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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." ~ Jim Rohm, Entrepreneur, Author and Motivational Speaker
TRENDING: Blackhawks sit a few more veterans, fall to Ducks. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: Blackhawks sit a few more veterans, fall to Ducks. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: It's all about the draft; Who analysts think Bears will draft. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: Jimmy Butler's triple-double leads Bulls past Sixers: 'We don't care how we do it'. What's Your Take? (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: Welcome to the new Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: James Shields effective as White Sox pound Tigers. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
TRENDING: Hoffman builds four-shot lead at Masters. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR Hall of Fame fan vote for 2018 class now open. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
TRENDING: Hoffman builds four-shot lead at Masters. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR Hall of Fame fan vote for 2018 class now open. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks sit a few more veterans, fall to Ducks.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Corey Perry scored his 19th of the season and Chris Wagner also scored as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Blackhawks 4-0 on Thursday night.
The Blackhawks were missing a few veterans, resting Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson (who’s still back in Chicago). But unlike Tuesday’s game in Colorado, the Blackhawks played a much better overall game on Thursday.
Ryan Hartman took a nasty slash to his right arm from Perry late in the first period but he returned to finish the game.
Still the Ducks, who were playing with a fuller lineup and looking to clinch the Pacific Division (which they did with this victory), had the answers. Perry was wide open for his goal, a power-play effort, to put the Ducks up 1-0 about seven minutes into the first period. Wagner added his late in the second period.
The Blackhawks will likely have a few more veterans back in the lineup on Saturday afternoon when they wrap up their regular season against the Los Angeles Kings.
Ryan Kesler added his 22nd goal of the season early in the third and Rickard Rakell scored his 33rd goal late in regulation.
Michal Rozsival left the game six minutes into the third period after Nick Ritchie punched him (Rozsival had crosschecked Ritchie a few moments prior to that). Ritchie was assessed a match penalty. The Blackhawks got a three-minute power play out of it but no goal.
Ryan Hartman closing in on 20-goal season.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Ryan Hartman had a list of things he wanted to accomplish with the Blackhawks this season.
When it came to goals, however, Hartman didn't set a distinct goal. There wasn't a specific number. But as the regular season comes to a close the rookie is closing in on a 20-goal season. In the plans or not, it would be a pretty nice number on which to finish.
Hartman scored his 19th goal of the season in the Blackhawks' 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. It's been a great season for Hartman whose 19 goals are sixth among NHL rookies this season (he's 16th among rookies in points with 31).
If Hartman does hit 20 goals, he'll be the seventh Blackhawks player to score 20 or more this season. Hartman's been part of a more balanced Blackhawks team this season, one that hasn't had to lean on the second line like it did last season.
"Especially postseason, it's huge," Hartman said of the Blackhawks' balanced scoring. "We can have, up and down the lineup, guys scoring goals. In close games, that can help. It can put you far into the playoffs."
Hartman moved around the lineup some this season but recently he's formed a good line with Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger. The trio has the defensive responsibility (with a little scoring to boot) that coach Joel Quenneville likes.
"He's done some good for us," Quenneville said of Hartman. "He gives us a little bite, being an edgy player, knowing the fine line you have to walk and how the referees are going to watching you or calling you every game. That's something that he's growing into. There's still some room to improve in that area."
Hartman walked that fine line pretty well for most of this season until late March, when his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty proved costly in a lopsided 7-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. Hartman was benched for the Blackhawks' next game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. But with everything else Hartman learned from that and has since been more disciplined (one minor in the last four games).
His season has been a learning experience, as most rookie campaigns are. But Hartman there's been more good than bad. He's on the cusp of a 20-goal season. That number may not have been part of his goals at the start of the season but it would be a nice mark to hit nonetheless.
"The consistency of his game, being around the net, wanting the puck, coming up with loose pucks is something he's gotten better at, and he still has room for improvement. But he still has upside to his game," Quenneville said. "He's had a real nice year. But don't be satisfied."
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! With injury shadows hovering over possible top 2017 picks, how much risk can Bears tolerate?
By John Mullin
(Photo/USA TODAY)
Almost from the beginning of his tenure as Bears general manager, Ryan Pace's rosters have been beset by injuries, one-time or recurring, to one player after another who had been targeted as critical building blocks of the reforming franchise: Kevin White, Pernell McPhee, Eddie Royal, Eddie Goldman, Hroniss Grasu, Alshon Jeffery, Leonard Floyd, Kyle Long, Danny Trevathan, others. Some were nagging injuries that affected contract decisions (Jeffery), some almost flukish injuries (White), some to veterans brought in to be part of a turnaround (McPhee, Royal, Trevathan).
With the draft now just three weeks distant, the injury specter among top draft prospects is impossible to ignore, and with it a question: How much, if any, injury risk are Pace and the organization willing to tolerate in this, another hugely pivotal draft?
With GM and coach John Fox entering year three, enough "risk" already overhangs the entire situation without adding to it. The Bears are expected to target one of several elite defensive players available at their current position of No. 3 overall or via trade down, the latter problematic because of needing a complementary partner willing to trade up.
Former GM Jerry Angelo suffered a major setback when 2008 No. 1 pick Chris Williams turned out to have back issues. That situation was compounded when the Bears needed to re-draft the position, only to have 2011 No. 1 Gabe Carimi be lost to knee injuries.
Tommie Harris, the 2004 No. 1, flashed early but was done in by knee problems that were a concern even as he came out of Oklahoma.
The Bears under Pace have stayed with a commitment to building through the draft: "We want to build through the draft.," said Chairman George McCaskey during the recent owners meetings. "Ryan said that in his interview when he said he was interested in coming to the Bears. And we like how he has stuck to that plan."
But injuries have undercut some of that plan; the Bears' three top picks of 2015 (White, Goldman, Grasu). Several of the 2017 draft's top talents, coincidentally at positions identified as needs for the Bears, come with injury shadows that are under Bears scrutiny and could make them too risky for Pace to invest potentially another top-10 pick. Such as:
Jonathan Allen, Alabama defensive lineman
A player frequently posted to the Bears at No. 3, Allen has been dogged by some concerns about shoulder arthritis, for which he has reportedly had surgeries, although his own level of concern is minimal.
"Not at all [concerned], not at all, the shoulder feels good," Allen said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Every doctor said if there's a problem, it's after football, way after football.
I have no concerns with it at all.''
But do NFL teams, especially ones in need of an impact defensive player? "I haven't heard anybody that said that they would take him off any lists," said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper via conference call. "It's not something you worry about [until] 15-20 years down the road. But if you're an NFL team, you're trying to say how's he going to be 5-6-7 years, and Jonathan Allen will be fine. ...
"I've not heard anyone say that that's going to push him down significantly. If he does drop beyond the top five or six, you say maybe it did. But I don't see him dropping beyond Chicago at 3 or Jacksonville at 4."
Malik Hooker, Ohio State safety
The Bears are in desperate quest of a ballhawking safety; Pace said there most definitely are some in this year's draft, and one would be Hooker. He intercepted 7 passes last seasons but it was his only full Buckeye season. Hooker has had a torn hip labrum and a sports hernia, and missed some pre-draft workouts with teams because of health. He had surgery on Jan. 16.
"With Hooker, he has those medical questions," Kiper said. "Would he be able to open the season helping the defense, or would he have to start out on PUP? All those things are what teams are looking at now with their medical staffs… .
"If you just say without any injury concern, he's one of the top five players in this draft, a safety who can move and have the range, the ball skills that he has. That's the only thing that would push him down just a bit. If you can reconcile the medical part, you take him in the top 10. If you can't, then he drops down a bit."
With their bad injury luck, whether the Bears can reconcile any medical part with one of their top picks and take a buyer-beware flyer is problematic.
"I'm recovering a lot faster than [doctors] thought," Hooker said during the Combine. "I'm looking forward to coming back around rookie camp. There's nothing else I could really say about it as of right now, it's just a day to day thing."
Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State cornerback
The Bears signed cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper in free agency to go with Tracy Porter and other roster options. But an elite cornerback changes a defense, and Lattimore has been rated the top corner in the draft.
"He was a guy who was a lock-down corner," Kiper said. "He looked like he could be Darrelle Revis, that cornerback you could take in that top 10 that will be spectacular, one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He can actually cover. ... He looked like a top-5, top-10 pick all year."
But there are hamstring concerns with a player who missed time in 2014 with a torn left hamstring and in 2015 with a right one. "Is it a concern that's brought up?" Kiper said. "Yes, it is."
It was brought up at the Combine after Lattimore had hamstring tightness. "They asked me that," Lattimore said. "That's the first thing [teams] asked me: How are my hamstrings, just tell them about my hamstring situation. But I'm a hundred-percent fine right now."
Whether that is enough assurance for the Bears...?
Who analysts think Bears will draft.
By Larry Mayer
With the NFL Draft just three weeks away, we take a look at who national analysts think the Bears will select with the No. 3 Pick:
Will Brinson, CBS Sports (March 30)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: The Bears need a steadying presence when it comes to the roster in general, and Allen is as unsexy and productive a pick as it gets in this draft. The process hasn't benefited him because he was too good in college and doesn't have some insane ceiling.
Previous mock draft: North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (March 20)
Pick: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Comment: The Bears need an enforcer in the middle to set the tone for the defense.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Dane Brugler, CBS Sports (April 6)
Pick: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Comment: The Bears signedPrince Amukamara to a one-year "prove it" deal, but there are still plenty of question marks at cornerback for Chicago. If the doctors give two thumbs up then Lattimore is worth this high selection.
Previous mock draft: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Charlie Casserly, NFL.com (March 28)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: Allen is an excellent 3-4 defensive end who gives you an inside pass rush.
Previous mock draft: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (April 4)
Pick: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Comment: Three players that make the most sense for the Bears: Malik Hooker, Jamal
Adams, and Lattimore. They can't go wrong with any of these players.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (April 5)
Pick: Ohio State safety Malik Hooker
Comment: Safety is a clear need. I had gone with Jamal Adams here, but Hooker is more of a center fielder-type with deep range and great speed. He has some Ed Reed in him as a playmaker. In his first season as a starter, he had seven interceptions in 2016, including three pick-sixes.
Previous mock draft: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Todd McShay, ESPN (April 5)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: Stick with the tape on Allen. He's still our No. 2 overall player, even after mediocre workouts. Allen's quickness and power help him constantly push the pocket as a pass-rusher, and he had 22.5 sacks in the past two seasons. The Bears could use a solidifying force along the interior.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (March 30)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: He is a tough, physical player who can play end in their scheme. He is impressive on tape.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Rob Rang, CBS Sports (April 6)
Pick: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Comment: Safety has long been a sore spot in Chicago with only one Bears safety (Mike Brown) earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl over the past 20 years. Adams has that kind of potential and is viewed by some as the safest prospect in the draft. He is a tone-setter with a rare combination of instincts, athleticism and intangibles to make an immediate impact on a defense that made strides a year ago but allowed 24.9 points per game, 24th in the NFL.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (March 30)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: Allen plugs into one of the Bears' five-technique spots.
Previous mock draft: Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (March 27)
Pick: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Comment: The Bears are in desperate need of a true top cornerback, and Lattimore is that guy in this draft.
Previous mock draft: Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Jimmy Butler's triple-double leads Bulls past Sixers: 'We don't care how we do it'. What's Your Take?
Will Brinson, CBS Sports (March 30)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: The Bears need a steadying presence when it comes to the roster in general, and Allen is as unsexy and productive a pick as it gets in this draft. The process hasn't benefited him because he was too good in college and doesn't have some insane ceiling.
Previous mock draft: North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (March 20)
Pick: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Comment: The Bears need an enforcer in the middle to set the tone for the defense.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Dane Brugler, CBS Sports (April 6)
Pick: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Comment: The Bears signed
Previous mock draft: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Charlie Casserly, NFL.com (March 28)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: Allen is an excellent 3-4 defensive end who gives you an inside pass rush.
Previous mock draft: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (April 4)
Pick: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Comment: Three players that make the most sense for the Bears: Malik Hooker, Jamal
Adams, and Lattimore. They can't go wrong with any of these players.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (April 5)
Pick: Ohio State safety Malik Hooker
Comment: Safety is a clear need. I had gone with Jamal Adams here, but Hooker is more of a center fielder-type with deep range and great speed. He has some Ed Reed in him as a playmaker. In his first season as a starter, he had seven interceptions in 2016, including three pick-sixes.
