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"Sports Quote of the Day"

"What you do today can improve all of your tomorrows." ~ Ralph Marston, Former Professional Football Player, (1929)

TRENDING: Blackhawks not panicking despite recent skid, but know they have to improve. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).

TRENDING: First-year evaluations of Bears ’16 draft class bode well for future. (See the football section for Bears News an NFL updates).

TRENDING: Jimmy Butler's 52 points prompts MVP chants in Bulls' comeback win over Hornets. (Monday night's game, 01/02/2017). (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).

TRENDING: New PGA commissioner hints at possible schedule tweak. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).

TRENDING: NFL Hall of Fame announces list of 15 finalists for Class of 2017. (See the last article on this blog for HOF finalist).

How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks not panicking despite recent skid, but know they have to improve.

By Tracey Myers

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

For most of this season the Blackhawks have been living right.

They were winning plenty of games, even when they weren’t playing their best. Their goaltending has been outstanding from the start. They’ve been defensively sound for most of the season, too. Scoring? Well, that’s been hit and miss but they’ve usually gotten it when they needed it.

But lately, a lot’s been going wrong, or at least not as right as it once was. Goaltending is still great; an off game here or there, but that’s it. The scoring has disappeared for the most part. The power play has been rather quiet. And while the Blackhawks are still playing a bunch of one-goal games, they’re on the losing side of them more.

And as the new year begins, the Blackhawks are starting it like they ended the previous one: struggling to collect points. They’re in a 1-4-1 slump, their latest loss a 4-1 defeat to the St. Louis Blues in the Winter Classic on Monday. It’s been a frustrating few weeks for the Blackhawks. Yes, they’re still atop the Western Conference, one point ahead of the surging Minnesota Wild. But it’s more about how they’re playing and right now, they’re not playing well.

“I’m not sure if it’s just one thing,” Trevor van Riemsdyk said. “We know the things we can do to be successful: just playing simple, getting pucks in when there are no plays to be made, limiting turnovers and picking the right spots to try to make those plays. Obviously we have to do a better job of it.”

Injuries don’t help; or in this case, who is injured doesn’t help. The Blackhawks did well during Jonathan Toews and Corey Crawford’s three-week absences but they’re not doing nearly as well without Marian Hossa, who played just three minutes before suffering an upper-body injury against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 20.

That’s also when the Blackhawks’ skid began.

One guy does not a team make but consider everything Hossa does: big on the power play and penalty kill and, despite being out for the last six games he’s still tied for the team lead with 16 goals (with Artem Anisimov). The Blackhawks may be missing him just a bit.

“We know we miss him. He’s a huge part of our team offensively and defensively. I mean, just a powerful player for us,” Duncan Keith said following the Winter Classic. “He hangs onto pucks and he’s hard to take the puck away from. He enhances our whole game, whether it’s puck possession, guarding and being smart with the pucks. He’s a good example for all of us.”

Still, the Blackhawks should be able to get more than two points in Hossa’s absence. To a degree, you can write it off as a midseason slump; every team has them in an 82-game season. But a bulk of the Blackhawks’ success has come from their goaltending and their eking games out.

In their four losses and one overtime loss, the Blackhawks scored a total of seven goals. Three of those goals came in one game (vs. Ottawa).

“We’re not getting the production we could use, whether we get it from our power play or top guys. We’re a better team offensively when we get some help from our defensemen, whether it’s off the rush or in zone or on the point on the power play. That could help us as well,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “But the balance offensively, we have to find a way to get ugly goals, greasy goals with Hoss gone and our power play, that’s gotta be where we were looking to generate a little bit more. But we still have to look to play a tight game.”

The Blackhawks are hardly in a terrible situation. Again, atop the Western Conference despite their slump. But as Quenneville has said often, the Blackhawks have been “fortunate” some of those victories the first half of this season. They’ll need more than fortune and goaltending during the second half.

“No panic,” van Riemsdyk said. “But really we have to start focusing on those things that will make us successful.”

Vladimir Tarasenko lifts Blues past Blackhawks in Winter Classic. (Monday's Game, 01/02/2017).  

By Tracey Myers

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The Blackhawks playing in an outdoor game has become tradition. So has their losing in them.

Michal Kempny scored his second goal in as many games but Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as the St. Louis Blues beat the Blackhawks 4-1 in the 2017 Winter Classic on Monday afternoon.

The Blackhawks are now 1-4-0 in outdoor games. The only one they won was at Soldier Field on March 1, 2014 (4-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins).

“I mean, last time in Minnesota, it was kind of a blowout but [today] it was a closer game and we did a lot of good things,” Duncan Keith said. “But we tried to make too many plays and got away from our game plan, and they came down and scored.”

Yes, this one was closer, the Blackhawks and Blues deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the third period. But the third period, especially the start of it, wasn’t close. The Blues had seven or eight shots before the Blackhawks got their first. The Blackhawks’ first third-period shot didn’t come until the midway point of the frame.

A bigger immediate issue, however, is the Blackhawks are now 1-4-1 in their last six games. They’ve relied too much on goaltending all season, and that was true again on Monday as Corey Crawford kept it tied through the first 50-plus minutes. But you got the sense it was only a matter of time before the Blues cashed in on their chances.

Tarasenko finally did, albeit with an unfortunate deflection for the Blackhawks. The forward’s third-period shot went off Niklas Hjalmarsson’s skate and in to give the Blues a 2-1 lead about eight minutes into the third.

“We had guys in the right spot. Hammer made a great play coming back and he was in the perfect position, but sometimes it’s really fluky and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Trevor van Riemsdyk said.

Tarasenko’s second goal, however, was all his as he put the Blues up 3-1 about two minutes later.

“He’s one of the few guys in the league who has a shot that’s more than above average,” Hjalmarsson said of Tarasenko. “He doesn’t have to wind up to get a big shot away. He can shoot it from anywhere. That’s what makes him so dangerous.”

In their last two games the Blackhawks have experienced a bit of a reversal. They’ve gotten the early goal and lead – Kempny both times, just 62 seconds into the game on Monday – but haven’t had enough at the end.

Maybe it’s just coincidence that the Blackhawks don’t fare well in these outdoor games. This one was close until the third period. But for a team that’s been struggling lately, a frustrating division loss, be it indoors or out, is a frustrating division loss.

“This year was comparable to the tough loss we had in Washington [to start 2015,] lost with a couple of minutes to go. It wasn’t like we weren’t in the hockey game,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Crow did a good job of keeping us in the game as well but [it’s] certainly disappointing that you’re there, you’re looking to get a point, hopefully two."

Five Things from Winter Classic: Blackhawks' quick start doesn't translate to strong finish.

By Tracey Myers 

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

OK, the outdoor games are just not friendly to the Blackhawks.

Yes, as the Blackhawks players and coach Joel Quenneville told us, this one was a close one that could’ve gone either way. But it’s the fourth of five outdoor games that went against the Blackhawks, as they fell 4-1 to the host St. Louis Blues on Monday.

We talk about the not-so-good outdoor record knowing full well it won’t matter: commissioner Gary Bettman said on Sunday that the league is planning on three outdoor games next season and we’ll be floored if the Blackhawks aren’t in one of them.

But we digress. The Blackhawks are struggling whether they’re outside or in right now, and they’ll have a few things to fix early in the new year. Before we get to that for an off-day story, let’s look at the Five Things to take from the Blackhawks’ Winter Classic loss.

1. Maybe not on the quick starts. The Blackhawks haven’t gotten off to very many fast starts this season but they did on Monday. Michal Kempny’s knuckleball shot put the Blackhawks up 1-0 just 62 seconds into the game. But for the second consecutive game a quick start didn’t translate into a strong finish. Oh, it was another good game for Kempny, who now has two goals in as many games. But the Blackhawks couldn’t muster enough at the end to build off that early lead.

2. Conditions were just fine. Hey, we were all wondering how this one was going to go, considering the forecast leading up to this game and the rain falling at the start of it. The concerns were unfounded, however, as there were no real issues. Duncan Keith said the ice was, “probably the best we’ve had in an outdoor game.” Trevor van Riemsdyk, one of many players who wears a visor, said that wasn’t a problem, either. “You gotta wipe it off more than in a normal game. Just being outdoors it may fog up on you a couple of times but once you get moving it clears up.”

3. Vladimir Tarasenko does it again. Tarasenko was close a few times before breaking through in this one, including hitting iron on a third-period power play. But he got his goals against the Blackhawks, as he often does. Tarasenko, who scored twice in less than two minutes in the third period, now has 12 goals in 19 career regular-season games against the Blackhawks. The guy just loves torturing the Blackhawks – and their fans.

4. Too quiet start to the third. The Blackhawks had to start the third period on the penalty kill. But they didn’t get much momentum off recording their fourth kill of the game. The Blues just kept the pressure on while the Blackhawks couldn’t get a shot on goal for about 10 minutes. Their first shot came on their power play midway through the third period – Jonathan Toews – but it took way too long for the Blackhawks to get going in those final 20 minutes.

