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"Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory." ~ Bill Russell, Retired NBA Player, NBA Champion, NBA MVP, NBA All-Star
Trending: Cubs: Jake Arrieta twirls second career no-hitter against Reds. (See the baseball section for Cubs updates).
Jake Arrieta (left) celebrates with catcher David Ross after the final out of his no-hitter. (Photo/AP)
Trending: Blackhawks extend series with 4-3 double OT win at Blues in Game 5. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Nicklaus calls Scott's decision to skip Olympics 'sad' for sport. Athletes are starting to option out of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Please read the last article on this blog and let us know, What's Your Take?
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 12-4
White Sox 2016 Record: 10-6
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Patrick Kane, Blackhawks force Game 6 with double OT win.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/Comcast SportsNet)
Patrick Kane scored the double-overtime winner as the Blackhawks edged the St. Louis Blues 4-3 on Thursday night.
The Blackhawks avoid elimination. The Blues now have a 3-2 series lead heading back to Chicago, where Game 6 will be played on Saturday night.
Corey Crawford stopped 43 of 46 shots in the victory. Kane’s goal was his first of the postseason.
But the Blues once again made it difficult on the Blackhawks. Robby Fabbri scored about seven minutes into the third period to cut the Blackhawks’ lead to 3-2 and David Backes redirected an Alex Pietrangelo shot with about five minutes remaining to force overtime.
Hossa’s short-handed goal, his first goal of this postseason, gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead 11:32 into the second period. But that lead lasted just 57 seconds as Jaden Schwartz scored a power-play goal to tie it.
But the Blackhawks got two more before the end of the second. Artem Anisimov scored off Artemi Panarin’s rebound for a 2-1 lead at 15:24 of the second period before Panarin snuck one in before the period expired.
Kane finally got the winner 2:56 into the second overtime.
Blackhawks still alive but nothing easy for this team.
By David Haugh
After nearly 83 minutes of hockey, and Thursday night becoming Friday morning, the Blackhawks beat the Blues 4-3 in double overtime.
The clock read 12:25 a.m. The memory will be timeless for Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, whose nifty backhanded shot beat Blues goalie Brian Elliott 3 minutes, 7 seconds into the second overtime of Game 5.
Kane came through in the clutch again for a Hawks team that faltered in the third period for the third straight game. Don't count the Hawks out just yet, even if nothing comes easily for this group. Nothing has since the Hawks won 12 straight games in January.
Since then, they have been a team that can look like the defending Stanley Cup champion one night and a directionless one the next. But somehow, they lived to see another day.
Robby Fabbri, who's only 20, kept Chicagoans on the edge of their seats after shredding the Hawks defense for a nifty goal to make it 3-2 with 13:03 left. David Backes compelled many to throw things at the television with a game-tying goal with 5:10 remaining. Then Kane eventually made those goals moot.
Despite the Hawks facing their most dire circumstances since the Red Wings held a similar 3-1 series lead in the 2013 playoffs, coach Joel Quenneville denied before the game what everybody else sensed.
"The pressure is clearly on St. Louis,'' Quenneville said with a straight face.
He might even have believed it. That didn't make it true.
The pressure always affects the team that should win more than the one considered the underdog. Forget the regular-season records; the Hawks entered this series expected to regain their championship swagger while many thought the Blues would retreat the way they always have.
The Hawks felt no pressure? Was Richard Panik squeezing the stick too tight in the scoreless first period when he sailed the Hawks' best scoring chance over the crossbar on a breakaway?
And, remember, the Hawks faced elimination because they buckled under the pressure in Game 4 during the Madison Street Meltdown the way the Blues historically have. The role reversal left the Hawks in an awkward and unfamiliar spot, trying to regain composure against a Blues team that kept it.
Meanwhile, a loose Blues team took the ice knowing it still could lose twice before real anxiety set in while the Hawks were 60 minutes from summer vacation. While a 7-1 record in elimination games since 2013 buoyed the Hawks' confidence, the Blues clung to their own trivia: They arrived 5-0 in Game 5s at home when leading a series 3-1.
Instinctively taking the cue from Coach Q, nobody from the Hawks dared to admit the desperation Game 5 represented but, honestly, nobody had to.
Indications were everywhere.
The biggest one came at the morning skate when Quenneville paired Kane and Jonathan Toews on the same line, the Hawks' equivalent of breaking glass in case of an emergency. Neither Kane nor Toews scored a goal in the first four games and, overall, the Hawks offense lacked the explosiveness their pairing offered.
A coach sensing no pressure leaves his stars alone. Quenneville also knew he could not stand pat without the energy of Andrew Shaw, whose one-game suspension cost the Hawks their most productive forward in this series.
By the time the puck dropped, Quenneville also decided to use defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as a tandem.
Even a minor move by Quenneville reflected the urgency he felt: Defenseman David Rundblad replaced Coach Q favorite Michal Rozsival. Rundblad, exiled to the Swiss League over the winter, last played in an NHL game Dec. 13, and an early turnover was evidence of that rust.
Yet Quenneville still considered him an upgrade over the 37-year-old Rozsival, which says everything. Again, why was veteran defenseman Trevor Daley deemed expendable in December?
Those kinds of personnel questions can wait for another day. This exciting night provided enough of its own.
The Hawks' moribund offense perked up after Marian Hossa scored a short-handed goal with at the 11:32 mark of the second period, ending a drought that lasted too long. After Blues center Jaden Schwartz tied it 63 seconds later, the Hawks regained the lead when Artem Anisimov knocked one home in front of the net, which oddly prompted the Blues organist to play, "Alleluia.''
Back in Chicago, they thanked the heavens for a rare lead.
Hawks fans rejoiced again when Artemi Panarin beat the clock before the second period ended, firing the goal past goalie Brian Elliott with 0.4 seconds on the clock.
That's how minuscule the difference between these two teams stayed in a game billed locally as potentially the biggest in years for the Blues. Signs all over the city established this as one of those nights locals planned to remember.
Anticipation charged the air, an atmosphere similar to Wrigleyville last October. In Thursday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the front page of the sports section respectfully declared: "One (Tough One) To Go.'' Outside the arena, Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood,'' played on a loop, but the rivalry already had the fans in the plaza revved up.
The Blackhawks avoid elimination. The Blues now have a 3-2 series lead heading back to Chicago, where Game 6 will be played on Saturday night.
Corey Crawford stopped 43 of 46 shots in the victory. Kane’s goal was his first of the postseason.
But the Blues once again made it difficult on the Blackhawks. Robby Fabbri scored about seven minutes into the third period to cut the Blackhawks’ lead to 3-2 and David Backes redirected an Alex Pietrangelo shot with about five minutes remaining to force overtime.
Hossa’s short-handed goal, his first goal of this postseason, gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead 11:32 into the second period. But that lead lasted just 57 seconds as Jaden Schwartz scored a power-play goal to tie it.
But the Blackhawks got two more before the end of the second. Artem Anisimov scored off Artemi Panarin’s rebound for a 2-1 lead at 15:24 of the second period before Panarin snuck one in before the period expired.
Kane finally got the winner 2:56 into the second overtime.
Blackhawks still alive but nothing easy for this team.
By David Haugh
After nearly 83 minutes of hockey, and Thursday night becoming Friday morning, the Blackhawks beat the Blues 4-3 in double overtime.
The clock read 12:25 a.m. The memory will be timeless for Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, whose nifty backhanded shot beat Blues goalie Brian Elliott 3 minutes, 7 seconds into the second overtime of Game 5.
Since then, they have been a team that can look like the defending Stanley Cup champion one night and a directionless one the next. But somehow, they lived to see another day.
Robby Fabbri, who's only 20, kept Chicagoans on the edge of their seats after shredding the Hawks defense for a nifty goal to make it 3-2 with 13:03 left. David Backes compelled many to throw things at the television with a game-tying goal with 5:10 remaining. Then Kane eventually made those goals moot.
Despite the Hawks facing their most dire circumstances since the Red Wings held a similar 3-1 series lead in the 2013 playoffs, coach Joel Quenneville denied before the game what everybody else sensed.
"The pressure is clearly on St. Louis,'' Quenneville said with a straight face.
He might even have believed it. That didn't make it true.
The pressure always affects the team that should win more than the one considered the underdog. Forget the regular-season records; the Hawks entered this series expected to regain their championship swagger while many thought the Blues would retreat the way they always have.
The Hawks felt no pressure? Was Richard Panik squeezing the stick too tight in the scoreless first period when he sailed the Hawks' best scoring chance over the crossbar on a breakaway?
And, remember, the Hawks faced elimination because they buckled under the pressure in Game 4 during the Madison Street Meltdown the way the Blues historically have. The role reversal left the Hawks in an awkward and unfamiliar spot, trying to regain composure against a Blues team that kept it.
Meanwhile, a loose Blues team took the ice knowing it still could lose twice before real anxiety set in while the Hawks were 60 minutes from summer vacation. While a 7-1 record in elimination games since 2013 buoyed the Hawks' confidence, the Blues clung to their own trivia: They arrived 5-0 in Game 5s at home when leading a series 3-1.
Instinctively taking the cue from Coach Q, nobody from the Hawks dared to admit the desperation Game 5 represented but, honestly, nobody had to.
Indications were everywhere.
The biggest one came at the morning skate when Quenneville paired Kane and Jonathan Toews on the same line, the Hawks' equivalent of breaking glass in case of an emergency. Neither Kane nor Toews scored a goal in the first four games and, overall, the Hawks offense lacked the explosiveness their pairing offered.
A coach sensing no pressure leaves his stars alone. Quenneville also knew he could not stand pat without the energy of Andrew Shaw, whose one-game suspension cost the Hawks their most productive forward in this series.
By the time the puck dropped, Quenneville also decided to use defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as a tandem.
Even a minor move by Quenneville reflected the urgency he felt: Defenseman David Rundblad replaced Coach Q favorite Michal Rozsival. Rundblad, exiled to the Swiss League over the winter, last played in an NHL game Dec. 13, and an early turnover was evidence of that rust.
Yet Quenneville still considered him an upgrade over the 37-year-old Rozsival, which says everything. Again, why was veteran defenseman Trevor Daley deemed expendable in December?
Those kinds of personnel questions can wait for another day. This exciting night provided enough of its own.
The Hawks' moribund offense perked up after Marian Hossa scored a short-handed goal with at the 11:32 mark of the second period, ending a drought that lasted too long. After Blues center Jaden Schwartz tied it 63 seconds later, the Hawks regained the lead when Artem Anisimov knocked one home in front of the net, which oddly prompted the Blues organist to play, "Alleluia.''
Back in Chicago, they thanked the heavens for a rare lead.
Hawks fans rejoiced again when Artemi Panarin beat the clock before the second period ended, firing the goal past goalie Brian Elliott with 0.4 seconds on the clock.
That's how minuscule the difference between these two teams stayed in a game billed locally as potentially the biggest in years for the Blues. Signs all over the city established this as one of those nights locals planned to remember.
Anticipation charged the air, an atmosphere similar to Wrigleyville last October. In Thursday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the front page of the sports section respectfully declared: "One (Tough One) To Go.'' Outside the arena, Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood,'' played on a loop, but the rivalry already had the fans in the plaza revved up.
All over downtown, at bars and restaurants full of patrons decked out in blue, they planned to celebrate a moment that marked more than just a series victory but a rite of passage.
Like the Cardinals were to the Cubs, the Hawks are more than just an opponent to the Blues. The Hawks always have been the mountaintop too tall to scale.
Like the Cardinals were to the Cubs, the Hawks are more than just an opponent to the Blues. The Hawks always have been the mountaintop too tall to scale.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears NFL Draft Preview: Is running back a priority?
By John Mullin
Bears pre-draft situation
Matt Forte approached the Bears last offseason with an offer to rework the final year of his contract and its $9.2 million cap hit. The Bears passed, not only then, but also after the 2016 season when Forte made no secret of his desire to re-sign in Chicago after. The Bears instead informed the veteran running back that they wouldn’t be offering him a new contract.
