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Trending: Playoff field provides lessons for Bears: Draft defense high, Cutler backup. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Jonathan Toews joins Patrick Kane on NHL All-Star team. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Bulls get down and dirty with Celtics for sixth straight win. (See the basketball section for Bulls updates).
The Bulls' Pau Gasol, center, and Bobby Portis reach for a loose ball in the second half. (Photo/Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Trending: Browns thought Manziel was turning a corner before his latest slip-ups. What's Your Take? (See the last article on this blog for details).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Playoff field provides lessons for Bears: Draft defense high, Cutler backup.
Lessons are to be taken from playoffs even for teams not in them (or maybe especially for teams not in them).
Two prominent ones are staring the Bears and everyone else in the facemask as the 2015 postseason opens this weekend and moves in the divisional round next.
The first is that defense still can wins championships. No AFC playoff team ranks worse than No. 11 (Pittsburgh) in scoring. Only Green Bay (12th) and Washington (17th) are out of the top seven, and one of those two will be gone after Sunday. The obvious shock of the 2016 draft may be if the Bears do not grab defense at No. 11 (or higher via trade).
The second is that the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins, nearly half of the 2015 playoff field, are playing 17 or more games and in some measure with or even because of backup quarterbacks – in fact, backup quarterbacks drafted despite having apparent franchise starters in place at the time they were drafted.
Bears GM Ryan Pace is thinking that direction looking ahead to the 2016 draft, irrespective of Jay Cutler being ensconced as the starter.
“It’s always going to be best player available,” Pace said earlier this week about his draft framework. “So if it’s a quarterback, it’s a quarterback. I’ve said before how important that position is and that will continue to be the case.”
Pace is nothing if not a student of history. His is a strategy that has served championship teams well.
Tom Brady. Mark Rypien. Bart Starr. Joe Montana. All drafted to back up incumbent starters. All drafted third round or later or much later. All Super Bowl MVP’s.
Pace’s first Bears draft produced expected starters with the first five picks and the foundations of the future indeed lie in the draft. But free agency comes first, and by the time their turns come on the second and third days of the 2016 draft, the Bears may have given themselves all-important options, including at quarterback.
The Bengals had Andy Dalton in place and with trips to the playoffs, albeit ending in losses, in each of his first four NFL seasons. Yet the Bengals invested a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft on A.J. McCarron and won two of McCarron’s three starts after Dalton went down in Game 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals (12-4) finished two games ahead of the Steelers (10-6).
The Denver Broncos, with Peyton Manning secure as their starter, used their second-round pick in the 2012 draft on Brock Osweiler. With Manning injured, Osweiler started the final seven games, the Broncos went 5-2 in those starts and finished 12-4 – one game ahead of Kansas City (11-5) for a first-round bye.
The same offseason (2012) that the Seattle Seahawks lavished $9 million guaranteed as part of a $20.5 million deal on quarterback Matt Flynn, with 2011 starter Tavaris Jackson also returning, the Seahawks also used a third-round pick for Russell Wilson, who promptly beat out the other two. Like Dalton, Wilson has gone to postseasons after every one of his years (three) and to Super Bowls after the last two.
The New England Patriots have made history with a backup, having taken Brady with a sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft when they were seemingly fixed with Drew Bledsoe. Bill Belichick and the organization followed that template last year when they, like the Broncos two years earlier, used a second-round pick (Jimmy Garoppolo) to back up a Hall of Fame starter.
Two 2012 rounds after the Broncos were drafting Osweiler, Washington was raising eyebrows with the fourth-round selection of Kirk Cousins, ostensibly as Robert Griffin III’s backup. But Washington squeaked into the 2012 playoffs by one game after Cousins rallied the Redskins for one victory and won the following week while Griffin was laid up. This year has belonged to Cousins.
The Bears know how this can work.
They made the 2005 playoffs with an epic-grade defense but also with a backup quarterback, a backup rookie quarterback, a backup rookie quarterback drafted in the fourth round. More than one member of the Bears’ defense said after the season that the team should’ve stayed with Kyle Orton instead of going back to Rex Grossman and losing to Carolina in the wild-card round.
Two prominent ones are staring the Bears and everyone else in the facemask as the 2015 postseason opens this weekend and moves in the divisional round next.
The first is that defense still can wins championships. No AFC playoff team ranks worse than No. 11 (Pittsburgh) in scoring. Only Green Bay (12th) and Washington (17th) are out of the top seven, and one of those two will be gone after Sunday. The obvious shock of the 2016 draft may be if the Bears do not grab defense at No. 11 (or higher via trade).
The second is that the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins, nearly half of the 2015 playoff field, are playing 17 or more games and in some measure with or even because of backup quarterbacks – in fact, backup quarterbacks drafted despite having apparent franchise starters in place at the time they were drafted.
Bears GM Ryan Pace is thinking that direction looking ahead to the 2016 draft, irrespective of Jay Cutler being ensconced as the starter.
“It’s always going to be best player available,” Pace said earlier this week about his draft framework. “So if it’s a quarterback, it’s a quarterback. I’ve said before how important that position is and that will continue to be the case.”
Pace is nothing if not a student of history. His is a strategy that has served championship teams well.
Tom Brady. Mark Rypien. Bart Starr. Joe Montana. All drafted to back up incumbent starters. All drafted third round or later or much later. All Super Bowl MVP’s.
Pace’s first Bears draft produced expected starters with the first five picks and the foundations of the future indeed lie in the draft. But free agency comes first, and by the time their turns come on the second and third days of the 2016 draft, the Bears may have given themselves all-important options, including at quarterback.
The Bengals had Andy Dalton in place and with trips to the playoffs, albeit ending in losses, in each of his first four NFL seasons. Yet the Bengals invested a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft on A.J. McCarron and won two of McCarron’s three starts after Dalton went down in Game 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals (12-4) finished two games ahead of the Steelers (10-6).
The Denver Broncos, with Peyton Manning secure as their starter, used their second-round pick in the 2012 draft on Brock Osweiler. With Manning injured, Osweiler started the final seven games, the Broncos went 5-2 in those starts and finished 12-4 – one game ahead of Kansas City (11-5) for a first-round bye.
The same offseason (2012) that the Seattle Seahawks lavished $9 million guaranteed as part of a $20.5 million deal on quarterback Matt Flynn, with 2011 starter Tavaris Jackson also returning, the Seahawks also used a third-round pick for Russell Wilson, who promptly beat out the other two. Like Dalton, Wilson has gone to postseasons after every one of his years (three) and to Super Bowls after the last two.
The New England Patriots have made history with a backup, having taken Brady with a sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft when they were seemingly fixed with Drew Bledsoe. Bill Belichick and the organization followed that template last year when they, like the Broncos two years earlier, used a second-round pick (Jimmy Garoppolo) to back up a Hall of Fame starter.
Two 2012 rounds after the Broncos were drafting Osweiler, Washington was raising eyebrows with the fourth-round selection of Kirk Cousins, ostensibly as Robert Griffin III’s backup. But Washington squeaked into the 2012 playoffs by one game after Cousins rallied the Redskins for one victory and won the following week while Griffin was laid up. This year has belonged to Cousins.
The Bears know how this can work.
They made the 2005 playoffs with an epic-grade defense but also with a backup quarterback, a backup rookie quarterback, a backup rookie quarterback drafted in the fourth round. More than one member of the Bears’ defense said after the season that the team should’ve stayed with Kyle Orton instead of going back to Rex Grossman and losing to Carolina in the wild-card round.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Buffalo Sabres-Chicago Blackhawks Preview.
By TOM CASTRO
The last three of the Chicago Blackhawks' five straight wins have been due in large part to defense. That doesn't bode well for a Buffalo Sabres team that's seen its offense dry up during a five-game losing streak.
The Blackhawks try for their ninth consecutive victory and sixth in a row at home in the series as they continue a four-game stretch at United Center on Friday night.
Chicago (25-13-4) defeated Pittsburgh for the second consecutive night Wednesday, winning 3-1 behind a second straight two-goal game from rookie Artemi Panarin and 17 saves from backup Scott Darling. The Blackhawks have given up three goals in the past three victories after allowing eight in first two of their streak.
"We're playing a little bit better in our own end, keeping pucks to the outside, defensive zone puck management ... so I think we're pretty pleased right now," forward Andrew Desjardins said.
Chicago allowed 31 shots Wednesday, but had 37 itself and had given up 26 or fewer in the previous three games. The club has outshot four consecutive opponents.
The offense was handled for the second straight night by Panarin, who leads NHL rookies with 15 goals and 38 points. He managed two goals in his previous 13 before getting two in a 3-2 win Tuesday and turning in an identical performance Wednesday.
"We knew he was a special player right from the outset," linemate Patrick Kane told the team's official website. "Couple (of) big games by him (and) a couple huge goals. I'm sure you'll see that more as his career goes on (with) the Blackhawks, and he'll get even more accommodated here in the United States and everything like that. He'll become a better player. Sky's the limit for that kid."
Kane assisted on Panarin's first goal Wednesday for his league-leading 60th point of the season. He has two goals and eight assists on a five-game point streak.
Kane has scored a goal in four straight meetings with the Sabres, who appear to be badly overmatched. Outscored 18-7 during its five-game skid, Buffalo (15-21-4) has given up 31 goals and scored 17 during its 0-7-1 stretch in this series.
The Sabres preceded their overall losing streak with a 4-1-1 span and totaled nine goals in the final two victories, but they've gone back to playing like one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They were dominated by Atlantic Division-leading Florida on Tuesday, falling 5-1 to complete a three-game homestand.
"I don't think our pushback was there in the third period where it needed to be," coach Dan Bylsma said. "They got the third goal, and I thought we really sagged after that."
The lone goal came from Ryan O'Reilly on the power play, and Buffalo has gone 4 for 14 in the last three games after an 0-for-21 stretch in the previous seven.
O'Reilly, with two goals in his past three contests to give him 16 on the season, was chosen Wednesday to represent the Sabres in the All-Star Game.
"He's our leader. He's our go-to guy right now," rookie center Jack Eichel told the team's official website.
Chicago's Corey Crawford, expected to return to the net Thursday, has given up two goals over his last two starts. He's won all six career starts against the Sabres with a 1.82 goals-against average.
Blackhawks: Panarin scores two more in victory over Penguins. (Wednesday night's game, 01/06/2016).
By Tracey Myers
The goals came in bunches again for Artemi Panarin, two more on Wednesday night to go with the two he scored on Tuesday, all against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
So what’s got him going lately?
“He stopped thinking about goals and he start to score goals,” Stan Stiopkin translated for Panarin.
Obviously the shoot-first-think-later approach is working.
Panarin scored two goals, including the game-winner, for the second consecutive night as the Blackhawks beat the Penguins, 3-1, at the United Center. The Blackhawks have now won a season-best five straight and remain in second place in the Central Division with 54 points.
