Bleacher Report - Front Page

Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Officially Sell Andy Carroll to West Ham

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:16:53 -0400

In news that hardly comes as a surprise, Andy Carroll has been sold from Liverpool to West Ham, according to the Reds' official site.

Liverpool Football Club have confirmed that Andy Carroll has completed a permanent transfer to West Ham United.

The striker spent the duration of the 2012-13 campaign on loan with the Hammers, scoring seven goals in 24 appearances.

Carroll joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day in January 2011.

In total, he played 58 games for the Reds and scored 11 times.

Everybody at Liverpool FC would like to wish Andy all the best for the future.

The Hammers tweeted out a welcome picture for the big striker, as he returns to the club where he re-discovered his scoring touch.

The club also released further details on the deal:

Carroll joins the Hammers on a six-year contract, with an option for a further two in the Club's favour, for an undisclosed, Club record fee after enjoying an outstanding 2012/13 season on loan at the Boleyn Ground.

The marquee signing represents a significant step for the Club as they prepare to move to the 54,000-seater Olympic Stadium in 2016, with Carroll set to play a central role having committed his long-term future to the Hammers.

Carroll stated, according to the Hammers' official site:

'It's fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent,' said Carroll.

'The fans, the lads and the Club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.

Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can only get better for us.

The way the Club's being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up.'

Carroll went to West Ham on loan for the 2012-13 season, scoring seven goals and adding four assists in 22 starts and 24 total appearances. He missed a good portion of the season with a knee injury, however, sidelined for nearly all of December and January.

He came back to the club with a bang, though, scoring five goals in his next eight games. After scoring just one goal in his first 10 games and missing two months, he finally offered a glimpse of what he was capable of down the stretch.

Carroll first came to Liverpool in January of 2011 for a club-record £35 million transfer fee after scoring 17 Premier League goals for Newcastle in 2009-10 and adding 11 goals in 19 games in 2010-11. He was brought on to replace Fernando Torres, who was sold to Chelsea that same month.

But much like Torres has struggled at Chelsea, Carroll never found his footing at Anfield, scoring just six league goals in a season-and-a-half for Liverpool. And with Brendan Rodgers taking over at manager last season and instituting a system built around spacing and possession, it became clear that Carroll wasn't a good fit at the club.

Thus, it came as little surprise when he was sent to West Ham on a season-long loan last August, much as it isn't terribly shocking that the move has been made permanent.

When in form, Carroll is a force in the air and can hold up play for the midfield give his size, strength and nimble skill-set. He's a true No. 9 and gives West Ham a target in the box.

If he can stay healthy and out of trouble, Carroll will certainly have the chance to revitalize his once very bright career with the Hammers.

Shoeless Mike Miller GIF Gets George W. Bush Shoe-Toss Treatment, Wins Internet

Dan Carson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:04 -0400

Like the postseason, the Internet is an ongoing series of competitions.

People compete on a daily basis to come up with the funniest spoofs on the subject matter du jour, and the most priceless animation, video or picture of the day wins all the kettle corn.

While the Internet cannot be won forever, it can be won for a day or two—which is precisely what Guyism’s World of Isaac did when he made a GIF of Mike Miller throwing his shoe at George W. Bush during Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

The backstory on the Miller shoe-toss that provided the necessary pressure to form this Internet diamond is that the Heat small forward lost his shoe in the early minutes of the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

Miller’s shoe came loose, and with no time time to bend down and lace it back on, he just went, “Welp, hold onto this, bros” and threw it at the Heat bench.

That’s where the glory began—and I’m not talking about the shoeless, three-pointer Miller went on to hit after losing his sneaker. I’m talking about a man taking footage of the Heat’s streaky sharpshooter tossing away his shoe and melding it with video of former U.S. President George W. Bush expertly ducking an Oxford thrown by an Iraqi reporter.

Remember that moment? When a U.S. President went full Matrix during a press conference? It’s 10 times better when it’s a Pokeball.

Regardless of your political or sporting allegiances, Bush dodging Miller's shoe is the equivalent of high art for the Internet. How do you even come up with that?

Manchester United: Defensive Issues for David Moyes to Resolve This Summer

Sean Butters — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:53:11 -0400

All stats are courtesy of Transfermarkt unless linked otherwise.

Despite finishing with an 11-point gap between themselves and second-placed rivals Manchester City, while the goal difference itself—43, the highest in the league—makes for comforting reading, Manchester United and David Moyes will be well aware that was mostly down to the forwards.

Naturally, having Robin van Persie is a blessing for any manager, and the fact that the Dutchman scored over a quarter of his side’s league goals is not as worrying as it may seem—take away his 26, and United still have the seventh-highest tally in the Premier League. But at the other end of the field, in several different ways, the situation is not so ideal.

Moyes has already begun to address the back four with his recent signing of Guillermo Varela as understudy to the ever-improving Rafael, but is it enough, or will there be more bolstering work done over the next couple of months?

Rafael is basking in the warm afterglow of his best season to date, which saw him notch three goals and four assists in the league, the highlight being a brilliantly struck shot from outside the area against Queens Park Rangers. The low point unfortunately came in what turned out to be his final game of the season, when a loss of temper brought about an unnecessary kick on Chelsea’s David Luiz with a resulting red card.

However, while the young Brazilian is far better defensively than he was two or three seasons ago, there are some underlying stats that will cause his manager some concern. Out of 28 league starts in 2012-13 for Rafael, United conceded at least two goals nine times; in the 10 games he didn’t play there were only two in which they conceded twice or more, one of which was the end-of-season 5-5 thriller against West Bromwich Albion when United had already secured the title.

It's obvious from the signing of Varela that Moyes does not see Phil Jones or Chris Smalling as suitable deputies at right-back, but, with a bare minimum of playing experience behind him, no matter how many plaudits fly in, the Uruguayan youngster is not yet the answer.

While Rafael has shown that he can play 40 games a season, if not more, United can’t account for injury, and if the 22-year-old were laid off for a few weeks they would need a capable understudy to call on. Jones and Smalling have both shown their adeptness at right-back, but Jones is viewed by many (including himself) as destined to sit at the heart of the defence, while Smalling has proved somewhat injury-prone.

This is where the experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic come into play, with the defenders aged 34 and 31 years old respectively.

If, as expected, Varela is sent out on loan next season, then Jones or Smalling will be forced to deputise in the event of Rafael getting injured, as Marnick Vermijl is looking increasingly like a fringe player who will be moved on sooner rather than later.

Obviously there is the benefit of making the young Englishmen into more versatile players, but if Jones, as thought, is to end up at centre-back, then surely both he and Ferdinand are at the ages where one should be slowly replacing the other?

It’s all very well having a good repertoire of positions, but Jones should be careful that he doesn’t fall victim to the “jack of all, master of none” syndrome. Despite Jones being the better player, Jonny Evans currently looks the most likely to partner Vidic once Ferdinand’s late rush of form withers or his age catches up, for the simple reason that Evans has more experience in the role and performed solidly throughout the season while Jones was busy being switched between defence and midfield.

So when Ferdinand retires in the next year or so, even if Evans becomes the first-choice centre-back alongside Vidic, there is still the inevitable drop in form and ability that will strike the Serbian over the course of the next two or three seasons to worry about. Smalling’s regular injury problems are why it’s important to focus on preparing Jones for a career at centre-back as thoroughly as possible, before it’s too late.

In that respect, the signing of Varela is a good move, but if he goes out on loan—unless there is someone else on the horizon—Moyes will be very reliant on Rafael and risk stunting the development of Jones as a centre-back if the Brazilian gets injured.

But what about the left side of defence, which has been dominated by Patrice Evra for the past six years but is now in uncertainty as the French international reached the age of 32 last month?

Firstly, although he is returning from a season loan at QPR, Fabio will be very fortunate to make next season’s squad.

The twin brother of Rafael did make 21 league appearances last season, but the manner in which he made them is not quite so encouraging, and his performances even less so. After starting the first three games of the season under Mark Hughes—which saw QPR concede nine goals—he picked up a hamstring injury during the fourth, and on his return he couldn’t really establish himself under Harry Redknapp, with seven of his remaining 16 appearances under the new manager coming from the bench.

Back in Manchester, it is hard to tell if Alexander Buttner looks more promising, though on what we’ve seen he does appear to be a more rounded player than Fabio.

The 24-year-old made a sublime start to his Manchester United career, with a decent performance topped off by a scintillating goal during his debut match against Wigan, though he didn’t really build on that, making only 13 first-team appearances in 2012-13. Granted, Patrice Evra's form was unquestionably good last season, and Buttner's two goals in five league games is an excellent ratio for a defender, but don’t expect it to become a regular occurrence.

However, if Buttner’s strength is going forward, then his weakness is definitely his defensive positioning, which was often put to the question, especially in—albeit academic—Champions League games against Galatasary and CFR Cluj.

In summary, if Patrice Evra had not recovered from his dire run of form in time for last season, then United would have had the impossible dilemma of either playing an experienced left-back who was badly out of sorts, or an inexperienced left-back whose performances could go either way—not the depth in talent we have come to expect from the title-holders. That, and the 43 league goals conceded could have been far more.

And as long as Evra keeps playing like he is, Buttner will have his work cut out trying to showcase and develop his talents, which could have a detrimental effect once Evra retires and Buttner faces the prospect of having to step up as first-choice left-back. But the idea of Moyes allowing that to happen is fairly inconceivable, which makes the signing of Leighton Baines or another top left-back this summer or the next seem more plausible.

Back on the right side, Rafael has shown that he has a special quality and should be allowed to retain his role as first-choice right-back, but this presents a headache for the manager: He could send Varela out on loan and risk having to call on either Jones or Smalling as deputies and hypothetically hinder their long-term development as centre-backs. Alternatively, he could keep Varela as the understudy, which would naturally deprive the 20-year-old of the regular game time he needs to reach his full potential.

With all these issues to resolve, if there’s one thing that Moyes doesn’t have, it’s an easy first summer at his new club. Oh, and then there’s the simple matters of the midfield and Wayne Rooney situations to sort out.

Good luck then, old sport, good luck.

Brad Pickett vs. Michael McDonald Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Craig Amos — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:40:39 -0400

The UFC's debut event on the Fox Sports 1 network, set for August 17, now sports a full 13-fight card featuring a number of very intriguing matchups. Among the most interesting of all is a bantamweight clash between a pair of hard hitters, Michael McDonald and Brad Pickett.

McDonald enters the bout just one fight removed from a failed title shot against Renan Barao. The defeat marked the first of the 22-year-old's UFC career, so he'll no doubt be looking to get back on the winning track against Pickett.

For his part, Pickett approaches the fight coming off a split-decision victory over Mike Easton. He will be looking to secure back-to-back wins for just the second time since 2010 when he goes up against McDonald this August.

Here we will take a look at the McDonald vs. Pickett matchup and examine how it is likely to play out. We will assess which fighter has an edge in each of the striking, wrestling and grappling and submission areas of the game and use those assessments to project the probable outcome.

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Picking a Barcelona Starting Lineup to Utilise Thiago, Xavi and Iniesta

Samuel Marsden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:38:12 -0400

There's a little bit of concern in the Catalan air on Wednesday, following Thiago Alcantara's hat-trick in the final of the Under 21 European Championships.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Onda Cero on Tuesday night Gerard Pique said "there is a possibility that [Thiago] could leave, but we have to convince him that the best place for him is Barcelona" (h/t Daily Mail).

Newspaper Sport's headline focused on Thiago too: This superstar cannot leave.

The concern stems from the continued interest from Manchester United, as reported by The Sun, as the player's Dad, former Brazilian international Mazinho, seems intent on either getting his son a move or a regular place in the the Barca 11.

Supposedly, as Thiago played less than 60 percent of Barcelona's games last season, he could be available for as little as €18 million this summer, as Goal.com reports:

The clause, which was insisted upon by the player's agent (Pep Guardiola's brother Pere) after talks with Thiago and his father, Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho, stated that the midfielder must feature for 30 minutes or more in 60 per cent of Barcelona's matches last term. And although he did play in exactly 60% of games (Thiago featured in 36 club fixtures in 2012-13, out of a possible 60) and average well over half an hour per match (with 1904 minutes in total), he failed to complete the required amount in 15 of the 36 matches.

With the World Cup coming up in Brazil in 2014, his Dad believes it's best for Thiago to be a regular player for his club side to maximize the chances of him getting into Spain's squad, if not the first team.

So how could Barcelona squeeze him into their plans to convince him to stay?

Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets are shoe-ins in any side Tito Vilanova picks for the big games, so how can he come up with the necessary guarantees to convince the 22-year-old midfielder that he doesn't need to leave for pastures new?

Presumably Neymar, like Lionel Messi, will become a vital part of the starting lineup too. That would leave one place for the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Pedro Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez and Thiago to battle it out for.