Forte went on the open market and settled with the New York Jets on a three-year deal calling for $9 million guaranteed. The Bears were not going to be thinking anywhere in that range for a 30-year-old running back, even with his distinguished history with the franchise.
That left Jeremy Langford the presumptive starter and Ka’Deem Carey as first-alternate, representing a total of three NFL starts, plus Jacquizz Rodgers, re-signed after a season-ending elbow injury in Game 5.
Langford was the Bears’ fourth-round pick last draft, rushed for six touchdowns plus one on an 83-yard catch-and-run at St. Louis, and totaled 142 and 182 combined yards in the consecutive San Diego and St. Louis games.
“I saw great maturity and then I thought he had good production for us at a young age,” coach John Fox said.
“As you piece together your roster for the next season, we feel good about him. We feel good about him taking the next step next year.”
The obvious problem: pure production.
Langford, Carey and Rodgers rushed for a combined 737 yards; Forte gained 898 in his 13 starts. The three backups totaled 205 carries; Forte, 218. Pass receptions by the three: 26; Forte, 44.
More concerning, the three residents on the depth chart averaged 3.6 yards per carry; Forte, 4.1.
Fox and GM Ryan Pace have made “competition” akin to a mantra. The Bears don’t have enough at the proven level, a statement they made with the offer to C.J. Anderson last month.
Insiders tell CSNChicago.com that the Bears under new coordinator Dowell Loggains will run the ball even more than the 45.7 percent they did last year. Carey and Langford have a combined total of 227 NFL carries. Forte averaged 254 carries per season for eight years.
Bears draft priority: Moderate
That the Bears made a concerted run at Denver tailback Anderson - making an offer to the restricted free agent who’d played for Fox in Denver - was a succinct statement that the Bears may like what they have in Carey, Langford and Rodgers, but they are not satisfied enough to take down the Help Wanted sign from the position group.
Pace in New Orleans (Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram No. 1’s) and Fox in Carolina (DeShaun Foster, Eric Shelton, No. 2’s; DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, No. 1’s) were parts of organizations aggressive in drafting running backs. Denver with Fox used a 2012 No. 3 on Ronnie Hillman and 2013 No. 2 on Montee Ball.
Their histories point to the Pace procuring another running back for Fox and new O-coordinator Dowell Loggains. The Bears hold nine picks in this draft, including two each in the fourth and sixth rounds. Those are prime locales for finding backs: of the 23 running backs selected in the 2015 draft, 15 were picked in the fourth round or later.
Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott is the consensus top-rated running back in this draft, the only lock-first-rounder per Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Guide. The Bears had meetings with Elliott at the Combine in addition a private get-together, but Elliott is a very, very long-shot to be the name on the card sent to the Commissioner at No. 11 on the 28th. Expect at least one pick and some undrafted free agents (which Anderson was in 2013) to be Bears by Sunday night that weekend.
Keep an eye on ...
Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State: Undersized but ultra-productive in a smaller program and is on probation from marijuana incident, but ran 4.38 at the Combine and put up 5,201 yards and 60 rushing TDs.
Paul Perkins, UCLA: Had 28 starts for a top PAC-12 program with good production rushing and receiving (621 carries, 80 receptions over past 3 seasons).
Dan Vitale, Northwestern: Bears don’t roster a true fullback but two-back team may grab freakish Vitale, who ran 4.6 and bench’ed 225 lbs 30 times at Combine; can catch and play special teams.
Signing Josh Norman could add instant boost to Bears' playoff chances in 2016.
By #Bears Talk
The Carolina Panthers made a surprising move on Wednesday, rescinding the franchise tag they had placed on All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, is now an unrestricted free agent.
And while the Bears have completely overhauled their defense in free agency, and still have nine draft choices in the upcoming draft, could going after Norman put them over the top and help them contend for a playoff spot in 2016?
Even after signing linebackers Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman and defensive lineman Akiem Nicks, the Bears still have $22 million in cap space. That's more than enough to get a deal done with Norman.
The Bears resigned cornerback Tracy Porter in the offseason but depth at the position is still a need, with Kyle Fuller entering his third pro season an unproven member of the secondary.
Would the addition of Norman make the Bears the favorites in the NFC North? Probably not. But it would go a long way toward getting them back to the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Norman was a terror in 2015, finishing with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 56 tackles. He and linebacker Luke Kuechly formed the league's top-ranked defense, which ultimately fell to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Matt Forte approached the Bears last offseason with an offer to rework the final year of his contract and its $9.2 million cap hit. The Bears passed, not only then, but also after the 2016 season when Forte made no secret of his desire to re-sign in Chicago after. The Bears instead informed the veteran running back that they wouldn’t be offering him a new contract.
Forte went on the open market and settled with the New York Jets on a three-year deal calling for $9 million guaranteed. The Bears were not going to be thinking anywhere in that range for a 30-year-old running back, even with his distinguished history with the franchise.
That left Jeremy Langford the presumptive starter and Ka’Deem Carey as first-alternate, representing a total of three NFL starts, plus Jacquizz Rodgers, re-signed after a season-ending elbow injury in Game 5.
Langford was the Bears’ fourth-round pick last draft, rushed for six touchdowns plus one on an 83-yard catch-and-run at St. Louis, and totaled 142 and 182 combined yards in the consecutive San Diego and St. Louis games.
“I saw great maturity and then I thought he had good production for us at a young age,” coach John Fox said.
“As you piece together your roster for the next season, we feel good about him. We feel good about him taking the next step next year.”
The obvious problem: pure production.
Langford, Carey and Rodgers rushed for a combined 737 yards; Forte gained 898 in his 13 starts. The three backups totaled 205 carries; Forte, 218. Pass receptions by the three: 26; Forte, 44.
More concerning, the three residents on the depth chart averaged 3.6 yards per carry; Forte, 4.1.
Fox and GM Ryan Pace have made “competition” akin to a mantra. The Bears don’t have enough at the proven level, a statement they made with the offer to C.J. Anderson last month.
Insiders tell CSNChicago.com that the Bears under new coordinator Dowell Loggains will run the ball even more than the 45.7 percent they did last year. Carey and Langford have a combined total of 227 NFL carries. Forte averaged 254 carries per season for eight years.
Bears draft priority: Moderate
That the Bears made a concerted run at Denver tailback Anderson - making an offer to the restricted free agent who’d played for Fox in Denver - was a succinct statement that the Bears may like what they have in Carey, Langford and Rodgers, but they are not satisfied enough to take down the Help Wanted sign from the position group.
Pace in New Orleans (Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram No. 1’s) and Fox in Carolina (DeShaun Foster, Eric Shelton, No. 2’s; DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, No. 1’s) were parts of organizations aggressive in drafting running backs. Denver with Fox used a 2012 No. 3 on Ronnie Hillman and 2013 No. 2 on Montee Ball.
Their histories point to the Pace procuring another running back for Fox and new O-coordinator Dowell Loggains. The Bears hold nine picks in this draft, including two each in the fourth and sixth rounds. Those are prime locales for finding backs: of the 23 running backs selected in the 2015 draft, 15 were picked in the fourth round or later.
Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott is the consensus top-rated running back in this draft, the only lock-first-rounder per Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Guide. The Bears had meetings with Elliott at the Combine in addition a private get-together, but Elliott is a very, very long-shot to be the name on the card sent to the Commissioner at No. 11 on the 28th. Expect at least one pick and some undrafted free agents (which Anderson was in 2013) to be Bears by Sunday night that weekend.
Keep an eye on ...
Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State: Undersized but ultra-productive in a smaller program and is on probation from marijuana incident, but ran 4.38 at the Combine and put up 5,201 yards and 60 rushing TDs.
Paul Perkins, UCLA: Had 28 starts for a top PAC-12 program with good production rushing and receiving (621 carries, 80 receptions over past 3 seasons).
Dan Vitale, Northwestern: Bears don’t roster a true fullback but two-back team may grab freakish Vitale, who ran 4.6 and bench’ed 225 lbs 30 times at Combine; can catch and play special teams.
Signing Josh Norman could add instant boost to Bears' playoff chances in 2016.
By #Bears Talk
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Carolina Panthers made a surprising move on Wednesday, rescinding the franchise tag they had placed on All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. The 28-year-old, who finished fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, is now an unrestricted free agent.
And while the Bears have completely overhauled their defense in free agency, and still have nine draft choices in the upcoming draft, could going after Norman put them over the top and help them contend for a playoff spot in 2016?
Even after signing linebackers Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman and defensive lineman Akiem Nicks, the Bears still have $22 million in cap space. That's more than enough to get a deal done with Norman.
The Bears resigned cornerback Tracy Porter in the offseason but depth at the position is still a need, with Kyle Fuller entering his third pro season an unproven member of the secondary.
Would the addition of Norman make the Bears the favorites in the NFC North? Probably not. But it would go a long way toward getting them back to the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Norman was a terror in 2015, finishing with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 56 tackles. He and linebacker Luke Kuechly formed the league's top-ranked defense, which ultimately fell to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Cubs: Jake Arrieta twirls second career no-hitter against Reds.
By #CubsTalk
(Photo/AP)
Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs pitched his second no-hitter in a span of 11 regular-season starts, shutting down the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 rout Thursday night.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner threw the first no-hitter of the Major League Baseball season.
Arrieta (4-0) struck out six, walked four and allowed only six balls hit out of the infield. He threw 119 pitches, retiring Eugenio Suarez on a routine flyball to right field to end it.
Arrieta also no-hit the Dodgers 2-0 last Aug. 30, part of one of the best pitching stretches in club history.
The Reds hadn't been held hitless in a regular-season game since 1971, when Rick Wise did it for Philadelphia at Riverfront Stadium. In the 2010 NL playoffs, Roy Halladay of the Phillies pitched a no-hitter against Cincinnati.
Arrieta is the first Cubs pitcher to win his first four starts in a season since Greg Maddux went 5-0 in 2006. Ken Holtzman is the only other Cubs pitcher to throw more than one no-hitter in the modern era, doing it in 1969 and 1971.
Kris Bryant homered twice, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs. Arrieta contributed a pair of singles and a walk as the Cubs pulled away.
The 16-run margin approached the most-lopsided victory in major league history. In 1884, Pud Galvin and Buffalo beat the Detroit Wolverines 18-0, STATS said.
By Arrieta's standards, it was a bit of a struggle. He walked three batters — he'd allowed only two walks in his first three starts combined — and needed 85 pitches to get through six innings. That's when he dug in and made quick work of the Reds' lineup.
The thousands of Cubs fans in the crowd of 16,497 were on their feet cheering as Arrieta walked Scott Schebler to open the ninth, got pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart on a popup, Zack Cozart on a fly to center, and Suarez on a fly to Jason Heyward.
How Jason Heyward changes the way to think about free agents.
By Patrick Mooney
Jason Heyward remembered watching “Pardon the Interruption” one day during the offseason and seeing Chicago guy Michael Wilbon on ESPN.
“They said: ‘Is Heyward really worth $300 million?’” Heyward recalled during his controversial return to Busch Stadium this week. “I was like: ‘Who brought that up?’ I don’t think I’m worth $300 million. I don’t think I would ever try and sell myself for $300 million or any (specific) amount. Teams are going to tell you what they feel and they go from there.”
The Cubs wound up going to a place they had never been before, giving Heyward the biggest contract in franchise history, committing eight years and $184 million to a player who does the little things.
Age is the essential data point to start with when understanding Heyward’s megadeal. Not the idea of weakening the St. Louis Cardinals or wishing he will develop into a middle-of-the-order force or going all-in to win the World Series this year.
It will probably make $300 million look like a half-hearted offer by the 2018 winter meetings, when Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are positioned to headline a ridiculously talented class of free agents that could also include Cy Young Award winners Clayton Kershaw and David Price, who like Heyward have opt-out flexibility.
“I just try and be myself,” Heyward said. “I think age has a lot to do with my contract, being 26 years old. You see MLB trying to go younger, younger, younger, wanting to pay guys earlier in their career and not pay someone who’s (in his 30s).
