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"Sports Quote of the Day"
“The proactive approach to a mistake is to acknowledge it instantly, correct and learn from it.” ~ Stephen R. Covey, Educator, Author, Businessman and Keynote Speaker
TRENDING: Patrick Kane notches another hat trick as Blackhawks beat Penguins. (Wednesday night's game, 03/01/2017). (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: Ryan Pace and John Fox unlikely to place win-now mandate on Bears' draft plans. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: NBA Buzz: Bulls youth movement gaining momentum. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: The Decision: Cubs name Jon Lester team's Opening Day starter. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR: Full schedule for this weekend’s racing action at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
TRENDING: The Decision: Cubs name Jon Lester team's Opening Day starter. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR: Full schedule for this weekend’s racing action at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
TRENDING: Golf unveils a modern set of rules to make it easier to play. What's Your Take? (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: NCAABKB: Bracketology: Kansas leads final march to Selection Sunday. (See the NCAABKB section for collegiate basketball news, scores and tournament updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? New York Islanders Vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview, 03/03/2017.
TRENDING: NCAABKB: Bracketology: Kansas leads final march to Selection Sunday. (See the NCAABKB section for collegiate basketball news, scores and tournament updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? New York Islanders Vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview, 03/03/2017.
Winners and Whiners
New York Islanders (29-22-7) at Chicago Blackhawks (40-18-4)
When/Where: Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET, United Center
The Chicago Blackhawks probably wish the Stanley Cup playoffs started today as they are the hottest team in hockey and putting pressure on Minnesota for the Central Division lead and most points in the Western Conference. The Hawks welcome the Islanders for their lone visit to Chicago this season on Friday.
Islanders fighting for playoffs
When/Where: Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET, United Center
The Chicago Blackhawks probably wish the Stanley Cup playoffs started today as they are the hottest team in hockey and putting pressure on Minnesota for the Central Division lead and most points in the Western Conference. The Hawks welcome the Islanders for their lone visit to Chicago this season on Friday.
Islanders fighting for playoffs
New York needs every win it can get as the Islanders battle for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Isles have 68 points and as of Thursday are one spot behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold down the final playoff spot with 69 points. The Isles are also tied with Florida at 68, and the Panthers made a nice trade addition ahead of Wednesday’s deadline in Red Wings leading scorer Thomas Vanek. Thus I don’t expect the Islanders to make the playoffs. New York didn’t make any moves at the deadline. “We went down a couple avenues to see if there were hockey deals to be made but nothing really made sense,” general manager Garth Snow said. “We weren’t in the rental market because we like our guys better.” The Islanders looked at the likes of Avalanche center Matt Duchene and Lightning center Tyler Johnson.
The Isles will be playing the second of a back-to-back here as they visited Dallas on Thursday. New York is on a season-high nine-game road trip but it was broken up by the team’s bye week. The Isles hadn’t played before Thursday since losing 7-0 in Columbus on Feb. 25. Top prospect Joshua Ho-Sang has joined the Islanders in Dallas and was set to make his NHL debut. He had posted 10 goals and 36 points in 46 games with the AHL’s Sound Tigers. He was named the AHL rookie of the month for February.
Blackhawks likely without Anisimov
Chicago has 85 points, now just three behind Minnesota – although the Wild were one of the big winners ahead of the trade deadline. The Hawks did bring back former defenseman Johnny Oduya. He was acquired from the Dallas Stars for prospect Mark McNeil and a conditional fourth round draft pick. It’s Oduya’s second stint with the Blackhawks, as he was with them from 2011-12 to 2014-15. He won a pair of Stanley Cups with the ‘Hawks in 2013 and 2015. The 35-year-old one goal and six assists in 37 games this season. He’s been averaging 18:10 of ice time with the Stars.
Oduya should debut here as he wasn’t able to get to the team in time to play Wednesday as the Hawks beat Pittsburgh 4-1 in a potential Stanley Cup Finals preview – I previewed the Hawks-Pens game and recommended Chicago. Patrick Kane had his second hat trick in three games, and Scott Darling made 36 saves in the Hawks’ fifth straight victory and 10th in 11 games. It was Darling’s second consecutive start because Corey Crawford has been out with the flu. Kane, last season’s MVP, has a team-leading 27 goals — scoring 12 times and adding seven assists in his last 11 games. He’s now right in the scoring race again. Rookie Nick Schmaltz had two assists vs. the Pens. He is riding a five-game point streak and he has 12 points in his last nine outings. It wasn’t all good news Wednesday as second-line center Artem Anisimov left with a lower-body injury. The ‘Hawks didn’t provide many details on his status after the game, but head coach Joel Quenneville said he expects Anisimov to “miss some time”. He’s having a great season with 22 goals and 21 assists.
Trends
Trends
NY Islanders:
- Islanders are 2-5 in their last 7 games playing on 0 days rest.
- Islanders are 2-5 in their last 7 Friday games.
- Islanders are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Chicago:
- Blackhawks are 10-1 in their last 11 overall.
- Blackhawks are 17-5 in their last 22 games playing on 1 days rest.
Chicago visited Brooklyn on Dec. 15 and beat the Islanders 5-4. Richard Panik scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:13 left in the third period. Darling made 28 saves as the Blackhawks rallied from an early 2-0 deficit. Artemi Panarin scored twice on the power play for the Blackhawks. New York went 0 for 2 on the power play while Chicago was 3 for 3. The Isles are 0-4 in the past four meetings.
The Pick: Blackhawks
Patrick Kane notches another hat trick as Blackhawks beat Penguins. (Wednesday night's game, 03/01/2017).
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
If you've watched the Blackhawks for any amount of time the last few seasons you've recognized their love of two things: the four-line rotation (well, that's any team, really) and their love of versatile players who they can plug in various spots. On Wednesday night the latter part of that equation loomed large.
Patrick Kane scored his second hat trick in his last three games and Scott Darling stopped 36 of 37 shots as the Blackhawks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 on Wednesday night. The Blackhawks have now won 10 of their last 11 games and are three points behind the Minnesota Wild, who were idle tonight.
Richard Panik scored his 17th goal of the season on a memorable move around Evgeni Malkin. Kane completed his hat trick with a no-look backhand into the empty net with 41 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Blackhawks suffered another injury, however, as Artem Anisimov left early in the second period with a lower-body injury. Coach Joel Quenneville said Anisimov could miss some time – "a little bit of time, not a lot of time." Asked if that meant Anisimov was out a week or two, Quenneville said he and the team would know more on Thursday.
And that brings us back to the versatility, which in particular served Nick Schmaltz very well on Wednesday. When Anisimov left Schmaltz took over the second-line center spot and didn't miss a beat. From his takeaway that led to Kane's first goal to his pass that led to Kane's second, Schmaltz took advantage of the opportunity. Quenneville said Schmaltz could end up in that spot if Anisimov misses some time.
"He gives us some options but tonight fitting in that hole where Arty was, we didn't know it was going to be like that but I like how he took advantage of it," Quenneville said.
Meanwhile, Darling, who played to give an ailing Corey Crawford another day to rest, was outstanding. The Blackhawks scored twice in the third but were outshot 13-6, and Darling denied the Penguins on every chance. Only Scott Wilson's slick, lifted backhand eluded him; officials needed replay to show Wilson, indeed, scored. Darling's biggest stop came on Matt Cullen, who was denied after taking a great pass from Sidney Crosby.
"It was a great play by them. It's more reflexes and just kind of being a goalie," Darling said. "[You're] just trying to get in the right position as quickly as you can. Lucky I got a glove on it."
Very little about the Blackhawks' game lately has been about luck. They're back to playing their team game, back to getting that great rotation, back to utilizing guys in must-need situations.
"We were trying all season to figure out the lines and manage it. Now we've found it," Panik said. "It's been really good for the team."
Nick Schmaltz 'playing to full capability' a key reason why Blackhawks' four-line rotation is rolling.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When the Blackhawks sent Nick Schmaltz down to the American Hockey League on Dec. 4, the goal was to get him acclimated to playing more of the two-way style of hockey Joel Quenneville preaches, and to balance his passing instincts with his shooting ability.
He was there for a little over a month, and just that brief stint has reaped benefits for the Blackhawks' first-round pick in 2014.
After scoring only one goal and three assists in his first 26 games, Schmaltz has five goals and eight assists in the 18 games since he returned to the NHL on Jan. 14, and is a large reason why the Blackhawks' four-line rotation has been clicking over the past month.
"Whatever he did when he went down to Rockford is incredible," said Scott Darling, who stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 4-1 win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center on Wednesday night. "Came back with a whole new edge and a whole new intensity, and now you’re seeing the results. He’s playing to the full capability."
Schmaltz added a few more plays to his highlight reel on Wednesday, but he more-so earned brownie points and the trust of his head coach.
After Artem Anisimov went down with a lower-body injury early in the second period, Quenneville was forced to separate the top line that's been on fire, and moved Schmaltz to center on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane.
It was a smooth transition despite not having played there in a while, and it showed quickly.
The 21-year-old rookie hustled back in the neutral zone and stripped the puck away from Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, then fed Kane a quick pass who slipped one past Marc-Andre Fleury for the game's first goal.
"I thought I had a chance at catching him, I just wanted to put pressure on him," Schmaltz said. "I try to do that a lot where I just lift the stick, pull it back, then I saw Kaner there and he made a great shot five-hole."
The Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but the dagger came with just under four minutes to play when Schmaltz made a nifty little move before delivering a perfect backhand pass to Kane, who buried his second of three on the night.
"You don't want to break up that top line when they're playing so well, but wow, what a couple great plays Schmaltzy made on my first two goals," Kane said.
The win gave the Blackhawks their 10th in the last 11 games, and they've scored at least four goals in each of those victories. Schmaltz has played a big hand in that, on both ends of the ice.
"I thought he had a great game, moving back to center, something he hasn't done for us in a while," Quenneville said. "He fit in perfectly with those two guys. He really took advantage of the situation, and really helped our team and our team game with his play. I think the last four games he's really elevated his game to a different level. Big factor again tonight. Great to see. I like that."
The praise didn't stop there.
"I think that's the thing that you notice in his game," Quenneville continued, when asked about Schmaltz's improvements from earlier in the year. "Whether it's his defensive responsibility, backside pressure, stronger on the puck area, more pace to his game. His confidence with the puck and his playmaking ability is his strength. I saw a couple nice plays by him tonight, and it really gives us some options. Him fitting in that hole where (Anisimov) was, we didn't know it was going to be like that. But I liked how he took advantage of it."
With two more assists, Schmaltz extended his point streak to a season-high five games, where he's potted two goals and seven assists total. He's also registered at least a point in eight of his last nine games, and has 12 points during that span.
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said recently that Schmaltz's confidence has grown immensely, and that can be attributed to his stint in Rockford. That's all the time he needed.
"He knows he can play now at this level," Bowman said. "I don't think there's any question. He's not just trying to get by, he's trying to make a difference now."
He did again on Wednesday, and without him, the Blackhawks wouldn't be on this hot stretch.
"We’ve got everyone going right now," Schmaltz said. "Hopefully we can keep this rolling."
Blackhawks sign undrafted free agent forward Matthew Highmore to three-year deal.
He was there for a little over a month, and just that brief stint has reaped benefits for the Blackhawks' first-round pick in 2014.
After scoring only one goal and three assists in his first 26 games, Schmaltz has five goals and eight assists in the 18 games since he returned to the NHL on Jan. 14, and is a large reason why the Blackhawks' four-line rotation has been clicking over the past month.
"Whatever he did when he went down to Rockford is incredible," said Scott Darling, who stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 4-1 win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center on Wednesday night. "Came back with a whole new edge and a whole new intensity, and now you’re seeing the results. He’s playing to the full capability."
Schmaltz added a few more plays to his highlight reel on Wednesday, but he more-so earned brownie points and the trust of his head coach.
After Artem Anisimov went down with a lower-body injury early in the second period, Quenneville was forced to separate the top line that's been on fire, and moved Schmaltz to center on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane.
It was a smooth transition despite not having played there in a while, and it showed quickly.
The 21-year-old rookie hustled back in the neutral zone and stripped the puck away from Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, then fed Kane a quick pass who slipped one past Marc-Andre Fleury for the game's first goal.
"I thought I had a chance at catching him, I just wanted to put pressure on him," Schmaltz said. "I try to do that a lot where I just lift the stick, pull it back, then I saw Kaner there and he made a great shot five-hole."
The Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but the dagger came with just under four minutes to play when Schmaltz made a nifty little move before delivering a perfect backhand pass to Kane, who buried his second of three on the night.
"You don't want to break up that top line when they're playing so well, but wow, what a couple great plays Schmaltzy made on my first two goals," Kane said.
The win gave the Blackhawks their 10th in the last 11 games, and they've scored at least four goals in each of those victories. Schmaltz has played a big hand in that, on both ends of the ice.
"I thought he had a great game, moving back to center, something he hasn't done for us in a while," Quenneville said. "He fit in perfectly with those two guys. He really took advantage of the situation, and really helped our team and our team game with his play. I think the last four games he's really elevated his game to a different level. Big factor again tonight. Great to see. I like that."
The praise didn't stop there.
"I think that's the thing that you notice in his game," Quenneville continued, when asked about Schmaltz's improvements from earlier in the year. "Whether it's his defensive responsibility, backside pressure, stronger on the puck area, more pace to his game. His confidence with the puck and his playmaking ability is his strength. I saw a couple nice plays by him tonight, and it really gives us some options. Him fitting in that hole where (Anisimov) was, we didn't know it was going to be like that. But I liked how he took advantage of it."
With two more assists, Schmaltz extended his point streak to a season-high five games, where he's potted two goals and seven assists total. He's also registered at least a point in eight of his last nine games, and has 12 points during that span.
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said recently that Schmaltz's confidence has grown immensely, and that can be attributed to his stint in Rockford. That's all the time he needed.
"He knows he can play now at this level," Bowman said. "I don't think there's any question. He's not just trying to get by, he's trying to make a difference now."
He did again on Wednesday, and without him, the Blackhawks wouldn't be on this hot stretch.
"We’ve got everyone going right now," Schmaltz said. "Hopefully we can keep this rolling."
Blackhawks sign undrafted free agent forward Matthew Highmore to three-year deal.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks added to their organizational depth Thursday, announcing the signing of forward Matthew Highmore to a three-year contract.
The move comes just one day after the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League lost their three top scorers — Spencer Abbott, Sam Carrick and Mark McNeill — after they were dealt before Wednesday's trade deadline.
Highmore is a 21-year-old undrafted free agent, and is setting career highs in his fifth season with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.
He ranks second on the team with 32 goals, and seventh in the league with 82 points through 58 games so far this year. He also had nine goals and 11 assists in 17 playoff games a season ago.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward has amassed 88 goals and 152 assists in 283 career contests with the Sea Dogs, and has been teammates with Nathan Noel, the Blackhawks' fourth-round pick in 2016, for the past four seasons.
Highmore is a known to be a two-way player, and possesses offensive skills to make an impact on both ends of the ice.
The move comes just one day after the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League lost their three top scorers — Spencer Abbott, Sam Carrick and Mark McNeill — after they were dealt before Wednesday's trade deadline.
Highmore is a 21-year-old undrafted free agent, and is setting career highs in his fifth season with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.
He ranks second on the team with 32 goals, and seventh in the league with 82 points through 58 games so far this year. He also had nine goals and 11 assists in 17 playoff games a season ago.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward has amassed 88 goals and 152 assists in 283 career contests with the Sea Dogs, and has been teammates with Nathan Noel, the Blackhawks' fourth-round pick in 2016, for the past four seasons.
Highmore is a known to be a two-way player, and possesses offensive skills to make an impact on both ends of the ice.
Bear Down Chicago Bears !!!!! Ryan Pace and John Fox unlikely to place win-now mandate on Bears' draft plans.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
One of the most frequently asked questions of the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine — right after "Did Mitch Trubisky measure 6-foot-3?" and "Hey, what about Joe Mixon being barred?" — has been, "So is John Fox coaching for his job?"
Probably a pretty normal question given Fox heads a Bears team that has gone 9-23 in his first two seasons in Chicago.
Along with that would be an only slightly less acute question of whether general manager Ryan Pace is in a similar situation.
The answers are at once pretty simple and not so simple. One obvious is that coaches are coaching for their jobs just about every week of an NFL season, or at least that's how they truly do feel, the reasoning being that one bad season might not immediately cost them their job but that it takes up most of the slack in the rope that goes around their necks the day they're hired.
And the win-now pressure becomes potentially relevant for a team with the No. 3 pick in the draft and a lot of money to spend in free agency in a business where coaches typically think win-now and general managers think win-then, as well.
Meaning, what if any effect will job-related urgency have on the Bears' draft plans? Is the need to win now a potential tipping point in the Bears' decisions with that No. 3 pick?
Ostensibly, no. For two reasons:
One, Pace said as much: "We're looking to set this thing up for long-term success. You've got to be careful not for these quick fixes that sometimes won't work out." It’s what Pace might be expected to say, but there it is.
Two, signs of progress, whether in win total, player development or other measure, is what will keep Fox and Pace in their jobs. A three-win 2016 was a stunningly bad result, until factoring in three different starting quarterbacks, four different starting safeties and five different starting cornerbacks.
But it also sets a low starting bar. Winning, say, a very achievable seven games in 2017 will likely pass for "progress," particularly since that would presumably include a couple of good wins in there somewhere.
