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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." ~ Leonardo da Vinci, Painter, Sculptor, Mathematician, Architect, Inventor, Military Engineer and Draftsman
Trending: NFL banning college players with domestic violence, sexual assault convictions from combine. (See the college football section for details).
Trending: 10 days until MLB pitchers and catchers start reporting!!! (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Cubs pitchers reporting to spring training..........
White Sox catchers reporting to spring training..........
Trending: Blackhawks upset with overturned call in shutout loss to Sharks. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Bovada gives Bears 40/1 odds to win Super Bowl LI. (See the football section for Bears updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks upset with overturned call in shutout loss to Sharks.
By Tracey Myers
Coach Joel Quenneville was angry.
He wasn’t as visibly angry as he was when the Blackhawks were denied an early goal off a coach’s challenge against the Arizona Coyotes. But when it happened again tonight against the San Jose Sharks, Quenneville had some measured but pointed words in what was a very brief post-game press conference.
“Yeah, it’s gone to a different level. I don’t know the rules anymore or something’s changed,” Quenneville said. “My understanding, I’ve played a lot of hockey… I don’t know. I think everybody has an interpretation of what’s a good goal and what’s a bad goal, but I can’t believe it.”
For the second time in three games the Blackhawks had a goal taken away thanks to a successful opposing coach’s challenge. They came back to win against Arizona, decreasing the angst they felt when Marian Hossa’s goal was disallowed. But there was no consolation on Tuesday night when Brandon Mashinter’s early goal was disallowed off another coach’s challenge, and the Sharks went on to beat the Blackhawks 2-0.
The Blackhawks remain atop the Central Division but the Dallas Stars, overtime winners over the Minnesota Wild, are just three points behind with three games in hand.
Artemi Panarin missed the game due to illness. Corey Crawford stopped 25 of 26 shots in the loss. Martin Jones stopped all 33 shots he faced for the 12th shutout of his career.
Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal, which proved to be the winner for the Sharks. Joe Thornton added an empty-net goal.
But for the second time in their last three games, the Blackhawks were denied what they thought was a goal that would’ve given them a 1-0 lead. Mashinter’s would-be goal went off his shin pad and past Jones but Sharks coach Pete DeBoer issued a challenge, claiming the Blackhawks interfered with Jones. The officials ruled Dennis Rasmussen did interfere with Jones, erasing the goal.
“It’s definitely frustrating. I thought it was a fair goal but with the rules and the coach’s challenge, it’s one of those things that happens; and it’s been going on quite a bit in the league,” Mashinter said. “I can’t blame Moose [Rasmussen]; the puck was there. Just unfortunate.”
It was the third time this season the Blackhawks have had a goal taken away after an opposing coach’s challenge. Andrew Shaw’s goal was nixed after Toronto coach Mike Babcock challenged on Jan. 15. The Blackhawks went on to win that game.
Hossa, who was angry after his disallowed goal on Thursday, wasn’t happy with this call, either.
“I mean, the league wanted more goals but it seems like these rules are against it. It seems like it’s costing another goal,” Hossa said. “Last year, definitely that would be a goal, no question asked. It seems like again, same rule and no goal. Definitely frustrated. It could be a different result but it is what it is.”
Crawford agreed.
“I don’t know. It seems like we’re not doing too much to get things called back,” Crawford said. “As a goalie, you’re also trying to step out a little bit but didn’t look like that was much contact. But you have to live with the call.”
The Blackhawks didn’t stop generating traffic around Jones, nor did it stop them from trying to get shots through that traffic. Jones did his part, however, stopping everything and rarely allowing a rebound. The Blackhawks also went 0-for-3 on their power play.
It’s rare when Quenneville voices his displeasure with calls. The last time probably came after Raffi Torres’ hit to Hossa’s head back in 2011. It’s a frustration the Blackhawks were able to overcome in two previous games this season. On Tuesday, they couldn’t.
“That’s a tough one,” Hossa said. “But I thought that was another goal [when] it seems like they look at so many reviews and replays and seems a little touch seems to be a big interference and no goals, so that kind of sucks.”
Goal nixed again: Five Things from Blackhawks-Sharks.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks were looking to bring what’s been a good road trek back home, at least the energy and momentum they built off this latest trip.
That didn’t happen.
It wasn’t an exceptional game for either team but the Blackhawks definitely didn’t get what they were looking for in a 2-0 loss to the Sharks. That’s the way it goes sometimes. So as we head home – no, not the road as we have a lot lately – let’s look at Five Things to take from the Blackhawks’ loss to the Sharks.
1. Another disallowed goal. This is getting to be a habit for the Blackhawks. After Marian Hossa’s goal was nixed in Arizona due to goaltender interference, Brandon Mashinter’s goal met the same fate after Sharks coach Pete DeBoer challenged for interference on Tuesday. Coach Joel Quenneville voiced his displeasure about this one and then ended his post-game press conference abruptly. Quenneville has usually taken the “I’m not going to comment” approach on questionable calls. He was clearly frustrated with this one.
2. Power play fizzles. As we’ve discussed before, the Blackhawks’ power play is better overall this season but it hasn’t been as good at home (12th in the NHL). The Blackhawks had three opportunities on Tuesday night and it took until the third for them to really threaten (they were down 1-0 by that time).
3. Missing Artemi Panarin. This isn’t an excuse, just an observation. Who knows if he makes a difference, but the Blackhawks were holding auditions for that spot vacated by Panarin, who was out sick tonight. Teuvo Teravainen started at that left-wing spot; Richard Panik played there some and so did Andrew Desjardins. That line still threatened, but obviously didn’t have the same feel.
4. The Sharks play a great road game. There’s a reason they entered this one 17-8-2 on the road this season. The Sharks didn’t do anything fancy in this one. They just bided their time, took advantage of their great power play (third overall and on the road) and let Martin Jones do the rest. Jones, especially, did a good job of disallowing rebounds, because the Blackhawks were around him plenty.
5. Moving on. The Blackhawks have another day-and-a-half to get past this loss and the disallowed goal. The Stars, who are now just three points behind them in the Central Division, are here on Thursday night. The Blackhawks had a statement victory against the Stars on Saturday. They’ll need to channel their frustration in the right direction on Thursday if they want the same result.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Atlanta Hawks-Chicago Bulls Preview.
By JEFF MEZYDLO
Bruised and battered - physically and mentally - from a miserable trip, the Chicago Bulls return home looking to salvage something positive before the All-Star break.
Things aren't as rough for the Atlanta Hawks, but they're also feeling frustrated following back-to-back defeats.
The Bulls can avert their longest home skid in six years by avoiding a season-high fourth consecutive defeat overall Wednesday night against the Hawks.
A loser in 12 of 17, Chicago (27-24) sits seventh in the Eastern Conference after Monday's 108-91 loss to Charlotte concluded a 2-5 trip.
"You've got to be upset," said center Pau Gasol, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds. "It's up to us to get out of it ... We've got to do it together."
The Bulls' season-long road stretch proved to be a grueling one.
All-Star Jimmy Butler missed the last two games after suffering a left knee strain in Friday's 115-110 loss at Denver and will be sidelined the next three to four weeks. Derrick Rose sat Monday with general soreness after he averaged 20.6 points in the previous five contests.
Though the Bulls shot a respectable 44.8 percent for the trip, their last six opponents averaged 110.3 points and made 47.7 percent of their attempts.
"We have to put this trip behind us,'' coach Fred Hoiberg said. ''It was a long, grinding trip. It took a toll on our guys.''
It remains to be seen if Chicago can recover in time to rebound in this final contest before the break. The Bulls haven't dropped four straight since December 2013 and five in a row at home since March 2010.
The Bulls have averaged 85 points and shot 37.6 percent while losing their last three home games to Dallas, Golden State and Miami.
"It's rough," forward Taj Gibson said. "We've just got to figure out how to win one quarter at a time. We've got to be better."
Chicago's lost three of four to Atlanta (30-24), which led by 11 after one quarter and shot 52.1 percent - third-highest by a Bulls' opponent - in a 120-105 victory Jan. 9. Al Horford had a season-high 33 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks.
Horford scored 27, Paul Millsap had 22 with 13 boards and Jeff Teague added 21 points Monday but the Hawks lost to Orlando for the second time in as many days, 117-110 in overtime. Atlanta never led by more than two in Sunday's 96-94 road loss and failed to hold a 20-point advantage in the rematch.
''We lost our focus at times,'' Horford said. ''We've had this problem ... It's hard to take.''
The Magic shot 49.5 percent Monday, owned a 29-18 scoring advantage in the fourth and became the first Atlanta opponent in five games to score more than 97 points.
''I think we've got to be better late in games - myself, the players, everybody," said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team has dropped seven of 11.
Ex-Bull Kyle Korver went 4 of 6 from 3-point range for 16 points Monday. He's shot 52.2 percent from beyond the arc in 11 games against the Bulls since leaving Chicago after 2011-12, but has scored more than 10 points once in the five road meetings.
Gasol totaled 40 points and 28 rebounds in two at home against Atlanta last season.
Bulls crushed by Hornets to end disappointing 2-5 road trip. (Monday night's game, 02/08/2016).
By Vincent Goodwill
Shorthanded, tired, weary and ready to go home after a 13-day stay away from the United Center, the Bulls had one final chance to imprint a decent impression on their cross-country swing.
But with Derrick Rose a late scratch likely due to the big picture, the small one took a backseat as the Bulls had little chance against the Charlotte Hornets Monday, a squad that waxed the Bulls with a close-to-full roster earlier this season.
The Bulls competed but were out-manned in a 108-91 loss at Time Warner Cable Arena, their third straight loss and fifth in seven games, concluding their road trip with a 2-5 mark.
Already without Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and with Mike Dunleavy just playing his second game back, it didn’t leave Fred Hoiberg with a lot of options, and a 38-point first quarter from the Hornets dashed any real hopes of being more than competitive.
“That didn’t help,” Pau Gasol said. “They had a strong start, made a lot of shots. We didn’t make them feel uncomfortable enough, to make them take tough shots. They started strongly and confidently. We fought back but it was too big a hole to get out of.”
