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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success." ~ David Joseph Schwartz, Professor, Life Strategist and Writer
Trending: Bears poor starts proving as deadly as finishing flops. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Bears poor starts proving as deadly as finishing flops. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Cubs buy championship influence with Lackey, Zobrist, Heyward. (See the baseball section for Cubs updates).
Trending: Patrick Kane's point streak ends as Blackhawks blanked by Avs. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Pete Rose wants to be friends with baseball. (See the last article on this blog for details)
Trending: Pete Rose wants to be friends with baseball. (See the last article on this blog for details)
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears want to finish regular season on strong note.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Chicago Bears head coach John Fox walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Chicago. The Redskins won 24-21. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Never mind the disappointment and frustration, cornerback Tracy Porter insisted the Chicago Bears can't afford to give up on the rest of the season.
What they need is a strong finish, not a vacation.
Like Porter, tight end Zach Miller insisted these remaining games mean something, can help lay the foundation for next season.
Bears nix activating rookie Kevin White, look to 2016 season.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Never mind the disappointment and frustration, cornerback Tracy Porter insisted the Chicago Bears can't afford to give up on the rest of the season.
What they need is a strong finish, not a vacation.
''It can transcend and go on until the following season,'' Porter said Monday.
''You look back and say, hey, we finished the final three games 3-0. And then that can carry over into training camp, OTAs and then lead on into the regular season.''
The Bears (5-8) are treading into tough territory with three games left after making a surprising jump into playoff contention.
Back-to-back losses hurt those postseason hopes and left them staring at the possibility of a season-ending freefall.
That's something they will try to avoid starting with Sunday's game at Minnesota. But the past two games have been particularly gut-wrenching, particularly for kicker Robbie Gould.
His 50-yard field goal attempt late in Sunday's 24-21 loss to Washington sailed wide right, another huge miss for a usually reliable kicker. He also missed from 36 yards at the end of regulation the previous week in an overtime defeat to San Francisco.
The recent struggles have raised questions about whether the 34-year-old Gould's best days are behind him. But the Bears' issues go beyond their kicker.
The biggest one for the players might be avoiding a lack of focus on the games and thinking about their futures.
'A lot of people on the outside ask that question,'' coach John Fox said. ''But this is our livelihood. This is just like what you guys do. I don't know what you guys deal with on a day-to-day basis, but I can assure you with us, we're highly competitive people and we're always looking to get better.'' Like Porter, tight end Zach Miller insisted these remaining games mean something, can help lay the foundation for next season.
''It leads into the offseason,'' he said. ''You're not going to look back and say, 'Oh man, that had a huge impact on how we move forward.' But it matters because winning is what matters in this league.''
Miller and Porter have expiring contracts and are contributing after being limited by injuries in recent seasons.
While Porter insisted he is not thinking about which uniform he will wear next season, Miller made it clear he wants to stay. He has five touchdown catches this season.
''I want to be here,'' Miller said. ''However that works out is how it works out. I just want to play well for the next three weeks and however that plays out, that's what's going to happen. I know I want to be here.''
The question is where the Bears go from here.
They have shown improvement this season after last season's 5-11 struggles under former coach Marc Trestman.
The strides the Bears made this season under Fox and new GM Ryan Pace have restored hope to a fan base that has seen just one playoff run since the 2006 Super Bowl appearance.
But they've struggled at home, going 1-6. They have also dropped four games by three points or fewer.
''I think we've not done a good job of playing to our own potential, playing to our own standard of football,'' Porter said. ''We've done more playing to our competition's level.''
They've also dealt with a long list of injuries.
The Bears placed safety Antrel Rolle on season-ending injured reserve on Monday because of a sprained right knee. He sprained a medial collateral ligament during practice last month and has not played since Nov. 15.
They also have a deadline Tuesday afternoon to decide whether to add rookie receiver Kevin White to the active roster. A three-week evaluation period is ending, and the Bears have to decide whether to add the No. 7 draft pick to the active roster. White has been on the physically unable to perform list all season after having shin surgery, and Fox would not say what the team will do.
Linebacker Pernell McPhee has been bothered for the past several weeks by a knee injury. He was inactive against Washington. And when asked Monday if the Bears would shut him down, Fox said, ''I wouldn't go so far as that.''
Linebacker Pernell McPhee has been bothered for the past several weeks by a knee injury. He was inactive against Washington. And when asked Monday if the Bears would shut him down, Fox said, ''I wouldn't go so far as that.''
Bears nix activating rookie Kevin White, look to 2016 season.
By John Mullin
The Bears will begin the 2016 season with two de facto No. 1 draft choices as the team has elected to let rookie wide receiver Kevin White, the No. 7-overall pick of the 2015 draft, finish the year on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
The decision ends a frustrating half-year for White, who went into June as a projected starter opposite Alshon Jeffery and in a three-receiver group with Eddie Royal, but finished that month on the sidelines with what was subsequently diagnosed as a stress fracture of his left tibia. White began practicing with the team on Nov. 24 but a combination of factors relegates him to studying and working out with an eye toward next season.
The wide receiver’s health was the primary consideration in the decision but the reality of the Bears’ record and playoff situation were secondary considerations. Placing White on the active roster, which would have allowed him to continue practicing with the team, would have required the Bears to remove another player from the 53-man roster.
The Bears did elevate linebacker John Timu from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and waived defensive lineman Ziggy Hood to create the roster spot.
The White saga was not without fits and starts. White experienced pain during OTA’s in June, was held out of practices and had x-rays taken of his left tibia. Sources told CSNChicago.com that seven separate medical opinions were solicited, at which time only two felt that the “shadow” on the x-ray was in fact a stress fracture.
With the lack of clear evidence, the decision was made to follow a conservative course of action, holding off on surgery, keeping White out of high-usage situations and giving the injury the six or so weeks before training camp before putting it to a test.
Coach John Fox refused to term the injury a “stress fracture,” since that was not the unanimous medical opinion. Fox’s reticence was construed by some as deception, but if the injury healed, then there was no reason to put out a diagnosis without at least a majority of opinions to that effect.
After White tested the leg in early August during training camp and pain continued, further examination led to the definitive conclusion that the shadow on the x-ray was in fact a stress fracture, and surgery to install a metal rod in the tibia was performed in late August.
White has been gradually rehabbing in recent weeks and he was allowed to begin a maximum of three weeks of practicing on Nov. 24 before a decision was required on whether to place him on the active roster or designate him for season-ending injured reserve.
That practice window closed on Tuesday.
Bears In-Foe: Bad Pack reacts.
By Chris Boden
Simply put, since both the Vikings and Bears recently faced the Packers, things have not gone well for either team since.
The Bears have acted like the Thanksgiving win at Lambeau was their Super Bowl, following it with two flat home performances against San Francisco and Washington squads that both rode into Soldier Field with 0-5 road records this season. The week before, Minnesota seemingly had Green Bay right where it wanted them, as the visitors limped into the Twin Cities reeling after three straight losses. But the hosts' opportunity to grab control of the NFC North disappeared in a 30-13 loss. After rebounding the following week against quickly-fading Atlanta, the Vikings returned home and got thrashed by Seattle, then lost last Thursday in a tight, tough loss at Arizona.
The Vikes will have 10 days of rest for the Bears (just as Tampa Bay will a week from Sunday). And even though the Packers own a one-game lead and a tie-breaker, this is by no means a lost cause for Mike Zimmer's club. Green Bay now travels to Oakland and Arizona before hosting the rematch in the season finale. Even if the Pack wins those two tough road games, Minnesota would still hold the tie-breaker (by division record) with a win at Lambeau, provided they take care of business at TCF Bank Stadium against the Bears and Giants.
Offense
Norv Turner's attempt to speed up Teddy Bridgewater's production has yet to happen, despite the sophomore quarterback's career-high 335 yards passing versus an impressive Cardinals secondary Thursday night. The return of Adrian Peterson was supposed to make him better. The presence of a downfield threat in Mike Wallace was supposed to make Bridgewater better. And while some of the intangibles may be improved, the numbers haven't. His 13 games this season matches his number of starts as a rookie. Check it out:
Wallace has just 33 receptions through 13 games, and only seven (113 yards) in the last seven games, including Thursday night's three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. As for Peterson after his year "off," he leads the NFL in rushes (268), yards (1,251), yards per game (96.2) and ... fumbles (6). In the face of adversity after the embarrassment at home by Seattle (when he carried just eight times for 18 yards), he made a point to say the Vikings were "outcoached" as well as outplayed. Odd, since, if memory serves correct, Zimmer was one of the few non-players in the organization who publicly had his back while serving his suspension a year ago (while A.P. pushed for a trade behind the scenes). Excluding 10 points in the final two minutes of the second quarter in Denver, the Vikings have trailed at halftime by a combined 67-13 in their five defeats. And Turner probably naturally reacts with having to go the air, despite the track records of Peterson and Bridgewater. Here's Peterson's production by wins and losses this season:
Bridgewater's numbers were helped Thursday by checking down while being blitzed 65 percent of the time, finding 11 different receivers. It's helped that tight end Kyle Rudolph's remained healthy after missing 15 games the last two years. His 45-421 catches/receiving yards numbers has almost matched the career-best of 53-493 when he last played a full season in 2012. The Bears learned the hard way about rookie Stefon Diggs' speed (44-638, two TD's) on the late tying score Nov. 1 at Soldier Field. They were also victimized by Charles Johnson's sixth catch of the year on the missed pick opportunity by Antrel Rolle that set up Blair Walsh's winning field goal. He has just three catches since, after seemingly having a bright future with a strong finish to 2014 (31-475).
The offensive line that allowed 51 sacks a year ago is already up to 38, and left tackle Matt Kalil still hasn't turned things around since being a Pro Bowler as a rookie (fourth overall pick) in 2012. With the Vikings looking to get a little closer for a Walsh game-tying field goal at the Cards' 30 with 13 seconds left and no timeouts, Dwight Freeney beat Kalil to force a game-ending fumble, the third the Vikings lost that night.
Defense
It was an impressive effort against Carson Palmer and company in the desert considering the key parts Zimmer's defense was missing. We'll know more when the Vikings return to practice Wednesday about the possibility of starting safeties Harrison Smith (knee & hamstring) and Andrew Sendejo (knee), run-stuffer Linval Joseph (foot), and rising linebacker Anthony Barr (groin & hand) being available Sunday. All but Joseph were injured in the Seahawks' blowout, when fellow safeties Antone Exum was lost for the season and Robert Blanton also got banged-up. That forced Zimmer to play 37-year-old Terence Newman (team-high three interceptions) at safety and give first-round pick Trae Waynes his first significant playing time, though it was a shaky one at cornerback.
Rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks leads the team with 70 tackles (nine ahead of former UCLA teammate/roommate Barr), while adding four sacks. That's second on the unit to the 8.5 belonging to Eversen Griffen, who was held to one quarterback hit by Charles Leno, Jr. in the first meeting. On the left side, though, 32-year-old Brian Robison has gone from a combined 25.5 sacks his first three years as a starter to 4.5 a year ago, to only three so far this season. Tackle Sharrif Floyd missed the first matchup.
Alshon Jeffery had a monster 10-catch, 116-yard game with a TD in the first game, primarily matched up against talented 6-foot-2 corner Xavier Rhodes.
Special Teams
A bit of solace for Robbie Gould: Walsh has been a younger, just-as-accurate kicker as Gould to begin his career, but the move outdoors at home has made him a little more "human," too, the last couple of years. Walsh is 26-for-31 this season. Gould is 26-for-32, but his recent misses have been more dramatic.
The most recent of the three touchdowns Bears Teams have allowed came on Marcus Sherels' 65-yard punt return on the lakefront. He's ninth in the NFL with a 9.6-yard average, but the bigger concern should still be Cordarrelle Patterson's league-leading 31.1-yard kickoff return average, which includes a pair of returns to the house.
Bears poor starts proving as deadly as finishing flops.
By John Mullin
(Photo/USA TODAY Sports)
The Bears will begin the 2016 season with two de facto No. 1 draft choices as the team has elected to let rookie wide receiver Kevin White, the No. 7-overall pick of the 2015 draft, finish the year on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
The decision ends a frustrating half-year for White, who went into June as a projected starter opposite Alshon Jeffery and in a three-receiver group with Eddie Royal, but finished that month on the sidelines with what was subsequently diagnosed as a stress fracture of his left tibia. White began practicing with the team on Nov. 24 but a combination of factors relegates him to studying and working out with an eye toward next season.
The wide receiver’s health was the primary consideration in the decision but the reality of the Bears’ record and playoff situation were secondary considerations. Placing White on the active roster, which would have allowed him to continue practicing with the team, would have required the Bears to remove another player from the 53-man roster.
The Bears did elevate linebacker John Timu from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and waived defensive lineman Ziggy Hood to create the roster spot.
The White saga was not without fits and starts. White experienced pain during OTA’s in June, was held out of practices and had x-rays taken of his left tibia. Sources told CSNChicago.com that seven separate medical opinions were solicited, at which time only two felt that the “shadow” on the x-ray was in fact a stress fracture.
With the lack of clear evidence, the decision was made to follow a conservative course of action, holding off on surgery, keeping White out of high-usage situations and giving the injury the six or so weeks before training camp before putting it to a test.
