Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
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"
"A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success." ~ Elbert Hubbard, Writer, Publisher, Artist, and Philosopher
Trending: Bears expect 49ers to try to 'run the ball down our throats'. (See football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Streak lives, but Hawks fall in OT. (See hockey section for Hawks updates).
Trending: Gasol will 'very likely' opt out of Bulls contract this summer, test free agency. (See basketball section for Bulls updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! San Francisco 49ers-Chicago Bears Preview.
By JEFF MEZYDLO
If the Chicago Bears are to reach .500 for the first time in more than a year, they must find a way to halt their struggles at home.
A visit from the lowly San Francisco 49ers should help.
Looking to continue their second-half surge, the Bears try to keep the 49ers winless on the road Sunday.
Chicago (5-6) has won three of four but each victory came on the road. The Bears have dropped 11 of their last 14 at home and are 1-4 this season at Soldier Field, where they'll play three of the final five. They lost their last two there to Minnesota and Denver by a combined five points.
"You've got to take care of the next one, that's all it is," coach John Fox said.
Looking to continue their second-half surge, the Bears try to keep the 49ers winless on the road Sunday.
Chicago (5-6) has won three of four but each victory came on the road. The Bears have dropped 11 of their last 14 at home and are 1-4 this season at Soldier Field, where they'll play three of the final five. They lost their last two there to Minnesota and Denver by a combined five points.
"You've got to take care of the next one, that's all it is," coach John Fox said.
Chicago's concern this weekend seems less about location and more with moving back to .500 for the first time since it was 3-3 on Oct. 12 of last year. The Bears also find themselves one game back - with three teams ahead - of the final wild-card spot in the NFC.
''I think the whole thing is having meaningful or relevant games,'' Fox said. ''You want to put yourself in that position, but you definitely want to keep the focus small. All our focus right now is on the San Francisco 49ers.''
They would seem to be the ideal opponent for the Bears to prevail at home and even their record.
San Francisco (3-8) has been outscored 176-71 while going 0-5 away from home for the first time since winning only its road finale in 2005. Though the 49ers haven't played at Soldier Field since 2006, they've dropped their last six regular-season trips to Chicago.
"You're not going to change flights. You're not going to change that you're going on the road,'' San Francisco coach Jim Tomsula said. ''So, the changes need to come from each one of us and how we have ourselves prepared to play.
"Again, the acknowledgment of it and mentally coming off getting off a bus on game day. And maybe we need to sprint off the bus. But, that sense of urgency ... attack that football game."
That won't be easy against a Bears team that's yielded an average of 15.5 points in the last four games after giving up 28.9 in the first seven. A defense in which veteran cornerback Tracy Porter and linebacker Pernell McPhee are its most notable names, has allowed one touchdown in three of the last four.
''We're just continuously getting better, playing with each other, getting that chemistry,'' Porter said. ''I've said it time and time again, this defense is doing great things, this team is doing great things.
''We're moving in the right direction.''
The defense is under the direction of former 49ers coordinator Vic Fangio, who was passed over for the head coaching position after Jim Harbaugh left.
''I've just always accepted it's their decision, their team,'' he said. ''They do what they want with it.''
Fangio's defense is second against the pass, giving up 214.5 yards per game, but ranks 29th against the run, allowing 128.5 per game. The Bears surrendered a season-high 177 run yards in a 17-13 win at Green Bay on Thanksgiving. San Francisco, though, has been held to fewer than 70 yards rushing in five of the last six games and totaled 126 while dropping its last two against Seattle and Arizona.
Running back Carlos Hyde appears likely to miss a fifth straight game with a stress fracture in his foot, meaning ex-Bear Shaun Draughn could again be the featured back. Draughn has averaged 3.4 yards per carry while gaining 146 in starting the last three games.
Teammate Blaine Gabbert has completed 65.3 percent of his passes with four TDs and three interceptions in three games since taking over for Colin Kaepernick.
"Some of the plays he makes, I think he's able to showcase some of his skills and prove that he belongs in this league," receiver Torrey Smith said. "I'm just glad that he's able to go out and prove it.''
Gabbert has found a rapport with tight end Vance McDonald, who has 10 receptions for 136 yards and two TDs in the last two contests.
Defensively, San Francisco has held two of its last three opponents to fewer than 20 points and limited the Cardinals to 337 total yards in last Sunday's 19-13 defeat. However, the 49ers haven't forced a turnover in the last three contests and matched a season high with 13 penalties against Arizona.
They'll try to get after Chicago's Jay Cutler, who posts a career-high 92.5 passer rating and has thrown one INT in the last three games.
Even if tight end Martellus Bennett returns from missing last week's contest with sore ribs, Cutler should still look the way of Zach Miller. Bennett's backup has four TDs in the last four games.
Bears expect 49ers to try to 'run the ball down our throats'.
By John Mullin
The defense may be an emerging strength of the Bears, but “not in the run game,” scoffed linebacker Pernell McPhee. “We [aren’t] doing good in the run game right now so hopefully we can tighten up the screws. I think our secondary is doing a great job of covering; they did that all year.
“But we just got to get better in the run defense and that's what our focus got to be on. Because San Fran is going to come in here and probably try and run the ball down our throats.”
The Bears have made good on their stated commitment to run the football, ranking seventh in rushing attempts through 11 games and 16th in yards.
But the prime directive in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s philosophy is to interdict opponents’ efforts to run, at which they are succeeding arguably not all, yet stand on the brink of .500 after winning three of their last four games.
The Bears have held only three opponents to less than 100 yards, all victories (Oakland, San Diego, St. Louis). They were dramatically out-rushed by both Kansas City (87-117) and Green Bay II (101-177), yet won both of those. They managed to substantially out-rush the Packers (189-133) in Week 1, yet lost.
“It hasn't been good enough, but we've been able to overcome it,” Fangio said. “It's a little bit of everything. It starts up front. We haven't been consistently good enough up front. We haven't been consistently good enough at the linebacker position. And your secondary is involved in run defense, too, and there's been plays where they haven't been consistent enough. So it's been a little bit of everything and…we've got to get it rectified.”
They need to. And soon.
The Bears stand 29th in rush yards allowed per game, 30th in rushing average. If there is a concern coming into Soldier Field with the San Francisco 49ers, it’s that the one thing the 49ers do with even modest ability is run (20th in yards per game).
The 49ers crushed the Minnesota Vikings 20-3 in Week 1 with 230 rushing yards (168 by Carlos Hyde) while holding the Vikings to 71, with Adrian Peterson tallying 31 of those. Meaning: It can happen.
The Packers rushed for their 133 and 177 yards in part by utilizing a nickel package as their base offensive personnel group, forcing the Bears into nickel as well and then running against the lighter lineup that uses only two true defensive linemen.
Hybrid linebacker/end Willie Young, who played only seven snaps as recently as the Minnesota game last month and is primarily a nickel pass rusher, played 59 of Green Bay’s 78 snaps last Thursday while the Packers were rushing for those 177 yards.
Lamarr Houston, after playing four snaps vs. Minnesota, played 38 of Green Bay’s snaps (49 percent).
The anomaly of the victory: In something of a rope-a-dope vs. the run, coaches freed the front four to focus less on containing and more on rushing Aaron Rodgers, who escaped for 33 yards. Rodgers was pressured into his poorest passing game in two years. The tactic effectively conceded some running opportunities to the Packers, but other than by Rodgers scrambles, the defense was gashed for only one running play longer than 10 yards.
Two of San Francisco’s three wins (Minnesota, Atlanta) came with the 49ers’ best rushing games (230, 133).
“We’ve got to do a great job staying in our gaps,” McPhee said. “We got a lot of young guys on the inside and a lot of guys new to the system. I just think everybody’s got to communicate a little better and stay fitted in their gap.”
Bears WR Kevin White 'pushing' to play in 2015.
By John Mullin
It doesn’t mean anything yet and ultimately may not in any case, but the name “Kevin White” was not mentioned among Bears either not practicing (safety Antrel Rolle, wide receiver Eddie Royal) or limited in practice on Wednesday. And that is potentially a major development for an offense that stands 20th in the NFL (347 yards per game) and 21st in passing yards (236 yards per game).
White was involved in practice, able to participate in individual drills, running some routes and catching passes, all of which is keeping a fire burning. White said that this was the best he has felt since June, when the problem surfaced.
“I'm pushing to play,” White said. “If I wasn't pushing to play, I wouldn't be out there.”
White has made it clear that he has not written off this season, and one line of thinking is that if White is healthy and the Bears are winning their way toward the playoffs, he could find his way into a role with the offense. And he regards it as a serious goal.
“Yeah, yeah, it's really important,” White said. “If it wasn't important, I would be in the training room. I would just tell [general manager Ryan] Pace or [head coach John] Fox to IR me. But I want to play.”
White is not yet on the 53-man roster as he goes through his three-week window of practicing before the Bears need to make a final decision whether to activate him or consign him to injured reserve for good.
White has been shelved since June after suffering a stress fracture in OTAs, then undergoing surgery to install a pin in his left tibia. He was allowed to begin practicing last week and “he’s improving,” was all Fox would say on Wednesday.
“He’s on target. We’ve got a three-week window, that you know, we just take one day at a time.”
On target to be active this season?
“No,” Fox said. “On target to practice again tomorrow.”
Pernell McPhee 'guarantee' says get used to idea of Bears in playoffs.
By John Mullin
Pernell McPhee isn’t guaranteeing anything specifically, not a win over the San Francisco 49ers, not closing out the regular season with five wins, and not specifically that the Bears will be in the playoffs.
But the Bears’ rush-linebacker was a member of Baltimore Ravens playoff teams in three of his four years with them (2011-12, 2014), winning the Super Bowl in his second year. So he has more than just a passing knowledge of what a playoff team looks like.