Their only solace came in fleeting moments, like when Cameron Bairstow found himself on an island against the jittery Kemba Walker at the end of the third quarter, and with Walker ready to dance Bairstow into embarrassment, Bairstow held his ground and defended Walker’s shot at the buzzer—to cheers from the Bulls fans in attendance and the bench.
“I thought the one thing we did do was I thought we executed our stuff very well,” said Hoiberg, noting the Bulls’ 25 assists on 35 field goals. “They were sharing the ball out there. After that first quarter, we dug ourselves a whole, it’s hard to climb out.”
They competed, shorthanded as they were but participation trophies aren’t given out when a team with title aspirations fall to 27-24.
The Bulls cut a 25-point lead down to 12 when Gasol found Doug McDermott for a wing triple midway through the fourth quarter, but the Hornets quickly restored order, with their wings getting everything they wanted.
They stretched out the Bulls’ defense for 13 triples and got to the line 30 times, while the three ball was the only thing keeping the Bulls within a respectable distance, hitting 10 of them but getting out-rebounded by a wide margin.
Gasol was the only reliable option, with 22 points and 10 rebounds with seven assists. Taj Gibson scored 11 but the offense was difficult to come by, if not impossible, as the Bulls shot just 39 percent.
In a vacuum, this loss wouldn’t look as bad if the Bulls hadn’t given away more than a handful of winnable games, but added to the lot of losses on this trip, with regrettable finishes in Utah and Denver, the tussin’ doesn’t go down so smoothly.
“Right now a lot of teams smell blood,” Gibson said, trying to laugh it off. “We just gotta figure out a way to get over it. Nobody’s gonna feel sorry for you.”
And going home for one game before the break is no solace, as the Atlanta Hawks are no pushover, and the first home game after a long road trip is usually difficult—especially considering the Bulls have been in four time zones in four days, taxing in itself.
“We have one big one left,” Hoiberg said. “It’s not the All-Star break yet. We have to put this behind us. It was a long, grinding trip. It’s tough, it took a toll on our guys.”
Meanwhile the surging Hornets have won four of five, as Walker again played tormentor with 30 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. With the older Kirk Hinrich taking Rose’s place in the starting lineup and no Butler, Walker wasn’t challenged on the defensive end and roamed free on offense, along with Nic Batum.
Batum plugged in holes, scoring 19 with 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Hornets pulled closer to the eighth spot—and the Bulls are now a mere half-game out of eighth place.
Yes, it seems time to consider the possibility of the Bulls being left out of the postseason party, even with the aforementioned circumstances.
The Hornets are getting themselves together and while no one in the Eastern Conference is running away with anything, the Bulls’ streak of seven straight playoff appearances appear to be in real jeopardy with this latest losing binge.
“The thing us you have to go back, regroup and come out swinging on Wednesday,” Hoiberg said.
The question is, how much snap is left in his team’s punches?
Bulls missing something - or someone - to pull them above water.
By Vincent Goodwill
The Bulls’ inconsistency has been puzzling and troubling, particularly this year as they tumble farther and farther down the Eastern Conference standings with the All-Star break looming.
“I’ve said it when we talk about the lack of consistency with the team. At some point, this is who we are,” Gasol said. “There’s no mystery. The results speak for themselves, and there’s a situation we’re dealing with.”
The results on this seven-game trip were startling. Blown leads followed by the same questions and answers following each loss made things look more dire by the day, shining light on the change this team has undergone in the last couple of seasons.
What they need, they don’t have, and what they have they don’t have enough of, even as they cling to hope with health and a more favorable travel schedule it can turn around as quickly as matters trended downward.
Taj Gibson wore a wry smile when asked if the Bulls lost their identity, after their shorthanded 17-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
“What was our identity? Our identity was defense but we went offense,” Gibson said. “You gotta look at it, we got a whole different group of guys. We had defensive guys with dog in them. We have young guys with an offensive mentality.”
One of the few players who can be counted on for production, even if he’s not a nightly impact player, Gibson has a bird’s eye view of things as he’s a part of the old guard through this new transformation.
And try as he might, he’s not the most vocal of players, at least not in the way this team needs someone to be.
The one thing this roster lacks, what every great team has, is someone who’s a little off, a guy whose only vice is winning and doesn’t care who he offends, either in the locker room or on the sideline.
It sounds cliché, but the players exist, guys who rule the locker room and can inspire his teammates, either by fear or charisma.
Think Draymond Green (Golden State). Think David West (San Antonio). Think Udonis Haslem (Miami).
“A guy that doesn’t care too much about anything, except winning? No, there’s not 'A-holes' on this team,” Gasol said. “Sometimes it is useful that a guy gets on somebody else to make him react or do better and not take it personally. There’s a fair argument that it’s something that could be useful and it could be useful at times.
“We don’t have that type of personality on the team here, in that way. You can approach a guy and say, ‘Let’s do this better, let’s pick it up, let’s figure it out, communication. You don’t have to say 'what the eff, wake the eff up.' Some guys are comfortable using that type of language but I’m not.”
It’s not in Derrick Rose’s demeanor, and Jimmy Butler is still learning who he is as a leader. Gasol is a veteran who’s been through it all, but his sensibilities differ from the above listed description, although he clearly knows what it looks like.
They all know it’s what this team doesn’t have, a lieutenant of sorts. Someone who cares least about Rose’s pedigree, Butler’s emergence and Gasol’s rings. Someone who’ll ruffle feathers, from bottom to the top.
Gibson hates the word “soft,” but that seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, as a group that was billed as strong-willed has seemed to retreat individually.
Not in cliques or factions, but as single ships passing in the night, and there’s not one force in the locker room that can lift all tides in one direction.
“You gotta have somebody in that locker room to be able to back the coach up, support him and let them know where he’s coming from,” said Minnesota Timberwolves veteran forward Tayshaun Prince, who played against the Bulls in Minneapolis on Saturday.
“A coach can get on players oh-so-much, but at some point in the season guys get mentally, physically tired so they need to hear other voices. That’s where veterans come in.”
Prince was once a young player on a veteran team, helping the Detroit Pistons win a title, come within a hair of repeating and was a fixture in May and June from 2003 until 2008.
“Playing on different teams, we had a guy in Kevin Garnett, in Minnesota,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Guys liked him, respected him and he could say whatever he wanted to because everybody knew how hard he played and the work he put in the game.”
Hoiberg certainly didn’t expect this group to be so...quiet. Playing a decent amount of years in Minnesota, he could have likely believed every team had a Garnett, at least in the locker room, to where the coach doesn’t have to enter that domain.
But as he’s found out, perhaps shockingly, is this team doesn’t have that one guy. And even if he tried to put on that costume, he would be sniffed out as a fraud so quickly he’d lose whatever handle he had on the locker room.
“I think it’s kind of by committee with this group, it is by nature a quiet group but it’s a good group of guys who I think care, want to go out and do the right thing,” Hoiberg said. “We gotta build some confidence right now, that’s a big thing, that’s how you close out games.”
They can’t close out games, in part because of a self-fulfilling prophecy that seems to unveil itself every time things get close, and nobody seems to project enough confidence that everybody can believe in and ride with.
When things were turning in the opposite direction one game on this trip, an opposing player saw Rose tempted to say something to a young teammate but upon seeing the dismay on his face, Rose didn’t utter a word—knowing the fragility of the situation.
“It just depends on the connection and how well you know each other and stuff like that,” Prince said. “I have a bunch of really young guys here so you have to be careful how you approach them, how you say things because everybody’s so different. Especially on our team. We got a lot of young guys who haven’t been on this level. It’s partly babying them and also knowing what to say. It’s correct. It’s a different era. How I used to talk to Sheed (Rasheed Wallace) back in the day, I can’t do talk to these guys like that. They respond different. You want them to respond but you want them to keep playing.”
But things get tight, heads start to bow and eyes get lowered. So words are unspoken because you aren’t sure if someone can take honesty, brutal, public and heated.
“Great group of guys, hands down. Kids. It’s just a different group,” Gibson said. “We had straight defensive guys, hungry dogs. Now we have guys, offensive minded, shoot the three. We used to be scrappy. Now we’re trying to mold these guys into being scrappy. Every game is rough, and we’re still trying to get guys to talk. You’d think it’s the easiest thing. It’s frustrating, but what do you do?”
The next two months will reveal plenty from all parties involved, as either someone will step forward with his play or with his internal honesty to help the Bulls from their own brand of quicksand.
“We gotta be frustrated. We gotta be upset,” Gasol said. “How can we not be?”
Pau Gasol replaces Jimmy Butler on NBA All-Star roster.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Pau Gasol is headed to the NBA All-Star Game.
With fellow Bulls star Jimmy Butler forced to miss the game because of a knee injury, Gasol has now been tabbed by the league to take his place in Sunday's contest in Toronto.Gasol was initially considered as a possible snub by some when he was left off the All-Star roster.
The 35-year-old forward has turned in another strong season, averaging 17 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2 blocks per game.
This will be his sixth career All-Star appearance, including a spot in last year's game.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears offseason: 4 storylines to watch.
By Larry Mayer
Alshon Jeffery is one of many noteworthy free agents-to-be for the Bears. (Photo/chicagobears.com)
With the 2015 season now officially in the books following Super Bowl 50, here are four storylines involving the Bears heading into an important offseason:
1) How many of their own players will the Bears re-sign?
With 18 players on the Bears roster due to become unrestricted free agents next month, general manager Ryan Pace and his personnel staff will have some key decisions to make.
The most noteworthy free agents-to-be are receiver Alshon Jeffery, running back
The others are cornerback
Jeffery was limited to nine games in 2015 due to injuries to his calf, hamstring, groin and shoulder, but he still led the Bears with 54 receptions for 807 yards and four touchdowns.
The previous two seasons, Jeffery played in all 32 games. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2013 after catching 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns and followed with 85 receptions for 1,133 yards and 10 TDs in 2014.
Forte also faces an uncertain future. The Bears appear to have confidence in promising young running backs
2) How active will the Bears be in free agency?
