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"Sports Quote of the Day"
“Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.” ~ Denis Waitley, Motivational Speaker, Writer and Consultant
TRENDING: Scott Darling shines in fill-in duty as Blackhawks break late tie to best rival Blues. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: Monster victory: Kurt Busch wins first Daytona 500 on last-lap pass. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
TRENDING: No compensatory picks for Bears. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: Bulls win season-high 4th game in a row, past Cavs team without LeBron James. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: Fowler hangs on to win Honda by four shots. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: Gonzaga's stunning loss to BYU will do the Zags more harm than good. (See the NCAABKB section for collegiate basketball news, scores and tournament updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Scott Darling shines in fill-in duty as Blackhawks break late tie to best rival Blues.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Scott Darling found out at 8 o'clock this morning that he was starting for an ailing Corey Crawford. Considering he did this back in December for a few weeks, adjusting quick for one game was fine.
"It's kind of my job," Darling said.
And Darling, once again, did his job.
Darling stopped 30 of 32 shots and Patrick Kane scored his 24th goal of the season as the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Sunday night. The Blackhawks have won nine of their last 10 games. They're one point behind the Minnesota Wild, who made their splashy trade-deadline move in acquiring Martin Hanzal on Sunday. But the Blackhawks, thanks to veterans regaining their form, a top line finding its rhythm and youth consistently improving, are just rolling right along.
"We had a great start to the game. I thought Darls was excellent all night, great stretch there in the last 10 minutes where we fight through some tough shifts, particularly in the last couple of minutes in our end. But good win," coach Joel Quenneville said. "You look at the nice plays on the goals, it was kind of a comparable ending to the outdoor game: tied and about the same time they scored, we scored (tonight). Big two points for us."
Jonathan Toews scored his 16th of the season and Artem Anisimov scored the game-winning goal with 5:20 remaining in regulation. Tanner Kero added an empty-net goal with 2.6 seconds remaining in the game.
The Blackhawks already knew they'd be without Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) for at least a day or two when they found out Crawford couldn't go this morning. As Quenneville said Darling was strong once again, denying the Blues all but twice (a 2-on-1 goal from Magnus Paajarvi and a power-play goal from Alex Pietrangelo).
Toews and Kane (power-play goal) staked the Blackhawks to a 2-0 lead early before the Blues tied it in the second. But late in the third period Anisimov took the feed from Artemi Panarin to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead.
"I saw the puck all the way. It was easy to pick up," Anisimov said. "When you don't see the puck at the last moment and it comes, it's hard to receive and prepare for the next move. But I saw it all the way. Easy to prepare for the next move."
Speaking of next moves, do the Blackhawks make any more before the trade deadline. General manager Stan Bowman said on Friday, following the acquisition of Tomas Jurco, that he'll keep talking and listening but likes the group he has right now. If Bowman's made moves it's for what the Blackhawks have needed, not because of another team's trades. The Blackhawks like what they have right now. Winning nine of 10 and continuing to trend in the right direction, they should be careful not to disrupt what they've got going.
"I think we're, as we've said lately, trending the right way. We're playing solid. I think all four lines are contributing in every which way," Toews said. "I love our group right now. Everyone is getting better individually, contributing more and more and it's a lot of fun to see the way we're playing right now. We know that the ceiling is way higher and we can keep getting better too."
Quick hits: Blackhawks start strong in win over Blues.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
No Niklas Hjalmarsson, no Corey Crawford, no problem for the Blackhawks.
Certainly you want those two back as soon as possible. But while Hjalmarsson nurses an upper-body injury and Crawford deals with an illness, the Blackhawks just keep going. Credit their all-around game, which has continually gotten better in recent weeks and was there for the most part again in their 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night.
The Blackhawks did what they wanted to during the Minnesota Wild’s bye: they won both games and just trail the Wild by a point now. So onward we go. Will anything happen by Wednesday afternoon, when the trade deadline hits? We’ll see but we’re also going to caution messing up what’s becoming more of a good thing by the day.
Anyway, onto the notables.
What Worked: The Blackhawks’ start. For the first half (or so) of the season you wondered why the first 20 minutes were so difficult. Like a few other glitches to their game, they’ve gotten past this one, too. The Blackhawks looked sharp at the start on Sunday night, with the top-line players (Nick Schmaltz pass and Jonathan Toews finish) once again giving them the 1-0 a few minutes into the game.
What Didn’t Work: The second period. A few things went wrong during the next 20 minutes. The Blackhawks’ possession dipped, their penalty kill failed and their power play had a quiet second chance. Perhaps some of that was the Blues waking out of their first-period slumber – they’re coming off a bye, and we’ve documented what happens off of those. But the Blackhawks did not follow up their great start accordingly.
Star of the game: Tempting to give it to Scott Darling, given the fact that he found out this morning he’d be getting the start after all in Corey Crawford’s illness absence. But Patrick Kane had a tremendous evening, too, from the power-play goal to the secondary assist on Artem Anisimov’s goal to playing extra minutes down the stretch. Can we call it a draw?
He Said It: “It’s certainly been fun to watch Schmatzy, particularly the last three games where he’s gone to a different level. And Hartsy’s [Ryan Hartman’s] been pretty good all year. Their development is important four our team success right now. We’ll need these guys right on through. We’ll still need some young guys as we’re going into it as well. The lineup on Wednesday, who knows? We’ll talk about it over the next couple of days and we’ll see what happens. Tough to say.” Coach Joel Quenneville on if the team will look any different following Wednesday’s trade deadline.
By the Numbers:
500 – Career points for Duncan Keith, who hit the milestone with his secondary assist on Patrick Kane’s power-play goal.
13 – points (five goals, eight assists) for Jonathan Toews during his current six-game point streak.
22 – Goals for Artem Anisimov, which ties a season high for him previously set in 2013-14 with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
6 – Consecutive games in which Richard Panik has had at least one point, a career high. He has four goals and five assists in that stretch.
Blackhawks acquire Tomas Jurco from Red Wings. (Acquisition made Friday, 02/24/2017).
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
General manager Stan Bowman saw the potential in Tomas Jurco several years ago.
For the 24-year-old forward, it wasn’t working out with the Detroit Red Wings. Perhaps a change of scenery, an opportunity on a team that could vie for another Stanley Cup, makes a difference. The Blackhawks are about to find out.
The Blackhawks acquired Jurco for a third-round pick in this year’s draft on Friday afternoon. The 24-year-old Jurco has played in 16 games with the Red Wings this season but has yet to collect a point. In four seasons with the Wings, Jurco had 15 goals and 24 assists in 159 games. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press that, “things haven’t worked out” for Jurco there and that he wanted to go elsewhere.
Jurco was on a bye as a member of the Red Wings but, now that he’s with the Blackhawks, the bye ends. Bowman was hopeful Jurco would join the Blackhawks at practice on Saturday. Also, to clear a roster spot for Jurco, the Blackhawks reassigned Vinnie Hinostroza to the Rockford IceHogs.
Bowman said he’s been watching Jurco for a few seasons now.
“We’ll be patient with him but we really think there’s a good fit there, looking at his skills and the style of hockey we play,” Bowman said. “He’s been an accomplished player at a lot of different levels. He’s shown flashes in the NHL, not as consistently as he or the Wings would like, but you can see the talent and potential. You have to have some patience with these guys. It doesn’t always come together right away. I’m not expecting him to carry our team but I think he can contribute.”
It was an under-the-radar trade for Bowman but that’s not surprising. In late January, Bowman said he probably wouldn’t do much at the trade deadline; he liked how the Blackhawks’ young players were progressing and figured, if that continued, the team would be in good shape. Since then the Blackhawks have won eight of their last nine and are just three points behind the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Wild. As the Blackhawks kept winning it looked like, if they did anything, it would be a depth move.
So will there be any more moves? At this point it doesn’t seem likely, be it on forward or defense – Bowman didn’t have an update on Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) but said he’s happy with the depth in Chicago and Rockford on defense. Bowman said he’ll keep talking but, “but it’s a little bit different than in previous years when I thought we definitely needed something and were lacking in an area.”
“I’ve had a feeling about our team, not just recently but even a month ago. I liked the way this group was starting to come together,” Bowman said. “We’ve seen that enhanced over the last couple of week here. We’ve seen players step up, [Nick] Schmaltz in particular. [Ryan] Hartman’s been good all year. We’ve seen Jonathan [Toews] become a dominant player again. It gives your team a confidence that you have balance, scoring in different lines. We just added a young player to help us now as well as in the future. There’s a lot to be excited about. I’m not expecting more trades. I can’t predict more will happen but I have a good feeling about this group right now.”
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Bears face decision on Jay Cutler, Alshon Jeffery and 2017 roster.
By Chris Boden
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
What we "knew" most about the 2016 Bears heading into the season is that, offensively, Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery would be the straws that stirred the offensive drink.
Thanks to injuries, suspension and a perfect storm that resulted in a 3-13 season, the straw had a hole in it, the team still couldn't collectively close out games and a fifth-round rookie (Jordan Howard) and a second-year undrafted free agent (Cam Meredith) turned into the greatest causes for optimism on that side of the ball.
The news that the team is shopping Cutler is hardly news-bulletin worthy. We've written about Cutler Fatigue here and discussed it on CSN's BearsTalk Podcasts for some time now. A breakup has seemed inevitable after eight years of .500 ball when he's been behind center. The tricky part is finding an alternative that would be a marked improvement for a coaching staff that might need to finish .500 to continue on the job in 2018. Yet that's the gamble that must be taken for a franchise that almost needs to move on, for better or worse, in order to find a way out of the muddy ditch it's found itself in.
Cutler must first be deemed healthy enough after labrum surgery on his throwing shoulder - something similar to what Buffalo did with Tyron Taylor this week following groin surgery. But Taylor might be a safer bet to stay with the Bills than Cutler is here. Those medicals might be out there already around the league if shopping has truly begun. And while a new destination for Cutler might not earn him the same salary (roughly $15 million) he'd make here, the thinking here is he'd prefer a fresh start just as much as the Bears want one.
So let's go shopping.
Cleveland? No.
San Francisco as a stopgap starter? Maybe. There's tons of salary cap space while a successor is groomed, and there's the Shanahan (Kyle/Mike) Factor. But more losing.
How about Jacksonville to push his young clone, Blake Bortles? Perhaps. There's still a loaded, talented young defense that has yet to reach a promising ceiling, and a couple of talented receivers.
The Los Angeles Rams could provide a push for Jared Goff (though it's hard not to see Goff being the starter, for better or worse). But if something should happen, Cutler would be ready, with Todd Gurley, what should be a respectable defense and a location close to where wife Kristin Cavallari can return to actressing.
Jay in Buffalo? Good one!
Arizona has already shot down interest.
We don't see Denver wanting him back as they await Paxton Lynch's maturity with Trevor Siemian as a bridge.
Reuniting with Adam Gase in Miami could be an option with Ryan Tannehill's health still a mystery.
Then there's always Houston. I'm looking for Tony Romo's ultimate destination impacting Jay's.
But retiring, as some reports this week suggested? No. Despite the public perception, Jay is a competitor, and I truly believe that still runs through him. He may not get to prove his reputation wrong before he retires, but despite what body language experts feel, I believe he'd still like to prove something. But I'm also not counting on any team giving up a draft pick for him. Teams know the Bears will release him, but if a club lower on the waiver claim wire truly desires him, Ryan Pace has squeezed something out from teams for his players on the discard pile before.
As for Jeffery, all remains quiet on the franchise tag front. The seal remains tight at Halas Hall over whether there have been any negotiations this past week, and if so, whether they've moved in a positive, long-term direction.
Two things to keep in mind: the Bears did not tag him last year until the day before the deadline to do so. That deadline this year is March 1. The other is the fact that other teams in similar situations (such as Washington with Kirk Cousins and Kansas City with Eric Berry and Dontari Poe) have yet to make moves either, as that deadline looms. If the Bears determine they'll cut ties with Cutler, Eddie Royal and Lamarr Houston, that will free up another $24 million in cap space on top of the $60 million-plus they have already. Perhaps that factors into the decision on Jeffery, who'd get paid $17 million in 2017 under a second straight franchise tag for a team that needs play-makers and a coaching staff that needs wins next season. Letting him go would require attention and a portion of those dollars to replace him in the draft and/or free agency.
