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Russell Westbrook Meets Adorable Fan While Visiting Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:51:00 -0400

The season might be over for Russell Westbrook, but he is doing all he can to lift the spirits of those affected by the recent tornado that destroyed a portion of Moore and Oklahoma City.

Yahoo! Sports brings us a report with the beautiful images we need at such times. It all centers around the Oklahoma City Thunder star doing what he can to lend some support and goodwill to people who need it most.

One image that seems to be making the rounds at the moment is Westbrook slapping five with someone we are confident is his biggest fan at the moment.

If you enjoy that image, The Basketball Jones' Trey Kerby has a GIF that keeps on giving in the smiles department.

As for specifics, Thunder reporter Nick Gallo reports on a Ketchie family whom survived a horrible ordeal. Per the report, Janna Ketchie found out that the day care her two boys—three-year-old Grayson and six-month-old Brayden—were staying at had been destroyed.

Thankfully, she discovered both were at OU Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. Gallo has more on the story:

[...]

the Ketchie’s story has a happy ending. Both of their children will be okay, and as they were recovering, they were one of the many families the Thunder visited at the Children’s Hospital the day after the tragic storm. Russell Westbrook, Jeremy Lamb, Hasheem Thabeet, DeAndre Liggins and Head Coach Scott Brooks all met with families recovering from the horrific tornado in the PICU. The highlight of the day was when Westbrook, despite being in a wheelchair as he recovers from his torn right meniscus, played with Grayson, exchanged high-fives and blew bubbles.

“He played with Grayson so wonderfully,” Ketchie said. “It’s so awesome. They’re great guys… It’s amazing to see that he’s a professional basketball player who we know from nobody and he’s blowing bubbles with my son to make my son feel better. It’s amazing.”

This is just the most recent example of athletes stepping forward to help those who absolutely need it. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp vowed to donate an additional $250,000 on top of his home run pledge to victims of the tornado.

Westbrook's teammate Kevin Durant pledged $1 million to the Red Cross in a similar effort. While donations are certainly needed, sometimes the tiniest gestures go a long way.

Smiles are in short order at the moment, but Westbrook did all he could to remedy that fact.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Andy Roddick Starts Next Phase of Career by Joining Fox Sports 1

Tyler Conway — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:38:48 -0400

As a tennis player, Andy Roddick was rarely a member of a team. Sure, there were doubles competitions and Davis Cup appearances, but for the most part Roddick lived the secular life of a professional tennis player.

There is no "all for one and one for all" in tennis. It's all for me and the rest be damned. Even Roddick's decision to walk away from the sport after the 2012 U.S. Open was ripe with independent spirit. He had just turned 30 years old, which is elderly enough for him to be post-prime, but he was still younger than then-top-ranked Roger Federer.

And with Roddick still being the most famous American men's tennis player in the world despite his downtick in play, no one could have blamed him for continuing well into his 30s. The limelight isn't easy to give up, especially when endorsement deals are banging down your door.

Yet, Roddick moved on. He saw his commitment wavering and his body breaking down and decided it was time for a new challenge.

We officially found out Wednesday what that challenge will be. For the first time, Roddick will be joining a team—a broadcast team. The former top-ranked player will be joining the new Fox Sports 1 network, as announced in a press release on Fox Sports' official website.

Scott Ackerson, who oversees Fox Sports' news coverage, released a glowing statement about Roddick in his release:

It is very rare that you find an exceptional athlete who can step off the field or in this case the court, who has the potential to be as equally talented in an on-air role. Andy is not only an expert tennis analyst, but his knowledge, candor and opinions on all sports are equally as impressive, and that makes him a unique fit for what we have in mind for FOX SPORTS LIVE.

Roddick be on-board with the network starting on August 17, which is when Fox Sports 1 will launch. He will be joining the cast of Fox Sports Live, which is the network's answer to SportsCenter.

According to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch, Roddick's role will be that of co-host with Charissa Thompson, who is leaving ESPN at the end of her contract. Fox Sports Live will air in a three-hour block from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET and will contain a multitude of programming.

Roddick's role will reportedly focus on analysis of the day's news as part of a panel discussion.

Landing Roddick is just the latest coup for Fox Sports 1. Meant to be a direct competitor to ESPN, the 24-hour sports network has spent the past few months accumulating a gaggle of high-profile talent. Outside of landing Thompson, who was a rising star in the Disney family, Fox Sports 1 will also be the home of Regis Philbin's return to television in Rush Hour, a daily panel talk show with a yet-to-be announced cast.

Roddick, though, is Fox Sports 1's first critical blow in an area where Bristol has always thrived—hiring former athletes as television analysts. The Worldwide Leader has become something of a refuge for retired players and fired/retired coaches, offering secondary careers for those looking for a career in broadcasting.

Roddick was arguably the top free-agent on the market in that limited pool of talent. Known for his quick wit and at times unnecessarily strong opinions, Roddick has long seemed like a natural fit for television. He's one of the most openly opinionated players in tennis' history, and many of his heart-on-sleeve moments came at the expense of the media.

Speaking with Deitsch, Roddick noted that Fox allowing him to express strong opinions played a large role in him taking the gig.

"Throughout the interview process I was very honest," Roddick said. "I was the way I have always been: pretty direct and pretty opinionated. I think that's what they were looking for. I don't know if they were looking for a typical, run-of-the-mill type of show or someone with fabricated opinions."

The question, of course, is whether any of this will work. Sports broadcasting is a tricky business, filled with athletes whose wittiness and openness as pro athletes seemingly tailor made them for a post-playing days career on television.

Sometimes those analysts become Charles Barkley, whose irreverence carried over perfectly to the small screen. Other times they become Tiki Barber, who would have been NBC's biggest bust of 2007 if it weren't for Cavemen.

And on the business side of things, launching a 24-hour sports network isn't what one would call a pre-paved road. CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Network both rebranded existing networks (CBS College Sports Network for CBS and Versus for NBC) in recent years hoping to compete with ESPN, but we're still far too early in the process to see how that's going.

All superficial signs point toward Roddick being an excellent television analyst and Fox Sports 1's launch to go off well. But Roddick's tennis career was filled with unfulfilled promise, as his early flashes of greatness never quite became the world-beating dominance most American tennis fans expected a decade ago.

That's the problem with judging these hires, you just never know. But for now, Fox has landed the biggest free agent in the sports broadcasting game. We'll just have to wait until August to see how it all plays out.

Follow @tylerconway22

Chelsea Transfer Rumors: Blues Must Keep David Luiz for Long-Term Success

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:38:15 -0400

Despite a brilliant season for Chelsea in both attack and defense, David Luiz has been rumored as a possible departure over the upcoming summer transfer window.

Luiz, who spent time in both central defense and midfield this year, has been touted by The Daily Mail (h/t ESPN) as a genuine candidate to leave this summer under the potential new reign of Jose Mourinho, who has been constantly linked with the vacant managerial post at Stamford Bridge.

According to the Daily Mail, Luiz could be the first casualty of Mourinho's reign, with the Real Madrid boss not a fan of the 26-year-old's defensive abilities. The Mail reports Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid would consider making a move for Luiz if he becomes available in the summer, with Chelsea looking to make a profit on the £21 million they paid for the Brazil international in 2011. While Luiz responded well to a shift into a holding midfield role, Mourinho would aim to recruit a more established player for that position, as well as a defender and a striker.

While it's important to consider all transfer rumors as speculation and understand that the rumor mill doesn't spare any player from finding his name in the papers, the reality is that this is a serious deal for Chelsea, and one that they cannot afford to have come true.

Luiz has been simply superb for the Blues this year, and while he isn't the strongest defensive midfielder in the world, he has certainly justified himself in the position.

And that, it seems, makes this a big deal for the West London club.

Frank Lampard has agreed to another one-year deal, and John Obi Mikel doesn't look like he's leaving any time soon. However, outside of that pairing, there aren't too many other players that can play in the defensive midfield role as well as Luiz can, and with Lampard on the wrong side of 30, it seems that Luiz may be their best option for long-term success in the position.

Of course, Mourinho could bring in someone—like the original report suggests—but it's hard to see that player being any better (or worse) than Luiz this season.

The Brazilian international has offered a great go-forward in attack and has shown to be an exceptional goalscorer at times.

He has thrived with the ball at his feet and has developed a great combination with Juan Mata ahead of him in central midfield—a long-term combination for the Londoners that they would be seemingly mad to try and break up this summer.

Luiz and Mata are the future in central midfield. They're both young, talented and have shown great success at Chelsea—why would anyone want to disrupt that?

Mourinho arriving (assuming it does happen) will be enough of a disturbance for the Blues. Whatever players they choose to bring in will no doubt do the same, and in order to catch the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the English Premier League next season, they need to ensure that they hit the ground running in 2013 without any additional problems lingering around.

Selling Luiz, or trying to sell Luiz, would be one of those problems.

His leadership and skill-set is greatly appreciated by Chelsea and to lose him this summer—for any amount of money—would be a huge blow for the club.

Chelsea must ensure that this is just another transfer rumor without a whole lot of substance behind it. For if it isn't, it could well derail their 2013-14 title campaign before it even began—such is the importance of keeping Luiz.

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

Ohio State Football: National Title Hopes Rest on Urban Meyer's Shoulders

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:35:20 -0400

Ohio State isn't the most talented team in the nation.

In fact, you could make a case that the Buckeyes aren't even in the top five when it comes to talent on paper, what with the departures of defensive linemen Johnathan Hankins and John Simon, outside linebacker Etienne Sabino, tight end Jake Stoneburner and fullback Zach Boren.

Why are the Buckeyes considered national title contenders?

No, not just because of dual-threat sensation Braxton Miller.

Because Urban Meyer is the head coach.

We all know what Meyer is capable of. He not only won two national championships with Florida, he also lifted Ohio State to a perfect 12-0 record in his first year as Buckeyes coach last season.

This year, the task will be even more difficult than last season. To be a true national contender, the Buckeyes will need some freshmen to step up.

