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"Sports Quote of the Day"
“We all naturally want to become successful... we also want to take shortcuts. And it's easy to do so, but you can never take away the effort of hard work and discipline and sacrifice.” ~ Apolo Ohno, Olympic Short Track Speed Skater and Eight Time Medalist
Trending: No excuses for the inexcusable: Bears collapse late to fall to Jaguars. (See the football section for Bears and NFL updates).
Trending: Panik nets hat trick in Blackhawks’ victory. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
Trending: Fire excited to get a win for fans in home finale after disappointing season. (See the soccer section for Fire, MLS and international soccer news).
Trending: Kevin Harvick outruns Carl Edwards to win Hollywood Casino 400. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and race updates).
Trending: Kevin Harvick outruns Carl Edwards to win Hollywood Casino 400. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and race updates).
Trending: Cubs road to the "World Series". (Series tied Cubs 1 - Dodgers 1)
NLCS Game 1, Saturday, 10/15/2016. Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Chicago Cubs 8 (W)
NLCS Game 2, Sunday, 10/16/2016. Los Angeles Dodgers 1, Chicago Cubs 0 (L)
NLCS Game 3, Tuesday, 10/18/2016. Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:08PM
NLCS Game 4, Wednesday, 10/19/2016 Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:08PM
NLCS Game 5, Thursday, 10/20/2016 Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:08PM
NLCS Game 6, Saturday, 10/22/2016 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs*
NLCS Game 7, Sunday, 10/23/2016 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs*
* If Necessary
NFL SCORES, Sunday 10/16/2016.
NLCS Game 7, Sunday, 10/23/2016 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs*
* If Necessary
NFL SCORES, Sunday 10/16/2016.
Denver Broncos 13
San Diego Chargers 21
San Francisco 49ers 16
Buffalo Bills 45
Philadelphia Eagles 20
Washington Redskins 27
Cleveland Browns 26
Tennessee Titans 28
Baltimore Ravens 23
New York Giants 27
Carolina Panthers 38
New Orleans Saints 41
Jacksonville Jaguars 17
Chicago Bears 16
Los Angeles Rams 28
Detroit Lions 31
Pittsburgh Steelers 15
Miami Dolphins 30
Cincinnati Bengals 17
New England Patriots 35
Kansas City Chiefs 26
Oakland Raiders 10
Atlanta Falcons 24
Seattle Seahawks 26
Dallas Cowboys 30
Green Bay Packers 16
Indianapolis Colts 23
Houston Texans 26
New York Jets Monday night's game
Arizona Cardinals 10/17/2016
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! No excuses for the inexcusable: Bears collapse late to fall to Jaguars.
By John Mullin
By John Mullin
(Photo/USA Today Sports Images)
One veteran observer had the right question afterwards: When was the last time the Bears lost a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter?
The exact “when” really wasn’t the real question, of course, although the answer is, four times since 1940:
Sept. 19, 1999 vs Seattle 13-0….13-14.
Oct. 4, 1992 at Minnesota 20-0….20-21.
Sept. 25, 1965 vs. LA Rams 28-9….28-30.
And Sunday. If the past is any sort of prologue, the 1999 team finished 6-10; the ’92 team, Mike Ditka’s last, wound up 5-11. The 1965 team rebounded from that Rams loss to go 9-5.
The Bears this time lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) despite leading 13-0 to start the fourth quarter, the second time (Houston, week one) that the Bears have had a lead after three quarters and lost. And with a game at Green Bay Thursday and against Minnesota in Chicago 11 days later, the Bears (1-5) have played themselves right back to the edge of the abyss and a 1-7 mark at midseason.
“I don’t know what it is,” lamented right guard Kyle Long. “But I know that there are spurts where we play well enough to win, and there are spurts where it looks like we don’t know what the hell we’re doing.”
The Jacksonville game falls squarely into that latter group.
The befuddling aspect of the current Bears situation is that it is happening amid backup quarterback Brian Hoyer playing beyond reasonable expectations and delivering a fourth straight game of 300 passing yards – and not all yards at garbage time when a game is reduced to random football flinging.
And yet the net result is an offense incapable of piercing a goal line or even seriously threatening it, and in the process turning far too much of the game into some form of garbage time.
The Bears significantly out-gained a third straight opponent, yet are 1-2 in those games. They have no identity on offense – are they a physical, running team or Air Loggains? – or defense – 17 points allowed in the fourth quarter, the third game this season allowing double-digit points in the fourth quarter. Special teams managed three field goals and no egregious coverage breakdowns.
But the Bears have not posted a fourth-quarter shutout once in six games and are being outscored by nearly double (59-30) in fourth quarters this season.
“It’s not lack of heart, lack of trying,” coach John Fox insisted. “Our guys battled. We just don’t play well enough right now and that’s on all of us. Everybody in [the locker room] is giving their all – coaches are giving their all, players are giving their all. We just got to play better to win games.”
But can they?
The Bears had 10 penalties for the second game in a row (after eight even in the win over Detroit), suggestive of a team whose discipline is evaporating. But even that problem isn’t the same. In Indianapolis the Bears repeatedly committed penalties and dropped footballs to effective sabotage themselves vs. the Colts. This time they simply could not execute in those pivotal moments where a completion, sack, tackle or whatever would have ruled the moment for a touchdown or defensive stop. The penalties were annoying incidentals for the most part this week, at least on offense.
The 2003 and 2004 Bears started 1-5 in what were Dick Jauron’s last and Lovie Smith’s first Bears coaching seasons. Those teams recovered to roll off consecutive wins in minor rebounds; the current Bears iteration has shown nothing to hint at even that level of resiliency.
“I have no idea [how this game got away],” said linebacker Danny Trevathan. “I know that a couple of plays got away from us where we got to get on the same page, but we’re going to get it done.
There’s no excuses for us. We’re just going to get it done.”
Bears Grades: Offense out of balance in loss to Jaguars.
By John Mullin
The exact “when” really wasn’t the real question, of course, although the answer is, four times since 1940:
Sept. 19, 1999 vs Seattle 13-0….13-14.
Oct. 4, 1992 at Minnesota 20-0….20-21.
Sept. 25, 1965 vs. LA Rams 28-9….28-30.
And Sunday. If the past is any sort of prologue, the 1999 team finished 6-10; the ’92 team, Mike Ditka’s last, wound up 5-11. The 1965 team rebounded from that Rams loss to go 9-5.
The Bears this time lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) despite leading 13-0 to start the fourth quarter, the second time (Houston, week one) that the Bears have had a lead after three quarters and lost. And with a game at Green Bay Thursday and against Minnesota in Chicago 11 days later, the Bears (1-5) have played themselves right back to the edge of the abyss and a 1-7 mark at midseason.
“I don’t know what it is,” lamented right guard Kyle Long. “But I know that there are spurts where we play well enough to win, and there are spurts where it looks like we don’t know what the hell we’re doing.”
The Jacksonville game falls squarely into that latter group.
The befuddling aspect of the current Bears situation is that it is happening amid backup quarterback Brian Hoyer playing beyond reasonable expectations and delivering a fourth straight game of 300 passing yards – and not all yards at garbage time when a game is reduced to random football flinging.
And yet the net result is an offense incapable of piercing a goal line or even seriously threatening it, and in the process turning far too much of the game into some form of garbage time.
The Bears significantly out-gained a third straight opponent, yet are 1-2 in those games. They have no identity on offense – are they a physical, running team or Air Loggains? – or defense – 17 points allowed in the fourth quarter, the third game this season allowing double-digit points in the fourth quarter. Special teams managed three field goals and no egregious coverage breakdowns.
But the Bears have not posted a fourth-quarter shutout once in six games and are being outscored by nearly double (59-30) in fourth quarters this season.
“It’s not lack of heart, lack of trying,” coach John Fox insisted. “Our guys battled. We just don’t play well enough right now and that’s on all of us. Everybody in [the locker room] is giving their all – coaches are giving their all, players are giving their all. We just got to play better to win games.”
But can they?
The Bears had 10 penalties for the second game in a row (after eight even in the win over Detroit), suggestive of a team whose discipline is evaporating. But even that problem isn’t the same. In Indianapolis the Bears repeatedly committed penalties and dropped footballs to effective sabotage themselves vs. the Colts. This time they simply could not execute in those pivotal moments where a completion, sack, tackle or whatever would have ruled the moment for a touchdown or defensive stop. The penalties were annoying incidentals for the most part this week, at least on offense.
The 2003 and 2004 Bears started 1-5 in what were Dick Jauron’s last and Lovie Smith’s first Bears coaching seasons. Those teams recovered to roll off consecutive wins in minor rebounds; the current Bears iteration has shown nothing to hint at even that level of resiliency.
“I have no idea [how this game got away],” said linebacker Danny Trevathan. “I know that a couple of plays got away from us where we got to get on the same page, but we’re going to get it done.
There’s no excuses for us. We’re just going to get it done.”
Bears Grades: Offense out of balance in loss to Jaguars.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Bears have averaged 427 yards per game for the past four, yet are averaging barely 18 points per game. Consider the stat sheet from the Bears’ 17-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars just so much noise in a season in which an offense supposedly headed toward power and balance has played with neither.
They are badly out of balance, or at least the range of balance that coach John Fox prefers and which coordinator Dowell Loggains enunciated in discussing the kind of team the Bears would be. Jordan Howard’s one-yard touchdown run Sunday was the first rushing touchdown by the Bears in four games.
The reason given for not staying with the run foundation laid out has typically been that the Bears have been behind. However, as was the case in the loss at Houston, in which they led after three quarters yet ran on just 37 percent of their snaps, they were not behind on Sunday at any time for the first 57 minutes, they ran the football on just 35 percent of their plays (77 plays, 27 rushes).
“They’re a top-10 defense to begin with,” said coach John Fox. “They play a lot of eight-man boxes they mix it up, they’re well coached like everybody in this league. They stacked it a little bit and that kind of forced us to throw the ball some, which really wasn’t totally inefficient, but was not quite efficient enough.”
The Jaguars may have stacked against the run (the Bears averaged just 2.4 yards per carry in the first half). But the Bears averaged 5.1 yards per carry in the third quarter, then came out in the fourth quarter and called 15 pass plays and five runs.
And the Bears may be getting less out of 300-yard passing games than any team in the NFL. Too frequently plays were run on third down which got the football into the hands of a receiver but sufficiently short of the sticks that the receiver was unable to get the first-down yardage after the catch.
“You are hoping that the shallow routes pull people up,” Hoyer said. “They are a disciplined team and they stay at the sticks. You’re hoping to get some catch and run. Towards the end, the last play, you know you have to get it to the sticks, so you try to buy yourself some time and throw it to Alshon deeper.
They are badly out of balance, or at least the range of balance that coach John Fox prefers and which coordinator Dowell Loggains enunciated in discussing the kind of team the Bears would be. Jordan Howard’s one-yard touchdown run Sunday was the first rushing touchdown by the Bears in four games.
The reason given for not staying with the run foundation laid out has typically been that the Bears have been behind. However, as was the case in the loss at Houston, in which they led after three quarters yet ran on just 37 percent of their snaps, they were not behind on Sunday at any time for the first 57 minutes, they ran the football on just 35 percent of their plays (77 plays, 27 rushes).
“They’re a top-10 defense to begin with,” said coach John Fox. “They play a lot of eight-man boxes they mix it up, they’re well coached like everybody in this league. They stacked it a little bit and that kind of forced us to throw the ball some, which really wasn’t totally inefficient, but was not quite efficient enough.”
The Jaguars may have stacked against the run (the Bears averaged just 2.4 yards per carry in the first half). But the Bears averaged 5.1 yards per carry in the third quarter, then came out in the fourth quarter and called 15 pass plays and five runs.
And the Bears may be getting less out of 300-yard passing games than any team in the NFL. Too frequently plays were run on third down which got the football into the hands of a receiver but sufficiently short of the sticks that the receiver was unable to get the first-down yardage after the catch.
“You are hoping that the shallow routes pull people up,” Hoyer said. “They are a disciplined team and they stay at the sticks. You’re hoping to get some catch and run. Towards the end, the last play, you know you have to get it to the sticks, so you try to buy yourself some time and throw it to Alshon deeper.