Looking at expectations from a high draft pick against that backdrop:
A quarterback at No. 3 does not usually project to make a major Year 1 impact. The Dallas Cowboys did go from four wins to 13 with rookie Dak Prescott, but the Philadelphia Eagles were 7-9 when they drafted Carson Wentz and 7-9 with him.
On the other hand, a defensive needle-mover (such as Alabama's Jonathan Allen, Texas A&M's Myles Garrett or Stanford's Solomon Thomas, all projected impact pass rushers) can. Leonard Floyd gave the Bears seven sacks in an injury-speckled year. Joey Bosa netted 9.5 sacks in a late-starting season with San Diego. Yannick Ngakoue totaled eight in Jacksonville. DeForest Buckner had six for San Francisco.
Of course, as with quarterbacks, "impact" is a very fluid, very loosely defined concept. Of the Chargers, Jaguars, Bears and 49ers, San Diego had the most wins with only five.
For reference purposes, Ted Thompson had only one winning season in his first four as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers. But his trend line was so clearly up — from 4-12 his first year (2005) to 8-8 to 13-3 before a dip to 6-10 and then on to 11-5, followed by a Super Bowl winning season — that his example doesn't necessarily provide a useful template for the Bears' situation.
Fox and Pace were as surprised as anyone by the second-year drop-off, from 6-10 to 3-13, even with the injuries and Alshon Jeffery's suspension. It marked the first time in 28 years of coaching that Fox had been part of two consecutive losing seasons.
But a draft pick made with an eye toward any must-win-now mindset appears less and less likely as those potential picks fire up for this week's Scouting Combine.
Probably a pretty normal question given Fox heads a Bears team that has gone 9-23 in his first two seasons in Chicago.
Along with that would be an only slightly less acute question of whether general manager Ryan Pace is in a similar situation.
The answers are at once pretty simple and not so simple. One obvious is that coaches are coaching for their jobs just about every week of an NFL season, or at least that's how they truly do feel, the reasoning being that one bad season might not immediately cost them their job but that it takes up most of the slack in the rope that goes around their necks the day they're hired.
And the win-now pressure becomes potentially relevant for a team with the No. 3 pick in the draft and a lot of money to spend in free agency in a business where coaches typically think win-now and general managers think win-then, as well.
Meaning, what if any effect will job-related urgency have on the Bears' draft plans? Is the need to win now a potential tipping point in the Bears' decisions with that No. 3 pick?
Ostensibly, no. For two reasons:
One, Pace said as much: "We're looking to set this thing up for long-term success. You've got to be careful not for these quick fixes that sometimes won't work out." It’s what Pace might be expected to say, but there it is.
Two, signs of progress, whether in win total, player development or other measure, is what will keep Fox and Pace in their jobs. A three-win 2016 was a stunningly bad result, until factoring in three different starting quarterbacks, four different starting safeties and five different starting cornerbacks.
But it also sets a low starting bar. Winning, say, a very achievable seven games in 2017 will likely pass for "progress," particularly since that would presumably include a couple of good wins in there somewhere.
Looking at expectations from a high draft pick against that backdrop:
A quarterback at No. 3 does not usually project to make a major Year 1 impact. The Dallas Cowboys did go from four wins to 13 with rookie Dak Prescott, but the Philadelphia Eagles were 7-9 when they drafted Carson Wentz and 7-9 with him.
On the other hand, a defensive needle-mover (such as Alabama's Jonathan Allen, Texas A&M's Myles Garrett or Stanford's Solomon Thomas, all projected impact pass rushers) can. Leonard Floyd gave the Bears seven sacks in an injury-speckled year. Joey Bosa netted 9.5 sacks in a late-starting season with San Diego. Yannick Ngakoue totaled eight in Jacksonville. DeForest Buckner had six for San Francisco.
Of course, as with quarterbacks, "impact" is a very fluid, very loosely defined concept. Of the Chargers, Jaguars, Bears and 49ers, San Diego had the most wins with only five.
For reference purposes, Ted Thompson had only one winning season in his first four as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers. But his trend line was so clearly up — from 4-12 his first year (2005) to 8-8 to 13-3 before a dip to 6-10 and then on to 11-5, followed by a Super Bowl winning season — that his example doesn't necessarily provide a useful template for the Bears' situation.
Fox and Pace were as surprised as anyone by the second-year drop-off, from 6-10 to 3-13, even with the injuries and Alshon Jeffery's suspension. It marked the first time in 28 years of coaching that Fox had been part of two consecutive losing seasons.
But a draft pick made with an eye toward any must-win-now mindset appears less and less likely as those potential picks fire up for this week's Scouting Combine.
A year after using franchise tag, Bears preparing for post-Alshon Jeffery scenarios.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
About this time last year, Bears general manager Ryan Pace was evincing optimism about progress toward a long-term deal with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. That eventually faded to black in the form of a franchise tag that secured Jeffery for the 2016 season at a cost of $14.6 million.
This year, no optimism, at least not yet. The Bears have not ruled out having Jeffery for a sixth NFL season, but...
...where last offseason was spent deciding upon the best scenario for retaining Jeffery, this offseason is involving scenarios in which Jeffery is not back.
"Our approach – starting with [player personnel director] Josh Lucas, [pro scouting director] Champ Kelly, our pro scouts – they've done a great job, and our free-agent board is stacked," Pace said on Wednesday at the outset of the NFL Scouting Combine. "There's options in free agency and in the draft, and we have to see how it'll play out. We'll know a lot more in the coming week; a little over a week from now I'll be able to answer questions a little more directly.
"We have plans in place for every one of these scenarios. I feel extremely prepared for this free-agency process that we're about to enter and it gives me confidence with all these different scenarios."
The Bears opted against a second franchise tag, one that would have committed the Bears to $17.5 million for a receiver who missed 11 full games over the past two seasons and portions of others with injuries in 2015. After a season that saw Jeffery total 52 catches and two touchdowns in 12 games, missing four with a suspension for a violation of the NFL's substance policies.
Jeffery was not worth what he thought he was last season, based on production vs. cost. While they were unwilling to let the open market factor into Jeffery's value last year, the Bears were not prepared to use the tag again, a move that would have effectively cost the Bears $32 million over two years and still had him head for free agency after 2017 with nothing to show for it.
"It was thought-out thoroughly, obviously," Pace said. "I think sometimes when you can't come to a common ground with a player and an agent, sometimes it's necessary to kind of test the market to determine that player's value, and that's really where we're at.
"He's a good player and we'll see how it plays out. But I think there are certain instances where testing the market is a necessary part of the process...We're constantly having dialogue with him and that'll continue like it has pretty much always."
Scenarios where Jay Cutler returns to Bears still in play: 'That's one of the options'.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Bears have nearly a dozen scenarios under study for addressing their quarterback situation in 2017 and beyond. An assumption has been that none of those include Jay Cutler.
Mmm, maybe...maybe not.
General manager Ryan Pace has talked candidly with Cutler's agent, Bus Cook, and has informed Cook and Cutler that efforts would be made to deal the veteran quarterback, according to various sources. But one reality is that Cutler is currently the only quarterback under an actual contract, and whether for negotiating purposes or whatever, the Bears have not ruled Cutler out for 2017.
"Yeah, that's one of the options, too," Pace confirmed on Wednesday at the outset of the NFL Scouting Combine. "At this point we pretty much have everything on the table. For us, to do it the responsible way, that's necessary."
Right now the Bears are perusing a fairly large "table," and even the Cutler option isn't a fully known commodity, given that he is still recovering from a torn labrum that ended his 2016 season.
Brian Hoyer is considered to have an inside track on the starting job by virtue of coaches thoroughly appreciating a quarterback who practices ball security. Hoyer has a career interception percentage of 2.2 and threw zero interceptions in 200 attempts last season before breaking his left arm in Green Bay.
In the process he earned perhaps the single most important, and glowing, endorsement outside of the front office.
"Brian's unique in that he makes very quick decisions," said coach John Fox. "He's very smart, been in a lot of different systems. He's been on the field a lot in the NFL. I thought he did a good job. He didn't have an interception on the season, which for the number of passes he threw, I think probably ranked No. 1."
After Cutler's promising 2015 season working under Adam Gase, Fox praised Cutler as one of the main surprises in his first year as Bears coach. The specifics of Fox's praise of Hoyer offer a tip as to his thinking now – defense-based coaches commonly want to adopt ball-security quarterbacks – but he did not speak of Cutler solely in the past tense.
After two years of Cutler, "I think the perception in the building may be a little different than outside from what I've gathered," Fox said. "But I think he's very smart; he's a very tough competitor. I think he's had to deal with some injuries; unfortunately, they're part of football. But he's bounced back quickly from all the ones we've experienced in the last two years. But I think the competitive nature of Jay, I've been very impressed with."
For Bears, interior OL a good strength to build on for 2017.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
A team coming off a 3-13 season doesn't usually speak of "strengths," if for no other reason than they usually didn't have many, or any at all. The Bears don't entirely see things that way.
A Bears team ostensibly committed to running the football tied for fourth in rushing average (4.6 yards per carry), and rookie tailback Jordan Howard wasn't the only "strength" behind that success, general manager Ryan Pace assessed Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"I feel good about what we've done with our offensive line," Pace said. "You look at the interior offensive line [guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, and center Cody Whitehair] that we have, you know, I think it's set to be one of the better interior groups in the league.
"Of course there are more pieces we need to add, that's important. I think you can see the value of building a strong offensive line and what it does for the quarterback. In Dallas you have a great example of that."
On the surface, the Dallas example is enticing — the Cowboys went from 4-12 in 2015 to 13-3 in 2016 with the constant being an offensive line regarded as one of the best in the NFL. Four of the Cowboys' five regular starters in 2015 returned in 2016, with left guard La'el Collins the only departure (he suffered a season-ending toe injury in Week 3 against the Bears).
First-round running back Ezekiel Elliott was a revelation and, coupled with that offensive line, allowed a soft landing for fourth round quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott took full advantage of that opportunity, throwing for 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions (in what's been discussed as the best rookie year for a quarterback in NFL history) while pushing the Cowboys to a 13-3 season.
But as tantalizing as the 2016 Cowboys are, there's a flip side: The 2015 Cowboys still lost 12 games with the same offensive line. So what does that mean for the 2017 Bears?
The running game and offensive line strength is a good start, but it doesn't necessarily mean Pace will over-aggressively pursue free agents to add to the offense with decisions needed at quarterback (Pace described Jay Cutler's status as "fluid") and wide receiver (with Alshon Jeffery set to hit free agency).
The larger strategy Pace hinted at in Indianapolis, then, is to mix in some veterans through free agency (the Bears do have loads of cap space, after all) but continue to focus on building through young talent. And, to go back to the Dallas example, it's worth noting the two most important pieces the Cowboys added in 2016 were through the draft.
"There is a delicate balance between being aggressive and being decisive, but being responsible," Pace said. "I think you can always recover from the player you didn't sign; you can't recover from the player that you signed at the wrong price. I think we've got to be conscious of that."
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Bulls streak continues with improbable win over Warriors.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The hair-pulling, hair-raising and asylum-inducing attributes of the Chicago Bulls were on full display and because it was a Thursday night home game, victory was all but assured.
It doesn't matter if it's the Golden State Warriors, as the best two shooters in the NBA are no match for a comical and foolish streak that seemed destined to end.
The bounces went the Bulls' way as the Warriors couldn't hit much of anything for most of the night, particularly late in the 94-87 Bulls' decision at the United Center.
The Thursday night home streak extends to 18 games and in more practical matters, the Bulls pull back to a game over .500 while the Warriors stumbled to their 11th loss of the season — their first two-game losing streak since the 2014-15 season.
And it was to these rag-tag Chicago Bulls, who did without the heroics of Jimmy Butler, although he scored 22 with six assists and five rebounds in a solid but understated performance.
Bobby Portis took his time in the spotlight with his most impactful game as a pro, scoring 17 with 13 rebounds, going head-up with Draymond Green (12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) and helping the Bulls control the glass where there were plenty of misses to be had as neither team shot 44 percent from the field.
Dwyane Wade's fade-a-way followed by Paul Zipser's buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave the Bulls a six-point lead with under two minutes left — a lead that usually evaporates against this explosive team but proved to be too mountainous for the Warriors to overcome.
And stumbled mightily the Warriors did, as Stephen Curry went 10 of 27 and backcourt mate Klay Thompson went five of 22. Combined from three, they shot three of 22 — and the Bulls weren't much better overall, going five of 19.
Yes, the Warriors were without Kevin Durant and looked like a team battling a malaise and general boredom, with Curry and Thompson having the worst luck on the most open jumpers.
Even though no Bull was in the same zip code, shots often went in and out and kept the Bulls in the game. All in all, the Warriors shot six for 30, continuing their shooting slump since starting their eastern swing.
But the Bulls will make no apologies for the Warrior woes, as the third quarter was one of the best in recent memory considering the competition, as the Bulls moved the ball around in a dizzying, Warriors-like manner, scoring 32 points.
Rajon Rondo again pushed the pace for stretches, helping put Curry in foul trouble and giving the Bulls a six-point lead in the third quarter with more aggressive play. It helped negate a early showing where the Bulls could barely hold onto the ball with seven first-quarter turnovers — and it looked like it was only a matter of time before the Warriors found themselves and sent the Bulls on their merry way.
But it didn't happen, as the Bulls proved yet again that they are a Thursday night outfit not to be trifled with.
Now, to those other six days of the week…
It doesn't matter if it's the Golden State Warriors, as the best two shooters in the NBA are no match for a comical and foolish streak that seemed destined to end.
The bounces went the Bulls' way as the Warriors couldn't hit much of anything for most of the night, particularly late in the 94-87 Bulls' decision at the United Center.
The Thursday night home streak extends to 18 games and in more practical matters, the Bulls pull back to a game over .500 while the Warriors stumbled to their 11th loss of the season — their first two-game losing streak since the 2014-15 season.
And it was to these rag-tag Chicago Bulls, who did without the heroics of Jimmy Butler, although he scored 22 with six assists and five rebounds in a solid but understated performance.
Bobby Portis took his time in the spotlight with his most impactful game as a pro, scoring 17 with 13 rebounds, going head-up with Draymond Green (12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) and helping the Bulls control the glass where there were plenty of misses to be had as neither team shot 44 percent from the field.
Dwyane Wade's fade-a-way followed by Paul Zipser's buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave the Bulls a six-point lead with under two minutes left — a lead that usually evaporates against this explosive team but proved to be too mountainous for the Warriors to overcome.
And stumbled mightily the Warriors did, as Stephen Curry went 10 of 27 and backcourt mate Klay Thompson went five of 22. Combined from three, they shot three of 22 — and the Bulls weren't much better overall, going five of 19.
Yes, the Warriors were without Kevin Durant and looked like a team battling a malaise and general boredom, with Curry and Thompson having the worst luck on the most open jumpers.
Even though no Bull was in the same zip code, shots often went in and out and kept the Bulls in the game. All in all, the Warriors shot six for 30, continuing their shooting slump since starting their eastern swing.
But the Bulls will make no apologies for the Warrior woes, as the third quarter was one of the best in recent memory considering the competition, as the Bulls moved the ball around in a dizzying, Warriors-like manner, scoring 32 points.
Rajon Rondo again pushed the pace for stretches, helping put Curry in foul trouble and giving the Bulls a six-point lead in the third quarter with more aggressive play. It helped negate a early showing where the Bulls could barely hold onto the ball with seven first-quarter turnovers — and it looked like it was only a matter of time before the Warriors found themselves and sent the Bulls on their merry way.
But it didn't happen, as the Bulls proved yet again that they are a Thursday night outfit not to be trifled with.
Now, to those other six days of the week…
NBA Buzz: Bulls youth movement gaining momentum.
By Mark Schanowski
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Let's be honest. How many of you thought the Bulls' trade with Oklahoma City last week meant they were destined to miss the playoffs for a second straight season?
Okay, there's still a month and a half left in the regular season, but the Bulls are currently in seventh place in the East, holding a three-game cushion for the final playoff spot. Dwyane Wade is looking strong after a two week mid-season break, and Jimmy Butler remains among the league's 12-15 best players.
Still, the Bulls' playoff fate will probably be decided by the performance of the young players on the roster. Ten of the current 15 players are 26 or younger, and many of them will be called on to play key roles down the stretch.
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson told reporters last Thursday the trade with Oklahoma City was made in part to free up consistent playing time for the team's last two No. 1 draft picks, Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine. Portis is now the starting power forward, replacing Taj Gibson, while Valentine has taken over the 3-point shooting role off the bench previously held by Doug McDermott.
The early returns are encouraging. Valentine is playing with more confidence now that he's stopped looking over his shoulder waiting to be subbed out. Don't forget, Valentine won several national College Player of the Year awards last season at Michigan State, showing outstanding court vision, as well as versatile scoring ability. For now, the Bulls are asking him to provide some outside shooting, and he's done exactly that, hitting nine of 18 shots from beyond the arc since the trade. At 6-6, Valentine has the versatility to play all three perimeter spots, and you can expect he'll be given more responsibility to initiate the offense as his NBA career continues.
Similar story for Portis, who showed some potential in his rookie season but struggled through a long stretch of DNP-CD's in Year 2. Portis is a much different player than Gibson, with better range on his jump shot. The former Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Arkansas is shooting almost 38 percent from the 3-point line, and has been more aggressive inside since returning to the starting rotation, including a nine rebound game against the Celtics just before the All-Star break.
