Bleacher Report - Front Page

WWE Main Event Superstars in the Making

Justin LaBar — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:35:32 -0400

WWE has a lot of talented guys on its roster but have few stars.

So many established main event stars have left, retired or moved to a part-time schedule in the past few years. This all happened at the same time WWE really structured their developmental system with NXT.

The result is a lot of young guys whom WWE has to build new guys to be top stars.

In this video, I tell you what key thing I look for in stars who are destined for the main event and who they are.

Follow @JustinLaBar on Twitter

San Francisco Giants: Why It's Too Soon to Panic for the Giants

Kyle Brown — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:33:25 -0400

After the most recent road trip, when the San Francisco Giants went 1-5 against the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies, fans are starting to run around like Chicken Little, proclaiming that the sky is falling. And while it was undoubtedly a disastrous week in terms of pitching and defense, there is reason to be optimistic about how the rest of the season will unfold for the Giants.

The first issue with the Giants as of late has been their atrocious defense. During the six-game road trip, the Giants committed 13 errors, some of which came on more-than-routine plays, like Marco Scutaro's drop of an easy pop up that he would've normally caught blindfolded. It was uncharacteristic for the Giants, who are generally a very sound defensive team.

On the season, the Giants have accumulated 35 errors, which is tied for the second most in the majors. That is certainly an alarming amount, but there is no reason to believe this trend will continue with the individual fielders the Giants have on the roster.

Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Buster Posey all have potential to win Gold Glove awards in the future, and Pablo Sandoval, Marco Scutaro and Gregor Blanco are all plus fielders as well. And while Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence aren't going to find themselves making web gems on a regular basis, they are by no means liabilities in the field. A team does not devolve into a bad defensive team overnight.

The starting pitching, however, is a bit more problematic at the moment, and there is some cause for concern. On this road trip alone, the Giants' starting pitching had an ERA of 9.82. As a result, the rotation's ERA on the season is now 4.78, which is eighth highest in the major leagues.

It has been quite some time since the Giants' starting pitching has struggled this much. In fact, you'd have to look all the way back to 1999 to find when the rotation had a higher ERA than it has now, which was 4.96. It's even a tougher pill to swallow now since the Giants have had a top-five rotation in baseball for the past four seasons.

While it's too soon to say that those days are nothing more than a distant memory, the inconsistencies of Tim Lincecum over the past two years and the recent injury to Ryan Vogelsong makes one wonder if it's time to shake up the rotation for the first time since the beginning of 2012.

While it is impossible to predict how the Giants rotation will fare for the rest of the season, the law of averages tends to balance itself out over the course of the season. If you were to tell me that Matt Cain, Lincecum and Vogelsong would finish with ERAs of 5.43, 4.70 and 7.19, respectively, I would probably bet against that.

And even with the struggling pitching staff, the Giants have been evolving as a team over the past year anyways. Believe it or not, the Giants have scored 210 runs this year, which is the third most in the NL. They also have a .274 batting average, which is the highest in the NL.

The Giants are no longer an offensively challenged team like they were in 2010. They can put runs on the board with the best of them and have multiple come-from-behind victories this season.

And when it's all said and done, the Giants are still five games over .500 and only one game behind the first-place Diamondbacks.

The rotation may not regain its dominance, but it's only a matter or time before it gets better. And once that happens, there won't be a scarier team in the NL.

10 NBA Players Who Will Definitely Switch Uniforms This Offseason

Alec Nathan — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:31:49 -0400

This summer, an impressive class of free agents is set to hit the open market.

While the futures of superstars Dwight Howard and Chris Paul remain up in the air, there are several impending free agents who look like locks to switch uniforms this offseason.

Some would argue that the best way to build a contender is to do so through free agency. If that's the opinion your favorite team holds, then you're in luck.

Note: All stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference and all salary figures courtesy of HoopsHype unless noted otherwise.

Begin Slideshow

Why Ben Roethlisberger Must Take Ownership of Steelers' Offense

Chris G. — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:25:48 -0400

After one season in Todd Haley’s offense, you can put to rest the talk that Ben Roethlisberger and his offensive coordinator would not get along. But while the two functioned together, there is still room to grow as the Pittsburgh Steelers try to fix their offense.

Gone is Roethlisberger's best receiving option in Mike Wallace. No longer does he have that deep threat to just heave the ball up to.

Without this crutch, Roethlisberger must go “all-in” with Haley’s offense.

Pittsburgh's offense is now littered with small, quick receivers who are going to fit perfectly into the quick rhythm passing attack that was implemented last season.

But not all was well with this type of play.

Roethlisberger caused a bit of a stir when he spoke out about the offensive scheme in the middle of the 2012 season (via Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).

“Haley’s offense is not a big-play offense,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s kind of a dink-and-dunk offense.”

Not exactly the big blowout that some were expecting between Roethlisberger and Haley, but enough to get you thinking, is Haley taking Roethlisberger out of his comfort zone?

It was a valid question.

Roethlisberger was never a rhythm passer. He doesn’t like to take a three-step drop and get rid of the ball. That was not the style of play that made him one of the great quarterbacks in the game.

Instead, it was his improvisational skills: the ability to scramble around the pocket, avoid going down on first contact and making a play downfield. No quarterback is better at extending plays.

But the now-31-year old quarterback is not the same athlete he was five years ago.

Roethlisberger isn’t as fast as he used to be. His body cannot recover from the types of hits he takes on a weekly basis. While he is not fragile, he does get hurt a lot.

Injuries have gotten the best of Roethlisberger and the Steelers. It could be argued that the injuries he’s suffered over the past two seasons have been the main reason for the team's end-of-season failures.

There cannot be a repeat this season if the Steelers are going to compete for a playoff spot. They need Roethlisberger healthy and on the field for the entire season. That means he has to take full ownership of what Haley is trying to accomplish on offense.

The first thing Roethlisberger will have to do is adjust to the new offensive line.

Expect Marcus Gilbert to take over for Max Starks at left tackle and to experience some growing pains. Not exactly what you want from the man protecting the quarterback’s blind side, but it is a reality.

So is the fact that the likely starter at right tackle—Mike Adams—struggles in pass protection.

Roethlisberger is going to face a ton of pressure from the edge, and he is going to have to fully embrace the short passing game.

The receiving trio of Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Markus Wheaton will certainly help him in this area. They are all dangerous options on short routes as well as over the middle of the field and have the speed to break a short completion into a long gain.

But timing will be the key for the offense to be successful. Training camp will be important for Roethlisberger and his receivers to establish their rhythm.

This was not a luxury that Roethlisberger had last season when he was without his top receiver for camp as he held out for a new contract. That should not be an issue this year.

Neither should any perceived—or potential—disagreements that Roethlisberger has with the offensive philosophy.

Though he may not have liked the dink-and-dunk approach, it was showing signs of success prior to Roethlisberger's injury last season. However, it still needed some tweaks.

Apparently those changes have been made and Roethlisberger is feeling much better about his comfort level with the offensive heading into 2013 (via Steelers.com).

Yeah, a little bit. There’s a little more comfort. There has been some changes this offseason in some of the offensive philosophies, playbook and some things that I think are good. It’s some compromise from all different position coaches, running back coaches, line, and quarterback coaches. I think we’ve taken a little bit of everything and made it a lot better. You can ask anybody on offense that, including coaches, and they’ll tell you that we all like the way the offense is and where it’s going.

That sounds like a happy quarterback. It also sounds like a quarterback who realized the offense still needs to get better in many areas.

More short throws and fewer hits on Roethlisberger was nice, but the lack of points on the scoreboard wasn’t.

There is still a place for defense in the NFL, but it is an offensive league now, and to succeed, teams have to put points on the board. That is one problem that has plagued the Steelers in recent years.

But with his comments, Roethlisberger sounds pleased with the direction in which the offense will be moving.

While we are months away from seeing what they have in store for us, you have to believe that Roethlisberger, Haley and the rest of the offensive coaching staff took the best of what Roethlisberger does and combined it with the best of Haley’s offense.

More importantly, it sounds like an offense that Roethlisberger is ready to take ownership of.

In a quarterback-driven league, great play from your signal-caller is the difference between a Super Bowl contender and a team sitting at home for the playoffs.

Roethlisberger must take command of the offense to remind everyone why he is recognized as one of the best in the game. More importantly, it will get his team back to competing for championships.

Follow @ChrisG_FC

How Maurice Jones-Drew Can Return from Injury, Regain Top 5 Form in 2013

Jon Shumake — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:22:50 -0400

The Jacksonville Jaguars' offense has run through Maurice Jones-Drew since he took over the starting role in 2009, but his body may have started breaking down after all the years of constant pounding.

Jones-Drew has been run into the ground since becoming the starting running back. He is seventh among active running backs with almost 1,600 career rushing attempts, and more than 1,000 of the rushes have come since 2009.

He wasn't just the focal point of the offense; Jones-Drew was accountable for the the majority of it.

Counting his 343 rushes and 43 receptions in 2011, Jones-Drew had his hands on the ball on almost 53 percent of the team's plays.

That trend continued last season as he was responsible for 76 percent of Jacksonville's rushing attempts through the first five games.

Jones-Drew was the engine that kept the Jaguars offense running, but the high mileage on his tires could be to blame for the engine breaking down.

All the touches caught up to him last year, as he suffered a season-ending foot injury early in the Jaguars Week 7 game against the Oakland Raiders. The team hoped the injury would heal itself, but Jones-Drew ultimately underwent surgery in December to repair the injury, according to an ESPN.com report.

Despite undergoing surgery to repair the mid-foot fracture, according to Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times Union, Jones-Drew still has plenty of time to recover and return to being one of the league's best running backs.

It's been a long road, though, as the delay to undergo surgery has meant he hasn't been able to participate in offseason workouts thus far.

Although he hasn't been on the field, he's been steadily progressing throughout the offseason. The walking boot he was in was removed in late March, and he began jogging soon after, according to Gene Frenette of The Florida Times-Union.

He's continued to progress and is slowly getting closer to being 100 percent.

Jones-Drew will continue his rehabilitation in Miami for the next two weeks with Pete Bommarito, who has worked with ex-Jaguar Fred Taylor in the past. First-year head coach Gus Bradley told Vito Stellino of The Florida Times-Union that he wanted Jones-Drew in attendance at the minicamps as the team installed the offense, but that phase of the offseason is over.

