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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life." ~ Robin Hayes, Politician and Businessman
Trending: Bears agree to terms with first-round pick Leonard Floyd. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Alexander Rossi wins 100th Indy 500 in fuel mileage stunner. (See the "Indianapolis 500" section for race updates).
(Photo/Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Trending: Can Mike Sinlgetary save Baylor football? (See the college football section for NCAAFB updates).
Trending: Jordan Spieth claims elusive first Texas win at Dean & DeLuca Invitational. (See the golf section for PGA tournament updates).
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 34-14
White Sox 2016 Record: 27-24
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears agree to terms with first-round pick Leonard Floyd.
By CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Bears' first-round pick is signed.
The team announced Friday afternoon that it agreed to terms with Leonard Floyd, the linebacker out of Georgia the Bears selected with the No. 9 pick in this year's draft.
According to the announcement, the contract is four years long with a fifth-year option.
With Floyd signing, the Bears have agreed to terms with eight of their nine draft picks, defensive end Jonathan Bullard being the lone unsigned member of the 2016 draft class.
Bears' move away from Forte part of change in run-game philosophy.
By John Mullin
The team announced Friday afternoon that it agreed to terms with Leonard Floyd, the linebacker out of Georgia the Bears selected with the No. 9 pick in this year's draft.
According to the announcement, the contract is four years long with a fifth-year option.
With Floyd signing, the Bears have agreed to terms with eight of their nine draft picks, defensive end Jonathan Bullard being the lone unsigned member of the 2016 draft class.
Bears' move away from Forte part of change in run-game philosophy.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Bears’ decision to move on from Matt Forte, the No. 2 running back in franchise history behind only Walter Payton in yardage, was not necessarily an easy one. It was, however, unanimous at Halas Hall, sources told CSNChicago.com. And it was also part of a significant deeper change in the main operating principle underpinning the Bears’ rushing offense.
Depending upon what Forte does with the New York Jets — and for how long — the decision might be open to question. Few NFL decisions aren’t.
But the Bears’ offense under John Fox and new coordinator Dowell Loggains was clearly going away from what Forte was accustomed to — a true featured back with a relief-back in the form of a Chester Taylor/Marion Barber/Michael Bush — and moving onto a true use of two backs in the fashion that Fox’s Denver Broncos offenses used them.
The change will be more than just a few carries. Forte lost carries last season to Jeremy Langford and Ka'Deem Carey. This is different.
Instead of Forte and an understudy, as the de facto rushing offense has been since Forte was drafted in 2008, the Bears this offseason made the decision to emphasize the run even more under Loggains, and that has meant something other than simply more carries for Forte’s understudy.
For perspective purposes: Last season Forte missed three full games due to a knee injury but still totaled 276 touches (carries plus targets) to 236 combined for Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey. When Forte returned from the three-game injury break, the offense had changed. Forte had four 20-carry games in the first six. He had one over the final six.
Forte did not appear publicly to genuinely embrace the job-sharing approach as Langford’s carries matched and in cases exceeded his own. Whether he would have been on board with ceding even more meaningful time to a co-back is another matter that would have been open to question, though any suspicions that direction are now moot.
(If Forte would have had problems with younger backs rising, he would not have been the first; Thomas Jones ultimately demanded a trade after the Lovie Smith Bears drafted Cedric Benson to broaden the run game.)
Regardless, the true multi-back system will be a change for the Bears, harking back perhaps to the Bears building their run game on two starter-grade backs in Benson and Jones. The Bears’ unsuccessful attempt to bring in C.J. Anderson from Denver suggests less a no-confidence vote in either Carey or Langford than a measure of the commitment to both competition and a depth chart with meaning past the top one or even two names. The Bears have used mid-round picks on running backs in three straight drafts (Carey, Langford, Jordan Howard this year), making the same point the Anderson interest did.
And that’s how Langford took the Howard selection to a position that where confidence in him was one of the reasons the organization was OK with parting with Forte.
“I really didn’t think too much of (the Howard pick),” Langford said. “I know it’s just competition. That’s what brings a lot of running backs, a lot of positions, to push themselves even more. Competition is always a good thing, and playing in the NFL, there’s always going to be competition, so you can’t really become too complacent as a player.”
“Complacent” wasn’t a word anyone was likely to apply to Langford, and certainly to Carey, who played his way up from a roster bubble at the end of training camp last year. And Howard as a fifth-round rookie isn’t guaranteed anything for awhile in training camp except reps with the 2s or 3s, with Jacquizz Rodgers also re-signed after an injury shortened 2015.
Loggains has been dealt a hand without an ace like Forte but with what he and the organization think can be three or four kings, depending on roster decisions at the end of August.
“We like where Jeremy’s at,” Loggains said. “He needs to continue to develop. There’s things he can do a better job of in the passing game, but we still like our other backs. Ka’Deem Carey finished strong for us last year. We obviously drafted a back. We’re excited about getting Jacquizz Rodgers back as well.”
Depending upon what Forte does with the New York Jets — and for how long — the decision might be open to question. Few NFL decisions aren’t.
But the Bears’ offense under John Fox and new coordinator Dowell Loggains was clearly going away from what Forte was accustomed to — a true featured back with a relief-back in the form of a Chester Taylor/Marion Barber/Michael Bush — and moving onto a true use of two backs in the fashion that Fox’s Denver Broncos offenses used them.
The change will be more than just a few carries. Forte lost carries last season to Jeremy Langford and Ka'Deem Carey. This is different.
Instead of Forte and an understudy, as the de facto rushing offense has been since Forte was drafted in 2008, the Bears this offseason made the decision to emphasize the run even more under Loggains, and that has meant something other than simply more carries for Forte’s understudy.
For perspective purposes: Last season Forte missed three full games due to a knee injury but still totaled 276 touches (carries plus targets) to 236 combined for Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey. When Forte returned from the three-game injury break, the offense had changed. Forte had four 20-carry games in the first six. He had one over the final six.
Forte did not appear publicly to genuinely embrace the job-sharing approach as Langford’s carries matched and in cases exceeded his own. Whether he would have been on board with ceding even more meaningful time to a co-back is another matter that would have been open to question, though any suspicions that direction are now moot.
(If Forte would have had problems with younger backs rising, he would not have been the first; Thomas Jones ultimately demanded a trade after the Lovie Smith Bears drafted Cedric Benson to broaden the run game.)
Regardless, the true multi-back system will be a change for the Bears, harking back perhaps to the Bears building their run game on two starter-grade backs in Benson and Jones. The Bears’ unsuccessful attempt to bring in C.J. Anderson from Denver suggests less a no-confidence vote in either Carey or Langford than a measure of the commitment to both competition and a depth chart with meaning past the top one or even two names. The Bears have used mid-round picks on running backs in three straight drafts (Carey, Langford, Jordan Howard this year), making the same point the Anderson interest did.
And that’s how Langford took the Howard selection to a position that where confidence in him was one of the reasons the organization was OK with parting with Forte.
“I really didn’t think too much of (the Howard pick),” Langford said. “I know it’s just competition. That’s what brings a lot of running backs, a lot of positions, to push themselves even more. Competition is always a good thing, and playing in the NFL, there’s always going to be competition, so you can’t really become too complacent as a player.”
“Complacent” wasn’t a word anyone was likely to apply to Langford, and certainly to Carey, who played his way up from a roster bubble at the end of training camp last year. And Howard as a fifth-round rookie isn’t guaranteed anything for awhile in training camp except reps with the 2s or 3s, with Jacquizz Rodgers also re-signed after an injury shortened 2015.
Loggains has been dealt a hand without an ace like Forte but with what he and the organization think can be three or four kings, depending on roster decisions at the end of August.
“We like where Jeremy’s at,” Loggains said. “He needs to continue to develop. There’s things he can do a better job of in the passing game, but we still like our other backs. Ka’Deem Carey finished strong for us last year. We obviously drafted a back. We’re excited about getting Jacquizz Rodgers back as well.”
Team-first approach would benefit Alshon Jeffery and Bears.
By Phil Ottochian
(Photo/Bearswire.com)
Jeffery has skipped all of the team’s voluntary workouts and organized team activities so far this offseason. His agent says there is not a contract dispute and that the receiver will show up for all mandatory activities when they begin next month.
Yet, Jeffery chooses to train away from the team, which in turn does send a selfish message to the club. This is agent talk, to say we need a long-term contract and we are going to walk the line to remind the team that he wants a new deal. He had no problems going to OTAs for his first four years. It’s no coincidence he’s not there now.
This is the wrong way to go about being a big-time player and one of the leaders of the franchise going forward. Voluntary workouts, OTAs and just about anytime you get to be around coaches and teammates is an opportunity for you to show your value.
The coaches, general managers and NFL all salivate over players who show up — leaders who put the team first and know their value is already established. They show other players the kind of effort and establish the kind of culture that John Fox keeps preaching about in the locker room.
The Bears have become one of the younger teams in the league, so it is all the more important that their established players and leaders show to the younger players that they are committed to the blue, orange and white. Despite the rhetoric in the media, this means something to a coach who prides himself on going old school and looking for old-school players.
This little hiccup says to young guys who then launch themselves in their career that it’s OK to be away from the team.
This is not a shot or a dig at Jeffery. He’s doing what he thinks is right. It is just recognizing that this is a left turn when the team is trying to turn right at culture change. Send a message to the team and the players that you are with them 100-percent.
Jeffery has failed to do what is best for the team, and sometimes when that happens, the team has hesitation or pause on doing what is best for the player. The McCaskeys aren’t cheap, and the team clearly values Jeffery to the tune of almost $15 million dollars, which is not a number to bat an eye at. Jeffery should put the team first and join them at Halas Hall while his agent wraps up long-term contract talks.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Thirteen Blackhawks land on finalized World Cup of Hockey rosters.
By CSN Staff
Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger and defenseman Ville Pokka were added to Team Sweden and Team Finland, respectively, as team rosters were completed for the World Cup of Hockey on Friday.
Christian Ehrhoff, who was traded to the Blackhawks during the season, was added to Team Europe.
Nine Blackhawks were already chosen for their respective country’s teams back in March: Corey Crawford, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith (Team Canada), Patrick Kane (USA), Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin (Russia), Teuvo Teravainen (Finland), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden) and Marian Hossa (Team Europe).
Michal Kempny, a defenseman the Blackhawks signed earlier this week, was also named to Team Czech Republic in March.
The World Cup of Hockey will be held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 in Toronto.
Christian Ehrhoff, who was traded to the Blackhawks during the season, was added to Team Europe.
Nine Blackhawks were already chosen for their respective country’s teams back in March: Corey Crawford, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith (Team Canada), Patrick Kane (USA), Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin (Russia), Teuvo Teravainen (Finland), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden) and Marian Hossa (Team Europe).
