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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"I've used my experience from playing sports in almost every aspect of my life. Playing soccer is where I found my voice, and playing softball was where I learned precision, and in every game I learned to play as a member of a team - to work not for my own glory, but for a shared goal." ~ Linda Sanchez, U.S. Congressional Representative
Trending: Wrigley rarity: Cubs lose a Jake Arrieta start for first time since last July. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Trending: Big questions linger for Bears as Alshon Jeffery's absence continues. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: Big questions linger for Bears as Alshon Jeffery's absence continues. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: SEC coaches Saban, Bielema want to change NFL draft rules. (See the college football section for NCAAFB updates).
Jordan Spieth (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI)
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 35-15
White Sox 2016 Record: 28-25
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
By Larry Mayer
Which Bears veteran do you think will have a breakout season like Zach Miller did last year?
Phil L.Owensboro, Kentucky
I’m going to go with defensive endAkiem Hicks . The 6-5, 324-pounder signed with the Bears as a free agent in March after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Saints (2012-15) and Patriots (2015). Hicks played very well at times after being acquired by New England last Sept. 30 and seems (at least to me) like he’s poised to have a breakout season on a defense that will also feature outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman . Kyle Long has raved about Hicks while facing him in OTAs, and Kyle’s endorsement is enough for me to believe that Hicks has the potential to have an impactful first season with the Bears.
I remember watching Walter Payton carry the Bears for about a decade before they became a better team later in his career. What was the Bears’ record when Sweetness ran for 100 yards?
Roger T.Aurora, Illinois
Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton started a Bears record 184 games during his illustrious career from 1975-87. In those contests, the team went 53-24 (.688) when he rushed for at least 100 yards and 55-52 (.514) when he didn’t.
I’ve watched highlights of all the players the Bears drafted and was really impressed with fourth-round pickDeon Bush . Wow that kid can hit. Is there a possibility of him starting this season?
Jay M.Bloomington, Illinois
Safety is about as wide open as any position heading into training camp, so I would say that Deon Bush will have an opportunity to win the job.Adrian Amos started all 16 games as a rookie last year after being selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the draft out of Penn State. But the transition from college football to the NFL isn’t easy and Bush must show that he’s capable of mastering the game physically and mentally. He certainly is a big hitter who shows no fear throwing his body around in the secondary. After he was drafted by the Bears, Bush told reporters that he likes to “put fear in my opponents,” which you know will endear him to Bears fans. It’s going to be fun to monitor Bush’s progress in training camp and watch him play in preseason games.
Phil L.Owensboro, Kentucky
I’m going to go with defensive end
I remember watching Walter Payton carry the Bears for about a decade before they became a better team later in his career. What was the Bears’ record when Sweetness ran for 100 yards?
Roger T.Aurora, Illinois
Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton started a Bears record 184 games during his illustrious career from 1975-87. In those contests, the team went 53-24 (.688) when he rushed for at least 100 yards and 55-52 (.514) when he didn’t.
I’ve watched highlights of all the players the Bears drafted and was really impressed with fourth-round pick
Jay M.Bloomington, Illinois
Safety is about as wide open as any position heading into training camp, so I would say that Deon Bush will have an opportunity to win the job.
Big questions linger for Bears as Alshon Jeffery's absence continues.
The Chicago Bears are entering their second week of organized team activities and expecting to return to the practice field Tuesday without top receiver Alshon Jeffery.
After Jeffery signed his $14.6 million franchise tag tender on March 8, he has stayed away from the voluntary portion of the offseason program and is instead working out in Miami.
His nonattendance adds several layers of intrigue to one of the Bears’ biggest storylines of 2016. At this point, what should the team expect from Jeffery this season? What are Jeffery’s long-term prospects in Chicago? And what is the ripple effect of his prolonged absence?
Bears writers Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer break down the situation in their latest edition of Real Talk.
Rich Campbell: Let’s be clear about one thing from the start, Dan. Alshon’s absence from OTAs would be boiling over if he hadn’t signed his tender. As it stands, this issue is just simmering. That’s important perspective as we assess the situation.
Both sides plan for Jeffery to be at the mandatory minicamp in mid-June and at training camp in late July. For now, practices are voluntary, and Jeffery has seized on that fact in what amounts to a symbolic request for a big-money, long-term contract.
But his absence is not helping him toward that payday because the Bears’ questions about him remain unanswered. Is Alshon fit? Is the physical and mental foundation in place for him to prove last year’s injury-marred campaign was an anomaly?
No answers will materialize before the NFL’s July 15 deadline for a long-term deal. Instead, the Bears still sit with the bad aftertaste of last season and can only contemplate the unknowns.
Dan Wiederer: Point blank, here it is: It’s a near certainty Jeffery will play the 2016 season on the franchise tag. So go ahead and keep your calendar open for the days leading up to July 15 without feeling anxious about the suspense of Jeffery’s contract status.
General manager Ryan Pace has repeatedly acknowledged that he has an open line of communication with Jeffery’s camp. And Pace has classified those contract discussions as “cordial” and “productive.”
But from everything you and I have gathered from within league circles, there are no indications that the Bears will push to get a long-term deal solidified for Jeffery this summer.
And why would they? They still have so much to learn about Jeffery’s durability, his drive, his fit within the current program. This is exactly the kind of situation the franchise tag was created for. So unless Jeffery’s agent, Tory Dandy, were to settle for a new deal that is short term and extremely club friendly, the receiver will again be asked to prove his worth. From the Bears’ standpoint, it’s the most sensible move.
Campbell: Playing on the tag also makes sense for Jeffery. The seven games he missed last season due to leg muscle injuries prevented him from hitting free agency with full earning power. Extrapolate his 2015 stats over 16 games and you get 1,435 yards, seven touchdowns and 105 catches — output worthy of a contract among the NFL’s best receivers. Jeffery can bet on himself to play a full season, which he did in 2013 and 2014, and maybe cash in. Heck, the Bears would love that outcome, too. So let’s assume Jeffery plays on the tag, leaving both sides to revisit his future next offseason. What are the odds he and the Bears realize that best-case scenario?
Wiederer: Honestly, it’s so hard to say. The range of possibilities with Jeffery always seems so wide and so difficult to figure out. Would either of us be surprised if he came back and delivered a 1,500-yard, 12-touchdown season? I wouldn’t be. By the same token, it wouldn’t exactly be shocking if he missed five or six games, failed to win over Pace and John Fox and marched right into free agency next March. For what it’s worth, Jeffery will likely be the first receiver to play on the franchise tag since Wes Welker did so with the Patriots in 2012. Welker tore off 118 catches that year for 1,354 yards with six TDs but still left New England for Denver the following spring.
Campbell: For the Bears to give Jeffery the contract he covets, they would have to grow more comfortable with his intangibles, such as his self-motivation and mental toughness. To this regime, Jeffery remains a tantalizing player. His stellar production was offset by the type of injuries Fox refers to as “owies” — the clear connotation being one of condescension — as opposed to a broken bone or torn ligament.
With Jeffery’s quiet persona, he doesn’t naturally exude the enthusiasm, energy and alpha-dog attitude this regime values. And now he’s staying away from the offseason program while a new coordinator is applying new wrinkles and incorporating top receiving prospect Kevin White into the offense. So yeah, Jeffery has to stay healthy and ball out, or else there’s a strong chance he’ll follow Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett out of town.
Wiederer: Clearly, questions about Jeffery’s mental toughness still linger. And clearly, the Bears still hope they can help the soft-spoken receiver improve on that front. It was no coincidence that Jeffery wound up in California early in the offseason, training at the high-intensity mixed martial arts gym owned and run by Jay Glazer, a close Fox friend.
But during an interview with “The Mully and Hanley Show” on WSCR 670-AM in April, Glazer indicated that while Jeffery’s early investment in the program at Unbreakable Performance was admirable, the short duration of his stay there was, well, peculiar.
In general terms, but with clear Jeffery subtext, I asked Fox in March whether he felt like heart was a trait players have naturally or whether it could be developed. “Some guys just have it,” Fox answered. “But I think it can be grown and developed.”
Now the experiment with Jeffery enters a new intriguing phase.
Campbell: And this experiment isn’t occurring in a vacuum. One reason the Bears are so high on Kevin White is his makeup. They believe he can be that alpha presence among the receivers, on the offense and the whole team.
White wasn’t brought in to replace Jeffery, of course. The plan is for them to complement each other. But if White starts to meet the team’s expectations on the field and off, I wonder whether that would affect management’s insistence on Jeffery developing those intangible traits. I mean, if Jeffery plays well for 16 games, the Bears would have to re-sign him. My point is that if White took over the leadership role, Jeffery might comfortably slot into a role that fits his personality.
Wiederer: Let’s not jump too many steps ahead. While I’d agree that White has the enthusiasm, drive and team-first spirit to become a natural leader, he’s still marching toward the 2016 season with a grand total of zero NFL catches. So until he has proven, for at least a full season or longer, that he’s a game-changing playmaker on a consistent basis, it’s premature to hand him any significant leadership role. If you ask me, it will be White’s production far more than his personality that will impact the Bears’ view of Jeffery.
As far as Alshon goes, I’m still curious as to what he feels he’s accomplishing by staying away from Halas Hall until minicamp. Sure, the offseason strength and conditioning program and OTAs are “voluntary.” But this is a guy who failed to fully win over his head coach and GM last season. Now he’s heading into the most pivotal year of his career with a new receivers coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new big-play sidekick. And he’s essentially chosen to sacrifice two months of building chemistry with all of them in order to work out on his own in Florida. I’m not sure how that helps him in any way, shape or form.
Campbell: I agree that production is paramount for both receivers, and certainly White has everything to prove. I also share your questions about what Alshon gains by staying away.
He’s on record citing his two 16-game seasons as cause for confidence in his ability to stay healthy in 2016. He’s betting on himself and doing it his way. At this stage, the Bears need Jeffery more than he needs them. Let's not forget that the demand for his services is league-wide. Whether he gets paid — by the Bears or another team — depends on how he performs. But would he position himself to maximize performance by attending voluntary sessions? Pace, Fox and Loggains say yes, and it's easy to see why. This plot will thicken considerably before it's resolved.
Wiederer: The short-term resolution is a season played under the franchise tag. Sixteen games, $14.6 million and a stage for Jeffery to make a statement on what kind of receiver he truly is. Buckle in.
Underdog role not new to Braverman.
By Larry Mayer
Bears receiver Daniel Braverman ranked second in the nation with 108 receptions last season for 1,367 yards and 13 TDs. (Photo/chicagobears.com)
Drafted by the Bears in the seventh and final round,
It's the same challenge the rookie receiver has faced since he prepped at University School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he routinely lined up with and against top college prospects.
