Bleacher Report - Front Page

Mario Gotze Injury: Updates on Borussia Dortmund Star's Hamstring

Tim Daniels — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:49:19 -0400

Borussia Dortmund will be without Mario Gotze in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich due to injury, reports ESPN. The attacking midfielder has already agreed to join the German rivals after the campaign.

Gotze suffered a hamstring injury during the second leg of Dortmund's semifinal triumph over Real Madrid. A setback in training, as passed along by ESPN, will prevent him from playing against his future club in the championship match.

But despite resuming light training recently, a shadow has been cast over the 20-year-old's rehabilitation with news surfacing he was forced to pull out of a training session after experiencing a reoccurrence to the injury.

"Mario has felt something again in his hamstring," Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc told Bild. "That is why he stopped. We don't know how bad it is and whether he is still suffering from it."

Gotze has accounted for 12 goals and 14 assists in 39 matches across Bundesliga and Champions League play this season. The versatile playmaker's absence is a major blow to the club's chances against a Bayern side that's been downright dominant.

Skeptics will probably suggest Gotze's failure to suit up for the final has something to do with his impending move to Bayern during the summer. But there's nothing concrete to suggest it's anything more than an injury issue.

The German international has been a key cog for the Borussians. Along with Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus and Jakub Blaszczykowski, the club had enough firepower to keep pace with a Bayern side that dropped seven goals over two legs against Barcelona.

Without Gotze, the path to victory becomes more complicated. It will put more pressure on Blaszczykowski to jump-start the Dortmund attack. The rising star's creativity will be sorely missed, especially on the counterattack, though.

Interestingly enough, the hamstring woes are also of interest to Bayern. They don't want Gotze to arrive to the club as damaged goods, so they are probably happy to see him out of the lineup for two reasons. It improves their chances of winning and will help him recover.

The Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich is set for Saturday at Wembley Stadium.

2013 NBA Draft Breakdown and Scouting Report for Cal's Allen Crabbe

Jonathan Wasserman — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:44:44 -0400

Allen Crabbe took a big leap forward his junior year at California, putting himself on first-round radars with his 18.4-point per game average.

He was one of the top shooters at this year's NBA combine, and if scouts were unfamiliar with him before it, chances are that's no longer the case. Crabbe is a late-rising prospect after putting up impressive numbers both during measurements and athletic testing.

The buzz is getting louder, as Crabbe is no longer considered a potential draft-day sleeper.

Physical Tools

Crabbe has excellent size for the position he plays. You can call him a 2-guard or a small forward, but to simplify things, I just refer to him as a wing.

He measured in at 6'6'' with a 6'11'' wingspan, both appealing numbers. He got off the ground for a 36'' max vertical leap, surprising some with his athleticism.

Crabbe isn't the most explosive athlete, and isn't necessarily a high-flying easy-bucket type of guy, but for the position and role he's projected to play, his physical tools work just fine.

Adding strength of course will improve his efficiency as a scorer around the rim, but that's realistically the case with every kid out of college.

Off-Ball Scoring

Despite Crabbe's ability to score in volume, he's not much of a ball-dominator. Instead of creating shots for himself off the dribble, Crabbe uses off-ball movement to free himself up for scoring opportunities. He reminds me of a young Rip Hamilton, with his ability to come off screens, catch and shoot or slash toward the rim.

Crabbe's ability to score without dominating the ball should allow him to slide into a lineup and complement whatever is in place.

Slashing

Crabbe isn't quick enough to beat his defender off the dribble, so he chooses to beat him without the ball and use that momentum once he catches it.

Below is a perfect example of how Crabbe use screens to free himself up, keeping his defender on his back hip and one step behind.

Once he catches, he only needs two dribbles to get to the rim and finish. He wouldn't have been able to beat his man with the ball in his hands, but through off-ball movement, he's able to lose him before he catches the rock.

Spot-up Shooting

Crabbe is an excellent spot-up shooter with NBA range. He's made 209 threes in three years at California with a career mark of 38.2 percent. He's sports excellent rhythm in catch-and-shoot opportunities with a clean, high release that's tough to contest.

Defenders won't be able to play an inch off him at the next level. Coaches will use Crabbe to spread the floor and provide his playmakers with a target around the perimeter.

Shooting Off Curls

Going back to off-ball movement, Crabbe is really effective in the mid-range coming off curls and catching and shooting. He's able to catch, gather and square before rising and firing with balance.

Coaches will love his ability to score with the game slowed down, and in a way that doesn't keep the ball from sticking.

Weaknesses

Without the ability to create, Crabbe's ceiling is somewhat limited at the next level. He can finish plays as a shooter and cutter, but playmaking off the dribble is not really his forte.

Crabbe will need to improve his isolation game if he wants to take that next step as a scorer.

Finishing at the rim could also be a challenge, though most of his work is likely to come from eight feet away and out.

Crabbe has also been criticized for his defense. Some wonder whether he has the strength and motor. Depending on the coach, this could keep him Crabbe from getting consistent minutes. Proving he can D up should be a point of emphasis for Crabbe during workouts and training camp.

Draft Breakdown and NBA Outlook

Crabbe is an excellent off-ball scorer, which is exactly what his role will be at the next level. Coaches will appreciate his shot-making skills and ability to move without the ball.

Many volume scorers in college struggle to make the NBA transition because they aren't used to playing without the ball in their hands. This is where Crabbe differs, as he doesn't need it in his hands in order to be effective.

After his strong showing at the combine, Crabbe is moving up boards as a potential mid-first round pick. He'll be competing with other guards and wings like UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad, Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr., Georgia's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, New Mexico's Tony Snell, San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin and North Carolina's Reggie Bullock.

Crabbe will have plenty of competition, but he'll try and convince teams that his shooting stroke and off-ball scoring instincts are all top-notch, and that he's capable of becoming a dedicated NBA defender.

Anywhere from outside the lottery should be a possible landing spot for Crabbe.

Marc Gasol Made Two Ridiculous Shots That Didn't Count Last Night

Dan Carson — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:35:05 -0400

They should’ve counted as five points a piece, but officials cut them down in their prime.

To put it simply, Marc Gasol had himself an interesting game last night.

The Memphis Grizzlies center played strong defense, packaged up a turnaround jumper by Tim Duncan and generally brought the ruckus you’d expect from the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in spite of a losing effort against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

What has been glossed over in the overtime blitz and the “We did it!” hubbub was the multiple circus shots he had last night. They must be catalogued and brought into the light, if only for posterity’s sake.

Gasol threw up a shot that nobody saw coming—a behind-the-back looper typically reserved for schoolyard games and Globetrotter exhibitions—and they didn’t even count it.

No big whoop, right? Wrong. It usually wouldn’t be a big deal, but Gasol kept hitting these wildly improbably shots.

What is going on here? This isn’t Gasol’s thing. His job description reads “Bulldozing the block” and “bear-bearding.”

Nowhere in the book on Gasol is there a mention that he was a former employee of the Ringling Brothers and/or a H.O.R.S.E. lord.

At this rate, he’s might drain some kind of weird no-look sky hook through contact. What? He's done that before?

He's done that before.

Wait, that one didn’t count either? Oh, c’mon!

The Tactical Evolution of Manuel Pellegrini: Madrid, Malaga, Premier League?

Sam Tighe — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:34:52 -0400

Manuel Pellegrini admitted today that Malaga's game against Deportivo La Coruna will be his last at la Roselada.

The Chilean is a world-class tactician who seems set for an English Premier League job in the 2013-14 season, but which club will snap him up?

Malaga coach and reported Manchester City target Manuel Pellegrini confirms that he will leave Malaga at the end of the season.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 22, 2013

Manchester City have been linked with him since before Roberto Mancini was officially sacked (via BBC), but he's been paired with Chelsea by The Telegraph too.

So what's the low-down on the new manager likely arriving on British shores?

Pellegrini made his name in Europe as Villarreal manager, leading them to a historic second-placed finish in La Liga and reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals.

He became famous for his obscure 4-2-2-2 tactical setup, and his flexibility on the team sheet ensured he enjoyed five glorious at el Madrigal.

In 2009, Real Madrid activated the release clause in his contract and took him to the Santiago Bernabeu, the task at hand: lead the second coming of the Galacticos.

Dutch tactical writer Nikos Overheul summed up the Chilean's tactical approach at los Blancos extremely well to me during private conversation:

During his time at Real Madrid, Manuel Pellegrini proved himself to be an adaptable tactician.

Kaka, Raul, Rafael van der Vaart, Esteban Granero, Guti and Cristiano Ronaldo were all excellent players, but they didn't fit together in an obvious tactical set-up. Pellegrini would switch formation from game to game, often employing a 4-2-3-1 or a midfield diamond.

No matter the formation, Pellegrini's Madrid would regularly play with four creative midfielders while largely maintaining defensive stability. This is the main characteristic of Pellegrini's tactical set-ups.

Like Carlo Ancelotti he excels in building a system that allows for creative expression, but not to the detriment of his defence.

Although he used his resources extremely well, he was never able to build a side in his own image due to the hierarchy dictating the transfer policy.

After Madrid, Pellegrini landed at current club Malaga and restored his reputation as one of tactical football's true greats.

He has unlocked the very best in wunderkind Isco, allowing him to drift into midfield and find the ball irrespective of position, thus stopping teams from double-marking him or figuring him out.

His strong coaching and systematic work has allowed players like Ignacio Camacho—who was a forgotten talent—rise to the fore and become one of La Liga's premier defensive midfielders, while he's also sculpted one of the nation's meanest defences from a modest set of players.

Despite los Boquerones consistently selling players, he's been able to use the transfer market to replenish the team: A Nacho Monreal-less Malaga were just minutes (or yards) from a Champions League semifinal.

He's done things so differently throughout his career, he can truly be labelled one of the most tactical reactive and flexible managers in world football. Where possible, he likes to use an enganche and a strike partnership, but he will always devise the optimum formation given the players at his disposal.

If you're looking for a new manager, you can't go wrong with Manuel Pellegrini.

Follow @stighefootball

UEFA Champions League: Borussia Dortmund's Mario Gotze to Miss Final

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:33:02 -0400

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed (link in German) that playmaker Mario Gotze will miss Saturday's UEFA Champions League final.

It's good news for Bayern Munich, who otherwise would have faced the uncomfortable prospect of playing against a future teammate. But it's also good news for fans of drama and conspiracy theories.

Gotze, a 20-year-old German international midfielder, is set to join Bayern Munich this summer in a €37 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund. In this week's build-up to the match, Gotze told Bild (via ESPN FC) "To win the final in my last game for Dortmund would be by far the greatest for me. I want to take part in the game in London, absolutely, and will give my all for Borussia. I want to help the team lift the trophy."

That will not happen now. Dortmund might indeed win, but Gotze will take no part after failing to recover in time from a muscle strain suffered in the second leg of Dortmund's semifinal win over Real Madrid.

