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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes... but no plans." ~ Peter Drucker, Management Consultant, Educator and Author
Trending: 10 Most Important Bears of 2016: #9 Will Kevin White live up to his potential? (See the football section for Bears and NFL updates).
"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes... but no plans." ~ Peter Drucker, Management Consultant, Educator and Author
Trending: 10 Most Important Bears of 2016: #9 Will Kevin White live up to his potential? (See the football section for Bears and NFL updates).
Trending: Dwyane Wade to return to Chicago, sign with Bulls. What's Your Take? (See the basketball section for Bulls and NBA updates). This is a must read article!!!
Trending: With signing of Jordin Tootoo, Blackhawks bring in a heavy hitter. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks and NHL updates).
Trending: Stewart needs Kentucky win for career NASCAR victory sweep. (See the NASCAR section for racing information updates).
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 52-33
White Sox 2016 Record: 44-41
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! 10 Most Important Bears of 2016: #9 Will Kevin White live up to his potential?
By Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.
(Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
For the 8th straight year, I'm bringing you who I believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season. Coming in at #9 is a 2nd year pro making his NFL debut, wide out Kevin White.
Last year the Chicago Bears selected wide receiver Kevin White with the 7th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Before the draft took place, some scouts were debating if West Virginia's White or Alabama's Amari Cooper would be the top receiver selected. Cooper ended up going to the Oakland Raiders with the 4th overall pick and he had an outstanding rookie year. Cooper's 72 catches, 1,070 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns were enough to get him into the Pro Bowl.
Cooper's success left many Bears' fans wondering what could have been had White not injured his shin and missed the entire 2015 season. The Bears were without fellow wide outs Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal for much of last year and the offense really could have used the explosive White.
Kevin White should be Chicago's #2 WR, behind #1 Alshon Jeffery, and that alone should do wonders for White's game. Teams will probably put their top corner on Jeffery, as he has the track record of success in the NFL, leaving their #2 to match up against the 6'3", 216 pounder. White has the strength and athleticism to go up and get the football, but he also has the speed to run away from defenders. If we're to believe the reports, he's stronger and faster than he was a year ago.
Kevin White is my #9 Most Important Bear because he has the potential to be the most dynamic and explosive playmaker on Chicago's offense. We're talking about a guy that is a threat to score every time he touches the football.
In case you need a reminder of what White can do, here are some of his college highlights.
Chicago's offense will commit to the run, but if it's clicking, they'll have plenty of play action opportunities to go deep. White was a full participant at all the Bears' offseason practices and he participated in quarterback Jay Cutler's offseason work outs. The bond between quarterback and wide receiver has been there all during White's rehab.
In case you need a reminder of what White can do, here are some of his college highlights.
Chicago's offense will commit to the run, but if it's clicking, they'll have plenty of play action opportunities to go deep. White was a full participant at all the Bears' offseason practices and he participated in quarterback Jay Cutler's offseason work outs. The bond between quarterback and wide receiver has been there all during White's rehab.
This is White on Cutler from SI's Monday Morning Quarterback:
He told me to take my time and make sure my body is legit. He sent me to masseuses and chiropractors, and helped me eat the right foods and vitamins, and being able to stretch a lot. Teaching me a lot I didn't even know about the body. He'd say, "Kev, you are not ready yet," or, "You look good today, how is the leg feeling?" Things of that nature. He was with me every step of the way.
White was impressive during camp and OTAs, although he did have some issues with drops. My guess is we can chalk this up to some "rookie" jitters and him just acclimating to the speed of everything.
The Bears' O will need White to play up to the potential that made him a top 10 pick last year, especially with the loss of two big receiving threats in Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett.
The guys over at NumberFire crunched the numbers to see what kind of impact White could have and they believe he'll have plenty of opportunities to shine.
...it's only reasonable to assume that the Bears will run the ball just as much as they did last season. Assuming that the Bears' pass attempts stay roughly the same, let's evaluate White's opportunity in 2016.
The Bears attempted 523 passes in 2015, or 32.69 per week. When he was healthy, Jeffery saw 10.4 targets per week. Jay Cutler has shown trust in Jeffery, and there is no reason to expect that to not continue.
Jay Cutler and The Plunkett Principle.Tight end Zach Miller, who came on during the latter portion of 2015, averaged more than five targets per game after the Bears' bye week. Between slot receiver Eddie Royal (5.6 targets per week) and running back Jeremy Langford (2.8 targets per week), we've accounted for 24 of 35 weekly targets. That leaves 11 or so targets per week for White and the rest of the Bears' weapons. Even a fairly conservative estimate of seven targets per week would yield 112 over 16 games, which would have ranked 25th among receivers last year.
By Jack M. Silverstein
At age 33, with no recent Pro Bowl appearances, can Jay Cutler finally lead the Bears to the Super Bowl? History says no. History also said no to two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim Plunkett. Heed the lessons, Bears fans. Introducing the Plunkett Principle.
While answering Ravenous' question about Jay Cutler for the Windy City Gridiron mailbag, I tumbled down the rabbit hole. So the WCG editors decided it best to break this off as its own story. And away we go!
Ravenous asks: "Is Jay Cutler the quarterback to take the Bears where they want to be taken?"
Hoo boy.... this one will be tough.
My TL;DR answer to this question is: "Yes."
My juuuuuust a bit longer answer is: Don't ask "Is he?" Ask "Can he be?" The answer to that question is "Yes."
Okay. Marching on.
* QBs who won a Super Bowl: 31 (in 50 games)
* QBs who won a Super Bowl at or after age 33: 12
* QBs in their first Super Bowl start who won a Super Bowl at or after age 33: 4
* QBs in their first Super Bowl start who won a Super Bowl at or after age 33 without a Pro Bowl appearance in the 8 years prior: 1
* QBs who won a Super Bowl at or after age 33: 12
* QBs in their first Super Bowl start who won a Super Bowl at or after age 33: 4
* QBs in their first Super Bowl start who won a Super Bowl at or after age 33 without a Pro Bowl appearance in the 8 years prior: 1
Jay Cutler is 33. His last (and only) Pro Bowl was at age 25, his third year in the NFL and last before joining the Bears. When Bears fans express concern about the slim chance of Jay Cutler leading the Bears to the Super Bowl this year or beyond, they do so because of his age and his lack of Pro Bowls. The phrase that seemingly every Bears fan and analyst has uttered about Jay the past three years:
"At this point, Jay Cutler is what he is."
And that's true. But let's look back at the four bullet points above, namely the fourth one. The only man in the last category? The hypothetical Jay Cutler category? Jim Plunkett of the Raiders, who made his first Super Bowl in 1980 at age 33, and won, and made another Super Bowl three years later, and won that too, all without ever making a Pro Bowl.
If Bears fans want to point to a history lesson to make them feel better about Cutler, that lesson is undoubtedly the story of Plunkett. Given the right circumstances, a talented yet unsuccessful and maligned quarterback can become a champion, leading observers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about him and recast his narrative as one of redemption, not failure. Call it the Plunkett Principle.
Plunkett and Cutler share similarities. Both were high draft picks, Plunkett 1st overall in 1971, Cutler 11th in 2006. Both were known for their arm strength. Both struggled with ball protection. Both were sacked an ungodly amount. In Plunkett's worst three-season stretch, he was sacked 112 times. In Cutler's, 113.
Both, not surprisingly, battled injuries.
Here's the good news: Plunkett's 1980 season was a much crazier reversal than anything Cutler would have to do this year to win a Super Bowl.
Plunkett's five seasons prior to winning MVP of Super Bowl XV in January 1981: five games with New England, an 11-15 two-year record with San Francisco, and then 15 total passes in two years with Oakland at ages 31 and 32.
He won Comeback Player of the Year in 1980, but even that doesn't tell the tale. Sports Illustrated called Plunkett's '80 season a "resurrection."
What accounts for Plunkett's revival? Three things, as far as I can tell:
1. He stayed healthy
2. He played for an all-around strong team
3. He played with a top-10 defense
2. He played for an all-around strong team
3. He played with a top-10 defense
In 2011, former Raiders coach Tom Flores spoke with the L.A. Times for a 30-years-later look back at Plunkett's Super Bowl XV win. Flores' description of Plunkett fits Cutler nearly perfectly, depending on your opinion of Jay's capability to inspire teammates:
"Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim," Flores said. "He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. The players liked him. They rallied around him and he just rose to the occasion, making big plays in big games."
Now, because the Plunkett Principle applies to QBs at or exceeding age 33 who win a Super Bowl without any recent Pro Bowl appearances, Jim Plunkett is the only one to whom it applies. But taken more broadly, the Plunkett Principle applies to any highly touted quarterback whose misfires have outnumbered his successes, but for whom a big postseason run leads fans and critics to say, "See, we knew he had it in him!"
Doug Williams is probably the best example. He was drafted 17th overall in 1978, had some success in Tampa Bay but ultimately flamed out and ended up in the USFL while still in his prime, came to D.C. and had one of the all-time great QB performances in Super Bowl XXII, winning the game's MVP award with four touchdowns and 340 yards.
Trent Dilfer is another obvious choice, but lower than Williams on the Plunkett Principle scale because Dilfer did not show out in his run. But Kurt Warner making the Super Bowl with Arizona in 2008 at age 37 counts because his career had essentially reset after losing to the Patriots. From 2002 to 2007, no one thought of Warner as a Super Bowl quarterback. His best days were behind him and poor play in St. Louis, New York, and then a bench stint in Arizona had seemingly re-written his story.
And then boom! He was back.