Sure, these aren't just any freshmen. Safety Vonn Bell was a 5-star recruit, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings. Four-star recruits such as cornerback Eli Apple, defensive end Joey Bosa and playmakers Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson figure to make an impact in their first years.

But they are still freshmen.

Particularly in the cases of Marshall and Wilson, Meyer will have to use his magic touch to get the most out of his young talent.

Marshall and Wilson are ideal athletes for Meyer to work with. Given their speed, elusiveness and playmaking ability, they could fit wonderfully into Meyer's spread offense. Memories of Percy Harvin at Florida instantly sprout up in the spring.

A coach's job is to make the most out of his talent. Ohio State's youngsters have great potential, but Meyer will need to put them in the right situations to succeed, like he's done with countless players before, including Miller.

The expectations are extremely high for the Buckeyes in 2013-14. Whether they meet these expectations will depend on how well Meyer can mold his young talent into a cohesive unit.

Of course, Meyer has never shied away from great expectations before.

Twins Twitter Travesty: Don't Brag When You're on a Slide

Collin Kottke — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:28:00 -0400

I like analogies. I think everybody does.

This Minnesota Twins team doesn’t really have any good analogous situations to compare itself to.

A horrible relationship? No, everybody had pretty low expectations coming into 2013, and you probably shouldn’t have low expectations at the beginning of a relationship.

A train wreck that you can’t look away from? Not quite. I didn’t really feel like watching any longer after Evan Gattis hit a Vance Worley 3-0 offering out of Turner Field for a grand slam.

Oh, I know what this whole season is analogous to: a tweet.

Yes. If you are on Twitter, you know the feeling of sending out a tweet. At first you don’t think much about it because it’s just a tweet, but then you start getting proud of yourself because you think it’s a really good one...then you realize how bad it is.

That’s the Twins' season in a 140-character nutshell and a lesson they learned after the loss on Wednesday to the Atlanta Braves.

To set the scene, Twins radio broadcaster and former outfielder Dan Gladden has been hanging a Kent Hrbek jersey outside of the Twins Radio Network booth during the whole series against the Braves.

This of course is in homage to the 1991 World Series and more directly when Kent Hrbek may or may not have lifted Ron Grant off of first base in Game 2 and recorded an out.

It doesn’t matter if Hrbek did lift Grant or not, but that’s what our little feud is about.

The Twins' official Twitter account has been tweeting out some pictures of the Hrbek jersey that can be seen from the stands at Turner Field, which resulted in the following tweet from the Atlanta Braves' official account:

OK. That’s funny. The Braves are a very good team, and they just swept a not-so-good team in the Twins. We can laugh and make fun of ourselves, right?

Nope.

The Twins responded with another picture of their own:

Let’s brag about a World Series that was won in 1991—a World Series that was over 20 years ago.

It’s not a scandal by any means this tweet. It’s not in the ballpark of what happened to cross the Los Angeles Kings’ Twitter account last night, but this tweet is ill-advised.

For one, you got swept. Let the Braves make the jokes.

Two, the Atlanta Braves have won a World Series more recently than the Minnesota Twins. You don’t ever exactly get over a World Series loss, but that does definitely make this joke worse.

Third and finally, your current Twins team stinks. Don’t go and brag about something that happened before Aaron Hicks even turned two years old.

I am aware that the guy who controls the Twins’ Twitter account doesn’t have control over the players and how well they perform, but you need to take that into account before pressing send.

You are on an eight-game losing streak and you just sent down your Opening Day starter to Triple-A.

You are in trouble and don’t have any time to be bragging.

Grab a laptop and start researching prospects or try to sell some tickets.

It’s the selling-tickets-to-batting-practice controversy all over again.

Where Does Stephen Curry Rank Among the Top Point Guards in the NBA?

Andy Hu — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:23:54 -0400

Before the 2012-13 season started, there were only a few point guards who could've been argued as the best in the NBA.

As the season progressed, Chris Paul was the major name that came up in most people's heads when discussing who the best point guard was. The Los Angeles Clippers were in the midst of their best regular-season campaign in franchise history, and Paul was the engine running their success.

Stephen Curry, on the other hand, was merely an afterthought during the beginning of the season. He was healthy, which was a plus, but nobody had ever labeled him as an elite point guard.

However, one regular season and an unexpected playoff run later, and Curry has now solidified himself not just as an elite point guard, but also one of the best players in the entire league.

Here is a table comparing the individual statistics of Curry and some other point guards that are considered at the top of their position (all stats from Basketball Reference).

	PTS	AST	FG%	3P%	TO	PER	WS/48
Stephen Curry	22.9	6.9	45.1	45.3	3.1	21.3	0.180
Chris Paul	16.9	9.7	48.1	32.8	2.3	26.4	0.287
Rajon Rondo	13.7	11.1	48.4	24.0	3.9	18.1	0.108
Deron Williams	18.9	7.7	44.0	37.8	2.8	20.3	0.184
Russell Westbrook	23.2	7.4	43.8	32.3	3.3	23.9	0.195

Scoring

In terms of scoring, Curry is one of the best, if not the best among all point guards. Before this season, he was recognized as just a shooting point guard with limited abilities in other scoring areas.

This season, he has improved his offense and can score in a myriad of different ways—from fancy ball-handling pull-ups to crafty floaters.

His 22.9 points per game average is second for his position, trailing only the explosive Russell Westbrook. However, Curry is a better pure shooter than any other point guard in the NBA.

His 45.3 percent from beyond the arc is already amazing in its own right, but when you consider the fact that he set the record for most single three-pointers made in a season (via ESPN) while shooting at a high volume, it's even more incredible.

Passing

Curry's primary role on his team is to score, so naturally his assists and assist percentage would be lower than that of Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo.

He's not as much of the typical point guard who sets up the offense for his team as he is a shoot-first, pass-second player.

As a result, his assists average will never be as high as some of the pass-first point guards in the league.

This doesn't mean that he's any less effective though. He has shown his ability to create plays for his teammates when he wants to, and his improved passing this year has made him into an even bigger threat on offense.

Efficiency

Curry's PER is third among the five point guards listed on the table. He has registered a career-high PER of 21.3 this season and demonstrated his improvement in all areas of his game.

Additionally, his true shooting percentage of 58.9 percent this year is phenomenal when you consider the volume of shots he takes every game.

As Curry continues to develop, his shooting efficiency will improve and he will only get better from here on out.

Conclusion

Offensively, Curry is as good as any other point guard in the NBA.

After a fantastic regular season and postseason run, Curry's name has been in discussion among the elite point guards in the league. There weren't many times in history where one player changes the perspective of an entire position.

But as great of an offensive player that Curry is, his individual defense is still short of spectacular.

During the regular season, opposing point guards registered a PER of 16.5 when Curry was defending them (per 82games.com).

Furthermore, Mark Jackson had to hide Curry on defense a lot during the series against the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals, trusting Klay Thompson to guard Tony Parker instead.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Continuing to Build on Their 2012 Base in 2013

Tom Au — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:19:46 -0400

The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be meaningfully ahead of where they were in 2012, a year in which they were contenders for about a month and a half on either side of the All-Star Game before a late-season collapse took them into loss territory.

That's because the Bucs' surge into positive territory started about a month earlier, around April 20th instead of May 20th. Therefore, they stand to do better than last year's sub-.500 result, although it's not yet clear they are championship material. That's because there are potential grounds for both optimism and pessimism. Summing up, here are some of the team's pluses and minuses.

Reasons For Optimism

1.The rotation is doing very well. A.J. Burnett is repeating as a legitimate ace. Jeff Locke is turning into a quasi second starter of the Paul Maholm variety, and on a faster timetable than I anticipated. Jeanmar Gomez is also showing unexpected strength, after the initial disappointment of Jonathan Sanchez. All this means that Wandy Rodriguez is great for a de facto No. 3 or 4 starter. And Francisco Liriano hasn't been a disaster.

2. Starling Marte has joined Andrew McCutchen as an offensive threat. Although McCutchen is playing well, he is nowhere near MVP caliber as he was last year—meaning he has lots of room for improvement. The same is true for Pedro Alvarez and, to a lesser extent, the Neil Walker-Jordy Mercer tandem at second base.

3. Russell Martin is a decidedly better catcher, both offensively and defensively, than Rod Barajas.

4. In addition to maintaining a relatively strong showing against strong teams, the Pirates are starting to beat weak teams that others can beat, including the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers.

5. A maturing Pirates team has gotten off to a strong start in road games and Interleague Play, with a winning record in both categories.

Reasons For Concern

1. The late-inning bullpen combo of Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli have a combined ERA of about 1.00 so far. They can't possibly keep this up for a whole season, can they?

2. The right field platoon of Travis Snider and Jose Tabata is playing above historical levels, and they are likely to regress.

3. Michael McHenry is still only second catcher caliber, not having made much progress since the latter part of last year.

4. The Pirates are only 4-3 against the Brewers because of four home games. The sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers and one-run games against a weak Houston team spell trouble ahead against other weak teams, such as the San Diego Padres or the Miami Marlins, and even against Los Angeles and Houston later in the season.

5. A still-young Pirates staff will start losing away against stronger Interleague opponents and on the road, as the season progresses.

Overall, the Pittsburgh Pirates are building on last season. Specifically, I expect them to win 80-90 games in 2013. Only ONE of those scenarios (80 wins) would have them finishing below .500, and only one more (81 wins) will prevent them from having a winning season.

If they produce at the high end of expectations, a Wild Card slot would not be out of the question. And if a disproportionate number of wins occur against the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds thereby suppressing those division opponents' win totals, a division title would even be a possibility.

Manchester City Star Samir Nasri on Gareth Bale, Radamel Falcao Summer Transfers

John Greely — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:18:09 -0400

Samir Nasri has big ideas for Manchester City's summer transfer window. Namely, he's keen on Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. The two superstars have been the subject of constant transfer speculation in the buildup to the window, and City are one of the few clubs that might just be able to afford them.

"[Gareth Bale] has so much pressure, because he's the main guy of the team," Nasri told Bleacher Report during a charity event in New York City. "Maybe a move to Manchester City would be good for him. Same for Falcao."