Scott Darling stopped 17 of 18 shots for the victory. Teuvo Teravainen added an empty-net goal with 66 seconds remaining in regulation.
For Panarin the transition from Russia to America, especially on the ice, has been great. The forward had a great final season with SKA St. Petersburg, which won the Gagarin Cup, and hoped to have as successful a start here as he did a finish there. So far, he’s gotten it.
“You knew he was a special player right from the outset,” Patrick Kane said. “Great puck control, great shot, very focused on hockey and being successful, too.”
Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar for the Penguins, stopping 34 of 36 shots. The only guy to beat him on Wednesday was Panarin, who painted shots twice for his 14th and 15th goals of the season. Coach Joel Quenneville agreed that Panarin is best served by his instincts and not overthinking.
“When he thinks shot, he’s got a great shot. Last night was a good illustration of that and tonight continued on,” Quenneville said. “Both [winning] goals, last night and tonight, were almost the same shot. Quick release and he has some pace to it. But I don’t think he needs to think that Kaner always has to touch it first and Kaner has to think that Bread Man doesn’t have to touch it first. All of a sudden, the quality of their chances will be enhanced.”
Panarin likes what he’s doing in the goal-scoring department but he said he’s not happy with the rest of his game. When asked what he needs to work on, he said via Stiopkin, “everything.” Quenneville wasn’t quite as critical.
“We’re pleased with him in all areas of his game. He likes the puck and I think he can do a lot of things with it. We’re trying to work with him without it, coming back into our own end, [being] positionally aware in our own zone, how to defend rushes and coming into our end,” Quenneville said “He’s progressing in that area. But he likes the puck and there’s nothing wrong with that. We want to make sure there’s a time and place when you have to make one more play, and I like how he’s developing the shot-first mentality. It’s been very positive.”
Panarin’s first 42 games have been very positive, indeed. The overall game will keep improving. As far as his shots, the less he thinks about it, the better it seems to be.
“A couple big games by him, a couple huge goals; I'm sure you'll see more of that as his career goes on here with the Blackhawks and he'll get more accommodated here in the United States and I think that he'll become a better player,” Kane said. “The sky's the limit with that kid.”
Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews joins Patrick Kane on NHL All-Star team.
By C. Roumeliotis
(Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews (Photo/csnchicago.com)
Patrick Kane won't be the only Blackhawks representative at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.
The league announced Wednesday that Jonathan Toews will join his teammate on the Central Division roster, both of which will be participating in their fifth All-Star Game.
Toews has 14 goals and 12 assists in 41 games this season, and leads the league in overtime game-winners with four, already a franchise record.
Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Tyler Seguin and Vladimir Tarasenko round out the forwards group for the division. Dustin Byfuglien, Roman Rosi and Shea Weber are the three defensemen while Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne will anchor the goaltending position.
Stars coach Lindy Ruff will serve as the team's head coach.
The event, which is a 3-on-3 tournament among the four divisions for a $1 million prize, will take place on Jan. 31 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Blackhawks: Duncan Keith is back to familiar form.
By Tracey Myers
The minutes are there as usual. So is the dependability during those minutes, regardless of how high they get. The point totals haven’t been bad, either.
In short, Duncan Keith is pretty much back to the player he was before he had right knee surgery in October. Not that he’s resting on what he’s done since returning.
“Well, I’m never really satisfied in what I’ve done,” Keith said. “But in my game, I’m doing everything I can to complement the team and that’s playing good defensively and breaking up plays and getting the puck into forwards hands as quickly as I can.”
Keith has been in typical form in the 26 games he’s played since having surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. His minutes are once again anywhere from 24-29 a game and he’s recorded seven goals and 15 assists. Keith was on a four-game point streak (two goals, four assists) before he was held off the score sheet in the Blackhawks’ 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I think he’s played a lot better here as we’ve progressed, coming out of Christmas and going on from there,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He seems to be involved with our attack offensively, off the point, he scored a big goal for us the other night at home (Sunday vs. Ottawa). It’s not just the offense but important minutes in all situations. He’s one of those defensemen who makes a big impact on our team and you can see more predictability in our team game since he’s been back.”
We don’t have to tell you how Keith is such a big part in everything the Blackhawks do. The Blackhawks did OK in Keith’s absence – 5-4-1 – but it was an obvious boon getting him back. Keith’s happy with how his game’s been since his return but would like to keep going off his current levels.
“I’ve felt a lot better since I came back from the surgery as opposed to the first six games, when I wasn’t feeling that good,” Keith said. “I just keep trying to trend upward the second half until the playoffs hit. You want to be going full steam once the playoffs come.”
Keith had a few different defensive partners this season; the Blackhawks tinkered quite a bit there, thanks to both offseason and in-season personnel changes. But his most recent pairing with Niklas Hjalmarsson has worked well. The two complement each other with their differences – Hjalmarsson the stay-at-home guy, much like Keith’s former longtime defensive partner Brent Seabrook. Keith said Hjalmarsson’s play makes him feel more secure.
“Hammer’s a very steady, smart defensive defenseman. I know he thinks very defensively and for me, I like that. I know he’ll have my back if I’m up there,” Keith said. “I don’t want to get caught but if it does happen and I make a mistake, I know he’ll back me up; and Corey [Crawford], too. It works out pretty good.”
Keith will not be going to this season’s All-Star Game in Nashville. Maybe that month he was sidelined was costly but with a new format and voting process changes, he may not have made it regardless. Keith sounded a little disappointed about not making it. At the same time, the defenseman coming up on 800 career regular-season games – No. 800 would be Sunday vs. the Colorado Avalanche – recognizes the opportunity to rest. After all, the Blackhawks usually need him and his minutes that much more during the postseason.
“As a competitive player, you always want to be recognized for those type of things but for some reason it doesn’t seem to go like that unless I get voted in. I think there are a lot of different situations, scenarios. There are a lot of different players you can make an argument for,” Keith said. “But at the end of the day I’m excited to be using that time to my advantage and getting some rest. Maybe trying to find somewhere warm where you get some sunshine, and use that to heal up a little bit.”
All-Star Update: NHL announces 2016 All-Star rosters; who got snubbed?
By Sean Leahy
Malkin, Ovechkin, Letang would make for a fine top line.
ATLANTIC
PACIFIC
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Bulls get down and dirty with Celtics for sixth straight win.
The league announced Wednesday that Jonathan Toews will join his teammate on the Central Division roster, both of which will be participating in their fifth All-Star Game.
Toews has 14 goals and 12 assists in 41 games this season, and leads the league in overtime game-winners with four, already a franchise record.
Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Tyler Seguin and Vladimir Tarasenko round out the forwards group for the division. Dustin Byfuglien, Roman Rosi and Shea Weber are the three defensemen while Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne will anchor the goaltending position.
Stars coach Lindy Ruff will serve as the team's head coach.
The event, which is a 3-on-3 tournament among the four divisions for a $1 million prize, will take place on Jan. 31 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Blackhawks: Duncan Keith is back to familiar form.
By Tracey Myers
The minutes are there as usual. So is the dependability during those minutes, regardless of how high they get. The point totals haven’t been bad, either.
In short, Duncan Keith is pretty much back to the player he was before he had right knee surgery in October. Not that he’s resting on what he’s done since returning.
“Well, I’m never really satisfied in what I’ve done,” Keith said. “But in my game, I’m doing everything I can to complement the team and that’s playing good defensively and breaking up plays and getting the puck into forwards hands as quickly as I can.”
Keith has been in typical form in the 26 games he’s played since having surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. His minutes are once again anywhere from 24-29 a game and he’s recorded seven goals and 15 assists. Keith was on a four-game point streak (two goals, four assists) before he was held off the score sheet in the Blackhawks’ 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I think he’s played a lot better here as we’ve progressed, coming out of Christmas and going on from there,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He seems to be involved with our attack offensively, off the point, he scored a big goal for us the other night at home (Sunday vs. Ottawa). It’s not just the offense but important minutes in all situations. He’s one of those defensemen who makes a big impact on our team and you can see more predictability in our team game since he’s been back.”
We don’t have to tell you how Keith is such a big part in everything the Blackhawks do. The Blackhawks did OK in Keith’s absence – 5-4-1 – but it was an obvious boon getting him back. Keith’s happy with how his game’s been since his return but would like to keep going off his current levels.
“I’ve felt a lot better since I came back from the surgery as opposed to the first six games, when I wasn’t feeling that good,” Keith said. “I just keep trying to trend upward the second half until the playoffs hit. You want to be going full steam once the playoffs come.”
Keith had a few different defensive partners this season; the Blackhawks tinkered quite a bit there, thanks to both offseason and in-season personnel changes. But his most recent pairing with Niklas Hjalmarsson has worked well. The two complement each other with their differences – Hjalmarsson the stay-at-home guy, much like Keith’s former longtime defensive partner Brent Seabrook. Keith said Hjalmarsson’s play makes him feel more secure.
“Hammer’s a very steady, smart defensive defenseman. I know he thinks very defensively and for me, I like that. I know he’ll have my back if I’m up there,” Keith said. “I don’t want to get caught but if it does happen and I make a mistake, I know he’ll back me up; and Corey [Crawford], too. It works out pretty good.”
Keith will not be going to this season’s All-Star Game in Nashville. Maybe that month he was sidelined was costly but with a new format and voting process changes, he may not have made it regardless. Keith sounded a little disappointed about not making it. At the same time, the defenseman coming up on 800 career regular-season games – No. 800 would be Sunday vs. the Colorado Avalanche – recognizes the opportunity to rest. After all, the Blackhawks usually need him and his minutes that much more during the postseason.
“As a competitive player, you always want to be recognized for those type of things but for some reason it doesn’t seem to go like that unless I get voted in. I think there are a lot of different situations, scenarios. There are a lot of different players you can make an argument for,” Keith said. “But at the end of the day I’m excited to be using that time to my advantage and getting some rest. Maybe trying to find somewhere warm where you get some sunshine, and use that to heal up a little bit.”
All-Star Update: NHL announces 2016 All-Star rosters; who got snubbed?
By Sean Leahy
(Photo/Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The NHL announced its All Star captains on Saturday with Jaromir Jagr, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane and John Scott getting on the honors.
On Wednesday, the remaining 40 All Stars were revealed as the league presents its new 3-on-3 tournament format later this month in Nashville.
Here are your rosters representing the Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central and Pacific Divisions.
METRO
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
On Wednesday, the remaining 40 All Stars were revealed as the league presents its new 3-on-3 tournament format later this month in Nashville.
Here are your rosters representing the Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central and Pacific Divisions.
METRO
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington CapitalsBrandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh PenguinsRyan McDonagh, New York Rangers
Braden Holtby, Washington CapitalsCory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington CapitalsBrandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh PenguinsRyan McDonagh, New York Rangers
Braden Holtby, Washington CapitalsCory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
Malkin, Ovechkin, Letang would make for a fine top line.