“But throughout the game, they are going to make you catch it on the sticks. We got some of those third-down conversions where they got in ‘man’ formation, and we got some good matchups and that worked for us. For me, like I said, it’s going through the read and not trying to force the ball.”
Which is solid thinking and execution, with Hoyer running his pass total without an interception this season to 189.
But the Bears had three drives with last plays inside the Jacksonville 20, all three winding up with field goals, with quarterback Brian Hoyer being inaccurate and late making throws, as he was in the loss at Indianapolis. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who has averaged one touchdown every 10.5 pass receptions for his career, has yet to score in 2016.
“For the Jaguars, as a defense, they are dropping. They are making it as tough as they can on you. Like the one to Cameron [Meredith], they dropped it far enough that we got it him and he got us to the 1-yard line and [led to] a touchdown. A defense like theirs, it’s tough – they aren’t going to give it up. They have less ground to cover, so they just play right there. Then you have to figure out a way to get around them or whatever it might be. We have to come up with ways to execute the plays and quickly. Like I said, we play Thursday night.”
Quarterback: C-
Hoyer was effective but not especially accurate in several crucial situations that forced the Bears to settle for field goals. He completed 30 of 49 passes for 302 yards, was not intercepted but neither did he complete a scoring pass after two each in his previous three games.
Running back: D+
Ka’Deem Carey was a spark, with yards after contact that included a 16-yard burst in the third quarter and finished with 50 yards on nine carries (5.4 ypc.). But Carey muffed an easy pass reception, wide open, in the third quarter and forcing the Bears to punt.
After two straight 100-yard games, Howard was throttled and managed just 34 yards on 15 carries. He did score his first career touchdown but other than one nine-yard run, averaged just 1.8 yards per carry.
Receivers: B
Jeffery and Meredith were involved early and consistently in another game dominated by passing calls. Meredith caught 11 of his 15 passes for 113 yards, while Jeffery fought strong coverage throughout and caught seven of 13 passes thrown to him. Zach Miller netted some tough yards after his six receptions and Eddie Royal contributed 54 yards on four catches before being forced to leave in the second half with a toe injury.
After drawing two flags at Indianapolis, TE Logan Paulsen committed a false start in the first quarter. Meredith began the second quarter with a false start of his own.
Offensive line: B-
Protection for Hoyer was superb for much of the game, giving coaches options in play calling for spread formations and outside-zone runs where the Bears had physical advantages. The run game faced stacked fronts with a safety in the box. The line blocked well enough but inaccuracies in the passing game negated scoring opportunities.
Coaching: D-
Something is very out of whack somewhere in the offensive approach, with another pass-dominated game that shouldn’t have been a game by the end of the first half. The Bears ran 26 pass plays and 14 run plays, and this time were ahead or tied for the entire half, yet led Jacksonville just 10-0.
On more than one occasion, Bears receivers failed to take routes to the first-down markers and were stopped short of first downs on otherwise solid completions.
The recurring issue with penalties continues pointing to a lack of precision and discipline, particularly with two pre-snap penalties (false starts) in the first 16 minutes. Royal failing to get a third-and-9 pass route deep enough for a first down was head-scratching.
A block-in-the-back penalty on a third-quarter punt was bewildering, with Jacoby Glenn pushing from behind a Jaguar gunner already out of the play. Discipline, again.
Bears Grades: Defense bends, breaks late as Jaguars score 17 in fourth quarter.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
It probably shouldn’t have come down to the fourth quarter on Sunday, when the Bears offense failed to put the Jacksonville Jaguars away on numerous early chances. But it did, and the Bears’ defense finally gave way and allowed the Jaguars 17 points over the final 15 minutes for a 17-16 win over the reeling Bears.
The Bears had thoroughly controlled Jacksonville through three quarters, allowing just nine completions in 19 attempts by quarterback Blake Bortles, 2.5 yards per rush attempt and zero points. Then came the fourth quarter, in which Jacksonville scored 17 points, posted 10 first downs and piled up nearly 150 yards on a unit that could be excused for feeling abandoned by its offense.
“Our job is to keep playing defense,” said end/linebacker Willie Young. “That’s what we’ll continue to do. I’m sure the offense will continue to play offense. And, when we get the consistency down, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
No hint at when that consistency may be showing up, because after six games in which the Bears have held no opponent to fewer than 17 points, you at some point really are what your record says you are.
Jacksonville utilized two tight ends frequently, allowing the Bears to work in their preferred 3-4 base defense, and the Bears responded by holding the Jaguars to 97 yards in the first half, aided by a consistently inconsistent and inaccurate Bortles.
But with the offense failing to convert third downs in the second half (none of four in the fourth quarter), the defense eventually cracked just enough for the Jaguars to slip by.
“It just seems like we just have to put things together,” said safety Harold Jones-Quartey. “We have to finish. We have to put a whole game together on offense, defense, special teams. We just all have to come together as a team and finish games out.”
Defensive line: B
Young is listed as a linebacker but was effectively a defensive end again in both base and nickel personnel, and delivered his fourth sack in the last two games in the first half. He added a second with a strip-sack in the third quarter, forcing a fumble that Akiem Hicks recovered. The offense, however, settled for a field goal.
Linebacker: B-
Jerrell Freeman contributed five tackles and a forced fumble while Danny Trevathan added four stops and were keys to Jacksonville backs netting just 53 yards on 17 carries.
The status of Leonard Floyd remains a franchise concern as the rookie No. 1 pick was again inactive with an injury (calf), leaving the depth chart thin with Sam Acho and Christian Jones starting outside in the 3-4 base. Neither delivered sufficient pass-rush impact, although Jones was able to block a third-quarter pass and Acho had a tackle for loss and one hit on Bortles.
Secondary: C+
The secondary was solid through most of the game but for a couple of late breakdowns. Tracy Porter gathered in a ball mishandled by Jags wideout Allen Robinson in the end zone, Porter’s second interception of the season and double his total of 2015.
But Porter slipped while covering wideout Arrelious Benn late in the fourth quarter, allowing the former Illinois receiver to score the game-winner on a 51-yard completion. Porter injured his ankle and had to be helped into the locker room by two Bears staffers.
“When I came out of my break, I knew he had slid a little bit, and I had to get down and catch the ball,” Benn said. “I got up and knew he was behind me. I knew he didn’t touch me.”
Bryce Callahan led the Bears with six solo tackles before leaving with a hamstring strain. Jacoby Glenn was called twice for pass interference and added a block-in-the-back infraction on special teams.
Special teams: C
Connor Barth pushed the wolves a step back from his door with a 36-yard field goal for the game’s first points.
The Bears allowed another long punt with shaky return handling, with a Jacksonville punt landing un-caught and taking a huge forward bounce, ultimately covering 59 yards in the third quarter.
Pat O’Donnell was solid with six punts average 43 yards net. Eddie Royal managed a nine-yard punt return but the Bears lost an 11-yard Royal return because of the Glenn infraction.
“It just seems like we just have to put things together,” said safety Harold Jones-Quartey. “We have to finish. We have to put a whole game together on offense, defense, special teams. We just all have to come together as a team and finish games out.”
Defensive line: B
Young is listed as a linebacker but was effectively a defensive end again in both base and nickel personnel, and delivered his fourth sack in the last two games in the first half. He added a second with a strip-sack in the third quarter, forcing a fumble that Akiem Hicks recovered. The offense, however, settled for a field goal.
Linebacker: B-
Jerrell Freeman contributed five tackles and a forced fumble while Danny Trevathan added four stops and were keys to Jacksonville backs netting just 53 yards on 17 carries.
The status of Leonard Floyd remains a franchise concern as the rookie No. 1 pick was again inactive with an injury (calf), leaving the depth chart thin with Sam Acho and Christian Jones starting outside in the 3-4 base. Neither delivered sufficient pass-rush impact, although Jones was able to block a third-quarter pass and Acho had a tackle for loss and one hit on Bortles.
Secondary: C+
The secondary was solid through most of the game but for a couple of late breakdowns. Tracy Porter gathered in a ball mishandled by Jags wideout Allen Robinson in the end zone, Porter’s second interception of the season and double his total of 2015.
But Porter slipped while covering wideout Arrelious Benn late in the fourth quarter, allowing the former Illinois receiver to score the game-winner on a 51-yard completion. Porter injured his ankle and had to be helped into the locker room by two Bears staffers.
“When I came out of my break, I knew he had slid a little bit, and I had to get down and catch the ball,” Benn said. “I got up and knew he was behind me. I knew he didn’t touch me.”
Bryce Callahan led the Bears with six solo tackles before leaving with a hamstring strain. Jacoby Glenn was called twice for pass interference and added a block-in-the-back infraction on special teams.
Special teams: C
Connor Barth pushed the wolves a step back from his door with a 36-yard field goal for the game’s first points.
The Bears allowed another long punt with shaky return handling, with a Jacksonville punt landing un-caught and taking a huge forward bounce, ultimately covering 59 yards in the third quarter.
Pat O’Donnell was solid with six punts average 43 yards net. Eddie Royal managed a nine-yard punt return but the Bears lost an 11-yard Royal return because of the Glenn infraction.
While Bears continue downward spiral, Cameron Meredith opening eyes in Chicago.
By Scott Krinch
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
At this point, the Bears season needs to be taken for what it is: a developmental year.
Forget the grand illusion that this team could be in the crowded NFC playoff picture if not for a couple of bounces going their way the last two games.
After suffering their second consecutive loss, this time blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars — a bottom feeder in arguably the worst division in the NFL — it would behoove the Bears to use the remaining 10 games to see which players on their roster could be potential building-blocks for 2017 and beyond.
One of those potential building-blocks is wide receiver Cameron Meredith.
Meredith has been thrust into a key role and tasked with playing a larger part in the Bears offense due to former No. 1 pick Kevin White going on IR with a broken leg earlier this month. White's departure has been Meredith's gain as he continues to produce at a high clip and deliver the type of production the Bears thought they would be getting out of White.
For the second straight game, Meredith led all Bears wideouts in receptions (11), yards (113) and targets (15). Pair that with his performance in a Week 5 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Meredith now has accrued an eye-opening 27 targets and hauled in 20 catches for 243 yards and a touchdowns in his last two games.
"Cam is a playmaker when he gets the ball and he's made some plays with it," Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer said.
To see Meredith continue to put up impressive stat lines has been a pleasant surprise in a season that's been mired by disappointment. And what's been even more stunning in Meredith's sudden rise is the fact that he's only been playing wide receiver for a few years.
The 24-year-old starred as a quarterback at St. Joseph High School in Chicago's western suburbs and after not getting any FBS-level offers, enrolled at Illinois State where he served as Redbirds' backup quarterback in 2011 and 2012 before transitioning to wide receiver in 2013.
After going undrafted and receiving an invite to minicamp in 2015, Meredith ultimately played his way onto the Bears' final 53-man roster. This past preseason, Meredith had to do it all over again and fight for his roster spot in a crowded wide receiver group.
The Bears decision to keep him around could pay major dividends as the front office builds for the future.
"I think it's just getting the reps, honestly," Meredith said. "The more I'm out there, the more confidence I'm getting in my hands and routes and stuff like that, and also in my preparation during the week. I'm just going to continue to work on that and continue to get better and grow and come like that every week."
After going undrafted and receiving an invite to minicamp in 2015, Meredith ultimately played his way onto the Bears' final 53-man roster. This past preseason, Meredith had to do it all over again and fight for his roster spot in a crowded wide receiver group.
The Bears decision to keep him around could pay major dividends as the front office builds for the future.
"I think it's just getting the reps, honestly," Meredith said. "The more I'm out there, the more confidence I'm getting in my hands and routes and stuff like that, and also in my preparation during the week. I'm just going to continue to work on that and continue to get better and grow and come like that every week."
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Panik nets hat trick in Blackhawks’ victory.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Last fall, Richard Panik was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ minor league team. This fall he started on the Blackhawks’ top line.
On Saturday he recorded his first career hat trick.