5. Blackhawks 1-4-1 in their last six games. We’ll get to this more on Tuesday, which we’ll assume is going to be a Blackhawks off day. The Blackhawks are still atop the Western Conference but they’ve looked shaky lately. It doesn’t help that Marian Hossa is out – just in case anyone still doubted his impact on every freaking game. The Blackhawks are hoping to get Hossa back on Thursday, when they host the Buffalo Sabres. They need to get more of a complete game back, too.

Wayne Gretzky: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are Hall of Famers.

By Charlie Roumeliotis

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews each have three Stanley Cups on their résumés, and have achieved seemingly every individual accolade there is throughout their NHL careers all before the age of 30.

Over the weekend they got a ringing endorsement from The Great One, who believes they are locks to join him and many others greats in the Hockey Hall of Fame when it's all said and done.

"Listen, I think that both of them are obviously superstars, both of them are Hall of Famers," Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time points leader with 2,857, said after the Winter Classic Alumni Game. "I don't think there's any debate over that. More importantly, they're winners and they're very unselfish, and they've had a great deal of success. And they've been a real positive for Chicago, not only because of the way they play but because of the fact they've won championships.

"And so you have to have good leadership and you have to have talent. And they bring both of those qualities to the organization, and consequently they've had a great deal of success, and they're fun to watch."

Kane and Toews were blown away upon hearing those comments.

“He’s the greatest player to ever play the game, Toews told reporters. "We’re all trying to live up to what players like him left for us. You have a tremendous respect for the [veteran] players, not only in the alumni game but in the tradition that the current players are fulfilling as NHL players.

"You don’t want to let anyone blow to much smoke, hype you up too much — got a lot of work you have to do. But you appreciate any compliment from a former player, let alone a great one.”

Said Kane: "Hearing that, that’s pretty special. It's funny, I scored my 700th point the other night, and some of the text messages I got were, ‘You have 2,100 more point to catch Gretzky.’ That kind of speaks volumes about how great of a player he was. So that’s nice of him to say.”

Blackhawks assign Tyler Motte to Rockford. 

By Tracey Myers 

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The Blackhawks have assigned winger Tyler Motte to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and recalled forward Spencer Abbott, the team announced Tuesday.

Motte, 21, has four goals and three assists in 33 games with the Blackhawks this season.

He got off to a solid start, but hasn't quite bounced back from the lower-body injury he suffered in November that sidelined him for two weeks. He found himself to be a healthy scratch for the first time in his hockey career in December for two consecutive games, and has seen his ice time fluctuate playing a bottom-six role.

A stint in Rockford isn't the worst thing, as it provides a chance to gain confidence and fine-tune your game. Nick Schmaltz was demoted in early December and already has four goals and one assist in seven contests.

The Blackhawks wisely decided to keep Tanner Kero on the roster due to the team's need at center with Marcus Kruger (upper body) out, but also because of his versatility and reliability.

Abbott, 28, leads Rockford with 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 30 games this season.

Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! First-year evaluations of Bears ’16 draft class bode well for future.

By John Mullin

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

One standard NFL bromide is that it takes 2-3 years to fully evaluate a draft.

“Fully,” yes. “Critically,” no.

It did not take 2-3 years to determine that Shea McClellin or Kyle Fuller couldn’t play like No. 1 picks, or 2-3 to see that Jordan Howard or Kyle Long could. General managers and coaches can be and have been gone before that time frame has played out on a year’s draft picks.

The Bears’ 2016 draft class is still in its formative stages. But six of the top seven picks started at least one game, albeit some because of injuries. GM Ryan Pace’s first class (2015) saw picks 2-5 start games, with No. 1 pick Kevin White out for the year with a stress fracture.

By comparison, only three of the top six picks in 2014 (Fuller, Will Sutton, Brock Vereen) made starts as rookies. Only Alshon Jeffery and Evan Rodriguez from the six-member 2012 draft class started any games their first year.

Obviously players are not fully developed in a season. But they typically have shown enough in a year for the team to know whether they need to re-draft the position or can focus elsewhere.

For example, safety Adrian Amos was something of a nugget found in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. But the Ryan Pace staff appeared very much to know what they had – and didn’t have – in a safety who started every game, intercepting zero passes and breaking up just 4 in his first year. So they drafted two safeties in the 2016 draft, including in the fourth round Deon Bush, who is now starting.

With that in mind, it is in fact not too soon to form analyses of the 2016 Bears draft, which becomes increasingly relevant given the now-tenuous situation facing the John Fox coaching regime after two dismal seasons irrespective of reasons.

Put another way, do the Bears really know what they got in this year’s draft? Or if they got anything at all?

For the most part, yes.

Looking just at the core of the class, cases in point:

No. 1: Leonard Floyd, LB

The outside linebacker was drafted to be a pass rusher. He has produced 7 sacks, one short of Brian Urlacher for third on the franchise’s rookie-record list, in playing time truncated at 12 games by injuries. Floyd’s health and durability may be discussion points, particularly with two late-season concussions and being inactive at Minnesota. But this is a defensive fixture who missed all of one game in three seasons against SEC competition.

“I believe I could’ve done more,” Floyd said. “I definitely believe I could’ve got more sacks or whatever. Just got to work hard this offseason so I can get more.”

No defense can have too many pass rushers but a pass-rushing outside linebacker is down the “needs” list because of Floyd.

“You'd prefer guys to be in there every game,” Fox said, “but I've seen enough of him to know he's got a bright, bright future.”

No. 2: Cody Whitehair, OL

As he did with Floyd, although in the other direction, Pace traded down (twice) in the second round with Whitehair as the target. What they got was perhaps their most consistent lineman of ’16 and a starter at either guard or center for years well beyond this one.

“Cody Whitehair's done a really good job stepping up and becoming a leader and playing really well at a high level,” said offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. “And he's going to get better and better and he's going to be a good player for the Bears for a long time.”

No. 3: Jonathan Bullard, DE

A disappointment if only because third-round picks are expected to contribute sooner rather than later. Also, defensive linemen can reveal earlier than many other position players whether they have the right stuff, and Bullard has been inactive for one game and a healthy scratch for another this year. Playing 273 snaps this year, Bullard has just 3 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback pressures and 1 sack.

“I think Jon's got a lot of room to grow, and I think he can do it,” said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. “It's not just you're hoping; he's got to get stronger, he's got to learn to play in the NFL trenches a little bit more and better. I think his future can still be bright, but his offseason is going to be critical for him.”

No. 4a: Nick Kwiatkoski, LB

Missing virtually all of training camp and preseason set Kwiatkoski significantly behind on the defensive learning curve. The suspension of Jerrell Freeman and season-ending injury to Danny Trevathan forced him into the starting lineup and he has led the Bears in tackles over the past five games (all starts).

“I feel like I just improved so much from the beginning of the season, from being hurt in camp until now,” Kwiatkoski said. “I feel like I made huge strides and learned a lot.”

Kwiatkoski finished eighth in tackles with 42 despite being inactive with a lingering hamstring injury the first two weeks and starting seven games.

“I think he’s coming into his own,” Fangio said, “and I hope to see marked improvement a little bit each and every game moving forward.”

No. 4b: Deon Bush, S

Performance shortcomings within the position group led to Bush being inserted into the starting lineup. He held that spot for six games, missing Minnesota with an injury, while Amos and Harold Jones-Quartey replaced each other at the other safety position. Bush has not made enough impact plays (1 pass breakup, zero INT’s).

But “I thought he was solid in his play and was where he was supposed to be all the time and did well,” Fangio assessed earlier. “He’s such a young guy… . He’s got a lot to improve on. He’s doing a good job in that process.”

No. 5: Jordan Howard, RB

No elaboration necessary. One of the best young running backs in the NFL. And coaches did not see that at first impressions.

“I’m going to be real honest when I say this: I didn’t the greatness in Jordan in OTAs and training camp,” Loggains said. “Part of it was because he was hurt. Part of it is because he’s a much better player when the shoulder pads are on and it’s live. Because he’s a big back. He's hard to tackle. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to our evaluation process, to the guys upstairs — Ryan and Josh Lucas and those guys — because they found a guy in the fifth round that’s a really good football player.”

Deiondre’ Hall (4c), DeAndre Houston-Carson (6), Daniel Braverman (7) – to be determined.

John Fox, Bears to coach top NFL prospects at 2017 Senior Bowl.

By CSN Staff

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

For the fourth time in franchise history, the Bears — along with the Cleveland Browns — will coach in the 2017 Reese's Senior Bowl later this month.

It allows John Fox and his coaching staff to get an early look at the top prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft, which is important for a team that owns the No. 3 overall pick.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to get a hands-on look at some of the top draft-eligible players in the nation,” said Fox. “The Senior Bowl experience will provide our coaches and personnel staff an extended chance to evaluate these players in a one-on-one setting which could prove to be very valuable as we approach the NFL Draft. It’s a great opportunity to spend some extra time with these guys and see how they respond to our staff.”