Pace's approach likely will be similar to last year, when he bolstered the Bears roster by signing several veterans, including outside linebacker
Pace believes in spreading his free-agent resources because it limits risk and addresses multiple needs. So expect the Bears to once again pursue several different players on the open market.
"I don't like to put all our eggs in one basket in free agency," Pace said last month. "I don't think you're going to see us make one splash free-agent signing. I think it's going to be kind of spread-out-your-resources a little bit."
It's no secret that the Bears need more impact players on defense. In 2015, they generated just 17 takeaways—their fewest in a 16-game season—didn't have a player with more than two interceptions for the first time since 1975 and didn't score a return TD for the first time since 1997.
3) Who will the Bears select in the draft?
With nine picks in this year's draft, Pace figures to have the ability to address multiple needs while also possessing the ammunition to trade up a few spots if there's a player he covets on the board. The general manager believes in selecting the best player available rather than reaching for a need.
Pace's first draft with the Bears was a success, with four of last year's picks developing into regular contributors as rookies—second-round defensive tackle
Plus first-round receiver
The Bears will pick 11th in Round 1, 10th in Round 2, ninth in Round 3, eighth in Round 4, 11th in Round 5, 10th in Round 6 and ninth in Round 7. They also have two additional sixth-round selections they acquired from the Panthers and Patriots in trades for Jared Allen and Jonathan Bostic, respectively.
The Bears have drafted eight players in the No. 11 spot, with the last four being tackle Keith Van Horne (1981), linebacker Wilber Marshall (1984), cornerback Donnell Woolford (1989) and defensive end John Thierry (1994).
4) How quickly will the Bears adapt to new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains?
With Loggains being promoted from quarterbacks coach to coordinator, the Bears will run the same offense they did last year under Adam Gase, who left the team after one season as coordinator to become head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
That should result in a smooth transition for quarterback
"Dowell played a critical role on our offense last year," coach John Fox said last month. "He's an excellent coach with experience as a play-caller and a broad knowledge of offensive football. He has earned the respect of our players because they know he can help them get better.
"As I mentioned at the end of the season, our systems are in place. We will always look to evolve because the NFL is fluid and adapting is key to good coaching. Dowell will help us build on what we started as we head into the 2016 season."
Loggains joined the Bears after serving as Browns quarterbacks coach in 2014. He spent the prior eight seasons with the Titans as a coaching administrative assistant (2006-07), offensive quality control coach (2008-09) and quarterbacks coach (2010-12). He was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games in 2012 and served in that role for the entire 2013 season.
Bears' Alshon Jeffery begins training with Jay Glazer in California.
By John Mullin
The Bears wide receiver, who in the past has trained in Florida with Brandon Marshall and Marquess Wilson, has begun training at Unbreakable Performance Center in West Hollywood, Calif., the elite, high-end training center started by FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer, Olympic volleyball player Lindsey Berg and Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Last offseason, Jeffery opted for workouts with Marshall rather than sessions in Nashville with Jay Cutler, Martellus Bennett, Kevin White and other members of the offense.
Glazer tweeted on Tuesday.
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Jay Glazer ✔ Follow
@JayGlazer
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That big offseason for Jeffery, who wobbled through an injury-speckled 2015, will include a major contract. To play out is whether it will be in the form of the Bears’ franchise tag expected in the range of $14.4 million guaranteed for one year, or a multi-year pact, presumably with the Bears, who are a virtual lock to keep Jeffery from reaching unrestricted free agency.
Besides working with Jeffery, Glazer has worked with the likes of Beckham Jr., Long and brother Chris, Matthews, Shawne Merriman, the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, and others in different sports, including MMA.
Bovada gives Bears 40/1 odds to win Super Bowl LI.
#BEARSTALK
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Bovada released their Super Bowl LI favorites and the Bears were given a 40/1 odds to capture the Lombardi Trophy.
The Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks top the list at 9/1. The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers follow with a 12/1 odds.
The Bears finished 6-10 in John Fox's first year as head coach in an injury-plagued season.
The Bears will head into 2016 without offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who signed a five-year contract to coach the Miami Dolphins, and move forward with Dowell Loggains. The Bears may also be without Matt Forte, whose future in Chicago is uncertain.
However, Jeremy Langford showed signs that he's ready to take on the starting role. In addition, the Bears will get Kevin White back, who sat out the entire season with a shin injury.
The offense seems to be in place for next season, but Ryan Pace & Co. may look to improve a defense that ranked 23rd against the pass and 11th against the run.
After seeing the Denver Broncos (16/1 odds) win Super Bowl 50 with a dominating defensive performance, CSNChicago.com Bears Insider John "Moon" Mullin says the templates to be a Super Bowl contender are there for the Bears.
Check out full list at Bovada.com.
Cubs had to think big to keep up with National League elite.
By Patrick Mooney
Theo Epstein, Cubs General Manager
Could the Cubs win 90 games and still be sitting home in October?
The Cubs understood there would be no sneaking up on anyone or sneaking into the playoffs this year. There are no guarantees in a National League where so many teams are focused on either going all-in to win a World Series in 2016 — or writing off big-league seasons to build for the future, the way the Cubs and Houston Astros reconstructed their franchises.
Super Bowl 50 is over, which means attention will soon shift to pitchers and catchers reporting to Florida and Arizona, where the Cubs will be hyped as a World Series favorite.
The Cubs don’t believe their window is closing — the way the Denver Broncos did with Peyton Manning — but there is still a sense of urgency to win now. The Cubs don’t have a move-the-needle star quite like Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, but they think they have the right mix of big personalities needed for a championship-caliber team.
“The dynamics of the National League this year will mean that it will take a lot of wins to make the playoffs,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We know that.”
The Cubs committed more than $276 million to outfielder Jason Heyward, second baseman Ben Zobrist, pitcher John Lackey and swingman Trevor Cahill, leading the majors in spending on free agents this winter, according to ESPN’s tracker.
Of the next 11 biggest spenders on that list, seven are NL teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals.
The Cubs also can’t dismiss the Pittsburgh Pirates, an exemplary small-market team coming off a 98-win season and their third consecutive playoff appearance. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein understood nothing could be taken for granted after the Mets swept the Cubs out of the NL Championship Series.
“There are many great teams — great, not just good — in the National League,” Epstein said during his state-of-the-team press conference in October. “The Cardinals aren’t going anywhere. They haven’t for a hundred years. They won 100 games. They have a pretty young core.
“Pittsburgh has had three outstanding seasons in a row and have the building blocks in place to be good for a really long time. The Giants are three-time World Series champs (since 2010) and I’m sure are going to add a number of key pieces this winter.
“The Dodgers are extremely talented and extremely rich. They’re not going anywhere. The Nationals’ window hasn’t necessarily ended at all. They’re still really, really good and I’m sure will bounce back.
“The Mets — if they can keep their rotation healthy and performing the way it is now — are going to be dangerous as can be for a long period of time.”
At the same time, FanGraphs projects the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves will be the three worst teams in the majors, forecasting between 91 and 95 losses, with negative run differentials ranging from -97 to -126.
FanGraphs also predicts the Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres will be bottom-third teams, finishing with around 86 losses this season.
“Obviously, you don’t want to have too many teams in a rebuilding cycle at one time in one league, and I accept that,” Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN.com for a column headlined “The odd and troubling state of the National League.”
“But the fact of the matter is, when you have 30 teams, it’s not unusual that you have five or six in a rebuilding cycle. I think if you look back historically, that would not be a number that’s out of line.”
So far, the Reds, Brewers and Phillies haven’t spent a penny on a major-league free agent this offseason. Combined, the Cubs will play the Reds and Brewers 38 times this season as those small-market teams try to follow the tanking blueprint and collect as many long-term assets as possible.
Since July, the Reds and Brewers have traded away Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Gomez, Mike Fiers, Aramis Ramirez, Jonathan Broxton, Gerardo Parra, Francisco Rodriguez, Adam Lind and Jean Segura.
The Cubs will have to capitalize on those big-league talent drains in Cincinnati and Milwaukee, knowing 97 wins was only good enough for third place in the Central last season.
“It’s an incredibly competitive landscape in the National League, and that motivates us,” Epstein said. “There are some years you can just sit back and say: ‘Ah, you know, there aren’t that many great opportunities to get better. Let’s take our chances. Let’s build a team that can win between 86 and 88 games and we’ll find ourselves in the wild-card mix and maybe we can improve during the course of the season and see where we (are at).’
“Now, with what’s going on in the National League, it’s a better approach (to) say: ‘Hey, in order to compete with teams just in our division — like the Cardinals and Pirates — we have to try to attain a really high standard. We have to put ourselves in a position where we have a chance to be great. So that we can win the division and not have to go through the coin flip of the wild-card game.’
“Certainly, we need to raise the bar as far as the type of team we want to build and the path to being a great club — not just a good club.”
Cubs believe their pipeline will keep producing big-time talent.
By Patrick Mooney
This is Theo Epstein’s fifth year running baseball operations at Wrigley Field, and the Cubs still haven’t really given up a significant long-term asset while constructing a playoff contender.
Except for trading Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees during the winter meetings and adding versatile swingman Adam Warren to a deep pitching staff. That deal also cleared a path for Ben Zobrist, a professional hitter, super-utility guy and World Series champion, all part of a $276 million spending spree.
So the Cubs can take a step back in spring training and see how Joe Maddon manages all the egos and personalities, assess what they will need as the season unfolds and respond to roster emergencies this summer.
“We haven’t really touched our base of young players, outside of Starlin Castro,” Epstein said. “That does allow us – whether it’s (at) the trade deadline or next offseason – to be a threat to make significant trades that can help the ball club going forward.”
The smashing success of Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber completely distorted our view of what a normal path to the big leagues should look like. Bryant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, became an All-Star third baseman last season and the National League’s Rookie of the Year. Schwarber, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft, debuted last year and blasted 16 homers in 69 games, plus five more in the playoffs.