Coach John Fox refused to term the injury a “stress fracture,” since that was not the unanimous medical opinion. Fox’s reticence was construed by some as deception, but if the injury healed, then there was no reason to put out a diagnosis without at least a majority of opinions to that effect.
After White tested the leg in early August during training camp and pain continued, further examination led to the definitive conclusion that the shadow on the x-ray was in fact a stress fracture, and surgery to install a metal rod in the tibia was performed in late August.
White has been gradually rehabbing in recent weeks and he was allowed to begin a maximum of three weeks of practicing on Nov. 24 before a decision was required on whether to place him on the active roster or designate him for season-ending injured reserve.
That practice window closed on Tuesday.
Bears In-Foe: Bad Pack reacts.
By Chris Boden
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Simply put, since both the Vikings and Bears recently faced the Packers, things have not gone well for either team since.
The Bears have acted like the Thanksgiving win at Lambeau was their Super Bowl, following it with two flat home performances against San Francisco and Washington squads that both rode into Soldier Field with 0-5 road records this season. The week before, Minnesota seemingly had Green Bay right where it wanted them, as the visitors limped into the Twin Cities reeling after three straight losses. But the hosts' opportunity to grab control of the NFC North disappeared in a 30-13 loss. After rebounding the following week against quickly-fading Atlanta, the Vikings returned home and got thrashed by Seattle, then lost last Thursday in a tight, tough loss at Arizona.
The Vikes will have 10 days of rest for the Bears (just as Tampa Bay will a week from Sunday). And even though the Packers own a one-game lead and a tie-breaker, this is by no means a lost cause for Mike Zimmer's club. Green Bay now travels to Oakland and Arizona before hosting the rematch in the season finale. Even if the Pack wins those two tough road games, Minnesota would still hold the tie-breaker (by division record) with a win at Lambeau, provided they take care of business at TCF Bank Stadium against the Bears and Giants.
Offense
Norv Turner's attempt to speed up Teddy Bridgewater's production has yet to happen, despite the sophomore quarterback's career-high 335 yards passing versus an impressive Cardinals secondary Thursday night. The return of Adrian Peterson was supposed to make him better. The presence of a downfield threat in Mike Wallace was supposed to make Bridgewater better. And while some of the intangibles may be improved, the numbers haven't. His 13 games this season matches his number of starts as a rookie. Check it out:
Comp.
| Att. | Yds. | Comp. % | TD/INT | Rating | |
| 2014 | 259 | 402 | 2,919 | 64.4 | 14/12 | 85.2 |
| 2015 | 250 | 383 | 2,733 | 65.3 | 9/8 |
85.3
|
Wallace has just 33 receptions through 13 games, and only seven (113 yards) in the last seven games, including Thursday night's three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. As for Peterson after his year "off," he leads the NFL in rushes (268), yards (1,251), yards per game (96.2) and ... fumbles (6). In the face of adversity after the embarrassment at home by Seattle (when he carried just eight times for 18 yards), he made a point to say the Vikings were "outcoached" as well as outplayed. Odd, since, if memory serves correct, Zimmer was one of the few non-players in the organization who publicly had his back while serving his suspension a year ago (while A.P. pushed for a trade behind the scenes). Excluding 10 points in the final two minutes of the second quarter in Denver, the Vikings have trailed at halftime by a combined 67-13 in their five defeats. And Turner probably naturally reacts with having to go the air, despite the track records of Peterson and Bridgewater. Here's Peterson's production by wins and losses this season:
| Rushes | Yds. | Avg./Rush | Avg./Game | |
| 8 wins | 198 | 1,005 | 5.1 | 125.6 |
| 5 losses | 70 | 314 | 4.5 | 62.8 |
Bridgewater's numbers were helped Thursday by checking down while being blitzed 65 percent of the time, finding 11 different receivers. It's helped that tight end Kyle Rudolph's remained healthy after missing 15 games the last two years. His 45-421 catches/receiving yards numbers has almost matched the career-best of 53-493 when he last played a full season in 2012. The Bears learned the hard way about rookie Stefon Diggs' speed (44-638, two TD's) on the late tying score Nov. 1 at Soldier Field. They were also victimized by Charles Johnson's sixth catch of the year on the missed pick opportunity by Antrel Rolle that set up Blair Walsh's winning field goal. He has just three catches since, after seemingly having a bright future with a strong finish to 2014 (31-475).
The offensive line that allowed 51 sacks a year ago is already up to 38, and left tackle Matt Kalil still hasn't turned things around since being a Pro Bowler as a rookie (fourth overall pick) in 2012. With the Vikings looking to get a little closer for a Walsh game-tying field goal at the Cards' 30 with 13 seconds left and no timeouts, Dwight Freeney beat Kalil to force a game-ending fumble, the third the Vikings lost that night.
Defense
It was an impressive effort against Carson Palmer and company in the desert considering the key parts Zimmer's defense was missing. We'll know more when the Vikings return to practice Wednesday about the possibility of starting safeties Harrison Smith (knee & hamstring) and Andrew Sendejo (knee), run-stuffer Linval Joseph (foot), and rising linebacker Anthony Barr (groin & hand) being available Sunday. All but Joseph were injured in the Seahawks' blowout, when fellow safeties Antone Exum was lost for the season and Robert Blanton also got banged-up. That forced Zimmer to play 37-year-old Terence Newman (team-high three interceptions) at safety and give first-round pick Trae Waynes his first significant playing time, though it was a shaky one at cornerback.
Rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks leads the team with 70 tackles (nine ahead of former UCLA teammate/roommate Barr), while adding four sacks. That's second on the unit to the 8.5 belonging to Eversen Griffen, who was held to one quarterback hit by Charles Leno, Jr. in the first meeting. On the left side, though, 32-year-old Brian Robison has gone from a combined 25.5 sacks his first three years as a starter to 4.5 a year ago, to only three so far this season. Tackle Sharrif Floyd missed the first matchup.
Alshon Jeffery had a monster 10-catch, 116-yard game with a TD in the first game, primarily matched up against talented 6-foot-2 corner Xavier Rhodes.
Special Teams
A bit of solace for Robbie Gould: Walsh has been a younger, just-as-accurate kicker as Gould to begin his career, but the move outdoors at home has made him a little more "human," too, the last couple of years. Walsh is 26-for-31 this season. Gould is 26-for-32, but his recent misses have been more dramatic.
The most recent of the three touchdowns Bears Teams have allowed came on Marcus Sherels' 65-yard punt return on the lakefront. He's ninth in the NFL with a 9.6-yard average, but the bigger concern should still be Cordarrelle Patterson's league-leading 31.1-yard kickoff return average, which includes a pair of returns to the house.
Bears poor starts proving as deadly as finishing flops.
By John Mullin
The Bears have considered themselves finishers and fighters this season, though recent events have put a bit of the lie to that self-assessment. But a more pressing concern might be that the Bears too often have failed to be “starters,” falling behind even lesser opponents and then needing to reach epic levels to achieve a comeback that arguably shouldn’t have been necessary with max effort from the start of games.
That has been a recipe for failure for the 2015 Bears.
“I don’t know that we’ve had any slower starts than finishes,” coach John Fox said. “We’ve just got to play better, in particularly in crunch time. I think that’s been the frustrating part for the players and the coaches because a lot of time and effort goes into these things.”
For the Bears, crunch time has come in first quarters, and the consequences have too often been dire.
The Bears have been outscored in first quarters in 10 of their 13 games; they are 3-7 in those games, Washington being the most recent. Their wins came against Kansas City, San Diego and in the second meeting with Green Bay.
The Bears have been ahead of only Oakland after one quarter and tied with St. Louis and San Francisco after the first quarters; 2-1 when they keep up with or lead an opponent.
Several players in the aftermath of the 24-21 loss to Washington on Sunday said that the Bears had failed to match Washington's intensity at the outset. Both teams were hard after making the playoffs, but only one acted like it from the beginning.
The reality is that opponents are scoring half-again as many points in first halves against the Bears as in second halves: 182 first-half points vs. 123 second-half points. The Bears’ defense does its best work coming out in the third quarter (51 points, lowest of the four quarters).
For their part, the Bears offensively sputter badly in the first and third quarters: 73 total points for quarters one and three vs. 199 for quarters two and four.
“We’ve been involved in some close games, even games we’ve won,” Fox said. “I think we’re still learning that. We’re still working hard to get better at it. As you look at the last two weeks, there’s opportunities there, really at the end, ultimately, regardless of how it started. We just need to finish it better.”
And start it a whole lot better, too.
That has been a recipe for failure for the 2015 Bears.
“I don’t know that we’ve had any slower starts than finishes,” coach John Fox said. “We’ve just got to play better, in particularly in crunch time. I think that’s been the frustrating part for the players and the coaches because a lot of time and effort goes into these things.”
For the Bears, crunch time has come in first quarters, and the consequences have too often been dire.
The Bears have been outscored in first quarters in 10 of their 13 games; they are 3-7 in those games, Washington being the most recent. Their wins came against Kansas City, San Diego and in the second meeting with Green Bay.
The Bears have been ahead of only Oakland after one quarter and tied with St. Louis and San Francisco after the first quarters; 2-1 when they keep up with or lead an opponent.
Several players in the aftermath of the 24-21 loss to Washington on Sunday said that the Bears had failed to match Washington's intensity at the outset. Both teams were hard after making the playoffs, but only one acted like it from the beginning.
The reality is that opponents are scoring half-again as many points in first halves against the Bears as in second halves: 182 first-half points vs. 123 second-half points. The Bears’ defense does its best work coming out in the third quarter (51 points, lowest of the four quarters).
For their part, the Bears offensively sputter badly in the first and third quarters: 73 total points for quarters one and three vs. 199 for quarters two and four.
“We’ve been involved in some close games, even games we’ve won,” Fox said. “I think we’re still learning that. We’re still working hard to get better at it. As you look at the last two weeks, there’s opportunities there, really at the end, ultimately, regardless of how it started. We just need to finish it better.”
And start it a whole lot better, too.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Patrick Kane's point streak ends as Blackhawks blanked by Avs.
By Tracey Myers
Cody McLeod #55 of the Colorado Avalanche and Rob Scuderi #47 of the Chicago Blackhawks wait in position next to goalie Corey Crawford #50 in the first period of the NHL game at the United Center on December 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
Patrick Kane was fairly succinct at first when talking about his very lengthy point streak coming to an end on Tuesday night.
“Didn’t have it tonight…” he said.
That could describe the Blackhawks as a whole on Tuesday, too.
Semyon Varlamov stopped all 29 shots he saw and Patrick Kane’s point streak was snapped at a franchise-best 26 games as the Avalanche beat the Blackhawks 3-0 on Tuesday night. It was a rare quiet night for Kane, who was held without a shot. In the end, Kane sounded a bit relieved it was over.
“It was a good run,” he said. “When you have to talk about it every day it gets a little taxing, but I’m excited just to play hockey now.”
It was also a frustrating night overall for the Blackhawks, who were stymied by Varlamov again.
“Well, he’s a good goalie,” Duncan Keith said. “They played a good, solid game. Give them credit. At the same time we weren’t as sharp as we can be or as direct as we needed to be.”
The Avs have a habit of ending great runs for the Blackhawks, be it team or individual. In 2013 it was the Avs who ended the Blackhawks’ 24-game unbeaten streak. On Tuesday they stifled Kane and got just enough past Corey Crawford, whose shutout streak ended at 155 minutes, 16 seconds.
“The way they check and the way they play, they get a lead like that and it gets frustrating. They’ve got everybody back and they’re just looking to kill plays and frustrated you,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We got behind and that’s exactly what turned out to be a tough night across the board.”
Varlamov continued his strong outings against the Blackhawks, too. Varlamov, who got his first shutout of the season tonight, is now 11-3-0 in his career vs. the Blackhawks.
Colorado broke through Crawford when Matt Duchene’s shot went off Marcus Kruger’s stick late in the first period. It was the first goal Crawford had allowed since Nashville forward Eric Nystrom scored against him late in the second period last Tuesday. Zach Redmond gave the Avalanche a 2-0 lead early in the second period and Gabriel Landeskog added an empty-net goal with 1:57 remaining in regulation.
The Blackhawks’ attempts to get anything going, however, proved futile. Marian Hossa had a noticeable night – he had a team-high six shots on goal. But Quenneville said the Blackhawks didn’t make things tough enough on Varlamov.
“He keeps them in games sometimes early, although our shot selections when we did have chances were poor,” he said. “I thought he saw a lot of pucks tonight as well.”
All good things must end, from point streaks to shutout streaks to winning streaks. The Blackhawks hit an unwelcome trifecta on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t our best game and they got a good skating team. It was a big two points and that’s what we’re disappointed about,” Keith said. “We need to be better and we have to regroup now.”
Patrick Kane ready to focus on hockey after point streak ends.
By C. Roumeliotis
Patrick Kane is human after all.
After a remarkable 26-game point streak, the Blackhawks forward was held pointless — as was the rest of the team — in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.
It was only the third time this season Kane was held off the score sheet, and he's ready to turn the attention back to winning hockey games.