Question: Now, who does Mario Gotze want to win the Champions League final?
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) May 22, 2013

…

There was no way Bayern was going to let their €37 signing involved in another CL upset #Gotze
— Cristiano Acconci (@MrAcconci) May 22, 2013

Gotze played a key role in Dortmund's back-to-back Bundesliga title-winning sides of 2010-11 and 2011-12. This season he scored 10 goals and assisted nine more in 28 Bundesliga appearances. In the Champions League, he has recorded two goals and five assists in 11 appearances (WhoScored?).

Dortmund and Bayern drew both league matches this season, but Bayern won the title in record style. Bayern reached the Champions League final last year as well, losing to Chelsea on penalties.

Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is set to take over at Bayern this summer, and according to B/R tactical analyst Sam Tighe, Gotze is an ideal fit to play as a "False 9" in the style of Lionel Messi.

That's a bold statement that hints at Gotze's talent and potential. Unfortunately for Dortmund, that talent won't be available against Bayern this weekend.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Why Manuel Pellegrini Never Stood a Chance at Real Madrid

Tim Stannard — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:01 -0400

Comparing the relationship between Florentino Perez and former Sporting Director Jorge Valdano to Mr. Burns and Smithers from The Simpsons is all too tempting. Especially when reflecting on the goings-on of the cash-splashed summer of 2009 when the Real Madrid president was beginning his second tenure in charge of the club.

Perez had been through his sticker album of famous footballers and signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema in a huge splurge. The poor sap who had to manage this gaggle of Galacticos was a decision left up to the assistant, considering it seems unlikely that the Real Madrid president was familiar with any names aside from the then-unavailable Jose Mourinho.

“Who is this Manuel Pellegrini? Never heard of him,” is how the question is imagined from Perez to his Argentinean underling, when the former Villarreal boss was unveiled, with considerably less fuss and attention than his three star signings who were paraded at the Santiago Bernabeu.

As it turned out, Pellegrini was an astute selection by the Sporting Director with the serious, experienced, thoughtful, dignified South American having turned Villarreal from a small town club into Champions League semifinalists in 2006 over five years in charge. The constant problem that current Malaga manager had during a tumultuous spell at Madrid, is that Pellegrini was not a certain Portuguese coach, and therefore an irritating stopgap for Perez to endure.

This attitude explains why his coach was shut out of the tactical planning at the club in terms of squad selection. Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, two key parts of Pellegrini’s strategy for the season, were sold off shortly before the start of the campaign, to help fund the pricey new arrivals.

“I missed having a debate on sporting issues with the coach included,” was the reflection from Pellegrini to Spanish radio station, Cadena Ser, in May 2010 soon after being sacked just one season into a two-year deal. From that point on, communication seemed to worsen with the trainer revealing that he had not spoken to his club president since August of the previous year.

The feeling was while Real Madrid’s performances in La Liga were quite acceptable with the side finishing on 96 points, behind a truly outstanding Barcelona, the trainer was doomed from the off with two many enemies within the club and outside, too. The biggest of those was leading influential sports daily, Marca, a paper that ran a vicious campaign against an undeserving figure.

The Madrid manager certainly did not help himself in the face of such slings and arrows when his side were defeated over two legs by lower league Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey, with headlines calling for an instant dismissal.

Matters worsened with a defeat in the last 16 stages to Lyon in the Champions League at the beginning of 2010. Pellegrini appeared to be without a single friend in the local media. Conspiracies suggested that this was because the Chilean had no friends in the boardroom of Real Madrid either, to offer protection from increasingly personal attacks.

When Mourinho became available, fresh from winning the Champions League with Inter Milan, Pellegrini’s number was up and the Chilean was sacked at the start of what was supposed to be a long-term project. “I came here with high hopes and great pride. Unfortunately, I was not able to do what I wanted and I had differences from the beginning of the season,” he said.

Detractors will say that Pellegrini was not dynamic enough to handle the job of Real Madrid manager, and that the poor performances in the Copa del Rey and Champions League reflect a coach that was not at the level of one of the world’s biggest jobs. However, the 59-year-old had built the foundations of the team that Mourinho went on to manage to a league title two seasons later.

His players enjoyed a sense of peace and tranquility in the dressing room that was to be lost during the spell of the South American’s successor. “He is a coach that should have stayed at Real Madrid,” stated Guti, the former Real Madrid midfielder, after Pellegrini’s dismissal. Only speculation can say what would have happened had Guti had his way.

Sadly, that was never going to happen with his boss not wanting Pellegrini on the Santiago Bernabeu bench in the first place.

Possible Juventus Tactics to Include Zlatan Ibrahimovic Next Season

Matteo Bonetti — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:26:36 -0400

The potential arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a mouthwatering possibility which would definitely shore up the biggest hole in the Juventus starting XI and give the reigning Serie A champions yet another formidable weapon.

The Swedish behemoth has once again topped the scoring charts with 29 strikes so far in France with Paris St. Germain, and added yet another domestic title to his impressive résumé.

However, with the likes of coach Carlo Ancelotti leaving the French capital this summer, one has to wonder who will follow his lead and part ways with the ambitious Parisienne side.

Ibrahimovic has made no secret about his admiration for Italy, as he has said on numerous occasions that he had a great time living in the peninsula.

With that in mind, Juventus has welcomed the possibility of an Ibrahimovic return. Such a move would propel them to the upper echelons of the European class, giving them a potent goalscorer and creator alongside the arriving Fernando Llorente.

Juventus doesn't need to change anything in the midfield or defense for a possible Ibra inclusion. As a matter of fact, it would be a novel idea to start two gigantic, creative strikers up front. Both Ibrahimovic and Llorente stand at a menacing 6'5" and have fantastic feet to go with their hulking frames.

Even though Juventus director Beppe Marotta ruled out the possibility of Ibrahimovic returning to Turin, we know about the usual cat-and-mouse game played in Italy between club higher-ups and potential summer transfer targets.

The most important thing the Bianconeri need to do this summer is get an adequate striker for the Champions League. While their defense and midfield can go toe-to-toe with the best in Europe, they're missing a true goal threat up front who can score on a consistent basis.

While Fernando Llorente has proven to be a potent goal scorer when he gets regular time, the Spaniard has rarely played in the past season because of spats with Athletic Club coach Marcelo Bielsa, and one has to wonder how long it'll take him to get back in the form that made him a household name in Spain. Llorente made his desire to leave Bilbao evident earlier in the season and fell out with fans and management alike.

Either way, the possible pairing of Llorente with someone like Ibrahimovic is unheard of in world football. In no other instance have two strikers with the technical makeup and physique of these two spearheaded a team. Not only could they both create for each other, but Juventus also has the finest deep-lying playmaker in world football perched right behind them in Andrea Pirlo.

La Vecchia Signora is already to be the Scudetto favorite for next season, but if a move of this nature unfolds, expect them to be one of the main forces to be reckoned with in Europe as well.

Follow @TheMilanGuy

Sergio Garcia's Racial Comments Will Forever Taint His Image

Fred Altvater — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:21:54 -0400

Since golf fans watched a youthful Sergio Garcia close his eyes and attempt the go-for-broke shot from behind the tree at No. 16 in the final round at Medinah Country Club in the 1999 PGA Championship, he has been a media darling.

His jubilant hop-skip-and-jump across the fairway to watch his golf ball slicing onto the green grabbed golfers across the world and everyone became immediate fans of the exuberant 19-year-old Spaniard.

Even through the difficulties of watching an uncertain Garcia grip and re-grip his club while unsympathetic New York golf fans audibly counted out his twitches at Bethpage Black in the 2002 U.S. Open, the rest of the world still gave him the benefit of the doubt.

The golf kingdom, especially European golf fans, felt the deep despair of his failure to make that eight-foot putt for the win on the last hole in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie. Totally deflated, he went on to lose the four-hole aggregate playoff to Padraig Harrington.

Garcia revels in the team atmosphere of the Ryder Cup matches. He never fails to excel for the European team. Even though he was not a playing member of the 2010 team that defeated the USA at Celtic Manor, European team captain Colin Montgomerie asked Garcia to be an assistant captain for his enthusiasm and spirit.

Sergio Garcia has felt the highs and the lows of professional golf. He wears his feelings prominently for the entire world to see, warts and all.

His recent dust up with Tiger Woods at the Players Championship while the two were paired together is just another in the continuing saga that surrounds him.

Garcia may have tainted his image forever with his latest comments, however.

While on stage in an a black tie affair at Wentworth Club preceding the BMW PGA Championship, he was asked if he would be inviting Tiger Woods to dinner during the U.S. Open at Merion.

Golf Channel reported that he replied, “We will have him around every night.”

The assembled crowd was amused at this comment and laughed.

But then Garcia added the following quip: “We will serve fried chicken.”

This blatant racist remark harkened back to remarks that Fuzzy Zoeller made after Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters.

When asked if he had any comments on Woods winning the Masters, Zoeller replied, “Tell him to enjoy it and not serve fried chicken at next year’s champions dinner.”

Golfers are competitors. They are trying to beat each other every time they tee it up. Golf likes to see itself as a “gentlemen’s game,” but it is still a very serious sporting battle among serious combatants.

Woods is the ultimate competitor. He has to have a heart like Secretariat to continue to win golf tournaments on aging knees after surviving the personal problems he has faced.

Golfers do not need to like each other. They just have to display appropriate etiquette on the golf course. It would be nice, however, if that proper conduct would carry over into their off-course comments.

Garcia is trying to make amends by apologizing in a press conference and by trying to reach out to Woods.

He has opened a Pandora’s Box with his most recent comments.

Just ask Fuzzy Zoeller. Attacking Tiger Woods in the media and especially in a racist manner is not a very good strategy.

Why Philadelphia 76ers Must Be Draft-Day Wheeling and Dealing at 2013 NBA Draft

Bryan Toporek — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:20:38 -0400

The Philadelphia 76ers failed to strike lottery gold on Tuesday.

After entering the night with the 11th-best odds of landing the No. 1 draft pick, the Sixers ended the night in the No. 11 spot.

For the next month, the organization now has two missions: Figure out which late-lottery prospects intrigue them the most, then decide whether they can find an amenable draft-day trade partner.

The Sixers should see how the top 10 of the draft plays out before making any dramatic moves. If Cody Zeller is still on the board at No. 11, for instance, they should grab him without thinking twice. For a team lacking any semblance of a stretch-4, Zeller could grow into a valuable contributor for Philadelphia.

Based on Zeller's better-than-expected showing at the 2013 draft combine, however, there's a decent chance that he's now moved into top-10-pick territory.

Assuming both Zeller and Alex Len are gone by the time the Sixers pick, new general manager Sam Hinkie will have a conundrum on his hands: Are the players projected in the 11 to 14 range considerably better than those in the 15 to 25 range?

If not, can he find a willing trade partner?