No QB in today's game has Plunkett Principle potential quite like Cutler. In 2010, Plunkett discussed football's evolution into a "pass happy" game and said he would love to play in today's NFL, even describing his game in terms similar to Cutler's:
"I've always loved to throw the ball," Plunkett said. "The rules have all been in favor of the offense (and so) defense suffers a little bit. I would love to be playing today, and I think I would fit in quite well."
In Jay's most productive seasons -- 2010, 2011, 2013 -- he's dealt with injuries. He's played three seasons in Chicago with a top-15 defense -- 2010, 2011, 2012 -- two of which were top 5. His record in those three seasons was 27-13.
As it happens, age 33 is a key cutoff of Super Bowl success. Quarterbacks aged 28 to 33 have won 23 Super Bowls, at least 3 per age, with 5 QBs winning at age 33 (Starr, Plunkett, Montana, Theismann, Young). After that, eight QBs age 34 and older have won a Super Bowl. Only one, Brad Johnson, did so in his first championship game appearance.
While we're here, let's talk about John Fox, who went from 7-9 to 11-5 and a Super Bowl appearance in his second season in Carolina, and went from 8-8 to 13-3 in his second season in Denver (with the Super Bowl the following year).
Jay threw for 21 touchdowns against 11 interceptions last year. He posted his first ever 90+ QB rating. He threw TDs in all but two games. He led comeback wins against Oakland, Kansas City, and San Diego. He won his first ever game at Lambeau in five chances.
The downsides? Another new offensive coordinator. No Matt Forte. A reshuffled offensive line. Uncertainty in the receiving corps.
There will always be downsides. The above is what we're dealing with. There is precedent, but barely. He has the offensive help, but debatably. Ravenous, Jay Cutler CAN help us win a Super Bowl. That's the best I can say. The best I can ever say. But not something I can say every year.
Here's to it. Go Plunkett. Go Cutler. Go Bears.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks are prepared for expansion, at least in net.
By Kristi Loucks
(Photo/David Berding/Icon Sportswire)
Ever since the departure of Antti Raanta, who was traded to the New York Rangers, ahead of last season, the Chicago Blackhawks’ goaltending has been one of their most stable positions. As the lines were jumbled and the defense was starting to crumble, Corey Crawford and Scott Darling held down the fort as best they could.
Crawford was outstanding until a head injury took him down late in the season. When he returned, he was still very good but not the unstoppable wall he was at the start of the season.
Darling wasn’t as effective as he was in his rookie season, where he salvaged a first round playoff series on route to a Stanley Cup. However, Darling was no longer playing in behind the offensively balanced team of 2015, or the defensive corps that included Johnny Oduya. His numbers were bound to decline.
The Old Guard
All signs point to Crawford being on the rise, last season’s save percentage matched his career high (0.924) in a season where he played in 50 or more games, and he recorded a league-best seven shutouts by the halfway mark.
Had Crawford not been injured, there were whispers of him having a Vezina-worthy season.
Crawford was still a force in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he came up against one of the hottest netminder in the league in Brian Elliott. The Blues and Elliott ultimately made Crawford’s effort look less than perfect, in spite of the fact that St. Louis never won a game by more than a single goal.
That series was a goaltending tour de force as both netminders had their fair share of unstoppable shots that were snatched out of the air like they were on radar lock.
Even though Crawford looked good (especially considering he had played just one game after returning from injury), Elliott was quite simply better in that series. The Blackhawks offense struggled to find an answer.
The series ended in seven, and the Blackhawks were in unfamiliar territory as their season ended in the first round for the first time since 2011-12.
Darling never made an appearance in the playoffs, but he did appear in a career high 29 games. His numbers fell off a bit after a breakout first season, but so did the defense that lined up in front of him with Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook each pairing up with less experienced defensemen like Trevor van Riemsdyk, Erik Gustafsson, and Viktor Svedberg for much of the season. Michal Rozsival was also used sparingly.
Veterans like Trevor Daley, Rob Scuderi, and Christian Ehrhoff were also given a shot with the Blackhawks, but each of them played limited minutes with varying degrees of success. The altered state of the defense and the decreased scoring output were certainly contributing factors in Darling’s sophomore slump.
Souped Up Blue Line
While both netminders will be looking to improve on last season, a number of offseason moves will also help in net.
The job of the netminder is about to get a little easier, as the additions of Michal Kempny and Brian Campbell will provide an immediate boost to a defensive corps that had struggled last season with a lack of depth. Kempny may have some adjustments as he comes to North America, but Campbell is returning home to the team that helped him raise the Cup in 2010.
Campbell is a veteran defenseman that can eat up 20-plus minutes of ice time if necessary. He is also a strong possession player which is something the Blackhawks are looking to improve upon after a dip in possession that last few seasons. More importantly, his familiarity should shorten any adjustment period as he is already familiar with the Blackhawks core and their coaching staff.
However, the Blackhawks still have to address scoring as they are now missing Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen, and they can’t rely on the second line of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, and Artem Anisimov as they did last year. The other lines are going to have to bring balance because even the best goalies can’t win games if their teams don’t score.
The other lines are going to have to bring balance because even the best goalies can’t win games if their teams don’t score.
Expansion and Opportunity
However, two things are working against the Blackhawks like a ticking time bomb.
The most obvious is the expansion draft. It brings doom and gloom to every team in the league but looms heavily over contenders and teams that are carrying a lot of no movement clauses. The Blackhawks fall into both categories.
No team can protect more than one netminder, and Darling will not be that netminder. Of course, it would seem unlikely that he gets picked up with 30 teams exposing one goalie each, but there are no guarantees.
Darling has proven he is a solid backup netminder with a good head on his shoulders and the ability to make some staggering saves which could make him appealing.
Unless one of the Blackhawks big name defenders or van Riemsdyk is exposed in the expansion draft, Darling could be targeted.
He is also on an expiring contract and carries a reasonable cap hit which could also make him a trade target at some point ahead of the deadline. Next year, he is going to command more than his current $587,500 and the Blackhawks may not be able to offer him more than a marginal increase.
The Blackhawks technically do not currently meet the requirements for the goaltender available with Darling as he is not signed, nor is he a restricted free agent at the end of next season which means he won’t be the only goalie exposed.
Mac Carruthwho has yet to challenge for an NHL role since being drafted in 2010) will be a restricted free agent. He will likely be exposed to meet the NHL’s requirements (and keep the Blackhawks from being penalized), but Darling will still be available as well.
One goaltender who is under contract in 2017-18 or will be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his current contract immediately prior to 2017-18. If the club elects to make a restricted free agent goaltender available in order to meet this requirement, that goaltender must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the club’s protected list. (NHL.com)
Smoke and Mirrors
The expansion is going to be tricky enough for any team to navigate. Each team is bound to lose someone who is a fan favorite, or possibly a piece that seemed vital to the future of the team. Every team will be carefully planning in preparation for the expansion draft.
However, that doesn’t mean that teams won’t be scrambling to steer the expansion team towards a dangled carrot, or make trades that are preemptive strikes to get as much equity from a given asset. With those options in play, many teams will hedge their bets with a shiny new player to transition into the place of a player they couldn’t protect or are forced to trade.
In the crease, that shiny new player is Lars Johansson. At 28, he is a bit of a late bloomer (though goalies often are), but he is the reigning goaltender of the year in Sweden’s SHL.
By Rick Morrissey
The Blackhawks have been lauded for building their organization on speed and skill, rather than brawn and bruising hits, but hockey, at last glance, is still hockey. Thus, Jordin Tootoo.
The Hawks have signed the tough guy to a one-year contract. Tootoo isn’t Andrew Shaw, the on-ice antagonist whom the Hawks shipped to Montreal in a salary cap move. He lacks Shaw’s offensive productivity. But where Shaw was a nuisance, Tootoo is a menace. He’s a fighter, having dropped the gloves 86 times in his career and amassed 982 penalty minutes.
Hockey is probably the only sport in which penalties are looked upon positively, at least as they pertain to enforcers. General managers take notice when a minor-league player leads the team or league in penalty minutes. It means he’s fighting. It means he’s sticking up for his teammates.
To many of you, it means that hockey is one messed-up sport. And some of you thought the Hawks were above this sort of thing. The Tootoo signing has been framed as the team’s attempt to add to depth to its roster. Just know that the Hawks had plenty of options through free agency but chose the guy with the clenched fist. That’s not coincidence.
One of these days, an opponent is going to think about making a run at Patrick Kane. Maybe Tootoo’s presence will make him think twice.
Chris Sale an All-Star for fifth straight season.
By Jim Margalus
(Photo/Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)
Considering Chris Sale is the presumptive runner for the American League Cy Young Award at the half, a spot on the All-Star team was a given.
Now that Major League Baseball has unveiled the rosters for the Midsummer Classic, we’ll soon get an answer to the real question about Sale’s status: Will he start?
AL manager Ned Yost hasn’t made up his mind, but Sale will be available since he’s scheduled for Friday, and Robin Ventura has given that idea his blessing.
"I don’t see that as an issue of him being able to pitch in the All-Star Game," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I would like to see him do whatever he wants to do. He’s earned the right to do it. Whether they ask him to do it and he does it is another thing. It’s always an honor to play in the All-Star Game and to be the guy who is asked to start it is special. It doesn’t come around very often for a lot of guys and to do it is a feather in your cap."
With his fifth All-Star berth, the Condor has received this honor in every year he’s been a member of the White Sox rotation, tying Billy Pierce for the most consecutive appearances by a pitcher in franchise history.
For the second straight year, Sale is the team’s lone representative, at least for now. Unlike last season, he has teammates deserving of recognition, including:
- Jose Quintana, who is top 10 among AL pitchers in WAR (fifth), innings (fourth), and ERA (eighth).
