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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"I have no regrets. I don't believe in looking back. What I am proudest of? Working really hard... and achieving as much as I could." ~ Elena Kagan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Trending: 7 days until the 2016 NCAA March Madness Tournament starts and 3 days before you can pick your brackets, Are you in? (See the college basketball section for details and NCAA basketball updates).
Trending: What's wrong with the Blackhawks' penalty kill? (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Jimmy Butler receives positive news from Dr. James Andrews. (See the basketball section for Bulls updates).
Trending: Bears accomplish four key tasks on first day of free agency. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: After Trump endorsement, NASCAR leader faces the fallout, What's Your Take? (See the last article on this blog and share your thoughts with us).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Chicago Blackhawks-Dallas Stars Preview.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Chicago Blackhawks-Dallas Stars Preview.
An already dramatic Central Division race is about to get a little more exciting.
A mere one point separates the Western Conference's top three teams entering this marquee matchup, with charging St. Louis gaining ground following Wednesday's 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks. The Stars will host the Blues on Saturday night.
Both Chicago (41-21-6) and Dallas (40-20-8) have allowed the Blues to close the gap with uneven recent results. The Blackhawks are 3-3-1 over a seven-game stretch while the Stars were dealt an eighth loss in 11 with Tuesday's 4-3 overtime defeat at struggling Montreal.
"Tough game on the road and I think it is good to get a point, but we've got to find a way to win that game," center Jason Spezza told the Stars' official website. "Whether it is in overtime or the couple chances we had in the third, that is a game we should be winning."
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, couldn't protect a 1-0 lead after two periods against St. Louis, though they still managed to earn an important point when Artemi Panarin tied it with 1:17 left and goaltender Corey Crawford pulled for an extra skater.
''We're disappointed we gave up the lead,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''And then you score with the goalie out you've got to be pretty happy on the road."
The Blues scored both their late goals on the power play, further exposing Chicago's primary recent weakness. The Blackhawks have killed just 61.1 percent of short-handed chances in 12 games since Feb. 9, the NHL's lowest mark over that span.
A defensive decline can also explain Dallas' drop-off, as it's surrendered a league-high 40 goals over 10 contests since Feb. 18. Already without defensemen John Klingberg and Jordie Benn due to lower-body injuries, the Stars had their backline further thinned when Jason Demers suffered a potentially long-term shoulder injury Tuesday.
"Tough game on the road and I think it is good to get a point, but we've got to find a way to win that game," center Jason Spezza told the Stars' official website. "Whether it is in overtime or the couple chances we had in the third, that is a game we should be winning."
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, couldn't protect a 1-0 lead after two periods against St. Louis, though they still managed to earn an important point when Artemi Panarin tied it with 1:17 left and goaltender Corey Crawford pulled for an extra skater.
''We're disappointed we gave up the lead,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''And then you score with the goalie out you've got to be pretty happy on the road."
The Blues scored both their late goals on the power play, further exposing Chicago's primary recent weakness. The Blackhawks have killed just 61.1 percent of short-handed chances in 12 games since Feb. 9, the NHL's lowest mark over that span.
A defensive decline can also explain Dallas' drop-off, as it's surrendered a league-high 40 goals over 10 contests since Feb. 18. Already without defensemen John Klingberg and Jordie Benn due to lower-body injuries, the Stars had their backline further thinned when Jason Demers suffered a potentially long-term shoulder injury Tuesday.
Dallas also is dealing with slumps from its top two forwards. Tyler Seguin is a minus-seven over a season-high five-game streak without a point and Jamie Benn hasn't scored in a season-high seven straight.
Spezza has been producing of late, recording a goal in four straight and tallying seven in his last eight, and the Stars may have ex-Blackhawk Patrick Sharp (lower body) back from a three-game absence.
Chicago's Marian Hossa, sidelined nine games with a lower leg injury, also may play after returning to practice on Tuesday.
Crawford has allowed two goals or less in five consecutive starts and had 36 saves in a 5-1 win at Dallas on Feb. 6. He was removed after one period in a 4-2 home loss to the Stars five days later, though, with Patrick Eaves registering a hat trick during a four-goal opening frame.
The Stars won the teams' initial 2015-16 meeting 4-0 behind Antti Niemi's 20 saves. The former Blackhawk hasn't played since March 1, however, and has a 4.68 goals-against average over his last five starts.
Kari Lehtonen has worked Dallas' last three games, stopping 41 of 44 shots in wins over New Jersey and Ottawa prior to Tuesday's 24-save effort. He had a season-high 44 saves in the Feb. 11 win in Chicago.
What's wrong with the Blackhawks' penalty kill?
By Tracey Myers
Andrew Desjardins was asked about the Blackhawks’ overall penalty kill this season but his first thoughts were on the second power-play goal they gave up on Wednesday night.
“That second one, personally, was my mess up. That was just a complete misplay by me,” he said following Thursday’s optional practice. “I think the first one is one of those where it’s in between, a pretty good tip, a pretty good shot. Just making it too easy on that first one but the second one, that was my man.”
Hey, things happen sometimes. But for the Blackhawks’ kill lately, things have been happening against it too often. In their last 12 games (including their Feb. 9 outing against the San Jose Sharks), the Blackhawks penalty kill has allowed opponents 14 power-play goals (22 of 36 on kills). Their kill is currently ranked 24th in the NHL.
That’s a steep drop from previous seasons; it was ranked 10th last season and third in the league in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
So what gives?
“I still think we have to do a better job of blocking shots up top,” Desjardins said. “We have to pay attention to the details. I think just not giving up those free shots, which is key; doing everything to block those, especially wristers. You don’t want to let those get through because they’re easily tipped.”
The Blackhawks want to get their penalty kill back to where it was earlier this season, hopefully beginning on Friday when they face the Dallas Stars. The Blackhawks gave up two third-period power-play goals against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. That kill, which has won them games in the past, almost cost them two points the other night.
“I thought it was pretty good to start the year, we were pretty consistent. We’ve slowed down here recently,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Quality of shots, [we’re] not in shooting lanes; whether it’s stick position, awareness of what their strengths and tendencies are, whether it’s neglecting or you get tired, there are some coverage issues that I know we can be better at. Those are the things we want to make sure we shore up on our penalty killing, get it more predictable and consistent.”
Marian Hossa, who’s watched the past three weeks as he recovers from a lower-body injury, said it could be the little details.
“Well I think the system works; obviously we’ve done it so many years and it was successful. So that’s a great thing. But maybe there’s communication, being that one split second in the right spot,” Hossa said. “There are little things we can make ready. I don’t see a huge issue, but we know how to play it. We just have to be more on the same page.”
Now, missing Hossa and Marcus Kruger, who’s been out with a wrist injury since December, doesn’t help. The two have been critical parts of that kill for several seasons, and getting depth back there should improve the results.
“You get guys who are going to be in the first and third and second and fourth holes,” Quenneville said. “They’ve done it in the past and they’re good at it, and it’s one of their strengths and one of our team strengths is getting through critical penalties.”
But the Blackhawks can’t wait for those two to get back to shore things up. The kill has been a vital part of the Blackhawks’ success the past few seasons. They need it to be good again soon.
“A lot of nights that can be the difference between winning and losing, especially in key games and in key times in games,” Quenneville said. “We have to get back to being comfortable taking penalties – and when I say comfortable, you get a two- or three-penalty allotment and you’re comfortable in trying to find a way to get through it. But you can lose momentum giving up big goals at the wrong time of games.”
Updates:
— Hossa participated in the Blackhawks’ optional practice on Thursday. He’ll see where he is after morning skate on whether he can/cannot play against the Stars on Friday night.
— Former Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (lower body) will not play on Friday.
— Corey Crawford will start against the Stars.
What's wrong with the Blackhawks' penalty kill?
By Tracey Myers
Andrew Desjardins was asked about the Blackhawks’ overall penalty kill this season but his first thoughts were on the second power-play goal they gave up on Wednesday night.
“That second one, personally, was my mess up. That was just a complete misplay by me,” he said following Thursday’s optional practice. “I think the first one is one of those where it’s in between, a pretty good tip, a pretty good shot. Just making it too easy on that first one but the second one, that was my man.”
Hey, things happen sometimes. But for the Blackhawks’ kill lately, things have been happening against it too often. In their last 12 games (including their Feb. 9 outing against the San Jose Sharks), the Blackhawks penalty kill has allowed opponents 14 power-play goals (22 of 36 on kills). Their kill is currently ranked 24th in the NHL.
That’s a steep drop from previous seasons; it was ranked 10th last season and third in the league in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
So what gives?
“I still think we have to do a better job of blocking shots up top,” Desjardins said. “We have to pay attention to the details. I think just not giving up those free shots, which is key; doing everything to block those, especially wristers. You don’t want to let those get through because they’re easily tipped.”
The Blackhawks want to get their penalty kill back to where it was earlier this season, hopefully beginning on Friday when they face the Dallas Stars. The Blackhawks gave up two third-period power-play goals against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. That kill, which has won them games in the past, almost cost them two points the other night.
“I thought it was pretty good to start the year, we were pretty consistent. We’ve slowed down here recently,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Quality of shots, [we’re] not in shooting lanes; whether it’s stick position, awareness of what their strengths and tendencies are, whether it’s neglecting or you get tired, there are some coverage issues that I know we can be better at. Those are the things we want to make sure we shore up on our penalty killing, get it more predictable and consistent.”
Marian Hossa, who’s watched the past three weeks as he recovers from a lower-body injury, said it could be the little details.
“Well I think the system works; obviously we’ve done it so many years and it was successful. So that’s a great thing. But maybe there’s communication, being that one split second in the right spot,” Hossa said. “There are little things we can make ready. I don’t see a huge issue, but we know how to play it. We just have to be more on the same page.”
Now, missing Hossa and Marcus Kruger, who’s been out with a wrist injury since December, doesn’t help. The two have been critical parts of that kill for several seasons, and getting depth back there should improve the results.
“You get guys who are going to be in the first and third and second and fourth holes,” Quenneville said. “They’ve done it in the past and they’re good at it, and it’s one of their strengths and one of our team strengths is getting through critical penalties.”
But the Blackhawks can’t wait for those two to get back to shore things up. The kill has been a vital part of the Blackhawks’ success the past few seasons. They need it to be good again soon.
“A lot of nights that can be the difference between winning and losing, especially in key games and in key times in games,” Quenneville said. “We have to get back to being comfortable taking penalties – and when I say comfortable, you get a two- or three-penalty allotment and you’re comfortable in trying to find a way to get through it. But you can lose momentum giving up big goals at the wrong time of games.”
Updates:
— Hossa participated in the Blackhawks’ optional practice on Thursday. He’ll see where he is after morning skate on whether he can/cannot play against the Stars on Friday night.
