CS&T/AllsportsAmerica Friday Sports News Update and What's Your Take? 02/26/2016.

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"Sports Quote of the Day"

"Most successful pundits are selected for being opinionated, because it's interesting, and the penalties for incorrect predictions are negligible. You can make predictions, and a year later people won't remember them." ~ Daniel Kahneman, Psychologist Notable For His Work On The Psychology Of Judgment And Decision-Making

Trending: With Fowler signing, Cubs make another statement that future is right now. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates). 

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Trending: Blackhawks acquire Andrew Ladd from Winnipeg in blockbuster deal. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).

Trending: More than anything, Bears counting on Year 1 to 2 jumps to reach next level. (See the football section for Bears updates). 

Trending: Dallas PD refers Manziel case to DA for presentation to grand jury. What's Your Take? (Please read the last article on this blog for details).

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Predators score late third-period goal to down Blackhawks.

By Tracey Myers

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford stands by as Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher reacts after a goal by teammate Viktor Arvidsson in the second period of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. 

Jonathan Toews was asked if he thought he had a goal against Pekka Rinne.

“Which one?” asked the Blackhawks captain, who had several prime opportunities against Rinne. “I had a couple great chances… it just didn’t go in, especially early on.”

No, past Brent Seabrook’s 12th goal of the season, the Blackhawks couldn’t get anything past Rinne, who looked like his vintage self in the Nashville Predators’ 3-1 victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday night. The Blackhawks, who have lost two in a row, remain in second place in the Central Division with 81 points. The Dallas Stars, who lost to Winnipeg 6-3, remain atop the Division with 82 points. St. Louis, which lost to the New York Rangers, is third with 79 points.

The biggest news of the night, however, didn’t happen on the ice. The Blackhawks acquired Andrew Ladd from the Jets just prior to the game. In return, the Jets got forward Marko Dano, the Blackhawks’ first-round pick of the 2016 NHL draft and a conditional pick in the 2018 draft.

The Blackhawks will enjoy the potential lines with Ladd’s addition but on Thursday night, they couldn’t muster enough offense with their current lineup. Yep, they had chances, but Rinne stopped all but one. On the other side the Predators got that game-winner late. Calle Jarnkrok got it with 1:51 remaining in regulation to keep the Predators undefeated in their last 10 road games (8-0-2).

Miikka Salomaki added an empty-net goal with 1:03 left in the game.

Corey Crawford stopped 29 of 31 in the loss.

“We had some good chances Rinne made some spectacular saves on, but we just have to find a way to put the puck in the net. A couple of breakdowns there and the puck’s in the back of ours,” Trevor van Riemsdyk said. “Obviously we have to eliminate those, especially this time of year. Crow kept us in it, kept it tied a long time. They seemed to find a way there. We played a little better, we had our chances and we skated pretty well. But obviously in the end, the result is what mattered.”

The Blackhawks’ lineup will soon change a bit. They’ll bring back a veteran player with a lot of familiarity. On Thursday, however, their current lineup came up just short.

“It seemed like it was a pretty defensive-minded game where there weren’t a whole lot of scoring chances. Unfortunately they were able to get one late in the game there,” Duncan Keith said. “Frustrating way to lose.”

Blackhawks acquire Andrew Ladd from Winnipeg in blockbuster deal.

By Tracey Myers

Andrew Ladd was one of several Blackhawks who was lost in the post-2010 Stanley Cup purge. It was a heck of a loss, be it for his play or his leadership.

Now he’s back.

The Blackhawks acquired Ladd, along with forward Matt Fraser and defenseman Jay Harrison, from the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night, as first reported by Darren Dreger of TSN. In return, according to Dreger, the Blackhawks give the Jets Marko Dano, a first-round selection in the 2016 draft as well as a conditional pick in 2018. Dreger also reports that Winnipeg retains 36 percent of Ladd’s remaining salary.

It’ll be a nice reunion for Ladd, who’s familiar with the Blackhawks remaining from that 2010 Cup run.

There was plenty of speculation in recent days that Ladd could join the Blackhawks again. Ladd told reporters on Tuesday that he and the Jets had not had contract talks since around Christmas time.

The Blackhawks were looking for a left wing that could play on that top line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa (who is currently out with a lower-body injury). While Andrew Shaw has been playing there for more than a month now, the Blackhawks went through a plethora of candidates prior to that. Acquiring Ladd should rectify that problem and bring more balance to the Blackhawks’ lines.

Ladd has been playing very well as of late; he had 17 goals and 17 assists in 59 games with the Jets.

More to come.

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks Preview.

By SCOTT GARBARINI

Unexpected contributors have enabled the Chicago Bulls to reverse their recent misfortunes.

The Atlanta Hawks, on the other hand, remain searching for answers to their prolonged struggles.

Though virtually tied in the Eastern Conference standings, the teams have been heading in opposite directions leading into Friday night's matchup in Atlanta.

The Bulls' season appeared to be sinking a week ago following a season-high fifth consecutive loss, but they've won three straight since despite continued absences from All-Star Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic. A resurgence from Derrick Rose has helped trigger the turnaround, as has increased production from a number of players called upon for greater roles.

Rose recorded a third straight game of at least 24 points in Sunday's 126-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers but sat out Wednesday against Washington to rest a tender right hamstring. The offense still didn't skip a beat, as seven players finished in double figures in a 109-104 win.

Tony Snell scored 16 points starting in Rose's place and E'Twaun Moore had 17 three days after recording 24 on 10-of-14 shooting against the Lakers. Doug McDermott, averaging 20.0 points on a 67.6 field goal rate during the streak, added 14 off the bench.

''It's the next man up mentality,'' coach Fred Hoiberg said. ''It's not an ideal situation, but it's what guys like Justin Holiday, Tony Snell, E'Twaun Moore, it's why you play this game. It's for opportunities like this when your main players aren't out there.''

The Bulls (30-26) have averaged 117.0 points during the surge and shot 50 percent or better in all three wins. They were a combined 40.9 percent while failing to top 95 points in their previous three losses.

Chicago will see if it can maintain that success on the road, where it's lost four straight, and against a Hawks team it's lost handily to in two prior 2015-16 meetings.

Atlanta (31-27) has been unable to build on a 113-90 rout at the United Center on Feb. 10 that seemed to signal a return to form, however. The Hawks have emerged from the All-Star break with three consecutive home losses while continuing be inconsistent on both ends.

There were some encouraging signs out of Monday's 102-92 defeat to league-leading Golden State. The Hawks outscored the Warriors 36-18 in the third quarter and used a 33-6 run to take an 80-76 lead early in the fourth before the defending NBA champions rallied for their 50th win.

"Obviously we're in a little bit of a tough spot, but there's some positives to build on from (Monday)," coach Mike Budenholzer said.

Al Horford and Dennis Schroder have continued to play well for Atlanta, which is trying to avoid its first five-game home skid since December 2006. Horford had 23 points and 16 rebounds against Golden State and is averaging 19.4 points over his last five. Schroder followed a career-high 25-point, near triple-double in Saturday's double-overtime loss to Milwaukee with 18 on 8-of-12 shooting on Monday.

Both have given the Bulls problems this season. Horford's season-high 33 points carried the Hawks to a 120-105 home win on Jan. 9 and Schroder had 18 in this month's first meeting.

Atlanta has won four of the series' past five matchups.

Kirk Hinrich, acquired from the Bulls in a three-team trade at last week's deadline, has yet to appear in any of Atlanta's three games following the swap.

Taj Gibson leads short-handed Bulls in surprising win over Wizards. (Wednesday night's game, 02/24/2016).

By Vincent Goodwill

Bulls forward Taj Gibson  plows between Washington Wizards forwards Otto Porter Jr., right, and Jared Dudley during the first half at the United Center, in Chicago, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (Photo/Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)

There was Tony Snell, playing assertively and strong, not hesitating on 3-point attempts.

E’Twaun Moore hitting triple after triple and staying in front of the speedy John Wall, and finally, a determined Doug McDermott, taking the baseline around Wall and then the elevator over Markieff Morris for a surprising dunk.

It prompted the predictable reaction after the unpredictable production: Who are these guys?

A tough bunch is what they looked like and played like, responding to their coach’s call for “nasty” after two straight wins and made it a third with a inspiring, inspired 109-104 win over the Washington Wizards.

They looked like they discovered some identity in the face of adversity, as they sensed the Wizards were content on showing up and not earning a win — as one could make the argument the Wizards did their usual Jekyll-and-Hyde routine of failing to appear for this appointment.