"It was a good run," Kane said after the game. "Didn't have it tonight. Now I can just focus on playing hockey. It'll be nice not to talk about it anymore. When you have to talk about it every day, it gets a little taxing.
"I'm excited just to play hockey now," he reiterated.
During the run, Kane had 16 goals and 24 assists, including a seven-game goal-scoring streak and 10 multi-point games.
He set a new record for longest point streak by an American-born player — which was previously 18 games by Phil Kessel and Eddie Olczyk — and also broke the franchise record, passing Bobby Hull's 21-game point streak in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 6.
Before Tuesday, the last time Kane failed to record a point in a game was Oct. 15 in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
That was 61 days ago.
"Amazing, amazing streak," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Commend him on the consistency and preparation. I’m sure it was challenging with the stress and trying to sustain it late in games. And then all of a sudden the attention he’s getting from the opponents and then making sure that he touches it when we’re in the offensive zone. So there’s a lot of things that were going on, but the fact that he was able to sustain it for this strength or this length of time was amazing.
"It was pretty spectacular in today’s game to be on the board for 26 games. ... I've maybe been around some different situations, but I've never been around a streak like that. It was fun."
Kane currently leads the NHL in points with 46, in large part because of his consistency to accumulate points on a nightly basis.
Wayne Gretzky called Kane's streak "exceptional." Mike Modano said he'd been following Kane and his streak, even if it meant catching highlights on YouTube when he couldn't catch it live.
The 21,473 fans at the United Center on Tuesday were hoping Kane could scrape out a point in any form toward the final minutes of the game like he had recently done in the past.
But the magic ran out.
"It was a fun run," Kane said, reflecting one last time on the streak. "You never know what's going to happen with the streak. There were a lot of games where it seemed like I was down and out and you end up getting something at the end or whatever it may be. It was fun breaking the American record, I was happy with that, and to break the franchise record, too, that was pretty special as well so it was definitely fun while it lasted."
Kane's 26-game point streak is the longest since Mats Sundin's 30-game point streak in 1992-93. Is it possible for Kane — or any other play, for that matter — to go on another run like that?
"You never know," Quenneville smiled and said half-jokingly. "But the attention that top guys get, it's tough to do it game in, game out."
Bryan Bickell finding his game after 'reality check'.
By Tracey Myers
Bryan Bickell returned to the Blackhawks with a bang – and a big hit.
His collision with former teammate Dustin Byfuglien just over a week ago was a welcome sight for the Blackhawks, who needed that physical element back in their game. It was also a welcome delivery for Bickell, who, back in the Blackhawks fold, knows he needs to bring his best game every night.
“I think every game is like the last game,” Bickell said. “The reality check was going down there and doing that and coming back up to fight my way in.”
Bickell just about had his first goal of the season on Sunday night, but it ended up being an assist when Dennis Rasmussen pushed over the line in the Blackhawks’ 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Still, it looks like he’s finding a good level with Shaw and Rasmussen, who Bickell also played with during his Rockford time.
For Bickell, it’s about playing at the right level every night.
“Me, Shaw and Ras aren’t giving up much defensively and getting some offensive looks,” he said. “Personally I think I’ve been doing what they’ve asked me: keeping it simple, straight lines and finishing checks.”
Coach Joel Quenneville said, “Bicks has been fine.”
“There’s been a presence there. I think he’s progressed in his game as well but the simpler he keeps it the more efficient and effective he can be,” Quenneville continued. “We notice him in the lineup just being a presence along the boards and in the puck area.”
The Blackhawks missed Bickell during his time in Rockford. They knew their teammate was struggling but also knew what he was capable of, given his part in previous Stanley Cup runs.
“Right from the start he brought some energy. It was just nice having him back in the room, regardless of what he can bring on the ice,” Jonathan Toews said. “It’s not fun to have gone through what he’s gone through, especially with what he’s accomplished, what he’s done for our team the last number of years. But he sucked it up, came back and he’s ready to work and to play well, and we’ve seen that so far.”
What happens if the worst-case scenario looms again? If Bickell starts struggling again and the Blackhawks choose to give him the ultimate wake-up call again, Bickell would have to go through waivers again. Here’s Article 13.5 for Waiver Expiration:
“I want to fight every game like it’s my last, as long as possible,” Bickell said. “Keeping my physicality every game is crucial for this team and I need to bring it.”
Rob Scuderi brings experience, PK prowess to Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
Patrick Kane was fairly succinct at first when talking about his very lengthy point streak coming to an end on Tuesday night.
“Didn’t have it tonight…” he said.
That could describe the Blackhawks as a whole on Tuesday, too.
Semyon Varlamov stopped all 29 shots he saw and Patrick Kane’s point streak was snapped at a franchise-best 26 games as the Avalanche beat the Blackhawks 3-0 on Tuesday night. It was a rare quiet night for Kane, who was held without a shot. In the end, Kane sounded a bit relieved it was over.
“It was a good run,” he said. “When you have to talk about it every day it gets a little taxing, but I’m excited just to play hockey now.”
It was also a frustrating night overall for the Blackhawks, who were stymied by Varlamov again.
“Well, he’s a good goalie,” Duncan Keith said. “They played a good, solid game. Give them credit. At the same time we weren’t as sharp as we can be or as direct as we needed to be.”
The Avs have a habit of ending great runs for the Blackhawks, be it team or individual. In 2013 it was the Avs who ended the Blackhawks’ 24-game unbeaten streak. On Tuesday they stifled Kane and got just enough past Corey Crawford, whose shutout streak ended at 155 minutes, 16 seconds.
“The way they check and the way they play, they get a lead like that and it gets frustrating. They’ve got everybody back and they’re just looking to kill plays and frustrated you,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We got behind and that’s exactly what turned out to be a tough night across the board.”
Varlamov continued his strong outings against the Blackhawks, too. Varlamov, who got his first shutout of the season tonight, is now 11-3-0 in his career vs. the Blackhawks.
Colorado broke through Crawford when Matt Duchene’s shot went off Marcus Kruger’s stick late in the first period. It was the first goal Crawford had allowed since Nashville forward Eric Nystrom scored against him late in the second period last Tuesday. Zach Redmond gave the Avalanche a 2-0 lead early in the second period and Gabriel Landeskog added an empty-net goal with 1:57 remaining in regulation.
The Blackhawks’ attempts to get anything going, however, proved futile. Marian Hossa had a noticeable night – he had a team-high six shots on goal. But Quenneville said the Blackhawks didn’t make things tough enough on Varlamov.
“He keeps them in games sometimes early, although our shot selections when we did have chances were poor,” he said. “I thought he saw a lot of pucks tonight as well.”
All good things must end, from point streaks to shutout streaks to winning streaks. The Blackhawks hit an unwelcome trifecta on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t our best game and they got a good skating team. It was a big two points and that’s what we’re disappointed about,” Keith said. “We need to be better and we have to regroup now.”
Patrick Kane ready to focus on hockey after point streak ends.
By C. Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
After a remarkable 26-game point streak, the Blackhawks forward was held pointless — as was the rest of the team — in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.
It was only the third time this season Kane was held off the score sheet, and he's ready to turn the attention back to winning hockey games.
"It was a good run," Kane said after the game. "Didn't have it tonight. Now I can just focus on playing hockey. It'll be nice not to talk about it anymore. When you have to talk about it every day, it gets a little taxing.
"I'm excited just to play hockey now," he reiterated.
During the run, Kane had 16 goals and 24 assists, including a seven-game goal-scoring streak and 10 multi-point games.
He set a new record for longest point streak by an American-born player — which was previously 18 games by Phil Kessel and Eddie Olczyk — and also broke the franchise record, passing Bobby Hull's 21-game point streak in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 6.
Before Tuesday, the last time Kane failed to record a point in a game was Oct. 15 in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
That was 61 days ago.
"Amazing, amazing streak," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Commend him on the consistency and preparation. I’m sure it was challenging with the stress and trying to sustain it late in games. And then all of a sudden the attention he’s getting from the opponents and then making sure that he touches it when we’re in the offensive zone. So there’s a lot of things that were going on, but the fact that he was able to sustain it for this strength or this length of time was amazing.
"It was pretty spectacular in today’s game to be on the board for 26 games. ... I've maybe been around some different situations, but I've never been around a streak like that. It was fun."
Kane currently leads the NHL in points with 46, in large part because of his consistency to accumulate points on a nightly basis.
Wayne Gretzky called Kane's streak "exceptional." Mike Modano said he'd been following Kane and his streak, even if it meant catching highlights on YouTube when he couldn't catch it live.
The 21,473 fans at the United Center on Tuesday were hoping Kane could scrape out a point in any form toward the final minutes of the game like he had recently done in the past.
But the magic ran out.
"It was a fun run," Kane said, reflecting one last time on the streak. "You never know what's going to happen with the streak. There were a lot of games where it seemed like I was down and out and you end up getting something at the end or whatever it may be. It was fun breaking the American record, I was happy with that, and to break the franchise record, too, that was pretty special as well so it was definitely fun while it lasted."
Kane's 26-game point streak is the longest since Mats Sundin's 30-game point streak in 1992-93. Is it possible for Kane — or any other play, for that matter — to go on another run like that?
"You never know," Quenneville smiled and said half-jokingly. "But the attention that top guys get, it's tough to do it game in, game out."
Bryan Bickell finding his game after 'reality check'.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/blackhawks.nhl.com)
Bryan Bickell returned to the Blackhawks with a bang – and a big hit.
His collision with former teammate Dustin Byfuglien just over a week ago was a welcome sight for the Blackhawks, who needed that physical element back in their game. It was also a welcome delivery for Bickell, who, back in the Blackhawks fold, knows he needs to bring his best game every night.
“I think every game is like the last game,” Bickell said. “The reality check was going down there and doing that and coming back up to fight my way in.”
Bickell just about had his first goal of the season on Sunday night, but it ended up being an assist when Dennis Rasmussen pushed over the line in the Blackhawks’ 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Still, it looks like he’s finding a good level with Shaw and Rasmussen, who Bickell also played with during his Rockford time.
For Bickell, it’s about playing at the right level every night.
“Me, Shaw and Ras aren’t giving up much defensively and getting some offensive looks,” he said. “Personally I think I’ve been doing what they’ve asked me: keeping it simple, straight lines and finishing checks.”
Coach Joel Quenneville said, “Bicks has been fine.”
“There’s been a presence there. I think he’s progressed in his game as well but the simpler he keeps it the more efficient and effective he can be,” Quenneville continued. “We notice him in the lineup just being a presence along the boards and in the puck area.”
The Blackhawks missed Bickell during his time in Rockford. They knew their teammate was struggling but also knew what he was capable of, given his part in previous Stanley Cup runs.
“Right from the start he brought some energy. It was just nice having him back in the room, regardless of what he can bring on the ice,” Jonathan Toews said. “It’s not fun to have gone through what he’s gone through, especially with what he’s accomplished, what he’s done for our team the last number of years. But he sucked it up, came back and he’s ready to work and to play well, and we’ve seen that so far.”
What happens if the worst-case scenario looms again? If Bickell starts struggling again and the Blackhawks choose to give him the ultimate wake-up call again, Bickell would have to go through waivers again. Here’s Article 13.5 for Waiver Expiration:
The rights granted under this Article to Loan a Player(s) who is otherwise required to clear Regular Waivers to a minor league club expire for any Player(s) who, after clearing Regular Waivers:
(i) is not Loaned to a minor league club, or is Recalled from a minor league club (except on emergency Recall) and remains on an NHL roster for thirty (30) days (cumulative) or plays ten (10) NHL Games (cumulative).Bickell took advantage of his time in Rockford and he’s starting to find his game and line chemistry here. He knows there is no room for off nights.
“I want to fight every game like it’s my last, as long as possible,” Bickell said. “Keeping my physicality every game is crucial for this team and I need to bring it.”
Rob Scuderi brings experience, PK prowess to Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
Rob Scuderi didn’t foresee getting traded when it happened late Monday night but he’s all right with the result.
“Once you hear the team come through, it can’t help but put a smile on your face,” said Scuderi, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Trevor Daley. “You’re coming to a team that’s dominated its championship pedigree for five, six years now. To be a part of this group is an honor and I hope I can contribute.”
Scuderi will find out if he can do that starting Tuesday night, when the Blackhawks host the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Joel Quenneville said Scuderi pair with Michal Rozsival; Rozsival was a healthy scratch the previous two games. With Scuderi, the Blackhawks get a stay-at-home defenseman who should also help them on the penalty kill.
“Yeah, Rob’s definitely that type of defenseman: safe, reliable, dependable on the back end, simple. And he can kill penalties for us, has good experience,” Quenneville said. “We’ll see how it fits in but I think he can help us.”
In the deal, the Penguins claimed all of Daley’s cap hit and retained one-third of Scuderi’s hit. The Blackhawks picked up the remaining two-thirds of Scuderi’s money ($2.25-million per season). The cap space the Blackhawks get from this — just under $2.2 million, per generalfanager.com — was also a big selling point in the deal.
“[Scuderi] has won a couple of Stanley Cups and it’s never a bad thing to bring someone in with experience,” general manager Stan Bowman said. "He knows how to win and he’s been on good teams. The other part of it is we have some flexibility, some salary-cap room, something we’ve been looking for. It’s always going to be challenge regarding that going forward, but looking at our situation now, we find someone who will fit in nice with us, his style fits our play and he compliments the guys we already have.”