“[Playoffs are] great motivation; I love the playoffs,” McPhee said on Thursday, then with a smile, suggesting that Bears fans keep their schedules for the second week of January open, just in case. “I hope y’all like the playoffs.”
“But we just got to get better in the run defense and that's what our focus got to be on. Because San Fran is going to come in here and probably try and run the ball down our throats.”
The Bears have made good on their stated commitment to run the football, ranking seventh in rushing attempts through 11 games and 16th in yards.
But the prime directive in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s philosophy is to interdict opponents’ efforts to run, at which they are succeeding arguably not all, yet stand on the brink of .500 after winning three of their last four games.
The Bears have held only three opponents to less than 100 yards, all victories (Oakland, San Diego, St. Louis). They were dramatically out-rushed by both Kansas City (87-117) and Green Bay II (101-177), yet won both of those. They managed to substantially out-rush the Packers (189-133) in Week 1, yet lost.
“It hasn't been good enough, but we've been able to overcome it,” Fangio said. “It's a little bit of everything. It starts up front. We haven't been consistently good enough up front. We haven't been consistently good enough at the linebacker position. And your secondary is involved in run defense, too, and there's been plays where they haven't been consistent enough. So it's been a little bit of everything and…we've got to get it rectified.”
They need to. And soon.
The Bears stand 29th in rush yards allowed per game, 30th in rushing average. If there is a concern coming into Soldier Field with the San Francisco 49ers, it’s that the one thing the 49ers do with even modest ability is run (20th in yards per game).
The 49ers crushed the Minnesota Vikings 20-3 in Week 1 with 230 rushing yards (168 by Carlos Hyde) while holding the Vikings to 71, with Adrian Peterson tallying 31 of those. Meaning: It can happen.
The Packers rushed for their 133 and 177 yards in part by utilizing a nickel package as their base offensive personnel group, forcing the Bears into nickel as well and then running against the lighter lineup that uses only two true defensive linemen.
Hybrid linebacker/end Willie Young, who played only seven snaps as recently as the Minnesota game last month and is primarily a nickel pass rusher, played 59 of Green Bay’s 78 snaps last Thursday while the Packers were rushing for those 177 yards.
Lamarr Houston, after playing four snaps vs. Minnesota, played 38 of Green Bay’s snaps (49 percent).
The anomaly of the victory: In something of a rope-a-dope vs. the run, coaches freed the front four to focus less on containing and more on rushing Aaron Rodgers, who escaped for 33 yards. Rodgers was pressured into his poorest passing game in two years. The tactic effectively conceded some running opportunities to the Packers, but other than by Rodgers scrambles, the defense was gashed for only one running play longer than 10 yards.
Two of San Francisco’s three wins (Minnesota, Atlanta) came with the 49ers’ best rushing games (230, 133).
“We’ve got to do a great job staying in our gaps,” McPhee said. “We got a lot of young guys on the inside and a lot of guys new to the system. I just think everybody’s got to communicate a little better and stay fitted in their gap.”
Bears WR Kevin White 'pushing' to play in 2015.
By John Mullin
It doesn’t mean anything yet and ultimately may not in any case, but the name “Kevin White” was not mentioned among Bears either not practicing (safety Antrel Rolle, wide receiver Eddie Royal) or limited in practice on Wednesday. And that is potentially a major development for an offense that stands 20th in the NFL (347 yards per game) and 21st in passing yards (236 yards per game).
White was involved in practice, able to participate in individual drills, running some routes and catching passes, all of which is keeping a fire burning. White said that this was the best he has felt since June, when the problem surfaced.
“I'm pushing to play,” White said. “If I wasn't pushing to play, I wouldn't be out there.”
White has made it clear that he has not written off this season, and one line of thinking is that if White is healthy and the Bears are winning their way toward the playoffs, he could find his way into a role with the offense. And he regards it as a serious goal.
“Yeah, yeah, it's really important,” White said. “If it wasn't important, I would be in the training room. I would just tell [general manager Ryan] Pace or [head coach John] Fox to IR me. But I want to play.”
White is not yet on the 53-man roster as he goes through his three-week window of practicing before the Bears need to make a final decision whether to activate him or consign him to injured reserve for good.
White has been shelved since June after suffering a stress fracture in OTAs, then undergoing surgery to install a pin in his left tibia. He was allowed to begin practicing last week and “he’s improving,” was all Fox would say on Wednesday.
“He’s on target. We’ve got a three-week window, that you know, we just take one day at a time.”
On target to be active this season?
“No,” Fox said. “On target to practice again tomorrow.”
Pernell McPhee 'guarantee' says get used to idea of Bears in playoffs.
By John Mullin
Pernell McPhee isn’t guaranteeing anything specifically, not a win over the San Francisco 49ers, not closing out the regular season with five wins, and not specifically that the Bears will be in the playoffs.
But the Bears’ rush-linebacker was a member of Baltimore Ravens playoff teams in three of his four years with them (2011-12, 2014), winning the Super Bowl in his second year. So he has more than just a passing knowledge of what a playoff team looks like.
“[Playoffs are] great motivation; I love the playoffs,” McPhee said on Thursday, then with a smile, suggesting that Bears fans keep their schedules for the second week of January open, just in case. “I hope y’all like the playoffs.”
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Kane ties Blackhawks point streak record in overtime loss to Senators.
#HAWKSTALK
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Mike Hoffman played the spoiler on Patrick Kane's record-tying night, scoring the game-winning goal 30 seconds into overtime as the Senators edged the Blackhawks 4-3 in a see-saw battle. It was fitting Hoffman notched the GWG, his second tally of the night, after hitting the crossbar as time expired.
Kane entered the Blackhawks record book, tying Bobby Hull's 1971-72 mark for points in consecutive games with 21. The NHL's leading point-getter with 41 scored a power play goal 3:27 into the second period - sending a shot through the wickets of former Blackhawks goalie Craig Anderson.
Kane was honored to tie the legend's record, "When you're tied with anything with Bobby Hull, it's pretty special considering the career that guy had."
A Blackhawks too many men penalty turned out to be costly as Senators forward Mark Stone batted the puck out of mid-air off a rebound giving his team a 3-2 at the 3:54 mark of the third period.
Artem Anisimov sent the game into overtime finishing off a highlight reel behind-the-back pass from Kane.
The line of Artemi Panarin, Anisimov and Kane dominated at times, combining for eight points. Panarin once again showed why he's a serious Calder Trophy candidate as he matched Kane's output notching one goal and two assists. The rookie's marker evened the score at 2.
The Blackhawks are now winless in three games, but the game appeared lopsided in their favor at times. The club outshot the Senators 38-27. Surprisingly Niklas Hjalmarrsson led the way with five.
Among his 35 saves Park Ridge native Anderson made several quality stops. Panarin off a cross-crease pass from Kane; a tough shot by Teuvo Teravainen and a Marian Hossa breakaway attempt that almost eked over the red line. Andrew Shaw a couple of chances that he couldn't bury, while Jonathan Toews rang one off the crossbar himself in the third period.
Despite the loss coach Joel Quenneville thought his team played well.
"We had a great four-line rotation going in the second period," he said. "We had great opportunities to score. That's what we're looking for."
Quenneville on Kane's impressive run, "He's been doing it game-in, game-out, shift-in, shift-out. He's been fun to watch. He makes plays that wow you. Fans, he entertains them, whether it's at home or on the road."
Fans were barely settled in their seats before Senators Mike Hoffman opened the scoring 1:32 into the game with a blast over Corey Crawford's glove. Hoffman, one of the game's rising stars, is on a streak of his own. His three-point night gave him 11 points (eight goals and three assists) in just six games.
With Hossa in the box, Bobby Ryan gave the Senators a 2-0 lead on a power play screen shot. Crawford was slow to react. The netminder may have been lulled to sleep after a 10-minute delay to repair a hole in the lower boards behind the Blackhawks net.
Ryan scored just 26 seconds after play resumed.
Strangely enough, the Blackhawks have now played nine overtime games and none have gone to a shootout.
Michal Rozsival appeared in his 900th regular season game. Quite an accomplishment for the 37 year-old whose career almost ended in May when he broke his ankle.
Kane will have an opportunity to pass Hull and extend his streak to 22 games Sunday at home versus the Winnipeg Jets.
Patrick Kane early favorite to win Hart Trophy.
By C. Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
As of Wednesday, Kane leads the NHL in points (38) and assists (23), shares the league lead with eight power play goals, and is averaging a league-best 1.52 points per game.
Kane extended his point streak to 20 games on Tuesday night, inching one game closer to tying Bobby Hull for the longest point streak in Blackhawks history and extending his record for longest point streak by an American-born player, which was previously held by Eddie Olczyk and Phil Kessel (18 games).
Kane is also the fourth player to record a point streak of 20 or more games since the 1997-98 campaign, according to Elias.
Dallas' Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin — who are both right behind Kane in the scoring race with 35 and 34 points, respectively — are second and third with 5-1 odds.
New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who's 13-5-2 with a 2.10 goals against average and .935 save percentage, is fourth at 6-1.
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, Washington's Alex Ovechkin, St. Louis' Vladimir Tarasenko and New York Islanders' John Tavares are tied for fifth with 12-1 odds.
Pavel Bure: Blackhawks rookie Artemi Panarin 'reminds me of myself'.
By C. Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Not many people knew who Artemi Panarin was when he first signed with the Blackhawks out of the KHL, but that has quickly changed.
The 24-year-old Russian leads all rookies with 23 points, and (as of Thursday) is the second-highest scorer on his team.
He's already turning heads in the NHL, and even caught the attention of Hall of Famer and fellow countryman Pavel Bure.
"Panarin reminds me of myself with his size and speed," Bure told NHL.com. "He managed to seamlessly integrate into a team that won the Stanley Cup only a few months ago. And not only that, Panarin currently ranks second in scoring on the Blackhawks behind Patrick Kane.
"He has everything to become a star in this league."
