Bleacher Report - Front Page

Pacers vs. Heat Game 2: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis

Tristan Thornburgh — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:22:01 -0400

The Indiana Pacers almost nabbed a Game 1 overtime stunner, but LeBron James found the seam to a 103-102 Miami Heat victory at the buzzer.

Can Paul George and Co. get over the hump in Miami tonight or will the Heat find yet another gear to pull away with?

Especially important will be how the Heat slow down behemoth Pacers center Roy Hibbert (19 points and nine rebounds in Game 1) along with David West, George and Tyler Hansbrough, who combined for an additional 63 points and 15 boards.

Moreover, will Hibbert—the team's leading shot-blocker and highest-paid player—be on the floor in end-of-game situations? Pacers coach Frank Vogel certainly took enough heat for sitting Hibbert while James got to the rim undeterred for the game-winning layup on Wednesday.

For the Heat, it's about getting Chris Bosh more than two boards (as he had in Game 1), figuring out why Ray Allen and Shane Battier suddenly can't shoot and monitoring Dwyane Wade's ever-finicky knee injury.

Triple-doubles and buzzer-beaters from James, along with perfect games from Chris Andersen, will be enough to keep the Heat going for now. But will it be enough against a Pacers team that took them to the brink in Game 1, led 2-1 in last year's semifinals and beat Miami two out of three times during the regular season?

We'll find out tonight in Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Giro D'Italia 2013: Vincenzo Nibali Is Lock to Win after Stage 19 Cancellation

Mike Hoag — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:13:07 -0400

Any chances Cadel Evans and the rest of the pack had at catching Vincenzo Nibali went out the window when Stage 19 of the 2013 Giro d’Italia was cancelled on Friday.

BBC Sport announced the news of the cancellation. Severe windchill reportedly dipping temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit and heavy snow were the reasons for the move.

The mountainous third-to-last stage was pegged as the best potential spot for ground to be made up in the race for the Giro title.

That’s why it was so hard for officials to make the call.

"It was a tough decision on a big stage on a great finish in a great Giro. It was very hard to say no,” race director Michele Acquarone said, according to BBC.

While fans may be discouraged by Stage 19’s exclusion, Nibali certainly won’t mind too much.

The Italian leader currently holds a four-plus minute lead over Cadel Evans of Australian and Colombian Rigoberto Uran Uran after 18 stages.

His 18th-stage win is the first of his career at the race.

Cutting out the steepest climbs and giving cyclists a day of rest will undoubtedly help him maintain his lead until the final stage.

Not so fast; Stage 20 is still a potential problem for riders. Cycling News has nearly as much revere for the penultimate stage as its predecessor:

Lacking the glamour of Stelvio or Mortirolo, it's still totally unforgiving. The giant Tre Cime di Lavaredo rounds off what promises to be another great day of racing. It's one of the great theatres of cycle sport and a fitting way to conclude the race as a contest.

Despite the daunting challenge this second-to-last stage presents, Saturday’s mountainous Stage 20 course has also been modified to exclude three of the higher points in order to avoid any further weather complications, according to BBC.

Once past the watered down Stage 20, Nibali should cruise to victory on Stage 21’s nearly flat course. The highest point of the stage is a whopping 200 meters.

A Giro d’Italia race win would be the first for Nibali, who finished in second place at the event in 2011.

Engagement Rumors Hit AJ McCarron and Katherine Webb as Huge Ring Surfaces

Gabe Zaldivar — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:08:23 -0400

Katherine Webb and A.J. McCarron may be secretly engaged. Then again, the model may just have an affinity for wearing fat rings precisely where they would attract the most interest from fans.

Busted Coverage may have uncovered what would be the greatest engagement to hit college football. Or, perhaps, just a ring that looks to weigh about ten pounds.

BC's Joe Kinsey states that he was watching MTV's production featuring Webb and fellow model Chrissy Teigen as they embarked on the Hangout Music Festival. For those looking for whimsical fashion shtick, you can watch the video over at MTV's website.

For the task at hand, we direct your attention to the screen capture below.

As Kinsey notes, that is most definitely a ring, and it is very much on the correct finger to cause a mini-freak out on the Internets. Though it may be nothing more than Webb wearing a ring on that finger to keep the boys away, as if any take the time to notice such things.

It could also just be where she enjoys wearing her rings, especially if this is the one that she received from her Alabama quarterback boo on Valentine's Day, via Webb's Instagram.

We do have to note, just as BC did, Webb has talked about McCarron and her thoughts on a long-term commitment before. Here is what she had to say in January to Ryan Seacrest (via USA Today):

Yeah, absolutely. It's kind of funny because I've dated in (Los Angeles) and I've kind of like seen how Hollywood works. But when you find yourself with someone that you really can see yourself with, like, you know it. I knew in the first two weeks that we were going to be together for a long time. Love kind of takes over and you start talking about the future. So yeah, it's definitely something that I want. I don't see all of this fame–or whatever it is–kind of affecting how I feel toward AJ.

Well, that's almost sweet enough to put in your coffee.

This is all pure speculation, stuff that you can expect when Webb goes out in public with a rock the size of Dwayne Johnson.

When you receive as much attention as the Sports Illustrated model, you are bound to garner some rumors that go along with very specific fashion choices.

With that, we give Webb and McCarron our congratulations, either for their engagement or ability to wear shiny rings in public.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sexy swag: Follow @gabezal

Is Michael Vick off His Rocker Saying He's the Fastest QB in the League?

Zach Kruse — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:01:14 -0400

Despite an influx of young, athletic quarterbacks with wheels, Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles insists he's still the game's fastest player at the position.

And he's not wrong.

The 33-year-old Vick said on "The Dan Patrick Show" Friday (via ESPN) that he remains faster in the open field than the likes of Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and the rest of the NFL's crop of quick quarterbacks.

"These guys are young and they're fast and they're quick; the thing I do have is a very quick get-up. I really don't feel like there's a quarterback in the league who can beat me in a 40-yard dash. If somebody wants to set something up, I'll be more than glad to accept the challenge. But as of right now I'm going to say me. But Colin Kaepernick is fast and RG III is fast as well."

Vick hasn't been shy about expressing–or showing off–his top-end speed.

Earlier in May, Vick challenged Eagles running back LeSean McCoy to a 40-yard dash during offseason workouts.

According to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News, Vick won the race against the shifty running back, who is nine years his junior.

While not official—and McCoy claimed that Vick cheated, just as you'd expect—the results show that Vick hasn't lost any of his elite straight-line speed.

Back in 2001, and before he became the No. 1 overall pick, Vick blazed through the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds. The time is not considered official, according to NFL Combine Results, but it would rank faster than any other quarterback time since 2006, the first year the NFL made 40 times official.

Former Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal holds the official quarterback record at 4.35 seconds, followed by Griffin III at 4.41. Kaepernick ran the sprint in 4.53 seconds in 2011, while Russell Wilson finished in 4.55 seconds last year. Jake Locker and Cam Newton both recorded times of 4.59 seconds.

The only other quarterbacks to break 4.50 seconds are Marcus Vick (4.42, 2005) and Brad Smith (4.46, 2006).

Vick, the NFL's all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards, told the radio program that he still thinks he can run in the 4.4-second range.

Such a time would almost certainly ensure that Vick retains the title of fastest quarterback in the NFL.

McNeal now plays in the Canadian Football League and Griffin III is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. Kaepernick, Wilson and Terrelle Pryor might be his best competition for the crown, but there's no reason to think a re-committed Vick wouldn't best the trio in a foot race.

Vick should probably have more important things on his mind—like beating out a certain rookie quarterback from USC for the Eagles starting job—but there's no need to question his speed.

Even at 32 years old, Vick should still be considered the NFL's fastest quarterback.

Champions League Final 2013: Why Bayern Munich Will Dominate

Jeremy Fuchs — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:59:09 -0400

Bayern Munich will take on Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final. While the rise of Dortmund is a good story, Bayern Munich are simply a better team and they will absolutely dominate the final game on Saturday.

Bayern are the best team in the world right now. They just beat Barcelona 7-0 aggregate in the semifinals of the Championship League. Bayern have a goal differential of plus-80. That's right. Plus-80. They scored 98 goals and allowed just 18. In contrast, Dortmund gave up 42 goals.

Bayern beat Dortmund in the DFB Cup quarterfinal in February by a score of 1-0, and Dortmund had just one shot on net. The squad has an absolutely stifling defense.

While Dortmund have Robert Lewandowski, perhaps the best young goal scorer in the world, they will be without stud midfielder Mario Gotze, who is out with a hamstring issue.

Gotze takes off a lot of pressure on Lewandowski. He's a terrific passer and an excellent scorer. Without Gotze, Bayern can shift all their defensive attention to Lewandowski, limiting his effectiveness.

Making matters worse for Dortmund is that Bayern goalie Manuel Neuer is playing at an incredible level right now. He recorded four clean sheets in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Champions League:

In addition, midfielder Thomas Muller has been terrific in Champions League play. He has eight goals and two assists in 11 matches.

Despite losing in last year's finals, Bayern and Muller believe it will give them more confidence:

The cards are stacked against Dortmund. Despite the fact they finished in 13th place in 2007-08 and engineered an incredible turnaround to get here, they are just overmatched. They are without their star midfielder, meaning that Bayern have a chance to completely keep Lewandowski out of the game. Also, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is absolutely on fire, and the offense is incredibly potent, led by Muller.