Michal Kempny, a defenseman the Blackhawks signed earlier this week, was also named to Team Czech Republic in March.
The World Cup of Hockey will be held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 in Toronto.
Phillies swept out of Wrigley with Cubs youth movement that includes Ben Zobrist.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Joe Maddon laughed when a reporter mentioned the sense of renewal the older Cubs players are feeling now after signing here as free agents, enjoying life on a young team with the best record in baseball and the vibrant atmosphere in Wrigleyville.
“They’ve been born again?” Maddon said. “That’s because they’re around Zobrist.”
Maddon can smirk because he knows Ben Zobrist’s journey to the big leagues as well as anyone after managing the Tampa Bay Rays for nine seasons. Zobrist, the son of a minister, grew up in downstate Illinois, played at Olivet Nazarene University and helps organize chapel services for his teammates.
But even Maddon hasn’t seen Zobrist play at a higher level than right now, watching this hot streak continue during Sunday afternoon’s 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in front of 41,575 at Wrigley Field.
Zobrist launched a three-run homer off Vince Velasquez, the talented 23-year-old right-hander who began the day with a 2.75 ERA, a 16-strikeout, complete-game shutout on his resume and a prominent spot in Philadelphia’s rebuilding plan.
That third-inning shot flew out toward the right-field bleachers, bouncing into and out of the basket, extending Zobrist’s hitting streak to 15 games, giving him 34 consecutive starts where he’s reached base safely and leading to a three-game sweep of the Phillies (26-24).
Zobrist needed to spend parts of three years with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate before finally establishing himself as an everyday player for the Rays during his age-28/All-Star season in 2009.
Now Zobrist is getting “Benjamin Button” references for his age-reversing start to this season.
“Do I look younger?” said Zobrist, who turned 35 last week. “It’s a matter of just continuing to grow and mature as a hitter. You got to keep doing that. No matter how old you are, you’ve never arrived in this game. This game humbles you quick and you got to try to stay on top of it.”
That’s why the Cubs wanted Zobrist’s switch-hitting presence in the middle of their lineup, making the Starlin Castro-for-Adam Warren trade with the New York Yankees during the winter meetings and signing the game’s premier super-utility guy to a four-year, $56 million contract.
“I’m just glad he’s on my side now,” said Jon Lester, who regularly faced Zobrist while pitching for the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. “When you have guys that can not only hit for power, but can extend at-bats, it makes it very difficult.
“This guy doesn’t strike out a lot. He walks a ton. It seems like he’s always putting the ball in play. (We) have a guy that can switch-hit and do (all those things) in different parts of the order.
“It just makes our lineup that much longer. It makes the pitcher work even harder.”
Zobrist probably won’t win the National League batting title – he’s now hitting .351 – and he can’t keep getting on base around 45 percent of the time. But the Cubs have clearly felt the effects from his age-defying start.
“Probably the best I’ve ever had, to be honest,” Zobrist said. “I’ve had some good stretches where I got a lot of hits. But as far as feeling comfortable, seeing the ball, putting good swings on the ball, this is probably the best it’s been for any three-, four-week stretch of time.
“You ride it out as long as you can.”
John Lackey has been exactly what Cubs needed.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Admit it, Cubs fans, part of you didn’t like the John Lackey deal, not after watching him pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals and hearing about his reputation with the Boston Red Sox.
Or at least Cubs Twitter didn’t automatically hail this as another genius move for Theo Epstein’s front office when Lackey’s two-year, $32 million agreement leaked before the winter meetings even started at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
But Lackey has been exactly what the Cubs needed, a snarling personality on the mound and a stabilizing presence in the middle of their rotation. Plus that big-game experience should come in handy for a team that will wake up on Memorial Day with the best record in baseball (34-14).
Lackey shut down the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field, throwing seven innings in a 7-2 victory that completed a three-game sweep of a big-market team in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild.
There really wasn’t much suspense for the holiday-weekend crowd of 41,575. Lackey (5-2, 3.16 ERA) had a seven-run lead with two outs in the seventh inning when he gave up his first and only run – a homer to Tyler Goeddel – and that now makes him 8-for-10 in quality starts in a Cubs uniform.
Just look at how much the Cardinals have missed Lackey’s ability to eat up innings, beginning Sunday with a 4.48 rotation ERA that ranked 11th out of the National League’s 15 teams and now falling 9.5 games behind the Cubs in the division.
White Sox bullpen falters again as Royals complete sweep.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Welcome to Kansas City, where all the impossibly bad things that could happen to the White Sox seem to materialize.
The White Sox bullpen coughed up a lead for a third consecutive game on Sunday afternoon and a miserable losing streak reached six games with a 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals in front of 36,624 at Kauffman Stadium.
Chris Sale was in line for his 10th win in 11 tries until the Royals rallied for three eighth-inning runs against Nate Jones and Matt Albers.
Instead of achieving what would have been a defining sweep of Kansas City, the White Sox were swept and head to New York with no answers on how to rediscover the winning ways that led them to victories in 23 of their first 33 games. The bullpen allowed 14 runs during the three-game sweep.
Just as they had on the previous two days, Kansas City’s bats woke up late Sunday.
After scoring six times in their final three at-bats on Friday and an improbable seven more in a ninth-inning rally on Saturday, they immediately put pressure on Jones, who allowed a run Friday.
Trailing by two, Lorenzo Cain brought the crowd to life with an opposite-field solo homer on a 3-2 pitch from Jones, a booming shot to make it 4-3. Eric Hosmer then scooted a 2-2 slider down the left-field line for a double. Jones walked Kendrys Morales and Paulo Orlando singled to load the bases. Brett Eibner walked to force in the tying run and Cheslor Cuthbert’s infield single off Albers put the Royals ahead.
Another stunning failure by the bullpen snuffed out a stopper-esque start by Chris Sale, who had the White Sox in position to end their streak.
Sale’s defense did its part to help out early.
What could have been a disastrous first inning ended with a spectacular double play by Austin Jackson. Jackson — who later exited the game with an undisclosed injury — raced back to make an over-the-head grab to rob Morales and then fired a strike to Tyler Saladino, whose perfect relay throw to first doubled off Hosmer. Earlier in the inning, Saladino ranged far to his left and fired to first to retire Alcides Escobar.
Melky Cabrera also turned in a gem in the second inning, throwing out Eibner as he tried to stretch a single into a double. Finally, Adam Eaton made his glove’s presence felt with a sliding grab to rob Whit Merrifield to end the third.
Those contributions helped Sale navigate some difficult waters against a team that has challenged him the past few seasons. Despite a 2.84 career ERA, Sale entered the start with a 7-9 mark against the Royals. He certainly looked as if he were headed for a 10th defeat in the first inning when Merrifield singled and the Royals capitalized on a dropped pop up by Jose Abreu as he slammed into the dugout railing. With new life, Cain ripped the next Sale pitch to deep center for an RBI double and he scored on Hosmer’s RBI single to make it 2-0.
The team’s most consistent force all season, Sale pitched out of big jams in the fourth and seventh innings, the latter coming with him at the 115-pitch mark.
Whereas some of his rotation mates have struggled, the lineup has experienced slumbers and the bullpen has had issues for the past three weeks, Sale has continued to deliver consistency in all but one start.
Sale allowed two earned runs and seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings. He threw strikes on 80 of 118 pitches.
Though the White Sox offense didn’t get a ton of early results, they made Edinson Volquez work.
The Sox pushed through for a second-inning run on three straight singles by Abreu, Brett Lawrie and Dioner Navarro.
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, Avisail Garcia sparked a go-ahead rally with a one-out walk. Saladino doubled to put two in scoring position. Eaton tied it with an RBI groundout and Jackson’s two-out single put the White Sox up by a run. Jackson’s seventh-inning, bases-loaded sac fly gave Sale and the White Sox breathing room as he made it 4-2. Had it not been for a spectacular diving grab by Orlando, Jackson may have had extra bases.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Scenarios where the Chicago Bulls trade up in the 2016 NBA Draft.
By Vijay Vemu
(Photo/Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
Let's craft up a scenario where the Bulls trade up in the draft.
The 14 spot offers a lot of options for the Bulls, they can pick from a handful of players and the mock draft experts show that the Bulls can go a number of different routes when it comes to their draft pick. But apparently the Bulls are looking at another option, trading up.
According to reports from the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson a few weeks ago, the Bulls are looking to draft a point guard. The Bulls are looking towards the future and with Derrick Rose entering his final year of his contract, it seems clear that the Bulls and Rose are headed towards a potential split next summer.
One name the Bulls are really interested in is Providence guard Kris Dunn. He was outstanding for the Friars as he averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game and led them to the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. Dunn would be a great fit for the Bulls as his size and athleticism can help on defense and he can score the ball. But there is one problem: Dunn is probably going to be gone way before the Bulls pick.
I'm not saying the Bulls should trade up, as I personally think that they shouldn't. But let's take a look at how the Bulls could possibly trade their way into a higher pick.
Who would they trade with? Realistically there are about two teams that the Bulls could pull off a trade with. Those two teams are Boston and the Sacramento. Both have their sets of positives and negatives when it comes to trades.
Boston:
The Celtics are loaded with trade assets. Players such as Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, and Marcus Smart are all on the table, and GM Danny Ainge isn't afraid to pull the trigger if it means having a star come to Boston. Although the Celtics offer a plethora of options, Chicago will likely have to trade away their best player, Jimmy Butler, for this trade to work.. Considering the Bulls reportedly making amends with Butler, and the fact that they sent him to be the representative for Chicago at the draft lottery, it seems unlikely that they would move him. But this is the Bulls we are talking about and anything can happen.
Boston receives Jimmy Butler
Chicago receives : #3 pick, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder
Since Boston has three picks in this draft already, Chicago won't need to throw in their #14 pick considering how much they are losing in Butler.
Chicago would be receiving two solid players in Bradley and Crowder. Both are very solid defenders as Bradley is one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. They can give you some offensive output as well and depth at the shooting guard and small forward position. But obviously, the real question is Chicago willing to start a full-on rebuild, which would be underway by trading Butler.
Sacramento:
The Bulls and the Kings were reportedly in discussions at the trade deadline for a deal that would have sent Pau Gasol to Sacramento in exchange for Kosta Koufus and Ben McLemore, but the front office decided that this roster with Gasol was good enough to make the playoffs. The move completely backfired on them and now with Gasol likely opting out of his contract, the Bulls missed a golden opportunity to get something in exchange for the big man.
The one main problem with a potential draft-day deal with the Kings is that they pick 8th and Chicago would still need a miracle to have Dunn drop down to them. But the chances of him dropping to 8th is much better than him dropping all the way to 14th. If the Bulls decide that Dunn is not their guy, then they can still try and trade into the top 10 to get a talented impact player, but with the options they have at #14 it might not be the smartest move.