As you pore over mock drafts in the coming weeks, you'll likely notice that outside the top 10, the projections vary wildly. Some will have Pittsburgh center Steven Adams as a lottery pick, while others may consider him a fringe first-round prospect (subscription required). Gorgui Dieng could just as easily go at the No. 12 spot as he could at No. 22.

For a Sixers team with a wealth of needs (except for a starting point guard), the key will be not to fall too deeply in love with one particular player. Is drafting Kelly Olynyk at No. 11 considerably better than grabbing a guy like Dieng, Allan Crabbe or Tony Mitchell 10 picks later?

Sixers fans can rest assured of one thing: Hinkie will do his due diligence. After all, he's the one who, in his introductory press conference, preached the value of meeting prospects at the combine presumed to be outside the Sixers' projected draft range, as reported on the official NBA website.

Even if it's not a target who you could reach to now... I very much want to meet him. I very much want to quiz him. I very much want to try to understand what makes him tick, because he will be a trade target in the coming years. He will be a free-agent target in four years. He might be a maximum target to recruit on July 1 in nine years. And this instance now is worth collecting and learning.

So, if the Sixers start bringing in prospects who aren't projected lottery picks for workouts, we'll know why.

It's not necessarily that the team is considering making a crazy reach on a player who has no business being a top-15 pick, it's that Hinkie recognizes the value of keeping all of his options on the table, including a draft-day trade.

Mike Trout Cycle: Does It Matter If the Angels Star Was out on the Single?

Dan Levy — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:18:43 -0400

Mike Trout is one of the bright young stars in baseball. As a fellow South Jersey native, I'm not only happy for the kid's early success, I find myself rooting for him to succeed. It came with great joy and civic pride, then, when I saw Trout hit for the cycle in the Angels' 12-0 rout of the Seattle Mariners.

I immediately clicked the video on MLB.com to see the highlights and share in the excitement.

Well now, Trout sure looked out on that infield single, didn't he?

Trout's first hit of the four-hit night was a bang-bang play at first base, and while he may have looked safe at live speed, the replay sure as heck looked like Aaron Harang got his foot on the bag before Trout.

Was Trout out? More importantly, should we care if Trout was out?

Yes and yes, if you ask me. (Note: my editor and I have both watched the video many times and he thinks Trout is safe while I see him out every time. Good thing for me, I'm writing this story, not him.)

Trout looks to be out, but with the play coming in the third inning of a game that was already 3-0—and ended up a one-sided laugher—the call had little impact on the outcome. In fact, the play had almost no impact at all, as Trout was stranded on base after Harang struck out Albert Pujols and forced a pop out from Mark Trumbo to retire the side. No harm, no problem, right?

Well…in a way, sure. The call didn't impact the outcome of the game, but it did change everything that happened after it. Pujols would have been at the plate with two outs and nobody on instead of one out and a man on first (Trout eventually stole second base).

Trumbo would have led off the fourth inning, which might have changed the horrible outcome of that stanza for Harang, who started the fourth by giving up a triple, a home run and a double to the first three batters. Not to get all Chaos Theory on Harang's outing, but the guy didn't get out of the fourth and left the game giving up seven runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings. Things could only have been better for Harang had Trout been called out in the third.

This story, however, isn't about Harang. In a way it's not really about Trout either.

This is about getting the calls right.

Even if you think Trout was safe, the play was really close—so close that if he needed a single at the end of the game for the cycle (and not the home run he hit to complete the cycle) the story of the game would be as much about the call at first as the cycle itself.

It's much easier to forget about a questionable call when it doesn't have much impact at the time, but had the play come in a more significant moment, we would surely be scrutinizing the call with as much zoom and frame-by-frame video technology as we can find.

Why? Because bang-bang plays at first do matter. When a close play at first happens, all roads lead back to Armando Galarraga, don't they? What if Trout wasn't running to first base in the third inning of a blowout win where the kid eventually hit for the cycle?

What if Trout was trying to beat out a throw to first in the ninth inning of perfect game?

Would Trout have been out then?

What if Trout was trying to beat out a throw at first that plated the game-winning run against a division opponent that, come September, could be the difference between making the playoffs or not? Would Trout have been out then?

The goal of the umpires—sorry, the strictly defined role of the umpires who are employed by MLB—is to get the call right. Out or safe. That's it. That's their job.

It has been proven time and time again that it's impossible for a human being to get every call right when the game is as fast as a professional baseball game can be.

Replay is faster and better than ever and has been used time and again to show how often umpires miss calls at first base. The human umpires are exposed, and it has come to the point that it's not really fair to them.

Of course, instant replay challenges are the easiest way to correct umpire mistakes—or validate the calls they get right—but truth be told, this particular play at first probably wouldn't have called for replay, especially given the circumstances of the game.

The only real answer is robot umpires.

I say that somewhat in jest—as someone working on a fictional book about robot umpires taking over baseball my brain immediately goes to that joke every time—but the fact remains that some sort of artificial intelligence to aid the human umpires is the only way MLB is going to ensure all the bang-bang plays are correct.

What if the batters and infielders had sensors on their shoes they could easily snap in place before going out to their position, and whichever sensor touches the bag first lights up a signal to the umpire like a game of laser tag?

What if MLB allows calls to be left in the hands of the umpires until a manager chooses to challenge a bad call, and that call then gets handled by the league office like the NHL does their replays, completely taking the replay decision out of the hands of egomaniacs (like Angel Hernandez) who refuse, despite clear visual evidence, their call was wrong? The challenge system isn't perfect—just ask the NFL—but it's better than what baseball does now.

What if the first-base umpire was replaced by a robot? What if all the umpires other than home plate—where there is still some nuance to calling balls and strikes—were replaced by a tennis-like Hawkeye system where we could all see on the big screen whether a guy was safe or out?

None of this, of course, will happen anytime soon. For now, we have to rely on the human umpires getting most of the calls right and hoping that when they get the call wrong, it doesn't impact the outcome of that contest, or the history of the game.

Trout is in the record books as the youngest American League player in history to hit for the cycle. He was called safe at first, so he was safe at first. The hit was a single, even if maybe, just maybe, it wasn't. I suppose we all just have to be OK with that for a little while longer.

NCAA Lacrosse: Predicting This Weekend's Final 4 Games

Dave Giancola — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:18:22 -0400

On Memorial Day Weekend, the four remaining teams in college lacrosse will take the field to finally decide a national champion.

The quarterfinals were full of action, but it always heats up when a trip to the national title game is on the line.

This Saturday, Cornell will face Duke while Denver takes on Syracuse, with the winners meeting on Monday in the national championship game.

Let's take a moment to preview and predict the semifinal match-ups. Although this season has been marked by parity and unpredictability, the four remaining teams are all familiar with playing in the final four spotlight, and certainly deserve to be in Philadelphia.

Cornell vs. Duke

Both teams were impressive in the quarterfinals, but their roads to victory were vastly different.

Cornell cruised past Ohio State, showing offensive prowess in the first half on its way to a blowout victory. Steve Mock and Rob Pannell combined for 15 points for the Big Red, once again proving to be an unstoppable duo against some of the nation's top defenses.

AJ Fiore played well in goal for Cornell, and must do so again against a speedy Duke attack. The Cornell defense should be able to go man-to-man after an impressive showing against Ohio State's Logan Schuss and the rest of the Buckeye offense just a week ago.

Duke needed all four quarters to get by a talented Notre Dame team. Duke showed great speed on offense, highlighted by the dodging ability of attacker Jordan Wolf. David Lawson scored five goals in the win over the Irish, showing that he is a viable alternative option for a deep Duke offensive roster.

From what I saw last weekend, it is tough to believe that Cornell can be beaten at this point. Steve Mock cannot be covered inside the crease area, and Rob Pannell has the ability to score at will. A big performance by Pannell could earn him the Tewaaraton Trophy as the nation's top player, but more importantly, it would propel his team to the national championship game.

Duke can score with anyone, but keeping up with Pannell and Mock in the fourth quarter is easier said than done. It will be close, but Cornell pulls it out late in the game.

Cornell wins it 14-10.

Denver vs. Syracuse

Syracuse may be the No. 1 seed in the tournament this year, but Denver is playing at a high level as it enters the Final Four. After trailing by six in the first half, Denver showed great resiliency in its ability to rally and beat UNC 12-11, scoring a goal in the final minute of the game.

The Denver offense found its stride, piling on the goals after halftime adjustments were made in the quarterfinals. Eric Law, who scored the game winner, finished the game with three goals and three assists while Wes Berg had four goals and an assist. The entire offense was on the same page in the second half, a trend that the Pioneers will look to continue in their upcoming contest.

Head Coach Bill Tierney has the Pioneers believing in themselves, and even had the guts to make a goalie change early in the game against North Carolina. The replacement goalie, Jamie Faus, was outstanding and finished the game with a tremendous 68 percent save rate. His performance will earn him the start against Syracuse, a team full of speed and talent on the offensive side of the ball.

Syracuse only scored seven goals in its win over Yale a week ago, and will need to double that total to be competitive against Denver. The Orange defense had trouble with Yale's ability to maintain possession and dictate the pace of play, a facet of the game in which Denver also excels.

Orange goaltender Dom Lamolinara must play exceptionally well to keep his team in the game, and has the ability to do so. Syracuse will most likely switch up its defensive schemes to keep Denver guessing, but stopping Berg and Law is priority number one.

I think Syracuse will improve this week on offense, but its vulnerability on defense will be a liability. If Denver can win faceoffs, it will dictate time of possession and make it very hard for Syracuse to stay fresh on defense.

Denver wins the game 15-13

NBA Mock Draft 2013: Easy Picks for Every NBA Team

Pete Schauer — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:16:49 -0400

The 2013 NBA draft is just five weeks away and it's time to begin analyzing the best picks for every NBA team owning selections in the first round.

Although the playoff action is still very much alive, the future of the NBA landscape is on the line as franchises look to build championship contenders for years to come.

The draft is difficult to predict, but these are my predictions for the first round of the 2013 NBA draft.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers : Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

As long as he proves that he can come back from the gruesome knee injury that he suffered at Kentucky, Noel should be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Already boasting strong guards in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, the Cavs could make their front court formidable by pairing Noel with Anderson Varejao.

Noel may still be a bit raw after just one season at Kentucky, but we know that he's an athletic shot-blocker who can immediately make a difference for any team.

Regardless, whatever team drafts the big man should be prepared to see him not return to the lineup until Christmas, according to Eric Freeman of Yahoo! Sports.

2. Orlando Magic: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

The Magic need a new point guard, plain and simple. It's clear that Jameer Nelson isn't going to get the job done, and the best point guard in this draft is Burke, by far. He has the unique combination of size, athleticism and handles that makes scouts drool, and he can score almost at will.

He brings a deft shooting touch beyond the arc and is a skilled passer who will keep defenses honest. Few players bring more to the table than Burke in this draft, and he's going to be a star.

