Bleacher Report - Front Page

USGA, R&A Ban Anchoring Clubs After Receiving Support from Tiger Woods and More

Mike Chiari — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:26:10 -0400

After several months of debate and discussion golf's governing body--The Royal and Ancient Golf Club-- as well as the United States Golf Association have decided that the practice of anchoring a club will officially be banned starting Jan. 1, 2016.

According to Bob Harig of ESPN.com, the rule change was first proposed on Nov. 28, 2012, but a 90-day grace period was allowed afterwards in order to hear feedback from those affected. Despite the fact that it will cause many high-level golfers to make big alterations, the change is forthcoming.

This news is especially unwelcome to those who utilize long putters and belly putters. Rather than taking a traditional putting stroke, long and belly putters allow golfers to stick the butt-end of the club into their stomachs so that they can better control their swing.

Adam Scott won the 2013 Masters using a long putter and he is none too pleased with the fact that he'll have to adjust over the next three years, according to Harig.

Now we're making rules for the betterment of the game based on zero evidence? Incredible, Scott said. What did they think when they allowed it? You're dealing with professional athletes who are competitive, who want to find better ways.

While Scott and others who have come to rely on anchored putting are angered by the decision, there are plenty of other golfers who are supportive of it. One of them is Tiger Woods, who has been a major opponent of anchoring, according to Harig.

I hope they go with the ban, Woods said Monday. That's something that I've said, that anchoring should not be a part of the game. It should be mandatory to have to swing all 14 clubs.

Although the R&A and USGA have come to a conclusion, this certainly isn't the last we have heard about the anchoring debate. This ruling has major implications for the game of golf moving forward and it will be interesting to see how the players transition.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

The Miz Needs a New Role in WWE

Drake Oz — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:15:00 -0400

Whatever it is that the WWE is trying to do with The Miz, well, it just isn’t working.

Last December, the company pulled the trigger on a babyface turn for the “most must-see WWE Champion in history,” a turn that fans like me had begged to see and expected to work out really well.

But nearly six months into The Miz’s babyface run, the verdict is in: The Miz has been a terrible babyface so far.

His failures as a babyface aren’t all his fault, though. While part of the problem has had to do with The Miz himself, a lot of the blame can be put on the creative team.

Ever since The Miz went good, he’s done next to nothing to differentiate Miz the face from Miz the heel. In fact, aside from a few minor changes (like teaming with faces or putting down heels instead of other faces), he’s the same brash, arrogant and obnoxious guy that once made him a top heel.

Quite simply, The Miz just hasn’t adjusted well enough to his new role. But you know what? Neither has the creative team.

Instead of genuinely getting behind The Miz by putting him in major matches and entertaining storylines, the creative team has done exactly the opposite. His feuds with both Wade Barrett and Antonio Cesaro left a whole lot to be desired, and he’s gone from WrestleMania headliner to wrestling on two consecutive PPV pre-shows.

What’s even worse, however, is that the babyface version of The Miz is more of a talk-show host than he is an actual wrestler.

Seriously, how many MizTV segments have we seen since The Miz turned face? It’s got to be at least 10, but may even be more like 15 or 20.

You have to wonder what the creative team is thinking with that philosophy. Is that really how you want to get a guy over as a babyface? By making him wrestling’s version of Jimmy Fallon or Jay Leno?

Yes, the WWE is considered “sports entertainment” these days. But wrestling is ultimately still at its core.

The Miz could be the greatest wrestling talk-show host ever (he isn’t), but that wouldn’t matter much because he wouldn’t be getting over where it counts: in the ring. That’s where a babyface Miz will live or die—not hosting some lame talk show that largely only furthers feuds that he isn’t even involved in.

That’s also where the WWE has went so wrong with The Miz.

When Alberto Del Rio turned face at essentially the same time that The Miz did, the creative team quickly pushed the hell out of him and had him win the World Heavyweight Championship only about a month later.

When CM Punk turned face in 2011, he became the focal point of WWE TV, a constant fixture in the main-event picture and the face of the WWE Championship scene.

But when The Miz turned face, nothing really changed for him.

His face turn happened because he was totally stuck in a rut as a heel, and yet, he’s already stuck in a rut as a babyface. He’s stale, less entertaining and has somehow transformed into someone who talks about five times more often than he wrestles.

That would be OK if The Miz was a part-time veteran like Mick Foley, who appears every once in a while to help build up feuds between today’s biggest stars. But The Miz is a 32-year-old full-time WWE superstar, and it shouldn’t be his role to add to feuds between other guys on the roster.

He should be building up his own feuds and doing so in the ring and on the mic—but not on some terrible, overdone talk-show segment that hardly anyone pays their money to see.

The longer that a babyface Miz goes without having a substantial direction and without having a meaningful feud, the worse his babyface run will get…if that’s even possible.

After all, the Miz’s babyface run has been downright awful so far, a result of what should have been a great new role quickly going bad.

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

Will Damien Sandow Reach the Next Level in WWE?

Drake Oz — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:02 -0400

There are a lot of assumptions in pro wrestling—one of which is that Damien Sandow will develop into a top WWE superstar one day.

But you know what they say about assuming, right? When you assume, you make “an (non-PG word) out of you and me.”

Perhaps we should stop assuming about “The Intellectual Savior of the Masses” then.

Anytime you read a wrestling blog or news site, you’re bound to hear something good about Sandow. Some say Sandow “is the future” while others think “he’s ready to be in the main event.”

Whether or not he actually lives up to that hype, however, is a bit of a mystery.

After all, there have been countless superstars who have walked into the WWE, made an instant impact and been labeled a future breakout star. Only, we usually see those stars fade to the bottom of the card or even leave the company altogether.

A guy like Drew McIntyre was labeled “The Chosen One” only a few short years ago. Now, he’s slipped into near irrelevancy as an overlooked member of the comedic stable 3MB.

Similarly, who thought that Ted DiBiase would fall so far down the totem pole that he doesn’t even appear on TV these days? Better yet, who thought after Kofi Kingston’s 2009 feud with Randy Orton that he’d still be stuck in the midcard in 2013?

McIntyre, DiBiase and Kingston serve as proof that—no matter what you think a certain superstar will accomplish—nothing is a given in the WWE.

That’s true for Sandow, too.

Yes, he certainly appears to have all the tools. He’s got a unique gimmick, a charming personality, charisma, a good look and the ever-so-important in-ring skills as well.

But as we’ve learned from so many superstars in the past, that guarantees nothing in the constantly changing WWE.

Superstars who aren’t all that great, such as Ryback, can get pushed to the top of the card. Meanwhile, superstars who are incredibly talented, such as Cody Rhodes, can sort of just float around in the midcard.

Sandow should be used in the main event picture or at least at the tip top of the upper midcard. But after seeing how he’s been used over the last six-plus months, the chances of that actually happening seem highly unlikely.

Unsurprisingly, Sandow has been used just like most of the WWE’s other midcard heels: as someone who puts over the company’s biggest babyfaces.

It’s honestly difficult to even recall the last time Sandow won a singles match. Ditto for him in tag team competition, where he and Cody Rhodes have really served as nothing more than a team for Team Hell No to beat.

As a result, the WWE has turned Sandow into a loser of a heel in a company that’s already full of them. That can’t bode too well for his future.

Even though the WWE doesn’t want to realize or admit this, booking a superstar to lose too much hurts his appeal. That’s why Ryback is in a major slump and why—despite being one of the most talented superstars in the company—Antonio Cesaro is essentially a joke these days.

Sandow is no different from Cesaro or Ryback.

He loses all the time, and the more he loses, the less accepting the fans will be of him as a top-tier superstar. It’s simple logic that says that.

WWE officials can be “high on Sandow” all they want. They can think he’s a future star, they can have huge expectations for him, and they can try to make him seem important.

The fact remains, however, that Sandow will only be treated like and receive the reactions of a top superstar when the WWE chooses to truly push him like one. Now, though, the company has to dig Sandow out of the hole he’s been buried in for the better part of a year.

Until that happens, Sandow won’t reach the next level in the WWE.

Instead, he’ll just be another guy who should have made a huge splash, but—thanks to the creative team—ultimately never did.

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

Michigan Football: Breakout Candidates for Wolverines in 2013-14

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Michigan is coming off an 8-5 campaign and a trip to the Outback Bowl.

While players such as quarterback Denard Robinson, defensive end Craig Roh and receiver Roy Roundtree are no longer with the team, there are some individuals who showed glimpses of their potential in 2012 who figure to break out in 2013.

Here's a look at my top three breakout candidates for the Wolverines in 2013-14.

3. Thomas Gordon, S

In survey of 19 departing seniors conducted by WolverineNation, strong safety Thomas Gordon was one of the names pegged to have a breakout season in 2013-14.

One player said, via Michael Rothstein of WolverineNation:

Thomas Gordon is going to have a really good year next year. He's motivated, understands the system. He gets the defensive system just as well as Jordan Kovacs. He's a great communicator and a guy I expect is going to pretty much take the senior leadership role in the defensive backfield and have some success.

Gordon racked up 81 tackles in 13 starts last season, via CFBStats.com. He was the third-leading tackler on Michigan. He also collected two interceptions, one sack and forced a fumble.

The redshirt senior has already shown he can play with the big boys. In a leadership role, with an extra offseason under his belt, expect him to build on his 2012 campaign and be a high-impact player for the Wolverines.

2. Jeremy Gallon, WR

The emergence of quarterback Devin Gardner has also paved the way for a breakout campaign for Jeremy Gallon.

Gallon caught fire with Gardner under center, posting a combined 511 yards and three touchdowns in Gardner's five starts. That included racking up 145 yards and two touchdowns against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

Even before Gallon's run, he had posted 107 yards against eventual national champion Alabama in the first game of the 2012 campaign. He averaged 16.92 yards per catch, 27th in the nation, via CFBStats.com.

1. Devin Gardner, QB

After Denard Robinson went down with an injury in October against Nebraska, Devin Gardner was asked to take his spot under center for the Wolverines. He ended up remaining as the starter even when Robinson was cleared to take the field again.

All Gardner did in his first game as a starter was account for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the 35-14 blowout victory over Minnesota. He then accounted for 15 touchdowns in his final four starts (nine passing, six rushing).

Gardner did toss four interceptions in that span, but there's hope that he can take better care of the ball with an offseason to work on his game.

The redshirt junior showed better command with the football in his five starts last season than Robinson did during his career at Michigan. Gardner's composure was particularly impressive, given that he was thrown to the wolves with Robinson going down.

Roger Federer's Recent Inconsistencies Won't Affect French Open Chances

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Roger Federer will come into the 2013 French Open as the No. 2 seed and, by virtue of that seeding, one of the big favorites to take out the Grand Slam title this year.

Roland Garros—like every other Grand Slam event he's played at—has been the home of great success for the Swiss international, and whilst clay might not be his preferred surface, he's still been more than successful on the Paris courts.

So much so, that even despite his struggles and recent inconsistencies, Federer will be just as big of a threat at the French Open as he always is.

You can guarantee it.

Federer's preparation for the second Grand Slam event of the year has been far from ideal; anyone who's watched him at all this year will know that to be true.

Up until the Italian Open that just finished earlier this week, the 31-year-old had not made a final throughout the entire year. His one clay-court appearance before he made the trek to Rome had seen him trounced by Kei Nishikori in the round of 16 at Madrid.

And even though he did make the final in Italy, he was demolished 6-1, 6-3 by Rafael Nadal to highlight that he seemingly still has plenty of work to do.

That statement might sound harsh given the talents of Federer, but the reality is that he isn't in great form right now. He is obviously still one of the top tennis players in the world and is incredibly strong on whatever surface that he's a tough opponent to play in Grand Slams. But in terms of him being "elite," there's a definite argument to be made that the 31-year-old is starting to decline.

Having said all of that, however, there's no reason why Federer won't be more than ready to go for the French Open—despite his recent inconsistencies and form.

He is a proven performer and is more than capable of getting himself up for a Grand Slam when his form leading into the tournament hasn't been great.

After all, he has managed to make it through to the quarterfinals at every Grand Slam event since the French Open in 2004.

That's 35 quarterfinals in a row.

The numbers become even more ridiculous when we up the stakes and focus on semifinals. Only five times in his past 37 Grand Slams has he not made the semifinals.

Out of those, he's gone to make the final on more than half of those occasions.

Despite the fact that the French Open is viewed as Nadal's event, the reality is that Federer has been equally as strong throughout the years.

He hasn't been as strong as Nadal obviously, given that Nadal has won seven of the past eight French Open titles, but the Swiss star has made the semifinals on all but one occasion at Roland Garros since 2005.

Since 2005, Federer has played in five French Open finals.