We leave all our internet/talk radio caller GM's with this question: Would you REALLY want to be in Ryan Pace's shoes this offseason? Can you be as shrewd, wise and run the table to the extent he must, especially at the most important, franchise-shaping position (which, granted, he's put on the back-burner his first two years)? And "get it right" to build momentum moving forward for a franchise that's reached the playoffs just once in the past decade? The rebuild remains substantial. And so are the decisions he faces in a crucial offseason.
Emma: Ranking The Bears’ Best Options At Quarterback.
By Chris Emma
Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. (Photo/Getty Images)
And so it begins — the end of the Jay Cutler era and the emergence of something new.
The Bears are preparing to part ways with Cutler, their quarterback of eight years who’s now on the trade block. Next comes the defining moment of Ryan Pace’s tenure as general manager: finding a franchise quarterback. He must get this move right.
Consider it a forgone conclusion that Cutler’s time in Chicago is over. The Bears can’t turn back from making him available, nor do they intend to. Trading Cutler could be complicated, and a release appears more likely. Cutler could even retire at the age of 33.
Pace has his sights set on contending in 2017. His Bears have to be winning in order to keep his seat from burning up. Victories start at the quarterback position. Pace knows it, too.
“Trust me, I understand the magnitude of that decision going forward,” Pace said in early January. “That’s a critical, critical decision for me and this whole building.
“Everything’s on the table right now. Really, that’s what it is. It’s free agency. It’s trades. It’s the draft. It’s current players on our team. Everything’s on the table.”
Indeed, everything is on the table for the Bears. They would love to find their quarterback of the future, but winning in 2017 is first priority. Can they have it both ways? And do they maneuver in the trade market or wait until the NFL Draft for a quarterback?
Plenty of intriguing options are on the table. Here are the Bears’ best options at quarterback:
Note: Quarterbacks listed are projected to be available at the time of writing. Rankings and evaluations are subject to change.
1.) Jimmy Garoppolo, 25, New England Patriots — By trading for the Patriots’ backup, the Bears would have a quarterback to lead them for 2017 and beyond. Garoppolo has spent three years in New England being developed by Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels while working behind with the greatest of all time, Tom Brady. He’s more than ready for this opportunity.
The Bears wouldn’t be basing their evaluation on Garoppolo’s limited NFL reps. Rather, they have three days of tape from their practices with the Patriots last August, among countless other resources. Perhaps he’s the next Aaron Rodgers, but maybe he’s just a serviceable NFL starter.
Of course, trading for Garoppolo means negotiating with Belichick. It’s a daunting task, but if the Bears believe Garoppolo is a franchise quarterback, they should pay the price.
2.) DeShone Kizer, 21, Notre Dame — While many Notre Dame quarterbacks have proved to be overrated entering the NFL Draft — perhaps a byproduct of their collegiate surroundings and successes — Kizer is a case of the opposite. He’s being vastly underrated because of the failures his Fighting Irish faced in 2016.
Kizer wasn’t to blame for Notre Dame’s dismal 4-8 season. Those were the failures of his head coach and a poor surrounding cast, which in turn forced Kizer to press. Kizer was forced into a poor situation, and his NFL stock took a hit.
But don’t be mistaken: Kizer would be an excellent fit for the Bears or any other team. He has NFL size and boasts a strong arm and quick feet. He has all the tools needed to be successful as a starter at the next level.
3.) Deshaun Watson, 21, Clemson — In the national championship game, Watson showed everything he has — the good and the bad. He led the Tigers admirably against the vaunted Crimson Tide defense, earning the victory over Alabama. But the game could’ve gone the other way if one of the many balls he floated into coverage was picked off.
Watson’s 17 interceptions in 15 games is alarming, but perhaps his tendency to turnovers can be coached out at the next level. Of course, he also threw 41 touchdowns last season, too.
I asked a high-level NFL source whose team is set at quarterback about the best quarterback in the draft. He picked Watson, citing his ability to lead. Bears coach John Fox would agree, listing leadership as one of his top traits at the quarterback position.
4.) Kirk Cousins, 28, Washington Redskins — This would be the safest route for the Bears, as signing Cousins would offer assurances at the quarterback position. Cousins has proved himself as a good quarterback with some upside in his play.
Cousins would certainly be an upgrade from Cutler, and he’s just 28. There could be better play in store for Cousins, who has thrown for 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in his last 32 games as the Redskins’ starter.
From the Bears’ perspective, Cousins offers both the opportunity to contend in 2017 with the right core in place, plus he’s also an investment for the future. Of course, Cousins will only be available if the Redskins allow him to hit the free-agent market. They have six days to make a decision on tendering the franchise tag for a second straight offseason, a move which wouldn’t please Cousins.
5.) Patrick Mahomes, 21, Texas Tech — Meet the sleeper of this quarterback class: Mahomes’ name is about to rise up draft boards. He has been a well-kept secret in part because NFL types are concerned about his system tendencies from the Texas Tech “Air Raid” offense. But he isn’t a system quarterback.
Mahomes has the physical tools that can translate to an NFL offense. He boasts a strong arm and has athleticism to extend a play in a pro-style system. The NFL’s College Advisory Committee offered a second-round grade for Mahomes, but that could soon change.
In Indianapolis next week, Mahomes could see his stock rise, as the quarterback pecking order is still far from decided. Mahomes has the opportunity to prove his tools worthy at the NFL Combine. Watch as he could fly into first-round projections soon.
Others in play:
Brian Hoyer, 31, Chicago Bears — The Bears seem likely to retain Hoyer for the 2017 season, though likely in the role of a bridge quarterback. His upside as a starter was realized last season, and it was just good enough for the Bears to lose respectably.
Tony Romo, 36, Dallas Cowboys — While Romo would give the Bears a chance to contend in 2017, he turns 37 in August and is coming off a serious injury. His durability is a question, but it’s also uncertain how effective he can be. This one doesn’t make much sense for Chicago.
Connor Shaw, 25, Chicago Bears — The potential of Shaw remains untapped after a gruesome injury in the preseason of 2016. He could get the chance to compete as a starter for the Bears next season. Management is excited to see what it has in Shaw.
Tyrod Taylor, 27, Buffalo Bills — Perhaps headed for a divorce from the Bills, Taylor could be available in a trade. He’s been productive in two seasons in Buffalo, boasting a 94.2 rating as the Bills’ starter. Taylor’s 37 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions are also intriguing. He’s just another option on the table for the Bears.
Mitch Trubisky, 22, North Carolina — Trubisky ranks just outside the top five, because of the questions to what he can be. Trubisky throws a tight spiral with some zip and has a good pocket presence. He also can extend plays with his feet, but there’s more to prove after one year as a starter.
No compensatory picks for Bears.
By Larry Mayer
The Bears did not receive any of the 32 compensatory draft picks the NFL awarded Friday.
The extra picks are given to teams based on the compensatory draft system’s net loss of compensatory free agents (CFA) formula. Under the system, each CFA is assigned a numerical value that includes his compensation, play time and postseason honors with his new team.
Teams that lost more or better free agents than they acquired the previous year are eligible to receive compensatory picks. All of this year's compensatory picks are in Rounds 3-7. This year marks the first time that compensatory picks can be traded.
Sixteen teams were awarded picks, led by the Bengals, Broncos, Chiefs and Browns with four apiece. The Dolphins (3), Rams (2) and Seahawks (2) were the only other clubs to receive multiple compensatory picks.
The Bears have seven picks in the April 27-29 draft; their own in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 and a fourth-rounder that they acquired from the Bills during last year’s draft when they traded down twice before selecting offensive lineman
The Bears dealt their sixth-round pick to the Texans in exchange for tight end Khari Lee. The Bears will have the third pick in Rounds 1, 3, 5 and 7 and the fourth selection in Rounds 2 and 4, alternating with the Jaguars, who finished with the same 3-13 record.
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Paxson, Forman shouldn't be afraid to tell truth about Bulls.
By Mike McGraw
The Bulls management team of John Paxson and Gar Forman doesn't take questions very often. When it happens, like it did Thursday evening, the session can get a little awkward.
So here are a few suggestions on how the Bulls might want to redirect their message:
• For starters, just admit they're having a tough time transitioning from the Derrick Rose team to the new era. It's not easy to reload with a bunch of draft picks in the teens or below, but it is possible.
The Bulls absolutely made the right decision by not trading Jimmy Butler on Thursday and shouldn't trade him this summer unless they are completely blown away by an offer. Paxson got this right, Butler is a top-12 player in the NBA and it's not easy to find those guys, even at the top of the draft.
A complete rebuild featuring sold-off assets, 20-win seasons and lucky trinkets to being to the draft lottery is a horrible idea. If only there were an example of a team that's gone nowhere following this path.
Oh wait, check out the Philadelphia 76ers, who traded Nerlens Noel, the No. 6 pick in 2013, for nickels on the dollar, then announced Friday rookie Ben Simmons won't play at all this season due to a foot injury.
Or the Los Angeles Lakers, who picked Julius Randle (No. 7 overall), D'Angelo Williams (No. 2) and Brandon Ingram (No. 2) the last three years and have a 19-39 record to show for it.
The best way to rebuild in the NBA these days is by trying to find gold on other team's rosters, in conjunction with some smart draft picks.
How did Boston land Isaiah Thomas? A trade with Phoenix. Kyle Lowry helped put Toronto over the top after a trade with Houston. Atlanta signed Paul Millsap as a low-demand free agent. The Rockets landed their star, James Harden, in a famous trade with Oklahoma City.
This is essentially what the Bulls tried to do Thursday. They gave up a disappointing player, Doug McDermott, in hopes that point guard Cameron Payne will blossom into a star when given major minutes. Payne had been backing up dance partner Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City.
Taj Gibson was probably leaving anyway as a free agent this summer, so they included him in the deal. Don't count out power forward Joffrey Lauvergne as a guy who could contribute. He's an interesting player who is trying to add the 3-point shot to his game.
Likewise, the Thunder is hoping it unearthed a diamond in McDermott. Maybe both players will blossom with new teams. We won't know the answer for a few years.
• Admit to mistakes, like trading for McDermott in 2014 and counting heavily on Nikola Mirotic.
Obviously, the Bulls expected McDermott and Mirotic to develop into top-line players and it hasn't happened. It still might, but in hindsight, Zach LaVine would have been a better player to target in the '14 draft. Also, if rumors of the Bulls being offered lottery picks for Mirotic in 2014 were true, they should have taken them.
Not every move works. When asked about McDermott, Paxson felt the need to mention the former coaching staff, led by Tom Thibodeau, favored the pick. Bad form.
McDermott may still turn into a valuable NBA player. But another aspect of Thursday's trade is that with all the young players on the Bulls' roster, it sounds like McDermott was the only one with much trade value.
Paxson was justified in mentioning how the Bulls don't have many long-term commitments. And with about $30 million in cap space this summer, they'll have the means to improve the supporting cast or chase a star-caliber player.
When a team has some great players to build around, it's easy to plug in pieces. In a situation like the Bulls, where they built around Rose, lost Rose to injury and eventually had to move on, some decisions won't work out.
With McDermott now in Oklahoma City, the Bulls have essentially turned to McDermott 2.0, Denzel Valentine, to see if he can handle a major role. McDermott and Valentine were both four-year college players who posted good numbers. Those type of players don't always cut it in the NBA. Sometimes you have to take a chance on great athletes (like LaVine).
Butler is 27 and should be entering his peak years. And he wants to be here. The Bulls should have a five-year window of building a contender around -- sorry, make that build with -- Butler. The process needs to get serious this summer.
Bulls win season-high 4th game in a row, past Cavs team without LeBron James.
By Vincent Goodwill
Bulls win season-high 4th game in a row, past Cavs team without LeBron James.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Winning a game against a LeBron James led team has proven to be an easier task than most for the Chicago Bulls in the last couple regular seasons.
And winning without James has proven to be a herculean task for the Cleveland Cavaliers since his return in 2014.
So putting those two events together seemed to produce an inevitable result at Quicken Loans Arena, with James out due to illness, as the Bulls pulled away from the Cavaliers 117-99 Saturday night.
The win marks a season-high fourth straight for the Bulls, pulling them over .500 for the first time in nearly two months and they lead the season series 3-0 over the NBA Champions.
Of course, if James were healthy perhaps the Cavaliers would look more cohesive but without him, only Kyrie Irving was in double figures amongst the starters for most of the night. Irving was unguardable with 34 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
After the lead rose to 20, Irving went to work to get the Cavaliers back in it by scoring eight in the quarter and cutting the lead in half with 2:30 left. But without James, the Bulls were able to hold off the Cavaliers with baskets from Cristiano Felicio and Nikola Mirotic, who had his second straight big game with 14 points and 10 boards.