Fox has never coached in the Senior Bowl throughout his 28-year coaching career in the NFL. The previous three Bears coaches to have coached in this event were Jack Pardee (1976), Mike Ditka (1992) and Dave Wannstedt (1996).

The Senior Bowl will take place Jan. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. at 1:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the NFL Network.

Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White: Once answers, now question marks for Bears.

By John Mullin

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

When the Bears packed Brandon Marshall off to the New York Jets in early 2015, it was done with the knowledge that they held the No. 7 pick in a draft class that included Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett and Kevin White. And they had Alshon Jeffery under contract and coming off consecutive 80-catch, 1,000-yard seasons.

The Bears drafted White, only to lose him to a stress fracture of his leg in 2015 and to a broken leg in 2016. Jeffery played fewer than half the snaps in 2015 and stayed in Chicago only under the team’s franchise tag this season.

Meaning: A position group once topped with designer big, young receivers is now among the major offseason issues looking into 2017.

Not that either receiver seems to see things that way.

Asked during Monday’s locker-cleanout day if he expected to be with the Bears in 2017, now that his franchise-tag year is done, Jeffery reiterated his feeling that the Bears in fact have something special.

Money ultimately determines in large measure where a player winds up, but Jeffery sounded like the player that teammates voted as one of their two co-captains for offense.

“You have to believe this is going to be a special year, you’ve got to believe.,” Jeffery said. “You’ve got to have faith and put in the work.”

But will he be part of the team that puts in that work in Chicago?

“I just answered your question, didn’t I?” Jeffery said.

White was leading the Bears in receptions after four games, averaging five catches per game before going on with the injury from the first Detroit game. Whether the Bears can count on him as part of the long-term plan is an issue to be discussed with GM Ryan Pace and coach John Fox.

For his part, White is not thinking "issue.”

“I’ll be back just fine,” White said on Monday. “It won’t mess my game up at all. Just about timeframe. Once I’m able to start doing everything I’m allowed to do, that’s when I’ll try to hit it hard. Really just trying to get my body back. Hamstrings, every little body part I can, and then once I’m able to do what I can, that’s what I’ll do.

“No doubt at all. Just got to get my body right. Once I do that, I’ll do what I’m allowed to do. No doubts. I’m actually excited. A lot of pressure. A lot of doubts that everybody else has, but I’ll work it out.”

Point of Interest: Seahawks to sign Devin Hester for playoffs.

By Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports

(Photo/Steven Senne, AP)

The greatest return man in NFL history will be on the field for the playoffs.

Devin Hester is signing with the Seattle Seahawks, a person with knowledge of the signing told USA TODAY Sports, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't announced the move.

Fox Sports first reported the signing of Hester, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens last month.

The Seahawks needed return help after losing Tyler Lockett to a gruesome leg injury.

Hester is the NFL's all-time leader in punt-return touchdowns with 14, and has an additional five kick-return touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Pro player three times with the Chicago Bears, and has made four Pro Bowls in his career.

The 11-year pro has also had 16 touchdowns as a receiver, and rushed for another score.

Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Chicago Bulls Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 01/04/2017. (Beleaguered Cavaliers aim to knock off Bulls).

The Associated Press

Two teams with point guard issues square off Wednesday when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Chicago Bulls. Both Kyrie Irving and Rajon Rondo have missed the last two games, but for far different reasons.

Irving has been sidelined with tightness in his right hamstring that the team doesn't believe is serious -- they haven't even done any medical testing on it to this point. Rondo remains benched and out of the Bulls' rotation.

The Cavaliers lost at Chicago in early December on the night LeBron James had to wear a Cubs' uniform into United Center to pay off a bet he lost to Dwyane Wade. It was also the night James declared the Cavaliers' "honeymoon" for winning the NBA championship was over. His team has responded by winning 13 of 15 since that loss.

The Bulls, however, are just 6-11 since that win against Cleveland.

Both teams are fighting injuries. Chicago rookie Denzel Valentine is not making the trip to Cleveland because of a left ankle injury and Wade will be a game-time decision with a sore knee. Then there is the Rondo saga.

Valentine was only getting extended minutes because Rondo has been benched.

Yet despite him being out on Wednesday and Wade's status still questionable, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg still won't commit to playing Rondo.

"We'll see how everything plays out," he told the Chicago Tribune. "We'll cross that bridge when and if that happens."

Kevin Love, meanwhile, played 24 minutes despite battling food poisoning during the Cavaliers' home win against New Orleans on Monday. Coach Tyronn Lue said Love believes he got it from eating a piece of fish on the team's flight home on New Year's Eve. Love was not himself on the floor Monday and ultimately left early in the fourth quarter and didn't return.

James also left the locker room Monday with a baggie full of medicine and admitted he wasn't feeling well as the flu continues to rip through the NBA.

"Can't have any excuses no matter what's going on with the team," James said. "Has to be next man up and when guys' numbers are called they've got to be ready to go."

The Cavaliers are down to 10 healthy bodies -- and that's counting Love. Lue was forced to cancel shootaround Monday due in part to a lack of bodies, although Cleveland will hold its typical morning walkthrough Wednesday prior to the game.

With both Irving and J.R. Smith sidelined, the Cavaliers have relied on a batch of fringe NBA players such as Jordan McRae, DeAndre Liggins and Kay Felder. McRae and Liggins have started in the backcourt the last two games with mixed results, while Felder has quietly been steady as the undersized rookie point guard drafted 54th overall last summer.

Felder has averaged 10.5 points in the two games Irving has missed, both of which came after he erupted for 33 points in his only D-League appearance this season. Felder acknowledged that night gave him a confidence boost and reminded him he can play at this level. He has proved it for the last week. Now his coach wants him to keep playing freely.

"Don't look over at the bench," Lue told him. "Just play your game. And if you're doing too much, I'll let you know. So don't keep looking at the bench and looking over your shoulder. Just play."

Jimmy Butler's 52 points prompts MVP chants in Bulls' comeback win over Hornets. (Monday night's game, 01/02/2017).

By Vincent Goodwill

(Photo/csnchicago.com)

The embodiment of the Eastern Conference was on full display at the United Center, as the Bulls and Charlotte Hornets are a little closer to finding out who they are but the difference between good and mediocre is slim.

So slim Dwyane Wade’s absence didn’t tilt the pendulum even more to the Hornets’ direction as they came in with confidence from a win last week, but the tables were turned in a big way.

An unexpected energy boost helped them early and their remaining star closed the night as Jimmy Butler pulled off yet another miracle at the United Center, scoring 27 of his season-high 52 points in the second half to help the Bulls to a 118-111 win over the Hornets Monday night.

Jumper after jumper, most in the face of defensive stopper Nic Batum, Butler did virtually everything in the fourth—and even reached the 50-point plateau for the second time in his career thanks to Hornets coach Steve Clifford picking up a technical late with Butler hitting the free throw.

“I didn't even know how many points I had,” said Butler, in the understatement of the night. “Until the tech, Mike (Carter-Williams) was like, ‘yo, get 50’. I just stepped up and made the free throw. Other than that, I had a groove. Coach kept drawing up a great play. Same play. Mike set a great screen.”

Butler added 12 rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes, hitting 15 of his 24 shots from the field, making nine of 13 of his shots after the half.

“It’s an understatement to say he was phenomenal,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “He did it any which way. He rebounded, got to the free throw line, I loved his aggressiveness. He didn’t force the issue at all.”

Before that, Butler was serenaded with music from the crowd that felt like the best country drawl he’s heard—“M-V-P!”—as the Bulls stayed close enough for Butler to take over in the fourth when it looked like their admirable effort would go unrewarded with a third straight loss.

Kemba Walker scored 27 points with 11 assists and four rebounds, as the Hornets moved the ball around and around and around until something in the Bulls defense broke down—until the Bulls figured them out enough to let their leader lead them to a win.

“We changed up our coverages a bit,” said Hoiberg, a statement that was echoed by Taj Gibson in the locker room as he gave his somewhat-embattled coach a life raft.

“It was a learning process for Fred, to change the coverage late and we followed the playcall and we did our job,” Gibson said. “At the end of the game, he switched the defense up and we were more aggressive. He told me to attack, get into the double teams and it worked in our favor.”

A hot start to the fourth for the Hornets meant the Bulls were playing from behind for the final 12, although they were stalking the Hornets for most of it. They rode Doug McDermott while Butler took an early rest and were down three midway through the period.

Butler’s 3-point play tied the game at 100 with four minutes remaining. And his putback put the Bulls up 103-102.

There’s a theme here as no other Bull scored more than 12 points, with Nikola Mirotic hitting that mark and McDermott scoring 11 as he started in Wade’s place.

“The same mindset I always have, do whatever it takes to try to help this team win or maybe be a little more aggressive,” Butler said. “And try to get other people shots, it makes my job easier.”