“There are going to be people who don’t agree (with the contract), but I’m kind of what you’re asking for in a lot of (ways).”
Harper and Machado will be 26 years old on Opening Day 2019. Harper has already made three All-Star teams and won National League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards for the Washington Nationals. Machado hit 35 homers for the Baltimore Orioles last year, earning his second All-Star selection and second Gold Glove at third base.
Heyward made an All-Star team as a rookie in 2010 and hasn’t come close to replicating his traditional power numbers (27 homers, 82 RBI) with the Atlanta Braves in 2012. He’s shown up three times in the MVP voting, never higher than last year’s 15th-place finish.
To put it in Hollywood terms, the Cubs see Heyward as a supporting actor and are paying him like a movie star, because there will be enough times where he can steal the show.
“With Jason, there are just so many things he does to help complement our roster incredibly well,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “He fits perfectly with our core from an age standpoint.
“He’s a terrific teammate (and) he does so many things to help you win games. His defense is terrific. He’s a terrific baserunner. He gets on base. He doesn’t strike out.
“When you think about all the things that we needed as a team and as a roster, he fills so many of those holes.”
Heyward says he never pays attention to the defensive metrics that framed him as one of the most valuable players in the game. But he does have a heightened awareness of the pitcher’s game plan, where a hitter usually sprays the ball and the speed of the runners involved.
That helps explain why Heyward has won three Gold Gloves in the last four seasons, leading the majors in Defensive Runs Saved in 2014 (32) and finishing fourth in that category last year (22).
This season isn’t three weeks old yet and Heyward has already made sliding catches and momentum-shifting throws from right field look routine.
“I just try to know where everybody’s going to be on the field,” Heyward said. “You always want to think about those things before the play happens and it develops. Expect the worst that could happen. Expect to have to go make a diving play. Expect the ball to be hit to you and you have to make a big throw out there.
“You want to be in every spot like that to know what’s going to happen. And when it does happen, you’re not surprised.”
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (30) is the only defender who posted a higher Ultimate Zone Rating than Heyward (20.2) last year. In 2014, only Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (25) finished with a better UZR than Heyward (24.1).
This is like having a quarterback or a point guard in the outfield.
“I picked his brain a lot in spring training,” said bench coach Dave Martinez, who works with the outfielders and played 16 seasons in the big leagues. “I actually told him: ‘Hey, it’s no-holds-barred here. Not only are you a student – I want you to teach.’ And he’s done that.
“He is definitely a leader. He pays attention to detail and he takes a lot of pride in his defense.”
Imagine the response on talk radio and in the bleachers if Heyward had been on a different Cubs team – before Big Data – and was hitting .179 with zero home runs through his first 15 games.
But winning cures everything and the Cubs believe Heyward will see so many pitches near the top of the order – and get on base around 35 percent of the time – that the grinding, first-to-third mentality will influence their entire team.
Heyward’s sense of calm amid a racially charged social-media storm and the boos raining down at Busch Stadium – as well as his rational explanations for choosing the Cubs over the Cardinals – reinforced the idea that he is a person to build a franchise around.
This is also the cost of doing business in free agency. It’s not like the Cubs were out on an island with their valuations, either, since the Cardinals and Nationals tried to put together Heyward deals in the $200-million ballpark.
“He fits in so perfectly to what we’re trying to achieve and the kind of culture we’re trying to create,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He fits in anywhere, though. Understand that – he fits anywhere. He doesn’t just fit in Chicago. He fits anywhere.
“He is pretty much the poster child for a five-tool baseball player.”
Late rally comes up short as White Sox stumble in series finale with Angels.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner threw the first no-hitter of the Major League Baseball season.
Arrieta (4-0) struck out six, walked four and allowed only six balls hit out of the infield. He threw 119 pitches, retiring Eugenio Suarez on a routine flyball to right field to end it.
Arrieta also no-hit the Dodgers 2-0 last Aug. 30, part of one of the best pitching stretches in club history.
The Reds hadn't been held hitless in a regular-season game since 1971, when Rick Wise did it for Philadelphia at Riverfront Stadium. In the 2010 NL playoffs, Roy Halladay of the Phillies pitched a no-hitter against Cincinnati.
Arrieta is the first Cubs pitcher to win his first four starts in a season since Greg Maddux went 5-0 in 2006. Ken Holtzman is the only other Cubs pitcher to throw more than one no-hitter in the modern era, doing it in 1969 and 1971.
Kris Bryant homered twice, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs. Arrieta contributed a pair of singles and a walk as the Cubs pulled away.
The 16-run margin approached the most-lopsided victory in major league history. In 1884, Pud Galvin and Buffalo beat the Detroit Wolverines 18-0, STATS said.
By Arrieta's standards, it was a bit of a struggle. He walked three batters — he'd allowed only two walks in his first three starts combined — and needed 85 pitches to get through six innings. That's when he dug in and made quick work of the Reds' lineup.
The thousands of Cubs fans in the crowd of 16,497 were on their feet cheering as Arrieta walked Scott Schebler to open the ninth, got pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart on a popup, Zack Cozart on a fly to center, and Suarez on a fly to Jason Heyward.
How Jason Heyward changes the way to think about free agents.
By Patrick Mooney
Jason Heyward remembered watching “Pardon the Interruption” one day during the offseason and seeing Chicago guy Michael Wilbon on ESPN.
“They said: ‘Is Heyward really worth $300 million?’” Heyward recalled during his controversial return to Busch Stadium this week. “I was like: ‘Who brought that up?’ I don’t think I’m worth $300 million. I don’t think I would ever try and sell myself for $300 million or any (specific) amount. Teams are going to tell you what they feel and they go from there.”
The Cubs wound up going to a place they had never been before, giving Heyward the biggest contract in franchise history, committing eight years and $184 million to a player who does the little things.
Age is the essential data point to start with when understanding Heyward’s megadeal. Not the idea of weakening the St. Louis Cardinals or wishing he will develop into a middle-of-the-order force or going all-in to win the World Series this year.
It will probably make $300 million look like a half-hearted offer by the 2018 winter meetings, when Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are positioned to headline a ridiculously talented class of free agents that could also include Cy Young Award winners Clayton Kershaw and David Price, who like Heyward have opt-out flexibility.
“I just try and be myself,” Heyward said. “I think age has a lot to do with my contract, being 26 years old. You see MLB trying to go younger, younger, younger, wanting to pay guys earlier in their career and not pay someone who’s (in his 30s).
“There are going to be people who don’t agree (with the contract), but I’m kind of what you’re asking for in a lot of (ways).”
Harper and Machado will be 26 years old on Opening Day 2019. Harper has already made three All-Star teams and won National League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards for the Washington Nationals. Machado hit 35 homers for the Baltimore Orioles last year, earning his second All-Star selection and second Gold Glove at third base.
Heyward made an All-Star team as a rookie in 2010 and hasn’t come close to replicating his traditional power numbers (27 homers, 82 RBI) with the Atlanta Braves in 2012. He’s shown up three times in the MVP voting, never higher than last year’s 15th-place finish.
To put it in Hollywood terms, the Cubs see Heyward as a supporting actor and are paying him like a movie star, because there will be enough times where he can steal the show.
“With Jason, there are just so many things he does to help complement our roster incredibly well,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “He fits perfectly with our core from an age standpoint.
“He’s a terrific teammate (and) he does so many things to help you win games. His defense is terrific. He’s a terrific baserunner. He gets on base. He doesn’t strike out.
“When you think about all the things that we needed as a team and as a roster, he fills so many of those holes.”
Heyward says he never pays attention to the defensive metrics that framed him as one of the most valuable players in the game. But he does have a heightened awareness of the pitcher’s game plan, where a hitter usually sprays the ball and the speed of the runners involved.
That helps explain why Heyward has won three Gold Gloves in the last four seasons, leading the majors in Defensive Runs Saved in 2014 (32) and finishing fourth in that category last year (22).
This season isn’t three weeks old yet and Heyward has already made sliding catches and momentum-shifting throws from right field look routine.
“I just try to know where everybody’s going to be on the field,” Heyward said. “You always want to think about those things before the play happens and it develops. Expect the worst that could happen. Expect to have to go make a diving play. Expect the ball to be hit to you and you have to make a big throw out there.
“You want to be in every spot like that to know what’s going to happen. And when it does happen, you’re not surprised.”
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (30) is the only defender who posted a higher Ultimate Zone Rating than Heyward (20.2) last year. In 2014, only Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (25) finished with a better UZR than Heyward (24.1).
This is like having a quarterback or a point guard in the outfield.
“I picked his brain a lot in spring training,” said bench coach Dave Martinez, who works with the outfielders and played 16 seasons in the big leagues. “I actually told him: ‘Hey, it’s no-holds-barred here. Not only are you a student – I want you to teach.’ And he’s done that.
“He is definitely a leader. He pays attention to detail and he takes a lot of pride in his defense.”
Imagine the response on talk radio and in the bleachers if Heyward had been on a different Cubs team – before Big Data – and was hitting .179 with zero home runs through his first 15 games.
But winning cures everything and the Cubs believe Heyward will see so many pitches near the top of the order – and get on base around 35 percent of the time – that the grinding, first-to-third mentality will influence their entire team.
Heyward’s sense of calm amid a racially charged social-media storm and the boos raining down at Busch Stadium – as well as his rational explanations for choosing the Cubs over the Cardinals – reinforced the idea that he is a person to build a franchise around.
This is also the cost of doing business in free agency. It’s not like the Cubs were out on an island with their valuations, either, since the Cardinals and Nationals tried to put together Heyward deals in the $200-million ballpark.
“He fits in so perfectly to what we’re trying to achieve and the kind of culture we’re trying to create,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He fits in anywhere, though. Understand that – he fits anywhere. He doesn’t just fit in Chicago. He fits anywhere.
“He is pretty much the poster child for a five-tool baseball player.”
Late rally comes up short as White Sox stumble in series finale with Angels.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
It’s too bad the White Sox offense can’t get on any type of roll.
Otherwise John Danks might have more to show for a hard-fought six innings than another loss.
And the White Sox might have another series victory or two.
Despite issuing five walks Thursday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, Danks gave the White Sox exactly what they needed. But it was more about what his teammates couldn’t do against Jered Weaver in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels than it was about what Danks did.
The offense was dormant again until it was too late and the White Sox watched their chances of taking three of four from the Angels disappear. Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier homered, but the White Sox stranded a pair of runners in the ninth inning against Los Angeles closer Huston Street. The White Sox have scored three or fewer runs in 10 of their first 16 games.
“We need to score some runs,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “I don't think anyone out there early was breaking the radar gun. We needed to do something and Weave kept spinning it in there, taking something off and we couldn't get it going.”
A five-run contest on Tuesday aside, the White Sox have done very little over their last nine games. After a promising spring and 28 runs scored in their first seven games, the White Sox have produced 20 in their last nine.
The club’s .616 OPS ranks just 27th among 30 teams.
Three full-timers -- Jose Abreu (.190), Austin Jackson (.170) and Avisail Garcia (.146) -- are hitting below .200 as is catcher Alex Avila, who singled in two at-bats to raise his average to .185.
The White Sox struggled against Weaver until his final inning, when Cabrera’s solo homer to right got them within a run. But until then Weaver kept them out of sorts with a variety of pitches ranging from 66-to-86 mph. He didn’t allow more than a runner on base in each of the first four innings and retired nine in a row into the seventh until Cabrera homered.
Weaver improved to 11-2 against the White Sox as he limited them to a run, three hits and two walks in seven innings.
“Once you rush, he’s going to get you,” Frazier said.
The White Sox nearly got Street in the ninth after they entered down 3-1. Frazier drove a 1-2 slider out to right center with two outs for his fourth homer to make it a one-run game. Cabrera and Brett Lawrie, who also doubled off Weaver in the second, both walked. Jackson then ripped a first-pitch slider from Street to left, but Craig Gentry caught it two steps from the wall. It was too little too late for a White Sox offense that .275 on-base percentage and has scored three or fewer runs in 10 of 16 games. The White Sox are 4-6 in those contests.