There is some risk here, though, as Burke had consistency issues in college and did have bouts of cold shooting, even during his stellar campaign last year. But, given the Magic's need for talent, Burke is a great fit.

3. Washington Wizards: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

Is there a more perfect fit for the Wizards than the athletic, scoring forward? Porter brings size and arguably the best scoring touch in this draft class to the table, and he fills a massive hole on Washington's roster. All these years of ineptitude are finally paying dividends for the Wizards, and this team would have a talented young roster with few holes if Porter was added to the fold.

4. Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

The Charlotte Bobcats have an opportunity to build a nice young backcourt by pairing Kemba Walker with former Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore.

McLemore is an excellent three-point shooter who has drawn multiple comparisons to NBA great Ray Allen after shooting 42 percent from downtown last season.

Ranking 26th in terms of poins per game this season, the Bobcats are in need of a shooter who can put points on the scoreboard, and that's certainly what the 6'5" guard is capable of.

For a shooting guard, McLemore is a solid rebounder, and with some work on his ball handling, he would be an excellent selection for Charlotte at No. 4 overall.

5. Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

While Jared Dudley shot 39 percent from three this season, the Phoenix Suns should be looking at Victor Oladipo to take over the shooting guard spot next season.

Oladipo is a physical defender and has one of the quickest first steps in this class, which allows him to breeze past defenders and finish at the rim. Furthermore, when he wasn't driving to the rim, he was shooting 44 percent from three-point territory last season.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Alex Len, C, Maryland

Give the Pelicans credit here; they've decided to go big, and in doing so, they'll have one of the best front courts in basketball. Len is the best pure center in this draft, and while he's hurt now, his scoring touch, coupled with his size and rebounding, will be a perfect complement to Anthony Davis in the paint. If the Grizzlies' success is any indication, going big like this will be a great way to find success going forward.

He's still a little raw, but no one will fault the Pelicans for going big here.

7. Sacramento Kings: C.J. McCollum, G, Lehigh

The Sacramento Kings could look to get a big man in the first round, but with DeMarcus Cousins becoming a force in this league, I think they will look toward the dynamic C.J. McCollum.

The 6'3" guard has the scoring prowess of an NBA talent like Jamal Crawford, and he could be the type of spark that the Kings need to keep their fan base interested and their team contending.

8. Detroit Pistons: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA

Lacking a legitimate small forward, the Detroit Pistons would be wise to make Shabazz Muhammad their first pick of the 2013 NBA draft.

The Pistons ranked 22nd in points per game this season, and they watched as power forward Greg Monroe shouldered much of the offense.

I think Detroit lacks a scoring identity, which is something Muhammad certainly brings to the table. He averaged 17.9 points per game last season while shooting nearly 38 percent from three-point territory.

Defensively, the Pistons were decent this season, but what they really need is a pure scorer—enter Muhammad.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia

Caldwell-Pope struggled at the combine, but there's still a lot to love about the talented shooting guard. Caldwell-Pope brings elite athleticism and an incredibly fast first step to the table, while also having great size (6'6", 205) for the position. Given how long Minnesota's been looking for a talented shooting guard (it seems like they've been looking since Kevin Garnett was here, doesn't it?) grabbing the Georgia product here makes perfect sense.

His shot is still somewhat inconsistent, but there's a lot to like, and he fills a great need for Minnesota.

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV

This would be a controversial pick, but it would be one that will likely pay big dividends for Portland. Sure, they already have LaMarcus Aldridge in the paint, but Bennett is more of a pure big man than the versatile veteran.

His rotator cuff injury is a concern, but his talent is undeniable. His size, athleticism, and ball-handling will make him a potentially devastating weapon offensively, and pairing him with Aldridge and Damian Lillard will make the Blazers a very dangerous team moving forward.

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

After the Andrew Bynum experiment turned out to be a bust, the Philadelphia 76ers can't afford to blow it and leave the center position as the weakest spot entering next season.

Kelly Olynyk doesn't have the same level of athleticism or skills as Bynum, but the seven-footer should be able to stay healthy and put points on the board for Philly next season.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto Raptors): Rudy Gobert, C, France

It's difficult to find many holes in the Oklahoma City Thunder's game, but one glaring need comes from the center position.

Sure, Kendrick Perkins brings the toughness needed for a championship team, but Rudy Gobert is a seven-footer who can run the floor and excel off of pick and rolls, which could be the key to finally getting over the hump for Kevin Durant and the Thunder.

13. Dallas Mavericks: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

While I don't think Cody Zeller is destined for a brilliant NBA career, I do think he is the type of player who can immediately make an impact as a rookie for the Dallas Mavericks.

Zeller has great size (7'0"), runs the floor well and would be an upgrade over Chris Kaman on the defensive side of the ball. On an aging roster, Zeller would bring the youth that is necessary to start building a new future in Dallas.

14. Utah Jazz: Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany

German guard Dennis Schroeder is quickly moving up many draft boards because of his blow-by speed and ability to shoot the three-point shot.

With Mo Williams and Randy Foye continuing to age and not being able to matchup with the quicker point guards in the NBA, the Utah Jazz could use a talent like Schroeder. Look for the 19-year-old Schroeder to be a name that continues to be heard as the draft approaches.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Mason Plumlee, C, Duke

Seeking help on the interior of their defense, I think the Milwaukee Bucks will go out and get Mason Plumlee of Duke. He is an excellent rebounder and has a nose for the ball around the rim.

The Bucks surrendered more than 100 points per game this season and should be looking to shore up their defense in order to make it back to the playoffs next season.

16. Boston Celtics: Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville

With Kevin Garnett getting up there in age and possibly on his way out this offseason, the Boston Celtics have to keep the future in mind with the No. 16 pick.

Former Louisville center Gorgui Dieng isn't the offensive player that Garnett is, but he's a complete beast on defense and an absolute force on the glass. If Boston does draft Dieng, it'll need to look for more scoring options in free agency.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky

Despite playing just one season at Kentucky, shooting guard Archie Goodwin could draw the attention of a team like the Atlanta Hawks, who should be seeking help at the position.

I think Goodwin would be better served off the bench behind Devin Harris as a rookie, but I think Goodwin has the talent to be a starting NBA shooting guard in a few years.

18. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston Rockets): Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh

These two mid-round picks are all about solidifying the bench and building for the future in Atlanta, especially if Josh Smith leaves via free agency.

Steven Adams would be the defensive presence that neither Al Horford nor Smith are, which would help build upon an already solid defense in Atlanta.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Tony Snell, G/F, New Mexico

At 6'7", Tony Snell is a 'tweener who could play the 2 or the 3 in the NBA. On a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, who already have Dion Waiters and possibly Otto Porter (in my mock, anyway), Snell would come off the bench in his first season.

He's an excellent shooter from downtown (.390) and was durable in his three seasons at New Mexico.

20. Chicago Bulls: Allen Crabbe, SG, California

Regardless of Derrick Rose's status for the future, the Chicago Bulls need another guard who can put points on the board.

Pairing a scoring talent like Allen Crabbe with an elite point guard in Rose and a budding Jimmy Butler could make the Bulls an extremely dangerous team in the postseason.

21. Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors): Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan

Gordon Hayward had himself an excellent season shooting the three ball for the Utah Jazz, but the franchise should be looking to get more athletic at the shooting guard position.

During his time at Michigan, Tim Hardaway Jr. showed the ability to attack the rim and knock down outside shots, which could go well with an interior offense of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Dario Saric, F, Croatia

The Nets franchise is no stranger to taking international players, and I think they will do it again in 2013 with the first-round selection of Croatian forward Sario Saric.

Saric can play both the 3 and the 4, and with Gerald Wallace being one of the most inconsistent players for Brooklyn this season, the Nets should be looking to add a forward to combat the lack of scoring from Wallace and Reggie Evans.

23. Indiana Pacers: Shane Larkin, PG, Miami

If Shane Larkin falls this far, the Indiana Pacers absolutely have to take him.

Behind George Hill, the Pacers don't have much depth at the point guard position, which is where Larkin comes in. He's more of a scorer than a facilitator, but Larkin was a leader at Miami and looks to be an excellent NBA prospect.

24. New York Knicks: Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State

If the New York Knicks are smart and draft Lorenzo Brown out of N.C. State, he'd be the best passer and facilitator for New York next season.

Raymond Felton averaged just 5.5 assists per game this season, and going off of Carmelo Anthony's style of play, the Knicks need more unselfish players who can pass the ball and create shots for their teammates.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Deshaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State

Deshaun Thomas was one of the best scorers in college basketball last season, averaging close to 20 points and collecting nearly six rebounds per game.

After a disappointing ending to their season, the Los Angeles Clippers need more options on offense besides Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford, which is why I like Thomas to the Clippers.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies): Tony Mitchell, PF, North Texas

After injuries sidelined Kevin Love for most of the 2012-13 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves would be smart to look for a suitable backup to pair with Derrick Williams as depth at the power forward position.

The 6'8" forward has the ability to knock down threes and rebound the basketball effectively, as he averaged 8.5 boards last season.

27. Denver Nuggets: C.J. Leslie, PF, North Carolina State

The Denver Nuggets have plenty of speedy guards and shooters to break down a defense, but what they really need is another physical specimen in the paint to pair with Kenneth Faried.

C.J. Leslie is the type of player who shows up on both sides of the ball and has three years of experience playing at N.C. State.

28. San Antonio Spurs: James Ennis, SG/SF, Long Beach State

I'll never doubt Manu Ginobili or say that he's getting too old to perform at a high level, but the San Antonio Spurs should go out and get a shooter like James Ennis.

San Antonio already has a future playmaker in Kawhi Leonard, and I think the combination of Danny Green and Ennis could be a nice fit for the Spurs in the future.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State

Already boasting a dynamic scoring offense, the Thunder can take it a step further by drafting Jamaal Franklin, a junior guard who averaged 17 points and 9.5 rebounds as a 6'5" shooting guard last season.

I like the Thunder to address their big-man need early in the draft and take care of bench depth with their later pick in the first round.

30. Phoenix Suns (via Miami Heat): Jeff Withey, C, Kansas

Looking for depth behind Marcin Gortat, I think the Phoenix Suns will take Kansas' Jeff Withey as the last pick of the first round.

Withey is a force on defense, averaging 3.9 blocks per game last season, which is something Phoenix could use after allowing nearly 102 points per game this season.

Follow me on Twitter: Follow @Pete_Schauer

Predicting Winners for Thursday's Second-Round NHL Playoff Games

Franklin Steele — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:16:34 -0400

The second round of the 2013 NHL playoffs is heating up, with the Boston Bruins having already put the New York Rangers on the brink of elimination, the Detroit Red Wings taking a 2-1 series lead over an angry and flustered Chicago Blackhawks, and the San Jose Sharks handing the L.A. Kings two straight losses to even their series at two games each.

