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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile." ~ Gary Ryan Blair, Author, Speaker, Coach And Consultant Focusing On Goals.
Trending: John Fox: What to expect in year two. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: On night Splash Brothers are cold Warriors still win by 15, take 1-0 Finals lead. (See the basketball section for NBA Championship and Bulls updates).
Bears Head Coach John Fox. (Photo/cober32.com)
Trending: On night Splash Brothers are cold Warriors still win by 15, take 1-0 Finals lead. (See the basketball section for NBA Championship and Bulls updates).
Trending: Doral and the PGA Tour: Nobody wins when a 55-year marriage ends in divorce. (See the golf section for PGA News and tournament updates).
Trending: Vijay Singh Accuses PGA Tour of 'Absurd' and 'Unfair' Treatment. What's Your Take? (See the golf section for PGA News and tournament updates).
Trending: First American athlete, a cyclist, withdraws from Rio due to Zika. (See the last article on this blog for update).
Cubs 2016 Record: 37-15
White Sox 2016 Record: 29-25
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! John Fox: What to expect in year two.
(Photo/cober32.com)
The Chicago Bears have had six head coaches in the last 34 years, which is about average for NFL teams over that time-frame. Not quite as stable as the Steelers who have had only three different head coaches over the last three decades but certainly better than the Cleveland Browns coaching carousel of 14.
There has been varying degrees of success among those six coaches with Mike Ditka setting the bar that has yet to be reached. Lovie Smith came close in 2005 with a Super Bowl appearance but fell short and ultimately out of favor by 2012. In between those tenures was the forgettable stints of Dick Jauron and Dave Wandstedt who produced a middling combined winning percentage of .43%.
The Marc Trestman era is still fresh in fan’s minds even though they would like to forget. His two year run had its up and downs but will ultimately be remembered for his inability to command respect and consistency from his players.
There is one thing all of those coaches had in common and perhaps it’s the one thing that led to their ultimate failure – Head coaching experience. None of John Fox’s five predecessors had a single year of NFL head coaching experience. Quite remarkable considering the storied history of the Chicago Bears and the expectations that are put upon the leader of the charter franchise.
In his first year with the Bears John Fox provided something the team hasn’t had since the latter years of Lovie Smith’s career with the Bears – experienced leadership that the players trusted. There was a noticeable difference in the team’s attitude both on the field and in the media. There was a legitimate respect for his coaching style, past success and current expectations of each player. A stark contrast to the Marc Trestman led team.
Despite all that leadership and all the respect last season, ultimately, resulted in a 6-10 record and by all standards a failure. So is the glass half full or half empty?
Looking at John Fox’s past may be insight into the Bear’s future. John Fox became a head coach in the NFL in 2002 with the Carolina Panthers. He posted a first season record of 7-9, not too shabby for a fledgling team that won only one game the year prior. In year two his team managed to win four more games and with a record of 11-5 went to the Super Bowl. The Panthers lost a very competitive game to the New England Patriots but the season was considered a great success. His next 8 seasons in Carolina were checkered and he left in 2010 with a .507 winning percentage.
Looking at John Fox’s past may be insight into the Bear’s future. John Fox became a head coach in the NFL in 2002 with the Carolina Panthers. He posted a first season record of 7-9, not too shabby for a fledgling team that won only one game the year prior. In year two his team managed to win four more games and with a record of 11-5 went to the Super Bowl. The Panthers lost a very competitive game to the New England Patriots but the season was considered a great success. His next 8 seasons in Carolina were checkered and he left in 2010 with a .507 winning percentage.
He moved on to the Denver Broncos in 2011 and inherited a team that went 4-12 the prior year and had a quarterback controversy between Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. The team scratched and clawed their way to an 8-8 record which was good enough for first place in the AFC West and earned a trip to the playoffs. They even won in the wild card round with an overtime win that thrust “tebowing” into everyone’s living room.
The following season coach Fox eliminated any quarterback controversy with the addition of Peyton Manning via free agency. The Broncos put a dominant product on the field and cruised to a 13-3 record, a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their season ended in dramatic fashion as the underdog Baltimore Ravens shocked them in overtime in the divisional round.
Fox went on to coach the Broncos for two more years and won the division each year. He became only the second coach in NFL history to win four straight division titles since joining a new team. He left the Broncos with an impressive .719 winning percentage.
In the NFL seasoning at the head coaching position matters. It takes a lot of work, understanding and skill to coach a football team. After all, it’s not just coaching – politics, mentoring, evaluating and motivating play a huge role for a successful head coach.
So can he work his year two magic with the Bears? I wouldn’t bet against him. He has proven that once he has a year of talent evaluation and the opportunity to build his culture he has a formula that works. The current Bears organization certainly looks more strategic and professional than recent regimes and Fox brings a polish to the team that may take a year to really shine.
Some Bears carrying 'The Chip' that makes holding a grudge a good thing.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Almost without exception and not expressly by design, the Bears this offseason have brought in a succession of free agents from teams with a history of success: Arizona (Ted Larsen, Bobby Massie), Denver (Danny Trevathan), Indianapolis (Jerrell Freeman), New England (Akiem Hicks), among others.
But while playoff appearances were only incidental, football character has been a decidedly prominent target in the search process, and in no small part, that character has centered around the driving motivations inside players who felt overlooked or slighted as far back as their draft years. Using slights as motivation is time-honored, and multiple Bears are carrying an inner grudge that they are translating into something positive: Don’t get bitter; get better.
Put another way: The players have the requisite pads on their shoulders, and underneath those, some giant chips on those shoulders.
“I see a lot of guys with that chip on their shoulder,” said linebacker Willie Young, himself a former seventh-round draft choice by Detroit and who has never felt secure in the NFL. “My biggest thing and it kind of goes back to what I said about Day 1 in Detroit. Regardless of what … I had to figure out how to survive with what I was given. You come into the league as a seventh-round draft pick, you’re expecting to be nothing but a practice-squad guy.
“But I never heard that. I never paid that no mind. I continued to live life on the edge — playin’ ball on the edge, take my chances… . Every day … it’s a jungle out there, man. I’ve never had a break. I don’t expect to get a break.”
Young paused. “I’m always working. I’m always working.”
Trevathan comes from Denver with a Super Bowl ring and two Super Bowl appearances in the last three years, but also with an edge from falling to the sixth round in his (2012) draft.
“I feel like, that you know a lot of people doubt them or some guys were hurt last year or this and that, but you know they're playing like they're hungry, with a chip on their shoulder,” Trevathan said. “They're playing like they're hungry and that's what I'm used to and that's where you need to start.”
It is not an emotional burn to take lightly, even among greats.
Michael Jordan used doubters as fuel. Jay Hilgenberg, an undrafted free agent center who went to seven Pro Bowls, knew draft rounds of defensive tackles he had coming up, and the higher the pick, the better.
Hilgenberg never lost the chip. He is not alone in holding a constructive grudge.
“No question, that chip never leaves your shoulder, especially a free agent like I am,” Freeman said. “I know [Trevathan] was a late-round pick… .It’s always going to stay on you. That’s just why we play like we do; just running around, aggressive, just flying around because we have that … I know I have that free-agent mentality. I just feel like I’ll always be a rookie free agent in everybody’s eyes, so I’m out to prove [myself to] everybody.
“I don’t think anybody in the NFL has taken my path: Division III [college], CFL, NFL, being cut. I just have the mentality [that] I just don’t want to go home. I feel like I’m out to prove myself not week-to-week, just every day, in the weight room, training, on the field, My journey has kind of shaped me into who I am.”
The result even in these earliest stages of the run-up to the 2016 is palpable and on the minds of numerous veteran players, not to mention perhaps rookies like running back Jordan Howard (fifth round) who would like nothing better than to show opponents that passing over them was a mistake.
“I can definitely see a chip on a lot of guys,” Young reiterated. “Seems like there are a lot of similarities.”
Willie Young to Bears: 'I would like to finish my career up here in Chicago'.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
This time a year ago Willie Young was coming off a career season marked by a team-best 10 sacks. But he was also coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and into a defensive scheme unlike what he’d played previously in either Detroit or Chicago.
He played his way back into increasingly better health, and eventually finished the season with 6.5 sacks — second only to linebacker Lamarr Houston.
"Luckily, guys like Lamar and Willie kind of picked up and healed up as we went," head coach John Fox said during this year's owners meetings.
But Young also saw longtime defensive end Jared Allen traded away early in the season from an ill-fitting job at 3-4 outside linebacker to a 4-3 Carolina Panthers Super Bowl team. Musings around the NFL were that Young also wanted to be in a familiar system that used him as a pass-rushing end rather than the 3-4 role that involved the alien act of dropping into pass coverage — going in the literal opposite direction from which Young had built his career.
Young shot down those rumors. “Never did I want to be out of Chicago,” he said Wednesday.
And he may not be anytime soon. What has transpired has been another form of opposite direction, with the Bears expressing interest in adding time to Young’s contract — which expires after this season.
Young has made his thoughts clear: “I would like to be here long-term, absolutely. I would like to finish my career up here in Chicago.”
Whether that happens is in the hands of Young’s agent and the Bears organization. Young last season playfully refused to acknowledge even the suggestion that he was a linebacker, but now even brings up pass defense as something he actually plans to stress.
“I really feel like I showed them I could play the run and rush the quarterback last year,” Young said. “Now I’ll be a lot more emphasis on my personal goals; a lot more emphasis on showing them that I can actually cover, too. Whatever’s going to help me out in the long run and help this team out, I’m all about it.”
He played his way back into increasingly better health, and eventually finished the season with 6.5 sacks — second only to linebacker Lamarr Houston.
"Luckily, guys like Lamar and Willie kind of picked up and healed up as we went," head coach John Fox said during this year's owners meetings.
But Young also saw longtime defensive end Jared Allen traded away early in the season from an ill-fitting job at 3-4 outside linebacker to a 4-3 Carolina Panthers Super Bowl team. Musings around the NFL were that Young also wanted to be in a familiar system that used him as a pass-rushing end rather than the 3-4 role that involved the alien act of dropping into pass coverage — going in the literal opposite direction from which Young had built his career.
Young shot down those rumors. “Never did I want to be out of Chicago,” he said Wednesday.
And he may not be anytime soon. What has transpired has been another form of opposite direction, with the Bears expressing interest in adding time to Young’s contract — which expires after this season.
Young has made his thoughts clear: “I would like to be here long-term, absolutely. I would like to finish my career up here in Chicago.”
Whether that happens is in the hands of Young’s agent and the Bears organization. Young last season playfully refused to acknowledge even the suggestion that he was a linebacker, but now even brings up pass defense as something he actually plans to stress.
“I really feel like I showed them I could play the run and rush the quarterback last year,” Young said. “Now I’ll be a lot more emphasis on my personal goals; a lot more emphasis on showing them that I can actually cover, too. Whatever’s going to help me out in the long run and help this team out, I’m all about it.”
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks release preseason schedule, host Penguins in opener.
By Tracey Myers
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks will play six preseason games, including two against the St. Louis Blues, as the team unveiled its preseason schedule on Wednesday afternoon.
They’ll host their first preseason game on Sept. 28 when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to Chicago. Other home games are vs. St. Louis (Oct. 1) and vs. Detroit (Oct. 4). The Blackhawks will be at Pittsburgh on Sept. 30, at Detroit on Oct. 2 and at St. Louis on Oct. 8.
Ticket and broadcasting info will be released at a later date.
While the Blackhawks’ early preseason games are usually dominated by prospects looking to make the team, they’ll be even more so this fall. 12 current Blackhawks will be participating in the World Cup of Hockey, which goes from Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto.
Here is the Blackhawks’ full preseason schedule:
They’ll host their first preseason game on Sept. 28 when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to Chicago. Other home games are vs. St. Louis (Oct. 1) and vs. Detroit (Oct. 4). The Blackhawks will be at Pittsburgh on Sept. 30, at Detroit on Oct. 2 and at St. Louis on Oct. 8.
Ticket and broadcasting info will be released at a later date.
While the Blackhawks’ early preseason games are usually dominated by prospects looking to make the team, they’ll be even more so this fall. 12 current Blackhawks will be participating in the World Cup of Hockey, which goes from Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto.
Here is the Blackhawks’ full preseason schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (CT) |
| Wed., 9/28 | Pittsburgh | United Center | 7:30 p.m. |
| Fri., 9/30 | Pittsburgh | CONSOL Energy Center | 6:05 p.m. |
| Sat., 10/1 | St. Louis | United Center | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sun., 10/2 | Detroit | Joe Louis Arena | 5 p.m. |
| Tues., 10/4 | Detroit | United Center | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat., 10/8 | St. Louis | Scottrade center | 7 p.m. |
Note: Home games are highlighted
Waiting for next wave of pitching, Cubs play complete game and knock out Julio Urias.
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When will that wave of young pitching finally crash into Wrigley Field and match the position-player core that’s turned the Cubs into a World Series favorite?
The Cubs can’t stand in front of the cameras and microphones and say something like: “Who cares?” But it’s obvious how Theo Epstein’s front office separates organizations that are built to last from the ones that are an MRI away from crumbling.