To accommodate all of his pass masters, Vilanova would have to shift Iniesta further forward again—like he did for large parts of the first half of 2012/13.

Busquets would sit as the deepest midfielder, with Xavi and Thiago in front of him. Iniesta and Neymar would be tasked with providing the width—although that could also come from the full-backs—and Lionel Messi would be the focal point.

In this scenario the back five remains fairly similar.

Based on what is available at the club at the moment, Victor Valdes would start in goal. Jordi Alba and Dani Alves would be the full-backs either side of Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano.

It's hard to see Vilanova picking that side, though, so how will he offer Thiago reassurances when he returns from Israel to decide his future?

Possibly he won't be able to, and if he can't, Barcelona will be left to curse the clause that allowed one of their future stars to wriggle away.

Pavel Datsyuk's Top 5 Goals Since 2010

Eric McKelvie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:35:41 -0400

Pavel Datsyuk has been a member of the Detroit Red Wings throughout his entire NHL career.

After going undrafted in 1996 and 1997, Datsyuk was finally selected by Detroit in the sixth round, 171st overall, in the 1998 NHL entry draft. The Russian forward has been on the rise ever since. He’s won two Stanley Cups, numerous individual awards and constantly finds himself on the highlight reel.

So it was obviously a thrill for residents of Hockeytown to learn that Datsyuk had signed an extension with the Red Wings. According to NHL.com, it’s a three-year, $22.5 million contract which will carry a $7.5 million cap hit.

With that in mind, here are five of Datsyuk's best goals since 2010.

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Paul Pogba: Why Juventus Should Fight Hard to Keep The Young Midfielder

Colin O'Brien — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:35:32 -0400

At one stage or another, every big club has rolled the dice on a promising young talent only to have it come to nothing.

We could be here all day reeling off players who got scouts hot under the collar only to amount to little in maturity. For every Neymar, there's a Keirisson, for every Cristiano Ronaldo, a Bebe.

The step up from a smaller league, the academy or the reserves to first-team football at a European superpower requires more than just talent, it demands an appetite and an ability to thrive on pressure that's impossible to quantify.

But it's not every day we see a club invest in a prospect only to lose him right at the crucial moment he's ready to shine. Sir Alex Ferguson made plenty of good decisions during his 26 years at Manchester United but marginalising Paul Pogba wasn't one of them.

Disappointed at the lack of first-team football he was getting, the Frenchman headed for pastures new, arriving as a Bosman at Italian champions Juventus.

A curious decision on his part, considering that the Bianconeri's midfield was one of the strongest in the world and, on paper, a place less in need of freshening up than United's. Chances for Pogba would be limited in Turin, too. Or so we all thought.

It's been little over 10 months since Pogba landed in Serie A, but he's already an established star. Twenty-seven appearances in the league have cemented his reputation as an excellent midfielder, one with an all-round game and the ability to be effective up and down the pitch. He's also featured eight times in the Champions League—more appearances than he made in total during his three-year spell in Manchester.

The future looks bright for Pogba, which is why there's been plenty of rumours surrounding him of late.

The British press are suggesting that both Manchester City and Arsenal would be prepared to pay as much as €20 million for his services, as reported by James Dickenson here in The Express. But even though that sum would represent a huge profit on the free transfer they made last summer, it would be bad business for Juve because they won't find another like him.

As far as the player is concerned, the young Frenchman has shown himself to be unafraid of change if it furthers his career, having moved from Torcy to Le Havre before swapping his homeland for the lure of the EPL.

Those moves were all motivated by Pogba's desire to succeed, and in that context made perfect sense. Even at a tender age, he knew his worth and wasn't shy about it. Each transfer brought him closer to achieving his goal of becoming the world-class footballer he believed he could be, which is why Juventus is different.

Speaking to France Football (here in English via espn.com), Pogba explained why he had to leave Manchester. Promises had been made and broken, he felt, but not about money. He was desperate to play, and Ferguson was stopping him from doing that. In his words:

I'm impatient. Even if I was quite patient, Alex Ferguson told me: 'You're a whisker away from playing ... You're a youngster from the academy, you're not ready yet. You must be patient. Scholes was, Giggs was.' I'm not Giggs, I'm not Scholes. I really wanted to play.

I said: 'Okay, no problem.' If I'm not ready, perhaps I'll be ready elsewhere. I at least felt ready to have more playing time. He didn't show me enough that he wanted me in his squad. Even if he said some nice things about me, about my potential, if you don't show it, it's all just hot air.

"It all depends on what you have in your head. If you want to play at Manchester just to be able to say 'I play at United', even though you're on the bench, are you happy? I came on a few times, I played in the cups, but I wanted to have more playing time. If I could have played in China, I would have gone to China.

Ferguson might not agree, but it's hard to argue with that. A little ruthless, perhaps, but that kind of ambition is exactly the sort of thing that turns the good to great and a stalemated game to a win.

Pogba's got the drive to match his talent, and Antonio Conte is allowing him to express both. It's worked wonders for the club, who have found a young, top-class player for free, and for the 20-year-old, who's getting the game time he wants not just at club level but also with Didier Deschamps senior France side as well.

In the same interview, Pogba revealed how important his current boss has been.

Conte told me: 'With me, there's no youth, it's the best who plays. If you think you can establish yourself here, come, and we'll see if you're able to do it, show us what you can do.'

He pushed me, he struck where it was needed to convince me. I like being given challenges like that. I like indirect provocation.

Pogba's only at the start of his Italian adventure, but he's a key fixture in Conte's plans. The club clearly values the player and sees him as a crucial element in their development over the coming seasons.

He's found himself in an environment where he's appreciated and one that's obviously good for his game. Thirty-seven appearances and five goals in the heart of a championship-winning midfield attests to that. However, if he'd be made to move, Juve would be made to let him.

NBA Trade Rumors: Players Most Likely to Find a New Home Before Draft Day

Tyler Conway — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:30:00 -0400

Typically in the early days of June, the trade chatter dies down to a murmur as teams around the NBA allow the league's concentration to focus on the two teams in the finals. The discussions are kept to a relative minimum, and most of the rumors around the league involve smokescreens about draft picks or free agents.

That hasn't been the case this year. The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics' negotiations for a possible Kevin Garnett blockbuster sent reporters and columnists scurrying to their laptops with a mid-July fever.

While it's unclear whether or not that deal will be consummated, it's made one thing clear without equivocation: The 2013 offseason will be one of rapid-fire movement, as non-contenting teams look to shed themselves of dead-weight salary while the nuclear arms race atop the NBA continues to build.

It's become clear that championship contenders are built in today's NBA through a few great players and role players surrounding them. The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat both proved that this year, as has history for that matter. But as the league's collective-bargaining agreement continues to put more and more punitive taxes on high-spending teams, how those dollars are allotted becomes almost as important.

With those penalties kicking in next season, you'll see plenty of teams scurrying to get under the luxury tax and non-tax teams trying to find value in taking on slightly overpriced talent. The Toronto Raptors' trade for Rudy Gay during the regular season will become something of a norm over these next couple years.

With draft season—always an interesting time for trade talks—just about a week away, let's take a look at a few of the names most likely to be dealt before next Thursday.

(Note: The word "likely." Not the word "will." Just putting that out there for clarity's sake.)

Kevin Garnett (PF-C, Boston Celtics)

Let's start with the most obvious name on the market. It's well known that the Clippers and Celtics were working on the framework of a deal that would send Garnett to Los Angeles along with coach Doc Rivers in exchange for a package for DeAndre Jordan and draft picks. The deal was within inches of getting done on Monday, with the principles mostly agreed to and just a few odds and ends to clear up.

And then all hell broke loose.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and other outlets reported that the Clippers pulled out of the deal on Tuesday, unwilling to part with a second first-round pick in exchange for Boston's letting Rivers out of his contract. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge spoke with Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe and confirmed the sides were no longer talking.

So...deal's dead, right? Garnett stays?

Let's not jump too far and completely cross Garnett off the Clippers' wish list.

This deal seems to boil down to almost the most pathetic NBA asset known to man—a last first-round pick.

Because Boston's not asking for a lottery-guaranteed selection like the one given to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the James Harden trade, it's more than a little strange to see Los Angeles back out over something so minuscule. An NBA draft pick between 26-30, a reasonably expected selection should the Clippers acquire Garnett, is about the equivalent to a fourth-rounder in the NFL draft, per research done by Wages of Wins.

At the very best, you're hoping for a mid-rotational player who does one thing really well. History tells us that superstars—a few exceptions granted—are not found late in the NBA draft. Basketball is inherently better at selecting which players are the best, merely because it's the most predictable sport overall.

This deal isn't completely dead. The Celtics were confused by the Clippers' decision to pull out, according to USA Today's Sam Amick, and one quick phone call could solve this whole thing.

What's more, depending on how the whole Rivers situation plays out in Boston—and his return is a massive question mark, Clippers deal or not—Garnett might wind up coming to Los Angeles without the Celtics coach. Without Doc and with Paul Pierce's situation up in the air, Garnett could be amenable to a switch to Los Angeles.

Remember: The draft picks were compensation for Rivers, not Garnett. So with that in mind, this Garnett situation is still very much in play.

Note: DeAndre Jordan deserves mention in this space merely for his place within the Garnett trade.

Eric Bledsoe (PG, Los Angeles Clippers)

The other huge shoe to drop for the Clippers is Bledsoe, who will almost certainly be playing elsewhere next season should Chris Paul re-up in Los Angeles. Whether that will come before the draft is ultimately unclear, but Los Angeles has an impetus to move the burgeoning young guard.

The reasoning is simple. Once Paul gets locked up to a long-term maximum contract—the Clippers can offer their superstar guard a five-year deal worth $108 million, which is about $28 million more than any other team—Los Angeles' money is all but tied up in its current core. Between the Blake Griffin-Chris Paul-DeAndre Jordan (or Kevin Garnett) trio, there's enough money on the books for little flexibility.

Bledsoe, along with other assets like Caron Butler's expiring deal, represents the Clippers' biggest bargaining chip for them to get better now. He's also going to be prohibitively expensive and see a ton of interest on the open market should the Clippers allow him to hit restricted free-agency next summer—interest that would put Bledsoe out of the team's price range.

If CP3 returns, Bledsoe leaves. Whether the Clippers get any indication from Paul before the draft and make a move is another question.

It's clear they've already been in talks with multiple teams and made their interest in moving Bledsoe well known around the league. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported that the Clippers and Orlando Magic have already had preliminary discussions about a Bledsoe-for-Arron Afflalo deal, though it's unclear how far along those talks are.

Afflalo would represent a massive upgrade at the starting 2 spot for Los Angeles, which spent the entirety of last season trying to wake up the ghost of Chauncey Billups. The former UCLA star would also help give the Clippers floor spacing, a need that became readily apparent against the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs.

What's more, one of the more interesting rumors around Bledsoe's name—even if it was quickly shot down—involved the prospect of he and Blake Griffin being sent to the Lakers for Dwight Howard. ESPN's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne reported on the possible deal, which would have probably caused the entire city of Los Angeles to combust.

It's not happening, so there's no use in discussing it further. But Bledsoe will be playing elsewhere, and the deal could get done soon if the Clippers get antsy to impress CP3 with their returning roster.

Derrick Williams (PF, Minnesota Timberwolves)

Suffice it to say, Derrick Williams' first two NBA seasons have gone far differently than anyone expected when he was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The former Arizona standout has struggled mightily to find his place within Minnesota's rotation, floating in and out of the starting lineup with such a consistency that it would leave any young player frustrated.

Certainly, at least part of that was Williams' doing. He's been lost on the defensive end of the floor for the most part on rotations, and he's a complete nonentity when it comes to rim protection. Always a bit of a tweener, Williams hasn't developed well enough as a back-to-the-basket player to be an effective 4 in the post, nor has his outside shot improved enough to make him a viable pick-and-pop threat.

It's also become quite apparent he doesn't have the foot speed to cover 3s. With Nikola Pekovic (a restricted free agent this summer) and Kevin Love likely comprising Minnesota's long term and short term, it's no surprise that Williams' name has been up for trade consideration.

According to a report by the Pioneer Press' Charley Walters, the Timberwolves will look to move Williams on draft night along with the No. 9 overall pick to move upward in the draft:

Walters noted later in the Pioneer Press that Minnesota's main target is Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo, a fast-rising name up many draft boards this year. Oladipo, a defensive menace whose offensive game is still in need of work, is one of only a few players in this class who has a chance for long-term stardom. His explosive leaping ability would make him a jaw-dropping pairing with Ricky Rubio in the backcourt, though Minnesota's shooting problems would still exist.

It's unclear, though, just how much teams value Williams at this point. He's obviously been underserved by the Minnesota coaching staff over these past two years, with minutes that have varied wildly and roles that have been in a constant state of flux.

