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Scottie Pippen Backs Derrick Rose's Decision to Delay Return

Zach Buckley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:32:48 -0400

Derrick Rose might not have had all of Chicago supporting his decision to sit out the entire 2012-13 season while rehabbing from a torn ACL, but he can call at least one Windy City legend an ally.

Scottie Pippen, who played 12 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, said Rose had every right to stay away from the floor until he felt completely comfortable to return. And, despite what certain media reports suggested, Rose was the only one who could have made that call.

"I was kind of surprised people turned on him knowing the difficulty of Derrick's injury," Pippen said, via Scott Powers of ESPNChicago. "No one can justify what he's going through. No one can make his decision as to when to get back on the basketball court."

Pippen, who made seven All-Star Games and won six championships during his 17-year career, said the criticisms that Rose took may have been misguided:

As a player that has played this game, I know at the end of the day I've had numerous amount of surgeries, and the doctors released me at numerous amount of times to go and play. But a lot of those times didn't (they) didn't mean to and play against the best in the world right now, but to get yourself ready to compete again. Sometimes as a player, you're not there yet. The doctor can tell you the headache is gone, but he don't totally know that it is gone unless he can get in your head.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose began taking part in "full contact" practice in late January, leading some to speculate that the point guard would return to action near the All-Star break. That day came and went, then reports surfaced that Rose had been given medical clearance to play. More projected return dates popped up, but none proved correct.

When Chicago limped into the second round of the postseason with a hobbled roster of injured players and slightly less injured ones willing their way through each contest, the criticisms of Rose only heightened in intensity.

Pippen experienced the franchise's highest highs and knows better than anyone just where the standards have been set for this team. So he said that even though the anxious fanbase may not have had a perfect read of the situation, their impatience was at least understandable.

"Fans are demanding," he said. "They want to win. They want it now. If you have an injury, they want you back the next day."

The Bulls could have handled the situation better than they did. There's no good reason why Rose's medical clearance was ever linked to the media. His numerous public pregame workouts only fueled talks of his impending return.

The longer the situation dragged out, the more those talks to turned back on Rose. Fans wondered what else he needed to see before actually playing in a game, since both the team and the media seemed to place that decision solely on his shoulders.

Different things surfaced as the rumored final steps in the process.

Some said he was waiting until he could confidently dunk off of his left foot. Others said that the physical side of his recovery outpaced the mental portion, and that he'd never return until both were completely healed.

Looking beyond this one-year window, though, there was no reason to rush him back to the floor. The 24-year-old has already established himself as a special talent in this league. Don't forget he's just two years removed from becoming the youngest MVP winner in NBA history.

So while it may have been inspiring to watch him take a step into the unknown alongside his teammates who were clearly dealing with their own ailments, Rose wasn't willing to compromise his future just to serve as an emotional rallying point.

And he shouldn't have been. No player means more to the future of this franchise than the former MVP, so getting him back at 100 percent was always the top priority.

Now after excruciatingly long months of waiting, was it all worth it? If you believe what Thibodeau's saying (via Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago) about how Rose looks now, then the answer is an unequivocal yes:

Watching the way he's moving now, there's a confidence. [Reporters] may not have been able to see the total work he was putting in, but he was putting in an enormous amount of work each and every day. He just never got to the explosiveness that he was comfortable with. I think he's there now. He feels great, and that's the most important thing.

It wasn't always easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but Pippen promised it will be a brilliant sight to behold.

"I don't have any doubt," Pippen said. "Derrick is a very determined, hardworking player, so I don't have any doubt he will be back bigger and better as ever."

The 4 Biggest Disappointments for the Giants so Far

Hope Schwartz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:06:23 -0400

2013 was almost bound to be disappointing given the sky-high standards set by the 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Coming off of a postseason where everything came together—the rotation, bullpen, offense—the 2013 squad had high expectations. And with a lineup returning MVP Buster Posey, ace Matt Cain and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, the Giants were bursting with potential.

However, struggling starting pitching and periodically anemic offense left the Giants barely over .500 more than a third of the way into the season. The National League West as a whole has not done much better, and the Giants are in third place, 1.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Giants have managed to stay in contention, despite major disappointments from key players.

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Yasiel Puig Is Not Bo Jackson, There Will Never Be Another Bo

Art Eddy — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:06:22 -0400

It always happens, especially in sports. When a new phenom hits the bright lights at the pro level, the comparisons start up.

This rookie is a younger version of so-and-so.

Just wait, in a few years we will forget about what’s-his-name because of this newcomer.

This time the buzz from Los Angeles centers on Yasiel Puig, which it should. Puig is an amazing player to watch. He knocks the cover off the ball and has a cannon for an arm that makes runners think twice about advancing. Yet it seems he is getting linked to a handful of players, most notably Bo Jackson.

In spring training, Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly made the comparison of Puig to Jackson. Mattingly told L.A. Times writer Dylan Hernandez:

“I don’t think I’ve seen anybody do something like this. You don’t see this kind of package. This is a Bo Jackson-type package you just don’t see.”

When Mattingly uttered those words Jackson and Puig started to become linked. Even Puig got tired of hearing his named being associated with Bo. In this video, we see Yasiel being asked what he thought of the comparison—watch how he rolls his eyes as almost to say enough already.

Puig gets it and others should do the same. Yasiel is not going to play in the NFL. Puig did not win the Heisman or have a possible career in track and field. Bo Jackson did.

Managers, players and fans might see a resemblance of the two on the diamond, but that is where the similarities end.

Jackson was a freak of nature. He exceed expectations by playing at a consistently high level in both the NFL and Major League Baseball.

Even though his hip injury prevented him from ever playing in the NFL again, he still made his way back to baseball. He hit a home run in his first at-bat playing for the Chicago White Sox.

Jackson’s stories seem to be that of legends we read in books, but his tales actually happened. We sometimes exaggerate a player’s greatness. With Bo you couldn’t stretch the truth. He made the impossible come to life. It looked effortless for him, which made everything he did seem more unbelievable.

Puig will pack Dodger Stadium with fans wanting to catch a glimpse of him. He will continue to make laser type throws that will stun opposing teams. He will have games where he hits two or more home runs. He will do this and much more to keep us at the edge of our seats.

All I am saying is that when you say a player that is like Bo Jackson….Wait, let’s scratch that thought. It will never happen.

As sports fans, we are always looking to link the past or present to the future. We see it all the time. In the NFL we look to see who will be the next Peyton Manning. In the NBA people are trying to compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan. LeBron is a completely different player than MJ. It is like comparing apples to oranges. Why not just admire greatness without the need to compare one player to another?

I get it. This is part of human nature, but it seems to be played out. These comparisons come up too many times. We tend to put labels on players as soon as they enter the limelight. We set these high expectations on players before a full season is in the books. Don’t believe me? Remember “Baby Jordan?” I think his name was Harold something.

2013 Stanley Cup Final: Biggest Early Takeaways from Bruins vs. Blackhawks

Carol Schram — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:03:38 -0400

The daylight hours are long. The temperatures are warm and muggy. As the summer solstice looms on the horizon, the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs enter their seventh week and wind toward their conclusion.

Three games into the last round, the Boston Bruins lead the Chicago Blackhawks two games to one in a close series where every goal carries serious weight.

Now that these teams have become acquainted, here's a look at some early takeaways from the Stanley Cup Final so far.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com.

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Michigan Basketball: 5 Lessons Learned About Wolverines This Offseason

Zach Dirlam — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:58:28 -0400

The offseason may only be two months old, but we have already learned five lessons about the Michigan Wolverines basketball program. Just about all of them are positive.

Last season's Final Four run has a lot to do with the Wolverines' successful offseason. Two key players passed up millions for another year under the watchful eyes of head coach John Beilein. Others are hoping to bolster their draft stock during the 2013-14 campaign.

After two straight years of championship contention, another successful season appears to be on the horizon. The following lessons will help kick start it all.

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Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland Try Their Hand at Matchmaking

Trent Reinsmith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:58:03 -0400

UFC 161 was originally set to feature an interim title bout as its main event. Interim UFC bantamweight champion, Renan Barao, was supposed to defend his title against Eddie Wineland, but a Barao foot injury forced that fight to be cancelled. Instead, fans watched Rashad Evans defeat Dan Henderson via split decision in the headlining bout of the June 15 fight card.

