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Premier League Transfer Rumors Heat Up As Hugo Lloris' Summer Departure From Lyon Looks More Likely; Could a Trip to Old Trafford be Next?

As the summer transfer season inches closer, the football world turns its attention to the rumors pinballing around the landscape about potential player moves, and where they could land. 

One club looking to buy this summer will most likely be Manchester United. The men from Old Trafford find themselves in need of a goalkeeper of the future, what with 41-year old Dutch giant Edwin van der Sar retiring after this season and all. 

A likely candidate and popular transfer possibility has long been French keeper Hugo Lloris. At just 24 years of age, Lloris is already one of the world's best netminders, becoming a stabilizing force between the sticks for both Lyon and the French national team. 

Must Read:English Premier League Transfer Rumours: The Top Target for Every Team. 

Lloris has been the subject of rampant speculation about his potential destination, and given the events of recent days, a departure from Lyon seems likely. 

Mirror Football reports that there are rumblings from the French side that their young star will be headed out the door at season's end, thanks to several clashes with coaches and teammates. 

"Sometimes one is obliged to sell certain players and there are people who will surely be leaving the club," said Lyon director Bernard Lacombe.

"We will try to do everything to keep Lisandro [Lopez], but it could be complicated for Lloris."

"He came to Lyon to win titles, to be in the France squad, but his reaction at Nice... it's a sign."

The fact is, many have expected a trip out of Lyon for the gifted young goalkeeper, and given the dust-up he was a part of in Nice, when he berated teammates for allowing two late goals,  he looks to be headed out of France. 

Lloris is without a doubt the best available keeper for Old Trafford, given his youth and skills, and he's found success in the high-pressure atmosphere of international play, too boot. He seems to have everything United need in a keeper, and assuming he handles the transition to England well (and I don't see why he wouldn't), the idea of the young Frenchman between the sticks should be one that will become more and more tangible for the Red Devils' fans as the summer draws slowly closer.

Obviously, United aren't the only ones likely to be in the market for his services, but with their considerable bankroll, expect them to do everything they can to get him. 

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Bob Knight Attacks Coach John Calipari, Kentucky Basketball, But He's Not As Far Off Base As You Might Think

Former Indiana coaching legend Bob Knight lashed out at John Calipari and the Kentucky basketball program on Saturday during a speech in Newcastle, Indiana, telling the audience that UK started five players who failed to attend any class in the second semester during the 2009-10 basketball season.

"That's the one-and done way," Knight told the crowd. 

The comments naturally sparked a flurry of consternation from UK fans across the country, as well as the school itself, which was quick to point out that standouts like Patrick Patterson and Darius Miller, were either still in school or had graduated. 

But, while Knight's facts seemed to be a bit off (although Patterson wasn't really a starter in 2010; he was the team's sixth man off the bench), his point is still valid. 

None of the players in Kentucky's starting five that season were actually at Kentucky to be student athletes. They were there to be athletes, and there's a big difference there. 

Must Read: College Basketball Rankings 2011-12: Predicting the Top 25. 

Knight's using Kentucky as an example of the evils of the one-and-done philosophy, in which the best players in the country come to a school not to get an education, but to bide their time for a mandatory waiting period before jumping to the NBA. He picked the Wildcats because the fact of the matter is, head coach John Calipari has built his reputation on recruiting talent that has no intention of getting a real education.

The funny thing is, he's right. The one-and-done system is killing college basketball and hurting the game as a whole. Players have no interest in getting an education, and think they're ready to jump to the pros whether they actually are or not. That results in the college game losing top talent to the pros who aren't ready to go, while the pros wind up with undeveloped talent wasting away on their bench. 

Sure, there are exceptions, but for the most part, one-and-dones aren't ready for the spotlight of the NBA when they jump. Then, when they crash out of the NBA, they find themselves without an education to fall back on. Coach Cal, for all his success, has thrived on one-and-done's, turning Memphis and Kentucky into a glorified NBA Draft camp for players. 