The Bulls couldn’t get away from the Hornets and vice-versa as the Bulls finally received tangible production from the bench, as Denzel Valentine and Jerian Grant took some advantages created by the absences of Wade and Rajon Rondo.

Valentine turned his left ankle late in the third and didn’t return, but got the Bulls off to a good start in his unexpected minutes, hitting three triples—including two in a row late in the second quarter to give the Bulls a lead.

“I thought Denzel was great,” said Hoiberg as he added that Valentine’s ankle was tender after the game. “The first time he touched the ball says everything you need to know about the kid. He fired up the three, I love that about him. He’s not afraid of the moment.”

Grant also scored nine, as he and Michael Carter-Williams were tasked with trying to slow down the speedy and crafty Walker, who torched all comers for six triples and he hit 13 of 19 shots overall as the Hornets shot 49.4 percent to the Bulls 46.7.

The pace was quickened and even Butler got into it, making quicker decisions as opposed to holding it and it resulted in easier looks and him getting to the line 22 times.

“I think that was part of the plan, be aggressive, get to the rim, shoot your shot when you're open see if you got a rhythm going, if I didn't I was passing the ball,” Butler said. “Late I stopped passing the ball. That was the goal, be aggressive from start to finish.”

Like his game-winner against the Hornets last week, Butler seems to step up at his best when the Bulls need him the most—and shined brightest for perhaps his finest hour.

CUBS: One call away: Rollins recounts busy offseason. (Lefty reliever has been claimed five times in one month)

By Carrie Muskat

(Photo/chicagocubs.com)

David Rollins knows the spiel by heart. It started with the Mariners in November. Someone from the team calls to tell the left-hander that he was put him on waivers and has been claimed by another team. The new team will then call to welcome him to its organization.

In one month, Rollins has gotten the combo of calls five times, including twice apiece by the Rangers and the Cubs, his current club.

"I thought about getting a hat embroidered with all the teams on it -- I thought that would be funny," Rollins said on Tuesday.

It's not clear if he has set a record for most transactions in a 36-day span, but Rollins is clearly the leader in that category this year. Let's start at the beginning: He spent the 2016 season with the Mariners, who had selected him in the December '14 Rule 5 Draft from the Astros.

On Nov. 18, 2016, the Cubs claimed him off waivers, but four days later, the Rangers selected him off waivers. On Dec. 2, the Phillies claimed Rollins off waivers by the Phillies. 

His time with the Phillies didn't last long. On Dec. 21, the Rangers again selected him off waivers, and two days later, the Cubs claimed the lefty for a second time.

"After the fourth time [a team called], I said to myself, 'I've heard this before,'" Rollins said. "I've had a bunch of moves going on, and it's been a whirlwind, and I'm like, 'Dang, when is it going to stop?' And everyone is asking me when it's going to stop, and I just say, 'It's baseball.'"

The popular lefty, who turned 27 on Dec. 21, spent most of last season with Triple-A Tacoma, going 5-0 with a 3.77 ERA in 37 outings. He struck out 32 and walked six over 45 1/3 innings. Rollins also appeared in 11 games with the Mariners, giving up eight runs in 9 1/3 frames.

Rollins admits to having a few negative thoughts when he first hears that he has been placed on waivers, but he then realizes the moves have been done primarily to open a spot on that team's 40-man roster. It's nothing personal.

"That's the one thing I've stayed positive with is knowing that if I were to get put on waivers, somebody is going to pick me up," he said.

Rollins is cautious when his phone rings.

"Whenever I get a number I don't recognize, I'm like, 'Dang, it's going to be another phone call saying I'm on waivers,'" Rollins said. "It's been kind of funny and kind of hectic at the same time. I'm trying to make light out of it. Somebody said, 'Where are you going to go for Spring Training?' And I said, 'I might just do Spring Training at my house.'"

Even his father, Kevin, has been trying to grasp all of the roster moves.

"He said, 'When's the last day they can put you on waivers?' And I said, 'When I'm done playing baseball, I guess,'" Rollins said.

The southpaw, who lives in the Dallas area, admitted he was looking forward to pitching for the Rangers. Texas pitching coach Doug Brocail was with Rollins at the Double-A level when he converted from a starter to a reliever. They both like to hunt and fish.

"I'm just excited that I still get to play baseball," Rollins said.

Rollins made an impact off the field while with Seattle, too. In 2016, Rollins won the Mariners' Dan Wilson Minor League Community Service Award at the end of the season. He was motivated by the loss of a young cousin, so he visited children's hospitals to try and help kids forget their troubles.

"You go in and see a sick kid and make them smile, whether it's for two minutes, five minutes -- just try to brighten their day and hope they can keep that memory," Rollins said. "I was always big on giving back to kids."

On Wednesday, Rollins will throw his first bullpen of the offseason. Despite all of the roster maneuverings, Rollins has stuck to his workout program.

"I still have some things I need to work on, as everybody does," Rollins said. "This offseason, I'm focusing on coming in, throwing strikes, throwing offspeed pitches for strikes, staying down in the zone and working on getting more ground balls and popups."

And Rollins is excited about going to camp with the defending World Series champion Cubs.

"I watched [Game 7 of the World Series] and saw Mike Montgomery come in and get the ground ball [for the final out], and that was awesome," Rollins said. "Mike was my teammate for a year or so [with the Mariners] -- good dude. I'm excited to see him again."

They'll be reunited in February -- unless Rollins gets another phone call.

White Sox Talk Podcast: Which free agents might the Sox sign?

By #WhiteSoxTalk

(Photo/USA TODAY)

With the big returns for Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, are the White Sox responsible for the stalled trade market in Major League Baseball? Chuck Garfien, Ryan McGuffey and Chris Kamka discuss the cooled down Hot Stove, when it will heat up again, and where/when Jose Quintana could be traded.

Chuck gives his list of possible free agent targets for the White Sox. Chris announces his Hall of Fame ballot for 2017. Do Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens belong in the Hall? What about Sammy Sosa and Manny Ramirez? They tackle the steroid generation and what it would mean for baseball if the notorious PED users get inducted.

Listen to the full episode here.

Golf: I got a club for that..... Spieth-DJ, Day-Reed paired at Kapalua.

By Rex Hoggard

(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)

The last two Players of the Year on the PGA Tour will kick off the year with a prime-time pairing on Thursday at the SBS Tournament of Champions.

Jordan Spieth, who won the Jack Nicklaus Award in 2015 and the year lid-lifter by eight strokes last January, will play with Dustin Johnson, last season’s player of the year, at 5:50 p.m. (ET) on Day 1 at Kapalua.

The world Nos. 3 and 5 played in the same group six times in 2016, including all four rounds at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and famously dueled at the ’15 U.S. Open (although they weren’t paired together on Sunday at Chambers Bay), which Spieth won when Johnson three-putted the 72nd hole.

World No. 1 Jason Day will be paired with Patrick Reed in the day’s penultimate group (5:40 p.m. ET); while Cody Gribble and Mackenzie Hughes, the only rookies in the winner’s-only field, will lead off the opening day of the ’17 schedule with a 3:20 p.m. tee time.

Round 1 tee times at the SBS Tournament of Champions (All times Eastern):

3:20 p.m.: Cody Gribble, Mackenzie Hughes

3:30 p.m.: Rod Pampling, Pat Perez

3:40 p.m.: Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers

3:50 p.m.: Vaughn Taylor, Brendan Steele

4:00 p.m.: Billy Hurley III, Brian Stuard

4:10 p.m.: Charley Hoffman, Tony Finau

4:20 p.m.: Branden Grace, Jim Herman

4:30 p.m.: James Hahn, Fabian Gomez

4:40 p.m.: Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas

4:50 p.m.: Bubba Watson, William McGirt

5:00 p.m.: Si Woo Kim, Jason Dufner

5:10 p.m.: Jimmy Walker, Brandt Snedeker

5:20 p.m.: Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama

5:30 p.m.: Ryan Moore, Russell Knox

5:40 p.m.: Patrick Reed, Jason Day

5:50 p.m.: Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson

New commissioner hints at possible schedule tweak.

By Will Gray

The PGA Tour schedule of the last few years could undergo some tweaks if new commissioner Jay Monahan has his way.

Monahan takes over this month as the Tour's top executive, succeeding Tim Finchem who recently closed out a 22-year run. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 46-year-old noted that he would like to see some changes to the season's closing stretch.

The Tour introduced the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 2007, and went to a wraparound schedule beginning in 2013. Both iterations feature postseason events running in late August and through September, just as college and NFL football kicks into high gear. According to the report, Monahan would prefer the golf season end before football begins in earnest.

"That's certainly something that we would like to see happen," Monahan said. "Having big events every month, culminating in the FedEx Cup Playoffs in August prior to the NFL season, that would be a very powerful schedule."

The changes Monahan discussed included moving The Players Championship back to a March date, where it was played until 2006. But any shift to the postseason would also require the cooperation of the PGA of America, since the PGA Championship's spot on the calendar would likely need to change.