- Adam Eaton, who is eighth in the AL in WAR on the strength of his defense and well-rounded OBP-oriented game, although he does also lead the league in triples.
- David Robertson, who is tied for the AL lead with 23 saves, and has a 3.28 ERA that’s inflated by one awful outing.
For various reasons -- low national profiles, strength primarily in non-traditional stats, the every-team-gets-a-rep rule among them -- these three didn’t get the nod. They do stand a chance of making the trip anyway, once injuries and pitcher schedules whittle down the initial choices.
The complete rosters:
| American League | National League | |
| C | Salvador Perez | Buster Posey |
| 1B | Eric Hosmer | Anthony Rizzo |
| 2B | Jose Altuve | Ben Zobrist |
| 3B | Manny Machado | Kris Bryant |
| SS | Xander Bogaerts | Addison Russell |
| OF | Mike Trout | Bryce Harper |
| OF | Jackie Bradley Jr. | Yoenis Cespedes |
| OF | Mookie Betts | Dexter Fowler |
| DH | David Ortiz | |
| Bench | Steven Vogt | Jonathan Lucroy |
| Matt Wieters | Wilson Ramos | |
| Miguel Cabrera | Nolan Arenado | |
| Robinson Cano | Matt Carpenter | |
| Josh Donaldson | Paul Goldschmidt | |
| Francisco Lindor | Daniel Murphy | |
| Eduardo Nunez | Wil Myers | |
| Carlos Beltran | Corey Seager | |
| Ian Desmond | Adam Duvall | |
| Mark Trumbo | Carlos Gonzalez | |
| Edwin Encarnacion | Obdul Herrera | |
| Marcell Ozuna | ||
| Pitchers | Chris Sale | Jake Arrieta |
| Marco Estrada | Madison Bumgarner | |
| Danny Salazar | Johnny Cueto | |
| Steven Wright | Jose Fernandez | |
| Cole Hamels | Jon Lester | |
| Dellin Betances | Clayton Kershaw (DL) | |
| Brad Brach | Steven Strasburg | |
| Zach Britton | Noah Syndergaard | |
| Alex Colome | Julio Teheran | |
| Wade Davis (DL) | Jeurys Familia | |
| Will Harris | Kenley Jansen | |
| Kelvin Herrera | Mark Melancon | |
| Craig Kimbrel | Cesar Ramos | |
| Andrew Miller | Fernando Rodney |
Eaton may face an uphill climb because usually the first replacement All-Stars come from the Final Vote ballot, which consists of the following:
- American League: Ian Kinsler, Evan Longoria, Dustin Pedroia, Michael Saunders, George Springer
- National League: Brandon Belt, Ryan Braun, Jake Lamb, Starling Marte, Trevor Story
Associated Press
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Nick Markakis homered twice, including a tying solo shot in the ninth inning, and Tyler Flowers' two-out single in the 11th early Friday morning gave the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 victory over the slumping Cubs.
Willson Contreras hit a two-run triple in a three-run eighth inning to put the Cubs up 3-2. But closer Hector Rondon blew his fourth save when he gave up the second homer to Markakis to lead off the ninth, Atlanta's first hit since the second inning.
Flowers singled to right off Spencer Patton (1-1), and Freddie Freeman, who walked, barely beat Jason Heyward's throw home.
Dario Alvarez (3-1) worked a perfect 10th before giving up consecutive singles to Contreras and Heyward to lead off the 11th.
The extra-inning game followed a rain delay of 1 hour, 35 minutes.
Why Cubs can see Andrew Miller as great fit and long shot at the same time.
By Patrick Mooney
Willson Contreras hit a two-run triple in a three-run eighth inning to put the Cubs up 3-2. But closer Hector Rondon blew his fourth save when he gave up the second homer to Markakis to lead off the ninth, Atlanta's first hit since the second inning.
Flowers singled to right off Spencer Patton (1-1), and Freddie Freeman, who walked, barely beat Jason Heyward's throw home.
Dario Alvarez (3-1) worked a perfect 10th before giving up consecutive singles to Contreras and Heyward to lead off the 11th.
The extra-inning game followed a rain delay of 1 hour, 35 minutes.
Why Cubs can see Andrew Miller as great fit and long shot at the same time.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Andrew Miller tries to ignore the trade rumors surrounding the New York Yankees, the identity crisis for a win-at-all-costs franchise trying to get younger and more athletic and prepare for the future without a total teardown.
But if the Yankees look in the mirror and ultimately decide to sell just before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Cubs will be in those conversations, because a team with seven All Stars could use another for October.
“We’re here to win,” Miller said this week at U.S. Cellular Field during the Yankees-White Sox series. “We’re here to compete every year. And that’s from the top down, whether you hear it from (general manager Brian) Cashman or (manager Joe) Girardi or the players.
“That was a big selling point about me coming here — and the goal is to win here. That’s what I want to be a part of.”
The Cubs checked in with Miller’s camp during his free-agent process after the 2014 season but didn’t feel like getting into a bidding war to add a setup guy to an 89-loss team made that much sense.
If Miller on a four-year, $36 million contract looked like a luxury item then, he would be a perfect fit now, giving another late-inning weapon to Joe Maddon, arguably the game’s best bullpen manager. Watching Trevor Cahill serve up the go-ahead, three-run homer to Tucker Barnhart in the seventh inning of Wednesday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds only reinforced that view at Wrigley Field.
Theo Epstein’s front office could justify the cost by looking at it as an investment in 2016 and beyond, acquiring an All-Star reliever who can close now and potentially impact three pennant races on the North Side.
“I love Andrew,” said pitcher Jon Lester, who played with Miller on the 2013 Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series. “I definitely would vouch for Andrew. Obviously, his stuff and stats speak for itself.
“And it would be nice to get him out of the Yankees organization and somewhere he could grow his beard and long hair back and we could call him ‘Jesus’ (Spanish pronunciation) again.”
Lester lobbied for Epstein to acquire Jonathan Papelbon last summer, saying a strong clubhouse culture could handle the enigmatic closer who got traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Washington Nationals and wound up choking Bryce Harper in the dugout.
Epstein’s Cubs keep going back to their Red Sox connections, but in signing a minor-league deal and reviving his career at Fenway Park, Miller formed more of a bond with Ben Cherington, the Boston personnel executive who eventually got hired and essentially fired as general manager.
For a Cubs team with a glaring bullpen need, Miller, 31, checks the boxes as a left-hander who can get all types of hitters out with velocity (94.1-mph average fastball) and swing-and-miss stuff (66 strikeouts through 36-plus innings this season).
Miller has size (6-foot-7), first-round pedigree (sixth overall out of the University of North Carolina in 2006), playoff experience, a strong clubhouse reputation and what’s turned out to be a reasonable contract.
“Great teammate,” said catcher David Ross, who played with Miller in Boston. “He’s had struggles. He’s had success. He’s won a World Series. So he knows about winning, he knows about losing. When you have guys who have gone through the spectrum like that in their careers, you just gain perspective. So you can relate to a lot of different guys at different times during the season.
“He’s a winner. He’s got nasty stuff. He throws mid-to-upper 90s with a filthy, filthy slider. Righties and lefties — it doesn’t matter. (Whatever) the matchup, he can get through the inning.
“He doesn’t have an ego. I’ve read his quotes in New York where it’s: ‘I don’t care if I’m closing.’ And that fits right into this team. We’re here as a 25-man group that is after one goal. And he understands that.”
As someone who got traded out of his Boston comfort zone to the Oakland A’s at the 2014 deadline, Lester recognizes the many dimensions to those deals, as well as the unique chemistry in Wrigleyville.
“At the same time, you’re talking about now we got to move some pieces around in that bullpen,” Lester said. “You get a guy like Andrew Miller, now you’re subtracting somehow, and that’s always tough when you’ve been grinding with guys (the whole year).
“(But) I know Andrew, and I think his personality would fit in just fine here. He wouldn’t have an issue with the transition — (and) that is a tough transition.
“I always go back to Joe. Joe does such a good job with situations. Whatever the situation may be, he does such a good job with making guys feel comfortable. So if we did get a guy like that, I think you would definitely get the best out of him.”
Lester — who believed in The Plan enough to join a last-place team after the 2014 season and signed a six-year, $155 million megadeal with the understanding that he would be in the loop — doesn’t know if Epstein’s group will think big again at the trade deadline.
“A lot can happen,” Lester said. “Hopefully, nobody goes down and we don’t have a dire need. Any time you’re talking about an addition, you’re going to have a subtraction. That’s always a tough thing. (But) I’d like to say: ‘Yeah, it would be awesome to get some big-name stud in here.’”
The Yankees woke up on Wednesday as a 41-42 team, stuck in fourth place in the American League East, but only four games out of a wild-card spot. Whether or not the Cubs are willing to pay the price for a brand-name reliever — or hoping to get lucky again with under-the-radar additions — it still starts with the Yankees either giving up on 2016 or going for it.
“That’s what the Yankees do,” Miller said. “Their track record shows that’s what we do. They haven’t had a losing record since ’92.
“The expectation is that we’re going to be in the thick of it. And I think the 25 guys in here think that we’re capable of winning enough games to be in it.”
Miguel Gonzalez tosses seven scoreless to lead White Sox to win over Yankees. (Wednesday night's game, 07/06/2016).
But if the Yankees look in the mirror and ultimately decide to sell just before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Cubs will be in those conversations, because a team with seven All Stars could use another for October.