ATLANTIC
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Jaromir Jagr, Florida PanthersLeo Komarov, Toronto Maple LeafsDylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan O’Reilly, Buffalo Sabres
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Aaron Ekblad, Florida PanthersErik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay LightningRoberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
Jaromir Jagr, Florida PanthersLeo Komarov, Toronto Maple LeafsDylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan O’Reilly, Buffalo Sabres
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Aaron Ekblad, Florida PanthersErik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay LightningRoberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
Subban and Karlsson running the show from the back with Stamkos waiting for a one-timer? Yes, please.
CENTRAL
Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis BluesJonathan Toews, Chicago BlackhawksDustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Shea Weber, Nashville PredatorsDevan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis BluesJonathan Toews, Chicago BlackhawksDustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Shea Weber, Nashville PredatorsDevan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Is the Central the current frontrunner? There are so many dangerous trios you could form from this group.
PACIFIC
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
John Scott, Arizona Coyotes
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Brent Burns, San Jose SharksDrew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
John Gibson, Anaheim DucksJonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
John Scott, Arizona Coyotes
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Brent Burns, San Jose SharksDrew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
John Gibson, Anaheim DucksJonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Gibson over perhaps someone like Martin Jones is a bit surprising. But this group has John Scott, so they might have some fans at Bridgestone Arena in their favor.
Gerald Gallant of the Florida Panthers, Barry Trotz of the Washington Capitals, Lindy Ruff of the Dallas Stars and Darryl Sutter of the Los Angeles Kings will be the head coaches for their respective divisions.
The Metro will play the Atlantic and the Central will face off against the Pacific in two 20-minute semifinals. The winners will play in the final with $1 million at stake.
Now, as is tradition, we have to look at which players got snubbed. Given the new format, there were bound of be a good number of deserved players who didn’t get the call, and this year was certainly the case.
The Panthers, Capitals and host Predators each have three representatives in the tournament, and seeing as how competitive the Central Division is, well, sorry to these three guys who might have garnered more consideration in the old format:
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets, 40 points, top 10 in scoringJohn Klingberg, Dallas Stars, 38 points, second in scoring among defensemenArtemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks, 36 points, leads all rookies in scoring
Other players who missed out, but could also be called up upon if injury strikes:
Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators, 19 goalsCorey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks, 21 wins, leads all goalies in shutouts with sixSidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, for star power is finally scoring again on the regular
Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes, second in rookie scoring, probably misses because of John Scott
Tyler Toffoli, LA Kings, 19 goals
Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes, second in rookie scoring, probably misses because of John Scott
Tyler Toffoli, LA Kings, 19 goals
Who do you think got snubbed the most?
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Bulls get down and dirty with Celtics for sixth straight win.
By Vincent Goodwill
Bulls guard Derrick Rose goes in for a layup in the first half. (Photo/Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Good thing that throughout this stretch of efficient, pretty basketball, the Bulls didn’t forget how to play in the mud.
Jimmy Butler demonstratively yelled “no!” when Celtics guard Evan Turner tried a fourth-quarter drive he stripped out of bounds.
The usually demure Derrick Rose slammed his hands on the floor, earning a technical foul while complaining about not getting a foul call on a drive to the basket.
“That’s the story of my career since my MVP year (2010-11), it feels like I haven’t gone to the line like I’m supposed to,” he said.
And Pau Gasol, Bobby Portis, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk traded bumps and bruises all night in what will likely register as one of the more physical games of the season.
In other words, number six did not come easy, but it came.
But on the back of some tough play and silky smooth old-school drives from Rose in the fourth quarter, the Bulls emerged with a 101-92 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Jimmy Butler demonstratively yelled “no!” when Celtics guard Evan Turner tried a fourth-quarter drive he stripped out of bounds.
The usually demure Derrick Rose slammed his hands on the floor, earning a technical foul while complaining about not getting a foul call on a drive to the basket.
“That’s the story of my career since my MVP year (2010-11), it feels like I haven’t gone to the line like I’m supposed to,” he said.
And Pau Gasol, Bobby Portis, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk traded bumps and bruises all night in what will likely register as one of the more physical games of the season.
In other words, number six did not come easy, but it came.
But on the back of some tough play and silky smooth old-school drives from Rose in the fourth quarter, the Bulls emerged with a 101-92 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Rose had two crucial layups and an assist to Butler for a layup of his own, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists in another sterling offensive performance, shooting 9-for-16 from the field.
“Derrick has got his rhythm back,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “As long as we keep the ball moving, that has given us a lot of success as of late.”
Gasol, who played his most physical game of the season, scored 17 with 18 rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes. Butler had another 10-assist performance to make up for a tough go at shooting, as he scored 19 on 5-for-14 shooting.
“It’s all about how you finish,” Butler said. “My teammates picked me up early. I think we won because of our defense, we played well all over the floor.”
Doug McDermott came to life in the fourth, hitting two triples to held stem the tide when the desperate Celtics tried mounting a comeback. The pretty shots were a rare sight for either squad, as the Bulls shot 41.5 percent from the field and the Celtics were a putrid 35.7 percent.
Rose helped hold jitterbug guard Isaiah Thomas to 5-for-17 shooting, which included the 20-point scorer missing all four of his 3-point attempts, as the Celtics shot 5-for-25 from deep. And Turner, who always wants to impress in his return home, shot just 4-for-12 for 10 points.
The Celtics, coming off a disappointing loss at home to Detroit the night before, looked a little leg weary and were without their coach Brad Stevens, who left the team to visit a former player he coached at Butler who’s now battling cancer.
They didn’t look ruddlerless and at times played with more fervor than the Bulls, but it didn’t translate to offensive efficiency as the Bulls held them to just 14-for-49 shooting in the second and third quarter, when the Bulls outscored them by 17 and took control.
The offensive flow that had been such a standard in the last week or so was uneven. Not ineffective, but turning the ball over too much and Butler’s inability to get going slowed things, as he went scoreless in the first.
“First 12 minutes we weren’t doing anything. Our pace was beyond brutal,” Hoiberg admitted.
Butler was doubled every time he had the ball and even sometimes when he wasn’t. It was clear the 36-point performance Butler had last month in Boston was fresh in the Celtics’ mind, but they clearly didn’t plan on Rose carving up their interior.
Rose took advantage of the 5-foot-9 Thomas guarding him and went straight to the basket at every chance, essentially keeping the Bulls in the game despite falling behind by 10.
But their confidence in what has been built was on display, as they didn’t deviate from the plan that has earned them eight straight 100-point games through this current winning streak.
“It’s what we talked about in the timeouts,” Hoiberg said. “Once we got it going and had a little spurt, it injected a little energy. We got some momentum and carried that to the third.”
And Nikola Mirotic had a couple big plays before the half, along with Rose and then Butler finally getting going with an off-balance three-point play, a key point in the Bulls’ 18-6 run that gave them a one-point halftime lead.
Mirotic only shot 3-for-10 but scored 11 with eight rebounds and played with some necessary toughness on the boards when possessions were at a premium.
Piling up the wins as they find their identity is of utmost importance, and they seem to be taking advantage of the opportunities given to them.
“Derrick has got his rhythm back,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “As long as we keep the ball moving, that has given us a lot of success as of late.”
Gasol, who played his most physical game of the season, scored 17 with 18 rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes. Butler had another 10-assist performance to make up for a tough go at shooting, as he scored 19 on 5-for-14 shooting.
“It’s all about how you finish,” Butler said. “My teammates picked me up early. I think we won because of our defense, we played well all over the floor.”
Doug McDermott came to life in the fourth, hitting two triples to held stem the tide when the desperate Celtics tried mounting a comeback. The pretty shots were a rare sight for either squad, as the Bulls shot 41.5 percent from the field and the Celtics were a putrid 35.7 percent.
Rose helped hold jitterbug guard Isaiah Thomas to 5-for-17 shooting, which included the 20-point scorer missing all four of his 3-point attempts, as the Celtics shot 5-for-25 from deep. And Turner, who always wants to impress in his return home, shot just 4-for-12 for 10 points.
The Celtics, coming off a disappointing loss at home to Detroit the night before, looked a little leg weary and were without their coach Brad Stevens, who left the team to visit a former player he coached at Butler who’s now battling cancer.
They didn’t look ruddlerless and at times played with more fervor than the Bulls, but it didn’t translate to offensive efficiency as the Bulls held them to just 14-for-49 shooting in the second and third quarter, when the Bulls outscored them by 17 and took control.
The offensive flow that had been such a standard in the last week or so was uneven. Not ineffective, but turning the ball over too much and Butler’s inability to get going slowed things, as he went scoreless in the first.
“First 12 minutes we weren’t doing anything. Our pace was beyond brutal,” Hoiberg admitted.
Butler was doubled every time he had the ball and even sometimes when he wasn’t. It was clear the 36-point performance Butler had last month in Boston was fresh in the Celtics’ mind, but they clearly didn’t plan on Rose carving up their interior.
Rose took advantage of the 5-foot-9 Thomas guarding him and went straight to the basket at every chance, essentially keeping the Bulls in the game despite falling behind by 10.
But their confidence in what has been built was on display, as they didn’t deviate from the plan that has earned them eight straight 100-point games through this current winning streak.
“It’s what we talked about in the timeouts,” Hoiberg said. “Once we got it going and had a little spurt, it injected a little energy. We got some momentum and carried that to the third.”
And Nikola Mirotic had a couple big plays before the half, along with Rose and then Butler finally getting going with an off-balance three-point play, a key point in the Bulls’ 18-6 run that gave them a one-point halftime lead.
Mirotic only shot 3-for-10 but scored 11 with eight rebounds and played with some necessary toughness on the boards when possessions were at a premium.
Piling up the wins as they find their identity is of utmost importance, and they seem to be taking advantage of the opportunities given to them.
Bulls: Jimmy Butler has firmly entered conversation as NBA's best shooting guard.
By Vincent Goodwill
Jimmy Butler wouldn’t entertain the question with any sincerity, shunning the thought of crowning himself the best at his position.
“You're not going to draw me into that nonsense,” Butler said half-jokingly. “I just want to be the best two-guard I can be for this team. That's all I'm worried about.”
With his play of late, averaging 31.3 points over the last four games on 54 percent shooting (42-78 FG), he’s now firmly in the conversation of being the league’s best shooting guard.
Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Houston’s James Harden are certainly in the discussion as well, with Miami’s Dwyane Wade as elder statesman at the spot.
Harden was MVP runner-up last year but he’s reverted back to his old habits of refusing to play defense.
With there’s no clear answer, so it’s all about preference. And unlike a couple weeks back when Butler voiced his opinion about the state of the team, comments that were necessary, it should be said, he’s letting his game speak for itself.
“Jimmy’s been unreal right now,” said Derrick Rose after Butler’s 32-point, 10-assist performance against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night.