The event, held at Staten Island's St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, was organized by the club to donate soccer equipment to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Nasri, along with five of his Manchester City teammates, participated in drills with and signed autographs for local kids.

He and striker Edin Dzeko took time out of the festivities to chat about the transfer window, their American tour, charity work and more. Check out the video above for their comments, and leave your own below.

Tony Parker Injury: Spurs Must Push for Sweep to Give PG Time off Before Finals

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:11:17 -0400

Tony Parker is headed for an MRI, but don't fret, Spurs fans—it's not as bad as it sounds.

Typically, when an athlete is scheduled for an MRI, the best-case scenario is that a few weeks of rest is all that will be needed to heal an ailing ligament and not surgery, which requires a lengthy recovery process.

In this case, Parker's need for the MRI, on his left calf, is simply precautionary.

The Associated Press, via the USA Today, reports that the dynamic point guard doesn't envision missing any game time, and that:

...the MRI is "just to make sure" he's improving on schedule from the injury, which limited his effectiveness in the final two games of the Spurs' second-round series against the Golden State Warriors.

On the court, Parker is showing no signs of anything limiting his performances. In a Game 2 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference final, Parker went for 15 points and a playoff career-high 18 assists while playing 42 minutes.

Obviously, it was an excellent performance, but it was not without its flaws. Parker was just 6-of-20 from the floor. It's impossible to say if this was the result of his calf, or simply an off night. In Game 1, he was 9-of-14 on field goal attempts, to tie his best shooting percentage of this playoff run.

In other words, Parker is showing no ill effects from his injury.

However, Parker is 31, and calf issues, like hamstrings and quads, can be re-aggravated in a split second. The more Parker plays on his calf before it is fully healed, the more likely he is to suffer a setback.

Parker makes a good point while talking about his injury in the Associated Press piece as he notes his calf is feeling better and that it is the "perfect time" for this series to not resume until Saturday.

Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Monday, and if the Spurs win the next two, it will be onto the NBA Finals for Parker and his teammates.

That is exactly what the aging Spurs need to do. This is a team that needs all the rest it can get. Now, with Parker still in the process of nursing a sore calf, that is more vital than ever.

When the finals begin depends on how long the two current series last (the Heat and Pacers are battling for the Eastern Conference title).

Game 4 of the East will not be played until Tuesday. So, no matter what happens in the East, if the Spurs sweep then they will have an extra day rest. This will be at a premium for the Spurs. Not just so they will have fresher legs as a team, but so Parker can avoid extra miles on his sore calf.

A sweep would give Parker more time to let his calf fully heal, and attack the finals with reckless abandon. And the Spurs are going to need Parker to be at his best if they want to win the championship.

Both the Pacers and the Heat can pressure the ball and force offenses into sloppy possessions. With the Spurs' excellent ball movement, they are well suited to handle that kind of defense. However, that fluid offense all begins with the penetration and distribution skills of Parker.

Parker is always essential to the Spurs attack, and that will amplified in the finals. Now, the Spurs must do everything they can to make sure he is healthy, and that starts by sweeping the series they currently lead 2-0.

Will Cleveland Cavaliers' Promising Future Be Enough to Lure LeBron James Back?

Josh Martin — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:10:37 -0400

It was 10 years ago today that the Cleveland Cavaliers secured the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft lottery. The Cavs went on to spend that selection on an 18-year-old, Ohio-born phenom by the name of LeBron James, who, as you probably know, has gone on to fashion for himself quite the pro career.

The Cavs find themselves in a strangely similar position as the 2013 draft approaches. They own the top choice (for the second time in three years, no less) and may be able to use it to land LeBron again, albeit indirectly.

At least, that's what Twitter's reaction to Cleveland's lottery luck would have you believe.

There were plenty of parody accounts crowing about LeBron wanting to leave the Miami Heat for the cold, dingy climes of Cuyahoga County. Even Grantland's Mark Titus, known for his tongue-in-cheek basketball analysis, offered his two cents on the subject:

But the excitement and speculation regarding a Lord of the Rings-like "Return of the King" to Cleveland in 2014, when James will be free to opt out of his current contract, seeped into some of the more reputable reaches of the Twittersphere. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated came right out and said what was on everyone's minds:

Ira Winderman, who covers the Heat for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, insinuated as much:

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio looked ahead to what the Cavs could have in store while still maintaining some sense of restraint:

The sort of restraint that was seldom found in Twitter reaction from Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld:

And New York Knicks broadcaster Alan Hahn:

Not that anyone should be blamed for making such bold prognostications. A potential move by the best player in any sport is bound to break the Internet, the newspaper business, TV, radio and just about any other form of media you could think of.

Even more so if that player is LeBron James, whose case is of particular interest because:

1) He's well on his way to becoming the first-ever billion-dollar athlete.

2) He might be considered the greatest to ever lace 'em up in the NBA before his career is through.

3) He may well have a championship three-peat under his belt by the time the summer of 2014 rolls around, and

4) He's already broken Cleveland's collective heart in the most humiliating way imaginable (see: Decision, The).

But would the confluence of Cleveland's recent luck and Miami's aging, cap-strapped roster be enough to convince LeBron to pull off the most dramatic homecoming in the history of professional sports?

In a phrase, probably not. But before we dismiss LeBron's return entirely, let's consider the details of what might draw James back to the franchise that drafted him.

For one, the Cavs figure to have themselves an intriguing young nucleus with which to pique LeBron's interest.

Come 2014, Kyrie Irving, who clarified his path to superstardom during All-Star Weekend this year, will be entering his fourth season as a pro. He'll be joined in the backcourt by Dion Waiters, who topped the 20-point plateau 14 times as a rookie in 2013-14.

Up front, the Cavs will tout Tristan Thompson, who has already shown flashes of being a productive rebounding big man, and (probably) Nerlens Noel, who has the potential to be a rim-protecting defensive dynamo as a pro, as his injury-shortened year at Kentucky would suggest.

Not to mention Anderson Varejao, who played with LeBron for six seasons and will be under contract through the 2014-15 season.

Varejao aside, Cleveland's core players will all be in their early-to-mid-20s in 2014. That confluence of youth and talent portends longevity among the NBA's elite, so long as there's another superstar (like LeBron) in the mix.

The same can't be said of the Heat—not by a long shot.

Including LeBron, Miami will have just eight players under contract for 2014-15. Of those eight, only three (LeBron, Norris Cole and Jarvis Varnado) will be under the age of 30 before that season tips off. Among the other five, Dwyane Wade and Mike Miller both have long, troubling histories of injury, while Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony have had their own (already limited) abilities decay considerably over time.

For what it's worth, Chris Bosh's jump shot is more or less impermeable to the deleterious effects of time.

More importantly, that incomplete squad will cost the Heat approximately $78.4 million according to ShamSports. Assuming the luxury tax line doesn't move up drastically between now and then, Miami will be severely limited in its ability to restock and refresh a roster that could see Mario Chalmers calling for a raise and Ray Allen and Shane Battier courting retirement.

That is, unless Pat Riley can convince James, Wade and Bosh to all opt out and re-sign at even steeper discounts next summer. All three have early termination options built into their current contracts.

Which could grant the Heat flexibility enough to reload...or leave them short a superstar or two for 2014-15.

And if the Big Three show any signs of breaking by then, you can be sure that LeBron will once again be on the lookout for a situation that better suits his desire to rack up rings.

The Cavs could be in the mix in that regard, especially with the gobs of cap space they'll have at their disposal. Cleveland could have upwards of $20 million in flexibility to spare by then, depending on how much this year's top pick ends up earning and whether or not Varejao has been shipped out (per ShamSports).

As encouraging as all of that sounds to still-jilted Cavs fans, there remain a few reasons to doubt that LeBron would walk away from the Heat to make good on his as-yet-unfulfilled promise to bring a championship to Cleveland.

To start, the Cavs won't likely be anywhere near playoff contention by the time LeBron might come around to check out his old stomping grounds. Cleveland's offense improved somewhat last season, but its defense has ranked among the bottom five in efficiency in each of the three years since James skipped town.

And it wouldn't yet appear to have the proper personnel in place to develop enough to compete at the highest level.

The rehiring of Mike Brown could change that, though. He's long been regarded as something of a defensive guru—a designation that his Cavs only bolstered during his successful run in Cleveland.

But does Brown's presence make the Cavs look better or worse in LeBron's eyes? That's tough to say. He expressed a measure of approval when word first broke that Cleveland had brought Brown back into the fold, according to Matt Moore of CBSSports.com.

Then again, the Cavs fired Brown back in 2010 in an ill-fated attempt to persuade LeBron to stay. Who's to say James would want to play for his old coach now, especially after seeing how overmatched Brown was during his short stint with the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers?

Or is Brown truly a championship-caliber coach?

Beyond that, there's the not-so-small matter of LeBron's quality of life. By all accounts, he's enjoyed living in Miami, with his wife and kids basking in the spoils of their mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay. Playing alongside two of his close friends in Wade and Bosh has probably made James' life that much more pleasant, too.

Would LeBron really leave all that behind to replant his roots in Ohio with a Cavs team that could still be a ways off from title contention?

Again, probably not.

But who knows? Maybe LeBron's circumstances will shift considerably over the next 14 months. Maybe the Heat will more closely resemble a fading empire than they do a burgeoning dynasty. Maybe the Cavs will shock the world and mature into a competitive club under the guidance of Mike Brown.

Stranger things have happened...like, say, the same team winning the lottery twice in the span of 24 months.

Follow @Josh_E_Martin

Ben McLemore Will Likely Fall in NBA Draft Due to Lottery Results

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:05:26 -0400

The focus of the NBA draft lottery is on the teams moving up and down in the draft order, but Ben McLemore was one of the biggest losers on Tuesday.

Based on the reverse order of the standings, things looked good for the shooting guard. The Orlando Magic were in need of a good perimeter player with the first overall pick, and the Charlotte Bobcats could have used anything with the No. 2 pick.

At this point, virtually every analyst had McLemore and Nerlens Noel going first and second in the draft in some order.