High praise coming from a two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner and a seven-time All-Star. But it's also not too surprising, considering Panarin's immediate impact in the first two months of the season.
The 24-year-old Russian leads all rookies with 23 points, and (as of Thursday) is the second-highest scorer on his team.
He's already turning heads in the NHL, and even caught the attention of Hall of Famer and fellow countryman Pavel Bure.
"Panarin reminds me of myself with his size and speed," Bure told NHL.com. "He managed to seamlessly integrate into a team that won the Stanley Cup only a few months ago. And not only that, Panarin currently ranks second in scoring on the Blackhawks behind Patrick Kane.
"He has everything to become a star in this league."
High praise coming from a two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner and a seven-time All-Star. But it's also not too surprising, considering Panarin's immediate impact in the first two months of the season.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Doug McDermott's defense is getting him crunch-time minutes for Bulls.
By K. C. Johnson
Two games don't constitute a trend. But that was McDermott playing the first nine minutes of the fourth in Monday's victory over the Spurs and following that with a 12-minute finishing stint in Wednesday's triumph over the Nuggets.
McDermott hit his lone shot — a 3-pointer — as part of his second straight double-digit scoring game in the Nuggets' victory and grabbed two rebounds. But that's not what stood out.
"The reason he's starting to play extended minutes is because of his defense," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "He did a really nice job on (Spurs swingman Manu) Ginobili the other night and I thought he really battled out there (against the Nuggets) as well. It's very important to have a guy like Doug on the floor because of his ability to shoot and stretch the floor. That opens up driving lanes."
In other words, improvement on defense is allowing the main reason the Bulls so aggressively pursued McDermott in the 2014 draft — offense — to be on the floor more. McDermott is tied — believe it or not, with Tony Snell — for seventh in the league at 46.2 percent from 3-point range. He also has proven adept at sinking running floaters, including an acrobatic left-handed shot off a nifty Derrick Rose feed against the Nuggets.
But beyond what McDermott has made, it's the mere threat of his spot-up ability that attracts defensive attention. And at least for now, that threat is appearing when the game matters most.
"I just feel comfortable," McDermott said. "This year, I feel a lot more confident. I don't really get too rattled anymore. I play through stuff. If I miss a couple of shots, the next one is still going up and I'm not really thinking twice about it."
In perhaps the best assessment of McDermott's mindset, he said he doesn't feel he's shooting as well as he can because he's focusing more on defense and rebounding and didn't get as many practice shots up while on the recent four-game trip. After Wednesday's shoot-around, McDermott spent several minutes working on individual defensive technique with associate head coach Jim Boylen.
"I feel I'm more prepared going into each game," McDermott said. "I've really studied the guys' tendencies a little more."
Former Bull Kyle Korver and Mike Dunleavy serve as prime examples of those who never will make an All-Defensive team but worked themselves into being solid team defenders. McDermott said Dunleavy offers pointers on technique and footwork often.
"I feel I'm getting better in all areas," McDermott said.
His playing time reflects it.
Bulls avoid disaster, hang on to beat Nuggets. (Wednesday night's game, 11/02/2015).
By Vincent Goodwill
The one constant in this Bulls’ season has been inconsistency, an aspect that seemed to rear its ugly yet predictable head Wednesday night.
The one constant in this Bulls’ season has been inconsistency, an aspect that seemed to rear its ugly yet predictable head Wednesday night.
Beat the Spurs, then lose to a team like the Denver Nuggets, who entered Wednesday's game losers of seven straight.
The script was nearly too irresistible for this bunch to pass up, but they beat the young but game squad, 99-90 at the United Center, the second in a home-heavy schedule that has seen them beat some of the NBA’s best while their one home loss took place against the league’s youngest team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“In this league sometimes you have to win ugly,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.
“Tonight we found a way. We found a way and that’s the encouraging thing on a night where we didn’t play that great.”
Pau Gasol stepped up in the absence of Nikola Mirotic, who exited early in the first quarter with a concussion. He nailed his first six shots from the field, then stabilized things late when the Bulls needed it defensively, thwarting multiple shot attempts inside with his four blocked shots and general presence made the Nuggets think twice before shooting, often putting up awkward shots.
Gasol finished with 26 points and 19 rebounds, both season-highs and his additional production was needed with Mirotic out and Derrick Rose struggling, not making a field goal after the first quarter.
Twelve of his points came in the fourth as the Bulls entered the last 12 trailing by four, very much looking like a game bound to get away.
“That play he tipped out to Doug was probably the play of the game when he hit the three,” said Hoiberg, referring to Gasol tapping a Rose miss out to Doug McDermott for a triple at the 7:37 mark, giving the Bulls an 82-79 lead.
“Pau did everything for us tonight. This was not our best energy game of the season but we kept at it and finally got a spurt to pull away. Good times or bad times, we have to play through those stretches.”
Rose finished with 11 points and nine assists, shooting three of 17, and it took Jimmy Butler awhile to get going offensively as well, hitting a couple jumpers late to tally 19 points with six rebounds and three assists.
A tough Butler drive and 3-point play put the Bulls back up by four with five minutes remaining and Gasol hit an 18-footer to essentially restore order the next time down.
“We know we have room for improvement,” Gasol said. “We can’t get complacent, can’t just be happy to win games. We’re gonna be challenged a lot.”
McDermott scored 11 off the bench, and Joakim Noah played 35 minutes, scoring nine with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Bulls had a 62-49 rebounding edge and held the Nuggets, a team without a devastating scorer, to 39 percent shooting. They barely beat that amount, shooting slightly over 40 percent as their offense stalled during the second half, shooting 38 percent with 10 turnovers.
“I thought our ball movement early was fine and we were going great,” Hoiberg said.
“In the middle of the game we weren’t that good and in the fourth we started playing again.”
Gasol will 'very likely' opt out of Bulls contract this summer, test free agency. What's Your Take?
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)
Pau Gasol came to the Bulls on a discount of sorts two summers ago, with some teams wondering how much top-flight game he had left in his veteran body.
But after a stellar first year in Chicago and his ramping it up recently after a busy summer, there appears to be very little doubt he can still produce at a high level.
Gasol told CSNChicago.com Wednesday night after his 26-point, 19-rebound, four-block and three-assist performance against the Denver Nuggets that it’s “very likely” he’ll opt-out of his contract this summer and test the market.
“As long as I keep playing like this,” Gasol said. “I know I’ll have some options.”
Gasol, 35, signed a three-year, $22.3 million deal with the Bulls in the summer of 2014, spurning the likes of the San Antonio Spurs and to a lesser degree, the Miami Heat.
A two-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, Gasol is a sure-fire Hall of Famer due to his exploits both in the NBA and internationally.
Saturday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets will be career game No. 1,000 for Gasol and although he appeared to take things easy at the start of training camp and the preseason due to a busy summer with the Spanish National Team, his production has climbed in recent games.
“I feel pretty good right now physically,” Gasol said in the locker room after Wednesday's game. “I had to take it easier in the preseason so I started a little slower this season than I would’ve liked but because of how I played this summer I had no choice. I had to refuel somehow so I could have enough gas to make it through the entire season and still get to the end with enough and push through so I can play well in the playoffs.”
With the salary cap rising again this summer and assuming Gasol stays in relative good health, it makes sense for him to again hit free agency for a contract with long-term security and more annual money. By today’s financial standards, Gasol is underpaid for his production, ranking 23rd amongst power forwards in the NBA, according to spotrac.com.
If he were to be listed as a center, which he plays when Nikola Mirotic or Taj Gibson is on the floor, his $7.4 million average would rank 20th.
It appears both Gasol and Joakim Noah will be free agents this summer, leaving the Bulls with some choices in the frontline as they’ll try to fit the best pieces around Fred Hoiberg’s offensive system. No one from the Bulls seem to have given the indication they would merely let Gasol and his production walk out of the door without a fight and a source with the front office tells CSNChicago.com they'll make a hard push to retain his services.
Hoiberg was certainly appreciative of Gasol’s effort Wednesday night, and his presence as a whole.
“I know his teammates don’t underestimate him and that’s the important thing with Pau,” Hoiberg said. “He got us going with the start and finished the game with a couple free throws.”
Gasol is averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, the last two being above his career averages. In Hoiberg’s system, his role has differed a bit than the one he played last year where he was featured more, as he averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in Tom Thibodeau’s slow-down system.
With Hoiberg wanting to play faster, a style more tailored to the wings and point guards, Gasol hasn’t been exactly marginalized but the team seems to rely on him whenever they need a big bucket.
And more times than not, he’s delivered — on both ends of the floor. He had big defensive stands against the Spurs and Nuggets, as well as thwarting LeBron James’ last-second drive on Opening Night.
“Just trying to play as well as I can for the position I’m in now,” Gasol said. “I understand things are a little different now, but as long as we win and we’re a better team, we all sacrifice a little to do the things the coaching staff wants us to do.”
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: Pau Gasol has been a terrific addition for the Bulls during the last two years. He has performed admirably and I don't blame him for trying to make as much as he can before he retires. He has won championship rings with the Lakers so that's not a problem for him. He came to Chicago to win another championship and play for a team with several good young players and a ton of potential. He has seen a coaching change and several player injuries; I'm wondering if he still feels the Bulls have a chance to win a championship? Granted, he is starting to get up in age and father time really takes it's toll on an athlete's career. The Bulls are a forward thinking team and are probably scouting for replacements if he can't be retained. I'd hate to see him go, however, no one is irreplaceable.
I wonder why he really would like to move on? Does he feel the Bulls will not offer him what he wants and feel he deserves? Is he happy with the coaching change? Does he feel the team's core is good enough to win a championship? Is there something else going on that's bothering him?
For you diehard Bulls fans, what are your thoughts on this situation? Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your opinion with us. We'd love to know what you think and what's your take?
