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Trending: This edition is mostly about the Bears and the draft. Lots of info here. Read it all and share any opinion(s) you might have with us. For first-round pick Floyd, Bears seem like perfect fit. Also, 2016 Chicago Bears draft grades and Bears agree to deal with quarterback Brian Hoyer. Bears announce release of Matt Slauson, Antrel Rolle. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: At Illinois, Smith Breaks Ground He's Broken Before. (See the college football section for NCAAFB updates).
Trending; Chicago Bulls: Why Attracting New Talent Will Be A Challenge. (See the basketball section for Bulls updates).
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 17-6
White Sox 2016 Record: 18-8
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Evaluations will come, but Bears got players, traits, intangibles they wanted.
By John Mullin
And the grade for the Bears’ 2016 draft is… let’s wait at least until, as coach John Fox consistently says, the players get “on the grass.”
Collective bargaining rules prohibit real competition between offense, defense and special teams units. Five of the Bears’ top six picks were on defense, which aren’t allowed to hit the offensive guys until camp (and vice versa), and the sixth – second-rounder Cody Whitehair – is a guard, and linemen evaluations are really only worthwhile when pads come on.
But poor drafts undid two Bears general managers in the span of four years (Jerry Angelo after 2011, Phil Emery after 2014) and the evaluation process now moves from college campuses, bowl games and scouting events to NFL venues.
The Bears are in major need of GM Ryan Pace equaling or exceeding his first (2015) draft. His head coach thinks that’s happened.
“Obviously experience helps,” Fox said. “The more you do it, the better you get. Ryan's got a great skill set and we’ve got a great relationship between the coaches and personnel. I think he does a tremendous job. I thought we had a tremendous draft a year ago and I anticipate this year being even better.”
Pace came to the Bears from a New Orleans Saints background heavy on the pro-personnel side. But one school of NFL thinking is that personnel evaluators with roots on the pro side are better suited to oversee drafts simply because their expertise is in seeing what NFL players look like.
Pace’s first draft netted starters at nose tackle (Eddie Goldman), center (Hroniss Grasu), running back (Jeremy Langford) and safety (Adrian Amos), plus theoretically wide receiver (Kevin White) but for a season-ending stress fracture to his left leg. Not all of those are guaranteed starting jobs this season because of the organization’s commitment to competition, but it was a better start than most recent Bears drafts.
Several key directions were evident within the nine picks made by Pace, coach John Fox and their staffs this extended weekend.
Defense, teams priorities
While the prime draft directive was best player available, the Bears moved around in the various rounds to suggest that they were targeting players, and most of them were on defense.
Of the Bears’ eventual nine picks, six were on defense. Of those, four were defensive backs. Among those are expected to be impact players on special teams, and if one wins a starting job the way Adrian Amos (fifth rounder) did last year, the 2016 draft stands to be special.
“You saw us struggle [on special teams] early in the season a year ago,” Fox said. “Getting to know your team, understanding how they react, the speed – trying to increase our team speed even to the deadline to start the season. We got better as the year went on and I think we’ll get better this year.”
QB-lite
Despite indications that the Bears liked some of the quarterbacks down in the mid-round range, they did not select a quarterback for the third time in the last four years.
One scenario is that they would add a veteran backup, which they did with the signing of Brian Hoyer, who worked with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as a Cleveland Brown, to a one-year deal.
“I like the idea of having an experienced backup there,” Pace said. “It’s important for that position and it just gives us security going forward. I think it’s key, like we’ve talked about in free agency, I love it when we have familiarity with these guys from coaches. I feel like it reduces some of the risk and some of the questions we may have. Dowell was passionate about this player and then watching the tape, I was to. I'm glad we got him in the mix.”
The Bears did trade two first-round picks to the Denver Broncos for Jay Cutler in 2009. But they have actually not drafted a quarterback higher than the fourth round (Kyle Orton, 2005) since 2003 when they took Rex Grossman in the first round.
With all of the draft choices (9) at their disposal going into this draft, the Bears made trades to move up or back for targeted players. None of them were quarterbacks.
Old guys
Not every pick will work out, but the Bears minimized risk in one area, taking college players with extensive resumes on tape, Pace’s stated standard of evaluation. Of Pace’s first eight picks, six of them were four-year college players, with only first rounder Leonard Floyd and fifth rounder Jordan Howard passing up their senior seasons for the NFL. Seventh-rounder Daniel Braverman missed his sophomore season due to injury but played the following two years and will turn 23 in September.
“Some of these guys are three or four year starters,” Pace said. “I think it talks about the caliber of players they are. A lot of these guys are team captains. We talk about that. But really it’s just individual tape and who are the best guys when looking at the talent. But the fact these guys are multi-year starters, and team captains, that is significant.”
Competition stoked
Pace and the entire coaching staff has wanted intense competition, not simply for starting jobs, but also for roster spots. And that was created with more than just numbers of picks, but the quality.
No. 1 pick Floyd projects to take a job from season-end regulars and sack leaders Lamarr Houston or Willie Young, both of whom reportedly were shopped during the early rounds of the draft.
Despite signing interior linemen Ted Lawson and Manny Ramirez this offseason, and drafting center Hroniss Grasu in the 2015 third round, the Bears used a second-round pick on Whitehair. It will be an impossibility for Grasu, Lawson, Ramirez and Whitehair to all start. And that does not factor in Matt Slauson, one of the Bears’ best linemen as recently as 2014 but now clearly on the outside looking in.
“I’m not getting into that,” Fox said. “It’s a fluid process. But right now we’ve helped build competition on our football team.”
The use of a third-round pick on defensive end Jonathan Bullard improves the pass rush of the down-linemen portion of the 3-4. But that likely comes at the expense of Ego Ferguson, returning from knee surgery, and Will Sutton, a seven-game starter and all-purpose defensive lineman but who had zero sacks for his two Bears seasons.
Just as with the interior offensive line, linebacker signings (Jerrell Freeman, Danny Trevathan) did no signal any end to serious competition. The Bears used the first of their three fourth-round selections on West Virginia linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, whose abilities in coverage make him a threat to starters.
Ka’Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford impressed coaches enough that Matt Forte was not brought back. But the fifth-round pick spent on power running back Jordan Howard was not done for special teams.
‘Teams competition was addressed in part with the picks of two safeties and a cornerback in rounds 4-6. How much those additions challenge for starter jobs is one thing, but they were not picked up just to fill out a training-camp roster.
“The common trait with all these guys,” said Pace, “I would say is toughness and instincts, something we've emphasized and something we've drafted today for sure.”
For first-round pick Floyd, Bears seem like perfect fit.
By John Mullin
Collective bargaining rules prohibit real competition between offense, defense and special teams units. Five of the Bears’ top six picks were on defense, which aren’t allowed to hit the offensive guys until camp (and vice versa), and the sixth – second-rounder Cody Whitehair – is a guard, and linemen evaluations are really only worthwhile when pads come on.
But poor drafts undid two Bears general managers in the span of four years (Jerry Angelo after 2011, Phil Emery after 2014) and the evaluation process now moves from college campuses, bowl games and scouting events to NFL venues.
The Bears are in major need of GM Ryan Pace equaling or exceeding his first (2015) draft. His head coach thinks that’s happened.
“Obviously experience helps,” Fox said. “The more you do it, the better you get. Ryan's got a great skill set and we’ve got a great relationship between the coaches and personnel. I think he does a tremendous job. I thought we had a tremendous draft a year ago and I anticipate this year being even better.”
Pace came to the Bears from a New Orleans Saints background heavy on the pro-personnel side. But one school of NFL thinking is that personnel evaluators with roots on the pro side are better suited to oversee drafts simply because their expertise is in seeing what NFL players look like.
Pace’s first draft netted starters at nose tackle (Eddie Goldman), center (Hroniss Grasu), running back (Jeremy Langford) and safety (Adrian Amos), plus theoretically wide receiver (Kevin White) but for a season-ending stress fracture to his left leg. Not all of those are guaranteed starting jobs this season because of the organization’s commitment to competition, but it was a better start than most recent Bears drafts.
Several key directions were evident within the nine picks made by Pace, coach John Fox and their staffs this extended weekend.
Defense, teams priorities
While the prime draft directive was best player available, the Bears moved around in the various rounds to suggest that they were targeting players, and most of them were on defense.
Of the Bears’ eventual nine picks, six were on defense. Of those, four were defensive backs. Among those are expected to be impact players on special teams, and if one wins a starting job the way Adrian Amos (fifth rounder) did last year, the 2016 draft stands to be special.
“You saw us struggle [on special teams] early in the season a year ago,” Fox said. “Getting to know your team, understanding how they react, the speed – trying to increase our team speed even to the deadline to start the season. We got better as the year went on and I think we’ll get better this year.”
QB-lite
Despite indications that the Bears liked some of the quarterbacks down in the mid-round range, they did not select a quarterback for the third time in the last four years.
One scenario is that they would add a veteran backup, which they did with the signing of Brian Hoyer, who worked with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as a Cleveland Brown, to a one-year deal.
“I like the idea of having an experienced backup there,” Pace said. “It’s important for that position and it just gives us security going forward. I think it’s key, like we’ve talked about in free agency, I love it when we have familiarity with these guys from coaches. I feel like it reduces some of the risk and some of the questions we may have. Dowell was passionate about this player and then watching the tape, I was to. I'm glad we got him in the mix.”
The Bears did trade two first-round picks to the Denver Broncos for Jay Cutler in 2009. But they have actually not drafted a quarterback higher than the fourth round (Kyle Orton, 2005) since 2003 when they took Rex Grossman in the first round.
With all of the draft choices (9) at their disposal going into this draft, the Bears made trades to move up or back for targeted players. None of them were quarterbacks.
Old guys
Not every pick will work out, but the Bears minimized risk in one area, taking college players with extensive resumes on tape, Pace’s stated standard of evaluation. Of Pace’s first eight picks, six of them were four-year college players, with only first rounder Leonard Floyd and fifth rounder Jordan Howard passing up their senior seasons for the NFL. Seventh-rounder Daniel Braverman missed his sophomore season due to injury but played the following two years and will turn 23 in September.
“Some of these guys are three or four year starters,” Pace said. “I think it talks about the caliber of players they are. A lot of these guys are team captains. We talk about that. But really it’s just individual tape and who are the best guys when looking at the talent. But the fact these guys are multi-year starters, and team captains, that is significant.”
Competition stoked
Pace and the entire coaching staff has wanted intense competition, not simply for starting jobs, but also for roster spots. And that was created with more than just numbers of picks, but the quality.
No. 1 pick Floyd projects to take a job from season-end regulars and sack leaders Lamarr Houston or Willie Young, both of whom reportedly were shopped during the early rounds of the draft.
Despite signing interior linemen Ted Lawson and Manny Ramirez this offseason, and drafting center Hroniss Grasu in the 2015 third round, the Bears used a second-round pick on Whitehair. It will be an impossibility for Grasu, Lawson, Ramirez and Whitehair to all start. And that does not factor in Matt Slauson, one of the Bears’ best linemen as recently as 2014 but now clearly on the outside looking in.
“I’m not getting into that,” Fox said. “It’s a fluid process. But right now we’ve helped build competition on our football team.”
The use of a third-round pick on defensive end Jonathan Bullard improves the pass rush of the down-linemen portion of the 3-4. But that likely comes at the expense of Ego Ferguson, returning from knee surgery, and Will Sutton, a seven-game starter and all-purpose defensive lineman but who had zero sacks for his two Bears seasons.
Just as with the interior offensive line, linebacker signings (Jerrell Freeman, Danny Trevathan) did no signal any end to serious competition. The Bears used the first of their three fourth-round selections on West Virginia linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, whose abilities in coverage make him a threat to starters.
Ka’Deem Carey and Jeremy Langford impressed coaches enough that Matt Forte was not brought back. But the fifth-round pick spent on power running back Jordan Howard was not done for special teams.
‘Teams competition was addressed in part with the picks of two safeties and a cornerback in rounds 4-6. How much those additions challenge for starter jobs is one thing, but they were not picked up just to fill out a training-camp roster.
“The common trait with all these guys,” said Pace, “I would say is toughness and instincts, something we've emphasized and something we've drafted today for sure.”
For first-round pick Floyd, Bears seem like perfect fit.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Chicago Bears first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd poses for photos Friday, April 29, 2016, in Lake Forest, Ill. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Leonard Floyd was so impressed during his visit with the Chicago Bears he did not want to leave. The outside linebacker from Georgia will be spending plenty of more time with them.
''The visit was so great, meeting all the people up top who do all the great things for the organization,'' Floyd said Friday, a day after the Bears moved up two spots in a trade with Tampa Bay to take him with the ninth overall pick. ''I really wanted to stay, but I'm glad I'm back.''
Floyd mentioned how impressed he was with general manager Ryan Pace, coach John Fox and the training staff. He believes he is a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system, having played in a 3-4 in college. And he believes he will flourish in Chicago, which is just what the Bears are counting on him to do.
Floyd mentioned how impressed he was with general manager Ryan Pace, coach John Fox and the training staff. He believes he is a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system, having played in a 3-4 in college. And he believes he will flourish in Chicago, which is just what the Bears are counting on him to do.
They sorely needed playmakers on defense, particularly pass rushers, coming off a 6-10 season and last-place finish in the NFC North. The Bears are counting on the 6-foot-6 Floyd for a boost after tying for 22nd in sacks, even though he had just 4 1/2 last season.
They believe he has the athleticism and will produce bigger numbers in the NFL because he won't be moved inside and outside or dropping back the way he was in college.
''That definitely played a part because sometimes (on) third down I was dropping rather than rushing,'' Floyd said. ''It played a big part in my numbers, my sack numbers.''
