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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny." ~ Albert Ellis, Psychologist
Trending: Bears facing new 'test of character' after failing too many in ‘15. (See football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Bears facing new 'test of character' after failing too many in ‘15. (See football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Cubs send Starlin Castro to Yankees and sign Bob Zobrist to a Four Year Deal. (See baseball section for Cubs updates).
Trending: Warriors now 23-0 after shootout with the Pacers. (See last story in this blog for details).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears facing new 'test of character' after failing too many in ‘15.
By John Mullin
Because the Bears have faced multiple character tests this season and come up short too many times, notably the three different times they have held .500 in their hands and fumbled it.
Football “character” has different elements and the Bears need to address them in the time left to them.
Amid the aftershocks from the Bears’ 26-20 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers, safety Chris Prosinski passed on offering details of what went so horribly awry on the 71-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith that ended the game and effectively more than that.
“I’m not going to point fingers,” Prosinski said.
Nor should he or anyone else. Because the only digit that should have been pointed anywhere was the thumb.
If one or more of the Bears’ defensive backs wanted to step up and say, “My bad,” as Robbie Gould did after his failed field-goal try, fine. But players usually don’t discuss schematic specifics, good or bad, and that’s not really the point, anyway.
What is, is that for the first time this season, the word “appalling” can be hung on a defeat.
If the Bears weren’t as good as the 49ers, that’s one thing. But while disparaging Bears talent borders on the cliché’d by now, the simple fact is that their talent was enough to:
- split with the Green Bay Packers;
- be within a missed assignment of taking the 10-2 Denver Broncos to overtime;
- allow the Minnesota Vikings 10 points in the final 1:49 to lose by three;
- and take down the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead, the Chiefs who are 6-1 since that game.
“The only difference between people with good records and maybe not so good records is they've won more of their close games than the not-so-good-record teams,” coach John Fox said.
Not necessarily.
Judging effort or focus is never easy or always altogether fair, but questioning it isn’t unreasonable, certainly not in this case. Jenkins said that the Bears were focused before this game, but “focus” is fluid and the Bears are 5-7 in very large part because of how they played at the end of the game – if there was focus in all three areas, it wasn’t apparent – as well as how they played at the beginning, not looking like they were fully ready to play.
“We’ve just got to show up every Sunday,” said defensive end Willie Young, a tacit summation that the Bears didn’t this time. Not at the beginning on offense, settling for field goals or less, or at the end on defense with the disasters of Blaine Gabbert’s TD run or Torrey Smith’s TD catch.
“We just lost rush lanes,” defensive lineman Will Sutton, taking some ownership of a sloppy fundamental by a position group having a strong game. “We’re taught to do some things but sometimes you gotta just play football, and [Gabbert] just hit the hole where nobody was at. It’s just the little things at the end. I thought on defense we played a real good game and just let it slip.”
Poor effort or sloppiness is typically laid at the feet of coaching. But effort and sloppiness are products of poor preparation during the week, and maybe the Bears just took wrong conclusions out of their film sessions, maybe that the 49ers really weren’t very good. It happens; just ask the New England Patriots after their experience with the Philadelphia Eagles.
But if professionals need to be motivated when all they need to read are a calendar and schedule, then the term “professionals” does not apply.
A criticism leveled at Fox by former boss John Elway was that Fox’s Denver Broncos didn’t go down “kicking and screaming” at the end of big games. (I never quite got that, when you’re talking about a coach who consistently wins; so Elway was saying Fox’s teams just kicked and screamed in little games?). Not sure that is the relevant problem, certainly not with every member of the beaten Bears.
The offensive line and running backs played as good a game collectively as they have all season, to cite one group of individuals who pass the effort eye test. Young, to cite another, was within a shoelace of taking down Gabbert early in that 44-yard gutting run in the fourth quarter “To know you were just a shoestring away and ended up in a touchdown… ,” Young said, reflecting. “Any closer and I think I’d have had him.”
Jay Cutler and his receiver group were collectively handled by one of the NFL’s poorer pass defenses. Cutler, for his part, was personally out-schemed by San Francisco on his pick-6 in the first quarter, set up by blitz looks, not recognizing peril, and getting no help from receivers like Josh Bellamy in the screen cluster.
If the Bears truly didn’t have enough talent – and they’ve achieved what they have so far without Alshon Jeffery for five games, Eddie Royal for six, Kevin White for 12, Matt Forte for three, and that’s just offense – the San Francisco loss would be at least a little understandable. Fox and coordinators Adam Gase, Vic Fangio and Jeff Rodgers did have players with enough talent in enough right positions to have won this and other games.
For Jenkins and Porter, Bears-Redskins comes with added edge.
By John Mullin
For the third time in the past four weeks the Bears are preparing to host an opponent with a past that has involved key individuals in the Bears’ present and future. The NFL may be a business but sometimes it gets personal.
Last month it was the Denver Broncos, the team that John Fox coached and took to four straight playoffs, until they decided after last season that they could do nicely without him.
Last week it was the San Francisco 49ers, the team whose defenses Vic Fangio took to near-championship heights, until they decided that defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would be a more worthy successor to Jim Harbaugh than Fangio, the man Tomsula worked under, or Adam Gase.
This week it is the Washington Redskins, the team that thought enough of defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins to snag him in the second round of the 2011 draft but not enough to re-sign him last offseason.
Jenkins remembers. And he is intent on being sure the Redskins do as well.
“I can’t go in there thinking I’ve got to be Superman but obviously it’s special to me,” Jenkins told CSNChicago.com. “That’s the team that I parted ways with and I really want to bring my best ‘A’ game. Anytime a team lets you go, you want to make them remember about letting you go.
“I want to go in there and make them remember why they drafted me and not forget that they let me go.”
Cornerback Tracy Porter signed a two-year contract with Washington in March 2014. He played three games under that deal, worth potentially $6.25 million ($2 million in bonus), went on IR with a shoulder injury and then was waived in late May 2015. He signed less than two weeks later with the Bears, but for $870,000.
No hard feelings, though, will enter into Sunday’s business with Washington receivers he once covered in practice.
“You’re going to play your hardest and do your best anyway,” Porter said. “But I’m not going to do anything outside of the defense to say, ‘Hey, look at me!’”
For good measure, the Bears probably should do things to ensure a different outcome from the past couple of show-them games, losses to Denver and San Francisco. But the emotions will be under control and the focus on assignments at hand.
“You always want to play a team that, obviously, parted ways with you,” Jenkins said. “[But] there’s not going to be any emotions in it. I’m going to go in there, play with my brothers and do what we do every week — preparing and not trying to do any extra, but obviously try to get that win.”
Bears place Martellus Bennett on season-ending injured reserve.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Martellus Bennett's season is over.
In a shocking move, the Bears placed the tight end on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday afternoon:
#Bears have placed TE Martellus Bennett on season-ending injured reserve with a rib injury & signed TE Rob Housler. (Chicago Bears Twitter Post)
Martellus Bennett leads #Bears with 53 receptions. Rob Housler has appeared in 61 NFL games in 5 seasons with Cardinals and Browns. (Chicago Bears Twitter Post)
Bennett has 53 catches for 439 yards and three touchdowns this season.
He missed the Bears' win over the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving night with a rib injury, but played Sunday against the Niners, catching three of his four targets for 14 yards.
Housler, 27, has 106 career receptions, but only one TD in five seasons and has caught just one pass this season after managing just nine receptions with the Cardinals in 2014.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Corey Crawford stellar as Blackhawks beat Predators.
By Tracey Myers
Andrew Shaw had a power-play goal and Corey Crawford stopped 36 of 37 shots as the Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators, 4-1, on Tuesday night.
Patrick Kane scored an empty-net goal with 1:36 remaining in regulation to extend his point streak to a franchise-best 23 consecutive games. It was also his 600th point of his NHL career.
Teuvo Teravainen scored his second early third-period goal in as many games, this one 14 seconds into the period. Dennis Rasmussen scored his first NHL goal on the first shot of his first NHL game.
Meeting for the first time since the Blackhawks eliminated the Predators last spring, the Predators had the quantity and quality shots. Crawford was stellar, making several big stops throughout the night.
Rasmussen, who was in front when Shaw fired toward Pekka Rinne, deflected the puck to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 10:45 of the first period. Shaw added his goal, off a terrific pass from Teravainen, for a 2-0 Blackhawks lead at 14:15 of the second period. The Predators finally got one past Crawford, the puck hitting off Eric Nystrom’s skate and in with 45.1 seconds remaining in the second.
Then the Blackhawks got their two goals in the third period to seal it.
Patrick Kane extends point streak with empty-netter.
Patrick Kane scored an empty-net goal with 1:36 remaining in regulation to extend his point streak to a franchise-best 23 consecutive games. It was also his 600th point of his NHL career.
Teuvo Teravainen scored his second early third-period goal in as many games, this one 14 seconds into the period. Dennis Rasmussen scored his first NHL goal on the first shot of his first NHL game.
Meeting for the first time since the Blackhawks eliminated the Predators last spring, the Predators had the quantity and quality shots. Crawford was stellar, making several big stops throughout the night.
Rasmussen, who was in front when Shaw fired toward Pekka Rinne, deflected the puck to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 10:45 of the first period. Shaw added his goal, off a terrific pass from Teravainen, for a 2-0 Blackhawks lead at 14:15 of the second period. The Predators finally got one past Crawford, the puck hitting off Eric Nystrom’s skate and in with 45.1 seconds remaining in the second.
Then the Blackhawks got their two goals in the third period to seal it.
Patrick Kane extends point streak with empty-netter.
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
But inside of two minutes remaining in regulation, with an empty net at the other end, No. 88 turned in consecutive game with a point No. 23.
Kane fired a ridiculously long shot at the vacated net, scoring an empty-net goal to put the Blackhawks up, 4-1, and to bring his point streak to 23 straight games.
The point also was the 600th of Kane's career. Not bad for a 27-year-old.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Chicago Bulls-Boston Celtics Preview.