Panik scored three, including the game-winner, and Scott Darling stopped 33 of 36 shots as the Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Saturday night. The Blackhawks picked up their first victory of the season and Panik recorded his first hat trick in – well, he’s not sure exactly when but it’s been a while.
“I don’t even remember,” Panik said with a smile. “Maybe in juniors. Yeah, maybe juniors.”
Nick Schmaltz scored the first goal of his NHL career and Brent Seabrook added a power-play goal. This one got closer than the Blackhawks would’ve liked, especially after they had a 3-0 lead midway through the game, but they’ll take the two points.
“I didn’t like how we let them get back in the game. Even at 3-0, they had their turn to get something earlier than that and then chipped away,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Definitely a big play at the end. Nice play by Kaner.”
That play by Patrick Kane led to Panik’s third goal with 1:31 remaining in regulation. Darling was pivotal throughout and kept the Predators from finding the equalizer late.
“Yeah, I felt pretty good today,” Darling said. “Obviously some things I need to work on, it wasn’t all perfect. But nice to get the first one out of the way, get the jitters out and get a win.”
The Blackhawks, overall, still had their jittery moments. They allowed another power-play goal – that’s seven through three games. As pointed out earlier, a seemingly comfortable lead nearly disappeared twice; Craig Smith’s power-play goal made it 3-2 late in the second period and Viktor Arvidsson’s goal pulled the Predators to within one again, 4-3, midway through the third.
As for Panik, he got his goals the way Quenneville always preaches: by getting to the net. His first was a behind-the-back backhand that gave the Blackhawks that 3-0 lead midway through the first period. His second was his finishing a Marian Hossa drive. At first it looked like it was Hossa, who would’ve had his 500th career goal.
“I wasn’t sure,” Quenneville said afterward on who scored that goal. “Pans had the bigger celebration, so…”
The Blackhawks’ first victory wasn’t a dominating one by any means. They got there thanks to great goaltending, and from a guy who’s gone from the minors in Toronto to the top line in Chicago.
“Those first two games, I got an opportunity on the top line and we lost those two games. So we weren’t happy about it,” Panik said. “But tonight we won, so we are pretty happy.”
Big shots and bigger stops: Five Things from Predators-Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
On Saturday he recorded his first career hat trick.
Panik scored three, including the game-winner, and Scott Darling stopped 33 of 36 shots as the Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Saturday night. The Blackhawks picked up their first victory of the season and Panik recorded his first hat trick in – well, he’s not sure exactly when but it’s been a while.
“I don’t even remember,” Panik said with a smile. “Maybe in juniors. Yeah, maybe juniors.”
Nick Schmaltz scored the first goal of his NHL career and Brent Seabrook added a power-play goal. This one got closer than the Blackhawks would’ve liked, especially after they had a 3-0 lead midway through the game, but they’ll take the two points.
“I didn’t like how we let them get back in the game. Even at 3-0, they had their turn to get something earlier than that and then chipped away,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Definitely a big play at the end. Nice play by Kaner.”
That play by Patrick Kane led to Panik’s third goal with 1:31 remaining in regulation. Darling was pivotal throughout and kept the Predators from finding the equalizer late.
“Yeah, I felt pretty good today,” Darling said. “Obviously some things I need to work on, it wasn’t all perfect. But nice to get the first one out of the way, get the jitters out and get a win.”
The Blackhawks, overall, still had their jittery moments. They allowed another power-play goal – that’s seven through three games. As pointed out earlier, a seemingly comfortable lead nearly disappeared twice; Craig Smith’s power-play goal made it 3-2 late in the second period and Viktor Arvidsson’s goal pulled the Predators to within one again, 4-3, midway through the third.
As for Panik, he got his goals the way Quenneville always preaches: by getting to the net. His first was a behind-the-back backhand that gave the Blackhawks that 3-0 lead midway through the first period. His second was his finishing a Marian Hossa drive. At first it looked like it was Hossa, who would’ve had his 500th career goal.
“I wasn’t sure,” Quenneville said afterward on who scored that goal. “Pans had the bigger celebration, so…”
The Blackhawks’ first victory wasn’t a dominating one by any means. They got there thanks to great goaltending, and from a guy who’s gone from the minors in Toronto to the top line in Chicago.
“Those first two games, I got an opportunity on the top line and we lost those two games. So we weren’t happy about it,” Panik said. “But tonight we won, so we are pretty happy.”
Big shots and bigger stops: Five Things from Predators-Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Joel Quenneville talked prior to Saturday’s game about how much the Blackhawks needed a victory. Just getting two points was going to help this team that’s struggled out of the gate.
They got it thanks to a more balanced attack and big contributions from two key players. So with the Blackhawks headed to a day off on Sunday, let’s look at Five Things to take from their 5-3 victory over the Predators.
1. Richard Panik, proficient goal scorer. Panik got his chance on the top line mainly because he did pretty well there at the end of the season last year. But his knack of driving to the net earned him two more goals on Saturday night, the second right before a power play expired. The Blackhawks have been juggling lines a lot in these first three games but Panik has (so far) found a spot on that top line. Four goals in three games will get that for you.
2. Scott Darling’s strong night. Yes, at the end of the night Darling gave up three goals. But when you consider the quality he faced and how busy he was, especially in the first period, you recognize the backup goaltender put forth a great and ultimately much-needed performance for the Blackhawks. Darling faced 36 shots, which was a good number as far as he’s concerned. “You’d rather see 25-35 shots than 15 or 45. There’s that sweet area, like 25-35 is the perfect amount. You’re pretty much in it the whole time,” Darling said. "Especially early in the game, it was nice to get a few saves and start feeling good right away.”
3. Congratulations, Nick Schmaltz. Two games after Ryan Hartman scored his first career NHL goal, Schmaltz did the same. Schmaltz started to look more comfortable at the end of Friday’s game in Nashville and his slick goal gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead in the first period tonight. Schmaltz spent part of training camp on the wing. While he has played there some and said he was fine with it, there’s no doubt he looks more comfortable at center, where he’s been for the first three regular-season games.
4. The discipline is better, but… wish we could say the same for that penalty kill. The Blackhawks kept the penalties down, committing just two; they had 14 in their first two games. But they gave up another goal on the penalty kill, their seventh in the first three games. One step forward…
5. Artem Anisimov struggling. There are a few Blackhawks still looking to make a bigger impact and Anisimov is among them. His first few games have been rough, from the faceoff dot – he won three of nine against the Predators tonight – to penalties. Anisimov took another one of those on Saturday, and the Predators pulled to within one goal on the ensuing power play. Anisimov looked great in his first season with the Blackhawks. He had wrist surgery this offseason pronounced himself ready to go at World Cup. So far, however, he hasn’t been what the Blackhawks need him to be.
Young Blackhawks adjusting well to big stage.
By Tracey Myers
They got it thanks to a more balanced attack and big contributions from two key players. So with the Blackhawks headed to a day off on Sunday, let’s look at Five Things to take from their 5-3 victory over the Predators.
1. Richard Panik, proficient goal scorer. Panik got his chance on the top line mainly because he did pretty well there at the end of the season last year. But his knack of driving to the net earned him two more goals on Saturday night, the second right before a power play expired. The Blackhawks have been juggling lines a lot in these first three games but Panik has (so far) found a spot on that top line. Four goals in three games will get that for you.
2. Scott Darling’s strong night. Yes, at the end of the night Darling gave up three goals. But when you consider the quality he faced and how busy he was, especially in the first period, you recognize the backup goaltender put forth a great and ultimately much-needed performance for the Blackhawks. Darling faced 36 shots, which was a good number as far as he’s concerned. “You’d rather see 25-35 shots than 15 or 45. There’s that sweet area, like 25-35 is the perfect amount. You’re pretty much in it the whole time,” Darling said. "Especially early in the game, it was nice to get a few saves and start feeling good right away.”
3. Congratulations, Nick Schmaltz. Two games after Ryan Hartman scored his first career NHL goal, Schmaltz did the same. Schmaltz started to look more comfortable at the end of Friday’s game in Nashville and his slick goal gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead in the first period tonight. Schmaltz spent part of training camp on the wing. While he has played there some and said he was fine with it, there’s no doubt he looks more comfortable at center, where he’s been for the first three regular-season games.
4. The discipline is better, but… wish we could say the same for that penalty kill. The Blackhawks kept the penalties down, committing just two; they had 14 in their first two games. But they gave up another goal on the penalty kill, their seventh in the first three games. One step forward…
5. Artem Anisimov struggling. There are a few Blackhawks still looking to make a bigger impact and Anisimov is among them. His first few games have been rough, from the faceoff dot – he won three of nine against the Predators tonight – to penalties. Anisimov took another one of those on Saturday, and the Predators pulled to within one goal on the ensuing power play. Anisimov looked great in his first season with the Blackhawks. He had wrist surgery this offseason pronounced himself ready to go at World Cup. So far, however, he hasn’t been what the Blackhawks need him to be.
Young Blackhawks adjusting well to big stage.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Nick Schmaltz lifted Mike Ribeiro’s stick just enough to get control of the puck before skating back to the middle and scoring his first career NHL goal.
It was a slick play, one showing the ability Schmaltz already had. But be it with him or some of the other young players, the Blackhawks figured it was going to take some time for that talent to come through on the bigger stage. So far, however, the adjustment time hasn’t been so large.
Tyler Motte has been good since the start of camp and earned some second-line work out of it. Vinnie Hinostroza’s speed and energy earned him a top-line shot on Saturday. Coach Joel Quenneville has been very happy with Gustav Forsling and Michal Kempny on defense. Yes, Kempny may be a few years older than some of the Blackhawks’ other first-year players but playing on this side of the pond is still very new to him.
Schmaltz had his best game on Saturday, when he got that first goal in the Blackhawks’ victory over the Nashville Predators. He admitted afterward that jitters may have affected him in his first two games – it didn’t help that the Blackhawks’ fourth line barely played in the season opener, either. By the end of Friday’s game in Nashville, Schmaltz looked more comfortable and that carried over to Saturday.
“I think you have a little more time than you think,” he said Saturday night. “I think in the first couple games I was just kind of chipping it, because I was kind of nervous to have it. But I’ve got to focus on playing my game and that’s controlling the puck.”
Really, for some of these guys, that’s probably the trick: recognize you’re in a bigger, better league but don’t become overwhelmed by it. It’s not easy, but ultimately that “play-your-game” cliché holds true.
“I’m not going to come out and try and play a different game. Coaches and guys have told me that,” Motte said recently. “I may be on a bigger stage… but the sport’s no different.”
And it also takes an organization being patient with young players. The Blackhawks, who have once again gone through big changes with the salary cap are in the position where they have to give these guys a real chance.
“You have to give them that adjustment period. For some guys it can happen within a couple weeks or a month. Other guys it takes almost a whole year. They’ve never played in these buildings before. It seems maybe silly, but little things like that. You have to get through that at some point,” general manager Stan Bowman said this weekend. “But I think you if you can hang in there with these guys, they’re going to be better players once they acclimate to the NHL because they have growth to their game.”
There are going to be growing pains. There are going to be mistakes; players are human, no matter how many years they’ve been in the league. As Quenneville said following the season opener, “there’ll definitely be some learning going on and we’ll be accepting mistakes from hard work, because that’s where you get better.”
But so far, the youth has been progressing just fine.
It was a slick play, one showing the ability Schmaltz already had. But be it with him or some of the other young players, the Blackhawks figured it was going to take some time for that talent to come through on the bigger stage. So far, however, the adjustment time hasn’t been so large.
Tyler Motte has been good since the start of camp and earned some second-line work out of it. Vinnie Hinostroza’s speed and energy earned him a top-line shot on Saturday. Coach Joel Quenneville has been very happy with Gustav Forsling and Michal Kempny on defense. Yes, Kempny may be a few years older than some of the Blackhawks’ other first-year players but playing on this side of the pond is still very new to him.
Schmaltz had his best game on Saturday, when he got that first goal in the Blackhawks’ victory over the Nashville Predators. He admitted afterward that jitters may have affected him in his first two games – it didn’t help that the Blackhawks’ fourth line barely played in the season opener, either. By the end of Friday’s game in Nashville, Schmaltz looked more comfortable and that carried over to Saturday.