Barring a major injury, or a major gaffe by Neuer, it seems that Bayern are set to avenge last year's heartbreaking loss and take home the Champions League final in dominating fashion.

NBA Playoffs 2013: Players Who Must Step Up After Poor Conference Finals Starts

Benjamin Klein — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:50:49 -0400

While some of the NBA’s best have stepped up during the playoffs—I’m looking at you, LeBron James—others have been far from stellar.

In the postseason, teams have to play well as a team in order to win. It’s not all about one player, although a dominant performance could obviously lead to a lopsided victory.

When key players fail to execute when given the opportunity, bad things happen. Just ask the Indiana Pacers, who, even though didn’t have Roy Hibbert on the floor late in overtime, couldn’t stop James from driving to the basket for the game-winning layup.

If poor play from the following players continues throughout the remainder of the conference finals and potentially the NBA Final, then their teams could be in big trouble.

Ray Allen, Miami Heat

The Heat barely escaped the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, but it wasn’t because Ray Allen did much of anything. Sure, Allen has a plus-10 plus/minus rating in the series’ opening game, but that number is skewed.

As long as a player can play solid defense and be on the court alongside of players like James and Dwayne Wade, their plus-minus is going to be high. What’s concerning, though, is how poorly Allen has shot the ball.

For those who don’t know, Allen has made more three-pointers than any other player in the history of the game. That’s one of the main reasons the Heat wanted him—aside from the fact he used to play for one of their top rivals, the Boston Celtics.

In Game 1, Allen attempted just four shots from beyond the arc, hitting just one. Allen has been pretty cold from three throughout most of the postseason. He shot 46.4 percent from downtown against the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round but just 23.5 percent in the quarterfinals against the Chicago Bulls.

Miami desperately needs Allen’s hot hand in order to continue winning. Going 1-of-4 or even worse on a night-to-night basis isn’t going to cut it. Allen knows that and is probably working on fixing it at this very instant.

George Hill, Indiana Pacers

Since sustaining a concussion during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Knicks, George Hill just hasn’t been the same player. Throughout the season, Hill averaged 14.2 points in 34.5 minutes per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from downtown.

In Game 6, in which the Indiana Pacers clinched a trip to face the Heat, Hill was ice cold. In 42 minutes, he shot 2-of-10 from the field and 1-of-6 from three-point territory. He finished the game with 12 points, but seven came from the charity stripe.

With a couple of days off, it was fair to assume that Hill would be his normal self for the start of the Eastern Conference finals. But that didn't turn out to be the case. In 45 minutes, he went 2-of-9 from the field and had just five points in the Pacers’ Game 1 loss.

Hill is more than essential to Indiana’s success. If he’s still feeling the after-effects of the concussion, that’s one thing, but if he’s healthy and just underperforming, the Pacers are doomed.

Hill may only have been the third-highest scorer on the team during the year, but Indiana is considerably worse without him on the floor. But as we’ve seen lately, he’s been bad when he’s on the court, too. Right now, if Hill doesn’t get his act together, it’s a lose-lose situation for the Pacers.

Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Randolph was on fire to start the postseason but has since cooled off considerably, which should have Memphis Grizzlies fans somewhat worried. It was almost as if Randolph couldn’t miss a shot during the first round of the playoffs. He shot 56.8 percent from the field, 10 points higher than he did in the regular season.

Obviously, it’s a smaller sample size, so the percentage is skewed, but still, that’s an impressive shot percentage for a six-game series. His offensive abilities led Memphis to a second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the quarterfinals, he shot 43.9 percent from the field.

Then in Game 1, Randolph was more than shaky each time he attempted a shot. He hit just six of 18 attempts on the night, dropping the opener of the series to the San Antonio Spurs. To add insult to injury, he only hit three free throws despite attempting eight. Those are points the Grizzlies certainly missed.

Now, I understand that Randolph’s game is not all about offense. He did grab 18 rebounds in Game 1, which helped Memphis keep the game close. But if he and his teammates can’t capitalize when he brings one in, then what’s the point? Seven offensive rebounds are worthless if he doesn’t hit the put-back.

The Spurs are very fundamentally sound and Randolph needs to either shoot better or give up the ball if he’s not going to be making shots. If not, Memphis could end up getting swept.

James Rodriguez: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Garry Hayes — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:48:15 -0400

If Paris Saint-Germain thought their Ligue 1 victory this season would mean they were set to have it all their own way in France, they were mistaken.

Monaco have only just returned to the top flight, and with a Russian owner seemingly willing to back them to the hilt, they have already started their assault on challenging PSG for the title by snapping up James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho from Porto for a fee that The Sun reports to be in the region of £60 million.

Age: 21

Contract Situation: Monaco have tied Rodriguez down to a five-year deal, meaning he will remain a player for the Ligue 1 side until 2018.

Career Stops: Banfield (2008-10), Porto (2010-13), Monaco (2013-current)

Current Campaign: Portuguese Liga: 22 games, eight goals; Champions League: eight games, one goal, one assist

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide: Rodriguez is one of the hottest young properties in European football right now, with his raw pace and an eye for goal catching the attention of many clubs on the continent and in the Premier League.

Eight goals in 22 league games isn't a bad return for a 21-year-old who is still finding his feet, and so much more is expected of him.

He'll need to address his distribution, however, as he failed to record an assist of any sort in Portugal this term, which, given his official status as a winger, will be a concern.

What's Next?

We now know where the 21-year-old Colombian will be plying his trade for the foreseeable future, although things were expected to be a whole lot different.

He had long been linked with a move to Manchester United, with the Daily Telegraph believing Anderson would be used as a make-weight in any deal. The Express also reported Atletico Madrid were set to make a move.

As Friday's news (May 24) showed though, money talks, and Monaco will be the envy of a few clubs having snapped up the talented wide man.

Why the Dallas Cowboys Will Finish Dead Last in the NFC East in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:46:46 -0400

The NFC East is supposed to be super tight once again this year. Bovada in Las Vegas predicts that all four teams in the division will win between seven and nine games. With that considered, you can make perfectly acceptable arguments for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins to finish first or last in a division that has come down to the wire in Week 17 each of the last four years.

Here are the arguments for why the Cowboys will drop to fourth place this year...

ON THE OTHER HAND: WHY THE COWBOYS WILL WIN THE NFC EAST IN 2013

The defensive transition won't succeed overnight

They've dumped the blitz-happy Rob Ryan in favor of Monte Kiffin and his 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme, but it often takes time for veteran defenses to make transitions. DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will require time to adjust to playing with their hands in the dirt, and cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne will both be learning their third system in as many years.

They couldn't do much to improve in the offseason

While the Eagles and Giants spent serious cash (especially Philly), Dallas was forced to sit on its hands and watch. The cap-strapped Cowboys eventually found the money to replace Dan Connor with Justin Durant at linebacker while re-signing most of their key free agents. Gerald Sensabaugh is also gone and Doug Free is still slated to start at right tackle despite struggling terribly the last two seasons. They reached for center Travis Frederick in the first round of the draft and may not have added a single first-year starter beyond that.

There's no evidence they can stay healthy

Injuries are partly about luck, but they're becoming a pattern among guys like Sean Lee, Bruce Carter and DeMarco Murray. If they once again can't stay on the field this season, the Cowboys will be in a lot of trouble, especially with 2012 fourth-place finisher Philadelphia getting a whole lot better.

Jason Garrett

It's hard to trust this guy. We still don't even know whether he'll be calling plays, which is sort of silly in and of itself. He's never been a particularly good game manager or decision-maker, at least in comparison to his NFC East coaching peers Mike Shanahan and Tom Coughlin.

Why the Dallas Cowboys Will Win the NFC East in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:46:05 -0400

The NFC East is expected to be extremely tight once again this year. Bovada Online Gaming in Las Vegas predicts that all four teams in the division will win between seven and nine games. Therefore, you can make perfectly valid arguments in favor of the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins finishing first, or last, in the league's most popular division.

Let's do exactly that for the Cowboys, starting with the glass-half-full perspective...

ON THE OTHER HAND: WHY THE COWBOYS WILL FINISH DEAD LAST IN THE NFC EAST IN 2013

Their extremely talented defense has a new leader with one hell of a résumé

Rob Ryan is gone after two disappointing seasons running the D, and now the venerable Monte Kiffin has taken over, implementing a 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme that it seems will suit the personnel perfectly. Sean Lee and Bruce Carter were studs when healthy last year, and DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Jay Ratliff and Jason Hatcher make up one of the best four-man lines in football. Consider how much better the secondary should be with talented corners Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne entering year two in Dallas and there's little reason to think this can't be a top 10 defense in 2013.

The odds indicate they'll be healthier

Some rosters are just more injury-prone than others, and it's certainly possible that the Cowboys will continue to see guys drop like flies. But the reality is that luck wasn't on their side last season. They had the third most games lost to injury in the NFL, according to the Dallas Morning News. Simply keeping guys like Lee, Carter, Ratliff, Barry Church and DeMarco Murray healthy could be enough to put the 'Boys over the top in 2013.