Sacramento receives the 14th pick, the 2017 protected pick (originally owned by the Kings), Tony Snell, and Taj Gibson
Bulls receive #8 pick and Kosta Koufus
Unlike the trade with Boston, Chicago won't be getting a lot of players/picks back to move up 6 spots. They will get Koufos, who was linked to them at the trade deadline. He is an ok backup center and can score somewhat around the win. Not a pure scorer at the rim, but will give the Bulls some solid minutes.
Chicago would give back that Kings pick, which would likely turn into two 2nd round picks a 2017 2nd round pick anyway as it's the last year where the Kings can finish out of the bottom 10. Trading Gibson will be hard but it may be a move that Chicago might have to make. With a younger frontcourt, Gibson looks expendable despite his leadership abilities and defense. Trading Tony Snell would be a positive, so why not throw him in there.
This looks to be a key offseason for the Bulls and the first question they will be facing is the possibility of trading up in the draft. Will Chicago pull the trigger?
Golf: I got a club for that..... Jordan Spieth claims elusive first Texas win at Dean & DeLuca Invitational.
Sporting News
Jordan Spieth earned his first PGA Tour victory in his home state of Texas by outdueling Harris English at Colonial Country Club Sunday for the Dean & DeLuca Invitational crown.
The Dallas native entered this week with three runner-up finishes in his home state of Texas, but had failed to secure a victory. That all changed Sunday, when Spieth chipped in for birdie on the par-4 17th.
The man of the hour.#QuickHits https://t.co/t3jbQOCtYh— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 29, 2016
That shot gave Spieth a two-shot lead with one hole to play.
Meanwhile, English was in the 18th fairway after he hit a tee shot that looked like a dead-pull, but somehow stayed in the left fairway.
He was unable to apply Spieth with any pressure after he left his second shot 28 feet short and had to settle for par. English, who started the day with an eagle on the first hole, and was 5 under through 11 holes, played the next seven holes 1 over to finish in second at 14 under.
Spieth calmly hit his tee shot in the fairway on 18 and pumped his fist as his second shot landed safely on the putting surface. From there, he drained a 40-foot putt to win in style at 17 under.
Meanwhile, English was in the 18th fairway after he hit a tee shot that looked like a dead-pull, but somehow stayed in the left fairway.
He was unable to apply Spieth with any pressure after he left his second shot 28 feet short and had to settle for par. English, who started the day with an eagle on the first hole, and was 5 under through 11 holes, played the next seven holes 1 over to finish in second at 14 under.
Spieth calmly hit his tee shot in the fairway on 18 and pumped his fist as his second shot landed safely on the putting surface. From there, he drained a 40-foot putt to win in style at 17 under.
Just for good measure ...— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 29, 2016
Jordan Spieth wins in Texas!#QuickHits https://t.co/KCfmyNy5Ci
After parring all nine holes on the front nine, Spieth opened the back nine with three straight birdies. He bogeyed 13, but birdied 16, 17 and 18 to shoot a 5-under 30 on the inward nine.
This is Spieth's first PGA Tour win since the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January.
Webb Simpson and Texas-native Ryan Palmer shared third place at 13 under after firing 2-under 68s in the final round. Simpson got off to a shaky start, but rebounded with a 3-under 32 on the back.
Kyle Reifers finished fifth at 12 under after posting four rounds in the 60s.
This is Spieth's first PGA Tour win since the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January.
Webb Simpson and Texas-native Ryan Palmer shared third place at 13 under after firing 2-under 68s in the final round. Simpson got off to a shaky start, but rebounded with a 3-under 32 on the back.
Kyle Reifers finished fifth at 12 under after posting four rounds in the 60s.
Ariya Jutanugarn wins third consecutive LPGA event at Volvik Champ.
By Ryan Ballengee
Golf has a new superstar, and her name is Ariya Jutanugarn.
Actually, Jutanugarn has been a superstar since the start of May, but she capped off an incredible month on Sunday at the inaugural LPGA Volvik Championship by winning her third consecutive event, by five shots over Christina Kim at 15-under 273.
No player in LPGA history -- which dates back to 1950 -- has done what the 20-year-old Thai has accomplished in winning her first three titles in consecutive fashion.
Each of her first two wins, coming at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Alabama and the Kingsmill Championship in Virginia, were by one-stroke margins. Jutanugarn didn't have to sweat the final several holes this time around, making birdie on four of the last five holes to wrap up the win with a closing 67 at Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Jutanugarn's streak began after letting the LPGA's first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, slip through her grasp in April. She had the tournament in hand with three holes to play, ultimately fading before Lydia Ko took her second consecutive major title. Jutanugarn finished inside the top 20 in the three starts immediately after that loss before her current run. Now, she has an opportunity to avenge that major meltdown in her next start, which will be the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, starting in 10 days at Sahalee C.C. in Washington.
If Jutanugarn can win her first major, then she'll have an opportunity to tie the LPGA record for the most wins in a row. Both Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) have won five straight LPGA starts.
"INDIANAPOLIS 500": Alexander Rossi wins 100th Indy 500 in fuel mileage stunner.
By Tony DiZinno
(Photo/Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Alexander Rossi has won the 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil following a stunning strategy gamble from Bryan Herta and the Andretti Herta Autosport team that came good.
Rossi started 11th but his final lap of the race – the 14th he led on this day – was only at 179.784 mph to limp home on fuel.
Rossi is the first rookie to win since Helio Castroneves in 2001. The win is Andretti Autosport’s fifth as a team: the first as Forsythe/Green Racing in 1995 with second year driver Jacques Villeneuve, then Dan Wheldon in 2005, Dario Franchitti in 2007 (Andretti/Green Racing) and Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014 (Andretti Autosport).
The Manor reserve driver in Formula 1 has moved to IndyCar this year for the full season, following a late move in the offseason when a sponsor fell through and sidelined Gabby Chaves.
But Rossi has been one of the pleasant surprises of the season, and his month at Indianapolis was close to flawless. He didn’t make a mistake all month, took to the track well, understood how to handle it and drove controlled all month.
The win with Herta follows up when Chaves won Rookie of the Year honors here last year with 16th place.
It might be one of the most incredible stories in Indy history… since the last time the ‘500 featured a 100 as part of its name.
The 100th anniversary race in 2011, the 95th running, saw Wheldon steal the win on the last lap – also driving for Herta – when J.R. Hildebrand crashed in Turn 4.
But this day, Rossi hung around – quietly – in the lower regions of the top 10
Had Rossi not been able to make it home, the win could have fallen to his teammate Carlos Munoz. The driver of the No. 26 United Fiber & Data Honda was flying in the final stages but, like most of the field, needed a late race splash as the race ran green for the final 32 laps.
The same story applied for Josef Newgarden, in the No. 21 Preferred Freezer Chevrolet, who led 14 laps and was in the top three most of the race. He ended a hard luck third.
Tony Kanaan and Charlie Kimball completed the top five, both having done a great job to move up quietly from sixth row starting positions for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams.
Hildebrand contacted Helio Castroneves late in the race, which dislodged Castroneves’ left rear wheel pod and forced a replacement for the three-time Indianapolis 500 champion. While Hildebrand ended sixth, Castroneves lost his hopes and ended 11th.
Polesitter James Hinchcliffe led 27 laps and finished seventh, with Scott Dixon an anonymous eighth. Sebastien Bourdais and Will Power completed the top 10.
Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal were non-factors in 13th and 14th.
Two more of Andretti Autosport’s bullets – Ryan Hunter-Reay and Townsend Bell – led a combined 64 laps (Bell 12, RHR 52) but ended 24th and 21st respectively after colliding in pit lane.
Defending champion Juan Pablo Montoya was the first driver to crash out, having gone out on Lap 64.
Third in Indy 500 a bitter pill to swallow for Newgarden, ECR.
By Tony DiZinno
(Photo/Getty Images)
This month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was generally accepted that Josef Newgarden and the No. 21 Preferred Freezer Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing was best of the “Bowtie brigade.”
And the 25-year-old American was ready to unleash a full serving of awesome sauce on the field in Sunday’s 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil starting from second on the grid.
But despite running in the top three to five all day and leading 14 total laps – including Laps 179 to 181, 184 to 190 and 192 to 193 – Newgarden was one of most of the field who needed a late-race splash for fuel inside the final 10 laps.
It meant that Newgarden, along with runner-up Carlos Munoz, fell back behind rookie Alexander Rossi once Rossi’s Bryan Herta/Michael Andretti combo pack pulled off a strategic stunner to perfection and ran 36 laps on the final stint.
For Newgarden, third was his best career Indianapolis 500 result in five starts.
Yet in many ways, it was the worst feeling: a crushing disappointment knowing his first best chance to win this most prestigious of races had slipped away.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s really heartbreaking, to be honest,” he said in the post-race press conference. “The reason is because I think we had a car to win. I’m not saying we should have won the race definitely because we had the best car, I just think we had a car that could have won.
“What I wanted was an opportunity to try to race those guys at the end. We didn’t get that. That’s no fault to my guys. I think that’s just how the race fell. Sometimes it doesn’t fall your way. Today was a day it didn’t fall our way.”
Newgarden admitted that he was underwhelmed by the fuel conservation finish that allowed Rossi to pull it off. That being said, he said had he been in Rossi’s shoes, he’d have been OK with the outcome.
“I think if I was in Alex’s position, I’d be the happiest man in the world right now. I wouldn’t care how we won the damn race. We won the damn race. So that’s one part of it,” he acknowledged.
The thing was though, a Newgarden and Munoz shootout likely would have been a better show for the fans rather than the somewhat anticlimactic final lap. And again, that’s with no disrespect to what the No. 98 team achieved.
“Congratulations to Rossi and Honda. It’s a huge achievement to win around here,” he said, graciously, in defeat. “I just wish we had an opportunity to race those guys straight up at the end. I really think we would have had something for them if we could have gone flat out there at the end and tried to beat them straight up.
“Just proud to be here, though. Shoot, just having an opportunity to be here with as good of a car as I did, not many people experience that. Today was something new to me.”
Newgarden described his would-have-been strategy had it come down to a he-and-Munoz shootout.
Sort of.
“To be honest, I was going to wing it at the end,” he explained. “My priority was staying up front, going flat out, trying to get as much speed out of the car at the end of the race as possible. I thought we had to trim this thing to win it. We had a lot of downforce at the beginning. We tried to trim and trim and trim. My sole focus was, Let’s get to the last three, five laps and be up front, then I’ll do whatever I got to do at the end to win the thing.
“That kind of sounds silly. Well, didn’t you have a plan? Weren’t you thinking of a plan the whole race? I was. I was sticking to my priority of ‘Let’s get this car up front, the keep it there for the last five laps’. When we’re up there, we’re going to have a great shot at winning the thing.