“I think you have a little more time than you think,” he said Saturday night. “I think in the first couple games I was just kind of chipping it, because I was kind of nervous to have it. But I’ve got to focus on playing my game and that’s controlling the puck.”
Really, for some of these guys, that’s probably the trick: recognize you’re in a bigger, better league but don’t become overwhelmed by it. It’s not easy, but ultimately that “play-your-game” cliché holds true.
“I’m not going to come out and try and play a different game. Coaches and guys have told me that,” Motte said recently. “I may be on a bigger stage… but the sport’s no different.”
And it also takes an organization being patient with young players. The Blackhawks, who have once again gone through big changes with the salary cap are in the position where they have to give these guys a real chance.
“You have to give them that adjustment period. For some guys it can happen within a couple weeks or a month. Other guys it takes almost a whole year. They’ve never played in these buildings before. It seems maybe silly, but little things like that. You have to get through that at some point,” general manager Stan Bowman said this weekend. “But I think you if you can hang in there with these guys, they’re going to be better players once they acclimate to the NHL because they have growth to their game.”
There are going to be growing pains. There are going to be mistakes; players are human, no matter how many years they’ve been in the league. As Quenneville said following the season opener, “there’ll definitely be some learning going on and we’ll be accepting mistakes from hard work, because that’s where you get better.”
But so far, the youth has been progressing just fine.
CUBS: Clayton Kershaw dismantles his playoff narrative in brilliant Game 2 start against Cubs.
By JJ Stankevitz
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Clayton Kershaw had just turned in a narrative-busting gem, so the Los Angeles Dodgers ace was a little perturbed when the first question he fielded in his postgame media session was if he thought Javier Baez’s seventh-inning flyout was going to sail over the center field ivy for a home run.
“That’s your first freakin’ question?” Kershaw bristled.
“Yeah, I did. I thought it was out, for sure. He hit it pretty good.”
It wasn’t an unfair question — the exit velocity on Baez’s warning track flyout to center was 103 miles per hour, making it the Cubs’ hardest-hit ball of the game — but Kershaw wasn’t interested in entertaining it after his seven shutout innings shoveled more dirt on the “Kershaw can’t pitch well in the postseason” storyline.
Showing no ill effects of starting against the Washington Nationals on three days’ rest in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday and getting the final two outs of Game 5 Thursday, Kershaw plowed through the Cubs’ order using mostly fastballs and sliders without a good feel for his signature looping curveball. He didn’t go to a three-ball count until facing Dexter Fowler with one out in the sixth inning and got Jason Heyward to pop out to end the fifth, the only at-bat a Cubs player had Sunday with a runner in scoring position.
Kershaw threw 84 pitches (50 fastballs, 23 sliders and nine curveballs, according to BrooksBaseball.net) and held the Cubs to two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. That walk, though, came on four pitches to Anthony Rizzo to lead off the seventh — an inning in which, in his playoff career, Kershaw entered Sunday with a 28.93 ERA.
But Kershaw struck out Ben Zobrist on a fastball — the Cubs’ left fielder “took one down the middle, thankfully,” Kershaw said — and got in on Addison Russell’s hands for a flyout before Baez came within a few feet of finding the center field basket for what would’ve been a go-ahead home run.
Before Baez stepped in, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out to talk to Kershaw with the initial intention of pulling him from the game for closer Kenley Jansen, who would’ve been tasked with a seven-out save. But Kershaw convinced his manager to leave him in, and despite the gasps as soon as Baez made contact with a 93 mile per hour 0-1 fastball, the move paid off.
“There was no way he was going to come out of the game not getting that out,” catcher Yasmani Grandal said.
Kershaw said part of his thought process in convincing Roberts to let him stay in the game was to give Jansen — who threw 51 pitches Thursday in Washington — less of a workload, but: “Mainly I thought I could get him out, and came really close to not doing it,” Kershaw said.
The Cubs are now faced with the looming spector of Kershaw pitching in a clinching game, be it as early as Game 5 in Los Angeles (which would again be on three days’ rest) or a potential Game 6 in Chicago (on five days’ rest). For a franchise looking to eradicate a narrative of its own, that’s an unsettling prospect as the series shifts to southern California tied at one.
“He's the best pitcher on the planet,” Roberts said. “I’ll take him any day, as well as 29 other managers. And so for me, the history, it has no bearing on anything for me. This is a new year, and he's shown what he can do in the postseason.”
“That’s your first freakin’ question?” Kershaw bristled.
“Yeah, I did. I thought it was out, for sure. He hit it pretty good.”
It wasn’t an unfair question — the exit velocity on Baez’s warning track flyout to center was 103 miles per hour, making it the Cubs’ hardest-hit ball of the game — but Kershaw wasn’t interested in entertaining it after his seven shutout innings shoveled more dirt on the “Kershaw can’t pitch well in the postseason” storyline.
Showing no ill effects of starting against the Washington Nationals on three days’ rest in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday and getting the final two outs of Game 5 Thursday, Kershaw plowed through the Cubs’ order using mostly fastballs and sliders without a good feel for his signature looping curveball. He didn’t go to a three-ball count until facing Dexter Fowler with one out in the sixth inning and got Jason Heyward to pop out to end the fifth, the only at-bat a Cubs player had Sunday with a runner in scoring position.
Kershaw threw 84 pitches (50 fastballs, 23 sliders and nine curveballs, according to BrooksBaseball.net) and held the Cubs to two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. That walk, though, came on four pitches to Anthony Rizzo to lead off the seventh — an inning in which, in his playoff career, Kershaw entered Sunday with a 28.93 ERA.
But Kershaw struck out Ben Zobrist on a fastball — the Cubs’ left fielder “took one down the middle, thankfully,” Kershaw said — and got in on Addison Russell’s hands for a flyout before Baez came within a few feet of finding the center field basket for what would’ve been a go-ahead home run.
Before Baez stepped in, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out to talk to Kershaw with the initial intention of pulling him from the game for closer Kenley Jansen, who would’ve been tasked with a seven-out save. But Kershaw convinced his manager to leave him in, and despite the gasps as soon as Baez made contact with a 93 mile per hour 0-1 fastball, the move paid off.
“There was no way he was going to come out of the game not getting that out,” catcher Yasmani Grandal said.
Kershaw said part of his thought process in convincing Roberts to let him stay in the game was to give Jansen — who threw 51 pitches Thursday in Washington — less of a workload, but: “Mainly I thought I could get him out, and came really close to not doing it,” Kershaw said.
The Cubs are now faced with the looming spector of Kershaw pitching in a clinching game, be it as early as Game 5 in Los Angeles (which would again be on three days’ rest) or a potential Game 6 in Chicago (on five days’ rest). For a franchise looking to eradicate a narrative of its own, that’s an unsettling prospect as the series shifts to southern California tied at one.
“He's the best pitcher on the planet,” Roberts said. “I’ll take him any day, as well as 29 other managers. And so for me, the history, it has no bearing on anything for me. This is a new year, and he's shown what he can do in the postseason.”
Cubs prove once again they can overcome adversity with crazy win. (Saturday night's game, 10/15/2016).
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Lost in all the craziness of the Game 1 of the National League Championship Series was the Cubs nearly having another Bartman moment in the eighth inning.
Nearly being the operative word.
As Anthony Rizzo descended upon the tarp down the first-base line trying to catch Yasiel Puig's foul soft liner, a fan jerked his hands back to give the Cubs first baseman room to try to make a play.
The ball bounced off Rizzo's glove and into the stands, a tough play that didn't turn into another iconic moment of failure for a franchise that has had its share over the last century.
It didn't matter that Rizzo didn't catch the ball. Aroldis Chapman struck Puig out anyways.
It didn't matter that Adrian Gonzalez lined Chapman's 102 mph fastball into center field for a game-tying single. The Cubs just came right back with five runs in the bottom of the inning, keying an 8-4 victory to jump out to an all-important 1-0 lead in the NLCS.
"I think we kinda proved that we can overcome adversity in the game," said Kris Bryant, who made a questionable decision in that eighth inning to load the bases when he tried to beat Andrew Toles to third base instead of taking the more likely out at first. "Obviously, I probably could've had a better effort on my play. Everybody picks each other up, which is awesome."
The lights have gotten brighter as the weather has gotten cooler, but the Cubs are still the same team that won 103 games in the regular season.
Forget any talks of curses or Bartman or black cats or goats.
In fact, the crazier the better for this group. With Joe Maddon at the helm, the 2016 Cubs thrive on the wacky.
Like Javy Baez stealing home on a throw to third base in the third inning, the first postseason steal of home in Cubs history since 1907 (yes, a longer drought than even the 1908 World Series championship).
Or like watching the Dodgers intentionally walk two lefties just to bring the pitcher's spot to the plate.
"I don't think I've ever seen two intentional walks in one inning, especially the last one to load the bases," David Ross said. "Who knows? It's the crazy time of year and anything goes."
Up steps Miguel Montero, who has been dealing with a back issue for most of the season and has lost a lot of playing time to Willson Contreras.
Montero took a vicious hack to run the count to 0-2 against veteran Joe Blanton, but this wasn't the time to shorten up and just try to put the ball in play.
The veteran catcher has had a knack for coming through with the big hits late in games and did it one more time for the Cubs, nearly bringing down a stadium that is more than a century old.
Quite the rally for a team that had just clinched the NLDS four days prior with an epic comeback in the ninth inning against the Giants.
"Two in a row now," Maddon said. "The game in San Francisco was very similar to that in the latter part of the game. We do play nine innings hard. We do go for 27 outs.
"The vibe on the bench was good after we came off the field. Even though they had tied it, we did not really - the big point there is you never want to relinquish the lead. That's where the momentum really swings the other side.
"...I'm really pleased and proud of our guys how they handled difficult situations."
The Cubs have a young core that got its first taste of postseason life last season and were swept out of the NLCS.
This year, they felt much better equipped to handle the moment (to borrow a phrase from Maddon) and wound up with their first Game 1 win in an NLCS since 1984.
Saturday night was exactly what Maddon was preaching about when he warned his players bad things were going to happen throughout the playoffs, but the Cubs would be defined on how they responded to adversity.
"These are the kind of moments that you can hold on to when things get awful again," Maddon said. "And they're going to get awful. But you could think about, 'Well, we did this. We kept our composure. I didn't speed up my thought process.'
"That's the most important thing - don't speed it up. Don't concede anything. You just keep doing what you've been doing and eventually it has a chance to come back on the right side."
Nearly being the operative word.
As Anthony Rizzo descended upon the tarp down the first-base line trying to catch Yasiel Puig's foul soft liner, a fan jerked his hands back to give the Cubs first baseman room to try to make a play.
The ball bounced off Rizzo's glove and into the stands, a tough play that didn't turn into another iconic moment of failure for a franchise that has had its share over the last century.
It didn't matter that Rizzo didn't catch the ball. Aroldis Chapman struck Puig out anyways.
It didn't matter that Adrian Gonzalez lined Chapman's 102 mph fastball into center field for a game-tying single. The Cubs just came right back with five runs in the bottom of the inning, keying an 8-4 victory to jump out to an all-important 1-0 lead in the NLCS.
"I think we kinda proved that we can overcome adversity in the game," said Kris Bryant, who made a questionable decision in that eighth inning to load the bases when he tried to beat Andrew Toles to third base instead of taking the more likely out at first. "Obviously, I probably could've had a better effort on my play. Everybody picks each other up, which is awesome."
The lights have gotten brighter as the weather has gotten cooler, but the Cubs are still the same team that won 103 games in the regular season.
Forget any talks of curses or Bartman or black cats or goats.
In fact, the crazier the better for this group. With Joe Maddon at the helm, the 2016 Cubs thrive on the wacky.
Like Javy Baez stealing home on a throw to third base in the third inning, the first postseason steal of home in Cubs history since 1907 (yes, a longer drought than even the 1908 World Series championship).
Or like watching the Dodgers intentionally walk two lefties just to bring the pitcher's spot to the plate.
"I don't think I've ever seen two intentional walks in one inning, especially the last one to load the bases," David Ross said. "Who knows? It's the crazy time of year and anything goes."