The question is whether Minnesota would be able to trade high enough to land Oladipo. The Washington Wizards are expected to give Oladipo consideration as high as No. 2, and he won't get past the Phoenix Suns at No. 5. Making a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats, who will at least kick the tires on trading down, could work.

But all of that very much depends on how Charlotte feels about Williams. Either way, he'll be gone by Halloween.

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Brazil vs. Mexico: Players Each Team Must Focus Their Attention On

Justin Onslow — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:30:00 -0400

If Mexico hopes to right the ship in international competition, it’ll have to start with a potential elimination match against hosts Brazil in the Confederations Cup.

The two sides are slated to meet Wednesday, and for Mexico, a loss would likely mean an early exit from the tournament after falling 2-1 to Italy on Sunday. Brazil, on the other hand, can take a commanding lead of Group A with a win after dismantling Japan 3-0 in the tournament’s opening match.

A lot will be on the line when the two squads square off. Let’s take a look at two players from each side who will force their opponents to pay them a little extra attention or risk losing a critical Confederations Cup clash.

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez: Mexico

Mexico has played horridly of late, both in the Confederations Cup and in World Cup qualifying action. The Mexican side has struggled in the final third, and many have blamed forward Chicharito for that fact.

In reality, Chicharito has played fairly well in recent matches, especially against Italy in his side’s 2-1 loss on Sunday, netting Mexico’s only goal.

Granted, lack of production is often blamed on a team’s best striker, but that isn’t necessarily accurate in this case. If Brazil writes off Chicharito and fails to defend against him in their defensive third, this match could get out of hand rather quickly.

Chicharito has the talent to break open any match. What he needs is a little help from his teammates, especially at the midfield. El Tri can’t afford to limit their time of possession against a tremendous Brazilian side and risk not giving Chicharito enough opportunities to score.

Neymar: Brazil

Arguably the biggest star in the tournament, Neymar proved he’s worth the hype with a terrific performance against Japan in the opening contest. The striker didn’t waste any time in that match, netting his side’s first goal in the first few minutes of play on a beautiful strike from outside the penalty area.

There’s no question who Brazil’s most explosive attacker is. With Neymar on the pitch, Mexico won’t be able to afford special attention to anyone else.

If Neymar has an opportunity to net an early goal in this contest, it won’t be easy for Mexico to match. Playing from behind against a team as capable as Brazil only leads to added pressure and fewer quality chances.

Javier Aquino: Mexico

Chicharito is Mexico’s best attacker, but much of his success stems from a coordinated attack and extra help from his wingers. When Mexico’s attack is working as a unit, everything opens up for the forward.

Javier Aquino will be a critical component to that coordinated attack. Against Italy, the right winger struggled to get much of anything going, and as a result, Chicharito saw fewer touches than he should have.

Aqunio has the ability to beat Brazil’s Marcelo on the attack, but that shouldn’t be his focus in this match. All the winger has to do is be disruptive enough to create more opportunities for Chicharito.

Of course, a goal from Aquino wouldn’t hurt.

Shutting down Mexico’s attack has to be a team effort. If the Selecao lets the opposition attack develop by not keeping tabs on Chicharito and Aquino, they may find themselves slipping back down the Group A tables when all is said and done.

Oscar: Brazil

Neymar has more natural talent than Oscar, but the latter may be a better fit as the team’s central attacker. As such, Brazil has two tremendous scoring options to account for throughout every match.

The two attackers tend to split time in the middle of the attack while the other sets up on the attacking wing, and while lack of continuity sometimes follows as a result, there’s no denying how versatile Brazil can prove to be on the attack employing that strategy.

As well as Neymar played against Japan, Mexico will no doubt be keying in on him as the primary attacker to smother during this match. If that proves to be the case, Oscar will be the attacker to benefit.

Just as Brazil has to account for Chicharito and Aquino, the Mexican side will have two extremely talented strikers to afford extra attention.

College World Series 2013 Schedule: TV Info and Pick for Indiana vs. Oregon St.

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:30:00 -0400

On Wednesday night, we will officially be down to the final five.

The Oregon State Beavers were able to handily control the Louisville Cardinals, 11-4, to stay alive on Monday night, while the Indiana Hoosiers fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 5-4, setting up a critical elimination matchup.

From a historical perspective, OSU and Indiana couldn't be coming from two different places.

Indiana, a school steeped in basketball tradition, is in the midst of its first ever College World Series appearance. In fact, the Hoosiers had never made it past the regional round before two weeks ago.

Simply put, Omaha is a foreign place for the boys from Bloomington.

Oregon State, on the other hand, knows a little bit about having success there.

The Beavers haven't been to the College World Series since 2007, but they won back-to-back titles in 2006 and '07 and have been there five times now.

The makeup of the teams is vastly different, too.

Led by the gargantuan power bats of Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis, Indiana is fueled by its dominant hitting and offensive prowess, where Oregon State is here on the backs of Matt Boyd, Andrew Moore and Ben Wetzler, one of the most dominant pitching trios in America.

All things considered, this is going to be a must-watch matchup.

Here's a look at everything you need to know to see it, while a complete CWS schedule can be found here.

Who: Indiana vs. Oregon State

Where: TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Omaha, Neb.

When: June 19, 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

Prediction

In a game as crucial at this, you have to go with the better starter.

Of course, it's hard to differentiate based simply on that, as the probables for Wednesday are Matt Boyd (2.18 ERA) for Oregon State and big Aaron Slegers (2.13 ERA) for Indiana.

Nevertheless, with All-American Michael Conforto heating up and going 6-for-8 in OSU's last two games, I'll give the slight advantage to the Beavers.

Oregon State moves on to face Mississippi State.

Oregon State 3, Indiana 2

Follow @t_keen

FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Bold Predictions for Remaining Group Stage Games

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:30:00 -0400

The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup has officially kicked off, and we've already seen some fireworks.

Brazil rolled to a 3-0 victory over Japan on Saturday, while Nigeria embarrassed overmatched Tahiti on Monday. Of course, Spain defeated Uruguay, 2-1.

But there is plenty more action on the pitch for us all as teams continue to build (or disintegrate) in the Confederations Cup.

Here's a look at the remaining matches in the group stage, complete with bold predictions.

June 19

Brazil Will Defeat Mexico

While Mexico ranks 17th in the world, and Brazil ranks 22nd, the Mexican side has been struggling as of late. Mexico lost to Italy on Sunday, 2-1.

On the other hand, Brazil scored a sound 3-0 victory over Japan on Saturday.

Mexico hasn't won a match since a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in 2014 World Cup qualifying on June 4.

Italy Will Win by 2 Goals vs. Japan

Japan's 3-0 loss to Brazil was embarrassing. The side defeated Iraq in World Cup qualifying on June 11, but tied Australia and lost 2-0 to Bulgaria before that.

Meanwhile, Italy scored a solid victory over Mexico, showing some life after some troubling matches against Haiti and Czech Republic.

June 20

Spain Will Defeat Tahiti by 4 Goals

Spain, the No. 1 team in the world, gets to face Tahiti on Thursday, which just lost to Nigeria, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Spain disposed of No. 19 Uruguay on Sunday, 2-1. Spain won all six of its friendlies before opening up the Confederations Cup with a victory.

Spain's midfield should eat up Tahiti in this clash, providing many scoring opportunities that the Spanish will capitalize on.

Uruguay Will Defeat Nigeria

While Nigeria made quick work of Tahiti, the same won't apply against Uruguay.

Uruguay is playing better, and its close loss to Spain showed me more than Nigeria's victory against over-matched Tahiti. Nigeria certainly has tons of talent, but its 1-0 victory over Kenya in World Cup qualifying didn't show me enough to hand the side a victory on Thursday.

June 22

Brazil Will Defeat Italy

While Italy is ranked higher than Brazil, Brazil can defeat anyone when they're clicking. While a 3-0 victory over Japan isn't overly impressive, Brazil did exhibit the skills and communication needed to topple the Italians.

Italy will receive a wake-up call from Brazil after wins over Mexico and Japan.

Mexico Will Defeat Japan

Japan's 3-0 loss to Brazil was not what the side had in mind. Japan should be better than this, with Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa in the midfield, but a shutout points to the team being out of sync on the pitch.

While I'm not that hot on Mexico either, I think the Mexicans have shown more than the Japanese so far.

June 23

Spain Will Defeat Nigeria by 2 Goals

After wins over Uruguay and Tahiti, Spain will show Nigeria what a talented team can do with more chemistry on the pitch.

Nigeria, as noted before, has always had talent, but you also have to execute, and the Spanish execute as well as anyone in the world, taking advantage of their talent. This will be a lesson for the Nigerians, one they should take to heart.

Uruguay Will Defeat Tahiti by 3 Goals

Uruguay has only defeated a team by more than two goals once in the campaign (Nov. 11 against Chile in World Cup qualifying). The team hasn't generally exhibited an attack that can explode.

But Tahiti is clearly over-matched in the Confederations Cup, as exemplified in its 6-1 loss to Nigeria. Uruguay should be able to find enough opportunities to finish with a three-goal advantage.

NBA Draft 2013: How Alex Len Going No. 1 Overall Would Shake Up First Round

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:30:00 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the potential to shake up the first round of the 2013 NBA draft if they decide to take Alex Len instead of Nerlens Noel with the No. 1 overall pick.

Many experts, including Matt Moore and Gary Parrish at CBS Sports, believe that Noel is the clear-cut favorite to get taken by Cleveland with the first pick in the draft. But as time dwindles before the Cavs are on the clock, it appears that the franchise may be looking to go in a different direction.

Jimmy Smith of NOLA.com reports that Len—and not Noel—is now likely to get taken by the Cavaliers:

Noel told Alex Kennedy of USA Today that he’ll be ready to take the court anywhere from “November to Christmas,” after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in March. Even though the big man will be sidelined for a solid portion of the season, he’s still widely considered the top talent in this year’s draft class.

That being said, if Noel doesn’t go No. 1 to Cleveland and Len does instead, the teams following the Cavs are going to have to make some big decisions very quickly. Noel is a player who could help turn a franchise around, and while some teams may already be all set on the low post, they’ll still have to consider taking him.

Orlando, which holds the No. 2 pick, will certainly be intrigued by the option of adding Noel. The Magic don’t have a lot of great big men on the roster and even though Noel won’t be back until midseason, he could be a big part of the long-term plan.

The Magic will likely take the best player on the board and who the Cavs select definitely matters. Orlando could take someone like Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter or Trey Burke, among others, if Noel goes to Cleveland. But if Cleveland takes Len, Noel may be headed to Orlando.

One would assume, however, that Cleveland wants to win right away, which is why the team would go with Len with the first pick. There’s no guarantee that Orlando doesn’t feel the same way. Even if Noel is on the board when it’s time for the Magic to make their selection, Orlando could end up passing on the opportunity to take him as well. Let’s say that happens and Len and Oladipo are the top two picks.

Where does Noel eventually land?

Third—to the Washington Wizards.

In the upcoming draft, the Wizards need to fill holes at the three biggest positions: small forward, power forward and center. If Noel were to go within the first two picks, they’d likely take someone like Burke or Anthony Bennett. But with him still on the board, there would be no way that Washington would let him get by.

Noel talked to the media Saturday morning in the midst of a two-day visit to Washington and had this to say, according to the Mark Giannotto of the Washington Post:

Anything can happen. I’m just fortunate enough to be here in this position, so I don’t have to have a handle on it at this point. …It’s a dream come true to even be in the discussion, so to actually be picked No. 1, I’d very blessed and fortunate and definitely would just have to get right to work to exceed the expectations.

Noel is smart to realize that he isn’t a lock to land with the Cavs and could drop to the Wizards, if not further. Obviously he wants to be the No. 1 pick, but who doesn’t? The fact that Noel took two days to go and visit the Wizards speaks to how badly he just wants to play in the NBA, no matter where he goes in the draft.

OK, so, what happens from thereon out?

Well, things go somewhat back to normal. Charlotte and Phoenix will likely take the top players available after the Wizards take Noel. Then, there isn’t a team that’s going to be looking for strictly a big man until the back of the top 10, when Minnesota and Portland go on the clock.

We could see a couple of things happen there. Minnesota will likely have the option of selecting the likes of Cody Zeller, Kelly Olynyk, Gorgui Dieng or even Mason Plumlee, among others. Len was probably going to go to either Minnesota or Portland, so they’re the two teams that get hurt the most in this scenario.

Zeller is the next closest thing to Len, and it would be smart for Minnesota to take him. He would be a great fit to play next to Kevin Love on the low block. Portland could really flip a coin between Olynyk and Dieng—as Plumlee isn’t really top-10 material.

As you can see, Len going to the Cavs at No. 1 over Noel really only has large implications on the teams choosing second and third and then selecting at ninth and 10th. That’s still a lot of maneuvering caused by one team taking one player over another.

But hey, maybe Cleveland is just playing a trick on us and will end up taking Noel after all.