Bradley said, per Stellino:

“I said we need you here and he did that and he said, ‘OK, now that we’ve all the installs done let’s take the next step.’ ’’

Jones-Drew is expected back by June, but it's unclear whether he will be ready for July's training camp, according to Stellino's report.

Jones-Drew is doing all the right things to recover from the injury to ensure he returns to form, but the Jaguars are also doing their part to make sure they load the offense with as much talent as possible to give him the chance to succeed.

That began with first-round pick Luke Joeckel, who immediately steps in as the team's right tackle. This should allow for for running lanes and give all the team's running backs, including Jones-Drew, chances to run free.

The Jaguars also won't rely almost exclusively on Jones-Drew to move the ball. The team added players this offseason who could develop into playmakers who should take some of the pressure off Jones-Drew.

The most notable of these additions is fifth-round pick Denard Robinson. The Jaguars plan to give Robinson 10-15 touches a game, according to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. By doing so, the Jaguars are lessening the amount of punishment Jones-Drew takes, which could lengthen his career.

Jones-Drew has also always been a player who's been motivated by outside forces; his jersey number acts as a reminder of the number of teams that passed over him in the first round. He is entering the final year of his contract, which will drive him to perform well to earn the biggest contract possible.

If he continues to recover from surgery the way he has, there is no reason to believe he won't return as one of the league's top running backs. The Jaguars won't solely rely on him to be the entire offense anymore, but he will still play a vital role for the young team.

Auburn Football: What Game Has the Best Chance to Be an Instant Classic in 2013?

Brett Mixon — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:22:35 -0400

Throughout the history of the Auburn football program, there have been many classic games that helped shape the rich and proud tradition of the Auburn Tigers.

At least once a year, there is a game that becomes one of those instant classics. You know the ones, the types of games that are hard to ever forget. The 1993 and 1994 Florida games and the 2004 Georgia game are some of the great Auburn classic games.

Some classics are so good that they become ingrained into the Auburn history books.

There's "17-16," "Bo Over The Top," "The Barn Burner" and of course, "28-27." Even in the horrible 2012 campaign there was a classic game that Auburn fans will remember. Auburn nearly upset LSU, who was ranked No. 2 in the country at the time.

What does 2013 have in store for Auburn fans? Approximately 100 days away from the start of the college football season, one game that is primed to be an instant classic for Auburn fans in 2013 is the matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs in "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry." The Bulldogs travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the second consecutive year on November 16.

These classic games involving Auburn usually have a few of the same ingredients—they occur against one of Auburn's natural rivals, it's a game where the Tigers are an underdog and there is usually a lot at stake.

The Georgia game in 2013 has all of those ingredients and then some.

The Bulldogs have dominated the rivalry since 2006. Auburn's only win since that season came in 2010. Georgia has pulled even in the record books over the last few years and the overall series record is 54-54-8.

The rivalry between Georgia and Auburn is one of the best in college football. Except for three years that saw World War I and World War II interrupt the series, the Bulldogs and Tigers have clashed on an annual basis since 1892.

It's a rivalry where many fans of the two institutions work closely among each other daily. Auburn's campus is only 28 miles from the Georgia state line.

The pain of losing to the other team is almost greater than the joy of winning. It's a true rivalry.

Auburn will definitely be a heavy underdog in November.

The 2012 SEC championship game was a game that saw time run out on Georgia's bid to upset Alabama and make an appearance in the national championship game. The Bulldogs return a lot of talent from the 2012 team on the offensive side of the ball, including QB Aaron Murray—who has torched the Tigers in his time wearing the red and black of Georgia.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach has the Bulldogs ranked No. 7 in his very early 2013 preseason poll.

Given that the annual meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers is always played in November, there is also always a lot at stake.

In 2010, Auburn clinched a spot in the SEC championship game when it defeated Georgia. The Bulldogs did the same when it defeated Auburn last fall inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. There is a good chance Georgia could be trying to do the same thing in November when it returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

So, the ingredients for a classic game or even a classic upset are there for the Tigers. Why Georgia?

A few things stand out here to make me think this game will be closer than it should be and give Auburn a chance to make this game one of the best in recent memory.

As much talent as Georgia has on its roster, the defense took a big hit to graduation and the NFL draft. According to Dave Miller of The National Football Post, 12 players that started two or more games on defense for Georgia have departed.

Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee liked what he saw from the revamped defense of the 'Dawgs in their spring game. Still, for a defense that was ranked No. 77 in rushing defense in 2012 along with losing a lot of veteran starters, that is a stock that needs to be held and not bought quite yet.

That young defense will have all the game experience under their belt by the time the Auburn game rolls around in November. However, other than the matchup against Clemson in Week 1, the Bulldogs do not see an offense that is paced and run-oriented quite like Auburn will run in 2013.

Speaking of Auburn's offense, when Malzahn's offense was unbridled in 2009 and 2010, it had plenty of success against Georgia's defense (to be fair, Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was not the defensive coordinator in 2009). In 2010, Auburn treated Grantham's defense like it did every other defense in the league. It racked up 49 points and 484 yards (336 rushing, 148 passing).

In 2011, Georgia dominated Auburn from start to finish, although it should be noted that the tempo aspect of Auburn's offense had been long gone at that point.

If the improved Auburn defense can get a few stops, chances are that Auburn's offense will likely be able to keep up with Georgia.

Lastly, this rivalry has been known to turn out instant classics and its share of upsets. Georgia fans remember the 2006 game fondly. Auburn was ranked No. 5 in the country and a young QB named Matthew Stafford led the Bulldogs to a 37-15 upset.

Who can forget the SEC's first overtime game in 1996 between these two teams? Or in 2005 when Auburn's John Vaughn kicked the game-winning field goal against No. 9 Georgia in Athens?

It's way too early to say that Auburn will pull off a big upset against Georgia in November. However, with the game nearly five months away, it's easy to say this game more than any other on the schedule is one that you won't want to miss.

Follow @TrueBlueAU

The Bugs Are Back in Town: Charlotte Prepares to Renew Love Affair with Hornets

Austin Penny — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:16:10 -0400

When Michael Jordan announced Tuesday evening that the Charlotte Bobcats will officially begin the rebranding process associated with bringing the Hornets moniker back to the city it originated (and belongs) in, you may have been able to hear the cheers as far away as New Orleans.

While there have been, and will continue to be, naysayers who believe that the name should remain a memory in the city of Charlotte and not be returned to the spotlight, the vast majority of people in town have supported the movement to bring the Hornets namesake back to its home.

It's not that we're so jaded that we believe that changing the colors of the jersey and the name on the front will somehow magically turn this franchise into a perennial contender, or that it will even fill up the seats in Time Warner Cable Arena on a nightly basis. It's the fact that now, after over a decade of having a basketball team with no identity and next to no appeal, there is a reason to be proud of the team.

After a long and mostly fruitless battle to be heard in the community, those who were advocates to bringing the Hornets back to Charlotte received a major boost in late 2010 when the much-maligned George Shinn was finally forced out of the NBA after becoming unable to pay loan payments to the NBA.

He sold the team to the league to try to keep the franchise in New Orleans, ultimately opening the door for the possibility of the name becoming available down the line.

The push to bring back the nickname grew exponentially from there and reached a boiling point earlier this year when the new owner of the New Orleans franchise, Tom Benson, announced that the team would be changing its nickname from Hornets to Pelicans. Benson, who also owns the NFL's New Orleans Saints, said then that the name Hornets "didn't mean anything to (the New Orleans) community."

The name surely means something to the community of Charlotte. Bobcats Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Pete Guelli, who joined Jordan at the press conference on Tuesday, said that about an 80 percent of those polled were in favor of rebranding the franchise as the Hornets.

Social networking groups dedicated solely to the purpose grew dramatically and even arranged meet-ups at Bobcats games decked out in Charlotte Hornets gear. The most rewarding thing about this name change is the realization that the team heard the community, listened and gave the fans what they wanted.

The next step is to find a way to recreate the amazing atmosphere that was present at The Hive back in the Hornets' heyday in Charlotte while also updating the brand to a time-appropriate entity. While I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for most, it is unrealistic to expect to step into a time machine to the early '90s every time you step foot in Time Warner Cable Arena going forward.

As Guelli said Tuesday, it will have been 12 years since the Hornets were last in town, and every business adapts and evolves in some way during that kind of time frame.

There are certain aspects of the old Hornets experience that can be easily transitioned to the 2014-and-beyond version. Things such as nicknaming the arena "The Hive," having the team sport the iconic purple-and-teal color scheme and having Hugo as the mascot are no-brainers.

Other traditions like the THX sound effect being played before tip-off and Super Hugo performing dunks to Billy Idol's "Mony, Mony," after the third period would be great to see as well.

Obviously, pop culture has changed dramatically since the last time the city of Charlotte rejoiced about the arrival of the Hornets, but the franchise should do its best to sprinkle in nostalgia where it can, at least to begin with.

The 2014-15 season could be the first legitimate step towards finality in this seemingly never-ending rebuilding period this team has been going through since making its only playoff run in 2009-10. Not only will the Hornets name be back, but they could potentially have three lottery picks in what is shaping up to be one of the better NBA drafts in the last several years.

They will finally be rid of a slew of bad contracts and, as of right now, will have only roughly $11.4 million on the books. While that number is sure to go up, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the team could be at the podium three times during the lottery, or that they could package together two or more of those picks to take whomever they want.

The real cause for optimism, though, is the fact that this franchise has heard the voice of its fanbase and its community and responded positively. As we saw in Charlotte when the original Hornets were in their fledgling years, fan support can play a role in the success of a team. When a team knows the arena it is playing in has the back of the team, magic can happen.

This team was in dire need of finding a way to re-engage and expand its franchise, and it has done just that.

This is a great day for this franchise and for the city of Charlotte. Hopefully this time, the Hornets are here to stay.

---

Follow me on Twitter @AustinPenny

Microsoft Woos Sports Fans with Extensive Fantasy Football Content for Xbox One

Gabe Zaldivar — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:08:49 -0400

Microsoft, you have our attention.

A video game-mad world sat with eager anticipation on Tuesday when Microsoft announced their next console named Xbox One. As we would soon learn, there is indeed a great deal involved to interest sports fans.

Mashable brings what has to be amazing news for fantasy football owners who were already planning on plunking down a handsome sum to get the console whenever it releases.

One of the most interesting developments is the NFL will partner with Microsoft to bring exclusive content to the system as well as to an owner's "tablet and smartphone apps that ties the TV experience in with your fantasy league teams."