"I grew up with a chip on my shoulder I think just from being from south Florida and always having to prove myself on the field," Braverman said. "So it's just been with me and that's just who I am really as a person.
"There's great talent everywhere. Everywhere you look there's a new five-star or four-star [recruit], and I was just the undersized kid who wasn't that highly profiled. Every game you are playing with at least 10 D-1 guys on the field."
That chip remains firmly planted on Braverman's shoulder as the 5-10, 177-pounder prepares to begin his second week of OTA practices at Halas Hall.
"It's an every-day process," Braverman said. "I'm still in it right now. One of my mottos is 'one day better,' and that's what I take with me. As soon as I wake up I've got to do something striving towards getting myself better as a football player and as a person."
That mentality worked well at Western Michigan, where Braverman appeared in 37 games over three seasons, catching 212 passes for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns. As a junior last year, he ranked second in the nation with 108 receptions for 1,367 yards and 13 TDs.
Braverman caught at least 10 passes in each of his first four games last season, including 13 for 109 yards against Michigan State and 10 for 123 yards versus Ohio State.
Despite that production, Braverman waited a long time before the Bears chose him with the 230th pick in the draft. Asked if that descent made him question his decision to skip his senior season, the 22-year-old channeled a Chicago sports legend.
"One thing Michael Jordan said is once he makes his decision he never looks back on it," Braverman said. "You can't regret anything. You've got to look forward.
"As the rounds kept passing, I was stressing; I'm not going to lie. But everything happens for a reason and I'm here right now with the Chicago Bears, and I'm just trying to take it all in and work as hard as I can."
In addition to playing receiver, Braverman knows that he'll have to contribute on special teams to make the 53-man roster. He could be an option in the return game after bringing back punts and kickoffs at Western Michigan but understands that he'll likely have to line up on the coverage and return units as well.
Braverman is flattered that some NFL analysts have compared him to Wes Welker and Julian Edelman. But the Bears rookie is more interested in honing his own skills than trying to imitate another player.
"I'm just trying to work hard every day and do whatever the coaches ask of me, and that's what I plan on doing day-in and day-out," Braverman said.
"I'm just worried about getting one day better every day. I try not to compare myself to anyone because then you have false expectations of yourself. I just try to be the best person I can be every day; that's a daily challenge I put on myself."
Braverman has enjoyed working with his veteran Bears teammates.
"They're very focused on accomplishing today's mission and that's getting better; getting the details right, getting the plays right," he said. "You can learn a lot from those guys; how they come to practice and how they carry themselves within the facility and on the field."
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Why Penguins' playoff success bodes well for Blackhawks
By Chris Hine
Everyone in the NHL knew the 2015-16 season would be a hard one for the Blackhawks, who had to make several tough roster choices with $10.5 million-per-year extensions kicking in for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
But the Hawks weren't alone in going through salary-cap hell. Keeping them company were the Penguins, who took the NHL by surprise when they executed a blockbuster trade last summer to acquire winger Phil Kessel from the Maple Leafs.
They added Kessel's $6.8 million cap hit to their books, which already included hefty price tags for center Evgeni Malkin ($9.5 million), captain Sidney Crosby ($8.7 million), defenseman Kris Letang ($7.25 million) and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury ($5.75 million).
That's $38 million — more than half of this season's cap space — allotted to five players. By comparison, the Hawks had about $38.3 million tied up in their top five cap hits.
In that way the Penguins were Blackhawks East — a large chunk of their salary cap was devoted to a few star players, with little room for error to surround them with a quality supporting cast.
So if there were an encouraging result for the Hawks this postseason, it's that the Penguins, despite their cap pressure and early struggles, are now in the Stanley Cup Final. It shows if you can find the right mix of top-tier talent and complementary talent on the cheap, you can make a deep playoff run, even with players who earn top-of-the-market salaries.
The Sharks, meanwhile, showed spreading the wealth can work, too. Their top five cap hits totaled about $31.2 million, leaving them room to fashion a deeper roster. The good news for them is the essential players on the roster are under contract for next season.
Hawks general manager Stan Bowman has always downplayed his team's concerns related to the salary cap. His argument makes sense: It's better to have the players who command the highest salaries than not have them. Other teams would gladly use their cap space to sign players such as Toews, Kane or Duncan Keith.
But even with all the talent at the top of their roster, it wasn't a smooth ride to the Stanley Cup Final for the Penguins. In December, they fired coach Mike Johnston and replaced him with Mike Sullivan, who helped get them back on track.
They traded defenseman Rob Scuderi to the Hawks for Trevor Daley, a trade that worked out better for the Penguins. Daley was a better fit with the Penguins and was playing well until he suffered a season-ending broken left ankle in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Regardless of how long it took them, the Penguins started playing championship-level hockey toward the end of the season. The Hawks couldn't quite get back to that level.
As nice as it might be to have cap flexibility to enhance roster depth, it's better to have superstars playing like superstars. Ultimately, the Penguins' marquee players — outside of Fleury, who is now the backup — earned their money, and that's why they are where they are.
Through his first 32 games, Crosby had just six goals and 16 assists. The rest of the season, he had 30 goals and 33 assists. Kessel scored four goals in the conference finals playing on the hot "HBK" line with Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino.
That's $38 million — more than half of this season's cap space — allotted to five players. By comparison, the Hawks had about $38.3 million tied up in their top five cap hits.
In that way the Penguins were Blackhawks East — a large chunk of their salary cap was devoted to a few star players, with little room for error to surround them with a quality supporting cast.
So if there were an encouraging result for the Hawks this postseason, it's that the Penguins, despite their cap pressure and early struggles, are now in the Stanley Cup Final. It shows if you can find the right mix of top-tier talent and complementary talent on the cheap, you can make a deep playoff run, even with players who earn top-of-the-market salaries.
The Sharks, meanwhile, showed spreading the wealth can work, too. Their top five cap hits totaled about $31.2 million, leaving them room to fashion a deeper roster. The good news for them is the essential players on the roster are under contract for next season.
Hawks general manager Stan Bowman has always downplayed his team's concerns related to the salary cap. His argument makes sense: It's better to have the players who command the highest salaries than not have them. Other teams would gladly use their cap space to sign players such as Toews, Kane or Duncan Keith.
But even with all the talent at the top of their roster, it wasn't a smooth ride to the Stanley Cup Final for the Penguins. In December, they fired coach Mike Johnston and replaced him with Mike Sullivan, who helped get them back on track.
They traded defenseman Rob Scuderi to the Hawks for Trevor Daley, a trade that worked out better for the Penguins. Daley was a better fit with the Penguins and was playing well until he suffered a season-ending broken left ankle in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Regardless of how long it took them, the Penguins started playing championship-level hockey toward the end of the season. The Hawks couldn't quite get back to that level.
As nice as it might be to have cap flexibility to enhance roster depth, it's better to have superstars playing like superstars. Ultimately, the Penguins' marquee players — outside of Fleury, who is now the backup — earned their money, and that's why they are where they are.
Through his first 32 games, Crosby had just six goals and 16 assists. The rest of the season, he had 30 goals and 33 assists. Kessel scored four goals in the conference finals playing on the hot "HBK" line with Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino.
Meanwhile, Toews did not score a goal, and Kane had just one during the Hawks' first-round exit. That is no coincidence. If those numbers were better, maybe the Hawks would still be playing.
They're not, but the Penguins' success shows that the Hawks' way of building a roster can still pay off.
They're not, but the Penguins' success shows that the Hawks' way of building a roster can still pay off.
Wrigley rarity: Cubs lose a Jake Arrieta start for first time since last July.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Even as Jake Arrieta defends his Cy Young Award, makes a case to start the All-Star Game and keeps the meter running toward a potential $200 million megadeal, he talks about not quite having the precise feel he wants, that in his mind he can be 9-0 with a 1.72 ERA and still searching.
The Cubs are surrounded by those enormous expectations now, and so much of that involves Arrieta’s evolution into the bearded face of the franchise and one of the best pitchers on the planet. Which makes it so disorienting when the Cubs actually lose when Arrieta pitches.
Until Tuesday night’s 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field, that hadn’t happened in a regular-season game since July 25, 2015, when it only took Cole Hamels throwing no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Still, the Dodgers didn’t so much beat Arrieta as they outlasted him, taking advantage of the softer spots in the bullpen, the day after four Cubs relievers combined to throw seven perfect innings. Plus a very good pitching performance from lefty Scott Kazmir and a Cubs lineup that all night only generated a Dexter Fowler single.
The Cubs had won Arrieta’s last 23 starts, tying the major-league record since 1913, first set by Kris Medlen with the Atlanta Braves between 2010 and 2012.
Arrieta needed 107 pitches to throw seven scoreless innings and finished with a dramatic flair, escaping the bases-loaded jam he created with three straight walks and a wild pitch. Arrieta fired three pitches clocked at 94, 95 and 94 mph and struck out pinch-hitter Justin Turner looking, causing an eruption from the crowd of 34,681.
Manager Joe Maddon turned the game over to Clayton Richard. The lefty reliever gave up three consecutive singles to the top of the Los Angeles lineup — Chase Utley, Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez — to begin the eighth inning and walked off the mound without getting an out and the Cubs trailing 1-0.
Arrieta truly burst onto the national scene last August with that no-hitter at Dodger Stadium. This time, after a 24-minute rain delay, Gonzalez ended the no-hitter suspense with a two-out single in the first inning.
Against Arrieta, the Dodgers (28-25) only managed another Seager single in the third inning. But Seager put the game out of reach in the ninth inning, blasting a three-run homer off Trevor Cahill onto the right-field party deck.
So Arrieta is still 9-0 — with an ERA that has dropped to 1.56 — and looking to begin another streak for a team that still has the best record (35-15) in baseball.
How Hector Rondon transformed into dominant closer for Cubs.
The Cubs are surrounded by those enormous expectations now, and so much of that involves Arrieta’s evolution into the bearded face of the franchise and one of the best pitchers on the planet. Which makes it so disorienting when the Cubs actually lose when Arrieta pitches.
Until Tuesday night’s 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field, that hadn’t happened in a regular-season game since July 25, 2015, when it only took Cole Hamels throwing no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Still, the Dodgers didn’t so much beat Arrieta as they outlasted him, taking advantage of the softer spots in the bullpen, the day after four Cubs relievers combined to throw seven perfect innings. Plus a very good pitching performance from lefty Scott Kazmir and a Cubs lineup that all night only generated a Dexter Fowler single.
The Cubs had won Arrieta’s last 23 starts, tying the major-league record since 1913, first set by Kris Medlen with the Atlanta Braves between 2010 and 2012.