Previous mock draft: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Todd McShay, ESPN (April 5)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: Stick with the tape on Allen. He's still our No. 2 overall player, even after mediocre workouts. Allen's quickness and power help him constantly push the pocket as a pass-rusher, and he had 22.5 sacks in the past two seasons. The Bears could use a solidifying force along the interior.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (March 30)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: He is a tough, physical player who can play end in their scheme. He is impressive on tape.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Rob Rang, CBS Sports (April 6)
Pick: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Comment: Safety has long been a sore spot in Chicago with only one Bears safety (Mike Brown) earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl over the past 20 years. Adams has that kind of potential and is viewed by some as the safest prospect in the draft. He is a tone-setter with a rare combination of instincts, athleticism and intangibles to make an immediate impact on a defense that made strides a year ago but allowed 24.9 points per game, 24th in the NFL.
Previous mock draft: LSU safety Jamal Adams
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (March 30)
Pick: Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
Comment: Allen plugs into one of the Bears' five-technique spots.
Previous mock draft: Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (March 27)
Pick: Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Comment: The Bears are in desperate need of a true top cornerback, and Lattimore is that guy in this draft.
Previous mock draft: Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Jimmy Butler's triple-double leads Bulls past Sixers: 'We don't care how we do it'. What's Your Take?
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/AP Images)
Survive and advance.
That's the mantra—or at least it should be for the Chicago Bulls as they trudge through the last road trip of the season, trying to wipe the bad taste from their mouths after an ugly loss to the woeful New York Knicks Tuesday night.
And as the equally-dreadful Philadelphia 76ers gave the Bulls another chance for them not to play down to their level of competition, the Bulls emerged with a ugly 102-90 win at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia Thursday night.
The win keeps pace with Miami and Indiana at the seventh spot in the East with three games remaining.
"That's it man," said Jimmy Butler, who put up his second triple-double of the season with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. "We don't care how we do it, how many points we score, how many stops we get. Whenever you win, that's all you want this time of year."
Butler had to take additional playmaking duties with Rajon Rondo sidelined with a wrist injury, but needed help from his one-night wingman, Nikola Mirotic, to secure the Westbrookian feat.
With nine assists, Butler didn't deny the statistical accomplishment was in his mind with the game essentially in hand.
"I definitely (knew)," Butler said. "Niko said, you need one more?"
Butler replied, then Mirotic issued the directive that displayed the confidence of a new man this time of year.
"Okay then throw it to me. You throw it to me, I'll shoot it," Mirotic told Butler.
Catch, fire, swish.
Mirotic had his best game since the calendar turned to April with 22 points and seven rebounds, as the triple with less than three minutes left to give the Bulls a 15-point lead, essentially ending any thought of a 76ers threat.
"My shot is feeling great right now. Even though I take tough shots, deep shots, I feel like I'm gonna make them," Mirotic said. "When you make a shot, it's time to shoot. When you don't, try to find a way to make a play. It's going good so far and that's all that matters."
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: This is a follow-up to last Friday's, What's Your Take? I read an article again this week that states that the Bulls are ready to part company with Jimmy Butler. I don't understand it. This guy is playing his back off. Is he a problem in the locker room? Do the other players get along with him? The Bulls signed him to a new contract last year, do they want to cut the payroll? Do they really want to build another championship team? These are some of the questions I have as I just don't know what the front office is doing. Again, they've drafted some decent talent recently but in my opinion, they don't have the proper personnel to develop the talent that they've acquired and that includes the front office along with the coaching staff. And that development is not just skills but the ability to get the players to buy into the team's philosophy also.
The bottom line is that the Bulls are just going to remain a status quo team until the front office and coaching staff are changed. Period, paragraph, end of the story.
I would love for someone from the Bulls organization or another true diehard Bulls' fan to explain to me what's going on with the Bulls and tell me if I'm on to something or if I'm completely off base. I'd love to know, what's your take?
Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your thoughts with me. I truly love hearing from you and always respect your opinion(s).
Marion P. Jelks, Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editor-In-Chief.
NBA Buzz: Could Rajon Rondo return to the Bulls next season?
By Mark Schanowski
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When the Bulls signed Rajon Rondo last July to a two-year contract with a team option and a small buyout for 2017-18, the odds of Rondo being in a Bulls uniform for that second year never looked very good.
The original plan called for Rondo to serve as a coach on the floor for a young, rebuilding Bulls team. When Rondo came in for his free-agent visit on July 1, Fred Hoiberg talked about putting the ball in his hands and giving him a lot of latitude in making play calls and distributing the ball to teammates in spots where they could be most effective.
But that all changed when 12-time All Star Dwyane Wade fell into the Bulls' laps after his negotiations for a new contract in Miami fell apart. Adding the 34-year-old Wade put two ball-dominant players in the lineup alongside Rondo, and after some early success, the Bulls' half-court offense got bogged down with poor floor spacing and too many isolation plays.
Rondo was taken out of the starting lineup in late December and fell completely out of the rotation. At that point, it seemed like only a matter of time before the Bulls bought him out of the rest of his contract.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Rondo's farewell. The Bulls decided to keep him on the roster in case his $14 million salary-cap number would be useful in a trade. And after watching Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams fail to establish themselves as the starting point guard, Hoiberg eventually returned Rondo to the rotation as the backup, using him to push the pace with a second unit made up of young players like Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott, Denzel Valentine and Cris Felicio.
Rondo never thought he would get a chance to become a starter again, but after an embarrassing loss in Boston on March 12, Hoiberg made the move to try to inject some pace into a stagnant offense. The results have been better than anyone expected, with Rondo playing much more aggressively on the offensive end and working well with Jimmy Butler.
Since Wade went out with an elbow injury on March 15, Rondo has been playing his best basketball of the season, averaging right around 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Unfortunately, Rondo injured his right wrist in Tuesday's loss in New York and his status for the rest of the week is up in the air.
So assuming the Bulls make the playoffs with Rondo excelling as the floor general, is there now a scenario where the 31-year-old point guard returns to Chicago next season?
No matter which direction the front office decides to go with the roster, it seems unlikely. If John Paxson and Gar Forman keep Butler and Wade as the headliners, they'll probably need Rondo's cap space ($13.397 million) to try to add another veteran to the roster who will be a better fit with the Bulls' leading scorers.
And if Butler is traded during the offseason, will the Bulls really want Rondo around taking minutes from young point guards Cameron Payne and Grant? The short answer is no.
The long answer is both Payne and Grant are under team control for two more seasons on rookie scale contracts and the front office has a lot invested in Payne after sending Taj Gibson and McDermott to Oklahoma City to acquire his services. They also would like to see Grant develop into a consistent rotation player after bringing him over in the Derrick Rose trade with the Knicks.
So appreciate Rondo's veteran pride and work ethic in coming back from exile to help lead the Bulls' playoff push. But economic and roster realities most likely mean his NBA odyssey will continue in a fifth city next season.
Here are a few stories from around the Association that have caught my attention.
What's next for Derrick Rose?
Speaking of veteran point guards looking for a new home next season, it will be interesting to see what kind of free-agent market develops for Derrick Rose. We learned over the weekend Rose will need a fourth knee surgery to remove a torn meniscus in his left knee. That makes two surgeries on each knee for a player who turns 29 before next season begins.
Rose talked openly about landing a big free-agent contract as far back as Bulls Media Day in September 2015. But after the latest knee injury, Derrick will most likely have to settle for one guaranteed season and an option year at far less than his max contract value.
So which teams might be interested in Rose this offseason? Well, don't rule out a return to the Knicks. Even though Jeff Hornacek has indicated his team will be more reliant on the triangle offense next season, the Knicks have been starting undrafted rookie Ron Baker at the point, backed up by Chasson Randle. If the Knicks don't draft a point guard with their top-10 pick, they could consider bringing Rose back for one year, plus a team or player option.
Since point guard is probably the deepest position in the NBA, there aren't too many teams looking for a starter this offseason, and you know Rose won't sign with a team that would ask him to come off the bench. Forget about a return to Chicago, that ship has sailed. How about 90 miles to the north in Milwaukee? Might work for Rose, but the Bucks are probably comfortable going forward with second-round surprise Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova.
Looking at other NBA rosters, Rose might fit in rebuilding situations in Philadelphia or Sacramento, but would he be willing to go there? Rose works out in Los Angeles during the offseason, but neither the Lakers or the Clippers are likely in the market for a point guard, unless Chris Paul surprises everyone and leaves in free agency.
Rose could be a fall-back option in Toronto if Kyle Lowry leaves in free agency or in New Orleans if Jrue Holiday signs with another team. But the cold reality is Rose won't have a lot of great options coming off another knee surgery. And, who would have predicted Rose signing a contract for a lot less than long-time teammates Joakim Noah and Luol Deng (each getting four years and $72 million in free agency), as well as non-descript players like Timofey Mozgov, Evan Turner, Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson and the aforementioned Dellavedova?
Russell Westbrook wrapping up MVP season
Can we go ahead and engrave that MVP trophy for Russell Westbrook now? As of this writing, Westbrook had just tied Oscar Robertson's seemingly unreachable total of 41 triple-doubles in a single season and will undoubtedly surpass the Big O over Oklahoma City's final five games. Westbrook also is a lock to average a triple-double for the season, matching Robertson's remarkable accomplishment from the 1961-62 campaign.
With all due respect for James Harden's remarkable year in Houston, Kawhi Leonard's ascension in San Antonio and LeBron James' all-around brilliance in Cleveland, Westbrook is having an historic season while almost single-handedly carrying the Thunder to the playoffs following Kevin Durant's free-agent departure.
Sure, leading a team to 50 wins has been almost a prerequisite for winning the MVP award, and Oklahoma City will fall short of that mark, but Westbrook's ability to maintain that level of play over an 82-game schedule is one of the most remarkable feats we've seen in any sport.
Stat of the week
As most Bulls fans know, Derrick Rose is the youngest player to win the MVP award, earning the honor at the age of 22 after leading the Bulls to an NBA-best 62 wins in the 2010-11 season. Unfortunately, one year later his career was derailed by the serious knee injury he suffered in Game 1 of an opening-round playoff series against Philadelphia.
CSN's stats whiz Chris Kamka put together this look at how Rose's three All-Star seasons compare to his numbers since the ACL injury in April 2012.
The original plan called for Rondo to serve as a coach on the floor for a young, rebuilding Bulls team. When Rondo came in for his free-agent visit on July 1, Fred Hoiberg talked about putting the ball in his hands and giving him a lot of latitude in making play calls and distributing the ball to teammates in spots where they could be most effective.
But that all changed when 12-time All Star Dwyane Wade fell into the Bulls' laps after his negotiations for a new contract in Miami fell apart. Adding the 34-year-old Wade put two ball-dominant players in the lineup alongside Rondo, and after some early success, the Bulls' half-court offense got bogged down with poor floor spacing and too many isolation plays.
Rondo was taken out of the starting lineup in late December and fell completely out of the rotation. At that point, it seemed like only a matter of time before the Bulls bought him out of the rest of his contract.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Rondo's farewell. The Bulls decided to keep him on the roster in case his $14 million salary-cap number would be useful in a trade. And after watching Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams fail to establish themselves as the starting point guard, Hoiberg eventually returned Rondo to the rotation as the backup, using him to push the pace with a second unit made up of young players like Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott, Denzel Valentine and Cris Felicio.
Rondo never thought he would get a chance to become a starter again, but after an embarrassing loss in Boston on March 12, Hoiberg made the move to try to inject some pace into a stagnant offense. The results have been better than anyone expected, with Rondo playing much more aggressively on the offensive end and working well with Jimmy Butler.
Since Wade went out with an elbow injury on March 15, Rondo has been playing his best basketball of the season, averaging right around 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Unfortunately, Rondo injured his right wrist in Tuesday's loss in New York and his status for the rest of the week is up in the air.
So assuming the Bulls make the playoffs with Rondo excelling as the floor general, is there now a scenario where the 31-year-old point guard returns to Chicago next season?
No matter which direction the front office decides to go with the roster, it seems unlikely. If John Paxson and Gar Forman keep Butler and Wade as the headliners, they'll probably need Rondo's cap space ($13.397 million) to try to add another veteran to the roster who will be a better fit with the Bulls' leading scorers.
And if Butler is traded during the offseason, will the Bulls really want Rondo around taking minutes from young point guards Cameron Payne and Grant? The short answer is no.