While Barao may not have been ready to fight this past Saturday, he feels he will be ready very soon. The interim champion recently took to twitter and let UFC president Dana White know that he was ready to get back in the Octagon:

Wineland responded to Barao’s tweet with an offer of his own, requesting the fight take place at UFC 164 in Milwaukee on August 31:

Following Wineland’s tweet, Barao replied that he didn’t care where the fight would take place:

The twitter exchange between Barao and Wineland was greeted by silence from the UFC. At least publically it was greeted with silence. The behind the scenes details may be a different animal.

One wild card in this is the fact that UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz, is back to training:

Cruz has been on the shelf following two surgeries to repair a damaged ACL. The last time he defended his title was October 1, 2011, defeating Demetrious Johnson by unanimous decision.

If Cruz’s rehab is on point and his return seems imminent, the UFC may decide to book him against Barao in a unification bout. Opting not to book the Barao versus Wineland match would be better for this bout, as both fighters would be closer to full health and coming off full training camps.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for additional news on the top of the UFC’s bantamweight division.

Official USA Men's U19 World Championship Roster Finalized

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:55:06 -0400

The Team USA U19 roster has been determined, per USABasketball.com.

The roster includes Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart, Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes, Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon and top 2013 recruits Aaron Gordon (Arizona) and Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington).

Team USA U19 World Championship Roster

Player	Position	School
Michael Frazier	G	Florida
Aaron Gordon	F	Archbishop HS/Arizona
Jerami Grant	F	Syracuse
Montrezl Harrell	F	Louisville
Jahlil Okafor	C	Whitney Young HS
Elfrid Payton	G	Louisiana-Lafayette
Marcus Smart	G	Oklahoma State
Jarnell Stokes	F	Tennessee
Rasheed Sulaimon	G	Duke
Mike Tobey	F/C	Virginia
Nigel Williams-Goss	G/F	Findlay Prep/Washington
Justise Winslow	F	St. John's HS

Smart could have been a top-five pick if he would have declared for the NBA draft this year. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals in his freshman year at Oklahoma State. That included posting 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals against Oregon in the 2013 NCAA tournament.

Stokes averaged 12.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in his sophomore campaign at Tennessee. That includes registering 14 points and 13 rebounds against Mercer in the 2013 NIT tournament.

Sulaimon averaged 11.6 points while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc in his freshman season at Duke. He posted a combined 37 points against Creighton and Michigan State in the NCAA tournament.

Gordon and Nigel Williams-Goss were ranked as the No. 4 and No. 34 recruits in the 2013 class, respectively, according to 247Sports.com.

In the FIBA U19 World Championship two years ago, Team USA finished fifth. That was after finishing first in 2009 and second in 2007. Team USA has won the World Championship four times, dating back to 1979.

The tournament will be hosted by the Czech Republic this year from June 27 to July 7. The United States is part of Group D, which includes China, Ivory Coast and Russia. Russia placed third in the tournament in 2011.

Stanley Cup Final 2013: All the Stars Aligning as Boston Bruins Seize Control

Nicholas Goss — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:49:28 -0400

We have seen the first significant momentum shift in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final with the Boston Bruins giving a complete 60-minute effort to take a 2-1 series lead following a convincing 2-0 victory in Game 3 on Saturday.

Momentum is a difficult thing to grab hold off in the postseason, where one goal, big hit or clutch save can alter the balance of a series.

Through three games, the Bruins have prevented the Blackhawks from seizing control of the series by excelling at the aspects of the game that highlight reels aren't made of, such as faceoffs, puck battles, special teams and blocking shots.

Game 3 was a culmination of the Bruins' success in these areas, which has resulted in them taking a lead in a Cup final for the first time since 1972.

The most distinct advantage the Bruins had in Game 3 was faceoffs, an area they dominated during the regular season and have excelled at in the postseason with a league-best 56.1 percent success rate.

It's incredibly difficult to control the tempo of play and establish a rhythm offensively when a team is struggling in the faceoff dot. Winning draws has become a major problem for Chicago, which lost the faceoff battle 40-16, the most lopsided margin of the team's playoff run.

Blackhawks centers Michal Handzus, Dave Bolland and Marcus Kruger combined for a 3-22 record on faceoffs in Game 3. As for the Bruins, veteran centers Patrice Bergeron (24-4) and Chris Kelly (8-3) helped their team maintain puck possession and prevent the Blackhawks from using their speed and skill to generate scoring chances.

"Definitely something that we take a lot of pride in and we talk about a lot," said Bergeron when asked about the team's faceoff success. "We have some really good centermen, so it’s not just about the four centers, it’s about everyone on the ice chipping in and helping to get those battles."

After three games, Boston now holds a 137-105 faceoff advantage, which is something Chicago must turnaround to score more goals and pressure Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask more consistently.

"You can talk about (faceoffs) and our power play. Those were basically the differentials in the game," said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville.

Speaking of the Blackhawks power play, this is one area that needs to improve for Chicago to give itself a good chance at winning the series. The Bruins lead the playoffs in plus/minus per 60 minutes at even strength (1.1), which helps show how important it is for the Blackhawks to capitalize on their power-play chances.

Chicago was 0-of-5 with the man advantage in Game 3, extending the team's power-play drought to 0-11 in the series.

"They box you out. They got big bodies. They blocked shots," said Quenneville when assessing Boston's penalty-killing strengths. "I think we had some chances to get some pucks through the net, we didn't. Our entries weren't great. That's something you want to look at."

Special teams will be a key factor for the remainder of the Cup final, and it's an area Boston has taken advantage of so far. "I thought our special teams was huge tonight," said Bruins forward Tyler Seguin. "I think they have a lot of firepower up front especially, and our PK did a tremendous job tonight."

Team	PP	PK
Blackhawks	0-of-11	7-of-9
Bruins	2-of-9	11-of-11

One player matchup the Blackhawks have to win in order to even the series heading back to Chicago for Game 5 is the battle between the last two Frank J. Selke Trophy winners: Jonathan Toews vs. Bergeron.

Toews has been completely shut down by his former Team Canada teammate (zero points through three games), who made a bit of history in Game 3, per Vin Masi of ESPN Stats & Info and Jeremy Lundblad of ESPN Boston:

"He's really patient and he's really good at reading the play. He always knows where everybody is," said Rask when asked about Bergeron's defensive performance.

"He knows when the guys are behind him and when they're in front of him. You know, he just makes the right reads all the time. Then when there's time to lay down or block a shot, he does that. He does a great job standing on his feet, too, and taking care of those passing lanes. He's got to be one of the best in the league for doing that."

Toews is a catalyst for the Blackhawks with his scoring, defense and leadership, but he's been almost invisible in this series. It's certainly possible he's playing with an injury, but there's no excuse for a player of his caliber to have one goal scored in 20 playoff games.

Winning the Stanley Cup requires teams to do all the "little things" consistently, such as winning faceoffs, excelling on special teams, blocking shots and winning the puck battles. Right now, you have to give the edge in effort to the Bruins, who have usually been first to loose pucks, stronger in the dirty areas and along the boards, and better in the faceoff dot.

"We got to make sure that every play is critical, every shift is important, value being out there and doing the right thing," said Quenneville. "Managing the puck is kind of what we're talking about on those situations."

The Blackhawks have received great goaltending from Corey Crawford in this series. The score of Game 3 would have been far more lopsided if he didn't make a number of impressive saves throughout the night. Crawford has a .940 save percentage in the Cup final, yet he's still being outplayed by Rask because his teammates are unable to create enough high-quality scoring chances against the stingy Boston defense.

Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, they are running out of time to correct their mistakes and turn the tide in the key matchups of this series.

A loss in Game 4 would put Chicago in a 3-1 hole, a deficit not unfamiliar to this team (it happened in Round 2 against Detroit), but one that would force them to win three consecutive games against a confident Bruins squad that is firing on all cylinders.

"Throughout a whole season, it's not easy to have that full commitment. But I think when you get to this stage, players start feeling it," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "They go above and beyond. That's what you're seeing from our team right now."

The Bruins are two wins away from winning a second Stanley Cup title in three years, but if there's one thing this team has learned in the 2013 playoffs, it's the importance of putting teams away when the opportunity is present.