However, the results of the lottery have changed things up a bit. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the first pick in the lottery and will be followed by the Magic, Washington Wizards and then the Bobcats (via ESPN).

The problem with these teams is the lack of need for a shooting guard. Last season, the Cavaliers drafted Dion Waiters with the No. 3 pick, and the Wizards took Bradley Beal with the No. 4 selection. Both players were selected to the first-team All-Rookie team this season.

While there is certainly a possibility that Cleveland looks to utilize Waiters off the bench, it does not make much sense to draft two players at the same position in consecutive years. The team is much more likely to fill a need somewhere in the frontcourt.

This leaves Orlando as the best spot for McLemore. Unfortunately, even that is far from guaranteed. ESPN's Chad Ford writes in his latest mock draft, "The Magic need a point guard but might have been reluctant to take [Trey] Burke at No. 1. What about at No. 2? I think there's a good chance."

Victor Oladipo is another possibility with his impressive defensive ability. The Magic could look to add more of a sure thing instead of someone with risk but more upside like McLemore.

The good news is that the former Kansas star will find a home somewhere. The guard was fantastic as a freshman last season and showed the ability to score in a number of different ways. He has the skill and athleticism to be a very good scorer at the next level.

If he slides down to a team like the Bobcats or Phoenix Suns, one of those teams will be very fortunate to get one of the most talented players in the entire draft.

Although the lottery results will certainly cause McLemore to lose some money on his rookie contract, he should still have a very successful NBA career. Whichever team is lucky enough to grab him will get excellent value after the first few picks of the draft.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

There Will Be Blood: Jerry Stackhouse Details Epic War Stories from NBA Career

Grant Hughes — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:57:07 -0400

All smiles and sporting a crisp suit-and-tie combination for his NBA studio work, Jerry Stackhouse didn't look like a guy with a history of violence when he joined ESPN's Dan Le Batard and Bomani Jones (and Papi) to discuss his reputation as the baddest old dude in the league.

But a quick trip down memory lane proved that beneath the polish and generally engaging demeanor was a man with a frighteningly short fuse.

Amazing Jerry stackhouse interview on highly questionable. He will fight you.
— Al Toby (@AlTobyYahoo) May 22, 2013

Stackhouse, who has averaged 16.9 points per game during his 17-year career, has been hanging around for the past half-decade on the strength of his presence in the locker room. That's quite a change for a player who once called his own coach a "sucker" and wanted to fight him.

So far as we know, that was the only run-in with a coach. But Stack definitely got into it with more than one player in his younger days.

He threw a few haymakers at Jeff Hornacek, gave teammate Christian Laettner a black eye on a plane and even decked Allen Iverson when the two were playing together with the Philadelphia 76ers.

This guy has been so tough throughout his career that he's now inspiring some Chuck Norris-like comparisons:

Jerry Stackhouse doesn't make salads. He cooks them. RT @pflanns: The Stackhouse interview is so, so great: youtu.be/xJv4b6z8ZrU
— Kelly Dwyer (@KDonhoops) May 22, 2013

The highlight of the interview was Stackhouse's recollection of perhaps his most infamous altercation, which involved Kirk Snyder, then of the Utah Jazz. Apparently, the two had been jawing during a game in 2005 and at some point, Snyder took a cheap shot at Stackhouse.

Instead of taking care of business then and there like he did with Hornacek years earlier, Stackhouse decided to wait in the tunnel after the game, seeking to sort things out away from the glare of the bright lights and TV cameras.

Nobody's totally sure what happened, but ancient Internet documents corroborate Stackhouse's position that it didn't end well for Snyder. That's all beside the point, though, as the very best part of the ESPN interview featured Stackhouse recounting the fallout of the fight, in which Snyder actually thanked him for the beating.

"He needed to bleed," Stack surmised, still smiling brightly in that suit and tie.

Whoa.

Something tells me that fellow talking heads won't be disagreeing with Stackhouse very often in his next career as an analyst. Although, it sure does seem that all of the violence hasn't swayed much of the media, which seems very much enamored with the smooth-talking beatdown artist:

This interview on @dlhq perfectly illustrates why I enjoyed covering @jerrystackhouse so much this season. Great guy: bit.ly/12Nv1Z2
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 22, 2013

This is a guy who actually belted out the national anthem before a Brooklyn Nets playoff game earlier this postseason. So apparently, he's capable of both singing you to sleep and knocking you out cold.

5 Free Agents Dallas Mavericks Must Avoid

Ross Bentley — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:56:50 -0400

The Dallas Mavericks will certainly be in the market for some new faces to bring in for the 2013-14 season.

With only five players currently under contract for next year, the Mavericks will need to bring in several new players based on the assumption that there are many from this year’s roster who will not be returning.

While the Mavs’ primary focus may be on landing a top-level free agent such as Dwight Howard or Chris Paul, they still have to prepare for the possibility of not picking up a superstar.

If that is the case, they will have to look elsewhere to improve.

While there are certainly plenty of free agents available, there are some that just would not be good fits in a Dallas Mavericks uniform next season, and it's these players that the organization would be smart to stay clear of.

Begin Slideshow

Notre Dame Football Would Be in Trouble If Eddie Vanderdoes Decides to Bail

Jesse Reed — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:49:16 -0400

If you believe the latest rumors surrounding Notre Dame Football and its prized recruit, 5-star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, there's a chance the young man won't be taking his talents to South Bend.

According to Lou Somogyi of 247Sports.com, there are rumors that Vanderdoes "might not be enrolling" at Notre Dame. Furthermore, he is reportedly favoring UCLA:

A groundswell of Internet message board speculation that exploded on Monday has indicated that Vanderdoes might not be enrolling with the 24-man Fighting Irish class for summer school and workouts that begin Monday, June 17.

Reportedly, the Bruins now seem to be the favorite for Vanderdoes. Messages left by Blueandgold.com to Vanderdoes and his family to confirm or deny the rumors went unanswered, and Notre Dame has not issued any public statements either.

Some of the stuff that was being talked about on the Internet message boards had to do with potential character concerns and/or bad grades, but Mike Davidson of the Sacramento Bee—a man who's been working closely with Vanderdoes and his family—refuted those claims:

Vanderdoes' coaches continued to rave about his upstanding character on Monday, and his father Eddie Vanderdoes on Monday night texted of his son, "One thing I can tell you is grades or eligibility is not and has never been an issue."

He also has no idea whether or not the young man has changed his mind about Notre Dame, per his Twitter account:

With all this speculation, it's important to realize that Vanderdoes may still be intending to attend Notre Dame this summer. That said, should he make the decision to go elsewhere, it would could mean trouble for the Fighting Irish in the next couple of years.

Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt—the team's two top defensive linemen—will both likely head to the NFL after this season.

Vanderdoes, at 6'2" and 310 pounds, is an incredibly strong young man and would be perfectly suited to replace Nix in the middle of Brian Kelly's 3-4 scheme. Should he decide to go elsewhere, however, Kelly doesn't have another player coming up that could possibly impact his defense like Vanderdoes.

The only other player who could potentially play the nose right now, if you look at current players and incoming freshmen, is sophomore Sheldon Day, who measures in at 6'5" and 299 pounds.

Incoming freshmen Jacob Matuska and Isaac Rochell are both 260 pounds or lighter and better suited to play on the edge as pass-rushers (or at best as 3-4 defensive ends). Sheldon Day, at 6'2" and 286 pounds, projects as a pure 3-4 defensive end.

Should Vanderdoes decide to take his talents elsewhere, Kelly and the Notre Dame defense could really struggle in 2014 against the run.

Perhaps one solution might be to convert to a 4-3 defensive scheme that would be better a better fit for the team's roster, but that's not likely a move Kelly would be willing to make for the long-term success of the program.

This story isn't going away any time soon.

If Vanderdoes and his family continue to keep Notre Dame, its fans and the media in the dark about their intentions, then speculation and rumors will only continue to gain momentum.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

How Big Is the Gap Between Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR's 2nd-Best Driver?

Christopher Leone — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:49:09 -0400

He may be two full seasons removed from his last Sprint Cup title, but there's no doubt right now: Jimmie Johnson is the best driver in the series.

It was clear in Daytona, where Johnson won his second 500 after a late-race duel with Brad Keselowski and held the point for the final 10 laps. It was reaffirmed last Saturday when he took the lead on the final restart of the Sprint All-Star race and never looked back, taking his second win in the event and fourth of his career.

The question that we had to ask the past couple of years, whether or not he was still the best, is no longer relevant. The new question is how much better he is the second-best driver.

If you're asking the question above in the literal sense, it's 44 points, or about one full race, better than Carl Edwards, who currently ranks second in points. It's also 3.5 average finishing positions, as Johnson's 6.7 easily trumps Edwards' 10.2.

Going beyond that, Johnson also has one more top-five, one more top-10, one more lead-lap finish and three more laps completed than any other driver in the series this year. But even with the numbers as they are, they're the symptom of the ability, not the cause.

Or maybe it's a bit of both. It's hard not to think of Johnson as a driver whose performance is usually a reflection of his momentum—how many times has he climbed the standings in the Chase when one win leads to another?—and this season has been a reflection of that. A win at Daytona begot a second-place finish at Phoenix and a sixth at Las Vegas; a win at Martinsville begot four finishes of sixth or better in the last five races, plus the All-Star victory last weekend.

The gap is partially because Johnson succeeds in places where other title challengers fail. His patience far supersedes Kyle Busch's and his ability to perform in clutch situations gives him an edge on Edwards. His rapport with crew chief Chad Knaus is still the gold standard, even as Brad Keselowski and Paul Wolfe mount a challenge and Matt Kenseth and Jason Ratcliff return the No. 20 car to the front of the pack.

In short, Johnson has succeeded by making other competitors' weaknesses his strengths and also making other competitors' strengths his team's foundation.

There is always something to be said for having the best equipment in the garage, and Rick Hendrick has been in that spot for years. And Knaus' abilities would most likely exist without Johnson as his driver, as unfathomable as it would be to ever separate them.

