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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." ~ Mary Pickford, Actress, Writer, Director and Producer
Trending: The Great Debate: Would you rather have LeBron James or Michael Jordan? Review the last article on this blog and let us know who you would take.
Trending: The Great Debate: Would you rather have LeBron James or Michael Jordan? Review the last article on this blog and let us know who you would take.
Trending: Blackhawks confident salary cap casualties aren’t calamitous and Blackhawks still have work to do following NHL Draft. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Arrieta set for 1st start in Cincy since no-no. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Trending: Tony Stewart slams Denny Hamlin out of the way to break winless streak. (See the NASCAR section for racing updates and the latest news).
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 48-26
White Sox 2016 Record: 38-38
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
By Brett Kollmann
(Photo/Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)
It's never too early to start scouting Houston's Week One opponent.
With the Texans just over two months away from kicking off their 2016 season against the Bears, I decided to take a look at perhaps the best player in Chicago’s resurgent defensive lineup – outside linebacker Pernell McPhee. Big, ferocious, and nearly immovable off the line of scrimmage, McPhee finally had his breakout year in 2015 after moving on from Baltimore for a starting job in the Windy City. He might not be on the same level as Von Miller or Justin Houston (yet), but teams quickly found out last year that not devoting extra attention to McPhee was a recipe for disaster (I’m looking at you, Oakland). If his tape from a season ago is any indication of what he will do in 2016, the Bears may have just found themselves one of the best edge defenders in the NFL.
Good luck, Derek Newton. You'll definitely need it.
Chandler thankful Bears believe in him.
By Larry Mayer
OL Nate Chandler at OTAs earlier this month. (Photo/chicagobears.com)
Tackle
"It was pretty hard," Chandler said. "But I try not to sulk or get down on myself because I knew there would be another opportunity for me, no matter where it would be. Fortunate enough, I'm here and I'm glad to be here."
Coming off his injury, Chandler is thankful that the Bears made a commitment to him.
"It just shows me that they believe in me," he said. "I visited with other teams and things didn't work out. But it's just a great feeling to have someone who believes in the process that I've been going through and just gave me a chance to come out here and compete.
"It's a great organization. The facilities are amazing. We have a good room with the o-line. The coaches are real interactive. I feel like there's a good thing going here, and I'm just glad to be a part of it."
It appears that Chandler will compete for the swing tackle position behind starters
"My biggest challenge is getting back onto the field and getting my feet wet and getting back out there and competing," Chandler said. "At the same time, the playbook, it's different. As far as the plays go, I'm used to the zone plays and those principals. I would say the biggest thing is getting back into football shape and really getting into the playbook."
The offensive tackle position is still relatively new to Chandler. He entered the NFL with the Panthers in 2012 as an undrafted free agent defensive end and played in 10 games on that side of the ball as a rookie, all as a reserve.
Chandler switched to offensive line in 2013, appearing in all 16 games with eight starts before starting all 11 games he played in 2014.
"I was actually on the scout team and they saw me moving out there as an offensive lineman," Chandler said. "The next offseason they asked me to move over [to offense] and I made the team and went from there."
As an offensive tackle, Chandler draws on his experience at defensive end.
"It definitely helps out," he said. "I feel like just knowing the mentality of a defensive lineman and their techniques or their responsibilities helps me as far as our schemes go."
While the two positions are vastly different, Chandler's mentality remains the same.
"Offensive line is definitely an aggressive position," he said. "I feel that there's a lot more going on in an offensive lineman's head as far as the plays and different schemes that the defense might be running.
"As a d-lineman, you're taught to attack the quarterback, hold your gap and really just go out there and be relentless. It's the same mentality for me I feel like because you want to be relentless against these d-linemen or you're going to end up losing most of your blocks."
Editor's Note: There's not a lot of news coming out about the Bears on or off the field right now and that's a good thing. The coaches are working hard with the players changing the culture at Halas Hall and instilling a winning attitude among the players. We've said it all along, this team is going to shock a lot of people. Let's go Bears.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks confident salary cap casualties aren’t calamitous.
By Greg Wyshynski
No matter where Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman went, he always felt suffocated against the ceiling. But after the first round of Friday’s NHL Draft in Buffalo, he had finally found some space to breathe.
“We have enough cap room now. We don’t have a salary cap problem,” he said.
In the last week and a half, the Blackhawks purged forwards Bryan Bickell, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw from their payroll, the latter sent to the Montreal Canadiens to kick off the draft in exchange for two second-round picks. In the process, they opened up what is now $6 million in cap space with a few forward spots yet to fill.
Specifically the ones that Shaw and Teravainen occupied last season.
“We’re trying to look forward. We’re trying to make the situation as best as it is with the salary cap,” said Bowman.
“Roles change. Opportunities are there. You have to give next year’s team a chance to forge its own identity. It may not match up exactly with last year’s team, but that’s OK.”
In 24-year-old Shaw, the Blackhawks lost one of the vital ingredients to their last two Stanley Cups: a gritty physical pest who did the dirty work around their opponent’s net.
“We have enough cap room now. We don’t have a salary cap problem,” he said.
In the last week and a half, the Blackhawks purged forwards Bryan Bickell, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw from their payroll, the latter sent to the Montreal Canadiens to kick off the draft in exchange for two second-round picks. In the process, they opened up what is now $6 million in cap space with a few forward spots yet to fill.
Specifically the ones that Shaw and Teravainen occupied last season.
“We’re trying to look forward. We’re trying to make the situation as best as it is with the salary cap,” said Bowman.
“Roles change. Opportunities are there. You have to give next year’s team a chance to forge its own identity. It may not match up exactly with last year’s team, but that’s OK.”
In 24-year-old Shaw, the Blackhawks lost one of the vital ingredients to their last two Stanley Cups: a gritty physical pest who did the dirty work around their opponent’s net.
“He was a warrior for us, so it was a difficult decision. It was a tough phone call to make,” admitted Bowman. “It was evident long ago that something was going to have to give, with the money that we have committed and the salary cap being what it is. We looked at a lot of different options. This was the one that made the most sense.”
But Bowman said he’s not looking to find a player that perfectly replicates what Shaw provided. Just like he didn't for Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad or any number of other vital Hawks that were forced out due to the salary cap.
“I think one of the traps you fall into is saying ‘this guy is going to replace that guy.’ It’s going to be a new group,” said Bowman. “You have to give the young players in our system, who have been waiting patiently, you have to give them some spots to compete for.”
So maybe there’s someone in Rockford that plays the game like Shaw. Maybe newly signed college forward Nick Schmaltz can provide some of Teravainen’s offense. Maybe there are more moves to be made for the Blackhawks to fill out their lineup.
It’s become an annual rite for Bowman: Purge beloved Blackhawks due to salary constraints and then use their organizational depth and slim cap space to reload.
More often than not, Bowman and his staff find the right reinforcements.
“A year ago at this time, no one knew who [Artemi] Pararin was,” he said of the newly crowned rookie of the year.
Blackhawks still have work to do following NHL Draft.
By Tracey Myers
Stan Bowman, Blackhawks GM (Photo/csnchicago.com)
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman had just wrapped up the team’s selections at the NHL Draft on Saturday when he started talking about what was next on the agenda.
“It’s a very busy time. Really, up until the end of July it’s real busy,” Bowman said. “Our roster will start to take shape. There aren’t a ton of holes but there are some things we’re going to look to try and make headway on over the next 10 days to two weeks.”
The Blackhawks spent Saturday selecting nine players at the NHL draft. Bowman has long talked drafting and developing and the Blackhawks have to get back to that. In trying to win as much as they can now they’ve sacrificed a lot of youth, be it those who already proved themselves at this level or those who were on the cusp of doing so.
But this is where the Blackhawks are right now, so they’ll look at what they can do now.
The Blackhawks already re-signed Richard Panik and Dennis Rasmussen, and Bowman said they’ll probably ink a few more of their unrestricted free agents soon. Bowman had talks regarding some players on Saturday.
“It’s probably early to make a prediction on where we’re going to go but we have a pretty good idea of where things will end up. Probably won’t be too long, you guys will be figuring out who we’re signing,” Bowman said with a grin.
So what else? Oh, the defense. The Blackhawks’ defense isn’t a mess but the depth isn’t what it was two seasons ago. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Erik Gustafsson will be a year older and should benefit from their play from last season. Ville Pokka and Gustav Forsling are young guys in the system. The Blackhawks also signed Michal Kempny this offseason, and he could have a good shot of making the roster.
“I think [Kempny], we’re looking forward to seeing how he does.. I think he can come in and hopefully he can help us right off the bat,” coach Joel Quenneville said on Friday. “We’ll see on the free agents and how that market looks out. We know that looking at the top end and certainly we’ll definitely do whatever we can to get some depth and some quality if we can.”
The Blackhawks have young defenseman but Bowman said they could acquire a seasoned one.
“We do have a lot of young guys who are in the mix for that. I wouldn’t rule out a veteran defenseman. But we don’t have anything to announce right now,” Bowman said. “We’ll have discussions as we go along here.”
The draft is done but the Blackhawks still have work to do. They’ve parted with another would-be core player in Andrew Shaw, but the roster subtraction should be done – Bowman said following Shaw’s trade that the team no longer has a salary-cap problem. But they have a bit of a depth problem, and they’ll need to do things over the next few weeks to make it less of an issue come September.
“It’s a very busy time. Really, up until the end of July it’s real busy,” Bowman said. “Our roster will start to take shape. There aren’t a ton of holes but there are some things we’re going to look to try and make headway on over the next 10 days to two weeks.”
The Blackhawks spent Saturday selecting nine players at the NHL draft. Bowman has long talked drafting and developing and the Blackhawks have to get back to that. In trying to win as much as they can now they’ve sacrificed a lot of youth, be it those who already proved themselves at this level or those who were on the cusp of doing so.
But this is where the Blackhawks are right now, so they’ll look at what they can do now.
The Blackhawks already re-signed Richard Panik and Dennis Rasmussen, and Bowman said they’ll probably ink a few more of their unrestricted free agents soon. Bowman had talks regarding some players on Saturday.
“It’s probably early to make a prediction on where we’re going to go but we have a pretty good idea of where things will end up. Probably won’t be too long, you guys will be figuring out who we’re signing,” Bowman said with a grin.
So what else? Oh, the defense. The Blackhawks’ defense isn’t a mess but the depth isn’t what it was two seasons ago. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Erik Gustafsson will be a year older and should benefit from their play from last season. Ville Pokka and Gustav Forsling are young guys in the system. The Blackhawks also signed Michal Kempny this offseason, and he could have a good shot of making the roster.
“I think [Kempny], we’re looking forward to seeing how he does.. I think he can come in and hopefully he can help us right off the bat,” coach Joel Quenneville said on Friday. “We’ll see on the free agents and how that market looks out. We know that looking at the top end and certainly we’ll definitely do whatever we can to get some depth and some quality if we can.”
The Blackhawks have young defenseman but Bowman said they could acquire a seasoned one.
“We do have a lot of young guys who are in the mix for that. I wouldn’t rule out a veteran defenseman. But we don’t have anything to announce right now,” Bowman said. “We’ll have discussions as we go along here.”