Arrieta needed 107 pitches to throw seven scoreless innings and finished with a dramatic flair, escaping the bases-loaded jam he created with three straight walks and a wild pitch. Arrieta fired three pitches clocked at 94, 95 and 94 mph and struck out pinch-hitter Justin Turner looking, causing an eruption from the crowd of 34,681.
Manager Joe Maddon turned the game over to Clayton Richard. The lefty reliever gave up three consecutive singles to the top of the Los Angeles lineup — Chase Utley, Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez — to begin the eighth inning and walked off the mound without getting an out and the Cubs trailing 1-0.
Arrieta truly burst onto the national scene last August with that no-hitter at Dodger Stadium. This time, after a 24-minute rain delay, Gonzalez ended the no-hitter suspense with a two-out single in the first inning.
Against Arrieta, the Dodgers (28-25) only managed another Seager single in the third inning. But Seager put the game out of reach in the ninth inning, blasting a three-run homer off Trevor Cahill onto the right-field party deck.
So Arrieta is still 9-0 — with an ERA that has dropped to 1.56 — and looking to begin another streak for a team that still has the best record (35-15) in baseball.
How Hector Rondon transformed into dominant closer for Cubs.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Hector Rondon is still good friends with Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, two Cleveland Indians pitchers often linked to the Cubs in trade rumors. To the point where Salazar called Rondon during the offseason wondering if they were about to become teammates at Wrigley Field.
Rondon worked out separately with Salazar and Carrasco at the Indians’ complex in Arizona during different points in their recoveries from Tommy John procedures on their right elbows. Rondon mentions differences in their personalities and pitching styles and also marks that time in Goodyear by associating Salazar and Carrasco with his own different surgeries.
Instead of developing into a Salazar or a Carrasco — the kind of frontline starter the Indians envisioned when they named him their minor league pitcher of the year in 2009 — Rondon has transformed into a game-over closer for a Cubs team with the best record in baseball.
After missing almost three full seasons — and pitching 10 innings combined between 2011 and 2012 — Rondon now understands he doesn’t have the luxury of time or the ability to work through situations like a starter. He accepts the pressure and uses the adrenaline that comes from working the ninth inning in front of 40,000 fans. He is a survivor.
“Be aggressive,” Rondon said. “You have to kill the guy — or they kill you. That’s what I tell (myself). That’s why I always try to attack. I try to keep that in my mind to (always) be aggressive with the hitters.”
The “holy s---” moment for pitching coach Chris Bosio came during a bullpen session with Rondon in the second half of a 2013 season where the Cubs would lose 96 games, hours before a meaningless game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
The Cubs finished with 101 losses the year before, which put them in position to select Kris Bryant with the No. 2 overall pick in the June amateur draft. Completing that race toward the bottom also created another opportunity for Theo Epstein’s front office — the second pick in the Rule 5 draft at the 2012 winter meetings.
Around that time, major-league coaching staff assistant Franklin Font worked winter ball for Leones del Caracas — the same team Rondon was pitching for in Venezuela — and filed good reports. The Cubs would carry Rondon and allow him to develop a routine and slowly realize he could compete at this level.
As Rondon kept firing pitches to bullpen catcher Chad Noble that day in Pittsburgh, Bosio could see the potential that made him such a well-regarded prospect for the Indians — and the ability to think on his feet and make adjustments.
The Cubs suggested adding a hesitation mechanism to Rondon’s windup, a gathering point at the top of his delivery to improve his fastball command and tighten his slider as a put-away pitch. The idea was to create better alignment toward home plate and help stop him from spinning off the rubber. The sense of timing and motion would also help bump up his velocity toward triple-digit territory.
“It’s like when you plant that seed, and you wait to see that plant come up out of the ground,” bullpen coach Lester Strode said. “That’s what he’s done. He’s just continued to grow, and every year he’s gotten better.”
Rondon got the last three outs in a 2-0 Memorial Day victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Cubs bullpen combined for seven perfect innings, something a team hadn’t done in 99 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
That made Rondon 9-for-9 in save chances — with a 1.04 ERA and 27 strikeouts and only two walks against the 63 batters he’s faced so far this season.
Both Rondon and Joe Maddon identified a turning point last year, when the manager took closing responsibilities away from him and gave him a mental break and the chance to reset. Rondon responded with a 30-save season, putting up a 1.10 ERA after the All-Star break and converting his final 11 save chances for a 97-win team.
“He’s just been more assertive,” Maddon said. “The biggest thing I think that happened from that episode when he was not closing, per se, was he started using his other pitches and he found his other pitches. He’s more of a pitcher (now) when it comes to closing games as opposed to just being this primal, one-pitch kind of a guy.
“So now when you see him, it’s not just about trying to pump fastballs the whole time he’s out there. He’s throwing slider, split, changeup, dotting his fastball. I just think that he got more into pitcher mode from that particular episode.”
Rondon’s story is the story of the Cubs during the rebuilding years, how they became the biggest story in baseball. It’s calculated risk, good scouting, effective coaching and a relentless attitude. From the rubble of fifth-place finishes in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the Cubs found a lights-out closer.
“He worked tirelessly,” said Strode, who’s now in his 28th season in the organization. “Even the days he got out there and didn’t have success, he didn’t come back with his head down the next day. It’s like he learned something from every outing.
“I’ve seen a lot of guys with his ability who think things are just going to happen — and they don’t have to work. He was totally the opposite. He worked hard. He grinded every day, day in and day out. And finally it clicked.”
Tyler Saladino's homer helps White Sox snap seven-game skid.
Rondon worked out separately with Salazar and Carrasco at the Indians’ complex in Arizona during different points in their recoveries from Tommy John procedures on their right elbows. Rondon mentions differences in their personalities and pitching styles and also marks that time in Goodyear by associating Salazar and Carrasco with his own different surgeries.
Instead of developing into a Salazar or a Carrasco — the kind of frontline starter the Indians envisioned when they named him their minor league pitcher of the year in 2009 — Rondon has transformed into a game-over closer for a Cubs team with the best record in baseball.
After missing almost three full seasons — and pitching 10 innings combined between 2011 and 2012 — Rondon now understands he doesn’t have the luxury of time or the ability to work through situations like a starter. He accepts the pressure and uses the adrenaline that comes from working the ninth inning in front of 40,000 fans. He is a survivor.
“Be aggressive,” Rondon said. “You have to kill the guy — or they kill you. That’s what I tell (myself). That’s why I always try to attack. I try to keep that in my mind to (always) be aggressive with the hitters.”
The “holy s---” moment for pitching coach Chris Bosio came during a bullpen session with Rondon in the second half of a 2013 season where the Cubs would lose 96 games, hours before a meaningless game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
The Cubs finished with 101 losses the year before, which put them in position to select Kris Bryant with the No. 2 overall pick in the June amateur draft. Completing that race toward the bottom also created another opportunity for Theo Epstein’s front office — the second pick in the Rule 5 draft at the 2012 winter meetings.
Around that time, major-league coaching staff assistant Franklin Font worked winter ball for Leones del Caracas — the same team Rondon was pitching for in Venezuela — and filed good reports. The Cubs would carry Rondon and allow him to develop a routine and slowly realize he could compete at this level.
As Rondon kept firing pitches to bullpen catcher Chad Noble that day in Pittsburgh, Bosio could see the potential that made him such a well-regarded prospect for the Indians — and the ability to think on his feet and make adjustments.
The Cubs suggested adding a hesitation mechanism to Rondon’s windup, a gathering point at the top of his delivery to improve his fastball command and tighten his slider as a put-away pitch. The idea was to create better alignment toward home plate and help stop him from spinning off the rubber. The sense of timing and motion would also help bump up his velocity toward triple-digit territory.
“It’s like when you plant that seed, and you wait to see that plant come up out of the ground,” bullpen coach Lester Strode said. “That’s what he’s done. He’s just continued to grow, and every year he’s gotten better.”
Rondon got the last three outs in a 2-0 Memorial Day victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Cubs bullpen combined for seven perfect innings, something a team hadn’t done in 99 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
That made Rondon 9-for-9 in save chances — with a 1.04 ERA and 27 strikeouts and only two walks against the 63 batters he’s faced so far this season.
Both Rondon and Joe Maddon identified a turning point last year, when the manager took closing responsibilities away from him and gave him a mental break and the chance to reset. Rondon responded with a 30-save season, putting up a 1.10 ERA after the All-Star break and converting his final 11 save chances for a 97-win team.
“He’s just been more assertive,” Maddon said. “The biggest thing I think that happened from that episode when he was not closing, per se, was he started using his other pitches and he found his other pitches. He’s more of a pitcher (now) when it comes to closing games as opposed to just being this primal, one-pitch kind of a guy.
“So now when you see him, it’s not just about trying to pump fastballs the whole time he’s out there. He’s throwing slider, split, changeup, dotting his fastball. I just think that he got more into pitcher mode from that particular episode.”
Rondon’s story is the story of the Cubs during the rebuilding years, how they became the biggest story in baseball. It’s calculated risk, good scouting, effective coaching and a relentless attitude. From the rubble of fifth-place finishes in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the Cubs found a lights-out closer.
“He worked tirelessly,” said Strode, who’s now in his 28th season in the organization. “Even the days he got out there and didn’t have success, he didn’t come back with his head down the next day. It’s like he learned something from every outing.
“I’ve seen a lot of guys with his ability who think things are just going to happen — and they don’t have to work. He was totally the opposite. He worked hard. He grinded every day, day in and day out. And finally it clicked.”
Tyler Saladino's homer helps White Sox snap seven-game skid.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Tyler Saladino delivered a sweet — and long overdue — sound to the White Sox on Tuesday night.
The shortstop capped off a career game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning as the White Sox rallied from four down and snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the New York Mets in front of 32,781 at Citi Field.
Saladino’s homer off reliever Hansel Robles lifted the White Sox to their first win since the opening game of a May 23 doubleheader. He reached base a career-high four times as he also singled, walked twice and stole two bases. David Robertson capped off four scoreless innings from the bullpen with his 13th save.
“It’s huge,” Saladino said. “Losing, especially losing up here, that’s tough. It’s tough on everybody. It weighs on you a little bit. You definitely lose a little bit of sleep. But getting the win, I mean it’s a boost of morale.”
They needed the boost in the worst way.
Losers in six straight series, the White Sox appeared headed for a seventh as Mets starter Steven Matz dominated them early. They trailed 4-0 through five innings. The White Sox showed a much-needed sign of life with a three-run rally off Matz in the sixth.
Several days after manager Robin Ventura addressed them following a loss to the Kansas City Royals, the White Sox completed their comeback off Robles and two Mets relievers in the eighth.