“Pitchers have been doing their jobs and we’ve been up and down a little bit,” Frazier said. “But to say we’ve been scuffling, I think that’s the wrong term. I think we’ve been playing well. We haven’t been getting eight, nine or 10 runs a game, but we’ve been winning. Pitchers do their job and we find a way to get a couple of runs, we’ll take 2-1 wins every day of the week.”
The White Sox would take Danks’ effort Thursday every time without question.
He pitched out of a two-walk first inning as Albert Pujols popped out and Kole Calhoun hit a soft liner to third. He ended the second inning with a double play and got two more twin killings in the fifth and sixth innings.
But Danks kept his team in the game.
His only mistake was with two outs in the fifth when Danks left a 1-1 fastball up to Mike Trout, who crushed it to left center to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.
He allowed two earned runs and five hits.
“I’m pleased to keep us in the game,” Danks said. “But certainly need to be sharper than that, and we will.
“These guys are battling hard. There’s definitely no quit in this team. I feel like we’re in every game, have a chance to win. We fell a little short today, but that’s part of it.”
White Sox ace Chris Sale finds a new way to dominate in win over Angels. (Wednesday's game, 04/20/2016).
By JJ Stankevitz
Otherwise John Danks might have more to show for a hard-fought six innings than another loss.
And the White Sox might have another series victory or two.
Despite issuing five walks Thursday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, Danks gave the White Sox exactly what they needed. But it was more about what his teammates couldn’t do against Jered Weaver in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels than it was about what Danks did.
The offense was dormant again until it was too late and the White Sox watched their chances of taking three of four from the Angels disappear. Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier homered, but the White Sox stranded a pair of runners in the ninth inning against Los Angeles closer Huston Street. The White Sox have scored three or fewer runs in 10 of their first 16 games.
“We need to score some runs,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “I don't think anyone out there early was breaking the radar gun. We needed to do something and Weave kept spinning it in there, taking something off and we couldn't get it going.”
A five-run contest on Tuesday aside, the White Sox have done very little over their last nine games. After a promising spring and 28 runs scored in their first seven games, the White Sox have produced 20 in their last nine.
The club’s .616 OPS ranks just 27th among 30 teams.
Three full-timers -- Jose Abreu (.190), Austin Jackson (.170) and Avisail Garcia (.146) -- are hitting below .200 as is catcher Alex Avila, who singled in two at-bats to raise his average to .185.
The White Sox struggled against Weaver until his final inning, when Cabrera’s solo homer to right got them within a run. But until then Weaver kept them out of sorts with a variety of pitches ranging from 66-to-86 mph. He didn’t allow more than a runner on base in each of the first four innings and retired nine in a row into the seventh until Cabrera homered.
Weaver improved to 11-2 against the White Sox as he limited them to a run, three hits and two walks in seven innings.
“Once you rush, he’s going to get you,” Frazier said.
The White Sox nearly got Street in the ninth after they entered down 3-1. Frazier drove a 1-2 slider out to right center with two outs for his fourth homer to make it a one-run game. Cabrera and Brett Lawrie, who also doubled off Weaver in the second, both walked. Jackson then ripped a first-pitch slider from Street to left, but Craig Gentry caught it two steps from the wall. It was too little too late for a White Sox offense that .275 on-base percentage and has scored three or fewer runs in 10 of 16 games. The White Sox are 4-6 in those contests.
“Pitchers have been doing their jobs and we’ve been up and down a little bit,” Frazier said. “But to say we’ve been scuffling, I think that’s the wrong term. I think we’ve been playing well. We haven’t been getting eight, nine or 10 runs a game, but we’ve been winning. Pitchers do their job and we find a way to get a couple of runs, we’ll take 2-1 wins every day of the week.”
The White Sox would take Danks’ effort Thursday every time without question.
He pitched out of a two-walk first inning as Albert Pujols popped out and Kole Calhoun hit a soft liner to third. He ended the second inning with a double play and got two more twin killings in the fifth and sixth innings.
But Danks kept his team in the game.
His only mistake was with two outs in the fifth when Danks left a 1-1 fastball up to Mike Trout, who crushed it to left center to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.
He allowed two earned runs and five hits.
“I’m pleased to keep us in the game,” Danks said. “But certainly need to be sharper than that, and we will.
“These guys are battling hard. There’s definitely no quit in this team. I feel like we’re in every game, have a chance to win. We fell a little short today, but that’s part of it.”
White Sox ace Chris Sale finds a new way to dominate in win over Angels. (Wednesday's game, 04/20/2016).
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
It seems strange that Chris Sale — who set a White Sox franchise record for strikeouts in 2015 — would enter a game not looking to rack up forwards and backwards K’s.
But that was the plan on Wednesday, and Sale excelled with it. The lanky left-hander cruised through seven innings of work to push the White Sox to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 12,785 at U.S. Cellular Field.
This wasn’t a typically-dominant Sale start, complete with the deluge of swings and misses that’ve been staples for the ace left-hander last four years. He only struck out three — just the second time he’s had fewer than four strikeouts in at least seven innings of work — but held the Angels to just two hits, both ground ball singles off the bat of 2014 AL MVP outfielder Mike Trout.
“When I came out, I was like, Trout was 2-3 off me with two singles, and I feel like I beat him,” laughed Sale, nodding to Trout’s mega-superstar status.
But the Angels entered Wednesday striking out in just 15 percent of their collective plate appearances, the lowest rate in baseball. Sale talked during spring training about trying to be more efficient by letting opponents put the ball in play, but on Wednesday, he was essentially forced into it.
The result was Angels hitters peppering White Sox infielders and outfielders with soft-hit grounders and fly balls, none of which really seemed to pose much of a threat.
“With a team like that, to be honest with you, it doesn’t make sense to go out there and try to get strikeouts,” catcher Alex Avila said. “They put the ball in play and tend to have good at-bats. So you have to pick your spots. You can run yourself out of a game real quick. You can still pitch well but it could be a five inning game for him.”
Sale tipped his cap to the White Sox defense, which he said helped get him an extra inning by making all the plays behind him.
At the least, that reliability is an improvement from last year’s group, which ranked at or near the bottom of baseball by just about every defensive evaluation, advanced or otherwise. It’s early in the season, and defensive metrics can be wonky in a small sample size, but the White Sox defense looks better to the eye and rates in the top seven in baseball by DRS and UZR.
Despite setting a franchise record for strikeouts and not issuing many walks or home runs, Sale had a career-worst 3.41 ERA last year. The additions of Austin Jackson, Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, as well as Adam Eaton’s move to right field, have already provided a major boost to the defense behind Sale.
Manager Robin Ventura said opposing teams, too, are bound to be more aggressive early in the count given Sale’s propensity to blow them away with two strikes.
“We do have a pretty good defense right now of guys being able to go get it as well as the approach of (opponents),” Ventura said, “You don't want to wait around too long because if you get yourself in a two-strike count, the odds go up of him punching you out rather you putting it in play.”
Even if Sale continues to focus on being more efficient and generating weak contact, the strikeouts are bound to come. He had nine in his masterful shutout of the Tampa Bay Rays last Friday. It’ll always be a big part of his game.
But Avila talked about working with Sale to dial things up when he needs a strikeout, but not focusing on getting one every at-bat. There will be games and situations in which Sale needs to reach back and keep the ball out of play; there will also be games like Wednesday in which that’s not entirely necessary.
“He’s going to get his strikeouts,” Avila said. “We’re not worried about that. It’s a matter of him being more efficient.”
But that was the plan on Wednesday, and Sale excelled with it. The lanky left-hander cruised through seven innings of work to push the White Sox to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 12,785 at U.S. Cellular Field.
This wasn’t a typically-dominant Sale start, complete with the deluge of swings and misses that’ve been staples for the ace left-hander last four years. He only struck out three — just the second time he’s had fewer than four strikeouts in at least seven innings of work — but held the Angels to just two hits, both ground ball singles off the bat of 2014 AL MVP outfielder Mike Trout.
“When I came out, I was like, Trout was 2-3 off me with two singles, and I feel like I beat him,” laughed Sale, nodding to Trout’s mega-superstar status.
But the Angels entered Wednesday striking out in just 15 percent of their collective plate appearances, the lowest rate in baseball. Sale talked during spring training about trying to be more efficient by letting opponents put the ball in play, but on Wednesday, he was essentially forced into it.
The result was Angels hitters peppering White Sox infielders and outfielders with soft-hit grounders and fly balls, none of which really seemed to pose much of a threat.
“With a team like that, to be honest with you, it doesn’t make sense to go out there and try to get strikeouts,” catcher Alex Avila said. “They put the ball in play and tend to have good at-bats. So you have to pick your spots. You can run yourself out of a game real quick. You can still pitch well but it could be a five inning game for him.”
Sale tipped his cap to the White Sox defense, which he said helped get him an extra inning by making all the plays behind him.
At the least, that reliability is an improvement from last year’s group, which ranked at or near the bottom of baseball by just about every defensive evaluation, advanced or otherwise. It’s early in the season, and defensive metrics can be wonky in a small sample size, but the White Sox defense looks better to the eye and rates in the top seven in baseball by DRS and UZR.
Despite setting a franchise record for strikeouts and not issuing many walks or home runs, Sale had a career-worst 3.41 ERA last year. The additions of Austin Jackson, Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, as well as Adam Eaton’s move to right field, have already provided a major boost to the defense behind Sale.
Manager Robin Ventura said opposing teams, too, are bound to be more aggressive early in the count given Sale’s propensity to blow them away with two strikes.
“We do have a pretty good defense right now of guys being able to go get it as well as the approach of (opponents),” Ventura said, “You don't want to wait around too long because if you get yourself in a two-strike count, the odds go up of him punching you out rather you putting it in play.”
Even if Sale continues to focus on being more efficient and generating weak contact, the strikeouts are bound to come. He had nine in his masterful shutout of the Tampa Bay Rays last Friday. It’ll always be a big part of his game.
But Avila talked about working with Sale to dial things up when he needs a strikeout, but not focusing on getting one every at-bat. There will be games and situations in which Sale needs to reach back and keep the ball out of play; there will also be games like Wednesday in which that’s not entirely necessary.
“He’s going to get his strikeouts,” Avila said. “We’re not worried about that. It’s a matter of him being more efficient.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... The Bulls beat writers spilled the beans on the team's dysfunctional locker room.
SBNation.com; By your friendly BullsBlogger
(Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
Move over Derrick Rose-r, let Jimmy take over.
Part of the cycle of the end of the Bulls season, after the front office barfed all over themselves in a rushed presser, is the guys covering the team emptying their secret notebooks. Usually this is done on the radio, I suppose it seems less permanent and report-y that way? Do they think people won't write it down? Do they not know how much I enjoy wasting my time on this team?
Specifically, they all seemed to remark on the interpersonal relationships between the players. I'm not sure how much of the following can be considered bulletproof, but it's certainly interesting. It's also worth noting that while the players are discussed, a lot of that stuff can be controlled by either the guys bringing them in or the personality of the head coach. Though we know already know those two aspects of the Bulls were outright failures this year.
Tom Thibodeau (former Bulls coach} agrees to deal with Timberwolves.
By Adam Wojnarowski of The Vertical
Part of the cycle of the end of the Bulls season, after the front office barfed all over themselves in a rushed presser, is the guys covering the team emptying their secret notebooks. Usually this is done on the radio, I suppose it seems less permanent and report-y that way? Do they think people won't write it down? Do they not know how much I enjoy wasting my time on this team?
Specifically, they all seemed to remark on the interpersonal relationships between the players. I'm not sure how much of the following can be considered bulletproof, but it's certainly interesting. It's also worth noting that while the players are discussed, a lot of that stuff can be controlled by either the guys bringing them in or the personality of the head coach. Though we know already know those two aspects of the Bulls were outright failures this year.
