pumped a fist. In this battle of super famous managers, who seemed to have a budding bromance going in the press, the German had won out with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory.
And Mourinho slipped further into trouble.
For the sixth time in their first 11 games of this fraught league campaign, Chelsea had lost, making theirs the worst title defense in Premier League history. To many, it doesn't seem to much matter now that Mourinho has made Chelsea champions of England three times in his five full seasons in charge. Or that the team he built became champions of Europe under someone else after his first stint at the club.
According to reports, he is now in significant danger of being fired for the first time in his career, in spite of the rumored $55 million buyout clause it would take to terminate his contract.
Before the game, of course, the talk was all about Mourinho. The enigmatic Portuguese has a struggling team on his hands, and this has never really happened before. Chelsea entered the match having sagged to 15th place in the league. Confronted with this stark truth, Mourinho was defiant as ever when the F-word (fired) was brought up again in his pregame press conference.
"I'm not worried about that at all," he said. "Not at all. I don't spend one second of my day thinking about it."
"I'm worried about the results, about winning against Liverpool, about qualifying for the next round of the Champions League, about recovering our position in the table, about getting Chelsea back to where we normally have to be," he continued.
And he kept talking: "I'm not worried about my job, my future, about anything other than that. I'm not worried. I'm not worried. It looks like people want to put a lot of pressure on me in relation to that but they can't. They can't do it. They can't do it."
Under the microscope of the English press, Mourinho's emphasis was somehow interpreted as being incriminating.
On the other side, the infatuation with Klopp, the charismatic German with the easy smile, had not yet worn off, the way it long ago has with Mourinho. The latter dubbed himself "a special one" upon his arrival in England in 2004. Klopp responded a few weeks ago that he was "a normal one." Kloppo, so nicknamed, is still seen as charming for his fiery histrionics along the sideline. When he speaks, often in barely coherent ramblings, it's all still considered enlightened and profound. His honeymoon isn't over yet and after Saturday's win, only his second in charge of the Reds, it won't be for a while.
"I'm not worried about that at all," he said. "Not at all. I don't spend one second of my day thinking about it."
"I'm worried about the results, about winning against Liverpool, about qualifying for the next round of the Champions League, about recovering our position in the table, about getting Chelsea back to where we normally have to be," he continued.
And he kept talking: "I'm not worried about my job, my future, about anything other than that. I'm not worried. I'm not worried. It looks like people want to put a lot of pressure on me in relation to that but they can't. They can't do it. They can't do it."
Under the microscope of the English press, Mourinho's emphasis was somehow interpreted as being incriminating.
On the other side, the infatuation with Klopp, the charismatic German with the easy smile, had not yet worn off, the way it long ago has with Mourinho. The latter dubbed himself "a special one" upon his arrival in England in 2004. Klopp responded a few weeks ago that he was "a normal one." Kloppo, so nicknamed, is still seen as charming for his fiery histrionics along the sideline. When he speaks, often in barely coherent ramblings, it's all still considered enlightened and profound. His honeymoon isn't over yet and after Saturday's win, only his second in charge of the Reds, it won't be for a while.
Four minutes in, Cesar Azpilicueta overlapped on the left and picked out Chelsea teammate Ramires, who headed home the first goal. The television feed cut to Mourinho, who reacted coolly, simply raising a hand and strutting around before his bench.
It seemed like his luck was finally turning. Referee Mark Clattenburg, for whatever reason, failed to penalize John Terry with a handball at the edge of the box even though it was an obvious handball.
It seemed like his luck was finally turning. Referee Mark Clattenburg, for whatever reason, failed to penalize John Terry with a handball at the edge of the box even though it was an obvious handball.
But then, deep into first-half injury time, when the whistle perhaps should have already gone, the mercurial Philippe Coutinho conjured that rare moment of individual brilliance he is put in the lineup for despite his utter unreliability in the rest of the games. Coutinho opened up a pocket of space at the edge of the box by making a fool of Ramires and curled the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to equalize.