Portis' outside shooting ability gives the Bulls’ starting lineup a different look, providing another outlet for Butler and Wade when they drive to the basket. In today's NBA, every team is looking for a stretch four, and at 6-11, Portis has the skill set to be part of the future as the Bulls try to build a contending team around, or should I say, WITH Butler.
As for the other young guys, Cameron Payne was the headliner in last week's deal with OKC, telling reporters he thought he was going to be drafted by the Bulls back in 2015. Instead, he was taken by the Thunder with the last pick of the lottery, 14th overall, to serve as Russell Westbrook’s backup. The Bulls also saw Jerian Grant go off the board before their turn at 22, eventually selecting Portis in somewhat of a surprise pick.
Now, both Payne and Grant are on the roster, and the challenge for Fred Hoiberg will be finding playing time for all his point guards, with Rajon Rondo still directing the offense with the second unit. Payne figures to get his turn to play with the first team at some point, with Grant possibly moving off the ball to play with Rondo in that reserve group. Grant is coming off a strong month of February, shooting almost 50 percent from the field, and over 40 percent from 3-point land.
The Bulls' front office also wants to get a good look at frontcourt players Cris Felicio, Paul Zipser and Joffrey Lauvergne down the stretch. Felicio has been an excellent addition as an athletic backup center, who can run the court and provide game-changing plays at the rim. Zipser has been solid when given extended playing time, while the front office is intrigued by the 6-11 Lauvergne's potential as another stretch four option.
And, let's not forget about 26-year-old Nikola Mirotic, who came out of his trade deadline reprieve with high scoring games against the Suns and Cavs. Mirotic will be a restricted free agent at season's end, and the Bulls have to decide if he's worth re-signing at major dollars this summer.
Bottom line, the Bulls have already turned over the roster from the Rose-Noah era about as quickly as anyone could have imagined. By the end of this season, the front office should have a better read on which players they want to keep going forward.
AROUND THE ASSOCIATON
Thursday's Bulls' opponent, the Golden State Warriors avoided a major disaster Tuesday night, when Kevin Durant's left knee got bent inwards at an awkward angle after a collision with teammate Zaza Pachulia early in their game against the Wizards. The coaches and front office were bracing for the worst, but an MRI revealed a sprained MCL and a bone bruise, NOT an ACL tear that would have ended Durant's season. The high-scoring forward will be re-evaluated in four weeks, and he should be close to full strength by the time the playoffs roll around in late April.
Still, the Warriors aren't taking any chances. They're planning to sign long-time agitator Matt Barnes for the stretch run. Barnes was bought out of his deal in Sacramento after the DeMarcus Cousins' trade, but at age 36 he still has value as a three and defensive perimeter guy. The addition of Barnes also gives Steve Kerr another player to run at LeBron James in the expected Finals re-match, along with Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.
More bad injury news for long-time Bulls' emotional leader Joakim Noah. Noah had arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his troublesome left knee and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, most likely missing the rest of the season. The 32-year-old Noah had been averaging five points and 8.8 rebounds for the Knicks this season after signing a four year, $72 dollar free agent deal with Phil Jackson's team this past summer.
That contract had been widely criticized by league observers at the time, citing Noah's string of injuries that greatly reduced his effectiveness. Now, it looks like one of the worst free agent signings in NBA history, giving huge dollars to a players whose game is based on hustle plays he's no longer capable of making.
Noah was one of the most popular Bulls' players of the last two decades because of his all-out effort, personality, and dedicated community involvement. Hopefully, he'll be able to come back and play the game he loves at a meaningful level in the future.
Speaking of injuries, last year's Eastern Conference Finalists, the Toronto Raptors, will have to get along without All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry for at least the month of March following surgery on his right wrist. The hope is Lowry will return for the playoffs, but his absence could cost Toronto a chance to move out of the No. 4 seed in the East, which brings a possible second round series against Cleveland.
Raptors' GM Masai Ujiri had just made aggressive trades to add defensive specialists Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker for a possible rematch against the Cavs, and it looked like Toronto might have the right personnel to give Lebron's team a real battle. Now, with Lowry trying to get his shot back following surgery, the Raptors might have to worry about getting out of the first round, especially if they play the Bulls, who've beaten them 11 straight times.
It's not like Cleveland is standing still either. Cavs' GM David Griffin finally answered de facto GM James' demands for more playmakers, adding Deron and Derrick Williams to the roster, along with veteran rim protector Andrew Bogut.
At 32 years old, Deron Williams is still a productive player, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.9 assists in just over 29 minutes a game this season in Dallas. He'll provide the reliable back-up point guard the Cavs have been lacking since Matthew Dellavedova signed with Milwaukee as a free agent last summer.
No one's ever questioned the athleticism of Derrick Williams, who was the second player selected in the 2011 draft behind now teammate Kyrie Irving. The 25-year-old Williams has bounced around the league in recent years, but he had a decent season with the Knicks in 2015-16 and is capable of giving an older Cavs' second unit some bounce with his ability to attack the offensive glass.
Hard to project where Bogut might fit in a Finals' matchup against Golden State, especially since the Warriors love to go with small ball line-ups featuring Draymond Green or Kevin Durant at center. But you never know if the Cavs will be able to utilize Bogut's defensive skills against Detroit's Andre Drummond, Washington's Marcin Gortat or Toronto's inside duo of Jonas Valanciunas and Ibaka in a playoff series. James now has every roster addition he asked for in pursuit of NBA title number four.
Another setback for "the process" in Philadelphia. Just days after finding out 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons won't play this season because of a slow-healing foot fracture, the Sixers announced 2014 first round pick (No. 3 overall) Joel Embiid won't play again this season because of a partially torn knee ligament that seems to be getting worse.
Embiid's emergence after two lost seasons because of foot injuries had been one of the league's best stories. Now, the Sixers have to wonder if he'll ever be healthy enough to be the centerpiece of the team's much publicized rebuild.
On paper, the Sixers' young big man inventory of Embiid, Simmons, Chicago native Jahlil Okafor and European import Dario Saric looks impressive. But until all of those players can find a way to stay healthy for an entire regular season, the long wait for Philly fans to watch a contending team again will continue.
STAT OF THE WEEK
When the Bulls have played well this season, they've been capable of putting up impressive margins of victory. Matter of fact, they've had five wins already by 25 points or more.
Okay, there's still a month and a half left in the regular season, but the Bulls are currently in seventh place in the East, holding a three-game cushion for the final playoff spot. Dwyane Wade is looking strong after a two week mid-season break, and Jimmy Butler remains among the league's 12-15 best players.
Still, the Bulls' playoff fate will probably be decided by the performance of the young players on the roster. Ten of the current 15 players are 26 or younger, and many of them will be called on to play key roles down the stretch.
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson told reporters last Thursday the trade with Oklahoma City was made in part to free up consistent playing time for the team's last two No. 1 draft picks, Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine. Portis is now the starting power forward, replacing Taj Gibson, while Valentine has taken over the 3-point shooting role off the bench previously held by Doug McDermott.
The early returns are encouraging. Valentine is playing with more confidence now that he's stopped looking over his shoulder waiting to be subbed out. Don't forget, Valentine won several national College Player of the Year awards last season at Michigan State, showing outstanding court vision, as well as versatile scoring ability. For now, the Bulls are asking him to provide some outside shooting, and he's done exactly that, hitting nine of 18 shots from beyond the arc since the trade. At 6-6, Valentine has the versatility to play all three perimeter spots, and you can expect he'll be given more responsibility to initiate the offense as his NBA career continues.
Similar story for Portis, who showed some potential in his rookie season but struggled through a long stretch of DNP-CD's in Year 2. Portis is a much different player than Gibson, with better range on his jump shot. The former Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Arkansas is shooting almost 38 percent from the 3-point line, and has been more aggressive inside since returning to the starting rotation, including a nine rebound game against the Celtics just before the All-Star break.
Portis' outside shooting ability gives the Bulls’ starting lineup a different look, providing another outlet for Butler and Wade when they drive to the basket. In today's NBA, every team is looking for a stretch four, and at 6-11, Portis has the skill set to be part of the future as the Bulls try to build a contending team around, or should I say, WITH Butler.
As for the other young guys, Cameron Payne was the headliner in last week's deal with OKC, telling reporters he thought he was going to be drafted by the Bulls back in 2015. Instead, he was taken by the Thunder with the last pick of the lottery, 14th overall, to serve as Russell Westbrook’s backup. The Bulls also saw Jerian Grant go off the board before their turn at 22, eventually selecting Portis in somewhat of a surprise pick.
Now, both Payne and Grant are on the roster, and the challenge for Fred Hoiberg will be finding playing time for all his point guards, with Rajon Rondo still directing the offense with the second unit. Payne figures to get his turn to play with the first team at some point, with Grant possibly moving off the ball to play with Rondo in that reserve group. Grant is coming off a strong month of February, shooting almost 50 percent from the field, and over 40 percent from 3-point land.
The Bulls' front office also wants to get a good look at frontcourt players Cris Felicio, Paul Zipser and Joffrey Lauvergne down the stretch. Felicio has been an excellent addition as an athletic backup center, who can run the court and provide game-changing plays at the rim. Zipser has been solid when given extended playing time, while the front office is intrigued by the 6-11 Lauvergne's potential as another stretch four option.
And, let's not forget about 26-year-old Nikola Mirotic, who came out of his trade deadline reprieve with high scoring games against the Suns and Cavs. Mirotic will be a restricted free agent at season's end, and the Bulls have to decide if he's worth re-signing at major dollars this summer.
Bottom line, the Bulls have already turned over the roster from the Rose-Noah era about as quickly as anyone could have imagined. By the end of this season, the front office should have a better read on which players they want to keep going forward.
AROUND THE ASSOCIATON
Thursday's Bulls' opponent, the Golden State Warriors avoided a major disaster Tuesday night, when Kevin Durant's left knee got bent inwards at an awkward angle after a collision with teammate Zaza Pachulia early in their game against the Wizards. The coaches and front office were bracing for the worst, but an MRI revealed a sprained MCL and a bone bruise, NOT an ACL tear that would have ended Durant's season. The high-scoring forward will be re-evaluated in four weeks, and he should be close to full strength by the time the playoffs roll around in late April.
Still, the Warriors aren't taking any chances. They're planning to sign long-time agitator Matt Barnes for the stretch run. Barnes was bought out of his deal in Sacramento after the DeMarcus Cousins' trade, but at age 36 he still has value as a three and defensive perimeter guy. The addition of Barnes also gives Steve Kerr another player to run at LeBron James in the expected Finals re-match, along with Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.
More bad injury news for long-time Bulls' emotional leader Joakim Noah. Noah had arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his troublesome left knee and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, most likely missing the rest of the season. The 32-year-old Noah had been averaging five points and 8.8 rebounds for the Knicks this season after signing a four year, $72 dollar free agent deal with Phil Jackson's team this past summer.
That contract had been widely criticized by league observers at the time, citing Noah's string of injuries that greatly reduced his effectiveness. Now, it looks like one of the worst free agent signings in NBA history, giving huge dollars to a players whose game is based on hustle plays he's no longer capable of making.
Noah was one of the most popular Bulls' players of the last two decades because of his all-out effort, personality, and dedicated community involvement. Hopefully, he'll be able to come back and play the game he loves at a meaningful level in the future.
Speaking of injuries, last year's Eastern Conference Finalists, the Toronto Raptors, will have to get along without All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry for at least the month of March following surgery on his right wrist. The hope is Lowry will return for the playoffs, but his absence could cost Toronto a chance to move out of the No. 4 seed in the East, which brings a possible second round series against Cleveland.
Raptors' GM Masai Ujiri had just made aggressive trades to add defensive specialists Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker for a possible rematch against the Cavs, and it looked like Toronto might have the right personnel to give Lebron's team a real battle. Now, with Lowry trying to get his shot back following surgery, the Raptors might have to worry about getting out of the first round, especially if they play the Bulls, who've beaten them 11 straight times.
It's not like Cleveland is standing still either. Cavs' GM David Griffin finally answered de facto GM James' demands for more playmakers, adding Deron and Derrick Williams to the roster, along with veteran rim protector Andrew Bogut.
At 32 years old, Deron Williams is still a productive player, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.9 assists in just over 29 minutes a game this season in Dallas. He'll provide the reliable back-up point guard the Cavs have been lacking since Matthew Dellavedova signed with Milwaukee as a free agent last summer.
No one's ever questioned the athleticism of Derrick Williams, who was the second player selected in the 2011 draft behind now teammate Kyrie Irving. The 25-year-old Williams has bounced around the league in recent years, but he had a decent season with the Knicks in 2015-16 and is capable of giving an older Cavs' second unit some bounce with his ability to attack the offensive glass.
Hard to project where Bogut might fit in a Finals' matchup against Golden State, especially since the Warriors love to go with small ball line-ups featuring Draymond Green or Kevin Durant at center. But you never know if the Cavs will be able to utilize Bogut's defensive skills against Detroit's Andre Drummond, Washington's Marcin Gortat or Toronto's inside duo of Jonas Valanciunas and Ibaka in a playoff series. James now has every roster addition he asked for in pursuit of NBA title number four.
Another setback for "the process" in Philadelphia. Just days after finding out 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons won't play this season because of a slow-healing foot fracture, the Sixers announced 2014 first round pick (No. 3 overall) Joel Embiid won't play again this season because of a partially torn knee ligament that seems to be getting worse.
Embiid's emergence after two lost seasons because of foot injuries had been one of the league's best stories. Now, the Sixers have to wonder if he'll ever be healthy enough to be the centerpiece of the team's much publicized rebuild.
On paper, the Sixers' young big man inventory of Embiid, Simmons, Chicago native Jahlil Okafor and European import Dario Saric looks impressive. But until all of those players can find a way to stay healthy for an entire regular season, the long wait for Philly fans to watch a contending team again will continue.
STAT OF THE WEEK
When the Bulls have played well this season, they've been capable of putting up impressive margins of victory. Matter of fact, they've had five wins already by 25 points or more.
Most 25-plus point wins through first 50 games of a season in Bulls history (courtesy of CSN stats guru Chris Kamka).
| 25-plus point wins | Date |
| 8 | 1971-72 |
| 5 | 2016-17 (5 of 30 wins have been by 25+ points) |
| 5 | 2006-07 |
| 5 | 1996-97 |
| 5 | 1990-91 |
Those five wins:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Diff |
| Oct. 31 | at Brooklyn | 112-88 | 30 |
| Nov. 7 | vs. Orlando | 112-80 | 32 |
| Nov. 15 | at Portland | 113-88 | 25 |
| Dec. 19 | vs. Detroit | 113-82 | 31 |
| Feb. 1 | at Oklahoma City | 128-100 | 28 |
And finally this from beleaguered Kings’ GM Vlade Divac following his heavily criticized DeMarcus Cousins trade with New Orleans.
"That's my job, and I take responsibility," Divac said. "And I totally understand why some fans would be upset. They supported DeMarcus, and I like DeMarcus a lot. But I believe we will be in a better position in two years. I want to hear again from these same people in two years. If I'm right, great. If I'm wrong, I'll step down. But if I go down, I'm going down my way."
Divac's poor personnel decisions have most likely cost the Bulls that future first round draft pick they were supposed to get from the 2014 Luol Deng trade. So, I'm guessing putting a timetable on his own future isn't a very smart decision.
Just ask former Lakers' executive Jim Buss, who wound up being fired by his own sister for not living up to his stated timeline to get the team back in contention.
"That's my job, and I take responsibility," Divac said. "And I totally understand why some fans would be upset. They supported DeMarcus, and I like DeMarcus a lot. But I believe we will be in a better position in two years. I want to hear again from these same people in two years. If I'm right, great. If I'm wrong, I'll step down. But if I go down, I'm going down my way."
Divac's poor personnel decisions have most likely cost the Bulls that future first round draft pick they were supposed to get from the 2014 Luol Deng trade. So, I'm guessing putting a timetable on his own future isn't a very smart decision.
Just ask former Lakers' executive Jim Buss, who wound up being fired by his own sister for not living up to his stated timeline to get the team back in contention.
CUBS: The Decision: Cubs name Jon Lester team's Opening Day starter.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Jon Lester — a transformative figure as the Cubs shed their Lovable Loser label and finally became World Series champions — will be the Opening Day starter against Dexter Fowler and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
As expected, Cubs manager Joe Maddon met with Lester on Thursday morning and told the lefty he would get the April 2 assignment on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball," setting up Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta for Game 2 in St. Louis.
Lester is clearly the most accomplished pitcher in camp, as a three-time World Series champ, four-time All Star and finalist for last year's National League Cy Young Award. The Cubs chose Lester to start Game 1 in all three playoff rounds last October, knowing his reputation as one of the best playoff performers of his generation.
"He definitely earned it and deserves it," Maddon said before a Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. "And then I also talked to Jake about being the No. 2 guy. Jake obviously understood why we went with Jon first."
There is some symbolism to being an Opening Day starter, as well as the $155 million investment the Ricketts family and Theo Epstein's front office made after a last-place finish in 2014, giving Lester the biggest contract in franchise history at the time and showing people the Cubs would be serious about winning.
"To be honest with you, I didn't really care about other people when I made that decision," Lester said. "I wanted to make the decision for me and my family and make sure it was the right one.