According to multiple sources, Hoiberg came away shocked by how dispassionate certain players' demeanors were, both on and off the court. As a 10-year veteran used to locker rooms run by Reggie Miller with the Pacers and Kevin Garnett with the Timberwolves, Hoiberg believed he inherited a mentally strong team.
He didn't. And the seeds of those signs first bloomed in Tom Thibodeau's last season.
If you recall, KC also had some inside info from that infamous team meeting (kidding, who can even keep track of all the meetings and locker room speeches that were going to save this season) where Joakim Noah went at both Butler and Rose for being silent.
Then there's Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald, who so blithely drops in the quote "Jimmy clashed with Gar Forman" that I'm not sure if it means anything. Could just be that Gar didn't like Jimmy going after Hoiberg. McGraw also had this somewhat specious argument that included another note: that Butler went directly to management.
Butler isn't used to being the go-to guy on his teams. Fitting into the new role has been a work in progress.
After growing up without a permanent father figure in his life, Butler found several quality role models on the Bulls. Older teammates Luol Deng and Ronnie Brewer took Butler under their wing. Assistant coach Adrian Griffin became a father figure, while former coach Tom Thibodeau found a way to play to Butler's strengths.
What do those four people have in common? Well, none of them are with the Bulls anymore. Maybe Butler's frustration with those changes explain why he vented to management.
Then there's Twitter peen and mostly-a-hack Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times, who was on Boers and Bernstein on 4/14. Again, take for this what you will, he's said (but not reported) similar things plenty in the past couple years. It was definitely some entertaining stories, anyway.
First, on how Joakim Noah went from marginalized by Hoiberg to injured and out for the year:
I talked to several people that have indicated that the best thing that happened to the Bulls, because it could've wound up worse, was Joakim Noah going back to New York for his rehab and staying away from this thing. Because he would've become a locker room cancer. He had a couple veterans on his side, and I'm telling you right now: if he didn't get out of town when he did, the little comments and snide remarks to Jimmy Butler...Jimmy wasn't having any more of those, and you would've seen fists thrown.
[Later he referenced it again] I'm telling you, the idea that Noah would've held this thing together if he was around...it would've instead just been a bigger divide...Jimmy gave Joakim a couple passes at first with his little jokes but told Noah 'these comments are going to stop'.
Here's Cowley on the locker-room factions that went up with 'Team Butler'. I think Cowley has been the mascot of that team in the past, but here goes...:
This stuff has been festering for 2 years. Last year, when Noah and Derrick Rose were allowed to get away with being pulled out of drills, not having to work as hard....Joakim being convinced by the front office that Thibodeau wasn't good for his career anymore.
Then you had Jimmy and Pau. Pau is very good [at politicking], saying "you know Jimmy, look at us busting our ass, and look at [Noah and Rose]" to get Jimmy riled up.
Jimmy comes in this year and declares himself the leader, and he has a point. His mindset is: I've been paid, I work like it, I take in the young guys, I bust my butt in practice and try and work on my game. Meanwhile [Rose and Noah] get away with whatever they want.
So that started it. Now, once you start beating your chest that way and you have young guys behind you, you slowly have a divide.
ESPN.com's Nick Friedell was on for the full AM1000 'Chicago Gamenight' show the night after the season ended. There was a lot of anecdotal stuff, including how Pau Gasol's media availability helped give him 'the benefit of the doubt'. To me, Friedell often gets casually into psychology in a way I don't find credible (aka every "these guys don't look like they're enjoying each other' tweet) , but again: he's been with the team all season so he undoubtedly can get some sense of what happened.
All season he's dropped nuggets about how Jimmy Butler had 'changed', and midway though this show he got into specifics.
Jimmy has rubbed people the wrong way. He badly wants to be viewed as 'the guy'. As long as Derrick and Joakim are still here, Jimmy cannot be that.
Jimmy is a very good guy, who earned everything he got in this league and in life. You have to earn respect in a locker room, and Jimmy is still viewed by a lot of guys in that room as the guy who had no jumper, worked hard all the time, and was still just trying to find his way. [Friedell then gives the younger/older brother analogy].
I think Jimmy has a lot of respect from the younger guys. Doug McDermott has been open about training with him last summer and I think they built a relationship. Bobby Portis, those kind of guys...they view and see Jimmy differently than does Joakim, Derrick, and Taj.
Why did Jimmy change? A lot of reasons. Part of it was the contract, part was seeing what it's like when you are a star. He loved being in L.A. and that whole lifestyle. Nobody questioned his work ethic, they were questioning how he could function as the leader of the group. He wanted it to happen, it didn't happen this year. This was before Noah's injury, and there was friction. So many people focus on the Jimmy-Derrick relationship, but I don't think [in terms of personal animosity] it was ever that bad. But there was a lot of tension between Jimmy and Jo. Jo wanted to always wanted to be the big brother, take care of everybody else. It started in the back-half of last year, Jimmy seeing he was becoming the best player on the team and wanted others to respect his voice more than in the past. I think Jo [dismissed it, seeing Jimmy as still a role player].
I don't think you can see a situation where Jo and Jimmy return. I would be shocked if all three of Jo, Jimmy and Derrick are at training camp.
[The Jimmy saying 'coach harder' night] was when things started to change. Because it brought it out in the open. I think the organization was taken aback by how it showed he changed.
Then you have wacky old Sam Smith on Fox Sports Radio over the weekend, who kind of dismissed the 'Butler's getting special treatment' report from the final road trip as 'overplayed' (it was Chris Broussard, thus not even worth linking), but Sam have this:
Jimmy has had an interesting evolution that I haven't seen as much in the NBA. Someone where they go from sort of nothing to having this colossal ego. He's really kind of full of himself. Hangs out with Mark Wahlberg, lets us all know about that a lot. He announces that he's the leader and guys are looking around thinking 'what is he talking about?"
The odd thing is that he's a really nice guy, but doesn't like to socialize with the players. They had that team bonding trip in San Francisco in November where they all went to wine country, and he was the only one who wasn't there.
As was pointed out by the BaB commenter who found this, it's not even so much the content here so much that it's that Sam Smith works for the Bulls and can certainly be perceived as an Org. hatchet-man.
So what does it all mean? I think mostly that it's an underachieving team in obvious transition so these things are going to happen. Nothing that some winning wouldn't fix. But to get more winning you probably have to see:
- Jimmy mature and embrace leadership more...correctly
- Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah realize they aren't the players they used to be and change their attitude
- Trade Rose, let Joakim walk, or both. All these mentioned writers have also reported the Bulls want Joakim back, but I have a feeling the money won't be close.
- Their coach 'nuts up' himself
Or it's all Org.-cover for their impending trade of Jimmy Butler? That'd be shortsighted and the worst option, so we have to consider it.
Tom Thibodeau (former Bulls coach} agrees to deal with Timberwolves.
By Adam Wojnarowski of The Vertical
Tom Thibodeau (Photo/Getty Images)
Tom Thibodeau agreed to a five-year, $40 million deal to become president of basketball operations and head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Scott Layden also agreed to a deal to join Thibodeau as general manager.
Thibodeau emerged as the frontrunner in pursuit of the job in recent days, selling owner Glen Taylor on his vision of sustained success and playoff basketball in Minnesota.
"I started my NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and it is an incredible opportunity to rejoin the organization at a time when they have what I believe to be the best young roster in the NBA," Thibodeau said in a statement. "Together with a great owner in Glen Taylor and a terrific basketball partner in Scott Layden, I look forward to building a winning culture that Minnesota sports fans can be proud of."
Thibodeau was drawn to the full control of the organization and the chance to coach a talented young core that includes rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
Jeff Van Gundy was among the finalists for the job.
Thibodeau, 58, had clashes with Chicago management in his successful five-year run with the Bulls and embraced a Minnesota management model based upon Stan Van Gundy's setup with general manager Jeff Bower in Detroit.
Thibodeau has a strong relationship with Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett, who has yet to announce he's playing another season with the team. Garnett has had aspirations of joining the team's ownership group upon retirement. Thibodeau and Garnett were part of Boston's 2008 NBA championship team.
Layden has previously been the general manager for the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks.
Jimmy Butler 'happy' for Tom Thibodeau, puts blame of season on 'my shoulders'.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The news about former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau agreeing to terms with the Minnesota Timberwolves to coach and take over its basketball operations had already made its way to Jimmy Butler, who became an all-star under Thibodeau’s watch.
Thibodeau was controversially fired from the Bulls last spring after five seasons, and it took him less than a year to get another job—along with a substantial raise and the power that comes with having final say over personnel.
“I have heard about Thibs, I knew it would come up sooner or later,” said Butler at the grand opening of Bonobos guideshop in downtown Chicago. “I’m happy. I’m happy for that guy. I’m not surprised, not at all. We’ll see what he does over there.”
Butler developed from a late first-round pick in 2012 to a player who received a maximum contract last offseason, and admitted it was tough and demanding to play for the former coach.
“A little bit of both. He knows what he’s doing,” Butler said. “Very smart, he knows the game, he’s a winner, he’ll do whatever it takes to win. I wish him the best of luck. But I’m a Chicago Bull, so we gotta go against those guys.”
Thibodeau will take over a franchise that has arguably the best collection of young talent in the NBA, headlined by Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, with pundits already penciling in the Timberwolves to be amongst the living this time next season, in the playoffs.
Thibodeau led the Bulls to the playoffs in each of his five seasons, but when they fired him and replaced him with Fred Hoiberg, an up-and-down season ensued, leading to the Bulls missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Butler, as he’s done through the season, said the Bulls’ underachieving starts with him.
“I think it starts with myself,” he said. “If I can make this team win, and do whatever it takes every single night, I can take it.”
“I put it on my shoulders, I’m the reason we didn’t make the playoffs. And I’m fine with that. I’m not happy with it but I’m fine with it. Because it’s only gonna make me stronger, make me better. Moving forward, I have to be able to make us win enough games to be able to make the playoffs.”
Butler’s numbers improved, one year after being named Most Improved Player, and he repeated as an All-Star. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Bulls afloat, as they experienced an eight-game drop-off from last season.
“I feel that way because I wasn’t consistent enough,” Butler said. “I had good games, I had average games, I had decent games and I had some terrible games. I don’t wanna have terrible and decent games. Averages games can get us over the hump but really good ones can help us win.”
Of course, Butler was queried about the ongoing uneasy pairing between himself and Derrick Rose in the Bulls’ backcourt, repeating the two will work out together over the summer to build more on-court chemistry, but playfully dismissed rumors of discord.
“When we lose, it’s always a problem,” Butler said. “You gotta find something to talk about. It’s a great story (but) it has nothing to do with it. Yeah, we’ll work out together, figure out ways to co-exist. I think we did a great job of it this year, yeah we were injured but that wasn’t an excuse. We always have enough to win, and moving forward if we’re healthy, we’re nice.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Steele tops Texas Open leaderboard when 1st round goes dark.
AP - Sports
Brendan Steele topped the Texas Open leaderboard at 8 under through 13 holes Thursday when the first round was suspended because of darkness.
Steele, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the tournament five years ago, was unable to finish the opening round after play was delayed for 3 1/2 hours because of morning rain.
Among those who did finish, Charley Hoffman had a 6-under 66, a stroke ahead of Stuart Appleby and Peter Malnati.
Defending champion Jimmy Walker opened with a 75. Walker had four rounds under par last year in his hometown event to hold off Jordan Spieth in what was his last PGA Tour victory.
Spieth isn't in this year's field, the first time since he turned pro at the end of 2012 that he missed a Texas event.
When Steele returns Friday morning to complete the first round at the TPC Oaks Course, he could make a run at the course record of 63 set by Matt Every in 2012 and matched by Martin Laird in 2012.
South Africa's Oosthuizen joins Scott in Olympic golf snub.
AFP
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen followed fellow major winner Adam Scott in saying Thursday he will not compete at the Rio Olympics, fuelling the debate raging around golf's return to the Games after a 112-year absence.