“We’re here to win,” Miller said this week at U.S. Cellular Field during the Yankees-White Sox series. “We’re here to compete every year. And that’s from the top down, whether you hear it from (general manager Brian) Cashman or (manager Joe) Girardi or the players.
“That was a big selling point about me coming here — and the goal is to win here. That’s what I want to be a part of.”
The Cubs checked in with Miller’s camp during his free-agent process after the 2014 season but didn’t feel like getting into a bidding war to add a setup guy to an 89-loss team made that much sense.
If Miller on a four-year, $36 million contract looked like a luxury item then, he would be a perfect fit now, giving another late-inning weapon to Joe Maddon, arguably the game’s best bullpen manager. Watching Trevor Cahill serve up the go-ahead, three-run homer to Tucker Barnhart in the seventh inning of Wednesday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds only reinforced that view at Wrigley Field.
Theo Epstein’s front office could justify the cost by looking at it as an investment in 2016 and beyond, acquiring an All-Star reliever who can close now and potentially impact three pennant races on the North Side.
“I love Andrew,” said pitcher Jon Lester, who played with Miller on the 2013 Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series. “I definitely would vouch for Andrew. Obviously, his stuff and stats speak for itself.
“And it would be nice to get him out of the Yankees organization and somewhere he could grow his beard and long hair back and we could call him ‘Jesus’ (Spanish pronunciation) again.”
Lester lobbied for Epstein to acquire Jonathan Papelbon last summer, saying a strong clubhouse culture could handle the enigmatic closer who got traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Washington Nationals and wound up choking Bryce Harper in the dugout.
Epstein’s Cubs keep going back to their Red Sox connections, but in signing a minor-league deal and reviving his career at Fenway Park, Miller formed more of a bond with Ben Cherington, the Boston personnel executive who eventually got hired and essentially fired as general manager.
For a Cubs team with a glaring bullpen need, Miller, 31, checks the boxes as a left-hander who can get all types of hitters out with velocity (94.1-mph average fastball) and swing-and-miss stuff (66 strikeouts through 36-plus innings this season).
Miller has size (6-foot-7), first-round pedigree (sixth overall out of the University of North Carolina in 2006), playoff experience, a strong clubhouse reputation and what’s turned out to be a reasonable contract.
“Great teammate,” said catcher David Ross, who played with Miller in Boston. “He’s had struggles. He’s had success. He’s won a World Series. So he knows about winning, he knows about losing. When you have guys who have gone through the spectrum like that in their careers, you just gain perspective. So you can relate to a lot of different guys at different times during the season.
“He’s a winner. He’s got nasty stuff. He throws mid-to-upper 90s with a filthy, filthy slider. Righties and lefties — it doesn’t matter. (Whatever) the matchup, he can get through the inning.
“He doesn’t have an ego. I’ve read his quotes in New York where it’s: ‘I don’t care if I’m closing.’ And that fits right into this team. We’re here as a 25-man group that is after one goal. And he understands that.”
As someone who got traded out of his Boston comfort zone to the Oakland A’s at the 2014 deadline, Lester recognizes the many dimensions to those deals, as well as the unique chemistry in Wrigleyville.
“At the same time, you’re talking about now we got to move some pieces around in that bullpen,” Lester said. “You get a guy like Andrew Miller, now you’re subtracting somehow, and that’s always tough when you’ve been grinding with guys (the whole year).
“(But) I know Andrew, and I think his personality would fit in just fine here. He wouldn’t have an issue with the transition — (and) that is a tough transition.
“I always go back to Joe. Joe does such a good job with situations. Whatever the situation may be, he does such a good job with making guys feel comfortable. So if we did get a guy like that, I think you would definitely get the best out of him.”
Lester — who believed in The Plan enough to join a last-place team after the 2014 season and signed a six-year, $155 million megadeal with the understanding that he would be in the loop — doesn’t know if Epstein’s group will think big again at the trade deadline.
“A lot can happen,” Lester said. “Hopefully, nobody goes down and we don’t have a dire need. Any time you’re talking about an addition, you’re going to have a subtraction. That’s always a tough thing. (But) I’d like to say: ‘Yeah, it would be awesome to get some big-name stud in here.’”
The Yankees woke up on Wednesday as a 41-42 team, stuck in fourth place in the American League East, but only four games out of a wild-card spot. Whether or not the Cubs are willing to pay the price for a brand-name reliever — or hoping to get lucky again with under-the-radar additions — it still starts with the Yankees either giving up on 2016 or going for it.
“That’s what the Yankees do,” Miller said. “Their track record shows that’s what we do. They haven’t had a losing record since ’92.
“The expectation is that we’re going to be in the thick of it. And I think the 25 guys in here think that we’re capable of winning enough games to be in it.”
Miguel Gonzalez tosses seven scoreless to lead White Sox to win over Yankees. (Wednesday night's game, 07/06/2016).
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
White Sox starting pitchers have been much more consistent in July, and Miguel Gonzalez continued that trend on Wednesday night.
The right-hander delivered seven scoreless innings, and the White Sox closed out their fifth straight series victory with a 5-0 win over the New York Yankees in front of 21,144 at U.S. Cellular Field. Gonzalez made his best White Sox start to date as he and two relievers combined on an eight-hit shutout. Tim Anderson doubled in two runs.
“The pitching's been great,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “We scuffled for a little while. But I think when you're looking at it and we're trying to figure out where we're at heading into the break, I think we've been on a pretty good run. These guys have gathered it back together, and they're strong right now.”
They haven’t been picture-perfect as evidenced by Carlos Rodon’s struggles on Tuesday night. But after a long June, White Sox starters have shown signs of rebounding over the last six games. Starting with Gonzalez’s previous turn Friday in Houston, White Sox starters have a 3.00 ERA in 39 innings.
The team’s starters went 6-11 with a 5.97 ERA in 26 starts in June. They averaged 5 2/3 innings in the month and only completed seven innings six times. Four of the team’s last six starting efforts have gone at least seven innings.
“Every guy that goes out there, as a team you get a sense that you have a chance to go out there and win a series and win every night,” Ventura said.
Early on that sentiment seemed unclear as Gonzalez, who brought a 7.84 home ERA in four starts into Wednesday, struggled. He put two runners on base in the first, including a two-out walk of Brian McCann. But Gonzalez, who allowed two earned runs in seven innings on Friday, struck out Mark Teixeira with a 2-2 fastball to escape the jam. The strikeout began a span in which Gonzalez retired nine of 11 hitters.
One key for Gonzalez was strong defense.
Adam Eaton, who picked up his major league leading 13th assist when he cut down Jacoby Ellsbury stretching a leadoff single into a double in the third, Anderson and Jose Abreu all turned in nice plays.
“Gonzo pitched a heck of a game tonight, kept them off balance the whole game, hit his spots well and good defense behind him,” Eaton said. “When there’s good defense played behind Gonzo, he’ll throw good for you. He threw really well, and we’re really happy with that.”
Gonzalez, who lowered his ERA to 4.39, didn’t run into trouble again until the fifth inning. Didi Gregorious singled to start the fifth and went from first to third on Chase Headley’s grounder as third was left uncovered by a defensive shift. But Gonzalez induced a pop up off Aaron Hicks’ bat, and Ellsbury grounded out. Gonzalez retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced.
He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out three.
The White Sox did the bulk of their damage against Michael Pineda in the second inning, all with two outs.
Avisail Garcia broke a scoreless tie with a two-out RBI single to score Brett Lawrie, who started the rally with a single. J.B. Shuck’s ground-rule double produced a run. Anderson then made it a 4-0 game with a two-run double past the dive of Headley.
Lawrie’s RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth made it a five-run lead.
“We came out, played some really good defense,” Gonzalez said. “Our offense was there. I kept them in the ballgame, did a really good job changing speeds. (Dioner) Navarro did an awesome job back there.
“We have won five series in a row. ... Guys are loose right now and getting after it.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Dwyane Wade to return to Chicago, sign with Bulls. What's Your Take?
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
And the Bulls did just enough to show Wade the love and respect he felt he was missing, along with moving a couple critical pieces to clear salary-cap space in order to get him to agree to a two-year, $47.5 million deal, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The Heat offered two years and $40 million and did not increase the offer at the last second when it was clear the Bulls and Denver Nuggets were serious suitors. After making huge sacrifices in previous contract demands, he wanted to collect, but the Heat was only willing to go so far, leaving the door open for other teams to swoop in.
It was evident the hurt feelings would last, and the acrimony seemed to grow in recent days, money notwithstanding.
The Nuggets offered the biggest deal for Wade, but Wade chose to return back to a familiar place over heading out West — perhaps as a way to go head-up against the Heat and even LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wade leaves Miami, where he spent 13 years as a Heat staple and sometimes Bulls-killer, winning three NBA championships and a Finals MVP in 2006. Arguably, Wade is the third-best shooting guard in NBA history behind his idol Michael Jordan and recently retired Kobe Bryant.
Wade averaged 19.0 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 74 games last season, the most games he’s played since the 2010-11 campaign, his first alongside James in Miami.
That was also the year the Bulls marched to the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to Wade and James in five games. His storied career has been marred a bit by nagging injuries, but he seemed to shake that a little last season, being one of the more durable shooting guards in the league.
Wade, who is a native of Robbins, Ill., native and attended high school in Oak Lawn, returns to where he grew up to help a Bulls team that was certainly in transition after the recent departures of Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah.
It’s a clear sign the Bulls want to remain competitive in the interim, as they hope some of the young pieces they’re investing in will step forward, aided by Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo and now Wade.