There are also questions about his strength and how he will fare against bigger linemen in the NFL. The Bears would like Floyd - who is listed at 244 but said he weighs 240 - to add some muscle without sacrificing the speed that makes opponents miserable.
There are also questions about his strength and how he will fare against bigger linemen in the NFL. The Bears would like Floyd - who is listed at 244 but said he weighs 240 - to add some muscle without sacrificing the speed that makes opponents miserable.
Had he been able to do more in the offseason a year ago, that might have helped. But Floyd had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in December 2014 and a similar procedure on his right shoulder the following May. He said there are no lingering issues, that his shoulders are fine.
He said no team showed as much ''love'' for him leading up to the draft and that the Bears ''were praying'' he fell to them. When he got the call at his aunt's house in Atlanta, it was quite a feeling. He had 50 or 60 friends and relatives, including his 1-year-old son Carter, on hand.
''It was like a dream come true,'' Floyd said. ''I've been dreaming of this since I was a little kid. And when I actually got the call, it felt great.''
2016 Chicago Bears NFL draft grades (As a group and as a whole by analyst).
Larry Mayer
The Bears received high marks for their 2016 draft. Here's how some analysts evaluated their selections:
2016 Chicago Bears NFL draft grades (Players).
2016 Chicago Bears NFL draft grades (As a group and as a whole by analyst).
Larry Mayer
The Bears received high marks for their 2016 draft. Here's how some analysts evaluated their selections:
Analyst
| Affiliation | Draft Grade |
| Pete Prisco | CBS Sports | A |
| Mel Kiper, Jr. | ESPN | A- |
| Steve Palazzolo | Pro Football Focus | A- |
| Evan Silva | Rotoworld | A- |
| Lindsay H. Jones | USA Today | B+ |
| Dan Kadar | SB Nation | B+ |
| Doug Farrar | Sports Illustrated | B |
| Chad Reuter | NFL.com | B |
2016 Chicago Bears NFL draft grades (Players).
By James Neveau
The Chicago Bears went into this weekend’s NFL Draft in desperate need of improvement at countless positions on the field, and they’ve certainly cast a very wide net in terms of grabbing a slew of talented players.
While all of the hallmarks of Ryan Pace’s approach are on display, including arm length, explosiveness, and high production at the collegiate level, he’s also made some interesting decisions that could have a serious impact on the team’s roster for 2016 and beyond.
With that in mind, we’ve graded each of the Bears’ 2016 draft picks, and explained what they’re going to bring to the table as they begin their NFL careers.
Round 1, Pick 9: Leonard Floyd, Linebacker – Georgia
Grade: B-
Giving Floyd a lower grade than any other pick the Bears have made may seem harsh, but when a team trades up to grab a player, you have to anticipate that he’s going to be an instant difference maker on the field, and there are arguments to be made that Floyd doesn’t fit that profile for the Bears.
Sure, he’s a very athletic, long player that can close out space and make plays, but he also has limited potential in terms of getting stronger or becoming an elite linebacker. He doesn’t profile as a three-down linebacker right away, and although he could develop into one, that’s not the kind of thing that you want from a top-10 pick in the draft.
With all of that being said, Pace did a very nice job last season of evaluating draft talent, and he has earned the benefit of the doubt, especially with the rest of the draft class in mind.
Round 2, Pick 56: Cody Whitehair, Offensive Guard – Kansas State
Grade: B+
The Bears’ offensive line already seemed pretty well set, with the addition of guys like Manny Ramirez and Bobby Massie to the roster, but they still used a very high draft pick to address an issue, as they bring Whitehair aboard.
The question isn’t necessarily what he’ll bring to the table (where he’ll likely play as a guard), but what the selection means for the future of both Matt Slauson and Hroniss Grasu. Will the Bears trade Slauson, or are they anticipating moving him to center and giving Grasu more time to gain strength and improve his technique at the position?
They could also move Kyle Long back out to tackle and have Whitehair play the guard position, but that doesn’t seem like an ideal scenario for Chicago.
Round 3, Pick 72: Jonathan Bullard, Defensive End – Florida
Grade: A
Watching game film of Bullard indicates that he should have probably been a second round pick for the Bears. He is a remarkable athlete with a lot of versatility on the defensive line, and he’ll certainly be able to add an athletic element to the Bears as they try to solidify the ends of their line up.
Pro Football Focus named him the best pick of the second day of the draft, praising the Bears for selecting him. He isn’t the most explosive player, but he is quick around the line of scrimmage and has a knack for slapping away hands and shedding blocks.
Round 4, Pick 113: Nick Kwiatkoski, Linebacker – West Virginia
Grade: B
The Bears have focused a lot of resources on improving at the middle linebacker position during this offseason, adding Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan at the position. Kwiatkoski gives them another young option at the position, and he’ll come in from the Mountaineers’ defense looking to make an impact on defense and on special teams.
He is a very solid tackler, and while he isn’t the most athletically-gifted player in the draft, he’s a hard worker that should fit in very well with the team’s culture in Chicago.
Round 4, Pick 124: Deon Bush, Safety – Miami
Grade: B
If Bears fans wanted a hard hitter, then they certainly found one in Bush. In highlight packages on YouTube, Bush routinely makes monstrous hits over the middle of the field, and even though he isn’t the most sure-handed tackler in the draft, the Bears certainly view him as a similar talent to Adrian Amos at the safety spot.
According to scouting reports, Bush will need to work hard on his ability to diagnose plays off the snap. Fortunately for him, he works out in the offseason with Bears safety Antrel Rolle, and he’s looking forward to working with his fellow Hurricanes alum at the next level.
Round 4, Pick 127: Deiondre’ Hall, Safety – Northern Iowa
Grade: B+
Pace and company love players with long arms, and Hall’s are incredibly long, measuring in at 34 and 3/8ths inches. That is one inch longer than Kyle Long’s arms, and that length gives him the unique ability to force turnovers and wrap up tackles in space at the safety position.
In his post-draft interview, Hall said that he models his game after Charles Tillman, and if he can provide that style of production, then Vic Fangio is absolutely going to love him. The Bears have been looking for playmakers in space, and adding a player that can take reps along with Adrian Amos could be a huge boost to a secondary in desperate need of one.
Round 5, Pick 150: Jordan Howard, Running Back – Indiana
Grade: A
The Bears already have a lot of running backs on their roster, with Jeremy Langford, Ka’Deem Carey, and Jacquizz Rodgers all already in the mix, but Howard gives the Bears something they were sorely lacking last year: a really good third down and short yardage option out of the backfield.
Watching film of Howard reveals exactly what the Bears are hoping for out of him: a vicious runner that hits opponents hard, gets extra yards with his strength and nose for gaps in the line of scrimmage, and, most notably, a guy that can actually catch the ball out of the backfield.
He is a third or fourth round talent that the Bears managed to grab in the fifth round, and fans should be thrilled with his selection.
Round 6, Pick 185: DeAndre Houston-Carson, Safety – William & Mary
Grade: A-
When picking this late in the draft, teams are looking for two things: versatility and an ability to play special teams. Houston-Carson fills both of those roles, and he has the game that the Bears are looking for in their players. He has long arms, an insatiable work ethic, and is willing to do the nitty-gritty work involved with playing on the special teams unit.
With the way this team has struggled in that area the last several seasons, adding a good player like Houston-Carson is certainly the way to go.
Round 7, Pick 230: Daniel Braverman, Wide Receiver - Western Michigan
Grade: B+
The Bears already have a really solid slot receiver type in Marc Mariani, but Braverman could give them another option there if they choose to utilize him in that fashion. He's got decent speed, but he doesn't have much size and isn't exactly a downfield threat. Should be interested to see what Dowell Loggains has in mind for him.
Bears agree to deal with quarterback Brian Hoyer.
By CSN Staff
The Bears have agreed to a deal with free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer, Ryan Pace confirmed Saturday.
The Bears opted not to draft a quarterback with any of their nine selections but will have an experienced backup behind Jay Cutler.
Hoyer, a 31-year-old seven-year veteran, started nine games for the Houston Texans last season. In 11 games he threw for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In the Texans' 2015 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Hoyer was 15 of 34 for 136 yards and four interceptions.
The Bears will be Hoyer's fifth team. He was drafted out of Michigan State in 2009 by the New England Patriots. He made stops in Arizona, Cleveland and Houston.
Current Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was the Browns' quarterback coach in 2014 when Hoyer started 14 games in Cleveland.
Bears announce release of Matt Slauson, Antrel Rolle.
CSN Staff
The Bears announced the departures of a pair of veteran players Sunday, releasing offensive lineman Matt Slauson and safety Antrel Rolle.
"We thank Matt and Antrel for the dedication and leadership they brought to our organization," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in the announcement. "Both men did everything we asked of them. Part of growing as a team is making difficult decisions like the ones we made today. We never take them lightly given the respect we have for everyone who has put on a Bears uniform. We wish each of them the very best as they move forward."
Slauson started 37 games during his three seasons with the Bears including all 16 last season, starting 12 games at left guard and four at center. Slauson spent four seasons with the New York Jets prior to joining the Bears.
Rolle's release was reported earlier Sunday afternoon, and the safety — who appeared in seven games in his lone season with the team in 2015 — tweeted the following shortly after the initial report came out.
"I appreciate the Chicago Bears and the organization for the opportunity. Blessed as always. Looking forward to what is next!"
---Antrel Rolle @antrelrolle26 Tweet
Rolle spent five seasons with the New York Giants before joining the Bears last offseason. Bothered by injuries, he appeared in just seven games last season, recording 45 tackles.
Bears agree to deal with quarterback Brian Hoyer.
By CSN Staff
The Bears have agreed to a deal with free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer, Ryan Pace confirmed Saturday.
The Bears opted not to draft a quarterback with any of their nine selections but will have an experienced backup behind Jay Cutler.
Hoyer, a 31-year-old seven-year veteran, started nine games for the Houston Texans last season. In 11 games he threw for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In the Texans' 2015 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Hoyer was 15 of 34 for 136 yards and four interceptions.
The Bears will be Hoyer's fifth team. He was drafted out of Michigan State in 2009 by the New England Patriots. He made stops in Arizona, Cleveland and Houston.
Current Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was the Browns' quarterback coach in 2014 when Hoyer started 14 games in Cleveland.
Bears announce release of Matt Slauson, Antrel Rolle.
CSN Staff
The Bears announced the departures of a pair of veteran players Sunday, releasing offensive lineman Matt Slauson and safety Antrel Rolle.
"We thank Matt and Antrel for the dedication and leadership they brought to our organization," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in the announcement. "Both men did everything we asked of them. Part of growing as a team is making difficult decisions like the ones we made today. We never take them lightly given the respect we have for everyone who has put on a Bears uniform. We wish each of them the very best as they move forward."
Slauson started 37 games during his three seasons with the Bears including all 16 last season, starting 12 games at left guard and four at center. Slauson spent four seasons with the New York Jets prior to joining the Bears.
Rolle's release was reported earlier Sunday afternoon, and the safety — who appeared in seven games in his lone season with the team in 2015 — tweeted the following shortly after the initial report came out.
"I appreciate the Chicago Bears and the organization for the opportunity. Blessed as always. Looking forward to what is next!"
---Antrel Rolle @antrelrolle26 Tweet
Rolle spent five seasons with the New York Giants before joining the Bears last offseason. Bothered by injuries, he appeared in just seven games last season, recording 45 tackles.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? For Andrew Ladd, chance to play for a contender trumps money.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Andrew Ladd’s second stint in Chicago was, in some ways, like his first one.
He had good teammates and enjoyed being around them again. He had nothing but good things to say about the organization that welcomed him here for the second time in his career.
The only difference was the abrupt postseason ending.
“It’s disappointing, for sure,” Ladd said during Wednesday’s wrap-up interviews. “You bring your family here and move your whole life. You want to make a run for it, make it worthwhile. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.”
Ladd’s stay with the Blackhawks is likely to be a brief one. They traded for the veteran, who was part of their 2010 Stanley Cup team, figuring he could be a key piece for another run. It wasn’t to be. Ladd had a quiet postseason, recording just two points in the Blackhawks’ seven-game series against the St. Louis Blues.
“It was a tight series, could’ve gone either way and that’s life,” he said. “You move on. Just happy to have the opportunity to come back and be a part of this group again.”
Ladd has reached that point in his career where he can look at the big picture. He’s won two Cups, one with the Blackhawks and the other with the Carolina Hurricanes. His family grew by another member earlier this month; Ladd brought his son Walker Gordon, born April 14, home on Tuesday.
“It was a good day after what happened in St. Louis,” Ladd said. “It kind of put things in perspective when you can come home and take your mind off everything else.”
As for Ladd’s continuing hockey career, he said it’s not about getting the lucrative contract anymore as much as it’s about playing for a winner.
“I think I’m at the point in my career where I can make decisions based on being in a good situation. At the end of the day it’s not all about money for me. It’s about being in a good place for my family and being on a team that’s going to contend every year,” Ladd said. “You’d be crazy not to want to be a part of this group and this organization. We’ll see what happens.”
Chances are the Blackhawks and Ladd will not be together in the near future. The Blackhawks are once again facing a salary-cap crunch and, if there is a high-priority signee for them, it’s Andrew Shaw. Even that possibility is a tough one.
Still, Ladd’s not ruling anything out. Ladd’s latest playoff run with the Blackhawks was much shorter than he or they would have liked. But the Blackhawks have the pieces to contend again, and Ladd wouldn’t mind being a part of it.