See, the reality is that Federer has a history of gearing up for Grand Slam tournaments despite the fact that his previous form-line might suggest otherwise.

Especially with an argument to be made that perhaps his recent results haven't been completely indicative of his actual performances.

And given that Nadal is now drawn on to the same side of the draw as Novak Djokovic, Federer is once again looming large as a huge Grand Slam contender—regardless of what his recent form-line might indicate.

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

Christian Eriksen: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Daniel Edwards — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Ajax's young midfield sensation Christian Eriksen is among the many players being tipped for a possible transfer in the summer window.

Here's a breakdown of his numbers and a brief scouting guide to the Denmark international, along with a few hints as to where he might be playing next summer.

Age: 21

Contract Situation: Eriksen is signed at Ajax until 2014.

Career Stops: Ajax (2009-present).

Current Campaign Stats

Eredivisie: 33 games, 10 goals.

Champions League/Europa League: 8 games, 1 goal.

KNVB Cup: 4 games, 2 goals.

Video Showreel

Scouting Guide

Eriksen's rise through the ranks of European football, both for club and country, has been nothing short of prodigious. Back in 2010 (at 18), he was the youngest player in the World Cup, while three short years later he has already accrued an impressive 34 caps for Denmark, as well racking up over 150 games for Ajax.

Eriksen's vision, quality of passing and ability to go forward has already seen parallels being made with Ajax stars of the past such as Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart. Eriksen averaged nearly a goal every three games through 2012-13—a terrific record for a midfielder—and at just 21, he is considered one of the brightest prospects in the entire Eredivisie.

Where to Next?

The path from Ajax's legendary youth academy to Europe's biggest clubs is already well trodden, and Eriksen could well be the next talent to make the leap up in quality. According to the Guardian, Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund are ready to open their chequebook for the youngster, who confirmed that he was in talks to move to the Bundesliga.

If not Germany, England could be the next destination for the midfielder. Scandanavian stars such as John-Arne Riise, Daniel Agger and Jan Molby have all made themselves past and present favourites in Anfield, and the Mirror asserts that Brendan Rodgers would like to make Eriksen a priority for the transfer window.

The same source, however, states that the player is frustrated with the pace of negotiations and without new movement on a possible £15 million move, he will turn his back on the Reds.

2014 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Projections For Every Team in 1st Round

Jesse Reed — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

NFL scouts never stop looking ahead. Though training camp has yet to begin for the 2013 NFL season, legwork is already being done to evaluate the 2014 NFL draft class.

Guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Jadeveon Clowney and Marqise Lee are already good enough to be considered as the NFL's next potential superstars. The best part is that they still have another year to improve their stock.

Obviously, there's no way of knowing how NFL teams will fare in 2013, and with that in mind it's fair to say that the order for this mock draft isn't the main concern. Consider the order a mild version of an NFL power rankings, with the first teams picking as the worst in the league.

The real value here, order aside, is that this mock helps to give a sense of where players might be drafted in the first round in 2014.

A few selections will be highlighted in italics for more in-depth analysis.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars—QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

There isn't a more desperate situation at the quarterback position than what the Jaguars face this season. Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert are once again involved in a quarterback "competition," but truth be told neither is a franchise quarterback.

According to Mark Long of the AP, Gabbert continues to struggle with accuracy on short passes:

Shocking news, this isn't.

As good as Jadeveon Clowney is, and as much as the Jaguars need pass-rushers, it's hard to imagine this team not taking a quarterback in 2014. And should they do so, it'll likely be Teddy Bridgewater, who has all the physical tools to excel in the NFL as a pocket passer.

2. Oakland Raiders—DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

The Raiders might actually have their quarterback of the future on the roster right now. Fourth-round pick Tyler Wilson has reportedly looked really good thus far, and it'll be surprising to see Oakland drafting a signal-caller in the early rounds in 2014.

Thankfully, in this scenario the Raiders get the best player on the board and potentially one of the best pure pass-rushers to enter the NFL in decades.

3. New York Jets—OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan

Whether it's Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith behind center for the Jets in 2014, the team's first priority must be to protect its quarterback. Lewan could have been a top-10 pick in 2013 but decided to go back to school for another year. A franchise left tackle in the making, Lewan would be a no-brainer pick for general manager John Idzik.

4. Tennessee Titans —WR Marqise Lee, USC

Tennessee has some excellent young players on both sides of the ball, but there are still some gaping holes on the roster. Adding the top offensive playmaker in the 2014 draft class would be a smart move as the Titans continue amassing young talent.

5. Arizona Cardinals—QB David Fales, San Jose State

New Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians loves big-armed quarterbacks who can really stretch defenses down the field. He's been raving about Carson Palmer's deep balls of late (h/t ESPN's Merril Hoge), but Palmer is nearing the end of his career.

There isn't a quarterback in this year's draft class with the arm talent to compare to David Fales out of San Jose State. Not only does Fales possess a cannon for an arm, but he's extremely accurate and delivers the ball downfield with confidence, anticipation and excellent timing.

Fales is the perfect quarterback for Arians to groom behind Palmer for another year or two.

6. San Diego Chargers—OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M

Drafting D.J. Fluker was a step in the right direction, but Fluker isn't going to protect Philip Rivers' blind side. General manager Tom Telesco needs to continue building a competent offensive line for the sake of his aging, but still capable quarterback.

7. Buffalo Bills—OLB C.J. Mosley, Alabama

The Bills smartly targeted a linebacker early in the 2013 draft, but Kiko Alanso isn't going to help the team get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Buffalo's 4-3 scheme lacks explosive edge-rushers, and adding a do-it-all linebacker like Mosley would be a smart move to bolster this aspect of the team's defense.

8. Dallas Cowboys—DE Morgan Breslin, USC

The Cowboys will be looking at defenders to plug into Monte Kiffin's 4-3 defensive scheme early in the draft for the next couple of years. Breslin's ability to rush off the edge with his hand in the dirt makes him a perfect player to come in and eventually replace Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware.

9. Philadelphia Eagles—QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Yes, the Eagles already have Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Matt Barkley, but Boyd to Philly just makes too much sense. An extremely mobile quarterback with excellent poise, leadership and a nice arm, he's the perfect signal-caller to run Chip Kelly's up-tempo offensive attack.

10. Cleveland Browns—OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA

By the time the 2014 NFL draft rolls around, it won't be a big surprise to see Cleveland pondering quarterbacks in Round 1. That said, if Brandon Weeden or Jason Campbell proves to be worthy of the starting spot, the Browns would love to pick up an edge pass-rusher like Barr to throw into their 3-4 scheme.

11. Detroit Lions—CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State

Roby could be selected earlier than this come draft day, but if any team needs an elite cornerback these days it's the Lions. Playing six games a year against the NFC North, Roby would have the tough task of shutting down some elite receivers on a weekly basis.

12. Carolina Panthers—WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

The Panthers absolutely needed to draft defensive linemen, and the team's selections were sound in 2013. That said, it was a bit surprising that Carolina didn't pick up a receiver. Steve Smith isn't getting any younger, and the team needs to find his replacement before it's too late.

13. Miami Dolphins—DT Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

Looking at the defensive squad Jeff Ireland has assembled, it almost wouldn't be fair to opposing offenses if the Dolphins landed Tuitt in 2014 to play inside. A diverse lineman, Tuitt racked up 12 sacks last year as a 3-4 defensive end. He'll be a terror inside as a pass-rushing defensive tackle for the Dolphins.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—DT Will Sutton, Arizona State

Speaking of dynamic defensive tackles, Sutton is as ferocious as a badger in the trenches. A bit undersized, at 6'1" and 288 pounds, Sutton tallied 13 sacks as a defensive tackle for the Sun Devils in 2013 and plays the game of football like a man possessed.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers—NT Louis Nix III, Notre Dame

After investing a top pick in pass-rusher Jarvis Jones, who replaces James Harrison, the next logical move for the Steelers in 2014 is to find a stalwart nose tackle to replace Casey Hampton. Adding Nix to Pittsburgh's defense would give Dick LeBeau another young weapon to build around for the future.

16. St. Louis Rams—OG Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State

After finally providing Sam Bradford with protection on the edge by signing Jake Long, general manager Les Snead should consider adding another premier offensive lineman in 2014. Jackson will help the team's running game excel as well as give Bradford extra protection up the middle.

17. Kansas City Chiefs—OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

Should the Chiefs fail to work out a long-term deal with Branden Albert, adding another elite tackle like Kouandjio to play opposite Eric Fisher would be smart. Kouandjio can play on both sides, and he's athletic enough to be a force both on running and passing plays.

18. Minnesota Vikings—QB Aaron Murray, Georgia

Minnesota desperately wants Christian Ponder to become its franchise quarterback, but the early returns on the team's first-round investment haven't been promising. Ponder doesn't have a strong arm, which means opposing defenses don't have to cover the entire field.

Should Ponder fail to take his game to the next level in 2013, the Vikings must explore the idea of drafting another quarterback.

In the event that Rick Spielman comes to this conclusion, Murray would be an excellent quarterback for the Vikings. He has underrated arm strength, is accurate and timely with his passes and has plenty of big-game experience.

19. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)—TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington

The Rams just signed tight end Jared Cook, but if Bradford were able to play with two explosive tight ends he would be able to demolish opposing defenses with his quick, accurate passes and excellent decision-making.

20. Chicago Bears—CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings aren't getting any younger, and both players are due for a new contract or an extension after the 2013 season. It would behoove general manager Phil Emery to draft a young corner to replace one or both players, and at the least it would be smart to carry an insurance policy should an unfortunate injury occur.

21. Indianapolis Colts—OLB Kyle Van Noy, BYU

Adding pass-rushers to 3-4 defensive schemes is an yearly exercise. The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best young pass-rushers in the NFL in Aldon Smith, yet they drafted a couple of pass-rushing specialists this year.

As Andrew Luck develops into an MVP-caliber quarterback, the offense he leads will put up points in bunches. The Colts need to have pass-rushers who can take over games in the second half as opposing teams abandon the running game in an effort to score with Luck's offense.

Van Noy is more pro-ready than his former teammate at BYU Ezekiel Ansah. He's already an experienced 3-4 outside linebacker who understands the game and will be ready for action as a rookie in 2014.

22. New Orleans Saints—WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

It's hard to believe that Marques Colston will be 30 years old when the NFL season begins. Lance Moore and Courtney Roby are both older receivers, too, and the Saints need to start bringing in some new blood.

Matthews is a talented receiver with good size who has the ability to make tough plays in traffic. He's also an effective red-zone receiver who has caught 17 touchdowns in his three years at Vanderbilt.

23. Baltimore Ravens—WR Brandon Coleman, Rutgers

After letting Anquan Boldin go for a bag of peanuts to the San Francisco 49ers (alright, it was a sixth-round pick, but you get the point), the Ravens need to restock Joe Flaco's cupboard with talented receivers.

At 6'6", Coleman is a huge receiver. He's caught 16 touchdowns in just 60 career receptions at Rutgers, and he'll be an excellent red-zone target for Flacco in the years to come.

24. New York Giants—OT David Yankey, Stanford

After spending a first-round pick on Justin Pugh in 2013, Jerry Reese would be smart to look at drafting another top offensive tackle to protect Eli Manning's other side. Yankey is a diverse lineman who can play all over the line, and he would be a player who could step in and immediately contribute.

25. Green Bay Packers—S Ed Reynolds, Stanford

Many Packers fans were surprised that Ted Thompson didn't draft a safety this spring, as was I. Should Reynolds still be around when the Packers pick in Round 1 in 2014, Thompson could be compelled to pick him up.

A true ball-hawking safety, Reynolds has the ability to turn routine plays into scoring opportunities. He's a playmaker in every sense of the word and an all-around excellent football player.

26. Cincinnati Bengals—CB Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida

One of the most exceptional athletes in the nation, Purifoy is expected to be a big part of Florida's offense in 2013. He's also an excellent cover cornerback, and Cincinnati couldn't lose adding him to the its already dominant defense.

27. Atlanta Falcons—DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas

Looking at Atlanta's roster right now, there aren't many real weaknesses. That said, this is a team that could certainly use more athletic pass-rushers, and Jeffcoat will be one of the best in the 2014 draft class.

28. New England Patriots—WR DeVante Parker, Louisville

Another draft, and another year Bill Belichick refuses to even think about drafting a receiver in the first round. Should Parker fall to this point in the 2014 draft, however, Belichick will be forced to seriously consider selecting him. Parker has a penchant for catching touchdown passes, having tallied 10 last year with just 40 total receptions.

29. Houston Texans—CB Jason Verrett, TCU

With Ed Reed and D.J. Swearinger on the back end, Houston's defense is looking good to defend the middle of the field. The team could still use some help on the corners, however, and Verrett's ability to play the ball in the air will serve the Texans well.