"You definitely get that extra tingle knowing you’re two games away, but you got to stay calm," said Seguin.

"We’re going to enjoy this for the night. We know where we stand, but we know Chicago is going to come out much better next game."

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. He is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 Stanley Cup Final in Boston. All quotes obtained firsthand.

WWE Raw Results and Report Card 6/17/13: Mark Henry and a Night of Surprises

Ryan Dilbert — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:42:08 -0400

WWE hit right note after right note on Monday's WWE Raw, following up Payback with a number of surprises, returns and Mark Henry's teased retirement.

One of the better episodes in recent memory impressed from start to finish. WWE definitely knows how to maximize momentum after a pay-per-view.

The show featured a swerve, feuds new and continued, and Superstars shifting roles.

Thanks to Monday's events, the Money in the Bank card already has some intriguing options in the works. Alberto Del Rio made his heel turn official. Christian and Brock Lesnar came back. Henry pulled a Ric Flair and turned a fake retirement speech into a show-stealing performance.

Here are the segments and matches from the June 17 edition of WWE Raw, complete with kudos, analysis and grades.

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7 MLB Players Guaranteed to Be Dealt Before Trade Deadline

Jason Martinez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:41:58 -0400

There are currently only five MLB teams that are more than 10 games out of a playoff spot and more than a few examples of similar teams catching fire late in the season and returning to playoff contention.

On the other hand, most of these teams just aren't very good.

Some teams that are only a few games back are obviously not very good. While one can't completely eliminate them from playing meaningful baseball again for much longer, it's becoming clear which teams won't be "buyers" this July and will certainly be looking to trade any soon-to-be free agents on their roster.

Here are seven players I guarantee will be dealt by July 31, 2013.

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6 Ways You Know You Are a New York Jets Fan

Philip Schawillie — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:32:15 -0400

Do you want to prove you're a diehard New York Jets fan? Then stop talking about old news, whether it be Super Bowl III, butt fumbles or Mark Sanchez turnovers. The Jets have interesting tales to tell this year. Separate yourself from the crowd and check them out.

It's not that this content is new. However, the hubbub over stories like the quarterback competition, Mike Goodson's arrest and Woody Johnson's "truth, justice and the American way" reference obscures other people and stories that Jets fans should follow. It's time to take a look.

Most of what you'll find here is related to football or at least to sports. Some is not. In fact, one slide reveals a set of human tragedies independent of profession. You'll learn how one bad decision ended the NFL career dreams of two men and pushed one of them into more trouble.

If you make it from beginning to end of these slides and find nothing you didn't already know, congratulations! You know you're a true Jets fan.

Player statistics not otherwise credited come from Pro-Football-Reference.com.

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A New Era of Parity: How the Field Caught Up to Tiger, Rory and Phil

James McMahon — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:22:48 -0400

Tiger Woods is still the best player in the world by a good margin, but that superiority hasn't translated into a major victory in a half decade.

Phil Mickelson hasn't won a major in more than two years and has only two in the past seven. A bright future is ahead of Rory McIlroy, but the young star expected to assume the mantle of top golfer is struggling through an extended swing change hangover.

With those three struggling, the opportunity for breakthrough performances both from new faces and golfers coming into their own is making the current landscape of professional golf one of the most competitive and unpredictable since the late 1990s.

It may also be the early stages of the end of the Woods-Mickelson era and the beginning of one that will certainly be highlighted—but not necessarily dominated—by McIlroy, as so many recently believed.

In an 11-year stretch from 1997 to 2008, Woods won an unheard-of 14 major championships. No golfer before him in the modern era won majors at that kind of clip; not Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer or Ben Hogan.

During that same run, Mickelson captured three majors of his own, added a fourth in 2010 and was undoubtedly the second-best golfer in the world for a decade. With a pair of major victories in 2011 and 2012, McIlroy emerged as the heir apparent to the Woods-Mickelson dominance.

Yet the talk of professional golf is no longer limited to these three golfers, as their extended and recent struggles have opened the door for others to not only win major championships, but to be considered among the game’s elite.

Through that door have come the likes of recently-minted U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, reigning Masters champion Adam Scott, former World No. 1 Luke Donald and 2012 green jacket winner Bubba Watson, to name just a few.

Call it perfect timing or maybe just a stroke of luck, but the game has a number of talented, enigmatic and poised-to-pop golfers who are heading into their prime just as questions persist around the game’s long-toothed leaders’ ability to win and dominate the way they once had.

It’s true that parity in professional golf has been around in good measure since Woods stopped winning majors after his injury-plagued triumph at Torrey Pines in 2008. In fact, since that victory—a span of 20 major championships—only McIlroy and fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington have won more than one major.

That means since the 2008 U.S. Open we have seen 18 different winners, and only four of those—Mickelson, Harrington, Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera—owned a major title before a torn ACL and personal turmoil ended Tiger’s reign of dominance.

Even with Woods out of the mix, Mickelson has sputtered over the past several years, at least as it pertains to majors. Since Woods’ last major victory, Mickelson has managed only one himself—the 2010 Masters—and hasn't threatened as much as people might think.

Yes, many golfers have won majors since Woods abruptly stopped doing it five years ago, but it felt more like those golfers were holding Tiger’s place rather than plotting to take it. Victories by Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink and Darren Clarke were great theater, but no one thought those golfers would ascend much beyond those singular accomplishments.

That said, there’s something different about what we have seen over the past year-and-a-half, culminating with this past weekend’s U.S. Open. There’s something special about the golfers who are starting to break through, creating a feeling that a new elite group is arriving to join McIlroy as the future of professional golf.

During their prime, Woods and Mickelson were just better than the great golfers that challenge them. There was Els, Davis Love III, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and David Duval just to name a few. Those players had great talent, and several of them won majors, but it just seemed that when Woods and Mickelson were at their best, it wasn't a fair fight.

That mystique, especially as it pertains to Woods, isn't there any longer. At the 2009 PGA Championship, Woods lost a major for the first time after leading through 36 holes. In 2012, he twice led majors after 36 holes, only to become a nonfactor after 54.

The decline in dominance has coincided perfectly with the evolution of a new powerful, confident and tested cadre of golfers such as Scott, Rose, Donald and Bradley.

They are neither afraid nor intimidated by the world’s best players because they've been emulating them and are chomping at the bit to compete against them.

The generation of golfers that came up with Woods and Mickelson didn't have the opportunity to study them and adopt their traits. The generation that’s coming at them now did, so the battlefield is more even.

That arriving reality was on full display Sunday when at least a dozen golfers without a major championship were in the hunt when the final round began—and a handful of those, including Rose and co-runner-up Jason Day, were right there when the matter was decided late in the afternoon.

Most agree the sky’s the limit for the likes of recent major winners Scott, Rose, Watson, Keegan Bradley, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen. The same can be said for the likes of near-miss major contenders Jason Day, Luke Donald and Billy Horschel. It just feels different with this crop of contenders than it did a couple years ago.

It feels like a changing of the guard taking place before our very eyes.

No, Woods and Mickelson will not go easily into the night. Yes, McIlroy will figure things out and eventually head the class of major winners for years to come.

That said, for the first time in a long time, the golfers chasing the game’s elite will have as much to say about winning or losing as Woods, Mickelson and McIlroy do. Their talent and poise is equal. Their determination and maturity the same.

It’s a new day in golf—and it’s going to be exciting to watch it play out.

Stanley Cup Final 2013: Lifeless Chicago Blackhawks in Big Trouble in Boston

Steve Silverman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:20:27 -0400

The bad news started for the Chicago Blackhawks even before the first puck was dropped

Marian Hossa was not able to play as a result of an upper-body injury. It was first reported that Hossa was injured in the pregame warm-up, but that was refuted by Jonathan Toews and head coach Joel Quenneville.

No matter when the injury occurred, it seemed as if the entire team slumped with the news that the dangerous Hossa couldn't play. The result was a much-too-easy 2-0 victory for Boston and a 2-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final for the Blackhawks.

Once the puck dropped, the Boston Bruins set the pace, and the Blackhawks were forced to counterpunch. They were not very effective in that area. When the Blackhawks had control of the puck in the offensive zone, they rarely tested Tuukka Rask. Most of their best chances were shots that went wide or were blocked by the Boston defense.

#Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville on #Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask: "Tonight I thought we made it rather easy on him."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 18, 2013

After the first period, it seemed that it was just a matter of time before the Bruins seized control of the game. Daniel Paille, the hero of Game 2 for the Bruins with a game-winning goal in overtime, put the Bruins on the board again early in the second period.

Corey Crawford had made a brilliant glove save on a wrister from Tyler Seguin, and Chris Kelly got his stick on the rebound. While he could not control the puck, he kept the Blackhawks from getting possession. The speedy Paille wheeled around from behind the net, took possession of the puck and he fired it past Crawford's glove.

That goal meant that the Blackhawks would need one of their stars to step forward.

Patrick Sharp, the only Blackhawk to score a goal in the past two games, was buzzing around the TD Garden ice and was looking for shooting opportunities and open teammates. He found little of either. Sharp had two shots on Rask, but he rarely found open teammates.

Toews, the captain who has scored just one goal in the postseason, fired five shots, but most of them were from a distance and none of them caused much difficulty for Rask. Patrick Kane put his speed on display—primarily in the third period—and he ended up with four shots.

Quenneville knows his team can play better, but he credited the Bruins for making it tough on the Blackhawks.

"They box you out," Quenneville said in the postgame press conference, via Corey Masisak of NHL.com. "They've got big bodies. They blocked shots. I think we had some chances to get some pucks through the net, we didn't. Our entries weren't great. That's something you want to look at. "

The Blackhawks simply made the game far too easy for the hosts. They were beaten soundly in nearly all the key statistical aspects of the game.

The most obvious area that the Bruins dominated was in the faceoff circle. It was a horrific beating for the Blackhawks as they lost 40 of 56 faceoffs. It seemed that nobody could contain Patrice Bergeron, who won a remarkable 86 percent of his draws.

That allowed the Bruins to hold on to the puck throughout the game, a factor that goes counter to the Chicago game plan. The Blackhawks rely on puck possession, but the Bruins' success in the faceoff circle made it nearly impossible to succeed in that part of the game.

In addition to the faceoff edge, the Bruins blocked 17 shots to the Blackhawks' seven. Boston also outhit Chicago 31-25, and the Bruins once again had the special teams edge.

The Blackhawks were 0-of-5 on the power play and they gave up several short-handed chances to Rich Peverley, Chris Kelly and Brad Marchand.

The Bruins, who were struggling as much on the power play before the start of the series, scored once on the power play when Bergeron converted a Jaromir Jagr goalmouth pass in the second period. The Bruins also moved the puck well on their other power-play opportunities.

The Bruins did a good job of anticipating where the Blackhawks were going with the puck and took the puck away six times, while the Blackhawks took the puck away from the Bruins twice.

The Blackhawks put some pressure on Rask in the late stages of the game when they were desperate to mount a comeback. Their best chance came on a Bryan Bickell wrister that hit the inside of the post in the final minute, but the rebound skittered harmlessly away.

The Blackhawks struggled on the chippy TD Garden ice, but that can't be an excuse since the Bruins were at a similar disadvantage.

The Blackhawks could not match the Bruins' energy, hustle or skill. They have an opportunity to rebound in Game 4, but it won't happen unless their stars bring their A-game.

There was no sign of that in Game 3, and the loss of Hossa hurt badly. But regardless of whether Hossa can play Wednesday night, the Blackhawks will have to take the play to the Bruins and not let the hosts dictate once again, or they will find themselves in a much deeper hole at the end of Game 4.

Butler Basketball: 5 Lessons Learned About the Bulldogs This Offseason

Joe Boozell — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:19:44 -0400

Butler basketball is evolving before our very eyes.

And yet, the more things seem to change for a Bulldogs program that already seems to be a well-oiled victory machine, the more they stay the same.

While the NBA is often referred to as a “player’s game,” college basketball is undoubtedly a coach’s game. And Butler has one of the game’s best—Indiana native Brad Stevens.

After a report last offseason that linked his services to Illinois was followed by an offer Stevens turned down to UCLA, the much-coveted 36-year-old gave Butler fans reassurance that he’ll stay in Indianapolis for a very, very long time.

However, Stevens’ admirable loyalty is not the only headline the Bulldogs have made this offseason.

The sweat is accumulating by the minute in the ever-so-humid Hinkle Fieldhouse gymnasiums (more on that later), summer coaching camps are in full swing and the 2013-2014 campaign in a new conference with new expectations is right around the corner.

Hey, it’s not like it has major shoes to fill on the heels of the 2012-2013 season, right? (Perhaps Roosevelt Jones and Rotnei Clarke beg to differ.)

Here are five lessons to be taken away from what has been the Butler basketball offseason to date.

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Top 5 Players Brooklyn Nets Should Be Targeting in the 2013 NBA Draft

Andrew Kipp — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:16:05 -0400

The Brooklyn Nets own the 22nd pick in the 2013 NBA draft, which is set to take place at the Barclays Center on June 27.

The Nets’ first-round pick will be their only pick, because they owe their 2013 second-rounder to the Minnesota Timberwolves from a 2011 draft-night trade for Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic.

Brooklyn has a few holes to fill this offseason, a fact that was affirmed following a first-round playoff exit at the hands of a depleted Chicago Bulls team back in early May. The draft will provide an opportunity for general manager Billy King to target a talented young player who will hopefully make an immediate impact.

The Nets could stand to upgrade at small forward and power forward, but as Tim Bontemps of the New York Post reported, many, including draft guru Chad Ford of ESPN, believe King will use the 22nd pick to bolster the team’s depth at center.

This year’s draft doesn’t feature a lot of clear-cut stars, but there should be a few quality players around when the Nets are on the clock.

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Top 5 Likeliest Trade Partners for the Dallas Mavericks on Draft Day

Ross Bentley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:15:15 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft just 10 days away, 28 NBA teams are preparing for the offseason's biggest night, and the other two will join them soon once their quest for a championship is completed.

Although there are certainly some high-quality players available, many are regarding the 2013 draft class to be one of the weakest in recent memory.

The Dallas Mavericks could have used a stronger one.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, the Mavericks are in need of more pieces if they want to get back into the playoffs, much less the NBA Finals.

Ever since the lottery balls didn't fall their way, there have been rumors that the team is looking to shop their 13th overall pick to the highest bidder to save cap room to go after high-profile free agents.

At the tail end of the lottery, the 13th pick still has a high value, and there likely will be plenty of teams inquiring about that pick in the next week and a half and on draft night itself.

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10 Biggest Disappointments for the New York Yankees so Far

Kenny DeJohn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:10:52 -0400

At 38-31, the New York Yankees have gotten lucky so far this season. Not often does a ragtag group of veterans past their respective primes come together to win ballgames like they did for the Yankees in April and May.

Unfortunately, June has not been as kind. The team is 7-8 this month after finishing a brutal West Coast trip that saw them go 4-6. A sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics was tough to swallow, but losing a series (2-1) to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim should not sit well with the club.

Disappointment seems to be a trend with the Yankees over the past month or so, but there are some players who have been disappointing since early on. Many of these players have been given countless chances to succeed, but their inconsistencies have prevented them from playing well.

Picking just 10 disappointments for the Yankees was actually pretty difficult. There are multiple players who could qualify as disappointments that did not make the cut.

Being a disappointment for this slideshow hinges on a few different things. On-field production is obviously a key component, as are health and reliability. This list was constructed with those criteria in mind.

*Note: Alex Rodriguez is not included in the upcoming slides. He's deserving of an article all his own.

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John Cena to Defend WWE Championship vs. Mark Henry at Money in the Bank PPV

Tim Keeney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:04:23 -0400

After successfully retaining his title on two pay-per-views in a row against Ryback, John Cena is moving on to the next massive heel.

On Monday night's epic post-Payback episode of Raw that had several memorable moments and returns, it was revealed that the current WWE champion will defend his belt against Mark Henry at Money in the Bank in Philadelphia on July 14.

Add this to Rob Van Dam being scheduled to return and Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk at least on the horizon after Raw, and Money in the Bank is already shaping up very nicely.

Henry has sat out the last month, and when it was revealed he would be returning on Raw, everyone assumed it would be to announce his retirement.