— Former Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (lower body) will not play on Friday.
— Corey Crawford will start against the Stars.
It's official: Blackhawks, Blues to clash in 2017 Winter Classic.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks have proven to be a popular draw in outdoor games. So it should come as no surprise that they’ll be playing in another one.
The Blackhawks will face the St. Louis Blues in the 2017 NHL Winter Classic, which will be held at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2. This will be the first time the Blues have hosted an outdoor game. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, will play in their fifth outdoor game. They’ve hosted two – at Wrigley Field in 2009 and at Soldier Field in 2014 – and played two others in Washington in 2015 and in Minnesota last month.
While this experience will be new for many of the Blues, Troy Brouwer has been here before.
“I’ve played in two of them and they’re a lot of fun,” said the former Blackhawks forward, who scored the game-winner for Washington against the Blackhawks in the 2015 Winter Classic. “It’s a big spectacle. There’s a lot to the game and it can kind of take away from the actual game a little bit, just with the whole event of it. But the NHL and the teams that I’ve been on have done a phenomenal job promoting the game, making good hype for the game, hype for the cities, and then the games themselves are always a lot of fun to play.”
These outdoor games have become a habit for the Blackhawks. But Patrick Kane, talking prior to the game at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, said there’s still a thrill.
“It’s still pretty unusual playing in a game like this. It’s exciting. All of us enjoy it and we know that there’s, I wouldn’t say pressure on us to put on a good show, but we’re expected to be here for reason and… it seems like the NHL wants the Blackhawks in these types of events,” he said. “We try to put on a good show for everyone.”
Penalties haunt Blackhawks in shootout loss to Blues. (Wednesday night's game, 03/09/2018).
By Tracey Myers
In the matchup between the second- and third-place Central Division teams, special teams loomed large.
And while the Blackhawks will take the one point they did get, their shaky penalty kill left them frustrated and absent that other point.
Artemi Panarin tied the game late but Kevin Shattenkirk won it in a shootout as the St. Louis Blues beat the Blackhawks 3-2 on Wednesday night. The Blackhawks, thanks to that point, move back into first place in the Central Division. The Dallas Stars, Friday’s opponent, also has 88 points but the Blackhawks have two more regulation/overtime victories than the Stars.
The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead into the third period but gave up two power-play goals. Former Blackhawks forward Troy Brouwer scored what was the go-ahead goal for the Blues at the time. The penalty kill’s issues, and the infractions that put the Blackhawks on them (too many men and holding), left coach Joel Quenneville frustrated.
“I didn’t like it at all tonight,” Quenneville said of the kill. “I didn’t like the two penalties we took at the end, too.”
Jonathan Toews, who left briefly in the second period after colliding with a partially open door on the Blues’ bench – a hip flexor he said felt better as the game went on – said the Blackhawks need to shore things up on the kill.
“I think the majority of the game we played pretty well. We just need those timely penalty kills in the third and we didn’t get them,” said Toews, who assisted on Panarin’s late regulation goal. “We’ve got to be better. I think our focus has been there the last couple of games; I think our kill was really good against Detroit. It’s still something that we need to improve on big time.”
On the other side, the Blackhawks had their power-play chances too but could come up with just one on three opportunities. That included a lengthy power play when Ryan Reaves was given a five-minute charging and a game misconduct for his hit on Blackhawks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. Andrew Ladd redirected Teuvo Teravainen’s shot for a 1-0 lead. Outside of that one, though, the Blues’ league-leading penalty kill held off the Blackhawks’ league-leading power play.
Still, after Corey Crawford vacated the net late in regulation, Panarin forced overtime with his 25th goal of the season. After a 3-on-3 overtime in which both teams looked drained from the physical contest, the Blackhawks and Blues traded a few shootout goals. After Shattenkirk scored his, Teuvo Teravainen missed to seal it for the Blues.
“That was a tough shootout,” said Crawford, who stopped 28 of 30 in regulation and overtime. “It was a fast game and playoff-type game. It seems like we’re playing a lot of those lately. We’re in a great position, had some tough luck there on a couple power-play goals but I thought we played really well. Had a lot of chances.”
The Blackhawks did have their chances, but it’s what they gave up on the other end, on a penalty kill that’s been so good for the past several years, that had them disappointed.
“I think for the most part we played pretty well with the lead and I think we can always expect that they’re going to come hard at us,” Toews said. “So knowing that, in a way it’s disappointing we couldn’t come up with a second point.”
NHL concludes Kane rape allegation 'unfounded'.
The NHL has completed its independent review of a rape allegation against Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and on Wednesday deemed it unfounded.
The league said the final stage of the review included a meeting between the 27-year-old Kane and commissioner Gary Bettman in New York on Monday.
"Based on its review, including the determination made by the Erie County District Attorney not to pursue charges, the NHL has concluded that the allegations made against Kane were unfounded," the league said in a statement.
"The League considers the matter closed and will have no further comment," the press release stated.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said in November that Kane would not face rape charges because of a lack of credible evidence.
At the time, the accuser notified authorities she was no longer interested in cooperating with their investigation.
Sedita did not present the case to a grand jury.
"The totality of the credible evidence -- the proof -- does not sufficiently substantiate the complainant's allegation that she was raped by Patrick Kane," Sedita said at the time.
"The totality of the credible evidence -- the proof -- does not sufficiently substantiate the complainant's allegation that she was raped by Patrick Kane," Sedita said at the time.
"This so-called 'case' is rife with reasonable doubt," he added.
In September, the accuser's attorney dropped the case when the accuser's mother was found to have manufactured a story about an unopened rape kit at their home.
Kane, 26, was the top pick in the 2007 NHL draft. He leads the league with 89 points (38 goals, 51 assists) in 67 games this season.
In September, the accuser's attorney dropped the case when the accuser's mother was found to have manufactured a story about an unopened rape kit at their home.
Kane, 26, was the top pick in the 2007 NHL draft. He leads the league with 89 points (38 goals, 51 assists) in 67 games this season.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Miami Heat-Chicago Bulls Preview.
By KEVIN MASSOTH
It's the Heat, though, who have made a postseason push since the All-Star break as the Bulls continue to teeter on a fine line between in and out.
After receiving good news about Jimmy Butler, Chicago seeks its third win in four games Friday night against a visiting Heat team trying to bounce back from its only loss in a nearly two-week stretch that included a historic performance against the Bulls.
Chicago (32-31) was already struggling through January with Butler in the lineup, but things took a turn for the worse last month largely without him. The All-Star played just one game during a 3-9 span Feb. 5-March 2 that helped drop the Bulls one-half game behind Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
After returning with 24 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's 108-100 win over Houston, Butler sat out Monday's 100-90 victory against Milwaukee and Thursday's 109-101 loss at San Antonio with swelling in the same knee that sidelined him for 11 games.
He sought a second opinion on his left knee from Dr. James Andrews on Thursday and the result was that no structural damage was found. It was undoubtedly positive news for the Bulls, who have averaged 100.3 points since Jan. 15, though there is still no timetable for his return as the importance of each game rises.
Their two-game win streak was snapped with their fifth loss in seven games against the Spurs. Pau Gasol finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds, though he committed seven of Chicago's 21 turnovers. The Bulls have 65 giveaways in their last three games.
"I wouldn't say one play (away), a couple of plays away," said Derrick Rose, who had 21 points. "Communication has been key the entire year and that's something we didn't go out there and do (Thursday night)."
Miami (37-27) also received an update Thursday on injured star Chris Bosh and released a statement saying he does not have blood clots in his leg. The statement did not say if he was off blood thinners and did not give any timeline for a return.
Bosh was leading Miami with 19.1 points per game when he discovered the issue over the All-Star break, which was similar to a blood clot on his lung last season.
"I will continue to support my teammates in every way possible," Bosh said in his statement. "I remain positive that I will be able to return this season."
The Heat, though, are tied for the league's fourth-best record since the All-Star break (8-3) even without Bosh. They won five straight before Wednesday's 114-108 loss at Milwaukee, taking over the Southeast Division lead in the process.
With newly-acquired Joe Johnson plugged into the starting five, the Heat are playing at a quicker pace. They're averaging 112 points and shooting 51.1 percent in the last five games, including a record night in a second win this season against Chicago.
Miami set a franchise mark with a 67.5 field-goal percentage in a 129-111 home win over the Bulls on March 1. Hassan Whiteside made 8 of 11 shots for 26 points, while Johnson went 10 of 13 for 24.
It was a season high in points for the Heat, who made 52 of 77 shots and outscored the Bulls 74-48 in the paint. It was the NBA's best single-game percentage over the last six years - until Minnesota shot 68.4 percent in Saturday's 132-118 win over Brooklyn.
It was also a single-game high for a Bulls opponent since field-goal percentage was first tracked in the 1983-84 season.
Bulls' errors spoil valiant effort in San Antonio.
By Vincent Goodwill
It happens so quick and yet, it doesn’t feel devastating even though it’ll show on the box score that the San Antonio Spurs win every game by a margin unmatched in NBA history.
The Bulls were every bit the Spurs’ equal Thursday night but overall couldn’t match their execution, falling 109-101 at the AT&T Center.
Every time it seemed the Bulls were ready to grab some momentum, something worked against them.
Trailing by five late in the third, they had a chance to cut it to two but Nikola Mirotic missed a wide-open triple from the corner, followed by Kawhi Leonard having one bounce softly off the rim then back in again, pushing the lead to eight. It seemed to be that way all night for the Bulls, fighting uphill against a buzzsaw and against their own limitations.
By the time Danny Green snuck behind E’Twaun Moore for a follow-up dunk with 4:09 left to put the Spurs up 10 and re-establish some breathing room, it seemed fait accompli the Bulls’ effort in ending the Spurs’ 30-0 home start would be for naught. Moore had a standout game, hitting four triples, most of them when the Bulls were teetering in the first three quarters and the threat of being out of the building was high.
Moore finished with 18, starting in place of Jimmy Butler, but they sure could’ve used Butler on the Spurs’ best player.
Derrick Rose was guarded by Kawhi Leonard, the premier perimeter defender the NBA has to offer. And without Jimmy Butler, not only was Leonard free to roam offensively but to hassle Rose on the other end.
Leonard led the Spurs with 29 points and seven rebounds to go along with two steals and two blocks. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 with 10 rebounds in 33 minutes and Tony Parker, who kept Rose’s head spinning all night with constant activity, scored 20 in his return from injury.
Rose, along with Moore and Justin Holliday (12 points), played exceptionally well in spurts to keep the Bulls in it. He scored a quick seven in the first four minutes to start the third quarter and the Bulls made the Spurs sweat.