“It can look bleak,” Ventura said. “You’ve got a guy like Matz pitching the way he’s pitching and you can just lay down but they won’t do it.
“You’re down 4-0, I think a lesser group rolls over and just gives up and they won’t do that.”
With one out and Melky Cabrera on first after a leadoff walk, Saladino fouled off three straight Robles fastballs before he ripped a 2-2 heater out to left field for a two-run homer to put the White Sox ahead for good. Saladino — who also had a three-run homer in Saturday’s loss at Kansas City — briefly looked into the visiting dugout as he rounded third.
“I’m just so pumped for the guys to take the lead,” Saladino said. “You got to give it to them. This is a team and everybody is pulling for each other. Every time you do something good, everybody is there ready to high five. It was just a team hit right there. Felt really good for the guys rounding third.”
The White Sox continued to apply pressure in the eighth as Robles walked pinch-hitter Jimmy Rollins and stole second, the team’s fourth of the game. Adam Eaton also walked again and Brett Lawrie jumped on the first pitch from Logan Verrett for a two-out RBI single and a critical insurance run.
Matz had the White Sox stymied in the early going. He induced nothing but grounders in the first few innings and didn’t allow a hit until the third. Matz, who entered with a scoreless streak of 14, cruised through the fifth inning, too.
But trailing 4-0, the White Sox finally broke through in the sixth inning.
Jose Abreu singled off the glove of James Loney and Todd Frazier crushed a two-run homer to left-center field, his 16th. After Avisail Garcia grounded into a double play, Saladino kept the inning alive with a walk. He easily stole second and third base before Navarro chased Matz when he singled just over the shortstop’s glove to get the White Sox within 4-3. Matz allowed three earned runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
Pitching on seven days rest, White Sox starter Mat Latos didn’t have it easy in the early innings.
He allowed two unearned runs before yielding a two-run homer in the third to fall behind 4-0. But Latos finished strong, retiring eight of the last 10.
He handed it off to the bullpen, a group that allowed 14 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in Kansas City. The group took a big step in the right direction as Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings and Nate Jones all put up zeroes to get the ball to Robertson.
Robertson said Ventura merely implored the team to keep fighting, something it displayed in each loss at Kansas City before the bullpen’s meltdowns.
“That’s the way our whole team has been thinking,” Robertson said. “We’ve been playing hard, and things just haven’t worked out. If we hit well we didn’t pitch well, and if we pitched well we didn’t hit well. You just need things to work out for you and today they did.”
White Sox bullpen hopes its fortunes have changed in win over Mets.
By Dan Hayes
The shortstop capped off a career game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning as the White Sox rallied from four down and snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the New York Mets in front of 32,781 at Citi Field.
Saladino’s homer off reliever Hansel Robles lifted the White Sox to their first win since the opening game of a May 23 doubleheader. He reached base a career-high four times as he also singled, walked twice and stole two bases. David Robertson capped off four scoreless innings from the bullpen with his 13th save.
“It’s huge,” Saladino said. “Losing, especially losing up here, that’s tough. It’s tough on everybody. It weighs on you a little bit. You definitely lose a little bit of sleep. But getting the win, I mean it’s a boost of morale.”
They needed the boost in the worst way.
Losers in six straight series, the White Sox appeared headed for a seventh as Mets starter Steven Matz dominated them early. They trailed 4-0 through five innings. The White Sox showed a much-needed sign of life with a three-run rally off Matz in the sixth.
Several days after manager Robin Ventura addressed them following a loss to the Kansas City Royals, the White Sox completed their comeback off Robles and two Mets relievers in the eighth.
“It can look bleak,” Ventura said. “You’ve got a guy like Matz pitching the way he’s pitching and you can just lay down but they won’t do it.
“You’re down 4-0, I think a lesser group rolls over and just gives up and they won’t do that.”
With one out and Melky Cabrera on first after a leadoff walk, Saladino fouled off three straight Robles fastballs before he ripped a 2-2 heater out to left field for a two-run homer to put the White Sox ahead for good. Saladino — who also had a three-run homer in Saturday’s loss at Kansas City — briefly looked into the visiting dugout as he rounded third.
“I’m just so pumped for the guys to take the lead,” Saladino said. “You got to give it to them. This is a team and everybody is pulling for each other. Every time you do something good, everybody is there ready to high five. It was just a team hit right there. Felt really good for the guys rounding third.”
The White Sox continued to apply pressure in the eighth as Robles walked pinch-hitter Jimmy Rollins and stole second, the team’s fourth of the game. Adam Eaton also walked again and Brett Lawrie jumped on the first pitch from Logan Verrett for a two-out RBI single and a critical insurance run.
Matz had the White Sox stymied in the early going. He induced nothing but grounders in the first few innings and didn’t allow a hit until the third. Matz, who entered with a scoreless streak of 14, cruised through the fifth inning, too.
But trailing 4-0, the White Sox finally broke through in the sixth inning.
Jose Abreu singled off the glove of James Loney and Todd Frazier crushed a two-run homer to left-center field, his 16th. After Avisail Garcia grounded into a double play, Saladino kept the inning alive with a walk. He easily stole second and third base before Navarro chased Matz when he singled just over the shortstop’s glove to get the White Sox within 4-3. Matz allowed three earned runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
Pitching on seven days rest, White Sox starter Mat Latos didn’t have it easy in the early innings.
He allowed two unearned runs before yielding a two-run homer in the third to fall behind 4-0. But Latos finished strong, retiring eight of the last 10.
He handed it off to the bullpen, a group that allowed 14 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in Kansas City. The group took a big step in the right direction as Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings and Nate Jones all put up zeroes to get the ball to Robertson.
Robertson said Ventura merely implored the team to keep fighting, something it displayed in each loss at Kansas City before the bullpen’s meltdowns.
“That’s the way our whole team has been thinking,” Robertson said. “We’ve been playing hard, and things just haven’t worked out. If we hit well we didn’t pitch well, and if we pitched well we didn’t hit well. You just need things to work out for you and today they did.”
White Sox bullpen hopes its fortunes have changed in win over Mets.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
David Robertson may call his next charitable endeavor No Socks For Wins.
Looking to change his and the bullpen’s fortunes on Tuesday, the White Sox closer wore his pant legs all the way down in a scoreless inning to close out a 6-4 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field — one that snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Robertson, Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings and Nate Jones combined for four scoreless innings to lead the White Sox, who rallied from four runs down, to their first victory since the opening game of a May 23 doubleheader. In between, the White Sox bullpen blew three games late in Kansas City, including allowing a seven-spot in the ninth inning Saturday.
Robertson, who routinely wears his pants hiked up to expose his stirrups, runs a foundation with his wife Erin for tornado victims called High Socks For Hope. But after he allowed six runs Saturday, he wanted to mix things up a bit. Robertson said he also wore a different, lighter jersey and shaved his beard in between.
“Listen, we’re mixing it up,” Robertson said. “We needed a win, so I went with them down. I wore a different jersey. It felt uncomfortable, but it worked.”
The White Sox need more performances like this from the bullpen if they want to rediscover a formula that led them to a 23-10 record.
The unit recorded a 1.69 ERA in April as they stormed out in front of the American League Central. But that same group has struggled for the past three weeks with the low point coming in Kansas City when they collectively allowed 14 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. The bullpen entered Tuesday 1-7 with a 4.85 ERA in May. Included in those totals are losses in games in which the White Sox lead by four, five and six runs.
“It was good to see the bullpen back to their old selves,” said starter Mat Latos, who allowed four runs (two earned) in five innings.”
Latos retired eight of the last 10 he faced before he gave way to Putnam, who struck out Asdrubal Cabrera with two aboard to end the sixth inning and keep the White Sox down a run. Jennings, who allowed a run in Friday’s loss, pitched around a single in a scoreless seventh. He earned the victory when the White Sox rallied for three runs in the eighth.
Jones, who lost after he allowed three runs in Sunday’s loss, pitched around a two-out single in the eighth to get it to Robertson. Robertson struck out Cabrera and Michael Conforto and retired Yoenis Cespedes on a fly out to right.
The bullpen also pitched a scoreless inning in Monday’s loss.
“You’re starting to piece that back together as rough as it has been the last week for those guys at the end,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It was a nice job by those guys and you’ve got to stick with them.”
Only Robertson — who has 13 saves in 15 tries — knows if he’ll stick with the low pant legs. But at least for one night they worked.
“It’s definitely a much better feeling than we’ve had the last few days,” Robertson said. “Knowing that we’re going to get the final out and get a win, it feels nice. We’ve been playing really hard, but things just haven’t worked out. We hit a little bump in the road, but hopefully today’s a start toward getting us back on track.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Dejounte Murray May Be the Best Option at Guard if the Bulls Plan to Draft for the Future.
By Easy Eis
(Photo/Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)
With quality ball-handling guards lacking outside of the top ten, Chicago may want to examine Dejounte Murray at #14 to help re-tool the offense.
The departure of Tom Thibodeau from the Chicago Bulls last year set the table this season for highlighting areas in need of improvement throughout the team and organization. As the season progressed, one of the more glaring issues with respect to Thibs' departure became the inability for the Bulls to find a consistent quality backup at point guard.
Over the five seasons prior to this past one, BaB readers and Bulls fans alike became quite familiar with the concept of "Thibsdust," a term referring to Thibodeau's uncanny ability to get the most out of backup ball-handlers. It started with C.J. Watson during Derrick Rose's MVP campaign, and the tradition continued with the likes of Nate Robinson and D.J. Augustin in subsequent seasons. Even Aaron Brooks in his lone season under Thibodeau managed to average 11 points per game off the bench to go along with a solid 38.7% shot percentage from beyond the arc on nearly four attempts per game. Whatever the case, Thibs managed to unearth the most out of his backup guards to the point that the role became an afterthought to much of the Bulls' faithful.
It only took one season under Fred Hoiberg for the magic of Thibsdust to totally wear off. Brooks' play mostly went in the tank as he struggled to barely shoot above 40% from the field and cooled off significantly from three-point range. Though Kirk Hinrich somewhat rebounded from his abysmal campaign the season prior, he still failed to shoot above 40% from the field for the fifth straight season and eventually found himself shipped off to Atlanta. This was a curious move in that it only amplified the backup guard problems for the Bulls, as the lack of personnel forced Hoiberg to run more lineups with E'Twaun Moore as the point guard following the all-star break. Though Moore performed admirably overall, his main position is still shooting guard and his unrestricted free agent status means there is no guarantee he comes back next season.