"Secondly, I made the decision to win, and we did that. I was happy with the decision from the day I signed the contract. I didn't want to look back. I didn't want to second-guess myself. It's easy now to say: 'Well, yeah, I made a great decision, because we won.'
"But even if we hadn't won to this point, I still feel like I made the right decision, with these people and this organization. The way the ownership and Theo on down treat us as players — and the way they treat our families — is second to none.
"I am beyond thrilled and happy that we did make that decision to come here, regardless."
After feeling slighted by an initial lowball offer from the Boston Red Sox — the team that drafted, developed and traded him — Lester turned down a bigger guarantee from the San Francisco Giants for the chance to be part of The Team in Chicago.
Lester — who has now made at least 31 starts for nine straight years and put eight 200-inning seasons on his resume — solidified a rotation that watched a supremely confident Arrieta blossom into an ace and the mild-mannered Kyle Hendricks turn into an ERA titleholder.
"Yeah, Kyle was throwing things" after not being named the Opening Day starter, Maddon joked. "I saw Lester walk by him and probably say something to him, and then all of a sudden stuff was like flying all over the weight room. And I knew that Jon broke the news to him."
As much as "Bryzzo Souvenir Co.," the other young stars and a historic defense deserve credit, the Cubs won 200 games across the last two seasons on the strength of their rotation.
"Not many clubs have that luxury," Maddon said. "Jake, for two years in a row, has really done an outstanding job, so has Jon Lester. Of course, the ascension of Kyle, then John Lackey, a lot of good options there, man.
"But obviously it has to go to Jon Lester, based on the body of work. We feel really good about that. You feel great about Jake behind him, and then however we want to set up 3-4-5 to follow. It's good stuff."
Major League Baseball officially announces rule changes for 2017 season.
By CSN Staff
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA officially announced a handful of rule changes — or "modifications," as the press release called them — that will go into effect for the 2017 season.
At the top of the list was the no-pitch intentional walk, which has been discussed nationally for a while now. Instead of lobbing four pitches to the catcher standing nowhere near home plate, the pitching team's manager now just needs to signal that he wants an intentional walk and the batter gets to go to first base with no pitches thrown.
New changes to replay review and challenges were announced, as well. A manager now has only 30 seconds to decide if he wants to challenge a play or invoke replay review. After a manager is out of challenges, umpires can get a replay review going starting in the eight inning instead of the seventh. And there's now a conditional two-minute guideline for replay officials to make a decision during a replay review, though there are exceptions.
Fielders are now prohibited from the use of a marker of any kind on the field to create a type of reference system.
Another rule tweak "formalizes an umpire interpretation by stipulating that a pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch." With runners on base, it's a balk, with no one on base, it's an illegal pitch.
And finally base coaches must now stand in their coach's box prior to a pitch being delivered. They're allowed to move outside the box after a ball is put into play.
These changes coming soon to a big league ballpark near you.
At the top of the list was the no-pitch intentional walk, which has been discussed nationally for a while now. Instead of lobbing four pitches to the catcher standing nowhere near home plate, the pitching team's manager now just needs to signal that he wants an intentional walk and the batter gets to go to first base with no pitches thrown.
New changes to replay review and challenges were announced, as well. A manager now has only 30 seconds to decide if he wants to challenge a play or invoke replay review. After a manager is out of challenges, umpires can get a replay review going starting in the eight inning instead of the seventh. And there's now a conditional two-minute guideline for replay officials to make a decision during a replay review, though there are exceptions.
Fielders are now prohibited from the use of a marker of any kind on the field to create a type of reference system.
Another rule tweak "formalizes an umpire interpretation by stipulating that a pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch." With runners on base, it's a balk, with no one on base, it's an illegal pitch.
And finally base coaches must now stand in their coach's box prior to a pitch being delivered. They're allowed to move outside the box after a ball is put into play.
These changes coming soon to a big league ballpark near you.
WHITE SOX: Don Cooper sees positives after White Sox prospects take lumps in first outings.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Upon further review, Don Cooper and his two young pitchers felt a little better about their previous day's rough outings on Wednesday.
The White Sox pitching coach said he took several positives from watching video of top pitching prospects Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez, both of whom were hit hard in starting performances on Tuesday. Cooper not only identified several areas where the pitchers performed well, but he also takes into account the context -- that each youngster, including Lucas Giolito at the Cubs on Monday, made their first-ever appearance for the White Sox.
Kopech allowed four earned runs in an inning, Lopez allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings and Giolito allowed a run and three hits in two innings.
"If anybody has a tough outing in the first one it's like a mulligan for me," Cooper said. "You gotta understand, some of these guys it's their first big league camp. Some of them are 20 years old so you're anxious. You want to go show everybody what you do and you might be revving it a little too high sometimes, but that's part of the learning process, too."
Kopech and Lopez both had the same reaction to their reviews on Wednesday -- they didn't miss as often as they thought. Pitching against Seattle, Kopech wasn't pleased with himself after he allowed a three-run homer on an 0-2 slider he left up to Mitch Haniger.
But Kopech said his session with Cooper left him feeling more positive when he realized that out of nearly 30 pitches he only missed his spot four times.
Lopez said he wondered on Tuesday why some of his pitches seemed flatter than normal. He realized he left his shoulder open a number of times. Lopez, 23, said he has used video for the past three years since Single-A and realizes the value it brings to the process.
"I thought yesterday that I hung out some pitches but today watching the video I saw they were located," Lopez said through an interpreter. "They just hit it."
"It's really important because when you're in the game because you don't have time to realize or identify what is going good and what is going wrong. Once you have time to review the video and speak with your pitching coach, you understand what you did good or what you did bad and then you try to build from that point on."
Said Cooper: "Really it's just plot a course for each guy. It's exciting because we got guys with good arms and they're going to be a part of our future and let's lay the ground work now."
The general consensus among White Sox coaches and staff is that Kopech showed plenty of positives during his two-strikeout performance. They want him to focus on how to improve for next time rather than worry if he'll get another shot.
"It's not the end of the world when things like that happen," manager Rick Renteria said. "He's going to get the ball again and get out there and obviously try to continue to execute.
"We talk about pitchers with good arms. The thing they still have to do is command. Yesterday's experience was good. He was out there on a big league field facing a really good lineup and it shows you if you make mistakes there's a chance it might get hit."
Cooper looks forward to the next round of outings, which begins with Giolito on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. He continues to be impressed with all three pitchers, including Kopech whom Cooper said "my eyes lit up," the first time he watched video.
"I'll take his future any day," Cooper said.
The White Sox pitching coach said he took several positives from watching video of top pitching prospects Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez, both of whom were hit hard in starting performances on Tuesday. Cooper not only identified several areas where the pitchers performed well, but he also takes into account the context -- that each youngster, including Lucas Giolito at the Cubs on Monday, made their first-ever appearance for the White Sox.
Kopech allowed four earned runs in an inning, Lopez allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings and Giolito allowed a run and three hits in two innings.
"If anybody has a tough outing in the first one it's like a mulligan for me," Cooper said. "You gotta understand, some of these guys it's their first big league camp. Some of them are 20 years old so you're anxious. You want to go show everybody what you do and you might be revving it a little too high sometimes, but that's part of the learning process, too."
Kopech and Lopez both had the same reaction to their reviews on Wednesday -- they didn't miss as often as they thought. Pitching against Seattle, Kopech wasn't pleased with himself after he allowed a three-run homer on an 0-2 slider he left up to Mitch Haniger.
But Kopech said his session with Cooper left him feeling more positive when he realized that out of nearly 30 pitches he only missed his spot four times.
Lopez said he wondered on Tuesday why some of his pitches seemed flatter than normal. He realized he left his shoulder open a number of times. Lopez, 23, said he has used video for the past three years since Single-A and realizes the value it brings to the process.
"I thought yesterday that I hung out some pitches but today watching the video I saw they were located," Lopez said through an interpreter. "They just hit it."
"It's really important because when you're in the game because you don't have time to realize or identify what is going good and what is going wrong. Once you have time to review the video and speak with your pitching coach, you understand what you did good or what you did bad and then you try to build from that point on."
Said Cooper: "Really it's just plot a course for each guy. It's exciting because we got guys with good arms and they're going to be a part of our future and let's lay the ground work now."
The general consensus among White Sox coaches and staff is that Kopech showed plenty of positives during his two-strikeout performance. They want him to focus on how to improve for next time rather than worry if he'll get another shot.
"It's not the end of the world when things like that happen," manager Rick Renteria said. "He's going to get the ball again and get out there and obviously try to continue to execute.
"We talk about pitchers with good arms. The thing they still have to do is command. Yesterday's experience was good. He was out there on a big league field facing a really good lineup and it shows you if you make mistakes there's a chance it might get hit."
Cooper looks forward to the next round of outings, which begins with Giolito on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. He continues to be impressed with all three pitchers, including Kopech whom Cooper said "my eyes lit up," the first time he watched video.
"I'll take his future any day," Cooper said.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Mickelson among six co-leaders in Mexico.
By Will Gray
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
The PGA Tour's latest foray into Mexico has produced a crowded leaderboard after one round. Here's how things look at the WGC-Mexico Championship, where Phil Mickelson is one of several first-round co-leaders:
Leaderboard: Phil Mickelson (-4), Jon Rahm (-4), Jimmy Walker (-4), Ross Fisher (-4), Lee Westwood (-4), Ryan Moore (-4), Rory McIlroy (-3)
What it means: There are only 76 players remaining in this week's event, but nearly a fifth of them are within one shot of the lead after the opening round at Club de Golf Chapultepec. The co-leaders include major champs in Mickelson and Walker as well as Rahm, arguably the hottest rising star in the game. Meanwhile McIlroy headlines the group just one shot back after a strong start to his first competitive round in more than a month.
Round of the day: Mickelson remains in search of his first victory since the 2013 Open Championship, but he's already put together some solid rounds this season at age 46. That trend continued Thursday as Lefty carded six birdies against two bogeys, closing with a 16-foot birdie on No. 18 to grab a share of the early lead.
Best of the rest: Rahm burst onto the professional scene with his win earlier this year at Torrey Pines, and he hasn't slowed down since. The Spaniard finished T-5 in his most recent start at Pebble Beach and is among the group at 4 under par after a 67 that included three back-nine birdies and only one dropped shot.
Biggest disappointment: The no-cut event lost one of its biggest draws when reigning Open champ Henrik Stenson withdrew during the first round because of a stomach bug. Stenson birdied his first two holes but was 2 over after 11 holes when he decided to withdraw, pocketing $43,250 in last-place money for his troubles.
Main storyline heading into Friday: Mickelson will remain a player to watch until he breaks out of his lengthy victory drought, but don't lose sight of McIlroy. The Ulsterman was one of the biggest question marks coming into the week, but he seemed to be near full strength during an opening-round 68 that he later revealed was also hampered by some late-night food poisoning.
Shot of the day: All Justin Thomas could do was shrug when his 103-yard punch-out from the trees on No. 4 improbably rolled up to the green, hit the stick and dropped. The unlikely birdie helped Thomas to a 2-under 69.
Quote of the day: "I was praying to the porcelain bowl." - McIlroy describing the stomach issues he suffered prior to the opening round.
Leaderboard: Phil Mickelson (-4), Jon Rahm (-4), Jimmy Walker (-4), Ross Fisher (-4), Lee Westwood (-4), Ryan Moore (-4), Rory McIlroy (-3)
What it means: There are only 76 players remaining in this week's event, but nearly a fifth of them are within one shot of the lead after the opening round at Club de Golf Chapultepec. The co-leaders include major champs in Mickelson and Walker as well as Rahm, arguably the hottest rising star in the game. Meanwhile McIlroy headlines the group just one shot back after a strong start to his first competitive round in more than a month.
Round of the day: Mickelson remains in search of his first victory since the 2013 Open Championship, but he's already put together some solid rounds this season at age 46. That trend continued Thursday as Lefty carded six birdies against two bogeys, closing with a 16-foot birdie on No. 18 to grab a share of the early lead.
Best of the rest: Rahm burst onto the professional scene with his win earlier this year at Torrey Pines, and he hasn't slowed down since. The Spaniard finished T-5 in his most recent start at Pebble Beach and is among the group at 4 under par after a 67 that included three back-nine birdies and only one dropped shot.
Biggest disappointment: The no-cut event lost one of its biggest draws when reigning Open champ Henrik Stenson withdrew during the first round because of a stomach bug. Stenson birdied his first two holes but was 2 over after 11 holes when he decided to withdraw, pocketing $43,250 in last-place money for his troubles.
Main storyline heading into Friday: Mickelson will remain a player to watch until he breaks out of his lengthy victory drought, but don't lose sight of McIlroy. The Ulsterman was one of the biggest question marks coming into the week, but he seemed to be near full strength during an opening-round 68 that he later revealed was also hampered by some late-night food poisoning.
Shot of the day: All Justin Thomas could do was shrug when his 103-yard punch-out from the trees on No. 4 improbably rolled up to the green, hit the stick and dropped. The unlikely birdie helped Thomas to a 2-under 69.
Quote of the day: "I was praying to the porcelain bowl." - McIlroy describing the stomach issues he suffered prior to the opening round.
Golf unveils a modern set of rules to make it easier to play. What's Your Take?
By Doug Ferguson
Golf's two governing bodies released a draft of modern rules on Wednesday aimed at bringing common sense to what can be a complicated sport.
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the U.S. Golf Association spent more than five years trying to simplify the Rules of Golf without stripping the centuries-old game of its traditions and fundamentals of fair play. The result figures to be the most comprehensive overhaul since the first set of rules was published in 1744.
But in this case, the Rules of Golf actually shrunk.
The proposal, which now faces six months of public feedback, reduces the number of rules from 34 to 24.
In many cases, penalties have been rescinded. Players no longer will be assessed a one-shot penalty if their golf ball accidentally moves, if their club touches the ground while in a hazard or even if a putt strikes a flagstick that is not being tended.
Remember when Jeff Maggert's shot from a fairway bunker caromed off the lip and hit him in the chest? That cost him a two-shot penalty in the 2003 Masters. Under the proposed rules, it wouldn't be a penalty.
"The primary objective was, `How do we make the rules easier to understand and easier to apply around the world,'" said Thomas Pagel, the USGA's senior director of rules and amateur status. "I think what you'll see is that part of this process is to evaluate all the outcomes and identify outcomes that are more reasonable and common-sense based."
Rory McIlroy has been informed of the changes and liked what he heard.
"I think golf's emphasis on the rules can sometimes turn people away from it," McIlroy said. "To modernize and make it simple is a good thing. With what's happened in the last couple of years, with some rulings and high-profile things that have happened at crucial stages in tournaments, people who look at that and might want to get into the game say: `You know what? It's too complicated.'
"Making them more modern to move with the times is good."
Depending on the six-month public comment period, the proposal would be finalized in 2018 and become effective in 2019.
One of the proposed rules would penalize caddies who stand behind their players until right before the shot, to help them with alignment. That is most prominent on the LPGA Tour. If the modern rules are adopted, caddies would have to move as soon as their players take their stances.
"This is one we stepped back and said, `Aligning yourself is just fundamental to playing the game,'" Pagel said. "It's not that caddies can no longer help the player. But when a player goes to set up to the ball, that challenge is the player's."
Another significant proposal, which got McIlroy's attention, was how to drop. The goal was to get the ball back in play quickly. Modern rules would more easily identify where to drop, and players would only have to hold the ball above the ground without it touching anything. The recommendation is at least 1 inch above the ground or grass. Currently, players have to stand upright and hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length from their bodies.
Among other proposed rules:
-- Instead of only being allowed to repair pitch marks or old hole plugs on the greens, players now can fix just about anything, including spike marks and heel prints.
-- Players were disqualified if they used a club that was damaged in anger. Under the proposal, they can still use it.
-- Players who touched the line of their putts or the putting green in pointing out a target faced a two-shot penalty. The modern rule has no penalty, provided they are not improving the condition of the putt.
Several proposed rules were geared toward improving the pace of play, such as encouraging players to hit their shot when ready. Players would have only three minutes to search for a lost ball instead of five minutes.
"It is important that the Rules continue to evolve and remain in tune with the way the modern game is played," said David Rickman, executive director of governance for the R&A. "But we have been careful not to change the game's longstanding principles and character."
While the Rules of Golf would only be 24 rules, that's not to suggest 10 rules were simply eliminated. That indicates how the book was taken apart and put back together.
"Probably a bit more than 10 went away," Pagel said.
Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: I can tell you from personal experience that golf is a terrific game but one that can be extremely frustrating at times. Long drives, great approach shots and outstanding putts give you such a great feeling of accomplishment, tremendous confidence and ultimate pride. However, a bad day will have you throwing clubs, swearing and talking to yourself. You gotta love this game. The only thing that is constant in life is change and it's no different in the game of golf. The equipment is so much better now and the courses are much more challenging but the pace of play is a phase of the game that is a constant concern to tournament directors, course managers and some players, (professionals and amateurs). The rule changes that were just recommended are designed to help improve your game and the speed of play.
Most of the golfers that I've spoken to seem to like and agree with the recommendations. Let me go on record stating that I like them also. How do you feel about the changes, what's your take? Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and tell us what you think. We look forward to hearing from you and respect your position whether it's pro or con. As always, thank you in advance for your time, consideration and your comments.
Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Director.
NASCAR: Full schedule for this weekend’s racing action at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo/Getty Images)
Daytona International Speedway is in the rearview mirror and it’s full speed ahead to this weekend’s triple-header at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
A few notes about this weekend’s action:
* Sunday’s Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 will be the 2,500th race in NASCAR Cup history.