But the greatest advantage that Johnson has over the rest of the field is his ability to maximize what he gets out of his team's advantages. Penske Racing had a championship-winning team last year, clearly, but you wouldn't have guessed it based on A.J. Allmendinger or Sam Hornish's performances. David Ragan spent three winless years with Jimmy Fennig, the man who took Kurt Busch to a title and numerous other Roush Racing drivers close to it, atop his pit box.

And nobody else but Johnson can claim to have been a part of every Chase for the Sprint Cup since the format's existence. Everyone else has missed at least one.

Therein lies the gap. You name the category, and Johnson is usually one better than second place. That's fitting for a driver who is the sport's clear-cut number one.

For more from Christopher Leone, follow @christopherlion on Twitter.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators Game 4: Live Score, Updates and Analysis

Tyler Donohue — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:41:44 -0400

Ottawa aims to even its Eastern Conference semifinal showdown with Pittsburgh at 2-2 with a win on home ice Wednesday night. The top-seeded Penguins, who opened the series with two straight victories, can build a commanding 3-1 lead by edging Ottawa at Scotiabank Place, where action is underway.

The Senators tied Pittsburgh with 29 seconds remaining in regulation of Game 3. Ottawa overcame the Penguins in double overtime when Colin Greening scored a game-winner, his third goal in three games.

Can the seventh-seeded Senators continue to stun conference favorites? Stay tuned right here for live game updates, analysis and reaction throughout Game 4.

First Period: Ottawa 1, Pittsburgh 0

Indy 500 2013: Breaking Down Top Contenders Who'll Shine at Indianapolis

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:40:52 -0400

The most prestigious racing event of the year will take place this weekend when the world's top drivers battle it out for the 2013 Indianapolis 500 title.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or just another casual-onlooker, there's always plenty of action and interest to be found at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—and this year should be no different, with a talent-filled field and several strong title contenders.

Which big-name drivers are most likely to shine at the Indy 500 this year?

Read on and find out.

Dario Franchitti, Car No. 10

Three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti will come into this year's race as the defending champion, and will certainly fancy his chances of repeating that success.

The seasoned veteran has shown to be very strong in big races, and is looking to establish himself amongst racing's elite with the most victories at the Brickyard—something that he could do here with his fourth Indy 500 title.

It would also be his third title in four years.

The 40-year-old struggled in qualifying and couldn't finish any higher than 17th for the big race, which will no doubt affect his chances at taking the checkered flag.

However, keep in mind that Franchitti started in 16th last year and still won—so don't rule him out just yet.

James Hinchcliffe, Car No. 27

After qualifying inside the top 10, James Hinchcliffe will definitely be a big threat to watch out for on the track this year. He is arguably the hottest IndyCar racer going around at the moment having won two of the four IndyCar Series races in 2013, and while his season has also seen him chalk up two last-place finishes, he will definitely be a contender worth keeping an eye on.

Hinchcliffe is part of a great team and has a strong qualifying spot to start from, which, if he gets off to a good start, could be all he needs to clinch victory.

Ed Carpenter, Car No. 20

Ed Carpenter certainly wasn't on the radar coming into the Indy 500, but after a blistering qualifying time, he'll start from pole position.

And given that 20 drivers have previously won the Indy 500 starting from pole position, he must be considered a real chance here.

He won the IndyCar Series race held at Fontana last year, and could well find similar success on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's high-speed track.

The self-owned, single-car team driver won't have the advantages of having teammates on the track, which could cost him a chance at creating history here.

However, he has shown to be more than capable of handling the various threats from Andretti Autosport and Team Penske—beating whatever the two big teams had to offer in qualifying. He'll be looking to do the same again with a wire-to-wire victory here, and has to be considered a huge contender as a result.

Official Starting Order for the 2013 Indy 500

Start Position	Driver	Car No.
1	Ed Carpenter	20
2	Carlos Munoz	26
3	Marco Andretti	25
4	EJ Viso	5
5	AJ Allmendinger	2
6	Will Power	12
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	1
8	Helio Castroneves	3
9	James Hinchcliffe	27
10	JR Hildebrand	4
11	Alex Tagliani	98
12	Tony Kanaan	11
13	Oriol Servia	22
14	Justin Wilson	19
15	Sebastien Bordais	7
16	Scott Dixon	9
17	Dario Franchitti	10
18	Takuma Sato	14
19	Charlie Kimball	83
20	James Jakes	16
21	Simon Pagenaud	77
22	Townsend Bell	60
23	Ryan Briscoe	8
24	Simona De Silvestro	78
25	Josef Newgarden	21
26	Graham Rahal	15
27	Sebastian Saavedra	6
28	Tristan Vautier	55
29	Ana Beatriz	18
30	Pippa Mann	63
31	Conor Daly	41
32	Buddy Lazier	91
33	Katherine Legge	81

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

Why David West Is a Better Fit Than Kevin Garnett for LA Clippers' Future

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:40:12 -0400

As the Los Angeles Clippers mull over exactly what happened for them to earn a first-round exit from the playoffs this season, eyes begin to turn to the offseason and improvements that can be made. Most notably, rumors have swirled around David West and Kevin Garnett.

Where Garnett is concerned, there have been rumors about the Boston Celtics attempting a radical revamp since Rajon Rondo tore his ACL back in January.

One of the biggest thoughts was sending Garnett to Los Angeles for DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe. Either side dragged their feet and eventually nothing happened.

The latest rumor, according to NESN.com, is that the Celtics and Clippers are at least "talking about" a trade that would send Garnett, Paul Pierce, and even Doc Rivers, to the Clippers for Blake Griffin, Bledsoe, Jordan and Caron Butler.

It sound's completely far-fetched, and it should since the notion is coming from Stephen A. Smith, but it's rumor nonetheless.

However, it seems that the Clippers are more interested in picking up West, whose contract with the Indiana Pacers runs out this summer, per a recent article on Pro Basketball Talk.

The idea here is that West, a former teammate of Chris Paul, would not only serve as a formidable duo, but also convince Paul that Los Angeles is the place to be.

Paul leaving via free agency this summer could absolutely wreck the progress that the Clippers have made over the past few seasons and leave them wondering where to go next.

A deal bringing Garnett to the Clippers would improve them almost immediately (although I don't think the elaborate move involving Pierce and Rivers would be the way to go here) and give Griffin a frontcourt running mate who not only exists as more of an intimidator than Jordan, but can also play crunch-time minutes, as he's not completely useless from the free-throw line.

However, Garnett is a 37-year-old big man who has had troubles with his body for years now and is a threat to retire at any moment.

On the other hand, West is a 32-year-old floor-spacing forward who is not only a much-improved defender since his days in New Orleans, but has also proven to be a successful running mate to Paul.

In his days with Paul on the Hornets, they put together one of the most formidable pick-and-pop duos in the entire NBA.

He's the type of player the Clippers' offense dearly needs in order to open things up. Instead of big guys cramming the middle, a few shooters and Paul doing all the work, West would give them a consistent mid-range threat. Just check out his shot chart from this season:

In essence, West is exactly what the Clippers hoped Lamar Odom could revert to, only useful on defense and miles more effective.

Not only that, there are few players in the NBA who Paul has shown more affection for than West.

Back in 2011, a torn ACL ended West's season. Paul's reaction is a pretty big indicator of how much he enjoyed playing with the big dude (via NOLA.com).

Man, that's my guy, that's all I can say. We lost my brother; it's been the hardest day ever. I was emotional in my post-game interview, but that's my guy. Plain and simple.

I told him some people in your life that you meet, you have friends that are closer than family. He's one of those guys for me. It may sound crazy, but I'm hurt just as bad as he is that he can't play.

Here you've got a defensively sound big man who not only completes the Clippers offense, but has a proven history with Chris Paul. What more could the team ask for?

Of course, the only problem here is actually getting West onto the Clippers.

Actually convincing West that Los Angeles would be a better place for him than Indiana would be the hardest part. Many times he's expressed how much he enjoys the team and the group of guys he's playing with, including this quote from NOLA.com:

This is the most together group that I’ve been a part of. We don’t have any egos. We don’t have a bunch of `I’ guys. We have guys who are intent on doing whatever we have to do to go out and win the game.

Apart from prying the big man away from the Midwest, there's the little issue of paying the guy.

After re-signing Paul (which is obviously the only reason West would consider going out to L.A.), Los Angeles is going to be over the salary cap (which will be around $58 million), but under the luxury tax line (which should be just north of $70 million).

That means Los Angeles will have nothing more than the $5 million mid-level exception to offer West, who made $10 million this season.

Asking him to cut his pay in half to play for the Clippers is too much of a sacrifice for such a talented player—that is likely looking for their last big contract—to make.

That would mean a sign-and-trade would be in order for Los Angeles.

It's hard to imagine the Pacers going in on a straight-up swap for Jordan, as they already have a defensively sound center that struggles to consistently produce on offense.

However, bringing another team into the mix and giving up Eric Bledsoe as well would likely be plenty to get the Pacers interested.

There's a lot of work left to be done with this Clippers squad in order to make Chris Paul happy, but there are plenty of options out there.

Florida State Pitcher Scott Sitz's Doppelgänger Is Kenny Powers

Ken Dorset — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:32:42 -0400

Kenny Powers lives on and he is pitching for Florida State.

As pointed out by Next Impulse Sports, Seminoles right-hander Scott Sitz is a dead-ringer for the star of HBO's ‘Eastbound and Down' series. Sitz shared this photo on his Twitter account on May 13th.

Here are a few more photos of Sitz, shared by @WillBrinson.

The best part is that he's actually pretty good. Sitz has a 9-1 record on the season with a 1.66 ERA.

Fernando Torres: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Garry Hayes — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:25 -0400

Once one of the world's most feared strikers, Fernando Torres no longer carries such an aura after a difficult two-and-a-bit seasons at Stamford Bridge.

It's not to say he no longer remains a threat, he does, but opposition fans and players are no longer as fearful of facing him as they once were when he terrorized defences in the colors of Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

Since his £50 million move to West London, Torres has had to battle his inner demons, not to mention Didier Drogba and a host of other challenges that have been laid before him.