That’s an oversimplification on June 2, 2016 for the team with the best record in baseball (37-15). Check back in October – or when Jake Arrieta is pitching somewhere else on Opening Day 2018 – or sometime during the second half of Jon Lester’s six-year, $155 million megadeal.
But the Cubs flexed their muscles again during Thursday afternoon’s 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, knocking out pitching prodigy Julio Urias after five innings and winning this four-game series between 2015 playoff teams.
Javier Baez, Jason Heyward, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo all crushed home runs for this American League-style lineup constructed with first-round picks, pitching-for-hitting trades and big free-agent contracts.
The Cubs don’t have any blue-chip pitching prospects like Urias – a 19-year-old lefty who signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent out of Mexico – and might be years away from developing one.
But that hasn’t stopped the Cubs from creating a rotation that began Thursday leading the majors in ERA (2.38) – the Washington Nationals ranked second at 3.06 – and WHIP (0.98) and now has 37 quality starts through 52 games.
After throwing a complete game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Memorial Day weekend, Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 2.84 ERA) limited the Dodgers to two runs across eight innings, showing he might be the best No. 5 starter in baseball.
During the rebuilding years, the Cubs flipped short-term assets Scott Feldman and Ryan Dempster, making opportunistic trades for Arrieta and Hendricks. The Cubs bought 200-inning reliability and World Series experience on the free-agent market with Lester and John Lackey. The coaching staff – Chris Bosio, Mike Borzello and Lester Strode – helped turn Arrieta into a Cy Young Award winner, revive Jason Hammel’s career and create a competitive culture.
“When we see one guy go out there and dominate, the next one in line wants to go do it,” Hendricks said. “It fuels all of us.”
Of course, the Cubs would love to have a Urias, who put together 27 consecutive scoreless innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City before facing the New York Mets last week at Citi Field, becoming the youngest starting pitcher to debut in The Show since Felix Hernandez with the Seattle Mariners in 2005, and the youngest in the National League since Dwight Gooden in 1984.
Maybe Urias (0-1, 9.39 ERA) someday reaches those heights and becomes the next great pitcher at Dodger Stadium. But the Cubs roughed up Urias for six runs – five earned – including back-to-back homers from Heyward and Bryant in the fifth inning.
And the Dodgers (28-27) couldn’t generate any momentum while Baez was making spectacular plays at second base, diving to catch a line drive and flipping a ball from his glove to first base. Remember, the Cubs are so deep that manager Joe Maddon thinks one of his utility guys is one of the best defenders in the NL.
“We got a great lineup,” Baez said, “and we all can play defense.”
So Cubs scouts and executives will gather for meetings on Friday in the state-of-the-art Wrigley Field clubhouse, preparing for next week’s draft and hoping to identity a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for the future.
But if not, the Cubs will keep taking their chances on change-of-scenery guys and bounce-back candidates and a relentless offense. It’s impossible to argue with those results now.
The Cubs can’t stand in front of the cameras and microphones and say something like: “Who cares?” But it’s obvious how Theo Epstein’s front office separates organizations that are built to last from the ones that are an MRI away from crumbling.
That’s an oversimplification on June 2, 2016 for the team with the best record in baseball (37-15). Check back in October – or when Jake Arrieta is pitching somewhere else on Opening Day 2018 – or sometime during the second half of Jon Lester’s six-year, $155 million megadeal.
But the Cubs flexed their muscles again during Thursday afternoon’s 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, knocking out pitching prodigy Julio Urias after five innings and winning this four-game series between 2015 playoff teams.
Javier Baez, Jason Heyward, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo all crushed home runs for this American League-style lineup constructed with first-round picks, pitching-for-hitting trades and big free-agent contracts.
The Cubs don’t have any blue-chip pitching prospects like Urias – a 19-year-old lefty who signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent out of Mexico – and might be years away from developing one.
But that hasn’t stopped the Cubs from creating a rotation that began Thursday leading the majors in ERA (2.38) – the Washington Nationals ranked second at 3.06 – and WHIP (0.98) and now has 37 quality starts through 52 games.
After throwing a complete game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Memorial Day weekend, Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 2.84 ERA) limited the Dodgers to two runs across eight innings, showing he might be the best No. 5 starter in baseball.
During the rebuilding years, the Cubs flipped short-term assets Scott Feldman and Ryan Dempster, making opportunistic trades for Arrieta and Hendricks. The Cubs bought 200-inning reliability and World Series experience on the free-agent market with Lester and John Lackey. The coaching staff – Chris Bosio, Mike Borzello and Lester Strode – helped turn Arrieta into a Cy Young Award winner, revive Jason Hammel’s career and create a competitive culture.
“When we see one guy go out there and dominate, the next one in line wants to go do it,” Hendricks said. “It fuels all of us.”
Of course, the Cubs would love to have a Urias, who put together 27 consecutive scoreless innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City before facing the New York Mets last week at Citi Field, becoming the youngest starting pitcher to debut in The Show since Felix Hernandez with the Seattle Mariners in 2005, and the youngest in the National League since Dwight Gooden in 1984.
Maybe Urias (0-1, 9.39 ERA) someday reaches those heights and becomes the next great pitcher at Dodger Stadium. But the Cubs roughed up Urias for six runs – five earned – including back-to-back homers from Heyward and Bryant in the fifth inning.
And the Dodgers (28-27) couldn’t generate any momentum while Baez was making spectacular plays at second base, diving to catch a line drive and flipping a ball from his glove to first base. Remember, the Cubs are so deep that manager Joe Maddon thinks one of his utility guys is one of the best defenders in the NL.
“We got a great lineup,” Baez said, “and we all can play defense.”
So Cubs scouts and executives will gather for meetings on Friday in the state-of-the-art Wrigley Field clubhouse, preparing for next week’s draft and hoping to identity a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for the future.
But if not, the Cubs will keep taking their chances on change-of-scenery guys and bounce-back candidates and a relentless offense. It’s impossible to argue with those results now.
The Cubs are dominating NL All-Star vote like they're the Royals.
By Mike Oz
The Chicago Cubs are hoping to make like the Kansas City Royals this season and hoist a World Series trophy come November.
For now, though, Cubs fans are making like Royals fans and stuffing the All-Star ballot boxes in what looks like an effort to get their entire team to San Diego.
Major League Baseball released the first batch of results for National League All-Star voting on Wednesday and the Cubs are dominating. If voting ended right now, the Cubs would have starters at five of the eight positions for which fans can vote. That includes the entire Cubs infield of Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant. Dexter Fowler is second among outfielders.
The non-Cubs position leaders: Yadier Molina (at catcher), Bryce Harper (the No. 1 outfielder) and Yoenis Cespedes (the No. 3 outfielder). Here's the entire list:
This ballot-box stuffing isn't new. Fans have always voted for their hometown players, but last season when the All-Star voting went completely online (R.I.P., paper ballots) is when fans really started to coordinate their voting efforts. Royals fans, at one point, looked like they might vote in eight starters. That didn't happen. They wound up voting in four. And this year, Royals fans are dedicated to their All-Star voting again. The first results in the AL showed the Royals would have three starters if voting ended now. They're also in first or second place at eight of nine positions.
For the Cubs, Fowler, Zobrist and Bryant are worthwhile All-Stars, all leading their respective positions in Wins Above Replacement, according to Fangraphs. Byrant, however, has a tough challenger in Nolan Arenado at third base and Daniel Murphy has certainly been playing at an All-Star level at second base. First baseman Anthony Rizzo, leads all vote-getters in the NL, but the numbers — mainly on-base percentage and batting average — favor Paul Goldschmidt. That being said, Rizzo making the All-Star team isn't objectionable.
You can't fault fans for enthusiastically backing their teams. But it gets problematic when players who blatantly don't deserve to be All-Stars are getting a ton of votes. You'll notice that the Cubs' Jason Heyward and Jorge Soler rank fourth and sixth respectively among the outfield votes, but neither of them deserve to be an All-Star based on early-season performance. Heyward is hitting just .220 with one homer. While he's great in the field, he ranks 27th among NL outfielders in WAR. Soler has been even worse. He's hitting .202 and has a -0.3 WAR.
At shortstop, Russell is another example of the fan support not matching reality. He ranks seventh in WAR among NL shortstops. And while that crop isn't particularly strong from top to bottom, Corey Seager and Brandon Crawford are clearly more deserving, at this time, to be the starter.
There's a long way to go before the actual All-Stars are picked. Voting ends June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET, so many fans can still stuff many virtual ballot boxes. The Cubs — like the Royals last year — are the best team in baseball right now and certainly deserve to be represented at the All-Star game.
Whether their fans take things too far, though, that remains to be seen.
Reminders why Cubs will put trade-deadline focus on pitching.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Sometimes, a cramp is just a cramp. The Cubs fully expect Jason Hammel to make his next start this weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Hammel’s early exit on Memorial Day didn’t signify the leg issues that contributed to his second-half fade last season or force Theo Epstein’s front office into scramble mode with the rotation.
And then came the bullet point out of Jon Lester’s 2-1 complete-game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday: Closer Hector Rondon had been unavailable for the ninth inning and needed the night off to rest a stiff back.
The Cubs are still bracing for all these different possibilities, because they know pitching depth is an organizational weakness and say they have the resources to make a splash at the trade deadline. Kyle Schwarber’s devastating outfield collision during the first week of the season also punctured whatever air of invincibility existed around this team.
But where the Cubs could realign their versatile position players and compensate for the loss of Schwarber — who had a follow-up examination for his surgically repaired left knee on Tuesday in Dallas — there is no obvious or easy solution on the pitching side.
“You cross your fingers whenever someone goes down,” general manager Jed Hoyer said, “and hope you get the best news possible from the trainers after the game.
“Sometimes you get the worst news, and it is humbling, because you realize that you’re always that injury — or that text from your trainer — away from a bad evening and potentially having to change your roster around.
“It’s always a wake-up call. It’s why you (always) try to stay pretty even-keeled, know what’s ahead of you and try to make sure you’re always ready at every position. If you have to go make a move, you know that you have your (preference) list in place and you know what phone calls you have to make.”
Hammel — who’s pitching like a first-half All-Star again (6-1, 2.08 ERA) — threw only 39 pitches against the Dodgers on Monday before the Cubs bullpen combined for seven perfect innings and finished off the one-hitter.
That draining performance — plus a stacked left-handed Los Angeles lineup and Jake Arrieta’s pitch count (107) — led manager Joe Madan to turn a zero-zero eighth-inning game over to lefty Clayton Richard on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Richard allowed three straight hits and didn’t get an out in an eventual 5-0 loss that snapped a streak where the Cubs had won Arrieta’s last 23 regular-season starts.
Hoyer gave Richard (0-1, 8.00 ERA) a vote of confidence and predicted the left-hander will rediscover his sinker and start generating groundballs: “He did it in the playoffs last year. We know he can do it again.” Hoyer also acknowledged the Cubs will be in the market for more bullpen help.
“Our pitching staff has been excellent so far, but you always need a lot of pitching to get through the entire season,” Hoyer said. “We expect that will be something we’ll have to continue to address throughout the year.”
So get used to two full months of trade speculation about the team with the best record in baseball (36-15) and a century-and-counting championship drought. But also remember when those jump-the-market deals for Arrieta/Pedro Strop and Addison Russell happened with the Baltimore Orioles (Scott Feldman) and Oakland A’s (Jeff Samardzija). “We made early deals two years in a row and those were in early July — this is June 1,” Hoyer said. “We’re obviously doing our due diligence, working hard to scout the players that may be available. But it is still exceptionally early in the trade season for anything.
“We’re in the process of looking at who might be traded and scouting those guys. But certainly we’re still in the part of the season where reinforcements come from within.”
And then came the bullet point out of Jon Lester’s 2-1 complete-game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday: Closer Hector Rondon had been unavailable for the ninth inning and needed the night off to rest a stiff back.
The Cubs are still bracing for all these different possibilities, because they know pitching depth is an organizational weakness and say they have the resources to make a splash at the trade deadline. Kyle Schwarber’s devastating outfield collision during the first week of the season also punctured whatever air of invincibility existed around this team.
But where the Cubs could realign their versatile position players and compensate for the loss of Schwarber — who had a follow-up examination for his surgically repaired left knee on Tuesday in Dallas — there is no obvious or easy solution on the pitching side.
“You cross your fingers whenever someone goes down,” general manager Jed Hoyer said, “and hope you get the best news possible from the trainers after the game.
“Sometimes you get the worst news, and it is humbling, because you realize that you’re always that injury — or that text from your trainer — away from a bad evening and potentially having to change your roster around.
“It’s always a wake-up call. It’s why you (always) try to stay pretty even-keeled, know what’s ahead of you and try to make sure you’re always ready at every position. If you have to go make a move, you know that you have your (preference) list in place and you know what phone calls you have to make.”
Hammel — who’s pitching like a first-half All-Star again (6-1, 2.08 ERA) — threw only 39 pitches against the Dodgers on Monday before the Cubs bullpen combined for seven perfect innings and finished off the one-hitter.
That draining performance — plus a stacked left-handed Los Angeles lineup and Jake Arrieta’s pitch count (107) — led manager Joe Madan to turn a zero-zero eighth-inning game over to lefty Clayton Richard on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Richard allowed three straight hits and didn’t get an out in an eventual 5-0 loss that snapped a streak where the Cubs had won Arrieta’s last 23 regular-season starts.