In the simplest of terms, users will be able to watch live games and get updates on their fantasy teams all on the same TV screen.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had this to say, via Mashable.

From the use of instant replay to the yellow first-down line that has become an important element of the at-home television viewing experience, the NFL is committed to leveraging technology to improve our game for coaches, players and fans. We're thrilled to be teaming with a true innovator like Microsoft to shape the future of the NFL game experience, both on-field and in the living room.

The following video hints at what one might expect from the marriage of NFL coverage and Xbox One's software.

That's not all, because it seems sports fans will be able to seamlessly go between video game playing and sports watching.

The following Wired video touches upon that very thing.

Wired also reports on what Xbox One owners can expect from the system in what they call "Snapping in," which is "the Xbox One’s task-switching mechanism, and it’s made possible by some serious operating system kung fu. The Xbox One simultaneously runs three separate operating systems."

That "Snapping" allows users to instantly go from playing a game to watching SportsCenter. As they note, it also helps fantasy sports owners.

Keeping an eye on your fantasy football team while you watch Monday Night Football? Done. It’s the second-screen experience—all on one screen.

So far, there is no word on whether the fantasy sports tool works across multiple website platforms like Yahoo! Sports, or if this is simply isolated to leagues run by NFL.com.

Either way, it's interesting to see where living room entertainment is headed for sports fans.

I remember the days when dedicating time to playing Bases Loaded or Madden meant missing some vital sports programming.

Microsoft may have inched us closer to having all we could ever want as far as sports entertainment. While I need to see it to actually believe this is a game changer, I can't say that I am not extremely interested to see how it all works out.

You had me at football, Microsoft.

Hit me up on Twitter for more pop in your culture: Follow @gabezal

Preview of Champions League Final

Michael Cummings — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:07:19 -0400

European club football’s most prestigious prize is at stake this weekend in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London. The all-German matchup of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund promises plenty of intrigue, excitement and drama.

Bayern won the Bundesliga in fantastic style this season, setting several records while blowing away the competition. After an early slip-up in the group stage against BATE Borisov, Bayern have been just as impressive in the Champions League, sweeping aside mighty Barcelona by a 7-0 aggregate score in the semifinals.

Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, won the Group of Death—which also contained Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax—before surviving Malaga in the quarterfinals and eliminating Real in the semis.

These teams know each other well. Dortmund won back-to-back Bundesliga titles before Bayern reclaimed the crown this season, when the teams drew both league meetings. As added spice, Dortmund’s Mario Gotze is set to switch sides in the summer and join Bayern, per BBC Sport.

How will the match play out? Which team will lift the Champions League trophy? B/R World Football Lead Writer Michael Cummings previews the match in the clip above. After watching, be sure to add your prediction in the comments section.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Analyzing Otto Porter's Best Attributes Heading into 2013 NBA Draft

Jesse Reed — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:06:11 -0400

Otto Porter is one of the most talked-about players leading up to the 2013 NBA draft, and for good reason. The 19-year-old small forward out of Georgetown is supremely talented, selfless to a fault, understands the nuances of the game and treats every single play like it's his last.

Last year at Georgetown, Porter helped the Hoyas earn a No. 2 seed in the 2013 NCAA tournament before the team was stunned in the round of 64 by Florida Gulf Coast.

He averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks per contest, displaying an excellent all-around game.

Here's a closer look at some of his best qualities—the big reasons why NBA teams are salivating over the chance to land him in the 2013 NBA draft.

Physique

Professional teams aren't just looking for skilled players; they are looking for skilled players who are also elite athletes and who possess outstanding height and length.

Porter, a 6'8", 198-pound small forward, possesses these qualities.

Not only does he have the height to make big plays inside and out, but Porter also has an impressive wingspan, as ESPN's Chad Ford reports:

Though Porter isn't necessarily the quickest man on the perimeter, he is an excellent slasher who can score inside when playing off the ball.

His length allows him to shoot over the top of his defenders on offense and smother his opponent on the defensive side of the court.

Old-School Mentality, Old-School Game

Too many young players these days abandon the mid-range game. In fact, the mid-range jumper is almost becoming a lost art in the NBA—barring the big men who have become adept at stepping out, that is.

Porter is an excellent mid-range shooter who can hit 15- to 18-foot jumpers in his sleep. He is strong at moving without the ball and is an excellent catch-and-shoot player.

He's also an aggressive, tenacious defender on the perimeter and down low in the paint.

These are traits that many young players lack coming into the NBA, and his maturity on and off the court has impressed many people during his time at Georgetown.

Mike Wise of the Washington Post recently wrote a column about Porter's old-school tendencies. He detailed Porter's selflessness, his beyond-his-years maturity and his team focus. Leading to his conclusion, Wise paints a vivid picture with these words:

Porter is an old basketball soul, from somewhere around 1960, trapped in a 2013 Nike Summer Jam universe. He has some of Scottie Pippen’s elongated arms, a little of George Gervin’s smooth and a bit of John Havlicek’s clutch.

And now he’s all but gone — headed for the NBA, where K.D., LeBron and Kobe will soon have to contend with O.P., the new-jack cat with the ancient game.

If that's not poetry, then I don't know what is.

Conclusion

Porter may never develop into an elite scorer like LeBron James or Kevin Durant, but he's going to make an immediate and positive impact on the team that drafts him.

If drafted by a franchise that already features an excellent point guard and a big man who can score, Porter will flourish, as will his new team.

His team-first mentality, phenomenal work ethic and jack-of-all-trades skill set make him a rare treasure. NBA teams love to get their hands on young men like him, and you can be sure Porter will be one of the early selections when the 2013 NBA draft kicks off on June 27.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Les Miles' Biggest Challenges for the LSU Tigers in 2013

Jake Martin — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:00:00 -0400

It's time for Les Miles to earn that $3.75 million annual salary, not that he hasn't already.

In order for the Tigers to win an SEC Championship and win another national championship in 2013, Miles must produce one of his greatest coaching jobs to date.

His job begins internally. Here again, aren't we Tigers fans? Oh the headaches these players induce with their troublemaking.

Overcoming departures/suspensions

Before we get into all that, first things first—fill the gaps. This is what Miles is best at.

Miles can recruit with the best of them, and because of this, he has plenty of talented players to choose from. So when Tigers fans worry about filling the gaps on the defensive side of the ball, I simply say, rest easy—The Mad Hatter has plenty of tools in his toolbox.

The defensive line is depleted, but Anthony Johnson returns, along with many flashy 4-star newcomers such as Frank Herron, Tashawn Bower, Kendell Beckwith, Maquedius Bain and Greg Gilmore.

Will they be as effective as M&M (Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo) and Bennie Logan? Eh, that's not likely, but they'll be talented nonetheless.

As for the linebacker position, this is where LSU's fantastic 2012 recruiting class comes in handy. You know, the one LSU fans moaned about. The Tigers recruited three linebackers in the ESPN 150 that year.

That's all good news...Are you ready for the bad news? The Tigers may have to play this season without Jeremy Hill at running back. "Big deal, this happens every year. Somebody new will step up," a Tigers fan will usually say.

Normally that's the case, but this year is different. The Tigers no longer have Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, and who knows if Alfred Blue will return to form after injuring his knee last season? That puts a heavy load on Kenny Hilliard. Meanwhile, Terrence Magee will have to step up and be a regular contributor.

Behind a strong offensive line, Blue, Hilliard and Magee can carry the load for the Tigers, but that means they must all remain healthy. Here's to hoping Hill's legal troubles don't sideline him too long. To go along with that, here's to hoping LSU players stay out of the bars this offseason.

Overcoming a daunting schedule

SEC scheduling rant commence. Just who is booking these SEC schedules nowadays?

Is it a coincidence that Texas A&M and Alabama have the easiest schedules in the conference? There's no sense in sugarcoating it. This is the toughest schedule LSU has inherited in the past decade, and meanwhile, the Aggies and Crimson Tide benefit from much easier schedules.

Via ESPN Video, Miles has already set the pace for this schedule with his comments about it a few weeks ago: "We like to think there's only one school in the country that can go through it."

Taking it one game at a time will be a must for the Tigers. Besides UAB, Kent State and Furman, LSU will face two of the top three teams from the SEC East, SEC West and TCU.

To quote, via the Sporting News, the always quotable Les Miles, "Strap it up," boys.

Putting the offense in the hands of Cam Cameron

Change can be good.

Miles has to realize this after the Tigers had a meltdown in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl against Clemson. It's time to hand the offense over to somebody who knows what he's doing.

Cam Cameron is that man.

Cameron has done nothing but impress since he's accepted the offensive coordinator position. Sure, the Tigers have yet to play their first game, but hurrying up the offense, utilizing more spread formations and giving Zach Mettenberger more options (spreading running backs wide) in the spring are a great start.

It might be somewhat delusional to expect Cameron to come in and contribute greatly in his first year, but then again, isn't that what LSU is all about? Just like Miles successfully inserts freshmen into the offense and defense, Cameron will impressively fine-tune the offense, 2007 Gary Crowton style (when his play-calling was innovative).

Yes, the deck is stacked heavily against the Tigers this year, but we've seen crazier things happen with Miles serving as the Tigers head coach. Missouri and West Virginia getting upset to allow a two-loss LSU team to advance to the national championship game in 2007 ring any bells?

Stay optimistic, Tigers fans.

Nerlens Noel Should Not Be a Lock to Go 1st Overall at 2013 NBA Draft

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:59:39 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft is just over one month away, 30 general managers are scrambling to figure out which player is worthy of the No. 1 overall selection. This isn't because of the abundance of superstars, but instead the lack of franchise players.

While Nerlens Noel appears to be the popular choice, there's something we must acknowledge—no player should be a lock to go No. 1.

There's good reason to perceive Noel as the top prospect, as he's the most dominant interior defender we've seen all season. Not only is he an explosive athlete, but he has extraordinary length with a 7'4" wingspan and displays maturity while defending the rim.

For those in need of statistical evidence, Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 4.4 blocks and 2.1 steals during the 2012-13 college basketball season.

Unfortunately, there are knocks against Noel that have some questioning whether or not he should, in fact, be the first pick. Despite the imposing nature of his near 7'0" frame with a 7'4" wingspan and explosive athleticism, most of the questions have to do with his body.

Weighing in at 206 pounds and coming off of a torn ACL are certainly ways to cause some to question your ability to be a dominant interior player at the next level.