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
David Price, Jason Heyward and how Cardinals respond in rivalry with Cubs.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: Pau Gasol has been a terrific addition for the Bulls during the last two years. He has performed admirably and I don't blame him for trying to make as much as he can before he retires. He has won championship rings with the Lakers so that's not a problem for him. He came to Chicago to win another championship and play for a team with several good young players and a ton of potential. He has seen a coaching change and several player injuries; I'm wondering if he still feels the Bulls have a chance to win a championship? Granted, he is starting to get up in age and father time really takes it's toll on an athlete's career. The Bulls are a forward thinking team and are probably scouting for replacements if he can't be retained. I'd hate to see him go, however, no one is irreplaceable.
I wonder why he really would like to move on? Does he feel the Bulls will not offer him what he wants and feel he deserves? Is he happy with the coaching change? Does he feel the team's core is good enough to win a championship? Is there something else going on that's bothering him?
For you diehard Bulls fans, what are your thoughts on this situation? Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your opinion with us. We'd love to know what you think and what's your take?
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
David Price, Jason Heyward and how Cardinals respond in rivalry with Cubs.
By Patrick Mooney
Just a thought: Could all this media speculation about Jason Heyward be a strategic way for the Cubs to drive up the price for the St. Louis Cardinals?
Because Theo Epstein’s front office needs to pour those limited resources into the pitching staff and would have to jump through so many hoops to steal Heyward away from the Cardinals, who reportedly finished second to the Boston Red Sox in the $217 million David Price sweepstakes.
Either way, a rivalry that started in 1892 is beginning a new chapter after the Cubs beat the Cardinals in October, winning their first playoff matchup ever. The balance of power hasn’t completely shifted inside the National League Central, but it’s still a division that produced three playoff teams that won at least 97 games this year.
“I wouldn’t say urgency,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said during last month’s GM meetings in South Florida. “My point is things happen and we adjust. You’re not going to make irrational decisions just because you feel like your division is extraordinarily difficult. You have to stay disciplined to your process.”
If those runner-up-for-Price reports are accurate – USA Today had the final offer at $180 million – the patient, sensible, homegrown Cardinals should have money to burn at next week’s winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch keeps hinting the 11-time World Series champions will have to get out of that comfort zone with headlines like: “Time for Cardinals to get silly?”
While the Cubs have faraway plans about their TV future – and picture a much bigger payday – the Cardinals have already locked up a reported 15-year deal with Fox Sports Midwest that begins with the 2018 season and guarantees the club more than $1 billion and an equity stake in the regional network.
The Cardinals have outfielder Matt Holliday entering the final season of a seven-year, $120 million deal – the largest contract in franchise history to this point – and right-hander Lance Lynn recovering from Tommy John surgery and top pitching prospect Alex Reyes serving a 50-game drug suspension.
Factor in the 3.5 million-plus in attendance at Busch Stadium this year, new revenues from the Wrigleyville-inspired Ballpark Village and the rising tide in what’s becoming a $10 billion industry, and maybe making a huge splash makes sense.
But the Cardinals aren’t going to overreact to winning 100 games and then losing to the Cubs in the divisional round, when Gold Glove/All-Star catcher Yadier Molina tried to play through a thumb injury and Opening Day starter Adam Wainwright could only pitch out of the bullpen after coming back from a torn Achilles tendon.
“I don’t think we went into September full strength,” Mozeliak said. “And we clearly didn’t go into October full strength. But no one’s having pity parties for us. That’s the business.
“It’s one of those things where ideally you hit October 1 (and) you’re at like full stride. We weren’t. But that’s not to take away from the six months we had. The timing wasn’t there.”
The Cubs know they can’t magically recreate the same chemistry they had during the season no one saw coming. Players will get older and more expensive and feel more entitled. Expectations will change on the North Side.
The Cardinals keep finding ways to maintain their competitive edge, making the playoffs 12 times since 2000.
“We’ve had a group of core players that experienced some of our success as early as ’04 with Yadi,” Mozeliak said. “(It’s) understanding what the winning culture’s about. We’ve had advocates and mentors to carry that along. And then we’ve had healthy churn as well, so I think sometimes adding new energy or a new face to it is helpful.
“It’s a balance. Fortunately, we’ve been able to strike that. But it’s a fragile environment. I’m not ready to tell you we’ve got it figured out for next year.”
The Cardinals acquired Heyward from the Atlanta Braves last November with the idea that both sides would take a year to see if it would be a good long-term fit.
The Cardinals may or may not have their next core player in Heyward, who’s hard to put a price tag on because he’s only 26 years old and a Gold Glove outfielder who’s hit 20-plus homers only once in his career. Heyward is also a left-handed hitter with speed, on-base skills, clubhouse presence and an .869 career OPS against the Cubs.
The Cubs, Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates – who’ve made three playoff appearances within the last three seasons – all look like built-to-last contenders with young talent, star power and savvy front offices. At a time when the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers appear to be punting on 2016 and playing for the future.
However the Cardinals decide to respond, the Cubs always understood their road to the World Series would have to go through St. Louis.
“A lot of people have asked me this question (about) the Cubs’ emergence, Pittsburgh’s sustainability,” Mozeliak said. “Candidly, four or five years ago, it was Milwaukee.
“Ultimately, we try to worry about ourselves. But it’s hard not to acknowledge what’s happening in your division. And what’s going on right now with both Pittsburgh and Chicago is extremely impressive.”
Because Theo Epstein’s front office needs to pour those limited resources into the pitching staff and would have to jump through so many hoops to steal Heyward away from the Cardinals, who reportedly finished second to the Boston Red Sox in the $217 million David Price sweepstakes.
Either way, a rivalry that started in 1892 is beginning a new chapter after the Cubs beat the Cardinals in October, winning their first playoff matchup ever. The balance of power hasn’t completely shifted inside the National League Central, but it’s still a division that produced three playoff teams that won at least 97 games this year.
“I wouldn’t say urgency,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said during last month’s GM meetings in South Florida. “My point is things happen and we adjust. You’re not going to make irrational decisions just because you feel like your division is extraordinarily difficult. You have to stay disciplined to your process.”
If those runner-up-for-Price reports are accurate – USA Today had the final offer at $180 million – the patient, sensible, homegrown Cardinals should have money to burn at next week’s winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch keeps hinting the 11-time World Series champions will have to get out of that comfort zone with headlines like: “Time for Cardinals to get silly?”
While the Cubs have faraway plans about their TV future – and picture a much bigger payday – the Cardinals have already locked up a reported 15-year deal with Fox Sports Midwest that begins with the 2018 season and guarantees the club more than $1 billion and an equity stake in the regional network.
The Cardinals have outfielder Matt Holliday entering the final season of a seven-year, $120 million deal – the largest contract in franchise history to this point – and right-hander Lance Lynn recovering from Tommy John surgery and top pitching prospect Alex Reyes serving a 50-game drug suspension.
Factor in the 3.5 million-plus in attendance at Busch Stadium this year, new revenues from the Wrigleyville-inspired Ballpark Village and the rising tide in what’s becoming a $10 billion industry, and maybe making a huge splash makes sense.
But the Cardinals aren’t going to overreact to winning 100 games and then losing to the Cubs in the divisional round, when Gold Glove/All-Star catcher Yadier Molina tried to play through a thumb injury and Opening Day starter Adam Wainwright could only pitch out of the bullpen after coming back from a torn Achilles tendon.
“I don’t think we went into September full strength,” Mozeliak said. “And we clearly didn’t go into October full strength. But no one’s having pity parties for us. That’s the business.
“It’s one of those things where ideally you hit October 1 (and) you’re at like full stride. We weren’t. But that’s not to take away from the six months we had. The timing wasn’t there.”
The Cubs know they can’t magically recreate the same chemistry they had during the season no one saw coming. Players will get older and more expensive and feel more entitled. Expectations will change on the North Side.
The Cardinals keep finding ways to maintain their competitive edge, making the playoffs 12 times since 2000.
“We’ve had a group of core players that experienced some of our success as early as ’04 with Yadi,” Mozeliak said. “(It’s) understanding what the winning culture’s about. We’ve had advocates and mentors to carry that along. And then we’ve had healthy churn as well, so I think sometimes adding new energy or a new face to it is helpful.
“It’s a balance. Fortunately, we’ve been able to strike that. But it’s a fragile environment. I’m not ready to tell you we’ve got it figured out for next year.”
The Cardinals acquired Heyward from the Atlanta Braves last November with the idea that both sides would take a year to see if it would be a good long-term fit.
The Cardinals may or may not have their next core player in Heyward, who’s hard to put a price tag on because he’s only 26 years old and a Gold Glove outfielder who’s hit 20-plus homers only once in his career. Heyward is also a left-handed hitter with speed, on-base skills, clubhouse presence and an .869 career OPS against the Cubs.
The Cubs, Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates – who’ve made three playoff appearances within the last three seasons – all look like built-to-last contenders with young talent, star power and savvy front offices. At a time when the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers appear to be punting on 2016 and playing for the future.
However the Cardinals decide to respond, the Cubs always understood their road to the World Series would have to go through St. Louis.
“A lot of people have asked me this question (about) the Cubs’ emergence, Pittsburgh’s sustainability,” Mozeliak said. “Candidly, four or five years ago, it was Milwaukee.
“Ultimately, we try to worry about ourselves. But it’s hard not to acknowledge what’s happening in your division. And what’s going on right now with both Pittsburgh and Chicago is extremely impressive.”
White Sox agree to sign catcher Dioner Navarro.
By Dan Hayes
The White Sox have reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent catcher Dioner Navarro on Thursday.
The deal is pending a physical, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Navarro hit .246/.307/.374 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 192 plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. The year before, Navarro hit 12 homers and drove in 69 runs with a .274/.317/.395 slash line in 520 plate appearances.
The White Sox officially moved on from three-year starter Tyler Flowers on Wednesday night in hopes of improving their offense, general manager Rick Hahn said. They hope Navarro and veteran Alex Avila can pair together to spruce up an offense that was last in the American League in runs and home runs and 14th in on-base percentage.