The draft is done but the Blackhawks still have work to do. They’ve parted with another would-be core player in Andrew Shaw, but the roster subtraction should be done – Bowman said following Shaw’s trade that the team no longer has a salary-cap problem. But they have a bit of a depth problem, and they’ll need to do things over the next few weeks to make it less of an issue come September.
Andrew Shaw ready for new chapter with Marc Bergevin, Canadiens.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Andrew Shaw and Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin go back a few years.
It was Bergevin, when he was assistant general manager with the Blackhawks, who signed Shaw to his entry-level contract. And now they’re together again.
“He likes the rat in me, the work ethic,” Shaw said on Saturday via conference call. “He enjoys watching me play and dealing with him on my first contract was exciting for me as well. I owe him a lot.”
Shaw has run the gamut of emotions over the last day or so. The forward, who so fervently wanted to stay with Chicago, never got the deal to remain here. Instead he was sent to Montreal, where he’s reunited with Bergevin and will help the Canadiens increase their grit level. With Shaw and Brendan Gallagher together on that team, the pest factor will truly be high.
“Me and Gallagher, we have had some fun battles,” Shaw said. “Now I’m excited to be on his side to annoy people together, I guess.”
Still, the last five years with the Blackhawks, which included two Stanley Cups, will stay with Shaw forever. Shaw thought he and the Blackhawks were “pretty close” to a deal, but it never came to fruition.
“They have cap issues and it’s tough to get around, especially this time of year with the draft, free agency coming. It was tough. I thought we were close. Just have to move past it,” Shaw said. “Got a fresh start with a new team and I’m excited about that. It’ll be fun. Excited to meet the guys and get in that room. On the other end, I’ll miss my friends and teammates in Chicago as well.”
What contract Shaw gets from the Canadiens remains to be seen. Darren Dreger tweeted Saturday that talks between the two camps are going well, and Shaw could get “a 5-7-year extension in the days ahead.” The Blackhawks weren’t in a position to offer a lot of money or a lengthy term.
So Shaw turns a page in his career. His years with the Blackhawks were special to him but he’s reuniting with the man who helped bring him to Chicago in the first place.
“It’s a business. I knew the options that were coming my way. I just sat back and was patient and let that unravel. There’s not much I can do personally. Obviously five years in Chicago, two championships and a lot of friends, but I’m ready to move on and start a new chapter,” Shaw said. “I’m excited it’ll be with Montreal, and I hope everyone else feels the same way.”
It was Bergevin, when he was assistant general manager with the Blackhawks, who signed Shaw to his entry-level contract. And now they’re together again.
“He likes the rat in me, the work ethic,” Shaw said on Saturday via conference call. “He enjoys watching me play and dealing with him on my first contract was exciting for me as well. I owe him a lot.”
Shaw has run the gamut of emotions over the last day or so. The forward, who so fervently wanted to stay with Chicago, never got the deal to remain here. Instead he was sent to Montreal, where he’s reunited with Bergevin and will help the Canadiens increase their grit level. With Shaw and Brendan Gallagher together on that team, the pest factor will truly be high.
“Me and Gallagher, we have had some fun battles,” Shaw said. “Now I’m excited to be on his side to annoy people together, I guess.”
Still, the last five years with the Blackhawks, which included two Stanley Cups, will stay with Shaw forever. Shaw thought he and the Blackhawks were “pretty close” to a deal, but it never came to fruition.
“They have cap issues and it’s tough to get around, especially this time of year with the draft, free agency coming. It was tough. I thought we were close. Just have to move past it,” Shaw said. “Got a fresh start with a new team and I’m excited about that. It’ll be fun. Excited to meet the guys and get in that room. On the other end, I’ll miss my friends and teammates in Chicago as well.”
What contract Shaw gets from the Canadiens remains to be seen. Darren Dreger tweeted Saturday that talks between the two camps are going well, and Shaw could get “a 5-7-year extension in the days ahead.” The Blackhawks weren’t in a position to offer a lot of money or a lengthy term.
So Shaw turns a page in his career. His years with the Blackhawks were special to him but he’s reuniting with the man who helped bring him to Chicago in the first place.
“It’s a business. I knew the options that were coming my way. I just sat back and was patient and let that unravel. There’s not much I can do personally. Obviously five years in Chicago, two championships and a lot of friends, but I’m ready to move on and start a new chapter,” Shaw said. “I’m excited it’ll be with Montreal, and I hope everyone else feels the same way.”
Cubs drop series finale with Marlins, lose for sixth time in seven games.
Associated Press
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Jose Fernandez delivered another gem at Marlins Park, allowing one run in seven innings and striking out 13 on Sunday to help Miami beat the faltering Cubs, 6-1.
The Marlins won three of four from the injury-depleted Cubs, who went 1-6 for the week but still have baseball's best record.
Fernandez improved his career record at home to 24-1 with a 1.48 ERA, and this year the right-hander has been pretty good everywhere — he's 10-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 138 strikeouts.
Giancarlo Stanton doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth for the Marlins, who went 7-3 on their homestand. At 41-35, they're six games above .500 for the first time since June 2012, their first season in Marlins Park.
Arrieta set for 1st start in Cincy since no-no.
By Carrie Muskat
The Marlins won three of four from the injury-depleted Cubs, who went 1-6 for the week but still have baseball's best record.
Fernandez improved his career record at home to 24-1 with a 1.48 ERA, and this year the right-hander has been pretty good everywhere — he's 10-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 138 strikeouts.
Giancarlo Stanton doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth for the Marlins, who went 7-3 on their homestand. At 41-35, they're six games above .500 for the first time since June 2012, their first season in Marlins Park.
Arrieta set for 1st start in Cincy since no-no.
By Carrie Muskat
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Jake Arrieta will be back in Cincinnati on Monday and will make his first start at Great American Ball Park since throwing his second career no-hitter there on April 21.
"I think anyone with any pride at all would like to get that opportunity to face him again," Reds manager Bryan Price said on Sunday. "We've had games where we've given him good games. We've beaten him at times in the past and made life more challenging than we did here more recently.
"He's certainly one of the best starting pitchers in the game right now. I would like to think everybody here is champing at the bit to get another opportunity to beat him."
When Arrieta shut down the Reds, he was riding a hot streak. The right-hander posted 20 consecutive wins from Aug. 4, 2015, to May 25 this year. This month, he's been tough to beat but has seemed more human. He was 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA in five April starts; Arrieta is 2-2 with a 2.35 ERA in four June starts. He hadn't lost two games in a month since May 2015.
"His stuff has been great," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of his ace. "In my mind's eye, it was about this time last year, he took off. A lot of times, history repeats itself with these guys."
Against the Reds, Arrieta is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA in six career games, and he has held them to a .219 batting average against.
Things to know about this game
• Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Dan Straily on Monday in the first game of the three-game series. Straily had an odd start last time out in which he faced the minimum in every inning except a troublesome fourth.
"It was just really frustrating to have been going like that and finish like that but have such poor command for three hitters in a row," said Straily, who ended with four runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts against the Rangers. "It was just one of those things where I was trying to figure it out and just couldn't. It was just really, really frustrating."
• Expect Miguel Montero to catch Arrieta on Monday, which will be his third straight game behind the plate. The Cubs have been trying to ease Willson Contreras into games, but the rookie has started in left field two in a row and also has played some first base.
"The fact that he's comfortable in other spots helps," Maddon said of Contreras. "He's comfortable at first base and left field."
• The Cubs' Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo most likely are looking forward to hitting at Great American Ball Park. Bryant has hit .421 with two home runs in four games there, while Rizzo has hit four homers in Cincinnati this year. They've each driven in eight runs there so far this year.
When Arrieta shut down the Reds, he was riding a hot streak. The right-hander posted 20 consecutive wins from Aug. 4, 2015, to May 25 this year. This month, he's been tough to beat but has seemed more human. He was 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA in five April starts; Arrieta is 2-2 with a 2.35 ERA in four June starts. He hadn't lost two games in a month since May 2015.
"His stuff has been great," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of his ace. "In my mind's eye, it was about this time last year, he took off. A lot of times, history repeats itself with these guys."
Against the Reds, Arrieta is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA in six career games, and he has held them to a .219 batting average against.
Things to know about this game
• Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Dan Straily on Monday in the first game of the three-game series. Straily had an odd start last time out in which he faced the minimum in every inning except a troublesome fourth.
"It was just really frustrating to have been going like that and finish like that but have such poor command for three hitters in a row," said Straily, who ended with four runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts against the Rangers. "It was just one of those things where I was trying to figure it out and just couldn't. It was just really, really frustrating."
• Expect Miguel Montero to catch Arrieta on Monday, which will be his third straight game behind the plate. The Cubs have been trying to ease Willson Contreras into games, but the rookie has started in left field two in a row and also has played some first base.
"The fact that he's comfortable in other spots helps," Maddon said of Contreras. "He's comfortable at first base and left field."
• The Cubs' Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo most likely are looking forward to hitting at Great American Ball Park. Bryant has hit .421 with two home runs in four games there, while Rizzo has hit four homers in Cincinnati this year. They've each driven in eight runs there so far this year.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The White Sox have been adamant the baseball they’ve played the past six weeks isn’t far removed from their torrid start to the season.
Now they have something to show for it.
Courtesy of a 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox have back-to-back series victories for the first time since they swept the Texas Rangers and Toronto two months ago. With five wins in their last seven tries, the White Sox improved to 38-38 as they head into a much-needed day off.
“It’s huge,” said outfielder J.B. Shuck, whose second homer in as many days provided an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. “You feel kind of a weight lifted off the shoulders in the clubhouse. We’ve been grinding. Even some of our losses, we’ve been in games. We’ve come back, we’ve given ourselves a chance and one thing here or there kind of led us to losing and now it’s starting to work for us a little bit.”
A week ago the White Sox were coming off yet another demoralizing road sweep against an AL Central opponent. They had played well in two of three contests against the Cleveland Indians but came up empty. That sweep followed one at the Detroit Tigers earlier in the month and another previous one during a hellish May weekend in Kansas City.
But starting with an extra-innings win at the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, the White Sox have started to put things together more consistently than they had of late.
They capitalized on good pitching in the first two victories over the Red Sox and then the offense did the heavy lifting in an 8-6 win on Wednesday. Though they didn’t close out a sweep of Boston, the White Sox carried it over to their home series against Toronto.
“We need some of those,” said closer David Robertson, who retired the side on 10 pitches in the ninth to convert his 20th save. “When you get your butt kicked and you get swept in places, you gotta come home and win some games. We’re playing a lot better baseball. We’re pitching better. Hopefully it continues and we stay strong.”
Sunday’s victory was full of quality play in all aspects for the White Sox.
-- Chris Sale was dominant for seven of eight innings and earned his 13th victory in 15 decisions.
-- Robertson’s inning aside, Sale gave the bullpen another critical day of rest.
“It’s kind of relaxing,” reliever Zach Duke said.
-- Beginning with Adam Eaton’s major-league leading 10th outfield assist in the first inning, the defense turned in several big plays behind Sale, including double plays in the fourth and seventh.