And that's what appeared to be happening. The World's Strongest Man interrupted a Cena championship-winning promo dressed in a jacket and tie. He proceeded to tell the crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan that he was officially retiring.

But not so fast.

As Cena went to embrace Henry, the big man picked him up and delivered the World's Strongest Slam, thus completing the ruse:

Later in the night, it was confirmed: Cena vs. Henry at Money in the Bank.

This isn't going to be the most scintillating feud ever, and a stipulation very well may be necessary to inject some energy into the match itself.

Fans will also undoubtedly be disappointed Daniel Bryan isn't in line for the WWE title, although this sets up Bryan to win the WWE championship briefcase at the PPV.

But the company is giving the feud sufficient time for a build-up, and if Monday's absolutely spectacular segment—which drew huge pops from the crowd—is an indication of things to come, we are in line for an enthralling month.

WWE Payback 2013 Aftermath: AJ Lee, Dolph Ziggler and Major Changes Upcoming

David Levin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:08 -0400

She won. He lost. She is a Black Widow waiting to stalk her prey. He just lost the world title and became a hero in the process.

Oh, and she pissed Stephanie McMahon off on Monday night.

The tangled web of AJ Lee and Dolph Ziggler may have just gotten a little (excuse the word) crazier as the company threw many curveballs at us Sunday night (and Monday on Raw). The biggest, however, may have been the “heel” turn for Alberto Del Rio and the loss of the intercontinental title by Wade Barrett, who has been wasted as a talent in this company since his return from surgery last year.

Welcome to the confused state of the WWE, where changes in characters, personalities and angles happen faster than Summer Rae changes her dancing dresses.

Seeing Triple H, Vince McMahon and Stephanie all fighting to control Raw was as good a storyline as we have seen developing in a while.

What the WWE did on Sunday night, although we may not like it, is strengthen the “face” side of the fence through controversy. Making Alberto Del Rio a “heel” champion does a lot of things for the company that will be great heading into Money in the Bank and SummerSlam. It also allows me and others to ask a lot of questions.

The most pressing might be if CM Punk makes a turn to the "sunny" side.

Does this mean upon his return that Rob Van Dam becomes the top contender for the title? What happens to Ziggler and his big push? Does Sheamus have anything left as a possible champion? Where does Jack Swagger fit in all this chutzpah?

Sometimes, the WWE and its creative team have ADHD. They cannot stick to one project for more than a New York minute and need a diaper changed because of their immature decisions.

Monday night proved there was some real thought put into the planning of the program. But this story really is about Ziggler and Lee and their path traveled together.

Most of the time, the readers on Bleacher Report have the right ideas and would do a better job as Vince McMahon’s writers than the “professionals” in the big black chairs. Maybe they should help plan this all out.

This could also play out well over the summer, see Vince and Triple H fight for control of the company and Curtis Axel become the new “corporate” guy in the WWE. Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon together is more sinister than Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink mastering a plan to hurt Dusty Rhodes.

By the way, if Vinnie Mac and Triple H feud for control, who gets Stephanie in the settlement?

And again, I am drawn back to Ziggler and his “love” AJ Lee. Does “spider woman” find herself a new beau? It will be interesting to see how this ends in divorce. Who gets Big “E” in the settlement?

Honestly, I love the changes that are forthcoming. Del Rio was a good start, because it made him relevant (and we did not see it coming). Ziggler as a face is a “Shawn Michaels-like” move when he parted ways with Sherri Martel.

Axel, again, winning praise from Vinnie Mac was “corporate-like” and very old school.

All I can say is the new Payback pay-per-view made everything look old school and very interesting over the next three months.

But I am not sure whether that is a good or a bad thing.

NBA Free Agents 2013: Best Landing Spots for Top Shooting Guards on Market

Ethan Grant — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:07 -0400

As Danny Green continues to set the new standard for shooting guard play in the midst of his impressive NBA Finals performances, thoughts start to shift toward what NBA teams in need of a Green-like talent can do to bolster the position.

The Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves are a few teams with obvious needs at the position, but when it comes to free agency, you make moves to make your franchise better—bar none.

That makes the 2013 NBA free-agent shooting guard pool an interesting one indeed. Several players will be looking to cash in big after strong seasons while other candidates with Green-like potential will surely entice all 30 NBA teams.

With the NBA Finals preparing to close down, the 2013 draft and start of free agency will be here before we know it. Take a look at some notable SG free agents below, and the best landing spots for the top stars at the position.

Notable 2013 NBA Free-Agent Shooting Guards

Player	Previous Team	2012-13 Stats (PPG/RPG/APG/FG%)
Ben Gordon (PO)	Charlotte Bobcats	11.2/1.7/1.9/40.8
Gerald Henderson (R)	Charlotte Bobcats	15.5/3.7/2.6/44.7
Marco Belinelli	Chicago Bulls	9.6/1.9/2.0/39.5
O.J. Mayo	Dallas Mavericks	15.3/3.5/4.4/44.9
Andre Iguodala	Denver Nuggets	13.0/5.3/5.4/45.1
Brandon Rush	Golden State Warriors	7.0/0.5/1.0/66.7 (2 games)
Jodie Meeks (TO)	Los Angeles Lakers	7.9/2.2/0.9/38.7
Tony Allen	Memphis Grizzlies	8.9/4.6/1.2/44.5
Ray Allen (PO)	Miami Heat	10.9/2.7/1.7/44.9
Monta Ellis	Milwaukee Bucks	19.2/3.9/6.0/41.6
J.R. Smith	New York Knicks	18.1/5.3/2.7/42.2
Kevin Martin	Oklahoma City Thunder	14.0/2.3/1.4/45.0
Nick Young	Philadelphia 76ers	10.6/2.2/1.4/41.3
Gary Neal (R)	San Antonio Spurs	9.5/2.1/1.9/41.2
Manu Ginobili	San Antonio Spurs	11.8/3.4/4.6/42.5
Alan Anderson	Toronto Raptors	10.7/2.3/1.6/38.3

*TO=team option. PO=player option. R=restricted.
For a complete look at the 2013 NBA free-agent class, click here (via ESPN).

Best Landing Spots for Top SGs

Andre Iguodala: Detroit Pistons

Despite some resistance across the league, as noted here by Denver Post columnist Benjamin Hochman, AI is a shooting guard, and he's performed reasonably well enough in that role to warrant consideration for both wing positions on any team.

Iguodala exercised his early termination option last week, and as noted by Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, he will leave $15.9 million on the table to do so.

The 29-year-old wing must feel he's worth a long-term contract in the neighborhood of that salary, or he simply sees a better option on the horizon outside of the friendly confines of the Mile High city.

There's a number of teams that could show interest in Iguodala this offseason, including several listed above in the intro section and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a strong core in place and two first-round picks in the 2013 draft.

But the Detroit Pistons offer Iguodala an opportunity to reunite with former head coach and move closer to his Illinois background. A core of Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, along with the No. 8 pick in the draft, may also weigh strongly in Iguodala's offseason decision-making.

Iguodala is a big-time performer, and the fact that he's been to the playoffs the past three seasons might make a team closer to contention more reasonable. The money and the chance to lead right away, though, comes in the form of the Pistons.

O.J. Mayo: Minnesota Timberwolves

Mayo had a strong start to the 2012-13 regular season, taking over for the Dallas Mavericks in stretches as Dirk Nowitzki rehabbed from knee surgery.

He faded fast after the turn of the calendar, though, struggling to carry his strong start to the second half of the season. Mayo lost favor with Rick Carlisle, opted out of his contract and has to face the facts that he was a so-so player for most of the year after he so wanted to prove Memphis wrong by signing a low-dollar contract with the Mavs.

Mayo can still play some good ball, though.

One of the best three-point shooters in the league last year, Mayo connected to the tune of a 40.7 percent clip, and that's exactly the kind of off-the-ball abilities Minnesota needs from its shooting guard in the current offense.

With Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love and Derrick Williams in place, the T'Wolves are a few pieces (and some good fortune in the medical department) away from really surprising some people in the West.

Although Mayo was frustratingly disappointing as a closer (33.3 percent free-throws in the final minute of a game last year), he won't have to be that guy in Minnesota. Love and Rubio will take care of the big plays, and Mayo can really extend his role as a knockdown three-point shooter in a strong offense.