Navarro, who played for the Cubs in 2013, is a .270/.336/.439 hitter versus left-handed pitching in a career that began in 2004. The White Sox will be his seventh team.
The deal is pending a physical, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Navarro hit .246/.307/.374 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 192 plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. The year before, Navarro hit 12 homers and drove in 69 runs with a .274/.317/.395 slash line in 520 plate appearances.
The White Sox officially moved on from three-year starter Tyler Flowers on Wednesday night in hopes of improving their offense, general manager Rick Hahn said. They hope Navarro and veteran Alex Avila can pair together to spruce up an offense that was last in the American League in runs and home runs and 14th in on-base percentage.
Navarro, who played for the Cubs in 2013, is a .270/.336/.439 hitter versus left-handed pitching in a career that began in 2004. The White Sox will be his seventh team.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Spieth aces, Casey grabs share of Challenge lead.
AFP
World number one Jordan Spieth aced the par-3 second hole while England's Paul Casey fired a six-under par 66 to share the lead after round one of the Hero World Challenge.
Casey's bogey-free round put him alongside Americans Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson atop the leaderboard at the 18-man event hosted by Tiger Woods.
Defending champion Spieth's shot of the day left him one stroke back on 67 alongside compatriots Bubba Watson, Bill Haas and Brooks Koepka and Australian Adam Scott.
Spieth, the reigning US Open and Masters champion, used a 6-iron from 172 yards for his hole-in-one and followed with a bogey-free round that included birdies at the seventh and back-to-back at the 14th and par-5 15th.
Casey, who suffered two playoff losses on the US PGA Tour this season, enjoyed his tour of the Albany resort, making birdies at the par-5 third, sixth and 15th holes. He also opened and closed the back nine with birdies and added another at 13 to secure his playoff among the leaders.
It's the seventh appearance at the event for Casey, who shared third in 2010 and 2011, his most recent prior starts.
Walker closed the front nine with a bogey to stand at level par but made six birdies on a bogey-free back side to seize his share of the lead.
Johnson, the 2013 Challenge champion, birdied three of the four par-3s -- the fifth, eighth and 17th holes -- as well as the 10th, 11th, 15th and 16th.
Johnson, the 2013 Challenge champion, birdied three of the four par-3s -- the fifth, eighth and 17th holes -- as well as the 10th, 11th, 15th and 16th.
Scott birdied the par-3 second and eagled the par-5 third then answered a bogey at the fourth with a birdie on the par-5 sixth. On the back nine, he took a bogey at 13 but responded with back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15th and closed with another birdie to stay on the leaders' heels.
PGA Tour will require most players to add a new event to their annual schedules.
By Ryan Ballengee
Starting with the 2016-17 season, PGA Tour players will be required to diversify their schedules.
The PGA Tour Policy Board has approved a new rule, called the Strength of Field Regulation, requiring players to add at least one event to their schedule that they haven't played in during the previous four seasons.
The PGA Tour Policy Board has approved a new rule, called the Strength of Field Regulation, requiring players to add at least one event to their schedule that they haven't played in during the previous four seasons.
The idea is simple, aiming to get top-tier players to PGA Tour events that often feel slighted by the tour's stars, either because of their place on the schedule or a reputation as a lesser event.
The thought is that Tiger Woods' decision to compete in the Wyndham Championship in August for the first time in his career inspired this change. In an ironic twist, Woods, when he does return to pro golf, will be exempt from the rule. Players who make 25 or more starts in the current or prior season and life members of the PGA Tour -- players with 20 or more wins, like Woods and Phil Mickelson -- will not be subject to the rule.
Major championships and limited-field events, including the World Golf Championships and FedEx Cup playoff tournaments, also don't fall under the policy.
Players who violate the rules will be subject to a fine of at least $20,000 or a possible suspension.
Players who violate the rules will be subject to a fine of at least $20,000 or a possible suspension.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France Sees Even Brighter Future For The Sport.
By Jerry Bonkowski
Brian France (Photo/Getty Images)
In a week that is all about reflecting back on the season that was, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France is eagerly looking ahead to the future.
In his annual speech at Thursday’s annual Myers Brothers Awards luncheon in Las Vegas, France first congratulated new Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch, as well as retiring four-time champ Jeff Gordon.
France then switched gears to talk about the changes that are on the horizon. Those changes include a new low downforce aerodynamic package, a new Vice President of Competition (Scott Miller, named to the post Wednesday) and the potential of a new charter system that will potentially give team owners a greater stake in equity and stability of their respective team’s value.
“I’ve been at this a long time,” France said. “I’ve never been more excited about what’s going on in our industry than right now. I say that because of all of the innovative things that are happening.
“You know, innovation or ideas can come from anywhere. But it’s the people in this room that execute those ideas – our track operators, our race officials, our teams, our team personnel – they’ve embraced what we’re doing in a way that is unprecedented in motorsports.”
France alluded to changes in the sport that have been positives, from on-track to the overall championship playoff format.
“I’m talking about little things, like the Air Titan system, which helps us get our events completed in a timely way, that are little things that make a big impact,” France said. “The big things like our format change that many, many people around the world, in motorsports around the world, no one has this format. Many people thought it couldn’t be done. They didn’t think you could have an elimination‑style format in auto racing. Didn’t make sense.
“They also didn’t think that the level of competition could rise, that our teams could step up to the moment and do things they never thought possible.
“But you know what, they have. And all of you in this room have embraced that, our tracks, everybody, our marketing partners, have understood the importance of raising the level of competition to our fans. They love it.”
As for the future, France said he remains keenly optimistic that the sport will continue to thrive and grow, citing examples such as the $400 million Daytona Rising project that will be completed in time for the 2016 Daytona 500.
“That gives me great assurance we’re going to have a good future,” France said. “I want us to have an exceptional future. I know now with the industry working so closely on big things and small things that we’re going to have an exceptional future.
“That future will start in February of next year, and you’ll see the completion of Daytona Rising, the huge commitment the tracks across the industry that I believe will follow suit in various forms to reinvest, make our fan experience better than it’s ever been.”
In his annual speech at Thursday’s annual Myers Brothers Awards luncheon in Las Vegas, France first congratulated new Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch, as well as retiring four-time champ Jeff Gordon.
France then switched gears to talk about the changes that are on the horizon. Those changes include a new low downforce aerodynamic package, a new Vice President of Competition (Scott Miller, named to the post Wednesday) and the potential of a new charter system that will potentially give team owners a greater stake in equity and stability of their respective team’s value.
“I’ve been at this a long time,” France said. “I’ve never been more excited about what’s going on in our industry than right now. I say that because of all of the innovative things that are happening.
“You know, innovation or ideas can come from anywhere. But it’s the people in this room that execute those ideas – our track operators, our race officials, our teams, our team personnel – they’ve embraced what we’re doing in a way that is unprecedented in motorsports.”
France alluded to changes in the sport that have been positives, from on-track to the overall championship playoff format.
“I’m talking about little things, like the Air Titan system, which helps us get our events completed in a timely way, that are little things that make a big impact,” France said. “The big things like our format change that many, many people around the world, in motorsports around the world, no one has this format. Many people thought it couldn’t be done. They didn’t think you could have an elimination‑style format in auto racing. Didn’t make sense.
“They also didn’t think that the level of competition could rise, that our teams could step up to the moment and do things they never thought possible.
“But you know what, they have. And all of you in this room have embraced that, our tracks, everybody, our marketing partners, have understood the importance of raising the level of competition to our fans. They love it.”
As for the future, France said he remains keenly optimistic that the sport will continue to thrive and grow, citing examples such as the $400 million Daytona Rising project that will be completed in time for the 2016 Daytona 500.
“That gives me great assurance we’re going to have a good future,” France said. “I want us to have an exceptional future. I know now with the industry working so closely on big things and small things that we’re going to have an exceptional future.
“That future will start in February of next year, and you’ll see the completion of Daytona Rising, the huge commitment the tracks across the industry that I believe will follow suit in various forms to reinvest, make our fan experience better than it’s ever been.”
Senior VP of competition Pemberton leaves NASCAR.
Robin Pemberton will leave his position as NASCAR's senior vice president of competition at the end of the year.
Pemberton joined the sanctioning body in August 2004 and has overseen all areas of NASCAR competition. With a racing career spanning five decades, Pemberton has been credited as a key component in bridging the gap between the sanctioning body and the racing community.
NASCAR Vice President Mike Helton says Pemberton joined the sanctioning body at a critical time and helped give the series ''credibility and confidence.''
Before the 2010 season, the governing body encouraged drivers to show more aggression and emotion, leading Pemberton to declare, ''Boys, have at it and have a good time.'' It was a slogan that follows NASCAR to this day.
Pemberton will help in the transition to a new competition lead for the balance of the year.
SOCCER: MLS Cup Final
COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
December 6, 2015
MLS Cup Final
4 pm ET (ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMás in US, TSN, RDS in Canada)
MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
December 6, 2015
MLS Cup Final
4 pm ET (ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMás in US, TSN, RDS in Canada)
The Columbus Crew SC and Portland Timbers will meet for the MLS Cup championship on Sunday, with Columbus hosting at MAPFRE Stadium based on their slightly superior goal differential (+5 vs. +2) during the regular season; the teams finished with the same record (15-11-8) over 34 games.
Columbus are playing in their second MLS Cup final, having claimed the 2008 title with a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in Carson, California. Portland, in their fifth year as an MLS club, are playing in their first MLS Cup final; they lost in the Western Conference Championship in 2013.
Both teams used two-goal victories in the first game of their respective conference championship series to advance ahead of their conference's regular-season champions. Portland beat FC Dallas 5-3 over the two legs, with Columbus edging the New York Red Bulls 2-1.