By JEFF MEZYDLO
Following a winning trip, the Boston Celtics look to continue the recent success they've also enjoyed at home.
Hoiberg: Bulls 'have yet to find' killer instinct to close out teams.
By Vincent Goodwill
The Bulls are a veteran team, but apparently they like learning their lessons the hard way and squandered another opportunity to put away a win at home this season, capitalized by Phoenix Suns Mirza Teletovic crashing the glass after a Jon Leuer miss for a soft jumper to give the Suns a 103-101 win at the United Center.
It was the 41st and 42nd points scored by the Suns in the fourth quarter, a shocking development after the Bulls surrendered a season-low 10 in the third quarter, looking reminiscent of a defensive DNA established many moons ago.
And more importantly, it leaves the Bulls searching for answers after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.
It left their coach seething and their leaders unable to figure out why putting away teams is so difficult to do.
“We had them where they didn’t want to play anymore,” Bulls guard Derrick Rose said. “That’s what happens in this league if you let teams stay close. They have that confidence where half of their bench was in and they still came back. We have to find ways to close out teams.”
Instead of quitting, the Suns felt emboldened to make a comeback, knowing the Bulls would leave the door cracked just enough for them to make a run. It didn’t seem possible in the third when the Bulls swarmed the Suns all around, forcing six turnovers and hitting just four of 20 shots, pleasing everybody on the Bulls’ sideline as if their troubles were behind them.
An easy win seemed likely if they could push a 16-point lead to 20.
“That’s what you have to do,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “You have that have that killer instinct. We have yet to find it this year.”
In this up-and-down season, the highs were followed by extreme lows, as Rose missed a floater that could’ve put the Bulls up with 16 seconds left and the Suns galloped downcourt, eager for a chance to earn a win they probably felt they had no business in anyways.
“This game’s all mental,” Bulls guard Jimmy Butler said. “When you get a double-digit lead you’re supposed to build on it. We don’t do that. Are we strong mentally? I think so. But at times we have lapses.”
Rose tried to quell the Suns’ run in the fourth, scoring six while Brandon Knight played at a speed that seemed dangerous on his way to a 17-point quarter. Knight finished with a team-high 21 points for the Suns.
“He played great,” Rose said. “He knocked down shots, kept shooting. As a leader for a team, that’s what you have to do. He stayed in the game and the shots went in towards the end.”
The Bulls created a fast-moving monster that was relentless in the final minutes, unable to stop whatever the Suns threw at them after keeping them somewhat at arms’ reach for most of the night.
Tony Snell had a spurt to start the first quarter, hitting triples and even driving to the basket for a dunk, while Butler played an efficient game on both ends, scoring 19.
“We tried to let the group that started the fourth stay in there, since they finished the third well,” Hoiberg said. “Our defense wasn’t the same. They got comfortable and in a rhythm. When we did get a stop they got the rebound.”
The Suns scored 28 second-chance points, and even though they were outrebounded by eight and committed 19 turnovers, they were desperate for a comeback.
Butler was asked when he felt like things were slipping away and apparently, he saw the storm clouds coming rather early in the final 12.
“Whenever they started digging into our lead, to tell you the truth,” Butler said. “It happens entirely too often. We keep talking about it. Eventually we’ll have to fix it or we’ll keep finding ourselves on the losing end.”
It wasn’t Knight, or Eric Bledsoe, the man who played on speed in the last six minutes to keep the Suns’ intensity high but Teletovic, who scored 20, put the finishing touches on a shocking win that will again leave the Bulls bewildered.
He went over Rose’s back to grab the offensive rebound but the benefit of the doubt is usually given to the aggressor at that point. And the Bulls had that sapped out of them well before the final possession.
“We couldn’t find a way to get a rebound,” Hoiberg said. “We played our best defensive quarter of the year and followed it up with our worst defensive quarter of the year.”
Pau Gasol scored 22 with 10 rebounds and six assists, as his jumper with a little over two minutes remaining pushed what was once at 16-point lead back to five, leaving many to think ordered had been restored.
But the Bulls were outhustled, outmuscled and outplayed when it mattered most, and if its not panic, it’s time for concern with a team that can’t do anything consistently except be inconsistent.
“Just a bad loss. Things like this, with a team as talented as we are, it just shouldn't happen,” Gasol said.
Suns' Mirza Teletovic's wild buzzer beater caps stunning victory over Bulls. (Monday night's game, 12/07/2015).
CSN Staff
With the way the Suns had shot in the fourth quarter, it wasn't a surprise that Mirza Teletovic's flailing, falling away shot with 0.3 seconds remaining to beat the Bulls went in.
After Jon Lueur missed an open 3-pointer in the corner, Teletovic went around Derrick Rose and Nikola Mirotic and grabbed the offensive rebound. Falling away, he lofted a shot up that hit the front iron, the backboard and calmly dropped in with three-tenths of a second remaining to give the Suns a 103-101 lead. They went on to win by that score.
The Suns, who had scored a season-low 10 points in the third quarter, responded with 42 in the fourth quarter, shooting 15-for-26 in the final period. Teletovic finished with 20 points, and none more bigger than his final pair.
Cubs send Starlin Castro to Yankees.
The Celtics can record their fourth consecutive home victory by handing the Chicago Bulls a third straight defeat Wednesday night.
After shooting 40.9 percent in a 110-91 loss to Orlando that opened a five-game road swing Nov. 29, Boston (12-9) averaged 108.8 points and shot 47.4 percent while holding all but one opponent to fewer than 100 to complete a 3-2 trip.
"We've just played as a team," said center Jared Sullinger, who had 11 points and matched a career high with 20 rebounds in Monday's 111-93 win over New Orleans.
The Celtics hope to do the same at home, where they took advantage of three teams in the bottom five of the Eastern Conference to win their last three following a 3-4 start there. Boston held Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Washington to an average of 84.3 points and 36.3 percent shooting in the run.
Averaging a career-high 21.0 points, guard Isaiah Thomas totaled 51 and went 7 of 17 from 3-point range in the last two at home. Thomas was 9 of 13 from the floor and hit all four 3-point attempts to shoot better than 50 percent for the second time in three games Monday, when he scored all but three of his 22 points in the first half.
"He's one of those guys that can go off for 10 or 12 in a couple of minutes," teammate Kelly Olynyk told the Celtics' official website. "It's huge to have that kind of threat."
Though Boston has dropped three straight and 13 of 17 to Chicago (11-7), the Bulls enter this season's first meeting trying to get back on track after losing two in a row for the first time. Two nights after faltering in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 102-96 home loss to Charlotte, the Bulls blew a 16-point advantage while being outscored 42-24 in the final period, losing 103-101 at home to Phoenix on Mirza Teletovic's fadeaway putback with 0.3 seconds left.
Chicago had held opponents to 24.1 points and 38.9 percent shooting in the fourth before the Hornets and Suns totaled 72 and went 24 of 48 from the field.
"I don't know what it is," guard Jimmy Butler told the Bulls' official website. "Can't close teams out; have a lead, don't finish, lose games ... We keep talking about it, yadda, yadda, yadda, but eventually we're going to have to fix it or we're going to keep finding ourselves on the losing end of ball games."
Pau Gasol had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Butler scored 19 for the Bulls, who turned the ball over eight times in the fourth Monday.
"You have to have that killer instinct," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We have yet to find it this year."
Derrick Rose seemed to have it while totaling 50 points and 14 assists in Chicago's two victories at Boston last season. Rose, however, is shooting 35.5 percent and has scored more than 20 twice while averaging 13.7 points this season.
Hoiberg: Bulls 'have yet to find' killer instinct to close out teams.
By Vincent Goodwill
The Bulls are a veteran team, but apparently they like learning their lessons the hard way and squandered another opportunity to put away a win at home this season, capitalized by Phoenix Suns Mirza Teletovic crashing the glass after a Jon Leuer miss for a soft jumper to give the Suns a 103-101 win at the United Center.
It was the 41st and 42nd points scored by the Suns in the fourth quarter, a shocking development after the Bulls surrendered a season-low 10 in the third quarter, looking reminiscent of a defensive DNA established many moons ago.
And more importantly, it leaves the Bulls searching for answers after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.
It left their coach seething and their leaders unable to figure out why putting away teams is so difficult to do.
“We had them where they didn’t want to play anymore,” Bulls guard Derrick Rose said. “That’s what happens in this league if you let teams stay close. They have that confidence where half of their bench was in and they still came back. We have to find ways to close out teams.”
Instead of quitting, the Suns felt emboldened to make a comeback, knowing the Bulls would leave the door cracked just enough for them to make a run. It didn’t seem possible in the third when the Bulls swarmed the Suns all around, forcing six turnovers and hitting just four of 20 shots, pleasing everybody on the Bulls’ sideline as if their troubles were behind them.
An easy win seemed likely if they could push a 16-point lead to 20.
“That’s what you have to do,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “You have that have that killer instinct. We have yet to find it this year.”
In this up-and-down season, the highs were followed by extreme lows, as Rose missed a floater that could’ve put the Bulls up with 16 seconds left and the Suns galloped downcourt, eager for a chance to earn a win they probably felt they had no business in anyways.
“This game’s all mental,” Bulls guard Jimmy Butler said. “When you get a double-digit lead you’re supposed to build on it. We don’t do that. Are we strong mentally? I think so. But at times we have lapses.”
Rose tried to quell the Suns’ run in the fourth, scoring six while Brandon Knight played at a speed that seemed dangerous on his way to a 17-point quarter. Knight finished with a team-high 21 points for the Suns.
“He played great,” Rose said. “He knocked down shots, kept shooting. As a leader for a team, that’s what you have to do. He stayed in the game and the shots went in towards the end.”
The Bulls created a fast-moving monster that was relentless in the final minutes, unable to stop whatever the Suns threw at them after keeping them somewhat at arms’ reach for most of the night.
Tony Snell had a spurt to start the first quarter, hitting triples and even driving to the basket for a dunk, while Butler played an efficient game on both ends, scoring 19.