A third-quarter flurry from the Bulls gave them some breathing room after a back-and-forth 24 minutes. The Cavs threatened to blow the game open with a 65-59 lead to start the third but the Bulls quickly turned the tables, getting stops and leaking out for fast breaks.
"We made an adjustment at halftime, I give our guys credit for making the adjustment, slowing them down a little bit," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "When we get that thing off the rim, we're pretty good. When we get it up and space the floor properly and with pace, good things generally happens."
Dwyane Wade corralled weak-side rebounds and popped it ahead to Butler and Bobby Portis for layups.
Butler then hit two triples in succession to give the Bulls a 76-67 lead, as he was on his way to his first triple-double of the season with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
"That first half he started 0-5 before he made one basket," Hoiberg said. "But he grabs seven rebounds, made winning plays. That's what it's about. We talk about moving the ball, making the right play, trusting your teammate. Jimmy's obviously a huge part of that."
With no James to chase around, Butler still played like he was saving his offensive energy for later, although he was guarding Irving at times. But the easier load didn't lead to Butler trying to do too much.
He wasn't holding the ball, just waiting on the defense to commit. They kept the Cavaliers moving from side to side and the trust was evident throughout the evening. Wade was one rebound short—one Felicio rebound attempt with seconds remaining, from getting a triple-double with 20 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in 34 minutes, as he looked fresh from the days he had off before the break after he injured his wrist on the west coast trip.
"I'm cool with the break," Wade joked. "The way you look at it, it's a 25-game sprint. Let's go out here and have some fun. We have guys that come in, bringing new energy. We just gotta come out and play basketball."
Shooting nearly 50 percent, totaling 34 assists on 46 field goals and hitting a season-high 15 triples, it's almost like Hoiberg's dream has come to life—a year and a half into this experiment.
The 3-point shooting has been a welcome addition since the trade of Doug McDermott, their best 3-point shooter.
"I think guys are shooting their shots," Wade said. "Denzel (Valentine) has been a great jolt the last couple games. We've been talking about where guys can get their shots and guys are taking them. That's what we want. That's what coach wants. If you miss two, take the next one."
Valentine followed up his sterling showing Friday night with another competent and confident performance, hitting three triples to score 11 and at least competing on the defensive end.
"It says a lot about Denzel, the type of kid he is. He doesn't play with any fear," Hoiberg said. "A lot of guys would get nerves when your number is called and you know you gotta go in three. He's taken advantage of this opportunity and hopefully he continues to play well."
Cameron Payne made his debut as a Bull and hit two triples in the first half, both passes off the ball as he hasn't had enough time to grasp the offense, only going through a morning walkthrough with the coaching staff after the team arrived in Cleveland.
"Just overall unselfishness has been really good," Hoiberg said. "Had a low turnover game (seven), which really helps."
What else really helps on a night like Saturday? No LeBron James.
In first game of post-deadline era, Bulls come up with comeback overtime win over Suns. (Friday night's game, 02/24/2016).
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The post-deadline era has begun for the Bulls, with the directives clear on developing their young players and seeing what can be done in the last third of the season.
And while their youth sparked them early, it was the headliners who stepped up late in their 128-121 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at the United Center, as the team was clearly adjusting to life without Taj Gibson, who was traded Thursday.
Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade each had sluggish starts, to say the least. Each looked like he was going through an island-like malaise through the better part of three quarters before waking up.
Butler finally ignored the snooze button at the most opportune time, nearly winning the game in regulation with a tying triple, then a fadeaway 15-footer over Eric Bledsoe to cap off a late comeback that saw the Bulls rebound from an eight-point deficit with a few minutes left in the fourth.
"That's what great players do," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "They step up when you need them the most. Jimmy obviously had a tough night shooting the ball (early). ... What he's been doing all year, taking over the game in the fourth, and tonight was no different."
Then Wade, in one of his few post-halftime mistakes, controversially fouled Suns sharpshooter Devin Booker on a triple with 1.5 seconds left, but Booker missed the last of the three free throws to send the game into overtime.
"I think it was good defense," said Butler before giving a nod to his controversial whistle that went his way a week ago. "We don't wanna go back too far, but a foul's a foul."
Wade and Butler continued the assault into the extra session, with Wade rising for a late flush over Suns center Alex Len and raising his arms in celebration — having put together a 23-point performance after a scoreless first half.
"That dunk he had was unbelievable," Hoiberg said. "I should give him another week off."
In the early stages, Butler wasn't as futile as Wade, but he wasn't much better, scoring just eight before the fourth but being more aggressive and assertive with his moments and jump shots, finishing with 22 to go along with nine assists and four steals.
"Just keep shooting the ball and eventually it'll go in," Butler said. "And they did. Coaches put the ball in my hands, I kept taking the same shots, making the same plays. Then they went in."
The Suns led most of the way, mostly due to their team-wide speed and athleticism, getting out on the break the way they did in the first meeting two weeks ago. Booker scored 27, while Bledsoe, TJ Warren and Marquese Chriss each scored 17. Bledsoe added 10 assists and seven rebounds in 40 minutes.
They dominated the fast-break department at a 27-16 clip, and the Bulls actually countered with 3-point shooting, hitting 12 triples and shooting 46 percent from 3.
Nikola Mirotic was 4-for-7 from deep on the way to a 20-point night, while Denzel Valentine put together his best showing as a pro with 15 points, all coming on five made 3s.
Three straight triples from Valentine pulled the Bulls to within one late in the third quarter. The shots were decisive and confident — perhaps as he knew he wouldn't be removed for anyone at the first mistake.
"I like it, take the shots when you're open. Sometimes when you're not open, still shoot it and we know to get back," Butler said.
There were plenty of mishaps and things to complain about as the Bulls hit a new wave, but at least it started with some positive vibes after a day of uncertainty and confusion.
CUBS: Cubs eager to see the Jason Heyward relaunch in Cactus League.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Cactus League stats are supposed to be irrelevant, especially for the guy with the biggest contract in franchise history. Jason Heyward already built up a reservoir of goodwill as a former All Star, three-time Gold Glove defender and World Series champion. The intangibles got Heyward $184 million guaranteed, and the Cubs are hoping a new comfort level will lead to a Jon Lester effect in Year 2 of that megadeal.
But Heyward will still be one of the most scrutinized players in Mesa after an offseason overhaul that tried to recapture the rhythm and timing he felt with the 2012 Braves (27 homers) and break some of the bad habits that had slowly crept into his high-maintenance left-handed swing.
"If there's ever any doubt," Heyward said, "then you probably shouldn't be here."
Heyward will be batting leadoff and starting in right field on Saturday afternoon when the Cubs open their exhibition schedule with a split-squad game against the A's at Sloan Park. If Heyward has anything to prove this spring, it's "probably to himself, not to us," general manager Jed Hoyer said, backing a player who does the little things so well and commands respect throughout the clubhouse.
"There's going to be growing pains with making adjustments," Hoyer said. "He'll probably have some good days and some bad days. But I think the most important thing is that he feels comfortable and uses these five weeks to lock in and get ready for the Cardinals."
The Cubs are betting on Heyward's age (27), track record (three seasons where he showed up in the National League MVP voting), understanding of the strike zone (.346 career on-base percentage) and willingness to break down his swing this winter at the team's Arizona complex.
At the same time, Heyward realizes "it's just the offseason" and "a never-ending process in baseball." There are no sweeping conclusions to be made when the opposing starting pitcher showers, talks to the media and leaves the stadium before the game ends.
"I'm not sitting here telling you: 'Oh, I know for sure what's going to happen,'" Heyward said. "I don't know how it's going to go. But I know I did a damn good job of preparing for it."
Manager Joe Maddon — who gave Heyward nearly 600 plate appearances to figure it out during the regular season (.631 OPS) before turning him into a part-time outfielder in the playoffs (5-for-48) — usually thinks batting practice is overrated or a waste of time. But at 6-foot-5 — and with so much riding on an offensive resurgence — Heyward is hard to miss.
"I can see it's a lot freer and the ball's coming off hotter," Maddon said. "But it's all about game. I'm really eager for him, because everybody just talks about all the work he's done all winter.
"Conversationally with him, I sense or feel like he feels good about it and that he's kind of at a nice peaceful moment with himself. So it will be really fun to watch."
A 103-win season, an American League-style lineup that scored 808 runs, a new appreciation for defensive metrics and a professional attitude helped provide cover for Heyward, who largely escaped the wrath of Cubs fans with little patience for big-ticket free agents.
"Baseball is a game that's going to humble you every day," Heyward said. "You're going to fail more times than you succeed, so it's all about how you handle it, as an individual and as a group. We handled it the best out of anyone last year as a team. And that's why we were able to win the World Series.
"There's always things you feel like you need to work on. You can ask guys who had the best years — there's always something they're trying to improve on and something they don't feel great about at a certain point in time during the year.
"I just happened to have a little bit more breaking down to do. A lot of things allowed me to just kind of pause (and) look forward and not really think about trying to compete and win a game. Let's just get some work done."
Cubs envisioning ‘hybrid' roles for Mike Montgomery and Brett Anderson.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Cubs believe Mike Montgomery will be so much more than just the answer to a trivia question or a cameo appearance in the highlight film.
The symmetry became impossible to miss on Saturday at Sloan Park, where the Cubs put the World Series trophy on display behind home plate and set off fireworks at 1:06 p.m. Three minutes later, the guy who threw the last pitch of 2016 threw the first pitch 2017 pitch in Mesa.
That it came against Rajai Davis added to the moment. Scattered boos greeted Davis when the Oakland A's leadoff guy walked toward the batter's box, a reminder of how he almost turned a dream season into a nightmare when he slammed Aroldis Chapman's 97.1 mph fastball onto Progressive Field's left-field patio just inside the foul pole for a Game 7-tying two-run homer for the Cleveland Indians.
A year that began with Montgomery thinking he might be playing in Japan ended in that mosh pit. A lefty who had been viewed as a low-leverage swingman for the Seattle Mariners notched the final out of the World Series for a franchise that hadn't won one since 1908.
"Be ready for anything," Montgomery said when asked about the "hybrid" job description manager Joe Maddon laid out for him and Brett Anderson, the other lefty in the mix for the fifth-starter job.
"The big thing with both of them (is) neither one has really been stretched out anywhere close to 200 innings over the last couple years," Maddon said before a 4-3 split-squad win over Oakland. "So we're thinking it's almost like a hybrid moment. Maybe fold one back into the bullpen while the other one starts. And vice versa. Or just jump a sixth guy in there now and then to keep the other guys from being overworked too early.
"It's in theory right now. We haven't actually laid it down on paper. We feel pretty fortunate. If everybody stays healthy, you got six guys that you like right there. It's hard for anybody to say that. That's the point. These guys have not been really satisfactorily stretched out over the last couple years.
"How do we keep them both active and helping us? That's going to be our challenge early and through the beginning part of the season."
Anderson (29) is older and more experienced and working on a one-year, $3.5 million deal that could max out at $10 million if he rips off the injury-prone label and makes 29 starts. Montgomery (27) is the more raw talent (23 career big-league starts) the Cubs now control through the 2021 season.
"There's a lot of different possibilities that they could go with," Montgomery said. "For me, it's just continuing to build up my arm strength and getting my timing down, my mechanics down and that way I'm ready to go and do whatever it is that they need me to."
Pitching in front of 14,929 and an All-Star infield, Montgomery walked Davis and Matt Joyce and notched two strikeouts in a scoreless first inning. Montgomery felt the adrenaline rush, but nothing in Arizona can compare to the 10th inning of a Game 7.
"The sky's the limit," Maddon said. "He's like a 10-plus game winner on an annual basis as a starter. I think he definitely has that within his abilities. I've told him that (winning) 10 to 15 games is within his abilities, no doubt. That comes with fastball command and then knowing what to do with his breaking pitches. He's got really high-quality stuff.
"I'd like to think that moment will increase his confidence. But then again, it's a new year. And you have to go out there and pitch."
How Albert Almora Jr. became part of the World Series puzzle for Cubs.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Theory and reality collided for the Cubs in the 10th inning, when Kris Bryant drove Bryan Shaw's 94.8 mph fastball out to Progressive Field's warning track. Pinch-runner Albert Almora Jr. alertly hustled from first base as soon as Cleveland Indians center fielder Rajai Davis caught it in front of the KeyBank sign.