Rose scored 21 points with six assists, and only committed one turnover in 36 minutes.
But he was one of the few who was unfazed by the Spurs’ perfect position defense. They didn’t make many mistakes but when they did, the beauty of the Spurs was revealed. Although the giveaways didn’t come in spurts, they didn’t have to because the Spurs capitalized, seemingly every time.
The Bulls had 21 turnovers and to boot, could only force eight out of the Spurs, limiting their chances for easy opportunities.
Then the other aspect of this team is when Gregg Popovich sits down and allows his team to run its offense to perfection.
Flawless cuts to the basket. Precise picks. And most of all, perfect passes.
The Spurs tallied 29 assists on their 44 field goals, with Parker dishing out 12 helpers.
Hoiberg won’t complain about effort, as they fell to a superior team in a perfect atmosphere in a building that hasn’t seen a loss in over a year.
But it didn’t stop the Bulls from sliding back into ninth in the Eastern Conference playoff race, with the Miami Heat meeting them in Chicago Friday.
Bulls: Jimmy Butler receives positive news from Dr. James Andrews.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
If Jimmy Butler had serious concerns about the state of his left knee, the Bulls hope his visit to Dr. James Andrews put it to rest as they embark on their last quarter of the season.
The Bulls issued a statement following Butler’s visit to Dr. Andrews’ office in Pensacola, Fla., stating Dr. Andrews “gave a confirmatory opinion and supports the current management of Butler’s condition and return to play.”
Butler is headed back to Chicago and will continue treatment, as the statement released by the team said he’ll return to play “when appropriate.” Butler could miss a few more games or return sooner depending on how he feels and where his confidence lies in his body.
Butler wanted a second opinion on what was termed a left knee strain and cost him 11 games in February, and discomfort after coming back for one game before sitting out Monday against Milwaukee.
Butler looked like himself in 34 minutes but didn’t feel like himself, with swelling in his knee along with back pain. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, when announcing the news Wednesday afternoon, agreed with an assertion that Butler’s visit to Dr. Andrews was more about peace of mind than anything else.
“You want the best news possible,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said at the morning shootaround before the Bulls play the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio. “Once we get the word and put a plan together, hopefully we’ll have him for the rest of the year.”
When asked if he was felt like he would be without Butler for an even more extended period of time, Hoiberg said, “Hopefully not. I guess I’m optimistic.”
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears accomplish four key tasks on first day of free agency.
The Bulls issued a statement following Butler’s visit to Dr. Andrews’ office in Pensacola, Fla., stating Dr. Andrews “gave a confirmatory opinion and supports the current management of Butler’s condition and return to play.”
Butler is headed back to Chicago and will continue treatment, as the statement released by the team said he’ll return to play “when appropriate.” Butler could miss a few more games or return sooner depending on how he feels and where his confidence lies in his body.
Butler wanted a second opinion on what was termed a left knee strain and cost him 11 games in February, and discomfort after coming back for one game before sitting out Monday against Milwaukee.
Butler looked like himself in 34 minutes but didn’t feel like himself, with swelling in his knee along with back pain. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, when announcing the news Wednesday afternoon, agreed with an assertion that Butler’s visit to Dr. Andrews was more about peace of mind than anything else.
“You want the best news possible,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said at the morning shootaround before the Bulls play the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio. “Once we get the word and put a plan together, hopefully we’ll have him for the rest of the year.”
When asked if he was felt like he would be without Butler for an even more extended period of time, Hoiberg said, “Hopefully not. I guess I’m optimistic.”
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears accomplish four key tasks on first day of free agency.
By John Mullin
Free Agency 2016 began in earnest on Wednesday with myriad signings throughout the NFL. The Bears were active participants, not in terms of gross dollars, but in the more important measure, that of meaningful players.
Beyond the players themselves, the Bears finished Day One with four notable accomplishments:
1. Addressed specific needs
The offseason began with these among the Bears' needs: defensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback, right guard, backup running back, safety, tight end. Four of those seven received attention within the first 90 minutes of free agency:
Inside linebacker — signed Danny Trevathan from Denver Broncos for four years.
Cornerback — re-signed Tracy Porter, their best ’15 DB, for three years.
Right guard — signed RT Bobby Massie from Arizona for three years, freeing up Kyle Long for RG.
Backup running back/special teams — re-signed Jacquizz Rodgers for one year.
Defensive line, safety, tight end and other spots may yet be addressed. But reducing the needs list by four with some known quantities qualifies as a solid first two hours.
2. Improved draft options
The Bears under GM Ryan Pace are committed to the best-player-available philosophy. Typically they will have a smaller target group graded as worth a pick at No. 11 — their pick this year. Within that group of equals, need then becomes trump.
More than a few mock drafts over the past couple weeks would have the Bears at No. 11 grabbing an impact linebacker (UCLA’s Myles Jack, Ohio State’s Darron Lee, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland), tackle (Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley) or cornerback (Ohio State’s Eli Apple).
Any of those may very well be the Bears’ pick on Thursday, April 28. But the level of need in certain spots changed dramatically on Wednesday afternoon.
3. Groups upgraded
Moving Kyle Long to right tackle was not the choice of the two-time Pro Bowl right guard. It really wasn’t the Bears’ first choice either, just a step dictated by need after failures at right tackle. The Massie signing allows Long to move back to guard if that’s the choice. That projects to put a Pro Bowl guard alongside still-learning center Hroniss Grasu in a position group that functions optimally starting its five best, regardless of position.
“Kyle has some position flexibility,” GM Ryan Pace said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think with our offensive line when I look at that we’ve got some flexibility with some guys there. Our goal is to improve that position, but just acquire the best players and let it all sort out and start the best five.”
Massie was a member of an Arizona line tied for fourth in fewest sacks allowed (27) and No. 5 in sack rate. The addition of him at right tackle and Long at right guard upgrades protection as well as the run game to the right side of the offense. Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey just got better.
Trevathan was the leading tackler on an elite 3-4, Super Bowl defense last season. Regardless of what the Bears do with Shea McClellin at the other inside spot, the entire defense just got a boost from a player very familiar with the 3-4 scheme and John Fox, something few on the Bears defense were at this time last year.
4. Culture upgraded
The Bears made their hardest initial pushes on players with track records of winning:
Trevathan, holder of two AFC Championship rings and a Super Bowl one from the 2015 season; Massie, starting right tackle for the Arizona Cardinals in three of the last four seasons, including last year through the loss to Carolina in the NFC Championship game.
Trevathan came into the NFL and into the Denver starting lineup under coach John Fox. He hits the ground running.
Beyond the players themselves, the Bears finished Day One with four notable accomplishments:
1. Addressed specific needs
The offseason began with these among the Bears' needs: defensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback, right guard, backup running back, safety, tight end. Four of those seven received attention within the first 90 minutes of free agency:
Inside linebacker — signed Danny Trevathan from Denver Broncos for four years.
Cornerback — re-signed Tracy Porter, their best ’15 DB, for three years.
Right guard — signed RT Bobby Massie from Arizona for three years, freeing up Kyle Long for RG.
Backup running back/special teams — re-signed Jacquizz Rodgers for one year.
Defensive line, safety, tight end and other spots may yet be addressed. But reducing the needs list by four with some known quantities qualifies as a solid first two hours.
2. Improved draft options
The Bears under GM Ryan Pace are committed to the best-player-available philosophy. Typically they will have a smaller target group graded as worth a pick at No. 11 — their pick this year. Within that group of equals, need then becomes trump.
More than a few mock drafts over the past couple weeks would have the Bears at No. 11 grabbing an impact linebacker (UCLA’s Myles Jack, Ohio State’s Darron Lee, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland), tackle (Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley) or cornerback (Ohio State’s Eli Apple).
Any of those may very well be the Bears’ pick on Thursday, April 28. But the level of need in certain spots changed dramatically on Wednesday afternoon.
3. Groups upgraded
Moving Kyle Long to right tackle was not the choice of the two-time Pro Bowl right guard. It really wasn’t the Bears’ first choice either, just a step dictated by need after failures at right tackle. The Massie signing allows Long to move back to guard if that’s the choice. That projects to put a Pro Bowl guard alongside still-learning center Hroniss Grasu in a position group that functions optimally starting its five best, regardless of position.
“Kyle has some position flexibility,” GM Ryan Pace said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think with our offensive line when I look at that we’ve got some flexibility with some guys there. Our goal is to improve that position, but just acquire the best players and let it all sort out and start the best five.”
Massie was a member of an Arizona line tied for fourth in fewest sacks allowed (27) and No. 5 in sack rate. The addition of him at right tackle and Long at right guard upgrades protection as well as the run game to the right side of the offense. Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey just got better.
Trevathan was the leading tackler on an elite 3-4, Super Bowl defense last season. Regardless of what the Bears do with Shea McClellin at the other inside spot, the entire defense just got a boost from a player very familiar with the 3-4 scheme and John Fox, something few on the Bears defense were at this time last year.
4. Culture upgraded
The Bears made their hardest initial pushes on players with track records of winning:
Trevathan, holder of two AFC Championship rings and a Super Bowl one from the 2015 season; Massie, starting right tackle for the Arizona Cardinals in three of the last four seasons, including last year through the loss to Carolina in the NFC Championship game.
Trevathan came into the NFL and into the Denver starting lineup under coach John Fox. He hits the ground running.
Will Joe Maddon keep Addison Russell ninth in Cubs lineup?
By Tony Andracki
When Dexter Fowler surprised the Cubs roster and re-signed with the team, Joe Maddon said it opened up even more lineup options for 2016.
But in reality, Fowler's arrival actually sort of solidified the lineup.
When Fowler plays, Maddon already admitted the centerfielder will be leading off. It also means Addison Russell may be ticketed for the No. 9 spot again.
The Cubs' 2-8 spots in the lineup are up in the air, but Maddon likes Russell's skillset at the bottom of the order, acting as a sort of second leadoff hitter.
But in reality, Fowler's arrival actually sort of solidified the lineup.
When Fowler plays, Maddon already admitted the centerfielder will be leading off. It also means Addison Russell may be ticketed for the No. 9 spot again.
The Cubs' 2-8 spots in the lineup are up in the air, but Maddon likes Russell's skillset at the bottom of the order, acting as a sort of second leadoff hitter.
Last week, Maddon allowed himself to write down the Cubs lineup on a sheet of paper, just to get a visual at it.
"My god, hitting [Russell] ninth actually sounds pretty good, just leading into the rest of the group coming back around," Maddon said. "Last year, I was trying to protect him. That was a primary reason to do that.
"If I were to do it this year, it would not be so much as protection, as just the function from the whole group."
When Russell made his big-league debut in April last season, he was just a 21-year-old and, as Maddon said, the Cubs decided to hit him in the spot in the order with the lowest pressure.