“We tried to let the group that started the fourth stay in there, since they finished the third well,” Hoiberg said. “Our defense wasn’t the same. They got comfortable and in a rhythm. When we did get a stop they got the rebound.”
The Suns scored 28 second-chance points, and even though they were outrebounded by eight and committed 19 turnovers, they were desperate for a comeback.
Butler was asked when he felt like things were slipping away and apparently, he saw the storm clouds coming rather early in the final 12.
“Whenever they started digging into our lead, to tell you the truth,” Butler said. “It happens entirely too often. We keep talking about it. Eventually we’ll have to fix it or we’ll keep finding ourselves on the losing end.”
It wasn’t Knight, or Eric Bledsoe, the man who played on speed in the last six minutes to keep the Suns’ intensity high but Teletovic, who scored 20, put the finishing touches on a shocking win that will again leave the Bulls bewildered.
He went over Rose’s back to grab the offensive rebound but the benefit of the doubt is usually given to the aggressor at that point. And the Bulls had that sapped out of them well before the final possession.
“We couldn’t find a way to get a rebound,” Hoiberg said. “We played our best defensive quarter of the year and followed it up with our worst defensive quarter of the year.”
Pau Gasol scored 22 with 10 rebounds and six assists, as his jumper with a little over two minutes remaining pushed what was once at 16-point lead back to five, leaving many to think ordered had been restored.
But the Bulls were outhustled, outmuscled and outplayed when it mattered most, and if its not panic, it’s time for concern with a team that can’t do anything consistently except be inconsistent.
“Just a bad loss. Things like this, with a team as talented as we are, it just shouldn't happen,” Gasol said.
Suns' Mirza Teletovic's wild buzzer beater caps stunning victory over Bulls. (Monday night's game, 12/07/2015).
CSN Staff
With the way the Suns had shot in the fourth quarter, it wasn't a surprise that Mirza Teletovic's flailing, falling away shot with 0.3 seconds remaining to beat the Bulls went in.
After Jon Lueur missed an open 3-pointer in the corner, Teletovic went around Derrick Rose and Nikola Mirotic and grabbed the offensive rebound. Falling away, he lofted a shot up that hit the front iron, the backboard and calmly dropped in with three-tenths of a second remaining to give the Suns a 103-101 lead. They went on to win by that score.
The Suns, who had scored a season-low 10 points in the third quarter, responded with 42 in the fourth quarter, shooting 15-for-26 in the final period. Teletovic finished with 20 points, and none more bigger than his final pair.
CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Cubs traded middle infielder Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees, the team announced Tuesday night.
The Cubs simultaneously announced that Ben Zobrist agreed to a four-year deal with the team.
In six seasons with the Cubs, Castro hit .281 with 62 homers and 363 RBIs, making three All-Star teams.
In 151 games last season, Castro hit .265 with 11 homers and 69 RBIs. He was moved to second base midway through the season and posted a .358/.379/.597 slash line over his final 45 games of the regular season, picking up 48 hits, 12 doubles and six home runs over that stretch, scoring 18 runs and driving in 23.
The Cubs received pitcher Adam Warren in the deal. Warren went 7-7 with three holds, one save and a 3.29 ERA last season. He made 26 appearances out of the bullpen and made 17 starts.
The Cubs will also receive a player to be named later in the trade.
Joe Maddon sees Javier Baez and Jorge Soler as building blocks – not trade chips – for Cubs
By Patrick Mooney
Beyond shooting down that Twitter report, multiple sources indicated the Braves have been more focused on Jorge Soler, saying Baez isn’t Atlanta’s type of player, making him a much better match for the San Diego Padres and Tyson Ross, a pitcher the Cubs have targeted at least since the July 31 deadline.
But manager Joe Maddon – whose voice resonates with Theo Epstein’s front office – sees Baez and Soler as building blocks and not trade chips.
“Anything’s possible,” Maddon said during Tuesday’s media session at the Opryland complex. “It’s part of the business. It’s part of the game. As of right now, I don’t anticipate that happening. I really don’t. But if it were to happen, it happens.”
That could obviously change before the Cubs leave Nashville, Tennessee, but Maddon opened some eyes with the way he lobbied for Baez to make last season’s Opening Day roster and used him as a September call-up and in the playoffs.
The Cubs got exposed as a flawed defensive team and swept by the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. Maddon has repeatedly described Baez as one of the best young middle infielders he’s ever seen, and his violent swing has drawn comparisons to Gary Sheffield.
Maddon has called Soler a Vladimir Guerrero with plate discipline, the type of premium talent that would get drafted No. 1 overall if the Cuban outfielder had been born in the United States.
Soler has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but showed so much potential in October, hitting .474 with three homers, three doubles and six walks in seven playoff games.
Baez just turned 23 and Soler will be 24 next season and the Cubs seem to understand both players have boom-or-bust potential.
“My biggest concern would be the kid, the player, (because) Javy is special,” Maddon said. “I really like him a lot personally, and really got to know Soler.
“Soler is another example of a (coaching) staff really impacting a guy in a positive way – Manny (Ramirez and) Johnny Mallee and ‘Ske’ (Eric Hinske) and Davey (Martinez). It’s really wonderful how our group worked together to get the most out of these guys.
“So, yes, of course, anything’s possible, but I really anticipate they’re going to be here.”
Is Carson Fulmer a White Sox star in the making?
By Chuck Garfien
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
For some athletes, these are just words. For Carson Fulmer, they are traits embedded in his DNA, chromosomes that helped make him one of the top college pitchers in baseball.
And later this season, you could be seeing this moxie on full display with the White Sox.
A fiery right-hander with the mettle of a tank, Fulmer guided Vanderbilt to a national title in 2014 and led them back to the College World Series championship in 2015 before losing to Virginia. Rick Hahn and company were ecstatic when he fell to them with the 8th pick of the first round of the MLB draft last June.
For a White Sox fanbase that loves players who take the field with steam coming out of their ears, Fulmer is straight out of central casting.
“He’s the strongest-willed kid we’ve had come through,” said Tim Corbin, Fulmer’s head coach at Vanderbilt. High praise considering Corbin has also coached All-Star pitchers David Price and Sonny Gray. “He’s the nicest, meanest kid I’ve ever seen from the standpoint of getting on the mound and competing on a level and not taking a backseat to any situation. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kid go through his career quite like him and he did that his freshman year and up to his junior year and didn’t skip a beat. He was highly, highly competitive his freshman year, which is very unique to see.”
The White Sox love Fulmer's makeup as well as his arm. His fastball can touch the upper 90’s, he has a tremendous curveball and has been working on a changeup.
Standing 6-feet tall, he’s short for a major league pitcher, but what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for with nerve and relentlessness.
“To me, it was like Joe Frazier. He’d just keep coming and keep throwing punches,” Corbin said about Fulmer. “He might get hit, but he’s trying to go through you. He’s not trying to dance around you. He’s Jim Brown in a Cleveland Browns uniform and Joe Frazier with the gloves. He’s coming right for your chin and he’s trying to knock you out. He’s not trying to screw around. From that standpoint, I’ve seen few guys like that.”
For three seasons, Corbin witnessed this competitive streak that rages inside Fulmer.
One of the best examples came when Corbin went to pull him in the sixth inning of the deciding game of the 2014 national championship series.
Fulmer had given up one earned run over 5.1 innings, but Corbin wanted to bring in a reliever.
“I ask for the ball and he turns his back on me,” Corbin recalled. “I said, 'Carson you’ve got to give me the ball. I’m bringing in Hayden Stone.'”
Fulmer shook his head no.
“I said, 'Carson, he’s running out to the field right now, I need the ball.' He says, ‘I’m not giving you the ball.’ And I said, ‘Well, you can give it to Haden.,”
So Fulmer took the ball and reluctantly handed it over to his teammate.
When Corbin returned to the dugout, he couldn’t find Fulmer anywhere. Moments later, the Vandy coach went to use the bathroom, but was stopped by a police officer.
“What’s the matter?” Corbin asked.
“You can’t go in the bathroom right now,” said the police officer.
“Why not?”
The officer looked at Corbin and said all he needed to know:
“The person you just pulled out of the game is in there and if you go in there, he’ll kick your butt.”
The White Sox aren't sure yet if Fulmer will be a major league starter or reliever, but whenever he takes the mound in the big leagues, there's one thing they already do know:
He's a fighter.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Spieth gets 3 weeks to reflect on big year.
By DOUG FERGUSON
Jordan Spieth and his caddie shared the kind of hug on the 18th green normally seen only by winners.
They were six shots behind when they finished the Hero World Challenge, and it was clear this moment wasn't about Sunday at Albany Golf Club. This was about the realization that the year was finally over, the kind of year a player never wants to end.
The Masters made it special. The U.S. Open made it incredible. The FedEx Cup made it lucrative. The No. 1 ranking made it satisfying.
When the 22-year-old Texan made his final full swing of the year and was walking toward the green, caddie Michael Greller walked alongside him.
''Michael said, 'Hey, man, it's been an honor to be in the passenger seat, sitting shotgun for this ride this year. Thanks for everything,''' Spieth said. ''Obviously, I thanked him. It's been a team effort this year, just as we always stress. But yeah, there was certainly a sigh of relief.''
It's time to take a break, even if it's a short one.
He leaves in just over three weeks for Maui, where the new year starts at Kapalua and Spieth will have to figure out an encore from winning two majors to get halfway to the Grand Slam, five tournaments overall, a record $12 million in PGA Tour earnings and a sweep of all the major awards.
Except that he's not looking at it as a new year. It's simply a break.
He had a chance to win the Australian Open last week in Sydney until Matt Jones recovered on the back nine. Spieth was in range at the Hero World Challenge until Bubba Watson didn't give anyone much of a chance and won by three shots.
Spieth was on a victory lap these last two weeks, and he said he spent more time on the beach than on the putting green, with no regrets. He played 28 times this year, including the Presidents Cup. He won or finished second 10 times. He was a combined 54-under par in the four majors. He was due a working vacation.
Even so, he's always looking ahead.