This will be the second MLS Cup championship game hosted in Columbus; San Jose beat the LA Galaxy 2-1 in the 2001 final on Dwayne De Rosario's golden goal. Early forecasts for Sunday's weather call for mostly sunny skies and a high of 51 degrees.
Columbus are playing in their second MLS Cup final, having claimed the 2008 title with a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in Carson, California. Portland, in their fifth year as an MLS club, are playing in their first MLS Cup final; they lost in the Western Conference Championship in 2013.
Both teams used two-goal victories in the first game of their respective conference championship series to advance ahead of their conference's regular-season champions. Portland beat FC Dallas 5-3 over the two legs, with Columbus edging the New York Red Bulls 2-1.
This will be the second MLS Cup championship game hosted in Columbus; San Jose beat the LA Galaxy 2-1 in the 2001 final on Dwayne De Rosario's golden goal. Early forecasts for Sunday's weather call for mostly sunny skies and a high of 51 degrees.
REFEREE: TBAAR1 (bench): TBA; AR2 (opposite): TBA; 4th: TBA
SUSPENDED: none
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: CLB 2 wins, 6 goals … POR 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 2
at MAPFRE Stadium: CLB 2 wins, 3 goals … POR 1 win, 2 goals
2015 HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Columbus Crew SC 1, Portland Timbers 2 (Sept. 26, MAPFRE Stadium)
COACHES' RECORDS:
- Gregg Berhalter vs. POR … 0-1-1
- Caleb Porter vs. CLB … 1-1-1
- Regular season: 15-11-8, +5, 2nd in Eastern Conference
- Conference Semifinals: Beat Montreal 4-3 after extra time
- Conference Championship: Beat New York Red Bulls 2-1
- Regular season: 15-11-8, +2, 3rd in Western Conference
- Knockout Round: Tied Kansas City 2-2, won 7-6 on PKs
- Conference Semifinals: Beat Vancouver 2-0
- Conference Championship: Beat Dallas 5-3
Paunovic brings passion...and a love for Chicago storms to Fire.
CSN Staff
Veljko Paunovic (Photo/csnchicago.com)
In a sit down with CSN's Kelly Crull, a likable and immensely motivated Paunovic talks about embracing Chicago and pulling from his passion and ethic as a former footballer in order to rebuild a winning team.
The Fire had a disappointing finish last year and have missed the playoffs the last couple of seasons. Paunovic knows it isn't an easy task, so when Crull asks about his approach to making the Fire reach new heights, he laughs, "Thank you for asking that, because now — back to reality!"
But he answers simply, "We have to build a team."
For someone who flew in from Madrid just the night before, Paunovic's energy is on fire. (Ha.) He tells Crull he was in Chicago last August and was quite taken by the city and it's people...even the weather. "I remember that night, there was a huge storm in Chicago, I said whoa! That was amazing, " he says. "I think I recorded it. I have the record for me."
Well Pauno, one thing is for sure...there will be a lot more storms for you to record.
2015-2016 Premier League Power Rankings, Vol. V: Klopp's Reds Go Top.
By Kyle Lynch
(Photo/Getty Images)
We have a new team leading the Premier League Power Rankings, as Liverpool’s run of form puts the Reds in the top spot.
The team has taken hold of Jurgen Klopp‘s philosophy and style of play, and with just one loss since the German took over in October, Liverpool continues to climb up the table.
There was a lot of movement in the rankings this week, and with one of the busiest and most important stages of the season coming up, the shuffling will likely continue.
The team has taken hold of Jurgen Klopp‘s philosophy and style of play, and with just one loss since the German took over in October, Liverpool continues to climb up the table.
There was a lot of movement in the rankings this week, and with one of the busiest and most important stages of the season coming up, the shuffling will likely continue.
| TEAM | RANKING | Up/Down | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1 | UP 4 | Liverpool: The Reds followed up their huge win over Man City with another three points against Swansea. With a favorable schedule coming up, Liverpool could rattle off a big run before Boxing Day. |
 | 2 | UP 4 | Manchester City: City rebounded from the Liverpool loss with a convincing win over Southampton. With Sergio Aguero and David Silva both returning from injury and Kevin De Bruyne firing on all cylinders, City is back at the top of the PL table. |
 | 3 | DOWN 2 | Leicester City: Despite snapping their four-match win streak in the Premier League, a draw against Manchester United is a good result. As long as Jamie Vardy continues to score, the Foxes will be towards the top of the rankings. |
 | 4 | DOWN 2 | Tottenham Hotspur: A hard-fought draw against Chelsea kept Spurs unbeaten since opening day, and it was another clean sheet for Pochettino’s men. Only Manchester United have conceded fewer goals than Tottenham, a big boost for their top-four hopes. |
 | 5 | DOWN 1 | Manchester United: Despite all the complaints about playing boring football and struggling to score goals, United is still just a point off the leaders and is a hard team to beat. Louis Van Gaal doesn’t care what anyone says as long as his side continues to get results. |
 | 6 | DOWN 3 | Arsenal: A loss to West Brom followed by a draw to Norwich City is not a good look for Arsenal. Add in the slew of injuries, and the Gunners have their work cut out for them. |
 | 7 | UP 1 | Everton: Up 2-0 at halftime, the Toffees will be upset with taking just a point against Bournemouth. However, Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley both scored, good signs for Everton moving forward as the two are enjoying great seasons. |
 | 8 | UP 2 | Crystal Palace: The best way to erase memories of a bad defeat is to score five goals in front of your home crowd. When the Palace attack is clicking, they are extremely dangerous. |
 | 9 | DOWN 2 | Southampton: Saints have now lost two straight in the league, but still remain in the top half of the table. Graziano Pelle hasn’t scored since Nov. 1, something that needs to change quickly. |
 | 10 | UP 2 | Chelsea: Would you look at that, Chelsea sneak in at number ten. A good draw away from home at Spurs and with Bournemouth over the weekend, Jose Mourinho’s men have found a bit of footing. The biggest positive is the return to form of Eden Hazard. |
 | 11 | DOWN 2 | Stoke City: The Potters continue to struggle offensively, unable to score in a loss to Sunderland. With a real tough stretch ahead, the Potters could start to slide down the table. |
 | 12 | UP 1 | West Bromwich Albion: A huge victory over Arsenal and a draw against West Ham, the Baggies are quietly sitting just outside the top half of the table. Their upcoming schedule isn’t too favorable, but you can never rule out an upset from a Tony Pulis side. |
 | 13 | UP 1 | Watford: Watford has been one of the surprises of the season, as the Hornets have 19 points through 14 matches. Odion Ighalo is third in the league in goals, and captain Troy Deeney has started to pick up his play as well. |
 | 14 | DOWN 3 | West Ham: After losing Dimitri Payet, the Hammers will now be without Diafra Sakho as well. A hot start has been cooled by injuries, as this season is starting to pan out eerily similar to last year. |
 | 15 | – | Swansea City: A good performance against Liverpool, but another loss for the Swans. Garry Monk‘s men continue to drop closer to the bottom three, and a tough run of matches won’t help them either. |
 | 16 | UP 3 | Sunderland: Two wins on the spin have Sunderland out of the drop zone for the first time this season. That may be very short-lived however, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool in four of the next five matches. |
 | 17 | – | Norwich City: The Canaries dug deep to get a draw against Arsenal, and are now three points clear of the drop zone. There’s still a lot of work to be done to avoid relegation. |
| 18 | – | Bournemouth: The Cherries fought back for a last-minute draw against Everton and have been playing some decent football, despite all their injury problems. |
 | 19 | DOWN 3 | Newcastle United: A thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace have people wondering if Steve McClaren was the right hire. |
 | 20 | – | Aston Villa: Another loss and a falling out between manager Remi Garde and young talent Jack Grealish. Villa are now five points in the hole. |
NCAAFB: Florida-Alabama Preview
AP - Sports
Forget winning. Eighteenth-ranked Florida might be lucky to score against second-ranked and heavily favored Alabama in the SEC championship game - especially if the Crimson Tide continue to control the clock by handing the ball to Derrick Henry.
Alabama (11-1, 7-1) can lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff when it faces the Gators (10-2, 7-1) on Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
The Tide kept giving the ball to Henry - 14 times in a row to put Auburn away - in last week's 29-13 win that clinched the SEC West.
Henry ran a school-record 46 times for 271 yards, the third-highest total in a game for an Alabama back, and produced his fourth 200-yard effort of the season against an SEC defense. He helped put it away with 19 runs in the fourth quarter, then extended his school-record streak of games with a rushing touchdown to 17 in the final minute.
Henry broke Trent Richardson's single-season rushing mark by upping his total to 1,797 yards.
''He's the go-to guy,'' coach Nick Saban said. ''He didn't want to come out. He wanted to go.''
Alabama (11-1, 7-1) can lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff when it faces the Gators (10-2, 7-1) on Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
The Tide kept giving the ball to Henry - 14 times in a row to put Auburn away - in last week's 29-13 win that clinched the SEC West.
Henry ran a school-record 46 times for 271 yards, the third-highest total in a game for an Alabama back, and produced his fourth 200-yard effort of the season against an SEC defense. He helped put it away with 19 runs in the fourth quarter, then extended his school-record streak of games with a rushing touchdown to 17 in the final minute.
Henry broke Trent Richardson's single-season rushing mark by upping his total to 1,797 yards.
''He's the go-to guy,'' coach Nick Saban said. ''He didn't want to come out. He wanted to go.''
There really wasn't any question even before Henry's marathon Iron Bowl performance regarding who was the main man in the offense. He's leading the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 22, also a school record.
Henry's essentially become a ball hog by averaging 31 carries over the last seven games against FBS teams.
''What they're doing now is getting the ball in the playmakers' hands and being very efficient in what they're doing,'' said Florida coach Jim McElwain, who spent four seasons in Tuscaloosa as Saban's offensive coordinator.