“Every guy’s at a different point in his career in terms of what he wants to accomplish, whether he has a family or he’s getting on later in his career and wants to be part of a contender,” Ladd said. “There are a lot of things that go into that. You evaluate that individually and try to make the best decision possible for yourself and for your family. At the end of the day, you try to do whatever’s possible to be a part of a group and an organization like this.”
He had good teammates and enjoyed being around them again. He had nothing but good things to say about the organization that welcomed him here for the second time in his career.
The only difference was the abrupt postseason ending.
“It’s disappointing, for sure,” Ladd said during Wednesday’s wrap-up interviews. “You bring your family here and move your whole life. You want to make a run for it, make it worthwhile. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.”
Ladd’s stay with the Blackhawks is likely to be a brief one. They traded for the veteran, who was part of their 2010 Stanley Cup team, figuring he could be a key piece for another run. It wasn’t to be. Ladd had a quiet postseason, recording just two points in the Blackhawks’ seven-game series against the St. Louis Blues.
“It was a tight series, could’ve gone either way and that’s life,” he said. “You move on. Just happy to have the opportunity to come back and be a part of this group again.”
Ladd has reached that point in his career where he can look at the big picture. He’s won two Cups, one with the Blackhawks and the other with the Carolina Hurricanes. His family grew by another member earlier this month; Ladd brought his son Walker Gordon, born April 14, home on Tuesday.
“It was a good day after what happened in St. Louis,” Ladd said. “It kind of put things in perspective when you can come home and take your mind off everything else.”
As for Ladd’s continuing hockey career, he said it’s not about getting the lucrative contract anymore as much as it’s about playing for a winner.
“I think I’m at the point in my career where I can make decisions based on being in a good situation. At the end of the day it’s not all about money for me. It’s about being in a good place for my family and being on a team that’s going to contend every year,” Ladd said. “You’d be crazy not to want to be a part of this group and this organization. We’ll see what happens.”
Chances are the Blackhawks and Ladd will not be together in the near future. The Blackhawks are once again facing a salary-cap crunch and, if there is a high-priority signee for them, it’s Andrew Shaw. Even that possibility is a tough one.
Still, Ladd’s not ruling anything out. Ladd’s latest playoff run with the Blackhawks was much shorter than he or they would have liked. But the Blackhawks have the pieces to contend again, and Ladd wouldn’t mind being a part of it.
“Every guy’s at a different point in his career in terms of what he wants to accomplish, whether he has a family or he’s getting on later in his career and wants to be part of a contender,” Ladd said. “There are a lot of things that go into that. You evaluate that individually and try to make the best decision possible for yourself and for your family. At the end of the day, you try to do whatever’s possible to be a part of a group and an organization like this.”
NHL, NHLPA set expansion draft rules; must protect no-move clauses (Report).
By Greg Wyshynski
Depending on the day and to whom you’re speaking, the NHL is either going to totally expand – at the very least, to Las Vegas – or it’s going to hold off on it for the foreseeable future.
But if the NHL expands, and we suspect it will, one major hurdle towards the executive committee’s approval of it was cleared this week. Gary Lawless of TSN reports that the NHL and the NHLPA have agreed on the framework and format for an expansion draft.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, that format includes the protection of seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight skaters and a goalie. There’s an exemption for second-year pros, meaning that if the draft is held in 2017 neither Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel would have to be protected.
From Lawless, who believes that the decision on expansion will happen soon:
Depending on the day and to whom you’re speaking, the NHL is either going to totally expand – at the very least, to Las Vegas – or it’s going to hold off on it for the foreseeable future.
But if the NHL expands, and we suspect it will, one major hurdle towards the executive committee’s approval of it was cleared this week. Gary Lawless of TSN reports that the NHL and the NHLPA have agreed on the framework and format for an expansion draft.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, that format includes the protection of seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight skaters and a goalie. There’s an exemption for second-year pros, meaning that if the draft is held in 2017 neither Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel would have to be protected.
From Lawless, who believes that the decision on expansion will happen soon:
Time is getting tight for the NHL if it is going to expand. The league has stated if it is going to expand for the 2017-18 season it would have to inform general managers prior to this year’s upcoming entry draft in late June. A source said Friday if expansion is going to move forward, mid-May is the timetable for an announcement.
The 10-member executive committee, should it decide to take an expansion package to the rest of the league’s owners, will need to have a full and complete document for consideration. The rules of the expansion draft will be key to the individual clubs as it will affect their on-ice product. The NHLPA could have made the protracted the process but negotiations between the league and the union last week proved fruitful and an agreement was reached.
One of the mysteries of the expansion draft may have also been solved: How to handle no-move and no-trade clauses.According to Lawless: "Sources indicate no-moves must be protected by teams. No-trade clauses not exempt and can be left exposed."
Keep in mind that the CBA states that a no-move clause "may prevent the involuntary relocation of a player, whether by trade, loan or waiver claim."
Does that include an expansion draft? “It’s not expressly addressed, is what I’d say,” Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, said at the NHL All-Star Game. “Anything we do on an expansion draft we’ll do in consultation with the NHLPA.”
Obviously this was a compromise. And it's an interesting one for veteran players who see their no-move protection turn into no-trade protection as their deals go on.
Like, for example, New York Rangers defenseman and salary albatross Dan Girardi, who goes from NMC to NTC in 2017. The thought is that he would NOT be exposed, as the expansion draft would take place before July 1, 2017.
Brian Burke bashes NHL Draft Lottery system, wants new rules.
By Greg Wyshynski
Somewhere in Prague this weekend, Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers teammates Taylor Hall and Cam Talbot will take a break from their IIHF world championships preparation to follow the NHL Draft Lottery.
One year ago, it was McDavid that went first overall to the Oilers. Six years ago, it was Hall. In between, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov were taken first overall by the Oilers, too.
And Brian Burke thinks this is nauseating.
“If you’re a team that picks first overall, you shouldn’t be allowed to pick first overall for some specified period … three years or five years, whatever … or even the top two teams, pick in the top two,” said the Calgary Flames team president, via their website. “You could still pick four or five, still get a good player, but you can’t get rewarded for continued failure, or continued luck.”
Burke’s Flames have an 8.5 percent chance of winning the first overall pick in Saturday's lottery. The Oilers have a 13.5 percent chance, while Burke’s former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, have the best odds at 20 percent.
“There are a lot of teams that have followed this path and have repeated high, high picks for a number of years. Chicago did it. Florida’s done it. Buffalo’s done it. You can argue we did it in Toronto, certainly by not any effort of ours. We were just not successful in the lottery. This is not an indictment of any one team and it’s not an indictment of the system,” said Burke of the Oilers.
“This is saying, okay, if 30 reasonable people got into a room and said, ‘how do we best award amateur talent in the draft without having abuses,’ I’m not sure this is the system we’d come up with. That’s all I’m saying.”
There was plenty of discussion at the GM meetings, but ultimately no formal policy established, on creating limits for the draft lottery.
“Just the theory that you can get lucky in winning the lottery once but that’s it. If you earn the first overall pick by being the worst team in hockey, I think you should get that right,” said St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong. “We set it up that way on purpose, especially in a lottery system where teams can move up. But I don’t think we should be rewarded based on luck more than once every five years.”
Burke’s in favor of those “anti-tanking” measures, and overhauling a system that he said benefits teams that might not deserve the help. “In this system, you could have the team with the three highest point totals pick one, two, three, of the non-playoff teams,” he said.
“No one ever wanted that; no one ever imaged that.”
Brian Burke bashes NHL Draft Lottery system, wants new rules.
By Greg Wyshynski
Somewhere in Prague this weekend, Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers teammates Taylor Hall and Cam Talbot will take a break from their IIHF world championships preparation to follow the NHL Draft Lottery.
One year ago, it was McDavid that went first overall to the Oilers. Six years ago, it was Hall. In between, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov were taken first overall by the Oilers, too.
And Brian Burke thinks this is nauseating.
“If you’re a team that picks first overall, you shouldn’t be allowed to pick first overall for some specified period … three years or five years, whatever … or even the top two teams, pick in the top two,” said the Calgary Flames team president, via their website. “You could still pick four or five, still get a good player, but you can’t get rewarded for continued failure, or continued luck.”
Burke’s Flames have an 8.5 percent chance of winning the first overall pick in Saturday's lottery. The Oilers have a 13.5 percent chance, while Burke’s former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, have the best odds at 20 percent.
“There are a lot of teams that have followed this path and have repeated high, high picks for a number of years. Chicago did it. Florida’s done it. Buffalo’s done it. You can argue we did it in Toronto, certainly by not any effort of ours. We were just not successful in the lottery. This is not an indictment of any one team and it’s not an indictment of the system,” said Burke of the Oilers.
“This is saying, okay, if 30 reasonable people got into a room and said, ‘how do we best award amateur talent in the draft without having abuses,’ I’m not sure this is the system we’d come up with. That’s all I’m saying.”
There was plenty of discussion at the GM meetings, but ultimately no formal policy established, on creating limits for the draft lottery.
“Just the theory that you can get lucky in winning the lottery once but that’s it. If you earn the first overall pick by being the worst team in hockey, I think you should get that right,” said St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong. “We set it up that way on purpose, especially in a lottery system where teams can move up. But I don’t think we should be rewarded based on luck more than once every five years.”
Burke’s in favor of those “anti-tanking” measures, and overhauling a system that he said benefits teams that might not deserve the help. “In this system, you could have the team with the three highest point totals pick one, two, three, of the non-playoff teams,” he said.
“No one ever wanted that; no one ever imaged that.”
Cubs start May off on the wrong foot with extra-innings loss to Braves.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
In summing up the first month of the 2016 season, Joe Maddon pointed to the defense as a huge reason why the Cubs are out to the best start in baseball.
But as the calendar flipped to May, sloppy defense doomed the Cubs as they dropped the finale of this rain-shortened weekend series with the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, in 10 innings in front of 40,164 shivering fans Sunday at Wrigley Field.
John Lackey spent most of the afternoon cruising but ran into trouble in the sixth when Addison Russell booted a potential inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. The next batter grounded out to Ben Zobrist, but the Cubs second baseman couldn't get the tag on baserunner Adonis Garcia right away, thus allowing the Braves' third run to score before the Cubs finally chased down Garcia.
"No excuses," Russell said. "I gotta make that play right there."
That was enough to sink the Cubs despite a late rally that pushed the game into extra innings, where Braves outfielder Nick Markakis drove home the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning off Hector Rondon.
"We did a lot of things well," Maddon said. "We had one mistake on defense that I thought was a little bit of a tough hop for Addy. They hit some balls well today. We hit some balls well today without any luck.
"Good game. I really appreciate the way our guys came back once again, had a chance to win the game — and then give (the Braves) credit for fighting back the way they did."
It didn't feel like May at Wrigley with temps in the upper 30s with windchill, and this Cubs offense that was built to score in any conditions couldn't do anything against Atlanta starter Julio Teheran.
Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur started the Cubs' comeback attempt with a perfect bunt base hit in the eighth inning, and Dexter Fowler followed with a double. Jason Heyward drove in the Cubs' first run with a groundout, and Kris Bryant sent Fowler home with a two-out RBI single to left.
Zobrist led off the ninth with a walk and wound up motoring all the way to third base when Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino sent his pickoff throw into the right-field bullpen.
Russell atoned for his error by lining an 0-2 pitch into right field to tie the game, but the euphoria was brief as the Braves got to the Cubs' closer in the 10th and the Cubs couldn't mount another rally.
Maddon chose to look at the positives with Russell after the game.
"(That last at-bat) doesn't surprise me. He's been having good at-bats and he's very good when it matters," Maddon said. "I write on (the gameday notes) every day, 'Be present, not perfect.' I don't expect perfection on a nightly basis.
"You just like the fact that we come ready to play and we played 10 innings hard tonight. We just came up a little bit short. But as a group, we really went after it well."
Cubs feel comfortable unleashing Kris Bryant after ankle injury.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Kris Bryant's ankle is feeling so well, even Sunday's wet and chilly conditions couldn't keep him out of the lineup.
Bryant rolled his right ankle running the bases in Thursday's game and sat out Friday's contest. But an MRI showed just a mild issue and Saturday's rainout helped minimize Bryant's time on the shelf.
Bryant tested his ankle on the slick outfield grass Sunday morning and felt so good, Joe Maddon wrote out Sunday's lineup with the 2015 Rookie of the Year in left field with Tommy La Stella at third base.
"It wasn't terrible," Bryant said. "I've dealt with a lot worse. ... I didn't think much of it. I'm fine. It's good to be out there. Maybe the weather made it a little worse than it was. I feel good."
The Cubs chose to play it safe with Bryant after already covering for the losses of Kyle Schwarber and Miguel Montero in the lineup, but after Sunday's pregame "test," it was all systems go.
"I think that was their concern - if I could run down some balls out there," Bryant said. "I felt fine. I'm going through all the routes and stuff like that. Everything is good to go."
Maddon was open to the possibility Friday of calling upon Bryant to pinch-hit late in the game if he felt up to it, but no such situation arose.
The Cubs manager was initially expecting to be without Bryant for the entire weekend, eyeing a return Monday night in Pittsburgh.
"I didn't know," Maddon said. "I really thought maybe by [Monday] would've been more than likely, but he was adamant that he feels great. The training staff said, 'He's fine. Go for it. Don't worry about it.' I'm just following both of those groups with KB saying himself."
Bryant said he's had ankle issues in the past and was in the habit of taping his ankles for every game. But he actually didn't have his ankles taped for a couple games because he had been feeling so good.
Cubs nation can breathe a sigh of relief that the injury was not more serious, so now all Bryant can do is shrug his shoulders and laugh it off.
"Of course something happens [the game I don't tape my ankles] so the baseball gods are telling me to continue to tape my ankle," he said. "Lesson learned."