''I think these last two weeks, the fact that I didn't win when I had a chance, may actually be a good thing for me,'' he said. ''I'm going to look at it positively that you can't settle down, you've got to work a little bit harder. Everyone is playing a high level of golf right now, and they're going to carry that into next season. So if I want to stay at the top, I'm going to have to outwork them. And that's going to be challenging.''
He was headed home to Dallas on Monday for his three-week break. His first order of business was to play golf.
Spieth is taking his father, Shawn, and agent Jay Danzi to Augusta National to enjoy the privileges of being the Masters champion. He also plans to play with Augusta member and AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson.
And that's a fitting way to end the year.
Spieth joined Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players since 1960 to win the first two legs of the Grand Slam, and he came closer than all of them to getting the third leg. He was tied for the lead at the British Open with two holes to play until finishing one shot out of a playoff. He was in the final group of the PGA Championship and was runner-up by three shots to Jason Day.
Even so, the Masters is what made his year.
He opened with a 64 to build a three-shot lead, set the 36-hole record with a 66 on Friday and never gave anyone much hope after that. When it was, he tied the 72-hole record set by Tiger Woods in 1997.
''Before the tournament, we were one of the favorites,'' he said. ''And then after the first round, it's on us. Every question is, 'You're supposed to win.' Without saying it, 'It's on you. What are you thinking now?' It's tough to sleep on that. And we did it so well.''
With a green jacket on the line, it's not easy protecting such a big lead.
As he told the story, it brought him back to his first big tournament where he lost the lead.
He was 11.
The winner was a kid named Eddie DeVane.
''I had a two-shot lead with one hole to play,'' Spieth said. ''I played it smart - I laid up. The kid made par and I made triple. He cruised to a two-shot victory.''
Finchem not sure how much longer he'll stay commissioner.
By DOUG FERGUSON
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem jokingly said he was relieved to see Tiger Woods still alive after reading such gloomy reports from his press conference in the Bahamas about his back issues. Finchem didn't come away with a feeling that Woods was finished.
As for his own future? That's equally vague.
Finchem's latest four-year contract will expire in June, which would complete 23 years as the commissioner. But even with a succession plan in place - he named Jay Monahan the deputy commissioner in March - it didn't sound as though Finchem was counting the days. Far from it.
''It's a little ill-defined at the moment,'' Finchem said. ''We have a great succession plan in progress. There are a couple of three major kind of projects I'd like to get pushed a little bit. The timing of what that means is still up in the air. The board is very comfortable about that.''
Finchem turns 69 next year, though the PGA Tour policy board recently extended the age limit of board members to 75. So that's not an issue. Of greater interest are the projects to which he refers. Finchem didn't indicate that he wants to close the book on them, saying later that he wanted ''to get at least a little momentum.''
Among the possible projects:
- The policy board at its last meeting approved a massive capital campaign project for improvements to The Players Championship and TPC Sawgrass. For all that Finchem has done in his two decades, The Players always has been among his highest priorities.
- Golf returns to the Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro for the first time since 1904, though the work is not done. Golf will be part of the Olympic program in Rio and in Tokyo for 2020. But the big hurdle is securing its place for 2024 and beyond. The IOC will decide that in 2017, though it helps that most of the top stars plan to compete.
- Most intriguing is the possibility of a global tour. Finchem first mentioned it five years ago. He didn't have a clear view of what form it would take other than to say that ''at some point in time, men's professional golf will become integrated globally.'' This constitutes a long-term project that he would like to ''get pushed a little bit.'' It also requires plenty of cooperation with other tours, particularly in Europe and in Asia.
Two other possibilities:
- An early start on the next round of TV negotiations. The contracts are up in 2021, though it's never too early to start.
- The contract for the title sponsorship of the FedEx Cup ends after 2017. By the same token, the tour has some title sponsorships that end after 2016, and the 2017 schedule could feature plenty of moving parts. But renewals and scheduling - and television - are issues that will continue to be part of PGA Tour business.
It's unlikely that Finchem will step down at the end of June. The questions are how much longer he wants to stay and what role he might take after retirement.
''I love doing what I'm doing,'' he said. ''From an organizational standpoint, there are times when it's time to make transition and at the same time have a fresh course. I think that's where we're going to be headed. It's a question of identifying that. Having said that, if the board - and I'm assuming Jay - want me to do some things post being in this job, I'd be available, assuming I could do some things that wouldn't put me front and center.
''I don't know what that means, either, at this point.''
MASTERS MOMENTS: With the worldwide schedule winding down, the Thailand Open should be the last chance for a few players to get into the top 50 by the end of the year and get a spot in the Masters. On the bubble this week are Matthew Fitzpatrick (No. 49), Lee Westwood (No. 56), K.T. Kim (No. 58), Shingo Katayama (No. 61) and Jamie Donaldson (No. 68), who would have to win.
Fitzpatrick would appear to be safe barring a bizarre sequence of events. That means 13 players will be added to Augusta National at the end of the year, which is consistent with the previous five years. And that would be 89 qualifiers (including the Latin America Amateur winner next month) going into 2016.
A year ago, 90 players were eligible at the end of the year, and the Masters had 98 players tee it up in April.
The Masters prefers a small field, and it has not had more than 100 competitors since 1966.
BUBBA'S RETIREMENT: Bubba Watson once said he would retire if he reached 10 victories, which he clarified Sunday after winning the Hero World Challenge with his ninth worldwide victory. It has to be 10 wins on the PGA Tour.
And then he threw in a caveat.
''If I ever become No. 1 in the world - ever, somehow - I'm walking away,'' he said. ''I'm going to walk away on top. But let's be honest. Nobody here is voting on that, right? Everybody thinks I'm not going to do that.''
LAHIRI'S TITLE DEFENSES: Anirban Lahiri of India said he would give up his European Tour membership if he feels he needs to spend more time on the PGA Tour.
For a player like Lahiri, however, meeting the European Tour membership criteria will never be easier.
A change in policy requires members to play five events that do not include the four majors and four World Golf Championships. It does include the EurAsia Cup (Jan. 15-17 in Malaysia) and the Olympics. Lahiri plans to play both. Throw in his title defense at the Hero Indian Open, and he would only have to play two events.
The tough decision for Lahiri is the Indian Open.
He already has decided not to defend his title in the Maybank Malaysian Open. However, the Indian Open is the same week as the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and a week before the Dell Match Play in Texas.
''It's tending toward likely for the Indian Open,'' Lahiri said. ''It's a very difficult situation to be in. Personally speaking, it's been an emotional high for me to win the Indian Open this year. I would like nothing more than to try to defend.''
And therein is another catch. The European policy states that one of those five events must include a tournament in a player's home country, if available. Otherwise, the minimum requirement goes up to seven regular tournaments.
Meanwhile, Lahiri will be looking for a home in Florida. He is leaning toward the West Palm Beach area or Orlando, where good friends Daniel Chopra and Arjun Atwal live.
NASCAR: With Jeff Gordon Out Of Driver's Seat, A New Role Emerges For Jimmie Johnson.
By Dustin Long
The speech done and celebration over, the final chapter of Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup driving career is complete.
As Gordon looks ahead to his broadcasting role with Fox next year and several other projects, Hendrick Motorsports looks to a new leader among its drivers.
Although Jimmie Johnson had two more championships than Gordon, Johnson admits it was Gordon who was the leader among the team’s drivers.
Now it’s Johnson’s role as the team’s senior driver.
“I’m going to be learning as the year goes on,’’ Johnson said at the Sprint Cup Awards last weekend in Las Vegas. “Just talking with Jeff in the last couple of months and understanding how much of a global view he’s had with Hendrick, the discussions he has with department heads and with Rick (Hendrick) and where things are going.
“He’s got a much larger snapshot of what is going on. For me, it’s kind of been the 48 and a little bit of the 88. So my scope is definitely going to broaden – the things that I pay attention to and maybe even the stuff that I know about. Like outside of my sponsorship deals and our test sessions, I don’t know what is going on with the other cars. I feel like that aspect of the business is going to be changing for me, and I’ll know much more of what is going on.’’
Johnson also says he looks to work closely with rookie Chase Elliott, who takes over Gordon’s No. 24 car in 2016.
“I’ve already seen a small changes in things in the way I see my role and what I’m going to be responsible for next year and that would also include helping Chase,’’ Johnson said. “I’ve been working with him for a few years already, and I think he’s a great talent and is going to do a really, really good job.’’
Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Johnson will be fine in the new role but Johnson won’t have to shoulder all the responsibility. Gordon remains part owner of Johnson’s team.
“Jeff is going to be missed on the driver’s side of it, but he’s still going to be around, be pretty involved I’m sure in the company,’’ Earnhardt said. “I’m anxious to really see how he can continue to help and assist and drive the company forward because I really believe that he will still be a heavy influence and a great influence.’’
Brian France Again Named To 50 Most Influential In Sports Business.
By Jerry Bonkowski
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France has once again placed highly on SportsBusiness Journal’s 2015 list of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business.
France is ranked 13th on this year’s list, a slight drop from his 10th-place rank on the 2014 list.
Here’s how SBJ described France’s place on the list:
“It was a busy year for NASCAR. The sport’s new elimination-style Chase for the Sprint Cup continued to garner attention, as did new TV deals with Fox and NBC. NASCAR also made gains in social media and developed a new trackside retail model.
“Now France must find a replacement for departing title sponsor Sprint, and finalize the coming “charter” system designed to give team owners equity in the sport.”
As Gordon looks ahead to his broadcasting role with Fox next year and several other projects, Hendrick Motorsports looks to a new leader among its drivers.
Although Jimmie Johnson had two more championships than Gordon, Johnson admits it was Gordon who was the leader among the team’s drivers.
Now it’s Johnson’s role as the team’s senior driver.
“I’m going to be learning as the year goes on,’’ Johnson said at the Sprint Cup Awards last weekend in Las Vegas. “Just talking with Jeff in the last couple of months and understanding how much of a global view he’s had with Hendrick, the discussions he has with department heads and with Rick (Hendrick) and where things are going.