Was coach Knight right about Kentucky's starters? Probably not; John Wall tweeted that he had a 3.5 GPA spring semester, making it tough to prove Knight's claims (although, he doesn't say what courses he took that semester). But that doesn't make his critique of Coach Cal's tactics, and the one-and-done system as a whole any less right. 

It's not the easiest thing to do, but try to look past the facts and look at the issue he's addressing; you'll see that in the end, this eccentric legend does know of what he speaks. 

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NBA Playoffs 2011 Give Dallas Mavericks New Reason to Complain, as Arch-Nemesis Danny Crawford Officiates Game 2

One of the biggest underlying storylines in the NBA in recent years has been the officiating. It seems as though we can't go more than a game or two, particularly in the playoffs, without hearing about it, whether ESPN's J.A. Adande wants to hear about it or not. 

Now, the NBA has created the first real potential officiating controversy of the 2011 playoffs, by allowing Danny Crawford to referee the Dallas' Mavericks' Game 2 clash with the Portland Trailblazers. 

Why is that a problem? Well, mostly because there seems to be rather strong statistical evidence that shows the Mavs are incapable of winning when Crawford's their referee in the playoffs. 

Dallas is just 2-16 all-time when Crawford is their referee in the postseason, compared to 48-41 when anyone else calls their games. They're called for an average of more than 2 more fouls per game than Crawford, and opponents shoot almost seven more free throws than the Mavericks do in games Crawford refs in the playoffs. 

Now, typically, you could chalk that up to small sample size. But 18 games is a decently sized postseason data pool to draw from, and to see the results trend so strongly in one direction (Dallas loses, Dallas gets called for a significantly higher number of fouls, and their opponents shoot significantly more foul shots) is troubling, to say the least. 

Must Read: 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Updated Championship Odds for All 16 Teams. 

My question is, why would the NBA do this to themselves? It's fairly clear that there is a noticeable difference in the Mavericks' record when Crawford is at the helm, and if you think fans won't think there's some kind of anti-Dallas bias on Crawford's part, you haven't been paying attention. 

Even if there's not an actual bias against the Mavs, there appears to be one in the data, and the NBA can scarcely afford any more referee controversies marring anymore close games. 

Maybe Crawford's not biased. Maybe the Mavs just play differently in games he referees, and maybe it's just a coincidence. 

But, if you're the NBA, why risk it? You've got plenty of other officials capable of handling every Mavericks playoff game, good officials whose track record isn't staunchly stacked against a certain team. There's no need to put Crawford in charge of a Mavs game, unless you want him subjected to more scrutiny. 

In the end, it's just a baffling move by the NBA, and one we're certain to here more about when Crawford calls a couple of dubious fouls on Mavericks tonight, and they lose a close-fought Game 2 to Portland. 

Manny Pacquiao Unveils New Kicks For His Bout With Sugar Shane Moseley

Boxing great Manny Pacquiao is a global icon. He's a legend in his native Philipines, a sure-fire box-office draw, and a product endorser extraordinaire. So, it stands to reason that Pacman would be debuting some new shoes prior to his bout with "Sugar" Shane Moseley. 

Pacman's new Nike Zoom Huarache Trainers are set to be released sometime this month, and bear a striking resemblance to some of the Filipino champ's other footwear. With the white, blue, red and gold emblematic of the Philipine flag and a translucent sole revealing his brand's "MP" logo, these are some slick kicks indeed. 

Must Read: Manny Pacquiao: Amir Khan and 15 Boxers Under 26 Following in His Footsteps. 

The blue tongue features a red and gold version of Pacman's logo, as well, with the May 7 fight date with Moseley imprinted just below the crest. 

Given Pacman's global appeal, these shoes come as little surprise; they're slick, nice looking shoes, and the clear sole is a nice touch. 

The boxer has had new shoes for each of his last two fights, debuting a set of kicks prior to his 209 fight with Ricky Hatton and a whole clothing line before his fight with Antonio Margarito. Clearly, both of those debuts worked out well for the fighter, who has seen his popularity across the globe skyrocket in recent years. 