30. Seattle Seahawks—OLB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

As if Seattle needed more help on the defensive side of the ball...

Seriously, though, don't be surprised if the Seahawks continue adding talented players on defense. Shazier is a bit undersized as an NFL outside linebacker (6'2" and 222 pounds), but this young man can fly around on the field and makes big plays behind the line of scrimmage and in coverage.

31. Denver Broncos—S Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama

Denver's secondary was exposed badly against the Ravens in the playoffs last year. Champ Bailey is in his last years as a pro, while Mike Adams and Rahim Moore both struggled at the safety positions. Adding a big-time playmaker like Clinton-Dix would give Denver's defense the help on the back end it needs to become an elite overall unit.

32. San Francisco 49ers—DT Daniel McCullers, Tennessee

McCullers is a veritable giant of a man, at 6'8" and 360 pounds. His legs are like tree trunks and his frame is incredibly well proportioned for a man of his incredible bulk. He's the perfect 3-4 nose tackle, and adding him to play in the middle of San Francisco's defense would allow the team's inside linebackers to fly to the ball.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Tony Romo Injury: Updates on Cowboys QB's Recovery from Minor Back Surgery

Mike Chiari — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:41:29 -0400

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has big expectations ahead of him after signing a six-year, $108 million contract to stay in Big D. It will get off to a late start, as minor back surgery will force the 33-year-old signal-caller to miss organized team activities.

According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, Romo had a cyst removed from his back last month, so he will be unable to takes part in OTAs.

Archer is reporting that Romo will miss at least the next three weeks, but he should be back in action by training camp, assuming his recovery goes well.

Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' official team website confirmed the report and provided an updated timeline for when Romo is expected to return:

The Cowboys are confident their starting quarterback will be ready for training camp when the club leaves for Oxnard, Calif. on July 19.

Romo has not been participating in the Tuesday/Thursday throwing sessions that began last month. And he also hasn’t played recreational golf or basketball like he normally does this time of year.

Although surgery of any kind is obviously nothing to take lightly, there is no indication that Romo will miss a significant amount of time. Considering the fact that Romo is entering his 11th NFL season, missing OTAs shouldn't adversely affect him or the Cowboys as a whole in 2013.

Despite the fact that Romo often takes the brunt of the criticism for Dallas' failures, he has developed into an upper-level starting quarterback, as evidenced by nearly passing for 5,000 yards last season.

If Romo's back issue snowballs for whatever reason and forces him to miss games during the regular season, the Cowboys will be hard pressed to make noise in the competitive NFC East with Kyle Orton at them helm.

Romo's contract makes him the highest-paid player in Cowboys history, so there is no doubt that Jerry Jones and Cowboys fans everywhere are expecting a lot out of Romo this season.

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Dwight Howard Proves Again That It's All About Dwight Howard

Martin Telleria — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:28:18 -0400

Very rarely do I find myself siding with Mike D’Antoni.

His core principles as a coach go against everything I believe is essential in winning a championship.

His disregard for defense and propensity for relying on the three-point shot have ensured defeat endless times throughout his career.

Yet still I find myself siding with him. It’s a strange feeling. One that only a player as entitled and selfish as Dwight Howard could push me to.

What on earth happened? In less than a year, Howard has destroyed his reputation, possibly beyond repair.

We saw signs of this type of behavior during his time in Orlando. The endless waffling of whether he’d stay or go. The silly squabbles he had with Stan Van Gundy. His propensity to throw teammates under the bus. It was never Howard’s doing in defeat yet the praise was always there in victory.

We thought a change of scenery was all he needed. That a move to a storied franchise like the Los Angeles Lakers would push along his maturation. We were wrong.

The waffling has returned, this time with his statement that he is intrigued by the prospect of starting over (again) with the Houston Rockets, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles. The squabbles have remained, D’Antoni replacing Van Gundy in the coach's role. The excuses remain, this time with his declaration that he was used improperly.

The Rockets better think twice before dishing out a big contract to Howard. The Magic and Lakers should serve as cautionary tales about the perils of employing this one-time superstar.

When the going gets tough, Dwight Howard checks out.

For a man who is only a few years removed from garnering praise as the perhaps No. 2 player in the league, it’s been a long fall from grace.

The smiling superstar with the bubbly personality still remains. Yet the smiles are now through clenched teeth, the bubbly personality only surfacing when he is the focal point.

Dwight Howard has proven one thing throughout his career: If it’s not all about Howard, then you won’t get all of him on the court.

It’s not as if the skills that made him renowned throughout the league have left him. Even through injury, we saw glimpses of his brilliance.

It’s the baggage that he puts upon himself and those around him that have made him poisonous to a winning culture.

It really is sad. Howard has turned himself into the NBA’s version of Alex Rodriguez. Two supremely talented athletes who have destroyed their relationships with the fans and their teammates by putting themselves above all else.

We all know what Howard is: the most destructive defensive weapon the NBA has to offer (when motivated). We also know of his limitations on the offensive side of the ball.

Unfortunately for Howard, he craves the glory that offense brings and in the process diminishes what he does best.

It’s not Van Gundy’s or D’Antoni’s fault that they understood exactly what they had in Howard. They saw a player that could lead a team to a championship by being the anchor of the defense. They also saw a player who could make an offense better by staying within himself.

Howard, however, overestimates his offensive abilities. He sees his coaches’ acknowledgments of both his strengths and limitations as slights to him as a player. To quote the great Jack Nicholson, he can’t handle the truth.

The draw to Howard is obvious. He is an absolute force of nature. That is why someone, maybe the Lakers, maybe the Rockets, will throw him a max contract in the hopes that he realizes his potential.

For those that miss out on the Howard sweepstakes, they will eventually consider it a victory in defeat. For the team that does secure his abilities, well, the warning signs were there.

Unless Dwight Howard matures overnight, failure is inevitable. Fortunately for that team, he’ll probably ask for a trade after a year or two.

Whether or not there will be any takers at that point remains unknown.

How Kyle Long Matches Up With Division Rivals

Paul Thelen — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:08:43 -0400

If all goes well in Chicago, Kyle Long will match up with Ndamukong Suh frequently over the coming years. But how does Chicago’s newest first-round selection match up with Suh and other NFC North foes?

The Bears expect their 2013 first-round draft pick to be the team’s starting right guard this season, and for many more to come. The Oregon product will have to be a quick learner to find success against opposing NFC North interior linemen.

For the sake of this article, let's go ahead and assume that Long will win the starting right guard competition and evaluate how his skill set matches up with those of the NFC North’s best defensive tackles.

Ndamukong Suh

Suh is the best-known opponent Kyle Long will face this season and the defensive tackle’s celebrity is well deserved. Suh is dominant as a pass-rusher. The athleticism Suh possesses may be the most dynamic of anyone in the NFL at his position. His quick, explosive movements dictate the movements of his opponent, which allows him to vertically attack the quarterback.

When matched up across from Suh, it is of paramount importance to keep low to the ground. He will try to stand you up and use his speed to swim past his opponents. Below in a 2012 matchup against Chicago, look at how Suh stands up the right guard. Once he gets his opponent upright, he is able to swim left and reach the quarterback. On this play he forced Cutler to throw the ball away.

On paper, this matchup is compatible with the skill set Long possesses. Both Long and Suh are more physical than technical. The greatest criticism of Long is his lack of experience, as he played just one season of Division I football. But against Suh, Long can rely on his athleticism and shadow Suh’s movements. After all, Long is at his best when he is reacting. If Long can stay low he can find success against Suh, who is always looking to get vertical.

Nick Fairley

When Fairley plays he is an active and destructive force, disrupting both the pass and run. Fairley is more versatile than Suh, as he is a more balanced defender. Suh’s vertical aggression finds him out of place on draws and counters.

However, Fairley certainly has weaknesses. He only played 57.6 percent of Detroit’s snaps last season, whereas Suh played 85 percent. Further, Fairley accrued 11 penalties to Suh’s four, and when you consider Suh played 400 more snaps that number is troubling.

Fairley will be a tough matchup for Long. Long can’t rely on his foot speed against Fairley as the Auburn product doesn’t move horizontally. Instead, Fairley employs his powerful initial punch to push his opponent back. Long will have to get better at absorbing initial contact if he wants to find success against Fairley.

B.J. Raji

Raji lines up at all three defensive line positions for Green Bay, so Long will certainly face him. Long will see a lot of Raji when the defensemen is lined up on the side of the blitzing OLB. He had zero sacks in 2012, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t interrupt offenses. Raji relies on his quick feet to initiate the trajectory of his opponent. He tries to dictate where the offensive lineman ends up, which by result clogs up the running lanes.

Long’s athleticism makes him a strong matchup. Long is quicker than Raji, so the defensive tackles’ strongest element is rendered less effective when he matches up against Long. Long will try to drive Raji towards the outside, so that he clogs up the blitzer’s path to the quarterback, rather than center of the pocket or the running lane.

Ryan Pickett

Pickett will be a challenge for Long. Pickett lacks athleticism but more than compensates in technique, something Long lacks. Pickett does a fantastic job of staying on his opponent's play-side shoulder. Look at how he attacks the left shoulder of his opponent below.

By getting on the guards left shoulder, Pickett is then able to shed the block and blow up the hole. On this play he did just that, bringing down the ball carrier after a short gain.

Pickett’s technique forces opponents to anticipate his movements and beat him to the point of impact. Pickett’s strong, massive frame is difficult to move once he gets position on you.

Pickett will certainly attempt to expose Long’s lack of experience when the two match up.

Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams lacks Suh’s physical tools, but the two’s energetic style of play is quite similar. Williams’ game has a more cerebral component to it, as he does a fantastic job of masking his moves by compounding them in two steps. On this play against the Washington Redskins Williams does just that, as he employs a double move against his opponent.

He initially attacks vertically by both pushing the guard backwards and, like Suh, standing his opponent up. Once he has the guard in a vulnerable position, he uses his powerful arms to swim into the hole and blow up the run.

If Williams would have initially attacked towards the trajectory of the run, he would have faced more resistance. But by masking his primary move, he is able to reach the hole freely and make the tackle.

Long is a good match up for Williams as Long’s excellent foot speed will help him recover against Williams’ double moves.

Overall, Fairley and Pickett will cause Long the most problems. They will force the athletic Long to anticipate, rather than to do what he does best, which is to react. Suh, Williams and Raji won’t have the athletic advantage they typically possess against offensive lineman, which will allow Long to attack their weaknesses.

Given the skill sets of Long's divisional opponents, it is easy to see why the Bears fell in love him during the scouting process.

Why Thomas Mueller Will Be Key to Bayern Munich's Chances Against Dortmund

Sam Tighe — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:06:18 -0400

The all-German UEFA Champions League final is under a week away, and on paper one team walks into the match overwhelming favourites.

Bayern Munich have absolutely dominated the Bundesliga this season, smashing records left, right and centre. They won the title with a record number of games to spare, conceded just 18 goals but scored 98 and won a whopping 29 out of 34 fixtures.

They have also romped the Champions League, beating Juventus 4-0 and Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate on their way to the final. The team they will take on in the showpiece final just happens to be Borussia Dortmund—a side they finished 25 points clear of in the Bundesliga.

But while all the statistics suggest Bayern will win, Jupp Heynckes knows he has a major battle on his hands.

For the two seasons previous, BVB were the Bavarian side's chief tormentors. Consecutive league wins for Juergen Klopp's men had Uli Hoeness and co. fuming, while a 5-2 defeat in the DFB Pokal final left a sour taste in many fans' mouths.

This season has carried the theme of revenge, and victory over Klopp's charges at Wembley would complete the mission.

And of all the 11 players Heynckes fields on Saturday, May 25, Thomas Mueller has become more key than ever.

Both sides will play loose variations of the 4-2-3-1 formation, and with Toni Kroos ruled out for the season Mueller will step inside once more and play as a No. 10.

Sides who have successfully frustrated Dortmund this season are those who have managed to nullify Ilkay Gunodgan's influence on the game, as he has become the creative hub and source of buildup play for BVB.

The No. 8 can slow up play and bring his side reprieve, charge forward, set Marco Reus off from a deep position or find Robert Lewandowski with a longer pass.

Duda cancelled his influence out and Malaga only just lost to Dortmund, Real Madrid ignored him and lost 4-1.

Mueller will be asked to fulfill the suffoco role, pressuring Gundogan and following him into deep areas to minimise his time on the ball. With man-to-man marking on him, Bayern can force BVB to take a different approach in their buildup play.

For BVB this isn't a massive issue as Klopp often moves the playmaker role from one player to another, but losing the influence of Gundogan will affect their game.