“It’s a challenge every year,” farm director Jaron Madison said. "You’re not always going to have the Schwarbers and the Bryants and the (Addison) Russells (all) coming up every year. So you’re constantly looking for guys who can step in behind them and take their place.”
Who’s next? Here’s a look at the organization’s 10 best prospects ranked by Baseball America:
1. Gleyber Torres: Still only 19 years old, the Venezuelan shortstop finished last season at advanced Class-A Myrtle Beach.
2. Willson Contreras: The potential catcher of the future won a Southern League batting title with Double-A Tennessee last year.
3. Ian Happ: The Cubs hope the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft can become a reliable second baseman. If not, they believe in the switch-hitting profile at the University of Cincinnati. Jason McLeod – the vice president overseeing scouting and player development – used a comparison from his time with the Boston Red Sox: Jed Lowrie with a little more power.
4. Duane Underwood: Probably the most promising pitching prospect in a farm system that doesn’t have many projectable frontline starters, though right elbow inflammation limited him to less than 80 innings last season.
5. Dylan Cease: There are only 24 innings on the right-hander’s professional resume, but the Cubs used money saved from Schwarber’s below-slot deal to take a chance on a Tommy John case with 100-mph velocity.
“The upside is tremendous,” McLeod said. “But where he is right now is very, very far away. He’s one of the guys we’re really excited to see coming into 2016.”
6. Albert Almora: The first player drafted here by the Epstein administration (sixth overall in 2012) is projected to begin this season as Triple-A Iowa’s centerfielder.
7. Billy McKinney: The Oakland A’s packaged their 2013 first-round pick with Russell in the Jeff Samardzija/Jason Hammel trade and the outfielder has put up a .798 OPS during his minor-league career.
8. Oscar De La Cruz: With mid-90s velocity and a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame, the Cubs hope this right-hander can develop into a middle-of-the-rotation starter. But he is still years away, approaching his 21st birthday and with no experience above the A-ball level.
9. Eloy Jimenez: Coming out of the same international class as Torres, the Cubs gave the outfielder a $2.8 million signing bonus in the summer of 2013.
10. Jeimer Candelario: The Arizona Fall League Fall Star appears to be blocked as long as Bryant is playing third base on the North Side.
The Cubs landed six players on MLB.com’s rankings of the 100 best prospects in the game: Torres (No. 28); Contreras (No. 50); Happ (No. 76); Underwood (No. 77); Almora (No. 86); and McKinney (No. 88).
Baseball Prospectus included six Cubs prospects on its Top 101 for 2016: Torres (No. 41); Contreras (No. 57); Happ (No. 67); McKinney (No. 74); Almora (No. 83); and Eddy Julio Martinez (No. 97).
The Cubs finalized a $3 million deal with Martinez during the middle of their October playoff run. In a dispute involving the Cuban outfielder’s family and handlers and agency (Beverly Hills Sports Council), Major League Baseball sided with the Cubs after the San Francisco Giants believed they had agreed to a $2.5 million signing bonus for Martinez.
Chris Sale: Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie bring fire to White Sox.
By Paul Roumeliotis
White Sox Pitcher Chris Sale (Photo/csnchicago.com)
Chris Sale is coming off a 2015 campaign where he recorded 274 strikeouts, passing Ed Walsh (269) for most in franchise history in a single season.
Sale understands the magnitude of his accomplishment, but the White Sox ace is hoping to add another piece to his resume in 2016: a ticket to October baseball.
"I've said it a million times, this is a team game. Individual stats and accolades and awards really only go so far in a team game," Sale told CSN's Chuck Garfien in a 1-on-1 sit down interview. "Would I trade it in to be in the postseason? Absolutely, yes. Would I trade it in for a bag of Skittles? Probably not."
Fair enough. The White Sox haven't been to the postseason since 2008.
Last offseason brought attention to the South Side when they added big names like Melky Cabrera, Jeff Samardzija and Nate Robertson.
But this year, the White Sox have quietly made the moves they needed without putting as much of a target on their back, and Sale is totally fine with that.
"Good, let us keep sneaking through," said Sale. "I think there's a highlighter on us anyways just being in the same division as the (Kansas City) Royals and them going and winning the World Series — being there two years in a row and winning it. The AL Central is tough. It's up for grabs. ...It's anyone's game.
"We legitimately have anybody in our division that can come up for grabs and take it. So it's about going and getting it."
The White Sox acquired third baseman Todd Frazier via trade and signed infielder Brett Lawrie in December, which helps the team on both sides of the ball. The White Sox get a strong bat in Frazier while addressing that upgrade at third base they have so desperately been looking for. Lawrie's versatility also gives Robin Ventura's group some options to shuffle things around if they need to.
Nonetheless, Sale is pretty pumped about the acquisitions.
"I just got done watching that dude win a home run derby, so I was more thinking about balls flying out of left field," Sale said of Frazier. "(Frazier and Lawrie) are bringing athleticism (and) fire. They're as good as they get.
"Watching Lawrie, I've been a fan of him since the first day I watched him play. That guy never stops moving. He is ready to make the best play at any given time. There's never a non-moving part with him. He's always locked in and he's so focused on the game and it's fun to watch.
"It's nice to know that you have guys behind you that will do anything in their power to make that play not for themselves but for us as a team and for me as a pitcher and you can't ask for anything more than that."
White Sox agree to one-year deal with pitcher Mat Latos.
By Dan Hayes
Mat Latos will attempt to get back on track with the White Sox, who found a deal too hard to bypass.
Slowed by injuries the previous two seasons, the veteran pitcher signed a one-year contract for $3 million on Tuesday.
A 14-game winner three times, Latos has been limited to 40 games the last two seasons by a knee injury. Latos made one trip to the disabled list in 2015, finishing 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA in 24 games (21 starts) for the Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels.
Even so, Latos produced 1.5 Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs.
Latos, 28, produced 16 WAR from 2010-13 when he averaged 32 starts per season. He is 64-55 with a 3.51 ERA in 177 career games (174 starts).
“Mat adds another quality veteran arm to our rotation and also increases our overall pitching depth, which always is essential to having a successful season,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a press release. “While we believe in the futures of several of our young starters, the chance to add a pitcher of Mat’s caliber was too good of an opportunity for us to pass up. He has proven over his career that when healthy, he takes the baseball and logs quality innings.”
During that four-year run of dominance, Latos went 51-35 with a 3.27 ERA in 799 innings. But he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow before the 2014 season and then tore cartilage in his left knee that spring, which delayed his 2014 season debut for the Cincinnati Reds until June.
Latos was traded to Miami in December 2014 to help the Marlins combat the loss of Jose Fernandez. But the right-hander had fluid drained from his knee during spring training and told the Miami Herald in May he tried to do his job at “60, 70, 80 percent” health. He went on the DL from May 23-June 12.
Latos went 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 16 starts in Miami before he was traded to the Dodgers in a three-team deal in late July. There he went 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA in six games (five starts) before he was released in September and picked up by the Angels.
Latos has also been traded by the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati, for whom he went 33-16 with a 3.31 ERA in 81 starts from 2012-14.
Latos gives the White Sox depth at a position at which they were previously thin. Beyond their original projected starting five, the White Sox have a shortage of major-league ready pitchers to contribute in the case of an injury. The White Sox prefer to take their time in developing last year’s first-round pick, Carson Fulmer, and Chris Beck had elbow surgery last July, leaving only Scott Carroll and Jacob Turner with MLB starting experience.
The Latos signing also could be the precursor to another move, though the White Sox are likely satisfied to have depth. With Latos on board, the White Sox have six starting pitchers. The club previously had plans to employ Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Erik Johnson and John Danks in their starting rotation. Turner, who was claimed off waivers from the Cubs and later signed a one-year deal for $1.5 million, could also figure into those plans.
ZiPS projects Latos will produce 1.0 WAR this season.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Pebble Beach Pro-Am Preview.
By Ryan O'Sullivan
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is up next for a field of the world’s best golfers, with the scenic Monterey Peninsula set to serve as the infamous backdrop. Brandt Snedeker will defend for the second time in three seasons, and just two weeks after winning at Torrey Pines. Throw in the first time we’ve seen Jordan Spieth in the U.S. since winning at Kapalua, along with Jason Day, and we have the makings of a surprisingly big tournament.
This tournament features a 54-hole cut, as the first three rounds rotate across three courses and include a full bounty of celebrity partners in a pro-am format. Instead of the top 70 and ties making the playing cut for the finale, it’s actually the top 60. Those that finish between 61st and 70th, including all ties, will be awarded money and FedEx Cup points relative to their finish.
The Courses
The Courses
The three courses in play include the host course of Pebble Beach Golf Links, which will see 36 holes of action including Sunday’s finale, Spyglass Hill Golf Club and Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Pebble Beach is a par-72 layout, with the expected splits of four par 5s, four par 3s and 10 par 4s. It stretches out to a very modest 6,828 yards. It’s defense is the potential for wind, as well as very small greens.
Spyglass Hill will likely play the hardest of the three. It is also a par 72 of 6,960 yards. Yahoo! gamers will likely want to avoid Spyglass Hill unless strong wind comes into play, in which case Pebble Beach could be the hardest. Wind is not supposed to be a big factor as of Monday night.
Monterey Peninsula is the weird one. It is a par-71 layout, but offers four par 5s, five par 3s and just nine par 4s. It is also a sub-7,000 track, weighing in at 6,873 yards. Historically, it is the easiest, so you will want to try and load up on this as much as possible in Yahoo!.
Spyglass Hill will likely play the hardest of the three. It is also a par 72 of 6,960 yards. Yahoo! gamers will likely want to avoid Spyglass Hill unless strong wind comes into play, in which case Pebble Beach could be the hardest. Wind is not supposed to be a big factor as of Monday night.
Monterey Peninsula is the weird one. It is a par-71 layout, but offers four par 5s, five par 3s and just nine par 4s. It is also a sub-7,000 track, weighing in at 6,873 yards. Historically, it is the easiest, so you will want to try and load up on this as much as possible in Yahoo!.