Bryant has been seeing a lot of time in left field lately with Javy Baez back from the disabled list, La Stella (.400 AVG, 1.203 OPS) mashing and Jorge Soler off to a slow start (.193 AVG, .610 OPS).
Bryant still said he prefers third base, but he's feeling more and more comfortable and confident in the outfield.
Maddon loves Bryant's defense at third base, but considers him a utility guy more so because of the situation the team is in with Schwarber lost for the season and Baez/La Stella adept at third base.
"It's a matter of fitting all the pieces in and then re-shuffling it game-in-progress," Maddon said.
Adam Warren emerging as essential piece on Cubs pitching staff.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Adam Warren was the lowest-profile addition of the Cubs' offseason, but he's already emerged as a vital part of the team out to the hottest start in baseball.
Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist (plus the re-arrival of Dexter Fowler in spring training) got all the headlines as new acquisitions over the winter.
In fact, Warren wasn't even the main focus in the deal that made him a Cub as the return from the New York Yankees for Starlin Castro, the former face of the franchise who tallied 991 hits in six seasons in Chicago.
Yet where would the Cubs be right now without Warren?
The 28-year-old right-hander has pitched the most innings in the National League without giving up an earned run this season (8) and has allowed just two hits and three walks for a sparkling 0.625 WHIP.
"Just as I thought: outstanding," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I try not to abuse him, pretty much. ... I'm very comfortable pitching him in the latter part of the game, whether it's the seventh, eighth, ninth — it doesn't matter to me.
"I think this guy could finish games. He's got that kinda ability; he's got that makeup. You got that kinda weapon in your toolbox — he's good against righties and lefties, he's durable, he's got all this variety of different pitches, fits our culture beautifully. I just don't want to abuse the guy."
Warren has worked as a starter in the past and said the Cubs initially told him they wanted him to work in the rotation at some point down the road.
But for right now, Warren is set as a jack of all trades in the bullpen pitching with confidence.
"I like being versatile," Warren said. "I like being able to do a lot of different things. So if I can continue to do that, that's where I like to be in the bullpen, just because I feel like that helps our team out the most."
Warren — like the rest of the Cubs — doesn't like to think too far ahead. He doesn't worry about what his "title" is in the bullpen, which is a necessary attitude to have with a manager that loves to play the matchups and is constantly tinkering with his relievers.
But Warren has emerged as a high-leverage arm Maddon can combine with Pedro Strop (2.89 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 4 holds) and Hector Rondon (0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 4 saves) at the back end of the bullpen.
As the new guy on the pitching staff, Warren made it a point to get out to a good start.
"With a new team, you really want to prove yourself," he said. "So I think you have that chip on your shoulder a little bit to want to go out there and start off hot. But really, I think it's just going out there, having a gameplan with our scouting report and just executing."
Warren feels comfortable with his new team and in the bullpen, crediting his teammates and the Cubs coaching staff for welcoming him in.
Coming from the Yankees — a historic franchise with 27 World Series championships and a penchant for doing things a certain way (such as their no facial hair policy) — it was a little bit of a culture shock for Warren to come to a Cubs team that hasn't won the World Series in more than a century and essentially has no rules in a clubhouse designed to let everybody be themselves.
But the transition has gone as smoothly as possible, Warren said.
"It's completely different," he said. "Here, they've created the atmosphere of just be yourself, be laid back. I like that. I like being able to grow facial hair if you want.
"You start focusing completely on baseball. The atmosphere that fans create out there has been unreal to me. Even when it's been cold, they've been up for every pitch. It's really refreshing to see the excitement around the team."
Energetic Brett Lawrie powers White Sox to win over Orioles.
Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist (plus the re-arrival of Dexter Fowler in spring training) got all the headlines as new acquisitions over the winter.
In fact, Warren wasn't even the main focus in the deal that made him a Cub as the return from the New York Yankees for Starlin Castro, the former face of the franchise who tallied 991 hits in six seasons in Chicago.
Yet where would the Cubs be right now without Warren?
The 28-year-old right-hander has pitched the most innings in the National League without giving up an earned run this season (8) and has allowed just two hits and three walks for a sparkling 0.625 WHIP.
"Just as I thought: outstanding," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I try not to abuse him, pretty much. ... I'm very comfortable pitching him in the latter part of the game, whether it's the seventh, eighth, ninth — it doesn't matter to me.
"I think this guy could finish games. He's got that kinda ability; he's got that makeup. You got that kinda weapon in your toolbox — he's good against righties and lefties, he's durable, he's got all this variety of different pitches, fits our culture beautifully. I just don't want to abuse the guy."
Warren has worked as a starter in the past and said the Cubs initially told him they wanted him to work in the rotation at some point down the road.
But for right now, Warren is set as a jack of all trades in the bullpen pitching with confidence.
"I like being versatile," Warren said. "I like being able to do a lot of different things. So if I can continue to do that, that's where I like to be in the bullpen, just because I feel like that helps our team out the most."
Warren — like the rest of the Cubs — doesn't like to think too far ahead. He doesn't worry about what his "title" is in the bullpen, which is a necessary attitude to have with a manager that loves to play the matchups and is constantly tinkering with his relievers.
But Warren has emerged as a high-leverage arm Maddon can combine with Pedro Strop (2.89 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 4 holds) and Hector Rondon (0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 4 saves) at the back end of the bullpen.
As the new guy on the pitching staff, Warren made it a point to get out to a good start.
"With a new team, you really want to prove yourself," he said. "So I think you have that chip on your shoulder a little bit to want to go out there and start off hot. But really, I think it's just going out there, having a gameplan with our scouting report and just executing."
Warren feels comfortable with his new team and in the bullpen, crediting his teammates and the Cubs coaching staff for welcoming him in.
Coming from the Yankees — a historic franchise with 27 World Series championships and a penchant for doing things a certain way (such as their no facial hair policy) — it was a little bit of a culture shock for Warren to come to a Cubs team that hasn't won the World Series in more than a century and essentially has no rules in a clubhouse designed to let everybody be themselves.
But the transition has gone as smoothly as possible, Warren said.
"It's completely different," he said. "Here, they've created the atmosphere of just be yourself, be laid back. I like that. I like being able to grow facial hair if you want.
"You start focusing completely on baseball. The atmosphere that fans create out there has been unreal to me. Even when it's been cold, they've been up for every pitch. It's really refreshing to see the excitement around the team."
Energetic Brett Lawrie powers White Sox to win over Orioles.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When it comes to energy, Brett Lawrie always has plenty extra left in the tank.
The second baseman’s lively spirit came in handy on Sunday afternoon for a club that played its 19th game in 19 days.
The White Sox tapped into Lawrie’s fuel cell early and took off as they backed Chris Sale in a 7-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in front of 28,803 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Lawrie homered in a third straight game and reached base five times for the White Sox, who knocked Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez out with a five-run, fifth-inning rally. With the effort, the White Sox completed their grueling stretch with a 13-6 mark.
“I’m just being myself, coming here every day with a good, positive attitude, putting music on, getting the boys rolling and having fun,” Lawrie said. “We’re here too much to go through it like it’s a suit-and-tie job.”
Through 26 games, the White Sox have rarely resembled a team that looks as if it’s going through the motions. A bundle of energy who was acquired from the Oakland A’s in December, Lawrie deserves plenty of credit for the team’s never-quit approach.
Whether he’s playing team DJ, attempting trick shots with a soccer ball or keeping the dugout lively, Lawrie has delivered his energy in a variety of ways.
“It’s daily,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “What you see is what you get. It’s full throttle all the way. He’s just been a good influence over here.
“He’s prepared and ready to go every day and enjoys playing.”
Lawrie’s bat jumpstarted the offense again on Sunday with a fourth-inning homer off Jimenez two innings after the White Sox didn’t score with the bases loaded and no outs.
With two outs and no score, Lawrie ripped 1-2 fastball from Jimenez 404 feet to center field for his fourth home run. He has now homered in three straight games for the first time in his career after hitting solo shots on Friday and Saturday.
Suddenly, the White Sox came to life, and the group dinked and dunked Jimenez to death in the fifth inning.
Carlos Sanchez had an RBI groundout with the bases loaded and no outs, and Jose Abreu singled in another to make it 3-0. Melky Cabrera singled in a run with a bloop single, and Jerry Sands parachuted a two-run single into center to knock out Jimenez.
Lawrie walked twice, singled and doubled and reached base in 12 of 31 plate appearances on the road trip.
“He’s kind of a spark, really,” Sale said. “He got it going for us today. Ubaldo is a tough guy, he’s a tough pitcher out there and he was cruising, and a 1-2 count, a homer dead center. The ball really wasn’t flying today either. He’s the guy who gets it started, he’s the guy who keeps the energy going, and hopefully we can maintain that throughout the whole year.”
The White Sox would love for their offense to produce as consistently as it did on the road trip.
The White Sox, who averaged 3.2 runs over their first 19 games, scored at least four runs in five of seven games and averaged 5.86 per contest during that span.
A day after he twice singled in runs, Abreu singled twice more and drew a first-inning walk. He finished the road trip 11-for-29 with six RBIs and four walks.
The outpouring made a laborious day easier for Sale, who needed 107 pitches to complete five innings. Baltimore’s loaded lineup ran a bunch of deep counts against Sale but didn’t accomplish much else.
He stranded at least one runner in each of his first five frames and two each in the first, third and fifth innings. His biggest escape came in the fifth inning, when Sale walked two with one out, including a 12-pitch free pass to Manny Machado. But Sale struck out Mark Trumbo and induced a fly ball out from Adam Jones.
Sale (6-0) struck out six as he allowed a run, six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.
“You see how many guys they left on base, and it just seemed like he wasn’t as sharp as he’s been. But even then, he didn’t give up anything,” Ventura said.
Now the team is headed home for its first day of relaxation since April 12.
Lawrie is pleased with the team’s effort over the span, which included a dozen road games, and is ready to deliver more energy against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
“It’s a long stretch, especially when you only have one off day in the month,” Lawrie said. “It calls for a full-group effort, and when you can do that, it’s a good opportunity for the boys to come out every single day and give it our all.”
White Sox: Players confused about new slide rule after Saturday's controversial call.
By Dan Hayes
The second baseman’s lively spirit came in handy on Sunday afternoon for a club that played its 19th game in 19 days.
The White Sox tapped into Lawrie’s fuel cell early and took off as they backed Chris Sale in a 7-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in front of 28,803 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Lawrie homered in a third straight game and reached base five times for the White Sox, who knocked Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez out with a five-run, fifth-inning rally. With the effort, the White Sox completed their grueling stretch with a 13-6 mark.
“I’m just being myself, coming here every day with a good, positive attitude, putting music on, getting the boys rolling and having fun,” Lawrie said. “We’re here too much to go through it like it’s a suit-and-tie job.”
Through 26 games, the White Sox have rarely resembled a team that looks as if it’s going through the motions. A bundle of energy who was acquired from the Oakland A’s in December, Lawrie deserves plenty of credit for the team’s never-quit approach.
Whether he’s playing team DJ, attempting trick shots with a soccer ball or keeping the dugout lively, Lawrie has delivered his energy in a variety of ways.
“It’s daily,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “What you see is what you get. It’s full throttle all the way. He’s just been a good influence over here.
“He’s prepared and ready to go every day and enjoys playing.”
Lawrie’s bat jumpstarted the offense again on Sunday with a fourth-inning homer off Jimenez two innings after the White Sox didn’t score with the bases loaded and no outs.
With two outs and no score, Lawrie ripped 1-2 fastball from Jimenez 404 feet to center field for his fourth home run. He has now homered in three straight games for the first time in his career after hitting solo shots on Friday and Saturday.
Suddenly, the White Sox came to life, and the group dinked and dunked Jimenez to death in the fifth inning.
Carlos Sanchez had an RBI groundout with the bases loaded and no outs, and Jose Abreu singled in another to make it 3-0. Melky Cabrera singled in a run with a bloop single, and Jerry Sands parachuted a two-run single into center to knock out Jimenez.
Lawrie walked twice, singled and doubled and reached base in 12 of 31 plate appearances on the road trip.
“He’s kind of a spark, really,” Sale said. “He got it going for us today. Ubaldo is a tough guy, he’s a tough pitcher out there and he was cruising, and a 1-2 count, a homer dead center. The ball really wasn’t flying today either. He’s the guy who gets it started, he’s the guy who keeps the energy going, and hopefully we can maintain that throughout the whole year.”
The White Sox would love for their offense to produce as consistently as it did on the road trip.
The White Sox, who averaged 3.2 runs over their first 19 games, scored at least four runs in five of seven games and averaged 5.86 per contest during that span.
A day after he twice singled in runs, Abreu singled twice more and drew a first-inning walk. He finished the road trip 11-for-29 with six RBIs and four walks.
The outpouring made a laborious day easier for Sale, who needed 107 pitches to complete five innings. Baltimore’s loaded lineup ran a bunch of deep counts against Sale but didn’t accomplish much else.
He stranded at least one runner in each of his first five frames and two each in the first, third and fifth innings. His biggest escape came in the fifth inning, when Sale walked two with one out, including a 12-pitch free pass to Manny Machado. But Sale struck out Mark Trumbo and induced a fly ball out from Adam Jones.
Sale (6-0) struck out six as he allowed a run, six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.
“You see how many guys they left on base, and it just seemed like he wasn’t as sharp as he’s been. But even then, he didn’t give up anything,” Ventura said.
Now the team is headed home for its first day of relaxation since April 12.
Lawrie is pleased with the team’s effort over the span, which included a dozen road games, and is ready to deliver more energy against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
“It’s a long stretch, especially when you only have one off day in the month,” Lawrie said. “It calls for a full-group effort, and when you can do that, it’s a good opportunity for the boys to come out every single day and give it our all.”