Chicago certainly wasn’t Wade’s first choice, as the Bulls believed Wade and the Heat would work things out, as they always seem to do. But the Heat never upped their offer to Wade, and Wade saw it fitting to return home, a reunion made possible after the Bulls unloaded Jose Calderon to the Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Dunleavy Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Growing up in Robbins, Ill., I never dreamed that an NBA career would be possible and that one day I would wear a Chicago Bulls jersey,” Wade said to the Associated Press in a letter. “Watching the Bulls growing up inspired me at an early age to pursue my dream of becoming a basketball player. My most treasured memories were watching my dad play basketball on the courts of Fermi Elementary School and developing my game at the Blue Island Recreational Center. I have never forgotten where I came from, and I am thankful to have an opportunity to play for the team that first fueled my love for the game. Many of my family members still live in Chicago, and I am excited to return home to a city very close to my heart. I look forward to returning to my roots and to what lies ahead.”
What lies ahead for the Bulls is certainly an unknown, as the fit between Wade, Butler and Rondo will be a task considering none are jump shooters, making it less than an ideal fit for Fred Hoiberg’s pace-and-space system.
But gathering talent like Wade and Rondo is better than no talent at all, the Bulls believe, and they maintain some flexibility for the future with the short deals for Wade and Rondo — keeping themselves relevant if not unpredictable in the meantime.
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: For the record, new Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo is 2 years, 7 months and 12 days older than Derrick Rose. We bring this up because, when trading Rose to the Knicks, GM Gar Forman cited the team's desire to get younger. And then there's the team's signing of Dwayne Wade, who will turn 35 next January. Big-picture, what are the Bulls doing?
The Bulls front office is not a sports management concern anymore, they're politicians now. They tell us what they think we want to hear and then do something else. We've been thinking that they were going to follow the successful plan of the Blackhawks and the Cubs by building up a stockpile of young talented players, hiring a mature experienced coach that could teach and relate to the players and following a three to five year plan to win championships. Nah..... wrong answer. Back to the same old usual patchwork program with a hope and a prayer, it doesn't work.
I feel bad for Coach Fred Hoiberg, below is an excerpt from Sports Illustrated's NBA free agency winners and losers.....
Loser: Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg
From the desk of Gar Forman…
“Ok, Fred, we know that your offensive system looked like a total bust last season. We didn’t have the right pieces in place for it to work. We know that. We asked you to manage some big personalities, to make some tough decisions that didn’t go over well in the locker room, and to juggle lineups through injuries. We’re sorry about that and we appreciate your willingness to plug through that.
“As a reward for your sacrifice and flexibility, we’ve decided to move forward and let go three key players that didn’t seem to fit. We’re going to make life easier for you! We’re going to set you up for success!
“Now, here’s the plan. We’ve signed a point guard who gets ignored by smart defenses any time he stands outside 18 feet, who walked straight off the job during the middle of the 2015 playoffs, who profanely attacked a referee’s sexuality, and who butted heads all season long with his last coach, who unsurprisingly wound up fired.
“But that’s not all! We’ve also signed a shooting guard who also can’t shoot from outside, who is 34 years old, and who has missed an average of 17 games over the last four seasons, and who is best suited to a slow-down system. By the way, we’ve also got an All-Star shooting guard who expected to be the face of the franchise going forward who now must shift positions and find a way to generate offense on a court that’s sure to be cramped.
“No pressure but we’ve added enough ‘name’ talent here that we really expect to get back to the playoffs, at minimum. If you come up short…”
It's truly a shame what Gar Forman and Paxton has done to this franchise. They remind me of Phil Emery (GM) and Marc Trestman (Head Coach) when they destroyed the Bears. Now the Bears are following the Blackhawks and Cubs plan by bringing in young players with a mature head coach that can teach and relate to the young players.
I maintain that Jerry Reinsdorf is one of the premier owners in professional sports, I'm just wondering why he can't see what's going on?
Another issue is the Bulls are just concerned about scoring. They never discuss defense. Every coach in any and every sport know that "Defense wins championships." But that's another story for another article on another day during the season.
By no means am I anti-Bulls, I'm a diehard Chicago fan and have been for 53 years of my 65 years here on the earth, however, I am truly frustrated with what's going on with them. I wish, hope and pray for the best from the Bulls but .......... What else can I say? As always, Let's go Bulls!!!!! The history, the legacy, the fan support, it's all there. Hopefully, something good could happen.
We've expressed our feelings on this situation. Again, like everyone else, we want the best for our Bulls; we just can't take this fly by the seat of your pants program anymore. We hope and pray that we're wrong but the odds are with us on this one. Please go to the bottom of this blog and share your thoughts with us. Please save this article and if we're wrong next June, blast us. We're waiting to hear how you feel and what's your take?
Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Director.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Winds blow Mickelson to opening 76 in Scotland.
Players struggled to score amid stiff breezes Thursday at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, and Phil Mickelson was no exception.
Mickelson is making his first start at Castle Stuart Golf Links since he won this event there in 2013, but the southpaw sits on the wrong side of the projected cut line after a 4-over 76 in the opening round.
Mickelson hasn't won since pulling off a double-dip three years ago at both Castle Stuart and Muirfield, but he appears unlikely to end that drought this week. He bogeyed two of his first five holes, then struggled down the stretch as winds increased, with bogeys on four of his last seven holes. At 4 over, he trails Felipe Aguilar and Scott Hend by seven shots.
Mickelson, however, was not the only marquee player to struggle amid the conditions. Only 20 players managed to break par, while J.B. Holmes, Jamie Donaldson and David Lingmerth all failed to break 80.
Coming off a T-27 finish last week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Mickelson told reporters in Scotland that he was confident about his game heading into a two-week stretch of links golf.
"(Castle Stuart) gives you a chance to get accustomed to the wind, to the air, to the fescue grass, the challenge of links golf, playing the ball on the ground, getting it out of the air," Mickelson said. "But it doesn't beat you up and punish you the way the Open Championship does. So you arrive at The Open fresh and ready to play, as opposed to worn out already."
Euro Tour apologizes for course setup in Scotland.
By Will Gray
(Photo/Golf Channel)
Blustery conditions led to high scores during the opening round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, and they also led European Tour officials to admit that they made an error.
Winds which were forecast for 30 miles per hour blew in excess of 40 miles per hour during much of the opening round, especially late in the day. As a result, only 20 players managed to break par and 15 of the 78 players in the late wave failed to break 80.
According to a Golfweek report, several players complained about the course setup, leading the European Tour to issue a statement of apology after the round.
"We received a number of concerns from players regarding the course setup for the first round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open," the statement read. "We acknowledge we should have moved a number of tees forward to accommodate the strong winds which were forecast for Thursday's first round. We didn't, and accept responsibility in that regard."
According to the report, much of the criticism focused on the 18th hole, a 607-yard par-5 that played directly into a stiff breeze during the opening round. It played as the hardest hole on the course, with 14 players recording a double bogey or worse.
"It's a terrible setup in my opinion: 600 yards straight into a 30 mile-per-hour wind," said Russell Knox, who bogeyed the hole to cap an even-par 72. "They could have easily moved us up a tee. I disagree with that hole today. But I hit three good shots, and three bad putts."
Scott Hend and Felipe Aguilar share the lead after rounds of 3-under 67.
Women think men could be spoiling Olympic future.
By Randall Mell
(Photo/Golf Channel)
So what do the women teeing it up at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open think of so many men dropping out of Olympic consideration?
“I’m thinking it may affect how golf will be re-evaluated, for future Olympics,” said Julieta Granada, who will represent Paraguay and carry the country’s flag in the opening ceremony. “Zika is a good reason. I’m not saying it isn’t, but do these decisions involve other factors? I think so, but I can’t really judge them on that. That’s their decision.”
Granada is concerned that the Olympic withdrawal of so many top male golfers may jeopardize future Olympic chances for women.“I don’t see how it couldn’t affect us,” Granada said.
Granada isn’t alone worrying women may see their Olympic future ended because so many top male players aren’t embracing it the way the women are. Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott are among 13 men who have withdrawn their names from Olympic consideration. So far, Lee-Anne Pace is the only woman who has announced she is withdrawing.
While golf is guaranteed to remain a part of the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo, Olympic officials will decide in 2017 whether the sport should remain a part of the Games after that.
“That's definitely there,” Stacy Lewis said of the threat. “It would be a shame if we weren't a part of the Olympics going forward.”
Rolex world No. 1 Lydia Ko is committed to going to Rio de Janeiro.
“No matter what, I’m going, if New Zealand sends me,” Ko said. “I’m super excited. On the women’s side, so many of the big names are still really excited to go.”
Count Americans Lexi Thompson and Lewis among that contingent. Both have committed to going. Lewis said only the development of some serious, unforeseen security concern could stop her.
“I think it’s the greatest sporting event ever, in history,” Lewis said.
Lewis says she understands why so many PGA Tour pros have reservations, even beyond their Zika concerns.
“It’s hard,” Lewis said. “Those guys play for so much money, and I think you kind of get lost in that at times. If I knew that I had the potential of a $10 million paycheck at the end of the year, I'd probably do my schedule a little bit different, too.
“You become a product of that environment. You have that opportunity to win that that money, you become a product of it. And you can't blame them for being that way. They are bread to be that way, with the amount of money that they play for.
“On our tour, while we have some pretty good paychecks, it's nowhere close to what those guys are playing for. So, to me, the opportunity to play in the Olympics, and to represent your country, is probably worth as much as winning a U.S. Women’s Open or winning an [ANA Inspiration] or winning any of those big majors. Winning a gold medal would be up there with winning a major championship, to me, and that's the difference of the men versus the women.”