In a statement issued by ISM, his British-based management company, 2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen, 33, said he had informed South Africa's Olympic committee of his decision after "long deliberations citing family and schedule issues".
"I have always represented South Africa with pride so I didn't make my decision without a great deal of thought," said Oosthuizen.
"I would like to wish our golfers and all other athletes competing in Brazil all the very best for success," he added.
Australia's Scott, who won the US Masters three years ago, made his announcement on Wednesday, saying: "My decision has been taken as a result of an extremely busy playing schedule around the time of the Olympics and other commitments, both personal and professional."
Scott's decision provoked an angry response from Australian swimming great Dawn Fraser, a triple Olympic 100 meter freestyle gold medalist, who said: "Well done Adam great to put your country on hold so that you can fulfil your own schedule."
Scott's decision provoked an angry response from Australian swimming great Dawn Fraser, a triple Olympic 100 meter freestyle gold medalist, who said: "Well done Adam great to put your country on hold so that you can fulfil your own schedule."
But With golf already having four major tournaments annually -- the Masters, British Open, US Open and US PGA -- there are those who argue an Olympic gold medal is not the highest honor in the sport and, as such, it has no place in the Games.
This year the US PGA Championship has been moved forward and becomes July's second major, two weeks after the British Open, in a packed 2016 golf calendar.
"Scott is not the only marquee name who doesn't embrace the Olympic golf tournament being squeezed into a such a small window in July and August," wrote Jim McCabe on golfweek.com.
"Don't be surprised if you hear from another one or two."
Another comment piece on the USA TODAY website was headlined: "Adam Scott just showed why golf shouldn't be an Olympic sport."
"An Olympic gold medal should be the highest honor there is to win in the chosen sport. Anything less devalues the entire competition. That's not the case in golf," the column read.
Last week, another former major champion, Fiji's Vijay Singh, also announced he would skip the Olympics, citing concerns over an outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil.
Report: Tiger Woods engaged in extensive practice at home club.
By Ryan Ballengee
(Photo/regroupementpar.com)
The slow drip of the details of Tiger Woods' recovery and rehabilitation continued on Tuesday.
Golf World's Tim Rosaforte reports the 14-time major champion is putting in significant hours at Medalist Golf Club, near Woods' home in Jupiter, Fla. On Golf Channel, Rosaforte said that Woods has spent his last two weeks "involved in a series of four-to-five-hour practice sessions at Medalist Golf Club … including the playing of some holes."
Golf World's Tim Rosaforte reports the 14-time major champion is putting in significant hours at Medalist Golf Club, near Woods' home in Jupiter, Fla. On Golf Channel, Rosaforte said that Woods has spent his last two weeks "involved in a series of four-to-five-hour practice sessions at Medalist Golf Club … including the playing of some holes."
Rosaforte added he was told Woods is happy and in good spirits.
Woods has not played competitively since a T-10 finish at the Wyndham Championship in August 2015. After he missed the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, Woods visited his surgeon in Utah to learn that pain he complained of that week was related to the same spot in his back where he had a microdiscectomy performed in March 2014. Woods opted for a second microdiscectomy in September, then had a follow-up procedure done a month later.
Woods has not played competitively since a T-10 finish at the Wyndham Championship in August 2015. After he missed the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, Woods visited his surgeon in Utah to learn that pain he complained of that week was related to the same spot in his back where he had a microdiscectomy performed in March 2014. Woods opted for a second microdiscectomy in September, then had a follow-up procedure done a month later.
On the Friday before the Masters, Woods announced, as widely expected, that he would not play in the Masters.
"I've been hitting balls and training daily, but I'm not physically ready," Woods said, in part, on his website to announce he wasn't playing at Augusta National.
"I've said all along that this time I need to be cautious and do what's best for my long-term health and career. Unfortunately, playing Augusta next week wouldn't be the right decision. I'm absolutely making progress, and I'm really happy with how far I've come, but I still have no timetable to return to competitive golf."
NASCAR: Tony Stewart cleared to race, will be in car at Richmond.
By JENNA FRYER
Tony Stewart has been cleared to return to racing and will be back in his car Friday at Richmond International Raceway.
The three-time NASCAR champion missed the first eight races of the season with a fractured vertebra suffered in a January all-terrain vehicle accident. The injury occurred one week before Stewart was scheduled to start his final season in NASCAR. He's retiring at the end of this year.
''As soon as the doctors said they were happy with my scans, I wasn't going to wait any longer to get back in my race car,'' Stewart said, announcing his return Thursday on Twitter. ''I want to make the most of my last season in Sprint Cup, and I've been on the sidelines long enough.''
It was a rollercoaster day for Stewart, who was granted a waiver to participate in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship by NASCAR after he announced his return. Hours later, he was fined $35,000 for comments he made criticizing NASCAR over how it polices pit road.
Stewart warned drivers will be injured if NASCAR doesn't start forcing teams to put all five lug nuts on their cars during tire changes.
Stewart warned drivers will be injured if NASCAR doesn't start forcing teams to put all five lug nuts on their cars during tire changes.
''They are totally dropping the ball, and I feel like really made a very grossly bad decision,'' Stewart said of NASCAR's decision last year to stop policing the lug nuts. ''We shouldn't be playing games with safety to win races. It should be out-performing the other teams, not jeopardizing drivers' lives by teams putting two lug nuts on to try to get two more spots off pit road.''
The fine, certain to infuriate Stewart, will soon be forgotten once he makes his long-awaited return to the No. 14 Chevrolet on Friday. He'll race Sunday at Richmond, then participate in a Goodyear tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He plans to qualify and start his car at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, but he will give his seat up after the race begins to Ty Dillon.
The fine, certain to infuriate Stewart, will soon be forgotten once he makes his long-awaited return to the No. 14 Chevrolet on Friday. He'll race Sunday at Richmond, then participate in a Goodyear tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He plans to qualify and start his car at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, but he will give his seat up after the race begins to Ty Dillon.
Stewart says the style of racing at Talladega could lead to an accident that could hurt his comeback.
''We're taking a strategic approach to my return,'' Stewart said. ''Richmond is a track where I feel very comfortable and because it's a short track, the speeds are substantially less. The Goodyear test in Indy is sort of a controlled environment, allowing me to get more acclimated with my car at higher speeds. We'll start the Talladega race to get the points, but understanding the style of racing and the higher potential of getting involved in an incident, we thought it was best to minimize the amount of time I'm in the car.''
He plans to return to full-time racing at Kansas the following week.
Stewart thanked fans for their support and said ''the best medicine will come this weekend at Richmond when I finally get to go racing.''
Stewart has attended nearly every race during his absence as a leader of Stewart-Haas Racing, the four-car team he is part owner of with Gene Haas. He's been on the spotter stand during most races.
Richmond will be Stewart's 591st career Sprint Cup start. He has three wins and 19 top-10s at the Virginia track, where he earned first career Cup victory in 1999 by leading 333 of 400 laps. A win there this weekend would get him in the Chase since NASCAR granted Stewart a waiver to make him eligible despite missing the early-season races.
''NASCAR received the appropriate medical clearance documentation allowing Tony Stewart to resume normal racing activities,'' said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. ''We also have granted the request from Stewart-Haas Racing for a waiver for Tony to be eligible to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. As he begins his final season, we wish Tony the best of luck.''
NASCAR typically requires drivers to compete in every event, but it gave Kyle Busch a waiver last year after he missed 11 races with injuries suffered in the season-opening Xfinity Series race at Daytona. Busch still had to qualify for the Chase, which required him to win a race and crack the top 30 in points before the regular-season finale in September.
SOCCER: MLS needs its own Chicago-St. Louis rivalry.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Chicago-St. Louis sports rivalry has been on display in recent days with the Blackhawks-Blues playoff series and the Cubs making the first trip to Busch Stadium earlier this week.
Cubs-Cardinals is one of the better rivalries in baseball and when both teams are competitive, as they are now, it has even more fire. Blackhawks-Blues has been rejuvenated with recent playoff meetings.
Meanwhile, on the soccer side there is no Major League Soccer team in St. Louis to provide the Chicago Fire with that same marquee matchup, but that could be changing.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said that the league wants to expand to 28 teams. The league currently sits at 20 teams. Atlanta and Minnesota plan to join next season and Los Angeles FC and the Miami franchise headed by David Beckham aren’t much further behind. That brings the league to 24 teams and Garber’s comments reopened expansion competition with four new spots in the league available.
Hawks-Blues and Cubs-Cards over the last few days has shown that the Chicago-St. Louis sports rivalry is strong and MLS needs to be a part of that. The Fire need a true rival and St. Louis’ introduction to MLS would be an instant rival for the Fire given the heated rivalries in other sports.
The closest MLS teams to Chicago are Columbus, which is over five hours away, and Kansas City, which is an eight-hour drive away and no longer in the same conference as the Fire. Minnesota’s addition to the league will add another Midwestern team which Chicago sports fans will be familiar seeing as a divisional rival, but odds are that team will head to the Western Conference, limiting meetings with the Fire to just once a year.
St. Louis has played a massive role in the history of soccer in this country. A glimpse of that was shown in the movie “The Game of Their Lives,” where a group of players from The Hill neighborhood in St. Louis featured on the 1950 U.S. World Cup team which beat England. On the collegiate level, St. Louis University has won 10 national championships in men’s soccer.
So what are the chances of St. Louis getting a team?
SI.com’s Brian Straus broke down the current expansion candidates. Straus said Sacramento is practically a lock, but referred to St. Louis as the best bet for team No. 26. There has been talk of MLS in St. Louis for years, but the Rams’ departure seems to have sparked interest a bit more. Garber admitted Thursday that Sacramento and St. Louis are the frontrunners.
Currently Saint Louis FC, which plays in suburban Fenton, is the top soccer team in the market. They play in the USL and are the Fire’s affiliate. Good crowds for that minor league team and for international games, either European summer friendlies or U.S. National Team games, have shown the interest for soccer is there.
It’s always a matter of finding an ownership group and a stadium deal when it comes to MLS expansion. If those two things come together, St. Louis will have a team because both the league and the city appear interested.
If and when it happens, it could give Fire fans a home game or two to circle on the calendar every year, which is something currently lacking.
Thousands of seats empty as Sanchez double sends Arsenal 3rd.
By ROB HARRIS
Thousands of seats empty as Sanchez double sends Arsenal 3rd.
By ROB HARRIS
Alexis Sanchez was surrounded by thousands of empty seats inside Emirates Stadium as he scored twice against West Bromwich Albion to ease Arsenal back into third place with a 2-0 win on Thursday.
Because Arsenal announced 59,568 tickets were sold for the English Premier League game, the north London stadium should have been near capacity to see Sanchez make it five goals in four games.
But the swathes of unoccupied red seats told a different story, reflecting mounting unrest among fans frustrated that it is 12 years since Arsenal lifted the league trophy.
''If you love football, you go out there and I think you see quality football,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said in a post-match message to fans who shunned this rare Thursday night domestic game.
Murmurs of discontent among fans have grown as Leicester has astonishingly climbed to the summit, with some calling for Wenger to go after nearly 20 years in charge.
Three months ago, the Gunners were ahead of Leicester at the top on goal difference but now they are 10 points adrift with only 12 points to play for.
''We are under permanent pressure,'' Wenger said. ''There are top teams who are behind us. Because Leicester is front everyone thinks we should have done it (won the title). But you can say that for any other team because Leicester was bottom of the table last year.''
Rather than ending the title drought, Arsenal is in a scrap just to qualify for the Champions League for a 19th consecutive season under Wenger.
Arsenal's back-to-back draws opened up the race for the top four. But Arsenal seized on Manchester City's draw at Newcastle on Tuesday by moving two points in front of Manuel Pellegrini's side and four ahead of fifth-place Manchester United.
The fans who did turn up on Thursday didn't have to wait long to see Arsenal go in front.
