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"Sports Quote of the Day"
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” ~ Harry Truman, 33rd President of the United States of America
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” ~ Harry Truman, 33rd President of the United States of America
Trending: 1. Jay Cutler is not the cause of the Chicago Bears' problems, and here's the proof, 2. Breaking down the Bears’ training camp roster from Player 1 to 88, 3. John Fox, Bears coaches balancing workload with injury risk as training camp convenes and 4. Going to Bears Training Camp ’16 in Bourbonnais? Remember these four tips. (See the football section for Bears and NFL updates).
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Trending: Blackhawks' scout advantage is one way to spend beyond the pesky salary cap. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks and NHL updates).
Trending: Bulls: Three ways Hoiberg can effectively juggle his odd-fitting roster. (See the basketball section for Bulls and NBA updates).
Trending: Even if winning takes time, Illini right to be excited about Lovie Smith's arrival. (See the college football section for Northwestern, Illinois and NCAA football updates).
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 59-40
White Sox 2016 Record: 50-50
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Jay Cutler is not the cause of the Chicago Bears' problems, and here's the proof.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Jay Cutler is not the cause of the Chicago Bears' problems, and here's the proof.
By Steven Ruiz and Luke Kerr-Dineen
(Photo/FORTHEWIN.COM)
It’s been five years since the Chicago Bears last made the playoffs, and a lot of the blame for that drought has been placed squarely on QB Jay Cutler and the massive seven-year, $126 million contract he signed after the 2013 season.
While the Bears haven’t won much of anything since the team traded for Cutler in 2009 — save for one NFC North title back in 2010 — we can’t simply pin Chicago’s failures on the quarterback.
Graphics by Steven Ruiz
QBR is one of the better available metrics when it comes to correlating with team success. But that’s not the case with Cutler and the Bears. Here’s how the team has fared compared to Cutler’s individual success:
Graphics by Steven Ruiz
The correlation (.0017) is statistically insignificant. It’s as if Cutler’s performance doesn’t affect how many games the team wins or loses, which is remarkable considering the importance of the quarterback position in the modern NFL.
The stretch from 2012 to 2013 illustrates how little Cutler’s performance has impacted the Bears’ win total. He had one of his worst statistical seasons in 2012, but the team still won two-thirds of his starts. In 2013, by far the best season of his career, Chicago couldn’t even make it to .500.
So what has been the deciding factor for the Bears during Cutler’s time in Chicago? The answer is defense, and overwhelmingly so. Here’s how the Bears’ winning percentage in games started by Cutler correlates with the defense’s league rank:
Graphics by Steven Ruiz
A .72 correlation is ridiculously high considering that a defense is only on the field for about half the game, on average.
Essentially, when the Bears defense is good, the Bears are good, regardless of what Jay Cutler does. And since Lovie Smith was fired after the 2012 season, the defense hasn’t been very good. Stalwarts like Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman either retired or just got old, and injuries ravaged the front seven, forcing Chicago to play inexperienced backups in key roles.
This does not totally absolve Cutler of the Bears recent struggles. His gigantic cap hit certainly affects the team’s ability to build a competent defense. And it calls into his question his standing as a franchise quarterback. The best quarterbacks in the league are able to elevate their teams into playoff contention every year, and Cutler has not been able to do that.
Of course it’s not too late for Cutler to develop into one of those guys. He actually took some vital steps toward that status in 2015, when his presence in the pocket and ability to navigate tight areas while keep his eyes downfield vastly improved. He still needs cut down on mental mistakes and could take more ownership of the offense before the snap.
If Cutler can take those developmental steps late into his career, he’d be more than just a non-problem for the Bears. He’d be a solution.
Breaking down the Bears’ training camp roster from Player 1 to 88.
By Patrick Finley
By Patrick Finley
Bears players know what to expect entering John Fox’s second camp.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be questions when the team reports to Olivet Nazarene University on Wednesday. They have to replace stars Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett, fine-tune a defense that might be half-filled with new starters, and help Kevin White adjust to life as a healthy NFL player.
Here’s how we handicap all players — the Bears are two short of the maximum — and their chances of making the 53-man roster:
Quarterback
They’ll likely keep: 3
They’re in: Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer
They’re on the bubble: David Fales
They’re out: Connor Shaw
Battle to watch: Fales vs. Shaw. The Bears could keep both if Fales makes the 53-man roster and Shaw, claimed from the Browns this offseason, heads to the practice squad. Fox prefers to keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, though.
The big number: 22 — Starts for Hoyer the past two years, including nine last season in Houston. Jimmy Clausen, the Bears’ No. 2 last August, had one start in the past four seasons.
He said it: “He gives us a guy who has played in the league and has a winning record as a starter.” — offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, on Hoyer’s 15-11 record
Running backs
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard, Ka’Deem Carey
They’re on the bubble: Jacquizz Rodgers, Paul Lasike (fullback)
They’re out: Senorise Perry
Battle to watch: Langford vs. the dropsies. No NFL running back dropped as many passes as Langford’s eight last season, despite being targeted only targeted 40 times.
The big number: 2.7 — Per Pro Football Focus, Langford’s 2.7 yards per carry against base defenses was the worst mark in the league.
He said it: “I can be a short-yardage back, I can be an every-down back. I can be whatever they need me to be.” — Howard
Wide receivers
They’ll likely keep: 6
They’re in: Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White, Eddie Royal, Josh Bellamy
They’re on the bubble: Marc Mariani, Daniel Braverman, Cameron Meredith, Deonte Thompson, Marquess Wilson (likely to open season on PUP list with broken left foot).
They’re out: Kieren Duncan, Derek Keaton, Darrin Peterson
Battle to watch: Jeffery vs. the contract. Playing under a $14.59 million franchise tag, Jeffery will make his case for a lucrative, long-term deal. But what happens if his targets suffer because of White’s presence? Or he gets hurt? Or tires of the questioning?
The big number: 11 — Third downs converted on passes to Mariani last season, accounting for half his catches.
He said it: “He reminded me of Andre Johnson; I would say very similar to him. Hands similar to Reggie Wayne.” — New receivers coach Curtis Johnson, on White
Tight ends
They’ll likely keep: 3
They’re in: Zach Miller
They’re on the bubble: Khari Lee, Tony Moeaki, Rob Housler, Ben Braunecker
They’re out: Greg Scruggs, Gannon Sinclair, Joe Sommers
Battle to watch: Veterans vs. the Ghost of Martellus Bennett. Moeaki and Housler combined for 78 catches and 870 yards … in 2012. The Bears did little to replace Bennett after trading him to the Patriots, so they’re hoping one turns back time. If not, they’ll try to find one via trade or after cuts are made.
The big number: 8 — Beside Miller, the rest of the Bears’ tight end room combined for eight receptions last year.
He said it: “There’s not any more added pressure than what I could have put on myself last year, as far as when (Bennett) was here.” — Miller
Offensive line
They’ll likely keep: 8
They’re in: Kyle Long, Bobby Massie, Hroniss Grasu, Charles Leno, Cody Whitehair, Ted Larsen
They’re on the bubble: Nick Becton, Jason Weaver, Cornelius Edison, Amini Silatolu
They’re out: Adrian Ballard, John Kling, Martin Wallace, Donovan Williams
Battle to watch: Whitehair vs. Larsen. The Bears think Whitehair, with a good camp, could start from Day 1. He started at left guard with Larsen — who can play center, too, if the Bears are displeased with Grasu — hurt during mandatory minicamp.
The big number: 2 — Retirees since June: center Manny Ramirez and tackle Nate Chandler. The Bears lack depth at swing tackle.
He said it: “For a young player, like Cody is, it’s been really good for him, and he did a really good job with those opportunities.” — Fox
Defense
Defensive line
They’ll likely keep: 6
They’re in: Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Jonathan Bullard, Mitch Unrein
They’re on the bubble: Ego Ferguson, Will Sutton, Cornelius Washington, Terry Williams
They’re out: Marquis Jackson, Keith Browner
Battle to watch: Ferguson vs. Sutton — Both made the team out of camp last year, only for Ferguson to suffer the twin indignities of a season-ending knee injury and a performance enhancing drug suspension. Ferguson looked good in the offseason, though; could the team keep both?
The big number: 33 5/8 — In inches, the measurement of Bullard’s arms, one reason Pace thinks the third-rounder can be successful.
He said it: “He’s a mountain. You can’t move him.” — Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, on Hicks
Outside linebackers
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Pernell McPhee, Willie Young, Lamarr Houston, Leonard Floyd
They’re on the bubble: Sam Acho, Christian Jones
They’re out: Roy Robertson-Harris
Battle to watch: Young vs. his next contract. The Bears negotiated with Young, who is entering the final year of his deal, in June. He said he’d like to stay, but the Bears could find takers in a 4-3 system if they look to make a deal.
The big number: 57.6 — Percent of snaps played by McPhee, who nursed a knee injury last year, had offseason surgery and could be limited at the start of camp.
He said it: “I believe I can add weight and still be as fast as I am.” — Floyd, the first-round pick, on criticism of his slight build.
Inside linebackers
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Nick Kwiatkoski
They’re on the bubble: Jonathan Anderson, John Timu, Lamin Barrow
They’re out: Jarrett Grace
Battle to watch: Who can play special teams? Timu impressed at the end of last season, recovering two fumbles in Week 16, but he, along with Anderson and Barrow, will need to be a special teams force to earn a roster spot.
The big number: 71 percent — Trevathan and Freeman have combined to win 71 percent of their career games.
He said it: “It’s good having a guy like that beside you that can do it all, and you trust. — Freeman, on Trevathan
Cornerbacks
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller, Deiondre’ Hall, Bryce Callahan
They’re on the bubble: Sherrick McManis
They’re out: Jacoby Glenn, Taveze Calhoun, Kevin Peterson, De’Vante Bausby
Battle to watch: Callahan vs. sample size. Callahan played 292 of his 322 snaps in the final eight games, and, when healthy, looked like a revelation. Can it hold up?
The big number: 1 — Time in his eight-year career, before last season, the oft-injured Porter started 13 or more games
He said it: “I feel like Kyle’s a guy that got more comfortable in the defense and got more confidence.” — GM Ryan Pace
Safeties
They’ll likely keep: 4
They’re in: Adrian Amos, Harold Jones-Quartey, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson
They’re on the bubble: Chris Prosinski, Demontre Hurst
They’re out: N/A
Battle to watch: Bears vs. experience. The Bears figure to pair Bush, a rookie, or Harold Jones-Quartey, who has four career starts, alongside Amos.
The big number: 146 — Career starts by Antrel Rolle, who the Bears cut this offseason. He said it: “He had his [right] shoulder fixed a little bit, which we think will make a better player, being able to play freer at full range of his shoulder.” — defensive backs coach Ed Donatell, on Amos
Specialists
They’ll likely keep: 3
They’re in: K Robbie Gould, P Pat O’Donnell, LS Aaron Brewer
They’re on the bubble: LS Patrick Scales
They’re out: P Ben LeCompte
Battle to watch: Brewer vs. Scales. The former started every game for the last four years in Denver, the first three under Fox.
The big number: 4 — Pounds Gould hoped to gain over the offseason, up to 191, to help improve his strength.
He said it: “It’s just, you’re in a bad-weather place. So you’re not going to kick touchbacks all the time.” — Gould, on the NFL pushing kickoffs up to the 35-yard line.
Quarterback
They’ll likely keep: 3
They’re in: Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer
They’re on the bubble: David Fales
They’re out: Connor Shaw
Battle to watch: Fales vs. Shaw. The Bears could keep both if Fales makes the 53-man roster and Shaw, claimed from the Browns this offseason, heads to the practice squad. Fox prefers to keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, though.
The big number: 22 — Starts for Hoyer the past two years, including nine last season in Houston. Jimmy Clausen, the Bears’ No. 2 last August, had one start in the past four seasons.
He said it: “He gives us a guy who has played in the league and has a winning record as a starter.” — offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, on Hoyer’s 15-11 record
Running backs
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard, Ka’Deem Carey
They’re on the bubble: Jacquizz Rodgers, Paul Lasike (fullback)
They’re out: Senorise Perry
Battle to watch: Langford vs. the dropsies. No NFL running back dropped as many passes as Langford’s eight last season, despite being targeted only targeted 40 times.
The big number: 2.7 — Per Pro Football Focus, Langford’s 2.7 yards per carry against base defenses was the worst mark in the league.
He said it: “I can be a short-yardage back, I can be an every-down back. I can be whatever they need me to be.” — Howard
Wide receivers
They’ll likely keep: 6
They’re in: Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White, Eddie Royal, Josh Bellamy
They’re on the bubble: Marc Mariani, Daniel Braverman, Cameron Meredith, Deonte Thompson, Marquess Wilson (likely to open season on PUP list with broken left foot).
They’re out: Kieren Duncan, Derek Keaton, Darrin Peterson
Battle to watch: Jeffery vs. the contract. Playing under a $14.59 million franchise tag, Jeffery will make his case for a lucrative, long-term deal. But what happens if his targets suffer because of White’s presence? Or he gets hurt? Or tires of the questioning?
The big number: 11 — Third downs converted on passes to Mariani last season, accounting for half his catches.
He said it: “He reminded me of Andre Johnson; I would say very similar to him. Hands similar to Reggie Wayne.” — New receivers coach Curtis Johnson, on White
Tight ends
They’ll likely keep: 3
They’re in: Zach Miller
They’re on the bubble: Khari Lee, Tony Moeaki, Rob Housler, Ben Braunecker
They’re out: Greg Scruggs, Gannon Sinclair, Joe Sommers
Battle to watch: Veterans vs. the Ghost of Martellus Bennett. Moeaki and Housler combined for 78 catches and 870 yards … in 2012. The Bears did little to replace Bennett after trading him to the Patriots, so they’re hoping one turns back time. If not, they’ll try to find one via trade or after cuts are made.