Rose was asked if Butler should be considered elite and he agreed wholeheartedly. Butler’s coach, Fred Hoiberg, endorsed that train of thought as well.
“Absolutely I think Jimmy has reached elite status in this league. You can see every game he’s getting more comfortable as far as overall,” Rose said in Tuesday’s morning shootaround. “He’s such a complete player. It’s a testament to what he does in the offseason. He just continues to add new elements to his game. He was in here at 8 a.m. this morning getting shots up. And he’s never satisfied. And I think that’s the true sign of a superstar, when you continue to work when you have success.”
Next to Harden and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan, he’s third at his position in scoring average at 22.1 points per game and clearly the best defender of the top shooting guards in the league.
“I'm just playing basketball, to tell you the truth,” Butler said. “My teammates are always finding me in great positions to score the ball. And I play with such great passers, such great scorers that my job is really easy.
“You've got to guard the guys around me, so I get a free lane to the basket. I get a steal in the open floor or I get a wide-open jump shot. A lot of it goes to them. Yeah, I put in the work to make sure I'm confident to take the shots I know I can make, but when you've got to guard the other four guys on the floor and the ball's in my hands, I have an easy job.”
Starlin Castro thanks Chicago in vulnerable open letter for Players' Tribune.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
It was easy to look past the Starlin Castro trade to the New York Yankees.
After all, it's been a crazy offseason for the Cubs, with signing three major free agents - including veteran Ben Zobrist, announced right before the Castro trade. But Castro's departure deserves more attention than it's gotten, and the former Cubs franchise cornerstone helped his own case with a vulnerable open letter to Chicago for the Players' Tribune.
It's interesting that Castro spoke to Chicago through Derek Jeter's website, just a few years after he was being marketed alongside Jeter on billboards around Chicagoland.
Castro started by talking about his MLB debut and moved on to showing gratitude to the fans, admitting he "will never be able to thank them enough."
He also, of course, thanked the Cubs organization and the people he experienced in the organization, giving Alfonso Soriano a shout-out for teaching him how to act like a professional.
Then Castro got into the lowest point of his Cubs career - being benched at shortstop in August of this past season.
He was more candid and vulnerable and it was fantastic:
As for this past season: Getting replaced at shortstop was a struggle for me at first. Change is never easy — especially when it is a change away from something you took pride in. But I also took pride in the fact that I was not going to be one of those players who lost his spot and then brought the team down with him. I knew that I had been taught — by veterans like Alfonso, and other great leaders in the Cubs organization — to be better than that.
And the pride I felt about my own job had a lot to do with the pride I felt about what we were building as a team. I was a Cub when we lost 101 games in 2012. I played in every one of those games; I lived those 101 losses. For us to finally start winning was very satisfying to me. It didn’t matter if I was at shortstop, or second base, or watching from the bench. I would have been proud no matter what.
But at the same time, as an athlete, you want to play. You always want to play. So when I was given the opportunity to win the job at second base, I took it seriously. I worked hard. I made adjustments. I tried to treat it like a new beginning. And it paid off: After losing the shortstop job in August, I hit .426 in September at second base. Out of all of my accomplishments as a Cub, that is the one I hope people talk about when they look back on my career: That in a situation where some players would have checked out, I kept my head up and work even harder. I didn’t just say, “I want to help the team win.” I actually helped the team win.
How do you not respect a guy like that?
After mentioning how the Yankees - and players like Carlos Beltran and icon Reggie Jackson - have welcomed him to New York, Castro ended his open letter perfectly:
To my new city, New York, I can promise you this: You are acquiring a player who just got to experience a pennant race for the first time — and loved it.
And to my old city, Chicago, I want to thank you for such an amazing experience. I’ll always hold Chicago close to my heart. And hey — maybe I’ll still visit sometime.
How’s October?
The Cubs responded on Facebook shortly after Castro's article was posted:
Thank you, Starlin.
Farewell, Starlin.
Cubs: Sammy Sosa (barely) stays on the Hall of Fame ballot for another year.
By Patrick Mooney
Sammy Sosa used to love the spotlight, but now it feels like his name only comes up in the Cooperstown voting or with the Cubs Convention question. The star attraction during all those summers in Wrigleyville resurfaces in the dead of winter – for a news cycle or two – and then disappears again.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America elected Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza to the National Baseball Hall of Fame while Roger Clemens (45.2 percent) and Barry Bonds (44.3 percent) – two of the biggest symbols from The Steroid Era – didn’t come close to the 75-percent threshold needed for induction.
Griffey went 437-for-440, scoring the highest percentage (99.3) in the history of this popularity contest. Junior finished his highlight-reel career with 630 home runs and 10 Gold Gloves in center field, spending almost his entire career with the Seattle Mariners organization that drafted him No. 1 overall and his hometown Cincinnati Reds (plus a run with the 2008 White Sox after a July 31 deadline trade).
Piazza – the power-hitting catcher who turned into a 12-time All-Star and a franchise icon for the New York Mets after the Los Angeles Dodgers picked him in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft – broke through with 83 percent of the vote in his fourth year on the ballot.
Sosa just cleared the 5-percent cutoff and will remain on the ballot for another year after the BBWAA released the results on Wednesday, but his resume isn’t moving the needle, the percentages going from 12.5 to 7.2 to 6.6 to 7 since 2013.
At this point, Sosa is not expected to attend next week’s Cubs Convention, and it would probably take a fundamental shift in thinking for that sort of reunion to happen, where he’s signing autographs, sitting alongside old teammates and telling stories inside a packed downtown hotel ballroom.
The marketing machine has so many other personalities to promote that weekend (Jan. 15-17) at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, from a Manager of the Year (Joe Maddon) to a Cy Young Award winner (Jake Arrieta) to a Rookie of the Year (Kris Bryant), plus the big-name additions to a 97-win team (Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey).
In what’s becoming a new Cubs Convention tradition, a fan at the microphone or a reporter in the media scrum will ask chairman Tom Ricketts about Sosa and when the franchise’s all-time leader in home runs (545) will ever be invited back to Wrigley Field.
From top to bottom, the organization has completely changed since Sosa walked out during the final game of the 2004 season, leaving him without many longtime allies on the North Side (where institutional memories of some behind-the-scenes personality clashes still linger).
From an ownership point of view, the sense is that Sosa could account for whatever happened – or didn’t happen – during that time and follow Major League Baseball’s roadmap back into the game.
That’s a reasonable expectation. But it’s still “awkward” – as Ricketts has said – that such a big part of the franchise’s history keeps fading from view. Especially when so many other former players use their Cubs connections to work in baseball operations and broadcasting.
Team president Theo Epstein already hired Manny Ramirez as a hitting consultant, believing “Manny Being Manny” meant something different after failing at least two drug tests, cooperating with MLB officials and sharing his story with the next generation of players.
“I really like what he does with the hitters,” Maddon said during last season’s surprising playoff run. “Beyond that, almost as a cultural coach, (given) the fact that we have so many young Hispanic players, (Manny’s) here to validate a lot of the stuff that we’re talking about. (It) really helps – not a little – but a lot. His influence within that group has been substantial.
“When I have a situation or a moment dealing with some of the younger guys there, he’ll come in, we’ll talk about it, and then I just turn him loose.
“I love having him here. He’s a positive, upbeat kind of a guy, so he’s been a really nice fit. I’m telling you – when it comes to Starlin (Castro) and Jorge Soler, primarily those two guys – the job he’s done has been spectacular.”
Sosa’s reputation unraveled with that corked-bat incident, an unconvincing performance in front of Congress and a New York Times report that identified him as one of the players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003 (during what was supposed to be an anonymous survey).
Mark McGwire – Sosa’s foil during the 1998 Home Run Derby – did some version of a confessional media tour, took hitting-coach jobs with the St. Louis Cardinals and Dodgers and will be the San Diego Padres bench coach this year. (McGwire came in at 12.3 percent in his 10th and final year on the ballot.)
Even Bonds is coming out of the shadows and will work as a hitting coach for the Miami Marlins this season.
The guess here is Sosa could still have something to offer, but the ball is in Sammy’s court.
Former White Sox Ken Griffey Jr. elected to HOF, Tim Raines inches closer.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/Getty Images North America)
One former White Sox outfielder set a new Hall of Fame election record on Wednesday while another moved closer to enshrinement.
Ken Griffey Jr. was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after he received 99.3 percent of the vote. Griffey Jr., who played 41 games for the White Sox in 2008 when they won the American League Central, was named on all but three of the 440 ballots in his bid to become the first player unanimously elected.
Meanwhile, Tim Raines, who played for the White Sox from 1991-95, moved significantly closer to an induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y. as he received a personal-high 69.8 percent (307 of 440) of the vote.
Raines, who only has one year of eligibility left, saw an increase just shy of 15 percent after he received 55.0 in 2015. A seven-time All-Star, Raines is fifth all-time in career stolen bases and is 71st among all position players in Wins Above Replacement (69.1), according to baseball-reference.com.
Raines took to Twitter to express his gratitude to the BBWAA for considering his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Raines is headed into his final year of candidacy in 2017 after a rule change prior to the 2015 election. Whereas players used to remain on the ballot for up to 15 years, the Hall of Fame altered the rules so that current eligible candidates only had 10 years. Players who were already in years 11-15, a group that included Alan Trammell, Jack Morris and Lee Smith, were grandfathered in.
The change meant that Raines, who first became eligible for the HOF in 2008, only had three more chances at election. Raines, who produced 16.0 WAR in five seasons with the White Sox, received 24.3 percent of the votes in his first year of eligibility. He has since jumped up — and inexplicably down twice — in the last eight years. Raines received 22.6 percent in 2009, 30.4 in 2010, 37.5 in 2011, 48.7 in 2012, 52.2 in 2013 and 46.1 in 2014.
The case for Raines — who finished with a career on-base percentage of .425 and OPS of .810 — has gained traction over the years. He finished fourth in the 2016 voting process. Jeff Bagwell improved his chances as well with a 71.6-percent showing, about 15 votes shy of the 75-percent mark to gain entry. Mike Piazza received 83 percent.
Griffey — who hit three of his 630 homers with the White Sox after he was acquired on July 31, 2008 from Cincinnati — broke Tom Seaver’s record for highest percentage of votes received. In 1992, Seaver received 98.84 of the vote. The Kid is also the first-ever No. 1 overall pick to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
Closer Trevor Hoffman received 67.3 percent in his first year of eligibility. Curt Schilling received 52.3 percent while Roger Clemens increased to 45.2 and Barry Bonds to 44.3.
Ken Griffey Jr. was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after he received 99.3 percent of the vote. Griffey Jr., who played 41 games for the White Sox in 2008 when they won the American League Central, was named on all but three of the 440 ballots in his bid to become the first player unanimously elected.
Meanwhile, Tim Raines, who played for the White Sox from 1991-95, moved significantly closer to an induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y. as he received a personal-high 69.8 percent (307 of 440) of the vote.