The long answer is both Payne and Grant are under team control for two more seasons on rookie scale contracts and the front office has a lot invested in Payne after sending Taj Gibson and McDermott to Oklahoma City to acquire his services. They also would like to see Grant develop into a consistent rotation player after bringing him over in the Derrick Rose trade with the Knicks.
So appreciate Rondo's veteran pride and work ethic in coming back from exile to help lead the Bulls' playoff push. But economic and roster realities most likely mean his NBA odyssey will continue in a fifth city next season.
Here are a few stories from around the Association that have caught my attention.
What's next for Derrick Rose?
Speaking of veteran point guards looking for a new home next season, it will be interesting to see what kind of free-agent market develops for Derrick Rose. We learned over the weekend Rose will need a fourth knee surgery to remove a torn meniscus in his left knee. That makes two surgeries on each knee for a player who turns 29 before next season begins.
Rose talked openly about landing a big free-agent contract as far back as Bulls Media Day in September 2015. But after the latest knee injury, Derrick will most likely have to settle for one guaranteed season and an option year at far less than his max contract value.
So which teams might be interested in Rose this offseason? Well, don't rule out a return to the Knicks. Even though Jeff Hornacek has indicated his team will be more reliant on the triangle offense next season, the Knicks have been starting undrafted rookie Ron Baker at the point, backed up by Chasson Randle. If the Knicks don't draft a point guard with their top-10 pick, they could consider bringing Rose back for one year, plus a team or player option.
Since point guard is probably the deepest position in the NBA, there aren't too many teams looking for a starter this offseason, and you know Rose won't sign with a team that would ask him to come off the bench. Forget about a return to Chicago, that ship has sailed. How about 90 miles to the north in Milwaukee? Might work for Rose, but the Bucks are probably comfortable going forward with second-round surprise Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova.
Looking at other NBA rosters, Rose might fit in rebuilding situations in Philadelphia or Sacramento, but would he be willing to go there? Rose works out in Los Angeles during the offseason, but neither the Lakers or the Clippers are likely in the market for a point guard, unless Chris Paul surprises everyone and leaves in free agency.
Rose could be a fall-back option in Toronto if Kyle Lowry leaves in free agency or in New Orleans if Jrue Holiday signs with another team. But the cold reality is Rose won't have a lot of great options coming off another knee surgery. And, who would have predicted Rose signing a contract for a lot less than long-time teammates Joakim Noah and Luol Deng (each getting four years and $72 million in free agency), as well as non-descript players like Timofey Mozgov, Evan Turner, Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson and the aforementioned Dellavedova?
Russell Westbrook wrapping up MVP season
Can we go ahead and engrave that MVP trophy for Russell Westbrook now? As of this writing, Westbrook had just tied Oscar Robertson's seemingly unreachable total of 41 triple-doubles in a single season and will undoubtedly surpass the Big O over Oklahoma City's final five games. Westbrook also is a lock to average a triple-double for the season, matching Robertson's remarkable accomplishment from the 1961-62 campaign.
With all due respect for James Harden's remarkable year in Houston, Kawhi Leonard's ascension in San Antonio and LeBron James' all-around brilliance in Cleveland, Westbrook is having an historic season while almost single-handedly carrying the Thunder to the playoffs following Kevin Durant's free-agent departure.
Sure, leading a team to 50 wins has been almost a prerequisite for winning the MVP award, and Oklahoma City will fall short of that mark, but Westbrook's ability to maintain that level of play over an 82-game schedule is one of the most remarkable feats we've seen in any sport.
Stat of the week
As most Bulls fans know, Derrick Rose is the youngest player to win the MVP award, earning the honor at the age of 22 after leading the Bulls to an NBA-best 62 wins in the 2010-11 season. Unfortunately, one year later his career was derailed by the serious knee injury he suffered in Game 1 of an opening-round playoff series against Philadelphia.
CSN's stats whiz Chris Kamka put together this look at how Rose's three All-Star seasons compare to his numbers since the ACL injury in April 2012.
Clearly, Rose has never been the same player since that first knee injury, and it's painful for Bulls fans to think about what might have been had the hometown star been able to stay healthy.
Quote of the week
With Dwyane Wade's imminent return from the elbow injury he suffered on March 15, Bulls fans will once again get to hear Tommy Edwards' "from Chicago" introduction that Rose made famous. Question is, how healthy can Wade possibly be just three weeks removed from a chip fracture in his shooting elbow?
Wade's good friend Jimmy Butler had this to say after Wade scrimmaged with the team Wednesday in Philadelphia: "I see him out there playing basketball," Butler said. "It's good to see him out there, obviously. But I just want him to come back whenever he knows he can go 100 percent, not hold back."
And, as CSN's Vincent Goodwill is reporting, Wade's return will come Saturday night in Brooklyn. The 14-year veteran wants to contribute whatever he can to help the Bulls get to the playoffs in his homecoming season.
Sources: Dwyane Wade plans to return Saturday vs. Nets.
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Some are being more coy about it than others, but Dwyane Wade will return from his right elbow injury Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets, just in time to get a couple games in before the playoffs.
And Jimmy Butler is the happiest guy in the room, his eyes lighting up when asked about the prospects of how Wade will fit in with a Bulls team that plays a little differently than the one he left on March 15.
“I’m stoked to have my guy back, let him get out there, get in a rhythm, and do what he’s done for years,” Butler said to CSNChicago.com as he walked off the floor following the Bulls’ 102-90 win over the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday night. “We just want him comfortable and pick up where he left off.”
How Wade fits into a team that plays a little faster, shoots more threes and relies more on the playmaking of Rajon Rondo than it did before will be interesting to see, and won’t be an easy adjustment.
But with three games remaining and the Bulls still in “must-win” mode, trying to clinch a playoff spot, it could prove as the perfect training ground before the postseason.
Butler, who takes up his share of possessions as a facilitator as well as scorer, will take it upon himself to make sure Wade fits in with the way things are done. Wade will certainly get his share of touches to create, but Wade was also one of the league’s premier off-the-ball scorers when he played next to LeBron James in Miami.
“Tell him to be aggressive, pass him the ball to where he can get used to scoring with ease and let him know to come in and stay aggressive,” Butler told CSNChicago.com. “We want him to be that way the last three games and hopefully, the playoffs.”
Wade nearly carried the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, as they fell in a Game 7 to the Toronto Raptors in the East Semis. Any semblance of that player will be invaluable for the Bulls this time around.
“Even though we’re playing good without him, we can’t make the playoffs without D.Wade,” Nikola Mirotic said. “We need him to have a chance. We need his experience, he knows how to play those games. We don’t have that much experience. He’s been working so hard to get back. Hopefully he can return and we can make the playoffs and everybody will be there. We’re gonna fight.”
Mirotic has played in 12 playoff games, back when the Bulls advanced to the second round before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games before Tom Thibodeau was fired and Fred Hoiberg was brought in.
Butler was a different player then as well in 2015, as was Wade last year. But he knows with all the conditioning and drills and rehab Wade has been up to, nothing compares to game action.
Which is why getting him out there against a bad Brooklyn Nets team or an underachieving Orlando Magic team is better than throwing him out there in Game 1 of a playoff series next Saturday or Sunday.
“Now it’s about getting in a rhythm. Like he knows and everybody knows there’s no shape like basketball shape,” Butler told CSNChicago.com “As much running and shooting as we can do, it’s different when you get out there in a game. Like I said, I just want him out there just going, just playing and doing what he does.”
CUBS: Welcome to the new Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.
And Jimmy Butler is the happiest guy in the room, his eyes lighting up when asked about the prospects of how Wade will fit in with a Bulls team that plays a little differently than the one he left on March 15.
“I’m stoked to have my guy back, let him get out there, get in a rhythm, and do what he’s done for years,” Butler said to CSNChicago.com as he walked off the floor following the Bulls’ 102-90 win over the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday night. “We just want him comfortable and pick up where he left off.”
How Wade fits into a team that plays a little faster, shoots more threes and relies more on the playmaking of Rajon Rondo than it did before will be interesting to see, and won’t be an easy adjustment.
But with three games remaining and the Bulls still in “must-win” mode, trying to clinch a playoff spot, it could prove as the perfect training ground before the postseason.
Butler, who takes up his share of possessions as a facilitator as well as scorer, will take it upon himself to make sure Wade fits in with the way things are done. Wade will certainly get his share of touches to create, but Wade was also one of the league’s premier off-the-ball scorers when he played next to LeBron James in Miami.
“Tell him to be aggressive, pass him the ball to where he can get used to scoring with ease and let him know to come in and stay aggressive,” Butler told CSNChicago.com. “We want him to be that way the last three games and hopefully, the playoffs.”
Wade nearly carried the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, as they fell in a Game 7 to the Toronto Raptors in the East Semis. Any semblance of that player will be invaluable for the Bulls this time around.
“Even though we’re playing good without him, we can’t make the playoffs without D.Wade,” Nikola Mirotic said. “We need him to have a chance. We need his experience, he knows how to play those games. We don’t have that much experience. He’s been working so hard to get back. Hopefully he can return and we can make the playoffs and everybody will be there. We’re gonna fight.”
Mirotic has played in 12 playoff games, back when the Bulls advanced to the second round before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games before Tom Thibodeau was fired and Fred Hoiberg was brought in.
Butler was a different player then as well in 2015, as was Wade last year. But he knows with all the conditioning and drills and rehab Wade has been up to, nothing compares to game action.
Which is why getting him out there against a bad Brooklyn Nets team or an underachieving Orlando Magic team is better than throwing him out there in Game 1 of a playoff series next Saturday or Sunday.
“Now it’s about getting in a rhythm. Like he knows and everybody knows there’s no shape like basketball shape,” Butler told CSNChicago.com “As much running and shooting as we can do, it’s different when you get out there in a game. Like I said, I just want him out there just going, just playing and doing what he does.”
CUBS: Welcome to the new Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/AP)
Yadier Molina looked all around home plate and couldn't find the ball as pinch-hitter Matt Szczur ran to first base after whiffing on Brett Cecil's curveball in the dirt for strike three. Hands on his hips, the Gold Glove catcher couldn't help smiling after realizing it somehow got stuck in his chest protector.
Welcome back to the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, where late-game crazy happens. As the young Cubs shredded their "Lovable Loser" label and grew up into World Series champs, they became a relentless team that pounced on the smallest mistakes and capitalized on the random bounces. In some ways, it mirrored The Cardinal Way and how momentum could keep building and building at Busch Stadium.
It all came crashing down on the Cardinals in the seventh inning on Thursday afternoon, Szczur reaching base on that hidden-ball trick, ex-Cardinal Jon Jay drawing a walk and Kyle Schwarber doing the damage that turned him into a Mr. October before his first full season in The Show.
Schwarber launched a first-pitch fastball that traveled 404 feet into the right-field seats and stayed just inside the foul pole for the go-ahead, three-run homer in a 6-4 win.
Schwarber flicked his bat and admired the flight of the ball after jumping Cecil, the lefty reliever the Cardinals handed a four-year, $30.5 million contract after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The Cubs still needed Carl Edwards Jr. to come into a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth inning and strike out Randal Grichuk (swinging at a 97-mph fastball) and Jedd Gyorko (looking at a curveball). Wade Davis finished off the Cardinals in the ninth inning for his second save in a Cubs uniform.
Just like that, the Cubs escaped St. Louis with a season-opening series win that showed the Cardinals won't be conceding the National League Central.
"The bigger the target, the better we should play," manager Joe Maddon said. "The bigger the target, the more prepared we should be. I mean that sincerely. I love that stuff. You know that. We didn't run away from it last year. I certainly don't expect us to run away from it this year.
"Regardless, I just want us to prepare and do our job, like we do normally on a daily basis. If another group has to become emotional to play us or beat us, that's going to run out at some point, too."
Cubs realign rotation so Jon Lester will start Wrigley opener against Dodgers.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers showed up at Wrigley Field, the Cubs clinched their first National League pennant in 71 years, sprayed beer and champagne all over the place and partied through the night.
The Dodgers will be The Other Team again when the Cubs raise their World Series championship banner – and now have to face the NLCS co-MVP in that prime-time matchup.
The Cubs rearranged their rotation so that Jake Arrieta will face the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park while Jon Lester will start Monday night's season opener in Wrigleyville.
That alignment gives the Cubs two lefties – Lester and Brett Anderson – for a three-game series against Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager and a Dodger lineup that finished last in the majors last year with a .622 OPS against left-handed pitching (or 45 points lower than the next-to-last team).