The big number: 8 — Beside Miller, the rest of the Bears’ tight end room combined for eight receptions last year.
He said it: “There’s not any more added pressure than what I could have put on myself last year, as far as when (Bennett) was here.” — Miller
Offensive line
They’ll likely keep: 8
They’re in: Kyle Long, Bobby Massie, Hroniss Grasu, Charles Leno, Cody Whitehair, Ted Larsen
They’re on the bubble: Nick Becton, Jason Weaver, Cornelius Edison, Amini Silatolu
They’re out: Adrian Ballard, John Kling, Martin Wallace, Donovan Williams
Battle to watch: Whitehair vs. Larsen. The Bears think Whitehair, with a good camp, could start from Day 1. He started at left guard with Larsen — who can play center, too, if the Bears are displeased with Grasu — hurt during mandatory minicamp.
The big number: 2 — Retirees since June: center Manny Ramirez and tackle Nate Chandler. The Bears lack depth at swing tackle.
He said it: “For a young player, like Cody is, it’s been really good for him, and he did a really good job with those opportunities.” — Fox
Defense
Defensive line
They’ll likely keep: 6
They’re in: Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Jonathan Bullard, Mitch Unrein
They’re on the bubble: Ego Ferguson, Will Sutton, Cornelius Washington, Terry Williams
They’re out: Marquis Jackson, Keith Browner
Battle to watch: Ferguson vs. Sutton — Both made the team out of camp last year, only for Ferguson to suffer the twin indignities of a season-ending knee injury and a performance enhancing drug suspension. Ferguson looked good in the offseason, though; could the team keep both?
The big number: 33 5/8 — In inches, the measurement of Bullard’s arms, one reason Pace thinks the third-rounder can be successful.
He said it: “He’s a mountain. You can’t move him.” — Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, on Hicks
Outside linebackers
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Pernell McPhee, Willie Young, Lamarr Houston, Leonard Floyd
They’re on the bubble: Sam Acho, Christian Jones
They’re out: Roy Robertson-Harris
Battle to watch: Young vs. his next contract. The Bears negotiated with Young, who is entering the final year of his deal, in June. He said he’d like to stay, but the Bears could find takers in a 4-3 system if they look to make a deal.
The big number: 57.6 — Percent of snaps played by McPhee, who nursed a knee injury last year, had offseason surgery and could be limited at the start of camp.
He said it: “I believe I can add weight and still be as fast as I am.” — Floyd, the first-round pick, on criticism of his slight build.
Inside linebackers
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Nick Kwiatkoski
They’re on the bubble: Jonathan Anderson, John Timu, Lamin Barrow
They’re out: Jarrett Grace
Battle to watch: Who can play special teams? Timu impressed at the end of last season, recovering two fumbles in Week 16, but he, along with Anderson and Barrow, will need to be a special teams force to earn a roster spot.
The big number: 71 percent — Trevathan and Freeman have combined to win 71 percent of their career games.
He said it: “It’s good having a guy like that beside you that can do it all, and you trust. — Freeman, on Trevathan
Cornerbacks
They’ll likely keep: 5
They’re in: Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller, Deiondre’ Hall, Bryce Callahan
They’re on the bubble: Sherrick McManis
They’re out: Jacoby Glenn, Taveze Calhoun, Kevin Peterson, De’Vante Bausby
Battle to watch: Callahan vs. sample size. Callahan played 292 of his 322 snaps in the final eight games, and, when healthy, looked like a revelation. Can it hold up?
The big number: 1 — Time in his eight-year career, before last season, the oft-injured Porter started 13 or more games
He said it: “I feel like Kyle’s a guy that got more comfortable in the defense and got more confidence.” — GM Ryan Pace
Safeties
They’ll likely keep: 4
They’re in: Adrian Amos, Harold Jones-Quartey, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson
They’re on the bubble: Chris Prosinski, Demontre Hurst
They’re out: N/A
Battle to watch: Bears vs. experience. The Bears figure to pair Bush, a rookie, or Harold Jones-Quartey, who has four career starts, alongside Amos.
The big number: 146 — Career starts by Antrel Rolle, who the Bears cut this offseason. He said it: “He had his [right] shoulder fixed a little bit, which we think will make a better player, being able to play freer at full range of his shoulder.” — defensive backs coach Ed Donatell, on Amos
Specialists
They’ll likely keep: 3
They’re in: K Robbie Gould, P Pat O’Donnell, LS Aaron Brewer
They’re on the bubble: LS Patrick Scales
They’re out: P Ben LeCompte
Battle to watch: Brewer vs. Scales. The former started every game for the last four years in Denver, the first three under Fox.
The big number: 4 — Pounds Gould hoped to gain over the offseason, up to 191, to help improve his strength.
He said it: “It’s just, you’re in a bad-weather place. So you’re not going to kick touchbacks all the time.” — Gould, on the NFL pushing kickoffs up to the 35-yard line.
John Fox, Bears coaches balancing workload with injury risk as training camp convenes.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
From now until early next year, the Bears will have no more than one day off at a time, save the off-week leading up to no game on Nov. 6, and other than perhaps a bonus day off here and there, such as after the Thursday, Oct. 20 night game at Green Bay, after which coach John Fox may grant his team a couple added days off, depending on the performance in Green Bay.
Pads come on for the first time since last Jan. 3 against the Detroit Lions as of Saturday’s practice. Thus begins the ongoing balancing act for coaches to maximize the amount of productive time within the parameters allowed under the collective bargaining agreement, all in the context of heat and conditions of contact.
“You’ve got to get your team ready for battle and you’ve got to make sure you’ve got guys ready to go to battle with,” Fox said. “So it’s a fine line, getting ready for football.”
The Bears already have had offseason injuries to guard Ted Larsen and wide receiver Marquess Wilson, in addition to a strained hamstring for rookie running back Jordan Howard and veterans like Pernell McPhee (knee) coming off surgery.
“It’s a combative game and injuries are part of it,” Fox said. “You’ve got to have some good fortune, and some good practice habits. That way you’re getting better and more physical, yet not to the point where you’re losing guys. Obviously with the reduction of our offseason and the things we used to do as coaches, I don’t think doing less of that is the right idea.”
Training camp this year includes one of the shortest off-site stretches ever, with 10 sessions at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais and one at Soldier Field on Sat. Aug. 6.
JULY
Day, Date, Practice Time (CT)
Wednesday, July 27: Report day
Thursday, July 28: 9:35 a.m. practice (no pads)
Friday, July 29: 11:15 a.m. practice (no pads)
Saturday, July 30: 9:35 a.m. practice
Sunday, July 31: 11:15 a.m. practice
AUGUST
Day, Date, Practice Time (CT)
Monday, Aug. 1: 9:35 a.m. practice
Tuesday, Aug. 2: Off day
Wednesday, Aug. 3: 11:15 a.m. practice
Thursday, Aug. 4: 9:35 a.m. practice
Friday, Aug. 5: 11:15 a.m. practice
Saturday, Aug. 6: 12:30 p.m. Meijer Chicago Bears Family Fest (Soldier Field)
Sunday, Aug.7: Off day
Monday, Aug. 8: 11:15 a.m. practice
Tuesday, Aug. 9: 9:35 a.m. practice/final open practice
Wednesday, Aug. 10: Off day
Preseason Schedule:
Thursday, Aug. 11: Bears vs. Denver Broncos, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 18: Bears at New England Patriots, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 12 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 1: Bears at Cleveland Browns, 7 p.m.
Going to Bears Training Camp ’16 in Bourbonnais? Remember these four tips.
By John Mullin
After covering some 25 Bears training camps spanning both Bourbonnais and Platteville, this CSNChicago.com reporter has gleaned some tips for getting the most out of the fan experience:
Appreciate the effort:
A lot of the young men you’ll be watching are living playing to realize a dream they’ve had since they were as young as some of the youngest fans. They are competing for jobs every day, every snap, and even going against teammates, the effort expended is worthy of the utmost respect. A guarantee: You WILL see something spectacular, whether from a star or some young hopeful who will leave it all and then some on that practice field. Enjoy the moment.
Be polite:
If you want autographs from players, your chances improve with a little courtesy. “Hey, Cutler…” and waving a pen and program at the Bears quarterback does not play nearly as well as “Jay, Jay…” or, if you’re a young fan and really want to stand out, “Mr. Cutler, Mr. Cutler…” Players don’t always get to hear a lot of “polite.” It doesn’t guarantee a signing, but understand that there’s no way players can sign every request and still have fully functioning limbs. And if a player doesn’t stop to sign, it’s not a snub. Most players sign every other day, so this just might be their off day for signing.
Plus, if it’s post-practice, remember that these players have just gone through at least two hours of beyond-max-effort work, wearing equipment that is anything but air-conditioned and weighs as much as a small child, and getting off their feet is a necessary survival skill.
Go early:
The folks at Olivet Nazarene University do a truly amazing job of crowd and traffic control, but depending on the size of the crush, particularly on peak days, you may miss some field time getting into the parking lots if you’re getting there close to the start of practice. For another thing, players are typically on the field well ahead of the scheduled start times for practice, so you’ll be seeing players working and getting loosened up if you’re there early.
Understand the cadence and order:
Practices are not continuous scrimmaging and hitting. For one thing, that’s physically not possible, or smart. The Bears have individual sessions, then depending on the day, may come together for a “live” run scrimmage without receivers, followed by a less intense session, maybe some special teams, before or after very live pass-protection and receiver-DB head-to-heads, a break, then finishing with 11-on-11 “team” sessions.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks' scout advantage is one way to spend beyond the pesky salary cap.
By Satchel Price
(Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)
Nobody has more scouts than Chicago, and that's probably a smart move.
In the NHL, a hard salary cap prevents teams from spending beyond a specific upper limit on their rosters each year. For the Blackhawks, working under that constraint while paying Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane the highest salaries in the league has been an ongoing challenge.
So it's interesting to see that Chicago had 25 scouts during the 2015-16 season, more than any other team. In a league where finding competitive advantages under a hard cap isn't easy, it seems like the Hawks decided at some point that establishing the biggest scouting operation in the league would be one option.
There's no cap on budgeting for scouts, so it's one key area where the Hawks' financial advantages can be leveraged. And because these people don't make tons of money like the players, it could be seen as an incredibly smart investment by the franchise.
Chicago has no shortage of money to spend as one of the league's most successful teams, but the salary cap is designed to cut into that advantage. Just because teams like the Hawks, Rangers and Maple Leafs can afford to spend more than everyone doesn't mean they're allowed to. The league implemented the salary cap after a lockout to help keep big-market teams in check and foster parity.
And generally speaking, that's worked for the NHL. The Hawks probably would still have a juggernaut of a roster if they weren't forced to move the likes of Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Teuvo Teravainen, Johnny Oduya, Andrew Shaw and others to clear cap space.
But spending on scouts is one small way to beat the system. Consider what it costs for the Hawks to field the biggest scouting operation in the NHL. If these scouts made an average of $100,000 annually, which is probably on the high end, then the total budget of the entire scouting staff would still be just $2.5 million. That's less than the Hawks' cap overage for the 2016-17 season. And most likely, the total payout is much less than that. In the grand scheme of what it takes to operate this team, the cost of loading up on scouts like this is minimal.
However, it's important to note that more scouts isn't necessarily better. Many of the teams right below the Hawks on the list of most scouts (Winnipeg, Columbus, Vancouver, Montreal) aren't very good. Just because you have 25 scouts doesn't mean they're good at their jobs.
Still, I think there's an important point to be made here: The Hawks NEED exceptional scouting because of their position as a regular contender. Lots of other teams get to pick high up in the draft and don't spend all of their time trying to uncover diamonds in the rough. But with the Hawks, digging into lower draft picks and undrafted free agents is pretty much how the team adds young players. They haven't had a first-round pick in two years, or a pick in the top-15 since 2008.
So while the Hawks cannot spend more on their NHL roster, they've recognized that one of the best ways of propping up that top-heavy group with reinforcements is by doubling down on scouting as a means of finding cheap players. From Artemi Panarin to Trevor van Riemsdyk to Erik Gustafsson to Michal Kempny, Chicago has gone this route with relatively impressive success. And it's probably not a coincidence that happens with such a big scouting team.
Blackhawks among teams in contention to land Jimmy Vesey.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said at the ninth annual Blackhawks Convention that he's prepared to enter the 2016-17 season with the roster as currently constructed, but there could be one more addition coming, and an impactful one at that.
Coveted free agent forward Jimmy Vesey will hit the open market on Aug. 15, and the Blackhawks are reportedly among the short list of teams set to meet with him when he's eligible to speak with other clubs next month.
"Chicago will be a team we want to talk to on Aug. 15," Vesey's agent Peter Donatelli told Scott Powers of The Athletic over the phone Monday. "Chicago will be on the list, but it shouldn't be read as they're ahead of anyone else.
"He really has no idea where he's going to be. It's going to be up to the teams to sell him. ... Yes, [we have criteria], but we're interested in what the teams say rather than telling the teams what they have to say."
Vesey is currently property of the Buffalo Sabres after the Nashville Predators, who originally drafted him with the No. 66 overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, traded the 23-year-old left winger's negotiating rights in June for a 2016 third-round selection when it became apparent the two sides wouldn't be able to hammer out a deal.
What makes Vesey and Chicago a perfect match for each other is there's a legitimate spot open in the top-six to potentially play alongside Jonathan Toews, and because Vesey would be signing an entry-level contract, the maximum allowable salary is $925,000 per year, which benefits the cap-strapped Blackhawks.
Vesey is a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, and captured the award as the best player in college hockey last season after scoring 24 goals and adding 22 assists in 33 games with Harvard University, where he played four years.