Hoyer gave Richard (0-1, 8.00 ERA) a vote of confidence and predicted the left-hander will rediscover his sinker and start generating groundballs: “He did it in the playoffs last year. We know he can do it again.” Hoyer also acknowledged the Cubs will be in the market for more bullpen help.
“Our pitching staff has been excellent so far, but you always need a lot of pitching to get through the entire season,” Hoyer said. “We expect that will be something we’ll have to continue to address throughout the year.”
So get used to two full months of trade speculation about the team with the best record in baseball (36-15) and a century-and-counting championship drought. But also remember when those jump-the-market deals for Arrieta/Pedro Strop and Addison Russell happened with the Baltimore Orioles (Scott Feldman) and Oakland A’s (Jeff Samardzija). “We made early deals two years in a row and those were in early July — this is June 1,” Hoyer said. “We’re obviously doing our due diligence, working hard to scout the players that may be available. But it is still exceptionally early in the trade season for anything.
“We’re in the process of looking at who might be traded and scouting those guys. But certainly we’re still in the part of the season where reinforcements come from within.”
How Kris Bryant creates immeasurable value for Cubs.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Kris Bryant destroyed a Julio Urias curveball on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, slamming it off the Binny’s advertisement on the left-field video board and showing the hard-to-find power the Cubs always envisioned.
That made it back-to-back homers from Jason Heyward and Bryant off Urias – one of the game’s brightest pitching prospects – in the fifth inning of a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. But that highlight-reel moment still doesn’t even begin to explain Bryant’s value, which couldn’t be missed while the Cubs won this four-game series between two big-market teams with great expectations for October.
Bryant played some shortstop at Bonanza High School in Las Vegas and had enough arm action to create 90-mph velocity as an amateur pitcher. There were still questions about his ultimate defensive fit when the Cubs drafted him No. 2 overall out of the University of San Diego in 2013, whether or not he would become a third baseman (think Troy Glaus) or a corner outfielder (like Jayson Werth).
Don’t stop there? The lack of definition almost made it seem like Bryant would be all about offense and wouldn’t develop into a lockdown defender, a perception that was completely wrong. Just look at how manager Joe Maddon finally got the 6-foot-5, 230-pound slugger an inning at shortstop during Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to Los Angeles.
“I walked into the dugout and ‘Rossy’ called me Cal Ripken Jr.,” Bryant said.
David Ross also joked about how Bryant’s versatility should help him get paid through the arbitration system. There’s no doubt that super-agent Scott Boras has already thought about what that could mean when his client becomes a free agent after the 2021 season, how a super-utility franchise player could be shopped at multiple positions, depending on teams’ needs.
The next night, Bryant blasted the two-run homer that provided the offense in Jon Lester’s 2-1 complete-game victory over the Dodgers. By Thursday morning, Bryant ranked tied for eighth in WAR (2.5) among all position players in the majors, according to FanGraphs, alongside old/new Boston Red Sox (David Ortiz and Mookie Betts) and a Seattle Mariners star with a $240 million contract (Robinson Cano).
“It does give us tremendous flexibility,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “It probably doesn’t get enough attention. This is an exceptionally talented player that’s willing to move all over the field for the team. I can’t think of a similar situation with a guy who’s (been) minor league player or the year, Rookie of the Year (and) so willing to do whatever it takes to help win the game.
“He comes into the ballpark every day not sure if he’s going to play left or play third. It’s pretty special. There’s no doubt that our manager likes to do that and Kris embraces it. But I do think it says a lot about Kris’ character and how much he just likes to win.”
Bryant also leads the team in homers (13) and RBI (40). Maybe it’s all the hype that surrounded his big-league debut last April, or his uncommon maturity at the age of 24, but it does feel like what we’re seeing now almost gets taken for granted.
“We knew he was athletic,” said Jason McLeod, the senior vice president who oversees scouting and player development. “But at the same time, he’s doing it in the major leagues, under the bright lights, under the spotlight of a team that’s pushing for a World Series.
“For him to be able to move out to left, move out to right, play center, play third, go to first, it just speaks to him as a baseball player. And the lack of ego. I know he’s a young guy, but he’s just (like): ‘Absolutely, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.’ And he’ll do it with a smile. Kris just wants to win.
“When we evaluated him as an amateur player, it (became): OK, if he outgrows the position at third, we all felt he could go to right. We knew he could run first to third. We knew the arm strength was there.
“But to see him move around as much as he already has this (early) in his career – for a big guy like that (when) you would expect more of a Javy Baez-type person to do that – it just speaks volumes about Kris’ mentality.”
An All-Star third baseman easily could have shut down these experiments, sending a message through his agent or the media and giving a subtle hint to the coaching staff about his preferences or how the defensive uncertainty might impact his offensive production.
“I’m never been the type of person to voice my opinion that way to say I’m only a third baseman or I only hit third in the lineup,” Bryant said. “I don’t like people who play the game that way. I don’t think we should, because Joe Maddon’s one of the best managers in the league. I trust his judgment. I’m here to help the team.”
Matt Albers plays unlikely extra-inning hero in White Sox win.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Matt Albers got his groove back.
So too did the White Sox bullpen.
Forced to hit for himself, Albers doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored the winning run as the White Sox beat the New York Mets, 2-1, in 13 innings in front of 34,160 at Citi Field.
Two innings from Albers — part of eight scoreless by the bullpen — Jose Abreu’s go-ahead sac fly and five double plays turned pushed the White Sox to their first series victory since May 8. The White Sox had lost six consecutive series, a stretch in which the previously unhittable Albers went 0-4 with an 11.57 ERA in 10 games.
Todd Frazier provided the team's only other offense with a game-tying solo homer, his 17th, in the seventh inning off Jacob deGrom.
“I don’t have words to describe that,” Abreu said of Albers through an interpreter.
Making his first plate appearance since 2009, Albers — who hits from the left side — smoked a 2-2 fastball from Logan Verrett over Mets outfielders in left center. After he didn’t slide into second base, Albers advanced on a wild pitch and easily scored when he tagged up on Abreu’s sac fly to center. Prior to the sac fly, Abreu went 0-for-4 with a walk and had stranded four base runners.
Albers then composed himself and worked around a two-out walk — the 13th issued by a White Sox pitcher — to preserve the victory.
“I almost ran (Mets second baseman Neil) Walker over,” Albers said. “I was like, ‘Sorry, man, I don’t know how to slide.’
“That was awesome to get the win and be a part of it. A hit means nothing if I don’t go out and get those next three outs. After I caught my breath, I went back out there and finished it off.”
The White Sox had to catch their collective breath after Albers’ trip around the bases.
Though it was his third career hit, including one off current teammate Zach Duke in 2007, Albers hadn’t batted in seven years. Closer David Robertson — who pitched two scoreless innings ahead of Albers and nearly batted in the top of the 12th — said he has seen Albers take healthy hacks in spring training. That combined with several nice defensive plays had Robertson convinced his teammate might be able to produce.
“He’s an athlete, he really is,” Robertson said.
Albers immediately knew he’d hit after he retired James Loney on a groundout to end the 12th. Pitcher Mat Latos handed him a bat, but it was too heavy. Albers then turned to Dioner Navarro for a piece of lumber — 32 1/ 2 inches, 32 ounces — and a helmet.
But nobody knew what to expect, especially as the right-handed pitcher stepped to the plate on the left side.
“Navarro was like, ‘You have the wrong helmet,’ and I was like, ‘I’m allegedly left-handed,’” Albers said.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Albers didn’t flinch when he learned he’d bat.
“He didn’t even hesitate,” Ventura said. “He wanted an elbow guard, and he was ready to go.”
Ditto for the bottom of the inning, even though Albers had already thrown 18 pitches.
Albers, who saw a franchise-record streak of 30 straight scoreless appearances end on April 16, quickly recorded the first two outs. He walked Rene Rivera but retired pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki on his 37th pitch to end the game.
It was a Herculean effort by the White Sox bullpen, which bounced back nicely in New York after a horrifying weekend in Kansas City. As bad as the relievers were in Kansas City, they were nearly as good in the Big Apple. White Sox relievers posted four scoreless in Tuesday night’s comeback victory and another in a one-run loss on Monday, giving them 13 in the series. The group allowed 14 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
On Wednesday they picked up the slack after Miguel Gonzalez lasted only five innings. Gonzalez kept the White Sox within striking distance, allowing just a run. But he also walked five batters.
Dan Jennings loaded the bases with a single and two walks in the sixth, but Zach Putnam struck out Rivera to end the threat. Duke struck out three batters in the seventh, and Nate Jones worked around a walk and stranded a runner in the eighth with a double play — the fourth turned by the White Sox. Jones returned in the ninth and retired the side in order, including a strike out of pinch hitter Yoenis Cespedes. Robertson followed a 42-pitch effort to provide two scoreless innings.
That set the stage for Albers, who didn’t allow an earned run until May 5, his 13th appearance. The man who loaned him his bat thinks the performance can help Albers rediscover some of his early season form, which would in turn help the bullpen.
The eight scoreless innings are the most by a White Sox bullpen since Aug. 20, 1995.
“Great boost,” Navarro said. “Everybody has trouble throughout the season, it’s such a long season and people go through hot and cold stretches. We’ve just got to minimize the damage. We knew we didn’t perform the way we normally performed in Kansas City. But if there’s a time where you’ve gotta go through a funk like that it’s right now because you’ve got to find out what you’re made of. We did a pretty good job this series and we’ve just got to keep going hard every day.”
So too did the White Sox bullpen.
Forced to hit for himself, Albers doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored the winning run as the White Sox beat the New York Mets, 2-1, in 13 innings in front of 34,160 at Citi Field.
Two innings from Albers — part of eight scoreless by the bullpen — Jose Abreu’s go-ahead sac fly and five double plays turned pushed the White Sox to their first series victory since May 8. The White Sox had lost six consecutive series, a stretch in which the previously unhittable Albers went 0-4 with an 11.57 ERA in 10 games.
Todd Frazier provided the team's only other offense with a game-tying solo homer, his 17th, in the seventh inning off Jacob deGrom.
“I don’t have words to describe that,” Abreu said of Albers through an interpreter.
Making his first plate appearance since 2009, Albers — who hits from the left side — smoked a 2-2 fastball from Logan Verrett over Mets outfielders in left center. After he didn’t slide into second base, Albers advanced on a wild pitch and easily scored when he tagged up on Abreu’s sac fly to center. Prior to the sac fly, Abreu went 0-for-4 with a walk and had stranded four base runners.
Albers then composed himself and worked around a two-out walk — the 13th issued by a White Sox pitcher — to preserve the victory.
“I almost ran (Mets second baseman Neil) Walker over,” Albers said. “I was like, ‘Sorry, man, I don’t know how to slide.’
“That was awesome to get the win and be a part of it. A hit means nothing if I don’t go out and get those next three outs. After I caught my breath, I went back out there and finished it off.”
The White Sox had to catch their collective breath after Albers’ trip around the bases.
Though it was his third career hit, including one off current teammate Zach Duke in 2007, Albers hadn’t batted in seven years. Closer David Robertson — who pitched two scoreless innings ahead of Albers and nearly batted in the top of the 12th — said he has seen Albers take healthy hacks in spring training. That combined with several nice defensive plays had Robertson convinced his teammate might be able to produce.
“He’s an athlete, he really is,” Robertson said.
Albers immediately knew he’d hit after he retired James Loney on a groundout to end the 12th. Pitcher Mat Latos handed him a bat, but it was too heavy. Albers then turned to Dioner Navarro for a piece of lumber — 32 1/ 2 inches, 32 ounces — and a helmet.
But nobody knew what to expect, especially as the right-handed pitcher stepped to the plate on the left side.
“Navarro was like, ‘You have the wrong helmet,’ and I was like, ‘I’m allegedly left-handed,’” Albers said.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Albers didn’t flinch when he learned he’d bat.
“He didn’t even hesitate,” Ventura said. “He wanted an elbow guard, and he was ready to go.”
Ditto for the bottom of the inning, even though Albers had already thrown 18 pitches.
Albers, who saw a franchise-record streak of 30 straight scoreless appearances end on April 16, quickly recorded the first two outs. He walked Rene Rivera but retired pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki on his 37th pitch to end the game.
It was a Herculean effort by the White Sox bullpen, which bounced back nicely in New York after a horrifying weekend in Kansas City. As bad as the relievers were in Kansas City, they were nearly as good in the Big Apple. White Sox relievers posted four scoreless in Tuesday night’s comeback victory and another in a one-run loss on Monday, giving them 13 in the series. The group allowed 14 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
On Wednesday they picked up the slack after Miguel Gonzalez lasted only five innings. Gonzalez kept the White Sox within striking distance, allowing just a run. But he also walked five batters.
Dan Jennings loaded the bases with a single and two walks in the sixth, but Zach Putnam struck out Rivera to end the threat. Duke struck out three batters in the seventh, and Nate Jones worked around a walk and stranded a runner in the eighth with a double play — the fourth turned by the White Sox. Jones returned in the ninth and retired the side in order, including a strike out of pinch hitter Yoenis Cespedes. Robertson followed a 42-pitch effort to provide two scoreless innings.