The PGA Championship moved to late July last year to accommodate the Rio Olympics, and PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua noted at Baltusrol that the organization would be open to a date change - at least within the context of Olympic years.

"We need to analyze that. We need to consider all options," Bevacqua said in July. "This is a major championship. It's one of the most important events in sports, certainly one of the most important events in golf. And we need to find a spot in the schedule that works, not just for the PGA Championship but for the golf schedule as a whole."

According to the report, Monahan doesn't expect any significant schedule changes in 2018. He also doesn't expect there to be much of a void in the jam-packed schedule should the postseason events move up a bit.

"I'm a believer that there never would be a true offseason in this game," he said.

Furyk betting favorite to captain 2018 Ryder Cup.

By Will Gray

Jim Furyk will captain the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup team - that is, if you have faith in the betting markets.

Offshore outlet Bookmaker.eu has offered odds on who will lead the U.S. team at Le Golf National in Paris, and they have installed Furyk as a -110 favorite. Those odds mean that bettors will have to wager $110 for every $100 they hope to win.

Davis Love III, who captained the team in both 2012 and 2016, is next with +250 odds (wager $100 to win $250), followed by Fred Couples at 3/1. Couples has never captained a Ryder Cup team but led the U.S. to three straight victories in the Presidents Cup from 2009-13.

Tiger Woods is listed at 8/1, followed by 2015 Presidents Cup captain Jay Haas (15/1). If you like long shots, Paul Azinger and Mark O'Meara are both offered at 20/1, followed by David Toms (25/1) and Hal Sutton (30/1).

Furyk, who will be 48 when the 2018 matches roll around, played on nine straight Ryder Cup teams from 1997-2014 before serving as an assistant captain last year at Hazeltine. His individual record in matches stands at 10-20-4.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn was named as European team captain on Dec. 6. Whichever American is chosen to oppose him will face the daunting task of captaining the first U.S. win on foreign soil since Tom Watson hoisted the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1993.

McIlroy favored to be world No. 1 heading into 2018.

By Will Gray

Jason Day begins the new year as the top-ranked golfer in the world, but one betting outlet believes his reign may be short-lived.

Offshore company Bookmaker.eu has listed world No. 2 Rory McIlroy as a 2/1 favorite to end the year ranked No. 1, despite the fact that Day has held the top spot since March. The Aussie has the next-best odds at 3/1, followed by Dustin Johnson at 4/1, Henrik Stenson at 5/1 and Jordan Spieth at 11/2.

McIlroy has not been ranked No. 1 since September 2015, and he fell as far as No. 5 in August. But wins at the Deutsche Bank Championship and Tour Championship propelled him back up to No. 2, and his 9.83 OWGR average leaves him just ahead of Johnson (9.53) and within striking distance of Day (10.91).

Spieth, who begins the year ranked No. 5, lost the top spot to Day in March. Neither Johnson nor Stenson has ever been ranked No. 1 before.

Other options for year-end No. 1 include Hideki Matsuyama (8/1), Adam Scott (12/1), Bubba Watson (17/1), Patrick Reed (22/1) and Rickie Fowler (25/1).

For those interested in a longshot, Phil Mickelson - who begins the year at No. 19 but on the disabled list, and has never been No. 1 in his career - is 50/1 to end the year in the top spot.

NASCAR: What’s new in NASCAR ahead of the 2017 season.

By Daniel McFadin

It took long enough, but we’re finally in a new calendar year. Feels great doesn’t it?

We’re still breaking-in 2017, but for some, the year won’t really feel like it’s begun until 54 days from now, on Feb. 26. That’s when the Daytona 500 kicks off the …

*takes a deep breath*

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

*breathes out*

Yes, if you were too busy in December tailgating for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wedding, NASCAR announced the new title sponsor of the Cup Series, its fourth since 1971. The name change became official on January 1.

The lime green of Monster Energy replaces the bright yellow of Sprint/Nextel that’s defined the series since 2004.

And no, we don’t know how long the sponsorship is for.

With the new title sponsorship also comes a new NASCAR logo, the first change in the league’s branding since 1976.

There have been plenty of other changes, the kind that will actually impact the on-track product.

STEWART-HAAS RACING PRESENTED BY FORD

Three-time champion Tony Stewart rode off into the Florida sunset in November, marking the end of an era for NASCAR but also the team he co-owns with Gene Haas.

While Cup Series races will now be a Smoke-free working environment, the No. 14 will still be around. Clint Bowyer steps into Stewart’s old ride for his first season with the team. That’s after a season with HScott Motorsports – which no longer exists – following his departure from Michael Waltrip Racing … which also doesn’t exist anymore.

But the No. 14 and the rest of SHR’s four-car stable will look different. SHR will make its debut with Ford as its manufacturer after eight seasons with Chevrolet.

SHR is also branching out its NASCAR operation. The team will field a Xfinity Series team for the first time, with rookie Cole Custer driving.

DRIVER CH-CH-CHANGES

Clint Bowyer to the No. 14 has been known since late 2015. But the dominos for driver changes began the day after the 2016 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

• Greg Biffle amicably parted ways with Roush Fenway Racing after an 18-year relationship. Roush then announced it would only run two cars for the first time since 1995. Biffle has not yet announced his plans for 2017.
• Richard Petty Motorsports joins Roush in losing cars. With the retirement of Brian Scott, the team has decided to only run the No. 43 of Aric Almirola this season.
• Both of BK Racing’s full-time drivers from 2016 will not return in 2017. Matt DiBenedetto instead will drive for GoFas Racing in the No. 32 as its first full-time driver. David Ragan will return to Front Row Motorsports in the No. 34.
• Joey Gase is scheduled to drive in three races for BK Racing, beginning with the Daytona 500.
• Ragan is replacing Chris Buescher, who is now on loan to JTG Daugherty Racing. Buescher, in his second full-time Cup season, will drive the No. 37 as JTG fields two cars for the first time.
• Also expanding to two cars is Furniture Row Racing. Joining Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78 team is rookie Erik Jones. The 2015 Camping World Truck Series champion will drive the No. 77 Toyota sponsored by 5-Hour Energy.
• Ty Dillon will drive the No. 13 Geico Chevrolet for Germain Racing, replacing Casey Mears.

CHARTERING THE WAY

In 2016, NASCAR added another layer to its “Silly Season” when it introduced charters, which ensure a starting spot in Cup Series races to 36 teams.

Teams are allowed to lease or outright sell their charters to other organizations and there was a lot of wheeling and dealing in the offseason, as five charters exchanged hands. It’s NASCAR’s version of a swap meet.

Among the teams now in possession of a charter is Wood Brothers Racing.

SILLY RABBIT, CHEAP TICKETS ARE FOR KIDS

Are you reading this and 12 years old or younger? Do you like NASCAR? Do your parents or guardians enjoy cheap entertainment?

If you answered yes to the above questions, go get your parent or guardian and have them read the following sentences.

In 2017, tickets to all Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races will be free for children 12 and under.

But wait, there’s more.

Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns eight tracks that host 13 Cup races, will sell tickets for children 12 under for $10.

SMI owns Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Enjoy the new year and the new season.

Debating who's next as a first-time winner in 2017?

By Zack Albert and George Winkler

(Photo/NASCAR.com)

Breakthrough victories in NASCAR's top division are often career-altering, a boost that helps aspiring drivers shed the "contender" label by advancing to the "winner" echelon. Last season, two drivers -- Chris Buescher and Kyle Larson -- filled their void in the win column in a fanciful August stretch that saw both visit Victory Lane.

With the 2016 calendar out the window, the prospects for a new driver reaching the ranks of the first-timers are promising. As New Year's resolutions still fresh on their minds, NASCAR.com's George Winkler and Zack Albert size up their top candidates for new winners in 2017.

Winkler: Chase Elliott was close to winning on a number of occasions last season, as evidenced by 10 top-five finishes, including two second-place showings at Michigan. In the second of those Michigan races, he fell behind Larson on a late restart that led to the aforementioned breakthrough win for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver.

But Elliott is a hard worker and will learn from his close calls and eventually will get a breakthrough win of his own. The Hendrick Motorsports driver had top-10 finishes in 17 of 36 races last year, and out of those top 10s, five came on tracks two miles or longer like Michigan, five came on short tracks and seven were on intermediate tracks. That says he can get it done almost anywhere, and to have that kind of talent at 21 years old is impressive.

Plus, Elliott proved to be a worthy replacement in the No. 24 Chevrolet for legend Jeff Gordon, so although expectations will remain high, at least he has that first year under his belt. And with the combination of Elliott's talent and Hendrick's top-notch personnel and equipment, it's just a matter of time before he's in Victory Lane.

Albert: Won't disagree with a Chase Elliott pick at all. In many regards, it's surprising he didn't reach Victory Lane in his rookie year last season. Ditto Ryan Blaney and the Wood Brothers. But there's one other driver new to the rookie ranks who bears watching.