He seems to have come out on the other side of that process, however, with 23 goals in 2012-13 pointing to a player who is edging back toward his best. But will it be at Chelsea where we see the "real" Torres next season?

Age: 29

Contract Situation: Torres signed a five-and-a-half-year deal when he joined the Blues in January 2011, so wanted or not, if the Spaniard so wishes, he will remain at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2016.

Career Stops: Atletico Madrid (2001-07), Liverpool (2007-11), Chelsea (2011-current)

Current Campaign: Premier League: 36 games, eight goals, six assists; FA Cup: five games, two goals; Capital One Cup: four games, two goals, one assist; Community Shield: one game, one goal; Club World Cup: two games, one goal; Champions League: six games, three goals; Europa League: nine games, six goals; Super Cup: one game.

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide: In his Liverpool heyday, Torres was famed for getting in behind defences, using his blistering pace to leave most defenders in his wake. We haven't seen that side of his game as often as we would have liked at Chelsea, although his solo effort in the Europa League final against Benfica shows it is still very much there.

He has adapted his game at Chelsea, though. He is involved a lot more in the team's approach play and tends to do most his work in front of the opposition back four, as opposed to behind it.

With confidence flowing through his veins, Torres still has that eye for goal that made him so adored. Without it, as he has shown at times at Chelsea, he is very much an ordinary player.

What's Next? Well, not much according to the man himself. The Sun has reported that Chelsea were looking to offload him this summer, but Torres seems to have other ideas.

Goal.com quoted him as saying he hopes next season "will be better" than 2012-13, a clear indication of his intentions to remain a Chelsea player and improve on the progress he has made.

With his salary and transfer fee, who would be willing to take a risk on a player who has been so heavily criticized in the past two years?

Bryce Harper Is Not the Person to Blame for Washington Nationals' Woes

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:26:26 -0400

Entering the 2013 MLB season, perhaps no team garnered as much hype as the Washington Nationals. With a star-studded pitching staff, a deep bullpen and a pair of star hitters, Washington was a favorite to reach the World Series.

With the Nationals in the midst of a major slump, it's imperative that we don't let Bryce Harper take the downfall. He is not the one to blame.

The Nationals are currently 23-23, thus resting a full 5.0 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East. As expected, tensions have been high as Washington continues to struggle, and blame is being placed wherever possible.

After a 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on May 21, closer Rafael Soriano questioned Harper's defensive positioning—Harper agreed (via USA TODAY Sports).

"It may not have been a catchable ball, but if we were positioned the right way, there might have been a different outcome. With two outs, I could tell my 4-year-old son, 'You know where you need to play,' and he would have positioned himself better. It's not an excuse, and I'm not speaking badly about anybody, but I think that's how you play the game.''

"Absolutely,'' said Harper, insisting he should have made the catch. "Of course it crosses your mind after you jam into a wall, and it doesn't really feel very good. It sucks not making the play. I totally put that loss on me.''

As mature of a statement as that may be for the 20-year-old right fielder to make, this is about more than one man.

The Nationals may look to one area as a turning point in a specific game, but this has been your quintessential snowball effect. As one player makes a mistake, so too does his teammate and thus the Nationals are in their present predicament.

With that being said, Harper is the last individual we should be targeting for his occasional blunder.

Where Are the Bats?

Thus far in 2013, Bryce Harper is hitting .285/.381/.606 with 12 home runs, 23 RBI and 27 runs scored. Those numbers may be impressive, but Harper's RBI total is both concerning and telling of Washington's greatest issue.

Despite hitting .318 with runners in scoring position, thus driving in 13 runs in 22 opportunities, Harper is on pace for just 79 RBI—and that's on his teammates.

The Nationals currently rank 28th in runs scored and slugging percentage, as well as 29th in batting average and on base percentage. Harper and Ryan Zimmerman are their only two players hitting above .280. Adam Laroche, hitting .219, is second on the team in home runs and third in RBI.

When one of your top power sources can hardly hit the ball, your entire lineup is in trouble.

Until the Nationals start getting on base, nothing Harper and Zimmerman do will be enough to win games. Their contact hitters are disappearing for games on hand, while their power ballers are becoming virtual non-factors.

An unfortunate truth for a team with quite the marvelous pitching staff.

Pitching Imbalance

On the surface, the Washington Nationals appear to have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. Jordan Zimmerman has an ERA of 1.62, Stephen Strasburg has an ERA of 2.66 and Rafael Soriano has 12 saves.

Just don't let appearances be so deceiving.

Strasburg's ERA has been marred by a lack of run support, and he thus rests at 2-5 on the season. Gio Gonzalez is 3-2, but he's also posting an ERA of 4.01, while Dan Haren is 4-5 with an ERA of 5.54.

Even Ross Detwiler is 2-4 with an ERA of 2.76.

As for the bullpen, Soriano's 12 saves are met with three blown opportunities and reliever Drew Storen has an ERA of 4.67. A lack of run support is of partial blame, but there's something to be said for the pitching staff, as well.

Even when you can't prevent the other team from scoring, looking to your batters isn't a route worth pursuing.

Washington is in complete disarray, and placing the blame on Harper is simply for those in need of a scape goat. This is not to label Harper as the impeccable athlete, but instead to acknowledge the facts.

Everyone in Washington needs to step up and take the blame collectively.

Curtis Axel: How Good Can the Repackaged WWE Star Be?

Ryan Dilbert — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:19:39 -0400

Curtis Axel, Paul Heyman's newest client, has the talent to be a very good and very successful WWE Superstar, but a lack of "it factor" will keep him from reaching the company's upper echelon.

In one sudden moment on WWE Raw, Michael McGillicutty transformed into Axel and went from obscurity to limelight, from bench warming to opportunity. Aligning him with Heyman and giving him a remixed version of his father's entrance music will help maximize his talents.

Axel is a gifted in-ring performer but lacks the sizzle that makes megastars out of Superstars.

Taking a look at his wrestling ability shows us why WWE is reinvesting in him and why he was chosen to be the newest Heyman guy.

Axel is a Swiss Army knife of a wrestler, multifaceted and good at a number of things. Aside from high flying, Axel excels at every aspect of in-ring performance. He has size and power and channels both of those things into moves like his vicious-looking clothesline and lariat to the back of the head.

He has an impressive range, able to deliver excellent kicks, suplexes and submissions. His movement in the ring is fluid, he's quick, and moves like his pendulum backbreaker show off his crispness in the ring.

Check out his work in this NXT Triple Threat match against Alex Riley and Kaval.

His pacing and movement is fantastic here . He sells Kaval's offense well. He helps tell a story in a short amount of time.

Axel shows off his intensity in this match. It's a good showing, one that leads one to believe that he has potential to deliver a number of high-quality matches in the future.

How, then, does someone so well-rounded and talented take so long to get a shot?

The trouble is that Axel doesn't stand out the way WWE's biggest stars do. Even when Stone Cold was "Stunning" Steve Austin in WCW, there was something magnetic about him. It's the same quality that helped CM Punk, The Rock, Chris Jericho and John Cena get to where they are today.

Are there better wrestlers out there than Cena? Certainly there are, but that elusive, electric quality that draws fans to him has put him in his current position. Not every successful WWE star has to be on the level of those guys just mentioned, though.

Shelton Benjamin, Ron Garvin and Lance Storm are just some of the guys with far more ring skills than "it factor." This is the group in which Axel belongs, which is not to say he can't win some championships and carve out a name for himself, but it means he has a somewhat limited ceiling.

Getting a new name and manager will help him to stand out, as will giving some ring gear and a catchphrase. Axel is no Rock, but he's not void of personality, either.

His feud with Tyson Kidd is a great preview of what he's capable of in terms of rivalries.

The promo work here isn't fantastic, but it's solid. Axel was intense and believable, just not larger-than-life. Heyman's presence will help in that department tremendously, allowing Axel not to be forced to lead, at least not right away.

Axel's push has seen his WWE peers and alums react positively. Howard Finkel tweeted a positive note.

Kidd, his former opponent, talked up Axel's potential.

Former WWE star, Lance Storm, tweeted the following:

Being picked by Heyman and being in the main event of WWE Raw against Triple H has Axel garnering more attention than he did even when he and David Otunga were tag team champions. He is a good enough wrestler to have a long, fruitful career.

Expect him to rise above the ranks of guys like Zack Ryder and Justin Gabriel and not go too many rungs above that. Axel is more work horse than star, more Hardcore Holly than Curt Hennig, able to make an impression but not able to be unforgettable.

Jets' Geno Smith Signs with Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports Agency

Tim Keeney — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:18:23 -0400

New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith has officially signed an agent.

And The Winner Is... Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports.

The news comes from the New York Daily News' Manish Mehta:

A few weeks after Geno Smith fired his agents, the Jets rookie quarterback announced that he will hire Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports. Smith interviewed a few established agents before making the announcement on Wednesday after practice.

Smith becomes the fourth athlete to sign with Jay-Z's new management group, following in the footsteps of New York Yankees superstar Robinson Cano, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and Tulsa Shock rookie Skylar Diggins.

Cano left super-agent Scott Boras to become Roc Nation Sports' first client, and the group has been making headlines ever since:

Just earlier this week, Jay-Z bought Diggins a new Mercedes-Benz for her graduation:

Yet it doesn't appear Smith made this decision simply for a car. Or to say he's teamed up with a major rap mogul. Or for the attention.

He did it because he was comfortable with the agency and believed it was the best fit.

“I think it’s just his agency,” Smith said on Wednesday (per Mehta). “When you talk about being in New York from a standpoint of what they can do in the city, the connections that they have, I think it’s a good move. My mother and my family were comfortable with it. I’m comfortable with it.”

Smith originally signed with Select Sports, but quickly dropped them after being upset with his free fall to the second round of the NFL draft:

How about this: Geno Smith thought he would be & should be the No. 1 overall pick, I'm told. That's why he fired his agents. #nyj
— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) April 30, 2013

This new partnership makes more sense.