"It was just right in front of us," manager Joe Maddon said. "This was so obvious, we just couldn’t walk away from it."
When will Cubs lock up their young core players with long-term deals?
By Patrick Mooney
The Dodgers will be The Other Team again when the Cubs raise their World Series championship banner – and now have to face the NLCS co-MVP in that prime-time matchup.
The Cubs rearranged their rotation so that Jake Arrieta will face the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park while Jon Lester will start Monday night's season opener in Wrigleyville.
That alignment gives the Cubs two lefties – Lester and Brett Anderson – for a three-game series against Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager and a Dodger lineup that finished last in the majors last year with a .622 OPS against left-handed pitching (or 45 points lower than the next-to-last team).
"It was just right in front of us," manager Joe Maddon said. "This was so obvious, we just couldn’t walk away from it."
When will Cubs lock up their young core players with long-term deals?
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Cubs don't have any imminent deals that would soon lead to a Wrigley Field press conference where someone like Kyle Schwarber smiles for the cameras and talks about playing in Chicago for his entire career.
The rebuilding White Sox signed shortstop Tim Anderson to a six-year, $25 million contract extension near the end of spring training that could keep him on the South Side through 2024 and max out at $50.5 million. The reloading Cardinals this week announced a six-year, $33.5 million guarantee for Stephen Piscotty, Jason Heyward's replacement in right field at Busch Stadium.
Making those kinds of long-term investments in young core players is part of Theo Epstein's playbook, but here's why it might become harder when a team gets this good this fast.
"Listen, ultimately, there's a lot of guys that we hope are playing here beyond their arbitration years," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "They're young and good."
— If deadlines are the best motivation to get a deal done, remember that World Series legend Schwarber, reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant, All-Star shortstop Addison Russell and highlight-reel defender Javier Baez all remain under club control through the 2021 season. Emerging catcher Willson Contreras and potential Gold Glove center fielder Albert Almora Jr. aren't positioned to become free agents until after the 2022 season.
— As first-round picks, Bryant ($6.7 million), Almora ($3.9 million), Schwarber ($3.125 million), Russell ($2.625 million) and Baez ($2.6 million) all commanded seven-figure bonuses coming out of the draft, which allows them to be more patient and wait for a bigger score. Full playoff shares from 2015 and 2016 would also be worth more than $491,000 combined.
— Bryant obviously has crossover appeal and a wide-ranging endorsement portfolio that includes brands like Adidas, Express, Topps and Red Bull. But at least one non-MVP Cub made more money with off-the-field interests than his actual salary last year. Being part of The Team that ended the 108-year drought means getting paid for making appearances, signing autographs and hawking products.
— In high-stakes negotiations, the young Cubs will be represented by heavy hitters, bigger agencies like Boras Corp., Excel Sports Management, Wasserman and Octagon that have good working relationships with Epstein's front office but won't necessarily be looking for hometown discounts.
— The Cubs built an uber-team around hitters, because their careers are more predictable and don't come with the same medical risks as pitchers. Schwarber shredded his left knee last April and made it back in time to be a designated hitter in the World Series. Hitters can afford to play it out and work the arbitration system.
— These are still individual decisions and the landscape is constantly changing. Anthony Rizzo had already beaten cancer and been traded twice by the time he accepted the security of seven years and $41 million guaranteed in May 2013.
Rizzo wanted to top the $32 million the Diamondbacks committed to Paul Goldschmidt. But before the 2014 season started, the Braves reset the market for first basemen by giving Freddie Freeman an eight-year, $135 million deal.
Rizzo still cashes in as the face of an iconic franchise and one of Major League Baseball's most recognizable personalities. A second top-five finish in the NL MVP voting already triggered all the escalators in his contract. His 2019 salary increased from $11 million to $12 million, with the club options for 2020 and 2021 now worth $16.5 million instead of $14.5 million.
— Pitchers have their own calculus and the only logical extension candidate here would be Kyle Hendricks, who is 27 years old, under club control through 2020 and coming off a season where he led the majors with a 2.13 ERA. Jake Arrieta insists this won't become a distraction and the Cubs also appear to be putting contract talks on the back burner.
"If we do go through the season and he becomes a free agent, it doesn't mean he's not coming back," Epstein said. "We're focused right now on team goals — as he is — and we'll see what happens."
WHITE SOX: James Shields effective as White Sox pound Tigers.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/USA TODAY)
James Shields wants to move on from a disastrous 2016 season and show he’s still a capable major league pitcher.
Even though he described it as a little erratic, Shields’ effort on Thursday afternoon is definitely a good first step. Shields was effective into the sixth inning and the White Sox offense pounded the Detroit Tigers 11-2 in front of 10,842 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Geovany Soto blasted two home runs and drove in four runs and Matt Davidson tripled and hit a three-run homer in support of Shields, who won for only the second time in his last 13 starts and finished with a 6-19 record last season.
“It’s always good to have a clean slate you know, beginning of the season,” Shields said. “But we have a long way to go. Got off on the right foot today. A little more walks than I wanted to. But overall we have a lot of work to do over a long season and we’re going to continue to grind.”
The conditions didn’t appear to favor Shields, who yielded 40 homers in 2016, including 31 in 114 1/3 innings with the White Sox. Winds gusted at 23 mph from right to left at first pitch, which could have created a hardship for Shields.
Also, were it last year, the five walks he allowed in 5 1/3 innings may have sank Shields.
But none of it mattered.
“He was great today,” Soto said. “He was mixing speeds, controlling both sides of the plate. …
“It was the best I’ve seen him.
“He commanded both sides of the plate, his off-speed was there. Great performance by Shields today.”
While Shields got tagged for a solo homer in the second inning when he left a 91-mph fastball up to Tyler Collins, he otherwise avoided damage. He struck out the side in the first inning to strand runners on the corners, getting Justin Upton on an off-speed pitch to end the frame.
Shields struck out two more batters in the third inning, including Victor Martinez. All five of Shields’ strikeouts came on swinging third strikes.
He had 12 swings and misses in all, according to brooksbaseball.net. Shields also induced a lot of soft contact.
He lamented the free passes. But Shields also limited Detroit to two hits in 104-pitch effort.
“We were very happy with his outing,” manager Rick Renteria said. “I know he had a few walks today, and he was talking about that after he came out of the ballgame. He was trying to attack the strike zone early. He was mixing his pitches well, secondary pitches. His off-speed he was taking a little more off, which was very effective for him. We were hoping he would be able to get through that last inning of work. It wasn’t to be, but he did a really nice job and kept us in the ballgame the whole game.”
The White Sox offense took advantage of the effort and a poor outing by Tigers starter Matthew Boyd.
Davidson started it with a triple in the second inning, his first at-bat of the season. He scored when Boyd’s throw home on a safety squeeze by Jacob May got away. The White Sox added another run on an RBI single by Tim Anderson.
Soto gave Shields plenty of room to work with in the third inning when lined a three-run shot down the left-field line for a 5-1 lead.
The White Sox poured it on in the fourth inning. Avisail Garcia, who had two hits, singled in a run off reliever Anibal Sanchez. Davidson then launched one an estimated 428 feet for a three-run homer and a 9-1 lead. The blast was Davidson’s first homer since Sept. 22, 2013 and the fourth of his career.
Jose Abreu later singled in a run and Soto also homered to center, his first two-homer game since 2011.
It all added up to an easy victory for Shields, who combined for a 5.85 ERA in 33 starts for the White Sox and San Diego Padres. Shields was acquired in a May trade in hopes that he’d provide the White Sox with a reliable innings-eater behind Chris Sale and Jose Quintana in the rotation. The White Sox agreed to take on $22 million of the $44 million left on Shields’ contract.
The trade got off to a horrible start as Shields allowed 21 earned runs and five homers in his first three starts over 8 2/3 innings. While Shields found consistency over a seven-start stretch from June 23-July 26, he couldn’t maintain it. He went 4-12 with a 6.77 ERA in 22 starts for the White Sox.
But all spring long Shields said he felt like he would bounce back. After a March 21 start, Shields said he wants to rediscover his aggressive self and become the consistent pitcher he has been throughout his career. Shields felt like he got away from his aggressiveness last season because he had trouble keeping the ball down in the zone.
“Sometimes you have your really good stuff and sometimes you have your OK stuff,” Shields said. “Today I didn’t have my best stuff, but I went out there and grinded it out. It helps when the team scores early, it gives you confidence to go out there and make some pitches.”
Rick Renteria committed to creating winning culture during White Sox rebuild.
By Paul Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The White Sox were the talk of the offseason after they shook up the baseball world by trading ace Chris Sale and Adam Eaton for a pool of prospects.
Rumors of a potential Jose Quintana trade also swirled, but the White Sox opted to hang on to their 2016 All-Star as they entered the 2017 season.
The moves indicated a clear sense of direction by Rick Hahn & Co. that a rebuild on the South Side is officially underway. But players and coaches in the White Sox clubhouse aren't viewing it that way.
"I think we're just looking to go out there and play good baseball," said manager Rick Renteria. "I think for us if you want to talk about rebuild for us it's just simply trying to focus on doing things that we're supposed to do in terms of what the game is asking us to do. That's how I look at rebuild."
On Tuesday, the White Sox showed off their revamped, young team, which featured a new manager and six different starters from last year's Opening Day lineup – Tim Anderson, Cody Asche, Jacob May, Omar Narvaez, Quintana and Tyler Saladino.
But a rare off day for Quintana – who allowed six earned runs off three homers – and a red-hot Justin Verlander – who struck out 10 batters – made things difficult for the White Sox, resulting in a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"Today was one of those days where you saw a veteran pitcher kind of exploit some things, but I think we can walk away from that with a little bit more knowledge, a little bit more experience," Renteria said. "I think guys are excited to start the season, so I would just chalk it up to a guy who did his job very well today and we weren't able to kind of recover until toward the end when we started to get into their bullpen a little bit."
But it's only one game, and Todd Frazier half-jokingly mentioned that there have been a number of teams who have won a World Series opening the season with a loss.
"So we have an opportunity so we'll see," he said smiling.
While a rebuild signals tanking, Renteria reiterated that the White Sox are committed to creating a winning culture.
"As we've mentioned before, there's no one that comes out to a ballgame on a daily basis thinking about losing," Renteria said. "I think everybody thinks about rebuilding in those terms that you’re going to end up dropping X amount of games.
"We're focusing on playing the game of baseball. Where those numbers end up falling, they fall. I think these guys are putting in the time to execute and to do what they need to do to give us a chance every single day to win and compete."
Jose Quintana to start for White Sox on Sunday vs. Twins.
By Paul Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
An extra day's rest means the White Sox won't use Dylan Covey as a spot starter this weekend.
Wednesday's postponed game against the Detroit Tigers – which has been rescheduled for May 26 as part of a doubleheader – has the White Sox adjusting course on their pitching plans. They will send Jose Quintana to the mound on his regular rest in Sunday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, which can be seen on CSN.
"I think the way it ended up everything was pushed back because of the weather," said manager Rick Renteria on Thursday. "It worked out that way for us."
The initial plan was for Covey to make a spot start for the injured Carlos Rodon – who is expected to be at least another 3 ½ weeks – on Saturday. The White Sox will now proceed with their regular rotation with James Shields pitching Thursday, followed by Derek Holland and Miguel Gonzalez.
The White Sox still plan on keeping Covey sharp for his next opportunity. The 25-year-old pitcher has thrown up to six innings and 75 pitches in side sessions, according to Don Cooper.
Covey has been working closely – and will continue to do so – with the White Sox pitching coach, who is contemplating a couple of options for him to stay loose.
"We are actually even thinking about the possibility of a simulated game or possibly sending him out to go pitch again and keep him stretched out," Cooper said. "Nothing has been decided just yet. But those are some of the options we have. We did a sideline with him yesterday in the cage.
"Now it's a matter of sitting down. He has to pitch on either (April) 8th or the 9th and he'll pitch somewhere. Either a simulated game or something."
Covey's skip in the rotation likely means his next projected start won't be until April 14 or 15.
"We'll continue to adjust his schedule and see what we can do with him in order to get him up and down at least four or five times, six times," Renteria said. "Get him comfortable to be able to go out for multiple innings."
Wednesday's postponed game against the Detroit Tigers – which has been rescheduled for May 26 as part of a doubleheader – has the White Sox adjusting course on their pitching plans. They will send Jose Quintana to the mound on his regular rest in Sunday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, which can be seen on CSN.