That set the stage for Albers, who didn’t allow an earned run until May 5, his 13th appearance. The man who loaned him his bat thinks the performance can help Albers rediscover some of his early season form, which would in turn help the bullpen.
The eight scoreless innings are the most by a White Sox bullpen since Aug. 20, 1995.
“Great boost,” Navarro said. “Everybody has trouble throughout the season, it’s such a long season and people go through hot and cold stretches. We’ve just got to minimize the damage. We knew we didn’t perform the way we normally performed in Kansas City. But if there’s a time where you’ve gotta go through a funk like that it’s right now because you’ve got to find out what you’re made of. We did a pretty good job this series and we’ve just got to keep going hard every day.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... On night Splash Brothers are cold Warriors still win by 15, take 1-0 Finals lead.
By Kurt Helin
It was a night where the Splash Brothers barely made a ripple in the water.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 20 points on 8-of-27 shooting, including 4-of-13 from three — and those numbers are inflated by a couple of late dagger threes.
And yet, the Warriors won. Convincingly.
Shaun Livingston had 20 points and three assists, Harrison Barnes started hot and finished with 13, Andre Iguodala had 12, and Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The Warriors were balanced — and were the team playing vastly better defense.
Because of all that, Golden State now leads the NBA Finals 1-0, with Game 2 Sunday in Oakland.
This felt like a game the Cavaliers needed to win.
With the Warriors’ best shooters cold, the Cavs were able to erase an eight-point halftime deficit, and take a lead couple times in the second half of the third quarter. They were attacking the paint, getting to the free throw line, and getting offensive rebounds. This looked like a game Cleveland could win with that formula.
Then the Warriors bench came in.
During a 15-0 run that went from late in the third through the middle of the fourth, the Warriors’ bench (with Green and Barnes) stretched the lead out to 20 at one point. They got stops, got buckets by moving the ball and moving off the ball, and generally played the way Golden State has through their last championship and 73-win season.
The Warriors are not going to win a series with their best shooters unable to throw a pea in the ocean, but that’s not going to happen. The Cavs did everything they could to take the Warriors starting backcourt out of the game, but at some point those guys will get hot. Just ask Oklahoma City
Through three quarters the Splash Brothers had 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting, just 2-of-10 from three, and the Cavaliers were controlling the glass plus getting to the line more. They a lot of things well, and still trailed 74-68.
A lot of that was because their defense struggled — they lacked the focus not to lose Warriors with their constant motion and crisp passing. Kevin Love got burned three times on Bogut back cuts, and Irving lost track of his man off the ball numerous times. For most of the game the Warriors were shooting better than 50 percent (they finished at 49.4 percent), but even still the Warriors only hit 33.3 percent from three on the night.
In the first half Cleveland showed their game plan — switch nearly every pick, and show way out on Curry and Thompson, do not let those two get hot and beat them. It’s a good strategy — Curry and Thompson combined for just 10 first half points.
However, that strategy requires the Cavs to stop the Warriors ball movement and other players cutting to the rim and getting looks. They didn’t do that nearly as well, either in the first half or for the game. The result was balance — Harrison Barnes with nine first half points, Green and Bogut with eight each, and Leandro Barbosa with some highlight plays on his way to seven.
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving was 3-of-12 in the first 24 minutes on his way to 13 points. For the game, Irving had 26 points on 7-of-22 shooting, while LeBron had 23 points on 21 shots, and Kevin Love had 17 points on 17 shots.
Propelled by their bench the Warriors led by as many as 14 in the second quarter, but they couldn’t put Cavaliers away. The Cavs grabbed the offensive rebound on a third of their missed shots in the first half, plus they got to the free throw line 11 times (compared to twice for the Warriors). That kept it relatively close, 52-43 at the half.
Chicago Bulls: Three Things To Look For This Summer.
By Kurt Helin
(Photo/Getty Images)
It was a night where the Splash Brothers barely made a ripple in the water.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 20 points on 8-of-27 shooting, including 4-of-13 from three — and those numbers are inflated by a couple of late dagger threes.
And yet, the Warriors won. Convincingly.
Shaun Livingston had 20 points and three assists, Harrison Barnes started hot and finished with 13, Andre Iguodala had 12, and Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The Warriors were balanced — and were the team playing vastly better defense.
Because of all that, Golden State now leads the NBA Finals 1-0, with Game 2 Sunday in Oakland.
This felt like a game the Cavaliers needed to win.
With the Warriors’ best shooters cold, the Cavs were able to erase an eight-point halftime deficit, and take a lead couple times in the second half of the third quarter. They were attacking the paint, getting to the free throw line, and getting offensive rebounds. This looked like a game Cleveland could win with that formula.
Then the Warriors bench came in.
During a 15-0 run that went from late in the third through the middle of the fourth, the Warriors’ bench (with Green and Barnes) stretched the lead out to 20 at one point. They got stops, got buckets by moving the ball and moving off the ball, and generally played the way Golden State has through their last championship and 73-win season.
The Warriors are not going to win a series with their best shooters unable to throw a pea in the ocean, but that’s not going to happen. The Cavs did everything they could to take the Warriors starting backcourt out of the game, but at some point those guys will get hot. Just ask Oklahoma City
Through three quarters the Splash Brothers had 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting, just 2-of-10 from three, and the Cavaliers were controlling the glass plus getting to the line more. They a lot of things well, and still trailed 74-68.
A lot of that was because their defense struggled — they lacked the focus not to lose Warriors with their constant motion and crisp passing. Kevin Love got burned three times on Bogut back cuts, and Irving lost track of his man off the ball numerous times. For most of the game the Warriors were shooting better than 50 percent (they finished at 49.4 percent), but even still the Warriors only hit 33.3 percent from three on the night.
In the first half Cleveland showed their game plan — switch nearly every pick, and show way out on Curry and Thompson, do not let those two get hot and beat them. It’s a good strategy — Curry and Thompson combined for just 10 first half points.
However, that strategy requires the Cavs to stop the Warriors ball movement and other players cutting to the rim and getting looks. They didn’t do that nearly as well, either in the first half or for the game. The result was balance — Harrison Barnes with nine first half points, Green and Bogut with eight each, and Leandro Barbosa with some highlight plays on his way to seven.
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving was 3-of-12 in the first 24 minutes on his way to 13 points. For the game, Irving had 26 points on 7-of-22 shooting, while LeBron had 23 points on 21 shots, and Kevin Love had 17 points on 17 shots.
Propelled by their bench the Warriors led by as many as 14 in the second quarter, but they couldn’t put Cavaliers away. The Cavs grabbed the offensive rebound on a third of their missed shots in the first half, plus they got to the free throw line 11 times (compared to twice for the Warriors). That kept it relatively close, 52-43 at the half.
Chicago Bulls: Three Things To Look For This Summer.
By Allana Tachauer
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) brings the ball up court against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at United Center. (Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
The Chicago Bulls will have a busy few months ahead of them in preparing for next season, so here are three things that fans should expect to see this summer.
Despite the league’s offseason not starting quite yet (the NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 2), the Chicago Bulls‘ summer has been going strong. After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the organization has a lot of work to do before the fall rolls around.
Despite the league’s offseason not starting quite yet (the NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 2), the Chicago Bulls‘ summer has been going strong. After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the organization has a lot of work to do before the fall rolls around.
But what exactly does this mean?
Well, the Bulls do have the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft. So fans should obviously expect some fresh talent to be added to the roster.
Well, the Bulls do have the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft. So fans should obviously expect some fresh talent to be added to the roster.
Additionally it is pretty clear that some changes need to be made. And since the front office does not seem to be going anywhere, nor does head coach Fred Hoiberg, that leaves the rest of the coaching staff and of course, the team itself.
These next few months will without a doubt be filled with speculation, rumors and drama. However, Chicagoans can still count on a handful of positive moves, taking the franchise into next season.
With The 14th Pick In The 2016 NBA Draft …
Because Chicago finished with a 42-40 record, coming in ninth in the Eastern Conference, they are looking at acquiring a top rookie this offseason.
And for now, it seems that the organization will try and go after a guard.
Snagging one will not be hard in terms of finding a suitable guy, but the Bulls do need to face the reality that many of the best will probably already be taken by the time their turn comes around. This includes the likes of Kris Dunn and Demetrius Jackson.
There is the chance that the Bulls will try to trade up though, making things a whole lot more interesting. If the team is willing to give up a key asset such as Jimmy Butler, there is no doubt that they could sign guys like Dunn or Jackson.
It just comes down to whether Chicago would be willing to do so, and/or if such a deal would even be worth it.
Regardless of what happens come Thursday, June 23, expect the draft to make some type of an impact in the Bulls’ future.
The Coaching Hot Seat
It seems as though everyone has a different opinion on Hoiberg. But at the end of the day, none of them matter: the newly appointed head coach is not going anywhere. A close friend of Gar Forman, the former college stud is highly liked and respected by the organization’s top tier.
But, the same cannot be said for any of the assistant coaches.
Although Jim Boylen will be back after not being hired by the Indiana Pacers, Charlie Henry and Randy Brown are both being replaced. While Brown is reportedly heading back to the front office, Chicago wants to see coaches with more NBA experience alongside Hoiberg on the bench.
The question is, who can the team go after?
Pippen Ain’t Easy’s Michael Rene Kanoy has a suggestion:
However, since there are only so many available positions left, it would be worth investigating if they would instead be willing to help Hoiberg rejuvenate the Bulls.
The Chicago Trade Machine
There is no doubt about it: Chicago’s roster will not look the same, come October.
Between expiring contracts, unhappy players, and financial limitations, changes are coming.
For instance, fans may want to start saying goodbye to Pau Gasol. Likewise, it seems that Joakim Noah is not coming back.
However, there has been much talk of trades also being part of the offseason plan, despite the fact that the organization has never been known for relying on them. Butler has been at the center of trade rumors lately, as has teammate Derrick Rose.
But dealing away star players is not so simple. And with Butler chosen to represent the team at the Draft Lottery, and Rose still having a year left on his contract, the Bulls are probably going to hang on to them both.
These next few months will without a doubt be filled with speculation, rumors and drama. However, Chicagoans can still count on a handful of positive moves, taking the franchise into next season.
With The 14th Pick In The 2016 NBA Draft …
Because Chicago finished with a 42-40 record, coming in ninth in the Eastern Conference, they are looking at acquiring a top rookie this offseason.
And for now, it seems that the organization will try and go after a guard.
Snagging one will not be hard in terms of finding a suitable guy, but the Bulls do need to face the reality that many of the best will probably already be taken by the time their turn comes around. This includes the likes of Kris Dunn and Demetrius Jackson.
There is the chance that the Bulls will try to trade up though, making things a whole lot more interesting. If the team is willing to give up a key asset such as Jimmy Butler, there is no doubt that they could sign guys like Dunn or Jackson.
It just comes down to whether Chicago would be willing to do so, and/or if such a deal would even be worth it.
Regardless of what happens come Thursday, June 23, expect the draft to make some type of an impact in the Bulls’ future.
The Coaching Hot Seat
It seems as though everyone has a different opinion on Hoiberg. But at the end of the day, none of them matter: the newly appointed head coach is not going anywhere. A close friend of Gar Forman, the former college stud is highly liked and respected by the organization’s top tier.
But, the same cannot be said for any of the assistant coaches.
Although Jim Boylen will be back after not being hired by the Indiana Pacers, Charlie Henry and Randy Brown are both being replaced. While Brown is reportedly heading back to the front office, Chicago wants to see coaches with more NBA experience alongside Hoiberg on the bench.
The question is, who can the team go after?
Pippen Ain’t Easy’s Michael Rene Kanoy has a suggestion:
“Hiring an ex-head coach or two also creates great synergy that often provides exactly what a team needs to make to the next level like when Rick Carlisle hired ex-Milwaukee coach Terry Stotts in 2008 and both formulated an NBA “flow offense” and a better zone defense with a small-ball forward manning the paint.”Right now, there are a multitude of both former head and assistant coaches looking to throw their hats in the ring for a top head coaching job.
However, since there are only so many available positions left, it would be worth investigating if they would instead be willing to help Hoiberg rejuvenate the Bulls.
The Chicago Trade Machine
There is no doubt about it: Chicago’s roster will not look the same, come October.
Between expiring contracts, unhappy players, and financial limitations, changes are coming.
For instance, fans may want to start saying goodbye to Pau Gasol. Likewise, it seems that Joakim Noah is not coming back.
However, there has been much talk of trades also being part of the offseason plan, despite the fact that the organization has never been known for relying on them. Butler has been at the center of trade rumors lately, as has teammate Derrick Rose.
But dealing away star players is not so simple. And with Butler chosen to represent the team at the Draft Lottery, and Rose still having a year left on his contract, the Bulls are probably going to hang on to them both.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Johnson sets pace at Memorial.
Omnisport.com
Dustin Johnson upstaged Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday. (Photo/Omnisport)
In a star-studded field including world number one Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson stole the show as he earned a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Memorial Tournament.