The replay showed Klopp, who pumped a fist and grinned. Then it panned to Mourinho, who looked disgusted and ambled down the tunnel.
In the 74th minute, another Coutinho moment decided the game. He got a shot off in the box and it took a big deflection off John Terry before settling into the back of the net. Cue a shot of Mourinho, urging his team on. And then back to Klopp, pumping both fists this time and doling out some hand slaps.
"You're getting sacked in the morning!" the Liverpool fans chanted at Mourinho.
"Jose Mouriiinhooo!" the Chelsea fans responded.
Again and again, the feed cut to Mourinho, looking worried, as time ran out on another loss. A sixth in less than a dozen games, the week after he was sent off in a loss to West Ham for which he will face disciplinary action.
"You're getting sacked in the morning!" the Liverpool fans chanted at Mourinho.
"Jose Mouriiinhooo!" the Chelsea fans responded.
Again and again, the feed cut to Mourinho, looking worried, as time ran out on another loss. A sixth in less than a dozen games, the week after he was sent off in a loss to West Ham for which he will face disciplinary action.
Christian Benteke made things worse when he slotted home a third, finding all too much room in the box, as his goal took a deflection in the 83rd minute as well. Mourinho stood, unmoved and unmoving. The cameras panned to the banners in supporter of Mourinho.
"Jose Mouriiinhooo!" the Chelsea fans sang again. The ones that remained, anyway. Many of their peers fled the soccer carnage through the nearest exit. Six losses. Twice as many in all of 2014-15.
"I have nothing to say," Mourinho told the TV cameras several times. He did vaguely allude to the fans' apparent loyalty, saying they are "not stupid."
But was he worried about his job now?
"No."
"Worried about what?"
If Mourinho really isn't worried, and it's usually impossible to tell when he's bluffing and when he isn't, that betrays a lot about his stature within the club. After Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, Mourinho was the only manager who could consistently deliver domination in return for all of the millions he invested. They fell out in 2007 and reconciled in 2013.
The Portuguese loomed large over the club in his absence and continues to tower over it now. He is as much its identity as any collection of players ever was. Their love is mutual, and it seems that for now at least, both the bulk of the fans and Abramovich are standing by him – with the owner keeping his finger off a quick trigger for once.
Perhaps Mourinho's confidence – arrogance? – comes from the knowledge that nobody ever managed to make the Chelsea job as much his own as he has. And that Abramovich knows damn well that he burned through eight managers in the six years that Mourinho was gone.
They're still singing Mourinho's name at Stamford Bridge. And, as talk of his dismissal reaches fever pitch, we're left wondering just when the music will stop.
NCAAFB: AP Top 25 Ranking, 11/01/2015.
But was he worried about his job now?
"No."
"Worried about what?"
If Mourinho really isn't worried, and it's usually impossible to tell when he's bluffing and when he isn't, that betrays a lot about his stature within the club. After Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, Mourinho was the only manager who could consistently deliver domination in return for all of the millions he invested. They fell out in 2007 and reconciled in 2013.
The Portuguese loomed large over the club in his absence and continues to tower over it now. He is as much its identity as any collection of players ever was. Their love is mutual, and it seems that for now at least, both the bulk of the fans and Abramovich are standing by him – with the owner keeping his finger off a quick trigger for once.
Perhaps Mourinho's confidence – arrogance? – comes from the knowledge that nobody ever managed to make the Chelsea job as much his own as he has. And that Abramovich knows damn well that he burned through eight managers in the six years that Mourinho was gone.
They're still singing Mourinho's name at Stamford Bridge. And, as talk of his dismissal reaches fever pitch, we're left wondering just when the music will stop.
NCAAFB: AP Top 25 Ranking, 11/01/2015.