Brexit-influenced drop in British pound lowers Open purse.
By Ryan Ballengee
The winner of next week’s British Open will win about $1.5 million — or approximately $246,750 less than that champion would have won before the Brexit vote.
The R&A announced the prize pool for the Open at Royal Troon on Tuesday, noting that the 2016 total purse went up £200,000 from 2015 to £6.5 million. However, the value of the British pound to the U.S. dollar has dropped precipitously since the June 23 referendum that resulted in a narrow victory for the United Kingdom to pursue an exit from the European Union.
In the resulting fallout, the pound has gone from approximately $1.50 to approximately $1.29 on July 5. That means the nearly $1.76 million the British Open winner would have earned pre-Brexit is no more.
During last year’s Open Championship, the British pound was worth about $1.53, making the total purse approximately $9.7 million. This year, despite the pound increase in the overall purse, the purse is now valued at approximately $8.4 million.
By comparison, the year’s first two major championships have offered a purse of $10 million, with the winner getting $1.8 million or the typical 18 percent paid in golf. The Players Championship has golf’s richest purse, coming in at $10.5 million.
NASCAR: NASCAR’s weekend schedule for Kentucky Speedway.
By Daniel McFadin
By Daniel McFadin
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
All three of NASCAR’s national touring series will be at Kentucky Speedway this weekend.
The Sprint Cup Series will hold the Quaker State 400, the Xfinity Series takes part in the Alsco 300 and the Camping World Truck Series begins the weekend with the Buckle Up Your Truck 225.
Here’s the full weekend schedule at Kentucky Speedway, including radio and TV info.
All times are Eastern.
Friday, July 8
9 a.m. – 10 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open
11 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Sprint Cup practice (Online at NBC Live Extra at 11
a.m. with NBCSN broadcasting the session at 11:45 a.m. after the Tour de France)
1:30 – 2:50 p.m. – Final Sprint Cup practice (NBCSN)
4:45 p.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (NBCSN)
6:15 p.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
6:45 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (NBCSN, Performance Racing Network), SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
8 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
8:30 p.m. – Alsco 300; 200 laps, 300 miles (NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, July 9
1:30 p.m.- Sprint Cup garage opens
5:30 p.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting
6:55 p.m. – Driver introductions
7:30 p.m. – Quaker State 400; 267 laps, 400.5 miles (NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
If you’re not near a TV, you can watch Sprint Cup and Xfinity online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.
If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.
Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.
Stewart needs Kentucky win for career NASCAR victory sweep.
By DAN GELSTON
The Sprint Cup Series will hold the Quaker State 400, the Xfinity Series takes part in the Alsco 300 and the Camping World Truck Series begins the weekend with the Buckle Up Your Truck 225.
Here’s the full weekend schedule at Kentucky Speedway, including radio and TV info.
All times are Eastern.
Friday, July 8
9 a.m. – 10 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open
11 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Sprint Cup practice (Online at NBC Live Extra at 11
a.m. with NBCSN broadcasting the session at 11:45 a.m. after the Tour de France)
1:30 – 2:50 p.m. – Final Sprint Cup practice (NBCSN)
4:45 p.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (NBCSN)
6:15 p.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
6:45 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (NBCSN, Performance Racing Network), SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
8 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
8:30 p.m. – Alsco 300; 200 laps, 300 miles (NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, July 9
1:30 p.m.- Sprint Cup garage opens
5:30 p.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting
6:55 p.m. – Driver introductions
7:30 p.m. – Quaker State 400; 267 laps, 400.5 miles (NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
If you’re not near a TV, you can watch Sprint Cup and Xfinity online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.
If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.
Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.
Stewart needs Kentucky win for career NASCAR victory sweep.
By DAN GELSTON
Tony Stewart, right, jokes with a crew member during practice for a NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. Now that he's got his first victory in over three years, Stewart is able to realistically set some goals for his final season as a NASCAR driver. First up: Cross Kentucky Speedway off the list of active tracks where he's never won. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Tony Stewart is down to his final try at Kentucky Speedway to complete a NASCAR track victory sweep.
The three-time champion has won at every track on the Sprint Cup schedule, with highs of five wins at Watkins Glen and four at Daytona (though not the 500) to one win at six tracks. His latest victory, and 49th overall in the Cup series, came two weeks ago at Sonoma Raceway and snapped an 84-race drought.
His skid at Kentucky isn't quite as lengthy: 0 for 5 dating to the track's inaugural race in 2011.
While Stewart has missed dozens of races the last three years because of injuries and the aftermath of a fatal accident in a sprint car race, he's never missed Kentucky - and just one lap led and no top 10s to show for his effort.
His start Saturday night will mark his 600th in Sprint Cup, good for 24th on the career list.
''While Kentucky doesn't sound like a big deal, when you want to try to win at every track on the schedule, that would make it a big deal,'' Stewart said. ''No matter what happens in the championship, I could say that was perfect.''
There is one caveat to the list - Stewart's lone win at Darlington Raceway came in the second-tier Xfinity series. He's never won at Darlington in 23 career Cup starts and has one more chance in the Southern 500 on Sept. 4.
There is one caveat to the list - Stewart's lone win at Darlington Raceway came in the second-tier Xfinity series. He's never won at Darlington in 23 career Cup starts and has one more chance in the Southern 500 on Sept. 4.
''Jeff Gordon can't say he won at every track he ran at so, if I could win those two in the dream season, that would be awesome for us,'' Stewart said. ''That's a second home track for me. It's closer to where I grew up than Chicago is. I've got a lot of friends who go down to the Kentucky race, so that would be nice to win in front of them.''
Kentucky Speedway is about 80 miles from Stewart's home in Columbus, Indiana, and there should be a strong contingent of Hoosiers on hand this weekend to watch him go for win No. 50.
Yes, the checkered flag would be a sweet accomplishment for the driver known as Smoke.
But he needs another solid finish to remain in the top 30 in driver points to earn a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He holds a three-point lead over Brian Scott for 30th. Stewart, who announced last year that 2016 would be his final season as a NASCAR driver, broke his back a week before the season opened and missed the first eight races before returning for a farewell tour.
He can return to race in any kind of series next season - and got a small taste of what is potentially ahead this week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Stewart, a two-time Brickyard 400 winner, turned a few laps on a dirt track oval built for him at IMS to honor his short-track racing career. IMS President Doug Boles invited several dirt midget drivers to the track on Tuesday to test out the temporary track.
''I don't think anybody that I know of ever dreamed that we'd see anything like this at IMS,'' Stewart said. ''This could be one of the coolest things that's ever happened to short track racing.''
Stewart received a milk jug of dirt as a souvenir from Boles.
''This is as close as I'm going to get to drinking milk here,'' Stewart said.
He'd come to Indy with his father as a child, dreaming of someday winning an Indianapolis 500. He once said he'd trade all his wins and trophies for just one victory at his beloved IMS. But instead of chugging the traditional milk after an Indy 500 victory, Stewart settled for two wins (2005, 2007) at the Brickyard in NASCAR.
Stewart has accomplished just about every available feat in NASCAR - and a win at Kentucky would make that list of goals that much shorter.
IT'S TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC
Xfinity driver Bubba Wallace was fined $15,000 by NASCAR on Wednesday for a critical tweet following the race at Daytona. Wallace, who had been penalized in the race for not keeping a reasonable speed under caution, was seemingly upset with how Aric Almirola was awarded the victory when the race ended under caution.
''Got the Muppets up there officiating tonight! Never know how to react under pressure... Whatta joke,'' Wallace tweeted.
Wallace's fans enjoyed the social media shot - the post had been retweeted more than 600 times and liked about 1,500 times as of Wednesday afternoon.
Wallace, who drives the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, will not appeal.
TOWNLEY INJURY
John Wes Townley is undergoing treatment for a possible concussion and will not race in Thursday night's NASCAR Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway.
The No. 05 Chevrolet will be driven by Parker Kligerman. Cole Custer will substitute for Townley in Saturday night's ARCA 150 at Iowa Speedway.
Townley hopes to return to competition at the NASCAR Truck race at Eldora Speedway on July 20. He has not raced since he fought Spencer Gallagher during the Truck Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park. Townley was fined $15,000 by NASCAR.
IT'S TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC
Xfinity driver Bubba Wallace was fined $15,000 by NASCAR on Wednesday for a critical tweet following the race at Daytona. Wallace, who had been penalized in the race for not keeping a reasonable speed under caution, was seemingly upset with how Aric Almirola was awarded the victory when the race ended under caution.
''Got the Muppets up there officiating tonight! Never know how to react under pressure... Whatta joke,'' Wallace tweeted.
Wallace's fans enjoyed the social media shot - the post had been retweeted more than 600 times and liked about 1,500 times as of Wednesday afternoon.
Wallace, who drives the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, will not appeal.
TOWNLEY INJURY
John Wes Townley is undergoing treatment for a possible concussion and will not race in Thursday night's NASCAR Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway.
The No. 05 Chevrolet will be driven by Parker Kligerman. Cole Custer will substitute for Townley in Saturday night's ARCA 150 at Iowa Speedway.
Townley hopes to return to competition at the NASCAR Truck race at Eldora Speedway on July 20. He has not raced since he fought Spencer Gallagher during the Truck Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park. Townley was fined $15,000 by NASCAR.
SOCCER: Michael de Leeuw 'excited' to make Fire debut.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
After a long courting process and a few weeks of training with the Fire before he could play, Michael de Leeuw is set to make his Fire debut on Saturday.
The Dutch forward became eligible once Major League Soccer’s summer transfer window opened on the Fourth of July. Now de Leeuw can join the Fire attack for the match in Toronto.