Pau Gasol was the only Bull whose production looked familiar, though he played with flu-like symptoms, coming up an assist short of a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists while doing his part in keeping Marcin Gortat and Nene from dominating as they’ve done recently in this matchup.

“I was really proud. Pau did not look good all day, and I asked him to show up and see what he could give us,” Fred Hoiberg said, as Gasol was a game-time decision, his status not announced until right before tipoff. “Our guys fought and battled.”

Perhaps it took the Bulls being completely exhausted of all their usual options, being without Derrick Rose as a late scratch in addition to the already suited-and-booted Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic.

Rose’s right hamstring tendinitis made him decide to sit this one out, being the first in a three-games-in-four-night stretch. And his teammates picked up the slack, being a ball of activity and running Hoiberg’s ball-movement system to perfection, each taking turns.

Snell scored 10 of his 14 in the first half, Moore scored eight of his 17 in the fourth and McDermott scored all 12 of his in the second half.

“They have to, with the guys we had out there,” Hoiberg said. “I thought guys did a good job of reading certain situations and executed it really well.”

It produced 26 assists on 50-percent shooting, as all five unlikely starters hit double figures and Aaron Brooks and McDermott did damage off the bench. Finding their balance without the stars could bode well for when the team returns en masse.

Taj Gibson has garnered attention with his mouth lately, trying to take the mantle of being a more vocal player, but Wednesday, his effect was tangible as his play did the talking.

Saying before he was sick of the way things were going, he played like a man possessed, grabbing every rebound and loose ball, hedging on screens defensively and setting solid ones offensively, scoring 17 with seven rebounds and seven assists in 30 minutes.

“Our guys did a great job of finding him, especially early,” Hoiberg said. “He really carried us. We had 55 (points) in the paint. Taj was a big part of that.”

It was enough to keep them in the game early, but how long it would stay afloat while the Wizards sleepwalked was the question.

Getting a lot of scores off secondary offense just by pushing the ball and taking advantage of a lagging team that played the night before gave the Bulls their biggest advantage.

“Like I said before I gotta do better,” Gibson said. “I learned from a good coach you gotta put more into it when it’s not going your way. Them young guys are putting more into my game. I’ve been patient ... and being ready when it’s my time to score.”

The Bulls led by 15 with 3:05 to play after a McDermott dunk, but the Wizards clawed back. The Bulls, though, decided to play with a little toughness for the first time in a long time.

Moore torched Wall late, most of them critical run-stopping plays.

Wall scored 16 with seven assists but didn’t have the effect he usually does. Bradley Beal came off the bench to score 19 but took 19 shots, and Ramon Sessions again torched the Bulls for 16 off the pine.

The Bulls’ longtime tough guy had his juice rub off on his guys for once.

Gibson’s play encouraged his teammates to follow suit, as McDermott’s jumpers finished what Gibson’s emotions started, and the Bulls’ defense did more than enough late.

Just when you think this Bulls team has next to no life, they emerge from the ashes to show they have a little more than a faint pulse.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! More than anything, Bears counting on Year 1 to 2 jumps to reach next level.  

By John Mullin

Bears Coach John Fox (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Mike Ditka once declared that rookie cornerback Donnell Woolford “apparently can’t cover anybody.”

Buddy Ryan stated matter-of-factly after the 1980 season that too many defensive problems were because “that rookie No. 55 [Otis Wilson] just didn’t get it.”

Woolford apparently could cover somebody, and Wilson ultimately did get it, both players going on to very successful Bears careers and Pro Bowls.

Adrian Amos, Eddie Goldman and other very, very young Bears may or may not make Pro Bowls. But they already have figured prominently in Bears offseason personnel deliberations, and coach John Fox is not expected anytime soon to muse, “that No. 91 (Goldman) apparently can’t stop anybody.”

Just the opposite, in fact, and that is a critical underpinning of the Bears’ 2016 offseason.

When Fox succeeded Marc Trestman as head coach, the Bears were in disarray and needing a rebuild makeover. After a 6-10 season marked by demoralizing breakdowns in the second half of 2015, particularly on a defense already converted to a 3-4 scheme, Fox and his staff are faced with starting over — again.

Not so fast.

The plethora of needs on virtually every stratum of the defense – line, linebacker, cornerback, safety – has naturally suggested multiple crises. But some Bears struggles involved Amos in the deep secondary, Goldman at the point of attack in the middle, Hroniss Grasu staffing that middle on offense, even Kevin White never seeing the field in a year when the Bears could barely field a nickel wideout package.

The expectations of Year 2 from all of those players, as much as any free agent or draft pick, hold the key to 2016.

“I think we made a lot of changes last year,” Fox said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think we went from one of the older rosters in the NFL — that includes offense, defense, special teams — and became a younger roster. It's no mystery we had a lot of younger players play on defense this year and extensively.

“The thing that sometimes I think people get lost about is the improvement of that player from a freshman to a sophomore, from Year One to Year Two, whether it's in a particular system or just in NFL football and how to view NFL offenses. It's a full-time job now. It's not a part-time job like college football. There are a lot of things that go into the preparation in being the best, how to do it, as far as film study, opponent study that these guys will just take off from in my experience from Year One to Year Two.”

Gase: Dowell Loggains as Bears' OC 'a great situation' for Jay Cutler.

By John Mullin

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains (Photo/ESPN)

No Bears personnel move this offseason projects to be have greater, wider-reaching impact on not only 2016 but also the future of the franchise than the Bears’ elevation of quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains to offensive coordinator.

Quarterback Jay Cutler had the best individual season of his career along the axis of Loggains and former coordinator Adam Gase, in large part because of the personal dynamic between Cutler and a staff that had his respect from the outset.

But Gase, who arrived with the stamp of credibility from an association with Peyton Manning in Denver, left to coach the Miami Dolphins. Loggains’ NFL coaching experience consisted of time with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, player-starved franchises that ranked among the bottom-feeders during Loggains’ time with them.

Cutler relationships with previous coordinators – Ron Turner, Mike Martz, Mike Martz, Aaron Kromer – were marked with acrimony that predictably ended badly. That is not the expectation now, however.

“It's a great dynamic, I know that,” Gase said on Wednesday during the NFL Scouting Combine. “I always loved going around those two guys and kind of seeing the banter between them. When they hit the field, there's something special there between those two guys and the way they work together and the way they communicate.

“It'll be a great situation for Jay. That offense is in great hands, I mean, that whole coaching staff is top notch. I enjoyed working with all those guys, but those two guys together, they'll be able to keep that system going. They'll be able to keep that continuity going.”

Gase is in a position to know. Indeed, the experience of coach John Fox in elevating an incumbent quarterbacks coach to O-coordinator was a major element in the thinking behind promoting Loggains.

Fox and the Bears did consider potential coordinators outside the organization. But Fox in Denver had promoted Gase from QB coach to coordinator after Mike McCoy was hired to coach the San Diego Chargers and saw how that transition had worked, albeit with Manning as an obviously significant constant.

“We had a similar situation with Mike McCoy in Denver, when he went to San Diego,” Fox said. “Adam had been the quarterbacks coach the last couple years. We kind of injected some philosophies offensively, much like this time.

“Outside [the Bears’ organization] there were some very capable people, but that last experience I think helped in making this experience in the fact that Adam had a great relationship with Peyton and we didn’t want to change the whole offense, because that does set you back. I think that relationship helped us have the success that we did, and we did have success.”

Bears 'aggressively' pursuing long-term contract with Alshon Jeffery.

By John Mullin

As of Tuesday, Feb. 16, NFL teams could attach their franchise tag to players they were intent on keeping away from unrestricted free agency. The Bears could have tagged wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, whom they very much want to retain for 2016.

But they didn’t. And now the reason is clearer: The Bears are determined to keep Jeffery long-term.

Bears GM Ryan Pace confirmed Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team is “actively and aggressively negotiating right now. We understand the deadline is [next] Tuesday for the franchise tag. That’s an option. We have until Tuesday to make that decision, but right now that’s kind of ongoing.”

The Bears not dropping the tag on Jeffery immediately, a move that neither player nor team like, was in fact a statement by the team that it wanted to continue talks. The deadline for imposing the tag, which would carry with it a guaranteed $14.5 million for one year, arrives next Tuesday, Mar. 1.