Associated Press
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ohio St. (39) | 8-0 | 1465 | 1 |
| 2. | Baylor (6) | 7-0 | 1408 | 2 |
| 3. | Clemson (6) | 8-0 | 1381 | 3 |
| 4. | LSU (5) | 7-0 | 1346 | 4 |
| 5. | TCU (4) | 8-0 | 1336 | 5 |
| 6. | Michigan St. | 8-0 | 1249 | 6 |
| 7. | Alabama (1) | 7-1 | 1160 | 7 |
| 8. | Notre Dame | 7-1 | 1019 | 9 |
| 9. | Stanford | 7-1 | 1014 | 8 |
| 10. | Iowa | 8-0 | 954 | 10 |
| 11. | Florida | 7-1 | 923 | 11 |
| 12. | Oklahoma St. | 8-0 | 879 | 12 |
| 13. | Utah | 7-1 | 809 | 13 |
| 14. | Oklahoma | 7-1 | 712 | 14 |
| 15. | Memphis | 8-0 | 683 | 16 |
| 16. | Michigan | 6-2 | 613 | 15 |
| 17. | Florida St. | 7-1 | 571 | 17 |
| 18. | Houston | 8-0 | 466 | 18 |
| 19. | Mississippi | 7-2 | 414 | 19 |
| 20. | Toledo | 7-0 | 366 | 20 |
| 21. | N. Carolina | 7-1 | 248 | NR |
| 22. | UCLA | 6-2 | 190 | 24 |
| 23. | Temple | 7-1 | 175 | 21 |
| 24. | Mississippi St. | 6-2 | 144 | 25 |
| 25. | Texas A&M | 6-2 | 101 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Wisconsin 64, USC 57, BYU 27, Northwestern 21, Duke 7, Penn St. 5, Appalachian St. 4, Boise St. 4, California 4, Pittsburgh 2, Tennessee 2, Navy 1, Washington St. 1
ACC acknowledges Miami should not have beaten Duke on last-second play.
By Graham Watson
The ACC on Sunday acknowledged that officials made four major errors at the end of the contest that led to Miami’s stunning last-second win against Duke.
The Hurricanes used an eight-lateral play on the final kickoff return of the game to march down the field for the game-winning score, but the ACC claims that victory should have never been awarded to Miami because of the following errors:
- The replay official erred in not overturning the ruling on the field that the Miami player had released the ball prior to his knee being down. If called, this would have ended the game.
- The on-field officials erred by failing to penalize Miami for an illegal block in the back at the Miami 16-yard line. If called, the ball would have been placed at the Miami 8-yard line and the game would have been extended for an untimed down.
- A block in the back foul was called at the Duke 26-yard line. After the officials conferred, which is appropriate, they correctly determined that the block was from the side, which resulted in the flag being picked up. The replay official was not involved in the decision to pick up the flag; however, the referee did not effectively manage communication and properly explain why the flag was picked up.
- In addition, the on-field crew failed to penalize a Miami player for leaving the bench area and entering the field prior to the end of the play. This foul would not have negated the touchdown because it would have been enforced as a dead ball foul.
During the play, officials threw a flag on what looked like a block in the back and spent more than nine minutes speaking with replay officials about any possible infractions. In the end, the officiating crew declared the play legal and the touchdown stood.
The ACC also suspended the officiating crew for two games.
The ACC also suspended the officiating crew for two games.
“The quality of our officiating program is of the highest importance to the league and its schools, and the last play of the game was not handled appropriately,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “Officiating is an extraordinarily difficult job but our players, coaches, programs and fans deserve the best that can be offered. We will continue to strive to meet that standard.”
Despite the acknowledgement of the errors, there was no statement that the ACC would reverse the outcome of the game.
Duke was still in the hunt for the ACC Coastal and a win would have kept the Blue Devils tied with North Carolina for the top of the division. Miami, which was playing in its first game without head coach Al Golden, was more or less out of the divisional race.
Pat Haden leaves College Football Playoff committee.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/YahooSports.com)
USC athletic director Pat Haden is vacating his post on the College Football Playoff committee.
The Playoff announced the decision on Friday.