It's that defensive commitment, running and energy that has seen Mueller fully endeared by die Bayern's fans, but he's just as useful on the offensive side of the ball too.

He will look to drift from his central position when Bayern have the ball, creating overloads on the left or right with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. His link-up play with Mario Mandzukic is perfect, and together they will work some neat triangles and pull Dortmund's defenders around.

That movement is integral to how Bayern go forward, but perhaps his finest attribute is his ability to score clutch goals.

If it's 0-0 at 85 minutes, who would you put money on to score the killer goal? Of course it's Mueller, and he's got the pedigree of a UCL final goal against Chelsea in his pocket to suggest he can do it again.

Mueller is the complete package: Movement, footballing brains, defensive awareness and team ethic all rolled into one. He will play in the position that will hurt Dortmund the most should he perform his duties well and has the ability to come up big when needed.

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Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Breaking Down Latest Summer Transfer Buzz for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

With the end of the 2012-13 Premier League season, the summer transfer window (and the subsequent rumor mill that accompanies it) is seriously starting to heat up.

Clubs can't technically sign players until the end of the final game of the season—the 2013 UEFA Champions League final for Premier League clubs—but that doesn't mean they won't be looking to try and wrap up deals for certain players right now, so they can sign them come July 1.

And being a strong club with a serious transfer budget this summer, Arsenal has been linked with moves for a slew of different players this transfer season.

Who are the latest players linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium?

Read on for all the latest summer transfer buzz for the Gunners.

Lukas Podolski, Arsenal

Having signed with Arsenal over the 2012 summer transfer window, Lukas Podolski is being touted as a possible departure as soon as this summer, with the German forward refusing to rule out a possible move to Italian champions Juventus despite his current contract at Arsenal.

Podolski was quoted in Bild vi a Goal.com as saying:

Of course I feel honored [to be linked with Juventus]. But, the fact is, I have a contract with Arsenal. There's no reason to leave the club. However, in the football-business, a lot of things are conceivable.

Whether that helps or doesn't help calm the fears of Arsenal fans still remains to be seen, but it appears unlikely that Podolski will leave this summer.

The German international is under contract at the club until 2016.

Ashley Williams, Swansea City

Swansea City defender Ashley Williams has reportedly quelled speculation about his possible departure this summer, telling Sky Sports that he has no desire to leave the Liberty Stadium in 2013.

As far as I know [I'll still be here next season]. I don't know anything about it, I just read it in the papers like everyone else. If someone comes in and the club want to do that you have to sit down with the chairman and talk about it. I can't really think that at the moment, I play for Swansea City and I would never be disrespectful to the club, my fans and my team-mates.

Williams had previously been linked with a move to Arsenal over the summer, and with the Daily Mail reporting the future of captain Thomas Vermaelen is in doubt, centre-back could be a position the Gunners look to strengthen in 2013.

The 28-year-old Williams is under contract at Swansea until 2015.

Yaya Sanogo, Auxerre

According to comments made by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners are reportedly very close to signing up-and-coming French striker Yaya Sanogo over the summer window. Wenger was quoted via The Daily Mirror as saying that talks were very "advanced with him" and that he was "very confident" that the transfer will take place in the next few weeks.

Sanogo is currently playing for Ligue 2 side Auxerre but is a big and powerful forward who has shown he has some serious talent and a great future ahead of him.

The 6'3" striker set a goal-scoring record in the French national under-16 team, and has netted nine goals in 19 games (including seven in two games) this year.

Arsenal will reportedly only have to pay a small compensation fee for Sanogo.

Luke Shaw, Southampton

Arsenal are reportedly set to miss out on highly-coveted Southampton defender Luke Shaw, with the south coast club unwilling to sell him over the summer transfer window.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has said via The Daily Mirror that Shaw will be at the Saints next season "for sure." The teenage defender is currently rated as a £10 million prospect and has already attracted the interest of several other Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Julio Cesar, Queens Park Rangers

With the Gunners reportedly looking to try and sign a new goalkeeper over the summer transfer window, they could well end up making a move for Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Rangers were relegated this season from the Premier League and have all but confirmed that Cesar will leave the side as a result, with Arsenal the most likely landing spot.

The Daily Mirror reports that because the Hoops want Cesar off their books quickly, they are prepared to work through a cut-price deal for the shot-stopper this summer.

Cesar, 33, has the advantage of already being based in London, though it is not yet known whether Arsenal will make a move for the Brazilian international.

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

Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Red Devils Must Keep Wayne Rooney

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Manchester United will head into the summer transfer window with a mountain of history behind them, but also the chance to start afresh under new manager David Moyes.

The former Everton boss will no doubt have plenty of grand plans for his time at Old Trafford, but his immediate focus must be on the summer transfer window. And from United's point of view, his first point of difference needs to not be bringing players in, but ensuring that the current squad remains.

And that, it seems starts with striker-turned-midfielder Wayne Rooney.

Earlier in the season, Rooney officially asked then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson for a transfer. Ferguson revealed the news via FoxSports after his final game at Old Trafford, and while the England international has not said anything about his future, the transfer rumors have started to begin.

Reasons behind Rooney's desired departure are not 100 percent known, with early reports suggesting that it may have been about working under David Moyes again.

However, as The Guardian reports this week, the desire is more about not being guaranteed first-team football and playing in his favorite forward position as Ferguson experimented with the formation. And as the reports go on to state, keeping Rooney will be Moyes' main priority this summer as he seeks to prove to Rooney that he is indeed pertinent to the Red Devils' long-term plans.

David Moyes is minded to keep Wayne Rooney at Manchester United and the new manager is hopeful he can convince the striker that his long-term future remains at the club. Rooney played under Moyes when he started his career at Everton in 2002 and the forward is open to discussing a fresh start at United.

Most importantly, there is a desire on the part of Moyes to keep Rooney at United. Rooney has two years remaining on his deal – the usual point for renewing terms – and, if he decides to stay, his salary of about £300,000 a week means any negotiations regarding a fresh contract could be lengthy.

Rooney was played as more of an attacking midfielder this season under Ferguson than a striker, with the Englishman forced to make way for Robin van Persie in attack.

And while the duo achieved great success—both individually and collectively—it appears that Rooney isn't so keen on playing that "secondary" role behind the Dutchman, meaning that Moyes will need to convince Rooney he is needed up front.

How this will impact Van Persie, Shinji Kagawa and any incoming transfer prospects still remains to be seen. It could mean that United shift back towards a 4-4-2 formation with Rooney and Van Persie at the helm, or perhaps even towards a 4-3-3 formation with Rooney deployed out on the left.

Even a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-3-1-2 formation (with Rooney and Van Persie) at the top could work for United if Rooney is hell-bent on not playing as a No. 10 next year.

Either way, there are options and ways that Moyes can convince Rooney, and it seems that if any manager is going to do it, Moyes could be the man.

Reports had suggested that Rooney and his former manager don't get on that well, but it's hard to see there being no connection. Moyes was the man who got Rooney to United and, at one level, made him into the footballer that he is today.

Thus as much as they might not see eye-to-eye at the moment, there must still be some level of professional respect between the men in question.

And that could be all it takes to keep Rooney at United.

Having seen him dominate both up front and in behind Van Persie this year, there's little doubting that Rooney's absence would be a huge blow for the Red Devils.

The work that Rooney gets through in both attack and defense is incredible, and even at the top of the attack, he still constantly continues to intercept passes, pressure defenders and make tackles.

He is, in every sense of the forward, a dominant forward whose presence is unmatched.

Should he leave, United would have a huge hole in the middle of the field and wouldn't necessarily be able to replace it with the purchase of another player.

They would have to change their tactics and formations, and while all of this is possible under a new manager and with world-class players, it would be much simpler for United if they kept their star player. For then they wouldn't have to worry about trying to be ready for the start of the season; they would know that they were ready for whatever challenges lie ahead in 2013.

And with their current squad, they would be more than ready to deal with them.

So while losing Rooney would not be the end of the world, it would be a huge blow for United, and Moyes must make keeping Rooney his No. 1 transfer priority.

For regardless of who United buy and what bargains they might get, if they can't manage to keep Rooney, then the summer transfer window will have been a failure.

There's no doubt about it.

NHL Draft 2013: Highlighting Best Pro Prospects in This Year's Class

Richard Langford — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

There is a scintillating mix of talent at the top of the 2013 NHL draft, which bodes well for the Colorado Avalanche.

Coming off of a 16-25-6 year, the Avalanche have the first selection, and they need it. While the Florida Panthers had an even less successful season and lost out in the lottery, they will still be able to add a truly potential difference maker at No. 2.

Take a look at the order of the June 30 draft. Then I'll offer up a look at the top three prospects in this class.

Pick	Team	2012 Record
1	Colorado Avalanche	16-25-6
2	Florida Panthers	15-27-6
3	Tampa Bay Lightning	18-26-4
4	Nashville Predators	16-23-9
5	Carolina Hurricanes	19-25-4
6	Calgary Flames	19-25-4
7	Edmonton Oilers	19-22-7
8	Buffalo Sabres	21-21-6
9	New Jersey Devils	19-19-10
10	Dallas Stars	22-22-4
11	Philadelphia Flyers	23-22-3
12	Phoenix Coyotes	21-18-9
13	Winnipeg Jets	24-21-3
14	Columbus Blue Jackets	24-17-7
15	New York Islanders	24-17-7
16	Buffalo Sabres (from Minnesota Wild)	21-21-6
17	Detroit Red Wings	24-16-8
18	Ottawa Senators	25-17-6
19	Columbus Blue Jackets (from NY Rangers)	24-17-7
20	San Jose Sharks	25-16-7
21	Toronto Maple Leafs	26-17-5
22	Washington Capitals	27-18-3
23	Columbus Blue Jackets (from L.A. Kings)	24-17-7
24	Vancouver Canucks	26-15-7
25	Calgary Flames (from St. Louis Blues)	19-25-4
26	Boston Bruins	28-14-6
27	Montreal Canadiens	29-14-5
28	Anaheim Ducks	30-12-6
29	Calgary Flames (from Pittsburgh Penguins)	19-25-4
30	Chicago Blackhawks	36-7-5

Seth Jones, Defenceman, Portland Winterhawks

Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, is an athletic prototype for a defenceman. He is 6'4" and 206 pounds, and at 18, he will undoubtedly add bulk and muscle to his frame.

He is such an exciting prospect that Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports is already interested in signing him.

Jones moves great for his size, and he has tremendous body control. He will drop pinpoint passes to start the offense and he has a great slap shot to go with his excellent defensive instincts.

Jones had 56 points in 61 games for the Winterhawks this year, and he displays good leadership skills.

He will be one of the game's elite right-shooting defenceman, and if he stays healthy, he will be a franchise cornerstone for the next 15 years.

Nathan MacKinnon, Center, Halifax Mooseheads

While it's been widely assumed that Seth Jones would be going No. 1 overall, Nathan MacKinnon is closing that gap.

This certainly helped:

Now, you obviously don't change a whole scouting report by one play, but that certainly showed that MacKinnon can score on anyone, and he was dominant that whole game.

Halifax beat Jones' Portland Winterhawks in round-robin play of the Memorial Cup, 7-4. In his first Memorial Cup game, MacKinnon had three goals.

MacKinnon's puck skills are well beyond his 17 years, and he is a great skater. He is a natural goal scorer, and he can drop some nice passes.

Also, he has a nice edge to him. MacKinnon isn't afraid to get physical and has the body to hold his own.

Jonathan Drouin, Left Wing, Halifax Mooseheads

As good as MacKinnon is, it isn't even a universal assumption that he is the best player on his own team.

To the left of MacKinnon is wing prospect Jonathan Drouin. He is a dynamic and speedy playmaker. In 66 games for the Mooseheads this past year, Drouin recorded 140 points.

He has tremendous hands, great feel for the flow of the game, will make quick reads and can put the puck anywhere he wants.

Drouin is great on his skates, and his passing skills are already at an elite level. However, at just under 6'0" and only 175 pounds he will have to add some strength, but he he's definitely got the skills.

NBA Rumors: Analyzing the Latest Buzz from Around the League

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

With the 2013 NBA playoffs raging on and the draft just over one month away, the rumors are swirling in a furious manner. From teams considering trading down to free agents looking to sign elsewhere, there are countless reports as to what may be.

So what's the latest buzz from around the league?

Certain stories pertain to the NBA draft, as teams are targeting players and looking to adjust their position. Other players are simply hoping to find their way into a more beneficial season via free agency.

One way or another, the NBA is about to change in a major way.

NBA Draft: Teams Looking to Trade Down

According to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, the Charlotte Bobcats are interested in trading down if they are unable to win the draft lottery. As it presently stands, they're in position to earn the No. 5 overall selection.

Per Bonnell, they're not the only team interested in moving down.