“He’s got a much larger snapshot of what is going on. For me, it’s kind of been the 48 and a little bit of the 88. So my scope is definitely going to broaden – the things that I pay attention to and maybe even the stuff that I know about. Like outside of my sponsorship deals and our test sessions, I don’t know what is going on with the other cars. I feel like that aspect of the business is going to be changing for me, and I’ll know much more of what is going on.’’
Johnson also says he looks to work closely with rookie Chase Elliott, who takes over Gordon’s No. 24 car in 2016.
“I’ve already seen a small changes in things in the way I see my role and what I’m going to be responsible for next year and that would also include helping Chase,’’ Johnson said. “I’ve been working with him for a few years already, and I think he’s a great talent and is going to do a really, really good job.’’
Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Johnson will be fine in the new role but Johnson won’t have to shoulder all the responsibility. Gordon remains part owner of Johnson’s team.
“Jeff is going to be missed on the driver’s side of it, but he’s still going to be around, be pretty involved I’m sure in the company,’’ Earnhardt said. “I’m anxious to really see how he can continue to help and assist and drive the company forward because I really believe that he will still be a heavy influence and a great influence.’’
Brian France Again Named To 50 Most Influential In Sports Business.
By Jerry Bonkowski
Brian France (Photo Getty Images)
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France has once again placed highly on SportsBusiness Journal’s 2015 list of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business.
France is ranked 13th on this year’s list, a slight drop from his 10th-place rank on the 2014 list.
Here’s how SBJ described France’s place on the list:
“It was a busy year for NASCAR. The sport’s new elimination-style Chase for the Sprint Cup continued to garner attention, as did new TV deals with Fox and NBC. NASCAR also made gains in social media and developed a new trackside retail model.
“Now France must find a replacement for departing title sponsor Sprint, and finalize the coming “charter” system designed to give team owners equity in the sport.”
SOCCER: Mike Magee leads class of Fire free agents.
CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The MLS offseason has hit full gear and free agency is currently underway.
This is the first year the MLS has adopted free agency, with players who are 28 or older with eight or more years of MLS service time and don't currently have a contract are eligible for free agency.
The Chicago Fire have several key players in limbo, led by former MVP Mike Magee, who falls into that new free agency category.
Magee, midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, goalie Jon Busch and defender Ty Harden are all free agents.
The Fire also has five players eligible for the re-entry draft: midfielder Matt Watson, defenders Lovel Palmer and Greg Cochrane, forward Jason Johnson and goalie Alec Kann.
For a complete rundown of the rules and regulations for MLS rosters, head to the league's website.
Wolfburg 3-2 Man United: Red Devils Crash Out Of Champions League.
By Joe Prince-Wright
Manchester United crashed out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, as the Red Devils lost 3-2 to Wolfsburg in Germany and finished third in Group B.
Anthony Martial gave United the lead early on but Wolfsburg came flying back with goals from Naldo and Vieirinha in the first half. An own goal from Joshua Guilavogui late on looked to have sealed a spot in the last 16 of the UCL for United but seconds later Naldo grabbed his second and Wolfsburg’s third to break United’s hearts.
Louis Van Gaal‘s side will now play in the Europa League, as for most of the evening it looked like they would sneak through the back door with PSV Eindhoven trailing CSKA Moscow in the other Group B game. However, the Dutch side turned it around to win and make the UCL last 16, while United crashed out and will now play Thursday night soccer.
Devastation for LVG and his injury-hit squad as Wolfsburg and PSV reached the knockout stages.
It all started so well for United as Martial was played in by Juan Mata and the French striker kept his cool to slot home and put the visitors ahead.
However, the lead only lasted for three minutes as Naldo leveled after his smart volley from Ricardo Rodriguez’s free kick. 1-1.
The game continue in an end-to-end fashion with Marouane Fellaini going close to putting United back in front, however on the half hour mark Wolfsburg turned the game on its head as Vieirinha finished off a flowing team move — Julian Draxler carving United’s defense apart — to put the German side 2-1 up.
As half time approached, both teams continued to push forward and Wolfsburg got plenty of possession in dangerous areas and Draxler should have finished off a break following a mistake by Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield for United.
A hugely contentious moment arrived right on half time as Jesse Lingard‘s cross from the left flank missed everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net. United’s players thought they had equalized but as they wheeled away in celebration the linesman raised his flag. Juan Mata was stood in an offside position and clearly in the eyeline of the Wolfsburg ‘keeper but United’s coaches remonstrated with the referees as the first half came to a close.
With 45 minutes to go in Germany and other results going against them, van Gaal’s boys were heading out of the Champions League.
In the second half the game calmed down with United having plenty of the ball and right on the hour mark Memphis forced a superb save out of Diego Benaglio as he acrobatically sent an effort in at the back post after a knockdown from Marouane Fellaini. Mata then went close again for United but they nearly shot themselves in the foot when David De Gea raced off his line and then quickly retreated to claw a lob from Andre Schurrle out of the top corner and away to safety.
De Gea then made another great stop as Lingard directed the ball towards his own goal and United were under pressure with both Arnold and Naldo going close.
Late on United pushed hard for a goal which would have helped their cause as Memphis curled a free kick inches wide and then forced Benaglio into a smart stop at his near post. Then, they did make it 2-2 as Fellaini directed a header towards goal which was flicked into his own net by Guilavogui, with United going through as things stood.
However, that lasted for just 1 minute and 27 seconds but then Naldo beat Michael Carrick in the air from a corner to head home. 3-2 to Wolfsburg and goodbye United as PSV Eindhoven almost instantaneously went 2-1 up after they had trailed CSKA Moscow.
Martial had a magnificent chance two minutes from time which Wolfsburg blocked and then the follow up from Chris Smalling was also blocked as United crashed out of the Champions League and van Gaal had a face like thunder at the final whistle.
Manchester United Headed To The Europa League: Where Did It Go Wrong?
By Kyle Lynch
This is the first year the MLS has adopted free agency, with players who are 28 or older with eight or more years of MLS service time and don't currently have a contract are eligible for free agency.
The Chicago Fire have several key players in limbo, led by former MVP Mike Magee, who falls into that new free agency category.
Magee, midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, goalie Jon Busch and defender Ty Harden are all free agents.
The Fire also has five players eligible for the re-entry draft: midfielder Matt Watson, defenders Lovel Palmer and Greg Cochrane, forward Jason Johnson and goalie Alec Kann.
For a complete rundown of the rules and regulations for MLS rosters, head to the league's website.
Wolfburg 3-2 Man United: Red Devils Crash Out Of Champions League.
By Joe Prince-Wright
Manchester United crashed out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, as the Red Devils lost 3-2 to Wolfsburg in Germany and finished third in Group B.
Anthony Martial gave United the lead early on but Wolfsburg came flying back with goals from Naldo and Vieirinha in the first half. An own goal from Joshua Guilavogui late on looked to have sealed a spot in the last 16 of the UCL for United but seconds later Naldo grabbed his second and Wolfsburg’s third to break United’s hearts.
Louis Van Gaal‘s side will now play in the Europa League, as for most of the evening it looked like they would sneak through the back door with PSV Eindhoven trailing CSKA Moscow in the other Group B game. However, the Dutch side turned it around to win and make the UCL last 16, while United crashed out and will now play Thursday night soccer.
Devastation for LVG and his injury-hit squad as Wolfsburg and PSV reached the knockout stages.
It all started so well for United as Martial was played in by Juan Mata and the French striker kept his cool to slot home and put the visitors ahead.
However, the lead only lasted for three minutes as Naldo leveled after his smart volley from Ricardo Rodriguez’s free kick. 1-1.
The game continue in an end-to-end fashion with Marouane Fellaini going close to putting United back in front, however on the half hour mark Wolfsburg turned the game on its head as Vieirinha finished off a flowing team move — Julian Draxler carving United’s defense apart — to put the German side 2-1 up.
As half time approached, both teams continued to push forward and Wolfsburg got plenty of possession in dangerous areas and Draxler should have finished off a break following a mistake by Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield for United.
A hugely contentious moment arrived right on half time as Jesse Lingard‘s cross from the left flank missed everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net. United’s players thought they had equalized but as they wheeled away in celebration the linesman raised his flag. Juan Mata was stood in an offside position and clearly in the eyeline of the Wolfsburg ‘keeper but United’s coaches remonstrated with the referees as the first half came to a close.
With 45 minutes to go in Germany and other results going against them, van Gaal’s boys were heading out of the Champions League.
In the second half the game calmed down with United having plenty of the ball and right on the hour mark Memphis forced a superb save out of Diego Benaglio as he acrobatically sent an effort in at the back post after a knockdown from Marouane Fellaini. Mata then went close again for United but they nearly shot themselves in the foot when David De Gea raced off his line and then quickly retreated to claw a lob from Andre Schurrle out of the top corner and away to safety.
De Gea then made another great stop as Lingard directed the ball towards his own goal and United were under pressure with both Arnold and Naldo going close.
Late on United pushed hard for a goal which would have helped their cause as Memphis curled a free kick inches wide and then forced Benaglio into a smart stop at his near post. Then, they did make it 2-2 as Fellaini directed a header towards goal which was flicked into his own net by Guilavogui, with United going through as things stood.
However, that lasted for just 1 minute and 27 seconds but then Naldo beat Michael Carrick in the air from a corner to head home. 3-2 to Wolfsburg and goodbye United as PSV Eindhoven almost instantaneously went 2-1 up after they had trailed CSKA Moscow.
Martial had a magnificent chance two minutes from time which Wolfsburg blocked and then the follow up from Chris Smalling was also blocked as United crashed out of the Champions League and van Gaal had a face like thunder at the final whistle.
Manchester United Headed To The Europa League: Where Did It Go Wrong?
By Kyle Lynch
(Photo/Associated Press)
After spending nearly half a billion dollars on transfers since taking over at Manchester United in May of 2014, Louis Van Gaal has led his side to…the Europa League.