"I think the way it ended up everything was pushed back because of the weather," said manager Rick Renteria on Thursday. "It worked out that way for us."
The initial plan was for Covey to make a spot start for the injured Carlos Rodon – who is expected to be at least another 3 ½ weeks – on Saturday. The White Sox will now proceed with their regular rotation with James Shields pitching Thursday, followed by Derek Holland and Miguel Gonzalez.
The White Sox still plan on keeping Covey sharp for his next opportunity. The 25-year-old pitcher has thrown up to six innings and 75 pitches in side sessions, according to Don Cooper.
Covey has been working closely – and will continue to do so – with the White Sox pitching coach, who is contemplating a couple of options for him to stay loose.
"We are actually even thinking about the possibility of a simulated game or possibly sending him out to go pitch again and keep him stretched out," Cooper said. "Nothing has been decided just yet. But those are some of the options we have. We did a sideline with him yesterday in the cage.
"Now it's a matter of sitting down. He has to pitch on either (April) 8th or the 9th and he'll pitch somewhere. Either a simulated game or something."
Covey's skip in the rotation likely means his next projected start won't be until April 14 or 15.
"We'll continue to adjust his schedule and see what we can do with him in order to get him up and down at least four or five times, six times," Renteria said. "Get him comfortable to be able to go out for multiple innings."
Golf: I got a club for that..... Hoffman builds four-shot lead at Masters.
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Conditions were brutal during the opening round of the Masters - for everyone except Charley Hoffman. Here's how things look after the first round at Augusta National Golf Club, where Hoffman successfully battled blustery winds and now leads by four shots:
Leaderboard: Charley Hoffman (-7), William McGirt (-3), Lee Westwood (-2), Phil Mickelson (-1), Justin Rose (-1), Sergio Garcia (-1)
What it means: With winds whipping across the course and reaching up to 30 mph, any score under par seemed like a prudent goal to begin the day. The leaderboard was packed for much of the morning, but McGirt was the first to break 70 and briefly held the top spot until Hoffman went roaring past him. A winner last year at the Valero Texas Open, Hoffman now has a significant edge on the field as he looks for the biggest win of his career.
Round of the day: Hoffman had a strong round going when he stepped to the 12th tee, but from there he kicked it into high gear. Five birdies across Nos. 12-17 gave Hoffman a commanding lead, and he made a total of nine birdies during his opening-round 65. It's clearly the best round of his Masters career that already includes three top-30 results in three prior trips and a T-9 finish in 2015.
Best of the rest: McGirt gained entry into this week's field with his breakthrough win at last year's Memorial, and he made the most of his first trip around Augusta National with a 3-under 69. McGirt's bogey on the short third hole was his lone dropped shot of the day, and he added four birdies including circles on Nos. 13 and 16 in just his fifth career start in any major.
Biggest disappointment: The tournament was dealt a significant blow when world No. 1 Dustin Johnson withdrew just minutes before his opening-round tee time. Johnson informed media on Wednesday that he had sustained a back injury after falling down some stairs, but it was still a shock to see him struggle to warm up on the tournament practice facility and ultimately walk off from the first tee box after attempting a few practice swings but never hitting a competitive shot.
Main storyline heading into Friday: Jordan Spieth blew a five-shot lead over the final nine holes last year, so clearly this is far from over even though Hoffman is now four shots clear. All eyes will be on the 40-year-old as he looks to back up perhaps the best round of his career on a day when the winds are again expected to be a big factor. While Hoffman will be in the spotlight, don't forget about Westwood alone in third as well as the logjam at 1 under that includes the likes of Mickelson, Rose and Garcia.
Shot of the day: Martin Kaymer gave the patrons early reason to cheer when he pitched in from nearly 50 yards away for eagle on the par-5 second hole. Unfortunately for Kaymer, there weren't many other highlights during a round of 6-over 78 that left him ahead of only eight other players in the 93-man field.
Quote of the day: "I step on this property, and it just feels special. It just fits my eye off the tee and on the green." - Hoffman
Spieth takes another gut punch, but still standing.
By Randall Mell
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Jordan Spieth got knocked on his butt again Thursday at the Masters.
He got busted in the chops again on the back nine at Augusta National.
Spieth, though, sounded undeterred after signing his scorecard, because he knows he wasn’t alone this time, and he knows there’s so much more time to recover this year.
With winds gusting up to 40 mph, the first round was mostly about who could endure a beating.
Spieth sounded like a guy eager to show he can take a punch, and that just might be what it takes to win this kind of Masters.
“Looks like something in single digits could win this,” Spieth said. “I certainly can still shoot single digits.”
A year ago, Spieth took the kind of punch that can dizzy a player for the rest of his career.
He made a quadruple bogey-7 at the 12th hole in an epic final-round collapse that cost him back-to-back Masters titles.
In his return there Thursday, Spieth safely navigated his way through the 12th with a par, but he got walloped with another punch on the back nine he didn’t see coming.
At the 15th, Spieth rinsed a wedge shot, spinning it off the front of the green and back into the water. He made another quadruple bogey, an ugly 9 there that included some uncharacteristically clumsy short-game mistakes.
Spieth shot a 3-over-par 75.
That’s the highest score Spieth has posted in his 13 rounds at the Masters.
No player has ever recorded a score higher than a 7 on any hole and gone on to win the Masters.
Still, Spieth was more defiant than disturbed.
“I'm going to probably need to play something under par tomorrow, which adds maybe bit of pressure that I wouldn't have put on tomorrow, because I was thinking even par for the two days was a good score,” Spieth said. “I feel like I need to snag something tomorrow, but do it through patience and taking advantage of the par 5s.”
There was so much focus on Spieth Thursday, with anticipation high for his return to the 12th.
The grandstand was packed full when Spieth got there. Patrons were lined shoulder to shoulder, teeming around the tee box, waiting to cheer Spieth through this.
It wasn’t exactly an ideal arrival, though, Jeunghun Wang was making a mess of the hole in front of Spieth. Wang airmailed the green, searched the woods for his ball, then marched back to the tee box to play again. It added to the tension there with Spieth waiting.
When Spieth finally made his way on to the tee, he got a standing ovation.
“I always have nerves walking to that tee, I always have,” Spieth said. “It was a tough today, because you don't know exactly what the wind is going to do to the ball.”
Spieth wasn’t surprised at the welcome he got at the 12th tee. Past Masters champions are always welcome there. He was more surprised by the reaction his tee shot got when he hit the back of the green.
“I was a bit surprised at how loud the cheer was when my ball landed about 35 feet away from the hole,” Spieth said. “But I was relieved to see it down and on the green. I guess everybody else felt that maybe more than I did.”
Spieth followed with a birdie at the 13th to get within one shot of the lead before fading.
At the 15th, Spieth laid up to 98 yards, looking to birdie the par 5.
“I struck the shot well, I just hit the wrong club,” Spieth said. “I struck it very solid, but I used a club that would spin instead of one that would maybe take the spin off.’
Spieth took a penalty drop and moved up to 78 yards, thumping that shot over the green. Then he chipped 30 feet past the hole and three-putted for his 9.
It didn’t take long for Spieth to rebound. He birdied the 16th and made a nice par save at the 18th to keep from drifting too far back.
“I got three rounds to go,” Spieth said.
After uneasy warmup, DJ withdraws from Masters.
By Jay Coffin
He got busted in the chops again on the back nine at Augusta National.
Spieth, though, sounded undeterred after signing his scorecard, because he knows he wasn’t alone this time, and he knows there’s so much more time to recover this year.
With winds gusting up to 40 mph, the first round was mostly about who could endure a beating.
Spieth sounded like a guy eager to show he can take a punch, and that just might be what it takes to win this kind of Masters.
“Looks like something in single digits could win this,” Spieth said. “I certainly can still shoot single digits.”
A year ago, Spieth took the kind of punch that can dizzy a player for the rest of his career.
He made a quadruple bogey-7 at the 12th hole in an epic final-round collapse that cost him back-to-back Masters titles.
In his return there Thursday, Spieth safely navigated his way through the 12th with a par, but he got walloped with another punch on the back nine he didn’t see coming.
At the 15th, Spieth rinsed a wedge shot, spinning it off the front of the green and back into the water. He made another quadruple bogey, an ugly 9 there that included some uncharacteristically clumsy short-game mistakes.
Spieth shot a 3-over-par 75.
That’s the highest score Spieth has posted in his 13 rounds at the Masters.
No player has ever recorded a score higher than a 7 on any hole and gone on to win the Masters.
Still, Spieth was more defiant than disturbed.
“I'm going to probably need to play something under par tomorrow, which adds maybe bit of pressure that I wouldn't have put on tomorrow, because I was thinking even par for the two days was a good score,” Spieth said. “I feel like I need to snag something tomorrow, but do it through patience and taking advantage of the par 5s.”
There was so much focus on Spieth Thursday, with anticipation high for his return to the 12th.
The grandstand was packed full when Spieth got there. Patrons were lined shoulder to shoulder, teeming around the tee box, waiting to cheer Spieth through this.
It wasn’t exactly an ideal arrival, though, Jeunghun Wang was making a mess of the hole in front of Spieth. Wang airmailed the green, searched the woods for his ball, then marched back to the tee box to play again. It added to the tension there with Spieth waiting.
When Spieth finally made his way on to the tee, he got a standing ovation.
“I always have nerves walking to that tee, I always have,” Spieth said. “It was a tough today, because you don't know exactly what the wind is going to do to the ball.”
Spieth wasn’t surprised at the welcome he got at the 12th tee. Past Masters champions are always welcome there. He was more surprised by the reaction his tee shot got when he hit the back of the green.
“I was a bit surprised at how loud the cheer was when my ball landed about 35 feet away from the hole,” Spieth said. “But I was relieved to see it down and on the green. I guess everybody else felt that maybe more than I did.”
Spieth followed with a birdie at the 13th to get within one shot of the lead before fading.
At the 15th, Spieth laid up to 98 yards, looking to birdie the par 5.
“I struck the shot well, I just hit the wrong club,” Spieth said. “I struck it very solid, but I used a club that would spin instead of one that would maybe take the spin off.’
Spieth took a penalty drop and moved up to 78 yards, thumping that shot over the green. Then he chipped 30 feet past the hole and three-putted for his 9.
It didn’t take long for Spieth to rebound. He birdied the 16th and made a nice par save at the 18th to keep from drifting too far back.
“I got three rounds to go,” Spieth said.
After uneasy warmup, DJ withdraws from Masters.
By Jay Coffin
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Masters.
After a stop-and-start warmup session, Dustin Johnson arrived at the first tee for his 2:03 p.m. starting time but walked off the tee rather than start his round.
"I was doing everything I could to try to play. I just don’t feel like there’s any chance of me even competing," Johnson said.
"I want to play, more than anything. I just can’t swing the club. ... It sucks, I want to play."
The pre-tournament favorite slipped and fell down stairs at his rental house late Wednesday afternoon and injured his lower back, making his status questionable for the first round. He detailed Thursday that he was in his socks, heading to the garage to move a car, when he slipped on three steps.
Johnson, winner of his last three PGA Tour events and the No. 1 player in the world, had a therapy session Thursday morning before arriving at Augusta National about 90 minutes prior to his tee time.
At 1 p.m., Johnson stepped onto the tournament practice area and began hitting easy shots with his pitching wedge. After hitting 15 balls, he left the practice area because of tightness and pain in his lower back.
He received more therapy for less than 10 minutes and returned to the range to hit the rest of the clubs in his bag. Johnson’s brother and caddie, Austin, teed up balls for the 32-year-old and he hit just eight shots with his driver before completing his warmup.
After the session, Johnson stood for 5 minutes with swing coach Butch Harmon and Austin, clearly agonizing over whether to play. Johnson also consulted with Fred Ridley, the chairman of Augusta National’s competition committee, before heading to the first tee, asking if he could have treatment on his ailing back during his round, which he would have been allowed.
Ultimately, Johnson walked to the first tee, made practice swings, and then walked off.
"I’m playing the best golf of my career and this is one of my favorite tournaments of the year," he said. "I look forward to it every year. It sucks really bad."
He was in the day's final grouping with Jimmy Walker and two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson.
Jack: 'Arnold put the Masters on the map'.
By Randall Mell
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Jack Nicklaus touched the “Arnie’s Army” commemorative badge on his lapel and smiled.