“Really, you can’t predict what’s going to happen at the end of the race. I could see how Carlos was, I could see where he was good, where he was bad. I think he had a little bit more straight speed than us, which was going to be difficult to overcome. I was going to wing it on those last three to five laps and kind of feel out what I had to do to try to beat him, if he was the guy I had to actually race at the end.”
For Newgarden though, long regarded as America’s brightest IndyCar hope the last five years and on the heels of his best month ever at the Speedway, this was a particularly bitter pill to swallow.
He’s had some heartaches in his IndyCar career before – Long Beach and Mid-Ohio losses in 2014 come immediately to mind – but nothing like this.
“I don’t think I have a pity card to play. You could probably go through the list of guys that have nearly won this thing or that should have won the thing,” he said.
“This is really the first time I’ve ever felt like I could have won that race and it just didn’t happen. It’s really the first time I’ve ever felt that way.
“So it’s tough. I hope I have more opportunities to try to win it. You kind of feel special when you have a car that you think you can win and you got a shot to win the thing at the end. That’s kind of rare to get that opportunity and be in that spot.
“I’m thankful for that. I can’t be sour about it, like I said. There’s been a lot of guys that have had near misses around this place. It’s going to suck, but…
“The good thing is we race again next weekend. That kind of helps. I don’t have to go on the media tour, which I guess is a positive. I would have loved to do it if I won the race. I can rest a little bit now and go to Detroit and try to kick everyone’s ass again.
That's positive.”
NASCAR: Martin Truex Jr. leads all but 12 miles, wins Coca-Cola 600.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/yahoosports.com)
He more than won Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. He absolutely kicked everyone's butt. Truex set a NASCAR record for the most miles led in a Sprint Cup race as he led all but 12 of the 600 miles in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600.
Despite Truex's dominance, you can't fault yourself from wondering if Truex would fail to reach victory lane. After all, he hadn't won through the first 12 races of the year despite missing out on possible wins at Texas and Kansas, getting caught in a crash at the front of the field at Dover and losing the Daytona 500 in historic fashion.
Hell, Truex was whooping the field so much during the race that we came up with this bingo card of possible ways he could lose. He didn't.
"I had confidence, I had faith. I had confidence in my team. [Girlfriend Sherry Pollex] she gives me a lot of inspiration. We just keep fighting. We never give up. We never quit. We always keep digging."
It's the fourth win of Truex's career and his second in the last two seasons. He won at Pocono last July on his way to making the final round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He also becomes the fifth Joe Gibbs Racing driver to win this season alongside Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth.
OK, so Truex drives for Furniture Row Racing. But the team formed a technical alliance with JGR before the 2016 season and works so closely with the four-car team that it's essentially a satellite operation.
Kevin Harvick finished second and Jimmie Johnson finished third as they battled for the win in the "Non-Truex Jr." class. Johnson said he was incredibly impressed with Truex and his car after the two drivers battled for the lead on the race's final restart. Johnson tried to keep Truex pinched to the bottom but couldn't clear him.
Johnson almost got completely in front of Truex at one point down the backstretch but Truex simply motored on by.
"I kind of felt like he was playing with us," Johnson said. "He was so fast. I would flat-foot [turns] 1 and 2 and have a nose on him and we would drive right back by me into turn 3."
The win means Truex is virtually guaranteed a spot in the 16-driver Chase, though it would have been a major upset if he didn't make it anyway. Despite coming so agonizingly close to winning through the first third of the season, Truex still entered Sunday night's race ninth in the points standings.
NASCAR: Hamlin outduels Larson, Logano to win Charlotte Xfinity race.
By STEVE REED
It looked for a moment as if Kyle Larson would get his revenge on Joey Logano for beating him out last weekend to win the Sprint Cup All-Star race.
Hamlin passed Larson and Logano in overtime to win the Xfinity Series race Saturday on a hot and slick racetrack at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
''It was a second opportunity. I was hoping for that caution and we got it,'' Hamlin said.
Larson appeared to have victory in his sights after passing Logano with six laps remaining to take the lead. But Erik Jones had a tire go down with less than two laps to go, bringing out the yellow flag and forcing a two-lap overtime situation, prompting Larson's crew chief Mike Shiplett to throw up his hands in utter frustration.
''I'm disappointed - but I'm used to it by now,'' Larson said.
Larson and Logano, who were running 1-2, elected to stay on the track while Hamlin pitted for four tires.
The strategy proved correct for Hamlin.
Hamlin, who was sixth on the restart, first passed Larson, who got loose and hit the wall, and then Logano to win going away on fresh tires. Logano and Larson had run 40 laps on old tires and simply couldn't compete.
It was an impressive comeback for Hamlin, who was penalized earlier in the race for an uncontrolled tire and dropped from fourth to 13th. Hamlin didn't seem bothered by the setback, calmly telling his spotter ''cool'' on the radio when informed of the penalty.
Logano felt like he had enough to hold off Hamlin, but didn't.
''I thought if I can clear him I had a shot,'' Logano said. ''But what a fun race. It was really exciting at the end.''
Austin Dillon, who won both Xfinity Series races here last year, never led but wound up second. Logano was third, Cole Custer fourth and Justin Allgaier took fifth. Larson finished sixth.
Hamlin led 76 laps.
''Our car was just fast and that helps a lot when you have speed,'' Hamlin said of his ability to overcome the penalty.
The race got off to a slow start.
There were five cautions in the first 65 laps while workers looked to dry oil from the track.
Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler, both of whom had nine top 10 finishes this year and were among the pre-race favorites, were caught up in a wreck on lap 25. Suarez, who was running fifth, spun out and hit the wall after finding oil on the track in turn three, collecting Sadler in the crash.
Jones also hit the patch of oil and nicked the wall.
All three cars pitted multiple times as track officials cleaned up the track. Sadler and Suarez were able to stay on the lead lap, but Jones feel two laps behind and never challenged again.
WHO'S HOT: Hamlin has won four times in 12 races in the Xfinity Series.
WHO'S NOT: Matt DiBenedetto only made it through three laps before having to leave the race and finishing in last place.
KEEPING UP WITH JONES: Jones, the pole sitter, had won two races (Bristol and Dover) and earned $200,000 of Dash for Cash bonus money entering the race. But the 19-year-old's string of good fortune ended when he finished wrecked early - and then again late - and finished 31st.
THEY SAID IT: ''I'm always trying to compete with the Cup guys and you learn from them. I am trying to gain some respect and get better every single race I run,'' said Custer, who was the top finisher among non-Sprint Cup regulars.
UP NEXT: Pocono Raceway, June 4. The race marks the first time NASCAR's second-tier series will visit the state of Pennsylvania since Nazareth Speedway closed in 2004.
SOCCER: Fire unable to find winner in tie with Portland.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Getting a second goal is becoming a thing for the Chicago Fire.
A thing they aren't getting.
The Fire pushed for a go-ahead second goal against Portland on Saturday, but it never came. The team's inability to find a second goal, something the team hasn't scored since the season opener, meant they had to settle for a 1-1 tie against the Timbers.
In a lot of ways, the Fire played better. They outshot Portland 17-8, 6-2 in shots on target, and in the second half had rare extended stretches of possession. But they were still not able to break a halftime deadlock.
"It was just that we didn’t score that second goal, which was very important for us," coach Veljko Paunovic said. "We are building the momentum. We were close to winning this game today and we are happy with the performance.”
The Fire (2-5-5, 11 points) are now 2-2-3 in seven home matches.
Portland (4-6-4, 16 points) took the lead in the 18th minute when Diego Valeri took advantage of a poor Rodrigo Ramos clearance. Ramos' ball got caught up in the wind and stayed near the box. Valeri won the ball back and beat Sean Johnson from a tight angle, sliding a shot just inside the far post.
Almost immediately the Fire leveled the match through David Accam. Accam, making his first home start since the season opener, redirected a Kennedy Igboananike centering pass to tie things back up.
A thing they aren't getting.
The Fire pushed for a go-ahead second goal against Portland on Saturday, but it never came. The team's inability to find a second goal, something the team hasn't scored since the season opener, meant they had to settle for a 1-1 tie against the Timbers.
In a lot of ways, the Fire played better. They outshot Portland 17-8, 6-2 in shots on target, and in the second half had rare extended stretches of possession. But they were still not able to break a halftime deadlock.
"It was just that we didn’t score that second goal, which was very important for us," coach Veljko Paunovic said. "We are building the momentum. We were close to winning this game today and we are happy with the performance.”
The Fire (2-5-5, 11 points) are now 2-2-3 in seven home matches.
Portland (4-6-4, 16 points) took the lead in the 18th minute when Diego Valeri took advantage of a poor Rodrigo Ramos clearance. Ramos' ball got caught up in the wind and stayed near the box. Valeri won the ball back and beat Sean Johnson from a tight angle, sliding a shot just inside the far post.
Almost immediately the Fire leveled the match through David Accam. Accam, making his first home start since the season opener, redirected a Kennedy Igboananike centering pass to tie things back up.
“I know when he goes wide I need to be in the box," Accam said. "I know he has a good left foot also to put that ball in the box so I was in the right position when the ball came in.”
Another forward who could have joined the attack, Gilberto, was out for personal reasons. The Brazilian had played his best of the year last week.
The Fire had a strong wind at their backs in the second half and used it to keep the ball in Portland's half and extend the lead in shots they took into halftime. Despite being unable to get the win at home, multiple players claimed they are seeing progress in the team's performances.
"I think we’re finally putting full 90s together as a team," midfielder Matt Polster said. "I think during the beginning of the season we were getting used to each other. I think we put in good 65, 70 minutes of a game. As we’re growing as a team now I think we’re putting a full 90 together.”
Now the Fire go on break for the Copa America. The team will not train next week other than a fitness plan given to the players. The next match will be in the US Open Cup on June 15 with both location and opponent to be determined on June 1.
The next MLS match is June 18 at Philadelphia and the next MLS home match will be July 1 against San Jose.
David Accam is back and that's good for the Fire.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
David Accam is the Chicago Fire's best player and when he plays the team is better.
While that statement should be obvious to anyone who has watched the Fire on a regular basis this year, it is worth mentioning because of how much time Accam has missed this season.
Accam played a starring role in the team's 4-3 loss in the season opener. He had a goal and an assist. The next match he scored early in Orlando before the Fire were forced to defend while playing down a man due to a red card.
Then he got injured. Accam missed six games and the Fire scored four goals in those matches without him. After making two abbreviated appearances during the team's recent road trip, he was unable to play last week at home due to a suspension.
“It’s difficult for me because I’ve been through a lot in the last two months," Accam said. "For me I’m just happy to be on the pitch now and playing. It will take some time for me to get into match fitness and start going, but I’m happy with my performance today.”