The truth of the matter is, Noel is not the issue with this year's draft, as he'd likely have gone in the top 10 of the 2012 draft. The true issue is that Noel joins his peers in a draft without a transcending athlete.

For that reason, it all comes down to fit, as the value is unclear.

Who Needs What?

There are more than a handful of teams that could use Nerlens Noel, as rim protecting centers are the heart of almost every title contender. With that being said, there are also teams that feel confident at center and could thus pass over Noel.

That includes the Orlando Magic, who possess the best odds to win the first overall draft choice.

Need has rarely been an issue for teams drafting first overall, as there is often a superstar ripe for the picking. In 2013, however, we experienced a season in which no individual college or international athlete emerged as the cream of the crop.

To this date, we still haven't found that player.

For that reason, it's going to come down to which position a team targets in this year's draft. If that isn't center, then Noel has yet to prove he's the future All-NBA selection that going No. 1 overall would suggest he is.

Unless that changes from here until the draft, there's no reason to draft blindly.

Balanced Draft

When it comes right down to it, Nerlens Noel has yet to separate himself from any of the top players in this year's draft. Noel may have a higher upside, but since his injury, all we've had to go on is the success or failure of his competition.

With Ben McLemore, Otto Porter, Trey Burke and Anthony Bennett all proving enough to warrant consideration, that makes this decision even more difficult.

The top debate is between Noel and McLemore, as they appear to be the class of the draft at their respective positions. McLemore is an elite jump shooter with tantalizing athleticism and the frame to develop into a strong physical specimen, while Noel is a dominant interior defender.

The rest of the group simply adds intrigue.

Burke was the National Player of the Year, winning both the Naismith and Wooden awards, while Porter is easily the most complete player in the draft. Bennett, meanwhile, is 6'8" and 240 pounds with a 7'1" wingspan and explosive athleticism.

And we haven't even touched on Victor Oladipo—the player who I've consistently labeled as the best in this draft.

One way or another, the decision made on draft night is going to be one that comes without ease. No player is a guaranteed star, nor are they proven in the sense of being able to lead a franchise into the future.

Noel may be the most attractive name, but one thing is clear—no one is guaranteed to do anything in this year's draft.

Updated Report Card Grades for Every 2013 NBA Playoff Team Left Standing

Josh Martin — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:59:31 -0400

It's been a couple weeks since we last sat down for NBA playoffs "Parent-Teacher Conferences." The field of competitors has been trimmed down to four, with the most intense games yet to be played.

As you can imagine, then, the grades for the remaining teams have shifted considerably. We might as well consider these marks as extra credit, seeing as how 26 other squads won't have any say in how things play out from this point forward.

But that's what it takes to claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy in any given year, isn't it? One hoops collective must go above and beyond the usual call of on-court duty to achieve something much bigger, much more desirable and much more permanent historically than any single paycheck.

Enough with the fluff, though. Go ahead and have a look at how the NBA's most dedicated "students" have fared in the proverbial classroom to this point.

Before I get too far up my own you-know-what with philosophical froo-froo.

Begin Slideshow

Brock Lesnar: WWE Needs to Book Him Against More Superstars

Bill Atkinson — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:49:53 -0400

When is Brock Lesnar going to start proving that the two-year contract he signed earlier this year is not amounting to anything more than a license to steal cash?

I know, I know. He’s 36 years old and is showing signs of what living life at full throttle can do to a body. He really has nothing left to prove.

Since returning to WWE in 2012, the man Paul Heyman calls “The Beast” has been in a grand total of four matches—three of them against the same opponent. And that same opponent, Triple H, is in the same boat as Lesnar—a long-time, battle-tested veteran whose body could be starting to betray him.

The fourth match was a loss to John Cena at the 2012 Extreme Rules pay-per-view that saw quite an intense buildup.

The night after WrestleMania 28, Lesnar burst back onto the scene in a big way by dropping Cena with his F5 finisher. In the month before their Extreme Rules match, Lesnar and Cena had some encounters that left Cena bloodied.

Yes, Lesnar is a tough individual whose ferocity has been tested and proven over the years. And the two-year contract that will bind him to WWE through WrestleMania 31 must be one heck of a sweetheart deal to let him pick when, where and against whom he will wrestle.

In fact, the only other WWE folks Lesnar has come in close contact with are Vince McMahon, Josh Matthews and 3MB. And the McMahon encounter served a dual purpose in justifying McMahon’s hip surgery and sparking the WrestleMania 29 match against Triple H.

But Josh Matthews and 3MB? Really? No offense, but have you seen them?

Lesnar’s grandmother probably could have handled them with little effort.

The story is not unique to Lesnar. I said the same thing when The Rock came back to WWE. During his time there, he also faced basically two opponents in Cena and CM Punk.

But unlike Lesnar, Rock had other entertainment opportunities. He had Hollywood, and everyone knew WWE was basically a respite between films.

Lesnar did not have such a fallback. The only thing he knew—make that, knows—is fighting.

Fighting is in his blood. That’s why he has been so successful.

Now, it’s time for Lesnar to do a little more than just work to the WWE contract. It’s time for WWE to make him face someone else besides Triple H or John Cena. If he is still as beastly as Paul Heyman claims he is, then Lesnar should have no trouble accepting any challenge.

There are many other top Superstars in WWE who would welcome the opportunity to show their mettle against him.

Who out there would not love to see Lesnar face Randy Orton? Now that would be an intense match.

Sheamus? If you look beyond the goofiness, you will see that he is one of the toughest young stars in WWE. His recent programs with The Big Show and Mark Henry proved that Sheamus does his best ring work when his opponent is bigger, stronger and meaner than him.

A Sheamus-Lesnar program could be quite the contest.

Let’s look on the other side of the coin.

What about a Lesnar program with Mark Henry, The Big Show or Wade Barrett? Of those three, I would enjoy seeing Lesnar face off with Barrett the most.

Barrett’s Bull Hammer elbow would face its stiffest challenge yet against that big, hard head of Lesnar’s. And the tough Brit has more speed than either Henry or Big Show, so it would not look like Lesnar is fighting against a glacier.

Why am I suggesting Barrett? Based on what I saw on Raw Monday night when Fandango argued with and then ignored Barrett in their tag-team match, I have an inkling that a Barrett face turn may not be far away.

Of course I am purposely waiting until the end to mention one particular wrestler’s name as a potential Lesnar opponent. That would be the ultimate feud for Lesnar—one that could double or triple the intensity of any of the previous Lesnar matches.

CM Punk.

How about a Paul Heyman guy against a Paul Heyman guy? Punk may not match up size-wise against Lesnar, but he does match him pound-for-pound in terms of toughness and intensity. He also would more than hold his own in terms of talking against Paul Heyman.

A Punk vs. Lesnar match would blow the roof off any arena in which it would be.

And we could finally get rid of the perception that Brock Lesnar is stealing his money instead of earning it.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

Cesc Fabregas: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Garry Hayes — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:42:40 -0400

It was the move that saw one of Barcelona's greatest sons return home to much media and supporter fanfare, but in the two years since Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal for Barcelona, things have not worked out as many had hoped.

During his time at the Gunners, Fabregas was very much the No.1 man at the club—the lynchpin. Everything went through him and the team was built around his talents.

Given his Catalan heritage, he is loved just as much at Barca, but not in the same way as at the Emirates and it has impacted Fabregas' performances. He has struggled for form over the past two seasons, which has led many to suggest his time at the Nou Camp will come to an end soon. So, will it?

AGE: 26

CONTRACT SITUATION: Fabregas departed Arsenal for his hometown club Barcelona in 2011 for an estimated five-year £35 million deal. He still has three years to run on that, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2016.

CAREER STOPS: Arsenal (2003-11), Barcelona (2011-current)

CURRENT CAMPAIGN: La Liga: 29 games, 10 goals, 12 assists; Copa del Rey: seven games, two goals; Spanish Super Cup: one game; Champions League: eight games, one goal

VIDEO SHOWREEL:

SCOUTING GUIDE: Fabregas showed during his time at Arsenal that he was one of the most talented players of his generation. But when you're competing for places against the likes of Andres Iniesta, it's a little tougher to shine.

That's been the story at Barcelona, but it doesn't mean Fabregas doesn't remain a fine talent. He is an exceptional attacking force, linking up play from defence and attack to great effect. It's perhaps this transitional aspect of his game that isn't as lauded as his ability to find the back of the net, yet it remains just as important.

A return of 10 goals in La Liga this term outlines what a threat he can be in the box, while his 12 assists demonstrate a player who is adept at laying it on a plate for his teammates.

WHAT'S NEXT: Rumors were abound that Arsenal included a 50 percent sell-on clause in the sale of Fabregas in 2011 (via The Telegraph), so if Barca decides they've seen enough of the 26-year-old, it could prove an excellent deal for the Gunners.

The same report from The Telegraph in 2011 suggests Arsenal have the right to first refusal on Fabregas, so while the rumor mill is filled with tales of Manchester United's apparent interest (via The Independent) in the Spaniard, it could prove somewhat premature if Arsene Wenger acts upon that agreement.

Indeed, he has refused to rule out a return to the Emirates, as Metro reports, so could Cesc be returning "home" yet again thus summer?

How Far Away Is Brandt Snedeker's First Major Victory?

Ron Juckett — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:15 -0400

Brandt Snedeker will win a major. In fact, his overall game is good enough to give him a chance at taking home all four.

A five-time winner on the PGA Tour in his career, Snedeker has five top-10 finishes in majors already.

Twice, he has finished tied for third. The first time was at the 2008 Masters, and he matched that last year at the Open Championship.

Snedeker does two things very well.

He can find the fairway off the tee and he can get his approaches on greens. In 2013, his 69.39 percent of fairways hit and 69.84 percent of greens are good for 10th and 13th, respectively, on tour.

However, he is very short off the tee. His average drive of 278.7 is 147th best this year.

Length, on the other hand, is not everything it is cracked up to be in a major. Accuracy is and—because he is so accurate—even with a lower iron in his hand, he has a better chance of getting in position to make two-putt pars.

Par is never a bad score on any hole at any major.

Whenever that magic week happens for Snedeker, however, the club that will make him a major champion will be his putter.

He does fine on fast greens, as he has a pair of top 10s at Augusta. If he gets into that zone where he can make everything—like he did last year at the Open Championship—he can putt his way to a low round and has the game to hold that score the rest of the championship.

When Snedeker upset Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy last year to win the FedEx Cup at the Tour Championship, he did it by hitting more than two-thirds of fairways and greens while playing the par-fours at 10-under.