Henry is on pace for 2,000-plus yards even if Alabama doesn't make the national championship game. He needs one more rushing touchdown to match the SEC single-season mark shared by Florida's Tim Tebow and Auburn's Tre Mason.
''In a long line of great running backs that were there, I think it's a testament to coach Saban and what they're committing to doing year in and year out getting that guy behind center like that,'' McElwain said. ''He can make a difference in any ballgame. He's definitely a difference maker. We've got our work cut out for trying to jump on his back and slow him down.''
Henry, who grew up a Gators fan in Yulee, Florida, hasn't slowed down in the least. He took his last carry against Auburn 25 yards for a touchdown.
''That gets us on the sideline excited,'' linebacker Reggie Ragland said. ''You are on the sideline and Derrick gets going and coach just hands him the ball like that, Oh yeah. Five yards. Six yards. Five yards. 10 yards. That makes guys get excited. We love that about him. That means he's a workhorse and we love when he works.''
Henry, who grew up a Gators fan in Yulee, Florida, hasn't slowed down in the least. He took his last carry against Auburn 25 yards for a touchdown.
''That gets us on the sideline excited,'' linebacker Reggie Ragland said. ''You are on the sideline and Derrick gets going and coach just hands him the ball like that, Oh yeah. Five yards. Six yards. Five yards. 10 yards. That makes guys get excited. We love that about him. That means he's a workhorse and we love when he works.''
The Gators have been downright dismal on offense in recent weeks, averaging a little more than 12 points in regulation against Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Florida State. And the Crimson Tide lead the league in just about every defensive category and have allowed a total of 41 points in their last four games.
Florida's offense failed to score in a 27-2 road loss to the Seminoles last Saturday. The Gators had chances, but missed a field goal, had another one blocked and came up short on two fourth-down plays in the red zone.
The result has Florida as a 17-point underdog, the biggest in the SEC title game since the Gators were favored by 24 against Arkansas in 1995.
McElwain has used every opportunity this week to remind people that hardly anyone expected his team to be in this position. The Gators overachieved for sure. But they underachieved in November, at least offensively.
So nobody should have been surprised by what happened against the Seminoles. Florida managed 262 yards on 79 plays, with just one of those going for more than 20 yards.
''We've just got to get back on our feet,'' cornerback Jalen Tabor said. ''Coach Mac said we've got to get back on the horse. So all we're worried about right now is getting back on our feet and getting back on the horse and just going and attacking the next day.''
The offense was competent early in the season and even after starting quarterback Will Grier was suspended for a year for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
The offensive line was decent against FSU, and Kelvin Taylor finished with a season-high 136 yards rushing. But quarterback Treon Harris struggled again.
McElwain suggested that defenses have figured out Harris, a 5-foot-11 sophomore who looked mostly lost last month. His indecision and inaccuracy have become as common as his roll outs and runs.
McElwain also shouldered some of the blame.
''You need to look a little bit at me and what I'm asking him to do as well, and trying to push the envelope a little bit,'' McElwain said. ''That's how we're going to be offensively as we continue to grow. He's probably handled and done as good a job with his skill set as far as helping some of those things moving forward. Yet, he's learning. He's there, he's engaged. He's our quarterback and I'm glad he's our quarterback.''
Florida's offense could get a boost after leading receiver Demarcus Robinson was reinstated Wednesday. Robinson was suspended for last week's game for ''a choice.'' It was his fourth suspension in three years at Florida.
McElwain gushed about Alabama's defense and Saban's ability to take away what every opponent does best.
Saban glossed over Florida's numerous offensive weaknesses and even said Harris reminds him of former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims.
''This is an outstanding team that we're playing,'' Saban said. ''They wouldn't be in the SEC championship game if they weren't. I think anybody out there that thinks this is not going to be a real challenge and a real test for our team. I don't know what you're thinking. I don't know what you're thinking. I really don't get it.''
Alabama has won four in a row in the series, outscoring Florida 143-47.
'A lot of people doubting us,'' Taylor said. ''We just really can't focus on that. We just have to focus on ourselves and our team and we'll be fine. As long as we believe in each other, that's all that matters.''
North Carolina-Clemson Preview.
AP - Sports
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables has spent a lot of time watching No. 8 North Carolina score quickly. And he's sharing it with his players in film sessions that get quite repetitive.
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables has spent a lot of time watching No. 8 North Carolina score quickly. And he's sharing it with his players in film sessions that get quite repetitive.
''It's 'How you like this play? How about this play? How about that score?''' Venables said Tuesday. ''First play of the Duke game, it's all jacked up, in-state rivalry, then they run the flea flicker. Touchdown, 80 yards.''
Venables knows the difficult challenge ahead for No. 1 Clemson (12-0) in slowing down the Tar Heels (11-1) in the ACC championship game Saturday night.
North Carolina is 16th nationally in yards gained at 495.7 a game. More impressive, in Venables' view, is how fast the Tar Heels can strike.
''There's a lot of explosive play-makers'' on UNC's offense, Venables said.
But Venables isn't without options; Clemson has a few play-makers on defense, too. Defensive end Shaq Lawson leads the country in tackles for loss. Linebacker B.J. Goodson and Ben Boulware have combined for 234 tackles, 22 of those behind the line of scrimmage.
No one at Clemson was completely sure how long it would take this year's defense to come together. The Tigers lost eight starters off last season's No. 1 ranked unit, including first-round NFL draft picks in end Vic Beasley and linebacker Stephone Anthony.
If that wasn't enough, linebacker Korrin Wiggins hurt his knee in camp and starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader took an extended leave of absence from the team for personal reasons in late August.
Despite all that, Clemson ended the regular season seventh in the FBS, allowing 288 yards a game.
''I thought we had a chance to be solid,'' Venables said. ''But probably not to the same level'' as 2014.
They'll need to approach it to corral the Tar Heels, who've scored 38 or more points in eight of their 12 games. They scored 66 points against the Blue Devils and had 59 a week later against Miami on the way to the ACC's Coastal Division crown.
Venables called North Carolina the best offense Clemson's faced all season, including Notre Dame and Florida State. If the Tigers don't bring their best effort, the perfect season and trip to the College Football Playoff could easily slip away.
Venables called North Carolina the best offense Clemson's faced all season, including Notre Dame and Florida State. If the Tigers don't bring their best effort, the perfect season and trip to the College Football Playoff could easily slip away.
''The margin for error is less because of the opponent,'' Venables said.
North Carolina coach Larry Fedora is equally awed by Clemson's defense.
''This is best football team we've have faced,'' he said. ''I mean, they're the No. 1 team in the country. And they've been that way for how many weeks? So they're really good.''
That defense, though, has gone through a late-season slide.
In the first seven games, only the Fighting Irish and Georgia Tech scored 20 or more points against the Tigers. Clemson has given up an average of 25 points in its past five contests.
Three-win South Carolina notched its highest point total of the season in a 37-32 loss to the Tigers last week - most of it coming after the Tigers had taken a 28-10 lead.
Lawson said the Tigers have been prepping for their league title game all season and will be ready to go at North Carolina.
The Tar Heels' worst offensive showing was their first game, an inexplicable 17-13 loss to the Gamecocks at the title game site, Bank of America Stadium.
''Ever since then they've been on fire,'' Lawson said.
But Clemson's defense has been practicing all season, Lawson said, against its own high-flying attack, which leads the ACC in total yards and can be as quick-strike as the Tar Heels.
''We're used to going against their offense because that's what our offense does against us when we're going to practice every week,'' he said. ''So it's not a big challenge for us. We've just got to be ready to play.''
A resurgent North Carolina defense adds to the challenge, though the Tar Heels have had a few hiccups in recent weeks. Some of those, however, can be chalked up to the team being in an unusual position: playing entire second halves against ACC opponents in what amounted to garbage time with the outcome long since decided by the Tar Heels' overwhelming starts.
UNC led 38-10 by halftime of the 66-31 win over the Blue Devils, was up 31-0 at halftime and 45-0 in the third quarter of the 59-21 victory over the Hurricanes and jumped to a 35-7 lead in the first quarter of Saturday's 45-34 win at North Carolina State.
The Tar Heels gave up 17.0 points per game through the first eight.
''I really do think we gave up too many points this past week, gave up too many yards,'' linebacker Shakeel Rashad said. ''And we have to go back and fix that. But at the same time, it's not like we're losing confidence over it, because everything that we're messing up is very fixable.''
North Carolina, however, will be without starting safety Sam Smiley for the rest of the season because of a torn left Achilles tendon. The school announced Thursday that Smiley had surgery to repair the injury suffered last weekend. The senior was tied for fifth on the team with 48 tackles.
North Carolina, however, will be without starting safety Sam Smiley for the rest of the season because of a torn left Achilles tendon. The school announced Thursday that Smiley had surgery to repair the injury suffered last weekend. The senior was tied for fifth on the team with 48 tackles.
Clemson has dominated the series of late, winning seven of the last nine and totaling 109 points in the past two meetings. The Tigers beat North Carolina 50-35 at home Sept. 27, 2014.
Bowling Green-N. Illinois Preview.
By NOAH TRISTER
For Northern Illinois and Bowling Green, this is a rubber match of sorts.
Unless they both make it back here next year, of course.
The Mid-American Conference championship game Friday night will have a familiar feel, with the Huskies and Falcons squaring off for the third straight season. Bowling Green won 47-27 in 2013, and last year it was NIU taking the title in a 51-17 rout. This is the sixth consecutive appearance by Northern Illinois in the MAC title game.
'That's a home game for them,'' Bowling Green coach Dino Babers joked. ''They know their hotel, they can get around the street without their GPSs. I mean, that's not fair to the other schools in the West (Division). We want to go there so much that we don't have to use our GPSs either.''
This was supposed to be the year Northern Illinois fell short. Toledo was the preseason favorite in the West, and the Rockets spent time in the Top 25, but when the teams faced each other in early November, NIU came away with a 32-27 victory on the road.