Accam scored in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Portland. It was his first start at home since his barnstorming season debut back on March 6. It was also his first 90-minute outing since March 11.
Kennedy Igboananike assisted on the goal. The partnership in the attack between Igboananike and Accam is one the Fire needs to become a fine-tuned weapon for the team to have a successful season.
“I think what we are looking for is to have associations in the team and the two of them work very good together," coach Veljko Paunovic said. "We could see that in the first game when David was fit, also in the second game until we had the (red card). Since then David was injured, but David is very important. Not only because of his individual qualities, but he improves our team in how our team feels better on the field and offensively with more potential."
Accam had five shots, two on goal, and Igboananike had four shots, three on goal. Accam thinks the team is starting to improve its on-field chemistry.
“I think so, especially in the front three," the Ghanaian said. "We are creating chances. Last week we created a lot of chances and today, too.
“In the last two games we started to feel the way we wanted to play and for me it’s been much better. We conceded one goal in the last three games and we created I think more than five clear chances so for me it’s getting better.”
Ronaldo scores clincher as Real Madrid wins the UEFA Champions League in penalty kicks.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the match-clinching penalty kick after 120 minutes couldn’t separate Real and Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday in Milan.
Sergio Ramos scored an early goal before Yannick Carrasco equalized late, and it took penalty kicks to separate Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid after 120 minutes and a 1-1 score line.
Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty kick early in the second half, and Juanfran was the only player to miss in kicks.
Here’s how the kicks played out, 5-3 in favor of Real:
Real Madrid — Lucas Vasquez scores
Atletico Madrid — Griezmann scores
RM — Marcelo scores
AM — Gabi scores
RM — Gareth Bale scores
AM — Saul scores
RM — Ramos scores
AM — Juanfran hits the post
RM — Ronaldo scores
Sergio Ramos scored an early goal before Yannick Carrasco equalized late, and it took penalty kicks to separate Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid after 120 minutes and a 1-1 score line.
Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty kick early in the second half, and Juanfran was the only player to miss in kicks.
Here’s how the kicks played out, 5-3 in favor of Real:
Real Madrid — Lucas Vasquez scores
Atletico Madrid — Griezmann scores
RM — Marcelo scores
AM — Gabi scores
RM — Gareth Bale scores
AM — Saul scores
RM — Ramos scores
AM — Juanfran hits the post
RM — Ronaldo scores
Chippy was the name of the game early, and Atleti clearly wanted to do whatever it took to perturb and even wound Real.
Jan Oblak made a fantastic instinctive save on a sixth minute free kick from Gareth Bale that Casemiro redirected on frame.
Real’s Dani Carvajal picked up an 11th minute yellow card for a late slide tackle on Antoine Griezmann.
The opener came in the 15th minute, as Gareth Bale flicked Toni Kroos’ header onto the doorstep and Ramos ever-so-slightly redirected the chance across the line. He may have also been offside, but the goal counts.
The 33rd minute found Griezmann trying his luck on goal, as Keylor Navas caught the ball for his first real save of the day. Griezmann was firing at will, though the majority of his chances were off frame.
It stayed 1-0 into the break, but changed soon afterwards.
Combustible defender Pepe stamped on Fernando Torres’ ankle in the box, but Griezmann cranked the ensuing penalty attempt off the cross bar.
Savic just missed being the toe to Diego Godin and Griezmann’s tic-tac when his left-footed tap went wide of the frame in the 55th minute.
Saul knifed a shot wide from the center of the box with a fantastic athletic shot, as Atleti kept control of the play but not the scoreboard.
Real countered with a rare chance in the 70th minute, but Oblak stopped an onrushing Benzema point blank to keep the deficit 1-0.
Cristiano Ronaldo was fairly anonymous for most of the match, and saw Oblak stop his first real shot in the 78th minute. Gareth Bale then tried a cheeky finish that failed when perhaps an easy shot would’ve done the trick. Would it haunt them?
Sure enough, Atleti dialed up an equalized moments later when Carrasco slid onto the end of Juanfran’s cross to make it 1-1 in the 80th.
We headed to extra time, where an advantage was distinctly in Atletico Madrid’s hands. Diego Simeone had used just one substitution to Real’s three, as Zinedine Zidane exhausted his options in trying to close out his rivals.
The first 15 minutes saw Atleti have some success working down the right side, but Real had the better of the dangerous chances aside from Griezmann flashing an overhead kick high off a corner, the last act of the frame.
The second segment was just as Real-framed, and several chances fell to a trigger shy Lucas. Aside from more silliness from Pepe, the only conclusion was penalty kicks.
Klinsmann excited about USMNT’s promising youngsters ahead of Copa America.
By Andy Edwards
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
The U.S. national team’s last 135 minutes of game time — the final 45 minutes of a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, followed by Saturday’s 4-0 dismantling of Bolivia here at Children’s Mercy Park — have supporters across the country harboring unfamiliar feelings these days: cautious optimism ahead of this week’s 2016 Copa America Centenario.
It’s the best three-half stretch Jurgen Klinsmann’s side has enjoyed (against top-80 opposition, according FIFA world rankings) since … well, come to think of it, I’m not really sure when. In the last 24 months, the Yanks have lost away to Guatemala, drawn away to Trinidad & Tobago, lost the CONCACAF Cup to Mexico on home soil, finished fourth at the Gold Cup on home soil, and wrapped up 2014 with just one win in their last eight games of the calendar year, including three of four World Cup fixtures.
(When you write it all out like that, it sounds really bad. It’s been really bad.)
Yet, here stands the USMNT, five days from kicking off the centennial edition of Copa America, and a few pieces are beginning to fall into place for Klinsmann and Co. I waxed poetically about Saturday’s victory and all the positives it highlighted.
Listening to Klinsmann and a handful of players speak after the game, there was a similar sense of confidence among the men on the field that a workable, sustainable formula had indeed been realized.
“The atmosphere is really good,” the 1990 World Cup-winning German said. “Fine-tuning elements, every training session helps you. I think no team will come into Copa America 100 percent or perfectly prepared. … It’s a bit tricky.”
Perhaps no player on the USMNT’s Copa America roster has come further under Klinsmann’s tutelage, and in such a short period of time, than striker Bobby Wood, who has scored all five of his international goals inside the last five months and on Saturday assisted on Gyasi Zardes’s strike for a 3-0 lead with a quality cut-back cross from the end line — Wood, speaking after the game:
It’s the USMNT’s current crop of youngsters like Wood, the 23-year-old now-Hamburg man, that gives American fans hope beyond Copa America with an eye toward the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The average age of the scorers of the USMNT’s last eight goals: 23 years old. No one is more excited by that progression than Klinsmann, who raved about Christian Pulisic after the 17-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history on Saturday.
“What is wonderful to see is the growth of [the young] players over these last one or two years — how they improved their game, how they’re becoming more adult[-like], obviously stronger physically, but also becoming more confident,” he said of players like Wood, Zardes, DeAndre Yedlin and John Brooks, among others. “This is a process. The process is never-ending, but the first couple of years when you grow, it’s a big learning curve. How far this process takes us into Copa America, we’ll take it one step at a time. We put the pieces together the best way that we get the right results.
“I think over the next couple of weeks, they will definitely get their opportunities to play minutes, leave an impression, and to push more and more the established players toward the edge, which is their job. It will be a very intense and interesting next couple of weeks.”
(When you write it all out like that, it sounds really bad. It’s been really bad.)
Yet, here stands the USMNT, five days from kicking off the centennial edition of Copa America, and a few pieces are beginning to fall into place for Klinsmann and Co. I waxed poetically about Saturday’s victory and all the positives it highlighted.
Listening to Klinsmann and a handful of players speak after the game, there was a similar sense of confidence among the men on the field that a workable, sustainable formula had indeed been realized.
“The atmosphere is really good,” the 1990 World Cup-winning German said. “Fine-tuning elements, every training session helps you. I think no team will come into Copa America 100 percent or perfectly prepared. … It’s a bit tricky.”
Perhaps no player on the USMNT’s Copa America roster has come further under Klinsmann’s tutelage, and in such a short period of time, than striker Bobby Wood, who has scored all five of his international goals inside the last five months and on Saturday assisted on Gyasi Zardes’s strike for a 3-0 lead with a quality cut-back cross from the end line — Wood, speaking after the game:
“I think as a team, we’re pretty confident,” Wood said. “We wanted to continue growing as a team with each game before the tournament. With these results, I think we did a good job to be confident going into the Colombia game. … I actually think two games ago, we were still pretty confident. Maybe the outside is putting pressure on us, but as a team inside the locker room, we’re pretty confident to do well. I think everyone is pretty hungry for Copa to start.”
It’s the USMNT’s current crop of youngsters like Wood, the 23-year-old now-Hamburg man, that gives American fans hope beyond Copa America with an eye toward the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The average age of the scorers of the USMNT’s last eight goals: 23 years old. No one is more excited by that progression than Klinsmann, who raved about Christian Pulisic after the 17-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history on Saturday.
“What is wonderful to see is the growth of [the young] players over these last one or two years — how they improved their game, how they’re becoming more adult[-like], obviously stronger physically, but also becoming more confident,” he said of players like Wood, Zardes, DeAndre Yedlin and John Brooks, among others. “This is a process. The process is never-ending, but the first couple of years when you grow, it’s a big learning curve. How far this process takes us into Copa America, we’ll take it one step at a time. We put the pieces together the best way that we get the right results.
“I think over the next couple of weeks, they will definitely get their opportunities to play minutes, leave an impression, and to push more and more the established players toward the edge, which is their job. It will be a very intense and interesting next couple of weeks.”
NCAAFB: Can Mike Sinlgetary save Baylor football?
By Kevin McGuire
By Kevin McGuire
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
In the days after Baylor rocked the football world with the firing of head coach Art Briles amid alarming controversy and the likely intent to wipe the slate clean after getting through the 2016 college football season, there is much anticipation to see who steps in to take over the suddenly startled Baylor football program. Whoever steps in to be the new permanent head coach in the years to come will do so knowing he is taking on an unenviable task at a program that has never had things come served on a silver platter.
Maybe Mike Singletary is just the man for the job?
Singletary’s name has come up at times in the recent days as the guessing game begins for figuring out who takes on the role of head coach of the Bears. Singletary should be Baylor’s next head coach, writes Jarrett Bell for USA Today. He is also already receiving some high praise and a recommendation from another familiar name in the football world, Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow.
“Experience. Reputation. Ties to the school. He’s a good fit,” Winslow said. “They need to restore their credibility, as a school and with their football program. To do that, you need to change the whole culture.”