If and when he breaks through, he will need to come close to hitting the same percentage of fairways and greens and be selectively aggressive enough to leave himself birdie chances on those par-four holes.

As to how far away he is to pulling this off, look no further than the next major, the United States Open at Merion.

Merion is a short precision course that plays right into his strength of finding and placing tee shots on the fairway. His best success this year has been at similar courses such as TPC Sawgrass, Riviera and his win at Pebble Beach.

Snedeker is not a player who is going to go out and shoot a low score on a Thursday and run away from the start. He is a player who will establish himself in a good position early and pounce.

If not Merion, then Augusta would be his next best chance. Snedeker has had success making putts on those lightning-fast greens and is long enough off the tee to put himself into good scoring position on all four par-fives.

His day is coming. He has all the skill to do it. It is just a question of when, not if.

*Statistics courtesy of PGATour.com and are current as of May 20, 2013

Notre Dame Football: Why Notre Dame Can't Afford to Lose Eddie Vanderdoes

Connor Killoren — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:40:00 -0400

A key catalyst of the current renaissance period Notre Dame undeniably finds itself in has been the development of a nationally renowned defensive line, though that attribute may receive a damaging body blow in the coming days.

It appears as if Eddie Vanderdoes, a 5-star defensive tackle who signed with the Irish on national signing day, may not be enrolling at Notre Dame.

The outlook of the situation is grim if you're a Notre Dame supporter, as neither the university nor the Vanderdoes family have given any official statements to either confirm or deny the rumors.

However, Sacramento Bee reporter Joe Davidson—the closest source to the Vanderdoes family—provided some meaningful insight on Monday evening.

I did get this from Vanderdoes family: grades, eligibility or conduct/character "is not and has never been an issue."
— Joe Davidson (@SacBee_JoeD) May 21, 2013

If indeed those areas of concern are not hangups in Vanderdoes' ability to enroll at Notre Dame, then the writing is on the wall: Vanderdoes has likely experienced a change of heart surrounding his collegiate destination.

Should that be the case, "surprise" shouldn't be a term that comes to mind.

On the morning of national signing day, Vanderdoes' parents informed Notre Dame of their son's decision but instructed officials to keep quiet on the matter, as to allow Vanderdoes the opportunity to enjoy his signing ceremony, which transpired in the evening hours.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame officials botched that request, as Vanderdoes was listed on the commitment list that afternoon during a media session on campus.

While that snafu surely was received unfavorably in the Vanderdoes household, it's unlikely that it was the singular reason for Vanderdoes' apparent change of heart. Yet it appears as if the rocky start to Vanderdoes' official relationship with Notre Dame may have been simply the beginning of what appears to be a rather complex situation.

Because the 6'2", 310-pound defensive lineman signed a letter of intent, he would need to be granted a release by Notre Dame to enroll at another school of his choice, and that's where the situation becomes murky.

There's no telling what decision the university would make in that regard, though if it were to deny Vanderdoes a release, Notre Dame would be viewed in a negative light in recruiting circles. And if that's the case, the Irish's recruiting abilities would likely suffer as a consequence.

The consequences wouldn't be limited to just recruiting, though.

On the field, the Irish would be significantly undermanned along the defensive line in 2014 without Vanderdoes.

It is widely expected that both nose guard Louis Nix and defensive end Stephon Tuitt will enter the 2014 NFL draft despite each having one more season of eligibility remaining following the 2013 season.

In fact, the guys over at WalterFootball.com have Tuitt (10th overall) and Nix (22nd overall) pegged as first-round selections.

That would leave the Irish with defensive ends Sheldon Day, Tony Springmann, Jarron Jones, Isaac Rochell and Jacob Matuska as the only available defensive linemen currently on the roster. Thus, the Irish coaching staff would be hard at work to add pieces along the defensive line in the 2014 class, which already includes end Andrew Trumbetti and tackle Jay Hayes.

What's even more alarming is the nose guard position.

Reserves Kona Schwenke and Tyler Stockton will each see their eligibility clocks expire after the 2013 season, leaving the cupboard bare assuming Nix enters the NFL draft. Because Vanderdoes was widely expected to assume the vacancy left behind by Nix, questions abound as to who will fill that role.

Clearly, the Vanderdoes situation has initiated a tidal wave of concerns to which answers are simply far and few between.

How Paul George Can Solidify Superstar Status Against LeBron James

Dan Favale — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:28:11 -0400

Paul George has a career-altering opportunity against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Sure, the Indiana Pacers have the chance to pull off what is considered an improbable upset and move on to the NBA Finals, but for George, this Eastern Conference Finals matchup is bigger than even that.

Against the LeBron-led Heat, George can remove the "up-and-coming" that currently precedes his "superstar" status. This is his time to show the league he's for real.

Not that George isn't already a star, because he is. He has yet to have that defining course of events, though, that puts any and all debate to end.

George had a spectacular regular season that saw him earn his first All-Star selection and win the NBA's Most Improved Player award. And he's fresh off a semifinals performance that saw him frustrate the hell out of the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony.

But that's not enough. Or rather, it's not the same as going up against the best in the world and walking away with a feeling of immense satisfaction.

Part I: Understanding What Constitutes Success

The Pacers want to creep their way past Miami and into the finals, George included. For him to prove his mettle and procure an unquestioned superstar label, though, it's not necessary.

Also unnecessary is completely stopping LeBron. Why? Because it's impossible.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel explained to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star,

(James) is the best offensive player in the world and Paul’s just got to do the best that he can, like he did on (New York’s) Carmelo (Anthony). Carmelo went off a couple of times, LeBron’s going to have some moments where he’s going to go off. (Paul’s) just got to try to compete, do the best he can and do it without fouling.

Like 'Melo—only more so—LeBron cannot be contained. You can only hope to make things difficult for him. Which is a notion George didn't seem to grasp last season.

In just his second season, George floundered in the second round against the Heat. LeBron picked apart the Pacers to the tune of 30 points and 6.2 assists on 50.4 percent shooting per game. George wasn't able to hinder LeBron the way he would have liked, and he let his defensive struggles carry over to the offensive end, where he averaged just 10 points on 36.5 percent shooting.

Sophomores who are pitted against LeBron don't stand a chance. In fact, most players, be they neophytes, seasoned veterans or superstars, aren't equipped to handle him. That's just how it is.

George's length and athletic ability give him a better shot at matching up against James than many other players. But that's not going to be enough to shut him down. Nothing is.

All George can hope to do is impede him, a la Jimmy Butler. If he does that, he'll have bridged whatever gap still exists between him and the rest of the Association's stars.

Part II: How Do You 'Impede' LeBron?

You pray. And I'm only half-kidding.

LeBron has really expanded his offensive arsenal over the years. He's turned perceived weaknesses into strengths (his jump shot) and added elements to his game no one thought he could (obscene efficiency).

George's job is to recognize LeBron doesn't have a legitimate Achilles' heel. There isn't anything he can't do, hence the whole unguardable song we all sing. The task then becomes limiting him where he's absolutely dominant.

Immediately, it's his transition offense that comes to mind.

LeBron, and the Heat as a team, are scary good on the break. There's no other way to put it. When they're on the run, you're inevitably on a poster.

Preventing those transition opportunities comes down to protecting the ball and getting back on defense following jumpers.

Taking care of the ball is especially important for George. He's been a turnover machine during these playoffs, coughing the ball up 3.6 times a night.

Many of his ball-protection issues come down to attempting to make impossible passes, though some can be attributed to a less-than-tight handle. Now's the time for him to shore up both his court vision and precision off the dribble.

It's also the time to give LeBron the three-ball. You can't keep him out of the paint consistently. Again, it's (here's that word again) impossible. If you smother him, he'll go around you. If you take a step or two back, he'll call for a screen and do the same thing.

What's George to do then? Give him even more space. I'm talking more than Coach Vogel would likely prefer.

Backing up to the point where screens are useless complicates LeBron's offensive sets. He can still opt to attack the paint, but if George is already back, he's dribbling into traffic (i.e. David West and Roy Hibbert). From there, he'll be more likely to defer—in which case George has done his job—or take a lower percentage shot, which the Pacers will live with.

Should LeBron decide not to go through the theatrics that come with getting pummeled in the paint, he can simply step up and shoot the three. George is giving him that space; why not use it? He did shoot over 40 percent from downtown during the regular season, after all.

LeBron is connecting on just 32.1 percent of his deep balls for the postseason, though, a regrettable number by his standards. Affording him that open look from beyond the arc beats attempting to pick up his penetration.

This is also where George's length comes in handy. Not only is he quick enough to recover should LeBron opt to attack the paint, but as soon as The Chosen One enters his shooting motion, George has the arm span necessary to get a hand in his face.

Could LeBron begin to hit those threes? Of course. He's LeBron. If he does, George will have to alter his method of attack and relegate to hounding him, which isn't optimal, but something an agile athlete like Indy's young stud can attempt.

None of this is a blueprint for stopping LeBron, though. Once again, such a schematic doesn't exist.

Understanding his preferences (going right over left and things like that), however, assists in the ultimate goal—taking the ball out of his hands or forcing him into more difficult shots.

Part III: Maintain Composure

Even if LeBron goes bonkers on the offensive end, George cannot let it affect him.

The Pacers need George to be the offensive catalyst he's been during the postseason. He's putting up 19.1 points and five assists per game, and though his 40.4 percent field-goal clip is unfortunate, Indiana needs him to be active.

When LeBron goes off, that becomes more difficult. When he's defending you as well, as he'll do against George, it's even worse.

George can't let that get to him. Even if LeBron is on pace to drop 50 points or George himself can't buy a shot.

Unlike other superstars, George can be effective when he's not scoring. He can facilitate or act as a three-point shooting decoy. He needs to remember that.

Nobody expects him to outplay LeBron. No one can. He can't forget that he himself is a star, though. He's not LeBron, but he's a star.

James said of George (via Wells),

Just the opportunity, the opportunity that presented itself with (leading scorer) Danny Granger going down. He had to step up. And I think he was ready for it. And he’s taken full advantage of it.

I think he’s one of the up-and-coming, new superstar that we have in our league. He’s a kid who loves to get better, loves to work on his game and it’s shown.

George has already garnered the respect and praise of LeBron; he's right there. All that's left to prove is his confidence won't be shaken, no matter how bright the lights or intimidating the opponent.

“It’ll be fun,” George said of facing LeBron “I always embrace challenges.”