Almora had already launched his body into a textbook slide — his left arm raised in the air and his right hand scraping the dirt — before Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor even caught the ball several feet off second base.
"Tagging is Almora with great base running," Fox play-by-play man Joe Buck told 40 million World Series viewers, making this epic Game 7 Major League Baseball's most-watched TV event in 25 years.
That moment of clarity — after the fog of a 17-minute rain delay and potentially the most devastating collapse in franchise history — illustrated why Almora became the first player drafted by the Theo Epstein administration in 2012. The Cubs projected the baseball IQ and self-confidence sharpened by a strong Cuban-American family and from playing on Team USA and year-round in South Florida.
"Just those intangibles," new Cubs outfielder Jon Jay said. "Maybe he picked that up growing up in Miami, where baseball is serious. We were taught the fundamentals of the game — do the little things right — and everything was so competitive.
"That's what I saw out of that play. I said: Man, he probably did that in high school or when he was 13 years old, because that's what we were taught when we were younger."
Almora scored the go-ahead run from second base when World Series MVP Ben Zobrist smashed a double past diving Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez. Four days before his 23rd birthday, Almora will receive the championship ring marking the end of the 108-year drought.
"Why I was so confident had a lot to do with my teammates, what they allowed me to be when I first got to the big leagues," Almora said. "They allowed me to be myself. It was really awesome to feel that way. I knew nothing would really change in the playoffs.
"Just go out there and be yourself. Go out there and have fun. Obviously, I was such a small piece of the puzzle for the World Series. But when they called my name there, I was just happy I could get the job done."
The Cubs didn't hand Almora an everyday job, signing Jay to a one-year, $8 million contract and expecting him to be a left-handed complement and a veteran mentor. Jay played at the University of Miami — while Almora committed to the Hurricanes before agreeing to a $3.9 million bonus with the Cubs — and the two had already paired up as offseason workout partners back home.
"I can learn from such a great person and a great player as well," Almora said. "My goal doesn't change from last year to this year — it's to win a World Series. He brings a lot to the table. He brings experience in the playoffs.
"This isn't about me. This isn't about him. It's about us and whatever makes the team better."
The Cubs opened their Cactus League schedule on Saturday with split-squad games against the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants, Jay starting in center field in Mesa while Almora did the same in Scottsdale. The Cubs will see the Indians again on Sunday afternoon at Sloan Park, another reminder of the instincts that might someday help Almora become a Gold Glove defender.
"He has a really good awareness of what's going on out there," manager Joe Maddon said. "This kid loves to play. He loves to be part of this. He's always looking for growth. He's always looking to get better at different things.
"Coming from Miami and his background, he's just kind of a baseball junkie."
To put Almora's focus in context, he married Krystal at a Chicago courthouse in late July last year, got sent back down to Iowa the next day and together they welcomed their newborn son, Ayden John, in August. By early November, Almora's father, Albert Sr., felt good enough after his battle with prostate cancer to ride in the bus in the championship parade down Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.
At this time last year, Almora envisioned himself in the World Series, even though he hadn't yet played above the Triple-A level and wouldn't make his big-league debut until early June. That didn't stop him from making 2016 the most unforgettable year of his life.
"Yeah, I can honestly say that I had confidence in myself that I was going to be there," Almora said. "I didn't know what role I was going to have — that's something you can't control — but I knew from the bottom of my heart that I had worked hard enough, that I was going to get the chance to be on a playoff team.
"You have to (look at it that way). My goal was to be on that team to help win a World Series. And that's what happened."
WHITE SOX motivated to emulate Cubs' success.
By Scott Merkin
(Photo/Wikipedia.com)
The White Sox want to be where the Cubs currently reside.
No, not Mesa, the locale of Monday afternoon's Cactus League contest between Chicago's two baseball teams. Nor do they want to move Guaranteed Rate Field over to 1060 W. Addison.
It's the Cubs' location atop the baseball world, completing their first World Series championship since 1908, garnering the attention of the White Sox as they undergo their rebuild.
"Having pretty deep roots in the town, I get it," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "It's our duty to get this organization where the Cubs are at right now so our fans can enjoy what their fans had the privilege of enjoying last year."
"From the outside looking in, you are just, 'Man, we wish that was us,' obviously," said White Sox reliever Nate Jones, who has the longest White Sox tenure of any player on their active roster. "That's what our goal is and that's what we are working toward. So when they win, you just got to tip your cap to them and work even harder the next year to try to make it us."
Hahn got away to Arizona for instructional league and Fall League action during the early part of the postseason. He eventually watched postseason baseball primarily because his two sons were interested. He quipped about not wanting to "sour their world by telling them they can't watch the World Series because Daddy is just bitter."
But that self-proclaimed bitterness centers on the White Sox coming up short in the regular season as opposed to the Cubs' success. Hahn doesn't believe a true, deep rivalry exists between the two organizations.
"There's certainly no issue between our two clubs given how little we play each other," Hahn said. "I do think and I completely understand, especially given where I live, the fan bases feel it, and when I remove my executive hat, I get it and feel it.
"Look, they are where we want to be. Just as we were at one point -- I enjoyed that better. But anything they do doesn't really influence what we do and their success doesn't really affect our ability to succeed at all. I don't view it as a rivalry but I get the emotion that's attached to it from the fan level."
Jones respectfully disagrees with his boss. The hard-throwing but low-key right-hander produced humorous incredulousness when asked if there was a rivalry between the two sides, pointing out playing the Cubs means a little more because both teams want to be the best in the city. The excitement level certainly rises in those contests.
In '16, the Cubs were the best in baseball. But when that last out was recorded by Mike Montgomery, it didn't resonate with the White Sox any deeper than work needed to be done.
"It was: The offseason has officially begun," said Hahn of his reaction.
"That was absolutely great for the city of Chicago," Jones said. "Obviously from the outside looking in, we want it to be our turn. We don't want to be watching it. We want to be playing in it. We are working on building that success and sustaining that success."
White Sox pitchers headed for World Baseball Classic look sharp in win over Rockies.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Jose Quintana and Miguel Gonzalez looked like a pair of pitchers who began their off-seasons earlier to prep for the World Baseball Classic.
Both White Sox starting pitchers looked sharp as they made their spring debuts in a 7-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Camelback Ranch on Sunday afternoon. Team USA relievers David Robertson and Nate Jones also pitched a scoreless inning each in the win. Prospect Zack Burdi also pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Gonzalez, who is on the Team Mexico roster, only allowed a single on a dropped pop up on the infield in two scoreless innings.
“I’m a little ahead of the game right now,” Gonzalez said. “I started a little earlier this year in the offseason to work out, thinking I wanted to go to the WBC and get ready for that. But I think the most important thing right now is getting ready for April 1 with the White Sox. That’s my goal, and you don’t get these opportunities every year. To represent Mexico, it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be great.”
Quintana, who will start for Colombia in their March 10 opener against the United States, allowed a run and a hit in two innings. He struck out one and hit a batter.
“I feel good,” Quintana said. “I think for the first day I feel comfortable. I hit the glove. I feel good. A couple of pitches spinning were good and I feel really good.”
Robertson is throwing much earlier than normal in anticipation of his March 6 departure for Miami, where Team USA begins its tournament. The club’s closer normally wouldn’t appear in a game until the calendar turns to March. Robertson said he usually only needs 5-6 spring outings to get in shape for the regular season. Though he felt a little rusty, the right-hander was pleased with several changeups and fastballs he threw.
“I wouldn’t say it was smooth but I got through it,” Robertson said. “I had a few bad pitches that were just not competitive. … All in all I got through what seemed like a tough inning for a first outing.
“I’m excited. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m going to go down there and put the ‘USA’ across my chest and have a chance to win something for our country. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m excited to play with a group of guys I’ve been playing against my whole life.”
Eddie Alvarez had a three-run double for the White Sox while Tyler Saladino collected two hits in three trips. Catcher Roberto Pena went 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Jim Thome: Getting into baseball Hall of Fame would be indescribable.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Normally upbeat and positive, Jim Thome can’t help but beam with pride when asked about his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Thome, who blasted 612 career home runs, including 134 with the White Sox, is eligible for induction for the first time in 2018. Even though he’s expected by many to one day be voted into Cooperstown, perhaps even in his first year, Thome said he’s merely honored to be on the ballot. Thome is joined on the ballot by Chipper Jones and former teammate Omar Vizquel, among others. Voting begins in December and the results will be announced next January.
“To even be on the ballot and thought of, it would be the greatest honor I think you could get,” Thome said. “Or if you get an opportunity to go into the greatest fraternity baseball has or created, it would be indescribable. How do you ever think as a kid or a high school player or even going through the minor leagues, that you’d play at the big leagues that long? And then to get an opportunity at the end of your career to be put on the ballot is so great.
“That would be the coolest moment ever.”
Thome – who is in White Sox camp as a special assistant to the general manager – provided plenty of big moments in a career that spanned 22 seasons. He hit 30 home runs in 12 of 13 seasons between 1996-2008, leading the league with 47 in 2003. The slugger was a five-time All-Star and produced 72.9 b-Wins Above Replacement.
Thome isn’t as superstitious about his candidacy as others previously have been. He won’t be the guy to bring up the topic, but the Peoria, Ill.-native doesn’t shy away from discussing it, either.
“It’s not something you talk a lot about,” Thome said. “We’re not going to bring it up. But when people do bring it up, there’s a sense of pride, a sense of ‘Wow, baseball has thought that highly to put you on the ballot.’ And the fact that there’s just this wonderful fraternity of incredible players that you could be a part of, if you’re chosen.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Fowler hangs on to win Honda by four shots.
By Will Gray
Fowler hangs on to win Honda by four shots. (Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
It got a little more interesting than he had hoped, but in the end Rickie Fowler still found a way to leave the Honda Classic with the trophy. Here’s how things ended up at PGA National, where Fowler won by four shots:
Leaderboard: Rickie Fowler (-12), Gary Woodland (-8), Morgan Hoffmann (-8), Jhonattan Vegas (-7), Billy Horschel (-7), Wesley Bryan (-7), Martin Kaymer (-7)
What it means: Fowler started the day with a commanding four-shot lead, but that advantage dwindled to a single shot after a number of front-nine errors. Fowler steadied the ship with birdies on Nos. 12 and 13, then removed any lingering drama with a birdie on No. 16 to secure his first worldwide win in over a year and his first PGA Tour title since the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship.
Round of the day: Vegas was 12 shots off the lead when the final round began, but he made the day’s biggest charge up the standings with a 6-under 64 that was highlighted by an ace on No. 15. Vegas made five birdies against just one dropped shot and earned his first top-10 finish on Tour since the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November.
Best of the rest: Nick Watney shot a 5-under 65 to move 45 spots up the standings into a tie for 14th, continuing a solid season as the veteran returns from injury. Watney made seven birdies, including four in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 10-14 to notch his third top-15 finish of the season.
Biggest disappointment: Tyrrell Hatton played with Fowler in the day’s final pairing, but the Englishman bogeyed his opening hole and never truly factored. After three straight sub-par rounds, Hatton limped home with a 2-over 72 that included just two birdies and dropped him into a tie for fourth.
Shot of the day: Fowler appeared in control coming down the stretch, but an accurate approach to the treacherous 16th allowed him to slam the door. Fowler stuck it to 3 feet from 183 yards, leading to an easy birdie that gave him margin for error – which he put to use with bogeys on his final two holes.
Quote of the day: “I think this is something we needed going into Augusta.” – Fowler
Amy Yang wins LPGA Thailand by five strokes.
Associated Press
Amy Yang rarely wavered with a big lead during the final round of the Thailand LPGA tournament, shooting a 4-under 68 to win by five strokes Sunday.
Due to rain delays, Yang was forced to play her final five holes of the third round on Sunday morning, and she led by five strokes after 54 holes.
Later in the day, the 2015 Thailand champion saw her lead reduced to three shots on several occasions, but the South Korean held on to post a record 22-under 266 on the Siam Country Club's Pattaya Old Course.
The previous tournament record of 21 under was held by Suzann Pettersen in 2007 and Ai Miyazato in 2010.
Yang, who won for the third time on the LPGA Tour, made a 15-foot putt on the 14th for par, then drove the green on the par-4 15th.
''I knew I had to make it, and I did,'' Yang said of her par putt on 14.
She missed her eagle attempt at 15, but made a three-foot putt for birdie to increase her lead to four shots with three to play. From there, her lead was safe and she birdied the 18th for good measure.
So Yeon Ryu, the 2011 U.S. Women's Open champion, matched Yang with a 68 to finish second.