The Red Devils fell out of the Champions League with a 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg on Tuesday, as one of the richest and most historic clubs in the world will now head to the Europa League to face the likes of Rapid Wien, Sparta Prague, and FC Sion.
After David Moyes‘ disastrous season in charge of United saw the club out of European competition entirely, Van Gaal was brought in to restore order and bring Champions League success back to Old Trafford.
While LVG got the team back into the Champions League, bowing out in the group stage was not in the plans. Already under heavy criticism before the loss to Wolfsburg, Van Gaal will now be under even more pressure moving forward.
Things got off to a bad start in the Champions League on day one, as United lost to PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in the opening match of group play. United led that match in the first half, and then conceded twice while losing Luke Shaw to a broken leg as the 20-year-old was off to a wonderful start to his season.
After responding with a good win over Wolfsburg and a draw on a tough trip to Moscow, United seemed to have their footing in Group C. With a win over Moscow at home, the Red Devils controlled their fate moving forward.
But then they were held to a scoreless draw at home to PSV in a match that highlighted United’s offensive struggles, something that has troubled the side throughout the season. Still, United controlled their own destiny.
Leading up to Tuesday’s match against Wolfsburg, all the talk was about the lack of goals from Louis van Gaal’s side. Then, Anthony Martial gave United a lead less than 15 minutes into the match, and it looked like they would pull it out and finish atop the group. However, after conceding two goals in the previous nine matches, United conceded two goals in the first half to Wolfsburg. They would go on to lose the match, their second loss in group play from a winning position.
For a side that had been so solid defensively, many believed one goal is all United would need in Germany to advance. However, with LVG’s side shorthanded by injuries, they were exposed. In a must-win match on the biggest stage, Guillermo Valera made his first start for the club. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Nick Powell each came on as substitutes for their second appearances with the team. United’s most experienced player on the roster Michael Carrick did not come on until the 69th minute, and veteran Ashley Young never got off the bench.
Van Gaal’s team decisions will certainly be questioned, but none of that truly matters now as United is out of the Champions League. They will now face long Thursday trips in the Europa League that fans want no part of. The sole focus of the club must be to win the Premier League, or it will be another season of failure at Old Trafford. But based on Tuesday’s performance, there’s quite a way to go.
NCAAFB: Ranking the bowls 1-40 (excluding the national championship).
By Yahoo Sports Staff
Bowl season is upon us.
Well, it officially starts in 13 days when five games kick off the 40 (and one) that will make up the conclusion of the 2015 season.
With the College Football Playoff field set and three 5-7 teams heading to bowls this year, here's how we rank the matchups.
We took record into account, of course, but we also tried to figure out which games would be the most unpredictable. And, as always, one of the games near the bottom of this list will turn out to be the highlight of bowl season.
Away we go.
1. Goodyear Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31, Dallas) – Alabama (12-1) vs. Michigan State (12-1)
No, this game isn't a referendum on the SEC and the Big Ten, though it will be viewed as such by many. Alabama's defensive line will have a great matchup with Michigan State's offensive line. Can MSU QB Connor Cook find WR Aaron Burbridge over the top of the Alabama secondary? Will Derrick Henry have running lanes if Michigan State puts eight in the box and dares Alabama's Jake Coker to beat it?
2. Capital One Orange Bowl (Dec. 31, Miami) – Clemson (13-0) vs. Oklahoma (11-1)
Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield will likely be the top two Heisman vote-getters at quarterback. Will either be a Heisman winner when this game rolls around? With both offenses proficient through the air and on the ground, the key factor is going to be the defensive lines. Whichever one gets the most pressure likely seals a berth to the title game.
3. Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1, Glendale, Arizona) – Ohio State (11-1) vs. Notre Dame (10-2)
Ohio State's coaching staff will likely devise a plan to limit Notre Dame WR Will Fuller's production. Can the Irish run the ball? And can Notre Dame stop Ohio State if the Buckeyes stay committed to the ground game? Notre Dame was 65th in the country in rushing defense. If the Michigan game was an indicator of what Ohio State will do in RB Ezekiel Elliott's last game as a Buckeye, cover your eyes Irish fans.
4. Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, Pasadena, California) – Stanford (11-2) vs. Iowa (12-1)
Oh, the grit that will be in this game. Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri tweaked his ankle again against Michigan State. Hopefully the long layoff helps him heal because this should be a fun battle between Canzeri and Stanford's Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey. Can the Hawkeyes keep McCaffrey from piling up the special teams yards?
5. Valero Alamo Bowl (Jan. 2, San Antonio, Texas) – TCU (10-2) vs. Oregon (9-3)
Oh hell yes. This is set up to be one of the most entertaining bowl games of the season. Both TCU's Trevone Boykin and Oregon's Vernon Adams should be healthy and the contrast between offensive styles should be an intriguing one. Does the winner break 50, or even 60?
6. Russell Athletic Bowl (Dec. 29, Orlando) — North Carolina (11-2) vs. Baylor (9-3)
This game has the potential to be a lot of fun if Baylor can find a worthwhile quarterback. The Bears lead the nation averaging 48 points per game and the Tar Heels average 40.9 points per game. Both of these teams missed out on CFP and NY6 spots, so while points are possible, motivation might be lacking.
7. Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 31, Atlanta) – Houston (12-1) vs. Florida State (10-2)
The Cougars' offense vs. the Florida State defense should be a fantastic matchup. Will Florida State CB Jalen Ramsey shadow Demarcus Ayers? Houston's defense has been overshadowed by its explosive offense, but the Cougars are equipped to contain the FSU passing game. But that's not the issue. Stopping RB Dalvin Cook is.
8. Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, New Orleans) – Ole Miss (9-3) vs. Oklahoma State (10-2)
The last time these two teams met in a bowl game was the 2010 Cotton Bowl when Houston Nutt's Ole Miss team beat the Cowboys. This is likely to be the final college game for Ole Miss' Robert Nkemdiche and we'll also get to see Oklahoma State's Emmanuel Ogbah. And there's the battle at wide receiver between Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell and OSU's James Washington.
9. Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 19, Las Vegas) – BYU (9-3) vs. Utah (9-3)
A Holy War showdown for Bronco Mendenhall’s last game as BYU head coach? Sign us up. Both of these teams had some shine in the national spotlight this year, too. It should be a good one, though the Utes will be without star running back Devontae Booker due to a knee injury.
10. Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 22, Boca Raton, Florida) – Temple (10-3) vs. Toledo (9-2)
Both of these teams had great seasons, but fell short of winning their respective conferences. Toledo had a chance to win its division in the season finale and then lost head coach Matt Campbell to Iowa State. Meanwhile, Temple (which can reach 11 wins for the first time in program history) dropped the AAC title game to Houston. Nonetheless, these are two of the best Group of Five teams in the country. We’re looking forward to this one.
11. GoDaddy Bowl (Dec. 23, Mobile, Alabama) – Bowling Green (10-3) vs. Georgia Southern (8-4)
Georgia Southern has to deal with one of the nation’s top offenses in its first-ever bowl game. The Eagles won the Sun Belt last year, but couldn’t qualify for a bowl because they were in the first season of FBS play. Now they get a their shot against the MAC champions. Though the Falcons just lost head coach Dino Babers to Syracuse, senior quarterback Matt Johnson and the nation’s fourth-best offense will want to go out on a high note.
12. Holiday Bowl (Dec. 30, San Diego) – Wisconsin (9-3) vs. USC (8-5)
The Trojans' late-season success came with a prioritized ground game to take pressure off QB Cody Kessler. Wisconsin finished the regular season No. 4 in rushing defense. The Trojans will need to stop Wisconsin's rushing attack and force Joel Stave, who threw more interceptions than touchdowns in 2015, to beat them.
13. Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Dec. 19, Montgomery, Alabama) – Appalachian State (10-2) vs. Ohio (8-4)
Ohio and Appalachian State may not be the sexiest names in the bowl slate, but this one has some potential. The Mountaineers boast the best offense in the Sun Belt while the Bobcats are riding a three-game winning streak. This is the first bowl appearance for App State since its move over from the FCS level, so you know they’ll have some extra juice to come out with a win.
14. Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, Tampa, Florida) – Northwestern (10-2) vs. Tennessee (8-4)
Both teams finished the season in the Top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings. The Wildcats, at 10-2, should have the edge in this one assuming they can stop the Tennessee running game. The Volunteers have a shot if QB Josh Dobbs makes improvements as a passer in the extra bowl practices.
15. Birmingham Bowl (December 30, Birmingham, Alabama) – Memphis (9-3) vs. Auburn (6-6):
Hello, offense. Well, assuming Auburn will be able to throw the ball with any effectiveness. It's also the Tiger bowl, so we'll refrain from using the school's nicknames for the remainder of this blurb. Auburn's defense has been terrible this season. Stopping Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, a guy who beat Ole Miss earlier in the year, doesn't seem like an optimal matchup.
16. San Diego County CU Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 23, San Diego, California) – Boise State (8-4) vs. Northern Illinois (8-5)
Hey, look at that! Another good Group of Five game. This was a down season for Boise State, but the Broncos still won eight games and have a star in the making with freshman quarterback Brett Rypien. Rypien isn’t the one to watch, though, it’s sophomore RB Jeremy McNichols. Northern Illinois made it all the way to the MAC title game, but had to start a freshman walk-on at quarterback due to injuries. That injury situation is one to keep an eye on.
17. AutoZone Liberty Bowl (January 2, Memphis, Tennessee) – Kansas State (6-6) vs. Arkansas (7-5)
Can you get a coaching personality matchup more different than Kansas State's Bill Snyder vs. Arkansas' Bret Bielema? The Wildcats got into this game by winning three games to finish the year following a six-game losing streak. Arkansas improved as the season went on. It's not an erotic (to quote Bielema) matchup, but it's an underrated one.
18. Advocare V100 Texas Bowl (Dec. 29, Houston) – Texas Tech (7-5) vs. LSU (8-3)
What a contrast of offensive styles. LSU's offense will be centered around Leonard Fournette and time of possession. Texas Tech will want to run as many plays as possible. And while Tech stopped Arkansas earlier in the season, its rush defense allowed 272 yards per game. Fournette could have a field day.
19. Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (December 30, Nashville) – Louisville (7-5) vs. Texas A&M (8-4)
Welcome to a bowl of unmet expectations. Both the Cardinals and Aggies didn't live up to what their fans thought the season would be like at the beginning of the year. This could be an ugly game too. Texas A&M's offense has been inconsistent at best while Louisville's hasn't figured out a consistent passing attack.
20. Belk Bowl (Dec. 30, Charlotte, North Carolina) – N.C. State (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)
It's Dak Prescott's final game but Is that enough of a draw for Mississippi State fans? The Wolfpack should have some homefield support if its fans want to show up for a bowl sponsored by a southern department store. The Bulldogs should have a significant edge, but this is a good building block for NC State coach Dave Doeren.
21. Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1, Orlando) – Michigan (9-3) vs. Florida (10-3)
Oh, this does not set up well for the Gators at all. Michigan has enough offense to crack the Florida defense, and from what we've seen from Florida, the Gators don't have enough to do anything to Michigan. Can Florida coach Jim McElwain figure out an effective game plan to move the ball against the Wolverines? It may require RB Kelvin Taylor to get the ball a lot.
22. Miami Beach Bowl (Dec. 21, Miami) – South Florida (8-4) vs. Western Kentucky (11-2)
It’s going to be hard to top the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl (the brawl, too) but this is a pretty intriguing matchup. USF coach Willie Taggart went from a guy who was fighting for his job to a guy who led his team to wins in seven of its final eight games. The Bulls, led by RB Marlon Mack and speedy QB Quinton Flowers, will have to be at the top of their game to keep up with the high-powered Western Kentucky offense. Senior QB Brandon Doughty leads the Hilltoppers attack. Oh, and to the add to the intrigue, Taggart left WKU to take the USF job.
23. Hyundai Sun Bowl (Dec. 26, El Paso, Texas) — Miami (8-4) vs. Washington State (8-4)
This game is a showcase of young, star quarterbacks. Both Washington State’s Luke Falk and Miami’s Brad Kaaya are among the nation’s best — when they’re healthy. This will be an experience for the Miami secondary, which likely will see something like 60 passing attempts from Mike Leach’s squad.
24. Motel 6 Cactus Bowl (Dec. 2, Phoenix) – Arizona State (6-6) vs. West Virginia (7-5)
The Sun Devils get to stay home and host a West Virginia team that's see-sawed throughout 2015. The Mountaineers started 3-0, went to 3-4, then to 7-4 before losing to Kansas State to end the season. ASU also had a three-game losing streak during the year. These teams are about evenly matched and this could be a sneaky fun game.
25. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 19, New Orleans) – Arkansas State (9-3) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
After starting 1-3 in a challenging non-conference slate, Arkansas State tore through the Sun Belt, going a perfect 8-0 to finish 9-3. Louisiana Tech, led by Florida transfer Jeff Driskel at quarterback, should present a bigger challenge than the average Sun Belt foe. Driskel has serious weapons in end zone magnet RB Kenneth Dixon (83 career TDs – that’s not a typo) and WR Trent Taylor (89 catches, 1,113 yards, 8 TDs).
26. Taxslayer Bowl (Jan. 2, Jacksonville, Florida) – Georgia (9-3) vs. Penn State (7-5)
First team to 20 points wins? Both teams' offenses have been under scrutiny this year. Penn State already made a change at offensive coordinator and it's doubtful Brian Schottenheimer returns as Georgia's OC in 2016. It's also disappointing that neither of these schools' presidents made a music video about the bowl berth.
27. Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman (Dec. 28, Annapolis, Maryland) — Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Navy (9-2)
Both of these teams have enjoyed resurgent seasons. Navy could be playing for its first-ever 11-win campaign and Pitt hasn’t won nine games since 2009. It also will be the last chance to see Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who is one of the most dynamic players at any position in the country.
Both of these teams have enjoyed resurgent seasons. Navy could be playing for its first-ever 11-win campaign and Pitt hasn’t won nine games since 2009. It also will be the last chance to see Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who is one of the most dynamic players at any position in the country.
28. Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 24, Nassau, Bahamas) – Middle Tennessee (7-5) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
It’s not too common to see two 100-catch receivers in one game, but that’s what we have in the Bahamas Bowl with MTSU freshman Richie James (100 catches, 1,220 yards, 6 TDs) and WMU junior Daniel Braverman (103 catches, 1,266 yards, 12 TDs). Both teams ended their seasons on high notes too. The Blue Raiders won their final four games while the Broncos beat a ranked Toledo team on the road.
29. Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dec. 26, Dallas) — Washington (6-6) and Southern Miss (9-4)
This game could be another low-scoring defensive battle, but don’t dismiss Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens, who has thrown for 4,145 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. He’s not the best quarterback Washington has seen, but he’ll be a challenge.
This game could be another low-scoring defensive battle, but don’t dismiss Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens, who has thrown for 4,145 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. He’s not the best quarterback Washington has seen, but he’ll be a challenge.
30. Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24, Honolulu) — San Diego State (10-3) vs. Cincinnati (7-5)
Expect a high-scoring affair in this one as the two-headed San Diego rushing attack duels with the Bearcats’ strong passing attack. SDSU is coming off a MWC title win while Cincinnati has gone 2-2 down the stretch.
Expect a high-scoring affair in this one as the two-headed San Diego rushing attack duels with the Bearcats’ strong passing attack. SDSU is coming off a MWC title win while Cincinnati has gone 2-2 down the stretch.
31. New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 26, Bronx, New York) — Indiana (6-6) vs. Duke (7-5)
This would be an excellent basketball matchup, but as a football matchup we’re a little iffy. Indiana’s offense is tough to stop and this is a Duke teams that comes into the contest having lost four of its last five games.
32. Foster Farms Bowl (Dec. 26, Santa Clara, California) — UCLA (8-4) vs. Nebraska (5-7)
Nebraska is playing in the postseason courtesy of its APR, not really its on-field merit. That said, this is an intriguing matchup. UCLA’s freshman quarterback Josh Rosen has been refreshing this season and he has a chance to give the Bruins their fourth consecutive season with at least nine wins.
33. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 29, Fort Worth, Texas) — California (7-5) vs. Air Force (8-5)
Cal is playing in its first bowl game since 2011, but much of the focus has been on coach Sonny Dykes, who is seemingly doing anything to get out of Berkeley. So who knows if he’ll be around to coach against the Mountain West runner-ups, but at the very least we’ll get to see QB Jared Goff in what’s probably his final game.
34. Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 19, Albuquerque, N.M.) – New Mexico (7-5) vs. Arizona (6-6)
After learning their head coach flirted with taking the South Carolina job, the underachieving Wildcats are rewarded with a trip to scenic New Mexico, where they’ll play the Lobos in their home stadium. Though they fell short of winning their division, Bob Davie leading the Lobos back to a bowl for the first time since 2007 is a nice story.
35. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 22, Boise, Idaho) – Akron (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6)
This is a matchup of teams trending in the opposite direction. Akron won its final four games while Utah State dropped three of its last four. Still, this is the last time we’ll get to see Aggies quarterback Chuckie Keeton. Keeton has made some special plays over the years, but has battled knee injuries. He should be back at full strength for this one.
36. Camping World Independence Bowl (Dec. 26, Shreveport, Louisiana) — Tulsa (6-6) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
The Hokies turned in an inspiring effort to get Frank Beamer a final bowl game before he retires and now they have to finish it off. Just a little unfortunate Beamer’s final contest isn’t in a place a little more glamorous than Shreveport.
The Hokies turned in an inspiring effort to get Frank Beamer a final bowl game before he retires and now they have to finish it off. Just a little unfortunate Beamer’s final contest isn’t in a place a little more glamorous than Shreveport.
37. St. Petersburg Bowl (Dec. 26, St. Petersburg, Florida) — Connecticut (6-6) vs. Marshall (9-3)
This game could be oddly defensive since both teams rank in the top 17 in scoring defense. However, the Huskies will have their hands full with the potent Marshall offense, which is averaging 32.6 points per game.
38. Quick Lane Bowl (Dec. 28, Detroit, Michigan) — Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Minnesota (5-7)
If Minnesota wins this game, it would still finish the season with a losing record. Central Michigan, on the other hand, hasn’t won eight games since 2009. Central Michigan has some good wins this year and stayed close with Michigan State for a good portion of the game. So this could be an unexpectedly good contest.
39. Arizona (Dec. 29, Tucson, Arizona) – Colorado State (7-5) vs. Nevada (6-6)
Yes, these two teams are both in the Mountain West Conference. The magic of 40 bowls and 5-7 teams going to bowls means we get stuck with an in-conference game this season. At least these two teams didn't play each other in 2015.
40. AutoNation Cure Bowl (Dec. 19, Orlando, Florida) – Georgia State (6-6) vs. San Jose State (5-7)
We don’t want to discredit Georgia State for winning its final four games, but this bowl is as bad as it gets. The only reason San Jose State – a team that lost to 2-10 Oregon State – is in this game is because of its high APR. The Spartans only have two wins over teams with a winning record, New Mexico and FCS New Hampshire. But hey, at least we get to watch SJSU RB Tyler Ervin (1,469 yards) play one more time.
NCAABKB: NCAA Top 25 Basketball Poll, December 7, 2015.