Raines, who only has one year of eligibility left, saw an increase just shy of 15 percent after he received 55.0 in 2015. A seven-time All-Star, Raines is fifth all-time in career stolen bases and is 71st among all position players in Wins Above Replacement (69.1), according to baseball-reference.com.
Raines took to Twitter to express his gratitude to the BBWAA for considering his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Raines is headed into his final year of candidacy in 2017 after a rule change prior to the 2015 election. Whereas players used to remain on the ballot for up to 15 years, the Hall of Fame altered the rules so that current eligible candidates only had 10 years. Players who were already in years 11-15, a group that included Alan Trammell, Jack Morris and Lee Smith, were grandfathered in.
The change meant that Raines, who first became eligible for the HOF in 2008, only had three more chances at election. Raines, who produced 16.0 WAR in five seasons with the White Sox, received 24.3 percent of the votes in his first year of eligibility. He has since jumped up — and inexplicably down twice — in the last eight years. Raines received 22.6 percent in 2009, 30.4 in 2010, 37.5 in 2011, 48.7 in 2012, 52.2 in 2013 and 46.1 in 2014.
The case for Raines — who finished with a career on-base percentage of .425 and OPS of .810 — has gained traction over the years. He finished fourth in the 2016 voting process. Jeff Bagwell improved his chances as well with a 71.6-percent showing, about 15 votes shy of the 75-percent mark to gain entry. Mike Piazza received 83 percent.
Griffey — who hit three of his 630 homers with the White Sox after he was acquired on July 31, 2008 from Cincinnati — broke Tom Seaver’s record for highest percentage of votes received. In 1992, Seaver received 98.84 of the vote. The Kid is also the first-ever No. 1 overall pick to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
Closer Trevor Hoffman received 67.3 percent in his first year of eligibility. Curt Schilling received 52.3 percent while Roger Clemens increased to 45.2 and Barry Bonds to 44.3.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Reed (65) leads at Kapalua; Spieth 1 back.
By Will Gray
Patrick Reed (Photo/Golf Central Blog)
The PGA Tour is officially back in action, as 32 players started their year with the opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Here is how things look after the first round, where Patrick Reed holds a slim advantage:
Leaderboard: Patrick Reed (-8), Jordan Spieth (-7), Brandt Snedeker (-6), J.B. Holmes (-6), Danny Lee (-6), Fabian Gomez (-5), Bubba Watson (-4), Brooks Koepka (-4)
What it means: Scores were predictably low on the par-73 layout, as only seven players in the winners-only field failed to break par. The top of the standings featured a logjam before the final pairing broke through, as Spieth closed with a birdie while the defending champ closed with an eagle to end the day with a one-shot lead.
Round of the day: Reed closed with a flourish last year before winning this event in a playoff, and he ended with a similar charge Thursday. Reed was only 2 under through 12 holes before closing with three straight birdies on Nos. 13-15, a kick-in birdie on No. 17 and an eagle on the home hole.
Best of the rest: Spieth took exactly one hole before returning to his 2015 form, rolling in a 30-foot birdie on No. 2. It was one of seven birdies on the day for Spieth, including back-to-back circles on Nos. 14 and 15. After a runner-up finish here in his debut in 2014, Spieth is once again cruising at Kapalua.
Biggest disappointment: Zach Johnson won this event two years ago, but he is off to a rough start after a 2-over 75 in his first competitive round with new equipment. Johnson was 3 under through 10 holes before his round fell apart, as he played his next four holes in 5 over par.
Main storyline heading into Friday: The early spotlight was on Spieth and Reed, former Ryder Cup partners and two-time playoff foes, who played in the day's anchor pairing and did not disappoint. Now they have a chance to play together again in the second round, where plenty more birdies should be made as two of the top young American players look to one-up each other.
Shot of the day: Reed closed with a flourish, hitting his approach to No. 17 to within 2 feet before belting a 309-yard approach on No. 18 to within 20 feet to set up a closing eagle and take sole possession of the lead.
Quote of the day: "It just seems like maybe we just want to beat each other so bad it actually brings the best out in us." - Spieth on playing with Reed.
The odd couple: Spieth, Reed have unique rivalry.
By Rex Hoggard
Jordan Spieth (L) and Patrick Reed (R). (Photo/Golf Central Blog)
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Ali had Frazier, McEnroe had Borg, Johnny Manziel has whoever that Billy Football guy was in Las Vegas, and it seems, at least at selected outlets, Jordan Spieth has Patrick Reed.
It’s a peculiar relationship. The Texas-born golden child who has engaged fans from Des Moines to Dallas and the Texas-born iconoclast who has a tendency to turn a phrase down the wrong path.
Although it’s easy to shoehorn characters as heroes and villains, when it comes to Spieth and Reed it would be a wild generalization and patently wrong.
Each player is far more nuanced than that, but the duo’s increasingly frequent bouts between the ropes are becoming something of a blueprint for a rivalry.
Reed clipped Spieth in a playoff in 2013 at the Wyndham Championship, Spieth returned the favor in extra frames last year at the Valspar Championship, and on Thursday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions the tandem traded punches on their way to the top two spots on the leaderboard, with Reed clipping the world No. 1 with an eagle at the last for a 65.
“He got me when I think I may have deserved it on the last hole of the Wyndham. Kind of left an itch on me to want to get that tournament back in the Valspar,” said Spieth, who is poised a shot behind Reed at 7 under.
“Any time Patrick loses in a head-to-head format, you're not going to see somebody that's that upset for a very long time. He hates it. I mean he hates losing in a match-play situation.”
The dichotomy of Spieth and Reed is straight out of central casting. While Spieth enjoys the role of fresh-faced and outgoing champion, Reed is more guarded in interviews and recedes into a competitive cocoon and the safety of clichés.
Spieth once declined to talk about how humble he was in an interview because, well, that wouldn’t be humble; while Reed raised eyebrows at the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship when he proclaimed himself a top-5 player despite an actual ranking that hovered closer to 40th.
Spieth dotes over his family, spending the week before this championship frolicking in the Pacific Ocean with his sister; while Reed is estranged from his parents.
Spieth is a media darling with his likeness littered about Kapalua this week, while Reed – the defending champion in Maui – has gone largely unnoticed.
For all the differences, however, the two have created a unique, mutually beneficial bond over their relatively short careers.
The duo went undefeated teamed together in four-ball play at the 2014 Ryder Cup and added a foursomes victory at last year’s Presidents Cup to their collective resume.
“For whatever reason it is, whether we want to feed off each other or we want to beat the crap out of each other, we somehow play well together,” Spieth said. “We still want to outdo each other even when we're teammates in a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. So it's a good pairing.”
Although not as effusive as Spieth, Reed seemed to acknowledge a connection born largely from competitive necessity. Simply put, for Reed to reach that goal of being a top-5 player - he’s currently 10th - the most direct route would be through Spieth.
“Any time I play with Jordan we always have a good time and we seemed to play pretty solid with each other,” said Reed, who will head out paired with Spieth for the second consecutive day on Friday. “So, just another day to go out and play some golf with a friend and we went out and played some fun golf.”
There are others who would more easily qualify as Spieth’s rivals in the current golf landscape.
Jason Day pushed him during last year’s FedEx Cup playoffs – giving players, however briefly, a reason to reconsider rubberstamping that Player of the Year ballot with Spieth’s name – and world No. 3 Rory McIlroy seems poised to reclaim the top spot in the world after being slowed by injury in 2015.
All three players, however, seem forged from the same mold. While there is no lack of competitiveness among the threesome, they share an easy likability that dulls the leading edge of any real rivalry.
They will battle on the course for titles and break bread at night recounting the round. Yet, be it real or perceived, for Spieth and Reed there is only grudging respect.
“I guess each time we're together we almost feel like we're playing each other in a match,” Spieth said. “Maybe he doesn't, but that's what I think of it, that's why I think we play well together. We certainly want each other to play well, to push ourselves, [but] I don't like losing to him in a round when I play with him.”
And that, by definition, is the central ingredient of any good rivalry.
NASCAR’s Brian France answers fan questions on radio show.
By Dustin Long
NASCAR's Brian France (Photo/nbcsports.com)
NASCAR Chairman Brian France praised the elimination-style Chase format, said he’s not for retiring car numbers and reiterated the sanctioning body’s stance on not taking a win away from a team that fails postrace inspection.
France made the comments during his annual appearance on Motor Racing Network’s “NASCAR Live’’ on Tuesday night.
France addressed many subjects during the 60-minute show, taking some questions from fans and others from host Eli Gold. Among topics discussed:
On the Chase format, France said: “It’s probably the single-best decision that we’ve ever made as an organization to adapt the first-ever, elimination-style in auto racing format. The reason is it’s bringing out the best in the best drivers in the world. They're racing harder, they’re racing more aggressive. And it’s not just the drivers. It’s the teams. They’re taking more risks.’’
On if NASCAR should retire car numbers – such as the No. 3 used by Dale Earnhardt or the No. 43 used by Richard Petty – France said: “The teams build a lot of their value around that number. Richard Childress is a good example. He’s got a lot tied to Richard Childress Racing with the 3. We’re inclined not to do that.’’
On why NASCAR doesn’t strip a win from a team whose car fails postrace inspection, France said: “We prefer always to have when you leave the track to have witnessed the full race, including the winner. That remains our goal. We believe we can punish and deter. If there’s some infraction of significance – rarely happens but sometimes it does – we believe that without taking the win away, we can certainly punish someone effectively and we can deter it in the future from happening again. Sometime, by the way, these infractions are not intentional. That can happen frequently. A team will just have something that they missed by just a little bit and gets them out of balance in an infraction. It probably didn’t mean anything in terms of the performance. We wouldn’t want to take a win away in that case, but they made a mistake and we want to put the proper punishment forward. That’s how we’ve looked at it historically. We like how that feels and works.’’
On Matt Kenseth intentionally wrecking Joey Logano at Martinsville last year in retaliation for their contact at Kansas, France said: “I was very disappointed and that’s about as nice as I’m going put that. … I’m a big fan of Matt Kenseth in general. What we’re not going to tolerate is intentional, changing the outcome of either a race, or in this case a championship. We are going to draw a line, a very clear line. That’s our credibility. If that is tested in the future, it will be a very harsh response on our behalf.’’
On finding a new series sponsor with Sprint leaving after this season, France said: “The opportunity is great, and it’s going well. I think we’re talking to the right people on where things need to end up. We want to be selective, too. This is perhaps the most marque position in sports because you literally get to entitle your brand within the entire sport and that’s so unique. It’s going really well.’’
France also said that the excitement of last season is creating momentum for the start of this season. He said work continues with the owners in creating a charter system in the Sprint Cup Series that would guarantee most teams a starting spot in the field.
He said that “over time” there could be more short-track races in the Camping World Truck Series. When asked about Cup racing internationally, France said “with the new ownership model that’s possible that is coming, that also will make some of those opportunities a little easier to look at.’’