This might be just zealous due diligence. General manager Rich Cho is meticulous to a fault, so chatting up too many draft prospects could be in his wheelhouse. But there was something that raised my radar about how curious the Bobcats seem to be about players who could be drafted 10th through 20th.

So I asked several writers covering teams with similarly high picks if they thought their general managers were receptive to trading down. “Absolutely,” I kept hearing.

This isn't something you see very often at the NBA draft, but this is one of the weakest classes in recent memory.

The talent disparity in this year's draft is rather thin once you get past the stars of the class. Perhaps most concerning of all, none of those stars appear to be the type of players that you can build your franchise around.

For that reason, trade speculation will likely be present until the draft actually transpires—and Charlotte won't be alone in that process.

J.J. Redick to Sign Elsewhere?

According to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times, Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard J.J. Redick is expected to sign elsewhere this offseason. Redick is an unrestricted free agent, and thus holds no obligation to the franchise.

To put it simply, this should not come as a surprise.

Redick was in the midst of a career year prior to being traded, averaging 15.1 points and 4.4 assists with the Orlando Magic. Upon joining the Bucks, however, Redick's numbers dropped to 12.3 points and 2.7 assists.

More surprisingly, he shot 39.0 percent from beyond the arc with Orlando and 31.8 percent with Milwaukee.

You can fault Redick for that inconsistency, but there's a lot to say for a player's morale when their statistics decline. Not only is Redick one of the league's elite three-point shooters, but there is no reason to believe he'd shoot 31.8 percent from beyond the arc in the right situation.

Redick had shot worse than 39.0 percent in just two of his first six seasons—he posted marks of 38.8 percent and 37.4 percent in those seasons. The proof is in the numbers.

Redick has every reason to depart.

D-12 to Houston?

For more than two calendar years, the NBA community has counted down the days until Dwight Howard would make a decision about his future. This summer, that day will finally come, as Howard becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The question on everyone's mind is simple—will he re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers or end up elsewhere?

According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Howard is intrigued by the prospect of playing for the Houston Rockets. This should come as no surprise, as Houston possesses the cap space and personnel necessary to pique D-12's interest.

The question is, how much more intriguing can their offer be than the Lakers'?

Houston has multiple factors working in their favor, as James Harden has emerged as a legitimate franchise player and Chandler Parsons is a postseason-caliber supporter. With Omer Asik crashing the boards and Jeremy Lin running the pick-and-roll, the personnel is in place.

Perhaps most intriguing of all is the fact that Texas has no income tax—D-12 could be headed to Houston.

Kevin Garnett's Boston Celtics Future Hinges on Paul Pierce's Fate

Michael Pina — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Six years ago, and a few weeks after their prayers in the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant sweepstakes went unanswered, the Boston Celtics weren't an attractive place for any marquee player to call home.

Paul Pierce was there, sure, but the rest of the roster was infected with inexperience and far from realized potential.

It was a coddled collection of assets on cheap contracts, led by a much unhappier version of Pierce than the one we've grown accustomed to watching over the past half-decade.

At the same time, Kevin Garnett was being shopped by the Minnesota Timberwolves, as they tried to get as much for their own franchise player as possible. The Celtics weren't in play until they made a draft-day trade with the Seattle Supersonics to acquire Ray Allen, the right piece to convince Garnett that signing an extension with the Celtics was a good idea.

As his career winds down, Garnett's future may once again be tied to another player. This time, it's Pierce, and the questions loom large over what Celtics general manager Danny Ainge will do with the future of one of Boston's all-time greats.

If nothing happens, Pierce will make $15 million next season, ut he isn't guaranteed that money until a June 30 deadline passes. Before that, Ainge has the option of waiving or buying out Pierce for the $5 million he is guaranteed in 2013-14 to amnesty him, therefore wiping his salary and luxury tax totals off the Boston books.

The third option, of course, is a trade. As we all witnessed in Boston's first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, Pierce is far from a No. 1 option on a championship caliber team. He struggles to get his own shot and was utterly demoralized by the likes of Iman Shumpert, Pablo Prigioni and Ray Felton.

He'll be 36 years old next season and shot 36.8 percent in the playoffs with the third-lowest PER of his career in the regular season. Miraculously, he's still one of the most competent defensive players at his position and a feared scorer who'd be able to complement any team in the league.

If Pierce is traded, amnestied or bought out of his contract, the Celtics will finally head into their franchise's next era, and it most likely won't be one that sees consistently deep playoff runs and championship contention.

It's a situation that Garnett understandably would want no part of, but the probability of him retiring, or threatening retirement, is probably less than you think. He could fill yachts with the money he's made since entering the league nearly two decades ago, but walking away from the game of basketball at this stage would also mean walking away from a cool $12 million.

That doesn't mean the Celtics can afford to call his bluff if they want to remain competitive without one of the NBA's 20 best players ever returning to their team. He's still playing at a high level, albeit while averaging his fewest minutes per game since he was 19 years old, and was voted an All-Star in February.

Garnett's per-36-minute numbers this season were about on par with his career average, if only one or two digits lower in a major category like points. He also grabbed 82 rebounds in six playoff games while knocking in exactly half his shots from the field.

What makes this situation even more interesting is the possibility of Boston choosing to part ways with Pierce in a trade, then convincing Garnett to waive his no-trade clause for an opportunity to ride out the final year or two of his career with Pierce wearing a different colored jersey.

The two packaged as part of a blockbuster trade could help a frustrated team over a playoff hurdle while facilitating a quick Celtics' rebuilding phase. The Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder or even Los Angeles Lakers might all be interested in temporarily pushing all their chips to the middle.

If Pierce goes, and that's entirely possible, Garnett most likely will head out as well either by retirement or trade. Similar things have happened over the past few years with one or two big chips needing to fall in order for the team to finally embark on rebuilding.

This year, it's all predicated on how Ainge deals with Pierce. Once that happens, how Garnett reacts will set the rest of Boston's offseason in motion.

Rafael Nadal's No. 4 Seed Will Make for Intriguing 2013 French Open

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Having stunned the tennis world since his return earlier this year, Rafael Nadal will now head into the 2013 French Open as the tournament's No. 4 seed.

Nadal's success at the Italian Open recently was enough to lift him above Spaniard David Ferrer, and will be the first time that the Big Four possess the top four seeds since Wimbledon last year, where Nadal was trounced in just the second round.

By all accounts, Nadal is healthy again and will most certainly be the man to catch heading into the French Open. His form is superb and none of his competitors are seemingly able to even get close to him, with his one defeat to Novak Djokovic in the final at Monte Carlo the only real blemish on his year so far.

And with an incredible French Open resume, it's easy to see why he's the favorite once again, with the clay-court king looking for his eighth career title at Roland Garros.

In just nine years, as well.

The draw of the French Open will no doubt bring with it plenty of intriguing matchups and storylines, but perhaps the biggest of them all is the fact that Nadal is once again back in the Big Four. That might not seem like much, but it will have a profound impact on the way that the tournament is run, and historically, it should favor the Spaniard in terms of his chances to make the final.

For even now, there appears to be only one (or maybe two) main threats at stopping Rafa at Roland Garros—Novak Djokovic and perhaps Roger Federer.

Djokovic is the World No. 1 and seemingly the only man with the form capable of stopping Nadal, having shown already this season that he can beat Rafa.

He's lost a number of games since then to put some big question marks in front of him, but as the World No. 1, it's more than likely that the Serbian will bounce back here.

I also put Federer in that list simply for his ability to push Nadal at Roland Garros. Historically, he's never beaten the Spaniard on the clay courts in Paris, but he has met the World No. 4 several times throughout his career and has pushed him on nearly every single occasion they've clashed.

So pencil a "maybe" in next to Federer.

The rest are seemingly up in the air. Andy Murray doesn't have a clay-court game. David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych have both been beaten by Nadal in recent weeks.

Even at this early stage, it appears all down to Djokovic to stop Nadal.

And that's where being the No. 4 seed (and not the No. 5 or anything higher) will dramatically boost the chances of Nadal heading into the 2013 French Open.

Nadal—as the No. 4 seed—will be paired on the top half of the draw as Djokovic, with Federer and Murray paired on the bottom half. And whilst it might not have happened in the past few years, both Djokovic and Nadal have played out some thrilling matches when paired on the same side of the draw.

Back in 2006, the then No. 2 seed Nadal beat an unseeded Djokovic in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, before moving on to beat Federer in the final.

In 2007, Djokovic was the No. 6 seed and he again lost to Nadal—this time going down in the semifinals, with Nadal going on to beat Federer again.

In 2008, it was Nadal-Djokovic in the semifinals once more, and Nadal-Federer in the final once more. And once again, it was the exact same result for the Spaniard.

The pair were on course to beat in the semifinals again in 2010, but Djokovic lost in the quarterfinals—giving Nadal a relatively simply run to the title once more.

Since then, Nadal and Djokovic have only met once—and it was in the final.

That was last year's rain-interrupted event, where the Serbian international was really pushing the clay-court king before they were forced to delay the final.

Djokovic was unable to get his momentum going on the second day, and Nadal again walked away as a champion, but that day was potentially huge in the rivalry.

Having never beaten Nadal at Roland Garros, Djokovic will know that history is definitely not on his side when it comes to the French Open this year. He'll know that a matchup against the clay-court king in the semifinals looms large and that the past doesn't suggest he'll fare all that well against Rafa.

Especially not given the current form of the Spanish international.

However, for the remainder of the field, the fact that the two most likely Grand Slam champions this year will meet in the semifinals, could not be greater.

For it means that someone—be that Federer, Murray or whoever—will have a shot in the final against one of the two best clay-court players in the world right now.

It's what gives the French Open this year an element of intrigue and excitement; the fact that someone other than Djokovic-Nadal will be in the final.

The purists (who want the top two in the final and top four in the semifinals and so on) might disagree, but the fact that we could potentially have a taste of the final this year before it even begins is what makes Grand Slam tennis so exciting.

The fact that Djokovic—in all his greatness and dominance—hasn't beaten Nadal at Roland Garros and has never won the French Open before is enthralling.

The fact that Nadal is gunning for an eighth French Open title is incredible.

And the fact that arguably the two biggest talking points of the tournament are on a collision course for the semifinals—where their rivalry began—is perhaps the most intriguing storyline of them all.

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NBA Draft Lottery 2013: Teams with Most on the Line Entering Drawing

Rob Goldberg — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Every team wants to get the top pick in the NBA draft lottery, although not every team needs it.

The drawing that takes place to decide the top three slots of the NBA draft has made a huge impact in recent history. Over the past decade, franchises like the Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron James), Orlando Magic (Dwight Howard) and Chicago Bulls (Derrick Rose) lucked out by getting an elite player with the first overall pick.

Although there does not appear to be a superstar-level player in this draft, there are plenty of guys capable of surprising scouts by putting together great careers.

With this in mind, there are a number of teams that desperately need to secure one of the top picks to help turn around an organization after a terrible year. These squads have a lot on the line and cannot really afford to miss out on a top spot.

Orlando Magic

It was only a few years ago that Orlando had one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference every season. Last year, the Magic earned a playoff spot despite being without Dwight Howard for much of the season.

However, the team was forced to trade the center and the remaining squad put together the worst record in the NBA.

Even worse, the fans began to lose interest, as the team reported a 93.4 percent attendance mark, which is down from 102.1 percent last year (via ESPN). That number is likely to drop even more with another poor season.

This means that the Magic need more than just a player who can help down the line; they need a star who can re-energize the fanbase. A player like Ben McLemore can be a go-to scorer right away and instantly become a fan favorite.

Of course, he will not be available after the first few picks.

Charlotte Bobcats

Not a lot has gone right in the short history of the Bobcats. Not only have there been a lot of losses, but there is little hope for the future.

From Adam Morrison to Brandan Wright and others, many draft picks have not lived up to expectations and there are few players who can truly be considered a long-term solution. The team could not even lose right, as three wins in a row to end the season hurt its chances at winning the lottery.

The biggest thing the team needs at this point is a high-upside prospect who can at least bring some potential to the organization. Even if that player does not help right away, simply believing that better days are ahead would be a big change in Charlotte.

A prospect that would fit this description would be Nerlens Noel, the athletic center who would quickly become one of the best defensive players in the league. He is still developing on the offensive end and could take a while to reach his potential, but the Bobcats have that time.

Unfortunately, a poor result in the lottery could diminish that hope.

Toronto Raptors

While the Toronto Raptors only have a 0.7 percent chance at getting the top pick, it would be huge if they could land one of the top three.

In a trade for Kyle Lowry, the Raptors gave up their first-round pick in this year's draft. However, it is top-three protected if they are fortunate enough to get one of those slots (via USA Today).