This year, Russell is more comfortable in his "major-league skin" and doesn't need to be shielded as much in the order.
However, with the additions of Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, the Cubs have plenty of solid on-base percentage options to hit at the top of the order.
Maddon said he likes the idea of Fowler, Heyward and Zobrist hitting in the first three spots in the lineup, setting the table for big boppers Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber.
All that seems like writing on the wall for Russell to serve as the No. 9 hitter, something he's ready for.
"Joe seems like he's one of those guys that has a puzzle and we're all pieces," Russell said. "The nine-hole was an adjustment last year, but I was looking at footage and trying to get better at the nine-hole this year.
"I'm excited to be in the nine-hole. I'd be excited to be [anywhere] in the lineup. I think anyone would be."
Long-term, who knows where Russell will end up. He joked that hitting leadoff would be nice, too, and he did post a career .377 OBP in the minor leagues. However, he sported just a .307 OBP in the majors last season, drawing only 42 walks in 142 games in his rookie campaign.
In terms of Russell's development, will the Cubs want to keep him in a spot that sees the fewest plate appearances of anybody in the lineup? The leadoff guy in the Cubs order last year netted 756 plate appearances, but the No. 9 spot totaled just 618 plate appearances.
Before Fowler signed, Maddon said he needed to get with the Cubs' "geeks" and crunch the numbers about hitting the pitcher eighth and Russell ninth.
"I think there's times where it makes a lot of sense," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "If you have the right nine hitter, a guy that gets on base and can almost act as a second leadoff hitter in front of the big guys, I think that makes a lot of sense.
"I'll be honest with you - I went back and forth on it during the course of last year. There were times where you have a big second inning and you're like, 'Ugh, we're already at the pitcher's spot.'
"It feels like it kills you, but there's plenty of times where that nine-hitter gets on and it creates momentum going into your best hitters."
Of course, this is Maddon and he's anything but conventional.
The Cubs' first two games of the 2016 season come in an American League park meaning the lineup will have a designated hitter, throwing another loop in the projected Opening Day lineup.
Maddon said he wasn't trying to pretend to be a fantasy owner with his lineup. "Theory and reality," Maddon said. "Theoretically, this is what it looks like. The reality is - some guys are gonna struggle, somebody may get hurt.
"... It's not gonna be perfect. You draw your plans and you know it's not going to work that way. All these other contingency concepts and ideas are gonna be very important."
Carson Fulmer gaining confidence in White Sox camp.
"My god, hitting [Russell] ninth actually sounds pretty good, just leading into the rest of the group coming back around," Maddon said. "Last year, I was trying to protect him. That was a primary reason to do that.
"If I were to do it this year, it would not be so much as protection, as just the function from the whole group."
When Russell made his big-league debut in April last season, he was just a 21-year-old and, as Maddon said, the Cubs decided to hit him in the spot in the order with the lowest pressure.
This year, Russell is more comfortable in his "major-league skin" and doesn't need to be shielded as much in the order.
However, with the additions of Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, the Cubs have plenty of solid on-base percentage options to hit at the top of the order.
Maddon said he likes the idea of Fowler, Heyward and Zobrist hitting in the first three spots in the lineup, setting the table for big boppers Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber.
All that seems like writing on the wall for Russell to serve as the No. 9 hitter, something he's ready for.
"Joe seems like he's one of those guys that has a puzzle and we're all pieces," Russell said. "The nine-hole was an adjustment last year, but I was looking at footage and trying to get better at the nine-hole this year.
"I'm excited to be in the nine-hole. I'd be excited to be [anywhere] in the lineup. I think anyone would be."
Long-term, who knows where Russell will end up. He joked that hitting leadoff would be nice, too, and he did post a career .377 OBP in the minor leagues. However, he sported just a .307 OBP in the majors last season, drawing only 42 walks in 142 games in his rookie campaign.
In terms of Russell's development, will the Cubs want to keep him in a spot that sees the fewest plate appearances of anybody in the lineup? The leadoff guy in the Cubs order last year netted 756 plate appearances, but the No. 9 spot totaled just 618 plate appearances.
Before Fowler signed, Maddon said he needed to get with the Cubs' "geeks" and crunch the numbers about hitting the pitcher eighth and Russell ninth.
"I think there's times where it makes a lot of sense," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "If you have the right nine hitter, a guy that gets on base and can almost act as a second leadoff hitter in front of the big guys, I think that makes a lot of sense.
"I'll be honest with you - I went back and forth on it during the course of last year. There were times where you have a big second inning and you're like, 'Ugh, we're already at the pitcher's spot.'
"It feels like it kills you, but there's plenty of times where that nine-hitter gets on and it creates momentum going into your best hitters."
Of course, this is Maddon and he's anything but conventional.
The Cubs' first two games of the 2016 season come in an American League park meaning the lineup will have a designated hitter, throwing another loop in the projected Opening Day lineup.
Maddon said he wasn't trying to pretend to be a fantasy owner with his lineup. "Theory and reality," Maddon said. "Theoretically, this is what it looks like. The reality is - some guys are gonna struggle, somebody may get hurt.
"... It's not gonna be perfect. You draw your plans and you know it's not going to work that way. All these other contingency concepts and ideas are gonna be very important."
Carson Fulmer gaining confidence in White Sox camp.
By J.J. Stankevitz
Carson Fulmer’s jitters haven’t gone away, but the White Sox 2015 first round pick is starting to feel more comfortable as he works through major league lineups during spring training.
Well, through one major league lineup — both of Fulmer’s Cactus League starts have come against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals. He allowed one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts Thursday at Camelback Ranch, facing a lineup headlined by Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez.
“The butterflies are still there from getting amped up for a start,” Fulmer said. “I felt more comfortable with it. It was my second time facing them and I’m getting a good feel of how the pace of a game goes."
The White Sox, right now, don’t see Fulmer in their 2016 plans, though they certainly aren’t ruling out the Vanderbilt product forcing the issue this summer. He excelled in 23 innings — a small sample size, of course — last year, posting a 1.96 ERA with 26 strikeouts, nine walks and two home runs allowed.
If and when Fulmer does reach the major leagues, his experience in these spring training games could come in handy. Specifically on Thursday, he fell behind Hosmer to lead off the second inning, worked back to a 3-2 count and then walked the Royals first baseman on a fastball in off the plate that he called a “great miss.”
Well, through one major league lineup — both of Fulmer’s Cactus League starts have come against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals. He allowed one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts Thursday at Camelback Ranch, facing a lineup headlined by Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez.
“The butterflies are still there from getting amped up for a start,” Fulmer said. “I felt more comfortable with it. It was my second time facing them and I’m getting a good feel of how the pace of a game goes."
The White Sox, right now, don’t see Fulmer in their 2016 plans, though they certainly aren’t ruling out the Vanderbilt product forcing the issue this summer. He excelled in 23 innings — a small sample size, of course — last year, posting a 1.96 ERA with 26 strikeouts, nine walks and two home runs allowed.
If and when Fulmer does reach the major leagues, his experience in these spring training games could come in handy. Specifically on Thursday, he fell behind Hosmer to lead off the second inning, worked back to a 3-2 count and then walked the Royals first baseman on a fastball in off the plate that he called a “great miss.”
“He has a good eye for pitches like that and let it go,” Fulmer said. “He’s a disciplined hitter and one of the best in the game. “For me, I can build off of that so next time I face him, hopefully I have a different mindset going into it. I took a lot from that at-bat.”
The walk wasn’t ideal, of course, but that fastball was a more aggressive miss in the spot he wanted to throw it. Fulmer said he’s growing to understand that having a top-quality arsenal of pitches — as he does — isn’t enough to make it at the major league level.
“If you don’t have an approach and don’t place it in the right spot, you’re going to get hit,” Fulmer said. “Attacking early, getting ahead obviously is the job of a pitcher, but quality pitches in the zone and putting it in the zone where they’re going to take swings at it.”
The Royals roughed up Fulmer for three runs on five hits in two innings on Saturday, so his start Thursday can be considered an improvement results-wise. There were a couple of hard-hit outs in there, though the run he gave up came on a bloop double, wild pitch and errant throw to third base.
While manager Robin Ventura traveled to Surprise for the other half of the White Sox split squad action Thursday, he said before leaving Camelback Ranch that he hoped Fulmer would be a little calmer his second time out.
“Hopefully it can just be a little easier,” Ventura said. “Last time he was out there he was amped up. Even for our guys, Carlos (Rodon) last year, it gets a little easier as they go out more times and have the opportunity to go out there and relax a little bit."
At this nascent juncture in his career, every start will bring something new for Fulmer. But he already felt more settled in spring training start No. 2, which comes across as a small-yet-positive step in his overall development.
“I feel like I’m getting really comfortable with it each time I go out there,” Fulmer said. “I’ll just take the positives from this outing and move forward on to the next.”
White Sox see Nate Jones tying bullpen together.
By J.J. Stankevitz
For the first time in three years, the White Sox will begin a season able to pencil Nate Jones into the middle of their bullpen mix.
Jones is finally healthy after undergoing a back procedure and Tommy John surgery that wiped out over a season and a half, limiting him to two games in 2014 and 19 games in 2015. He has the dubious distinction of being one of 48 players in major league history to have an infinite ERA in a season — he allowed four runs in two games and didn’t record an out before hitting the disabled list in 2014 — but returned strong last summer, posting a 3.32 ERA in 19 games.
The White Sox bullpen that was solid in 2015 (a 3.67 ERA, 16th in MLB), but could come together nicely with a full season of the flame-throwing Jones pitching in the latter innings.
“(He’s) an important piece,” manager Robin Ventura said. “For him, you have that power arm back there that you can feel comfortable using multiple days.”
Few players may be enjoying the slog of spring training more than Jones, who admitted last year’s rehab process from Tommy John surgery left him on his own most of the time.
“It makes you feel actually a part of the team,” Jones said. “Last spring training, I’d be coming in early, doing my rehab and stuff like that, everybody’s going up to play games and I’m stuck here.”
But that loneliness of sorts paid off when Jones returned to the White Sox bullpen last August. The White Sox eased him into high leverage spots, but when he started pitching in more of those, he excelled. Jones appeared in five high-leverage spots in August and September and didn’t allow a run in any of them, totaling six strikeouts, two walks and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“It made me very thankful of all the rehabbing that I did,” Jones said of his return last year. “It got me back to that point. It just let me know, hey, I can do it. I worked my butt off during the rehab and this is the end product of it and I can still contribute.”
Ventura said he’ll have better flexibility to use Jones and Zach Duke in tight spots late in games this year to set up closer David Robertson, with the benefit there being an ability to avoid taxing either pitcher. The trickle-down to the rest of the bullpen will be positive, too, with Jake Petricka, Zach Putnam, Matt Albers and whoever else staffs the relief corps able to stay fresh throughout the season.