Would LeBron James Be a Good Coach?

Brendan Bowers — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:02 -0400

The headband came off for LeBron James during Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs, and he subsequently made one winning play after another to close out the Miami Heat victory.

When his headband comes off for good, many years from now, James is equipped to similarly make one winning decision after another to impact games as an NBA coach.

In addition to his supreme athleticism, James' extraordinarily high basketball IQ would ensure this transformation.

On both ends of the floor, he has also expressed a well-rounded dedication to consistently improving all phases of his game.

Besides that, as a four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer, James would immediately command the respect of any NBA locker room for as long as the league exists.

LeBron James is a student of the game

When LeBron James first broke into the NBA, what helped separate him from other young superstars was his mental approach to the game.

Before he was endlessly compared to Michael Jordan, James was first billed as the next Magic Johnson. His extraordinarily high basketball IQ and point guard mentality, reminiscent of Johnson as a player, were the primary reasons why.

In an attempt to make his teammates around him better, James dished out 5.9 assists along with the 20.9 points he averaged as a rookie. He has since gone on to average 6.9 assists for his career.

This understanding of where and when those around him need the basketball to be most effective would help James in his transition to coaching.

He has embraced the importance of team defense

In a league comprised of the world's greatest athletes, defense is the ultimate difference-maker in determining an NBA champion.

Mike Brown and Erik Spoelstra are two coaches who understand this philosophy better than most.

As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brown taught James the importance of team defense at a young age. Spoelstra, during his time with the Miami Heat, has reinforced many of those same philosophies.

As a result, James has become one of the NBA's best defenders from both a team and individual standpoint.

He has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times while also being one of the only players in the league who can spend time defending all five positions.

The defensive philosophies he's learned would provide the foundation necessary for James to effectively teach that side of the ball as a coach.

James understands the concept of player development

LeBron James would most likely never coach a player as talented as he is.

Despite the natural gifts he possesses, however, James has dedicated his time off the court to developing his all-around game.

As a rookie, for example, James shot 29 percent from three-point range. This past season, after spending time developing that area of his offensive game throughout his career, James shot 40.6 percent from three.

He's also improved his dedication to the glass, increasing his rebounding average to a career-high eight per game in 2013 as compared to 5.5 as a rookie.

This personal development would provide James with the perspective as a coach to help his players find ways to similarly develop.

If a player that shot less than 30 percent from long-range can become an effective three-point shooter, for example, than others can marginally improve as well.

LeBron would command an NBA locker room's respect

Mark Jackson commanded the respect of the Golden State Warriors' locker room right from the jump because of the work he put in as a player.

Jason Kidd became the Brooklyn Nets head coach, in part, for similar reasons.

LeBron James would command that same type of respect as a first-year NBA head coach, and then some.

There won't be a player who enters the NBA in the next 20 years who doesn't know of James and all his accomplishments. Where other coaches must first prove themselves, James, like Jackson and Kidd, will be afforded the respect he's earned from the very beginning.

Why Barcelona Should Pay Over the Odds to Get Thiago Silva

Samuel Marsden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:03:49 -0400

With the Neymar deal swiftly wrapped up, sparing us from a summer of will-he-won't-he, it must be frustrating for Barcelona fans to see the Daily Mail linking their club with Juan Mata and The Guardian talking up a possible move for Fernando Torres.

Not because either of those would necessarily be bad signings, but because La Blaugrana are screaming out for a centre-back.

According to Sky Sports, Laurent Koscielny is the latest defender linked with a move to Camp Nou, but Barcelona were stung last summer by rushing through the unnecessary signing of Alex Song—why risk the same mistake?

That Song move came about after they missed out on Milan defender Thiago Silva, who instead opted for a move to Paris Saint-Germain. But as uncertainty continues over the future of the French club's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, Silva's admitted to Sky Sport Italia that he feels unsettled (via Yahoo Sport):

"The doubt surrounding him at the moment is hard to take. I hope that an agreement will be reached as soon as possible, because the situation is tough for us players as well."

Silva is thought to be back on Barcelona's radar, according to MARCA, and president Sandro Rosell has spoken during a press conference out this week about the difficulties any potential move for the defender would encounter (via Goal.com):

We never say never but it would be difficult to negotiate—very difficult. We have not contacted PSG because the player's wages are very high. We can afford it [the salary] but it could upset the dressing room.

It's never worth upsetting the dressing room, but if the Brazilian defender is prepared to drop his salary, to be in line with the club's top earners, then they should do everything they can to ensure they bring him—not Mata or Torres—to Catalunya.

Carles Puyol has recently turned 35 and, as he's set to undergo his second knee operation of the year, there are obvious question marks over how much input he can continue to have at the top level.

Javier Mascherano, however good and consistent he is for large chunks of the year, is always just one mistake away from vilification, while Marc Bartra has yet to fully convince people that he is ready to be more than a squad player just yet.

|n Silva, 28, Barcelona would have one of the best defenders in the world—you only have to look at the defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League to realise how much they need him.

He's physically strong, reads the game extremely well and has the technical ability to fit straight in at Barcelona.

His performances against Barca in the Champions League for PSG earned him a lot of praise and even forced Twitter troll Joey Barton into taking back his "overrated, fat Brazilian" comment, as Metro reports.

He would command a large transfer fee, although it seems that's not the stumbling block—the wages are.

While he's away at the Confederations Cup with Brazil, perhaps he'll seek some advice from Barca players Neymar and Dani Alves. Both of whom would no doubt encourage him to make the move from France to Spain.

Chelsea Schedule 2013-14: List of Fixtures and Early Analysis

Tim Daniels — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:01:06 -0400

Chelsea are coming off a frustrating campaign.

Despite stretches where the Blues played like Premier League contenders, they finished in third place, well off Manchester United's title pace. They also failed to make another Champions League run.

Although Chelsea did salvage the season by winning the Europa League, bigger things are expected moving forward.

Looking ahead, the EPL released the schedule (via the club's official site) for the 2013-14 campaign, giving the players and fans their first glimpse at the journey every club faces in the coming months.

Let's take a look at the fixtures for Chelsea.

Date	Opponent	Home/Road
Aug. 17	Hull City	Home
Aug. 24	Manchester United	Road
Aug. 31	Aston Villa	Home
Sept. 14	Everton	Road
Sept. 21	Fulham	Home
Sept. 28	Tottenham	Road
Oct. 5	Norwich City	Road
Oct. 19	Cardiff City	Home
Oct. 26	Manchester City	Home
Nov. 2	Newcastle	Road
Nov. 9	West Bromwich Albion	Home
Nov. 23	West Ham United	Road
Nov. 30	Southampton	Home
Dec. 3	Sunderland	Road
Dec. 7	Stoke City	Road
Dec. 14	Crystal Palace	Home
Dec. 21	Arsenal	Road
Dec. 26	Swansea City	Home
Dec. 28	Liverpool	Home
Jan. 1	Southampton	Road
Jan. 11	Hull City	Road
Jan. 18	Manchester United	Home
Jan. 29	West Ham United	Home
Feb. 1	Manchester City	Road
Feb. 8	Newcastle	Home
Feb. 11	West Bromwich Albion	Road
Feb. 22	Everton	Home
March 1	Fulham	Road
March 8	Tottenham	Home
March 15	Aston Villa	Road
March 22	Arsenal	Home
March 29	Crystal Palace	Road
April 5	Stoke City	Home
April 12	Swansea City	Road
April 19	Sunderland	Home
April 26	Liverpool	Road
May 3	Norwich City	Home
May 11	Cardiff City	Road

The most important matches are obviously those against Manchester United and Manchester City, the two clubs standing between Chelsea and a return to the top of the Premier League. How they fare in those four fixtures will have a major impact.

United pose the biggest threat, of course. The defending champions are led by goal-scoring machine Robin van Persie, who gives the club a massive advantage, and an extremely deep roster. But the managerial switch from Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes could open the door for the Blues.

Then there are the matches against the next set of clubs––Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool––which are tricky. Chelsea must take care of business against those clubs at Stamford Bridge to give themselves a chance.

Jose Mourinho returns to the club after stops with Inter Milan and Real Madrid. The 50-year-old manager won two Premier League championships during his first stint with the Blues and is hoping to get Chelsea back on that level.

The roster certainly doesn't lack the necessary talent. When comparing the squad to those of the Manchester rivals and the league's other top clubs, there's no reason to believe Mourinho can't get the club into contention.

As was the case heading into last season, the biggest question mark is at striker. Fernando Torres continues to be wildly inconsistent and Demba Ba failed to maintain top form after a quick start with the club. Chelsea hopes new addition Andre Schurrle can help solve the problem.

Otherwise, the Blues are strong. The midfield is in great hands with the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar, none of whom are older than 25. They should be able to control the pace of most matches simply by working through that trio.

Chelsea also have depth along the back line and one of the league's top goalkeepers in Petr Cech. So if they can find some more consistent scoring up front, the other pieces are in place to make a serious run.

Only a couple months remain before they start navigating the newly-released schedule.

Arsenal Transfers: 10 Confederations Cup Stars Arsene Wenger Should Be Eyeing

Shona Black — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:02 -0400

There is an excitement and intensity surrounding the 2013 Confederations Cup that usually eludes the low-key FIFA tournament, making it a showcase for stars this transfer window.

Traditionally seen as either an inconsequential World Cup dress rehearsal or a boring, gratuitous money-spinner, this year's edition seems both more significant and more engaging.

Perhaps it is because it's the last competitive test for an unconvincing host side who desperately need to prove their credentials ahead of World Cup 2014.

Perhaps it is being taken more seriously as a chance to challenge Spain's dominance—and an arena for Spain to deflect that challenge.

Or perhaps the Confederations Cup's simple, compact format is more appealing than ever to a football audience sated with bloated, ever-expanding tournaments. With only eight teams—the host country, the reigning World Cup champions, and each continental champion (or runner-up, as is the case this year with Italy, in case of overlap)—it's certainly possible.

For whatever reason, the 2013 Confederations Cup feels like a more significant, dynamic sporting event than in past years, and the action on the pitch so far bears that out.

One consequence of teams taking the tournament seriously is that they are generally fielding their first-choice sides. This detracts from the scouting opportunity where clubs look for lesser-known players emerging from the squad.

With that being said, there are still some intriguing scouting opportunities for Arsenal at the Confederations Cup.

Here are 10 players Arsene Wenger should be watching in Brazil.

All transfer values supplied by Transfermarkt.

Begin Slideshow

Tough Start to New Premier League Season for Newcastle United

Dan Sheridan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:02 -0400

Newcastle United have been handed a daunting start to the new 2013-14 season with a trip to big spenders Manchester City on the opening day.

The match on August 17 will be Manuel Pellegrini’s first competitive game in charge at the Etihad Stadium, as the Magpies begin their season on the road.

The match will see Newcastle start their campaign in Manchester for the second time in three years, following their opener at Old Trafford in 2010.

Incredibly, the clash will be the first time the two clubs have ever met on the first day of a new season.

Alan Pardew’s side suffered a disastrous trip to the blue half of Manchester last time out, going down 4-0 to City in March thanks to strikes from Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Vincent Kompany and an own-goal from James Perch.

And their away record in the Premier League against the Sky Blues makes for uncomfortable reading for Geordie fans, with just one win in 11 and five defeats in a row.

Newcastle’s first home game is on August 24 against Sam Allardyce’s West Ham. However, former Toon striker Andy Carroll could miss the match through injury despite being on the verge of sealing a move to the Hammers after passing a medical yesterday.

Allardyce will find himself in familiar territory having briefly managed the Toon in 2007-08. And he’ll also be hoping for a repeat of last season, where the Londoners snatched a 1-0 victory thanks to another former Magpie, Kevin Nolan.

Meanwhile, the first Tyne-Wear derby of next term will take place on October 26 at the Stadium of Light, where Newcastle will be looking to regain local bragging rights.

Despite finishing above Sunderland in the final Premier League table, defeat to the Black Cats back in April left the club’s supporters in shock, and revenge will be on the menu in a little over four months' time.

The return fixture at St. James’ Park is penciled in for February 1 in a month that also includes a trip to West London to face Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea and a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

A welcome addition to the festive period is the visit of Stoke City on December 26, in a game that sees the Magpies play at home on Boxing Day for only the second time in 12 seasons.

And following another home tie with Arsenal on December 28, Newcastle will see in 2014 with a New Year’s Day journey to the Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion.

Their season ends in the same manner as it begins, with a tough-looking fixture in the North West. Liverpool will provide the opposition on May 11 on Merseyside, with the Toon looking to record only their second Premier League victory at Anfield since the competition began in 1992.

For a full run-down of Newcastle United's league fixtures for the 2013-14 campaign, click here.