Sanchez received a pass from Aaron Ramsey in the sixth minute and spun past Sandro before picking a spot in the bottom corner of the net.
''It helped us to focus more on the way we played and not be anxious,'' Wenger said. ''(Sanchez) is back - sharper, more confident.''
Sanchez curled in his 15th goal of the season directly from a free kick before halftime, after his teammates in the defensive wall split for him.
With Arsenal enjoying more than 70 percent of possession, this was the type of game in which Arsenal should have secured a commanding scoreline. On other days, such as Sunday when Arsenal was held by Crystal Palace to 1-1, the team is made to pay for such wastefulness in front of goal.
''We haven't been up to that standard of late and it was important for us to put on a performance today - not just for our fans but for us as well,'' Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey said. ''We have been really frustrated with the way we have been playing but we have come back tonight ... maybe it's too little too late.''
There were a few scares caused by a West Brom team only three places above the relegation zone.
Before Sanchez scored his second, only the crossbar preserved Arsenal's lead with Gareth McAuley crashing a header against the woodwork from James McClean's corner.
''It might have given us a spark and lift which we needed,'' West Brom manager Tony Pulis.
Later in the second half, Salomon Rondon lifted the ball over at the back post from a corner rather than nudging it over the line to force West Brom back into contention.
USMNT to face Puerto Rico for first time ever.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
The United States men’s national team will ease into its pre-Copa America Centenario friendlies with a first ever matchup with Puerto Rico.
May 22 is the date for the match, which will be played in Bayamon at the home of future NASL team Puerto Rico FC.
May 22 is the date for the match, which will be played in Bayamon at the home of future NASL team Puerto Rico FC.
The Yanks will then face Ecuador on May 25 in Frisco, Texas, before hosting Bolivia at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on May 28.
From USSoccer.com:
“We are thrilled to be playing Puerto Rico in our first preparation game for the Copa America Centenario,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “This will be an important opportunity for our players to stay sharp and keep progressing towards our opener against Colombia, and we appreciate all the efforts by the Puerto Rican Football Federation to help organize the match.”
PR is the 152nd ranked team in the world, with its most notable players being New York City FC’s Jason Hernandez and CD Aguila forward Hector Ramos.
NCAAFB: How college athletics has become a boondoggle for everyone but the students.
By Dan Wetzel
The College Football playoff has generated about $470 million in found revenue. (Photo/AP)
In 2011, the University of Michigan athletic department employed 253 people, according to state records. Four years later, in 2015, it was 334, up 32 percent.
During that period, the average salary grew 22.4 percent, to $89,851. Over a seven-year span, the number of athletic department employees making six figures went from 30 to 81.
Michigan is hardly unique. It's on par with its peers. Critics point to the salaries of big-name coaches, but it's everything that is growing in college sports.
It's the National Collegiate Industrial Complex.
Soaring media rights and vast new revenue streams continue to flood department coffers. Like any good non-profit bureaucracy, they have deftly figured out how to spend … mostly on themselves.
Michigan didn't add 32 percent more sports in those four years, or 32 percent more scholarship athletes, requiring 32 percent more staffing.
It just made about $30 million more dollars per year, from $122.7 million in 2011 to $152.5 million in 2015. Most of the increase came courtesy of the Big Ten Network.
So it spent the money: on new workers and new raises and more assistant directors and more construction and additional private plane flight hours and the gold plating of everything.
On Tuesday, SportsBusinessDaily reported the Big Ten is close to agreeing to a six-year deal with Fox Sports for half its television rights. It would pay about $250 million per year, or $17.9 million per school. And that's just half the deal. CBS and ESPN will pay handsomely to split the rest.
This report comes a little over a week after the NCAA agreed to an eight-year, $8.8 billion extension with CBS and Turner to broadcast the men's basketball tournament. It brings the annual value of the event from $786 million to $1.1 billion, an increase of $314 million per year.
That's new money. That's found money. That's money that has yet to be used or allocated.
It's the same as the college football playoff generating about $470 million in revenue that didn't exist three years ago. Or conference-owned cable television channels hauling in hundreds of millions. The SEC Network, which launched in August 2014, doled out $455.8 million in fiscal 2015, $31.2 million per school. The New York Times predicted last year that Big Ten Network revenue would soon exceed $40 million per school, per year.
All of this money – namely all of this brand-new money that isn't even needed – ratchets up cries to share it with the student-athletes.
That's the exact kind of black/white wedge issue however that college sports executives' love. It's so complicated, so all or nothing, so emotionally charged that they can use it to stall any progress or let the entire debate get bogged down in nonsense.
They can turn Marxist and note wrestlers work just as hard as football players. They can throw up their hands at Title IX. They can form another subcommittee and stage February meetings somewhere warm.
And they can hire another 100 people and refurbish their corner office. Or build an entirely new one, because, you know, it's good for recruiting or something. They can spend every penny so they don't actually have any left and then cry poverty (generally less than 20 athletic departments nationally turn a "profit" each year).
A lot of them still hit actual students up for athletic fees, because college isn't expensive enough.
Very few coaches, administrators or staffers get into college athletics because they think they'll make lots of money. They are well meaning and love college athletics and college athletes. These are often talented, driven people. There are easier ways to earn a living than college sports, with their late nights and jammed weekends. Yet there are piles of gold now and not just for top coaches.
So maybe before everything boils down to simply, "Will you pay the players?" – still a reasonable argument, mind you – college leaders could start by doing something easier … listening to them.
The stories of spring 2016 in college sports have revolved around two things: all that additional money and more rulings and decisions that treat the players with little respect.
Forever and ever, everything in college athletics has been filtered from the top down – votes, policy, even media coverage comes via the prism of administrators, coaches, commissioners and presidents.
Student-athlete representation on various committees has long been seen as symbolic – and even then the turnover is too swift to spur change. Unions aren't allowed. You can't have an agent to represent you. The NCAA wishes Ramogi Huma, who, motivated by his experience as a UCLA linebacker, founded the advocacy group the National College Players Association, would just go away.
Media interviews are mostly conducted with a department staffer sitting in. The most outspoken student-athletes are often controlled further. In-season social media bans remain common. A beat reporter who dares call a parent for perspective is going to deal with retribution.
It's the coach's voice and the coach's voice only.
So transfer rules are set so that a millionaire coach won't be inconvenienced, not how it will alter the life of an average player, who can be barred from dozens of potential options. Coaches are too worried that some state secret will be leaked to a future opponent, even though the NFL and NBA pick guys up on a weekly basis and survive.It doesn't cost a dime to treat these players like you'd treat your own kid.
Satellite recruiting camps were banned in a hurry because some schools feared Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer plucking an extra recruit or two, and some coaches wanted to make sure they could go on vacation (not that they had to run an off-campus recruiting camp).
Ignored was that high school kids have a chance at exposure. Any and every college can attend, say, a Michigan camp in Alabama or an Ohio State camp in Florida. That includes small programs, even Division III's, which don't have the resources (a slew of grad assistants pouring through high school game tapes) to discover talent the way an Alabama or Ohio State can. You go hoping Urban will like you. You leave with someone else's affection. It's still a victory.
Then there are the non-university affiliated camps such as Sound Mind, Sound Body, which began outside Detroit but has begun to go national in recent years. For kids from junior high up, it was a cheap, local, two-day exposure camp with half the time spent on academics and life skills.
The top recruits brought in the big-name coaches, but they were allowed to teach on the field, too. The impact was in the one-on-one interaction for all campers.
In big cities, the high school dropout rate for boys is an ongoing tragedy that affects nearly every facet of society. The impact of a kid getting teaching and encouragement from a college coach (even if he'll never recruit him) was incalculable.
If a ninth grader decides to keep playing high school football, it means he's decided to keep going to high school. Maybe that isn't an issue in every community. It is the issue in some. It is why Sound Mind's website brags not just about the 1,000-plus campers who went on to play in college, but the 10,000-plus who went on to graduate from high school.
"I'm not worried about the SEC … SMSB did so much for so many," tweeted Michigan cornerback Jordan Lewis after the NCAA ruling.
"Why ban positivity?" tweeted Ohio State running back Mike Weber.
Both hail from the city of Detroit. How many people on the NCAA committee even considered the perspective of a teenager from some place like that before voting?
Did any even ask?
When Jim Harbaugh took his Michigan football team to Florida for spring break, the SEC clutched its pearls in horror. While players praised their week of fun in the sun, and their parents said they were relieved they were with the team, not some all-you-can-drink bar, rival commissioners and coaches condemned it as exploitive.
These same commissioners and coaches claim a few days at a bowl game (even if it's in Shreveport or Detroit) are a cherished reward, of course. Then again, most administrators and coaches have contracts that dole out "performance bonuses" for their teams appearing in a bowl.
There is none for spring practice. Yet.
If they want to share more of the avalanche of money, there are plenty of ways other than hiring more staff or pouring more into nebulous concepts such as "marketing."
According to the Macon Telegraph, the University of Georgia paid the entertainer Ludacris $65,000 to perform for 15 minutes prior to last week's spring football game. They also needed to provide food and ground transportation for 10, plus "vodka, cognac, wine, tequila" and "a box of Trojan Magnum condoms." Good times.
It was probably cool that Ludacris was there for 15 minutes. Funding a couple more scholarships might have been cooler.
It was probably cool that Ludacris was there for 15 minutes. Funding a couple more scholarships might have been cooler.
The NCAA is vehemently opposed to paying the players or even allowing them to profit off their own image and likeness. (It's worked well for the Olympics.) Doing so might chip into the revenue coming in, after all.
Why do the schools limit the number of scholarships handed out though? Why do they not provide additional educational opportunities for athletes? Not just in football and basketball, but all sports. Non-revenue teams exist essentially as a form of welfare from what football and men's basketball brings in, a questionable practice but one that isn't reasonably going to change.
So go with it. Why does women's gymnastics have an average roster of 19, according to scholarshipstats.com, yet can only offer 12 scholarships, which they often divvy up? Why not all 19? The money is there. Or coming. Men's gymnastics is capped at just 6.5 scholarships. That, leadership says, is because of Title IX. Fine, so add seven to each side.
That's 14 more kids getting a full ride. Then move on to soccer and softball and swimming and everything else.
Or they can add a hundred new jobs and dole out bigger raises and construct bigger facilities that no one rightfully needs. They can put the kids paying their own way in a nicer locker room or hire Ludacris to 15 minutes. Before long, it's all spent and there is nothing left for the players.
Then they can keep dropping draconian rulings and say any solution is simply impossible while they stand around and argue about real dangerous, pressing issues such as where Jim Harbaugh wants to stage a practice.
Better form a committee for that. Better meet for a few days at a hotel in Florida … some place proper, with Siesta or Key in its name, of course.
Pac-12 commissioner says league in favor of satellite camps.
By RALPH D. RUSSO
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, right, presents the MVP trophy to Stanford's Christian McCaffrey (5) after Stanford defeated Southern California Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott says the conference's representative on the NCAA's Division I Council did not vote the league's position when the council banned so-called satellite football camps this month.
After attending a College Football Playoff meeting Wednesday, Scott told reporters 11 of 12 Pac-12 members were in favor of allowing coaches to participate in camps for high school players on other school's campus. But UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, the Pac-12's council representative, voted to ban satellite camps.
The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference made separate proposals banning guest coaching at camps. The ACC's version passed by a 10-5 vote. The Big Ten was the only Power Five conference to vote against the ban. The Power Five conferences' votes count for two. The other five FBS conferences' votes count one.
If the Pac-12 had voted with the Big Ten and all the other votes remained the same, the proposed ban would have passed 8-7.
The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference made separate proposals banning guest coaching at camps. The ACC's version passed by a 10-5 vote. The Big Ten was the only Power Five conference to vote against the ban. The Power Five conferences' votes count for two. The other five FBS conferences' votes count one.
If the Pac-12 had voted with the Big Ten and all the other votes remained the same, the proposed ban would have passed 8-7.
Scott would not say which of the conference's 12 members was not in favor of allowing the camps. ''Draw your own conclusions,'' he added.