“You can give a guy a break — that becomes the biggest thing is you don’t have to overuse people in the bullpen,” Ventura said. “That becomes the tough fight. You need to have enough depth that you’re not using the same guys that are back there the entire time.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Inspired by Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley shares Valspar lead.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Inspired by Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley shares Valspar lead.
Keegan Bradley saw what Adam Scott did the last two weeks and felt inspired. He turned that inspiration into results on Thursday at the Valspar Championship, shooting an opening 4-under 67 that has him in a three-way share of the lead with Ken Duke and Charles Howell III.
“That did get me motivated and made me feel good so thank you, Adam,” said Bradley.
Scott won The Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship to become the first player to win on the PGA Tour in back-to-back weeks since Billy Horschel in the 2014 FedEx Cup playoffs. Like Bradley, Scott was a former user of the anchored putting stroke who was forced to transition to a traditional stroke after the anchoring ban began at the start of 2016.
After several attempts at figuring out a way forward on the greens, the 2011 PGA champion has settled on a 36-inch putter. It worked well on Thursday, particularly from the crucial mid-range. Innisbrook's Copperhead Course is one of the toughest places on the PGA Tour to make putts from 10 feet.
Having missed four cuts in a row, Bradley was glad to see some putts fall.
“I really had a good day on the greens," Bradley said, "which was nice because it’s been awhile."
AFP
World number one Jordan Spieth was left staring down the barrel of his second missed cut of 2016 on Thursday after firing a five-over-par 76 in the opening round of the Valspar Championship.
The defending champion, who had missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles last month, suffered a torrid round on the Innisbrook Resort's challenging Copperhead layout to finish the day way off the pace.
Spieth, who struggled to get to grips with the blustery conditions, carded six bogeys and one birdie and will need to produce something miraculous on Friday if he is to extend his participation into the weekend.
"It was a very tough day. I just didn't hit enough greens," said Spieth, who never recovered after a disastrous start which included five bogeys and one birdie in his first seven holes to put him four over at the turn.
"I got off to a poor start and I was behind the eight-ball with gusty wind on a tough golf course," the 22-year-old Texan said.
Spieth was also dismayed with his putting performance on greens that played very slowly.
"It's so tough on some of these putts down the hill to hit them as hard as we have to hit them," Spieth said.
"It's one thing to practice on the greens and get used to it, it's another to actually do it."
Spieth was left nine shots adrift of early pace-setters Keegan Bradley, Ken Duke, and Charles Howell III, who all carded four-under-par 67s to take a share of the first round lead.
Bradley shot five birdies and one bogey, a haul which included a superb 25-foot birdie putt at the par-three fourth.
Unlike Spieth, Bradley was happy with the condition of the greens.
"I think this is a great speed for these greens," he said, admitting however that the wind had caused him problems.
"It seems to be very up and down ... it's a tough round. The course is so good because if you hit good shots it really rewards you," he said.
Journeyman Duke meanwhile, who has not won a PGA Tour event since 2013, joined Bradley at the top of the first round leaderboard after conjuring up a final hole chip-in from the edge of the 18th green for his fourth birdie of the day.
Howell was flawless in his opening round, finishing with 14 pars and four birdies. The highlight was a monster 45-foot birdie on the par-five 11th.
The highest non-American players on the leaderboard Thursday included England's Danny Willett, Sweden's Jonas Blixt, South Africa's Retief Goosen, Germany's Martin Kaymer, New Zealand's Danny Lee and Australia's Cameron Smith who all shot 70s.
NASCAR: Despite recent dominance, Kevin Harvick still isn’t best performer at Phoenix.
By Daniel McFadin
(Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
Pop quiz time, class.
Who is the best active Sprint Cup driver at Phoenix International Raceway over the last 10 years based on individual driver ratings?
Don’t forget to show your work.
While you work, did you know 22 races have been run at the 1-mile track since 2005? That’s the year PIR began hosting two races a year after being visited by the Sprint Cup Series once a year starting in 1988.
Pencils down!
Anyone who answered Kevin Harvick because of his seven wins at Phoenix since 2006 is incorrect.
Even though the Stewart-Haas Racing driver has won at PIR five times in the last seven races, including four in a row, Harvick’s driver rating of 109.9 is second to that of Jimmie Johnson.
Despite not having won at PIR since 2009, the year he won his fourth of five straight Sprint Cup championships, Johnson owns the best driver rating among active drivers at 112.6.
But driver ratings are not based off just win totals. NASCAR calculates the total off of wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes.
In 25 starts at Phoenix, Johnson has failed to finish in the top 15 just twice. Both instances came since 2012. However, Harvick hasn’t finished in the top 15 five times since 2005.
Johnson bests Harvick in average finish (7.7 to 9.3) and average running place (7.8 to 9.1). But since 2012, Johnson has finished outside the top 10 three times.
“Since Phoenix was repaved it’s been a tough track for the Lowe’s Racing team,” Johnson said in a release. “I think it has something to do with the asphalt and tire combination. This asphalt is really fast, it’s not abrasive – yet and the tires last forever. I have always struggled on hard tires on repaved tracks but in November we were pretty fast but the weather got in our way.”
Harvick, who has won at Phoenix more than any other track, believes any edge he holds at Phoenix could “be gone at any point.”
“That’s the hardest thing about having success,” Harvick said in a press release. “You have to have an open mind to try new things to keep moving forward. If you don’t have an open mind or are not willing to try a fresh approach, then it will get stagnant.”
Through three races in 2016, Harvick is third in points after three top-10 finishes, which included leading the most laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway and finishing fourth at the Daytona 500.
For Phoenix, there are more than a couple of variables Harvick’s team is taking into account to keep the party in the desert going. He will look to keep a stretch going where he has finished less than second only once in the last seven visits.
“We’ve done a lot of good things,” Harvick said. “We look at the race tape and pay attention to the lines and braking, steering, throttle and all the things that you have access to and you try to mimic that immediately when you get on the racetrack. The hard part about our sport is the conditions are never the same. The tire is constantly changing. You never know if it’s going to be 100 degrees or if it’s going to be 50 degrees.”
And you also can never know when a race will be shortened by rain.
That’s what happened in last year’s fall race at Phoenix. Harvick had led 143 laps until Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out of the pits under caution in the lead on Lap 199, just as rain began to fall. The race never returned to green after 23 cautions laps.
Harvick views the weather’s interference in keeping him from a fifth straight Phoenix win as the racing universe balancing out.
“(Earnhardt) was leading the Coke 600 in (2011), ran out of gas coming out of turn four and we won the race,” Harvick said. “Those things go in cycles. You’re going to have things work out. You’re going to have things not work out. You’re going to win races that you shouldn’t win. If you can capitalize, they’re almost harder when you’re in position to win them all day, which is something I hadn’t really learned a lot about till the last couple years because they’re hard to manage.”
A good job by Goodyear, NASCAR drivers say.
By Nate Ryan
(Photo/Getty Images)
There’s only been a two-race sample size for the new lower-downforce rules package in Sprint Cup this season, yet there have been encouraging signs beyond Sunday afternoons.
Jamie McMurray and three other drivers discovered some Tuesday and Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where a Goodyear test provided more optimism about the softer tire construction that is believed to be a key to ensuring more action this season.
“I’m somewhat surprised they’ve come as far as they have as fast as they have,” Jamie McMurray said about the Goodyear test. “I did some (tire testing) last year. When they said, ‘This should have more grip,’ it didn’t feel like that in the car. This whole test, whatever they told you it was going to do, is what it has done.
“You have to creep up on it. No one wants to blow tires. But what they have seems to be good grip initially and then fall off. So we’re pretty pleased with it.”
Drivers have lobbied for tires that feature initially high grip (producing faster speeds) but that wear evenly and quickly, producing disparity in lap times between those on fresher and worn rubber.
McMurray said it was easier to pass the past two weeks at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He said Vegas would have been better if not for cool temperatures that precluded the groove from widening.
“The new package is definitely better behind someone,” McMurray said. “It’s not as big a disturbance in the air. Last year and the year before, you struggled when you caught someone. I didn’t think there was near as big of a balance shift (this season) when you were catching someone.
“I hope as it gets hotter, and there’s more tire falloff, that will get better. Goodyear has been aggressive with bringing softer tires but still getting good wear.”
Martin Truex Jr. also has been pleased by the progress.
“The tire is so important,” Truex said. “They’ve had a real challenge, especially at tracks like Vegas, to get that tire falloff at a track where the speeds are super fast. It’s really hard at tracks like Vegas and Charlotte and on newer asphalt.
“They’ve done a really great job with it. They’ve got a good group of people that take all our comments and feedback. The hard part is to filter through all the comments and come up with the right solution. They’ve done a great job. To see the falloff at Atlanta and have only a few tire wear issues, the further down this road, the better we get. Hopefully, we’ll keep taking the downforce off the cars and making (the tires) softer.”
SOCCER; On American Soccer: Five questions the USMNT faces ahead of March qualifiers.
Goal.com
When Jurgen Klinsmann addressed the media following the Copa America draw last month, he sounded like a coach eager to face the challenge that awaits this summer. The only problem is that tournament is still three months away.
Klinsmann will have to confine his excitement to his month's World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala, which should offer up their own unique challenges.
The coach has to know what's at stake. The U.S. national team will be favored to win both games against a Guatemalan side that is arguably weaker than the Guatemala teams the Americans faced in 2008 and 2012 qualifiers. Obviously there are six points at stake, but even more valuable is the chance to secure a place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with two matches to spare.
Klinsmann will have to confine his excitement to his month's World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala, which should offer up their own unique challenges.
The coach has to know what's at stake. The U.S. national team will be favored to win both games against a Guatemalan side that is arguably weaker than the Guatemala teams the Americans faced in 2008 and 2012 qualifiers. Obviously there are six points at stake, but even more valuable is the chance to secure a place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with two matches to spare.
That opportunity should keep Klinsmann from experimenting too much when he puts together his squad in less than two weeks. There also is the matter of the U.S. Under-23 team playing on the same days as the World Cup qualifiers, with a spot in the Olympics on the line.
Klinsmann should play it pretty straight with his squad this month, and comments he made after the national team's winter camp seem to suggest his March roster will be heavy on players based in foreign leagues. The reasoning is that they will be ahead of MLS players in terms of fitness, which makes sense considering MLS teams just started playing.