So long as that doesn't suddenly change, George's standing in the league will.

Follow @danfavale

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

Tennessee Titans Running Back Breakdown: Evaluation and Depth Chart Analysis

Chad Minton — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:27:09 -0400

It's been a fluid situation at running back over the past few seasons for the Titans as they've constantly shuffled through backup running backs for Chris Johnson.

Last season the running game could not be relied upon, and it was a major factor into why the Titans slid to a 6-10 record.

For 2013 the running back situation seems to be a little bit more balanced to help out Jake Locker at quarterback.

Here's the breakdown at running back in the middle of the offseason.

Begin Slideshow

Arsenal Transfer News: Yaya Sanogo Confirms Desire to Join Gunners over Summer

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:24:49 -0400

Arsenal have been given a huge boost ahead of the summer transfer window with the news that transfer target Yaya Sanogo is keen on joining the North London club.

The Ligue 2 striker—who was confirmed last week by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as a transfer target—has publicly stated via Sky Sports that if he is to leave Auxerre this summer for England, he would relish the opportunity to play at Arsenal alongside some of the the best players in world football.

Sanogo was quoted as saying:

Arsenal could be a great club for me, I scored nine goals this season with Auxerre and they think I can improve my level in England. I am pleased to be following in the footsteps of Abou Diaby who came through Auxerre. There are many teams interested in me, but Arsenal is my choice...

The news is a huge boost for the Gunners, who will head into the summer transfer window with a strong budget and plans for many potential additions.

And whilst the signing of Sanogo isn't likely to attract a plethora of media attention, it is still a great move by Arsenal. As I noted earlier this week, it's a smart, savvy move by the Gunners for a striker with huge potential—making it a win-win situation for the North London club this summer.

Standing at 6'3", Sanogo has the size and physicality required to thrive in the English Premier League. Moreover, he has great skill on both feet and has a keen eye in front of the goal—shown most clearly in the seven goals that he scored in just two games earlier this season for Auxerre.

The Daily Mirror reports that Sanogo broke the French national under-16 goal scoring record, and has shown many of the attributes that great French and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry had at his age.

But perhaps the best part, for Arsenal, is the transfer cost.

The Gunners will only have to pay a small compensation fee to Auxerre for the striker, and when they do sign him, the striker's wages will be very minimal.

That, in turn, will still allow them to make whatever big moves they desire over the summer transfer window—meaning they can still make moves for the likes of Stevan Jovetic, Kevin Strootman or any others they desire to add to their squad.

Signing Sanogo isn't an exclusive transfer in that it will hinder their chances of landing one of their more-fancied targets.

And for next to nothing in terms of cost, it's seemingly a great deal for Arsenal.

Signing him is a low-risk deal that, potentially, could have very high rewards.

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

Alabama Football: Players Most Likely to Be 1st-Round Selections in 2014

Jesse Reed — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:56:15 -0400

Alabama football produces top NFL draft picks year in and year out—some of whom go on to have stellar careers at the next level.

Three members of last year's national championship team were selected in Round 1 of this past draft—Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker. They went No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, and all three will be asked to play big roles for their new teams as rookies.

This year's team features a handful players who certainly have first-round talent. Here are the prospects from the 2013 Alabama football program who have the best chance to be selected in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL draft.

Cyrus Kouandjio, Offensive Tackle

I know what you're all thinking.

Alabama producing first-round offensive linemen? Surely you jest!

In all seriousness, however, Kouandjio may end up becoming a better professional offensive lineman than both Fluker and Warmack.

Blessed with prototypical size, the 6'6", 311-pound Kouandjio was phenomenal as a sophomore last season as Alabama's starting left tackle. He allowed only 3.5 sacks in 2012 (h/t rolltide.com) and is still developing his technique.

NFL Network's Albert Breer listed him as one of his top players to watch this upcoming season:

It'll be interesting to see if Kouandjio ends up becoming the first offensive tackle to be taken off the board in 2014. He'll likely be contending with Jake Matthews out of Texas A&M and Taylor Lewan out of Michigan.

C.J. Mosley, Outside Linebacker

Mosley will be a highly coveted linebacker heading into the 2014 NFL draft.

His ability to play in any scheme makes him extremely valuable, as more and more NFL teams have been moving to what they call "multiple" schemes on the defensive side of the ball.

A strong pass-rusher off the edge, Mosley is already a skilled 3-4 outside linebacker adept at dropping back into coverage—a rarity for prospects heading into the NFL.

Bleacher Report NFL draft Featured Columnist Wes Stueve was impressed when he took a closer look at Mosley's tape recently:

All his natural talent combined with the intelligence Stueve mentioned will surely earn him a first-round selection in the 2014 NFL draft.

Adrian Hubbard, Outside Linebacker

Hubbard has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons at Alabama, and he'll really have a chance to shine this year as a featured player for Nick Saban's defense.

At 6'6" and 248 pounds, Hubbard possesses more of a prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker frame than Mosley.

He showed the speed and power last year to get to the quarterback, registering seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles.

NFL teams will fall in love with Hubbard's strength at the point of attack. He's not just a flashy edge-rusher who will run himself out of plays upfield. Instead, given proper coaching, Hubbard has the ability to turn into an elite pass-rusher in the NFL.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

What's Taking Miami Heat Fans so Long to Get to the Game?

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:53:48 -0400

As the Miami Heat seem to be in the best position to win the 2013 NBA Championship and their second title in as many years, the question remains: Why don't Heat fans (in visible areas at least) show up on time?

It's a complaint as old as this Heat team, it seems.

While they do sell out playoff games and have ranked in the top three in attendance in each of the past three seasons (they were 15th in the league the season before LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined), nobody will call this group among the tops in NBA fanbases.

Just take a look at their most recent playoff game, a closeout game mind you, against the Chicago Bulls on a Wednesday evening. There's the ever-present sight of the free giveaways slung across the backs of seats, waiting for ticket owners to come claim them.

It's a common sight in Miami, and it's been happening for a few years now.

In an attempt to mask the fact that there are so many empty seats at the start of each half, the seats are dressed up in white, usually in the form of a towel to wave around or a shirt shimmied over the back.

Excellent job by the Heat matching the white shirts with the color of the seats so its tougher to notice how many empty seats there are
— Evan Roberts (@JoeandEvan) May 11, 2011

Good call on Heat to lay T-Shirts on the seats this time. Harder to tell how empty it is in here.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 15, 2013

That way, when viewed within the context of a "white-out" among the rest of the fans wearing white, it won't look as if there are entire chunks missing out of the crowd.

The only problem is that people notice, and they complain about the de facto representatives of the best basketball team in the NBA.

The huge number of empty good seats in #Miami at the start of Heat games continues to be ridiculous!
— InsideHoops.com (@InsideHoops) May 11, 2011

Seeing just about the amount of empty seats at the #Heat game I expected. Looks like a mid season promotional night game.
— Richard Camillucci (@RichCami) May 15, 2013

S/O to all those heat fans #emptyseats
— Max Vaundry (@mvaundry22) May 16, 2013

It's not just the first half, either. Oftentimes you'll see ticket holders struggle to get back to their seats in time for the start of the second half.

Who knows, maybe the beer line is a bit too long or everybody's going to use the restroom. Or maybe they just don't care that much.

The heat easily have the worst fans in the NBA. Over 4mins into the 2nd half and there still is empty seats.
— The Renaissance Man (@PeedyFly) May 16, 2013

Do Heat fans even watch the game when they go to see the Heat play? There is always so many empty seats #FairWeatherFans
— Charlie Dunn (@chuckdirty4) May 16, 2013

There's often a complaint that the expensive seats at Staples Center in Los Angeles are there for rich people to buy and be seen amongst the famous people scattered throughout the crowd.

While that's a legitimate gripe that basketball fans have about the Lakers, at least those people are usually in their seats when the game starts.

So what is the deal with Heat fans that sit in the lower bowl?

Obviously there's some of that Los Angeles-style desire to be seen, but why show up so late and why take so long to return to seats before the start of the second half?

Plenty of diehard Heat fans reside in Miami and around the country; that's not the problem. There's a reason they have a loud arena for 36 of the 48 minutes throughout a basketball game. Upper-deck seats are filled and fans are screaming to see this team win.

As far as the lower-bowl coin-droppers are concerned, I'm sure to some extent traffic can be blamed. It's an arena in the middle of a large city—but then again so is nearly every other arena in the NBA.

There's a simple solution to that problem, and it's just to leave your house earlier.

There's got to be something different plaguing your run-of-the-mill Heat fan, whether it be indifference, or just a general acceptance that missing a few minutes isn't going to be a big deal.

The only bit of wisdom that I could offer has nothing to do with a solution; it's just an observation. If one of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA isn't going to get people to show up on time, then nothing will.

WWE Monday Night Raw, May 20: GSM's Analysis and Aftermath

Graham 'GSM' Matthews — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:52:32 -0400

A mere 24 hours removed from an exhilarating Extreme Rules pay-per-view, this week's WWE Monday Night Raw provided all the aftermath from the event and much more. From the re-debut of Curtis Axel to a handful of well-wrestled matches, there's no doubt that this episode set the stage for weeks to come.

Here, I will analyze each significant segment presented on the show. I will also provide a combination of predictions and wishful thinking about what I hope to see in the coming weeks.

Ryback Challenged WWE Champion John Cena to an Ambulance Match at WWE Payback

Great promo from Ryback to kick off the show. This was the best mic work Ryback has shown since turning heel and the promo garnered good heat from the live crowd.

He challenged WWE champion John Cena to an Ambulance match at WWE Payback next week while also targeting the audience, which was long overdue. The feud between Cena and Ryback was lacking something prior to Extreme Rules, so here's hoping this segment was a sign that the rivalry will be improving from this point forward.

The Miz and Chris Jericho def. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett and Fandango w/Summer Rae

Throwaway tag team match with The Miz and Chris Jericho defeating Intercontinental champion Wade Barrett and Fandango. If my memory serves me correctly, this was the first time Jericho and Miz have teamed together in over three years, so I was excited for their pairing.

However, the in-ring work left a lot to be desired, as Fandango's distraction at ringside was more obnoxious than it was effective in getting him heat. Miz pinning Barrett was logical in putting him back in title contention, but the thought of Barrett being buried and treated as an afterthought once again this week is disconcerting.

Speaking of Barrett, the intro to his new entrance music is awesome, but the rest of the theme sounds rather generic.