The Stats Say
This course has identified several types of players over the last few years. We’ve seen bombers like Dustin Johnson rip this course apart, and watched as Brandt Snedeker has putted his way to multiple titles. Somewhat a combination of both, Phil Mickelson is a four-time champ as well.
Since each player will tee it up on 16 par 5s this week, par 5 scoring average comes into play. That is also why we’ve seen the bombers score well here. Consequently, par 4 scoring average is about at worthless as ever, with 39 of those holes on the card as opposed to as many as 48 some weeks. With that, there are fewer long par 4s that we typically see on the card. That, as well as the overall lack of length on these courses, is why it’s not out of the question to see shorter players with strong wedge and putting games pop up on the leaderboard.
Something Different
It should be pointed out that Pebble Beach will see a much stronger field at the top than it has in previous seasons. Perhaps because of the pro-am format, many of the top players have typically given themselves a week off during this tournament.
Riviera CC is a popular spot for the big guns, as is the Waste Management Phoenix Open. With the first WGC of the calendar year looming around the corner, this has been an easy skip.
For some reason, this year is different. Spieth and Day have included this on their schedule with consistency, so this is not a change for them. However, we will see Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka make their debuts. Returning for the first time since 2006 is Bill Haas and since 2007 is Bubba Watson. Perhaps this is because we are in a Ryder Cup season, and Haas and Watson are on a points grab. Perhaps not.
Either way, here we go!
Either way, here we go!
1. Jordan Spieth – While there are several multiple winners of this event in the field, Spieth is the top player in the world for a reason. He also has top 10s in his last two trips to Pebble Beach, so it’s not like he hates the course. This wouldn’t be the spot for a one-and-done (OAD) play, but he’s a solid call in almost any other lineup where starts aren’t an issue.
2. Brandt Snedeker – His T33 last week is of no consequence. He’s back on a course where he is twice a winner and on poa annua surfaces that he enjoys more than most. The T3-P2-Win in his first three starts of 2016 are what should be studied. Current form meets course history in a tasty combination, and he’s a green light in most formats. If you still have him in OAD formats, shame on you and it’s probably time to pull the trigger.
2. Brandt Snedeker – His T33 last week is of no consequence. He’s back on a course where he is twice a winner and on poa annua surfaces that he enjoys more than most. The T3-P2-Win in his first three starts of 2016 are what should be studied. Current form meets course history in a tasty combination, and he’s a green light in most formats. If you still have him in OAD formats, shame on you and it’s probably time to pull the trigger.
3. Dustin Johnson – It’s hard to believe that someone with two wins and three other top fives at an event like this can enter somewhat under the radar, but that’s sort of the case. He’s finished T10 at Kapalua and T18 at Torrey Pines in his first two PGA TOUR starts of 2016. That isn’t bad, but isn’t blazing. DJ also tends to thrive in poor weather conditions, which probably won’t be the case this week.
4. Jason Day – Doubtful that he will fall this far in the ranking most weeks, but a couple of true course horses bumped him to fourth. That’s saying something, considering he has made each of his six cuts, with three top-six finishes including a T4 last year, in this event.
5. Jimmy Walker – The winner in 2014 broke a string of four consecutive top 10s when he settled for a T21 last year. Normally one of the kings of the West Coast Swing, he’s been steadily rounding into form in 2016. After a T10 in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and a T13 in the Sony Open, he scored a T4 in the Farmers Insurance Open. He may also be the best blend of power and smooth putting on poa annua.
6. Phil Mickelson – Who really knows? Can he win? Absolutely. Can he miss the cut? Absolutely. One of the most unpredictable golfers any given week, but the four wins at Pebble speak for themselves.
6. Phil Mickelson – Who really knows? Can he win? Absolutely. Can he miss the cut? Absolutely. One of the most unpredictable golfers any given week, but the four wins at Pebble speak for themselves.
7. Shane Lowry – There is a ton of upside to love here. A T13-T6 run the last two weeks have him trending very strongly into this event. The Pebble Beach Pro-Am is actually one of the tournaments he played in 2015 before he really took off, finishing a solid T21 with all four rounds under par. This is technically a links course, which should play well for an Irishman.
8. Bubba Watson – It’s already been mentioned that he last played this event in 2007, where he finished T44. He is now a much more accomplished player than he was in 2007. Despite his ability to rip apart the par 5s like a Dustin Johnson, questions remain. Perhaps the biggest is his mindset coming out of a bizarre Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he made negative comments about TPC Scottsdale and attempted to backpedal. He ultimately drew the ire of the fans and got his feelings hurt.
9. Patrick Reed – A little like Mickelson, savvy gamers have learned not to get too caught up in what Reed did last time out. Case in point, he followed up a solo second at the HTOC with T56-WD run in the CareerBuilder Challenge and the Farmers Insurance Open. His three starts at Pebble went T7-T13-T29. We know he can play this rotation, and that he’ll likely be a little off the main radar is a good thing.
10. Justin Rose – Class is permanent. Period. This is his first time to play this event, but who really cares? Rose can play anywhere. Perhaps it’s a bit concerning that he missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, but only a bit.
11. Bill Haas – Another classy player who should show up on a group of shorter courses, Haas missed the cut here in 2006 in his only attempt to date. His T9 at the CareerBuilder Challenge is a nice litmus as to the state of his game. Don’t count him out.
9. Patrick Reed – A little like Mickelson, savvy gamers have learned not to get too caught up in what Reed did last time out. Case in point, he followed up a solo second at the HTOC with T56-WD run in the CareerBuilder Challenge and the Farmers Insurance Open. His three starts at Pebble went T7-T13-T29. We know he can play this rotation, and that he’ll likely be a little off the main radar is a good thing.
10. Justin Rose – Class is permanent. Period. This is his first time to play this event, but who really cares? Rose can play anywhere. Perhaps it’s a bit concerning that he missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, but only a bit.
11. Bill Haas – Another classy player who should show up on a group of shorter courses, Haas missed the cut here in 2006 in his only attempt to date. His T9 at the CareerBuilder Challenge is a nice litmus as to the state of his game. Don’t count him out.
12. Kevin Na – A T28-T3-T24 stretch in his last three starts is not a concern when one considers he has two top fives in nine tries at Pebble Beach. He’s not flash, but plenty effective.
13. Will Wilcox – Flashed a hot final-round 65 at TPC Scottsdale to steal a T6. As we learned last summer, he can run hot in spurts and this could be one of those. Improved from a T64 in 2014 to a T18 in 2015 in this event, so he’s trending nicely in both form and course history.
14. Bryce Molder – Enters off a T6 at the WMPO and has four top-12 finishes in his last six trips to Pebble Beach. If I played in a two-man OAD league, he’d be my number two without a doubt.
15. Chesson Hadley – This is purely off his course history. He has tied for 10th in both of his previous Pebble Beach Pro-Ams, and broken par in all eight rounds. In seven PGA TOUR events this season his best finish is a T58 at the Farmers Insurance Open. One has to thing he’ll best that this week.
Check back on Tuesday evening for Playing the Tips to see all of the picks for the Rotoworld staffers in the Yahoo! and Golf Channel games.
Best of luck to all!
Best of luck to all!
Zika virus forces PGA Tour to change Latinoamerica circuit schedule.
By Ryan Ballengee
The PGA Tour is changing up the schedule of its Latin America-based developmental tour in response to the spreading Zika virus.
PGA Tour Latinoamerica officials notified players last Friday that the Guatemala Open and Honduras Open have been moved deeper into the spring. According to Golf Channel, the Guatemala Stella Artois Open has been moved from March 10-13 to April 28-May 1, while the Honduras Open will now be played May 5-8, up from March 3-6.
The next PGA Tour Latinoamerica events are the 69 Avianca Colombia Open, to be played Feb. 25-28, and Panama Classic from March 17-20.
The Web.com Tour season opened in Latin America, with back-to-back events in Panama, then Colombia. The PGA Tour couldn't alter the schedule, released just weeks before the season began, in time to move the event.
The Web.com Tour season opened in Latin America, with back-to-back events in Panama, then Colombia. The PGA Tour couldn't alter the schedule, released just weeks before the season began, in time to move the event.
The PGA Tour will continue to monitor the situation, with the Puerto Rico Open played in March and the Web.com playing another Latin America swing in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico from the last week of March to the tail end of April.
Golfers say Zika virus will not put them off their stroke at Rio Games.
Reuters; By Mark Lamport-Stokes and Matt Smith, Editing by Angus MacSwan
Leading male golfers say they will not allow fears about the Zika virus keep them away from Brazil when their sport returns to the Olympics after an absence of more than a century.
The spread of the mosquito-borne virus spread across Latin America has given some athletes preparing for the Games in Rio de Janeiro in August cause for concern.
The U.S. Olympic Committee has told U.S. sports federations that athletes and staff worried for their health should consider not going to the Games.
Kenya threatened on Tuesday to pull its elite runners and other athletes out unless it got assurances they would not be exposed to the virus outbreak in Brazil.
But golfers canvassed by Reuters at events in the past week said they were unperturbed by the situation, joining other sports personalities who have said they are still keen to go.
Golfers spend most of their time on the road competing in events across the globe, often in countries where they have to contend with a myriad of challenges off the course.
Though the World Health Organization last week declared Zika an international health emergency that could infect as many as 4 million people in the Americas, symptoms are typically mild.
"We've travelled all over the world playing golf," American world number 14 Brandt Snedeker said at last week's PGA Tour event, the Phoenix Open.
"We're used to being in different climates and different areas with many different concerns, not just the Zika virus or whatever it might be, so we realize the dangers when we do travel.
Snedeker, who is one of 10 U.S. players vying for four spots at the Games, expressed confidence in local and international health authorities taking every precaution.
"We have this sort of concern when we go to China every year with smog alerts, we have it when we go to Singapore, Thailand, India or any other Asian country," said Snedeker, an eight-times winner on the PGA Tour.
Fellow American Brooks Koepka, the world number 19, said he was not really concerned by the Zika virus.
"You've just got to be careful, that's all," said Koepka, who clinched his first PGA Tour title at the 2015 Phoenix Open.