“I’m excited,” de Leeuw said after training on Wednesday. “This is what the last weeks I trained for. I knew that after Fourth of July I was capable of playing so now I’m available and I hope to make some minutes Saturday and show my skills to MLS.”
The 29-year-old has been training with the Fire since the middle of June, but has been forced to watch the team’s past five matches. He said this week’s training has been different for him because he knows he can suit up to play the next match.
“That’s frustrating, but I knew it before I signed,” de Leeuw said. “So I knew how it was, but still it’s frustrating because you trained the whole week before you prepare for the game. If you can’t play then you train different. This week was different. I know I can play so I want to give a hope Saturday that I can play and give everything for the team.”
Coach Veljko Paunovic said on Tuesday that de Leeuw will be in the team’s roster, but wouldn’t give a clue as to how much de Leeuw will play or how he will be used.
Will he start? Will he come off the bench? How will he line up in the Fire’s formation?
“We are working on that,” Paunovic said. “It is good for us to have options and for sure we will use all our resources offensively in order to improve our performance in attack.”
The bigger question in the long-run will be how de Leeuw fits in tactically. The team is as healthy as it has been all season with every player expected to be available in Toronto.
David Accam and Kennedy Igboananike are the two other forwards on the roster. Neither is a true hold-up type forward and Accam is more of a winger. If you ask de Leeuw he will say he isn’t either. In his introductory press conference he described himself as a cross between a playmaker and a true striker.
Does that mean de Leeuw will slide somewhat underneath Igboananike with Accam still playing wide? Will Igboananike go the bench to make way for de Leeuw? That may not be answered even on Saturday with de Leeuw probably not at full match fitness.
“I don’t know, that’s a decision the trainer has to make,” de Leeuw said. “I think I always can play so for me it’s no problem, but that’s a choice the trainer has to make, not me.”
As for de Leeuw’s off the field adjustment, he has an apartment in Chicago and is settling into the city. He also spent the Fourth of July with Dutch teammates John Goossens and Johan Kappelhof.
“Me and my girlfriend went to the beach,” de Leeuw said. “After that we went shopping in the city and then with Johan and John we watched the fireworks with their families.”
Fire fans will be hoping de Leeuw can create some fireworks of his own on the field starting Saturday.
Electric Griezmann leads host France past Germany, into EURO final.
By Nicholas Mendola
Fire fans will be hoping de Leeuw can create some fireworks of his own on the field starting Saturday.
Electric Griezmann leads host France past Germany, into EURO final.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Antoine Griezmann scored a goal in each half to push hosts France into the EURO 2016 final following a 2-0 win over Germany on Thursday.
The final will be Sunday, with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff pitting Portugal and France in Saint-Denis.
The Marseille crowd was euphoric, cocky and buzzing, even proffering “Ole” chants on Germany, a rarity to be sure.
Germany controlled the first half but Bastian Schweinsteiger conceded a penalty kick via handball, and Griezmann buried his chance to give France a 1-0 halftime lead.
The match began with the pace and fun you’d expect from two wildly talented teams, and Olivier Giroud teed up Griezmann for a strike that required Manuel Neuer to get low for a solid save.
At the other end, Hugo Lloris came up big in stopping a Emre Can bouncing half-volley in the 14th minute.
Neuer was wise to a dipping free kick from Dimitri Payet in the 25th minute, with the Bayern Munich man getting low to collect the West Ham man’s blast.
France would have another chance just over 10 minutes later, as Can picked up a yellow card for a foul about 30 yards out from goal. It was Pogba this time, but Neuer was there again.
Giroud had a 40-yard run with the ball that showed why he normally isn’t in those pacy situations, with the German defense catching up just in time to intervene.
Germany was out of sorts in the second half, struggling mightily to adapt to playing from behind. Griezmann capitalized, scooting into the box to push a loose ball beyond Neuer.
Moments later, Germany came close to answering right back through Joshua Kimmich. The back’s curling shot met the upper 90’s intersection and bounded away.
France countered with furor as Germany pushed for a goal, and Griezmann had a look at a hat trick thwarted by the pull of a defender.
Lloris made an incredible save on an in-tight Kimmich header in stoppage time.
Portugal defeat Wales 2-0 to reach EURO 2016 final.
By Kyle Lynch
(Photo/Getty Images)
Two quickfire goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani led Portugal to a 2-0 win over Wales to clinch a spot in the EURO 2016 final.
Wales’ first appearance at a European Championship ended in Lyon on Wednesday night, but the tournament will be remembered as a great success for Welsh football. Portugal will face the winner of Germany vs. France in the final.
Both sides were missing key players, with Portugal’s starting center-back Pepe out through injury, while Wales’ midfield playmaker Aaron Ramsey was suspended through yellow card accumulation.
The first half was a rather cautious 45 minutes with neither side wanting to make a mistake. Wales surprisingly held more possession than Portugal, as Gareth Bale fired the only shot on goal for either side.
After a slow start to the match, Portugal turned things up in the second half, scoring twice in three minutes to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
Off a short corner in the 50th minute, Raphael Guerreiro whipped in a cross from the left wing that found Cristiano Ronaldo at the back post, who rose high over his defender to power a perfect header into the back of the net. It was Ronaldo’s ninth-career goal at the European Championships, tying France’s Michel Platini for the most of all-time.
Just three minutes later Ronaldo was involved in the action again, his scuffed shot turning into an assist. Ronaldo’s mishit from twenty yards out was going wide of goal, but Nani got in behind his defender to deflect the shot past Hennessey as Portugal went up 2-0.
Wales would quickly use all three of their substitutions to try and get back in the match, but the Welsh failed to truly test Rui Patricio in goal.
Portugal reach their second-ever European Championship final, having lost to Greece in the 2004 final. Their opponent will be determined on Thursday as Germany and France play in Marseille.
Jurgen Klinsmann: U.S. players must 'throw themselves in the shark tank'.
(Photo/CNN)
Jurgen Klinsmann is one of the most polarizing soccer coaches in the world. Many passionately support his drive to improve the performances of his players and his teams, while others are vociferously opposed to all the moving and shaking he does.
But he is also arguably one of the most successful coaches as well. The German will this month celebrate his fifth anniversary coaching the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team as statistically the best it has ever had -- with 52 victories and 14 draws in 90 games since he took charge on July 29, 2011.
That 56.7% winning record might only just slightly eclipse those of his recent predecessors but, as global connoisseurs of the game are well aware, it is all the more impressive considering Klinsmann has deliberately scheduled as many risk-filled exhibition games as possible against the world's best teams -- in order to get his players conditioned for a run towards a World Cup semifinal or final one day.
But he is also arguably one of the most successful coaches as well. The German will this month celebrate his fifth anniversary coaching the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team as statistically the best it has ever had -- with 52 victories and 14 draws in 90 games since he took charge on July 29, 2011.
That 56.7% winning record might only just slightly eclipse those of his recent predecessors but, as global connoisseurs of the game are well aware, it is all the more impressive considering Klinsmann has deliberately scheduled as many risk-filled exhibition games as possible against the world's best teams -- in order to get his players conditioned for a run towards a World Cup semifinal or final one day.
After helping set Germany on an incredibly successful path of reaching at least the semifinals of the last seven tournaments it has played since 2005, with reforms he implemented as national coach from 2004-06, Klinsmann has also helped the USMNT punch above its weight in its last two major tournaments.
Last month the U.S. reached the semifinals of the 16-team Copa America on home soil, beating Costa Rica, Paraguay and Ecuador before losing to Lionel Messi's Argentina.
NCAAFB: Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry to renew in 2018, report says.
The Sporting News
(Photo/Sporting News)
One of the most storied rivalries in college football may be getting the green light to make its long-awaited return.
According to Sports Illustrated, the Michigan-Notre Dame football series is set to resume in 2018. The exact dates and locations of the future matchups are expected in a formal announcement Thursday.
SI reported a formal announcement is expected to come Thursday.
The annual Michigan-Notre Dame series died in 2014, but seemingly everyone wants it back, including new Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel. The school also reportedly dropped the opening home game of the 2018 season against Arkansas.
"I think it's not only great for Michigan and Notre Dame football. I think it's great for college football for that rivalry to continue at some point in the future," Manuel said in March. "I've been involved in scheduling football for almost two decades now and you can always try to find ways to put things together."
The two classic powers last played two years ago. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbick announced the end of the annual series prior to the 2012 game before the two, but Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly have both expressed interest in rekindling the rivalry.
The programs have played one another 42 times since 1887 with Michigan holding a 24-17-1 edge. The teams played each other annually from 2002-14.
NCAABKB: Power 5 commissioners propose more time off for athletes
Associated Press
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Power Five conference commissioners want to change NCAA rules to give college athletes more time away from team activities, including no longer counting travel as an off day, a mandatory seven-day break after the season and an additional 14 off days from athletic activity during the academic year.
The agreement in concept was announced Thursday by the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference. The leagues said they believed they had found the “right balance” to help tens of thousands of athletes.
The conferences could vote to turn the proposals into NCAA bylaws next January.
College sports leaders have been looking into changes to ease the time demands on athletes for several years.
The agreement in concept was announced Thursday by the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference. The leagues said they believed they had found the “right balance” to help tens of thousands of athletes.
The conferences could vote to turn the proposals into NCAA bylaws next January.
College sports leaders have been looking into changes to ease the time demands on athletes for several years.
1 more for No. 22: Serena Williams powers to Wimbledon final.
Associated Press
Associated Press
(Photo/Getty Images)
Serena Williams is once again one victory from her record-equaling 22nd Grand Slam title after powering her way into the Wimbledon final.