The previous two Hobey Baker Award winners are Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames (2014) and Jack Eichel of the Sabres (2015), so the possibility of Vesey landing in Chicago could immediately give the Blackhawks another dynamic scoring option.
No late magic as Cubs shut out by White Sox on South Side.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Aroldis Chapman was in uniform for the Cubs Tuesday night, but Joe Maddon never got a chance to employ his shiny new toy.
After posting late rallies the last two games, the Cubs offense was noticeably absent on Chicago's South Side, dropping a second straight game in this Crosstown matchup 3-0 in front of 39,553 fans at U.S. Cellular Field.
White Sox starter James Shields scattered four singles and four walks in 7.2 innings, using 117 pitches to shut down the Cubs lineup.
The first White Sox hitter of the game scored as Adam Eaton drew a walk and was eventually plated on Jose Abreu's RBI single three batters later.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks settled down from there, allowing only a solo homer to Eaton in the fifth.
But the wheels came off for the Cubs in the sixth inning as Hendricks departed following two quick outs and a bloop hit from Todd Frazier that glanced off the glove of Anthony Rizzo in shallow right field.
Travis Wood came on to relieve Hendricks, but walked the first three hitters he faced to force in Frazier with the third run of the game.
The Cubs' best opportunity to score came in the second when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Dexter Fowler fouled out behind home plate. After that, only one baserunner reached second base all game for the Cubs.
Kris Bryant said before the game he was itching at another chance to face Shields after the veteran pitcher welcomed Bryant to the big leagues with a couple of strikeouts in the latter's debut last April at Wrigley Field.
But Shields once again got the best of Bryant Tuesday night, striking out the MVP candidate three times in four trips to the plate.
Bryant is now just 1-for-10 against Shields with seven strikeouts.
The Crosstown series moves to the North Side Wednesday night for the final two games.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Within three minutes of the press release officially announcing the Aroldis Chapman trade with the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon, the Cubs sent another e-mail to their media distribution list, issuing statements from the superstar closer and chairman Tom Ricketts that didn’t really say much about the business decision to look beyond a domestic violence suspension.
But the Chapman rollout had to address an ugly incident from his personal history, how the Yankees acquired him over the winter from the Cincinnati Reds at such a discount, but didn’t deploy him in a real game until May 9.
That’s why president of baseball operations Theo Epstein answered questions for more than 33 minutes, sitting in U.S. Cellular Field’s visiting dugout before a 5-4 walk-off loss to the White Sox, trying to explain the due diligence, moral calculus and win-now mentality.
“I don’t feel like we compromised integrity in making this move,” Epstein said. “We approached it as thoroughly as we did – and gave it as much careful consideration as we did and had a genuine debate about it for weeks – because we wanted to make sure we preserve our integrity as an organization.”
Chapman released statements in English and Spanish, thanking the Yankees for “trusting and supporting me” and acknowledging the 30-game punishment he served this season after a domestic dispute inside his South Florida home on Oct. 30, 2015, becoming a test case for Major League Baseball’s new policy.
Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend and reportedly fired eight gunshots inside his garage, though the Broward County State Attorney’s Office ultimately decided to not file criminal charges.
“I regret that I did not exercise better judgment,” Chapman said, “and for that I am truly sorry. Looking back, I feel I have learned from this matter and have grown as a person. My girlfriend and I have worked hard to strengthen our relationship, to raise our daughter together and would appreciate the opportunity to move forward without revisiting an event we consider part of our past.
“Out of respect for my family, I will not comment any further on this matter.”
Chapman is expected to join the team on Tuesday and face the media on the South Side. MLB allowed Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and Ricketts – who had already consulted with commissioner Rob Manfred – to speak with Chapman over the phone on Monday before the Cubs and Yankees formalized the trade.
“I shared with him the high expectations we set for our players and staff both on and off the field,” Ricketts said. “Aroldis indicated he is comfortable with meeting those expectations.”
Of course, Chapman would be on his best behavior in a contract year – and will be highly motivated in his final months before cashing in as a free agent – but he impressed people around the Yankees with his demeanor, dominant performances and ability to handle New York.
“We’re going to welcome him in here with open arms,” said catcher David Ross, who got a glowing scouting report on Chapman from Yankee leader/good friend Brian McCann. “I don’t like to prejudge guys on their past.
“We’re excited to get him and give him a clean slate. Hopefully, he has a phenomenal time here in Chicago.”
But the Chapman rollout had to address an ugly incident from his personal history, how the Yankees acquired him over the winter from the Cincinnati Reds at such a discount, but didn’t deploy him in a real game until May 9.
That’s why president of baseball operations Theo Epstein answered questions for more than 33 minutes, sitting in U.S. Cellular Field’s visiting dugout before a 5-4 walk-off loss to the White Sox, trying to explain the due diligence, moral calculus and win-now mentality.
“I don’t feel like we compromised integrity in making this move,” Epstein said. “We approached it as thoroughly as we did – and gave it as much careful consideration as we did and had a genuine debate about it for weeks – because we wanted to make sure we preserve our integrity as an organization.”
Chapman released statements in English and Spanish, thanking the Yankees for “trusting and supporting me” and acknowledging the 30-game punishment he served this season after a domestic dispute inside his South Florida home on Oct. 30, 2015, becoming a test case for Major League Baseball’s new policy.
Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend and reportedly fired eight gunshots inside his garage, though the Broward County State Attorney’s Office ultimately decided to not file criminal charges.
“I regret that I did not exercise better judgment,” Chapman said, “and for that I am truly sorry. Looking back, I feel I have learned from this matter and have grown as a person. My girlfriend and I have worked hard to strengthen our relationship, to raise our daughter together and would appreciate the opportunity to move forward without revisiting an event we consider part of our past.
“Out of respect for my family, I will not comment any further on this matter.”
Chapman is expected to join the team on Tuesday and face the media on the South Side. MLB allowed Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and Ricketts – who had already consulted with commissioner Rob Manfred – to speak with Chapman over the phone on Monday before the Cubs and Yankees formalized the trade.
“I shared with him the high expectations we set for our players and staff both on and off the field,” Ricketts said. “Aroldis indicated he is comfortable with meeting those expectations.”
Of course, Chapman would be on his best behavior in a contract year – and will be highly motivated in his final months before cashing in as a free agent – but he impressed people around the Yankees with his demeanor, dominant performances and ability to handle New York.
“We’re going to welcome him in here with open arms,” said catcher David Ross, who got a glowing scouting report on Chapman from Yankee leader/good friend Brian McCann. “I don’t like to prejudge guys on their past.
“We’re excited to get him and give him a clean slate. Hopefully, he has a phenomenal time here in Chicago.”
If the Cubs didn’t acquire Chapman, they feared he might have landed with a contender like the Washington Nationals or San Francisco Giants and blown their hitters away in October with 105-mph fastballs. This became the point in the Wrigleyville rebuild to take the risk – and maybe tone down some of the rhetoric about how the Cubs do things “The Right Way” and are such great neighbors and so family friendly.
“Those of you who have been around us for five years know that character is a major consideration in every transaction we make,” Epstein said. “That’s why we spent so much time investigating and talking to him. In fact, I have never believed more strongly in the character that we have in this clubhouse and at our core as an organization.
“I think that allows us to maybe be that forum for players who’ve been through some things and are looking to grow. He was granted a second chance by Major League Baseball and by the Yankees.
“With our culture – and the guys we have in there – maybe we’re good for him to continue that process. We are not sacrificing our integrity in any way or compromising or completely turning our back on (what we believe). I understand that people are going to see it different ways (and) I respect that.”
This is business, and this transaction will be judged on whether or not the Cubs win the World Series this year.
“I cannot wait to take the mound at Wrigley Field,” Chapman said, “and look forward to helping my teammates deliver a championship to Chicago.”
'Bulldog' James Shields picks up White Sox bullpen in win over Cubs.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
James Shields offered a taxed bullpen a significant boost on Tuesday night.
It was the sort of performance that earned him the nickname “Big Game” earlier in his career.
The right-hander pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and the White Sox offense did enough for a 3-0 victory over the Cubs in front of 39,553 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Shields lowered his earned-run average over his last seven starts to 2.11 as he worked around four hits and four walks with five strikeouts. The White Sox won their fourth in a row, including their second straight over the Cubs, and in doing so retained the Crosstown Cup. David Robertson recorded his 24th save in 28 tries with a perfect ninth.
“This is the guy we were thinking of when we got him,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He came up big tonight, especially the way the bullpen is. I know he takes a lot of pride in that, he really does, of going out there and going deep into games. This is another one that we needed and he came through for us.”
An individual turnaround that began June 23rd in Boston reached its apex on Tuesday.
Since an atrocious three-start introduction to the White Sox, Shields has rediscovered some of the form that made him one of the top starters in the American League for the better part of a decade.
With the bullpen in need of a huge lift after throwing 19 1/3 innings in the previous four games, Shields delivered. White Sox relievers recorded only four outs and threw 19 pitches at time they needed it most. A number of close games and Chris Sale’s skipped start Saturday have White Sox relievers working in shifts to rest.
Shields provided that breather.
“He was a bulldog today, man,” third baseman Todd Frazier said. “He came out there and did what he had to do, saved the bullpen a little bit. You saw him out there. He was yelling at everybody, getting everybody fired up. That’s all you can ask for from him.”
It was the sort of performance that earned him the nickname “Big Game” earlier in his career.
The right-hander pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and the White Sox offense did enough for a 3-0 victory over the Cubs in front of 39,553 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Shields lowered his earned-run average over his last seven starts to 2.11 as he worked around four hits and four walks with five strikeouts. The White Sox won their fourth in a row, including their second straight over the Cubs, and in doing so retained the Crosstown Cup. David Robertson recorded his 24th save in 28 tries with a perfect ninth.
“This is the guy we were thinking of when we got him,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He came up big tonight, especially the way the bullpen is. I know he takes a lot of pride in that, he really does, of going out there and going deep into games. This is another one that we needed and he came through for us.”
An individual turnaround that began June 23rd in Boston reached its apex on Tuesday.
Since an atrocious three-start introduction to the White Sox, Shields has rediscovered some of the form that made him one of the top starters in the American League for the better part of a decade.
With the bullpen in need of a huge lift after throwing 19 1/3 innings in the previous four games, Shields delivered. White Sox relievers recorded only four outs and threw 19 pitches at time they needed it most. A number of close games and Chris Sale’s skipped start Saturday have White Sox relievers working in shifts to rest.
Shields provided that breather.
“He was a bulldog today, man,” third baseman Todd Frazier said. “He came out there and did what he had to do, saved the bullpen a little bit. You saw him out there. He was yelling at everybody, getting everybody fired up. That’s all you can ask for from him.”
By Tyler_Pleiss
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(Photo/Jonathan Daniels/Getty Images)
One of the many challenges Fred Hoiberg encountered during his first season as Chicago Bulls head coach was managing lineups. Particularly, the strategy to stagger minutes between Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. Instead, the Bulls' lineups instead featured heavy doses of all bench units, dubbed "Hoibergo".
Hoiberg's inability to keep one, let alone two, starters on the court at all times put the Bulls in very difficult positions to muster any type of production. Towards the end of the year, Hoiberg did begin staggering the latter, but it failed to make a significant impact as he struggled to manage it consistently.
With a new roster resembling a jigsaw puzzle, how Hoiberg manages lineups during the upcoming season will be of even greater importance than in his first season. Let's take a look at three reasons why that's the case.
The Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade & Jimmy Butler Conundrum
Hoiberg is going to roll out a starting lineup consisting of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler. It's one in which that after those first several minutes should be used seldom. With those three on the floor at the same time, it's very difficult to imagine any type of efficient offense being ran because of the lack of spacing and adequate shooting.
Staggering their minutes, as a means of getting more shooting on the floor whether it be in the form of rookie Denzel Valentine or Doug McDermott paired with Nikola Mirotic, will better utilize the abilities of the aforementioned "3 Alphas." In addition, by moving at least one of the three early on, it will benefit the incoming bench unit greatly.
Bench Experience
As it stands, the Bulls bench does not involve a tremendous amount of experience, outside of presumptive sixth man, Taj Gibson. If the Bulls want to taste any sort of success in Hoiberg season number two, it cannot feature large doses, if any of the Hoibergo lineups. Those, especially this year, don't involve a large amount of quality defense, when considering Doug McDermott and Denzel Valentine are two of your key reserves. Not to mention the lack of playmaking, and quality point guard depth in the second unit.
With three ball dominant playmakers, placing one or even two with the bench unit could pay dividends. Doing so would ensure that there's valuable experience on the floor at all times with the younger guys, as well as a playmaker and someone to direct the offense if need be. Having at least one of the three with a young bench unit should be far more beneficial to their growth throughout the season than having an all bench unit struggle to produce on both ends.
Dwyane Wade's Health
Our own George Eisner offered optimism about what we can expect from Wade health wise this season, coming off his healthiest in recent memory (appeared in 72 games). Still, as one of the biggest question marks surrounding the signing of Wade heading into his 14th season, Hoiberg has to manage his minutes closely.
Over the past four seasons, Wade's minutes per game have decreased in each, topping out at 30.5 last season. For Wade to remain healthy, and effective at that, Hoiberg will need to keep his minutes at or even just below that mark. At this point in his career Wade's knows his body better than anyone, but even so, Hoiberg has to be able manage his minutes for this Bulls team to be successful.
Fred Hoiberg has his work cut out of him next season, that can't be overstated enough. How successful this team is will very well depend on how effectively Hoiberg is able to manage his lineups, specifically in how he's able to stagger the "3 Alphas." If he struggles as much as he did in year one, Chicago could be in store for a very long season, not that they weren't already.
Michael Jordan voices concern, donates $2 million to police, African-American groups.
CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Michael Jordan has decided to speak out on the country's growing racial and social unrest.
The NBA legend released a statement Monday voicing his concern about the shootings of African-Americans and the targeting of police officers. In the statement, Jordan announced his donation of $1 million each to two organizations involved in efforts to bring police officers and African-Americans together.
"As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers. I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well."
“I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.”
As someone who has been known for — and criticized for — keeping a low profile when it comes to social and political advocacy, this is a big public milestone for Jordan.
Jerian Grant Is In The Right Place At The Right Time.
By Nicholas Letourneau
(Photo/Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
Following a trade to Chicago and a great showing at Summer League, second year guard Jerian Grant looks ready to take the next step.
Few players did more for their stock than Jerian Grant of the Chicago Bulls did during Summer League. Coming off a trade that sent him to Chicago, it couldn't have come at a better time. Things could not be more different for the Bulls, who enter unfamiliar territory this year because, for the first time since 2008, things do not revolve around Derrick Rose.
The subtraction of Rose led to the addition of an aging backcourt in Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade via free agency. Even with those additions, Grant should be able to carve out a nice role as backup point guard. While he only averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting almost 40 percent from the floor and 22 percent from deep in his first season in New York, Grant has a ton of upside.
Golf: I got a club for that..... PGA Championship 2016: Ranking the top golfers in the field at Baltusrol.
Few players did more for their stock than Jerian Grant of the Chicago Bulls did during Summer League. Coming off a trade that sent him to Chicago, it couldn't have come at a better time. Things could not be more different for the Bulls, who enter unfamiliar territory this year because, for the first time since 2008, things do not revolve around Derrick Rose.
The subtraction of Rose led to the addition of an aging backcourt in Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade via free agency. Even with those additions, Grant should be able to carve out a nice role as backup point guard. While he only averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting almost 40 percent from the floor and 22 percent from deep in his first season in New York, Grant has a ton of upside.
If there is one thing you should know about Jerian Grant's game, he's explosive. During his four-year career at Notre Dame Grant threw down some of the nastiest, show stopping dunks that topped Sportscenter for weeks on end. He has excellent bounce, quick reflexes on both offense and defense, and looks great in transition running the floor.
Standing at 6'4" and weighing 195 points, Grant is an ideal candidate for the modern NBA point guard. He is lanky enough to interrupt passing lanes and gritty enough to defend multiple positions. His size and athleticism help him finish around the rim at a high rate, he usually finishes with a layup or free throws. If given any space to drive the lane, chances are he is going to either rise up and finish above the rim or find an open teammate.
Athleticism and physical attributes aside, Grant can just flat out ball. He's extremely intelligent and it shows on the court with how he attacks the defense. Grantcan take players off the dribble with his tight handles, he runs the pick and roll well, and he understands the game better than most. Alongise that, extremely reliable too, as he averaged only one turnover per game his rookie year and averaged barely two per game in his four years at Notre Dame. He has a very reliable midrange jumper and a capable three pointer.
While he shot an abysmal 22 percent from deep his rookie year, a lot of that can be attributed to the looks he was getting and the minutes he was playing. He does have a tendency to fall in love with his three pointer, even if it just isn't going in but offensive guru Fred Hoiberg should be able to help him tweak it. If he can take better, smarter shots from deep then he will become a very successful player in this league.
If given a shot and some real minutes in Chicago, Grant will flourish. Rondo becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2018, which is perfect for Grant. If he can perform consistently and shoot closer to 40 percent from deep, he could be looking at a starting job on one of the most storied franchises in the NBA.
Golf: I got a club for that..... PGA Championship 2016: Ranking the top golfers in the field at Baltusrol.
By Kyle Porter
Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson are all in the top five, but none of them is No. 1
The only PGA Championship winner at Baltusrol we've ever seen is Phil Mickelson, so you know he'll rank high as we look at the 2016 field, ranked from 1-20 based on how likely each is to potentially win the fourth and final major of the season.
To sort things out, I look performance in the last five PGA Championships into consideration along with the form these golfers have shown entering this week's major.
This is not necessarily who I think will win (i.e. I don't believe Phil Mickelson will win this year), only who I think is most likely to do so if the event was played 1,000 times.
1. Rory McIlroy: Should be the favorite at PGA Championships for the next five years. Loves to flex his muscles on bigger tracks (literally). Baltusrol isn't as huge as, say, Whistling Straits, but McIlroy is coming into the PGA Championship in fine form on all tracks (well, except Oakmont). This tournament is his to lose.
2. Dustin Johnson: The numbers are eye-popping -- six straight top 10s on the PGA Tour, four of six top 10s at PGA Championships. He's overtaken the "Big Three" as the favorite this week, and it is completely deserved. How good would a Rory-DJ showdown be?
3. Jason Day: The defending champ at this event has been tough if not mildly out of form over the last few months. But he's done what No. 1 players are supposed to do. He's clawed back for top 10s and top 15s even after getting blown away early in tournaments. He's been top 15 in each of the last three PGA Championships.
4. Phil Mickelson: Last time Mickelson was here, he hit this ludicrous flop shot at the last hole to secure his first (and still only) PGA Championship. The list of winners at Baltusrol is impressive. Jack Nicklaus won two U.S. Opens there, Lee Janzen won the U.S. Open in 1993. And then Mickelson in 2005.
5. Jordan Spieth: The demise of Jordan Spieth's career has been mildly over-exaggerated. He's one of just over a dozen golfers to make the cut in the first three majors and has been playing much better golf than public perception would have you believe. It's true that the PGA Championship has been his "worst" major, but Spieth is operating on a sliding scale others are not familiar with.
6. Henrik Stenson: The leader in scoring average over the last five PGA Championships at 68.8. Oh, and he's coming off the greatest major performance ever (arguably) at Royal Troon. Tough to see him not at least factoring into the conversation this week at Baltusrol.
7. Sergio Garcia: My only hesitation here is that Garcia hasn't fared well at PGA Championships over the last half decade. His last top 10 came back in 2008. Baltusrol won't play exactly like most PGA Championship courses, but it feels like his chance to win a major this year was at Royal Troon or Oakmont.
8. Justin Rose: Two top fives in the last four years for Rose at this tournament. Got his feels back a little bit at The Open after a rusty return at Oakmont. He's a forgettable star in that he's not the sexiest name or the biggest game, but Baltusrol certainly fits his historic list of courses where he's won (Merion, Congressional, Aronimink).
9. Branden Grace: Third last year at Whistling Straits and T5 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont this year. He's the South African Angel Cabrera in that he rises to the occasion at major championships. Might end his career with the Grand Slam and six total wins.
10. J.B. Holmes: J.B. Holmes?! Don't look now, but Holmes is one of just six players with multiple top 10s at majors this season. And he's one of only three (Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia) with multiple top fives. He hasn't had success at PGA Championships, but I think that could change this week.
11. Jim Furyk: Finished T30 last year at Whistling Straits but had two top fives the two years before that. Largely forgotten about at majors, but the man just keeps on posting top 10s and top 20s. One of the more under-appreciated players of his generation.
12. Patrick Reed: Coming off the best major performance of his career at The Open where he finished T12. Has made the cut at each of his first two PGA Championships but hasn't finished better than T30. Might ride a bald eagle to the first tee if he leads at any point on the weekend.
13. Justin Thomas: A gut play here. Made the cut at all three majors. Makes an absurd amount of birdies. Could get low on Thursday or Friday and be a frontrunner. If I was ranking the majors Thomas would be most likely to win, the PGA Championship or Masters would be No. 1.
14. Rickie Fowler: I'm just not feeling it for Fowler at the majors this year. He's almost always in the top 10 of these lists. Top 14 is not egregious and nobody would really be that surprised if he won at Baltusrol, but his form just isn't peaking at the right time. Of course, Henrik Stenson had missed three straight cuts on the PGA Tour before setting Royal Troon on fire. So who knows.
15. Tony Finau: Finau has three top 20s in four majors including a top 10 at the PGA Championship last year. He might be a big game hunter.
16. Brandt Snedeker: A couple of top 15s in the last two years for Snedeker at the PGA Championship, and he's coming off a top 25 at Royal Troon.
17. Matt Kuchar: The ever-consistent Kuchar played really well at Whistling Straits last year and has top 10s in six of his last eight events on the PGA Tour. You can't be more consistent than him without winning a tournament, which might be the point. Still, it feels like that translates to a trophy at some point.
18. Jason Dufner: Dufner has a win and a second-place finish in the past five years at the PGA Championship. And he's coming off a T22 at Royal Troon. And he finished T8 at the U.S. Open. Duf Daddy is finding his groove once again after struggling the last few seasons.
19. Steve Stricker: Despite his top five at The Open and his two top 10s at PGA Championships in the last five years, it's difficult for me to see a 49-year-old winning the PGA Championship. How cool would it be for him to play his way on to the Ryder Cup team for which he will be an assistant captain though?
20. Brooks Koepka: Would be much higher on this list if not for his recent injury because of his performance at Whistling Straits last year and solid season in 2016. He has the goods to take a Wannamaker Trophy at some point in his career. I'm just not sure it's going to be this week.
U.S. captain Davis Love III might surprise with Ryder Cup picks in September.
By Kyle Porter
The Ryder Cup teams are starting to take shape, and the U.S. squad is going to be fascinating.
It's crunch time for the Ryder Cup as the PGA Championship this week is the last chance for golfers to earn double points towards making the team this September. The U.S. team is starting to fill out, but there are several spots still up for grabs. The only guarantees right now appear to be Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth. Everything else is fluid.
Captain Davis Love III said on Tuesday that we should not be surprised if he goes off the grid a little bit for his captain's picks.
"The Olympics, injuries, Brooks [Koepka] was out for The Open Championship," said Love. "[Daniel] Berger has been out for at least two, three weeks. Jim Furyk was out for ... probably missed 10-12 tournaments. Every time he plays, he plays well. So we are going to have to factor in a lot of stuff, including the Olympics. The unofficial points list that's running in our heads, guys that are really playing well but just don't have as many starts is going to be a factor."
So that's really interesting. Maybe Love is just keeping his options open for the future, but he seems legitimately intent on picking some guys we might not be thinking about right now: the Justin Thomases (25th in Ryder Cup rankings) and Tony Finaus (49th) of the world.
"We know who our team wants as their teammates or their partners," added Love. "We have a longer list maybe than you would think. When you look at it, you ... remember Jack Nicklaus saying, 'I'm just going to take the top 12 and make it easy.' When we look past the top 12, we are probably looking a little farther than people think.
"Obviously Phil last year for the Presidents Cup was in the 20s maybe and was picked and was the star of the team. He played unbelievably well in Korea. I don't know how far Rickie down was in 2010 in Wales, but he got picked because his putter was hot and everybody wanted him on the team. I think we are going to look a little farther down than people are thinking."
The problem with that right now is that Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka -- all presumed picks -- are all outside the automatic qualifiers (top eight) as of now. Love needs all three to get inside the top eight to have a chance to exercise his apparently prodigious free will come August and September.
And all of this is of course dependent on how Baltusrol and the FedEx Cup Playoffs shake out.
"What I'm telling Brooks or whoever, 'Just go play,'" said Love. "'Just get healthy and go play, and we'll know if you're playing well or not. Try to win the PGA Championship, try to win the FedEx Playoffs, and if you're playing well, you'll be on the team.'"
Sounds simple enough.
NASCAR: Power Rankings: Kyle Busch ascends to No. 1 after Indy win.
To sort things out, I look performance in the last five PGA Championships into consideration along with the form these golfers have shown entering this week's major.
This is not necessarily who I think will win (i.e. I don't believe Phil Mickelson will win this year), only who I think is most likely to do so if the event was played 1,000 times.
1. Rory McIlroy: Should be the favorite at PGA Championships for the next five years. Loves to flex his muscles on bigger tracks (literally). Baltusrol isn't as huge as, say, Whistling Straits, but McIlroy is coming into the PGA Championship in fine form on all tracks (well, except Oakmont). This tournament is his to lose.
2. Dustin Johnson: The numbers are eye-popping -- six straight top 10s on the PGA Tour, four of six top 10s at PGA Championships. He's overtaken the "Big Three" as the favorite this week, and it is completely deserved. How good would a Rory-DJ showdown be?
3. Jason Day: The defending champ at this event has been tough if not mildly out of form over the last few months. But he's done what No. 1 players are supposed to do. He's clawed back for top 10s and top 15s even after getting blown away early in tournaments. He's been top 15 in each of the last three PGA Championships.
4. Phil Mickelson: Last time Mickelson was here, he hit this ludicrous flop shot at the last hole to secure his first (and still only) PGA Championship. The list of winners at Baltusrol is impressive. Jack Nicklaus won two U.S. Opens there, Lee Janzen won the U.S. Open in 1993. And then Mickelson in 2005.
5. Jordan Spieth: The demise of Jordan Spieth's career has been mildly over-exaggerated. He's one of just over a dozen golfers to make the cut in the first three majors and has been playing much better golf than public perception would have you believe. It's true that the PGA Championship has been his "worst" major, but Spieth is operating on a sliding scale others are not familiar with.
6. Henrik Stenson: The leader in scoring average over the last five PGA Championships at 68.8. Oh, and he's coming off the greatest major performance ever (arguably) at Royal Troon. Tough to see him not at least factoring into the conversation this week at Baltusrol.
7. Sergio Garcia: My only hesitation here is that Garcia hasn't fared well at PGA Championships over the last half decade. His last top 10 came back in 2008. Baltusrol won't play exactly like most PGA Championship courses, but it feels like his chance to win a major this year was at Royal Troon or Oakmont.