"I've been to a bunch of places where you've got to take medications and things like that just to kind of survive."
DEJA VU FOR GRILLO
For Argentine world number 34 Emiliano Grillo, who is assured of a place in Rio, the Zika virus gave him a sense of deja vu.
"Where I'm from, we've got another mosquito virus (Dengue fever) which is pretty similar," Grillo said.
"Everybody is making a deal about the Zika virus just because it's something new. The same thing happened when Dengue fever popped up in Buenos Aires for a couple of months and everybody made a huge deal about it. I am not scared of it."
Health officials are most concerned by Zika's potential link to microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.
Brazil is investigating Zika's possible links to more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly among newborns.
"I'm normally not easily scared but it's obviously not a good situation with the virus, it seems to affect pregnant mums in a very bad way," Sweden's world number five Henrik Stenson said at last week's Dubai Desert Classic.
Asked whether his preparations for Rio would be affected in any way, Stenson replied: "Not really. I'm not bringing the kids, my wife is going to come down and some family.
Englishman Danny Willett, who won his fourth European Tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, said the Zika virus would not change his plans for the Olympics, where golf will be making its first appearance since 1904.
"No, it only affects pregnant women and she's not coming," 13th-ranked Willett said, referring to his wife Nicole, who is due to give birth to their first child in late March or April.
"She'll have given birth by then, plus she wasn't coming anyway, so no."
Pre-Olympic trials are scheduled in Rio before August and the International Olympic Committee says the Games will take place during the winter months when a drier, cooler climate reduces the presence of mosquitoes and the risk of infection.
The IOC says there have been no discussions about cancelling or postponing the Games, although some medical experts they should be.
The IOC says there have been no discussions about cancelling or postponing the Games, although some medical experts they should be.
Screw qualifying drama, NASCAR's charter system is a necessary step.
By Nick Bromberg
When NASCAR abolished the top 35 rule for the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season, the rule's removal was hailed as a win for the sport's fans. Instead of the 35 best teams having guaranteed starting positions for each race, qualifying was once again close to a free-for-all. Unless you were one of the lucky teams and drivers to have a guaranteed provisional, there was a chance (even if it was microscopic) you could miss the race.
“This is a big win for our fans,” then-NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said in an October 2012 release announcing the qualifying change. “They’ll see the fastest cars earn their starting spots. This change adds intrigue, drama and excitement to qualifying.”
If you hated the top 35 rule, we have some unfortunate news for you. It's back with the announcement of the new ownership structure in the Sprint Cup Series.
The charter system formally put in place Tuesday gives 36 teams “charters.” Those transferable charters come with guaranteed entry into every Sprint Cup race and went to every team that’s competed full-time on the circuit for the last three seasons.
“The new Charter program strengthens each of our businesses individually and the team model as a whole, which is good for NASCAR, our fans, drivers, sponsors and the thousands of people who we employ,” Chip Ganassi Racing co-owner Rob Kauffman said in a statement. “This will give us more stability and predictability, and it will allow us to take a more progressive, long-term approach to issues.
“NASCAR and the teams share a desire to preserve, promote and grow the sport and ultimately produce great racing for our fans and partners. These common goals served as the foundation for discussions and helped bring us to this unprecedented agreement. This is a great step forward for the entire sport made possible by Brian France setting a new course for the NASCAR industry and the owners coming together on shared issues. Everyone involved then compromised a bit to be able to come up with something that worked for all.”
You’ll notice that Kauffman also says the charter is a win for the fans, despite the new structure being very similar to what wasn’t a win for the fans before 2012. But there are some key differences. Don't get the hate-meter revved up in the slightest.
First, there’s really no drama in qualifying any longer. As part of the agreement, Sprint Cup fields will be 40 instead of 43. But with the consolidation of teams (Front Row and BK Racing are fielding one fewer full-time car in 2016 and Michael Waltrip Racing is gone entirely), there’s a chance 43-car fields wouldn’t be full at times this season. Don't get upset because there are three fewer starting spots moving forward.
Entry lists weren’t exactly overflowing in 2015 anyway. No one failed to qualify at five races while more than two cars failed to qualify nine times. There was more drama involved in the Team XXXtreme hauler disappearance than there was about worrying who would qualify every weekend.
A major reason for the smaller entry lists was how NASCAR ownership was structured. Like all other major sports, NASCAR’s value has skyrocketed over the past 20 years. But that value for teams has been reflected in infrastructure and resources, or in the case of owners like Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, what their automotive interests outside of racing can do for sponsors looking to spend.
If an owner wants to get out of the ownership game in a stick-and-ball sport, he’s looking at a monstrous profit. If a NASCAR owner wants to stop racing, the equipment he puts up for sale is sold at a fraction of the overall cost.
The transferable charter system is a guaranteed value system of sorts. While no one knows for sure what Kauffman will get for his two MWR charters (he said they each would go for figures in the “single digit” millions), he at least now has an opportunity to recoup at least some of what he invested into the team over his eight seasons of ownership.
Without a charter system, the, oh, let’s say $10 million he gets from the transfer of his two entries simply doesn’t exist. And that's not only important to him and to NASCAR's other owners, but to you, the fan who watches and supports the product.
Top level racing takes millions of dollars. If NASCAR wants to be a viable sport it also has to have a viable business model. Why would someone want to get into a business — remember, racing is a business — that has little to no profit potential? Especially when that someone could invest in a minority share of a team in another sport and have an all-but-guaranteed return on investment when the time comes to sell?
The charter now provides that profit potential. Or, at the very least, a loss-limit potential. It's a historic move for a sport that has long considered its participants to be independent contractors, but it's a necessary one to attract the next generation of Hendricks and Penskes. 18 of the 36 charters are held by owners who had cars in the 1996 Daytona 500.
Given the current demographic of NASCAR ownership, it's unlikely there will be a similar percentage of current owners listed on the entry sheet of the 2036 Daytona 500. If NASCAR wants a diverse cast of owners on that entry sheet in 20 years, Tuesday's announcement is a big step towards ensuring that desire is fulfilled.
NASCAR allows franchise system to give team owners value.
By JENNA FRYER
By JENNA FRYER
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France speaks during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. NASCAR announced a new charter system for team owners. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
NASCAR announced a dramatic overhaul of its business model Tuesday, shifting to a franchise-like system that is intended to provide actual value and financial stability to team owners after decades of heavy reliance on sponsors.
The change gets away from the independent contractor model that had been used since NASCAR's 1948 inception. A car owner was responsible for all the financial obligations to race each week, depending on sponsorship to help foot the bills. When a sponsor pulled its funding, a car owner could go broke and be left with nothing but racing equipment.
''This is a very complicated agreement, to sort out, with 60 years of history doing business in a certain way,'' NASCAR chairman Brian France said. ''To restructure things in the manner that we did was a very tall order to accomplish.''
Michael Waltrip Racing had nothing but old cars, used equipment and a building to sell when it closed its doors in November. Now MWR has two of the 36 coveted ''charters'' and the ability to sell them to the highest bidder. A charter guarantees revenue and a position in what will now be a 40-car Sprint Cup field, down from 43.
MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman, the architect of the Race Team Alliance group that brokered the deal with NASCAR, indicated his two charters will be sold before the Feb. 21 season-opening Daytona 500. One is expected to go to Joe Gibbs Racing for Carl Edwards' car, the other to Stewart-Haas Racing for Kurt Busch.
''I think what we've done here is now we've put the teams on a more stable footing,'' Kauffman said. ''I think it really allows the teams to invest for the future. If you're living year to year, you can't really think about the long-term. Here what you're able to do is say, 'OK, I'm going to take this risk on this young driver, see how they work out, develop this crew chief, this crew member, even some of the technical sides, even your basic business infrastructure. It's a step in the right direction.''
Every organization is allowed a maximum of four charters. But in order to get one of the 36, a car had to attempt every race since 2013. Busch and Edwards both drive for recently added teams.
Kauffman estimated the current worth of a charter is ''single digit millions,'' or under $10 million. The charters are good for nine years and there is a performance clause tied to them. Selling or transferring a charter is only allowed once in a five-year period.
''This is an important day in the history of our sport that will benefit all constituents, immediately and in the long term,'' said SHR co-owner Gene Haas, who formed Busch's team out of pocket in 2014. ''As someone who has heavily invested in motorsports for many years, I'm very pleased with the industry's commitment to sustainability, collaboration and long-term value.''
Potential new team owners must be vetted by NASCAR before a sale for a new charter can be completed, and NASCAR will collect an administrative fee in the process. Each team owner can set their own sales price for a charter.
Potential new team owners must be vetted by NASCAR before a sale for a new charter can be completed, and NASCAR will collect an administrative fee in the process. Each team owner can set their own sales price for a charter.
The charters went to Richard Petty Motorsports (2); Richard Childress Racing (3); Team Penske (2); Hendrick Motorsports (4); Roush Fenway Racing (3); Chip Ganassi Racing (2); Joe Gibbs Racing (3); Michael Waltrip Racing (2); Stewart-Haas Racing (3); Furniture Row Racing (1); Front Row Motorsports (2); JTG Daugherty Racing (1); Tommy Baldwin Racing (1); Germain Racing (1); Go Fas Racing (1); BK Racing (2); Premium Motorsports (1); Circle Sport Racing (1); and HScott Motorsports (1).
Among the teams that did not receive a charter was The Wood Brothers, which will field a full-time entry this year for Ryan Blaney. He will now have to qualify every week for one of the four open slots in the field.
Among the teams that did not receive a charter was The Wood Brothers, which will field a full-time entry this year for Ryan Blaney. He will now have to qualify every week for one of the four open slots in the field.
SOCCER: Fire shut out South Florida to open preseason.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Chicago Fire opened the preseason with a 3-0 win against the University of South Florida on Saturday.
The Fire were without a number of players, but the match still represented the first game under coach Veljko Paunovic. The team did demonstrate what Paunovic has emphasized repeatedly: the importance of building from the back.
After a slow start, Arturo Alvarez scored the first goal on a feed from Gilberto in the 28th minute. Alvarez fired a shot on goal and scored on his own rebound.