If the two sides cannot reach a deal – and Jeffery was expected to be seeking a deal in the range of the five-year, $70 million contracts done by Dallas with Dez Bryant and by Denver with Demaryius Thomas – “that [tag] option is still on the table.”

Jeffery’s injury-speckled 2015 season, which ended up with his playing just nine games total and not all of those games in their entirety, left some concern for his durability. The Bears in their evaluations and negotiations have looked less at what time Jeffery missed than at the time he has been healthy, and productive.

“The thing about it is the previous two years, he remained healthy,” Pace said. “Last year he had a series of injuries. I think we’ve got a great sports [medicine] team around him with Jen [Gibson] and Nate [Breske] and Jason George.

“I’ve said this before: I think being in Year 2 with a player helps a lot just understanding his body and his body mechanics. I know him and his agent are doing some things, too, to improve on that. When he gets back, we’ll have a plan in place. It’s important.”

Why Dexter Fowler turned down more money to re-sign with Cubs.

By Tony Andracki

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Dexter Fowler is home.

Or, at least that's how he feels.

Fowler was an integral part of the Cubs' surprise run to the National League Championship Series last year, leading off and setting the table for a lineup that looked unstoppable before running into the New York Mets pitching staff.

But at season's end, Fowler became a free agent and rejected the Cubs' qualifying offer of $15.8 million, preferring to test the market.

When the week started, Fowler had not yet been signed even though every MLB team had already started camp.

When the baseball world woke up Thursday morning, the prevailing thought was Fowler was on his way to the Baltimore Orioles facility, since all reports indicated he had signed a three-year deal worth roughly $35 million guaranteed.

That's when the Cubs pulled off a series of moves, dealing Chris Coghlan to the Oakland A's and bringing Fowler back for the surprise of the spring.

Fowler confirmed he turned down a three-year guaranteed offer, leaving all that money on the table to ink a one-year pact with the Cubs for $13 million guaranteed ($8 million base salary in 2016 plus a $5 million buyout for a $9 million mutual 2017 option).

But why?

"My heart's here," Fowler said. "The Cubs, they treat me with the utmost respect. With the offseason moves they've made, you've gotta go with what's comfortable.

"My family loves it here. It was good to get back."

Fowler said he did not give the Orioles - or any other team - a verbal agreement and assured all the rumors did not come from his camp.

He admitted he was in a difficult situation, but "you come back to what you know."

"He decided to go for the fit over the money," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "We're extremely appreciative of that. It means a lot.

"I think it says a lot about his teammates, says a lot about Dexter, says a lot about the manager, the coaching staff, the whole ownership here, the culture that he'd want to come back." 

Theo Epstein and the Cubs gave Fowler a nice moment, letting him walk back onto the field when the entire team was gathered in a pre-workout scrum to the surprise of all his teammates.

Even 20 minutes later, Fowler still couldn't stop smiling.

"It's surreal," Fowler said. "It's like you're walking back to the house and you haven't been home in what feels like 10 years.

"It's definitely a blessing to be here. God works in mysterious ways."

Fowler drove down from his home in Las Vegas for a physical late Wednesday night and the Cubs pulled off the Coghlan deal as the physical results came back Thursday morning.

Epstein and Fowler's agent - Casey Close - stayed in contact all winter, but a deal didn't come together until this late in the game. That obviously caused a lot of anxiety and uncertainty for Fowler's camp.

How did he keep his sanity through the offseason?

"Faith," Fowler said. "You've done all you can do on the field. There's nothing else you can do. It's just a matter of waiting and seeing what's out there.

"God works in mysterious ways. Came back to where your heart is."

Fowler also feels like there's some unfinished business with the Cubs.

"We took those [NLCS] losses hard," he said. "Looking back, you see the Royals win the World Series and you think, 'That should have been us.'

"We definitely have a chance to do that. Hopefully we can do that this year."

Fowler knows Jason Heyward from their days growing up in the Atlanta area and played with Ben Zobrist in Japan. 

With the big-time acquisitions in tow and now all the key pieces returning from last season, the Cubs feel like they're ready to roll.

"I do live in Vegas, so you see up there all the time - Cubs at 4:1 [odds]," Fowler said. "It's an exciting time to be a Cub."

Joe Maddon perfectly captures 'Little League' mindset with Cubs.

By Tony Andracki

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Everybody knows Joe Maddon loves when his players are versatile - able to hit in any spot in the lineup and play all over the field.

But it's much harder to pin down why it works so well, producing a successful product between the white lines.

Baseball players are creatures of habit. They love their routine.

Yet Maddon's desire for flexibility is the opposite of "routine."

The way Maddon manages, players never truly know where they're playing or where they're hitting in the lineup until they get to the ballpark that day.

Sort of like...Little League.

"I think that's a perfect way to describe it," Kris Bryant said. "When you think back to when you started playing baseball, it was always so much more fun in Little League.

"And now it's kinda like Little League in the big leagues."

Less than a week after Bryant was called up to the majors last season, Maddon already had the rookie out of his natural position of third base, playing center field with Dexter Fowler banged up.

Bryant had some experience in the outfield in college and took some reps out there in spring training, but he had never played anywhere but third base in his professional career until that moment in Pittsburgh...in his sixth MLB game.

Bryant said he's ready for anything now, which is kind of like Little League, when kids aren't pigeonholed into one spot and play six or seven different positions in one game.

Maddon spent Tuesday talking about the possibility of Bryant winning a Gold Glove at third base, a statement that would have been considered a longshot when Bryant was coming up through the minors with his defense at the hot corner as his biggest question mark.

Yet even after Bryant has proved his worth with his glove and arm at third base, he insists he wants to keep playing the outfield, too.

"I think it's good to move around," he said. "It gets you so you're not complacent. That's what I like. I don't like going to the field and seeing, 'Oh, I'm batting third or fourth or fifth and playing third every day.'

"It's kinda cool to see, 'Oh, I'm batting second today and playing left field.' It's like, you're more ready. It's fun.

"I guess that just comes from me growing up - I played all over the place and didn't really expect anything. I never knew exactly where I was going to play and I enjoy it. That's the fun of the game."

Addison Russell is clearly the Cubs' best defensive option at shortstop, yet he wants to stay ready and flexible at second base, too.

Chris Coghlan hadn't played infield for years (and hardly at all in the big leagues) before Maddon moved him to third base, then second base and then even first base last season.

Kyle Schwarber is getting in work at both catcher and left field.

Javier Baez is learning center field and can already play all over the infield.

Ben Zobrist is the king of versatility, playing solid defense at four, five or even six defensive positions.

Jason Heyward has mastered right field and now is being moved to a more demanding position in center.

Maddon thinks the players being ready for anything can actually benefit them.

"I like the idea that they're out here just playing," Maddon said. "... When our guys come to the ballpark, they have to get ready to do a lot of different things. So their mind just can't be drawn or focused on one thing - whether I'm hitting or not.

"I think that's what gets guys in trouble more than anything is where they're at on the hitting spectrum right now and their day depends on that. I'd rather their day depend on us just winning and what they can do to help us win.

"We have so many guys that [are versatile] and I don't feel like we're losing anything in regards to catching the ball and maintaining a solid defense."

Maddon joked with the Little League mindset, the Cubs need to find somebody to bring the juice boxes.

And on a team with a bunch of guys who are barely old enough to drink, that Little League style fits in perfectly.

"I think that's one of the things that makes Joe such an unbelievable manager is that you never know what you're gonna do," Bryant said. "You never know what to expect in the clubhouse and I think more guys should be like that."

Major League Baseball announces a 30-second mound visit clock, new slide rules.

By Craig Calcaterra

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

Major League Baseball just announced three new rule changes: (1) the advent of a 30-second clock which will time manager and coach visits to the mound; (2) the reduction of in-between innings breaks by 20 seconds; and (3) the announcement of new rules about sliding into second base designed to cut down on injuries to infielders. The slide rule has been expected for some time. The mound visit clock and commercial break reduction have not.

The mound visit clock will feature an in-stadium clock that will begin counting to 30 (or down from 30) from the moment a coach exits the dugout. There will be no penalty if it gets to 30 without the coach or manager leaving, but the umpires will break up the meeting. Which, um, they’ve always been allowed to do at their own discretion, but as we’ll see below with the sliding rule, taking the umpire’s discretion out of baseball seems to be a pretty big objective of Major League Baseball.