In control from start to finish, Williams needed all of 48 minutes to overwhelm Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday in a semifinal that felt more like a training session.
Except Williams probably gets more of a workout when she practices.
“It’s never easy out there,” the No. 1-seeded Williams said in an interview with the BBC after leaving Centre Court.
Sure looked easy.
Williams’ serve was in fine form, reaching 123 mph and producing 11 aces against the 50th-ranked Vesnina, who was participating in her first major semifinal and trying to become the first unseeded woman to reach the title match at the All England Club in the Open era.
Williams won 28 of 31 points that she served, including the last 17. She compiled a 28-9 edge in total winners.
Since winning her sixth Wimbledon trophy a year ago to raise her career count to 21 majors, Williams has come quite close to tying Steffi Graf with 22, the most in the Open era, which began in 1968 (Margaret Court holds the all-time mark of 24). But Williams was surprisingly beaten by Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals last September, by Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final this January, and by Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final last month.
Now Williams has given herself yet another chance to catch Graf.
“Obviously, I’m 0 for 2, so determined to get at least one this year,” Williams said.
She never gave Vesnina a chance to pull off the sort of semifinal stunner that Vinci did last year in New York, stopping Williams from completing the first calendar-year Grand Slam since Graf did it in 1988.
Jumping out to a big lead right away and never relenting, the 34-year-old Williams had Vesnina looking defeated after all of 12 points. That’s when, after sprinting for a forehand that landed in the net, the Russian leaned over, sighed and slumped her shoulders.
There would be plenty more of that sort of body language from Vesnina, a two-time Wimbledon runner-up in doubles who was to face Serena and her older sister Venus in the quarterfinals of that event later in the day.
In the second singles semifinal Thursday, the eighth-seeded Venus was to face Kerber, a German who is seeded No. 4.
This is the 11th Grand Slam tournament at which both Williams siblings reached the semifinals; one or the other wound up with the title on each of the previous 10 occasions. That includes four past meetings in the Wimbledon final.
The 36-year-old Venus is the oldest Grand Slam semifinalist since Martina Navratilova made the 1994 Wimbledon final at age 37.
If Venus could beat Kerber, Serena said, “It would be great. Then we would be guaranteed to have a Williams on the trophy. That’s the ultimate goal for, I think, both of us.”
Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 6 years in prison for murder.
Associated Press
(Photo/Getty Images)
Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympian described by a judge as a “fallen hero,” was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in a South African prison for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a ruling viewed by some as too lenient.
However, Judge Thokozile Masipa appeared to anticipate criticism of a jail term that fell far short of the normally mandated 15 years for murder under South African law, declaring: “Our courts are courts of law, not courts of public opinion.”
Pistorius, who shot Steenkamp through the door of a toilet cubicle in his home in 2013, was asked to stand and face Masipa as she announced his sentence in a wood-paneled courtroom in the South African capital, Pretoria. He was calm after the ruling, embracing his aunt and tearful sister before being led down a courtroom staircase to a holding cell ahead of being taken to prison.
Later, a convoy of police cars with lights flashing and sirens wailing left a side entrance of the courthouse. In the convoy was a van with tinted windows, possibly carrying Pistorius.
The sentencing was the latest act of a three-and-a-half year legal drama that has often played out on live television and shown the fall from grace of a runner once viewed as an inspiration to many for overcoming his disability. Both of Pistorius’ legs were amputated below the knees when he was 11 months old because of a congenital defect.
He made history by competing at the 2012 Olympics on his carbon-fiber running blades, and was one of the world’s most recognizable athletes.
“He’s a fallen hero, he has lost his career and he is ruined financially,” said Masipa, who originally convicted Pistorius of manslaughter, a ruling that was overturned by an appeals court that instead convicted him of murder and sent the case back to her for sentencing.
In explaining the sentence, Masipa said there are “substantial and compelling circumstances” to show leniency toward Pistorius because he is a “good candidate for rehabilitation,” is unlikely to commit another crime and had shown what appeared to be genuine remorse over Steenkamp’s death.
However, Judge Thokozile Masipa appeared to anticipate criticism of a jail term that fell far short of the normally mandated 15 years for murder under South African law, declaring: “Our courts are courts of law, not courts of public opinion.”
Pistorius, who shot Steenkamp through the door of a toilet cubicle in his home in 2013, was asked to stand and face Masipa as she announced his sentence in a wood-paneled courtroom in the South African capital, Pretoria. He was calm after the ruling, embracing his aunt and tearful sister before being led down a courtroom staircase to a holding cell ahead of being taken to prison.
Later, a convoy of police cars with lights flashing and sirens wailing left a side entrance of the courthouse. In the convoy was a van with tinted windows, possibly carrying Pistorius.
The sentencing was the latest act of a three-and-a-half year legal drama that has often played out on live television and shown the fall from grace of a runner once viewed as an inspiration to many for overcoming his disability. Both of Pistorius’ legs were amputated below the knees when he was 11 months old because of a congenital defect.
He made history by competing at the 2012 Olympics on his carbon-fiber running blades, and was one of the world’s most recognizable athletes.
“He’s a fallen hero, he has lost his career and he is ruined financially,” said Masipa, who originally convicted Pistorius of manslaughter, a ruling that was overturned by an appeals court that instead convicted him of murder and sent the case back to her for sentencing.
In explaining the sentence, Masipa said there are “substantial and compelling circumstances” to show leniency toward Pistorius because he is a “good candidate for rehabilitation,” is unlikely to commit another crime and had shown what appeared to be genuine remorse over Steenkamp’s death.
Pistorius, 29, maintained he killed Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and reality TV star, by mistake thinking she was an intruder hiding in the bathroom early on Valentine’s Day 2013. Prosecutors alleged that he killed her intentionally after the couple argued.
Part of the difficulty for the judge in determining an appropriate sentence was that the Supreme Court convicted Pistorius of murder with “indirect intent.” Pistorius was found guilty because he knew someone might die — even an intruder — when he shot. As Masipa noted, the Supreme Court did not find that Pistorius knew he was firing at Steenkamp.
Pistorius will be eligible to apply for parole after three years, according to legal experts. Prosecutors, who had asked that he be sentenced to 15 years in prison, can appeal for a heavier sentence but have yet to comment on whether they will do so.
“The family accepts the judgment,” Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family, said outside the courthouse.
The Steenkamp family did not criticize the sentence. “The family has said it before they wanted the law to run its course. It has done so. No further comment. They will keep a dignified silence,” said Dup de Bruyn, the Steenkamp family representative.
Legal expert Marius du Toit described the sentence as “lenient but not wrong.”
Some people who gathered outside the courthouse were critical.
“The law didn’t take its course,” said Dukes Masanabo, a South African sports official who had hoped Pistorius would be sentenced to 10 to 12 years, not six.
He said the sentence is too light because Pistorius was sentenced to almost the same sentence — five years — for his earlier manslaughter conviction. He served one year of that sentence before being place under house arrest at his uncle’s mansion in Pretoria, and he had some freedom of movement outside the home during certain hours.
The time that Pistorius already served in prison is not subtracted from his new sentence, which may have contributed to the judge’s relatively lenient decision, say legal experts.
Another South African, Sarah Maete, said she wanted Pistorius to get the full 15 years in prison for murder.
“It’s not enough,” she said.
In delivering her sentence, Masipa referred to the difficulties she faced in deciding a sentence that “satisfies every relevant interest” in a case that captured the world’s attention and led to extremes of opinion over the celebrated athlete. She noted that Pistorius had fired four times — not once — through the closed toilet door and spoke of the devastating effect the crime had on Steenkamp’s family.
Ultimately, “mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating factors,” the judge said.
Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and June, were present in the courtroom, which was packed with relatives of both Pistorius and Steenkamp, journalists and other observers.
Pistorius’ defense lawyers had asked for no jail time at all, saying he should be allowed to do charity work with children.
Ulrich Roux, a South African lawyer and commentator who is not involved in the Pistorius case, said it had opened a window for South Africans into how their justice system works, including cross-examination and how a judge reaches a decision.
He said: “It’s been a huge learning curve for our society.”
Tour De France: Stage 7, Pyrenees, here we are.
Le Tour France
(Photo/Le Tour France)
The run in to the mountains is radically different from last year when Chris Froome put an end to the eventual suspense atop the first climb of the Tour de France at La Pierre-Saint-Martin. The first mountain stage is quite light with only the col d'Aspin on the menu, preceding a 7-km downhill to the unprecedented finish at Lac de Payolle. Col d'Aspin is one of the giants of the Pyrenees but definitely not the hardest with 12km of climbing at an average gradient of 6.5%. Is it too hard for Greg Van Avermaet to keep the yellow jersey? It all depends on how much the GC contenders will fight, possibly way behind the long breakaway. Up to the Pas de Peyrol on Wednesday, Movistar showed they're in a hurry to challenge Chris Froome and Team Sky. They might be inspired to put pressure on the defending champion without waiting for the two grueling Pyrenean stages as the downhill of col d'Aspin is likely to shake up the overall classification even more than the uphill. It's just a taste of the high mountains but it could give a bitter after taste to some of the protagonists and it'll say more about Alberto Contador's recovery after he badly crashed twice in the first two stages.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1953 - Notre Dame announced that the next five years of its football games would be shown in theatres over closed circuit TV.
1970 - The Jim Ray Hart (San Francisco Giants) became the first National League player in 59 seasons to collect six runs batted (RBI) during a single inning.
2003 - Dominik Hasek announced that he planned to come out of retirement and rejoin the Detroit Red Wings.
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