With Daley, the Blackhawks had hoped there would be a fit. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Daley was playing better as of late but he the offense didn’t really materialize — outside of six assists — and he wasn’t playing the type of minutes he was during his Dallas Stars days.
“I think sometimes things just don’t work the way you draw them up,” Bowman said. “Trevor has a lot of talent and we certainly wish him well. He’s a class act. Sometimes it doesn’t work the way you expect it to. I think he’ll have a great opportunity to go there and play a lot and hopefully he helps them. I think it’s going to be one of those trades that works for both teams.”
Daley played nearly 23 minutes a game when he was with the Stars. With the Blackhawks, he averaged about 15 minutes a night.
“In his case, [Daley] didn’t get a chance to play the big minutes he was accustomed to playing. And right off the bat, it just wasn’t’ happening,” Quenneville said. "Sometimes it works out; it didn’t here. But I think he can help Pittsburgh. I think he was good in Dallas. He wasn’t here long enough to get a good assessment but his offense in games was coming along for us and defensively he was progressing as well. It’s a situation where both teams were probably looking for the type of defenseman to fit our needs.”
“Once you hear the team come through, it can’t help but put a smile on your face,” said Scuderi, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Trevor Daley. “You’re coming to a team that’s dominated its championship pedigree for five, six years now. To be a part of this group is an honor and I hope I can contribute.”
Scuderi will find out if he can do that starting Tuesday night, when the Blackhawks host the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Joel Quenneville said Scuderi pair with Michal Rozsival; Rozsival was a healthy scratch the previous two games. With Scuderi, the Blackhawks get a stay-at-home defenseman who should also help them on the penalty kill.
“Yeah, Rob’s definitely that type of defenseman: safe, reliable, dependable on the back end, simple. And he can kill penalties for us, has good experience,” Quenneville said. “We’ll see how it fits in but I think he can help us.”
In the deal, the Penguins claimed all of Daley’s cap hit and retained one-third of Scuderi’s hit. The Blackhawks picked up the remaining two-thirds of Scuderi’s money ($2.25-million per season). The cap space the Blackhawks get from this — just under $2.2 million, per generalfanager.com — was also a big selling point in the deal.
“[Scuderi] has won a couple of Stanley Cups and it’s never a bad thing to bring someone in with experience,” general manager Stan Bowman said. "He knows how to win and he’s been on good teams. The other part of it is we have some flexibility, some salary-cap room, something we’ve been looking for. It’s always going to be challenge regarding that going forward, but looking at our situation now, we find someone who will fit in nice with us, his style fits our play and he compliments the guys we already have.”
With Daley, the Blackhawks had hoped there would be a fit. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Daley was playing better as of late but he the offense didn’t really materialize — outside of six assists — and he wasn’t playing the type of minutes he was during his Dallas Stars days.
“I think sometimes things just don’t work the way you draw them up,” Bowman said. “Trevor has a lot of talent and we certainly wish him well. He’s a class act. Sometimes it doesn’t work the way you expect it to. I think he’ll have a great opportunity to go there and play a lot and hopefully he helps them. I think it’s going to be one of those trades that works for both teams.”
Daley played nearly 23 minutes a game when he was with the Stars. With the Blackhawks, he averaged about 15 minutes a night.
“In his case, [Daley] didn’t get a chance to play the big minutes he was accustomed to playing. And right off the bat, it just wasn’t’ happening,” Quenneville said. "Sometimes it works out; it didn’t here. But I think he can help Pittsburgh. I think he was good in Dallas. He wasn’t here long enough to get a good assessment but his offense in games was coming along for us and defensively he was progressing as well. It’s a situation where both teams were probably looking for the type of defenseman to fit our needs.”
The Blackhawks wanted more of a stay-at-home guy on the blue line. They also wanted help on the penalty kill.
“We have four guys we use right now who are good penalty killers, but when one takes a penalty you’re short,” Bowman said. “That’s the strength of Rob’s game.”
Scuderi also knows how to play in big-game situations; he won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009 and his second with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012. Scuderi isn’t here to take on massive minutes; he’s here to enhance what the Blackhawks already have.
“I’m just going to make the simple play. If I have a few seconds I’ll find the open man but for the most part I’ll keep things simple, keep the puck moving north,” Scuderi said. “With all the talent up front up here, it makes sense to get the puck in their hands and let them take care of business. I’m not a flashy player, chances are if you notice me it’s because I made a nice play or a bad play. But most nights I’m invisible and that means I’m doing my job.”
BRIEFLY
- David Rundblad and Ryan Garbutt are both healthy scratches against the Avalanche.
- Marian Hossa did not participate in morning skate but is fine and will play.
- Corey Crawford will start against Colorado.
“We have four guys we use right now who are good penalty killers, but when one takes a penalty you’re short,” Bowman said. “That’s the strength of Rob’s game.”
Scuderi also knows how to play in big-game situations; he won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009 and his second with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012. Scuderi isn’t here to take on massive minutes; he’s here to enhance what the Blackhawks already have.
“I’m just going to make the simple play. If I have a few seconds I’ll find the open man but for the most part I’ll keep things simple, keep the puck moving north,” Scuderi said. “With all the talent up front up here, it makes sense to get the puck in their hands and let them take care of business. I’m not a flashy player, chances are if you notice me it’s because I made a nice play or a bad play. But most nights I’m invisible and that means I’m doing my job.”
BRIEFLY
- David Rundblad and Ryan Garbutt are both healthy scratches against the Avalanche.
- Marian Hossa did not participate in morning skate but is fine and will play.
- Corey Crawford will start against Colorado.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Memphis Grizzlies-Chicago Bulls Preview.
By KEVIN CHROUST
Memphis thinks it might have found something in a smaller lineup, and Chicago's beginning to believe it's simply found something.
The Bulls will try for a fourth straight win Wednesday night against the visiting Grizzlies, who had one of their best offensive nights of the season with Zach Randolph coming off the bench.
Chicago (14-8) had to come from behind in Monday's 115-96 home win over Philadelphia, but a five-point halftime deficit was an afterthought following a 34-12 third quarter. The Bulls topped 50 percent shooting for just the second time this season (43 of 85) with Jimmy Butler scoring a game-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting after going 8 of 30 in the first two games of the winning streak.
"It's different," Randolph said. "I've got to learn how to adjust to it. But as long as I go out there and keep playing hard, whether it's eight minutes or five minutes, I just need to go out there and do what I can do."
The teams have split four games over the previous two seasons with the road team winning each.
Tony Snell ignites Bulls second-half run against woeful 76ers. (Monday night's game, 12/14/2015).
By Vincent Goodwill
Tony Snell shoots over the 76ers' Richaun Holmes in the first half at the United Center. (Photo/Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
One had to wonder how long it was gonna take for the Bulls to realize they were playing the Philadelphia 76ers, as they seemed to dance with danger for over a half.
And there was no guarantee they would wake up, but Tony Snell’s best game of the season propelled the Bulls to a dominating second half and easy win, 115-96 at the United Center.
Snell, whose struggles have been well-documented as the opportunity presented in Mike Dunleavy’s injury-induced absence, turned up the activity as the Bulls were in danger of being the second team to donate a win to the woeful 76ers.
Trailing by five at the half, Snell actually outscored the 76ers alone, 13-12 but it was more than his scoring that sparked the Bulls to distance themselves. He got in the passing lane for steals, grabbed rebounds and generally made himself known in ways he hadn’t thus far this season.
In the third, though, his steals and tough drives to the basket were on full display, ensuring the Bulls wouldn’t play four on five offensively, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his second career double-double.
“I thought he impacted the game in every way possible. He did everything tonight,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. “When he’s out there he can defend. When you get that type of offensive output from Tony, it makes us a very good basketball team.”
It was necessary with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler battling illness, as Rose nearly didn’t play the second half but wanted to be at least a threat with his team struggling.
Snell only averages 5.4 points so his scoring came as an anomaly and explosion, and with the new configuration of a starting lineup with Taj Gibson in at power forward, he's gonna need to make and take open shots with regularity.
Pau Gasol scored 13 with seven assists and six rebounds, as the Bulls had 28 assists and shot 51 percent from the field overall. Gasol and Joakim Noah (five points, 15 rebounds, eight assists) had some strong words for the Bulls at halftime, which Snell obviously took to heart.
“We need Tony to play like that all the time, that confidence, that swag, knowing he’s one of the best players in the league. If you think like that it can happen,” Butler said. “Your confidence comes from your work. You see the ball go through the basket, it’s like the defense isn’t even there.”
Snell seemed to ignite the entire team as Rose awoke from his game-long slumber to score six in the quarter, Taj Gibson grabbed an offensive rebound after a miss and slammed it home to an approving roar from the Bulls crowd.
“My whole mentality in the second half was to get some good defense going and try to lead to offense,” Snell said. “I think it was my best individual game but a good team effort.”
The Bulls went on a surprising 26-1 run from the 4:03 mark of the third, where the lead was only three, to the 8:15 mark of the fourth when the game was put out of reach at 97-69.
Nikola Mirotic hit several triples during the run and Doug McDermott continued to play with the freedom that’s earned the trust of the coaching staff as Mirotic finished with 17 and McDermott 13.
Things got so good, Fred Hoiberg felt at ease enough for Bobby Portis to make his regular-season debut at the United Center, and the rookie hit a baseline hook shot at 2:36 for his first points at home.
And Portis made his case for more burn, with seven points in four minutes.
But boy, were things uneasy for 24 minutes. Chicago native Jahlil Okafor was working out on Pau Gasol and Noah with silky moves and baseline dunks, scoring 20 in the first half and giving the 76ers reason to believe they could compete for 48 minutes.
Only Butler seemed to be ready to play for the Bulls, keeping them afloat with 19 of his game-high 23 to match Okafor bucket-for-bucket. The 76ers shot 48 percent in the first half, including 37 points in a disastrous second quarter where they shot 64 percent from the field and hit four triples.
“At half we were just talking about how we can score the ball and we forget how well we gotta defend to win, especially at home,” Butler said. “We’re all men in this locker room, we know what we gotta do.”
But they shut down the visitors in the second half, allowing only a step-back basket from Okafor and 76ers shot just 34 percent, ensuring they wouldn’t be giving a little extra Christmastime cheer to a desperate team.
Joe Maddon feels like Cubs won baseball lottery again with Jason Heyward.
The Bulls will try for a fourth straight win Wednesday night against the visiting Grizzlies, who had one of their best offensive nights of the season with Zach Randolph coming off the bench.
Chicago (14-8) had to come from behind in Monday's 115-96 home win over Philadelphia, but a five-point halftime deficit was an afterthought following a 34-12 third quarter. The Bulls topped 50 percent shooting for just the second time this season (43 of 85) with Jimmy Butler scoring a game-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting after going 8 of 30 in the first two games of the winning streak.
"The movement, shot over 50 percent, 28 assists, played unselfish basketball," Fred Hoiberg told the team's official website. "I hope we are starting to get there. ... Once we get cutting and playing out there, it's tough to guard. I think we are getting there; I hope."
He didn't mention rebounding, but the Bulls have had an edge on the glass in eight straight games, including a 53-36 advantage over Philadelphia. Their margin in that span is plus-7.3 after posting a minus-3.0 mark through 15 contests.
Joakim Noah is averaging 12.3 on the winning streak, had 15 against the 76ers and said the team's motor hasn't been what it was in past seasons.
"Obviously (we) have an issue now playing with the right energy," Noah said. "It's definitely something we need to (do). This team has an identity of playing with intensity and the right energy; that's been our identity for a while. It's for us to find that and play hard the whole game."
Chicago has gone with less of an outside game by replacing Nikola Mirotic with Taj Gibson in the starting lineup over the last four contests, but it's resulted in Mirotic making 10 of 22 from 3-point range after entering that stretch at 32.6 percent.
Chicago has gone with less of an outside game by replacing Nikola Mirotic with Taj Gibson in the starting lineup over the last four contests, but it's resulted in Mirotic making 10 of 22 from 3-point range after entering that stretch at 32.6 percent.
Neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies (14-12) thrive from the perimeter - they're 23rd and 28th in 3-point attempts per game - but while Chicago has embraced that with its lineup change, Memphis has adjusted the other way.
Tony Allen has been out the last two games with a knee injury, while Randolph has been used off the bench. The two have been replaced by Courtney Lee and Matt Barnes, who combined to go 7 of 9 from long range in Monday's 112-95 home win over Washington as Memphis shot a season-best 56.4 percent and hit 10 of 15 from 3-point range.
Barnes is averaging 15.0 points on 50.9 percent shooting and 44.1 from 3-point range in five games as a starter as opposed to 7.1 on 35.9 and 28.0 as a reserve, but it's the benefit two others receive that has coach Dave Joerger's attention.
"I certainly like the spacing. The two main guys who benefit from the spacing is Jeff Green and Mike Conley," Joerger told the team's official website. "Jeff Green really took advantage of it (in Sunday's loss in Miami), had a big night, got up 20 shots and was aggressive. Those kind of things make more guys threats and so we just have to learn to play that way."