With respect to the between inning breaks, Major League Baseball says this:

Break timers will now mirror the time allotted to broadcasters between innings: 2:05 for locally televised games and 2:25 for nationally televised games, a reduction of 20 seconds each from the 2015 season, when the timers counted down from 2:25 for local games and from 2:45 for national games.  The change aims to allow players to more closely match the resumption of play with the return of broadcasters from commercial breaks.

The sliding rule — the complete text of which is set forth below — will be a set of guidelines, governed by these four principles:

• The runner is to slide prior to reaching the base;
• The runner is to slide so that he is able to reach or touch the base or at least plausible attempt to do so;
• The runner is to slide so that he is able to or at least attempt to stay on the base; and
• The runner is not to change his pathway to the base.

All of these are logical, but as we’ve noted several times in the past, baseball’s Rule 6.05(m) already says that a base runner is out when he “intentionally interfere[s] with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play,” and the comment to that rule says it is designed to “penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base.”  Given that that rule already exists, this is, again, about taking the umpire’s judgment out of the equation, it seems, than making any substantive change.

Expect a lot of talk about this throughout spring training and the early parts of the season.

Here is the sliding rule in-full:

Rule 6.01(j) – Sliding To Bases On Double Play Attempts

If a runner does not engage in a bona fide slide, and initiates (or attempts to make) contact with the fielder for the purpose of breaking up a double play, he should be called for interference under this Rule 6.01.  A “bona fide slide” for purposes of Rule 6.01 occurs when the runner:

(1)       begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base;

(2)       is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot;

(3)       is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and

(4)       slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder.

A runner who engages in a “bona fide slide” shall not be called for interference under this Rule 6.01, even in cases where the runner makes contact with the fielder as a consequence of a permissible slide.  In addition, interference shall not be called where a runner’s contact with the fielder was caused by the fielder being positioned in (or moving into) the runner’s legal pathway to the base.

Notwithstanding the above, a slide shall not be a “bona fide slide” if a runner engages in a “roll block,” or intentionally initiates (or attempts to initiate) contact with the fielder by elevating and kicking his leg above the fielder’s knee or throwing his arm or his upper body.

If the umpire determines that the runner violated this Rule 6.01(j), the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter-runner out.  Note, however, that if the runner has already been put out then the runner on whom the defense was attempting to make a play shall be declared out.

And the clock rule:

The pace of game program will expand this season to include timed 30-second visits to the pitcher’s mound by managers and pitching coaches.  In addition, break timers will now mirror the time allotted to broadcasters between innings: 2:05 for locally televised games and 2:25 for nationally televised games, a reduction of 20 seconds each from the 2015 season, when the timers counted down from 2:25 for local games and from 2:45 for national games.  The change aims to allow players to more closely match the resumption of play with the return of broadcasters from commercial breaks.

White Sox vice chairman Eddie Einhorn dies at 80. 

By JJ Stankevitz

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

White Sox vice chairman Eddie Einhorn died Tuesday night in Alpine, N.J. following complications from a stroke. He was 80. 

Einhorn and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf met while attending Northwestern's law school and, in 1981, purchased a controlling interest in the franchise. Einhorn served as the White Sox team president and chief operating officer from 1981-1990 and was the franchise's vice chairman from 1990-2015. He also was a member of the Chicago Bulls' board of directors. 

"Eddie was a creative whirlwind whose ideas -- many of them far ahead of their time -- changed the landscape of sports, and sports on television, forever," Reinsdorf said. "He was a man of many interests, projects, ideas and opinions, and we all will miss him dearly. It is exceedingly rare in this day and age to have enjoyed a friendship and a working partnership that lasted our lifetimes.  We celebrated many great moments together."

White Sox head trainer Herm Schneider, who joined the organization in 1979, remembered Einhorn fondly.

"He was an interesting man and a great man," Schneider said. "I’ve known him probably since Day 1 since Jerry and Eddie took over, the Sunshine Boys. He was an incredibly brilliant guy.

"A lot of people didn’t know how brilliant he was. He did a lot with wrestling. He did a lot with the NCAA Tournament, (which) is basically his brain child. He and I had a very special relationship with his family and my family and everything else. Very close with him. I just found out about it this morning myself from Scottie, but it really is a very sad day about that happening." Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement on Einhorn's passing. 

"All of us at Major League Baseball are deeply saddened by the loss of White Sox Vice Chairman Eddie Einhorn, a leader in the world of sports and broadcasting," Manfred said. "He was a sports television pioneer and a huge champion of youth baseball. In recent years he bridged those twin passions through the National Youth Baseball Championships, which appeared on MLB Network and MLB.com. 

"A proud and loyal leader of the White Sox owned by his longtime friend Jerry Reinsdorf, Eddie took delight in the franchise's momentous 2005 World Championship. Most of all, for decades Eddie was a friend to seemingly all in the baseball and broader sports communities. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Eddie's wife Ann, their daughter -- and our former colleague -- Jenny, their son Jeff, and their entire family, as well as his countless friends throughout the White Sox organization and our game as a whole."

Einhorn, while a law student at Northwestern, worked as a vendor at Comiskey Park from 1959-1960. He founded TVS Television Network, which in the 1960s and 1970s pioneered nationwide TV and radio coverage of college basketball. In 2011, Einhorn was inducted in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame for his role in growing the popularity of the sport. 

During his nearly three-and-a-half decade time in baseball, Einhorn was recognized as the architect of Major League Baseball's first billion-dollar TV deal and also served the Major League Baseball Schedule Format Committee, the Professional Baseball Association Committee, Player Development Committee and Television Committee.

Einhorn is credited with helping create MLB's wild card playoff format; the Chicago Tribune's Jerome Holtzmann wrote in 1998 that "If it weren't for the acumen and foresight of White Sox Vice Chairman Eddie Einhorn, there wouldn't be a wild card."

Einhorn is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ann, daughter Jennifer (and her husband, Darryl), grandson Meyer, and son Jeff.

White Sox bullpen looks to have 'fight' on its hands.

By Dan Hayes

The White Sox don’t have a lot of battles this spring, but the bullpen could provide one of the fiercest competitions of camp.

Injuries aside, the White Sox would likely begin the season with a seven-man bullpen.

If they can maintain their health throughout camp, the White Sox look to have a tough decision on their hands when they head west in April to start the season at the Oakland A’s. With Nate Jones at full strength and the recent signing of Matt Albers, the White Sox have a full complement of relievers.

“There’s a fight for some spots,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We do have a pretty set bullpen, but there’s a couple of wild cards in there as far as depending the route we want to go. Do we want more innings out of that spot or cover it with just using more guys consistently?

“There’s a couple of options there.”

Technically, Jacob Turner is in the mix for both a spot in the starting rotation and in the bullpen. But the signing of Mat Latos two weeks ago could solidify the starting five as long as he shows he’s healthy.

That could leave Turner — who signed for $1.5 million and is out of minor-league options — vying for a spot as the long man in the bullpen, if that’s how the White Sox choose to design theirs.

Were Turner in that mix, the White Sox have at least seven relievers earning $800,000 or more as well as Jake Petricka. Albers, David Robertson and Zach Duke are all but locks to make the relief unit based on their salaries, experience and talent.

Dan Jennings is out of options and would have to be subjected to the waiver wire were the White Sox not to put him on the 25-man roster.

Only Jones, Putnam and Petricka have options left. With Jones earning $900,000 this season and a candidate to pitch in a setup role, he’s on the roster if he’s healthy. That could leave the decision down to just Putnam and Petricka, a pair that combined to convert 20 of 25 save opportunities in 2014.

Tommy Kahnle and Daniel Webb — both who have options — and Scott Carroll are also in the mix.

Golf: I got a club for that..... Garcia, Thompson share first-round lead at PGA National.

AFP

Michael Thompson of the United States hits his tee shot on the fifteenth hole on February 25, 2016 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (AFP Photo/Sam Greenwood)

Sergio Garcia grabbed an eagle -- and avoided the alligators -- to share the first-round lead with 2013 winner Michael Thompson on Thursday in the PGA Tour Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Spain's Garcia got off to a quick start, holing an eight-iron from 148 yards out in the fairway for an eagle at the par-four second hole.

He added four more birdies, with his only bogey coming at the par-four sixth -- where he cautiously waded into a water hazard to hit his partially submerged ball, keeping a wary eye out for alligators all the while.

"I was more worried about the alligator that was on the other side of the island than getting out of the water," said Garcia, who fired out with a splash.

On a day when windy weather made the going tough on the par-70 Champion course at PGA National, Garcia wasn't complaining about one bogey.