The newest installment in Pacman's line of apparel figures to be as big of a hit as the last few items he's debuted, as his ever rabid fan base figures to snatch up as many pairs of these shoes as they can get their hands on, even if they're only going to be a limited release at first. According to Sole Collector, the shoes are also going to be available to the general public with a different color scheme, perhaps one more widely available than a model he's actually fighting in. 

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Dwight Howard Nets Third Defensive Player of the Year Award, But Did He Really Deserve it? 

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard took home his third straight Defensive Player of the Year Award yesterday, in a vote that was almost unanimously in his favor. 

Howard received 114 out of 120 first-place votes, in a move that was surprising to few basketball fans around the world. 

But, did Howard really deserve the award this season? 

Must Read: 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Updated Championship Odds for All 16 Teams. 

Before we get into the reasons why he did, let's talk about why he didn't. Howard averaged 2.4 blocks per game this season, but that's a misleading statistic. Unlike many of the great shot-blockers over the years, Howard simply launches the ball into the upper deck of the stands, giving the opposing team another possession, and thereby defeating the purpose of blocking the shot. 

He picks up dumb fouls on a regular basis, and gets a bit over-aggressive in his hunt for blocks, although some of those fouls have been pretty questionable. 

But, the pros more or less outweigh the cons for Dwight winning this award. It's hard to find a player who has more of an impact on the defensive end of the floor than the big man, who remains the most athletic center in basketball, capable of doing things others couldn't dream of. 

He's one of the primary reasons why the Magic's defense is so good, and is the only reason their defensive rebounding skills are among the best in the NBA (it's not because of Hedo Turkoglu, that's for sure). 

Howard is valuable almost as much as a shot-changer as he is a shot-blocker. He forces teams to plan for his shot blocking skills, and when he's out of the game, the fact of the matter is that Orlando's defense is somewhat lacking overall. 

Perhaps the biggest reason for Howard's winning the award is this: there's literally no other convincing candidate. Kevin Garnett isn't nearly the defensive force Howard is, while Tyson Chandler can't touch Howard's reputation. 

Since we can't give the award to a team (that would be you, Chicago), Howard is the best, most logical pick. 

In the end, Howard was an easy choice for his third straight defensive player of the year award, and he should be favored to win his fourth straight next season. 

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2011 NFL Schedule Features London Clash Between Potential Top Teams For First Time Ever

The 2011 NFL schedule is set to be released today at 7 P.M. EST, but there's already one game we can start marking down on our schedule: the now-annual clash at London's Wembley Stadium. 

This season, the game will pit the Tampa Bay Bucs and Chicago Bears head-to-head on October 23, in a matchup that proves that after four seasons, the NFL may have finally figured out how to sell the game to British audiences. 

See, the first four trips overseas saw terrible matchups. First, we had the Giants taking on the moribund Dolphins in 2007. New York eventually won the Super Bowl that year, but Miami were en route to a 1-15 season, so naturally, the game was no contest. 

The next season, things got a bit better, as the New Orleans Saints and their 8-8 eventual record headed to London to face the San Diego Chargers, also headed for a .500 record. An improvement, but not exactly a barn-burner affair. 

Must Read:The Best Wide Receiver in the History of Every Single NFL Franchise. 

In 2009, we got the New England Patriots, with Tom Brady and an explosive offense, but they faced a pushover in a meek Tampa Bay Buccaneer squad who finished just 4-12. 

Even last season's clash between the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos (a pair of 5-11 teams) was lackluster at best. 

But now, we've got two teams in Chicago (a playoff team last year with plenty of hope for 2011), and Tampa Bay (a 10-6 team who missed the postseason by thatmuch) capable of delivering the kind of game the NFL needs to build a fan base in Europe. 

Why wasn't this the plan from the beginning? Why did the NFL insist on sending mediocre or subpar teams over to face superior opposition? Wouldn't a good game between good teams make much more sense? 

In the end, this year's London clash promises to be a much better game than in years past. It's just a shame it took the NFL four years to figure out how to do it.

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Mike Leake Arrested for Shoplifting, and it Could Cost Him a Spot in the Rotation

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake was arrested and charged with misdemeanor shoplifting on Monday, after stealing six shirts from a Cincinnati area Macy's. 