Sheamus def. Titus O'Neil

Nice match between Sheamus and Titus O'Neil. It looked like it was going to be a squash match from the start, but O'Neil more than held his own against Sheamus.

Not only that, but the fact that O'Neil also received an entrance made him look like an equal to The Celtic Warrior. Sure, the former NXT rookie ultimately came up short, but he definitely had an impressive showing against the former World Heavyweight champion.

Paul Heyman Reveals Curtis Axel as His Latest Client

Brilliant booking with Paul Heyman revealing Curits Axel as his latest client. I realize that many people (myself included) were hoping that the newest client would be a returning Rob Van Dam, but what good would that have done?

As great as that would have been, RVD is a veteran and doesn't need Heyman to get over in WWE. There's always another place and time for RVD to return, whereas putting Axel in this role helps build toward the future.

The repackaging of the former Michael McGillicutty has been highly anticipated for a number of years now, so I'm happy to see it finally come to fruition in such a fashion. We weren't able to hear from Axel all that much during his confrontation with Triple H, but any issues he has on the mic (similar to Brock Lesnar) can be covered by Heyman.

Big E Langston w/AJ Lee def. Alberto Del Rio w/Ricardo Rodriguez

Decent match between Big E Langston and Alberto Del Rio. The match wasn't anything special, but it highlighted Langston's in-ring abilities nicely.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Langston score the upset victory over Del Rio, which should be treated as a major deal. Being a former World champion, Del Rio loses nothing from losing to Langston and has enough to credibility to quickly rebound from it.

AJ Lee def. Layla

Typical Divas match with AJ Lee defeating Layla. There were a few clunky spots, but they were able to put together a nice matchup on the whole.

Both women are two of the best in the division at the moment, so I would have liked to have seen the bout go a bit longer than two minutes. Of course, it seemed as if the sole focus of this match was to put over AJ's new devastating finishing maneuver.

When should we expect to see AJ finally receive her shot at Kaitlyn's Divas Championship?

Cody Rhodes def. Zack Ryder; Ryback Ambushes Ryder

Brief match with Cody Rhodes defeating Zack Ryder. Neither Superstar received an entrance, so that alone showed that the bout was insignificant before it even started.

It was nice to see Rhodes score a rare win on Raw, but any momentum he gained from the victory was quickly overshadowed by Ryback's decimation of Ryder moments later. However, I'm not complaining, as I found Ryback's ambush of The Long Island Iced Z to be very well done and established him as a legitimate threat and a force to be reckoned with.

United States and WWE Tag Team Champions The Shield def. Kofi Kingston and Team Hell No

Excellent match with United States and WWE Tag Team champions The Shield defeating Kofi Kingston and Team Hell No. They kept a consistent pace throughout the bout and provided plenty of exciting spots.

The true MVP of this bout was clearly Daniel Bryan, who showed aggressive antics for the first time in a great while. The Shield victory helps rebuild the prestige of the belts the group now holds while also teasing tension between Kane and Bryan.

I wouldn't mind seeing Bryan turn heel, as long as he doesn't feud with Kane for the millionth time shortly thereafter.

Randy Orton def. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter

Solid match between Randy Orton and Jack Swagger. These two have worked with one another countless times before, but the match didn't feel stale.

Their good chemistry led them to a well-wrestled match that received a substantial amount of time. I could have done without Orton winning yet again, but Swagger still managed to look strong in defeat after controlling most of the match.

Curtis Axel def. Triple H by Forfeit

Good match between Triple H and Curtis Axel. Axel didn't get in enough offense against HHH to look like his equal, but the fact he was chosen as The Game's opponent for his first match on Raw in over three years made the match feel somewhat special.

Admittedly, I was a bit intrigued by Triple H's apparent health issue and it was a good cliffhanger to close the show, but it's hard to get excited about another Triple H return. He gets injured, returns, wins a match, loses a match and then leaves again.

It's the same cycle over and over again, so it's safe to say that he'll be back by SummerSlam.

Some may same that the angle surrounding HHH took focus off of Axel, but I was completely content with it, as it was a unique way of allowing Axel to defeat The Game while also saving the actual finish for a later date. However, officials should have made it clear on television that Axel was awarded the victory rather than force viewers to visit the website in order to find out for themselves.

Overall Show

Overall, a great show that provided plenty of aftermath from Extreme Rules while also moving forward with the build to next month's WWE Payback event. That being said, it would have been nice for WWE to address some of the unanswered angles (the controversial finish to the Last Man Standing and "I Quit" matches) from this past Sunday's pay-per-view.

Nonetheless, this was probably the best episode of Raw in recent weeks that gave me hope for future editions. Surprisingly enough, the absences of World Heavyweight champion Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Mark Henry, CM Punk and even WWE Champion John Cena actually worked to WWE's advantage and allowed some of the other rising stars (Ryback, Curtis Axel, Big E Langston) to steal the spotlight for a change.

GSM out.

Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling and listen to my wrestling radio talk show SAVE US GSM every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.

Follow @SAVE_US_GSM

Giro d'Italia 2013: Stage 16 Doesn't Change Vincenzo Nibali's Prospects

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:46:16 -0400

Vincenzo Nibali may have placed 12th in Stage 16 of the 2013 Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, but that doesn't change the fact that he's the best rider in the race, or the fact that he still has a solid lead overall.

Nibali, ranked No. 5 in the world in 2013 by CyclingRanking.com, is largely considered to be the most imposing rider in the field in this year's race. Coming into the event, the Italian had won the Tirreno–Adriatico and Giro del Trentino.

Even after finishing 14 seconds behind Stage 16 winner Benat Intxausti on Tuesday, Nibali leads the pack by 1 minute and 26 seconds with five stages to go.

Team Sky reportedly is attempting to use a collective approach in the remaining mountain stages on Thursday and Friday, according to CyclingNews.com. That appears to be the team's, and the field's, best bet.

In fact, according to the report, Team Sky leader Rigoberto Uran's compatriot, Fabio Parra, has urged the remaining 12 Colombians in the race to join forces to stop Nibali.

Of course, the strategy's moot. Nibali's own team, Astana, has done a pretty good job of setting the Italian up for victory. His large lead at the moment is proof. Plus, you can't say there hasn't been a bit of teamwork before to try to knock him off, and it hasn't stopped him from succeeding.

In the snowy and foggy conditions at the 15th stage, such formidable figures as Uran, Cadel Evans and Mauro Santambrogio did everything they could to put pressure on Nibali, but he's been nearly flawless throughout the race. The only hope was that the conditions would get to him in the 15th, but that didn't happen.

Anything can happen down the stretch, particularly in the mountain stages, but given the way Nibali has been racing, it's hard to imagine a shocking upset when all is said and done.

Expect the 28-year-old from Messina to cruise to victory.

Jose Bautista Received an MLB Lifetime Pass and He Wants You to Check It out

Gabe Zaldivar — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:43:50 -0400

Jose Bautista is now a card-carrying member of the cool club.

As BuzzFeed reports, the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder posted the following image to his Instagram feed, showing off his brand-new "MLB Lifetime Pass":

Feelings of intense jealousy are indeed normal and will surely overcome you when looking at what is essentially a free ticket to any ballpark for Bautista's entire life.

As for the impetus behind Bautista garnering the best card one could possibly hold, I am at a loss. As noted on the card, it is awarded by the commissioner "in appreciation of long and meritorious service."

So was Jamie Moyer not around the day they were handing these things out?

I will keep you updated if I get word on why Bautista was bestowed with baseball's version of the "one ring to rule them all" from Lord of the Rings.

Many will point to Bryce Harper's Chipotle card or the Subway version Jarvis Jones received around the NFL draft for similarity, but such comparisons would be foolish.

BuzzFeed breaks down how rare this particular card is: "These cards have been presented to players, umpires, scouts and other friends of MLB as far back as the 1930s, and grants owners and a guest access to any Major League baseball game as long as they live."

Their list of lucky recipients includes people like Joe DiMaggio and the people who suffered through the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Rogers Hornsby and Thurman Munson both laid claim to the vaunted card, and Bob Gibson has one, too.

You only need to take a look at some of the comments on his Instagram feed to get just a hint of how popular Joey Bats just became. Suddenly, the world wants to be that lucky "guest" who is squired into a random ballpark one day.

Of course, Bautista hardly gets to use the card because he is in the middle of a successful career, one that has seen him play with the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Blue Jays.

In nine-plus seasons, Bautista has hit 192 home runs and driven in 525 runs. At some point, he will walk away and get to saunter into any stadium in the land and enjoy watching other people do the work.

Hit me up on Twitter, especially if you have a spare MLB Lifetime Card: Follow @gabezal

BWF Sudirman Cup 2013: Breaking Down Best Performances of Tournament so Far

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:41:45 -0400

The 2013 BWF Sudirman Cup is the premier team badminton tournament of the year, and it has certainly lived up to its reputation—showcasing a slew of thrilling performances and matchups so far.

Held once every two years, the tournament brings together all of the top badminton players from around the world and gives nations a great chance to measure themselves against other countries—especially after the drama-filled affair that was the 2012 Olympics.

Scheduled to finish on May 26, there's still plenty of top badminton action ahead, but let's have a look at some of the best performances from the 2013 tournament.

China's Dominance Continues

Being the best team in the world, it was largely expected that China would dominate at the Sudirman Cup, but few expected them to get off to such a strong start.

They blanked India 5-0 in their opening series—dropping just one set en route to a strong victory—and then chalked up a similar score against Indonesia.

Even at this early stage of the tournament, they appear very tough to beat.

Chinese Taipei Stuns Malaysia, Trounces Germany

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the tournament thus far has been that of Chinese Taipei, who stunned Malaysia and then Germany to finish on top of Group 1C.

Moreover, they did it dropping just two matches—both of which came against Malaysia in their opening series.

The win over Malaysia was set up Lee Sheng Mu/Tsai Chia Hsin in the men's doubles who beat World No. 3 pairing Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong in straight sets.

They finished the group stages with a dominant 5-0 win over Germany, with the absence of Marc Zwiebler and Juliane Schenk noticeable for the European team, who simply weren't able to match the momentum and energy of the Chinese Taipei side.

They'll move through to the knockout rounds now full of confidence and belief.

Japan Edges Out Denmark in Thriller

Many expected Japan to finish on top of Group 1D at the Cup this year, but few expected it would come in the dramatic fashion that it did. After Japan and Denmark both cruised past Singapore, it would be their series that determined who finished on top of the group—and what a series it was indeed!