Dez Bryant is about to explode

Bryant, whom I believe is the best non-quarterback in the division, became a game-changing weapon late last season. During the second half of the year he led all NFL players with 10 touchdowns, finishing behind only Calvin and Andre Johnson with 879 yards. If Murray can stay healthy and the running game can provide support, there's absolutely no limit to what Bryant and Tony Romo can do together.

Romo is due

It's simple, really. Romo is the NFL's highest-rated active quarterback without a Super Bowl. Despite what lazy critics say, he's great in big games, great in big moments, a great improviser and a great all-around quarterback. If his offensive line can hold up and he can get proper support from the running game, his receiving corps and his defense, Romo has the ability to lead the 'Boys to their first division title in four years.

Indy 500 2013: Top Drivers to Watch in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing

Alex Ballentine — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:43:49 -0400

The 2013 Indy 500 is the biggest event in the IndyCar racing season, and everyone in the 33-car field will be looking to make the best of the opportunity in the spotlight.

If last year's race was any indication, the 2013 version should be one of the highlights of the race season. 2012 race winner Dario Franchitti will be back to defend his crown, but he won't be the only talented driver angling for a championship.

The race features a loaded field that will provide fans with plenty of intense action on Sunday. Here's a full listing of the qualifiers for the race.

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

Here are the top contenders to watch on the 2.5-mile track:

Dario Franchitti

Franchitti may be having a mediocre season, but counting him out of this race would be a big mistake. He's only 15th in the point standings for the season, but he's won the race three times, including 2012's race.

Things won't be easy, though. Franchitti will have to rally from the middle of the pack. He'll start off in the 17th position and has plenty of skilled drivers ahead of him.

With three Indy 500 wins in his career, Franchitti will be chasing history Sunday. According to CBS Sports, a fourth victory would tie him for most Indy 500 wins in history. Only A.J. Hoyt (1961, '64, '67 and '77), Al Unser (1970-71, 78, 87) and Rick Mears (1979, 84, 88, 91) have accomplished the feat.

Aside from joining that prestigious club, he could become the sixth driver to win the race in back-to-back years.

The odds may not be in his favor, but history says that Franchitti will be a contender.

Marco Andretti

Marco Andretti certainly has the name for racing, but the Indy 500 hasn't always been kind for Andretti's. The family hasn't won the race since his grandfather, Mario Andretti, took the checkered flag in 1969.

However, Marco has the car and skills to end the streak of poor performances this time around.

In four starts this season, he's claimed two top-five finishes and four top-10's. Throw in the fact that he led the most laps in last year's race with 59, and he's more than capable of having success at Indianapolis.

According to the Indy Car 500 PR Twitter account, Andretti is among the fastest racers in practice:

This could be the year that Marco ends the Andretti Indy 500 curse.

Helio Castroneves

Dario Franchitti won't be the only one with an extensive history at Indianapolis. Castroneves' resume at the premier race is even more impressive than Franchitti's.

Castroneves is one of the few to have won the race three times. And he won it two years in a row in 2001 and 2002.

His last victory came in 2009, but he's been racing really well in early 2013 and should be a contender on Sunday. He has two top-five finishes in four starts this season.

With a much better qualifying position than Franchitti (eighth), Castroneves could be the one who cements his legacy with a win on Sunday.

Recapping Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Career for the Chicago Bears

Chris Trapasso — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:40:38 -0400

It doesn't get more Chicago Bears than Mike Ditka.

The fiery, dedicated and passionate player-turned-coach will forever embody one of the NFL's most storied franchises, one steeped in tradition that dates back to the league's inception in 1920.

As a tight end, Ditka was a powerful and deceptively fast player who excelled as a blocker but truly made his mark as a receiver.

He was named to five Pro Bowls and made two All-Pro appearances while averaging 52.6 receptions, 750.5 yards and 5.6 touchdowns during his six-year stint with the Bears from 1961 to 1965.

The rugged 6'3'' University of Pittsburgh product was one of the most productive tight ends in the league during his time in Chicago:

Name	Catches	Receiving Yards	Touchdowns
Mike Ditka	284	4,125	32
Pete Retzlaff	254	4,293	33

He also enjoyed a successful 11-year career as head coach in Chicago that was highlighted by an historic victory in Super Bowl XX, which improved his already preeminent status in the Windy City.

Wimpy son of a Western Pennsylvania welder

Ditka was born into a blue-collar household on October 18, 1939 in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Actually, his real name is Michael Dyczko.

However, because the Ukranian Dyczko was too difficult to pronounced, his family Americanized his name to Ditka.

He starred on the football field at the famed Aliquippa High School and, according to BearsHistory.com, head coach King Aschman said he saw a "wimpy 10th grader with chicken legs, but that wimpy 10th grader would work so hard he would cry. If you beat him to the ground, he would bite you, kick you. He was going to be a ballplayer. He was going to be a ballplayer if it killed him."

For the Panthers, Ditka was an All-American in 1960 and George Halas of the Bears took notice, selecting him No. 5 overall in the subsequent draft.

Star NFL tight end

Dikta burst onto the scene as a rookie with 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns at 19.2 yards per catch in 1961, quite the ridiculous statline for a tight end in that era.

He was an All-Pro in 1963 when the Bears won the NFL championship. He achieved this feat again in 1964.

After his stay in Chicago, Ditka played two years in Philadelphia with the Eagles and finished his 12-year professional career with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring in 1972.

In 158 games, he made 427 catches for 5,812 yards and 43 receiving touchdowns and had an indelible impact as a run-blocker.

In 1981, he became the first tight end to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Da' Coach

Ditka was hired by Halas in 1982 and had the Bears in the NFC Championship game in his third season with the team.

The following year, 1985, was a magical one for Ditka and the entire city of Chicago.

Ditka's Bears were the most dominant team in the NFL. They went 15-1 during the regular season and allowed a paltry 12 points per contest.

After outscoring their first two playoff opponents 45-0, the Bears were the easy favorites as they shuffled their way to Super Bowl XX.

Chicago then absolutely manhandled the New England Patriots 46-10 and were declared the Super Bowl champions.

Today, Ditka's 1985 Bears are considered one of the greatest Super Bowl champions of all-time with arguably the best defense in league history.

Chicago won five of the next six NFC North division titles, but failed to meet lofty expectations in the playoffs each year.

Following a 5-11 1992 campaign, Ditka was fired, but he had already become a legendary symbol for Bears football and in the NFL.

Football icons Mike Singletary, Walter Payton, Dan Hampton, Willie Gault and Richard Dent played under Ditka in Chicago.

His Chicago Legacy

Ditka's fervent sideline personality, disciplinarian coaching style and vast achievement have made him one of the most recognizable coaching figures of all time.

And who can forget his famed Bears sweatervest?

After a disappointing tenure in New Orleans with the Saints, Ditka retired from coaching after the 1999 campaign.

His candid and refreshingly outspoken personality made him a prime candidate to become a TV personality and NFL analyst, and he's been in football broadcasting ever since.

Mike Ditka, a sturdy western Pennsylvanian, who flourished as a devastating blocker and pass-catching tight end in college, went on to become a playing hero and coaching icon for the Chicago Bears.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Sudirman Cup 2013: Previewing Semifinals on Saturday in Malaysia

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:35:51 -0400

The 2013 Sudirman Cup has only four teams remaining on the Level 1 stage, with China, Thailand, Korea and Denmark all still in the mix to bring home the trophy on Sunday.

A "Final Four" of badminton, if you will, these four teams will square off in two head-to-head matches on Saturday afternoon. The winners will move on to the final on Sunday where the victor earns the spoils of the gold-plated cup trophy and the mantle of winning the tournament.

If you're unfamiliar with the Sudirman Cup, it's an event that takes place every two years and has been that way since 1989, when Indonesia won the inaugural event. Since then, only China and Korea have taken home trophies (11 between the pair), making Asia the only continent to ever win the event.

The mixed team format consists of five types of matches and both genders of athletes: Men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles, each of which brings home one point toward a best-of-five format.

Teams play to 21, and like the sport of volleyball, for example, a team must win two-of-three games to capture the match and earn a point toward the overall score—the first team to get to three wins moves on during the knockout stages of the tournament.

With only three matches left before the 2013 winner is decided, let's take a look at the two head-to-head ones that will be played on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur.

Korea vs. Thailand

When: Saturday, May 25, at noon ET

Where: Putra Indoor Stadium; Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Designation: Level 1 - Mixed Team

Korea already has a 5-0 win over Thailand to its credit, a dominant performance, per BWFBadminton, that helped get the Koreans back to the final four of this event for the 13th-straight time.

Three-time Sudirman Cup winners (1991, 1993, 2003) and three-time runners-up, Korea has a loaded lineup that features Ko Sung-hyun, Kim Ha-na, Lee Dong-keun and others who were a part of the original thrashing of Thailand earlier in the tournament.

However, the Thais chose to rest Boonsak Ponsana and Ratchanok Intanon—the two best singles players the group has—and were unable to compete with the second unit, of sorts, that went head-to-head against an experienced Korean lineup.

Korea also downed Germany in straight-set fashion on May 23, 3-0 victors in an another dominating performance from this dangerous lineup.

Expect the Thais to unleash Intanon in the match on Saturday to combat the talent that Korea has put on display, but it's unknown if Ponsana, who was unfit to perform in Thailand's clinching win over Japan, will be able to put his reputation on the line in men's singles on Saturday.