Most years, addressing a backup role through the draft is a solid course of action. It allows young players to learn and develop with consistent minutes without asking too much of them too early on in their careers. However, the 2016 NBA Draft does not offer any clear-cut solutions for the Bulls in this respect thanks to their selection falling outside of the top ten. Kris Dunn and Jamal Murray will both presumably be gone well before the Bulls have an opportunity to select them, and trading up for either one of them is strongly ill-advised given the lack of fair-return trade partners. Wade Baldwin's rising stock means he could also be gone before the Bulls have an opportunity to select him.
So, if the Bulls desire to address their backup guard role and bolster the talent on their roster going forward, it would be wise for them to consider Dejounte Murray with the fourteenth pick.
What He's Good At
Murray's greatest strength is easily his ball-handling. There are few players in the NBA at 6'5"+ that are capable of the ball-on-a-string tricks Murray regularly executes against opponents. Whether it be crossovers, between-legs, behind-backs, spins, hop-steps, or euro-steps; Murray can already do it all with the ball and with the type of athleticism that few others possess at the position.
Murray is also a much better finisher around the basket than one would expect given his currently slender build. This is attributed to a few different elements of his game. Murray had arguably the most dangerous floater in all of college basketball last season, as he sank a greater total of them than any other prospect in this year's draft (on a solid 45% conversion rate). In addition, Murray also plays with consistent aggression and without fear whenever he moves towards the basket, whether it be with or without the ball. This is further reflected in the fact that Murray averaged over seven rebounds per game in college per-40 minutes.
Defensively, Murray needs to get stronger in order to keep up with the physicality of modern-day guards, but he is already an extremely keen defender when it comes to generating turnovers. Whether guarding the ball-handler or cutting off passing lanes, Murray's aforementioned aggression combined with his keen hands and 6'9.5" wingspan make him a machine at generating steals in crucial situations (2.2 spg per-40).
Where He Needs Improvement
The immediate glaring concern regarding Dejounte Murray is that he played last season at only 170 pounds. For a player that stands 6'5", that almost seems unhealthy. Fortunately, Murray's wide shoulders indicate a frame that can easily support the addition of muscle, and he has plenty of time to do so given he doesn't turn 20 years old until September.
Murray's shooting stroke outside the paint also leaves something to be desired. He shot just under 46% from 2-PT range for the season while taking more than four jumpshots per game, and he also shot an abysmal 28.8% from beyond the arc. Despite this, he still managed to average at least one make from three per game, which illustrates his confidence in his scoring ability. However, if he desires to be successful at the next level, he will have to get better at scoring from areas outside of the paint in addition to shooting off the dribble (25% for the season on 59 attempts). His shooting stroke, though smooth, could use some improvement in other fixable areas.
Finally, there's Murray's decision making. As a passer, Murray shows promise given his Jamal Crawford-like bounce passes, ability to find the open man when double-teamed, and good instincts in other basketball areas. However, this element of his game is hampered by his score-first mentality, as he frequently passes only as a last resort which resulted in an average of over three turnovers per game. Even so, Murray still shows flashes of excellent playmaking potential thanks to his superb ball-handling and the attention he commands when he gets into the lane.
With an opportunity to play alongside more experienced teammates (he played on a team with thirteen underclassmen and one senior at Washington) and proper coaching, there's no reason to believe Murray can't become an adept facilitator at some point in the future.
Why He Makes Sense for the Bulls
Were the Bulls to select Dejounte Murray with the fourteenth pick, he'd fit right in for a variety of reasons. Among them, Murray played in what was the fastest paced offense in major conference college basketball last season. This means he'll have little trouble adapting to the transition-oriented and quick-into-set system Hoiberg desires to run.
In addition, Murray's combo-guard status means he could be a serviceable backup for both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler heading into next season. It would be much harder to get away with playing both Rose and Murray on the floor together at the same time given their lackluster perimeter shooting, but spreading the floor with players like Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis would mitigate some of the lost spacing. Conversely, playing Murray alongside Butler allows the Bulls to vastly outmatch most back courts from a size perspective while keeping their opponents' defense appropriately stretched.
Above all else, however, Murray makes the most sense at fourteen if the Bulls wish to start planning for the future right away. The next offseason is already shaping up to be the most controversial the Bulls have had in a while given that Rose, Mirotic, and Taj Gibson will all be unrestricted free agents. Rose's future with the team remains an enormous question mark given the money he currently commands, his eye on the incoming TV money, his play over the last two seasons, and management's history of seeking hometown discounts when retaining free agents. Murray would give the Bulls some quality talent insurance for the near future regardless of what happens with Rose's free agency.
Though still a project in various respects, Dejounte Murray appears to have all the upside in the world. Jamal Crawford has already taken Murray under his wing, citing him as his favorite prospect from his hometown he has had the pleasure of mentoring during his fourteen year career. At just nineteen years old, he has plenty of time to add the muscle to his frame he will need to succeed at the next level, and his uncanny abilities in several crucial areas of the game given his age all point to someone that could be an all-star caliber talent. Even if the Bulls do not select him, I anticipate Dejounte Murray eventually making defenders look frequently and consistently foolish regardless of where he ends up.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Memorial Tournament by presented Nationwide schedule of events.
From: memorialtournament.com
| Wednesday, June 1 | Practice Rounds
Nationwide Invitational at the Memorial Tournament
|
| Thursday, June 2 | First Tournament Round - 8:00 am start (estimated) |
| Friday, June 3 | Second Tournament Round - 8:00 am start (estimated) |
| Saturday, June 4 | Third Tournament Round - 8:00 am (estimated) |
| Sunday, June 5 | Final Tournament Round - 8:00 (estimated)Trophy presentation following play. |
10 golfers that can win The Memorial Tournament 2016.
By Tom LaMarre
The Memorial Tournament 2016: 10 picks for golfers who can win.
1. Jason Day, Australia -- It's hard to pick against a guy who has won seven of his last 17 tournaments, including the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and the Players Championship in his last start at TPC Sawgrass. He has three victories in his last six events this year and eight of his 10 PGA Tour titles have come in the two last seasons, as he has taken a firm grip on the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings. However, Day has yet to play well on his adopted home course at Muirfield Village, not far from his home in Westerville, Ohio. This is his eighth start in the Memorial and he has missed the cut three times, including last year, and his best result was a tie for 27th in 2009.
3. Jordan Spieth, United States -- Another player who won in his last start, Spieth seems to have put his final-round collapse at the Masters in the rear-view mirror after he birdied the last three holes to capture the Dean & DeLuca Invitational by three strokes, winning for the first time in his native Texas. It was the 22-year-old's second victory this season and eighth of his PGA Tour, giving him one more than Tiger Woods had at the same age, for whatever that's worth. Spieth will tee it up this week in the Memorial for the fourth time and last year he posted his best finish, a tie for third, closing with a 65 that left him two strokes out of the playoff in which David Lingmerth of Sweden defeated Justin Rose of England.
4. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan -- With all eyes on the top three players in the World Golf Rankings, Matsuyama can come into the Memorial a little under the radar even though he is enjoying a fine season and has had success in his first two starts at Muirfield Village. He claimed his second PGA Tour victory earlier this year in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, beating Rickie Fowler in a playoff, and has three top-10 finishes in his last five starts -- with his worst result in that span a tie for 18th. Matsuyama earned his first victory in the United States two years ago in the Memorial, beating Kevin Na with a par on the first playoff hole, and he tied for fifth last year in his title defense.
5. Matt Kuchar, United States -- Kooch has regained his knack for top-10 finishes, with three in a row and five in his last seven tournaments, including a tie for third in the Players Championship, and he has placed in the top 25 on 10 occasions this season. He loves Muirfield Village, with seven finishes in the top 15 in 10 starts, including one of his seven PGA Tour victories in 2012. Kuchar posted bookend 68s that year to finish two strokes ahead of Kevin Chappell, one year after he tied for second, closing with a 65 to wind up one stroke behind champion Steve Stricker. That came during a string of five top-10 finishes in the Memorial, as he tied for 10th in 2008, tied for fifth the next year and tied for eighth in 2010.
6. Rickie Fowler, United States -- There was talk at the start of the season that Fowler might join Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy in a Big 4 this season, but Rickie has lagged behind, although by only a little. He won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the European Tour and lost in a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Fowler, No. 5 in the world, took the lead into the final round of the Memorial in 2010 but closed with a 73 to finish second, three shots behind Justin Rose of England. His best result in five appearances since was a tie for 22nd the following year, and he has missed the cut each of the last two seasons at Muirfield Village.
7. Dustin Johnson, United States -- DJ comes into the Memorial Tournament still looking for the victory that would give him at least one in nine consecutive seasons on the PGA Tour, or every one he has played. It has been a solid year for him thus far, with six top-10 finishes, including a tie for fourth in the Masters, but he needs to pick it up a notch or two with the big summer events approaching. His best result at Muirfield Village was solo fourth in 2011, when he closed with a 65, four strokes behind winner Steve Stricker. However, he does not have another top-10 finish in the tournament, posting his second-best result in seven other appearances last year, when he tied for 13th thanks to a 65 in the third round.
8. Bubba Watson, United States -- Trying to regain his form of a few months ago, Bubba tees it up at Muirfield Village, where he finally got a feeling for the course in 2014. He won the Northern Trust Open in February and tied for second in the WGC-Cadillac Championship a few weeks later, but has not finished in the top 25 in his last three events on the PGA Tour. Watson, No. 4 in the world, recorded a tie for eighth when he flew off to China for the Shenzhen International in April. After failing to finish in the top 10 in his first eight appearances in the Memorial, he took the lead to the final round two years ago, but a 72 left him third, one shot out of the playoff in which Hideki Matsuyama beat Kevin Na.
9. Jason Dufner, United States -- Finally playing like the guy who won the 2013 PGA Championship by two strokes over Jim Furyk at Oak Hill, Duf in February captured the CareerBuilder Challenge for his first victory since his only major title, and last week was in the hunt most of the way before tying for sixth in the Dean & DeLuca Invitational. He has four finishes in the top 10 and seven in the top 25 in his bounce-back season. Dufner will be making his fifth appearance in the Memorial Tournament, and after missing the cut in 2009 and 2010, he tied for 19th two years ago and was second after opening with 66-67 a year ago, but played the weekend in 74-75 and slipped to a tie for 24th.
10. Patrick Reed, United States -- Although he still is looking for his first victory of the season after claiming his first four PGA Tour titles in a span of 17 months from 2013 to 2015, Reed leads the PGA Tour with eight finishes in the top 10 for the 2015-16 season. He has been close, finishing second in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the Valero Texas Open, powering him to eighth in the FedEx Cup standings, so he could be on the verge of breaking through. Reed played in the Memorial Tournament for the first time last year and was on the verge of a top-10 finish after playing the middle rounds in 68-68, but he shot 75 in the final round at Muirfield Village and slid to a tie for 26th.