-- The offense provided several timely hits, whether Melky Cabrera’s two-out RBI single in the third or Shuck’s solo homer to increase the lead back to three runs in the eighth.
Now the White Sox have a day to rest before they continue their homestand on Tuesday with the first of three against the Minnesota Twins.
“I like the way we're playing,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “I think offensively, we're swinging it a little bit, doing some things, and playing defense along with it. That's a good sign for us to be able to continue to do that. Pitchers are getting back to being healthy and getting after it. I like the way this is headed. I like the fire that these guys have shown and bouncing back in some tough situations.”
Chris Sale cruises as White Sox top Blue Jays.
Now they have something to show for it.
Courtesy of a 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox have back-to-back series victories for the first time since they swept the Texas Rangers and Toronto two months ago. With five wins in their last seven tries, the White Sox improved to 38-38 as they head into a much-needed day off.
“It’s huge,” said outfielder J.B. Shuck, whose second homer in as many days provided an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. “You feel kind of a weight lifted off the shoulders in the clubhouse. We’ve been grinding. Even some of our losses, we’ve been in games. We’ve come back, we’ve given ourselves a chance and one thing here or there kind of led us to losing and now it’s starting to work for us a little bit.”
A week ago the White Sox were coming off yet another demoralizing road sweep against an AL Central opponent. They had played well in two of three contests against the Cleveland Indians but came up empty. That sweep followed one at the Detroit Tigers earlier in the month and another previous one during a hellish May weekend in Kansas City.
But starting with an extra-innings win at the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, the White Sox have started to put things together more consistently than they had of late.
They capitalized on good pitching in the first two victories over the Red Sox and then the offense did the heavy lifting in an 8-6 win on Wednesday. Though they didn’t close out a sweep of Boston, the White Sox carried it over to their home series against Toronto.
“We need some of those,” said closer David Robertson, who retired the side on 10 pitches in the ninth to convert his 20th save. “When you get your butt kicked and you get swept in places, you gotta come home and win some games. We’re playing a lot better baseball. We’re pitching better. Hopefully it continues and we stay strong.”
Sunday’s victory was full of quality play in all aspects for the White Sox.
-- Chris Sale was dominant for seven of eight innings and earned his 13th victory in 15 decisions.
-- Robertson’s inning aside, Sale gave the bullpen another critical day of rest.
“It’s kind of relaxing,” reliever Zach Duke said.
-- Beginning with Adam Eaton’s major-league leading 10th outfield assist in the first inning, the defense turned in several big plays behind Sale, including double plays in the fourth and seventh.
-- The offense provided several timely hits, whether Melky Cabrera’s two-out RBI single in the third or Shuck’s solo homer to increase the lead back to three runs in the eighth.
Now the White Sox have a day to rest before they continue their homestand on Tuesday with the first of three against the Minnesota Twins.
“I like the way we're playing,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “I think offensively, we're swinging it a little bit, doing some things, and playing defense along with it. That's a good sign for us to be able to continue to do that. Pitchers are getting back to being healthy and getting after it. I like the way this is headed. I like the fire that these guys have shown and bouncing back in some tough situations.”
Chris Sale cruises as White Sox top Blue Jays.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Justin Timberlake, Drake and Desiigner were among the musical choices on Sunday. But over the last week, the White Sox have been able to blast plenty of celebratory songs in their clubhouse with regularity, representing an audible change from the postgame silence that largely accompanied a stretch of 26 losses in 36 games that looks to be in the rearview mirror.
Chris Sale delivered eight strong innings to pace the White Sox to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday afternoon in front of 28,345 at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox, who took three of four from the Boston Red Sox last week at Fenway Park, last won back-to-back series from April 22-27 against the Texas Rangers and Blue Jays.
“You look at the teams we went up against too, Boston and Toronto, those are two of the best in the league,” Sale said, referring to both of the American League’s wild card leaders. “... This is what we needed. Stuff like this is what makes you turn the corner.
“We’ve been listening to some music lately and it’s been fun.”
Sale scattered five hits and two walks and was the recipient of some solid defense behind him. Right fielder Adam Eaton threw out Josh Donaldson at second base in the first inning when the reigning American League MVP tried to stretch a line drive off the wall into a double, and a sterling double play turned by third baseman Tyler Saladino and second baseman Brett Lawrie erased a Donaldson single in the seventh.
Troy Tulowitzki and Junior Lake both blasted solo home runs in the top of the eighth, but that was the only damage Toronto was able to inflict against Sale.
The 27-year-old only sprinkled six strikeouts throughout the afternoon as he consistently pounded the strike zone. His efficiency was welcome news for a relief corps that’s had to cover plenty of stressful outs and innings over the last few weeks.
Only David Robertson — who earned his 20th save — had to jog in from the left field bullpen on Sunday.
“The way the bullpen was, (Sale) was fantastic today,” manager Robin Ventura said.
“It’s nice, it’s refreshing, it’s needed,” reliever Zach Duke said. “What (Sale) did today is huge for all of us. To have a guy like that helps everybody.”
Sale only threw 99 pitches, but the home runs he allowed in the eighth inning — which were followed by a walk to Darwin Barney — led Ventura to pull his starter three outs shy of a complete game.
“He had really good command today with all of his pitches working in and out,” catcher Alex Avila said. “He changed speeds really well with his fastball today along with the great command. He was throwing strikes, a lot of strikes, today, and he did a great job.”
Sale was supported by some opportunistic base-running from Eaton and Saladino, a scorching Melky Cabrera (who went 3-4 with an RBI) and solo home runs off the bats of Tim Anderson and J.B. Shuck.
The White Sox improved to 13-3 in games started by Sale, who also became baseball’s first 13-game winner on Sunday. Even during a lengthy nadir from mid-May through the end of last weekend’s sweep in Cleveland, Sale won five games — half the team’s total from May 10 through June 19.
But the White Sox feel like their arrow is pointing up after winning five of their last seven games against Boston and Toronto. Sale made sure on Sunday this newfound era of good feelings wasn’t going to meet a premature end.
“It’s just a sign we’re starting to get back on the right track,” Shuck said. “We’re playing the baseball we want to play.”
Chris Sale delivered eight strong innings to pace the White Sox to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday afternoon in front of 28,345 at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox, who took three of four from the Boston Red Sox last week at Fenway Park, last won back-to-back series from April 22-27 against the Texas Rangers and Blue Jays.
“You look at the teams we went up against too, Boston and Toronto, those are two of the best in the league,” Sale said, referring to both of the American League’s wild card leaders. “... This is what we needed. Stuff like this is what makes you turn the corner.
“We’ve been listening to some music lately and it’s been fun.”
Sale scattered five hits and two walks and was the recipient of some solid defense behind him. Right fielder Adam Eaton threw out Josh Donaldson at second base in the first inning when the reigning American League MVP tried to stretch a line drive off the wall into a double, and a sterling double play turned by third baseman Tyler Saladino and second baseman Brett Lawrie erased a Donaldson single in the seventh.
Troy Tulowitzki and Junior Lake both blasted solo home runs in the top of the eighth, but that was the only damage Toronto was able to inflict against Sale.
The 27-year-old only sprinkled six strikeouts throughout the afternoon as he consistently pounded the strike zone. His efficiency was welcome news for a relief corps that’s had to cover plenty of stressful outs and innings over the last few weeks.
Only David Robertson — who earned his 20th save — had to jog in from the left field bullpen on Sunday.
“The way the bullpen was, (Sale) was fantastic today,” manager Robin Ventura said.
“It’s nice, it’s refreshing, it’s needed,” reliever Zach Duke said. “What (Sale) did today is huge for all of us. To have a guy like that helps everybody.”
Sale only threw 99 pitches, but the home runs he allowed in the eighth inning — which were followed by a walk to Darwin Barney — led Ventura to pull his starter three outs shy of a complete game.
“He had really good command today with all of his pitches working in and out,” catcher Alex Avila said. “He changed speeds really well with his fastball today along with the great command. He was throwing strikes, a lot of strikes, today, and he did a great job.”
Sale was supported by some opportunistic base-running from Eaton and Saladino, a scorching Melky Cabrera (who went 3-4 with an RBI) and solo home runs off the bats of Tim Anderson and J.B. Shuck.
The White Sox improved to 13-3 in games started by Sale, who also became baseball’s first 13-game winner on Sunday. Even during a lengthy nadir from mid-May through the end of last weekend’s sweep in Cleveland, Sale won five games — half the team’s total from May 10 through June 19.
But the White Sox feel like their arrow is pointing up after winning five of their last seven games against Boston and Toronto. Sale made sure on Sunday this newfound era of good feelings wasn’t going to meet a premature end.
“It’s just a sign we’re starting to get back on the right track,” Shuck said. “We’re playing the baseball we want to play.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Bulls 'absolutely thrilled' to get Denzel Valentine as retooling process begins.
By Mark Strotman
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
While Twitter speculation ran rampant on a potential deal involving Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves, inside the Advocate Center, Gar Forman and the Bulls front office went about their business and selected the player they had been targeting in the lead-up to Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
The Bulls got their man with the 14th overall pick, nabbing Michigan State shooting guard Denzel Valentine in the next phase of their offseason retooling.
Forman spoke with reporters following Thursday night’s draft, saying they were optimistic the 6-foot-6 wing would be available at the end of the lottery. And unlike last year, when power forward Bobby Portis fell into their laps with the 22nd pick, the Bulls were able to fill a pressing need with a player they had long coveted.
“We were absolutely thrilled when he was there,” Forman said. “He was the guy we were targeting, and (we) just think he was a fit on so many levels. We knew what we were getting and are extremely happy that we did.”
A day after dealing point guard Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks in a five-player deal, the Bulls entered Thursday with myriad options on how to continue bolstering a roster set for significant change this offseason. Point guards Wade Baldwin IV and Demetrius Jackson had been linked to Chicago and were still on the board, while big men Deyonta Davis and Henry Ellenson – potential Top 10 picks – also fell and were available to the Bulls when they went on the clock just after 8 p.m.
But Forman and the Bulls stuck to their draft board, selecting a versatile wing in Valentine who drew rave reviews from Tom Izzo and the rest of the Michigan State coaching staff when they met earlier this year. It continued the Bulls’ philosophy of drafting the best player available, while securing needs through free agency and the draft.
“As far as drafts are concerned from a philosophical standpoint we’re going to draft who we feel is the best player that fits our system, fits our culture and our organization, regardless of position,” Forman said. “Now if it’s close, if it’s a tie, then we may take into account need or position or something like that. But in this case he’s just a guy we thought would fit.”
Valentine fits the Bulls’ culture as a hard-working, established prospect, and he also fills a need. The Associated Press Player of the Year averaged 19.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists in his senior season with the Spartans. He’s the only player in NCAA history to average 19-7-7 in a single season, taking the leadership reins for a team that won 29 games and the Big Ten Tournament before a stunning exit in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Valentine was also one of the country’s best perimeter shooters, connecting on 3.4 triples per game (6th in the NCAA) at a 44.7 percent clip. The Lansing, Mich., native will give the Bulls an additional facilitator in the wake of Rose’s departure, as Valentine’s 7.6 assists ranked sixth in the country. Forman added that Valentine, a natural shooting guard, has the ability to play both point guard and small forward, depending on the lineup; Valentine added in a conference call with Bulls reporters that his best attribute is that versatility, “being able to play one through three on both sides of the ball.”