All eyes were on the world's top three on day one at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio and while Day started well, American Johnson produced a putting masterclass en route to an almost flawless eight-under-par 64 on Thursday.
Johnson - without a PGA Tour win since last year's WGC-Cadillac Championship - holed 10 birdies and dropped just two shots.
He opened the day with three consecutive birdies and matched that feat again from the seventh to the ninth, before he posted four in a row, starting at the 12th following the turn.
Rain sprinkled the course throughout the afternoon, but the thunderstorms threatening on the radar never disrupted play. The result was a number of low scores with the course playing softer than normal.
Day was one of those players to benefit from the soft greens, with the Australian star firing a first-round 66, spurred by an eagle at the par-five 15th.
Hudson Swafford, Danny Lee, Matt Kuchar and David Hearn are also six under heading into the second round, with Jason Bohn, Kevin Streelman, Luke Donald, Emiliano Grillo and Ryan Ruffels a shot back.
Meanwhile, world number two Spieth is six strokes off the pace.
In a topsy-turvy round, Spieth mixed five birdies with three bogeys to be a shot better off than rival McIlroy.
McIlroy registered a similar round to Spieth, holing six birdies and three bogeys, though he did double-bogey the 16th.
Vijay Singh Accuses PGA Tour of 'Absurd' and 'Unfair' Treatment. What's Your Take?
By Pete Madden
In a memorandum filed with the New York State Supreme Court on Tuesday, Vijay Singh accused Tour officials of subjecting him to "absurd" and "unfair" treatment by ignoring the use of deer antler spray by five other professional golfers playing on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour and then lying to the public by "characterizing Singh as a cheater who caught a break."
According to Singh, discovery revealed that five golfers, identified anonymously as Golfers A, B, C, D and E, admitted to the Tour as early as 2010 or 2011 that they had used the same spray as Singh but were not sanctioned under the Tour's anti-doping program.
In 2013, The Tour announced its intention to suspend Singh for 90 days following his admission to Sports Illustrated that he had used the spray, which contained trace amounts of the banned growth hormone IGF-1, but quickly lifted its suspension when the World Anti-Doping Agency determined the product didn't contain enough of the hormone to be performance-enhancing. Singh sued the Tour, contending that the announcement damaged his reputation, leading to the loss of his longtime endorsement deal with Cleveland Golf.
Singh's lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, claimed that the Tour's legal strategy attempts to rewrite their rules to cover their own tracks.
"Knowing it needed to rationalize this obvious disparate treatment of Singh, the Tour during the course of this litigation attempted to justify its arbitrary treatment of Singh by claiming that other golfers who had used the SWATS products played on the Champions Tour and the Program does not apply to Champions Tour golfers," Ginsberg wrote in the memorandum.
The PGA Tour could not be reached for comment.
While the Tour contends that its officials merely followed evolving WADA guidelines, Singh accused Commissioner Tim Finchem of lying when he pinned the Tour's decision to withdraw its anti-doping case against him on a change in WADA policy that "clarified that it no longer considers the use of deer antler spray to be prohibited unless a positive test results." Singh contends WADA did no such thing, citing testimony from WADA's science director that WADA's position on deer antler spray hadn't changed in several years.
That accusation may not have sat well with the Commissioner.
"As a mirror into his mentality, Commissioner Finchem under oath in discovery in this litigation was asked to explain his multiple, false and misleading public statements about the Singh matter," Ginsberg wrote. "Remarkably, Commissioner Finchem refused to respond to the questioning about whether WADA ever changed the list or why he told the world that WADA had changed the list, and, instead, stormed out of the deposition, and refused to return."
According to Sports Illustrated legal analyst Michael McCann, these documents offer a preview of what a trial might look like should settlement negotiations break down.
"Singh is now signaling which set of facts he believes are most crucial to his case," McCann said. "His argument that he is treated differently, I suspect, would be highlighted in a trial because, if true, it would help him show that the process was not fair."
Ginsberg told GOLF.com the Tour's treatment of Singh was the result of organizational failure that raises questions about the way the Tour conducts its business.
Doral and the PGA Tour: Nobody wins when a 55-year marriage ends in divorce.
Miami Herald; Greg Cote
The PGA Tour officially is leaving Doral because the World Golf Championship event could not find a title sponsor to replace the departing Cadillac. (Photo/Al Diaz MIAMI HERALD STAFF)
A major and enduring piece of the South Florida sports landscape withered and died Wednesday after 55 years, disappearing into the summer sky. What had been a tradition predating Beatlemania and the day JFK died lapsed suddenly into the past tense as the PGA Tour announced it was leaving Doral and its iconic Blue Monster golf course.
Just like that.
What a shame — because it’s sad, and also because it feels like it didn’t have to happen.
Pot-bellied Billy Casper wins the very first Doral in 1962 and Aussie Adam Scott wins the last in 2016 and every single spring in between the best men’s golfers in the world made an annual pilgrimage to the playground in our backyard.
Finished now.
Disappeared.
Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino to Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, all the best raised the trophy on Doral’s 18th green as Greater Miami beamed out across the country as a Mecca of golf, a postcard of perfect weather.
Only one golf course and tournament in America has a longer continuous relationship with the PGA Tour than we enjoyed: The Masters at Augusta.
Now that tradition of ours is done, nothing but a memory — as gone as the old Orange Bowl Stadium.
The civic gut punch came with a twist of irony that made you wonder if it might be a joke.
The PGA Tour is leaving us for Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
No, seriously. How rich!
If that isn’t a well-aimed parting shot at Doral owner Donald Trump, it’s a coincidence bizarre beyond measure.
It was presidential candidate Trump’s controversial disparaging remarks about Mexicans last year (and talk of building a wall to keep out illegal immigrants) that first made the PGA Tour wonder about its relationship with Trump and his course properties such as Trump National Doral. The Republican’s later comments about barring Muslims from entering the U.S. caused a widening rift between Trump and the tour.
Before the news became official Wednesday, Trump himself first mentioned it Tuesday night in an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity. He spun it as another example of America losing jobs to foreign countries. And took another shot at Mexicans, of course.
“They’re moving it to Mexico City,” said Trump, “which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance.”
The PGA Tour officially is leaving Doral because the World Golf Championship event could not find a title sponsor to replace the departing Cadillac.
That may be true, or at least part of the truth, but it begs two questions.
First, was the difficulty in finding a new title sponsor rooted in the fact corporations were wary of associating with a Trump course?
Second, why would the billionaire Trump himself not swoop in as sponsor to keep the event at the resort he owns?
Clearly, to me, the PGA Tour used the title sponsor issue as a break point to distance itself from Trump.
It was 11 months ago, remember, when four major golf associations — the PGA Tour, LPGA, PGA of America and USGA — issued a joint statement that Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants “do not reflect the views of our organizations.”
It was five months ago when the PGA Tour, in the wake of Trump’s comments about Muslims, said it would “explore all options” about the tour’s future at Doral.
It stretches credulity to believe the more toxic element of Trump’s reputation did not play a role in South Florida and Doral losing its grip on 55 years of tradition.
Sadly enough, from golf to tennis, the Miami Open’s 32-year tradition (under various tournament names) on Key Biscayne also is fading — that event’s future seriously imperiled by a quagmire of political red tape and squabbling within the Matheson family.
Neither major sporting event should leave Greater Miami.
Neither tradition should die.
One just did, 55 years of history disappeared, only a memory in its place.
After researching Zika, McIlroy ready to compete in Rio Olympics.
By Ryan Ballengee
Rory McIlroy has done his homework, and now he's ready to give his answer: The world No. 3 will play in the Olympic golf tournament.
After McIlroy won the Irish Open two weeks ago, McIlroy said he was concerned about the spread of Zika virus and was considering skipping the sport's return to the Olympic program after a 112-year absence. McIlroy cited a desire to start a family with fiancee Erica Stoll in the coming years and a lack of certainty about how long Zika can remain in someone's system.
NASCAR schedule at Pocono Raceway.
Vijay Singh (Photo/Golf)
A three-time major winner is turning into a major headache for the PGA Tour.
In a memorandum filed with the New York State Supreme Court on Tuesday, Vijay Singh accused Tour officials of subjecting him to "absurd" and "unfair" treatment by ignoring the use of deer antler spray by five other professional golfers playing on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour and then lying to the public by "characterizing Singh as a cheater who caught a break."
According to Singh, discovery revealed that five golfers, identified anonymously as Golfers A, B, C, D and E, admitted to the Tour as early as 2010 or 2011 that they had used the same spray as Singh but were not sanctioned under the Tour's anti-doping program.
In 2013, The Tour announced its intention to suspend Singh for 90 days following his admission to Sports Illustrated that he had used the spray, which contained trace amounts of the banned growth hormone IGF-1, but quickly lifted its suspension when the World Anti-Doping Agency determined the product didn't contain enough of the hormone to be performance-enhancing. Singh sued the Tour, contending that the announcement damaged his reputation, leading to the loss of his longtime endorsement deal with Cleveland Golf.
Singh's lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, claimed that the Tour's legal strategy attempts to rewrite their rules to cover their own tracks.
"Knowing it needed to rationalize this obvious disparate treatment of Singh, the Tour during the course of this litigation attempted to justify its arbitrary treatment of Singh by claiming that other golfers who had used the SWATS products played on the Champions Tour and the Program does not apply to Champions Tour golfers," Ginsberg wrote in the memorandum.
The PGA Tour could not be reached for comment.
While the Tour contends that its officials merely followed evolving WADA guidelines, Singh accused Commissioner Tim Finchem of lying when he pinned the Tour's decision to withdraw its anti-doping case against him on a change in WADA policy that "clarified that it no longer considers the use of deer antler spray to be prohibited unless a positive test results." Singh contends WADA did no such thing, citing testimony from WADA's science director that WADA's position on deer antler spray hadn't changed in several years.
That accusation may not have sat well with the Commissioner.
"As a mirror into his mentality, Commissioner Finchem under oath in discovery in this litigation was asked to explain his multiple, false and misleading public statements about the Singh matter," Ginsberg wrote. "Remarkably, Commissioner Finchem refused to respond to the questioning about whether WADA ever changed the list or why he told the world that WADA had changed the list, and, instead, stormed out of the deposition, and refused to return."
According to Sports Illustrated legal analyst Michael McCann, these documents offer a preview of what a trial might look like should settlement negotiations break down.
"Singh is now signaling which set of facts he believes are most crucial to his case," McCann said. "His argument that he is treated differently, I suspect, would be highlighted in a trial because, if true, it would help him show that the process was not fair."
Ginsberg told GOLF.com the Tour's treatment of Singh was the result of organizational failure that raises questions about the way the Tour conducts its business.
"As detailed in the filing, the PGA Tour's bogus rationalization for treating Vijay differently than it treated multiple other players, and then Commissioner Finchem's unwillingness to remain in his deposition and explain why the PGA Tour ignored WADA's guidance about the Spray and then misled the public, speak volumes about the golf organization's conduct and failure to fulfill its duties and obligations. Either the PGA Tour was woefully ignorant or woefully arrogant, but, either way, it was woefully irresponsible and Vijay suffered as a result."
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We know that there has been friction between Vijay Singh and the PGA for awhile. We don't know all of the facts or any of the particulars for this case, however, we will follow this story until it's conclusion. The PGA is a terrific organization and it's hard to believe that there could be any impropriety but if there is, it will come out in this trial. Let's not make any judgement and wait for the outcome and then as Paul Harvey says, "And now you know the rest of the story."
Perhaps some of our readers may have some insight on this story. If you do, feel free to share it with the rest of our readers. Just go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your information with us. As we've stated previously, we will follow this case and keep you apprised of the updates as we get them.
The Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We know that there has been friction between Vijay Singh and the PGA for awhile. We don't know all of the facts or any of the particulars for this case, however, we will follow this story until it's conclusion. The PGA is a terrific organization and it's hard to believe that there could be any impropriety but if there is, it will come out in this trial. Let's not make any judgement and wait for the outcome and then as Paul Harvey says, "And now you know the rest of the story."
Perhaps some of our readers may have some insight on this story. If you do, feel free to share it with the rest of our readers. Just go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your information with us. As we've stated previously, we will follow this case and keep you apprised of the updates as we get them.
The Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff.
Doral and the PGA Tour: Nobody wins when a 55-year marriage ends in divorce.
Miami Herald; Greg Cote
A major and enduring piece of the South Florida sports landscape withered and died Wednesday after 55 years, disappearing into the summer sky. What had been a tradition predating Beatlemania and the day JFK died lapsed suddenly into the past tense as the PGA Tour announced it was leaving Doral and its iconic Blue Monster golf course.
Just like that.
What a shame — because it’s sad, and also because it feels like it didn’t have to happen.
Pot-bellied Billy Casper wins the very first Doral in 1962 and Aussie Adam Scott wins the last in 2016 and every single spring in between the best men’s golfers in the world made an annual pilgrimage to the playground in our backyard.
Finished now.
Disappeared.
Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino to Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, all the best raised the trophy on Doral’s 18th green as Greater Miami beamed out across the country as a Mecca of golf, a postcard of perfect weather.
Only one golf course and tournament in America has a longer continuous relationship with the PGA Tour than we enjoyed: The Masters at Augusta.