By getting one of the top picks, Toronto can add talent at any number of positions of need. The team can add a scoring threat to go with Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozen or it could add an interior defender to make up for the poor play of Andrea Bargnani.

The team could even look to grab a point guard like Trey Burke to solidify the position for the future.

Then again, if the odds play out as they should, Toronto will get nothing.

Lottery Odds

No.	Team	Odds of getting 1st pick
1	Orlando Magic	25 percent
2	Charlotte Bobcats	19.9 percent
3	Cleveland Cavaliers	15.6 percent
4	Phoenix Suns	11.9 percent
5	New Orleans Pelicans	8.8 percent
6	Sacramento Kings	6.3 percent
7	Detroit Pistons	3.6 percent
8	Washington Wizards	3.5 percent
9	Minnesota Timberwolves	1.7 percent
10	Portland Trail Blazers*	1.1 percent
11	Philadelphia 76ers	0.8 percent
12	Toronto Raptors**	0.7 percent
13	Dallas Mavericks	0.6 percent
14	Utah Jazz	0.5 percent

*Portland's pick goes to the Charlotte Bobcats if it falls outside of the top 12.

**Toronto's pick goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls outside of the top three (via USA Today).

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WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Results: Stars Due for a Huge Push Heading Toward Payback

Donald Wood — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 edition of WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view was one of the most exciting in the event’s history, and the results point to a huge push for some of the company’s top stars heading toward June’s Payback.

All of the following WWE Superstars should expect a monstrous push over the next month.

2013 Extreme Rules Results

WWE Champion John Cena and Ryback wrestled to a No Contest in a Last Man Standing Match.

Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H (Steel Cage Match)

Alberto Del Rio defeated Jack Swagger ('I Quit' Match).

Dean Ambrose defeated U.S. Champion Kofi Kingston.

The Shield defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No (Tornado Tag Team Match).

Sheamus defeated Mark Henry (Strap Match).

Randy Orton defeated Big Show (Extreme Rules Match).

Chris Jericho defeated Fandango.

The Miz defeated Cody Rhodes (Pre-Show).

The Shield

Not only did The Shield’s Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns win the WWE Tag Team Championships at Extreme Rules, Dean Ambrose was able to capture the United States Championship, proving once and for all that it’s time to believe in The Shield.

This trio of young superstars has already been riding a huge push, but now that they all have gold, the domination from the heel stable will go unparalleled.

This truly is one of the most dominant groups the WWE has ever seen already.

The Shield obviously has the support of the top officials in the company, and with their stellar performance every time they hit the ring, the trio of former NXT stars has transformed themselves into a dominant force at the highest level.

Believe in The Shield.

Randy Orton

The match at Extreme Rules between Randy Orton and the Big Show was better than most fans expected, but it wasn’t until the end when Orton used his punt kick for the first time in years that the WWE Universe was given a glimpse of a possible evil edge to his character.

Orton got the win in his hometown—something that doesn’t happen very often—and not only did he use the RKO to decimate Big Show, the fact that he used a move that had been put on the shelf for so long like the punt made this match feel special.

Now the WWE must carry that momentum over the next month into Payback.

The stage has been set for a big Orton push already with the superstar being featured in the PPV promos for the June event, and a huge win coupled with an edgier character that will do anything to win is what the WWE Universe has wanted all along.

Dolph Ziggler

While Dolph Ziggler was forced to miss the Extreme Rules show while he recovers from a concussion, the match between Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger was so mediocre that it became perfectly clear that The Showoff is really the only saving grace of this whole angle.

Both Swagger and Del Rio fail to get any kind of reaction while their mouthpieces prove to be more over with the crowd than their respective wrestlers.

That’s not a good sign for either star.

Say what you want about Ziggler’s style in and out of the ring, but he is the only interesting aspect of the World Heavyweight Championship scene right now and deserves the huge push coming his way.

Sunday’s No. 1 contender's match at Extreme Rules and the replay shenanigans that clouded the ending of it only highlighted the fact that Ziggler is the brightest star of the three.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW.)

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NBA Lottery 2013: Teams That Desperately Need to Win Lottery

John Rozum — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 NBA lottery is set for Tuesday, May 21 and an abundance of teams are hoping to get lucky.

There are, however, a few that need it more than the rest of the pool.

For one, the NBA draft features some impressive prospects in Indiana's Victor Oladipo, Georgetown's Otto Porter and Michigan's Trey Burke. Clearly landing one of these talents, among others, will propel the bottom-feeders forward and potentially into the 2014 postseason picture.

So, with the lottery on the horizon, let's see who needs to win it the most.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Although Cleveland has great young talent in Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers play in a deep division.

The Central Division sent three teams to the postseason, not to mention the Chicago Bulls did it without Derrick Rose. The Indiana Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference finals, and the Milwaukee Bucks were better than their record indicated.

Therefore, having the opportunity to land a guy like Porter or Oladipo will significantly boost Cleveland ahead. It's a physically tough and defensive division, but the Cavs can gain a competitive edge with an upgraded offense.

Not getting this luxury, however, will make contending for the 2014 playoffs increasingly difficult.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns finished last in the Pacific Division that sent three teams to the postseason.

That said, even though the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers bowed out in Round 1, Phoenix remains a solid distance from challenging for the postseason. Lacking at each end of the floor in 2013-14, the Suns tied for the worst road (8-33) and second-worst divisional (5-11) record in the West Conference this season.

With good fortunate in the lottery, though, they can make up solid ground in the next campaign.

Oladipo will obviously help the versatility at each end, whereas Cody Zeller or Anthony Bennett would suffice in the frontcourt. Nerlens Noel is the ideal fit, but Phoenix's only real odds for him are by receiving the top pick.

New Orleans Pelicans

Another team in a tough division are the New Orleans Pelicans.

The San Antonio Spurs remain elite, and the Memphis Grizzlies are on the rise. Plus, these two are squaring off in this year's Western Conference finals.

In addition, New Orleans sported the second-worst conference record (15-37) in the West this season. Factor in the situation with Eric Gordon and the offseason may only get worse. According to Bradley Handwerger of WWLTV-CBS 4 on April 22, general manager Dell Demps is looking at all options:

“To say if I anticipate him [Gordon] being back – I don’t know if that’s something I can answer right now, or him not to be back. We’re going to sit down and evaluate every situation and opportunity,” Demps said.

No matter what transpires, getting a top pick from the lotto will definitely address a key need. Whether it's Burke, Zeller or Alex Len, the Pelicans have to spruce up their offense or depth in the paint.

NBA Playoffs 2013: X-Factors That Will Determine Conference Finals

Rob Goldberg — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

While the NBA playoffs usually showcase the league's biggest stars, there are a number of unheralded players who are just as important to a team's success.

As much as fans would like to believe that LeBron James is his whole team and the San Antonio Spurs could not possibly win without Tony Parker, this is simply not true. Sometimes, it is the lesser-known guys who make the biggest difference.

These players will not get a lot of publicity during the conference finals, but their efforts will play a huge role in deciding who advances to the next round.

Miami Heat: Chris Andersen

Although Chris Andersen did not contribute much on offense against the Chicago Bulls, he did more than enough on the defensive end to help his team immensely.

The Birdman had at least two blocks in each of the first three games and played solid defense on Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. If the Heat are going to beat the Pacers, he will once again need to come through on that side of the court.

Indiana has one of the best frontcourts in the league between Roy Hibbert and David West. The two of them can cause fits for the undersized Heat if given the chance.

Andersen needs to make sure he takes advantage of his time on the court by bringing his usual high-energy play. If he can continue to play strong defense, Miami will be just fine in this series.

Indiana Pacers: Lance Stephenson

Paul George turned heads this season as he led the team in scoring en route to winning the league's Most Improved Player award. His efforts, along with Roy Hibbert and David West inside, have the team competing in the Eastern Conference finals.

However, it was Lance Stephenson that helped the team advance past the New York Knicks with a fantastic performance in Game 6.

The guard scored 25 points with 10 rebounds in the win after averaging only 8.8 points during the regular season. While it's unlikely he is able to consistently produce these types of numbers, his contributions throughout the postseason have been vital.

Stephenson is a very good defender who is also averaging 8.1 rebounds per game in the postseason. This will be necessary to try to slow down Dwyane Wade, who contributes a lot as a scorer while also being one of the best rebounding guards in the league.

If the young player can continue to play at this level, it will give Indiana a chance to pull off the upset in the series.

San Antonio Spurs: Matt Bonner

Matt Bonner did not have much of a role in the last series against the Golden State Warriors as coach Gregg Popovich elected to use a smaller lineup. However, that will not be the case against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Against a bigger and slower defense, Bonner becomes an offensive mismatch as a 6'10" player who can score from the outside. In Game 1, he scored 12 points on four made threes after totaling only 12 points during the entire previous round.

While the Spurs have a few players who can make three-point shots like Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard, Bonner has been the team's most consistent threat when he is on the floor and led the team with a 44.2 percent mark from behind the arc.

During the postseason, he has made 12 of his 20 attempts from deep.

Memphis has a very tough defense to beat, but Bonner can become an equalizer for San Antonio if he continues to make his shots.

Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Allen

Everyone knows about Tony Allen's skills as a defensive player. For the second year in a row, the guard was selected All-Defensive first team as one of the best on-ball defenders in the entire league.

He will likely rotate duties throughout the series between Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and others, and he needs to make sure he shuts down whoever he matches up against.

The problem is that this will not be enough in this series. San Antonio showed in Game 1 that it is willing to leave Allen open while doubling-up on Zach Randolph down low. As a result, the big man was held to two points on 1-of-8 shooting.

Allen did make all three of his shots in the first game, but that is not enough. He needs to make the Spurs pay for leaving him open by being more aggressive with and without the ball.

Memphis is only 1-3 in the postseason in games where Allen fails to reach double-digit points. He needs to make sure he brings the same type of effort on the offensive end as he does on defense if the Grizzlies are to advance.

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NBA Draft Lottery 2013 Live Stream: Online Viewing Info and More

Alex Kay — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery may not be the monumental day during the offseason that forever changes the fortunes of a downtrodden organization, but it's still an important event for fans of all teams involved.

While there is hardly a consensus No. 1 pick—with perhaps the exception of Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel—and zero young stars jumping out as potential franchise saviors, there’s still some buzz surrounding the upcoming lottery draw.

It’s still a significant occasion that will change the landscape of the Association forever. This draft has a decent amount of depth at the top, which is why it’s important to at least land in the upper half of the top-14 after the ping-pong balls are pulled.

As much as some fans and analysts want to trash this class, there are prospects available that will be instrumental in improving the fortunes of the club that selects them. There are even some that will end up guiding teams on playoff runs and others that could become major contributors for a Finals-winning squad.

Let’s take a look at where you can watch this thrilling lottery drawing, including a link for live streaming. Then check out the complete list of participants, possible trades and each team’s chance to land the No. 1 selection.

Finally, we have highlighted some notable selections that could come off the board in the lottery and included a potential mock draft for how the first 14 picks could shake out.

2013 NBA Draft Lottery Info

When: Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Disney/ABC’s Times Square Studios, New York, N.Y.

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3 (Blacked out in several states, please check coverage map here)

2013 NBA Draft Lottery Participants and Chance to Land No. 1 Selection

Team	2012-13 Record	Chance of No. 1 pick
Orlando Magic	20-62	25 percent
Charlotte Bobcats	21-61	19.9 percent
Cleveland Cavaliers	24-58	15.6 percent
Phoenix Suns	25-57	11.9 percent
New Orleans Pelicans	27-55	8.8 percent
Sacramento Kings	28-54	6.3 percent
Detroit Pistons	29-53	4.3 percent
Washington Wizards	29-53	2.8 percent
Minnesota Timberwolves	31-51	1.7 percent
Portland Trail Blazers*	33-49	1.1 percent
Philadelphia 76ers	34-48	0.8 percent
Toronto Raptors**	34-48	0.7 percent
Dallas Mavericks	41-41	0.6 percent
Utah Jazz	43-39	0.5 percent

*If Portland's pick falls outside of the top 12, it will be sent to Charlotte.

**If Toronto's pick falls outside of the top three, it will be sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets.

***Odds and trade notes courtesy of USA Today.

2013 NBA Draft Lottery Notables

Nerlens Noel, PF/C, Kentucky

While Noel isn’t going to make the same impact that former UK star Anthony Davis did on the Hornets, he’s still projected to be a starting-caliber big man in the NBA.

Because of his elite length, incredible shot-blocking, upside as a defender and rim protector as well as a plus non-stop motor, it would be a wise decision for a majority of teams to select Noel No. 1 overall.

While the bouncy star is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered in February, he’s apparently ahead of schedule and expects to be back around Christmas time.