Having never been to the semifinals before, it's hard to put a gauge on what we should expect from Thailand. The win over Japan was a shock to the badminton community as Intanon's performance in women's singles was a thing of beauty for the young Thai squad, per the Bangkok Post.

Without the experience that Korea will boast, expect Thailand to play with emotion and pride during the first of these two semifinals matches. We'll see if it will be enough to knock off an impressive Korean squad eager to return to the finals for the seventh time.

China vs. Denmark

When: Saturday, May 25, at 6 a.m. ET

Where: Putra Indoor Stadium; Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Designation: Level 1 - Mixed Team

Over the years, China has dominated the Sudirman Cup.

The Chinese teams in this competition have won eight totals titles, and that includes two four-title streaks, only broken by Korea's championship in 2003. Simply put, the Chinese are the best badminton team in the world, and they proved that theory at the 2012 Olympics, as well.

So far, though, China has been tested during the 2013 Sudirman Cup.

Indonesia gave China fits in the May 23 contest between the two teams, as the Chinese lost both mixed doubles and men's doubles, where Indonesia gained two points and had a 2-1 advantage at one point before women's ace Li Xuerui earned a win and the 2-2 draw heading into women's doubles.

The world's best women's doubles team, Yu Wang and Wang Xiaoli, finished the Indonesians off for good to move to the semifinals and a chance at an unprecedented fifth-straight Sudirman Cup. With some of the world's best players in tow and the experience that is unmatched by any other team still alive, China will be tough to beat.

Denmark is the only non-Asian team to ever make it into the finals, doing so twice in the 13-event history of the Cup. After dropping a tough decision to Japan earlier in the tournament, the Danes rebounded with an impressive 3-0 win over the Chinese Taipei squad.

Jan Ø. Jørgensen looked impressive during his men's single victory, and the rest of the Danes in play managed to put the Chinese Taipei squad away rather easily before the match moved into the women's sections of play.

In what will be the 11th appearance in the final four for Denmark, the Danes are fielding a strong team and will look to capitalize on China's full-out performance against Indonesia in this match on Saturday afternoon.

The Sudirman Cup is winding down, but we're far away from a victor. Make sure to keep pace with all the action by first seeing which two countries will emerge from these matches and move on to the finals this year.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant on Twitter:

Titus O'Neil: WWE Superstars Tell Stories at 'Car-Crash Speed'

Bill Atkinson — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:33:56 -0400

Titus O’Neil sees himself in many roles as a WWE Superstar, but chief among them is being a storyteller.

In an interview with the Leader-Post in Regina, Saskatchewan, O’Neil says that the core responsibility his job and that of his colleagues is quite simple—they tell stories that people enjoy watching:

Our job is to either put smiles on people's faces or frowns, one way or the other. It's like going to a movie. People spend millions of dollars a year going to movies to be entertained, and it's good versus evil—especially action movies. Everybody loves a good feel-good story, and that's kind of what we do. We tell stories. We just do it at car-crash speed.

But there also is more to O'Neil, as he says in the interview. He says he considers himself more than just an athlete.

He points to his personal history, which includes an undergraduate degree in criminology from the University of Florida and a deep, abiding interest in administration that has landed him work on two political campaigns:

There's so much more to me. I'm a father of two sons. I mentor kids in my community. I'm very active in my community, as well as traveling around the world with underwear, boots and baby oil. I think I have one of the most diverse resumes as far as an entertainer is concerned at this moment.

The former college football star who dreamed of a long pro career tells the newspaper he never would have considered a career in professional wrestling. But a friend and neighbor persuaded him to give it a try, and O’Neil credits that person with getting him to the point where he is today.

That friend and neighbor’s name is Dave Batista.

O’Neil has enjoyed a certain level of success in WWE since breaking into the ranks four years ago. He currently teams with Darren Young to form the Prime Time Players, and they always are among major contenders for tag team gold.

While O’Neil is enjoying his time in WWE, he says in the interview that he also is proud of what he accomplished as a member of the Florida Gators. He often acknowledges his college roots by demonstrating the Florida “Gator chomp” in the ring.

He tells the newspaper that one of his fondest college memories came in 1997, when he recorded the first sack of his career in a game against Tennessee. You may have heard of the person on the receiving end of that sack—Peyton Manning.

“That was awesome,” O'Neil says in the interview. “I was just talking to someone about that a few days ago, because someone sent a picture of me and Peyton shaking hands after the game, after we beat them at The Swamp. Peyton Manning was actually one of my hosts when I was being recruited out of high school.”

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

USC Football: Reasonable Goals for Trojans' 2013 Season

Randy Chambers — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:32:50 -0400

How does USC set reasonable goals after what happened last season?

It's quite simple. Don't expect your team to be the greatest thing since a DVR and take more of a "wait and see" approach.

After the disappointing 7-6 season last year, setting reasonable goals shouldn't be that difficult this time. Even if every starter from last year was returning and Vince Lombardi miraculously became head coach, there is no way predictions for the upcoming season can get out of hand.

Trojans fans and most of the media fell for that once already.

So while you are scratching your head and trying to find a happy medium, let's see some of the attainable goals for USC this season.

More Balanced Running Game

It is still baffling to see that USC finished last season ranked 76th in the country and seventh in the Pac-12 in rushing yards. Injuries to running backs or not, you figured the backfield was talented enough to at least crack the top 50 in rushing yardage per game.

This year's squad should have no problem doing just that. Silas Redd returns for his senior season and should be used a lot like he was in Penn State where he was the workhorse, averaging 15-20 carries per contest.

A combination of a healthy D.J. Morgan, Tre Madden, Javorius Allen and Justin Davis should then be good enough to provide the depth that wasn't there last season.

Redd has the ability to carry the load and get back to his 1,000-yard rushing days, while Madden and Davis provide a nice change of pace and can score quickly. USC will likely rely heavily on the running game with questions still up in the air at quarterback. The depth and talent is certainly there for this rushing attack to average closer to 200 yards a game.

Although a 50-yard increase on the ground per game doesn't sound reasonable, the Trojans are in a little better position than last season.

Similar Defensive Pressure

One of the few things that went right for USC last season was the defensive pressure generated. The Trojans finished fourth in the Pac-12 with 45 sacks, producing a total of 279 lost yards by getting to the quarterback.

The good news is that a majority of the guys who made that relentless pressure happen are returning for another season.

It all starts with defensive lineman Morgan Breslin, who was responsible for 13 of those sacks. But Leonard Williams and George Uko also return, and they accounted for another 13 between them. The athleticism of linebackers Hayes Pullard and Lamar Dawson will also pose a scary threat to opposing quarterbacks.

USC has also added an elite defensive tackle in Kenny Bigelow, who will see significant playing time in his freshman year. His quickness off the ball and ability to shoot the gap is scary for somebody so young.

New USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast is an aggressive play-caller who will show a variety of different looks to confuse offenses and take advantage of the team's athleticism.

How the secondary will pan out remains a mystery, but the pressure up front will remain the same.

9 Victories

After what took occurred last year, expectations must be knocked down a few notches. There should be no predictions of Heisman Trophies, national titles or even conference championships at this point.

Sure, USC is a program that always has the talent to get the job done and should never be counted out, but last year's team looked to be one of the best in recent memory and fell flat on its face.

Questions remain at quarterback and the secondary isn't exactly looking great at the moment. There are also issues with the play-calling, which cost this team some games down the stretch. Does anybody actually trust Lane Kiffin to get the job done late in games?

The Pac-12 took giant steps forward last season and this year's schedule isn't a cakewalk. Road trips to Arizona State, Notre Dame and Oregon State are tough sledding. That doesn't even include UCLA, Stanford and even Arizona on the schedule as well.

This season should still be successful and could produce a BCS bowl with a bounce here and there. But expecting anything more than nine victories at this point would be a stretch.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Carmelo Anthony: Playing Through Pain Has Defined Athletes' Careers

Jed Hughes — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:23:35 -0400

Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls was unable to make a return for the NBA playoffs despite being medically cleared to play in March. The star point guard and the former MVP, who hadn't played in a game in over a year, took heat from the media and fans for his absence. In contrast, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks averaged over 28 points per game despite suffering a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. Anthony was hurt worse than most people knew, and we have now found out that the All-Star gutted throughout the playoffs with a severely injured shoulder.

As a nation, we have become accustomed to seeing star athletes deliver with gutsy performances to overcome injuries, particularly in championship games. We often consider athletes invincible and immune to pain. Fans have become less tolerant of injuries especially when so many players have produced despite having serious injuries. There is also the unwritten expectation that athletes should play since they are paid such incredible amounts of money.

Sidney Crosby has taken criticism in the past for being a “soft” player. His return to the ice during the playoffs despite recovering from a broken jaw reveals anything but softness. The Penguins captain required surgery, and the injury forced him to miss a chunk of the regular season. Upon his return, he made his presence felt instantaneously and resumed scoring goals. He has propelled the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hockey players are their own special breed. It is not uncommon to see a player get a big gash stitched up in between periods and return to finish the game. Players who have been hit in the mouth are known to pick up their teeth off the ice, return for their shifts, and then deal with the dentistry after the game.