College World Series Bracket 2013: Predicting Winners of Losers Bracket Matchups

Steven Cook — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:02 -0400

The 2013 College World Series has already given us its fair share of excitement and down-to-the-wire finishes, but we're just now getting down to elimination time as the losers' bracket is dwindling down.

While we've seen teams like UCLA cruise through the first two games with ease, other squads haven't been so lucky and now stand just one game away from seeing their dreams of raising a championship trophy in Omaha, Neb. vanish.

By now, each of these teams has already picked up one victory and will need another one to stay alive and make it to the semifinals.

Let's take a look at each upcoming losers' bracket game and who will prevail.

Indiana vs. No. 3 Oregon State: Wednesday, June 19 at 8 p.m. ET

The Cinderella story of the 2013 College World Series lost one of her slippers on Monday night after a grueling, 5-4 defeat to Mississippi State. But the Indiana Hoosiers won't let that get them down.

In fact, perhaps Indiana's deep shot in that loss would have soared over the wall if they weren't playing at the new, extremely deep TD Ameritrade Park.

But despite that crushing blow to the Bulldogs, the Hoosiers have shown real grit and bounce-back ability all postseason and that has continued through the College World Series.

Their pitching has been on point since arriving at Omaha. After blanking the Louisville Cardinals with a 2-0 victory, they performed well on the mound again against Mississippi State.

Oregon State had a bit more success offensively against Louisville, routing them with a 11-4 victory to eliminate the Cardinals. But they struggled just as the Hoosiers did when they played Mississippi State in the opener, losing a tough 5-4 affair.

The Beaver bats are scorching after they dominated Louisville, but they'll run into much hotter pitching against Indiana as the Cinderella story of the year in college baseball will live to fight another day.

But we've seen nothing but scintillating performances from either of these teams, so I don't expect it to get settled until late in the contest.

Prediction: Indiana 3, Oregon State 2

N.C. State vs. North Carolina: Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. ET

It was exciting enough for ACC college baseball fans that bitter rivals North Carolina and N.C. State were able to face off in the College World Series opener for both teams.

Perhaps it was fate that brought us an encore performance of what was a 8-1 Wolfpack victory earlier in the tournament.

Although now, both teams are fighting to stave off elimination while sending one of their fiercest rivals packing. You can bet that each team wants to win to knock the other squad out just as bad as they want to stay alive in the College World Series.

North Carolina is coming off a 4-2 win over LSU, but the Tigers didn't show us enough at Omaha this year to gauge whether that was a performance you can put stock into. LSU only scored three runs in their two games in Omaha, both losses.

N.C. State may have dropped a 2-1 decision to UCLA on Tuesday, but it was a hard-fought loss and they were just a play or two away (including the wild pitch that lost them the game) from reversing the score.

The Tar Heels have shown a knack for making too many mistakes as of late and have been moving on by the skin of their teeth. It'll take another throttling by the Wolfpack to put them out of their misery.

Prediction: N.C. State 6, North Carolina 2

WWE Money in the Bank 2013: Who Should Be in Each MITB Ladder Match?

Drake Oz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:02 -0400

If the WWE follows tradition, this year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view will feature two matches of the same name—one for a WWE Championship opportunity and the other for a shot at the World Heavyweight title.

It’s a safe bet that we’ll get two of the highly-anticipated MITB matches at the PPV that bears its name. But what’s less certain is how many competitors will be in each match.

Throughout the history of the Money in the Bank match, whether it’s been at WrestleMania or at its own PPV, we’ve seen a wide array of competitors per match. There have been MITB matches with as little as four competitors and as many as 10, but also six, seven or eight participants.

Last year’s Money in the Bank PPV featured one MITB match with eight competitors, many of which had never competed in one before, and one MITB match that exclusively featured former WWE Champions, four of them in total.

The WWE should stay away from a “former champions only” MITB match this year because it takes away from the main purpose of the Money in the Bank match in the first place: Creating new stars.

Even though it remains to be seen what the WWE will do at Money in the Bank this year, it’s imperative that the company ensure that each match packs a certain amount of star power.

So, what should the WWE do with both Money in the Bank matches this year?

Have eight spots in the World Heavyweight title MITB match because that’s a bout that could be used as a stepping stone for an up-and-comer or one final chance at glory for a veteran. Opening up the field should make this match a quality one wrestling-wise, but also one that has the ability to create new stars.

As for the WWE Championship MITB match, that bout should feature six competitors—all big-named guys who we could feasibly see holding the most prestigious title in the company within the year.

But which guys should be in each match? Let’s take a look.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a World Heavyweight Championship Opportunity

Antonio Cesaro

Cesaro is in the process of being repackaged as a client of Zeb Colter and supporter of the United States. That’s essentially the same exact gimmick as Jack Swagger, but hey, that gimmick took Swagger to a WrestleMania World title shot.

By the looks of things, the creative team may be getting behind Cesaro again. Throwing him in the MITB match could be a sign of that, and although he likely wouldn’t win it, he’d surely improve the match’s quality.

Rob Van Dam

RVD is a safe bet to be in one of the MITB matches, but does anyone really see him coming back and gunning for the WWE Championship?

No, what’s more likely is that the WWE throws him in the WHC MITB match for two reasons: (1) He might actually win that one, (2) but even if he doesn’t, the match could ignite his first feud upon his return.

Damien Sandow

Damien Sandow is still losing far too many matches these days, but looking on the bright side of things, he’s been getting a lot more TV time and feuding with a top guy in Sheamus.

Sandow hasn’t had a real shot at attaining singles superstardom yet, but a MITB win (yes, it’s a long shot) could help him get there. At the very least, it could further his feud with “The Celtic Warrior.”

Sheamus

Although Sheamus has accomplished enough in the WWE that he doesn’t need to win the MITB contract, the truth is that he’s a top guy and you never know if the WWE will have him do it anyway.

If Sheamus continues to feud with Sandow, expect these two to be revealed as participants in this match. As mentioned above, it will further their feud, but will also give a top guy (Sheamus) something to do on the PPV.

Christian

While Christian did make a shocking return to the WWE on this week’s Raw, it wasn’t in a major storyline. It was with an easy squash match victory over Wade Barrett.

Apparently, the WWE hasn’t decided exactly what it wants to do with Christian. But as a ladder match stud and a very reliable vet, he’s a logical choice as a MITB match competitor—even if his chances of winning it are next to zero.

Wade Barrett

Barrett just lost the Intercontinental Championship at Payback and then followed that up by jobbing to Christian the next night, but it’s classic WWE booking for a midcarder (no matter how much he loses) to lose a midcard title and then instantly make his way up the card.

Although that certainly may not be the case with Barrett, it appears as if Curtis Axel and The Miz are going to feud over the IC title in the near future. That opens up Barrett for a major opportunity to leave that belt behind (it’s pretty much ruined him) and potentially turn his career around with a MITB win.

Cody Rhodes

The creative team can’t seem to make up its mind with what to do with Rhodes these days, which is a shame because he’s a fantastic talent.

He has absolutely no direction whatsoever right now, and it seems as if he has no real shot at winning Money in the Bank match. But Daniel Bryan and Jack Swagger’s MITB wins came out of nowhere, which should give Rhodes hope.

Perhaps he will be randomly thrown into this match and follow suit by actually winning it.

Big E Langston

Admittedly, Langston as a World title contender already would be a bit of a stretch, but since its become clear that WWE officials are pretty high up on him, perhaps it isn’t that much of a stretch.

With Ziggler in the process of going babyface and potentially winning back the World title, an interesting scenario that could play out is Langston winning the MITB briefcase to challenge his friend (or former friend if they split).

That could be a really entertaining story that solidifies Langston as a top talent and helps the face turn of Ziggler go a little more smoothly.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a WWE Championship Opportunity

Dean Ambrose

The Shield has had such a big presence in the WWE’s top storylines—and more specifically, the WWE title picture—recently that it would certainly be logical to give them one slot in the WWE Championship MITB match.

Who’s that spot go to? Ambrose.

Ambrose has clearly been positioned as the group’s biggest star, and even though he’s currently the United States Champion, we’ve already seen someone (The Miz) win the MITB match while holding the US title.

It would make so much sense for The Shield—which has essentially taken over the WWE—to have the power that comes with the MITB briefcase while also holding two other titles.

Daniel Bryan

Many are surprised that Bryan isn’t challenging John Cena for the WWE Championship at this PPV, but just relax—Bryan’s time is coming.

He’s the most over guy in the company right now, and it would be absolutely asinine on the WWE’s part to not put him in the WWE Championship picture sometime soon.

Bryan should be there just because of how popular is, but maybe he’ll have to win his second MITB match to get there instead.

Randy Orton

Orton has had a lot of beef with Bryan as of late, so if the WWE wants to continue with that story, then having one guy screw the other out of the MITB briefcase would be an easy way to make that happen.

Even if the WWE chooses to go a different route, however, it’s time for Orton to make his presence felt in the WWE title scene for the first time in a few years now.

Other than Bryan, Orton is the most over guy in the WWE right now. It would be silly not to capitalize on that.

Kane

We’ve all seen the story between Bryan and Kane play out over the last year-plus, and now, it’s come down to this: As revealed on this week’s Raw, they both want to win the WWE Championship.

In that sense, this story could easily come full circle by having both Kane and Bryan as competitors in the WWE title MITB match—with one ultimately costing the other the match.

Kane may not actually win the briefcase, but story-wise, it more than makes sense for him to be in this match along with Bryan and even Orton.

Ryback

Ryback’s lost so many major matches that it’s almost silly to think that he deserves yet another shot at winning the WWE Championship.

But the WWE doesn’t always follow logic, and being that Ryback has spent the last eight or nine months chasing the WWE title, it’s safe to assume that he still wants to win it.

Although Ryback’s days as a legitimate title contender are over (did they ever really start?), the WWE probably doesn’t think that.

Chris Jericho

After what transpired at Payback and on Raw, it’s apparent that Chris Jericho doesn’t have much of a direction right now.

Yet, he’s credited as the inventor of the Money in the Bank match, but he’s yet to win one. Maybe that changes this year.

Y2J really needs something to do, and a MITB victory could take him there while a MITB loss could ignite his next feud. Either way, he’s going to instantly improve the quality of this match because he’s one of the best ladder match competitors in history.

Final Thoughts

There’s no real way to guess what the WWE will do with either Money in the Bank match this year, but ultimately, the goal of both bouts should be three-fold.

One, the WWE should want to create new stars. Two, the WWE should pick the match’s competitors based on what it wants to do with future storylines. Three, the company should ensure that most of the bout’s competitors have a legitimate shot at winning it.

That way, both matches will seem important while also avoiding feeling predictable.

We want to see great wrestling at Money in the Bank, but we also want the match to make sense and benefit the WWE in both the short and long-terms.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

Ryback's Potential Future as a Midcard WWE Superstar

Drake Oz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:02 -0400

Ryback lost yet another major match at WWE Payback, and now it’s official: He’s done as a main event Superstar.

That is, of course, if he ever really was one.

The WWE tried like hell to establish Ryback as a top babyface, having him maul his way through half the roster initially after his debut before moving him into the WWE Championship scene last October.

Ryback was given chance after chance to solidify himself as a long-term main eventer, but in part because of his average skills and in part because of the creative team’s screw-ups, he was never able to do so as a face. As a heel, the results have been the same.

As everyone knows, he lost big match after big match after big match, and at WWE Payback on Sunday, he lost again in what has to be his last shot at ever becoming a true main eventer.

Ryback is no longer a world title contender or a “top guy.” Whether or not the WWE actually makes him one, he is now a midcarder.

Quite simply, it’s just too late for him to ever be considered as anything more than a guy who fights in the middle of the card.

Want to know why Sheamus is clearly a top guy now? Because the creative team pushed him by having him win more than any guy on the roster.

That never happened for Ryback.

Want to know why Daniel Bryan is the most over guy in the WWE right now and consistently one of its most entertaining performers? Because he has the promo skills and the in-ring skills to thrive at the top.

The same can’t be said about Ryback.

Want to know why Alberto Del Rio, despite his limitations, continues to get pushed at the top of the card? Because, as a Hispanic Superstar, he appeals to a demographic the WWE is trying to appeal to.

That doesn’t apply to Ryback.

The bottom line is that no matter how badly the WWE wanted Ryback to become a bona fide star in this business, the company has screwed that up so royally that—barring a minor miracle—it’s never going to happen.

For all intents and purposes, Ryback is a midcard Superstar now because the creative team inadvertently made him one and also because he hasn’t shown that he has what it takes to be a top guy.

Sheamus is now a top guy because he worked his tail off to improve and get over as one. Bryan is emerging as a top star because he has all the tools to be one. Del Rio is a top name because he appeals to the Hispanic audience and because he has the in-ring skills and the charisma to be one.

That’s why those three guys are main eventers. That’s also why Ryback isn’t one.