SOCCER: Fire release 2016 MLS schedule.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The full Major League Soccer schedule was announced on Thursday and now Chicago Fire fans can make their plans for the 2016 season.
As was previously announced, the Fire are opening on Sunday, March 6 against New York City F.C. at 1 p.m. and the match will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. The following game will take place on Friday, March 11 at Orlando.
Future broadcast information will be available at a later date. CSN Chicago is the home for Chicago Fire.
Here are some facts and notable dates from the schedule:
- Three of the Fire’s first four games and five of the first seven will be at Toyota Park.
- The first seven games and nine of the first 10 will take place against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Patrick Nyarko will first return to Toyota Park with D.C. United on April 30.
- The reigning MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers come to Toyota Park on May 28.
- MLS will break during the Copa America Centenario. After the Portland match, the Fire will next play on June 18 at Colorado.
- Former Fire captain Jeff Larentowicz will return to Bridgeview with the LA Galaxy on Aug. 24.
- Toronto FC, featuring U.S. national team stalwarts Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, will visit Toyota Park on Sept. 10, four days after the U.S. hosts Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifier.
- Just like in 2015, the Fire will play back-to-back games against Columbus, although a Fire bye week will sit in between the two October matches.
- Teams that will not travel to Toyota Park in 2016: Colorado, Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Seattle, Vancouver.
- Teams the Fire will play three times in 2016: Columbus, - The Fire will host three midweek games, two on Wednesday and one on a Thursday.
Check out the full 34-game schedule below:
Fire trade Patrick Nyarko to D.C. United.
Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Fire fans are anxiously awaiting incoming players this offseason, but first another player has departed the club.
Patrick Nyarko was traded to D.C. United for a second round pick, it was announced on Wednesday.
The pick the Fire acquired is the 13th pick in the second round, 33rd overall. The Fire’s natural second round pick was traded to Orlando for Eric Gehrig last offseason.
The 29-year-old midfielder was the longest serving active member of the club after making 221 appearances for the Fire since being drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He is seventh on the club’s all-time appearance list. He tallied 23 goals and 41 assists in his Fire career.
Nyarko posted a letter to Fire fans on twitter and on the Fire’s website thanking fans and the club for his time in Chicago.
“No amount of words can describe my appreciation to you,” Nyarko said in the letter. “You have given a little kid from a small town in Ghana the opportunity to realize his dream of playing the game he has loved his entire life. For the past eight years I have been living this dream, but unfortunately that time has come to a halt. I have always embraced challenges.
“At this particular point in my career these challenges take me to another city, and another club. I take consolation knowing that I call Chicago home and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I will forever cherish the experiences and memories that I have accumulated during my time here.”
“At this particular point in my career these challenges take me to another city, and another club. I take consolation knowing that I call Chicago home and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I will forever cherish the experiences and memories that I have accumulated during my time here.”
This past season Nyarko made 19 appearances in MLS play, 14 of which were starts, scored three goals and had four assists. He also scored and had an assist in the U.S. Open Cup. Nyarko made his 2015 debut on June 30 in the U.S. Open Cup after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2014.
Nyarko gets to return to the D.C. area after playing collegiately at Virginia Tech for three years.
The Fire now are down to 14 players under contract, and that includes rookie homegrown signings Joey Calistri and Drew Conner and second-year players Patrick Doody, Collin Fernandez and Kingsley Bryce, who combined for eight appearances last year. Nyarko’s departure means that Eric Gehrig, at 28 years old, is now the oldest player on the team. Only Sean Johnson and Harry Shipp have been on the Fire since 2014 and only Johnson since 2013.
NCAAFB: Clemson underdogs against Alabama in national championship.
OddsShark
The top-ranked Clemson Tigers will be looking to complete a perfect 15-0 season and claim their first national title since 1981 when they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Monday’s College Football Championship Game as 7-point betting underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Clemson hits the gridiron in Monday night’s Crimson Tide vs. Tigers betting matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium riding a 17-game straight-up winning streak, including a 37-17 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl as a 3.5-point underdog.
The Tigers have posted against-the-spread victories in their past two outings, but have been a shaky bet at the sportsbooks throughout the season, ending their regular season schedule with four straight ATS losses en route to a middling 7-7 ATS record.
Clemson has enjoyed success in recent clashes with SEC opponents, however, posting SU wins in their last two and four of their past six, including a slim 37-32 victory over South Carolina in their annual Palmetto Bowl matchup.
Alabama, the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff rankings, earned a berth in this year’s national championship with a 38-0 blowout win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Cotton Bowl, easily covering as 10.5-point chalk.
That victory improved the Crimson Tide’s current SU win streak to 11 games, with their defense allowing more than 16 points on just one occasion.
Indeed, the Tigers will face a real challenge to produce points against Alabama, which has surrendered just eight points per game over their past five games, and just four total touchdowns during that stretch.
The Tide also claim the nation’s top-ranked rush defense, which has allowed just 74 yards per game and six total touchdowns this season.
However, the Alabama defense must contend with a Clemson ground game that has averaged over 305 yards per game in their last five and produced three majors in their win over Oklahoma, including a five-yard touchdown run by pivot Deshaun Watson who has rushed for 1,032 yards and 12 scores this season.
The point total for Monday’s matchup has steadily fallen since opening at 53.5, currently sitting at 50.5. Neither Clemson nor Alabama have seen the OVER pay off consistently this season, with the UNDER prevailing in just two of each team’s last four games according to the OddsShark College Football Database.
Breaking down the Clemson and Alabama offenses.
By Nick Bromberg
With the College Football Playoff National Championship Game just days away, it's time to take a deeper look at the two teams playing for the title on Jan. 11. We'll start with the offenses of Alabama and Clemson. Both units put up over 30 points on their opponents in the semifinals on Dec. 31.
QUARTERBACK
Alabama quarterback Jake Coker is coming off his best game as the team's quarterback against Michigan State. Coker was 25-30 for 286 yards and two scores. Wednesday, his offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said it was "about as good as you can play." Coker made great decisions and Michigan State's focus on the run opened up the deep passing game.
Coker has been an efficient passer all season. He's completing 67 percent of his passes and has thrown eight interceptions in 13 games. While he's been overshadowed by his backfield mate, he's been far from a liability when Alabama needs to throw the football. His performance against Michigan State should serve as a confidence builder for the national title game. Alabama now knows it doesn't have to win a monster game on the back of Derrick Henry. It can rely on Coker, though he'll see some different looks from a Clemson secondary that will play more man-to-man defense than Michigan State did.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson could be the best quarterback in college football. As Coker was the key to Alabama's win over Michigan State, Watson was magical against Oklahoma even if his stat line isn't as efficient as Coker's.
Watson was 16-31 passing for 187 yards and also ran for 145 yards. On the season, he's thrown for nearly 3,700 yards and rushed for 1,032. And combined he's accounted for 43 touchdowns. His running ability will be a massive test for an Alabama defense that has not seen too many quarterbacks with significant running ability. And it's done very well against the dual-threat QBs it's faced.
Watson can cut up field and turn a 7-yard gain into a 70-yard touchdown. Combine that with his passing ability and he's the best quarterback Alabama's faced all season. Is the best strategy for the Tide to keep him in the pocket, or is Alabama's defense good enough to take away the aerial attack and dare Watson to beat it on the ground?
Edge: Clemson
RUNNING BACK
Clemson running back Wayne Gallman has quietly had a fantastic season. Gallman has rushed for over 100 yards in the Tigers' last three games and has nine games where he's broken the century mark. He has 1,482 yards on the season and 12 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, you likely already know a lot about Henry, the 2015 Heisman winner. He ran for 75 yards on 20 carries against Michigan State. It was the fewest carries he's had against a Power Five opponent since Alabama's season-opening win against Wisconsin.
But Michigan State clearly wanted to slow Henry, and it paid the price in the pass game to do so. Clemson knows that it can't divert all attention to Alabama's run game. As Henry has run for 2,061 yards in 2015, Kenyan Drake has come back from an elbow injury to be a key contributor for Alabama down the stretch. Drake has 407 rushing yards on the season and also has 27 catches. Henry, meanwhile, has just 11. If Alabama is going to throw the ball to a running back, it's likely going to be Drake.
Clemson hits the gridiron in Monday night’s Crimson Tide vs. Tigers betting matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium riding a 17-game straight-up winning streak, including a 37-17 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl as a 3.5-point underdog.
The Tigers have posted against-the-spread victories in their past two outings, but have been a shaky bet at the sportsbooks throughout the season, ending their regular season schedule with four straight ATS losses en route to a middling 7-7 ATS record.
Clemson has enjoyed success in recent clashes with SEC opponents, however, posting SU wins in their last two and four of their past six, including a slim 37-32 victory over South Carolina in their annual Palmetto Bowl matchup.
Alabama, the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff rankings, earned a berth in this year’s national championship with a 38-0 blowout win over the Michigan State Spartans in the Cotton Bowl, easily covering as 10.5-point chalk.
That victory improved the Crimson Tide’s current SU win streak to 11 games, with their defense allowing more than 16 points on just one occasion.
Indeed, the Tigers will face a real challenge to produce points against Alabama, which has surrendered just eight points per game over their past five games, and just four total touchdowns during that stretch.
The Tide also claim the nation’s top-ranked rush defense, which has allowed just 74 yards per game and six total touchdowns this season.
However, the Alabama defense must contend with a Clemson ground game that has averaged over 305 yards per game in their last five and produced three majors in their win over Oklahoma, including a five-yard touchdown run by pivot Deshaun Watson who has rushed for 1,032 yards and 12 scores this season.
The point total for Monday’s matchup has steadily fallen since opening at 53.5, currently sitting at 50.5. Neither Clemson nor Alabama have seen the OVER pay off consistently this season, with the UNDER prevailing in just two of each team’s last four games according to the OddsShark College Football Database.
Breaking down the Clemson and Alabama offenses.
By Nick Bromberg
With the College Football Playoff National Championship Game just days away, it's time to take a deeper look at the two teams playing for the title on Jan. 11. We'll start with the offenses of Alabama and Clemson. Both units put up over 30 points on their opponents in the semifinals on Dec. 31.
QUARTERBACK
Alabama quarterback Jake Coker is coming off his best game as the team's quarterback against Michigan State. Coker was 25-30 for 286 yards and two scores. Wednesday, his offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said it was "about as good as you can play." Coker made great decisions and Michigan State's focus on the run opened up the deep passing game.
Coker has been an efficient passer all season. He's completing 67 percent of his passes and has thrown eight interceptions in 13 games. While he's been overshadowed by his backfield mate, he's been far from a liability when Alabama needs to throw the football. His performance against Michigan State should serve as a confidence builder for the national title game. Alabama now knows it doesn't have to win a monster game on the back of Derrick Henry. It can rely on Coker, though he'll see some different looks from a Clemson secondary that will play more man-to-man defense than Michigan State did.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson could be the best quarterback in college football. As Coker was the key to Alabama's win over Michigan State, Watson was magical against Oklahoma even if his stat line isn't as efficient as Coker's.