Nicklaus and Gary Player were asked what Arnold Palmer would have thought of Augusta National's handing those out to the patrons Thursday as they entered the Masters.
“He would have dropped over if he had seen one on Gary and me,” Nicklaus cracked in the media center shortly after they hit the ceremonial first tee shots.
Nicklaus and Player kept the spirit of their relationship with Palmer alive during and after they hit their ceremonial shots, sharing Palmer stories with reporters. In this first Masters since Palmer’s death, they recounted how they loved to tease each other, and how much fun they had when they weren’t trying to beat each other.
Player said laughter was a tonic in their relationship. As “The Big Three,” they competed hard but also forged meaningful friendships. Augusta National was part of their bond as winners of green jackets.
“We played a lot of practice rounds here,” Nicklaus said. “We played a lot of exhibitions here. We traveled a lot together. We had dinner a lot together. We stayed in each other's homes. We relieved our tensions.
“I know that Gary and Arnold and I were all competitive. None of us wanted to lose. We all wanted to win. We wanted to beat each other's brains out, but we knew once the day of golf was over, that it was time to go be civil again and be friends, have fun, enjoy time, spend time with our wives.”
Nicklaus won more Masters (6) than Palmer (4) or Player (3), but he said Palmer’s relationship with the Masters was more defining.
“The Masters made Arnold in many ways, because of his wins in '58, '60, '62, and '64,” Nicklaus said. “But the other way around, I think Arnold made the Masters. Arnold put the Masters on the map, and with his rise and his popularity, the Masters rose the same. I think they were both very good for each other and very synonymous with each other.”
NASCAR’s weekend schedule at Texas Motor Speedway.
Nicklaus and Gary Player were asked what Arnold Palmer would have thought of Augusta National's handing those out to the patrons Thursday as they entered the Masters.
“He would have dropped over if he had seen one on Gary and me,” Nicklaus cracked in the media center shortly after they hit the ceremonial first tee shots.
Nicklaus and Player kept the spirit of their relationship with Palmer alive during and after they hit their ceremonial shots, sharing Palmer stories with reporters. In this first Masters since Palmer’s death, they recounted how they loved to tease each other, and how much fun they had when they weren’t trying to beat each other.
Player said laughter was a tonic in their relationship. As “The Big Three,” they competed hard but also forged meaningful friendships. Augusta National was part of their bond as winners of green jackets.
“We played a lot of practice rounds here,” Nicklaus said. “We played a lot of exhibitions here. We traveled a lot together. We had dinner a lot together. We stayed in each other's homes. We relieved our tensions.
“I know that Gary and Arnold and I were all competitive. None of us wanted to lose. We all wanted to win. We wanted to beat each other's brains out, but we knew once the day of golf was over, that it was time to go be civil again and be friends, have fun, enjoy time, spend time with our wives.”
Nicklaus won more Masters (6) than Palmer (4) or Player (3), but he said Palmer’s relationship with the Masters was more defining.
“The Masters made Arnold in many ways, because of his wins in '58, '60, '62, and '64,” Nicklaus said. “But the other way around, I think Arnold made the Masters. Arnold put the Masters on the map, and with his rise and his popularity, the Masters rose the same. I think they were both very good for each other and very synonymous with each other.”
NASCAR’s weekend schedule at Texas Motor Speedway.
By Daniel McFadin
(Photo/Chris Graythen/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
This weekend NASCAR heads to Fort Worth, Texas, “Where the West Begins.”
Cup and Xfinity teams will try to master the newly repaved Texas Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 and the My Bariatric Solutions 300.
Here’s the full weekend schedule, complete with TV and radio info.
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, April 7
9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Cup garage open
noon – 9 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
noon – 2:25 p.m. – Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)
2:30 – 3:55 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
5 – 5 :55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
6:15 p.m. – Cup qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, April 8
7 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
9:30 – 10:25 a.m. – Cup practice (FS1)
10:35 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1)
11:45 a.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
Noon – 12:50 p.m. – Final Cup practice (Fox Sports 2)
1 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1:30 p.m. – My Bariatric Solutions 300; 200 laps/300 miles (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, April 9
8 a.m. – Cup garage opens
11:30 a.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting
12:50 p.m – Driver introductions
1:30 p.m. – O’Reilly Auto Parts 500; 334 laps, 501 miles (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
NASCAR Hall of Fame fan vote for 2018 class now open.
By Daniel McFadin
Cup and Xfinity teams will try to master the newly repaved Texas Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 and the My Bariatric Solutions 300.
Here’s the full weekend schedule, complete with TV and radio info.
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, April 7
9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Cup garage open
noon – 9 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
noon – 2:25 p.m. – Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)
2:30 – 3:55 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
5 – 5 :55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
6:15 p.m. – Cup qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday, April 8
7 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
9:30 – 10:25 a.m. – Cup practice (FS1)
10:35 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1)
11:45 a.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
Noon – 12:50 p.m. – Final Cup practice (Fox Sports 2)
1 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1:30 p.m. – My Bariatric Solutions 300; 200 laps/300 miles (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, April 9
8 a.m. – Cup garage opens
11:30 a.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting
12:50 p.m – Driver introductions
1:30 p.m. – O’Reilly Auto Parts 500; 334 laps, 501 miles (Fox, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
NASCAR Hall of Fame fan vote for 2018 class now open.
By Daniel McFadin
The official fan vote for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s 2018 class is officially open.
Fans who participate between now and May 24 will help contribute to one of the 54 ballots that will be cast in the voting process.
When voting at nascar.com fans can choose up to five nominees and they can vote up to 50 times a day.
There are 20 nominees on the ballot this year. Joe Gibbs, Roger Penske, Davey Allison, Bobby Labonte and Red Farmer are the newest additions to the ballot.
Here are the 20 nominees:
Davey Allison, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1992 Daytona 500.
Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500.
Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949.
Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief.
Red Farmer, three-time Late Model Sportsman champion; 1956 Modified champion.
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner.
Joe Gibbs, combined for nine car owner championships in premier and Xfinity series.
Ron Hornaday Jr., four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.
Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chief.
Alan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR premier series champion.
Bobby Labonte, won a championship in both the premier series and Xfinity Series.
Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR west series champion.
Roger Penske, combined for four car owner championships in premier and Xfinity series.
Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion.
Jack Roush, five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400.
Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships.
Waddell Wilson, won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder.
Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner.
Report: No midweek Cup points races expected on 2018 schedule.
By Dustin Long
A Sports Business Journal story, citing unnamed sources, states that NASCAR is not expected to hold a midweek Cup points race next year.
The story quoted a track source as saying: “Midweek points races are an idea, but there’s a whole lot of work that needs to be done to make them viable.”
The story did say that sources would not rule out NASCAR moving the All-Star Race, which is held on a Saturday night, to the middle of the week in 2018.
NASCAR is determining next season’s schedule. Based on when the 2017 scheduled was announced (May 2016), NASCAR is about a month away from releasing the 2018 schedule.
The Sports Business Journal story stated that NASCAR and industry stakeholders, including tracks and media partners, have examined “the idea of moving a handful of races to midweek dates. This could serve as a way to get away from hyper-competitive sports weekends and energize a fan base that at times yearns for a shakeup to the schedule.”
SOCCER: Fire teammates say it's easy to adjust to Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Fans who participate between now and May 24 will help contribute to one of the 54 ballots that will be cast in the voting process.
When voting at nascar.com fans can choose up to five nominees and they can vote up to 50 times a day.
There are 20 nominees on the ballot this year. Joe Gibbs, Roger Penske, Davey Allison, Bobby Labonte and Red Farmer are the newest additions to the ballot.
Here are the 20 nominees:
Davey Allison, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1992 Daytona 500.
Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500.
Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949.
Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief.
Red Farmer, three-time Late Model Sportsman champion; 1956 Modified champion.
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner.
Joe Gibbs, combined for nine car owner championships in premier and Xfinity series.
Ron Hornaday Jr., four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.
Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chief.
Alan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR premier series champion.
Bobby Labonte, won a championship in both the premier series and Xfinity Series.
Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR west series champion.
Roger Penske, combined for four car owner championships in premier and Xfinity series.
Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion.
Jack Roush, five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400.
Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships.
Waddell Wilson, won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder.
Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner.
Report: No midweek Cup points races expected on 2018 schedule.
By Dustin Long
(Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
A Sports Business Journal story, citing unnamed sources, states that NASCAR is not expected to hold a midweek Cup points race next year.
The story quoted a track source as saying: “Midweek points races are an idea, but there’s a whole lot of work that needs to be done to make them viable.”
The story did say that sources would not rule out NASCAR moving the All-Star Race, which is held on a Saturday night, to the middle of the week in 2018.
NASCAR is determining next season’s schedule. Based on when the 2017 scheduled was announced (May 2016), NASCAR is about a month away from releasing the 2018 schedule.
The Sports Business Journal story stated that NASCAR and industry stakeholders, including tracks and media partners, have examined “the idea of moving a handful of races to midweek dates. This could serve as a way to get away from hyper-competitive sports weekends and energize a fan base that at times yearns for a shakeup to the schedule.”
SOCCER: Fire teammates say it's easy to adjust to Bastian Schweinsteiger.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Bastian Schweinsteiger's influence has touched many aspects in his short time with the Chicago Fire.
The hysteria surrounding his signing and arrival and the goal he scored in his debut have garnered most of the attention so far, but his passing is what he has been known for on the field in his career. Schweinsteiger had some highlight reel passes on Saturday, sending sprinting forwards into breakaways chances on the Montreal goal.
Luis Solignac, who entered the match as a sub, drew a red card after running onto a Schweinsteiger pass in the 80th minute.
Not many players in MLS can make that pass, and certainly not that quickly. Solignac said there was a connection with Schweinsteiger in his time on the field.
"We were on the same page for those 15 minutes," Solignac said. "I'm the guy that always tries to make those kind of runs. The difference now is this guy can see it maybe three times faster than everyone. He just played the ball. I think he knows that someone is going to be there. For me it was just easy to run forward and the pass was amazing."
Solignac said he didn't talk with Schweinsteiger about certain runs to make, the connection came naturally. Multiple players on the Fire have all said that Schweinsteiger is easy to play with because he knows the game so well. He knows what he is supposed to do so there isn't much of an adjustment period required.
However, will the forwards have to adjust their runs knowing Schweinsteiger can make passes that other teammates could not?
"I think we can make a lot of different runs because he can pick you anywhere you are," winger David Accam said. "We have a lot of options and we need to vary our runs, different runs, so he can pick us out."
The way his new teammates talk about Schweinsteiger, he sounds like a dream for a goal scorer.
USWNT carves up Russia in 4-0 bounce-back win.
By Kyle Bonn
(Photo/Getty Images)
The United States women bounced back from the disappointing SheBelieves Cup by obliterating 25th-ranked Russia 4-0 in Frisco, TX on Thursday.
Jill Ellis deployed a striker-less lineup, and it worked to perfection as the USWNT launched devastating attack after devastating attack that proved far too much for Russia to handle. Allie Long and Crystal Dunn both picked up a brace in the win.
It took just 10 minutes for the United States to open the scoring, with Dunn striking one from a tight angle that went off Russian goalkeeper Alena Beliaeva’s hand and into the back of the net. Long doubled the lead 18 minutes later with a glancing header from point-blank range that left Beliaeva with no chance.
21-year-old Rose Lavelle was a force to be reckoned with on the right wing, leaving flummoxed defenders in her wake and firing pinpoint crosses into the six-yard box. She nutmegged defenders twice, once on the end-line and once with a ridiculous back-heel pass on Long’s first-half miss. Lavelle did get her first career international assist, feeding Long on her first goal.
The first-half scoreline was not indicative of how dominant the US was through the first 45 minutes, with Long and Mallory Pugh both missing easy chances that would have increased the lead further. They finally tacked on a third before halftime Dunn picked the pocket of Russian defender Daria Makarenko and poked home in the 42nd minute. Carli Lloyd also hit the post seconds before the break.
Through the opening half, the US ripped off 14 shots and held 70% possession, and it felt like far more than that. After halftime, the US continued to pummel Russia with Alex Morgan on for Carli Lloyd, but the finishing disappeared. Long had another glaring miss in the opening minutes of the second half, and then she missed a chance from the penalty spot. Morgan and Pugh combined to earn the spot-kick, but Long blasted it well over the bar. Becky Sauerbrunn also narrowly missed a stunner from acres outside the box, with her low drive missing agonizingly left of the net.