Lexi Thompson had the best round of the day, a 67, to finish tied for fourth, nine strokes behind, and level with fellow American Danielle Kang, who shot 68.
The tournament featured 18 of the top 20 players in the world, including top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who shot a closing 68 and was tied for eighth, 11 strokes behind.
''I am beyond happy, I had so many early wakeup calls this week,'' said Yang, who had to play 31 holes on Saturday and 23 on Sunday. ''I had to stay patient out there.''
Yang carded 10 birdies, one eagle and only one bogey over her second and partial third rounds on Saturday.
Jack Nicklaus 'puzzled' by Tiger Woods's situation.
Jack Nicklaus (Photo/yahoosports.com/golf)
When Tiger Woods decides to return to the PGA Tour is a mystery these days, and the greatest major champion to ever play doesn't know what to think of Woods's situation either.
Eighteen-time major-winner Jack Nicklaus, who is also the architect of PGA National's champion course, the site of this week's Honda Classic, joined NBC's Johnny Miller and Dan Hicks in the booth on Sunday and weighed in on Woods.
While Nicklaus at first said he doesn't "have a take" on Woods, he said he was "a bit puzzled" by the situation.
"I've seen Tiger a little bit in the last several months, not in the last month or two," he said. "He looked great. Physically he looks fantastic … but he goes and plays and then he either physically can't make it, or mentally and physically maybe they work together — I don't really know, and I'm not sure he knows. It's sad to me cause he's such a great talent, he's a good kid. He's got so much ability and I'm sad to see it happen to him. I hope he gets it corrected."
Woods was supposed to play last week's Genesis Open as well as this week's Honda but he pulled out of both due to back spasms, which also made him WD from Dubai earlier this month. The spasms were so sever that he canceled his press conference at the Genesis, which is an event his foundation hosts. His agent, Mark Sternberg, said that Woods's doctors told the 14-time major champ to "just stay horizontal."
By Nate Ryan
Kurt Busch celebrates winning the Daytona 500 with a burnout in the infield grass. (Photo/Getty Images)
The 59th running of the Daytona 500 was a story of victory lane debuts Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
A driver, a team (with a new manufacturer) and a series title sponsor all celebrated for the first time on stock-car racing’s biggest stage.
Kurt Busch swept around the outside of Kyle Larson on a last-lap pass to win the Daytona 500, his first restrictor-plate victory in NASCAR’s premier series.
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver finished 0.228 seconds ahead of Ryan Blaney in leading only the final circuit at the 2.5-mile oval. AJ Allmendinger was third, followed by Aric Almirola and Paul Menard. Larson, who ran out of fuel, finished 12th.
Busch’s team switched to Ford for the 2017 season and won in its debut Sunday with the manufacturer.
“It just got crazy and wild,” said Busch, who rebounded from being involved in a backstretch wreck on Lap 128 of 200. “It was one of the smartest chess games I have seen out there. All the hard work that Ford and SHR put into this.
“Here we are in victory lane. I can’t believe it.”
His No. 41 Fusion is sponsored by Monster Energy, which also is entering its first season as NASCAR’s new title sponsor.
“I tried not to put any extra pressure on my shoulders,” said Busch, the eight different driver to win the Daytona 500 in the past eight races. “I tried to rely on my team’s strengths and not focus on what I have been through with Monster Energy the last six years. They are a strong, big company, and they have chosen to be the entitlement sponsor, and I can’t be happier to do the job I am supposed to do as a Monster athlete, which is to win podiums and races.”
Busch had been winless in his previous 63 starts at the restrictor-plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway (which require restrictor plates to reduce speeds).
“There is nothing predictable about this race anymore and the more years that have gone by that I didn’t win, I kept trying to go back to patterns that I had seen in the past,” he said. “My mirror fell off with 30 laps to go, and I couldn’t even see out the back. And I thought that was an omen. Throw caution to the wind.”
It also was the first Daytona 500 win as a car owner for Tony Stewart, who retired after the 2016 season with a winless record in 17 starts in the race.
“The look on (co-owner) Gene Haas’ face right now, that smile, make it all worth it,” Stewart said. “It has been a really long hard winter, and I am so proud of everyone at SHR and Ford Performance. They really worked their tails off to get ready. Doug Yates and everybody at Roush Yates Engines brought unbelievable power all week.
“It was a crazy race, even crazier to sit and watch it from a pit box finally. If I had known all I had to do was retire, I would have retired 17 years ago if I knew it was what it took to win the race.”
Busch’s crew chief, Tony Gibson, hails from Daytona Beach.
“This is unbelievable,” Gibson said on Fox. “My mom, my dad, we sacrificed everything to put us in racing. I can’t thank them enough. Thanks Dad, Mom, I love you. I have a great family that put us in racing, and it’s just so emotional to come to my track and win. Unbelievable.”
Joey Logano was sixth, followed by Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip, Jeffrey Earnhardt and Trevor Bayne.
Chase Elliott, seeking his first NASCAR victory on the sport’s grandest stage, ran out of fuel while leading with three laps remaining. He finished 14th.
Who had a good race: Almirola gave a boost to Richard Petty Motorsports, which contracted to one car in the offseason. The No. 43 Ford led and ran in the top 10 for much of the second half.
Blaney rebounded in a backup car, taking the lead with some aggressive moves to score his career-best finish.
Almirola and Menard scored career-best Daytona 500 finishes, and Allmendinger tied his best at Daytona.
Who had a bad race: How much time do you have?
Kyle Busch’s recent trouble at Daytona continued when he lost control in Turn 4, and his No. 18 Toyota collected Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Erik Jones in the wreck.
Corey LaJoie’s Daytona 500 debut will be remembered for one of the more egregious rookie mistakes in the race’s history – a near head-on collision with the front-stretch wall after losing control while missing the entrance to the pits.
Former Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray was at the focal point of multiple multi-car pileups that took out Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Daniel Suarez.
Notable: Kahne led for the first time since Oct. 25, 2015 at Talladega Superspeedway. … Kyle Busch won the first stage of the 2017 season (and in the history of points races in NASCAR’s premier series). … Kevin Harvick won the second stage. … Both Busch and Harvick crashed after picking up 10 points. … There were only five of 40 cars that weren’t listed as in a crash.
Quote of the race: “I really enjoyed the whole week. We had a lot of fun. Everybody was looking forward to getting back to the race track. It meant a lot to me. And I’m just sorry we weren’t able to deliver a better result today for all our fans and everybody that was looking forward to today. We had a great car. At least we went out leading the race.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 37th in his return after missing the second half of the 2016 season (concussion).
What’s next: The Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, 2:46 p.m., March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Fox.
Ryan Reed captures second season-opening Xfinity win in three seasons at Daytona.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo/Getty Images)
There’s something about Daytona International Speedway that brings out the best in Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed.
The Bakersfield, California native earned his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series win during Saturday’s Powershares QQQ 300 — to go along with his win in the 2015 Xfinity series opener, also at the 2.5-mile “World Center of Racing.”
Reed overcame minor damage in an early wreck, then needed four laps of overtime to capture the 124-lap race (originally scheduled for 120 laps). It was the first win in either the Xfinity or NASCAR Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing since Chris Buescher won at Dover in spring 2015.
“I’ve had so many people tell me how amazing that first win was (in 2015),” Reed told Fox Sports 1. “That win drove me to get back to victory lane.”
Reed was followed by a gaggle of NASCAR veterans finishing second to fifth: Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski and Brendan Gaughan.
Reed traded the lead several times with Kahne during the last 15 laps, but was able to rally, took the lead for good on Lap 122 and then held on for the final two laps to capture the checkered flag in similar fashion to the way he earned his first Xfinity win at DIS two years ago.
“We just never got enough boost to get back by the 16 (Reed),” Kahne said.
The race was marked by two lengthy red-flag periods from wrecks that involved 18 and 12 cars, respectively during the first stage of the three-stage race.
There was another multi-car wreck with 16 laps left in the race that cost Elliott Sadler a chance at victory. Up to that point, Sadler had led a race-high 40 laps and was the winner of the first and second stages.
But Sadler was hit from behind by Austin Dillon, causing him to spin and trigger a wreck that involved nearly a dozen cars, many that sailed through the Daytona Infield Speedway grass.
Sadler’s crew was able to repair some of the damage and get him back on the racetrack, but his car could not get back up to speed and was sent to the garage, ending his day and leaving him with a 24th-place finish.
“We really wanted to go to victory lane and I had a car good enough to do it,” Sadler told FS1. “(The contact with Dillon) wasn’t intentional, we were just bump drafting, trying to get all we could get, and we just caught it a little wrong and wrecked and couldn’t hold on to it.”
First stage winner: Elliott Sadler.
Second stage winner: Elliott Sadler.
WHO ELSE HAD A GOOD RACE: Even though he was knocked out late in the race by a wreck, Elliott Sadler won the first two stages and is now third in the points, 14 points behind Reed and five points behind second-ranked Gaughan. … Sixth-place finisher Scott Lagasse Jr. earned his best Xfinity career finish.
WHO HAD A BAD RACE: A number of drivers had early exits due to first stage wrecks, including (from 28th through 37th place) Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, Daniel Hemric, Erik Jones, Darrell Wallace Jr., Jeremy Clements, Spencer Gallagher and Cole Custer.
NOTABLE: There were 23 lead changes among seven drivers and 10 cautions for 42 laps.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “That right there was fun. … I took a gamble, but if you’re going to take a gamble you might as well gamble on a win.” – Race winner Ryan Reed to FS1.
WHAT’S NEXT: Rinnai 250 on Saturday March 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Racing with a purpose: Richard Childress Racing focused on returning to Cup victory lane.
By Dustin Long
Aligned side-by-side, NASCAR’s hierarchy is parked for all to see. Each race weekend, team haulers are positioned in the garage based on performance.
When the trucks arrived Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway to begin the new season, reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson’s hauler led the parade, followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammates. Then came the Team Penske trucks. And Joe Gibbs Racing and three other organizations before the RCR trucks could park.
To walk from the Childress haulers to Johnson’s at the front of the field takes 136 steps. It’s a path that leads by exhaust-spewing cars, rumbling engines, scurrying crew members and gazing fans. Admittedly, some might take a few more steps, some not as many. But those steps more than anything measure where RCR is as it begins a critical season with Sunday’s Daytona 500.
A proud organization, which began with a headstrong driver and rocketed to prominence with an icon in the No. 3 car, has seen its place in the sport decline from its halcyon days.
“He and Dale Earnhardt, they were the standard,’’ car owner Rick Hendrick said of Childress. “When I first started, I didn’t think anybody would ever beat them.’’
Now, the organization is mired in a three-year winless drought, its longest since 1983. Richard Childress Racing faces a challenge to remain competitive against Hendrick, Penske and Gibbs, which have combined to win 80 percent of the last 56 Cup races.
While teams are known to go through cycles where they’re not as competitive — Gibbs won two races in 2014 before winning 26 the next two seasons — it is rare for an organization to go multiple years without a win and return to a spot among the elite.
Ten organizations have won since RCR’s last Cup victory, which came 109 races ago at Phoenix International Raceway in Nov. 2013.
“It’s not cool,’’ Ryan Newman said of his and RCR’s winless droughts. “You take it personally, and you fight harder.”
The battle cry is to win now, a feeling spread by car owner Richard Childress and passed to every executive, driver, crew chief, mechanic and employee.
“I can promise you the winless drought is keeping him up at night,’’ said NASCAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton, who drove for Childress from 2004-13, about his former boss. “He wants to win in the worst way. I’m sure the wick is turned up pretty high.’’
Nothing else matters for an organization that once was so used to winning.
HALL OF FAME CAREER
Richard Childress was among the independents who drove in NASCAR and never had the same backing as the sport’s stars.
All but raised at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Childress set out to drive when he was old enough. Sometimes just getting to a race was as much a challenge as racing.
Wife Judy recalls one time when it didn’t look as if her husband would be able to drive at Charlotte. His windshield was broke and he needed a replacement to compete. A search for a replacement proved futile. Childress rented a car and removed the windshield so he could put it on his car to race. After the race, he put the windshield back on the rental car and returned it.
While determined, Childress’ success was limited. As Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty and David Pearson won, Childress scored only three top-five finishes in 187 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.
Childress realized he would be better off putting someone else in his car. The driver who replaced him in 1981? Dale Earnhardt.
The union lasted 11 races before Earnhardt went elsewhere for the 1982 season and Childress hired Ricky Rudd.