Up steps Miguel Montero, who has been dealing with a back issue for most of the season and has lost a lot of playing time to Willson Contreras.
Montero took a vicious hack to run the count to 0-2 against veteran Joe Blanton, but this wasn't the time to shorten up and just try to put the ball in play.
The veteran catcher has had a knack for coming through with the big hits late in games and did it one more time for the Cubs, nearly bringing down a stadium that is more than a century old.
Quite the rally for a team that had just clinched the NLDS four days prior with an epic comeback in the ninth inning against the Giants.
"Two in a row now," Maddon said. "The game in San Francisco was very similar to that in the latter part of the game. We do play nine innings hard. We do go for 27 outs.
"The vibe on the bench was good after we came off the field. Even though they had tied it, we did not really - the big point there is you never want to relinquish the lead. That's where the momentum really swings the other side.
"...I'm really pleased and proud of our guys how they handled difficult situations."
The Cubs have a young core that got its first taste of postseason life last season and were swept out of the NLCS.
This year, they felt much better equipped to handle the moment (to borrow a phrase from Maddon) and wound up with their first Game 1 win in an NLCS since 1984.
Saturday night was exactly what Maddon was preaching about when he warned his players bad things were going to happen throughout the playoffs, but the Cubs would be defined on how they responded to adversity.
"These are the kind of moments that you can hold on to when things get awful again," Maddon said. "And they're going to get awful. But you could think about, 'Well, we did this. We kept our composure. I didn't speed up my thought process.'
"That's the most important thing - don't speed it up. Don't concede anything. You just keep doing what you've been doing and eventually it has a chance to come back on the right side."
White Sox name Joe McEwing bench coach as Rick Renteria's coaching staff takes shape.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
McEwing will replace Renteria as the club's bench coach, while Nick Capra was named third base coach and Curt Hasler bullpen coach. Hitting coach Todd Steverson, assistant hitting coach Greg Sparks, pitching coach Don Cooper, first base coach Daryl Boston and bullpen catcher Mark Salas will return for the 2017 season.
McEwing spent the last five seasons as the White Sox third base coach and had his name pop up in a handful of managerial searches. Previously, the 44-year-old McEwing managed Single-A Winston-Salem (2009-2010) and Triple-A Charlotte (2011) in the White Sox organization.
“I am very excited to continue working with Joe in his new role as our club’s bench coach,” Renteria said. “Joe’s tireless work ethic, extensive baseball acumen and high-energy personality will continue to be an important part of our team’s preparation next season. Joe has proven himself to be a key member of our coaching staff as well as an important teacher to our players.”
Capra served as the White Sox director of player development from 2012-2016 and has been in the organization since 1996. 2017 will be his first year on a major league coaching staff, though he did serve as a manager in the White Sox minor league system from 1996-2005.
Hasler similarly will move to the major league coaching staff from a player development-oriented role after spending six seasons as the White Sox pitching coordinator. He also served as a pitching coach throughout the organization farm system from 1991-2010. He replaces Bobby Thigpen as the White Sox bullpen coach.
“Adding quality instructors like Nick and Curt to the major-league staff are important moves for the growth and success of our entire roster,” Renteria said. “Nick’s extensive experience in player development will be important to many of our young players, and his years as a minor-league manager have him well prepared to work the third-base box. Curt knows all levels of our organization extremely well, has a great working relationship with Don Cooper and has proven himself to be a tremendous teacher for all of our pitchers.”
White Sox coaching staff will rely more heavily on statistics.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Statistical analysis will weigh more heavily on the White Sox coaching staff’s daily decisions after Joe McEwing was elevated to Rick Renteria’s bench coach on Friday.
McEwing -- whose influence led to a 957 percent increase in defensive shifts utilized from 2013-16 -- replaces Renteria, who was named the team’s new manager on Oct. 3 after Robin Ventura announced he wouldn’t return.
Former player development director Nick Capra replaces McEwing as third-base coach while Curt Hasler was promoted from minor-league pitching coordinator to replace bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen.
McEwing’s promotion is another sign the franchise will stress the use of statistical analysis when constructing its lineup, etc., a move Ventura suggested was in progress when he said the White Sox needed a new voice. Renteria likes how he worked with McEwing last season and suggested analysis would have a big impact on their day-to-day operations.
“All the information that is provided to us plays an important part in how we move forward,” Renteria said. “We look at outcomes, which are the statistical analysis aspects. But then we are also trying to stay ahead of the curve. We do a lot of video work, trying to see if guys are changing their approaches. In terms of the shifts, we did incorporate shifts, but we also did some modifications as was to be expected when you see guys changing approaches with two strikes and things of that nature or runners in scoring position -- all those different aspects that come into play.”
Similar to many organizations, the White Sox have drastically modified how they align themselves defensively over the past four seasons under McEwing and general manager Rick Hahn. According to FanGraphs, the White Sox went from being ranked 27th in shifts implemented in 2013 to ninth by 2014 with an increase from 102 to 588. The White Sox shifted 1,079 times last season and McEwing has been instrumental in that transformation, several team sources said. It’s reasonable to expect analysis will be used more often in lineup construction and game strategy under Renteria, too. He didn’t shy away from the use of statistical analysis when he managed on the other side of town in 2014, Cubs third-base coach Gary Jones said last week.
“It’s part of our daily preparation,” Jones said. “Rick is good with it as we are right now. It was definitely a part of the equation, no doubt.”
Renteria cited familiarity when asked why he didn’t go outside of the organization for coaching staff hires. McEwing has long been held in high regard within the franchise and interviewed for managerial openings in Houston and Texas in 2014. Renteria suggested McEwing’s work ethic -- and how he works -- had a big impact on his promotion.
“Having sat side by side (with McEwing) going over a lot of game reviews and studying the opposition and setting up defense, I got to know him quite well,” Renteria said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s in there early looking for anything that will give us an edge. His managing experience and coaching experience also allows him an opportunity to be able to serve me well.
“It’s a good fit. We both are kind of high energy. Joey might be a little higher energy than me and I didn’t think that was possible. He brings a lot to the table.”
The White Sox announced the rest of its staff -- first-base coach Daryl Boston, pitching coach Don Cooper, hitting coach Todd Steverson, assistant hitting coach Greg Sparks and bullpen catcher Mark Salas -- would return in 2017.
McEwing -- whose influence led to a 957 percent increase in defensive shifts utilized from 2013-16 -- replaces Renteria, who was named the team’s new manager on Oct. 3 after Robin Ventura announced he wouldn’t return.
Former player development director Nick Capra replaces McEwing as third-base coach while Curt Hasler was promoted from minor-league pitching coordinator to replace bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen.
McEwing’s promotion is another sign the franchise will stress the use of statistical analysis when constructing its lineup, etc., a move Ventura suggested was in progress when he said the White Sox needed a new voice. Renteria likes how he worked with McEwing last season and suggested analysis would have a big impact on their day-to-day operations.
“All the information that is provided to us plays an important part in how we move forward,” Renteria said. “We look at outcomes, which are the statistical analysis aspects. But then we are also trying to stay ahead of the curve. We do a lot of video work, trying to see if guys are changing their approaches. In terms of the shifts, we did incorporate shifts, but we also did some modifications as was to be expected when you see guys changing approaches with two strikes and things of that nature or runners in scoring position -- all those different aspects that come into play.”
Similar to many organizations, the White Sox have drastically modified how they align themselves defensively over the past four seasons under McEwing and general manager Rick Hahn. According to FanGraphs, the White Sox went from being ranked 27th in shifts implemented in 2013 to ninth by 2014 with an increase from 102 to 588. The White Sox shifted 1,079 times last season and McEwing has been instrumental in that transformation, several team sources said. It’s reasonable to expect analysis will be used more often in lineup construction and game strategy under Renteria, too. He didn’t shy away from the use of statistical analysis when he managed on the other side of town in 2014, Cubs third-base coach Gary Jones said last week.
“It’s part of our daily preparation,” Jones said. “Rick is good with it as we are right now. It was definitely a part of the equation, no doubt.”
Renteria cited familiarity when asked why he didn’t go outside of the organization for coaching staff hires. McEwing has long been held in high regard within the franchise and interviewed for managerial openings in Houston and Texas in 2014. Renteria suggested McEwing’s work ethic -- and how he works -- had a big impact on his promotion.
“Having sat side by side (with McEwing) going over a lot of game reviews and studying the opposition and setting up defense, I got to know him quite well,” Renteria said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s in there early looking for anything that will give us an edge. His managing experience and coaching experience also allows him an opportunity to be able to serve me well.
“It’s a good fit. We both are kind of high energy. Joey might be a little higher energy than me and I didn’t think that was possible. He brings a lot to the table.”
The White Sox announced the rest of its staff -- first-base coach Daryl Boston, pitching coach Don Cooper, hitting coach Todd Steverson, assistant hitting coach Greg Sparks and bullpen catcher Mark Salas -- would return in 2017.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Bulls storm back to beat Bucks with runaway fourth quarter. (Saturday night's game, 10/15/2016).
By Associated Press
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Isaiah Canaan scored 25 points, grabbed five rebounds and had four assists in the Bulls 107-86 blowout victory. He shot 8-for-13 from the field, including five 3-pointers.
Jabari Parker led the Bucks (2-2) with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo added 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
The Bulls trailed 79-70 entering the fourth quarter, but outscored Milwaukee 37-7 in the fourth.
Sources: Bulls on verge of acquiring Carter-Williams for Tony Snell.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Bulls are on the verge of trading former first-round pick Tony Snell to the Milwaukee Bucks for former rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams, league sources tell CSNChicago.com.
It was first reported by Zach Lowe and Marc Stein of ESPN.com Saturday evening and ironically, the Bulls were in Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks, where the Bulls won 107-86.
Snell is out with a left ankle injury that should have him back in action next week, but the injury isn’t stopping the Bulls from pulling the trigger on a deal that could be finalized Monday.
Carter-Williams won Rookie of the Year in the 2013-14 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded to Milwaukee the next season. He battled knee and hip injuries last season that limited him to 54 games, averaging 11.5 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds, and with the Bucks moving toward giving ball-handling duties to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Carter-Williams’ days appeared to be numbered in Milwaukee.
For the Bulls, Carter-Williams will likely back up Rajon Rondo at point guard, and also be a perimeter defender with his 6-foot-6 frame. The latter could possibly be his greatest value, as he could pair with first-round draft pick Denzel Valentine for length in the second unit.
Not the greatest of shooters (27 percent from 3 last year), Carter-Williams has shown the ability to post-up smaller guards and has good court vision out of double teams.
As for Snell, it signifies the Bulls throwing in the towel on their first round pick in 2013, as Snell struggled to find his place with the Bulls last season, posting a career low from the field at 37 percent. Ideally, he’s supposed to be a perimeter defender the Bulls can count on — one to take some pressure off Jimmy Butler, but his defensive rating of 109 points given up per 100 possessions showed he wasn’t up to the task last season.
Add to it him not being the most aggressive offensively, he didn’t fit in Fred Hoiberg’s system the way he did with Tom Thibodeau. With Isaiah Canaan and Spencer Dinwiddie earning more time with Hoiberg this preseason, it was unlikely Snell will be given a true opportunity to redeem himself as he approaches restricted free agency after this season.
It was first reported by Zach Lowe and Marc Stein of ESPN.com Saturday evening and ironically, the Bulls were in Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks, where the Bulls won 107-86.
Snell is out with a left ankle injury that should have him back in action next week, but the injury isn’t stopping the Bulls from pulling the trigger on a deal that could be finalized Monday.
Carter-Williams won Rookie of the Year in the 2013-14 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded to Milwaukee the next season. He battled knee and hip injuries last season that limited him to 54 games, averaging 11.5 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds, and with the Bucks moving toward giving ball-handling duties to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Carter-Williams’ days appeared to be numbered in Milwaukee.
For the Bulls, Carter-Williams will likely back up Rajon Rondo at point guard, and also be a perimeter defender with his 6-foot-6 frame. The latter could possibly be his greatest value, as he could pair with first-round draft pick Denzel Valentine for length in the second unit.