8. Justin Rose: Two top fives in the last four years for Rose at this tournament. Got his feels back a little bit at The Open after a rusty return at Oakmont. He's a forgettable star in that he's not the sexiest name or the biggest game, but Baltusrol certainly fits his historic list of courses where he's won (Merion, Congressional, Aronimink).
9. Branden Grace: Third last year at Whistling Straits and T5 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont this year. He's the South African Angel Cabrera in that he rises to the occasion at major championships. Might end his career with the Grand Slam and six total wins.
10. J.B. Holmes: J.B. Holmes?! Don't look now, but Holmes is one of just six players with multiple top 10s at majors this season. And he's one of only three (Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia) with multiple top fives. He hasn't had success at PGA Championships, but I think that could change this week.
11. Jim Furyk: Finished T30 last year at Whistling Straits but had two top fives the two years before that. Largely forgotten about at majors, but the man just keeps on posting top 10s and top 20s. One of the more under-appreciated players of his generation.
12. Patrick Reed: Coming off the best major performance of his career at The Open where he finished T12. Has made the cut at each of his first two PGA Championships but hasn't finished better than T30. Might ride a bald eagle to the first tee if he leads at any point on the weekend.
13. Justin Thomas: A gut play here. Made the cut at all three majors. Makes an absurd amount of birdies. Could get low on Thursday or Friday and be a frontrunner. If I was ranking the majors Thomas would be most likely to win, the PGA Championship or Masters would be No. 1.
14. Rickie Fowler: I'm just not feeling it for Fowler at the majors this year. He's almost always in the top 10 of these lists. Top 14 is not egregious and nobody would really be that surprised if he won at Baltusrol, but his form just isn't peaking at the right time. Of course, Henrik Stenson had missed three straight cuts on the PGA Tour before setting Royal Troon on fire. So who knows.
15. Tony Finau: Finau has three top 20s in four majors including a top 10 at the PGA Championship last year. He might be a big game hunter.
16. Brandt Snedeker: A couple of top 15s in the last two years for Snedeker at the PGA Championship, and he's coming off a top 25 at Royal Troon.
17. Matt Kuchar: The ever-consistent Kuchar played really well at Whistling Straits last year and has top 10s in six of his last eight events on the PGA Tour. You can't be more consistent than him without winning a tournament, which might be the point. Still, it feels like that translates to a trophy at some point.
18. Jason Dufner: Dufner has a win and a second-place finish in the past five years at the PGA Championship. And he's coming off a T22 at Royal Troon. And he finished T8 at the U.S. Open. Duf Daddy is finding his groove once again after struggling the last few seasons.
19. Steve Stricker: Despite his top five at The Open and his two top 10s at PGA Championships in the last five years, it's difficult for me to see a 49-year-old winning the PGA Championship. How cool would it be for him to play his way on to the Ryder Cup team for which he will be an assistant captain though?
20. Brooks Koepka: Would be much higher on this list if not for his recent injury because of his performance at Whistling Straits last year and solid season in 2016. He has the goods to take a Wannamaker Trophy at some point in his career. I'm just not sure it's going to be this week.
U.S. captain Davis Love III might surprise with Ryder Cup picks in September.
By Kyle Porter
The Ryder Cup teams are starting to take shape, and the U.S. squad is going to be fascinating.
It's crunch time for the Ryder Cup as the PGA Championship this week is the last chance for golfers to earn double points towards making the team this September. The U.S. team is starting to fill out, but there are several spots still up for grabs. The only guarantees right now appear to be Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth. Everything else is fluid.
Captain Davis Love III said on Tuesday that we should not be surprised if he goes off the grid a little bit for his captain's picks.
"The Olympics, injuries, Brooks [Koepka] was out for The Open Championship," said Love. "[Daniel] Berger has been out for at least two, three weeks. Jim Furyk was out for ... probably missed 10-12 tournaments. Every time he plays, he plays well. So we are going to have to factor in a lot of stuff, including the Olympics. The unofficial points list that's running in our heads, guys that are really playing well but just don't have as many starts is going to be a factor."
So that's really interesting. Maybe Love is just keeping his options open for the future, but he seems legitimately intent on picking some guys we might not be thinking about right now: the Justin Thomases (25th in Ryder Cup rankings) and Tony Finaus (49th) of the world.
"We know who our team wants as their teammates or their partners," added Love. "We have a longer list maybe than you would think. When you look at it, you ... remember Jack Nicklaus saying, 'I'm just going to take the top 12 and make it easy.' When we look past the top 12, we are probably looking a little farther than people think.
"Obviously Phil last year for the Presidents Cup was in the 20s maybe and was picked and was the star of the team. He played unbelievably well in Korea. I don't know how far Rickie down was in 2010 in Wales, but he got picked because his putter was hot and everybody wanted him on the team. I think we are going to look a little farther down than people are thinking."
The problem with that right now is that Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka -- all presumed picks -- are all outside the automatic qualifiers (top eight) as of now. Love needs all three to get inside the top eight to have a chance to exercise his apparently prodigious free will come August and September.
And all of this is of course dependent on how Baltusrol and the FedEx Cup Playoffs shake out.
"What I'm telling Brooks or whoever, 'Just go play,'" said Love. "'Just get healthy and go play, and we'll know if you're playing well or not. Try to win the PGA Championship, try to win the FedEx Playoffs, and if you're playing well, you'll be on the team.'"
Sounds simple enough.
NASCAR: Power Rankings: Kyle Busch ascends to No. 1 after Indy win.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/yahoosports.com)
1. Kyle Busch (LW: 5): When you lead 149 of 170 laps and no one can come close to passing you for the lead on the track, then there’s no argument against being atop Power Rankings. It was a performance as dominant as Martin Truex Jr.’s at Charlotte; there’s clearly something the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have hit on when it comes to the combination of deft handling and outright speed. Busch also became the first driver to win Xfinity and Cup Series races from the pole in the same weekend.
2. Kevin Harvick (LW: 2): While Busch’s ass-kicking made the race boring for many, here’s a fun hypothetical. Who had the second-best car throughout the course of Sunday’s race? The argument can be made for many, including Harvick, who finished sixth. Harvick had to make his way through the field after he was forced to pit under green for what he thought was a flat tire. He ended up finishing sixth.
3. Joey Logano (LW: 3): Continuing with the hypothetical scenario of a race without Busch, we’d love to see what Logano’s three-stop strategy would have been like had he been the leader on those late-race restarts. Knowing that Team Penske was beat on speed, Logano and crew chief Todd Gordon were the only team in the entire field to pit three times (everyone else pitted more). And it almost worked out, though Logano faded to seventh on the overtime restart.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW: 1): Keselowski was on a very similar strategy; his (what would have been a) fourth pit stop was a two-tire stop that was designed for track position. He ended up getting caught up in the multi-car crash with Carl Edwards and other drivers and the damage meant a total of eight pit stops. Keselowski ended up finishing 17th, but he had the distinct honor of leading the second-most laps on Sunday (15).
5. Matt Kenseth (LW: 8): Kenseth ended up finishing second even though he qualified the lowest of all Joe Gibbs Racing drivers (18th). Only Austin Dillon (23rd) came from a lower starting position to finish in the top 10. Kenseth ended up making the biggest jump of anyone through the field and captured the win in the “non-Kyle Busch” class.
6. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 10): Not a bad rebound for a guy that once got lapped during the race. OK, Johnson wasn’t lapped because of a lack of outright speed, he was lapped because of a pit road penalty. Johnson was able to un-lap himself and worked his way around the crashes to finish third.
7. Kurt Busch (LW: 5): Busch finished 16th, so we don’t get to cite his top-10 statistic this week. But he’s at least heading to Pocono, where he won in June. Busch is now 44 points behind teammate Kevin Harvick, and given Harvick’s performance this season, Busch is going to need a poor race or two from Harvick if he wants a chance at getting the regular season points title.
8. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 7): There was one point late in the race where Truex checked out from the rest of the field along with Busch. But he wasn’t able to get within a second of Busch and wasn’t going to win the race without something happening to the No. 18. Truex also avoided a late-race calamity, though he’s probably wishing he finished better than eighth.
9. Denny Hamlin (LW: 10): Hamlin finished fourth after starting fourth. OK, so it wasn’t that simple, but Hamlin had a top-five car for most of the day but got a pit-road penalty and, like Harvick, had to drive his way through the field. Did Hamlin potentially have the second-best car of the race?
10. Tony Stewart (LW: 6): Stewart’s three-wide move for second on the first lap would be replayed for the rest of the season if it was part of a race-winning effort. Unfortunately for Stewart, things went south after that pass. The handling on his car disappeared and he dropped to 10th before the first round of pit stops. And then he lost a lap after he sped on pit road. Stewart probably could have finished fifth or sixth without the penalty and despite late crash damage, ended up 11th.
11. Kyle Larson (LW: NR): Thanks to Trevor Bayne’s late contact with Clint Bowyer, Larson is now in the top 15 in points after finishing fifth. Meanwhile, Bayne is three drivers outside the Chase in 18th. If Larson ends up pointing his way into the Chase, Indianapolis will end up being the moment where his season turned around. Or, at least, got a monstrous boost.
12. Austin Dillon (LW: NR): Three drivers ahead of Larson is Dillon in 12th. Dillon finished ninth on Sunday and is just five points behind Chase Elliott for the title of “most points for a driver without a win in 2016.” Dillon is following the vaunted Ryan Newman trajectory of getting into the Chase without a win and we’re confident that not only Dillon will make the Chase, he’ll also not win a race unless we get a crazy fuel-mileage finish. Richard Childress Racing still needs a bit more speed.
The Lucky Dog: Both Front Row Racing’s drivers (Chris Buescher, 14th, Landon Cassill, 20th) finished in the top 20.
The DNF: Man, this is not Greg Biffle’s year.
Dropped Out: Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray
Chevrolet could be seeing end of era in NASCAR.
By Brant James, USA TODAY SPORTS
Crew members push the No. 14 Chevrolet of Tony Stewart through the garage area before the Brickyard 400.(Photo: Robert Laberge, Getty Images)
Alba Colon doesn’t take pictures of race cars. As Chevrolet ’s Sprint Cup program manager, she’s involved in the monotonous, science-and-sweat daily business of helping crew chiefs and engineers put her manufacturer in victory lane.
But a few minutes before the
“I certainly never take pictures of this,” Colon admitted to USA TODAY Sports. “No, this is a big deal. Jeff has been with us forever. Tony has been with us forever. Both are great friends of mine, but not only that, for the brand, they have done a lot for the brand. So for Chevrolet, yes, this is a big deal. It’s a big deal they are leaving, and it’s very sentimental.”
Amid a season in which their run of Sprint Cup dominance is under siege, Chevrolet officials could be left wondering if this type of moment will be a long time coming again.
Gordon and Stewart represent seven Sprint Cup titles (with the possibility of one more for Stewart as he most likely will qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup) for a company that has won the last 13 manufacturer titles. Part of that run has been borne of quality of teams (like the series’ most successful,
Rival manufacturers that have toiled under Chevrolet’s run of dominance are unlikely to weep much for this age of parity, especially a Toyota Racing Development outfit that worked nine seasons after entering NASCAR’s top series in 2007 before winning the championship with
Toyotas have been ascendant this season in leading the manufacturer standings over Chevrolet, with
And it also has race-winning prospects awaiting their turns in a Cup ride, including
And then there’s
Ford boasts
Chevrolet has young millennials already in Cup in 20-year-old former Xfinity Series champion
“We always have to be thinking of the future and the next generation of drivers,” Colon said. “That’s what’s in the back of our minds. But outside of that is the character and the experience that (Gordon and Stewart) bring to the sport and they have a lot of followers in this sport. So we are developing younger drivers that we expect to provide for the fans.
“It’s hard but it’s part of the game. It’s part of life, unfortunately, it’s part of the business.”
That doesn’t mean that the last race of the season – the expected last for Stewart as a driver and as a Chevrolet-affiliated team owner – will be any less odd or emotional.
“The guys, we have talked. We said, ‘How is Homestead going to be?’ " Colon said. “I am always with all my teams. It’s going to be weird when we don’t visit them the next year. But it’s a decision. It has been made and, again, let’s just enjoy the races we have together. Let’s try to win a championship. But Homestead is going to be hard.”
Kurt Busch seeks NASCAR record this weekend at Pocono.
By Dustin Long
(Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
Kurt Busch seeks to do something this weekend that hasn’t been done in NASCAR.
Run every lap for the most consecutive races to start a season.
Busch enters Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway on NBCSN having completed all 5,673 laps in the first 20 races. No driver has completed every lap through the first 21 Cup races in a season.
Busch tied Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the record this past weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Busch completed every lap on the way to finishing 16th.
Earnhardt set the mark in 2012 by completing every lap in the first 20 races of the season. In the 21st race, which was at Pocono, Earnhardt fell 18 laps short of the distance in the rain-shortened race.
Busch heads to Pocono having won the June race there. In this race a year ago, he finished 37th after he was involved in an accident, He finished 10 laps behind the leaders.
Busch’s consistency this season has led to 15 top-10 finishes, second only to Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick, who has 16.
Drivers who have run the most laps in Cup this season:
100% — Kurt Busch (5,673 laps)
99.86 — Brad Keselowski (5,665)
99.67 — Trevor Bayne (5,654)
99.38 — Martin Truex Jr. (5,638)
98.71 — Kevin Harvick (5,600)
98.55 — Jamie McMurray (5,591)
98.20 — Austin Dillon (5,571)
97.76 — Landon Cassill (5,546)
97.76 — Matt Kenseth (5,546)
97.48 — Carl Edwards (5,530)
SOCCER: Premier League winter break talks ongoing: What are pros, cons?
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/Getty Images)
What if the Premier League had a winter break?
That is a topic of hot discussion in the UK after new England manager Sam Allardyce called for a midseason break during his opening press conference as the new Three Lions manager on Monday.