Erik Jones may just have three Cup Series starts (and one long relief stint -- see: Denny Hamlin, Bristol, April 2015) to his credit, but he's stepping into a prime position for his Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign this year. Jones will join Furniture Row Racing's just-born No. 77 Toyota team in 2017, drawing on the Joe Gibbs Racing resources that have aided his accelerated climb up the NASCAR ladder.

The 20-year-old driver already has plenty of prep at the XFINITY Series level, with six victories in his two full seasons. While growing pains for Jones and his newly expanding team are to be expected, a first-time triumph wouldn't register as a total shock, either. Expect Elliott to break through, but leave room for Jones on the list, too.

Forbes honors Landauer on 30 Under 30 Sports list.

By Staff report/NASCAR.com

(Photo/NASCAR.com)

Forbes Magazine has selected NASCAR Next driver Julia Landauer to this year's Sports 30 Under 30, a list of the "brightest young entrepreneurs, innovators and game changers."

Forbes released its selections Tuesday, highlighting 600 outstanding figures under age 30 from 20 industries. The honorees were chosen by a panel of prominent reporters, legends in each field and former 30 Under 30 recipients.

Landauer, 25, completed her first full season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016. She finished fourth in the overall standings, sealing top-10 finishes in all but one of her 14 starts.

Landauer, a Stanford University graduate, has also excelled through professional speaking engagements, where she has shared her experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math and their applications in her racing career. She was also a contestant on "Survivor: Caramoan," the 26th season of the reality TV show.

Landauer joins NFL standouts Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr., the NBA's Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving and four-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles on the 30 Under 30 list of sports figures.

SOCCER: Midseason grades: Rating each Premier League club.

By Joe Prince-Wright

(Photo/Getty Images)

After reaching the halfway point of the 2016-17 Premier League, Pro Soccer Talk is handing out its awards over the next few days.

Chelsea: A+

16 wins out of 19 will get you top of the class. Antonio Conte has made a huge impact and Blues are the title favs.

Liverpool: A

Jurgen Klopp‘s project is gathering steam. Offensively incredible but still question marks in defense. Legit title contenders.

West Brom: B+

Tony Pulis‘ side have started to score goals by the bucket load. Combined with their tight defense, the Baggies are flying high.

Burnley: B+

Turf Moor is a fortress and it seems like Sean Dyche‘s side have learned from their PL experience two seasons ago. Great start.

Tottenham Hotspur: B+

Mauricio Pochettino‘s youngsters are back in the groove after their shock UCL exit. Spurs’ star players Kane and Alli back to their best.

Arsenal: B+

The Gunners are ticking over nicely as we hit halfway. Futures of Arsene Wenger, Sanchez and Ozil up in the air but title contenders.

Manchester United: B

Six-straight wins heading into halfway has confidence high at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho’s stars in Zlatan and Pogba are stepping up.

Bournemouth: B

The Cherries continue to punch above their weight and look like they can finish in the top 10. Great work from Eddie Howe.

Manchester City: B-

Yes, Pep Guardiola‘s men are still in the title hunt (just) but we all expected a bit more, didn’t we? So did Pep. A work in progress.

Everton: C

Toffees have had an up and down start but Ronald Koeman is bringing through youngsters and had a good festive period. Promising.

Watford: C

Walter Mazzarri makes so many changes to his team that its hard to judge them. That said, Hornets started well but are currently in a slump.

Middlesbrough: C

Scoring goals is a massive issue for ‘Boro but Aitor Karanka‘s side are staying solid at the back. They should stay up quite comfortably.

Southampton: C

Europa League exploits (and shock exit) took its toll and Claude Puel is under pressure after a poor festive period. Scoring goals a huge problem.

Stoke City: C-

Everyone expected a lot more from the Potters. Injuries haven’t been kind to them but shaky defensive displays hampering Mark Hughes.

Sunderland: D

What did we really expect from the Black Cats? The perennial relegation battlers are fighting away under David Moyes. Get ready for a rally.

West Ham: D

Exiting Europa League in qualifying set the tone and the move to London Stadium a negative. Bilic’s side have recovered well from early struggles.

Hull City: D

Much like Sunderland, what else did we expect? Mike Phelan finally got the job permanently and January transfers are much needed. Hanging in there.

Leicester City: D-

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the season far. The reigning champs have underwhelmed on the road and UCL has been the priority. Relegation battle.

Crystal Palace: F

Eagles have ditched Pardew for Allardyce and they know they’re in a relegation battle. With the quality in their squad, that’s shocking. Defensive issues galore.

Swansea City: F

A big fat F for the Swans. Firing two managers by the midway point not a recipe for success. Bob Bradley not given a chance. Paul Clement has a huge challenge.

Premier League roundup: Late drama for Arsenal, Swansea.

By Nicholas Mendola

(Photo/ Andrew Matthews / PA via AP)

There wasn’t a dud in the bunch as the Premier League staged a trio of matches on Tuesday.

Two relegation six-pointers found victors, while one of the PL’s giants needed almost every minute to come back from a 3-0 deficit on the road.

Bournemouth 3-3 Arsenal — RECAP

Ex-Spurs man Charlie Daniels loved opening the scoring against Arsenal, and would have been on cloud nine by the time his assist made it 3-0. Ryan Fraser scored and won a penalty that Callum Wilson converted, as Bournemouth made a 2-0 halftime lead into a three-goal advantage with just over a half hour to play.

Turns out Olivier Giroud only needed 20 minutes. After his 70th minute flick was headed home by Alexis Sanchez, Giroud helped Lucas Perez to the goal that made it 3-2. The Frenchman tied things up with a stoppage time header, and Arsenal claimed an unlikely point (albeit one that didn’t seem unlikely before kickoff).

Crystal Palace 1-2 Swansea City — RECAP

With newly-named boss Paul Clement watching from the stands, Swans defender Alfie Mawson lifted the visitors to a 1-0 lead. Wilfried Zaha scored a thrilling goal to make it level, but Angel Rangel’s first goal in three years sent new Palace boss Sam Allardyce into a bad place. Swans and Sunderland now sit a point back of 17th place Palace.

Stoke City 2-0 Watford — RECAP

Walter Mazzarri‘s Hornets are struggling, now claimants of just a single point from their last five matches. Ryan Shawcross and Peter Crouch scored Stoke’s goal, and the Potters rose nine points clear of 18th place Sunderland.

Chapecoense prepares for season following tragic plane crash.

By Nicholas Mendola

(Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

Chapecoense is preparing to take the field again, this time the emotional “second favorite team” of many football fans across the world.

The Brazilian club saw just three players survive a massive plane crash when their vehicle ran out of fuel and crashed in Colombia en route to face Atletico Nacional for the Copa Sudamericana crown.

Honored with the title after the tragedy, the reigning champs will play their first match since defeating San Lorenzo in the Copa semifinals.

Chape director Rui Costa — not the longtime Fiorentina, Benfica and Milan player — says the club is taking a lot of players on loan this season in the hopes of surviving relegation. The club rejected proposals that would make them relegation-proof for three seasons.

And the survivors of the crash will have their jersey numbers left open for them, even if one cannot play ever again after requiring a leg amputation. From the BBC:

“No player this season will use the shirts that were worn by Jackson Follmann, Neto or Alan Ruschel,” Costa said. 

“More than a tribute, we expect Alan and Neto to come back and wear them. Follmann sadly won’t be able to but he will certainly be back here with us in some capacity.”

Chape finished 11 of 20 teams in Brazil’s Serie A last season.

NCAAFB: B1G bowl bust as ACC’s flush with postseason success.

By John Taylor

(Photo/Getty Images)

During the regular season, the Big Ten was living high on the rankings hog, what with four teams littered amidst the top eight of the College Football Playoff’s Top 25 heading into bowl season. With just one game left in the 2016-17 postseason? Consider it a B1G bowl bust for Jim Delany‘s conference.

Michigan’s oh-so-close loss Friday night in the Orange Bowl gave way to Ohio State’s emasculation in one of the two playoff semifinals Saturday, which subsequently wrought Iowa’s Outback Bowl evisceration along with Penn State’s Rose Bowl comeback that wasn’t two days later. Add it all up — factoring in Wisconsin’s win over the best the Group of Five had to offer for good measure — and it’s a Big Ten that saw its record this bowl cycle plunge to 3-7, easily the worst of any of the Power Five conferences.

In fact, there’s the possibility that none of the other P5s will finish with a bowl record below .500.

The Big 12 wrapped up its postseason at 4-2, while the Pac-12, with all of their games coming against P5 competition — the only power league that can make that claim — came in at 3-3. Auburn’s loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl left the SEC at 6-6 with one game remaining for that conference. That one game? Alabama versus Clemson for the College Football Playoff title.

Heading into the championship game, the ACC will be sporting a sparkling 8-3 record in bowls this season. Seven of those wins — along with all three of the losses — have come against P5 teams.  Against the Big Two of the Big Ten and SEC, the ACC went 3-1.