White Sox: Players confused about new slide rule after Saturday's controversial call.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Eighteen hours after it occurred, everyone still seems pretty confused about how baseball intends to interpret new slide rule 6.01 (j).
That was the consensus on Sunday morning from both the White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles as manager Robin Ventura was ejected in Saturday night’s contest after his challenge of Manny Machado’s “illegal slide” on a double play that should have resulted in a triple play wasn’t overturned.
The White Sox didn’t receive a third out for interference in the third inning even though Machado slid beyond the bag, grabbed Brett Lawrie’s leg in the process and then reached back to touch the base.
The White Sox believe they didn’t get the call — one Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Saturday he wouldn’t have had an argument against — because Lawrie never attempted to throw to first base for fear he would throw the ball away. The play was similar to one in an April 5 Toronto-Tampa Bay contest that resulted in the end when Jose Bautista’s slide into second base was ruled as interference.
“I don’t know if I’m more or less clear,” shortstop Tyler Saladino said. “After seeing that play, I guess it doesn’t matter how you slide just as long as the guy doesn’t throw the ball. But if you’re on defense, just do an auto-throw over there because that’s what they say.”
Lawrie said he never thought to make the throw to first base to throw out Adam Jones because he felt Machado made contact. Showalter acknowledged Saturday that his All-Star third baseman got “over-aggressive” on the slide. Neither side believes Machado intended to harm Lawrie with his slide. But once he was touched, Lawrie was worried he might throw the ball away, which would allow Jones to advance into scoring position.
“It’s just how the game is going,” Lawrie said. “You put the rule in place, you have just got to follow through with stuff like that. I just think right now there’s such a gray area because there was a lot of trouble that went down after that Tampa game and I think they got a lot of heat because it changed the whole game and the game ended like that. I feel like it’s just a gray area whether they call it or they don’t. It’s just really up to whoever is on the other side of the headphones.”
Showalter admitted after Saturday’s game he was surprised by the outcome even though his team benefitted. Were he in Ventura’s shoes, Showalter would also have asked for the play to be reviewed. He expected crew chief Gerry Davis to emerge from the six-minute-plus delay and inform him Jones was out at first for interference, which would have resulted in the second unorthodox triple play of the month for the White Sox.
“Where we got fortunate is they didn’t attempt to turn the ball over to first base and didn’t feel like it impacted the play, I guess,” Showalter told reporters. “We’re going to look for an explanation, too, because we would have challenged that, too. When I first saw it, I didn’t think we’d have much argument. It’s a little bit of a, I don’t want to say ‘flaw,’ but there’s been some gray area in a lot of people’s minds. But the way to combat it is to not do what we did.”
The White Sox expect the rule will be modified as it goes along. Major League Baseball previously made changes to rules regarding how catchers block the plate and what constitutes a catch after the transfer process was heavily scrutinized via instant replay.
“Every rule we’ve had has done that,” Ventura said. “We’ve always had some unique plays that happen that end up changing if they look at it further. It makes sense that would go along those lines.”
But as Saladino said, the White Sox lost their manager — Ventura’s ejection was the 12th of his career — and what could have been a critical challenge in the process. He and his teammates just want clarity and they’d like it as soon as possible.
“We’re just looking to follow the rules,” Saladino said. “You make a new rule, we’re supposed to follow it. You can’t just keep doing it, that’s the whole adjustment period. We’re trying to make our adjustments to the rules. It’s a new deal. So we just have to finish the play? They could slide however, but if we don’t finish the play, it doesn’t matter how they slide.”
That was the consensus on Sunday morning from both the White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles as manager Robin Ventura was ejected in Saturday night’s contest after his challenge of Manny Machado’s “illegal slide” on a double play that should have resulted in a triple play wasn’t overturned.
The White Sox didn’t receive a third out for interference in the third inning even though Machado slid beyond the bag, grabbed Brett Lawrie’s leg in the process and then reached back to touch the base.
The White Sox believe they didn’t get the call — one Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Saturday he wouldn’t have had an argument against — because Lawrie never attempted to throw to first base for fear he would throw the ball away. The play was similar to one in an April 5 Toronto-Tampa Bay contest that resulted in the end when Jose Bautista’s slide into second base was ruled as interference.
“I don’t know if I’m more or less clear,” shortstop Tyler Saladino said. “After seeing that play, I guess it doesn’t matter how you slide just as long as the guy doesn’t throw the ball. But if you’re on defense, just do an auto-throw over there because that’s what they say.”
Lawrie said he never thought to make the throw to first base to throw out Adam Jones because he felt Machado made contact. Showalter acknowledged Saturday that his All-Star third baseman got “over-aggressive” on the slide. Neither side believes Machado intended to harm Lawrie with his slide. But once he was touched, Lawrie was worried he might throw the ball away, which would allow Jones to advance into scoring position.
“It’s just how the game is going,” Lawrie said. “You put the rule in place, you have just got to follow through with stuff like that. I just think right now there’s such a gray area because there was a lot of trouble that went down after that Tampa game and I think they got a lot of heat because it changed the whole game and the game ended like that. I feel like it’s just a gray area whether they call it or they don’t. It’s just really up to whoever is on the other side of the headphones.”
Showalter admitted after Saturday’s game he was surprised by the outcome even though his team benefitted. Were he in Ventura’s shoes, Showalter would also have asked for the play to be reviewed. He expected crew chief Gerry Davis to emerge from the six-minute-plus delay and inform him Jones was out at first for interference, which would have resulted in the second unorthodox triple play of the month for the White Sox.
“Where we got fortunate is they didn’t attempt to turn the ball over to first base and didn’t feel like it impacted the play, I guess,” Showalter told reporters. “We’re going to look for an explanation, too, because we would have challenged that, too. When I first saw it, I didn’t think we’d have much argument. It’s a little bit of a, I don’t want to say ‘flaw,’ but there’s been some gray area in a lot of people’s minds. But the way to combat it is to not do what we did.”
The White Sox expect the rule will be modified as it goes along. Major League Baseball previously made changes to rules regarding how catchers block the plate and what constitutes a catch after the transfer process was heavily scrutinized via instant replay.
“Every rule we’ve had has done that,” Ventura said. “We’ve always had some unique plays that happen that end up changing if they look at it further. It makes sense that would go along those lines.”
But as Saladino said, the White Sox lost their manager — Ventura’s ejection was the 12th of his career — and what could have been a critical challenge in the process. He and his teammates just want clarity and they’d like it as soon as possible.
“We’re just looking to follow the rules,” Saladino said. “You make a new rule, we’re supposed to follow it. You can’t just keep doing it, that’s the whole adjustment period. We’re trying to make our adjustments to the rules. It’s a new deal. So we just have to finish the play? They could slide however, but if we don’t finish the play, it doesn’t matter how they slide.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Chicago Bulls: Why Attracting New Talent Will Be A Challenge.
(Photo/Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)
The Chicago Bulls seem to want to make some changes, but attracting new talent may be harder than they think.
For once, just about everyone seems to agree: the Chicago Bulls need to rebuild.
From the front office who recently spoke about potential trades, to the media who have been preaching making moves, to the fans who have been begging for a roster change, it is clear what the team needs to focus on this offseason.
But, this is much easier said than done.
Sure, there are appealing free agents out there just waiting to be lured and signed. And yes, there are certainly guys that would welcome a change of scenery via a deal. But Chicago has a few things working against them.
First and foremost, it seems as though the organization is not the best at selling itself.
Take free agency, for example.
In 2000, they failed to sway Tracy McGrady.
Missing out of LeBron James in 2010 may not have been their fault per se, as James had probably concocted the notion of a Big Three long before it was even publicly on the table as an option. However, they then chose to settle for Carlos Boozer, a move many were upset with.
Then there was Carmelo Anthony in 2014, who chose to meet with Chicago before any other team. And while the organization said it was confident that they would be able to sway Anthony away from the New York Knicks, that was not quite the case. At the very least though, they ended up with Pau Gasol.
Perhaps the Bulls have failed to close out on talent because they have not necessarily had the help of their star players. Or maybe certain members of the front office are just terrible at pitching their vision. Regardless, if history repeats itself, Chicago will once again be in trouble.
Then of course, there is the problem of who exactly the organization could move.
It could be argued that Jimmy Butler is the team’s hottest commodity. And with love being lost between him and the Bulls, he is definitely on the trade chopping block. But with his talent only being on the rise, Chicago would have to get one heck of a player in return.
Taj Gibson has been a rock for the team since he was drafted in 2009. Besides averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a game over his career, he has also stayed out of the headlines in regards to drama within the organization. This is something the front office definitely appreciates, which makes it less likely for him to be dealt.
As for Derrick Rose, although he has actually not had too bad of a year considering he was still dealing with injuries, he is not the same guy he used to be and is slated to make about $21 million next season — not exactly a contract that is easily disposed of.
However, it does seem pretty clear that Pau Gasol will opt out of the final year of his contract, and because Joakim Noah‘s contract is up, his return is also up in the air. So even if the Bulls would want to keep their roster intact, they may be forced to do otherwise.
Which leaves the fact that due to a new coach, Chicago basketball is no longer what it was once known to be.
Instead of a strong defensive powerhouse, the organization has to promote an offensively driven team based on fast play and even quicker shots. They have to acknowledge that under head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Bulls went 42-40, and did not make the postseason for the first time since 2008. So if they thought selling Tom Thibodeau and a top seeded Eastern Conference squad was hard, this will be a rude awakening.
Chicago itself is a great city. The franchise holds onto quite an impactful piece of basketball history. The roster still has plenty of talent to work with. And yet, revamping may prove to be a challenge.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Zurich Classic of New Orleans destined for Monday finish.
Taj Gibson has been a rock for the team since he was drafted in 2009. Besides averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a game over his career, he has also stayed out of the headlines in regards to drama within the organization. This is something the front office definitely appreciates, which makes it less likely for him to be dealt.
As for Derrick Rose, although he has actually not had too bad of a year considering he was still dealing with injuries, he is not the same guy he used to be and is slated to make about $21 million next season — not exactly a contract that is easily disposed of.
However, it does seem pretty clear that Pau Gasol will opt out of the final year of his contract, and because Joakim Noah‘s contract is up, his return is also up in the air. So even if the Bulls would want to keep their roster intact, they may be forced to do otherwise.
Which leaves the fact that due to a new coach, Chicago basketball is no longer what it was once known to be.
Instead of a strong defensive powerhouse, the organization has to promote an offensively driven team based on fast play and even quicker shots. They have to acknowledge that under head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Bulls went 42-40, and did not make the postseason for the first time since 2008. So if they thought selling Tom Thibodeau and a top seeded Eastern Conference squad was hard, this will be a rude awakening.
Chicago itself is a great city. The franchise holds onto quite an impactful piece of basketball history. The roster still has plenty of talent to work with. And yet, revamping may prove to be a challenge.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Zurich Classic of New Orleans destined for Monday finish.
By Ryan Ballengee
Eventually, someone will win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. But it's not happening on Sunday.
Rain delays continued on Saturday, leading to the cancellation of play at TPC Louisiana. Play resumed briefly on Sunday morning, but another band of severe storms descended on the course before the weekend field could finish the third round. In fact, joint leaders Brian Stuard and Jhonattan Vegas have only played five holes of Round 3. No player has finished the third round, but Valero Texas Open winner Charley Hoffman and multi-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings have completed 14 holes.
Rain delays continued on Saturday, leading to the cancellation of play at TPC Louisiana. Play resumed briefly on Sunday morning, but another band of severe storms descended on the course before the weekend field could finish the third round. In fact, joint leaders Brian Stuard and Jhonattan Vegas have only played five holes of Round 3. No player has finished the third round, but Valero Texas Open winner Charley Hoffman and multi-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings have completed 14 holes.
Ultimately, officials knew on Saturday that the event was heading for a Monday finish. Sunday's extended delays merely make the Monday finale an even longer day for the field.
For a PGA Tour event to be considered official, the field must finish 54 holes. The last time a PGA Tour event was considered completed -- albeit unofficial -- after 36 holes was the 2005 Northern Trust Open (then the Nissan Open). Adam Scott won that week.
Shin breaks through for first win at Texas Shootout.
(Photo/AFP Photo/Scott Halleran)
Jenny Shin became the third first time winner on the USLPGA Tour this year, coming from behind to close with a four-under 67 Sunday and win the Texas Shootout tournament.
"I was really nervous on the last hole," said South Korea's Shin. "Right now I have nothing on my mind, I have absolutely nothing.
"I think it will hit me when everything is over and when I get on a plane and home to my mom."
It took the 23-year-old Shin 135 starts since turning pro in 2010 to record her first victory.
Her best showing prior to Sunday was finishing runner-up at the 2012 HSBC Women's Champions to Angela Stanford, who beat Shin in a playoff.
Shin played the final 43 holes at the Dallas-area Las Colinas Country Club bogey free as she finished at 14-under 270.
She was two strokes in front of fellow South Koreans Amy Yang (71) and Hur Mi-Jung (71) as well as American Gerina Piller -- who led heading into the final round but closed with a two-over 73.
Asian players took nine of the top 12 spots on the final leaderboard, including seven South Koreans in that group.
Shin joins compatriot Jang Ha-Na and Japan's Haru Nomura as first time winners in 2016.
NASCAR: Brad Keselowski wins crazy crash-fest at Talladega.
"I was really nervous on the last hole," said South Korea's Shin. "Right now I have nothing on my mind, I have absolutely nothing.
"I think it will hit me when everything is over and when I get on a plane and home to my mom."