Leake, a 23-year-old second-year player, had found a solid amount of success this season and last, opening this season having gone 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA through three starts, while going 8-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 2010. 

However, if you're this promising young righty, this is the worst possible time to wind up crossing the law, and it could be enough to result in a demotion to the bullpen. 

It's not because of any moral compass from Dusty Baker (although that could be a factor); rather, it's the fact that the Reds find themselves more awash in starting pitching than they've been in recent memory. 

One of the big reasons Leake and fellow youngster Travis Wood found themselves in the rotation to open the year was because usual rotation arms Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto have been on the disabled list since the season began. However, with both pitchers inching close to a return, there will soon be more pitchers than there are spots in the rotation. 

Must Read: MLB Power Rankings: Ebbets Field and the Top 50 Stadiums in Baseball History. 

Dusty Baker is just looking for a reason to send someone to the bullpen when Bailey and Cueto return, and off-field trouble would provide just the kind of excuse he needs to send Leake back. 

I'm not saying he's a troublemaker, and I don't think this is the start of any kind of downward spiral for the promising youngster, but the fact is, Leake hasn't been brilliant on the mound in 2011, and the last thing he needed right now was off-field issues to give Baker more reason to pick him as the unlucky victim. 

It might not be for long (fellow youngster Travis Wood is off to a much worse start than Leake, and could get the hook as well), but don't be surprised if Baker chooses Leake to make a trip to the bullpen after this incident. 

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Derrick Rose's Superb Showing Against Pacers Shows Us Why He's Still MVP Favorite

Through the first two games of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has reminded us all why he should be the MVP for this season. Why? Simple: the Bulls wouldn't be where they are without him. 

We saw as much on Saturday, when Rose dropped 39 on the Pacers and led the Bulls back from the brink of defeat. We saw it even more on Monday night, when Rose dropped 36 and once again led the Bulls from the brink against a better-than-you-think Pacer squad. 

I'm not the only one who sees what Rose means to the Bulls; just ask ESPN's Michael Wilbon.

You figure at some point he's going to miss those spinning drives down the lane, or that the defense is going to successfully smother him, or he'll clang a couple of free throws late in the fourth quarter or simply make the wrong play. Derrick Rose, after all, is still just 22 years old and completely undecorated in playoff basketball.

You look at the Chicago Bulls struggling with the Indiana Pacers and you know they could use another scorer, that they have nobody on the roster for whom an open shot is automatic. You keep thinking that the Bulls rely so much on one player to score, to pass, to rally and to lead that it's all going to fall apart at some point in these playoffs, which is why some folks keep picking Miami or Boston in the East.

The fact of the matter is this: Rose remains the key to the Bulls' success. Carlos Boozer is a secondary scorer, but he's pretty much the only other consistent, reliable option on Chicago's roster.

Must Read: 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Updated Championship Odds for All 16 Teams. 

Now that LeBron has the MoHeato's, he's not doing it by himself. Kobe has Pau Gasol to shoulder the load on occasion. Only Rose and the Bulls lack a true secondary star to help Rose  with the scoring and playmaking. He's been the most valuable player in the NBA this season, simply because this team would be in big trouble without him. 

Wilbon alludes to Rose's Jordanesque play, but I'm not going to go that far yet. Rose isn't Jordan; he hasn't won a playoff series, hasn't won a ring, and isn't quite near even young Jordan's level. 

But, there's little doubt in my mind that Derrick Rose remains the NBA MVP in 2011. He won't let this team lose, and in the end, that should make all the difference in the world. 

Sure, Rose could fall apart, the Bulls' title hopes could unravel, and in the end, someone else could go home with NBA MVP. But, for now, at this point, after what he's done the last two games, is there really any doubt left?

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Madden NFL 12 Cover Contest Reaches Finals, and Here's Why the Cover Star Should Be Peyton Hillis

We've finally reached the finals of the Madden NFL 12 cover contest, and the pair of players remaining is very much a surprise to many fans. 