“I am reluctant to step down, but my doctors advised me to reduce my traveling,” Haden said in a CFP statement. “With the weekly CFP meetings about to start and the travel commitment involved, I had to make this difficult decision. I feel it is in the best interest of the CFP and also of USC, with our current football coaching change and our upcoming Coliseum renovation.
“It was an honor to serve on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. I have such high regard for the CFP process and for the committee members, who devote such time and energy to the great sport of college football. It was a pleasure to serve alongside them. I want to thank the committee members, as well as CFP executive director Bill Hancock and his staff. They all do wonderful work.”
Haden had become lightheaded during the team's trip to Notre Dame two weeks ago. Haden, 62, had to go to a knee and was escorted off the field by medical officials. He later flew home with the team.
His departure leaves the committee with 12 members. The Playoff said it will not immediately replace Haden and operate with 12 for the rest of the season. The first ranking for the CFP are set to be released Tuesday.
But he also juggles extensive obligations outside USC as a member of more than a dozen corporate and nonprofit boards, side work that pays him at least a half-million dollars a year (including stock options and share awards), a Times review of proxy statements and federal tax records has found.
He's also about to embark on a coaching search, assuming he doesn't keep interim coach Clay Helton in the permanent role. USC fired coach Steve Sarkisian after Haden said the school found out that Sarkisian had not followed the guidelines agreed upon after an alcohol-and-medication-fueled rant at an August booster function.
Sarkisian was previously granted a leave of absence before he was fired and went to seek treatment.
Haden's involvement with the committee was also not without (an overblown) controversy. During a game last year against Stanford, Haden went down to the sidelines to confront officials. He said he had been summoned to the sideline by Sarkisian. Haden was subsequently reprimanded and fined by the Pac-12.
Haden was one of five athletic directors on the 13-person committee. His departure leaves chairman Jeff Long (Arkansas), Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin), Kirby Hocutt (Texas Tech), and Dan Radakovich (Clemson) as the athletic directors still on the panel.
Additionally, it's the second time the committee has been reduced to 12 during the season. Archie Manning took a leave of absence in October 2014 and was replaced by Bobby Johnson this spring.
NCAABKB; John Calipari: Kentucky might be better later than sooner.
By GARY B. GRAVES
Kentucky coach John Calipari is prepared for his latest talented freshman class to come together later than sooner.
He still expects some initial results from a Wildcats roster expected again to contend for a national championship.
''Believe me, these guys know where we are,'' Calipari said. ''They know the hype of this program sometimes. They know. They all know we have to fight.''
While the Hall of Fame coach acknowledges that they aren't ready for a title fight at the moment, his Kentucky roster appears to have filled the voids left by seven players who began their NBA careers this week. The Wildcats return senior Alex Poythress and junior Marcus Lee in the frontcourt, along with sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis from last year's record-setting squad that began 38-0 before losing in the Final Four.
That trio must blend with another talented freshman class including 6-foot-11 Skal Labissiere, 7-footer Isaac Humphries and trio of tall guards: 6-3 Isaiah Briscoe, 6-6 Charles Matthews and 6-4 Jamal Murray. Kentucky also signed junior transfer Mychal Mulder (6-4) from Vincennes (Indiana) University.
Calipari believes there's enough returning experience and height to carry the Wildcats deep into postseason - once they get through transitional growing pains.
''We're still trying to figure out exactly how we're going to play, who we're going to play,'' he said. ''We need to get better or I end up playing five or six guys.''
''We're still trying to figure out exactly how we're going to play, who we're going to play,'' he said. ''We need to get better or I end up playing five or six guys.''
Helping that process is the 5-9 Ulis, who takes over the point and is already being mentioned as one of the nation's top floor leaders. Unafraid to drive the lane against bigger defenders, he also has perimeter range along with a keen awareness of his teammates' presence.
His new backcourt mates possess similar skills, providing Calipari the option of using a three-guard alignment to utilize their skills.
''I have never been on a team where we can play three point guards,'' Lee said. ''They all see things that we don't and their minds are all going at the same time. It's very different playing with three guards, but it's also very fun.''