Valentine struggled at times to defend, hidden at times by a solid Michigan State defense that ranked 52nd in the country in efficiency last year, per KenPom.com. He’s not overly athletic – something Forman said on Wednesday the Bulls were looking to improve on as a roster this offseason. His 32-inch maximum vertical leap and 3.46-second ¾-court sprint both ranked 40th among 49 players who tested at last month’s combine, and he converted just 48 percent of his 2-point attempts last season, a low mark given his status as a lottery pick.
But Forman said Valentine, who does possess a solid 6-foot-10 wingspan, has been able to make up for his lack of athleticism with his raw talent and innate court sense.
“I certainly think he’s a good enough athlete at the position he plays, and we studied that quite a bit, athletic testing when we got guys that come in. But his game is based more on skill and basketball IQ than it is on athleticism,” he said. “But anybody who’s watched him play, he moves well, he’s got good mobility, obviously he plays very hard, so that wasn’t a concern. We think his skill and his IQ are going to carry him in his career.”
That description isn’t all that far off from Draymond Green’s in 2012. And while it would be unfair to label Valentine in a similar fashion to Green, now one of the premier players in the NBA, their Michigan State backgrounds have formed a bond, with Valentine referring to Green as his big brother. Green was one of the first people Valentine spoke with after being selected.
“Yeah I’ve already been talking to him, face-timing, and he’s very excited for me. He just told me to enjoy the moment and get to work,” Valentine said. “I’m very proud to carry on the torch of Michigan State basketball to the NBA.”
The Bulls expected Valentine to be around at No. 14, and part of that may have been because of injury concerns that arose leading up to the draft. An MRI taken at last month’s combine revealed a potential risk in his right knee that could affect him later in his career. Some compared it to former Pacers star Danny Granger, who had his career cut short because of knee injuries.
Valentine had surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee. He had two screws inserted that were removed two months later. He played in 144 of a possible 148 games for the Spartans, missing four games last season with a minor injury to his left knee.
But Forman said the Bulls’ medical staff “was very, very comfortable with where he’s at from a health perspective.” Valentine added that he’s completely healthy and that the knee isn’t a concern for him. The Bulls’ front office also received a ringing endorsement from Izzo, who said Valentine’s toughness to play through injuries couldn’t be questioned.
“Tom Izzo told us, there’s some guys who won’t, some guys who will play hurt,” Forman said. “I can’t remember what the exact quote was, but he said ‘Denzel will play dead.’ He just absolutely raved about him.”
Valentine isn’t the savior for a Bulls franchise attempting to get back to contender status after missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. He isn’t a potential face of a franchise like Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons or Los Angeles’ Brandon Ingram, the first two picks in Thursday’s draft. But he does give the Bulls a valuable piece to go forward with on a roster in dire need of a spark. That the Bulls were targeting Valentine and got their man is a sign that they’re moving in the right direction after last season’s collapse.
“We realize we have to get younger, more athletic, start to put some pieces together where we can play more of a style that Fred wants to play. So we’ve begun that process,” Forman said.
“I don’t think it all happens at once; we’ve got to take steps in that direction. I think last week we started to take some steps in that direction and we’ll continue to evaluate and see how we can continue moving in the right direction.”
Remedial Chaos Theory: The NBA cap spike and how it impacts the Bulls.
By Kevin Anderson
The Bulls got their man with the 14th overall pick, nabbing Michigan State shooting guard Denzel Valentine in the next phase of their offseason retooling.
Forman spoke with reporters following Thursday night’s draft, saying they were optimistic the 6-foot-6 wing would be available at the end of the lottery. And unlike last year, when power forward Bobby Portis fell into their laps with the 22nd pick, the Bulls were able to fill a pressing need with a player they had long coveted.
“We were absolutely thrilled when he was there,” Forman said. “He was the guy we were targeting, and (we) just think he was a fit on so many levels. We knew what we were getting and are extremely happy that we did.”
A day after dealing point guard Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks in a five-player deal, the Bulls entered Thursday with myriad options on how to continue bolstering a roster set for significant change this offseason. Point guards Wade Baldwin IV and Demetrius Jackson had been linked to Chicago and were still on the board, while big men Deyonta Davis and Henry Ellenson – potential Top 10 picks – also fell and were available to the Bulls when they went on the clock just after 8 p.m.
But Forman and the Bulls stuck to their draft board, selecting a versatile wing in Valentine who drew rave reviews from Tom Izzo and the rest of the Michigan State coaching staff when they met earlier this year. It continued the Bulls’ philosophy of drafting the best player available, while securing needs through free agency and the draft.
“As far as drafts are concerned from a philosophical standpoint we’re going to draft who we feel is the best player that fits our system, fits our culture and our organization, regardless of position,” Forman said. “Now if it’s close, if it’s a tie, then we may take into account need or position or something like that. But in this case he’s just a guy we thought would fit.”
Valentine fits the Bulls’ culture as a hard-working, established prospect, and he also fills a need. The Associated Press Player of the Year averaged 19.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists in his senior season with the Spartans. He’s the only player in NCAA history to average 19-7-7 in a single season, taking the leadership reins for a team that won 29 games and the Big Ten Tournament before a stunning exit in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Valentine was also one of the country’s best perimeter shooters, connecting on 3.4 triples per game (6th in the NCAA) at a 44.7 percent clip. The Lansing, Mich., native will give the Bulls an additional facilitator in the wake of Rose’s departure, as Valentine’s 7.6 assists ranked sixth in the country. Forman added that Valentine, a natural shooting guard, has the ability to play both point guard and small forward, depending on the lineup; Valentine added in a conference call with Bulls reporters that his best attribute is that versatility, “being able to play one through three on both sides of the ball.”
Valentine struggled at times to defend, hidden at times by a solid Michigan State defense that ranked 52nd in the country in efficiency last year, per KenPom.com. He’s not overly athletic – something Forman said on Wednesday the Bulls were looking to improve on as a roster this offseason. His 32-inch maximum vertical leap and 3.46-second ¾-court sprint both ranked 40th among 49 players who tested at last month’s combine, and he converted just 48 percent of his 2-point attempts last season, a low mark given his status as a lottery pick.
But Forman said Valentine, who does possess a solid 6-foot-10 wingspan, has been able to make up for his lack of athleticism with his raw talent and innate court sense.
“I certainly think he’s a good enough athlete at the position he plays, and we studied that quite a bit, athletic testing when we got guys that come in. But his game is based more on skill and basketball IQ than it is on athleticism,” he said. “But anybody who’s watched him play, he moves well, he’s got good mobility, obviously he plays very hard, so that wasn’t a concern. We think his skill and his IQ are going to carry him in his career.”
That description isn’t all that far off from Draymond Green’s in 2012. And while it would be unfair to label Valentine in a similar fashion to Green, now one of the premier players in the NBA, their Michigan State backgrounds have formed a bond, with Valentine referring to Green as his big brother. Green was one of the first people Valentine spoke with after being selected.
“Yeah I’ve already been talking to him, face-timing, and he’s very excited for me. He just told me to enjoy the moment and get to work,” Valentine said. “I’m very proud to carry on the torch of Michigan State basketball to the NBA.”
The Bulls expected Valentine to be around at No. 14, and part of that may have been because of injury concerns that arose leading up to the draft. An MRI taken at last month’s combine revealed a potential risk in his right knee that could affect him later in his career. Some compared it to former Pacers star Danny Granger, who had his career cut short because of knee injuries.
Valentine had surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee. He had two screws inserted that were removed two months later. He played in 144 of a possible 148 games for the Spartans, missing four games last season with a minor injury to his left knee.
But Forman said the Bulls’ medical staff “was very, very comfortable with where he’s at from a health perspective.” Valentine added that he’s completely healthy and that the knee isn’t a concern for him. The Bulls’ front office also received a ringing endorsement from Izzo, who said Valentine’s toughness to play through injuries couldn’t be questioned.
“Tom Izzo told us, there’s some guys who won’t, some guys who will play hurt,” Forman said. “I can’t remember what the exact quote was, but he said ‘Denzel will play dead.’ He just absolutely raved about him.”
Valentine isn’t the savior for a Bulls franchise attempting to get back to contender status after missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. He isn’t a potential face of a franchise like Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons or Los Angeles’ Brandon Ingram, the first two picks in Thursday’s draft. But he does give the Bulls a valuable piece to go forward with on a roster in dire need of a spark. That the Bulls were targeting Valentine and got their man is a sign that they’re moving in the right direction after last season’s collapse.
“We realize we have to get younger, more athletic, start to put some pieces together where we can play more of a style that Fred wants to play. So we’ve begun that process,” Forman said.
“I don’t think it all happens at once; we’ve got to take steps in that direction. I think last week we started to take some steps in that direction and we’ll continue to evaluate and see how we can continue moving in the right direction.”
Remedial Chaos Theory: The NBA cap spike and how it impacts the Bulls.
By Kevin Anderson
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
There is an iconic line from "The Matrix" where Morpheus tells Neo, “Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.” That line also applies to this year’s NBA free agency. You’ll read dozens of articles over the next few days talking about the salary cap spike and how it’s going to impact the league, but none of us really know what to expect on July 1. We’re going to have to see it for ourselves, and that includes the front office of every team in the league.
Gar Forman told CSN Chicago on Thursday night after the draft, “I don’t think anybody knows what’s going to happen come July 1 because there’s never been anything like this where there’s been such a spike in the cap.” The salary cap is going to increase from $70 million in 2015-16 to $94 million in 2016-17. That’s a nearly 35 percent increase in one season -- by far the biggest in league history.
The Cauldron's NBA salary cap expert Nate Duncan says to expect chaos for not just one, but two years: “I expect it to be completely insane, not only since there is a ton of space this year but because with the cap spiking to a projected $107 million next year (pending a new CBA) these ridiculous contracts could actually end up looking good by comparison with what is handed out a year from now.” (1)
Nate makes a fantastic point because we’re in store for two years of a completely unknown market. The best teams will plan for 2016 and 2017 simultaneously. How many free agents this year will opt for a two-year deal with a player option on the second year? We could witness a situation in which many top tier free agents this year go through the same process again next July.
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of the cap spike is the sheer number of teams that will have room to sign a player to a max salary. (2) RealGM.com projects that 13 teams will likely have space to sign a Tier 1 free agent to a max deal. In addition to the 13 teams that will likely have that amount of cap space, BasketballInsiders.com projects that up to 25 teams could hit that mark.
In 2010, the year of one of the greatest free agents classes in history, just eight teams had space to sign a max player. Outside of Kevin Durant, this year’s class is not particularly strong, and there will be 20+ teams looking to spend a lot of money. There is no way a player is going to meet with 10 teams, let alone 20. There are going to be many teams who can’t even get a sit-down with a player they are interested in.