Not the greatest of shooters (27 percent from 3 last year), Carter-Williams has shown the ability to post-up smaller guards and has good court vision out of double teams.
As for Snell, it signifies the Bulls throwing in the towel on their first round pick in 2013, as Snell struggled to find his place with the Bulls last season, posting a career low from the field at 37 percent. Ideally, he’s supposed to be a perimeter defender the Bulls can count on — one to take some pressure off Jimmy Butler, but his defensive rating of 109 points given up per 100 possessions showed he wasn’t up to the task last season.
Add to it him not being the most aggressive offensively, he didn’t fit in Fred Hoiberg’s system the way he did with Tom Thibodeau. With Isaiah Canaan and Spencer Dinwiddie earning more time with Hoiberg this preseason, it was unlikely Snell will be given a true opportunity to redeem himself as he approaches restricted free agency after this season.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Brendan Steele picks up second PGA Tour win at Safeway Open.
By Ryan Ballengee
Brendan Steele won for the second time on the PGA Tour. (Photo/Getty Images)
On Sunday, Brendan Steele avenged a disappointing Sunday in California wine country from a year ago.
Steele won the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif., picking up his second PGA Tour win and first since his breakthrough victory at the 2011 Valero Texas Open. The California native finished with three consecutive birdies to pull off a one-stroke win over Patton Kizzire at 18-under 270.
A year ago, Steele led through 54 holes in the PGA Tour’s season opener but closed with a 76 that dropped him into a tie for 17th place while Emiliano Grillo beat Kevin Na in a playoff for his first PGA Tour title. This time around, Steele opened the final round — which came on Sunday after the third round was completed in the morning, and with a multi-hour weather delay around lunch time — five back of the lead. Steele’s finish capped off a closing 7-under 65 that set the mark for the final few threesomes to chase.
Paul Casey couldn’t reach the 583-yard closing par 5 in two, ending his chances. Michael Kim couldn’t hole out from 103 yards to make a tying eagle. Johnson Wagner faced a similar must-make situation with his third and couldn’t convert after missing a make-able birdie putt on the prior hole.
It came down to Kizzire, who held together his game on the back nine using his putting stroke as the glue. He managed to salvage par after par, coming to the last needing a birdie to force a playoff. After he laid up to 140 yards for his third shot, Kizzire took a while to commit to the swing. When he pulled the trigger, Kizzire pushed his shot to the right, landing pin-high but in a gnarly lie 25 feet from the hole. Kizzire couldn’t hole out the birdie chip, and that’s when Steele had won.
The victory is important for Steele not only because it gets him off to a great start in a new season, but he also gets a two-season exemption, as well an invitation to the Masters and the PGA Championship next year.
NASCAR: Kevin Harvick outruns Carl Edwards to win Hollywood Casino 400.
By Daniel McFadin
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
Harvick clinches a spot in the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup with the win.
The No. 4 was followed by Edwards, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.
Harvick, who led 74 laps, has won the second race in both rounds of the Chase so far. He won at New Hampshire in the first round.
“These races are hard to win and these guys are so good at the details,” Harvick told NBC Sports. “You put their backs against the wall and they get better.”
Harvick first took the lead on Lap 126 from Matt Kenseth, who led 116 laps before the halfway point before fading to finish ninth. Harvick then led 43 laps. In the middle of the race, a slow pit stop sent Harvick deep into the top 10, but Harvick returned to the point on the final restart. Edwards got into a tense battle with Busch, allowing Harvick to jump out to a 2.5-second lead.
Since the elimination format of the Chase debuted in 2014, Harvick has never been eliminated from a round.
“It’s hard to keep yourself motivated and perform at a high level, so to be able to come out and do it for three years says a lot about the character of this team and the things that they do,” Harvick said. “I’ve done a poor job (on restarts) the first half of the year. We struggled with some ratios and timing. We came up with some good ratios and things that really fit what we are doing.”
Harvick’s fourth win of the year gives him 35 Sprint Cup victories.
HOW KEVIN HARVICK WON: Harvick overtook Carl Edwards on the final restart with 30 to go and led the rest of the way unchallenged.
WHO HAD A GOOD DAY: Carl Edwards led 61 laps and earned his first top five since Kentucky in July … Joey Logano finished third a week after placing 36th at Charlotte … Jimmie Johnson followed up his Charlotte win with a fourth-place finish … Alex Bowman bounced back from early contact with Jamie McMurray and an unscheduled pit stop to finish seventh for his career-best finish and his second top 10 … A.J. Allmendinger finished eighth for his sixth top 10 of the season and his first since Bristol in August … Kasey Kahne‘s 10th-place finish gives him six top 10s in the last seven races.
WHO HAD A BAD DAY: Aric Almirola and David Ragan caused a caution on Lap 37 when they got together. Almirola finished 40th, Ragan in 36th … Jamie McMurray hit the wall on Lap 44 after making contact with Alex Bowman. McMurray finished 37th … Kyle Larson hit the outside wall on Lap 177 to bring out the caution. Larson finished 30th … Brad Keselowski was turned by Denny Hamlin as they exited Turn 4 on Lap 190. Keselowski went sliding through the frontstretch grass, receiving significant damage. Keselowski finished 38th, earning his first DNF since the 2015 Daytona 500 … Denny Hamlin finished 15th after having to pit three times under one caution for splitter damage and being called for three pit road penalties late.
Notable: The last four Kansas races have been won by a different driver … Chevrolet has won 11 of the 22 Sprint Cup races held at Kansas.
Quote of the Day: “With this format I had a big points gap coming in. With this format it is probably the smart thing to do but I don’t want to race like that. I want to race my guts out and go for wins. I don’t want to points race. I don’t care what the damn format is, I am going to give it my best.” – Brad Keselowski after finishing 38th
NEXT: Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Sprint Cup race results from Kansas Speedway.
By Dustin Long
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
Kevin Harvick scored his fourth win of the season, capturing Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway to advance to the Round of 8.
Carl Edwards placed second, tying his best finish at Kansas and scoring his first top-five result since Kentucky on July 9. Joey Logano was third. He was followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.
Alex Bowman, driving in place of Dale Earnhardt Jr., placed a career-high seventh. Kasey Kahne placed 10th for his sixth top-10 in the last seven races.
Click here for Hollywood Casino 400 results
Carl Edwards placed second, tying his best finish at Kansas and scoring his first top-five result since Kentucky on July 9. Joey Logano was third. He was followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.
Alex Bowman, driving in place of Dale Earnhardt Jr., placed a career-high seventh. Kasey Kahne placed 10th for his sixth top-10 in the last seven races.
Click here for Hollywood Casino 400 results
Sprint Cup points after Kansas race.
By Dustin Long
(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick, who won Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, are the only drivers guaranteed to advance to the Round of 8.
Johnson remains the points leader after the second race of the Round of 12, which concludes next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
Joey Logano holds the eighth and final transfer spot. He’s tied with Austin Dillon with 3,045 points. Logano owns the tiebreaker based on a better finish than Dillon in this round. Logano placed third Sunday.
Outside the transfer spot is Dillon (by tiebreaker), Denny Hamlin (six points out), Brad Keselowski (seven back) and Chase Elliott (25 points back).
Click here for the Sprint Cup points report
Johnson remains the points leader after the second race of the Round of 12, which concludes next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
Joey Logano holds the eighth and final transfer spot. He’s tied with Austin Dillon with 3,045 points. Logano owns the tiebreaker based on a better finish than Dillon in this round. Logano placed third Sunday.
Outside the transfer spot is Dillon (by tiebreaker), Denny Hamlin (six points out), Brad Keselowski (seven back) and Chase Elliott (25 points back).
Click here for the Sprint Cup points report
The battle of the Chase bubble: Logano in for now, Dillon just outside.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
After finishing sixth Sunday at Kansas, Austin Dillon feels confident that he can finish well enough at Talladega Superspeedway next weekend and advance to the Round of 8 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
“I’m just proud of my guys, we did a good job,” Dillon told NBC after the race. “The last four-tire call was really good. I really wanted a top-five there, that was our goal or a win, and just missed it by one.
“We have a shot to make it to the next round at Talladega, and that’s all you can ask for. … We’re just going to have some fun at Talladega and see if we can make it to the next round.”
But Dillon will have to worry not only about how well he finishes at Talladega, he’ll also have to worry about how Joey Logano does.
Logano and Dillon enter the final elimination race of the Round of 12 tied, 37 points behind points leader Jimmie Johnson. Logano is scored in eighth place in the standings after Kansas, while Dillon is scored ninth. The tiebreaker is best finish in the round. Logano finished third at Kansas to hold the tiebreaker on Dillon for now.
“We did what we had to do today, went and were flawless on execution, just need to be a little faster to win,” Logano told NBC. “It was a good recovery (from last week’s wreck at Charlotte), but I wouldn’t say it’s a full recovery yet. We’re going to be needed the race pretty hard at Talladega and try to get a few more points there.”
Logano said Talladega is “not a must win, either. We’re in (a transfer spot) right now, but it’s obviously a little bit too close for comfort. We have to push harder next week.”
“I’m just proud of my guys, we did a good job,” Dillon told NBC after the race. “The last four-tire call was really good. I really wanted a top-five there, that was our goal or a win, and just missed it by one.
“We have a shot to make it to the next round at Talladega, and that’s all you can ask for. … We’re just going to have some fun at Talladega and see if we can make it to the next round.”
But Dillon will have to worry not only about how well he finishes at Talladega, he’ll also have to worry about how Joey Logano does.
Logano and Dillon enter the final elimination race of the Round of 12 tied, 37 points behind points leader Jimmie Johnson. Logano is scored in eighth place in the standings after Kansas, while Dillon is scored ninth. The tiebreaker is best finish in the round. Logano finished third at Kansas to hold the tiebreaker on Dillon for now.
“We did what we had to do today, went and were flawless on execution, just need to be a little faster to win,” Logano told NBC. “It was a good recovery (from last week’s wreck at Charlotte), but I wouldn’t say it’s a full recovery yet. We’re going to be needed the race pretty hard at Talladega and try to get a few more points there.”
Logano said Talladega is “not a must win, either. We’re in (a transfer spot) right now, but it’s obviously a little bit too close for comfort. We have to push harder next week.”
SOCCER: Fire excited to get a win for fans in home finale after disappointing season.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Coach Veljko Paunovic had urged his team to get one final home win for the fans to close out the 2016 Chicago Fire home schedule.
He got his wish.
The Fire came roaring out of the gates with an early goal from Michael de Leeuw, but needed a David Accam goal in the 80th minute to secure a 2-1 win against the New England Revolution on Sunday.
De Leeuw got things to started early with a goal similar to all of his other goals with the Fire (7-16-10, 31 points). The 30-year-old Dutch forward scored on a first-touch shot from inside the 6-yard box after a low cross from Brandon Vincent in the ninth minute.
New England (10-14-9, 39 points) tied things up when Diego Fagundez cleaned up some scraps by running onto a loose ball and tucking it past Sean Johnson just before halftime.
The second half got a bit weird with red cards for both teams. First, Fire forward Luis Solignac intentionally tripped London Woodberry in the 54th minute and was sent off. His suspension for the final regular season match at Toronto means Solignac’s season is done.
Then, nearly 20 minutes later New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton was given a red card. David Accam surprised Knighton after he went to kick a ball upfield. Knighton then tackled Accam in an effort to regain possession.
Accam would later get the game-winner when he ran down a Jonathan Campbell longball and converted the breakaway.
"The fans deserve much more than what we have given them this season," Accam said. "Today it was all about the fans, about us giving everything we have on the pitch for the fans. I think that’s what we showed today. We went to win it for the fans and we did that.”
Winning for the fans was the theme after the match. Paunovic and the players talked candidly about how disappointing the season has been. Ending the home portion of the schedule on a high note was something to give back to the fans who have endured a sixth year out of seven with no playoffs.
"To be completely honest with you it hasn’t been a great season from the standpoint of results so I think to come here and finish our last game here on a positive note and give the fans something is good," midfielder Matt Polster said.
“I think it means a lot," de Leeuw said. "We all knew how the season went and we just wanted to give something to the fans."