Now that tradition of ours is done, nothing but a memory — as gone as the old Orange Bowl Stadium.
The civic gut punch came with a twist of irony that made you wonder if it might be a joke.
The PGA Tour is leaving us for Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
No, seriously. How rich!
If that isn’t a well-aimed parting shot at Doral owner Donald Trump, it’s a coincidence bizarre beyond measure.
It was presidential candidate Trump’s controversial disparaging remarks about Mexicans last year (and talk of building a wall to keep out illegal immigrants) that first made the PGA Tour wonder about its relationship with Trump and his course properties such as Trump National Doral. The Republican’s later comments about barring Muslims from entering the U.S. caused a widening rift between Trump and the tour.
Before the news became official Wednesday, Trump himself first mentioned it Tuesday night in an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity. He spun it as another example of America losing jobs to foreign countries. And took another shot at Mexicans, of course.
“They’re moving it to Mexico City,” said Trump, “which, by the way, I hope they have kidnapping insurance.”
The PGA Tour officially is leaving Doral because the World Golf Championship event could not find a title sponsor to replace the departing Cadillac.
That may be true, or at least part of the truth, but it begs two questions.
First, was the difficulty in finding a new title sponsor rooted in the fact corporations were wary of associating with a Trump course?
Second, why would the billionaire Trump himself not swoop in as sponsor to keep the event at the resort he owns?
Clearly, to me, the PGA Tour used the title sponsor issue as a break point to distance itself from Trump.
It was 11 months ago, remember, when four major golf associations — the PGA Tour, LPGA, PGA of America and USGA — issued a joint statement that Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants “do not reflect the views of our organizations.”
It was five months ago when the PGA Tour, in the wake of Trump’s comments about Muslims, said it would “explore all options” about the tour’s future at Doral.
It stretches credulity to believe the more toxic element of Trump’s reputation did not play a role in South Florida and Doral losing its grip on 55 years of tradition.
Sadly enough, from golf to tennis, the Miami Open’s 32-year tradition (under various tournament names) on Key Biscayne also is fading — that event’s future seriously imperiled by a quagmire of political red tape and squabbling within the Matheson family.
Neither major sporting event should leave Greater Miami.
Neither tradition should die.
One just did, 55 years of history disappeared, only a memory in its place.
After researching Zika, McIlroy ready to compete in Rio Olympics.
By Ryan Ballengee
Rory McIlroy has done his homework, and now he's ready to give his answer: The world No. 3 will play in the Olympic golf tournament.
After McIlroy won the Irish Open two weeks ago, McIlroy said he was concerned about the spread of Zika virus and was considering skipping the sport's return to the Olympic program after a 112-year absence. McIlroy cited a desire to start a family with fiancee Erica Stoll in the coming years and a lack of certainty about how long Zika can remain in someone's system.
Following consultation with medical experts, McIlroy's concerns have been assuaged.
"I'm ready to play," McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of this week's Memorial Tournament in Ohio.
"I feel like the advice I've sought out over the past 10 days has put my mind at ease and makes me more comfortable going down there knowing that, even if I do contract Zika, it's not the end of the world. It takes six months to pass through your system, and you're fine."
Particularly helpful was knowing that there is testing to indicate if someone has contracted Zika, which is spread largely by mosquitoes and can cause birth defects.
"You can get tested for it, and it's either a yes or a no you've had it," he said. "It's a virus. It works its way out of your system, and you become immune to it."
"You can get tested for it, and it's either a yes or a no you've had it," he said. "It's a virus. It works its way out of your system, and you become immune to it."
McIlroy is a lock to make the 60-player men's tournament. Despite his native Northern Ireland's affiliation with Great Britain, McIlroy has chosen to represent the Republic of Ireland in Brazil.
NASCAR schedule at Pocono Raceway.
By Dustin Long
(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
The Sprint Cup Series makes the first of its two annual visits to Pocono Raceway this week and will be joined for the first time by the Xfinity Series.
Here’s the weekend schedule:
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, June 3
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
11 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Sprint Cup practice (FS1, Motor Racing Network)
12:30 – 1:25 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
3 – 3:55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:15 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (FS1, MRN)
Saturday, June 4
7 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open
9:05 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; single vehicle/two rounds (FS1)
11:10 a.m. – Xfinity driver/crew chief meeting
11:30 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Final Sprint Cup practice (FS1, MRN)
12:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1 p.m. – Xfinity race; 100 laps/250 miles (Fox, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, June 5
7 a.m. – Sprint Cup garage opens
11 a.m. – Driver/crew chief meeting
12:30 p.m. – Driver introductions
1 p.m. – Sprint Cup race; 160 laps/400 miles (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Here’s the weekend schedule:
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, June 3
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
11 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Sprint Cup practice (FS1, Motor Racing Network)
12:30 – 1:25 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
3 – 3:55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:15 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (FS1, MRN)
Saturday, June 4
7 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open
9:05 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; single vehicle/two rounds (FS1)
11:10 a.m. – Xfinity driver/crew chief meeting
11:30 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Final Sprint Cup practice (FS1, MRN)
12:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1 p.m. – Xfinity race; 100 laps/250 miles (Fox, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, June 5
7 a.m. – Sprint Cup garage opens
11 a.m. – Driver/crew chief meeting
12:30 p.m. – Driver introductions
1 p.m. – Sprint Cup race; 160 laps/400 miles (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Even with struggles, Danica Patrick wouldn’t change a thing about move to NASCAR.
By Dustin Long
Although Danica Patrick’s NASCAR career has had its struggles going from open-wheel cars to stock cars, she does not look back on her decision to leave IndyCar with regret.
“I do not second-guess any of my decisions about being in IndyCar, leaving for NASCAR, not doing the double (Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day), nothing,’’ she told reporters Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. “I just don’t really live with a lot of regrets. I’m happy with where I am. If I would have changed anything, I wouldn’t be right here right now. I don’t think there’s any reason to look back.’’
Patrick, in her fourth full Sprint Cup season, enters this weekend at Pocono Raceway 24th in the points. She has six top-10 finishes in 131 career starts. Her best finish this season is 13th at Dover.
Among the challenges she has faced is finding the right crew chief. Tony Gibson served as her crew chief for two races in 2012, all of 2013 and most of 2014 (for a total of 71 points races) before a switch was made. Daniel Knost became Patrick’s crew chief for the final three races of 2014 and all of 2015 (a total of 39 points races) before another change. Billy Scott became Patrick’s crew chief this season.
“With Tony Gibson, it took a year and half before we really kind of fell into a good sync pattern where he knew me and I knew him and the car was close every weekend,’’ said Patrick, who was in Daytona to promote a ticket package for the July 2 Coke Zero 400, which will be shown on NBC. “So I know there’s no substitute for time on some level, but it doesn’t mean you can’t push. For me it’s about approaching things in a different way and seeing if we can improve our results.’’
While changing crew chiefs can lead to better results immediately, that’s not always the case. Some pairings take longer. Kyle Larson entered this year with Chad Johnston as his new crew chief. Larson is 21st in the points (he was 20th at this time last year), scoring a runner-up finish at Dover and a third at Martinsville along with four finishes of 34th or worse. Carl Edwards is in his first season with crew chief Dave Rogers and is fifth in the points (Edwards was 16th at this time last year) and has two victories.
“I feel like when a good combination comes together it tends to stick for quite a while, so I hope that Billy and I … can be consistent from year to year and build and build and build, especially with the limited amount of testing we get these days,’’ Patrick said.
With a new crew chief comes a new way of looking at things to be better.
“Can we pinpoint a couple of things that we can do to at least just change our approach for now, whether it be in the car or out of the car, how we structure the weekend, which direction we go with things?’’ Patrick said. “Do we focus on our teammates or do we go on our own path?
“There’s a lot of different ways to approach the weekend and a lot of areas you can change the approach. It’s a matter of picking a couple of things that we can do different and seeing if they work. If they don’t, we’ll try something else. By no means will it be by a lack of effort if we don’t have a good race.’’
Among the lessons she’s learned since moving to NASCAR is just what it takes to be successful.
“It’s not just the team, it’s not just the driver, it’s not just luck,’’ Patrick said. “It’s all those things. Everything has to be on and I feel like why there’s so much pride and so much excitement when you do run up front and get to victory lane because it’s so hard.
“I feel like at any point in NASCAR you could see great drivers struggle for a year and then all of a sudden they come back. We as drivers don’t forget how to drive. We don’t just learn how to drive. It’s just a matter of putting all the puzzle pieces together.’’
Then it’s a matter of performing in a race.
“Every now and again I may feel like it’s a little tougher out there for me, and I feel like I’ve heard some people say it looks a little harder for me to get by cars, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and it makes me a better driver,’’ Patrick said. "At the end of the day, my job as a driver is to pass a car that is in front of me, so if it’s difficult then it’s just difficult and I have to work that much harder. That is my job. I’m not looking for a handout or anyone to move over unless you are lapped traffic.’’
SOCCER: Fire to host Indy Eleven in U.S. Open Cup fourth round.
By Dustin Long
(Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Although Danica Patrick’s NASCAR career has had its struggles going from open-wheel cars to stock cars, she does not look back on her decision to leave IndyCar with regret.
“I do not second-guess any of my decisions about being in IndyCar, leaving for NASCAR, not doing the double (Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day), nothing,’’ she told reporters Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. “I just don’t really live with a lot of regrets. I’m happy with where I am. If I would have changed anything, I wouldn’t be right here right now. I don’t think there’s any reason to look back.’’
Patrick, in her fourth full Sprint Cup season, enters this weekend at Pocono Raceway 24th in the points. She has six top-10 finishes in 131 career starts. Her best finish this season is 13th at Dover.
Among the challenges she has faced is finding the right crew chief. Tony Gibson served as her crew chief for two races in 2012, all of 2013 and most of 2014 (for a total of 71 points races) before a switch was made. Daniel Knost became Patrick’s crew chief for the final three races of 2014 and all of 2015 (a total of 39 points races) before another change. Billy Scott became Patrick’s crew chief this season.
“With Tony Gibson, it took a year and half before we really kind of fell into a good sync pattern where he knew me and I knew him and the car was close every weekend,’’ said Patrick, who was in Daytona to promote a ticket package for the July 2 Coke Zero 400, which will be shown on NBC. “So I know there’s no substitute for time on some level, but it doesn’t mean you can’t push. For me it’s about approaching things in a different way and seeing if we can improve our results.’’
While changing crew chiefs can lead to better results immediately, that’s not always the case. Some pairings take longer. Kyle Larson entered this year with Chad Johnston as his new crew chief. Larson is 21st in the points (he was 20th at this time last year), scoring a runner-up finish at Dover and a third at Martinsville along with four finishes of 34th or worse. Carl Edwards is in his first season with crew chief Dave Rogers and is fifth in the points (Edwards was 16th at this time last year) and has two victories.
“I feel like when a good combination comes together it tends to stick for quite a while, so I hope that Billy and I … can be consistent from year to year and build and build and build, especially with the limited amount of testing we get these days,’’ Patrick said.
With a new crew chief comes a new way of looking at things to be better.
“Can we pinpoint a couple of things that we can do to at least just change our approach for now, whether it be in the car or out of the car, how we structure the weekend, which direction we go with things?’’ Patrick said. “Do we focus on our teammates or do we go on our own path?
“There’s a lot of different ways to approach the weekend and a lot of areas you can change the approach. It’s a matter of picking a couple of things that we can do different and seeing if they work. If they don’t, we’ll try something else. By no means will it be by a lack of effort if we don’t have a good race.’’
Among the lessons she’s learned since moving to NASCAR is just what it takes to be successful.
“It’s not just the team, it’s not just the driver, it’s not just luck,’’ Patrick said. “It’s all those things. Everything has to be on and I feel like why there’s so much pride and so much excitement when you do run up front and get to victory lane because it’s so hard.
“I feel like at any point in NASCAR you could see great drivers struggle for a year and then all of a sudden they come back. We as drivers don’t forget how to drive. We don’t just learn how to drive. It’s just a matter of putting all the puzzle pieces together.’’
Then it’s a matter of performing in a race.
“Every now and again I may feel like it’s a little tougher out there for me, and I feel like I’ve heard some people say it looks a little harder for me to get by cars, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and it makes me a better driver,’’ Patrick said. "At the end of the day, my job as a driver is to pass a car that is in front of me, so if it’s difficult then it’s just difficult and I have to work that much harder. That is my job. I’m not looking for a handout or anyone to move over unless you are lapped traffic.’’
SOCCER: Fire to host Indy Eleven in U.S. Open Cup fourth round.
By Dan Santaromita
The Chicago Fire don’t play again for two weeks, but at least now the Fire know their next opponent and where they will play when they return.
NASL club Indy Eleven beat USL club Louisville City FC 2-1 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. As a result, the Fire will host Indy on June 15 in the fourth round of the tournament. The Fire confirmed the match will take place at Toyota Park with a 7:30 p.m. start time.
NASL club Indy Eleven beat USL club Louisville City FC 2-1 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. As a result, the Fire will host Indy on June 15 in the fourth round of the tournament. The Fire confirmed the match will take place at Toyota Park with a 7:30 p.m. start time.