He capped his round with a final birdie at 18 -- where he drained a six-footer to walk off the course with the lead.

Thompson joined him after a round that included an eagle, two bogeys and five birdies -- seizing his share of top spot with his own birdie at 18.

"I just went out and tried to play golf," said Thompson, whose lone PGA Tour victory came at PGA National in 2013. "I think I did that pretty good."

The leaders were one shot clear of Rickie Fowler and William McGirt.

Garcia's playing partner Fowler had four birdies in his bogey-free 66, saving par by holing out from the rough at the 10th, while McGirt's seven birdies included three in a row to end his round.

Five players shared fifth place on three-under 67: Ireland's Shane Lowry, Sweden's David Lingmerth and Americans George McNeill, Jimmy Walker and Justin Hicks.

Lowry, Lingmerth and McNeill played in the worst of the morning winds, but Lowry finished strong with a birdie at 17 and an eagle at the par-five 18th, where he hit his second shot three feet from the pin.

- 'Very, very challenging' -

"I'm just happy to shoot under par today," Lowry said. "It's very tough mentally, every shot requires a good shot. You don't get away with any bad shots out there."

McNeill had a double-bogey at the par-four 11th, but balanced that with six birdies and said hits putter was the key to his round.

"To see them go in and consistently go in -- I didn't expect to make that many," McNeill said.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington, who also won the title in 2005, got off to a rocky start with a three-over 73.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, whose win at PGA National in 2012 propelled him to number one in the world for the first time, carded a two-over 72 that included a double-bogey at 14, five birdies and five bogeys -- including one at the last.

No wonder Phil Mickelson was pleased with a one-under 69.

"It was very, very challenging," Mickelson said. "I felt very confident working it into the wind and did it a number of times today. The ball-striking took a lot of pressure off my short game. To keep it around par -- it was a good first day."

Germany's Alex Cejka posted his second hole-in-one in the past four months by acing the 177-yard par three, 17th hole, the final hole of a challenging three hole section known as the Bear Trap.

Cejka also made a hole-in-one in October on the par-three 17th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Love backs Woods to earn Ryder Cup spot.

Omnisport

Tiger Woods could still make his eighth Ryder Cup appearance as a player at Hazeltine, according to US captain Davis Love III.

Davis Love III has backed Tiger Woods to make the US Ryder Cup team later this year if he can play 10 or 12 successive tournaments in 2016.

Woods has not played competitively since August – when he finished the Wyndham Championship at 13 under in a tie for 10th – as he continues to recover from the latest operation on his back.

The former world number one has had surgery three times in the last 18 months on the problem, having previously struggled with knee issues.

He only played 11 events on the PGA Tour in 2015 and has yet to feature this year, seeing his ranking suffer as he slipped to 445 in the world.

Woods – who has played in seven Ryder Cups, winning only once – has already been confirmed as a vice-captain for the event at Hazeltine from September 30 to October 2, and US captain Love has not ruled him out of becoming the first playing vice-captain in the history of the event.

"If he can play 10 or 12 tournaments in a row, I think he can get his game back and make our team," he told BBC World News.

"Tiger is very adamant he can handle both roles. I think Tiger will work hard enough, if his body will allow it.

"If he keeps stopping and starting, and the injuries keep piling up, it's going to be tough for him but he's very determined, we've seen that.

"He has really been held down the last few years but he can play, he proved that at Greensboro [at the Wyndham]. Get him out there on the golf course and he still wants to do it.

"He just needs a full season, like any athlete, to get himself straightened out."

NASCAR: Danica Patrick to fans on move to Ford: ‘You can’t be scared of it’.

By Dustin Long

(Photo/sevenmonday.blogspot.com)

Danica Patrick says that fans hesitant about Stewart-Haas Racing’s move from Chevrolet to Ford next season, shouldn’t be too worried.

“As a team they have to do whatever they feel is necessary to make sure the team performs at the highest level possible,” Patrick said Thursday morning on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “Change happens. It just does. You can’t be scared of it. You have to embrace it.

“You never know how good it can be until something changes sometimes. I’m open-minded but most of all I know the team is doing it to make our team better. Their goal is look after the longevity of it and to make sure we are in a position to win races.”

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Wednesday morning that it would join Ford after this season. Stewart-Haas Racing receives engines, chassis and technical support from Hendrick Motorsports and will continue to do so this season. A Hendrick Motorsports executive admitted on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that it is “not business as usual” with SHR but pledged full support this season.

“Stewart-Haas is an incredible team,” Patrick said. “Tony (Stewart) runs a great team, has a lot of great people working for him. I trust the team and their decisions and what they want to do.”

How teams have performed in first season with new manufacturer.

By Daniel McFadin

AJ Allmendinger celebrates the first Sprint Cup win for JTD Daugherty in 2014, its first season with Chevrolet. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

As Danica Patrick said Thursday, sometimes change is a good thing. Change can be a business decision, as it was by Stewart-Haas Racing to change manufacturers in 2017 from Chevrolet to Ford.

A change doesn’t always bring immediate improvements, with some manufacturer realignments leading to success after a couple of years.

But owner-driver Tony Stewart has been a part of a big manufacturer change that saw instant results. The 2008 season was Stewart’s last with Joe Gibbs Racing before heading to SHR. But it was also JGR’s first year with Toyota after being with General Motors, under the Chevrolet and Pontiac banners, since 1993.

That first season, with a driver stable of Stewart, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, saw JGR win 10 races after earning just four the previous year with Chevrolet. The trio also combined for 39 top-five and 55 top-10 finishes and finished eighth through 10th in the point standings.

In 2003, JGR went from Pontiac to Chevrolet and earned four wins, 24 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes between Stewart and Bobby Labonte. The victories equaled what Stewart and Labonte scored the previous year but the top-fives and top-10s were higher with Chevrolet.

Michael Waltrip Racing, Red Bull Racing and Bill Davis Racing ushered Toyota’s debut Sprint Cup season in 2007. None is still competing.

In 2006, MWR competed in five races with Chevrolet. BDR competed with Dodge. In that first season with Toyota, MWR fielded five drivers in 69 total starts and finished with two top-five finishes and one pole. Bill Davis Racing sent six drivers into competition for 52 starts and came out on the other end with one top-five and two top-10 finishes and one pole.

Before SHR’s announcement Wednesday, the most recent manufacturer change was Furniture Row Racing going from Chevrolet to Toyota for this season. The move has already translated into a second-place result in the Daytona 500 in the closest finish in race history.

The 2014 season saw the one-car team of JTG Daugherty go from Toyota to Chevrolet. Its first season with the Bow Tie included the team’s first win, with AJ Allmendinger at Watkins Glen. Allmendinger finished the season 13th in points with his win, two top-five and five top-10 finishes.

The season before that, Team Penske made the switch to Ford from Dodge after Brad Keselowski won the team and the manufacturer their first Sprint Cup title in 2012.
The 2013 season saw two combined wins between Keselowski and Joey Logano and 20 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes a year after Keselowski won five races on the way to the title.

Ford also gained Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010. RPM’s three full-time drivers finished 19th, 23rd and 27th in the point standings. Kasey Kahne ran in 31 races and earned seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes and three poles before moving to Red Bull Racing. RPM’s full-time drivers of Allmendinger, Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler (Aric Almirola drove the last five races for Kahne) combined for three top-five and 15 top-10 finishes and two poles.

In 2009, Chip Ganassi Racing jumped from Dodge to Chevrolet. After fielding six drivers in 76 starts in 2008 and earning three top-five and five top-10 finishes, Ganassi had just three drivers – two full-time –  in its first year with Chevy. Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex Jr. earned eight top-five and 24 top-10 finishes and five poles. Montoya qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup and finished eighth. Truex finished the year in 23rd.

NASCAR announces 20 nominees for 2017 Hall of Fame Class.

By Daniel McFadin

NASCAR announced the 20 nominees Wednesday for the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame class and the five nominees for the Landmark award.

Fifteen nominees return from the 2015 list. The five new nominees are Camping World Truck series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., Sprint Cup championship team owner Jack Roush, veteran driver Ricky Rudd, announcer Ken Squier and engine builder Waddell Wilson.

Voting will be conducted in May to determine the five inductees for next season.
Here are the 20 nominations for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s 2017 class (in alphabetical order):

Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500;

Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949;

Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series;

Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief;

Ray Fox, legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner;

Rick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series;

Ron Hornaday, four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion;

Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chief;

Alan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR premier series champion;

Mark Martin, 96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competition;

Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR west series champion;

Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner;

Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion;

Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion;

Jack Roush, five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series;

Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400;

Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence;

Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships;

Waddell Wilson, won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder;

Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner.