It’s certainly not the ideal situation for the club that lands the top pick, but there isn’t a better big to be found in this class.

Injury risks and all, Noel should be the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 draft.

Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

Earlier in the 2012-13 college campaign, there was some significant buzz concerning McLemore becoming the first off-guard to be selected No. 1 overall since David Thompson accomplished the feat back in 1975.

Unfortunately, with his late-season struggles and disappearing act during a significant stretch of the NCAA tournament, McLemore has fallen down a rung on the big board.

While he’s still a consensus top-five pick and most exciting, high ceiling perimeter player in this class, he shouldn’t have much a chance to overtake Noel for the No. 1 spot.

Expect this KU product to make a quick splash in the Association however, as he has elite three-point shooting skills and the propensity to light up the scoreboard when he’s feeling it.

Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

Porter may not be an elite scorer or eye-popping athlete, but he does a bit of everything and can do it all well.

He displayed flashes of an ability to carry the scoring load late in his sophomore season with the Hoyas, but was not able to sustain that sort of production.

Fortunately, most of his suitors in the lottery won’t be expecting much in terms of point production from this swingman.

As long as he’s able to defend multiple positions, clean the glass on both ends of the court, hustle hard on every possession and do all the little things that winning organizations require from their SF, Porter is going to be a home-run selection.

Complete 2013 NBA Lottery Mock Draft

1. Orlando Magic: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

4. Phoenix Suns: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

5. New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

6. Sacramento Kings: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

7. Detroit Pistons: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA

8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: C.J. McCollum, SG, Lehigh

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Alex Len, C, Maryland

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto): Rudy Gobert, C, France

13. Dallas Mavericks: Dario Saric, SF, Croatia

14. Utah Jazz: Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

2013 NBA Draft Prospects: Best Players Sitting on Lottery Bubble

Alex Kay — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft lottery draw occurring shortly, there’s no better time to examine some of the prospects hoping to make it into the top 14 this June.

You’ve probably heard enough about the big names in this year’s class, including Nerlens Noel—the closest thing to a consensus top pick—Ben Mclemore, Otto Porter and Trey Burke. The chances of them slipping outside the lottery are borderline zero.

However, there are some under-the-radar players that have been hoping to make a good impression at the recent combine, during upcoming workouts and throughout the pre-draft interview process.

If they are successful, there’s a solid shot these on-the-bubble prospects make a full-fledged dive into the lottery waters. If not, there’s always the chance they catch on with another team later on in the first round.

Let’s take a look at a handful of these young, upcoming stars.

Glen Rice Jr., SF, D-League

After Rice was dismissed from Georgia Tech last year, the promising young swingman didn’t give up on his dream to play professional basketball.

It was clear he had character issues to iron out and a sense of maturity to find, so he continued his career by catching on with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.

He absolutely exploded upon landing there, especially in the postseason. The 22-year-old caught fire down the stretch and helped guide his squad to the championship, averaging 25 points per game during the playoffs.

The 6’5” stud has a great stroke from anywhere on the court, a willingness to bang for boards and decent court vision for his position. He excels at the 3, but is also able to back up the 2 and could be used there in certain situations.

While he may not be a future star and has a lower ceiling due to his age, there is the chance that Rice Jr. gets selected early and immediately makes an impact for whichever team takes a chance on him.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

Carter-Williams is one of the more intriguing prospects on the big board, as he’s a 6’6” point guard with arguably the best passing skills in the class.

However, he’s also a PG that cannot shoot the ball or handle it well, which is why he’s in danger of slipping outside the lottery.

MCW did lead the Orange to a Final Four appearance and proved his worth as a lengthy, agile defender on top of Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone, which should help his stock come draft day.

Like Rice Jr., he’s a bit on the older side at 21, but this Syracuse stud should find a way to make a difference in the NBA. There are plenty of teams that need a facilitator to set up the stars on offense and a lockdown defender on the other end.

Don’t be surprised if Carter-Williams vaults into the lottery after proving himself in workouts and tantalizing scouts and GMs with his measurements.

Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville

Dieng is an ideal pick for a club that immediately needs to add a big man into the rotation.

At 6’11, 235 pounds, the Louisville star has the proper size to make the leap to the Association and contribute defensively on a nightly basis. He’s going to be able to protect the rim, leap to block shots and absorb a few fouls in 15 to 20 minutes of play per contest.

Unless he starts to show some more promise with his raw offensive game, that just may be this prospect’s ceiling, which isn’t awful.

However, Dieng certainly displayed a variety of skills in the National Championship Game against Michigan, finishing with eight points, eight boards, six assists, three blocks and a steal in 37 minutes.

If he can keep that level of low-post passing and somewhat reliable scoring up, there’s a shot Dieng someday becomes a starter in this league.

Due to the weakness of this class and the lack of quality defensive-minded bigs in the league, there’s no reason to believe this national title-winner should slide much further than the lottery.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013: Superstars That Must Overcome Porous Booking

Donald Wood — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 edition of Extreme Rules was much better than anticipated, but there were some porous booking decisions that some top superstars must overcome if they want to remain relevant moving forward.

It wasn’t the fault of WWE superstars like Mark Henry, Jack Swagger and Cody Rhodes that they were booked to take the loss, but each must step up their performance over the next month in order to make an impact at June’s Payback pay-per-view.

All of the following superstars deserved better than what they were given on Sunday night, but with each possessing immense talent, overcoming the porous booking shouldn’t be an issue.

Mark Henry

Mark Henry pulled out a huge win over Ryback at WrestleMania 29, and the last thing the WWE should’ve done at Extreme Rules was to allow Sheamus to walk out victorious over arguably the best heel in the company today.

Sometimes it feels like the WWE swerves the fans for the sake of swerving.

Sheamus vs. Henry in a strap match should have easily been the most violent match on the card, but with silly lights in the corners and enough slack in the strap to hit the turnbuckles without much effort, this bout felt like the biggest joke of the night.

Henry has been amazing on the mic and much better in the ring as the World’s Strongest Man, but allowing him to lose at Extreme Rules was detrimental to his character and the momentum he has created.

Let's hope he moves away from Sheamus and finds a feud he can win.

Jack Swagger

There is no questioning that Jack Swagger isn’t great on the mic, but with WWE giving him a veteran mouthpiece like Zeb Colter, there should be no excuse that the Real American isn’t getting better treatment.

Swagger won the match at Extreme Rules initially, but with another referee hitting the ring to claim it was Colter that threw the white towel in for Del Rio instead of Ricardo Rodriguez, the WWE went to instant replay like the four major sports do to get the call correct.

Not only was this an awful visual, the fact that Swagger had to suffer because of this experiment is an awful use of the talented worker.

Swagger deserves to be in the World Heavyweight Championship scene more than Del Rio, and a feud between Dolph Ziggler and Swagger would be more interesting than anything the new No. 1 contender has done since coming to the WWE.

Cody Rhodes

If you missed the Extreme Rules YouTube Pre-Show, Cody Rhodes was defeated by The Miz in a nothing match. The Miz is obviously on his way up once again in the company, but the brighter star of this duo is Rhodes.

Not only is Rhodes the better in-ring worker, The Miz has been an awful face that has meant nothing in terms of storyline development.

While The Miz gets respect from the WWE for starring in movies, Rhodes is trying to develop a character and is doing a great job. Along with his former tag team partner Damien Sandow, Rhodes has been underutilized for months and deserves so much better.

The loss at Extreme Rules was embarrassing, but the hope is that officials backstage realize the error of their ways sooner rather than later.

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Preakness 2013: Top Contenders to Watch for at Belmont Stakes

John Rozum — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 Preakness Stakes displayed impressive top-tier contenders, which are also the key to increasing the Belmont Stakes' appeal.

Also, the New York Racing Association gave a glimpse of the potential competitors on Sunday:

“He [Orb] was already in his stall when I got back here and seemed to be fine,” said [Shug] McGaughey. “We’ll walk him a good while this afternoon and just kind of see what we have. The Belmont Stakes is on our radar screen."

According to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, Oxbow currently is slated to face Freedom Child, Golden Soul, Overanalyze, Palace Malice, and Revolutionary. Bob Baffert will run either Code West or Power Broker. Itsmyluckyday is possible.

That said, expect the field to be much more competitive in New York than Pimlico. It's also the longest of the tracks for the Triple Crown. Therefore, instantly switching gears from the Preakness will prove difficult, especially since Pimlico is the shortest of the legs.

Ultimately, the following are the best to eye when Belmont's gates open up.

Orb

After taking the Kentucky Derby, Orb entered the Preakness on a five-race win streak.

Even better was his exciting comeback down the stretch at Churchill Downs. The victory, which was by more than I'll Have Another's from 2012, set up an expected win leading into Pimlico.

Although Orb and jockey Joel Rosario didn't get the job done, finishing in fouth place keeps the duo among the best challengers for Belmont. Just as we saw in Kentucky, Orb put on a similar display in the Triple Crown's second leg by starting slow and then kicking in toward the end.

That becomes an advantage on the longer courses, whereas it works against him when there's less time to catch up. Given that Belmont is the longest of the legs, anticipate Orb to hover back then make an exciting move as the finish line nears.

Oxbow

Oxbow took sixth in Kentucky, but vaulted up to No. 1 at Pimlico to ruin Orb's chances for the Triple Crown.

At the Derby he remained with the front of the pack for quite a while. Unfortunately, fading after the final turn Oxbow slipped back and Orb was able to take over. Fast forward to the Preakness, though, and jockey Gary Stevens had his racing companion explode out of the gates.

He first gained control of the lead before the initial turn, set the tempo and then maintained it throughout the track. Possessing the top speed to fend off down the stretch, Oxbow has the acceleration to echo this in Belmont.

Now he'll have to start out a bit slower to save a kick, but the gallop to hang in the middle will pay dividends on a longer course.

Mylute

Don't sleep on Mylute. After finishing fifth in Kentucky and third during the Preakness, Mylute has proven the ability to hang with the fastest throughout each turn.

Now it's simply a matter of getting more kick to finish on a stronger note.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik also has over 1,500 wins to her name and knows how to orchestrate a consistent race. The challenge is keeping up with Oxbow and Co. from the start, and also outlasting contenders such as Orb toward the finish.

The extended distance offered by Belmont even adds another dimension to the competition. Regardless of the pace, sustaining a spot in the middle and gradually picking up speed is to Mylute's advantage.

His stamina was solid at the Derby, as well as the speed at Pimlico. A fusion of the two at Belmont will gradually allow Napravnik to pull away from the pack before anyone kicks it in.

Is 2013 a Do-or-Die Season for Ben Roethlisberger?

Andrea Hangst — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

2013 marks the 10th season that Ben Roethlisberger has been the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback. In his Steelers career, Roethlisberger went from Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004 to the youngest passer to ever win a Super Bowl. He's been to the Pro Bowl twice and is the Steelers franchise passing yardage leader.

Despite a changing cast of wide receivers, running backs, coaches, coordinators and, of course, offensive linemen, Roethlisberger has managed to string together successful seasons that more often than not end with the Steelers in the playoffs. His ability to extend plays while taking punishment other quarterbacks couldn't withstand has been his hallmark and his biggest strength.

That repeated punishment takes a toll, though. Throughout the course of his career, Roethlisberger has suffered a number of injuries, including ones that have caused him to miss games. He hasn't played a full, 16-game season since 2008 and the three games he missed in 2012 was a major reason for the Steelers ending the year with an 8-8 record, resulting in just the third time in his career that the Steelers didn't reach the postseason.

Though Roethlisberger is just 31 years old, he's taken enough hits and suffered enough injuries to have a playing age of 35 or older. The Steelers also just chose to draft a quarterback, Landry Jones, for the first time since 2008. While Roethlisberger is still under contract through the 2015 season, it's curious that the Steelers chose not to extend him—something they do when they're two seasons away from expiring—despite yet again restructuring it.

Is it possible the Steelers are starting to think of a future without Roethlisberger?

Things aren't yet so melodramatic in Pittsburgh yet, but it's clear that the Steelers are considering a time when Roethlisberger is not their starting quarterback. Not in 2014 and maybe not in 2015—but the drafting of a developmental project passer like Jones may not simply be to finally have a younger quarterback backing up Big Ben, but to offer them his potential successor.

The fact that Roethlisberger hasn't yet received a contract extension is curious, as noted above. While that's not to say that he doesn't eventually get one, it does look like a lot is being asked of him in 2013 before the value and duration of that extension is hammered out. In terms of his long-term job security, 2013 is very important for Roethlisberger.

On Roethlisberger's side is how well he handled the transition in offensive coordinators, from Bruce Arians to Todd Haley, last year. Despite it being less Roethlisberger-friendly—he's made it clear he likes throwing the deep ball, while Haley is more about meticulously moving the ball in shorter-yardage chunks—he had an excellent season.