Toledo still had a chance to wrap up a spot in the title game, but the Rockets lost at home last week to Western Michigan, creating a four-way tie for first place in the division. The tiebreaker went to NIU (8-4).
''It's one of those things where your fate isn't in your hands and it's always rough,'' NIU coach Rod Carey said. ''I will tell you this: This team's earned the right to be there, with everything that we've gone through.''
Babers pointed out that the game isn't a rubber match for him, since he wasn't the coach two years ago when Bowling Green won. He was at the helm last season, when the Falcons lost to a Northern Illinois team that set a MAC title game scoring record.
Bowling Green (9-3) lost only once in MAC play this year, at home against Toledo.
Here are a few things to watch when NIU and Bowling Green renew acquaintances:
QUARTERBACK UNCERTAINTY
Carey said this week that freshman Tommy Fiedler will start at quarterback for NIU against Bowling Green. Fiedler has played only one game for the Huskies, going 9 of 17 for 113 yards in a loss to Ohio last week. NIU lost quarterback Drew Hare to a leg injury during the game against Toledo. Freshman Ryan Graham replaced him, and now the Huskies will go with Fiedler.
(hash)MACTION
NIU ran 100 plays from scrimmage in last year's title game, and this figures to be another up-tempo affair. The winning team has scored at least 44 points in each of the past three MAC championship games.
JOHNSON IS BACK
Matt Johnson threw for five touchdowns in Bowling Green's victory in the 2013 title game. He missed last year's because of a hip injury, but now he's healthy - and having a spectacular season. Johnson has thrown for 4,465 yards this year, with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.
''It was a broken hip. There was no guarantee ... that I could come back,'' Johnson said. ''I had to learn how to walk again.''
ON THE GROUND
Both teams come into the game with 1,000-yard rushers. Bowling Green's Travis Greene has run for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, while Northern Illinois' Joel Bouagnon has rushed for 1,212 yards and 18 TDs.
TESTED
Both teams had tough games prior to the conference season. Northern Illinois played at Ohio State and kept it close, losing 20-13. Bowling Green earned two victories on the road against the Big Ten, beating Maryland and Purdue.
NCAABKB: Jim Boeheim's suspension stands but will start immediately.
By Jeff Eisenberg
Syracuse's attempt to get Jim Boeheim's punishment reduced resulted in a bittersweet victory.
The NCAA Infraction Appeals Committee upheld the nine-game suspension Boeheim received in March, but ruled the stipulation that the penalty be served during conference play was "a departure from precedent." Instead Boeheim will start the suspension immediately, which means he will miss only three league games but he will not be on the bench Saturday when Syracuse visits historic rival Georgetown or the following weekend when the Orange meet in-state rival St. John's.
While the Appeals Committee's decision is technically a concession to Syracuse, it's debatable whether it's more helpful or harmful to the Orange.
Boeheim now will miss perhaps Syracuse's most anticipated non-conference game on Saturday against the hated Hoyas. Moreover, the Orange will have a mere 48 hours to prepare top assistant Mike Hopkins for head coaching duties he did not initially expect to inherit until January.
Under the rules of the suspension, Boeheim is not permitted to have any contact with his team. Organizing practice on Thursday and Friday will be his last duties until Syracuse hosts North Carolina on Jan. 9.
Of course, the silver lining to Boeheim starting his suspension immediately is that he'll be on the bench for most of Syracuse's biggest ACC games. He'll still miss games against Pittsburgh, Miami and Clemson, but among the six games he now won't have to skip are matchups with the Tar Heels, Duke, Virginia and Notre Dame.
Boeheim's suspension stems from a lengthy NCAA investigation into the Syracuse program that uncovered everything from academic misconduct, to extra benefits violations, to failure to follow drug testing policy, to impermissible booster activity. Boeheim was not found directly responsible for any of those issues, but the NCAA punished him anyway because it said he did not promote an atmosphere of compliance.
Kentucky-UCLA Preview.
By JORDAN GARRETSON
Playing on its own floor, top-ranked Kentucky was able to get by a lesser challenger despite being without its point guard.
The team's first true road game will be more difficult if Tyler Ulis remains sidelined Thursday night when the Wildcats face a UCLA squad looking to avenge last year's lopsided meeting.
Kentucky (7-0) was without Ulis for Monday's 75-63 home win against Illinois State due to a hyperextended right elbow, and he may be out again.
Isaiah Briscoe scored a team-high 18 but the team seemed out of sync sans Ulis, who is averaging 13.2 points and 4.3 assists. The Wildcats recorded a season-low eight assists and committed 15 turnovers.
Ulis has committed only six turnovers over his last five games while playing 155 minutes.
"It was a big difference. We missed him out there," Briscoe said. "He's our leader and floor general."
John Calipari and company were encouraged by the play of Marcus Lee, who responded to coming off the bench for the first time with season highs of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Lee had been held to as many points and only three more rebounds over his previous three games combined.
This is the first in a home-and-home series with UCLA visiting Lexington next December. Kentucky dismantled the Bruins in an 83-44 victory on Dec. 20 in Chicago, outscoring them 41-7 in the first half after a 24-0 game-opening run.
UCLA was limited to 26.8 percent shooting - its worst showing in 11 years - and Ulis had seven points, seven rebounds and six assists in 18 minutes.
That marked the Bruins' fifth straight loss to a top-ranked team since a 96-89 overtime win against No. 1 Arizona in the 2003 Pac-10 Tournament.
The team's first true road game will be more difficult if Tyler Ulis remains sidelined Thursday night when the Wildcats face a UCLA squad looking to avenge last year's lopsided meeting.
Kentucky (7-0) was without Ulis for Monday's 75-63 home win against Illinois State due to a hyperextended right elbow, and he may be out again.
Isaiah Briscoe scored a team-high 18 but the team seemed out of sync sans Ulis, who is averaging 13.2 points and 4.3 assists. The Wildcats recorded a season-low eight assists and committed 15 turnovers.
Ulis has committed only six turnovers over his last five games while playing 155 minutes.
"It was a big difference. We missed him out there," Briscoe said. "He's our leader and floor general."
John Calipari and company were encouraged by the play of Marcus Lee, who responded to coming off the bench for the first time with season highs of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Lee had been held to as many points and only three more rebounds over his previous three games combined.
This is the first in a home-and-home series with UCLA visiting Lexington next December. Kentucky dismantled the Bruins in an 83-44 victory on Dec. 20 in Chicago, outscoring them 41-7 in the first half after a 24-0 game-opening run.
UCLA was limited to 26.8 percent shooting - its worst showing in 11 years - and Ulis had seven points, seven rebounds and six assists in 18 minutes.
That marked the Bruins' fifth straight loss to a top-ranked team since a 96-89 overtime win against No. 1 Arizona in the 2003 Pac-10 Tournament.
"Last year was an outlier," Calipari told the school's official website. "I had a ridiculous team. And they would go into a game like that to smoke somebody ... They would go in with that mentality. This team is, we don't have that mentality."
The Wildcats are still outscoring opponents by an average of 17.4 points and their closest result was an 11-point victory against then-No. 5 Duke on Nov. 17.
UCLA (4-3) bounced back from back-to-back losses to Kansas and Wake Forest in Maui by returning home for a 77-45 win against Cal State Northridge on Sunday. The Bruins, who hit a season-high nine 3-pointers, led by 17 at halftime after being outscored by 33 in the first half of the previous two games.
"In Maui we had a couple rough starts and that's been something that's happening to us," coach Steve Alford said. "It was part of the game plan to get ahead first, to punch first, and keep throwing punches."
Tony Parker had 14 points and 11 rebounds for already his fifth double-double.
The Bruins struggled defensively in their first encounter with an elite team, letting then-fifth ranked Kansas shoot 54.2 percent in a 92-73 loss Nov. 24. They've since held two opponents to 34.5 percent shooting, though a new issue has popped up - free-throw shooting. They were 8 for 14 against the Demon Deacons and 10 for 18 against Northridge.
Kentucky owns a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series and won the only previous meeting in Los Angeles, 68-66 on Dec. 4, 1959.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1943 - Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis announced that any club was free to employ black players.
1964 - Major league baseball established a free-agent draft that would take effect in 1965.
1977 - The NFL's 5,000th game was played.
1977 - Tony Dorsett (Dallas Cowboys) rushed for 206 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. He became only the third rookie to rush for more than 200 yards in a game.
1987 - Kareem Abdul Jabaar's was held to only 7 points in a game establishing an NBA record of 787 straight games with double digit points.
1997 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors for one year for choking and threatening to kill his coach, P.J. Carlesimo.
1997 - John Elway (Denver Broncos) surpassed 3,000 yards for the season. It was his 12th consecutive season to pass for more than 3,000 yards.
1997 - Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) set an NFL record when he rushed for over 100 yards in 12 consecutive games.
2001 - O.J. Simpson was involved in an incident with another motorist in Miami, FL. Simpson was accused of scratching the other motorists face while pulling off the man's glasses.
1964 - Major league baseball established a free-agent draft that would take effect in 1965.
1977 - The NFL's 5,000th game was played.
1977 - Tony Dorsett (Dallas Cowboys) rushed for 206 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. He became only the third rookie to rush for more than 200 yards in a game.
1987 - Kareem Abdul Jabaar's was held to only 7 points in a game establishing an NBA record of 787 straight games with double digit points.
1997 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors for one year for choking and threatening to kill his coach, P.J. Carlesimo.
1997 - John Elway (Denver Broncos) surpassed 3,000 yards for the season. It was his 12th consecutive season to pass for more than 3,000 yards.
1997 - Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) set an NFL record when he rushed for over 100 yards in 12 consecutive games.
2001 - O.J. Simpson was involved in an incident with another motorist in Miami, FL. Simpson was accused of scratching the other motorists face while pulling off the man's glasses.
*********************************************************************
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