It took the 23-year-old Shin 135 starts since turning pro in 2010 to record her first victory.
Her best showing prior to Sunday was finishing runner-up at the 2012 HSBC Women's Champions to Angela Stanford, who beat Shin in a playoff.
Shin played the final 43 holes at the Dallas-area Las Colinas Country Club bogey free as she finished at 14-under 270.
She was two strokes in front of fellow South Koreans Amy Yang (71) and Hur Mi-Jung (71) as well as American Gerina Piller -- who led heading into the final round but closed with a two-over 73.
Asian players took nine of the top 12 spots on the final leaderboard, including seven South Koreans in that group.
Shin joins compatriot Jang Ha-Na and Japan's Haru Nomura as first time winners in 2016.
NASCAR: Brad Keselowski wins crazy crash-fest at Talladega.
By JENNA FRYER
Two cars went airborne, 35 were involved in an accident of some kind, and Danica Patrick had the wind knocked out of her in a vicious crash into the wall.
Just another demolition derby at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brad Keselowski won the crash-fest Sunday that was dominated by multiple wrecks that caused millions of dollars in damage to race teams. It was Keselowski's fourth career win at Talladega and second victory of the season, and ended Joe Gibbs Racing's streak of four consecutive victories.
''Crazy day. Somehow we managed to stay ahead of or out of all the chaos,'' Keselowski said. ''That's how Talladega goes. Sometimes we run here and everybody kind of lines up against the wall, and sometimes we come here and it's crazy side by side, wreck 'em up, flip 'em.
''I think that's kind of the allure to coming here because you don't know what you're going to get.''
That's not entirely true about Talladega, which more times than not turns into a mess of wrecked race cars.
Keselowski said that's just part of restrictor-plate racing at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
''Racing has always been that balance of daredevils and chess players, this has always been more of a daredevil-type track,'' said Keselowski.
Chris Buescher's car flipped three times in an early crash, and Matt Kenseth was turned upside down in the waning laps. In Kenseth's accident, Patrick hit hard into an energy-absorbing wall that that seemed to buckle upon impact. She appeared shaken after the hit and hustled out of her burning car.
''I have a pretty decent bruise on my arm and my foot, and my head feels like I hit a wall at 200,'' she said. ''My chest hurts when I breathe.''
There were 21- and 12-car accidents in the final 28 laps. And, as Keselowski crossed the finish line, another wreck in the back of the pack punctuated the sloppy day. NASCAR's box score showed 35 of the 40 cars were involved in some sort of accident.
Only 21 of the 40 cars finished on the lead lap, and 12 cars were ruled out of the race.
Second-place finisher Kyle Busch said he looked in his rearview mirror at one point and only saw four cars without some sort of damage.
''I hate it. I'd much rather be at home,'' said Busch, the reigning Sprint Cup Series champion. ''I've got a win. I don't need to be here.''
Austin Dillon finished third and said he enjoyed the race, even though it was nerve-racking. Dillon was in his own horrific crash at Daytona last July and said the style of racing at restrictor-plate tracks creates an atmosphere of danger.
''We all have to do it. I don't know how many really love it,'' Dillon said. ''I know our mom's, wives and girlfriends don't like it. We don't like to be part of crashes. If people are cheering for crashes, man, it's not a good thing.''
The pace of Sunday's race was up a tick because of potential rain that could have shortened the event from its scheduled 180 laps. Once the race hit the halfway point and was official, drivers began their charge to the front because they couldn't avoid waiting and rain suddenly ending the event.
Patrick, who was inside the top 10 when she was hit by another car and turned into Kenseth, who went airborne, said the potential rain intensified the racing.
''We all raced to the halfway, then we all raced to the rain that was coming, then we all raced to the end,'' she said. ''It was like the whole race, you spent it racing like it was the end. There was no moments to relax at all. I'm sure that kind of expanded people's comfort zones at the end of the race because we were already so used to running close.
''Some people took it over the edge.''
Other incidents in Sunday's race:
TYPICAL TALLADEGA: Not every driver was alarmed at all the accidents.
Jamie McMurray, one of the better plate races in the series, thought Sunday was pretty typical.
''Everyone is pretty calm until we get to halfway because we all want to get to halfway, and then it got a little bit wild after that,'' he said. ''But it's just plate racing. When you look back at all of these restrictor plate races, you have a lot of wrecks that just don't happen. And today we had a lot of wrecks, and they happened.''
AMELIA IS DESTROYED: Defending race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. brought his favorite car, named ''Amelia'' to Talladega in search of his first win of the season. But he wrecked on lap 50 and had to go to the garage. He eventually returned to the track, and his steering wheel mysteriously came off in his hand. He had to steer the car himself with his hand on the steering column as he put the wheel back on. Then he was collected in a wreck with Carl Edwards. He finished last.
''Hell, I'm going home. I'm done,'' he said. ''I think we need to park the car for a while, too.''
EDWARDS ENDS STREAK: Edwards was seeking his third consecutive victory, but came up short when he suddenly crashed his Toyota.
''Something just let go there,'' he said. ''We had something torn up there, drove down into turn one and I just felt the right front fall down and that was it. You're kind of just along for the ride.''
Edwards scored back-to-back wins at Bristol and Richmond - where he bumped Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch out of his way on the last lap - and was hoping to make it three straight with a Talladega win.
He instead finished 39th.
STEWART'S SHORT DAY: Tony Stewart turned his car over to Ty Dillon on the first caution of the race.
Stewart drove the first 52 laps before getting out as a precautionary measure. He just returned last week from a back injury that sidelined him the first eight races of the season.
Dillon drove the car to a sixth-place finish, which gets credited to Stewart.
WHAT'S NEXT: A Saturday night race next week at Kansas Speedway. Jimmie Johnson won the race a year ago, and Joey Logano was victorious at Kansas last fall.
Banged-up, but intact Patrick runs into trouble at Talladega.
By JOHN ZENOR
Danica Patrick was happy to leave Talladega Superspeedway with no broken bones.
She couldn't escape the NASCAR race Sunday without some bruises and a badly damaged car that caught fire and ran smack into an energy-absorbing wall with eight laps to go. Patrick climbed out after the 12-car melee, walked to the inside wall and bent over for a moment before emergency workers escorted her to a waiting ambulance.
''I would say that's probably the most scared (I've been), trying to hop out of a car with the fire on the inside,'' she said after leaving the infield care center. ''I haven't had fire on the inside before. I've seen it on the outside.
''Honestly, I was thinking about my hair. I've got a lot of hair and I don't want to lose it. I've had a couple of practice rounds now of getting out of the car as quickly as possible, but that was the worst one so far. At Daytona a couple of years ago on the front straight without a SAFER barrier was probably one of the hardest impacts, but this one was probably worse.''
Patrick said X-rays showed no broken bones but she had bruises on an arm and foot and her chest hurt when she took a breath. Plus, for a good reason: ''My head feels like I hit a wall at 200.''
Patrick was running in the top 10 in a race where wrecks collected all but a handful of cars at one point or another. Only 21 of the 40 cars finished on the lead lap, and 12 were knocked out of the race, including Patrick's No. 10 Chevrolet.
To some extent, Patrick can just brush it off as the inevitable chaos at Talladega that might be crowd-pleasing but is jarring - both physically and mentally - for those swept up in it. The steering wheel was knocked out of position, and she had her breath knocked out in the collision.
''That was definitely not a fun ending,'' Patrick said. ''I wish it didn't always have to end that way. Just at the end it's a little bit wide open. Even if you wreck you just hold it wide open. It's just dangerous, but it's exciting. I understand that. I like watching it, too.
''Especially down the backstretch, I wish there wasn't so much distance between the track and the wall, because you gain such momentum at that angle when you go there. I've had the unfortunate scenario of hitting the inside wall at a superspeedway a few times now. They're all bad.''
SOCCER: Patrick Nyarko haunts former team, Fire settle for draw against D.C. United.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Patrick Nyarko has made a number of big plays in Toyota Park over the years. He added another one Saturday, but did so for the visiting team.
Nyarko, who played eight seasons with the Chicago Fire, scored on a header following a corner kick in the 65th minute to deny the Fire three crucial points at home.
Jonathan Campbell's first professional goal had given the Fire the lead, but the match finished 1-1.
“It’s just kind of how soccer works," D.C. United coach Ben Olsen said. "You know he’s going to come back and get something.
"It seems that’s how this league goes."
The Fire (1-2-4, 7 points) needed to get some points before heading into a three-game road trip that will take place over the span of eight days. A draw at home isn't what the team needed heading into that road trip.
It's also the second consecutive match the Fire have held a lead at halftime at home and not been able to hold on.
"We have to make sure we close games," Fire midfielder Arturo Alvarez said. "That comes with us scoring the second goal. Us just being up one goal gives the other team the confidence to get back into the game."
Campbell's goal came following an Alvarez free kick in the 41st minute. Alvarez curled in a quality delivery that Campbell flicked into the goal with the outside of his foot. D.C. (2-3-4, 10 points) goalkeeper Travis Worra got a hand on it, but wasn't able to keep it out.
"All credit to Arturo for playing that ball in behind," Campbell said. "I just had to flick it on, but it was a great feeling.”
Nyarko's goal was the only serious threat for either team in the second half.
Entering the match, the Fire had to deal with a number of injuries leading up to the match. David Accam is still out with a knee injury. Rookie Alex Morrell, who was been used as a substitute the past two matches, was ruled out with a calf injury late in the week. On Friday John Goossens suffered a sprained LCL in training and is expected out 1-4 weeks. Matt Polster was a gameday scratch due to a calf injury of his own.
All those injuries led to the Fire having just 15 healthy field players to choose from. Accam made the sub list to fill out the lineup, but was likely never going to play.
With all that working against them the Fire weren't able to hold onto the win in wet and windy conditions. Nick LaBrocca made his first start with the Fire and was subbed out for Joey Calistri in the 53rd minute, who had his longest appearance of the season. Defender Joao Meira saw the field for the first time since March 19. He came on as a substitute in midfield, which shows how thin the Fire were. Collin Fernandez also came on as a sub for his first appearance of the season.
The Fire return to action Wednesday, May 11, in Vancouver
Nyarko, who played eight seasons with the Chicago Fire, scored on a header following a corner kick in the 65th minute to deny the Fire three crucial points at home.
Jonathan Campbell's first professional goal had given the Fire the lead, but the match finished 1-1.
“It’s just kind of how soccer works," D.C. United coach Ben Olsen said. "You know he’s going to come back and get something.
"It seems that’s how this league goes."
The Fire (1-2-4, 7 points) needed to get some points before heading into a three-game road trip that will take place over the span of eight days. A draw at home isn't what the team needed heading into that road trip.
It's also the second consecutive match the Fire have held a lead at halftime at home and not been able to hold on.
"We have to make sure we close games," Fire midfielder Arturo Alvarez said. "That comes with us scoring the second goal. Us just being up one goal gives the other team the confidence to get back into the game."
Campbell's goal came following an Alvarez free kick in the 41st minute. Alvarez curled in a quality delivery that Campbell flicked into the goal with the outside of his foot. D.C. (2-3-4, 10 points) goalkeeper Travis Worra got a hand on it, but wasn't able to keep it out.
"All credit to Arturo for playing that ball in behind," Campbell said. "I just had to flick it on, but it was a great feeling.”
Nyarko's goal was the only serious threat for either team in the second half.
Entering the match, the Fire had to deal with a number of injuries leading up to the match. David Accam is still out with a knee injury. Rookie Alex Morrell, who was been used as a substitute the past two matches, was ruled out with a calf injury late in the week. On Friday John Goossens suffered a sprained LCL in training and is expected out 1-4 weeks. Matt Polster was a gameday scratch due to a calf injury of his own.
All those injuries led to the Fire having just 15 healthy field players to choose from. Accam made the sub list to fill out the lineup, but was likely never going to play.
With all that working against them the Fire weren't able to hold onto the win in wet and windy conditions. Nick LaBrocca made his first start with the Fire and was subbed out for Joey Calistri in the 53rd minute, who had his longest appearance of the season. Defender Joao Meira saw the field for the first time since March 19. He came on as a substitute in midfield, which shows how thin the Fire were. Collin Fernandez also came on as a sub for his first appearance of the season.
The Fire return to action Wednesday, May 11, in Vancouver
Update: After another draw, Fire head into difficult road trip.
By Dan Santaromita
Saturday's 1-1 draw against D.C. United marked the end of the first part of the Chicago Fire's schedule.
The Fire had five of the first seven matches of the season at home. They went 1-2-2 in those matches. Throw in two draws in two road matches and the Fire have seven points through seven matches.
That start for a new coach and a rebuilding team isn't damning without full context. The Fire are only two points behind the playoff line in the Eastern Conference and entered the weekend having played fewer matches than every other team in the league. However, failing to win matches at home is a concern for the team's prospects ahead.
"We’ll take the point, but at the same time we’re at home," midfielder Arturo Alvarez said after the match. "We want to start winning games at home. We need to.”
Things will get much more difficult ahead. The next match at home will be on May 21 and the number of road games will soon even out.
After yet another off weekend upcoming, the Fire will play at Vancouver (May 11), at New England (May 14) and at the New York Red Bulls (May 18). Three straight road games in eight days and including cross country travel will be a stiff test for the team.
“Now that we’re going on the road and we haven’t gotten points at home, we have to win on the road or else we’re going to be (in trouble) here so we need to get the wins and we need to win a game on the road now,” midfielder Michael Stephens said.
By Kyle Bonn
The Foxes had a chance to hoist the trophy at the Theater of Dreams.