First, Denmark came from a set down to win the mixed doubles. Then Kenichi Tago stunned Jan O Jorgensen to level the series at 1-1—saving three match points en route to the win. Japan would then find themselves down 2-1 and on the brink of defeat after their men's doubles fell, but they were able to win both the women's singles and women's doubles to emerge with a thrilling 3-2 victory.

Women's singles star Sayaka Takahashi (who remains undefeated in the tournament so far) was the difference-maker for Japan here and will be pertinent to any title challenge in the knockout stages.

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

Robert Griffin III Is the Featured NFL Player in New EA Sports Game System Promo

John Bibb — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:40:59 -0400

Of all the players and teams in the NFL, video game giant Electronic Arts (EA) Sports unveiled their latest version of sports gaming May 21 featuring Robert Griffin III. In the video game trailer, RG3 evades the defense of the team's rival Dallas Cowboys to showcase the all-new, next-generation engine Ignite.

Andrew Wilson, the head of EA Sports, made the announcement during the Microsoft Xbox One launch event and a transcript was available on the EA Sports website.

“All four will launch in the next 12 months. All four will be revolutionary. And all four will fundamentally change the way you play,” Wilson boasted.

With the announcement of the engine Ignite, Wilson humanized the entire gaming process.

"Athletes in EA Sports next-gen games will be able to make intelligent decisions with human-like reaction times," the statement read. "Players are alive with contextual awareness and instincts--thinking, anticipating, and reacting--just like real athletes, and players are conscious of their environment."

The Ignite engine feature will be available for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 game systems and featured in video games such as Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, NBA Live and UFC.

The entire promotional video release shows only two NFL teams, the Redskins at home against the Cowboys, and prominently features RG3 and the team's offense during a home game.

In the 90-second promo video, which was inter-cut with other sports video game highlights, RG3 is shown in marvelous detail taking a snap, side-stepping a defender, moving through the line of scrimmage, avoiding tackles and stiff-arming a Cowboys defender before diving headfirst into the end zone.

With the announcement, Wilson also praised the game system's newest and greatest features—human-like intelligence, the individual players awareness and instincts.

"EA Sports Ignite computes four times more calculations per second than previous consoles, unlocking nearly infinite potential for how players think, and enabling them to make more difficult decisions faster."

For any fan of the Redskins or more specifically RG3, it certainly paints a positive portrait of the Redskins and quite frankly, would be a bit of an embarrassment to the Cowboys' team, their defense and their fans.

Robert Griffin III has an endorsement contract with EA Sports and Castrol Motor Oil, Subway, Gatorade, EvoShield and Adidas, all signed before taking a single snap in his rookie season in 2012.

RG3 and his relationship with Adidas garnered media attention just weeks after his surgery to repair his knee in early January. The Adidas ad campaign featuring RG3, titled "All In For Week 1," had some people questioning whether the NFL offensive rookie of 2012 was rushing his rehabilitation after surgery.

This mini-controversy caused RG3 to issue a statement one day after the ad's release to reassure fans that he was not coming back before he had completely healed from his injury.

He posted the following message on his Twitter account:

With the latest video game promotional release, RG3 can continue to focus on his rehab and not have to worry about the animated version of him and how it may worry people and his return for his sophomore season in good health.

In the EA Sports video highlight released today, he looks exceptionally agile, athletic and mobile. All games aside and more importantly for Redskins fans, 2013 can bring about a season of excitement with a ton of expectations for RG3 and for last year's NFC East division champions as well.

Follow on Twitter @JohnBibb and view previous Bleacher Report articles I have written on the Washington Redskins here.

Philadelphia Phillies: Mismanagement Has Rendered the Club Insignificant

Pete Dymeck — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:37:21 -0400

Such a Herculean task it is to dissect the Philadelphia Phillies nowadays.

Nearly two months into the season, the Phillies continue to hug a sub-.500 record. Meanwhile, the front office continues to debate on whether or not their supposed plan is being implemented appropriately.

Whatever plan general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has for this club is not working. Simply put, he is at the forefront of the blame while skipper Charlie Manuel should be ousted for his debilitated decision-making.

A perfect example of the adverse decision-making on behalf of the Phillies skipper can be seen Tuesday night, when the Fightins square off against the Miami Marlins.

In 13 innings versus the Phils, Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez has yet to allow a run scored while giving up just three hits. Of those three hits Fernandez has permitted, two came off the bat of the switch-hitting utility man Freddy Galvis.

Despite the small sample size, it is evident that Galvis has had the most success any Phillie has had against Fernandez to date. However, he will be on the bench in this affair.

Instead, outfielder Delmon Young will get the nod.

Young is baseball's version of Napoleon Dynamite when it comes to defense. He is also struggling to stay above the Mendoza Line, batting-wise.

It's not like Amaro Jr. and Manuel have to be committed to Young. After all, Young is on a one-year contract worth a thrifty $750,000.

So what gives?

At the end of the day, the Phillies' decision to sit Galvis against Fernandez in favor of D. Young is representative of the porous decision-making the club has made over the course of the last two seasons.

Naysayer's with pie-in-the-sky attitudes will point out that the Phillies are a good series or two away from overtaking first place in the National League East.

Never mind their record against sub-.500 clubs as opposed to clubs with winning records.

Never mind the fact they have yet to take on the Washington Nationals.

Let's get one thing clear: The Phillies are in decline. Anybody who says otherwise is likely to still believe in the Tooth Fairy.

The window of opportunity to repeat the feat from 2008 closed in 2011. The door slammed shut when the Phillies gave up a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. The nails were hammered in the coffin when the Phillies surged late last year only to have their postseason hopes dashed in a series sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros.

In-game mismanagement by Manuel coupled with questionable personnel decisions from Amaro Jr. have rendered the Phillies insignificant.

The sad reality is that the organization continues to string its fanbase along in similar fashion to the Philadelphia 76ers. After trading for center Andrew Bynum (and his two bad knees), Sixers ownership led fans down a path, all season long, to think that Bynum could play at some point.

As everyone knows, Bynum never debuted.

The Phillies will not make the playoffs, either.

The point is that the Phillies organization has made terrible decision after terrible decision. Sure, hindsight is always 20/20. Unfortunately, some of the moves the Phillies have made were called into question at the time they occurred.

For instance, the decision to trade Vance Worley and prospect Trevor May to Minnesota has turned out to be atrocious. Sure, Worley has been horrible for the Twins, but nobody could have forecast that at the time. So long as May develops into a serviceable No. 4 or 5 pitcher in the majors, the Twins soundly defeated the Phillies in this trade.

One has to wonder: Whose bright idea was it to trade arms for Major League Baseball's leader in ground-ball rate?

Regardless, the doom and gloom in South Philly is real. Fans oblivious to the mismanagement of this club can continue to think the Phillies have a shot to contend. Those who understand reality will just sit back, elbows crossed, and watch everything unfold for the worst.

Prior to the start of the season, many with realistic expectations believed the Phillies were an above-.500 club with a decent chance at cracking the postseason, even in the NL East.

Those expectations have now been altered. More likely than not, one can expect the Phillies to finish with a losing record for the first time since 2002. That was the year when Nelly's "Hot in Herre" could be heard on every radio station in America, George W. Bush was still in his first term as president and the United States had not yet invaded Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

As Charlie Chapman once said: "In the end, everything is a gag." Words couldn't speak truer for the current state of the Phillies.

New York Giants: 5 Biggest Questions Heading into Training Camp

Chris Landers — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:35:03 -0400

"Frustrating" is just about the only word to describe the 2012-2013 season for the New York Giants.

The team started strong only to fade down the home stretch amid a tough closing schedule—a pattern that's become all too familiar over the past few seasons. The potential seemed to be there for another run at a Super Bowl, but injuries, sloppy play and a downright abysmal defense prevented even a playoff berth.

But a new day has dawned in the NFL as training camp is just a couple months away, so let's put last year in the rearview and turn our attention towards the upcoming year. The Giants will look to climb back to the top of the NFC East, a division with a lot of unknown variables—from the Chip Kelly experiment in Philadelphia to the health of RGIII and Tony Romo—with which to contend.

Despite plenty of talent and an intriguing draft conducted by Jerry Reese and company, Big Blue also have some questions to answer in the months leading up to kickoff in September.

Begin Slideshow

Michael Jordan Announces Bobcats Intend to Become Charlotte Hornets

Alex Kay — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:23:34 -0400

After nine years of misery, failure and heartbreak, the Charlotte Bobcats intend to change their nickname to the Hornets.

Michael Jordan, team owner and one of the greatest winners in NBA history, made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

The switch won’t happen immediately, with Jordan revealing the franchise won’t be officially known as the Charlotte Hornets until the 2014-15 season, according to the timeline NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver outlines (via USAToday.com).

Rumbling for this change began back in January, when Charlotte conducted a Harris Interactive poll (via ESPN) to gauge local interest in reverting to the Hornets. The results were never released, but seem evident based on the pending transformation.

With the league remaining in control of the Hornets name (per ESPN), this process was easy for Jordan to start and should be easy to follow through with.

The name swap was an obvious one, as the Hornets played in Charlotte from 1988 through 2002, when the team uprooted and moved to New Orleans under then-owner George Shinn.

Tom Benson purchased the New Orleans Hornets from the league in 2012, and he immediately decided to change the franchise’s moniker to something more local. He eventually settled on the Pelicans—as the team is now officially known.

Benson even admitted that the Hornets belonged to Charlotte.

“The Hornets name came from Charlotte. That fits in with Charlotte. It doesn’t fit into New Orleans, La., or our area here. The Hornets don’t mean anything here,” Benson said.

For most of the original Charlotte Hornets' existence, they were one of the more popular franchises in the league and sold out the majority of their games.

Players like Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Glen Rice and Muggsy Bogues helped the organization make seven playoff runs in its 14 years of existence, but the Hornets never were able to get past the conference semifinals.

It seems they’ll get another crack at that when this young squad, led by recent lottery picks Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, finally rebrands and can shed the failures of the Bobcats.

The current Charlotte franchise has an overall record of 250-472 during the regular season and 0-4 in the playoffs. The Bobcats put together arguably the worst campaign in NBA history when the 2011-12 squad went just 7-59, a .106 winning percentage.

The team has employed six head coaches and is actively searching for its seventh. Larry Brown is responsible for the lone winning season.

Hopefully for Charlotte basketball fans, that dismal reign ends when the Hornets return to town and give this downtrodden franchise some much-needed hope.