Here are the five nominees for the Landmark Award (in alphabetical order):

Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway;

Janet Guthrie, the first female to compete in the Daytona 500 (1977);

Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner;

Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company;

Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.

SOCCER: Calistri brace gives Fire another preseason win. 

By Dan Santaromita

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

A number of lineup changes didn't change the result for the Chicago Fire.

The Fire beat Minnesota United FC 4-0 in the Fire's second match of the Simple Invitational from Providence Park in Portland on Wednesday.

There were six changes from the starting lineup that took to the field in the 3-2 win against Vancouver on Sunday. Only Michael Harrington, Johan Kappelhof, Brandon Vincent, Matt Polster and Joey Calistri returned as starters from that win. All five of those players subbed off at halftime. Three of those five are defenders, so Fire coach Veljko Paunovic appears to recognize that the defense needs to get game action together to develop chemistry because all of them are new to the team.

Despite the changes it was another preseason victory. For whatever it's worth, the Fire are now 4-0 in 90-minute preseason matches.

Joey Calistri was the standout with two first-half goals.

Calistri's first came in the 24th minute when he found some room in the penalty box and calmly finished. Michael Harrington had sent in a cross from the right that bounced around a bit near Brandon Vincent before landing at Calistri's feet. It was a nice display of composure in the box for Calistri.

The same three names were involved in the second goal. Harrington hit a low cross that went all the way across the face of goal and just stayed in play by the time Vincent got to it. Vincent found Calistri open in the box and he scored with a first-touch finish just inside the far post.

Kingsley Bryce scored the third with a looping header that effectively was a chip shot over goalkeeper Kristian Nicht.

Of note in the second half was the first glimpse of Brazilian right back Rodrigo Ramos. Ramos joined the team in camp earlier this week and could challenge for the starting spot at right back. Ramos assisted on Bryce's goal with a cross.

Alex Morrell did his part to add an exclamation point on the match by drawing a penalty kick in the 88th minute. Morrell is known for his speed and ability in 1-on-1 situations and showed both. He beat one man with a nice move just outside the box and a second Minnesota defender tripped him in the penalty box. Arturo Alvarez finished the penalty kick for the final goal.

It's worth mentioning that while Minnesota expects to join Major League Soccer next season as an expansion team, the club is still in the North American Soccer League and lost 4-0 to the Portland Timbers on Sunday.

The Fire's final preseason game will take place on Saturday against the Simple Invitational host Portland Timbers at 7 p.m. CT.

Report: Neymar has new five-year deal with Barcelona.

By Kyle Bonn

(Photo/Getty Images)

According to ESPN Brazil, Neymar has penned a new five-year contract with Barcelona that will keep him under club control through the summer of 2021.

The report states that Neymar’s contract makes him the second-highest paid player at the club behind Lionel Messi. That would mean his contract is worth roughly somewhere between the $220,000 and $275,000 per week value that falls in the middle of Messi and Luis Suarez’s paychecks, putting the three-headed monster at the front of Barcelona’s attack at the top of the club’s salary list.

It also states that this contract was agreed upon back in December while Barcelona was in Japan competing in the Club World Cup, but they could not announce the new deal due to Neymar’s ongoing tax situation with the Spanish and Brazilian governments.

Neymar’s previous deal was set to expire in the summer of 2018, meaning he would have gone into next season with just two years left on his contract, something clubs never want to do to avoid unneeded transfer speculation.

The 24-year-old has scored 18 goals in La Liga this season. Between him, Messi, and Suarez, they have scored 58 of the club’s 67 league goals. Neymar was most important during Messi’s five-game injury absence through October and early November, when he scored eight goals and assisted three others.

There are rumors that the club plans to upgrade Lionel Messi’s contract this coming summer as well.

Week 27: Top 5 Premier League storylines – Is Spurs the title favorite?

By Kyle Bonn

(Photo/Getty Images)

After a one-week hiatus, the Premier League is back.

The title race is taking serious shape, but there are plenty of races around the rest of the Premier League table. With Leicester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester City all vying for the top spot, those below them are still battling for various positional milestones.

Who is the favorite for the Premier League crown? Who has a realistic shot at the top four? Who is hot and who is cold? Who will be dragged into a relegation battle? With 12 matches left in the season, these questions still don’t have answers, but they may after this weekend.

Tottenham vs. Swansea City — Sunday, 9:05 a.m. ET

I can see the comments flooding already: “You guys still don’t give Leicester City any credit?” Sure we do. At the moment, Tottenham is not the title favorite. The team at the top of the table with 12 matches remaining is the title favorite, and that means Leicester City. When/if Spurs does take over the lead, then they will be the favorites.

This fact, however, is undeniable: Spurs is in the best form of the league and has a title-winning league resume this season. They’ve lost just three times all year, and just twice since an opening-day loss to Manchester United. Since their 1-0 loss to Leicester City in mid-January, they’ve rolled off five straight wins. Last week’s win over Manchester City was enormous, and it means they have a breeze of a schedule the rest of the way, with just one other top-4 team on the dockett through the end of the season – the North London derby on March 5 which will be a massive occasion.

Given Tottenham’s inability to get over the top 4 hump in recent seasons, any Champions League finish seems like a major victory, but a title race has essentially fallen into their lap. Can they take advantage where Arsenal has failed this season?

2. Can Leicester recover?

Leicester City vs. Norwich City — Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET

Remember how Tottenham has lost only three times this season? Leicester had only lost twice…until last week, when they fell at the Emirates. A potentially big blow to Leicester’s title chase, Norwich could be just the spoonful of medicine the Foxes need to get back on track. The Canaries have opened the scoring against opponents just eight times all season, the second-worst amount in the league ahead of only bottom-feeding Aston Villa. That’s not likely against the Foxes who had conceded just two goals in eight matches before their 2-1 loss to Arsenal last week. A win feels like a must for Leicester’s title hopes this week, but that also seems the likely result.

3. Will the Gunners use the momentum?

Arsenal vs. Manchester United — Sunday, 9:05 a.m. ET

Arsenal was humbled by Barcelona in Champions League, but losing to one of the best attacks ever assembled is nothing to hang their heads about. The league form for Arsenal still breeds confidence, with three unbeaten following the loss to Chelsea. The Gunners need to milk every last point possible out of their remaining matches if they hope to keep pace with or pass Spurs, and this week’s matchup with a faltering Manchester United seems like the perfect opportunity to jump back on the soapbox. Just two points back, Arsenal is right in the thick of things, but they need to build on recent performances if they have any hope of sticking around.

4. Can Southampton make a move on Manchester United?

Southampton vs. Chelsea — Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET

The Saints’ poor run through December was a debilitating wound, but not a mortal one. Southampton still has the opportunity to push for a guaranteed Europa League place, and their chances for the top four seem dire but not dead. This weekend seems to be the perfect opportunity to make a move on Manchester United and shimmy into the top five. The Saints already dispatched Chelsea once this season at Stamford Bridge, but this isn’t the same Chelsea team they faced back in early October. Can they pass the Red Devils? Also notable: Chelsea has an outside shot at moving back into the top 10 should things shake out, something that seemed well out of reach in the early going.

5. Can Crystal Palace get back to winning ways vs West Brom?

West Bromwich Albion vs. Crystal Palace — Saturday, 12:30 a.m. ET

One of these teams hasn’t won since December 19; the other has just six points since early January. Two teams looking to avoid being swept into a relegation battle meet at The Hawthornes, with both in dire need of a victory. The Eagles have tumbled down the table, without a win since 2015 and on the verge of totally undoing all the impressive early season results. Both these sides sit at 32 points, and with the relegation zone eight points back, the heat isn’t on just yet, but it could be with yet another failure this weekend. Games like these have a habit of ending in a draw, but it’s likely Alan Pardew could go for all the marbles.

NCAABKB: Xavier makes case as true contender in toppling No. 1 Villanova.

By Pat Forde

Jalen Reynolds (L) reacts after scoring a late bucket in Xavier's win over Villanova. (Photo/AP)

The No. 1 team had just been defeated, and Xavier coach Chris Mack had stoically made his way through the handshake line. As he strode toward midcourt, the school’s blue blob mascot bounded up to congratulate him.

Mack shook the blob’s furry hand. All business. Not a smile on his face.