Here are some other things to watch as Kentucky opens with back-to-back games Nov. 13-14 against Albany and NJIT:
POYTHRESS' PROGRESS: There was an anxious moment during Tuesday night's scrimmage when Poythress fell hard to the floor before he was lifted up and shot free throws. He seemed none the worse for wear, good news considering he's returning from a season-ending tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament. Poythress said his explosiveness comes and goes, but added, ''it's coming and every day I'm just getting better with it.''
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: Nearly a third of Kentucky's roster is from outside of the U.S.: Murray and Mulder are from Ontario, Canada; Labissiere is a native of Haiti who left after the devastating earthquake in 2010. And Humphries is from Australia.
YOUNG ISAAC: To see Humphries' aggressive blocks and perimeter jumpers, it's easy to forget he's just 17. And that's why Calipari isn't expecting too much of Humphries - yet. There's lot of room for growth, but the coach has compared Humphries' inside physicality to predecessor Karl-Anthony Towns. Humphries got that from playing rugby. ''I'm not one of those people that tackle people in the post,'' he said. ''I just like to make it tough for them.''
MEET THE PRESS? Teaching defense has often been Calipari's toughest task with his string of offense-minded short-timers, and he hasn't often talked about using a full-court press - until now. ''I've been messing around with my press that I used in my past years,'' he said. ''With some players it looks good. There are a couple players I said, 'Guys, if we press you're not playing.' So if we're pressing half the game, uh oh, that's 20 minutes you're not playing unless you figure out how to do this.''
Here are some other things to watch as Kentucky opens with back-to-back games Nov. 13-14 against Albany and NJIT:
POYTHRESS' PROGRESS: There was an anxious moment during Tuesday night's scrimmage when Poythress fell hard to the floor before he was lifted up and shot free throws. He seemed none the worse for wear, good news considering he's returning from a season-ending tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament. Poythress said his explosiveness comes and goes, but added, ''it's coming and every day I'm just getting better with it.''
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: Nearly a third of Kentucky's roster is from outside of the U.S.: Murray and Mulder are from Ontario, Canada; Labissiere is a native of Haiti who left after the devastating earthquake in 2010. And Humphries is from Australia.
YOUNG ISAAC: To see Humphries' aggressive blocks and perimeter jumpers, it's easy to forget he's just 17. And that's why Calipari isn't expecting too much of Humphries - yet. There's lot of room for growth, but the coach has compared Humphries' inside physicality to predecessor Karl-Anthony Towns. Humphries got that from playing rugby. ''I'm not one of those people that tackle people in the post,'' he said. ''I just like to make it tough for them.''
MEET THE PRESS? Teaching defense has often been Calipari's toughest task with his string of offense-minded short-timers, and he hasn't often talked about using a full-court press - until now. ''I've been messing around with my press that I used in my past years,'' he said. ''With some players it looks good. There are a couple players I said, 'Guys, if we press you're not playing.' So if we're pressing half the game, uh oh, that's 20 minutes you're not playing unless you figure out how to do this.''
Expectations low for Arkansas following 27-win season.
Associated Press
Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson. (Photo/nbcsports.com)
After its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008, Arkansas enters this season facing a rebuilding effort following the departures of leading scorers Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls.
Just don’t tell that to Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson.
“We’re not going backward,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s confidence aside, expectations for Arkansas this season are as low as at any point during the coach’s five seasons. The lineup will be missing six of the school’s top seven scorers from a season ago.
The most significant loss from last season’s 27-9 team that finished second in the Southeastern Conference is Portis, the league’s player of the year now with the Chicago Bulls.
Portis averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds last season for the Razorbacks, helping serve as the most recognizable and important player during Anderson’s return to Fayetteville, where he previously served for 17 seasons as an assistant under former coach Nolan Richardson.
Losing Portis after two seasons will be difficult, but the Razorbacks will also miss Qualls, the team’s second-leading scorer (15.9 points per game).