Two years later, Earnhardt joined Childress, forming one of the greatest teams in NASCAR history. They combined to win six championships and 67 races before Earnhardt’s death on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
After Earnhardt’s death, Richard Childress Racing went through a transition period. The organization won only one race from 2004-05. The team recovered and won 16 races from 2010-13 for its best four-year stretch since the mid-1990s with Earnhardt.
Since, though, Childress has not been back to Victory Lane in the Cup Series.
FALLING BEHIND
How does an organization struggle to win after having so much success for so many years? It’s never an easy question. Rule changes can throw teams off. Sometimes another organization or manufacture finds something that gives those cars extra speed. Or it could one of many other things.
Sometimes success can hide the truth.
Three years ago, Newman nearly captured the championship despite not winning a race. The old Chase format rewarded consistency. While the Childress cars weren’t the fastest, they could challenge for a crown with a steady performance.
Dr. Eric Warren, RCR’s director of competition, admits that thinking would impact the team later.
“It kind of masked the fact that we lost that kind of ability to close out and get some wins,’’ he said.
“We’ve … had a lot of discussions over the winter with the crew chiefs and everything else that when I’m in that fifth or sixth place in the race, those moments when you’ve got to make the right kind of calls, we need to not be trying to protect a top-five finish.’’
There have been other issues as well. Austin Dillon needed time to adjust to the Cup series after joining in 2014. The organization needed to find the right people for the right jobs. The cars weren’t as strong.
Childress began to see some signs of progress last spring even after Newman crashed in a test at Pocono when a tire went down. The team had been trying some new suspension geometry. They used what they learned at Pocono in August.
Dillon, who had never finished better than 13th at Pocono, hounded leader Kyle Larson in what was viewed as a race to halfway with rain the area that day. Rain eventually arrived, allowing Chris Buescher to score the surprise win for Front Row Motorsports. Although Dillon finished 13th, he spent more than 89 percent of the race running in the top 15. Only three other drivers were in the top 15 more. One was his teammate Newman.
Richard Childress Racing took what it learned there and debuted new cars at Charlotte in the playoffs. Dillon advanced to that second round but wrecked after he was hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. on a restart. Dillon had taken two tires on the pit stop during that caution while the rest of the field had taken four.
That incident played a role in Dillon losing a tiebreaker to Denny Hamlin to advance to the third round. A couple of weeks later at Texas, Dillon, with a new car, won the pole but wrecked after contact from Kevin Harvick. Newman showed speed two weeks later when he qualified third in the season finale in Miami, another 1.5-mile track, providing signs of progress on those tracks for the organization.
Of course, none of that guarantees any type of success this season.
“We have to work very hard to maintain our confidence and direction in our program and that means looking for incremental goals … and not allowing the ultimate prize that we’re trying to get to become overwhelming,’’ said Luke Lambert, crew chief for Newman. “If you want to climb Mt. Everest, you’ve got to do it one foot in front of the other.’’
PUTTING THE PUZZLE TOGETHER
In race shops full of cars, equipment and tools, it is the people that many say are the greatest commodity. Richard Childress Racing made a couple of key additions late last year.
Sammy Johns, a former crew chief and team executive, was hired to be the team’s operations director. Mark McArdle had held the position until leaving in Dec. 2015. His position was not filled but absorbed by Dr. Eric Warren.
“We missed that spot,’’ Warren said, noting the additional duties he had while also directing the competition efforts.
The team also added former crew chief Matt Borland to return to that role for Paul Menard. Borland is the third crew chief Menard has had since July 2016 as the organization seeks to find a way for that team to excel.
“You’ve got to keep bringing people to the team that are winners,’’ Warren said of the additions. “It’s important because that instinct of, ‘Hey, if I’m not winning, I’m upset.’ You have to have that kind of killer instinct.
“One of the things about Matt coming in is he has a very strong work ethic, been successful in the past. Not to take anything away from Slugger and Lambert, they both have great assets. We needed that, that person that can bridge the engineering side … but also has been a winning crew chief and an experienced crew chief.’’
WAITING TO CELEBRATE
The sport has been waiting years for the No. 3 to return to victory lane in a Cup race.
The number made famous by Dale Earnhardt, last went to victory lane in October 2000. Earnhardt charged from 18th to first in the final five laps to record the memorable victory. After Earnhardt’s death, Childress retired the No. 3 until Feb. 2014 when it returned with Austin Dillon, Childress’ grandson.
While the number reverberates with race fans for what Earnhardt did, it has a special meaning for Dillon. When he and brother Ty told Childress they wanted to go racing, he got them go-karts. Ty wanted No. 2 because that was his father’s number when he raced. Austin wanted No. 3. Childress reminded him about the statue of that number because of Earnhardt. Austin told him that he wanted that number because that had been Childress’ number when he raced.
To older fans, the No. 3 always will represent Earnhardt. They eagerly await when that car will return what is to them it’s natural place — in victory lane.
“There’s so many things that could happen this year that would, I think, be really impactful for the sport,’’ said Fox Sports analyst Darrell Waltrip. “The 3 winning a race would be pretty big to me.’’
To do that will take a team effort. Dillon enters his fourth full season in Cup and second full season with crew chief Slugger Labbe.
Dillon said Labbe learned last year what type of motivation works best for Dillon.
“I think he’s constantly giving me a little bit of a push, but it’s respectful,’’ Dillon said. “It’s not like a pump-you-up kind of push because he knows I’m already motivated. I think that’s where, when we first started, that’s where he thought he’d have to motivate me, but then he quickly learned I’m really motivated in everything I do.’’
TIME TO GO
Even as Richard Childress Racing seeks to move forward, Ryan Newman notes that it needs to look behind, if only for guidance.
“I think Richard Childress will sit here and tell you right now that last year we learned a lot of what not to do,’’ Newman said. “If you can take the things that you learned not to do and not making the mistake of doing them again and correct the things that you have done wrong than you should be a stronger team the following year.’’
The time is now to prove it.
“We’ve got to win races,’’ Menard said. “When Richard is mad it’s not a good day. When he is, happy things go well. We are going to do our best to make him happy.”
SOCCER: Fire finish preseason with undefeated record after beating Toronto.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Chicago Fire finished off another undefeated preseason on Saturday.
The Fire concluded preseason play in Florida with a 4-1 win against Toronto FC at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.
It was the sixth and final preseason game in the Fire's preseason. The Fire outscored the opponents, three MLS teams, two minor league clubs and a college team, 18-6 and scored 16 goals in the past four games.
The Fire started with what appears to be a likely starting lineup for the opening match at Columbus a week from today. Jorge Bava was in goal with a back four of Brandon Vincent, Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira and Michael Harrington. The midfield was anchored by Dax McCarty and Juninho in the center with David Accam, Michael de Leeuw and Arturo Alvarez supporting striker Nemanja Nikolic in the attack.
With the season opener at Columbus just a week away, (March 4, 2017), coach Veljko Paunovic played the starters into the second half and had five players, Bava, Vincent, Kappelhof, McCarty and Juninho, play the full 90 minutes. Meanwhile Toronto made eight changes at halftime.
Juninho scored in the ninth minute on a rocket shot from outside the box. The Fire doubled the lead just over 10 minutes later when Nemanja Nikolic converted a penalty kick after Michael de Leeuw was fouled in the box. David Accam set up de Leeuw for the third goal and the Fire led 3-0 at halftime.
In the second half de Leeuw got his second goal before Toronto pulled one back via a penalty kick from Tosaint Ricketts.
U.S. U-20s paired with Mexico, El Salvador in CONCACAF knockout round.
By Matt Reed
(Photo/Twitter/@ussoccer_ynt)
Tab Ramos’ side completed their first task, but now the U.S. Under-20 national team has its next challenge lying in front of them.
The U.S. U-20s finished second in Group B at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship after winning two of its three group stage matches.
Now, Mexico and El Salvador await the U-20s in the classification stage with a spot at May’s Under-20 World Cup in South Korea on the line.
During the classification round there will be two groups of three teams, with the top two teams advancing to the World Cup. Each group winner will meet in the CONCACAF Championship final.
Classification stage schedule
Group D
Feb. 27 — U.S. U-20s vs. Mexico
Mar. 1 — Mexico vs. El Salvador
Mar. 3 — U.S. U-20s vs. El Salvador
Group E
Feb. 27 — Panama vs. Honduras
Mar. 1 — Honduras vs. Costa Rica
Mar. 3 — Panama vs. Costa Rica
La Liga & Serie A: Real resilient against Villareal, Roma tops Inter.
By Matt Reed
A roundup of Sunday’s action in Spain and Italy’s top flights…
Villareal 2-3 Real Madrid
The Yellow Submarine did everything right to open the second half but Real Madrid proved resilient once again to earn a victory at El Madrigal. Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata each netted after the hour mark to help Los Blancos pick up three points and remain leap over Barcelona at the top of the table. Manu Trigueros and Cédric Bakambu scored within six minutes of one another to give Villareal a 2-0 early in the second half but Real began to press harder after the setback.
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
It surely wasn’t the most attractive match at times, particularly for the visitors, but Lionel Messi was up to his old tricks once again and helped lift Barcelona into the top spot in La Liga. The Argentine attacker was persistent inside the Atletico box with the match nearing the end and Messi managed to break the deadlock in the 86th minute. Both sides traded goals earlier in the second stanza, with Rafinha getting Barca on the board before Diego Godin equalized six minutes later.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Espanyol 3-0 Osasuna
Sporting Gijon 1-1 Celta Vigo
Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Granada
La Liga & Serie A: Sevilla moves second, Caldara guides Atalanta.
By Matt Reed
(Photo/David Ramos/Getty Images)
A roundup of Saturday’s action in Spain and Italy’s top flights…
Real Betis 1-2 Sevilla
Sevilla has moved into second in La Liga thanks to a pair of second half goals on Saturday. Riza Durmisi gave the hosts the advantage heading into the halftime break but Sevilla fought back in the second stanza with finishes from Gabriel Mercado and Vicente Iborra to pull into a tie on points with league leaders Real Madrid.
Leganes 4-0 Deportivo La Coruna
Raúl Albentosa’s red card was the least of Deportivo’s worries on the day as the 17th place side took a hammering from Leganes. The victory for the hosts moves Leganes two points clear of Deportivo in the table and five points above the drop zone. Alexander Szymanowski and Martín Mantovani helped Leganes jump out to a 2-0 lead inside of the opening half hour before late finishes from Unai Lopez and Alberto Bueno put the finishing touches on the encounter.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Alaves 2-1 Valencia
Eibar 3-0 Malaga
Napoli 0-2 Atalanta
Mattia Caldara netted a brace on Saturday and helped guide his Atalanta side to within three points of Napoli in the Serie A table. Atalanta currently sits fourth in Italy’s top flight, but the race for the second place is heating up as Roma, Napoli and Atalanta all sit within five points of one another. Meanwhile, Inter Milan will have a chance to draw level on points with Atalanta on Sunday when they take on Roma.
Juventus 2-0 Empoli
It took a bit for the league leaders to get going but Juventus remains in firm control of Serie A after another victory. An own goal from Lukasz Skorupski gave the hosts the lead after the halftime break before Alex Sandro doubled the advantage 12 minutes later after finishing off a Dani Alves cross. The Bianconeri now hold a 10-point advantage over second place Roma.
PL Saturday roundup: Chelsea create 11-point gap, Everton extend unbeaten run.
By Matt Reed
Chelsea continued its path towards the Premier League crown on Saturday, while the league’s bottom sides are fighting for their lives to remain afloat next season.
Here, we take a look back at Saturday’s action from around England’s top flight.
Chelsea 3-1 Swansea City — RECAP
Swansea put up a heck of a fight after coming to life recently under manager Paul Clement, but Diego Costa and co. were too much in the end to keep the Blues at bay. Costa’s 16th goal of the season put the finishing touches on the encounter at Stamford Bridge, giving Chelsea an 11-point cushion at the summit of the PL. Goals from Cesc Fabregas and Pedro preceded Costa, while Fernando Llorente had put the Swans on level terms with the Blues just prior to halftime. Clement’s group remains out of the relegation zone in 15th place, but the club is a mere three points above the drop zone.
Everton 2-0 Sunderland — RECAP
Ronald Koeman‘s group have picked up form as of late, and Saturday’s win makes nine consecutive matches unbeaten for the Toffees. Romelu Lukaku and Idrissa Gueye booked their names on the scoresheet to create more woes for Sunderland, who remain in last place on 19 points.