Willis Reed’s gutty performance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals is the stuff of legends. The Knicks center outplayed Wilt Chamberlain despite a torn thigh muscle that he suffered in Game 5 of the series. Although Reed only scored only 4 points, his participation inspired the team and helped secure the franchise’s first NBA title. Walt "Clyde" Frazier led the Knicks in scoring with a game-high 36 points, yet this performance is often overlooked because of Reed’s unlikely and awe-inspiring comeback.

One of the most memorable events in World Series history transpired when Kirk Gibson of the Dodgers hit his famous home run off closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Down by a run with two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the 9th, Gibson was called upon to pinch hit despite having two injured legs. Gibson quickly fell behind 0-2 and then hit a walk-off home run of the seemingly unhittable Hall of Fame reliever. The Dodgers would go on to stun the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in five games. Gibson did not have another at bat in the series.

Despite enduring a severe ankle injury in the 2004 playoffs, Curt Schilling helped pitch the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years. Schilling underwent an unusual surgical procedure on his ankle to mitigate any ill effects of the injury. The big right-hander responded by pitching two of the gutsiest performances of his career. His career-defining victory in Game 6 of the ALCS over the Yankees helped force a Game 7. Schilling also pitched well enough to earn a victory in Game 2 of the World Series as the Red Sox ended their long championship drought.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus late in the 2011 season. Despite a grim prospect of recovery, he returned in 2012 even better than he was before and earned Most Valuable Player honors. Many others have been unable to return from such injuries.

When star athletes ignore the pain and play to win, they inspire others to play their hearts out as well. This warrior mentality helps teams develop a sense of common purpose that seems nearly impossible. They are not always able to do it; fans were surprised this spring when the seemingly indestructible Derek Jeter was not able to overcome a broken ankle and play at his usual high level. Many overlooked the fact that surgeries, such as Jeter's, require significant recovery time.

At some point, every athlete reaches a point where he is unable to perform. The great ones know when they are ready to return (or not) and how hard they can go without hindering team performance.

Jed Hughes is Vice Chair of Korn/Ferry and the leader of the executive search firm's Global Sports Practice. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter @jedhughesKF

World Cup 2014: Stunning Images of Brazil's 12 Stadiums

Will Tidey — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:21:03 -0400

World Cup 2014 looms larger with the announcement of each stadium being delivered. This summer's Confederations Cup will put Brazil in the spotlight and it will stay there through the World Cup and the Olympics to follow in 2016.

Six World Cup stadiums will be in use during the Confederations Cup, most notably the legendary Maracanã in Rio, which has been fully refurbished and will host a second World Cup final next summer.

Some of the 12 that will deployed for the World Cup have been built from scratch; others renovated to be brought up to modern specifications.

Judging by the images you're about to see, the full dozen will provide a spectacular backdrop for the greatest show on earth.

Stadium information from copa2014.gov.br and FIFA.com.

Begin Slideshow

Chicago White Sox: What Does the Return of Gordon Beckham Mean Exactly?

Matthew Smith — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:20:03 -0400

For the Chicago White Sox, the return of Gordon Beckham from a rehab stint with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights cannot come soon enough.

Beckham, who has been the Opening Day second baseman for the White Sox for the past four seasons, is nearly recovered from a surgery to remove the hamate bone in his right hand.

No official announcement has been made on Beckham's return, but Scott Merkin, MLB.com’s White Sox beat reporter, thinks it could be quite soon:

And from every indication, he appears ready.

Following Thursday night’s game for the Knights, Beckham is hitting .318 with five runs scored and a .375 OBP. He has also started one game at shortstop and has been the designated hitter.

While MLB.com’s Ethan Asofsky noted that Robin Ventura downplayed the significance of his time at short, it may be an indication of which direction the White Sox want to head with the 25-man roster when Beckham is activated.

That segues nicely into the next topic: Whose spot will Beckham take?

With pitching at a premium on the South Side, the decision will likely come down to a choice between Casper Wells and Tyler Greene.

An interesting case could be made for both men.

Wells is considered to be an above-average outfielder who can play all three positions, and he hits left-handed pitching very well, per Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors. With four other outfielders on the roster, though, keeping a fifth one may be a luxury the Sox cannot afford.

Wells is also out of options and, should the White Sox decide that Beckham will take his spot, he would have to be designated for assignment and clear waivers before being optioned.

Greene, on the other hand, is much faster than Wells, has some value as a platoon infielder and can be a pinch runner in late-inning situations.

Tim Dierkes, from MLBTradeRumors, noted that unlike Wells, however, “the White Sox can control Greene for a while if he proves useful.”

Couple Greene’s contract situation with Beckham’s recent re-acquaintance to the shortstop position and his demotion to Triple-A will be the most likely decision for general manager Rick Hahn.

Had Jeff Keppinger been able to get off to even a mediocre start, Beckham’s return would not be as highly anticipated. But after beginning the season with a .204 average and one home run, Keppinger has made Beckham’s value to the team palpable.

He will immediately improve the defense, which has been a surprise shortcoming for the White Sox thus far. Turning a double play will become routine, and hitting the cut-off man will not be such an adventure.

Beckham will also provide some unexpected stability to the bottom of the order.

How times have changed.

If someone would have said when the 2013 season began that the White Sox would miss Beckham’s presence as much as they have, I would have scoffed, chuckled or flat-out laughed.

Well, the humble pie is served, and the tune has changed.

Hurry up already, Gordon.

The White Sox need you.

Follow @MatthewSmithBR

Big E Langston Needs a WWE Veteran to Feud with

Ryan Dilbert — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:18:55 -0400

To see how good Big E. Langston can be, to see if their newest powerhouse is more of a single note or a violent symphony, WWE needs to have him feud with a veteran soon.

As impressive as Ryback looked clobbering jobbers, it wasn't until his current feud with John Cena that fans got to see how engrossing of a beast he can be. A story with more depth, more airtime and being in striking range of a big star has helped Ryback tremendously.

With quick victories over the likes of Zack Ryder, Langston has looked like a hammer crushing nails. He now needs to be consistently pitted against someone who can better challenge him.

See how he does in brighter spotlight, in longer matches, in clashes with someone capable of hurting him. Throw him in against a pack leader and his future will be far easier to protect.

Feuding with Chris Jericho has elevated Fandango's career, at least for now. On a smaller scale, tussling with William Regal did the same thing for Dean Ambrose in NXT. With as good as Langston looked in his recent matches with Alberto Del Rio, it's clearly time to find someone to launch him forward.

Having him look like an equal against an established WWE vet is not only an exploration of Langston's potential or a means in which to build toward the future, but it will be highly entertaining as well.

His explosiveness, his uncanny power and surprising sense of humor should make his first true feud an intriguing one.

Once he's done filling in for Dolph Ziggler against Del Rio, who does WWE have him face?

After a few run-ins with the recently dethroned United States champ, it looked like Langston and Kofi Kingston were headed toward a championship collision. Instead, Ambrose drove Kingston's head to the mat and beat him for the title at Extreme Rules.

Maybe Langston still goes after Kingston regardless of his lack of gold, but someone higher on the WWE hierarchy would be a better fit.

The right man has to be able to combat Langston's power with formidable power of his own. He has to have major titles on his resume to amplify the importance of the feud and be quick enough not to have their matches turn into displays of woodenness.

Sheamus is an excellent candidate for the position.

The Irishman's reputation for being a part of some of the company's most intense slugfests should have fans salivating at the thought of Langston vs. Sheamus. Sheamus' bouts with Big Show best show off what he can do with a large, powerful foe.

Picture Langston taking Big Show's place here.

Langston, of course, is not as immense as Big Show, but makes up for it with better mobility and quickness. Langston and Sheamus matches would be just as hard-hitting as those matches, but better paced.

As easy as it is to rely on stars who are previously established, WWE has to toy and experiment with its more unproven performers in order to fully understand what they offer. Is Langston just another forgettable powerhouse in the vein of a Mike Knox or does the company have the next great monster of a man on its roster?

Having him bang heads with Sheamus or another veteran will help answer that question.

Why the Dortmund-Bayern Rivalry Doesn't Come Close to Barcelona and Real Madrid

Nathan Judah — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:16:09 -0400

This Saturday, all eyes will be focused on Wembley Stadium as two of the finest German club sides in Bundesliga history lock horns in the Champions League final—but it's not the sexy matchup everyone so desperately wanted.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been the best two teams in the competition this season and no one can begrudge them their moment in the limelight.

But from a PR perspective, it's a ratings disaster.

No Barcelona plus no Real Madrid equals drastically reduced worldwide interest.

Can their rivalry ever equate to El Clasico?

Not this year.

But if both sides become legitimate contenders in the long-term, they may benefit from learning a thing or two from their Spanish counterparts.

The bitter rivalry of El Clasico dates back as early as the 1930s when Barcelona was seen as a symbol of Catalan pride and identity that opposed Madrid's more centralising tendencies.

Fans have a long memory and the fact that the sides have been the elite for so long in Spanish football has made their clashes all the more enticing.

Their first league meeting was in 1929 (Madrid won 2-1) and 165 more matches have been played since.

Just six wins separate them, with Madrid leading Barca 70 to 64 with 32 draws.

The Dortmund-Bayern rivalry is a lot younger, with no bad blood between the sides before the 1990s.

Bayern were simply too dominant, winning the title 12 times (23 total) to Dortmund's three during that same period.