Five minutes later the Fire doubled the lead following a nice series of quick passes in the final third. David Accam scored from close range for the goal and Alvarez assisted.
Unsurprisingly, Accam appeared to be one of the Fire's best players in the first half. Alvarez also fit in nicely in the attack, which can't hurt his chances of making the team as a trialist. One of the surprising lineup selections was having Joey Calistri play at right back. The rookie is traditionally a forward, but managed to join the attack from the wing and even registered a shot on goal.
In the second half, 10 different players took the field from the start of the half with only Vincent Keller returning after halftime. Rookie Vincent Mitchell soon added the third goal on an assist from Collin Fernandez.
The Fire were without seven players for the game so it's difficult to come away with any solid determinations from it. Brandon Vincent, Sean Johnson and Matt Polster are expected to join the team Monday after training with the national team. Joao Meira, Johan Kappelhof and Rodrigo Ramos have yet to join camp as recent foreign transfers. Eric Gehrig is still working his way back to full fitness from surgery at the end of last season.
Of the Fire players that took the field in the first half there were two rookies (Calistri and Keller), two trialists (Alvarez and goalkeeper Matt Lampson) and academy player Mauricio Pineda. In the second half there were five rookies (Keller, Mitchell, Jonathan Campbell, Alex Morrell and Drew Conner) and Saint Louis FC player Parker Maher.
The Fire's next preseason game from Tampa is against the Philadelphia Union on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT.
West Ham United 2-1 Liverpool: Ogbonna strikes after 120 minutes.
By Nicholas Mendola
In the second half, 10 different players took the field from the start of the half with only Vincent Keller returning after halftime. Rookie Vincent Mitchell soon added the third goal on an assist from Collin Fernandez.
The Fire were without seven players for the game so it's difficult to come away with any solid determinations from it. Brandon Vincent, Sean Johnson and Matt Polster are expected to join the team Monday after training with the national team. Joao Meira, Johan Kappelhof and Rodrigo Ramos have yet to join camp as recent foreign transfers. Eric Gehrig is still working his way back to full fitness from surgery at the end of last season.
Of the Fire players that took the field in the first half there were two rookies (Calistri and Keller), two trialists (Alvarez and goalkeeper Matt Lampson) and academy player Mauricio Pineda. In the second half there were five rookies (Keller, Mitchell, Jonathan Campbell, Alex Morrell and Drew Conner) and Saint Louis FC player Parker Maher.
The Fire's next preseason game from Tampa is against the Philadelphia Union on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT.
West Ham United 2-1 Liverpool: Ogbonna strikes after 120 minutes.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Angelo Ogbonna is now an FA Cup hero.
Two sides willing to move the ball and attack produced a fine FA Cup tie on Tuesday at the Boleyn Ground, with Ogbonna heading home the match-winner in the 121st minute of play for a 2-1 win.
Michail Antonio scored a first-half goal for West Ham before Philippe Coutinho equalized for the visiting Reds.
All told, West Ham heads to Ewood Park for a fifth-round date with Blackburn Rovers. Peterborough United hosts West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday to sort out the fourth round’s other replay.
Liverpool played a more second-string set than the home side.
Brilliance met brilliance in the 38th minute, as Dimitri Payet struck a gorgeous dipping free kick over the wall only to see Mignolet get the slightest touch to help the ball crank off the goal post. Cheikhou Kouyate failed to scissor kick the rebound, and Mignolet flew back into the picture to parry Antonio’s header.
Antonio would get his glory next, as Enner Valencia took Payet’s pass and dribbled through the left side of the 18 and toward the end line before crossing the ball. Antonio let the ball sink to hip height before volleying home. 1-0, 45′.
There were three goal posts struck in the first half.
"1 – West Ham have lost just one of their last 10 FA Cup games at home (W5 D4). Manor.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 9, 2016"
"318 – Philippe Coutinho’s goal was Liverpool’s first in 318 minutes of action against West Ham in all competitions this season. Timely.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 9, 2016"
Coutinho scored on a clever free kick from the edge of the 18, betting on the wall jumping and cheekily rolling his shot under it and past Hammers keeper Darren Randolph.
Christian Benteke started and nearly finished a 56th minute chance inside the box, but his shot was blocked.
West Ham should’ve been awarded a penalty when Tiago Ilori pulled down Valencia in the box. Roger East didn’t see it that way.
The match went to extra time after eight minutes of second-half stoppage time.
Mignolet made a solid flying stop on Mark Noble in the first frame of extra time. At the other end, Benteke struck a low chance wide of the right post. Moments later, Randolph came out to thwart Benteke on a breakaway.
If anyone needed a reminder of Daniel Sturridge‘s skill, the late sub let fly with a 108th minute bullet that missed the goal by inches.
Then Lucas Leiva gave up a free kick just as two minutes of extra time stoppage began, and Ogbonna struck.
LINEUPS
West Ham United: Randolph, O’Brien (Moses, 83′), Reid (Collins, 64′), Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate (Carroll, 76′), Noble, Obiang, Antonio, Valencia, Payet.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Flanagan, Stewart, Tiago Ilori, Smith, Teixeira (Origi, 60′), Lucas, Chirivella (Milner, 102′), Ibe, Benteke, Coutinho (Sturridge, 60′).
NCAABKB: NCAA Top 25 Basketball Poll, March 07, 2016.
AP
RANK
|
SCHOOL
|
POINTS
|
RECORD
|
PREVIOUS
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Villanova (32) | 1566 | 20-3 | 3 |
| 2 | Maryland (13) | 1499 | 21-3 | 4 |
| 3 | Oklahoma (7) | 1472 | 19-3 | 1 |
| 4 | Iowa (11) | 1471 | 19-4 | 5 |
| 5 | Xavier | 1382 | 21-2 | 6 |
| 6 | Kansas | 1311 | 19-4 | 7 |
| 7 | Virginia | 1223 | 19-4 | 9 |
| 8 | Michigan State | 1144 | 20-4 | 10 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1136 | 19-4 | 2 |
| 10 | West Virginia | 1082 | 19-4 | 14 |
| 11 | Oregon | 905 | 20-4 | 16 |
| 12 | Miami (Fla.) | 826 | 18-4 | 17 |
| 13 | Louisville | 819 | 19-4 | 19 |
| 14 | Iowa State | 781 | 17-6 | 13 |
| 15 | Texas A&M | 663 | 18-5 | 8 |
| 16 | SMU | 593 | 20-2 | 12 |
| 17 | Arizona | 497 | 19-5 | 23 |
| 18 | Purdue | 456 | 19-5 | 18 |
| 19 | Dayton | 413 | 19-3 | 24 |
| 20 | Providence | 349 | 18-6 | 11 |
| 21 | Baylor | 333 | 17-6 | 15 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 228 | 17-6 | 20 |
| 23 | Southern California | 225 | 18-5 | 27 |
| 24 | Texas | 199 | 16-7 | NR |
| 25 | Wichita State | 132 | 17-6 | 21 |
Others receiving votes: South Carolina 128, Indiana 91, Notre Dame 75, San Diego State 22, Duke 14, Seton Hall 14, Gonzaga 10, LSU 10, VCU 10, Valparaiso 9, Stony Brook 8, Saint Mary's 6, Saint Joseph's 5, UNC Wilmington 4, Hawaii 3, Utah 3, Chattanooga 2, Connecticut 2, George Washington 2, Michigan 1, Monmouth 1
Dropped from rankings: Indiana 22, South Carolina 25
NCAABKB: LATE NIGHT SNACKS: No. 12 Miami, No. 18 Purdue win thrillers at home.
By Raphielle Johnson
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
GAME OF THE NIGHT:
No. 18 Purdue 82, No. 8 Michigan State 81 (OT)
The Spartans and Boilermakers produced a highly entertaining game in West Lafayette, with Matt Painter’s team finding a way to pick up a critical one-point win. Rapheal Davis scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Boilermakers, and A.J. Hammons was excellent in the post. The senior center finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots. As Rob Dauster notes, this was a huge win for a team that was in danger of falling to seventh in the Big Ten standings.
Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double with 27 points, eight rebounds and ten assists, but he was made to work for those points (10-for-23 FG). But he needed more help from Bryn Forbes and Eron Harris, who combined to score ten points on 4-for-19 shooting.
IMPORTANT OUTCOMES
No. 6 Kansas 75, No. 10 West Virginia 65: Kansas got some revenge on the Mountaineers, who won the first meeting between the two teams in Morgantown last month. Perry Ellis scored 21 points and Landen Lucas added nine points, 16 rebounds and four blocks to lead the way for the Jayhawks, who forced a three-way tie atop the Big 12 with the win. The front court play and Kansas’ offensive execution and balance are what won the game for Bill Self’s bunch.
No. 12 Miami 65, Pittsburgh 63: The Panthers, in need of another quality win, fell short as a result of their inability to box out Miami’s Angel Rodriguez on the game’s decisive play. Rodriguez managed to work his way in between three Panthers to tip in a missed shot with 1.4 seconds remaining to give the Hurricanes the win. Rodriguez finished the game with 17 points, eight assists and just one turnover.
Creighton 70, No. 5 Xavier 56: The Bluejays picked up a huge win for their NCAA tournament hopes while also dropping the Musketeers two games behind No. 1 Villanova in the Big East standings. Maurice Watson Jr. was outstanding at the point for Greg McDermott’s team, finishing with 32 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Xavier’s biggest issue was making shots: they shot 1-for-21 from beyond the arc and 30 percent from the field on the night.
STARRED
A.J. Hammons, Purdue: Hammons finished Purdue’s overtime win over No. 8 Michigan State two blocks shy of a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks.
Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton: 32 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Bluejays’ win over No. 5 Xavier.
Angel Rodriguez, Miami: 17 points, eight assists, one turnover and the game-winning tip-in with 1.4 seconds remaining as the Hurricanes beat Pittsburgh.
STRUGGLED
Bryn Forbes and Eron Harris, Michigan State: Forbes and Harris scored ten points combined, shooting 4-for-19 from the field, in a one-point overtime loss at No. 18 Purdue.