With the Premier League confirming that discussions between themselves, the English Football Association and the Football League are ongoing, it is obviously something the governing bodies which run English soccer are seriously considering.
It is believed that if a winter break was given the green light, it wouldn’t take place until the 2019-20 season at the earliest.
On Tuesday the executive chairman of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, discussed the notion of a winter break and was asked by Sky Sports about the feasibility of Allardyce’s proposal.
That is a topic of hot discussion in the UK after new England manager Sam Allardyce called for a midseason break during his opening press conference as the new Three Lions manager on Monday.
With the Premier League confirming that discussions between themselves, the English Football Association and the Football League are ongoing, it is obviously something the governing bodies which run English soccer are seriously considering.
It is believed that if a winter break was given the green light, it wouldn’t take place until the 2019-20 season at the earliest.
On Tuesday the executive chairman of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, discussed the notion of a winter break and was asked by Sky Sports about the feasibility of Allardyce’s proposal.
“He’s been very consistent. He’s been calling for it for a very long time, as has every England manager. We are not against a winter break,” Scudamore said. “We have gone on record saying that we are in discussions with the people we need to be in discussions with which is the Football Association and the Football League. It is an integrated calendar. Those discussions are taking place. I don’t know how close or far we are because I wouldn’t want to compromise those negotiations or those discussions.
“Even if the three of us, the three [governing] bodies come up with that solution, we then of course have to road test that with the clubs that are involved and the fans and everything else. We are in discussions, there is a willingness to make it happen but I can’t put anything like a timescale on that.”Intriguing comments from Scuadmore as the PL seems to be in favor of at least giving the winter break a try. The English FA have been pushing that agenda for quite some time as they believe that heading into an international tournament the English national team suffer due to the long, hard slog of a season with a packed schedule through the winter months. At least, that’s what they’re going with after so many disappointing tournaments in recent years…
So, it’s worth asking, how much of a difference, if any, would this make? What are the pros and cons of a winter break?
Straight off the bat, it must not eradicate the traditional Boxing Day or Dec. 28 games. Those dates are sacrosanct in the UK sporting calendar. My proposal would be to keep those two match-days and then have a break from Dec. 28 until Jan. 12, giving the teams over two weeks off.
In the PL there are obviously 20 teams which means that it isn’t quite as easy as the Bundesliga, for example, having a winter break as Germany’s top-flight teams only has 19 teams, meaning teams only have to play 36 games instead of the 38 games each Premier League side has to play. The FA Cup opening rounds would also have to be slotted back to late January but it could be more beneficial for the English national team and PL teams playing in European competitions as they would also have the same amount of rest as teams in Spain, Germany and Italy who all have winter breaks.
Well, regardless of what you think, here’s a quick list below looking at some of the potential positives and negatives of trying out a break.
Pros
- Players rested, less injuries
- PL teams could advance further in European competitions
- English national team may have better chance in major competitions
- Higher intensity in games throughout the season
- Less midweek games during the season, more spread out schedule
- Midseason breaks to warmer climates, small friendly tournaments could take place in USA or Middle East
- Possibility of reduced games around the festive period
- Confusion around when FA Cup third round would begin
- Season running longer into May, possibly June, meaning less time before international tournaments
Premier League preseason: Everton, Burnley win; Spurs fall to Juventus.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
Four Premier League teams were in action on Tuesday, with two picking up wins and not a clean sheet in the joint.
MK Dons 1-3 Everton
Ronald Koeman‘s men got goals from Gerard Deulofeu, Ross Barkley and Muhamed Besic, but wasn’t entirely pleased with every facet of their game.
From EvertonFC.com:
“The team, the players, we need to press better. The pitch in some stages of the game was too long. If you press up front, it means the midfielders they need to push up as well and it’s the same for the defenders.”Bolton 1-2 Burnley
Andre Gray will likely be a well-known Premier League entity when his career is done, and the way he’s playing it could be by the time this season is complete. The Burnley man scored for the fifth time in four preseason games, and Josh Ginnelly also scored for the Clarets.
Barnsley 2-2 Hull City
Adama Diomande and Jarrod Bowen scored as the Tigers stayed unbeaten in preseason play.
Spurs 1-2 Juventus — RECAP
How did USMNT duo Yedlin, Carter-Vickers fare in Tottenham’s ICC opener?
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/Getty Images)
Both DeAndre Yedlin and Cameron Carter-Vickers played for Totteham Hotspur in their 2-1 friendly defeat to Juventus in International Champions Cup action on Tuesday.
After a shaky start Spurs looked bright in the second half and both Yedlin and CCV did things which will have impressed manager Mauricio Pochettino despite the defeat in their preseason opener in Melbourne, Australia.
How did the U.S. national team duo perform?
Let’s take a look.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Minutes played: 90
Rating: 6
After a poor start which saw CCV and his young central defensive partner Dominic Ball struggle to lock down Paulo Dybala, the U.S. youth international recovered well.
On Juve’s opening goal Ball was caught in possession and CCV then slid in but didn’t take the ball as Dybala was set free and scored. There were a few other shaky moments in possession but overall CCV recovered well in the first half, standing his ground and making some important blocks inside the box to snuff out any danger.
In the second half his positioning was slightly suspect at times, especially when Miralem Pjanic was set free over the top and CCV hadn’t noticed his run on his back shoulder. That said, Carter-Vickers’ distribution improved throughout the game and he picked out good long balls forward and helped Spurs build back into the game. He played the full 90 minutes while Ball was hooked off in the second half and there is plenty for the 18-year-old to take from this experience. As a defensive unit Spurs struggled massively in the first half but that wasn’t just down to CCV.
He has captained Spurs’ reserve team since Pochettino arrived at the club and the Argentine coach obviously rates his ability. He didn’t look lost out there and along with Spurs’ other promising youngsters, he looks to have a bright future. With Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Kevin Wimmer ahead of him, don’t expect CCV to break through just yet but with Vertonghen out injured and set to miss the first month or so of the new season, expect to see his name on the bench.
Jurgen Klinsmann will watch on with intrigue as Carter-Vickers looks ready for the next step in his development which is likely a loan move to a team in the Championship or League One in England. The bruising center back is developing well after plenty of experience with the U.S. U-20 and U-23 teams in the last few years. Now, it’s time for him to learn from coming up against a quality team like Juve and take the positives from it, of which there were plenty.
DeAndre Yedlin
Minutes played: 45
Rating: 8
He came on at half time and Yedlin was impressive. The 23-year-old played at left back for 30 minutes and then switched to right back for the final 12 minutes of regulation plus stoppage time.
At left back he had plenty of opportunities to get forward and he used his pace whenever he could to try and support the likes of Vincent Janseen and Erik Lamela. Yedlin propelled himself past Juve’s left back and whipped in a dangerous cross late on as we got to see exactly why he was sent out on loan to Sunderland last season.
The Seattle Sounders product has definitely become more polished on the ball, just as we saw for the U.S. national team this summer at Copa America. He looked calm in possession and was certainly one of the major bright spots for Pochettino in the second half.
Now it’s all about seeing where Yedlin slots in on the depth chart. With England international Kyle Walker the first choice at right back, is Yedlin better than Kieran Trippier as Spurs’ back up option? Quite possibly. Trippier didn’t really get going at White Hart Lane last season and the former Burnley full back may be reluctant to spend another season behind Walker. Southampton have been linked with Trippier and that could open up a spot for Yedlin to be a squad player at Spurs.
Having shown his versatility at left back and right back, plus he can also play as a winger with that searing pace and fewer defensive responsibilities, would it be a good thing for Yedlin to hang around and try to get 10-12 games under his belt for Spurs this season? Probably not. He needs to be playing regularly and as we saw last season at Sunderland, he got better as the campaign wore on.
It will be an interesting few weeks to see how much Yedlin plays in preseason and how highly Pochettino rates him. That said, if he keeps playing like this then there’s no doubt other PL clubs will be queuing up to take him on loan.
NCAAFB: Pat Fitzgerald no fan of Big Ten's new nine-game schedule.
By Vinnie Duber
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Big Ten teams will play nine conference games for the first team this season.
Pat Fitzgerald is not a fan.
“No. Not at all,” the Northwestern head football coach responded when asked Monday during Big Ten Media Days if he liked the move to the nine-game league slate. “It’s like being at home. I say ‘yes, ma’am’ at home. At work, whatever the schedule is, we’re going to go do.”
Fitzgerald revealed that Big Ten coaches had no say in the matter, the league switching from an eight-game schedule to a nine-game one, presumably with the intent of improving its teams’ chances at reaching the College Football Playoff.
Strength of schedule has been the name of the game during the Playoff’s first two seasons. The Big 12 was famously boxed out of the first final four two years back, with strength of schedule issues — including the lack of a conference championship game and Baylor’s laughable non-conference scheduling — being the main reason.
The Big Ten wanted to make sure one of its league champions isn’t punished for strength-of-schedule reasons, so forcing them to play another game against a Power Five opponent — in this case, an in-conference one — was the result.
Fitzgerald understands that, and he likes the fact that there will be more games between conference opponents. But he also sees a downside, a big one in his opinion.
“I’m a Big Ten football fan first. I’d rather see Big Ten teams play each other. I’m a fan of that. Any increase in Big Ten against Big Ten I think is positive,” Fitzgerald said. “Obviously the opportunity from the network and national exposure and quality opponents, things of that nature, any time you’re in league is improved.
“But just by pure numbers, half of our league is going to have one more loss. So my concern is: That six-win team, does that become a five-win team and they get left out of a bowl game? Now I’m thinking about our (coaches’) livelihood professionally: No postseason play enough equals no more job.
“I get it. I get the big picture. I understand it. I liked eight a lot. We’ll go play nine, and we’ve got to find a way to win one more game.”
Fitzgerald even said that he would prefer a 10-game conference schedule to a nine-game one, given the imbalance in home and away games with an odd number of in-conference games.
“I may get yelled at for it, but I’d rather have it at 10, five (home games) and five (road games),” Fitzgerald said. “I think four and five, the side with five has a game advantage that not only has to do with wins total but then has to do potentially with bowl pecking order.”
But he also addressed the fact that a 10-game conference schedule would mean no more big non-conference showdowns. Games that has Northwestern has benefitted from in recent seasons — wins over Stanford and Duke in 2015, a win at Notre Dame in 2014 — would disappear off his team’s schedule and likely the schedules of other Big Ten teams, Fitzgerald argued.
“I would change my philosophy of what we’re doing (if we moved to 10 conference games),” Fitzgerald said. “The byproduct of that is your two non-league games are not going to be — for Northwestern — are probably not going to be Notre Dame and Stanford and Duke and Boston College and Syracuse. They wouldn’t be, quite frankly, if I got a vote on that. Because you’re already playing plus two (extra) Power Five games in league.”
Even if winning takes time, Illini right to be excited about Lovie Smith's arrival.
By Vinnie Duber
Pat Fitzgerald is not a fan.
“No. Not at all,” the Northwestern head football coach responded when asked Monday during Big Ten Media Days if he liked the move to the nine-game league slate. “It’s like being at home. I say ‘yes, ma’am’ at home. At work, whatever the schedule is, we’re going to go do.”
Fitzgerald revealed that Big Ten coaches had no say in the matter, the league switching from an eight-game schedule to a nine-game one, presumably with the intent of improving its teams’ chances at reaching the College Football Playoff.
Strength of schedule has been the name of the game during the Playoff’s first two seasons. The Big 12 was famously boxed out of the first final four two years back, with strength of schedule issues — including the lack of a conference championship game and Baylor’s laughable non-conference scheduling — being the main reason.
The Big Ten wanted to make sure one of its league champions isn’t punished for strength-of-schedule reasons, so forcing them to play another game against a Power Five opponent — in this case, an in-conference one — was the result.
Fitzgerald understands that, and he likes the fact that there will be more games between conference opponents. But he also sees a downside, a big one in his opinion.
“I’m a Big Ten football fan first. I’d rather see Big Ten teams play each other. I’m a fan of that. Any increase in Big Ten against Big Ten I think is positive,” Fitzgerald said. “Obviously the opportunity from the network and national exposure and quality opponents, things of that nature, any time you’re in league is improved.
“But just by pure numbers, half of our league is going to have one more loss. So my concern is: That six-win team, does that become a five-win team and they get left out of a bowl game? Now I’m thinking about our (coaches’) livelihood professionally: No postseason play enough equals no more job.
“I get it. I get the big picture. I understand it. I liked eight a lot. We’ll go play nine, and we’ve got to find a way to win one more game.”
Fitzgerald even said that he would prefer a 10-game conference schedule to a nine-game one, given the imbalance in home and away games with an odd number of in-conference games.
“I may get yelled at for it, but I’d rather have it at 10, five (home games) and five (road games),” Fitzgerald said. “I think four and five, the side with five has a game advantage that not only has to do with wins total but then has to do potentially with bowl pecking order.”
But he also addressed the fact that a 10-game conference schedule would mean no more big non-conference showdowns. Games that has Northwestern has benefitted from in recent seasons — wins over Stanford and Duke in 2015, a win at Notre Dame in 2014 — would disappear off his team’s schedule and likely the schedules of other Big Ten teams, Fitzgerald argued.
“I would change my philosophy of what we’re doing (if we moved to 10 conference games),” Fitzgerald said. “The byproduct of that is your two non-league games are not going to be — for Northwestern — are probably not going to be Notre Dame and Stanford and Duke and Boston College and Syracuse. They wouldn’t be, quite frankly, if I got a vote on that. Because you’re already playing plus two (extra) Power Five games in league.”
Even if winning takes time, Illini right to be excited about Lovie Smith's arrival.
By Vinnie Duber
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
“Everything has been positive, which you would expect. When you’ve never lost a game at a place, normally it’s pretty positive, right?”