The loss eliminated New England from playoff contention. The Fire had lost all three previous meetings with the Revolution this season, including a U.S. Open Cup semifinal in August.
The win ensured the Fire will improve upon last season's point total. The 2015 Fire finished with 30 points, the worst in the history of the club. At 31 points, this year's group has barely passed that with one game left. The Fire also still have a chance to move out of last place, at least as of the final whistle at Toyota Park. The win moved the Fire within two points of Houston.
Things could look different when the Fire next play at Toyota Park.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Chicago Fire picked up a win in the final home game of 2016, but the result seemed secondary to what lies ahead this offseason.
The Fire were officially out of contention with four games remaining in the regular season and Sunday was the third of those four games. The elephant in the room was that a number of the players may have played their last games at Toyota Park as members of the Fire.
After general manager Nelson Rodriguez said the team isn’t set in any position given the results of this season, it’s safe to think there will be a number of changes heading into 2017. The thing is, it’s not yet clear what those changes will be.
That will play out over the next few months, beginning with the front office’s decisions to pick up or decline the club options that apply to most of the current roster.
“We look forward to improve and get better for next season,” coach Veljko Paunovic said. “We have to finish the season on a positive side and then during the offseason we can continue building and working with the guys on their individual plans and everything else that we have to do before they go for vacation. Then when they come back they have to come back better than they went home.”
After years of rebuilding, it’s a familiar story for the Fire. This past offseason was the biggest change the club had seen in a few years. Rodriguez came in as general manager, brought in Paunovic as coach, made sweeping changes to the Academy and had other changes behind the scenes as well.
Some continuity could help, but it’s hard to justify keeping the status quo with the Fire currently in last place in the league.
“I think things are coming together still,” midfielder Matt Polster said. “It’s been a long year. I think with a lot of turnover from the beginning of the season, I know it’s 33 games into it now, but having too much turnover every year is tough just in general. I think if we can get a core group of guys and keep this team for next year and build off that, I think you’re going to see a little bit different (team). I think a little more chemistry as a team will help us.”
Premier League Saturday roundup: Chelsea, Bournemouth win big; City, Everton finish level.
By Matt Reed
(Photo/Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Chelsea and Bournemouth each provided convincing performances at home, while several of the Premier League’s top sides finished level.
Bob Bradley’s debut in England didn’t go according to plan against the Gunners, but the new Swans manager and his side showed some signs of promise.
Here, we take a look back at Saturday’s action from around England’s top flight.
Chelsea 3-0 Leicester City — RECAP
The champions have hit a rough patch in the early going of the season, and the Blues capitalized at Stamford Bridge. Diego Costa and Eden Hazard gave Chelsea the advantage before the halftime break, before Victor Moses tacked on a third to complete the rout of Claudio Ranieri‘s side. The result surely turns the attention away from rumors of an Antonio Conte exit.
Arsenal 3-2 Swansea City — RECAP
In a game of back and forth action, Bob Bradley’s Swansea debut was spoiled by the Gunners. Arsenal extended its win streak to six matches at the Emirates Stadium behind a Theo Walcott brace and Mesut Ozil’s finish after halftime. Granit Xhaka‘s second-half red card nearly put in a scare for the Gunners, but the Swans couldn’t find an equalizer despite a strong late push.
Bournemouth 6-1 Hull City — RECAP
After a strong start to the season, Hull City has fallen off in a big way as of late. Junior Stanislas starred on the day for Bournemouth with a pair of finishes, pulling the Cherries up to ninth in the standings. The Tigers have now gone winless in their last seven PL matches.
Manchester City 1-1 Everton — RECAP
Pep Guardiola and City remain atop the PL courtesy of Nolito‘s equalizer, but it was Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg that stole the show with two penalty-kick stops. The Toffees had to counter for most of the day, but Romelu Lukaku‘s second-half brilliance gave Everton a lead following the break.
Stoke City 2-0 Sunderland — RECAP
Joe Allen netted twice in the first half on Saturday to keep Stoke unbeaten in its last three fixtures. The Welshman has played a key role recently for the Potters, having scored in those three appearances. Both sides sit near the bottom of the table through eight matches, although the Black Cats remain the only PL club left searching for its first victory of the season.
West Brom 1-1 Tottenham — RECAP
Nacer Chadli scored against his former side with under 10 minutes remaining, but Dele Alli spoiled the party for West Brom with his late equalizer. Spurs sit one point behind Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table, while the Baggies move to 10th place.
Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham United — RECAP
West Ham moved out of the relegation zone courtesy of Manuel Lanzini‘s strike before the half. Christian Benteke wasn’t on top of his game in the torrential rain for Palace, though, as the former Liverpool striker missed several key opportunities. Most notably, the 25-year-old misfired from the PK spot in the 45th minute.
Championship roundup: Norwich remain in top spot, Fulham tops Barnsley.
By Matt Reed
(Photo/Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
On a day with many draws, the English Championship’s top sides had no such trouble find results.
The two sides were deadlocked going into halftime but it was Fulham that came away with a 4-2 win at Barnsley on Saturday. Marley Watkins gave the hosts the lead after just four minutes, however, the fortunes for Barnsley changed significantly as the match wore on. To make matters worse for the Tykes, Josh Scowen earned himself a red card after the hour mark.
Ciaran Clark got the action going early on for Newcastle in the team’s 3-1 win against Brentford, but it was Dwight Gayle‘s double that ensured the Toons the points on the day. Gayle now has nine goals on the campaign, which leads all players in the Championship. Scott Hogan pulled a goal back for the visitors after halftime but it simply wasn’t enough for Brentford to take anything away from St. James’ Park.
Elsewhere in the Championship
Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Ipswich Town
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Preston North End
Derby County 1-0 Leeds United
Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Reading
Wigan Athletic 0-0 Burton Albion
Aston Villa 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
La Liga roundup: Atletico, Real and Barca all cruise to wins.
By Matt Reed
(Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
There was no shortage of goals on Saturday in Spain as La Liga’s top four sides scored a combined 20 goals.
Atletico Madrid began the eventful day by atop La Liga with an impressive 7-1 thrashing of last-place Granada. Yannick Carrasco was the star for Atleti with a hat-trick, while Nicolas Gaitan, Angel Correa and Tiago also found the back of the net for Diego Simeone’s side. Isaac Cuenca actually managed to put Granada out in front after 18 minutes, however, it was all downhill from there for the winless club.
Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna behind goals from three different goalscorers, including Lionel Messi, who made an emphatic return from injury. Rafinha gave the Blaugrana a two-goal lead in the first half, while Luis Suarez made it 3-0 before the break. Messi scored Barca’s final goal in the 58th minute, just three minutes after coming into the game.
Pablo Sarabia netted a late winner for Sevilla in its 3-2 win over Leganes on the road. After Franco Vasquez and Samir Nasri gave the visitors a 2-0 lead inside of an hour, Leganes pulled off an impressive comeback with two goals in as many minutes when David Timor and Alexander Szymanowski found the back of the net. The victory puts Sevilla up to third in La Liga.
Serie A roundup: Roma victorious, Dybala brace paces Juventus.
By Matt Reed
(Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
With only three games on tap for Saturday, Roma took full advantage of its opportunity to move up the Serie A table against one of the league’s most competitive sides.
Edin Dzeko‘s brace helped give Roma a 3-1 victory over Napoli to move up to second in Italy’s top flight. The former Manchester City striker scored on both sides of halftime, while ex-Chelsea attacker Mohamed Salah netted the third for Roma to permanently put the game out of reach. Back-to-back defeats for Napoli puts Gli Azzurri in third in Serie A.
Juventus edged Udinese, 2-1, on Saturday behind Paulo Dybala’s pair of finishes on both sides of halftime. After Jakub Jankto gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, Juventus battled back through the Argentine striker to remain atop Serie A with 21 points in eight matches.
Pescara did just about everything wrong in its 1-1 draw with Sampdoria, but the 17th place side will surely be pleased to come away with a point from the match. Hugo Campagnaro’s own goal after just 12 minutes put the hosts behind, while Andrea Coda’s sending off on the stroke of halftime made the occasion all the more challenging for Pescara. Campagnaro avenged his early mistake int he 23rd minute when he booted the Biancazzurri level.
Juventus edged Udinese, 2-1, on Saturday behind Paulo Dybala’s pair of finishes on both sides of halftime. After Jakub Jankto gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, Juventus battled back through the Argentine striker to remain atop Serie A with 21 points in eight matches.
Pescara did just about everything wrong in its 1-1 draw with Sampdoria, but the 17th place side will surely be pleased to come away with a point from the match. Hugo Campagnaro’s own goal after just 12 minutes put the hosts behind, while Andrea Coda’s sending off on the stroke of halftime made the occasion all the more challenging for Pescara. Campagnaro avenged his early mistake int he 23rd minute when he booted the Biancazzurri level.
NCAAFB: 2016 NCAA Associated Press Football Rankings, 10/16/2016.
AP
AP
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | RECORD | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (60) | 1,524 | 7-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 1,457 | 6-0 | 2 |
| 3 | Michigan (1) | 1,368 | 6-0 | 4 |
| 4 | Clemson | 1,337 | 7-0 | 3 |
| 5 | Washington | 1,304 | 6-0 | 5 |
| 6 | Texas A&M | 1,218 | 6-0 | 6 |
| 7 | Louisville | 1,168 | 5-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,037 | 6-0 | 10 |
| 9 | Baylor | 1,021 | 6-0 | 11 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 935 | 4-2 | 8 |
| 11 | Houston | 766 | 6-1 | 13 |
| 12 | West Virginia | 744 | 5-0 | 20 |
| 13 | Florida State | 733 | 5-2 | 14 |
| 14 | Boise State | 694 | 6-0 | 15 |
| 15 | Florida | 626 | 5-1 | 18 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 612 | 4-2 | 19 |
| 17 | Arkansas | 584 | 5-2 | 22 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 550 | 5-2 | 9 |
| 19 | Utah | 479 | 6-1 | 21 |
| 20 | Western Michigan | 285 | 7-0 | 24 |
| 21 | Auburn | 277 | 4-2 | 23 |
| 22 | North Carolina | 254 | 5-2 | NR |
| 23 | Mississippi | 188 | 3-3 | 12 |
| 24 | Navy | 163 | 4-1 | 25 |
| 25 | LSU | 123 | 4-2 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Colorado 121, South Florida 108, Miami (Fla.) 74, Oklahoma State 51, Washington State 49, Virginia Tech 37, North Carolina State 18, Stanford 16, Memphis 14, San Diego State 13, Troy 10, Pittsburgh 7, TCU 6, Arizona State 6, Southern California 6, Iowa 4, Appalachian State 2, BYU 1, Tulsa 1.
Group of Five Power Ranking: Is it time to take Western Michigan seriously?
By Kevin McGuire
(Photo by Todd Bennett/GettyImages)
Western Michigan obliterated Akron on Saturday, 41-0. It is the fourth straight game that has seen Western Michigan put at least 40 points on the scoreboard and the sixth straight double-digit victory. Western Michigan ahs won six straight games by an average of 31 points per game since edging Northwestern in the season opener in Evanston by one.
So what is holding Western Michigan back from being discussed in the New Years Six race? A lack of a true signature win? An overall weak strength of schedule? Not a shred of past success to provide a benefit of the doubt? It may be a combination of the three, through no fault of Western Michigan’s own.
The Broncos are still likely chasing teams like Boise State (a success of crashing the big bowl party), Houston (preseason favorite) and Navy (who beat Houston and carries much more history and tradition). That is unfortunate for Western Michigan, because this is a wildly fun team to watch and they are not winning games by such wide margin by accident. Western Michigan is the team to beat in the MAC, and it’s not even close. The biggest challenge likely ahead for the Broncos will be a regular season finale against Toledo, which could decide the MAC West championship. At this point, it should be expected Western Michigan will be 11-0 by the time that game comes around, but how will the selection committee evaluate Western Michigan at that time, considering some of the other options laying around?
Reminder: One spot in the New Years Six lineup is guaranteed to the highest-ranked conference champion from the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West Conference or Sun Belt Conference. A team must have the conference championship in order to qualify. Army, BYU and UMass are not eligible for this consideration.