The hits are frequent and the scrums are perpetual. Goals are tough to come by and bounces can make or break a series because they games are so tight.

Thursday features three games that have the potential to be absolute barn burners, providing us fans with some wholesome playoff hockey. Well, it'll be wholesome as long as they don't decide to give John Tortorella a live microphone.

Begin Slideshow

Carolina Panthers: Could a Bad 2013 Pave Way for Blockbuster Cam Newton Trade?

Phil Pompei — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:16:09 -0400

The complex and mercurial marriage of Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers could be best compared to a marriage of two people physically but not emotionally attracted to one another.

There is excitement that causes flashes of hope, and the feeling is kept alive that something good and stable can eventually come out of it. At the end of the day, though, the emptiness of reality wilts those bright flashes, and you always seem to be reminded that beauty alone neither builds nor maintains success or stability.

Make no mistake about it, hope has been abundant throughout the Newton-Panthers marriage. After all, he did shock the NFL world in 2011 with the greatest rookie season the league had ever seen to that point. Accumulating 4,051 yards and 21 touchdown passes with his right arm in addition to adding 706 yards and 14 touchdowns with his feet turned the Panthers from the dead-worst offense in the league in 2010 to one of the best in 2011, going from 32nd ranked to sixth in points scored.

Sure, Cam and the Panthers started out 2-8 in their first season together, but a 4-2 finish to 2011 made hope spring eternal for 2012. When Bountygate tore the defending NFC South champion New Orleans Saints' offseason apart, Carolina was thought to have a fighting chance to snag the division. Hopes were high.

Sadly, Cam and the Carolina Panthers learned the hard way that hope doesn't win ballgames. They had the exact same record through 10 games as they had in the previous season, sitting at 2-8 again. The team again finished strong, winning five of their final six to finish the season 7-9, but the rally did not make the season a success.

Cam's stats regressed. His completion percentage dipped from 60 percent down to 57.7 percent, and he scored eight less touchdowns as a sophomore than as a rookie. To add insult to injury, 2012 saw three rookie quarterbacks guide losing 2011 teams to the playoffs, not to mention a guy known as RG3 quickly usurping Cam's title of greatest rookie quarterback of all time. The neophytes of this season made it very hard to argue for Cam that young quarterbacks deserve time and patience in getting their teams to the playoffs. If Andrew Luck could bring the 2-14 Colts to the postseason in one year's time, why couldn't Cam do it in two years?

The atmosphere of the Carolina Panthers going into 2013 is one of trepidation rather than hope at this point. Ron Rivera's head is firmly on the chopping block, and one would think the team would need at least a 9-7 record for Rivera to keep his job. A start akin to the 2011 and 2012 seasons could certainly get Ron canned mid-season, as he has earned no street creds with the organization that would garner him the respect of letting him finish the season.

While we all know Rivera's fate is obvious in the case of a 2013 implosion, a much more interesting question would be the fate of the organization's star player. Is it possible that Cameron Jerrell Newton, first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, could become trade bait just three years after his anointment as franchise savior?

The idea is not as far-fetched as it reads.

The year 2014 will be the last of Cam's rookie contract. To put this in other words, he will be going into his so-called "contract year" following this season. It would be foolish for the franchise to not at least consider shopping him in the case of a third-straight disappointing season for the Newton-Panthers marriage.

Financially, he would be extremely attractive to a willing team. He is owed only $3.4 million in 2014. In the off chance that Newton has a bad year, letting him walk following the season wouldn't cost very much, and the receiving team's budget wouldn't be nearly as punished as it would in the case of a first-round draft bust.

The asking price for Cam could be the more difficult part of the trade. This is a player whom the Panthers have put more than $30 million into, so they would probably want a king's ransom for the face of their franchise. This would most likely be in the form of a first-round draft pick, a proven NFL starter and a lower-round draft pick that would be contingent on the value of the aforementioned NFL starter.

Even with this asking price, however, Newton remains extremely attractive. Giving up a first-round pick for a proven quarterback isn't a bad racket at all. After all, don't teams give up first-round picks for unproven quarterbacks every year? Would it not be worth it to those teams we hear about every year who are "a quarterback away from contention" to spend a high pick, a low pick and a starter to put themselves over the hump?

So, with no further adieu, here is my idea.

Cam gets traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick and Big Ben. Pittsburgh will be set with youth, speed and durability at the quarterback position, three aspects they haven't had in a while.

In addition to a bevy of shiny new draft picks, Carolina will have a bridge quarterback to whatever future they choose at the position. Big Ben will be slightly over the hill and injury-prone coming into the Panthers organization, but the team will finally have a quarterback in the locker room who has winning experience and a positive attitude, two aspects that can influence a developmental quarterback in a fantastic way.

Is this the way Carolina drew it up? No.

Is this the way any team pictures handling its first overall pick? No way.

But we on the precipice of an unusual situation. Cam Newton is definitely one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league. But, for a bevy of reasons, be it questionable coaching, dearth of surrounding talent or playing in a great division, it just doesn't seem to be working for Cam in Carolina. And if that is the case, would it be better to turn the once-promising signal-caller into valuable liquid assets, or watch another team give him a $120 million contract in free agency with which his current team can't compete?

I think we both know the answer to that.

Has the WWE Championship Course Become Too Predictable?

Michael Christina — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:10:37 -0400

Hate to break the news to you guys, but professional wrestling is scripted.

Shocking, I know.

Sarcasm aside, what keeps wrestling fans coming back is the athleticism, characters and, ultimately, the storylines that bring these aspects of the show together.

The beauty of watching wrestling when I was a kid was the unpredictable nature of it. From unforeseen heel turns to unexpected match results, you would tune in every week not knowing what the hell was coming next.

Now, it’s hard to watch the product and try to convince yourself that you don’t know what you’re about to see.

Somewhere along the line, the WWE lost its fastball in terms of unpredictability.

Could it be because of a stable of stale characters? It’s definitely a possibility. John Cena is the current WWE champion, and anyone that thought that he even had the slightest shot of losing his title has clearly not been watching.

And therein lies a major problem. The chief title has been reduced to a predictable farce of itself.

Even before this past Sunday’s Extreme Rules, it was easy to see the course that the company was taking with the WWE Championship. The Rock was obviously going to beat CM Punk at the Royal Rumble to setup a rematch against Cena for the belt at WrestleMania. Fans were hoping for at least some sort of twist to that match but ultimately got the foreseeable result of Cena winning clean and The Rock raising his arm in victory.

Fast-forward to this past Sunday, and it was pretty evident to fans that Cena had no shot of losing only a month after he had won the title. It was also apparent that the momentum that Ryback had gained, coupled with a spotty PPV record, would have to result in something other than him losing upright. So the guess from many, including Bleacher Report’s own Donald Wood, was that the match would ultimately end in a draw.

And, lo and behold, we got exactly what everyone saw coming.

When a main event match’s result is being called by a majority of analysts and fans, you have major problems.

I’ve heard people put Cena in the same category as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. He is certainly the face of the company, just as they were. The difference is that you know when Cena is going to win and when he is going to lose. Austin and The Rock never gave fans that luxury.

Even at their peaks, there were never any guarantees as to what could happen within their matches. And that was the beauty of the Attitude era. You couldn’t see what was coming next.

The WWE really needs to take a look at the structure that it currently has in terms of storylines for the WWE champion. Cena, without question, deserves to be the titleholder. But he does not deserve the guarantee of holding the championship for an allotted period of time. That’s not even to say that he shouldn’t hold the title for the majority of the next year or so. There just needs to be some sort of monkey wrench thrown into the equation once in a while.

From what has been happening recently, I predict that Cena will defeat Ryback in their scheduled ambulance match at Payback. I then see a return of CM Punk in the near future, culminating in a reigniting of his feud with the champ, which will ultimately lead us into SummerSlam.

If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong. But if I’m right, we have a major problem. It means that the course of the WWE Championship is so predictable, it can be charted out for almost an entire calendar year.

Here’s to hoping that I’m wrong.

This Florida Football Ticket Ad Featuring Will Muschamp Is Phenomenal

Barrett Sallee — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:07:07 -0400

You don't want to get on Florida head coach Will Muschamp's bad side.

The man with the ultra-terrifying stare first became an Internet celebrity when microphones caught him cursing while he was the defensive coordinator for Auburn in 2007, and his intense demeanor hasn't diminished now that he's the head coach at Florida.

During his first two seasons in Gainesville, Muschamp has lost it quite a few times, including after a fumbled punt in 2011 against Auburn, in the 2012 World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party when he stared down tight end Clay Burton and in Florida's 2013 Sugar Bowl loss to Louisville.

Florida is capitalizing on Muschamp's intensity.

The university has embarked on an ad campaign to sell football tickets featuring Muschamp's children giving their impressions of the infamous Muschamp stare while playing catch inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Slow clap for Muschamp and the Florida marketing department for capitalizing on "the stare."

If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

It's just the latest in a series of unorthodox campaigns coming out of Gainesville.

From wide receivers coach Joker Phillips photo-shopping images left and right to lure prospects to the program to offensive coordinator Brent Pease doing the same to motivate his quarterbacks, the creativity this offseason from the Gators has been phenomenal.

This latest campaign by the marketing staff may be the most creative yet.

Follow @BarrettSallee

Chicago White Sox Rumors: Latest News Surrounding the White Sox

Matthew Smith — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:07:01 -0400

The Chicago White Sox find themselves on the verge of significant roster turnover thanks to mercurial play on the field and a rash of injuries.

Simply stated, the White Sox—winners of seven of their last 10 games—are a franchise in a state of flux.

There will be, at minimum, two roster moves this weekend, and more are sure to follow next week.

Here is a brief look at some of the latest news for the White Sox.

John Danks

What White Sox manager Robin Ventura does with the starting rotation is, perhaps, the most important decision of the young season.

Thanks to the impending return of left-hander John Danks, Ventura must decide whether he is going to send Dylan Axelrod or Hector Santiago to the bullpen.

Axelrod—who has won two straight and allowed a maximum of three earned runs in six of his last seven starts—would seem to have the edge. After all, he won the job out of spring training and has done nothing to lose it.

That said, there are those who believe Santiago will be the ultimate choice. MLB.com’s Scott Merkin is one of them:

Now, Danks has been a bit wild at Triple-A, issuing 12 walks in 15.2 innings, but general manager Rick Hahn does not seemed concerned. He noted that the real point was for Danks “to work on the elements of” his “mechanics” and not to win games (via Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com).

To be sure, Hahn and pitching coach Don Cooper will have their say, but the onus is on Ventura to choose wisely when he sends either Santiago or Axelrod to the bullpen.

CBSSports.com’s John Heyman reported Tuesday that Danks will make his return for the White Sox against the Miami Marlins on Friday.

Chris Sale

In another development, the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales reported during Tuesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox that Chris Sale will miss his scheduled start Wednesday due to tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.