Hiring Singletary would be a drastic change of culture for the Baylor program, which has come under fire for operating under a terribly misguided football culture for the sake of winning games. Singletary is hard-nosed and would set a brand new tone and establish a new order at Baylor. Singletary has never coached in college football but has some experience at the NFL level. The former Super Bowl champion linebacker with the Chicago Bears was a head coach for the San Francisco 49ers for the 2009 and 2010 seasons before being removed in favor of then-Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh. The majority of Singletary’s coaching career as been filled as an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens, 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.
A Baylor alum and member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Singletary would likely be well received by the Baylor community from the start. He would also command a level of respect from day one given his football background, but he would most certainly need a good offensive-minded staff around him to help balance out his defensive focus.
For now, Singletary is sitting on the sideline and hoping his university sorts out its issues to establish a firm path going forward. He has not shut down the idea of being a part of that plan, but he is not actively and publicly throwing himself at the front of the line for an interview.
“The most important thing for me to do is just wait and see what they’re thinking,” Singletary said. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Michigan’s epic summer of satellite camps is here.
By Kevin McGuire
Maybe Mike Singletary is just the man for the job?
Singletary’s name has come up at times in the recent days as the guessing game begins for figuring out who takes on the role of head coach of the Bears. Singletary should be Baylor’s next head coach, writes Jarrett Bell for USA Today. He is also already receiving some high praise and a recommendation from another familiar name in the football world, Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow.
“Experience. Reputation. Ties to the school. He’s a good fit,” Winslow said. “They need to restore their credibility, as a school and with their football program. To do that, you need to change the whole culture.”
Hiring Singletary would be a drastic change of culture for the Baylor program, which has come under fire for operating under a terribly misguided football culture for the sake of winning games. Singletary is hard-nosed and would set a brand new tone and establish a new order at Baylor. Singletary has never coached in college football but has some experience at the NFL level. The former Super Bowl champion linebacker with the Chicago Bears was a head coach for the San Francisco 49ers for the 2009 and 2010 seasons before being removed in favor of then-Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh. The majority of Singletary’s coaching career as been filled as an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens, 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.
A Baylor alum and member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Singletary would likely be well received by the Baylor community from the start. He would also command a level of respect from day one given his football background, but he would most certainly need a good offensive-minded staff around him to help balance out his defensive focus.
For now, Singletary is sitting on the sideline and hoping his university sorts out its issues to establish a firm path going forward. He has not shut down the idea of being a part of that plan, but he is not actively and publicly throwing himself at the front of the line for an interview.
“The most important thing for me to do is just wait and see what they’re thinking,” Singletary said. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Michigan’s epic summer of satellite camps is here.
By Kevin McGuire
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
Here’s hoping Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff are getting plenty of rest and relaxation this Memorial Day weekend, because the next month is going to be very busy for them. With the start of June just days away, Michigan’s month-long tour of satellite camps is about to begin with 38 stops over 21 states and two countries.
And yes, this is going to cost Michigan a few pennies, but it will be a small price to pay in the long run if it means Michigan will build the kind of dominant program they expected when they hired Harbaugh for the kind of money they did. Michigan already spent $350,000 for the spring break spring football trip to IMG Academy, and now that the trip to Australia is back on for Michigan, the cost will continue to soar. The Detroit Free Press mapped it all out and suggested the satellite camp tour will cover roughly 50,000 miles between stops in the United States, Australia and American Samoa. Of course, not even Harbaugh is making every stop on that tour. For example, he will not be heading to Australia, while a pair of assistants will.
Harbaugh and company will be spanning the nation to work at camps in Connecticut, New Jersey, Alabama, Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and many more. Among the programs Michigan coaches will work alongside include Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Baylor is also hosting one of the camps Michigan will be represented. In March, now former Baylor head coach Art Briles was the guest keynote speaker at a coaching clinic hosted by Harbaugh and his brother, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
One thing we do suspect is this. Wherever Harbaugh goes will generate buzz and draw interest. It could be a very fun month.
SEC to discuss expanding restriction on transfers.
By Zach Barnett
(Photo/Getty Images)
A year ago, the SEC adopted a rule banning its member schools from accepting transfers who were disciplined at their previous institution for sexual assault or other forms of sexual violence. The rule came about after Alabama accepted a transfer from Georgia defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor, whom Mark Richt dismissed after he was arrested for domestic violence, only to see him again be arrested for domestic violence in Tuscaloosa. Chalk that entire episode up as just another way Nick Saban has changed the way the SEC conducts business.
Now the league is considering expanding the ban to other forms of misconduct in advance of its annual spring meetings in Destin, Fla.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, a student-athlete working group has recommended expanding the rule to “bar transfers who were convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to a serious misconduct felony.”
“The rule that was passed at the last spring meeting was a first step,” SEC associate commissioner for legal affairs and compliance William King told the paper. “I think commissioner (Greg) Sankey made that clear from the beginning that this was a first step and that the conference would revisit the rule.”
The Big 12 and Pac-12 adopted similar rules to mimic the SEC, and it’s likely this policy will only see stronger teeth considering it was his practice of accepting players with violent pasts from other schools that led to Art Briles‘ eventual ouster.
The rule removes the incentive for coaches who fear that dismissing troubled players will only see them on the opposite sideline a season or two later.
SEC schools are expected to conduct background inquiries into all transfers, and a loophole exists for schools to appeal to the conference’s executive committee. Many believe the rule banning transfers will eventually apply to incoming freshmen as well, though that does not appear to be on the table for this year.
NCAABKB: A post-draft deadline look at the 2016-17 season's top 20 teams.
By Jeff Eisenberg
The deadline passed Wednesday night for prospects to decide whether or not to stay in the NBA draft, so the landscape for next year's college basketball season is finally becoming clearer.
Here's an updated version of the Dagger's way-too-early Top 20 that takes into account which early-entry candidates are turning pro and which are returning to school:
1. Duke
Key losses: F Brandon Ingram, C Marshall Plumlee, G, Derryck Thornton
Key returners: G Grayson Allen F Amile Jefferson, G Matt Jones, G Luke Kennard, F Chase Jeter
Notable newcomers: F Harry Giles, F Jayson Tatum, C Marques Bolden, G Frank Jackson, F Javin DeLaurier, F Jack White
Outlook: Already a strong candidate to be next year's preseason No. 1 even if Allen entered the NBA draft, Duke became a near lock last month when its leading scorer decided to pass. The high-scoring guard will be the centerpiece of a loaded Blue Devils team that returns four key players, gets Jefferson back from injury and welcomes the nation's most decorated recruiting class. Duke's greatest area of strength is at wing, where Allen and Tatum will likely start with the veteran Jones and the sharpshooting Kennard also likely to play big roles. Jefferson will start alongside a heralded freshman in the frontcourt, Giles if he's fully recovered from an ACL tear last fall or Bolden if not. The only potential position of weakness for Duke is point guard thanks to the transfer of Thornton. Jackson will get the first crack at the job but Allen is a capable secondary ball handler who could play out of position if the freshman struggles.
2. Kentucky
Key losses: G Tyler Ulis, G Jamal Murray, F Skal Labissiere, F Alex Poythress, F Marcus Lee
Key returners: G Isaiah Briscoe, F Derrick Willis, F Isaac Humphries, G Dominique Hawkins
Notable newcomers: G DeAaron Fox, G Malik Monk, C Bam Adebayo, F Wenyen Gabriel, F Sacha Killeya-Jones
Outlook: Here's a scary thought for Kentucky's future opponents: John Calipari has said this may be his best incoming recruiting class. Set to replace Ulis and Murray in the backcourt are Fox and Monk, the former the nation's most prized point guard and the latter the nation's most highly touted shooting guard. The 6-foot-4 Fox is explosive off the dribble, effective making plays and tough on defense too. Monk is a pure scorer who can blow by defenders who play him too tight and knock down jumpers if given free space. Those two will team with Briscoe to form a formidable backcourt. While Kentucky's frontcourt was the weak link this past season, the rugged, physical Adebayo could help change that. He should be a double-double machine in the paint and an ideal complement to the sweet-shooting Willis. Lee's departure and Marques Bolden's decision to go to Duke hurts Kentucky's frontcourt depth, but Gabriel and Killeya-Jones are capable of making an impact off the bench.
3. Villanova
Key losses: G Ryan Arcidiacono, C Daniel Ochefu
Key returners: G Josh Hart, G Jalen Brunson, F Kris Jenkins, F Darryl Reynolds, F Mikal Bridges, G Phil Booth
Notable newcomers: F Omari Spellman, C Dylan Painter, F Eric Paschall
Outlook: The reigning champions are expected to return all but two rotation players now that Hart has decided to come back for his senior season. Thus it's entirely realistic Villanova could not only capture a fourth straight Big East title next season but also contend for a second straight national title. Departing seniors Arcidiacono and Ochefu have been crucial to Villanova's recent success, but the Wildcats have promising replacements for both ready to embrace bigger roles. Ex-McDonald's All-American Brunson will likely share point guard duties with Booth next season after splitting them with Arcidiacono this past season. Reynolds could move into the starting lineup in Ochefu's stead next season, though the senior-to-be will be pushed by Spellman, Villanova's most promising incoming freshman. Villanova has some depth at wing too. The talented Bridges might be the team's best long-term prospect.
4. Kansas
Key losses: F Perry Ellis, G Wayne Selden, F Jamari Traylor, C Hunter Mickelson, G Brannen Greene, F Cheick Diallo
Key returners: G Frank Mason, G Devonte Graham, F Landen Lucas, G, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, F Carlton Bragg
Notable newcomers: G Josh Jackson, C Udoka Azubuike, F Mitch Lightfoot, C Evan Maxwell
Outlook: At a time when most of the rest of the Big 12's top teams appear poised to take a step backward, Kansas is just reloading. The Jayhawks bolstered an already strong roster last month when they landed an elite wing Rivals.com considers to be the best player in the 2016 class. The addition of McDonald's All-American Josh Jackson reduces the sting of wings Selden and Greene both entering the NBA draft. Jackson should slide into the starting lineup alongside returning guards Mason and Graham with the promising Mykhailiuk also playing heavy minutes off the bench. The frontcourt is more unproven, but it has potential. Bragg, a heralded sophomore-to-be, has the skill to replace some of the production that Ellis provided at power forward the past few years, while Lucas emerged late this past season as a strong defender and rebounder. That nucleus should be enough to make Kansas a heavy favorite to capture a 13th consecutive Big 12 title.