By Ryan Reiterman
Jack Nicklaus (Photo/Golf Channel)
As always, one of the highlights of the Memorial Tournament is when host Jack Nicklaus stops into the media center for an ask-me-anything session with reporters.
Some highlights after an hour with the Golden Bear.
On the latest version of the "Big 3": "I think it creates interest within the press, creates interest with the fans. It gives you something to write about and talk about, which I think is good. But don't be too surprised if somebody else doesn't jump into there, too. That's my point. I think we have more good players today than we've ever had in the game of golf. And I think that's saying a lot because we had a lot of good players when I played."
On Tiger Woods not playing: "I think Tiger will be back. I think Tiger would have liked to have played this week. He's just not ready."
On comparing his game to today's best players: "They all have better short games than I had."
On Jordan Spieth's collapse at the Masters: "He'll learn from that, and it will be one of the best things that ever happened to him. That's certainly the way I look at it."
On putting at Oakmont: "Oakmont and Augusta National are probably the top two set of greens in the country. Oakmont, they never get as fast as here, nor did Augusta ever get as fast as here (Muirfield Village). We never had the pitch in. We never put it in. They've got a lot of pitch. Both golf courses have a lot of pitch. Oakmont could run at 9 or 10 (on the Stimpmeter) and be almost impossible."
On reports the USGA will have Oakmont at 14 on the Stimpmeter for the U.S. Open: "Nobody will finish. If they're truly at 14, they won't finish. It would be a really tough golf course at that speed."
On there not being world rankings when he played: "I'm glad there weren't. I never thought about being No. 1. I just kept trying to be No. 1."
On his definition of a successful year: "I never considered a year that I didn't win a major a successful year."
On Muirfield voting to not admit women and being taken out of the Open rota: "They'll change."
On his response to the heckling he endured at the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont: "If anybody got the last word, I got the last word. I won. I guess that's the way it worked."
NASCAR: Power Rankings: Truex has to be No. 1 after the 600.
By Nick Bromberg
By Nick Bromberg
(Photoyahoosports.com)
1. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 6): You can't not be No. 1 after you lead 588 of 600 miles. It's just not possible. OK, we're making this rule up because we didn't think it needed to exist. So you can say our Power Rankings guidelines are a bit like NASCAR's All-Star Race officiating.
On a serious note, what Truex and his Furniture Row team did to everyone else Sunday night was pretty damn impressive. But this is NASCAR, a sport where secrets aren't secret for very long. And keep in mind that the Chase has five 1.5-mile tracks.
2. Kevin Harvick (LW: 3): First runner-up to Truex isn't an embarrassing finish. And Harvick said he was happy with the way his team bounced back to grab best in the non-78 class after having what he believed as a 10th-place car for the first two-thirds of the race. The finish also allowed Harvick to extend his regular season points lead over the driver who ...
4. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 9): Johnson finished third and is third in the points standings. He was the only guy that really gave Truex a run for the lead, and even then it wasn't a fair fight when Johnson couldn't clear Truex. If Johnson would have gotten the extra few feet to clear Truex after the final restart, there's a chance Truex may not have been able to get by him. But Truex's car was so good that Johnson couldn't clear him, so it didn't matter.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW: 1): Dropping Kenseth four spots after finishing seventh seems really harsh. But the guy now No. 1 was crazy-good and the other four drivers ahead of him in this week's rankings also finished ahead of him at the 600. Sometimes it's not about what you do but more about what people around you have done.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW: 7): Keselowski finished fifth after starting fifth. Unlike Truex, he didn't stay in the same position the entire night, but was a mainstay within the top 10 for the entire race. It was his third-straight top-10 finish at Charlotte and the fifth in his last six races there.
7. Chase Elliott (LW: 3): Because of all the focus on the 2016 rookie class, is it possible that Elliott's excellence has gone a little underappreciated? It feels like Elliott's always viewed in a rookie prism along with Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher and Brian Scott. While we should be viewing Elliott along with the Sprint Cup Series' best. He finished eighth on Sunday and is eighth in the points standings, seven spots ahead of his nearest rookie competitor.
8. Kyle Busch (LW: 3): Busch smashed into the wall so hard with less than 10 laps to go that he took his car directly to the garage. Before he hit the wall, Busch wasn't in the same zip code as the main people chasing Truex.
9. Carl Edwards (LW: 8): The defending champion of the 600 finished 18th after he sped on pit road. Twice. Edwards was caught for speeding entering the pits on lap 297, and as he came back to serve the pass-through penalty, he got caught speeding again. The second penalty resulted in a stop-and-go penalty and Edwards finished a lap down.
10. Denny Hamlin (LW: NR): Hamlin finished fourth on Sunday, his first top-five finish since he finished third at Auto Club Speedway in March. He was fourth in the standings after that race and entered Charlotte 13th in the standings, a drop of nine spots in seven races. Three finishes worse than 30th will do that.
11. Kyle Larson (LW: 10): Larson finished 13th on Sunday night. It was his fifth-best finish of the first 13 races, yet perhaps a bit disappointing given how well he ran at Dover and in the All-Star Race. We know Larson is capable of top-five finishes, now we need to find out if he's capable of consistency. The Dover/Charlotte streak was the first time all year he's recorded two-straight top-15 finishes.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 11): Junior hasn't recorded a top-10 finish since he was second at Bristol five races ago. In that stretch, he's gone 13th, 40th, 15th, 32nd and 14th. The two poor finishes were crashes, so Junior isn't too far off. And Pocono is next. We all know how good he's been at Pocono recently. Perhaps it's the elixir Junior needs.
Lucky Dog: Uh, this one is tough. The top 20 was pretty chalk. We'll go with Joey Logano, who rebounded from three-straight points races of crashes to finish ninth.
The DNF: Reed Sorenson's Hauling Bass car was not, well, hauling (b)ass. He only completed half the laps because of what was termed a clutch issue.
Dropped Out: Ryan Blaney
NASCAR ‘back to the drawing board’ to improve passing up front after Coca-Cola 600.
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
Executive vice president Steve O’Donnell said Martin Truex Jr.’s dominant victory in the Coca-Cola 600 has NASCAR heading “back to the drawing board” to improve its 1.5-mile racing.
O’Donnell, the chief racing development officer for NASCAR, credited Truex and Furniture Row Racing for its “blowout” victory in which the No. 78 Toyota led a record 392 of 400 laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Certainly great for Martin Truex Jr. and the race team and Furniture Row and (owner) Barney Visser,” O’Donnell told SiriusXM NASCAR’s “The Morning Drive” in his weekly appearance. “But also certainly a challenging race for us and things we’ve already learned and going to back to the drawing board, and one of our stated goals is passing up front. That was not what we saw (Sunday) night.
“Not to take anything away from Martin. He had the car to beat, and he didn’t give it up all night long.”
The quality of racing was in contrast to the Sprint All-Star Race the previous week on the same track. NASCAR changed its rear-toe alignment rules for the All-Star Race, restricting the amount of “skew” teams can employ to improve handling and stability. As a result, there hardly were any spins in the longest race of the season as several drivers said their cars felt more comfortable on the 1.5-mile oval.
O’Donnell said NASCAR used different rules in successive weekends at Charlotte to prove out whether the changes had a significant impact. Nearly four hours of mostly lackluster racing Sunday affirmed that.
“That’s one of the reasons we ran two different things to have some comparative data,” O’Donnell said. “We saw some really good things with the skew we had for the All-Star Race. It’s something we can immediately pull the lever on.”
NASCAR already announced last week that the skew rules from the All-Star Race would be used for the June 12 race at Michigan International Speedway and the July 9 event at Kentucky Speedway.
O’Donnell also said NASCAR would look at finding ways to improve tire wear in night races, which typically have cooler track conditions.
“More so than anything, you immediately look at the partnership with Goodyear and what we need to do to really look at how we wear tires as much as possible, particularly at night races,” he said. “We can go to work on that.
“Goodyear has been a great partner this year from the rules package and matching that up. We’ve seen some really strong results, particularly in the day races. Obviously, we’ve got some things to look at as we look at some of the future night races and see what we can do with that tire combination and the rules package.”
O’Donnell also conceded when a driver has a car as good as Truex’s was, there only is so much that can be done to improve passing at the front of the pack. There were nine lead changes across 600 miles Sunday, mostly during green-flag pit sequences.
“It’s one of those things,” O’Donnell said. “(NASCAR Chairman) Brian (France) said this. We only have one race to compare against vs. 14 to 15 NFL games, or 10 NBA games. But if you do look at, and we do compare ourselves in terms of being a playoff sport each and every week, and you’ll have those blowouts from time to time.
“I don’t want to by any means take anything away from what Martin, (crew chief) Cole Pearn and that team has done because they are more deserving of that win. He is a great story. When you look at it, he’s a guy who you expect could win a championship now. That is just great to see.”
SOCCER: Fire to take time off during Copa America break.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Professional soccer players have plenty of down time in their day-to-day lives, but rarely have a stretch of true off days during the season.
This week, though, will be a break for the Chicago Fire. As the Copa America kicks off Friday, the Fire will get a rare in-season week off.
Major League Soccer is taking a break for the tournament contested between national teams from North and South America. No Fire players are participating in the tournament.
Not only does the team not play again until June 15, but the team will not train again until Monday, June 6.
“We want our guys to recover well and start the second part of the season in the best possible performance,” coach Veljko Paunovic said after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Portland. “They will have a fitness plan during this time.”
This is a change of pace from the team’s earlier bye weeks where Paunovic said those were a chance to work on the team’s fitness. This time around the Paunovic is using it as a chance to give the players a restart before getting back to work.
“I think it’s good for us to get a little bit of time off,” midfielder Matt Polster said. “We still have a fitness packet to do and we have to maintain our fitness over the week. I think the guys need to take a little break. When you can, you take it. I think that’s huge for us so when we come back we’re much hungrier to get the next three points.”
The Fire have a longer break than most of MLS. There are three league matches Wednesday and three more on Thursday before the whole league breaks. In addition, the three Canadian MLS teams are playing in the Canadian Championship on Wednesday.
That means the Fire are one of just five MLS teams to get a slightly earlier, longer break for the Copa America.
The Fire return to action in the U.S. Open Cup. They will play against the winner of the Indy Eleven-Louisville City match, which will be played on Wednesday. If Louisville wins the Fire will travel for the June 15 fourth round match. If Indy wins, the match will be at Toyota Park.