On one side of the bracket, we've got Michael Vick, the resurgent dynamo of a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, whose transcendant play last season helped fans forget his legal troubles from years past. 

But, in the most shocking upset of the entire knockout tournament, Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis stunned Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers 61 percent to 39 percent in the voting, earning himself an unexpected berth in the finals.

However, now that he's here, look for Hillis' run to greatness to continue, as he wins the whole thing. 

You read that right; Hillis will win this contest now that he's made it to the finals, and it won't just be the Vick haters that push him over the top.

Sure, the Browns' running back is sure to get a boost from those who think Vick doesn't deserve the cover after serving 18 months in federal prison on dogfighting and racketeering charges, that anyone getting the cover over the Eagles' quarterback would be a win. 

But, the fact is, Hillis might have an edge on Vick anyway. You want a feel-good story? Hillis has Vick beat in that department by a fairly sizable margin. 

Vick may have made an incredibly improbable rise back to the limelight after jail time and being buried on the Eagles' depth chart, but he's got nothing on Hillis.

Must Read: 2011 NFL Schedule, Tony Romo, Ryan Mallett and Tuesday's NFL News. 

This is a guy who was buried behind Felix Jones and Darren McFadden at Arkansas, who was the fourth option at running back for the Denver Broncos, was traded to the Browns for Brady Quinn and found himself as the third option behind Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty, until they got hurt. He hadn't been the featured back in a backfield since high school.

On top of that, Hillis' production isn't that far behind Vick's from last season. Sure, the quarterback was sensational all season long, but with the talent at wideout and running back around him, he didn't have to worry about doing it all himself. Hillis, on the other hand, managed to produce big days despite being the only reliable offensive weapon the Browns had. 

In other words, don't be surprised if Peyton Hillis pulls off one last upset. After all, he showed us last season that he's a force to be reckoned with on the field, and this contest has shown he's capable of being a force to be reckoned with off it, as well.

Notre Dame Releases Final Report On Declan Sullivan Investigation, But Does It Show That the Irish Still Don't Get it?

The investigation into the death of student videographer Declan Sullivan came to an official end yesterday at Notre Dame, after the school released a 130-page report regarding the decisions that ultimately influenced Sullivan's death. 

In the end, Notre Dame found that no one person could be found ultimately responsible for Sullivan's death, a response that has not been looked on favorably by members of the media. 

David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune believes that the report shows us that even now, the Irish administration doesn't get it. 

"We did not find any individual who disregarded safety or was indifferent to safety. Consequently, there was not any individual discipline," the Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, said at a news conference Monday on campus. "Our conclusion is that it's a collective responsibility."

Sorry, when a student falls to an accidental death on the job while employed and enrolled at a university that claims to live by a higher standard, saying we're sorry doesn't cut it. Nothing will bring Sullivan back, but replacing scissors lifts with remote-controlled cameras falls short of a satisfactory response.

I understand that what happened to Sullivan on the day of October 27 was a terrible tragedy, something that could easily have been avoided, but the fact is that while there are some unpleasant aspects to the report (saying it was tough to say whether Sullivan was scared despite his tweets was baffling, to say the least), the fact is that the communal aspect of the blame was spot on. 

Must Read:College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top 50 Commitments.

I get that we're all in a righteous fury right now. How dare someone not lose their jobs because of this, we say. How can Notre Dame say that there will be no individual punishment? 

The answer is simple: because they're right. No one blatantly ignored safety guidelines, no one sent Sullivan up in the lift knowing the conditions were unsafe. 

The only person who knew the updated wind speed was Sullivan, and he didn't say anything to director of football video and film Tim Collins before he went up in the lift. Collins said the wind made him a little nervous, but he still thought it was safe for the lifts to be used. Perhaps if there had been a means to measure the wind speed at the practice facility, Collins would have known better. 

Sullivan's death is a terrible tragedy, one that leaves you feeling hollow. To lose someone so young in such a seemingly senseless way is unfathomable. Heads should roll when something like this happens. 

But, in the end, it's tough to fault any one person enough to cost them their jobs. For all of the things wrong with their final report, Notre Dame managed to get that aspect right.