And although Dortmund's recent rise to prominence has been one of intense interest, the fact is the history is simply not there.

If one is asked about the fiercest rivalries in world football, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona would surely be at the top. Inter Milan vs. Juventus, Manchester United vs. Liverpool and Benfica vs. Sporting Lisbon all arguably transcend Dortmund vs. Bayern.

The very fact the game is being called Der Klassiker, a direct reference to El Clasico, shows just how much the game is trying in vain to be on par with their Spanish counterparts.

Perhaps history is overrated and the time for real rivalry is the present. And for many fans who live in the moment, that rings very true.

But professional sport is all about history, tradition, records and statistics. It's what develops rivalries, causes conflict and allows friends to spend endless hours arguing over a beer or three.

Everyone has an opinion about the big games and the big teams, but do they have one about these two German heavyweights?

Probably to Bayern Munich, probably not to Dortmund.

Now let's address the potential players on show.

Ronaldo vs. Messi is the greatest present day matchup bar none—maybe the best ever. It's a marketer's dream to promote a clash between these two.

Mario Gomez vs. Mario Goetze doesn't quite have the same ring unless you tie it in with a certain well-known video game.

The fact the latter has agreed to a $48 million transfer, according to Sky Sports, to the opposition on July 1 is another reason why these two teams are not quite huge rivals yet.

That just wouldn't happen in Spain and it certainly wouldn't be announced before the biggest game in club history.

Luis Figo was met with a pig's head on his return to Camp Nou when he joined Real from Barcelona in 2000. Somehow I don't think we'll see any animal remains thrown onto Wembley's pitch this weekend.

And with Goetze now set to watch the game from the stands because of injury, per the Daily Star, Ilkay Gundogan looks to be the key man for Dortmund—hardly a household name.

It takes two to tango, and although Saturday's game could be a classic, whatever happens, Der Klassiker is no El Clasico.

Michael Ballack Explains Why Borussia Dortmund Can Topple Bayern Munich

Ryan O'Leary — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:09:56 -0400

German international and former Bayern Munich star Michael Ballack knows a thing or two about the UEFA Champions League final. After all, the superstar midfielder played in two European finals in his illustrious career with Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen.

Ballack is also very familiar with both clubs in the final, as he's from Germany and played for several years in Munich.

We caught up with legend during Champion's League week in London to get his take on the final and what gives Borussia Dortmund a real chance at reigning supreme over Europe by toppling their rival, Bayern Munich.

Leave a comment below, and let us know if you think Dortmund can compete.

Follow Ryan O'Leary on Twitter.

Serena Williams Is Ready to Win Again at Roland Garros

Mike Hoag — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:09:45 -0400

Despite a recent dominant stretch over her competition, Serena Williams has history against her at Roland Garros.

Not only has she not won the French Open since 2002, she hasn’t even advanced past the quarterfinals since. Factor in the struggles of No. 1 seeds on the French Open's clay courts and suddenly Williams’ title seems less than a foregone conclusion.

Just one top seed has won the women’s title there since 1997.

Keep in mind that history is broken every day in sports. There is no reason to discredit her chances just because of that. However, it’s hard to ignore those daunting numbers.

She does have some very important things working in her favor too.

Williams received the best-case-scenario when draws were announced for the women’s singles tournament. She will play in a different group than Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na and other top competitors.

Caroline Wozniacki and Adnieszka Radwanska are her biggest threats to reaching the finals, but neither has impressed on clay this season.

Plus she has been lights out on the court this year and for much of last season, beginning with her gold medal performance at the London Olympics.

Let’s put her dominance in perspective for a minute.

After capturing gold, winning the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, Williams has been nearly flawless in 2013. She is currently 3-0 in clay-court tournaments and has an impressive 36-2 record this season.

That record includes two finals victories over Sharapova and Azarenka during the last month.

Those wins have extended a 24-match winning streak. During that span, she has captured four consecutive titles.

Still, her first-round shocker to Virginie Razzano last year at Roland Garros is fresh in our minds.

That early-round upset has to be very fresh in her mind too. It was an embarrassment and probably a critical factor that sparked her dominant run. She’s unlikely to come into the French Open with anything less than complete and total focus to avoid a similar finish.

A focused and on-fire Serena Williams isn’t someone anyone wants to meet, in any round, of a Grand Slam tournament.

She still has to prove it on the court, and that’s exactly what she’s going to do.

Ranking All 6 49ers' Super Bowl Appearances by Team Dominance

Peter Panacy — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:06:05 -0400

While the sting of the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII is still felt by most Niners fans, they can still look back at a franchise that has appeared in six Super Bowls and won all but one of them.

Each of those Super Bowl appearances, including the most recent visit, signaled significant eras in 49ers history.

In 1981, the 49ers transformed from the dark years of the late 1970s into a dynamic franchise led by new head coach Bill Walsh and a young quarterback named Joe Montana. In 1984, the 49ers dominated a talented Miami Dolphins team led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.

San Francisco reached "dynasty" status during the 1988 and 1989 seasons, winning back-to-back Super Bowls and forever cementing the legacies of Walsh, Montana and Jerry Rice.

In 1994, it was Steve Young's turn to lead the 49ers to a decisive victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Even in 2012, when San Francisco lost to the Ravens, the Super Bowl appearance has shown the return to prominence of a proud franchise with a rich history.

During each of the six 49ers visits to the Super Bowl, San Francisco was blessed with a multitude of talented and even legendary players. In the majority of its visits to the NFL championship, San Francisco was outright dominant, leaving no doubt that the 49ers were the best team in football and not just the last team standing.

Here is a look at each of San Francisco's six Super Bowl appearances, ranked by the overall team dominance in the season as well as its performance in the Super Bowl itself.

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Indy 500 2013: Breaking Down Dario Franchitti's Chances to Repeat

Jeremy Fuchs — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:03:59 -0400

Dario Franchitti won last year's Indy 500. What chance does he have to repeat as champion for the Indy 500 in 2013?

Franchitti already faces an uphill battle. He qualified 17th, meaning he will start the race from the middle of the pack. However, he did start last year's race from the 16th position. He's a veteran who can win from any position.

If Franchitti can emerge from the middle of the pack, he will face a number of tough competitors. Ed Carpenter, for example, is in a good position to knock him off, as he holds the pole position. But while that is an impressive feat, he finished 17th in practice. In contrast, Franchitti finished sixth in practice.

Carpenter knows he has work to do:

Perhaps Franchitti's biggest threat is Simon Pagenaud, who had the best practice time on Friday, posting a lap of 225.827 MPH. Starting in the seventh row, Pagenaud is pretty happy with his car.

"The engine feels really good here on Carb Day, and we'll see during the race," he said, via the Miami Herald. "I think the race car is pretty decent."

If Pagenaud can continue that kind of pace, it will be tough for Franchitti to keep up.

In addition, Franchitti will have to keep up with speedster E.J. Viso, who finished second in the final Indy 500 practice on Friday with a speed of 225.304 mph. However, Viso also recorded the fastest lap at the speedway since 2003 when he hit 229.537 mph last week, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's website.

“I think the car we have evolved from the team from last year has been really heading in the right direction," Viso said, via the IMS website. "We have been testing a number of pieces in the car and I think we have a stronger car than what we began with. It’s all about finding as much mechanical grip as possible and then when it comes time to trim it you should be in a good position if you did your homework.”

Thus, Franchitti has to find a way to stave off the speedsters. Pagenaud and Viso will come out flying, as will Marco Andretti, who came close to 230 mph in the practice rounds as well. Andretti is also confident, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's website.

"I think we would have been over 230 if we had a full day," he said. "As a team I think we're quite comfortable with our speeds, but obviously tomorrow is another day and it's just going to come down to having a good balance."

For his part, Franchitti has expressed confidence.

"The balance of the car is now good, and the Honda engine is a lot better," said Franchitti, via the Miami Herald. "So I'm feeling a lot more confident about it. We're at least in the fight now. I feel we can get up there and mix in."

The 40-year-old was candid about his preparation in this interview with Janine Brady of NBCUDirect.com:

Franchitti is a veteran who cannot be counted out. He's been here before and has won two of the last three Indy 500 races and three titles overall. He knows this track better than anyone.

But the odds are against him. Not only does he have to come from the middle of the field, but he has to deal with some really fast cars in front of him. He will need some help from his Chip Ganassi teammates and a few lucky breaks.

Franchitti doesn't have the best of chances. He has too many things working against him. Barring a wipeout by one of the speedsters, he will need to get all of the breaks in order to win. As of now, that makes it too hard for Franchitti to repeat as Indy 500 champ.

At What Point Should MLB Lower the Mound Again to Curb Pitcher Dominance?

Zachary D. Rymer — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:01:41 -0400

We're just about two months into the 2013 Major League Baseball season, and so far pitchers are doing their world domination thing again.

It was a shocker when the league's ERA dropped to 4.08 in 2010, but then it proceeded to drop to 3.94 in 2011 and is at 3.98 so far this year, according to Baseball-Reference.com. FanGraphs has the league's strikeout rate at an even 20 percent.

If that holds, it will be an all-time record.

Outside of Miguel Cabrera, hitters still have their backs against the wall, and there's no telling when the pendulum is going to swing back the other way.