Key losses: F Elgin Cook, F Dwayne Benjamin
Key returners: F Dillon Brooks, G Tyler Dorsey, F Chris Boucher, F Jordan Bell, G Casey Benson, G Dylan Ennis, G Kendall Small
Notable newcomers: C Michael Cage, G Payton Pritchard, F Keith Smith, F Kavell Bigby-Williams
Outlook: It may be difficult for Oregon to exceed expectations in the Pac-12 preseason poll yet again next season. That's because the Ducks will almost certainly start the year as Pac-12 favorites now that Dorsey and Brooks have withdrawn from the NBA draft. Brooks averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season, while Dorsey tallied 13.4 points per game and shot above 40 percent from behind the arc. Their return means that Oregon will have five of its seven leading scorers back from a 31-win team that won the Pac-12 and advanced to the Elite Eight. Oregon also adds depth via a recruiting class featuring Pritchard, a high-scoring point guard, Cage, a skilled, long-armed center, and Bigby-Williams, the national junior college player of the year. The wildcard is Ennis, a Villanova transfer who sat out all but two games this past season due to injury. If Ennis is granted a sixth year by the NCAA next month, he would certainly earn playing time both on and off ball.
6. North Carolina
Key losses: G Marcus Paige, F Brice Johnson, Joel James
Key returners: F Justin Jackson, C Kennedy Meeks, F Isaiah Hicks, G Joel Berry, G Nate Britt, F Theo Pinson
Notable newcomers: G Seventh Woods, G Brandon Robinson, C Tony Bradley
Outlook: Assuming potential sanctions stemming from the NCAA's academic fraud investigation don't impact North Carolina next season, the team that the national runner-ups will put on the floor has the potential to be very good. The Tar Heels lost their All-American power forward and a longtime stalwart in their backcourt, but Johnson and Paige were their only major departures after Jackson decided this week to withdraw from the draft. His return was critical for North Carolina because he'll start at small forward and perhaps inherit the role of go-to scorer. Meeks and Hicks should still be a pretty imposing low-post combo, Pinson and Berry seem ready to take on a bigger role in the backcourt and all three freshmen are four-star prospects capable of contributing off the bench right away.
7. Michigan State
Key losses: G Denzel Valentine, G Bryn Forbes, C Matt Costello, F Deyonta Davis, F Marvin Clark, F Javon Bess
Key returners: G Eron Harris, G TumTum Nairn, F Gavin Schilling, G Matt McQuaid, F Kenny Goins
Notable newcomers: F Miles Bridges, G Cassius Winston, G Josh Langford, C Nick Ward, F Ben Carter
Outlook: For a school that's losing a national player of the year winner, one of the country's most lethal outside shooters and the Big Ten's most improved big man, Michigan State will enter next season feeling pretty optimistic. The Spartans return several key rotation players from this season and add a recruiting class eclipsed only by Duke's and Kentucky's. At point guard, Michigan State will have Nairn and the promising Winston. At wing, returners Harris and McQuaid will compete for playing time with the highly touted Bridges and Langford. The frontcourt became an area of concern after Davis chose to enter the draft, but Bridges could definitely see playing time at the four spot similar to how Justise Winslow did at Duke his lone season. Michigan State also added UNLV graduate transfer Ben Carter to compete for frontcourt minutes along with returning big men Schilling and Goins.
8. Indiana
Key losses: G Yogi Ferrell, F Troy Williams, G Nick Zeisloft, F Max Bielfeldt
Key returners: F Thomas Bryant, F O.G. Anunoby, G James Blackmon, G Robert Johnson, F Collin Hartman, F Juwan Morgan
Notable newcomers: G Josh Newkirk, C De'Ron Davis, G Devonte Green, G Curtis Jones, G Grant Gelon
Outlook: Indiana emerged as one of the big early-entry period winners because the Hoosiers lost only one of their four potential draft prospects. Yes, they said goodbye to the talented but erratic Williams. But keeping Bryant, Anunoby and Blacmon was huge, especially considering Bryant showed enough as a freshman that he likely would have been taken in the first round and Anunoby had flashed enough raw potential to be a potential second-round flier for a franchise willing to develop him. With those two back, Indiana's strength should be in the frontcourt, as Hartman, Morgan and the promising freshman Davis are also capable of making an impact. There's no single player who will replace everything that Ferrell did for Indiana this past season, but Indiana has options in the backcourt too. Newkirk, a Pittsburgh transfer, should compete for playing time at point guard with Johnson. A healthy Blackmon is likely to start at wing and Jones should also see playing time as well.
9. Virginia
Key losses: G Malcolm Brogdon, F Anthony Gill, C Mike Tobey, F Evan Nolte
Key returners: G London Perrantes, F Isaiah Wilkins, G Devon Hall, G Marial Shayok, G Darius Thompson, C Jack Salt, F Jarred Reuter
Notable newcomers: F Austin Nichols, G Kyle Guy, F Mamadi Diakite, G Ty Jerome, F DeAndre Hunter, F Jay Huff
Outlook: The only silver lining to Virginia's late-game collapse against Syracuse in the Elite Eight was that it doesn't figure to be the Cavaliers' last chance at a Final Four. The way Tony Bennett is recruiting, the Cavaliers could be back in contention soon. While Virginia graduates four rotation players including the ACC player of the year in Brogdon and another all-conference standout in Gill, the talent entering the program should keep the Cavaliers from falling far. Nichols, a transfer who averaged 13.3 points and 3.4 blocks his final season at Memphis, should provide interior scoring and the rim protection the Cavaliers lacked last season. He'll anchor the Virginia frontcourt along with Wilkins, while Diakite competes for minutes with incoming freshman Huff and returners Salt and Reuter off the bench. Perrantes must take on a greater role as a scorer and a leader next season at point guard, but he'll have plenty of help. Hall and Shayok both have breakout potential at wing and Guy is the program's first McDonald's All-American in seven years.
10. Arizona
Key losses: C Kaleb Tarczewski, G Gabe York, F Ryan Anderson, G Justin Simon, Mark Tollefsen
Key returners: G Allonzo Trier, G Parker Jackson-Cartwright, G Kadeem Allen, C Dusan Ristic, C Chance Comanche
Notable newcomers: F Ray Smith, G Terrance Ferguson, G Kobi Simmons, G Rawle Atkins, F Lauri Markkanen
Outlook: When Trier announced he would not enter the NBA draft last month and Ferguson decided to come to Tucson anyway, that left Sean Miller with a problem most coaches would kill to have. The Wildcats have so many talented perimeter players on next year's roster that it will be tough to find playing time for all of them. The only certain starter is Trier, a 6-foot-4 wing who averaged 14.8 points per game as a freshman. He will be the centerpiece of a backcourt that also features three incoming top 20 prospects, returners Jackson-Cartwright and Allen, as well as Smith, Arizona's most heralded recruit in the 2015 class before suffering a torn ACL. One option for Arizona could be playing the 6-7 Smith extended minutes as an undersized power forward, which would allow Ferguson to provide outside shooting alongside Trier at wing and also mask the one potential weak spot on the Arizona roster. While the Wildcats have Ristic and Comanche back at center, the lone true power forward on the roster is Markannen, another highly touted prospect but one that may not be ready to play 30 minutes per game right away.
11. Xavier
Key losses: F James Farr, G Remy Abell, F Jalen Reynolds, G Larry Austin Jr.
Key returners: F Trevon Bluiett, G Edmond Sumner, G Myles Davis, G JP Macura, F Sean O'Mara, F Kaiser Gates
Notable newcomers: G Quentin Goodin, F Tyrique Jones, C Eddie Ekiyor, F Rashid Gaston
Outlook: Don't hand the Big East title to Villanova just yet. The Wildcats will be challenged by a Xavier team that returns a handful of key players from a 28-win team that spent much of last season in the top 10 nationally. The Musketeers will rely on a loaded perimeter corps featuring the promising Sumner at point guard and veterans Davis and Macura on the wing. Leading returning scorer Bluiett can play either forward position effectively, allowing Xavier the freedom to go big with him on the perimeter or small with him at the four. Reynolds' early departure was a blow, but Xavier has enough depth to replace him and Farr in the frontcourt. O'Mara could see increased playing time and Norfolk State transfer Rashid Gaston averaged 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds his final season for the Spartans.
12. Louisville
Key losses: G Damion Lee, G Trey Lewis, C Chinanu Onuaku
Key returners: G Donovan Mitchell, G Quentin Snider, C Mangok Mathiang, F Raymond Spalding, F Jaylen Johnson, F Deng Adel, F Anas Mahmoud
Notable newcomers: G V.J. King, G Tony Hicks
Outlook: The lingering question hovering over the Louisville basketball program is whether the NCAA will be satisfied with its self-imposed 2015-16 postseason ban or levy further punishment next season. A nine-game suspension for Rick Pitino for failure to monitor his program seems inevitable and scholarship reductions are certainly a possibility, however, the Cardinals have team that can play deep into March next season if its allowed to participate in the NCAA tournament. Even though Onuaku chose to stay in the draft, Louisville has an array of big men capable of altering shots around the rim and attacking the glass at both ends. The key for the Cardinals will be whether they can replace the scoring of Lee and Lewis. Snider is a good offensive point guard, Mitchell and Adel are both candidates for breakout sophomore seasons and incoming McDonald's All-American King should also be able to make an immediate impact.
13. Wisconsin
Key losses: None
Key returners: F Nigel Hayes, G Bronson Koenig, C Ethan Happ, F Vitto Brown, G Zak Showalter, G Jordan Hill, F Khalil Iverson
Notable newcomers: F Andy Van Vliet, G Brevin Pritzl, G D'Mitrik Trice, F Aleem Ford
Outlook: While Hayes undoubtedly intended to enter the NBA draft as a junior before this season began, he was wise to stay put for his senior year. He endured some rough patches this season as his revamped outside shot deserted him and he transitioned into a leadership role. He also has the chance to be part of another special season at Wisconsin if he returns because the Badgers return an astonishing 99.7 percent of their scoring and rebounding from a team that rebounded from a 9-9 start, blossomed during the second half of the season and came within a basket or two of the Elite Eight. Hayes will be part of a starting lineup that will also include co-star Bronson Koenig, fellow seniors Vitto Brown and Zak Showalter and reigning Big Ten freshman of the year Ethan Happ. Preseason expectations might not match the 2014-15 season, but the Badgers will definitely be expected to contend in the Big Ten and make another deep March run.
14. Gonzaga
Key losses: F Kyle Wiltjer, F Domantas Sabonis (projected), G Eric McClellan, G Kyle Dranginis
Key returners: G Josh Perkins, C Przemek Karnowski (projected), G Silas Melson, C Ryan Edwards, G Bryan Alberts
Notable newcomers: G Nigel Williams-Goss, F Jonathan Williams III, C Zach Collins, G Zach Norvell, F Killian Tillie, F Jacob Larsen
Outlook: While the graduation of Wiltjer and the early departure of Sabonis will be a blow to Gonzaga, it's possible the Zags have a better year next season than they did this past year. That can happen if two transfers make the impact they're expected to and Karnowski regains his pre-back injury form. One of Gonzaga's transfers is Williams-Goss, a former McDonald's All-American who averaged 15.6 points and 5.9 assists at Washington his final season with the Huskies. He and Perkins are likely to both start and share point guard duties. The other transfer is Williams, who averaged 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds at Missouri during the 2014-15 season. Williams, Karnowski and the heralded freshman Collins would form a frontcourt trio formidable enough to ease the sting from the departure of Wiltjer and Sabonis.