The US finally converted after the break as Long did what she does best, finding herself unmarked in the area and heading home powerfully off a brilliant deep cross from Pugh. Christen Press missed a chance for a fifth moments later, poking wide right on a breakaway.
All told, the US peppered the Russian net with 33 shots, but only got seven on target in what seemed to be an off-night in front of goal even with the lop-sided scoreline. They also earned a massive 16 corners, a huge total compared to Russia’s two. The win sees the USWNT bounce back from the SheBelieves Cup where they lost a pair of games and saw their #1 World FIFA ranking slip away.
Brazil top of FIFA World Rankings; USMNT big climbers.
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/Getty Images)
The Selecao are back on top.
For the first time since 2010 Brazil lead the FIFA World Rankings as the latest batch of the most-loved soccer rankings on the planet (deep sarcasm alert) have been released.
Brazil leapfrog South American rivals Argentina to take top spot, while reigning World Cup champs Germany remain in third, Chile stay in fourth and Colombia climb two places to fifth as CONMEBOL dominate the upper echelons. The rise of South American teams is down to the fact that they played two World Cup qualifiers each last month compared to one each for European nations.
The big movers in the top 20 are Italy who climb three places to 12 and Switzerland who move up two spots into ninth, while Uruguay drop six places to 15th.
For the U.S. national team, Bruce Arena’s side climb an impressive seven places in the rankings following their victory against Honduras last month and their draw on the road in Panama in CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifying. Mexico remain the top ranked team in the CONCACAF region as El Tri move up one place to 16th, while Costa Rica drop one place to 20th.
Below is the full list of the top 20 national teams on the planet.
1. Brazil (2)
2. Argentina (1)
3. Germany (3)
4. Chile (4)
5. Colombia (7)
6. France (6)
7. Belgium (5)
8. Portugal (8)
9. Switzerland (11)
10. Spain (10)
11. Poland (12)
12. Italy (15)
13. Wales (12)
14. England (14)
15. Uruguay (9)
16. Mexico (17)
17. Peru (18)
18. Croatia (16)
19. Egypt (20)
20. Costa Rica (19)
23. USA (30)
Premier League Standings: How things stand.
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/Getty Images)
With the Premier League games coming thick and fast over the past few days, and another full slate on the way this weekend, now is a good time to take stock of the standings.
Things are so tight at the top and the bottom and everything is left to play for. Chelsea may well win the title but Tottenham aren’t giving up without a fight and talking about fights, there’s an almighty scrap playing out to finish in the top four. Only two of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United will finish in the top four.
At the bottom of the table Sunderland and Middlesbrough look doomed for relegation, while Hull City, Swansea City, Crystal Palace and even West Ham United are embroiled in a proper relegation dogfight. There are plenty of twists and turns remaining.
Below are the full standings for the Premier League, while click on the link above to see the remaining PL schedule.
MORE: Premier League schedule
We have enter the run-in. Hold on to your hats.
Standings:
| Team | GP | W D L GF GA | GD | PTS | ||||
| Chelsea | 30 | 23 3 4 62 24 | 38 | 72 | ||||
| Tottenham | 30 | 19 8 3 60 22 | 38 | 65 | ||||
| Liverpool | 31 | 17 9 5 66 39 | 27 | 60 | ||||
| Man City | 30 | 17 7 6 57 34 | 23 | 58 | ||||
| Arsenal | 29 | 16 6 7 61 36 | 25 | 54 | ||||
| Man United | 29 | 14 12 3 43 24 | 19 | 54 | ||||
| Everton | 31 | 14 9 8 53 34 | 10 | 51 | ||||
| West Brom | 31 | 12 8 11 39 40 | -1 | 44 | ||||
| Southampton | 29 | 10 7 12 36 37 | -1 | 37 | ||||
| Watford | 30 | 10 7 13 36 48 | -12 | 37 | ||||
| Leicester City | 30 | 10 6 14 37 47 |
-10
| 36 | ||||
| Stoke City | 31 | 9 9 13 33 45 | -12 | 36 | ||||
| Bournemouth | 31 | 9 8 14 44 56 | -12 | 35 | ||||
| Burnley | 31 | 10 5 16 32 44 | -12 | 35 | ||||
| West Ham | 31 | 9 6 16 41 57 | -16 | 33 | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 30 | 9 4 17 39 50 | -11 | 31 | ||||
| Hull City | 31 | 8 6 17 32 61 | -29 | 30 |
| Swansea City | 31 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 37 | 66 | -29 | 28 |
| Middlesbrough | 30 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 22 | 37 | -15 | 23 |
| Sunderland | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 24 | 53 | -29 | 20 |
La Liga wrap: Morata bags Real hat trick, Barca wins big.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo/AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
It remains a two-horse race in La Liga, as even Sevilla couldn’t stop Barcelona from keeping pace with Real Madrid.
Leganes 2-4 Real Madrid
Alvaro Morata continues to make the most of limited playing time at Real Madrid, burying a hat trick as Real Madrid stayed productive ahead of this weekend’s big Madrid Derby.
Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla
The reigning champs made quick work of Sevilla, putting the visitors well in the table’s rearview mirror with a Luis Suarez overhead kick and a pair of Lionel Messi goals in eight first half minutes. Barca remains two points behind Real, having played one more match.
Elsewhere
— Osasuna got its second win of the season, both coming on the road, as Alex Berenguer led the side to a 1-0 win at Alaves.
— Deportivo de la Coruna and Granada staged a scoreless draw.
— Ex-Barca man Sandro Ramirez scored his eighth goal of the season and first in 2017 as Malaga won at Sporting Gijon.
Standings:
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS |
| Real Madrid | 29 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 78 | 30 | 48 | 12-3-0 | 10-2-2 | 71 |
| Barcelona | 30 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 88 | 26 | 62 | 11-3-1 | 10-3-2 | 69 |
| Atlético Madrid | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 55 | 23 | 32 | 11-2-2 | 7-5-3 | 61 |
| Sevilla | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 52 | 37 | 15 | 10-3-1 | 7-4-5 | 58 |
| Villarreal | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 8-3-4 | 6-6-3 | 51 |
| Athletic | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 39 | 33 | 6 | 11-3-2 | 4-2-8 | 50 |
| Real Sociedad | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 43 | 41 | 2 | 7-4-4 | 8-0-7 | 49 |
| Eibar | 29 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 8-3-4 | 4-5-5 | 44 |
| Espanyol | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 7-5-3 | 4-5-6 | 43 |
| Celta Vigo | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 43 | 46 | -3 | 9-1-4 | 3-4-7 | 41 |
| Alavés | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 29 | 37 | -8 | 4-7-4 | 6-3-6 | 40 |
| Las Palmas | 29 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 8-5-2 | 1-3-10 | 35 |
| Valencia | 29 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 41 | 51 | -10 | 6-3-5 | 3-3-9 | 33 |
| Betis | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 32 | 47 | -15 | 5-6-5 | 3-1-10 | 31 |
| Málaga | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 34 | 47 | -13 | 6-2-6 | 1-7-8 | 30 |
| Deportivo | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 31 | 46 | -15 | 5-5-5 | 1-5-9 | 28 |
| Leganes | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 25 | 46 | -21 | 3-5-7 | 3-4-8 | 27 |
| Sporting de Gijón | 30 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 31 | 58 | -27 | 4-2-9 | 1-5-9 | 22 |
| Granada | 30 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 62 | -36 | 4-4-6 | 0-4-12 | 20 |
| Osasuna | 30 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 30 | 69 | -39 | 0-5-10 | 2-3-10 | 14 |
USWNT, US Soccer agree to new labor deal.
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/Getty Images)
A deal has been confirmed.
The long-standing battle between members of the World Cup winning U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association (USWNTPA) and the U.S. Soccer Federations has finally been resolved with both parties agreeing to a new labor deal.
Last year a group of high-profile USWNT stars, who won the 2015 World Cup in Canada, launched a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission calling for equal pay with their male counterparts.
This terms of this deal has not been disclosed.
Announced on Wednesday, U.S. Soccer said it had “reached a collective bargaining agreement through 2021” with the USWNT which will be in place for both the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.
The joint-statement below was released by U.S. Soccer and USWNTPA.
The long-standing battle between members of the World Cup winning U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association (USWNTPA) and the U.S. Soccer Federations has finally been resolved with both parties agreeing to a new labor deal.
Last year a group of high-profile USWNT stars, who won the 2015 World Cup in Canada, launched a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission calling for equal pay with their male counterparts.
This terms of this deal has not been disclosed.
Announced on Wednesday, U.S. Soccer said it had “reached a collective bargaining agreement through 2021” with the USWNT which will be in place for both the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.
The joint-statement below was released by U.S. Soccer and USWNTPA.
“We are pleased to announce that U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement which will continue to build the women’s program in the U.S, grow the game of soccer worldwide, and improve the professional lives of players on and off the field. We are proud of the hard work and commitment to thoughtful dialogue reflected through this process, and look forward to strengthening our partnership moving forward.”Below is a statement from U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati:
NCAABKB: Patrick Ewing's biggest task may be making the Georgetown program his own.
By Les Carpenter
Patrick Ewing at his introductory news conference Wednesday. (Photo/AP)
On Wednesday morning Patrick Ewing walked into the John Thompson Center, past the huge, bronze John Thompson statue and beneath an etching of John Thompson’s eternal wish, the one that reads: “When I’m gone, if I can’t go to heaven take me back to Georgetown.” Then Ewing, the greatest of John Thompson’s players, began the delicate dance of distancing himself from John Thompson.
This is not easy to do. The two are forever intertwined. Thompson was the stern, booming Georgetown coach who helped mold a teenaged Jamaican immigrant into one of basketball’s most dominant players. Ewing, in turn, helped Thompson make Georgetown into a larger-than-life colossus that literally changed American culture in the 1980s. Neither might have reached the heights he did without the other.
Thompson was already in the room Wednesday, when Ewing walked to the lectern for his introductory news conference as Georgetown’s basketball coach, held in a Thompson Center conference room. For 45 years Thompson’s presence has loomed over the basketball team, first as a coach, then watchful mentor to his successor, Craig Esherick, and most recently as the father of John Thompson III, who was fired last month after 13 seasons. The elder Thompson sat in a chair toward the back, his 6-foot-10 inch frame still impossible to ignore at 75.
A giant here until the end.
It’s hard to argue with the Thompson legacy at Georgetown, which includes four Final Fours between father and son. But Ewing must be his own man if he is to succeed. Many former Georgetown players and administrators resent Thompson’s continued influence over the program. Several prospective candidates refused to consider the job – frightened that Thompson would sit through their practices, pushing them to do things he wanted. He is said to have pushed hard for the school to hire Ewing. Now that it has, people inside and outside of Georgetown are waiting to see if Ewing can make the program his own.
Wednesday he tried, paying cursory appreciation for the younger Thompson’s years before saying with characteristic bluntness: “It’s a new era now.”
Georgetown attempted to make Wednesday about nostalgia and welcoming Ewing home to the school they affectionately call “The Hilltop” for its vistas of the Potomac and Northern Virginia’s skyline. Someone handed Ewing a Georgetown pennant and he held the pennant over his head in a recreation of the famous announcement he made in 1981, when as a Boston high school senior, he chose the Washington school to the dismay of those who expected him to stay home at Boston College. But Ewing didn’t seem interested in talking about the good old days. He’s spent the past 15 years as an NBA assistant fighting to prove he could coach his own NBA team. He took the Georgetown job because it’s Georgetown, he said. He also made it clear he wants to coach his own way.
He said he is going to run a professional-style offensive system that will be fast-paced and will resemble those that are played in the NBA today. He pointed out that the pro game has changed dramatically “in just two years” and that “if you can’t get with the times you will be left behind.”
“That was all mine,” he later told The Vertical about his vision as he headed into an elevator at the Thompson Center. “That’s the way the NBA is and I see us trying to get those guys who have the ability to play at the next level to be NBA-ready.”
Who knows how much his ideas will clash with the elder Thompson’s? Maybe they won’t. Perhaps both men look at today’s game the same even as Ewing moved away from the younger Thompson’s way. But if Ewing is going to return Georgetown to dominance in a Big East it once made great, he can’t be dragging the past behind him.
Georgetown isn’t the cool choice the way it was in the 1980s and early ’90s. Ewing lamented that the best kids in the talent-rich D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas no longer aspire to The Hilltop. Athletic director Lee Reed told The Vertical that during an interview with the search committee, Ewing was asked if he’d consider running the Golden State Warriors’ system at Georgetown, to which Ewing replied: “That system wouldn’t work unless you have Steph Curry.”