Gonzo noted that the move was "precautionary" and that "the Sox added that Sale is expected to make his next start May 28 against the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field."

We shall see if the rest will be enough, but if Sale is out an extended period of time, Hahn's decision to maintain pitching depth this offseason will prove prudent.

Gordon Beckham is Coming Back

Count me in the camp of those who are unexpectedly excited about Gordon Beckham’s return.

While Beckham will most likely not set the offense ablaze, he cannot be worse than Jeff Keppinger has been and will immediately improve the defense.

It appears he will be back in a White Sox uniform sooner rather than later. In four games at Triple-A Charlotte, he is batting .333, has scored five runs and generally looks as though he is all of the way back from his hand injury.

What Ventura does at third base when Beckham returns will be intriguing.

Conor Gillaspie has proven capable at the hot corner and has been one of the more consistent hitters in the White Sox lineup.

Conversely, Keppinger has been woeful at the plate (.201/.209/.247) since signing a three-year, $12 million contract this past offseason.

What could happen is a super platoon with Beckham and Gillaspie getting the nod at second and third, respectively, while Keppinger gets ample at-bats spelling both.

Dan Hayes from CSNChicago.com noted that “Ventura will have to find a balance” as he fills out the batting order. Taking Gillaspie out of the lineup on a regular basis would be a mistake, though.

Latin America

The White Sox are quietly knocking on some doors in the Dominican Republic in advance of the July 2 international signing period.

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, they have shown an interest in power-hitting outfielder Micker Zapata.

Here is a brief description of Zapata from Baseball America:

Dominican outfielder Micker Zapata, a 16-year-old who trains with Abel Guerra at La Academia, is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and is expected to be one of the elite prospects for July 2. In one round of BP, he hits three balls out of the park, then drives another one off the center-field wall

While young and unpolished, Zapata has the potential to become a Dayan Viciedo-type prospect who needs a few seasons in the minor leagues before making an impact on the South Side.

Stick and stay for more news as this season progresses.

Follow @MatthewSmithBR

Josh Barnett Signs with the UFC: 5 Potential Opponents for the Warmaster

Jeremy Botter — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:05:26 -0400

There was a time, and it wasn't all that long ago, that I believed Josh Barnett would never sign with the UFC.

After Strikeforce was finally put in the ground once and for all, Barnett opened negotiations with the UFC. It seemed like the perfect fit for the former UFC heavyweight champion; after all, there are no other MMA promotions in the world that can pay Barnett the kind of money he wants, and all of the world's best heavyweights are in the UFC's heavyweight division.

For mysterious reasons, however, the negotiations failed. Barnett remained a free agent, and those of us who want to see him back in the Octagon were left disappointed once again.

But good things come to those who wait. On Tuesday night, word came down from the UFC that Barnett had signed a multi-fight agreement to return to the promotion where he once dominated and then left in a cloud of steroid-induced shame.

Barnett is expected to make his return to the Octagon later this year, but it's time for me to start speculating as to who his first opponent in the UFC might be. Today, I take a look at five potential UFC heavyweight opponents for "The War Master," in order from least to most intriguing.

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Boston Red Sox 2013 Mock Draft: Projecting Their Top 5 First Round Targets

Douglas Sibor — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:03:26 -0400

In the last 46 years, the Boston Red Sox have had exactly one pick in the top seven of the MLB Draft. They made the most of that one, drafting the legendary Trot Nixon.

While a run of good play through 2011 meant the Sox have been picking further back in the first round, a silver lining to last year’s horrible season is that they now have the opportunity to grab a top-tier prospect. Many talented players who could help bolster the Sox’s farm system will be available for GM Ben Cherington to choose from, and the challenge for him will be to figure out which needs the Sox need to fill most urgently.

Here’s a look at five players the Sox will target in the first round:

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French Open 2013: Hottest Storylines to Watch for Heading into Roland Garros

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

The 2013 French Open is just days away from getting underway, with plenty of drama and intrigue to be found in both the men's and women's tournaments this year.

From the re-emergence of Rafael Nadal as the hot favorite for the tournament to the dominance of Serena Williams once again, there's certainly no shortage of talking points and storylines to be found. And while the draw and then the results themselves will be the main focus at Roland Garros this year, you can ill-afford to rule out any of the biggest talking loins from having a key impact here.

Read on to see the hottest storylines to watch for in the French Open this year.

Andy Murray's Withdrawal—How Will It Impact the Field?

After battling injuries for the past few days, World No. 3 Andy Murray has officially withdrawn from the French Open, according to BBC Sports' Twitter feed.

The move is a smart one by Murray, as it allows him to properly recover for his stronger grass-court seasons still ahead without pushing himself on a surface that he isn't as comfortable on. But in terms of the draw and potential seeding, the ramifications are huge, and will no doubt have a telling impact.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer remain the same as the No. 1 and 2 seed respectively, but Murray's absence now means Nadal is back to No. 3.

Both Djokovic and Federer will be hoping to avoid him in their half of the draw, and would much prefer to end up playing the No. 4 seed David Ferrer, although even he won't be an easy matchup given his clay-court dominance.

It's hard to truly evaluate just how telling Murray's absence will be until the draw is released, but there's little doubt that it will be a key storyline to follow.

It all depends on where Nadal is drawn now.

Can Serena Williams End Her Clay Court Frustration?

The last time Williams made a final at Roland Garros, Kelly Clarkson won the first ever American Idol contest. My Big Fat Greek Wedding wasn't even released.

It was the year of 2002, and since then, Williams has been incredibly dominant in women's tennis and has seemingly won all there is to win—all whilst maintaining a horror run at the French Open. She hasn't made it past the semifinals since 2003, and after being trounced in the first-round last year, things don't seem to be looking great for the American here.

However this year may just be different for Williams.

She's been in tremendous form leading into Roland Garros this year and has a number of key victories under her belt including wins over Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova in clay-court finals this year. Williams will be hoping to carry that form into France this year, and cement her status as the best women's tennis player in the world; whether she will or not still remains to be seen.

Or Will We Be in For More Upsets This Year?

If we're ever going to see a surprise winner of a Grand Slam, it's most likely to come from the women's field, and it's most likely to come at Roland Garros.

The last six years have seen six different champions crowned at the French Open, and whilst all of them have been seeds, only one of them was the top seed—Justin Henin, who won back in 2007. Since then, no favorite has won the French Open and no two players have won it twice—making this year's tournament a potentially very open affair indeed.

As mentioned above, Williams will be the favorite for the title this year, but history suggests that absolutely anybody could win the Grand Slam this year.

What's With the Form of the Big Three?

With Murray out, it's fairly safe to again refer back to Nadal, Djokovic and Federer as the Big Three. And speaking of the Big Three, what's with their form?

The World No. 1 Djokovic was superb—dominating the Australian Open and then beating Nadal at his favorite Monte Carlo event. And yet he then backed that up with shock losses to Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych in the two tournaments after that, which clearly nobody saw coming.

The same goes for Federer. He appeared in his first final of the year last week against Nadal, and whilst he was beaten in straight sets, he still played very strong in parts.

This, of course, after he was eliminated in the round of 16 weeks earlier.

Or what about Nadal? The man who is playing his first Grand Slam tournament after being out for months due to injury, and he absolutely lights everybody up in the warm-up tournaments? Few would have seen that coming—even when talking about Nadal on clay.

And yet, with that loss to Djokovic, there are still question marks about his form and whether he's again a lock to win the title at his beloved Roland Garros.

It's hard to see the title being won from someone outside of those three players; which player it will be, however, is still a little bit up in the air at the moment.

Even with all of Nadal's dominance.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

How Stephen Thompson Can Reclaim His 'Wonderboy' Persona at UFC 160

Dale De Souza — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Stephen Thompson might stand at just 30 years of age, but he still holds the potential to emerge as one of the welterweight division's brightest prospects. With a base in karate and a slick, diverse array of strikes, "Wonderboy" promises to, at the very least, cement his status as a consummate fan favorite due entirely to his flashy style.

That said, the kid still needs work. While he may own better grappling and ground skills than what he showed in his UFC 145 loss to Matt Brown, he must demonstrate those improvements down the line. In the meantime, he will contend with Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell. The bout marks Thompson's first in a little over a year.

Burrell recently defeated Yuri Villefort at UFC 157. Like Thompson, Burrell also does his most effective work on the feet. After all, he undoubtedly packs more power in his strikes than most of his foes, and against Thompson, he should showcase the better defense in the striking department.

So, how does Thompson reclaim the "Wonderboy" persona? Think back to his fights with Brown and Dan Stittgen, Recall that in both performances, Thompson mixed up his striking and threw a higher total of strikes than either Stittgen or Brown.

Despite a disadvantage of almost two inches of reach, Thompson can, and candidly speaking, must use that against Burrell. Both men employ solid movement and can use angles when attacking, but Thompson aims for just about every part of the human anatomy when he strikes.

Offensively, he benefits from throwing his strikes with that trademark precision against the power-hitter Burrell. Defensively, his karate-based style allows him to effectively evade the brunt of his opponents' strikes, and so long as he does not stand boldly in front of Burrell, he can move well enough to make Burrell's output look insignificant.

Also, the kid can defend takedowns, lest we forget. While he never did need to defend Burrell's takedown attempts, Burrell also never needed to try to take down an unorthodox striker of Thompson's caliber.

Remember, while the fight appears to sway mostly in Burrell's favor, "Wonderboy" can reclaim his persona at Burrell's expense. If he wants to do that, however, he must do what he does best while ensuring that Burrell plays towards his opponent's strengths.

While Thompson will certainly do his best, he will not get an easy opportunity to do so if Burrell wills to say or do anything about it.

MLB Draft 2013: Pitchers Who Will Reach Majors in a Hurry

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

It usually takes a long time for MLB draft picks to pan out, but there are a few players in this year's class who can help their teams relatively quickly.

The time it takes for stars to reach the majors usually causes fans to ignore the draft completely. A struggling team cannot look to the event to fill needs the way squads can in the NFL or NBA.

However, there are plenty of recent examples of prospects who spent little or no time in the minor leagues before making their debuts, like Stephen Strasburg and Mike Leake.

While these players are still far from reaching their potential, they have the skill necessary to play at the sport's highest level within the next couple of seasons.

Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

After being one of the top players in the draft a year ago, Mark Appel declined to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and returned to school. Since then, he has done nothing but continue to pitch well to keep him near the top of draft boards.

He already has three plus pitches between his fastball, slider and change-up, and all of them can be thrown for strikes. Usually pitchers at this level rely on two offerings, but Appel's control of each will help him beat hitters at a high level.

Additionally, he has a lot of experience after taking the ball for virtually every big game for Stanford over the past three years.

Appel has a great mentality on the mound and has proven himself as a starter. This will help him go far as a professional.

Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma

While Appel might have a more complete arsenal at this point, Jonathan Gray will get by on his fastball for a long time.