Former MLS player Chandler Hoffman scored in the first half to give visiting Louisville the lead. Goals by Omar Gordon and Eamon Zayed turned around the deficit for Indy in the second half.
This will mark the first time the Fire have played Indy Eleven, which began play in 2014. Former Fire president Peter Wilt started up the club before leaving during this offseason to start up an NASL team in Chicago.
Former Fire players Lovel Palmer and Jon Busch both are on Indy Eleven, although neither played against Louisville. Indy Eleven defender Marco Franco, who was a first round draft pick of the Fire in 2014, but never made an appearance for the club, played the whole match.
Former Fire players Lovel Palmer and Jon Busch both are on Indy Eleven, although neither played against Louisville. Indy Eleven defender Marco Franco, who was a first round draft pick of the Fire in 2014, but never made an appearance for the club, played the whole match.
New system could help USA enjoy strong Copa America.
Goal.com
Jurgen Klinsmann loves to experiment with his teams – U.S. national team fans and players have learned this over the years. Be it position changes for players, or experiments with formations, Klinsmann has never been afraid to try new things, even if, at times, some such experiments feel very forced.
Klinsmann's latest experiment feels different. The U.S. team's deployment of a 4-3-3 formation in recent matches has the team looking very comfortable, and the U.S. could wind up reaping considerable rewards at Copa America because of it.
"Ultimately, the ability for us to be able to play in different ways, to do different things on different days is important, but in the last few games there has certainly been a lot of good that has come from playing this way,” Bradley told Goal USA of the team’s recent use of the 4-3-3. “Now, we start to prepare and make sure that we’re ready in every possible way for this game and fine-tune how we work as a group.”
Klinsmann tried to downplay the impact of the team using a 4-3-3 formation.
"There is no end formation that we are going for because, as we often talk about, the modern era of soccer is a fluid type of game where everybody defends and everybody joins the attack," Klinsmann said on Tuesday. "No matter what formation or shape you prefer, it kind of leads to the same goals. No matter what system you want to choose.
"There is no end formation that we are going for because, as we often talk about, the modern era of soccer is a fluid type of game where everybody defends and everybody joins the attack," Klinsmann said on Tuesday. "No matter what formation or shape you prefer, it kind of leads to the same goals. No matter what system you want to choose.
"With a 4-3-3, and based on the players that we have, this is definitely interesting to see because we have now wingers that we maybe a couple of years ago didn’t have," Klinsmann said. "So we can try to bring their strengths out in that formation. The advantage of a 4-3-3 in that way, is it goes into a 4-5-1 defensively. That makes us a little bit more compact, and makes it easier to press the ball."
The results have been positive, and the feedback from players make it clear that they are buying into the new system completely.
“We’ve tried this new formation with different players in different areas and I think it’s helped out the team," Bedoya told Goal USA. "I talked about formations can be overrated, but if you play a certain way, and players are maybe more comfortable in certain positions, and players off the ball are a lot cleaner, and there’s more movement off the ball, then things click more.”
So why might the 4-3-3 yield better results for the U.S. now? It comes down to a combination of factors, from strong personnel well-equipped to fit into the system, to the fact that Klinsmann is playing several players in positions they naturally prefer, but haven't necessarily played regularly in the past.
Bedoya and Bradley fit that bill. Bedoya has spent much of his time with the U.S. playing on the wing despite spending more time in central roles for his club teams. He has stated repeatedly in recent weeks that he prefers playing in central midfield, and his two-assist showing in Saturday's 4-0 win against Bolivia showed a player who can be effective playing in the middle of the field.
Klinsmann's fascination with trying to make Bradley a playmaker has been well documented, and Bradley's struggles with that role at the 2014 World Cup won't soon be forgotten. One role we really hadn't seen Klinsmann assign Bradley is as a lone defensive midfielder, a deep-lying role the manager has preferred Kyle Beckerman for when he has used it. Something has changed though, and now Klinsmann has come around to the idea of playing Bradley in that deep role. The Toronto FC man has responded with some excellent performances.
As Klinsmann noted, having some wide options who can pressure defenses and press defensively is also beneficial to the new system. Bobby Wood enters Copa America riding a wave of supreme confidence after a strong season with Union Berlin. Zardes, though still the subject of some criticism for the occasional wayward touch, has clearly grown as a player and gives the U.S. the kind of two-way work as a wide forward that can make a 4-3-3 work well.
Throw in the presence of two fast and defensively sound fullbacks in Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin, and you have the ingredients for an effective, and potentially dangerous 4-3-3 that can punish teams offensively, and squeeze them defensively.
That is clearly what Klinsmann is hoping to see on Friday against Colombia. After the win against Bolivia, Klinsmann hinted that part of the motivation for the new system was to help the team better match up against the Colombians. The reality is it might just wind up being the best system for the U.S. for the foreseeable future, regardless of opponent.
Is Major League Soccer Scoring With Fans?
By Thomas Barrabi
Once an afterthought in a crowded sports landscape, Major League Soccer is starting to capitalize on America’s rising obsession with soccer. But whether MLS can sustain its recent rabid growth for years to come remains a matter of debate.
By nearly any measure, 2015 was a banner year for the United States’ premier pro soccer league. League-wide average attendance rose 12.7% year-over-year to more than 21,000 fans per contest, with the crucial 18-34 demographic accounting for 65% of the audience. New media rights deals and soccer-specific stadiums helped drive the value of the average MLS franchise to $157 million in 2015 – a 52% increase of just two years earlier, according to a Forbes study. Earlier this year, league officials announced plans to expand from 20 teams in 2016 to 24 franchises by the year 2020.
The signs of growth are unmistakable and encouraging, but Major League Soccer’s outlook isn’t entirely rosy. As with any sports league, rising revenues are generating debate about player compensation and the long-term sustainability of MLS’ business model. The league’s prohibitive salary cap – a rarity on the global soccer stage – has also garnered criticism.
Debates on these issues will be at the heart of labor negotiations when MLS’ current collective-bargaining deal expires in 2019. But there’s no denying that MLS is on more far stable ground than it was during its infancy in the mid 1990’s, before its teams had soccer-specific stadiums and devoted fan bases.
“When the league first started, it was a massive education process, when we would try to sell a sponsorship or try to persuade a sports editor to cover Major League Soccer in greater detail,” Dan Courtemanche, MLS’ executive vice president, told FOXBusiness.com. “Now, that process is very, very different.”
That’s partially due to the natural progression of soccer in America. The sport, which has traditionally taken a backseat to baseball, football, hockey and basketball, has enjoyed a spike in popularity thanks to the strong performances of the U.S. men’s – and especially the women’s – national soccer teams. The television rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups fetched about $1 billion in the United States – an unfathomable figure when MLS opened its doors in 1996.
Major League Soccer’s new television deals with FOX, ESPN (NYSE:DIS) and Univision are worth a combined $90 million annually – a threefold increase over its previous rights deal. Total television viewership of MLS games reached 30 million in 2015, up 50% from 2013. Courtemanche says MLS is most popular among millennials, who grew up with the league, and Hispanic-Americans, who already loved soccer and now compose about a third of the league’s audience.
The league now has a total of 19 national sponsors, including key additions of household names like Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Heineken. Courtemanche credits team owners like Robert Kraft and Phil Anschultz for guiding the league’s evolution during its formative years.
“It really starts there and the investment they have made in the foundation of the league,” Courtemanche said. “When we started, we didn’t have any soccer stadiums. We were playing in the Rose Bowl with baby blue lines for UCLA painted in the end zone.”
As of 2016, 15 of MLS’ 20 franchises have their own soccer-specific stadiums, which grants more control over their revenue streams. Expansion franchises, such as New York City FC and Orlando City, are already among the league’s top teams in terms of attendance.
Patrick McCabe witnessed MLS’s growth firsthand. A former player and soccer agent for the last 19 years, McCabe represents several clients in MLS and has seen the league expand from fledgling enterprise to a real force among the U.S.’s top sports leagues.
“If people don’t think it’s relevant, I think they have their head in the sand,” McCabe told FOXBusiness.com. “Because it really is. I wouldn’t have said that 20 years ago or 10 years ago, but you can certainly say it now and you can say it with confidence.”
The league, which operates as a single entity, has granted its teams more and more room to operate as they see fit. Top executives have gained experience and are now more adept than ever before at steering a franchise’s business operations.
But McCabe says the league’s rules on player contracts and transfers are outdated and too restrictive. In European leagues, teams often sell their best players for massive fees and then reinvest their earnings into new prospects. MLS’ system is more complicated – teams only recoup a portion of transfer fee revenue, depending on the length of the player’s service.
“That’s a different model than most leagues are operating under. They’re selling players to pay the bills. That’s never been the strategy of MLS,” McCabe said. “When you’re dealing with foreign partners and teams, they think, oh, we want to buy that player. Well, [MLS teams] don’t want to sell.”
Player compensation is another key issue. MLS’ salary cap will hover around $4 million next season – far below caps in other major sports. MLS allows each team to pay “designated players” beyond the salary cap's limits, but middling performers are often paid comparatively low salaries. Of more than 500 MLS players, just 22 earned more than $1 million in 2015, according to the MLS Players’ Union.
That pay disparity is one of several issues that could cause labor discontent in 2019 – especially in light of how contentious negotiations were in 2015.
“The rank-and-file are not really benefitting from the league’s growth, in terms of sponsorship and all those positives,” McCabe said. “The CBA that was negotiated in early 2015 is going to go through the 2019 season and then there’s going to be some real unhappy players that are going to want a new CBA, because they felt they got the short end of the stick last time.”
MLS executives and team owners are taking steps to increase spending on players. As of now, each franchise is allowed to spend outside the cap on three “designated players.” Owners also put $50 million into an allocation pool that allows teams to sign additional players for between $500,000 and $1 million. While the current salary cap is around $4 million, franchises are spending closer to $13 million on compensation and player development, Courtemanche said.
Long-term, MLS is counting on the continued expansion of its fan base and a series of new soccer stadiums to inject new revenue and sustain growth. Increased income from licensing deals and new sponsors will help MLS avoid overextension, Courtemanche said. In addition, the league is eying new, more lucrative broadcast partnerships overseas as a potential revenue source.
“Our plan is to continue to grow the fan base and grow the sport and, ultimately, Major League Soccer becoming one of the top soccer leagues in the world in the next decade,” Courtemanche said.
NCAAFB: The NCAA way: students pay; coaches (and everyone else) get paid.
By Dan Wetzel
On Wednesday, the University of Louisville agreed to pay its baseball coach $1 million per year. (Repeat: baseball.) With various bonuses, Dan McDonnell's annual compensation can actually go even higher than that. He is believed to be among, if not the, highest paid baseball coach in the country.
There was some howling over the idea of a college baseball coach breaking into the million-dollar club. This was misplaced. This is America and this is capitalism and McDonnell is worth whatever he can get someone to pay him. Good for him. And Louisville can decide whatever it wants to pay its employees. Good for it.
The more germane point is this: while eye-popping coaches' salaries are nothing new in football and men's basketball, as uneasy as it is seeing millions go to them and "just" full scholarships to the players, in college baseball that isn't even the case.
Louisville, for instance, lists 38 players on its baseball roster, 30 of which have appeared regularly in games this season. However, NCAA rules say Louisville can only offer 11.7 scholarships. Part of McDonnell's job is divvying up a pool of money that covers less than 30 percent of what would be needed for every player to get a full ride.
Alabama football coach Nick Saban may be making over $7 million per year, and his players deserve a larger share of the revenue they produce (namely via profits off their name and likeness). Eighty-five of them, more than enough to field a football team (the NFL roster limit is 53), get full rides, though.
At least there is that.
The disparity in so-called non-revenue sports is disturbing, especially as coaches are valued above seven-figures annually and games are blanketed over ESPN and conference cable television networks.
It also illustrates the tortured economic logic that college sports employs. It is half Marxism, half capitalism … only the half of each that it subscribes to always wind up benefiting coaches and administrators over the athletes and their families.
There are three main excuses offered as to why baseball (and other Olympic sports from golf to gymnastics to soccer to lacrosse) scholarships are limited well below full roster: cost, so-called competitive balance and in the case of men's sports, compliance with Title IX, a federal law that requires an equal number of athletic scholarships for men and women. Since there is no female equivalent to football (and its 85 scholarships) other men's sports need to be limited in an effort to bridge the gap.
This is a cop-out, of course.
Softball, like baseball, has grown in popularity, yet the NCAA allows just 12 scholarships, or just 0.3 more than baseball. That still doesn't come close to covering a full roster, which typically has two-dozen or more players. If Title IX is a big deal, then why not double up for the women rather than starve everyone?
As for costs, major programs are rich in revenue, hence the soaring coaches' salaries, staffing increases and so on. To say there isn't money is absurd. Just look around. There is enough to load up on Olympic scholarships and allow football stars to share in marketing revenue.
In terms of competitive balance, yes, it's true some schools are wealthier than others. The University of Texas could easily handle more scholarships. UT-Arlington might not. So what? They aren't meant to be identical. Texas wins nearly every recruiting battle anyway.