Lovie Smith … the comedian?
The comment — delivered Tuesday on Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days — wasn’t exactly side-splitting, but it was a surprising moment of levity from Smith, who’s returned to the Land of Lincoln to resurrect another orange-and-blue football program.
The joke was a nice little representation of the immense amount of excitement and positivity surrounding the program, something that couldn’t have been fathomed when the Illini finished another bowl-less season in November. The campaign started with Tim Beckman’s firing a week before the opener, then plodded through a 5-7 finish before ending on an uninspiring note with Bill Cubit’s head-scratching two-year contract, announced ahead of the finale against Northwestern.
But new athletics director Josh Whitman took swift action in dismissing Cubit and replacing him with Smith, a huge name — especially in these parts — with a track record of NFL success that brings instant credibility and a reason to pay attention to a program that only was making headlines for the wrong reasons.
Instantaneously, thanks to that eye-popping hire, feelings about the Illini changed.
“Sometimes when things haven’t gone the way people would like, change is good and you get excited about change and seeing what could possibly be,” Smith said Tuesday. “We all have histories on what we’ve done in our past. Hopefully that’s helped a little bit.”
Smith has brought reason to pay attention to Illinois football, but he warned that the overnight transition from boredom to excitement likely won’t be mirrored in the win-loss column. Smith still has to recruit multiple classes of players to stock his program, and while there are several talented players currently on the roster, a departure from losing seasons might still be a ways off.
“I can’t tell you we’re going to win every game,” Smith said. “I really don’t know how many games we’re going to win. The number of games our talent level says we should win, that’s what we want to do. We want to play up to our potential each week. That’s our goal each practice, each week. If we can do that, I think we’ll be OK. We were a five-win team last year. We know we need to improve upon that, and we will.”
And perhaps that’s why much of the talk Tuesday was focused on recruiting and building the future of this program. This is still mostly the same roster that Beckman built, and he never finished a season with an above-.500 record. Illinois has been to just five bowl games in the 21st century, only four in the past 14 years.
Thankfully for the Illini and their fans, Smith has plenty of advantages to breed recruiting success.
His name recognition alone ought to help, particularly in the state where he led the Bears for nine seasons, winning three division titles and earning a trip to Super Bowl XLI.
“The Chicago area — I can’t talk specifics about recruiting — one message we’ve got is ‘Lovie, we already know you. You’ve been in our homes on Sunday quite a bit.’ It has helped a little bit.
“They’re seeing my face, and that’s the first step, just getting them to come down and look at our university. And we’ve got a lot of players to come and see our university.”
And Smith is looking elsewhere, too, hoping to attract talent from all over. Even if kids in Indiana, Missouri and Texas didn’t grow up as Bears fans, they’re still sure to listen when a former NFL head coach walks through the door.
“They're listening to us. And that's all we want. Give us a chance,” Smith said. “Not just Chicago area. There's a triangle of the St. Louis area, of course. And Indianapolis there's a triangle. I'm from Texas. So we'll, of course, recruit that area. We have a lot of players on our team from the Florida area also. So recruiting is going well. And it's been a while since I've been in college ball. That has changed a little bit. It is a 24/7 job. And we're embracing that.”
There’s a reason Smith and Whitman have traversed the state trying to crank the excitement up even higher. There’s a reason Smith has met with fraternities and sororities in Champaign. There’s a reason the Illini are trying to pack Memorial Stadium and plastering up billboards in Chicago.
Everyone wants instant results, and if Illinois doesn’t get them in Year 1 under Smith, folks might think this is just more of the same with a new head coach, more of the losing that reigned throughout the eras of Ron Turner, Ron Zook, Beckman and Cubit.
But Smith wanted to promise that those days are in the past, no matter what the win-loss record looks like at the end of 2016.
“Every function we’ve been to — and we’ve been through a lot — has been that way,” Smith said of the current mood of excitement and optimism. “It’s the same message as our players have given: ‘Coach, what do we need to do?’ And for our fans, the message is come back, the message to our students. There’s nothing like student excitement in Memorial Stadium. From talking to the fraternities, the sororities, we need their energy in the stadium wearing the orange and blue. All of those things, University of Illinois bumper stickers, whatever it is, let people know who you believe in.
“Don’t worry about what’s happened in the past. It’s about today.”
Lovie Smith … the comedian?
The comment — delivered Tuesday on Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days — wasn’t exactly side-splitting, but it was a surprising moment of levity from Smith, who’s returned to the Land of Lincoln to resurrect another orange-and-blue football program.
The joke was a nice little representation of the immense amount of excitement and positivity surrounding the program, something that couldn’t have been fathomed when the Illini finished another bowl-less season in November. The campaign started with Tim Beckman’s firing a week before the opener, then plodded through a 5-7 finish before ending on an uninspiring note with Bill Cubit’s head-scratching two-year contract, announced ahead of the finale against Northwestern.
But new athletics director Josh Whitman took swift action in dismissing Cubit and replacing him with Smith, a huge name — especially in these parts — with a track record of NFL success that brings instant credibility and a reason to pay attention to a program that only was making headlines for the wrong reasons.
Instantaneously, thanks to that eye-popping hire, feelings about the Illini changed.
“Sometimes when things haven’t gone the way people would like, change is good and you get excited about change and seeing what could possibly be,” Smith said Tuesday. “We all have histories on what we’ve done in our past. Hopefully that’s helped a little bit.”
Smith has brought reason to pay attention to Illinois football, but he warned that the overnight transition from boredom to excitement likely won’t be mirrored in the win-loss column. Smith still has to recruit multiple classes of players to stock his program, and while there are several talented players currently on the roster, a departure from losing seasons might still be a ways off.
“I can’t tell you we’re going to win every game,” Smith said. “I really don’t know how many games we’re going to win. The number of games our talent level says we should win, that’s what we want to do. We want to play up to our potential each week. That’s our goal each practice, each week. If we can do that, I think we’ll be OK. We were a five-win team last year. We know we need to improve upon that, and we will.”
And perhaps that’s why much of the talk Tuesday was focused on recruiting and building the future of this program. This is still mostly the same roster that Beckman built, and he never finished a season with an above-.500 record. Illinois has been to just five bowl games in the 21st century, only four in the past 14 years.
Thankfully for the Illini and their fans, Smith has plenty of advantages to breed recruiting success.
His name recognition alone ought to help, particularly in the state where he led the Bears for nine seasons, winning three division titles and earning a trip to Super Bowl XLI.
“The Chicago area — I can’t talk specifics about recruiting — one message we’ve got is ‘Lovie, we already know you. You’ve been in our homes on Sunday quite a bit.’ It has helped a little bit.
“They’re seeing my face, and that’s the first step, just getting them to come down and look at our university. And we’ve got a lot of players to come and see our university.”
And Smith is looking elsewhere, too, hoping to attract talent from all over. Even if kids in Indiana, Missouri and Texas didn’t grow up as Bears fans, they’re still sure to listen when a former NFL head coach walks through the door.
“They're listening to us. And that's all we want. Give us a chance,” Smith said. “Not just Chicago area. There's a triangle of the St. Louis area, of course. And Indianapolis there's a triangle. I'm from Texas. So we'll, of course, recruit that area. We have a lot of players on our team from the Florida area also. So recruiting is going well. And it's been a while since I've been in college ball. That has changed a little bit. It is a 24/7 job. And we're embracing that.”
There’s a reason Smith and Whitman have traversed the state trying to crank the excitement up even higher. There’s a reason Smith has met with fraternities and sororities in Champaign. There’s a reason the Illini are trying to pack Memorial Stadium and plastering up billboards in Chicago.
Everyone wants instant results, and if Illinois doesn’t get them in Year 1 under Smith, folks might think this is just more of the same with a new head coach, more of the losing that reigned throughout the eras of Ron Turner, Ron Zook, Beckman and Cubit.
But Smith wanted to promise that those days are in the past, no matter what the win-loss record looks like at the end of 2016.
“Every function we’ve been to — and we’ve been through a lot — has been that way,” Smith said of the current mood of excitement and optimism. “It’s the same message as our players have given: ‘Coach, what do we need to do?’ And for our fans, the message is come back, the message to our students. There’s nothing like student excitement in Memorial Stadium. From talking to the fraternities, the sororities, we need their energy in the stadium wearing the orange and blue. All of those things, University of Illinois bumper stickers, whatever it is, let people know who you believe in.
“Don’t worry about what’s happened in the past. It’s about today.”
NCAABKB: Rick Pitino: ‘We’re going to press more than we’ve ever pressed’.
By Rob Dauster
(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Rick Pitino hopped on the air with 93.9 in Louisville recently and discussed the stuff you expect to hear a coach discuss on the radio in July.
He talked about the players that are improving (Jaylen Johnson). He talked about how he’s worried about how his team is going to score next season. He talked about the glut of big men on his roster and how none of them have done much to separate themselves from the pack.
It was all fairly typical.
But this line did catch my eye:
“Defensively, we’re going to press more than we’ve ever pressed,” Pitino said. “We’ve pressed a lot in the past but this team is very long, very athletic. I’m very bullish on this basketball team.”
Pitino’s teams have always pressed but he hasn’t been mentioned with the likes of Shaka Smart (Havoc) or Bobby Huggins (Press Virginia) because it isn’t an all-out press. Typically, the Cards run a 2-2-1 zone press that drops back to a half-zone/half-man amalgam that’s designed, in part, to confuse opponents as much as it is to force turnovers.
Is that going to change this year?
It would make some sense. This team is as athletic, long and versatile as any that he’s coached in recent memory. Think about the kind of physical tools that Ray Spalding and Jaylen Johnson and Deng Adel have. Think about what Donovan Mitchell can do if he’s allowed to ball-hawk the way Peyton Siva and Russ Smith did in the past.
This group can cause a lot of problems if they’re allowed to fly around the floor, and it sounds like Pitino may let them do just that.
He talked about the players that are improving (Jaylen Johnson). He talked about how he’s worried about how his team is going to score next season. He talked about the glut of big men on his roster and how none of them have done much to separate themselves from the pack.
It was all fairly typical.
But this line did catch my eye:
“Defensively, we’re going to press more than we’ve ever pressed,” Pitino said. “We’ve pressed a lot in the past but this team is very long, very athletic. I’m very bullish on this basketball team.”
Pitino’s teams have always pressed but he hasn’t been mentioned with the likes of Shaka Smart (Havoc) or Bobby Huggins (Press Virginia) because it isn’t an all-out press. Typically, the Cards run a 2-2-1 zone press that drops back to a half-zone/half-man amalgam that’s designed, in part, to confuse opponents as much as it is to force turnovers.
Is that going to change this year?
It would make some sense. This team is as athletic, long and versatile as any that he’s coached in recent memory. Think about the kind of physical tools that Ray Spalding and Jaylen Johnson and Deng Adel have. Think about what Donovan Mitchell can do if he’s allowed to ball-hawk the way Peyton Siva and Russ Smith did in the past.
This group can cause a lot of problems if they’re allowed to fly around the floor, and it sounds like Pitino may let them do just that.
July Live Period Superlatives: Who impressed during the most important recruiting months?
By Scott Phillips
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
For much of the last three weeks, the nation’s best high school players have been jet-setting across the country — and the world — as they showcased what they can do in front of college coaches everywhere from North Augusta, S.C., to Las Vegas.
Here are the players that stood out the most:
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Michael Porter Jr.
In a close call, I’m going with the future Washington Husky, Michael Porter Jr.
After an unstoppable Peach Jam in which he helped MoKan Elite win the event by completely dominating, Porter was one of the key players in helping the USA U18 team win the FIBA Americas as the team’s leading scorer.
Some have questioned Porter’s toughness, but he’s been a tenacious rebounder from the wing all spring and summer and he’s nearly impossible to contain off the bounce. When his perimeter jumper is going, Porter is an advanced three-level scorer who can make getting buckets look easy on some very difficult moves. In three bracket games at Peach Jam, Porter averaged 29.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting insane splits (68% FG, 93% FT, 56% 3PT).
BEST GUARD: Trae Young
Part of the reason that Porter was so good during Peach Jam is that he had Trae Young beside him on MoKan. A 6-foot-1 guard with deep shooting range on pull-ups, Young is underrated as a setup guy as his aggressive scoring capabilities open up a lot of offense for his teammates. Also a member of the USA U18 team that won gold with Porter, if Young shoots it that efficiently from three-point range in the future, he’ll be in the discussion among the best guards in the class.
They were good, too
BEST WING: Gary Trent, Jr.
When Gary Trent Jr. takes the court, he wants to completely destroy you. No five-star player went as consistently hard as Trent did during the month of July and that is coming after Trent spent a month away from home winning gold with USA Basketball in Spain at the FIBA U17 World Championships. There were times in Vegas that opposing coaches and teams knew what moves were coming and Trent would still score on them. He’s a cold-blooded scorer who always brings intensity.
They were good, too
BEST BIG: DeAndre Ayton
If anyone beats Porter as the best player of July it is Ayton. The 7-footer was incredible during certain moments of Peach Jam in helping lead California Supreme to the final four as he beat Marvin Bagley, Wendell Carter and Mitchell Robinson in consecutive games.
With soft touch, a workable jumper and the kind of quick hops that get rim easy dunks and rebounds, Ayton is the best long-term prospect in this class because of how well he moves for his size while also owning a good skill level. Ayton has a desire to play in college and hopefully he’ll get the chance because he has a shot to be one of the best big men college basketball has seen in the last decade.
They were good, too
BIGGEST STOCK RISER: Malik Williams
Indiana native Malik Williams is an interesting story because he was the only top 40 Class of 2017 player who didn’t play in a shoe-company league this spring. After a July in which the 6-foot-11 Williams made perimeter moves, blocked shots and rebounded his entire area, he looked like a five-star lock who should be in serious consideration for the All-American games. Williams is undoubtedly talented enough for those distinctions, but he also needs to prove himself more against the elite big men of the Class of 2017 before we know how good he can really be.