* Sunday’s race also will be the final event on AMS’s 1.54-mile racing surface. The track’s first repaving since 1997 will get underway early next week.
* Jimmie Johnson is the winningest active driver at AMS (five wins), but still trails the track’s all-time wins leader (Dale Earnhardt, nine wins).
* Johnson is also going for an AMS record third consecutive win Sunday.
Here is this week’s schedule:
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, March 3
7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Truck garage open
8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. – NASCAR Cup garage open
10 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. – Xfinity practice (Fox Sports 1)
11 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. – Truck practice (FS1)
12 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. – NASCAR Cup practice (FS1)
1:30 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
2:30 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. – Truck practice (FS1)
3:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:30 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. – Final Truck practice (FS1)
5:45 p.m. – NASCAR Cup qualifying/multi-vehicle/three rounds (FS1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, March 4
7 a.m. – Xfinity and Truck garages open
9:15 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying (FS1)
10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – NASCAR Cup garage open
10:40 a.m. – Truck qualifying/single vehicle/two rounds (FS1)
11:45 a.m. – Xfinity driver/crew chief meeting
12 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. – Final Cup practice (FS1)
1:25 p.m. – Truck driver/crew chief meeting
1:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
2 p.m. – Rinnai 250 Xfinity race (163 laps, 251.02 miles) (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
4 p.m. – Truck driver introductions
4:30 p.m. – Active Pest Control 200 Truck race (130 laps, 200.2 miles) (FS1, Motor Racing Network, Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, March 5
9 a.m. – NASCAR Cup garage opens
12:30 p.m. – NASCAR Cup driver/crew chief meeting
1:50 p.m. – Driver introductions
2:30 p.m. – Folds Of Honor Quik Trip 500 NASCAR Cup race (325 laps, 500.5 miles) (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sixteen years later, Kevin Harvick still looking for second Atlanta Cup win.
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Kevin Harvick has won a lot in the 22 years since he first began competing in NASCAR.
In all three national series, Harvick has accumulated 95 wins and two championships. But the win that will likely define his career long after it’s over is his first Cup Series win, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 2001.
Making his third start in the No. 29 car for Richard Childress Racing, Harvick was the driver who replaced Dale Earnhardt after his death in a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500 the previous month.
The rookie from Bakersfield, California, fended of Jeff Gordon to win a photo finish by .006 seconds.
Sixteen years later, it remains Harvick’s only Cup win at the 1.5-mile facility, which is statistically his worst track.
“You can’t ever win the first one twice,” Harvick said in a team release. “To come back here and know everything that was attached to that first win is something you look back on and realize the magnitude of the situation. I guess the second thing is I can’t believe we haven’t won there since.”
Harvick, now in this fourth season with Stewart-Haas Racing, returns to Atlanta this weekend for the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500. It will be his 27th Cup start at the track where he got his first of 35 Cup Series wins.
Following his win in 2001, Harvick has only earned five more top-five finishes, with two coming since 2012. He also has 11 top 10s. After the initial win, Harvick failed to finished better than 19th in 11 of his next 12 Atlanta starts.
In his three starts since joining SHR, Harvick has results of 19th, second and sixth. In all 26 starts, he has an average finish of 17.6, which is his worst among active tracks on the Cup circuit.
“It’s definitely one of my favorite racetracks and we’ve led a ton of laps there,” said Harvick, who has led 679 laps at Atlanta. “For whatever reason, on Sundays, we haven’t been able to put the finishing touches on it. Fridays and Saturdays in the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series, we’ve won a ton of races but, hopefully, we can end that Cup Series streak this weekend.”
In the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, Harvick has earned five wins at the track. He won three straight Xfinity races from 2013-15.
This weekend will mark the final race on the track before its first repaving since 1997.
“I just love the abrasiveness of the racetrack,” Harvick said. “It still has a lot of speed for the first three or four laps, but then it has a lot of fall-off and a lot of bumps that give it character. As a driver, you just love the challenge that comes with racing at Atlanta. This is always one that I circle on my calendar as a favorite.”
Cup Series aero package, rule changes debut at Atlanta.
By Daniel McFadin
Many will say NASCAR’s regular season doesn’t start until this weekend.
In the Cup Series, this also applies to the cars teams are taking to the track. With the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, teams are debuting the lower-downforce aero package. This is the second season in a row NASCAR has reduced downforce on Cup cars.
Teams use a different package when they visit the two superspeedways, Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
The new package has lower downforce, shorter spoilers and more adjustments. On top of the body changes, teams must start races with the tires they qualified on.
The below graphic shows off the adjustments made to Cup cars compared to the 2016 car.
SOCCER: Opposing MLS GM: 'I think Chicago won the offseason'.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Hope spring eternal in the offseason and preseason. Front offices have made changes they believe have improved their teams and the fans haven't seen the reworked teams fail yet.
For Chicago Fire fans this has been a frustratingly repetitive loop. See the team fail to make the playoffs each of the past four years, then the club makes numerous changes in the offseason, followed by another disappointing regular season. However, this year there seems to be more genuine optimism resulting from the offseason changes.
MLSSoccer.com's Sam Stejskal wrote about which teams won the MLS offseason and the Fire came up. Beyond Stejskal, who used to cover the Fire locally, saying the Fire won the offseason he also had a quote from an opposing general manager.
"I think Chicago won the offseason," one opposing GM told Stejskal. "In terms of biggest turnaround, I guarantee you that they'll be the biggest this year."
The central midfield pair of Dax McCarty and Juninho, both former MLS All-Stars still in their 20s, should give a boost to the Fire in an area they were really weak last season. On top of that, forward Nemanja Nikolic joins Michael de Leeuw, who scored seven goals and had three assists in half a season last year, to give the team what should be an improved strike pairing.
Is that enough to get the Fire out of the league cellar and into contention for the playoffs? Time will tell.
2017 MLS Eastern Conference preview.
By Dan Santaromita
For Chicago Fire fans this has been a frustratingly repetitive loop. See the team fail to make the playoffs each of the past four years, then the club makes numerous changes in the offseason, followed by another disappointing regular season. However, this year there seems to be more genuine optimism resulting from the offseason changes.
MLSSoccer.com's Sam Stejskal wrote about which teams won the MLS offseason and the Fire came up. Beyond Stejskal, who used to cover the Fire locally, saying the Fire won the offseason he also had a quote from an opposing general manager.
"I think Chicago won the offseason," one opposing GM told Stejskal. "In terms of biggest turnaround, I guarantee you that they'll be the biggest this year."
The central midfield pair of Dax McCarty and Juninho, both former MLS All-Stars still in their 20s, should give a boost to the Fire in an area they were really weak last season. On top of that, forward Nemanja Nikolic joins Michael de Leeuw, who scored seven goals and had three assists in half a season last year, to give the team what should be an improved strike pairing.
Is that enough to get the Fire out of the league cellar and into contention for the playoffs? Time will tell.
2017 MLS Eastern Conference preview.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
In most American sports most teams saying they improved is just preseason optimism. However, the international player pool of soccer means every MLS team actually can get better quite easily and it appears the bar is higher in the league.
The Eastern Conference has been the lesser of the two conference in Major League Soccer in recent years, and while it still probably isn't as deep as the Western Conference, there are some strong teams at the top.
Last year, the New York Red Bulls finished with the most points in the regular season with 57, three ahead of New York City FC and four ahead of Toronto FC. Toronto got hot in the playoffs and went all the way to MLS Cup. Those three teams are figure to be in the mix again, but there might also be a couple sleepers looking to move up in 2017.
Last year, the New York Red Bulls finished with the most points in the regular season with 57, three ahead of New York City FC and four ahead of Toronto FC. Toronto got hot in the playoffs and went all the way to MLS Cup. Those three teams are figure to be in the mix again, but there might also be a couple sleepers looking to move up in 2017.
Here's a capsule on all 11 teams:
A class above?
Toronto FC
Toronto faded late in the regular season to settle for the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, but got hot come playoff time and finally delivered on the promise of the talent on the roster. Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley are still in Canada so TFC remains one of the most talented teams in the league. Victor Vazquez now joins the team as an attacking midfielder with Barcelona roots and could fill a long-time need for the Reds: creativity in the midfield. An already scary attack may have gotten better.
Expecting playoffs
New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls had an unexpectedly wild offseason. From trading captain Dax McCarty to seeing sporting director Ali Curtis leave the club, things got interesting this winter in Harrison. Without any big player additions, coach Jesse Marsch will be relying on some of the team’s younger players to take steps forward. Can Sean Davis fill in for McCarty? Can a fairly unproven defense prove to be steady enough? The Red Bulls still have plenty of talent with the likes of Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips leading the attack, but they are a candidate to take a step back as a team in 2017.
New York City FC
The blue team in New York made a ton of changes this offseason. NYCFC had 11 players depart and 12 players come in. Six players who made 10 or more starts in 2016 are part of the group that left, including Frank Lampard. Taking Lampard's Designated Player spot is attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez. The key will be how these pieces fit together. Patrick Vieira preferred a 4-3-3 formation last season so finding a way Moralez, along with midfielders Tommy McNamara and Andrea Pirlo, fits in that effectively could determine if NYCFC improves or regresses from last year’s 54 point season.
Contenders
Montreal Impact
The Impact lost Didier Drogba, who at times carried the Impact. However, last year Montreal became Ignacio Piatti's team and as long as he's there, the Impact should be a playoff team. To be more than a team filling out the postseason field, Montreal will need Matteo Mancosu, who joined in the middle of 2016, to turn into a frontline scorer for the duration of the season. He had four goals and two assists in five playoff games last year.
D.C. United
D.C. finished the regular season as one of the hottest teams to get in the playoffs with a home game, but fizzled out once there. No team does patchwork success quite like D.C. Challenging for the playoffs on a budget has been the recipe for D.C., but it hasn't always worked. This year, the starting lineup doesn't have any glaring holes and there is a lot of buzz about rookie homegrown signing Ian Harkes (yes, that's John Harkes' son).
Expansion team
Atlanta United FC
No team is as intriguing as Atlanta for a few reasons. First, the expansion team has surpassed 30,000 tickets sold. Second, those fans will be cheering on the team in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a state of the art, billion dollar-plus venue. Also, the team has brought in a ton of talent. This is not a typical expansion team. Bringing in Tata Martino, who has coached two heavyweights in Barcelona and Argentina, has helped the team attract high level talent that is still young. The Designated Player trio of Miguel Almiron, Josef Martinez and Hector Villalba plus striker Kenwyne Jones, who has scored 40 goals in the Premier League, and American national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan, joining midseason, give Martino plenty of toys to work with. As an expansion team there will still be pitfalls along the way, but expectations are high and failing to miss the playoffs would probably be viewed a disappointment.
Fighting to get in the playoffs
Columbus Crew
The Crew went from hosting MLS Cup to finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference in a year. After giving up 58 goals in 2016, Columbus focused on improving its defense in the winter. In came Ghanaian national teamer Jonathan Mensah, a pair of new fullbacks in Jukka Raitala from Norway and No. 5 draft pick Lalas Abubakar and a pair of defensive mids in Mohammed Abu and Artur. Zack Steffen, a 21-year-old goalkeeper, has a ton of potential and was named the starter for the season opener against the Fire. Coach Gregg Berhalter will have to get the pieces to mesh early on, but there are still returning pieces to like higher up the field with Wil Trapp, Federico Higuain and Ola Kamara (coming off a 16-goal season). If the new defensive pieces flop, 2017 could be much like 2016 in Ohio, but if they hit it might resemble 2015.
Philadelphia Union
Haris Medunjanin could be the key to how everything fits together in Philly. The central midfielder from Bosnia played in the 2014 World Cup and fills a big need for the Union. Him and U.S. national teamer Alejandro Bedoya could form one of the best central midfield duos in the league. There are questions in central defense and up front though.
Chicago Fire
Fire fans: it's OK to be a bit optimistic about this team. It actually has the credentials to be improved. Of course, improving from last place is no accomplishment, but the Fire legitimately can believe in the postseason this season. Juninho and Dax McCarty give the team an overhauled midfield engine and the forward pairing of Michael de Leeuw and Nemanja Nikolic should be efficient in finishing off chances. Goalkeeper, the back line, overall team depth and chance creation remain areas of concern, but it is generally agreed that the Fire had a productive offseason. How far up the standings the Fire move this season is the question, but the Fire should at least be in contention for a playoff spot at the end of the season.
New England Revolution
The Revs didn't make many major moves this winter, which makes it easy to think 2017 will be more of the same in New England. The big X-factor is Xavier Kouassi, a defensive mid the club signed as a Designated Player last offseason only to see him miss the season with a knee injury. Few teams have as many exciting pieces in the attack, but they haven't always fit well together. After missing out on the playoffs on goal differential, New England likely sits around the playoff bubble again in 2017.
Orlando City SC
Almost every team can at least argue it improved in the offseason. Orlando might have a tougher time making that argument. Selling Kevin Molino to Minnesota left a big hole in the team's attack. Molino had 11 goals and eight assists in 2016. Those are big numbers to replace. Any team with Kaka and Cyle Larin still is dangerous in the attack and adding Giles Barnes will help give those two support, but Jonathan Spector is the team’s only other notable addition. The Lions need more help on a defense that gave up a league-worst 60 goals last season. Jason Kreis has his work cut out for him in his first full year in Florida.
2017 MLS Western Conference preview.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Major League Soccer's Western Conference has been the stronger of the two conferences for a few years now and that is expected to continue in 2017.
The last Eastern Conference champion was Sporting Kansas City in 2013, and KC has since switched conferences. You have to go back to 2008 when the Columbus Crew won before that.
Familiar names figure to be at the top once again.
Title favorites
Seattle Sounders
Seattle is always in the mix to win trophies, but once Obafemi Martins exited just before last season the team struggled. The midseason acquisition of Nicolas Lodeiro proved to be a title-winning move. Now, Lodeiro has a full season and Clint Dempsey is coming back after missing most of last season. Barring more injuries, Seattle is in the top tier of the league.
FC Dallas
Dallas had a great season last year winning the Supporters' Shield and the U.S. Open Cup. The playoffs were another story though. Dallas appears to have reloaded with forward Cristian Colman coming over from Paraguay, winger Roland Lamah coming with Premier League experience under his belt and MLS veteran Javier Morales to add depth in attacking midfield. FCD will be competing for more trophies in 2017 and is already in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.
Contenders
Portland Timbers
The Timbers' additions in the offseason should have the team closer to its 2015 title-winning form than its 2016 form, when Portland missed the playoffs. Sebastian Blanco is one of the most lauded acquisitions this winter. The Argentine playmaker comes as a designated player and if he lives up to the hype, him pairing with Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe could make Portland incredibly dangerous.
LA Galaxy
This is a new LA Galaxy club. Robbie Keane is gone. Landon Donovan is back in retirement. Steven Gerrard is gone. A number of league veterans (A.J. DeLaGarza, Mike Magee, Jeff Larentowicz, Alan Gordon) also exited. Most importantly though, Bruce Arena is gone. Arena is managing the national team for a second stint. So what does LA still have? The back line is mostly familiar with Jelle Van Damme anchoring the defense. Gio Dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes and Sebastian Lletget lead the attack. That's a good core, plus the additions of designated player Romain Alessandrini, American national teamer Jermaine Jones and defensive mid Joao Pedro. There's a lot of uncertainty due to all the changes, but this is still a talented roster.
Fighting to get in the playoffs
Colorado Rapids
The Rapids were one of the biggest shocks in the league last year, going from the second worst record in the league to the No. 2 seed in the west and a spot in the conference finals. Jermaine Jones departed, but he didn’t play much for the Rapids due to suspension and the injury. Tim Howard and co. should be solid defensively again, but don’t be surprised if Colorado takes a step back.
Real Salt Lake
RSL teased of being a strong team last year, but slumped down the stretch. Burrito Martinez was one of the most fun players to watch in the league and he is gone. In his place is attacking mid Albert Rusnak. Rusnak is 22 and comes from FC Groningen, the Dutch club where current Fire players Michael de Leeuw and Johan Kappelhof came from. If Rusnak can run the show at a high level, RSL has the pieces up front to finish in Joao Plata and Yura Movsisyan.
Sporting Kansas City
Since winning MLS Cup in 2013 Sporting has perpetually been struggling to get in the playoffs and losing in play-in games. Expect more of the same unless DP signing Gerso Fernandes can raise the team's level. The winger will combine with Dom Dwyer, Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber in the team's talented attack.
On the outside looking in
Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps made a solid move by adding Fredy Montero. The former Sounders forward has a good track record of success in MLS and should go a long way to helping Vancouver's offensive issues. Trading Giles Barnes for Brek Shea was a surprise move and it will be interesting to see if Shea is utilized as a winger or stay at left back where he played with Orlando. Alphonso Davies, a 16-year-old winger, could be one of the most exciting young players in the league in a long time. There are interesting pieces, but maybe not enough to contend in the West.
Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo went big on the rebuild, shedding six players (Will Bruin, Cristian Maidana, David Horst, Raul Rodriguez, Collin Warner, Sheanon Williams) who combined for 131 starts in 2016. All six started a majority of the Dynamo's MLS matches. Fire fans will be familiar with this level of churn from a bad team. Those players were replaced by Honduran talents Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto up front and Juan David Cabezas in central midfield and MLS veteran A.J. DeLaGarza in defense. There might be improvement there, but probably not enough to make a playoff push in the tougher conference.