It wasn’t to be, but they still earned a massive point – moving their magic number to just two – as Wes Morgan‘s equalizer was enough to cancel out Anthony Martial‘s opener pick up a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Manchester United held much of the early possession down in Leicester’s half of the field, and while it appeared the Foxes were suited to deal with the pressure, the Red Devils unlocked the Leicester defense just eight minutes in. A wonderful move by Antonio Valencia on the right gave him space to lift in the cross, which went over the heads of Danny Drinkwater and Danny Simpson to the feet of an unmarked Martial at the far post, who poked home with an easy finish.
By Dan Santaromita
Saturday's 1-1 draw against D.C. United marked the end of the first part of the Chicago Fire's schedule.
The Fire had five of the first seven matches of the season at home. They went 1-2-2 in those matches. Throw in two draws in two road matches and the Fire have seven points through seven matches.
That start for a new coach and a rebuilding team isn't damning without full context. The Fire are only two points behind the playoff line in the Eastern Conference and entered the weekend having played fewer matches than every other team in the league. However, failing to win matches at home is a concern for the team's prospects ahead.
"We’ll take the point, but at the same time we’re at home," midfielder Arturo Alvarez said after the match. "We want to start winning games at home. We need to.”
Things will get much more difficult ahead. The next match at home will be on May 21 and the number of road games will soon even out.
After yet another off weekend upcoming, the Fire will play at Vancouver (May 11), at New England (May 14) and at the New York Red Bulls (May 18). Three straight road games in eight days and including cross country travel will be a stiff test for the team.
“Now that we’re going on the road and we haven’t gotten points at home, we have to win on the road or else we’re going to be (in trouble) here so we need to get the wins and we need to win a game on the road now,” midfielder Michael Stephens said.
Coach Veljko Paunovic called the draw a fair result. Campbell's goal was the only shot on target for the Fire. D.C. had only three shots on goal.
Paunovic preached patience while still wanting more from the team's results.
“No doubt that we wanted to win this game more than anything," Paunovic said. "We had the opportunity. It was there, but still we have to understand that we are a young team, a team in the process, which requires a lot of effort to win games. I’m happy with one point. Of course they also had good opportunities to win the game and I think that’s where we are at this point."
There's nothing wrong with a team with so many new parts taking time to develop and MLS playoff spots are not lost in May. However, the upcoming road trip could put the Fire in an early hole unless things get better quickly.
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City: 10-man Leicester earns point, but must wait for the trophy.
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City: 10-man Leicester earns point, but must wait for the trophy.
By Kyle Bonn
The Foxes had a chance to hoist the trophy at the Theater of Dreams.
It wasn’t to be, but they still earned a massive point – moving their magic number to just two – as Wes Morgan‘s equalizer was enough to cancel out Anthony Martial‘s opener pick up a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Manchester United held much of the early possession down in Leicester’s half of the field, and while it appeared the Foxes were suited to deal with the pressure, the Red Devils unlocked the Leicester defense just eight minutes in. A wonderful move by Antonio Valencia on the right gave him space to lift in the cross, which went over the heads of Danny Drinkwater and Danny Simpson to the feet of an unmarked Martial at the far post, who poked home with an easy finish.
Following the goal, United would not relent. Jesse Lingard pumped in a shot on 14 minutes after Marouane Fellaini laid off Marcus Rojo’s cross at his feet, but Kasper Schmeichel saved well at his near post.
But the Foxes would not slump to defeat so early. With a free-kick up near the penalty area conceded by Martial, Wes Morgan beat Rojo and headed home the equalizer on 17 minutes to bring it back to 1-1.
United continue to dictate the pace of the game, with Leicester happy to sit back and pick its spots. They had a big moment on the half-hour mark as Danny Simpson gave the ball away allowing Jesse Lingard to break, but the former Newcastle defender recovered and fought Lingard to the ball, allowing Schmeichel to clear the ball.
Leicester had a moment close to halftime, as Jefferey Schlupp’s audacious effort from a tight angle forced an acrobatic tip from de Gea, which came to Riyad Mahrez. The Player of the Year winner went one-on-one with Marcus Rojo, and the two came together and went to ground. Leicester shouted for a penalty, but referee Michael Oliver waved it off.
After the break, the Foxes played a high press and earned themselves a pair of chances off set-pieces, but couldn’t put an effort on net despite finding free headers on both. Schlupp’s blistering pace was a force on the left, and Leonardo Ulloa began to trouble the United central defenders.
The game opened up after the 70-minute mark, with both sides going for the win, but each half-chance was met with good goalkeeper or better defending. Manchester United brought on Ander Herrera and Memphis Depay for the final 15 minutes, while Leicester City countered with Marc Albrighton.
Chris Smalling hit the post inside the final 10 minutes, and things fell apart for the visitors. Leicester City lost a man when Danny Drinkwater received his second yellow card – both for drag-backs – when he pulled Depay down on the edge of the penalty area. The referee gave a free-kick, but replays showed the foul was likely inside the area.
The point for Leicester moves them to 77 points, eight above Tottenham with just two games to play, although Spurs has a game in hand, to play Chelsea on Monday. Manchester United, meanwhile, misses out an opportunity to keep pace with rivals Manchester City for the final Champions League place, four back of City who will play Southampton later today.
Swansea City 3-1 Liverpool: Young Reds bested as Swansea officially earns safety.
By Kyle Bonn
After defeat on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal, the Reds looked to get back on track in league play at the Liberty Stadium, as Jurgen Klopp rotated the squad to Liverpool’s youngest ever. Instead, it was the home side celebrating as a young Reds lineup was second best in a 3-1 defeat to Swansea City.
Already more than likely to stay up, Swansea mathematically clinched Premier League safety with the three points, moving above West Brom and Bournemouth into 13th with 43 points.
The two teams began lively but produced little in the opening 10 minutes. The visitors got the first chance on 12 minutes, as Gylfi Sigurdsson had a sliding effort thanks to a wonderful touch from Andre Ayew at the top of the box, but it was saved by Danny Ward.
The Liverpool defense looked clunky while Swansea maintained control, but it did its job, just keeping the hosts out as the rain came pouring down. Swansea had a break in the 20th minute, but Ayew’s shot was just blocked Dejan Lovren. However, the resulting corner provided a deserved breakthrough, as Ayew lost Daniel Sturridge and skied above Lovren to head home.
Jordan Ibe forced the first save of Lukasz Fabianski on 24 minutes, but it was back down the other end as Jack Cork nearly made it 2-0 but Danny Ward made a fantastic snap save to keep the low, powerful shot out.
The pressure continued from the hosts as Leon Britton managed to lock down the midfield and give Liverpool hardly a sniff. Just before the half-hour mark, it was Jordi Amat‘s turn to rise above Lovren on a free-kick, but he put the header just over. Moments later there was another break for Swansea, with Jefferson Montero forcing another fine save by Ward. But on 33 minutes, Ward could do nothing about an absolutely wonderful curler from Jack Cork on 33 minutes which made it 2-0.
Klopp looked to change things up, bringing on Christian Benteke at Lucas at halftime, and the changes worked. The Reds seemed to hold the ball much better after the break, and it paid dividends off a corner as Benteke worked himself away from Sigurdsson in the box and headed home.
It would be short-lived. Just three minutes later, with advantage placed after a foul in midfield, Montero weaved his way to the end line on the left and crossed to Ayew at the top of the box. With Sheyi Ojo and a host of other Reds unable to clear the ball effectively, Ayew poked it home past a frozen Danny Ward for a 3-1 Swansea lead.
Things only got worse for Liverpool, as Brad Smith received a second yellow card in the 76th minute after a very high boot in a 50/50 challenge with Swansea substitute Kyle Naughton.
With Swansea officially safe, Liverpool remains stuck in 7th, in danger of falling out of a European place sitting just a point above Southampton. Liverpool can still win a place in the Champions League next season by winning the Europa League, but should they fail to do that, a top 7 finish is the only way to return to European competition.
NCAAFB: At Illinois, Smith Breaks Ground He's Broken Before.
But the Foxes would not slump to defeat so early. With a free-kick up near the penalty area conceded by Martial, Wes Morgan beat Rojo and headed home the equalizer on 17 minutes to bring it back to 1-1.
United continue to dictate the pace of the game, with Leicester happy to sit back and pick its spots. They had a big moment on the half-hour mark as Danny Simpson gave the ball away allowing Jesse Lingard to break, but the former Newcastle defender recovered and fought Lingard to the ball, allowing Schmeichel to clear the ball.
Leicester had a moment close to halftime, as Jefferey Schlupp’s audacious effort from a tight angle forced an acrobatic tip from de Gea, which came to Riyad Mahrez. The Player of the Year winner went one-on-one with Marcus Rojo, and the two came together and went to ground. Leicester shouted for a penalty, but referee Michael Oliver waved it off.
After the break, the Foxes played a high press and earned themselves a pair of chances off set-pieces, but couldn’t put an effort on net despite finding free headers on both. Schlupp’s blistering pace was a force on the left, and Leonardo Ulloa began to trouble the United central defenders.
The game opened up after the 70-minute mark, with both sides going for the win, but each half-chance was met with good goalkeeper or better defending. Manchester United brought on Ander Herrera and Memphis Depay for the final 15 minutes, while Leicester City countered with Marc Albrighton.
Chris Smalling hit the post inside the final 10 minutes, and things fell apart for the visitors. Leicester City lost a man when Danny Drinkwater received his second yellow card – both for drag-backs – when he pulled Depay down on the edge of the penalty area. The referee gave a free-kick, but replays showed the foul was likely inside the area.
The point for Leicester moves them to 77 points, eight above Tottenham with just two games to play, although Spurs has a game in hand, to play Chelsea on Monday. Manchester United, meanwhile, misses out an opportunity to keep pace with rivals Manchester City for the final Champions League place, four back of City who will play Southampton later today.
Swansea City 3-1 Liverpool: Young Reds bested as Swansea officially earns safety.
By Kyle Bonn
After defeat on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal, the Reds looked to get back on track in league play at the Liberty Stadium, as Jurgen Klopp rotated the squad to Liverpool’s youngest ever. Instead, it was the home side celebrating as a young Reds lineup was second best in a 3-1 defeat to Swansea City.
Already more than likely to stay up, Swansea mathematically clinched Premier League safety with the three points, moving above West Brom and Bournemouth into 13th with 43 points.
The two teams began lively but produced little in the opening 10 minutes. The visitors got the first chance on 12 minutes, as Gylfi Sigurdsson had a sliding effort thanks to a wonderful touch from Andre Ayew at the top of the box, but it was saved by Danny Ward.
The Liverpool defense looked clunky while Swansea maintained control, but it did its job, just keeping the hosts out as the rain came pouring down. Swansea had a break in the 20th minute, but Ayew’s shot was just blocked Dejan Lovren. However, the resulting corner provided a deserved breakthrough, as Ayew lost Daniel Sturridge and skied above Lovren to head home.
Jordan Ibe forced the first save of Lukasz Fabianski on 24 minutes, but it was back down the other end as Jack Cork nearly made it 2-0 but Danny Ward made a fantastic snap save to keep the low, powerful shot out.
The pressure continued from the hosts as Leon Britton managed to lock down the midfield and give Liverpool hardly a sniff. Just before the half-hour mark, it was Jordi Amat‘s turn to rise above Lovren on a free-kick, but he put the header just over. Moments later there was another break for Swansea, with Jefferson Montero forcing another fine save by Ward. But on 33 minutes, Ward could do nothing about an absolutely wonderful curler from Jack Cork on 33 minutes which made it 2-0.
Klopp looked to change things up, bringing on Christian Benteke at Lucas at halftime, and the changes worked. The Reds seemed to hold the ball much better after the break, and it paid dividends off a corner as Benteke worked himself away from Sigurdsson in the box and headed home.
It would be short-lived. Just three minutes later, with advantage placed after a foul in midfield, Montero weaved his way to the end line on the left and crossed to Ayew at the top of the box. With Sheyi Ojo and a host of other Reds unable to clear the ball effectively, Ayew poked it home past a frozen Danny Ward for a 3-1 Swansea lead.
Things only got worse for Liverpool, as Brad Smith received a second yellow card in the 76th minute after a very high boot in a 50/50 challenge with Swansea substitute Kyle Naughton.
With Swansea officially safe, Liverpool remains stuck in 7th, in danger of falling out of a European place sitting just a point above Southampton. Liverpool can still win a place in the Champions League next season by winning the Europa League, but should they fail to do that, a top 7 finish is the only way to return to European competition.
NCAAFB: At Illinois, Smith Breaks Ground He's Broken Before.
By David Mercer
His childhood in East Texas prepared him for both jobs.
As a fifth-grader in Big Sandy, Smith was part of the first group of black kids to move into the small town's newly desegregated schools in the late 1960s.
Smith does not talk a lot about that part of growing up in the town of 1,300, which is about 100 miles east of Dallas. But if asked, he doesn't back away from it.
"I realize who I am and what people see," he said when hired at Illinois in March. "To be the first at anything is pretty special."
Smith downplays the idea that getting through those years at Big Sandy, where he was eventually part of three state-championship football teams, involved running any gauntlet.
"It's not like there were riots or anything," Smith said in an interview. "You were just apart, as much as anything."
But being a black kid in the South during tumultuous times was not entirely smooth, either, said his son and agent, Matthew Smith.
Whatever complaints Bears fans had for Lovie Smith during his last few years in Chicago — and talk-radio conversation about the coach was tense at times — he had heard worse as a child, the younger Smith said.
"He's got very thick skin," Matthew Smith said. "He's been called a lot of really bad stuff."
That thick skin and Lovie's Smith calm, mostly quiet demeanor served him well with the Bears, say people who remain in the organization from that time.
"He didn't get carried away by the highs or the lows," Bears Chairman George McCaskey said.