Then he took a few more steps and at last broke into a wide grin. Here came the two-girl court storm.

Daughters Lainee (10 years old) and Hailee (9) were the only fans to make it onto the floor, in direct disobedience to the P.A. announcer’s repeated pleas for Xavier backers to stay in their seats after beating Villanova, 90-83.

“Gonna ground them,” their dad said afterward, smiling. Later he joked, “I know when they’re 13 or 14 they’ll just text me, ‘Congrats.’ “

Congratulations, via text or hug, were certainly in order. This was one of the biggest nights in program history. If Chris Mack and Xavier can finally beat Villanova, they might be able to beat anybody.

Since joining the Big East in 2013, the Musketeers were 0-6 against the Wildcats. Most of those losses were beatdowns. Average margin of defeat: 17 points. The road to the Big East title has gone through Philly, and that road has been closed to Xavier.

The most recent meeting was a 31-point bloodletting on Dec. 31. Xavier mix-master Edmond Sumner had suffered a scary injury just two minutes into that game, throwing the team out of kilter, but the bottom line couldn’t be excused away: Nova was way better than Xavier. Again.

“I’ve been here for every loss to Villanova since we’ve been in the Big East,” junior guard Myles Davis said. “So it’s weighed on me.”

Heading into this Wednesday showdown – the first meeting of top-five Catholic schools in 31 years, each with their highest AP ranking ever – the No. 5 Musketeers heard about Villanova’s mastery of them endlessly. Then they went out in front of a crazed Cintas Center crowd and forcibly changed the subject.

“It’s nice to get that monkey off our back,” Mack said. “It won’t be mentioned every time we play. But there’s a reason we haven’t beaten them. They’re good.”

So is Xavier.

Really good.

Potentially Final Four good, for the first time in school history.

Maybe even national title good, if the basketball gods smile upon them.

“The sky’s the roof,” said Davis, a twist of phrase that actually works.

The sky is the roof, and the roof is on fire. Or something like that. And there is little reason to think the deep, athletic, balanced, relentless Musketeers aren’t capable of looking the biggest and best teams squarely in the eye.

It’s a wide-open season – guys named Karl Anthony-Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminsky aren’t around anymore, and nobody has adequately taken their place. Consistency is elusive, especially at the top – Villanova is the sixth AP No. 1 of the season, and we may well have another new one next week. So why not Xavier?

The only knock is the fact that it has never been that far before, and experience (especially for the coach) tends to be a strong predictor of national championship success. Of the 16 titles won this century, only two were captured by coaches appearing in their first Final Four (Bill Self in 2008, Kevin Ollie in ’14).

But the 46-year-old Mack may have what it takes to do it on his first try if Xavier gets that far. In his seventh season, he has constructed a roster of wonderfully complementary parts.

The best players are young: the spectacularly athletic Sumner, who had 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds, is a redshirt freshman; leading scorer Trevon Blueitt is a sophomore; so is bench energizer J.P. Macura, who dropped 19 on ‘Nova. Seniors scored just 10 of Xavier’s 90 on Wednesday night.

They are willing to share the ball and the spotlight, even in the biggest game of their college careers: Blueitt, who is averaging 15 points per game, attempted just seven shots against the Wildcats. The Musketeers had 24 assists on 30 baskets.

“I truly believe we have a special passing team,” Mack said.

Mack and his staff aren’t out battling Kentucky and Duke for players. They’re mostly mining the Midwest, grabbing guys with more upside than ready-made, five-star ability. Then they make them better.

“We identified some talented players we felt wanted to get better,” Mack said. “We pride ourselves on developing our players.”

Between 6-10 Jalen Reynolds, 6-10 James Farr and 6-8 Kaiser Gates, Xavier should have enough size to battle the big boys – especially when buttressed by a trio of 6-5 and 6-6 wing players. There are ball handlers. Distributors. Shooters. Defenders. And a leading man in Blueitt.

But Sumner is particularly intriguing. He came out of high school in Detroit as a rail-thin, 6-foot-3 guard. Now he’s a rail-thin, 6-6 combo player, capable of fracturing a defense off the dribble and in transition. Shot selection and shooting mechanics can still be an issue, but there aren’t many college defenders who can stay in front of him – and that’s after overcoming patellar tendinitis in his knees that shut down his 2014-15 season after just six games.

The Xavier that was routed by Villanova earlier this season without Sumner looked a lot different than the Xavier the Wildcats saw Wednesday night.

“He made a big difference,” Nova coach Jay Wright said. “He’s a hell of a player.”

As Sumner continues to flourish, he might be the X-factor who catapults X into a higher realm than it’s ever experienced.

“I think we have bigger fish to fry,” Mack said. “If we continue to get better, the sky’s the limit.”

Or the roof. Whatever phrase works for you.

But Mack is right: Catholic schools love a good fish fry, and Xavier may be able to schedule the biggest one in its history.

Tentative date: April 2, in Houston.

Wisconsin beats No. 8 Iowa, continuing recent hot streak.

By Raphielle Johnson

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

As one of the Big Ten’s most improved players, Iowa’s Peter Jok has become a primary offensive option alongside Jarrod Uthoff for one of the conference’s best teams. And in the first half of Wednesday’s game against Wisconsin the junior was nearly unstoppable, scoring 17 of Iowa’s 34 first-half points. Wisconsin needed to slow him down in order to win, and thanks in large part to the defense of Zak Showalter the Badgers managed to do just that.

Jok scored just four points in the second stanza thanks to Showalter, and thanks to contributions throughout the lineup Wisconsin produced a 67-59 victory in Iowa City. At one point 9-9 on the season (1-4 in Big Ten play), Wisconsin’s now won nine of its last ten games. And at 10-5 in conference play Greg Gard’s team is still a factor in the Big Ten title race, something that few envisioned for this team six weeks ago.

Bronson Koenig scored 15 points and Nigel Hayes ten, and while they’ve matured throughout the season so has the rest of the roster. The role players made the difference Wednesday night, be it Showalter with his defense or reserves such as Charlie Thomas and Khalil Iverson providing a needed spark off the bench.

Wisconsin received 23 points from its bench compared to four for Iowa, and that combined with Wisconsin’s defense was the difference.

Jok was quiet in the second half thanks to Showalter, and Wisconsin also limited Jarrod Uthoff to 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting. Earlier in the season Iowa was receiving points from a host of players, so even with Uthoff playing at an All-American level and Jok not far behind Fran McCaffery’s team proved incredibly difficult to slow down offensively. That hasn’t been the case of late, one reason why Iowa’s lost three of its last four games.

If Iowa, which now trails Indiana by a game in the Big Ten standings, is to win the conference title it will need more from the likes of Mike Gesell (four points, 2-for-9 FG) and Dom Uhl (two points, 1-for-4 shooting) than they’ve received in recent games.

With its defense Wisconsin made those players beat them, and Iowa couldn’t get it done. Hayes and Koenig will continue to lead the way for the Badgers as this team approaches the NCAA tournament. But the reason why Wisconsin will hear its name called when the field is announced, not to mention be a threat to win once there, is the fact that the players who aren’t the headliners have improved throughout the course of the season.

And that’s a credit to the players and their head coach, who continues to strengthen his case to have the interim tag removed.

No. 7 North Carolina wins, but Marcus Paige’s struggles continue.

By Rob Dauster

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

For about eight minutes on Wednesday night, it looked like No. 7 North Carolina was going to have front row seats for the Cat Barber show.

With 12 minutes left in the first half, the Wolfpack had taken a 23-10 lead on the Tar Heel courtesy of 16 points from Barber. By the final TV timeout of the half, UNC had retaken the lead, and by the time their run was done, Roy Williams’ club would be up 38-29.

The Tar Heels would go on to extend that lead to 19 points in the second half, and while Barber finished with 32 points, six boards and three assists, it was mostly irrelevant; N.C. State never really felt like they were a threat to win this game, which is more or less the story of the Wolfpack season.

But the story here isn’t what N.C. State’s star did Wednesday.

It’s what UNC’s star didn’t do.

Again.

Marcus Paige was unimpressive once again for the Tar Heels. He had 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Since scoring 30 points at Florida State early in ACC play, the senior has played 12 games and reached double-figures in just five of them. He’s averaging just 9.0 points during that stretch, shooting a paltry 31.3 percent from the floor and 27.1 percent from three.

And that, as much as anything, is why North Carolina has been underwhelming over the course of the last three or four weeks. As good as North Carolina is, this is not a team that’s overflowing in pros. Brice Johnson is a borderline first round pick. Kennedy Meeks is going to play a long time overseas. Justin Jackson might get drafted when he eventually decides to come out.