Monta Ellis: Sacramento Kings

Monta Ellis is another player who opted out of his contract despite the status of the new CBA keeping teams from breaking the bank these days, but he'll still be a sought-after player because he can flat-out score.

As B/R's own Ethan Norof notes, Ellis must really want out of Milwaukee, where he was traded in 2012 for Andrew Bogut:

The combo guard averaged over 19 points per game this season, tops for any shooting guard currently on the open market. Playing in tandem with Brandon Jennings, he asserted his will as one of the NBA's hardest players to guard—no matter what position he was playing.

Ellis also averaged six assists per game, a strong number that suggest he does have greatness in him if harnessed the right way.

Although I'm not sure that greatness will be harnessed fully in Sacramento, a return to the west coast in the form of the Kings would be a smart move for a franchise that looks dead on offense at times when dealing with the inflated likeness of DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans.

Former Golden State mentor Mike Malone is the new head coach of the Kings, and that relationship has been described by Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears as a potential plus for the free-agent journey Ellis is about to embark on.

Personally, Ellis is a very good sixth man who should average 25-30 minutes per game on a good team. His defense is atrocious and his decisions are questionable at times, but there's little doubt he can carry the second unit (or first unit) of an offense.

No matter what Malone decides to do with Ellis, the Kings are a nice fit for the guard to return to California and earn a prominent role on a team oozing with misplaced talent.

J.R. Smith: Atlanta Hawks

After nine seasons as a premier NBA sixth man, J.R. Smith finally has a chance to cash in like a starter.

A victim of the lockout in 2011, Smith was a late signing of the New York Knicks later that season when he returned from his commitment overseas.

All he's done since then is carry New York's second unit, earn the green light from head coach Mike Woodson (although I'm not sure anyone on the roster has a red light) and average over 18 points on just over 42 percent shooting from the floor in his second season in the Big Apple.

There's plenty to like about the Smith/New York relationship.

One thing that won't go over well, though, is the salary situation.

Smith made just under $3 million this season, and with Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire making double-digit millions on a cap that could easily stretch to $85 million if the Knicks don't find a way to clear some space, where is the money in the budget to sign him?

Sure—the Knicks have money. But this is a franchise known for throwing money at players who stay on the books for years, even if they no longer where blue and orange.

Enter the Atlanta Hawks.

Loaded with cap space, opportunities and still in the mix for a big free-agent name even with Smith in the fold (think Andrew Bynum), the Hawks would be a great place for Smith to flex his muscles as either a starter or a sixth man yet again.

I think the Knicks have Smith's heart, and rightly so, but they don't hold the best interests of his wallet in mind, and we might be looking at another Jeremy Line situation if the Hawks (or any other team with hefty cap space) offers up a contract that shouldn't be matched.

The shooting guard market is an interesting one to pay attention to, as many notable names might end up just trading places with other guards. These four are the big ones to watch, though, and should be monitored until the dotted line is no longer empty.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant (@DowntownEG) on Twitter.

Power Ranking Every Toronto Raptors Player Still on Roster

Justin Bedi — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:58:56 -0400

One of the major factors the Toronto Raptors have going for them is the roster continuity they’ll have heading into the 2013-14 NBA season. Of the 15 players on the current roster, only five will potentially be leaving via free agency: Alan Anderson, Aaron Gray, John Lucas III, Mickael Pietrus and Sebastian Telfair.

With the core roster set to return next season for the Toronto Raptors, it makes sense to look at which players still under contract have been pulling their weight, and which players have left a lot to be desired.

Let’s take a look at each one.

All salary information obtained from Hoopsworld.com. All statistics obtained from ESPN.com and NBA.com.

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Metta World Peace Has Strong, Odd Words for Dwight Howard

Jesse Dorsey — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:58:56 -0400

Metta World Peace has been watching Dwightmare 2.0 unfold just like the rest of us, and also like the rest of us, he's got his opinion on the saga: Dwight Howard isn't going anywhere.

Howard's impending free agency is like a slow-building wave of news, pieces of information stacking on top of each other until a tidal wave of news comes barreling down on top of us once July 1 comes around.

Without a doubt, this is the best piece of news we've gotten so far. Now, when I say best it means craziest and most hilarious, not necessarily good news, like Howard saying he's already decided what he wants to do.

World Peace was on Sportsradio 610 in Houston on Monday, saying a ton more than just his adamant, "Well, he's not going to Houston, I tell you that."

The generally outspoken World Peace gave the Houston radio station the reason why he was so sure Howard would be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2012-13 season:

You know how those horses have those little things, ties in a bullfight, you tie those things to their b---- and they go crazy? I've got two of those tied to Dwight Howard's t--------, so he can't move.

He can't move. If he does, it'll be painful. So he can't go nowhere.

Well then, isn't that...lovely.

If it were anybody else, I would say it's a weird thing to say, but from World Peace I suppose that's just another normal day.

After calming down and sprinting back to reality for a few minutes, World Peace gave what seemed to be a genuine, well-thought-out response:

I'm not going to try to convince him. But definitely, I enjoy him, no question about it. I'll leave the convincing to the organization and to the fans. But for myself, I'm just working out and things like that, but I definitely enjoy him. He's a great person. Whoever receives Dwight Howard, they'll really enjoy their time with him. Hopefully, it's with the Lakers, but whoever receives him will really enjoy their time.

For whatever reason, it's nice that World Peace isn't going out and trying to put pressure on Howard.

It's almost as if he's one of the few level-headed people who recognize that Howard is a man with his own brain, and ultimately the decision is going to come down to what Howard wants and what he thinks is best for his career.

World Peace seems to respect that, and even respects Howard himself more than most, which is definitely cool.

The 5 Biggest Disappointments for the Boston Red Sox so Far

Jess Lander — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:57:55 -0400

After Boston finished in last place in the AL East in 2012, Red Sox fans don't have too much to complain about as their team now sits in first place for 2013.

The energy and optimism over at Fenway is more electric than it has been in a few years.

Nonetheless, there are a handful of players who have failed to live up to their talent, potential or expectations. Here are the five players that have been the biggest disappointments so far this season.

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Previewing the USA-Honduras World Cup Qualifier

Michael Cummings — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:52:18 -0400

The Hex is halfway over, and the United States men’s national team finds itself in an excellent position. Through five matches, the Yanks top the final round of CONCACAF qualifying, and now comes a chance to move within striking distance of the World Cup.

Not to mention the minor issue of revenge.

The last time the U.S. and Honduras met, Honduras grabbed a deserved 2-1 win against Jurgen Klinsmann’s sloppy, disorganized team. Now, though, the situation seems reversed. Honduras’ squad is having problems, and the U.S. is on a roll.

That’s not to say it will be too easy. Several U.S. players—including captain Clint Dempsey and midfielder Michael Bradley—are in danger of picking up a suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Meanwhile, Klinsmann has a few roster concerns of his own.

Honduras has a few headaches as well. Jerry Bengtson, who scored the winning goal against the U.S. in February, has left the team after a disagreement with his manager, per MLSSoccer.com. Winger Oscar Boniek Garcia is recovering from an injury, and defender Victor Bernardez and holding midfielder Luis Garrido are suspended.

So how will Tuesday’s match play out? Watch the video above as B/R’s Michael Cummings gives his preview, then be sure to add your thoughts in the comments below.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Stefan Struve Calls for Fight Against Big Nog When He Returns to UFC This Year

Damon Martin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:51:41 -0400

It's hard to keep a good fighter down, and even while healing up a broken jaw, UFC Stefan Struve is already eyeing his return to action later this year where he hopes to face a true legend in the sport.

Struve is currently spending some time in Los Angeles training and just waiting for a doctor's appointment in a few weeks to hopefully gain clearance to get back into MMA sparring for his return to the Octagon in the late summer or early fall.

"The first couple of weeks weren't too good, couldn't really chew or whatever, but from the start, I could eat," Struve told Bleacher Report about his recovery on Monday.

"I just put it in a blender and eat that way. I thought it would be a lot worse. The worst part was I had to wait nine days for surgery when I got back from Japan because they thought I might have a bacteria with me from the hospital over there, so that was the hardest part, the waiting. The rest, it's healed really good. I go home in two weeks to Holland, and the week after I have an appointment to get cleared.