The idea of limiting "compensation" for the players to balance things out, but not limiting the compensation of coaches and administrators or the size and scope of facilities to lure the best talent in (adding value above the cost of the scholarship) is something only the bosses could believe in. It just shifted the payout model.
The construction of top-line facilities is surely appreciated by the players who get to train and play in modern opulence. Here's guessing every one of them would take their old locker in lieu of a full ride.
Scholarships limits are wrong to begin with. Let Texas offer 50 per team if it wants. No one limits the number of athletic department employees it can hire or the size of the stadium it can design. No one says the engineering department can only go grant aide to whatever number of students a poorer school can afford. Let the market work itself out. Since this is likely too radical for most, let's agree to this: if there is going to be a cap, however, it should at least be high enough to cover the roster.
Would smaller programs struggle to defeat bigger programs as more of the best players flock to the biggest schools? Perhaps, but there is already a recruiting imbalance. Playing time and other factors can still be important. In supposedly protecting the little guy, it's the real little guys – players and their families – who lose out.
Thousands of additional scholarships would be well worth the risk, particularly as tuition soars. It's far better than a system where a few kids get full scholarships, some get partials and many get nothing.
The interesting part with softball and swimming and other capped sports is that it crushes one of College Sports Inc.'s chief arguments against allowing football and basketball players to get additional pay or a cut of jersey sales or autograph deals. Supposedly a team where "pay" is unequal in favor of star players would cause chaos and require a system impossible to devise. Yet that's exactly how all the other sports on campus operate (not to mention pro team and any company).
So which side do college administrators believe? Whatever one limits the rights and remuneration of the athletes in a particular argument, of course.
This is how the legislative process views athletes though. Consider another bit of news Wednesday: the mind-numbing decision out of the Big 12 to maintain restrictions on non-scholarship players who wish to transfer within the conference.
It goes like this: Let's say you are a volleyball player at Kansas State, but there is no scholarship money for you, so you are paying your own way and excelling on the team. The Kansas coach says he likes you so much he will give you a scholarship.
Great. Except you can't just transfer to Kansas. You have to sit out one year and lose a full season of eligibility, essentially cutting your college career from four years to three. In practicality, it makes transferring prohibitive for upperclassmen, the most common walk-ons who develop into good players.
So coaches and administrators believe that even students who are paying tens of thousands of dollars to play for them should face a punishment for leaving to go to another conference school that instead values them and is offering to foot the bill.
How? Why? What the hell? According to Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, some coaches didn't want other coaches recruiting players off other rosters, players, mind you, that are so lowly valued they receive no money.
So an inconvenience for the coach means more than a hard-working player getting a scholarship.
Because college coaches and administrators seem incapable of grasping this, here is the proper reaction to such a situation: Shake the kids hand and say, "Congratulations, I'm very excited for you and your parents. This is great. Thanks for paying to play for us. I wish I had a scholarship to give you, but this makes me happy."
Here is the wrong reaction: "We need legislation to limit these kinds of success stories because it is always and forever about us coaches and administrators."
Naturally, no coaches or administrators have any problem, or propose any restrictions, on another school (in-conference or otherwise) hiring them at improved compensation. The university can even pay them a million bucks to coach a team that offers just a quarter of the scholarships the roster demands.
This is the National Collegiate Athletic Industrial Complex in full effect.
Play ball.
SEC coaches welcome new replay, 'want to get it right'.
By MARK LONG
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn yells to his players to get into formation during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn in Auburn, Ala. Steve Shaw has a busy week at the Southeastern Conference's annual meetings. Shaw, the league's coordinator of officials, is getting SEC coaches and administrators prepared for centralized replay, an experimental effort between the SEC office's command center and the replay official at games.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Steve Shaw has a busy week at the Southeastern Conference's annual meetings.
He's already met with athletic directors. He's already briefed football coaches. And he's got a media session scheduled for Thursday.
His presentation also might be the most important one of the week, at least in the short term.
Shaw, the league's coordinator of officials, is getting SEC coaches and administrators prepared for centralized replay, an experimental effort between the SEC office's command center and the replay official at games.
Much like the Atlantic Coast Conference, the SEC will use collaborative replay in 2016. All replays will be looked at by a replay official in the stadium and the league's ''Video Command Center'' located in Birmingham, Alabama. The three-person command center - which should be unaffected by noisy, crowded stadiums - will assist the replay official in making a determination on whether to uphold or reverse calls.
''Everybody - coaches, players, fans - want to get it right,'' Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. ''When you have the human element involved, the more eyes that are on that, the more people able to review something, you have a better chance to get it right. I think that's all anybody wants, and I think it's great for our league and great for our game.''
Coaches and athletic directors overwhelmingly welcomed the experiment and had little, if any, hesitation about how it will affect games.
''I'm in favor of anything that will get the calls right,'' Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said. ''I think that's what this league is trying to do. There's a lot at stake. To have as many sets of eyes look at a play and get the call right, that's what you're trying to get done.
''We're excited about it. I know the coaches are in favor of it. We're totally in favor of it.''
Coaches pushed for a joint effort on replay, and the NCAA responded by allowing the experiment for the first time this fall.
Shaw detailed the procedures for coaches and administrators in Destin, showing them exactly how it will work. Shaw declined media interviews Tuesday and Wednesday, preferring to wait until his media demonstration Thursday.
But coaches said it's fairly simple: Three people in Birmingham, Alabama, will review replays at the same time as the replay official on site. Together, they will decide how to handle suspect calls.
''It's great,'' Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. ''There's going to be two or three guys looking at it. In total, that will be four guys, right? Three at the home office and then the one that's on site. I just think it's better all-around. The guy on site will have somebody to lean on. It takes human error out of it a little bit more.''
There are a couple of potential pitfalls.
First, college games already take well more than three hours to complete, so adding extra layers to replays will only extend them.
''I think the biggest thing is we've got to get it right,'' LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said. ''If it takes another 30 seconds to get it right, let's get it right. So I think that'll be good.''
Second, and an aspect that's been talked about much less, is the perception of having people in the league office decide calls and maybe games.
''Why would that argument be any different than what it is right now?'' Stoops said. ''If you believe that, then there's more people in on the conspiracy, right? I'll just say this: Our league certainly knows very clearly that it does not want to make a mistake that dictates our champion or a potential national champion. There's too much at stake.''
But fans are sure to scream when questionable calls go against their teams, which eventually will happen.
Coaches are willing to take that chance, believing the more trained eyes involved the better.
Coaches are willing to take that chance, believing the more trained eyes involved the better.
The biggest need for the experimental system seemingly involves targeting and catch calls. The way the targeting rule is enforced has caused more debate and dissension than any other. And the fact that it can lead to an ejection, which potentially can impact a game, makes it arguably more important than others.
''Sometimes those calls are very critical, especially with ejections,'' Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. ''I think it's a good step moving forward. ... I think it will do nothing but help. ... I'm looking forward to see how that unfolds.''
NCAABKB: John Calipari proposes moving SEC tournament to November.
Sporting News
(Photo/Sporting News)
John Calipari knows it's a ridiculous idea, but maybe it's so crazy it could work.
The Kentucky basketball coach would like the Southeastern Conference to move its conference tournament from March to November. His reasoning is giving an automatic NCAA Tournament bid to the SEC tourney champion is meaningless.
"You know my stuff is so ridiculous that you say, 'What?'" Calipari told reporters, via AL.com, Wednesday at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla. "I said let's not have a postseason tournament. Let's have a preseason tournament where you're guaranteed three games. We go somewhere and all the fans come in and we celebrate our league. We'll have great games to start the year and we'll do it prior to the year.
"You have to do it in November," Calipari added. "Play a game or two and then out of the gate, you have a conference tournament. You know you have it for one week. Maybe you have two sites in the same city. Maybe it's in Atlanta. You're doing it every year. Let's all (have) our fans go to Atlanta and everything is geared for the SEC."
After Kentucky and Texas A&M tied for the regular-season title in 2015-16, Kentucky got the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by beating the Aggies in the SEC championship game. Kentucky was rewarded with a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tourney while Texas A&M got a 3 seed. Calipari said the regular-season champion should get the automatic bid and it's easy to see his point when it comes to power conferences like the SEC.
But holding a conference tourney in November would present some problems, especially in the football-crazed SEC.
COUNTERPOINT: John Calipari's bizarre plan is not the way to fix SEC tournament.
By Jeff Eisenberg
John Calipari fervently believes the SEC tournament is not benefiting the league, so the Kentucky coach has proposed a harebrained idea to fix it.
He wants to move it up five months.
Calipari made his pitch to hold the SEC tournament in November instead of March during the conference's spring meetings Wednesday in Destin, Fla.
Under the Calipari plan, the SEC tournament would feature a consolation bracket, guaranteeing every team a minimum of three games. The SEC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament would not be at stake during the event and instead would be awarded to the league's regular season champion.
“We go somewhere and all the fans come in and we celebrate our league, and they’re great games to start the year,” Calipari told reporters in Destin.
"You do it for one week. You maybe have two sites in the same city. Maybe it’s in Atlanta. We do it every year. Let’s all of our fans go to Atlanta. And everything is geared to SEC, and then you start the regular season."
Calipari elaborated on his idea on Twitter after speaking with reporters.
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''Why don't we play the games in the football stadium in Atlanta and set up two courts with stands split down the middle?"
3:57 PM - 1 Jun 2016
"You could play the games where fans can go from side to side and watch multiple games."
3:58 PM - 1 Jun 2016
"You could even have the winner's bracket on one court and the loser's bracket on the other court."
3:58 PM - 1 Jun 2016
---John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
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Calipari's proposal comes at a time when the SEC is lagging behind its power-conference brethren in basketball clout. Kentucky and Florida have combined for three national titles and seven Final Fours in the past decade, but the league as a whole has produced only three NCAA tournament teams in three of the past four seasons and has not finished higher than sixth in conference RPI during that span.
Chief among Calipari's complaints about the SEC tournament's current format is that losses in the opening round or the quarterfinals are costing the league's bubble teams NCAA bids. He also doesn't believe that the SEC tournament champion is receiving a boost in seeding from the selection committee because the title game takes place on Selection Sunday just hours before the bracket is revealed.
When his team beat Texas A&M in the SEC title game in March but received a lesser seed than the Aggies, Calipari complained vociferously about the tournament concluding on Sunday instead of earlier in the week. Kentucky lost to fifth-seeded Indiana in the second round of the NCAA tournament, while Texas A&M made the Sweet 16.
Credit Calipari for always being willing to propose an outside-the-box idea, but this scheme is not one of his best.
How would it benefit the pigskin-crazed SEC to hold its conference tournament in November at the height of football season? How many fans would make the trip to Atlanta for the event when an NCAA tournament bid isn't at stake?
In reality, the solution to the SEC's basketball problem is far simpler than Calipari's wild scheme would make it seem. If the SEC wants to be more relevant in March, the rest of the league besides Kentucky just needs to get better.
Billy Donovan's departure from Florida and Mike Anderson's inability to turn things around at Arkansas are both big blows to the SEC, but some of the league's other programs have made promising coaching hires. Auburn's Bruce Pearl, Alabama's Avery Johnson and Mississippi State's Ben Howland are luring top recruits to their respective schools and Vanderbilt's Bryce Drew may do the same if given sufficient time.
Shrewd coaching hires, smarter scheduling and more robust budgets will go a long way toward bridging the gap between the SEC and the rest of college basketball's top conferences.
The SEC tournament's format isn't broken. The league just needs to improve.
First American athlete, a cyclist, withdraws from Rio due to Zika.
By Jay Busbee
Tejay van Garderen has withdrawn from Rio Games consideration because of Zika concerns. (AP file photo)
American cyclist Tejay van Garderen has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Rio Olympics out of concern for contracting the Zika virus. Van Garderen's wife is pregnant, and he feared contracting the mosquito-borne illness and passing it to her. He is believed to be the first American athlete to decline the Games specifically because of the virus.
Cycling officials said van Garderen is the only cyclist to withdraw his name from consideration. USA Cycling will announce its Rio team on June 24. The 27-year-old van Garderen would have been a likely choice for one of the two cycling spots.
Rio officials have insisted that cases of Zika will drop in the next two months, and that there is no compelling public health risk to warrant moving or postponing the Games.
Several athletes have expressed concern about the possibility of contracting the virus. Golfers Vijay Singh and Marc Leishman have already declined to play in the Olympics because of Zika concerns. Rory McIlroy, former world No. 1, had initially said he could skip the Games, but has since relaxed that stance following consultation with doctors.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1851 - The New York Knickerbockers became the first baseball team to wear uniforms. They wore straw hats, white shirts and blue trousers.
1932 - Lou Gehrig became the first American League player to hit four home runs in one game.
1980 - ESPN began televising college world series games.
1987 - The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros combined for three grand slams in one game.
1989 - The Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4. The game lasted 22 innings and took over seven hours to play.
2003 - Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) broke a bat when he grounded out against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The bat he was using was a corked bat.
1932 - Lou Gehrig became the first American League player to hit four home runs in one game.
1980 - ESPN began televising college world series games.
1987 - The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros combined for three grand slams in one game.
1989 - The Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4. The game lasted 22 innings and took over seven hours to play.
2003 - Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) broke a bat when he grounded out against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The bat he was using was a corked bat.
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