And perhaps even more devastating were the offseason arrests of three players on allegations of using counterfeit money – charges that remain unresolved. Among the three players was All-SEC freshman point guard Anton Beard, who was expected to take on a leading role this season but is currently suspended.
The Razorbacks were picked by the media to finish 11th in the 14-team SEC. It’s a position Anderson isn’t accustomed to, though his players are embracing the role of underdog.
“We know people are counting us out right now, and that’s OK,” senior guard Anthlon Bell said. “We’ve just got to come out on the court every night and prove that we’re still here and there’s no letdown coming.”
Some things to watch as Arkansas tries to avoid a letdown:
JIMMY BUCKETS: Anderson’s top recruit last season was Missouri high school standout Jimmy Whitt, who averaged 30.6 points per game during his senior season. The 6-foot-4 guard joins a team desperately looking for scorers, and Whitt is expected to fill that role from the opening tipoff.
BELL’S RANGE: Bell is Arkansas’ leading returning scorer after averaging 7.9 points in 18.3 minutes per game last season, during which he hit 35.1 percent of his 3-point attempts. The 6-foot-3 senior has been the Razorbacks’ most likely 3-point option the last two seasons, but he’s likely to take on an expanded role this year.
HANNAHS’ ARRIVAL: Dusty Hannahs averaged 7.7 points per game as a freshman at Texas Tech two seasons ago, though he sat out last year after transferring back to his home state. The 6-foot-3 guard brings a reliable outside shooting touch, having hit 36.9 percent of his 3-pointers with the Red Raiders.
STEADY IMPROVEMENT: Arkansas’ win total has increased in each of Anderson’s four seasons, improving from an 18-14 record in 2011-12 to 19 wins a year later and 22 two years ago before last season’s NCAA Tournament team.
IN LIMBO: Anderson said Beard and transfer Dustin Thomas, another of the three arrested this summer, are still enrolled in school while awaiting the legal outcome of their case. The third player arrested, Jacorey Williams, was dismissed from the program after averaging 4.8 points per game last season.
Rugby-New Zealand hails 'phenomenal' All Blacks.
Reuters; By Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford
New Zealand All Blacks (Photo/Alasdair Nassie)
New Zealand media toasted the All Blacks' victory over Australia in Saturday's Rugby World Cup final, hailing the achievements of a "phenomenal" team many are calling the best of all time.
Directed by the "magic" of flyhalf Dan Carter, the All Blacks fended off a gallant Australia 34-17 at Twickenham, a gripping final deservedly rated the tournament's best ever.
"An outrageously good performance from an outrageously good team -- that was the right way for this All Black team to win this World Cup," New Zealand Herald's rugby writer Gregor Paul wrote on Sunday.
"They played without a shred of inhibition, no sense of the enormity of the occasion and most important of all, they played a brand of rugby that was a class above."
The final started at an inhospitable hour for fans in New Zealand but pubs stayed open to allow them to watch the game and celebrate the result.
After becoming world champions for a record time and the first team to retain the Cup, columnist Liam Napier said it would take time for the scale of New Zealand's achievement to sink in.
"As emotions fade, hangovers subside and time allows for reflection, the true scale of the All Blacks' achievement will soon become apparent," he wrote on Stuff.co.nz.
"Their overseas hoodoo at this tournament? Gone. Suggestions they are the best team of all time? Probably confirmed with their third Webb Ellis Cup, adding to the 1987 and 2011 triumphs on home soil.
"Comparing eras is always difficult but how can you argue with a record that stands at three losses in 53 matches?
"Phenomenal doesn't do this team justice."
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who shared a beer with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw after the semi-final win over South Africa, also offered praise.
"I am sure all of New Zealand will join me in congratulating them," said Key, who was at the final.
"New Zealand and Australia have a special relationship so it was great to see our two sides square off for the first time in a Rugby World Cup final."
Carter was named man-of-the-match for his 19-point effort, a fitting swansong for one of the game's finest flyhalves who was sidelined by injury when his team mates edged France to win the 2011 final on home soil.