Watson was 16-31 passing for 187 yards and also ran for 145 yards. On the season, he's thrown for nearly 3,700 yards and rushed for 1,032. And combined he's accounted for 43 touchdowns. His running ability will be a massive test for an Alabama defense that has not seen too many quarterbacks with significant running ability. And it's done very well against the dual-threat QBs it's faced.
Watson can cut up field and turn a 7-yard gain into a 70-yard touchdown. Combine that with his passing ability and he's the best quarterback Alabama's faced all season. Is the best strategy for the Tide to keep him in the pocket, or is Alabama's defense good enough to take away the aerial attack and dare Watson to beat it on the ground?
Edge: Clemson
RUNNING BACK
Clemson running back Wayne Gallman has quietly had a fantastic season. Gallman has rushed for over 100 yards in the Tigers' last three games and has nine games where he's broken the century mark. He has 1,482 yards on the season and 12 touchdowns.
Gallman will need to make it a fourth-straight 100-yard game if Clemson is to win on Monday night. And he hasn't had four-straight 100-yard games all season (he's had three occurrences of three-straight 100-yard performances). It's much easier said than done. Alabama has the best rushing defense in the country and gives up 2.3 yards per carry and 71 yards per game.
No. 2 is Boston College, the only other team that's given up less than 1,000 yards rushing. Gallman's worst game of the season came against the Eagles when he had 17 carries for 48 yards.
Meanwhile, you likely already know a lot about Henry, the 2015 Heisman winner. He ran for 75 yards on 20 carries against Michigan State. It was the fewest carries he's had against a Power Five opponent since Alabama's season-opening win against Wisconsin.
But Michigan State clearly wanted to slow Henry, and it paid the price in the pass game to do so. Clemson knows that it can't divert all attention to Alabama's run game. As Henry has run for 2,061 yards in 2015, Kenyan Drake has come back from an elbow injury to be a key contributor for Alabama down the stretch. Drake has 407 rushing yards on the season and also has 27 catches. Henry, meanwhile, has just 11. If Alabama is going to throw the ball to a running back, it's likely going to be Drake.
The run game is all about Henry, however. Clemson's defensive front is very good, it'll be a surprise if Henry runs all over the Tigers. But whether or not you believe Henry was a deserving Heisman winner over Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, there's no disputing that he's one of the best backs in college football.
Edge: Alabama
RECEIVERS
Both teams are missing key pieces. Alabama is without Robert Foster, who has 10 catches for 116 yards this season. Foster was lost for the year when he suffered a torn rotator cuff against Ole Miss.
Freshman Calvin Ridley has stepped up in his absence. Ridley was the best receiver on the field in the Cotton Bowl and caught both of Coker's touchdown passes. Ridley has 83 catches for 1,031 yards and seven scores. Meanwhile, ArDarius Stewart has 61 catches for 637 yards.
Tight end O.J. Howard had more catches in the Cotton Bowl than he had in the previous three games combined. He emerged as a middle-of-the-field weapon and things will be going well for the Tide if he gets more than his cursory one catch against Clemson. Richard Mullaney remains a reliable safety valve if Coker needs it.
Clemson could get the nod here if its receiving corps was at full strength. But it's not. Five-star freshman wide receiver Deon Cain, who has 34 catches for 582 yards, was sent home from the Orange Bowl, reportedly for failing a drug test.
And, like, Alabama, Clemson has a star wide receiver too. Artavis Scott has 89 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior Charone Peake had four catches for 54 yards in the Orange Bowl and has 44 catches for 617 yards. Tight end Jordan Leggett has 35 catches and seven have gone for touchdowns. Even without Cain, Clemson has some depth here. This one is too close to call.
Edge: Push
OFFENSIVE LINE
Alabama's offensive line has improved as the season's gone along. The Tide's offensive line was questioned in the middle part of the season after it wasn't up to Alabama standards. Since then, Derrick Henry's late-season success has been fueled by a line of Cam Robinson, Ross Pierschbacher, Ryan Kelly, Alphonse Taylor and Dominick Jackson.
Kelly, a three-year starter, won the Rimington Award, which is given to the top center in the country. Robinson, a starter at left tackle as a freshman in 2014, has emerged as a possible early pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Clemson's offensive line entered the season with major questions. Center Ryan Norton was the team's only returning starter and after Isaiah Battle entered the NFL's supplemental draft, true freshman Mitch Hyatt emerged as the starter at left tackle.
The Tigers' offensive line has been far from a liability this season and Jay Guillermo has taken over for Norton at center. Hyatt, Guillermo, Joe Gore, Eric Mac Lain, Joe Crowder and others have helped create rushing lanes for Watson and Gallman. They may not be as big or as highly-touted as Alabama's offensive line, but a comparison of the two isn't a landslide in the Tide's favor.
Edge: Alabama
Breaking down the Clemson and Alabama defenses.
By Graham Watson
The Tigers' offensive line has been far from a liability this season and Jay Guillermo has taken over for Norton at center. Hyatt, Guillermo, Joe Gore, Eric Mac Lain, Joe Crowder and others have helped create rushing lanes for Watson and Gallman. They may not be as big or as highly-touted as Alabama's offensive line, but a comparison of the two isn't a landslide in the Tide's favor.
Edge: Alabama
Breaking down the Clemson and Alabama defenses.
By Graham Watson
With the College Football Playoff National Championship Game just days away, it's time to take a deeper look at the two teams playing for the title on Jan. 11. We looked at the offense above, now it’s time to check out two defenses that dominated their opponents during the CFP semifinals.
DEFENSIVE LINE
We all know about the Alabama defensive line, the incredibly dominant Alabama defensive line.
It’s deep, it’s seasoned and it’s incredibly diverse. If a team attempts to run, more than likely they’ll run into A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed. Drop back for a pass and Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams will be in the quarterback’s face.
While Clemson had a stellar semifinal game, Alabama has been consistently dominant all year. Hard to pick against the Tide.
LINEBACKERS
Even though Clemson lost eight starters from last year’s defense, the linebacking corps remained mostly intact.
Clemson’s secondary allows just 166.9 yards per game, which will pose an interesting problem for Alabama quarterback Jake Coker, who completed a season-high 25 passes in the semifinal against Michigan State. Clemson is widely considered a more aggressive and athletic secondary as compared to Michigan State, so Coker, who was not really known for his strong passing acumen, will have a significant challenge.
The biggest conundrum will be figuring out how to get the ball to star receiver Calvin Ridley, who will no doubt draw the shadow of cornerback Mackensie Alexander. Ridley had eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State. Alexander was thrown toward six times and allowed just two catches for 27 yards.
If it’s not Alexander, Alabama’s receivers will have to contend with corner Cordrea Tankersley or safety Jayron Kearse, who is 6-foot-5.
Clemson will focus a lot of attention toward Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry just like Michigan State did, but the Tigers have to be cognizant that Coker will enter this game with a boatload of confidence after his stellar semifinal performance. Shaking Coker’s confidence early will be a key to success.
Edge: Clemson
NCAABKB: SMU rallies to stay perfect despite being down to six players.
DEFENSIVE LINE
We all know about the Alabama defensive line, the incredibly dominant Alabama defensive line.
It’s deep, it’s seasoned and it’s incredibly diverse. If a team attempts to run, more than likely they’ll run into A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed. Drop back for a pass and Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams will be in the quarterback’s face.
The Alabama defensive front ranks first in the country in rushing allowing just 74 yards per game. It’s allowed just one player to rush for 100 yards this season and just two teams to rush for 100 yards. The Alabama front seven has allowed fewer yards against 14 opponents than Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has rushed for this entire season.
The Tide, which have 50 sacks, have allowed just six touchdowns rushing.
Clemson’s defensive line is no slouch, but it’s not as experienced as Alabama’s.
The Tigers rank 32nd nationally against the run allowing 128.8 yards per game thanks to players such as Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd and Carlos Watkins. Lawson missed the majority of the semifinal game against Oklahoma with injury, but is expected to play against the Tide. Lawson has 10.5 sacks and an FBS-best 23.5 tackles for loss. Dodd has 18.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
The Clemson defensive front allows just 3.6 yards per rush and has given up 15 rushing touchdowns. It has 43 sacks and has helped limit opponents to just 43 percent red zone touchdowns.
Against Oklahoma, the defensive line kept the Sooners rushing offense, which came into the contest averaging 222.1 yards per game, to just 67 yards and just 2 yards per rush. It sacked quarterback Baker Mayfield five times.
The Tigers rank 32nd nationally against the run allowing 128.8 yards per game thanks to players such as Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd and Carlos Watkins. Lawson missed the majority of the semifinal game against Oklahoma with injury, but is expected to play against the Tide. Lawson has 10.5 sacks and an FBS-best 23.5 tackles for loss. Dodd has 18.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
The Clemson defensive front allows just 3.6 yards per rush and has given up 15 rushing touchdowns. It has 43 sacks and has helped limit opponents to just 43 percent red zone touchdowns.
Against Oklahoma, the defensive line kept the Sooners rushing offense, which came into the contest averaging 222.1 yards per game, to just 67 yards and just 2 yards per rush. It sacked quarterback Baker Mayfield five times.
While Clemson had a stellar semifinal game, Alabama has been consistently dominant all year. Hard to pick against the Tide.
EDGE: Alabama
LINEBACKERS
Even though Clemson lost eight starters from last year’s defense, the linebacking corps remained mostly intact.
Ben Boulware and B.J. Goodson are the anchors at the linebacker position as Goodson leads the team with 146 tackles and Boulware is right behind with 132. The two players have combined for nine sacks and four interceptions.
Boulware had 11 tackles and a sack in the semifinal against Oklahoma.
The biggest piece missing from the Tigers’ linebacking group is Stephone Anthony, who was a first round pick of the New Orleans Saints last year, but Boulware and Goodson have more than picked up the slack.
While the Alabama defensive line gets all the press, the linebackers deserve some praise as well. Reggie Ragland leads the team with 97 tackles and Rueben Foster is second with 64. But against Clemson, which has a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Deshaun Watson, the linebackers might be even more important.
While Alabama hasn’t detailed its defensive game plan, it could employ a QB spy to keep Watson from being too dangerous. That would put the Tide in a nickel defense with Ragland and Foster rotating with Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson at linebacker and as part of Alabama’s four-man rushing front.
Once again, it's difficult to go against the success Alabama has had up front this season even though Clemson's linebackers have been more productive.
EDGE: Alabama
SECONDARY
If there’s a weak link in Alabama’s defense — and that’s probably an unfair characterization — it’s the secondary.