15. UCLA
Key losses: F Tony Parker
Key returners: G Bryce Alford, G Aaron Holiday, G Prince Ali, G Isaac Hamilton, F Jonah Bolden, C Thomas Welsh
Notable newcomers: G Lonzo Ball, F T.J. Leaf, C Ike Anigbogu, G Kobe Paras
Outlook: One of this past season's biggest disappointments has the potential to return to national relevance next season. UCLA is expected to bring back all but one rotation player from a 15-win season and will add four coveted freshman capable of shoring up some of the holes in the roster. Chief among the additions is Ball, a point guard who this past season led his high school team to an undefeated season and a state championship in California's toughest division. The McDonald's All-American will likely be the centerpiece of a backcourt that also includes a volume shooter in Alford, a dynamic on-ball defender in Holiday and a streaky scorer in Hamilton. The addition of Leaf and Anigbogu gives UCLA's frontcourt a skilled power forward and a rim-protecting center — two things last year's team lacked. Anigbogu, in particular, could be key because this UCLA roster is loaded with players who are better scorers than defenders.
16. Purdue
Key losses: C A.J. Hammons, G Rapheal Davis, G Kendall Stephens
Key returners: F Caleb Swanigan, F Vince Edwards, C Isaac Haas, F Basil Smotherman, F Jacquil Taylor, G Ryan Cline, G P.J. Thompson, G Dakota Mathias
Notable newcomers: G Carsen Edwards, G Spike Albrecht
Outlook: Swanigan's decision to withdraw from the NBA draft on Wednesday instantly elevates expectations for Purdue. Now the Boilermakers can play the same brand of big basketball in its frontcourt that carried them to the NCAA tournament a year ago. Hammons was Purdue's best player last season, but the Boilermakers have ample size and talent to replace the all-conference center. Haas will replace Hammons at center, Swanigan will start at power forward and Smotherman will spell both of them as a third big man off the bench. You can also put Edwards' name in ink in the starting lineup at small forward, but Purdue has more questions at guard. Can the Michigan transfer Albrecht stay healthy enough to lock down the point guard position that was such a problem for Purdue last year? And are either Cline or Mathias ready to emerge as the starter at shooting guard?
17. West Virginia
Key losses: F Jonathan Holton, G JaySean Paige, F Devin Williams
Key returners: G Jevon Carter, G Daxter Miles, G Tarik Phillip, F Elijah Macon, F Nathan Adrien, F Brandon Watkins, F Esa Ahmad, G Teyvon Myers
Notable newcomers: F Maciej Bender, G James "Beetle" Bolden, F Sagaba Konate, G Chase Harler
Outlook: West Virginia seemed to be the clear-cut top challenger to Kansas in the Big 12 before Williams chose to enter the draft. The double-double threat's departure is a blow to a Mountaineers team that already must replace the perimeter scoring of Paige and the offensive rebounding of Holton. One of the few certainties for West Virginia is that Miles will start and play off ball. Carter is another likely starter, either at point guard or at shooting guard if either Bolden or Phillip force their way into the starting lineup. The key to West Virginia's season could be whether Macon can gain the consistency he lacked last season and the promising Ahmad can make a jump between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Macon tapered off late this past season and Ahmad spent much of the season trying to get comfortable in Huggins' pressing scheme and only started to make strides on offense down the stretch.
18. Connecticut
Key losses: G Sterling Gibbs, F Shonn Miller, F Phillip Nolan, G Omar Calhoun, G Daniel Hamilton
Key returners: G Jalen Adams, G Rodney Purvis, C Amida Brimah, F Kentan Facey, F Steven Enoch
Notable newcomers: G Terry Larrier, F Juwan Durham, F Vance Jackson, G Alterique Gilbert, F Mamadou Diarra, Christian Vital
Outlook: Four of the seven Huskies who played at least nine minutes in their NCAA tournament finale are gone, yet UConn has a chance to be better than it was last season. The return of Brimah, Purvis and Adams and the arrival of a promising freshman class should help offset the departure of Hamilton to the NBA draft. UConn's strength defensively should be its frontcourt, which is highlighted by the shot-blocking Brimah, veteran Facey and Larrier, a highly touted VCU transfer who sat out all of last season. In the backcourt, Adams and Purvis will be pushed by freshmen Gilbert and Vital. Last season, UConn had to win the American Athletic Conference tournament to assure itself an NCAA bid. The Huskies have enough talent and experience not to cut it so close in 2017.
19. Rhode Island
Key losses: G Four McGlynn, C Earl Watson
Key returners: F Hassan Martin, G E.C. Matthews, G Jarvis Garrett, G Jared Terrell, F Kuran Iverson, G Christion Thompson, F Nicola Akele
Notable newcomers: F Stanford Robinson, F Mike Layssard Jr, G Jeff Dowtin, C Michael Tertsea, F Cyril Langevine
Outlook: It's easy to see why Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley resisted the temptation of accepting an offer from Rutgers this offseason. Hurley has a team at Rhode Island that's formidable enough to win the Atlantic 10, end the Rams' NCAA tournament drought and perhaps even advance a round or two. The biggest reason for optimism for Rhode Island is the return of Matthews, an all-conference guard who tore his ACL in the Rams' season opener last November. They'll also get back Martin, a defensive standout who missed the final month of last season with a knee injury. With those two back, last year's breakout stars Garrett and Terrell also returning and the Indiana transfer Robinson set to arrive, Rhode Island is well positioned heading into next season. Only another barrage of injuries could prevent the Rams from returning to national relevance.
20. Maryland
Key losses: F Robert Carter, F Jake Layman, C Diamond Stone, G Rasheed Sulaimon
Key returners: G Melo Trimble, G Jared Nickens, G Dion Wiley, F Damonte Dodd, C Michal Cekovsky
Notable newcomers: G Anthony Cowan, G Kevin Huerter, F Micah Thomas, F L.G. Gill, F Justin Jackson
Outlook: Had Trimble decided to stay in the NBA draft, Maryland would have been in rebuilding mode with all five starters gone from last year's Sweet 16 team. Trimble instead waited until the dying hours of deadline day before announcing he was withdrawing from the draft, giving him a chance to solidify himself as a first-round pick next season and giving the Terps a star point guard to build around. The wealth of experienced talent surrounding Trimble last season is gone, but Maryland's cupboard is far from empty. The heralded Cowan will ease the pressure on Trimble by providing a second capable ball handler. Nickens, Wiley and Huerter should all see ample playing time at wing. Questions abound in the frontcourt, but Maryland will probably rely on Gill, a Duquesne graduate transfer to help fill the void left by Carter at power forward, while Dodd and Cekovsky team up to fortify the interior.
Others worthy of consideration: Cal, Creighton, Dayton, Florida State, Miami, NC State, Pittsburgh, Saint Mary's, San Diego State, Syracuse, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia Tech
Last American man falls at French Open.
By Jackie Bamberger
John Isner couldn't keep up with Andy Murray Sunday at Roland Garros. (Photo/Reuters)
For the 13th straight year, there will be no American man in the quarterfinals of the French Open.
John Isner fell to Andy Murray in the fourth round in Paris Sunday, continuing a disappointing run for Americans at Grand Slams.
The 15th-seeded Isner, known for his towering height and powerful serve, couldn’t keep up with Murray’s quickness, falling in straight sets. Isner is now 1-6 in fourth-round matches at Grand Slams.
Isner is the lone U.S. representative in the top 20 of the ATP rankings. Jack Sock is the next highest-ranked American at No. 23.
No American man has won a Grand Slam tournament since Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open win.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, there could be as many as four American women represented in the quarterfinals. Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Madison Keys will all play their fourth-round matches Monday, hoping to join underdog Shelby Rogers.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1890 - Dave Foutz hit the first Dodger home run.
1894 - Bobby Lowe (Boston Red Sox) became the first player to hit four home runs in one game.
1911 - Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis Sweepstakes. The 500-mile auto race later became known as the Indianapolis 500. Harroun's average speed was 74.59 miles per hour.
1922 - Max Flack (Chicago Cubs) and Cliff Heathcote (St. Louis Cardinals) were traded for each other between the morning and afternoon games of a Memorial Day twin bill. They played one game for each team.
1925 - Peter DePaolo became the first man to average over 100mph at the Indianapolis 500.
1927 - Walter Johnson recorded his 113th career shutout. It was also the final shutout of his career.
1927 - Jim Cooney (Chicago Cubs) became the sixth player to record an unassisted triple play against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He caught Paul Waner's line drive, stepped on second to double Lloyd Waner and then tagged Clyde Barnhart coming from first.
1927 - Johnny Neun (Detroit Tigers) became the seventh player to record an unassisted triple play.
1932 - The New York Yankees dedicated a plaque to Miller Huggins.
1935 - Babe Ruth (Braves) played in his final game. He went hitless against the Phillies.
1937 - Pitcher Carl Hubbell got his 24th consecutive victory.
1946 - Carvel William "Bama" Rowell (Braves) hit a home run that shattered the Bulova clock in Ebbets Field.
1955 - Bob Sweikert won the Indianapolis 500. During the race Bill Vukovich hit the 3-car pileup of Al Keller, Johnny Boyd, and Rodger Ward. He was killed when his car became airborne and went out of the course, landing upside down and on fire.
1962 - Pedro Ramos (Cleveland Indians) pitched a three-hitter and hit two home runs in a 7-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. One of his home runs was a grand slam.
1970 - Voting for baseball's All-Star game was returned to the fans.
1971 - Willie Mays hit his 638th home run. He set a National League record of 1,950 runs scored.
1977 - Dennis Eckersley pitched a 1-0 no-hitter against the California Angels.
1981 - The Los Angeles Dodgers became the quickest to get 1,000,000 people to attend games in a season. It took 22 games.
1982 - Cal Ripken, Jr., began a record streak of playing in 2,632 games. The streak ended on September 20, 1998.
1983 - Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was suspended for one week for his public criticism of umpires.
1986 - Bobby Rahal became the first driver to average over 170mph in the Indianapolis 500.
1987 - Eric Davis (Cincinnati Reds) became the first National League player to hit three grand slams in a month and set a National League record of 19 home runs in April and May.
1992 - Scott Sanderson (New York Yankees) became the 9th pitcher to beat all 26 teams.
2001 - Barry Bonds hit two home runs to move into 11th place on the major league career list with 522.
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