Ryback hasn’t won enough to build up his credibility as a major Superstar, à la Sheamus. He hasn’t shown enough skills in the ring or on the mic to emerge as a top guy, à la Bryan. He doesn’t appeal to a certain audience or constantly deliver in the ring, à la Del Rio.

Combine those three facts with what has been abysmal booking by the creative team, and you get a recipe for disaster that has turned Ryback from someone who was right on the cusp of superstardom to someone who’s now just another guy.

Countless losses in major matches have done Ryback absolutely no favors, just like he’s done himself no favors with what have been subpar performances throughout most of his career.

A guy can only get by on his look and his catchphrase for so long, and Ryback is really learning that the hard way.

Once you get past his unbelievable physique, you see Ryback for what he truly is: a midcard Superstar both now and—if the WWE is smart—for the rest of his career.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

Manchester City Schedule 2013-14: List of Fixtures and Early Analysis

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:43:05 -0400

A season after winning the Premier League title, Manchester City were largely disappointing in 2012-13. They finished 11 points behind Manchester United and won just one piece of silverware—the season-opening FA Community Shield against Chelsea.

But with a new manager and plenty of new faces on the squad, expectations will be high this season, and a much larger trophy haul will be expected.

So, what does Manchester City's schedule look like? When will the big boys of the league come calling, including United, Arsenal and Chelsea?

Let's take a look at this season's schedule for the Citizens.

Fixtures

Date	Time (ET)	Home	Away	Competition
July 27	TBA	Manchester City	TBA (N)	Barclays Asia Trophy
Aug 1	TBA	Manchester City	TBA (N)	Audi Cup
Aug 10	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Arsenal (N)	Friendly
Aug 17	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Newcastle United	Premier League
Aug 24	10 a.m.	Cardiff City	Manchester City	Premier League
Aug 31	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Hull City	Premier League
Sep 14	10 a.m.	Stoke City	Manchester City	Premier League
Sep 21	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Manchester United	Premier League
Sep 28	10 a.m.	Aston Villa	Manchester City	Premier League
Oct 5	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Everton	Premier League
Oct 19	10 a.m.	West Ham United	Manchester City	Premier League
Oct 26	10 a.m.	Chelsea	Manchester City	Premier League
Nov 2	11 a.m.	Manchester City	Norwich City	Premier League
Nov 9	10 am.	Sunderland	Manchester City	Premier League
Nov 23	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Tottenham Hotspur	Premier League
Nov 30	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Swansea City	Premier League
Dec 3	3 p.m.	West Bromwich Albion	Manchester City	Premier League
Dec 7	10 a.m.	Southampton	Manchester City	Premier League
Dec 14	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Arsenal	Premier League
Dec 21	10 a.m.	Fulham	Manchester City	Premier League
Dec 26	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Liverpool	Premier League
Dec 28	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Crystal Palace	Premier League
Jan 1	10 a.m.	Swansea City	Manchester City	Premier League
Jan 11	10 a.m.	Newcastle United	Manchester City	Premier League
Jan 18	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Cardiff City	Premier League
Jan 29	2:45 p.m.	Tottenham Hotspur	Manchester City	Premier League
Feb 1	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Chelsea	Premier League
Feb 8	10 a.m.	Norwich City	Manchester City	Premier League
Feb 12	2:45 p.m.	Manchester City	Sunderland	Premier League
Feb 22	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Stoke City	Premier League
Mar 1	10 a.m.	Manchester United	Manchester City	Premier League
Mar 8	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Aston Villa	Premier League
Mar 15	11 a.m.	Hull City	Manchester City	Premier League
Mar 22	11 a.m.	Manchester City	Fulham	Premier League
Mar 29	11 a.m.	Arsenal	Manchester City	Premier League
Apr 5	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Southampton	Premier League
Apr 12	10 a.m.	Liverpool	Manchester City	Premier League
Apr 19	10 a.m.	Manchester City	West Bromwich Albion	Premier League
Apr 26	10 a.m.	Crystal Palace	Manchester City	Premier League
May 3	10 a.m.	Everton	Manchester City	Premier League
May 11	10 a.m.	Manchester City	West Ham United	Premier League

*N signals neutral site. Schedule information courtesy of the official club website.

Analysis

Without question, the 2012-13 season was a major disappointment for Manchester City, a side rife with talent but lacking continuity. The Citizens ended up an unacceptable 11 points behind league-winning side and rivals Manchester United.

Seeing how much money has been spent on the club over the years, that result—along with being eliminated from the Champions League in the knockout phase and falling to relegated Wigan in the FA Cup title game—was simply not to be tolerated.

Enter Manuel Pellegrini to replace Roberto Mancini as manager. And enter two more expensive but talented players, midfielder Fernandinho for £30 million and crafty winger Jesus Navas for £14.9 million.

While the Citizens are sure to have a high-profile departure or two as well—and will likely add a few more players on the market—at present this is a team that has the talent to win the league.

Manchester United will likely be their top competition again this season, even with new manager David Moyes stepping in for the retired Sir Alex Ferguson. With Robin van Persie leading the line and a major signing sure to shake up the ranks, the Red Devils will once again be a force to be reckoned with.

Ditto for Chelsea, which brought back "The Special One," Jose Mourinho, for his second stint at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are sure to splash some major cash this summer in the hopes of earning a title and have an exciting young core highlighted by Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar.

Of course, it remains to be seen if the smaller, more technical Chelsea from last year will fit Mourinho's desired style of play. As usual, things should be very interesting at Stamford Bridge.

Over at Arsenal, the Gunners managed a top-four finish despite having one of their weakest sides in recent memory. The scrappy side was led by one of the best signings of the summer in Santi Cazorla and emerging superstar Theo Walcott.

With the club promising its supporters that plenty of money will be spent this summer in the pursuit of a title, the Gunners could finally end their trophy drought this season.

Finally, Tottenham should stick around the title conversation. Well, if they can hold on to Gareth Bale, that is. Spurs have a talented side and could be a real title threat if Bale sticks around and the team can add a lethal striker.

Beyond that, matches against Liverpool and Everton will be serious tests, but the Citizens will be expected to beat every other team they face on the table.

Anything less than a Premier League title this season will be considered a failure (barring a Champions League conquest, that is). Let the Pellegrini era begin.

CM Punk's Possible WWE World Title Win over Alberto Del Rio

Tom Clark — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:42:37 -0400

CM Punk made his return to live TV on the June 17 edition of WWE Raw when he confronted newly crowned World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio. The spot led to a main event match between the two Superstars that instantly stirred memories of their WWE Championship bout back in 2011. It also raised the very real possibility that Punk could eventually take the belt from Del Rio.

Are we perhaps looking at the next historical title run from CM Punk?

I have to admit that the moment Punk interrupted Alberto’s celebration I immediately had mixed feelings on the spot. It was not because of the match itself, however.

The fact is that at any given time Punk is arguably the best worker in the company and Del Rio is one of the hardest-working guys in the ring. Their rivalry in 2011 was entertaining and they did good business together during that time.

So I had no problem with their main event bout on Raw.

The mixed reaction was due to the fact that in my mind I could envision Punk hoisting the World Championship over his head as the crowd cheered his victory. Now if you’re a Punk fan, then that image is likely working for you. After all, there’s nothing quite like your favorite Superstar riding high at the top of the company with some gold around his waist.

But this is not the gold that we are accustomed to seeing around Punk’s waist. This is not the WWE title, this is the world title. There is a big difference.

Depending on what particular era and which champion you’re talking about, the truth is that the World Heavyweight Championship has traditionally been thought of as the No. 2 title in WWE. In many ways, it is a holdover, a reminder of WCW, a company long since gone. And if not for the sheer size of WWE’s roster, I question whether or not the world title is even necessary to begin with.

Basically, the belt is there to give more main event opportunities for more Superstars in the company. While some fans may argue that the WWE title should be the only major belt, I believe that the way the company is set up that the big gold belt actually does serve a purpose.

But at the end of the day, for many fans, it will always be WWE’s secondary belt.

So, why exactly would you put that title on CM Punk? He has held it in the past and now Punk has more than proven himself over the past two years as a true main event player in WWE. His title run is the sixth-longest in WWE history and a talent like that should not just drop the belt and within a few months accept a consolation prize.

Right?

Of course, there is a flip side to that argument, the one that suggests the Superstar makes the championship and the championship does not make the Superstar.

Imagine CM Punk and John Cena as the world and WWE champions. Two men who have been heated rivals for the past few years suddenly reigning at the top of Vince McMahon’s company. For those fans who continuously boo Cena out of the building, there perhaps would be nothing sweeter than to see one of his biggest opponents competing for the spotlight with his own championship hardware.

Would the World Heavyweight Championship be elevated higher than the WWE Championship?

And it could very well be a win for WWE. Two men who are thought of by so many fans as being McMahon’s one-two punch, standing side by side with the two top straps. WWE could have a field day just marketing that fact and it could eventually lead to a title unification at some point in the future if the company wanted to go that route.

But while the possibility of Punk once again becoming world heavyweight champion is an intriguing one, the truth is that the guy just returned to WWE. He was attacked by Brock Lesnar after the match with Del Rio ended on Raw and right now there is no indication that WWE is interested in putting Punk back into a similar role that he held for 434 days wearing the other belt.

Plus, there is also the matter of former world champion Dolph Ziggler, who will receive a rematch for the belt. His program with Alberto has now taken a new twist considering that both men practically had a double character turn at Payback. There is definitely some new ground to cover in this rivalry if Ziggler does indeed become babyface to counter Del Rio as a heel. This does not leave a lot of room for Punk, at least for now, to win the world title.

CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio faced off on the June 17 edition of Raw in a match that reminded fans of their feud back in 2011 for the WWE Championship. While Del Rio is now the world champion, the fact is that the chances of Punk taking the belt from him at some point may be somewhat slim as both men are currently distracted by other opponents.

The possibilities are intriguing, but the question is will WWE go with Punk as world champion?

Liverpool Schedule 2013-14: List of Fixtures and Early Analysis

Tim Daniels — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:30:41 -0400

Liverpool finished a distant seventh in Brendan Rodgers' first season leading the storied Premier League club. The failure to qualify for any European competitions means there will be increased importance on EPL play for the Reds next season.

The league released the schedule (via ESPN) for the campaign, giving Liverpool and their supporters an early look at the 38-match road they will travel starting in August.

The squad probably can't wait for the chance to put last season in the rear-view mirror, so let's take a look at the challenges they'll face as they strive to improve in 2013-14.

Date	Time	Home	Away	Venue
Aug 17	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Stoke City	Anfield
Aug 24	10:00 ET	Aston Villa	Liverpool	Villa Park
Aug 31	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Manchester United	Anfield
Sep 14	10:00 ET	Swansea City	Liverpool	Liberty Stadium
Sep 21	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Southampton	Anfield
Sep 28	10:00 ET	Sunderland	Liverpool	Stadium of Light
Oct 19	10:00 ET	Newcastle United	Liverpool	St James' Park
Oct 26	10:00 ET	Liverpool	West BromwichAlbion	Anfield
Nov 2	11:00 ET	Arsenal	Liverpool	Emirates Stadium
Nov 9	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Fulham	Anfield
Nov 23	10:00 ET	Everton	Liverpool	Goodison Park
Nov 30	10:00 ET	Hull City	Liverpool	The Kingston Communications Stadium
Dec 3	3:00 ET	Liverpool	Norwich City	Anfield
Dec 7	10:00 ET	Liverpool	West Ham United	Anfield
Dec 14	10:00 ET	Tottenham Hotspur	Liverpool	White Hart Lane
Dec 21	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Cardiff City	Anfield
Dec 26	10:00 ET	Manchester City	Liverpool	Etihad Stadium
Dec 28	10:00 ET	Chelsea	Liverpool	Stamford Bridge
Jan 1	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Hull City	Anfield
Jan 11	10:00 ET	Stoke City	Liverpool	Britannia Stadium
Jan 18	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Aston Villa	Anfield
Jan 28	3:00 ET	Liverpool	Everton	Anfield
Feb 1	10:00 ET	West BromwichAlbion	Liverpool	The Hawthorns
Feb 8	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Arsenal	Anfield
Feb 12	3:00 ET	Fulham	Liverpool	Craven Cottage
Feb 22	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Swansea City	Anfield
Mar 1	10:00 ET	Southampton	Liverpool	The Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium
Mar 8	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Sunderland	Anfield
Mar 15	11:00 ET	Manchester United	Liverpool	Old Trafford
Mar 22	11:00 ET	Cardiff City	Liverpool	Cardiff City Stadium
Mar 29	11:00 ET	Liverpool	Tottenham Hotspur	Anfield
Apr 5	10:00 ET	West Ham United	Liverpool	Upton Park
Apr 12	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Manchester City	Anfield
Apr 19	10:00 ET	Norwich City	Liverpool	Carrow Road
Apr 26	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Chelsea	Anfield
May 11	10:00 ET	Liverpool	Newcastle United	Anfield

Although it's perfectly fine to dream about a miracle run to the title, Liverpool's main goal heading into the campaign should be getting back to Europe. A berth in the Champions League has a significant trickle-down effect on things like the transfer window.