Some of the best college basketball programs in the country like Indiana, Louisville, Michigan State and Purdue — among many others — are making Williams a priority recruit.
They impressed, too
FOUR NON-ELITE NAMES WITH NBA POTENTIAL
Here are the players that stood out the most:
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Michael Porter Jr.
In a close call, I’m going with the future Washington Husky, Michael Porter Jr.
After an unstoppable Peach Jam in which he helped MoKan Elite win the event by completely dominating, Porter was one of the key players in helping the USA U18 team win the FIBA Americas as the team’s leading scorer.
Some have questioned Porter’s toughness, but he’s been a tenacious rebounder from the wing all spring and summer and he’s nearly impossible to contain off the bounce. When his perimeter jumper is going, Porter is an advanced three-level scorer who can make getting buckets look easy on some very difficult moves. In three bracket games at Peach Jam, Porter averaged 29.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting insane splits (68% FG, 93% FT, 56% 3PT).
BEST GUARD: Trae Young
Part of the reason that Porter was so good during Peach Jam is that he had Trae Young beside him on MoKan. A 6-foot-1 guard with deep shooting range on pull-ups, Young is underrated as a setup guy as his aggressive scoring capabilities open up a lot of offense for his teammates. Also a member of the USA U18 team that won gold with Porter, if Young shoots it that efficiently from three-point range in the future, he’ll be in the discussion among the best guards in the class.
They were good, too
- Trevon Duval: The point guard with the most potential in 2017, Duval had a tough time finishing at the rim but still showed incredible athleticism and a warrior’s mentality.
- Collin Sexton: After winning MVP of the FIBA U17 World Championships and a gold medal with USA Basketball, Sexton tore up the circuit and showed incredible intensity and scoring capabilities.
BEST WING: Gary Trent, Jr.
When Gary Trent Jr. takes the court, he wants to completely destroy you. No five-star player went as consistently hard as Trent did during the month of July and that is coming after Trent spent a month away from home winning gold with USA Basketball in Spain at the FIBA U17 World Championships. There were times in Vegas that opposing coaches and teams knew what moves were coming and Trent would still score on them. He’s a cold-blooded scorer who always brings intensity.
They were good, too
- Hamidou Diallo: The high-flying guard can get a lot done on both ends of the floor and his upside might be among highest in the class.
- Brian Bowen: Scoring the ball well and rebounding from the wing was the 6-foot-7 wing from Michigan, who looked unstoppable at times during July.
BEST BIG: DeAndre Ayton
If anyone beats Porter as the best player of July it is Ayton. The 7-footer was incredible during certain moments of Peach Jam in helping lead California Supreme to the final four as he beat Marvin Bagley, Wendell Carter and Mitchell Robinson in consecutive games.
With soft touch, a workable jumper and the kind of quick hops that get rim easy dunks and rebounds, Ayton is the best long-term prospect in this class because of how well he moves for his size while also owning a good skill level. Ayton has a desire to play in college and hopefully he’ll get the chance because he has a shot to be one of the best big men college basketball has seen in the last decade.
They were good, too
- Wendell Carter: The 6-foot-10 center was good at Peach Jam and closed out strong by helping Team CP3 win The Eight in Las Vegas.
- Mitchell Robinson: This 7-footer changes directions and runs like a guard and is the best shot blocker in the country. I haven’t seen one guy block this many three-pointers since Anthony Davis.
BIGGEST STOCK RISER: Malik Williams
Indiana native Malik Williams is an interesting story because he was the only top 40 Class of 2017 player who didn’t play in a shoe-company league this spring. After a July in which the 6-foot-11 Williams made perimeter moves, blocked shots and rebounded his entire area, he looked like a five-star lock who should be in serious consideration for the All-American games. Williams is undoubtedly talented enough for those distinctions, but he also needs to prove himself more against the elite big men of the Class of 2017 before we know how good he can really be.
Some of the best college basketball programs in the country like Indiana, Louisville, Michigan State and Purdue — among many others — are making Williams a priority recruit.
They impressed, too
- Chuma Okeke: Auburn just snagged this top-60 wing forward on Monday and he’s coming off a monster July. A versatile wing who can handle and score, Okeke can also rebound well from the wing.
- Nick Weatherspoon: The younger brother of Mississippi State freshman Quinndary Weatherspoon is making a name for himself as a 6-foot-1 playmaking guard who can really score.
FOUR NON-ELITE NAMES WITH NBA POTENTIAL
- Derek Culver: The 6-foot-10 native of Ohio is an intriguing talent because of his size, athleticism and passing ability.
- Brandon Randolph: A smooth scorer with good size at 6-foot-6, Randolph hit 40 percent of his threes at Peach Jam and can fill it up from deep.
- Chaundee Brown: One of the most efficient scorers at Peach Jam, the 6-foot-5 guard can also pull down rebounds with the best of them.
- Jordan Goodwin: Undoubtedly one of the toughest dudes in the country, this Marcus Smart-type guard is improving his jumper but he’s a warrior with everything else.
All three 2016 Triple Crown-race winners and a creme-de-la-creme of their competitors are set to run this midsummer weekend in two high-stakes races, namely, in the Jim Dandy, up in breezy Saratoga, New York, and in the Haskell down at Monmouth, on the breezy Jersey Shore. Preakness winner Exaggerator will go head-to-head with Belmont winner Creator in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga, on Saturday, July 30. Nyquist and Brody’s Cause will be cruising for each other down in the Haskell, on the Jersey Shore, on Sunday afternoon, July 31. As Claude Rains famously pronounced after Humphrey Bogart shot the Nazi major at the end of Casablanca: “Round up the usual suspects.”
In short, this weekend is the first big post-Triple-Crown outing for the three-year-old shock troops, and, as they did during the Triple Crown, they’re offering a huge and colorful mash-up of equine talent. Thankfully, for racing aficionadi, these contests are on two successive days. The weekend will play out somewhat like Bonaroo—the infamous Tennessee summer rock festival—minus the mud, the hippies, and the latrines, but with much better hats on the ladies and arguably much better drinks. With ice that you don’t have to bring yourself.
That said – since he knows more than most every two-legged being about four-legged beings, we have roped in the Bluegrass Wise Man ™ for this week to give us the new state of play, the best bets, and his patented horseman analysis. They are the same horses, but the young, fine Triple Crown runners are not in the same shape they were in during the Triple Crown. Nyquist, for one, has recovered from the high white-cell count that knocked him out of the Belmont, but what kind of shape is the formerly-invincible star in? Among a thousand other handicapping questions.
As usual, full disclosure: none of the Bluegrass Wise Man’s horses are running in either of these two races.
First, for the uninitiated, what’s the owner-trainer logic for running Triple-Crown winners past the Triple Crown?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Most all of the horses exiting the Triple Crown are going to keep running. Cherry Wine ran in the Indiana Derby last weekend. We keep running the horses after the Triple Crown for the sport and for the opportunity to earn purse money. We, owners, all like trophies. In addition, a Triple Crown horse, three-year-olds, if they are significant like Nyquist, need to show they can compete versus older horses. If they can compete, that makes them more valuable as stallion prospects. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah validated his dominance last year when he drilled older horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He could have stopped after the Triple Crown but the win over older in the Breeders’ Cup put another feather in his hat. If you do stop racing after a Grade I, one reason may be that you simply want to go out on top. If a horse wins a Grade I and then his form declines, breeders (mare owners) remember those losses. Same as in society. It’s all about: What have you done for me lately. Once the losses begin, the stud fee starts to diminish.
Let’s focus first on Nyquist, the proven Derby favorite, who’s running on Sunday. How’s he doing, and give us a bit of a feel for how the Haskell is looking.
First, you do have to be careful with an elevated white count. You do not want that to potentially turn into pneumonia which of course affects lungs which of course are important. I think he will be plenty ready to run. High white counts are very common. This set him back a week or two tops. It doesn’t take a horse long to regain their fitness after a layoff if they have some races under their belt. Is he going to be as sharp for the Haskell as he was for the Derby? Probably not but he will be fit enough to win I would guess.
What are O’Neill and Paul Reddam thinking by bringing him to Monmouth?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Nyquist is stabled at Del Mar in San Diego, and there aren’t any stakes races for three-year-olds out there. The Pacific Classic is an option near Labor Day but that’s for three-year-olds and up, so he would have to take on older horses for the first time. California Chrome will be the likely favorite for the Pac Classic. The Haskell is a good come-back race. Bob Baffert has used it plenty with horses exiting the Triple Crown races.
A Run For the Money: Brody’s Cause, training before the Kentucky Derby, is expected to be Derby winner Nyquist’s main challenger at the Haskell. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Assuming everybody’s good to go, Nyquist vs. Brody’s Cause. Is it really a match race this year between those two?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Brody runs from the back, which means, he may be coming too late, but that said, this year’s Haskell could very well be a match race between Nyquist and Brody’s Cause. There will be a few other good colts in there. The Haskell also seems to traditionally attract some local Monmouth horses. Too early right now for me to tell where I’m gonna put my money on Sunday, but we’ll do that as the week rolls on.
Let’s move to Saturday’s Jim Dandy, which is going to be the true mash-up, with Belmont winner Creator going for Preakness winner Exaggerator, and with Gun Runner, Mohaymen et. al. thrown in to mess all the players up.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: I love the Jim Dandy. It’s the prep race for the Mid-Summer Derby at Saratoga, the Grade I Travers around Labor Day. A win in the Travers is, also, a building thing, and significant in that it indicates who is the three-year-old that is in form post-Triple Crown and who’s potentially ready to take on the older horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic the first Saturday in November at Santa Anita. This is what the post Triple-Crown season is about. I know Creator got a break after the Belmont. He trained here in Kentucky for a few weeks prior to going back to New York. I hear he is well. I think he can win the Jim Dandy.
Any exotics you like right now?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Too early to say anything about this weekend, except that there will be two major horse races, and there will be many bets. Keep your head down.
Let’s move to Saturday’s Jim Dandy, which is going to be the true mash-up, with Belmont winner Creator going for Preakness winner Exaggerator, and with Gun Runner, Mohaymen et. al. thrown in to mess all the players up.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: I love the Jim Dandy. It’s the prep race for the Mid-Summer Derby at Saratoga, the Grade I Travers around Labor Day. A win in the Travers is, also, a building thing, and significant in that it indicates who is the three-year-old that is in form post-Triple Crown and who’s potentially ready to take on the older horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic the first Saturday in November at Santa Anita. This is what the post Triple-Crown season is about. I know Creator got a break after the Belmont. He trained here in Kentucky for a few weeks prior to going back to New York. I hear he is well. I think he can win the Jim Dandy.
Any exotics you like right now?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Too early to say anything about this weekend, except that there will be two major horse races, and there will be many bets. Keep your head down.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1918 - Brooklyn rookie Henry Heitman made his major league debut and his last major league appearance in the same day. He pitched four straight hits to the St. Louis Cardinals, left the game and never played again in the majors.
1921 - Baseball fan Reuben Berman sued the New York Giants, claiming he suffered mental and bodily distress after refusing to return a foul ball May 16th at the Polo Grounds. Berman was eventually rewarded $100.
1937 - The United States captured the Davis Cup by beating Britain, four matches to one.
1946 - Rudy York (Boston Red Sox) hit two grand slams and drove in 10 runs to lead the Red Sox over the St. Louis Browns, 13-6.
1984 - Pete Rose passed Ty Cobb’s record for most singles in a career when he got his 3,503rd base hit.
1986 - Greg LeMond of the U.S. became the first non-European to capture the Tour de France cycling race.
1992 - Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis died after collapsing on a Brandeis University basketball court during practice. He was 27 years old.
1992 - China's Fu Mingxia, only two weeks away from her 14th birthday, became the second youngest gold medalist in Olympic history when she won the women's 10-meter platform diving event.
1996 - At the Atlanta Olympics a pipe bomb exploded at the public Centennial Olympic Park. One person was killed and more than 100 were injured.
1996 - Canadian Donovan Bailey ran the Men's 100 Meter Dash with a time of 9.84. The previous record was 9.85 held by Leroy Burrell of the United States.
2001 - Deion Sanders announced his retirement from the NFL.
2003 - Lance Armstrong won his 5th consecutive Tour de France.
1921 - Baseball fan Reuben Berman sued the New York Giants, claiming he suffered mental and bodily distress after refusing to return a foul ball May 16th at the Polo Grounds. Berman was eventually rewarded $100.
1937 - The United States captured the Davis Cup by beating Britain, four matches to one.
1946 - Rudy York (Boston Red Sox) hit two grand slams and drove in 10 runs to lead the Red Sox over the St. Louis Browns, 13-6.
1984 - Pete Rose passed Ty Cobb’s record for most singles in a career when he got his 3,503rd base hit.
1986 - Greg LeMond of the U.S. became the first non-European to capture the Tour de France cycling race.
1992 - Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis died after collapsing on a Brandeis University basketball court during practice. He was 27 years old.
1992 - China's Fu Mingxia, only two weeks away from her 14th birthday, became the second youngest gold medalist in Olympic history when she won the women's 10-meter platform diving event.
1996 - At the Atlanta Olympics a pipe bomb exploded at the public Centennial Olympic Park. One person was killed and more than 100 were injured.
1996 - Canadian Donovan Bailey ran the Men's 100 Meter Dash with a time of 9.84. The previous record was 9.85 held by Leroy Burrell of the United States.
2001 - Deion Sanders announced his retirement from the NFL.
2003 - Lance Armstrong won his 5th consecutive Tour de France.
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