The Tide allow 184.2 yards per game and much of that is because opposing quarterbacks rarely have time to throw against the Tide’s quick defensive front. Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook threw for 210 yards, but he also had two interceptions and was sacked four times. Only one team, Middle Tennessee, has passed for more than 300 yards on the Tide while six teams have failed to throw for 200.
However, this Clemson team, which is a heavy run offense, averages 283.4 yards per game and has five receivers with at least 400 yards and four receivers with at least five receiving touchdowns.
The secondary has accounted for 16 of the Tide’s 18 interceptions and has allowed just 13 passing touchdowns this season. But again, a lot of that success starts up front. If Alabama’s defensive front can’t put pressure on Watson, who has nine games with 248 or more passing yards this season, it could be a long evening for the secondary.
However, this Clemson team, which is a heavy run offense, averages 283.4 yards per game and has five receivers with at least 400 yards and four receivers with at least five receiving touchdowns.
The secondary has accounted for 16 of the Tide’s 18 interceptions and has allowed just 13 passing touchdowns this season. But again, a lot of that success starts up front. If Alabama’s defensive front can’t put pressure on Watson, who has nine games with 248 or more passing yards this season, it could be a long evening for the secondary.
Clemson’s secondary allows just 166.9 yards per game, which will pose an interesting problem for Alabama quarterback Jake Coker, who completed a season-high 25 passes in the semifinal against Michigan State. Clemson is widely considered a more aggressive and athletic secondary as compared to Michigan State, so Coker, who was not really known for his strong passing acumen, will have a significant challenge.
The biggest conundrum will be figuring out how to get the ball to star receiver Calvin Ridley, who will no doubt draw the shadow of cornerback Mackensie Alexander. Ridley had eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State. Alexander was thrown toward six times and allowed just two catches for 27 yards.
If it’s not Alexander, Alabama’s receivers will have to contend with corner Cordrea Tankersley or safety Jayron Kearse, who is 6-foot-5.
Clemson will focus a lot of attention toward Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry just like Michigan State did, but the Tigers have to be cognizant that Coker will enter this game with a boatload of confidence after his stellar semifinal performance. Shaking Coker’s confidence early will be a key to success.
Edge: Clemson
NCAABKB: SMU rallies to stay perfect despite being down to six players.
By Jeff Eisenberg
SMU coach Larry Brown celebrates with guard Nic Moore (11) the team's 59-57 win over Cincinnati in an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
They were down to six scholarship players. They were facing a late seven-point deficit. They have no postseason bid to play for this season.
SMU had every reason to give up hope on Thursday night against Cincinnati, but somehow the Mustangs persevered and found a way to keep their bid for a perfect season alive.
In one of the gutsier victories of the college basketball season, 15th-ranked SMU rallied for a 59-57 victory over the Bearcats. The Mustangs finished the game on an 11-2 surge spearheaded by seniors Nic Moore and Jordan Tolbert.
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SMU had every reason to give up hope on Thursday night against Cincinnati, but somehow the Mustangs persevered and found a way to keep their bid for a perfect season alive.
In one of the gutsier victories of the college basketball season, 15th-ranked SMU rallied for a 59-57 victory over the Bearcats. The Mustangs finished the game on an 11-2 surge spearheaded by seniors Nic Moore and Jordan Tolbert.
Moore sank a pair of critical 3-pointers to give SMU hope, the first to the left of the top of the key with just over two minutes remaining and the second a minute later from the left corner. Cincinnati regained the lead on a pair of Octavius Ellis free throws, but Tolbert scored a go-ahead tip-in with 32 seconds remaining and then preserved the advantage with a potential game-saving block of a Troy Caupain layup at the other end.
That SMU (14-0) was even in contention down the stretch is remarkable considering the roster attrition the Mustangs have endured.
SMU's issues began in November when junior guard Ben Emelogu underwent season-ending knee surgery and continued last month when backup point guard Sedrick Barefield left the program and Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye chose to redshirt. Things only got worse this week when McDonald's All-American Keith Frazier departed, leaving the Mustangs with only seven scholarship players.
Their ranks thinned further 13 minutes into the first half Thursday night when starting guard Sterling Brown was ejected for leaving the bench during a minor skirmish under the basket. Brown actually only roamed a couple steps from the scorer's table, where he was set to check in, but the referees cut him no slack.
Their ranks thinned further 13 minutes into the first half Thursday night when starting guard Sterling Brown was ejected for leaving the bench during a minor skirmish under the basket. Brown actually only roamed a couple steps from the scorer's table, where he was set to check in, but the referees cut him no slack.
Without Brown, Moore and Shake Milton played 39 and 40 minutes and fringe rotation player Jerrey Foster logged 21 minutes off the bench. Forward Ben Moore led SMU with 15 points, Nic Moore had 14 and Tolbert and Milton scored 11 apiece.
Cincinnati projected to be one of SMU's toughest opponents in league play considering the Bearcats returned almost their entire rotation from last year's NCAA tournament team. Mick Cronin's team is a bit more efficient on offense this season but is not quite so smothering on defense, which has contributed to their pedestrian 11-5 record after a 7-0 start.
Thursday's game will be one Cincinnati remembers as a missed opportunity because it led for much of the second half. The Bearcats controlled the offensive glass, forced 17 turnovers and got 18 points from Farad Cobb, but they were done by a 20-9 foul differential and by their inability to get a stop down the stretch.
Shorthanded as it is, SMU has a chance to stay unbeaten for at least a few more weeks thanks to a soft upcoming schedule.
The Mustangs' next three games are against UCF, East Carolina and Tulane. Not until they host Houston on Jan. 19 and they visit Temple on Jan. 23 should they be challenged again.
Browns thought Manziel was turning a corner before his latest slip-ups. What's Your Take?
By Jared Dubin
Is Johnny Manziel done in Cleveland? (Photo/USATSI)
The Cleveland Browns are reportedly "so done" with Johnny Manziel in the wake of his latest transgressions -- sipping on Four Lokos on video, heading to Las Vegas (and wearing a blonde wig and fake mustache?) the Saturday night before the team's season finale against the Steelers and not showing up for a Sunday morning check-in with the team doctors, getting stopped for a traffic violation Saturday morning, showing up during the week prior to the game looking "disheveled and unkempt," and possibly more -- to the point that owner Jimmy Haslam alluded to the fact that the team has the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft when asked about Manziel's future with the team.
But it wasn't all that long ago that a bunch of people within the Browns' organization thought Manziel was turning the corner, per a report from ESPN.com. As recently as the team's Week 16 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, there were some that thought Manziel was the future of the team's quarterback position.
After that game, safety Donte Whitner proclaimed, "I think we have a starting quarterback for next year," per ESPN. Head coach Mike Pettine, who was fired shortly after the team's season finale, said of Manziel after the loss to KC, "I think he took a step forward."
A couple weeks before that, even, during a game against the 49ers, the Browns felt he was making progress.
But Manziel is locked in. He completes passes of 8 yards, 9 yards, 23 yards to start the game. He slaps his hands together in frustration when he misfires on third-and-9. The Browns are up 10-3 in the second quarter when he's chased toward the sideline. Manziel throws across his body, is intercepted by Jaquiski Tartt and is so angry at himself that he slams a blue Microsoft Surface tablet against his head repeatedly.
It was a play the Browns had talked about during the week, and it went down exactly how they expected, minus the interception. Browns quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell, sensing his frustration, calls down to Manziel. "How's your head feel?" O'Connell asks.
"It hurts," Manziel replies.
O'Connell will later say that the incident was actually a sign of growth. Manziel recognized his mistake and learned from it. He throws for 270 yards, and the team seems energized. A defense that has put up only 17 sacks in the first 12 games collects nine against San Francisco, and the Browns win 24-10.Josh McCown, whom the Browns signed in part to be their starter and in part to mentor Manziel, echoed McConnell's sentiments. "He wants to win, and he's going to play hard, and he's going to lay it out there for his guys," McCown said. "You bang your head against the Surface (tablet) because you put in so much time during the week. It bothers him because he cares."
Even Joe Thomas, one of Manziel's harshest critics last season, seemed to think Manziel had shown some degree of maturity and improvement. "His dedication was never questioned between the stripes on the football field," Thomas said. "But when you're in the NFL, winning doesn't just happen when you cross the white stripe coming out of the tunnel. Winning happens during the week when you're watching film, when you're studying your playbook, when you're practicing a certain way. And at times last year, he didn't show that commitment to winning and the competitiveness you see on the field, off the field. But this year he is."
And then everything that reportedly happened last week reportedly happened, and it sure looks like Johnny Football's time in Cleveland might now be up. But don't worry, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are apparently ready to give him -- or at least, because Jerry doesn't want to incur tampering charges, someone like him -- a chance, because of course they are.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We don't understand what is going on with Johnny Manziel??? He obviously has very good talent and skills, what is his problem? Is he so dissatisfied that he wants out of Cleveland? Does he have some kind of mental or bipolar problem? Does he need to see a psychiatrist? Isn't there anyone that can reach this young man? He has a golden opportunity to enhance his brand, (himself), emotionally, financially and personally just by virtue of performing to the maximum capability of his on field talent and off field expectations. We just don't get it, what's the problem? I hope a family member, dear friend, or someone that he has a lot of faith and confidence in can sit him down, explain the errors of his ways and convince him of the fantastic opportunity he's about to blow. Hopefully, someone can. He has to decide what path to take and no one can decide that for him but himself. We wish him the best of luck and pray that he succeeds.
We've said it many times, "Talent without discipline is talent wasted." Now we've expressed our position, we'd love to know what your thoughts are and what's your take? Please go to the comments section at the bottom of this blog and share your thoughts with us. We truly love to hear from you and we really value your opinion.
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1901 - In Chicago, IL, the first tournament sanctioned by the American Bowling Congress was held.
1955 - After 130 home basketball wins, Georgia Tech defeated Kentucky 59-58. It was the first Kentucky loss at home since January 2, 1943.
1957 - Jackie Robinson announced his retirement from major league baseball in an article that appeared in "LOOK" magazine.
1960 - The NCAA met in New York and voted against reviving the unlimited substitution rule for college football.
1977 - The cover of TV Guide was "Super Bowl."
1984 - ABC purchased the remaining 85% of ESPN.
1993 - Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) became the 18th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points.
1994 - Dino Ciccarelli (Detroit Red Wings) became the 19th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals.
1955 - After 130 home basketball wins, Georgia Tech defeated Kentucky 59-58. It was the first Kentucky loss at home since January 2, 1943.
1957 - Jackie Robinson announced his retirement from major league baseball in an article that appeared in "LOOK" magazine.
1960 - The NCAA met in New York and voted against reviving the unlimited substitution rule for college football.
1977 - The cover of TV Guide was "Super Bowl."
1984 - ABC purchased the remaining 85% of ESPN.
1993 - Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) became the 18th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points.
1994 - Dino Ciccarelli (Detroit Red Wings) became the 19th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals.
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