San Jose Earthquakes
There is a regime change happening in San Jose. Jesse Fioranelli is in at general manager and comes with lots of Italian club experience. Dominic Kinnear is still the manager, but if things go badly in 2017 it's fair to wonder if Fioranelli will want to bring in his own hire. San Jose hasn't made the playoffs since 2013 and even though there were some notable additions (forward Danny Hoesen, midfielder Jahmir Hyka and defender/defensive mid Florian Jungwirth were all signed with targeted allocation money), there still may not be enough support for Chris Wondolowski. (I would like to see young midfielders Tommy Thompson and Jackson Yueill on the field at the same time often. That could be fun.)
Expansion team
Minnesota United FC
Top Premier League storylines – Week 27
By Joe Prince-Wright
Heading into an intriguing Premier League weekend there are so many questions in the air.
Can Liverpool and Arsenal cement themselves in the top four? Will Chelsea slip up? Can Leicester continue their resurgence?
All of that, and more, is analyzes below.
What now? – Liverpool vs. Arsenal, Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
Both Liverpool and Arsenal harbored hopes of winning the Premier League heading into the winter months. Now, just two months into 2017, those hopes are all but over.
A poor start to 2017 has derailed the title bids of both Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger and they both appear to be at crossroads. Wenger, 67, has yet to sign the two-year contract extension he has been offered and it remains to be seen what lies in store beyond this season, but it is the same old story for Arsenal. They’ll likely reach the FA Cup semifinal, they’ve been hammered in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 game and yet another title bid has faded badly as they scrap for yet another top four finish.
For Liverpool, Klopp has been left scratching his head with just one PL win in seven to open up 2017. Against the smaller teams they’ve struggled, with all five of their defeats coming against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. Klopp’s men are so good going forward with Sadio Mane the spark, Philippe Coutinho the conductor and Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino the silky industry. Yet, in defense the Reds are struggling again with an average of 1.3 goals a game being conceded. Klopp didn’t address his biggest need in the offseason and like Wenger it seems like his side can’t seriously challenge for the title until he becomes more comfortable playing in a more defensive manner.
Unless Liverpool or Arsenal chance their tact or playing philosophy (which seems unlikely) how can they become anything other than top four contenders? Even that is under serious threat this season given that two of the current top six will miss out on UCL action. This is a massive game at Anfield which will go a long way to deciding which team kicks on a cements a top four finish this season.
Hammers hope to halt Chelsea’s title procession – West Ham vs. Chelsea, Monday, 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
Some are already calling for the blue ribbons to be attached to the Premier League trophy. Chelsea’s title procession has begun. Right now, the Blues aren’t showing any weaknesses and have yet to show any signs of breaking down with their defense strong, multiple offensive weapons firing and N'Golo Kante running the show in midfield as they lead their closest contenders by 10 points.
Antonio Conte isn’t getting ahead of himself though, and neither should his players. West Ham’s players and supporters would love nothing more than to scupper the title chances of Chelsea. They beat the Blues 2-1 in the EFL Cup at the London Stadium earlier this season and Slaven Bilic‘s side will pose a very direct threat to Chelsea with Andy Carroll set to be back in the starting lineup. Chelsea didn’t cope well with that away at Burnley recently.
Crowd troubled erupted in the EFL Cup game this season between these sets of fans and that shows you just how much passion surrounds this London derby. For some reason I keep thinking back to last season when on a cold early March night at Upton Park the Hammers beat Tottenham 1-0 and put a big dent in their title bid. Surely they can’t do it again to another London rival, albeit this time in slightly more salubrious surroundings…
Aguero, Guardiola set for showdown – Sunderland vs. Manchester City, Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
When he dropped Sergio Aguero for Gabriel Jesus last month, Pep Guardiola created a huge problem for himself. That issue is only getting bigger.
Aguero, 28, has spoken out about talks in June between himself and the club to see where his future lies. After scoring another two goals in the midweek FA Cup last 16 replay against Huddersfield, Guardiola described Aguero’s performance as perhaps his best of the season. The predatory Argentine striker seems happy enough at City but with reported interest from Real Madrid, if he isn’t the main man at the Etihad, is it the right time for him to move on?
He has a contract until 2020 — plus he is just 20 goals away from becoming City’s all-time leading scorer — and it isn’t like Guardiola doesn’t appreciate what he brings to the table. His goals have been a big reason why City could well finish second in the PL despite all of their defensive issues and also why they look like making a deep run in the UEFA Champions League. Yet, in Guardiola’s system he needs three mobile strikers who hunt back, do defensive work and can drift around the flanks and central positions. Aguero is a pure finisher and doesn’t do that. Therein lies the biggest problem of all.
Top 4 contenders vs. Top 4 hopefuls – Tottenham vs. Everton, Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
Tottenham Hotspur continue to batter the smaller teams in the PL (see: Spurs 4-0 Stoke City) but they will be tested by an in-form Everton at White Hart Lane. This game will be a good measuring stick for Ronald Koeman‘s Everton to see how far they are from the top four conversation and it will also be a great chance to see two red-hot strikers in action as Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku — they lead the PL in goals with 17 each — do battle.
Spurs and Everton have always been very evenly matched over the last 20 years or so, as they’ve hovered just outside the top six and been in plenty of cup semifinals, finals and the Europa League. Still, Spurs have kicked on considerably in the past three season since Mauricio Pochettino arrived and it looks like Koeman will have a similar impact at Everton. Spurs’ fluid attack may just have too much for Everton’s defense in this encounter but this will be an open game between two teams who hope to challenge for a top four spot for many years to come.
If they can keep hold of Kane and Lukaku, goals won’t be a problem for Spurs and Everton.
Ranieri-less Leicester to continue resurgence? – Leicester City vs. Hull City, Saturday, 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
The turnaround in Leicester’s performance during their 3-1 win against Liverpool was quite remarkable. That suggested that the much-maligned decision to get rid of Claudio Ranieri last week could be the correct one, however caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare knows that the visit of fellow strugglers Hull City is perhaps an even a bigger task than facing Liverpool.
Hull will sit back, defend and look to hit Leicester on the break. The Foxes aren’t great at taking the game to teams and aren’t comfortable in possession. This should be an intriguing encounter and telling as to whether these players stopped trying under Ranieri or were simply fired up by all the criticism they had been getting and got the better of a very poor Liverpool side.
Time will tell if firing Ranieri was helpful. If the Foxes get another win this weekend they’ll finally give themselves some breathing space between from the relegation zone after they briefly slipped into the bottom three last week. The reigning champions finally seem to be regaining some of their title-winning form from last season and whether you like it or not, Ranieri’s departure has coincided with it.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal harbored hopes of winning the Premier League heading into the winter months. Now, just two months into 2017, those hopes are all but over.
A poor start to 2017 has derailed the title bids of both Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger and they both appear to be at crossroads. Wenger, 67, has yet to sign the two-year contract extension he has been offered and it remains to be seen what lies in store beyond this season, but it is the same old story for Arsenal. They’ll likely reach the FA Cup semifinal, they’ve been hammered in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 game and yet another title bid has faded badly as they scrap for yet another top four finish.
For Liverpool, Klopp has been left scratching his head with just one PL win in seven to open up 2017. Against the smaller teams they’ve struggled, with all five of their defeats coming against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. Klopp’s men are so good going forward with Sadio Mane the spark, Philippe Coutinho the conductor and Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino the silky industry. Yet, in defense the Reds are struggling again with an average of 1.3 goals a game being conceded. Klopp didn’t address his biggest need in the offseason and like Wenger it seems like his side can’t seriously challenge for the title until he becomes more comfortable playing in a more defensive manner.
Unless Liverpool or Arsenal chance their tact or playing philosophy (which seems unlikely) how can they become anything other than top four contenders? Even that is under serious threat this season given that two of the current top six will miss out on UCL action. This is a massive game at Anfield which will go a long way to deciding which team kicks on a cements a top four finish this season.
Hammers hope to halt Chelsea’s title procession – West Ham vs. Chelsea, Monday, 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
Some are already calling for the blue ribbons to be attached to the Premier League trophy. Chelsea’s title procession has begun. Right now, the Blues aren’t showing any weaknesses and have yet to show any signs of breaking down with their defense strong, multiple offensive weapons firing and N'Golo Kante running the show in midfield as they lead their closest contenders by 10 points.
Antonio Conte isn’t getting ahead of himself though, and neither should his players. West Ham’s players and supporters would love nothing more than to scupper the title chances of Chelsea. They beat the Blues 2-1 in the EFL Cup at the London Stadium earlier this season and Slaven Bilic‘s side will pose a very direct threat to Chelsea with Andy Carroll set to be back in the starting lineup. Chelsea didn’t cope well with that away at Burnley recently.
Crowd troubled erupted in the EFL Cup game this season between these sets of fans and that shows you just how much passion surrounds this London derby. For some reason I keep thinking back to last season when on a cold early March night at Upton Park the Hammers beat Tottenham 1-0 and put a big dent in their title bid. Surely they can’t do it again to another London rival, albeit this time in slightly more salubrious surroundings…
Aguero, Guardiola set for showdown – Sunderland vs. Manchester City, Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
When he dropped Sergio Aguero for Gabriel Jesus last month, Pep Guardiola created a huge problem for himself. That issue is only getting bigger.
Aguero, 28, has spoken out about talks in June between himself and the club to see where his future lies. After scoring another two goals in the midweek FA Cup last 16 replay against Huddersfield, Guardiola described Aguero’s performance as perhaps his best of the season. The predatory Argentine striker seems happy enough at City but with reported interest from Real Madrid, if he isn’t the main man at the Etihad, is it the right time for him to move on?
He has a contract until 2020 — plus he is just 20 goals away from becoming City’s all-time leading scorer — and it isn’t like Guardiola doesn’t appreciate what he brings to the table. His goals have been a big reason why City could well finish second in the PL despite all of their defensive issues and also why they look like making a deep run in the UEFA Champions League. Yet, in Guardiola’s system he needs three mobile strikers who hunt back, do defensive work and can drift around the flanks and central positions. Aguero is a pure finisher and doesn’t do that. Therein lies the biggest problem of all.
Top 4 contenders vs. Top 4 hopefuls – Tottenham vs. Everton, Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
Tottenham Hotspur continue to batter the smaller teams in the PL (see: Spurs 4-0 Stoke City) but they will be tested by an in-form Everton at White Hart Lane. This game will be a good measuring stick for Ronald Koeman‘s Everton to see how far they are from the top four conversation and it will also be a great chance to see two red-hot strikers in action as Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku — they lead the PL in goals with 17 each — do battle.
Spurs and Everton have always been very evenly matched over the last 20 years or so, as they’ve hovered just outside the top six and been in plenty of cup semifinals, finals and the Europa League. Still, Spurs have kicked on considerably in the past three season since Mauricio Pochettino arrived and it looks like Koeman will have a similar impact at Everton. Spurs’ fluid attack may just have too much for Everton’s defense in this encounter but this will be an open game between two teams who hope to challenge for a top four spot for many years to come.
If they can keep hold of Kane and Lukaku, goals won’t be a problem for Spurs and Everton.
Ranieri-less Leicester to continue resurgence? – Leicester City vs. Hull City, Saturday, 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com
The turnaround in Leicester’s performance during their 3-1 win against Liverpool was quite remarkable. That suggested that the much-maligned decision to get rid of Claudio Ranieri last week could be the correct one, however caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare knows that the visit of fellow strugglers Hull City is perhaps an even a bigger task than facing Liverpool.
Hull will sit back, defend and look to hit Leicester on the break. The Foxes aren’t great at taking the game to teams and aren’t comfortable in possession. This should be an intriguing encounter and telling as to whether these players stopped trying under Ranieri or were simply fired up by all the criticism they had been getting and got the better of a very poor Liverpool side.
Time will tell if firing Ranieri was helpful. If the Foxes get another win this weekend they’ll finally give themselves some breathing space between from the relegation zone after they briefly slipped into the bottom three last week. The reigning champions finally seem to be regaining some of their title-winning form from last season and whether you like it or not, Ranieri’s departure has coincided with it.
La Liga: Barca goes top after six-goal effort, Ronaldo rescues point for Real.
By Matt Reed
By Matt Reed
A roundup of Wednesday’s action in Spain’s top flight…
Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon
Carlos Castro gave the visitors a brief glimmer of hope, but MSN and co. ensured Barcelona a spot at the top of La Liga on Wednesday. Barca got out to a quick start after Lionel Messi continued his hot goal-scoring form in the ninth minute, before an own goal from Juan Rodriguez doubled the lead two minutes later.
From there, it was all Barcelona. Luis Suarez, Paco Alcacer, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic each found the back of the net, including Neymar’s phenomenal free kick just minutes after the hour mark.
Following the match, manager Luis Enrique revealed that he won’t return for the 2017/18 season. Enrique’s contract is due to expire in May at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Real Madrid 3-3 Las Palmas
The league leaders suffered a setback at the Santiago Bernabeu with a draw against Las Palmas. Despite going up early by way of an Isco finish, Gareth Bale‘s second-half red card changed the complexion of the match for the hosts.
The former Spurs attacker was dismissed in the 47th minute, prompting Jonathan Vieira and Kevin-Prince Boateng to put Palmas in front early in the second half.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed to pull a goal back in the 86th minute after a controversial penalty kick was awarded. Then, the Portuguese international scored again three minutes later to give Real a share of the points on the day.
Real sits one point behind Barcelona following Wednesday’s draw, however, Zinedine Zidane’s side still holds one match in hand.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Osasuna 1-4 Villareal
Granada 2-1 Alaves
Celta Vigo 2-2 Espanyol
NCAABKB: Bracketology: Kansas leads final march to Selection Sunday.
Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon
Carlos Castro gave the visitors a brief glimmer of hope, but MSN and co. ensured Barcelona a spot at the top of La Liga on Wednesday. Barca got out to a quick start after Lionel Messi continued his hot goal-scoring form in the ninth minute, before an own goal from Juan Rodriguez doubled the lead two minutes later.
From there, it was all Barcelona. Luis Suarez, Paco Alcacer, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic each found the back of the net, including Neymar’s phenomenal free kick just minutes after the hour mark.
Following the match, manager Luis Enrique revealed that he won’t return for the 2017/18 season. Enrique’s contract is due to expire in May at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Real Madrid 3-3 Las Palmas
The league leaders suffered a setback at the Santiago Bernabeu with a draw against Las Palmas. Despite going up early by way of an Isco finish, Gareth Bale‘s second-half red card changed the complexion of the match for the hosts.
The former Spurs attacker was dismissed in the 47th minute, prompting Jonathan Vieira and Kevin-Prince Boateng to put Palmas in front early in the second half.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed to pull a goal back in the 86th minute after a controversial penalty kick was awarded. Then, the Portuguese international scored again three minutes later to give Real a share of the points on the day.
Real sits one point behind Barcelona following Wednesday’s draw, however, Zinedine Zidane’s side still holds one match in hand.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Osasuna 1-4 Villareal
Granada 2-1 Alaves
Celta Vigo 2-2 Espanyol
NCAABKB: Bracketology: Kansas leads final march to Selection Sunday.
By Dave Ommen
March is here. Madness awaits. The next ten days will be filled with hope, excitement, and anxiety as teams and fans await their 2017 NCAA Tournament bracket on Selection Sunday. Between now and then, we still have several things to sort out. Here’s what we know: Kansas, fresh off yet another Big 12 title, sits atop the bracket, followed closely by Villanova. Both the Jayhawks and Wildcats look fairly entrenched on the top line. The other two spots remain in play. Will Gonzaga hold on? Will a Pac-12 team make a jump to the one line? Can North Carolina survive the ACC tournament and keep its perch in the South?
Each of those story lines should be fun to watch. And we haven’t even talked about the bubble. Illinois, Wake Forest, and Kansas State all helped themselves Wednesday. USC and California are trying to hold on and state their case. Xavier continues to struggle, its NCAA outlook now unclear. Next week’s conference tournaments loom large for final seeding and selection. If a few bid stealers emerge, hold on.
UPDATED: March 2, 2017
Note: Now that conference tournaments have begun, teams in ALL CAPS will represent automatic bids as they are earned.
Regarding bracketing principles, can read them for yourself at http://www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS – Dayton (First Round)
Each of those story lines should be fun to watch. And we haven’t even talked about the bubble. Illinois, Wake Forest, and Kansas State all helped themselves Wednesday. USC and California are trying to hold on and state their case. Xavier continues to struggle, its NCAA outlook now unclear. Next week’s conference tournaments loom large for final seeding and selection. If a few bid stealers emerge, hold on.
UPDATED: March 2, 2017
Note: Now that conference tournaments have begun, teams in ALL CAPS will represent automatic bids as they are earned.