The pitch not only reaches 100 mph, but he has kept that speed late into games. Whenever he needs to reach back to get a big strikeout, he comes through with the devastating fastball with enough movement to give hitters little chance of succeeding.

Of course, pitchers cannot get by on just a fastball at the professional level. Fortunately, Gray also has displayed a nice slider and a developing change-up.

If these two offerings can become even averages pitches, they will make the fastball that much better and help Gray move through the minor league levels quickly.

Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas

Compared to some of the other pitchers in the class, Ryne Stanek does not have anywhere near as much upside. Instead of projecting as a future ace, he would be lucky to be a No. 3 or No. 4 starter in a major league rotation.

Still, what makes Stanek so appealing is that he does not need much help to be ready for the top level.

The Arkansas pitcher has four pitches, including both a slider and a curve, which will help him beat good hitters. While his change-up still needs a lot of work, his feel for his pitches will take him a long way.

If he can show a little more control, the talented pitcher could end up being in a rotation by the 2014 season.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

Champions League Final: Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski Continues to Rise

Alex Richards — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:05 -0400

To say Robert Lewandowski has taken a progressive step in his career these last 12 months is an understatement. Indeed, since his arrival at Borussia Dortmund in 2010, his entire career has been one of continued progression.

He has quickly moved from Lucas Barrios' back-up to impeaching the Paraguayan in Jurgen Klopp's starting 11, and now enjoys his current standing as perhaps the side's most important player and greatest match winner.

The current 2012-13 campaign will go down as the season in which the Polish international exploded and became widely heralded as one of the premier strikers in world football.

Having won the German league and cup double in 2011-12, scoring 30 goals in the process—including a stunning hat-trick in the cup final victory over Bayern Munich—Lewandowski has improved on that tally despite Dortmund's disappointing defence of their Bundesliga crown, where they lost out to Bayern's unrelenting barrage.

36 goals in 48 matches stands as his tally this time round, during a campaign displayed perfectly in microcosm on April 24, during BVB's Champions League semi-final first leg success against Real Madrid.

With Jose Mourinho's side arriving in Dortmund as favourites to reach the final and in search of the fabled decima, all eyes were on the Spanish giants. At the end of 90 minutes however, the nine-time European champions had been thoroughly decimated, and Robert Lewandowski's ascension into the highest echelons of the European game was complete.

The Dortmund No. 9 created history with a striking performance which oozed quality, simultaneously becoming the first player to score four goals in a European Cup semi-final and the first player to score a hat-trick against Real Madrid in Champions League history.

A complete centre-forward performance from the Pole saw him lead the line with fantastic aplomb, intelligent movement, excellent hold-up play and lethal finishing. The pick of his quadruple was undoubtedly his third, a sensational drag-back doing for Pepe's despairing challenge before a ferocious shot sent high into Diego Lopez's net.

Now Lewandowski arrives at Wembley looking to do to Bayern just as he did to both Madrid and Jupp Heynckes' side 12 months previously in the aforementioned DFB Pokal final.

If various reports are to be believed, it will likely be his final game for Die Borussen, with the Daily Mail reckoning Saturday's opponents Bayern will be his most likely destination. Indeed, the International Business Times goes further, stating that Lewandowski has told the club that he only wants to move to Bavaria.

As such, it adds a little extra spice to proceedings in the all-German clash for European supremacy. Dortmund supporters will no doubt be looking to their main man to do the damage in London, even against what are prospective future employers.

Moreover, given his current form and recent record against Bayern—five goals in his last six appearances—expect Robert Lewandowski to have a major say in the destination of the European Cup this Saturday. If he can add another match-winning performance to his growing portfolio, he'll further cement his place amongst the world's elite.

Sergio Garcia Issues Public Apology to Tiger Woods for Insensitive Remark

Patrick Clarke — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:57:01 -0400

Sergio Garcia wasted no time clearing the air over a recent comment he made about rival Tiger Woods at a European Tour awards gala.

Garcia set up a press conference on Wednesday to offer Woods a public apology for the following response when asked if he and Woods would possibly have dinner at some point during the U.S. Open (via The Guardian's Ewan Murray):

We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken.

Garcia originally described his controversial response as a "silly remark," but Woods thought differently, responding to the comments with a series of tweets, including the following one:

Garcia explained himself to a room of reporters on Wednesday, and was sincere throughout.

I want to send an unreserved apology, didn't mean to offend anyone.

Garcia acknowledged that his comment may have been perceived as racist an admitted feeling guilty about it immediately after saying it according to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch:

The 33-year-old Spaniard also extended an apology to anyone else who may have been offended by his response according to Sky Sports:

Garcia did say that his comments were not racially motivated, admitting that he felt pressured to respond with something funny considering the atmosphere at the gala.

Golf Channel's Jason Sobel summed up Garcia's press conference, accurately suggesting the major theme was one of regret:

Sergio Garcia's public apology is a necessary first step in the wake of his insensitive comments regarding Tiger Woods, but it remains to be seen if he'll be forgiven.

The 2007 British Open runner-up, Garcia's golf resume pales in comparison to Woods, and he certainly hasn't won over any new fans as of late. If his criticism of Woods at The Players tournament a couple of weeks ago didn't damage Garcia's appeal, his recent comment certainly has.

Only time will tell whether Tiger Woods and the public forgive Garcia for his regrettable comment.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

UFC 160: Predicting the Fight Night Bonuses

Scott Harris — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:56:15 -0400

The lure of the knockout is methodically seducing the MMA community into a full embrace of UFC 160. But there also lurks the possibility of some slick submissions and some highly balanced competitions.

And because it's pretty unlikely that the UFC will award a three-way tie for Knockout of the Night (though stranger things have happened), here are some picks for the KO, submission and overall fight that will be worthy of bonus checks after UFC 160 wraps up some time early on Sunday morning.

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Mark Hunt vs. Junior Dos Santos: Preview, Odds and Predictions for UFC 160

Jordy McElroy — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:54:02 -0400

After facing prolonged visa issues, Mark Hunt is finally back in the States and hoping to keep the Cinderella story rolling against a motivated Junior Dos Santos at UFC 160.

The turnaround for Hunt has been nothing short of amazing.

It was only three years ago that fans were questioning his placement in the UFC. He was still eating KFC and riding a six-fight losing streak.

The UFC wouldn't have even picked up Hunt's contract in the first place if it wasn't included in the 2007 purchase of Pride Fighting Championships. UFC President Dana White offered to pay Hunt off instead of actually having him compete in the UFC, but the determined "Super Samoan" refused his offer and opted to step into the cage and resurrect his fallen career.

He has since gone on a four-fight win streak and is quite possibly one win away from earning a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. Unfortunately, the daunting task of defeating Dos Santos is the price of admission.

The former UFC heavyweight champ enters this bout as the deserving favorite. Hunt has reemerged as a legitimate contender, but all of his opponents up to this point in the UFC pale in comparison to Dos Santos.

Despite a lackluster showing against Cain Velasquez at UFC 155, Dos Santos remains the premier boxer in the heavyweight division. His ability to move around in the pocket and put together combinations is unrivaled.

Fortunately, he won't have to deal with the otherworldly wrestling abilities of Velasquez in this bout. He can focus solely on dealing with Hunt's standup-heavy offense.

On paper, this is one of the more intriguing bouts so far this year.

Throughout his career, Hunt has been credited for having a granite chin and some of the most devastating knockout power in all of MMA. While Dos Santos is the better boxer, a case can be made that Hunt, a former K-1 fighter, is actually the more well-rounded striker.

Dos Santos' ground game is still a mystery up to this point. He showed tremendous defensive wrestling abilities in the first round against Velasquez. It'll be interesting to see if he opts to be more offensive with his grappling and take Hunt down to avoid dangerous standup exchanges.

Conditioning may play the biggest role in the outcome of this fight. Hunt has shown a tendency to slow down after the first round. Dos Santos isn't Velasquez by any stretch of the imagination in the cardio department, but he has already shown the ability to push well into the championship rounds.

Betting Odds (via bestfightodds.com)

Dos Santos -420

Hunt +335

Prediction

Look for Hunt to be competitive in the standup exchanges early, but Dos Santos' superior boxing and grappling will be the story of the night as he coasts to a unanimous decision and earns a rubber match with Velasquez (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Evaluating Arte Moreno's First 10 Years as Los Angeles Angels Owner

Jason Catania — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:49:03 -0400

You'll forgive Arte Moreno if he doesn't feel much like celebrating.

Wednesday, May 22, marks the 10-year anniversary of the day that Moreno was officially introduced as the owner of the Angels franchise, but given his club's performance this season, especially relative to preseason expectations, Moreno's probably not in a commemorative mood at the moment.

At 18-27, the Halos own the fourth-worst record in baseball.

Yes, the roster on which Moreno has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past two offseasons to lure the likes of Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson is barely better than the reeling-while-rebuilding Mets, the starting-from-scratch-again Marlins and the how-low-can-we-go Astros.

Instead of focusing too much on what is currently going wrong with Moreno's club in L.A.—er, Anaheim—let's take a look at some of the key events that have transpired since Moreno became the owner on May 22, 2003.

The Beginning

In mid-May 2003, Moreno's $180 million purchase of the Angels was unanimously approved by baseball and he became just the third owner in franchise history, dating back to 1961. So, a new era in Southern California baseball was ushered in.

Right from the get-go, things had a different look from the previous owner—the Walt Disney Company. Moreno, the first controlling owner in MLB history of Hispanic background (he is of Mexican descent but born in Tucson, Ariz.), passed out welcome sombreros to his new employees, complete with the Angels "A" logo on top.

In a way, this was a nod to both Moreno's culture and that of the Angels, who were owned for four decades by singer-actor Gene Autry, who was famously known for his cowboy hat.

The vibes couldn't have been better for Moreno and Angels fans, as not only were they coming off a dramatic, come-from-behind, seven-game World Series win—the franchise's first title—but Moreno also pledged to lower beer prices at the stadium.

That'll bring some goodwill in short order.

A New Name

You may remember back when Moreno came aboard that the franchise was still known as the Anaheim Angels, which was something he wanted to change as part of bringing a new feel and a more widespread identity to the team.

This change was officially made in 2005 and while there was political posturing, a lawsuit and some backlash over the decision, the elongated name—the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—has stuck around, even though the colloquial "Anaheim Angels" is the more familiar terminology.

In a recent evaluation of all 30 MLB owners, nonprofit investigative news magazine and website MotherJones.com wrote of the Angels honcho:

Moreno's worst move as an owner was his insistence on giving his team its clunky new, multi-city moniker.

If that is, in fact, Moreno's low point, well, that's not so bad.

Winning the Pennant—Repeatedly

No matter the name, the Angels have been one of baseball's best and most consistent clubs from 2003 to now.

In that time, Los Angeles has gone 916-748, good for a .550 winning percentage and fifth-best in MLB since Moreno's first year of ownership.