What will Klinsmann need to figure out in the next two weeks as he puts his squad together and starts thinking about a potential starting lineup? Here are five key questions Klinsmann will need to answer:
When Jermaine Jones signed with the Colorado Rapids after being traded by New England, the deal started the clock on his six-match MLS suspension and rules him out of the March qualifiers. That leaves a starting midfield spot up for grabs. Klinsmann has a variety of options to replace Jones, and it's unlikely he'll go with what most fans would hope to see.
Klinsmann could play it safe and call in Kyle Beckerman to anchor the midfield and do the dirty work to allow Michael Bradley to command the center of the field. That choice almost feels too safe against a Guatemala side that shouldn't pose much of an attacking threat.
Klinsmann could play it safe and call in Kyle Beckerman to anchor the midfield and do the dirty work to allow Michael Bradley to command the center of the field. That choice almost feels too safe against a Guatemala side that shouldn't pose much of an attacking threat.
If Klinsmann wants to go with a younger option, he could turn to Danny Williams, who is enjoying an excellent season with Reading. Working against Williams is his disappointing showing in October against Costa Rica. If Klinsmann can overlook that performance, and consider Williams' recent form, he should be the pick to start.
Klinsmann could turn to fan favorite Darlington Nagbe, who would give the starting lineup more of an attacking edge. The reason this seems unlikely is that, by all accounts, Nagbe struggled a bit in the January camp and may not be at his full sharpness. If Klinsmann feels that way, then starting Nagbe in the March qualifiers may not be the best option right now, which isn't to say it won't be this summer.
Another option is Alejandro Bedoya, who has played quite a bit in central midfield for French club Nantes in recent weeks. No, Klinsmann wouldn't likely deploy him in a defensive midfield role — we all know how that experiment turned out against Brazil in September — but a more advanced role could suit him.
Another option is Alejandro Bedoya, who has played quite a bit in central midfield for French club Nantes in recent weeks. No, Klinsmann wouldn't likely deploy him in a defensive midfield role — we all know how that experiment turned out against Brazil in September — but a more advanced role could suit him.
Lee Nguyen is another possibility. He really impressed in the January camp, and winter friendlies, and though he was deployed mostly on the left wing in those games, he's a natural central midfielder.
WHO STARTS IN GOAL?
Jurgen Klinsmann stated last fall that he intended to rotate Tim Howard and Brad Guzan for the foreseeable future. Of course that was before lost his starting job ahead of a summer move to MLS. Guzan also lost his job at Aston Villa, but has recently worked his way back into the lineup.
WHO STARTS IN GOAL?
Jurgen Klinsmann stated last fall that he intended to rotate Tim Howard and Brad Guzan for the foreseeable future. Of course that was before lost his starting job ahead of a summer move to MLS. Guzan also lost his job at Aston Villa, but has recently worked his way back into the lineup.
Does Klinsmann give Howard the nod despite his lack of games in recent months? Does he continue to rotate them? Does he hand Guzan the nod in both qualifiers?
It may sound like an easy decision given Howard's inactivity, but he does hold the experience edge. A continued rotation appears to be a safe bet.
A good question within the goalkeeper conversation is who gets the nod as the third goalkeeper in camp. Bill Hamid is injured and Sean Johnson is benched. David Bingham showed well in the January camp, and started the MLS season with an excellent performance. You also have Club Leon's William Yarbrough, who has done well in recent weeks.
A good question within the goalkeeper conversation is who gets the nod as the third goalkeeper in camp. Bill Hamid is injured and Sean Johnson is benched. David Bingham showed well in the January camp, and started the MLS season with an excellent performance. You also have Club Leon's William Yarbrough, who has done well in recent weeks.
WHERE WILL FABIAN JOHNSON PLAY?
Klinsmann made it clear just a few weeks ago that he hadn't settled on a national team positional role for he versatile Fabian Johnson just yet, but he has to decide on something for the March qualifiers. Given the fact that Tim Ream has fallen out of favor at Fulham, Greg Garza still hasn't come all the way back at Club Tijuana and DaMarcus Beasley just started his MLS season, left back appears to be a need area Johnson can cover. Of course, that means not having him in midfield, but Klinsmann has more wing options than fullback options.
One option Klinsmann should consider at left back is Jorge Villafana. The Santos Laguna fullback has made a smooth transition from the Portland Timbers to Liga MX, and grabbed a starting role in somewhat surprising fashion. It seems like a no-brainer to call him in, especially considering it could mean being able to cap-tie him, but Villafana was quoted recently as saying he hadn't heard from Klinsmann. If that doesn't change soon, Klinsmann will have some questions to answer.
IS JOHN BROOKS READY TO START AGAIN?
One of the more underappreciated stories involving U.S. players in Europe is Brooks' excellent season at Hertha Berlin. The young defender endured a disappointing Gold Cup last summer, and a tough start to the Bundesliga season, to re-establish himself as one of the better young defenders in Germany. He has played a key role in a dream season for Hertha Berlin, which sits in third place in the Bundesliga.
When you consider all that, Brooks seems like an easy pick to start a left center back, but Klinsmann also has the steady veteran Matt Besler to play there. Is Klinsmann ready to give Brooks the nod down in Guatemala? There is no denying that Brooks has struggled to carry over his excellent club form to the national team on a consistent basis, but there's also no denying the fact Klinsmann sees Brooks as the future in central defense.
When you consider all that, Brooks seems like an easy pick to start a left center back, but Klinsmann also has the steady veteran Matt Besler to play there. Is Klinsmann ready to give Brooks the nod down in Guatemala? There is no denying that Brooks has struggled to carry over his excellent club form to the national team on a consistent basis, but there's also no denying the fact Klinsmann sees Brooks as the future in central defense.
IS BOBBY WOOD THE ANSWER AT FORWARD?
There isn't a hotter American goal scorer anywhere than Bobby Wood, who is among the league leaders in goals in 2. Bundesliga for Union Berlin. He has clearly continued to carry over the confidence gained from his national team heroics in 2015, and it is going to be tough for Klinsmann to deny him an opportunity to start.
Klinsmann left Wood out of the lineup in November's World Cup qualifying draw against Trinidad and Tobago, which wound up looking like a mistake. Will Klinsmann remember that and give Wood a chance to partner with Jozy Altidore? It makes plenty of sense.
Klinsmann left Wood out of the lineup in November's World Cup qualifying draw against Trinidad and Tobago, which wound up looking like a mistake. Will Klinsmann remember that and give Wood a chance to partner with Jozy Altidore? It makes plenty of sense.
What other options does Klinsmann have? Gyasi Zardes has failed to impress when played at forward, and Jordan Morris should be with the U.S. Under-23s during this window. Klinsmann could call on Clint Dempsey, but the sense is Dempsey won't be called in again until the Copa America.
Klinsmann has shown in the past a willingness to give Wood chances to prove himself. Now, with Wood in excellent form, it makes sense to give him the opportunity in the upcoming qualifiers.
UEFA Europa League roundup: Liverpool tops Man Utd; Spurs smacked.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
The home sides went 7W-1D in the first legs of the Europa League’s Round of 16 on Thursday, with a total of just two road goals setting the stage for difficult home second legs.
Spurs were dominated in Germany, while Anfield was the site for a physically taxing match between Liverpool and Manchester United (Seriously… might want to expect United to struggle in Sunday’s FA Cup match versus West Ham).
Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United — RECAP
Memphis took down Nathaniel Clyne on the edge of the 18 and Daniel Sturridge gave the hosts a lift just 20 minutes into an intense tie at amped-up Anfield. Arguable man of the match David De Gea made a big, one-pawed stop on Philippe Coutinho moments later as Liverpool pushed for a second.
That wouldn’t come until the second half, as the Reds doubled their advantage through Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian blasted a close-range shot past De Gea after Adam Lallana slipped him through.
Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur — RECAP
The hosts absolutely controlled their Premier League opposition, as Mauricio Pochettino limited Harry Kane, Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele to substitute appearances. Marco Reus scored twice for BVB, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had the decisive openers. Spurs have plenty to do come Thursday at White Hart Lane
FC Basel 0-0 Sevilla
A very tight match in Switzerland saw a total of four shots on target, with four coming from the reigning Europa League champion visitors.
Steven N’Zonzi was in line for man of the match honors until his second yellow card in the 87th minute led to this very weird poll on UEFA.com.
No heart for you, Steven. No heart.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 Anderlecht
Taison and Oleksandr Kucher scored three minutes apart in the first half to give the hosts a comfortable lead, but Ghanaian winger Frank Acheampong pulled one back for the Belgians 21 minutes from time. Eduardo added a third Shakhtar goal in the 79th minute.
Fenerbahce 1-0 Sporting Braga
Mehmet Topal struck late with an 82nd minute long dribble and finish to give the Turkish powers a slim advantage for the second leg in Portugal.
Fenerbahçe’nin Mehmet Topal ile 1-0 öne geçtiği gol!@ersinduzen: “Moskova’da yıldızdı, Kadıköy’de turu araladı” pic.twitter.com/EQXxn9g3tm
— STADYUM (@trtstadyum) March 10, 2016Villarreal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Roberto Soldado found Cédric Bakambu for a fourth-minute goal in Spain, and Villarreal was off to a quick start. Bakambu added another with a breakaway chance in the second half, and Bayer’s in trouble for leg No. 2.
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Valencia
Raul Garcia struck in the 20th minute to put Gary Neville’s side under the knife.
Sparta Prague 1-1 Lazio
Martin Frýdek Jr. scored his second goal as a member of Sparta’s senior team, netting in the 13th minute to give Rudí an early lead (Both goals have come in Europa League play). Marco Parolo tucked away a rebound to even things up before halftime.
Fire hit the road to take on Orlando City.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Chicago Fire opened the 2016 season with a disappointing home loss to a 2015 MLS expansion team. Now the Fire hit the road to take on the other 2015 MLS expansion side.
After Sunday’s 4-3 loss to New York City FC, the Fire will pay Orlando City a visit at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Lions drew Real Salt Lake 2-2 in the opener, scoring twice in second half stoppage time in a game that included a red card for each team.
Orlando had over 60,000 in attendance in the Citrus Bowl and should have another big crowd again. The big crowd isn’t the only factor of playing at the Citrus Bowl.
“We are going to prepare for the turf, we are going to prepare for the weather,” Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said. “We expect it to be hot there and we will do our best to prepare for those conditions.”
Friday will be Paunovic’s first road match in charge of the Fire. The Fire went through all of 2015 without a single win on the road, although Paunovic didn’t address last year’s road failures directly when asked earlier this week.
“We see all our games as an opportunity for us to win, to perform well and to be the best we can be,” Paunovic said. “For the next game, we will have our game plan. We always want to win, don’t forget that. We will always say that.
“This time hopefully we will perform defensively better and also offensively we score the opportunities we create in order to win.”