Added Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips, "To this day, he's still the same way."
In Chicago, both Phillips and McCaskey recall, there was no pressure from fans to hire a black coach to break that barrier 12 years ago when Smith became coach.
But the story is different at Illinois.
Before Smith, the school had never had a black head coach in either of the two highest-profile sports, football and men's basketball. And fans have long complained about the poor Illini track record in recruiting top black athletes from Chicago, just two hours north.
While race does not fully explain why those players chose other schools, some people think a black coach might help tip the scales.
"I think it's a great incentive for kids in our Chicago area to look at the University of Illinois," said James Montgomery, a university trustee, Chicago lawyer and graduate of the school. Montgomery is black and has been an occasional critic of Illinois' hiring record.
Smith hopes fans and recruits will see similar encouragement in his staff. Five of his nine assistants are black.
"I want our fans and any fans as a whole to see themselves in our staff," Smith said. "You go around town in Champaign or in Chicago, you're going to see a melting pot of people. That's ideal."
That's a lesson Smith says he learned when desegregation ended in Big Sandy.
"Once we integrated, it opened up a whole new world for me," he said. "I just think you grow once you get around people that look different than you, that have different opinions."
The impact that Smith and classmates like David Overstreet, who eventually played for Oklahoma and the Miami Dolphins, had on Big Sandy sports probably helped smooth the first years of integration, too, said Larry Minter, the athletic director and football coach at Big Sandy High School and a 1991 graduate.
"It was a very successful time at our school," Minter said, agreeing that winning tends to ease potential problems. "Dang right it does."
Smith does not return to Big Sandy as often as he did when his parents were still alive, but Minter says Smith and his wife, MaryAnne, still play a significant role in the town's sports.
They paid for the scoreboard at the high school football stadium, though they asked that Smith's name not be on it, Minter said. Instead, a sign on the $50,000 scoreboard says it was donated by the family of Thurman Smith, Lovie Smith's father.
And on a regular basis, Smith and his wife ask what else they can do. One year that meant shoes for every sports program at the school, Minter said. This year, it was $21,000 for high-end football helmets.
When two-a-day practices start every year, Minter says he tries to return the favor, driving home a reminder to young players straining through the East Texas heat that Smith and his career are signals of what's possible, "that you can go from little old podunk Big Sandy and end up in the NFL."
Notre Dame-Ohio State Fiesta Bowl produced 19 NFL draft picks.
By John Taylor
In the run-up to the Notre Dame-Ohio State Fiesta Bowl following the 2015 regular season, many a pundit pounded the pulpit on the plethora of potential next-level players* who would litter the field that night. At least in this instance, said pundits absolutely nailed it.
As the dust has settled in Chicago and the 2016 NFL draft has been put to bed, the tally is official: a whopping 19 Buckeyes and Fighting Irish players who took part in or were on the roster for OSU’s 16-point win in the desert were selected in the seven rounds of the annual selection meeting.
The Buckeyes, who entered Day 3 with a record 10 players drafted the first two days, finished with 12 players plucked by various NFL clubs. While that total is impressive, it falls just short of the record of 14 set by… the 2004 Buckeyes.
They did, though, set one record on the day, and at their own expense.
The Irish, meanwhile — and if you can calculate at a third-grade level — saw seven players selected in the draft. While it was a good haul, it was tied fourth, along with Alabama and Florida, behind OSU’s 12, Clemson’s nine and UCLA’s eight.
There were nine schools that had five players each drafted: Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Stanford, TCU and West Virginia.
(*Alarmed at a little alliteration?)
Ohio State draftees to sign contracts worth in excess of $110 million.
By John Taylor
Notre Dame-Ohio State Fiesta Bowl produced 19 NFL draft picks.
By John Taylor
(Photo/Getty Images)
In the run-up to the Notre Dame-Ohio State Fiesta Bowl following the 2015 regular season, many a pundit pounded the pulpit on the plethora of potential next-level players* who would litter the field that night. At least in this instance, said pundits absolutely nailed it.
As the dust has settled in Chicago and the 2016 NFL draft has been put to bed, the tally is official: a whopping 19 Buckeyes and Fighting Irish players who took part in or were on the roster for OSU’s 16-point win in the desert were selected in the seven rounds of the annual selection meeting.
The Buckeyes, who entered Day 3 with a record 10 players drafted the first two days, finished with 12 players plucked by various NFL clubs. While that total is impressive, it falls just short of the record of 14 set by… the 2004 Buckeyes.
They did, though, set one record on the day, and at their own expense.
The Irish, meanwhile — and if you can calculate at a third-grade level — saw seven players selected in the draft. While it was a good haul, it was tied fourth, along with Alabama and Florida, behind OSU’s 12, Clemson’s nine and UCLA’s eight.
There were nine schools that had five players each drafted: Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Stanford, TCU and West Virginia.
(*Alarmed at a little alliteration?)
Ohio State draftees to sign contracts worth in excess of $110 million.
By John Taylor
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
During the course of the three-day NFL draft, a dozen former Ohio State Buckeyes were drafted. While OSU failed to break its own record for most picks in a single draft, the 12 selections in the first four rounds were the most ever.
And, not surprisingly, those players are going to get paid.
According to PennLive.com‘s David Jones, those players will sign contracts that could be worth a total of $120 million. Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch has the number pegged slightly lower at $111,462,707. Either way, that’s a lot of cash — and a lot dollar signs for Urban Meyer to flout in front of potential recruits.
Of course, not all of that money is guaranteed, although the guaranteed dollars involved aren’t too shabby either. From the Dispatch:
Just the signing bonuses alone, which range from Bosa’s projected $17,017,226 to Jones’ $383,393, have an expected total of $60,526,660. Unless a player does something to cause his contract to be voided, signing bonuses are theirs to keep.Regardless of how you spin it, former Buckeyes did quite well financially the last couple of days. And, as Jones alludes to when it comes to James Franklin and Penn State specifically and the Big Ten in general, Meyer and the Buckeyes are in an entirely different zip code than the rest of the conference — a fact that will no doubt come up on the vast expanses of the recruiting trail.
The good news for Franklin and Penn State: They had three of those 11. The bad news for them and everyone else in the league: Urban Meyer is probably preparing a recruiting flyer right now with a 9-figure dollar amount printed in big bold numbers.NCAABKB: NCAA rule change that impacts Memphis coaching staff now official.
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
One of the more popular topics in college basketball in recent weeks was the status of Memphis assistant coach Keelon Lawson and sons Dedric and K.J. in the aftermath of the school hiring Tubby Smith. Would Smith keep the elder Lawson on staff as an assistant, thus in all likelihood ensuring that Dedric and K.J. would return as well? Would he let go or attempt to reassign Keelon, and as a result risk losing two players from an already limited roster?
Ultimately Smith decided to reassign Keelon to a non-coaching position, making him director of player development. And with the NCAA having a rule that those with a connection to a prospective student-athlete had to serve in a coaching capacity for the player’s first two seasons, the question was whether or not Memphis would need a waiver to pull off the move.
Luckily for Memphis the NCAA was looking into an alteration of the rule, and on Thursday with the NCAA not taking action on Proposal 2015-30 the change became official.
Under the new rule a coach’s two years on staff would begin immediately upon his arrival. In the case of Lawson this is key as he spent a year on former Memphis head coach Josh Pastner’s staff before Dedric and K.J. enrolled. With the two-year requirement ruled to be served under the new proposal, Smith could reassign Keelon Lawson without having to ask the NCAA for a waiver.
The next step as far as Memphis is concerned is Dedric, who ultimately entered his name into the NBA Draft pool (without an agent), withdrawing and returning to school for his sophomore season. As a freshman Dedric was the best freshman in the American Athletic Conference, averaging 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for the Tigers. DraftExpress.com currently ranks him 28th amongst college freshmen, which makes him no sure thing to be drafted should he decide to stay in the draft.
At the very least the next month should result in Dedric receiving constructive feedback from NBA scouts and executives that he can use to improve next season.
K.J. played in just ten games last season due to a lingering Achilles tendon issue, averaging 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. The hope is that K.J. will be granted a medical redshirt for last season, thus preserving a year of eligibility.
Derby 2016: 5 horses to watch in 142nd Kentucky Derby.
By Beth Harris
The starting gate will once again be full with 20 horses for the 142nd Kentucky Derby.
Even though the majority of horses have little chance of winning and over the half the field is typically eliminated in the opening quarter-mile, owners and trainers cannot resist the prestige of having a horse in America's greatest race.
Most of the 3-year-olds will be running 1 1/4 miles for the first time on May 7, leaving it up for grabs to see which handles the distance, track surface and traffic-choked conditions the best.
Trainer Doug O'Neill has the likely wagering favorite in undefeated Nyquist.
Three trainers are expected to have two horses each in the race. Steve Asmussen will saddle Gun Runner and Creator, Todd Pletcher has Wood Memorial winner Outwork and Tampa Bay Derby winner Destin, and Chad Brown has Shagaf and Blue Grass runner-up My Man Sam.
Here are five horses to watch:
EXAGGERATOR
A son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. He's trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, the Hall of Fame jockey who is Keith's younger brother. The colt has three wins in eight career starts and earnings of $1 million. He has lost to Nyquist three times, including last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Exaggerator is a versatile sort who can press the pace or stalk the leaders. He is coming off an impressive 6 1/4-length victory in the Santa Anita Derby on a sloppy track.
GUN RUNNER
The colt topped the Derby leaderboard with 151 points earned in prep races. He has four wins in five career starts, including the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star this winter. Trainer Steve Asmussen, recently elected to racing's Hall of Fame, is seeking his first Derby victory. He will also saddle Creator. Gun Runner has the second-highest earnings of $1.6 million among the horses expected to make the field.
MOHAYMEN
The colt had his five-race winning streak snapped in the Florida Derby, when he finished fourth behind Nyquist as the 4-5 favorite. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin tosses out the clunker, saying Mohaymen has had ''only two bad minutes in his entire life.'' The colt is one of two (Shagaf is the other) in the race owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 70-year-old deputy ruler of Dubai. The Maktoum family is 0 for 8 at the Derby. Mohaymen's blood lines include Triple Crown winners Secretariat and Seattle Slew.
MOR SPIRIT
Any Derby horse trained by Bob Baffert is worth consideration. The Hall of Fame trainer has four Derby victories, including last year when American Pharoah began his journey to Triple Crown glory in this race. Another Hall of Famer, Gary Stevens, will ride the Pennsylvania-bred colt. Stevens has three Derby wins, the last coming in 1997 aboard Silver Charm, who was trained by Baffert. Mor Spirit has never been worse than second in seven career starts.
NYQUIST
The colt brings a 7-0 record into Churchill Downs, bettering the marks of Seattle Slew in 1977 and Smarty Jones in 2004 when they were 6-0 and won the race. He comes in off a five-week layoff, having last won the Florida Derby. The colt has won from just about everywhere: on the rail, from the far outside, leading all the way or coming from off the pace. Nyquist is a son of Uncle Mo, who also went undefeated in his 2-year-old season. Uncle Mo was the early favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby, but he was scratched the day before because of illness and was later diagnosed with a rare liver disease. The colt is named for Detroit Red Wings player Gustav Nyquist; owner Paul Reddam is a big fan of the hockey team. Reddam, trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez were the same team behind I'll Have Another, who won the first two legs of the Triple Crown in 2012 before being scratched on the eve of the Belmont Stakes with a career-ending leg injury. Nyquist is the richest horse in the Derby field, having earned $3.2 million. He was purchased for $400,000.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1876 - Ross Barnes hit the first homerun in the National League.
1904 - Laska Durnell became the first woman to own a Kentucky Derby starter and winner with Elwood.
1920 - In Indianapolis, the first game of the National Negro Baseball League was played.
1923 - Walter Johnson pitched his 100th shutout.
1939 - Lou Gehrig set a new major league baseball record when he played in his 2,130th game. The streak began on June 1, 1925.
1954 - Stan Musial (St. Louis Cardinals) set a new major league record when he hit 5 home runs against the New York Giants.
1958 - The New York Yankees threatened to broadcast games nationwide if the National League went ahead with plans to broadcast their games into New York.
1970 - Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby.
1988 - The Baltimore Orioles signed a 15 year lease to remain in Baltimore and get a new park.
1988 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) was suspended for 30 games for pushing an umpire.
2002 - Mike Cameron (Seattle Mariners) hit four home runs against the Chicago White Sox.
2009 - The Dallas Cowboys practice bubble collapsed during a storm during a practice. At the time, 27 players were working out. Almost all were drafted last weekend or signed as undrafted rookies. Twelve people were injured.
1904 - Laska Durnell became the first woman to own a Kentucky Derby starter and winner with Elwood.
1920 - In Indianapolis, the first game of the National Negro Baseball League was played.
1923 - Walter Johnson pitched his 100th shutout.
1939 - Lou Gehrig set a new major league baseball record when he played in his 2,130th game. The streak began on June 1, 1925.
1954 - Stan Musial (St. Louis Cardinals) set a new major league record when he hit 5 home runs against the New York Giants.
1958 - The New York Yankees threatened to broadcast games nationwide if the National League went ahead with plans to broadcast their games into New York.
1970 - Diane Crump became the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby.
1988 - The Baltimore Orioles signed a 15 year lease to remain in Baltimore and get a new park.
1988 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) was suspended for 30 games for pushing an umpire.
2002 - Mike Cameron (Seattle Mariners) hit four home runs against the Chicago White Sox.
2009 - The Dallas Cowboys practice bubble collapsed during a storm during a practice. At the time, 27 players were working out. Almost all were drafted last weekend or signed as undrafted rookies. Twelve people were injured.
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