"I plan to be back in September/October, so no need to rush it. That's what I'm looking at, and hopefully, that's going to work."

Even in the short time that Struve has been inactive, healing his jaw, the heavyweight division has changed dramatically. Junior dos Santos is once again the top contender in the division, Fabricio Werdum is storming his way up the rankings, and Stipe Miocic, whom Struve defeated in 2012, just put on a dominant performance over top five-ranked heavyweight Roy Nelson.

Struve knows, when he jumps back into the fray later this year, the division could be changed yet again, but he's hoping to get back on winning track while facing one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

"A fight I always wanted to have is a fight with Big Nog," Struve said about his desire to face former UFC and Pride champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "I would still love to have that fight. I think it makes a lot of sense right now since we're both coming off a loss. That's definitely a fight I would love to have around then."

Nogueira has been a mainstay around the top 10 of the heavyweight division for more than a decade, and while he is coming off a defeat in his last fight against Werdum at UFC on Fuel 10, Struve knows he's still as dangerous as he's ever been.

One thing he wants to make clear, however, is that he doesn't want his desire to face Nogueira to be perceived as a "call out." He wants to face the former champion because it would be an honor to share the Octagon with him and believes they would put on a fight to remember in heavyweight history.

"I've got a ton of respect for him, and he knows that I respect him a lot," Struve stated. "I've been watching him since I was 10 or 11 years old. I remember waking up Sunday mornings in Holland and putting on the computer trying to get my Pride stream going to watch Nogueira."

"He's always been one of my favorites, if not my favorite fighter. The way he fights with that much heart and always finding a way to win. It's been awesome to watch him fight, and I think the fans would really want to see that matchup too. I think it's a really great fight to make. Fireworks are guaranteed in my opinion."

Over the last few years, Nogueira has gone just 3-3 while dealing with a mounting list of injuries that have slowed him down for several months at a time during certain points. Despite the .500 record, Struve believes that Nogueira is still one of the best heavyweights in the world and that's exactly why he wants to face him next.

"People change their opinions every single minute. Especially in this sport, you lose one fight, and you're the worst fighter in the world, and then, you win your next one and you only have to beat Cain (Velasquez) or Junior (dos Santos) to become champ in their opinion," Struve commented.

"He's a great fighter. I've got a ton of respect for him and things change really fast, especially in this division. One punch can change everything."

Nogueira is currently healing up from having surgery on his arm and should be cleared for training in about three months. It may push back Struve's timeline for a return, but with Nogueira as his top choice as an opponent, he's ready to sign the contract today if the UFC sent him the bout agreement.

"I would love to test my skill against him," Struve said. "I think it makes a lot of sense with both of us coming off a loss, and I think our styles match up really well. Just for me, it's a matter of signing a contract if they want to do it."

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Thousands Protest in Brazil over Rising Costs of 2014 World Cup

Tyler Conway — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:49:08 -0400

Economic and political tensions in Brazil linked to the 2014 World Cup hit a boiling point on Monday night, as thousands flooded the country's largest cities in protest of government spending and taxation.

The protests, which remained mostly peaceful throughout, included the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Curitiba, Belem and Brasília, per The New York Times' Simon Romero.

John Nichols of The Nation sent out a Vine message highlighting the scope of the protests in Rio:

According to Reuters, over 200,000 citizens took to the streets throughout Brazil, voicing their displeasure with government spending. Many of the protesters were younger Brazilians, who spoke out against the increasing hike in taxes despite what citizens deem as inadequate government services.

"For many years the government has been feeding corruption. People are demonstrating against the system," said Graciela Caçador, a 28-year-old saleswoman protesting in Sao Paulo. "They spent billions of dollars building stadiums and nothing on education and health."

"We are demanding more respect to the population," said 21-year-old protestor Vinicius de Assis, via Fox News Latino. "They are building these overpriced stadiums and are not worrying about the situation of their own people."

Currently playing host to the Confederations Cup, Brazil is in heavy preparation to play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics as well.

There has been much government spending to help build and refurbish soccer stadiums across the country, which are currently experiencing massive cost overruns (currently projected to run three times more than South Africa's in 2010, according to a special report to Goal.com via Marcella Martha and Kris Voakes).

As a result, the Brazilian government recently announced increased rates on metro and bus fares of 10 cents. It was a decision that enraged the citizenry, as the hike was viewed by many as an affront to the working and poorer classes.

Frustrated by the government hikes, which began on June 1, protests began uprising throughout the country.

Police had to fire tear gas and rubber bullets into a protesting crowd in Sao Paulo last week, as a peaceful protest quickly turned violent. More than 100 people were injured, and 120 arrested, in the violent clashes.

Another 25 were arrested in the protests last week in Sao Paulo, and it's clear that tensions continue to rise between the government and citizens.

Though the demonstrations remained mostly subdued on Monday night—no reports of injuries have been released to the press—there were some citizens who threw rocks at police, set fire to a car and vandalized the state assembly building in Rio. Protesters also are reported to have destroyed property in Porto Alegre.

FIFA has not commented on the protests at this time.

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Is Dwight Howard Really the Guy Laker Fans Want to Build a Franchise Around?

Thomas Duffy — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:45:18 -0400

For most Los Angeles Lakers fans, Dwight Howard is not the guy who they want to build the team around. However, the Lakers front office has a different view—the right one.

Howard is a free agent this summer and has given the team no indication that he will re-sign or commit to a long-term deal after just one disappointing season in Los Angeles when he averaged about 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Lakers will do all that they can to bring Howard back to Los Angeles.

D12 has been pinned by fans of the team as childish, immature, lazy and soft. Are these unflattering terms accurate? Well, yes and no.

Howard has definitely had moments where the terms "childish" and "immature" were more than appropriate. The time when he got head coach Stan Van Gundy fired from the Orlando Magic and then forced his way into a trade probably takes the cake as the top highlight in that category.

There is a certain goofiness about Howard that is so likable, though. He would average more smiles per game than anyone else in the NBA if that were a statistic because the guy genuinely loves the game of basketball. Howard has taken some criticism for his happy-go-lucky style of play, but that hasn’t stopped him from flashing that grin as he runs up and down the court.

Shaquille O'Neal, one of Howard's biggest critics, had this to say about him (via ESPN LA):

"He's too nice," O'Neal said Tuesday on "The Max and Marcellus Show" on ESPNLA 710. "I'm a connoisseur of giggling and playing and all that and making you laugh and playing with the fans, but when I cross that line, I'm ready to tear your face off. I don't care who it is. You could put one of my aunts or uncles out there, and I'm going to give him these elbows in their chest and I'm going to throw it down in their face. That's what you have to do. ... He's just too nice. If I was him, I would get into the same mood I was in."

Whether Howard is actually lazy and soft or not remains to be seen. However, he hasn’t really displayed the type of heart that is needed in a franchise player. For example, he scored seven points against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the first round of the postseason and got himself ejected early in the contest. Howard seemed to quit on his squad, whose loss completed San Antonio's sweep of the series.

Seven points from a franchise player—really?

The majority of Lakers fans just don’t like D12. However, if they truly bleed purple and gold they will have to understand that retaining Howard is the only thing that will salvage 2014 for the team.

The era of Kobe Bryant singlehandedly winning championships is over. Bryant is recovering from surgery that repaired a torn Achilles and is currently 34 years old. The Black Mamba has vowed to come back from this devastating injury, and he probably will just because he is who he is, but can fans really expect to win a title like that?

Despite what he says, it’s unlikely that Bryant will be healthy and available for the start of next season. The best players on the team outside of the Mamba and D12 will be Steve Nash and Pau Gasol. That’s not exactly a championship-winning formula.

Howard is the best center in the league—does it really seem logical to not want him on your team? Despite his flaws, he is the only hope for the Lakers in the near future, and someone that fans of LA need to accept.

Sure, Howard isn’t perfect. Neither is any player in the NBA, on or off the court. LeBron James’ struggles in clutch situations doesn’t change the fact that he’s the best player on the planet, just as the blemishes in D12’s game and personality don’t change the fact that he’s the most dominant big man in the league.

Lakers fans might not want to hear this, but the guy that they want expelled from Los Angeles so badly is the only one who can save the franchise for the foreseeable future.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat: Game 6 Preview, TV Info and Predictions

Zach Buckley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:45:18 -0400

For one reason or another, the Miami Heat seem to like playing from behind.