But here's a question: At what point does MLB consider making the pendulum swing back the other way? At what point does the league go to DEFCON 1 and do something it's only had to do once before out of desperation?

When will it be time for a good, old-fashioned mound-lowering?

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian put the idea on the table in 2011 when he used the prospect of another mound-lowering as the lede for a piece about the 1968 season, when pitching was so dominant that the league really had no choice but to take drastic measures.

Major League Baseball wasn't in the same boat all over again when Kurkjian posed the idea two years ago. As intriguing as the idea is, the league still isn't in the same boat.

The league certainly could consider lowering the mound again, but not until it has a crisis on its hands. And compared to when the mound was last lowered, what the league is experiencing now is far from that.

What happened in 1968 was a legit crisis.

There had a been a rumor spreading in the years before about an imminent pitching threat, and 1968 was the year the rumor turned into reality. Pitchers were running amok, and they may have approached "People of Earth, bow to us!" territory if the league hadn't done something.

The ERA of the league in 1968 was 2.98, marking the first time the league's ERA had been under 3.00 since 1918. You might recall that that was before baseball fell in love with the home run, as there were only 0.12 home runs per game in 1918, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

In all, there were 50 ERA title qualifiers in 1968 who had ERAs under 3.00. It was the first time there had been at least 50 such guys since 1917, which would be yet another year belonging to the pre-home run days.

Of the 50 guys who had ERAs under 3.00 in 1968, 21 of them had ERAs under 2.50. Bob Gibson put on a super-suit and led the way with an ERA of 1.12.

By comparison, here's a fun fact: Even with all the dominant pitching in recent years, there have only been 21 ERA title qualifiers with ERAs under 2.50 in the last 10 full seasons combined. It's taken a decade to produce as many sub-2.50 guys as there were in 1968 alone.

From here, we must acknowledge that the league's batting average in '68 was a mere .237. That's the lowest in major league history, and it certainly wasn't helped by the fact that only six guys hit .300.

That's the lowest total for any single season in MLB history, which is remarkable considering the league had expanded twice in the early 1960s. There were more guys to hit .300 than ever before, and the league still couldn't produce enough .300 hitters to avoid baseball infamy.

Things aren't nearly as bad now. The league's batting average has been hovering in the .250 range since pitchers regained control of the baseball world in 2010, but last year produced 26 .300 hitters. There were also 26 in 2011 and 23 in 2010. Not a lot relative to what was going on in the offense-friendly era of the mid-1990s and early 2000s, but enough.

So as much as hitters are having a hard time these days, it's not like they're fighting a losing battle like the one hitters were fighting in 1968. Today's hitters are doing a good enough job from keeping the league's pitchers, dominant as they are, well away from "People of Earth!" territory.

As such, I'm guessing MLB isn't even close to stepping in and doing something to appease the league's hitters. And heck, it may not do so even if things get progressively worse for hitters in the years to come.

If the league can be counted on to do anything, after all, it's to consider business first.

The league had to consider the business end of things when pitchers were running amok in '68. Per BallparksofBaseball.com, overall attendance dropped by more than a million from 1967 to 1968, making it pretty clear that fans weren't really digging the dominant pitching.

Today's fans, however, don't appear to have a problem with the rise of pitching. Baseball experienced an attendance spike last year despite the fact it was a third straight pitching-friendly season, and in general fans have nothing but love for the dominant arms of the day (#HarveyDay, anyone?).

As long as hitters have a fighting chance and the seats are still being filled, MLB won't have to pursue a measure as drastic as lowering the mound. It's only going to be a real option once the league's hitting totals fall to much deeper depths while attendance numbers fall with them. It's possible this could happen, but not probable from the looks of things.

And even if offense and attendance do fall to alarming depths, merely considering lowering the mound may be as far as Major League Baseball could go.

When the mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches in 1969, pitchers weren't happy about it. William Leggett of Sports Illustrated wrote that the lower mound had pitchers "grumbling often" during spring training, and the Associated Press revealed in 2008 that Gibson was still steamed about the change 40 years later.

If the league kicks around the possibility of lowering the mound again, it's going to have plenty of angry pitchers pounding on its door. Owners with high-priced pitchers may not be too happy either, as the prospect of a lower mound could come hand-in-hand with a prospect of more pitcher injuries.

Consider what Detroit Tigers great Mickey Lolich said to Leggett during spring training in '69:

My elbow has been bothering me this spring. I can't pinpoint exactly that it has been caused by the lowering of the mound but this is my 11th spring and I never had problems like this before.

Lolich was experiencing elbow trouble after the mound was lowered from an extreme high of 15 inches to a more moderate 10 inches. If it were to be lowered to, say, anywhere between five or eight inches, pitchers would be forced into putting more effort into each pitch. The potential for more injuries would be very real.

And that's no bueno in this day and age.

When the mound was lowered in 1968, there was no free agency to drive pitcher salaries up. There is today, and I'm sure you've noticed that pitcher salaries have gotten to be rather lofty. There are more than enough $100 million pitchers out there, and Justin Verlander has a shot to be baseball's first $200 million pitcher. These guys are simply too valuable to have their health put in danger.

If pitchers continue to dominate to a point where MLB has to seriously consider lowering the mound, it's not like their salaries are going to get any smaller along the way. By the time the league is ready to talk about lowering the mound, $200 million pitchers could be the norm. And if so, there would be an awful lot of people hell-bent on making sure the mound stays where it's at.

A lower mound probably would make a difference. It certainly did back in the late '60s, as the league ERA jumped up from 2.98 in '68 to 3.61 in '69. The league's batting average rose from .237 to .248, and again to .254 in 1970. Thus was it proven that a lower mound can level a playing field.

But today's playing field isn't in dire need of leveling, and I wouldn't expect to see a lower mound even if a more level playing field is needed in the future. Proposing the idea would be easy. Making it happen would be anything but.

So here's hoping you enjoy pitching. It's going to go away when the baseball gods intend before it goes away when the league intends.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Preakness Horses That Should Skip 3rd Leg of Triple Crown

Mike Chiari — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:01:38 -0400

The Preakness Stakes certainly didn't go as expected, with the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Oxbow upsetting heavily favored Kentucky Derby winner Orb. Both Oxbow and Orb will almost certainly compete in the Belmont Stakes as they attempt to capture two out the three Triple Crown jewels, but much of the field is unsettled.

There figures to be a combination of Kentucky Derby and Preakness horses, as well as newcomers involved in the race, but it will be at least a week before the field truly starts to come together. Until then, all racing fans can really do is speculate on which horses may or may not be entered into the final Triple Crown race.

Here are three horses that competed in the Preakness that should be stabled and held out of the Belmont Stakes on June 8.

Goldencents

While there are a few horses that are certainly in the running for the title, Goldencents may very well be the most disappointing horse of the Triple Crown season. He entered the Kentucky Derby to plenty of fanfare, but he finished 17th out of 19 horses. Goldencents attempted to redeem himself in the Preakness, and while he ran a better race, he was only able to finish fifth and wasn't really a factor.

Some of the blame lands on Goldencents, but jockey Kevin Krigger and trainer Doug O'Neill clearly didn't hold up their end of the bargain. Krigger and Goldencents picked up a huge win at the Santa Anita Derby prior to the Kentucky Derby, so Krigger was extremely confident. Brian Zipse of HorseRacingNation.com poked fun at his signature confidence in this tweet:

If Goldencents does indeed sit out the Belmont as Zipse suggests, it is probably the best move for all involved. Goldencents is a good horse, but he simply hasn't been competitive in the Triple Crown events. There is no use entering him into the Belmont when Krigger and O'Neill can focus on other, more realistic races instead.

Will Take Charge

After what seemed like an unlucky trip in the Kentucky Derby, there was some thought that Will Take Charge would be a threat in the Preakness. Will Take Charge only finished eighth in the Derby, but he appeared to be making a late run before getting caught in traffic.

That wasn't an issue in the Preakness; however, Will Take Charge simply didn't have anything in the tank to make a late run. One of Lukas' three horses in the Preakness field, Will Take Charge ended up seventh and was never a threat to Oxbow.

There was a decent amount of hype surrounding him in the Preakness because Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith took the reins from Jon Court. Smith didn't make a difference, though, and Court will be back on Will Take Charge in the Belmont, according to Justin Lewis of KATV in Little Rock, Ark.

That means Will Take Charge is all but confirmed to run in the Belmont. It is Lukas' prerogative to enter the horse in the race, but it seems somewhat pointless. Will Take Charge looked dangerous in the Kentucky Derby, but he had nothing in the Preakness. Unless a miraculous improvement occurs between now and June 8, Will Take Charge will finish near the back of the field.

Titletown Five

Placing a horse with one career victory in the Preakness Stakes seemed like a strange decision on Lukas' part, but that is precisely what he did with Titletown Five. The colt, which is co-owned by Green Bay Packers legends Paul Hornung and Willie Davis, lived up to his long-shot status, as he was never in contention and finished dead last.

It wasn't Titletown Five's fault, as he was clearly over-matched and shouldn't have been put in that situation to begin with.

With that in mind, it seems unlikely that Titletown Five will run in the Belmont. But Lukas has a penchant for entering horses for the sake of doing it. Will Take Charge appears to be a near lock to run in the Belmont, despite being a non-factor in the Preakness, so it wouldn't be a big shock if Titletown Five did the same.