When it comes to conference bragging rights, the ACC can already puff its chest out. A Tigers triumph over the Tide? That chest-puffing would have, for the first time since 2013 Florida State and just the third since 1999 FSU, some title oomph behind it.

Below appears the conference bowl rankings, based on current postseason winning percentages. If you’re a fan of MACtion, you might want to look away.

ACC, .727 (8-3)
Big 12, .667 (4-2)
Sun Belt, .667 (4-2)
Conference USA, .571 (4-3)
MWC, .571 (4-3)
Pac-12, .500 (3-3)
SEC, .500 (6-6)
Big Ten, .300 (3-7)
AAC, .286 (2-5)
MAC, .000 (0-6)

Tracy Claeys fired at Minnesota.

By Zach Barnett

(Photo/Getty Images)

Minnesota AD Mark Coyle has fired head coach Tracy Claeys after a highly publicized come-to-Jesus meeting, the program confirmed on Tuesday.

Claeys actually excelled on the field this season, booking a better-than-expected 9-4 mark on the year.

But AD Mark Coyle, who arrived from Syracuse over the off-season and has embraced Claeys at arm’s length ever since, was never impressed with the direction of the Gophers’ program. The players’ highly-publicized threatened boycott of the Holiday Bowl did not help matters, a fact Claeys acknowledged when he told the club he’d be fired if the team did not make the trip to San Diego. (They did, and they won the game to boot.)

Coyle released a lengthy statement announcing the firing:

I made a difficult decision today on behalf of the University of Minnesota. With the support of Board of Regents’ leadership and President Eric Kaler, I have decided to take the Gophers football team in a different direction with new coaching leadership.

I determined that the football program must move in a new direction to address challenges in recruiting, ticket sales and the culture of the program. We need strong leadership to take Gopher football to the next level and address these challenges.

This decision is about the future of Minnesota football.

Moving forward, we need a leader who sets high expectations athletically, academically, and socially.

I also want to address the unfortunate blurring of the football suspension decision.

On December 13, 2016, Coach Claeys, Deputy Athletics Director John Cunningham and I met to discuss 10 student-athletes.

I informed Coach Claeys of my judgment that athletic suspensions were appropriate.

Without any objection, Coach Claeys said he understood that decision to bench student-athletes.

Coach Claeys, Deputy Athletics Director John Cunningham, and I met with the student-athletes to advise them of our decision. Coach Claeys subsequently informed me that he agreed with the suspension decision.

And let me be clear: this was the right thing to do.

Coach Claeys’ Tweet later that week was not helpful. I accept that Coach Claeys intended it to support the boycotting players. Understandably others did not see it that way. I hope you will appreciate I cannot say more about the athletic suspensions in this case.

I will say, as a general matter, athletic suspension decisions – essentially a decision to bench a player – are different from a prosecutor’s decision to charge someone with a crime.

Different standards, different policies.

An athletic suspension decision is also different from a panel decision whether there has been a student conduct code violation.

Different standards, different policies.

For example, we suspend student-athletes for attitude problems. We suspend student-athletes while criminal investigations are ongoing. We suspend student-athletes when University investigators present credible evidence of inappropriate conduct. What happens in a student conduct process is not for me to say. Like the U and all involved, I simply want a just and fair process. That is not determined by who prevails; if justice is done, then the University of Minnesota and the public win, no matter the outcome.

Again, this has been a difficult decision. I thank Coach Claeys and his staff for their years of service. Coaches Dan O’Brien and Mike Sherels have agreed to remain during the coaching transition to ensure that our student-athletes have strong and active leadership in the interim.

While Coyle defended the decision to remove Claeys, his players ripped it — and him.

Claeys took over the program in the middle of last season after Jerry Kill stepped down for health reasons. He led the Gophers to an 11-8 overall mark with wins in the Quick Lane and Holiday bowls.

But it’s clear Coyle wanted his own man to run the program, with speculation he could target Bryan Harsin for the role. The pair worked together at Boise State before Coyle left for Syracuse.

No. 9 USC fights on for epic Rose Bowl victory over No. 5 Penn State in battle of thrilling comebacks.

By Bryan Fischer

(Photo/Getty Images)

The Granddaddy of Them All lived up to the billing. And then some.

In one of the most thrilling Rose Bowls in the game’s illustrious history, USC capped a wild second half with a Matt Boermeester 46 yard field goal as time expired to top Penn State 52-49.

It was a result nearly everybody in the stadium would have expected given the way the game began, but few could have imagined would have played out the way it did in the game’s 103rd edition. After all, the Big Ten champions’ first two passes of the game resulted in a pair of awful interceptions. But — as usual this season — the Nittany Lions underwent yet another metamorphosis after a trip to the locker room and bounced back in the second half to set up an instant classic.

As bad as those first few plays were for the blue and white, everything went the opposite way to begin the third quarter as Penn State’s first three plays of the second half all resulted in a trio of miraculous touchdowns to completely flip the game. Tailback Saquon Barkley (194 yards, two scores) kicked things off by zigging and zagging 79 yards to the end zone for one of the best runs the hallowed ground has ever seen.

The Nittany Lions weren’t done yet. Wideout Chris Godwin hauled in his second  incredible touchdown of the day in even more impressive fashion than his first, tipping, and juggling, a pass to himself before going 72 yards to the end zone. The blue and white weren’t done yet, as Brandon Bell picked off USC quarterback Sam Darnold on the ensuing series and returned it down to the three yard line. Trace McSorley (254 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions) punched it in on the next play to finish off a 28 point run for Penn State that sent the 95,128 into a frenzy in different ways depending on what color they were wearing.

The Trojans would not go quietly into the night and preceded to live up to their motto, fighting on to a big response when offensive MVP Darnold (453 yards, five touchdowns and a pick on the night) found the end zone on the ensuing possession by hooking up with ever-reliable receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

After a whacky two point conversion brought USC to within a touchdown, McSorley and company responded right back by mounting a lengthy 82 yard scoring drive that capped off a run of seven touchdowns on seven series. They would get no further on the scoreboard however.

The two traded big plays back-and-forth (on both sides of the ball) in the final quarter before Darnold led a drive that very well could go down in the program’s illustrious history as one its finest moments, marching 80 yards in just three plays before finding Deontae Burnett in the back of the end zone to conclude a heroic 164 yard and three score effort for the young receiver.

The Trojans defense forced three fourth quarter punts and then picked off McSorley with just 27 seconds left in the game to set Boermeester up for his kick and complete the thrilling comeback for the ages.

It was a finish that was quite fitting given that the two teams were the hottest in the country coming in, having not suffered a loss since late September. The result ended most of the talk that Penn State deserved to be in the College Football Playoff in lieu of Ohio State and should do nothing to slow down talk that both the Nittany Lions and USC should enter the 2017 season in the top five of the preseason polls.

The end of the chilly Southern California night belonged to the Trojans though, who finished off a remarkable comeback of their own from a 1-3 start to the season to emerge as Rose Bowl champions.

NCAABKB: 2016 NCAA Associated Press Basketball Rankings, 01/02/2017.

AP

RANK	SCHOOL	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1	Villanova (59)	14-0	1,619	1
2	Baylor (6)	13-0	1,532	4
3	Kansas	12-1	1,503	3
4	UCLA	14-1	1,406	2
5	Gonzaga	14-0	1,357	7
6	Kentucky	11-2	1,280	8
7	West Virginia	12-1	1,179	11
8	Duke	12-2	1,090	5
9	Louisville	12-2	1,063	6
10	Creighton	13-1	1,015	10
11	Virginia	11-2	954	12
12	Florida State	14-1	902	20
13	Wisconsin	12-2	865	14
14	North Carolina	12-3	785	9
15	Oregon	13-2	771	21
16	Xavier	12-2	634	17
17	Arizona	13-2	613	18
18	Butler	12-2	477	13
19	Saint Mary's (Calif.)	12-1	416	19
20	Purdue	12-3	405	15
21	Virginia Tech	12-1	293	NR
22	Cincinnati	12-2	258	23
23	Notre Dame	12-2	250	24
24	Florida	10-3	193	25
25	Indiana	10-4	74	16
25	Southern California	14-1	74	22

Others receiving votes: Minnesota 56, Clemson 23, Miami 16, Maryland 6, Kansas State 5, Seton Hall 3, Iowa State 3, Northwestern 2, VCU 2, UNCW 1.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski to have surgery.

By Rob Dauster

(Photo/Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski will miss an undetermined number of games as he is scheduled to undergo lower back surgery.

The procedure will remove a fragment of a herniated disk, and the expected recovery time is four weeks. He will coach Wednesday’s game against Georgia Tech before current associate head coach and former Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel will step in as the interim coach, beginning with Jan. 7th’s game against Boston College. Capel also filled in for Coach K last season when he missed a game against Georgia Tech.

Capel was the point guard for Duke in 1995, when Coach K was forced to missed the second half of the season due to complications from a different back surgery. The Blue Devils went 13-18 that season.