Regarding bracketing principles, can read them for yourself at http://www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS – Dayton (First Round)
- Wake Forest vs. USC | Midwest Region
- Illinois vs. Seton Hall | East Region
- MT. ST. MARY’S vs. NC-CENTRAL | East Region
- UC-IRVINE vs. NEW ORLEANS | Midwest Region
BRACKET PROJECTION …
| MIDWEST – Kansas City | EAST – New York | |
| Tulsa | Buffalo | |
| 1) Kansas | 1) Villanova | |
| 16) New Orleans / UC-Irvine | 16) NC Central / Mount St. Mary’s | |
| 8) South Carolina | 8) Miami | |
| 9) Michigan State | 9) Arkansas | |
| Orlando | Buffalo | |
| 5) Cincinnati | 5) Minnesota | |
| 12) UT-Arlington | 12) UNC-Wilmington | |
| 4) Florida State | 4) Virginia | |
| 13) Vermont | 13) Monmouth | |
| Milwaukee | Indianapolis | |
| 6) Iowa State | 6) SMU | |
| 11) Wake Forest / USC | 11) Seton Hall / Illinois | |
| 3) Butler | 3) Louisville | |
| 14) Belmont | 14) Akron | |
| Salt Lake City | Tulsa | |
| 7) Virginia Tech | 7) Maryland | |
| 10) Wichita State | 10) VCU | |
| 2) Arizona | 2) Baylor | |
| 15) South Dakota | 15) Florida Gulf Coast | |
| WEST – San Jose | SOUTH – Memphis | |
| Salt Lake City | Greenville | |
| 1) Gonzaga | 1) North Carolina | |
| 16) North Dakota | 16) Texas Southern | |
| 8) Northwestern | 8) Dayton | |
| 9) Marquette | 9) Michigan | |
| Orlando | Milwaukee | |
| 5) Notre Dame | 5) West Virginia | |
| 12) Nevada | 12) Illinois State | |
| 4) Florida | 4) Purdue | |
| 13) Princeton | 13) Valparaiso | |
| Greenville | Indianapolis | |
| 6) Wisconsin | 6) Saint Mary’s | |
| 11) Xavier | 11) Syracuse | |
| 3) Duke | 3) Kentucky | |
| 14) East Tennessee State | 14) Winthrop | |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | |
| 7) Creighton | 7) Oklahoma State | |
| 10) Mid Tennessee State | 10) Providence | |
| 2) Oregon | 2) UCLA | |
| 15) CSU-Bakersfield | 15) Bucknell |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Kansas is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Villanova, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.
Last Four Byes (at large): Wichita State, Providence, Syracuse, Xavier
Last Four IN (at large): Seton Hall, USC, Wake Forest, Illinois
First Four OUT (at large): Kansas State, Rhode Island, California, Georgia Tech
Next four teams OUT (at large): Vanderbilt, Georgia, Houston, Iowa
Breakdown by Conference …
ACC (10): NORTH CAROLINA, Louisville, Duke, Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia, Miami-FL, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Wake Forest
Big 10 (8): PURDUE, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maryland, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois
Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Butler, Creighton, Marquette, Providence, Xavier, Seton Hall
Big 12 (5): KANSAS, Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, Oklahoma State
Pac 12 (4): OREGON, Arizona, UCLA, USC
SEC (4): FLORIDA, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas
Atlantic 10 (2): DAYTON, VCU
American (2): SMU, Cincinnati
West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s
Missouri Valley (2): ILLINOIS STATE, Wichita State
Mountain West (1): NEVADA
ONE BID LEAGUES: Monmouth (MAAC), Middle Tennessee State (C-USA), UT-Arlington (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), North Dakota (BSKY), Valparaiso (HORIZON), New Orleans (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Akron (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Winthrop (BSO), NC-Central (MEAC), North Dakota State (SUM), CSU-Bakersfield (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Mount St. Mary’s (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)
It's time to call out the simplistic stupidity of how we determine coaches' fates.
By Gary Parrish
Illinois John Groce and Kansas State's Bruce Weber are perfect examples.
Jerry Palm updated the CBS Sports Bracketology Page early Thursday, at which point Illinois fans celebrated seeing their team suddenly projected to make the NCAA Tournament thanks to Wednesday’s 73-70 victory over Michigan State. And Kansas State? The Wildcats are now the “first team out” after Wednesday’s 75-74 win at TCU, meaning KSU also has a realistic chance to make it. So it was a good night for the Illinois coach and the former Illinois coach. And who’s going to have a more interesting and pressure-packed next 10 days than John Groce and Bruce Weber?
Answer: Nobody
That’s because Groce and Weber aren’t only bubble-team coaches. They’re also hot-seat coaches — i.e., men who are both in their fifth years at their schools and reportedly coaching for their jobs. They have passionate fan bases who have, at one time or another, and definitely recently, called for a change. But those same fans woke up Thursday with those thoughts on hold. For now, most seem happy to dream about what one more big win and no more bad losses might mean.
Which is stupid, of course.
I hope you realize the stupidity in play.
The idea that two coaches who have been employed by major universities for five years could have their futures decided by what happens over the next 10 days — especially when luck will likely play such a big role in what happens over the next 10 days —is just as dumb as it is common. And I’ve been wanting to write this column for a while.
My questions: Why do fans, not to mention athletic directors, often set keep-him/fire-him bars related to the NCAA Tournament? Does that seem reasonable or smart?
I don’t think so.
Because here’s the truth: After five years, if you believe your coach is the right person for the job, you should keep him. If not, you shouldn’t. And that decision should have nothing to do with whether he guides a team within a game or two of the right or wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, which is what Groce and Weber will spend the next 10 days doing, one way or another.
Both could make the NCAA Tournament.
Both could miss it.
It’s totally up in the air — just like Wednesday night’s fabulous wins that sparked all of this. If Tum Tum Nairn makes a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, perhaps Michigan State beats Illinois in overtime. If TCU makes 27 field goals instead of 26, the Horned Frogs would’ve beaten Kansas Sate. And then we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
Which kind of proves my point.
Is it really sensible for a man’s five-year career at a specific school to be extended or ended by such situations that could’ve easily gone either way? Think about it logically. Should Nairn making or missing a 23-foot jumper have anything to do with whether Groce is the right man for the Illinois job? Should KSU winning or losing a one-point game really be the difference between whether Weber should or should not ultimately get a sixth year? Should multimillion-dollar decisions hinge on these types of things?
I don’t think so.
What I think is that all athletic directors should take luck -- the bad variety of which Groce specifically has had so often over the years -- completely out of the equation and judge coaches in more intelligent ways. Because bad coaches make the NCAA Tournament every year while good coaches miss it, and those realities are often determined by things coaches barely control. To end a man’s career with a multimillion-dollar buyout or extend it with a multimillion-dollar contract based on little more than that alone is ridiculous.
That’s what I think, at least.
And, just so we’re clear, I don’t mean this solely as it relates to Groce and Weber, both of whom I like and consider quality men and coaches. I’m not writing about them as much as I’m writing about an industry in which coaches are hired and fired annually based on the results of a handful of games determined by hot shooters, foul trouble, injuries, bad calls or some combination of all four and countless other things.
That’s never made any sense to me.
So I beg you, athletic directors and fans, think bigger. It’s always better to evaluate coaches with a wider lens. Because when you tie a pass-or-fail line to good or bad news on Selection Sunday, there’s a decent chance you’ll make the wrong decision whether your bubble pops or not.
Answer: Nobody
That’s because Groce and Weber aren’t only bubble-team coaches. They’re also hot-seat coaches — i.e., men who are both in their fifth years at their schools and reportedly coaching for their jobs. They have passionate fan bases who have, at one time or another, and definitely recently, called for a change. But those same fans woke up Thursday with those thoughts on hold. For now, most seem happy to dream about what one more big win and no more bad losses might mean.
Which is stupid, of course.
I hope you realize the stupidity in play.
The idea that two coaches who have been employed by major universities for five years could have their futures decided by what happens over the next 10 days — especially when luck will likely play such a big role in what happens over the next 10 days —is just as dumb as it is common. And I’ve been wanting to write this column for a while.
My questions: Why do fans, not to mention athletic directors, often set keep-him/fire-him bars related to the NCAA Tournament? Does that seem reasonable or smart?
I don’t think so.
Because here’s the truth: After five years, if you believe your coach is the right person for the job, you should keep him. If not, you shouldn’t. And that decision should have nothing to do with whether he guides a team within a game or two of the right or wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, which is what Groce and Weber will spend the next 10 days doing, one way or another.
Both could make the NCAA Tournament.
Both could miss it.
It’s totally up in the air — just like Wednesday night’s fabulous wins that sparked all of this. If Tum Tum Nairn makes a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, perhaps Michigan State beats Illinois in overtime. If TCU makes 27 field goals instead of 26, the Horned Frogs would’ve beaten Kansas Sate. And then we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
Which kind of proves my point.
Is it really sensible for a man’s five-year career at a specific school to be extended or ended by such situations that could’ve easily gone either way? Think about it logically. Should Nairn making or missing a 23-foot jumper have anything to do with whether Groce is the right man for the Illinois job? Should KSU winning or losing a one-point game really be the difference between whether Weber should or should not ultimately get a sixth year? Should multimillion-dollar decisions hinge on these types of things?
I don’t think so.
What I think is that all athletic directors should take luck -- the bad variety of which Groce specifically has had so often over the years -- completely out of the equation and judge coaches in more intelligent ways. Because bad coaches make the NCAA Tournament every year while good coaches miss it, and those realities are often determined by things coaches barely control. To end a man’s career with a multimillion-dollar buyout or extend it with a multimillion-dollar contract based on little more than that alone is ridiculous.
That’s what I think, at least.
And, just so we’re clear, I don’t mean this solely as it relates to Groce and Weber, both of whom I like and consider quality men and coaches. I’m not writing about them as much as I’m writing about an industry in which coaches are hired and fired annually based on the results of a handful of games determined by hot shooters, foul trouble, injuries, bad calls or some combination of all four and countless other things.
That’s never made any sense to me.
So I beg you, athletic directors and fans, think bigger. It’s always better to evaluate coaches with a wider lens. Because when you tie a pass-or-fail line to good or bad news on Selection Sunday, there’s a decent chance you’ll make the wrong decision whether your bubble pops or not.
By Terrence Payne
(Photo/Getty Images)
After 27 years at Austin Peay, head coach Dave Loos will retire, the university announced on Thursday evening.
During his tenure, he earned the nickname, ‘The Dean of Ohio Valley Conference Coaches.’
As head coach of the Governors, Loos has compiled 421 wins, five regular season conference titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, the most recent of those trips coming last year. After sneaking into the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed, Austin Peay went on an improbable run, winning four games in as many days to earn the automatic bid.
This season, the Governors posted an 11-19 (7-9 OVC) record, failing to qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament. Loos, 69, missed four games during the 2016-17 campaign as he continued to undergo chemotherapy, something he had done since the summer. In July, Loos underwent successful surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon. During the procedure, a growth on one of his lymph nods was found, according to the university.
Assistant coach Jay Bowen replaced Loos on the sideline during his leave of absence.
Loos spent 31 years as a head coach, beginning his career at Chris Brothers University, an NAIA school. In between head coaching positions at Christian Brothers and Austin Peay, Loos was an assistant coach under Larry Finch at (then known as) Memphis State.
During his tenure, he earned the nickname, ‘The Dean of Ohio Valley Conference Coaches.’
As head coach of the Governors, Loos has compiled 421 wins, five regular season conference titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, the most recent of those trips coming last year. After sneaking into the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed, Austin Peay went on an improbable run, winning four games in as many days to earn the automatic bid.
This season, the Governors posted an 11-19 (7-9 OVC) record, failing to qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament. Loos, 69, missed four games during the 2016-17 campaign as he continued to undergo chemotherapy, something he had done since the summer. In July, Loos underwent successful surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon. During the procedure, a growth on one of his lymph nods was found, according to the university.
Assistant coach Jay Bowen replaced Loos on the sideline during his leave of absence.
Loos spent 31 years as a head coach, beginning his career at Chris Brothers University, an NAIA school. In between head coaching positions at Christian Brothers and Austin Peay, Loos was an assistant coach under Larry Finch at (then known as) Memphis State.
NCAAFB: The 17 storylines you need to know as college football begins 2017 spring practice.
By Ben Kercheval
(Photo/pinterest.com)
Spring football is here, meaning the slow offseason months are already melting away before our very eyes. Don’t you worry, the 2017 season will soon follow before you know it.
For now, it’s time to look ahead to those all-so-pivotal practices that will set the tone for the upcoming season. Teams won’t have their full rosters for spring practices, but those drills do provide an inside look into key position battles and stars in the making.
Spring is an important time for coaches, too. Some are holding their first practices at a new gig while others could be coaching for their jobs. From new faces to emerging names and NCAA scandals, here are all the things to watch for over the next couple of months before the dog days of summer set in.
17. “Rowing the Boat” in the land of 10,000 lakes: The P.J. Fleck era at Minnesota has begun. One of coaching’s biggest personalities takes over a team that nearly boycotted a bowl appearance over a sexual assault investigation involving a number of its players. Fleck’s high-energy shtick, highlighted by his “Row the Boat” mantra, worked wonders at Western Michigan. Can it work at a Power Five program? If it does, Fleck will become the hottest name in the coaching carousel.
16. Who emerges at wide receiver for Ohio State? The Buckeyes need a passing attack -- badly. There were myriad reasons why Ohio State struggled through the air last season, but the glaring focal point moving forward is the need for a playmaker at pass catcher. Sophomores K.J. Hill, Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack showed some flashes last season, and there’s some young talent on the way, too. If the Buckeyes are going to make a national title run, this position needs to improve.
15. Smoothing over a rough start at Oregon: Coach Willie Taggart did a remarkable job building up Western Kentucky and South Florida on his way to taking the Oregon job. But 2017 got off to a rocky start for the Jim Harbaugh disciple. A report from the Oregonian that three players were hospitalized during offseason workouts led to the suspension of the team’s new strength coach. Afterward, Taggart publicly shunned the story’s author, Andrew Greif, before the two eventually made up. Additionally, assistant coach David Reaves resigned following a DUI arrest. That’s a lot of drama for a coach who has been on the job but a few months.
14. Penn State begins its move toward another Big Ten East title: Few outside Happy Valley predicted the Nittany Lions would win the Big Ten East last season -- even then, the number of supporters had to have been small. Yet there weren’t many teams at season’s end playing better football than Penn State. Coach James Franklin appears to have his pieces in place to truly take ownership of the program. Running back Saquon Barkley is the undeniable truth. With Ohio State once again the heavy favorite, can Penn State shock the college football world again and re-emerge as one of college football’s blue bloods? The journey starts this spring.
13. A new-look Tennessee: There are coaching changes everywhere in college football, but at Tennessee, the Vols underwent several coaching swaps at the assistant level following an underwhelming 9-4 campaign that featured much loftier goals. In all, the Vols have five new assistants and two more have been promoted. Coach Butch Jones knows it’s now or never time in Knoxville. Without at least a SEC East title, his own future might be looking grim.
12. Lane Kiffin takes over Florida Atlantic: You’re not going to find many times when FAU is a focal point, but that changes with Kiffin’s arrival. (Related: That’s probably what FAU wants.) He’s one of college football’s most polarizing figures, and this is his first head coaching gig since being fired at an airport while he was leading Southern California. Oh, and he didn’t exactly leave Alabama as the team’s offensive coordinator under glowing circumstances. It’s always something with Kiffin, which gives him high entertainment value and keeps our attention.
11. Finding this year’s Western Michigan: Every year, there’s a Group of Five team that makes some noise in the offseason. It was Houston in 2016, but Western Michigan landed the major bowl bid after an undefeated regular season. Which team will become the underdog to watch? The likes of Boise State will always be mentioned first, but Appalachian State and Troy are intriguing under-the-radar teams if you’re down with some #FunBelt action. Tulsa was this close to winning 12 games last season and returns a number of experienced players.
10. Getting an initial glimpse of Kirby Smart’s second year at Georgia: UGA is the textbook definition of a sleeping giant. The state produces plenty of blue-chip talent each year, and the SEC East remains a division ripe for the taking. The Bulldogs’ offense has two star running backs returning in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and quarterback Jacob Eason has a year of experience under his belt. For all the hype East division foe Tennessee has received lately, Georgia is the program that feels like it’s on the verge of exploding.
9. Starting over at Michigan: Not to be hyperbolic, but the Wolverines lose e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y. You could say defensive coordinator Don Brown is the best returning starter on either side of the ball. With so many big names gone, spring practice will be about finding new names to step up. Good thing Jim Harbaugh has landed top-five-ish recruiting classes in each of the past two seasons. Now in Year 3, Michigan’s roster will look far more like Harbaugh’s than the one recruited by Brady Hoke.
8. The vibe around Ole Miss: The Rebels were handed a gruesome notice of allegations from the NCAA late last month with 21 total charges, including lack of institutional control and failure to monitor. Seven of the charges are of the dreaded Level I variety. The severe nature of the NOA comes back to coach Hugh Freeze, whose future has serious question marks from here on out. Forget position battles, Freeze is going to be asked about what the potential NCAA penalties will mean for his program ad nauseam.
7. Baylor enters the post-Art Briles era on a bad note: Briles might be gone, but the fallout from a sexual assault scandal that rocked the school hasn’t gone away. Within the past six weeks alone, Baylor was hit with a Title IX lawsuit alleging 31 players committed 52 acts of rape from 2011-14; the team’s new strength coach was fired after he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute ; the women’s basketball coach, Kim Mulkey, defended the school so vehemently that she encouraged a swift “knock in the face ” to anyone questioning whether to send their daughter to Baylor; and defensive back Travon Blanchard was suspended for multiple alleged acts of violence against a woman with whom he was involved. While 2016 was technically the first year without Briles at the helm, the rest of his staff remained. This is a legitimate fresh start under new coach Matt Rhule.