Green has averaged 20.5 points and shot 50 percent in the last two games, while his former fellow starting forward adjusts to a new role. Randolph has averaged 10.0 points in 23.5 minutes over the last two games after starting his previous 182 games.
"It's different," Randolph said. "I've got to learn how to adjust to it. But as long as I go out there and keep playing hard, whether it's eight minutes or five minutes, I just need to go out there and do what I can do."
The teams have split four games over the previous two seasons with the road team winning each.
Tony Snell ignites Bulls second-half run against woeful 76ers. (Monday night's game, 12/14/2015).
By Vincent Goodwill
One had to wonder how long it was gonna take for the Bulls to realize they were playing the Philadelphia 76ers, as they seemed to dance with danger for over a half.
And there was no guarantee they would wake up, but Tony Snell’s best game of the season propelled the Bulls to a dominating second half and easy win, 115-96 at the United Center.
Snell, whose struggles have been well-documented as the opportunity presented in Mike Dunleavy’s injury-induced absence, turned up the activity as the Bulls were in danger of being the second team to donate a win to the woeful 76ers.
Trailing by five at the half, Snell actually outscored the 76ers alone, 13-12 but it was more than his scoring that sparked the Bulls to distance themselves. He got in the passing lane for steals, grabbed rebounds and generally made himself known in ways he hadn’t thus far this season.
In the third, though, his steals and tough drives to the basket were on full display, ensuring the Bulls wouldn’t play four on five offensively, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his second career double-double.
“I thought he impacted the game in every way possible. He did everything tonight,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. “When he’s out there he can defend. When you get that type of offensive output from Tony, it makes us a very good basketball team.”
It was necessary with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler battling illness, as Rose nearly didn’t play the second half but wanted to be at least a threat with his team struggling.
Snell only averages 5.4 points so his scoring came as an anomaly and explosion, and with the new configuration of a starting lineup with Taj Gibson in at power forward, he's gonna need to make and take open shots with regularity.
Pau Gasol scored 13 with seven assists and six rebounds, as the Bulls had 28 assists and shot 51 percent from the field overall. Gasol and Joakim Noah (five points, 15 rebounds, eight assists) had some strong words for the Bulls at halftime, which Snell obviously took to heart.
“We need Tony to play like that all the time, that confidence, that swag, knowing he’s one of the best players in the league. If you think like that it can happen,” Butler said. “Your confidence comes from your work. You see the ball go through the basket, it’s like the defense isn’t even there.”
Snell seemed to ignite the entire team as Rose awoke from his game-long slumber to score six in the quarter, Taj Gibson grabbed an offensive rebound after a miss and slammed it home to an approving roar from the Bulls crowd.
“My whole mentality in the second half was to get some good defense going and try to lead to offense,” Snell said. “I think it was my best individual game but a good team effort.”
The Bulls went on a surprising 26-1 run from the 4:03 mark of the third, where the lead was only three, to the 8:15 mark of the fourth when the game was put out of reach at 97-69.
Nikola Mirotic hit several triples during the run and Doug McDermott continued to play with the freedom that’s earned the trust of the coaching staff as Mirotic finished with 17 and McDermott 13.
Things got so good, Fred Hoiberg felt at ease enough for Bobby Portis to make his regular-season debut at the United Center, and the rookie hit a baseline hook shot at 2:36 for his first points at home.
And Portis made his case for more burn, with seven points in four minutes.
But boy, were things uneasy for 24 minutes. Chicago native Jahlil Okafor was working out on Pau Gasol and Noah with silky moves and baseline dunks, scoring 20 in the first half and giving the 76ers reason to believe they could compete for 48 minutes.
Only Butler seemed to be ready to play for the Bulls, keeping them afloat with 19 of his game-high 23 to match Okafor bucket-for-bucket. The 76ers shot 48 percent in the first half, including 37 points in a disastrous second quarter where they shot 64 percent from the field and hit four triples.
“At half we were just talking about how we can score the ball and we forget how well we gotta defend to win, especially at home,” Butler said. “We’re all men in this locker room, we know what we gotta do.”
But they shut down the visitors in the second half, allowing only a step-back basket from Okafor and 76ers shot just 34 percent, ensuring they wouldn’t be giving a little extra Christmastime cheer to a desperate team.
Joe Maddon feels like Cubs won baseball lottery again with Jason Heyward.
By Patrick Mooney
“We won two years in a row,” Maddon said Tuesday. “I believe he’s one of the top five players in the National League.”
Almost 700 miles from the fancy Michigan Avenue restaurant where the Cubs staged Heyward’s welcome-to-Chicago press conference, Maddon imagined the possibilities while back in his blue-collar hometown in Pennsylvania, preparing for his annual “Thanksmas” events at the Hazleton One Community Center.
This is the ideal player for a manager who digs run prevention, thinks batting average is overrated and understands baseball’s new aging curve in an era of tougher testing for performance-enhancing drugs: a three-time Gold Glove outfielder with a career .353 on-base percentage and a 1989 birth certificate.
No doubt, Maddon loves the Cubs gambling on Heyward with the biggest contract in franchise history, an eight-year, $184 million megadeal that comes with a World Series-or-bust mandate.
“Somebody’s got to be that guy, so it might as well be him,” Maddon said. “I really believe he’s going to handle it well.
“I believe he believes he’s earned the right to be in this position. (He’s) 26. He’s worked hard to get here. This is his third organization, so he knows what it’s like to be around a little bit. He’s not going to be wide-eyed.
“He just played in St. Louis on a 100-win team. He played on some really good teams in Atlanta. So I would hope that money should not change this dude at all. If anything, it would just provide motivation to play as well as he can.”
Maddon’s message to Heyward could be boiled down to the same thing he told Lester after the All-Star lefty signed a six-year, $155 million contract: Be yourself. Don’t change anything. Just go play.
The Cubs don’t need Heyward to live up to the hype that followed him as Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect heading into the 2010 season.
The Cubs aren’t crossing their fingers hoping Heyward can match his numbers from the 2012 season, the only time he’s put up 20-plus homers and more than 80 RBIs.
The Cubs can live with Heyward still being a .268 hitter in this monster lineup, as long as he keeps seeing pitches, saving runs with his defense and putting pressure on the other team with his speed and instincts.
“Everybody gets hung up on batting averages all the time,” Maddon said. “Believe me, I do not. This guy is a really good baseball player. First of all, he comes to play every day. He plays both sides of the ball. I think he’s a top-three defender at any position. Great arm.
“He’s a top-three, top-five baserunner. And I think him and Kris Bryant together give you two of the best baserunners in the National League, maybe all of baseball.
“The sky’s the limit, man.”
Heyward reminds Maddon of another corner outfielder he once worked with in the Angels system who developed into an eight-time Gold Glove winner in the big leagues.
“I think he can absolutely play center,” Maddon said. “I had Jimmy Edmonds in the minor leagues. Jimmy was a right fielder in the minor leagues. People were afraid to put him in center field because he wasn’t fast enough. He just wasn’t the prototypical-looking centerfielder. But Jimmy had this incredible, innate ability to be on line with his first step after a baseball.
“Jimmy was always in motion. I’m really eager to see Jason play center field. Because he’s big, he’s lanky, I think there’s the assumption that he can’t play in the middle. I’m curious. I think his instincts for the game are that good.
“Watching him in right field, going back on the baseball, he’s really good. Coming in on the baseball, he’s really good. Arm accuracy is fantastic. I think his makeup permits him to play there, too, because he seems like a take-charge kind of a dude. He’s not afraid to say what he thinks. I’m eager to see this.”
The entire baseball world will be watching to see how Heyward fits into a team that won 97 games and two playoff rounds and won’t be satisfied with anything less than a World Series title in 2016.
“I couldn’t believe we had that opportunity to sign him,” Maddon said. “It’s really exciting, man. And then when you talk to him, his head’s obviously in the right place. And to be that young with that many years ahead of us and him — it’s pretty cool.”
Jason Heyward: Winning a World Series with Cubs 'would be beautiful'.
CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
There were plenty of suitors for prized free agent outfielder Jason Heyward, but ultimately the former St. Louis Cardinal left more money on the table to join the Cubs.
Heyward spurned multiple teams with more lucrative offers to sign an eight-year, nearly $180 million megadeal with the Cubs.
Less than a week after agreeing to a deal with the Cubs, Heyward was introduced to the media, alongside Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, in a press conference at Spiaggia Restaurant in downtown Chicago on Tuesday — which ironically comes exactly a year after the Cubs held a press conference at the same location for the signing of Jon Lester.
The 26-year-old Heyward revealed that winning a World Series and breaking a 107-year curse was a factor in signing with the Cubs.
"It'd be a beautiful thing to win a World Series for one," Heyward said. "It's a no-brainer that it would be making history here."
Heyward admitted that the money didn't play a factor in his decision.
"Every time money comes up, I feel like the media talks about it way more than I'm thinking about it," Heyward added.
Targeting Heyward in free agency was a no-brainer for Epstein.
"We saw this as a real unique opportunity," Epstein said. "He has a knack for getting big hits. He makes his teammates better."
Esptein added: Heyward plays "our kind of baseball. He does all the little things to win a baseball game."
Heyward spurned multiple teams with more lucrative offers to sign an eight-year, nearly $180 million megadeal with the Cubs.
Less than a week after agreeing to a deal with the Cubs, Heyward was introduced to the media, alongside Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, in a press conference at Spiaggia Restaurant in downtown Chicago on Tuesday — which ironically comes exactly a year after the Cubs held a press conference at the same location for the signing of Jon Lester.
The 26-year-old Heyward revealed that winning a World Series and breaking a 107-year curse was a factor in signing with the Cubs.
"It'd be a beautiful thing to win a World Series for one," Heyward said. "It's a no-brainer that it would be making history here."
Heyward admitted that the money didn't play a factor in his decision.
"Every time money comes up, I feel like the media talks about it way more than I'm thinking about it," Heyward added.
Targeting Heyward in free agency was a no-brainer for Epstein.
"We saw this as a real unique opportunity," Epstein said. "He has a knack for getting big hits. He makes his teammates better."
Esptein added: Heyward plays "our kind of baseball. He does all the little things to win a baseball game."
Robin Ventura isn't afraid of hot-seat status.
By Dan Hayes
He knows he’s on the hot seat, but Robin Ventura doesn’t intend to let his status change how he operates.
Asked about the constant speculation surrounding his job status, the White Sox manager said Tuesday he doesn’t plan to let any of it affect him in 2016. Addressing media on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Ventura — who has a career mark of 297-351 and only one winning season in four as the team’s manager — said he feels comfortable as ever as he heads into the final year of his contract.
“That stuff's still there,” Ventura said. “We know that I have one year left on the contract. For me, I've never been one to seek more years if it's going to make me feel any better or the security of it. You come and do your job. I think that's part of being in baseball. Even as a player, if you have one year left, come and do your job. Do the best you can and try to enjoy it. That part's there, but its just part of being in the baseball.”
Two months after bench coach Mark Parent was fired, Ventura acknowledges he could be forced out, too. It comes with the territory, and he has understood that since he took over as the team’s manager in 2012.
Like he often did as a player, Ventura won’t seek a new contract until after the season.
“Anytime you’re in this position (firing) comes up,” Ventura said. “People talk about it, but for me that doesn’t change. I never asked for an extension in the last year of my contract as a player, and I’m not going to change that way now. It’s just a part of going in. It just is what it is. You continue to work hard and come in with the best possible attitude you can and be confident with it. I’m not going to change how I deal with the players just because this might be the last year of my contract.”
General manager Rick Hahn quickly dismissed the topic during his media session as the club is focused on improving its roster.
“We are not worried about any of that right now,” Hahn said. “It’s only about getting us in the best position to win in ’16. That’s all anybody cares about.”
Asked about the constant speculation surrounding his job status, the White Sox manager said Tuesday he doesn’t plan to let any of it affect him in 2016. Addressing media on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Ventura — who has a career mark of 297-351 and only one winning season in four as the team’s manager — said he feels comfortable as ever as he heads into the final year of his contract.
“That stuff's still there,” Ventura said. “We know that I have one year left on the contract. For me, I've never been one to seek more years if it's going to make me feel any better or the security of it. You come and do your job. I think that's part of being in baseball. Even as a player, if you have one year left, come and do your job. Do the best you can and try to enjoy it. That part's there, but its just part of being in the baseball.”
Two months after bench coach Mark Parent was fired, Ventura acknowledges he could be forced out, too. It comes with the territory, and he has understood that since he took over as the team’s manager in 2012.
Like he often did as a player, Ventura won’t seek a new contract until after the season.
“Anytime you’re in this position (firing) comes up,” Ventura said. “People talk about it, but for me that doesn’t change. I never asked for an extension in the last year of my contract as a player, and I’m not going to change that way now. It’s just a part of going in. It just is what it is. You continue to work hard and come in with the best possible attitude you can and be confident with it. I’m not going to change how I deal with the players just because this might be the last year of my contract.”
General manager Rick Hahn quickly dismissed the topic during his media session as the club is focused on improving its roster.
“We are not worried about any of that right now,” Hahn said. “It’s only about getting us in the best position to win in ’16. That’s all anybody cares about.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Golf-World Rankings.