Klinsmann, USMNT will “go for it” in Copa America opener vs Colombia.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Comparing it to the 2014 World Cup opener against Ghana, USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann called Friday’s Copa America Centenario opener against Colombia “starting a tournament with a final”.
While Costa Rica and Paraguay are far from slouches, Colombia is the best team in the United States’ group.
A win would set the tone for the group stage and, historically speaking, winning the first game gives teams a tremendous chance to advance to the knockout rounds.
In a Facebook live chat on Sunday, Klinsmann implied that his Yanks wouldn’t play for a draw against Colombia.
From MLSSoccer.com:
“We are going to go for it. We are going to do that and we are going to try and make it happen on Friday night because it would give us a big, big boost towards the game against Costa Rica and then finishing off the group with Paraguay. Similar to the World Cup, we need a good result in the first game.”There’s no denying a win would be massive, putting Colombia up against the wall for both of its remaining games. Los Cafeteros have not kept a clean sheet in three matches, but all of those were wins. Their only losses since mid-June 2015 came against Uruguay and Argentina.
Game on.
Better chance to advance: Mexico or USMNT at Copa America Centenario?
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
We placed Mexico fifth and the USMNT seventh in our rankings of contenders for the Copa America Centenario, which begins Friday in California.
But how wide is the distance between the two sides, and is any gap in talent mitigated by bigger challenges in schedule?
That’s what we’ll try to suss out here.
Mexico embarrassed the United States in the CONCACAF Cup playoff match this Fall, and both sides have since seen more good results than bad.
The Yanks, of course, suffered the ignominy of a 2-0 defeat in Guatemala in World Cup qualifying, but are 7-1-1 in their last nine matches. Jurgen Klinsmann’s men have looked especially strong in the past match-and-a-half, dominating both Ecuador and Bolivia.
El Tri hasn’t lost since the 2015 Copa America, and that was not a full-strength squad. Following the tournament, Mexico began a 12W-6D run which includes a Gold Cup win — suspect as the run was — and a draw against Argentina. No, El Tri hasn’t beaten many opponents of power during the run, but the record is far from shaky.
Honestly, Mexico should expect to make a run at history. While they stumbled in qualification for the 2014 World Cup, their U-23s won gold at the 2012 Olympics. This generation of El Tri has been building upward, more or less, since that tournament.
Mexico has rarely had trouble with group mates Jamaica or Mexico, and Uruguay will be without Luis Suarez. It would be shocking if El Tri failed to advance from the group, and Mexico should have a chance to win the group. Argentina or Chile likely await in the quarters, so the semifinals are neither a given nor particularly likely.
The U.S. is in a different spot altogether. Yes, they should be able to advance from Group A, but their host status is the only thing that will make them heavy favorites in any match. Costa Rica went further than the Yanks at World Cup, and Paraguay has drawn Argentina twice, Brazil twice (once losing in penalties) and Uruguay once in the past calendar year.
The Yanks should be favored to finish above both those teams, but could be in a hole if they don’t start fast against Colombia on Friday in California. Colombia won its only warm-up match, a 3-1 decision over Haiti in Florida last week, but did not have star man James Rodriguez yet.
Winning the group is key for Klinsmann’s knockout round hopes, as Brazil should easily win Group B and face Group A’s runner-up. There’s a world of difference between facing Ecuador, Peru or Haiti, or tangling with Brazil.
So you could honestly make the case that while Mexico is far more dangerous side in this tournament, especially given their proximity to home, the United States edging Colombia for Group B gives them a far better chances of making the semis. The best team doesn’t always win. However, if the U.S. finishes second in Group A, it’s very difficult to imagine them taking down Brazil given September’s 4-1 thrashing at Foxborough.
The question is, would you fancy Mexico to have a better chance of upending Chile or Argentina? Most would say, “Yes.”
NCAAFB: Jim Harbaugh calls out Nick Saban on Twitter.
AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
For the third time this year, Jim Harbaugh called out an SEC head coach on Twitter.
After previously firing shots at Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Tennessee’s Butch Jones, the Michigan head coach turned his attention to a bigger target: Alabama’s Nick Saban.
Earlier on Tuesday, Saban ranted about satellite camps, saying they are bad for college football. Saban also spoke about potential NCAA rules violations that could emerge when third parties are involved in the camps, which Harbaugh brought to the forefront of college football last summer.
It didn’t take long for Harbaugh to respond.
*******************************
"Amazing" to me- Alabama broke NCAA rules & now their HC is lecturing us on the possibility of rules being broken at camps. Truly "amazing."
Coach Harbaugh @CoachJim4UM
*******************************
Don't hold back, Jim!
When mentioning broken NCAA rules, Harbaugh is presumably referencing the resignation of Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis. Davis stepped down in April, reportedly for impermissible contact with “multiple out-of-state recruits.”
Saban compared the satellite camps to the AAU circuit in college basketball recruiting. Harbaugh obviously did not agree with the sentiment.
"Anybody can have a camp now and if they have a prospect, they can have a camp," Saban said. "Then you're expected to go to that camp and they can use you to promote their camp because Ohio State's coming, Alabama's coming, whoever else is coming. Somebody sponsors the camp. They pay them the money. What do they do with the money? And who makes sure the kid paid to go to the camp? I mean, this is the wild, wild West at its best because there's no specific guidelines relative to how we're managing or controlling this stuff.”
Because of that possible third-party involvement, in Saban’s eyes, there is unintended potential for NCAA violations.
“All you're doing is allowing all these other people that we spend all of our time at the NCAA saying, ‘You can't recruit through a third party. You can't be involved with third-party people,’ and that's exactly what you're doing: creating all these third parties that are going to get involved with the prospects and all that,” Saban said.
“All you're doing is allowing all these other people that we spend all of our time at the NCAA saying, ‘You can't recruit through a third party. You can't be involved with third-party people,’ and that's exactly what you're doing: creating all these third parties that are going to get involved with the prospects and all that,” Saban said.
“And who gets exposed on that? I go to a camp and I'm talking to some guy I don't know from Adam's house cat and he's representing some kid because he put the camp on, and then I'm in trouble for talking to this guy? And who even knows if the guy paid to go to the camp? Is the NCAA going to do that?
“We do that at our camp. We have people responsible for that. They’re called compliance folks. What kind of compliance people do we have at these camps?”
“We do that at our camp. We have people responsible for that. They’re called compliance folks. What kind of compliance people do we have at these camps?”
For the record, Saban was asked about Harbaugh and his satellite camp across the south from last summer. He did not assign blame to the Michigan coach.
"I'm not blaming Jim Harbaugh, I'm not saying anything about him," Saban said. "I'm just saying it's bad for college football. Jim Harbaugh can do whatever he wants to do. I'm not saying anything bad about him if he thinks that's what's best. There needs to be somebody that looks out for what's best for the game, not what's best for the Big Ten or what's best for the SEC, or what's best for Jim Harbaugh, but what's best for the game of college football — the integrity of the game, the coaches, the players and the people that play it. That's bigger than all of this.”
SEC coaches Saban, Bielema want to change NFL draft rules.
By MARK LONG
Alabama's Nick Saban and Arkansas' Bret Bielema would like to see a major change to rules regarding NFL draft entry.
This one is far from a slam dunk.
The high-profile coaches said Tuesday at the Southeastern Conference's annual meetings they would like to see underclassmen who leave school early have the option of returning after testing their prospects for the NFL draft - similar to what happens in college basketball.
Under current NCAA rules, once underclassmen declare for the NFL draft, they lose their remaining eligibility.
''The NFL doesn't want players too early that aren't ready. And the NCAA, us guys, don't want (them) to leave too early,'' Bielema said. ''It makes too much sense to not have it happen. How are we going to get there? People got to communicate. It's probably way above my ... but I'll speak out on it anytime.''
The NCAA changed its rules regarding basketball players last year, giving prospects who declare for the NBA draft more time to evaluate their draft stock before deciding whether to return to school. More than 120 players declared for the NBA draft after this past season. Fifty-seven ended up returning to school.
In football, 30 of 96 early-entry prospects were not selected in the 2016 NFL draft, including former Arkansas offensive lineman Denver Kirkland. Those 30 didn't have the option of going back to school once they declared for the draft in mid-January.
Bielema believes Kirkland and former Arkansas running back Alex Collins, who was selected in the fifth round by Seattle, would not have left school early had they known they would slide so far in the draft.
''If (an underclassman) could sit down with NFL people or personnel people that are making the decisions firsthand, I think it could be a great resource,'' Bielema said. ''And you know what? It works out better for everybody. Graduation rates to go up. Success rates go up. Failure rates go down. Kids are in school longer. Kids are in preparation to be in the NFL to play longer.''
Saban said a committee of college coaches and NFL personnel has been examining the issue.
Saban and Bielema believe a combine for underclassmen could help solve the problem. It would be similar to pro days for juniors and seniors and would allow NFL scouts to better evaluate those players.
''If you ask the NFL, how can we maintain trust with our players when you're giving us inaccurate information? Their response is 'We don't know enough about the guys to really give you the information because all we can really go on is film evaluation,''' Saban said. ''That's why we have a combine and all these other things. We want accurate information when that's all said and done in December.''
The timing could be the tough part, with national signing day for colleges in early February being a potential hurdle.
''Well, we're in our first year of the new basketball reality. I've talked to a few of our coaches who have had the experience. I think the feedback's been positive,'' SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. ''The young people have real-time, very valid information on their draft status. And they know up front not to compromise their eligibility from an NCAA standpoint. ... There is conversation about how might you accomplish this same outcome in football.
''That is a little bit different. The timing of the end of the semester, when the draft occurs, preparation for the draft, what type of feedback might be there. The NCAA could change with no alteration of the NBA's draft timeline, practically speaking. I'm not sure that happens from an NFL standpoint. It's a good idea. There's likely some thought and work that needs to be contributed to see if that good idea can become a reality.''
NCAABKB: Purdue should benefit from being selected to represent the U.S.
By Jeff Eisenberg
As if last week's return of forwards Caleb Swanigan and Vince Edwards weren't encouraging enough for Purdue, the Boilermakers released some more promising news Tuesday morning.
They announced that they have been selected to represent the United States at the World University Games in Chinese Taipei in August 2017.
“We are obviously very excited to represent our country at the World University Games," Purdue coach Matt Painter said in a statement released by the school. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our program."
The opportunity to play in the World University Games is beneficial to Purdue for several reasons, none more important than the chance for the 2017-18 Boilermakers to build chemistry and continuity via extra summer practices, an overseas trip and two weeks of games. The event also will bring notoriety to Purdue and could help coach Matt Painter's recruiting efforts this year as he can sell Class of 2017 prospects on the chance to represent their country.