6. Where have all the quarterbacks (in the ACC Coastal) gone? There’s quarterback attrition, and then there’s a quarterback exodus. And lord have mercy, the ACC Coastal loses itself some quarterbacks -- Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina), Brad Kaaya (Miami), Jerod Evans (Virginia Tech) and Nathan Peterman (Pitt). Even Georgia Tech’s triple-option master, Justin Thomas, has left the building. The ACC Coastal isn’t just losing any old quarterbacks, either. It loses quality ones, including a few who will be drafted. Can they be replaced? Perhaps, but the Coastal is on its way to some spectacular 4-4 conference records from top to bottom.
5. Jarrett Stidham arrives at Auburn: Stidham is quickly earning the “missing piece” moniker for an Auburn team that feels as close as anyone to catching Alabama in the SEC West. But are we getting ahead of ourselves? He performed well as a freshman backup at Baylor in a quarterback-friendly offense but was still (understandably) freshman-y. He didn’t play at the junior college level, but will get plenty of snaps because of Sean White’s broken arm.
4. Tom Herman’s first quarterback competition at Texas: Shane Buechele is the incumbent after starting as a freshman and there’s a lot of excitement about early enrollee Sam Ehlinger. Buechele will be the No. 1 guy entering spring drills, but it will be interesting to see how much Ehlinger pushes him as practice continues. It’s a new year with a new coach, meaning jobs are on the line. For as disappointing as the past several years have been for the Longhorns, the raw skill is there thanks to Herman’s predecessor, Charlie Strong, and this team feels close to turning a corner. One of the positions that can help make it happen: quarterback.
3. A critical spring for Notre Dame: Going 4-8 isn’t acceptable at a place like Notre Dame. Ever. Especially with the schedule the Irish had last season. Quarterback DeShone Kizer, a real bright spot in an otherwise forgettable effort, is gone to the NFL and two new coordinators are taking over. Brandon Wimbush has some mojo at quarterback and there are some young skill guys to be excited about. Another key area to watch: defensive line.
2. USC -- ‘nuff said: If the Trojans are to pick up where they left off in 2016 -- as the hot team entering 2017 -- they need to keep up the big-play offense. Quarterback Sam Darnold is a stone-cold assassin, and running back Ronald Jones II is the real deal in the backfield. There’s plenty of talent across the board even with the losses of Juju Smith-Schuster and Adoree’ Jackson. The perception of the program has changed 180 degrees from this time last year. Now the question is whether USC can make good on it.
1. Replacing quarterback Deshaun Watson at Clemson: To put it simply, Clemson probably doesn’t win a national championship, let alone compete for two, without Watson. Between him and Tajh Boyd, Clemson has been gifted with top level quarterbacks over the past several years. Replacing him is a major priority. Zerrick Cooper, Hunter Johnson, Kelly Bryant and Tucker Israel will all get their shot, but Bryant enters spring No. 1 . Teams don’t necessarily need an experienced quarterback to win a national title, but a talented one goes a long way to making that goal achievable. The journey to find the next great quarterback begins in earnest.
For now, it’s time to look ahead to those all-so-pivotal practices that will set the tone for the upcoming season. Teams won’t have their full rosters for spring practices, but those drills do provide an inside look into key position battles and stars in the making.
Spring is an important time for coaches, too. Some are holding their first practices at a new gig while others could be coaching for their jobs. From new faces to emerging names and NCAA scandals, here are all the things to watch for over the next couple of months before the dog days of summer set in.
17. “Rowing the Boat” in the land of 10,000 lakes: The P.J. Fleck era at Minnesota has begun. One of coaching’s biggest personalities takes over a team that nearly boycotted a bowl appearance over a sexual assault investigation involving a number of its players. Fleck’s high-energy shtick, highlighted by his “Row the Boat” mantra, worked wonders at Western Michigan. Can it work at a Power Five program? If it does, Fleck will become the hottest name in the coaching carousel.
16. Who emerges at wide receiver for Ohio State? The Buckeyes need a passing attack -- badly. There were myriad reasons why Ohio State struggled through the air last season, but the glaring focal point moving forward is the need for a playmaker at pass catcher. Sophomores K.J. Hill, Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack showed some flashes last season, and there’s some young talent on the way, too. If the Buckeyes are going to make a national title run, this position needs to improve.
15. Smoothing over a rough start at Oregon: Coach Willie Taggart did a remarkable job building up Western Kentucky and South Florida on his way to taking the Oregon job. But 2017 got off to a rocky start for the Jim Harbaugh disciple. A report from the Oregonian that three players were hospitalized during offseason workouts led to the suspension of the team’s new strength coach. Afterward, Taggart publicly shunned the story’s author, Andrew Greif, before the two eventually made up. Additionally, assistant coach David Reaves resigned following a DUI arrest. That’s a lot of drama for a coach who has been on the job but a few months.
14. Penn State begins its move toward another Big Ten East title: Few outside Happy Valley predicted the Nittany Lions would win the Big Ten East last season -- even then, the number of supporters had to have been small. Yet there weren’t many teams at season’s end playing better football than Penn State. Coach James Franklin appears to have his pieces in place to truly take ownership of the program. Running back Saquon Barkley is the undeniable truth. With Ohio State once again the heavy favorite, can Penn State shock the college football world again and re-emerge as one of college football’s blue bloods? The journey starts this spring.
13. A new-look Tennessee: There are coaching changes everywhere in college football, but at Tennessee, the Vols underwent several coaching swaps at the assistant level following an underwhelming 9-4 campaign that featured much loftier goals. In all, the Vols have five new assistants and two more have been promoted. Coach Butch Jones knows it’s now or never time in Knoxville. Without at least a SEC East title, his own future might be looking grim.
12. Lane Kiffin takes over Florida Atlantic: You’re not going to find many times when FAU is a focal point, but that changes with Kiffin’s arrival. (Related: That’s probably what FAU wants.) He’s one of college football’s most polarizing figures, and this is his first head coaching gig since being fired at an airport while he was leading Southern California. Oh, and he didn’t exactly leave Alabama as the team’s offensive coordinator under glowing circumstances. It’s always something with Kiffin, which gives him high entertainment value and keeps our attention.
11. Finding this year’s Western Michigan: Every year, there’s a Group of Five team that makes some noise in the offseason. It was Houston in 2016, but Western Michigan landed the major bowl bid after an undefeated regular season. Which team will become the underdog to watch? The likes of Boise State will always be mentioned first, but Appalachian State and Troy are intriguing under-the-radar teams if you’re down with some #FunBelt action. Tulsa was this close to winning 12 games last season and returns a number of experienced players.
10. Getting an initial glimpse of Kirby Smart’s second year at Georgia: UGA is the textbook definition of a sleeping giant. The state produces plenty of blue-chip talent each year, and the SEC East remains a division ripe for the taking. The Bulldogs’ offense has two star running backs returning in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and quarterback Jacob Eason has a year of experience under his belt. For all the hype East division foe Tennessee has received lately, Georgia is the program that feels like it’s on the verge of exploding.
9. Starting over at Michigan: Not to be hyperbolic, but the Wolverines lose e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y. You could say defensive coordinator Don Brown is the best returning starter on either side of the ball. With so many big names gone, spring practice will be about finding new names to step up. Good thing Jim Harbaugh has landed top-five-ish recruiting classes in each of the past two seasons. Now in Year 3, Michigan’s roster will look far more like Harbaugh’s than the one recruited by Brady Hoke.
8. The vibe around Ole Miss: The Rebels were handed a gruesome notice of allegations from the NCAA late last month with 21 total charges, including lack of institutional control and failure to monitor. Seven of the charges are of the dreaded Level I variety. The severe nature of the NOA comes back to coach Hugh Freeze, whose future has serious question marks from here on out. Forget position battles, Freeze is going to be asked about what the potential NCAA penalties will mean for his program ad nauseam.
7. Baylor enters the post-Art Briles era on a bad note: Briles might be gone, but the fallout from a sexual assault scandal that rocked the school hasn’t gone away. Within the past six weeks alone, Baylor was hit with a Title IX lawsuit alleging 31 players committed 52 acts of rape from 2011-14; the team’s new strength coach was fired after he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute ; the women’s basketball coach, Kim Mulkey, defended the school so vehemently that she encouraged a swift “knock in the face ” to anyone questioning whether to send their daughter to Baylor; and defensive back Travon Blanchard was suspended for multiple alleged acts of violence against a woman with whom he was involved. While 2016 was technically the first year without Briles at the helm, the rest of his staff remained. This is a legitimate fresh start under new coach Matt Rhule.
6. Where have all the quarterbacks (in the ACC Coastal) gone? There’s quarterback attrition, and then there’s a quarterback exodus. And lord have mercy, the ACC Coastal loses itself some quarterbacks -- Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina), Brad Kaaya (Miami), Jerod Evans (Virginia Tech) and Nathan Peterman (Pitt). Even Georgia Tech’s triple-option master, Justin Thomas, has left the building. The ACC Coastal isn’t just losing any old quarterbacks, either. It loses quality ones, including a few who will be drafted. Can they be replaced? Perhaps, but the Coastal is on its way to some spectacular 4-4 conference records from top to bottom.
5. Jarrett Stidham arrives at Auburn: Stidham is quickly earning the “missing piece” moniker for an Auburn team that feels as close as anyone to catching Alabama in the SEC West. But are we getting ahead of ourselves? He performed well as a freshman backup at Baylor in a quarterback-friendly offense but was still (understandably) freshman-y. He didn’t play at the junior college level, but will get plenty of snaps because of Sean White’s broken arm.
4. Tom Herman’s first quarterback competition at Texas: Shane Buechele is the incumbent after starting as a freshman and there’s a lot of excitement about early enrollee Sam Ehlinger. Buechele will be the No. 1 guy entering spring drills, but it will be interesting to see how much Ehlinger pushes him as practice continues. It’s a new year with a new coach, meaning jobs are on the line. For as disappointing as the past several years have been for the Longhorns, the raw skill is there thanks to Herman’s predecessor, Charlie Strong, and this team feels close to turning a corner. One of the positions that can help make it happen: quarterback.
3. A critical spring for Notre Dame: Going 4-8 isn’t acceptable at a place like Notre Dame. Ever. Especially with the schedule the Irish had last season. Quarterback DeShone Kizer, a real bright spot in an otherwise forgettable effort, is gone to the NFL and two new coordinators are taking over. Brandon Wimbush has some mojo at quarterback and there are some young skill guys to be excited about. Another key area to watch: defensive line.
2. USC -- ‘nuff said: If the Trojans are to pick up where they left off in 2016 -- as the hot team entering 2017 -- they need to keep up the big-play offense. Quarterback Sam Darnold is a stone-cold assassin, and running back Ronald Jones II is the real deal in the backfield. There’s plenty of talent across the board even with the losses of Juju Smith-Schuster and Adoree’ Jackson. The perception of the program has changed 180 degrees from this time last year. Now the question is whether USC can make good on it.
1. Replacing quarterback Deshaun Watson at Clemson: To put it simply, Clemson probably doesn’t win a national championship, let alone compete for two, without Watson. Between him and Tajh Boyd, Clemson has been gifted with top level quarterbacks over the past several years. Replacing him is a major priority. Zerrick Cooper, Hunter Johnson, Kelly Bryant and Tucker Israel will all get their shot, but Bryant enters spring No. 1 . Teams don’t necessarily need an experienced quarterback to win a national title, but a talented one goes a long way to making that goal achievable. The journey to find the next great quarterback begins in earnest.
Gary Stevens is looking forward to first Breeder's Cup at Del Mar.
By Tod Leonard
Gary Stevens guides Beholder to the victory at Santa Anita Park on June 4, 2016. (Photo/Benoit Photo)
Gary Stevens reached for the white wooden folding chair next to him and tapped his knuckles on it.
“Knock wood,” the Hall of Fame jockey said with a grin.
At a Tuesday morning news conference to promote the 2017 Breeders’ Cup that will be held for the first time at Del Mar, Stevens was considering his prospects for appearing in horse racing’s biggest weekend come November.
There is every reason to believe Stevens will be there and riding, considering he has been waiting an entire career for something this grand to take place at the seaside track at which he has spent so many summers.
But more than most, he knows there are no guarantees in his game.
Stevens spent seven years in retirement before returning to racing in 2013. Then in 2014 he underwent surgery to replace his right knee. He returned the same year, and last season his 40 wins included a triumph for the ages (and the aged) ride aboard Beholder, who edged Songbird by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Even on that wonderful day, Stevens knew he was facing another surgery and another comeback — this time for replacement of a hip that had quickly deteriorated, leaving him with bone grinding on bone.
On Monday, Stevens will turn 54 years old. He has slipped into the irons 28,787 times in competition (winning more than 5,000 times).
“I’ve got to re-prove myself. It’s just part of the game,” said Stevens, who has 11 Breeders’ Cup victories. “You’re in the Hall of Fame, but age is not on my side in a lot of owners’ eyes. But the people who know me know how hard I work. I’ve been through this enough times to know my capabilities and know what to expect of myself.”
He then added one very big caveat: “If I’m not up to my standards in the first month back, I won’t continue.”
Stevens said the “opening day” for his return to racing is March 10 at Santa Anita. On that day, he will be five days short of three months removed from his surgery in December. He said he began riding live horses 10 days ago after practicing on his mechanical horse before that.
“I’m good,” he said confidently. “I would have already pulled the plug if I had any doubt.”
Give modern medicine an assist in Stevens’ return. He pulled out his cellphone Tuesday to show pictures of his X-rays. A metal piece with a ball on the end was inserted into his femur. The hip socket also was replaced.
Stevens said he has no more than about a 4-inch scar. He said the surgery took 58 minutes, he was walking two hours later and he left the hospital the next day. Four days later Stevens attended Santa Anita’s opening day and walked around with very little discomfort.
“My pedometer said I walked 2.6 miles,” he said with a hint of pride. “No cane or anything.”
It was a much different experience than the knee replacement surgery, Stevens said. After that, he was still riding races with an uncomfortable stiffness.
“The hardest thing after the knee was getting off the pain meds. It was brutal,” Stevens said. “I was off the pain meds for this in 10 days. That’s a major difference.”
Stevens said people have come to call him the “$6-Million Man” for all his artificial parts.
“More like ‘$6,000 Man,’ ” he quipped.
Another Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith, attended Tuesday’s proceedings and marveled at his longtime friend and rival.
“You talk to guys who have hip replacement or knee replacement, and they’re just happy to get off the couch and go to the refrigerator,” Smith, 51, said. “He’s a guy who’s competing and beating us. He’s beating guys who are 20 years old.
“He’s a freak of nature. He’s something else. I can’t describe it.”
Stevens proved last year he hasn’t lost much of his edge. He produced a winner in 13% of his 316 mounts and was in the money 43% of the time.
He said his love and the excitement for the sport keeps pulling him back.
“I love what I do,” Stevens said. “I would rather go out and ride a horse on a Saturday afternoon than go play 18 holes of golf. I’m in a lot better mood — win or lose.”
Both jockeys expressed what sounded like genuine excitement at the prospects of competing in a Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar for the first time.
“Del Mar has become my favorite city to be in, and you add my two favorite days on top of it, I can’t wait,” said Smith, who spent the bulk of his career riding at East Coast tracks.
Said Stevens, who rode in the first Breeders’ Cup in 1984 at Hollywood Park: “I’ve seen Del Mar grow and change — not only the city, but the race track. We didn’t know that this would ever come.”
Stevens and Smith compared Del Mar’s “boutique” confines and feel to Kentucky’s Keeneland, which hosted the 2015 Breeders’ Cup to rave reviews. Smith said there seemed to be more attention to detail at the smaller venue and expects the same for the crowd of 37,500 each day at Del Mar.
“I think it’s going to be incredible,” Smith said.
emoriesofhistory.com
1875 - The first recorded hockey game was played in Montreal.
1920 - The Quebec Bulldogs beat the Montreal Canadiens 16-3.
1959 - The San Francisco Giants had their new stadium officially named Candlestick Park.
1968 - Jean Beliveau (Montreal Canadiens) became the second NHL player to score 1,000 regular-season career points.
1974 - George Foreman knocked out Ken Norton.
1982 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) scored his 77th, 78th and 79th goals of the season.
1992 - Mike Bossy's #2 became the second number retired by the New York Islanders. 1998 - Larry Doby became the first black player in the American League to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
2001 - John Ruiz became the first Hispanic heavyweight champion. He beat Evander Holyfield for the WBA heavyweight title.
2002 - The Dallas Stars set an NHL record with their 48th straight win when leading after two periods. The streak started on November 11, 2000.
2006 - In Tokyo, Japan, the opener of the World Baseball Classic took place.
1920 - The Quebec Bulldogs beat the Montreal Canadiens 16-3.
1959 - The San Francisco Giants had their new stadium officially named Candlestick Park.
1968 - Jean Beliveau (Montreal Canadiens) became the second NHL player to score 1,000 regular-season career points.
1974 - George Foreman knocked out Ken Norton.
1982 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) scored his 77th, 78th and 79th goals of the season.
1992 - Mike Bossy's #2 became the second number retired by the New York Islanders. 1998 - Larry Doby became the first black player in the American League to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
2001 - John Ruiz became the first Hispanic heavyweight champion. He beat Evander Holyfield for the WBA heavyweight title.
2002 - The Dallas Stars set an NHL record with their 48th straight win when leading after two periods. The streak started on November 11, 2000.
2006 - In Tokyo, Japan, the opener of the World Baseball Classic took place.
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