"At 21-17 up and the Wallabies closing in, Carter stepped up in his 112th and final test before he moves to Paris. This was his time to shine," New Zealand Herald's Patrick McKendry wrote.
"After the agony of four years ago, this performance was the stuff of fairytales and no one who had the privilege of being there is likely to forget it."
American Pharoah wins final race, claiming Breeders’ Cup Classic and Grand Slam.
Associated Press
American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat pats the horse as jockey Victor Espinoza rides into the winner's circle after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic horse race at Keeneland race track Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Triple Crown champion American Pharoah took charge out of the gate, winning the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 6 1/2 lengths Saturday in his final race before retirement.
The 3-year-old colt ran 1 1/4 miles in a track-record 2:00.07 as the sentimental 3-5 favorite among the crowd of 50,155 at Keeneland. Fans stood 20-deep all along the rail, cheering and snapping cellphone photos of the superstar horse and jockey Victor Espinoza.
Except American Pharoah didn’t hear them. He wears ear plugs to muffle any sounds that might startle him.
“This was for Pharoah,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “We wanted him to go out the champion he is.”
He paid $3.40, $3 and $2.40.
Effinex, a 33-1 shot, returned $14.20 and $6.60. Honor Code was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $3.40 to show.
American Pharoah took on seven rivals after Smooth Roller and champion mare Beholder dropped out. Beholder had the speed and the class to potentially make the race a contest, but a lung ailment sidelined her on Thursday.
It probably didn’t matter how many faced American Pharoah on a cloudy, cool day in the cradle of American horse country.
He smashed the old track record of 2:05.36 by more than five seconds.
It was a feel-good moment for a sport that has been battered and bruised – all the troubles of declining attendance and drug controversies were wiped away in two magical minutes.
“It’s a horse racing fairy tale and I just happen to be in it,” Baffert said.
After easing across the finish line, Espinoza took the colt far up the first turn before slowly walking past the grandstand to the winner’s circle, accompanied by raucous cheers all the way. The champion even had his own military escort walk him back to his barn.
The fans knew they had just witnessed history, the final chapter in a story that may never be repeated.
American Pharoah put an exclamation point on a brilliant career in which he lost just twice – in his debut and again in the Travers on Aug. 29.
Keen Ice, who vanquished him at Saratoga, finished fourth in the Classic. Tonalist, the 2014 Belmont winner, was fifth, followed by Hard Aces, Frosted and Ireland-bred Gleneagles.
Frosted unexpectedly pressed American Pharoah on the lead in the Travers, leaving him vulnerable to the rally by Keen Ice.
This time, no one could keep up with the champ.
“It’s a lot of pressure to train a horse like this because I didn’t want to let the horse down and I didn’t want to let the fans down,” Baffert said. “I’m just so proud of him; it’s like watching my child out there.”
American Pharoah won nine of his 11 career starts, including the first sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 37 years this spring. He earned a total of $8,650,300 for Ahmed Zayat, the Egyptian-born owner who chose to keep his popular horse in training so fans could see him run.
“We wanted him to go out as a winner,” Zayat said. “He is a winner.”
Next up for American Pharoah is a new career as a breeding stallion at a farm in Kentucky bluegrass country near Keeneland.
The colt became the first horse to win the Triple Crown and the Classic in the same year, and the only one to have such a chance since the Breeders’ Cup didn’t begin until 1984.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1964 - CBS purchased 80% of the New York Yankees for $11,200,000.
1972 - Construction began on the Kingdome in Seattle, WA.
1988 - A Mexican radio station erroneously reported that Mike Tyson had died in a car crash.
1992 - Magic Johnson retired from the NBA again, this time for good because of fear due to his HIV infection.
1996 - Michael "Air" Jordan was on the cover of TV Guide.
1997 - Eric Metcalf (San Diego Chargers) set an NFL record when he ran back two kicks for touchdowns. The two returns gave him the league record with 10 in his career.
1999 - NBA.com TV was launched.
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