There haven't been any indications one way or the other, but the safe bet is that Titletown Five won't run in the Belmont. That would clearly be the right decision, as he wouldn't stand a chance to post a respectable finish. It's great that Titletown Five's owners and supporters can say that their horse ran in a Triple Crown race, but it should end at one.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Oakland Raiders Running Back Breakdown and Position Analysis

Jeff Spiegel — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:54:14 -0400

There are very few positions on the depth chart that could waver anywhere between the team's strongest position and their weakest, but, for the Oakland Raiders, that's exactly where the running back position lies.

If healthy, Darren McFadden remains Oakland's most dangerous weapon.

Having played just 19 games in the past two seasons, however, he's also their most fragile player.

Behind McFadden are two newcomers—veteran Rashad Jennings and rookie Latavius Murray, making the Oakland backfield something of a mystery.

Darren McFadden

Once considered to be on the track to stardom, Darren McFadden has battled the injury bug throughout his career, never playing more than 13 games in any of his five seasons.

Then again, Run-DMC is still just 25 years old.

McFadden's best year came in 2010 when he broke the 1,000 yard mark for the first (and only) time, rushing for 1,157 yards with seven touchdowns. He also had an astonishing 5.2 yards per carry.

The following year, McFadden actually improved his rushing average to 5.4 yards per carry, but another injury derailed his season after just seven games.

So what can Oakland expect from the insanely talented, yet incredibly fragile, McFadden?

For one, they can expect to learn a lot about his future with the team.

As a free agent after this season, McFadden has a lot to prove heading into the offseason about whether he can stay healthy for an entire season.

The good news for Oakland is that they're slated to have plenty of cap space, so signing a healthy and productive McFadden doesn't figure to be an issue.

On the flip side, however, if McFadden were to go down injured once again, who do the Raiders have waiting in the wings?

Rashad Jennings

Coming in to back up McFadden is fifth-year man Rashad Jennings out of Liberty, who has spent all four seasons of his career backing up Maurice Jones-Drew in Jacksonville.

While fantasy football owners know Jennings well, having seen plenty of action behind the fragile MJD, Jennings hasn't always been as effective as most would have hoped.

In three seasons with the Jaguars (Jennings missed the entire 2011 season), Jennings has amassed 944 yards and seven touchdowns.

In 10 games last season, however, Jennings averaged just 2.8 yards per carry on 101 carries.

The similarities between Jennings and last season's veteran addition, Mike Goodson, are numerous, and I think as far as expectations go, Goodson is a good place to start.

Both guys were career backups who had shown flashes of potential but not enough to earn them a starting job anywhere.

Like Goodson, Jennings will be a serviceable fill-in for McFadden should he go down with an injury, but I have little hope for Jennings to make a major impact this season.

Latavius Murray

Sitting third on the depth chart is Oakland's sixth-round pick from Central Florida, Latavius Murray.

Having played four seasons at Central Florida, Murray is coming off the best season of his career in which he rushed for 1,106 yards with 15 touchdowns. He also added four receiving touchdowns.

While no team expects a whole lot out of a sixth-round pick immediately, there is always hope that Murray could be this year's version of a guy like Alfred Morris.

At 6'2", 233 pounds, Murray will provide the big back that Oakland has long been lacking in the power running game.

Despite his size, however, the aspect of his game that stuck out to coaches during rookie camp was actually Murray's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

With the size that he has, if Murray can establish himself as a reliable third-down back, the rookie could find himself on the field more often than expected.

While many are hoping that Murray turns into a diamond in the rough, we have to remember that there's a reason he lasted until the sixth round.

Yes, the reports are positive about him after rookie camps, but, ultimately, he's nothing more than a guy to watch during the preseason to see how he performs.

If he can impress the coaches in real games against real opponents, it's feasible to think he could play himself into the role of backup.

Then again, it's only May, so we've got a long way to go.

UFC 160 Fight Card: Which Fighter Has the Most to Gain

Matt Juul — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:52:43 -0400

If you told any MMA fan just a few years ago that Mark Hunt would end up being a major player in the UFC's heavyweight title picture, he or she would scoff and laugh you out of the room.

Fast-forward to 2013, and the once maligned former K-1 champ is now one of the promotion's most popular—and dangerous—heavyweights.

Set to face former heavyweight king Junior "Cigano" dos Santos in Saturday's co-main event, the Kiwi veteran may have the most to gain from his bout at UFC 160.

When Hunt joined the UFC's roster following the dismantling of Pride, the "Super Somoan" was riding a dismal losing streak that was, unfortunately, extended after a submission loss to Sean McCorkle in his Octagon debut. However, over the past three years, Hunt has completely turned his career around and is now riding an impressive four-fight winning streak, highlighted by a series of brutal KO finishes.

A convincing win over Cigano on Saturday would not only cement his status among the division's elite, but it very well could lead to a future showdown for the heavyweight belt.

Sure, you could argue that Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva has the most to gain since he actually is fighting champ Cain Velasquez on Saturday night, but the Brazilian hasn't had to overcome as many obstacles in his career as Hunt has.

Considering how far the New Zealand native has come since his early days in the sport, it's remarkable that Hunt is still fighting at all, let alone jockeying for position atop the UFC's heavyweight rankings. At 39 years of age, Hunt is defying the odds just by setting foot inside the Octagon.

But if the Super Somoan wants to be taken seriously as a top heavyweight, he needs an impressive win.

Surviving a dog fight with dos Santos will certainly earn Hunt some street cred with the fans, but it won't help him get that coveted UFC strap. If the Kiwi wants to sure up his combat sports legacy by, at the very least, fighting for a title, a win over the No. 2-ranked heavyweight is a necessity.

Be sure to like Matt on Facebook and follow @MattchidaMMA.

Freedom 100 Video: Watch Peter Dempsey Win Race in Wild Finish

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:50:44 -0400

Irishman Peter Dempsey had never won an Indy Lights race in his career before the green flag waved at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday afternoon for the 2013 Firestone Freedom 100.

His first win on the circuit couldn't have come in more dramatic fashion.

A four-wide finish at the most historic track in racing history transpired down the backstretch, with Dempsey hovering behind Gabby Chaves, Carlos Munoz and Sage Karam when things started to get heated.

Dempsey then made his own move to the outside as the racers approached the finish line, edging out Chaves at the checkered flag in what was the closest finish ever at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Better yet, four drivers crossed the line a fraction of a second apart.

The track's official Twitter account posted that Dempsey had won the race by the closest margin ever in an oval-track race at IMS:

The 4-wide finish of today's Firestone Freedom 100 is the closest oval finish in @ims history! @peterdempsey won with a margin of .0026!
— Indy Motor Speedway (@IMS) May 24, 2013

Dempsey's finish was one for the books, and one that racing fans everywhere will be talking about for years to come.

As Dempsey, who races for Belardi Auto Racing, put it, "It was unreal" (h/t Miami Herald). It was his third career race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one that will be hard to top when he returns to Indiana each racing season.

Make sure you watch the video above to see just how impressive Dempsey's late-race heroics were, and take a second to gander at the majesty that is the four-wide finish at this event on Friday afternoon. As the announcers note over and over again during the tape, you won't see anything quite like this on your run-of-the-mill afternoon at the track.

Especially not at IMS.

Ohio State, LSU, USC and Others Highlight 5-Star S Jamal Adams' Top 12

Andrew Kulha — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:44:51 -0400

Jamal Adams, a 5-star safety from Carrollton, Texas, has released his top 12, and there are plenty of marquee schools that have made the cut.

Damon Sayles of ESPN.com (subscription required) reports Adams' new interest list:

Friday afternoon, Adams opened up and announced the schools that have made his first cut. Those schools in alphabetical order: Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCLA and USC.

“It was really hard,” Adams said of narrowing down a list of nearly 30 offers. “The hardest [part] is telling coaches you’re not interested.”

Notable programs that have offered Adams that aren't on this list include Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon, Nebraska and Stanford, according to 247Sports.com.

Sayles reports that Adams' next move will be cutting the list in half, and that should happen sometime during the 2013 season.

Adams is 6'0'', 199 pounds and is the No. 4 safety in the 2014 class. He's also the No. 6 player from the state of Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

He's taken a number of unofficial visits to Texas—his 247Sports timeline records five visits—so look for the Longhorns to remain a major option for Adams. That said, he's also visited Texas A&M and Oklahoma twice each.

Overall, with coaches like Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp, Kevin Sumlin, Hugh Freeze, Bob Stoops, Jimbo Fisher, Les Miles, Mack Brown, Jim Mora, Lane Kiffin, Kliff Kingsbury and Bret Bielema all vying for Adams' commitment, this should be one of the more interesting recruiting races to watch in the 2014 cycle.

German Fans Invade London, Debate Who's Best in Europe

Ryan Bailey — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:39:29 -0400

For the first time ever, the Champions League Final is an all-German affair.

On Saturday, the seemingly unstoppable Bayern Munich will square off with their closest Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at London's Wembley Stadium—for the right to be named Champions Of Europe.

As German fans descend upon the English capital, B/R took to the streets to find out who they believe will win club football's most prestigious prize.

Have your say on the outcome of the game in the comments below.

Check out my Bold Predictions for the 2013 Champions League FInal as well.