Reuters
3. (3) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 11.19
4. (4) Bubba Watson (U.S.) 8.26
5. (5) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 7.57
6. (6) Rickie Fowler (U.S.) 7.38
7. (7) Justin Rose (Britain) 7.24
8. (8) Dustin Johnson (U.S.) 6.34
9. (9) Jim Furyk (U.S.) 5.87
10. (10) Patrick Reed (U.S.) 4.76
11. (12) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.67 12. (11) Adam Scott (Australia) 4.61
13. (13) Zach Johnson (U.S.) 4.50
14. (14) Branden Grace (South Africa) 4.23
15. (15) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 4.16
16. (16) Brooks Koepka (U.S.) 4.11
17. (17) Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 4.03
18. (18) Kevin Kisner (U.S.) 4.03
19. (19) Danny Willett (Britain) 3.93
20. (20) Matt Kuchar (U.S.) 3.84
21. (21) Shane Lowry (Ireland) 3.65
22. (22) Paul Casey (Britain) 3.57
23. (23) Kevin Na (U.S.) 3.57
24. (24) J.B. Holmes (U.S.) 3.53
25. (25) Jimmy Walker (U.S.) 3.45
26. (27) Martin Kaymer (Germany) 3.39
27. (26) Marc Leishman (Australia) 3.37
28. (32) An Byeong-Hun (South Korea) 3.19
29. (28) Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 3.19
30. (29) Russell Knox (Britain) 3.08
Tiger Woods writes congratulatory letter to Nicklaus for SI honor.
By Ryan Ballengee
(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Jack Nicklaus will be honored by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday night in New York with the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, given to individuals "who embody the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy."
The award, first given in 2008 to Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was renamed after the former heavyweight boxing champion for this year. Basketball legend Magic Johnson is among the award's recipients as well.
On the occasion of Nicklaus receiving the award, Tiger Woods penned a letter congratulating Nicklaus and posted it on his website.
Here is the letter in full:
The award, first given in 2008 to Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was renamed after the former heavyweight boxing champion for this year. Basketball legend Magic Johnson is among the award's recipients as well.
On the occasion of Nicklaus receiving the award, Tiger Woods penned a letter congratulating Nicklaus and posted it on his website.
Here is the letter in full:
I'd like to congratulate Jack on receiving the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. Every honor Jack receives is well-deserved, and this one, that recognizes the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy as tools for changing the world, is pretty special.
Jack's tournament records are incredible, not just his 18 majors (plus two U.S. amateurs) and 73 PGA Tour wins, but his 19 second-place finishes in the majors, which I think may be his most incredible stat. The way he would rise to every occasion with the shot it demanded under the circumstances are unparalleled. His skill, mind and determination allowed him to accomplish amazing things. My first real recollection of a major championship was his win at the 1986 Masters.
Jack and Barbara are wonderful philanthropists supporting children's health. Among the many fantastic things they do is the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which supports pediatric health-care services in Florida and nationally.
Golf-McIlroy named European Tour player of the year again.I'm extremely happy for Jack, and I've always admired his accomplishments, but it's a lot more than that. He's an outstanding person, and I'm honored that I can call him a friend.
Reuters; Reporting by Neville Dalton, editing by Ed Osmond
Rory McIlroy has been voted the European Tour's player of the year for the third time in four seasons despite missing key tournaments through injury.
The Northern Irishman was unable to defend his British Open title at St Andrews after damaging ankle ligaments playing soccer before the Scottish Open in July.
McIlroy, a four-times major champion, ended the season in fine form, however, lifting the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai to retain his Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy, 26, also won his first tournament of 2015 -- the Dubai Desert Classic in February -- and the WGC-Cadillac Match Play in California in May.
"It is a huge honor for me to be named European Tour Golfer of the Year again," McIlroy, ranked third in the world, told the European Tour website (www.europeantour.com).
"I feel very proud to have won this prestigious award for the third time. It is always special, no matter how often, to be recognized this way."
Golf-Rome to host 2022 Ryder Cup matches.
Reuters; By Tony Jimenez
Rome will become only the third Ryder Cup host from Continental Europe after Italy pipped Germany, Spain and Austria on Monday in the bidding race to stage the 44th edition of the matches in 2022.
The Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, situated 17km from the center of the Italian capital, is to follow in the footsteps of Valderrama, Spain in 1997 and Le Golf National, on the outskirts of Paris, in 2018.
There were initially seven bidders but Denmark, Portugal and Turkey withdrew their interest in the early stages.
"I would like to offer my congratulations to Italy whose bold and ambitious bid has seen them become the host nation for the 2022 Ryder Cup," said European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley in a statement.
"History has shown time and again the Ryder Cup is pure theatre with the players the stars, and there is no question the Eternal City of Rome will provide a wonderful backdrop for one of the great occasions in world golf."
The tour said it was particularly pleased by the pledge to undertake a complete reconstruction of Marco Simone to meet the highest standards demanded by the matches.
There was also a commitment to guarantee a prize fund of seven million euros ($7.67 million) at the Italian Open for 11 years beginning in 2017.
Prize money at the 2016 Italian Open will also double from 1.5 million euros to a minimum of three million.
"The Italian bid was consistently strong and impressive across the board in terms of infrastructure, commercial structure and government support," said Europe's Ryder Cup director Richard Hills.
"The plans outlined for the golf course at Marco Simone are spectacular alongside the commitment to develop all levels of golf in Italy."
Costantino Rocca was the first Italian golfer to play in the Ryder Cup, at The Belfry in England in 1993. The Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, also made their debuts in the matches at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010.
The next edition of the biennial team event will be held at Hazeltine, Minnesota in September 2016 while Whistling Straits, Wisconsin is to stage the matches in 2020.
The next edition of the biennial team event will be held at Hazeltine, Minnesota in September 2016 while Whistling Straits, Wisconsin is to stage the matches in 2020.
Europe have won the last three Ryder Cups against the United States.
By Jerry Bonkowski
Three of the biggest names in motorsports will make up the 2016 induction class for entry into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.
NASCAR multi-championship team owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs, along with four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time IndyCar champion driver Al Unser, were chosen in voting by NMPA members.
The trio will be inducted at the media organization’s annual convention on January 16, 2016, at the Embassy Suites hotel in Concord, North Carolina.
“I have such great respect for the people who cover our sport and the role they play in keeping our fans informed,” Hendrick said upon learning of his selection by NMPA members. “The NMPA has done so much to give back to the NASCAR community and highlight people’s contributions through programs like The Myers Brothers Award and Driver of the Year.
“It takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice to do what our media members do every week. To be recognized by that group of people is very humbling.”
Hendrick received 88 percent of votes cast by NMPA members, Gibbs received 76 percent and Unser received 66 percent.
Others receiving votes were four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time IndyCar champ Rick Mears, as well as NASCAR Winston Cup championship-winning crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine.
The NMPA Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of Darlington Raceway and has been in operation since 1965. Hendrick, Gibbs and Unser become the 96th through 98th members of the Hall.
Thought for the Day: NASCAR needs to move Victory Lane closer to fans.
By Dustin Long
NASCAR multi-championship team owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs, along with four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time IndyCar champion driver Al Unser, were chosen in voting by NMPA members.
The trio will be inducted at the media organization’s annual convention on January 16, 2016, at the Embassy Suites hotel in Concord, North Carolina.
“I have such great respect for the people who cover our sport and the role they play in keeping our fans informed,” Hendrick said upon learning of his selection by NMPA members. “The NMPA has done so much to give back to the NASCAR community and highlight people’s contributions through programs like The Myers Brothers Award and Driver of the Year.
“It takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice to do what our media members do every week. To be recognized by that group of people is very humbling.”
Hendrick received 88 percent of votes cast by NMPA members, Gibbs received 76 percent and Unser received 66 percent.
Others receiving votes were four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time IndyCar champ Rick Mears, as well as NASCAR Winston Cup championship-winning crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine.
The NMPA Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of Darlington Raceway and has been in operation since 1965. Hendrick, Gibbs and Unser become the 96th through 98th members of the Hall.
Thought for the Day: NASCAR needs to move Victory Lane closer to fans.
By Dustin Long
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
For a sport where so many say that being at the track provides an indelible experience, it’s past time that victory lane celebrations move to the track’s start/finish line from behind pit road.
Martinsville Speedway does it that way and provided fans with a memorable experience when Jeff Gordon won Nov. 1. Fans chanted Gordon’s name and cheered him throughout the photographs and interviews. He responded by pumping his fist and encouraging the fans to continue.
When Gordon’s duties were done, he went into the stands and high-fived fans who had stayed through the darkness to share in his moment.
Why wouldn’t every track want to give fans the chance for that experience? Why shouldn’t fans demand that victory lane be on the track so they can see their heroes in person instead of a large videoboard?
Instead, victory lane celebrations are hidden from fans behind pit road. If the sport can provide a stage for driver introductions at the beginning of the race, why can’t it do the same for a victory lane afterward?
What makes victory lane so far away from the fans a good thing? On local short tracks, the winner often stops on the track for the checkered flag and trophy presentation to be near the fans.
NASCAR should learn from the country’s short tracks and use this idea for all tracks in 2016.
SOCCER; Premier League Playback: Predicting the unpredictable; here’s the final PL standings.
Martinsville Speedway does it that way and provided fans with a memorable experience when Jeff Gordon won Nov. 1. Fans chanted Gordon’s name and cheered him throughout the photographs and interviews. He responded by pumping his fist and encouraging the fans to continue.
When Gordon’s duties were done, he went into the stands and high-fived fans who had stayed through the darkness to share in his moment.
Why wouldn’t every track want to give fans the chance for that experience? Why shouldn’t fans demand that victory lane be on the track so they can see their heroes in person instead of a large videoboard?
Instead, victory lane celebrations are hidden from fans behind pit road. If the sport can provide a stage for driver introductions at the beginning of the race, why can’t it do the same for a victory lane afterward?
What makes victory lane so far away from the fans a good thing? On local short tracks, the winner often stops on the track for the checkered flag and trophy presentation to be near the fans.
NASCAR should learn from the country’s short tracks and use this idea for all tracks in 2016.
SOCCER; Premier League Playback: Predicting the unpredictable; here’s the final PL standings.
By Joe Prince-Wright
This is nuts. This is insane. This is crazy.
And, above all, this is so unpredictable.
And, above all, this is so unpredictable.
I am, of course, talking about the 2015-16 Premier League season and in Week 16 more hugely surprising results played out as — just like we talked about in PL Playback last week — this season has become one of, if not the most unpredictable campaigns in league history.
Defending champs Chelsea lost at Leicester City, which, alright, isn’t much of a shock anymore given the fact that the Foxes are flying and Jose Mourinho’s Blues have the, erm, Blues after losing nine times in their opening 16 games of the season. To put that slump into context — and to somehow justify how myself and every member of the PL crew predicted Chelsea would win back-to-back titles in our picks before the season began — Chelsea lost nine times in Mourinho’s first 118 games in charge and have lost nine in 16 this season.
With Bournemouth beating Manchester United and Newcastle United winning away at Tottenham Hotspur, the topsy-turvy nature of this season continues and was exemplified in Week 16 ahead of the busy festive period to come.
When will it end? Nobody knows. Can it continue? Nobody knows. So, this may be a poor time to try and predict the hugely unpredictable Premier League but here it goes.
Taking into account my preseason predictions, I have revised my picks almost a halfway through the season.
Defending champs Chelsea lost at Leicester City, which, alright, isn’t much of a shock anymore given the fact that the Foxes are flying and Jose Mourinho’s Blues have the, erm, Blues after losing nine times in their opening 16 games of the season. To put that slump into context — and to somehow justify how myself and every member of the PL crew predicted Chelsea would win back-to-back titles in our picks before the season began — Chelsea lost nine times in Mourinho’s first 118 games in charge and have lost nine in 16 this season.
With Bournemouth beating Manchester United and Newcastle United winning away at Tottenham Hotspur, the topsy-turvy nature of this season continues and was exemplified in Week 16 ahead of the busy festive period to come.
When will it end? Nobody knows. Can it continue? Nobody knows. So, this may be a poor time to try and predict the hugely unpredictable Premier League but here it goes.
Taking into account my preseason predictions, I have revised my picks almost a halfway through the season.
Looking at the remaining schedule for each team and adding the points I believe they will win in the final 22 games of the season to their current points tally, here’s how the 2015-16 PL table should look on May 15 when the final game is played.
Hint: It is very tight at the top, for the final two Champions League berths and at the bottom as the unpredictably of the PL this season looks set to carry on until the final whistle is blown.
Premier League Playback comes out every week as PST’s Lead Writer and Editor takes an in-depth look at the action from the weekend. Read the full archive, here.
Hint: It is very tight at the top, for the final two Champions League berths and at the bottom as the unpredictably of the PL this season looks set to carry on until the final whistle is blown.
Premier League Playback comes out every week as PST’s Lead Writer and Editor takes an in-depth look at the action from the weekend. Read the full archive, here.