In an email obtained by the AP late Wednesday night, Guerrero explained his decision to vote for the ACC's proposal after the Pac-12 agreed that it did not want a ban.
Guerrero wrote that going into the council meeting, ''it was the feeling of many members of the D1 Council that the proposals would be tabled at the request of the (football oversight committee).''
The Pac-12, like the Big Ten, wanted satellite camps dealt with as part of a larger, more comprehensive examination of issues related to football recruiting by the oversight committee.
Instead, the oversight committee supported passing one of the two proposals. The SEC's proposal differed from the ACC's in that it did allow schools to hold their own camps within 50 miles of campus, which matches the current SEC rule. The ACC's proposal banned holding camps off-campus and guest coaching at other campuses.
The Pac-12 does not allow schools to hold their own camps off campus.
In his email, Guerrero said his priority became trying to make sure the SEC's proposal did not pass because it would have put the Pac-12 at a disadvantage compared to other conferences. He also wrote that he felt the ACC's proposal would have passed regardless of the Pac-12's vote.
The Pac-12 holds spring meetings in Phoenix next week.
''I don't think the story is done,'' Scott said. ''I think there will be more conversation about it.''
Scott said satellite camps have worked fine out West.
''We have not been hosting official school camps outside our territory, but our coaches have been allowed to participate in other people's camps and it has not been out of control. It has worked fine,'' he said.
The Board of Governors still has to approve the council's vote next week.
Big Ten schools, most notably Michigan and Penn State, started making frequent visits to schools in the South to guest coach at prospect camps. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh did an expansive satellite camp tour last year and had another one planned this year until the ban was put into place.
Big Ten leaders say the camps give exposure to high school players, allowing them to be seen and coached by coaches from many schools at one camp. Coaches from Group of Five campuses such as the Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt would frequently attended camps held at bigger schools as a way of scouting players that they might not have had a chance to see in person otherwise.
The Pac-12 does not allow schools to hold their own camps off campus.
In his email, Guerrero said his priority became trying to make sure the SEC's proposal did not pass because it would have put the Pac-12 at a disadvantage compared to other conferences. He also wrote that he felt the ACC's proposal would have passed regardless of the Pac-12's vote.
The Pac-12 holds spring meetings in Phoenix next week.
''I don't think the story is done,'' Scott said. ''I think there will be more conversation about it.''
Scott said satellite camps have worked fine out West.
''We have not been hosting official school camps outside our territory, but our coaches have been allowed to participate in other people's camps and it has not been out of control. It has worked fine,'' he said.
The Board of Governors still has to approve the council's vote next week.
Big Ten schools, most notably Michigan and Penn State, started making frequent visits to schools in the South to guest coach at prospect camps. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh did an expansive satellite camp tour last year and had another one planned this year until the ban was put into place.
Big Ten leaders say the camps give exposure to high school players, allowing them to be seen and coached by coaches from many schools at one camp. Coaches from Group of Five campuses such as the Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt would frequently attended camps held at bigger schools as a way of scouting players that they might not have had a chance to see in person otherwise.
The SEC and ACC have conference-wide bans on guest coaching and contend the satellite camps were used mainly for recruiting purposes outside the regulated evaluation times.
''The camps had gone in an unhealthy direction, and I'm pleased that the council made the decision,'' SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. ''I think it's entirely appropriate. To the extent that we've got more work to do on summer recruiting activities in football, so be it, but let's not continue to go down a direction that is becoming more and more unhealthy. I hope the board will honor the council's decision.''
NCAABKB: Attorney: NCAA also deserves blame in UNC fraud scandal.
Associated Press
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
An attorney representing two ex-North Carolina athletes says the school and NCAA are both responsible for UNC’s long-running academic fraud scandal that he says denied athletes a quality education.
Michael Hausfeld said Tuesday in a hearing in federal court that athletes who took even one of the irregular courses had been defrauded. Hausfeld is one of the attorneys representing ex-women’s basketball player Rashanda McCants and ex-football player Devon Ramsay, who filed a lawsuit alleging neither defendant did enough to ensure athletes received a quality education.
“The essence of this lawsuit is not about easy classes or friendly professors,” Hausfeld said. “It’s about academic fraud as opposed to academic integrity.”
The school and NCAA are seeking to have the case dismissed, while UNC is also seeking the dismissal of a related lawsuit filed by two other ex-athletes: football player Michael McAdoo and women’s basketball player Kenya McBee. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs heard arguments in both cases that seek class-action status during an all-day court session Tuesday, asked questions of the attorneys but didn’t immediately issue a ruling.
UNC’s academic case centers on independent study-style courses that required no class time and one or two research papers in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies (AFAM) department. Run largely by an office administrator – not a faculty member – the courses featured GPA-boosting grades and significant athlete enrollments across numerous sports, while poor oversight throughout the university allowed them to run unchecked for years.
Both lawsuits – as well as a third by two other ex-UNC athletes and dismissed in state court in February – were filed after a 2014 probe by former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein. That report estimated more than 3,100 students were affected between 1993 and 2011, with athletes making up roughly half the enrollments in problem courses.
In Tuesday’s arguments, attorneys for UNC and the NCAA argued that the lawsuits should be dismissed because a three-year statute of limitations had passed, while UNC also claimed sovereign immunity as a state institution. The athletes’ attorneys have made similar arguments that their clients were steered into the courses by academic counselors to minimize conflicts with sports practice schedules – sometimes handed a predetermined class schedule despite it conflicting with their desired major pursuits – and no indication that the courses were deficient by lacking faculty involvement.
While Hausfeld argued the NCAA had a duty to ensure the quality of education for “vulnerable adolescents” at member institutions, NCAA attorney Stephen D. Brody argued the organization doesn’t venture into the classroom to monitor the quality or rigor of courses.
“That is not a space that is occupied by the NCAA,” Brody told Biggs.
McCants and Ramsay combined to take three problem AFAM courses while majoring in other departments, according to their lawsuit. In Tuesday’s first hearing, attorneys for McAdoo and McBee said their clients had taken one or two of the irregular courses during each semester in school. McBee graduated with a double major, one coming in the AFAM department, while McAdoo withdrew from school to pursue a professional playing career after being ruled permanently ineligible for academic violations in 2010.
Geraldine Sumter, an attorney for McAdoo and McBee, compared the problem courses to “an empty shell.”
“This is not a case of educational malpractice,” she said. “This is a case of failing to educate.”
The academic case has led the NCAA to charge UNC with five violations – including a lack of institutional control – in a still-pending investigation. It also led to trouble for UNC with its accreditation agency, which put the school on a year of probation last June.
Michael Hausfeld said Tuesday in a hearing in federal court that athletes who took even one of the irregular courses had been defrauded. Hausfeld is one of the attorneys representing ex-women’s basketball player Rashanda McCants and ex-football player Devon Ramsay, who filed a lawsuit alleging neither defendant did enough to ensure athletes received a quality education.
“The essence of this lawsuit is not about easy classes or friendly professors,” Hausfeld said. “It’s about academic fraud as opposed to academic integrity.”
The school and NCAA are seeking to have the case dismissed, while UNC is also seeking the dismissal of a related lawsuit filed by two other ex-athletes: football player Michael McAdoo and women’s basketball player Kenya McBee. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs heard arguments in both cases that seek class-action status during an all-day court session Tuesday, asked questions of the attorneys but didn’t immediately issue a ruling.
UNC’s academic case centers on independent study-style courses that required no class time and one or two research papers in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies (AFAM) department. Run largely by an office administrator – not a faculty member – the courses featured GPA-boosting grades and significant athlete enrollments across numerous sports, while poor oversight throughout the university allowed them to run unchecked for years.
Both lawsuits – as well as a third by two other ex-UNC athletes and dismissed in state court in February – were filed after a 2014 probe by former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein. That report estimated more than 3,100 students were affected between 1993 and 2011, with athletes making up roughly half the enrollments in problem courses.
In Tuesday’s arguments, attorneys for UNC and the NCAA argued that the lawsuits should be dismissed because a three-year statute of limitations had passed, while UNC also claimed sovereign immunity as a state institution. The athletes’ attorneys have made similar arguments that their clients were steered into the courses by academic counselors to minimize conflicts with sports practice schedules – sometimes handed a predetermined class schedule despite it conflicting with their desired major pursuits – and no indication that the courses were deficient by lacking faculty involvement.
While Hausfeld argued the NCAA had a duty to ensure the quality of education for “vulnerable adolescents” at member institutions, NCAA attorney Stephen D. Brody argued the organization doesn’t venture into the classroom to monitor the quality or rigor of courses.
“That is not a space that is occupied by the NCAA,” Brody told Biggs.
McCants and Ramsay combined to take three problem AFAM courses while majoring in other departments, according to their lawsuit. In Tuesday’s first hearing, attorneys for McAdoo and McBee said their clients had taken one or two of the irregular courses during each semester in school. McBee graduated with a double major, one coming in the AFAM department, while McAdoo withdrew from school to pursue a professional playing career after being ruled permanently ineligible for academic violations in 2010.
Geraldine Sumter, an attorney for McAdoo and McBee, compared the problem courses to “an empty shell.”
“This is not a case of educational malpractice,” she said. “This is a case of failing to educate.”
The academic case has led the NCAA to charge UNC with five violations – including a lack of institutional control – in a still-pending investigation. It also led to trouble for UNC with its accreditation agency, which put the school on a year of probation last June.
Nicklaus calls Scott's decision to skip Olympics 'sad' for sport. What's Your Take?
(Photo/golfchannel.com)
Jack Nicklaus is a proponent of Olympic golf and a believer in what the game's place on the Olympic program can do for its growth.
It's not surprising, then, that Nicklaus said he was disappointed when world No. 7 Adam Scott announced he would not participate in the men's Olympic golf tournament in August in Brazil.
"I think that's sad. I think it's sad for the Olympics and for the game of golf," Nicklaus said Wednesday at a charity event in Ohio related to his Memorial Tournament, according to Golf Digest. "I don't know Adam's circumstances, so I couldn't comment on what he's dealing with. Obviously, he felt like he couldn't play, and if he felt that way, I understand. But it's unfortunate."
Scott made the announcement early Wednesday on the Australian clock, making official what the 2013 Masters winner had suggested publicly for the better part of two years. In announcing his decision, Scott cited a busy schedule and a lengthy list of commitments. The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America likely contributed to his decision, too.
Nicklaus hopes that the 60-player events for men and women will be a hit on the Olympic stage. The International Olympic Committee is set to vote in 2017 on the future of the Olympic program, including golf's fate. So far, golf is only guaranteed a place in the program in 2016 and in Tokyo in 2020. The Golden Bear views the Olympics as an opportunity for the sport to showcase the new generation of pros.
"What I'm concerned about is that golf has a little bit of momentum going right now," said Nicklaus. "If the guys don't want to participate, then we might not be in the Olympics after this. They vote next year. And if they vote to keep golf in, then that's great, but if not then we lose that momentum with growing the game."
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: Several athletes are opting out of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. I'm sure the Zika virus has a lot to do with it, however, there are other issues that the athletes are concerned about. Personally, I don't think safety will be an issue and that all of the venues will be ready on time. Every effort is being made by the IOC to see that the games go on as fabulous as always. Today, we have a question for our readers, what is your position on athletes opting out of the 2016 Olympics? We'd like to know how you feel about this concern and what's your take?
We value your opinion and appreciate your comments. We can't wait to hear what you have to say.
The Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
emoriesofhistory.com
1914 - Babe Ruth made his pitching debut with the Baltimore Orioles.
1915 - The New York Yankees wore pinstripes and the hat-in-the-ring logo for the first time.
1945 - The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1 in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup finals.
1982 - The Atlanta Braves ended their 13-game winning streak to start the season. It was the longest streak of wins at the beginning of the season in major league baseball history.
1994 - Michael Moorer became the first left-handed heavyweight champion.
2010 - The NFL Draft was aired in prime time for the first time.
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