Jay-Z's group is focused on signing high-profile New York athletes, and the burgeoning rookie quarterback already qualifies as such.

Roc Nation Sports is starting to become a force in the sports world. Not only has it signed some big-time clients in a matter of a month, but as an iconic entrepreneur, Jay-Z also represents an allure to young athletes that other agencies simply can't boast.

Now that he has secured one of the most tantalizing rookies in the NFL in Smith, it's "on to the next one" for the fast-rising Roc Nation Sports and Jay-Z.

Follow @t_keen

Why Are We so Sure Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez Is Boxing's Next Superstar?

Zachary Alapi — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:17:45 -0400

Historically, boxing has consistently had captivating fighters with crossover appeal. Whether related to in-ring prowess, engaging personalities or confusing behavior, names like Muhammad Ali, Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, to name a few, quickly come to mind as boxers whose popularity transcends the sport itself.

Floyd Mayweather currently sits atop boxing’s mythical pound-for-pound rankings, and he has also assumed the “cash cow” distinction last held by De La Hoya.

But with Mayweather’s career in the midst of its twilight phase, the search for boxing’s next genuine superstar has been going on in earnest. In a sport where hype often outweighs substance, such a process can be fraught with false starts and shattered expectations.

When it comes to finding a fighter who combines genuine talent—and the realization of that talent—with a somewhat indefinable ability to captivate fans and pundits, Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has become, for many, the logical choice. At only 22, Canelo should seemingly be in the novice stages of his career, and it is precisely this meteoric rise that is part of his appeal.

But why are fans and pundits so sure Alvarez (42-0-1) will be boxing’s next superstar?

Is it based on Alvarez’s body of work and flourishing popularity, or do desire and the need for instant gratification play as large a role in this anointing?

With Golden Boy Promotions strongly backing Alvarez, the parallels between Canelo and his boss, the aforementioned De La Hoya, is obvious. But unlike De La Hoya, Alvarez did not ride the wave of Olympic glory into the professional ranks. In fact, Alvarez turned professional in Mexico at 15 in 2005, which means he has learned on the job and had a “hard knocks” beginning to his career.

With 43 fights under his belt, Alvarez has progressed at a fairly remarkable rate considering his brief—yet still successful—amateur background, which consisted of 20 fights. That the bulk of Alvarez’s experience has come as a professional also suggests that he has vast reserves of untapped potential. This palpable sense of promise that might be the most tantalizing aspect of his brief career arc.

While Alvarez had seemingly outrun his age for much of his career, things slowed, relatively, when he became a champion. Understandably, after winning the WBC light middleweight title outright in 2011 against Matthew Hatton, expectations and demands increased for Alvarez.

There was skillful maneuvering that led to Alvarez getting a WBC “Silver” title shot against Luciano Leonel Cuello in 2010. During Alvarez’s official title reign, almost of all of his opposition has been mediocre at best, and this includes the likes of Ryan Rhodes, a continental-level fighter; Alfonso Gomez, a tough but limited boxer; Kermit Cintron, a former titlist well past his best; Shane Moseley, a legend who was way past his prime; and Josesito Lopez, a game fighter, but a natural 140-pounder (and occasional welterweight).

But just as dissenters were starting to wag their fingers at Alvarez, he defeated Austin Trout to unify titles in a major bout.

With this victory, Alvarez secured a new level of legitimacy. Alvarez-Trout was far from a classic, but the fight was still cagey and fought at a high level. Other than scoring a clean knockdown that had Trout on jelly legs and clearly being the more powerful fighter, it was Alvarez’s defense that was so impressive.

According to CompuBox, Alvarez limited Trout to 154 landed shots out of 769 punches thrown for a paltry connect percentage of 20. This was achieved through a combination of Alvarez’s own offense and his surprisingly slick head and upper body movement.

If there was any knock on Alvarez heading into this fight, it was that Trout could outbox him; ultimately, one could argue that the opposite ended up happening.

Given that Alvarez’s defensive improvement was most evident against his best opponent (by far) to date, it seems plausible that he has just entered the elite, championship phase of his career. Added to this is the fact that Alvarez-Trout involved a disproportionately significant promotion—over 38,000 fans watched it live—when considering Trout’s relative anonymity (compared to Alvarez).

Alvarez has long been marketable beyond his accomplishments, while also possessing boyish looks and an engaging fighting style. He has now shown himself to be a quality, improving young champion with a rabid fanbase, even if it is unclear whether he’s actually charismatic outside the ring.

All that matters is that Alvarez brings out latent excitement and passion in fans, which is why he has been considered as a potential opponent for Floyd Mayweather for some time. That the Mayweather camp has insisted a fight against Alvarez take place at welterweight is clearly an aggressive power play meant—at least partly—to thwart the legitimacy Alvarez brings to the bargaining table.

Mayweather is in no rush to pass his torch to Alvarez, nor should he be. Alvarez is coming up to a crucial stretch in his career, and fighting Mayweather at the expense of continuing his logical development could be a mistake.

Then again, maybe remaining undefeated isn’t as important to Alvarez’s popularity as it is for other fighters.

Alvarez, thus far, has simply gone about his business and won fights. His willingness to fight the best as a response to criticism is admirable, and those traits, if he continues to nurture them, are what will ultimately fuel his stardom.

Cincinnati Bengals: 5 Players Who Have the Most to Prove at OTAs

Sean O'Donnell — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:11:34 -0400

The Cincinnati Bengals have started their organized team activities to kick off the 2013 season. Aside from certain players who cannot participate due to injury, the team is fully intact at the workouts.

The Bengals need as many players—rookies and veterans alike—to show up and jell as quickly as possible.

The 2012 season did not end on a high note for Cincinnati after the drubbing it received from the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

During that game—and also a good chunk of the 2012 season—certain players needed to step up and did not. Some of these players chose not to, and others were unable to due to circumstances beyond their control.

Now is the time for these players to step up and become key cogs on a well-oiled Bengals team. The new league year needs to start with excitement and determination, which these players could provide for this team.

Let's take a look at the five players who have the most to prove during the OTAs this year.

Begin Slideshow

Where Do the 49ers Stand After Michael Crabtree's Achilles Injury?

Tyson Langland — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:10:06 -0400

After three sub-par seasons in San Francisco to start his career, the light bulb finally went off for wide receiver Michael Crabtree in 2012. He led the 49ers in receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns by securing 85 passes for 1,105 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.

Moreover, he turned in two 100-yard receiving games over the course of three playoff games.

Even though the 49ers didn’t win the Super Bowl in 2012, Crabtree appeared to be on his way to superstardom. Not to mention the fact he was also finally starting to live up to his lofty draft status (former 10th-overall pick in 2009).

However, life rarely follows suit, especially in the NFL. Mike Garafolo of the USA Today tweeted out a short time ago that Crabtree suffered a torn Achilles yesterday during San Francisco’s organized team activities.

Obviously, the best-case scenario would be a partial tear that doesn’t require surgery. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Christ Mortensen of ESPN.com has already tweeted out the fact that Crabtree underwent surgery on his torn Achilles.

For those of you who don’t remember, Terrell Suggs partially tore his Achilles last May. He rehabbed the injury on his own and returned five months later to help the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos suffered the same type of injury back in 2011. Thomas didn’t recover as quickly as Suggs did, but he did return to action seven months later, as good as new. His seven-month timetable fell right in between the suggested six-to-eight-month recovery timetable.

So there is hope that Crabtree could indeed return in time for a playoff run in 2013. But before we look too far ahead, it’s important to analyze the impact his injury has on the 49ers’ offense, roster and championship aspirations.

The immediate question stemming from Crabtree’s injury is: Who will step in and replace the former first-round pick? The most obvious answer is newly acquired wideout Anquan Boldin, but the most logical answer is 2012 redshirt rookie A.J. Jenkins.

Jenkins had a hard time finding the field last season. He even went as far as saying it was a humbling experience, according to Eric Branch of sfgate.com. Humbling is right, when one considers the lack of playing time he received in 2012.

He logged 37 offensive snaps during the regular season and 10 offensive snaps in postseason play. Only wide receiver Chad Hall played fewer snaps last year. Jenkins’ low snap total was attributed to the talent in front of him and his inability to learn the offensive playbook in a timely manner.

A full season of watching and waiting should allow the second-year wide receiver to step in and contribute right away. Additionally, the 49ers drafted Louisiana Tech wideout Quinton Patton and Rice tight end Vance McDonald.

Both players may see more playing time than originally expected because of Crabtree’s injury. Yet head coach Jim Harbaugh rarely puts a lot of stock in first-year players. This, in turn, could open the door for a street free-agent signing.

The biggest name out there who makes the most sense is former New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd is familiar with the Bay Area, and in his one game against the 49ers last season; he torched San Francisco to the tune of 190 yards receiving on 10 catches.

The only knock on Lloyd is his "unique personality." Sure, his age is working against him as well, but that doesn’t mean he is done physically. If one were to include the playoffs, he posted over a 1,000 yards receiving last year.

With roster implications being the most immediate concern, the second-most talked-about aspect of the injury is what it means for the 49ers' playoff hopes. Honestly, the injury is a big blow to San Francisco’s passing game, but it shouldn’t have much of an affect on playoff implications.

The Niners are one of the deepest teams in the NFL on both sides of the ball. They are also one of the few teams in the NFL who can draft based on the need for depth alone. Moreover, let’s not forget the fact that San Francisco still has Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, Vernon Davis and Mario Manningham.

By no means are they suddenly starved for offensive talent. Outside of the quarterback position, one player rarely changes the entire landscape of a season for an organization. Football is the ultimate team sport, so Harbaugh will approach the situation with the "next man up" mentality.

Aside from a wealth of talent on the offensive side of the ball, the 49ers will look to pick up where they left off on the defensive side of the ball as well. Statistically, San Francisco fielded the third-best defense in the NFL last year.

Without question, the injury was unfortunate, but injuries are a part of the game. There is a reason why teams draft and sign quality backups during the offseason. 49er fans shouldn’t fret, as the Niners will still be in Super Bowl contention as long as general manager Trent Baalke is calling the shots.