“Dr. William Richardson, Dr. Friedman, and our medical team have worked tirelessly to help manage this issue for several weeks,” said Krzyzewski. “Together, we have determined that surgery is the best course of action at this time. During my recovery process, the team will be in the capable hands of Coach Capel, Coach James and Coach Scheyer. As soon as the doctors clear me to do so, I look forward to returning and giving our team 100% of my energy and attention, which is certainly something that they deserve.”

This is yet another twist in what has been a weird year for the Blue Devils. It started with Duke landing one of the nation’s best recruiting classes before watching all three of their highly-touted newcomers – Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles III and Marques Bolden – miss the start of the season through injury.

After Luke Kennard and Amile Jefferson carried the team to terrific start in their absence, the Blue Devils struggled against Elon and Tennessee State before Christmas and followed that up by getting pasted in their ACC opener at Virginia Tech over the weekend.

They are also still dealing with the fallout of Grayson Allen’s latest tripping incident. Allen is still indefinitely suspended from competition, and that is just the beginning of what is currently ailing Duke.

Duke’s season is at a crossroads. For a team that looked to be the heavy favorite to win the title as recently as Dec. 10th, this has been quite the turn of events.

Player of the Year Power Rankings: Has this become a two-horse race?

By Rob Dauster

(Photo/nbcsports.com)

1. Josh Hart, Villanova
2. Frank Mason III, Kansas: At this point, I think that the National Player of the Year award has turned into a two-man race between Hart and Mason. Hart is the leader at this point. Villanova is undefeated, the No. 1 team in the country and, as it stands, looking like a team with a very, very real chance to repeat as national champions. He’s improved on the floor as a player and is putting up numbers on par with anyone else on this list in addition to the fact that he seemingly makes every clutch play for the Wildcats in every big game.

That said, I’m going to keep beating this drum: Frank Mason is not far behind Hart when it comes to his Player of the Year standing. He’s the go-to guy, the leading scorer, one of the most efficient high-usage players in the country and the leader of a top five team. People seem to have forgotten about his performance against Indiana in the season-opener and his game-winner against Duke in Madison Square Garden because they happened so long ago, but they happened.

Mason is every bit a deserving Player of the Year choice, and I expect that he’ll only add to his résumé this season, but as of today, Hart is the more deserving pick.

Bottom-line: This is going to be a fun race to follow.

3. Lonzo Ball, UCLA: Ball has seemingly hit a little bit of a slump here in the last couple of weeks. He was just OK against Ohio State and Western Michigan. Outside of a three-minute stretch in the second half where he banged home three threes he wasn’t all that good in the loss at Oregon. He was terrific in a win at Oregon State, but Oregon State is Oregon State. He’s still clearly a first-team All-American, but as of today, he’s not in the same conversation as Mason and Hart when it comes to Player of the Year.

4. Luke Kennard, Duke: In the one game that Duke played last week, Luke Kennard scored 34 points and shot 11-for-18 from the floor … in a 14-point loss at Virginia Tech that never felt like it was in doubt. It feels really weird to say this, but think about where Duke would be right now if they didn’t have Kennard. Grayson Allen and Coach K would be out – one via suspension, the other via back surgery – and the pressure would be rising on Harry Giles III, Marques Bolden and Frank Jackson to figure it out as Jayson Tatum struggled to find his footing as Duke’s star. They certainly wouldn’t be a top ten team at this point in the season, and I don’t think anyone could have predicted that to be the case.

5. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue: Swanigan’s Boilermakers lost on Sunday afternoon, falling to Minnesota in overtime at home, but Biggie was as good as he’s been at any point this season. He had 28 points and 22 boards against the Gophers, his fourth 20-20 games of the season. He’s had a double-double in 13 of 15 games this season and hasn’t had less than eight boards in any game. He’s currently averaging 18.1 points and 13.0 boards, the latter of which is second-nationally.

6. De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky: Fox is still my pick for the MVP of Kentucky this season. He’s the guy that gets that makes that transition game work and he’s the point man for Kentucky’s defense, which has been a nightmare for the majority of their opponents to deal with. Monk’s been terrific. Fox has been better.

7. Mo Watson, Creighton: Watson was unbelievable in Creighton’s win over Seton Hall in their Big East opener, finishing with 21 points, 10 assists and five boards, but he struggled mightily in their loss to No. 1 Villanova. Watson was 2-for-7 from the floor, finished with six points and five assists and, most importantly, fouled out while trying to slow down Jalen Brunson, who finished with 27 points, five assists and four boards.

8. Malik Monk, Kentucky: Monk shook off a rough night against Louisville last week with a 34-point performance in his first career SEC game, a trip to Oxford to take on Ole Miss. His ability to score in transition combined with hot he can get shooting the three makes him the most dangerous and explosive scorer in the country.

9. Johnathan Motley, Baylor: The beauty of Baylor this year is that they don’t really have one guy that they totally rely on, which makes it hard to pick out one player as their MVP or Player of the Year candidate. Motley is their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. And he’s probably the player that can least afford to play without, mainly because he’s really, really good. So he’s the easy choice to make this list.

10. Markelle Fultz, Washington: Fultz’s one season in college can be summed up by what happened in his one game last week. Fultz finished with 26 points, 11 assists, nine boards and two blocks in his first career Pac-12 game, but he shot 11-for-26 from the floor, turned the ball over six times and, most importantly, lost at home to Washington State.

JUST MISSED THE CUT

Joel Berry II, North Carolina
Yante Maten, Georgia
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
Kelan Martin, Butler
Amile Jefferson, Duke
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Marcus Foster, Creighton
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
T.J. Leaf, UCLA
Jock Landale, Saint Mary’s

Hall of Fame announces list of 15 finalists for Class of 2017.

By Darin Gantt

(Photo/Getty Images)

A strong three-man class of first-time eligible, and all five men who just missed the cut last year headline the list of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced tonight.

That group will be narrowed down to no more than five modern-era finalists, in voting conducted the day before the Super Bowl.

The first-timers are led by running back LaDainian Tomlinson, defensive end Jason Taylor, and safety Brian Dawkins, who entered an already solid group of candidates.

Last year’s finalists who were reduced to the final 10 but just missed selection in 2016 all return to this year’s ballot: Coach Don Coryell, running back Terrell Davis, tackle Joe Jacoby, safety John Lynch, and quarterback Kurt Warner.

Three of last year’s 15 finalists also return to the room: Wide receiver Terrell Owens, kicker Morten Andersen and guard Alan Faneca.

They will be joined by tackle Tony Boselli, wide receiver Isaac Bruce, cornerback Ty Law and guard Kevin Mawae, who made the final 15 for the first time.

Those modern finalists will be joined on the ballot by senior finalist Kenny Easley and contributors Paul Tagliabue and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who are voted on separately, and need to receive 80 percent of a yes-no vote for induction.

The group of modern-era finalists were selected from a group of 26 semifinalists, with safety Steve Atwater, running back Edgerrin James, wide receiver Hines Ward, running back Roger Craig, tackle Chris Hinton, wide receiver Torry Holt, coach Jimmy Johnson, tackle Mike Kenn, linebacker Clay Matthews,  linebacker Karl Mecklenburg and safety Darren Woodson missing the cut this year.

On This Date in Sports History: Today is Wednesday, January 04, 2017.

Memoriesofhistory.com

1883 - The Ontario Rugby Football Union was formed. The organization was the forerunner of the CFL.

1920 - The National Negro Baseball League was organized.

1957 - The Dodgers bought a 44-passenger twin-engine airplane for $775,000. They were the first team to own their own plane.

1957 - Former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis appeared on "The Steve Allen Show" to introduce singer Solomon Burke. Burke performed Louis' "You Can Run, but You Can't Hide."

1974 - NBC-TV presented hockey in prime time. The Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers were the teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) game.

1975 - The Montreal Canadiens beat the Washington Capitals 10-0.

1976 - The Dallas Cowboys became the first wild-card team to make it to the Super Bowl. They beat the Los Angeles Ram 37-7 in the NFC title game.

1977 - Mary Shane was hired by the Chicago White Sox as the first woman TV play-by-play announcer.

1982 - Bryant Gumbel moved from NBC Sports to the anchor desk where he joined Jane Pauley as co-host of the "Today" show on NBC.

1983 - The USFL (United States Football League) held its first player draft.

1984 - Wayne ‘The Great One’ Gretzky scored eight points (four goals and four assists) for the second time in his National Hockey League (NHL) career. Edmonton’s Oilers defeated the Minnesota North Stars, 12-8. The game was the highest-scoring NHL game to date.

1992 - Mike Gartner (New York Rangers) scored his 1000th career point.

1996 - Don Shula announced his retirement from coaching the Miami Dolphins after 26 seasons.

1997 - The New York Rangers won their 2,000th game as an NHL franchise. Wayne Gretzky assisted on four second period goals.

1999 - Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as Minnesota's 37th governor.

2003 - The Green Bay Packers lost 27-7 to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC wild card game. It was the first time that the Packers had lost a playoff game at home.

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