From a personnel standpoint, Friday could mark the debut of John Goossens. The Dutch midfielder received his visa this week and returned to training on Wednesday. He played a key role in the preseason and if he is deemed fit enough to play after the long flight to his home country, Goossens could be a difference maker in the Fire midfield.
Meanwhile, Gilberto is listed as out in the injury report. He suffered an injury early on against NYCFC and was subbed out at halftime. In his absence, Paunovic may elect a different setup than the 4-2-3-1 he started out with on Sunday.
As for Orlando, the Lions’ lineup has been in flux to start the season. For starters, Brazilian star Kaka is expected to be out for the second straight week. He suffered a thigh strain in training leading up to the opener and will also miss Friday’s match. In addition, midfielder Darwin Ceren will be out serving his red card suspension after being sent off against RSL. Returning for Orlando will be midfielder Cristian Higuita, who sat out the opener due to a red card in the 2015 season finale.
Friday’s match could also serve as the debut for Antonio Nocerino, who joined the team too late to play on Sunday. Nocerino, 30, last played for AC Milan and is a former Italian international.
All the movement in the lineup has made Orlando a bit unpredictable early on. Paunovic noted that the Lions used a 4-3-3 against RSL, something they hadn’t shown in the preseason.
NCAABKB: Notre Dame exploits Duke's interior weakness to move on in ACC.
By Kyle Ringo
Duke is heading to the NCAA tournament on shaky footing.
The defending national champion is still dangerous, still capable of a deep run in the bracket and maybe even capable of more, but coach Mike Krzyzewski is going to have to find some answers to the problems in the post that have cost his team games when the 3-pointers aren't falling.
It happened again Thursday with Notre Dame storming back from a 16-point second-half deficit to force overtime and then win 84-79 to push the Blue Devils out the ACC tournament for the second straight year. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey is now 5-1 against his mentor, coach K.
Maybe a few extra days of practice and an opportunity to evaluate will be a gift for the legendary coach and his team. The Blue Devils haven't won consecutive games in three weeks and are much too reliant on perimeter shooting, especially when senior Marshall Plumlee gets in foul trouble like he did Thursday. Duke went 11-for-36 behind the 3-point line.
It's not often you see a Duke team go more than seven minutes without scoring, but that is what happened against Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish took advantage, getting back in the game.
Notre Dame senior Zach Auguste dominated around the basket, scoring 19 points and collecting a lot of those missed Duke shots to the tune of 22 rebounds, one shy of the ACC tournament record. All five Notre Dame starters scored in double figures playing at least 35 minutes each. Duke wasn't the only team with a limited roster in this one. The Fighting Irish have battled depth problems this year, too.
But Notre Dame is at its best when it isn't relying on point guard Demetrius Jackson or Auguste too much and Thursday fellow starters V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia played well, particularly after halftime. Beachem scored 19 points and Vasturia scored 12 with six assists.
A day after overcoming a broken nose to post a double-double and score the game-winning basket against NC State, Plumlee scored just two points and grabbed four rebounds in 24 minutes. Allen led Duke with 27 points, but he needed 21 shots to get them.
Iowa pointing fingers at each other as free-fall continues.
By Pat Forde
The semicircle of local television crews maintained vigil in the locker room, waiting for Fran McCaffery.
And waiting.
And waiting.
At last, the coach of the collapsing Iowa Hawkeyes appeared before the semicircle to relive the dismal Big Ten tournament loss to Illinois one last time. He'd already spent a few terse minutes on the podium, at one point snapping, "That's none of your business" at a reporter who asked about Iowa's failed final plays in a 68-66 loss.
Back in the locker room, after a lengthy and likely needed cooling-down period, the famously combustible McCaffery was calm. He wasn't exactly loquacious – the session with the locals lasted six minutes – but there was no more snapping.
He tried to sound unfazed by Iowa's sixth loss in the last eight games, a tailspin that trashed McCaffery's Coach of the Year candidacy and ruined plans for a cushy NCAA tournament opening assignment in nearby Des Moines. He whistled past a March graveyard that already contains plenty of Hawkeye bones.
"You start over," McCaffery said of the NCAA tourney. "You learn from this. ... You start 0-0."
Someone asked about the team's confidence level.
"It's obviously not what it was a month ago," McCaffery said. "But I still think we believe in ourselves."
A brief canvass of a locker room marinating in dissatisfaction did not emphatically back up that statement. A couple of Hawkeyes basically threw the situation back into McCaffery's lap.
Asked what Iowa needs to do to reverse its high-speed plummet, All-American Jarrod Uthoff said, "I don't know. That's what coaches are for."
The same question for center Adam Woodbury: "You have to ask Coach McCaffery that one. But I know we'll be ready. We've been here before. Got no other options."
Iowa (21-10) certainly has been here before. This was the fourth opening-game Big Ten punch-out in McCaffery's six seasons, and the third in a row. In all three, Iowa was the higher-seeded team, being upset by opponents seeded 11, 12 and 13.
In fact, in 11 postseason games under McCaffery, the Hawkeyes have never beaten a higher-seeded team. Their overall postseason (Big 10 and NCAA tourneys) record with him as coach: 3-8.
So when the players say it's up to McCaffery to figure it out, they're taking their postseason lives into their hands. Especially since Iowa now will be dropped far enough in NCAA seeding that it will face a dangerous opening-round opponent.
For his part, Fran flung some blame upon his senior-laded team for failing to answer the bell against Illinois. The Hawkeyes fell behind 11-4 and trailed for almost the entire game before nearly pulling off a miracle rally at the end.
"When you're a senior," McCaffery said, "I think you should realize that tournament play is different."
On a team that starts four seniors, three of them had awful offensive games Thursday. The exception was Uthoff, who scored 21 points. He and junior Peter Jok combined for 50 of Iowa's 66.
The other senior starters – center Woodbury and guards Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons – were a ghastly 2-for-20 from the field. They made contributions in other ways (Woodbury had 10 rebounds, while Gesell and Clemmons combined for 14 assists) but they failed to provide any scoring support.
Iowa had been a highly efficient offensive team all season, but it is bogging down at precisely the wrong time. The Hawkeyes scored fewer than 70 points just twice in the first 25 games, but now three times in the last six. A team that has been among the most fastidious in the nation with the ball has gotten loose late, turning it over at least 19 percent of their possessions in losses to Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and now Illinois.
Watching them here in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, it's hard to believe this is the same team that was ranked No. 4 in the nation in the USA Today Coaches Poll in late January. Every year someone collapses in college basketball, and right now Iowa is that team.
It should be particularly distressing for all involved because the future is wildly uncertain. It's not often in today's world that a team can start four seniors and a talented junior. All of them could be gone after the next loss – Jok may be an early-entry candidate – which should spike the sense of urgency.
"It's March now," Jok said. "Win or go home."
Iowa heads home from the Big Ten tournament early once again. And few people are willing to bet that the flailing Hawkeyes can reverse their trajectory next week.
The 2016 NCAA March Madness Tournament is just around the corner, you ready?
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica is having it's annual office pool again. You've played in our pool before, you're a terrific competitor and that what makes our pool a success. The entry fee is low ($12.00), the risk is minimal and the rewards are equitable, what more can you ask for? Here are few particulars about our pool:
It's going to be a great tournament this year because there is so much parity in college basketball today. Anyone can win. The small and intermediate size colleges have just as much talent as the big guys. Their teams have played together longer as the big schools recruit with the policy of one and done, off to the NBA. There seems to be a new #1 every week and then they get beat. Usually the winner of our pool needs 75% skill and 25% luck. This year it's going to be the other way around, 25% skill and 75% luck. Four weeks until the tournament starts; now is the time to get serious and start following the college teams and preparing for the conference tournaments. The precursor to the big dance. It's really going be a great tournament with plenty of upsets. For those of you that have played before, you know how much fun it is. For those of you that haven't, play for the first time and enjoy the "thrill of victory or the agony of defeat."
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NCAAFB: AAC commissioner Mike Aresco wants Big 12 expansion drama to settle down soon.
By Kevin McGuire
(Photo/AP Photo/Stew Milne)
The Big East was once the home to six schools currently making a home in the ACC and one each in the Big Ten and Big 12. Realignment changes rattled the Big East a few years back, causing a split of the basketball schools that took the Big East brand with them and leaving the leftover programs to rebrand under the American Athletic Conference. With the Big 12 having internal discussions about the possibility of expanding back to a 12-member line-up, the AAC is watching with caution and waiting for the Big 12 to make a final decision, for better or worse of the AAC. Commissioner Mike Aresco hopes the expansion situation comes to a close soon enough, but he is not wasting time preparing for the possibility of once again seeing one or more member of his conference leave for another.
“I think if we lose a school would we add one? In all likelihood we probably would,”Aresco explained, according to The Orlando Sentinel. “You don’t want to be 11 in football, but on the other hand you could do it. If we lost two, which would probably be the worst-case scenario … we could stay at 10. With the new legislation, we could easily stay at 10, play a championship game, have 5 team divisions and have an eight-game [conference] schedule. We could do that if we wanted to.”
The NCAA recently allowed for conferences to play a conference championship game despite not having the usually required 12 members. The AAC started playing a conference championship game last season after the addition of Navy brought the conference to 12 football-playing members. The new NCAA legislation regarding conference championship games allows a conference to hold a title game with fewer than 12 teams, which was figured to benefit the Big 12. The Big 12, however, has not made a decision on whether or not it will play a conference title game.
“We have 12 good schools that are nationally known and if we lose one or two we’ll figure it out,” Aresco said. “It’s not going to be an Earth-shattering thing. It’s not going to be anything like it was three years ago.”
Aresco was referring to the loss of Louisville to the ACC and Rutgers to the Big Ten. Pittsburgh and Syracuse had already joined the ACC and West Virginia was competing in the Big 12. Since then, multiple AAC schools have been mentioned in various expansion rumors and discussions as possibilities, some more realistic than others. Cincinnati, Connecticut, Memphis, UCF, USF and Houston have all been mentioned at one point or another as potential targets for the Big 12. Once the Big 12 makes its decision final, at least Aresco and the entire AAC will be able to move on with some clearer vision of what comes next.
“I would like to see it settle down,” Aresco said. “There has been instability because of this whole Big 12 thing for the last few years. It’s not good for the schools. It’s not good for the fan bases. It puts pressure on our administrators and our coaches because they have to get asked this question.”
The Lovie Smith effect? Illinois sells over 2,000 season tickets after hiring.
Kevin McGuire
(Photo/John Dixon/The News-Gazette via AP)
Michigan saw quite the turnaround with its ticket sales following the hiring of Jim Harbaugh a year ago. It appears another Big Ten program is benefitting from some positive vibes following a recent coaching hire as well.