JPW’s Predictions for final 2015-16 PL table
On Aug. 5, 2015
1. Chelsea: 86 points
|
On Dec. 15, 2015
1. Man City 77 points
|
| 2. Man Utd: 82 | 2. Arsenal: 76 |
| 3. Man City: 80 | 3. Crystal Palace: 66 |
| 4. Arsenal: 78 | 4. Man Utd: 64 |
| —————– | —————– |
| 5. Liverpool: 71 | 5. Spurs: 63 |
| 6. Spurs: 68 | 6. Everton: 61 |
| 7. Saints: 61 | 7. Liverpool: 61 |
| 8. Palace: 59 | 8. Leicester: 60 |
| 9. Everton: 55 | 9. Saints: 57 |
| 10. Stoke: 52 | 10. Chelsea: 56 |
| 11. West Ham: 50 | 11. Stoke: 53 |
| 12. Swansea: 48 | 12. WBA: 46 |
| 13. Newcastle: 47 | 13. West Ham: 45 |
| 14. WBA: 45 | 14. Watford: 42 |
| 15. Villa: 43 | 15. Sunderland: 35 |
| 16. Bournemouth: 40 | 16. Norwich: 34 |
| 17. Sunderland: 39 | 17. Swansea: 34 |
| —————– | —————– |
| 18. Leicester: 36 | 18. Bournemouth: 33 |
| 19. Norwich: 35 | 19. Newcastle: 33 |
| 20. Watford: 32 | 20. Aston Villa: 25 |
Offseason news and notes: No additions yet for Fire.
By Dan Santaromita
All is still quiet on the player addition front for the Chicago Fire this offseason, but there has been some activity for the club.
Thanks to the Fire’s league-worst record in 2015 the club has the first pick in not only January’s SuperDraft, but also in the waiver draft, the re-entry draft and the allocation order.
The Fire passed in the waiver draft, which took place on Dec. 9. Only one player was selected in the draft with Colorado taking midfielder Michael Azira from Seattle.
Next up was the re-entry draft on Dec. 11. The Fire traded the top spot to FC Dallas for general allocation money and Dallas’ spot in the re-entry draft. Dallas used the pick on Portland forward Maxi Urruti. Dallas had a need at forward after parting ways with Panamanian international Blas Perez and the Fire clearly didn’t have anyone they were targeting since they passed with Dallas’ 17th pick. If nothing else, the Fire gained more salary cap flexibility while giving up only an asset that had no use to them.
The only other player taken in the re-entry draft was former Fire goalkeeper Alec Kann, who was selected by Sporting Kansas City. Kann, 25, joined the Fire in 2013 and made his first team debut in the 2015 season finale against the New York Red Bulls.
The second stage of the re-entry draft takes place Thursday. The key difference between the first stage and the upcoming second stage is that in the first stage teams must pick up the player’s 2016 contract option while in the second stage teams are allowed to negotiate a new contract at a lower price. More moves are expected in the second stage. The Fire again kick things off with the first pick. The full list of eligible players is on the MLS website (minus the since selected Urruti and Kann).
In other news, academy director Larry Sunderland is headed to Portland for a similar job, as first reported by Fire Confidential. Sunderland has been with the Fire since 2008 and headed an academy that helped produce four players on the 2015 roster. The club’s U-17/18 team won the Development Academy national championship in July.
Sunderland’s departure means the Fire could have new faces in every major leadership role within the technical staff at the start of the 2016 season. General manager Nelson Rodriguez joined the club in September, coach Veljko Paunovic was hired in November and technical director Brian Bliss’ future is still to be determined after the SuperDraft.
Meanwhile, MLS has its first free agent signing. Former Fire midfielder Justin Mapp left Montreal to sign for Sporting Kansas City on Monday. Mike Magee, Jeff Larentowicz, Jon Busch and Ty Harden are the Fire’s first free agent class. None have picked a new home yet.
NCAAFB: Coaching carousel winners and losers.
By Pat Forde
Winners and losers from a busy and occasionally bizarre hiring-and-firing season in college football:
WINNERS
WINNERS
Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division. The weaker half of the ACC now looks to have its strongest coaching lineup since the league split into two divisions.
Mark Richt fell into Miami’s lap when he was fired at Georgia, suddenly giving clarity and unanimity to a search that seemed unfocused at times. Richt must navigate the idiosyncratic recruiting ground of South Florida and demonstrate that he still has the fire within – but he’s easily the most proven coach The U has hired in a long time. It sure beats bringing back Butch Davis and all his NCAA baggage.
Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock probably had the most skillful coach-management season of anyone. He managed to ease legend-in-residence Frank Beamer into retirement with a minimum of acrimony (something also made possible by Beamer’s inherent class). He managed to outflank several competitors to land highly-sought Memphis coach Justin Fuente as his replacement. And he managed to both bypass star defensive coordinator Bud Foster as head coach but retain him as DC. Well done.
Virginia made the Stealth Hire of the Year, locking up BYU’s Bronco Mendenhall without anyone hearing a peep about it until the day it was announced. While Mendenhall will have to familiarize himself in a hurry with a very different recruiting territory and recruit demographic, he made a couple staff moves that should help in that area by retaining Virginia assistant Marques Hagans and hiring fired East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill. Mendenhall certainly brings an accomplished track record to Charlottesville, having averaged nine wins per year in 11 seasons at BYU.
American Athletic Conference. In a year when the league looked vulnerable to massive poaching, it held onto a couple of its top coaches. Tom Herman turned down multiple suitors to stay at Houston – perhaps not for longer than one more year, but it’s better than no more years. Matt Rhule signed a new deal at Temple after being mentioned with many jobs. Fuente’s departure from the league was inevitable, and if Ken Niumatalolo moves from Navy to BYU it would be as much a faith-based decision as anything else. The firing of McNeill at ECU was a head scratcher, but the American may have made a major upgrade with Georgia Southern option guru Willie Fritz going to Tulane.
Will Muschamp. Is he the Lane Kiffin of defense? Muschamp keeps getting better jobs than his résumé merits. Texas wanted the career assistant to replace Mack Brown – but then he was swiped by Florida to replace Urban Meyer. After getting fired there, Muschamp landed a $1.5 million job coordinating an Auburn defense that ranked 91st nationally and 13th in the SEC. The reward for that? Another SEC head-coaching gig, this time at South Carolina. Maybe he learned a lot from that failed tenure at Florida and will be better this time. If not, his current career trajectory suggests he will be head coach of the Dallas Cowboys next.
Les Miles. Won a power struggle by taking the high road as a very public attempt to fire him played out. Miles gained sympathy from the LSU fan base while the school administration took a PR beating over what the firing would cost. By the time the last game of the regular season was over, The Hat had transitioned from goner to retained. Les and LSU just can’t seem to quit each other, despite twice appearing imminent.
Sonny Dykes. The California coach flirted with several schools, but ultimately re-upped in Berkeley through 2019 with a substantial raise and an enhanced salary pool for his assistants. Dykes has steadily improved the product at Cal but will have to maintain progress. School and fan loyalty to him may be dwindling after shopping for other jobs.
Mountain West Conference. To date, the league has kept every coach it wants to keep. That doesn’t always happen in a group-of-five conference.
Syracuse. The Orange’s yardage production has declined every season since 2012, which is a big reason why Scott Shafer was canned. In comes Dino Babers, whose Bowling Green team was No. 4 nationally in total offense. It will be tougher sledding going against Clemson and Florida State annually than anyone in the MAC, but Babers’ offensive résumé fills Syracuse’s immediate need.
Iowa State. Plenty of great coaches have come out of the Mid-American Conference. There also have been some busts. Is Toledo’s Matt Campbell the next Urban Meyer or the next Tim Beckman? Maybe somewhere in between. But getting him to accept a tough job at Iowa State seems like a win for the Cyclones.
Minnesota. Tracy Claeys has done some fine work filling in for Jerry Kill, though little of that happened this year. (The end of the game against Michigan was particularly regrettable.) Still, continuity should be valuable at a school where the athletic department is in turmoil and may not have been able to attract a great outside candidate in a crowded job market.
Arizona and Mississippi State. Rich Rodriguez and Dan Mullen looked hard at relocation yet remained at schools that have worked hard to create destination jobs for good coaches. Rodriguez has Arizona headed to a fourth straight bowl, and Mullen is guiding the State to its sixth straight.
Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. Sphere of influence continues to expand in the coaching profession. Saban sends defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to Georgia, while Meyer sends defensive coordinator Chris Ash to Rutgers. That’s after former offensive coordinators had immediate success in 2015: Jim McElwain (Saban) at Florida and Tom Herman (Meyer) at Houston.
LOSERS
South Carolina. The Gamecocks got a nice jump on finding a replacement for Steve Spurrier when he abruptly resigned in early October. That still didn’t keep them from multiple rejections in a tortured process that finally landed on a coach who has been fired within the same division of the SEC, Will Muschamp. This is the strangest and riskiest hire of 2015.
Greg Schiano. The former coach at Rutgers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was expected to make a re-entry into college as a head coach – perhaps at a really good program. Instead, Schiano never got the call and wound up taking the defensive coordinator position at Ohio State. That’s a really good job in the grand scheme of things, but going two years without landing a head-coaching position indicates that Schiano was not as highly regarded on the market as he probably thought he’d be.
Illinois. Fresh off a stirring 5-7 season and having fired Tim Beckman in August, Illinois gave interim coach Bill Cubit a two-year contract. That was a tacit admission that a school without a full-time chancellor or a full-time athletic director didn’t have its stuff together sufficiently to make a real hire. This was basically punting on third down, and it should absolutely torpedo recruiting for at least a year.
USC. Retained interim coach Clay Helton, continuing the University of Self Congratulation’s endlessly insular ways. Helton was 5-3 as the replacement for Steve Sarkisian, with a couple of good wins (Utah, UCLA) and a couple of serious beatdowns (Oregon, Stanford). Maybe he pans out – which at USC means winning Pac-12 and national championships. Deliver less than that and this will be settling on the safe and familiar and uninspired, at a program that should think bigger and more broadly.
Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. Yes, they expanded their sphere of influence. They also have suffered more brain drain. Meyer dearly missed Herman as his offensive play caller this year; will Saban similarly miss Smart (and the other staffers he’s taking away from Tuscaloosa)?
TO BE DETERMINED
TO BE DETERMINED
If your school hired a career assistant as a head coach, there simply isn’t any way of knowing now whether it made a winning or losing move. (Remember when Charlie Weis won the introductory press conference at Notre Dame?) It will take years to collect enough evidence to know. But a few thoughts on some of those schools:
If your school hired a career assistant as a head coach, there simply isn’t any way of knowing now whether it made a winning or losing move. (Remember when Charlie Weis won the introductory press conference at Notre Dame?) It will take years to collect enough evidence to know. But a few thoughts on some of those schools:
Georgia. Smart was in high demand for years and patiently waited his time for the right job. For a while it looked like that job would be South Carolina – and then his alma mater trap-doored Richt to get him. A superior recruiter who seems to have something of a defensive mind meld with Saban, the questions to answer will be leading his own program and having a handle on the offensive side of the ball.
Maryland. Hired from within the division, snatching Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin off Jim Harbaugh’s staff. Durkin also has a great recruiting rep – and he’s going to need it to upgrade the talent at a school that has to butt heads with Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State every season. This is a hard job, and Durkin probably will try a Harbaugh Jr. approach to building a program identity at Maryland.
Rutgers. Speaking of copying winning identities... Rutgers went with the same game plan as Maryland, getting an assistant from a powerhouse in the Big Ten East. The Scarlet Knights tabbed Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who before working with Meyer was on Bret Bielema’s staff at Wisconsin and Arkansas. Again, hard job. Might as well try to copy the Meyer Method and see how well it can work at an outmanned program.
Missouri. The in-house video shows that the players were very excited by the promotion of defensive coordinator Barry Odom. While he’s certainly done a great job on that side of the ball and badly wanted the job as an alum and former player, Mizzou brass took its sweet time offering him the job. There were conversations with a lot of established head coaches before committing to Odom. Missouri is in desperate need of an offensive upgrade, so Odom’s coordinator hire on that side of the ball will be of paramount importance.
Central Florida. Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost has developed a great reputation, and it was widely considered a coup for winless underachiever UCF to land him. The question is where Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich ended and Frost began, in terms of offensive mind, and whether he is head-coach material. If the answers to those questions are positive, this could be Frost’s practice job while waiting for alma mater Nebraska to open up.
Memphis. Mike Norvell is, at the moment, the youngest head coach in FBS at age 34. He’s an offense guy, having coordinated some up-tempo, explosive attacks at Arizona State under Todd Graham. But he wasn’t the widely perceived first choice – that was Odom, who had served as defensive coordinator at Memphis under Fuente. This can be a good job, if the fickle fan base stays involved and enough of the deep local talent stays home.
Hawaii. Nick Rolovich at least knows what he’s getting into, having played and coached at Hawaii. And it seems better at a fixer-upper job to go young than retread here (June Jones Part II was a possibility for a while). One note of caution: Rolovich’s offenses have done nothing but decline in production during his tenures. At Hawaii in 2010, the average was 501 yards per game; in ’11 in was 404. At Nevada the numbers went from 515 in 2012 to 429 in ’13 to 398 in ’14 to 378 this year.