The implication is that Georgetown doesn’t have any Steph Currys – or many good players at all. Fixing that is tricky. As Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel pointed out, the top AAU coaches have loose arrangements with agents who worry about the influence of Ewing’s agent, David Falk, who has landed many of Georgetown’s best players over the years. If Ewing is going to get those local high school stars, he’s got to have the AAU coaches. And the AAU coaches will balk at letting their best players go to Georgetown if it looks like they will fall under Falk’s influence. He will not only have to distance himself from Thompson but his longtime agent as well.
No one should doubt Ewing’s ability to make Georgetown work. He has put in years of doing the dirty work of an NBA assistant: breaking down film and designing game plans. He refused to let himself be stereotyped as a big-man coach, telling his bosses he wanted to develop the guards and small forwards as well. He has been getting closer to an NBA head-coaching job. In recent years, his coaching agent, Spencer Breecker of Kauffman Sports, had landed him several interviews with teams, and Sacramento nearly hired him last year.
Ewing has worked with enough successful coaches who have broken away from old tutors to know he can’t make his Georgetown tenure an extension of Thompson’s. He seems to know that Georgetown can’t be clutching onto the past.
Through the interview process, Ewing amazed the search committee with his ideas, Reed said. The coach knew exactly whom he wanted to hire as assistants (which won’t include his son Patrick Jr., a part of Thompson III’s staff who can’t be employed because of Georgetown’s anti-nepotism policy) to exactly what style he wanted to play. He came off as someone with his own ideas of how a program should operate.
“He didn’t spend 30 seconds talking about what happened,” Reed said. “All he talked about was what he is going to do going forward.”
Which will be hard for John Thompson’s best player ever as he settles into a new office in the John Thompson Center.
Report: AAC set to vote on Wichita State inclusion this week.
By Travis Hines
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
The move to the American Athletic Conference for Wichita State could be finalized soon.
The AAC will vote on adding the Shockers this week, with the “general expectation” being that the vote arrives to bring them into the fold, Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.
This move has appeared to be an inevitability in recent weeks as all the momentum has seemingly been there for the Shockers to leave its current home of the Missouri Valley Conference for the higher-profile AAC.
The move could mean more money for the Wichita State athletic department, but undoubtedly the real draw has to be the prospect of playing a consistent multi-bid conference. The Shockers were thought to have to win the MVC tournament last month to secure a bid, despite having a 30-4 record and being ranked in the top-10 of KenPom. Illinois State, which the Shockers beat in the MVC final, missed out on the NCAA tournament after going 27-6.
Wichita State’s decision certainly does have pros and cons, as the Shockers have shown they can absolutely dominate the MVC almost year-in and year-out. They’ve shown they can recruit at a level commensurate with a national brand there and win big. Moving to the AAC doesn’t preclude them from continuing that, but given the shifting level of competition of geographics, it may not be a given, either.
Still, the allure of having some margin for error in a single-elimination conference tournament has to be powerful for the Shockers and coach Gregg Marshall, whose contentedness Wichita State has to consider given the heights he’s taken the program and the high-profile programs that have and will continue to court his services. Not only does it alleviate the pressure of having to win a conference tournament, it affords Wichita State to earn a higher seed in the NCAA tournament with an improved conference schedule.
Should the Shockers indeed leave the Valley, it does significant damage to the Valley. Losing Wichita State, which is the nation’s best bet to develop into the “next Gonzaga” is bad enough, but when it’s coupled with Creighton’s prior departure to the Big East, it’s a massive blow. Losing two of your most prominent programs and brands inside five years totally remakes the landscape of a conference.
When Creighton left, the Valley replaced them with Loyola Chicago. If the league can’t woe a team of significantly higher stature than that this time around, the conference’s reputation will sustain yet an even bigger downgrade.
Wichita State is expected to play in the AAC this season.
NCAAFB: Tennessee State-Eastern Illinois to be John Merritt Classic.
The AAC will vote on adding the Shockers this week, with the “general expectation” being that the vote arrives to bring them into the fold, Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.
This move has appeared to be an inevitability in recent weeks as all the momentum has seemingly been there for the Shockers to leave its current home of the Missouri Valley Conference for the higher-profile AAC.
The move could mean more money for the Wichita State athletic department, but undoubtedly the real draw has to be the prospect of playing a consistent multi-bid conference. The Shockers were thought to have to win the MVC tournament last month to secure a bid, despite having a 30-4 record and being ranked in the top-10 of KenPom. Illinois State, which the Shockers beat in the MVC final, missed out on the NCAA tournament after going 27-6.
Wichita State’s decision certainly does have pros and cons, as the Shockers have shown they can absolutely dominate the MVC almost year-in and year-out. They’ve shown they can recruit at a level commensurate with a national brand there and win big. Moving to the AAC doesn’t preclude them from continuing that, but given the shifting level of competition of geographics, it may not be a given, either.
Still, the allure of having some margin for error in a single-elimination conference tournament has to be powerful for the Shockers and coach Gregg Marshall, whose contentedness Wichita State has to consider given the heights he’s taken the program and the high-profile programs that have and will continue to court his services. Not only does it alleviate the pressure of having to win a conference tournament, it affords Wichita State to earn a higher seed in the NCAA tournament with an improved conference schedule.
Should the Shockers indeed leave the Valley, it does significant damage to the Valley. Losing Wichita State, which is the nation’s best bet to develop into the “next Gonzaga” is bad enough, but when it’s coupled with Creighton’s prior departure to the Big East, it’s a massive blow. Losing two of your most prominent programs and brands inside five years totally remakes the landscape of a conference.
When Creighton left, the Valley replaced them with Loyola Chicago. If the league can’t woe a team of significantly higher stature than that this time around, the conference’s reputation will sustain yet an even bigger downgrade.
Wichita State is expected to play in the AAC this season.
NCAAFB: Tennessee State-Eastern Illinois to be John Merritt Classic.
By Craig Haley
(Photo/AP)
Tennessee State won't be taking it easy in the John Merritt Classic this year.
Athletic director Teresa Phillips said Thursday that Tennessee State's previously scheduled home opener against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 30 will serve as the Classic. The matchup between Ohio Valley Conference teams will be played at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
"Our traditional Labor Day weekend opening plans were adjusted in order to play a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent," Phillips said of the Tigers' Aug. 31 game at Georgia State. "Playing the (Eastern Illinois) Panthers provides us with the opportunity to garner high visibility for our athletic program and the university as a whole, as well as provide us with additional revenue."
Tennessee State is 13-5 all-time in the John Merritt Classic, including a 44-0 shutout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff last year. Tennessee State coach Rod Reed has a 6-1 record in the Classic.
While the announcement of this year's John Merritt Classic was delayed, Phillips announced MEAC teams have been secured for the 2018 and '19 Classics. The Tigers will face Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 1, 2018, and Hampton on Aug. 31, 2019.
Also Thursday, Tennessee State completed its 2017 schedule by adding an on-campus game against Virginia-Lynchburg on Nov. 4 at Hale Stadium. The Tigers are hoping to build on a 2016 season in which they finished 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the OVC.
2017 Tennessee State Schedule
Aug. 31, at Georgia State
Sept. 9, Jackson State (at Liberty Bowl, Memphis)
Sept. 16, Florida A&M (site TBA)
Sept. 23, at UT Martin*
Sept. 30, Eastern Illinois*
Oct. 7, at Eastern Kentucky*
Oct. 14, Austin Peay*
Oct. 28, at Tennessee Tech*
Nov. 4, Virginia-Lynchburg
Nov. 11, Southeast Missouri*
Nov. 16, at Jacksonville State*
* - OVC game
Draw offers few clues to winner of Saturday's Santa Anita Derby.
By John Cherwa
Iliad and jockey Flavien Prat win the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 12. (BENOIT PHOTO)
The draw for Saturday’s $1-million Santa Anita Derby underscores what most had projected — this is the most wide-open field in memory.
Iliad, the morning-line favorite at 7-2, will be breaking from the nine, which is a good spot with most of the early speed to his inside. Iliad is one of four horses for Doug O’Neill in the race. He also has Term of Art (post 1/12-1 odds), So Conflated (5/15-1) and Milton Freewater (10/30-1).
“I loved it when I heard No. 9,” assistant trainer Leandro Mora told XBTV about Iliad. “I know we have one of the best riders in Southern California [Flavien Prat] so that’s also good. We worked him the last time and I liked what I saw.”
Iliad finished second in the San Felipe Stakes, a race convincingly won by Mastery.
However, the colt suffered a non-life-threatening fracture of his left front leg seconds after the race.
Still, without his top 3-year-old, trainer Bob Baffert entered three in Saturday’s race.
American Anthem, at 5-1 and breaking from the six, seems to be Baffert’s best remaining chance to make it to Louisville. He is coming off a disastrous 10th-place finish (in an 11-horse field) in the Rebel Stakes.
“He got behind horses and he’d never been there before. I’ve been really aggressive with him,” Baffert said. “He’s worked well. The Oaklawn race was a head-scratcher.”
Martin Garcia will be the rider.
Baffert also has Reach the World (2/5-1) and Irish Freedom (11/20-1) as his other horses.
The second favorite will be Gormley, who seems to alternate between very good and very pedestrian races. He is at 9-2 and will break from the eight. Gormley finished a beaten fourth in his last race, the San Felipe.
“I think he stumbled out of the gate,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He chased the speed and then when he got up there, he couldn’t back out and Iliad came up and compromised him.”
Shirreffs also has Royal Mo (13/10-1), who finished ninth in the Rebel Stakes.
The Santa Anita Derby will be the eighth race on an 11-race card. First post is noon.
World’s richest horse race just got even richer.
By Clark Spencer
Arrogate and jockey Mike Smith after winning the inaugural Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January. (Photo/AL DIAZ/adiaz@miamiherald.com)
Gulfstream Park has sweetened the pot for the Pegasus World Cup.
The purse for the world’s richest horse race is going up from $12 million to $16 million.
Arrogate won the inaugural running of the Pegasus in January when he defeated California Chrome and 10 others in the 1 1/8-mile stakes. Stakeholders kicked in $1 million each to secure one of the 12 starting spots.
Now, in addition to the $12 million that stakeholders are contributing, The Stronach Group -- which owns Gulfstream -- will be contributing an additional $4 million.
“The 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational surpassed our expectations and we believe took the sport of thoroughbred racing to an exciting new level,” said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. “In 2018, we will bring an even bigger, more modern and unforgettable entertainment experience to a global audience.”
Gulfstream Park has sweetened the pot for the Pegasus World Cup.
The purse for the world’s richest horse race is going up from $12 million to $16 million.
Arrogate won the inaugural running of the Pegasus in January when he defeated California Chrome and 10 others in the 1 1/8-mile stakes. Stakeholders kicked in $1 million each to secure one of the 12 starting spots.
Now, in addition to the $12 million that stakeholders are contributing, The Stronach Group -- which owns Gulfstream -- will be contributing an additional $4 million.
“The 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational surpassed our expectations and we believe took the sport of thoroughbred racing to an exciting new level,” said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. “In 2018, we will bring an even bigger, more modern and unforgettable entertainment experience to a global audience.”
The 2018 Pegasus World Cup will be held on Jan. 27.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, April 07, 2017.
Memoriesofhistory.com
Memoriesofhistory.com
1955 - Fort Wayne beat Syracuse 74-71. It was the lowest scoring NBA Playoff game since the introduction of the 24-second shot clock.
1959 - Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics) achieved 19 assists, to tie an NBA Playoff record, in a game against Minneapolis.
1963 - At the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus became the youngest golfer to win the Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament.
1969 - U.S. President Nixon threw out the first ball of the 1969 major league baseball season.
1985 - In Goteborg, Sweden, China swept all of the world table tennis titles except for men's doubles.
2001 - The New Jersey Devils ended a streak of 10 consecutive road wins to tie the NHL record.
1959 - Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics) achieved 19 assists, to tie an NBA Playoff record, in a game against Minneapolis.
1963 - At the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus became the youngest golfer to win the Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament.
1969 - U.S. President Nixon threw out the first ball of the 1969 major league baseball season.
1985 - In Goteborg, Sweden, China swept all of the world table tennis titles except for men's doubles.
2001 - The New Jersey Devils ended a streak of 10 consecutive road wins to tie the NHL record.
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