Just days after announcing the hiring of new head coach Lovie Smith, Illinois claims to have sold over 2,000 new season tickets for the upcoming football season.
“In the last 48 hours, the Fighting Illini Ticket Office has sold over 2,000 new season tickets for the 2016 football season,” a statement from the Illinois athletics department says. “The popular I Fund Family 4-Pack – which included 4 season tickets and a $50 I Fund membership for $249 – are sold out, but there are still many ways for Fighting Illini fans to jump on board.”
It was believed the hiring of the likable Smith, a longtime head coach of the Chicago Bears, would generate some positive energy about the stagnant Illini football program, and clearly the results appear to be suggesting Illini fans are ready to show their support for Smith in 2016.
Garrick McGee leaving Louisville for Illinois for same role.
By Kevin McGuire
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
With the recent hiring of Lovie Smith as head coach at Illinois comes a late round of assistant coaching shuffling. Louisville offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Garrick McGeee will reportedly leave the Cardinals to join Smith at Illinois. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com was first to report the move.
McGee joined the coaching staff at Louisville in 2014 after a two-year run as the head coach at UAB. It was there he was reunited with Bobby Petrino, who had coached with at Arkansas. McGee will return to the state of Illinois and the Big Ten by joining the Illini staff. McGee was a wide receivers coach at Northwestern in 2004 and 2005 and was bumped up to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2006. He held that role for two seasons before heading to Arkansas. There is a past connection between McGee and Smith. Smith actually recruited McGee to Arizona State in 1991. Smith was a linebackers coach for the Sun Devils from 1988 through 1991.
Smith has already assembled part of his coaching staff with the addition of offensive line coach Luke Butkus from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The addition of McGee as offensive coordinator comes a day after it was thought Smith could be targeting Mike Sherman to be the offensive coordinator among a few other potential targets for various jobs. Whether this means there is no room left for Sherman is undetermined, although it seems unlikely.
After Trump endorsement, NASCAR leader faces the fallout, What's Your Take?
By JENNA FRYER
When Brian France came out in support of Donald Trump for president, the chairman and chief executive of NASCAR thought of it as nothing more than a ''routine endorsement.''
He's been dealing with the fallout ever since.
France's decision to personally back the front-runner for the Republican nomination has roiled a sport his family built from the ground up. It's threatened a decade of work to broaden NASCAR's appeal among minorities, upset one of the most powerful teams in the sport and risked a break with the corporate sponsors that are its financial lifeblood.
''I was, frankly, very surprised, that my diversity efforts for my whole career would have been called into question over this, in my view, a routine endorsement,'' France said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press.
France acknowledged he's had to have conversations with sponsors since making the endorsement, which came as NASCAR is seeking a new main sponsor for its top series.
''I made a few phone calls and clarified some things,'' he said. ''That kind of goes with the territory.''
France's appearance at a Trump rally the day before last week's Super Tuesday elections fit with the sport's history of occasionally blending politics with the action at the track. His grandfather, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., endorsed George Wallace for president. The organization's all-time winningest driver, Richard Petty, celebrated his 200th victory with President Ronald Reagan and ran for statewide office in North Carolina in the 1990s.
France told the AP on Wednesday he backed Barack Obama in 2008 and actively participated in the campaign, shifting his support to Mitt Romney four years later.
''I supported Obama. I went to his rallies. I parted with my hard-earned money. There was a movement going on, and I was really thrilled with the idea of the first African-American president,'' he said. ''I did the same for Mitt Romney. In both of those cases, I have never agreed with all of their policies.''
But Trump is a candidate unlike others in recent memory, a businessman and TV celebrity drawing criticism for the racial undertones of his rhetoric and policies. The billionaire has called immigrants from Mexico rapists and drug dealers, has vowed to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally and seeks to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the country.
Trump has also earned the explicit or implicit backing of a slew of white nationalist leaders, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has compared his language to that of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
It's into that cauldron that France inserted himself and his sport - without knowing all of what Trump has proposed, he said.
''I don't even know all their policies, truthfully,'' France said. He said he likes Trump's ''business approach'' and his status as a Washington outsider. He also cited the electricity around the Trump campaign and a friendship with one of Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr., that dates back nearly two decades.
''I'm not supporting him for all of his views, or his immigration views,'' France said. ''I happen to be very enamored by the excitement he's brought and the voter turnout that it is creating.''
That excitement is what got driver Chase Elliott into a jam just two weeks into his new job at Hendrick Motorsports, where he's taking the place of retired superstar Jeff Gordon. The son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, the rookie has been cast as the sport's next superstar.
To the surprise of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports, France was joined by Elliott at the Trump rally in Georgia where he offered his endorsement. At 20, Elliott has yet to vote in his first presidential election. Trump called Elliott to the microphone, and the young driver stumbled through a few remarks before sheepishly joining his father and the rest of the NASCAR contingent off to the side.
A person familiar with the situation told the AP that Elliott, intrigued by the election process, agreed to an invitation from NASCAR to fly on a NASCAR plane to the Trump event in Elliott's home state. It never occurred to him to give his team or sponsors a heads-up, the person said, and Elliott realized he was in over his head when he began receiving heavy criticism on social media.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity, because the person was not authorized to discuss the details of Elliott's involvement.
While France does not regret his own participation in the Trump rally, he does feel badly for Elliott. ''You never want to see anybody get their true positions distorted in the way that has happened,'' France said.
France is also trying to protect his record on diversity. He said NASCAR has spent ''tens of millions of dollars'' on a program aimed at boosting the participation of minorities in the sport. That program includes Japanese-American driver Kyle Larson, who competes in the top-level Sprint Cup, and Darrell Wallace Jr., a driver in the second-tier Xfinity Series who is black and who came up through NASCAR's diversity program.
NASCAR has also invested heavily in developing Mexican driver Daniel Suarez, who has risen to the Xfinity Series and currently leads its standings. Some of Suarez's current corporate backing comes from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Domit, whose family's TV production company cut ties with Trump last year after the real estate mogul announced his signature plan to build a wall along the U.S. southern border.
Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World, the longtime title sponsor of NASCAR's third-tier Truck Series, wrote an open letter to NASCAR last year saying his company would boycott the season-ending banquets if they returned to a Trump-owned property. After France's endorsement of Trump, the Lebanese-born Lemonis wrote on Twitter: ''There is no place for politics/any political endorsements in any business. Your customers and employees should have their own mind. (hash)period.''
France's efforts to quell criticism over what he insists was a ''personal and private'' decision have also been complicated by Trump's continued mentioning of how he's received ''NASCAR's endorsement.''
On Monday, at a North Carolina campaign rally not far from Charlotte Motor Speedway and the headquarters of many top NASCAR teams, Trump was ebullient in describing his backing from the sport. ''You know, I just had a visitor backstage. NASCAR endorsed Trump, can you believe that?'' he told the crowd.
Except it wasn't NASCAR that made the endorsement. It was France.
''We talked to the campaign about the endorsement that I made, versus the sport, and it's hard to get that perfectly right all the time,'' France said.
Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for Trump's campaign, said in a statement that he spoke broadly because the ''endorsement is from the great Brian France, in addition to several NASCAR drivers.''
In a company-wide email sent last week to all his employees, France reiterated that NASCAR has never had a policy prohibiting employees or competitors from participating in politics, but said that could change in the future.
He told the AP on Wednesday he understands that his endorsement can be viewed as one that comes from NASCAR itself.
''I understand that the family is closely linked with NASCAR. ... We've just always, you've seen politicians come to tracks, and it varies, some Democrats, some are Republicans, all have policies we do and don't agree with,'' he said.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: As you all know, when it comes to sports, we're very opinionated. Every once in awhile, we choose an article and ask our readers for their thoughts and what's your take? This is one of those articles. What's your opinion on professional athletes endorsing political candidates? Is it good or is it bad? Does it really help the candidate and what does it do for the athlete? Please take a minute and share your thoughts with us, pro or con. Just go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and express yourself. We love hearing from you, we respect your positions and can't wait to hear what's your take?
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
On
Memoriesofhistory.com
1882 - The Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association was formed in Princeton, NJ.
1892 - The first organized women's basketball game was played. The game was at Smith College between students and faculty members.
1909 - The first gold medal to a perfect-score bowler was awarded to A.C. Jellison by the American Bowling Congress.
1930 - Babe Ruth signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees for the sum of $80,000.
1948 - Reginald Weir became the first black tennis player to participate in a U.S. Indoor Lawn Tennis Association tournament.
1978 - Bobby Hull (Winnipeg Jets) joined Gordie Howe by getting his 1,000th career goal.
1979 - Randy Holt (Los Angeles Kings) was penalized nine times for 67 minutes in the first period of a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
1990 - Jennifer Capriati, 13 years old, played her first professional tennis match.
1990 - Denis Savard (Chicago Blackhawks) scored his 1,000th point.
2004 - Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver Canucks) was suspended by the NHL for hitting Steve Moore (Colorado Avalanche) in the side of the head from behind and driving his head into the ice in a game on March 8. Moore landed face-first with Bertuzzi on top of him. Moore suffered a broken neck, a concussion and deep cuts on his face. The NHL suspended Bertuzzi for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs and announced that his eligibility would be assessed the following season and would take into account Moore's health and the progression of his recovery. The Canucks organization was also fined $250,000.
2004 - Major league baseball banned THG. The health policy advisory committee of management and the players' association unanimously determined that THG builds muscle mass.
1892 - The first organized women's basketball game was played. The game was at Smith College between students and faculty members.
1909 - The first gold medal to a perfect-score bowler was awarded to A.C. Jellison by the American Bowling Congress.
1930 - Babe Ruth signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees for the sum of $80,000.
1948 - Reginald Weir became the first black tennis player to participate in a U.S. Indoor Lawn Tennis Association tournament.
1978 - Bobby Hull (Winnipeg Jets) joined Gordie Howe by getting his 1,000th career goal.
1979 - Randy Holt (Los Angeles Kings) was penalized nine times for 67 minutes in the first period of a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
1990 - Jennifer Capriati, 13 years old, played her first professional tennis match.
1990 - Denis Savard (Chicago Blackhawks) scored his 1,000th point.
2004 - Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver Canucks) was suspended by the NHL for hitting Steve Moore (Colorado Avalanche) in the side of the head from behind and driving his head into the ice in a game on March 8. Moore landed face-first with Bertuzzi on top of him. Moore suffered a broken neck, a concussion and deep cuts on his face. The NHL suspended Bertuzzi for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs and announced that his eligibility would be assessed the following season and would take into account Moore's health and the progression of his recovery. The Canucks organization was also fined $250,000.
2004 - Major league baseball banned THG. The health policy advisory committee of management and the players' association unanimously determined that THG builds muscle mass.
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