Xavier from the perimeter: The Musketeers shot a stunning 1-for-21 from three in their loss at Creighton.
Kale Abrahamson and Ore Arogundade, Drake: They combined to score six points on 2-for-14 shooting in a blowout home loss to No. 25 Wichita State.
THE REST OF THE TOP 25
- Playing their first-ever game as the nation’s top-ranked team, No. 1 Villanova took control from the start of their 86-59 win at DePaul. Josh Hart led five Wildcats in double figures with 18 points, and Villanova forced 18 DePaul turnovers on the other end.
- No. 2 Maryland stepped outside of Big Ten (and Division I) play, and they did what was expected in taking care of Division II program Bowie State 93-62. Rasheed Sulaimon scored 16 points in 20 minutes of action, as Mark Turgeon was able to get his key guys some rest ahead of the stretch run.
- No. 7 Virginia has now won seven straight games, as they beat Virginia Tech 67-49 in Charlottesville. Anthony Gill scored 16 points and Isaiah Wilkins 14 for the Cavaliers, who limited the Hokies to 35.6 percent shooting on the night.
- No. 19 Dayton erased a ten-point second half deficit, closing the game on a 19-5 run as they beat Duquesne 76-74. Charles Cooke led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds for the Flyers, who won despite Duquesne getting 48 points from Micah Mason (27) and Derrick Colter.
- No. 22 Kentucky rolled to an 84-48 win over Georgia, as the Bulldogs struggled mightily offensively. Mark Fox’s team shot 22.4 percent from the field and at one point went more than 13 minutes without a field goal. As for Kentucky, Jamal Murray scored 24 points and Tyler Ulis added 14 and eight assists as they won their second straight.
- No. 25 Wichita State rebounded from its loss at Illinois State over the weekend with a 74-48 win at Drake. Gregg Marshall’s team used a familiar formula: offensive balance (eight players scored six points or more) and stifling defense (Drake shot 25 percent from the field).
OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS
- Cincinnati rebounded from its loss at Memphis with a 69-51 win at UCF. Kevin Johnson scored 13 points as the Bearcats blew the game open in the second half after leading by a point at the break.
- Akron has now won seven straight, as they beat Bowling Green 83-68 to move to 9-2 in MAC play (20-4 overall). Antino Jackson scored 20 points and Reggie McAdams and Isaiah Johnson added 15 apiece for the Zips.
- Monmouth retained its one-game lead atop the MAAC with an 87-61 win at Marist. Justin Robinson and Micah Seaborn scored 16 apiece for the Hawks, who have won their last six games.
- Ohio State snapped its two-game losing streak with a 71-63 win over Northwestern, which has lost six of its last seven games. Five Buckeyes scored in double figures, led by freshman guard JaQuan Lyle (16 points, six rebounds).
- Two Galal Cancer free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining gave Kent State a 75-74 win over Northern Illinois. The Golden Flashes remain two games behind Akron in the MAC East standings as a result of the win.
No. 5 Xavier stumbles at Creighton, lose 70-54.
By Rob Dauster
Mo Watson went for a career-high 32 points, seven boards and five assists as Creighton jumped out to an early 21-4 lead and never looked back, beating No. 5 Xavier, 70-54, in Omaha on Tuesday night.
It was a massive win for the Bluejays, who still have an outside shot at earning an at-large bid this season. (We wrote all about that here.)
As well as Creighton played, the bigger story here may actually be Xavier, who lost for just the third time this season; they had been the only top ten team with just two losses to their name.
The issue for the Musketeers tonight was two-fold, but they both are a symptom of what could be an issue down the road for this team: Xavier doesn’t really have a true point guard.
They certainly didn’t have anyone to stop Watson. By the second half, they had essentially asked Reynolds, who was playing the middle of their 1-3-1 zone to matchup with Watson. It was weird but was actually somewhat effective.
The Musketeers also started out ice cold from the floor, missing 11 of their first 13 shots, and those misses led to leak outs from Bluejays, who got layups and open threes in transition to build that 17 point lead. Once Xavier got behind, it turned into scramble mode for Xavier. They forced shots early in the clock and didn’t start pounding the ball into the paint until it was too late. What they needed was someone to be able to settle things, to ensure that offensive would get initiated and sets would get executed when they were able to get the lead down to single digits.
That 1-for-19 shooting performance from beyond the arc certainly didn’t help matters, and neither did the fact that they got just nine field goals all game from players not named James Farr or Jalen Reynolds. The most frustrating part for head coach Chris Mack? They had good shots. It wasn’t like Creighton took away everything that Xavier wanted to do.
The kids just had one of those nights where nothing went down.
Those happen.
And when you combine them with a total inability to contain the opposing team’s point guard, what you get is a 16 point loss on the road against a team that was desperate to get a good win.
NCAAFB: NFL banning college players with domestic violence, sexual assault convictions from combine.
By Kevin McGuire
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
A new NFL rule will prevent college football players turning pro from attending the NFL Scouting Combine and the NFL Draft if they have been convicted of domestic violence or sexual assault. The NFL will also refuse opening the doors for any NFL-sanctioned event if a player chooses not to submit to a background check.
“It is important for us to remain strongly committed to league values as we demonstrate to our fans, future players, coaches, general managers, and others who support our game that character matters,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent wrote in a memo to all NFL teams last month, according to USA Today.
The number of players each year affected by the rules should be minimal on a year-to-year basis, but it is interesting to see how that could impact the draft outlook of prospects moving forward if they get mixed in some legal trouble off the college football field. As noted by USA Today, the rule would have prevented Michigan linebacker Frank Clark, a second-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks, from attending the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Clark pleaded guilty to a domestic violence incident while at Michigan.
The policy adopted by the NFL will be intended to add further consequence for players getting in trouble in college with the hope of changing the image of the NFL player moving forward. As mentioned, this is expected to have minimal impact as only a select percentage of players are invited to the combine, and an even smaller percentage are invited to the NFL Draft. If nothing else though, it is one more consequence that will come from any involvement from a domestic or sexual assault in college.
It would be interesting to see if the NCAA or conferences will be inspired to build off this NFL policy. The NFL policy does not prevent players with a checkered past from attending pro day events or other private workouts. There is no indication whether any conference or the NCAA would consider such a policy on top of existing rules and policies related to domestic violence or sexual assaults. Would a conference adopt a policy that could extend the policy on their campuses to pro day events? Would that even be fair? Or is that going too far?
SEC wants to keep Michigan spring football practices out of the south.
By Kevin McGuire
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Don’t say I didn’t warn you this was coming. Last week when we learned Jim Harbaugh plans to bring Michigan’s spring football practices to Florida for a week over Michigan’s spring break, I suggested this was news that would not sit well with coaches from the ACC and SEC. Here we are now and the SEC is asking the NCAA to prevent Michigan from following through on their spring break plans.
The SEC has reportedly asked the NCAA to block teams from holding spring practices over that school’s spring break, according to CBSSports.com. The timing speaks for itself, as it comes less than a week after Harbaugh confirmed the spring practice plan to travel to Florida.
“Our primary reaction [is] that, in the face of the time-demand conversations, we’ve got one program taking what has been ‘free time’ away,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said to CBS Sports‘ Dennis Dodd. “Let’s draw a line and say, ‘That’s not appropriate.'”
Sankey and the SEC have asked the NCAA to make a ruling on this situation “as soon as possible.”
There are no NCAA rules about holding spring football practices off campus or out of state. Spring football games are a different story than practices. What Harbaugh has announced falls within the NCAA rules. The SEC company line will be to address the issue of player safety and well-being by suggesting practicing over spring break reduces the down time for players, but it doesn’t take a bloodhound to sniff out the truth behind the request to the NCAA.
The SEC is not necessarily scared of Harbaugh and Michigan. The conference is afraid this will be a trend that catches on with programs throughout the north that can afford to pick up and travel south for a full week in the cold days of March. The last thing the SEC wants to see is half or more of the Big Ten and perhaps other programs located in the north planting flags in their borders for a week.
The question the SEC should be asked is if they would have the same concerns over spring break practice times if it was North Dakota State or Montana traveling south for a week in Florida. You can probably guess the answer to that.
USWNT’s Solo says Zika fears could make her skip the Olympics.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
As it stands, Hope Solo would skip the Olympics if fears over the Zika virus don’t subside in Brazil.
It’s been speculated that Zika increases the odds of certain birth defects, and Solo said playing in the Olympics is not worth risking future pregnancies.
With CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying heading to NBC Live Extra at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday against Costa Rica (All games of the tournament will be streamed on Live Extra), Solo is set to star between the sticks for the USWNT.
But in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, the 34-year-old netminder is far from ready to commit to the tournament.
She went as far as to say she wouldn’t go if the tournament was today, elaborating in this story from SI.com:
“I would never take the risk of having an unhealthy child,” said Solo, 34. “I don’t know when that day will come for Jerramy and me, but I personally reserve my right to have a healthy baby. No athlete competing in Rio should be faced with this dilemma. Female professional athletes already face many different considerations and have to make choices that male professional athletes don’t.”Brazilian officials claim there will be minimal risk by the Summer Games because of the change in season, but that won’t alleviate all the concerns of female athletes. It will certainly be interesting to monitor how the situation develops in the coming months.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1920 - Major league baseball representatives outlawed pitches that involved tampering with the ball.
1946 - Jackie Robinson and Rachel Isum were married.
1961 - The American Football League's Los Angeles franchise was transferred to San Diego.
1971 - Bill White (New York Yankees) became the first black baseball announcer.
1962 - Jim Beatty became the first American to break the four minute barrier for the indoor mile.
1992 - Mike Tyson was convicted in Indianapolis of raping Desiree Washington, Miss Black American contestant.
2003 - Brett Hull (Detroit Red Wings) became the 6th player in NHL history to score at least 700 career goals.
2005 - The NHL and the players' association broke off talks after two days. The previous day commissioner Gary Bettman had said that a deal would need to be ready by the weekend to save the season.
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