The Europa League isn't on the same level, but it still helps. Playing only in domestic competitions is a setback for the club. Finding a way to ensure it doesn't become a worrisome trend in the next few years is the key for the Reds.

When Rodgers arrived, it was known there would be a transition period as the former Swansea City manager built the Liverpool roster to fit his preferred playing style. That process continues this summer, but patience will soon start to fade at Anfield.

The buzzword throughout next season will likely be progress. Liverpool did show some signs of life in the second half of the campaign, and they must build off that heading into next fall and beyond in order to contend for Europe.

Of course, a lot will depend on the ongoing drama involving Luis Suarez. The striker's future remains unsettled after another season that was marked by terrific form, which saw him finish second in league goals, but also controversy.

Should he exit Anfield, there would be a massive attacking void to fill for Liverpool. It would damage their chances of getting back into a European spot this season, unless Rodgers were able to work some transfer magic to replace him.

Otherwise, Liverpool have a roster capable of challenging the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton if they play the way they did for stretches late in the campaign.

Arsenal and Tottenham are the biggest hurdles in terms of getting back to the Champions League. The Gunners continue to thrive by doing more with less, thanks to the rise of Theo Walcott and additions like Santi Cazorla. Spurs' outlook is heavily dependent on he future of Gareth Bale.

But the first task is getting past rival Everton.

The Toffees are undergoing a change at manager as Roberto Martinez replaces David Moyes, who left for Manchester United. That puts a lot of pressure on the veteran core, led by Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka, to avoid a setback. It also gives Liverpool a chance to move ahead of them.

All told, now that the schedule is out, the anticipation for next season will only continue to build.

TNA Impact Wrestling: Complete Preview, Rumors, News and More for June 20

Donald Wood — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:30:00 -0400

After another solid episode of Impact Wrestling, this week’s edition of TNA’s weekly program will be jam-packed with action as the Bound for Glory Series officially begins and Sting starts his reformation of the Main Event Mafia stable.

With so much wrestling scheduled for the broadcast and so many storylines kicking into high gear heading toward the biggest show of the year, Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling has been set up as one of the best in 2013.

For the sake of the Bound for Glory Series, this Impact better be great.

Where: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Ill.

When: Thursday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET

Watch: Spike TV

Bound for Glory Begins

In one of the most unique tournaments in pro wrestling history, TNA’s Bound for Glory Series makes its formal return to Impact Wrestling as the 12 participants are all scheduled for action this Thursday. Add in the fact that it is Open Fight Night, and some of the matchups in the tournament will be flat-out amazing.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Will the BFG Series Yield Great Matches?

One of the reasons this series has been so interesting in the past is because of the unique matches that it can spawn. With former friends, tag team partners and allies all vying for the same prize, there will be one-off matches and dream bouts that adorn the BFG Series throughout and will give the wrestling fans all across the world what they want; great wrestling.

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Home-Made Stars

The Bound for Glory Series is great for many reasons, but the biggest reason of them all is that it can build a younger talent or a wrestler not viewed as a main-event star and give them all the credibility they need by giving them the BFG Series win. If TNA wants to build its company the right way, a guy like AJ Styles should win it all in 2013.

TNA Rumors: According to TNA Wrestling News, Jeff Hardy is Working Through a Back Injury.

The New Main Event Mafia

As announced on last week’s episode of Impact Wrestling, Sting was tired of the Aces & Eights jumping him all the time and no one having his back. Instead of continuing to take on the gang by himself, the wrestling legend did the only thing he could in a situation like this; he resurrected a stable.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Who Will Join Sting's Family?

There are plenty of guys in the company that would love to join Sting in the Main Event Mafia, but with the Bound for Glory Series occupying the time of many top stars in TNA, The Icon will have to get creative with his selections. Look for guys like Kurt Angle and possibly even Rampage Jackson to join the new faction.

Hype Meter: 3 out of 5 Familiar Roads

The Main Event Mafia may not be the greatest idea for Sting, but with the legend no longer able to challenge for the title and company officials trying to appease him while he is still under contract, giving him a stable is a smart move. With the possibility that this is Sting’s last run with TNA, the fans should enjoy the show no matter who Sting selects Thursday.

TNA News: Kevin Nash Teases Joining Sting in Main Event Mafia on Twitter

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Manchester United Schedule 2013-14: List of Fixtures and Early Analysis

Tim Daniels — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:29:39 -0400

If Manchester United are going to defend their Premier League title it will come under the guidance of David Moyes, who replaced legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Now, the club also knows the schedule it will need to navigate.

The Red Devils' complete fixture list for the 2013-14 season has been released, as seen here on the club's official site.

Let's take a glance at the 38-match road United will have to travel, followed by a breakdown of the biggest challenges the club will face.

Date	Opponent	Home/Road
Aug. 17	Swansea City	Road
Aug. 24	Chelsea	Home
Aug. 31	Liverpool	Road
Sept. 14	Crystal Palace	Home
Sept. 21	Manchester City	Road
Sept. 28	West Bromwich Albion	Home
Oct. 5	Sunderland	Road
Oct. 19	Southampton	Home
Oct. 26	Stoke City	Home
Nov. 2	Fulham	Road
Nov. 9	Arsenal	Home
Nov. 23	Cardiff City	Road
Nov. 30	Tottenham Hotspur	Road
Dec. 3	Everton	Home
Dec. 7	Newcastle United	Home
Dec. 14	Aston Villa	Road
Dec. 21	West Ham United	Home
Dec. 26	Hull City	Road
Dec. 28	Norwich City	Road
Jan. 1	Tottenham Hotspur	Home
Jan. 11	Swansea City	Home
Jan. 18	Chelsea	Road
Jan. 28	Cardiff City	Home
Feb. 1	Stoke City	Road
Feb. 8	Fulham	Home
Feb. 11	Arsenal	Road
Feb. 22	Crystal Palace	Road
Mar. 1	Manchester City	Home
Mar. 8	West Bromwich Albion	Road
Mar. 15	Liverpool	Home
Mar. 22	West Ham United	Road
Mar. 29	Aston Villa	Home
Apr. 5	Newcastle United	Road
Apr. 12	Hull City	Home
Apr. 19	Everton	Road
Apr. 26	Norwich City	Home
May 3	Sunderland	Home
May 11	Southampton	Road

As always, the first thing United supporters look for when the fixtures are released are the matchups with Manchester City—for good reason, of course. Not only are they big local rivalry games, but they are key in the title chase, as well.

City pose the biggest challenge after winning the title two seasons ago. They already have an elite squad and will likely bolster it with some summer recruits to join the likes of Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and David Silva, who seek a return to the top.

Along with City, the biggest matches on the schedule are those against the clubs perennially battling for Champions League spots. Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham were the only other sides to finish with more than 70 points last season.

The goal for Robin van Persie and Co. in those eight turning-point fixtures is winning at home and drawing on the road. It's certainly a daunting task, but pulling it off would put United on a clear path to yet another championship.

A lot will depend on how Moyes handles the squad. Ferguson gained the respect of players during his nearly three decades with the club. That process is just getting started for the former Everton boss, who faces the toughest task of his managerial career.

Striking the right balance between what players became accustomed to under Ferguson and making changes to fit his personal preferences—in terms of building a squad and in-match tactics—is what Moyes must do on the fly during his first campaign.

The smoother the transition, the better United's hopes of repeating as Premier League champs. The talent is there. From Van Persie leading the attack to David de Gea protecting the goal and everybody in between, the Red Devils are ready for another successful season.

How they perform in the 38 matches listed above will determine exactly how successful that is.

Arsenal Schedule 2013-14: List of Fixtures and Early Analysis

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:29:10 -0400

It may seem like the Premier League season just ended, but we're now just two months away from it kicking off once again.

With the team's league fixtures being released, we can now take an early look at how Arsenal's schedule shapes up for next season.

When will the champions, Manchester United, be coming to town? When will the Gunners be facing rival Spurs? When is the other major London Derby with Chelsea scheduled?

Let's find out.

Fixtures

Date	Time (ET)	Home	Away	Competition
July 14	9:30 a.m.	Indonesia Dream Team	Arsenal	Friendly
July 17	8 a.m.	Vietnam	Arsenal	Friendly
July 22	6:30 a.m.	Nagoya Grampus	Arsenal	Friendly
July 26	2:30 p.m.	Urawa Red Diamonds	Arsenal	Friendly
Aug 3	11:20 a.m.	Arsenal	Napoli	Emirates Cup
Aug 4	11:20 a.m.	Arsenal	Galatasaray	Emirates Cup
Aug 10	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Manchester City (N)	Friendly
Aug 17	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Aston Villa	Premier League
Aug 24	10 a.m.	Fulham	Arsenal	Premier League
Aug 31	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Tottenham Hotspur	Premier League
Sep 14	10 a.m.	Sunderland	Arsenal	Premier League
Sep 21	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Stoke City	Premier League
Sep 28	10 a.m.	Swansea City	Arsenal	Premier League
Oct 5	10 a.m.	West Bromwich Albion	Arsenal	Premier League
Oct 19	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Norwich City	Premier League
Oct 26	10 a.m.	Crystal Palace	Arsenal	Premier League
Nov 2	11 a.m.	Arsenal	Liverpool	Premier League
Nov 9	10 a.m.	Manchester United	Arsenal	Premier League
Nov 23	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Southampton	Premier League
Nov 30	10 a.m.	Cardiff City	Arsenal	Premier League
Dec 3	2:45 p.m.	Arsenal	Hull City	Premier League
Dec 7	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Everton	Premier League
Dec 14	10 a.m.	Manchester City	Arsenal	Premier League
Dec 21	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Chelsea	Premier League
Dec 26	10 a.m.	West Ham United	Arsenal	Premier League
Dec 28	10 a.m.	Newcastle United	Arsenal	Premier League
Jan 1	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Cardiff City	Premier League
Jan 11	10 a.m.	Aston Villa	Arsenal	Premier League
Jan 18	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Fulham	Premier League
Jan 28	2:45 p.m.	Southampton	Arsenal	Premier League
Feb 1	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Crystal Palace	Premier League
Feb 8	10 a.m.	Liverpool	Arsenal	Premier League
Feb 11	2:45 p.m.	Arsenal	Manchester United	Premier League
Feb 22	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Sunderland	Premier League
March 1	10 a.m.	Stoke City	Arsenal	Premier League
March 8	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Swansea City	Premier League
March 15	11 a.m.	Tottenham Hotspur	Arsenal	Premier League
March 22	11 a.m.	Chelsea	Arsenal	Premier League
March 29	11 a.m.	Arsenal	Manchester City	Premier League
April 5	10 a.m.	Everton	Arsenal	Premier League
April 12	10 a.m.	Arsenal	West Ham United	Premier League
April 19	10 a.m.	Hull City	Arsenal	Premier League
April 26	10 a.m.	Arsenal	Newcastle United	Premier League
May 3	10 a.m.	Arsenal	West Bromwich Albion	Premier League
May 11	10 a.m.	Norwich City	Arsenal	Premier League

*N signals neutral site. Schedule information courtesy of Arsenal.com.

Analysis

As always, Arsenal's toughest fixtures will be against Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.

The Red Devils haven't made any major signings yet this summer and are in a period of transition, as Sir Alex Ferguson retired and former Everton manager David Moyes was added. Nani is likely on the way out according to the Telegraph, while Wayne Rooney has been rumored to be on the outs as well, including this report also from the Telegraph.

Still, the Red Devils are always an elite side and that shouldn't change this season.

The Citizens have been busy already this summer—shocking, I know—signing midfielder Fernandinho for £30 million and crafty winger Jesus Navas for £14.9 million. Plus, they've been heavily linked to rising star and Malaga midfielder Isco, as reported by the Sun, which could signal a real shift to a more technical style for the club next season.

Oh, and they may yet land Edinson Cavani, too. City will be dangerous next year.

Chelsea will also be dangerous. The team has already signed Andre Schurrle in an £18 million deal, and new manager Jose Mourinho promises to give this side a new look over the summer.

For Tottenham, everything hinges on the team's ability to hold off half of Europe's top clubs and retain Gareth Bale this summer. If he goes, it will be a long season for Spurs next year.

Liverpool and Everton promise to once again be dangerous sides, even if the latter loses top players Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini this summer.

Beyond that, the Gunners should handle their business. This is a talented and—as they proved at the end of last season—scrappy squad that should have some big signings coming in over the summer.

Even with the Premier League's elite improving, there is no reason the Gunners shouldn't challenge for a title next season.

EPL Schedule 2013-14: Official List of Fixtures for New Premier League Season

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:28:22 -0400

It's finally here, folks—the 2013-14 Premier League schedule has been released.