NCAABKB:NCAA Top 25 Basketball Poll, December 14, 2015.AP
| RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State (64) | 11-0 | 1,621 | 1 |
| 2 | Kansas (1) | 8-1 | 1,499 | 2 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 7-0 | 1,409 | 7 |
| 4 | Kentucky | 9-1 | 1,385 | 5 |
| 5 | Iowa State | 9-0 | 1,370 | 4 |
| 6 | Maryland | 9-1 | 1,353 | 6 |
| 7 | Duke | 8-1 | 1,271 | 8 |
| 8 | Virginia | 8-1 | 1,132 | 10 |
| 9 | Purdue | 11-0 | 1,082 | 11 |
| 10 | Xavier | 10-0 | 1,062 | 12 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 7-2 | 1,023 | 3 |
| 12 | Villanova | 8-1 | 865 | 9 |
| 13 | Arizona | 9-1 | 860 | 13 |
| 14 | Providence | 10-1 | 724 | 15 |
| 15 | Miami (Fl) | 8-1 | 622 | 17 |
| 16 | Baylor | 7-1 | 605 | 16 |
| 17 | Butler | 8-1 | 562 | 18 |
| 18 | SMU | 7-0 | 560 | 19 |
| 19 | Louisville | 7-1 | 534 | 22 |
| 20 | West Virginia | 8-1 | 466 | 14 |
| 21 | George Washington | 9-1 | 256 | NR |
| 22 | UCLA | 7-3 | 213 | NR |
| 23 | Cincinnati | 8-2 | 197 | 23 |
| 24 | Texas A&M | 8-2 | 152 | NR |
| 25 | Connecticut | 6-3 | 47 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Gonzaga 44,South Carolina 42,Oregon 37,Colorado 21,Vanderbilt 18,Wichita St. 17,Dayton 14,AR Little Rock 14,Pittsburgh 12,Georgetown 8,Utah 7,Notre Dame 4,Texas 4,Syracuse 3,Northwestern 3,Iowa 3,Houston 1,Marquette 1,Army 1,Florida 1
Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan announces retirement.
By Raphielle Johnson
(Photo/Associated Press)
During the offseason Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan announced that this would be his final season at the helm, only to go back on those comments shortly thereafter. And after much uncertainty regarding Ryan’s future at Wisconsin, he announced following the team’s win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tuesday night that he will retire effective immediately.
Associate head coach Greg Gard, who has been an assistant on Ryan’s staffs at three different stops since 1993 (Wisconsin-Platteville, Milwaukee and Wisconsin), will be interim head coach until season’s end. This move gives Gard the opportunity to essentially interview for the full-time position on the job, working with a team led by guard Bronson Koenig and forward Nigel Hayes.
“After months of conversation with (Wisconsin athletic director) Barry Alvarez and his administrative staff, as well as my wife, Kelly, I have decided that now is the right time to step down from the head coaching position here at Wisconsin,” Ryan said.
“This was a decision months in the making. I brought this up to Barry back in April. He advised me to take some time to think it over and I appreciated that. But in recent weeks, I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to retire and for Greg Gard to have the opportunity to coach the team for the remainder of the season. I discussed this with Barry and I appreciate him giving me the space to make this decision.”
During the press conference both Ryan and Alvarez stated that the end of the semester was viewed as a good time to make the transition, with Tuesday’s game being the Badgers’ last before finals. Wisconsin now has a week before their next game, December 23 against Green Bay, and they’ll open Big Ten play December 29 against a Purdue team that has proven to be one of the nation’s best to this point in the season.
Ryan leaves Madison as the program’s all-time wins leader with 364 victories, and that is just one of his many accomplishments while at the helm.
In 14-plus seasons at Wisconsin, Ryan led the Badgers to two Final Fours, 14 NCAA tournament appearances and seven Big Ten titles. During Ryan’s tenure the Badgers never finished worse than fourth in the Big Ten in any season. Given their early struggles this season, having lost three home games already, and the strength of the Big Ten that streak was viewed to be in jeopardy.
The timing of the move gives Gard the opportunity to run the program in hopes of doing enough to have the interim tag removed. But there’s a lot of work to be done, and not just with regards to this current team. Wisconsin doesn’t have a commitment in the Class of 2016, and recruiting as an interim coach can be tough. The good news here is that the Badgers don’t have a scholarship senior on the roster, with six of their scholarship players being freshmen.
This makes the 2017 class that much more important, with guard Kobe King being their lone commitment at this time. Will it be Gard filling those scholarships, or will it be another coach? A lot of that depends upon the next four months, with Gard having the opportunity to show Alvarez that he’s the man for the job.
Associate head coach Greg Gard, who has been an assistant on Ryan’s staffs at three different stops since 1993 (Wisconsin-Platteville, Milwaukee and Wisconsin), will be interim head coach until season’s end. This move gives Gard the opportunity to essentially interview for the full-time position on the job, working with a team led by guard Bronson Koenig and forward Nigel Hayes.
“After months of conversation with (Wisconsin athletic director) Barry Alvarez and his administrative staff, as well as my wife, Kelly, I have decided that now is the right time to step down from the head coaching position here at Wisconsin,” Ryan said.
“This was a decision months in the making. I brought this up to Barry back in April. He advised me to take some time to think it over and I appreciated that. But in recent weeks, I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to retire and for Greg Gard to have the opportunity to coach the team for the remainder of the season. I discussed this with Barry and I appreciate him giving me the space to make this decision.”
During the press conference both Ryan and Alvarez stated that the end of the semester was viewed as a good time to make the transition, with Tuesday’s game being the Badgers’ last before finals. Wisconsin now has a week before their next game, December 23 against Green Bay, and they’ll open Big Ten play December 29 against a Purdue team that has proven to be one of the nation’s best to this point in the season.
Ryan leaves Madison as the program’s all-time wins leader with 364 victories, and that is just one of his many accomplishments while at the helm.
In 14-plus seasons at Wisconsin, Ryan led the Badgers to two Final Fours, 14 NCAA tournament appearances and seven Big Ten titles. During Ryan’s tenure the Badgers never finished worse than fourth in the Big Ten in any season. Given their early struggles this season, having lost three home games already, and the strength of the Big Ten that streak was viewed to be in jeopardy.
The timing of the move gives Gard the opportunity to run the program in hopes of doing enough to have the interim tag removed. But there’s a lot of work to be done, and not just with regards to this current team. Wisconsin doesn’t have a commitment in the Class of 2016, and recruiting as an interim coach can be tough. The good news here is that the Badgers don’t have a scholarship senior on the roster, with six of their scholarship players being freshmen.
This makes the 2017 class that much more important, with guard Kobe King being their lone commitment at this time. Will it be Gard filling those scholarships, or will it be another coach? A lot of that depends upon the next four months, with Gard having the opportunity to show Alvarez that he’s the man for the job.
For better or worse, Pete will always be Pete.
By Tim Brown
Pete Rose and his 'Hit King Throne.' (Photo/AP)
Toward the end, talking over the downshifting trucks and hurrying cabs on Las Vegas Boulevard, Pete Rose’s voice checked up on him. He’s never been that proficient at controlling himself, a characteristic that served him well at times and not so well in others, and suddenly you understood this was a 74-year-old man who’s buried friends and relatives and teammates and wonders what he will leave behind one of these days, or years, or whenever.
And that’s why the whole damned thing is so wretched. It pains him to try. It pains us to watch. Yet, he’s so simple, so likeable, so flawed, that if you can’t grin at the sight of him in front of the "Hit King Throne," flanked by lawyers, “Hit King” on his collar, “14” on his shirt cuff, words clunking from whimsical to desperate, well, you’re missing the essence of Pete.
He’s trying to fix it before it’s too late, so just hours after the commissioner notified him he would not be reinstated any time soon, Pete cleared his throat and took another at-bat. He was asked Tuesday morning at a press conference about Hall of Fame plaques. He mentioned statues. This is the stuff that lasts forever, like the number 4,256 just might. Like a man’s choices just might.
“All I look forward to being someday is friends of baseball,” he said. “I want baseball and Pete Rose to be friends. That’s all I want. So I can say I’m not an outsider looking in. I got grandkids. They want their grandpa …”
This is where his composure threatened to desert him. You look into their young faces and see forever. You see them doing all the wonderful things you never quite got around to, and making better decisions, and laughing a little more often. Oh, hell, they’ll never be a ballplayer like you were, but at 74 years old, how much does that really count anymore? What does that mean when the very game you gave your life to has turned its back? When you yourself fouled it up?
Pete found his voice and with his eyes reddened, finished, “… to be associated with baseball. That’s all.”
Then a truck rumbled past.
It goes fast, faster than anyone knows, and one day it seems the world is about everyone but you. Maybe Pete has gotten there. Maybe that’s healthy for him. Doesn’t sound like that means he has to ignore a clearly favorable point spread – he’s only human, after all – but at some point you get to thinking about what everyone will say when it’s over.
Should Pete be in the Hall of Fame? Well of course he should. Will it change anything of the past 30 years? Nope. As Pete said, because he’s such a piece of work, “You’re probably right, I shouldn’t a did that. But I gotta live my life. If you live it right, once is enough.”
Pete found his voice and with his eyes reddened, finished, “… to be associated with baseball. That’s all.”
Then a truck rumbled past.
It goes fast, faster than anyone knows, and one day it seems the world is about everyone but you. Maybe Pete has gotten there. Maybe that’s healthy for him. Doesn’t sound like that means he has to ignore a clearly favorable point spread – he’s only human, after all – but at some point you get to thinking about what everyone will say when it’s over.
Should Pete be in the Hall of Fame? Well of course he should. Will it change anything of the past 30 years? Nope. As Pete said, because he’s such a piece of work, “You’re probably right, I shouldn’t a did that. But I gotta live my life. If you live it right, once is enough.”
The route to the Hall will be complicated, but no more complicated than the route to 74 and beyond. He’ll stay at it. The Hall apparently will resist. Committees will come and go. The conversation will continue.
He shrugged.
“I’m in control of myself … and I’ll continue the path of reconfiguring my life,” he said, borrowing a phrase from Bart Giamatti and repeated by more than one commissioner since. “All I can do is try and be a better person, where eventually they’ll let me in. They’ll want me back.”
His son, Pete Jr., is 46 now, about the age Pete got into all that trouble, about the time he retired.
“If I kick the bucket,” Pete said, “he can make a speech at Cooperstown. He’s an educated kid.”
Meantime, Pete will sit on his throne of bats, those arranged like a starburst over his head. He’ll make his living, sign his baseballs, make his appearances. He’ll be a scoundrel to some, a martyr to others, and just ol’ Pete to plenty. He said, yes, he was disappointed he was not reinstated, but that’s what life looks like now. So, another day like yesterday, another day to try a little harder, or not.
“I’m not mad at anybody,” he insisted. “I’m the one that caused this situation. If I hadn’t started being out of control back in the late ’80s, we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
He looked up at a reporter.
He looked up at a reporter.
“You’d be out Christmas shopping for your wife,” he said. “I hope.”
And then Pete laughed. What the hell, you know? What’s the alternative anymore? It’s not too late yet.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1929 - The Chicago Blackhawks played their first game at Chicago Stadium. They beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1.
1972 - The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game regular season.
1973 - O.J. Simpson broke Jim Brown’s single-season rushing record in the NFL. Brown had rushed for 1,863 yards, while Simpson became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards when he attained 2,003 yards in a single season.
1979 - Roger Staubach (Dallas Cowboys) played his last regular season game. The Cowboys came from behind to win the game in the last five minutes.
1990 - Warren Moon (Houston Oilers) threw for 527 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs.
1991 - The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators were officially granted membership in the NHL.
1995 - Fox-TV aired a fight between Mike Tyson and Buster Mathis Jr. Tyson knocked Mathis out in the third round. The fight brought in Fox's highest Nielsen rating to date.
2001 - The Detroit Lions won their first game of the 2001-2002 season against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions, after the win, had the record 1-12.
2001 - An instant replay decision led to a bottle-throwing melee in a game between the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The decision disallowed a catch by the Browns with 48 seconds left in the game. The Jaguars won the game 15-10.
2006 - During a game in New York, a fight occurred between multiple players for the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks. Ten players were ejected from the game. The NBA suspended several players and both teams were fined $500,000.
1972 - The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game regular season.
1973 - O.J. Simpson broke Jim Brown’s single-season rushing record in the NFL. Brown had rushed for 1,863 yards, while Simpson became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards when he attained 2,003 yards in a single season.
1979 - Roger Staubach (Dallas Cowboys) played his last regular season game. The Cowboys came from behind to win the game in the last five minutes.
1990 - Warren Moon (Houston Oilers) threw for 527 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs.
1991 - The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators were officially granted membership in the NHL.
1995 - Fox-TV aired a fight between Mike Tyson and Buster Mathis Jr. Tyson knocked Mathis out in the third round. The fight brought in Fox's highest Nielsen rating to date.
2001 - The Detroit Lions won their first game of the 2001-2002 season against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions, after the win, had the record 1-12.
2001 - An instant replay decision led to a bottle-throwing melee in a game between the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The decision disallowed a catch by the Browns with 48 seconds left in the game. The Jaguars won the game 15-10.
2006 - During a game in New York, a fight occurred between multiple players for the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks. Ten players were ejected from the game. The NBA suspended several players and both teams were fined $500,000.
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