West Brom 2-1 Bournemouth — RECAP
Joshua King put the visitors in front but West Brom’s resilience has moved the Baggies to within 10 points of the top four. Craig Dawson gave the Baggies an equalizer on the stroke of halftime, before Gareth McAuley provided the winner for the eighth-place side. The loss for Bournemouth won’t give the Cherries much comfort as they sit just five points above 18th place with 12 matches left to play.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Middlesbrough — RECAP
The bleeding has stopped. At least temporarily for the Eagles. Crystal Palace has moved out of the bottom three courtesy of their victory at Selhurst Park, but Sam Allardyce‘s side still has much work left to do if they want to considered out of the clear. Patrick Van Aanholt netted in the first half to give Palace its first win in its last five matches across all competitions, while the Boro remain narrowly above Allardyce’s group in the table based on superior goal differential.
Hull City 1-1 Burnley — RECAP
Michael Keane was at the center of the action on Saturday but the Burnley defender made amends to give his side a share of the points at the KC Stadium. Keane was called for a hand ball inside his own area, which allowed Tom Huddlestone to put Hull out front. Meanwhile, the defender made things right for the visitors minutes later after finishing off a Robbie Brady corner kick.
Watford 1-1 West Ham United — RECAP
Andre Ayew helped ensure the Hammers would come away with a point at Vicarage Road after Michail Antonio struck both posts on the same attempt. The hosts got out to the lead after Troy Deeney converted from the penalty spot but the West Ham was calm and collected to move into ninth place. Watford sits just two points behind the Hammers in the table on 31 points.
Southampton vs. Arsenal — Postponed
NCAABKB: Gonzaga's stunning loss to BYU will do the Zags more harm than good.
By Jeff Eisenberg
Gonzaga entered Saturday night’s game one win away from an unbeaten regular season. (Photo/AP)
You’ll probably hear some folks argue that a loss is the best thing that could have happened to Gonzaga, that it will ease the pressure on the Zags going into the NCAA tournament, that it will remove the target on their backs.
Don’t buy that.
The primary burden on Gonzaga remains trying to reach its first Final Four after so many past near misses. Whatever extra load the Zags would have faced entering March unbeaten was worth it if it meant already achieving something rare and historic.
Gonzaga’s bid for a perfect regular season fell one game short Saturday night when the Zags suffered a stunning 79-71 home loss to BYU. In their regular season finale, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd ready to celebrate history, the Zags instead squandered a 10-point second-half lead and tasted defeat for the first time after 29 victories in a row to start the season.
The massive upset ripped away Gonzaga’s place in the exclusive group of teams who have finished the regular season without a loss. Since Indiana became college basketball’s last undefeated national champion in 1976, only five other teams have managed to complete the regular season blemish-free: Indiana State (1979), UNLV (1991), Saint Joseph’s (2004), Wichita State (2014) and Kentucky (2015).
Joining that quintet would have meant accomplishing something no other Gonzaga team had ever done, no easy feat considering that program’s recent exploits. In its 18-year reign atop the WCC, Gonzaga has won 27.4 games per year, captured 16 league titles, made the NCAA tournament every season and advanced to the Sweet 16 or beyond seven times.
This year’s Gonzaga team can still make history by reaching the program’s first Final Four, but the Zags’ path may have become more difficult with Saturday’s loss. Whereas they were a mortal lock for the No. 1 seed in the West had they entered the NCAA tournament with a spotless record, they’re in more jeopardy of falling off the top seed line now.
Another upset loss in the WCC tournament would likely relegate Gonzaga to a No. 2 seed no matter who the opponent is. The No. 1 seed in the West could still belong to the Zags with a WCC tournament title, but the selection committee will surely take a close look at how their resume compares to whichever Pac-12 team separates itself amongst Oregon, Arizona and UCLA.
While Saturday’s loss cost Gonzaga an awful lot, the one benefit could be experiencing real game pressure for the first time in months. Having beaten every previous WCC opponent they faced by 10 or more points, the Zags hadn’t faced that since narrow victories over Florida, Arizona and Iowa State back in November and December.
Gonzaga certainly didn’t step up to the challenge Saturday night after BYU rallied from 10 down and forced the nation’s top-ranked team to play from behind during the second half for the first time in their last 15 games. The Zags responded with quick shots, careless turnovers and defensive blunders, all very out of character for a savvy and experienced team.
With the score tied at 71 apiece and just over a minute remaining, BYU forward Eric Mika recognized that Przemek Karnowski was giving him too much space and sank a tie-breaking 18-foot jump shot. Mark Few’s decision to not call timeout to set up a play then backfired as Josh Perkins committed a costly turnover.
Gonzaga actually got the defensive stop it needed to stay in the game on the ensuing BYU possession, but Cougars forward Corbin Kafusi secured the offensive rebound of a T.J. Haws miss and scored a put-back to increase the lead to four with 19 seconds to go. Again Few did not call timeout, and again Perkins committed a turnover driving into traffic, extinguishing all hope of a Gonzaga victory.
Such miscues late in a close NCAA tournament game undoubtedly would have spelled the end of Gonzaga’s season. At least this way, Gonzaga can learn from the mistakes it made on Saturday night and apply those lessons in March.
That it was BYU (21-10, 12-6) who delivered the lesson is a big surprise.
There were few signs the Cougars were capable of an upset of this caliber even though they had won their previous two games in Spokane. This was an underachieving BYU team that suffered a dreadful non-conference loss to Utah Valley, dropped league games against Pepperdine, Santa Clara and San Diego and hadn’t beaten anyone of note since a season-opening victory over Princeton.
But the Cougars’ Lone Peak Three lived up to their preseason hype on Saturday, raising the possibility they may yet have a WCC tournament push left in them. Mika erupted for a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds, Haws scored 17 points and hit five threes and Nick Emery shook off a horrid shooting night to bury a pair of shots from behind the arc during the second-half comeback.
While BYU celebrated when the final buzzer sounded, Gonzaga players walked off the court shell-shocked.
A perfect season spoiled. A chance at history gone. No. 1 seed in jeopardy. Yes, this was unmistakably a loss that did more harm than good.
SATURDAY’S SNACKS: North Carolina, Villanova get conference titles; Kentucky, Iowa State, Michigan, Miami win big ones.
By Scott Phillips
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SATURDAY’S THINGS TO KNOW
The biggest game of the night: No. 5 UCLA landed their second elite road win of the season by going into the McKale Center and knocking off No. 4 Arizona, 77-72. UCLA’s comeback down the stretch was fueled by defense and rebounding … wait, what? It sets up for a fascinating situation in the Pac-12 down the stretch.
The ACC saw No. 8 North Carolina win on the road as they handled Pitt to claim at least a share of the ACC regular season conference title. CBT’s Rob Dauster has more on why this season might be Roy Williams’ best coaching job yet.
Things became a little bit clearer in the SEC as No. 11 Kentucky rallied behind a monster second half from freshman Malik Monk (30 of 33 points in second half) to beat No. 13 Florida. On a day in which De’Aaron Fox was out with injury, Monk and freshman Bam Adebayo (18 points, 15 rebounds) combined to give the Wildcats the conference lead with a week left. Dauster has more on Monk and Kentucky’s prospects heading into March.
Defending national champion Villanova clinched at least a share of the Big East regular season title as the No. 4 Wildcats used a late push to run past No. 23 Creighton. A balanced effort helped the Wildcats bounce back from this week’s loss against Butler as Eric Paschall led with 19 points.
Then things got crazy for ranked teams on the road during a 30-minute stretch.
It started in the Big 12 as Iowa State earned its seventh consecutive win by beating No. 9 Baylor with a little Hilton Magic. I have more on how the Cyclones have looked different since making a tweak to their lineup.
Michigan also looks more-and-more like an NCAA tournament team with a good home win over No. 14 Purdue. Senior Derrick Walton continues to play really well lately as I have more on the Wolverines here.
No. 6 Oregon survived at Stanford, getting a wild tip-in from Jordan Bell with 14 seconds left to gift them another one-possession road win this week. The Ducks won on a buzzer-beating three from Dillon Brooks at Cal on Wednesday.
And finally, Miami took advantage of No. 10 Duke being without Grayson Allen as the Hurricanes outlasted the Blue Devils in the ACC.
STARRED
Virginia’s offense — The Cavaliers were in a mighty slump during their four-game losing streak as the Cavaliers had failed to crack 55 points during the last three. That changed during a win Saturday on the road at N.C. State. Virginia shot 11-for-16 from three-point range (68.8 percent) and freshman Kyle Guy had more points in this one (19) than he did in his previous five games (17).
Malik Monk, Kentucky — Erupting in the second half was the freshman guard as he totaled 33 points in the Wildcats’ important SEC home win over visiting Florida. Monk only had three points at halftime and showed why he’s the country’s most electric player with just a few strong minutes to help Kentucky rally. Monk was 5-for-7 from three-point range and also added five assists and four rebounds.
Bruce Brown, Miami — Brown had 23 points to lead the Hurricanes to a win over the No. 10 Duke in Coral Gables. Brown has quietly been one of the ACC’s best freshmen all season long.
The biggest game of the night: No. 5 UCLA landed their second elite road win of the season by going into the McKale Center and knocking off No. 4 Arizona, 77-72. UCLA’s comeback down the stretch was fueled by defense and rebounding … wait, what? It sets up for a fascinating situation in the Pac-12 down the stretch.
The ACC saw No. 8 North Carolina win on the road as they handled Pitt to claim at least a share of the ACC regular season conference title. CBT’s Rob Dauster has more on why this season might be Roy Williams’ best coaching job yet.
Things became a little bit clearer in the SEC as No. 11 Kentucky rallied behind a monster second half from freshman Malik Monk (30 of 33 points in second half) to beat No. 13 Florida. On a day in which De’Aaron Fox was out with injury, Monk and freshman Bam Adebayo (18 points, 15 rebounds) combined to give the Wildcats the conference lead with a week left. Dauster has more on Monk and Kentucky’s prospects heading into March.
Defending national champion Villanova clinched at least a share of the Big East regular season title as the No. 4 Wildcats used a late push to run past No. 23 Creighton. A balanced effort helped the Wildcats bounce back from this week’s loss against Butler as Eric Paschall led with 19 points.
Then things got crazy for ranked teams on the road during a 30-minute stretch.
It started in the Big 12 as Iowa State earned its seventh consecutive win by beating No. 9 Baylor with a little Hilton Magic. I have more on how the Cyclones have looked different since making a tweak to their lineup.
Michigan also looks more-and-more like an NCAA tournament team with a good home win over No. 14 Purdue. Senior Derrick Walton continues to play really well lately as I have more on the Wolverines here.
No. 6 Oregon survived at Stanford, getting a wild tip-in from Jordan Bell with 14 seconds left to gift them another one-possession road win this week. The Ducks won on a buzzer-beating three from Dillon Brooks at Cal on Wednesday.
And finally, Miami took advantage of No. 10 Duke being without Grayson Allen as the Hurricanes outlasted the Blue Devils in the ACC.
STARRED
Virginia’s offense — The Cavaliers were in a mighty slump during their four-game losing streak as the Cavaliers had failed to crack 55 points during the last three. That changed during a win Saturday on the road at N.C. State. Virginia shot 11-for-16 from three-point range (68.8 percent) and freshman Kyle Guy had more points in this one (19) than he did in his previous five games (17).
Malik Monk, Kentucky — Erupting in the second half was the freshman guard as he totaled 33 points in the Wildcats’ important SEC home win over visiting Florida. Monk only had three points at halftime and showed why he’s the country’s most electric player with just a few strong minutes to help Kentucky rally. Monk was 5-for-7 from three-point range and also added five assists and four rebounds.
Bruce Brown, Miami — Brown had 23 points to lead the Hurricanes to a win over the No. 10 Duke in Coral Gables. Brown has quietly been one of the ACC’s best freshmen all season long.
REST OF THE TOP 25
- No. 3 Kansas cruised past Texas in Austin without all that much trouble.
- Surviving on the road was No. 12 West Virginia as they won by a point over TCU in Big 12 play. Jevon Carter paced the Mountaineers with 15 points.
- Playing in front of former head coach Larry Brown, No. 17 SMU ran out to an early lead on UConn and never looked back. The Mustangs had 20 points from Shake Milton in the AAC road win as they’ve won 11 straight.
- Looking more like the program we’ve seen the past few years, No. 18 Virginia played much better offensively in an ACC road win at N.C. State. Freshman Kyle Guy broke out with 19 points while Devon Hall (18 points) and London Perrantes (16 points) also played well.