Here is how I would rank the Group of Five contenders through seven weeks of the college football season:
1. Boise State (6-0, 3-0 MWC)
The Broncos had to hold on for dear life late Saturday night against Colorado State, but managed to keep their perfect record going. Boise State’s biggest win of the night, however, may have come in Pullman, Washington. Boise State clipped Washington State earlier in the year with a 31-28 victory on the Smurf turf. At the time, the Cougars didn’t look so hot, but now Washington State is one of two unbeaten teams in Pac-12 play (along with Washington, coached by former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen). That is a win that begins to look stronger and stronger for Boise State each week. In fact, Boise State’s win over 4-2 Washington State may arguably be on par with Houston’s victory over 4-2 Oklahoma.
2. Navy (4-1, 3-0 AAC)
The Midshipmen were off this week after having a Thursday night game against East Carolina postponed to later in the season due to flooding in North Carolina. As a result, Navy gets a little extra time to prepare for a giant home game next week against Memphis (more on them in a moment). First place in the AAC West will be on the line, which gives Navy a decisive edge in the division should they send Memphis home with a loss. Navy still has to play at USF and host Tulsa in conference play, and neither game is going to be an easy win. For now, Navy is sitting on top of the AAC thanks to a big win over Houston.
3. Houston (6-1, 3-1 AAC)
Houston may still need some help just in order to qualify for the AAC Championship Game, but they remain very much in the thick of the hunt. Houston may still be the most talented team in the AAC, but the past two weeks have shown they are not invincible. Navy took them out and Tulsa gave them a real good scare in Houston on Saturday. The good news for Houston is the rest of the conference schedule is a tad more manageable than what Navy has in front of them, although Houston must still play at Memphis and they also get Louisville at home. A loss to Louisville could hurt Houston’s New Years Six bid even if they do go on to win the AAC, but Houston still needs Navy (or Memphis?) to lose twice in order for that to be a possibility.
4. Western Michigan (7-0, 3-0 MAC)
See above. At some point I am going to have to strongly consider moving Western Michigan up in these rankings. Maybe next week?
5. USF (6-1, 3-0 AAC)
This last spot was up for grabs between a few candidates, but ultimately went to South Florida after pulling away for a decisive victory over UConn in Tampa this weekend. The Bulls have now won all three of their conference games by no fewer than 16 points, and this week Quinton Flowers and the Bulls have a chance to take firm control of the AAC East Division. USF heads to Philadelphia to play Temple. A win against the Owls (which they earned last year) would be huge with games against Navy and Memphis coming up after that. Going 2-1 in this stretch may be enough to put the Bulls on pace for the conference title game, especially if one of those wins comes against Temple.
On the Radar: Toledo, San Diego State, Memphis, Tulsa, Troy
Boise State set an impressive FBS record during win against Colorado State.
By Brian Fischer
(Photo/Getty Images)
Boise State had to hold on for dear life and survive not one but two onside kicks in order to beat Colorado State 28-23 on Saturday night. In the process the team managed to set an impressive FBS record while doing so.
The Broncos came into the contest without trailing for a single second through their first five games. Surprisingly, the Rams became the first team to take a lead the Mountain West leaders after kicking a 39-yard field goal with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter. That snapped an FBS-record run of 306:36 without trailing to begin the year, according to the school.
Quarterback Brett Rypien hit Thomas Sperbeck for a 12 yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first half for Boise State re-take the lead in the game so the Broncos have trailed for just over a quarter this season as a result of Saturday’s game.
Tailback Jeremy McNichols also rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the win to keep the team undefeated and in the driver’s seat for the Group of Five bid at the end of the year as well.
The Broncos came into the contest without trailing for a single second through their first five games. Surprisingly, the Rams became the first team to take a lead the Mountain West leaders after kicking a 39-yard field goal with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter. That snapped an FBS-record run of 306:36 without trailing to begin the year, according to the school.
Quarterback Brett Rypien hit Thomas Sperbeck for a 12 yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first half for Boise State re-take the lead in the game so the Broncos have trailed for just over a quarter this season as a result of Saturday’s game.
Tailback Jeremy McNichols also rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the win to keep the team undefeated and in the driver’s seat for the Group of Five bid at the end of the year as well.
NCAABKB: Top 10 Cinderella teams you may hear about when we get to March Madness.
By Matt Norlander
Why wait for March? Here are 10 small schools you should get to know now.
One of the hardest exercises every preseason is to project legitimate candidates for Cinderella. Teams from single-bid conferences that have a good chance at winning at least one game, as a double digit seed, in the NCAA Tournament.
From there, it's a matter of matchups. And as an aside, a team like Saint Mary's -- which is a small program, but a reputable one -- doesn't qualify because it's from one of the 10 multi-bid leagues (ACC, Big East, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten, AAC, Mountain West, West Coast, A-10). I think the Gaels could be a Sweet 16-type of team, a group you're going to get to know more and more about as the season goes on, even if the personnel there right now isn't recognizable.
But let's move on to the contenders at hand.
In alphabetical order, here are 10 teams which could be this year's Cinderella when we get to March Madness.
Akron Zips
Man, part of the fun of doing a post like this is reminding everyone of these smaller schools' nicknames. Zips has to be a top-10 college hoops moniker. As for the team and its conference, the MAC is something of a wide open league, but Akron can certainly be the best team of the bunch. The Zips, who've made three NCAA trips under Keith Dambrot, return a lot of production from a team that went 26-9 last season. It's good on both ends of the ball, doesn't turn the ball over, and the Zips let it fly. Dambrot's crew had the second-most 3-pointers by ratio taken last season.
Belmont Bruins
Longtime readers know I'm a Rick Byrd guy for life. Byrd's one of the most respected tacticians in the game. Belmont has a chance every year because the program's had fewer transfer than any program in the sport over the past decade. Guys stay, they become so fluid with Belmont's offensive scheme -- and there's usually a guy who's among the 100 or 150 best players in college hoops. Evan Bradds is that guy this season, taking over for the great Craig Bradshaw, who graduated in May. Belmont shot an outrageous 62.6 percent from 2-point range last season, which was tops in the country. And this is a team that still launched more than 28 3-pointers per game. Dangerous!
Harvard Crimson
Tommy Amaker's team took an expected dip last season, but now the program gets Siyani Chambers back (best player in the Ivy? I think so) and it's a program with NCAA Tournament pedigree now, too. Amaker's taken Harvard to the Big Dance four times. This senior they've got, Zena Edosomwan, is just incredible around the glass. The defense will probably be the Ivy's best, and the offense has to be better. If Harvard breaks through, it will be a threat to do what Yale did a few months ago: beat a major-conference opponent in the first round.
Illinois State Redbirds
Everyone's paying attention to Wichita State in the Valley, but Dan Muller's patiently built a solid mid-major program over the past four seasons. He's never won fewer than 18 games in a year. Now the Redbirds should be one of the best defensive mid-major teams in America. Paris Lee could be the best point guard in the conference, and if MiKyle McIntosh ups his efficiency, he'll be one of the most distinct mid-major players in the country. Big forward who can score in many ways. You want a real sleeper of a mid-major Cinderella? This is it.
Fort Wayne Mastodons
THE MASTODONS. So metal. Previously branded as IPFW, the 'Dons were a 24-win team a year ago but lost out to South Dakota State for the program's auto bid to the NCAAs. They'll get a good run from the Jackrabbits again, so at the very least, expect the Summit League to put forth a team that will be very dangerous as a 14 seed. IPFW was picked to win the conference, thanks to its long-range shooting prowess and a roster seemingly filled with 6-foot-8 dudes. Size matters in basketball no mater the level, and IPFW will have the tissue to tussle with many teams it faces this season. Sophomore shooting guard John Konchar is the name to know.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Yeah, this is an automatic. Kermit Davis' team will have its hands full in a better-than-you-think Conference USA, but I'd love to see Middle make it back to the Dance. Its win as a No. 15 seed over No. 2 seed Michigan State last season still feels like the biggest first-round upset in NCAA Tournament history. Remember, Michigan State was seen by many as a No. 1 seed, and then you have to look again to see how Middle just absolutely sliced and punched Sparty for 40 minutes. This wasn't a win where Middle barely skated by. It was a definitive ending. Still stunning.
Middle brings back a lot from that team, including Giddy Potts, who shot better from 3-point range than any player in the country last season (50.3 percent). The team won 25 games. It's a lock to win at least 20 again.
Monmouth Hawks
Whereas Middle Tennessee took the glory in March, Monmouth was the mid-major du jour from November through mid-February. I still maintain this team deserved an at-large bid, but instead those went to Tulsa, Vanderbilt and Michigan. Had Justin Robinson and his teammates made it through, Monmouth would have scared the hell out of whichever big school it drew in the first round. Good news is, Robinson is back and so is most of the roster. The team will not be able to duplicate what it did last season, beating four major-conference opponents in the regular season, but it will be the favorites in the MAAC and should have a shot at finally giving us what we want: seeing that bench have its national moment in the tournament that matters most.
Princeton Tigers
Yes, I can include two Ivy League teams because there is a (distant) possibility two teams crack the Big Dance, given the Ivy (unfortunately, in my opinion) is now just like every other league in college basketball. It has a league tournament. Princeton's probably going to be better than Harvard this season. Heck, Princeton was one of the 45 best at-large candidates last season. It's a senior-laden crew that's going to have a beautiful offense. Been too long since Princeton was a real threat to break a bracket in March. That should return in 2017. Henry Caruso should lead the prowl.
Valparaiso Crusaders
It's extremely rare that you'd have a team be on a Cinderella list after it lost its really good coach to a major-conference program. Valpo qualifies, though, because it's even more rare that you'd have a player on a mid-major team be one of the 100 best players in the country who:
A) Has a shot to go pro, but instead decides to return to college
C) Even still after losing his coach and with the option to play a graduate year at just about any school in the country -- because just about any school would take him -- still stays with the program.
That's what Alec Peters has done. It's admirable, really. And he's one of the 40 best players in college hoops this season, no question. He alone validates Valpo on this list, but also take into account how good this team was on defense a season ago. They lose some of that (Vashil Fernandez, a superb shot-blocker, is gone), but enough remains on the roster to warrant including the Crusaders.
Weber State Wildcats
Randy Rahe's team loses a pro in Joel Bolomboy, but everyone else is back. WSU was an NCAA Tournament team a season ago. Jeremy Senglin, a crafty shooting guard with a penchant for breaking down zones, is going to have a big year. Rahe's team plays smart and will have at least four guys capable of shooting from deep. Damian Lillard's alma mater should be the best team in the Big Sky, even with the huge hole created by Bolomboy's departure.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, October 17, 2016.
emoriesofhistory.com
1860 - Willie Park won the first professional golf tournament to be held in Scotland.
1962 - The New York Yankees won their 20th World Series when they beat the San Francisco Giants.
1943 - The Detroit Lions set a rushing record when they achieved a negative fifty-three yards against the Chicago Cardinals.
1968 - Bob Beamon long jumped 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches at the Olympic Games in Mexico.
1978 - The New York Islanders began a streak of 23 undefeated games at home (15-0-8).
1992 - Jari Kurri (Los Angeles Kings) scored his 500th goal in an 8-6 win over the Boston Bruins. Kuri was the 18th player to reach the mark.
2000 - Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) achieved his 448th victory as a goalie in the NHL. Roy passed Terry Sawchuck to become the record holder for career victories.
1962 - The New York Yankees won their 20th World Series when they beat the San Francisco Giants.
1943 - The Detroit Lions set a rushing record when they achieved a negative fifty-three yards against the Chicago Cardinals.
1968 - Bob Beamon long jumped 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches at the Olympic Games in Mexico.
1978 - The New York Islanders began a streak of 23 undefeated games at home (15-0-8).
1992 - Jari Kurri (Los Angeles Kings) scored his 500th goal in an 8-6 win over the Boston Bruins. Kuri was the 18th player to reach the mark.
2000 - Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) achieved his 448th victory as a goalie in the NHL. Roy passed Terry Sawchuck to become the record holder for career victories.
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