Sure, with the transfer window still in effect, it's hard to know what each team will actually look like when they play each fixture. But you can bet that calendars everywhere are marking down the dates of some of the league's biggest rivalries, such as Liverpool versus Everton or Arsenal against Tottenham.

Without further ado, let's take a look at this year's list of fixtures.

Fixtures

*Fixtures courtesy of the official Premier League website

Preview

If you have ever wondered what goes into the complex task of putting together the Premier League schedule—and yes, it is very complex—be sure to check out James Riach's article for The Guardian on that very topic.

It's fascinating stuff.

The first dates on the schedule worth circling are the Manchester derbies between City and United on Sept. 21, 2013 and March 1, 2014. The two teams have won the last three Premier League titles, with United besting City on the table this past season by 11 points after the key addition of striker Robin van Persie.

But City are sure to have a new look next season. Manuel Pellegrini replaces Roberto Mancini as manager, and Jesus Navas and Fernandinho join the Citizens in transfers totaling £45 million. Surely, City aren't done on the transfer front.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils will have a new manager for the first time in 27 years after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Former Everton man David Moyes will now take over the side and look to replicate the success of a legend, as Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League titles.

In addition, any contest including the top London sides—Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham—is worth a view. The Blues will be hoping Jose Mourinho's second tenure at Stamford Bridge will lead to more titles, while Arsenal fans are surely crossing their fingers the team actually breaks the bank this summer, as the Gunners have threatened to do.

And Tottenham will be a dangerous side once more. Well, assuming Gareth Bale sticks around, that is.

Of course, the fans and players of Cardiff City, Hull City and Crystal Palace will all be especially excited to see how the schedule shakes out this season, as the three clubs were all promoted this year.

You can bet plenty of folks in southern Wales will be circling the games between Cardiff City and Swansea City on Nov. 2, 2013 and Feb. 8, 2014.

With another heavy dose of quality fixtures on the schedule, the upcoming Premier League season should prove to be an exciting one in 2013-14.

Premier League Fixtures Released: Why Manchester City Will Be Early EPL Leaders

Jerrad Peters — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:27:14 -0400

Manuel Pellegrini is breathing a bit easier Wednesday.

The incoming Manchester City manager was handed a mostly comfortable quartet of opening matches to begin his Eastlands career and will also be able to look forward to the prospect of hosting his first Manchester derby rather than making an early, intimidating visit to Old Trafford.

The provisional fixture list for the upcoming Barclay’s Premier League season was released Wednesday morning—which can be found on the league's official website here—and while city rivals Manchester United are in tough over the schedule’s first few weeks, City can anticipate an early lead on the reigning champions by the time they welcome them to Etihad Stadium Sept. 21.

First up for Pellegrini and a bolstered squad that already includes Fernandinho and Jesus Navas is a home date with a Newcastle side coming off a 16th-place finish that inexplicably put itself in the hands of newly appointed director of football Joe Kinnear earlier this week.

Given that he cannot even pronounce the names of many of the players in his team it’s unlikely that Kinnear, who managed the Magpies between 2008 and 2009, will have anything but a negative impact at St. James’ Park. His first match upon his return to the club following a four-year hiatus will likely have him and his side in tough from the get-go.

Following their home date with Newcastle, City will travel south to Wales for their first Premier League meeting with newly promoted Cardiff City on Aug. 24, and one week later, they’ll be back at home to host Hull City, which were also promoted from the Championship last month.

Having two promoted sides on successive matchdays is a gift unique to City in the season’s early going, and while they’re taking on the division’s new boys, Manchester United will be tasked with appointments against both Chelsea and Liverpool.

By the following weekend, the schedule will have already reached the end of September, and Pellegrini will welcome new United manager David Moyes to Eastlands for the pair’s first Manchester Derby.

In addition to Chelsea and Liverpool, United will have travelled to Swansea and hosted Crystal Palace by this point and could well be three, four or even six points off the pace by the time they line up against their local rivals.

It’s an ideal set of circumstances for Pellegrini, who will likely have even more new players in the team come August and will no doubt be thankful for a straightforward set of early matches in which to blend them.

City’s closest competitors in the table come October could well be Arsenal, which have Aston Villa, Fulham away, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland away and Stoke to kick off the campaign. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is thought to have a sizeable transfer kitty at his disposal and could have a rather intimidating squad of players at his disposal by the time the season starts as well.

At the other end of the table it’s difficult to see where Aston Villa will get many of their early points.

After opening their schedule away to Arsenal, the Villains, which finished 15th last season, will face Liverpool, Chelsea away, Newcastle and Norwich away in their first five matches, and a home date with Manchester City will follow Sept. 28.

That should be good news for Pellegrini and City, who by then could well be by themselves atop the standings with an early advantage in the title race.

SF Giants: Very Early Look at Potential 2014 Free Agent Targets

Keely Flanagan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:18:39 -0400

It's never too early to speculate.

The Giants have already wisely locked down several of their current players and faces of the franchise. Catcher Buster Posey is inked to the tune of $167 million for eight years while pitchers Matt Cain (through 2017, per ESPN) and Madison Bumgarner are both locked in (through 2017, per ESPN) as well.

Add to that multi-year deals for second baseman Marco Scutaro and center fielder Angel Pagan, and it becomes pretty clear the Giants are looking to maintain their 2012 World Series champion roster as opposed to rocking the boat with new free-agent signings.

However, if the 2013 season has taught us anything, it's that the previous masterpiece of general manager Brian Sabean has cracks in the foundation. San Francisco's starting pitching remains shockingly problematic and injuries to key players such as third baseman Pablo Sandoval and Pagan serve to illustrate the need to deepen the depth of talent.

Several Giants are also facing free agency in 2014, including Tim Lincecum. Barry Zito will be entering the final season of his gargantuan contract with the Giants holding a club option on his $18 million for 2014.

The team needs to bolster its starting pitching, but the solution is not to merely stick with the same formula.

The 2014 free-agent market for starting pitchers is pretty limited. In the mix is Cubs starter Matt Garza, who could be a possible target for Sabean to pursue, as CBSSports.com's Dan Perry writes:

For his career, Garza has pitched to a 3.84 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP and 2.47 K/BB ratio across parts of eight major-league seasons, which is a good third-starter's profile. For all those durability concerns, Garza did average almost 200 innings per season from 2008 through 2011. If he stays healthy for the rest of 2013, he'll have suitors.

Another option is Scott Feldman, another current starter for the Cubs. Feldman's numbers sparkle a little less that Garza's, as he has a 4.64 career ERA over nine seasons with the Texas Rangers and now the Cubs. Feldman appears to be having a breakout season this year for Chicago at 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA, which is the cause of his rising stock price in the market.

Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi says that a deal for Garza or Feldman all depends on whether or not Sabean does not attempt to make a trade for a pitcher by the deadline in 2013:

Sabean would be wise to trade for a pitcher who’s under club control beyond the end of this year. Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee could be the most popular starter on the market, albeit at a heavy cost in dollars and talent. (And Lee’s no-trade clause would allow him to block a deal to San Francisco, sources say.) Houston’s Bud Norris — another Bay Area native — is probably more realistic.

Other notable starting pitchers who will enter the free-agent pool include Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo, who puzzled the Giants in the 2012 division playoffs; A.J. Burnett of the Pirates and Phil Hughes of the Yankees.

Again, slim pickings, but the Giants would be wise to flip the switch on their current starting rotation.

In terms of position players, the primary focus should be on re-signing right fielder Hunter Pence.

Pence is playing for a contract this year—and boy, is he making a case for himself. The outfielder has returned to All-Star form, batting a healthy .288 and ripping 11 home runs. He remains an RBI machine and is an ideal player to protect cleanup hitter Buster Posey.

The Giants' outfield has another hole in left field. The last thing they need is to create another hole on the other side of the outfield. This past offseason, many expected the Giants to pursue a big-hitting left fielder, like Josh Hamilton who was signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Instead, Sabean opted for a platoon situation, signing the right-handed batting Andres Torres to complement the lefty Gregor Blanco.

The pool of available outfielders outweighs the available starting pitchers, come 2014. The Yankees' Curtis Granderson and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox both could potentially enter the market after this season.

The question is whether or not Sabean will be willing to fork over the money and commit to the four-to-five-plus years to sign one of these top-tier players.

There are some more under-the-radar types who will become available in 2014. Corey Hart of the Brewers, for example, enters free agency, but with his recent injury woes, Sabean could be gun shy.

Also entering the free-agent market are Michael Morse of the Seattle Mariners and Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers.

Giants fans all remember Cruz striking out to end the 2010 World Series. The 32-year-old is having little trouble hitting for power, as he has already blasted 18 home runs this season. What is troubling, however, is Cruz's ties to the recent PED scandal. After the Melky Cabrera saga in 2012, the Giants do not want history to repeat.

Michael Morse is an interesting option. He is a career .290 hitter and possesses versatility in the field. Morse can not only shift from left to right field, but also log innings at first base. If current Giants' first baseman Brandon Belt fails to develop or hits a rough patch, Morse is a better option than current bench player Brett Pill.

Don't look for Sabean to throw his hat into the ring for some of the higher-priced superstars. Top-of-the-marquee guys such as Robinson Cano, Ellsbury, and Granderson will probably not don orange and black next season.

Still, after an offseason focused exclusively on maintenance, some new faces next year may make their way onto the roster, especially if the defending champs are dethroned.

Italy vs. Japan: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Joseph Zucker — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:15:00 -0400

Italy will be able to secure their place in the knockout stage of the Confederations Cup with a win over Japan on Wednesday.

So far, the tournament has been very good, even arguably better than the 2012 Euro or 2010 World Cup. You don't have the event watered down by a bunch of average teams overmatched by the elite.

Group A looks to be the better of the two, and you'll be seeing why on Wednesday. The first match featuring Brazil and Mexico will likely overshadow Italy vs. Japan. That doesn't mean it won't be a cracking match between two talented sides.

Here is a quick preview for this Group A fixture.

When: Wednesday, June 19, at 6 p.m.

Where: Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

What's at Stake

This is a massive game for both sides. Neither team's fate is complete by this point, so each can change things in a major way with a win or a loss.

Italy looked very good at times against Mexico, but there were definite holes in the Azzurri's game. They did well to maintain possession; however, on more than one occasion, they let an attack go to waste because of poor finishing.

Cesare Prandelli will definitely want to see a better performance against Japan. Plus, a win means that Italy is making it to the next round. The only thing in doubt will be if they qualify as first or second in the group.

The other Italian on the touchline, Alberto Zaccheroni, is under slightly more pressure. His squad was thoroughly outclassed by Brazil in its first match. There are a lot of things he'll need to fix against Italy.

This match is pretty much do or die for Japan. With a loss, they won't be eliminated completely, but they'll need Mexico to lose to Brazil and then have Brazil lose to Italy. That's a lot of stuff that would have to go right.

Italy Player to Watch: Mario Balotelli

It was mostly good Mario who showed up against Mexico. Balotelli was strong enough in the attack and did very well to bully his way through for his goal.

There were a few moments where it looked like Balotelli might come unhinged. He managed to keep it together for the duration of the match, though. Following the goal, he did pick up a yellow card for taking off his shirt. That was a bit of an issue, if only a slight one.

Prandelli seems to have found a way to handle Balotelli. The player who suited up for Inter Milan and Manchester City generally wasn't the one who suited up for Italy.

If Balotelli is on his game, Japan will have their hands full trying to rein him in. If the player is struggling, then his teammates will have to make sure that he doesn't completely lose it mentally.

Japan Player to Watch: Keisuke Honda

Keisuke Honda has been one of the more overlooked midfielders in the world over the past couple of seasons. He did well at VVV-Venlo, but moving to CSKA Moscow meant that he would be entering the footballing periphery as few fans watch the Russian league every week.

This is a great opportunity to see the talent Honda possesses. Over the last three seasons in the Russian Premier League, he's recorded 19 goals and 17 assists.

The Confederations Cup is also a great opportunity for Honda to put his talents on display before a potential move away from CSKA.

A dynamic playmaker, Honda will be able to thread his teammates through on goal or go after it himself on the attack.

With Japan likely looking to break on the counter, having a player like Honda is a necessity.

Prediction

Italy will control the match from start to finish. It's just a matter of limiting the defensive mistakes and making the most of the chances in the attack.

Japan have a good number of attackers. If the Azzurri make the same kind of errors on defense, the likes of Honda and Shinji Kagawa will make them count.

Regardless, there's too much talent in this Italian squad to see them losing to Japan. Prandelli really has them firing on all cylinders. Italy have looked poor in some friendlies, but when it comes to the important matches, they turn it on.

They'll struggle to find the back of the net early on. As the match goes on, it will be the Azzurri on the ascendancy more and more. They'll get the critical goal and then the floodgates will open.

Italy 3, Japan 1