- Winning on the road hasn’t been easy for No. 19 Florida State this season but they held off Clemson to likely eliminate the Tigers from NCAA tournament contention. The Seminoles had 15 points from Xavier Rathan-Mayes in the win.
- Iowa went into College Park and handed No. 24 Maryland by 14 points. The Terps, like Purdue, are now in a spot where they have really no chance to win the Big Ten regular season title. Might Wisconsin be the champions by default?
- Continuing to pile up double-digit wins is No. 25 Wichita State as they ran past Missouri State for a Missouri Valley Conference road win. Landry Shamet had 23 points for the Shockers while Shaquille Morris had 20 points.
- The plunge continued for Georgetown as they fell to St. John’s after losing to DePaul earlier in the week. Freshman Shamorie Ponds led the Red Storm with 24 points, becoming the third St. John’s freshmen to register 500 total points in a season.
- In the Big Ten, Minnesota beat Penn State for a home win as Jordan Murphy and Nate Mason each had 16 points.
- South Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak with a blowout home win over Tennessee. P.J. Dozier had 19 points to pace the Gamecocks.
- Oklahoma State continued its recent surge with an easy home Big 12 win over Texas Tech. The Cowboys had 17 points from Jeffrey Carroll and 15 points each from Jawun Evans and Phil Forte.
- Winning on the road in convincing fashion was Illinois State as the Redbirds ran past Northern Iowa. As a team right on the bubble, the Redbirds are now co-Missouri Valley Conference champs with Wichita State heading into Arch Madness.
- Also hovering on the bubble is Seton Hall as they held off a late charge from DePaul for a Big East road win.
Plum breaks NCAA scoring mark as Washington beats Utah 84-77.
Associated Press
(Photo/Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Kelsey Plum surpassed Jackie Stiles to become the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader with a career-best 57 points in the final regular season game of her career, leading No. 11 Washington past Utah 84-77 on Saturday.
Plum hit 19 of 28 shots and was 13 of 16 at the free-throw line, surpassing Stiles’ mark of 3,393 points midway through the fourth quarter. Plum tied the mark with a hesitation drive and scoop over the outstretched arm of Utah center Emily Potter with 4:57 left in the game. After a Utah basket and a timeout, Plum hit a runner from just outside the lane with 4:06 remaining to move past Stiles on the all-time list. Plum now has 3,397 career points.
The expectation was Plum would likely break the record next week during the Pac-12 tournament. Instead she gave a memorable exclamation to her career at Washington, setting school and Pac-12 single game records as well. She fell three points shy of the NCAA single-game scoring record.
Plum checked out with 44 seconds remaining to a standing ovation from the home crowd as Washington (27-4, 15-3 Pac-12) closed the regular season with seven wins in its final eight games.
Plum gave herself a shot at setting the all-time mark with a big third quarter where she scored 16 points, giving her 38 for the game and needing another 16 in the fourth quarter to pass Stiles. She did more than that, taking over the entire scoring load after Chantel Osahor fouled out early in the fourth quarter. Plum scored 19 of Washington’s 22 points in the final quarter.
Plum was also helped by a tougher than expected effort from Utah. The Utes (16-13, 5-13 Pac-12) stayed close throughout, pulling within three early in the second half and staying close enough in the fourth quarter that Washington needed all of Plum’s points. Paige Crozon led Utah with 22 points and Tanaeya Boclair added 15.
Osahor added 14 points prior to fouling out and added 11 rebounds for her NCAA leading 26th double-double of the season.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: The Utes must wait for the final day of the regular season to see results of other games before knowing what its seed will be for the conference tournament.
Washington: The Huskies will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed for the upcoming Pac-12 tournament next week across town at KeyArena. Washington can only move up to the No. 2 seed if Stanford loses on Sunday at Oregon.
UP NEXT
Utah: The Utes will play on the first day of the Pac-12 tournament next Thursday.
Washington: The Huskies will have a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament and play in the quarterfinals next Friday.
NCAAFB: Friday Five: The best Heisman Trophy values in college football.
By Tom Fornelli
Heisman odds are already out, and these are the five players offering the best value right now.
Trying to figure out who is going to win the Heisman Trophy in February is a fool’s errand. Luckily for you, I’m just the fool to try.
It isn’t my fault, anyway. Earlier this week, Bovada released the odds for the 2017 Heisman Trophy , putting the idea into the global consciousness.
For real, though, I’m not actually going to try to guess who will win the Heisman next season. It’s nearly impossible. The only thing we know about the future Heisman winner in February is that the favorite rarely wins, and the player who won last year isn’t going to win. Right off the bat, that eliminates USC’s Sam Darnold (this year’s favorite) and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson.
OK, they’re gone.
So the next thing we must remember is that, when it comes to the Heisman, if you aren’t a quarterback or a running back, the odds are very much stacked against you. Now, having said that, we’ve seen in recent years a trend in which voters are more likely to consider wide receivers and defensive players. It’s possible that in the near future -- and possibly even in 2017 -- we’ll see a drastic change in how the Heisman is viewed by the voting populace (which, full disclosure, I am a member of). Until we see it in action, however, it doesn’t make sense to believe this will be the year.
Which means if you aren’t a running back or a quarterback, you aren’t going to be on this list. We’re looking for value here. Not so much “this guy will win” as much as “this guy could win, and that’s a nice payday if he does.”
So without further ado, here are the five best value plays for the 2017 Heisman Trophy if you were to place a wager.
5. Deondre Francois, QB, Florida State (14/1 odds): While we only consider quarterbacks and running backs when it comes to figuring out the Heisman, there are other things we need to keep in mind when looking for a value bet. First of all, there aren’t many Heisman winners who played on 6-6 teams. Being a good player on a winning team is a big boost because it keeps you in the spotlight as often as possible.
As the quarterback for Florida State, Francois will be playing in a lot of big games. In the regular season alone, the Noles will play Alabama, Miami, Louisville, Clemson and Florida. Those are spotlight games. Should Francois play well in them, and Florida State wins enough of them, you know he’s going to get Heisman hype. Plus there’s a precedent here, as Francois wouldn’t be the first Florida State quarterback to win a Heisman under Jimbo Fisher.
4. Trace McSorley, QB, Penn State (14/1): While Ohio State and Michigan will once again be the favorites in the Big Ten, as we saw last year, that doesn’t mean Penn State can’t win the conference. McSorley was a big reason why the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten last year and got to the Rose Bowl. Now he’ll enter the 2017 season with a lot more people aware of who he is, and if he has a repeat performance, he’s going to get that Heisman hype.
My biggest concern with McSorley is the fact he’s not the only Heisman possibility on his own offense. He’ll share the spotlight with running back Saquon Barkley, and that’s why I can’t put McSorley higher than fourth. As for why I put McSorley here instead of Barkley, it’s only because McSorley would pay off more, and quarterbacks win a lot more often than running backs these days. It has nothing to do with Barkley as a player because I loved Saquon Barkley before it was cool.
3. Josh Rosen QB, UCLA (14/1): I was actually hoping Rosen would receive longer odds than this, but at 14-to-1, I still like the value here. The hope was that coming off a down season in which he was hurt, people might forget the promise that Rosen showed during his freshman season, as well as his five-star pedigree. I also thought that with Sam Darnold on the other side of town, Rosen would be overlooked even more.
But, again, this is still excellent value.
If he’s healthy, Rosen is going to put up fantastic numbers. He’s going to be the focal point of UCLA’s offense, and he’s going to receive plenty of hype despite UCLA’s record simply because he’ll be touted as a possible No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. That being said, if UCLA wins some games and competes with USC in the Pac-12 South, that will help his case too. Can you imagine how great it will be if both USC and UCLA are atop the division when they meet at The Coliseum on Nov. 18? That game could crown your Heisman winner.
2. Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama (9/1): While the odds don’t offer as big a payday on Scarbrough as they do the quarterbacks I’ve listed so far, there’s still plenty of reasons to like him as a pick. First of all, last we saw Bo, he was playing great in both Alabama’s loss to Clemson in the title game as well as its win over Washington in the semis. Second, he plays for Alabama. Playing for Alabama is a great way to make sure people are paying attention to you, and if you’re playing well for Alabama, that’s even better.
Finally, recent history would suggest that the running back at Alabama has a good shot at winning the Heisman if he has a strong season.
The concern with Scarbrough is his health. After only playing in seven games in 2015, Scarbrough missed two games last season as well. When he was on the field, his touches were limited with the idea of making sure he could stay on the field.
If Alabama loosens the leash a bit in 2017, and he can stay on the field, Bo could be in for a monster season.
1. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma (13/2): It just makes too much sense to have Baker here. I wish the odds offered more value, but the truth is I think they’re really fair, and they could definitely pay off. I mean, Baker was a Heisman finalist last year, and that was while splitting the vote with his teammate Dede Westbrook. Westbrook is gone now, but Mayfield still has the pedigree, and will still be playing in an offense perfectly suited for his skills.
Over the last two seasons, Mayfield has thrown for 7,665 yards with 76 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions. He’s also been one of the most efficient passers in the country, finishing first nationally last season after finishing in third in 2015. And while he’s not somebody you’d consider to be a true dual-threat, he’s can run when he needs to and has scored an additional 13 touchdowns with his legs.
The biggest question mark I have with Mayfield -- assuming full health -- will be how good Oklahoma is, and how good the Big 12 is. Oklahoma was a really good team last year, but it was overlooked a bit due to some early season losses, and the Big 12 just being down in general. It’s a significant hurdle to overcome, but should Mayfield have another spectacular season, and Oklahoma be in line for a playoff berth, he’s going to be in New York for the Heisman ceremony again in December.
Honorable Mention: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State (12/1); Shane Buechele, QB, Texas (33/1); Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State (14/1)
Deontay Wilder stays perfect, adds to résumé with brutal fifth-round knockout.
By Steven Muehlhausen, Boxing
Deontay Wilder is now 38-0 with 37 knockouts in his professional career. (Photo/Getty)
In the lead-up to his fight against Gerald Washington, Deontay Wilder admitted he didn’t watch much of the challenger’s tape. For the first four rounds of the fight, you could tell he didn’t as Washington controlled almost every second of the tilt.
But in boxing, everything can change with one shot. Wilder proved the theory to be correct by coming back to knock out Washington at the 1:45 mark of the fifth round to retain the WBC heavyweight title in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions event in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 6-foot-6 Washington controlled the first four founds, stopping Wilder in his tracks and controlling the distance with a stiff jab. Wilder looked lost, confused and seemed to have no answer for the former USC football player. He did more circling around the ring and didn’t look like a heavyweight champion of the world.
Wilder had dug himself a hole that was going to be hard to get out of, but the Alabama native showed the heart of a champion.
The “Bronze Bomber” set Washington up by connecting on a soft left jab, then showed why he is the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division by landing a vicious overhand right followed by a left hook to drop the military veteran. Washington made the count of 10 but Wilder quickly seized on the momentum with a flurry of punches and the referee put a halt to the action.
During his post-fight interview, Wilder made it clear he would like to next face WBO champion Joseph Parker, who was in attendance, provided Parker wins his upcoming bout against Hughie Fury.
The victory runs Wilder’s professional record to 38-0, with 37 of those wins by knockout. Washington suffered the first loss of his career and is now 18-1-1.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Monday, February 27, 2017.
emoriesofhistory.com
1908 - Major league baseball adopted a sacrifice fly rule for the first time. It was repealed, reinstated and then changed several times before being permanently accepted in 1954.
1912 - The New York Yankees announced that they would be wearing pinstripes on their uniforms.
1963 - Mickey Mantle signed a contact worth $100,000 with the New York Yankees.
1973 - Dick Allen (Chicago White Sox) signed a contract worth $250,000 a year for three years.
1977 - Stan Mikita (Chicago Blackhawks) scored his 500th goal.
1987 - The NCAA cancelled SMU's (Southern Methodist University) entire 1987 football schedule for gross violations of NCAA rules on athletic corruption.
1996 - The Chicago Bulls reached 50 victories in 56 games to set an NBA record.
2001 - The New Jersey Devils began a streak of 10 consecutive road wins to tie the NHL record.
2002 - The Houston Astros announced that they had struck a deal with Enron to buy back the naming rights of their ballpark for $2.1 million. The ballpark would be called "Astros Field" until a new sponsor came along.
2003 - Emmitt Smith became a free agent for the first time when the Dallas Cowboys released him.
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