AP
| RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State (62) | 9-0 | 1,617 | 3 |
| 2 | Kansas (1) | 6-1 | 1,442 | 4 |
| 3 | North Carolina (2) | 7-1 | 1,425 | 9 |
| 4 | Iowa State | 6-0 | 1,347 | 5 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 7-1 | 1,325 | 1 |
| 6 | Maryland | 7-1 | 1,299 | 2 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 5-0 | 1,283 | 6 |
| 8 | Duke | 8-1 | 1,243 | 7 |
| 9 | Villanova | 7-0 | 1,230 | 8 |
| 10 | Virginia | 7-1 | 1,003 | 10 |
| 11 | Purdue | 8-0 | 997 | 11 |
| 12 | Xavier | 8-0 | 930 | 12 |
| 13 | Arizona | 7-1 | 811 | 19 |
| 14 | West Virginia | 7-0 | 615 | 20 |
| 15 | Providence | 8-1 | 548 | 23 |
| 16 | Baylor | 6-1 | 488 | 25 |
| 17 | Miami | 7-1 | 469 | 21 |
| 18 | Butler | 6-1 | 416 | NR |
| 19 | SMU | 6-0 | 413 | 22 |
| 20 | Gonzaga | 5-2 | 399 | 13 |
| 21 | Vanderbilt | 6-2 | 377 | 16 |
| 22 | Louisville | 6-1 | 373 | 24 |
| 23 | Cincinnati | 8-1 | 331 | 17 |
| 24 | Oregon | 6-1 | 241 | 15 |
| 25 | Utah | 7-1 | 108 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: UConn 82, Syracuse 78, Texas A&M 69, George Washington 60, UNLV 40, UCLA 19, South Carolina 15, Dayton 7, UALR 5, Florida 4, Georgetown 4, Iowa 3, Pittsburgh 3, Indiana 2, Northwestern 2, Navy 1, Notre Dame 1
By Jim O'Connell
Mike Krzyzewski has probably been honored a thousand times during his 40-plus year coaching career.
On Tuesday, he was honored for No. 1,000 at Madison Square Garden.
About 11 months after Coach K became the first Division I coach to reach four figures in wins, The Garden honored him by including him in Garden 366, a photo tribute featuring a special moment from every day of the year.
The big moment from Jan. 25, 2015, when Duke beat St. John's, replaced the one of Joe Louis knocking out John Henry Lewis to retain his heavyweight title in 1939.
Krzyzewski was humbled by it all and proud of the shared accomplishments.
''It's an honor to be remembered here at the Garden for something so special that my teams and I were able to do together,'' Krzyzewski said standing in the concourse that Garden 366 encircles with incredible photos for each day of the year.
''I've never been up here. It's nice,'' Krzyzewski said of the concourse, which had refreshments and a souvenir store nearby. ''Usually they take us down below to get ready for the games.''
Krzyzewski had another special moment in The Garden. On Nov. 16, 2011, his team beat Michigan State for victory No. 903, the one that made him the winningest coach in Division I history, passing his college coach Bob Knight.
''I love this place. It's been so good to me,'' Krzyzewski said. ''It's unbelievable what my teams and I have been able to do here and to have such a special number as 1,000 to have happened here, it really is unbelievable. And then to have it connected to a historical program like St. John's.''
Krzyzewski's first trip to The Garden was as a cadet at West Point in 1968.
''I played here and we lost to Notre Dame in the NIT,'' he said. ''Just to be on the court and looking around it's such a special feeling and my players get to experience what I did.''
Krzyzewski has an impressive 28-8 record at The Garden and the Blue Devils have won 20 of their last 23 here, including victories in November over VCU and Georgetown to win the 2K Classic.
Not bad for a Chicago kid to do well in the Big Apple.
''It gives you chills to bring your team here,'' Krzyzewski said. ''Whether it's basketball, hockey, tennis, you are on the big stage here and it's something you never forget. It's not just athletes, people come here to perform at their best.''
No place will be as special for Krzyzewski as Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium where his name is on the court and the famed Cameron Crazies help turn the on-campus facility into a true pit.
''This building is different. This building is iconic. This building is one that people strive to be in and you have to perform once you do get here,'' he said.
And now it's a building where Krzyzewski will always be remembered on Jan. 25.
Klay Thompson stars as Warriors reach 23-0, but leaves late with ankle injury.
By Eric Freeman
The Golden State Warriors looked every bit the best team in the NBA for three quarters of Tuesday's 131-123 win over the Indiana Pacers, moving to 23-0 and setting another record related to their best-ever start. They will just have to hope that an iffy fourth quarter does not deprive them of one of their key players and the night's biggest star.
All-Star Klay Thompson torched the Pacers with 10 three-pointers (eight of them in the first half) on his way to a season-high 39 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. Thompson joined Splash Brother Stephen Curry (29 points on 11-of-23 shooting) in helping the Warriors to a dominant 79-point first half. The margin got up to as many as 32 in the third quarter, and the Warriors entered the fourth up 111-83 with an eye for extended garbage time.
Unfortunately for Golden State, their reserves surrendered a 12-0 run to start the final period and required the re-entry of their key players for the final few minutes. The Pacers cut the lead to as few as six on their way to a more acceptable loss, but the big news involved Thompson rolling an ankle and leaving for the locker room with 54 seconds remaining.
The Warriors are already without starting wing Harrison Barnes due to a sprained ankle and will now have to hope that Thompson does not miss time. The early indications are positive — ESPN's Marc Stein reported that x-rays were negative and that Thompson hopes to play Friday at the Boston Celtics.
All-Star Klay Thompson torched the Pacers with 10 three-pointers (eight of them in the first half) on his way to a season-high 39 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. Thompson joined Splash Brother Stephen Curry (29 points on 11-of-23 shooting) in helping the Warriors to a dominant 79-point first half. The margin got up to as many as 32 in the third quarter, and the Warriors entered the fourth up 111-83 with an eye for extended garbage time.
Unfortunately for Golden State, their reserves surrendered a 12-0 run to start the final period and required the re-entry of their key players for the final few minutes. The Pacers cut the lead to as few as six on their way to a more acceptable loss, but the big news involved Thompson rolling an ankle and leaving for the locker room with 54 seconds remaining.
The Warriors are already without starting wing Harrison Barnes due to a sprained ankle and will now have to hope that Thompson does not miss time. The early indications are positive — ESPN's Marc Stein reported that x-rays were negative and that Thompson hopes to play Friday at the Boston Celtics.
After playing three games in four nights, the Warriors will rest the next two days before finishing a seven-game road trip Friday in Boston and Saturday vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Those games would present challenges without both Thompson and Barnes, but it's very difficult to bet against Golden State after 23 highly impressive wins. Playing on the road certainly isn't an issue for the Warriors — Tuesday's win ran set a new record for the best road start to a season at 13-0, besting the 12-0 accomplished by the New York Knicks in 1969-70. The Warriors also won their 27th-straight game counting their four wins to close the 2014-15 season, which ties them with the 2012-13 Miami Heat for the second-longest streak in NBA history.
Although the perfectionist Warriors will view the fourth quarter as a sign that they need to improve, Tuesday's contest was another demonstration of their historically great form. The Pacers came into the game tied for the second-best record in the East and opted to play the same fast-paced style that has seen them to top-10 rankings in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The results were disastrous — the Warriors went on a 22-0 run during the opening quarter on their way to 44 points in the period, tying a 25-year-old record for most points allowed by the Pacers in the first. A 35-point second continued the onslaught and saw Golden State fall just one point short of tying the Pacers' 37-year-old mark for most points allowed in the first half. It bears repeating that Indiana played its ideal pace and still looked overwhelmed by Golden State. Even the teams that seem most equipped to run with the Warriors end up gasping for air.
The re-emergence of Thompson creates new problems for opponents who were already failing to contain Curry. After a relatively weak start to the season, Thompson has scored at least 20 points in five straight games and shot no worse than 44.4 percent from the field seven outings in a row. The Warriors have no reason not to depend on Curry as long as he fills the basket with elite efficiency, but Thompson's return to star-quality scoring numbers is a clear positive for a team that thrives on balance. It remains to be seen if Thompson's injury will derail his current run of form, but he looks set to reclaim his status as a perennial contender for an All-Star spot.
If he does miss some time, though, then the last two games of this road trip could mark the best chance for the Warriors to lose until they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas. Tuesday's visit to Indianapolis was supposed to be a stern test, a tough road game in the midst of a cluttered schedule. Instead, it took on the character of a historic blowout for three quarters. If it's not yet clear, usual contexts do not seem to apply to the Warriors. They redefine reasonable expectations every time they take the court.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1926 - The United States Golf Association legalized the use of steel-shafted golf clubs.
1951 - Bob Waterfield (Los Angeles Rams) became the first professional football player to kick five field goals in one game.
1955 - Sugar Ray Robinson knocked out Carl Olson and regained his world middleweight boxing title.
1973 - Jim Bakken (St. Louis Cardinals) kicked six field goals against the Atlanta Falcons.
1978 - The first game of the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) was played between the Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does.
1984 - Eric Dickerson (Los Angeles Rams) became only the second pro football player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season. O.J. Simpson held the previous record at 2,003.
1984 - Walter Payton (Chicago Bears) ran six plays as quarterback. He ran the ball four times and threw two interceptions.
1985 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) began a streak of 100+ consecutive games with receptions.
1987 - Larry Bird ended his streak of 59 consecutive free throws.
1991 - Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) reached the 20 touchdown mark for an NFL record ninth season.
2004 - NHL officials and union leaders held talks for the first time since summer. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman imposed a lockout on September 16 due to an impasse in contract negotiations.
1951 - Bob Waterfield (Los Angeles Rams) became the first professional football player to kick five field goals in one game.
1955 - Sugar Ray Robinson knocked out Carl Olson and regained his world middleweight boxing title.
1973 - Jim Bakken (St. Louis Cardinals) kicked six field goals against the Atlanta Falcons.
1978 - The first game of the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) was played between the Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does.
1984 - Eric Dickerson (Los Angeles Rams) became only the second pro football player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season. O.J. Simpson held the previous record at 2,003.
1984 - Walter Payton (Chicago Bears) ran six plays as quarterback. He ran the ball four times and threw two interceptions.
1985 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) began a streak of 100+ consecutive games with receptions.
1987 - Larry Bird ended his streak of 59 consecutive free throws.
1991 - Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) reached the 20 touchdown mark for an NFL record ninth season.
2004 - NHL officials and union leaders held talks for the first time since summer. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman imposed a lockout on September 16 due to an impasse in contract negotiations.
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