We were already going to see eye-popping contracts this summer just based on the cap spike. A player who would have made $12 million per season before is projected to make $16 million per season just based on the percentage increase. But the real wild card is the sheer number of teams with cap space. Duncan says the most intriguing part of free agency for him will be the secondary market: “I want to see what some of the role players get. How low do you have to get in the market before the money finally starts running out?” And to borrow from Donald Rumsfeld, this is the biggest known unknown. What happens when teams start to panic? You may see players eighth in a rotation get $10 million+ per season.
Think of it this way: Let’s say you and 20 of your friends have brand new iPhones and gift cards to get the premium versions of apps. But in this scenario, each app is only available to download once. Furthermore, that gift card expires after one week. Waze, Spotify, and Snapchat are going to go early and kudos to those of you who downloaded them. Then Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest get downloaded. At some point, one of you is going to get desperate, panic, and download the Meow Meow Beenz app you really didn’t want. (3)
Mentally prepare yourself for seemingly outrageous contracts. Harrison Barnes, despite struggling mightily in the playoffs, is going to get a max deal. Kent Bazemore is probably going to get $15 million per season, and E’Twaun Moore is probably going to get $7 million a season. I may even be low on those numbers. This is part of the "unintended consequences" that Adam Silver referenced in his annual All-Star address last February.
Let’s narrow the focus on how this impacts the Bulls. I’m projecting them to have approximately $24 million in cap space to spend.
Gar Forman told CSN Chicago on Thursday night after the draft, “I don’t think anybody knows what’s going to happen come July 1 because there’s never been anything like this where there’s been such a spike in the cap.” The salary cap is going to increase from $70 million in 2015-16 to $94 million in 2016-17. That’s a nearly 35 percent increase in one season -- by far the biggest in league history.
The Cauldron's NBA salary cap expert Nate Duncan says to expect chaos for not just one, but two years: “I expect it to be completely insane, not only since there is a ton of space this year but because with the cap spiking to a projected $107 million next year (pending a new CBA) these ridiculous contracts could actually end up looking good by comparison with what is handed out a year from now.” (1)
Nate makes a fantastic point because we’re in store for two years of a completely unknown market. The best teams will plan for 2016 and 2017 simultaneously. How many free agents this year will opt for a two-year deal with a player option on the second year? We could witness a situation in which many top tier free agents this year go through the same process again next July.
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of the cap spike is the sheer number of teams that will have room to sign a player to a max salary. (2) RealGM.com projects that 13 teams will likely have space to sign a Tier 1 free agent to a max deal. In addition to the 13 teams that will likely have that amount of cap space, BasketballInsiders.com projects that up to 25 teams could hit that mark.
In 2010, the year of one of the greatest free agents classes in history, just eight teams had space to sign a max player. Outside of Kevin Durant, this year’s class is not particularly strong, and there will be 20+ teams looking to spend a lot of money. There is no way a player is going to meet with 10 teams, let alone 20. There are going to be many teams who can’t even get a sit-down with a player they are interested in.
We were already going to see eye-popping contracts this summer just based on the cap spike. A player who would have made $12 million per season before is projected to make $16 million per season just based on the percentage increase. But the real wild card is the sheer number of teams with cap space. Duncan says the most intriguing part of free agency for him will be the secondary market: “I want to see what some of the role players get. How low do you have to get in the market before the money finally starts running out?” And to borrow from Donald Rumsfeld, this is the biggest known unknown. What happens when teams start to panic? You may see players eighth in a rotation get $10 million+ per season.
Think of it this way: Let’s say you and 20 of your friends have brand new iPhones and gift cards to get the premium versions of apps. But in this scenario, each app is only available to download once. Furthermore, that gift card expires after one week. Waze, Spotify, and Snapchat are going to go early and kudos to those of you who downloaded them. Then Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest get downloaded. At some point, one of you is going to get desperate, panic, and download the Meow Meow Beenz app you really didn’t want. (3)
Mentally prepare yourself for seemingly outrageous contracts. Harrison Barnes, despite struggling mightily in the playoffs, is going to get a max deal. Kent Bazemore is probably going to get $15 million per season, and E’Twaun Moore is probably going to get $7 million a season. I may even be low on those numbers. This is part of the "unintended consequences" that Adam Silver referenced in his annual All-Star address last February.
Let’s narrow the focus on how this impacts the Bulls. I’m projecting them to have approximately $24 million in cap space to spend.
That number could increase if they are aggressive in trying to trade Mike Dunleavy Jr, Tony Snell, or Taj Gibson (4).
The Bulls will be looking to add an impact player to the roster this July, but they face several challenges.
The Bulls will go after top-tier players, but a more realistic expectation is to sign two rotation players. Forman said this about his team’s strategy July 1: “My guess would be as opposed to one guy we’ll probably look to fill some holes and look for some guys that fit the plan moving forward.”
The key part of that quote is the “fit the plan moving forward” line. Forman has to plan for 2016 and 2017. Overpay for a marginal free agent now and that could greatly limit flexibility next summer. The 2017 free agent class may be better than 2010 and the 2017 draft will be one of the most talented in nearly a decade.
I think the smart play for the Bulls is to either overpay on a one-year deal for a starter, or sign two rotation players to a relatively team-friendly deal. They will want to maintain cap flexibility next summer.
The challenge for the Bulls (and every team) is finding the right player without getting into a bidding war that causes a team to overpay. I actually think the second and third wave of free agents signings will cause more people to be shocked than the “who got a max deal?” signings.
Teams have to be flexible and be willing to adjust course instantly. As long as the Bulls don’t remain rigid and treat free agency like Rickon running from Ramsey, they should be able to add quality depth to the roster. (5)
Footnotes
1. There is an opt-out in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows either side—the owners or players—end the current CBA next July.
2. NBA free agents max salaries are based on their years of service in the league. Tier 1 free agents are 0-6 years. Tier 2 is 7-9 years. Tier 3 is 10+. First year max for Tier 1 in 2016-17 is $22.2m, Tier 2 is $26.6m, and Tier 3 is $31.1m. Please visit Larry Coon’s amazing CBA FAQ for more info
3. Downloading Meow Meow Beenz is only done on the Darkest Timeline.
4. The Bulls could also save a small amount of cap space but waiving two players with non-guaranteed contracts: Spencer Dinwiddie or Christiano Felicio. They could also save the salary of second-round pick Paul Zipser by entering an agreement that he play in Europe next season.
5. Don’t even get me started on why he was running in a straight line. I could write 1,000 words on that scene alone.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Quicken Loans National: Billy Hurley III wards off major champions to earn first PGA Tour win.
Sporting News
Hurley, a Navy veteran, earned his first PGA Tour win Sunday at Congressional Country Club. (Photo/Sporting News)
Billy Hurley III earned his first PGA Tour win Sunday with a sterling finish to the Quicken Loans National at famed Congressional Country Club.
The 54-hole leader saw his advantage shrink to one shot on the back nine until Hurley chipped in for birdie on the par-4 15th hole. He then made a 25-footer for birdie on 16 to seal it.
The 54-hole leader saw his advantage shrink to one shot on the back nine until Hurley chipped in for birdie on the par-4 15th hole. He then made a 25-footer for birdie on 16 to seal it.
And the crowd goes wild.
Hurley is 2 up with three to play. https://t.co/advdj9HQTS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 26, 2016
Hurley, 34, was a lieutenant aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer from 2007-09, serving in the Persian Gulf to protect Iraqi oil platforms. He also spent time on the Red Sea and the South China Sea.
Now, after his 104th start, he's a PGA Tour champion finishing at 17 under at the event hosted by Tiger Woods and his foundation. Hurley became the 14th first-time winner of the season. There were only 11 first-time winners all of last season.
"I can't think of a better place to win my first tournament," Hurley said on CBS.
Vijay Singh, 53, shocked many by firing a 6-under 65 in Round 4 to vault himself into solo second. Despite being eligible for the Champions Tour, Singh still spends most of his time on the PGA Tour. His 65 was tied for the low round of the day.
Bill Haas and Jon Rahm tied for third at 13 under. Rahm, who was making his professional debut after a storied career at Arizona State and finishing t-23 last week at the U.S. Open, actually led after 18 holes. But he finally ran out of steam a bit on the weekend.
"I'm extremely honored to have played this week, and to have played so well," Rahm said on CBS.
Ernie Els, a four-time major champion, surprised this week almost as much as Singh. At 46, Els finished solo fifth at 12 under after a 1-over 72 on Sunday.
Another storyline to follow this week was British Open qualifying. The top four players not already qualified inside the top 12 made it into the season's third major. Harold Varner III, a rookie, two-putted from 55 feet away to make par on 18 and earn the last spot. He finished the tournament in seventh at 9 under.
But the main story was Hurley, who now has his Tour card secured for two years. He will also compete in next year's Masters.
He also had a pretty famous golfer ready to congratulate him on the win:
Watching golf with dad on a Sunday. pic.twitter.com/E0SLsbm5Fe— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 26, 2016
Greenbrier Classic Cancelled Due to 'Devastating Flooding' in West Virginia.
By GOLF.com Staff
Greenbrier Resort Inundated with Massive West Virginia Floods. (Photo/Courtesy of The Greenbrier)
The PGA Tour announced Saturday that the upcoming Greenbrier Classic has been cancelled do to 'devastating flooding,' after storms ravaged West Virginia.
In a statement, the Tour and The Green Brier Resort said Old White TPC, where the tournament was set to be held July 7-10, had sustained 'extensive damage' from the flooding and is 'beyond reasonable repair' to host the event.
"We are heartbroken by the devastation that the residents of West Virginia are experiencing ?at this time and the reports of lives lost due to the terrible flooding," PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement on PGATOUR.com. "Cancelling The? Greenbrier Classic is certainly the most prudent course of action as our ?foremost concern is the well-being of those who are having to live through this tragic situation.? Our thoughts and prayers are with them."
The Greenbrier and the PGA Tour have hosted the event since 2010, and extended their commitment through 2021.
"We love the PGA TOUR and our partnership with these fine people," added Greenbrier owner Jim Justice. "All of us are united with only one common goal to help the people through this terrible time."
Golf - Stenson survives wobble to claim 10th title.
AFP
Henrik Stenson of Sweden plays his second shot on the 10th hole during the continuation of the weather delayed first round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on June 17, 2016 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo/Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Henrik Stenson sealed a second BMW International Open title in Germany on Sunday, after recovering from a mid-round wobble to win by three shots.
The Swede went into the final round with a one-stroke lead from Dane Thorbjorn Olesen, and he finished strongly to reach 17 under par and hold off the chasing pack.
It is a 10th European Tour title for a player who is regarded by many peers and pundits as one of the best to have never won a major crown, and a first since his second World Tour Championship win two seasons ago in Dubai.
"It was hairy all the way, it was a tough one," Stenson, who also won the 2006 edition of this event, said.
"I had to dig deep to come back. I didn't play well on the front nine, made a couple of mistakes.
"I felt like I was starting to make a bit of a mess of it and then I came back and made the birdies on the par fives.
"I really feel like I played well in 2015 and I just couldn't get a trophy. It was a bit hard at times but you've just got to keep on trying and put yourself in position. I did that once again and this time I managed to go all the way."