Then there was Paige. For a while, during his sophomore season, he looked like a dude that was going to have a great college career and get a shot at the NBA simply because he was such a prolific college scorer. But he wasn’t that guy last year. And he hasn’t been close to that guy this year.

And I just wonder if the Tar Heels can ever come close to approaching their ceiling if he continues to play the way that he’s played of late.

NCAAFB: Texas and South Carolina looking to add more bowl games.

By Graham Watson

(Photo/yahoosports.com)

Think there are too many bowl games?

Well, get ready to add more.

Groups from Austin, Texas and Charleston, South Carolina, are pushing to add their own bowl games this winter. That would raise the total number of bowl games to 43. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina also is looking to add a bowl game at a later date.

“We're trying,” said Lance Aldridge, executive director of the Austin Sports Commission. “We're trying every way possible.”

A year ago, fans, coaches and commissioners were dismayed because college football wasn’t able to fill all of the bowl slots available with teams bearing at least a 6-6 record. Two teams from the Mountain West ended up playing each other and three five-win teams ended up in bowl games just to fill space.

In 2015, 63 percent of the teams in college football played in the postseason. According to CBSSports.com, “The past six years produced the three most lopsided bowl seasons since 1998. Bowls were decided by 15.8 points per game last season, the highest in 18 years.”

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who is also chairing an NCAA working group examining the amount of bowls available, is exasperated with the number bowls and is at his wits end on how to limit more from joining.

“It's a double-edged sword,” Bowlsby told CBSSports.com. “If we don't go down far enough to make sure all of our schools find a postseason home, then the smaller conferences backfill behind us and we have eligible teams that get left home.

Everybody is acting in their own self-interests, and I don't think our committee is charged with solving all of the problems of the postseason.”

Bowlsby’s bowl group is currently studying bowl-eligibility records, finances for different bowls, selection processes and uniform experiences. The group, which includes 10 members, are advised by bowl directors from the Alamo Bowl and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and Football Bowl Association (FBA) executive director Wright Waters. Those parties will make recommendations to the NCAA council.

While the NCAA can approve participation rules, it can’t tell a bowl whether it can exist, which creates a problem for those trying to limit the number of bowls available.

“Part of this is if you start to limit who can have a bowl, you start having accusations of restraint of trade again,” Bowlsby told CBSSports.com. “Down the road, maybe the FBA can do some self-regulation that the NCAA can’t do. Right now, it’s a lot simpler deciding who is eligible to play in a bowl.”

Spring brings QB competitions from Alabama to Notre Dame.

By RALPH D. RUSSO

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws against Ohio State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game in Glendale, Ariz. Kizer saved Notre Dame's season after Malik Zaire broke his ankle in Week 2. He threw for 2,884 yards and 21 touchdowns, ran for 10 touchdowns and threw 10 interceptions. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Quarterback competitions that get settled in spring are often competitions in name only.

The ones with real drama almost always get resolved in August, but that does not mean some quarterbacks won't assert themselves during the spring.

Last season, Ohio State's star-studded QB contest was one of the stories of the offseason and not until November was it settled. The Buckeyes have no quarterback competition this season, but several teams that hope to contend for a playoff spot do.

ALABAMA

For the third straight season Alabama has no clear-cut starting quarterback.

Cooper Bateman is the presumptive front-runner after he lost out to Jake Coker last year. Blake Barnett is the five-star future franchise QB. David Cornwell was a four-star recruit who could play at dozens of FBS schools.

Three of Alabama's national championships have come with a first-year starter behind center as Nick Saban has proved the best way to develop a quarterback is to surround him with future NFL players.

FLORIDA STATE

Sean Maguire ended last season as the Seminoles' starter, but he will have serious competition underclassmen with more upside. Redshirt freshman Deondre Francois was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks coming out of high school in 2015 and five-star freshman Malik Henry has enrolled early to take part in spring practice. Henry has said he has no plans to redshirt. Jimbo Fisher might have other plans.

GEORGIA

Among 2016 freshman quarterbacks, Georgia's Jacob Eason would be voted most likely to start immediately. He is already enrolled, will take part in spring practice and new coach Kirby Smart's other options are ... limited. Brice Ramsey is the only returnee with experience, but an argument could be made he is a better punter (41.9-yard average) than passer (two picks and one touchdown pass in 35 attempts).

MICHIGAN

The Wolverines rode graduate transfer Jake Rudock to 10 wins in coach Jim Harbaugh's surprisingly good first season in Ann Arbor. Next in line appears to be another transfer. John O'Korn came over from Houston, where he was the American Athletic Conference freshman of the year in 2013 and demoted to second string in 2014. He is not a lock to win the job. Former five-star recruit Shane Morris figures to be his main competition, along with last year's backup, Wilton Speight. A couple of freshmen will get a look, too.

NOTRE DAME

DeShone Kizer saved Notre Dame's season after Malik Zaire broke his ankle in Week 2. Kizer passed for 2,884 yards and 21 touchdowns, ran for 10 TDs and threw 10 interceptions. Kizer, a sophomore, was so good it almost makes you forget that the junior Zaire was a clear No. 1 going into last season. Brian Kelly also second-year man Brandon Wimbush, who could be the most talented quarterback on the roster. Maybe Kelly can call Urban Meyer for some advice? Then again, maybe not a good idea.

STANFORD

Now that Kevin Hogan's 10-year career at Stanford (at least it seemed that way) is over, the Cardinal have a vacancy. Conventional wisdom is the job is Keller Chryst's to lose. The son of former 49ers offensive coordinator Geep Chryst and nephew of Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst played sparingly as the No. 2 last year, but being second on the depth chart meant he beat out Ryan Burns, this season's main competition.

Highly touted freshman K.J. Costello will join the competition in August, but for spring it will be Chryst and Burns taking just about all the reps.

Dallas PD refers Manziel case to DA for presentation to grand jury. What's Your Take?

By Josh Alper

(Photo/Getty Images)

The Browns have made it clear in recent weeks that quarterback Johnny Manziel won’t be part of the team in 2016 and it seems unlikely that anyone else will be clamoring for a chance to bring him to their team while he still faces possible criminal charges for allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend last month.

The status of the case took a step forward on Thursday when the Dallas Police Department released a statement announcing that they have completed their investigation into what went on.

“The investigation of the domestic violence assault involving Jonathan Manziel, which occurred on January 30, 2016, has been completed. Today, a Class A misdemeanor Assault/Domestic Violence case has been referred to the Dallas County District Attorney’s office for presentation to the grand jury. The Dallas Police Department will not release any details of the investigation while it is pending grand jury presentation.”

There’s no timeline for when a grand jury might hear the case or when a decision about moving forward with charges could be expected. In Texas, Class A misdemeanors carry penalties of not more than 1 year in a county jail and/or a fine of not more than $4,000.

Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: This is another issue that we have discussed recently and can't seem to get a grasp on. Here's a young man with a multitude of talent, an opportunity to take the sports world by storm, make a terrific name for himself, increase his brand and he can't get his life together. All he wants to do is party. He's blowing a golden opportunity; his father is worried about how long he will live, his agent has dropped him, the team that drafted him, (Cleveland Browns), is dropping him and his future is starting to look very bleak. Surely someone he relates to like a family member, (parents. sibling, grandparents, aunt, uncle or cousin), former coach, priest or minister, teacher or anyone that he respects should make an effort to reach him. I hate to see the world give up on him, it would be such a waste of talent but as we always say, "talent undisciplined is talent wasted." We don't know the full extent of the situation or all of the circumstances involved but from what we've been reading since training camp, it's definitely not good. We sincerely hope he can turn his life around and find himself, hopefully, it's not too late.

Again, we've explained our position in this matter and would love to see what you think and hear what's your take? Please go to the comments section at the bottom of this blog and share your opinion with us. We really appreciate hearing from you.

The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, February 26, 2016.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1935 - The New York Yankees released Babe Ruth. Ruth signed with the Boston Braves for $20,000 and a share in the team's profits.

1981 - Edgar F. Kaiser, Jr. purchased the Denver Broncos from Gerald and Allan Phillips.

1985 - Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers) became the third on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

1989 - The New York Yankees announced that Tom Seaver would be their new TV sportscaster.

1997 - Philadelphia's "Legion of Doom" line scored 15 points against the Ottawa Senators.

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