Maybe they've bought into the external hype surrounding their superstar roster. Maybe they simply can't grasp the fact that other NBA teams can actually pose a formidable challenge until the scoreboard says so.

But come Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Heat are about to find out just how uplifting or damning that strategy is.

No matter how miraculous their ride has been, the San Antonio Spurs now find themselves one victory shy of their fifth NBA championship since 1999. They've handed out two of the four double-digit beatdowns in this title series and made more clutch plays on the only night when crunch time actually mattered (Game 1).

So what if San Antonio's been led by the unlikeliest of heroes, Danny Green? Between all of the championship runs and Hall of Fame highlights, haven't the Spurs always found a way to maximize the contributions of their unheralded supporting cast?

In a championship bout destined for the history books before the opening tip was ever tossed back on June 6, these teams know that the lasting legacy of this series won't be about the journey.

Style points and moral victories have long since lost their luster; the only important statistics on a stage this grand are wins and losses.

Time: Tuesday, June 18, 9 p.m. ET

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Florida

Series: Spurs lead 3-2

TV: ABC

Game 6 Key Storyline: Championship or Bust

NBA superpowers aren't formed for merchandise sales, packed houses or appreciative basketball gamers. Sacrifices (statistics, finances, reputations) are made for one reason and one reason alone: to bring home the Larry O'Brien trophy.

The Heat know this better than any of the other superteams that have cropped up across the basketball landscape since Miami's talented trio was brought together in the summer of 2010. Their six-game defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals was an utter disappointment. When Miami took the crown a year later, it was only seen as the precursor for even greater days ahead.

Now everything's at stake: Hall of Fame resumes, the 27-game winning streak, a 66-win regular season, possibly the fate of the Big Three as we know them.

Only none of that matters now. The only item of importance for Miami is a win on Tuesday night. The Heat can't afford to look back at how they got in this position or look ahead at the second win that's needed to complete a successful title defense.

Must-win games are one of the worst cliches in the professional sports vernacular. Come Tuesday night, though, those words will be so much more than a hollow catchphrase; they'll be a way of life for Miami.

San Antonio shouldn't have to fight for media coverage; the lack of rightful Spurs praise is one of the biggest basketball injustices that I can remember.

But the phenomenon isn't entirely a bad thing. While their dynasty-level accomplishments have been glossed over, so too have their rare moments of mortality.

A championship-or-bust mentality has never been forced on Gregg Popovich's team, not even during the peak years of Pop's Big Three. But even the constant media deflections that these players have taken from their legendary coach might not be enough to keep the magnitude of this moment from creeping inside San Antonio's locker room.

That might not have been the expectation entering the season, but expectations change. Even those who still see Miami as the favorite would admit that this would be a crushing collapse for the Spurs at this point.

And, like the Heat, the Spurs have to approach Game 6 with a win-or-go-home mentality. The momentum swings have been both active and wild in this series and would certainly appear to be back in Miami's favor if it could pull off a victory on Tuesday.

Series Star So Far: Danny Green

I'd ask the person who tabbed Danny Green as the series star through the first five games how they ever predicted that, but they're probably still counting their massive winnings.

Forget about his past lives in the D-League and on the waiver wire. Those days are clearly behind him. But don't lose sight of the fact that this is still a complementary rotation player putting forth the finest perimeter performance in finals history.

Here's a look at all 25 of his record-breaking triples through the first five games of this series.

But if all he was doing was making shots (yes, even at his ridiculous 65.8 percent success rate), he might not have a stranglehold on the NBA Finals MVP award. When that pure shooting stroke is combined with a relentless defensive effort, though, it's obvious which player has made the biggest imprint on this series so far.

Surrounded by Hall of Fame talents at both ends of the floor, Green has emerged as the lone consistent contributor in this series.

Unlikely? Yes. But unsustainable? Not necessarily.

While he's not a 66-percent marksman, he's solidified his standing as an elite-level sniper over the last two seasons. Dating back to the start of last season, he's converted 43.6 percent of his long-range looks (including both regular-season and postseason games).

Projected Starting Lineups

Miami: Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, LeBron James, Chris Bosh

San Antonio: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan

Heat Will Win If...

...They can put their best foot forward for a full 48 minutes.

Consistent focus has been a criticism of this team throughout the season, and surely one that Heat fans hoped would be solved well before Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Clearly that hasn't been the case. Miami sways back and forth between dominant and disengaged, its attitude apparently predetermined by the previous game's outcome.

But if the Heat are relying on their ability to put forth commanding spurts to topple the battle-tested Spurs, then this series is already over. Sure, we've seen flashes of those insurmountable runs (33-5 in the third and fourth quarters of Game 2), but more often than not San Antonio has weathered the storm.

This has nothing to do with strategic adjustments (although two of the starting five spots could well be up for grabs), but it has everything to do with the mental makeup of this Miami team.

The numbers weren't awful in the Heat's 114-104 loss in Game 5 (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen combined for 87 points) until you take San Antonio's mind-boggling 60 percent shooting into account. The Spurs are a strong shooting team, but that statistic had more to do with what the Heat weren't doing than anything.

Here's one more glaring stat for the Heat to ponder: Green is shooting 18-of-24 on uncontested threes in this series, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. How does a player who's clearly as dialed in as Green is right now manage nearly five uncontested looks per game?

Miami needs an efficient outing from the Big Three, needs Mike Miller to fire at will, has to have stronger point guard play and probably could use a little dose of Chris "Birdman" Andersen to help close off Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili's driving lanes.

And, for once, it needs all of those things to come together for all four quarters.

Spurs Will Win If...

...They can strike a balance between Popovich's new and old toys.

If a 3-2 deficit weren't bad enough for Miami, it grows exponentially more daunting when considering just how that third loss came about.

In Game 5, all of San Antonio's key pieces made substantial contributions. The Spurs' starters combined for 107 points, with no player cracking the 40-minute mark and none shooting below 53.3 percent from the field.

The Spurs are so much more than the aging core that dominates the little media attention they receive, but that doesn't diminish the importance of Parker, Ginobili or Duncan (or Popovich) in the least. When San Antonio is supporting its savvy stars with Green's bombs and Kawhi Leonard's athleticism, it's hard to envision this team losing one game, let alone two in a row.

If Parker and Ginobili continue causing havoc off the dribble, Green and Leonard (and Gary Neal) provide reliable kick-out options and Duncan doesn't relinquish his hold on the interior, the Spurs will be the second Texas team to end Miami's championship run on its home floor in three seasons.

But if Parker's hamstring flares up, Ginobili plays anything like he did in the first four games or Green finally wakes up from this magical dream, then the Spurs will be facing a winner-take-all Game 7 on Thursday night.

Prediction

The Heat don't lose consecutive games. At least they haven't in more than five months.

The Spurs don't waste chances to close out a series. They've won 14 of their last 16 potential series-clinching games since 2003, via ESPN.

Something has to give in Game 6. Maybe this is just a factor of growing up in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sports world of my generation, but I'll say that this year's trend is the one that continues.

Neither team has won back-to-back games in this series. I don't think that's going to change on Tuesday night.

As for what that means for Game 7, though, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Heat 99, Spurs 90

Follow @Hoops_Guru

Buying or Selling Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors Ahead of the NBA Draft

Greg Swartz — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:45:16 -0400

While the NBA Finals are still underway, plenty of buzz is being generated for teams out of the postseason as well.

With the 2013 NBA draft and free agency just weeks away, rumors are flying about which players will end up where.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the majority of the hype surrounding the team is focused on the draft, where they own the first overall pick. Who Cleveland will take is anyone's guess at this point, with several players making cases to go number one.

Which rumors surrounding the Cavaliers heading into the draft are pure fiction, and which are actually worth listening to?

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Power Ranking the Wolverines' 2013 Schedule from Easiest to Toughest

Austin Fox — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:38:11 -0400

We are only in mid-June, yet it's never too early to start breaking down the schedule for this upcoming season of Michigan Wolverines football.

We have a very good feel of how all of the opponents are shaping up to be, so, barring anything unforeseen, these projections should actually be quite accurate.

Everyone has their opinions on which games are the easiest and which will be the toughest, so here's my take at it.

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