When Stenson birdied the opening hole a runaway victory looked likely in Pulheim, but the world number seven stuttered around the turn with three bogeys in five holes from the sixth.
That allowed South African Darren Fichardt to draw level at the top of the leaderboard, but a bogey on the final hole gave the world number 348 a clubhouse leading mark of only 14 under par after a fourth-round 69.
For most of the day Olesen looked the most likely to hang onto Stenson's coat tails, but the talented 26-year-old made too many mistakes in a one-over-par round of 73 to finish in a tie for second with Fichardt.
The 40-year-old Stenson took advantage with three birdies in five holes to card a 71, as he closed out the title for the first time in his last three attempts after following up a playoff defeat in this tournament in 2014 with another runner-up effort last year.
Sergio Garcia, another player known as one of golf's perennial 'nearly-men', soared into contention as an eagle on the par-five 13th hole dragged him to within two shots of the lead.
But in trademark fashion, the unpredictable Spaniard double-bogeyed the next hole and ended up in a tie for fifth place.
Defending champion Pablo Larrazabal could not quite launch a bid to become the first player to win the tournament three times and had to settle for tied-ninth.
Kirk Triplett rallies to win Champions event in Wisconsin.
AP - Sports
Kirk Triplett watches his tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the Greater Hickory Kia Classic Champions Tour golf tournament in Conover, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Kirk Triplett rallied to win the inaugural American Family Insurance Championship on Sunday for his fifth PGA Tour Champions title, making four straight birdies in front of another large crowd at University Ridge.
The 54-year-old Triplett shot a 7-under 65 to finish at 17-under 199, two strokes ahead of Bart Bryant and Mike Goodes on the course softened by 2 inches of overnight rain. Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways.
With son Sam serving as his caddie, Triplett birdied the par-4 13th, 14th and 15th and par-5 16th, saved par with a 6-footer on the par-3 17th and parred the par-4 18th.
''It's always special when you have your family,'' Triplett said. ''Sometimes you try too hard. ... He's a competitive golfer as well. He plays on the college team at Northwestern and just for him to be inside the ropes and see what's going on, not just watch me.''
Triplett hit a sand wedge shot to a foot on 13, and pitching wedges to 10 feet on 15 and 6 feet on 15. On the 16th, he hit 5-iron just off the edge of the green and chipped to a foot.
''When I got over to 17, I just figured two pars would win the golf tournament and I hit it in the middle of the green,'' Triplett said. ''Didn't make it easy, but I got my two pars.''
The three-time PGA Tour winner played the front nine in 3 under, dropped a stroke with a three-putt bogey on the par-4 10th and birdied the par-5 11th.
Bryant, the leader at 17 under after a birdie on 14, had a 69. He made a triple-bogey 7 on the 15th after losing his ball when it sailed to the right off the tee.
''My driver that's my bread and butter. That's how I've made a living playing the tour,'' Bryant said. ''And it kind of let me down this week. I didn't drive the ball very well this week. I got it in play OK today other than the one, but I hit very few solid drives and it probably cost me about six shots this week, which is very unusual for me. Luckily, I putted the eyes off of it.''
Goodes shot a 68 playing alongside Triplett.
''I played really well all week and just got beat,'' Goodes said. ''Kirk played beautifully today, made some great birdies on the back nine.''
Hometown PGA Tour player Steve Stricker helped launch the event and is the tournament host. He turns 50 in February and will be eligible to play next year.
''It's wonderful, definitely in our top tier of events,'' Triplett said. ''You've got all your right ingredients. You've got a wonderful sponsor, American Family, committed to golf, committed to the community and it shows in the way that they're doing stuff. For Steve Stricker to spend his time, he and his family to spend their time creating this event, you know that's a pretty special deal.''
Third-round leader Jean-Francois Remesy of France had a 71 to tie for fourth at 14 under with Fran Quinn (67), Billy Andrade (68) and Gene Sauers (70).
''I'm disappointed because I didn't really play my game on the back nine,'' Remesy said. ''I was not good enough. That was the first time in contention and I try my best. I try my best.''
Bernhard Langer finished with a 69 to tie for 13th at 11 under. The 58-year-old German star was coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Constellation Senior Players Championship.
John Daly had a 66 - his best round in his first six events on the tour - to tie for 36th at 7 under.
NASCAR: Tony Stewart slams Denny Hamlin out of the way to break winless streak.
With son Sam serving as his caddie, Triplett birdied the par-4 13th, 14th and 15th and par-5 16th, saved par with a 6-footer on the par-3 17th and parred the par-4 18th.
''It's always special when you have your family,'' Triplett said. ''Sometimes you try too hard. ... He's a competitive golfer as well. He plays on the college team at Northwestern and just for him to be inside the ropes and see what's going on, not just watch me.''
Triplett hit a sand wedge shot to a foot on 13, and pitching wedges to 10 feet on 15 and 6 feet on 15. On the 16th, he hit 5-iron just off the edge of the green and chipped to a foot.
''When I got over to 17, I just figured two pars would win the golf tournament and I hit it in the middle of the green,'' Triplett said. ''Didn't make it easy, but I got my two pars.''
The three-time PGA Tour winner played the front nine in 3 under, dropped a stroke with a three-putt bogey on the par-4 10th and birdied the par-5 11th.
Bryant, the leader at 17 under after a birdie on 14, had a 69. He made a triple-bogey 7 on the 15th after losing his ball when it sailed to the right off the tee.
''My driver that's my bread and butter. That's how I've made a living playing the tour,'' Bryant said. ''And it kind of let me down this week. I didn't drive the ball very well this week. I got it in play OK today other than the one, but I hit very few solid drives and it probably cost me about six shots this week, which is very unusual for me. Luckily, I putted the eyes off of it.''
Goodes shot a 68 playing alongside Triplett.
''I played really well all week and just got beat,'' Goodes said. ''Kirk played beautifully today, made some great birdies on the back nine.''
Hometown PGA Tour player Steve Stricker helped launch the event and is the tournament host. He turns 50 in February and will be eligible to play next year.
''It's wonderful, definitely in our top tier of events,'' Triplett said. ''You've got all your right ingredients. You've got a wonderful sponsor, American Family, committed to golf, committed to the community and it shows in the way that they're doing stuff. For Steve Stricker to spend his time, he and his family to spend their time creating this event, you know that's a pretty special deal.''
Third-round leader Jean-Francois Remesy of France had a 71 to tie for fourth at 14 under with Fran Quinn (67), Billy Andrade (68) and Gene Sauers (70).
''I'm disappointed because I didn't really play my game on the back nine,'' Remesy said. ''I was not good enough. That was the first time in contention and I try my best. I try my best.''
Bernhard Langer finished with a 69 to tie for 13th at 11 under. The 58-year-old German star was coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Constellation Senior Players Championship.
John Daly had a 66 - his best round in his first six events on the tour - to tie for 36th at 7 under.
NASCAR: Tony Stewart slams Denny Hamlin out of the way to break winless streak.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/yahoosports.com)
Tony Stewart's 84-race winless streak is over. And it was snapped with a door slam.
Stewart knocked Denny Hamlin out of the way on the final corner of the final lap of Sunday's race at Sonoma when Hamlin's car slid up high on entrance into the hairpin corner.
Hamlin had knocked Stewart out of the way in turn 7 a few corners earlier and Stewart didn't look like he had a chance to get back to Hamlin's bumper. But Hamlin's car looked like it wheel hopped – he said it didn't – into turn 11, and Stewart drove inside of him on the final corner.
Once Stewart was inside of Hamlin, there was no denying him the win. He moved Hamlin out of the way and into the wall and drove towards the checkered flag with smoke billowing from the sheet metal rubbing his left front tire.
"It's special, trust me," Stewart said.
Stewart missed the first eight races of the season after suffering a broken vertebra in January while driving a sand buggy. He was given a waiver by NASCAR to be eligible for the Chase upon his return, and much like Kyle Busch in 2015, Stewart is now on his way towards the Chase.
"I made mistakes the last two laps. I had just a little too much rear brake for turn 7 and wheel-hopped it two laps in a row," Stewart said. "I felt a nudge ... he did the right thing doing it there, and if I could get to him he knew what was coming."
Yes, Hamlin did.
"I got in there, I didn't wheel-hop or anything, I just slid up just a little bit in the middle and allow him to really get a good run on me," Hamlin said. "And once he had position we weren't going to drag race at that point. I knew he was going to put me in the wall. He's doing what he has to do and we were trying to do what we had to do in turn 7 so all's fair in love and war."
Stewart is now nine points outside the top 30. If he gets into the top 30 he's making the Chase.
The win is Stewart's first since Dover at 2013, when he won that race thanks to a two-tire pit stop. Along with 84 races in between wins, Stewart suffered a broken leg in a sprint car accident in the summer of 2014, was involved in an accident that killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward in 2014 and missed the first eight races of the season.
And when Stewart was on the track, he'd been bad. Struggling with the increased downforce and decreased horsepower on the Sprint Cup Series cars, Stewart had just 17 top-10 finishes since that Dover win. He also said in the fall of 2015 that 2016 would be his final season on the circuit.
While the final lap was incredible racing, we've got to mention how Stewart got the track position for the win. He had a good car throughout most of Sunday's race, but it didn't look like he was heading for an 18th top-10 finish without a crazy set of circumstances.
Stewart pitted with approximately 25 laps to go under green as many drivers were saying there was debris on the track. Stewart rejoined the race in 32nd place, but a caution for the debris came out less than a lap after he pitted. When the rest of the field came to pit road for fresh tires, Stewart found himself in the lead and wasn't passed save for the four turns Hamlin had the lead.
"We could run close to those guys all day, we just got stuck back in traffic," Stewart said.
NASCAR chairman quashes weeknight races, more road courses.
AP - Sports
NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France announces one of five inductees in the 2017 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
NASCAR Chairman Brian France spoke briefly on Fox Sports 1's ''Race Day'' program before Sunday's race at Sonoma Raceway, and said of adding a road course to the Chase, ''the reality is it is very hard to get the schedule to match up.''
France also dismissed the idea of holding races on weeknights but didn't rule out moving the annual All-Star race from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
''There's a lot of interest in that very interesting event, and Charlotte has been good to us for a lot of reasons, but we'll always keep that open,'' France said.
Other topics France discussed:
- How he rates the current racing: ''I never give it a 10 because we're always a work in progress, but I think the racing (is) markedly better. It's our biggest challenge to balance the rules packages that offer the best style of racing for us, but we're on our way. We're real happy with things.''
- Running the Daytona 500 in prime time: ''I would like to see more people watch the Daytona 500, so obviously that means the closer we get to prime time - I'm not sure we'll actually get into prime time, but the further the time, the more people that watch, that's in our best interest.''
- Shorter races: ''We'll continue to look at it. We'll look at the format as well, not just the length of time, how it is structured and halftime breaks. We've done that in some other series. We'll look at formats in particular, but we're OK with length of time.''