The last college team to represent the U.S. at the World University Games is Kansas, which defeated Germany in double overtime last July to capture America's first gold medal in 10 years at the event. The World University Games served as a springboard for a Jayhawks team that went on to win 33 games, extend its Big 12 title streak to 12 in a row and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual national champ Villanova in the Elite Eight.
Kansas was a safe choice because it has been consistently elite pretty much every season during Bill Self's tenure. Purdue is a greater risk because the Boilermakers have been more hit-and-miss under Painter and their prospects for the 2017-18 season are still a bit murky.
While the Boilermakers are expected to return to the NCAA tournament and perhaps even contend in the Big Ten next season, they may lose some key pieces next spring. Michigan transfer Spike Albrecht is the team's lone senior, however, Swanigan and Edwards may enter the NBA draft once again and it certainly wouldn't be a huge surprise if 7-footer Isaac Haas joined them.
But regardless of how strong a roster Purdue returns, representing the U.S. at the World University Games is a coup for the Boilermakers.
But regardless of how strong a roster Purdue returns, representing the U.S. at the World University Games is a coup for the Boilermakers.
They've made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. They're poised for an even better season next year. And they have something to look forward to the following summer as well.
As investigations continue, Louisville's Pitino looks ahead.
By GARY B. GRAVES
Rick Pitino raved about Louisville's potential next season, suggesting Tuesday that the Cardinals' length and speed mirrors the strengths of the 1996 NCAA championship squad he coached at archrival Kentucky.
That's high praise for a team that must replace its top three scorers, but it's a way for the coach to try and move past a tumultuous season of scandal that engulfed his program.
Several investigations are ongoing into escort Katina Powell's book allegations that former Louisville basketball staffer Andre McGee paid her and other strippers to perform for recruits and players from 2010-14. The school has self-imposed several penalties, including a postseason ban from last year's NCAA Tournament and reductions in scholarships and recruiting visits.
Pitino has been mum about whether the NCAA has interviewed him as part of its investigation. But he talked about the scandal in the past tense Tuesday as he discussed next season's bright prospects.
''It still bothers me, I'm not going to lie to you,'' Pitino said. ''It bothers me when a trust is broken, and I still have sleepless nights thinking (why) you did something like this. ...
''You put it behind you by getting encouraged and excited about this schedule, the team we have and the potential to be a contender for a championship next year.''
There is so much potential, that Pitino foresees Louisville being able to show the same strengths as that Kentucky team that earned one of his two titles as a coach.
The group has a major void to fill.
Sophomore center/forward Chinanu Onuaku is entering the NBA draft along with graduate transfers Trey Lewis and Damion Lee, a trio that combined for more than 37 points per game in helping the No. 16 Cardinals finish 23-8.
Despite the departures, Louisville returns plenty of size up front with 6-foot-10 senior Mangok Mathiang, who's progressing from a season-ending foot injury. He'll be joined by Anas Mahmoud and Matz Stockman, two 7-footers, and forwards Jaylen Johnson, Ray Spalding and Deng Adel - whom Pitino said he expects ''big things'' from.
''I've been toying all spring because I've had time on my hands with a style that would fit this team best,'' Pitino said, ''but we're going to try to play just like that basketball team. (By) no means do I say we have that type of talent.
''But we have that type of length, that type of quickness, that type of athleticism, so we are going to play like that team.''
Pitino named Mathiang and junior guard Quentin Snider (9.4 points per game, team-high 109 assists) as co-captains of a team that also returns dynamic guard Donovan Mitchell.
Though Louisville's self-imposed sanctions include eliminating one scholarship for 2017 and 2018, and 30 fewer days to recruit, Pitino said the investigation hasn't hurt the school on the recruiting trail. The Cardinals will welcome their first high school All-American since 2011 in 6-7 guard/forward V.J. King and 6-3 guard Frankie Hughes.
''We haven't had any resistance whatsoever and we're off to a great start,'' Pitino said of recruiting, adding that he'd like to surrender the scholarships for this year if possible.
With a challenging schedule featuring neighboring Indiana, Purdue along with its usual Atlantic Coast Conference docket and annual Bluegrass showdown against Kentucky, Pitino suggested that looking ahead was the only choice.
''We want to get everything behind us,'' Pitino said. ''It was a very difficult year emotionally, it was a very difficult year for all of us and we'd like to put every single thing behind us. Sometimes you cherish the past, and other times you'd like to forget the past.''
Hard to Look Past Exaggerator When Evaluating Belmont Stakes.
By Mike Curry
Exaggerator winning the Preakness Stakes. (Photo/Eclipse Sportswire)
Making the Grade, which will run through the 2016 Belmont Stakes, focuses on the winners of the big races, usually from the previous weekend, who could impact the next Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey) and pedigree.
This week we take a closer look at Exaggerator, winner of the $1.5-million Preakness Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico.
This week we take a closer look at Exaggerator, winner of the $1.5-million Preakness Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico.
Entering the Preakness Stakes, the only 3-year-old with any prayer to beat Nyquist appeared to be Exaggerator. He seemed to really relish a wet track and there’s no doubt that a sloppy track played a factor in the Preakness, but the true key to the race was Exaggerator’s consistency. Regardless of venue or track condition or distance, Exaggerator always runs his race and he delivered as usual at Pimlico in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. With Nyquist out of the Belmont Stakes with a fever, Exaggerator appears to be as close to a lock in the Belmont Stakes as you’ll find in racing. Let’s explore his chances.
Ability: Since a fifth-place finish his debut, Exaggerator has either won or finished within three lengths of the winners in 10 subsequent races. His only off-the-board finish in those 10 starts was a fourth behind Nyquist in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He subsequently won the $1-million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, earning a then career-best 103 Equibase Speed Figure in his final start at two. He finished second in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes and third in the Grade 2 San Felipe before his runaway win in on a sloppy track in the Santa Anita Derby. With his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness victory, Exaggerator positioned himself as the only 3-year-old within striking distance of Nyquist in the race for the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male. In the six races since the Breeders’ Cup, Exaggerator has recorded an Equibase Speed Figure between a 103 and a 107 in each race, topped by the 107 he earned in the Preakness. His last three Beyer Speed Figures are: 103, 101 and 101. It’s tough to knock a racehorse who always brings his “A” game.
Running style: Aside from a front-running win in the Delta Jackpot, Exaggerator’s preferred running style is coming from off the pace with one powerful, sustained rally. He was 15th early in the Kentucky Derby and eighth in the Preakness, both times behind a hot pace. But he’s no plodder. He had enough speed to track just a length behind a :44.49 half-mile in the seven-furlong San Vicente when finishing second to Nyquist. If the pace is slower in the Belmont Stakes, a very likely scenario, Exaggerator could lay a little bit closer so he has less ground to make up in the stretch.
Connections: Exaggerator’s trainer, Keith Desormeaux, served as an assistant to Charlie Hadry for a couple of years after graduating from Louisiana Tech. He took out his license in 1988, and Desormeaux said his career took off after moving from California to Lone Star Park in 1997. He calls himself a “blue-collar trainer.”
Desormeaux earned his first career graded stakes win in 2013 when Ive Stuck a Nerve won the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, and in 2014 he trained the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Texas Red. Desormeaux earned his first victory in a U.S. classic race with Exaggerator in the Preakness.
Keith Desormeaux’s brother, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, is the regular rider of Exaggerator. With more than 5,700 career wins and three Eclipse Awards — outstanding apprentice in 1987 and outstanding jockey in 1989 and 1992 — Desormeaux is a proven, big-money rider who ranks 19th all time by victories among U.S.-based jockeys and fifth all time in purse earnings with more than $265.4-million. He earned his seventh victory in a Triple Crown in the 2016 Preakness. Kent Desormeaux also guided Big Brown (2008) and Real Quiet (1998) to wins in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He won the Kentucky Derby in 2000 with Fusaichi Pegasus and the Belmont Stakes in 2009 with Summer Bird. He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2004.
Big Chief Racing is the racing stable of Matthew Bryan, who first became involved in racehorse ownership through the Don’t Tell Your Wife Stable syndicate. A Texan, Bryan met Keith Desormeaux in 2012 at a Texas sale and their first auction purchase together was the aforementioned Ive Struck a Nerve. Big Chief Racing also campaigns graded stakes winner Crucero and 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Swipe.
After the Breeders’ Cup, Bryan sold interests in Exaggerator to several other partners including Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Stable and Ronny Ortowski’s Rocker O Ranch.
Pedigree: Exaggerator is from the fourth crop of two-time Horse of the Year (2007, 2008) Curlin and is one of 10 graded stakes winners and the second U.S. classic winner for the 2007 Preakness victor. Prior to 2016, Curlin had demonstrated the ability to sire elite talent in the breeding shed with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, 2015 Travers Stakes winner and Belmont Stakes third-place finisher Keen Ice and Grade 1 winners Curalina and Stellar Wind among his early standouts. Exaggerator confirmed Curlin’s immense potential at stud, and the class and stamina he inherits from Curlin should go a long way in the Belmont Stakes.
Exaggerator’s dam (mother), Dawn Raid, and grandam (maternal grandmother), Embur Sunshine, both placed in stakes races. Dawn Raid set a track record for 5 ½ furlongs sprinting at Woodbine and Embur Sunshine finished second in a pair of stakes at Monmouth Park, both at 5 furlongs. Neither won a race longer than 5 ½ furlongs, however, so that could be a minor concern for the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion.”
Dawn Raid is a half-sister (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to Canadian champion Embur’s Song and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Ten Flat. Embur’s Song was a multiple graded stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles and Ten Flat was purely a sprinter. Other notable members of this family include Canadian champion Eternal Search, Canadian classic winner Niigon and Grade 1 winner Island Sand.
The abundance of speed from Exaggerator’s family makes me just a touch cautious about his chances to win his second classic in the Belmont. There is a chance that he could run out of fuel in the final eighth of a mile in his third race in five weeks, but having two-time Horse of the Year Curlin as his sire greatly helps Exaggerator’s cause. Plus, you have to admire his determination and consistency. Exaggerator should be tough to beat as an overwhelming favorite on June 11 at Belmont.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1925 - Lou Gehrig began a streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive baseball games. The streak ended on May 2, 1939.
1938 - Baseball helmets were worn for the first time.
1941 - Mel Ott hit the 400th home run of his career. He also drove in his 1,500th career run.
1975 - Nolan Ryan pitched his fourth career no-hitter in his 100th career victory.
1980 - Steve Garvey hit the 7,000th home run for the Dodgers.
2014 - The Los Angeles Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. It was the first time in NHL history that a team won a series in Game 7 on the road for the third consecutive series.
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