Phil Jackson's Next Job Should Be with the Los Angeles Clippers

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:06:24 -0400

Phil Jackson apparently has a lot of different options if he wants to return to the NBA. If he is offered a position, the best decision he could make would be to join the Los Angeles Clippers.

While the legendary coach retired at the end of last season, he is not going away any time soon.

After Mike Brown was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers five games into the regular season, Jackson was considered for the head coaching job. However, the team decided to hire Mike D'Antoni instead, which Jackson "laughed off" (via Arash Markazi of ESPN).

Still, there are plenty of great opportunities around the league for him as a head coach. Most recently, the Brooklyn Nets wanted to give the 11-time NBA champion a chance, but he turned the position down because he is not looking to be on the sidelines, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

However, he did call it a "good situation" and said it was the best offer he received, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.

If he thought that Brooklyn was a good situation, he should love what is happening with the Clippers.

Los Angeles had the fifth-best record in the NBA this season at 56-26. The squad played good defense under Vinny Del Negro, ranking fourth in the league in points allowed. But the group has the potential to be even better.

With young players like Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe and others, the team should expect even more improvement in the future. Chris Paul is a free agent, but he might want to stay if Jackson is in the picture.

Finally, sticking around the Staples Center would add a revenge factor against the Lakers after they refused to hire him last season.

If the Hall of Famer wanted to return as a coach anywhere, the Clippers would be the perfect spot.

However, there should be an opportunity for Jackson somewhere in the front office. The organization could seriously use someone with this type of experience and success in the NBA. Considering the franchise has never gotten past the conference semifinals, it needs all the help it can get.

Jackson knows what it takes to make a winning team, and he can help bring the necessary pieces to the organization to bring home a title.

It would be a great move for both the Clippers and Jackson. The two sides must find a way to come together at some point this offseason.

Miami Heat Star Dwyane Wade's NBA Fashion Decisions Are Shockingly Premeditated

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:04:50 -0400

Dwyane Wade only looks like he threw on whatever was in his closet.

Business Insider brings us the latest news on the peculiar fashion choices Wade brings to the NBA playoff podium.

It seems the wardrobe he dons every night has been picked out long beforehand, making these something of a premeditated fashion crime. Someone alert the proper sartorial authorities.

The Miami Heat star has a fashion consultant, because no self-respecting NBA player would be without one. Calyann Barnett, the fashion-forward person behind Wade's more audacious clothes, was on with ESPN's "Mike & Mike."

There she divulged that the recent polarizing capris worn by the guard were picked out well before the game, and also notes Wade's NBA Finals gear is already chosen as well.

Before the playoffs even started we went through all of his looks, straight through the finals. And every look is set already...and I already know what he will wear for the next game and the Finals.

Business Insider does a great job of reminding us of Wade's most recent wardrobe decisions, which have been a hit with some and a disaster to many.

The one that really got people talking was this stylish suit that had the unfortunate fate of being paired with capri pants.

My thoughts:

Then there was this black and blue camo jacket, one that I think actually worked rather well. It was sleek and still unique enough to get fans talking.

Essentially:

Of course, the gutsiest move by Wade this postseason has to be grandma's wallpaper worn as a jacket.

I think we can all agree the Versace jacket was just a bit too much on the eyes.

Many will make a great deal of how Wade, who is nursing a nagging knee injury to play in Game 1 against the Pacers on Wednesday night, has his finals gear all laid out and ready for a championship run.

Don't read too much into it, because as ESPN noted, Wade is not one to take anything for granted. Having his clothes all lined up and ready to go just means one less thing to worry about.

Still, it's astonishing to think these clothes take that much thought and consideration. I hate to think of the man hours that go into dressing Russell Westbrook.

Hit me up on Twitter for more fashion duds: Follow @gabezal

Floyd Mayweather Should Seek out Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for September Fight

Justin Onslow — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:30 -0400

It’s on to the next for pound-for-pound champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather.

After dismantling Robert Guerrero in a May Day bout many expected to be a much more competitive affair, Mayweather is one fight closer to ending his career undefeated, as one of the best fighters in the history of boxing.

According to ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Money plans to retire upon the completion of his six-fight contract with Showtime/CBS. With five fights remaining, now may be the time to put the icing on the cake.

At 44-0, Mayweather has already cemented his legacy, but it wouldn’t hurt to line up a couple premier challengers before riding off into the sunset.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez would be a good start.

Canelo (42-0-1) is widely considered one of the only fighters worthy of going toe to toe with Mayweather. The 22-year-old is one of the preeminent young boxers of the sport, and if questions of Mayweather’s age weren’t prevalent enough leading up to May Day, they certainly would be if he were to fight the budding superstar.

That’s not a bad thing, though.

With Money’s career coming to a close, adding to his tremendous record with wins over top young challengers like Canelo would only improve his legacy. Not that he needs it, but Mayweather could put all doubt to rest with a win over a fighter like Alvarez.

According to Rafael, the fight is already in the works. Mayweather is eyeing Sept. 14 for his next fight, and there’s a good chance it features none other than Canelo. As quoted by Rafael, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is focused on making it happen:

I am working on the fight. I'm crunching the numbers. You should see my calculator -- it's red-hot. I am working on a lot of fights, but this is my No. 1 priority. This is something I am pursuing, and I am having conversations with both sides. Canelo wants the fight, and Floyd has never turned down an opponent.

The validity of that last statement is debatable, but this much is certain: Mayweather shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to add another huge trophy to his resume, and Canelo can’t skip out on his only shot at the pound-for-pound kingpin.

Floyd "Money" Mayweather		Saul "Canelo" Alvarez
44-0	Record	42-0-1
26	KOs	31
36	Age	22
72"	Reach	71"

There is little reason for Mayweather to not be all-in for the fight, either. As long as Alvarez adheres to Money’s camp's typical drug-testing stipulations and wants to climb in the ring with the best, the five-division champ shouldn’t be concerned with anything but knocking him off to remain undefeated.

Of course, the payday also wouldn’t be all that bad, either.

Any fight that draws the attention of the entire boxing world will certainly attract enough attention to make the fight a lucrative business opportunity. Fans want to see Canelo get his crack at Mayweather, almost as much as they want to see Money add another top-shelf trophy to his collection of fallen foes.

Unless something unforeseen happens in the coming months, it looks like this fight has a very good chance of happening. And there’s no reason it shouldn’t.

WWE Fans, 'the Look,' and the Stigma That Comes with It

Tyson Jones — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:29 -0400

When fans see a WWE Superstar, the first thing they notice is "the look" of that person. WWE Superstars come in all shapes, sizes and hues. Still, there are some superstars that...when they come in with a certain look, they give a certain type of impression.

For example, we look at someone like Ryback and we see another guy like Damien Sandow. At first glance, who looks like the better wrestler of the two? I'm sure a lot of people, before they'd seen both men in action, would have said "Damien Sandow."

I have to believe this belief that the smaller wrestler is better stems from the old days of professional wrestling. In a time when most fans weren't really concerned about technical ability over general showmanship, it was really "the look" that got you over.

Hulk Hogan's looked at with mixed reviews. In America he was known for very little in the ring. Hulking Up, Scoop Slam, Big Boot and Atomic Leg Drop. That summed up the crux of Hulk Hogan in the ring in the states, as opposed to his work in Japan where the man had to work harder than normal.

Then enter these obviously smaller athletes. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels are just a couple of the superstars who, in a sense, put Hogan to shame (in the ring.) They are technical geniuses, whose skills are praised to this very day. Of course Shawn was known for more than that, also being an impressive high-flyer in his day.

Still, I think people are too quick to use "the look" as something to base a guy's skill on.

Granted, generally speaking, the bigger superstars are more limited in the ring on how they can move and what they'll do. It's not fair, though, to compare the moves of a Dolph Ziggler to a Big Show. Let's be honest, Big Show is 41-years-old and over 400 pounds.

I'd say Big Show moves pretty well for a man of his age, build and stature. Point me to someone older and bigger than Big Show who moves better in the ring. And for those people hung up on movesets, Big Show has about fourteen moves to his name.

Far too often do we discredit the genius of Mr.McMahon. Yes, Vince hasn't exactly made it easy to compliment him the past few years, but how many times have you thought or read something along the lines of "Vince has a fetish for muscled up bodybuilders," huh? Vince is old-school, and his protege Triple H isn't far removed from the days of bodybuilders being what draws in fans.

However, for every "bodybuilder" that stepped into the ring, how many smaller athletes were pushed? Chris Jericho is a legend and five-time World Champion, CM Punk is the second-biggest star in the company and a six-time World Champion, Daniel Bryan has had it pretty well for the majority of his career and is a former World Heavyweight Champion, and countless other superstars have gotten pushed who weren't bodybuilders including Rey Mysterio, Mick Foley and Dolph Ziggler, just to name a few.

Truthfully it's almost funny that, at times, it's the hardcore internet critics who can be just as guilty of some of the things WWE does. For example, I remember a couple years back during a certain "joyous" summer that some of you may remember. WWE is often criticized for "Shoving X down our throats."

However there have been times that people and sites just like this one right here have shoved people down our throats.

In a sense one could say that it's these people who have a "fetish" for "169 pound technicians." Not to mention, while the WWE does it quite visibly and on national television, these hardcore critics—my God, if they could get their hands on a microphone, they'd bury everyone they don't like faster than John Cena, Triple H, Vince McMahon and WWE Creative combined could ever hope to. (And no, I don't pretend I'm not prone to this at times myself, as I've spent a good part of the past day and a half doing this with Michael McGillicutty and many of you know how I feel about Dolph Ziggler.)

It seems like it's very hard for someone with the WWE look to get over with the Hardcore fans and it's likely the same way that the WWE has a hard time getting behind people who have the Hardcore look.

Still, while the look of the WWE isn't something that will be swayed by this article, perhaps I can convince you all to look beyond just outward appearances and let that go both ways. Don't just assume that a guy with the build of Stan Stansky is going to be a genius in the ring and don't just assume a guy built like Ryback is going to wrestle like Ezekiel Jackson.