- A title sponsor to replace Sprint at the end of the season: ''Several companies are here (at Sonoma), a number of companies taking a very hard look. It's a very special asset in sports. It's the only thing you can own outright, so we have a lot of interest and we want to make a good decision.''
- Concerns about marketing stars after Tony Stewart's retirement: ''I would be if we didn't have such a talented group of young drivers. We have a lot of talent coming, and some with some big names. They're talented, by the way, and at the end of the day, that's what drives this sport is talent, and we've got a lot coming.''
SOCCER: Chile repeats as Copa America champions after dramatic penalty shootout.
By Matt Reed
(Photo/Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
After last year’s thriller in Chile, it was only fitting that the 2016 Copa America Centenario final would be decided by penalty kicks.
Claudio Bravo played hero for Chile once again on Sunday, defeating rivals Argentina 0-0 (4-2 on penalty kicks). Francisco Silva netted the final penalty attempt for the Chileans, giving them their second straight Copa America title.
Arturo Vidal had Chile’s first attempt saved by keeper Sergio Romero, before Lionel Messi skied his effort into the crowd to open the shootout.
The game’s first quality chance came in the 21st minute, when Gary Medel‘s mistake at the back led to a Gonzalo Higuain breakaway. The Napoli striker found his way in on goal, chipped the ball past Bravo but missed just wide. Medel, trying to make up for his mistake, came crashing into the post as the ball traveled out of play.
From there, the game took a drastic dip in chances, as referee Heber Lopes stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Chile’s chances of repeating took a massive hit just before the half hour mark, when Marcelo Diaz received his second yellow card in a span of 12 minutes, reducing La Roja to 10 men for the remainder of the match. However, Argentina was forced to play with 10 players as well, after Marcos Rojo was sent off just prior to halftime.
Opportunities in front of goal were scarce throughout regulation, with three combined shots on net from Chile and Argentina during the 90 minutes.
Lionel Messi, Argentina continue wait for major title after heartbreaking loss vs. Chile.
By Alex Labidou
(Photo/Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Moments after Chile secured its defense of the Copa America title in a pressure-filled penalty shootout, Argentina’s star players including world-beater Lionel Messi stood in the middle of the field trying to come to terms with a third consecutive final defeat.
It didn’t matter that Copa America organizers were creating a concert just a few feet away. The players laid on the pitch, trying to move past letting yet another opportunity to end the country’s now 23-year wait for a major trophy slip out of their grasp. Considering how La Albiceleste had played throughout the tournament, it almost appeared as if it was destiny that they would win. That Messi would finally live up to his legacy as Diego Maradona’s successor and come home as a champion.
Instead, the wait continues and the 29-year-old will have to face even more criticism.
After Arturo Vidal saw the opening penalty saved by Argentina’s Sergio Romero, Messi had a chance to give his side an early advantage but he messed up on his run up to the spot and sent his shot wide left. The miss was so heartbreaking that he couldn’t stand next to his teammates on shooting line and laid motionless next to them before being pulled up. But this loss, like the previous final losses in both last year’s Copa America and the 2014 World Cup again doesn’t fall on his shoulders.
Gonzalo Higuain appeared to receive a gift from the football gods when Gary Medel missed a backpass and the striker was left alone with a golden chance against Chile’s Claudio Bravo. Yet his shot went left just past the post instead of behind goal. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is.
Against Germany in 2014, Higuain had a very similar chance against Manuel Neuer and also missed. Then he followed suit in Copa America 2015 in both open play and penalties, where he completely missed target, skying above goal. It is questionable considering the Napoli striker’s track record while Sergio Aguero didn’t start the match, it’s the type of decision that has left managers like Tata Martino and his predecessor Alejandro Sabella having many sleepless nights. But Higuain wasn’t alone in missing chances.
Aguero and Angel Di Maria had their chances through the match but couldn’t find precision against a gutsy Chilean side that appears determined to prove that its success in 2015 wasn’t an aberration. La Roja now has two international titles in two years and one has to believe that bigger successes could be on the horizon. There’s the Confederations Cup next year and likely the ambition to prove its quality in Russia in 2018. Considering that Vidal and fellow star Alexis Sanchez will still be in their primes, it isn’t a far-fetched expectation.
While Jorge Sampaoli, the manager who led Chile to its first-ever tournament win, is longer around, his successor Juan Antonio Pizzi continues Chile’s disruptive style of play that makes its competitors uncomfortable and at times even agitated. On paper, Argentina appeared to have a stronger squad but its frustration was evident, with several cards handed out to both teams throughout the match. Once La Roja gained a bit of control, it seemed as if they gained the psychological edge on their competitors and that’s ultimately what sealed them the title.
It is a shame to the winners that the focus will fall back on Messi, but that’s what happens when you have a five-time Ballon D’Or winner participating in a tournament. And there were definitely times where he showed that he was finally clicking with an Argentina side where he usually struggles to replicate his outer-worldly Barcelona form. Given a free role, the freedom enabled him to crush most sides in this tournament, even with limited minutes early on. But in the final, Chile managed to contain that threat.
Yet, there was one moment that in the final that struck as symbolic of Messi’s time with Argentina. Late on in the game, Messi dribbled from the halfway mark, trying to find a teammate to pass to. Seeing an opening he continued to drive ahead, cutting past four defenders to finally take a shot that skied above a goal. It was a moment that was brilliant and reminded you of Messi’s magic. But it almost seems like he’ll have to even better than his best just to finally get Argentina its long coveted trophy. At least until his teammates finally decide to lessen the burden.
NCAAFB: Former Vols pay tribute to Phillip Fulmer at charity roast.
By STEVE MEGARGEE
Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer issued a reminder to his former players and colleagues Saturday before they gathered to roast him at a charity event.
''I did warn them that my children and grandchildren are here and my wife is here,'' Fulmer quipped. ''As long as we don't get into those things (from) back when I was a player too much, we'll be all right.''
He needn't have worried.
Dozens of Fulmer's former players, teammates and assistant coaches gathered with nearly 1,000 fans in a downtown Knoxville ballroom to greet the College Football Hall of Famer at a roast benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. Many of the former players came to praise the former Volunteers coach rather than roast him as they discussed everything he'd taught them on and off the field.
''It's the difference you made in our lives when you would tell us how to be a better dad, how to be a boyfriend and now, how to be a husband,'' said former quarterback and 1993 Heisman Trophy runner-up Heath Shuler, who served three terms in Congress after his NFL career. ''That's what you taught us. It wasn't the X's and O's or wins and losses. You can take all those wins and losses and put them aside, and the impact you had on our lives is far greater than any one win or any national championship.''
There were a few gentle barbs as well as some revelations about Fulmer's hidden talents. Former Tennessee and NFL offensive tackle Chad Clifton referred to a recruiting trip in which Fulmer took his parents to country bar Cotton Eyed Joe.
''I tell you what, if he coaches half as well as he can dance, you're in good hands,'' Clifton remembered his mom telling him afterward.
The ceremony included videotaped messages from Fulmer's greatest player and biggest nemesis.
Peyton Manning, the 1997 Heisman Trophy runner-up, called Fulmer ''the most loyal coach I've ever had.'' Manning joked about how Fulmer tried to reassure Manning's mother - a Mississippi alum - while visiting the family's home during the recruiting process. Manning's mom wanted to make sure Tennessee wouldn't face Ole Miss during his college career.
''He looked my mother right in the eye and said, 'Olivia, I promise you we will not play Ole Miss one time during Peyton's time here at Tennessee,' " Manning recalled. ''Coach Fulmer was not lying because we played Ole Miss two times during my time there. ... That is a good recruiter. He didn't make a lie, but he pretty much conned my mother.''
Former Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, whose Florida teams spent the 1990s dueling with Fulmer's Volunteers for Southeastern Conference supremacy, referred to the Gators' 27-23 victory in 2000 that featured five field goals from Tennessee and a disputed game-winning touchdown catch from Jabar Gaffney.
''I'm glad you told your team that day that Gaffney caught the pass in the end zone late and all those field goals that you kicked that day were going to be good enough,'' Spurrier quipped before praising Fulmer's coaching ability.
More videotaped testimonials came from the likes of country singer Charlie Daniels, sportscaster Brent Musburger and former Tennessee linebacker Al Wilson among others.
Fulmer lettered as an offensive guard at Tennessee from 1969-71 and posted a 152-52-1 record as the Volunteers' coach during a tenure that included a 1998 national title. He coached Tennessee's first three games in 1992 while Johnny Majors recovered from heart surgery and took over the program for good at the end of the 1992 regular season. He was forced out in 2008 but remained Tennessee's coach through the end of that season.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Clemson tables proposal that would’ve had students paying for some football tickets.
By John Taylor
(Photo/Getty Images)
Students at Clemson can rest easy; your football fix will still be free of charge this year.
In 2015, tickets for the student sections in both the lower bowl and upper bowl of Memorial Stadium came at no cost to those enrolled in classes at the university. In April, however, athletic director Dan Radakovich proposed levying what was described as a “$225 student donation” for those wishing to sit in the lower bowl on season tickets, while the upper bowl seats would remain free.
Late this past week, tigernet.com reported, Radakovich’s proposal was tabled as the university will “continue to have good conversations with student leaders about the entire ticketing process.”
So, for the 2016 football season, tickets in both bowls will come at no cost to students. As was the case last year, all of those tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
It wasn’t all good news financially for Clemson students — or their parents — as The State news paper writes that “[t]he university’s board of trustees voted almost unanimously via teleconference Thursday to raise tuition rates for the 2016-17 year for in-state and out-of-state students.”
NCAABKB: Legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt's family 'preparing for the worst'.
Sporting News
Pat Summitt's family and friends are "preparing for the worst" as the legendary coach continues her fight with early onset dementia. (Photo/Sporting News)
Legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt's condition has reportedly worsened, and family, friends and former players visited with her Saturday.
The Knoxville News reported Sunday morning that the 64-year-old Summitt is “struggling” and family and friends are “preparing for the worst.”
Summitt, who led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols to eight NCAA titles in 38 seasons at the school, announced in August 2011 she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. She is currently living in a retirement facility.
“I don’t think anybody knows whether she will last a day, a month, or a year,” a source told the Knoxville News.
News of Summitt's condition brought an outpouring of support on social media Saturday.
Summitt, who became the head coach at UT in 1974 at age 22, posted a career mark of 1,098–208, the most wins of any female coach in basketball history. She was honored as the Naismith Coach of the 20th Century, and in 2012 President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Great Debate: Would you rather have LeBron James or Michael Jordan?
By Joe Posnanski
(Photo/versusbattle.com)
Yes, you bet we’re going to wade into the Twitter-infested waters of Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James for the official title of best basketball player of all-time. Absolutely. Sharpen your social media knives. Prepare your snark weapons. But first, we must set some ground rules.
Ground rule No. 1: All of the people who think any of the following players are getting short shrift in this argument …
Ground rule No. 1: All of the people who think any of the following players are getting short shrift in this argument …
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Wilt Chamberlain
Tim Duncan
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O’Neal
Hakeem Olajuwon
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell
Jerry West
… your protest has been noted and your strenuous objections have been overruled.
Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant
Wilt Chamberlain
Tim Duncan
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O’Neal
Hakeem Olajuwon
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell
Jerry West
… your protest has been noted and your strenuous objections have been overruled.
Ground rule No. 2: We must acknowledge from the start that there is no easy statistical answer to the question of MJ vs. LeBron. People like to wield stats like swords, but when it comes to Jordan-James statistics, they duel back and forth, like Inigo and the Man in Black. Jordan scores more. James rebounds and passes better. They shoot about the same, block shots about the same and are both marvelous defenders. Jordan played about 100 more regular season games than James so far and the advanced numbers look like so:
Win Shares:
Jordan: 214
James: 192.5
Value Over Replacement Player:
James: 108.6
Jordan: 104.4
Player Efficiency Rating
Jordan: 27.9 (first all time)
James: 27.7 (second all-time)
Let’s just say it again: There’s nothing to separate them in the statistics. It is like trying to make the statistical argument on why blue is a better color than red.
Ground rule No. 3: Their postseason accomplishments are equally mesmerizing.
Michael Jordan led his Bulls to six NBA Finals, and of course they won all six.
LeBron James, so far, has led Cleveland and Miami to seven NBA Finals — including the last six in a row. His teams have won three of them.
Now, people will try to use this stuff to support one or the other, and it’s silly. The Jordan people will often use postseason success as the tiebreaker because Jordan’s Bulls won every time they reached the Finals, while James’ teams have not even won half of their Finals appearances. It’s a dishonest argument. Jordan had one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, Scottie Pippen, on all six teams. He also had Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman on two of them and likely Hall of Famer Toni Kukoc on three of them. He was coached by Phil Jackson for all six. Nobody can legitimately claim that James had anything close to that cast.
Put it this way: When Jordan left to play baseball, the Bulls won 55 games and reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Knicks.
When LeBron James left the Cavaliers, they went 19-63.
When James left Miami, the Heat went 37-45.
Conversely, though, LeBron people would like to make the counter-argument that Jordan could NEVER have taken those Cleveland and Miami teams to seven Finals, and that’s a dishonest argument, too. We have no idea what Michael Jordan would have done with those teams. The man had an icy will. He came into basketball at a time of dynasties, and he broke through and built his own. Don’t underestimate that man.
Ground rule No. 4: Last one — it doesn’t matter if LeBron James can beat Michael Jordan in a game of one-on-one. That’s a cute little aside, thinking about James just backing Jordan down to the basket and overwhelming him in a make-it-take-it run or thinking about Jordan in a one-on-one game just racing by LeBron with the fastest first step in league history and then dunking at the rim. Fun to think about.
That’s not the kind of basketball we’re talking about here.
The question before the court is a simple one: If you were starting a basketball team that was playing the Devil’s All-Star team for your very soul, and you had the first pick of every player in the history of the NBA, would you take Michael or would you take LeBron?
To begin with: Both sides — the MJ fans and the LeBron fans — feel pretty sure that their man is supreme. But I suspect Jordan fans believe it more. Many Jordan fans (and as someone who grew up at the altar of Michael Jordan I know this) SEETHE over the very notion that James could be the legend’s equal.
See, there are athletes that come along who transcend our previous notions of excellence. Think Willie Mays. Think Jim Brown. Think Babe Ruth. Think Bobby Orr. Think Ben Hogan. Think Sandy Koufax. Think Roger Federer. You can think of your favorites.
These athletes and others like them so surprise and intoxicate us that we cannot imagine ever seeing anyone better. And even while those athletes fade, the intoxication grows. Most people still rank Babe Ruth as the greatest baseball player ever, even though he played a very different game in a very different time and the only thing that’s left of him are a few grainy black and white movies and unreal statistics that mean whatever we want them to mean.
Superior athletes position us in time and place. They make us young again. How could anyone ever seem as great to me as the running back Earl Campbell was? I was just a kid then, so new to the world, and every tackle he broke, every time he pulled away from the grasp of a defender (often losing his jersey in the process), every time he plowed over someone standing up too tall, it was like a little miracle to me. He blew up my mind over and over. Now that I close in on 50 years old, will anyone ever astonish me the way Campbell did? Probably not. No athlete can really compete with my imagination.
The movie “Bad Teacher” was not especially good or memorable. But there was one magnificent exchange between a student named Shawn and the character player by Jason Segel:
Segel: “You’re out of your mind. There is no way that LeBron will ever be Jordan. Nobody will ever be Jordan, OK?”
Shawn: “OK, LeBron James (is) a better rebound AND passer.”
Segel: “Will you let me finish? Can you let me finish? Call me when LeBron has six championships.”
Kid: “Is that your only argument?”
Segel: “IT’S THE ONLY ARGUMENT I NEED SHAWN!”
I love that so much — it’s the truest sports argument I’ve ever seen in the movies — because that flustered, red-faced, sputtering, “It’s the only argument I need, Shawn!” bit of fury is so true to life. I mentioned above that postseason is off-limits for our discussion, but Segel is not even trying to argue that Jordan is a better basketball player. He’s not arguing that because EVEN HAVING THAT ARGUMENT is an insult. Segel, like Colonel Jessup of “A Few Good Men,” has neither the time nor the inclination to explain the unsurpassable greatness of Michael Jordan to a young kid who never even saw him play.
Our generation comes from a time when emotion and passion drove arguments.
That, I think, is the Jordan argument at its core.
My pal Michael Schur, executive producer of “Parks and Recreation” and the upcoming show “The Good Place,” has been texting me lately about LeBron and Jordan (this, I should say, was after we inexplicably drafted Taylor Swift songs on the PosCast).
Here is the latest stream of texts:
“LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan.”
“LeBron and Michael have the same number of titles at age 31. LeBron has also been to way more finals. LeBron has also played on worse teams with worse coaches. LeBron also plays every position including center and defense incredibly well at all of them. LeBron also can’t hand check on defense. LeBron is taller and stronger and more powerful but also a better three-pointer shooter than Jordan. What’s the argument?”
"He's better than Jordan and the sooner everyone else realizes it the faster we will advance as a society."
Well, there’s a lot there, some of it persuasive, some of it questionable (LeBron is probably not a better 3-point shooter than Michael; you can play with the numbers and the video, but prime Jordan can be shown to be a demonstrably better outside shooter than James).
But here’s the larger point: The LeBron argument tends to be built more on LeBron James being a more advanced version of Michael Jordan. James is bigger. James is stronger. James is a more versatile defender. James can beat you more ways. It’s an argument of logical progression.
And this, too, speaks of the time when we live, a time of constant hardware and software updates, a time where this year’s computer has more features than last year’s computer and so it must be better, a time where people find themselves reluctant to buy stuff because the next version is just around the corner and the next version will undoubtedly be superior.
So it seems to me that the argument for many LeBron fans comes down to this: Michael Jordan was great for his time. But LeBron James is the newest iPhone.
And so am I just going to bail on the question? It’s probably obvious to you by now that my theory is that the James vs. Jordan argument says more about us than it does about them. Jordan and James are, in my view, the two greatest basketball players in NBA history, and they went about their greatness in such different ways that choosing between them is a bit like choosing between your favorite book and your favorite song.
But … I’m not going to bail. I’m going to give you an answer to mock on the social network of your choice.
To me, the biggest difference between LeBron James and Michael Jordan is their raison d’etat — the most important reason for their brilliance.
In my view:
Michael Jordan was a stone-cold killer on the basketball court.
LeBron James’ greatness, meanwhile, comes from his big basketball heart.
That’s a difference. Jordan, I think, wanted to win so badly he would go to whatever place he had to in order to get it done. There are countless examples of this. Jordan would use whatever slight — real or imagined — whatever taunt, whatever light or dark force he could find to beat you. He was the most competitive son of a gun we’ve ever seen on any field or court. It didn’t matter if it was the Lakers or Looney Tunes villains from outer space, he was going to win. Period.
Remember: Jordan’s first moment on the big stage was hitting the jump shot to win North Carolina and Dean Smith a national title. And his last moment — at least on the big stage — was hitting that final shot against the Utah Jazz, the one that cemented the idea that no one could ever beat Michael Jordan. If you needed someone to take the final shot in that basketball game for your soul, it would be Jordan and there’s no second place.
LeBron, incidentally, might not even be on that list. He could hit game-winning shots and has done so, but it is only because that was what was necessary. See, LeBron is a quantifiably different player from Jordan. It amused me that some people, in the aftermath of Cleveland’s extraordinary triumph over Golden State, felt it necessary to make the point that it was Kyrie Irving and not James who hit the game-winning shot.
They seemed to be making the point as a knock — Jordan would NEVER have just stepped to the side and let Irving have the stage — which just proves that they have never understood at all what LeBron James is about.
See James’ greatness is about … generosity. He’s an extraordinarily big-hearted basketball player. Sure, he knows he’s the star because he has to be the star. He takes on that responsibility (though sometimes reluctantly). But, more, he wants to be part of great teams. That was what drove him as a young high school player in Akron. That was what frustrated him the first time in Cleveland and pushed him to help build the Super Friends in Miami. That has been the driving focus of his time in Cleveland. He wants — he NEEDS — to be part of winning families.
Is it any wonder he watches The Godfather before games? Never let anyone outside the family know what you’re thinking.
See, James has not taken seven mostly so-so teams to the NBA Finals just because of his own greatness. It is also because he lifts up his teammates, he challenges them, he inspires them, he bullies them, he celebrates them, he sets them up to look good. Nobody — and I mean nobody, including Irving himself — probably got more joy out of that final shot than James did. Irving hitting that shot was EXACTLY what LeBron James wanted the Cleveland Cavaliers to be about. I bet it meant more to him than if he had hit the shot himself.
Oh, before you get angry, yes, Jordan animated his teammates, too. He drove them and inspired them and made them better — who can forget him anticipating the double-team against Utah in the 1997 Finals and passing the ball off to a wide-open Steve Kerr (“You better be ready,” Jordan told Kerr). But it was different. Jordan understood that the game was about him. He was James Brown. They were the band.
Jordan was singular. James is plural.
And so, if given the choice, I would take LeBron James with the first pick. I fully appreciate that, in my play-for-my-soul scenario, the Devil would promptly take Michael Jordan, and there is nothing scarier in the history of American sports than having Michael Jordan trying to beat you. But it’s an approach-approach conflict anyway, a choice between two desirable alternatives. I don’t really think there’s a right or wrong answer.
But in the end, I guess, I would bet on James’ power to build a team that can beat anybody.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1876 - Dave Force (Philadelphia Athletics) became the first National League player to get six hits in a nine inning game.
1939 - Cleveland Municipal Stadium hosted its first night game. The Indians beat the Tigers 5-0.
1972 - Bobby Hull signed a 10-year hockey contract for $2,500,000. He became a player and coach of the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association.
1986 - Anne White wore only a body stocking at Wimbledon.
1986 - Robby Thompson (San Francisco) was caught stealing bases four times in one game.
1988 - In Atlantic City, Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds.
1990 - Jose Canseco signed a contract with the Oakland A's worth $4,700,000 per year.
2004 - The Boston Red Sox scored 10 runs before making an out against the Florida Marlins. The final score was 25-8.
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