In 13 games, Roethlisberger completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 3,265 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Haley's influence is immediately evident, with the yardage total on the lower end of his typical production but the touchdowns-to-interception ratio the best it's ever been, owing to Roethlisberger throwing fewer risky, deeper passes and instead going for the surefire first downs that keep drives alive.

Roethlisberger's patience with Haley will likely be tested as the Steelers head into the full swing of their offseason program and then, later, into minicamps and training camp itself. More changes befell the offense in the past few months, with Roethlisberger's primary deep-passing target, Mike Wallace, heading to the Miami Dolphins in free agency, Heath Miller still recovering from a massive, Week 16 knee injury and the drafting of running back Le'Veon Bell and receiver Markus Wheaton in April.

More than ever, Roethlisberger will be required to step up and take a legitimate leadership role on the offense, rather than allowing the defensive veterans to take up that mantle. At the same time, he must fully buy into Haley's system and continue to excel in it, even if in some ways it's like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

Because there are so many new and young players primed to have major roles in the Steelers offense this year, the pressure is actually a bit lower on Roethlisberger than it would have been without all these changes. That buys him a bit of time and gives him somewhat of a pass in 2013, making it less of a "do-or-die" season for him; however, that doesn't change the fact that he still must "do" this year if he's going to remain a Steeler for the rest of his career, whether that comes in 2016 when he's a free agent, earlier, or later.

The fact also remains that the Steelers aren't comfortable with having a poor season—and considering their win-loss records in the Roethlisberger era, 2012's 8-8 finish can be called "poor."

While Roethlisberger isn't directly to blame for that—the rib and shoulder injury that forced him out for three weeks was in certain ways preventable (don't take that hit) and not (it was a freakish injury on what appeared to be a standard hit)—clearly the Steelers are a far better team when their starting quarterback is on the field.

If he cannot stay healthy, and if those missed games cost them wins, then more attention may be paid to the starting position and Roethlisberger's future when it comes to playing it. After all, what good to a team is even the NFL's best player if he's not on the field?

Roethlisberger's time in Pittsburgh isn't up, but to assure him long-term job security by way of a contract extension, certain things are likely being expected of him this year, such as a greater confidence in Haley's offense, an ability to lead the young offensive players around him and an ability to value his health over his willingness to take hit after hit.

While Roethlisberger's 2013 performance will weigh heavily on his ability to get another lucrative deal out of the Steelers, he's not heading into "do-or-die" territory just yet. That will come in 2014, if for some reason he falls to injury yet again this year, takes a step back or if the Steelers again come away with a .500 record or worse.

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Belmont Stakes: Potentially Deeper Field Will Enhance Competition's Appeal

John Rozum — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 Belmont Stakes are shaping up to be much more appealing for horse racing fans.

Not only is the field potentially deeper, but the competition level helps bolster the excitement. As reported by the New York Racing Association, the winners of the first two Triple Crown legs—Orb and Oxbow—appear to be on par for Belmont:

He [Orb] was already in his stall when I got back here and seemed to be fine, said McGaughey. We’ll walk him a good while this afternoon and just kind of see what we have. The Belmont Stakes is on our radar screen.

According to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, Oxbow currently is slated to face Freedom Child, Golden Soul,Overanalyze, Palace Malice, and Revolutionary. Bob Baffert will run either Code West or Power Broker. Itsmyluckyday is possible.

That's quite a field given everything that has transpired since the events leading up to the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Obviously, the third leg of the Triple Crown would offer extensively more appeal had Orb won the Preakness Stakes. After all, with no Triple Crown winner since 1978, it's definitely long overdue.

Still, a deep field with the best of challengers is the next best thing. There's now a small rivalry between Orb and Oxbow after swapping victories through the first two legs, not to mention other strong potential contenders in Overanalyze, Revolutionary and Itsmyluckyday.

Factor in Belmont as the longest Triple Crown race and that simply inflates the events marketability. At 12 furlongs, Belmont is the utmost test regarding stamina, top speed and acceleration down the stretch.

Unlike Pimlico, which is the shortest of the three legs, Belmont's distance becomes a greater obstacle since it comes after the Preakness. Therefore, immediately adjusting from the least to the longest of lengths requires quick adaptation.

The race is not won right out of the gates, but a jockey cannot afford to let the pack get out of reach. Although more distance is provided to make a comeback, it's just as difficult to keep pace from the start.

Mesh it all together and a strong fusion of top-tier contenders with track length provides one intense competition for the fans.

Can NY Knicks Win a Title with Carmelo Anthony as Their Best Player?

Mathias Ask — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:58:06 -0400

In the aftermath of their depressing loss to the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks fans have to face the hard truth—as long as Carmelo Anthony is their best player, they are not going to win an NBA championship.

Keep in mind that we’re not talking about whether Anthony may or may not win a championship with the Knicks. It’s about whether a championship team can be built around him in New York.

If LeBron James decides to join the Knicks when he becomes a free agent and they somehow choose to retain Anthony, then by all means the title is his. However, if Anthony is supposed to be the go-to-guy, I am less optimistic.

In some aspects, this isn’t as much a criticism of Anthony as it is of the Knicks organization. Melo is a formidable player, there is simply no doubt about it. However, for the next couple of years, I don’t see the Knicks going anywhere because of their salary cap situation as well as their competition.

Anthony can’t take the Heat

As long as the Miami Heat remain dominant, Melo will have to watch the NBA Finals from the sidelines. In fact, you can make the argument that James will keep Melo out of the Finals for the rest of Anthony’s career.

Of course, this would mean that Anthony actually gets to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, which is not a guarantee.

The Knicks lost to the Pacers this year and they’re not going away. The Chicago Bulls gave the Knicks a run for their money during the regular season and their physical style of play would likely cause trouble for the Knicks. Then there’s the Heat and all the great teams in the NBA West.

If the Knicks are to win with Anthony, they need to solidify their roster.

The Knicks are in salary cap hell

Anthony turns 29 in a few days. It’s clear that his time is running out. While he is still in his prime, it unfortunately looks like the Knicks might waste it for the next couple of years.

The Knicks already have a payroll of $78 million and they’re spending $21 million on Amar’e Stoudemire. Melo and Amar’e are like oil and water when it comes to playing together and the latter’s huge salary is preventing the Knicks from adding pieces that would make the Knicks a championship contender.

It doesn’t exactly help that the current Knicks team is the oldest in NBA history and extremely prone to injuries.

Carmelo is simply not as good as the Knicks want him to be

So far, I’ve blamed a lot of Anthony’s shortcomings on external circumstances such as the fierce competition and the salary cap, but it has to be said that Melo might not have the championship pedigree that LeBron or other elite players have.

While Melo is certainly an elite scorer, he’s not very efficient. Take a look at the true shooting percentages for the five players with the highest PPG in this year’s playoffs. Anthony has, by far, the worst true shooting percentage.

As much as Knicks fans want it to be true, Anthony is not a star of the same caliber as Kevin Durant and James. Anthony had one of his best statistical seasons this year and ended up with the scoring title.

However, his Player Efficiency Rating still lagged behind both Durant and James. Anthony had 24.8, the highest of his career, but he still trailed Durant and James who had 28.3 and 31.6 respectively. By the way, the last time LeBron had less than 24.8, he was 22 years old.

While LeBron James’ championship pedigree was certainly questioned before he won a championship last year, the key to bouncing back was a Game 6 for the ages in which he beat the Boston Celtics almost by himself.

Anthony was in a similar situation on Saturday, but had his dunk attempt blocked by Roy Hibbert instead, as shown in this video.

As long as Anthony can’t figure out a way to put the team on his back and win these games, the Knicks can’t win a championship by building around him.

Manti Te'o Girlfriend Bobblehead Night at Freedom Game

Devon Teeple — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:57:55 -0400

Manti Te'o and independent league baseball are making for a very interesting ballpark promotion.

The Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League is offering their first 1,000 fans a genuine Manti Te'o Girlfriend Bobblehead Thursday night, May 23. When initially announced on May 20, their website included information on the additional giveaways and festivities:

Thursday night’s promotions will also include an air guitar contest, a pretend kiss cam, an imaginary food fight, and fans with imaginary friends, girlfriends/boyfriends or spouses are encouraged to sit in section 115, the section furthest down the left field line.

Now that all of the hysteria surrounding Te'o's "girlfriend", the fake Twitter account and the guy running it is all out in the open, you can't fault anyone for trying to exploit the profitability in all of this.

The Freedom ranked in the bottom five of 14 teams in attendance last year and second-to-last in 2011, according to Frontier League statistics), so it's no surprise why this is happening. It's obviously old news since this was reported way back in January, according to CBS Sports, although you can guarantee it's certain to draw a crowd.

Baseball in general is no stranger to wacky and off-the-wall promotions.

The Brockton Rox of the independant Can-Am League broke a Guinness world record by selling an $80 hot dog in 2011. The Lowell Spinners held a Political Correctness night a few years back, but Spinners spokesman Jon Goode wasn't taking things too seriously:

We just pay attention to what's in the news, and it seems like you're always hearing about people getting upset over what seem like the silliest things to the vast majority of people. So we thought, why not have some fun with it?

Yes, the Freedom having a bobblehead night is not supposed to be taken seriously. It's all in good fun. It's like toilet humor—lame but funny. However, you can guarantee people will be talking about this and isn't that the whole point?

Look at the now-defunct London Rippers, of Ontario, who played in the Frontier League. Their logo was getting ripped apart six ways from Sunday because of their "Jack the Ripper" logo. The London Free Press noted that women's abuse center's were in an uproar among others because of it. Still, the logo garnered national attention throughout the U.S.

Sports is entertainment, plain and simple. That's what the Rippers were about and that's what the Freedom's bobblehead night is about. Nothing more, nothing less.

Redskins' Roster Review: Breaking Down Washington's Wide Receivers

Dilan Ames — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:55:41 -0400

The Washington Redskins finally found a solid receiving corps in 2012, and it looks to be even better in 2013.

Granted, it definitely helps having a quarterback like Robert Griffin III throwing the ball, but that should not take away from the production of Washington’s incumbent receivers.

The starting two receivers will likely turn out to be Pierre Garçon and Josh Morgan, with Santana Moss manning the slot. The fourth spot on the depth chart belongs to Aldrick Robinson for now. He was a pleasant surprise on offense for Washington last season.

The Redskins also picked up undrafted free agent Skye Dawson, a TCU product who made a name for himself in college.

This is arguably the most solid corps of Redskins receivers in the past seven seasons. Although there are some young and unproven players, Washington has several pieces in place to build a scary passing offense.

The Good

If it weren’t for an unfortunate injury early in his 2012-13 season, Garçon would have more than likely been a 1,000-yard receiver. He will be back and healthy by the time the season rolls around and will definitely be a weapon for the ‘Skins.

Aside from Garçon, Washington has two other veterans who will once be again be heavy contributors in 2013. Morgan and Moss were two of the more consistent guys in the NFC last year, and after another offseason of bonding and meshing with RG3, they should be even better next season.

Another player to watch next season will be Robinson. Robinson is still pretty young and has shown great explosion in the passing game. He scored only three touchdowns last year, but if he is given an increased role in 2013, expect his numbers to rise at an impressive rate.

The Bad

Dezmon Briscoe has been an interesting player in recent years. While he was never terrible, he was never really that good. Although he was the Bengals’ leading receiver a couple of years ago, he was still pretty inconsistent.

While he didn’t get a ton of playing time last year, Briscoe didn’t do much of anything when he was in games. He had a grand total of two catches for five yards in 2012. He was brought in to be a dependable fourth or fifth receiver, but he’ll be lucky to make it through training camp.

While Dawson did show flashes of greatness in college, there is a reason he went undrafted. While it’s not like he’s really done anything to be labeled as “bad”, he is unproven, and that is not a thing the Redskins need.

If he does well, then that will be awesome for Washington, but odds are that the undrafted pass-catcher will not make the team.

The Ugly

When Washington selected Leonard Hankerson in the third round of the NFL draft a few years ago, many expected him to become the solid No. 2 cornerback that they so desperately needed across from Moss.

Well, that didn’t happen.

He has dropped close to half of the passes thrown his way since he was drafted with the majority of them coming last season. He has not been a dependable receiver whatsoever, and could be on the chopping block if he has another poor season in 2013.

Although expectations are never too terribly high for third-rounders, he definitely has not lived up to the expectations that were set for him and could lose his job because of it.

When looking at the Redskins’ receiving chart, there is much to look forward to, but there are still some things to be nervous about.

Overall, they have a pretty good mix of veteran leadership and sprite young players who make up a pretty solid group as Washington’s building is starting to pay off.