In case you've forgotten, this is a franchise that wasn't exactly known for winning, to the point where a little movie you may remember from 1994 essentially used "When the Angels win the pennant" to mean ""When pigs fly."

Consider: In the franchise's 42-season history prior to Moreno, the Halos reached the 90-win plateau only five times—or 12 percent. Under Moreno's 10-season tenure? They've hit that mark on five occasions. You don't need a calculator for that percentage, right?

Also in the same stretch, the Angels have had only two seasons in which they finished with a sub-.500 record, with those coming in 2003 in Moreno's first season and then in 2010.

Whatever you want to make of the team's current struggles, the club hasn't needed the likes of Christopher Lloyd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to help them win ever since Moreno has been around.

Empty Octobers

As for the playoffs, there have been five appearances in the same five seasons as alluded to above. That is rather remarkable for a franchise that has only nine postseason showings in all.

Alas, once the Angels reach October, the results haven't been as rewarding since 2003.

Their five AL West title seasons have led to a mere 10-19 record (.345) in the postseason and only two series wins, both in division series victories in 2005 and 2009.

Of course, things may have been different had the 2005 ALCS against the White Sox not turned on that pivotal, and controversial, dropped-third-strike play involving Chicago's A.J. Pierzysnki in the bottom of the ninth of Game 2.

Fair warning to Angels fans: You may want to avoid watching this replay.

The lack of postseason success is probably the biggest pockmark on Moreno's ownership so far, especially considering he took over a team fresh off a championship.

Keeping the Seats Filled

While the Angels haven't yet reached the promised land in the playoffs under Moreno, the club's overall on-field performance has gone a long way toward making fans happy and keeping them coming back for more.

Until 2003, per Baseball Reference, the Angels had never surpassed the three-million mark in attendance. While that coincides with Moreno's arrival, of course, that just so happened to be the first year after the franchise's only title.

Moreno, though, deserves plenty of credit for keeping the seats filled for a variety of reasons—from continued success to bringing in high-profile players (more below) to giving the fans what they want. Every season since 2003 has brought an attendance figure beginning with a "3," as the chart at the right shows.

In that regard, Moreno is batting a thousand.

The Coach and Front Office

Another big part of Moreno's legacy to this point is tied to his decision-makers.

Moreno has known but one manager during his ownership, as former big league catcher Mike Scioscia has been at the helm since 2000, making him the longest-tenured skipper among active managers in the game, by far.

While things haven't gone quite so smoothly for the pair this season—rumors have swirled that Scioscia may not be long for the job—Moreno has continued to stand by Scioscia, both then and now. Their relationship was a big reason why the Angels inked Scioscia to a 10-year extension in 2009 that could keep him around through the 2018 season.

While Scioscia predates Moreno, the owner has changed general managers twice.

Bill Stoneman was already in that position when Moreno took over in 2003. As GM, Stoneman hired Scioscia and helped construct the World Series-winning 2002 team and he would make it through 2007 before stepping down and turning the reins over to Tony Reagins.

In his first two years, Reagins guided the Angels to two straight postseasons, including the best record in baseball at 100-62 in 2008. After failing to make the postseason in either 2010 or 2011, though, Moreno felt a change was needed and Reagins was replaced by current GM Jerry Dipoto in October of 2011.

That shows shows how much Moreno has raised the standard.

Transaction Time

Speaking of Dipoto, we might as well get to the topic most often associated with the Angels these days—the free agent splash.

Sure, the club made some big moves and decisions, both good and bad, while Moreno was presiding over Stoneman and Reagins. Among them were signing Vlad Guerrero in 2004, trading for Mark Teixeira in 2008, the 2009 draft pick of Mike Trout, acquiring Dan Haren for Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin and Tyler Skaggs in 2010, dealing Mike Napoli for Vernon Wells in 2011 and giving ace Jered Weaver an $85 million extension in 2011, but the past two winters have been unlike any Angels fans had seen before.

And it's not like Moreno hadn't signed some hefty checks before.

Until 2003, the Angels' payroll had never been higher than $62 million, according to USA Today's salary database. Since then? Well, the chart at right should prove just how much of a factor Moreno has been in transforming the team into a true big-market franchise.

On the whole, Moreno has just about doubled the payroll in his 10 years, which is a remarkable feat and speaks to his desire to win by putting money into the team.

Of course, as we're seeing now, it doesn't always work out quite that way. Not that it's stopping Moreno.

Over the past two offseasons, the Angels have simultaneously been the biggest spenders and the quote-unquote "mystery team" that swooped in to ink the big names such as Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson for a combined $331.5 prior to the 2012 season, and Josh Hamilton for $125 prior to this year.

In fact, a reaction to the Hamilton inking back in December, courtesy of @MLBMeme, shows how Moreno has dominated the past two offseasons.

Growing the Brand

Aside from investing money into talent on the field, Moreno has also done plenty off of it to help the franchise grow.

In 2006, the owner purchased Radio 830 KMXE, the nation's largest Spanish language AM radio station, eventually renamed it KLAA and turned it into the airwaves home for Angels games.

On the television side, Moreno shrewdly opted out of an existing deal and jumped at the chance to sign a 20-year pact in December of 2011 with Fox Sports (the same time he was signing both Pujols and Wilson) that is reportedly worth $3 billion, per the Los Angeles Times.

All in all, in 10 years, Moreno has turned his initial $184 million investment into an estimated $718 empire, according to Forbes.

The Bottom Line

Things appear to be in flux at the moment, given the Angels' poor start in the face of huge expectations, but that shouldn't overshadow the fact that Moreno has overseen undoubtedly the most successful era in Angels baseball by putting his money and business savvy into the team.

That should be reason enough to celebrate after all.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Former Real Madrid President Hints at Chelsea Move

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:47:06 -0400

According to the headline attached to a talkSPORT exclusive interview with former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo "could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea."

Don't buy it. That's not exactly what Calderon said.

The headline reads nicely, of course, and it must be driving Chelsea fans wild with excitement. The arrivals of Mourinho and Ronaldo this summer, coupled with an already talented squad, would probably make the Blues the undisputed favorites for next season's Premier League title. In fact, they might also make Chelsea a leading contender for the Champions League.

But upon further inspection, it's also a stretch. One only has to hear Calderon's words to recognize as much.

What's more, it's not official that Mourinho will rejoin Chelsea this summer. Speculation is widespread, but as of now there is nothing certain to report.

Instead, it's only that—speculation. With that in mind, let's examine what Calderon really said. For Calderon's full comments in context, be sure to listen to the audio clip in addition to reading the article.

First, Calderon talks about Ronaldo's announcement early in the season that he was said. According to Calderon, this likely had to do with Ronaldo's relationship with current president Florentino Perez and his contention that Ronaldo wanted to "breach" his contract.

Then, when asked where Ronaldo would go if he leaves Real Madrid, Calderon limited his response to three clubs he said would be able to afford the superstar. On the audio version of the interview, a host can be heard prodding Calderon about following Mourinho to Chelsea.

Calderon said:

There are not many teams that could afford to pay him what he deserves and who can pay Real Madrid what they are asking for. There are three clubs—Manchester City, PSG and Chelsea. I don’t think any other club is going to pay that amount of money for a player.

Next, Calderon was asked whether Ronaldo could leave Real this summer. "It's something we will know in a few weeks," he said.

There you have it. Calderon, like the rest of us, is uncertain about Ronaldo's future. Chelsea could indeed be a potential destination, but all Calderon really said is that the Blues are one of only a few clubs that could afford the Portuguese superstar.

Even that, though, could be read as good news for Chelsea fans.

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Tim Duncan Becomes 1st Player in NBA History to Record 500 Playoff Blocks

Dan Favale — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:44:53 -0400

All the San Antonio Spurs do is win, and all Tim Duncan does is make NBA playoff history.

The Big Fundamental registered four blocks in San Antonio's 93-89 Game 2 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the last of which was his 500th career postseason swat, making him the first player in league history reach such a milestone.

Duncan's 500 postseason blocks rank first all time (obviously) and are 24 more than second place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (476) and 304 more than any active player. Pau Gasol's 196 are the second most among active players.

That means Duncan will stand alone for awhile—a long while.

For his career, Duncan is averaging 2.5 blocks per playoff game, the second highest mark of any player who has appeared in at least 100 postseason contests (his 202 appearances rank seventh all time).

Adding to the significance of his latest feat is how it compares to some of the greats.

Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal—two of the best shot blockers to ever grace the hardwood—recorded fewer total blocks in fewer playoff games. Simply amazing.

Though Duncan won't go down as the greatest shot-blocker the league has ever seen, it's difficult to dismiss him as the Association's best postseason shot-blocker ever. Not merely because he's reached 500 but because of how he's done it.

This is a guy who is averaging 2.2 blocks per game for his career during the regular season (still impressive) and just seemingly turns it on for the playoffs, elevating his play to a whole different level.

As is often the case with Duncan, he doesn't receive enough credit. I mean, no one else is going to hit 500 for a long, long time.

Because we're all into such things, Dwight Howard and Serge Ibaka have the best chance to become the next "Duncan." Howard is 27 and has 166 career playoff blocks, while Ibaka is 24 and has 156.

To put that in perspective, by the time Duncan was 27 he had 224 postseason blocks, which may not bode well for Dwight. At 24, he had 73, so keep your eyes on Ibaka.

Don't lose sight of Duncan, though, either. He's eclipsed the 500-block plateau, but he's not done yet.

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*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.

5 Moves the Capitals Must Make If They Hope to Make the Playoffs in 2014

Dave Ungar — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:28:43 -0400

With the 2013 season now firmly in the rear-view mirror, it is time for the Washington Capitals to turn the page and move ahead.

It has been a little over a week since the Caps' Game 7 meltdown against the New York Rangers, and while the sting of that defeat still burns, it would nevertheless be unwise to linger on that defeat too long and lose sight of the fact that the 2013-2014 season will still start in less than six months.

Let the questions begin for a franchise that perpetually seems in transition and seems to be in that posture yet again.

For the Caps, this past season was a constant work in progress. It started very badly with that 2-8-1 start, then ended so strongly as the Caps got red hot and took the Southeast division title and then ended so badly again with the Caps blowing a 2-0 series lead for the ninth time in team history and being unable to score a a goal in the final two games against the Rangers.

Opinions vary as to whether the Caps can still compete or whether they are far away from being truly competitive. Have their best years passed them by—or are better times still ahead for this franchise?

All we know for sure is that there won't be any lockout this season. The Caps will have a normal schedule and a normal offseason routine. That will help things some, but it would be naive for anyone to think the Caps can stand pat and still compete, particularly with the new landscape that will be the NHL during the 2013-14 season.

No, the Caps must make some changes if they are going to make the playoffs this coming season, and they will have to make some moves as well. Here are five such changes and/or moves the team must make if the Caps hope to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

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